South Africa: Mending the economy

While there is no single panacea to rid the country of its challenges, South Africa remains a good place to inject investment.

South Africa is open for business on many different fronts; we have very good infrastructure, a good financial system and good human capital and talent pool to draw from, notes Group Senior Executive for Strategic Trade at Aspen Pharmacare, Dr Stavros Nicolaou.

Nicolaous comments come as the country is due host the fourth edition of the South African Investment Conference (SAIC), which will be held on 24 March at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg.

The conference follows on the heels of the 2022 State of the Nation Address that sent a strong message that the country is open for business.

In April 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would host an investment conference with the aim of raising R1.2 trillion over a five-year period.

Since its initial launch in 2018, the SAIC has drawn delegates from South Africa and the world. The conference, which has been held annually until 2020, has showcased investment opportunities available in the country.

The fourth SAIC which was meant to be held in November last year, was postponed due to a number of reasons including that the country would have a far greater COVID-19 vaccination coverage, making travelling and gathering easier.

Since the start of the conference, South Africa has attracted R770 billion in commitments across a wide range of economic sectors.

Aspen was among the list of companies who raised their hand in the drive to attract investment to the southernmost country on the continent.

The pharmaceutical company pledged to invest R3.4 billion at the inaugural conference in 2018 and to date, the full investment has been realised.

That investment means our South African facility in Gqeberha that we made a pledge for is now one, if not the worlds largest manufacturer and supplier of general anaesthetics. It is also the first site for the production of the COVID vaccine on the African continent, Nicolaou says in an interview with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

The local company, which has been operating for over two decades, has a presence in over 50 countries with its flagship manufacturing assets based in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

The sterile facility contains state-of-the-art pharmaceutical equipment and systems used to manufacture advanced sterile medicines, including vaccines. The company has played a role in responding to pandemics such as HIV and AIDS, multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (TB) and most recently, COVID-19.

In the early onset of the COVID pandemic, Aspen was a significant supplier - both domestically and in other parts of the world like Europe - of general anaesthetics and muscle relaxants needed to ventilate patients.

The company was also the first African country to produce the COVID-19 vaccine under contract manufacturing for Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the majority of which have gone into African arms. Aspen has produced close to 180 million vaccine doses.

That facility is also the facility that produced the first generic antiretroviral product for the African continent. The first COVID vaccine to be produced in the Southern hemisphere and on the African continent, under contract manufacturing with J&J came from that same facility.

Putting food on the table

The company, which also has manufacturing operations in East London as well as a chemicals facility in Cape Town, employs around 3000 people at its manufacturing operations.

In a country facing high levels of unemployment, Aspens investment has helped many to put food on the table.

The investment we pledged for in 2018 has produced over 200 new jobs and these are highly skilled, high tech jobs with a significant leaning towards an export orientation and of course, our country needs exports.

He adds that the work force at the plant in Gqeberha has mainly been drawn from New Brighton and other nearby areas.

The talent that comes from there is a talent that were able to grow and very often that talent becomes globally competitive.

Providing a conducive business environment

What is encouraging is that while the country and the rest of the world have been battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies like Aspen who have made pledges, remain committed. This despite the July 2021 unrests seen across the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

From the commencement of our existence in South Africa, weve always backed South Africa as a manufacturing destination for a number of reasons. First we still have good infrastructure in the country, secondly we have what we find [to be] a responsive local, provincial and national government.

[The making of medicine] requires close collaboration with the regulator and in this instance, we find the SAHPRA [South African Health Products Regulatory Authority] to be responsive for these national priority initiative types of investment. These are the few reasons we have invested and will continue to invest in South Africa. In fact, we will be making another small announcement at the next conference, he explains.

The announcement, which will be made at the conference, can only bode well for South Africa given that local and foreign investments play an important role in growing the economy and creating sustainable jobs.

Looking to the future

In keeping up with an ever-changing world, innovation is a critical aspect to growth for any company or economy and the company recently demonstrated this when it received the licensing rights for the J&J vaccine.

The agreement means that Aspen can now package, sell as well as distribute J&Js COVID-19 vaccines under its own brand.

We will now have our own vaccine in Africa called Aspenovax made in Gqeberha for South Africans [and] the African continent. We will not have a dependence on COVID vaccines externally. We now have our own production base in South Africa. We will make sure that Africans are not left at the back end of the queue when COVID vaccines are required, he says.

With the fourth SAIC to be held in a few days time, Nicolaou is urging investors to take the plunge and invest in South Africa.

South Africans are generally hard working people so if you make an investment in South Africa, I think you will be rewarded.

It is a continent for the future and South Africa still represents the best springboard into the continent. I would encourage anyone to look at South Africa as an investment destination.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society has received a fresh batch of assistance donated by the Red Cross Society of China, as the country is suffering from an economic meltdown. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
By Li Xiaolong

The head of the civil affairs section of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in South Kivu and Maniema visits the Chinese level-II hospital recently. Photo by Li Xiaolong.

BEIJING, March 18 -- "The medical staff of the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent is very professional. Thanks for your dedication." Recently, the head of the civil affairs section of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in South Kivu and Maniema came to the 25th Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to administrate the COVID-19 vaccine and expressed his deep gratitude to Chinese peacekeepers.

Since its deployment to the mission area, the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent has fully assisted MONUSCO in pandemic prevention and control while actively providing medical treatment services. At present, the contingent has received more than 300 patients and administered hundreds of doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The DRC is currently in the rainy season, with a high incidence of infectious diseases. In order to respond to different types of emergencies, all peacekeepers of the contingent responded to challenges around the clock and provided whole-process pandemic prevention and control, and won praises from all parties for their high-quality services.

"The Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent is an excellent team, and I would like to pay tribute to them all," said a commanding officer of the Pakistani peacekeeping quick reaction force. Not long ago, he had made a special trip to the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to express his gratitude just before completing his mission and returning home.

Since the first batch of Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to the mission area in 2003, there have been 24 rotations in the past 19 years, and all batches of Chinese peacekeepers have won wide acclaim for their steady contribution.
We dont expect Kumbaya to break out on the Senate floor anytime soon, but Congress as a whole deserves credit for recently reaching bipartisan agreement on legislation that benefits the American people. Three items stand out from earlier this month.

One is the sweeping reform bill to assist the United States Postal Service. Following strong support in the House, 342-92, the bill passed the Senate by a large majority, 79-19, including the votes of our two senators, Thom Tillis and Richard Burr. President Biden is expected to sign it forthwith.

I am proud to have helped secure Senate passage so North Carolinians who count on the USPS to deliver prescriptions and utilize their services to facilitate commerce and pay their bills can receive prompt and reliable service, Tillis said in a statement.

The reform bill eliminates a uniquely stringent and disruptive requirement to pre-fund retiree health benefits while ensuring six-day-a-week mail delivery and providing a new fleet of delivery vehicles. This should provide a great sigh of relief to people who rely on the USPS.

Another accomplishment was passing the $1.5 trillion spending package that sends further military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and funds the federal government through the end of September, passed by the Senate, 68-31, and immediately signed by Biden.

The bill also provides $1.45 billion toward managing the volume of migrants arriving at the Southern border, $4 billion for rural development programs and $3.2 billion to support the production of clean and affordable energy sources.

The bill also reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act  which provides resources to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence  which Congress allowed to expire in 2019.

Theres no consensus on every item in the spending bill. We particularly dont like the reduction of requested funding for climate change programs, which could have long-term repercussions. But both parties accomplished some of their goals, and compromise sure beats the government-shutdown brinksmanship that became too prevalent with the rise of the tea party.

The third accomplishment is the bill to make daylight saving time permanent, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, bringing our bleary-eyed, twice-a-year circadian clock adjustment to an end  after a final switch in November 2023. The bill now goes to the House, which we hope will be just as accommodating.

This is the kind of government we like to see: active, functional and beneficial to all. That doesnt mean that it cant err. It doesnt mean that debate isnt necessary.

But the days of obstruction for the sake of obstruction  for political showmanship  should come to an end. They served no one.

Lets encourage our legislators to build on this.
They say ...

President Joe Biden is a saint. Former President Donald Trump is the devil incarnate.

Trump, as Putin's puppet," is the reason Putin waited to invade Ukraine.

Biden is the savior who has gone "toe to toe" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and shown he can defeat him.

Trump's foreign policy showed he wasn't part of the club" (as French President Emmanuel Macron said of Biden), but Biden as a "good ol boy" fits in well with career politicians who know how to keep the world safe.

Trump has no business sense, but Biden has shown he has a grasp of economics so astounding that we are all much better off than we were during Trump's administration.

Trump caused the deaths of many Americans during the coronavirus pandemic because of his inaction. Biden, on the other hand, reduced the number of deaths with his vaccine mandates and therapeutic drugs.

These ideas appear regularly in letters to the Journal. My question is this: On what planet do these writers live? I want to live there, too!

Judith Cox

Kernersville

The obvious threats

I dont know where the writer of the March 10 letter Familiar? got his handy four-step clear-pattern description of how democracy dies, but one very clear way it could die would be if former President Trump were reelected in 2024.

The fact that Trump has, very verbally, supported ruthless dictators throughout the world  including Russian President Vladimir Putin  should tell us something.

Hes currently flirting with political violence by urging his followers to lay down their very lives to defend their country, in terms very reminiscent of proponents of the white supremacist great displacement theory.

Or are we still supposed to be taking him "seriously but not literally"?

Another way would be if Republicans continue their program of voter suppression and gerrymandering, making it eventually impossible for any other candidates to be elected. That's the most obvious and likely threat to democracy.

Sometimes the truth stares us in the face. Sometimes people still refuse to see it.

April Reaves

Winston-Salem

Puerto Rico, colony

In response to the March 12 column D.C. is an American colony by Peter Wolf, I would like to point out that the island of Puerto Rico is also an American colony. It has four times the number of American citizens there when compared to D.C. and they cannot vote, either.

They have no representation at all in Congress except for a non-voting member. They have voted to become a state but that effort has been ignored, just as the pleas of the citizens of D.C. have.

I would contend that if we make one a state, we must make the other a state at the same time. Both deserve representation.

Howard R. Bud Stentz Jr.

Clemmons

Shameful behavior

The story Crisis plan sat on shelf (March 16) is very disturbing.

The individuals at Pine Ridge Health and Rehabilitation count on the people who care for them. That anyone working there would be negligent, leading to their deaths, is an indictment, not only of the for-profit nature of such facilities, but of our society as a whole.

Who is going to help these vulnerable people? How many others are suffering from neglect at this moment?

Its hard to consider this a Christian nation when profit means more than protection and we all shutter our seniors away at the end of their lives rather than celebrating them. Christ would be ashamed.

Sheila Nayland

Winston-Salem

Paying attention

I have great respect for the intellect of Washington Post columnist George Will. But if he thinks Americans are walking on eggshells (How America came to walk on eggshells, March 14) hes not been paying attention to the Florida Republican legislators attacking LGBTQ youth or the vocal white supremacists making inroads in the Republican Party.

Bill Vernon

Winston-Salem
Nearly seven years after first unveiling plans for the Telegraph District, the Lincoln developers who have overseen the historic transformation of the area near 21st and N streets are taking a moment to breathe.

What started as an ambitious vision in 2015 has nearly come to fruition for Speedway Properties and Nelnet, which partnered to buy more than a dozen properties in the once-blighted area.

"If you would've been here in 2015, this building was empty," Speedway co-founder Clay Smith said as he sat sipping coffee at The Mill's bustling Telegraph District cafe on a recent morning.

"That building was empty," he continued, pointing across the intersection of 21st and L streets at what used to be the windowless headquarters for Windstream, now transformed into a modern workspace for more than 500 Nelnet employees.

"The (Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer) museum was open one or two days a month. The next block  the only active building there was a car wash. So we had blocks upon blocks of just vacant land."

Now, after renovating three historical buildings  including the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Co. warehouse  and having opened two luxury apartment and mixed-use buildings with a third under construction, developers are taking a break, one that could double as a victory lap.

Sitting in a crowded coffee shop, Smith and Lauren Pugliese, the managing director of Nelnet, described the Telegraph District's rise in the way that parents might describe a child's glowing report card  with a sense of pride, and promise of more to come.

"I think it's a signature project," Smith said as he reflected on what the development has meant for his decades-long career in Lincoln. "We're really proud of what we did."

With signed leases in place for most of the district's office space and having filled more than 85% of apartment units, Speedway and Nelnet are pumping the brakes for the first time in seven years.

Tracking progress * May 2015: Nelnet and Speedway Properties submit their proposal for a redevelopment plan, first unveiling a vision for the Telegraph District. * June 2015: Lincoln approves plan as negotiations for area's redevelopment begin. * March 2016: Lincoln's City Council and the developers agree to Phase I of the district's redevelopment, focusing on restoration of historic buildings near 21st and L streets. * August 2016: Internet provider Allo moves into former Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Co. warehouse at 330 S. 21st St., becoming the district's first tenant. * June 2017: Nelnet is cleared to move employees into renovated former Windstream building at 401 S. 21st St. * December 2017: The Mill opens its cafe in the redeveloped warehouse, becoming the first retailer to anchor the district. * May 2018: Mayor approves Phase II, focusing on construction of luxury apartments topping mixed-use spaces near 21st and N streets. * August 2018: Subway opens shop, neighboring Allo and The Mill and rounding out Phase I. * October 2018: NGC Construction moves in at 1935 O St., occupying northwest edge of Telegraph District. * September 2019: Lotus House of Yoga opens near 21st and L streets, rounding out district's central intersection. * August 2020: Telegraph Flats opens at 2001 N St., adding first residential space. * January 2021: Telegraph Lofts East opens at 200 S. 21st St., outfitted with one- and two-bedroom apartment units as well as retail and office space. * Summer/Fall 2021: JC Designs, Schemmer Associates, Keating O'Gara law firm and Charm Boutique move into Telegraph District. * Summer 2022: Telegraph Lofts West, the third residential building planned for the district, is expected to open at 2077 N St.

When construction of Telegraph Lofts West finishes later this year, the $72 million second phase of the district's development will be complete. Smith and Pugliese don't yet have definitive plans for what to expect in Phase III.

Instead, they'll let the market  including Telegraph District residents and the employees of businesses moving into the area  decide what to build next.

"The market will tell us what they want to embrace here, what retailers want to be here," Smith said.

Though housing units are filling up and office space in the area is now scarce, the Telegraph District is still home to a few empty storefronts  a reality that will guide the developers' next move.

Early proposals for the area's development touted plans for a grocery store, a dry cleaner and bike repair shop  none of which have moved into the district. And save for The Mill and Subway, the area is largely void of restaurants.

Smith and Pugliese are as aware of this as anyone  and they hinted that new tenants could sign leases over the next few months.

The developers pinned the hesitancy of retailers on the ongoing effects of the pandemic, which altered dining habits and has left Nebraska with its lowest-ever unemployment rate, creating a labor shortage that has complicated plans for retailers to expand, Smith said.

"It's hard to open a bar when you have a pandemic, or a restaurant," Smith said.

"And a lot of feedback, too, is those retailers are really struggling with staffing," Pugliese said. "At this point, even as the pandemic continues to hopefully wind down and we realize our new normal, it's still the staffing that needs to catch up."

Still, the pandemic didn't ravage the second phase of the Telegraph District's development like it could have, given changing workplace dynamics in the age of Zoom. While downtown Lincoln has seen a loss of office workers and an influx of residents, the Telegraph District has seen increases in both.

Amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, Speedway signed leases with Keating O'Gara law firm and the Lincoln Journal Star for Telegraph Lofts East, adding additional office employees to the district that is already home to a Nelnet satellite campus and the headquarters for Allo.

Though it remains incomplete  and will continue to evolve over the next 10 years, Smith said  the district's Monopoly-like redevelopment thus far has marked a stunning turnaround for the area, one made viable by the completion of the Antelope Valley project, the largest public works project in the city's history.

That $246 million project helped remove the area from a flood plain, allowing Speedway and Nelnet to invest in the once-industrial area and help deliver on the Antelope Valley project's promise to spur further development.

"Part of that vision was to try to reenergize this whole area of downtown," said Smith, whose grandfather was an employee at Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph in the mid-1900s, working at the buildings Smith would later help redevelop.

"And so the thought of saving these buildings  repurposing them  was really just part of the vision."

The district has already delivered on its initial promise to preserve the historic buildings and transform the corridor into a modern hub of social activity and luxury living.

Now, as the pandemic hopefully fades and a new normal emerges, the developers face another challenge: What's next?

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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BEATRICE  A warrant was issued Wednesday for a fence contractor facing 13 felony charges after authorities said he took more than $86,000 in contracts but failed to do the work.

Travis Kechely, 34, was scheduled to appear in Gage County District Court on Wednesday but failed to appear.

District Judge Rick Schreiner issued a warrant for Kechelys arrest and set a new bond in the case at $50,000 with a 10% deposit.

Kechely is charged with three counts of theft by deception valued at over $5,000, nine counts of theft by deception valued at $1,500-$5,000, two counts of theft by deception valued at $500-$1,500 and one count of issuing a bad check valued at $1,500-$5,000.

All but two of the charges are felonies.

According to court documents, police began investigating Kechely in December 2020 after they were informed that Patriot Fencing was taking deposits of at least 50% for jobs and then never starting the projects.

Police posted on social media asking anyone who had been a victim of fraud by the company to contact authorities. More than 16 alleged victims came forward.

The majority paid deposits in the spring and summer of 2020 for fencing projects that were never started, authorities said.

Arrest documents stated most cases followed a similar pattern and noted that one person did receive a refund check, however the check could not be cashed because of insufficient funds.

Documents stated the total Kechely collected from the victims was $86,058.

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COLUMBUS  Orion Ross, the man barricaded in a bedroom at 33rd and Vine streets with Felipe Vazquez as Lincoln police closed in around the house to arrest him Aug. 26, 2020, said before they made their escape attempt Vazquez asked him if he could "shoot out."

"What did you say?" Chief Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Bruce Prenda asked Ross, who took the stand Thursday at Vazquez's first-degree murder trial for the fatal shooting of Lincoln Police Officer Mario Herrera.

"What you do is what you do," Ross answered. "Because it's his life."

By the end of the day, the jury would hear from Vazquez, too, after the state rested its case against him after eight days of testimony and evidence.

Vazquez said he'd looked out and saw one officer in the front yard on his radio, then looked out later and saw one with a shield.

He said his plan was to shoot at a tree in the yard to scare the officers away.

"When they hear gunshots they're gonna run straight for cover," Vazquez said.

He said by the time police looked back up, he and Ross would be down the street on the way to what they called the bat cave, a place close to nearby Wyuka Cemetery where they hung out with friends.

A friend would be waiting there to pick them up.

Vazquez said he fired while inside the bedroom after Ross smashed the window with a mug. Then they jumped out.

"Everything just happened so quick. Someone came around the tree. Boom. I felt like a cannon left my hand," Vazquez said.

He said he squeezed again. Boom.

Shots were coming from the left side, Vazquez said.

"I hear someone screaming. I was just like, 'Oh, I just know something bad happened,'" he said. "I just kept running."

Vazquez and Ross ran in the direction of an officer blocking traffic on Vine Street, who was aiming her gun at them.

Defense attorney Nancy Peterson asked Vazquez why he didn't shoot her.

"It was never my intention to hurt an officer," he said.

Vazquez admitted he lied to the sheriff's deputy who interviewed him later that day, after he was arrested after being chased out of a nearby house by the owner and holed up for a short time on his porch as police trained rifles on him.

He said he was still trying to take everything in.

"I didn't believe what happened had happened," Vazquez said.

A video, shown to the jury earlier in the afternoon, showed him mostly silent but at times quietly singing to himself as he waited for the deputy in an interview room.

Peterson asked Vazquez if he intended to shoot Herrera or any of the officers.

"No, ma'am," he said. "I regret it every day."

Ross said they stood in front of the bedroom window that faces Vine Street, and Vazquez asked if he could "shoot out."

He said Vazquez "upped the gun," pointing it at the window, while he pulled the curtain back and threw a mug to break the window.

Ross said he thought the plan was to fire a shot to scare police, so they could get away.

"I just remember him ... lowering it," he said of Vazquez and the gun that day.

"Then where did he go?" Prenda asked.

"Out the window," he said.

Ross said he followed.

He doesn't remember hearing the sound of gunfire or even where Vazquez was when he fired the shots.

"I've spent the last two years trying to forget that day and the days before it," Ross said.

But, he said, he remembers hearing an "agony-type scream" from one of the officers.

Herrera had been shot in the chest and later died of his injuries.

On cross-examination, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon asked Vazquez if he'd seen officers standing by the tree and on the sidewalk, why did he fire toward it.

"You could've fired that gun in the air," he said.

"Yes, I could've," Vazquez said.

"You're just firing at the tree and the officer just happened to show up?" Condon said, incredulously.

"Yes, sir," Vazquez said.

Closing arguments are expected Monday in Platte County District Court, where the trial was moved because of pretrial publicity.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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What does a popular Southern California influencer do when shes the target of cyberbullying?

She runs away to Lincoln. At least, if shes Vivi Marx, she does.

In Ladette Randolphs latest novel, Private Way, Marx finds herself overwhelmed with her online life and wants to return to a simpler existence. Fond memories draw her back to her grandmothers hometown of Lincoln.

There, Marx finds a sense of community like never before.

If you go On Saturday, Ladette Randolph will appear at local bookstore Francie & Finch to celebrate the launch of her new book, "Private Way." When: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Where: 130 S. 13th St.

Though Randolph now lives in Boston, her own experiences in Nebraska shaped her story. Randolph grew up on a ranch near the Sandhills, and shes lived in Lincoln and near Cortland.

Randolph said her experience living in different places led her to explore the importance of good neighbors in "Private Way."

Theyre not always friends, but theyre people that you trust, and theyre people that trust you, Randolph said. Its a really important relationship.

Several businesses show up in the book that readers might recognize, Randolph said, as well as notable Nebraskans, such as former Sen. Ernie Chambers.

Marx also makes a trek to Red Cloud and discovers a world full of lessons from Nebraska author Willa Cather.

Private Way is Randolphs fifth book, and like the last four, it pays homage to all things Nebraska. Randolph said she writes about her home state because of its familiarity and beautiful landscape. But she also feels like her Boston friends have a few things to learn from her home state, she said.

Its easy to overlook small places, but I just keep insisting that they exist, she said. They matter.

After eight years of writing, editing and rewriting, Randolphs book was published by the University of Nebraska Press this month.

Now, Randolph is heading on her own cross-country journey to Lincoln.

On Saturday, she will appear at local bookstore Francie & Finch from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the launch of her book. There, she hopes to meet readers, sign books and discuss her work.

Courtney Ochsner, assistant acquisitions editor at the University of Nebraska Press, said she was able to connect with the setting of the book immediately when she received the manuscript.

Ochsner included Private Way in the Flyover Fiction series, a collection of works that pay homage to the Great Plains.

Randolph has an amazing talent for creating a sense of place, Ochsner said, so she expects Nebraskans will be able to appreciate Private Way for its realness.

Its fun to see familiar things pop up in it, Ochsner said. Its all very relatable, and it makes you appreciate where youre from even more.

Randolph said she hopes readers of her novel will appreciate their home for all its quirks and flaws.

Its celebrating a place as a place, Randolph said.

Reach the writer at jthompson@journalstar.com

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An Omaha police officer who crashed his vehicle last summer while off duty and who later lost his job was sentenced Thursday to probation.

Former Officer Humberto Herrera pleaded no contest to reckless driving in the case. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed three other misdemeanor charges.

On June 12, Omaha police officers went to 22nd Street and St. Mary's Avenue before 2 a.m. and found a GMC Sierra pickup truck that had crashed into two other parked, unoccupied vehicles. The Sierra, which was westbound on St. Mary's, pushed both of the parked cars onto the sidewalk. One of the cars struck a metal street sign post, which toppled. The total damage was estimated at $11,100.

Herrera, then 30, was identified as the owner of the pickup. But neither he nor a 25-year-old woman who was in the vehicle admitted to being the driver, police reports stated. Investigators think Herrera was the driver.

Police reports did not note whether alcohol or drugs were suspected. But two sources with knowledge of the internal and criminal investigations into the matter had said that Andrew Kinsey, an OPD sergeant who went to the scene, turned off his body-worn camera several times and did not complete a DUI investigation, even though alcohol was suspected to have been a factor in the crash.

Herrera, who had been an Omaha police officer since December 2015, was terminated Oct. 19. Kinsey, who has been with OPD since 2014, was demoted from sergeant to officer after an internal investigation.

Douglas County Judge Grant Forsberg confirmed the attorneys' agreed-upon recommendation and sentenced Herrera to six months' probation. He also said Herrera must use an ignition interlock device for 60 days.

No alcohol-related charges were filed, but prosecutor Mandy Trout referred to the punishment as a "DUI type of probation" because, she said, evidence pointed to the likelihood that Herrera was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Herrera's attorney, Joe Naatz, said Herrera plans to appeal the termination through the arbitration process.

"As a result of the case, my client was terminated as an Omaha police officer," Naatz told the judge. "He's paid the ultimate price with his employment and his lifelong dream of being a police officer."

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer declined Thursday to comment on either the investigations related to the case or the discipline meted out to the officers.

Tony Conner, the president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, said Herrera's arbitration appeal is not paid for by the union because his actions that night were not in the course of his duty as a police officer.

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In 2011, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services wrote a bill that would allow well-behaved prisoners the chance to shorten their time behind bars.

Eleven years later, that same department is applying the resulting law in a way neither the state senator who sponsored the bill nor the then-director of Nebraskas prisons intended.

Prison officials now shorten a prisoners final release date, but never change the day that prisoner becomes eligible for parole.

The result: Thousands of prisoners sentenced under the law have potentially stayed in prison for days, weeks or months longer than the laws authors intended.

The debate over the meaning of three dozen words buried in a state law has made its way to the Nebraska Supreme Court, whose decision could shorten the stays of thousands of people in the states chronically overcrowded prisons.

The Flatwater Free Press, in partnership with The World-Herald, looked at the case in light of the debate over how Nebraska should address its prison overcrowding and whether it should build a new prison.

On one side: The Corrections Department argues that its properly following the 11-year-old law when it comes to calculating when a prisoner is eligible for parole. If theres a flaw, its in the language of the law itself, state lawyers have argued in court.

On the other: Robert Heist II, who has been imprisoned since 2016, argues that the department is misreading the law and delaying parole eligibility.

In some cases, prisoners end up being released with no supervision  jamming out in prison-speak  before they even become parole eligible.

When you become parole eligible after youre done with your sentence, it doesnt make any sense. Thats just ridiculous, Heist said in an interview. And it is contributing to overcrowding, because if you postpone peoples parole eligibility, theyre just sitting around longer.

Nebraskas prison good time calculations are complex. The law has gone through several makeovers during its half-century on the books.

Legislative Bill 191 was meant to add to the states already existing good time  day-for-day credit prisoners earn for behaving, which effectively cuts many sentences in half. The change proposed by prison administrators in 2011 allowed prisoners to earn an additional three days of good time each month if they avoided certain disciplinary offenses after being imprisoned for a year.

The bill, written by Corrections officials and sponsored by then-Sen. Brenda Council, was expected to save the state at least $1.08 million over a decade.

This provision has the potential to lower the prison population, and, therefore, reduce costs, Bob Houston, former corrections director, said at a 2011 legislative hearing. It also rewards good behavior within the prison system.

But the states interpretation of the law  correct or not  quietly contributes to the states ongoing struggle with overcrowded prisons. It keeps the thousands of parole-eligible prisoners sentenced since 2011 from earning up to 36 days per year toward their parole eligibility date.

Nebraska continues to grapple with one of the most crowded prison systems in the country, reaching 152% of the systems design capacity as of December. The state has sought advice from outside consultants like the Boston-based Crime and Justice Institute on how to tackle the issue.

But little attention has been paid to the states interpretation of the LB191 law. Heist first filed a grievance of the parole calculation in June 2019. So far, no one in the Ricketts administration or the Legislature has pushed to change the wording of the law so that its meaning can be clarified.

Getting prisoners in front of the Parole Board sooner is a good thing as it relates to overcrowding, said Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, who has grappled with prison overcrowding for years. Anything we can do that gets someone parole eligible sooner, I think is beneficial.

The question now before the Nebraska Supreme Court: Should the three days a month earned for good behavior be applied to the date when a prisoner first becomes eligible for parole?

The state senator who sponsored the bill and the former head of prisons say yes.

Making prisoners parole eligible sooner was an intended result of the bill, both Council and Houston told the Flatwater Free Press.

I introduced this bill as a means of providing additional ways to reduce the prison population and get people parole eligible, Council said in an interview.

The days were meant to apply to both a persons parole eligibility date and jam date, she said.

If theyre not calculating it that way, theyre calculating it wrong, Council said.

The bill was meant to save the department money, Houston said. Getting people in front of the Parole Board sooner would have played a major role in those cost savings.

I would have definitely been in favor of affecting the minimum as well as the maximum so that peoples parole eligibility date could come sooner, said Houston, who retired from Corrections in 2013 and is now a criminal justice instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Even though the maximum is coming down, the real effect of reducing the population is their ability to parole sooner.

But the state is simply following the letter of the law, state lawyers have argued to the Nebraska Supreme Court. As written, they say, that law doesnt allow for the extra good time days to go toward parole eligibility.

Corrections doesnt dispute what Council and Houston said about the intentions of good time in 2011 legislative hearings, according to court records. But the department argues its irrelevant.

Parts of Heists claim are outside the courts jurisdiction, the state argued during oral arguments in September. State law outlines that every committed offender shall be eligible for parole when the offender has served one half of the minimum term of his or her sentence and that good time shall be deducted from the maximum term.

This interpretation of the law has potentially affected thousands of prisoners who could have had at least a little time shaved off their sentences. But the most egregious cases are those prisoners who jam out before even becoming parole eligible.

In 2019, the department told Heist that 62 prisoners at the time had tentative release dates that preceded their parole eligibility because of their earned good time.

As of March 2022, the prisons roster listed as many as 306 individuals sentenced since 2011 who were released before they became eligible for parole.

Those prisoners  whose sentences should have included a shot at parole  become guaranteed jam outs, Heist said.

Under questioning at the Nebraska Supreme Court, the states lawyers didnt dispute that inverted sentences  when mandatory release actually comes before parole eligibility  can and do happen.

Yes, it is possible that (inverted sentences) can occur, Scott Straus, assistant attorney general for the state, said during oral arguments. However, the plain language of the statute does not let us even get to whether that result is absurd or not.

Is it an absurd result to have inverted sentences? one justice then asked Straus. Or is that just a byproduct of the statutory language created by the Legislature, which, whether they intended to or not, was what happened?

Yes, your honor, Straus said. I believe it is simply a byproduct of it.

Six months later, the court has yet to issue an opinion.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services would not respond to questions about ongoing litigation, spokeswoman Laura Strimple said in an email.

The legal issue at play isnt clear cut, according to a longtime Douglas County judge.

After reading the states good time laws, Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon said he could see how applying those extra three days a month to parole eligibility could be argued either way.

Thank God thats up to the Supreme Court to make those big decisions, Bataillon said. But the Legislature could very easily change that law if they wanted to.

The good time law, as currently applied, removes parole as an option for some prisoners  even though parole is generally regarded as a better way to reacclimate prisoners to society.

Parolees have required check-ins with their parole officer, and must line up a job and a place to live. The board often requires them to complete certain clinical programming like substance abuse treatment and violence reduction programs before being released.

Not applying good time days toward parole eligibility removes an incentive for good behavior, the very thing the additional good time days were meant to encourage, said Doug Koebernick, inspector general of the Nebraska Correctional System.

That parole eligibility date is a carrot, Koebernick said. Thats a really great incentive to get your act together, to get things done, do what the Board of Parole wants you to do.

In the recent report by a state-led working group reviewing criminal justice policies, all committee members, including both Republicans and Democrats in the Nebraska Legislature, agreed that its preferable that prisoners are released with some form of supervision, either parole or probation.

You dont just want someone walking out of a maximum security prison  theyre not ready for it, said Spike Eickholt, government liaison for the Nebraska ACLU. Youre setting them up to fail. Society is better off having that supervision.

Its unclear what would come of a Supreme Court decision. And it isnt the first time the departments calculations have resulted in a jam date that comes before parole eligibility.

In 2014, a World-Herald investigation led the department to realize it was using a flawed formula to calculate sentences, releasing more than 200 people too early. Those miscalculations also resulted in more than 100 prisoners being released before they were eligible for parole.

In that case, the department hadnt acted on a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling from 2013 detailing the proper way to calculate sentences with mandatory minimums. Houston, the director at the time, told The World-Herald that he hadnt been aware of the ruling until informed by the newspaper.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

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Nebraska lawmakers advanced the main budget bill with no changes Thursday after spending eight hours debating the future of the overcrowded state prison system.

Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, the Judiciary Committee chairman, led the filibuster to draw attention to what he called a "very consequential" issue for the state and to block any attempt to authorize the building of a proposed 1,500-bed prison.

The issue is the continued growth in prison populations, driven by stiffer sentences for crimes, and the resulting overcrowding in state prisons, he said.

Even if Nebraska builds the new prison, which has been pushed by Gov. Pete Ricketts, inmate numbers are projected to continue outpacing the number of available prison beds. Lathrop said projections show that the state would have to build 200 new beds a year to keep up.

"I continue to be opposed to the prison until we do something to flatten the growth in population," he said. "We cannot build our way out of this."

Lathrop has proposed a measure that would, among other changes, reduce sentences for some offenses, limit means of increasing sentences and help more inmates qualify for parole.

But he acknowledged that LB920 faces stiff opposition from the governor, along with law enforcement officials and prosecutors. He said he had hoped those opponents would be willing to negotiate to find another solution but there has been no movement so far.

The Appropriations Committee budget sets aside the remaining $175 million needed to build the proposed new prison but does not appropriate the money for construction yet. Committee members held off on that decision while the Legislature debates criminal justice reform measures.

The $175 million would be added to the $100 million set aside last year to pay for building a facility estimated to cost $270 million.

Discussions about the proposed prison continued after the budget vote and extended into the Legislature's debate on the state's cash reserve. A vote on the cash reserve is expected Tuesday when senators resume debate.

The Appropriations Committees plan would leave Nebraska with $1.3 billion in the cash reserve fund by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year. That is $950 million more than the fund's balance at the end of fiscal year 2020-21.

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said the state didn't need such a hefty cash reserve, and could spare some funding for Lincoln and Omaha. He said the Appropriations Committee's budget proposal included an unprecedented level of "intentional neglect and discrimination" toward those areas.

Wayne criticized the proposed use of the cash reserve for projects in rural parts of the state, including for water and recreation projects, while scarcely covering Nebraska's urban regions. He accused Lathrop of intentionally taking up time to prevent other senators from debating the full budget.

"There's a lot of things we can do, and it starts today," Wayne said.

Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston said Lathrop's filibuster stopped lawmakers from considering her budget amendment. The amendment would bar the State Department of Education from using any of its appropriation to research, adopt or implement state sex education standards for Nebraska schools.

Ricketts had included that language in his budget recommendations to the Legislature, specifying that the prohibition was to apply whether the sex education standards were mandatory or voluntary for schools. The Appropriations Committee voted against including the language in its budget package.

The State Board of Education faced a firestorm last year over proposed health education standards. The standards, which would have been voluntary, covered more than sex education but incorporated teaching about gender identity, sexual orientation and sexuality in general. The board shelved the draft standards last year but has not precluded the development of new standards in the future.

The Appropriations Committee package makes changes to the two-year budget passed last year. With those changes, state spending would hit $9.8 billion during the two years ending June 30, 2023.

The package would pay higher salaries for state employees in critical areas, such as corrections and 24-hour facilities, and boost rates paid to providers caring for the most vulnerable Nebraskans. It would tap what is projected to be a record-level cash reserve fund to pay for nearly $500 million worth of building and infrastructure projects.

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LOS ANGELES  Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry wrote a letter to the clerk of the House of Representatives on Monday, informing the clerk that he would not be attending votes but would vote by proxy.

The reason he gave? The ongoing public health emergency.

Fortenberry, who represents Nebraskas 1st District, did not mention in the letter that he is tied up with something else this week and next: a federal trial on three felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that the 61-year-old Republican misled authorities about whether he knew that a Nigerian billionaire had funneled $30,000 to his campaign at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Of the three charges, Fortenberry faces two counts of lying to authorities investigating the fundraiser.

Fortenberry and his attorneys deny he lied.

In the letter to the House clerk, Fortenberry wrote: I am unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency. I hereby grant the authority to cast my vote by proxy to the Hon. John Moolenaar (Michigan), who has agreed to serve as my proxy.

Andy Braner, Fortenberrys chief of staff, told the World-Herald that Fortenberry sought approval from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vote by proxy and received it. House members have done so thousands of times during the pandemic.

For the last two years, Speaker Pelosi has ruled, the only reason for members to be absent for votes is due to the COVID emergency, Braner said in a statement. As Mr. Fortenberrys trial (originally scheduled for February) was delayed due to the COVID shutdown of the California courts, (Pelosis) office allowed for Mr. Fortenberry to vote proxy (now).

I would also note, there have been hundreds of members submit a similar letter to navigate COVID effects on a variety of scheduling conflicts. This isnt something abnormal.

Just Thursday, Braner said, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the House Minority Leader, blasted the fact that many members of both parties rarely show up for votes. McCarthy has long been an opponent of proxy voting.

Jamie Dupree, who has covered Congress since 1986, obtained the letter and posted it this week.

The letter is dated Monday. A pretrial hearing in the Fortenberry case was held in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Jury selection took place Wednesday. And the trial opened Thursday  the same day the House voted overwhelmingly to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, the Associated Press reported. Voting via proxy, Fortenberry joined the vast majority of his colleagues in supporting the measure.

At the end of Thursday's court proceedings, a television reporter asked Fortenberry why he cited the health crisis, instead of the fact that hes here in LA.

See you tomorrow, Fortenberry said.

Fortenberry announced Jan. 18 he had been diagnosed with a moderate case of COVID-19 and that he would vote by proxy and work from home. That occurred eight weeks ago.

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We are Texans through and through. Two from Dallas and two from McAllen, a small town on the border with Mexico. Last month, we traveled to Lincoln  a first for all of us  in the dead of winter, compelled to testify against the dangerous legislation to ban abortion in Nebraska.

Please dont let Nebraska be the next Texas.

Six months ago, Texas implemented the most extreme abortion ban in our countrys history. SB8 bans abortion after six weeks, before most people know they are pregnant, and it has had devastating effects on our friends, neighbors, communities and particularly people already facing barriers to health care.

Every day, we help pregnant people grapple with the impact of what it means to live in a state without safe and legal abortion.

Now, many people in Texas are terrified of becoming or being pregnant.

We help Texans access abortion care by providing financial assistance and practical support in the form of lodging, travel, food assistance and childcare.

As an abortion fund in Texas, we have seen firsthand the impact that abortion bans like LB933 cause. We have conversations with people every day who need to access abortion care for the betterment of their own lives, and their families lives, because they are already navigating so many systemic barriers to make ends meet. For example, having to sacrifice meals in order to feed their families, facing loss of wages to care for family members, and so on. This will be the reality for the residents of Nebraska should LB933 be passed into law.

It makes no sense to force people to travel out of state for health care under any circumstances. Since S.B. 8 first went into effect in Texas on Sept. 1, Planned Parenthood health centers in surrounding states have seen a 1,082% increase in patients with Texas ZIP codes seeking abortion, compared to September 2020 and 2019.

Patients have traveled from Texas to Arkansas, California and as far as New York for health care. There is no justification for the trauma inflicted on people seeking abortion care, for the criminalization of a simple health care procedure, and for the blatant disregard for our own privacy and health care decisions. Our bodily autonomy is not a political playground.

The four of us are all proud women of color and, as always, we find our communities disproportionately impacted by further restrictions to abortion. Once again, we are the collateral damage. We know that persistent structural racism plays a significant role in the connection between abortion restrictions and maternal mortality. We also know that abortion restrictions directly impact people of color and Indigenous people.

Banning abortion, as we have seen in Texas, will not benefit pregnant people at all. People deserve to live full lives and plan futures with dignity and sustainability. A complete and total abortion ban, which is what LB933 is striving for, will strip people of their ability to take ownership of their own life decisions.

Nebraskas elected officials should focus on protecting the rights of the people they serve and pass legislation that secures the safety of those needing a full range of medical care, including abortion. Nebraskans deserve the entire spectrum of comprehensive reproductive health care, not government invasion of their bodies.

Please learn from us. You dont want Nebraska to be like Texas.

Michelle Anderson is policy director at Afiya Center. Cerita Burrell is director of programs at Afiya Center. Cathy Torres is organizing manager at Frontera Fund. Aileen Garza is on the board of directors at Frontera Fund.

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CALEDONIA  In Wisconsin, where people frequent outdoor recreation such as hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, biking or all-terrain vehicle riding, such activities dont always come without injury.

The Caledonia Fire Department has had incidents where people have injured themselves while off the main roads, but the department wasnt as fully equipped as it couldve been to best serve these people.

Fire Chief Jeffrey Henningfeld said the departments current Humvee used for such incidents is not as nimble and cant access some of the smaller trails. However, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Geiger Family Foundation, as well as other donations, Caledonia Fire and Police now have enough money to purchase a utility terrain vehicle to assist in these incidents as well as others.

The Geiger Family Foundation is a private foundation in Milwaukee that is known to support public safety.

We would like to give them the tools to do their jobs, said Theresa Kent, vice president of the Geiger Family Foundation. She presented a $20,000 check to the two departments on Thursday morning at the joint public safety building at 6900 Nicholson Road.

This UTV is the third purchased by a public safety department in the southeastern Wisconsin area that the foundation has helped fund in the past five years.

The joint public safety UTV will provide rescue and safety services in Caledonia, including on public and private property, parks and trails. It will be able to access areas traditional vehicles cannot.

The Caledonia PD and FD expect to purchase the UTV in the coming days and have it ready for service by this summer.

This is good for Caledonia, Village Trustee Dale Stillman said, emphasizing the finances for this set of wheels didnt fall in taxpayers laps. To get that much money from one donor is spectacular.

A valued piece of equipment

Henningfeld first expressed the need for a new UTV last summer, but the department couldnt afford it.

CFD looked into ways to raise funds for the UTV. It came up with donations and grants from private citizens, the Johnson Foundation and a motorcycle club.

Village Trustee Holly McManus already had the connection to the Geiger Family Foundation because it had previously awarded a grant for a UTV to McManus agency, the St. Francis Police Department in Milwaukee County.

In these times, its harder to find grants and donations, McManus said. This was huge to me because we have a diverse population that lives and visits here. We have plenty of people out in nature exploring, this vehicle helps focus on those nature lovers.

The vehicle is to be fully road-functioning and will be equipped with lights, sirens, a patient carrier, rope equipment and a chainsaw. The two departments are seeking additional vehicle accessories such as add-ons that help the vehicle drive in snow terrains.

The Fire Department plans to use it for rescues after outdoor accidents or other outdoor medical emergencies.

Henningfeld said the vehicle may be utilized for larger events like festivals where an ambulance may not be suitable for navigating large crowds. Using it for brush fires could be a possibility as well.

I look forward to putting it to use and being able to demonstrate its need, Henningfeld said. Its a valued piece of equipment.

The Police Department plans to use it for finding a missing child or chasing down a potential criminal who may be fleeing in the woods. For major incidents, police and fire could both be there, McManus said.

Police Chief Christopher Botsch said when searching for a potential suspect or criminal thats located off the main roads, police typically would have to park and walk to the person.

This gives another option, Botsch said. Were excited to have another tool available to us.

The departments also plan to use the vehicle for community policing and interacting with the community. While Botsch said the PD does not have anything set in stone, the PD may use it for the departments Community Care Day in August.

McManus additionally said her agency uses its UTV for appearing in parades and giving children rides atop the vehicle.

During special events, its a different way to interact with citizens. It sparks its own conversation, Botsch said. We are extra appreciative of the foundation and the generosity theyve shown to us.

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BURLINGTON  The founder of the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism has filed a lawsuit against a current Burlington Area School Board member who is also seeking a seat on the Racine County Board.

The civil lawsuit, filed in federal court on Nov. 5 by Darnisha Garbade, seeks an unspecified award of punitive damages from Taylor Wishau, who was elected to the BASD Board in 2018 and is currently running to represent Burlington on the County Board.

Garbade moved out of Burlington and stepped down from leading BCDR last year, citing threats to her and her familys safety.

The lawsuit alleges that Garbade suffered severe and permanent emotional, psychological and economic injuries because of Wishaus willful, wanton and reckless acts she (sic) has committed against the plaintiff.

A response, filed by attorneys representing Wishau on Dec. 23, denies all of the allegations.

The lawsuit does not detail the specifics of the injuries Garbade suffered, although she has previously said she and her family have faced threats since moving to Burlington and especially since she began elevating concerns about racism in the community.

Lawsuit, allegations and denials

Garbade said her children first enrolled in Burlington schools in 2016.

Within BASD, she alleges they and other students of color faced repeated incidents of racist bullying that were not appropriately addressed by administrators.

Complaints filed by Garbade led to the state investigation. That investigation concluded that there was a severe, pervasive and persistent  racially hostile environment within Burlington schools. Wishau has been among those who question that assessment.

Among the allegations in the complaint was Wishaus public opposition to BCDR and a formal discrimination complaint he filed against Garbade in June 2021, seeking to have Garbade excluded from BASDs Community Equity Team, before retracting it less than a month later. Garbades new lawsuit called Wishaus complaint baseless and accused Wishau of having abused a legal process put in place by the BASD for the purpose of documenting discrimination by students, BASD staff, and/or BASD employees.

This wasnt the only instance of conflict between anti-racism activists in Burlington and Wishau. In social media posts, Wishau referred to Melissa Statz  the Burlington teacher and BCDR leader who received national attention after discussing Black Lives Matter in the classroom with her students because, she said, her students had been asking questions about BLM and the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer  as a rogue who would be dealt with.

Garbades lawsuit cited a June 2021 Journal Times report that stated: Wishau said that he would resist the state requirement that BCDR be involved in BASDs anti-racism work. In an email to a reporter at the time, Wishau wrote DPI mandate or not, no unelected or unaccountable bureaucrats in Madison that have ZERO vested interest or accountability to my constituents are going to force me to work with an organization (BCDR) or individual (Garbade) like that  period.

When Wishau tried to fight state demands regarding how BASD must do more to combat racism in its hallways, he was overruled by other school board members.

The lawsuit accuses Wishau of having filed the complaint for the purpose of chilling Garbades speech regarding a matter of public concern, namely deliberate indifference to racism.

Garbade suffered emotionally and economically because of the complaint, the lawsuit continues.

Wishaus attorneys laid out six primary defenses to the allegations. They are:

1. Plaintiffs Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; 2. Plaintiffs Complaint fails to state a basis to impose punitive damages against Defendant; 3. Plaintiff did not engage in protected speech; 4. Defendant engaged in protected speech; 5. Defendant is entitled to qualified immunity; (and) 6. Plaintiffs injuries and/or damages may have been proximately caused by the actions of persons over whom this answering Defendant has no responsibility or control.

Wishau thus demanded the complaint be dismissed and that Garbade pay his attorneys fees and and such other relief the Court deems just and equitable.

History

The relationship between BCDR/Garbade and BASD School Board members has been contentious since a November 2020 meeting in which allies of BCDR began a raucous protest that interrupted the School Board proceedings, leading to the board members leaving the room. Wishau and other School Board members said they threatened by members of the group.

After that, as the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rise and fall, the School Board did not meet again in person until July 2021. Fear of rowdy protests and harassment were cited as reasons to keep board meetings virtual for more than a half-year.

At an in-person board meeting in August which was shut down and police were called, it was not due to actions by BCDR or its allies, but rather by a group opposed to mask mandates in schools that included at least one individual who made anti-Muslim remarks.

Background

BASD Spokesperson Julie Thomas said in an email: The District does not comment on ongoing litigation. Specific questions on this lawsuit can be directed to our legal counsel, Axley Attorneys.

Madison-based Axley Attorneys are also representing Wishau, although he is being sued in his personal capacity, not as an elected official.

Wishau, Garbade and the lawyers representing each of them did not provide comments for this report. Garbade is represented by Milwaukee-based Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs; among her lawyers are Mark Thomsen, who also is a Democratic appointee to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Current BCDR President Laura Bielefeldt also declined to comment.

In his campaign for County Board, Wishau has the endorsements of several prominent local Republicans, including Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, and state Sens. Julian Bradley and Van Wanggaard.

The discovery process in the court case is ongoing.

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BURLINGTON  A likely soon-to-be new member of the Burlington City Council is promising to avoid any potential conflict between her public duties and her private role as an employee of the citys insurance agency.

Corina Kretschmer, who is running unopposed for City Council in the April 5 election, also is employed by Ansay & Associates LLC, the agency that handles the citys insurance needs.

On Tuesday, three weeks before the election, Kretschmer appeared in front of the City Council, seeking to renew a contract for Ansay & Associates to broker more than $400,000 a year in insurance premiums paid by the city. Since 2018, the company has assisted the city with general liability, workers compensation and other insurance.

Kretschmer said later she is aware of the potential for a conflict of interest once she is elected to City Council. She said she is committed to taking steps to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

She said she will distance herself from the City of Burlington contract at Ansay & Associates by handing the job over to co-workers. She also said she will abstain from voting or participating in any City Council business that relates to insurance.

If it has anything to do with insurance, then, yes, I will definitely have to abstain, she said. Thats just ethical.

Confidence expressed

Other city officials are expressing confidence that any potential conflict can be avoided between Kretschmers dual roles at City Hall.

City Council President Jon Schultz said he and others are aware of the situation.

I know they were looking into how to handle this so theres zero conflict of interest, Schultz said in an email. Obviously theres no way were intentionally putting anyone in  or allowing anyone to be in  a conflict-of-interest situation.

Kretschmer, who lives in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School, is employed as an insurance advisor for Ansay & Associates, a company based in Port Washington near Milwaukee. She has been with the company since 2013.

In 2019, she applied for and received an appointment to the citys Community Development Authority. Appointed by the City Council, the volunteer CDA board oversees city loans for expanding or relocating businesses. Her application to the city listed Ansay & Associates as her employer, but it did not mention that the company is the citys insurance agency.

The citys code of ethics states that elected officials and city employees must make full public disclosure if they have any financial or personal interest in any business or transaction with the city.

State law similarly prohibits local public officials from using their position to benefit themselves, any family members or an organization with which he or she is associated.

Disclosure, then avoidance

Ethics experts said Kretschmer can avoid most potential problems as a City Council member if she publicly discloses her relationship with Ansay & Associates, and then avoids taking any action at the city that would impact her employer.

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, said failing to acknowledge Kretschmers dual roles at City Hall would encourage suspicion or cynicism about the situation.

Have a public airing of the matter, Heck said. I would certainly think that citizens would want to have this information made public before the election.

Kretschmer is running unopposed on April 5 to succeed Alderwoman Theresa Meyer, who is not seeking re-election in the First District, which includes the citys east and north sides.

Aldermen serve two-year terms at a salary of $3,600 a year. Kretschmer said a current council member encouraged her to run for City Council this year, although she said she could not remember which council member it was.

At Tuesdays council meeting as the Committee of the Whole, council members considered an annual renewal of the citys contract with Ansay & Associates. Kretschmer represented the company and addressed her future colleagues without mentioning her expected election to the council next month.

She thanked aldermen for allowing Ansay & Associates to be on your team. She added: As you know, the community of Burlington is my community. I appreciate every one of you.

The council has not acted on the possible contract renewal.

Kretschmer said later she has talked with City Administrator Carina Walters about how to manage the potential appearance of a conflict once she joins the council. She said she is uncertain when and how she will have to recuse herself from her council duties.

Were still trying to figure that out, she said.

Walters could not be reached for comment, but she wrote in an email that Kretscher would not vote on any matters related to the insurance.

We all know, including Corina, it would be a conflict of interest, Walters wrote.

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RACINE  The Racine Public Library is planning $1.78 million in renovations, just in time for its 125th anniversary. No taxpayer dollars are expected to go into the project.

Construction is expected to begin in late spring this year.

I think its very important to acknowledge that libraries are changing, so looking at this holistically, this is just another fantastic community center that we will be offering to the community, Angela Zimmerman, RPL executive director, said while presenting the renovation plans to the City Council on Tuesday.

She added, Libraries have been and are changing their focus from collections to connections.

Zimmerman said the new focus will be more on how to provide space for community, shared learning, and cultural experiences.

The funding for the renovations came from a number of trust funds, including the New Facilities Trust Fund ($1.2 million), the Boernke Trust Fund ($150,000), and the Emily Lee Trust Fund ($170,000).

Additionally, the Racine Public Library Foundation generated $270,000 toward the renovations.

Although there are no levy funds being used, because the library is a city facility, the contract still had to go through the public bidding process.

The contract was awarded to Rasch Construction & Engineering of Kenosha.

Alderman Melissa Kaprelian, who sits on the library board, said there have been discussions about renovating the 1958 building since the beginning of the current millennium.

She praised Zimmermans leadership and added she has an exhaustive dedication to making Racine Public Library impactful and response to the communitys needs.

Renovations

The planned renovations include:

A new entrance on Lake Avenue, including a new services station/greeting area

A renovated stairway

An Information Center will be placed at the center of the second floor and will be the first thing patrons see when they come up the stairs

An innovation lab for STEAM (science, technical, engineering, art, and math) classes and projects

The local history room that will be expanded by 20%

Additional seating with more room for meetings, plus three additional study rooms, will be added

A new Business Center that could accommodate the increasing trend of remote work

A vibrant new space for teens

Its important for me to provide teens with as much of a safe, inviting, and inclusive space as possible, Zimmerman said.

The library will not close during renovations. Instead, Zimmerman said the plan is to shift collections around so the public will still have access while construction is ongoing.

History

The library has been through many changes in its 125-year history.

According to records kept with the Wisconsin Historical Society, the library was founded in 1897 with a $50,000 donation from industrialist Andrew Carnegie.

It 1958, the library moved to its current location, was renovated in the 1970s and expanded/updated in 1991.

These pricier renovations follow a series of modernizations the library has undergone recently, from a new mural in the entryway to a sensory room unveiled last month. The library also got its first-ever full-time social worker last summer.

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Now thats a shot or two in the arm.

The proposed $60 million Racine Community Health Center got a $20 million boost last week thanks to Gov. Tony Evers announcement of a state contribution to the project.

Mayor Cory Mason says that puts the much-needed center two-thirds of its way toward the total cost of the project and groundbreaking could begin this year.

Ascension All Saints has pledged $1 million for the new health center and another $2 million could come from Congress 2022 omnibus package.

That still leaves some heavy fund-raising lifting to close the gap, but the health center is well on its way to becoming a reality.

The Community Health Center is proposed for construction on a vacant site next to Julian Thomas Elementary School, 930 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the heart of the city.

Announcing the grant, which will be funneled from federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, Gov. Evers said it would redress disparities by allowing people in the Lincoln-King neighborhood to get the same quality of health care available in more affluent areas.

This facility will really break down barriers, Evers said. As a state, we are so glad to be part of this.

Ascension Regional Medical Director Janice Litza told the crowd at the announcement gathering that her company can attest to the need for better health care for Racines low-income families. She said the new clinic will allow Racine to build a stronger, healthier community.

The financial support for the proposed state-of-the-art clinic comes on the heels of another state grant  for $15 million  to support and expand affordable housing in the Lincoln-King neighborhood.

Mason said, It feels like Christmas morning as he joined the governor for the grant announcement. He said the paired grants are the greatest partnership the state and city have ever known.

Thats probably not an understatement.

Good housing and good medical care  particularly for areas struggling with poverty and unable to access adequate health care  are essential to building a thriving community. These state grants will go a long way toward achieving those goals.

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1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market.

2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image.

3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers.

4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while.

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KEARNEY  Mayor Stan Clouse said today that Kearneys sister city, Opava, Czech Republic, needs monetary assistance to help the hundreds of refugees from Ukraine who are arriving in Opava.

Clouse said in a city of Kearney press release that Opava Mayor Tomas Navratil reported Opava is receiving hundreds of refugees daily, especially women and children, and they need our help.

Kearney and Opava have been sister cities for more than a decade, and each has hosted numerous group exchanges.

The Sister City team in Kearney reached out to the Mayor of Opava to understand how the war in Ukraine is affecting our friends and colleagues in Opava and the region, Clouse said. The Czechs are providing accommodations such as food, medical services, and other necessities, but it is a tremendous strain on their local resources. Additionally, they are cooperating with mayors of surrounding villages, firefighters, health workers, local institutions, companies, and volunteers to provide aid, but the evolving situation is escalating.

In response, the Sister City team in Kearney is coordinating relief efforts through the Kearney Area Community Foundation to help our Sister City in Opava as they deal with the collateral damage of the war in Ukraine.

Residents of the Kearney area who are interested in helping Opavas aid efforts and the people of Ukraine can contribute to an account at the Kearney Area Community Foundation. All contributions will be sent to the Mayor of Opava to help provide accommodations, food, medical care and necessities.

Donations can be dropped off in person during office hours, or mailed to: Kearney Sister City Opava - Help Ukraine Fund, c/o Kearney Area Community Foundation, 412 W. 48th St. #12, Kearney, NE 68845. To donate with a credit or debit card, go to https://www.kearneyfoundation.org/help-ukraine. Gift receipts will be sent for donations of $250 or larger. Donors who wish to make a gift of appreciated stock or a distribution from their IRA can contact KACF at 308-237-3114.
STAMFORD  An Orleans fire truck and about 200 acres burned Wednesday in a grass fire near Stamford.

The Stamford Volunteer Fire Department was called at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday to a grass fire along D Road. The fire went around one house before jumping the road and came within 200 yards of a second house, said Stamford Fire Chief Mike Shaw. Neither structure caught fire or had noticeable damage, Shaw said.

Orleans, Beaver City, Oxford, Holbrook, Holdrege and Alma provided mutual aid, and a local aerial applicator assisted at the scene. Area farmers aided the firefighters by discing the field.

During the fire, Orleans Volunteer Fire Departments 1976 GMC pumper tankers fuel line caught fire and spread to a fuel tank.

That caused more issues because we pretty much had a second fire on top of our fire, Shaw said. It got so hot so fast. The guys had to abandon it because they had a grass fire all around them.

The departments were able to get the blaze under control in four and a half hours. Area farmers were continuing to monitor the fire for flareups.

On Thursday, a grass fire near Road 462 and 775 in southeast Custer County burnt about 10 acres, said Ansley Fire Chief Travis Harrop. The fire was contained to a field and primarily burned cornstalks and bean stubble. A farmer was able to disc through the fields to prevent it from spreading, said Harrop.

Grass fires have kept area departments busy this month, and Shaw urges the public to be cautious.

Please, just stay away. Having extra people on scene that we have to worry about causes us issues, Shaw said.
GRAND ISLAND -- The illness detected among horses at Fonner Park last week has been confirmed as the equine herpes virus known as EHV-1.

Lab results confirmed the presence of the virus, which affects a horses neurological system, on Friday evening.

Prior to getting the results, Fonner Park placed a preliminary 21-day quarantine on Barn R, which stalls more than 100 horses.

Fonner Park Chief Executive Officer Chris Kotulak said the track already had established some biosecurity measures before the lab results were conclusive.

Now, additional measures will be added.

Among other things, the starting gates are being sanitized, as are the stalls in the paddock after each race. We are not allowing horsemen in the R barn to make contact with other horses in the stable area, Kotulak said.

We enacted immediate protocol and now we must adhere to and increase our measures of safety, Kotulak said in a statement.

The virus can be spread through contact with other horses. Even if one horse sneezes in one stall, the contagions could be inhaled by a neighboring horse if theres enough of a drift in the air.

So Fonner has to become hypervigilant in trying to stop or repress this from going any further, Kotulak said.

Sadly, there are many in the stable area now shut down from earning a paycheck to feed themselves and their horses.

Because horses stalled in Barn R are not being allowed to race right now, the virus already has affected Fonners racing card.

If the track continues to have outbreaks or the quarantine is extended, it could affect the number of races Fonner offers or the number of horses in each race. Live racing this week is scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

No horses have been euthanized since two thoroughbreds infected were put to sleep last week, Kotulak said.

Some hope may come in the form of AniCell Biotech. A representative of that company, based in Chandler, Arizona, arrived at Fonner Tuesday.

AniCell has a product that is still in testing mode, Kotulak said. The company believes the product can prevent the virus from spreading and actually eliminate the symptoms in a horse once it has contracted the virus, Kotulak said.

Kotulak praised Dr. David Radechel, the states racing veterinarian.

He has been very proactive within the last week and has continually gone above and beyond to try to get out in front of this matter, Kotulak said. The track is blessed to have Radechel taking such a strong, active role, he said.

In 2016, 180 horses were quarantined at Fonner Park following three confirmed cases of EHV-1.
When the Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers performed at the Westby Area High School gym Feb. 27, the 160-plus attendees were treated to two hours of authentic folk dances.

All of the dancers wore traditional national costumes called bunads that represented various geographical regions found in Norway. In addition to performing Norsk folk dances, the group also presented selections from Finland and Sweden.

This dance group was formed in 1953 and it gave its first performance during Stoughtons annual Syttende Mai weekend. They now boast trips to Canada and have made trips to Norway as well.

Following their performance, which was hosted by the History Alive Project, the dancers, their parent chaperones and leader, Staci Heimsoth, were treated to a grab-and-go pizza meal provided by Westby House Inn owners, Scott and Cyndi Lecky. They picked up their meal for their return trip home at the inn.

Our board decided early on in planning not to charge for admission to this; it was our way of saying a big thank-you for welcoming our group almost seven years ago, now, said Dave Amundson, History Alive Project president. Area people have embraced our many History Alive Project activities since we continue to work to get our areas rich heritage off of shelves, out of cardboard boxes and on the other side of glass cabinet doors. Our rich stories are about people, not the things alone that built our areas history.

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Window film will be installed on all public-facing windows and doors at the Carroll County Circuit Court in Westminster to add an extra layer of security, according to Fred S. Hecker, administrative judge for the Carroll County Circuit Court, the result of a $12,000 grant awarded to the county and accepted by commissioners Thursday.

I hope we never need it, but since they were offering, we took the opportunity, Hecker said.

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The funding is available exclusively for the purchase and installation of security window film in public entrance areas of the Circuit Courthouse. The grant will fund the entire cost of the project and there are no county funds required for this project.

The Circuit Court will receive the funding through the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts.

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Later in the meeting, commissioners also approved submission of the fiscal 2023 Office of Problem-Solving Courts Discretionary grant application and accepted an award of $370,948.31 for the continued funding of the Carroll County Adult Drug Treatment Court. The state grant requires a county match totaling $4,745.

Carroll County Breaking News As it happens When big news breaks, be the first to know. >

CCADC is a court-operated program under the direction of the Carroll County Circuit Court that coordinates an effort to identify adult non-violent substance abusing offenders who live in the county and place them under strict court monitoring and community supervision, coupled with effective substance abuse treatment and referrals to supportive services.

Participants in CCADC typically have a significant number of arrests related to their addiction, multiple criminal cases, periods of unsuccessful supervision, lengthy periods of incarceration and multiple failures at substance abuse treatment, according to a meeting document.

Since April 2007, the CCADC has accepted 497 individuals with 262 participants successfully completing the program and 37 current participants. Those who successfully complete the 13-month program significantly reduce their substance use, time of incarceration and further involvement in the criminal justice system.

Were approaching our 500th participant. Weve graduated a little over 50% so its a tough program, Hecker said. Those who do go on to graduate from our drug treatment court  have a lower recidivism rate and obviously it results in a better community and cost savings to the community.

He added many graduates are now working in the community in the recovery arena, operating sober living homes and assisting those who are going through recovery.

While the COVID-19 pandemic restricted court operations for two years, Hecker said fewer individuals have come through the program. Now that the facility is fully operational, he expects to see a steady increase in program participants.

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Grant funding has covered the vast majority of the cost of the adult drug treatment court since its inception. The court has also successfully applied for federal grant funds and used community fundraising to cover program costs.
McIntosh Memorial Library of Viroqua is sponsoring a bus trip for current fourth-grade students to travel to the Hmong Culture and Community Agency in La Crosse. The trip is scheduled for Thursday, April 7.

Registered participants will travel by chartered bus from the library at 3:30 p.m. to the Hmong Culture and Community Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the Hmong Education Project. The project offers teachings about Hmong history and culture through four interactive stations. Those stations include Hmong Story Cloth, Hmong Village, Laos Jungle, and Crossing the Mekong River/Living in Refugee Camps.

Attendees will be provided with a snack on the bus en route to La Crosse. The bus will return to library by 6:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate in the bus trip, but registration is required. Sign up by contacting Youth Services Director Laci Sheldon at 608-637-7151, extension 5. The registration deadline is Friday, April 1.

For more information about other upcoming library programs, visit mcintoshmemoriallibrary.org, call 608-637-7151, or like the Viroqua Library Facebook page.

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TOMAHRichard Dick John Thurston, 86, of Tomah, WI passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse from lung cancer.

Born on January 5, 1936, in Michigan to John and Malissa (Swift) Thurston. He spent most of his childhood in Dearborn and Flint, MI staying with his Aunt Agnes Conroy and all his Conroy cousins.

Not much is known about his childhood as he kept really quiet about it. Dick joined the Air Force in 1955. He married Alice Mae Sutton on February 19, 1965 while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Throughout his military career he was stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base in California, he was stationed for a year in Vietnam, upon return the family was relocated to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver Colorado and finally to The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. After 22 years in the Air Force, Dick retired and moved the family to Alices hometown of Tomah, WI. They settled into small town life where Dick served as store manager for Millers Pharmacy until he retired.

Before he became ill with COPD, you might find him at the TeePee Supper Club enjoying a beer and a cigarette with his friends. In the past he enjoyed deer hunting, bowling, and crossword puzzles. He enjoyed torturing his kids by listening to music by John Phillip Sousa. Things that vexed him, was to much talking on the phone; even when long distance charges were no longer an issue. He made a mean spaghetti sauce with wine or beer as the secret ingredient.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Alice of Tomah; daughter, Vicki (Shane) Vossen of Isle, MN; sons: John of St Paul, MN and Ronald of Tomah; grandchildren: Neda, Mark, Joy, Lorenzo, and Chayton Vossen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Carol Babcock of Dearborn Heights, MI.

Memorial Services with military honors will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Pastor Kory Janneke will officiate. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home on Friday. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com
After a weeks-long search, missing UW-L student Hamud Faal was found in the Mississippi River by crews on Thursday afternoon, according to an update from the La Crosse Police Department.

Faal, 25, was last seen on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 3:37 a.m. walking southbound on Front Street alone. He was reported missing the next day by his family.

On Thursday morning, the La Crosse Fire Department conducted a search in the river as part of an ongoing effort to locate Faal.

At approximately 4 p.m., Faal was recovered by firefighters in about 25 feet of water near the Division Street landing in La Crosse, just a few blocks from where he was last seen.

The investigation is ongoing, the police department stated, and an official cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.

Over 100 volunteers joined a search party in February, searching near Riverside Park and downtown where Faal was last seen.

A GoFundMe page set up originally to help support a reward for tips had garnered $23,490 as of Friday afternoon. The page was in-part set up by state Rep. Samba Baldeh, D-Madison, a friend of Faals family.

Faal was a graduate of Sun Prairie High School and was studying psychology at UW-L, set to graduate this May, according to reports.

The discovery comes just a few weeks after police recovered the body of Dayton K. Anderson-Teece, 27, from the Black River near the Clinton Street boat ramp in La Crosse.

This story was updated at 2:45 p.m. Friday, March 18 with more details.

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The city of La Crosse will be able to treat some of its wells for contamination of PFAS using new federal funds, the mayors office announced Friday.

More than 500 private wells and three city wells on French Island have been found to be contaminated with PFAS in recent years, with many residents turning to bottled water.

This funding creates a pathway forward for our citys water utility to address the impact of so-called forever chemicals in our drinking water supply, Mayor Mitch Reynolds said in a statement.

PFAS are a group of toxic forever chemicals that is believed to in-part have spread on French Island from the nearby La Crosse Regional Airport and has been found in water around the nation and state in recent years.

From the utility worker in the hole fixing the leak to the Utility Board, it is our goal to provide safe, clean, reliable water to the citizens of La Crosse, city utilities manager Bernie Lenz said in a statement.

La Crosse secured an earmarked amount of $3,730,000 from the new federal omnibus spending package, which was signed into law this week. The application for the funding was led by Lenz and the overall funding was backed by Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

This federal funding provides direct support for the city of La Crosse to make improvements to their water infrastructure that will serve the community, and Im proud to have delivered results for the people of Wisconsin, Baldwin said in a statement.

It is a boost to have Senator Baldwin and the federal government support that effort with these funds dedicated to helping us remove PFAS. It takes that type of a team to face these types of challenges, Lenz said.

Reynolds acknowledged that this is one small step in a long battle.

Ultimately, the responsibility for the spread of these chemicals throughout the precious waters of our nation lies with the manufacturers who have profited from their use, Reynolds said. While we continue to push for accountability, the city of La Crosse can help lead the way towards helping smaller communities learn how to adapt through treatment of current water sources.

The city council approved another $25,000 of bottled water to French Island residents last week, and the city is taking another look at its water agreement with the town of Campbell as a possible long-term solution.

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All 30 seats on the La Crosse County Board are up for reelection on Tuesday, April 5. The Tribune asked candidates a series of questions about their platforms.

The Q&As will be published daily in order of responses, not in numerical order of districts.

Responses for candidates running for District 1 are below.

Joe Konradt

Age: 65

Education: MBA, BA Economics & Political Science, Graduate School of Banking

Occupation: Retired after 34 years in banking

Political experience: Candidate for Mayor Of La Crosse in 2021

Why do you want to serve on the La Crosse County Board and what is something youd want to accomplish if elected?

With 34 years of banking experience I have the financial, business and leadership experience to help make sound decisions for our county. Our county spends tens of millions of dollars every year, borrows large amounts of money, employs many people, and is responsible for improving the lives of our citizens. We need leaders with the practical experience to help manage a complex organization that provides vital services to our community.

La Crosse County has received nearly $22 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The current board has already divided the funds into categories, but what do you think is the most important project this unprecedented funding should be spent on?

There are many, many worthwhile projects that need support. I have two concerns about the current plan.

First, a portion of this once in a lifetime opportunity needs to be allocated to reducing the ever increasing burden of fixing our roads. Our spending  and borrowing  for road repair keeps growing and yet we are not keeping up with the deterioration. Borrowed money must be paid back. If we miss this opportunity to allocate some ARPA dollars to roads it means that future taxes will have to go up and up to pay the bill.

Everyone in La Crosse pays these increasing taxes  whether you own or rent. If you own, you have seen your property tax bill grow. If you rent, your landlord has no choice but to pass those higher taxes on to you with higher rent.

My second concern is that we should not spend one time funds for programs that require ongoing payments after the money is used up. Where will future dollars come from to keep these programs running? One-time funds should not be used for initiatives that indebts our future. Ignoring the future cost is not good for the people of La Crosse, no matter how well intentioned.

ARPA funds give us the opportunity to address multiple needs. Lets make sure the allocations are appropriate and that they are directed to maximize the benefit to our community. Both the boring, like fixing the roads, and the more exciting like addressing social responsibility.

What ideas do you have on improving the collaboration and regionalization between the county and municipalities?

My County Board District is the same as my City of La Crosse Aldermanic district. County decisions have direct effect on city taxpayers. As a representative of both, I appeal to all residents of our county to fairly treat others. Even though some past city officials refused to work with the county, our roles are entwined.

Why is the La Crosse Airport the only one in the entire state that is owned by a city? Every other airport in Wisconsin is owned by a county. People throughout our county use the airport and benefit from the increased business it brings. Is it fair that only the city residents are responsible to pay for it? PFAS is a federal issue that the FAA has caused by requiring specific fire fighting foam. That issue will have to be addressed, and once that problem is behind us, it is only fair that the whole county share responsibility for the airport

The La Crosse Center is another example. The center is budgeted to at best cover day-to-day operating expenses  not to pay the mortgage on the expansion. Again why are only city taxpayers responsible for this debt? Dont residents throughout the county use the center? Dont businesses outside the city benefit from the inflow of tourist dollars? It is only fair that responsibility be at the county level as it is in other parts of the state.

What about homelessness. Just because the city has areas where this problem is visible, dont all of us have a responsibility to take care of our fellow citizens that need help? Wisconsin is divided into counties, every square mile of Wisconsin is in a county. Homelessness needs to be addressed at a county level. It should not be forced upon only a fraction of our county taxpayers that happen to live in the city. We all need to pay our fair share.

Pelli Lee

Age: 30

Education: Masters in Leadership and Management

Occupation: HR/Recruitment

Political experience: La Crosse School Board

Why do you want to serve on the La Crosse County Board and what is something youd want to accomplish if elected?

My name is Pelli Lee and I have a beautiful partner named Joua Moua. We have 3 wonderful children (5, 1, 2 months) together and our oldest attends Northwoods Elementary. I want to represent District 1 because it is the district I was raised in. I am Hmong, and I want to bring a culturally specific lens and perspective currently not represented on the county board. La Crosse County is beautiful because of the diversity of people, and if elected I want to make sure we are building a community that represents all of us.

La Crosse County has received nearly $22 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The current board has already divided the funds into categories, but what do you think is the most important project this unprecedented funding should be spent on?

It is hard to list what is most important because all the projects are in dire need of support. They are all equally important, but the one that comes to mind first is improving our housing for the unsheltered families, housing for adults with high needs, and expanding on affordable housing. Hmong people have always taken care of their vulnerable populations first; similarly, the issues surrounding housing is a large part of our vulnerable populations in the county, and if they are taken care of everyone can thrive as a community.

What ideas do you have on improving the collaboration and regionalization between the county and municipalities?

Many projects and investments are in the city of La Crosse, and it is great for our community. I believe there should also be an effort to locate and duplicate programs that are working well in our city into other places in the county. For example, the city of La Crosse has neighborhood revitalization grants and monies that has been instrumental in prioritizing our cities needs in affordable and quality housing. The neighborhood revitalization programs puts people first and increases our tax base. This kind of program can be a collaboration and replicated throughout our county.

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Dr. Murillo-Rhode was born in Panama and immigrated to the US in 1945. She received her nursing diploma in 1948 and began her career in San Antonio, TX, but found few Hispanic nurses serving their community. This set her on a goal to improve the lives of Hispanic medical staff and enhance healthcare in underrepresented communities.

She received a B.A. in psychiatric mental health nursing from Columbia University and then masters and doctorate degrees at New York University. In the 1970s, Dr. Murillo-Rhode held a federal position in Washington, D.C., reviewing grants, and found no Latina nurses in academic settings in research or public policy and was motivated to make change.

She founded the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1975 to assist Latinas in securing their education and to provide service to their community. Dr. Murillo-Rhode was always active in nursing and served on the faculty and then as dean of nursing at SUNY.

Her many honors include being named as a permanent representative to UNICEF for the International Federation of Business and Professional Women and was named a Fellow and Living Legend by the American Nursing Association.

Sponsored by AAUW La Crosse; researched by Pam Thiel.

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Assembly Speaker Robin Vos came under fire Thursday from both Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and former President Donald Trump for politically crosswise statements he made a day earlier backing baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election while opposing calls to decertify the results, something experts say is impossible anyway.

Vos also dismissed as foolish a Republican state lawmakers use of a violent metaphor after the lawmaker was booted from a closed meeting with election deniers on Wednesday.

Speaking at a WisPolitics luncheon Thursday, Evers, who is up for reelection in November, said repeated claims of fraud in the 2020 election by top Republicans, including Vos, have only amplified the call for decertification  something that has also been urged by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who Vos hired last year to conduct a one-party review of the election at a cost to taxpayers of $676,000.

I think hes one of the smartest people Ive ever met and I think this is one of the dumbest things hes ever said, Evers said in reference to Vos claim of widespread fraud.

Robin Vos could end it today and say, Gableman, go home. Stop your circus, Evers added.

Trump, who has repeatedly called on Wisconsin Republican lawmakers to undo the will of the voters and decertify the 2020 election, laid into Vos for agreeing with nonpartisan legislative lawyers who say the Legislature cant decertify the results. President Joe Biden defeated Trump by nearly 21,000 votes and multiple audits and reviews have found no evidence of widespread fraud.

Wrong! Trump said. If you rob the diamonds from a jewelry store, if you get caught, you have to give the diamonds back, votes should be no different.

There is so much fraud, as Vos knows, that this should be done quickly and easily, added Trump, a Republican, who notably made more than 30,000 false or misleading statements during his four years in office.

Trump also pointed to a resolution Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, introduced seeking to reclaim the states 10 electoral votes already cast for Biden, a measure GOP leaders say they will not take up.

On Wednesday, Ramthun, a Republican candidate for governor, called Vos a bully and said the only way to deal with bullies is to punch them right back in the nose after Vos kicked him out of a meeting about decertifying President Joe Bidens 2020 win in Wisconsin.

Ramthun, who has been pushing for decertification, which nonpartisan legislative lawyers say is constitutionally impossible, said in an online interview on YouTube that he was angry with Vos after the speaker did not allow him in the closed-door meeting that day.

Heated words

It was the perfect opportunity to punch him right in the nose and say go pound sand, but I was concerned about the collateral damage, Ramthun said after Vos kicked him out of the meeting.

Theres only one way to treat a bully and thats to punch him right back in the nose, but in this case I couldnt take the chance because he could have just ended it and said, Fine Im outta here, and left. ... And then it would have been on me.

He added, I mean, Im hypothetical here.

Ramthun spoke with reporters in the hallway as the meeting was ongoing and said it should be open to the public. Vos, who has clashed with Ramthun before, called the meeting to discuss the legalities of decertifying the election with attorneys and advocates who support it and those who say its illegal.

In response to Ramthuns comments Thursday, Vos said, Rep. Ramthun says a lot of foolish things. This is one more on the list.

Ramthun did not return a message Thursday.

Ramthun is one of several Republican candidates running for governor, including former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and businessman Kevin Nicholson. They are seeking to take on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Lawsuit update

Gablemans review, which was originally planned to be finished last fall, has dragged on due in part to multiple legal challenges, Republicans have said.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford on Thursday agreed to add three additional individuals subpoenaed by Gableman to one of the ongoing lawsuits related to whether the former justice has the authority to demand in-person interviews as part of his probe as opposed to testifying before a legislative committee.

Gableman filed new subpoenas late last year seeking in-person meetings with Ann Jacobs, the Democratic chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission; the state Department of Administrations chief information officer, Trina Zanow; and Sara Linski, a technical services employee with the Elections Commission. Lanfords order allows the three individuals to join the ongoing lawsuit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Wisconsin lawmakers went home last week leaving a slate of energy and environmental policy bills on the table, but some advocates see signs that clean energy may be gaining traction, even among Republicans who control both chambers.

The Legislature passed just one significant energy-related bill, an expansion of a clean energy financing tool, while a handful of GOP-sponsored bills almost made it to the finish line.

Meanwhile, a package of nearly two dozen Democratic proposals aimed at curbing and adapting to climate change languished without so much as a committee hearing after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos dismissed them as nothing more than pandering to the very liberal base.

Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, a vocal leader on clean energy and climate policy, gave the session a grade of incomplete.

There was some discussion, but very minimal action, she said.

But while Republican leadership stymied the Democrats climate bills, Neubauer sees signs that some in the party are becoming more receptive to clean energy.

The discussion has changed significantly in the last couple of years, she said.

Republicans introduced bills to expand access to solar energy, spur investments in electric vehicle charging stations and foster markets for farmers to sell carbon offsets.

By my count, there were eight GOP-led bills on clean energy or electric vehicles, said Scott Coenen, head of the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum. Thats eight more than last session.

Coenen said at least some Republicans recognize the economic and social benefits of homegrown energy.

We proved the concepts: There can be conservative, free-market-centered clean energy policy, he said. You can do it in Wisconsin.

Nick Hylla, executive director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, had a less charitable take on the majority partys forays into clean energy.

You can introduce, if youre a Republican, anything you want. But you also know that its not going to get out of committee unless a supermajority is going to vote for it, he said. They just do it to look good.

PACE program

The only significant energy bill passed was an expansion of Wisconsins Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, a tool for financing clean energy, energy efficiency and water conservation projects.

The bill, passed unanimously and signed into law last week by Gov. Tony Evers, will allow financing for projects including stormwater infrastructure, such as green roofs and permeable pavement, as well as electric vehicle charging stations at commercial and industrial properties.

Jim Boullion, legislative director for Renew Wisconsin, said clean energys technological advances and falling prices in recent years have made a great story  not just about reduced greenhouse gas emissions but also one of economic development, job creation and cost savings.

We are definitely making inroads with legislators from both sides of the aisle, Bouillon said. Even if there are still hurdles to overcome, everyone is interested in learning more.

Neubauer believes Republicans will have to move further in order to win over suburban voters and as traditionally red districts are increasingly affected by climate change.

We are being pushed in the Capitol from outside, Neubauer said. I do think theyll feel increasing pressure to take action on these issues.

Below are a selection of energy-related bills that failed to pass this session:

Climate change

Late last year, Democrats introduced a package of 22 bills based on recommendations of the governors climate change task force that would have doubled funding for energy conservation and funneled more of that money to low-income households, reduced food waste, and provided money for climate-related research and planning, among other things.

None of the bills received a committee hearing or vote.

Vos said on Twitter, This isnt a serious effort and is nothing more than pandering to the very liberal base of WI Dems. And they wonder why they cant win elections outside of Madison and Milwaukee?

Hylla suggested Democrats made a marketing blunder by focusing on climate change rather than economic development, jobs and consumer empowerment.

Who are you trying to win over? Hylla said. You already have those people.

Neubauer said politicians need to highlight both messages.

I think it is important that we continue to talk about climate change, she said. It is a crisis thats looming.

Electric vehicles

Legislation stipulating who can sell electric vehicles, who can provide charging services and how customers pay for the electricity stalled amid disputes over the role for local governments and the source of electricity.

One GOP bill would have allowed companies other than utilities to charge for the amount of electricity sold rather than by the minute, clearing the way for private companies to operate charging stations more fairly.

But amendments stipulated that providers could only charge for electricity from local utilities, effectively prohibiting solar-powered charging stations, and limited the role of local governments, which opponents said would lead to charging deserts in rural areas and other places that might not be profitable.

Advocates saw the final legislation as a step backward but say updates are needed to prepare for widespread adoption of electric vehicles and the influx of at least $79 million in federal funding for EV infrastructure.

We are at a key moment when important policy decisions have to be made, Boullion said.

Solar access

A pair of Republican-sponsored bills that would have made solar energy accessible to more people failed to get through the committee hearing process amid heavy opposition from utilities.

One was intended to address an ambiguity in state law that has allowed utilities to refuse to hook up solar panels their customers lease from independent providers, which proponents say is key to expanding solar access for local governments and nonprofit organizations as well as individuals who cant afford the up-front costs.

The other bill would have required utilities to purchase energy from community-owned solar farms, a popular way for those who cant put solar panels on their roofs to share in the economic and environmental benefits.

Utility competition

Despite vigorous lobbying by a state utility regulator, the Legislature did not pass a bill to limit competitive bidding on the long-distance power lines that will be needed to deliver clean energy to population centers.

The bipartisan bill would have given the states three transmission utilities exclusive rights to build projects approved by the Midwest grid operator, which is expected to approve at least $30 billion worth of new lines next year.

Commissioner Ellen Nowak of the Public Service Commission pushed for the bill, which had support from utilities and labor unions, as a matter of preserving reliability and state control. But a coalition of consumer, industry and free market groups argued it was simply about protecting utility profits at the expense of ratepayers.

Natural gas

Another GOP bill introduced in the final days of the session would have prohibited cities, towns and villages from banning natural gas hookups in new buildings.

Such laws hamstring local governments ability to fight air pollution and climate change, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

At least 21 other states have adopted similar preemption laws since 2019 when Berkeley, California, became the first U.S. city to ban gas hookups in new buildings. Dozens of other cities  most recently and notably New York  have since followed suit.

Carbon trading

Introduced in the final days of the session, the Republican bill sought to establish a voluntary market for farmers to trade carbon emission offsets and to make it easier for producers to sell renewable gas produced from manure and food waste.

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A pile of rubble is all that remains of the Parkview Crossing townhome of Everton Brown in Woodlawn. Police shot and killed Brown Saturday, after he set fire to his townhome then shot four neighbors, killing three of them. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Shyam Adhikari thought he was going to die outside his home on the morning of May 8, 2021.

His neighbor was on a shooting rampage, and as Adhikari knelt in the grass beside his wounded friend, the gun was trained on him.

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Adhikari was shot in his right leg before police officers arrived and shot and killed his neighbor: 56-year-old Everton Brown.

The shooting in Woodlawn killed three others and left Adhikari with lasting injuries. Even as the one-year anniversary of the incident draws near, Adhikari said he struggles to stand up without assistance and cannot walk for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

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The incident raised painful questions about policies in place in Maryland to assist those who may be experiencing mental health crises. Brown had extensive contact with law enforcement during his years in Woodlawn. He called the police more than 120 times to complain that he was being surveilled by the federal government, to report altercations with his neighbors, to claim that items had been stolen from his house.

The Baltimore County Mobile Crisis Team stopped by Browns home more than once for wellness checks, and at least one neighbor filed a peace order against him. But none of that was enough to prevent tragedy.

Adhikari spoke last week in favor of a bill before the Maryland General Assembly that would convene a working group to reassess Marylands extreme risk gun law, including representatives from the relevant state agencies, law enforcement and health professionals.

The existing law, which took effect in 2018, allows officials to take firearms away from those deemed to pose an immediate risk to themselves or others for up to one year at a time. Family members, cohabitants, medical professionals and law enforcement officials can petition the court to initiate the process. The law, commonly called Marylands red flag law, was one of the most-used of its kind in the country just a few years after its passage.

This years bill, sponsored by Del. Harry Bhandari of Baltimore County, is named after Sagar Ghimire, Adhikaris friend who died that day. A couple, Ismael Quintanilla and Sara Alacote, also were killed. Ghimire, a 24-year-old from Nepal, had just graduated from Claflin University in South Carolina and moved to the Parkview Crossing townhome complex in Woodlawn when the shooting occurred.

His family was left to wonder why  if the clues were there  there was no action taken, which might have prevented this incident, said Bhandari, a Democrat. This bill would take a step toward providing that answer.

The bill is supported by the office of Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., and by Ghimires family in Nepal. During last weeks hearing, a representative read a letter from the family.

May the government and administration get inspiration to be aware and take additional remedial measures to mitigate the brutal violence like the one my son and many sons of innocent parents have faced, it read.

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For any hope of passage this year, the bill would need to be approved by the House of Delagates by Monday, but it remains in committee and so it has a steep hill to climb. But Bhandari said he plans to continue pushing for the measure in future legislative sessions if needed.

This is a complicated case touching on many critical issues, and I understood from the start that there would not be an easy solution, he said in a statement. While I am hoping that my colleagues will help me pass HB1344 this year, I am ready to take advantage of an additional year to prepare an even stronger bill.

Adhikari was the first one in his home to wake up that morning in May when an explosion rocked Browns townhouse next door.

When he saw flames engulfing his neighbors home, Adhikari roused his housemates and helped them evacuate. Ghimire tried to rescue the two international students all-important travel documents from their home but couldnt find Adhikaris. So Adhikari went in himself to retrieve them, leaving Ghimire in the parking lot.

Baltimore County fire and law enforcement agencies investigate a fire and a shooting. Everton Garfield Brown, 56, killed three of his neighbors Saturday and was fatally shot by police after an explosion collapsed and burned his Parkview Crossing town house and an attached house in the 7500 block of Maury Road, officials said. May 8, 2021 (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

When he returned, Adhikari saw Ghimire lying on the ground and rushed to his side.

I thought he just got faint because I didnt hear any gunshots until that time, Adhikari said. And I just pulled his body and brought it to the grass part and just kept his head in my lap, and I just told him, Just wake up, Sagar. Wake up.

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Suddenly, Brown approached the pair, gun in hand.

At the time, I couldnt do anything else, Adhikari said. I thought: Thats the end of my life. And I just closed my eyes, and he shot the gun.

Then, as police approached, Brown ran away. Four officers fired at Brown and killed him.

Recovering from the injury to his leg has been trying, Adhikari told legislators during the hearing.

Its been already eight, nine months, and Im still on bed rest, Adhikari said.

He and Ghimire first met back in 2013 while attending high school in Kathmandu. They moved to the Baltimore area together in hopes of applying to local graduate schools. But the shooting changed everything.

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Now, Adhikari lives in Fairfield, Ohio, with his wife, who is helping him recover from his injury. Adhikari said he does not have health insurance, so he hasnt been able to afford the physical therapy his doctors recommended. But he does what he can to strengthen his leg from home and said it has begun to improve.

For the first few years, evaluating Marylands red flag law  which aims to prevent tragedies like what happened in Woodlawn  was made more difficult by confidentiality provisions, which shielded some of the data from public view, said Shannon Frattaroli, a professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies the measure.

Last year, the Maryland General Assembly updated the law to allow for greater data-sharing between the courts and researchers, Frattaroli said. Her team at Hopkins is just beginning to assess additional data about extreme risk protection orders, including more information on who most often petitions for the protective orders and whether theyre most often used to protect against self-harm or harm to others.

I definitely appreciate the attention from [Del. Harry Bhandari] on the need to have a work group, she said. But any group that does that needs to have those recommendations informed by data. And that just became possible less than a year ago. And the process of going through those data takes time.

That being said, there are discussions about modifying the law, perhaps to make it easier for medical professionals and other eligible groups to petition courts by allowing for virtual testimony, Frattaroli said.

In Browns case, it was neighbors who frequently flagged his behavior; they are not eligible to file an extreme risk protective order under Maryland law.

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Back during the legislative process, there was some movement to try to extend the protective order petitioners, said Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin, who helped to craft Marylands law and train police departments to use it. But there was some real concern about neighbors  somebody who wasnt even familiar with a person  getting one of these ERPOs.

Everton Garfield Brown, 56, killed three of his neighbors Saturday and was fatally shot by police after an explosion collapsed and burned his Parkview Crossing town house and an attached house in the 7500 block of Maury Road, officials said. May 8, 2021 (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

Several of Browns interactions with Baltimore Countys Mobile Crisis Team, made up of specially trained plainclothes police officers and mental health professionals, occurred before the red flag law was even in place.

In November 2015, the team responded to his home because he had made several complaints to county officials that the FBI was harassing him and had stolen his tooth, according to a police report.

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When officers arrived at his home, which had large signs and security cameras in the front yard and tarps covering his front door, Brown answered the door wielding a video camera and demanded officers investigate the theft of his tooth. He initially refused to answer a question about whether he was thinking of harming himself but eventually said no, before hurling a racial slur at one of the officers, who already was attempting to leave.

The team found him very delusional but very cognizant about dates and times, according to the report.

Marylands extreme risk gun law is purposefully specific, Popkin said. The person must show that they present an imminent danger to the community, perhaps by threatening to use a firearm against themself or others. Although peace orders can be obtained to address disputes between individuals, taking someones firearms away must meet a greater threshold, Popkin said. So, too, does taking someone for an emergency evaluation at the hospital.

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Mandating that someone who receives an extreme risk protective order also receive a mental health evaluation would be a risky proposal, Frattaroli said.

We risk stigmatizing people with mental illness when we draw too bright of a line between mental illness and violence, she said. ERPO laws were written very clearly to focus on dangerous behaviors  and not diagnoses of mental illness.

Popkin said he believes Marylands law is working, what with hundreds of orders granted each year, but he would welcome any opportunity to reevaluate it.

Any time youre putting a group of people together  especially with the list of members that would consist this work group  only potential good things can come, he said.
A judge on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old Windsor man to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing, dismembering and attempting to incinerate his parents in the family fireplace.

I cannot conceive of a way to fulfill my duty to protect the public that I serve were I to perceive that at some point in time, an individual who committed these crimes should be released back into that public, Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland said in sentencing Chandler Halderson to the stiffest punishment the state of Wisconsin allows.

It took a jury only two hours on Jan. 20 to find Halderson guilty of two counts each of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and falsifying information about a missing person in the deaths of his parents, 50-year-old Bart and 53-year-old Krista Halderson, last July.

It followed a week and a half of often-gruesome testimony and other evidence asserting that Halderson shot his parents in the home they shared, then cut up their bodies before first trying to burn them in the family fireplace and then dumping them along the Wisconsin River and at the rural property of the partner of his then-girlfriends mother.

Before asking Hyland to hand down the sentence he ultimately did, prosecutors described Haldersons upbringing as nearly ideal, with two married parents who cared about him and access to good schools, housing and opportunity.

Almost every homicide Ive prosecuted theres been a fairly tragic backstory of the defendant  violence, drugs, just tragedy. You often are left with an explanation  not an excuse  but an explanation as to why a crime occurred, Deputy District Attorney Andrea Raymond said. Theres not an explanation here. Chandler grew up with a life of privilege.

Deputy District Attorney William Brown noted that among the factors the court is supposed to use in deciding whether a convicted murderer should ever be eligible for parole is whether that person has rehabilitative needs. But he had no idea of what they are.

He seemed to be a pretty normal kid, with a pretty normal life who did a pretty abnormal thing. ... We dont know what his rehabilitative needs are, he said. And if you dont have that, Im not sure how much you can consider that factor.

One of Haldersons attorneys, Crystal Vera, made clear that the defense wasnt asking for future parole, just a chance that a court could consider it at some point. Its not a process that is a guarantee, she said.

She acknowledged that Halderson didnt have the kind of background thats common among other convicted murderers, but noted his relatively young age and how that could factor into future rehabilitation.

Chandler is young. He just turned 24, Vera said. There is a lot of growing up, there is a lot of adulting that hes going to miss out on that hes going to have to do in an institution, that ultimately is going to affect who he becomes in the future.

Appeal vowed

Halderson had been silent through the trial, refusing to testify in his own defense or speak to his attorneys about the events of that month, according to a court filing earlier this week, and appearing unmoved by testimony.

Vera and Haldersons other attorney, Catherine Dorl, called no witnesses, and in a motion entered last Friday, Halderson attempted to skip his own sentencing  a bid Brown called an affront to the publics interest and that Hyland rejected.

That changed for a few brief moments Thursday, when Halderson spoke to the court for the first time by saying he would appeal his conviction and asking for any attorneys listening and willing to take on my appeal (to) take a moment to please reach out to me.

Its not that I do not have feelings, its that I was warned to not show them in the scrutiny of this case, he said.

Asked after the hearing if their client had ever expressed to his attorneys his desire to appeal or that he had any problem with their representation, Dorl cited attorney-client privilege in declining comment.

Family speaks

In victim impact statements filed with the court before Thursdays hearing, two people who identified themselves as Haldersons brother Mitchells fiancee and a best friend to Bart and Krista called on Hyland to impose life behind bars.

The friend, identified in court documents only as JAH, called Krista a bubbly person who was kind, considerate and encouraging, and Bart was remembered for helping his sons attain Eagle Scout status.

If Chandler could do this to his own family, just imagine what he could do to someone he did not love, the friend wrote.

Mitchells fiancee, identified in court documents only as CAN, said Krista always made me feel at home and called Bart a great handyman who helped us set up many things when we moved into our new home.

As for Halderson, given the fact that he was capable of such calculated and horrific acts of murder, I do not believe my family would be safe if he were to ever be released from prison, she writes.

Motive unclear

Haldersons choice to remain silent through most of the case has left court officials and the public with little clue as to his motive. Prosecutors believe Halderson killed his father after Bart Halderson discovered his son had been lying to the world for months or years about attending college, having a job at American Family Insurance, being part of a rescue dive team and, most recently, being hired to work in Florida for SpaceX.

He was arrested on July 8, a day after he told the Dane County Sheriffs Office his parents had left for a Fourth of July trip to the family cabin with an unidentified couple on July 2 and never returned  a story investigators soon started poking holes in.

In reality, prosecutors argued, Halderson shot his father in the back on July 1 and his mother a few hours later when she arrived home from work. As he sought over the holiday weekend to cover up the crime, Halderson kept his parents body parts in a freezer in the basement, the prosecution theorized, even as his then-girlfriend spent the night. Some remains were never found.

Grandmothers note

The only member of the Halderson family or its circle of friends to call publicly for a chance at parole for Halderson was his paternal grandmother.

In a handwritten note Raymond read Thursday, Haldersons grandmother said she loved her grandson even though what he did was horrific. I cant believe his parents would want him to be incarcerated for life.

Hyland said that wasnt something he could do.

I cannot grant to Mr. Halderson the generosity of spirit that his grandmother has for him, and which his own parents would surely have had if he had just owned up to what he had deceived them about, he said. I cannot say to the community here in this room or at large in this county that Mr. Halderson should have the ability to be reviewed and be considered for release back into our community at any point, despite his young age.

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Reveal Global Consulting LLC, a company with offices in Lancaster and Maryland, has agreed to pay $820,000 to the federal government to resolve allegations that it improperly billed the Defense Intelligence Agency, United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced Thursday.

The company, which admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, is accused of inflating bills and billing for employees who had left the company. A call and email to the company were not answered Thursday. The company was formed in Lancaster in 2013 and based at 432 Beaver St. and listed Ryan Davis of Windsor as its founder, according to state records. In August 2020, the company registered its address as 342 N. Queen St., the site of the Candy Factory, a co-working space in Lancaster city. Its mailing address was listed as a co-working space in Maryland, according to state records. A registered address is the official address of a business used for important correspondence and is legally required when setting up a company.

According to the settlement, Reveal entered into a contract in September 2017 to provide services related to the Spearheading CIO Applied Research and Leading Edge Technologies program by designing and building a software system for use by the Defense Intelligence Agency. Details about the program were not available.

Under the time-and-materials contract, Reveal could bill the U.S. only for time it actually expended and materials it required to fulfill its contractual obligations. The Department of Justice accused Reveal of billing the Defense Intelligence Agency for one-twelfth of the total contract even for months in which less than one-twelfth of the total required effort was devoted to the contract, devoting fewer than the promised employees for multiple months, submitting inflated and misstated bills for work by subcontractors, and invoicing the Defense Intelligence Agency for work supposedly performed by Reveal employees who had already left the company.

Throughout the contract, the DOJ said Reveal failed to establish and maintain an adequate, effective timekeeping system.

There is no excuse for invoicing the United States for work that was not done, Williams said. Companies that work for the United States have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that the United States receives the goods and services for which it is paying, and the United States Attorneys Office is ready to investigate and punish contractors who flout this fundamental rule.

The case was the result of collaborative work of investigators, Defense Intelligence Agency Office of the Inspector General, Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigations Services, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and DOJ, said William Borden, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Defense Intelligence Agency, in a news release.

The settlement agreement announced today is the result of a joint investigative effort with the Defense Intelligence Agency Office of the Inspector General and demonstrates the DCIS ongoing commitment to protect the integrity of DoD procurement, said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, Defense Criminal Investigations Services Northeast Field Office, in a news release.

This investigation was conducted as part of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvanias Affirmative Civil Enforcement Strike Force with investigators from the Defense Intelligence Agency Office of Inspector General and Defense Criminal Investigations Services, with assistance from the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Kaufman handled the investigation and settlement.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Jonathan Groff, the Broadway, film and TV actor who's also a Lancaster County native, appears in the new Hulu series "Life & Beth," starring actor, comedian  and soon to be Academy Awards co-host  Amy Schumer. All 10 episodes of the show are set to premiere on the streaming service today, March 18.

In the show, Schumer plays Beth, a Manhattan wine expert who deals with loss by returning to her Long Island childhood in flashback, and then decides to leave her boyfriend, job and city for the small-town, bucolic area of her youth. She's attracted to a farmer, played by Michael Cera. But on her way to that possible relationship, Beth dates a self-centered trainer played by Groff.

Despite having a limited role in the show  he's in episode 4 of the series, titled "Pancakes"  Groff's work on "Life & Beth" is getting noticed by the critics. Mike Powers of NPR calls his role that of a "dim, hunky trainer," Amanda Whiting of IndieWire mentions "a very funny Jonathan Groff as a small-town personal trainer mesmerized by Beths glitzy life in 'The City,'" and Mike Hale of the New York Times says "Jonathan Groff shows up in an amusing bit as a Long Island Lothario whos attracted to Beth because of her Manhattan connection; his obsessive love for the city is right out of an early Billy Joel song."

It was recently announced that Groff has been cast in a new M. Night Shyamalan film called "Knock at the Cabin."

Groff grew up in Ronks and is a graduate of Conestoga Valley High School. He recently spent time with local students from theater programs in the Conestoga Valley and Hempfield school districts.

He recently appeared in the action film "The Matrix Resurrections," had a cameo as a plastic surgeon in the recent "Sex and the City" sequel, "And Just Like That...," is known for his roles on the TV series "Mindhunter," "Looking" and "Glee," and has voiced Kristoff in the popular Disney animated "Frozen" films.

Groff shared Grammy awards for theater cast album with his Broadway co-stars in "Spring Awakening" and "Hamilton"  both of which earned him Tony Award nominations, as well  and the latter of which, as a TV film, got him an Emmy nomination.

Schumer is set to co-host the Oscars telecast on ABC Sunday, March 27, along with Regina King and Wanda Sykes.
When Jen Strickler and Dennis Brown bought a fixer-upper, they had a five-year plan.

The first year, they scraped and painted the wooden house built in the 1940s.

The next year, they fixed the garage, then the equipment shed.

Next up was a storage shed named the cat shack, after its resident cat and her kittens. They ended up spending more than two years turning the shack into Stricklers she-shed. Also known as Studio J, its become a space for Stricklers crafty Jenovations as well as a place to relax. Every piece inside and out has a story, from the leaded glass window with an accidental shattered pattern to the slate tile from Browns family home.

Dennis says regularly, Why didn't we just tear it completely down? Strickler says. But then we wouldn't have a story.

Creating a crafty studio

Strickler moved to the home of the she-shed in 2013. The two-acre property in Rapho Township she rented was conveniently close to the turnpike, which helped in her commute to Philadelphia for her job as a loan officer. (She now works for Mortgage America.) By 2016, the owners agreed to sell it to Strickler and Brown, her partner.

At work, Strickler juggles mortgages, math, numbers and peoples emotions. Restoring furniture is a break from all of that. She saw one of the sheds on the property as a good space for her creativity.

The history of the shed is a mystery. Maybe it was a chicken coop or housed pigs. Maybe it became a clubhouse because they found hidden whiskey bottles.

One thing was more obvious: to become a crafty studio, it needed a few changes. Raising the roof by a few feet meant they could stand up in more than just the center of the shed.

(Slide the toggle from left to right to see the transformation.)

Two walls came down, opening up the building for bump-outs adding more space, more windows and more light. The finished shed is 18 by 12 feet with a deck in the front thats a warm, sunny spot  even in wintertime.

The couple found time for their home projects one or two nights a week and on weekends. Strickler has plenty of her own power tools and still appreciates Browns skills as an electrician and a perfectionist.

It would have never turned out like this, ever, she says. And it would have taken me at least twice as long because hes a finisher. Im a starter.

Sourcing a she-shed

Strickler sketched out a plan, made a list of the items she needed, set a budget for each component and started her search. She found some items (like the five Andersen windows for $125) on Craigslist.

Some she purchased retail, like the fiber cement siding on the front of the shed.

Some pieces, like the shacks trim and roof shingles, were found inside other buildings on the property or saved from the renovations of those spaces.

White pine boards saved from the shack demolition became the walls for an addition just the size of a desk Strickler gave a Harley Davidson-inspired makeover. For the walls in the addition, she whitewashed the boards with multiple color stains, highlighting the saw marks. This is the only spot for rustic wood walls inside because this space is a she-shed, Strickler says, not a log cabin.

Some pieces came from neighbors, like the bricks leftover from a new sidewalk. Some came from business connections, like the box of siding used on the rear wall. Look closely at the siding and the top is slightly different. There simply wasnt enough for the entire wall.

I knew ahead of time we were going to come short and we just decided to lay it up and we would figure out, she says. And it's the back, you know, who sees it? The horse.

Luckily, a friend had similar siding but with a different texture. The horse next door doesnt seem to mind, Strickler says.

A lamp above a built-in bench started as a beam salvaged from the shed. They added a pendant light kit. The globes are dollar store vases with holes cut by a glass drill bit. Strickler added rope detail on two globes and Edison bulbs to complete the piece.

The bench started with a skinny set of drawers found at Habitat for Humanitys ReStore. On top are two 2-by-12-inch boards. Brown turned into a shelf with storage underneath. Strickler burned and painted the wood before cutting grooves with a router. She cut wine corks to fit into the channels. A layer of acrylic sealed everything in place.

(Slide the bar from left to right to see the transformation.)

Challenges and change orders

Over the two-year project, Strickler estimates the she-shed cost about $2,500-$3,500. Browns estimate is a bit higher.

Piecing together the she-shed within budget had its challenges.

For example, Strickler wanted a stained glass window next to the front door. However she couldnt find one within her budget of $180. She settled for a leaded glass window found for $18.

The windows shattered pattern was an accident. Brown nailed the trim a little too close to the window glass, cracking it, he says.

So that was an interesting day while we wandered around the yard for an hour and a half listening to this break, Strickler says. Wondering if it was going to fall out.

A piece of wood temporarily held the window together. Lancaster Paint & Glass Co. added another piece of glass to keep the window intact. The cracks are now one of the many stories here.

With this building, every step you do, you had to accept it, Brown says. Because it wasnt brand new. You start brand new, you have brand-new levels. Everythings perfect, square, level. Nothing on this building was, so you just have to accept it and keep on going.

The main compromise in the shed was one of the final pieces: the floor. Strickler wanted black and white vinyl tile. The flaws of the original floors underneath required a subfloor, which would take the flooring well over the budget of $250. She went for carpet instead, an $80 find that can be replaced with little hassle.

Once the carpet was tacked down, Strickler moved two chairs from Goodwill next to the small electric heater surrounded by slate tile.

We came down with adult beverages and we turned on the heat, which is so nice, and we just sat here with Potter, our golden retriever, Strickler says. And he just laid out like he knew: this is it, we're finally done, the noise is done, the yelling. No, just joking, I think that is when I really felt like I quote-unquote moved in.
The death of a 19-year-old who was killed Monday night following a fight in Lancaster has been ruled a homicide, said Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, following an autopsy.

Diamantoni said Damian Santiago died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Santiago died Monday night following a fight at an A-Plus Sunoco gas station at 111 W. Orange St. near North Prince Street at 10:17 p.m., according to Lancaster city police.

A 21-year-old man was charged Tuesday with the shooting. Carlos Almanzar-Torres, of Lancaster, was charged with criminal homicide and recklessly endangering another person.

Santiago was remembered by his family as a kind and loving soul who cared for others. He had an outgoing personality and a large group of friends. More than 100 of Santiagos friends and family gathered at the gas station on Tuesday night, carrying lit candles, balloons and photographs of their fallen friend.

Investigators determined Almanzar-Torres and Santiago encountered each other at the gas station and began fighting.

Almanzar-Torres pulled a handgun from his jacket pocket, chased Santiago around the inside of the store and shot him in the right shoulder, police said. Its not clear why there is a discrepancy between police and the coroner in the location of the gunshot wound. Attempts to reach police were unsuccessful as of press time Friday.

Santiago collapsed inside the store. Almanzar-Torres told police he approached Santiago to shoot him again, but instead punched him as many as four times.

Almanzar-Torres left the scene and turned himself in at the Lancaster City Police Station about an hour later, telling police "his anger got the best of him," according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Investigators determined Almanzar-Torres and Santiago knew each other and that the incident was not random.

Almanzar-Torres remains in Lancaster County Prison after being denied bail by Judge Jodie Richardson. He will face a preliminary hearing before Richardson on March 25.
Three Lancaster County educators were recently recognized for exhibiting excellence in their fields.

Linda Miller, Hempfield High School health and physical education teacher, received an Apple Award from the National State Teachers of the Year: Pennsylvania Chapter. Lancaster Catholic High School Principal Terry Klugh and theology teacher Nicole Martin were honored with the 2022 Golden Apple Award by the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Miller was nominated for the Apple Award by Hempfield High School communications technology teacher Matthew Binder.

From weekly emails, to after school activities, and personal encouragement, Linda has gone above and beyond to care for her fellow colleagues during the stress of the pandemic, Binder said in a news release. We are fortunate to have Linda Miller on our staff, and on behalf of the staff at Hempfield, we would like to recognize her efforts.

Her award comes with a certificate and a listing on the National State Teachers of the Year: Pennsylvania Chapter newsletter and website.

Aside from a certificate, Golden Apple Award recipients each get $5,000, a Golden Apple plated in 24-carat gold and a photo with Diocese of Harrisburg Bishop Ronald W. Gainer.

Martin was nominated by several of her coworkers, including her former student and current theology colleague Megan Cotchen.

The way she taught wasnt necessarily always about the content, Cotchen said in a news release. The content was important, but it was building a relationship with her students that stood out to me. It was more about how we learned than what we learned with her. It was her enthusiasm and her joy.

Since 2009, nine Golden Apple awards have gone to Lancaster Catholic educators, six of which still work in the high school.
Data presented at Thursdays Lancaster County Prison Board meeting gave, for the first time, a snapshot view of who was being held in the prison and why on one day in February.

The context for why the data was presented is the ongoing effort by bail reform advocates to end or minimize the imposition of high bail for persons arrested for non-violent crimes. County prison staff gathered the information in response to a request made last September by then-Commissioner Craig Lehman, who wanted to know how many people arrested for their first time on non-violent charges were being held because they couldnt make bail.

Lehman resigned in January, but five months after his request, the prison was able to come up with a response in the form of a one-day snapshot from Feb. 15.

That data isnt something the jail regularly tracks and reports on, and Christina Fluegel, the prisons reentry coordinator, estimated it took her about 70 hours to compile the data.

One night, I ran 200-something criminal histories, Fluegel said.

On Feb. 15, Fluegel found, the prison housed 790 people, 426 of whom were non-violent offenders and 35 of whom were first-time offenders. Just 10 people fit the parameters Lehman inquired about.

One of the ten was sentenced at time of commitment, meaning the person had not been detained before and was able to report to prison after either pleading guilty or being convicted.

The nine unsentenced people being held ranged from a man held on a DUI charge who did not pay bail set at 10% of $2,500  meaning, hed have to pay $250 to be released  to a 61-year-old man being held on drug charges whose bail was set at $250,000 cash.

One man had initially been denied bail. He was a 26-year-old man with no ties to the area who was charged with theft. President Judge David Ashworth, a prison board member, said Thursday that the man had been granted bail Wednesday and was being released.

Of the nine unsentenced, five were white, two were Black and two were Hispanic. Seven were men and two were women.

Reaction

County Commissioner Josh Parsons, who is a prison board member, said he expected there would be few first-time, non-violent people being held because they were unable to make bail.

I would say it confirms what we said when the question was first asked, by Lehman in September, he said.

At that meeting last year, Parsons, a former county prosecutor, said there are many factors determining which cases are violent or non-violent, which would make compiling data difficult, according to minutes of the meeting.

District Attorney Heather Adams, another board member, said, I'm not seeing anything here that shocks me.

And while Fluegel said the prison relied on definitions of violent crime as defined by the state, Adams and Parsons both noted that one of the nine had been charged with stalking, which is a serious offense.

Michelle Batt, president of the Lancaster Bail Fund, had a different take on the data. If anything, nine people with no prior criminal history incarcerated in lieu of cash bail, or denied bail altogether, set in connection with non-violent offenses on a single random day is higher than I expected, she said.

Her organization is critical of cash bail and pretrial detention for non-violent crimes.

Vigil, social justice concerns

Before the meeting, she and others spoke at a vigil outside the county building recognizing the recent deaths of Paul William Reardon, an inmate who died by suicide, and John Choma, a former inmate who died in a hotel room five days after the bail fund paid his $5,000 bail on a shoplifting charge.

Several of those who spoke at the vigil addressed the prison board. Broadly speaking, many of their pleas concerned matters the prison board cannot address, such as access to affordable housing and healthcare.

One speaker, the Rev. Jason Perkowski of Faith United Methodist Church, called for the county to do several things related to bail, including having a public defender at arraignments and for judges to spell out reasons in writing for setting bail in a particular case.

Ashworth said he and the other board members shared many of their concerns, but that the prison board doesnt have the ability to address them. For issues of bail, he said, people need to talk with lawmakers or the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts rules committee.
A Cumberland man accused of three killings in Allegany and Howard counties was found incompetent to stand trial in Allegany County following a competency hearing in Allegany Circuit Court. (Darcy Costello)

The man accused of three homicides last September in Howard and Allegany counties was found incompetent to stand trial by an Allegany County Circuit Court judge this week, court records reflect.

Allegany County Circuit Judge Michael O. Twigg signed an order Wednesday afternoon indicating Jeffrey Allen Burnham, 47, was incompetent to stand trial due to a mental disorder and committed him to the Maryland Department of Health.

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An annual review hearing will be held on Sept. 13, according to the document.

In Allegany County, Burnham faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of motor vehicle theft in connection with the killing of Rebecca Reynolds, an 83-year-old woman found dead in her home with a deep laceration in her neck. Police say Reynolds was a friend of Burnhams mother.

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Burnham is accused of then stealing Reynolds SUV, driving more than 100 miles away to Ellicott City and fatally shooting Brian and Kelly Robinette, Burnhams half brother and his half brothers wife. Charging documents suggest Burnham had made comments about wanting to confront his half brother for his role in administering coronavirus vaccines as a pharmacist.

He was captured 18 hours later, following a police manhunt, in Davis, West Virginia, where he reportedly told a firefighter outside a local establishment that he had been forced to kill three people.

Burnham faces additional criminal charges in Howard County in connection with the Robinette killings, including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of motor vehicle theft.

He is scheduled for a separate competency hearing in Howard County on March 29, according to court records.

Burnhams lawyers in Allegany County requested last year the Maryland Department of Health evaluate his ability to stand trial.

The Maryland Department of Healths evaluation report is not publicly available, but a court website indicates it was filed on Feb. 8, ahead of a competency hearing held on Tuesday.

Burnhams attorneys, Jessica Colwell and Michael Stankan from the Allegany County Public Defenders Office, did not respond to a request for comment sent by email.

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Burnhams mother, Evelyn Burnham, had contacted Cumberland Police about her son making statements about the FBI coming after them and setting up a security system in his bedroom, according to charging documents.

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Evelyn Burnham also told police that Jeffrey had expressed a need to confront Brian Robinette over his role administering COVID vaccines as a pharmacist.

According to police, Jeffrey told Evelyn he wanted to confront his half brother over the government poisoning people with COVID vaccines.

Brian Robinette, 58, worked as a Walgreens pharmacist in Severna Park, his father previously told The Baltimore Sun.

Cumberland neighbors of Burnham said they watched Burnham devolve into a loner, including shouting at children playing in the street days before the three homicides.

Evelyn Burnham told The Baltimore Sun last year she was sorry, and that shed lost two boys, a friend and a daughter-in-law.

I just hope they found out what went wrong in his head, she said in an interview last year.
A Delaware man crashed a car with a 15-year-old girl inside while trying to get away from police on Wednesday night in East Lampeter Township, according to police.

William Edward Sawyer, 35, was in the drivers seat of a Honda Accord with the teen girl parked at American Music Theater when officers first approached the vehicle around 3:48 a.m. on March 16, according to East Lampeter Township police. When police asked Sawyer to get out of the car after seeing suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in plain view, Sawyer put the car in gear and drove off toward Route 30.

He crashed the car after failing to turn from the Route 30 bypass exit ramp onto Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340), hitting a guard rail, police said. Sawyer got out of the car and tried to run but was arrested shortly after.

The girl, who was also from Delaware, was taken into protective custody before being released to a parent, police said.

Sawyer is charged with a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police and misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and drug-related charges, according to police. He was also charged as a fugitive from justice because he was wanted for a felony charge involving a firearm in New Castle, Delaware.

Sawyer is in Lancaster County Prison after failing to pay $150,000 bail, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on March 29 in front of District Judge Denise Commins.
At Thursdays prison board meeting, regular attendee Jonathon Fox wanted to know why John Burkhart, the ex-head of the countys Drug Task Force charged Tuesday with stealing $200,000 cash seized in drug cases, was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

That meant Burkhart did not have to put up any money and spent no time in jail on the charges.

Yet, Fox noted, the same district judge who presided over Burkharts post-arrest hearing  Bruce Roth  initially set bail at $1 million for several people arrested in September 2020 during protests after a fatal police shooting in Lancaster, landing them in jail for a time.

Why is there such a dichotomy in bail? Fox asked.

LNP | LancasterOnline looked into the matter.

Bail is intended to ensure a defendant shows up for court proceedings and to protect the community.

And thats why Burkharts bail amount was reasonable, according to his attorney, Hobie Crystle.

Nobody who surrenders on a non-violent offense represents a flight risk or a danger to the community, Crystle said in an email Wednesday.

Some of the people arrested during and after the protests were charged with riot and arson. Bail was reduced after defense attorneys petitioned the courts.

The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office, which is prosecuting Burkhart, also had no issue with Burkharts bail amount.

We had no objection to an unsecured amount as he is not a flight risk, spokeswoman Molly Stieber said in an email Wednesday evening.

President Judge David Ashworth, who serves as the county courts spokesman, told LNP when asked about the bail procedure in Burkharts case that the prosecution asked for unsecured bail and Roth was given no reason to decide otherwise.

Judges setting bail can consider 10 criteria under state law.

Among them: the crime charged, community ties, character and mental condition and whether a person has appeared at previous required proceedings.

If prosecutors think a district judge has set bail at too low a level to ensure a defendant shows up for proceedings or to protect the community, they can ask a county pleas court judge to increase bail. Similarly, if defendants think bail is too high, they can seek a reduction.

Burkharts next court appearance is a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 12 before Roth.

Fox got one positive response from a prison board member, besides some chatter amongst some people in the audience.

While noting that bail issues are not a prison board matter, county commissioner and prison board member Josh Parsons told Fox at Thursdays meeting that he agreed with him.

Ive been very outspoken on this case and I agree with you: bail should have been set higher in this case. Thats just my opinion, said Parsons, a former assistant district attorney. ... Very serious charges that impacted the community. But obviously, I wasnt the judge.
When: Clay Township supervisors meeting, March 14.

What happened: Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Chief Dave Steffen told township officials the department had a very good year, while presenting the 2021 annual report.

Why it matters: The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department serves 42,500 people among four municipalities, including Clay Township, where its headquarters are located. The regional force also covers East Petersburg Borough, plus Warwick and Penn townships. This year also marks the agencys 10th anniversary.

Crime numbers: In 2021, The agency saw an 8% increase with over 20,000 calls from its jurisdiction. One crime that saw a substantial increase was fraud cases at 234%. In June alone, they handled 126 cases of unemployment fraud. Drug arrests were down 8% in 2021. However, the chief noted some marijuana possession cases are being classified as disorderly conduct, which saw an 18% increase. Township Manager Bruce Leisey asked whether the quantity of marijuana determines a disorderly conduct charge. The chief said yes, adding its a local decision. Assault cases are up 22% due to domestic violence cases during the coronavirus pandemic.

Clays numbers: Clay Township generated 12% of overall activity for the department. In the township, 1,690 incident reports originated, 137 citations and warnings were issued and 65 criminal arrests were made. Clay also saw 658 patrol checks by regional police officers.

Hybrid vehicles: Acknowledging the increase in oil prices, Steffen said the department is lucky to have instituted a fleet of hybrid vehicles. In 2021, the regional police force saved $49,287 by using hybrid vehicles. On average, Steffen said, vehicles get 24 miles to the gallon, adding thats a lot better than 12 miles to a gallon with gas up over $4.75 a gallon.

Quotable: Its nice to have planned ahead, but sometimes you also have to be thankful for good luck when it comes your way and other blessings, Steffen said.

Personnel: Steffen, was also elected president of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association in 2021, adding, Its an honor. The chief also announced Staff Sgt. Rodney King retired.

Whats next: Supervisors will hold their next meeting at 7 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, in the township building located at 870 Durlach Road, Stevens.
When: Little Britain Township supervisors meeting, March 8.

What happened: Little Britain Township supervisors voted to return its legal advertising to LNP | LancasterOnline while seeking legal advice on whether the township can instead use The Lancaster Patriot.

Background: Last month, the board voted to change its newspaper of record for legal advertising from LNP | LancasterOnline to The Lancaster Patriot, which promotes itself as a conservative niche publication.

Why it matters: Municipalities are required to publish notices of legal actions and meetings in a newspaper of general circulation so that residents know where to look for them and can participate in local government. Public notices are governed by the Newspaper Advertising Act. The act limits public notice advertising to publications that meet the definition of newspaper of general circulation. The law requires publishers to verify publication and their independence from the advertiser, which is usually a government agency. Noncompliant notices are insufficient as a matter of law and cannot be introduced as evidence in court.

The Patriots position: Jen Stoltzfus, owner and publisher of The Patriot, was at the meeting to speak to the board. She provided a letter from her attorney suggesting the Mountville-based publication meets the requirements of the law for Little Britains legal advertising.

Controversial staffing: Stoltzfus also said her newspaper had no connection to Norman Trey Garrison, a white nationalist who encouraged violence against women and journalists and made overtly racist and antisemitic comments in a podcast series he hosted. Stoltzfus stated that Garrison was never an editor and was never on her payroll. However, the newspapers own website has identified Garrison as its former editor-in-chief.

What happens next: Board members are asking for legal advice on the issue with the intention of returning to using The Patriot if possible. Financial issues are one factor in the effort to change newspapers. Last year the township paid $5,509 for legal advertising. Officials calculate the same advertising in The Patriot would have saved $2,335.

Quotable: At least for a month I think it behooves us to go back to the Lancaster Newspaper to print the notices we have to print. I say that reluctantly, board Chair Jerry Emling said.

Other happenings: The township is hoping to make improvements to the intersection of Black and Little Britain roads as soon as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will allow them to proceed with the work on the state-owned Little Britain Road. The intersection was the scene of a collision between a buggy and a truck that resulted in the deaths of four children. The township is submitting a grant application to help fund the project or may use federal American Rescue Plan funds.
Two property developers in California are turning huge, industrial spaces into shelters for homeless people.

The developers  brothers Ryan and Jeremy Ogulnick  created their first shelter in just under a month in the Orange County city of Santa Ana. The effort helped the city deal with its homeless crisis. The brothers then repeated the process in the nearby cities of Anaheim and Fullerton. They were able to convert properties into shelters in a matter of months.

In each case, the Ogulnicks also made a profit for themselves.

Such shelters have given a second chance to people like Roland Flores. The 48-year-old was living with his grandmother as her caretaker and lost the home when she died. Today, he lives at the Fullerton shelter. During his nine-month stay at the shelter, he has been able to seek medical treatment and get his birth certificate and Social Security card.

"They're giving me the tools that I need," Flores said of the workers at the shelter. The non-profit group Illumination Foundation operates the Fullerton shelter.

Ryan Ogulnick says he could build 50 such shelters across Southern California if the money was available. Instead of leasing the spaces to private companies, they are rented to a city or to homeless services providers.

"It's such a simple solution," Ogulnick said.

His company, Vineyards Development, invested $9.2 million to rebuild the new Santa Ana Carnegie Shelter over a period of nine months. The company will rent it to the Illumination Foundation and the city for $44,000 a month when it opens next week.

As quick and simple as they are, these emergency shelters are only a short-term solution. Affordable housing is limited and housing costs continue to rise. Some critics are worried that Orange County officials are content with a solution that does not lead to permanent housing for the homeless.

"It's very clear that the strategy being used right now in Orange County is more about appearances than solutions," said lawyer Brooke Weitzman. She is co-founder of ELDR Center, a law office representing people who are homeless, older, or disabled.

'We need more housing'

Last year, the United States was about 7 million units short of enough affordable housing, said a study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

In Los Angeles County, the homeless population is estimated at 66,000. Orange County, just south of L.A. County, has a homeless population of about 7,000. Nearly 60 percent of the homeless population is unsheltered, the latest complete count in 2019 found.

Shelters increased in numbers after a 2018 federal appeals court ruling banned police from arresting people on the streets if a community lacks enough shelter beds.

Emergency shelter beds in Orange County increased 159 percent from 2015 to 2021, according to Orange County Homeless Management Information System data. However, permanent supportive housing, which provides housing as well as social services, grew by just 13 percent over that same period.

"Instead of building actualaffordable housing, what they've done is throw up mass shelters," said Eve Garrow. She is a homelessness policy expert and activist at the ACLU of Southern California.

Paul Leon is president and CEO of the Illumination Foundation. He agrees that more housing is needed, but he said many people are unprepared to go immediately from the street to being responsible for a home.

His foundation has operated all of the shelters built by the Ogulnicks. The foundation offers support services including healthcare and mental health and drug abuse counseling.

The Ogulnicks turned a former engineering company in an industrial area into the 150-bed Fullerton Navigation Center. In an effort to reduce complaints from neighbors, the shelter bans residents from walking in and out. This keeps them out of public view. Shelter vehicle drivers take residents in and out through a side gate.

Leon said most people with support move from the streets to homes of their own. Some of those who do not may go to jail or return to the streets.

"That tells us we need more housing," Leon said.

Weitzman has concerns about Ogulnicks claims about the speed and cost-effectiveness of mass shelters. She said the best solution to homelessness has always been housing.

"When people are homeless, they're those homeless folks," Weitzman said. "And when people are housed, they're your neighbors."

I'm Ashley Thompson.

The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

convert - v. to change (something) into a different form or so that it can be used in a different way

lease - v. to use (something) for a period of time in return for payment

rent - v. to pay money in return for being able to use (something that belongs to someone else)

complaint - n. a statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something

resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place

affordable - adj. able to be paid for; not costly

tent - n. a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth (such as canvas or nylon), and is held up with poles and ropes

strategy - n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time
Western technology companies recently began cutting ties with Russia after its invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

And the Russian government has long worked to control the internet in the country and how citizens get information.

This has worried Russian investigative reporter Andrei Soldatov. He spent years reporting on Russian censorship. Now, he lives in exile. He is worried that efforts to help Ukraine will instead help Russian President Vladimir Putins efforts to control the internet.

He said the social media service Facebook was a way for Russians to talk about what was going on in Ukraine.

Facebook has not left. But the Russian government has restricted access to the service. It has used a new law to make it a crime to spread information that disputes government statements.

Western media and independent news services have been blocked in Russia. Another social media site, Instagram, also faces restricted access. However, the latest censorship efforts have shown how even the average Russian can get around these efforts to restrict the internet.

For example, the government has so far only had limited success in blocking virtual private networks, or VPNs. These methods permit users to go around internet restriction. The Associated Press says that efforts to restrict the use of software that defeats censorship also have not been fully successful.

Foreign tech companies in Russia

Internet services providers and services which have sympathy for Ukraine have a difficult choice. They face pressure to punish the Russian government. They also face economic pressure to limit their services because it is unclear if they will be paid. However, they are worried about stopping the free flow of information which can balance Russian efforts for media control.

Amazon Web Services which provides internet storage in what is called the cloud continues to operate in Russia. But it is not taking on new customers. Two other internet companies, Cloudflare and Akamai, are also still operating in Russia. But they are not working with state-owned companies and companies under international sanctions.

Microsoft has not said if it will stop its cloud services in the country. But it suspended all new sales of its products and services.

One major U.S.-based internet provider, Cogent, has cut direct connections inside Russia. But it has left its network available for partner Russian network providers to use. So has the American company Lumen Technologies.

Cogent chief Dave Schaeffer said, We have no desire to cut off Russian individuals and think that an open internet is critical to the world. He said direct connections to internet providing servers inside Russia could be used for online attacks.

Internet control

Under a 2019 sovereign internet law, Russia is supposed to be able to operate its internet independent of the rest of the world. But the law has brought Russia closer to the kind of intensive internet monitoring and control carried out by China and Iran.

Its telecommunications oversight agency, Rozkomnadzor, successfully tested the system a year ago when it restricted access to Twitter. It uses hundreds of devices that are controlled by government officials that can block individual websites and serviced. Those devices are placed by law at all internet providers inside Russia.

The system also lets FSB security service spy on Russian citizens. However, experts say it is weak when compared to Chinas system of internet controls known as the Great Firewall.

Andrew Sullivan is the president of the nonprofit Internet Society which is based in the U.S. He said there is no evidence that Russia can successfully disconnect itself from the wider internet.

For people within Russia, being able to access outside websites and programs depend on foreign-based VPNs and similar methods. However, Russians say they have trouble paying for such services since credit providers Visa and Mastercard cut off Russia earlier this month.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Frank Bajak and Barbara Ortutay reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

censor  v. to examine books, movies, or letters in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, or harmful to society

access  n. a way of being able to use or get something

sanction  n.(pl.) actions taken to force a country to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade or cutting economic aid

customer n. a person who buys goods or services from a business

sovereign  adj. having independent authority and the right to govern itself

monitor  v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

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WASHINGTON  Key figures for a war half a world away, President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday as the White House looked to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Chinas Foreign Ministry, in a readout after the video conversation, deplored conflict and confrontation as not in anyones interest, but assigned no blame to Russia and gave no indication of next steps.

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The White House said Biden underscored to Xi the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians.

Ahead of the call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijings rhetorical support of Putin and an absence of denunciation of Russias invasion.

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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying pushed back, calling the U..S. administration overbearing for suggesting China risks falling on the wrong side of history.

Planning for the leaders discussion had been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November, but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putins prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were likely at the center of the conversation.

China on Friday also sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and its donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine. Xi also renewed Chinas criticism of sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion, according to Chinese State Media. As in the past, Xi did not use the terms war or invasion to describe Russias actions.

As leaders of major countries, we need to consider properly resolving global hotspot issues and, more importantly, global stability and the production and life of billions of people, he was quoted as saying.

In an attempt to show international support for Chinas position, state broadcaster CCTV said Xi also discussed Ukraine in phone calls with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, contending the leaders views were extremely close.

The U.S.-China relationship, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Bidens presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.

In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xis government tried to distance itself from Russias offensive but avoided the criticism many other nations have leveled at Moscow. At other moments, Beijings actions have been provocative including amplifying unverified Russian claims that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.

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Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reiterated that the Biden administration remains concerned that China is considering providing military equipment. He said Biden would make clear to Xi that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.

The White House says China has been sending mixed messages. There were initial signs that Chinese state-owned banks were pulling back from financing Russian activities, according to a senior Biden administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal analyses. But there have also been public comments by Chinese officials who expressed support for Russia being a strategic partner.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met in Rome this week for an intense, seven-hour talk about the Russian invasion and other issues.

Ahead of the Rome talks, Sullivan said the U.S. wouldnt abide China or any other country helping Russia work around economy-jarring sanctions inflicted by the U.S. and other allies since the Feb. 24 invasion.

Sullivan also said the administration determined China knew that Putin was planning something before the invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government may not have understood the full extent of what Putin had in mind.

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Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. The two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless friendship.

Beijings leaders would like to be supportive of Russia, but they also recognize how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.

The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Beijing is weighing the potential reputational blowback of being associated with the Russian camp. The Chinese response to Russias request for help is still being formulated, the official said.

Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.

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We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength, Fan Xianrong was quoted by Ukraines state news service Ukrinform as telling regional authorities in the western city of Lviv, where the Chinese Embassy has relocated to.

Separately, in a reminder of Chinas threat to assert its claim to Taiwan by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call, Taiwans Defense Ministry said.

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Any conflict over the self-governing island democracy stands to involve the U.S., which is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan can defend itself and treats threats to the island as matters of grave concern.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he had no details about the ships passage through the strait, but added that I believe the carrier has its routine training schedule, and it should not be linked with the communication between Chinese and American leaders.

State media quoted Xi as saying China-U.S. relations had yet to emerge from the dilemma created by the previous U.S. administration, but instead encountered more and more challenges, singling out Taiwan as one area in particular.

If the Taiwan issue is not handled properly, it will have an undermining impact on the relationship between the two countries, Xi reportedly told Biden.

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Josh Boak in Washington and AP news assistant Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.
LEXINGTON  Incumbent Sheriff Ken Moody says he is eager to continue serving the people of Dawson County as he seeks another term in office.

Moody was elected to the position in 2018 after being encouraged to enter his name into the race. Thank you for your support in the last election, Moody said to the residents of the county.

Prior to being elected Sheriff, Moody was a member of the Nebraska State Patrol, having joined in 1991 and worked his first two years in carrier enforcement at the North Platte scales.

After this, he transferred to the road division as a trooper and worked in Dawson County until he retired from NSP in 2014. During his time, Moody received training in different aspects of law enforcement.

Moody said the role of sheriff is to protect and secure the county from crime, saying the role has always been about the people.

He said the fight against crime is a team effort between the law enforcement agencies in the county and the public itself. Moody encourages the public to call and report suspicious or unlawful activity; he said a watchful public can be a strong aid in controlling crime.

Moody said he is proud of what he has accomplished over the past three and a half years and there are more projects in the future he wants to complete.

Moody noted the nearly completed transition over to the state-wide radio system and the securing of an $800,000.00 grant to help cover the costs, helping save the taxpayers dollar.

The system being replaced was installed in 1995 and despite past upgrades; there were still dead spots in rural parts of the county. The state-wide system being installed will allow, among other capabilities, for portable-to-portable radio coverage, which is becoming a more critical way for deputies to communicate. It will also eliminate dead spots.

Moody said the new radio system will benefit not only the safety of road deputies, but also the public.

Moody also pointed to securing increased wages and a variety of new equipment for deputies and correctional officers.

I am thoroughly proud of my officers improvements and successes. None of our achievements would be possible without the men and women who work for the Dawson County Sheriffs Office. I sincerely thank them for their hard work, continued support and tremendous dedication, Moody said.

Infrastructure updates have also been made to the Dawson County Jail, which was constructed in 1993, including a new roof. New boilers will be coming in the near future.

Moody said the jail has created an income of $1.6 million so far this fiscal year, with a goal of $2.5 million. The funds generated by the jail go into the general fund, which helps fund Dawson County projects.

When asked about challenges facing Dawson County law enforcement, Moody said while the State Legislature passed LB51 into law that increases certification and training standards, he said it is a challenge that can be met.

With the COVID-19 pandemic effecting the hiring and retention of workers across the entire workforce, Moody said the Dawson County Sheriffs Office has, done well, in the retention and hiring of staff, given the circumstances created by the pandemic.

If elected to another term, Moody said his goals are to ensure the installation of the state-wide radio system is fully completed, continue working with all of the other law enforcement agencies in the county, being more visible as pandemic conditions have improved and continue upgrading the jail.

The support from the community for the Dawson County Sheriffs Office over the years has been strong. I cant thank them enough, Moody said, Your support has not gone unnoticed.

Three years ago, when the residents of the county elected him as sheriff, Moody said the people put their trust in him and he asks them to continue putting their trust in him for another four years.

I desire, enjoy and appreciate the role as sheriff, Moody said.

Moody concluded by saying he strives to be the best sheriff possible and will continue to represent Dawson County, he said he looks forward to what he can do for the public in the future.
Lapwai, ID (83501)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
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Editors note: The Baltimore Sun is committed to making amends for a history of failing Black communities in its coverage and, as part of a public apology, has asked area leaders and scholars to suggest a path forward. We will run the responses as an occasional series.

The Baltimore Sun editorial boards apology is laudable for its intent, but only half the story was told. As a result, the full scope of The Suns role in constructing Baltimore apartheid was obscured and minimized. In fact, this is precisely emblematic of the ongoing problem with The Sun as a media institution  it rarely tells the whole story.

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Throughout its 185 year history, The Sun intentionally crafted dominant narratives that deeply damaged Black Lives and Black neighborhoods. The Sun maliciously deployed white supremacist propaganda while actively participating in slave trading at the Inner Harbor through advertisements, demonizing Black political representation and voting rights, and provoking white homeowners to block homebuying while Black. In an Aug. 24, 1924, article, The Sun glorified a new Ku Klux Klan church near Havre de Grace in Harford County. The Sun beamed: It was the most gorgeous religious spectacle [the region] ever had seen.

In the their book Journalism and Jim Crow: White Supremacy and the Black Struggle for a New America, editors Sid Bedingfield and Kathy Roberts Forde articulate how white-owned newspapers such as The Baltimore Sun functioned politically in their cities:

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Many white editors and publishers in the Jim Crow South were straight out political actors, deeply entrenched in Democratic Party campaigns, machines, and policymaking. They used their positions and their newspapers to unite white publics in support of Black disenfranchisement and economic exploitation; to build and sustain punitive penal systems that criminalized Blackness and stole the labor and lives of Black men, women, and children; to defend and foment lynching and other forms of racial terror used to enforce white supremacy.

The Baltimore Sun committed all of these devilish deeds throughout its history. In fact, according to my research, The Sun was the No. 1 paper in America in using rabidly racist terms such as Cash for Negroes, Negro Domination, and Negro Invasion repeatedly. An empirical examination of the Suns vicious use of racist rhetoric helps to illustrate this point.

According to newspaper.com, from 1837 to 1971:

The Sun used Cash for Negroes 795 times;

The Sun used Negro Domination 525 times;

The Sun used Negro Invasion 276 times.

As this statistical enumeration reveals, The Sun was no mere handmaiden in the construction of Baltimore apartheid. The Sun was the No. 1 ranked newspaper in the use of each of these three white supremacist phrases  and it was number one by far. Indeed, it can be stated that from a quantitative perspective, The Sun is the most racist newspaper in American history.

Telling the whole story means that The Baltimore Sun would recognize and take responsibility for serving as the media Air Force that softened the ground for the shock troops for slavery, white supremacist politics, a Klan church, and pro segregation lobbyists. The Sun proudly unleashed destructive and dominant narratives that split the city in two: a white L and Black Butterfly.

In the final analysis, justice advocates Liz Ogbu and Charlene Carruthers are right: Incomplete stories lead to incomplete solutions.

Baltimore City deserves the whole story to foster a full and flourishing process of making Black lives and Black neighborhoods matter. Tell the whole story. The Baltimore Sun has been a straight-out political actor whose dominant narratives informed and influenced Baltimore Citys policies, practices, systems and budgets.

The Baltimore Sun editorial boards half-apology forestalls a real reckoning and thereby forecloses the large-scale and transformational policies, practices, systems and budgets that must be undertaken, passed and funded to repair and restore Baltimores Black Butterfly neighborhoods.

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Lawrence Brown (lawrence.brown@morgan.edu) is a research scientist and the author of The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America.
A restaurant with yellow sunflowers painted in the window, along with blue hearts. A pizza named after a now infamous Ukrainian response to a Russian warship. A growing number of companies with Wisconsin roots pulling out of Russia.

All are examples of how local businesses are responding to the escalating three-week-old war between Ukraine and Russia.

Chef Dave Heide, owner of Fitchburg-based Lilianas Restaurant and Madison food nonprofit Little Johns, called it fighting but without weapons.

Lilianas is selling a Ukrainian food called varenyky  which is a boiled dumpling typically filled with potatoes, cheese or another food  at eight per batch at $20. All sale proceeds go toward a global food charity, for which Heide said Lilianas has raised more than $6,200 as of Thursday afternoon.

Buildings that once stood tall are now flattened because of explosives. Ukrainians who have been displaced from their homes seek refuge in neighboring countries. The United Nations estimates about 3 million people have left Ukraine, and another 1.85 million remain displaced inside the nations borders.

Meanwhile, leaders on both sides of the conflict show no signs of backing down, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requesting more weapons and for a no-fly zone to be imposed, and Russian President Vladmir Putin making threats about nuclear weapons.

And international businesses face mounting pressure from governments to leave an increasingly isolated Russia amid sanctions to target and shrink the countrys economy. So far, U.S. sanctions have included the banning of Russian oil and gas imports, penalties for the countrys oligarchs and the freezing of bank assets, among others.

Madisons business owners, while they say they feel helpless to influence the conflict, have tried to do so anyway.

Like Heide, several Madison food establishments have raised tens of thousands of dollars combined for World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization that provides meals to people dealing with humanitarian crises, among other charities.

World Central Kitchen recently launched an operation at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in southern Poland, where it serves refugees meals. It helps restaurants inside Ukraine prepare food for people as well.

Gift shop Orange Tree Imports is donating 100% of the proceeds it garners from Ukrainian egg decorating supplies sales to the International Refugee Committee, a nonprofit providing humanitarian relief and aid to the nation, like the Kitchen.

Owner Carol Orange Schroeder said the shop has sent $500 in advance of kit sales.

The craft involves drawing or painting intricate designs on an egg with a stylus tool, she explained, a tradition called pysanky.

And many companies, both with headquarters or a presence in Wisconsin, have chosen to leave Russia at varying levels, according to a list of about 400 businesses with Russian connections compiled by the Yale School of Management, the graduate business school of the prestigious Connecticut-based university.

Momentum builds

Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation, which recently voiced support for all sanctions against Russia, last week suspended all operations and sales in that nation and Belarus.

Sales to Russia and Belarus represent less than 0.5% of Rockwells total revenue, the company said in a statement last week. Rockwell will continue to pay salaries and benefits for its roughly 30 Russian team members, but does not directly employ anyone in Ukraine or Belarus. The company made a financial contribution to a charity that provides humanitarian relief to Ukrainian refugees.

More Wisconsin businesses, including motorcycle maker Harley Davidson, consumer chemicals manufacturer SC Johnson and Johnson Controls, which produces electronics and HVAC equipment all over the world, have held off on doing business in Russia.

California-based video game developer Activision Blizzard, which owns Middleton-based Raven Software, has additionally suspended all sales in Russia.

Some businesses with operations in both Wisconsin and Russia have only partially left the country, according to the list, which is updated frequently.

Fox Valley-based Kimberly-Clark, which supplies personal care products all over the world, has halted new investments but continues some business, the list states.

In addition to suspending all media, advertising and promotional activity, we have taken steps to suspend capital investments in our Stupino, Russia, facility, the company said in a statement. Importantly, consistent with the humanitarian nature of our products, we are focused on producing essential items, specifically baby diapers and feminine pads, which are critical to the health and hygiene of women, girls and babies.

The company has given $1 million in aid to Ukraine, it said.

Global scientific instrumentation supplier Thermo Fisher Scientific, with offices in Fitchburg, has ceased certain operations but not all. The company said in a statement thats because we continue to prioritize critical healthcare-related deliveries and operations in these countries to limit any potential patient impact. Thermo Fisher gave $1.25 million to various Ukraine war relief efforts.

SC Johnson does not appear to be on Yales list, but recently told Wisconsin Public Radio that operations in Ukraine are temporarily closed.

More to do

In addition to selling varenyky, Lilianas hired a Fitchburg-based artist to paint blue hearts and sunflowers in a mural that adorns the establishments windows.

The sunflower is Ukraines national flower, and the colors representative of the nations flag, said artist Christine Grace.

Waunakee-based cartoonist John Kovalic is selling prints depicting Paddington Bear. Zelenskyy, a former actor, voiced the character in the Ukrainian-language version of the 2014 and 2017 Paddington films. Proceeds from sales have topped just over $3,000, and have benefitted World Central Kitchen. It helps that he has followers all over the world.

Salvatores Tomato Pies, with several Madison-area locations, coined a new pizza named for a profane response Ukrainian soldiers gave to a Russian warship early in the conflict. Proceeds from sales have benefitted World Central Kitchen, topping $7,000.

More fundraisers with new pizza concepts are planned, said owner Patrick DePula.

Bloom Bake Shop, an establishment on Monroe Street, has raised $10,000 for Polish Humanitarian Action, a nonprofit providing food and personal care supplies to refugees. Part of a global bakery effort, the shop sold hamantaschen  a triangular-shaped cookie filled with a jam  until Thursday.

Of the effort, owner Annemarie Maitri said, Its hard to sit idle.

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JUNEAU  Dodge County authorities will share developments Friday in a 2009 case where a dead infant was found wrapped inside a garbage bag in the woods near the town of Theresa.

The Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Dodge County Medical Examiners Office will discuss the death investigation of the newborn girl, who was dubbed by authorities as Baby Theresa because she was found near the Theresa March. Authorities were not able to locate the infants mother at the time of her death.

Baby Theresa was found on Lone Road less than a mile from Highway 175 and less than three miles from Highway 41, on April 29, 2009. The man who found the body was cutting wood on private property.

The press conference Friday is limited to members of the media. The Dodge County District Attorneys Office is also expected to join the conference, according to a release from the Sheriffs Office.

Relatedly, a hearing is scheduled in Dodge County Circuit Court on Friday stemming from charges filed in 2014 against an unknown woman believed to be involved in Baby Theresas death. The eight-year-old charges against a woman identified only as Jane Doe are for felony counts of hiding a corpse and concealing the death of a child.

According to the complaint, a now 61-year-old man found a white plastic garbage bag on his property. He opened the bag and saw a bloody towel and possible fetus or baby in the bag.

The baby was taken to Fond du Lac Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. According to the complaint, the female infant was consistent with full-term gestation. An umbilical cord and small portion of membranes were present. There was no placenta present and no traumatic injuries. The cause of death was fetal demise.

According to the complaint, a maxi pad was found in the bag, and a womans DNA profile was detected from the dried blood on the pad. A mixture of DNA from two or more people was detected from the wrapper of the maxi pad. Checking it against genetic markers of Baby Theresa, the analyst determined one of the DNA profiles was the biological mother of the infant.

In 2009, authorities said the infant, who was 8 lbs. and 20.5 inches, had died within 24 hours of the body being found. The medical examiner at the time said that Baby Theresa did not suffer trauma that would result in her death. In addition, a complete toxicology screen was performed for drugs and was negative.

The autopsy also indicated she was likely born within two days of her body being found.

Tips came into the Dodge County Sheriffs Office right after Baby Theresa was found but they dried up soon after.

The Wisconsin State Crime Lab in Madison analyzed evidence recovered from the scene and identified what is believed to be a DNA profile of the biological mother at the time. The DNA profile is run through a national database of convicted felons and sex offenders to look for a match.

Members of the community came forward to support Baby Theresa. The Lowell Cemetery Association provided a cemetery plot so Baby Theresa could be laid to rest. Cornerstone Funeral Home and community members donated money and items to make the burial possible.

About 50 people attended her funeral in May of 2009, which was presided over by the Rev. Timothy Bauer. Baby Theresa was buried in a 24-inch-long, white casket and dressed in a pink one-piece outfit and a white sweater.

Dodge County has four other cold cases listed on its website:

Jerrold D. Stege, 43 at the time, was reported missing on Oct. 11, 2002, by his father. He was last seen on Oct. 2, 2002, at his place of employment in Waupun. His apartment was unlocked and there was no signs of a disturbance.

Christine D. Stenulson, 38 at the time, was last seen in her home in Milwaukee, on Sept. 2, 1997. Her body was found in a cornfield in southeastern Dodge County on Sept. 14, 1997.

Laura A. Babe, then 39-years-old, was beaten to death while at her apartment on Washington Street in Horicon on Sept. 6, 2007. The apartment was then set on fire and damaged the apartment complex.

Lori Bogenschneider, 34 at the time, was last seen in Mayville between Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, 1993. Her skeletal remains were found along a county road between Iron Ridge and Mayville on Dec. 7, 1995.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.
STURGEON BAY  The fired president of Indianas Franklin College has pleaded no contest to child enticement and other felony charges more than two years after his arrest in a Wisconsin sex crime sting.

Thomas Minar, 58, pleaded no contest Thursday to one count of child enticement and three counts of possession of child pornography in Door County, WRTV-TV reported. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 6.

Prosecutors said Minar was arrested by Sturgeon Bay police in January 2020, while trying to meet someone he thought was a 15-year-old boy after a sexually explicit chat through an online dating site.

According to court documents, the person Minar was trying to meet was actually an undercover police officer.

He was fired by Franklin College, a private, liberal arts college, shortly after his arrest. Minar had been the schools president for five years and had previously announced plans to leave the school in June 2020.

Franklin College has an enrollment of about 1,000 students and is located in the city of Franklin, about 20 miles south of Indianapolis.
A Las Vegas man was arrested in Minnesota after a pursuit that began with a gas theft in Richland County on Wednesday, authorities reported.

At about 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Vernon County Sheriff's Office deputies were investigating a theft of gas from Richland County when a white U-Haul van matching the description of the vehicle in the gas theft was located at Walmart in Viroqua, Sheriff John Spears said in a statement.

Deputies attempted to contact the driver, but he fled north on Highway 14, with authorities pursuing on Highway 14 and secondary roads in the town of Viroqua. For public safety, the pursuit was stopped south of Westby in hopes the suspect would slow down through Westby, but the van, which was stolen in Michigan the day before, continued at high speed and started driving into oncoming traffic, Spears said.

Due to the threat to the public, the pursuit was re-activated west of Westby on Highway 14 and the pursuit continued to La Crosse County, where it was ended, Spears said.

La Crosse police located the vehicle as it fled through La Crosse into Minnesota, where it finally was disabled on Interstate 90 in Winona County by the Minnesota State Patrol, Spears said.

The driver, Demandre Andrew-Tyshann Fraizer, 26, was arrested with a large of amount of marijuana and taken to the Winona County Jail, where he is awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin on tentative charges of felony fleeing, reckless endangering safety, and multiple traffic offenses, Spears said.

Numerous vehicles were forced off the road by Fraizer and the Vernon County Sheriff's office is asking anyone who was forced off the road on Highway 14, between Viroqua and La Crosse County, between 9:25 am and 9:50 am on March 16 to call the Vernon County Sheriff's Office at 608-637-2123.

There were no injuries, Spears said.

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One professor threatened to stop funding several of his graduate students. A postdoctoral researcher saw his extensive work on a paper diminished when his adviser put her name above his own. Another budding scientist struggled to find a job after her professor offered negative references to prospective employers.

'Toxic' lab: Read all coverage of the aftermath from a UW-Madison student's suicide A UW-Madison graduate student's suicide in October 2016 sparked a university investigation into the faculty member at the center of the lab wh

These troubling accounts of academic bullying on the UW-Madison campus show the problem extends beyond what Ph.D. candidate John Brady endured under an abusive adviser before dying by suicide in 2016. Situations like his can often be written off as awful anomalies, experts say, but that sort of thinking is misguided in a work environment where professors wield uneven power over the students they supervise. For every student like Brady, there are a number of others who suffer in silence or leave academia altogether.

The problem exists at most research universities, but takes on increased importance on a campus that consistently ranks among the top doctoral-granting institutions.

Academic bullying, a shorthand for what UW-Madison formally refers to as hostile and intimidating behavior, is broadly defined as unwelcome behavior so pervasive or severe that it impairs another persons ability to carry out their work responsibilities.

It can present in different forms with repeated ridiculing, shouting and intimidation among the most obvious examples. The behavior can also include more subtle forms of misconduct, such as veiled threats, impossible workloads and undermining of career prospects. Some actions fall into a gray zone, but experts say bullying goes beyond students being unable to handle the pressures of graduate school.

A Wisconsin State Journal investigation identified nine employees, including Bradys adviser, who were investigated in the last six years for violating the universitys policy against hostile and intimidating behavior. According to the newspapers review of the records:

In at least five of the cases, UW-Madison had received complaints or had documented previous concerns about the individuals for bullying behavior prior to the complaint that triggered the formal investigation.

Four of the employees left for other jobs, two of whom continue to lead labs where they supervise students.

Four employees remain at UW-Madison. In multiple cases, officials said specific requirements, such as additional training and lab monitoring, were put in place.

Some cases were clear-cut violations of UW-Madison policy. But in others, investigators struggled to make that determination. For example, a professor who encouraged a former employee working in a different lab to perform more than 350 hours of uncompensated work for him wasnt found to have acted in a hostile and intimidating manner. But because of the power imbalance and influence he had over her career, an investigator said a reasonable person could conclude she felt pressured. The professor, who was found to have violated other UW-Madison policies, retired last fall.

In almost all of the cases in which responses from the accused were included in UW-Madison reports, the individuals denied the accusations, blamed others or questioned the investigative process.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank said she would like to believe bullying isnt common on campus and that the overwhelming majority of graduate students develop positive relationships with their advisers.

On the one hand Im heartened there arent more (complaints), she said in an interview. But on the other hand, I want to be sure that there arent more because people arent reporting.

UW-Madison considers itself ahead of the curve in addressing academic bullying, with extensive policies spelled out for specific employee groups, a dedicated website bringing visibility to the problem and resources on how to address it.

Other Big Ten schools tend to lump behavioral expectations into ethics codes or general workplace policies, according to a UW-Madison policy review officials shared with the newspaper. Some institutions offer short descriptions of their standards. The University of Iowa, for instance, said faculty should demonstrate respect toward students and avoid exploitation.

An academic paper published last fall highlighted encouraging work underway at a handful of institutions that are not only increasing awareness but actually cultivating policies and practices designed to curb bullying. UW-Madison was one of three cited.

Reprehensible but not illegal

Similar to sexual assault and harassment, bullying is an enduring problem in academia that will likely persist for decades to come. Cases are often complex, open to different interpretations and the institutions response can leave both sides feeling unsatisfied.

But bullying differs in a few key ways. The #MeToo movement brought attention and awareness to the issue of sexual violence. Bullying has had less of a national reckoning.

The topic has come up just once or twice among Big Ten leaders, Blank recalled, whereas sexual assault gets a lot of conversation.

Thats not surprising to Morteza Mahmoudi, a Michigan State University nanoscientist who has studied academic bullying. Universities have legal responsibilities  such as Title IX, the federal gender-equity law  to take action. Bullying isnt illegal, leaving targets with far fewer avenues to pursue justice, he said.

Mahmoudi, who experienced bullying earlier in his career and co-founded an antibullying nonprofit called the Academic Parity Movement, said bullying is more common at highly ranked universities. Thats because professors at top-tier institutions land larger grants and students are more willing to justify enduring abuse in exchange for prestige or out of fear they can easily be replaced by another student.

International students are among the most vulnerable because they lack a nearby support system, rely on a student visa to stay in the U.S. and struggle with cultural or language barriers, he said. Students further along in their programs are also less likely to speak up, seeing little opportunity to change their circumstances without losing years of work.

Part of why addressing this behavior is so vexing, Mahmoudi said, is many cases lack clear documentation. Bullies are clever, dont put threats in writing and tend to taunt individuals behind closed doors. Sometimes bullies can recruit individuals to their side, making investigative conclusions more difficult to draw.

All members of the scientific community  from university administrators to funding agencies to journal editors to colleagues of the accused  need to involve themselves in confronting the problem, he said.

No mandatory training

In the wake of Bradys suicide becoming public, UW-Madison pledged to track reports of hostile and intimidating behavior at the central administration level so they do not simply remain hidden inside a department or unit, Blank said in 2019.

All complaints now go to deans offices at the school or college level, she said this month. Deans are the right place for reports to be housed because they are the frontline troops in documenting allegations, investigating complaints, recommending actions and monitoring behavior.

If the behavior appears egregious enough to warrant discipline or dismissal, the case is referred to the Provosts Office. In the last five school years, eight cases have been investigated and substantiated at that level, according to UW-Madison data.

Tackling the problem from an institutional perspective is less an issue of resources and more about creating the right culture, Blank said.

This is not a one-way power street, she said. This is a relationship that should have respect on both sides. Making sure that all faculty understand that after they arrive, regardless of where theyve come from, regardless of how they might have been treated as a graduate student, is an issue of expectations and culture and training.

Training, however, isnt required. UW-Madison strongly encourages employees who work with graduate students to complete the training, Blank said, but the university stops short of a campuswide mandate because some staff dont interact with students.

In-person training launched in 2018 and has been offered to nearly 2,700 people. An online training is under development.

How common on campus?

Surveys sent to all UW-Madison faculty in 2016 and 2019 offer a snapshot of how prevalent bullying may be on campus, at least from professors perspectives. Response rates ranged between 53% and 59%.

More than a third of faculty who responded to the 2016 survey reported personally experiencing hostile and intimidating behavior within the past three years and more than 40% witnessed such behavior.

Rates increased when the survey was sent out again in 2019. Almost 40% of faculty said they experienced bullying and nearly 50% witnessed it within the past three years.

The increase may, in part, be because more faculty were familiar with hostile and intimidating behavior as a concept in 2019. They were also more likely to say the behavior is treated seriously on campus and report knowing how to respond when someone brings a bullying complaint to them.

UW-Madison officials attribute the increased understanding to a variety of efforts in recent years, such as updated handbooks, more staff supporting graduate students and periodic program reviews.

COVID-19 gave colleges somewhat of a reprieve, with fewer in-person interactions taking place and labs constrained by capacity limits. The unique circumstances led to fewer bullying complaints reported last school year to UW-Madisons Ombuds Office, a place for employees to confidentially seek guidance on workplace concerns.

A global academic study backs up that observation, concluding that bullying was less frequent during the pandemic but with a higher level of severity.

As the pandemic moves into a more manageable stage, Ombud Rick Nordheim told the Faculty Senate in December that the office is starting to see cases pick up again.

Need help? If you are the victim of academic bullying, you have several reporting options. Visit: go.madison.com/uw-bullying-resources.

If you are a UWMadison student who is thinking about suicide, or if youre concerned for the well-being of a student you know, call the University Health Services 24-hour crisis line: (608) 265-5600, option 9.

SilverCloud is an online, self-guided, interactive mental health resource that provides UW-Madison students with accessible treatment options 24 hours a day without a referral. Visit: go.madison.com/silvercloud .

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A restaurant with yellow sunflowers painted in the window, along with blue hearts. A pizza named after a now infamous Ukrainian response to a Russian warship. A growing number of companies with Wisconsin roots pulling out of Russia.

All are examples of how local businesses are responding to the escalating three-week-old war between Ukraine and Russia.

Chef Dave Heide, owner of Fitchburg-based Lilianas Restaurant and Madison food nonprofit Little Johns, called it fighting but without weapons.

Lilianas is selling a Ukrainian food called varenyky  which is a boiled dumpling typically filled with potatoes, cheese or another food  at eight per batch at $20. All sale proceeds go toward a global food charity, for which Heide said Lilianas has raised more than $6,200 as of Thursday afternoon.

Buildings that once stood tall are now flattened because of explosives. Ukrainians who have been displaced from their homes seek refuge in neighboring countries. The United Nations estimates about 3 million people have left Ukraine, and another 1.85 million remain displaced inside the nations borders.

Meanwhile, leaders on both sides of the conflict show no signs of backing down, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requesting more weapons and for a no-fly zone to be imposed, and Russian President Vladmir Putin making threats about nuclear weapons.

And international businesses face mounting pressure from governments to leave an increasingly isolated Russia amid sanctions to target and shrink the countrys economy. So far, U.S. sanctions have included the banning of Russian oil and gas imports, penalties for the countrys oligarchs and the freezing of bank assets, among others.

Madisons business owners, while they say they feel helpless to influence the conflict, have tried to do so anyway.

Like Heide, several Madison food establishments have raised tens of thousands of dollars combined for World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization that provides meals to people dealing with humanitarian crises, among other charities.

World Central Kitchen recently launched an operation at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in southern Poland, where it serves refugees meals. It helps restaurants inside Ukraine prepare food for people as well.

Gift shop Orange Tree Imports is donating 100% of the proceeds it garners from Ukrainian egg decorating supplies sales to the International Refugee Committee, a nonprofit providing humanitarian relief and aid to the nation, like the Kitchen.

Owner Carol Orange Schroeder said the shop has sent $500 in advance of kit sales.

The craft involves drawing or painting intricate designs on an egg with a stylus tool, she explained, a tradition called pysanky.

And many companies, both with headquarters or a presence in Wisconsin, have chosen to leave Russia at varying levels, according to a list of about 400 businesses with Russian connections compiled by the Yale School of Management, the graduate business school of the prestigious Connecticut-based university.

Momentum builds

Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation, which recently voiced support for all sanctions against Russia, last week suspended all operations and sales in that nation and Belarus.

Sales to Russia and Belarus represent less than 0.5% of Rockwells total revenue, the company said in a statement last week. Rockwell will continue to pay salaries and benefits for its roughly 30 Russian team members, but does not directly employ anyone in Ukraine or Belarus. The company made a financial contribution to a charity that provides humanitarian relief to Ukrainian refugees.

More Wisconsin businesses, including motorcycle maker Harley Davidson, consumer chemicals manufacturer SC Johnson and Johnson Controls, which produces electronics and HVAC equipment all over the world, have held off on doing business in Russia.

California-based video game developer Activision Blizzard, which owns Middleton-based Raven Software, has additionally suspended all sales in Russia.

Some businesses with operations in both Wisconsin and Russia have only partially left the country, according to the list, which is updated frequently.

Fox Valley-based Kimberly-Clark, which supplies personal care products all over the world, has halted new investments but continues some business, the list states.

In addition to suspending all media, advertising and promotional activity, we have taken steps to suspend capital investments in our Stupino, Russia, facility, the company said in a statement. Importantly, consistent with the humanitarian nature of our products, we are focused on producing essential items, specifically baby diapers and feminine pads, which are critical to the health and hygiene of women, girls and babies.

The company has given $1 million in aid to Ukraine, it said.

Global scientific instrumentation supplier Thermo Fisher Scientific, with offices in Fitchburg, has ceased certain operations but not all. The company said in a statement thats because we continue to prioritize critical healthcare-related deliveries and operations in these countries to limit any potential patient impact. Thermo Fisher gave $1.25 million to various Ukraine war relief efforts.

SC Johnson does not appear to be on Yales list, but recently told Wisconsin Public Radio that operations in Ukraine are temporarily closed.

More to do

In addition to selling varenyky, Lilianas hired a Fitchburg-based artist to paint blue hearts and sunflowers in a mural that adorns the establishments windows.

The sunflower is Ukraines national flower, and the colors representative of the nations flag, said artist Christine Grace.

Waunakee-based cartoonist John Kovalic is selling prints depicting Paddington Bear. Zelenskyy, a former actor, voiced the character in the Ukrainian-language version of the 2014 and 2017 Paddington films. Proceeds from sales have topped just over $3,000, and have benefitted World Central Kitchen. It helps that he has followers all over the world.

Salvatores Tomato Pies, with several Madison-area locations, coined a new pizza named for a profane response Ukrainian soldiers gave to a Russian warship early in the conflict. Proceeds from sales have benefitted World Central Kitchen, topping $7,000.

More fundraisers with new pizza concepts are planned, said owner Patrick DePula.

Bloom Bake Shop, an establishment on Monroe Street, has raised $10,000 for Polish Humanitarian Action, a nonprofit providing food and personal care supplies to refugees. Part of a global bakery effort, the shop sold hamantaschen  a triangular-shaped cookie filled with a jam  until Thursday.

Of the effort, owner Annemarie Maitri said, Its hard to sit idle.

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In a social media post Thursday, Nataliya Akulenko wished her Ukrainian father, whom she calls her role model, a happy 81st birthday.

He was born right before the Nazi occupation of Ukraine and spent his early years learning to survive, she wrote. Now he is a refugee, and yet another fascist regime is destroying his country. The moral of this story? None.

Akulenko, 51, who lives on Williamson Street, talks to her 75-year-old mother every day via online video messaging. But internet service can be spotty in rural Western Ukraine, where she begged her parents to go to escape a week before the Russian invasion.

Her brother is still in their hometown of Kyiv, the besieged capital of Ukraine.

I have to sometimes make a real effort to stop thinking about that and focus on daily life here, said Akulenko, who works for the Madison Parks Department in community services.

Akulenko and a small group of Ukrainian women living in Madison have held two rallies at the state Capitol since the Russian invasion, which began Feb. 24, upending the lives of 44 million Ukrainians.

They will hold another at noon Saturday on the State Street side of the Capitol in support of their homeland.

Another organizer, Ruslana Westerlund, 49, who has lived in the United States since she was 22, is still trying to line up speakers and has messages in to the governors office and mayors office.

We want leadership to say something, Westerlund said. Were at that point where were done telling stories. We want leadership to step in.  Ukraine is an independent and beautiful country. And we just want people to know all about us as people and our love for our country and fight for independence over several centuries.

Anton Shirikov, a UW-Madison doctoral candidate in political science from Russia who studies media and propaganda will speak, she said.

Olga Daubs, who with her husband runs Gravity Photo Company on Rimrock Road, and came from Ukraine in 2016, is another organizer. Shes bringing in her daughters classmate, Anastsiia Miroshnikova, who is from Kharkiv, a city in northeast Ukraine, and escaped not long after the airstrikes began.

Miroshnikova, now living in Ohio, told Cincinnati TV station WLWT about sleeping in underground bunkers after the first attacks. She escaped by hitchhiking into Poland and then flying to Germany and on into the United States.

Westerlund, in her memoir From Borsch to Burgers, recounts her story of living in a small town in central Ukraine and emigrating to Minnesota in 1995, four years after the breakup of the Soviet Union. She moved to Wisconsin in 2013 to do educational research at UW-Madison and now works as an educational consultant.

She said a central message of the rally will be to ask the U.S. to streamline its visa system and expedite the immigration processes. Nobody wants to just come and stay here. People want go back to their country.

Westerlund said she is a proud U.S. citizen who votes. I am very Ukrainian and Im also very American. Im proud of both of my countries and I love them very much.  And now my heart breaks for my country.

The first rally was Feb. 26, two days after the war started, and the next one was a week later. It was improvised, Akulenko said. We didnt have a permit because we just felt that we had to do something.

About 150 people came out for each of the first two rallies, she said. Now they have a permit for two more.

Olga Matsyuk, 31, another Madison rally organizer, was born in Ivano Frankivsk, in Western Ukraine, close to Poland, and immigrated to the United States when she was 6.

She moved to Madison after college and is a business analyst in the health care industry. Her grandmother is still in Ukraine along with uncles and cousins. Matsyuk said trying to get money and supplies to her family in Ukraine has been hard. The situation has been particularly challenging for her grandmother.

Shes been through this before and for her to be seeing this and living through it again, its hard on all of us, she said.

Matsyuk said her goal is to raise awareness and get support from community leaders. Ultimately there were decisions that have been made in policy over a whole lot of years that has left Ukraine disarmed. So, it is important to understand that history and how it escalated to the situation thats going on today.

Akulenko, the parks department employee, has been fundraising for United Help Ukraine (razomforukraine.org) and Wisconsin Ukrainians (facebook.com/wisconsinukrainians). She also raises money for Friends of Chernobyl Centers, a group based in Madison and Bethesda, Maryland, to help communities in Ukraine that have been severely affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear incident.

She said the first thing she does each day when she wakes up is check if her parents and brother are online, to make sure theyre still alive.

Then she starts looking at the news. In the evening, its the worst because thats when the Russians are shooting and shelling even more. I have to stop looking at news in the evening and try to calm down so I can sleep.

If you go What: Support Ukraine Madison rally When: Noon Saturday Where: State Street side of the Capitol Organized by: Friends of Ukraine

Fundraising concert What: Yellow and Blues Music for Ukraine, A benefit concert featuring The Cash Box Kings, a Madison blues band, with special guests Jimmy Voegeli and Mel Ford, will raise money for Ukraine refugee relief When: 7 p.m., April 2 Where: The East Side Club, 3735 Monona Drive Cost: The suggested donation at the door is $15 More: Community Shares of Wisconsin is the fiscal sponsor for the benefit concert. Money raised will go to UNICEF Protect the Children of Ukraine, UNHCR Ukraine and CARE Ukraine Crisis Fund

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Three children have died from flu in Wisconsin, the first reported pediatric influenza-related deaths this flu season, health officials said Thursday.

In a state report earlier this month, when two of the childhood deaths had been attributed to the flu, there had been 10 pediatric flu deaths reported nationally so far this flu season.

The state Department of Health Services declined to say where in the state the deaths occurred. The children were younger than 18.

It is important to remember that along with COVID-19, other communicable diseases such as flu are circulating in our communities, State Health Officer Paula Tran said in a statement. Each of these alone can pose serious health risks for children, and co-infection can occur.

The state health department urged Wisconsin residents 6 months old and older to get vaccinated against influenza, saying the number of flu cases and hospital admissions is rising throughout the state.

Flu shots are especially recommended for people who are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill, such as those who are pregnant, over age 65 and those with chronic health conditions. About 39% of state residents have had flu shots, lower than last year.

Flu activity has been relatively light this season statewide and nationally but has picked up a bit recently. Flu typically peaks in winter but can last through spring.

In Wisconsin, three children died from flu during the 2019-20 season. There were four pediatric flu deaths in 2018-19 and three in 2017-18.

Nationally, in 2020-21, only one pediatric flu death was reported, not in Wisconsin. Since flu deaths became nationally reported in 2004, the national total previously ranged from 37 in 2011-12 to 199 in 2019-20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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After a weeks-long search, missing University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Hamud Faal was found in the Mississippi River by crews Thursday afternoon, according to an update from the La Crosse Police Department.

Faal, 25, was last seen on Feb. 20 at 3:37 a.m. walking southbound on Front Street alone. He was reported missing the next day by his family.

On Thursday morning, the La Crosse Fire Department conducted a search in the river as part of an ongoing effort to locate Faal.

At about 4 p.m., Faal was recovered by firefighters in about 25 feet of water near the Division Street landing in La Crosse.

The investigation is ongoing, the police department stated, and an official cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.
I was pleased to witness the passage of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 (House Bill 670), seeing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for meaningful police accountability reforms that have eluded Baltimoreans, and Maryland residents, for decades. Reforming our police department has been central to my entire career in public service and is one of the critical goals of my administration. The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) has made historic improvements in the last few years under the leadership of Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison, much of it the result of the federal consent decree Baltimore City has been a willing party to since 2017.

BPDs image has been marred by police corruption, inappropriate behavior and the mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. The actions of rogue cops have compromised the publics trust in the ability of police officers to do their jobs constitutionally and productively. Reforming the department around constitutional policing is a prerequisite for residents to have confidence in their department. Without that trust, residents will continue to feel uneasy about helping our officers effectively prevent and solve crimes. Real, meaningful accountability is vital for building that trust up from the ground level.

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When I ran for mayor, I promised to transform our citys approach to crime reduction, moving us from being focused solely on law enforcement to a comprehensive, holistic approach to public safety that centers on public health. I introduced my Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan because equitable public safety strategies understand that evaluation and accountability are essential in building a brighter, safer future for our city. This plan includes ongoing assessment of our consent decree progress and mandates internal affairs training to ensure that all sworn officers should know how to conduct proper citizen complaint investigations, draft and submit formal charges, and conduct audits and integrity tests to ensure that our law enforcement officers are policing fairly and impartially.

[ Baltimore mayors violence prevention plan needs resources, commitment, coordination | COMMENTARY ]

House Bill 670 is now the law of the land, and jurisdictions across the state of Maryland, including Baltimore City, have been tasked with creating three interlinking civilian oversight boards through local legislation by July 1: The Police Accountability Board (PAB), the Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) and the Trial Board.

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This change will create an ecosystem for effective police accountability. Under the proposed legislation, the PAB will handle the intake of resident complaints of potential police misconduct cases, hold regular meetings with the heads of law enforcement, and issue public reports about the state of police misconduct in Baltimore City. The ACC will be the workhorse of the three oversight boards, tasked with assessing individual cases of alleged police misconduct based on the initial investigative findings of BPD, including reviewing body camera footage and making disciplinary recommendations. Finally, should a police officer receive discipline, a Trial Board will review the evidence and hear an appeal, should one be filed.

Thankfully, unlike other jurisdictions in Maryland, Baltimore City does not have to start its civilian oversight process from scratch. For the last 20 years, we have had the Civilian Review Board (CRB) to provide opportunities for civilian participation and oversight into specific types of police misconduct allegations. We cannot ignore the lessons learned from the CRB while we create the accountability structures outlined in House Bill 670.

[ Baltimore stifles review board that investigates police misconduct cases | COMMENTARY ]

After hearing concerns from the Civilian Review Board and advocates supporting civilian oversight in police accountability, my administration will be supporting two key amendments in Annapolis to strengthen the Police Accountability Boards here in Baltimore City. Our Administrative Charging Committees must have explicit subpoena powers and the ability to perform concurrent investigations into police misconduct cases, the same powers granted to the Civilian Review Board. These measures ensure that the findings of police misconduct investigations are accurate and can withstand public scrutiny. We are counting on our committed legislative partners in Annapolis to get these amendments through and enacted by the end of this session.

If the residents of Baltimore City dont trust the police, there is no hope to curb the violence gripping our city, and the strategies we are employing to reform the underlying circumstances that lead to violence become harder to achieve. Transparency, accountability, and meaningful civilian oversight of the police are principles that will underlie Baltimore Citys Police Accountability Boards process. As your mayor, I am committed to getting it right because we cannot afford to do anything less.

Brandon Scott (mayor@baltimorecity.gov) is the mayor of Baltimore.
As soon as the U.S. Senate passed a surprise bill declaring that daylight saving time would be in operation all year, lobbyists for early birds leapt into action, hoping to kill the bill in the House.

Were bracing ourselves for the debate.

Many sleep scientists argue that following standard time is the best and safest option for public health. Its more closely aligned with the suns progression and far better for our built-in circadian rhythms, they say, claiming that seeing light when we wake up in the morning is better for our emergence from sleep and thus more conducive to our health.

Plus, if we have more time for evening activities, theres more time to hurt ourselves.

In the other corner, fans of year-round daylight saving time point to the benefits of longer evenings, the conservation of energy and allowing kids more time to kick a ball around before it gets dark. They also note that crimes of all kinds tend to flourish in the dark, so the longer its light, the safer many people feel.

The same goes for driving. And plenty of business interests prefer daylight saving time, too, offering as it does more time and incentive to be out and about, socializing and spending money. Plus, theres the psychological factor: Dark evenings are depressing calling cards of winter. Especially in cold cities such as Chicago and across the Midwest. They bring pain to the soul.

Like most else in life, its a trade-off. How you feel depends on where you put your focus. Well leave the choice to the peoples representatives, and were no sleep professionals. But from our urban perch on the eastern boundary of Central Time, the choice of daylight saving time works better for us.

Chicago winters are tough. An extra hour of light in the evening will be an improvement to our collective mental health and will make our streets safer, and maybe that walk home from the train a couple of degrees warmer. Even in January, dawn still should be underway here by about 7 a.m. Most Chicago kids wont have to walk to school in the dark.

But whatever side you fall on, lets agree right now to get rid of the changing of the clocks, a disruptive ritual that has been proven to cause accidents, create stress over missed appointments and lead to all kinds of domestic panic. In the digital era, added traumas come from not knowing which clocks automatically adjust and which stay rooted to the past in their timekeeping.

Lets stop losing an hours sleep every year and lets end the fall ritual of putting the clocks back, about as depressing a harbinger of winter as humans ever created.

Especially in this town.
Wisconsin lawmakers recently wrapped up their regular legislative session, but harmful bills are still on the horizon.

Extremist lawmakers are continuing to push for a ban on lifesaving, gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. Their efforts mimic similar attempts to ban affirming care in other states, often by stoking anxieties and preying on a lack of familiarity around what it means to be transgender, nonbinary or gender-nonconforming. In doing so, these politicians strive to manufacture a sense of crisis where one does not exist.

As two doctors from Wisconsin, we see a glaring and dangerous lack of understanding about health care for transgender children reflected in these efforts. Through our work, we see firsthand how children and their families are affected when theres concern that they might not be able to access the health care they need. Were hearing from tearful families who are considering moving to other states so their children are able to access evidence-based, gender-affirming care.

This care significantly lowers the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts for transgender and non-binary young people. The politicians who choose to ignore this evidence clearly have their own interests in mind, not those of young people.

Their legislation encourages district attorneys to prosecute doctors like us for simply doing our jobs and taking care of young people. If the bill is passed, wed be criminalized for following the best medical practices outlined by multitudes of medical associations. The bill also would ban health insurers from supporting families with the costs of paying for their childrens medical procedures. Our elected officials need to listen to health experts to guide their decisions by rejecting this misguided, extremist ban.

If they fail to, the repercussions will be severe. Over 85% of transgender and nonbinary young people in a nationwide poll said legislation aimed at restricting access to their health care and rights has harmed their mental health. In Madison, were already seeing the devastating impact that discussions about this bill are having. The young people we care for worry about losing care that has improved their mental health and quality of life. Parents of transgender youth worry that they wont be given the choice to spare their children from unwanted, irreversible pubertal changes.

Extremist efforts to alienate and harm transgender children are the real health crisis.

Our government has no right to interfere in private health care decisions made between doctors and patients. When extremists in Arkansas tried to pass a nearly identical ban to the one proposed in our state, Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed it, noting these bills are vast government overreach. Lawmakers overrode that veto, and the bill has yet to take effect, due to a lawsuit. But harmful rhetoric around the bill is already causing irreparable harm to young patients.

If Wisconsin legislators allow our copycat health care ban to pass, well see even worse impacts.

We all deserve the health care we need without harassment and political interference. Our elected officials must put the wellbeing of their constituents above their extremist agendas, listen to the experts and reject these efforts before more harm is done to our children.

Dr. Allen is a pediatrician and Dr. Rehm is a pediatric endocrinologist. They are co-medical directors at a pediatric and adolescent transgender health clinic in Madison.
Many mornings I wake up feeling as though every one of my joints is completely rusted out. On good days, its just a piercing headache that bedevils me as I awake. On bad mornings, I feel as though I got hit by a bus the day prior.

Every day, however, is a day that I feel pain  sometimes stabbing, other times throbbing, aching and burning, and always acute. For most of the day and night. Sometimes Ill feel like I have a terrible sunburn on various parts of my body. Almost all of the time I feel chilled to the bone and so tired. Exquisitely tired (as in, I might actually fall asleep at the keyboard) despite sustained attempts at excellent sleep hygiene due to bouts with insomnia.

My hands rarely open and close without pain. That makes it tough opening the seven or eight bottles of prescription nerve-regulating medicine, over-the-counter painkillers and vitamins I take just to sustain my existence.

Other times my hips, legs or feet hurt so much that I need a cane to walk.

I have a chronic illness with no known cure and few options for relief. Every day is a struggle to want to keep going. But the novel coronavirus may prove an unexpected lifeline because of how many people it has infected and how differently it manifests itself in disparate portions of the population.

More than half of the 236 million people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since December 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms  more commonly known as long COVID  up to six months after recovering, according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine. The research team said that governments, health care organizations and public health professionals should prepare for the large number of COVID-19 survivors who will need care for a variety of psychological and physical symptoms.

This means that people who have chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia (my current diagnosis) and autoimmune disorders such as lupus or inflammatory bowel disease have hope that such a large number of people suffering in similarly mysterious ways will enable finding some palliative care, if not a cure.

In a recent paper describing post-treatment COVID, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, described the syndromes symptoms as fatigue, malaise, dyspnea, defects in memory and concentration and a variety of neuropsychiatric syndromes as the major manifestations, and several organ systems can be involved  [resulting in] persistent inflammation, induced autoimmunity and [presumed] viral reservoirs.

It is incredibly hopeful that these researchers ended their paper with suggestions for diagnostic strategies to better understand what tends to be a shape-shifter disorder.

I wouldnt have made this connection had I not picked up New York Times columnist Ross Douthats horrific, but disturbingly comforting new book, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery.

Douthat describes a long and tortured march of pain through his post-treatment Lyme disease  another ailment, along with fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders, that bedevil patients and stump doctors. Douthat describes how doctors can come to believe these diseases are mostly just in the mind of the patient.

Overwhelmingly its women who are told its all in your head, get healthy and eliminate stress. Do yoga, they say. Meditate.

So it matters greatly that Douthat  a straight, white, conservative and religious man  tell his story of burning sensations, wrenching pain and his sickness degrading his mind and psyche. The hope is that such a testimonial might make the pain real to the overwhelmingly male physician corps who witness so many Lyme disease patients recover easily. They begin to believe that the few stragglers who struggle to recover are the real problem.

I felt very validated when Douthat admitted he felt the brain fog that so many Lyme patients talk about, descending like a cloud over my mind, and my capacity to write  the one thing that had been preserved for me throughout my illness  began to slip away. With the cloud came, for the first time in my life, a suicidal current in my thoughts  temporary like all my symptoms and therefore survivable, but still a repeated pulse of just kill yourself, just kill yourself, just kill yourself that lasted anywhere from a few minutes to an hour before it fled.

I empathized because my pain has been that bad and that real.

Testimonials by upstanding men such as Douthat might help the medical establishment recognize that whatever is at work in long-haul COVID, post-treatment Lyme disease and other mysterious chronic illnesses has nothing to do with being hysterical or crazy.

Now is the time for researchers to find a way to connect the dots between these similar, if disparate, causes of chronic pain and maybe find solutions for its management.

But it has to start with believing patients whose pain problem cant easily be diagnosed by a checklist in an electronic medical records management software system.

Latino votes up for grabs

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?

Cepeda, of Madison, can be reached at ejc@estherjcepeda.com and @estherjcepeda.
The Texas Supreme Court has effectively extinguished a lawsuit challenging the states antiabortion law, all but ensuring that Texas extreme restrictions will remain on the books for the foreseeable future.

But do not imagine that Texas success, the result of the U.S. Supreme Courts permissive attitude toward the states aggressive legal maneuvers, will affect only pregnant people within its borders  or that the consequences will be limited to abortion rights. The high courts complacency might open the way for states that seek to restrict constitutional rights of many kinds.

Texas law bars abortion when fetal cardiac activity is detectable, usually around a pregnancys sixth week, which is before many women even know they are pregnant. This contradicts Roe v. Wade and other Supreme Court dicta. But rather than tap state authorities to enforce the ban, Texas lawmakers empowered private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone abetting a restricted abortion. This means that abortion rights groups had no discrete entity to sue to prevent the laws enforcement. Meanwhile, Texas abortion providers would have to shut down in fear of ruinous lawsuits.

Rather than block this end-run around the Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court threw up its hands. The Texas Supreme Courts action recently  declaring that, indeed, no state authority had any power to enforce the law, and therefore no state entity could be sued to stop it  ended the last hope of substantive judicial review anytime soon. Unsurprisingly, lawmakers in at least 12 other states have proposed similar abortion bans.

Perhaps the U.S. Supreme Court justices anticipate that the Texas abortion controversy will soon be moot. They are set to rule by this summer on a major abortion case that could scrap Roe, and with it any argument that Texas ban violates the Constitution. Yet by condoning Texas approach in the meantime, they have opened up a legal Pandoras box that could do extreme damage to the constitutional order.

A Missouri lawmaker has proposed empowering private citizens to sue anyone  even beyond the states borders  assisting a Missourian in getting an out-of-state abortion. The notion that a state could regulate out-of-state activity is absurd.

But so is Texas abortion vigilante enforcement program, and the Supreme Court failed to stop it. In fact, states could use a Texas-style system to restrict practically any constitutionally protected activity. California lawmakers are already moving to restrict firearms by empowering private citizens to go after gun-shop owners. State officials across the country are rushing to create vigilante systems to crack down on anti-vaxxers and speech in schools. ... If the court treated such cases with the same nonchalance as it did Texass abortion ban, those restrictions could remain on the books for long periods of time.

The high court should act to close the legal loophole Texas exploited and make clear that it will not tolerate any state seeking to export its abortion policies beyond its borders. Meanwhile, those states that hope to preserve legal abortion must consider how to protect their own abortion providers from punishments that other states might try to impose on them.
HAILEY  A man known for his involvement in a 2014 confrontation with federal agents is again running as a Republican for the Idaho Senate.

Eric Parker is the founder and president of Idahos Real 3%ers. Parker participated in an armed standoff with federal agents in 2014 near the ranch of Nevada cattleman Cliven Bundy. A widely circulated picture showed Parker lying prone and aiming a rifle at federal agents. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction stemming from the incident.

In 2020, Parker received 43% of the vote as the Republican challenger to incumbent Sen. Michelle Stennett, a Democrat. Since then, the Hailey Republican has been determined to be the next senator for District 26, which now includes Blaine, Lincoln and Jerome counties.

Parker announced in August 2021 that he would run again for the seat, partially because he felt he would be able to flip the district which had seen Democratic legislative representation for most of the past decade.

I believed what I was saying was resonating with the people and I just needed a little more time, Parker said.

Parker now heads for a May 17 Republican primary challenged from Rep. Laurie Lickley in a contest that Parker frames as a faceoff between fresh blood and the old guard.

I think a lot of the old way of thinking is not beneficial for our situation right now, Parker said. I think we need younger people that are willing to think outside the box.

Parker said he is critical of the Legislatures reluctance to repeal the grocery tax, although it has been proposed in multiple sessions.

He also said he thinks property tax relief is needed. He would like to remove some regulations for the ranching industry to allow ranchers to sell beef more easily. He said he would like to see legislative oversight of state acceptance of federal emergency funding, and limits on the executive power to declare emergencies. Parker also said he wants to address water issues and fund long-term water projects.

I think that we need to bring responsibility back to the forefront of the conversation, he said. I dont think our government is acting very responsible lately.

In regards to education, Parker believes state money should follow the student to alternative schools when parents want. Two of Parkers four children attend charter schools, a move Parker said the family made after deciding the local public schools werent meeting their needs.

Thats just good business, and unfortunately we have to look at it through a business lens because were funding it, Parker said. I think making them compete for the funding a little more is going to improve the schools.

Parker would like schools to stick to science, math, language, and reading and said that many school districts are including content outside the scope of what he believes a school should teach. He is also concerned about what he sees as a deliberate effort to remove parents from the educational process.

Every other day or so were seeing another way that parents are being pushed out of the process, Parker said. I believe parents are the stakeholder in their childrens future and education, and I dont believe they should have to co-parent with the state.

Parker acknowledges his history of pointing guns at federal agents made him who he is today.

I would say also that 2014 was a long time ago, he said. And Im here today looking at the best way to fix the issues that I see, within the system.

Parker also points out he had his due process under the law. His experience as a focus of federal investigations gives him first-hand insight into what he sees as threats to individual rights protected by the constitution.

Its also what makes me the candidate that understands that when the U.S. attorney general instructs the FBI to look at parents as possible domestic terrorists, I understand exactly what that means, Parker said, citing an October 2021 memo in which Attorney General Merrick Garland tasked the FBI and U.S. attorneys offices to meet with law enforcement leaders to address a spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members across the country.

Youre not going to get that from someone else who hasnt been through what I have, he said.

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BOISE  The Idaho House of Representatives approved a budget bill on Wednesday for the Department of Health and Welfare that includes funding for 24 new positions in the Child Welfare division, along with a pay increase for case workers and an increase to foster care reimbursement rates.

The bill, which includes $96.6 million for Idahos child welfare system, passed with no debate on a 43-22 vote and now heads to the Senate for its consideration.

The request for 24 additional personnel is a cost of nearly $1.8 million on an annual basis and includes a 7% pay increase for case workers and safety assessors in the amount of $921,200 on top of the standard state change in employee compensation.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported on the issue of social workers leaving the department at higher than usual rates in a series of stories late last year. The workers cited burnout from unreasonable work expectations as a major reason as to why they were leaving. One of the most frequent complaints was about comp time that built up and went unused because child welfare workers were ineligible for overtime pay and couldnt take time off with such heavy workloads. That has since changed after the department made a request to the Idaho Division of Human Resources, Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen told the Legislature in January. Those workers can now be paid overtime.

The budget includes a $6.1 million increase to foster care reimbursement rates, along with a one-time supplemental budget for a 30% to 60% rate increase for foster family assistance through June 30, when the fiscal year ends. Jeppesen told the Legislature in January that Idahos reimbursement rates for foster families are the lowest of any state in the region.

The bill also includes funding for an increase to employee pay at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center and additional funding for crisis staffing, along with funding for a remodel of the treatment center.

The Senate will likely vote on the bill by next week.

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OLYMPIA, Wash.  Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday said his state will protect Idaho residents access to abortion procedures as he signed a bill solidifying some health care workers ability to perform abortions and forbidding Texas-style punishment for providers.

Washingtons bill updated its Reproductive Privacy Act to formally include physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners as clinicians who can perform abortion procedures. The bill also prevents the state from penalizing or punishing people who perform or assist in abortions.

Inslee said the bill comes at a perilous time and was spurred by other states moves to restrict abortion  particularly recent moves made by Idaho lawmakers.

To the citizens of Idaho, if Idaho will not stand up for your constitutional rights, we will, Inslee said as he signed the bill.

Idaho lawmakers on Monday approved a bill that would allow families to sue clinicians who perform abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The bill is headed to Idaho Gov. Brad Littles desk. He will have five days to veto the bill after receiving it.

Legislators said the six-week timeline coincides with the detection of a fetal heartbeat, though medical specialists have said the sound is actually electrical activity. Medical professionals have also argued that many people dont know theyre pregnant by six weeks.

The bill is modeled after a Texas law passed last year that banned abortion after six weeks and allowed anyone  not just family  to sue abortion providers. The Texas law is being challenged in court.

Last year, Idaho passed a similar fetal heartbeat bill that would fully ban abortions after six weeks; however, the Legislature included a trigger in the bill that would only put it into effect if a federal appeals court upholds a similar law elsewhere  like in Texas.

There are only four medical facilities in Idaho that provide abortions, and three of them are Planned Parenthood facilities. All of them are located in southern Idaho. Idaho residents seeking abortions frequently travel out-of-state for procedures, Planned Parenthood officials say.

Paul Dillon, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, told the Tri-City Herald that Washington facilities expect to see an increase in Idaho patients if Little signs the bill.

If we are already seeing patients from Texas, we will see patients from Idaho, he said.

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Rob Sturgill of Kimberly was in Idaho on March 6, when the idea struck him that he could go to Ukraine to assist refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.

By March 11, less than a week later, he was in Ukraine, and by Tuesday he had helped transport about 60 Ukrainians deep into neighboring Poland.

Watching the news and seeing these fathers hugging their wives and their children, it really pulled my heart this direction, Sturgill said in an interview with the Idaho Statesman from Poland, where he and several friends were working to coordinate the arrival of refugees late into the evening.

Some 2 million Ukrainians have streamed into Poland in recent weeks, escaping a Russian blitzkrieg that has so far killed an estimated thousands of people.

It just hit me that we could do something, and the idea of going to the rescue of these refugees, of getting them from the border to the homes of the people in Poland that are welcoming them in, we could do that, he said. Next thing you know, were in Poland.

Since then, Sturgill and five others  including his brother  have rented three vans and are shuttling Ukrainian families who have arrived at refugee centers in Polish border towns to Krakow or other parts of the county, where they are being hosted by Polish families, staying in hotels or traveling farther into Europe.

On Wednesday, he said hed managed about eight hours of sleep over the previous four days.

The group also packed donated medical supplies and even a box of military gear to bring with them on their flight to Europe, Sturgill said.

In large part, Sturgill said the families he meets are only women and children, as many Ukrainian men have stayed behind in case they are needed to fight the Russian invaders.

The Ukrainians are transported from the border in buses by the Polish government, Sturgill said, and taken to refugee relief centers, two of which are a former shopping mall and a warehouse. From there, people like Sturgill and his group pick up travelers and take them where they need to go.

The three-week-old invasion that has already displaced millions of Ukrainians, both internally and externally, is the fastest-growing refugee crisis on the European continent since World War II, Florian Justwan, an associate professor of political science at the University of Idaho, told the Statesman.

So far, the Russian military has shown it doesnt really take into account the distinction between civilian targets and military targets and is indiscriminately bombarding apartment buildings, hospitals and schools in Ukrainian cities, Justwan said, noting that Russian forces have used this strategy in previous conflicts.

Thats one of the big reasons why people are trying to leave the country, he said. Theyre fleeing for their lives and livelihoods.

The majority of external refugees have so far fled to Poland, which Justwan said is an attractive shelter as a member of the European Union, which has so far promised significant protection for people displaced by the conflict.

But Justwan said recent reports suggest Polish refugee centers are nearing capacity, and that other EU countries, such as Germany and France, will soon need to take on a larger role.

One of the Polish centers recently processed 28,000 refugees in one day, Sturgill said.

Sturgill, who works as a financial adviser at Edward Jones, has also been coordinating donations from friends and coworkers to help pay for hotel rooms and other necessities the refugees need. There are others like him in Poland, many of them European, who have driven their personal cars east to help transport people.

It reminds you of Dunkirk, he said, referring to the English civilians who transported British soldiers stranded in France during World War II across the English Channel in fishing boats and leisure craft. Theyre coming with their little cars, theyre trying to rescue as many people as they can.

While speaking with the Statesman on Tuesday, a member of Sturgills group was transporting a pregnant woman with four children from the border to Krakow.

Sturgill said a seventh person would join his team Wednesday, and bring another vehicle.

In 2014, Sturgill started a charity, Type of Wood, after traveling to the Philippines after a typhoon that flattened portions of the country and killed thousands. The charity is now collecting donations for the crisis in Ukraine.

Working at the Polish border, Sturgill said he is about 18 miles from an area that was recently bombed by the Russian military. He added that the number of refugees flowing across the border appears to slow during Russian bombing raids, when everybody hunkers down.

Sturgill is scheduled to return to Idaho on Sunday, but may decide to prolong his stay.

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Relatives and friends attend a funeral ceremony for four of the Ukrainian military servicemen, who were killed during an airstrike in a military base in Yarokiv, in a church in Lviv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. At least 35 people were killed and many wounded in Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base near Ukraine's western border with NATO member Poland. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Heres what Biden should be telling Americans about Ukraine

Here is the simple speech that President Biden should be giving right now (How Marylanders can help Ukrainians fleeing Russian brutality, March 9):

The reason that Vladimir Putin has invaded Ukraine is that Ukraine, a free country, has been on a path to become very successful, both politically and economically. Ukraine directly borders on Russia which, under Mr. Putins leadership can never be free or successful. This contrast would, in time, become very evident to the Russian people who, Mr. Putin fears, would eventually lay the blame on him. So, to not invade Ukraine now would ultimately threaten Mr. Putins hold on power.

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The Ukrainians have put up a tremendous fight for their liberty, but Russia has a much bigger army. Mr. Putin had hoped that it would be a quick and relatively easy takeover. But it hasnt been, and it now looks possible that with a moderate amount of equipment supply and a moderate amount of air cover, the Ukranians can hold on in parts of their country indefinitely.

The free countries have, in response to the invasion, applied strong economic sanctions to Russia. Mr. Putin will be determined to withstand these sanctions, however painful they may be, no matter how much they put Russia to disadvantage or impoverish its people. He believes that eventually the sanctions can be tolerated, weakened or eluded. His calculation is that all he needs to do now is overrun Ukraine and then wait out the sanctions.

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Mr. Putin believes that apart from sanctions, the free nations are unlikely to meaningfully come to Ukraines aid, so fearful are they of a larger war or a nuclear war. Consequently, he threatens any nation considering to aid Ukraine militarily with both of those things.

The United States of America, and free nations everywhere learned in 1938 that they cannot permit themselves to be intimidated by such threatening behavior. The cause of the Ukrainians is just. The cause of Mr. Putins government is heinous and evil. At a minimum, the city of Kyiv must have a clear route for people, and supplies and food, kept open to it indefinitely.

I am announcing today that effective immediately it will be the objective of the United States to help provide this route and these services to the people of Ukraine. Just to be clear, attempts by the Putin government to interfere with the flow of people or supplies along this route will be met with such means as the United States and other liberty-loving countries will deem necessary.

 Jack Wickham, Glen Arm

Intervene to stop this tragedy

Unwilling to provoke Vladimir Putin, we stand back and watch on TV as the bombs rain down on Ukranian cities (Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to deliver virtual address to Congress, March 14). We seize Russian yachts as the Ukranians bury their dead in mass graves. I wish to ask the leaders of the worlds greatest military power to intervene to stop this tragedy.

 John Murphy, Baltimore

What is Putins endgame?

As I opened up the newspaper I saw Russian bombs hit maternity hospital and later Besieged Mariupol buries dead in mass grave (The Baltimore Sun, March 10). My local newspaper is fulfilling its job of providing the fine details of Vladimir Putins war of aggression. Other media outlets and online platforms are also getting out photographs and interviews with those who are victims of a massive bombing campaign.

These awful images of the carnage by the invading forces are sickening to watch. These atrocities have motivated those of us in Baltimores peace and justice movement to demand an end to the ultraviolence. And there are protesters around the world, including in Russia, who are saying no to war.

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I was naive to think that Mr. Putin would not invade Ukraine. Now I am unclear: What is his endgame? Will he just take over Ukraine, or will he next attack Poland? He has threatened to use nuclear weapons, and his forces are involved in possible attacks on Ukraines nuclear reactors. There could be a nuclear catastrophe. Mr. Putin was responsible for the overwhelming destruction of Grozny in 1999-2000, as well as the annihilation of Aleppo in 2016. Surely, he does not plan to reduce many of Ukraines cities to rubble? Or does he?

 Max Obuszewski, Baltimore

Nuclear deterrence does not require costly modernization

Patty-Jane Gellers column today (US must take Putins nuclear threat seriously, March 11) is a study in how think tanks and war profiteering are two sides of the same coin. The essence of her argument is that Vladimir Putins nuclear threats now require us to spend more money modernizing our nuclear arsenal.

The only hope for humanity in the long run is that nuclear arsenals will disappear. Fifty-six nations have now signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and have pledged never to possess them. Both Russia and the U.S. should sign the treaty, but they have not.

Nevertheless, nuclear deterrence does not require costly modernization. Former Secretary of Defense William Perry has clearly stated, for example, that the United States can safely phase out its land-based  force. The U.S. has sufficient air- and submarine-based warheads to deter any rational opponent from using nuclear weapons.

Weapons-makers and fossil fuel companies love this Ukraine war and want to goad the U.S. into more and more entrapment in the very types of endeavors that give Russia leverage to initiate its attack. The weapons-makers want NATO expansion  the drastic geopolitical mistake that has precipitated this crisis. They probably also want to throw gasoline onto the fire by adding U.S. troops into the mix. If the world had made its transition to renewable energy sources, Russias leverage to invade would have been minimized.

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Im a retired citizen and not on anyones payroll. Ms. Geller works for the Heritage Foundation, which is not required to declare all its funding sources.

 Charlie Cooper, Baltimore
It would not hurt for Attorney General wannabe Raul Labrador to spend a little time learning what the AG does. It is quite obvious from his campaign literature that he has no clue. His proposals sound sophomoric at best.

For instance, Labrador says he will convene the Idaho bar, legal academics, health officials, and local law enforcement to reopen Idahos courts. Whoops!

He forgot to include the Supreme Court, which is the only entity that has the constitutional authority to run the courts. I dont think the Court would allow Labrador to intermeddle in the court system. In fact, the Attorney General is a frequent litigant before the Supreme Court and must necessarily respect its authority as a separate branch of government.

Labrador speaks of the controversial consolidated structure of the AGs office. It is not the least bit controversial among those who understand what that structure is and how it works. Idahos constitutional framers intended the Attorney General to be the adviser of all state officers. And so it was until the late 1950s, when some agencies began hiring their own lawyers. That often resulted in captive lawyers who told agency heads what they wanted to hear, not what the law required.

During those bad old days, it was not out of the ordinary to have State agencies crossing swords with each other in court, since many agencies had their own legal empire. Nor was it unusual for one agency to be periodically starved for legal help, while others had an overabundance. A survey conducted in 1985 found that Idaho had almost twice the number of state-paid lawyers per capita than other nearby states where all state lawyers were consolidated in the Attorney Generals office (Oregon, Utah and Colorado). Yet, three Republican AGs (Kidwell, Leroy and me) had consolidation legislation vetoed by two Democrat Governors. It should not have been a partisan issue.

In 1995, Al Lance was able to get legislation approved to consolidate the AG office so that there would be uniform staff policies, assurance of quality legal work, and sharing of work across agency lines. It substantially reduced the cost of state legal services, while increasing efficiency throughout the system. Labradors idea of going back to the bad old days is pure nonsense.

Labrador displays no understanding of the AGs role in giving opinions on legal issues. That role is to provide the government with honest, straight-forward advice when askedsaying what the law is, not what the AG wishes it was. Thats what we expect of our personal attorneyshow to keep us out of trouble, instead of getting us into it.

Labrador criticizes Attorney General Lawrence Wasden for having issued legal opinions which concluded that several bills on hot-button issues were on shaky constitutional ground. That is exactly what the Attorney must do to keep the State out of hot water in court.

Wasden has been remarkably correct with his cautionary legal opinions. When the Legislature ignores his advice, Idaho generally loses in court. We have paid out millions of dollars in attorney fees for the defense of unconstitutional legislation.

Lawrence Wasden understands that demagogues will vilify him for legal opinions that correctly state the law. But, just like a judge, he must stand up for the rule of law, even when he personally disagrees with it. Wasden has exhibited an incredible amount of courage in that regardsomething that Labrador could not begin to understand.

Labrador envisions himself as a partner of extremist legislators who have caused such chaos and disruption in our government. He has said that he will have their best interests in mind. Wasden envisions himself as a servant of the people of Idaho, guided by the Constitutions of Idaho and the United States. The easiest way to wreck the office of the Idaho Attorney General is to elect someone who does not understand that the job is not at all about pursuing a political agenda, but is everything about standing up for the law.

Jim Jones is a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho attorney general (1983-1991) and 12 years as justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2017). He is currently a regular contributor to The Hill online news. He blogs at JJCommonTater.

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The most meaningless piece of data, but the best-known fact is that Idaho spends less per student year than anyone else in the country. The NEA, liberal politicians, school personnel, and the guy next door knows this fact. Virtually everyone knows it and thinks its an important fact. When that fact stands alone, it is absolutely meaningless.

An example:

You tell the guy at the water cooler that you spent $30,000 on a new car and what does he think of your bargain. Any opinion based on that small amount of information has no value. He should ask: new/used, make, model, year, MPG, 2/4wd and a lot more, before he gives an opinion.

The issue is not what we spent  but what did we get for our buck. According to Sherri Ybarra our Superintendent of Public Instruction, Idaho is:

1st (tied with Ind.) in the Nation for students who do college work while still in our public school system;

5th in the Nation for college ready high school students;

5th in the Nation for a chance for success, and

84.1% for 5 year graduation rate.

Additionally, Idaho is 5th among the states that require all graduates to take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test).

Our teachers are doing a particularly good job and deserve our salute of thanks - BUT the system is working  it doesnt need fixed. We should be looking to obtain the highest result for the least expenditure in our public service programs.

Education should be assessed by using results  not expenditures. It certainly looks like our State is getting true value for dollars invested.

Just another example of our leaders creating a crisis, assuming more money is the solution, and trying to cure a situation that does not exist.

M. Lynn Dunlap

Twin Falls

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Wayne Hudson writes, Love is a commitment with a beginning and no end. Christ chose to love us, and He has never stopped. He never will. We should be very careful with a word like love. Are we willing to make that kind of commitment?

That must have prompted C.S. Lewis to write, On the whole, Gods love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for Him. There is no command in Scripture that calls us to love like a friend, but phileo agape or like God is a commandment for us to love in that way as part of the new man. It is a love that doesnt place conditions or restrictions on how or who one will love. One just loves unconditionally like God as part of being the new man in Christ. These are part of the clothes of grace we wear now that we have come to Christ.

We love because He first loved us, and He gave himself up for us, and that sets a new aim for our love as well.

We should aim to please God in our worship as well as in everything we do, whether in word or indeed. We can and should be able to do it all in the name of Jesus.

Verses 15-17 says, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The peace of God is to characterize the local church, the community of God. Let it rule means allow the peace of God to arbitrate when issues come up from time to time and allow His will to discern the way to handle the situation. We literally allow Gods peace to act like an umpire and call the shots at those times. Christ will govern, decide, and judge our hearts if we allow Him to. Add to that allowing the Word to live or dwell in us richly also characterizes the new man as he walks with God and lives in His Word Day by day. It is to dwell or live in us and in the body as a whole. One way we do that is in worship as we worship with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. God delights in creative, spontaneous worship in the home as well as in the church.

A capella Church of Christ brethren dont believe in pianos. Going to hell if you have one in the church, I am guessing theyd say. But preached at Church of Christ instrumental in Delaware. Wed get a lot of vacationers and once has a nice family from Tennessee. They met in the foyer, good discussion and they went inside, saw the piano, and marched right back out to their car.

I told an elder they put that one belief above the communion that day because they were willing to miss the communion instead of listening to songs played and sung. We do things backward sometimes and for the wrong reasons. Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs had to include OT psalms accompanied by the lyre, timbrel, tambourine, harp, and brass instruments. Who knows? The early church may have had all kinds of instrumentation instead of a piano. Point is, we are to worship and use whatever we can that is not forbidden as an aid to that worship.

William Temple said, Worship quickens the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting the will to the purpose of God. It matters where our heart is at though as to whether we will worship as we should or not.

John 4:24 tells us, God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. 

Psalm 63:1, You God are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 

Intentionality, then, is the way to have good worship. We must be intentional about why we come, why we do what we do and why we worship as we worship.

One Sunday noted 19th-century preacher Henry Ward Beecher needed to be absent from his church. So, he asked Thomas Beecher, his brother, to fill in. When people realized the famous Henry wasnt there, they started leaving. Unperturbed Thomas answered, Would all those who came to worship Henry Ward Beecher please leave, but those who have come to worship God, please be seated. 

Call it like it is because worship is too serious a thing to sugarcoat or sweep under the rug.

James Pence is minister of Pleasant Grove Christian Church of Martinsville.
With McDowell Countys COVID-19 positivity rate  the percentage of people tested who have the virus  down to the 3 percent, the local online Data Dashboard will stop updating after March 25 and will no longer be accessible after March 28, health officials said Friday.

Over the last two years, weve written a history of hardship and resilience, setbacks and successes, Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday. But now, we enter the next phase. One of individual responsibility, preparedness and prosperity. This virus will still be with us, but it wont disrupt us.

Cooper and state Department of Health and Human Services officials announced the state is changing the way it tracks COVID-19 metrics starting next week, including dropping the report on the percentage of positive tests for the virus, the High Point Enterprise reported.

That figure has been a fixture of COVID-19 metrics since the onset of the pandemic, but the shrinking number of people being tested plus the growing use of at-home tests makes the figure less reliable.

Instead, a key metric that now will be reported each week is a measure of COVID-19 residue found in wastewater, a surveillance measure that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have long been reporting. It provides a broad indicator of the level of infection in the community.

Other metrics the state will follow:

 COVID-like illness in patients coming to hospital emergency departments as a percentage of overall emergency department visits.

 Hospital admissions of COVID-19 patients.

 The number of reported COVID-19 cases.

 Booster vaccination rates.

 Prevalence of variants.

 The CDCs COVID-19 community level metric, which incorporates hospital beds in use, new hospital admissions and cases at medical centers.

Local numbers and information

The McDowell County Health Department reported Friday that 20 additional local residents had tested positive since Monday, March 11.

At the time of Fridays report, there were 44 individuals in quarantine, 12,793 out of quarantine and 173 deaths since the pandemic began.

Since March of 2020, Foothills Health District along with McDowell County Emergency Services has remained committed to keeping the public informed with accurate and relevant data concerning COVID-19 in McDowell County.

Due to recent decreases in new COVID-19 cases and continued favorable trends, the final Foothills Health District COVID-19 press release will be sent on Friday, March 25, the health department said in a statement.

For continued updated and relevant McDowell County COVID-19 information, residents are encouraged to visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov. The McDowell County COVID-19 Data Dashboard will also discontinue updating after March 25 and will no longer be accessible after March 28.

Health officials would like thank the public for their vigilance, compassion and resiliency demonstrated over the last two years, according to the news release.

COVID-19 vaccine information

The McDowell County Health Department is offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments Monday-Friday to offer more flexibility in scheduling for the public. You can now receive your COVID-19 vaccine at the Health Department Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call the McDowell County Health Department at 828-652-6811 if you have questions or would like to set up an appointment to get your vaccine. Homebound residents who want the vaccine but are unable to reach a vaccination site are encouraged to contact the Health Department (828-652-6811 ext. 363) to have the vaccine delivered and administered at their home.

McDowell County vaccine doses administered:

First doses: 25,093 (58% of residents ages 5 and older)

Second doses: 23,665 (54% of residents ages 5 and older)

Booster doses: 9,974

COVID-19 outbreak information

Emergency Services and Public Health staff continue to offer assistance and logistical support to facilities that are experiencing current outbreaks of COVID-19. Outbreaks are defined by DHHS as: two or more cases of COVID-19 in a congregate living facility within 28 days. The current outbreaks in McDowell County are:

Outbreaks

Autumn Care of Marion: a total of 26 staff members and five residents have tested positive.

Deer Park Health & Rehabilitation: a total of 26 staff members and 48 residents have tested positive.

Marion Correctional Institute: a total of 41 staff members and 82 inmates have tested positive.

Lake James Lodge: a total of seven staff members and 13 residents have tested positive.
The McDowell Endowment awarded 14 grants totaling $51,280 to local nonprofit organizations in its recent grant cycle.

The McDowell Endowment, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), has awarded grants totaling $1,240,456.

McDowell nonprofits undertake important, front-line work in our community and have addressed numerous challenges over the last two years, said Advisory Board Chair Marion Baker. These organizations see a need and work to address it. We are grateful to our donors who have built a permanent charitable resource to support local programs with local dollars.

The 2022 grants are:

$2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina to support ongoing volunteer mentor recruitment.

$5,000 to CareReach for medication assistance, medical equipment and outreach materials for vulnerable residents.

$5,000 to Centro Unido Latino-Americano for direct assistance to families negatively affected by COVID-19.

$4,479 to Childrens Cancer Partners of the Carolinas to provide access to treatment for children battling cancer.

$1,000 to Jasons Getaway to support events for the special needs community.

$4,668 to McDowell Arts Council Association to purchase theater equipment for the Greenlee Theatre.

$2,100 to McDowell County EMS to purchase specialized wireless routers for two paramedic vehicles.

$2,500 to McDowell County Government/North Carolina Cooperative Extension to purchase food and supplies for a 4-H youth summer camp.

$4,000 to McDowell County Health Coalition to educate the local industrial workforce about the long-term effects of trauma and stress on health and general well-being.

$5,000 to McDowell LFAC to support its food distribution center.

$5,000 to McDowell Mission Ministries to purchase supplies needed for an outreach program that serves people who are homeless.

$4,548 to New HOPE of McDowell to purchase a refrigerator and freezer for the kitchen at its emergency shelter.

$485 to Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte to support its residential housing programing for families of children receiving medical care.

$5,000 to St. Johns Episcopal Church/Food Pantry to purchase fresh, local produce for distribution to low-income people.

In 1995, local residents established the Endowment as a permanent charitable fund to meet local needs. Gifts added to the Endowments principal are preserved and invested, while grants from the Endowment support nonprofits in McDowell County. To make a tax-deductible contribution, donate online at www.McDowellEndowment.org or by mail c/o CFWNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300, Asheville NC 28803. Make checks payable to CFWNC, noting The McDowell Endowment in the memo line. Contributions of any size are welcome.

The local, volunteer Advisory Board includes: Marion Baker (Chair), Jim Burgin, Vicki Burton, Nakia Carson, Marsh Dark, Juanita Doggett, Kimberly Effler, Steve Gaito, Ryan Kelley, Michael Lavender, Patt Medders, Sharon Parker, Sandra Precoma, Nancy Spencer and Bobbie Young.

In addition to the Endowment, the following CFWNC funds support grantmaking in McDowell County: Margaret Westmoreland Gibson Memorial Fund, Greenlee Family Fund, A.C. Hogan Family Fund and Daniel I. and Joy Q. Shuford Fund.

CFWNC works with families, businesses and nonprofits to strengthen communities through the creation of charitable funds and strategic grantmaking. A permanent charitable resource, the Foundation manages more than 1,200 funds and has facilitated more than $305 million in philanthropy since its founding in 1978. Learn more at www.cfwnc.org.

For more information about The McDowell Endowment, contact Chair Marion Baker at 828-527-3609.
Take a look at COVID news for today, March 17.

St. Patrick's Day celebrations are back

St. Patricks Day celebrations across the country are back after a two-year hiatus, including the nations largest in New York City, in a sign of growing hope that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic may be over.

The holiday served as a key marker in the outbreak's progression, with parades celebrating Irish heritage among the first big public events to be called off in 2020. An ominous acceleration in infections quickly cascaded into broad shutdowns.

Read more here:

Irish prime minister comes to D.C., tests positive for COVID

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin learned he had tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday evening while attending an event with U.S. leaders, including President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to a senior administration official.

Martin  also referred to as Ireland's taoiseach  was attending the Ireland Funds 30th National Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington when he tested positive, ahead of planned St. Patricks Day celebrations Thursday with U.S. leaders.

Read more here:

Countries around the world are dropping restrictions, despite rising case numbers

The German government on Thursday defended its decision to let many pandemic restrictions expire at the weekend, even as the country hit a new record high for newly confirmed cases.

Germany's disease control agency reported 294,931 new cases in the past 24 hours. The Robert Koch Institute said there have been a further 278 COVID-related deaths, taking the overall toll since the start of the pandemic to 126,420.

Canada announced it will lift its Covid-19 pre-entry test requirement for fully vaccinated travelers beginning April 1, saying Thursday that the pandemic was entering a "transition phase."

Read more here:

How bad will a new COVID wave hit us?

With a new version of the Omicron coronavirus variant picking up steam in the United States, as many as 28 million seniors remain at risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19, either because they are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, or because it has been more than five months since their second or third dose of a vaccine, according to a CNN analysis of federal data.

As America casts a wary eye on rising cases caused by the BA.2 subvariant in Europe, the immune status of adults over the age of 65 will be a key indicator of how future variants will affect the US because the risk of severe outcomes rises dramatically with age.

Read more here:

***

Check out more of today's COVID news here:
Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, Saudi Public Fund, will set up a public fund in Egypt per an agreement signed with the Arab republic, amid Cairos search for financial support from Gulf countries.

The deal was signed Thursday in Cairo by Saudi Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers for Shura Council Affairs, Essam bin Saad bin Saeed, Egypts Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hala El-Said, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Sovereign Fund Ayman Soliman.

The agreement seeks to fulfil the two countries keenness to strengthen their cooperation, and also to expedite the completion of investment-related measures in Egypt through the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

The signing of the deal took place as Egypt strives to lure financial support from Gulf countries to back up national budget based on oil at $62 while prices exceeded $120 last week, Italian News agency Nova notes.

The Egyptian President undertook in February a Gulf tour that took him to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Spain said, as part of a new era in bilateral ties, it is committed to respecting Moroccos sovereignty and territorial integrity, and described Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara as the most serious, realistic and credible solution for the Sahara issue,

We are ushering today a new era in our ties with Morocco, based on mutual respect, the implementation of agreements, refraining from unilateral actions, transparency and permanent communication, said the Spanish Government Presidency in a statement Friday.

This new era will be elaboratedin a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to guarantee stability, sovereignty, the territorial integrity and prosperity for our two countries, the Spanish presidency said.

The Spanish government also reaffirmed determination to address together with Morocco all the common challenges notably in terms of cooperating to manage migration flows in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic, by acting in a spirit of full cooperation and to restore normalcy in the movement of people and goods benefiting the two peoples.

The Spanish presidency also announced in its statement the visit to Rabat of the Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, at the end of this month of March and before the month of Ramadan and said the President of the Spanish Government is also planning a visit to Morocco.

Earlier Friday, the Royal palace said that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a message to King Mohammed VI in which he described Moroccos autonomy plan as a serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the Sahara issue and took a pledge to improve ties.

Sanchez pointed out in his message that Spain supports Moroccos autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for settling the Sahara issue and that it is keen to build with the North African country, a great friend and ally, a new relationship, based on transparency, and mutual respect.

Sanchez said he recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said Morocco highly appreciates Spains positive positions and constructive commitments on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, contained in the message addressed to King Mohammed VI.

The terms of this message make it possible to envisage a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to sustainably place the bilateral partnership in the framework of the new bases and parameters highlighted in the Royal Address of August 20, 2021, said the ministry in a statement.

In this Royal Address, King Mohammed VI had called for inaugurating a new stage in relations between our two countries, based on trust, transparency, mutual consideration and respect for commitments.

Madrids new position indicates a step forward by Spain to mend ties with Morocco after it has maintained connivance with Algeria and the Polisario.

Ties worsened after Spain disregarded the close ties with Morocco by receiving Polisario leader for medical treatment under a false identity to help him evade justice.

Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Spain and asked Madrid to refrain from its double-face.
News

Vietjet Air offers free PCR tests to passengers on international flights
A nurse holds an ultrasound abdominal probe Jan. 26, 2022, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. States that have passed ever-restrictive abortion laws also have been funneling millions of taxpayer dollars into privately operated clinics that steer women away from abortions but provide little if any health care services. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) (Mark Zaleski/AP)

It was interesting to read the responses to the bishops letter opposing a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion and implying they were attacking women (Catholic leaders: Maryland bill would expand an already extreme abortion landscape, March 11). Yes, the church has a lot to answer for regarding the sexual abuse scandals and the attitudes of some toward the role of women in the church.

But the bishops letter seemed to strongly emphasize some basic elements of typical Democratic Party platforms. This was best summed up by two sentences in the letter. Women and their children need access to life affirming and affordable health care, housing, gainful employment, prenatal care and child care. As the Catholic Church in Maryland, we remain committed to helping women and children in need not only throughout pregnancy but the whole life of the child.

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That is a consistent anti-abortion message. What the bishops could have focused on more is the reality of what abortion is, the ending of human life. They took a more gentle approach.

But what is the argument to support the pro-choice position that the unborn child is not a human life? What is their response to the heartbeat? What is their response to the ever-changing definition of viability? To the question of when does life begin? Shouldnt we be discussing and answering these questions before we establish blanket constitutional amendments?

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L.G. Connor, Ellicott City

Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.
Bamako hosted Thursday the Moroccan-Malian diaspora forum for the mobilization of skills and productive investment.

The forum, attended by Malian and Moroccan institutions and Moroccan companies operating in Mali, discussed a set of issues relating to investment and development.

Addressing the forum, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop hailed the humanitarian and solidarity-based approach of the Kingdom of Morocco on migration.

He paid tribute to the Moroccan authorities, for having adopted a humanitarian and solidarity-based approach towards migrants, in line with the orientations of King Mohammed VI, and this since 2013.

Moroccos proactive policy aims to improve the hosting and integration of migrants, a policy that deserves to be highlighted, as the various efforts made by the Moroccan authorities and people, he added.

In this regard, he stressed that this forum in Bamako is part of the common will of the Malian and Moroccan authorities in favor of the historical relations existing between the two countries, as well as their common perspective on all the challenges related to the migration issue.

For his part, Moroccos ambassador to Mali, Driss Isbayene, said that, Morocco has called in 2013 for a new migration approach based on the values of solidarity, welcome and respect for human rights.

The diplomat reviewed the efforts made by the Kingdom to promote the socio-economic integration of migrants, protect their rights and facilitate their integration, underlining that the Kingdoms approach in this area makes it a regional model.
At least twenty-one people, including two policemen, were killed Wednesday in an attack by suspected jihadists on a bus and a truck in the troubled Tillaberi region of southwestern Niger, near Burkina Faso, security and local sources reported Thursday.

A terrorist attack carried out Wednesday afternoon by heavily armed individuals on motorcycles and vehicles killed 19 passengers on a bus, including two policemen, and two others were killed in an attack on a truck, a security source said.

The bus, belonging to a Nigerien company, and the truck were set on fire, the source added on condition of anonymity.

The two occupants of the truck carrying fruit and vegetables were burned to death, while the attack on the bus also left five people seriously injured, including a policeman, who were evacuated to the capital Niamey for treatment, the source said.

Seven surviving passengers of the bus, including four women and three men, were found.

This double attack occurred in the Tera department, near the border checkpoint of Petelkole located 10 km from the border with Burkina Faso, a neighboring country also targeted by jihadists.

The Niger Modern Transport Company (STM) confirmed in a statement that one of its buses returning from Ouagadougou was the object of a deadly attack.

Following this unfortunate event, we inform our clients that departures to Burkina Faso are suspended until further notice, added the company, one of the countrys largest which serves several West African capitals.

At the end of February, Nigers president, Mohamed Bazoum, announced that he had begun discussions with jihadists as part of the search for peace.
The Malian junta ordered Thursday the suspension of broadcasting by RFI and France 24, after the French media published reports that the Malian army was involved in abuses against civilians.

In a statement dated Wednesday and released Thursday morning, government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga categorically rejects these false allegations.

For the Malian government, the false allegations are part of a strategy aimed at destabilizing the transition, demoralizing the Malian people, and discrediting the valiant armed forces.

The government is initiating a procedure () to suspend until further notice the broadcasting of RFI () and France 24, the statement said.

In Paris, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced serious violations of press freedom in Mali and said it was concerned about serious allegations of abuses that have been committed in the center of the country, which have been independently documented.

Malis decision to sanction RFI and France 24, two French public media, comes against a backdrop of hostility toward France, the former colonial power, whose ambassador was expelled in late January. On February 18, Paris had announced its military withdrawal from Mali after nine years of anti-jihadist struggle, pushed out by the obstructions of the Malian junta.

By midday Thursday, RFI had stopped broadcasting, but France 24 continued to broadcast.

In a statement, France Medias Monde, the parent company of RFI and France 24, deplores the Malian decision and strongly protests against the unfounded accusations. The French company will study all avenues of appeal to ensure that such a decision is not implemented.
Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina made a cabinet reshuffle, the fifth in three years. In the end, there was no major upheaval: the Head of State kept his close guard and his Prime Minister.

Five new ministers joined the government, two changed portfolios, and two others made their comeback after being ousted during a previous reshuffle. Seven were dismissed.

However, at the head of the strategic ministries  Finance, Defense, Public Security, Communication  the President has opted for continuity. Only the Minister of the Interior, Pierre Houlder, had to give up his place to the Governor of Sava, Tokely Justin, to take over the portfolio of Land Management and Services, left vacant following the announcement of the departure of Haja Andranainarivelo.

In the justice sector, the resigning minister Herilaza Imbiki (following suspicions of corruption) has been replaced by magistrate Francois Rakotozafy. It was he who had presided over the Special Electoral Court in 2013 at the end of the Transition.

The surprise may come from the reinstatement of Richard Randrimandrato, ex-Minister of Finance, and Fidiniavo Ravokatra, ex-Minister of Mines, after having been excluded from the government for seven months. The former has taken over the portfolio of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the latter that of Water.

The main ministers who have been in the news in recent weeks seem to have benefited from the clemency of the head of state. Starting with Tinoka Roberto, former Minister of Transport, who made a name for himself by announcing a ban on laptops and wheeled suitcases in the cabin. He takes over the Ministry of Sports. His great closeness to the inhabitants of the south-west of the island, less than two years before the presidential elections, is probably not for nothing.
Allied Democratic Forces rebels, responsible for massacres of thousands of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are moving west, away from the border with Uganda where joint military operations are taking place, experts say.

In the territories of Beni (North Kivu) and Irumu (Ituri), according to local sources, at least 79 civilians were killed from Friday to Monday in attacks by suspected ADF assailants in six villages located west of National Road 4, which links the town of Beni (North Kivu) to that of Kisangani (Tshopo) via Mambasa (Ituri).

Considered the deadliest of the 100 or so armed groups present in eastern DRC for more than 25 years, the ADF has been attacking civilians and Congolese army positions since 2014 in Beni territory, where it has established a foothold on the border with Uganda. Irumu territory in southern Ituri has been affected by their violence since 2019.

In an attempt to end the violence by armed groups, Kinshasa placed the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri under a state of siege last May, giving full power to the military.

In late November, joint military operations by the Congolese and Ugandan armies were launched against the ADF rebels, accused of jihadist attacks on Ugandan soil. The Islamic State (IS) group considers them its branch in Central Africa.

MP Jean-Baptiste Muhindo Kasekwa, elected from Goma (North Kivu), said that from March 9 to 14, at least 96 civilians were killed in the territories of Irumu and Beni, 383 since the launch of the Congolese-Ugandan operations and 2,068 since the state of siege was imposed.

He sent an oral question to the Minister of Defense asking him to explain the real causes of the stalemate in the security situation in these two provinces, with a spike in killings despite the state of siege.
Spain considers the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco as the most serious, realistic and credible basis, for the settlement of the dispute about the Sahara, and is keen is to build with the North African country, a great friend and ally a new relationship, based on transparency, and mutual respect.

This came in a message addressed to King Mohammed VI by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, announced the Royal Office in a statement released this Friday.

The Head of the Spanish Government stressed that he recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco. As such, Spain considers the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco in 2007, as the most serious, realistic and credible the basis, for resolving the dispute.

He also stressed the serious and credible efforts of Morocco within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution.

In his message to the Sovereign, Pedro Sanchez Sanchez commented on Spanish-Moroccan relations, saying that the two countries are inextricably linked by affections, history, geography, interests and a shared friendship, adding that he is convinced that the destinies of both peoples are linked as well and that the prosperity of Morocco is linked to that of Spain, and vice versa.

Our goal is to build a new relationship, based on transparency and permanent communication, mutual respect and agreements signed by both parties, and to refrain from any unilateral action, commensurate with the importance of everything we share, said the President of the Spanish Government in his message to the Sovereign.

In this context, Spain will act with the absolute transparency that corresponds to a great friend and ally. I assure you that Spain will always keep its commitments and its word, added Pedro Sanchez.

In this message to the Sovereign, the President of the Government of Spain reiterated his determination to face together the common challenges, especially the cooperation for the management of migratory flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and to always act in a spirit of full cooperation.

All these actions will be undertaken with the aim of guaranteeing the stability and territorial integrity of both countries, insisted the President of the Government of Spain in his message.

The message reflects a new position and a step forward by Spain to mend ties with Morocco after it has maintained connivance with Algeria and the Polisario.

Ties worsened after Spain disregarded the close ties with Morocco by receiving Polisario leader for medical treatment under a false identity to help him evade justice.

Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Spain and asked Madrid to refrain from its double-face.
After the message addressed this Friday by the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to King Mohammed VI, the Spanish government pledged, in a statement, to guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco in the framework of the new stage started between the two countries.

Today we begin a new stage in relations with Morocco, based on mutual respect, implementation of agreements, no unilateral actions, and transparency and permanent communication. This new stage will be developed () on a clear and ambitious roadmap. All this to ensure the stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of our two countries, said the statement.

In this connection, the Spanish government reaffirmed its determination to pool efforts with Morocco to meet common challenges, including cooperation in managing migration flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, by always acting in a spirit of full cooperation, and to restore full normality in the movement of people and goods for the benefit of our peoples.

The Spanish government also welcomes the scheduling of the visit of its president to Morocco to develop the roadmap for this new stage, as well as the invitation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Rabat before the end of the month, the statement said.

The Royal palace, earlier in the day, had said in a statement released in Rabat that Pedro Sanchez sent a message to King Mohammed VI in which he described Moroccos autonomy plan as a serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the Sahara issue and took a pledge to improve ties.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said Morocco highly appreciates Spains positive positions and constructive commitments on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, contained in the message addressed to King Mohammed VI.

The terms of this message make it possible to envisage a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to sustainably place the bilateral partnership in the framework of the new bases and parameters highlighted in the Royal Address of August 20, 2021, said the ministry in a statement.

In this Royal Address, King Mohammed VI had called for inaugurating a new stage in relations between our two countries, based on trust, transparency, mutual consideration and respect for commitments.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Of the more than 200,000 women in U.S. federal and state prisons and jails, it is estimated that up to 10% are pregnant and will give birth while incarcerated. Clinical practice guidelines to support breastfeeding and increase infants' access to human milk are well established. However, little data assess the extent to which they are modifiable or applicable for incarcerated mothers.

A new article from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) provides evidence-based recommendations to increase access to breastfeeding and lactation services for incarcerated women. The recommendations, "Breastfeeding While Incarcerated: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Integrating Policy and Practice," are available online now and are set for upcoming publication in the Journal of Correctional Health Care.

"Incarceration should not be a barrier to breastfeeding or maintaining a milk supply," says Diane Spatz, Ph.D., RN-BC, FAAN, Professor of Perinatal Nursing and Helen M. Shearer Term Professor of Nutrition at Penn Nursing. "Applying current policy, increasing access to lactation programs, and adapting and integrating evidence-based models of care such as the Spatz 10-step model will provide incarcerated women and their infants tangible and outcome-oriented methods to increase breastfeeding rates and access to human milk."

Because of low implementation of breastfeeding support in the hospital and structural barriers in correctional facilities, incarcerated women and their infants are at high-risk for not breastfeeding and should be considered a vulnerable population, the article states. The authors call for strategic updates to research and policy and offer recommendations in collaboration with existing programs to increase access to breastfeeding and lactation services for incarcerated women.

Explore further Guidelines support breastfeeding during parent-newborn separation

More information: Liliana Schmitt et al, Breastfeeding While Incarcerated: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Integrating Policy and Practice, Journal of Correctional Health Care (2022). Journal information: Journal of Correctional Health Care Liliana Schmitt et al, Breastfeeding While Incarcerated: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Integrating Policy and Practice,(2022). DOI: 10.1089/jchc.19.12.0094
Credit: Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome

Snake, dog and cat bites were responsible for the majority of hospitalizations for animal bites in tropical Queensland, according to a new study conducted by Cairns Hospital and the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. But whether you're bitten by a snake, crocodile, shark, wallaby, cat or a dog, simple, old fashioned wound care and early medical review are the most important components of patient management.

The study, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases and one of the largest studies of its kind, examined more than 1,700 patients admitted to Cairns Hospital after an animal bite, sting or other related injury.

"About half of all Australians will be bitten by an animal during their lifetime and animal bites often become infected," says Dr. John Vardanega, an Infectious Diseases Registrar at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the study's first author.

Current Australian guidelines recommend antibiotics to prevent infection developingbut in locations like Far North Queensland, infections may be caused by unusual tropical pathogens, which may not be treated by first line antibiotics. "An added complication is that in tropical Australia, many bites occur hundreds of kilometers from medical care. If we don't get onto infections early, patients might lose a limb, or worse," says Dr. Vardanega.

The researchers wanted to increase our understanding of animal bites in tropical Australia, and to understand whether Australia's current guidelines for antimicrobial care of wounds are suitable for tropical settings. They found that a wide variety of animals were responsible for the hospitalizations, including snakes, sharks, crocodiles, bats, dingoes and even wallabies. Bites from domesticated animals like dogs and cats were also common.

Young men were over-represented in the cohort, which could be "explained by occupational exposure and a tendency for riskier behavior," Dr. Vardanega noted.

All the crocodile bites occurred in men while women were over three times more likely to be bitten by cats.

Dr. Josh Hanson, a Senior Research Associate at the Kirby Institute, and an infectious disease physician at Cairns Hospital, said there were two broad categories of patients. "The first group were people who had been bitten by a potentially venomous animalsuch as a snakeor whose encounter had resulted in significant trauma. Over 96% of these patients came to hospital within eight hours of the encounter. Most of these people didn't need antibiotics, and very few developed a wound infection," he said.

"The second group were people who presented over 24 hours after their encounter. Over 85% of these people already had or subsequently developed a wound infection. These patients also had a higher chance of death, ICU admission, amputation and other complications, as the tissue damage complicating the bite was now irreversible."

Dr. Hanson says that perhaps surprisingly, cat bites were the most likely to become infected. "Victims often saw the wounds as trivialeven though cat bites can penetrate deep into the tissuesand almost 75% of cat bites presented more than 24 hours after the injury, by which time infection was often established."

Clinicians only identified 12 cases in which antibiotics recommended in national guidelines did not kill the isolated bacteria, and in none of these 12 cases was there a serious complication. All three deaths in the study resulted from snake envenomation while most other serious complications were linked to major tissue trauma.

"Our data suggests that antibiotics probably only have a limited role in preventing serious complications from animal bites. The key to good outcomes is for patients to present early for medical review" says Dr. Vardanega.

The best way to avoid infection is to not get bitten

Fellow researcher and Cairns Hospital infectious disease physician Dr. Simon Smith said the hospital's clinicians were highly skilled at treating patients who had a bad encounter with the Far North's dangerous creatures, but there were simple steps people could take to reduce their chances of ending up in a hospital bed.

"If you encounter a snake in the wild or in your backyard, give it a wide berth, and let it go its own way.

"If you are concerned that it's not moving on, please contact a local snake catcher or the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

"If you are going for a dip at the beach, please follow the advice of Surf Life Savers and swim inside a marine stinger enclosure, or wear a full body lycra stinger suit. That will greatly reduce your chances of being stung by a box jellyfish or Irukandji jellyfish.

"And be aware that no waterway in northern Queensland can ever be considered crocodile-free, so always be crocwise in croc territory.

"And if you do get bitten, get medical care immediately. Make it snappy, not 'in a while, crocodile'!"

Animal-related injury presentations at Cairns Hospital: 20132020

Snake734

Dog508

Cat153

Jellyfish129

Fish35

Other terrestrial (bird, bat, rat, leech, monkey, dingo, goanna, guinea pig, wallaby, chicken, goat, kangaroo, monitor lizard, possum, parrot)34

Other aquatic (crayfish, starfish, sea urchin, crab, prawn, sea snake, turtle, eel)34

Stonefish22

Cattle20

Horse19

Stingray17

Pig17

Shark13

Crocodile10

Explore further Bees responsible for most venomous bite and sting hospitalisations in Australia

More information: John Vardanega et al, Animal bite wounds and their management in tropical Australia, International Journal of Infectious Diseases (2022). John Vardanega et al, Animal bite wounds and their management in tropical Australia,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.02.026

Provided by The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Children and adolescents (aged 0-18 years) with disability experience physical, sexual, and emotional violence, and neglect at considerably higher rates than those without disability, despite advances in awareness and policy in recent years, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving more than 16 million young people from 25 countries conducted between 1990 and 2020, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal.

Young people with mental illness and cognitive or learning disabilities (eg, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism) are especially likely to experience violence, and overall, children with disabilities are more than twice as likely to experience violence compared to those without disabilities, which can have a serious and long-lasting impact on their health and wellbeing.

The authors note that whilst the study provides the most comprehensive picture of the violence experienced by children with disabilities around the world, there is a scarcity of data from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Southeast and Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Nevertheless, the authors say that the findings highlight the urgent need for collaborative efforts by governments, health and social care workers, and researchers to raise awareness of all forms of violence against children with disabilities and to strengthen prevention efforts.

"Our findings reveal unacceptable and alarming rates of violence against children with disabilities that cannot be ignored", says Professor Jane Barlow from the University of Oxford, UK who co-led the study. "All children have a right to be protected from violence which has long-lasting social, health and economic consequences, including higher school drop-out rates, worse job prospects, and a higher risk of mental illness and chronic diseases in later life. We must urgently invest in services and support that address the factors that place children with disabilities at heightened risk of violence and abuse, including caregiver stress, social isolation and poverty."

An estimated 291 million children and adolescents have epilepsy, intellectual disability, vision impairment, or hearing lossrepresenting about 11% of the total child and adolescent population globally. Many more have other physical and mental disabilities. The vast majority of children with disabilitiesmore than 94%live in LMICs where multiple risks converge. Stigma, discrimination, lack of information about disability, and inadequate access to social support for carers contribute to the higher levels of violence experienced by children with disabilities. This can be further exacerbated by poverty and social isolation. The unique challenges faced by children with disabilities, such as the inability to verbalize or defend themselves, can also make them a target of violence.

In 2012 a systematic review, published in The Lancet, estimated that more than a quarter of children with disabilities in high-income countries experienced violence, and that their odds of experiencing violence were more than three times higher than their non-disabled peers.

This new analysis includes a larger number of studies from a wider geographical area, more types of violence (eg, peer bullying and intimate partner violence), and a wider range of disabilities (physical limitations, mental disorders, cognitive or learning disabilities, sensory impairments and chronic diseases), as well as using updated methods to provide current global estimates of violence against children with disabilities, up to September 2020. The new estimates suggest that one in three children with disabilities are survivors of violence and that they are twice as likely to experience violence as non-disabled children.

The researchers did a systematic review and meta-analysis of all observational studies measuring violence against children with disabilities published in 18 English language databases and three regional Chinese databases between 1990 and 2020. Data were analyzed for 98 studies involving over 16.8 million children (aged 0-18 years), including 75 studies from high-income countries and 23 studies from seven low-income and middle-income countries.

Analysis of data from 92 studies looking at prevalence found that the overall rates of violence varied by disability and were slightly higher among children with mental disorders (34%) and cognitive or learning disabilities (33%) than for children with sensory impairments (27%), physical or mobility limitations (26%), and chronic diseases (21%).

The most commonly reported types of violence were emotional and physical, experienced by about one in three children and adolescents with disabilities. The estimates suggest that one in five children with disabilities experience neglect and one in ten have experienced sexual violence.

The study also draws attention to high levels of peer bullying, with almost 40% of children with disabilities estimated to have experienced bullying by their peers. In-person bullying (physical, verbal, or relational acts, such as hitting and kicking; insults and threats; or social exclusion) is more common (37%) than cyberbullying (23%).

In general, children with disabilities living in low-income countries experienced higher rates of violence than those in high-income countriespossibly as a result of limited access to prevention and support services, lower levels of legal protection, and attitudes and norms that stigmatise people with disabilities and lead to greater social tolerance for violence.

"Violence against children with disabilities is preventable. These children must be given the right life chances now", says co-lead author Dr. Zuyi Fang from Beijing Normal University in China. "The UN Sustainable Development Goals aim to end all forms of violence against children by 2030. Achieving this will require political leaders, practitioners, and researchers to work together to implement what we already know works to prevent violence such as evidence-based parenting interventions, while developing and evaluating effective community, school-based, and on-line interventions that target specific forms of violence."

She adds, "It is clear that low-and middle-income countries, in particular, face additional challenges, fuelled by complex social and economic drivers, and must establish legal frameworks to prevent violence, alongside increasing the capacity of health and social service systems to address the complex needs of children with disabilities and their families. More robust research is also needed in economically disadvantaged populations and to investigate violence perpetrated by intimate partners and authority figures."

The authors acknowledge some limitations with the study. Firstly, despite the increased number of studies compared with the 2012 review, they were only 23 studies from seven LMICswhich may limit the conclusions that can be drawn. They also highlight that different contexts, methodological features, types of disability, and child characteristics (eg, gender and age) could have influenced the estimates. In addition, varying definitions and measures of violence and disability made it difficult to compare studies, while less than 40% of studies controlled for confounding factors or used representative samples, making it difficult to establish whether the high levels of violence were due to disability or other factors. Finally, because the study is largely based on child- and caregiver-reporting, and given the sensitive and stigmatized nature of violence and cognitive limitations, the true prevalence of violence could be even higher.

Writing in a linked Comment, Dr. Tania King from the University of Melbourne in Australia (who was not involved in the study) notes that it is possible that there has been an escalation in rates of violence against children with disability since the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that, "Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, endorsed by many countries around the world, enshrines the rights of children to be protected from violence. As the number of children with disability continues to grow worldwide, we must establish the systems and processes to protect them from violence. Better services and support for children with disability will reduce many of the risk factors that underpin their increased experiences of violence. The imperatives to act are many: they are economic, as the damage wrought by violence is costly. The imperatives are socialsociety has much to gain by improving inclusion of those with disability. But importantly the imperatives are moralit is unacceptable for current society to tolerate such rates of violence among children with disability."

Explore further Children with disabilities in West Africa experience violence from the day they are born

More information: Zuyi Fang et al, Global estimates of violence against children with disabilities: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2022). Journal information: The Lancet Zuyi Fang et al, Global estimates of violence against children with disabilities: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00033-5
Lawmakers' time and attention should be focused on preventing dumping of hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the bay instead of trying to ban dredging of recyclable oyster shells.

The introduction of legislation  House Bill 500 and Senate Bill 979  to ban dredging of recyclable oyster shells in the Man-O-War Shoal in the upper Chesapeake Bay is a classic example of hypocrisy and political grandstanding by some Baltimore area state legislators. Its matched by the Baltimore County Council voting unanimously to support H.B. 500 and S.B. 979 (As plans to dredge ancient Chesapeake Bay reef languish, oystermen look elsewhere to seed their catch, Feb. 14).

In both cases, the lawmakers time and attention should instead be focused on the lack of action on the dumping of hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the bay from the Patapsco and Back River wastewater treatment plants, both of which are in the Baltimore area. This dumping has been occurring for years. The irony is that relatively limited dredging in the Man-O-War Shoal has already been reviewed and deemed acceptable by several independent researchers as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. They understand the value of dredging recyclable oyster shells for Bay restoration efforts.

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These efforts would not only increase the total oyster population in the bay; they would also increase the capacity of oysters to filter bay pollution from other sources, for example, toxic silt dumping from the Conowingo Dam. Opposition to dredging of oyster shells is counterproductive to implementing an excellent oyster recovery initiative that would immediately help improve and sustain water quality in the bay, which is critical until l more is done on addressing sewage dumping and pollution.

Robert Newberry, Chestertown

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The writer is chair of the Delmarva Fisheries Association Inc.

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Community workers outside a locked down community chat near a Communist Party flag and trash bags labelled as hazardous waste on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy.

A study, interviews with Chinese public health staff and recent public messaging by government-affiliated experts indicate that China is exploring ways of slowly easing its zero-tolerance approachwith the emphasis on slowly.

The latest sign came Monday in an essay published by Zhang Wenhong, an infectious disease specialist who is part of Shanghai's COVID-19 response team and known as China's "Dr. Fauci"after U.S. government expert Anthony Faucifor his public health messaging during the pandemic.

Zhang wrote in the Chinese business news outlet Caixin that the public needs to know the virus is becoming less deadly if people are vaccinated and their health isn't already compromised. "Dispelling the terror toward it is a step we must take," the essay said.

"We should carve a very clear path and not spend all our time debating whether we should continue zero COVID or coexist (with the virus)," Zhang wrote.

Change does not appear imminent, with more than 15,000 new cases this month in multiple outbreaks across the country, as well as an even larger one that has shaken Hong Kong. For now, the government is sticking with the tried-and-true policy of lockdowns, repeated mass testing of millions of people and a two-week or more quarantine for overseas arrivals.

A man waves as he delivers supplies to residents under lock down on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

When it does come, any change will all but certainly be gradual and cautious. Opening up carries risks, because the country's success in protecting people from COVID-19 means many don't have antibodies to fight the virus from previous infection. Moreover, China is using only domestically developed vaccines that are less effective than Pfizer's and other widely used ones.

"Given the still relatively low infection rate, the lack of the natural immunity and also the ineffectiveness of the vaccines in preventing infections,  this is guaranteed to invite another wave of attack," said Yanzhong Huang, a public health expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in the U.S.

Chinese officials are paying close attention, though, as other countries relax mask mandates and other restrictions, and investigating just when and how to make the tricky transition.

On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged the toll of the stringent measures, saying China should seek "maximum effect" with "minimum cost" in controlling the virus, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Security personnel close off a road leading into locked down communities and a school on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

A first step could be allowing more international flightswhich have been sharply curbed since the pandemicand reducing the quarantine for arriving passengers to one week from as many as 21 days in cities such as Beijing.

A weekly bulletin of news and research from China's Center for Disease Control published a paper last week outlining potential ways to ease the zero-COVID policy.

The paper suggests reducing the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers to seven days, saying it would still screen out most cases as the virus can be detected more quickly now, and that China's health system is robust enough to handle any that slip through the cracks.

The authors make clear that eliminating all measures such as quarantines for all arrivals is not on the table. Their models show that a total easing of restrictions could lead to over 10 million cases in southeastern Guangdong province alone, though that's based on the delta variant, and not the more transmissible omicron that has become predominant.

Residents wearing masks chat at a bus stop on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

A government researcher, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said that the evidence points to a "suppression strategy" as the next transition point. That means a seven-day quarantine, for example, rather than an unrestricted opening up.

Public health experts caution that the discussion of easing "zero COVID" has been sporadic and preliminary, and that no timeline has been set.

"It's a concept paper, not really a detailed plan," said Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong. He added he had yet to hear of any coordinated government movement toward easing restrictions, "just single experts from time to time raising the idea."

Huang at the Council on Foreign Relations said he had heard of discussions about "pivoting away" from zero COVID several months ago, but that the recent wave in Hong Kong has led policymakers to wait until "the dust settles."

Residents line up for COVID tests on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

More than 5,000 people have died in Hong Kong this year in an outbreak that has overflowed hospitals and morgues and shuttered many stores and restaurants.

In mainland China, authorities have shut down travel out of and within the hardest-hit province, Jilin in the northeast. More than 1,800 cases were reported in Jilin on Friday, out of 2,388 nationwide. Restrictions were partially eased, however, in Shenzhen, a major tech and finance hub bordering Hong Kong that had been locked down since Sunday.

Since omicron spreads quickly, "we need to take earlier, faster, stricter and more concrete measures," Chinese disease control official Lei Zhenglong told state television on Monday.

Many Chinese express support for zero COVID and pride that the government has managed to control a virus that has killed millions elsewhere, particularly in the West. China's official death toll stands at 4,636, the vast majority during the initial outbreak in early 2020.

Residents and workers line up for COVID tests as it snows on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

But after two years of sporadic lockdowns, there are signs that some are tiring of the disruptions they bring.

"It's affected me," said Li Jing, a tea seller in Beijing. "If I work from home, I won't make as much money as if I go to my workplace."

Chinese officials worry about relatively low vaccination rates among the elderly, though they have not released recent figures. The elderly have accounted for the vast majority of the deaths in Hong Kong, and many of them were not fully vaccinated.

Studies of Chinese vaccines suggest they offer significantly less protection against infection from omicron, even after three doses, than a booster shot from a Western vaccine using mRNA technology. A Chinese mRNA vaccine is still in trials.

One major reason China is "not confident" enough to lift zero COVID is because of the lower efficacy of its vaccines, a Chinese public health official said, declining to be named to speak candidly on a sensitive topic. The official added that authorities are monitoring what happens in Hong Kong for any lessons for the mainland.

A man lines up for COVID test as it snows on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Public health experts say nations can live with the virus, as long as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are protected.

"It's not the same virus as two years ago in Wuhan and elsewhere," said Jin Dong-yan, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong. "That's the main message that we need to pass on."

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The Tupua Tamasese Meaule Hospital is pictured in Apia, Samoa, July 10, 2015. Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday, March 19, 2022 as it faces its first outbreak of the coronavirus after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive. Credit: Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP

Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday as it faces its first outbreak of COVID-19 after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive.

Although health authorities have so far found just a single case, it is the first time Samoa has found any unexplained cases in the community and likely points to an undetected outbreak that has been going on for days or even weeks.

A government report leaked online indicates the woman had visited church services, a hospital, stores, a library and a travel agency since first feeling ill last Saturday.

Samoa and several neighboring Pacific island nations were among the last places on earth to avoid virus outbreaks. But the more transmissible omicron variant has changed the equation, and one by one the island nations have been succumbing to COVID-19.

Since the start of the year, Kiribati, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands and American Samoa have all experienced their first big outbreaks.

John Fala, who runs a logistics company in Samoa, said it was inevitable that Samoa would eventually get the virus, a reality brought home for many when COVID-19 began spreading in nearby American Samoa.

"We've had two years to prepare," Fala said. "Now it's finally here. Of course, there is going to be a bit of scrambling."

Traditional boat is located in Apia, Samoa, July 22, 2015. Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday, March 19, 2022 as it faces its first outbreak of the coronavirus after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive. Credit: Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP

From midnight Saturday, all schools will be closed, public gatherings will be banned, and all stores and other services will be shut down, except those considered essential. From midnight Friday, people were required to wear masks and use vaccination cards.

There were reports Friday of panic-buying ahead of the lockdown.

Fala, who is vaccinated, said his company is considered an essential service and he's frantically trying to navigate the new rules to keep it operating.

The lockdown is initially scheduled to last through midnight Tuesday although Fala expects it will be extended.

The father of three young children, Fala said his biggest concern is that unvaccinated children will catch the virus. He said the nation of 200,000 had good rates of inoculation among adults but had only just begun vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 in the past week or so.

The Catholic Cathedral in Apia, on the island of Upolu, Samoa, July 8, 2015. Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday, March 19, 2022 as it faces its first outbreak of the coronavirus after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive. Credit: Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP

The Catholic Cathedral in Apia on the island of Upolu, Samoa, July 8, 2015. Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday, March 19, 2022 as it faces its first outbreak of the coronavirus after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive. Credit: Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP

About 65% of all Samoans have had at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, according to Our World in Data.

Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa told people about the positive case in a special announcement to the nation late Thursday. She said the infected woman was in isolation and that her movements and contacts with people were being traced.

Mata'afa said officials wanted to do all they could to contain it from spreading rapidly.

"Although our country continues to traverse through these difficult times, let us continue to trust in the Lord," Mata'afa said in her announcement.

Samoa has had previous virus scares and lockdowns after returning plane passengers tested positive while isolating, but had managed to avoid any community outbreaks until now.

Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Nauru are among the few remaining Pacific island nations to have avoided omicron outbreaks.

Explore further Samoa goes into lockdown after 15 Australians test positive

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Cumulative lifetime excess weight has a greater impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk than excess weight at a single time point, according to a study published online March 17 in JAMA Oncology.

Xiangwei Li, from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, and colleagues examined the association of cumulative lifetime excess weight with the risk for CRC in a population-based, case-control study. Height and self-reported weight were documented in 10-year increments starting at age 20 years to current age for 5,635 individuals with CRC and 4,515 controls. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each year of age from 20 years to current age. At each year of age, excess BMI (eBMI) was determined as BMI  25 and was summed across ages to obtain the weighted number of years lived with overweight or obesity (WYOs).

The researchers observed an association between WYOs and CRC risk: Compared with individuals who remained within the normal weight range, the adjusted odds ratios increased from 1.25 to 2.54 from the first to the fourth quartile of WYOs. The risk for CRC increased 55 percent for each standard deviation increment in WYOs (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55). This increase was greater than the per-standard deviation increase of eBMI at a single time point.

"Excess weight may have substantially higher odds ratios associated with CRC risk than previously disclosed by epidemiologic studies that had mostly considered weight at a single point of time," the authors write.

Explore further Higher BMI linked to improved lung function in cystic fibrosis

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The death rate for people who have a tear in a major artery coming out of the heartaortic dissectionhas been rising over the past decade, especially among women and Black adults, new research shows.

And while death rates for women increased faster, older men continued to face an overall greater risk of dying from this uncommon but often fatal tear in the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The findings were published Friday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The increasing death rate suggests "we have more room to improve in the prevention and management of aortic dissections," said lead author Dr. Salik Nazir, a cardiology fellow at the University of Toledo Medical Center and ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Ohio.

"One would expect decreasing mortality over time as seen with many other cardiovascular diseases," Nazir said. But "risk factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes and older age have been increasing within the United States, plausibly explaining our important findings."

Aortic dissection, also known as AoD, occurs when blood pumping through the aorta splits the layers of the artery wall, trapping blood coming from the heart. The pressure from the pooled, leaking blood can cause a rupture and decreased blood flow to other organs.

Surgery can repair the damaged artery section or medication can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of rupture.

This study analyzed overall AoD death rates in the U.S. from 1999 to 2019 , using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a national death certificate database. Researchers found rates initially fell 1.5% each year from 1999 to 2012, before reversing course and climbing an average 2.5% per year from 2012 to 2019.

The results, Nazir said, point to the need for improvements in prevention, especially among groups disproportionately affected

Black adults experienced a higher annual increase of AoD deaths, 4% per year from 2012 to 2019, as well as the highest rates throughout the study periodfrom 28.7 deaths per million in 1999 to 35.7 per million in 2019.

The initial decrease in overall AoD death rates and the subsequent reversal mirrors trends in high blood pressure rates, which fell by 2013-2014 and then climbed by 2017-2018, according to the CDC. But Black adultswho have substantially higher rates of hypertension, a major risk factor for AoDdid not experience the same decline, Nazir said, which could explain the disproportionate effect in AoD death rates for this group.

Black people also are disproportionately affected by negative social determinants of health, such as structural racism , he said. "Furthermore, residents of medically underserved areas have unequal access to health care resources to control their blood pressure, diabetes or other potential risk factors for AoD."

Both women and men saw an initial decline in death rates followed by an increase from 2012 to 2019, but that annual increase was higher among women (3.1% per year) than men (2.6% per year).

AoD is hard to diagnose and may often be missed in women, who are more likely to have atypical symptoms than men, Nazir said. For example, women may experience shortness of breath, rather than chest pain, which is more typical. Symptoms also can include a sudden stabbing pain in the neck, jaw, abdomen, chest or shoulder, fainting, difficulty breathing or sudden weakness.

There are two types of AoD, classified by whether the damage involves the ascending portion of the aortaType Aor the descending portion, called Type B. Both types can be fatal, but people hospitalized for Type A dissections experience higher death rates than those hospitalized for Type B.

Dr. Bo Yang, an associate professor in the department of cardiac surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said the study did not differentiate between Type A or B, nor whether it was acute or chronic in severity. "This makes it challenging to interpret the results," said Yang, who was not involved in the research.

Yang was a co-investigator on a 2021 study that found higher death rates for men than women from surgery to repair acute Type A, which he believes is related to women managing their overall health and risk factors better than men.

"When patients come to us, the women are older than the men but otherwise most are pretty healthy," he said. "You repair the aorta, and they survive the operation."

He said further research is needed to explain the differing trends seen between men and women in this study.

Explore further Q&A: Thoracic aortic aneurysms

More information: Salik Nazir et al, Demographic and Regional Trends of Mortality in Patients With Aortic Dissection in the United States, 1999 to 2019, Journal of the American Heart Association (2022). Journal information: Journal of the American Heart Association Salik Nazir et al, Demographic and Regional Trends of Mortality in Patients With Aortic Dissection in the United States, 1999 to 2019,(2022). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.121.024533

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
CGRP signals trigger a molecular cascade that reduces the expression of tight junction proteins, weakening the seal between endothelial cells. Credit: University of California - San Diego

COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the pulmonary and nervous systems, but there is still much to learn about how they interact. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine recently explored this relationship in the context of a childhood lung disease, but their findings may also apply to COVID-19 symptoms.

In a study published March 17, 2022, in the journal Developmental Cell, scientists show that excessive neuropeptide secretion by neuroendocrine cells in the lungs can lead to fluid buildup and poor oxygenation; blocking the neuropeptides may be an effective treatment.

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) is a lung disease affecting infants in which lung size and structure appear normal but blood-oxygen levels are consistently low. There is no disease-specific treatment available for NEHI, and most children require supplemental oxygen for many years.

The defining feature of NEHI is an increase in the number of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs), a type of lung cell with many neuronal properties. These cells serve as a gateway between the nervous system and the lung, taking in signals about the air environment and directing the lung to respond. But until now, physicians did not know how these cells contribute to the disease, or if they merely proliferate in response.

In the new study, a team led by senior author Xin Sun, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Division of Biological Sciences, confirmed that a developmental increase in PNECs is what drives NEHI, and revealed how these neuron-like cells can disrupt lung function.

Using the first genetically engineered mouse model of NEHI, Sun's team found that the overabundance of PNECs leads to excess secretion of their neuropeptide products. This includes calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent vasodilator.

In healthy lungs, oxygen and carbon dioxide move between the lung epithelium and the blood vessel endothelium in a process known as gas exchange. In NEHI, increased CGRP signals trigger a molecular sequence that weakens the seal between endothelial cells, making the blood vessels more permeable. This allows fluid to leak out of the blood vessels and into the lung, covering cells under a layer of liquid. Gasses then have to pass through this additional fluid layer, which disrupts the gas exchange process and lowers blood oxygenation.

"We were surprised to find that neuropeptides can play such a major role in gas exchange," said Sun. "Researchers are just starting to appreciate the relationship between the nervous system and the lungs, but the more we understand it, the more we can modulate it to treat disease."

First author Jinhao Xu, a Ph.D. student in the UC San Diego Division of Biological Sciences, showed that blocking CGRP signals with receptor antagonists could protect the endothelial barrier and improve oxygenation in NEHI mice. These findings suggest that neuropeptides may be a promising therapeutic target for conditions marked by excess lung fluid.

One such condition is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a lung condition with multiple causes, including SARS-CoV-2 infection. In patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS, excess fluid is the primary cause of death.

Through collaborations with other UC San Diego School of Medicine faculty, the researchers were able to obtain lung tissue samples from COVID-19 patients. They found the samples also had an increased proportion of CGRP-secreting PNECs, suggesting the same mechanism may contribute to the excess fluid in COVID-19 lungs.

Sun notes that several CGRP and CGRP-receptor antagonists have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of migraines, so future clinical trials could evaluate their potential to improve lung function.

"This study was a community effort between many researchers and physicians at UC San Diego," said Sun. "Through these collaborations, we were able to take our work from the bedside to the bench. Our next steps are to help close this loop and bring our findings back to the patients."

Explore further Disruption in lung cell repair may underlie ARDS in COVID-19 and other diseases

More information: Jinhao Xu et al, Excess neuropeptides in lung signal through endothelial cells to impair gas exchange, Developmental Cell (2022). Journal information: Developmental Cell Jinhao Xu et al, Excess neuropeptides in lung signal through endothelial cells to impair gas exchange,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.02.023
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

There are an estimated 1.4 million people in the United States who are transgender. It's a relatively big numberand yet, many of these individuals have difficulty finding doctors who are right for them and their needs. Many have heartbreaking stories about their experiences with health care providers, even during a routine physical. Some providers make dehumanizing comments or won't acknowledge their gender identity. Others ask inappropriate questions or even refuse to treat them.

But those who care for transgender patients have a message: Don't give up on getting medical care.

"The doctor's office should be one place where everybody feels safe and cared for," says Christy Olezeski, Ph.D., a psychologist and director of the Yale Medicine Pediatric Gender Program, which serves children, teenagers, and young adults up to age 25.

But she says that patients have raised legitimate questions about how to continue medical care as they transition out of the program. "They've said, 'I don't even know if it makes sense for me to transitioneven though this is who I ambecause I'm afraid of what's going to happen in the doctor's office for the rest of my life,'" Olezeski says. "Will they have providers that are understanding and supportive of their identities, who will not ask intrusive questions?"

She says a concern is that some people choose to not seek medical care, even when they need to go to the Emergency Department, because they're afraid of what's going to happen.

Why do transgender patients face roadblocks when seeking care?

One big issue is that many people, including health care providers, don't understand what the term "transgender" means, Olezeski says. Some think it is related to sexual orientation (whether they are sexually attracted to men, women, neither, or both), which it is not. Rather, transgender people have a gender identity and/or expression that is different than the male or female gender they were assigned at birth.

Every transgender person approaches that differently. "Everybody's gender journey is unique to that individual," Olezeski says. "Not everyone chooses the same interventions to align their body and their presentation to be more consistent with their gender identity."

Transgender individuals' concerns about having their choices respected are not unfounded. About a third of transgender people report having had negative interactions with medical providers. These range from the need for them to educate the provider about transgender health to a provider's refusal to treat them, all the way up to verbal harassment, and even physical or sexual assault, as reported in a survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality. Fear of mistreatment kept 23% of people who responded to the survey from seeking care.

Another challenge they face is being left out of "traditional" medicine categories. Clair Kronk, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in medical informatics at Yaleherself a transgender womanrecalls signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial only to be turned away because there was no category for her. "I have complicated feelings about it, because these were some of the most important clinical trials in the history of the United States," she says. "There were lives on the line, and I was trying to do my part."

There can be mistreatment in the doctor's office

On one occasion, Kronk consulted an optometrist about her astigmatism, a common condition that affects the curvature of the eye. The doctor told her the problem was "probably associated with taking hormones," a theory her endocrinologist later told her didn't make sense, in part, says Kronk, because the astigmatism was diagnosed two decades prior to her starting hormones.

Some young adults who Olezeski has worked with are concerned about something many of us have never had to think twice about, which is how they feel while sitting in medical office waiting rooms. Transgender men may still need gynecological care, but might be wary of waiting in a room full of cisgender women. (Cisgender is a term to describe those who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.) Visiting a urologist raises similar concerns. There is a common misconception that urologists are men treating men, even though people across the gender spectrum seek care for urologic issues, says Jaime Cavallo, MD, MPHS, a Yale Medicine urologist.

Some transgender patients are fearful of physical examinations, especially when the doctor is a gynecologist or urologist performing genital exams, Dr. Cavallo says. Individuals may have experienced a complicated life journey. "Some transgender patients have depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and an examination can elicit their depression, anxiety, or fear," Dr. Cavallo says.

There also have been reports about doctors who aren't familiar with transgender care not knowing how to properly care for patients who have had non-genital gender-affirming (sometimes casually referred to as "top") surgery, or genital gender-affirming (or colloquially known as "bottom") surgery, which can feel alienating to the patient, she adds. "Sometimes, patients feel more comfortable if they bring a loved one to be present during their exam," says Dr. Cavallo.

Regular medical care is especially important to the transgender community

Some transgender people do not pursue health care at all after hearing these kinds of stories, Olezeski says, and this may be one reason why they face disturbing health risks: Their risk of death, from a variety of causes, is twice as high as in those who are not transgender, according to a Dutch study published in 2021, based on five decades of data around adult transgender people receiving hormone treatment.

Olezeski also blames the elevated risks for health problems on the cumulative stress related to discrimination, including such things as attempts on their lives, physical and sexual assault, and threats from family members, saying that transgender people are more likely to be rejected and even homeless. "The effects of harassment, rejection, and microaggressions can add up. The impact on the stress response and the cascade effect on mental and physical health can be devastating," she says. "And small health issues can definitely increase if you're not getting preventive care, and if you're not getting things treated at an earlier stage."

That's why a transgender person absolutely should have a primary care doctor, says Olezeski. Just like anyone else, they also should expect to have respectful care from medical specialists in their adult lives.

A short list might include the following:

1. Ongoing care with a urologist after a medical or surgical transition

"The urologic history and examination should be uniquely tailored to the patient, depending on the types and duration of hormone therapy they have received, the patient age at initiation of hormone therapy, and what surgeries they've undergone," Dr. Cavallo says. She recommends that anyone who has had genital gender-affirming surgery visit with a urologist at least once a year; they should be monitored for strictures and fistulas that can cause problems with urination and any issues with sexual function.

Transgender women who have kept their penis or testicles need to be monitored for benign and malignant diseases of these organs. Similarly, transgender women who have kept their prostate need to be monitored for benign prostatic issues and prostate cancer, she adds.

Hormone therapy and genital surgeries can make the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the reproductive organs more nuanced for transgender individuals. "Insufficient and poor-quality data in the medical literature on urologic cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and outcomes for transgender individuals prevents us from being able to accurately assess their risks at this time," says Dr. Cavallo. "Well-designed studies inclusive of transgender patients are needed."

2. Annual visits with a gynecologist

The American College of Gynecologists provides clear guidelines on transgender care, including this description of the doctor's role: "To guide preventive medical care, any anatomical structure present that warrants screening should be screened, regardless of gender identity."

That includes cervical cancer screenings for individuals assigned female at birth, and breast cancer screenings for those assigned female at birth and transgender women, as well as screenings for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases for all transgender people. "Screening for HIV as a component of routine medical care is part of our message," says Michael Virata, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist. The U.S. Transgender Survey reported that the number of transgender people living with HIV (1.4%) is nearly five times the rate than in the U.S. population (0.3%) overall and high among transgender women of color.

Kronk points out that the numbers may even be higher than reported. "Providers rarely know about HIV/AIDS treatments such as PReP [pre-exposure prophylaxis], and if you don't have insurance, PReP can be expensive," she says. "It's often free if you do have it, but many trans people can't get insurance."

It's also worth noting that a number of trans people are also forced into sex work just as a way to survive and get by, she adds. "The numbers, when presented without context, may imply that trans people are hyper-sexual as part of being trans, which is not necessarily the case," she says.

Transgender men or nonbinary individuals (those whose gender identity falls outside of the traditional gender binary structure of girl/woman and boy/man) who still have their reproductive organs may still be able to get pregnant, so a gynecologist should still provide counseling on birth control. Most will stop menstrual bleeding with testosterone supplements; those who continue to have menstruation may be managed with hormonal therapies or surgery, says Amanda Kallen, MD, a Yale Medicine gynecologist and reproductive specialist.

3. A reproductive specialist if you are planning for children

Anyone who wants to have a child should have the choice of using their own eggs or sperm, regardless of their gender identity, says Dr. Kallen.

Although it can be expensive (and may not be covered by insurance), the Yale Fertility Center provides services for freezing sperm for later use by a female partner or surrogate, and for freezing eggs and embryos. "The good news is that fertility clinics are now promoting themselves as being friendly to transgender people," Dr. Kallen says. "At the Yale Fertility Center, the number of patients we saw in consultation for transgender fertility preservation has gone up by 900% in five years," she adds.

Should you let your doctor know your transgender status?

"It can be a tough question," says Susan Boulware, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist who works with patients in the Pediatric Gender Program. "Unfortunately, it does fall on the patient's shoulders to be as educated as possible," Dr. Boulware says. "We talk with patients about what kinds of things are important for a new doctor to knowand how forthcoming to be in certain cases."

One young transgender patient needed to visit a college urgent care clinic with a sprained ankle, for example; they wanted to know if they had to tell the doctor they were taking testosterone, adds Dr. Boulware. "We discussed that the patient needed to answer questions regarding medications honestly; if asked about it, they could say that testosterone is being used for 'hormone replacement therapy.'" Explaining that they are a transgender individual may not be necessary in that situation, she explains.

In other cases, though, it's important to be upfront, she says, especially regarding hormone therapy. Transgender people should always let their primary or specialty care doctors know if they are on estrogen therapy, so they can be monitored for potential side effects. Dr. Boulware says "puberty blocker" medications can impact bone density, and estrogen elevates the risk for blood clots. Similarly, transgender men or nonbinary individuals who take testosterone-based treatments may have a higher risk of cardiovascular issues.

David Mulligan MD, chief of transplant surgery for Yale Medicine, says both doctors and surgeons need a complete medical history so that they can administer treatments properly. "We always have to be careful to monitor the impact of hormonal therapy and the development of other hormonal diseases, like diabetes," he says.

Still, the decision to disclose can be a difficult one for patients. A complete medical history can be very importantor even life-savingbut that isn't always the case, adds Kronk. "Patient privacy is important, and given that many jurisdictions can refuse care to LGBTQ+ folks, it's understandable why people would not disclose that information," she says. "Providers have a duty to create a safe and trustworthy environment for their patients. It is not the patient's responsibility to assume that every environment is safe and trustworthy."

There are efforts underway to improve transgender care

It's hard to know exactly how many transgender people there are, despite the best efforts of demographers to make accurate estimates. At Yale, Kronk led researchers in an effort that could contribute to achieving some clarity, while paving the way to more research around the transgender population. She worked with other transgender researchers in the U.S. and Canada on recommendations for updating the way transgender patient information is recorded.

Until 2015, most electronic medical records (EMRs) limited their gender fields to categories for "male," and "female." Many didn't even allow "other" as an option. It would just be left blank and recorded as "unknown," says Kronk.

In 2021, Kronk and her fellow researchers published a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association that recommends a two-step self-identification approach. It would allow people to specify both their gender identity"female," "male," "non-binary," "questioning," "not listed," "prefer not to disclose"and their assigned gender at birth or the gender that appears on their birth certificate.

Implementing recommendations like this "will take advocacy on different levels," Kronk says. "For it to work, you need to have base-level providersnot just gender clinicsopting into this."

But EMRs matter, Kronk adds. They provide alerts to providers when a drug may be less effective or may impact negatively on certain interventions, and raise other flags. But as far as gender, they are based on whatever the patient tells the doctoror sometimes what the doctor assumes, based on the patient's appearance, which can cause issues. "If you choose to make all decisions based on 'gender identity' or 'assigned gender at birth' alone, you can miss information that could lead to severe outcomes," she says.

Transgender patients need to seek out supportive doctors

Experts hope that as more doctors are trained in transgender care, it will get better. For now, transgender people will have to be persistent about seeking supportive doctors who are sensitive to their issues. "This is often uncharted territory for many providers," Dr. Boulware says, adding that most doctors won't have specialized training. "So, it often falls on patients' shoulders to educate themselves."

Dr. Kallen adds that, "This is a hard part. But at the end of the day, preventive screening is a critical part of overall health care."

For transgender individuals, a local organization that is sensitive to LGBTQIA+ issues may be able to recommend a provider, Dr. Kallen says. "It also can end up being a lot of word of mouth, asking around about providers who might be welcoming," she says.

Meanwhile, there are simple, common-sense changes any provider can make, says Olezeski. "You can think about what the medical questions are that you would ask anybody aboutor anyone with these particular organs," she says. "Or you can tell a patient why you need to do a particular test or exam and offer the option to opt out, as there might be previous trauma."

And, if a doctor still doesn't feel knowledgeable enough, they can refer the patient to another doctor who has more experience in transgender care.

"But it's important to consider that pushing this to specialist care may make wait times longer; the solution here is more training and education across the board," says Kronk.

Olezeski agrees. "It's really important to be aware. Even a negative meeting at the receptionist's desk can stick with people. We need to be kind and respectful to all of our patients," she says.

Explore further Only half of transgender people report supportive care from doctors

More information: Clair Kronk et al, Transgender Data Collection in the Electronic Health Record (EHR): Current Concepts and Issues, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (2021). Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association Clair Kronk et al, Transgender Data Collection in the Electronic Health Record (EHR): Current Concepts and Issues,(2021). DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/qnc2g
A modern hand prosthesis controlled via the activation of muscles in the residual limb. Credit: Aalto University

Aalto University doctoral candidate Dennis Yeung and his research group have developed and tested a new type of technology that enables better compatibility between a prosthesis and the amputated area. The study was conducted in cooperation with HUS (Helsinki University Hospital) and Imperial College London.

People whose upper limb has been amputated can control the robotic prosthesis by contracting their remaining muscles. The connection where a prosthesis detects electrical signals produced by the muscle is known as a myoelectric interface. The most advanced prostheses use machine learning algorithms that help interpret these user-generated signals. However, such connections are often very sensitive to external factors, such as sweating, and become weaker over time. To solve this problem, the research community has proposed various algorithms that could better adapt to changing circumstances.

Currently existing systems require adjustments or other measures from the user, but Yeung and his team developed a fully automated system that learns during normal use and thus adapts to varying conditions.

"In this system, the user and the system learn from each other simultaneously. This has potential benefits in improving the convenience and robustness of robotic prostheses," Yeung says.

More reliable prostheses

The research results were tested in a virtual environment where they were compared to currently existing systems. After these successful tests, the research team tested the user interface with a state-of-the-art prosthesis at Imperial College London by having an amputee conduct Clothespin Relocation Tests which are widely used by physiotherapists to assess the function of the upper limbs.

Adaptive prosthetic devices are rather expensive. Improving the reliability of the systems reduces the financial risks for individuals and public health institutions when obtaining prostheses.

The functionality of the system has been studied with controlled and standardized tests, but the needs of the users can best be determined with qualitative longitudinal studies.

"For future development, it is very important to continue cooperation with health care centers and prosthesis users," Yeung says.

The results have been published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

Explore further Major gains still to be made in quality of arm prostheses

More information: Dennis Yeung et al, Co-adaptive control of bionic limbs via unsupervised adaptation of muscle synergies, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (2022). Journal information: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Dennis Yeung et al, Co-adaptive control of bionic limbs via unsupervised adaptation of muscle synergies,(2022). DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3150665
Activity of individual neurons as recorded by the Neuropixels probe in the spotlight to uncover the complexity of the human brain. Overlay: recorded voltage dynamics of human cortical neurons as recorded using the Neuropixels probe. Credit: Paulk et al.

To examine the human brain and better understand its functions, neuroscientists have so far used a variety of methods to record the electrical activity of brain cells. Traditionally, these methods were either able to record the activity of a few individual neurons at a time or monitor changes in the summated activity of thousands of neurons over time. If researchers wanted to sample from a large population of cells in one area at once, however, they had to employ two or more different techniques.

In 2017, a team led by Tim Harris at HHMI Janelia Research Campus introduced the idea of Neuropixels, a ground-breaking technology that can simultaneously record the neural activity of hundreds to thousands of individual neurons and ongoing changes in focal areas of the brain. This powerful technology, which was subsequently designed and fabricated by IMEC, is now bringing huge innovation in the field of neuroscience.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and other medical institutes in the United States have recently carried out a study aimed at examining and potentially overcoming some of the challenges that might prevent the large-scale implementation of Neuropixels in clinical settings. Their paper, published in Nature Neuroscience, introduces new protocols and techniques that can be used by doctors and neuroscientists to record more than 200 well-isolated cortical single units in a focal region in humans who are undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

"The Neuropixels technology provides a powerful high-resolution dynamic 'movie' of ongoing electrical dynamics of neural activity which we previously did not have access to," Angelique Paulk, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Medical Xpress. "The goal of our study was to detail the technical obstacles in bringing this device into the human operating room to record neural activity in the intact human brain using the Neuropixels probe."

Video illustrating the differences in how Neuropixels probes and other devices sample electrical information from nearby cells. It is somewhat akin to comparing a pixellated image versus a 4K video. Credit: Angelique Paulk

In addition to identifying some of the technical difficulties preventing the use of Neuropixels within human operating rooms, Paulk and her colleagues wanted to devise a blueprint that both clinicians and neuroscience researchers could follow to overcome these difficulties. The techniques and protocols described in their paper were thus also shared on DRYAD, a renowned public repository for educators and researchers.

The team that carried out the study included both practicing clinicians and neuroscientists. In collaboration, the researchers were able to devise two protocols for recording activity in the human brain using the Neuropixels probe. They then tested these protocols on consenting patients who were undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

Three-dimensional model of the deep brain stimulation (DBS) burr hole location with a model of the Neuropixels probe as inserted into cortical tissue. Credit: Paulk et al.

"The implementation and use of the Neuropixels probe in the operating room required that we use a newly-developed thicker probe produced by IMEC (the company that produces Neuropixels), that we establish validated sterilization pipelines and maintain sterile handling practices, and that we surmount the highly electrically noisy environment in the operating room through careful referencing of the devices," Paulk explained. "Following informed consent by the participants, we found the result was incredible in that, in one case, we were able to record from 202 individually identifiable neurons in the human cortex using a single Neuropixels probe."

Example voltage waveforms of individual brain cells, with each waveform from multiple channels per neuron collapsed to a single group of waveforms. Each line is a waveform as located on a single Neuropixels channel. Credit: Paulk et al.

The results that Paulk and her colleagues achieved when following their protocols are highly promising, as other existing technologies to collect single cell recordings using microelectrodes only allow researchers to record up to 100 cells at a time, using 96 electrodes and capturing activity at a significantly lower spatial resolution. This is approximately half of the cells that they recorded using Neuropixels.

"We hope that our transparent paper that includes lessons learned will pave the way towards an exciting new era for understanding cognition, basic neuroscience of the human brain, and neuropsychiatric pathologies to improve clinical care practices," Paulk said. "A major challenge in human neuroscience is that we do not always have the mechanistic information of what brain cells contribute to different functions or pathologies. Neuropixels offers a way to individually identify cells and their subtypes through high resolution sampling that we simply did not have access to in the past."

Illustration of two different types of state-of-the-art intracranial microelectrodes implanted in cortex, with the Utah microelectrode array (left) next to the Neuropixels probe (electrode with a checkerboard design) alongside reconstructions of human pyramidal cells (blue) and inhibitory interneurons (green) from NeuroMorpho.Org human neurons, IDs: NMO_86955, NMO_86997, NMO_109433, NMO_61420, and NMO_61421. Credit: Paulk et al.

In the future, the new protocols introduced by Paulk and her colleagues could facilitate the use of the Neuropixels technology in clinical settings, enabling the collection of more detailed and reliable neural recordings. In addition, the researchers hope that their work will inspire new open science and open data initiatives aimed at further advancing our current understanding of the brain.

Explore further High-resolution probe may help unlock secrets of brain function and neurological diseases

More information: Angelique C. Paulk et al, Large-scale neural recordings with single neuron resolution using Neuropixels probes in human cortex, Nature Neuroscience (2022). Journal information: Nature Neuroscience Angelique C. Paulk et al, Large-scale neural recordings with single neuron resolution using Neuropixels probes in human cortex,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00997-0

 2022 Science X Network
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Late last year, preliminary studies revealed that the fast-spreading omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant was likely to evade COVID-19 antibodies but, in many people, less so than expected. Now one of those studies from Karolinska Institutet has been published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. KI researcher Ben Murrell explains the findings and recalls the rush to understand the new variant.

In late November 2021, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified by scientists in South Africa, which later came to be known as omicron. Along with early signals that it was spreading quickly, international alarm was raised by the number of mutations on omicron's spike protein, which is the part targeted by neutralizing antibodies. This kicked off a scientific rush to characterize just how extensively omicron would evade neutralizing antibodies.

"These days, we'd usually use gene synthesis to create the new spike gene to measure antibody neutralization," says Ben Murrell, assistant professor at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, and the study's last author.

When news of the variant first broke, Ben Murrell placed a synthesis order. However, soon after this, cases started appearing in Europe, and Ben Murrell's lab realized that there might be a faster way to create an omicron neutralization assay.

Through a collaboration with Professor Jan Albert, who has been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 variants in Sweden, Ben Murrell's lab obtained an anonymized sample from a suspected omicron infection. They were able to clone the portion of the spike gene containing the omicron mutations into the spike backbone that they use for their neutralization assay.

Moved at breakneck speed

"Daniel Sheward, who runs these assays in my lab, was exceptionally fast. We were able to release our first neutralization results eight days after obtaining that sample, which was just 13 days after the variant was reported to the WHO," says Ben Murrell.

As the researchers were approaching their final step, they reached out to colleagues in South Africa who were also working on understanding the new variant, but using a different approach.

"The South African labs had had access to omicron samples since the start and were trying to grow live omicron virus in the lab, and use this to measure neutralization," says Ben Murrell. "They told us that they were also generating their initial results at about the same time as us, so we decided to compare notes and then release data right away."

But when they compared notes, the South African results looked different. The South African data showed a much more substantial loss of antibody neutralization against omicron than data from two cohorts from Stockholm. The results from Stockholm also suggested that the loss was extremely variable, with some people neutralizing omicron nearly as well as they neutralized the original SARS-CoV-2 variant, but others losing a lot of potency against omicron.

Urgent need for answers

"This initial disparity was extremely nerve wracking at first. It was an important question to answer quickly, but absolutely critical for this answer to be correct," explains Ben Murrell.

The lab spent the next hours double-checking everything as much as possible, and then released their data publicly, along with caveats appropriate for preliminary results like these. In the following days and weeks, other labs began to release data.

"The picture became very clear. The ability to cross-neutralize omicron seems to depend strongly on how many times your immune system has been exposed, either via infection or via vaccination, to the SARS-CoV-2 spike," explains Ben Murrell.

This is why data from a previously-infected then vaccinated cohort of Stockholm hospital workers exhibited much more substantial cross-neutralization of omicron than the cohort studied in South Africa.

"It was interesting to see that randomly selected Swedish blood donors also exhibited substantial omicron neutralizationnot as much as the hospital workers, but more than we originally expected," adds Ben Murrell.

A few days later, the lab released neutralization data for clinically relevant monoclonal antibodies, which are used to treat COVID-19. These showed that many therapeutic antibodies are rendered ineffective by omicron. One of these, Sotrovimab, retained most of its potency against omicron, which agreed with data that had just been released by the developers of Sotrovimab. Ben Murrell cautions: "Our data were from the BA.1 omicron lineage, which was dominant at the time, but more recent data from other labs shows that BA.2, which is overtaking BA.1 globally, appears to be different here."

Vaccination matters

The publication, which has now been peer-reviewed, documents those initial results, and has added a few more, increasing the size of the random blood donor cohort, where the picture was unchanged, and including previously-infected samples taken before vaccination.

"These infected but non-vaccinated samples showed a complete loss of neutralization against omicron, which suggest that you cannot rely on natural infection to make good antibodies against these more mutated variantsyou must also get vaccinated," says Ben Murrell. "The cross-neutralization that we saw in people who had been infected then vaccinated was subsequently confirmed to also occur in people who received a third booster vaccine dose."

Explore further New study adds more evidence for Omicron immune evasion

More information: Daniel J Sheward et al, Neutralisation sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) variant: a cross-sectional study, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2022). Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases Daniel J Sheward et al, Neutralisation sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) variant: a cross-sectional study,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00129-3
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center researcher has found, through extensive data analysis, that the youngest patients with brain tumorsthose ages birth to 3 monthshave about half the five-year survival rate as children ages 1 to 19.

In research findings recently published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, Adam Green, MD, an associate professor of pediatric hematology/oncology in the CU School of Medicine, and his co-researchers analyzed population-based data for almost 14,500 children ages 0 to 19 who were diagnosed with brain tumors. They found significantly poorer outcomes among the youngest patients.

"It's unusual to see infants or babies with brain tumors, but we do see them," Green explains. "We generally just don't have the same standards of treatment that we do for older children. We also know that infants can't report their own symptoms like older kids often can."

Analyzing nationwide cancer data

Green and his co-researchers used data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, a national cancer registry that covers more than a quarter of the U.S. population and represents the extensive diversity of the country.

The researchers extracted SEER data relating to childhood brain tumors and divided it into three age groups0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, and 6 to 12 months. They compared data in these three groups with brain tumor data in people ages 1 to 19.

What they discovered, Green says, is that "the types of brain tumors that babies get are different than in older patients, and that's an important finding in and of itself. The most important findings we had were that the survival that babies have from brain tumors is worse than older kids for almost all of the types of brain tumors we study."

Further data analysis showed that five-year survival in the 0 to 3 months age group is between 30 and 35%, whereas five-year survival in the 1 to 19 age group is about 70 percent. Five-year survival in the 3 to 6 month and 6 to 12 month age groups was also significantly lower than in older children.

Decreased survival rates for youngest brain tumor patients

This stark contrast in five-year survival rates "suggests that there may be just a lot of confusion and concern and reluctance in the pediatric neuro-oncology community to give these infants treatment or to perform surgery," Green says. "That may be a major cause of why these kids don't do as well. Also, they're more likely to present with metastatic disease when they do present with cancer, partly because they can't report their own symptoms so their diagnosis may be delayed."

The youngest patients' tumors show a different biology than tumors in older children and are often diagnosed in prenatal ultrasounds. Symptoms are different between age groups as well. Older children may present with headaches or vomiting, whereas "babies obviously aren't reporting headaches, but they may be inconsolably fussy over long periods of time or have a rapidly expanding head circumference that's off the growth charts," Green says. "They may not be meeting developmental milestones or may have abnormalities in the way their eyes move. The symptoms may be more subtle and not typical of the usual brain tumor symptoms in older children."

A particular challenge in treating the youngest patients with brain tumors is that though there are established standards of care and treatment for pediatric brain tumors, health care providers may be reluctant to use them on very young babies.

"We have radiation-sparing regimens that we use for children under 5, and we know those work well, but when it gets down to patients this young, it may be coming from the parents or from parents and medical teams thinking that it's going to be too toxic," Green explains. "There may be concern that patients this young are not going to tolerate surgery."

A goal of increased awareness

Green says he hopes an immediate effect of the study is to inform the health care community of the decreased five-year survival rates for children younger than 1 who develop brain tumors. In turn, he hopes this awareness will lead to an increased willingness to apply standard-of-care therapies to the youngest patients with brain tumors.

"Taking the longer view, we still need to understand the biology of these tumors better," Green says. "We have some understanding now of how a certain type of brain tumor in an infant is different than that same type of brain tumor in an older child and we may need dedicated, specialized treatment protocols for these youngest children."

Also, because many brain tumors in the youngest patients already are metastatic at diagnosis, "hopefully it will drive home the message in the general pediatrics community that there needs to be vigilance for this possibility," Green says. "These tumors are rare, but primary care pediatricians and other folks in primary care need to be aware that these tumors can occur in infants. The biggest take-away is that these patients just aren't getting the treatment that would be considered standard in older kids."

Explore further Nationwide study of 295,000 brain cancer patients examines differences due to age and sex

More information: Muriel Hart et al, Population-based analysis of CNS tumor diagnoses, treatment, and survival in congenital and infant age groups, Journal of Neuro-Oncology (2022). Journal information: Journal of Neuro-oncology Muriel Hart et al, Population-based analysis of CNS tumor diagnoses, treatment, and survival in congenital and infant age groups,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11060-022-03967-z
I am writing after a saddening recent article Maryland Democratic Party official resigns after sending email questioning the electability of Black candidates (March 14) to say the point for all Marylanders should be who is the best candidate. And that is why, as a Democrat, I am supporting Wes Moore, who happens to be Black. Mr. Moore, a Rhodes scholar, Army officer and combat veteran, author, husband, father and CEO, will be a great governor because he knows what needs to be fixed and respects what needs to be preserved. And he has the power of personality to unite all Marylanders behind a stronger and more inclusive future. Bad ideas and exclusion may appear in other states, but not Maryland.

Stan Heuisler, Baltimore

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Here's some business news in the Missoula area:

Montana gained roughly 3,500 construction jobs during the pandemic from February of 2020 to January of 2022. That's an 11.4% increase, the highest percent increase of any state in the country, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Almost half the states in the U.S. lost construction jobs during that same time period.

I think the message is clear, construction is open for business and were hiring, said David Smith, executive director of the Montana Contractors Association. While most industries have struggled through these difficult times, construction continues to provide stable employment with wages that offer higher pay, great benefits, and the opportunity to grow your career.

He said the job increase is impressive considering there were nationwide supply chain issues and materials shortages along with steep cost increases of those materials.

Construction was deemed an essential industry, and Montana contractors worked hard keeping worksites open, Smith said. While many industries and businesses had to close their doors temporarily, construction in Montana was able to take advantage of the opportunity that allowed us to keep workers employed.

The community will have multiple opportunities to view the Higgins Avenue Corridor Plan and provide feedback. A virtual open house is available through April 3. This open house will include information and survey questions about each design alternative and will be accessible through the project webpage at engagemissoula.com/higgins-avenue-corridor-plan.

The Higgins Avenue Corridor Plan began last summer with public involvement efforts aimed at understanding the priorities of residents and business owners for this busy section of downtown Missoula. With these priorities, safety improvements, and economic vitality in mind, the project team has developed several design alternatives and is seeking additional comments from residents and businesses.

We learned a lot through our initial outreach efforts, said Aaron Wilson, the city's manager of Infrastructure and Mobility Planning. Each conversation, comment, and survey response provided the team with valuable information that allowed us to develop several design alternatives for the corridor. Our hope is that the community will continue to engage in this process as we work toward a final design that is beautiful, safe, and accessible for everyone.

Two live virtual meetings will take place on March 31 at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Each meeting is anticipated to last approximately one hour and will include a presentation and question-and-answer session. Registration is required for these meetings. To register, please visit the aforementioned website.

Lake Missoula Tea Company in Missoula won an honorable mention for Best of Show at the Made in Montana tradeshow in Helena last week. The company is celebrating its 10th year in business.

"It's an honor to be recognized among all of these talented, driven, and creative Montanans," said general manager Ryan Alexander Payne. "We recognize the beauty and talent brought by our friends of the Native American Made in Montana presenters, on whose land we rest."

Co-owner Jake Kreilick said the event helps small businesses market their products.

"The Made in Montana brand is a great tool to attract attention to our teas," he said. "Additionally, the trade shows organized through the Department of Commerce create wholesale opportunities with other Montana businesses, so it's a win-win for us."

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" " People buy life insurance generally to provide a benefit to their family members. But there are many different types available. Nitat Termmee/Getty Images

The life insurance industry offers several different flavors of life insurance to meet the various coverage needs and financial goals of clients. But which life insurance policy is for you? Let's run through the major types of life plans and their respective pros and cons.

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Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is by far the most popular type of life insurance policy. It's called "term" life insurance because the policyholder is covered for a specific length of time, typically 30 years. Term life insurance is also called "pure" life insurance, because your monthly premiums only pay for a death benefit, not any kind of investment component.

Term life insurance is so popular because it fulfills the most basic need for life insurance, which is to replace lost income following the death of a spouse, parent or other financial provider. People often buy term life insurance when they get married or have a child, because they want a policy that will cover them through retirement age, or until their children are financially independent.

Because term life insurance only pays out a death benefit, and because it only provides coverage for a limited time, the premiums are generally much less expensive than other types of life insurance. According to Policy Genius, a healthy person in their 20s or 30s can expect to pay between $30 and $40 a month for a 30-year term life policy with a $500,000 death benefit.

Pros: The chief benefits of term life insurance are low monthly premiums and the peace of mind that survivors will receive a substantial death benefit if the policyholder dies young.

Cons: The downside of term life is that it only covers the policyholder for 30 or 40 years, so survivors receive no death benefit if the policyholder dies after the term has expired.

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Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance falls under the larger umbrella of "permanent" life insurance policies. Unlike term life insurance, which only covers the policyholder for a 30- or 40-year term, permanent life insurance policies are, well, permanent  the policyholder is covered for their entire life. As we'll see, though, that extra coverage comes at a cost.

Whole life insurance is the simplest type of permanent life insurance. There are two components to a whole life insurance policy: the death benefit and the "cash value."

The death benefit component of a whole life policy works exactly the same as term life insurance, except there's no expiration date. No matter when the policyholder dies  unexpectedly at 35 or understandably at 95  their beneficiaries receive the death benefit.

The cash value component of whole life insurance policies is basically a savings account that grows with interest. Part of your fixed monthly premium with whole life insurance goes toward the death benefit and part goes into this savings account.

Pros: The benefits of whole life insurance are lifetime coverage, fixed monthly premiums and extra cash stashed away in a savings account. And before you die, you can withdraw money tax-free from the savings account up to the cash value you've contributed.

Cons: The main downside of whole life insurance is its cost. You'll pay six to 10 times more in premiums compared to term life for the same death benefit. As for the savings account, financial experts like Dave Ramsey say you'd get a much better return by investing that same money in a mutual fund.

"Permanent life insurance policies get the cold shoulder by some in the financial-planning community who say, 'Why not buy term and invest the difference?'" says Jack Dolan, vice president of public affairs at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). "The truth is, a lot of people buy term and they spend the difference."

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Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance is another type of permanent life insurance policy. It's very similar to whole life insurance in that there's a death benefit component and a cash value component. The difference is that universal life offers more flexibility in how to pay the monthly premiums.

The major selling point of universal life insurance is that you can potentially use the accumulated cash value of the account to lower the cost of monthly premiums or pay for them entirely. Dolan says that this type of policy is most appealing to people whose income varies from year to year. If money is tight one year, universal life insurance policyholders can dip into their savings account to help pay for the premiums.

Pros: The benefits of universal life are permanent coverage and flexible out-of-pocket costs for paying the monthly premiums.

Cons: Management fees are higher than whole life, and if your cash value account runs low, you may not have the funds to cover the monthly premium, rendering the policy void.

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Variable-Universal Life Insurance

Even Dolan admits that variable-universal life insurance is "not for everyone." Variable-universal life insurance is similar to straight universal life insurance, but instead of accruing cash value in a savings account, you invest the money in "sub accounts" that are similar to mutual funds.

As a policyholder, you can choose which sub accounts to invest your money based on the risk level you're comfortable with, or you can have a life insurance agent manage the investments for you. Either way, there's far more inherent risk with these mutual fund-style investment vehicles than with a simple savings account.

Like a universal life insurance policy, though, you can use the accrued cash value of a variable-universal policy to lower the cost of monthly premiums or pay them entirely. Assuming the investments pan out and the cash value grows over time.

Pros: If you're comfortable with the risk and prefer to have hands-on involvement with your investments, a variable-universal policy might be an attractive option. Dolan says that variable-universal policies are typically picked by "higher-income individuals."

Cons: Dave Ramsey calls variable-universal policies "one of the worst life insurance options on the market" because of their high management fees, poor performance compared to other investments and the fact that the policyholder assumes all risk for the investments, not the insurance company.

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Other Types of Life Insurance

In addition to term life insurance and permanent life insurance, there are a few alternative and less-common types of life insurance.

Joint Life Insurance: This is a life insurance policy (usually permanent, not term) that covers more than one person, often a married couple. With a "first-to-die" policy, the surviving spouse is paid a death benefit if their husband or wife dies. With a "second-to-die" policy, the death benefit is paid out when the second policyholder dies. In those cases, the children or other beneficiaries get the death benefit. Second-to-die policies are sometimes used to manage estate and inheritance taxes.

Mortgage Life Insurance: These policies are marketed as a way to pay off a mortgage if the main financial breadwinner passes away. Most financial planners agree, however, that mortgage life insurance is a bad investment. Premiums can spike unexpectedly and the value of the policy actually goes down as time passes, since the balance on the mortgage reduces year after year.

Credit Life Insurance: Like mortgage life insurance, credit life insurance is designed to pay off the balance of a specific loan  home equity loan, car loan, etc.  if the policyholder dies. The benefit of such a policy is the peace of mind of knowing that the debt won't be passed on to surviving family members. The drawbacks are that the value of the policy decreases over time even as premiums stay the same, and that the real beneficiary is the lender, not the survivors.

Final Expense Insurance: You've probably seen the touching ads for this one on TV. This insurance takes care of any costs associated with one's funeral and burial, so your loved ones aren't stuck with the expenses. It may pay out anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 for usually a small amount of money in premiums. However, many experts say it's a bad deal. You could probably get the same benefit without buying a policy, simply by putting away $50 a month toward funeral expenses in a savings account. Or you might be able to get a term life policy with a lot more benefits for the same monthly premium.

HowStuffWorks may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article.

Now That's Good Advice Before you buy any type of life insurance, sit down with a life insurance agent who can suggest policies that match your specific financial situation and goals. And beware of targeted solicitations in the mail or online that seem too good to be true. (That's because they are.)
" " You don't have to be 65 to have a reason to visit the Social Security office. Kameleon007/Getty Images

If you're an American citizen or permanent resident years from retirement age and lucky enough to be healthy and fully employed, you may not think much about Social Security. But for more than 80 years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has provided a critical financial safety net for Americans of all ages.

Older Americans rely on monthly Social Security benefits to partially or fully fund their retirement. Disabled adults who can't work to support themselves and their families may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Social Security also provides financial support for wounded veterans, and surviving spouses and children after an untimely death. You can apply for most Social Security benefit programs online by creating a my Social Security account.

There are more than 1,200 Social Security field offices in the United States, and you can find the closet office at this Social Security website. With so many services available online, why would you need to go into the office itself? Here are a few reasons why you might need to visit a Social Security office:

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1.You Didn't Get Your Newborn a Social Security Number in the Hospital

If you have a baby at most hospitals in the U.S., you will be asked there if you want to apply for a Social Security number. The hospital staff will use the same information provided for the baby's birth certificate (both parents' names and their Social Security numbers) to generate a brand new Social Security number for the new arrival.

If you decide not to get the Social Security number in the hospital, or you have the baby in a small birthing center or at home, then you will have to go to a Social Security office to get the little munchkin his or her number. Don't forget to bring the baby's birth certificate and identifications providing your identity and relationship to the child.

If you wait until the child is 12 or older to apply for a Social Security number, then the child has to appear in person for an interview at the office, even if you're signing all the paperwork.

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2. You Need a Replacement Card and You Live in One of 16 States

If you lose your original Social Security card, you're allowed up to three free replacements a year and 10 over your lifetime. But not everyone can apply for a replacement card online. To apply online for a replacement card, you have to be 18 or older and you can't be requesting a name change (if you recently got married, for instance). Also, you need to provide a driver's license number from a participating state.

You cannot currently apply online for a replacement Social Security card if your driver's license was issued in one of the following states:

Alabama

Alaska

Connecticut

Hawaii

Kansas

Minnesota

Nevada

New Hampshire

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Carolina

Tennessee

Utah

West Virginia

In those states, you'll have to make an appointment with your local Social Security office to get a replacement card.

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3. You Want to Apply for Retirement Benefits, but Don't Speak English

If you're at least 61 years and 8 months old, you can start to collect Social Security retirement benefits. The amount of the monthly check depends on how many years you worked and the age at which you apply to collect benefits. Technically, "full" retirement age is between 66 and 67, at which point you qualify for the largest benefit.

The SSA has made it easy to apply online to start receiving Social Security retirement benefits, but only if you can read and understand English. If you can't complete the online application in English, the SSA recommends calling your local Social Security office to make an appointment with a staff member who speaks your language.

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4. You're Overwhelmed by the Four Different Parts (!) of Medicare

Medicare is America's government-run health insurance program primarily for people 65 or older. The SSA handles the Medicare application process, which can be done entirely online.

But Medicare is anything but simple and straightforward. There are four different "flavors" of Medicare (Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D). One is free, one charges a monthly premium, one covers only prescription drugs and the other covers hospital stays. If you can make heads or tails of this baffling SSA Medicare brochure, then by all means apply online. But if you need some advice about which Medicare plans best fit your situation, you might want to apply in person at a Social Security office.

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5. You Want to Apply for Survivor Benefits

When a loved one dies, widows and widowers (plus children under 18) are entitled to collect any remaining Social Security benefits of the deceased. Those are called survivors benefits. Although in most cases the widow/widower must be over 60 to collect, if they are caring for the deceased's child who is under 16 or else disabled, they can collect at any age.

The SSA does not currently allow you to either report a death or apply for survivor benefits online. The funeral home will usually report the death to the SSA, but you will need to call the SSA and make an appointment at a local Social Security office to apply for survivor benefits.

Now That's Cool The SSA has a plan in place for serving "limited English proficiency" customers in 150 different languages through on-site and remote interpreter services.
North Carolinas attorney general has requested an investigation into former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows  who pursued a baseless narrative of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election  following allegations that he illegally cast a ballot from an address he doesnt use.

The probe from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations follows revelations in The New Yorker that Mr Meadows, who represented the state in Congress from 2013 to 2020, had registered to vote using an address at a rental home where he allegedly does not nor has ever lived.

A spokesperson for the office of North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said the office requested the probe alongside the state Board of Elections and at the conclusion of the investigation, well review their findings.

North Carolina NBC affiliate WRAL News reported that Mr Meadows and his wife registered to vote at that address in September 2020, and requested mail-in ballots in 2016 and 2020 to be delivered to the Washington DC area.

The states voter registration form asks specifically for the address where you physically live. As of 18 March, Mr Meadows remains registered at that address.

In the months leading up to and following the 2020 presidential election, and before a single ballot was cast, the Trump administration repeatedly sought to discredit absentee voting efforts, claiming without evidence that voting by mail is a disaster and out of control and used by Democratic officials to rig and steal the election.

Mr Trump also has voted by mail using his address in Florida.

On at least five occasions, Mr Meadows sought to pressure officials at the US Department of Justice to investigate election fraud conspiracy theories, including debunked allegations amplified by QAnon groups that fuelled mob violence at the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021.

A PowerPoint presentation bearing the exact title as one that Mr Meadows turned over to a House select committee investigating the attack included spurious allegations that China had effective control of American voting machines and urged the declaration of a national security emergency as a pretext for throwing out election results in several US states.

In December, the US House of Representatives voted to hold Mr Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena issued by the committee.

No charges have been filed against Mr Meadows in the North Carolina case. The Independent has requested comment from an attorney representing him.
A local church is asking the community for help celebrating a milestone in the life of a child with disabilities.

Cooper Whitesides turned 11 on St. Patricks Day, and First United Methodist Church is planning a parade to celebrate this weekend. Whitesides was born with encephalocele, a rare, life-threatening neural tube birth defect.

Doctors warned his mother, Halee Hildebran, that the odds were against her baby surviving and leading a healthy life. Whitesides, however, beat the odds, and today, he is a thriving boy about to celebrate his 11th birthday.

Abbigail Williams, director of worship and family ministries at First Methodist, characterizes Cooper as a thriving almost-11-year-old miracle who brings a smile to everyones face that he comes into contact with.

Hildebran tried to plan a parade around his birthday, but her plans fell through, so First Methodist stepped in to host a drive-thru parade on Coopers honor. The parade will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, and the church has invited the community to help celebrate.

Participants are asked to decorate their cars and drive through the church parking lot playing music or beeping their horns.

The louder and flashier the better, Williams said.

The church also will be collecting nonperishable food items to donate to Burke United Christian Ministries in lieu of birthday gifts.

First Methodist is at 200 N. King St., Morganton.
Eleven people have filed to represent Montana in the U.S. Congress, in the States new House of Representatives District 2. One of them is Representative Matt Rosendale who is failing Montanans and this country miserably. If his voting record were to be graded by Montanans, they would give him an F.

Rosendale should have voted to expand access to healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Montanans by continuing Medicare expansion in Montana. This program was not only important to the health and well-being of so many Montana citizens, but it also is critical to the long-term financial integrity of hospitals in our rural communities. He didnt. Fail.

Rosendale should have supported the bi-partisan infrastructure bill that provided historic investment in Montana highways, roads, bridges, broadband expansion, and water projects, including the restoration of the Milk River Project that provides drinking water and irrigation water from Havre across Montanas Hi-Line. Instead, he put politics over people and voted no. Fail.

Throughout his career as a state legislator and in the U.S. Congress, Rosendale has turned his back on Medicare, Social Security, and Montanas Defined Benefit Plans, threatening their viability and long-term stability. These programs are a promise from our country and the State of Montana to older citizens, helping to ensure a stable, safe and reliable retirement and access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. Again. Fail.

When I first announced my candidacy, I called upon Rosendale to return every Political Action Committee dollar he has accepted from out-of-state corporations, special interest groups and lobbyists. Instead, he continues accepting more and more, adding up to millions of corrupting dollars in his campaign coffers. Yet another fail.

Most recently, Rosendale drew the ire of Americans and people around the world, being one of three extreme members of the U.S. House to vote in favor of Vladimir Putin and against aiding the Ukrainian people and military against Putins murderous, illegal war. It was the first time any people had heard of Rosendale, as he brought shame to every Montanan by supporting the Russian leaders treachery. Massive, embarrassing fail.

It is encouraging to see ten Montanans, myself included, vying to represent Eastern and Central Montana in the states new Congressional districts. That states unequivocally that Montanans are awake, aware, and ready to reject Matt Rosendale.

Through my grassroots campaign, I am reaching out to Eastern and Central Montana voters, to help them understand that we can have somebody from Montana in Washington, D.C. We need somebody able and willing to work with U.S. Senator Jon Tester and our President to do what is right for Montana families, farmers, ranchers, businesses, and public schools. My focus in the U.S. Congress will be energy, agriculture and infrastructure  including rural hospitals, public education, irrigation and water storage projects, broadband, safe highways, roads and bridges.

Montanans expect and deserve that kind of representation in the U.S. Congress. Thats the job. We cannot afford any more failures from Matt Rosendale.

By Mark Sweeney is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Montana House District 2.

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ARCHIVED - Study claims moving to Spain could be good for your mental health



Spain is one of the top 10 countries with the highest levels of wellbeing

Thousands of Brits have uprooted and relocated to Spain, attracted by the laid-back lifestyle, warm climate, beaches, culture and cuisine. And it appears it's not just an improved lifestyle expats enjoy on Spain's Costas.

According to the Mental State of the World Report, the most comprehensive study of its kind that tracks mental health levels across 34 global countries, including five European countries where either English, French or Spanish are spoken, moving to Spain could be good for your mental wellbeing.

Five different aspects of mental wellbeing, including mood and outlook, how we relate to ourselves and others, drive and motivation, were analysed by researchers with interesting results.

Around 225,000 people were surveyed worldwide by non-profit research organisation Sapiens Lab, and asked to rate their wellbeing on a 200 point scale, from distresssed to thriving.

And the responses from each country, including those in Continental Europe, Asia, the UK, Middle East, Australia and Canada, were compared to give an indication of how people were feeling depending on where they live.

It goes without saying that mental health fell during the pandemic; 8% in 2020 and 3% in 2021, and the intensity of anti-Covid measures in each country played a part particularly amongst younger people.

But surprisingly, the study showed that mental wellbeing was lower in English-speaking countries and much higher in Latin American and other European destinations.

There was also a correlation between declining mental health and higher GDP scores per capita, suggesting economic growth doesn't always mean happiness and wellbeing.

Also of interest: More Spanish move out of Spain to live and work abroad

Whilst the UK and South Africa tied at the bottom of the 34 countries surveyed, with an average mental health score of 46%, Latin American and Spanish speaking countries performed the best overall, with six Spanish speaking countries in the top 10.

Spain ranked second for the highest levels of wellbeing, and in terms of European countries, was followed by Switzerland at five and Belgium at number eight.

Image 1: Archive

Image 2: sapienlabs.org
By Alex Pologruto | Mar 18, 2022

The Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) River Campus Arts Annex and Complex in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is currently featuring a solo show of paintings by Danielle Muzina, assistant professor of Art & Design at Murray State University

MURRAY, Ky.  The Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) River Campus Arts Annex and Complex in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is currently featuring a solo show of paintings by Danielle Muzina, assistant professor of Art & Design at Murray State University. The exhibit, titled the skies are full of them, is on view through March 23.

The SEMO show marks the first exhibit of 2022 for Muzina, who experienced a prolific 2021, participating in 14 regional and national shows and receiving an Artistic Excellence Award from SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference), a non-profit organization that promotes the study and practice of the visual arts in higher education on a national basis. The SECAC Artistic Excellence Award is given to recognize, encourage and reward individuals who have been particularly successful in their creative work as demonstrated through regional, national or international exhibitions or presentations.

When I received news of the award, I was shocked, said Muzina, but the recognition actually made me feel really seen and validated for the hard work and commitment Ive put into this project and my creative work in general.

The works featured in the skies are full of them and her 2021 exhibitions are part of a series of paintings Muzina has titled Pink Apocalypse. The figurative paintings focus on the intersection of gender performance and domestic spaces. Women in the paintings convene on porches, lawns or other domestic frontiers and interact in the spaces, preparing for or reacting to an apocalyptic turn of events, which is often suggested by the skys unnatural shade of pink. Recurring motifs, characters and visual elements appear within the series, such as diamond forms, the color pink, a six-foot trough big enough for a body and a villain-heroine self-portrait of Muzina in a Peter Pan collar dress.

The imagery in Pink Apocalypse was born from intuition and urgency, and the narrative in the series isnt linear, Muzina said. For me, building a world and story that is temporally open like this offers a broad range in mood, suggestive uncertainty about my characters and their intentions, and room for my audiences imagination.

For Muzina, the greatest challenge of working in a series is avoiding redundancy while also maintaining unity.

Im in a weird space where Im shifting my attention within the work, and so theres of course the question of, Is this still related to the broader series, or is it becoming its own thing? But Im grateful for those questions, because they are productive and motivating, said Muzina.

Muzina traces her love of painting back to her grandfather, who was an artist and illustrator before fleeing his home in Krk, Croatia due to political reasons when it was a part of former Yugoslavia. Muzinas grandfather and grandmother who met at a displaced persons camp in Italy, eventually settled in the United States, and subsequently helped Muzinas young parents raise her.

At that time, my grandfather had a job as a delivery person for a local pharmacy. When he would come home on his lunch breaks, wed draw together. He had one customer who worked at Sherwin Williams, so he would bring me a bunch of paint swatches that I would collage with - that was my favorite, and arguably the most painterly, said Muzina. As I grew up, I think there was something in me that needed painting as a visual language. Coming from a bilingual household but going to school in English, I slowly lost my Croatian, and I had this persistent feeling like words were not enough. I think that element of loss motivated me to chase after some other form of expression. Through painting I discovered I had the power to represent the recognizable world in such a way that it was embedded with not only my way of seeing, but also my way of feeling, and gave me space to make that be seen.

As an educator, Muzina impresses upon her students the important role that artists play in recording, interpreting and shaping history.

Making art in any format can be an act of agency and awareness building, resistance and empowerment; artwork itself is an important historical document and culturally significant, meaningful artifact that has power to impact makers and viewers alike, whether in the present or the future. said Muzina. Artists are important witnesses of lived history from multiple viewpoints and can make valuable contributions towards expanding the ways we as humans can see and access their environments.

For more information on Muzinas work, visit her website daniellemuzina.com. To learn more at Murray States Department of Art & Design please visit murraystate.edu/art.
Viviana Guevara Tovar, a crab picker with Charles H. Parks & Co., concentrates on getting out as much meat as possible. "The faster they can pick, the more they make - and the more we make," said Virgil "Sonny" Ruark Jr., whose family owns the plant. (Sun photo by Monica Lopossay)

Jeff Barkers insightful story on the lack of guest workers to help process this years crab harvest (Only one Maryland crab processor won the guest worker lottery, and the rest worry about their futures, March 11) points not only to an issue with the H-2B visa lottery, but the wider problem with immigration in America. Last year marked the smallest number of immigrants entering the U.S. since 2010. Thats at the same time as the country recorded more than 11 million job openings in January 2022.

Immigrants in the United States are hardworking and entrepreneurial, and they often work in positions that would otherwise go unfilled. The 23 million immigrants working in health care, agriculture, food services and other critical industries make up nearly 20% of the essential workforce. Study after study has shown that immigrants tend to be younger, work for longer, and create a substantial number of jobs as entrepreneurs. In 2014 alone, immigrants contributed $328.2 billion in taxes, including $32.9 billion in Medicare taxes and $123.7 billion in Social Security taxes.

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Righting these wrongs is not as complicated as some claim. In many cases, the solutions already exist. Lawmakers should significantly expand employment-based immigration by, for example, making available more H-2B visas, which allow foreign-born workers to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs. Policymakers should allow more people of working age to immigrate by removing dependents and children from the numbers of employment-based immigrants who count toward visa caps. Simple solutions are possible  for Maryland and the U.S. workforce.

Krish OMara Vignarajah

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The writer is president and CEO of Baltimore-based Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.

Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.
MUSCATINE  At the end of this month, Muscatine Community College plans to celebrate the life and accomplishments of one of Muscatine's most influential citizens during it's fourth "Legends" event.

MCC will host the event Thursday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. at the Merrill Hotel. This year the college is recognizing the contributions of former college President and Dean Jeff Armstrong.

Our Legends events have become annual events  where well pick someone who has had a large impact on the history of MCC, current MCC President Naomi DeWinter said. Typically that also means someone who has had a large impact on Muscatine.

MCC has honored Stan and Helen Howe, Roy and Lucille Carver, and most recently Marvin Krieger and Evelyn Schauland. It has been so great getting a chance to lift up the people who have helped make the college what it is today. MCC is now 92 years old and is still going strong, and each person that weve featured has left a different mark on the college, DeWinter said.

Armstrong, who died on Jan. 11, 2021, had many accomplishments over his 33-year career and won several awards, including the Eastern Iowa Community College Chancellors Award, the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Administrator Award. He also won an honorary doctorate from Ivan-Franko Pedagogical University and earned a place in Muscatine High Schools Hall of Honor.

Following his retirement in 2014, Armstrong began a new career serving students internationally. He traveled to Afghanistan where he built community colleges in several different cities.

Whenever he came back to Muscatine, we would hear about the progress he was making in Afghanistan, DeWinter recalled.

Though she knew Armstrong briefly because of his retirement, DeWinter said she hopes to shine a light on all of his accomplishments and successes through this events special presentation: a documentary created by MCC involving several people who worked with Armstrong and knew him well.

Its been so interesting to hear the stories about his life told by people who considered him to be their mentor and friend, DeWinter said. Part of his legacy was that he really brought global education to Muscatine, and he worked closely with local families and sister cities, which allowed for the hosting of students from different countries multiple times.

Armstrong encouraged students and MCC faculty to travel to foreign countries, and helped create opportunities for trips to many places including Ukraine, Jordan and India to broaden these students and faculty members experiences. Armstrong believed travel would impact the classes taught by these faculty and staff in a positive way.

Along with honoring Armstrongs accomplishments, MCC will use this years Legends event to honor some of Muscatines front-line workers, including healthcare workers, teachers, police and firefighters  all who have a connection to MCC.

We just wanted to give a special nod to people who were on the front-lines during the pandemic and really kept the community going, DeWinter said.

To learn more about this years Legends event or to purchase tickets, residents can go to eicc.edu/MCClegends.

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Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has revealed that his department plans to introduce a digital drivers licence card (eDL) in the 2024/25 financial year.

Responding to parliamentary questions, Mbalula said that the introduction of the eDL would follow the implementation of a new drivers licence card.

The introduction of the digital driving licence (commonly referred to as the eDL) will be preceded by the introduction of the new driving licence card, which is set to be launched in October 2023, he wrote.

He added that the design process for the new drivers licence card had been completed and that the department is waiting for approval from Cabinet.

Mbalula said that the DLCA  which currently produces South Africas drivers licences  would be responsible for the eDL project.

With the introduction of the eDL, motorists will be able to choose between applying for a physical card or an electronic licence. The eDL will be accessible through motorists smartphones.

Indications that the DLCA would be working to implement an electronic drivers licence in South Africa first appeared in its 2021/22 annual performance plan.

Mbalula announced that South Africa would be getting new drivers licence cards in January 2022, following the breakdown of the countrys only licence printing machine.

The two-decade-old drivers licence card machine broke down on 7 November 2021 and was subsequently sent to Germany for repairs. A substantial backlog of drivers licence applications formed while the machine was out of commission.

Mbalulas solution was to redesign South Africas drivers licence system and replace the current machine with a newer model.

According to the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA), the new licence cards will be aligned with international practices and incorporate new technologies.

It added that the project would allow for the adoption of digital technologies such as blockchain and other related technologies, forming the platform for an integrated transport system.

The introduction of the new driving licence involves a new design of the driving licence card and the re-engineering of processes to allow for agility and focus on delivering services efficiently and quickly, it said.

Mbalula said that the only hurdle to introducing the revamped drivers licence and procuring a new card printer is obtaining Cabinet approval  for which it is still waiting.

Now read: Uber hikes prices in South Africa to battle rising petrol costs
The South African division of US-based consumer credit bureau TransUnion has suffered a ransomware attack.

In an email to clients, which MyBroadband has seen, TransUnion said it believes the incident impacted an isolated server holding limited data from its South African business.

At present, we understand the affected data may include consumer contact information, such as telephone numbers, email addresses, identity numbers, and physical addresses.

In a statement on Thursday, the company acknowledged that a third party had gained access to one of its servers through misuse of an authorised clients credentials.

We have received an extortion demand, and it will not be paid, TransUnion South Africa stated.

The company said it immediately suspended the clients access upon discovering the breach, engaged cybersecurity and forensic experts, and launched an investigation.

As a precautionary measure, TransUnion South Africa took certain elements of our services offline. These services have resumed, TransUnion stated.

We believe the incident impacted an isolated server holding limited data from our South African business. We are working with law enforcement and regulators.

TransUnion added it was engaging clients in South Africa about the incident.

As our investigation progresses, we will notify and assist individuals whose personal data may have been affected.

In addition, it will be making identity protection products available to impacted consumers free of charge.

Attackers offer insurance

MyBroadband spoke to a group calling itself N4ughtysecTU, which has claimed responsibility for the attack.

It alleged it gained access to the personal records of 54 million South African customers totalling more than 4TB of data.

We got in via user and then to all files on there servers [sic], the group told MyBroadband.

According to N4ughtysecTU, the users password was password.

The group had demanded a $15-million (R224.4 million) ransom to return the data.

While TransUnion has refused to pay, the group has invited the supposed affected business customers an option to pay an insurance fee to prevent their information from being leaked.

We want it to be known that we will be reaching out to them and allow them to verify the data we have, the group stated.

If TransUnion does not pay the ransom amount by the deadline, those companies who paid the insurance fee will be safe when we leak the data.

Below is a list of the companies whose data it has claimed to have gained access to. The group also added this list only contained the first group of companies it was targeting.
Lineups are set for two Napa County Board of Supervisors races that have no incumbents, with four people vying to succeed Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht and six to succeed Supervisor Diane Dillon.

Wednesday was the deadline for candidates to join these two primary races. Voters on June 7 will either pick the winner in each contest, or, if no candidate receives a majority of the vote, two candidates in each race for the Nov. 8 ballot.

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Other countywide races, including one for Sheriff, are also set. In addition, voters on June 7 will decide the fate of Measure L, a possible quarter-cent countywide sales tax for wildfire prevention.

The Board of Supervisors races will represent a changing of the guard. Wagenknecht is stepping down after holding the 1st District seat since 1999 and Dillon after holding the 3rd District seat since 2003.

The election comes with many issues looming large for world-famous wine country. Debates rage over whether protection laws for the watersheds and groundwater need strengthening and at what point protections needlessly hurt the wine industry.

The 1st District covers the southwest part of the county and includes parts of the central and western city of Napa, as well as the Carneros region. Vying to succeed Wagenknecht are: Napa County Planning Commissioner and First 5 Napa County Executive Director Joelle Gallagher; Saintsbury Winery co-founder and former county Planning Commissioner David Graves; business owner Garrett Hale; and attorney and real estate broker Suzanne Truchard.

Wagenknecht for his successor has endorsed both Gallagher and Graves. He said both served admirably for him on the Planning Commission.

The 3rd District covers the heart of wine county and includes Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville and a portion of northeast city of Napa, as well as part of the Berryessa area. Vying to succeed Dillon are: St. Helena Councilmember Anna Chouteau; Napa County Planning Commissioner Anne Cottrell; Yountville Mayor John Dunbar; Matt Hooper; farmer and previous Dillon challenger Cio Perez; and Napa Valley College Trustee Rafael Rios.

Dillon has for her successor endorsed Cottrell, whom she chose for the Planning Commission.

Whoever is elected might even have a voice in the next Napa County general plan that sets the vision for wine country. The environmental impact report for the current plan expires in 2030.

While that might seem far off, preliminary work on a new plan could begin toward the tail end of the winners first terms. And its not unusual for incumbent supervisors to serve more than one term.

Also on the ballot:

Sheriff. Current Sheriff Oscar Ortiz and Jon Crawford are candidates. Ortiz was appointed by the Board of Supervisors last spring to succeed retiring Sheriff John Robertson. Crawford was undersheriff until last spring.

Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. Incumbent John Tuteur is the sole candidate.

Auditor-Controller. Incumbent Tracy Schulze is the sole candidate.

District Attorney. Incumbent Allison Haley is the sole candidate.

Treasurer-Tax Collector. Incumbent Robert Minahen is the sole candidate.

County Superintendent of Schools. Incumbent Barbara Nemko is the sole candidate.

County Superior Court Judge Seat 1. Incumbent Joseph Solga is the sole candidate.

County Superior Court Judge Seat 2. Incumbent Mark Boessenecker is the sole candidate.

Also on the ballot are the 4th District Congressional seat and 4th District state Assembly seat, which extend across multiple counties. The California Secretary of State is to release the official candidates' lists on March 31.

You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.

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Blockbusting. A technique used to encourage people to sell their property by giving the impression that a neighborhood is changing for the worse, causing property values to decline. The property is later resold at inflated prices. (Definition 2, American Heritage Dictionary)

Blockbusting has not been a major force in California life since the early 1980s, when civil rights laws took hold strongly. Those laws prevented brokers from trying to scare white homeowners into selling quickly and at a loss just because a family of another race moves into a residential neighborhood, the prime definition of blockbusting.

Now a new era of blockbusting may be upon us, thanks to the landmark housing density laws passed last year, known as SB 9 and SB 10. SB 9 does away with almost all single family, or R-1, zoning by allowing all but a few residential lots to be split down the middle, with two new apartments or condominiums and an "additional dwelling unit" (grandma-style one-room structure) on each half.

So SB 9 essentially allows six housing units on virtually all lots where there now is only one, everywhere in California. Cities and counties cannot stop this. SB 10, aiming to radically densify housing near light rail transit stops or major bus routes, allows high-rise development on any lot within half a mile of those transportation features.

Neither bill requires developers to provide new parking, new water supplies, new school buildings, new parks, traffic mitigation or any other community amenity in exchange for the right to build.

Developers merely need to get control of properties they want to remake.

This is an open invitation to blockbusting, as described in Definition 2. If it happens, it will eventually lower property values in current R-1 areas at least temporarily and raise them in places where the current occupants move.

Much of this could have been prevented if a proposed initiative to take land-use decisions away from state government and give them permanently and completely to local city and county elected officials had reached this falls ballot and passed.

But in late February, sponsors of that putative measure, known as Our Neighborhood Voices, announced theyve given up on qualifying the measure for a vote this fall and will aim instead for 2024.

We are not stopping, we are not slowing down, we are not ever going to give up until we have restored a neighborhood voice in community planning, went the plaintive declaration of Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, a sponsor of the proposed measure.

Translation: The group saw it had neither the money nor personnel to gather enough signatures in time to qualify the measure this year. This may be because sponsors failed to raise enough cash to pay the army of petition carriers needed to get the 1 million-plus signatures now required. The number will be different, likely lower, for 2024.

It all opens the door to three years of unmitigated, virtually unregulated development, and very likely a form of blockbusting much like that described in Definition 2 above.

Heres how that blockbusting might work:

Lets say you own a suburban three-bedroom. two-bath house. A developer offers you $1.5 million for your home, as is (such offers have lately been common). You refuse. But your next-door neighbor to the east accepts the offer and quickly moves somewhere cheaper.

Next, developers buy the homes to your west and across the street. Now youre surrounded, knowing you face a year or more of demolition and construction dust and noise from all sides, newly crowded streets and no possible return to the lifestyle in which you invested much of your life savings.

So you accept an offer lower than what was originally proffered. Now there will be 24 housing units where previously there were four, and original property values have dropped.

But when you try to buy in a new location, you find prices there have risen because of an influx of folks just like you.

Its classic blockbusting, even if its not racially based, as blockbusting traditionally was. And it may soon become ubiquitous.

Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It. Readers may reach him at tdelias@aol.com.
Highland Elementary School hosted a visit for fifth-grade students on Wednesday, Mar. 9 from CEDAR, Inc., wherein students participated in being filmed for an upcoming documentary called King Coal that chronicles the impact of the coal industrys decline in Appalachia, and how that decline has led to the refocusing of efforts, such as those of CEDAR, into developing young students into open-minded entrepreneurs who can help build the future of Eastern Kentucky.
European governments have approached the U.S. government and defense contractors with a shopping list of arms including drones, missiles, and missile defenses as the Russian invasion of Ukraine drives renewed demand for U.S. weaponry, Reuters reported.

Germany, which is nearing a deal for 35 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 jet fighters, has inquired about systems to defend against ballistic missiles, sources familiar with the situation said.

Meanwhile, Poland urgently wants to purchase sophisticated Reaper drone systems from the United States, a Polish government official said this week.

Requests are also coming in from other countries in Eastern Europe, where allies are keen to acquire weaponry that Ukraine has successfully used against Russia forces, two people familiar with the demand said, including anti-aircraft Stinger missiles and anti-tank Javelin missiles.

European allies are "doubling down" on their defense spending, Mara Karlin, a Pentagon assistant secretary of defense, said last week after a congressional hearing where she spoke of "Russian aggression that threatens the territorial integrity of Europe."

"The Department of Defense is exploring options to support Ukraine's needs, rapidly replenish U.S. inventories and backfill depleted stocks of allies and partners," a senior Defense official said, adding that the Pentagon was working with contractors on ways to "mitigate supply chain constraints (and) accelerate production timelines."

Raytheon Technologies (RTX.N) and Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) jointly produce Javelins, while Raytheon makes Stingers. The potential for a surge in sales of all types of weaponry since the invasion began Feb. 24 has lifted Lockheed stock 8.3% and Raytheon shares 3.9%.

Raytheon executive Tom Laliberty said the company recognizes "the urgent need to replenish depleted inventories of Javelin and Stinger."

The head of Dassault Aviation (AM.PA) earlier this month lambasted the German decision to order the F-35, saying it could weaken support for collaborative projects like the Franco-German FCAS fighter shared by Dassault and Airbus.

Germany is also examining U.S.-made missile defense systems like Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD), although that is not a frontrunner for purchase, a source said. An opposition politician, for example, has asked about the purchase of the short-range rocket interceptor called Iron Dome to protect Berlin.

Typically, U.S. defense deals take years of negotiations, approvals, and vetting after countries have spent up to several years deciding on their needs.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-russian-invasion-spurs-european-demand-us-drones-missiles-2022-03-17/
Denmark, Finland support European Commission proposal on Russian oil sanctions

Bulgaria to seek exemption from EU proposed Russian oil embargo

Biden says he is ready for additional sanctions against Russia

Switzerland braces for serious power shortage

Uruguay freezes ambassador appointment to Ankara after Cavusoglu's gesture

Czech Republic to seek exemption from proposed EU embargo on Russian oil imports

Charles Michel on the likelihood of Moldova's EU membership

Resistance Movement actions to resume tomorrow early morning

Elon Musk is invited to UK Parliament for buying Twitter

Disobedience march reaches France Square, rally starts

US crude oil shipments to Europe hit highest level in April

NEWS.am digest: Large-scale protests being held in Armenia to demand PMs resignation

Armenia Defense Minister meets with Georgian PM

UK bans imposes sanctions on 63 individuals and organizations in Russia

EU plan to completely ban Russian crude oil threatens Hungary's energy security

EU interested in expanding energy cooperation with Azerbaijan

Germany: Gradual EU ban on Russian oil imports could lead to 'supply disruptions'

Opposition demonstration reaches government residences

Aliyev insists so-called Zangezur corridor 'is already a reality'

Slovakia seeks exemption from EU oil embargo for three years

Defense Ministers of Armenia and Georgia sign cooperation program for 2022

Romanian President approves entry of Stryker Brigade and US fighter squadron into country

Dollar goes up, euro also rises in Armenia

EU studying possibility of providing military assistance to Moldova

Public demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation

Opposition supporters move toward Armenian parliament building

EU envoys can not agree on Russian oil

Armenia Security Council chief briefs Georgia PM on Karabakh conflict settlement process

Armenia deputy police chief says law enforcement has right detain MPs

Large-scale opposition rally starts in central Yerevan

Many teenagers in New Zealand are illiterate

AFP: EU proposes to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill

Arestovich says Israel could supply Ukraine with weapons Azerbaijan used in Karabakh war

Parliament speaker threatens Armenian opposition, clergy

Armenia opposition MP: Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will not hold office in new government

Beijing closes over 60 subway stations due to COVID-19 outbreak

Bayramov, Roquefeuil discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process

Armenia FM meets with US National Democratic Institute president

Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition will not achieve its goal

Armenia 2nd president Robert Kocharyans son blocking road with citizens in Yerevan

Oklahoma bans almost all abortions

Number of children in Japan falls to record low

Karabakh President meets with of Free Homeland-UCA parliamentary faction members

Armenian judge waves Artsakh flag at Ironman Triathlon (PHOTOS)

There is still lot to do in 'October 27' case, says Armenia Prosecutor General

Ambassador Wiktorin to finance minister: EU ready to continue providing assistance to Armenia government

Armenia Prosecutor General admits there are difficulties in investigation of 'March 1' criminal case

Copper price is stable

3 COVID-19 new cases confirmed in Armenia

American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington

Japan protests against North Korean missile

Gold is getting cheaper

U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement

Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation

Armenia parliament regular sittings continue

Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links

Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan

Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone

Microsoft urges to abandon Internet Explorer

Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing

EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million

Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation

Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia

German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals

Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square

Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march

Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions

Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO

Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO

Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports

NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan

Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna

Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance

Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now

Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros

Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan

EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak

Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions

Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation
YEREVAN.  Zhoghovurd newspaper of Armenia writes: The ruling [majority] "Civil Contract" [(CC)] Faction will soon (maybe today) convene a [parliament] session, which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will personally attend.

According to Zhoghovurd dailys information, the authorities, led by the prime minister, will discuss the agenda of the parliamentary four-day [sitting] starting next week, and clarify what position should they adopt on which initiative.

"We expect that Pashinyan will speak also about the 5 points presented by Azerbaijan, as they have raised questions not only in the society, but also within the faction itself. The MPs want to know first hand how Pashinyan interprets those proposals," our interlocutor said.

We were informed also that the CC MPs tend also to convene a closed session with the participation of the minister of foreign affairs.

"Since the majority of the MPs within the faction do not know much, are unaware, and learn the information solely from the press, therefore they want to find out, at least in the format of closed meetings, what awaits them and all of us, in general," our source close to the CC added.
The foreign ministers of France and Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov and Jean-Yves Le Drian, discussed the efforts to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry reported.

"During the conversation, the parties discussed the situation in the region, including the process of implementation of the trilateral statements. The ministers reflected on the five basic principles presented by Azerbaijan (on signing a peace agreement with Armenia). The French minister expressed Paris' support for the efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia," the respective statement said.
The US State Department has approved a potential $700 million sale of a missile defense system to the United Kingdom, Reuters reports.

The approval came amid a surge in requests from European countries to purchase more US-made weapons amid the Ukrainian crisis.

The British government, which likely began negotiating a deal long before the crisis escalated, wants to buy a missile defense radar and two command and control systems from Lockheed Martin Corp.

The State Department noted that the sale would support US foreign policy goals by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The Azerbaijani authorities will hold a meeting dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the partnership with the UN. And this meeting will be held in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The meeting will be held Friday, APA reported

The meeting participants have already arrived by plane at the airport of Karabakh-Fuzuli International Airport.

The participants landed at the airport on a plane called "Khankendi"what Azerbaijanis call Artsakhs capital Stepanakert.

The main purpose of the Shusha [(Shushi)] meeting is to a favorable platform to review the path of the Azerbaijan-UN partnership towards the Sustainable Development Goals, to discuss Azerbaijan's new priorities and opportunities in the realities of post-pandemic and post-conflict.

The delegation includes high-ranking state and government officials of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the UN Resident Coordinator in the country, heads of UN agencies in Azerbaijan, APA added.

Thus, the UN representatives directly encourage Azerbaijan's occupation policy.
YEREVAN.  The State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia informs that the Russian President has adopted a decision to apply a special economic measure in accordance with the Russian Law on Special Economic Measures and Compulsory Measures.

According to this decision, the export of cash in foreign currency and/or financial tools denominated in foreign currency in excess of US$10,000 is prohibited from Russia, the SRC informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The ban applies also to the export of cash from Russia to the other EEU member countriesincluding Armenia.

The ban applies to all legal entities and individuals.
Russians in Turkey are struggling to make deposits and transfers at banks that are taking a cautious and skeptical approach for fear of violating Western sanctions on Moscow, Reuters reported, citing sources.

Private lenders are particularly resistant to some customer requests and put them through additional levels of compliance to make sure they comply with international and domestic laws, four bankers and two Turkish officials told Reuters.

All of this is frustrating for some Russians who have come to Turkey since the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, many of them carrying wads of cash.

At least six Russians in Istanbul said they were having difficulty doing basic banking, in part because Visa and Mastercard had suspended operations as part of US sanctions.

Looking for workarounds to pay for things like accommodation, many Russians are trying to open accounts and deposit funds in local banks, given that Turkey has good ties to Moscow and opposes sanctions.

Private banks are especially wary of new Russian deposits and are afraid of sanctions, said a senior Turkish banker who asked not to be named, adding that the industry standard for know your customer identity verification is critical. The problem is not to open an account, but how the money will come in and what will happen if some sanctions are introduced. Banks are very careful with new accounts.

The banking regulator said that the authorities and financial institutions are closely monitoring the sanctions against Russia. But our organization does not have any instructions for restricting citizens of any country that is not subject to sanctions, the regulator said in a statement.
The opposition "Armenia" and "With Honor" Factions had applied to the National Assembly (NA) leadership with a proposal to convene a special sitting of the interparliamentary committee of the parliaments of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)which is being delayed. "Armenia" Faction Gegham Manukyan MP told about this to reporters in the NA Friday, reminding that the aforesaid committee that was set up in October 2021 has not convened a full meeting yet.

And reflecting on their recent visit to Artsakh, Manukyan noted as follows, in particular: "It was an electrified atmospheretaking into account both the controversial statements of Armenias Foreign Minister [Ararat Mirzoyan] and the statements of Eduard Aghajanyan, Chair of the NA [Standing] Committee on Foreign Relations, which are dangerous, go beyond all logic. Naturally, this cannot but have an effect on our compatriots in Artsakh."

Manukyan noted that several years ago, Former president of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov had stated that the Popular Front of Azerbaijan had organized the tragic events in Khojaly, and the Armenian side has been using this as an argument to this day.

"Now the Azerbaijani side will use the statements of Eduard Aghajanyan and Ararat Mirzoyan," the opposition MP added.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that supply shortfalls due to the war in Ukraine will be severe and could lead to further conflicts in already vulnerable countries, Reuters reported.

She highlighted the need for Germany to maintain contacts with authoritarian regimes, even if they do not share its values, and not to remain silent on issues related to economic or energy interests.

The foreign minister also highlighted the need for an inclusive approach to national security, including international partners, saying that security policy is more than just the military plus diplomacy."

The EU is currently formulating for the first time an extensive security policy strategy which she says was initiated by Germany. This war shows once more, that the security of Europe depends on NATOs collective defence, she said, arguing that Germanys security should be complementary with EU and NATO security policies.

Our military exercises need to reflect new realities and we need to factor in that the eastern flank of the alliance is under a new threat, so we need more NATO presence in southeastern European countries, she said. Germany will make a substantial contribution to that in Slovakia.

However, she reiterated Germany's goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

The diplomat called for a new security strategy focused on the future, including a focus on cybersecurity. We are seeing that cyber attacks are an integral part of modern warfare, she said.

She also announced that Berlin would develop a new strategy toward China along with a new security strategy, citing instability in countries where Beijing has invested in infrastructure, such as Africa.
Denmark, Finland support European Commission proposal on Russian oil sanctions

Bulgaria to seek exemption from EU proposed Russian oil embargo

Biden says he is ready for additional sanctions against Russia

Switzerland braces for serious power shortage

Uruguay freezes ambassador appointment to Ankara after Cavusoglu's gesture

Czech Republic to seek exemption from proposed EU embargo on Russian oil imports

Charles Michel on the likelihood of Moldova's EU membership

Resistance Movement actions to resume tomorrow early morning

Elon Musk is invited to UK Parliament for buying Twitter

Disobedience march reaches France Square, rally starts

US crude oil shipments to Europe hit highest level in April

NEWS.am digest: Large-scale protests being held in Armenia to demand PMs resignation

Armenia Defense Minister meets with Georgian PM

UK bans imposes sanctions on 63 individuals and organizations in Russia

EU plan to completely ban Russian crude oil threatens Hungary's energy security

EU interested in expanding energy cooperation with Azerbaijan

Germany: Gradual EU ban on Russian oil imports could lead to 'supply disruptions'

Opposition demonstration reaches government residences

Aliyev insists so-called Zangezur corridor 'is already a reality'

Slovakia seeks exemption from EU oil embargo for three years

Defense Ministers of Armenia and Georgia sign cooperation program for 2022

Romanian President approves entry of Stryker Brigade and US fighter squadron into country

Dollar goes up, euro also rises in Armenia

EU studying possibility of providing military assistance to Moldova

Public demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation

Opposition supporters move toward Armenian parliament building

EU envoys can not agree on Russian oil

Armenia Security Council chief briefs Georgia PM on Karabakh conflict settlement process

Armenia deputy police chief says law enforcement has right detain MPs

Large-scale opposition rally starts in central Yerevan

Many teenagers in New Zealand are illiterate

AFP: EU proposes to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill

Arestovich says Israel could supply Ukraine with weapons Azerbaijan used in Karabakh war

Parliament speaker threatens Armenian opposition, clergy

Armenia opposition MP: Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will not hold office in new government

Beijing closes over 60 subway stations due to COVID-19 outbreak

Bayramov, Roquefeuil discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process

Armenia FM meets with US National Democratic Institute president

Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition will not achieve its goal

Armenia 2nd president Robert Kocharyans son blocking road with citizens in Yerevan

Oklahoma bans almost all abortions

Number of children in Japan falls to record low

Karabakh President meets with of Free Homeland-UCA parliamentary faction members

Armenian judge waves Artsakh flag at Ironman Triathlon (PHOTOS)

There is still lot to do in 'October 27' case, says Armenia Prosecutor General

Ambassador Wiktorin to finance minister: EU ready to continue providing assistance to Armenia government

Armenia Prosecutor General admits there are difficulties in investigation of 'March 1' criminal case

Copper price is stable

3 COVID-19 new cases confirmed in Armenia

American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington

Japan protests against North Korean missile

Gold is getting cheaper

U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement

Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation

Armenia parliament regular sittings continue

Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links

Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan

Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone

Microsoft urges to abandon Internet Explorer

Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing

EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million

Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation

Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia

German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals

Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square

Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march

Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions

Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO

Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO

Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports

NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan

Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna

Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance

Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now

Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros

Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan

EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak

Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions

Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation

Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine

Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation

Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway

Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square

Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna

Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia

Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked

Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh

New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding

Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation

France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group

Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries

Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition

Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS)

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality

Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation

Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened

Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue

Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process
The Azerbaijani authorities are holding an event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of their partnership with the UN. And this event is being held in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Vladanka Andreeva, is also attending the event.

Azerbaijani media have quoted an excerpt from her address at this event.

Let's put aside the assertion that "Azerbaijan was a country that came out of the [Karabakh] conflict with hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons." With that, the UN representative showed her incompetence. She either assumes that the Karabakh conflict is over or deliberately distorts the facts.

The attendance of the UN representative in this event being held in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi legitimizes this occupation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenian is still silent and not responding in any way to either this event being held in Shushi or the participation of the UN representative in this event.

It should be reminded that earlier, they had demanded the expulsion from Baku of the then-newly appointed UNDP Resident Representative in Azerbaijan, Ekaterina Paniklova, because of her contacts with Armenians.
A forum titled Waste Management in Armenia: Challenges and Opportunities was held Thursday in Yerevan with support from the British Embassy Yerevan and in partnership with the Armenian-British Business Chamber (ABBC). UK Ambassador to Armenia John Gallagher, Deputy Minister of Environment of Armenia Anna Mazmanyan, Executive Director of ABBC Diana Gaziyan and others made opening speeches at the event.

The forum sought to address the issue of sustainability of waste management in Armenia and provided a high-level discussion and information sharing platform for policy makers, researchers and the private sector. It provided an overview of the economic, governance and policy context for waste management in Armenia and shared practical advice and knowledge from local industry specialists on key opportunities.

It also enabled participants to learn how the UK delivery and regulatory expertise can help Armenia minimize and manage waste effectively, promote resource efficiency and move towards a circular economy. The UK has a wide-ranging expertise encompassing everything from research into innovation, through to the manufacturing and deployment of waste management technologies, as well as the policy and regulatory expertise to support these.

The forum attracted over 50 participants from across the Armenian government, civil society, academic community, businesses, and the international institutions, playing an active role in waste management and climate change initiatives.

In his welcoming speech, UK Ambassador to Armenia John Gallagher said:

A more sustainable future for Armenia depends on reconciling the need for economic growth with an ambition to reduce carbon emissions and to protect the environment. Increasing volumes of waste have become a serious environmental, economic and health challenge. Yet the opportunity to generate socio-economic and environmental value through sustainable waste management is largely untapped. A more effective waste management system can achieve significant public expenditure savings, which could be reinvested in infrastructure, health and education. The UK is committed to help Armenia develop integrated waste management initiatives, regulations to manage the allocation or re-allocation of resources and to support investment in advanced sorting equipment and collection infrastructure.

Diana Gaziyan, Executive Director of the Armenian-British Business Chamber, mentioned:

The issue of sustainable waste management in Armenia acquired specific significance in the light of Armenia signing Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU in 2017, committing itself to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility system by 2023. This forum aims to discuss the waste management situation in the country, challenges and opportunities, and how the best UK waste management practices can be implemented in Armenia.
Roskomnadzor demands that YouTube stop spreading threats against citizens of Russian.

Earlier it was reported that users of the video hosting site YouTube were broadcast commercials with calls to disable the railway communications of Russia and Belarus. "The actions of YouTube administration are of terrorist nature and threaten the life and health of Russian citizens. The dissemination of such appeals clearly demonstrates the anti-Russian position of Google LLC.

Roskomnadzor is categorically against such ad campaigns and demands Google LLC to stop broadcasting anti-Russian videos as soon as possible," the agency said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

It is noted that in recent weeks, US IT companies, in particular, Meta Platforms Inc. and Google LLC, have taken a clear anti-Russian position. A targeted campaign to discredit the Russian Armed Forces, the media, public figures and the state in general has been launched on the Internet resources owned by those companies.

Roskomnadzor has repeatedly noted that US social networks and the video hosting site YouTube have become a platform for information attacks on Russia. "Administrations of Internet resources chose the path of confrontation, actively participating in the dissemination of hate speech against citizens of Russia. Such actions of Meta Platforms Inc. and Google LLC not only violate Russian legislation, but also contradict generally accepted norms of morality.
The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday released a statement on the holding of an event in Shushi cityand dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's membership in the UN. The statement reads as follows:

Official Baku, in line with its style, continues to wage a destructive policy aimed at legitimizing the results of its aggression against Artsakh, trying to involve and exploit the international community and various structures in that process. The organization in Artsakhs occupied town of Shoushi of a solemn ceremony dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's membership to the United Nations and the participation of representatives of the UN and its structures in this event is another manifestation of this policy.

The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns the holding of such an event in Shoushi.

The participation of the UN representatives in the event organized in the town, which has been one of the main targets of Azerbaijan's aggression and Armenophobia, contradicts the principles of activities, ideology and mission of this influential international organization, and will be undoubtedly used by Azerbaijan to legitimize its inhumane and aggressive policy. This is also a serious blow to the reputation of the UN, which will have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the organizations activities.
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania expelled a total of ten Russian diplomats, the foreign ministries of the three Baltic states informed, Reuters reported.

Lithuania expelled four diplomats, while Latvia and Estonia expelled three each.

The diplomats were expelled in a coordinated manner " in connection with activities that are contrary to their diplomatic status and taking into account ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted.

Estonias foreign ministry said it had expelled diplomats because they directly and actively undermined Estonias security and spread propaganda justifying Russias military action, its foreign ministry said in a statement.

Lithuania said its expulsion was "in solidarity with Ukraine."
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of top news as of 18.03.22:

The suffering in Ukraines cities shows no sign of ending.

Between 24 February and 15 March, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 1,900 civilian casualties  with 726 people killed, including 52 children  mostly caused by explosive weapons in populated areas.

Meanwhile, 12 Armenians in Ukraine have been reportedly killed during the Ukrainian war.

The last such case has been recorded earlier on Friday as Armenian volunteer worker Artyom Ayvazyan, 26, from Pavlohrad, Ukraine, has died in Kharkiv.

Meanwhile, the international community continues punishing Russia.

Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have expelled a total of 10 Russian diplomats, the foreign ministries of the three Baltic countries have said.

While Russian and Belarusian diplomats are banned from entering the EU buildings in Brussels and Strasbourg, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, tweeted.

However, Iran, in turn, noted that they are ready to support Russia during crisis.

Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oudji at a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted that Iran is ready to support Russia and develop cooperation in a more intensive mode.

Russia was next to us when we came under sanctions, so today we consider it our duty to be next to Russia in these difficult conditions and provide assistance, he assured.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the US deployed more than 300 bio-laboratories around the world, many of them located in former Soviet republics.

According to him, Ukraine is probably the biggest project from the Pentagon's point of view, which disposes of the activities of these laboratories.

Lavrov said Moscow will insist that the issue be taken up within the BWC as well as within the UN Security Council because it poses a clear threat to international peace and security.

Several current and former European politicians addressed the Norwegian Nobel Committee with a request to nominate Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, and for this reason extend the nomination procedure until March 31, Asian News International reported.

The politicians also called on the committee to reopen and reconsider the 2022 nomination procedure for the Nobel Peace Prize," according to the statement.

This year's Nobel Prize announcements will take place from October 3 to 10.

As many as 251 individuals and 92 organizations applied for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.

- When President Joe Biden speaks Friday with China's Xi Jinping, it won't be just another phone call in an ongoing flurry of telephone diplomacy.

According to the international community, this call comes at a potential turning point for ties between the US and China.

White House officials said they expected the call could turn intense; a preliminary meeting between the two leaders' aides stretched for seven hours earlier this week. And Biden upped the stakes when he alluded to his call a day beforehand, declaring his Chinese counterpart "does not believe democracies can be sustained in the 21st century."

Earlier, Blinken said China bears responsibility for using its influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Hundreds of flights have been canceled in Istanbul due to snowfall, Sabah reports.

Turkish carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) has canceled 100 flights scheduled for Saturday.

Snowfall is not expected to be as heavy as last week or January, but authorities have already taken precautions. The Governorate of Istanbul announced that all public and private schools would be closed due to snowfall on Friday.

The mayor of the city, Ekrem Imamoglu, advised city residents to refrain from driving on Friday and instead use public transport to prevent traffic from getting worse due to snow.

French President Emmanuel Macron has revealed his proposals to boost the national economy if he wins a second term at next months elections.

The French President held his major campaign event on Thursday to detail his vision for the next five years.

Macron also pledged to fight inequality and improve Frances reactions to global crises amid the war in Ukraine.

He vowed to push ahead with a controversial pension reform that would progressively raise the retirement age from 62 to 65 years. Under the new policy, French citizens who start working at a young age would still be able to retire before 65.

Macron also promised to keep investing in the French military and fight inequalities at school and healthcare access.

The Azerbaijani authorities held an event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of their partnership with the UN. And this event is being held in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Vladanka Andreeva, is also attending the event.

The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) MFA on Friday released a statement strongly condemning the holding of such an event in Shushi.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is still silent and not responding in any way to this event.

Due to the war in Ukraine, the International Monetary Fund has revised its forecast for Armenia's economic growth rate for 2022, setting it at 1.5%.

The external position strengthened, especially in 2021, as the current account deficit narrowed during the pandemic, remittances remained high, and international reserves replenished. The banking system remained liquid with adequate capital, and asset quality improved.

The IMF has also reached an agreement with the Armenian authorities on the completion of the final review of the economic program of Armenia, implemented with the support of the "Reserve Program".

It may provide $36 million to Armenia.

For over 1,5 week for now there is no natural gas supplies in Karabakh after the accident happened on March 8. Since then Azerbaijan did not let Armenians visit the scene and start repair works. Although Azerbaijanis should have started the repair works, the pipeline has not been repaired as of Thursday noon and the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been without gas supplies for a week.

The gas resumption work in Artsakh has not yet been completed because of the difficult terrain and weather conditions.

The Artsakh government apologizes to all the citizens for the difficulties encountered and assures that the gas supply will be restored as soon as possible," the statement reads.

Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan met with NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana.

Mirzoyan also spoke about the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan's ceasefire violations, and the facts of psychological pressure on civilians.

The FM expressed satisfaction with the political dialogue between Armenia and NATO.

The sides touched upon the participation of Armenian peacekeeping units in the international peacekeeping missions and Armenia's contribution to the strengthening of international security and stability.

According to the 2022 World Happiness Report, Armenia is ranked 82nd among the happiest countries; last year it was ranked 86th.

Its neighbors Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey are ranked 105th, 92nd and 112th, respectively.

Finland ranks first for the fifth year in a row.

The 2022 World Happiness Report covered 150 countries.

French film star Alain Delon says he does not want to become an infirm old man and suffer from disease. The actor wants to end his life by euthanasia.

Delon has asked his son Anthony to help him die, saying he wants to leave this life with euthanasia.

"Getting old sucks! And we cant do anything about it. We lose face and vision, get back on our feet and feel like a fucking ankle hurts. The torment is terrible," the actor was quoted by the French publication Le Point.
European Union is working with Turkey, China and Gulf countries so that they would support sanctions against Russia and would not contribute to bypassing these restrictive measures, Peter Stano, official representative of the European Commission told reporters, RIA Novosti reported.

He commented on how effective the EU sanctions are when many other states, in particular Turkey and China, do not support them.

"Countries that are EU partners play an important role in exerting pressure where they have such an opportunity, Stano said at a briefing in Brussels.

He said the EU welcomed Turkey's role in taking on the role of mediator by organizing a meeting of Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers. Turkey plays its role in this as a partner and as a member of NATO, the European representative explained.

Stano added that the EU was working with other mentioned countries, in particular, with the states of the Persian Gulf.
The United Nations has no information about the US bioweapons program in Ukraine and the world organization has neither the mandate nor the capability to verify Russian information about such programs, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said on Friday.

"The UN is not aware of such military programs. I would also like to note that the UN currently has no mandate or operational or technical capacity to investigate this information," she told the UN Security Council.

The Russian Defense Ministry had earlier made a presentation that revealed that the US had spent more than $200 million to fund biological laboratories in Ukraine that were involved in the US military-biological program and dealt with plague and anthrax pathogens, among other things. A network of more than 30 biological laboratories had been set up in Ukraine in the interests of the Pentagon, the Russian military said.
His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of Sharjah Heritage Days, revealed that 102,000 eager visitors had participated in the events and activities of the first week of this years Sharjah Heritage Days (SHD) in heart of Sharjah and Central and Eastern Regions.

The event, which takes place in the heart of Sharjah at the Heritage area, received visitors from all corners of the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE, as well as international visitors from across the globe.

His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam expresses his appreciation and recognition of those who made the event possible, and welcomes all guests and visitors, "We are very happy to receive such a large number of visitors to the heritage pavilions, to immerse themselves in Emirati, Arab, and international cultural and popular heritage. We have had tremendous success one week into this years edition of the event, and continue to anticipate growing success of this festival.

We have a renewed bouquet of events that provide an opportunity for attendees to enjoy the beautiful and inviting atmosphere of Sharjah at the event sites, and also to open up an intercultural dialogue between different heritages. Visitors of all ages can reflect on their own heritage, and appreciate the culture that was passed down generation to generation to define who they are today. We have created an avenue for all in great admiration and celebration of each countrys distinctive cultural values, and an outlet to honour past traditions of our ancestors. We hope to continue this legacy moving forward, to inspire visitors to look back into their pasts to pave way for a universal brighter future, he noted.

His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam notes that Thursday was marked by the presence of large numbers of young visitors to the Heritage Square, who enjoyed the Haq Al Laila or Night of the Half of Shaban event, organised by SHD during the evening hours. The event included distribution of sweets and gifts to children, in order to establish, revive, and draw awareness to this traditional custom.

The annual Sharjah Heritage Days Festival kicked off in the United Arab Emirates on March 10, with Armenia participating.

Armenia has 12 pavilions with manifestations of the Armenian cultural heritage, from the history of Armenian culture to the living heritage of the modern period.

The Armenian delegation sent to the United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) to participate in the 19th Sharjah Heritage Days event with the support of the Armenian government.

The festival will last until March 28.
Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands were held on Friday under the co-chairmanship of Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan and Director General for Political Affairs of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thijs van der Plas, the press service of the Dutch Foreign Ministry informed NEWS.am.

Highlighting the high level of political dialogue between Armenia and the Netherlands at various levels, the sides also discussed a number of issues of the Armenian-Dutch bilateral agenda. In relation to the trade-economic cooperation the sides noted the positive dynamics observed during the recent years.

The sides also touched upon a wide range of events to be organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands.

They discussed the Armenia-EU partnership agenda, exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues of mutual interest and discussed cooperation and mutual support within the framework of international organizations.

The sides also discussed the current situation over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context, the sides stressed the importance to fully resume the process of the peaceful settlement of the conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. The Armenian side expressed gratitude for the support and principled stance of the Parliament of the Netherlands during the Azerbaijani aggression unleashed against Karabakh.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian had a telephone conversation on Friday, the Foreign Ministry's press service informed NEWS.am.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Jean-Yves Le Drian exchanged views on the agenda for Armenian-French cooperation. The sides particularly touched upon the implementation of the road map for Armenian-French economic cooperation.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs also discussed a number of regional and international security issues. Ararat Mirzoyan presented his French counterpart the situation on the border, Azerbaijan's provocations in Nagorno-Karabakh, ceasefire violations, attacks on civilians and psychological pressure.

The sides discussed issues related to the launch of negotiations between Yerevan and Baku on the UN Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Helsinki Final Act. In that regard, the sides highlighted the importance of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.
Presidents of Russia and France Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron in a phone conversation discussed the progress of negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, the Kremlin's press service reported.

"Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron discussed the state of negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. In this context, the principal approaches of the Russian side to the elaboration of possible agreements were outlined," the report said.

The Russian president noted that during the war in Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces are doing everything possible to save the lives of civilians, including organizing humanitarian corridors for their safe evacuation.

"At the same time, attention is drawn to the numerous war crimes committed daily by Ukrainian security forces and nationalists, in particular the massive rocket and artillery attacks on towns in Donbas," the Kremlin added.

It is noted that the leaders agreed to stay in touch.

According to BFMTV, citing the Elysee Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed extreme concern about the situation in Mariupol.The French leader again demanded an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

According to the TV channel, the conversation lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Speak What Must Be Spoken, an Emory Libraries traveling exhibit about Black art and activism, inspired a compelling Black Lives Matter street mural unveiled this month at Atlantas Drew Charter School.

The Emory exhibit has been on display at Drew Charter since January 2020, serving as a catalyst for reflection and creativity, from the opening night event two years ago to the March 5 unveiling of the mural, which was designed and produced by Drew students, faculty, staff and local community members.

Members of the Emory Libraries Campus & Community Relations and Rose Library teams were on hand for the festive unveiling ceremony, which was attended by several city and county commissioners, state representatives and Board of Education members and featured performances by the schools dance, harp, band and chorus groups.

Clint Fluker, Emorys Rose Library curator of African American Collections, represented Emory Libraries with remarks about the origins of the Speak What Must be Spoken traveling exhibit. Self-guided tours of the exhibit were offered throughout the event.

The exhibit was curated by the late Pellom McDaniels III, former curator of Rose Librarys African American Collections, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2020, only three months after the opening of the exhibit at Drew. Barbara Coble, then with Emorys Center for Civic and Community Engagement, initiated the connection with Drew, and created curricular material to be used with the exhibit.

The spark for this school-based initiative came from Emory Libraries Still Raising Hell: The Art, Activism, and Archives of Camille Billops and James V. Hatch. Held in Woodruff Librarys Schatten Gallery during the 2016-2017 academic year, that major exhibition showcased the collection of Billops and Hatch, a New York couple who spent more than 40 years creating and collecting African American art and art history and documenting the work of other writers, dancers and artists.

During its run, the exhibition asked viewers to consider how art in all its various forms, and particularly Black art, could effect change. Brainstorming about how to extend the librarys K-12 outreach, organizers created Speak What Must Be Spoken, a traveling exhibit that pulled materials from Billops-Hatch and other collections and posed that question to students.

Drew Charter School hosted the second iteration of the exhibit, which was first hosted by Martin Luther King Junior Middle School.

The Emory Libraries Campus & Community Relations and Rose Library teams plan to take the exhibit to another school in the fall.
Beyond the untold suffering and human tragedy caused, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted one of President Vladimir Putin worst nightmaresa unified Europe rallying around the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliances, according to Joaquin Roy, Jean Monnet Chair and director of the University of Miamis European Union Center.

What Putin hates is Europe, the EU nations, getting together to become the collective front of European defense, said Roy, but that is whats happened.

Roy identified three shields whose origins surfaced in the aftermath of WWIIthe EU, NATO, and the Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Plan.

These three shields that Europe built with the United States have been a constant message to the Soviet Union back then and to its successors, and they have been the three winners, or beneficiaries, of the Russian invasion, Roy said.

The Marshall Plan is back. We are all going to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraineand Putin has unified and accomplished what no one else could, he added.

Roy referenced Hungary and Poland as examples of a more unified EU. Both nations had been problematic recently, questioning the economic unions strength and even the fundamentals of European integration. With the invasion, the Hungarian president has turned silent, and Poland is heading the rescue effort to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, he pointed out.

He also highlighted the catalyst for forming the EU. In the aftermath of WWII and the rise of Hitlers Germany, French diplomat Jean Monnet, U.S. President Harry Truman, and other political leaders recognized that the state itself was capable of being the bad guy.

The nation stateitself a truly European inventionhad gone berserk, so they determined that what needed to be done was to reduce or limit the power of the state, he explained.

And to that end they created a collective entity to reconstruct Europe which was initially the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), created in 1951 and which launched a process of integration that evolved to become the more expansive European Union.

So that first EU [the ECSC] is still here and those of us who study the union always point to the fact that members rarely seek to get out, said Roy, adding that Brexit can be considered an exception, derived from the fractious membership of the UK in the EU.

Pablo Rueda-Saiz, an associate professor in the School of Law, highlighted that the invasion has shifted the focus and direction of the EU.

Instead of contesting U.S. influence, which is something they wanted to do, now they want to call on more military presence in the EU because they realize that is the most effective way to deter Putin and Russia, Rueda-Saiz said.

Also, EU members realize that the U.S. on its own has multiple deterrent mechanisms and that they are the first ones that would be affected by any future measures taken by Putin, Rueda-Saiz said. Theyre also feeling pressure on the part of the Scandinavian countries that might be more affected by what Putin might do in the near future.

Both experts recognized how Germany, along with France the two major players in the EU, has shifted its role in the alliances.

Until very recently Germanys leadership has been very careful, not wanting Germany to go back to the old times where it was perceived as being too strong militarily. But the current circumstances are forcing the new leaders to say: Hey, we did enough, we behaved enough, and now its time for us to be not only an economic leader of Europe, but one of the most important partners,  said Roy, noting that in most cases Germany and France are cooperating even more than before.

Germany in terms of energy, mining, and other investments has been very dependent on Russiait was a stance they believed they needed to follow, said Saiz. So, this situation has been very costly both for the country and for its role within the EU. But now theyve realized that its in their best interest to shift away from that dependency.

Bradford McGuinn, a senior lecturer in political science, is familiar with the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), one of 11 combatant command centers around the world. McGuinn highlighted the strong relationship between the U.S. military and European nations through NATO that he observed during visits to USEUCOM bases in Europe and the U.S. over a nearly 20-year period. McGuinn suggested that the recent conflict has strengthened those bonds.

NATO members understand one anothers history, their command structures, and military doctrines. They engage in joint exercises, simulations, and war games, he said. So much of the culture of USEUCOM was based on what was generally a shared threat assessment [of the Soviets], as well as many joint missions in recent years. As a consequence, you have generations of military leadersboth U.S. and their European partnerswho know one another very well.

In terms of NATO, Roy highlighted a sarcastic reference to three original priorities of the military-purposed alliance formed in 1949: Keep the Americans in Europe, keep Germany down, and keep the Soviets out.

The only exception to that has been that Germany is not down anymore, he said. The U.S. is solidly in, and Putin-Russia remains out.

Roy pointed to Article 5the heart of the treaty, which stipulates that an attack against one of the alliances members is an attack against all, as a major success in deterring Russias expansion in the past. This article of collective self-defense was invoked when the U.S. retaliated for the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers, and invaded Afghanistan. NATO participated in Iraq and in some battles in the former Yugoslavia based on this article, Roy said.

Rueda-Saiz, an international law expert, noted the many nuances and complications of interpreting the right to self-defense or collective self-defensewhether invoked through NATOs Article 5 or the U.N. Security Councils Article 2, which sets forth the charters sovereignty principles and governs the use of violence or armed conflict internationally.

In this regard, he cited the case of the former Yugoslavia where NATO acted even though the country was not a NATO member state.

The point could be made that NATO acting on behalf of Albanian and Kosovo minorities and that Albania was seeking membership, but the fact was Yugoslavia wasnt a member at the time, Rueda-Saiz maintained.

He highlighted that the question of preemptive self-defense, which was debated last year by the Security Council, can be a particularly gray area within international law.

Its a right that is not contingent on recognition, so in Ukraines case it could act in their favor or against them, Rueda-Saiz explained. The secessionist states supporting Russia, in eastern Ukraine can also claim the right to self-defense, that secession is no longer an affair internal of the Ukraine and they could claim they have a right to defend themselves against Ukraine, he added.

Regardless the military outcome in Ukraine, the timetable will be long and the costs for Russia will be massive, Rueda-Saiz noted.

Even if Russia wins, this is going to be a costly war, Rueda-Saiz said. You have guerrilla forces in Ukraine that will continue operating against an eventual military occupation. And if Russia decides to leave Ukraine, and the country is faced with the possibility of having to face secessionist forces in these two regions, Russia will need to try to protect those areas, he added.

Whatever the immediate or mid-level outcomes in the war or battles to come, this is going to last a very long time, one way or another, Rueda-Saiz concluded.
The U Creates continues a series focused on highlighting members of the University of Miamis creative community.

In this Spotlight feature, meet Camillo Tellez, a first-year graduate student studying to receive his doctorate in Musical Arts in Orchestra Conducting at the Frost School of Music. Tellez is currently a conducting fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, often referred to as LA Phil, one of the worlds most noteworthy orchestras. Tellez, who has had the opportunity to conduct in several countries around the world, explained how he wants to use his passion for music tospark social transformation.

What inspires you to conduct? What do you love most about it?

What I love most about conducting is being able to connect with both the people from the orchestra and the audience on a deep emotional level, which does not happen any other way. When I started my music career as a pianist, the symphonic music and the orchestral scores of Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Bartok, and Stravinsky immediately inspired me and sparked my creativity. The attractive and unique sound the orchestra plays in their pieces drew me to learn how to conduct.

Tell me about your exciting opportunity with the LA Philharmonic. What does this mean to you personally?

The LA Philharmonic recently appointed me as a Dudamel Conducting Fellow for their 2021-2022 season. It has given me the exciting opportunity to conduct with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall where I have been able to learn from some of the best musicians in the industry by assisting Gustavo Dudamel, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sussana Malkki, and Paavo Jarvi. Being able to watch and interact with first-class artists like Zubin Metha, Esa Pekka, Hilary Hahn, and Yuja Wang has allowed me to understand how music is created at a top level.

I have also had the chance to be in the same room with a variety of Hollywood legends including Cristina Aguilera, Viola Davis, and Bradley Cooper. Additionally, in terms of making a career, it has given me the visibility that every artist needs to be able to stand out in a world as competitive as orchestral conducting. It has quickly opened doors to the industry, something I have been trying to do on my own for the past six years. I think working with the LA Philharmonic has put me a few years ahead in my career and has allowed me to focus on what is most important to me, which is to study the music as much as I can.

How has the University helped guide you in your career path?

I have learned so much from Gerard Schwarz, the conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra. He has always been supportive regarding my career. Because of Schwarzs experience in the field, he is always open to giving me important advice and guidance for opportunities to conduct. He has encouraged me to go further and be ambitious because he believes in my talent and the potential I have. Hes supported me in this exciting process and has motivated me along the way. I think he has a special talent of seeing things in people that others cant.

How have you brought music to vulnerable communities, and what inspired you to do this work?

I am very passionate about the power and effects of social transformation through music. I have been able to observe from my own experience the changes that music can have in people, especially in children. In Colombia, I worked with the nonprofit organization, 40 Horas en El Sistemainspired outreach program supported by the Colombian government to foster talent in economically disenfranchised areas of my hometown of Bogota. As the music director, my team and I were able to create orchestras and choirs for children in very vulnerable communities.

The results that I saw, after only a few months of teaching, were remarkable. Music gave hope to children because they were able to escape mentally and physically from very tough environments and create healthy connections with their peers and teachers. Music created a kind of sensibility and empathy that they were not familiar with previously. Engaging in these projects has given me the opportunity to hone my conducting skills and broaden my understanding of the impact of music in some of the most vulnerable communities in the U.S. and Latin America.

A few years after this experience, I had the good fortune of working with the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) and directly with Gustavo Dudamel, a Venezuelan conductor and violinist who is the music director of the LA Philharmonic. I was able to see the impact that orchestral music generates in massive communities. The LA Philharmonic has conducted research that shows the neural changes that occur when children are exposed to classical music. The results are highly positive. I have no doubt that music is a vehicle that transforms people and entire communities.

What future goals do you have once you graduate from the Frost School of Music?

My goals are to continue learning the art of orchestral conducting and work with orchestras around the world. Having the fortune to get up every morning and do what I love is a great blessing. Music has allowed me to make great friends and get to know very distant places and cultures. The art of music has allowed me to explore human emotions and our condition, and I hope to continue doing this for the rest of my life.

Visit The U Creates for more information about the arts and humanities at the University of Miami.
Barca reach Europa quarters, Yarmolenko lifts Hammers

West Ham's Andriy Yarmolenko celebrates with the fans after beating Sevilla at London Stadium. Photo: AP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winner as Barcelona fought back from a goal down to beat Galatasaray 2-1 on Thursday to book their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals, while Andriy Yarmolenko scored an extra-time winner as West Ham knocked out Sevilla.



After a goalless first leg at the Camp Nou last week, Xavi Hernandez's Barca trailed on aggregate in the last 16 when Marcao headed Galatasaray into a 28th-minute lead on the night in Istanbul.



But 19-year-old midfielder Pedri drew the visitors level before the break.



The Catalan giants, playing in Europe's second-tier competition for the first time since 2004 after a Champions League group-stage exit, forged ahead for the first time in the tie less than five minutes into the second half.



Aubameyang, a January signing after his contract with Arsenal was ended, tapped in from Frenkie de Jong's pass to score his seventh goal for the club.



Barcelona will now turn their attentions to this weekend's Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.



"We played a match of huge personality," said Xavi. "It was a great performance to fight back on a ground like this against a very good team."



Xavi's men sit third in the La Liga table, 15 points behind runaway leaders Real, as they look to qualify for next season's Champions League.



Ukrainian international Yarmolenko scored for the second time in a week after also netting against Aston Villa at the weekend as West Ham beat record six-time winners Sevilla 2-0 at the London Stadium.



Trailing 1-0 after the first leg, David Moyes' side levelled the tie in the 39th minute through Tomas Soucek.



The match went to extra time, and Yarmolenko pounced after Pablo Fornals' shot was saved to send West Ham into the quarters of a major European competition for the first time since 1981.



Yarmolenko was given time off by the club after Russia invaded Ukraine, and he has now scored in both of his appearances since.



"Andriy Yarmolenko is such a lovely guy," striker Michail Antonio told BT Sport. "I can't imagine what he's going through. He's got a finishing touch now. Hopefully he can keep doing it."



Rangers reached the last eight for the first time since losing the 2008 Uefa Cup final to Zenit Saint Petersburg despite a 2-1 second-leg loss to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.



Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side took a 3-0 lead into the second leg.



The Scottish champions suffered a setback early on when Mirko Ivanic scored, but Ryan Kent all but ended the tie as a contest 11 minutes after the break with an equaliser.



El Fardou Ben's late penalty gave Red Star the consolation of a win on the day, but Rangers march on and continue their bid for a first European trophy since lifting the 1972 Cup Winners' Cup.



"I'm very proud -- it's a great achievement to reach the last eight", van Bronckhorst said.



Elsewhere in the last 16, Atalanta wrapped up a 4-2 aggregate success over Bayer Leverkusen as Jeremie Boga's injury-time strike secured a 1-0 win in Germany.



Monaco bowed out as Abel Ruiz scored the only goal in the principality for Braga, who progressed 3-1 in the tie.



Lyon booked their place in the next round with a 2-1 aggregate success over Porto, while Eintracht Frankfurt scored in the 121st minute to beat Real Betis in extra time.



Leicester continued their run in the Europa Conference League as they edged out in-form Rennes 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat.



Defender Wesley Fofana, playing for the first time this season after injury, scored the all-important second-half goal for Brendan Rodgers' Foxes.



Jose Mourinho's Roma edged through as England striker Tammy Abraham's late strike salvaged a 1-1 second-leg draw with Vitesse and a 2-1 aggregate win.



PSV Eindhoven thrashed FC Copenhagen 4-0 in Denmark after a 4-4 first-leg draw to go through, with Marseille also into the last-eight hat after winning 2-1 at Basel after victory by the same scoreline in the first leg.



Paok, Slavia Prague, Feyenoord and Norwegians Bodo/Glimt all also booked their places in Friday's draw. (AFP)
Erdogan opens huge bridge linking Europe and Asia

President Erdogan attends the inauguration of a new bridge across the Dardanelles Strait. Photo: AFP

President Tayyip Erdogan opened a massive suspension bridge across Turkey's Dardanelles Strait on Friday, the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects which he has prioritised during his two decades in power.



Connecting Turkey's European and Asian shores, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge was built by Turkish and South Korean firms with an investment of 2.5 billion euros. It has the longest main span  the distance between the two towers  of any suspension bridge in the world.



Such mega projects have been central to Erdogan's achievements since his AK Party first came to power in 2002. These have also included a new airport in Istanbul, rail and road tunnels beneath the Bosphorus strait, and a bridge over it.



"These works will continue to provide profit for the state for many years," Erdogan said at an opening ceremony on the anniversary of a 1915 Ottoman naval victory against French and British forces in the Dardanelles during the first world war.



"These projects have a large share in putting our country ahead in investment, workforce and exports."



Last year, he launched what he has called his "crazy project": a US$15 billion canal in Istanbul intended to relieve pressure on the busy Bosphorus Strait. However, critics have questioned the project's viability given Turkey's economic woes, the environmental risks involved and public opposition.



Work on the Dardanelles bridge project was launched in March 2017, with more than 5,000 workers involved in its construction.



The 2,023 metre length of its midspan is an allusion to the Turkish Republic's 100th anniversary in 2023. It is the fourth bridge linking European and Asian shores in Turkey, alongside three in Istanbul.



Until now, vehicles travelling between Anatolia and the Gallipoli peninsula had to cross the Dardanelles in a one-hour ferry journey, which including waiting time amounted to as much as five hours. The journey will now take around six minutes. (Reuters)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said it was really sad and painful for the nation that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, along with his family including his youngest son Russel, by some of the same Bengali people for whom he had risked his life, faced incarceration for years, and established the dignity of a nation for them. In her remarks at a programme at the Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex, Tungipara in Gopalganj, to mark the 102nd birth anniversary of the Bangabandhu and the National Children's Day, she said that her government has long-term plans to make the future beautiful for the children, as no other children can lost their lives including parents like Russel, her innocent youngest brother, who was only 10 years old then. The National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration, in collaboration with the Women and Children Affairs Ministry, had arranged the programme, featuring a discussion and a cultural soiree. The event began with the National Anthem followed by the theme song of "Mujib Borsha". An audio-visual presentation titled "Tungipara: Hridoye Pitribhumi (Father's Land in Heart)" was screened. This year, the theme of national children's day is "Bangabandhur Janmodiner Ongikar, Sokol Shishur Soman Odhikar (Equal Rights for all children, Commitment of Bangbandhu's birthday)". Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said though there had been a reign of killers, war criminals, Al-Badr and Razakars (collaborators of Pakistani forces) in the country after the assassination of her family members, she returned home to fulfil the dreams of her father. "(I returned home) to ensure that the children would not live with the pain of losing family members like us, rather they would have a nice and improved life," she said. Noting that the Father of the Nation used to love children very much, the PM said her government in 1996 declared the 17th March as the children's day. "Bangabandhu used to like playing with children. When he was playing with children, he seemed like a child. "But it is unfortunate that even children were not spared in 1975 carnage. Children and women had not been killed even during Karbala tragedy," she said. She said that following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, her government had taken various steps for the welfare of the children, including establishment of schools in every area and measures to protect them from social menaces like terrorism and militancy. "Coming in power again through the 2008 election, we've done a lot further for the welfare of children," said Sheikh Hasina, highlighting various measures and laws taken for the children during her regime. Noting that Bangladesh today attained the status of a developing country, she said: "We'll definitely make Bangladesh the developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla. It's our commitment." In this context, she mentioned her government's vision 2041 and Delta Plan-2100. "I've prepared a plan over how this Bangladesh would develop till 2100." Sheikh Hasina reiterated that her government's plans focus on making the future of children bright and decent. "Our goal is that our children would remain safe and get a beautiful life." Bangabandhu's grandsons - Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Sheikh Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq were present, along with cabinet members, members of parliament and Awami League central leaders, Gopalganj Zila Parishad Chairman and AL's district unit president Chowdhury Emdadul Huque. Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated the six-day Mujib Borsha Folk Fair to be held at Government Sheikh Mujibur Rahman College premises in Tungipara from March 21-26. She said Awami League and its associate bodies will arrange programmes in Tungipara on separate days from March 18 to 25 to mark the Mujib Year. --IANS sumi/vd ( 632 Words) 2022-03-17-23:18:02 (IANS)
A senior-level US mission is starting a visit to South Asia on Saturday during which it will hold consultations with Indian officials as the war rages in Ukraine and Washington is rallying international support against the Russian invasion. According to the State Department, the interagency delegation headed by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will visit India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to "underscore US commitment to, and cooperation with, Indo-Pacific partners". The three countries abstained on the UN General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian invasion, but the Department made no mention of the Ukraine situation in the delegation's agenda. India, which is an elected member of the Security Council, has also abstained on Ukraine-related votes there. The US delegation that includes Assistant Secretary for South Asia Donald Lu and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory will participate in the regular Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi during the trip, according to the Department. The consultations traditionally review the entire range of cooperation between the two countries under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including political, economic, commercial, regional and international cooperation. The annual ministerial-level meeting of the foreign affairs and defence heads known as the 2+2 Dialogue for last year did not take place. That meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken that was expected to take place last December in Washington was postponed because of Russian President Vladimir Putin came to New Delhi around that time when a 2+2 meeting was held with Russia. On each of the stops in South Asia, "Nuland and the delegation will meet with civil society and business leaders to strengthen economic partnerships and deepen ties in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific region", the Department said. Pakistan does not figure on the delegation's South Asia itinerary. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) --IANS al/vd ( 348 Words) 2022-03-18-21:56:01 (IANS)
Dublin [Ireland], March 18 (ANI/PRNewswire): Today marks the first live St Patrick's Day events on the island of Ireland for two years. In Dublin, thousands witnessed the joyful return of the much-loved St Patrick's Festival as a colourful parade animated the city streets to celebrate Ireland's national day. Joining as the St Patrick's Festival International Guest of Honour was American actor, John C. Reilly. The Step Brothers star was in Dublin taking in the sights, including a special visit to the Home of Guinness, the Guinness Storehouse, before attending the first St Patrick's Day parade since 2019. St Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world by the 80 million who claim links to Ireland. Irish music and dance have become synonymous with celebrations to mark the day. This year, Tourism Ireland is extending an invitation to celebrate Irish heritage in Milan, London, New York and Sydney on St Patrick's Day with the Green Button Festival. The Green Button Festival is lighting up digital billboards today in these four cities, connecting passers-by with some of Ireland's best-loved and up-and-coming musicians. City-dwellers can interact with the billboards to trigger sound and vision recordings of some of Ireland's top talent performing at various locations around the island. The festival is brought to life when passers-by use their smartphone to scan giant QR codes and press the green button to activate a performance. In addition to the big city billboards, the performances can be viewed by anyone anywhere via Ireland.com, so wherever you are around the globe today, an Irish music festival can be on hand. The event and the technology behind it is the first music billboard festival to happen across cities and time zones controlled by individuals' mobile phones. Festival acts include Clannad and Denise Chaila in County Donegal, Ryan McMullan from the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, which was named a UNESCO City of Music late last year. And also available on screen are acts such as contemporary folk band Kila, DJ and vocalist Gemma Bradley, and Riverdance, performing at the Giant's Causeway and Cliffs of Moher. The Green Button Festival is shining a light on the Irish music scene's established names and rising stars, revealing a whole new side to Ireland on St Patrick's Day. www.ireland.com Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpo_TRL_KIY This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 18 (ANI/PRNewswire): CSS Corp, a global customer experience and technology services provider, today announced acquiring Directly's OnDemand business unit, including its next-gen GigCX services platform. OnDemand offers fast and empathetic technical support and customer service for the world's leading brands, with patented technology and a global network of product and technical experts in a flexible freelance model. Some key customers of the platform include Microsoft, LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Autodesk. The OnDemand platform is powered by multilingual capabilities, new-age technologies, and a flexible network of freelance product experts across over 60 countries. These gig experts are either alpha-users familiar with the system they are assisting with, or domain experts with the necessary credentials to provide an elevated, yet more intimate level of support. The platform seamlessly integrates into the existing contact center technology stack, CRM platforms, messaging applications, and recording support, like Microsoft Dynamics, Zendesk, Oracle, Salesforce, to name a few. The acquisition of OnDemand adds a strategic technology-enabled services platform to CSS Corp's portfolio. The company now is able to integrate GigCX seamlessly with agent-based models, recruit global talent as employees or freelancers, and integrate it with digital solutions powered by CSS Edison, a digital CX transformation platform. The company also sees immense potential to expand OnDemand's reach into incremental and niche skills for digital technologies, AI/ML training and aggregation, and intelligence services. Sunil Mittal, CEO, CSS Corp, said, "This acquisition significantly strengthens our service offerings as we solidify our strategy. Modern customers have high expectations and expect precise resolutions to their problems along with proactive service, personalized interactions, and connected experiences across digital channels. The Directly OnDemand platform leverages a unique and proven approach to achieving customer outcomes and offering world-class experience through gig experts spread across the globe. With our deep, technology-led operations and expertise, infused with OnDemand's global gig expert capabilities, we are well-positioned to leverage the knowledge economy and offer unique and scalable operations to our clients. We look forward with excitement to welcoming the OnDemand team into the CSS Corp family." Mike de la Cruz, CEO, Directly, said, "The global workforce has shifted from fixed to fluid models, and there is no turning back. With the addition of OnDemand, CSS Corp is at the forefront of this shift and will be able to help their clients thrive in the new world. The OnDemand service is in safe hands and is now backed by full-time associates, consulting services, and the CSS Edison technology platform. Directly, the company, now focuses on its next act: to invest in Directly Darwin and reinvent customer experience automation." CSS Corp has been growing at over 25% for the last couple of years, on the back of strong delivery capabilities, resilient operations, and innovative business engagement models. In February 2021, Capital Square Partners, a Singapore-based Private Equity Fund Manager, acquired a controlling stake in CSS Corp, followed by investments from Morgan Stanley Private Credit and Onex Falcon. These transactions have enabled CSS Corp to continue its industry-leading organic growth and expand its capabilities and geographical footprint through strategic alternatives. CSS Corp is a global customer experience and technology services provider, disrupting the industry with a unique intersection of industry-leading proprietary solutions, resilient operations, and innovative business engagement models. The company is a digital transformation partner of choice for its clients, which include the world's top innovators across industries, from mid-market players to large enterprises. Its diverse team of over 11,200 customer-centric thinkers, collaborators, and co-creators across 20 global locations is passionate about helping clients succeed through intelligent automation-led outcomes. The company has overcome macroeconomic headwinds to become the industry's fastest growing and most awarded company in its revenue range. To know more, please visit https://www.csscorp.com Follow CSS Corp on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Based in San Francisco and everywhere our employees want to live, Directly is reinventing customer support automation. Directly has delivered millions and millions of amazing customer support experiences for companies like Microsoft, Airbnb, and Samsung. Directly is creating Darwin, a support automation platform that uses artificial intelligence to better understand customers and improve support operations. Directly is backed by Microsoft's M12 Ventures, True Ventures, Costanoa Ventures, Industry Ventures, Triangle Peak Partners, and Northgate Capital. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Taking to his Instagram handle, Sunny shared a video in which he could be seen applying gulal to 'Gadar 2' director Anil Sharma and his son Utkarsh Sharma.

"#HappyHoli everyone from the team of #Gadar2," Sunny captioned the post.

On the film front, Sunny is currently busy shooting for 'Gadar 2', a sequel to his 2001 blockbuster 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha', co-starring Ameesha Patel in the lead role.

The first film mainly revolves around Tara Singh (portrayed by Sunny), a Sikh truck driver from Amritsar, who falls in love with Sakina (portrayed by Ameesha), a Muslim girl hailing from a political family in Lahore, Pakistan. Late Amrish Puri was also a part of the first instalment.

'Gadar 2' will also star film director Anil Sharma's son Utkarsh Sharma in the lead role alongside Sunny and Ameesha. Utkarsh had played the role of Sunny and Ameesha's son in the first part.

The film went on floors in December in Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)
Taking to Instagram, Deepika shared a beautiful picture of colourful flowers.

Alongside the picture, she wrote, "A little late to the party but Happy Holi everyone! #holi #festival #colour."

Deepika's Holi post is proof of the fact that she loves flowers. A few months ago, on New Year's Eve as well, she flaunted her love for flowers by posting a picture of a bouqet of flowers.

Deepika was just a 'little late' to wish everyone on Holi as she's currently busy shooting for 'Pathaan' in Spain, which is 4 hours and 30 minutes behind the Indian Standard Time.

Speaking of 'Pathaan', the action thriller also features Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham. (ANI)
According to Shantanu Mukherji, a senior consultant with the Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals, "Synthetic colours contain harmful agents like industrial dyes and alkalis, which are incredibly toxic for the human skin, especially the eyes. Their use can also cause symptoms like irritation, redness, allergies and even permanent loss of vision in case of severe chemical injury to the eye."

"The other thing that causes eye problems is poor hygiene. If one tries to remove colour by rubbing the eye with dirty fingers, it may expose one to the risk of infective conjunctivitis," he added.

Talking about skin problems after Holi, dermatologist Amit Bangia advised applying oil on exposed skin before playing Holi.

"Use colours made from natural ingredients as much as possible like rose petal, marigold flowers, turmeric, beet root etc. Remove colour with mild face wash and moisturise the skin after cleaning the color," he said.

Bangia also said that the festival of Holi involves close proximity in large gatherings, which is a perfect recipe for the spread of Covid.

Children who are not vaccinated and the elderly who are susceptible to complications should avoid playing Holi, he added.

--IANS avr/arm

( 228 Words)

2022-03-17-22:54:04 (IANS)
A new research led by the University of Cambridge, have identified a link suggesting that lithium could decrease the risk of developing dementia. The research was published in the journal, ' PLoS Medicine.' The research conducted a retrospective analysis of the health records of nearly 30,000 patients from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. The patients were all over the age of 50 and accessed NHS mental health services between 2005 and 2019. The analysis suggested that patients who received lithium were less likely to develop dementia than those who did not, although the overall number of patients who received lithium was small. It also suggested that lithium could be a preventative treatment for dementia and could be progressed to large randomised controlled trials. Dementia is the leading cause of death in elderly Western populations, but no preventative treatments are currently available. More than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with Alzheimer's disease the most common form. "The number of people with dementia continues to grow, which puts huge pressure on healthcare systems," said Dr Shanquan Chen from Cambridge's Department of Psychiatry, the paper's first author. "It's been estimated that delaying the onset of dementia by just five years could reduce its prevalence and economic impact by as much as 40 per cent," he added. Previous studies have proposed lithium as a potential treatment for those who have already been diagnosed with dementia or early cognitive impairment, but it is unclear whether it can delay or even prevent the development of dementia altogether, as these studies have been limited in size. Lithium is a mood stabiliser usually prescribed for conditions such as bipolar affective disorder and depression. "Bipolar disorder and depression are considered to put people at increased risk of dementia, so we had to make sure to account for this in our analysis," said Chen. Chen and his colleagues analysed data from patients who accessed mental health services from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust between 2005 and 2019. Patients were all over 50 years of age, received at least a one-year follow-up appointment, and had not been previously diagnosed with either mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Of the 29,618 patients in the study cohort, 548 patients had been treated with lithium and 29,070 had not. Their mean age was just under 74 years, and approximately 40 per cent of patients were male. For the group that had received lithium, 53, or 9.7 per cent were diagnosed with dementia. For the group that had not received lithium, 3,244, or 11.2 per cent, were diagnosed with dementia. After controlling for factors such as smoking, other medications, and other physical and mental illnesses, lithium use was associated with a lower risk of dementia, both for short and long-term users. However, since the overall number of patients receiving lithium was small and this was an observational study, larger clinical trials would be needed to establish lithium as a potential treatment for dementia. Another limitation of the study was the number of patients who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is normally associated with an increased risk of dementia. "We expected to find that patients with bipolar disorder were more likely to develop dementia since that is the most common reason to be prescribed lithium, but our analysis suggested the opposite," said Chen. "It's far too early to say for sure, but it's possible that lithium might reduce the risk of dementia in people with bipolar disorder," he concluded. (ANI)
Assam Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary met with officials from Bangladesh and Assam Petrochemicals Limited (APL) in Guwahati to discuss the export of methanol and formaldehyde from the northeast state to Bangladesh. The meeting was held between the officials from Bangladesh and APL in the presence of Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Patowary at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Tuesday. The Assam Minister said that the expansion project of 500 TPD methanol and 200 TPD formaldehyde plant at a total cost of Rs 1337 crore is nearing completion and Assam can soon export these chemical products to Bangladesh. The Minister also appreciated Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur, Assistant High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for deepening the ties between India and Bangladesh. After a detailed discussion, both sides agreed that a feasibility study would be conducted and a joint group would be constituted comprising of chemical importers from Bangladesh and APL officials. The importers will visit the APL plant at Namrup to work out the product line and pricing. At the same time, the process of export of methanol would start via the Siliguri route to Bangladesh. The officials agreed to have a G2G intervention for certification of chemical products by an accredited laboratory acceptable to both countries. They also agreed to set up a lab testing facility for streamlining the chemical export process between the two countries. Besides Dr Tanvir Monsur, Sunit KP, Secretary-General, Indo-Bangla Council for Commercial and Cultural Collaboration from Bangladesh, APL Chairman Bikul Chandra Deka and Managing Director Rajnesh Gogoi were also present in the meeting. On February 24 last, the Assam Minister had called upon the Bangladesh Ministry officials to take opportunities of potential sectors of Assam like ethanol, methanol, hydrocarbon to improve trade and business. (ANI)
According to the Coast Guard, the Lankan boat was apprehended on Wednesday.

The Coast Guard Ship Vajra whilst on patrol, detected a boat 117 nautical miles South-East of Kanyakumari. Subsequently, the Coast Guard ship sighted the Lankan boat fishing with nets in the Indian waters.

On sighting the Coast Guard ship, the Lankan boat tried to flee but was intercepted by the former.

The illegal fishing in Indian EEZ by the Sri Lankan fishing boat is a violation of the Maritime Zone of India (MZI) Act, 1981, Coast Guard said.

The Lankan boat was thoroughly rummaged by the Coast Guard boarding team.

On investigation, it was found that the boat had the electronic chart display system and crew were well aware about fishing in the Indian EEZ.

In addition, the Automatic identification system onboard, was deliberately kept switched off.

Further investigation revealed that the boat had Tuna long line in water and was fishing well inside Indian EEZ. The boat had about 350 kg of catch onboard.

The fishing boat along with six crew members was apprehended by the ship and brought to nearest designated port Tuticorin.

An FIR against the Sri Lankan boat was registered and the boat along with its crew has been handed over to Marine police Tharuvaikulam, Tuticorin.

--IANS vj/skp/

( 252 Words)

2022-03-17-19:44:04 (IANS)
A leader of Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) was assaulted by a mob, including women, outside the women police station of Rohtas district on Thursday. The JD-U leader was identified as Mod Narayan Singh, President of the JD-U's labour wing in Rohtas. He had allegedly molested a woman inside his home and also threatened her with dire consequences outside the women police station. "We have received a complaint from the victim. The matter is currently under investigation. FIR will be registered after the investigation," Superintendent of Police, Rohtas, Ashish Bharti told IANS. The police said that Singh had called a woman for some household work in his official residence in Dehri town of the district, locked the door as soon as she entered, and allegedly molested her. She managed to run to the roof and shouted for help. Soon, a large number of neighbours assembled outside and managed to rescue her. As the woman went to the women's police station to lodge a complaint, Singh, accompanied by a couple of personal bodyguards, chased her and managed to intercept her outside it. He threatened her with dire consequences but she slapped him several times. Seeing a woman slapping a man, passersby came to her support and thrashed the trio. The JD-U leader had to run into the women police station to save himself. --IANS ajk/vd ( 236 Words) 2022-03-17-22:50:03 (IANS)
Tripura is set to get its second airport at Kailashahar, the headquarters of the Unakoti district in Tripura. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday said, "Tripura's second airport at Kailashahar is coming up soon and the central government is likely to release funds shortly." According to Deb, the Centre would be releasing funds to the tune of Rs 500 to Rs 600 crore for the construction and related infrastructure development at the new airport site located at Kailashahar, about 139 KMs away from Agartala. "People of Unakoti district have been demanding for the airport for a long time and the central government is all set to fulfil their demands through this airport. Tripura will have two airports in total after Kailashahar included in the flying map", said the Chief Minister. The CM conveyed his thanks to Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma for the presentation of a "people-centric budget". Speaking to reporters at his Assembly Chamber, Deb said "A people-centric budget has been presented in the state assembly today by the Dev Varma. All the key sectors essential for the state's growth such as forestry, animal resources, infrastructure, education and health, etc have been covered." He said the budget was a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Atma Nirbhar Tripura." "This budget gave a clear message that it is for all, from children to elderly. Our government has so far been able to live up to the expectations of the common people. With the blessings of PM Modi, we have succeeded to overcome all impediments. The opposition thought the government would face difficulties in fulfilling the commitment, but we were able to pass the hurdles", he added. The five-day budget session of the Tripura assembly began on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Verma presented a Rs 26,892.67-crore tax-free Budget proposal for the 2022-23 financial year. The Budget is 18.34 per cent higher than last year's Budget estimates and an increase of over Rs 4,000 crore. (ANI)
In the 1975 hit film, Amitabh Bachchcan played Jai, while Dharmendra enacted the role of Veeru.

The theme of the tweets by Rajasthan Police is based on the characters from 'Sholay', including 'Mausi' whom Dharmnedra requests for solemnising his marriage with Hema Malini, who played the role of Basanti.

One of the tweets shows the scene where Dharmendra is hanging from a water tank and warning Mausi by saying 'khood jaoonga, mar jaoonga', while people below say 'Mausi taiyar hai'.

The police version says, "Mausi taiyar ho na ho, par Rajasthan police taiyar hai."

Another tweet says, "Ha se Holi per bhale hi rangeen ho jaye sarobar, lekin ha se huddang na karen varna ha se Hawalat ki hawa pad sakte hai."

However, social media users criticised the police for posting such tweets only during Holi, and not during any other festival of any other community.

One social media user said, "It would have been good had the police had the courage to launch a similar campaign on any other religious event/festival."

--IANS arc/arm

( 225 Words)

2022-03-17-23:14:05 (IANS)
15 people allegedly involved in stone-pelting on security forces after an encounter in Srinagar in which three militants were killed, have been arrested, the police informed on Thursday. According to the police, three terrorists were neutralised in Nowgam, Srinagar on March 16, after which the site was being cleared to ensure the safety of citizens, when a large unruly mob started pelting stones. The Srinagar police in an official statement said, "As per the standard operating procedure, the encounter site was being cleared to ensure the safety of citizens. Accordingly, signboards were also placed around the site of encounter, while it was being sanitized, to dissuade citizens from approaching the site prior to sanitization with regard to any left-over explosive from the terrorists." It further said, "A large unruly mob assembled from adjacent areas of Shankerpora Wanabal carrying 'lathies' and stones in their hands and pelted stones on the deployed staff. In order to disperse the mob smoke shells had to be used." A case has been registered under relevant sections in the Nowgam Police station and 15 identified persons were also arrested in the said case, added the police statement. The police also requested the citizens to stay away from the encounter sites to ensure safety, keeping in mind the likelihood of leftover explosives from the terrorists. (ANI)
The LGBT community people in Kolkata celebrated Holi with flowers and colourful 'Abir' ushering joy in each other's life. "We are neglected and deprived by society but still we have no grudge against anyone because in our own community we are happy. The colours of Holi are not limited to certain people. We are celebrating Holi to spread love and happiness," said Ranjita Sinha Transgender Community Board Member. Speaking on LGBT communities' Holi, Venkatesh said, "It's immense pride to be here. The LGBT has always been discriminated against in the past until date. It's 2022 and it's still going on. The Holi celebrations here is a very inclusive thing both for the people who live here and for the outsiders. I feel great to be amongst fellow LGBT brothers and sisters." People of the LGBT community celebrated this festival by singing and dancing on "Ore Grihabasi, khol dwar khol laglo je dol.... (O home dweller, open the door, the Dol festival is here)", the famous Tagore song which is sung in cultural functions on the occasion of Doljatra at many places in the state, including Visva-Bharati university. The festival of colours is celebrated across India with zeal. People throw "gulaal" or dried colour on each other and sing and dance to mark the festival. On this day people celebrate the victory of good over evil and officially welcome the spring season. In Eastern India, the festival of spring is celebrated as Dol Jatra, also known as Dol Purnima, Dol Utsav. Dol Jatra is being celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam on Friday. (ANI)
In his message, he said, "The festival of colours heralds the arrival of spring. It promotes the spirit of brotherhood and friendship."

He also showed his concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and thus has appealed to people to celebrate the festival cautiously.

"The clouds of new COVID strain are gathering in some countries. I, therefore, appeal to the people to observe caution and protect the environment while celebrating the festival," he said.

Koshyari further said, "I extend my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people on the auspicious occasion of Holi and Festival of Colours."

Meanwhile, people across different parts of the country participated in 'Holika Dahan' on Thursday. Holika Dahan or Choti Holi is a major part of this festival. This traditional ritual involves the burning of an effigy of a mythical demoness named Holika. According to mythology, it is a way of celebrating Lord Vishnu's act of vanquishing Holika.

Even though Holi is a predominantly Hindu festival, it is celebrated by people of other faiths as well. It marks the arrival of the spring harvest season in the country. People celebrate the festival by binging on some lip-smacking sweets, thandai and splash coloured powder, water, and balloons. (ANI)
Days after a meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) in which the party's abysmal performance in the recently held Assembly polls in five states was termed as a "cause of serious concern", senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and some other members of the G-23 group will meet interim party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi soon. The time of the meeting is yet to be finalized. "After talking to Sonia Gandhi, we will fix the timing of the meeting (with Azad and other G-23 leaders) and inform about the same," Rahul Gandhi said, according to sources. Earlier, only Azad was scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi. G-23 leaders, who have been calling for sweeping reforms in the grand old party, met on Wednesday to discuss the party's debacle in the recently concluded Assembly elections in five states - Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa. Party leaders Kapil Sibal, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, Mani Shankar Aiyar, PJ Kurien, Preneet Kaur, Sandeep Dikshit and Raj Babbar were among those present. Former Haryana Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda met Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Hooda, a G 23 leader, was the first to reach out to the Congress High Command after the faction's meeting at Azad's residence in New Delhi over the poll drubbing. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi asked Hooda about the meeting of the G-23 leaders and their resolution. Hooda suggested elections of the Congress Working Committee and taking future decisions through discussions only in CWC as this was also mentioned by the G-23 group. The former Haryana chief minister, in the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, also sought the appointment of an experienced person, who understands the politics of North India and is well verse with Hindi, after removing party General Secretary KC Venugopal from his post, sources informed. Hooda also sought clarity over who is making the decisions in the party and said that leaders get to know about big decisions of the party from the newspapers, highlighting the need to make decisions collectively. Hooda said that the G-23 leaders have not done any "anti-party activities" adding that the meeting of faction was held after informing Sonia Gandhi. "We do not agree with everything (Shankersinh) Vaghela and (Kapil) Sibal have said," Hooda said after both of them had questioned the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. After the Congress' rout in five assembly polls, Sibal had given an interview to a newspaper calling for a leadership change in the party. In a statement released after the CWC meeting on Wes, the CWC had unanimously reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and requested her "to lead from the front, address the organisational weaknesses, effect necessary and comprehensive organisational changes in order to take on the political challenges". Sonia Gandhi had on Tuesday sought the resignations of state party chiefs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. 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 party is slated to elect a new party chief later this year at the culmination of organisational elections. (ANI)
Speaking to media, Prashant Sharma, DSP Phulparas, said, "Two Uzbekistani women were arrested for illegally entering India via Nepal without a proper visa. They hold Nepal visa but Indian visa."

He added, "Prima facie the women are allegedly part of the racket and involved in some illegal activities. They were living in Delhi for over two months. The police arrested the women when they were returning to Nepal."

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Political leaders across parties on Friday greeted people on the occasion of Holi. Union Home minister Amit Shah extended Holi greetings and wished for happiness, peace, good fortune, and new energy in everyone's life. "May this great festival of colours, joy and happiness infuse happiness, peace, good fortune and new energy in everyone's life," he tweeted. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended Holi greetings to the nation. "Greetings on the special occasion of Holi. It is a festival associated with colours, positivity, vibrancy, happiness and harmony," he said. BJP chief JP Nadda wished that the festival of colour bring happiness and prosperity in people's life. "With this wish, I wish all the countrymen a very happy festival of colours," said Nadda. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, too, wished the nation. He wrote, "Wishing you a very Happy Holi, the festival that connects hearts!" "Wishing all the countrymen a very Happy Holi, a festival of the diversity of colours, collective joy and mutual interaction," Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in her Holi greeting to the nation. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged people to celebrate Holi together with mutual love and harmony. "Wishing you all a very Happy Holi. May this festival of colors bring new happiness and joy to your life. Celebrate this festival together with mutual love and harmony," Kejriwal tweeted. "My heartfelt wishes to the people on the auspicious occasion of Holi. May Lord Krishna guide everyone towards the path of righteousness and fill our lives with colours of joy," Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, greeting the nation on the occasion of Holi said, "Greetings and best wishes to all of you on the auspicious festival of festival-joy, social harmony, new-vihaan! May this festival shower the colors of happiness in everyone's life, bring happiness and prosperity and be irrigated with festive righteousness, this is the wish". Marking the onset of the spring season, Holi is a festival of colours, symbolic of joy and victory of good over evil. Even though Holi is a predominantly Hindu festival, it is celebrated by people of other faiths as well. It marks the arrival of the spring harvest season in the country. (ANI)
The BSF jawans smeared colours on each other and were seen dancing to the Holi songs.

Drums and dholaks were also played as the jawans danced to the tune of 'Rang Barse'. Slogans of 'Hail motherland', 'BSF ki Jai' echoed the celebrations.

Senior officers also distributed sweets on the occasion and joined the celebrations with the jawans.

Marking the onset of the spring season, Holi is a festival of colours, symbolic of joy and victory of good over evil.Even though Holi is a predominantly Hindu festival, it is celebrated by people of other faiths as well. It marks the arrival of the spring harvest season in the country.People celebrate the festival by binging on some lip-smacking sweets, thandai and splash coloured powder, water, and balloons while chanting "Holi Hai". (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the role of media in popularising Yoga, fitness and 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign. PM Modi was speaking at the inauguration of the year-long celebrations of the centenary year of Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi via video-conferencing. "Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, Mathrubhumi was born to strengthen India's freedom struggle. Mathrubhumi is a key part of the glorious tradition of newspapers and periodicals founded all across India to unify the people of our nation against colonial rule," said the Prime Minister. He said that Amrit Kaal gave us the opportunity to work towards a strong, developed and inclusive India. "We did not have the opportunity to sacrifice our lives during the freedom struggle for Swarajya. However, this Amrit Kaal gives us the opportunity to work towards a strong, developed and inclusive India," he added. "Likewise, the media has played a very encouraging role in popularising Yoga, fitness and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. These are subjects beyond the domain of politics and political parties. They are about making a better nation in the coming years," said PM Modi. "I have seen the positive impact the media can play. The example of the Swachh Bharat Mission is well known. Every media house took up this mission with great sincerity," he said. The Prime Minister said that when the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores, it was speculated that India would not be able to manage things well but the people of India proved these critics wrong. "In today's day and age, the world has many expectations from India," he said. PM Modi said that powered by India's talented youth, the nation is moving towards Aatmanirbharta or self-reliance. "At the core of this principle is to make India an economic powerhouse that caters to domestic and global needs," the Prime Minister added. (ANI)
Vietnam requests Italy to investigate suspected cashew nut export scam

Competent authorities of Vietnam have sent a diplomatic note to relevant ministries and agencies of Italy, requesting a quick investigation into a suspected scam involving 100 containers of Vietnamese cashew nuts exported to Italy.









Vietnamese businesses have lost control of cashew nut containers shipped to Italy. (Illustrative image).



Vietnamese businesses are at risk of losing hundreds of millions of US dollars in the suspected scam in which they have not received any payment as agreed for the shipment of 100 containers of cashew nuts to Italy.



Five cashew nut processing and exporting businesses had previously signed contracts with some Italian customers to export the nuts to Italy through a broker named Kim Hanh Viet.



The exporters agreed to the international payment method of D/P (Documents against Payment) with five different Vietnamese banks that later used the express delivery service of the global courier DHL.



However, they completely lost control of the shipments after they found all original documents of some shipments that had already reached the destination were missing.



Vietnamese businesses noticed signs of fraud and immediately stopped delivering shipments in Vietnam. They at the same time intervened to keep consignments in transit in Singapore.



As of March 15, the documents of 36 containers valued at VND162 billion were missing. Of the total, eight containers had arrived at Italys Port of Genoa, and the remaining containers are scheduled to reach the destination by the end of March and the beginning of April.



The Prime Minister of Vietnam directed ministries and sectors to urgently coordinate with the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) in examining and clarifying the case to assist businesses and people involved, and ensure their interests.



After receiving Vinacas notice on the suspected scam, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affair (MoFA) directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy to contact owners of the ships transporting the cashew nuts. The embassy also sent officials to Italian cities of Genova and Napoli to verify the information.



According to MoFA spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang, the Vietnamese Embassy sent a diplomatic note to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development, police, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and other competent agencies, requesting a quick investigation into the case and necessary measures taken to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese enterprises.



The embassy and the Vietnamese Trade Office in Italy had meetings with the involved Vietnamese businesses and Vinacas to discuss specific solutions. They suggested the exporters contact the international economic court and the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre to ask for their intervention in stopping the delivery of goods to the suspicious buyers so as to minimise losses.
Buffalo, WY (82834)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
A three-member Brazilian delegation led by Admiral Flavio Augusto Viana Rocha visited Headquarters Western Naval Command on Thursday, to meet Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh in Mumbai, for discussing the matters that can benefit the navies of both the countries. As per the statement released by the Ministry of Defence, the meeting was held to discuss the issues of mutual interest, including challenges and mitigating strategies in the maritime domain. "During the visit, Admiral Rocha interacted with Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. The two Admirals discussed various issues of mutual interest, including challenges and mitigating strategies in the maritime domain," read the statement. "The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command (FOC-in-C) (West) brought out the Hon'ble PM's vision of SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region - and Indian Navy's maritime vision during the discussions and also suggested that Brazilian Navy ships, when deployed in the Importer of Record (IOR), may visit Indian Ports. It was made known that the Indian Shipyards are well equipped to provide any technical support to the units deployed for prolonged duration away from their homeports," the statement read further. Rocha, the Special Secretary of Strategic Affairs, Presidency and Advisor to the President of Brazil, also expressed his confidence in the Indian Navy's capabilities and desired greater opportunities for interaction between the two navies. (ANI)
Rawat, while sitting on a chair, joyously beat the dholak as people gathered around him. He shared the video on Twitter.

"Best wishes from me and my family on the occasion of Holi, a festival of happiness, brotherhood and colours. Holi is the festival of victory of good over evil. This festival spreads joy and glee and at the same time gives strength to the spirit of brotherhood in the society," Rawat tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand caretaker Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also celebrating Holi in Dehradun.

Marking the onset of the spring season, Holi is a festival of colours, symbolic of joy and victory of good over evil.

Even though Holi is a predominantly Hindu festival, it is celebrated by people of other faiths as well. It marks the arrival of the spring harvest season in the country. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the people of this generation did not get an opportunity to sacrifice their lives during the freedom struggle, but now they have a chance to work for a strong, developed and inclusive India in this "Amrit Kaal". PM Modi, speaking at the inauguration of the year-long celebrations of the centenary year of Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi via video-conferencing, also extended his greetings to all those associated with the newspaper. He further said that inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, Mathrubhumi was born to strengthen India's freedom struggle. "Mathrubhumi is a key part of the glorious tradition of newspapers and periodicals founded all across India to unify the people of our nation against colonial rule. "We did not have the opportunity to sacrifice our lives during the freedom struggle for Swarajya. However, this Amrit Kaal gives us the opportunity to work towards a strong, developed and inclusive India. In this the "media" plays a critical role," said the Prime Minister. "These are subjects beyond the domain of politics and political parties. They are about making a better nation in the coming years," he said. "I have seen the positive impact the media can play. The example of the Swachh Bharat Mission is well known. Every media house took up this mission with great sincerity," he added. PM Modi also said that the media played a very encouraging role in popularising Yoga, fitness and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. Reiterating the importance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he said, "Powered by India's talented youth, our nation is moving towards Aatmanirbharta or self-reliance. At the core of this principle is to make India an economic powerhouse that caters to domestic and global needs." He also recalled India's battle with the Coronavirus pandemic, saying, "In today's day and age, the world has many expectations from India. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores, it was speculated that India would not be able to manage things well. The people of India proved these critics wrong." (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday suggested the media houses to amplify the efforts of highlighting lesser-known events of the freedom struggle and unsung freedom fighters and places associated with the struggle. While speaking at the inauguration of the centenary year celebrations of Mathrubhumi, via video conferencing, the Prime Minister paid tribute to all the leading personalities in the journey of the newspaper. "Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, Mathrubhumi was born to strengthen India's freedom struggle," said PM Modi. He placed the publication in the glorious tradition of newspapers and periodicals founded all across India to unify the people of our nation against colonial rule. The Prime Minister gave examples of Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Shyamji Krishna Varma and others who used newspapers for their work during India's freedom struggle. "Media can amplify the efforts of highlighting lesser-known events of the freedom struggle and unsung freedom fighters and places associated with the struggle. Similarly, newspapers can be a great way to give a platform for upcoming writers from non-media backgrounds and promote regional languages in areas where they are not spoken," said PM Modi. The Prime Minister said that while we did not have the opportunity to sacrifice our lives during the freedom struggle for Swarajya, however, this Amrit Kaal gives us the opportunity to work towards a strong, developed and inclusive India," the Prime Minister said. He elaborated on the positive impact of the media on the campaigns of New India. He gave the example of the Swachh Bharat Mission where every media house took up this mission with great sincerity. "Likewise, the media has played a very encouraging role in popularising Yoga, fitness and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. These are subjects beyond the domain of politics and political parties. They are about making a better nation in the coming years," he added. Speaking about the world's expectations from India in today's day and age, the Prime Minister said that India defied the initial speculation of inability to handle the pandemic. "For two years, 80 crore people got access to free ration. 80 crore doses of vaccines have been administered.""Powered by India's talented youth, our nation is moving towards Aatmanirbharta or self-reliance. At the core of this principle is to make India an economic powerhouse that caters to domestic and global needs," the Prime Minister said. He said that unprecedented reforms were brought in, which will boost economic progress. "Production Linked Incentive Schemes were introduced in different sectors to encourage local enterprise. India's start-up eco-system has never been more vibrant, he added. "In just the past 4 years, the number of UPI transactions have increased over 70 times. Rs 110 lakh crore are being spent on a National Infrastructure Pipeline." He further said that PM Gati Shakti is going to make infra creation and governance more seamless. "We are actively working to ensure every village of India has high-speed internet connectivity. The guiding principle of our efforts is to ensure the future generations lead a better lifestyle than the present ones," he said. (ANI)
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama made his first public appearance on Friday in Dharamshala in about two years since the COVID pandemic hit the country. The 14th Dalai Lama delivered teachings from the Jataka Tales followed by the ceremony for generating Bodhichitta (semkye) at the main Tibetan Temple Tsuglakhang. Addressing the gathering, he said that he was scheduled to go to Delhi for a regular health check-up but did not do so as he was in good health. Thousands of Tibetans including monks, nuns, MPs, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) president and his Cabinet ministers in-exile gathered for the spiritual discourse. Tenzing Jigme, a Tibetan Parliamentarian said, "This is a very beautiful day and we are getting to see His Holiness for more than two years. One of the most fortunate things about today is His Holiness said that he is fine and he is healthy. We pray for the long life of His Holiness. We are really feeling happy and blessed to see His Holiness healthy and fine." Another visitor, Sandra from Romania, who visited the country for the first time to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama, said, "It is my first time in India and in Dharamshala. It is really wonderful to see him. It was his first teaching after the pandemic and it's wonderful to be here." Calling it an "auspicious" occasion, another foreign tourist, Velre said, "We have gathered here to celebrate and pray for peace and happiness of all sentient beings." (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand and State BJP President Deepak Prakash on Friday welcomed the Governor's decision to return the bill against mob lynching saying that this was done as it was illegal. Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on Thursday returned the draft of the 'Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021' passed by the state assembly in December last year, to the state government with suggestions. Speaking to ANI, the BJP state unit chief said, "It is very unfortunate that the Jharkhand Government, which had passed a bill against mob lynching in the state Legislative Assembly and sent it to the Governor, was not legal. There was also a violation of CrPC and IPC in the bill." He further said that the bill "will disrupt social harmony" in the state. "Under this bill, when two persons are involved in crime then it will be called a mob lynching. If a businessman writes something, then that too will be mob lynching. In such a situation, how can Jharkhand Government justify it?" Prakash asked. "It was politics of appeasement and was not legal. The BJP is constantly opposing it," he said. The BJP MP said that there should have been a "lawful" discussion in the Assembly on the bill. "But the state government did not do so. They did not do the work of bringing a lawful bill and only did this for politics of appeasement," Prakash said. The anti-mob lynching Bill passed by voice vote in the state Assembly on December 21, 2021, had been sent to the Governor for his assent. The legislation envisages imprisonment for those who are found to be involved in mob violence and mob lynching for periods ranging from three years to a life term, besides imposition of fine and attachment of properties for those found guilty of violence. (ANI)
Stating that Congress is a perennial party and is deeply rooted in the minds of people, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Friday said that that the Congressmen should change their attitude in order to bring it back to power in the country. The statement from Moily came after the dissident leaders of G-23 convened a meeting at Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence on Wednesday. During the meeting, it was decided that the only way forward for the party is to adopt the model of collective and inclusive leadership and decision making at all levels. "The Congressmen should their attitude towards life, society and everything in order to win the elections. Congress is a perennial party and it is deeply rooted in the minds and hearts of the people. Jawaharlal Nehru had said that if the Congress party stops working for poor and downtrodden people, it will be finished. We should be committed to the downtrodden and need not lose hope," Moily told ANI. "Just because we are not in power, Congress leaders or workers should not panic. BJP and other parties are transit passengers, they will come and go, it is the Congress that will remain here." Moily said that Sonia Gandhi wants reforms within the Congress party but people around her have sabotaged it. "G23 leaders are targeting the senior leader & weakening the Congress party. BJP cannot be a perennial party and it will not stand the turmoil of politics after Modi." Meanwhile, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet Azad and other senior leaders of the G-23 group. The date of the meeting is yet to be finalised. G-23 leaders of Congress including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal, Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma, have been demanding immediate reforms in the party and organisational elections from the grass-roots to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) level. (ANI)
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed after the vehicle he was travelling fell into a water body in South Salmara Mankachar district along the Indo-Bangladesh border of Assam. Another BSF jawan who was also travelling in the same vehicle was reported missing following the accident and the other three have been rescued, according to information received by BSF officials. One BSF jawan was killed and another was reported missing after the vehicle they were traveling in met with an accident and fell into a water body in South Salmara Mankachar district along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Three jawans have been rescued. Search operation underway," BSF officials said. More details are awaited. (ANI)
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday visited veteran party leader Karan Singh at his residence to wish him on Holi but declined to comment on the film Kashmir Files when asked by journalists. "I came here to wish him a happy Holi," senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told the mediapersons on being asked about the film The Kashmir Files. The film, which focuses on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 1990s, has been mired in controversy since its release on March 11 with the BJP and Opposition parties having conflicting views on it. (ANI)
Higher lead levels in a mother's blood can increase the chance of her bearing male offspring, according to a new study led by Japanese scientists at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. The results of the study were published in the journal 'Science of The Total Environment'. The research aimed to help explain an observed decline in the proportion of male to female births in Japan and elsewhere. Generally, for every 100 females, 104 -107 males are born, said associate professor of medicine and lead study author Nozomi Tatsuta. Tatsuta added, "In recent years, the sex ratio has been declining worldwide, and the number of male births has been decreasing." Tatsuta cites data from a 2013 study of sex ratios at birth over six decades. In demographic terms, the number of males per 100 females at birth is called the secondary sex ratio (SSR), which is known to be sensitive to certain environmental toxins. For example, "Previous studies have reported that the sex ratio is affected by exposure to chemical substances such as dioxins, as well as heavy metals such as methylmercury," said study author Kunihiko Nakai, professor of Development and Environmental Medicine. Noting that lead can reduce female fertility as well as male sperm quality, the researchers hypothesized that it could play a role in the SSR. The study recruited pregnant female participants from the ongoing Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Environment. The study covers a broad geographic swathe of Japan. The participants were classified into five groups according to their blood lead levels. The analysis was adjusted for family income and smoking status during pregnancy, which could also affect the secondary sex ratio (SSR). Blood samples were collected from 85,171 female participants during middle-late pregnancy and analyzed for lead concentrations. Several analyses were used to examine the relationship between maternal lead levels and SSR - a logistic regression, a sensitivity analysis, and a binomial distribution analysis - and all three indicated an increase in the proportion of male births with higher maternal lead concentrations. The correlation between maternal lead exposure and sex ratio was consistent even after adjusting for other potential variables like father's age and exposure to lead on the job. The findings may explain why the percentage of male births in Japan has been declining. The authors explain that, as restrictions in leaded gasoline and paint have been implemented, air lead levels have decreased, citing a 2021 study in Germany reporting a long-term trend of decreasing blood lead levels coincident with lower air lead levels. The similarly decreased air lead levels in Japan may explain the shift in sex ratio away from males. This study has implications for public health. Guidelines for pregnant women are that blood lead levels should not exceed 50 nanograms per gram of blood. Yet, this study indicates that a maternal blood level of less than 1 nanogram per gram could affect the sex ratio of offspring. The researchers call for further study of the correlation between lead and offspring sex ratio. "Since there are many factors other than lead exposure that are related to the sex ratio, it is still not fully understood to what extent maternal lead exposure affects the birth sex ratio," said study author Shoji F. Nakayama, lead exposure scientist for the JECS. Other factors they hope to examine in the future include the effect of paternal blood lead levels on sex ratio and the impacts of lead on the frequency of miscarriages and stillbirths. The authors caution that because lead can have toxic effects on a developing human brain, it should never be used as a means of trying to control the sex of offspring. (ANI)
Aaron McKillop sits Sunday by his adapted ATV at his home in Gillette. McKillop suffered a broken back in 2014 when he crashed his motorcycle at Powder Basin Motocross and is in the process of starting up a non-profit to help people with disabilities reconnect with outdoor activities.
"I will celebrate both the festivals, Holi and Shab-e-Barat. My message to the people is to stay together just like different colours of Holi," Hakim told ANI.

Marking the onset of the spring season, Holi is a festival of colours, symbolic of joy and victory of good over evil.

Even though Holi is a predominantly Hindu festival, it is celebrated by people of other faiths as well. It marks the arrival of the spring harvest season in the country. (ANI)
Former Goa Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat said the Governor should ask BJP if they wish to form the government; otherwise he should give Congress the opportunity, as the people cannot be deprived of government for long. Kamat urged the Goa Governor to go by the Constitution of India. "Our party has said that if BJP can't form the government, then we will try. The Governor should ask BJP if they wish to form the government or not or else the Governor should give us the opportunity," he told reporters. He said, "Goans cannot be deprived of government for long and I urge the Goa Governor to go by the Constitution of India." Reacting to the delay in forming government in the state, Calangute Congress MLA Michael Lobo also asserted that government formation cannot be delayed further and added that Congress can get the required number on its side to form the government. "The day we get an opportunity, we will form the government," said Congress MLA Michael Lobo. Aldona Congress MLA Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that the Governor should have asked Chief Minister-designate Pramod Sawant to be sworn in as Chief Minister just 24 hours after declaring him as caretaker Chief Minister and have undertaken a floor test within 48 hours after swearing-in. With the BJP emerging victorious in the Goa Assembly elections, the state in all likelihood will see the formation of a new government post Holi (March 18), sources had stated earlier. "The elected members have taken the oath today. We will soon be forming the government. The central party observers will come from Delhi to elect the party leader. I will be going to Delhi and meet the leaders," Sawant had told reporters earlier. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in Goa, winning 20 seats in the 40-member state Assembly, leaving Congress with 11 seats at a distant second position. Independent candidates bagged three seats while two seats each went to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP). Revolutionary Goans Party and Goa Forward Party (GFP) got one seat each. (ANI)
Assam tea is famous for its robust flavour and strong aroma in the world.

Ranjit Baruah, the owner of Guwahati's Aromica Tea, which specialises in luxury teas, has the new tea 'Zelenskyy'. The tea 'Zelenskyy' is inspired by the courage and valour of Ukraine's President who rejected the US offer to escape war-torn Ukraine and stay firm for his nation amid the Ukraine-Russia war.

Speaking to ANI, Ranjit said, "We want to bring in the analogy of strength, the courage of Ukraine's President who has single-handedly fought the mighty Russian forces," he said, adding that, "I hope people like it." (ANI)
In a tweet today, the police wrote, "Director General of Police, J&K, Dilbag Singh has extended good wishes and greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the martyrs families, all ranks of J&K Police, security forces and their families on the auspicious occasion of #Holi."

The police expressed hope that the festival of colours will guide Jammu and Kashmir towards peace, progress and prosperity.

"DGP in his message has expressed hope that the festival of colours will guide Jammu and Kashmir towards peace, progress and prosperity. He has also prayed that this festival may fill colours of happiness in everyone's life & also further strengthen brotherhood & communal harmony," he said.

The DGP of Jammu and Kashmir has also appealed to the people to celebrate the festival safely by following the Covid guidelines, police said.

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival that is being celebrated with joy and fervour across the country today. (ANI)
About a 100 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital and there were three deaths due to the disease in the last 24 hours.

With this, the death toll from the infection in the state has gone up to 67,197.

As per the Kerala health bulletin, 1,321 people recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours in the state.

Kerala tested 22,683 samples in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, in India, the overall COVID-19 cases stand at 4,30,04,005.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the daily positivity rate has fallen to 0.35 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate is 0.42 per cent. (ANI)
The court approved the discharge petition of the three accused including the former minister in the murder case.

MM Mani who is presently CPI-M MLA, OG Madanan and Pampupara Kuttan have submitted the discharge petition.

Anchery Baby, who was the Youth Congress Udumbanchola block secretary and INTUC constituency president was allegedly killed on November 13, 1982.

After a controversial speech by Mani on May 25, 2012, mentioning this murder case, the court ordered re-investigation into the matter. Then the investigation team submitted its chargesheet naming Mani as the second accused. (ANI)
BJP's core committee held a six-hour-long crucial meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the formation of government in the state. Names of 36 candidates for Uttar Pradesh Legislative council were also discussed in the meeting attended by the party's national president JP Nadda, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Yogi Adityanath among others.

According to sources, discussions were also held on the names of prominent faces who will be invited for the swearing-in ceremony.

Several rounds of meetings have taken place within the party after poll results on March 10. Yogi Adityanath has made at least two visits to the national capital after the election results to meet top leaders of the party.

The BJP retained power in Uttar Pradesh by winning 255 out of 403 constituencies, securing a 41.29 per cent vote share.

Adityanath will be the first Chief Minister in the last 37 years to return to power after completing a full term in the state.

Adityanath, a monk-turned-politician, won his first-ever Assembly election by a margin of 1,03,390 from Gorakhpur Urban constituency, defeating the Samajwadi Party candidate Subhawati Upendra Dutt Shukla, who secured 62,109 votes in the recently-concluded UP Assembly elections. (ANI)
As per sources, the review meeting is being held in view of Amarnath Yatra and the proposed assembly elections in the Union Territories.

Before the meeting, Shah handed over job appointment letters to the families of martyred police personnel here.

Tomorrow, Shah will preside as chief guest over the 83rd Raising Day program of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu.

This is the first time that the CRPF is celebrating its Raising Day outside the national capital.

Notably, this is the second visit of Shah to Jammu in the last five months. Earlier, he had visited Jammu and Kashmir for five days. (ANI)
"The body of Naveen Ganagoudar, a young man from Haveri district who had recently died during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will arrive in Bangalore on Monday morning at 3 am: Chief Minister @BSBommai," Bommai tweeted.

However, Bommai earlier said, "The body of Naveen who died in a shelling attack in Ukraine will come to Bengaluru airport on Sunday at 3 am."

Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, an MBBS student, was a resident of Karnataka's Haveri district. The 21-year-old student of Kharkiv National Medical University was reportedly standing in a queue to buy food when he was killed in Russian shelling.

The chief minister also handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Naveen Shekharappa and promised a job for a family member. (ANI)
As per GSM Arena, the new colour will be available only at the Samsung Online Store, starting next month to complement the market launch of the Galaxy A series.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 arrived in the 2021 summer event of the company which also saw the unveiling of the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3.

One of the most prominent features is a dedicated VPU that filters external noises during calls and lets in only the voice of the speaker.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Buds Live was launched during the 2020 summer event, next to the Galaxy Note20 phones.

Both the Galaxy Buds2 and the Galaxy Buds Live are sold cheaper than they were launched, and as per GSM Arena, the Onyx colour will not change the price tag of the devices. (ANI)
Danny is a writer and a Calaveras County native. He studied creative writing and marketing at San Francisco State University and has previously done work as an automotive journalist. He is happy to be back and writing about the local community.

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.
Incriminating materials including a pistol and a magazine, one AK 47 magazine with 40 AK live rounds were recovered from the arrested, police said.

Personnel from the 34 Rashtriya Rifles and 178 battalion CRPF and Shopian Police caught the terrorists from a checkpoint at Aloora village in Shopian district, during a joint nakka.

During questioning, they were identified as Sameer Ahmed Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmed Lone.

A case has also been lodged under relevant sections of IPC at the Imamsahib police station of the district. (ANI)
The aircraft technicians of Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL), a government-owned company, continued their strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Friday. These technicians are employed on a fixed-term contract with the AIESL. The demands of these employees include salary revision, proper career progression, the inclusion of Dearness Allowance (DA), implementation of FTE Rules as per the Gazette of India dated March 16, 2018. Chand Pratab Asthana, one of the aircraft technicians said while talking to ANI, "We should be given the salary given to a permanent employee if we both are doing the same work. We also want the inclusion of DA. It is our right. Also, there is no career progression here. We are stuck as 'Aircraft technicians' here, putting our lives on the line, working no matter what. There was a casualty in 2016. With a salary of 25,000, when petrol prices are rising, we are expected to groom ourselves well and come here for work. Proper career progression and salary hike must be given to us. We do not get any facilities here. It is told to us that the company is in crisis, but why torture is being done only to us?" Asthana said that the strike is going on since March 15. "We gave a strike notice, invited for talks, went to the Labour Commission. But the management is not listening. Even the Labour Commission agreed with us, management offered to talk. First, the talks did not bear any fruit. Later when we sent a strike notice, technicians were terminated. We urge the management to take back the termination. We want a written answer and will continue our strike till our demands are met," he added. (ANI)
Following the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s decision to temporarily give charge of portfolios held by NCP leader Nawab Malik to different people but not take his resignation, Maharashtra BJP leader Kripashankar Singh on Friday said there's something called morality and it's a shame if a present minister is in jail. Malik, the chief of NCP's Mumbai unit and also the Guardian minister for Parbhani and Gondia districts, is currently in judicial custody in connection with the Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case. Slamming NCP's decision, Kripashankar said, "Morality is something, it's a shame if a present minister of the government is in jail." "There's a place of a minister and it's in ministry. Sharad Pawar should contemplate upon it. He could be made minister again once the court gives a decision in the matter," he added. Earlier today, NCP chief and Maharashtra Minister Jayant Patil said Malik will continue to be a Minister, and his duties so his responsibilities will be temporarily given to different people. Patil said NCP Mumbai chief's responsibility of Malik will temporarily be given to Narendra Rane and Rakhi Jadhav as new additional working presidents, while Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde and Minister of State for Urban Development Prajakt Tanpure will take charge of his duties as guardian minister of Parbhani and Gondia. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday denied any interim relief to Malik and refused to pass an order for his release from judicial custody. Malik in his plea has demanded that the FIR against him be cancelled. The plea also calls the Enforcement Directorate against him illegal and wrong. Malik was arrested on February 23. He is currently in judicial custody. (ANI)
Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Friday informed that the construction of Pandoh Bypass to Takoli section of NH-21 in Himachal Pradesh is 75 per cent complete and progressing at a rapid pace. In a tweet on Friday, Gadkari wrote, "The construction of Pandoh Bypass to Takoli section of NH-21 in Himachal Pradesh is 75 per cent complete and progressing at a rapid pace. It is a state of an art project which includes the construction of 9 modern tunnels and a 140 m long major bridge." This strategically important road running along the river Beas will connect famous tourist places such as Kullu, Manali further upto Leh. The Union Minister added that it will not only improve riding quality, save time and provide a safer journey for tourists all-round the year but also facilitate the movement of armed forces to the border areas of Himachal Pradesh and Leh with China. The consistent endeavour of PM Narendra Modi to boost connectivity in the areas which were once considered far-flung has led to multiple fast-paced development initiatives in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Gadkari stated in his tweet. In 2017, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the development of four-laning from 'end of Pandoh Bypass to Takoli' section of National Highway (NH)-21 in Himachal Pradesh. The cost is estimated to be Rs 2775.93 crore including the cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 19 km. This work will be done under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV B on Hybrid Annuity Mode. The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between 'end of Pandoh Bypass to Takoli' section. The development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region in the State. It would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities. It has been estimated that a total number of 4,076 man-days are required for the construction of one kilometre of the highway. As such, an employment potential of 77,000 (approx.) man days will be generated locally during the construction period of this stretch. (ANI)
Mixed views were voiced by politicians, economists and others on the 2022-23 budget for Tamil Nadu that was presented by Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan in the Assembly on Friday. This was Thiagarajan's second budget and also the second paperless budget for the state. Reacting to the budget proposals, former Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O. Panneerselvam said the budget lacks foresight and will not help the common man to improve his life. Panneerselvam said the budget does not have provisions for fulfilling various poll promises made by the DMK party like increasing old age pension, financial assistance to the women heads of families, increasing the revenue from mining and other sources. Panneerselvam who had handled the finance portfolio when the AIADMK was in power said the budget does not have anything on increasing the state's revenues or cutting down costs. "Social safety net, data driven governance, environmental sustainability and inter-generational equity, were among the key focus areas of this year's budget. Although the impact of the pandemic posed serious challenges to the economic growth of Tamil Nadu, the situation has been improving in the past months," Economist Gowri Ramachandran told IANS. "So, reform measures to boost the state's revenue by plugging leakages, to tap the revenue collection from key departments like commercial taxes, mining, sale of liquor/excise to the fullest possible extent, guidelines for toning up the functioning of State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and steps to reduce the debt burden are among the big expectations for this budget and all these were addressed," she said. Lauding the minister for bringing down the revenue deficit by about Rs 7,000 cr and fiscal deficit well within the approved line of four percentage Ramachandran said the priority will be for revenue resources and exploring possible measures to improve it. The government has allocated Rs 50 crore for emerging sector seed funds in the budget. Additionally, Rs 30 crore have been allocated towards TANSIM (Tamil Nadu Start up and Innovation Mission) for promoting start-ups in Tamil Nadu which in turn would encourage talented startups, Ramachandran said. President of Manitheneya Makkal Katchi, M.H. Jawahirullah said the budget is growth oriented and inclusive. He said while new tax announcements were expected, the Finance Minister has presented a tax free growth oriented budget. PMK Founder S.Ramadoss welcomed some of the budget proposals and said there are no special schemes to take the state on the forward path. He said the increasing debt burden-expected to be about Rs 6.53 lakh crore by March 31, 2023 is a worrying factor. The President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, K. Annamalai said the state government has announced schemes by naming the central government schemes and the budget is silent on the DMK party's poll promises. In a tweet Annamalai said the budget lacks long term vision and is a daydreamer's budget. Tamil Nadu's budget for 2022-23 is a disappointment for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) as it is similar to that of the Union Budget supporting 'doing well' industries, said K.E.Raghunathan, Convenor, Consortium of Indian Associations. "The budget is not addressing the core needs of MSMEs today. Sorry Finance Minister. We expected more from you for uplifting the suffocating MSMEs. But our pain continues and the struggle goes on," Raghunathan said. --IANS vj/bg ( 554 Words) 2022-03-18-19:44:02 (IANS)
Naveen, a student from Karnataka's Haveri district, who was studying medicine in Ukraine, was killed during Russian shelling in the war-torn Kharkiv city on March 1.

Bommai said that his body will arrive at 3 a.m. The state government has given financial aid of Rs 25 lakh to the deceased's family.

Naveen's father, Shekarappa, who was comforted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his son's demise, had requested the Prime Minister to safely bring back students stuck in Ukraine at the earliest, as they are assets to the country.

He had also raised concerns about the expensive medical education in India and the inability of meritorious students to secure medical seats within the country.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress and JD(S) have demanded to scrap the NEET entrance test alleging that it encourages tuition mafia in the country.

--IANS mka/sks/bg

( 179 Words)

2022-03-18-20:04:05 (IANS)
According to sources, Yogi Adityanath, who led his party to a thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, is likely to take oath as Chief Minister of the state for the second tenure on March 25.

Other than Union Ministers and the leadership of BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, many other Union Cabinet Ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are also among the invitees. If sources are to be believed, several Opposition leaders have also made their way to the list of invitees to the oath-taking ceremony.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati are among the prominent names likely to be invited from the opposition parties," said sources.

Beneficiaries of various central and state-run welfare schemes have also been invited to the oath-taking ceremony with a special focus on women beneficiaries.

Preparations for the grand ceremony have begun in Ekana Stadium of Lucknow.

As per sources, the names of cabinet members have already been finalized by the BJP.

Home Minister Amit Shah has been appointed as the central observer to look after the government formation in Uttar Pradesh. Former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das will also accompany Shah in ensuring government formation in the state as the co-observer.

The BJP retained power in Uttar Pradesh by winning 255 out of 403 constituencies, securing a 41.29 per cent vote share.

Adityanath will be the first Chief Minister in the last 37 years to return to power after completing a full term in the state. (ANI)
According to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Ajay Gusain (23) resident of Athali village in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi went to the river to take a bath with his friends after Holi celebrations.

After receiving the information of the missing youth, the 12th Battalion of the ITBP rescue team rushed to conduct a search operation.

The ITBP team along with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) tried to locate the missing youth at the site deep down the river but no trace was found till late evening.

The river depth at the rescue site where the youth went missing/drowned is approximately 25-30 feet, as per the ITBP.

The search operation will continue till Saturday morning. (ANI)
At least 21 people have been killed and another 25 were injured when after Russian forces shelled the town of Merefa in Kharkiv, according to the regional prosecutor's office. The attack occurred at 3:30 am (local time) and destroyed a school and an arts club, the prosecutor's office said, as per CNN. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that Russia was outright committing a war crime. Austin said recent "attacks" in Ukraine "appear to be focused directly on civilians," and "if you attack civilians, purposely target civilians... that is a crime." CNN quoting Austin reported that Russia's actions in Ukraine are "under review" by the US State Department. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine on Thursday (Eastern Time). The meeting was requested by the United States, Albania, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Norway, according to a tweet from Norway's UN Mission in New York. The UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Health Organization will brief at top of the session, Norway's mission tweeted, as per CNN. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry today expressed disappointment over the "unfriendly actions" of the Slovakian authorities which expelled three Russian diplomatic staff. "We are disappointed by the unfriendly actions of the Slovakian authorities which expelled three Russian diplomatic staff under false pretexts. It goes without saying that the decisions taken by Slovakia will not go unanswered," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. However, the European Space Agency today announced it has suspended the Russian-European Mars mission over the Russia Ukraine war. "We deeply deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the aggression towards Ukraine. While recognizing the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States," ESA said in a statement. (ANI)
Thousands of people gathered at Nepal's Kathmandu Durbar Square on Thursday for Holi, which is being celebrated after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Basantapur or the Kathmandu Durbar Square which has witnessed major turmoil and changes in Nepal is also referred as the "Holi Junction of Kathmandu". "Basantapur area has witnessed rapid change in the system of celebration after the outbreak of COVID pandemic. At a time when the pandemic was ravaging, less footfall was witnessed here as the administration had put a cap on the number of people for any sort of gatherings. Now with the COVID numbers decreasing, the Basantapur again is returning as a celebratory hub," Dipendra Dhungana, a Kathmandu based photojournalist who has been covering the celebration for years told ANI. Every year, tourists including foreigners flock to the square to celebrate the festival. "The celebration is going great, everyone is so kind and everyone goes around smearing powder which I would not get to experience in my nation. Everyone touches each other's faces which would have been avoided in my country. It's great and amazing," Teressa, a visiting German tourist said. The festival, also called the Spring festival, marks the arrival of spring and the harvest season. This traditional culture of playing the Holi is marked on two separate days in Nepal. The Hilly and Himalayan districts of Nepal mark the day of Holi on Thursday (this year) whereas the Terai districts will be celebrating Holi tomorrow (Friday). For two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, the pavilion had remained silent during the festival of colours where local administration allowed only limited processions to commence. With the third wave of COVID infection, the crowds are back with gusto and fervour. (ANI)
A man and woman have been indicted on murder charges in connection with the death of an Annapolis woman who disappeared in 2017.

The pair was brought back to Maryland last month from Arizona, where Anne Arundel County police say they fled after killing Megan Tilman, 43, who disappeared more than four years ago in what was ruled a homicide.

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Until the suspects were identified in January, Tilmans family, including her two daughters, had been waiting on answers for years. Its a relief the case is now moving forward, her father said.

William Rice Jr., left, Megan Tilman, center, and Crystal Stallings. Rice and Stallings have been charged with murder in Tilman's death. (Courtesy photo )

Im a bit elated, to be honest with you, said Jim Tilman, Megan Tilmans father. After so much time passing with no arrests for his daughters death, its moving along a lot faster than we anticipated.

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When Megan Tilmans remains were identified after being found underwater in Shady Sides Cedarhurst neighborhood in October 2017, police sought information from William Eugene Rice Jr., 46, and Christina Stallings, 45, who were Tilmans roommates before they took a bus to Arizona that month, around the time Tilman disappeared, according to charging documents.

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Since then, the two were living in a homeless encampment in Arizona, according to the Pima County Sheriffs Office, which arrested the two in January for extradition back to Maryland. Stallings also had started using the last name Harnish, her ex-husbands name, while she was living in Arizona.

The two have since been charged with first-degree murder, robbery and vehicle theft in connection to the 2017 case, according to an indictment filed last week.

Neither Rices nor Stallings attorneys returned calls for comment this week.

Police said in charging papers that the pair was relying on financial support from Megan Tilman and her mother while they were living together in a Rockwell Court home, but the support did not last. Around the same time Megan Tilman stopped providing money to Rice and Stallings, she disappeared, charging papers say.

Family members told police they had stopped hearing from Megan Tilman in late September 2017, except for a number of unusual and suspicious text messages and social media posts, which police believe were Rice or Stallings. Rice was seen on video driving Tilmans car to various ATMs and withdrawing money. The car was later found abandoned in New Carrollton.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Tilmans death a homicide and determined she had died from multiple injuries including blunt force trauma.

Rice and Stallings are being held without bail in the Jennifer Road Detention Center. Their trial dates have not been set.
"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's brutality and what he's doing, what his troops are doing in Ukraine is just inhumane," Biden said during a virtual meeting with the Taoiseach of Ireland Michael Martin.

On Wednesday, Biden accused Putin of being a war criminal because of the military operation in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Biden's statement is unacceptable and adding that the president of a country that has relentlessly bombed numerous countries has no right to use such words.

The goals set by Russia in its special military operation launched on February 24 in response to requests for help to defend the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops, are to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)
After several ruling party lawmakers announced that they would not follow the party line in the no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the opposition leaders urged him to step down voluntarily, saying that he has "lost the majority" in the National Assembly. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that MNAs have been threatened with violence, arrest and dire consequences if they take part in the no-confidence process, reported The Express Tribune. Bilawal said PPP along with Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will take all measures to protect lawmakers from 'fascist regime.' "Their lives, liberty and family are under threat. MNAs will take any and all means for their own protection against this fascist regime," he wrote on his official Twitter handle. Meanwhile, disgruntled ruling party lawmaker Raja Riaz revealed that as many as 24 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs were staying in the Sindh House in Islamabad due to "security concerns". "We will not show all our cards now. IA (InshaaAllah) a few friends will respond to IKs (PM Imran) accusations. More to come in the coming days. Out of respect to the OIC conference, we don't want anarchy in Islamabad. The government must not provoke us," said Bilawal. The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting is slated to be held on March 24. "Today, Imran Khan has lost the moral legitimacy to run the government and the country. Clearly, the Imran Khan has no majority in the House," said PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab chapter President Rana Sanaullah expressing similar views called upon PM Imran to reign after "losing the support" of the majority of lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, reported The Express Tribune. He said as of now only ruling dissident PTI MNAs have surfaced. "Three ministers are also coming out now... just don't panic." Another senior leader of PML-N Khawaja Asif said PM Imran should prove the support of 172 MNAs in the house which is a "constitutional requirement". He added that opposition parties are all set to expel the premier from the "stadium". Ahead of the vote on the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan, dozens of dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs came out in the open on Thursday. The dissident MNAs were found staying at the Sindh House in Islamabad, with two of them - Raja Riaz and Malik Nawab Sher Waseer - saying their vote on the no-trust vote will be "accordance with their conscience", reported the Dawn newspaper. Giving a clear indication of their stance in the upcoming vote, several other PTI lawmakers -- including MNAs Noor Alam Khan and Basit Bukhari -- were staying at the facility, the media outlet reported citing a TV footage. Citing fears of government action against them, there are around 24 PTI lawmakers staying at the Sindh House, the Pakistani publication quoted Riaz, a member of the Jahangir Tareen group, as saying to Geo News. (ANI)
Amidst the growing disenchantment in Nepal against Chinese investments, locals in the Eastern district of Jhapa held large protests against the Damak Clean Industrial Park (DCIP) over displacement of people from their lands without proper compensation, local vernacular media reported. The DCIP project has been called a shady, corrupt and forced exercise by the locals who have been protesting under an umbrella organisation against the China-led initiative. "Thousands of us have been displaced, without being given any proper compensation," a protestor said. The protestors allege that they have been forced to evict their lands without being given proper compensation, in addition, no employment guarantees have been provided to those whose sole source of income was the land taken away from them. The project is being developed under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is spread over an area of 325 hectares, with plans of further expansion to the tune of 1142 hectares. Earlier in January, a Canada-based think tank International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS) had reported that locals in Jhapa district opposed China-sponsored Damak Clean Industrial Park, stating that "industrial park falls in former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's constituency" believing that Oli was too close to Beijing. IFFRAS reported that there were over 5,000 protesters including those from indigenous communities, who called for attention to "illegal activities" at the BRI- sponsored industrial park. There have been fears that China was getting its hands on strategic sectors that are vital to Nepal's security interests. And the people of Nepal see BRI as a major reason besides land encroachment. "BRI project has been a ploy to impose a debt burden on poor nations, including Nepal. BRI project should not be allowed to be implemented in Nepal." IFFRAS quoting Birendra Sah of the Loktantirk Socialist Party reported. At the same time, the track record of Chinese investment in Nepali projects is not good as it is clear from a vast gap between commitment and realization of investment, slow growth in the implementation, cost overruns due to delays and poor feasibility studies and rehabilitation of the people who fear displacement, a Nepali news portal Pardafas had earlier said citing examples of hydropower projects and industrial park projects being undertaken by Chinese firms. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (local time) said that China "bears responsibility" to use its influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine. Blinken's remarks come ahead of US President Joe Biden's call on Friday with China's Xi Jinping, reported CNN. "We continue to call on all nations, especially those with direct influence with Russia, to use whatever leverage they have to compel Moscow to end this war of choice. We believe China, in particular, has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support," Blinken said. "Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter. And we're concerned that they're considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine. President Biden will be speaking to President Xi tomorrow and will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression and we will not hesitate to impose costs," he said. There is a lot of conjecture about the strategic relationship between China and Russia, and the degree of knowledge that Chairman Xi Jinping had before President Vladimir Putin launched his lamentable invasion of Ukraine. This war is proving to be fraught with risks for China, putting Beijing in an awkward nexus as it tries to juggle support for its ally while pretending to be neutral. China has tried hard to portray itself as neutral in this conflict, but it is patently obvious that it is not easy walking such a tightrope. Russian talking points are blithely repeated by Chinese officials, one example being the ridiculous notion that the USA has biological warfare laboratories in Ukraine. (ANI)
Russian forces have captured Viktor Tereshchenko, mayor of Ukraine's north-eastern settlement of Velykoburlutska, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration, in a video message on Thursday. "We have news today that (the Russians) captured the head of the Velykoburlutska community, Viktor Nikolaevich Tereshchenko. Such people need to have security. Victor Nikolaevich was kidnapped simply from his workplace and taken to the local police station. They are holding him and will not release him," Syniehubov said in the video. He added that the locals condemn the act and that he is working to free the village leader as soon as possible. "Soon our occupied territories will be ours again," he said. While Russian forces have not taken Kharkiv, they "continue their terror against the civilian population, in particular against the heads of territorial communities of Kharkiv region today," Syniehubov added. This comes a day after the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, who had been captured by Russian forces, was freed as part of a prisoner swap. Meanwhile, the conflict continued to rage on in Ukraine with at least 21 people killed and another 25 injured when Russian forces shelled the town of Merefa in Kharkiv, according to the regional prosecutor's office. A US citizen identified as James Whitney Hill was among several people killed in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on Thursday, Ukrainian police said. The US State Department confirmed the death and offered condolences to the family. "Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment," a spokesperson added. (ANI)
As per police officials, Chaand was killed while her friend Mehboob sustained injuries during a firing incident on Thursday, reported The Express Tribune.

As many as 70 transgender persons were killed in the last few years, but not a single accused has been convicted, said a social activist.

Social activist of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's transgender community Arzu, while condemning the incident, told The Express Tribune that the government has failed to give security and rights to the marginalised community.

Recently, the transgender community protested against local police authorities, saying that they face threats every now and then.

On Monday, the police arrested a suspect for his involvement in an attack on five transgender persons in Mansehra.

Earlier in February, two transgender persons were allegedly shot dead by unidentified assailants in Gujranwala. (ANI)
In an official letter sent to the insurance companies, the acting government announced the suspension of all the activities of the public and private insurance firms, reported Khaama Press.

The letter says the spirit of the insurance industry is under discussion in the Science Academy of Afghanistan to decide whether it is against Islamic practices or not.

The suspension spells doom for insurance companies who have invested and carried out financial risks in the country for the last 20-year of the democratic era and open market in Afghanistan.

Several private insurance companies in addition to a government-owned insurance entity, have invested and carried out financial risks.

The Afghanistan economy went into crisis after the collapse of the Afghanistan government in the hands of the Taliban on August 15 of last year. Hundreds of companies, organizations and projects were shut down, reported Khaama Press.

The acting Taliban government in Afghanistan emphasizes Islamic norms but has never issued any written Islamic policies yet.

Insurance is practised in almost all other Islamic countries for the purpose of risk management; however, in some Islamic states, it is undertaken under the term of Takaful, an Islamic insurance concept. (ANI)
Washington [US], March 18 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States is providing Ukraine with intelligence that is making a difference in its fight against Russia, US Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie said during a hearing. "I would say that the intelligence that we are sharing and the work that we're doing to support the Ukrainian government is making a difference," Moultrie said to the US House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. "It's accurate. It's timely, and it's actionable." Moultrie added that he believes Ukraine is pleased with the support the United States is providing to it. Earlier in the day, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russian forces have advanced 10 kilometres (6 miles) in the Donbas and seized two more settlements and are continuing their successful offensive. Since the beginning of the special military operation, Konashenkov said, Russian forces have destroyed 182 Ukrainian aircraft and helicopters, 177 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,393 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 134 multiple rocket launchers, 523 field artillery guns and mortars, and 1,182 special military vehicles. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after "requests" from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for help to protect them from t intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation targets Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Russia has said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)
The sanctions have been introduced over the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

"The Australian Government has placed sanctions on 11 additional Russian banks and government entities, with the majority of the country's banking assets now covered by our sanctions along with all of the entities that handle Russia's sovereign debt," the ministry said in a statement.

"Today's listing includes the Russian National Wealth Fund and the Russian Ministry of Finance. With our recent inclusion of the Central Bank of Russia, Australia has now targeted all Russian Government entities responsible for issuing and managing Russia's sovereign debt," the statement added. (ANI/Sputnik)
"(Putin is) a murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine," Biden was quoted as saying by CNN.

Earlier on the same day, in a meeting with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, he said that "Putin's brutality and what he's doing and his troops are doing in Ukraine is just inhumane."

The strong remarks come just a day after Biden called Putin a "war criminal" during a press briefing.

"I think he is a war criminal," Biden had said.

Biden had initially said "no" when asked whether Putin was a war criminal but returned to a group of reporters immediately to clarify what had been asked. When asked again whether Putin was a war criminal, he answered in the affirmative, reported Sputnik.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that US President Joe Biden's remarks on Russian President Vladimir Putin speak for themselves when asked to comment on the remarks.

Kremlin had taken serious objection to Biden's "war criminal" remark with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying, "We consider such rhetoric of the head of state, whose bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, unacceptable and inexcusable."

The recent rhetoric from Biden is a significant escalation in his condemnation of Putin's actions in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday Biden's comments were "absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable," CNN reported. (ANI)
A pile of rubble is all that remains of the Parkview Crossing townhome of Everton Brown in Woodlawn. Police shot and killed Brown Saturday, after he set fire to his townhome then shot four neighbors, killing three of them. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Shyam Adhikari thought he was going to die outside his home on the morning of May 8, 2021.

His neighbor was on a shooting rampage, and as Adhikari knelt in the grass beside his wounded friend, the gun was trained on him.

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Adhikari was shot in his right leg before police officers arrived and shot and killed his neighbor: 56-year-old Everton Brown.

The shooting in Woodlawn killed three others and left Adhikari with lasting injuries. Even as the one-year anniversary of the incident draws near, Adhikari said he struggles to stand up without assistance and cannot walk for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

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The incident raised painful questions about policies in place in Maryland to assist those who may be experiencing mental health crises. Brown had extensive contact with law enforcement during his years in Woodlawn. He called the police more than 120 times to complain that he was being surveilled by the federal government, to report altercations with his neighbors, to claim that items had been stolen from his house.

The Baltimore County Mobile Crisis Team stopped by Browns home more than once for wellness checks, and at least one neighbor filed a peace order against him. But none of that was enough to prevent tragedy.

Adhikari spoke last week in favor of a bill before the Maryland General Assembly that would convene a working group to reassess Marylands extreme risk gun law, including representatives from the relevant state agencies, law enforcement and health professionals.

The existing law, which took effect in 2018, allows officials to take firearms away from those deemed to pose an immediate risk to themselves or others for up to one year at a time. Family members, cohabitants, medical professionals and law enforcement officials can petition the court to initiate the process. The law, commonly called Marylands red flag law, was one of the most-used of its kind in the country just a few years after its passage.

This years bill, sponsored by Del. Harry Bhandari of Baltimore County, is named after Sagar Ghimire, Adhikaris friend who died that day. A couple, Ismael Quintanilla and Sara Alacote, also were killed. Ghimire, a 24-year-old from Nepal, had just graduated from Claflin University in South Carolina and moved to the Parkview Crossing townhome complex in Woodlawn when the shooting occurred.

His family was left to wonder why  if the clues were there  there was no action taken, which might have prevented this incident, said Bhandari, a Democrat. This bill would take a step toward providing that answer.

The bill is supported by the office of Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., and by Ghimires family in Nepal. During last weeks hearing, a representative read a letter from the family.

May the government and administration get inspiration to be aware and take additional remedial measures to mitigate the brutal violence like the one my son and many sons of innocent parents have faced, it read.

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For any hope of passage this year, the bill would need to be approved by the House of Delagates by Monday, but it remains in committee and so it has a steep hill to climb. But Bhandari said he plans to continue pushing for the measure in future legislative sessions if needed.

This is a complicated case touching on many critical issues, and I understood from the start that there would not be an easy solution, he said in a statement. While I am hoping that my colleagues will help me pass HB1344 this year, I am ready to take advantage of an additional year to prepare an even stronger bill.

Adhikari was the first one in his home to wake up that morning in May when an explosion rocked Browns townhouse next door.

When he saw flames engulfing his neighbors home, Adhikari roused his housemates and helped them evacuate. Ghimire tried to rescue the two international students all-important travel documents from their home but couldnt find Adhikaris. So Adhikari went in himself to retrieve them, leaving Ghimire in the parking lot.

Baltimore County fire and law enforcement agencies investigate a fire and a shooting. Everton Garfield Brown, 56, killed three of his neighbors Saturday and was fatally shot by police after an explosion collapsed and burned his Parkview Crossing town house and an attached house in the 7500 block of Maury Road, officials said. May 8, 2021 (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

When he returned, Adhikari saw Ghimire lying on the ground and rushed to his side.

I thought he just got faint because I didnt hear any gunshots until that time, Adhikari said. And I just pulled his body and brought it to the grass part and just kept his head in my lap, and I just told him, Just wake up, Sagar. Wake up.

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Suddenly, Brown approached the pair, gun in hand.

At the time, I couldnt do anything else, Adhikari said. I thought: Thats the end of my life. And I just closed my eyes, and he shot the gun.

Then, as police approached, Brown ran away. Four officers fired at Brown and killed him.

Recovering from the injury to his leg has been trying, Adhikari told legislators during the hearing.

Its been already eight, nine months, and Im still on bed rest, Adhikari said.

He and Ghimire first met back in 2013 while attending high school in Kathmandu. They moved to the Baltimore area together in hopes of applying to local graduate schools. But the shooting changed everything.

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Now, Adhikari lives in Fairfield, Ohio, with his wife, who is helping him recover from his injury. Adhikari said he does not have health insurance, so he hasnt been able to afford the physical therapy his doctors recommended. But he does what he can to strengthen his leg from home and said it has begun to improve.

For the first few years, evaluating Marylands red flag law  which aims to prevent tragedies like what happened in Woodlawn  was made more difficult by confidentiality provisions, which shielded some of the data from public view, said Shannon Frattaroli, a professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies the measure.

Last year, the Maryland General Assembly updated the law to allow for greater data-sharing between the courts and researchers, Frattaroli said. Her team at Hopkins is just beginning to assess additional data about extreme risk protection orders, including more information on who most often petitions for the protective orders and whether theyre most often used to protect against self-harm or harm to others.

I definitely appreciate the attention from [Del. Harry Bhandari] on the need to have a work group, she said. But any group that does that needs to have those recommendations informed by data. And that just became possible less than a year ago. And the process of going through those data takes time.

That being said, there are discussions about modifying the law, perhaps to make it easier for medical professionals and other eligible groups to petition courts by allowing for virtual testimony, Frattaroli said.

In Browns case, it was neighbors who frequently flagged his behavior; they are not eligible to file an extreme risk protective order under Maryland law.

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Back during the legislative process, there was some movement to try to extend the protective order petitioners, said Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin, who helped to craft Marylands law and train police departments to use it. But there was some real concern about neighbors  somebody who wasnt even familiar with a person  getting one of these ERPOs.

Everton Garfield Brown, 56, killed three of his neighbors Saturday and was fatally shot by police after an explosion collapsed and burned his Parkview Crossing town house and an attached house in the 7500 block of Maury Road, officials said. May 8, 2021 (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

Several of Browns interactions with Baltimore Countys Mobile Crisis Team, made up of specially trained plainclothes police officers and mental health professionals, occurred before the red flag law was even in place.

In November 2015, the team responded to his home because he had made several complaints to county officials that the FBI was harassing him and had stolen his tooth, according to a police report.

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When officers arrived at his home, which had large signs and security cameras in the front yard and tarps covering his front door, Brown answered the door wielding a video camera and demanded officers investigate the theft of his tooth. He initially refused to answer a question about whether he was thinking of harming himself but eventually said no, before hurling a racial slur at one of the officers, who already was attempting to leave.

The team found him very delusional but very cognizant about dates and times, according to the report.

Marylands extreme risk gun law is purposefully specific, Popkin said. The person must show that they present an imminent danger to the community, perhaps by threatening to use a firearm against themself or others. Although peace orders can be obtained to address disputes between individuals, taking someones firearms away must meet a greater threshold, Popkin said. So, too, does taking someone for an emergency evaluation at the hospital.

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Mandating that someone who receives an extreme risk protective order also receive a mental health evaluation would be a risky proposal, Frattaroli said.

We risk stigmatizing people with mental illness when we draw too bright of a line between mental illness and violence, she said. ERPO laws were written very clearly to focus on dangerous behaviors  and not diagnoses of mental illness.

Popkin said he believes Marylands law is working, what with hundreds of orders granted each year, but he would welcome any opportunity to reevaluate it.

Any time youre putting a group of people together  especially with the list of members that would consist this work group  only potential good things can come, he said.
Of these new local infections, Jilin province lodged 1,834 cases, Fujian Province reported 113 cases, and the southern province of Guangdong reported 74 cases, Xinhua reported citing the Chinese National Health Commission.

China's other provincial-level also witnessed new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections where the rest of the cases were reported, including Shanghai and Liaoning.

China also recorded a total of 73 imported COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, according to Xinhua.

Earlier, on Wednesday, no COVID-19 deaths were reported.

Two days back, China reported two times more new COVID-19 cases from Monday as the country faces, by far, the biggest outbreak since the pandemic began.

Amid a rapid resurgence of COVID-19 cases, Shanghai-based renowned infectious disease expert Zhang Wenhong remarked that Beijing should take the period as an opportunity to lay out anti-epidemic strategies that are complete and sustainable.

He made these remarks in a post on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo on Monday. He said that it is "the most difficult period" for China since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.Zhang noted that it is "still not time for China to lie flat".

"We should have clearer methods for the future rather than debating over zero-COVID or co-existence," he was quoted as saying by the Chinese state media tabloid Global Times.

The state media reported that Chinese observers warned local governments to avoid taking extreme measures such as city lockdowns, as they would harm the local economy. (ANI)
"External Security Commissioner of China's Foreign Ministry Cheng Guoping met with the Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov and discussed bilateral ties between both countries," the Global Times reported.

The world is witnessing a crisis in Ukraine after Russian forces launched military operations on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (local time) said that at least 12 people have been killed and 34 people have been injured in at least 43 attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine amid intensified attacks by Russia.

Tedros said the war in Ukraine is also exacerbating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country due to a decline in testing rates and only 40 per cent Ukrainian population being vaccinated.

Tedros stated that while Ukraine is "rightly the focus of the world's attention," he urged the council "not to lose sight of the many other crises in which people are suffering," including millions of people still suffering in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, and Yemen. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken on Thursday (local time) said that the United States will continue to provide life-saving aid to the Ukrainians. He was speaking at the press briefing and these remarks came ahead of US President Joe Biden's call on Friday with China's Xi Jinping. "The support we are providing Ukraine, as well as our financial and economic measures against Moscow, will strengthen Ukraine's hand at the diplomatic table. And we commend Ukraine for staying at that table and continuing to pursue diplomacy while the Kremlin's brutal aggression continues," Blinken said. Blinken said that Russia's military operation in Ukraine is not welcomed by Ukraine and on contrary, the country is fighting against Putin's armed forces to protect their families, people and homes. Blinken further explains how the Kremlin is manufacturing narratives about chemical weapons, then falsely blaming Ukraine to justify potential escalations of attacks. Blinken also discusses the innocent people who lost their lives in this war. He said, "With every day that passes, the numbers of civilians, including children, killed and wounded continues to climb." US President Biden will meet Chinese President Xi on Friday and US will make clear that if China supports Russia's aggression then China will bear responsibility for any actions, and the US can impose costs. There is a lot of conjecture about the strategic relationship between China and Russia, and the degree of knowledge that Chairman Xi Jinping had before President Vladimir Putin launched his lamentable invasion of Ukraine. This war is proving to be fraught with risks for China, putting Beijing in an awkward nexus as it tries to juggle support for its ally while pretending to be neutral. (ANI)
The US' bipartisan Congressional delegation is expected to visit Nepal by the second week of April, days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day trip to Nepal. Wang is scheduled to visit Nepal on March 26-27, The Kathmandu Post reported. Nepali officials confirmed that the delegation comprises 25 members will be visiting Kathmandu. Wang's planned visit and Beijing's increased concern over the US grant seems that the powerful countries are again taking interest in Nepal, according to the experts and Nepal's official. This interest came after the US granted USD 500 million to Nepal for improving electricity supply and roads as per the US Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). After the MCC compact's ratification on February 27, the Chinese government's mouthpieces wrote in their editorials that the US is interfering in Nepal's sovereignty. US Congress delegation visit is expected to be high-level exchanges later this year from both sides to mark the 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and the US, Nepali newspaper reported citing sources. "This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nepal-US diplomatic ties and a lot of political and social engagements are taking place between the two counties," the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu post. Meanwhile, Chinese officials say Wang's visit to Kathmandu has agenda and that is to reassess Beijing's geopolitical and security challenges, as China no longer feels secure in Nepal."Implementation of the BRI projects in Nepal is important for Beijing," says a second Kathmandu-based Chinese official who has long liaised between Kathmandu and Beijing. He was also speaking on the condition of anonymity. "But this time Beijing is more worried about the security challenges emanating from the compact's approval," he added. During his visit, Foreign Minister Wang will also take stock of the political climate in Kathmandu, reported The Annapurna Express.The Chinese government is also unhappy with its Kathmandu-based diplomats for their supposed failure in curbing anti-Chinese activities. The MCC saga has been a sobering experience for China. Beijing is reportedly reassessing its relations with Nepali leaders, particularly those it had trusted before. (ANI)
The residents of Jamshoro in Pakistan's Sindh province noticed an unidentified flying object falling from the sky with a tail of smoke on Thursday. The object clearly resembled a rocket or a missile. According to information gathered from social media, the object was a missile, fired by Pakistan from its test range at Sindh. The test was scheduled at 11 am which was postponed by an hour owing to a fault in the TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher). It was finally conducted at noon. However, seconds after the launch the missile was seen descending from the path, clearly falling short of its desired target and crashed near Thana Bula Khan in Sindh. Although few Pakistan news channels covered the incident, the authorities in the country have remained silent. According to social media accounts in Pakistan, the local administration, however, refuted any such claim saying that it was a regular Mortar Tracer Round that was fired from the nearby range. It is unlikely, however, that a mortar with a maximum range of 5 km will have a tracer projectile rise that high. According to a reporter on the ARY news channel of Pakistan, there had been information of some "plane, rocket or something like that" falling down. He said the police were investigating the matter. Pakistani news agency the Conflict News Pakistan reported that Pakistan might have test-fired a missile in response to a previous missile mistakenly fired from India. "Jamshoro, Pakistan tested a missile in response to the previous Indian Brahmos missile. Pakistani missile failed to reach its target & fell down nearby," tweeted Conflict News Pakistan. Pakistani defence analyst account called AEROSINT Division PSF posted from its Twitter handle, "Aliabad, Jamshoro, Sindh. With regards to the video being published on social media, the own forces testing range near the vicinity of this town is active. No reason to create panic." The Pakistani defence analyst account further said a prior intimation announcing a no-fly zone in the test area had been issued. It said, "A NOTAM was already issued", and attached the NOTAM issued to airlines, along with a map showing the probable path followed of the projectile. In the NOTAM, the details of the testing schedules are specified in which the dates 17th and 18th March are mentioned. NOTAM or Notice to Airmen are notices distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations. (ANI)
The PM in a statement said that Australia is home to people of many diverse faiths who draw great strength and confidence from their beliefs. He also said that their country is the most successful multicultural and multi-faith nation on earth.

The statement further said, "This is especially for Holi- one of the most important and vibrant events for Indian Australians. This ancient festival of colours gathers people together for a joyous celebration."

"Holi holds even more meaning this year. As we reach the end of a second pandemic year, we can be thankful for the many things that have sustained us- our family, our community and our faith," a statement further added.

The Australian PM thanked the Indian Australian community for the love and care they have shown to their families as well as to the Australians.

"Now, after being apart for so long these celebrations bring us together in a spirit of unity and friendship, and inspiring hope for the future," the statement added. (ANI)
The Defence Sikh Network, a global nexus of defence personnel from the Sikh community, has released a video that for the first time connects the members of the faith in the Armed Forces from around the world. The video aims to promote awareness and participation in the Sikh festival of Holla Mahalla celebrated on March 18. Defence personnel from several countries including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia are taking part in the initiative. The three-day-long military festival normally falls in March and is celebrated across the world. "As Sikhs within the armed forces, the festival of Holla Mohalla, resonates with us particularly," Sqn Ldr Singh Bains Royal New Zealand Air force said in a video message. The festival, initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, evokes within the community the spirit of courage, preparation and readiness. During the festive, martial skills are honed and exhibited in fierce but well-natured competition. Through this initiative, the Sikh diaspora, who serve in the armed forces of many countries, are looking at maintaining their articles of faith. "We feel this should be one of the premier events within the Sikh calendar to ensure our martial traditions continue," said Maj Singh Virdee British Army. In a video message, one of the Sikh defence personnel said, "On behalf of Sikhs within the armed forces across the United Kingdom, Canada, Unites States, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia may the values of the Sant-Sipahi saint soldiers continue to flourish." (ANI)
This story is still developing and more details are awaited.

This incident comes a few months following a series of attacks on minority religious places in Bangladesh that took place last October.

An ISKCON temple in Noakhali city in Bangladesh was vandalised and a devotee was killed by a mob on October 16.

Earlier, communal tensions gripped Bangladesh following allegations of the Quran being dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla on October 13 last year, triggering violence in several districts across the country. (ANI)
The Taliban has officially banned the broadcast of all foreign TV series in Afghanistan, Sputnik reported citing a person familiar with the situation. "The Taliban clearly said to stop showing any foreign TV series translated into Dari or Pashto [official languages of Afghanistan]," a participant of the meeting of Afghan broadcasters, held on Thursday, said, according to the Russian News Agency. A participant stated that the new authorities said they would not accept any excuses for violating the ban. "There is no film industry in Afghanistan, and there are no shows or movies that can replace the foreign ones. This restriction means people have to turn off the TV sets," the source said, Sputnik reported. The situation of human rights in Afghanistan has worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power in August last year. Although the fighting in the country has ended, serious human rights violations continue unabated. The Taliban have committed and continue to commit human rights violations including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, a massive rollback of the rights of women and girls, censorship of and attacks against the media. Moreover, people in Afghanistan are also facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis which is being driven by decisions and positions taken by the international community, especially the US, that have blocked Afghanistan from aid funding and access to the global financial system. (ANI)
Sindh House is the domain of the provincial government and as such, is always at its disposal. The same is true for Punjab House, Balochistan House and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Dawn newspaper reported.

The Pakistani newspaper reported that the Special Security Unit (SSU) of the Sindh police on Thursday said its personnel had been sent to the federal capital only to participate in the Pakistan Day parade on March 23.

A spokesman for the SSU claimed, however, that only a handful of personnel was always deployed at the Sindh House in Islamabad, which was the provincial government's administrative and residential facility in the federal capital, Dawn newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, Sindh Province's Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has warned the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over imposing governor's rule in his province and stated that the people will retaliate against this "unconstitutional move".

His statement comes after the Pakistani interior minister Sheikh Rasheed said that he advised the government to impose the governor's rule in Sindh in the wake of the alleged horse-trading controversy. (ANI)
A Cumberland man accused of three killings in Allegany and Howard counties was found incompetent to stand trial in Allegany County following a competency hearing in Allegany Circuit Court. (Darcy Costello)

The man accused of three homicides last September in Howard and Allegany counties was found incompetent to stand trial by an Allegany County Circuit Court judge this week, court records reflect.

Allegany County Circuit Judge Michael O. Twigg signed an order Wednesday afternoon indicating Jeffrey Allen Burnham, 47, was incompetent to stand trial due to a mental disorder and committed him to the Maryland Department of Health.

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An annual review hearing will be held on Sept. 13, according to the document.

In Allegany County, Burnham faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of motor vehicle theft in connection with the killing of Rebecca Reynolds, an 83-year-old woman found dead in her home with a deep laceration in her neck. Police say Reynolds was a friend of Burnhams mother.

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Burnham is accused of then stealing Reynolds SUV, driving more than 100 miles away to Ellicott City and fatally shooting Brian and Kelly Robinette, Burnhams half brother and his half brothers wife. Charging documents suggest Burnham had made comments about wanting to confront his half brother for his role in administering coronavirus vaccines as a pharmacist.

He was captured 18 hours later, following a police manhunt, in Davis, West Virginia, where he reportedly told a firefighter outside a local establishment that he had been forced to kill three people.

Burnham faces additional criminal charges in Howard County in connection with the Robinette killings, including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of motor vehicle theft.

He is scheduled for a separate competency hearing in Howard County on March 29, according to court records.

Burnhams lawyers in Allegany County requested last year the Maryland Department of Health evaluate his ability to stand trial.

The Maryland Department of Healths evaluation report is not publicly available, but a court website indicates it was filed on Feb. 8, ahead of a competency hearing held on Tuesday.

Burnhams attorneys, Jessica Colwell and Michael Stankan from the Allegany County Public Defenders Office, did not respond to a request for comment sent by email.

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Burnhams mother, Evelyn Burnham, had contacted Cumberland Police about her son making statements about the FBI coming after them and setting up a security system in his bedroom, according to charging documents.

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Evelyn Burnham also told police that Jeffrey had expressed a need to confront Brian Robinette over his role administering COVID vaccines as a pharmacist.

According to police, Jeffrey told Evelyn he wanted to confront his half brother over the government poisoning people with COVID vaccines.

Brian Robinette, 58, worked as a Walgreens pharmacist in Severna Park, his father previously told The Baltimore Sun.

Cumberland neighbors of Burnham said they watched Burnham devolve into a loner, including shouting at children playing in the street days before the three homicides.

Evelyn Burnham told The Baltimore Sun last year she was sorry, and that shed lost two boys, a friend and a daughter-in-law.

I just hope they found out what went wrong in his head, she said in an interview last year.
India's legitimate energy transactions should not be politicized, said sources amid reports that New Delhi is planning to buy Russian oil at a discounted rate following the surge in global oil prices after the Ukraine conflict. India is highly dependent on imports for meeting its energy requirements, nearly 85 per cent of crude oil requirement (5 million barrels a day) has to be imported. Most of the imports are from West Asia (Iraq 23 per cent, Saudi Arabia 18 per cent, UAE 11 per cent). USA has also now become an important crude oil source for India (7.3 per cent), sources informed. Imports from the US are expected to increase substantially in the current year, probably by around 11 per cent. Its market share will be 8 per cent, according to sources. "Geopolitical developments have posed significant challenges to our energy security. For obvious reasons, we have had to stop sourcing from Iran and Venezuela. Alternative sources have often come at a higher cost," the sources said. The sources further stated that the jump in oil prices after the Ukraine conflict has now added to our challenges. The pressure for competitive sourcing has naturally increased. "Russia has been a marginal supplier of crude oil to India (less than 1 per cent of our requirement, not among top 10 sources). There is no G2G arrangement of import," the sources said. "Russian oil/gas is being procured by various countries across the world, particularly Europe. 75 per cent of Russia's total natural gas exports is to OECD Europe (like Germany, Italy, France). European countries (like Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Romania) are also large importers of Russian crude oil." Notably, recent Western sanctions on Russia have carve-outs to avoid impact on energy imports from Russia. Russian banks that are the main channels for European Union payments for Russian energy imports have not been excluded from SWIFT, as per sources. "India has to keep focusing on competitive energy sources. We welcome such offers from all producers. Indian traders too operate in global energy markets to explore best options," said the sources. They further said countries with oil self-sufficiency or those importing themselves from Russia cannot credibly advocate restrictive trading. According to some media reports, Indian Oil Corporation purchased 3 million barrels of Russian crude oil, the first such transaction since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February. India, the world's third-largest oil consumer and importer and one of the few countries not to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, currently imports 80 per cent of its oil, but only about 2 per cent to 3 per cent of those purchases come from Russia. Meanwhile, the United States has said India would not be violating US sanctions by purchasing discounted Russian oil but added that such a move would put the world's largest democracy on the "wrong side of history". The US has banned all Russian energy imports in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. (ANI)
Meanwhile, Ukrainian air forces said that fourteen Russian aerial units were destroyed on March 17.

Ukraine's air defence destroyed seven aircraft, one helicopter, three UAVs, and three cruise missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force command.

After the US and other western countries, Japan has also imposed sanctions on 15 Russian persons and nine more entities over the military operation in Ukraine, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis, several currents and former European politicians request the Norwegian Nobel Committee to nominate Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 and due to this, the nomination process has been extended to March 31.

"We therefore humbly call upon you, the Committee, to consider: Extending and thereby re-opening the nomination procedure for the Nobel Peace Prize until March 31, 2022, to allow for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine," the statement, dated March 11, said.

On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics requested help in defending themselves.

Russia has been facing immense pressure from the international community to stop its military operations in Ukraine which has created an immense humanitarian crisis with thousands of refugees from Ukraine fleeing to the neighbouring countries to the West. (ANI)
Pakistan's Balochistan remains impoverished and has become the weakest point for the country as Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is giving China too much freedom to operate on its soil which will only harm the province, according to a think tank. That Pakistan's largest province remains backward and impoverished is the fundamental point, the Policy Research Group reported. Balochistan recently witnessed two violent attacks where the first one was the gun attack on policemen while they were taking a lunch break and the second one was the remote-controlled bomb that exploded in Quetta, which killed 3 persons and injured 25 others, the Policy research group reported. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan attacks in Balochistan are symptomatic of the revival of TTP across the country however, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was worried more about the challenges that Liberation Army (BLA) poses as they are directly impacting Pakistan's relation with China. The BLA's main target is China and it can be judged on the basis of the statement which was released by the BLA. The statement reads, "We also once again warn the Chinese to refrain from aiding Pakistan in looting Baloch resources and occupying our motherland, or else their interests will become our targets," according to a think tank. The reality of these attacks is the fact that China is not interested in pursuing further investments in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and prefers speeding up existing projects. Baloch rebels have consistently targeted CPEC projects in Balochistan and Gwadar, in particular. China has said that the security of Chinese personnel and the infrastructure of the CPEC project is the responsibility of the Pakistani army. (ANI)
"On 18 March 2022, the Government released the first tranche of targets covered by new sanctions developed under the Russia Sanctions Act 2022 following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. This first tranche prioritises political and military individuals and entities, and extends existing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and 12 members of his Security Council to include asset freezes and prohibitions on their vessels and aircraft entering New Zealand," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The sanctions list includes Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, Sputnik and RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, Novatek and Sibur major energy stockholder Gennady Timchenko, businessmen Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg among others.

Sanctioned entities include Promsvyazbank, Joint-Stock Company Almaz-Antey Corporation, JSC Research and Production Corporation UralVagonZavod, JSC 558 Aircraft Repair Plant, JSC Integral, and Tactical Missiles Corporation Joint Stock Company.

On March 7, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta announced targeted travel bans against Russian government officials and other individuals associated with the "Russian invasion of Ukraine." (ANI/Sputnik)
The Pakistani Opposition party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Thursday announced that it would send about 10,000 volunteers of its Ansarul Islam Force to provide security to the participants of the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) long march on March 25. Ansarul Islam Force is the JUI-F volunteer force that provides security to the party's leaders and their workers during public rallies, conventions and other events. PDM has given a call to its workers and the public to begin their long march towards Islamabad on Pakistan Day on March 23 and would reach the Parliament House on March 25 to stage a possible sit-in to counter the government's alleged attempt to forcibly stop lawmakers from entering the Parliament House to cast vote on the no-trust motion. The JUI-F's provincial council on Thursday met senator Attaur Rehman and discuss the plan for the Islamabad march, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported citing JUI-F media cell statement. In the meeting, the council decided that the JUI-F officials from Haripur and Buner districts would meet in Peshawar on Friday to take the final decision on the mass gathering of opposition parties in Islamabad. Meanwhile, the meeting of JUI-F office-bearers from Kohat division will take place in Kohat on March 19, the JUI-F's organisers in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Division's meeting will discuss their plan in the Serai Nourung area of Lakki Marwat district the next day. The JUI-F council also discussed the second phase of the local body election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier, a petition was filed in Islamabad High Court, demanding to prohibit the ruling's public rally in Islamabad's Red Zone. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) scheduled the public rally on March 27 at Islamabad's D-Chowk to show solidarity with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan against the no-trust motion that was tabled by the opposition parties. The opposition parties in Pakistan are jettisoning mutual hatred to oust Imran Khan as they submitted the no-trust motion in the National Assembly secretariat on March 8. While the Imran Khan government has exuded confidence to defeat the no-trust motion, the Opposition is sure that they will oust Khan. (ANI)
"Last evening when devotees were preparing for Gaura Purnima celebration, a mob of 200 people entered the premises of Shri Radhakanta Temple in Dhaka and started vandalizing it," Radharamn Das, Vice-President ISKCON Kolkata told ANI.

"Three of our devotees were injured in the scuffle. Fortunately, they called Police and were able to drive away miscreants from the temple premises," he said.

Das said that the attack is a matter of grave concern and appealed to the Bangladesh government to take stringent action and provide security to Hindu minorities in the country.

This incident comes after a series of attacks on minority religious places in Bangladesh that took place last October.

An ISKCON temple in Noakhali city in Bangladesh was vandalized and a devotee was killed by a mob on October 16 last year.

Earlier, communal tensions gripped Bangladesh following allegations of the Quran being dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla on October 13 last year, triggering violence in several districts across the country. (ANI)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in a speech in Berlin on Friday highlighted Germany's plan for the new national security strategy in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Baerbock called for a new security strategy, including a focus on cybersecurity, a new China strategy, an energy policy that includes moving away from fossil energy sources and moving faster towards efficient renewable energy and climate diplomacy. She made the comments ahead of a panel discussion among various German lawmakers. During her speech, Baerbock talked about the need for an inclusive approach to national security, including international partners, saying that "security policy is more than just the military plus diplomacy," reported DW News. "We are seeing that cyber attacks are an integral part of modern warfare," she said. She also announced that Berlin will develop a new China strategy alongside the new security strategy, citing the instability in countries where Beijing has invested in infrastructure, such as in Africa. Energy policy also plays a key role, especially following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But Baerbock said the decisions that are being hotly debated currently at the EU level should have been discussed eight years ago when Russia annexed Crimea but added that "it is not important to note who knew what in the past, it is important to get it right now. "We need to move away from fossil energy sources and move faster towards efficient renewable energy sources," the Green party minister said. "This is not only investment in clean energy it is also investing in our security and our freedoms as well." She called the climate crisis "the security crisis of our time." The minister stressed that global warming is already happening and is exacerbating security problems in fragile states. "This is why climate diplomacy is an integral part of our security strategy. Every ton less of CO2, every tenth of a degree less of global warming is a contribution to human security," she added. She said that "tripwire" logic, where NATO forces are stationed in Eastern Europe when they feel under threat, is no longer sufficient, reported DW News. "Our military exercises need to reflect new realities and we need to factor in that the eastern flank of the alliance is under a new threat, so we need more NATO presence in southeastern European countries," she said. "Germany will make a substantial contribution to that in Slovakia." "In the light of Russia's massive breach of our peace order, we need to implement the principles that guide us even more clearly into practical politics," she said. "Decisive for me is a clear stance, a stronger ability to act and sharper tools for foreign and security policy," the foreign minister said. Reflecting back in time, the Foreign Minister said that Germany has a "special responsibility" that comes from its history and guilt for atrocities in the Second World War. "It is [our] obligation to stand by those whose lives, whose freedom and whose rights are at stake," she said, reported DW News. Speaking upon the international cooperation on defence, Baerbock said, "Our strength is international unity." "The EU is currently formulating for the first time an extensive security policy strategy" which she says was initiated by Germany. "This war shows once more, that the security of Europe depends on NATO's collective defence," she said, arguing that Germany's security should be complementary with EU and NATO security policies. (ANI)
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan called for the release of the TOLOnews media workers, saying it is time for a constructive dialogue with the country's media community.

"Deepening concern tonight in Afghanistan over credible reports of further arbitrary detentions by the Taliban of @Tolonews reporters. The UN urges the release of all those taken away by gunmen and an end to the intimidation and threats against journalists and independent media," said United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a tweet.

The UNAMA also said that it is "Time for the Taliban to stop gagging & banning. Time for a constructive dialogue with the Afghan media community."

The situation of human rights in Afghanistan has worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power in August last year.

Earlier this month, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Taliban authorities have carried out far-reaching censorship and violence against Afghan media in the district and provincial centers.

According to the rights group, the situation facing journalists outside Kabul appears much worse than inside the capital, particularly for women.

Journalists in the provinces have described Taliban members threatening, detaining, and beating them and their colleagues who were trying to report the news, the HRW said.

Many journalists have felt compelled to self-censor and report only Taliban statements and official events. Women journalists have faced the most intense repression. (ANI)
According to Police, the accident was occurred due to a brake failure while the students were returning from an educational trip, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The injured children have been rushed to the Walasmulla hospital by local residents.

According to a news agency, Sri Lanka faces a high number of road accidents with 52 fatal motor accidents reported from December 25 to 31, 2021 alone, which left 53 people dead, police said.

According to official figures, a total of 2,365 fatal motor accidents were reported in 2021, resulting in the deaths of 2,461 people, it added. (ANI)
Moreover, Ukraine plans to deliver humanitarian aid to Balakleya and Izyum in the Kharkiv Oblast, reported The Kyiv Independent.

As the Russia-Ukraine war inches towards completing one month, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke to the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and discussed the preparations of the 5th EU sanction package on Russia.

They also spoke on providing aid to the Ukrainians who fled the war-torn country and sought refugee in European nations.

Taking to Twitter, Kuleba said, "Spoke to @JosepBorrellF. We discussed the preparation of the 5th EU sanctions package on Russia. Pressure will keep mounting as long as it is needed to stop Russian barbarism. We also discussed protection and help for Ukrainians who fled from Russian bombs to the EU."

In a recent update, two people were killed, six wounded by a Russian airstrike in Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine. The March 18 missile strike hit a residential building and an administrative building, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, reported The Kyiv Independent.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, at least six Ukrainian drones, including one Bayraktar, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle was downed by Russian Forces overnight, reported Sputnik on Friday.

On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics requested help in defending themselves.

Russia has been facing immense pressure from the international community to stop its military operations in Ukraine which has created an immense humanitarian crisis with thousands of refugees from Ukraine fleeing to the neighbouring countries to the West. (ANI)
Former Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr. served in Annapolis from 1995 until 2015. (Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor)

The Rev. Dr. Emmett C. Burns Jr., the first African American elected to statewide office representing Baltimore County and the founding pastor at Rising Sun First Baptist Church, died of complications of a fall Thursday at Sinai Hospital. The Lochearn resident was 81.

As a state delegate, the Rev. Burns spearheaded a campaign to rename the Baltimore airport after civil rights activist Thurgood Marshall.

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Emmett was always on the right side of most issues and was always very much his own person, said Larry S. Gibson, longtime University of Maryland professor of law and author of a biography of Thurgood Marshall, who was also a close friend and confidant. He was serious, but not as serious as his demeanor appears to be in pictures, he really was a very pleasant man.

Del. Benjamin T. Brooks Sr., who took over the Rev. Burns seat in the 10th District in Baltimore County in 2015, said: He was very instrumental and strong leader in the community. He was a man of morals, values, ethics and integrity. We are going to sorely miss him.

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Emmett Carl Burns Jr., son of the Rev. Emmett C. Burns Sr., a Baptist minister, and his wife, Clara Burns, a textile worker, was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, one of three brothers.

After graduating in 1958 from the segregated Jim Hill High School, he earned a bachelors degree in 1962 from Jackson State University.

They were poor and he grew up across the street from Jackson State, said a son, the Rev. Engel Burns, a Washington resident, who succeeded his father as pastor of Rising Sun Baptist Church. Every day he saw kids going to college, which inspired him to go to college, and he never gave up that dream.

His brother Robert, who has since died, moved to Milwaukee as part of the last of the northern migration, and took a job in a factory so he could help his three other brothers attend college, and they loved him for his sacrifice, his son said.

Subsequently, the elder Rev. Burns earned his undergraduate degree from Jackson State University and obtained a masters degree in 1968 from Virginia Union University, another masters in religious education in 1969 from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia, and a doctorate in 1974 from the University of Pittsburgh.

2008 file photo. Del. Emmett C. Burns, Jr. asks questions to a panelist over House Bill 712, which called for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland. (GLENN FAWCETT / Baltimore Sun)

He went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force from 1975 to 1978, where he attained the rank of captain.

The Rev. Dr. Burns civil rights activism began early in life as legendary civil rights leader Medgar W. Evers maintained an office several blocks away from where he grew up.

Medgar Evers was his mentor, his son said. As a young boy, my father would hand out civil rights flyers, and when he took my mother on their first date, he loaned my father his car.

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When he was a student at Jackson State, and at Mr. Evers urging, the Rev. Dr. Burns participated in a march to integrate the local public library. The march was broken up by tear gas, dogs and police swinging night sticks. He was later arrested for drinking from a whites only water fountain.

I grew up in fear, the Rev. Dr. Burns explained in a 1983 Sunday Sun interview. I think the most lasting impression I had when I was about 8 years old and saw three white policemen pull a Black woman, who had run a red light, out of her car and slap her around. Ten Black men were standing around couldnt do anything. I knew something was dreadfully wrong with that.

The Rev. Burns later worked at the NAACP under Mr. Evers.

The Rev. Burns was working in Wisconsin in 1963 when he turned on the radio and learned that Mr. Evers had been assassinated.

Twenty years later, he could quote verbatim the mournful opening words of the radio broadcaster: Death has occurred again in the stillness of the night in Mississippi, he explained in The Sunday Sun article. From that point, he said, I resolved that I would return to Mississippi and continue Mr. Evers struggle.

After earning his doctorate and handling several ministerial positions in Virginia and Pennsylvania, the Rev. Burns was named in 1971 field director of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP, a position he held for seven years. There he led protests against schools where students were segregated by sex in an attempt to keep Black boys and white girls away from each other, and filed lawsuits that sought equal city services for Black and white people against several municipalities.

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The Rev. Burns relocated to Baltimore in 1979 to serve as the NAACPs first regional director, serving Maryland, Washington, and Virginia

My friends in Maryland get so mad at me, he told the Sunday Sun. Im always telling them that Mississippi is better than Maryland (in regards to civil rights). The difference between there and here is there you know where you stand. Here, racism is more subtle. And subtle racism is worse than overt racism.

In 1983, the Rev. Burns and his wife, the former Earlean Poe, started Rising Sun First Baptist Church in the living room of their Lochearn home.

People hold hands during prayer at a worship service led by Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr., third from left behind the cross. He included a tribute to Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun)

He retired from the NAACP in 1993 and moved to pastoring full time, his son said. When redistricting occurred in Baltimore County, an opportunity arose to elect an African American to statewide office to represent the county.

The Rev. Burns son remembered his father taking a vote at the family table one morning.

He asked us if he should run, his son recalled. He won that first election at the breakfast table, his son said.

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The Rev. Burns successfully ran for the House of Delegates as a Democrat from Baltimore Countys District 10, where he represented Catonsville, Woodlawn, Lochearn, Randallstown and Milford Mill.

The Rev. Burns early advocacy work on civil rights issues and his faith helped shape his political career. At times, his faith would cause friction in his political life, his son said.

The Rev. Burns has been a prominent opponent of same-sex marriage, and wrote Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti asking him to quiet linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, an outspoken supporter of same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage passed the legislature in 2012.

He was true to his faith, his son said.

The Rev. Burns lasting achievement was spearheading the effort in renaming the Baltimore-Washington International Airport after Thurgood Marshall, the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice.

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It was Emmetts idea to name the airport after Thurgood Marshall, and he introduced the bill and got it through the House of Delegates, Mr. Gibson said. I did the lobbying for his idea but he had initiated it. It was two hours until sine die when it passed the Senate. I was in the gallery and when it did, he looked up and gave me a thumbs-up.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. signed the bill, and in 2005, the airport was renamed Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The idea to name the Baltimore airport after Marshall may have been planted in the Rev. Burns mind after the Jackson, Mississippi City Council, renamed their airport a year earlier the Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.

He always told me that when he died he wanted to go home to Jackson from BWI-Thurgood Marshall, through Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans, and finally to Medgar Evers Airport, Mr. Gibson said. He even said that when proposing the legislation.

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The Rev. Dr. Burns retired from the House of Delegates in 2015, and in recent years, had spent his days working with his son in the day to day operation of the church he had established.

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Engel Burns said his fathers biggest accomplishment was serving the church.

As much as he loved serving people in the civic arena, his real passion was the church, he said.

The Rev. Burns was also a caring father and husband, his son said.

He loved his family, he loved his children, and he cherished my mom, he said.

An avid book collector and reader, the Rev. Burns was fascinated by history and especially World War II, his son said.

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Plans for funeral services are incomplete but the Rev. Burns will be returned to Jackson for burial at Garden Memorial Park, which, fittingly, is on Medgar Evers Boulevard.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, the former Earlene Poe, a retired Baltimore County Public Schools elementary teacher; two other sons, Emmett C. Burns III of Parkville and Evers Burns, named for Medgar Evers, of Lochearn; two brothers, the Rev. Jerome Burns of Dallas and Dr. Ralph Burns of Fayetteville, North Carolina; and five grandchildren.
Sources said around 150-200 people were involved in the violence at the ISKCON temple, in which three ISKCON members were injured. Some damage was caused to the property.

According to sources, the High Commission of India is in touch with Bangladeshi authorities. The cause of the trouble, according to the Bangladeshi authorities, is a longstanding dispute over the land on which the ISKCON temple exists.

Reportedly, a recent judgment in the dispute went in favour of one litigant, who then tried to unilaterally enforce his title by force.

Local authorities intervened thereafter and brought the situation under control. The injured have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College. Cases have been filed by both parties in the matter, and police are examining the same.

The High Commission of India remains in touch with the minority groups, law enforcement, and senior leaders.

This incident comes a few months following a series of attacks on minority religious places in Bangladesh last October.

An ISKCON temple in Noakhali city was vandalised in October last year.

Earlier, communal tensions gripped the country following allegations that the Quran was dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla, triggering violence in several districts across the country. (ANI)
Xue's case was transferred to procuratorial authorities for review and prosecution following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Supervisory Commission, the SPP said in a statement on Friday.

Xue was the former vice-chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission announced in August that Xue was under investigation. He was later expelled from the Party over serious violations of Party discipline and laws. (ANI/Xinhua)
Due to the recent escalation of tensions between Vietnam and China in the South China Sea, the Sino-Vietnamese war has begun receiving renewed media attention after almost 43 years where Vietnamese people use social media for expressing anger and condemning Beijing for inflicting war on Vietnam. Notably, February 17 marked the 43 years of the 1979 Sino-Vietnam war and the Vietnamese people with the help of social media platforms expressed anti-China sentiments as well as a veiled criticism of the Vietnamese government, reported Geo Politica. The fight left many civilians and soldiers killed in Vietnam's border provinces. This outburst shows that the Vietnamese people may forget the physical wounds but not the deception and emotional hurt inflicted by the Chinese. Besides the contemporary maritime territorial disputes, security concerns and geopolitical competition, the unpleasant reality of the history between these two countries continues to linger on. In Vietnam, low-profile anniversaries of the fierce fight against the Chinese invasion are organised each year in local cemeteries in the Northern border provinces while small-scale demonstrations take place in other parts of the country including Hanoi. However, many Vietnamese veterans, military enthusiasts, historians and diplomats have urged the government to become vocal about the past atrocities of China on Vietnam. In 2013, Major-General Le Van Cuong, former director of the Strategy Institute under the Ministry of Public Security, and other retired politicians told state media that it was time to review the official commemorations of the war and that government must include it in textbooks. Young academicians were also concerned over the ignorance of most of the students about the 1979 war, even as information about Vietnam's just and defensive stand against the Chinese 1979 aggression remains vague. Vietnamese youth have also been shown movies projecting Chinese culture and history. The wounds left by the 1979 war still haunt the Vietnamese people, reported Geo Politica. (ANI)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow "will not allow" the transfer of the S-300 air defence system, reported The Kyiv Independent.

Earlier on Thursday, Slovakia's defence ministry said that the country is willing to send S-300 long-range air defence systems to Ukraine provided that Western allies give them a "proper replacement" to avoid creating a security gap, reported The Washington Post.

In a key development, US-based satellite, Terran Orbital is providing Ukraine with crucial strategic assistance. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, the satellite producer is sharing critical data and images of the Russian troops' movement with the conflict-ridden country.

"This critical information helps us defend our country from kremlin's aggression & terrorism," wrote Ukraine's MoD in a tweet.

As the war rages on, the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU's commitment towards Ukraine amid Russia's aggression. In a virtual call, von der Leyen assured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the EU's 'unabated support'.

The EU President praised the cohesion policy of the union that is helping the Ukrainian refugees to sought shelter in the EU countries at this time of dire need.

"Cohesion policy has long been the silent strength of our Union. Helping us grow closer together. And today, cohesion policy can help EU countries welcome Ukrainian refugees, quickly and humanely," wrote von der Leyen in a tweet.

On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics requested help in defending themselves.

Russia has been facing immense pressure from the international community to stop its military operations in Ukraine which has created an immense humanitarian crisis with thousands of refugees from Ukraine fleeing to the neighbouring countries to the West. (ANI)
Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) warned the Imran Khan-led government of closing around 600 pharma production units across the country next week over tax imposed on raw material. During a press conference, PPMA chairman, Qazi Mohammad Mansoor Dilawar, said that the association strongly rejected the government's decision to impose 17 per cent sales tax on raw material of the medicines, Dawn reported on Friday. He claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had given an assurance that the tax on purchase of raw material would be reimbursed, but it later refused to do so. "The prices of a number of materials such as bottles, aluminium and impulse glass, as well as electricity and gas rates, were continuously rising and the government also imposed sales tax on them," Dilawar said quoted by Dawn newspaper. "Moreover, the government has imposed sales tax on services of contractors and consultants. Unfortunately, there is also a huge tax on import of machinery and pharmaceutical plants. Now, a tax has been imposed on import of raw material which is not being reimbursed despite commitment by the government," he regretted. As per the former PPMA chairman Hamid Raza, the association had decided to give five days to the government to reconsider its decision, otherwise, the industry would have no option but to go for the strike. (ANI)
Citing state-run news agency Bakhtar, Xinhua reported that a mortar shell exploded in the Sarokhil area of Gardi Siri district, killing two people on the spot and injuring three others.

Afghanistan has been witnessing these attacks for years.

Last week, seven people of the same family were injured as a device exploded in a house of Marja district of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. (ANI)
China sees the current Nepali Congress-led government as pro-Western and anti-China with a Chinese official saying that Communist Party of Nepal CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has double standards on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact. One Chinese official in Kathmandu says, "We tried hard to stop the MCC compact's parliamentary approval, but we were left with no option when even the leaders who had earlier assured us of the compact's failure started shaking under US pressure," reported The Annapurna Express (ApEx), a Nepal-based media outlet. The US Government's MCC signed the pact with the Government of Nepal in September 2017 aimed at maintaining road quality, increasing the availability and reliability of electricity, and facilitating cross-border electricity trade between Nepal and India--helping to spur investments, accelerate economic growth, and reduce poverty. However, Chinese state media has said that the MCC compact undermines Nepal's sovereignty and comes with risks. Last month, Nepal's House of Representatives ratified the MCC pact following weeks of a rift within the ruling alliance. The ruling alliance later adopted the 12 points which clearly stated that the parties will not consider MCC a part of US military strategy. As the ratification is now passed, Beijing is reportedly reassessing its relations with Nepali leaders, particularly those it had trusted before. In a bid for new ways to engage Nepal post-MCC compact ratification, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Kathmandu. Another Chinese official, on the condition of anonymity, stated, "Implementation of the BRI projects in Nepal is important for Beijing," adding "But this time Beijing is more worried about the security challenges emanating from the compact's approval." Wang Yi's unprecedented and unplanned visit is only suggesting an unusual level of urgency at the unfolding events in Nepal. (ANI)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the plan announced by the Taliban to reopen schools for girls and boys next week. This comes after reports emerged that the Taliban will allow girls to return to class when high schools open on March 22, ending the uncertainty over whether the Islamic group would allow full access to education for girls. "I welcome the plan announced by the Taliban to reopen schools for girls & boys on 22 March, which must now be approved and implemented. All doors must be open for girls & boys to have an education and reach their full potential," UN chief tweeted. Heather Barr, former senior Afghanistan researcher, at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said opening girls' secondary schools is hugely important. "Please, let it happen. But if it does, let's not breathe a huge sigh of relief and congratulate the Taliban for slightly retreating on just one of their many violations of the rights of women and girls," the HRW tweeted. Since taking power, the Taliban have rolled back women's rights in virtually every area, including crushing women's freedom of movement. The vast majority of girls' secondary schools are closed. Universities recently reopened, with new gender segregation rules. But many women are unable to return, in part because the career they studied for is off limits now as the Taliban banned women from most jobs. According to HRW, women and girls are blocked from accessing health care as some healthcare facilities require them to bring a mahram. Reports suggest that women and girls facing violence have no escape route if they can flee only with an abuser escorting them. Allowing girls into schools and other educational institutes has been one of the main demands of the international community. The majority of countries have refused to formally recognise the Taliban amid worries over their treatment of girls and women. and other human rights issues. (ANI)
The State Bank of Pakistan released some data which showed on FDI inflows during July-Feb 2021-22 noted a positive growth of 6 per cent compared to the same period of last fiscal year, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The second half of the current fiscal has been facing several negative impacts including the war in Ukraine and a hike in oil prices in the international markets, the report added.

This drop-in investment said the record surge in oil prices and other commodities rates has widened the trade deficit.

According to Dawn, the 6 per cent FDI growth is far lower than the USD 11.6 billion current account deficit confronting the country.

The Pakistani publication added that poor investment climate hit the FDI inflows which noted a sharp decline of 50 per cent to USD 110 million in January this year from USD 218.7m in December 2021.

Besides this, Pakistan's FDI inflows from China dropped to USD 384.5 million during July-Feb FY22 compared to USD 522.7m in 8MFY21.

China has retained its position as the biggest investor in the country. However, Pakistan is unable to attract Chinese investors for any vital change in the economy.

The report further noted the biggest change in the inflows from the US which more than doubled in 8MFY22 to USD 175m compared to USD 84.2m in the same period in FY21. (ANI)
During her visit from March 19-23, Under Secretary Nuland will hold Partnership Dialogues in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.

"On each stop, Under Secretary Nuland and the delegation will meet with civil society and business leaders to strengthen economic partnerships and deepen ties in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific region," the US State Department said in a statement.

According to the statement, other senior members of the delegation include Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory.

Nuland took to Twitter and said she is looking forward to strengthening peace, prosperity, and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

"Looking forward to visiting Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka where our partnerships are vital to strengthening peace, prosperity, and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region," she tweeted. (ANI)
"The withdrawal of many Western companies from the Russian market and those niches that have been vacated may actually be occupied by Indian companies in many industries, in particular, in pharmaceuticals," Alipov told the Rossiya 24 broadcaster, as quoted by Sputnik news agency.

The newly appointed Russian envoy added that India is a "world pharmacy" and a leading manufacturer of drug copies that are no worse than the original.

India's Vaccine Maitri initiative last year reinforced its credentials as the "pharmacy of the world". World leaders publicly commended India's efforts to rapidly expand vaccines production and supplies at critical junctures of the pandemic.

This decision to replace manufacturers in pharmaceutical comes at a time when Russia has been bombarded with sanctions from Western countries. Now Russia is looking to enhance economic engagement with countries non-European countries.

Earlier this month, Alipov had said that Moscow has welcomed the independent foreign policy of India amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Touching upon the relations with India, Alipov said, "Prime Minister (Modi) and the Indian leadership meet the consistent independent policy of the state in international affairs. We have repeatedly stated that we have welcomed the independent foreign policy of India and strengthening its role and its influence in the international arena."

The Russian envoy also hailed the Indian foreign policy stand on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. (ANI)
Amani Krishna Das, the public relations officer of ISKCON temple, told ANI: "More than 200 terrorists led by Haji Shafiullah attacked, vandalized and looted the ISKCON Radhakanta temple at 222, Lal Mohan Saha Street in Wari."

"The miscreants attempted to break the security wall of the temple," Das said.

On March 17, ISKCON affiliated Radhakanta Jeev temple was vandalised.

"Last night around 8 pm, ISKCON temple in Wari was attacked by around 200 Muslim miscreants who kidnapped two devotees and beat them up. Several devotees were also injured," Amani Krishna Das said.

The devotees who were beaten up by the mob were identified as Sumantra Chandra Shravan, Nihar Haldar, Rajiv Bhadram, he said, adding that however, the devotees were rescued with the help of police later.

According to sources, the High Commission of India is in touch with Bangladeshi authorities, minority groups, law enforcement, and senior leaders.

This incident comes a few months after a series of attacks on minority religious places in Bangladesh last October.

An ISKCON temple in Noakhali city was vandalised in October last year.

Earlier, communal tensions gripped the country following allegations that the Quran was dishonoured at a puja pavilion in Cumilla, triggering violence in several districts across the country. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping over a secured video call on Friday in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. China's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has already troubled western observers. White House officials are watching with growing concern the budding partnership between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden, on Thursday, said that the Chinese counterpart "does not believe democracies can be sustained in the 21st century." According to CNN News, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said, "We're (US) concerned that they're (China) considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine." United Nations has "deep concerns" on China's alignment with Russia at present time, a US official said, adding that the national security adviser was directed about those concerns and the potential implications and consequences of certain actions. "We do have deep concerns about China's alignment with Russia at this time, and the national security adviser was direct about those concerns and the potential implications and consequences of certain actions," the official said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki underscored that message, suggesting the US would take action against China should it help Russia."We've been clear there would be consequences," she said at a White House briefing. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Chinese Communist Party Political Bureau Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi and raised a range of issues in US-China ties, with "substantial discussion" of Russia's war against Ukraine. "Sullivan raised a range of issues in US-China relations, with substantial discussion of Russia's war against Ukraine. They also underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and China," a White House readout said. The meeting between the US and Chinese diplomates was held in Rome, Italy. "Their meeting followed up on the November 15, 2022, virtual meeting between President Biden and President Xi," the readout said.Earlier, the US had warned China of the consequences of helping Russia bypass sanctions. On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics requested help in defending themselves.The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger.The West however denies these claims by the Russians and in response, Western nations have imposed comprehensive sanctions on Moscow. In addition, they introduced sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia's operation in Ukraine. (ANI)
India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) advocated the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) saying that it is important to ensure its implementation in letter and spirit. India noted the remarks made by the UN Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu regarding biological activities relating to Ukraine and said that "India attaches high importance 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." R Ravindra, Deputy Permanent Representative at UNSC briefing said, "It is important to ensure full and effective implementation of the BTWC in letter and spirit. We also believe that any matter relating to obligations under the BTWC should be addressed as per the provisions of the Convention and through consultations and cooperation between the parties concerned." Expressing concern over the ongoing situation in Ukraine, India added that it welcomes the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. "As outlined yesterday, India remains deeply concerned at the progressively deteriorating situation in Ukraine. We welcome the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine," the Indian diplomat said. India reiterated the need for dialogue and diplomacy. Tirumurti said, "We believe that immediate cessation of hostilities and diligently pursuing the path of dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward." "We need to undertake this engagement keeping in mind the need to respect the principles of the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of States," he added. Russia had started a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for protection against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation was only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and the civilian population was not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia. Earlier in March, the Russian Defense Ministry unveiled new findings after analyzing documents obtained from experts from Ukrainian laboratories. Igor Kirillov, the chief of the Russian armed forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defence, said that Pentagon created a network of over 30 biological laboratories in Ukrainian territory. According to Kirillov, the United States removed all materials necessary for further research from Ukraine after the beginning of Russia's special military operation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow may launch a consultation mechanism under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) to discuss Washington's non-compliance with the document. However, a US Defense Department official denied the accusations saying 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. (ANI)
This comes after Pakistani PM addressed a public meeting in the Lower Dir district which the Election Commission of Pakistan termed as a violation of the code of conduct. The election commission directed the PM to explain his position and appear or send in a lawyer on March 14 for the purpose.

The prime minister's counsel Syed Ali Zafar before IHC quoted the newly amended ordinance and said that under the fresh law, the public office holder could attend gatherings ahead of polls.

However, Justice Amir Farooq heading the IHC bench, said that the prime minister should have responded to the notice from the ECP. The court slammed Imran Khan saying, "This government has become an ordinance factory and is bypassing the Parliamentary procedure," adding that the prime minister should respect the institutions, reported ARY news.

The court also asked Imran Khan and Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar to join the proceedings by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

After the submission of the no-confidence motion and the National Assembly session for voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan just weeks away, the government has been holding public gatherings.

The court issued notices to the Election Commission, cabinet division, the attorney general of Pakistan for the next hearing on March 28, reported the news channel. (ANI)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, called for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and a diplomatic solution to the conflict as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Putin criticized Kyiv for "trying to delay the negotiation process in every way possible, putting forward more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said. Putin in the call said that Moscow is ready to search for solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during negotiations with the Ukrainian side. The Russian leader also told his German counterpart they were doing everything possible to save the lives of civilians. The call lasted just under an hour, reported DW. Notably, Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held several rounds of negotiations in a bid to broker a solution to the conflict between the two countries. On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics requested help in defending themselves.The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger.The West however denies these claims by the Russians and in response, Western nations have imposed comprehensive sanctions on Moscow. In addition, they introduced sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia's operation in Ukraine. (ANI)
At the end of a four-day visit to Afghanistan, Filippo Grandi here on Thursday said that he had met families "who do not know what they will eat for their next meal".

Acknowledging that the world is "rightfully preoccupied with the war in Ukraine," UN Refugee chief urged for help with another humanitarian crisis. He said Afghanistan is experiencing "a very grave crisis" and asked the international community to support Afghans both within the country and abroad.

"We spoke with...women heads of households afraid for the health and well-being of their children; mothers and fathers desperate to provide for their families," the head of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said. "The needs here are enormous."

Recent reports revealed that a staggering 95 per cent of Afghans are not getting enough to eat, a number that jumped to almost 100 per cent in female-headed households.

Grandi arrived in Afghanistan on Monday and met with the interim Afghan Government as well as others who continue to provide vital live-saving assistance throughout the country, UN News reported.

The UN refugee chief reiterated UNHCR's unwavering commitment to "stay and deliver humanitarian aid."

During his visit, the UNCHR chief aims to assess progress and discuss humanitarian challenges, particularly for those who are displaced or are returning to their communities.

Since the beginning of the year, the UN agency has helped more than 500,000 Afghans through assistance and relief programmes. (ANI)
Putin made the remarks at a rally held at Luzhniki Stadium here to celebrate the 8th anniversary of Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014.

As Putin prepared to take the stage, speakers praised him as fighting "Nazism" in Ukraine -- the pretext used by Moscow for staging its invasion, reported DW. According to the agency, People waved the Russian national flag and flags bearing the letter Z, a "pro-war symbol".

In a verbal attack at the rally, Putin termed opponents as "gnats'' trying to weaken the country at the behest of the West and spoke of the "necessary self-purification of society."

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.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger.

The West however denies these claims by the Russians and in response, Western nations have imposed comprehensive sanctions on Moscow. In addition, they introduced sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia's operation in Ukraine. (ANI)
The Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) continues to grow unabated in Afghanistan with the reigning Taliban regime finding it difficult to counter the threat, United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) chief General Kenneth McKenzie said on Friday. "We assess probably a couple thousand, more or less, ISIS fighters in Afghanistan. Of course, when the Taliban opened Pul-e-Charkhi and Parwan prisons, it infused new talent and new energy into ISIS, so they're now reaping the result of that very short-sighted decision," McKenzie said during a press briefing as quoted by Sputnik News Agency. He further said that ISIS-K will continue to be a tough target with the strength of their cadre expanding. "I think the Taliban will try to take operations to limit ISIS. It will be interesting to see if they're able to do it because ISIS is going to be a tough target, there are more of them than there have been in the past, they are recruiting," McKenzie said. The Islamic State is a Sunni Muslim terrorist group. It considers Shias heretics and has previously claimed several attacks in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan. The Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) took responsibility for a devastating attack at the Shia mosque of Koocha Risaldar in Peshawar on March 4 that left more than 60 people dead, Islam Khabar reported citing a translation of an ISIS statement by the SITE Intelligence Group. The Taliban claims that ISIS-K is not a threat and that once economic and administrative issues in Iraq are resolved, they will simply 'disappear'. However, in reality, the Taliban do not appear to be handling this threat so well, as ISIS-K carry out almost daily attacks against them, Alex Szokalski said writing in Policy Forum, Asia and the Pacific's platform for public policy debate, analysis, views, and discussion. Notably, former members of the Afghan intelligence services and special forces who were trained by the United States and then forced out of work following the Taliban takeover are reportedly quick to join ISIS-K, providing the group specialised capabilities they once lacked, Policy Forum further reported. If ISIS-K continues to develop support in the Khorasan region whilst degrading Taliban control of Afghanistan, it is not inconceivable that they will have the capacity to begin rebuilding or even rebranding. They could once again pose a sizeable threat to national, regional, and international security, added Szokalski. (ANI)
Pakistan's Opposition leaders on Friday condemned the forceful entry and violent protest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs in Sindh House. Pakistan is going through political turmoil ahead of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan after dozen of its party members parted ways with the ruling party. Terming the violent protest outside the Sindh House the "worst form of terrorism", Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP's) Sharjeel Memon accused the Islamabad police of not taking action and acting as a spectator, reported Geo News. The MPA further said, "It is the failure of the Islamabad Police and the interior ministry as "such an attack on government property has been unprecedented." "PTI's tigers were involved in the attack at the Sindh House but the police remained silent," Memon said, adding that several MNA's are present in Sindh House along with their families. He warned the government that if such "terrorist attacks" are carried out again, then PTI MNAs will have to "face the consequences." Following the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter and wrote that the government should "go home" if it has any sense of shame left, reported Geo News. "God willing, you will not be able to save the government, but if you have any sense of shame left in you, then go home," she wrote. Maryam further wrote that since the government has not been "elected," it had no reason to show resistance. "The only option left for you is to resort to thuggery, but that will also backfire." Former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack on Sindh House and said that "if Imran Khan had enough numbers (to win the vote of no-confidence against him), he would have shown power in the Parliament," reported Geo News. "Imran Khan did not attack the Sindh House but the symbol of Sindh in the federation," Zardari said, adding that Imran Khan also hurt Pakistan's federal identity [through this act], which is unbearable. "The people of Pakistan are watching who has democratic values and they know who wants to spread chaos and push the country towards anarchy." Speaking during Geo News' programme "Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Ke Saath," PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that it is "unfortunate" of the government to doubt its own MNAs, reported Geo News. "The dissident members of the PTI were not raising their voices against the incompetence of the government for the last three years," said Bilawal. "And now, the premier and his ministers are forbidding these MNAs from exercising their democratic right." He said that instead of pressuring its MNAs, the PTI led-government should either complete its 172 members for the vote of no-confidence or resign from the office. "We must conduct the elections as soon as possible. Our goal is not to overthrow the government," he said. "We will not adopt any kind of undemocratic methods." Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party workers resorted to violence in Islamabad Friday as they barged into the lodges to throw the lawmakers out, reported Geo News. Hordes of PTI workers -- including MNA Ataullah Niazi -- participated in the demonstration. The workers chanted slogans against the PTI MNAs and in PM Khan's support. They also smashed the lotay with their feet. A lota is a derogatory term in Pakistani politics, used for turncoats. The demonstrators held placards and posters depicting the faces of the MNAs covered in black ink. A huge crowd blocked the road and chanted slogans against the MNAs. A similar protest also took place in Peshawar against MNA Noor Alam Khan, reported Geo News. Moreover, the disgruntled PTI MNA claimed that they received threats. Following PTI members' protest against Noor Alam Khan, he took to Twitter and claimed that he and his sons are receiving threats. "Receiving threats telling me what we did with Benazir Bhutto shaheed and Bashir Bilour Shaheed will do with you and your three sons. I saved others numbers who have given threats present leadership will be responsible [sic]." Following the incident, two PTI MNAs -- Attaullah Niazi and Faheem Khan -- and 12 PTI members have been arrested by the Islamabad Police for partaking in the protest, reported Geo News. (ANI)
Pakistan's capital is the venue of attention as intense diplomatic activity is underway on a daily basis with the country welcoming foreign ministers of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to host the 48th Session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled to be held on March 22 and 23. The Pakistan foreign office stated that as the dates of the OIC session is coinciding with the 75th anniversary celebrations of the country's independence, the foreign ministers will join at the Pakistan Day Parade as guests of honour. "The theme of the session -- 'Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development' -- represents our commitment to foster unity within the Ummah, advance the cause of justice for all Muslim people, and promote prosperity and sustainable development for OIC member states," said a press release issued by the Pakistan foreign office. "We will seek to build partnerships and bridges of cooperation across the Islamic world to address the myriad of challenges confronting us and to seize the multiple opportunities that present themselves to promote the collective interests of the Ummah," the release added. Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session. As per details, Khan will be addressing the core issues on the agenda, particularly Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir. The Conference discussion will focus on key priorities such as countering Islamophobia, recovery from Covid-19 pandemic, and diverse matters of peace and security, economic development, cultural and scientific cooperation and revitalising the role of the OIC. The follow-up of the extra-ordinary session on Afghanistan will also be reviewed. It was also stated that over 100 resolutions are likely to be adopted by the Session, which will articulate OIC's perspective on major contemporary issues. Pakistan will be using the opportunity to highlight the landmark resolution it introduced on behalf of the OIC countries proclaiming March 15 at the UN as the 'International Day to Combat Islamophobia'. "The resolution reflects the sentiments of more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. This is the first time ever that the UN has adopted a resolution specifically recognising Islamophobia as a contemporary form of discrimination," the Pakistan foreign office stated. It said that the commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia will: * Send a clear message against contemporary challenges of racism, discrimination and violence against Muslims * Raise international awareness about increasing Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred * Promote the message of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and interfaith and cultural harmony Pakistan will also raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during the session, emphasising what it termed as the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, including "self-determination of people, non-use or threat of use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, pacific-settlement of disputes and equal security for all". --IANS hamza/arm ( 476 Words) 2022-03-18-19:54:03 (IANS)
The Human Rights Watch on Friday, called upon the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to act against the Myanmar military's human rights abuses by imposing economic sanctions and preventing the flow of weapons. "The Human Rights Council resolution should call for all UN member states to prevent the flow of weapons into Myanmar and impose stronger, targeted economic sanctions against individuals implicated in abuses and military interests. The resolution should also urge the UN Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court," the HRW said in a statement. The Myanmar military junta took control of the country following a coup on February 1 last year. Myanmar's junta has carried out a brutal nationwide crackdown to suppress those opposing military rule. The junta's systematic and pervasive abuses, including mass killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes, the HRW alleged. Since the coup, security forces have killed at least 1,600 people and detained more than 12,000, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Over 500,000 people have been internally displaced since the coup, while tens of thousands have fled as refugees to Thailand and India, the HRW report further said citing UN refugee agency, UNHCR data. "The UN Human Rights Council should respond to Myanmar's human rights and humanitarian crisis with urgency and purpose," said Lucy McKernan, deputy UN advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, adding that, "The rights council should take strong action against security forces that have never faced consequences for their numerous crimes." "Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and other junta leaders have been able to brutally quash protests and dissent with minimal international interference," McKernan further said, adding, "The Human Rights Council should urgently push back against these abuses and lead the international response to protect rights and advance accountability in Myanmar." Notably, on Wednesday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet had said in a report released for the 49th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, that Myanmar's military and security forces have shown a flagrant disregard for human life, bombarding populated areas with airstrikes and heavy weapons and deliberately targeting civilians. "Throughout the tumult and violence of the past year, the will of the people has clearly not been broken. They remain committed to seeing a return to democracy and to institutions that reflect their will and aspirations," Bachelet said. (ANI)
The Taliban on Friday welcomed the renewal of the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mandate for Afghanistan for a period of 12 months. "It is a good step. We call for good engagement and effective cooperation in the coming year," said Bilal Karimi, the Deputy Spokesman for the Taliban, reported Tolo News. The UN Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate for Afghanistan. The resolution was confirmed by 14 votes, with Russia abstaining. "The resolution sends a clear message that this council stands firmly behind the UN's continuous support to the Afghan people as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. The resolution ensures that UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) has a strong and robust mandate to promote inclusive political dialogue, monitor and report on human rights, and continue to facilitate humanitarian and basic human needs assistance. And to engage with all Afghan actors, and that includes the Taliban on all these issues," said Mona Juul, Norway's permanent representative to the UN. The UK permanent ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, said the renewal of UNAMA's mandate at the current moment was important for Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. "Today, the council spoke with one voice in support of a robust UN mission in Afghanistan: to lead and coordinate urgent humanitarian efforts, to support the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and to hold the Taliban accountable on its commitments. It's disappointing that one council member decided to abstain just when UNAMA's work is more important than ever," Woodward said. UNAMA is mainly focused on providing aid and assessing the situation of Afghanistan. Based on available numbers, the poverty rate has unprecedently increased as Afghanistan is struggling with a dire humanitarian crisis post-Taliban took control of the nation last August. (ANI)
Post-Taliban took control of Afghanistan, there is a mass exodus of Afghans, who are seeking to illegally cross the border into neighbouring Iran from Nimroz province. The lodging places for travellers in the western province of Herat are overwhelmed with hundreds of Afghans, reported Tolo News. As Afghanistan struggles with a deteriorated economy, thousands of youth are seeking to leave the country in a bid to find jobs and make ends meet. One of the Afghan, Abdul Aziz, a resident of Faryab who came to Herat to find a human trafficker was interviewed by Tolo News said, "I must go. If there was no need, I would never have wanted to." There were many children among the passengers. Some of these people were going to Pakistan and from there to Iran, reported Tolo News. There were also many educated people among the passengers who became jobless after the fall of the former government. Meanwhile, the lodge owners in Iran's Herat province are happy over the gains made by the Afghan refugees. "Our business is better now than before because the people are coming from other provinces to go to Iran. Only 30 per cent of them have visas and the other 70 per cent is using illegal ways," said Ferozuddin, an owner of an inn. (ANI)
Germany on Friday (local time) announced that the Group of Seven (G7) nations will discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine at a summit in Brussels on March 24. Meanwhile, an emergency summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting will also discuss measures against Russia for its continued aggression in Ukraine, the German government said, reported Nikkei Asia. Foreign ministers from the G7 met virtually on Thursday, where they agreed to keep up pressure on Russia and provide more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. According to the sources, the G7 summit will be led by US President Joe Biden, who is aiming to demonstrate unity not only within the framework of NATO but also the G7 to keep up pressure on Russia. The G7 leaders are expected to discuss additional sanctions and other measures against Russia and Belarus, which is aiding the aggression, as well as exchange views on how to stabilize the energy market, including the soaring price of crude oil, reported Nikkei Asia. Increasing aid to Ukraine and support for neighbouring countries accepting Ukrainian refugees are also likely to be on the agenda, the sources said. Regarding Japan's stand against Moscow in line with other members of the G7, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will explain his government's policy of increasing economic pressure on Russia, citing sources, Nikkei Asia reported. Kishida is expected to travel to the Belgian capital, according to diplomatic sources. Japan is the only country in the G7 -- comprising also Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States -- which is not a member of NATO. Leaders of the G7 held a virtual summit on February 24, the day Russia moved ahead with a large-scale attack on Ukraine, to coordinate their responses to the crisis. (ANI)
The parents of the Indian student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar who was killed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv have decided to donate their son's body for medical research, the father of the medical student informed on Saturday. "My son wanted to achieve something in the medical field, that didn't happen. At least his body can be used by other medical students for studies. That's why, we at home, have decided to donate his body for medical research," Shankarappa, father of Naveen said. Earlier, on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai clarified that the body of Naveen, who died during a shelling amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war will reach Bengaluru airport on Monday at 3 am and not on Sunday as he had informed previously. "My son's body will reach Bengaluru on 21st at 3 am. From there the body will reach our village by 9 am. Then we'll perform Pooja as per the Veera Shaiva tradition then we'll keep it for the public view and then we'll donate the body to SS Hospital Davanagere for medical studies," Naveen's father informed. "We got the message from the Haveri District Collector office and also got the message from the Emirates flight service. At least we are happy now that the body of our son is brought back. CM spoke to me and expressed his gratitude. He also said that he will come to Bengaluru airport and to the village as well. He said he will speak to me later in the evening," Naveen's father further said. Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, an MBBS student, was a resident of Karnataka's Haveri district. The 21-year-old student of Kharkiv National Medical University was reportedly standing in a queue to buy food when he was killed in Russian shelling. The Karnataka chief minister has handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Naveen Shekharappa and promised a job for a family member. (ANI)
An ally of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Friday rejected horse-trading allegations ahead of the no-confidence motion. Hussian said, "This is the first no-confidence motion in which no one is buying or selling votes, this is just propaganda," reported Geo News. In an official statement, the PML-Q leader said that he had been observing it in newspapers and on TV that "bundles of notes" are being distributed ahead of the no-confidence motion. He added that even Prime Minister Imran Khan had mentioned that "bundles of notes" were being distributed in Sindh House. The PML-Q leader said that the government always tries to stop public gatherings and it was the "first time" that the Opposition and the government were holding rallies on the same issue. The Opposition is insisting on holding public gatherings due to the government's announcement. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry had claimed a day earlier that the Sindh House in Islamabad, "is currently the centre of horse-trading," while accusing the Opposition of buying the votes of MNAs, reported Geo News. He had alleged that there were "reports of huge sums of money being shifted to the Sindh House," adding that the PPP has deputed police outside it to accommodate people there. Following the claims, the Sindh House had become the centre of attention, with PTI MNA Raja Riaz, who is residing therein, claiming that 24 lawmakers were staying at the lodge. The claims made by the minister and Riaz had also pushed PTI workers in Islamabad to stage a sit-in outside the Sindh House, reported Geo News. While the protest started off peacefully at the beginning, it soon took a violent turn as demonstrators broke the gate open and stormed inside the Sindh House. The incident happened despite the presence of a heavy contingent of police outside the lodge. The Opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion seeking the ouster of PM Imran Khan on March 8, accusing him of "mismanaging the economy and poor governance." Amid all this, the PTI has called for a public gathering on March 27 -- a day before the no-confidence motion. Soon after the announcement, the Opposition also announced that it would lead a long march to Islamabad ahead of the no-confidence motion, reported Geo News. (ANI)
The weather agency and local authorities also informed that there were no immediate reports of major property damage, reported Kyodo News.

The quake occurred at around 11:25 pm, logging upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Noda in the prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency said the temblor occurred in waters off the prefecture's northern coast at a depth of 18 kilometres below the seabed. The magnitude of the quake was revised upward later from an initial estimate of 5.5, reported Kyodo News.

On Wednesday, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked north-eastern Japan around the same time, leaving at least three people dead and more than 180 injured.

It caused widespread power outages, transport disruptions and factory suspensions. It remains unclear whether the two temblors have any connection, reported Kyodo News. (ANI)
The Islamabad High Court on Friday called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's conduct during his rally in Lower Dir on March 11 as "inappropriate" and rejected his and Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar's plea to suspend the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) notice issued to them for participating in the rally. "You should have appeared before the commission. Your conduct was inappropriate," Justice Farooq told Barrister Ali Zafar, who was representing Imran Khan and Asad Umar, reported The Express Tribune. The judge was referring to the ECP summon to Imran Khan to appear before the ECP on March 14 to explain his conduct. "Sufficient evidence is available to establish that you [PM Imran] have violated the provision of the Revised Code of Conduct, Elections Act 2017, and the Rules made thereunder," the commission's notice had read. Imran Khan had made a profanity-laced speech in the rally, using derogatory language for the Opposition leaders and threatening them with consequences if the no-confidence motion scheduled against Khan is defeated. Imran Khan launched a scathing attack on the troika of opposition figures, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif, the three leaders who are spearheading the no-trust move against him while addressing a public meeting at Dir Scouts Ground in Balambat which falls in the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Dawn reported. Khan referred to the trio of Opposition leaders as "Showbaz Sharif, Diesel and Dakoo". Adjourning the hearing till March 28, Justice Farooq noted that the court was not suspending the ECP's notice to Khan and Umar. Meanwhile, ECP is considering putting off the second phase of the local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that were scheduled to take place in 18 districts of the province on March 31 saying that the election code of conduct was being seriously violated in the districts. ECP believes that the level playing field had been disturbed in the area where the polls would be held and the commission would soon make a decision about when to hold the local government elections, The Express Tribune reported citing sources. Separately, the ECP has also stopped Imran Khan from going ahead with his planned visit to the Malakand district of the province. (ANI)




The Bulgarian government has expelled 10 Russian diplomats from the country, according to Russian and Bulgarian news sources.

"At the suggestion of the competent authorities, agreed with Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Bulgaria today declared ten Russian diplomats personae non grata," said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry in a statement.

The diplomats, who were located in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, have been given a 72-hour period to leave the country.

Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasil Georgiev met with the Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova to deliver the announcement, according to Bulgarian reports.

"Ten diplomats have been declared personae non grata, the wording is usual - 'activities incompatible with their status.' We perceive this as an extremely unfriendly act and reserve the right to retaliate," Mitrofanova told the Russian press in response.

Bulgarian authorities said that employees of the Russian Embassy had carried out activities in Bulgaria that were "incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

Bulgaria announced support for Ukraine and condemned Russian aggression before Russia invaded Ukraine last month.

"The Republic of Bulgaria invariably supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including in its territorial waters," the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Feb. 16.

It added: "The Republic of Bulgaria condemns the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation leading to an unprecedented escalation of military tensions in Europe to the levels of the Cold War and calls for de-escalation."
The commander of the main defending force at the Azovstal steel mill in the strategic Ukrainian port city of Mariupol says Russian troops have broken into the territory of the mill. The Russian government, meanwhile, pledged to facilitate humanitarian corridors from Thursday through Saturday to enable more evacuations. In a video posted Wednesday, Denis Prokopenko, commander of the Ukrainian Azov regiment, said the incursions had continued a second day and there are heavy, bloody battles. Azovstal remains one of the biggest hubs of Ukrainian military resistance and has been subjected to massive Russian aerial bombardments and shelling. Russian State TV showed smoke rising over Azovstal. more >>
Mar. 18DAYTON  The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the force with a series of commemorative events and exhibits through September.

With the theme of "Innovate, Accelerate, Thrive  The Air Force at 75," the anniversary celebrations will highlight the U.S. Air Force and Department of the Air Force's commitment to "fly, fight and win  delivering airpower anytime, anywhere in defense of our nation," the museum said in a statement.

"The museum will commemorate the anniversary by combining events and exhibits that celebrate the achievements of the U.S. Air Force since its inception, as well as the continued development of our airmen, guardians and technology in the years to come," the statement reads.

Located on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at 1100 Spaatz St., the museum will host new exhibits honoring Air Force humanitarian and combat search and rescue missions, as well as memorial exhibits for World War II and the Korean War.

From Aug. 18 through 22, the museum will host the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall, an 80% replica of the Vietnam Wall bearing the names of more than 58,000 service members killed in Vietnam.

Events will include movie showings, open aircrafts, fly-overs, a re-enactor encampment, veteran speakers, and other family-friendly activities.

For a complete list of all scheduled events, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

Admission to the Air Force Museum is free. The museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles, missiles and thousands of artifacts on more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space, drawing more than 800,000 visitors from around the world yearly.

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Scheduled 75th Anniversary events and exhibits include:  "A Force for Good  Department of the Air Force Humanitarian Missions" This new permanent exhibit open now in the Global Reach Gallery. A Grand Opening celebration scheduled Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m.  5 p.m. will include demonstrations, hands-on activities for visitors of all ages, and guest speakers.  "From Yesterday to Tomorrow: Celebrating 75 Years of the Department of the Air Force" A new special exhibit opening April 29 in the Cold War Art Gallery will convey the U.S. Air Force's impact through national defense, and technological and social progress impacting people around the world.  New Aircraft Arrival: KC-135, Scheduled for arrival in late April, this aircraft is the first to conduct an aerial refueling between three aircraft connected to each other simultaneously.  Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7) Spacecraft Replica, Tentatively scheduled for display in the Missile Gallery this summer.  WWII Memorial Exhibit, June 4-6, 2022 A weekend of activities featuring a replica of the Washington D.C. WWII Memorial. Additional family-friendly activities include a reenactor encampment, fly-overs and indoor events.  Korea Memorial Exhibit, June 25-26, 2022 Visit a replica exhibit of Washington D.C.'s Korean War memorial, hear the living history from museum volunteers sharing the vital role that many of the museum's aircraft played in this war, and visit the Air Force Museum Foundation Theatre to see Korean War related movies.  Space Celebration, July 30  Aug 7, 2022 A free and unique Space Celebration offering something for the whole family including guest speakers, space-themed exhibits, simulator rides, a build-and-launch rocket activity and an After Dark (21+) ticketed event.  Vietnam Memorial Wall, August 18-22, 2022 The museum will host the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Traveling Wall, an 80% replica of the Vietnam Wall bearing the names of more than 58,000 service members killed in Vietnam. As a backdrop for this memorial, the museum will host aerial events, a fly-over and more.  "Panel 44  8 Days in March" Aug. 16-Sept 24 Panel 44 is a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial containing the names of 337 American service members who died between March 9 -16, 1968. This 900-pound exhibit will be located inside the 4th building.  Air Force Birthday Celebration Weekend, Sept. 17-18 The museum will have events throughout the weekend that include open aircrafts, family-centered activities/contests, special veteran speakers, and of course cake.  A-1H  Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Skyraider New exhibit highlighting combat search and rescue missions anticipated in fall 2022.
Alun Wyn Jones will win his 150th Wales cap against Italy (David Davies/PA) (PA Archive)

Alun Wyn Jones has described it as an honour and a privilege as he prepares to win his 150th Wales cap and make rugby union history.

The 36-year-old returns to Wales starting line-up against Guinness Six Nations opponents Italy on Saturday.

It will be his first appearance for more than four months, having undergone two operations after suffering a shoulder injury during Wales Autumn Nations Series loss to New Zealand.

Lock Jones latest landmark means he will become the first player in international rugby to feature 150 times for their country.

He broke former New Zealand captain Richie McCaws world record of 148 Test match appearances in October 2020, having played 140 Wales games and featured in nine British and Irish Lions Tests at that time.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, that delayed Six Nations appointment with Scotland was played behind closed doors at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

But this weekend, an expected Principality Stadium crowd of more than 60,000 will acclaim one of Welsh rugbys all-time greats as he makes it 150 for Wales and 162 Test matches in total following three more Lions outings last summer.

To be the first to do anything is an honour and a privilege, Jones said, in a video interview released by the Welsh Rugby Union.

But I think to do it for Wales and to pull this jersey on as many times as I have isnt wasted on me, particularly when you realise what rugby means to the nation.

There will be people who will have played far more games of rugby than me for their local clubs across Wales.

Theyve got their place in their local history, and Ive got people here that saw me come into this squad as not far off being a child, and now they are going to see me taking my children out for 150 appearances.

To have my family there and my wife and daughters is huge for me

Alun Wyn Jones

Obviously, Ive been fortunate to have had a few milestones already  or people keep telling me, anyway.

My first one (Test) was in Patagonia, the 50th was in Twickenham and my 100th was in Eden Park, New Zealand.

Story continues

Obviously, my family couldnt come when I did the world record at Parc y Scarlets in the Nations Cup. To have my family there (on Saturday) and my wife and daughters is huge for me.

Thats the significance of the milestone, or whatever you want to call it, and the day. The weekend will mean nothing if we dont get the win.

As he did following a shoulder problem before last summers Lions tour to South Africa, Jones latest comeback has proved ahead of schedule after most forecasts pointed to him missing the entire Six Nations.

We formulated a plan pretty quickly  within two weeks post the New Zealand game, he added. A couple of surgeries were required, not just due to injuries sustained in the summer, but beyond that.

I was given a target pretty early on to work to, and that was the plan rolling forward.

I am obviously coming into the (Wales) camp six or seven weeks in, and you can see the leadership group has been great.

In fairness to the boys, as someone who has come in late on, theyve been great. I think for the most part they are pleased to see me back  I would hope they are, anyway!

Ive been away from the camp and out of any jersey for too long, but to come back and see the hard work the boys have put in has been really pleasing.
A U.S. man was killed this week in Ukraine while he was waiting in a bread line for food in the northern city of Chernihiv, his family said.

Jim Hill of Idaho, who had been living in the capital city, Kyiv, went two hours north to Chernihiv to seek medical care for his partner, who has multiple sclerosis, the family told NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis on Thursday.

Hills sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, wrote Thursday on Facebook: My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military snippers. His body was found in the street by the local police.

Katya Hill did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.

Her brother was active on social media in his final weeks, updating friends and family about conditions in Ukraine through his Facebook account.

Not allowed to take photos. Spies throughout city, he wrote in his last post Tuesday. Bombing has intensified noway out.

In a previous post, he said his partner, Ira, was in intensive care, with limited food.

We could try a break out tomorrow but Iras mom doesnt want to, he wrote Monday. Each day people are killed trying to escape. But bombs falling here at night. Risk either way...I only have wifi a few hours a day. We have enough food for a few days.

At least 53 civilian residents were killed by Russian bombs and shells in Chernihiv on Wednesday, Ukraines U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said Thursday at a U.N. Security Council meeting.

During the meeting, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya denied claims that Russian forces targeted a bread line in Chernihiv. He also denied reports that Russia attacked two civilian targets  a maternity hospital and a theater where civilians were seeking refuge  in Mariupol.

There are no Russian military in Chernihiv, he said. I think this is the consequences of just distributing weapons to whoever wants to have them in Ukraine.

This story was previously published on NBCNews.com.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

AOC wrote on Instagram that student-loan borrowers should "keep bullying the White House" for relief.

This is the latest call urging borrowers to keep pressure on Biden to cancel student debt.

Student-loan payments are set to resume on May 1, and Biden has not yet detailed further plans.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants to ensure Americans aren't letting the White House off the hook when it comes to student-loan forgiveness.

"FYI, it does not take an act of Congress to cancel student debt," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Instagram on Thursday. "Biden could do it tomorrow if he wanted to. Keep bullying the White House. It has been successful in delaying payments but now we gotta finish the job."

In December, President Joe Biden extended the pause on student-loan payments, with waived interest, for his third time. Payments are now set to resume May 1. And while he cited uncertainty with the Omicron variant as the reason for an additional extension, lawmakers like Ocasio-Cortez said it was the consistent pressure from advocates on the president that led to additional relief for 43 million federal borrowers.

Now, with the expected payment resumption date quickly approaching, some advocates and Democratic lawmakers are ramping up the pressure on Biden to not only extend the pause on loan payments a fourth time, but to cancel a large share of the $1.7 trillion student debt crisis.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer seemed to agree with Ocasio-Cortez on the importance of putting pressure on the White House. In a conversation with Voto Latino this week, an organization that works to empower Latino voters, Schumer said, "We're trying to get 15 million emails, letters, calls to the White House to ask President Biden to use his pen and cancel student loans. And if you can do that, it will help."

"If he hears from so many people, and particularly so many young people and so many young women, people of color, who are his base, it'll help. I think he wants to do it, we just need to push him," Schumer added.

Story continues

As of now, Biden has not detailed plans for further student-loan relief, whether in the form of another payment pause extension or broad forgiveness. But White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain recently said more relief might be on the way before May.

"The President is going to look at what we should do on student debt before the pause expires, or he'll extend the pause," Klain said, adding that "the question whether or not there's some executive action on student debt forgiveness when payments resume is a decision we're going to take before payments resume."

Republican lawmakers have criticized the idea of further relief, saying broad loan forgiveness would cost taxpayers and the economy  but progressives have maintained their stance that borrowers need further relief. On Thursday, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) released a list of eight policy areas it wants Biden to tackle by executive action, and canceling federal student debt was one of them.

"45 million Americans are stuck in the student debt trap, preventing them from buying homes, starting families, and investing in their communities," the agenda said. "This crisis disproportionately affects Black and Brown borrowers, who are seeing student debt drag down their finances even past retirement age. The CPC is calling on the Biden administration to put money in millions of people's pockets by using existing authorities to cancel federal student loan debt."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The vacant Tumbleweed building on Jan. 4, 2017, in Tempe, Arizona.

Arizona has fewer shelter beds for homeless youth than it has in years, more young people becoming homeless, and high rates of sex and labor trafficking among homeless youth, research shows.

This month, the National Homelessness Law Center gave the state a "critically low" score in its annual review of laws and policies that impact homeless youth. Only two states, North Dakota and Arkansas, received worse scores.

A report from the Arizona State University Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research released earlier this year found that 40% of people interviewed who were experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 to 25 had experienced sex or labor trafficking.

LGBTQ youth are even more likely to be exploited, the report found.

The most significant provider of youth shelter and services, Tumbleweed, went bankrupt in 2016, and most of its services folded and have not been replaced.

"What we're seeing here in Maricopa County is so distressing. Almost all of our youth homeless programs have disintegrated," ASU professor Dominique Roe-Sepowitz said.

But some relief could be on the way. The state has committed a significant amount of federal COVID-19 relief funds for more shelter and services for homeless youth.

Few services, high rates of youth homelessness

Youth homeless has been on the rise in recent years.

During the 2019 annual point-in-time count, volunteers located 387 people experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 to 24. The following year, they found 530 young people experiencing homelessness.

The count wasn't conducted in 2021 because of COVID-19 concerns. The full 2022 report, which will break down homelessness by age, is expected later this spring.

Meanwhile, youth shelter options and resources are at their lowest point in modern history.

"There is less resources for youth right now than there was 15 years ago when I started working with homeless kids," said Gina Read, program manager at One N Ten, an organization that works with LGBTQ youth.

Story continues

One N Ten has a small transitional housing program with room for about 10 young people. Space doesn't open up often, so the organization most frequently refers people to Native American Connections, which operates the only remaining emergency shelter for youth in metro Phoenix.

Space there is limited, too.

Native American Connections' HomeBase shelter provides dorm-style housing for 20 people ages 18-24. The organization also runs Saguaro Ki, a transitional housing program with 24 apartments.

"There basically is not a whole lot that we can do to refer these kids," Read said.

Young people can, and often do, go to traditional single-adult shelters, like Central Arizona Shelter Services in downtown Phoenix, but experts say they're more likely to get out of homelessness quickly in specialized youth shelters.

Roe-Sepowitz said young people have different needs, both socially and educationally, and can reintegrate quicker than people who have been experiencing homelessness for decades.

"We have this great opportunity while their brains are still developing ... to change the direction of their lives," she said.

Exploitation common among youth

Roe-Sepowitz and her ASU colleagues have surveyed youth experiencing homelessness across the state for eight years.

She said the goal is to listen to young people and their experiences to better understand their needs.

Her team has uncovered a troubling trend of exploitation of young people experiencing homelessness.

Of the 89 young people surveyed in 2021, 40% said they had experienced sex or labor trafficking.

Sex trafficking can look like forced prostitution or could be less formal agreements to have sex in exchange for basic needs. Young people reported trading sex for a place to stay most frequently. In past years, food was the most common exchange.

Labor trafficking can look like forced drug dealing, coerced employment or, most commonly, domestic servitude.

"We see young people being easily manipulated, being naive or being in a situation where they're so new to it that they're desperate. Traffickers can really use that as a manipulation," Roe-Sepowitz said.

Young people who reported experiencing sex trafficking were significantly more likely to report addiction, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm and trauma histories, according to the ASU report.

LGBTQ youth are more likely to become homeless and are overrepresented as trafficking victims.

Read said her organization has seen a decrease in parents kicking their kids out because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Instead, they push them out by not accepting them and making their home environment inhospitable.

LGBTQ youth still experience high rates of harassment at school as well, Read said.

"They figure, 'I'm better off on my own,' and unfortunately that's not the case," Read said.

Roe-Sepowitz said LGBTQ youth are especially appealing to predators because these young adults often don't have a support system and crave a sense of belonging, making them easy targets to manipulate.

Some reprieve on the way

Roe-Sepowitz said there are few shelter and resource options for youth because organizations are spending more time on other sections of the homeless population and haven't gone after federal funds for youth homelessness.

But she's hoping a big change is coming.

Late last year, Gov. Doug Ducey announced almost $8 million of federal COVID-19 relief funds for youth homelessness programs, including the purchase of a 58-bed transitional housing facility in the West Valley for a new Native American Connections youth transitional housing program.

Additionally, Roe-Sepowitz said the Arizona departments of Housing and Economic Security plan to offer additional grants to help youth experiencing homelessness this year.

She said she hopes organizations and stakeholders come together to find new ways to meet the needs of the state's youngest homeless residents.

"We have this great opportunity  starting brand new," Roe-Sepowitz said.

Coverage of housing insecurity on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation.

Reach the reporter at jessica.boehm@gannett.com or 480-694-1823. Follow her on Twitter @jboehm_NEWS.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: More Arizona youth are becoming homeless, experiencing trafficking
Body-worn camera footage captured Jacob Zerkle pushing police officers outside the Capitol on January 6, prosecutors said. The Department of Justice

An Arizona man accused of throwing punches at a police officer during the Capitol riot was arrested.

Jacob Zerkle, 50, faces seven charges stemming from his alleged participation in the insurrection.

Zerkle told investigators he pushed into officers and "probably did something dumb," according to court docs.

An Arizona man accused of punching, pushing, and grabbing police officers outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was arrested this week on a string of Capitol riot charges.

Jacob Zerkle, 50, is charged with seven counts stemming from his alleged participation in the insurrection, including engaging in physical violence, assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, and civil disorder, which carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison.

Zerkle was arrested in Tuscon on Tuesday, according to the Department of Justice, and made his initial court appearance the same day.

The FBI sought the public's help in identifying Zerkle after posting a photo of him on its website last year, according to court documents. Investigators were eventually able to identify Zerkle using surveillance footage from the scene, as well as police officer body-worn camera footage, prosecutors said.

A criminal complaint for the case said Zerkle was easily recognizable due to his "distinctive grey facial hair fashioned with large 'mutton chops.'"

Prosecutors said body-worn camera footage shows Zerkle grabbing at DC Metropolitan police officers outside the Capitol. As one officer attempted to remove Zerkle from fellow authorities, Zerkle threw several punches and charged the officer, court documents said.

The officer told investigators that he was part of a police group trying to push through the crowd to reach the Lower West Terrace in order to provide reinforcement as a mob of pro-Trump rioters laid siege to the Capitol.

The FBI interviewed Zerkle outside his Arizona home in October, according to court documents, during which time he told investigators that he and a family member drove to Washington DC in January 2021 to protest election integrity. Zerkle said he did not attend former President Donald Trump's speech prior to the riot because he went to DC to protest, not "listen to speeches."

Story continues

Zerkle then acknowledged that he pushed into police officers and said he "probably did something dumb" while at the riot, according to prosecutors. He told investigators than he was shoved into police and was not trying to assault officers, but protect himself.

Christopher Macchiaroli, an attorney for Zerkle, told Insider his client has been cooperating with authorities.

"Mr. Zerkle, who never even entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, or had any intention to do so, has been cooperating fully in the Government's investigation for months, including meeting with agents and prosecutors upon request, looks forward to his day in Court to address the charges against him, which consists of resisting being hit with a baton when multiple individuals in a crowd were crushed into each other, in an event, which lasted approximately eleven seconds, and resulted in no officer suffering any injury from Mr. Zerkle, who was unarmed, not arrested on scene, and was free to walk away from the U.S. Capitol, when hundreds went the opposite direction and entered the U.S. Capitol," Macchiaroli said.

So far, 800 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol riot, and more than 200 have pleaded guilty.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S.-supervised Ukraine lab studies disease transmission via bats

Xinhua) 08:08, March 18, 2022

(Xinhua file photo of a bat)

Russia has expressed grave concerns over U.S.-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine.

MOSCOW, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A laboratory in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkov has studied transmitting diseases to humans through bats under U.S. control, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

"Specialists of the Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces have studied original documents revealing the details of the U.S. implementation of a secret project to study the ways of transmitting diseases to humans through bats in a laboratory in Ukraine's Kharkov," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

"According to the documents, these studies were carried out on a systematic basis and under direct supervision of U.S. specialists for many years," he told a briefing.

Russia has expressed grave concerns over U.S.-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine, where various kinds of dangerous viruses were stored and studied.

Last week, 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.

On March 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video post on his facebook account that "no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
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Baby Cino was an aspiring Miami rapper killed Wednesday in an ambush shooting on the Palmetto Expressway.

The 20-year-old, whose real name is Timothy Starks, was still trying to make his mark on the music scene. His main song, called Big Haiti Shottas, focused on violence at an apartment building on Northwest Third Avenue and 56th Street in Miami-Dade County.

The video, also dedicated to Gary Melo Laguerre, an 18-year-old gunned down in a drive-by shooting in 2020 outside a Brownsville market, had 21,000 views on YouTube before police identified Starks as a shooting victim on Thursday. By Friday morning, after his death was announced, the views had grown to 33,000.

Starks, one law enforcement source told the Miami Herald., was associated with a Little Haiti area gang known as Boss Life. Just hours before the shooting, he had been released from jail after an arrest on charges of carrying a concealed weapon after his car was pulled over in a traffic stop around 2 a.m. Wednesday. Officers found a fully loaded Glock 32 in the car, an arrest report said.

According to jail records, Starks was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center soon after. After posting bond, he was recorded as released at 2:10 p.m. A friend, Dante Collins Banks, also 20, picked him up from jail.

Miami rapper known as Baby Cino murdered on Palmetto, minutes after leaving jail

Minutes later, as the red Nissan they were riding in turned onto the Palmetto Expressway, Starks and Banks were suddenly ambushed by a gunman in another car in a wild daylight shooting in the middle of traffic. Starks died in the hail of gunfire, shot in the head. He was still wearing the wristband given to corrections inmates. Banks, police said, was wounded.

Detectives have not identified a suspect, but did say a dark-colored vehicle was seen fleeing the area at a high rate of speed.

Police say the shooter fired at least 40 times.
TALLAHASSEE  A new extremely deadly synthetic opioid that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has sounded the alarm about apparently has not found its way to Bay County, according to local law enforcement agencies.

Moody on Wednesday issued a statewide alert to warn Floridians about the drug isotonitazene  commonly referred to as ISO  that is about 20 to 100 times stronger than fentanyl.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Lab officials said testing has revealed that ISO has been found in multiple Florida counties since 2020, and caused at least two deaths in Pasco County.

Overdoses rise in Panhandle: Over 200 NWFL residents died of overdoses last year. Here's how fentanyl played a role

Big fentanyl bust: Panama City police find enough fentanyl in one bust to kill nearly everyone living in Bay County

To this point, Bay County has been spared. Officials with the Bay County Sheriff's Office, Panama City Police Department and the Panama City Beach Police Department all said on Thursday that no arrests for ISO or seizures of the drug have been made.

We have not seen ISO here yet, but that does not mean it's not here with Spring Break in full swing, Capt. John Deegins of the PCB Police Department said. We are proactive in trying to enforce drug regulations and we've had a good Spring Break so far, knock on wood.

The new synthetic opioid is being mixed with other drugs and appearing in the illicit drug market in powder and pill form. Users often have no idea that a lethal synthetic opioid is mixed into a drug until it is too late.

For years, we have been warning about the dangers of fentanyl and how just one pill laced with this synthetic opioid can kill. Now, there is a new, deadlier drug being found in Florida, Moody said. Isotonitazene ... is so strong that it can kill just by coming in contact with someones skin or being accidentally inhaled.

ISO has already been linked to overdose deaths in Florida, so please, never take any illicit drug and know that using just one time could cost you your life, she said.

Story continues

The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that ISO entered the illicit drug market nationally in April 2019 and is responsible for numerous deaths. Like fentanyl, ISO can be laced with other drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and even counterfeit pills.

Signs of an ISO overdose include blue or purple fingernails, blue or purple lips, clammy skin, vomiting, pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, difficulty breathing and unconsciousness. All can occur within minutes of exposure to the opioid.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County on alert for opioid Isotonitazene, deadlier than fentanyl
The Daily Beast

ReutersTroops sent into Ukraine to back up Russian forces say they had no choice but to leave because Russian military was in shambles and they deceived us at every step.Soldiers from the breakaway state of South Ossetiaspeaking to South Ossetian leader Anatoly Bibilov at a meeting publicized by the independent news outlet MediaZonarattled off a list of complaints about faulty equipment, lack of leadership and intel, and brainless tactics.South Ossetia, which relies heavily on military and f
STORY: The call, first announced by the White House on Thursday, comes at a pivotal moment in U.S.-China relations and in Ukraine, where heavily outnumbered local forces have prevented Moscow from capturing any of the country's biggest cities so far.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki characterized the call as "an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands."

"The fact that China has not denounced what Russia is doing, absence of denunciation by China of what Russia is doing in and of itself speaks volumes," Psaki said.

The Biden administration has issued public and private warnings that Beijing would face dire consequences if it provides material support to Russian President Vladimir Putin's war.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the call would happen in the evening Beijing time.
US President Joe Biden is expected to tell Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday that Beijing will pay a price if it supports Russias military operations in Ukraine, a warning that comes at a time of deepening conflict between the nations.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi will speak by phone, scheduled for 9am Eastern time (1pm GMT), and Washington has already threatened lower-level Chinese government officials privately and publicly that greater support for Russia risks isolation for Beijing.

In the first conversation between the two leaders since November, Mr Biden will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.

Were concerned that theyre considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine, he said.

China has denied such plans.

Washington is also concerned that China could help Russia circumvent economic sanctions imposed by Western nations.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has killed hundreds of civilians, reduced city areas to rubble and sparked a humanitarian crisis as millions flee the country.

It has also added a new front in the contentious US-Chinese relationship, deflating Mr Bidens initial hopes of easing a wide range of disputes by using a personal connection with Mr Xi that predates his term in office.

Mr Biden greeted Mr Xi warmly during the first moments of a video conference in November. Chinas leader called his US counterpart an old friend.

US officials increasingly view relations with Beijing through the prism of inherent competition, even though they want to avoid a cold war or a direct confrontation between the rival powers.

Washington sees China growing even closer to Russia after Mr Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month announced a no-limits strategic partnership last month.

China has refused to condemn Russias action in Ukraine or call it an invasion, and it has censored online content in China that is pro-West or unfavorable to Russia.

Story continues

This map shows the extent of Russias invasion of Ukraine (Press Association Images)

Beijing, while saying it recognizes Ukraine sovereignty, has also said Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed, and has urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

While the Biden administration has threatened unspecified counter-measures if China helps Russias effort in Ukraine, officials have grown more resigned to that likelihood.

The US and its allies have not yet decided on precisely what steps to take against China, according to one person involved in those conversations.

Targeting Beijing with the sort of extensive economic sanctions imposed on Russia would have potentially dire consequences for the US and the world, given that China is the second largest economy and largest exporter.

A seven-hour meeting in Rome on Monday between lower-level aides to Mr Biden and Mr Xi were described as tough and intense by officials.

Mr Bidens administration has not yet offered evidence of the claim that China has signaled a willingness to help Russia.

Moscow has denied asking China for military assistance, and Chinas foreign ministry called the idea disinformation.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said this week the country was counting on China to help it withstand the blow to its economy from punishing Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russias economy from the rest of the world.

The European war is not the only challenging topic on the agenda for Mr Biden and Mr Xi.

The two leaders are also expected to compare notes on the Iran nuclear talks, North Koreas missile launches and Taiwan. China and the US are also engaged in separate trade talks.

Reuters
Mar. 17Boulder Valley announced several of its mountain schools will close today due to weather, road conditions and power outages.

Nederland Middle/Senior, Nederland Elementary, Jamestown Elementary and Gold Hill Elementary will be closed today, according to the Boulder Valley School District.

All before- and after-school activities are canceled.

Bus routes providing student transportation from mountain area residences to non-mountain area schools will also be canceled. These routes are everything west of Fourth Street in Boulder.
By Ricardo Brito and Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Friday ordered the suspension of messaging app Telegram, saying it had repeatedly refused to adhere to judicial orders to freeze accounts spreading disinformation or comply with the country's laws, according to a copy of the ruling seen by Reuters.

In response, Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov apologized for the company's "negligence," and asked the court to delay its ruling for a few days as it sought to improve compliance.

Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters have increasingly relied upon Telegram as a form of mass communication as larger tech companies like Meta, which owns messaging app WhatsApp, Alphabet Inc's Google and Twitter have adhered to Supreme Court orders to drop offending accounts over allegedly spreading disinformation.

Moraes' decision, which is likely to stoke debate about freedom of speech in politically polarized Brazil, represents the latest chapter in the crusading justice's battle with Bolsonaro and his allies.

Moraes has been leading a series of Supreme Court investigations into Bolsonaro and his supporters for disseminating fake news - probes that have enraged many on the right and raised questions about judicial overreach.

Speaking at a religious event in the western state of Acre, Bolsonaro said the court's decision was "inadmissible."

According to Moraes' ruling, Telegram had repeatedly failed to block offending accounts and ignored the court's decisions.

Durov, Telegram's founder, blamed his company's shortcomings on email issues, saying, "we definitely could have done a better job." Writing on his personal Telegram account, Durov asked the court to delay its ruling.

"I am certain that once a reliable channel of communication is established, we'll be able to efficiently process takedown requests for public channels that are illegal in Brazil," he wrote.

Story continues

Moraes gave Wilson Diniz Wellisch, the head of telecoms regulator Anatel, 24 hours to implement the suspension, which would stand until Telegram complies with outstanding judicial orders, pays a series of fines and presents a country representative before the court.

Moraes also ordered Apple and Google to help block users on their platforms from being able to use Telegram in Brazil. Both Apple and Google declined to comment.

Anatel said it had "forwarded the judicial decision to the entities operating in the regulated sector."

Moraes' decision quickly faced official opposition.

Writing on Twitter, Justice Minister Anderson Torres criticized Moraes' "monocratic" decision, which he said had "harmed millions of Brazilians." Torres said he had instructed his ministry to "study a solution to restore the people's right to use whatever social network they wish."

Telegram has proved popular with far-right groups worldwide.

In Germany, where local media reported that police in February blocked 64 Telegram channels, the app has been blamed for fueling an increasingly virulent subculture of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists who exchange news about supposed dangers and arrange protests that have spilled over into violence.

In January, Bolsonaro accused the country's top electoral authority of "cowardice" for considering a ban of the messaging app amid concerns of its use for spreading "fake news."

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Will Dunham)
In a speech to the House of Lords on Thursday, a British politician alleged that a hospital denied a female patients claim that she had been raped because the alleged attacker was transgender.

Emma Nicholson, the Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, did not name the hospital where the alleged incident took place, or give the identity of the victim. No further information on the alleged incident has been publicly reported.

The woman who said she was raped naturally reported it to police, Nicholson told fellow members of the House of Lords. The police spoke to the hospital, and the hospital informed police that there was no male in the hospital, therefore the rape could not have happened.

Nicholson told parliaments upper chamber that it has taken nearly a year for the hospital to agree that actually there was a male on the ward and yes this rape happened, and this only because of evidence captured on CCTV footage.

Nicholson claimed that the alleged incident was the direct result of a National Health Service policy known as Annex B, which orders hospitals to place patients in single-sex wards according to their preferred gender identity.

The result of Annex B is that hospital trusts inform ward sisters and nurses that if there is a male as a trans person in a female ward, and a female patient or anyone complains, they must be told that it is not true, there is no male there, Nicholson said.

She added that the policy gives priority to trans people over women and, as a result, erodes the dignity, privacy and safety of women and girls.

Nicholson, who started her political career in the Conservative Party before switching to the Liberal Democrats in 1995 and returning to the Conservatives in 2016, has previously alleged that some medical professionals in Britain feel inhibited from speaking freely on issues of gender identity.

More from National Review
Morad Tahbaz's family have urged the Foreign Office to work hard to secure his release from prison in Iran

Morad Tahbaz, the London-born conservationist released on furlough as part of the deal to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Annoosheh Ashoori, has been returned to prison in Tehran after just two days, his family have said.

Mr Tahbaz called his family on Friday to say he was being escorted back to jail after a brief stay at a relatives home in Tehran, Taraneh Tahbaz, his sister, said.

This is devastating news of Morad being taken back to prison, especially after hopes were raised this week that Morad was set for release and return home, an upset Ms Tahbaz told The Telegraph.

We, the family, were already extremely anxious that instead of being put on a plane along with Nazanin and Anoosheh, Morad was only granted temporary release from jail and left under tight security at a family members flat in Tehran.

'Spurious national security charges'

Mr Tahbaz, 66, was arrested in Tehran while visiting his wifes parents in 2018 and accused of conspiring with America.

A board member of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Mr Tahbaz was detained alongside eight of his colleagues. He was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison on what his family say are baseless charges.

Like Nazanin and Anoosheh, Morad has been arbitrarily detained on spurious national security charges in Iran and the UK Government has a responsibility to secure his release, said Ms Tahbaz.

The family is now worried that the UK Government has abandoned Mr Tahbaz, who also has American citizenship.

After the euphoria of Nazanin and Anooshehs homecoming, theres a worrying sense that the UK Government isnt pressing the Iranian authorities for Morads freedom in the same way, said Ms Tahbaz.

We want to see the foreign minister Liz Truss and the UK Government at every level applying concerted pressure on Tehran to secure Morads release and return home.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe used her first day back in the UK with her family to raise Mr Tahbaz's plight.

Story continues

The 43-year-old was pictured smiling with her husband Richard and their daughter Gabriella, aged seven, among the daffodils in what their Tulip Siddiq, their local MP, termed their "first family selfie" since her release after six years in detention:

So lovely to have uplifting conversations with Richard and Nazanin today.



They are both relentless in their pursuit of justice and raised the plight of Morad Tahbaz with me. Here I was hoping to sleep for a week



Heres their first family selfie! #NazaninIsFree pic.twitter.com/mBzLByA36u  Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) March 17, 2022

Ms Siddiq added that the reunited couple were both "relentless in their pursuit of justice" as they spoke with her about Mr Tahbaz, who has not been allowed to leave Iran after being released from prison on furlough.

On Thursday James Cleverly, a Foreign Office minister, insisted the Government was working hard to ensure Mr Tahbaz would soon be freed.

He said Mr Tahbazs American nationality made his case more complicated in the eyes of the Iranians but said: We will continue to work to secure his release and, obviously, we work in close coordination with the US on these issues as well."
(Reuters) - Bulgaria has decided to expel 10 Russian diplomats after they were accused of allegedly carrying out "activities incompatible with their diplomatic status", Russia's TASS news agency cited the Russian ambassador to the country as saying on Friday.

"We take this as an extremely unfriendly act and reserve the right to retaliate," Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova told TASS.

(Reporting by Reuters, editing by Andrei Khalip)
Tina Perez holds a photo of her daughter Adora Perez, whose 11-year prison sentence and no-contest plea to voluntary manslaughter were overturned this week by a Kings County judge who ruled they were unlawful. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Central Valley woman's 11-year prison sentence was overturned this week after a Kings County judge ruled that her plea agreement for voluntary manslaughter was unlawful.

Adora Perez was originally charged with murder after delivering a stillborn baby at Adventist Health Hanford on Dec. 30, 2017. Tests revealed that her son, Hades, had methamphetamine in his system, and a doctor told investigators he believed the drug was responsible for the death, court records show.

Fearful that she could be facing a possible life sentence, Perez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced in June 2018 to 11 years in prison.

The case opened up a years-long legal battle that continues even after Kings County Superior Court Judge Valerie Chrissakis signed an order Wednesday overturning Perez's plea and sentence.

"All parties admit that voluntary manslaughter of a fetus is not a crime in California," Chrissakis wrote in her ruling. "Faced with [her] illegal plea bargain based upon a factual or legal impossibility  the trial court should have withheld its approval of the same."

Perez was released from state prison to Kings County Jail, according to the order. The murder charge was reinstated, and she was ordered to appear in court April 6.

"Adora Perez did not commit any crime, yet she has served more than four years in prison," her attorneys, Audrey Barron and Mary McNamara, said in a statement Thursday. "We are very grateful that Judge Chrissakis overturned Ms. Perez's plea to manslaughter, which was illegal. Unfortunately, she remains in custody and is once again facing a murder charge in Kings County."

The attorneys said they will ask the court to release Perez on bail while they work to dismiss her murder charge.

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has made it clear that women in California can't be prosecuted for suffering a stillbirth, Barron and McNamara said, adding that they hope the Kings County district attorney's office will dismiss the case promptly.

Story continues

A district attorney's representative could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Bonta issued a statement applauding the judge's decision, which he called "the beginning of an overdue course correction."

Perez will have a chance to argue that murder "does not cover the conduct or omissions of pregnant persons resulting in stillbirth," according to Bonta's statement.

"This decision is a good first step towards affirming what we know to be true, no woman should be penalized for the loss of her pregnancy," he said. "As we've repeatedly explained, the remaining murder charge is unlawful, and we will continue to support Ms. Perez in her fight to challenge that charge. Bottom line: Pregnant individuals will be protected by the law, not criminalized by it."

Before Perez, no woman in California had been sent to prison for the death of her unborn child.

In 1970, after California's Supreme Court overturned the murder conviction of a man who beat his pregnant wife and killed her unborn child, legislators changed the states homicide law to make it possible to charge someone for the death of a fetus.

But a section in the law states it does not apply to acts "solicited, aided, abetted, or consented to by the mother of the fetus."

Attempts to convict women of killing their unborn children had been knocked down until Perez.

She grew up in Hanford, Calif., an old railroad town south of Fresno. Her childhood was short. She said she was molested repeatedly by a family friend and became pregnant by another man at 14. By 16, she was smoking meth.

At 21, she met the man who would become the father of eight of her children. He beat her throughout each of those pregnancies, her aunt, Sabrina Perez, told The Times in 2020.

Perez tried to break the hold of her addiction many times, including during her most recent pregnancy, when she moved back in with her aunt and managed to stay clean for nearly three months, her aunt said.

But her success was undercut by the boyfriend, the aunt said. He talked her into renting a hotel room, where her tenuous grip on sobriety slipped.

Perez had been jailed for roughly three months when prosecutors offered her the deal to plead no contest to voluntary manslaughter.

They presented the agreement as a way for her to avoid spending the rest of her life in prison, but her attorneys at the time didn't tell her that state laws don't include a provision for a woman to be charged with killing her fetus, Perez told The Times in 2020.

She took the plea bargain but almost immediately regretted it.

"I realized, 'Oh my God, I just pleaded guilty without pleading guilty,'" Perez said, referring to the no-contest plea, which is tantamount to a conviction.

She and her family scraped together several thousand dollars to hire a private attorney in an attempt to withdraw the agreement, but Kings County Superior Court Judge Robert Burns refused to allow it and sentenced her to the maximum prison term of 11 years.

A court-appointed attorney took up her appeal but failed to raise any specific legal challenges, McNamara said in 2020.

When an appeals court upheld Perezs plea in March 2019, her case seemed shut for good.

Then another woman was arrested in a case that bore striking similarities.

Chelsea Becker also grew up in Hanford, struggled with methamphetamine addiction and delivered a stillborn at Adventist Health nearly two years after Perez. Hospital staff called authorities.

She was appointed the same public defender as Perez and appeared before the same judge.

Becker's case, however, received national attention and was dismissed in May 2021.

Attorneys discovered Perez when a Times reporter, while writing about Becker, came across the case and asked lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union about the validity of Perezs conviction.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Assemblymember Chad Mayes (I-Rancho Mirage).

In response to California gas prices reaching historic highs, a group of Democratic state lawmakers released a proposal this week to provide a $400 rebate to every taxpayer in the state.

The proposal, which would cost an estimated $9 billion and be paid using some of the states multibillion-dollar budget surplus, was announced by about a dozen Democratic lawmakers, led by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, as well as Assemblymember Chad Mayes, I-Rancho Mirage.

Soaring gas prices are hitting Californians at the pump, Petrie-Norris said at a press conference on the Capitol steps in Sacramento on Thursday. We know our constituents are hurting right now.

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris.

The $400 rebate for California taxpayers would equate to a one-year gas tax holiday for most vehicles, Petrie-Norris said.

The average price for a gallon of gas in California is by far the nations highest at $5.78, according to AAA.

The legislators proposal was unveiled just a week after Gov. Gavin Newsom discussed a similar initiative in his annual State of the State address, though the governor offered few specifics, saying he would work with legislative leaders "to put money back in the pockets of Californians to address rising gas prices."

On Thursday, the group of lawmakers acknowledged conversations regarding how to use the state's massive budget surplus  estimated in November to be north of $30 billion  are ongoing, and more proposals are likely to be unveiled soon.

Read more: Newsom proposes tax rebate amid record-high gas prices but rejects calls to increase oil drilling

The proposal came as the Legislatures Democratic supermajority has faced increasing pressure to address the skyrocketing prices Californians are paying at the pump.

On Monday, Republican lawmakers in the California Assembly moved a bill to place a six-month suspension of the states 51-cents-per-gallon gas tax, but the proposal was widely rejected by Democratic members.

Story continues

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, a Republican from Rocklin.

Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, said Thursday that he hopes to bring the gas tax suspension measure up for another vote next week.

The group of lawmakers presenting the $400 rebate proposal on Thursday argued their proposal is a more certain way to provide relief to California residents.

This is a much more thoughtful proposal than a cut in the gas tax, because a cut in the gas tax has no guarantee that that money will end up in the pockets of consumers, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, said, adding the revenue from gas taxes is necessary for crucial infrastructure projects.

Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks.

Republican leaders were open to the groups rebate proposal, though they maintained a gas tax suspension should still be adopted. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, of Yuba City, said of the tax rebate proposal: Its about time.

This bill should be fast-tracked to the governors desk and targeted to working Californians who actually feel the pain at the pump, Gallagher said. While this is a start, Republicans will still work to suspend the gas tax and stop the upcoming increase. With inflation at a 40-year high and gas prices breaking records, $400 will go pretty fast.

Other Republicans in the state Legislature, such as state Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, were more critical of the proposal.

Republicans said halt the gas tax, Melendez said in a tweet. The Governor and democrats instead want to send gas money to people who dont have a car, or have a Tesla that doesnt even use gas. This is a whole new level of ridiculous.

Its unclear whether the $400 rebate proposal will be brought to the Legislature for immediate consideration, but with gas prices continuing to rise, lawmakers on Thursday said they hope to move forward with a solution soon.

We have had some conversations with the governors office (and are) really looking forward to seeing their proposal and continuing to work with the governor, with leadership and with our colleagues to very quickly get money into the pockets of Californians, Petrie-Norris said Thursday.

Our goal is to be able to do this in the spring, and all the folks here are going to be pushing really hard to make that happen, she added.

Assemblymember Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tom Coulter covers politics and can be reached at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Will I get a $400 gas rebate in California?
August 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Cowboys' Cooper Rush (10) slides down against Cardinals' Ezekiel Turner (47) during the third quarter at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

The Cardinals on Friday agreed to terms with free-agent Ezekiel Turner, announcing the inside linebacker will return to the team on a one-year deal.

Turner, 25, becomes the 11th free agent of their own that the Cardinals have managed to retain. The only outside free agent they have added thus far is cornerback Jeff Gladney, a former first-round pick of the Vikings in 2020 who did not play last season after getting released by Minnesota following his arrest on assault charges. Gladney was acquitted of those charges last week.

Turner has been an integral part of Arizonas special teams units since joining the Cardinals in 2018 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Washington. He earned PFWA All-Rookie honors his first year after recording a team-high 22 tackles on special teams, including an NFL-high 13 solo tackles. He tied for the team lead in special teams tackles (16) in 2020, but was limited to just five games last season due to a shoulder injury.

Turner will help provide depth at inside linebacker behind starters Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons. Other backs under contract at the position include Tanner Vallejo and Joe Walker. Jordan Hicks, a starter the past three seasons was recently given his release by the Cardinals and signed with the Vikings.

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch.

News and information you can trust. Start your online subscription.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals agree to terms with ILB Ezekiel Turner on 1-year deal
This is our weekly briefing on how the pandemic is shaping schools and education policy, vetted, as always, by AEI Visiting Fellow John Bailey. Click here to see the full archive. Get this weekly roundup, as well as rolling daily updates, delivered straight to your inbox  sign up for The 74 Newsletter.

Which Coronavirus Vaccine Will Work in the Youngest Children?: The New York Times

Moderna is going head-to-head with Pfizer-BioNTech for the opportunity to vaccinate this group, hoping it has found what some scientists are calling the Goldilocks dose: strong enough to offer lasting protection, but not so strong that it causes widespread worrisome side effects, such as high fevers.

Moderna has opted for a regimen of two doses at a quarter the strength of its adult dose for children under 6. Pfizer is expected to seek authorization next month for a three-shot regimen for children under 5, with doses one-tenth as strong as those for people aged 12 and up.

Dr. Ofer Levy, a pediatric expert at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Food and Drug Administrations independent vaccine advisory committee, said he thought Pfizer might have selected too low a dose for 5- to 11-year-olds in the understandable priority to maximize safety.

Moderna is proposing substantially higher dosing than Pfizer in all three pediatric age groups: 100 micrograms, the full adult dose, for those ages 12 to 17; 50 micrograms in children 6 to 11, and 25 micrograms in those under 6. Regulators are considered likely to review the firms data for all three age groups simultaneously.

(Joseph Prezioso/Getty Images)

March 18, 2022  The Big Three

Growing Evidence of a Spring Wave?

Coronavirus cases are once again surging in several European countries, potentially signaling that the U.S. will soon experience another spike as well.

More than a third of the CDCs wastewater sample sites across the U.S. showed rising COVID-19 trends in the period ending March 1 to March 10, though reported cases have stayed near a recent low.

Katelyn Jetelina: Some have hypothesized waning of vaccination protection. However, cases in the U.K., for example, are increasing across each age group. Given that vaccines were rolled out by age, if vaccines were waning, we would only see this uptick among those who were vaccinated first. BA.2s impact on hospital systems will depend on who Omicron reached in the first wave. If the unvaccinated and older non-boosted were reached during this past Omicron wave, our hospitals may be okay. But if they werent, then the hospital picture will be different. Our booster rate in the U.S. is suboptimal, especially when we compare to other European countries. Does this mean that we will look like Hong Kong? Definitely not. But, hospitalizations may be higher than what were seeing in the U.K.

What We Know About the BA.2 Variant, via The New York Times.

Andy Slavitt posted a thread assessing the risks.

Story continues

(Paul Bersebach/Getty Images)

Do Masks in School Affect Kids Speech and Social Skills?: Via NPR

We tend to underestimate how flexible our mind and our brain is, says Marina Bedny, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies brain development in people who are blind.

This sort of research suggests that when sighted children encounter masks in the classroom, their brains adapt quickly.

Stephen Camarata, a professor of speech and hearing sciences at Vanderbilt University, said he thinks most children wont have any long-term effects from masks in classrooms. But hes concerned about some students with autism who have difficulty adapting to even small changes in their environment.

School Masking Policies and Secondary COVID-19 Transmission: Study that included 61 school districts, more than 3,000 schools, and more than 1.1 million students and adults from across nine states. More via The 74.

Districts that optionally masked throughout the study period had 3.6 times the rate of secondary transmission as universally masked districts.

Secondary transmission across the cohort was modest (less than 10% of total infections) and universal masking was associated with reduced secondary transmission compared to optional masking.

The results of this study clearly show that universal masking reduces school transmission of COVID-19 when compared to optional masking, a finding that is consistent with earlier data, said Dr. Danny Benjamin, co-chair of the ABC Science Collaborative and professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine. As more students have returned to school, masking and vaccination of children 5 years and older have remained the most practical and effective mitigation strategies to keeping students healthy and learning in-person.

National Institutes of Health: 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.

Federal Updates

White House: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law webinar on broadband, March 24, 2022.

COVID Supplemental: White House Fact Sheet Consequences of Lack of Funding for Efforts to Combat COVID-19 if Congress Does Not Act. Several highlights below. More via Stat.

The federal government does not have adequate resources to purchase enough booster vaccine doses for all Americans, if additional doses are needed.

The federal government has no more funding for additional monoclonals, including a planned order for March 25.

The federal government has been planning to move forward with a purchase of preventative treatments for the immunocompromised as soon as March 31 that would begin delivery in September, once the treatments are manufactured. However, absent additional funding the federal government will now be forced to scale back that purchase of treatments for our most vulnerable. Because these treatments take more than 6 months to manufacture, the United States will likely not have enough of these treatments by the end of the year.

CTC: Child Tax Credit expansion creates refund roller coaster

People who received the monthly Child Tax Credit checks lawmakers created last year may be surprised to see those payments are now reducing or even eliminating their tax refunds.

Some divorced people could be upset to learn they werent actually eligible for checks they received and now have to pay the money back.

At the same time, some will see fatter refunds, particularly the several million who opted out of the monthly payments.

Census: The 2020 census undercounted the countrys population by 18.8 million people, the Census Bureau said, acknowledging that the count had underrepresented Black, Latino and Indigenous residents, the NYT reports.

Second Gentleman: Doug Emhoff tests positive for COVID.

City & State News

California:

Lawmakers push to hire 10,000 mental health clinicians in schools amid the pandemic.

In a new budget forecast Thursday, LAUSD officials predicted that enrollment will decline by 36,000 students  enough to drop enrollment in the nations second-largest school district below 400,000 students  by the start of classes in Fall 2023.

Illinois: Chicago Teachers Union: Defending our rights against Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools

Indiana: Monroe, Greene County K-12 schools help students access home internet.

Michigan:

Michigan health department drops close contacts from COVID school guidance. The CDC considers a close contact someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person for 15 minutes. The five pages of guidance for schools issued by the state health department on Friday dont mention close contacts, a significant change.

Schools turn to dogs to help ease Michigans student mental health crisis.

Mississippi: Department of Education uses $10.7 million of stimulus funds to launch a virtual tutoring program.

New Mexico: Then & Now  Albuquerque Public Schools.Video documentary of the last two years.

When we look back on the past two years, we recall feelings of frustration, loneliness, and fear. But dont forget the triumphs, too. It turns out some good can come from a pandemic. We got better at communicating with families and more conscientious of students social and emotional needs. We became more innovative, collaborative, flexible, and focused.

Ohio: RemotEDx: A closer look at how Ohio spent some of its federal COVID relief dollars.

One such effort was RemotEDx, a statewide initiative aimed at helping schools enhance, expand, and more effectively scale high-quality remote, hybrid, and blended education models.

The Connectivity Champions have directly engaged with schools and families across all eighty-eight Ohio counties, and have provided more than 600 connectivity- or technology-related services.

The Support Squad is made up of staff from each of Ohios fifty-one ESCs who were selected by ESC superintendents in December 2020. Collectively, they support schools by identifying and compiling technology, content, instructional, and vendor information that supports remote, hybrid, and blended learning.

The Exchange is a one-stop shop for Ohioans  both educators and families alike  to explore the resources, services, and tools available through RemotEDx. The website, which is powered by INFOhio, highlights high-quality remote education platforms, standards-aligned instructional materials and curricula, and professional development resources.

Pennsylvania: Philly health department admits the city is far less vaccinated against COVID-19 than it has been saying.

Most significant, only a third of Philadelphias 5-to-11-year-olds have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, far fewer than the 53.6% officials have been touting for weeks.

Adult vaccination rates also were inflated: Just over three-fourths of Philadelphians 18 and older are fully vaccinated, less than the 82% that had been reported.

Texas: Denton ISD hopes to grow size of virtual academy.

COVID-19 Research

Hospitalization of Infants and Children Aged 0-4: CDC weekly report. Hospitalizations during the Omicron wave for children less than age 5 were five times higher than with Delta or any other time in the U.S. pandemic.

One-Third of All U.S. Child COVID Deaths Occurred During Omicron Surge: Reports The Guardian.

Children seem to be facing increasing risks from COVID-19 even as mask mandates drop across the country, and vaccination rates among children stall out at alarmingly low rates.

Since the beginning of the year, 550 children have died from COVID-19 in the US, compared with 1,017 children in the preceding 22 months, according to data from the CDC.

The variant may also affect younger children in different ways than previous versions of the virus. Omicron tends to infect the upper airways, which in children are narrower and can be more easily irritated.

Pfizer Vaccine Reduces the Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Children: New study and article

A single dose of the Pfizer vaccine reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection in children, new research has found. Data also showed a single dose made infection milder during the delta period as well as shorter in duration, benefits that were noticeably less pronounced during the period of omicron.

Researchers found there was a significant and rapid reduction in infection risk after even a single dose of vaccine, reaching -80.4% and -53.7% at 1430 days with delta and omicron variants respectively. This reduction in risk persisted, at -86.4% and -57.9% at 3160 days, and -61.5% and -63.7% after 6190 days.

As Virus Data Grows, the J&J Vaccine Holds Its Own: Via the NYT: new data suggest that the vaccine is now preventing infections, hospitalizations and deaths at least as well as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Pfizer Asks FDA to Authorize Second Covid-19 Booster Dose for 65 Years and Older: Via WSJ. The FDA is expected to make a decision in time for the Biden administration to begin a potential fall vaccine campaign. Pfizer press release.

Novavax: Eyeing the COVID vaccine hesitant and kids, Novavax unveils new education campaigns as Nuvaxovid nears US finish line. (Website)

People hesitant about vaccinations may not want an mRNA vaccine because its new technology, without years of proven safety behind it. But they might use an older, tried and tested tech, as Novavax puts it.

Paxlovid: Pfizer announced Wednesday that it has started a clinical trial testing its COVID-19 antiviral pill in children as young as 6.

Ten Lessons From the First Two Years of COVID-19: Via McKinsey

Schools are the true fulcrum for the functioning of society. (And nine more)

Viewpoints

Once Again, America Is In Denial About Signs of a Fresh COVID Wave: Writes Eric Topol

The United Kingdom and Europe have provided five unmistakable warnings to America that a new surge was occurring. Within weeks, each time, the United States experienced a new wave, some not as severe (such as with the Alpha variant), some worse (Delta and Omicron variants).

At least 12 countries, geographically extending from Finland to Greece, are experiencing new increases in cases, some quite marked, such as Austria exceeding its pandemic peak, and Finland with an 85% increase from the prior week. Many of these countries are also showing a rise in hospital admissions.

Add to all this is what is happening in China, which has fully relied on a zero-COVID policy, resulting in very little natural immunity, and vaccines that have weak efficacy against Omicron. Now this country is facing major outbreaks in two of its most populous cities, Shanghai and Shenzhen, and undoubtedly the whole country will be affected. We learned in 2019 that what happens in China doesnt stay in China.

Learning Loss and Education Disruptions: New bipartisan poll by Brian Stryker (Impact Research) and Robert Blizzard (Public Opinion Strategies) for the Walton Family Foundation.

Parents report their kids have missed a full month of in-person instruction this school year.

Parents report their kids missing on average 26 days of school this year (despite rhetoric about schools being open). On average, parents say their children missed 15 days of school this school year due to COVID-19 quarantines. This is higher among Black parents (17 days) and Midwestern parents (17 days). On average, parents say their kids missed 11 days of school this year due to school closures related to COVID-19.

Related: Roughly two out of five parents report that at least one child had to quarantine in the past month due to COVID-19 in an EdChoice/Morning Consult poll. (Report / K-12 Parents Crosstabs / Adults 18+ Crosstabs)

Increases in Children Diagnosed with Mental Health Conditions from 2016 to 2020: New Health and Human Services study (press release) in JAMA Pediatrics found that between 2016 and 2020, the number of children ages 3-17 years diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and those with depression by 27%.

These Schools Did Less to Contain COVID. Their Students Flourished: Good long piece via The Washington Post.

While most of the nation kept students at home for part or all of the last academic year, these schools in the suburbs of Colorado Springs, like thousands of others around the country, opened with the overwhelming majority of students in their seats. Masks were optional in elementary school.

Yet thousands of school districts  typically small ones in conservative-leaning counties  reacted to the pandemic like Lewis Palmer District 38 did. Officials in this largely White and affluent school district of 6,600 students near the U.S. Air Force Academy argue they took the right approach to reopening schools.

No child was hospitalized with the virus; two school system employees were admitted, though contact tracers did not determine where they contracted the virus, school officials said.

Transforming Education: Vision Is One Thing, But How Do We Get There?: Via CZIs Brooke Stafford Brizard

The Post Post-Cold War World: The Russia-Ukraine War & Its Consequences: New deck from Bruce Mehlman.

The Pew Charitable Trusts Launches Opportunity Broadband: Announcement and website.

One Year After Congress Appropriated Over $122 Billion for K-12, Many School Districts Are Struggling to Spend It: Via The 74

And on a Reflective Note

Welcome: Ukrainian refugee kids arrive in Italy, and start at local schools. On their first day they enter nervously. Heres what happened next.

Ukrainian refugee kids arrive in Italy, and start at local schools. On their first day they enter nervously. You wont believe what the Italian kids did next  pic.twitter.com/XQ1z2gkezb  Ben Phillips (@benphillips76) March 14, 2022

Tug of War: I think the dog won.

ICYMI @The74

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World Central Kitchen team in Poland feeding refugees who fled the war in Ukraine. World Central Kitchen

Since the war began, 3 million Ukrainians have fled their country, according to the UN.

World Central Kitchen, a US-based nonprofit, is feeding people in Ukraine and refugees in nearby countries.

The group was founded by Michelin-star Chef Jose Andres, who is also on the ground in Europe.

Since Russia's attack on Ukraine began on February 24, a US-based nonprofit founded by a celebrity chef has already served more than one million meals to people who have fled the war.

In just three weeks, World Central Kitchen has set up shop in five countries, partnered with dozens of local chefs and restaurants in Ukraine, and opened a massive kitchen in Przemysl, Poland, that can cook 100,000 meals per day.

"When we saw this happening on the news, there was no question. We all hopped on a plane immediately and came here to do what we do best," Fiona Donovan, the organization's relief operations manager, told Insider from Poland.

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the war began, according to the United Nations, with many entering neighboring countries like Romania, Moldova, and Hungary, all of which WCK is now working in, in addition to Ukraine. But nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian refugees have entered Poland, where WCK has set up a huge portion of its operations.

"This situation is horrific," Donovan said, adding that many refugees have nothing but their suitcases and the clothes on their back.

"When individuals are in situations like that, with that uncertainty and that trauma, we always want to be there to support," she continued.

World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) March 15, 2022

The group has teams stationed at all eight Ukraine-Poland border crossings and is serving up hot meals to refugees 24 hours a day. Such a large undertaking required coordinating with local chefs and restaurants who were able to very quickly jump into action and start feeding people with the help of WCK, according to Donovan.

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In addition to sending its own team members to different cities, WCK also hired locals to serve as translators, delivery drivers, and site managers, while other locals have volunteered their time to help serve food.

'What we do is relatively simple: We feed people,' Donovan said.

WCK was founded in 2010 by Chef Jose Andres, a Spanish-American Michelin-star chef with restaurants in several US cities. It acts as a first responder on the front lines of natural disasters and humanitarian crises to ensure people are fed.

"Offering hot food with a smile, showing people we're thinking of them and that we're here to help how we can is really important to our mission and how we always aim to operate," Donovan said. "We're offering more than just calories and sustenance but a delicious, chef-prepared tasty meal that people are going to enjoy sharing during such a difficult time."

WCK cooked for Haitians after the devastating earthquake in 2010, for Puerto Ricans in 2017 after Hurricane Maria, and in Southern California that same year for people affected by a massive wildfire. All their experience in disaster response made it possible for them to react quickly to the war in Ukraine, even if there are some unique challenges.

"Often in a disaster situation the event happens and then it's over," Donovan explained, saying that usually her group goes in after the devastating event has ended.

She added: "But this is an ongoing crisis. Things change every day."

They opened the WCK Relief Kitchen, a massive warehouse converted into a cooking operation, in Przemysl, Poland, because it's close to where they were seeing huge numbers of refugees crossing the border. In just weeks, WCK had installed electricity, plumbing, refrigeration, and a dozen ovens  not to mention 12 massive paella pans that can cook thousands of meals at a time.

They tend to make hearty soups and stews, or delicious, comforting food that can feed a crowd, but they've also been offering things like apple sauce and hot chocolate, especially for the many children that have fled the war.

World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) March 11, 2022

Andres himself has also been on the ground in Poland and Ukraine, cooking for refugees and chipping in just like everyone else.

"He does what the rest of the team does. He helps cooks the food, he goes to distribution sites, he meets the families we're serving," Donovan said, adding that he's also the inspiration behind their whole operation.

WCK's work in eastern Europe is just getting started, according to Donovan. She said the group anticipates it will be running a large-scale response for a long time, but it's still one of the simpler aspects of the war.

"We're here to help nourish people," she said. "It's pretty simple. This is a very complex situation for so many reasons, but what we do is relatively simple: We feed people."

Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
HONG KONG (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's flagship unit Hengda Real Estate Group Co Ltd said it will meet onshore bondholders on Friday and Saturday to delay a coupon payment due last September to September of this year.

The property developer said last September it had settled the coupon payment of the 4 billion yuan ($629 million) Shenzhen-traded bond due Sept 23 2025 via negotiations with bondholders, without giving details.

In a filing dated Thursday, Hengda said it would hold meeting with creditors of the 2025 bond on March 18-19 to approve the payment of interests incurred between Sept 2020 to Sept 2021 to be made on Sept 2023.

Struggling with more than $300 billion in liabilities, Evergrande has so far avoided technical bond defaults onshore, though it has missed payments on some offshore bonds.

While it has yet to start negotiations with offshore creditors on debt restructuring, it has tried to seek more time from onshore bondholders for coupon and redemption payments to avoid a technical default.

In January, it secured approval from onshore bondholders to delay by six months payments on a puttable bond worth 4.5 billion yuan.

($1 = 6.3625 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Clare Jim; editing by Jason Neely)
Judge's gavel

An Ohio death row inmate has won an appeal granting him the right to review previously withheld records related to the murders of an elderly Atwater couple more than 30 years ago.

In an opinion filed this week, the 11th District Court of Appeals reversed a Portage County Common Pleas Court decision denying Tyrone Lee Noling, 49, access to records that potentially include evidence his trial attorneys were never given.

"There is no excuse for trying to hide evidence in a capital murder case, at any stage of the proceeding," said Brian Howe, an attorney representing Noling, in a written statement issued Tuesday. "Tyrone Noling is an innocent man on death row, and yesterdays decision represents an important step forward in his ongoing fight for a fair trial and to clear his name.

More: Court: Convicted Portage County man has right to DNA result

The opinion sends the matter back to the common pleas court for "further proceedings consistent with the opinion."

Noling was accused of fatally shooting Bearnhardt and Cora Hartig during an apparent robbery in their Moff Road home in April 1990, when Noling was 18. A jury convicted him in 1996 and he was sentenced to death.

Various appeals have been filed on Noling's behalf in the years since, including to the Ohio Supreme Court. Noling has long denied any involvement in the Hartigs' deaths. In recent years, the Ohio Innocence Project, an initiative of the University of Cincinnati College of Law that defends those it believes were wrongly convicted of crimes, has taken up Noling's case. Howe, a law professor, is a staff attorney with the Ohio Innocence Project.

More: High Court upholds death sentence

A media release issued Tuesday on behalf of the Ohio Innocence Project states there has never been any physical evidence of Noling's guilt. It acknowledges that Noling and three other young men also accused of taking part in the robbery were involved in "a handful of minor thefts and two bumbling home robberies, including one in which Mr. Noling accidentally discharged a .25 caliber gun," the same type of gun used in the Hartig murders. However, these offenses were committed miles away from the Hartig home and "were strikingly different in nature from the cold-blooded murders of the Hartigs." the release states. Noling's gun, it said, was not a match for the one used in the murders.

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In addition, Noling's and the other men's fingerprints and DNA, were not found in the Hartig home and there were no eyewitnesses placing them there.

The three other men all made statements implicating Noling in the Hartig murders, but all three later recanted those statements, claiming that investigators pressured them to make them.

The defense has also argued that there is evidence suggesting two alternative suspects in the Hartig murders, which the appeals court opinion noted.

The foster brother of a man named Daniel E. Wilson made a statement claiming that Wilson admitted to him while intoxicated that he killed the Hartigs. The foster brother said Wilson had been breaking into homes in 1990 and evidence indicated he lived near the Hartigs. Wilson was convicted of aggravated murder for locking a woman in a car trunk and setting it on fire in May 1991 and was executed by lethal injection in June 2009.

In addition, a woman made statements possibly implicating her brother-in-law in the Hartig case. She said that the man borrowed a .25-caliber handgun from her around the time of the murders, telling her he had thrown away his own gun, but without explaining why. The woman said he then contacted her a short time later from the Portage County Sheriff's Office, where he was turning over the gun for ballistics comparison. She said he asked her to tell authorities that he had borrowed the gun three or four months earlier, but she refused to do so. The borrowed gun was also not a match for the murder weapon, which was never found.

The opinion says the defense obtained evidence of alternative suspects through a public records request to the Portage County Sheriff's Office, but they claim prosecutors never provided it to his trial attorneys.

"Mr. Noling is seeking a new trial based on exculpatory evidence he claims was not made available to his trial attorneys," state the Ohio Innocence Project's media release. "This evidence shows investigators initially had linked other suspects to the Hartig murder."

Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci could not be reached Thursday for comment.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Death row inmate Tyrone Noling wins appeal in Atwater murder case
The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general is calling for the immediate removal of detainees from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in New Mexico, citing "critical staffing shortages that have led to safety risks and unsanitary living conditions."

"We recommend the immediate relocation of all detainees from the facility unless and until the facility ensures adequate staffing and appropriate living conditions," DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari wrote in an urgent "management alert" on the living conditions at the Torrance County Detention Facility.

The facility in Estancia, located about an hour outside of Albuquerque, receives $2 million a month to house detainees.

During an unannounced inspection of the facility in February, inspectors found "egregious conditions" inside, mostly due to severe understaffing, the report said. At the time, the facility housed 176 male detainees.

Cuffari said his office reviewed all 157 cells in 8 housing units and found 83 detainee cells with plumbing issues, "including toilets and sinks that were inoperable, clogged, or continuously cycling water.

Problems with broken faucets and sinks, along with restrictions on drinking fountains due to Covid-19, resulted in detainees obtaining their drinking water from a communal area faucet intended for filling mop buckets, he said, adding that the facility exposed staff and detainees to excessive and avoidable unsanitary conditions."

The inspector general said his team also found mold throughout the facility.

At the time of the inspection, Torrance was at 54 percent of required staffing, with 133 full-time employees, and had 112 staffing vacancies, with the majority in the area of security, the report said. Due to the staffing shortage, current staff were required to work a minimum of six overtime shifts a month "to help bridge the gap," it continued.

Additionally, the management alert  essentially a call for immediate action  found that officers did not properly supervise and monitor detainees in the housing units. It also listed other issues with the facility, including deficiencies on staff communication with detainees, on Covid-19 mitigation and medical care as well as access to legal services. Cuffari said his office plans to release another report focusing on those issues.

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ICE disagreed with the inspector general's findings and accused the inspectors of being "unprofessional," in a response included in the management alert.

"ICE leadership believes Torrance is in compliance with relevant detention standards for staffing and sanitary conditions and that OIG's recommendation is unwarranted," the report said.

In response to the staffing shortages, ICE said since the inspection, Torrance has increased the number of staff by 29 percent to a current staffing level of 83 percent, and is also using overtime to ensure coverage of shifts, as appropriate.

The agency also said Torrance has completed repairs addressing all of the conditions identified in the report.

The inspector general, however, said ICE didn't provide documentation to back up its claims, noting that the agency itself had previously complained that the company that runs the facility, CoreCivic, wasn't living it up to the terms of the contract because of understaffing.

In a contract discrepancy report sent to Torrance in March, ICE said that "CoreCivic has not been able to demonstrate the ability to provide a safe environment for staff and noncitizens, provide the necessary security for proper facility security and control measures, and care necessary to ensure proper facility maintenance, overall cleanliness, and personal hygiene needs described" in national detention standards, the inspector general said.

The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for CoreCivic, Steve Owen, said Cuffari's inspectors misrepresented evidence to "negatively portray the facility," accusing them of using pictures of broken toilets in areas that were "unoccupied and scheduled for repairs."

Owens also argued that staffing concerns are a "challenge faced by secure facilities, public and private, all around the country," and said the facility "was appropriately staffed for the population size at the time of the inspection."

The inspector general's office said ICE's arguments weren't persuasive. "We reiterate our recommendation that detainees should be immediately removed from this facility," its report said.
Chinese dissident Yan Xiong remains undeterred in his New York congressional run despite alleged attempts by an agent of the Chinese government to sabotage his campaign.



Xiong, a former student leader involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, is currently running as a Democrat in New York's 1st congressional district. Granted asylum in the U.S., he is a military vet and has been an American citizen for 27 years.



According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the candidate was targeted by 59-year-old Qiming Lin, who is said to be an agent of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. He is among five alleged Chinese spies accused of stalking and harassing American-based Chinese critics of the Chinese government.



Lin, a retired member of the Chinese secret police, is accused of employing surveillance and planning possible smear campaigns, a honey trap and physical attacks against Xiong.



The indictment noted that Lin tried to sabotage Xiongs campaign between September 2021 and March 2022 by hiring a private investigator to execute his plans.



"Create something," Lin allegedly told the PI. "Go find a girl... or see how he goes for prostitution, take some photos, something of that nature."



"Right now, we don't want him to be elected," Lin was quoted as saying.



Lins plans were uncovered after the private investigator recorded him on tape and revealed them to the FBI. Lin is believed to be in China.



Xiong has brushed off the attempted attack on his campaign, saying the plan would not have worked.



"That's the stupidest thing," he told Insider. "I'm not that kind of guy. It's common sense. I am running for Congress, so they tried to trap me or make a scandal for me."



According to Xiong, the uncovered plot, which campaign lawyer Aaron Foldenauer referred to as foreign interference in our elections, has only made him braver.



"Yan Xiong is going to continue to fight for the freedoms that all Americans enjoy and prays that everyone in the world will have those same freedoms," Foldenauer said.







Featured Image via Yan Xiong for Congress

Story continues

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Kraigg Brathwaite (left) and Ben Stokes during the second Test (Ricardo Mazalan/AP) (AP)

England came up against a wall of resistance on day three of their second Test against the West Indies, managing just two wickets in two sessions in Barbados.

Having enjoyed batting on a flat pitch, racking up 507 for nine declared, the tourists were unable to coax much joy out of it with the ball as Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood held them off with a defiant stand.

After dismissing Shamarh Brooks and Nkrumah Bonner before lunch, England drew a blank in the afternoon as the hosts reached 196 for three.

Brathwaite was unbeaten on 79, having dug in for 242 balls, with Blackwood 50 not out from 116.

England will rue their failure to take a chance on DRS when Blackwood was still on nought, Ben Stokes waving away the idea of referring his own lbw appeal only for replays to show the ball taking out leg stump.

Despite the match being just over halfway through, there will already be fears that the teams are heading for a second-successive stalemate following last weeks draw in Antigua.

Englands weight of runs, and the West Indies relatively-restrained scoring rate, still gives Joe Roots side a chance to push the envelope but in conditions as benign as these, there is plenty of hard work ahead.

With a weight of first-innings runs to play with, Root tossed the ball to Jack Leach first up and invited him to work away on an aggressive line with close catchers in place.

Leach was asking all the right questions with the gentle turn he was able to find only to strike with a rare loose delivery.

Sensing a chance to score off a short ball, Brooks leant back and sliced a catch to Chris Woakes at backward point, giving away a hard-working 39.

But with Brathwaite looking in assured touch and Bonner, last weeks player of the match, joining him, England had a challenge on their hands.

Bonner had faced 493 balls for one dismissal in Antigua and swiftly took his tally past 500 before picking up the first boundaries of the day in the 14th over. Leach conceded both, straying down leg before offering up a half-volley, to end an otherwise searching spell.

Story continues

That brought Stokes into the attack and he was elated to win a decision against Bonner, pogoing up and down in celebration.

He was made to wait for DRS confirmation and might have felt a touch fortunate that the third umpire ruled in his favour. UltraEdge appeared to raise the possibility of a concurrent inside edge but Nigel Duguids decision was allowed to stand.

Stokes would have picked up Blackwood for a duck had he referred another appeal against the new batter, but the bowler turned his back on a discussion with Root, seemingly convinced it was a dud. Replays duly showed Blackwood being struck clean in front of leg.

The West Indies added 82 without further drama in the afternoons play. Brathwaite grinding slowly towards three figures and Blackwood bringing up his half-century just before tea.

It was a day of steady but joyless work for debutants Matthew Fisher and Saqib Mahmood, both of whom were used more than Woakes, who was afforded just four overs before the second new ball arrived.
By Daren Butler

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan opened a massive suspension bridge across Turkey's Dardanelles Strait on Friday, the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects which he has prioritised during his two decades in power.

Connecting Turkey's European and Asian shores, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge was built by Turkish and South Korean firms with an investment of 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion). It has the longest main span - the distance between the two towers - of any suspension bridge in the world.

Such mega projects have been central to Erdogan's achievements since his AK Party first came to power in 2002, including a new Istanbul airport, rail and road tunnels beneath Istanbul's Bosphorus strait, and a bridge over it.

"These works will continue to provide profit for the state for many years," Erdogan said at an opening ceremony on the anniversary of a 1915 Ottoman naval victory against French and British forces in the Dardanelles during World War One.

"These projects have a large share in putting our country ahead in investment, workforce and exports," he said.

Last year he launched what he previously called his "crazy project": a $15 billion canal in Istanbul intended to relieve pressure on the busy Bosphorus Strait. However critics have questioned the project's viability given Turkey's economic woes, environmental risks and public opposition.

COSTLY

Ahead of national elections scheduled for 2023, opinion polls have shown a slide in the popularity of Erdogan and his AK Party, boosting the opposition's prospects of ousting him.

The main opposition CHP has criticised the potential cost of the bridge to the public purse, with media reports saying the build-operate-transfer agreement includes an annual payment guarantee of 380 million euros ($420 million) to the operators or a total 6 billion euros over the duration of the accord.

Erdogan said the price for passenger vehicles to use the bridge would be 200 lira ($13.50).

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Work on the Dardanelles bridge project was launched in March 2017, with more than 5,000 workers involved in the construction.

The 2,023 metre (1.25 mile) length of its midspan is an allusion to the Turkish Republic's 100th anniversary in 2023.

It is the fourth bridge linking the European and Asian shores in Turkey, alongside the three built in Istanbul.

Its towers are 318 metres (347.8 yards) high and the total length of the bridge is 4.6 km (2.9 miles) including the approach viaducts.

Until now, vehicles travelling between Anatolia and the Gallipoli peninsula had to cross the Dardanelles in a one-hour ferry journey, which including waiting time amounted to as much as five hours. The journey will now take around six minutes.

($1 = 0.9040 euros)

($1 = 14.7731 liras)

(Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Gareth Jones)
After years of battles with the owners of Weiss and West Suburban hospitals, community members are wary, but hopeful, of what a proposed sale of the hospitals might mean for their neighborhoods and health care.

Pipeline Health, which is the California-based owner of Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, announced March 10 that it intended to sell the hospitals to Michigan-based Resilience Healthcare for $92 million. The sale must still be approved by the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

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The announcement came just three years after Pipeline bought the two hospitals, along with Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park for $70 million, pledging to turn around the financially struggling facilities.

We have been struggling to make these hospitals successful, said Nick Orzano, Pipeline founder and board member, in a news release about the proposed sale. The owner of Resilience approached us to take on the challenge, and we believe he is an excellent fit, with a proven track record of success, for the communities we serve.

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Pipeline noted that its invested $60 million in the two hospitals since taking ownership.

In recent years, however, Pipeline has angered community members and leaders. In 2019, just weeks after buying the three hospitals with promises to rejuvenate them, Pipeline said it planned to close the 230-bed Westlake because the hospital was losing too much money. Though the village of Melrose Park sued over the decision, the hospital ultimately shuttered.

More recently, Pipeline agreed to sell a Weiss parking lot to a developer hoping to build apartments on the site, over the objections of some community members who worried that it was the beginning of the dismantling of Weiss, and that the building would further contribute to gentrification, driving out lower-income residents.

Pipeline said it plans to give the $12 million from that parking lot sale to Resilience to reinvest in the hospitals.

Ald. James Cappleman, 46th Ward, reassured constituents in a recent newsletter that the sale will help to ensure Weiss survival.

This potential sale will allow a new owner, rather than a private equity firm, to increase investment in Weiss Hospital and commit to its continued success, he wrote.

But given Pipelines history in the Chicago area, some community members say they dont trust anything Pipeline does, including selling the hospitals.

Its really a slap in the face ... to the people who work at Weiss Hospital because they are just in limbo again as to their job security, said Angela Clay, a board member with Northside Action for Justice. Its like ripping a band-aid off of a wound that never got a chance to heal.

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Others say given Pipelines history with the hospitals, theyre glad to see Pipeline go.

We think its a victory that Pipeline is out of the picture, said Marc Kaplan, also a Northside Action for Justice board member. We just dont know anything about Resilience.

Resilience is a newly created, for-profit company, said Courtney Avery, a spokeswoman for the company, in an email. Resilience is led by Manoj Prasad, who has been a hospital transformation leader since 1998, and has successfully turned around hospitals and health systems in Michigan, Texas and Florida, according to a Pipeline and Resilience news release.

New Jersey-based businessman Rathnakar Patlola is a financial partner in Resilience and will invest in the acquisition and operations. Patlolas company Ramco Healthcare Holdings will own the land on which the hospitals sit, with Resilience entering into long-term lease agreements with Patlola.

Resilience does not intend to make any service cuts or lay off front-line workers, Avery said. The hospitals will keep their current names. It intends to run the hospitals long-term, with Prasad moving to the area.

The beauty of living in the community is that I can, with a birds-eye view, seek and receive direct feedback from everyone vested in the success of the hospitals, including the community, staff and patients, Prasad said in a statement. He plans to attend town halls in coming weeks to meet with community members as well as hospital leaders and staff.

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Community members hope theyll have a better experience with Prasad than they had with Pipeline.

Already, some leaders, including Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman have praised the proposed purchase.

West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park on April 7, 2020. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)

West Suburban has been a valued resource to Oak Park and the surrounding community for generations, she wrote in an email. I believe this is a moment for congratulations to West Suburban leadership and board for what I believe will be an even stronger partnership focused on providing quality medical services. Mr. Prasad is committed to Oak Park and the greater region.

Ruth Castillo, of Uptown, said she hopes Prasad listens to residents about what they need and want from Weiss.

I see Weiss as a huge, valuable asset to this community. ... I want to see it there for the long term because it provides so much care for my neighbors and people who are aging in place, Castillo said. Now that this new owner is coming in, I hope he understands the desire of the community to see Weiss thrive.

Daniel I. Dorfman contributed.

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lschencker@chicagotribune.com
Ukrayinska Pravda

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO - WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022, 17:33 Ukrainian defenders continue to destroy units of the Russian occupiers and their equipment with great professionalism. Source: the press centre of the DShV command [Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine] and the press service of the National Guard Details: The assault troops showed a video with the aftermath of the Russian armoured vehicles, together with their crews, destroyed by the artillery of one of the units of the D
The claim: Meme shows photos of a lithium mine and a completed pipeline

As drivers in the U.S. and around the world face sharp increases in gas prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, energy independence and alternative energy have become increasingly popular topics.

One meme that has appeared in dozens of recent Facebook posts pushes back against those advocating for electric cars by highlighting their use of lithium batteries. It claims to show a comparison between a lithium mine and a completed oil and natural gas pipeline.

In the top half of the meme, a photo labeled "Finished pipeline" shows a field of green grass lined by trees. Below it, a photo showing an expansive open-pit mine is captioned, "Lithium mine for your electric car."

On Facebook, a post of the meme from March 8 received over 2,200 shares within a week, and dozens of other posts total thousands more.

The top half of the meme does show a buried pipeline, but the bottom half doesn't show a lithium mine. Instead, it shows one of the world's largest copper mines, the Escondida in northern Chile.

Experts told USA TODAY that there are significant differences between lithium and copper mines.

USA TODAY reached out to several users who shared the post for comment.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

Meme shows photo of open-pit copper mine

USA TODAY traced the photo of the open-pit mine in the meme to numerous articles identifying it as the Escondida mine, including from AFP Canada, Mining.com, Mercopress and Brazilian business magazine Negocios.

Escondida is an open-pit mine, one of the world's largest for extracting copper.

Most copper is extracted from ore in open-pit mines such as Escondida. This process entails harvesting ore with a series of explosions that create the stepped benches shown in the photo. The mine becomes deeper and deeper over time.

However, the process for extracting lithium is vastly different, Rennie Kaunda, an assistant professor in the Mining Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines, wrote in an email to USA TODAY.

Story continues

The primary difference: Around two-thirds of the world's lithium production is extracted from natural brines, not from rock ores or open-pit mining.

First, groundwater containing lithium is pumped out of the ground and left to evaporate. The remaining minerals are then chemically refined into battery-grade lithium, said Datu Buyung Agusdinata, assistant professor at the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

This process is less destructive to the environment than open-pit mining, Agusdinata wrote to USA TODAY. However, he said, refining lithium from brine "causes the loss of about 95 percent of the brine-extracted water, severely depleting natural aquifers on which local communities depend." Evaporation technologies also put local flora and fauna at risk of toxicity through leaks or spills.

"Copper and lithium mining are intrinsically destructive," Agusdinata wrote. "In our quest for low carbon technologies to decarbonize our energy and transportation systems, impacts to local environment and communities cannot be ignored. Better refining and mining practices would be needed to minimize such impacts."

Fact check: Electric vehicles emit fewer emissions and are better for the environment

Photo of finished pipeline is accurate

The meme contrasts the copper mine's barren landscape with a photo of a forest-lined grassy field that is captioned "Finished pipeline."

USA TODAY found that the photo was first posted online by A&A Construction, a Pennsylvania company that specializes in oil and gas field services. The picture is from one of its projects.

The company's website describes the photo as showing a "pipeline after being seeded," which means the pipeline has been covered with dirt and new grass has been planted. USA TODAY could not reach A&A for comment.

Most pipelines are buried underground, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

In the U.S., most states have laws that require pipelines to be buried underground in all but exceptional circumstances. The laws also require construction companies to "reclaim" the land by restoring it to the same or better condition than it was in when the construction project disrupted it, said Christopher Zoller, an associate professor and agriculture and natural resources extension educator at Ohio State University.

More: Electric cars coming on fast: Climate worries, sinking prices put spotlight on EV sales

Rating: Partly false

Based on our research, we rate PARTLY FALSE the claim that a meme shows photos of a lithium mine and a completed pipeline. The meme accurately describes a picture of a buried pipeline that has been seeded with new grass. However, the photo supposedly showing a lithium mine actually shows the Escondida copper mine in Chile.

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: Image in viral meme shows copper mine, not lithium mine
White House chief medical adviser Dr Anthony Fauci has warned that Covid-19 cases in the US are likely rise, as Europe experiences a spike in reported infections from a more contagious form of the Omicron variant.

The combination of a recent European Covid surge, coupled with an uptick in high-profile positive cases in Washington DC , has placed the Biden administration on edge as they brace for a potential spring wave, three senior officials familiar with the matter told Politico .

Cases in the US are at an eight-month low, but those inside the presidents Covid war room cant easily turn a blind eye to the European spike thats been sweeping nations on the other side of the Atlantic.

Several European countries recorded increases in the past week, an NBC analysis showed , with the biggest surges happening in Finland (cases up 84 per cent), Switzerland (up 45 per cent) and the United Kingdom (up 31 per cent). Other western European nations, like Italy, Austria, France and Germany, also recorded double-digit percentage increases.

The US typically experiences similar uptakes several weeks after they are recorded in the UK and elsewhere.

Politico reported that in recent days, officials from the White House official Covid task force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have discussed re-instituting mandates, such as masking indoors, as well as opening up the discussion of whether or not to recommend a fourth booster of the vaccine.

"I would not be surprised if in the next few weeks we see somewhat of either a flattening of our diminution or maybe even an increase," Dr Fauci told ABC News.

The new warning signs come just weeks after many states across the US began lifting Covid-related restrictions, with many beginning to make preparations to go back to a pre-pandemic normal.

Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island lifted all state-level mask and proof-of-vaccination requirements in recent weeks. New York, similarly, removed these mandates for most businesses and local governments.

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Dr Fauci cautioned that whats happening in Europe could very well be coming down the pipeline in the US.

Youve got to at least be prepared that we may see something similar here with some differences, because theres always differences, Dr Fauci told Politico.

The recent outburst of positive cases within the nations capital, including people close to Mr Bidens inner circle, is also a factor thats dampening the administrations hopes of moving on from a virus that continues to claim the lives of more than 1,000 Americans a day.

In the past week, notable figures from inside the Beltway who have received positive diagnoses include former president Barack Obama, first gentleman Doug Emhoff and at least nine House Democrats, the New York Times reported .

Part of whats driving this recent European surge in cases, and will likely be the cause of a US spring wave, a STAT news article explained , were three main factors: lax policies, variants and waning immunity.

Piggybacking on Omicron, the BA.2 sub-variant is proving to be more transmissible and is becoming the dominant strain in many countries experiencing a Covid surge (including Denmark, India and South Africa).

Lastly, the immunity provided by previous infections and vaccines, most of which would have been delivered either before or during the winter surge, are beginning to wane. The levels of antibodies that can block the virus from establishing an infection have been shown in many studies to begin to decline within months, even for those who have received a booster.

All this, plus the concern raised among Biden administration officials, arrives as more than $15bn (11.4) in pandemic funding is held up in Congress, despite White House officials warning this money could be the difference-maker in providing life-saving drugs or providing free treatment to patients.

Notably, this delay in funding would also obstruct the efforts to get tests and masks out to people both domestically and around the world, a cog that could prove disastrous should the US begin seeing a rise in cases thats happening across the ocean.
Protesters hold placards during an anti-war protest in front of the Embassy of Russia in Helsinki, Finland, Feb. 26, 2022.

Protesters hold placards during an anti-war protest in front of the Embassy of Russia in Helsinki, Finland, Feb. 26, 2022. Credit - Takimoto MarinaSOPA Images/Shutterstock

In 1961, as the Cold War was building to its peak, Finnish foreign minister and former Prime Minister Rolf Torngren tried to explain his countrys neutrality policy to the rest of the world. To some, he recognized, the existence of an independent neutral state, a Western democracy, next door to the Soviet Union, maintaining its freedom in friendship with, not in defiance of, its powerful neighbor appears in itself to be a paradox.

Fifty years later, Finnish neutrality is again being questioned, but this time by the Finns themselves. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted an unprecedented shift in public opinion in Finland and its neighbor, fellow long-time neutral Sweden. Yet even as efforts to pursue membership gather steam, the paradox that Torngren described continues: the very process of seeking NATOs protection may itself escalate the risk these Nordic countries face.

For the first time, a majority of Finlands population is indicating that they are in favor of NATO membership, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told TIME in a Mar. 12 phone interview. And of course it has become obvious that political parties have been starting their discussions about the security situation and how it affects Finlands position with regards to NATO. So the political process has started.

As a borderland between East and West, Finlands neutrality dates back to the end of World War II. In 1948, it signed a treaty with Moscow in which it promised to join neither NATO nor the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. Although it began in the 1970s to strengthen alliances with the West and joined the European Union in 1995, support for membership in NATO has, until very recently, remained below 30%, roughly the same as in Sweden.

Read More: Ukraine Needs More Military Aid from NATO

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That percentage began to creep up earlier this year, as Russian threats to Ukraine, accompanied by potentially suspicious activity around the Baltic Sea (drones flying at night over sensitive sites in and around Stockholm, a Russian cargo plane that took an unexpected detour over southern Finland) increased. But what had been a steady rise turned to an outright leap with the invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24. Polls conducted by newspapers in each country just days after the outbreak of the war put support for joining at a historic 51% in Sweden and 53% in Finland.

In Finland the shift in public opinion has been accompanied by popular efforts. Two separate citizens initiativesone calling for a referendum on NATO, the other urging the President and other authorities to bring a proposal for accession before Parliament have each garnered the necessary 50,000 signatures to trigger their consideration in the legislature; debate is expected to begin next week.

Matti Muukkonen, a law professor at the University of Eastern Finland, is one of the authors of the second initiative. Although he has long been in favor of Finland joining NATO, he and his colleagues submitted the initiative on March 3 because the Ukraine invasion had, in their view, drastically increased the urgency of accession. Russia is ruthlessly working to create a buffer between itself and NATO, he says. In order to continue to enjoy fundamental and human rights in the future, Finland must make every effort to safeguard our sovereignty.

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, right, and Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen arrive to address a press conference after the decision to supply arms to Ukraine, in Helsinki, Finland, on Feb. 28, 2022. Jussi NukariLehtikuva/AFP/Getty Images

Because it shares both an 800-mile border and a long and complicated history with Russia (Finland was part of the Russian empire from 1808 until 1917, and lost territory to the Soviet Union in the Winter War of 1939-40), the country is keenly alert to the potential threat posed by its powerful neighbor to the east. Russia doesnt view things a single country at a time, says Mika Aaltola, director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. They are using Ukraine to demonstrate their power, perhaps trying to shock and awe a bit regionally, so that everyone in the region understands that if Russian security is not assured, no ones security is assured.

Russian foreign minister spokeswoman Maria Zakharova appeared to reinforce that message explicitly to the two Nordic countries the day after the Ukraine invasion. Its obvious, she said at a press briefing in Moscow. That if Finland and Sweden join NATO, which is first of all a military organization, it will entail serious military-political consequences, which would require retaliatory steps by the Russian Federation. Her statement has since been repeated by others in Russias foreign ministry.

There are signs that Russia is already behaving aggressively in the region. On the day the second citizens initiative was launched, Finlands largest banks were the target of a massive DDoS attack. Because Finns generally use their banking IDs for digital services (like signing the petition), some experts saw the attack as an attempt to block the initiative. And on March 16, the Russian embassy in Finland called on Russians there to report cases of violation of rights, discrimination and incitement of hatred against citizens of the Russian Federation and native speakers of the Russian language to the consular department of the embassy by email, exactly the same kind of invented incidents used to justify the invasion of Ukraine. Finnish officials are also concerned that Belarus, a Russian ally, may be planning to flood its border with immigrants, a tactic it is employed last summer, when the country invited and enabled tens of thousands of migrants mostly from Iraqi Kurdistan to cross European Union borders and created a crisis.

Read More: A Ukrainian Photographer Documents Invasion of His Country

Those kinds of events have convinced Muukkonen and other NATO supporters that Finland needs to act quickly, which is why he and the initiative co-authors want the government to propose accession, rather than waiting for a referendum. But in addition to the perceived urgency of the situation, they also see the current moment as actually safer. Russia is deep in the mud of Ukraine, he says. It has concentrated a large part of its forces there, so it would be almost the best time to join in this situation.

Both the Swedish and Finnish governments have sent arms shipments to Ukraine, and increased their cooperation with NATO, but they are taking a decidedly more measured approach to the question of actually joining. Although Prime Minister Sanne Marin has shown herself more open to exploring the question of membership than her Swedish counterpart, Magdalena Andersson (who last week dismissed the prospect, arguing that Swedens application would further destabilize the situation), she nonetheless cautioned that the debate would be thorough, and neither she nor President Sauli Niinisto have yet expressed their opinion on what they think the outcome should be.

As for the foreign minister, he emphasizes that another issue takes precedent. At the moment, I think its very important that we concentrate solely on solving the war in Ukraine, says Haavisto. This has been our message to our partners in NATO and the European Union; that we need to concentrate on what can be the steps to stop this very unfair war against Ukraine and the Ukrainian population. As for whats happening now in Sweden and Finland, thats a long-term issue which requires more analysis and more discussion.

But if current leaders in Sweden and Finland are circumspect about potential membership, the same cannot be said for their former leaders. Former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt, argues in a Washington Post Op-Ed, There is no way back to a past of illusionary neutrality. The choice now is between remaining in a slightly uncertain in-between or recognizing a new reality and taking the step into full membership.

Former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb greeted the editorial with a bit of tongue-in-cheek rivalry. Dear Carl Bildt, he wrote on Twitter, I think you are too conservative on FIN. Our train left the station, the process is in motion and the end station is at @NATO HQ. This time, Finland is showing the way.




Florida state Sen. Ileana Garcia (R) has apologized after claiming on the Senate floor earlier this month that being gay is "not a permanent thing."

Just before the state Senate passed the controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, which its critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, Garcia argued that sexual orientation and gender identity are temporary and should not be taught to young children.

"Gay is not a permanent thing. LGBT is not a permanent thing, and it's not a bad thing," she said. Garcia followed that statement with a story about a personal friend who is transgender, who she repeatedly misgendered.

On Thursday, Garcia posted a statement to her recently-reactivated Twitter account, apologizing to "anyone" she offended while debating the bill.

America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

"As a Senator, and more importantly, as a life-long member of this community, I fully understand the responsibility and impact of words on others," she wrote. "My comments were in no way intended to generalize or disregard the experiences of any member of the LGBTQ+ community. I was trying to explain my very personal life experiences and did not properly articulate my sentiments."

Garcia then reaffirmed her support for the bill, which would prevent classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity in the state's primary schools. Public school teachers of all grade levels would also be barred from discussing those topics in a manner that is not "age appropriate or developmentally appropriate" for their students.

"I do not believe that our school system should instruct children in Kindergarten - 3rd grade about sexual identity or sexual orientation. I strongly believe it's a discussion that should be at the discretion of the parent," Garcia wrote Thursday. "My failed attempt to convey the complexity and nuances of this matter in no way diminish the fact that the Parental Rights legislation is first and foremost about allowing children to be children and giving parents the right to guide their childhood."

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Garcia added that she believes some will use her words to "advance a partisan agenda or a false narrative," and suggested that she had received threats of physical harm following her comments on the Senate floor.

"It's to be expected," she wrote.

LGBTQ+ advocates were less than impressed with Garcia's apology, noting that the state senator had disabled commenting on her post.

"After declaring on the floor of the FL Senate that 'LGBT is not permanent', Sen. Garcia reinstated her account to sidestep an apology before complaining her words are being 'used to advance an agenda'. Then turned off replies to avoid having to hear how her non-apology landed," Brandon Wolf of Equality Florida wrote on Twitter.

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Shamrock Shuffle: Kick off the spring racing season and keep the St. Patricks Day celebration going at the annual 8K, which winds through the Loop before finishing at Grant Park. If youre not up for the full race, you can join a one-mile run through Grant Park. All participants get a race shirt, knit hat and refreshments at the post-race party which features live music. Spectators are also welcome to don something green and cheer the runners along. 8:25 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Grant Park, 301 S. Columbus Drive; register for $25-$55 at shamrockshuffle.com

InsideWalk Sale: More than 30 Andersonville retailers clear out their winter merchandise to prepare for spring at the annual event, with deals on winter items at Cowboys and Astronauts (1478 W. Summerdale Ave.) and at Dearborn Denim (5202 N. Clark St.). Visit the former Akira space (5228 N. Clark St.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for the Great Andersonville Puzzle Exchange, where you can drop off a new or gently used puzzle and take home a different one. More at andersonville.org/insidewalk-sale

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Runners cross the Columbus Drive Bridge after starting the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago in March 2015. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

Bachanalia at the Gallery: A fundraiser for the annual Bach Week Festival in Chicago and Evanston pays tribute to both Johann Sebastian Bach and the Roman god of wine Bacchus. The string trio Black Oak Ensemble plays Bach and other works including an Astor Piazzolla tango, and advanced sommelier Mike Baker discusses wines that match the music. Youll take home a bottle of one of the recommended wines and could win a Black Oak Ensemble CD. 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Sunday at Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central St., Evanston; tickets $60 at 847-269-9050 or bachweek.org

Sweat: Get a first look at the results of the completed $2 million renovation of the Copley Theatre when you watch Lynn Nottages Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, which examines race, class and the cost of capitalism. The play is set in a bar in an impoverished Rust Belt town where tensions rise among the gathered factory workers as rumors spread that some people are going to be promoted while others will be laid off. Through April 24 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; tickets $67-$74 at 630-896-6666 or paramountaurora.com

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Linda Gillum plays Tracey and Shariba Rivers is Cynthia in "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage, the first play in Paramount Theatres BOLD Series and the inaugural production in the renovated Copley Theatre. (Liz Lauren photo / HANDOUT)

Winning Works: See the world premiere of the four winners of the Joffrey Academys Winning Works Choreographic Competition, a nationwide effort to support African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American artists. Returning to live performances for the first time since 2019, this years showcase includes Audrey Barans Porcelain, which explores the objectification and fetishization of Asian American women, and Taylor Carrascos Not Now, But Now, a piece about living with anxiety. Through Sunday at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicagos Edlis Neeson Theater, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; tickets $30 at 312-386-8905 or joffrey.org/winningworks

The Drag Seed: This weekend is your last chance to see Hell in a Handbags unauthorized parody of the 1956 psychological horror film The Bad Seed before the cast heads to New York to perform at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. The comedy follows Carson, who really wants to win the drag pageant at their very progressive school and will do anything it takes to get the crown. Through Sunday at the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.; tickets $27-$50 at handbagproductions.org

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.
Mar. 17A former counselor with Boulder's Mental Health Partners accused of sexually abusing a patient is set for trial in the fall.

Jose Alejandro Yepes, 49, pleaded not guilty in Boulder District Court Thursday to unlawful sexual contact  fake medical exam, unlawful sexual contact  no consent, stalking and indecent exposure.

Yepes, who remains free on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond, is now set for a four-day trial starting Oct. 10.

Yepes' new attorney, David R. Jones, asked for the later trial date so the court could first schedule a motions hearing to address some pre-trial matters, as Jones said he has had trouble getting information from Mental Health Partners necessary to prepare his case.

Boulder District Judge Norma Sierra set a motions hearing for May 5, and Yepes agreed to extend his speedy trial deadline to accommodate the trial date.

Boulder police said Yepes was employed by Mental Health Partners at the Warner House facility, 2833 Broadway, and worked with people suffering from substance abuse issues. He was hired on Oct. 19, 2020, and as a "milieu counselor" was there to help support residents but was not a licensed therapist.

A woman told police that Yepes repeatedly contacted her and "initiated contacts that were sexual in nature" over a one-month period starting in November 2020.

According to an affidavit, the woman said Yepes locked her in a room for what he called "energy healing" sessions and turned out all of the lights and turned up a noise machine so people could not hear them.

She said Yepes made requests like asking her to step on his back while he was naked on the floor, asking her to spank him, and showing her nude pictures of himself.

The woman said Yepes would also brush up against her while she was in common areas of the facility and would use his passcode to enter her room. She also believed he was outside her room listening to her private conversations because of comments he made about those conversations.

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The woman also said Yepes talked often about how he could easily get someone out of the country, which initially made her afraid to report the incident.

According to the affidavit, the woman recorded her last session with Yepes on a device and played it for a detective. During the session, the detective heard Yepes apologize after the woman confronted him, and said he could lose his job if anyone found out.

Mental Health Partners officials said Yepes was fired on Dec. 1, 2020.
A sign for the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office, at 2610 Hospital Blvd. in Corpus Christi, is pictured on March 18, 2022.

A former Nueces County deputy chief medical examiner appeared in the 319th District Court Friday to discuss conditions of her bond.

Dr. Sandra Lyden, 57, bailed out of the Nueces County Jail on March 10, according to her attorney, Stephen Giovannini. She had been held on a $100,000 bond.

Lyden was arrested on March 7 on a warrant for tampering with or defrauding a government record, with intent to defraud or harm another  a state jail felony.

Dr. Sandra Lyden, the former Nueces County chief deputy medical examiner, was arrested by Nueces County District Attorney's Office officials on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Despite holding a medical license in Florida, Lyden has been accused of performing autopsies on behalf of the medical examiner's office without a proper Texas medical license.

The investigation that has spanned nearly two months claims Lyden knowingly provided false information on her application to the Texas Medical Board while seeking proper license to practice in the state, according to an arrest warrant affidavit signed by Nueces County Justice of the Peace Joe Benavides and obtained by the Caller-Times.

Giovannini told the Caller-Times in a text message Friday that his client "will be pleading Not Guilty," but declined to comment further.

Lyden will be required to report to a pre-trial officer in person once a month and to call the officer once a week, according to conditions of her bond set forth by 319th District Judge David Stith. She must also remain within the county until further notice.

Stith also ordered Lyden to stay away from any potential witnesses, including employees with the medical examiner's office, and to surrender her passport, at the request of Nueces County First Assistant District Attorney Angelica Hernandez.

Staff writer Chase Rodgers contributed to this story.

Kailey E. Hunt covers breaking news and public safety in South Texas. Help support more local coverage with a subscription at caller.com/subscribe.

RELATED COVERAGE

More: Nueces County commissioners select top applicant to replace chief medical examiner

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Former Nueces County deputy chief medical examiner bailed out of jail
A former Peekskill police officer has admitted sexually abusing a woman while he was on duty, and threatening to arrest her if she didn't comply.

Michael Agovino, who abused the woman in 2019 and 2020, was caught when she secretly recorded one of their interactions and alerted authorities.

Agovino, 35, pleaded guilty to several charges in Westchester County Court on Thursday and will be sentenced on June 23 to seven years in prison, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office said.

Agovino, who lives in Orangetown, will then be on post-release supervision for 15 years and he will have to register as a sex offender. He and his lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Michael Agovino disgracefully violated his oath of office and his responsibility to serve and protect the public as a police officer by repeatedly abusing his authority, and sexually abusing this woman, District Attorney Mimi Rocah said. The victim in this case demonstrated great courage in her attempt to hold her abuser accountable during this emotionally distressing ordeal and we hope that todays plea helps in the healing process. I commend the Peekskill Police Department for their cooperation in this investigation and prosecution.

The Peekskill Police Department declined to comment on Agovino's guilty plea.

The abuse began in July 2019, when Agovino contacted the woman and told her she was under investigation for a crime, according to a felony complaint filed in Peekskill City Court when he was arrested in February 2020.

Agovino met the woman at an undisclosed public location, where she denied having stolen money, according to the complaint. He was accused of ordering her into his patrol car and telling her that he had to take her home to search for the stolen money.

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After searching the woman's apartment and seeing that no one else was there, Agovino told the woman she needed to strip for him to search for the money, according to the complaint, then he groped her.

Agovino was accused of returning to the woman's home a second time and threatening to arrest her if she did not take off her clothes and perform a sex act on him.

More crimes took place over the next five months. On three different occasions, Agovino, while on duty, entered the woman's home or tried to enter it, and sexually abused her one of those times, officials said.

In January 2020 the woman secretly recorded an interaction with Agovino and gave that recording to Rocah's office. Agovino was arrested on Feb. 15, 2020, and resigned from the Peekskill Police Department last year.

Agovino pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, attempted second-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, attempted second-degree burglary, first-degree stalking as a sexually motivated felony, and first-degree falsifying business records, all felonies. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of official misconduct, three counts of third-degree coercion, and two counts of forcible touching, all misdemeanors.

Michelle Lopez and Jennifer Sculco are prosecuting the case.

Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Hudson Valley. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Michael Agovino, ex-Peekskill police officer, admits sexual abuse
Former RNC chair Marc Racicot said Donald Trump's recent comments on Ukraine "continue to poison and fray the political life and social fabric of the nation." Sean Rayford/Getty Images

In an op-ed, former RNC chair Marc Racicot slammed Trump over his comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Racicot said Trump's statements were "laced with reckless propositions, cruelty, and improprieties."

Racicot warned that those who support Trump or excuse his behavior "dance with the devil."

Former Republican National Committee chair Marc Racicot has slammed former President Donald Trump for his comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying they were "laced with reckless propositions, cruelty, and improprieties."

In an op-ed run by several publications this week, Racicot  who chaired the RNC from 2002 to 2003  made a case for why he thought Trump was unfit to lead the US.

"If the former president's recent remarks about Ukraine had amounted to just another ration of narcissistic self-indulgence, it would have been briefly noted, but not thoroughly examined," Racicot wrote. "Such patent nonsense has become, after all, predictable and expected."

"But his recent comments before and after the Russian invasion were laced with reckless propositions, cruelty, and improprieties which continue to poison and fray the political life and social fabric of the nation," he added.

In particular, Racicot took aim at Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The vicious actions of the Russian president have been universally condemned by decent people everywhere. But, not by Donald Trump. To the contrary, the former president could only express his admiration of the Russian president's tactics by describing him as 'savvy,' 'smart,' and a 'genius,'" he wrote.

Racicot also criticized Trump for suggesting that the US put Chinese flags on its fighter jets to "bomb the shit out of Russia."

"In addition to revealing a complete lack of maturity and morality, such comments also expose an appalling lack of compassion for the death and destruction of the lives, culture, and country of the people of Ukraine. And they remind us once more, how critical the character and stability of one person can be," he wrote.

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Citing author J.M. Smith, Racicot ended his piece with a warning to those who support Trump or continue to excuse his behavior to "secure his favor."

"If you dance with the devil, then you haven't got a clue, for you think you'll change the devil, but the devil changes you," he wrote.

Despite being heavily criticized by various parties  including veteran diplomats  for praising Putin, Trump has continued to make bold claims about the Ukraine crisis.

He released a statement on Wednesday containing false claims about NATO while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was speaking in Congress. During a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump claimed that his personality had kept the US "out of war" during his presidency and said Russia would not have dared to annex "one inch" of Ukrainian territory if he was in charge.

Read the original article on Business Insider
GRAND LEDGE  The Michigan Court of Appeals has partially reversed a decision by an Eaton County judge, and required the judge to issue an order for Grand Ledge Public Schools to produce records sought in a lawsuit by its former superintendent, Brian Metcalf.

Metcalf's Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, filed in September 2020, about two weeks before he was fired at a due process hearing, claimed he was "denied access to the records necessary to defend himself against charges seeking his dismissal and the ruination of his reputation and career."

The school board hearing took place nearly four months after Metcalf made comments on Facebook about the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020. Metcalf's comments placed blame, at least in part, on Floyd for his own death.

Metcalf's lawsuit involved 16 FOIA requests he made in June, August and October 2020.

Eaton County Circuit Court Judge Janice Cunningham ruled in April 2021 that with regard to most of Metcalf's claims of how or when the district responded to his records requests, his lawsuit failed to meet the necessary burden of proof.

Cunningham also ruled Metcalf was "not entitled to attorney fees."

In its Feb. 24, 2022, ruling, the Court of Appeals disagreed, in part, with Eaton County Circuit Court Janice Cunningham's ruling regarding Metcalf's lawsuit.

Cunningham should order the school district and Board of Education "to produce all texts and emails, including those that were deleted, between board members, to the extent that such records are recoverable," the Court of Appeals ruling states. "The trial court should also order (the district and board) to produce records related to locally elected officials communications with the board or district staff regarding (Metcalf)."

Cunningham also should determine whether Metcalf "is entitled to an award of all or an appropriate portion of reasonable attorney fees, costs, and disbursements," the Court of Appeals ruling states.

Story continues

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Timothy Mullins, an attorney representing the school district and the school board, said all the texts, emails and documents Metcalf requested have since been produced through the process preceding Metcalf's upcoming arbitration hearing with the district.

"That and much, much more has been produced in the arbitration," Mullins said.

Metcalf's attorney, Eric Delaporte, said Metcalf hasn't received all the information he requested, including deleted texts Delaporte said Board of Education members sent each another.

The Court of Appeals' ruling is "vindication," Delaporte said.

"Weve long said that Grand Ledge Public Schools violated the law as it pertains to Mr. Metcalf," Delaporte said. "It's unfortunate that we had to go through an appeals process to validate Mr. Metcalf's rights."

Metcalf's arbitration hearing before arbitrator Robert P. Young Jr., a former Michigan Supreme Court justice, is expected to take place in mid- to late May. The location of the hearing hasn't been determined, Mullins said.

The school district could owe Metcalf nearly $1 million if Young Jr. finds the Board of Education terminated his employment contract without just cause.

The lawsuit is scheduled to go back before Cunningham in April, according to circuit court records.

Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lawsuit against Grand Ledge schools sent back to Eaton County court
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Macron on Friday told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that he is "extremely concerned" about the situation in Mariupol, which has been hit by constant shelling over recent days, according to the French presidential office.

The call lasted just over one hour, the Elysee added.

(Reporting by Michel Rose, editing by Tassilo Hummel)
The cost of oil has gone down over the few days, leading to a slight decrease in gas prices in Charlotte and across the country.

After reaching an all-time high of $4.19 a week ago, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in the Charlotte area is $4.13, according to AAA. The average price of diesel fuel is just north of $5, down 15 cents from last week.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas has decreased by four cents to $4.28 since Monday, according to AAA.

Heres why the cost of oil is dropping, and how you can maximize your cars gas mileage.

Why is the cost of oil dropping?

After oil prices spiked in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, AAA says the drop in oil prices is due to Chinas announcement of new lockdowns due to rising COVID-19 infections.

Prices are lower because of market concerns that oil demand will decline, similar to 2020 when many countries implemented restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

Will premium gas improve your cars fuel economy?

A common belief is that premium gas  which currently costs 71 cents more per gallon than regular gasoline in the Charlotte area  will improve a cars fuel economy.

However, unless your vehicle was designed for premium fuel, you probably wont experience any benefits, fueleconomy.gov says. You can check your owners manual to see if premium fuel is recommended and under what conditions.

How can you improve your cars fuel economy?

Paying more at the pump wont improve your fuel economy, but there are plenty of other things you can do to get better gas mileage, according to fueleconomy.gov:

Get your car serviced regularly. If your engine is in poor condition, you can waste fuel.

Make sure your tires are properly inflated. If your tires are underinflated, your cars fuel efficiency can reduce by up to 0.3% for every pound of pressure dropped in all four tires.

Lighten your load whenever possible. Remove your roof storage rack whenever you arent hauling anything.

Avoid idling for long periods of time. Idling can use a quarter to a half-gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use.

Use cruise control. It can help you maintain a constant speed and will save gas in most cases.

Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph.

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Is Biden to blame for soaring Georgia gas prices? Heres what you should know.

Will Charlotte gas prices rise after Russia invasion of Ukraine? Heres where costs stand
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that supply shortfalls due to the war in Ukraine will be severe and could lead to further conflicts in already vulnerable countries.

She underscored that Germany needed to maintain contact with authoritarian regimes even if they don't share its values and not to stay quiet on issues due to economic or energy interests.

Baerbock, who was presenting a new national security strategy on Friday, added that a new China strategy would be in the works in the coming months.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Paul Carrel)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, a German government spokesperson said.

In their nearly hour-long conversation, Scholz also stressed that the humanitarian situation needed to be improved and progress needed to be made in finding a diplomatic solution as soon as possible, said the spokesperson.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray and Thomas Escritt)
GLEN COVE, NY  A Glen Cove doctor was sentenced to more than four years in prison Friday for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 emergency relief funds.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said Konstantinos Zarkadas, 48, was sentenced to 51 months' imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay about $3.5 million in restitution.

Zarkadas pleaded guilty last year to stealing roughly $3.7 million in Payment Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP) loans between March and July 2020.

Federal prosecutors say he fraudulently received 11 PPP and EIDLP loans on behalf of the corporate entities he controlled. And the funds were used "for extravagant personal purchases and other impermissible purposes," such as financing the down payment on a $1.75 million yacht.

To conceal the fraudulent nature of the purchase, prosecutors said Zarkadas made the check payable to a family member who was not the ultimate beneficiary of the funds and, in the check's memo line, falsely indicated that the funds were "repayment for payroll."

Congress created the PPP and EIDLP as part of the CARES Act, which was enacted on March 27, 2020. Designed to stimulate the economy, the CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance to qualifying businesses and households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PPP allowed small businesses to receive loans that they would use for specified expenses, including payroll costs and interest on mortgages. The EIDLP provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners suffering from the pandemic's economic impacts.

"It's always a shame to see the rampant abuse of programs designed to help ordinary people struggling through the pandemic," said Thomas Fattorusso, special agent-in-charge for the IRS-Criminal Investigation, New York. "Dr. Zarkadas chose greed over honesty by financing a luxury lifestyle on the backs of America's taxpayers."

This article originally appeared on the Glen Cove Patch
The most legitimately divisive movie of the moment, right alongside (and more urgent than) "Detroit," the unnerving crime thriller "Good Time" moves like a streak, barely able to keep up with its characters.

The reckless, selfish, charismatic man at its core, Constantine "Connie" Nikas, is a small-time Queens, N.Y., hustler of Greek-American extraction. He's played by Robert Pattinson. The actor's "Twilight" vampire career afforded the young, minimally impressive actor the chance to get better at his line of work, one uncommercial movie at a time, as he worked with interesting directors on daunting material.

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This impulse brought Pattinson to New York filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie, writers and directors and brothers. For "Daddy Longlegs" (2009) the Safdies drew on their own, perilous childhood with a loving but risk-prone father. "Heaven Knows What" (2014) bridged documentary and fictional narrative, using the journals of then-homeless Arielle Holmes as the basis of a clammy, tightly wound study in addiction and escape. Their work is bleak but charged with wit, with the street-level excitement of real cinema.

The cruelty inherent in their stories takes on a propulsive new dimension in "Good Time," the Safdies' two-man leap into the dictates of genre filmmaking. It's also their first project blending expressive non-actors with a handful of established names, including Pattinson and Oscar nominees Jennifer Jason Leigh and, from "Captain Phillips," Barkhad Abdi.

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Pattinson, as many have noted, is nearly unrecognizable here as Connie, a twitch in perpetual motion, a fast talker, and a user of everyone around him. There are times when you catch him acting; some of the physical mannerisms and, especially, the vocal work and the dialect flourishes, seem like calculation, not quite absorbed into the fabric of the overall performance. But it's a real performance, and Pattinson isn't showboating here. The character of Connie is a fabulist and a weasel, and Pattinson's characterization makes each sweaty chapter of this crime story fascinating.

It's not simply Connie's story. The opening scene belongs to the other brother, Nick (played with perfect pitch and emotional nakedness by co-director Benny Safdie). In tight, intimidating close-ups we see Nick in a drab office with a court-appointed psychiatrist (Peter Verby). As the doctor questions the developmentally and hearing-challenged young man, we learn bits and pieces of what Nick and Connie have endured living with their abusive grandmother, who enters the story later. It's an extraordinarily deft overture: just enough exposition to tell us what need to know about the stories leading up to this one.

Connie bursts into the room, interrupts the session, and busts his brother out so that they can embark on the adventure of their lives, for better or worse. There's a bank robbery on the agenda. Connie convinces Nick he can do it; he tells him he has the stuff it takes to commit a crime.

Wearing racially provocative dark-skinned masks ("stop messing with it!" Connie tells Nick) the Nikas boys dash with the money, but right away the good times promised by the title prove slippery. In short order the robbery goes flooey, and Nick winds up in the hospital after a brutal beating he suffers on Rikers Island. Where the Safdies take the story from there becomes a dizzying and dizzyingly plausible odyssey of improvisation, a survival game of perpetually shifting rules.

Two key supporting characters, two among many to suffer at Connie's hands, are black. Several critics have leveled charges of racism at "Good Time," and at the Safdies. For reasons I won't reveal, Connie at one point knocks on the door of a random house, and within minutes a 16-year-old girl (Taliah Webster, who will break your heart) becomes his confidante, and an accomplice of sorts.

The action rolls on to Long Island and the Adventureland amusement park, where a night security guard (Abdi) runs afoul of Connie in a particularly painful way. Though he loves his brother, and feels more for him than he knows what to do with, Pattinson's character exploits and discards everyone in his blinkered life, including his girlfriend (Leigh), either for money, shelter or plain self-interest. The police keep giving him a break because even in his particular socioeconomic strata, he enjoys a full load of white privilege.

The racial undercurrents in "Good Time" are harsh and not entirely resolved (some of it's cruel, period), but I think it's part of a legitimate and seriously affecting picture of where we are in America today. Sean Price Williams' gorgeous long-lens cinematography favors dense telephoto imagery, often sustained for long, richly detailed passages of action, instead of the usual shaky-cam faux-documentary tics. The script by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein comes alive, thanks in large part to the gripping electronic score by Oneohtrix Point Never. In the Safdie movies the sound design is right on top of the action; it's the sound of nervous systems under extreme pressure.

Most crime movies, even alleged indies, make it easy for the audience to take sides and establish clear rooting interests. "Good Time" is better than that: It's not always easy to take, yet you can't look away.

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Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune

"Good Time"  3.5 stars

MPAA rating: R (for language throughout, violence, drug use and sexual content)

Running time: 1:40

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Opens: Friday

[ RELATED: From 2015: Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune 4 star review of the Safdie brothers' "Heaven Knows What"  ]

[ From 2010: the Tribune's 3.5 star review of "Daddy Longlegs" by Josh and Benny Safdie  ]

[ From 2008: Michael Phillips video review of the first "Twilight" picture  ]







Watch the latest movie trailers.

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)
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A lawsuit filed on Friday accuses Google of systemic racial bias against Black employees, saying the search engine company steers them to lower-level jobs, pays them less and denies them opportunities to advance because of their race.

According to a complaint seeking class-action status, Google maintains a "racially biased corporate culture" that favors white men, where Black people comprise only 4.4% of employees and about 3% of leadership and its technology workforce.

The plaintiff, April Curley, also said the Alphabet Inc unit subjected Blacks to a hostile work environment, including by often requiring they show identification or be questioned by security at its Mountain View, California campus.

Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The complaint was filed in the federal court in San Jose, California.

It came after that state's civil rights regulator, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, began investigating Google's treatment of Black female workers and possible discrimination in their workplace.

Curley said Google hired her in 2014 to design an outreach program to historically Black colleges.

She said her hiring proved to be a "marketing ploy," as supervisors began denigrating her work, stereotyping her as an "angry" Black woman and passing her over for promotions.

Curley said Google fired her in September 2020 after she and her colleagues began working on a list of desired reforms.

"While Google claims that they were looking to increase diversity, they were actually undervaluing, underpaying and mistreating their Black employees," Curley's lawyer Ben Crump said in a statement.

Crump is a civil rights lawyer who also represented the family of George Floyd after he was killed in May 2020 by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

Curley's lawsuit seeks to recoup compensatory and punitive damages and lost compensation for current and former Black employees at Google, and to restore them to their appropriate positions and seniority.

The case is Curley v Google LLC, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-01735.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
DAKAR (Reuters) - A subsea cable owned by Google that promises to double internet speeds for millions in Africa arrived in Togo on Friday, the company said, the latest step in a multi-year project to provide cheaper access to users across the continent.

The Equiano cable, the first of its kind to reach Africa, has wound its way from Portugal and will double internet speed for Togo's 8 million residents, Google said in a statement.

That may be a taste of things to come for other countries set to benefit in a region where internet use is rising fast but where networks are often cripplingly slow and are a drag on economic development.

The new line will also make land in Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa, with possible branches offering connections to nearby countries. It is expected to start operating by the end of the year.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's least-connected region, with around a quarter of the population still lacking mobile broadband coverage compared to 7% globally, according to a 2020 report by GSMA Intelligence.

Most countries in West Africa are at the bottom of a World Bank global ranking on internet penetration.

Togo will be the first to benefit. The cable is expected to reduce internet prices by 14% by 2025, according to an Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics assessment commissioned by Google.

Google said the cable will indirectly create 37,000 jobs in Togo by 2025 and boost GDP by $193 million.

(Reporting by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Edward McAllister)
LESBOS, Greece (AP)  A 75-year-old Norwegian photographer, arrested on the Greek island of Lesbos, appeared in court Friday on espionage-related charges that his lawyer and supporters describe as unfounded.

Knut Bry, who works with a local nonprofit organization that helps migrants and refugees, was arrested Wednesday on the island's main port of Mytilene while taking photos of the harbor.

We are aware of the arrest of a Norwegian citizen on Lesbos. The Embassy will offer assistance according to the consular framework, the Norwegian embassy said in a statement to The Associated Press.

His lawyer, Haris Petsikos, said Bry would formally present his defense on Monday.

Of course he does not accept these allegations under any circumstances, Petsikos said. We dont see anything from the case file that is incriminating against him. Located near the coast of Turkey, Lesbos was the busiest point of entry into the European Union during the 2015-16 refugee crisis, when hundreds of thousands of people fled wars in Iraq and Syria.

Greece's center-right government has taken a tough line on migration, intercepting boats carrying migrants from Turkey, and limiting the role played by charities in helping migrants. Taking photographs of military areas can lead to prosecution for illegally obtaining state secrets and punished by imprisonment of at least one year. Nikos Markou of the group Lesvos Solidarity, which works with Bry, described the Norwegian as a kind and generous man, who divides his time between Lesbos and Norway. Everyone likes him. He would help out with the refugees anyway he could, peeling potatoes, handing out meals, he said. I don't think he really understood why he was arrested. We have received so many messages of support from people who have worked with him," he said. "He's a great photographer and a sensitive guy, a wonderful man. ___ Gatopoulos reported from Athens, Greece
Mar. 18HAVERHILL  A Haverhill man who was convicted last November by a federal jury of two counts of distribution of fentanyl was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Boston to 10 years in prison.

Bernardito Carvajal, 30, a Dominican national who most recently resided in Haverhill, was additionally sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. to three years of supervised release, according to an announcement Thursday by U.S. Attorney Rachel Rollins.

Carvajal was acquitted of distribution of fentanyl and cocaine resulting in death. Carvajal was indicted in January 2020 and has been in custody since his arrest in July 2019, the announcement said.

"This case is a painful lesson in the devastating and irreversible toll opioids and other substances take on lives and communities," Rollins said. "This defendant is responsible for distributing a lethal drug that took a 26-year-old man's life and yesterday's sentence reflects that. The young man who died here was a beloved son, grandson, brother, stepson and so much more."

Rollins said opioids are the leading cause of drug overdose deaths, which she said have recently reached a record high. Every one of these deaths represents a person, not a mere statistic, she said.

"In virtually every community across the nation, drug traffickers and local dealers are preying on vulnerable individuals and profiting off of pain, addiction, and trauma," Rollins said. "In Massachusetts, law enforcement partners are working collaboratively to bring those who peddle deadly narcotics to justice."

"Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA's top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison," said Brian Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. "Today's sentence not only holds Mr. Carvajal accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to others who are fueling the opioid epidemic."

Story continues

In June 2019, Carvajal sold drugs on 11 separate occasions to a 26-year-old victim who, after being sold drugs from Carvajal on June 12, 2019, died of an overdose the following day, officials said.

Carvajal continued to sell fentanyl after this fatal overdose, including another sale six weeks later on July 31, 2019, to an undercover officer. Carvajal was subsequently arrested following that drug deal. At trial, the jury convicted Carvajal of the underlying fentanyl distribution counts.

Rollins, Boyle, and Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Wan and Stephen Hassink of Rollins' Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Jae C. Hong

Indicted Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) may have just staked his political careerand possibly his freedomon a tried-and-true excuse: Bad cell phone reception.

Attorneys for Fortenberry, who on Thursday became the first sitting member of Congress to stand trial in 21 years, told a federal jury that what the government calls lying to the FBI could boil down to a misunderstanding stemming from a bad cell phone connection.

The governments case against the nine-term Republican hangs largely on that phone call, which a cooperating informant recorded in 2018. In that nine-minute conversation, the informanta Fortenberry donortold the congressman that $30,200 in campaign contributions at a Los Angeles fundraiser probably came from an illegal source: a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire Fortenberry knew and had met at least twice.

GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry Claims His Age Made Him Confused in FBI Interview

While Fortenberry had several off-ramps to admit his knowledge, prosecutors told jurors, he chose instead to lie. The Nebraska conservative now stands trial in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, where he faces three felony charges related to misleading the government, each carrying a maximum sentence of five years.

This is a case about choices, a series of choices that the defendant made that led him down an illegal path of lies and deception, Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Jamari Buxton said in his opening remarks.

The defense, howevercasting itself to the jury as guardians of Congressman Fortenberrys libertycountered that Fortenberrys statements were less about deception, and more about reception, appealing to jurors own experience with spotty cell service.

Defense attorney Glen Summers said Fortenberry made one small mistake, chalked up possibly to something he misheard over a bad cell phone connection.

Summers argued the claim in questionthat the contributions probably did come from the foreign billionairewas just one very vague statement made to Fortenberry during the recorded call. And the congressman, Summers said, goes on autopilot during fundraising chats, a state of mind that lends to distraction, where even a small glitch in the call could have warped his understanding.

Story continues

Indicted GOP Congressman Says the Feds Got Him on TapeTwice

They assume that he heard it, that it registered, and that he remembered it about a year later, the attorney told the jury. (The judge previously blocked the defenses request to call a memory expert at trial.)

He never lied to the agents, Summers said, characterizing the accusation as a failed memory test.

When you really look at it, its clear as mud, he said.

The opening arguments came after a courtroom kerfuffle the previous day that may raise constitutional questions about the trials procedure.

The presiding judge, Stanley Blumenfield, has restricted press access to the courtroom. On Wednesday, during the jury selection process, Blumenfield initially penned all media in a satellite room with a video feed, and prohibited electronic devices. Likewise, Blumenfield blocked remote video and audio access.

The ban, which may run afoul of the Constitution, particularly frustrated Nebraska media, who traveled to Los Angeles to cover the trial of their local congressman only to find themselves iced out. And while Blumenfield opened the courtroom to a handful of press that afternoon, including the Nebraskans, the first hours of jury selection were off limitsan issue that in 2019 forced a federal judge to restart a trial.

More press were allowed inside for opening arguments Thursday, and Blumenfield gave the green light for reporters outside the courtroom to use electronic devices to take notes and send emails.

As for the trial itself, prosecutors must show that Fortenberry knowingly and willfully lied to investigators. Theyve built a sprawling case.

According to a prosecution memo filed last month, in the disputed nine-minute recorded call, the informantwho was cooperating with the FBIrepeatedly discussed with Fortenberry the fact that the $30,200 in cash flowed to the campaign through conduit donors, and was likely sourced to the foreign billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury.

The informant, named in filings only as Individual H, was revealed in court this week as Dr. Elias Ayoub, a Los Angeles-area physician who hosted the fundraiser where the illegal donations were made.

Judge Says GOP Congressman Cant Be Left Alone With Evidence

Over those nine minutes with Ayoub, prosecutors say, Fortenberry did not express surprise or concern or seek clarification about the claim that hed received illegal foreign contributions from people he knewpeople who sought his legislative support during the time period he received the illegal donations. Instead, the memo says, he continued to push Ayoub to host a second fundraiser, asking for some continuation of the fine generosity from the first.

The call is one of more than 50 audio and video recordings the prosecution turned over to the defense team ahead of the trial, supplemented with more than 11,600 pages of written communications, reports, transcripts, articles, and other records.

The prosecution also has an array of witnesses. The first to take the stand on Thursday afternoon was FBI agent Todd Carter, who conducted the first interview with Fortenberry. In his testimony, Carter said that, to him, lying about political contributions is a red flag, possibly indicating other crimes may be afootnoting bribery specifically.

That prompted Judge Blumenfield to issue some clarifying statements to the jury, reminding them that Fortenberry had not been charged with bribery, and you should not conclude or draw any inference that the defendant committed an act of bribery.

The defense will cross-examine Carter on Thursday evening and into Friday, but hes just the first in line.

Prosecutors will also call campaign finance attorney Jessica Furst Johnson, of Hogan Lovells, to testify against her former clientan exceedingly rare occurrence.

Fortenberry had contacted Johnson shortly after his call with Ayoub. However, according to court filings, he did not get into any details with Johnson on that call, only mentioning an unremarkable and unmemorable concern about something he heard.

Johnson could not extract more information, prosecutors say, and decided she could not advise Fortenberry on unverifiable innuendo about a possible bad check. The campaign paid Hogan Lovells $212.50 for Johnsons time, but did not disgorge the illegal contributions until the following year, after the second of Fortenberrys interviews with the feds.

For its part, the defense argued in opening remarks Thursday that Johnson had previously known Fortenberry as the boy who cried wolf, so she blew him off when he had called with questions about the fundraiser. (Fortenberry appears to have never paid any of Johnsons firms before that call.)

Fortenberrys then-fundraising lead, Alexandra Kendrick, will also take the stand.

According to prosecution filings, Kendrick repeatedly emphasized to Fortenberry that the 2016 fundraiser carried a risk of illegal foreign contributions. She spoke from experience, prosecutors say, and recounted a cautionary tale to Fortenberry about an event she ran for a different client with ties to foreign nationals from the same community, who ended up making illegal donations.

GOP House Candidate in Utah Received $135K in Illegal Donations

At the Fortenberry event, Kendrick had donors fill out the required forms in front of her, and she made sure defendant was aware that she was taking these cautionary steps, the memo says.

Prosecutors also note that Fortenberry himself thought the money smelled funny.

Shortly after the 2016 event, they say in court filings, he asked one of the conduits if anything was wrong with the fundraiser, pointing out that the money had all come from one family. The conduit told him, falsely, that it was all kosher.

As for Fortenberrys defense strategy, it centers largely on undermining the governments credibility and relying on that famous beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof.

From the beginning, the defense has attempted to paint investigators as unfairly targeting Fortenberry, including calling lead FBI agent Carter racist in a court filing. Blumenfield, however, ordered that document physically stricken from the record, barred Fortenberry from arguing that the case was politically motivated, and tossed a slew of other motions ahead of the trial.

Still, Fortenberrys counsel told jurors Thursday that the FBI had it out for Fortenberry all along, claiming that agents had planned to feed the congressman information that would set up charges down the road.

Their intention was not to get information  no, it was to indict Congressman Fortenberry, Summers told the jury, claiming that the FBI ambushed the Congressman at home under a ruse of national security concerns. (Fortenberry voluntarily requested a second interview, in which he also allegedly lied.)

Further, the charges of lying were merely sour grapes, the defense said, coming only after the investigation into the donations, code named Operation Titans Grip, became a big nothing-burger.

That part isnt entirely accurate.

The feds became aware of the Fortenberry contributions during an investigation into Chagoury, who eventually agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine for making a total $180,000 in illegal gifts to U.S. officials, including Fortenberry. (Ayoub also inked a plea deal.) The officials include Fortenberrys fellow Nebraskan, former Rep. Lee Terry, along with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Utah Sen. Mitt Romneys presidential campaign.

However, only Fortenberry was indicted.

Last October, Issa told Politico, No, I dont have the same issues [as Fortenberry], noting that he made no statements to any FBIor anything else.

But if misleading government officials is a crime, Fortenberry appears to hav3 violated that standard as recently as this week.

On Tuesday, he notified the Clerk of the House of Representatives that he would have to vote by proxy, due to the ongoing public health emergency.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The State Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into a North Carolina deputy caught on video with his knee on a Blacks man neck before dragging him into a building.

The state agency will decide if criminal charges will be brought against Washington County Sheriffs Deputy Aaron Edwards.

Cellphone video footage shows Washington County Deputy Aaron Edwards jump kicking a handcuffed man with his knee. (Screenshot/WITN)

Washington County officials confirmed that Edwards was fired on March 11, a little over a week after video footage shows him landing a kick with his knee into Gary Thomas neck. Thomas was arrested for marijuana possession.

His girlfriend, Caressil Goddard, said she started filming the incident to hold the authorities accountable. The video starts with Thomas on the ground. It is unclear how he got there.

Now everybody can see how it goes down here, Goddard told reporters. They drug him all the way back to the door and still dragged him, and his head hit the building. Then, he was knocked out for a minute, and I was like yall need to call the ambulance.

The video, made public by WITN, shows Edwards quickly backing away then circling Thomas on the ground in front of the Washington County Clerk of Court building before dragging him back in. Thomas was handcuffed and did not move.

Thomas mother, Francis Gilliam, was also on the scene and could be heard on the video screaming Oh my God at least eight times. At the moment when Edwards drops his knee on her sons neck, she screams Not my babys neck in between loud sobs.

Gilliam said Thomas called and told her that he was about to be charged, so she went to the courthouse.

I said this isnt going to be no George Floyd. I kept saying that, Gilliam told reporters. I repeated it.

Thomas aunt, who was also a witness, was reportedly arrested for trying to intervene as cops dragged a motionless Thomas through the doors of the building. Thomas family said he complained about headaches after the incident.

But I didnt never go nowhere because I didnt want to see my son hurt or in danger, Gilliam said, and as a mother, you feel for your child. I dont care if he is grown, they are your kids.

Story continues

Washington County Sheriff Johnny Barnes said Edwards was fired as a result of an internal investigation that included body-worn camera video footage of the arrest.

This incident went beyond the scope of acceptable force and will not be tolerated in this office, Barnes said in a social media statement. Our officers work hard daily to earn the trust of our citizens, and we will continue to strive to serve our citizens with professionalism nothing less will be acceptable.

The May 2020 Minneapolis Police killing of Floyd led to global protest against excessive police force and racial inequality in policing. Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvrin was caught on video with his knee in Floyds neck for nine minutes. Floyd was also handcuffed and motionless.

At least 17 states, including Minnesota, have banned chokeholds during arrests since Floyds murder. The North Carolina Legislature has considered a measure to change the policy, but lawmakers did not pass the bill. In June 2020, former North Carolina Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks advised local agencies to review their use-of-force policies, and some local agencies implemented chokehold bans. However, it is unclear what the use-of-force policy is in Washington County.

The Washington Post reports that as of Sept. 6 at least 32 of the nations 65 largest police departments have banned or strengthened restrictions on the use of neck restraints in response to Floyds death.

That just messed me up to be honest with you, Gilliam said regarding her sons violent treatment. I couldnt even get no sleep because you still see it.
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's public authorities must replace antivirus software that is linked to Russia to prevent any disruption of services due to the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, a draft decree seen by Reuters said on Friday.

The move comes as Italy's data regulator starts a probe into potential privacy risks connected to the use of software provided by Russia-based Kaspersky Lab, amid growing concerns over potential cybersecurity attacks.

The regulatory body asked Kaspersky to provide the number and the nature of its customers in the country, and to clarify how its tools process personal data, including whether these are made available to foreign governments.

Kaspersky said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters that the company had received the Italian regulator's request and it was available to respond to any concerns it may have.

Kaspersky told Reuters on Thursday that it was a privately-managed company with no ties to the Russian government and said it risked suffering from decisions that were based on geopolitics rather than real technical concerns.

Italian motor racing team Ferrari has decided to remove the Kaspersky logo from its Formula One cars and is assessing its supply ties with the company.

In a recommendation issued earlier this week, the Italian state cybersecurity agency said there was no evidence products provided by companies linked to Russia had been compromised since the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

However, it warned that risks needed to be reassessed amid the growing conflict and that anti-virus software was particularly sensitive due to the "high level of invasiveness" of the systems they serve.

A similar alert was issued on Tuesday in Germany, where the local cybersecurity body warned users of the anti-virus software developed by Kaspersky that it posed a serious risk of a successful hacking attack.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante and Elvira Pollinaediting by Gavin Jones and Keith Weir)
Keeping millions of customers in Ukraine supplied with electric power amid the Russian invasion is, to say the least, challenging. Especially when the electrical grid itself becomes a target.

What we see now is that they attack transmission lines, substations, power generating stations, said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, a large private Ukrainian energy company.

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In the early days of the war, he said, the Russian military seemed to be wary of wrecking critical civilian infrastructure.

Now, he said, they are not selective anymore.

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In a video call from an undisclosed location in western Ukraine, Timchenko described how DTEK, which supplies about 20% of Ukraines electricity, and other Ukrainian utilities were scrambling to keep the lights on during the Russian onslaught.

Amid the urgency, Ukraine, which is not a member of the European Union, has also managed to achieve something in a matter of weeks that it had worked on for years: a linkup to the power grids of neighboring EU member countries including, according to Timchenko, Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.

This will help Ukraine to keep their electricity system stable, homes warm and lights on during these dark times, Europes energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, said in a statement. In this area, Ukraine is now part of Europe.

In case of a major hit to its power system, Ukraine could now apply for emergency electricity supplies from the European system, Timchenko said. Ukraine also severed its electricity links to Russia and Belarus just before the invasion to establish independence from power sources in hostile countries.

When its transmission lines are damaged or severed, DTEK arranges for Ukrainian soldiers to escort its emergency repair crews, dressed in flak jackets, to reach affected sites. Timchenko said six of DTEKs roughly 60,000 employees had been killed during the war, although not while performing duties for the company.

Overall, Timchenko said, Ukraines electricity operations were relatively stable. Keeping things that way, though, seems tenuous. The bulk of electricity for Ukraines households comes from four nuclear plants, and the one at Zaporizhzhia, Europes largest nuclear power station, is now occupied by Russian troops after coming under attack.

So far, he said, electric power consumption is down by around one-third from before the invasion Feb. 24. That is because of a falloff in economic activity and damage that cannot be repaired in the short term in places like Mariupol, the city on the Black Sea coast that has been under heavy Russian bombardment, and Kharkiv, the second-largest city, which has also sustained major damage. Timchenko estimated that 1.3 million customers in Ukraine are, in effect, disconnected.

In Luhansk, one of DTEKs eight conventional fossil fuel-burning power plants has been disconnected because of the invasion, and he is concerned about another unit that is near the Russian lines and could be cut off in the event of an advance. DTEK had also switched some generating units to natural gas when supplies of coal, which the company mines, were blocked.

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Timchenko said that only about one-third of the companys 3.8 million customers were now paying their bills, although the banking system continues to function. He said that the company  which is ultimately owned by Rinat Akhmetov, often described as Ukraines richest person  still has cash reserves. But he said that the state-owned electricity operators badly needed an injection of international aid.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
Tokyo-based mobile financial platform Kyash has raised US$41.2 million (about 4.9 billion yen) in its Series D funding joined by Jack Dorseys Block.

See related article: After Facebooks name change to Meta, Square has now become Block

Fast facts

Kyash has accumulated a total funding of about US$107.7 million since its launch in 2015, which the payment startup will use to increase its workforce and develop its products and services.

Other investors in Kyash include Japan Post Investment Corporation, Greyhound Capital, JAFCO Group, SMBC Nikko Securities, Altos Ventures, Goodwater Capital, StepStone Group and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital.

Kyash is one of Japans few challenger banks that provide mobile banking and payment services.

Kyash is Blocks first investment in an Asia-based company, according to Nikkei.

Block is preparing to launch its own decentralized Bitcoin exchange platform through its new business venture TBD, which released its white paper last November.

Longtime crypto enthusiast Jack Dorsey rebranded his digital payments company Square into Block in December last year after resigning from Twitter as CEO.

See related article: Square releases white paper for DEX to allow exchange of crypto, fiat and more
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese tyre manufacture Bridgestone Corp on Friday said its U.S. subsidiary had been hit by a ransomware attack, just weeks after suppliers of automaker Toyota Motor Corp reported similar attacks.

Bridgestone said third-party unauthorised access was made at Bridgestone Americas on Feb. 27, prompting it to shut down the computer network and production at its factories in North and Middle America for about a week.

An investigation later determined the incident to be a ransomware attack, the company said, but declined to provide more details including ransom claims and impact from the production suspension.

Bridgestone, which supplies tires and other automobile components to Toyota and other car manufactures, said it later reconnected the network after a comprehensive security check.

The announcement comes about two weeks after Toyota's main supplier, Denso Corp, detected unauthorised access via a ransomware attack at a group company that handles sales and engineering in Germany.

Another Toyota supplier was hit by a cyberattack late last month, prompting Japan's largest automaker to shut down domestic production for one day on March 1, affecting output of around 13,000 vehicles.

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Stephen Coates)
By Kentaro Sugiyama and Daniel Leussink

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan's next governor must be someone who can steer the central bank toward an exit from ultra-easy monetary policy, Kenta Izumi, head of the country's biggest opposition party, said on Thursday.

Izumi, president of the left-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), also said the yen's recent declines could be hurting the economy by pushing up import costs.

"We're beginning to see bad inflation" fuelled by a weak yen and rising raw material prices, Izumi told Reuters.

"The impact is starting to be really big," he said, adding that rising prices of imported goods were hurting people's livelihoods and corporate activity.

Izumi, who said households were taking a hit from high fuel and food costs, has instructed his party's policy research committee to draw up measures for dealing with surging prices.

The remarks highlight a sea change in how Japanese politicians perceive the pros and cons of a weak yen.

Some of the key members of CDPJ are from the former Democratic Party of Japan which, after taking power in 2009, repeatedly pressured the BOJ to ease monetary policy to prevent a strong yen from damaging the export-reliant economy.

The BOJ is likely to keep monetary policy steady as it says it won't withdraw stimulus until its 2% inflation target is achieved in a stable manner, Izumi said.

But the central bank may need to consider reviewing monetary policy if inflation continues to rise, he added.

Any shift in BOJ policy could be tied to the government's choice of a successor to incumbent Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, whose second, five-year term ends in March 2023.

After deploying a massive asset-buying programme in 2013 to pull Japan out of deflation, Kuroda has consistently called for the need to keep monetary policy ultra-loose to achieve his elusive 2% inflation target.

But the BOJ has faced growing criticism over the rising cost of prolonged easing, such as the hit to bank profits from years of ultra-low interest rates.

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Some lawmakers also blame the BOJ's easy policy for weakening the yen and aggravating rising import costs.

"The government should choose someone who has a clear idea on how the BOJ could normalise monetary policy," Izumi said.

(Reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama and Daniel Leussink; writing by Leika Kihara; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Even as Russian forces massed on the border with Ukraine and the U.S. government urged Americans to leave the country, Jimmy Hill didn't flee. Instead, he drove even closer to Russian territory in search of treatment for his life partner, who was sick.

James Whitney Hill was killed by Russian artillery fire in Ukraine this week, at least the second American to die there since the invasion began Feb. 24. Before his death, he touched lives around the world through teaching and storytelling, friends and family told USA TODAY. He was 68, said his sister, Katya Hill.

Hill worked tirelessly to find treatment for his life partner, Irina Teslenko, who has multiple sclerosis, his family said in a Friday statement. He refused to leave her bedside when the invasion began, his family said.

"He said 'I don't know what I would do if I lost her. I have to do everything I can,'" Katya Hill told reporters Saturday.

Hill and Teslenko drove the four hours from Khorol to Chernihiv in northeastern Ukraine days before the invasion. There, Hill documented the deteoriating situation in a series of Facebook posts.

Hill died Thursday when he ventured outside the hospital to find food for patients, nurses and neighbors, as well as to find a way to communicate with loved ones abroad, family said. While initial reports indicated he was killed while waiting in a bread line, the U.S. state department informed the family that he died from a Russian bomb near the hospital, Katya Hill said Saturday.

"He remained true to his love for her, his love for the Ukrainians, and his love for humanity until his death," family said. "In such disasters and crises, may we all be blessed to find someone like Jimmy."

Anton Gerashchenko, the adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, confirmed Hill's death on a verified Telegram account, sharing an image of Hill's passport.

"Jimmy was such a special person with friends around the world," Katya Hill said. "He was always trying to bring people together and was a peacemaker. And there is an irony here, but I haven't been able to process that, of what's going on compared to how he lived his life."

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Jimmy Hill taught English and psychology with Education Assembly in Kyiv since 2016.

Hill was born in Minnesota and graduated from Mahtomedi High School in 1973. He was one of five children, said Karin Moseley, a longtime friend who lives in the town near where they grew up.

After graduating, Hill initially enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Moseley said. Then he traveled the world for years, said Moseley, who recalls receiving a postcard from India. "I don't know too many places that he hasn't been," she said.

Hill eventually settled down in Washington state, where he did social work for the state government, according to Moseley and a resume sent to one school and viewed by USA TODAY. He married, had two sons, divorced and began to travel again, she said.

Hill taught in Ukraine and throughout Europe for more than 20 years, often securing positions by reaching out to various educational institutions, Moseley said.

"It wasn't just going over there to teach English. I truly think he was trying to build bridges and get people to think," she said.

Hill also purchased property in Idaho and Montana, where he loved to go fly-fishing, and rented out a couple of the properties on Airbnb, Moseley said.

"That's what he felt he had to do so that he could help provide for Irina, which quite frankly was the most important thing to him," Moseley said.

USA TODAY on Telegram: Join our new Russia-Ukraine war channel to receive updates straight to your phone

American Jimmy Hill taught English and psychology with Education Assembly, an educational volunteer organization in Kyiv, since 2016.

In recent years, Hill had been traveling back and forth more frequently between the U.S. and Ukraine, said Moseley, who visited Hill at his Idaho home in October. Hill spoke with Teslenko every day when he was away, she said.

"He slept with his laptop, in case, because of the time difference he didn't want to miss a call," Moseley said.

Many who knew Hill said he would host speaking clubs for English learners whenever he came to Kyiv, through student groups and in the living rooms of friends' apartments.

"Jimmy was not only a teacher, he was kind of a celebrity guy. Everyone who speaks English knows him very well because he organized a lot of initiatives about psychology, speaking clubs," said Denys Dniprovskyi, 36, who met Hill in 2010 when he was taking English courses in Kyiv.

Dniprovskyi's wife, Violetta Dniprovska, said Hill once brought his son to a speaking group. She spoke with USA TODAY on the phone Friday evening from western Ukraine, where she fled to from Kyiv and is staying with the couple's two children and cat.

Her husband remains in Kyiv. "He was really brave man and a really loyal friend," he said Friday night as he drove around Ukraine's capital distributing food and medicine sent from Poland.

American Jimmy Hill, right, seen lecturing for Education Assembly in Ukraine.

Hill traveled frequently and lectured in several other countries  including the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Austria and Romania  teaching English and psychology, according to friends and the resume.

"He was very deep, very kind," said Olga Nikolaienko, who said she first met Hill in 2011 when he was teaching English at a school called Britishway in Kyiv. "He was a people person."

Nearly every summer since 2014, Hill taught at the Prague Summer School on Crime, Law and Psychology, a one-week course on the application of psychological approaches and research methods to criminal justice.

Denmark-based student Nadine Hollmann, 26, who attended the school in 2017, recalled Hill as a passionate lecturer who loved meeting new people and learning about different cultures. "He left his mark on anyone he met along the way," she told USA TODAY.

Egle Havrdova, director of the school, said she and Hill used to joke about planning a trip to one of Hill's properties in the U.S. near Yellowstone National Park. She said Hill was popular among students "because he was able to tell the true stories to illustrate the theoretical concepts he was teaching."

"He was brave and had a wonderful sense of humor, which helped him to survive the difficulties related to the health problems of his partner," she said.

GRAPHICS: Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Since 2016, Hill taught English and psychology with Education Assembly, an educational volunteer organization in Kyiv, said coordinator Ivan Vasyliuk, 30.

"We can't believe until reading about the tragedy from the news. U.S. government advised to leave Ukraine, but Jimmy stayed," Vasyliuk said. "This is truly a great loss for our organization and Ukraine."

Since 2014, Jimmy Hill taught at the Prague Summer School on Crime, Law and Psychology. Nadine Hollmann, 26, who attended the school in 2017, remembered Hill as a passionate lecturer who loved meeting new people and learning about different cultures. "He left his mark on anyone he met along the way," she told USA TODAY.

Employees of Education Assembly are now fighting in the armed forces, waging war against disinformation and volunteering locally, Vasyliuk said.

As Russian forces drew closer to Chernihiv and the hospital lost heat, Hill documented the conditions he faced on Facebook. Iryna Mozhova, 41, a lecturer from Kyiv who fled to Spain, said she watched in horror as her friend's online postsbecame shorter and shorter. "It was really horrible to observe," she said.

Hill wrote on Facebook March 11: "I have no way of charging phone. I should preserve power." The next day, he added: "Power out no gas no water."

"We are trapped in Chernihiv," he wrote March 13. "They bomb here every night. People discouraged. Food shortages, gas, running water, some electricity... there is a siege here..."

Hill's last post, on March 15, read: "Intense bombing! still alive. Limited food. Room very cold. Ira in intensive care."

Hill's partner, Teslenko, and her mother are still at the hospital, Katya Hill told reporters Saturday. Nurses told Teslenko's mother that Hill had been killed but she was hesitant to relay the news to her daughter. Katya Hill said she is unsure if Teslenko yet knows her partner has died.

"I want everyone to know shes still there," Moseley said. "Were not honoring Jimmy if we sit there and let her get bombed in a hospital."

REFUGEES FLEE: Polish border city throws its doors open to desperate Ukrainians

'IT FELT LIKE A MIRACLE': After harrowing journey, students finally escape

Contributing: Christine Fernando, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Hill, American killed in Ukraine, stayed to help sick partner
Mar. 17While touring behind his latest album, "The Traveler," two years ago, Kenny Wayne Shepherd had to halt road work due to the pandemic.

"It was frustrating," Shepherd said. "We were booked all the way through 2020 and through half of 2021, and it was all scrapped. I don't want to complain since everyone's lives were interrupted. It just slowed everything down."

The venerable blues guitarist already had an album in the can. "I'm just sitting on all of this new music," Shepherd said while calling from his San Juan Capistrano, California, home. "I'm trying to figure out when the time is right to release the material."

The new tunes will have to wait. Shepherd, who is on the road with his band, which includes vocalist Noah Hunt, drummer Chris Layton, bassist Kevin McCormick, keyboardist Joe Krown, trumpet player Mark Pender and saxophonist Joe Sublett, believes the next album will drop in 2023.

When the Shreveport, Louisiana, native performs Sunday at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, don't expect him to preview tracks.

"I don't want the first impression for fans to have of this new music to be of a cell phone recording," Shepherd said. "I want them to hear the best version of the song. I'm old school that way. When we come to town, much of the focus will be on 'The Traveler.' That tour never ended, so we're still focusing on it."

"The Traveler" is well worth experiencing since it's Shepherd's most eclectic album. Blues, country, rock and R&B are part of the sonic mix. Most of the songs are gritty and earnest, such as "We All Alright," and there is the infectious "Gravity" with soaring harmonies.

And then there's Shepherd's cover of the Buffalo Springfield classic "Mr. Soul."

"A few years ago, I was with my other band (the Rides) with Stephen Stills, and we did a charity event and Neil Young came out and we played 'Mr. Soul,' " Shepherd said. "We played that and Neil's 'Rockin' in the Free World.' I loved it. That night, I thought that my band could do a kickass version of 'Mr. Soul.' "

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Shepherd was correct since his high-octane take, which features hot horn action and an incendiary guitar solo, takes Young's classic to another place. Speaking of the guitar, there's been much made of the decline of the guitar and the blues, but Shepherd doesn't believe it.

"I see what's been written about that, as well, but if it were true, why did Fender sell more guitars in 2020 than in any other year in their history?" Shepherd said. "During the pandemic, a lot of people who never played the guitar had the time to learn how to play it, and they did it. The guitar isn't going away, the blues isn't going away, and our band isn't going away."

Shepherd is thinking about embarking on a tour to mark the 25th anniversary of his breakthrough album, "Trouble Is." "There's so much on our plate," Shepherd said. "We might be going out behind 'Trouble Is.' We have our next album in the can, and we're still touring behind 'The Traveler.'

"I'm excited about being out on tour and getting back to the Pacific Northwest. I still remember being (on a bill) with Lynyrd Skynyrd and playing the Gorge in 1997. We were playing, and they stopped the show due to lightning and thunder. But we've come back again and again to the Pacific Northwest. The fans up there have always been so supportive."
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday to discuss Russia's unprompted invasion of Ukraine, CNBC reports.

The strategic conversation "was seen as a critical test of whether Biden can convince China to stay on the sidelines of the conflict in Ukraine, and to turn down Russian requests for military or economic aid," CNBC writes. Here's what we know about the conversation so far.

The White House has not yet issued a formal readout of the call, but did note the conversation began after 9 a.m. and lasted just under two hours  "an unusually long time for a presidential call with the leader of a U.S. adversary," CNBC notes.

According to a summary of the conversation from the Chinese, however, Xi reportedly told Biden that both the U.S. and China had an obligation to promote peace between Russia and Ukraine.

"The world is neither peaceful nor tranquil," the Chinese leader is said to have told Biden, per CNBC, and "the Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see."

Xi also reportedly told the president that, as economic behemoths, both the U.S. and China "must not only lead the development of China-US relations on the right track, but also shoulder our due international responsibilities and make efforts for world peace and tranquility," per the Chinese summary of the call.

Beijing has thus far refused to explicitly condemn Russia's actions against Ukraine, but is still calling for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, Reuters writes. The Biden administration previously warned China not to aid Russia in the war.

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Chicago police Superintendent David Brown unsuccessfully argued for leniency Thursday for an officer who punched an activist about two years ago at a large protest, and now that officer faces firing.

Brown agreed with the Civilian Office of Police Accountabilitys findings that Officer Nicholas Jovanovich used unnecessary and excessive force when he hit GoodKids MadCity activist Miracle Boyd at about 7:20 p.m. July 17, 2020, near 1151 S. Columbus Drive.

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But Brown disagreed with COPAs other findings that Jovanovich made false or misleading statements when completing his tactical response report about the incident, took her phone without justification and failed to inventory her phone without justification.

COPA argued that Jovanovich should be discharged, but Brown countered that he should be suspended for one year.

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Miracle Boyd gets emotional as she and members of Good Kids Mad City talk to reporters in front of the George Washington statue in Chicago on July 20, 2020. Boyd shared her story about how she was punched by a Chicago police officer at a protest at the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park on July 17. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Nanette Doorley, a member of the Chicago Police Board and a retired FBI special agent, was assigned to review both arguments.

Doorley decided Thursday that Brown did not meet the burden of overcoming COPAs recommendations in Jovanovichs case, according to police board paperwork.

Jovanovichs case will move on to the full police board for a disciplinary trial, where he faces firing.

COPA also recommended that Officer Andres Valle, who witnessed the events failed to report the use of force, be suspended for 60 days. Brown argued that Valle should be suspended for 30 days. Per police board policy, Doorley will have to recuse herself from the case going forward.

Doorley agreed with Brown that the 30-day suspension for Valle was appropriate.

After the July 17, 2020, protest, Miracle Boyd said at a news conference that an officer knocked out at least one of her teeth during the skirmish in Grant Park.

There is no way I should have left a protest bruised and battered for exercising my freedom of speech and freedom to assemble, Boyd said.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 31 Workers remove the Christopher Columbus statue from Chicago's Grant Park during the early morning hours of July 24, 2020. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

At least 1,000 people had gathered by the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park, and activists dressed in all black, holding black umbrellas, threw objects including water bottles and fireworks at officers standing by the statue. The officers in turn struck members of the crowd with batons.

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Protesters later climbed over a short stone wall that circled the statue and unsuccessfully attempted to topple it for half an hour.

More officers arrived and released an aerosol that stung the eyes of the crowd and police forced out those who were inside the wall and circled the perimeter.

The confrontation resulted in at least 12 arrests.

Brown had said after the protest that the evening began peacefully but devolved into a very dangerous situation in which mob action deliberately sought to injure officers, provoke retaliation and damage property. Forty-nine Chicago police officers were injured. ... Eighteen of whom were sent to area hospitals for their injuries.

pfry@chicagotribune.com
Connecticut lawmakers have been asked to update last years state law that allows student-athletes to be compensated for their name and likeness in marketing deals and enable them to use their state college or universitys logo, mascot or other institutional marks when theyre pitching products like sports drinks and apparel.

Connecticut and South Carolina are currently the only two states that prohibit student-athletes from using such marks, potentially putting both the students and the schools at a competitive disadvantage, according to a top official in UConns athletic department.

None of us want to inhibit the ability of our outstanding coaches to recruit talented student-athletes to UConn, said Neal Eskin, executive associate athletic director at UConn, in recent testimony. In order to compete at the highest level, we must make certain that student-athletes who choose to enroll in college in Connecticut have the same opportunities as those at schools in other states.

UConn's Evina Westbrook (22) shoots over Seton Hall's Katie Armstrong (15) in this file photo.

The Connecticut General Assembly is the latest state legislature to consider changing newly minted rules for paid student endorsements in order to help their schools land or keep top prospects. In Alabama, the governor last month signed a bill repealing the states recent law governing college athletic compensation in order to eliminate barriers for student-athletes, while Florida lawmakers are considering changes to their law to blunt competitive disadvantages with other states.

More: Early childcare providers in CT want $700 million from the state next year. Here's why.

Updates to various state laws are being made after the NCAA on July 1 cleared the way for college athletes to be compensated, creating minimal guidelines that bar pay-for-play and using endorsements as recruiting inducements.

On Thursday, with no debate, members of the Connecticut legislatures Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee unanimously advanced a bill that would end the prohibition on using school logos. It awaits further action in the state Senate. Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, the committees co-chair, said the legislation had been requested by UConn.

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To date, UConn has seen 97 student-athlete endorsement deals across 14 different varsity teams, Eskin said. Most of the arrangements, he said, have involved students pitching products like trading cards, sports drinks, nutrition supplements, apparel and gear, and food service items. He said bringing Connecticuts rules in line with other states rules will help ensure that student-athletes enjoy the full value of their name, image or likeness, often referred to as NIL.

Adjusting our NIL law to allow the use of institutional marks will assist UConn in enhancing the opportunities provided to our student-athletes, he said, while helping to maintain the championship tradition that we proudly share with the citizens of Connecticut.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Lawmakers asked to update student-athlete compensation law
CAIRO (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday denied reports about sending fighters and experts to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, Lebanese Al Mayadeen TV reported.

"No one from Hezbollah, neither a fighter nor an expert, went to this arena or any of the arenas of these wars," Beirut-based Al Mayadeen TV quoted him as saying.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light for up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels to fight in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Moataz Mohamed; Editing by Chris Reese)
Although the crisis in Ukraine is across the world, some Bakersfield locals are doing what they can to make a difference. Even if it means making a trip to Europe, to be at the border and help on the ground. CityServe is a local organization that has expanded into different states and countries, and a few days ago, its leadership spent a week in Poland meeting Ukrainian refugees who are trying to get out of harms way.
Nursing positions are going unfilled in Wisconsin at a rate not seen in at least a decade as the state struggles to replace a rapidly retiring health care workforce, a new report from the state's hospital association shows.

Although a nursing shortage has been creeping closer for years, the new data shows it's reached a 'tipping point' that should sound alarm bells, said Ann Zenk, vice president of workforce and clinical practice for the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

The association's annual report, released Tuesday, painted one of the first pictures of what the "Great Resignation" looks like among Wisconsin health care workers.

Hospital employees through much of 2020 were largely staying put, according to personnel surveys submitted to the hospital association last year. But those that have submitted data for 2021  about a third of the state's hospitals so far  reported vacancy rates last year that were higher than they'd seen since data collection started in 2004.

For example, vacancy rates for registered nurse positions more than doubled from 2020 to 2021, the preliminary data show. There haven't been double-digit vacancy rates for that role since 2005, according to the report.

"That's a big benchmark," Zenk said. "If you're approaching that, as a hospital employer, you're thinking, 'Ooh boy, that's when it's starting to feel tough.'"

Registered nurses make up more than half of the state's health care workforce, but vacancies also are shooting up among 13 of 17 hospital professions, including certified nursing assistants, surgical techs, respiratory therapists, licensed practical nurses and other front-line employees.

RELATED: Nurses, truck drivers, elementary school teachers are among Wisconsin's top 10 'hottest' jobs

Turnover rates, typically high among certified nursing assistants and other entry level roles but lower for other more advanced positions, are also spiking: Prior to 2021, about one in 10 registered nurses in Wisconsin changed jobs annually; last year, it was approaching one in five, according to the report.

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It's in line with what's happening across the country  nearly one in five health care workers have quit their jobs since the pandemic began, according to an October 2021 Morning Consult survey. But it's an extra burden in Wisconsin, where the state's population is aging faster and prompting greater demand for health care sercives, while hospital employees in the baby boomer generation are retiring faster than new ones can take their place.

It's unclear whether people have truly decided to leave health care, Zenk said, or if employment numbers are being redistributed as people move within the health care field searching for the best pay, benefits and work culture.

During the worst COVID-19 surges, Wisconsin hospitals were relying heavily on staffing agencies and traveling nurses to fill gaps and deal with an onslaught of patients. In October 2020, for example, such agencies were advertising nursing positions at more than $4,000 a week.

It's increasingly possible to work as a travel nurse in or near your own community, Zenk said, a change from when the profession took off in the 1980s.

RELATED: Wisconsin needs more nurses at the best of times. Hospitals offer big bonuses to draw them in during COVID surges

Some hospitals were offering massive signing bonuses, upwards of $10,000, to compete for the shrinking pool of health care workers.

As nurses continue to pursue employment with staffing agencies, hospitals will have to step up recruitment and retention efforts, the report says.

Pat Raes, a registered nurse at Meriter Hospital in Madison and president of the SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin union, said the situation the report describes is accurate, but doesn't go far enough in detailing solutions that will help nurses and other employees stick around.

Chief among her concerns about nurse retention rates is finding solutions to mental health problems the pandemic has caused or worsened. Nurses saw more death in the last two years than ever before, and they worried even on their time off from work about patients and whether they could be doing more, she said.

But the nursing shortage is forcing many of them to work more instead of taking a break. Just Thursday, Raes said, she got three texts asking if she'd pick up an extra shift.

"Nurses need time to work through a lot of what they've gone through," she said. "And when you're working extra all the time, it's hard to work through trauma."

Whether it's a call line, formal therapy sessions or helping traumatized employees find a different position in the health care field, Raes said people will need to come together  and be willing to listen to those who work at the bedside  to find a solution to the problem.

With retirements also comes the loss of people to train younger nurses coming into the field. In the state's last budget cycle, the Administrators of Nursing Education of Wisconsin secured $5 million to help nurses obtain teaching degrees if they commit to teaching for at least three years. (Nurses working in academia earn less than those working in clinical settings.) The group had asked for $10 million for those efforts.

That action may help bulk up nursing faculty, but fell short of what's needed, Gina Dennik-Champion, executive director of the Wisconsin Nurses Association, said in an email.

Other needs to keep nurses in the field include better salaries, benefits and job flexibility, reducing the physical demands required in their jobs and reducing physical and verbal abuse from patients, families and visitors, Dennik-Champion said.

Solutions the report suggests to increase Wisconsin's health care workforce include:

Encouraging Wisconsin students interested in health care to complete their education and training in-state, which raises the likelihood that they'll work here after graduation.

Speeding up licensing processes and certification requirements to get employees working in the field faster.

Leveraging telehealth to reduce strain on bedside caregivers.

Reducing paperwork and other regulatory requirements that take employees who care for patients away from that patient care.

Addressing burnout and reducing violence against health care workers in the workplace.

Making sure patients can move from the hospital to a post-acute care facility when they are ready to do so, to free up hospital staff. .

Contact reporter Madeline Heim at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @madeline_heim.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin nursing shortage at 'tipping point' as record numbers quit
When Alvaro de Marichalar cruised into Pensacola Bay on Thursday evening, it was almost like a homecoming.

His ancestor, Tristan de Luna, had established a colony in present-day Pensacola in 1559.

"It's always a dream. It's an honor," Marichalar told the crowd of supporters, friends and city representatives on hand to welcome him. "I feel very well here because this city, which is very much related to our family, it's a very important city in the states, being the first European settlement. So for me it's an honor."

Still, the stop was just one small step in a world-spanning journey.

The big find: Luna's colony unearthed in Pensacola

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Alvaro de Marichalar, a descendent of Tristan de Luna, celebrates as he arrives in Pensacola on Thursday during his attempt to circumnavigate the globe on an 11-foot personal watercraft. Marichalar's quest is in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the world's first circumnavigation of the globe by explorer Juan Sebastian Elcano.

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the world's first circumnavigation, Marichalar is retracing the Magellan-Elcano Expedition on an 11-foot personal watercraft called the Numancia.

He undertook the voyage because he admires the explorers of old and wanted to have people remember them through his journey.

The Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation was a expedition started by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and supported by Spain to find a western route to the spice-rich East Indies in modern-day Indonesia. Magellan died during the voyage, but Juan Sebastian Elcano completed the journey.

The expedition helped prove the world could be circumnavigated and helped link Europe to the Americas.

"It's very important to get to know history to understand what's going on today. And then to prepare for the future," Marichalar said. "These people risked their lives just to demonstrate our world was rounded. They didn't agree with the idea that the world was flat as a table. They thought it was rounded and so they demonstrated by heading west."

Alvaro de Marichalar, a descendent of Tristan de Luna, is greeted by well-wishers during his arrival in Pensacola on Thursday. Marichalar is trying to circumnavigate the globe on an 11-foot personal watercraft to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the feat completed by explorer Juan Sebastian Elcano.

Although Marichalar's vessel is more technologically advanced than the ships used 500 years ago, his journey is no less grueling.

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Other than when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, Marichalar has no support boat or assistance from land. He refuels and sleeps wherever he finds a place along the coastline. The maximum range of his tiny vessel is 200 nautical miles.

Marichalar navigates on his feet 100% of the time to avoid damaging his spine from the continuous strikes against the waves.

When he arrived in Pensacola, he was greeted with the reading of two letters. One was from the mayor of Borobia, Spain, congratulating him on his journey. The second letter was from Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson but read by Amy Miller, deputy city administrator, who welcomed Marichalar as family.

"It's really cool for Alvaro to stop in Pensacola. He didn't have to, it was not part of the circumnavigation," Miller later told the News Journal. "But his family's ties to Pensacola, his ancestral ties to Pensacola brought him here. He's an honorary citizen of Pensacola and has been for a number of years. So it's really exciting to have him here and it's interesting to hear him say that everywhere he goes, he talks about Pensacola because he wants the world to know that Pensacola was in fact the first European settlement in America. And so he may be the best billboard we never paid for."

Marichalar also met with Bob Rasmussen, who sculpted the statue of Tristan de Luna at the end of Palafox Street. Rasmussen sculpted de Lunas face based on research, and he said seeing Marichalar up close was striking.

Alvaro de Marichalar, a descendent of Tristan de Luna, is greeted by well-wishers during his arrival in Pensacola on Thursday. Marichalar is trying to circumnavigate the globe on an 11-foot personal watercraft to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the feat completed by explorer Juan Sebastian Elcano.

"I told him it's amazing how similar the face on the sculpture is to his face, Rasmussen said. "I was amazed myself."

Marichalar started his journey in Seville, Spain, in August 2019 and he reached Gibraltar by December. He then crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Gibraltar to Guadeloupe in the southern Caribbean Sea, a 15-day journey. He went to countries such as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba before landing in Miami on March 16, 2020.

The journey was then delayed by the onset of COVID-19.

He resumed his expedition Feb. 19, 2022, from Miami. After leaving Pensacola, he will be heading to Galveston, Texas, and from there he will travel the U.S., Mexican and Central American coastlines and then cross the Panama Canal.

After that, he will head to Alaska along the west coast of the North American continent. Then he will cross to the Kamchatka Peninsula, which is a far east region of Russia, and will navigate along the coast of Asia and into the Mediterranean Sea to Monaco and then, finally, back to Seville.

Alvaro de Marichalar, a descendent of Tristan de Luna, is greeted by well-wishers during his arrival in Pensacola on Thursday. Marichalar is trying to circumnavigate the globe on an 11-foot personal watercraft to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the feat completed by explorer Juan Sebastian Elcano.

The rest of Marichalars expedition should take approximately 15 months.

Marichalar said the expedition is a way to have people respect the ocean since it is a vital part of our lives. By embarking on this expedition he was also able to honor the explorers who came before him and to help inspire others to take risks and go after their dreams.

"I'm trying to inspire young people to live their lives in an honorable way, pursuing their dreams and not being paralyzed against fear," Marichalar said. "Fear is something you have to fight and you have to dominate and you have to win."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Spanish settler Tristan de Luna's descendent comes to Pensacola Bay
HOLLAND  A Kalamazoo man was arraigned on multiple charges Thursday after he was involved in a crash that caused a teenage girl to lose her pregnancy.

Juan Alejandro Lira IV, 21, is facing six charges that stem from two incidents Wednesday morning, including fleeing from police twice.

Around 3 a.m., Lira allegedly fled from a Holland police officer who had approached his car "intending to issue a parking citation," according to the news release from the Holland Department of Public Safety.

The officer discovered the ignition lock cylinder was damaged and the license plate did not belong to the vehicle and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle, but he drove off and led police on a chase, which ended after the driver ran several red lights with his headlights turned off.

More: Police chase leads to car crash, unborn child dies

Later that morning, around 8:15 a.m., police spotted the same car, a Nissan Versa, heading west on 15th Street. As the driver fled, he ran stop signs at Central and River avenues, causing a crash at River when his car hit a vehicle that was northbound on River.

In the crash, the front seat passenger, a 17-year-old Holland girl, was seriously injured and lost her pregnancy as a result of the crash. A 16-year-old girl, in the backseat, was also injured and treated at Holland Hospital.

Police said the car Lira was driving had been stolen in Kalamazoo.

Lira was charged with two counts of fleeing and eluding a police officer, operating a motor vehicle without a license, a grossly negligent act causing miscarriage or stillbirth, receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Bond was set at $25,000 for the first incident and $250,000 for the second incident.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Man charged in Holland crash that caused miscarriage
Dr. Ali Raja said the newest COVID-19 variant, while more transmissible, still is not causing a surge of new COVID-19 cases.
A courtroom sketch shows twin brothers, from left, Pedro and Margarito Flores, 33, of Chicago, appear before U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo in federal court in Chicago on Jan. 27, 2015. (Tom Gianni sketch, AP)

Chicago twins Pedro and Margarito Flores were just 16 when their older brother Armando was arrested in the late 1990s for selling narcotics out of a Cicero auto dealership.

Armando was later sentenced to five years in federal prison, and his absence created a vacuum for his younger brothers to fill. Within a few years, the twins had risen to the highest levels of Chicagos drug-trafficking underworld, where their position as major distributors for Mexicos notorious Sinaloa cartel made them fantastically rich and ultimately provided a direct pipeline to the boss himself, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

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The twins decision to cooperate with federal authorities in 2008 led to arguably the biggest drug case ever brought in Chicago, with charges against El Chapo as well as many of his top underbosses, culminating with Pedro Flores testifying against Guzman at his trial in New York in 2018.

In this courtroom sketch, from left, twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores, 33, of Chicago, appear before Chief U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo at federal court in Chicago on Jan. 27, 2015. Castillo sentenced the brothers to 14 years in prison each for running a nearly $2 billion North American drug ring, agreeing with prosecutors to drastically reduce their sentences as reward for their cooperation against Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and other Mexican cartel leaders. (Tom Gianni / AP)

Now, as the twins remain in a federal witness protection program, their older brothers story has once again become entwined with their own.

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On Thursday, Armando Flores, now 53, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges alleging he helped collect millions of dollars in drug proceeds and other assets in Mexico and the U.S. after the brothers had agreed to cooperate with authorities and buried the cash under his back porch in Texas.

Over the ensuing years, Armando Flores participated in a scheme to disburse the money to the twins wives, Vivianna Lopez and Valerie Gaytan, without the knowledge of federal investigators, according to his 21-page guilty plea entered before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly.

As early as 2009, Armando Flores had another person, identified only as Individual C, pick up about $1.9 million in drug proceeds from one of his brothers former couriers and leave it in a car parked in a Chicago garage, where it was later retrieved by Flores and the twins wives.

The next year, Gaytan went to Armando Flores home in Round Rock, Texas, which is near Austin, to pick up an estimated $2.3 million hidden in a U-Haul truck carrying secondhand furniture, according to the plea.

Later, Armando Flores mailed drug proceeds in increments of about $9,000 through the U.S. mail, sometimes exchanging worn or dirty bills for clean $100 bills at a gas station currency exchange near his home, according to the plea.

He also laundered the money by purchasing lavish trips for the wives through a travel agency in Texas, according to the plea.

Armando Flores admitted in the plea that he participated in the conspiracy in exchange for a cut of all the money he delivered. He faces up to about 20 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, but if he continues to cooperate, federal prosecutors said they intend to ask the judge for a significant break.

Both Lopez and Gaytan have pleaded not guilty. Theyre free on bond in secret locations after their arrests last year in separate areas of the country. Prosecutors said they have agreed with defense counsel for both women not to file anything in the public record that could disclose their locations.

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Also charged was Laura Lopez, 59, of Chicago; and Bianca Finnigan, 32, of Sycamore, Illinois, who is the sister of Vivianna Lopez. They have previously pleaded not guilty.

The indictment against Armando Flores and the others was the latest twist in what has been one of the most stunning drug cases in Chicago history.

In December 2018, a Tribune reporter was in the courtroom when Pedro Flores testified in the landmark trial against Guzman in New York, where prosecutors played phone calls recorded by the twins that were crucial in the federal effort against the drug lord. On one call, jurors heard Guzmans own voice greeting Flores with Amigo! and discussing a price break on a shipment of heroin destined for Chicago.

Guzman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

The twins were sentenced in 2015 to 14 years in prison and were released in 2020 into witness protection.

Meanwhile, the new charges alleged the wives spent more than $165,000 in drug money on private school tuition for their children, $100,000 on international and domestic travel, $80,000 for Vivianna Lopezs rent and $11,000 in child support for one of their husbands kids.

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One of the wives also spent $31,000 of laundered drug money on her laundry business, the indictment alleged.

The indictment seeks forfeiture from Vivianna Lopez and Gaytan in the amount of $504,858.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Meghan Markle in November 2021 (Getty Images)

Meghan Markles debut podcast series for Spotify is set to premiere this summer, an Archewell spokesperson has confirmed to The Independent.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a reported $25m deal in December 2020 that will see them host and produce podcasts.

The Archewell spokesperson told The Independent that the company is encouraged by ongoing conversations with senior leadership, and is working towards policies, practices and strategies meant to raise creator awareness and support transparency.

The couple have also pledged to take an active role in challenging misinformation spread on the audio streaming platform, after raising concerns over comments made by top podcast host Joe Rogan in January.

Rogan has been heavily criticised for his controversial views on the Covid-19 vaccine, with many saying he is using his popular podcast, titled The Joe Rogan Experience, to spread false details.

Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Crazy Horse guitarist Nils Lofgren are just some of the artists and creators who have quit the platform in protest of his continued presence.

In a statement, Harry and Meghan said they had challenged Spotify on its decision to platform misinformation since April 2021.

Since the inception of [their non-profit organisation] Archewell, we have worked to address the real-time global misinformation crisis, they said.

Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of mis- and disinformation every day.

Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of Covid misinformation on its platform.

We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.

We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.

Archewells first podcast was released in December 2020.

Elton John, James Corden, Tyler Perry and Stacey Abrams were just a handful of the celebrities to reflect on the first year of the pandemic, with the couples then two-year-old son Archie also making a special appearance.

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Meghan and Harry also signed a deal with Netflix in 2020, to create documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows and childrens programming for the platform.

The pairs first series titled The Heart of Invictus was announced in April 2021, and was said to follow athletes as they prepare to compete in Aprils tournament.

As yet, no release date or further information has been shared about this, however.
A new Milwaukee County Mental Health Emergency Center is coming soon to the City of Milwaukee.

More funding has been procured for the Milwaukee County Mental Health Emergency Center, as the center eyes a September opening.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced last August that he was allocating $5.7 million for the center, which will serve county residents.

This week, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced in a news release that she had worked to secure just over $2.5 million for the center, 1525 N. 12th St., Milwaukee.

Many people are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges as the result of a pandemic that has brought disruption, isolation and stress," Baldwin said in the release. "We need to provide more support for people and this legislation does just that, including better mental health services for kids who have had to endure a great deal throughout this pandemic."

Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Administrator Michael Lappen said the need for the center has skyrocketed since the coronavirus pandemic began, as the pandemic exacerbated mental health issues for many.

"The best way to serve that need is to make sure that we are available for whoever needs us," Lappen said.

The psychiatric emergency department at the center will replace the emergency department at the Behavioral Health Divisions Mental Health Complex in Wauwatosa. Lappen said there's an increased need for the services the center will offer in the city of Milwaukee.

More than 90% of current patients who come to the Wauwatosa complex are city of Milwaukee residents.

"We're going to be right where the need is, and the hope is that's another barrier removed for people who need help with their mental health and substance use challenges," Lappen said.

The center will be a public-private partnership between the county and four health systems: Advocate Aurora Health, Froedtert Health, Ascension Wisconsin and Childrens Wisconsin.

It will serve adults, adolescents and children, and will accept voluntary as well as involuntary patients. Some of the services provided will include "crisis stabilization and assessment, emergency treatment, connections to inpatient, residential, community-based, peer support and outpatient services," according to the county.

Story continues

Lappen emphasized that the center will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"By pairing mental health and substance use services and getting people help with their whole health needs, that's a way to get the community healthier," Lappen said.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) speaks before Vice President Kamala Harris Monday, January 24, 2022 at the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/ BIG STEP at 3841 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee, Wis.

Alec Knutson, the government affairs director for Milwaukee County, said the county approached Baldwin about securing funds for the startup and construction costs.

"Sen. Baldwin was really critical in helping us secure these funds," Knutson said.

Lappen said construction for the building will likely be completed by the end of March. The center is set to open in September.

The funding was included in the bipartisan omnibus appropriations legislation for 2022.

I worked to include this federal funding because it delivers support for Milwaukee County, Baldwin said.

Drug overdose deaths have also risen in Milwaukee County, as the opioid epidemic has raged on nationwide.

In 2019 there were 418 drug overdose deaths reported in Milwaukee County. In 2021, updated numbers from the county reveal that number rose to 643 deaths  a 53% increase in that statistic in just two years.

The opioid epidemic and substance use disorder crisis continues to touch every community across Wisconsin and the pandemic has only made this epidemic worse," Baldwin said.

The omnibus legislation also addressed other mental health needs across the nation.

According to a news release, the legislation included:

$857.6 million, a 13.2% increase, for the Mental Health Block Grant, which continues a 5% set aside for states to create crisis care programs.

$315 million, a $65 million increase, for certified community behavioral health clinics.

$120 million, a $13 million increase, for Project AWARE, which will expand efforts to identify and help children and youth who need mental health care, including addressing the needs of children who have experienced trauma.

$111 million, a $90 million increase, for Department of Education programs designed to increase the availability of mental health services in schools, including expanding training programs to prepare new school counselors, social workers and psychologists.

Earlier in March, a mental health walk-in clinic for children opened at Children's Wisconsin. It's designed to be a tool for children experiencing urgent mental and behavioral health needs.The clinic is within the Clinics Building at the hospital, at the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center in Wauwatosa, 8700 W. Watertown Plank Road.

Evan Casey can be reached at 414-403-4391 or evan.casey@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @ecaseymedia.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Mental Health Emergency Center receives $2.5 million
Associated Press (AP)  Public defenders are poised to go on strike as early as Tuesday across Minnesota, where unionized attorneys say they've been pushed to the brink by routinely high caseloads that have become unmanageable amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cara Gilbert said she feels a deep responsibility to the clients she represents in juvenile court in Ramsey County, who are mostly the most vulnerable young children of color. But she said the workloads have become intolerable for her and her fellow public defenders, who voted by an 80% margin to authorize a strike. And their pay lags far behind what the prosecutors across the table from them make.

I've been a public defender for seven years. I make less than a first-year attorney at the county attorney's office," Gilbert said. Public defenders don't expect to reach parity with prosecutors in the next contract, she added, but they do want progress.

A strike by the 470 public defenders and 200 support staff could bring much of Minnesotas state court system to a standstill if it persists. Though Minnesota is the only state where public defenders are on the brink of a walkout, legal system observers say the same pressures are being felt across the country  and its the poorest defendants who get hurt, mostly people of color.

Minnesota actually has one of the countrys best public defense systems, particularly when it comes to collecting data to track workloads, said Stephen Hanlon, a St. Louis, Missouri, attorney regarded as one of the countrys leading experts on public defenders. He said that could make it better positioned than most to make real improvements, but all states have been struggling unsuccessfully for decades to adequately fund them.

The whole system, we know, is systemically unethical and systemically unconstitutional, and everybody knows it. ... And it's causing a lot of harm to people who are Black and brown," Hanlon said. "This is not equal justice under the law. It's unequal justice under the law, and it has to stop.

Story continues

Negotiators for the attorneys and the Minnesota Board of Public Defense are scheduled to sit down with a state mediator starting Friday in hopes of averting a strike. By coincidence, Friday is the 59th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Gideon decision, which held that states are constitutionally required to provide attorneys for criminal defendants who can't afford them.

Large-scale public defender strikes are almost unprecedented. Attorneys held a one-day walkout in Ventura County of California in 1995, but in many states they're not unionized. In many jurisdictions, most are private practice attorneys who defend indigent clients part time.

Hanlon said the only major action he knew of that would be comparable to the threatened Minnesota strike was in Massachusetts, where private attorneys rebelled against the low pay they received for handling the bulk of the state's public defense work. A 2004 class-action lawsuit ultimately led the legislature and then-Gov. Mitt Romney to raise their funding by more than 50%.

It's not clear how Minnesota's courts would function in the event of a strike. The Minnesota Judicial Branch hasn't released a plan and has declined comment except for a short statement that said, in part, We hope the union and Minnesota Board of Public Defense can reach an agreement during the cooling-off period and avoid a strike.

State Public Defender Bill Ward, who runs the board, said he didn't think it prudent to comment while negotiations are underway.

Gus Froemke, a spokesman for Teamsters Local 320, which represents the attorneys and support staff, said they presume the courts will follow similar procedures as when they shut down for COVID-19 for all but the most essential business. That led to a huge backlog that the courts are still trying to clear. The board has indicated it would continue to operate with supervisory attorneys, but it's not clear how well that would work in practice.

We represent over 80% of the individuals in the criminal justice system," Gilbert said. "And so the question becomes how much of that management can shoulder and for how long. That's it. That's our pressure point.

The Minnesota Board of Public Defense acknowledged to legislators in January that its attorney staffing is just 75% of what the American Bar Association standards recommend, and it's just 60% for support staff. The board had a budget of about $101 million for the last fiscal year. While funding has increased over the years, officials and the union agree that caseloads remain too high.

In response, the House Judiciary Committee chair, Democratic Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, of Roseville, introduced a bill to boost the board's funding by the $50 million the board said it needed to meet national standards. She said she plans to give it a hearing soon, and said she's hopeful that Republicans who control the state Senate will ultimately agree to fund at least part of that from the state's $9.25 billion budget surplus. She said it shouldn't be a partisan issue, given that the state is constitutionally required to fund public defenders.

We haven't been doing right by our citizens and this really needs to happen, Becker-Finn said.

Hanlon said the national caseload standards, which date from 1973, are woefully inadequate, and faulted the legal profession for tolerating the system for so long. But he said that could change. He's part of a group of experts from several organizations who will meet next month to study data from workload studies that have been done in 17 states and will issue their final report in August. Those studies include seven that Hanlon led for the ABA, including reports released in January that documented severe overloads in Oregon and New Mexico.

And he said they plan to present their findings at a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing this summer on legislation originally championed by Vice President Kamala Harris when she was a senator to provide more funding for public defense.

I'm very optimistic, Hanlon said. I think we're on the verge of a real breakthrough here.
Moderna announced on Thursday that it had applied for emergency FDA authorization for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for everyone aged 18 and older. Matthias Bein/picture alliance via Getty Images

Moderna announced on Thursday that it had applied to the FDA for approval of its second booster jab.

The company is seeking emergency authorization for a fourth vaccine shot for everyone aged 18 and up.

Earlier this week, Pfizer also asked the FDA to approve a fourth vaccine jab for those aged 65 and over.

Moderna announced on Thursday that it has applied to the US Food and Drug Administration to authorize a second booster jab of its COVID-19 vaccine for all adults.

According to a press release from Moderna, the application asks the FDA to provide emergency authorization for a fourth COVID-19 shot for recipients aged 18 and up.

Moderna said its request aims "to provide flexibility for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and healthcare providers to determine the appropriate use of an additional booster dose of mRNA-1273, including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities."

This comes after Moderna president Stephen Hoge said on Monday that only older adults and those who are immunocompromised are likely to need a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot.

Moderna's CEO Stephane Bancel said in February that he believed the pandemic would end this year, but new boosters specifically targeting the Omicron variant could also be required.

Speaking to The New York Times on Friday, Peter J. Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said he was a "strong proponent" of letting people get a second COVID-19 booster shot.

He told The Times that the first booster jab had "made a huge difference" in protecting people from hospitalization and being infected by the more contagious Omicron variant.

"It's also clear that protection is waning now pretty quickly a few months after your third dose," he said. "So it's short-lived. The hope is that a second booster would restore it."

Moderna's application comes days after Pfizer sought approval for a second booster shot for older Americans aged 65 and older.

Story continues

On Sunday, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS' "Face the Nation" that an additional shot on top of the first booster jab is "necessary" to boost one's immune response in light of the Omicron variant.

The vaccine companies' applications for emergency authorization come as a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections is expected to hit the US in the coming weeks.

According to the CDC, 65.3% of the US population  or over 216.9 million people  have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 96.3 million people in the county have received their booster dose.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Fanny Potkin and Poppy McPherson

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Myanmar's junta has given the final approval for the sale of Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor's operations in the country to a local company and a Lebanese investment firm, the firm said on Friday.

Telenor Chief Executive Sigve Brekke said in a statement the firm had to leave the country to "adhere to our own values on human rights and responsible business, and because local laws in Myanmar conflict with European laws".

"The security situation is extreme and deteriorating, and we must ensure that our exit does not increase the safety risk for employees," he said.

Reuters reported the approval earlier on Friday, citing three sources with knowledge of the deal.

According to a letter of approval sent on March 15, seen by two of the people, the transfer of Telenor's Myanmar unit to its new owners must happen within five days.

Myanmar authorities did not immediately respond to telephone and email requests for comment.

"The last year has been an extremely difficult situation, I think it is the most challenging Telenor has ever had to handle, even more for the people living on the ground," Brekke told Reuters.

One of Telenor's investors, pension fund KLP, which owns 1.43%, welcomed the approval of the sale.

"It is satisfying to know that Telenor has finally received an approval on the sale given the demanding circumstances," Kiran Aziz, KLP's head of responsible investments, told Reuters.

"Until the approval it had been a balancing act for the company in order to stay neutral in the ongoing conflict, (while) at the same time (managing) the employee safety risk and respecting human rights."

A Norwegian opposition lawmaker said the sale was a "terrible decision".

"Those who fight for democracy will be put into more danger," Ola Elvestuen, who had questioned the handling of the sale process by the government in parliament, told Reuters. The Norwegian state is the majority owner in Telenor.

Story continues

Some civil rights groups have said the deal could put the data of 18 million people within the junta's reach, and called on Telenor to delete personal information of customers.

Telenor has said doing so would violate local laws and expose employees to danger.

The Norwegian industry ministry said Telenor had faced "several dilemmas" in Myanmar.

LONG PROCESS

Telenor, one of the biggest foreign investors in Myanmar, sought to leave the country after last year's military coup. The company told Reuters in September it was selling its operations to avoid European Union sanctions after "continued pressure" from the junta to activate intercept surveillance technology.

Its departure from a country that accounted for 7% of its earnings in 2020 has been mired in difficulty.

Military leaders late last year rejected its plan to sell its local operations to Lebanon's M1 Group for $105 million, Reuters reported. Instead, they wanted M1 to partner with a local firm, Shwe Byain Phyu.

Reuters reported in February that Shwe Byain Phyu, whose chairman has a history of business ties to the military, will own 80% of the unit while M1 will own the rest.

Telenor only learnt "a couple of months ago" who would become the new majority owner, Brekke told Reuters. "We have not been involved in discussions as such."

Shwe Byain Phyu has denied ties to the Myanmar army and previously said it was "selected by Telenor ... because it was the most unrelated to the military".

In its statement, Telenor said the agreement to sell the Myanmar unit was with M1 alone, but added that the "regulatory approval requires that M1 ensures a local majority owner after the closing of the transaction between Telenor and M1".

The firm said on Friday that M1 had informed Telenor that its local partner, Shwe Byain Phyu, would be the 80% owner after the transaction.

"Sanctions screening from external consultants has assured Telenor that Shwe Byain Phyu and its owners are not subject to any current international sanctions," Telenor said.

"The reason for sanctions is that there are close ties between individuals and companies and the military," Brekke said. "Knowing that the Shwe Group is not on the sanctions list has been important for us."

M1 said in a statement that it had partnered with Shwe Byain Phyu Group to form a joint venture to take over ownership of Telenor Myanmar called Investcom PTE.

The company said it would work with stakeholders to close the transaction as "soon as possible".

CEO Azmi T. Mikati said in the statement that, "M1 Group is committed to support Investcom PTE in providing essential communications services and investing to develop the telecommunications infrastructure."

Shwe Byain Phyu did not respond immediately to requests for comment by Reuters.

Reuters reported earlier in March that Telenor is planning to transfer $100 million held by its Myanmar operations to the units new buyers - an amount roughly equivalent to how much it will be paid over five years, three people with knowledge of the deal's terms said.

Senior foreign Telenor executives were barred from leaving Myanmar while negotiations around the sale were ongoing, a junta minister told Reuters last year.

Two of the sources said a senior Telenor Norwegian foreign executive had recently received permission from authorities to fly out.

A company spokesperson said in a statement that "one Norwegian employee has been allowed to leave after 10 months of being banned from leaving Myanmar".

(Reporting by Fanny Potkin, Poppy McPherson and Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell, Jason Neely and Jan Harvey)
Pro-Russian fighters in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A Russian news report claiming that three members of the Tennessee National Guard were killed in Ukraine while serving as mercenaries is "fake news," a spokesperson for the National Guard said Thursday.

The Pravda newspaper published the names of the three Americans and their military ranks, claiming their deaths were reported by a separatist militia in the Donetsk region. The report also said they were identified by items in a backpack found "near the remains of one of the militants," which contained a Tennessee state flag.

In a statement, the Tennessee National Guard said the three men are "accounted for, safe, and not, as the article headline erroneously states, U.S. mercenaries killed in the Donetsk People's Republic." A U.S. official told Reuters two of the men are still in the Tennessee National Guard and in the state, while the third has left the service but is not in Ukraine.

The National Guard said it's possible the militia found images showing members of Tennessee's 278th Armored Calvary Regiment during a deployment to Ukraine. "All members of the Tennessee National Guard returned safely to their home state in 2019 after a successful mission," the National Guard spokesperson said.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, President Biden ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia. On Sunday, Russian cruise missiles targeted the Yavoriv International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, where the U.S. military trained Ukrainian forces prior to the pullout.

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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Friday the agency is cooperating with Russian colleagues despite tensions that have built up amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The assurance comes as some countries have canceled missions in space with Russia and the head of Russia's space agency threatened to stop giving the U.S. rocket engines for flights.

"That's just Dmitry Rogozin. He spouts off every now and then. But at the end of the day, he's worked with us," Nelson said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to the head of Russia's space agency.

"The other people that work in the Russian civilian space program, they're professional. They don't miss a beat with us, American astronauts and American mission control."

Over the past three weeks, tensions between the U.S. and Russia have hit a peak as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, with President Biden calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal."

"Despite all of that, up in space, we can have a cooperation with our Russian friends, our colleagues. The professional relationship between astronauts and cosmonauts, it hasn't missed a beat," Nelson told the AP on Friday. "This is the cooperation we have going on in the civilian space program."

The comments match those made by NASA's space station program manager, Joel Montalbano, on Monday. He said relationships with Russia in terms of space exploration have not changed.

The European Space Agency said Thursday it has canceled its own plans with Russia to put a rover on Mars following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Cook County Jail on March 16, 2022, after he was ordered to be released pending appeal of his conviction and 150-day sentence. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that comments made by Jussie Smolletts attorney on national television three years ago that two Black brothers might have attacked the actor while in whiteface could be construed as defamation.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland allows the defamation lawsuit filed by Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to continue against Tina Glandian, Smolletts Los Angeles-based attorney who made the controversial comments in an interview on the Today show on March 28, 2019, a few days after the initial charges against Smollett had been dropped.

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In her ruling, made public Friday, Rowland dismissed all other counts brought against Glandians firm, Geragos & Geragos.

Meanwhile, Geragos & Geragos and its high-profile boss Mark Geragos sued the Osundairos in Cook County court this week, saying the defamation suit and its baseless claims amounted to malicious prosecution.

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The Osundairos lawsuit alleged that in the aftermath of the controversial dismissal of Smolletts criminal case by Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office, which was garnering headlines around the world, the former Empire actors high-profile legal team continued to smear the Osundairo brothers on TV and in podcast interviews.

The concerted media blitz was a blatant effort to paint the brothers not only as homophobic, racist and violent, but guilty of the attack in the first place, the suit alleged.

Tina Glandian, attorney for actor Jussie Smollett, at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 10, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

The suit focused in particular on one exchange in Glandians Today show interview, when she was asked how it could be possible that Smollett believed his attackers were pale skinned given the Osundiaro brothers dark complexion.

Well, you know, I mean, I think theres  obviously, you can disguise that, Glandian said in the interview. You could put makeup on.

Glandian went on to call out Chicago police for allegedly failing to investigate an online video showing one of the Osundairo brothers in whiteface doing a Joker monologue with white makeup on.

And so its not  its not implausible, Glandian said.

In her ruling, Rowland wrote that Glandians allegation could legally be construed as an attempt to dispel the inconsistency in Smolletts story (the attackers had light skin) and bolster her contention that the plaintiffs (who are not light skinned) were Smolletts attackers.

Taken in context, Glandian was asserting plaintiffs involvement in a racially motivated attack, Rowland wrote. Explaining that the attackers were white, read in context, adds the implication that the attack was a hate crime.

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The ruling clears the defamation count against Glandian to possibly go to trial before a jury.

The Osundairos attorney, Gloria Rodriguez, said she talked to the brothers Friday morning and they were very happy with the judges ruling.

They look forward to their day in court and will continue defending themselves against other defamatory remarks, Rodriguez said.

She said the brothers in particular are monitoring recent comments made by some of Smolletts relatives on social media calling them liars.

Glandians attorney, Brendan Healey, noted in an emailed statement that the court had rejected the frivolous lawsuit against the Geragos firm and Mark Geragos.

We are confident that the single remaining allegation reflecting Ms. Glandians opinion will be dismissed in due course, the statement read.

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In their Cook County lawsuit filed on Thursday, Geragos & Geragos claimed the brothers shamelessly used the federal court system as their vehicle for a bizarre, lawyer-driven publicity stunt designed to try to keep the Osundairo brothers relevant after the dismissal of (the first) criminal charges against Mr. Smollett and to draw media attention to relatively unknown lawyers and their law firms.

In an apparent attempt to show the Osundairos drive for publicity, the suit notes that the brothers are planning to launch NFTs this year. Their website promises NFTs featuring hot sauce bottles, MAGA hats, ski masks and sandwiches  references to the circumstances of the allegedly phony attack on Smollett.

The entire NFT collection is intended as some sort of twisted parody of an event which the Osundairo brothers claimed to have tremendous regret over, Geragoss suit alleges.

Rodriguez, who is named as a defendant in the suit, said in a statement to the Tribune the complaint is absurd. Referencing that the federal court already rejected Geragos attempt at sanctions against her, Rodriguez said the suit was nothing more than a second bite at the apple wanting a remedy that the federal court already denied.

Smollett, meanwhile, 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 hired the Osundairo brothers to stage a phony assault on him involving racial slurs, homophobic epithets and a makeshift noose.

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Smollett was sentenced last week 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.

The Illinois Appellate Court has since granted Smolletts motion to be released on bond pending appeal, and he walked out of Cook County Jail on Wednesday after spending about a week in custody.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
This is what war looks like in Ukraine, but the Russians don't want to call it that. (Vadim Ghirda / Associated Press)

Russia ratcheted up its battle against truth and transparency by several notches when it passed a law earlier this month banning the words war and invasion to describe its behavior in Ukraine. The law sets prison sentences of up to 15 years for people who dare utter those words or spread other fake news about the conflict.

Its a throwback to the countrys ugly totalitarian past and suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin is scared of his own people and worried about his grip on power.

But lets keep things in context. Although the United States and other democracies dont generally prosecute their citizens for speaking out candidly and honestly, theres nothing new about governments trying to control the language of war. In fact, the packaging and marketing of war through obfuscation, euphemism and even dishonesty is almost as old as war itself.

It is ludicrous that Russia insists its brutal behavior in Ukraine, which has already killed thousands of civilians and soldiers, is not a war or an invasion but merely a special military operation, whatever that means. Yet for years the United States maintained that the Korean War was not a war. President Truman referred to it as a police action and Congress said it was merely a conflict. More than 2.5 million people died, including more than 30,000 American military personnel.

Governments dont like to acknowledge starting wars because wars, for obvious reasons, are not very popular. In 1949, in fact, the former U.S. Department of War was renamed the Department of Defense, even though most Americans knew, if they bothered to think about it, that the departments work did not just involve defense.

Im not suggesting a moral equivalence between what the Russians are doing when they toss people in prison for telling the truth and what democracies do when they use misleading language. But the underlying objectives are similar.

Every Madison Avenue ad executive knows that when you name something, you set the terms of debate. If its something as unpopular as war, it may serve your purposes to cloak it in jargon or acronyms, call it the opposite of what it is or make it sound clinical and less disturbing.

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Call civilian deaths collateral damage. Dont call a coup a coup; call it regime change. Rebrand the war department.

This sort of misnaming goes back at least as far as the Romans, who expanded their empire through a process they called pacification. (Much as the Russian newscasts last week called the Ukraine invasion an operation to restore peace.)

The Nazis referred to the murder of Jews in gas chambers as special treatment.

According to the late Berkeley linguist Geoffrey Nunberg, it was during the Crimean War in the mid-19th century that the more bloodless word casualty began to be used to refer to the maimed and dead.

The objective in each case was to sanitize or justify a gory and unpleasant business.

Different linguistic frames can bias peoples moral judgments, wrote a group of Canadian researchers last year, in one of many studies of the subject. They noted that substituting different verbs, adding more agreeable phrases, using euphemisms and adopting the passive voice can make morally offensive behaviors more palatable to people.

A week into the war in Ukraine, nearly 6 in 10 Russians supported it and only 23% opposed it, according to one independent poll. Thats because propaganda and doublespeak, combined with near-total control of the media, are effective tools for winning hearts and minds.

We call this misuse of the language Orwellian because it was George Orwell, the British journalist, critic and novelist, who wrote so clearly about it in 1984 and elsewhere.

Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification, he wrote in his classic 1946 essay Politics and the English Language. ... Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them.

During the George W. Bush administration, two egregious euphemisms stand out. The first is extraordinary rendition to refer to snatching terrorism suspects off the streets of foreign cities and sending them to so-called black sites in foreign countries. The second is the phrase enhanced interrogation techniques to refer to torture. (Andrew Sullivan argued in the Atlantic in 2007 that the latter phrase had roots in the Gestapo interrogation method known as Verscharfte Vernehmung, which translates roughly as sharpened questioning or intensified interrogation.)

And to one degree or another, news organizations followed the governments lead: The Times used the phrase "enhanced interrogation" for a while, although usually in quotes with an accompanying phrase such as which some people consider torture. Some other newspapers adopted the administrations language or used their own euphemisms, referring to waterboarding, sleep deprivation and slamming suspects against walls as severe tactics or rough treatment.

So far, President Biden seems to be more straightforward than many of his predecessors, despite his use of at least one hackneyed, misleading Cold War-era anachronism: the free world. Then again, the U.S. didnt start the war in Ukraine and is not directly engaged in the fighting, so he has less to obfuscate.

The problem with spinning and manipulating the language of war is that when you make harmful acts sound harmless it becomes that much more likely that they will continue.

If war is not hell but is sanitized, innocuous and bureaucratized, then why not engage in it more often? If my country is not an aggressor behaving brutally but is engaged in pacification or enhanced interrogation or in a special military operation, why shouldnt I support it?

Honesty is rare when governments go to war. Journalists, scholars and citizens on all sides must listen hard to separate facts from spin if they hope to understand the realities and know when theyre being manipulated. Then they must call it to the attention of others  if they can do so without being imprisoned.

@Nick_Goldberg

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The teen girl who was reportedly shot in Clarksville this month, Northwest High student Nevaeh Wilkerson, is in stable condition, according to family.

But it will take months to recover from injuries sustained as Wilkerson is wearing a colostomy bag due to her ruptured colon suffered during the March 9 shooting.

Around 11:20 p.m., on the 200 Block of Raintree Drive  located off Layfette Road  a red vehicle with black rims fired into another vehicle, according to Clarksville police.

Wilkerson, 16, was sitting in the back seat.

Two bullets struck her side, said her mother, Kristin Gardner.

Wilkerson was life-flighted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

"She has a long road to recovery, at least 12-months," Gardner said of her daughter.

Nevaeh Wilkerson, left, Kristin Gardner, right.

Gardner stated her daughter is in the intensive care unit but is stable, and she's doing better.

Gardner mentioned that she is unaware of a motive behind the shooting. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident as of Thursday morning.

The family has started an online fundraiser in hopes of receiving financial assistance with medical bills.

"I will not be able to work," Gardner wrote on the fundraiser page. "Her insurance will only cover a small portion of her medical bills and her medical supplies she needs to recover from this tragic moment."

MAN SHOT, KILLED: Clarksville police: Man found fatally shot inside vehicle on Forest Hills Drive

BUSINESS OWNER SHOT, KILLED: Clarksville business owner fatally shot in South Nashville, suspect still at large

The family has hopes to raise $5,000.

To donate and or support Wilkerson, visit the fundraiser page via Facebook.

Anyone with information or additional video footage is asked to contact Detective Luebke, (931) 648-0656, ext. 5645. To remain anonymous call the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tipsline 931-645-8477, or go online and submit a tip at P3tips.com/591.

Alexis Clark can be reached at aclark@annett.com.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Clarksville teen shot twice in stable condition, family say
OSLO (Reuters) -Norway believes the country will receive around 30,000 Ukrainian refugees this year but is preparing for a situation in which up to 100,000 may arrive as more people flee the Russian invasion, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told parliament on Friday.

If arrivals in Norway were to approach the highest of those forecasts, the nation of 5.4 million people would have to house refugees in sports arenas, warehouses and even tents, he added.

"That's not the most probable outcome but we must have plans and be prepared because it could happen," Stoere said.

Some 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine in the last three weeks, almost all to Poland and other neighbouring countries, United Nations data shows.

Around 2,000 refugees have so far arrived in Norway and the government on Thursday said it will soon receive an additional 5,250 people, including 2,500 who have fled to Moldova and 550 people in need of medical care.

Norway, which shares a border with Russia, plans to boost spending this year on defence and security by 3.5 billion Norwegian crowns ($398 million) due to the Ukraine war, Stoere said.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Nora Buli)
LONDON (Reuters) -There is no evidence to suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin's overall intent in Ukraine has altered despite the invasion failing to reach its original objectives, a Western official said on Friday.

"I've seen nothing which suggests that the original intent of Putin has significantly altered," the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Therefore ... the difference between what was planned, what is being executed is at the moment one of timing, and they have failed to achieve their objectives in the time that they set out in their original objectives and their original plan.

"I've seen no evidence yet that the overall intent has changed."

More than three weeks after launching its invasion, in what Moscow calls a "special operation", the Russian advance has stalled and failed to capture a single big city.

The Western official said Russian forces could sustain bombardments on Ukrainian cities by increasingly using unguided missiles as they moved towards a strategy of attrition.

"Their ability to use that sort of scale of artillery, whilst not infinite, is really, really significant," the official said.

"There is an enormous amount of artillery ammunition which the Russian forces hold, and it may be a logistical challenge for them to get all of it in place.

"But if they're able to bring those supplies forward, then they could mount that sort of artillery bombardment for a very, very considerable period of time."

Asked whether Ramzan Kadyrov, a Putin ally and the leader of Russia's Chechnya region, was in Ukraine as he had said on his Telegram social media channel, the official said it was assessed that he was still in Grozny.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by William James and Andrew MacAskill)
Update: Anthony Nelson pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent contact with a child. His sentence was suspended on March 7, 2022, court records show. Gary McNamara pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver marijuana. His sentence was suspended on Dec. 2, 2019, court records show.

Correction: A previous version of this story included misspellings of Gary McNamara's name.

Two Oelwein men face a plethora of charges that include planning to rob a bank, the Fayette County Sheriffs Office announced Monday.

Prosecutors charged Anthony C. Nelson, 21, of Oelwein with sexually assaulting three minor females.

Authorities say Gary J. McNamara, left, and Anthony C. Nelson, planned to rob a bank and other crimes.

As part of a month-long investigation into the case, officials charged Gary J. McNamara, 22, of Oelwein, with distribution of a controlled substance to a person under the age of 18.

A search of McNamaras residence revealed a detailed plan to rob the Maynard Savings Bank in Hazleton, officials said.

Oelwein police and the sheriffs offices in Fayette and Buchanan counties coordinated on this investigation.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Two Iowa men charged in sexual assault case involving minors
Oil refineries, active oil fields and port traffic pour pollution into Wilmington, Calif., with a population that is 97% people of color. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

In mid-February, when the White House unveiled the beta version of its Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, it was met by sharp criticism from environmental justice advocates: A mapping tool designed to identify disadvantaged communities neglected to use race as a criterion.

The screening tool, when finalized, will govern President Bidens Justice40 initiative, which requires that at least 40% of federal investments in climate-change mitigation and clean energy benefit neighborhoods and communities that are, in the administrations words, marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.

Working at the census tract level, the Justice40 screener sets vulnerability thresholds in eight categories. In general, if a community scores above an economic and environmental threshold in one or more category, it will be prioritized for federal aid.

But race never factors in the tools calculus, an omission that runs counter to science. It turns out that the No. 1 predictor of whether you live perilously close to a polluting facility is race. Income is important, but it is generally the second-best indicator. For example, moderate-income Black neighborhoods are often more exposed to hazards than low-income white neighborhoods.

The Justice40 screening tool would be undeniably more accurate if race were considered. Yet its a solid start, and Californias experience shows how to use and improve it.

First, why did the Biden administration sidestep race?

An official from the White House Council on Environmental Quality addressed this directly: We have a desire to make sure this tool is legally enduring, he explained to reporters. Using race as a criterion for distributing federal funds could leave the tool  and the Justice40 effort  open to challenge on constitutional grounds.

California, of course, has seen this movie before. In 2013, the state released its own initial environmental justice screening tool, now considered to be first-in-class among such efforts. Like the Justice40 tool, CalEnviroScreen does not explicitly include race among its indicators. The 1996 passage of Proposition 209, an anti-affirmative action measure, made considering race a legal no-go for the state, whether for determining college admissions or targeting climate investments.

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Nonetheless, Californias climate investments program has been largely successful at targeting communities most affected by redlining and other racist practices that have concentrated hazards in some neighborhoods and amenities in others. According to a state analysis released in October, the median CalEnviroScreen priority scores for Black and Latino Californians are twice that of white residents.

The state screening tool arrives at its scores based on proxy measures such as proximity to hazardous sites and levels of pollution in the air and differences in babies birth weights and in rates of heart disease and asthma, along with demographic information, including income level, housing costs and linguistic isolation.

The result: California has spent more than $4.5 billion on environmental justice projects  affordable housing near transit, tree planting, expanded transit service, renewable energy initiatives  in priority communities that are overwhelmingly populated by residents of color.

The Biden administration closely modeled the Justice40 screening tool on Californias approach. It takes into account similar factors that identify communities of color, but its thresholds can be too restrictive.

For example, the climate website Grist analyzed how the national tool would treat a particular census tract  6603  in San Bernardino County. The tool scores that neighborhood  which 2020 census data show is 92% people of color  above the 90th percentile for exposures to fine particulate matter and diesel pollution. However, its income level, although low, is too high to make the cut for Justice40 funding. A neighboring tract, with essentially the same extreme exposures but a slightly lower income level would qualify. Both communities breathe the same bad air, but only one would get federal help.

This kind of near-miss is baked into any screening tool. But Californias tool seems to work better  the scores of the two tracts are similar. Moreover, when California recognized such inequities in CalEnviroScreen, it added a rule to its climate investment program: A portion of state funding must go not only to the community flagged by the screening tool, but also to low-income neighborhoods within a half-mile radius.

And heres another challenge California has tackled: A screening tool, no matter its criteria or rules, can only identify where aid should go. It cant eliminate the systemic barriers that may prevent the neighborhoods most in need from benefiting from that aid. To do that requires empowering local governments and communities so that they can design effective programs, successfully apply for the available grants and hold the system accountable.

Californias solution has been direct state investment in capacity building programs to help priority communities make use of the environmental justice funds that are available.

The national Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool is still being developed. The tool  and Justice40  can and should be strengthened. And to answer the concerns of the environmental justice advocates, it should do what California did: Make a side-by-side comparison of the communities the tool designates as disadvantaged with data that does include race and ethnicity.

Race matters. A lot. And we cannot shy away from it if we want real, transformative change. But with the stakes so high, we can make the arguments about racial equity and continue to press forward for successful implementation of Justice40, to make real the promise of climate justice.

Alvaro Sanchez is vice president of policy at the Greenlining Institute in Oakland. Manuel Pastor is a professor of sociology and director of the Equity Research Institute at USC.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mar. 17Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Martin would like to do what several county commissioners have done in recent years  move from county to state government.

If he is successful first in gaining an interim appointment to the Tennessee General Assembly seat by his fellow county commissioners, and/or then winning the primary election in August and general election in November, he will become the third commissioner since the county shifted to the mayor/commission form of government in 1978 to follow that path.

JoAnne Favors, a Democrat, did so in 2004 and Jim Vincent, a Republican, did in 2000.

However, the Republican Martin is in a different position from Favors and Vincent. Where they ran against and defeated incumbents for legislative seats, Martin would be taking (if he is appointed) or vying for (if he wins) what is essentially an open seat.

Former state Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, who was elected to the District 26 seat in 2018 and 2020, resigned earlier this month after pleading guilty to a felony arising from a federal wire fraud investigation into a political consulting firm tied to former state House Speaker Glen Casada, who remains a House member, and Casada's former chief of staff, Cade Cothren.

Martin has said if he is appointed, he would resign his county commission seat after he is sworn in the legislature.

If he is not appointed, he told this page Thursday, he would continue to serve as county commissioner until the August county general election and state primary, where he potentially could win two races. If he does, he said, he would resign his commission seat and continue to run for the legislature.

If that happens, District 3 Republican caucus members would choose a candidate to run for the remainder of his unexpired term on the November ballot.

Throughout that process, it's not likely, but Martin's District 3 seat could have four occupants within six months. Martin would be the first. If Martin is appointed to the legislature, the county commission would fill his seat with someone on an interim basis (second occupant). Once Martin wins his commission seat in August  he's the only one on the ballot  and then resigns, the commission could again appoint someone on an interim basis (third occupant). Then, with so much time left in the four-year term, caucus members could select someone else (a fourth occupant) to run in the special election to fill the remainder of Martin's term.

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Applicants have until today to send a letter to the commission office if they are interested in filling Smith's position on an interim basis.

At least two other people have indicated an interest in the interim position, but it is unknown whether they have submitted a letter.

County commissioners will choose the interim from applicants at their next scheduled meeting on March 30. Between today and that meeting, they will individually interview applicants.

Commission Chair Sabrena Smedley said if there were an overwhelming number of people interested in the position, they could meet publicly next week to consider them.

As of Thursday, Martin was the only candidate  Republican or Democrat  to qualify to be on the ballot in August. Candidates have until noon on April 7 to do so.

David Swinford, a Chattanooga resident, has picked papers to run in the Republican primary but has yet to qualify.

Neither Vincent nor Favors before Martin resigned their county commission seats to run for the legislature.

Vincent, who held the District 1 seat now occupied by Randy Fairbanks, ran unopposed for the Republican nomination in August 2000, then took on four-term 31st District state Rep. Arnold Stulce, a Democrat, in November.

Favors, a Democrat who held the District 5 seat in which Katherlyn Geter is completing her first term (and not running for re-election), challenged 10-term state Rep. Brenda Turner, a fellow Democrat in the August 2004 primary.

Although Martin would be only the third to follow the commission-state route, he is one of many to parlay one elected office into another. Before he was a commissioner, he was a member of the Hamilton County Board of Education.

Indeed, many of the people who currently hold county constitutional offices held another office previously. Assessor of Property Marty Haynes, Circuit Court Clerk Larry Henry, Mayor Jim Coppinger and Trustee Bill Hullander had been county commissioners. Register of Deeds Marc Gravitt and Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean had been state legislators.

On the county commission, in addition to Martin, Chip Baker and Steve Highlander were previously school board members. On the Chattanooga City Council, District 2 representative Jenny Hill is also an elected county school board member.

In the legislature, state Sen. Bo Watson was previously a state representative, state Rep. Yusuf Hakeem previously a longtime Chattanooga City Council member and state Rep. Esther Helton currently is an East Ridge City Council member.

Martin said he would like to move to the legislature because he sees "Tennessee as America at its best."

"We have some of the lowest debt, if not the lowest, in the country," he said. "We have some of the lowest taxes, if not the lowest, in the country. I just want to make sure that quality of life doesn't get [ruined] by big government."

By the end of this month, we'll see if his fellow commissioners agree he's one to make that happen.
Commentary: New development philosophy helps China prosper, benefits world

Xinhua) 08:12, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- On March 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping re-emphasized the necessity for the country to put into practice the new development philosophy, calling it the path that must be taken to develop China into a strong nation in the new era.

"As long as we apply the new development philosophy in full, in the right way and in all fields of endeavor, accelerate efforts to create a new development pattern, promote high-quality development and speed up strengthening our country's science and technology capacity, we will definitely be able to consistently improve the competitiveness and sustainability of our country's development, seize the initiative and embrace a good future in the increasingly fierce global competition," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi made the remarks while participating in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region delegation's deliberation at the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

The new development philosophy, featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, was put forward by Xi in 2015. It underscores the quality of economic and social development, and comprehensively answers the key questions surrounding China's future development, including its purpose, driving force, and methods. Moreover, it manifests the CPC's understanding of development path and pattern, as well as its values and political stance.

With the philosophy charting a development path that fits China's actual situations, the country has made historic achievements and witnessed historic changes in its economic and social development under its guidance. Particularly, amid fundamental changes worldwide and the unprecedented challenges they bring, China's economy has shown remarkable resilience.

In recent years, the world has seen a rise in anti-globalization sentiment. Due to it, and the restrictions on traveling and transportation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, parts of the global industrial chain and supply chain were brought to a halt. China's domestic economic circulation was largely affected.

To address the problem, apart from adopting strong measures to coordinate pandemic control and economic growth, and expanding high-level opening-up, China has also actively built a "dual circulation" development paradigm, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other with the domestic market as the mainstay.

The timely adoption of these strategies has reinforced the resilience of China's economy and helped shield it from global impact. As a result, China became the first major economy to register positive economic growth amid the pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, having witnessed an average GDP growth of over 5 percent, China continued to be a stabilizing force in the global economy.

Moreover, determined to pursue economic development featuring openness and shared benefits, China has actively taken up its due responsibilities in stabilizing the global industrial chain and supply chain. For example, despite the impact of the pandemic, the China-Europe freight train remained in operation, playing a pivotal role in international transportation. In 2021, a total of 15,183 China-Europe freight train trips were made, bringing the total number of trips amounting to over 50,000.

China's development path and the results it produces are recognized by the international society. "China achieved a truly remarkable recovery," said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. "As China is a vital engine for global growth, taking strong actions to support high-quality growth will help not only China, but the world."

It is of vital importance for one to stay true to the right path in downpours and against the headwind. Prepared to face more complicated situations and more daunting tasks in the new development stage, China is bound to continue applying the new development philosophy, deliver more tangible benefits to its people, and contribute to global economic and social development.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
For 54-year-old Gail Burton, Illinois sometimes scorching summers can get uncomfortable.

Burton was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 28, and even a minor increase in temperature can make her symptoms worse. She lives with her cat, Matti, in an apartment in the Illinois Independent Living Center in Naperville, which offers housing designed for mobility-impaired residents.

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She has lived at the center for about five years, and she said she loves having access to the staff while living independently in her own space.

Its kind of the best of both worlds, she said. Im always well taken care of.

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Gail Burton in her apartment at the Illinois Independent Living Center in Naperville on March 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Even so, Burton said the cost of utilities is sometimes concerning. She said the hallways between the buildings different apartments can get quite warm, and though residents can adjust the temperature in their own units, doing so drives up the cost.

But by the end of the year, building renovations aimed at addressing some of these problems are expected to be completed.

Earlier this week, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced it was awarding three organizations a total of $789,000 in energy efficiency grants to benefit low-income residential facilities, including the Illinois Independent Living Center.

The first-time grants will help residents across the state reduce their electric bills and improve their home environment.

Abby Brokaw, program manager in the Office of Energy, said the cost of heating and cooling can be particularly burdensome in Illinois because of the states extreme winters and summers.

Energy burden is a crisis for low-income areas, she said. Thats a real issue for a lot of people who are having to decide between paying energy costs or using their money for other items.

As a result, she said the energy efficiency grants strive to provide low-income communities with the opportunity to better control the temperatures in their homes.

Anita Dierks, executive director of the Illinois Independent Living Center, gives a tour of an apartment undergoing rehab that will add insulation, new carpeting and fixtures. The center in Naperville is one of three that have received energy efficiency grants to benefit low-income residential facilities. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Facilities with a low-income designation were eligible to apply for the grant through the state EPAs Low Income Residential Energy Efficiency Program, and Brokaw said 11 projects were submitted. She said the grantees were selected based on cost-effectiveness, and they received additional points if they were located in an environmental justice area.

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The grants are funded by a trust managed by the Office of Energy. Brokaw said this is the first initiative the office has undertaken, and whether the grants will be offered again in the future depends on appropriations and administrative approval.

Now that the grants have been awarded, Brokaw said the recipients can do what they want with the money as long as it has an energy efficiency focus.

The Illinois Independent Living Center received $221,498 in funding, and renovations are scheduled to begin May 15. Paul Koretke, the centers board president, said the funds will be used to insulate the buildings attic, replace the exhaust fans in the bathrooms, and install more energy-efficient refrigerators and dishwashers in residential units. He said because of the way air moves, residents on the buildings second floor will probably feel the biggest difference, though everyone will benefit from lower energy costs.

Were really excited; this is one of the biggest grants weve ever gotten, he said. This will make a big impact on the building.

Koretke said he got involved with the Illinois Independent Living Center because his sister, who has cerebral palsy, has lived there for over 30 years. Like many residents, Koretke said his sister survives on a fixed income, so lowering energy costs will make a big difference for her.

Every little dollar helps, he said.

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The state EPA has awarded $789,398 in grant funding to three low-income residential properties in Illinois. One of these facilities is the Illinois Independent Living Center in Naperville, seen on March 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The two other grantees the state EPA selected are the Effingham County Public Housing Authority, which will receive $464,730, and an affordable housing organization, Keyhole to Opportunity NFP in Marion, which will receive $103,170.

Naperville center resident Burton said she was excited to hear her building had received such a large grant, and she thinks it will have a big impact on residents financially.

Now, she can dedicate more of her own energy to spending time with her cat and writing a memoir about her diagnosis.

Its going to make such a difference, she said.
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - PayPal Holdings Inc on Thursday expanded its services to allow Ukrainian citizens and refugees to receive payments from overseas, a move a senior Ukrainian official called a huge help as Russian forces continued to attack the country.

PayPal Chief Executive Dan Schulman told Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a letter that Ukrainians would also be able to transfer funds from their PayPal accounts to eligible credit and debit cards. The company has waived its fees on such transactions through June 30.

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24, an action Russia has described as a "special military operation.".

PayPal's move will allow refugees and Ukrainians to receive funds from friends and family members in the United States and elsewhere, and could also be used to transfer social payments by governments in the future, said Vladyslav Rashkovan, Ukraine's alternative executive director at the International Monetary Fund.

"It makes a huge difference for people," Rashkovan told Reuters, lauding Schulman's personal engagement in accomplishing the change in just two weeks.

Rashkovan said he spoke with some Ukrainians on the street outside his office about the new capability and they immediately opened an account at PayPal.com/ua/home https://www.paypal.com/ua/home to send money to their relatives. Ukrainian officials have been pushing for the expanded services since 2015, after Russia annexed the Crimea region, he added.

PayPal said it would start making the expanded services available on Thursday, with customers able to send and receive funds from their Ukrainian PayPal Wallet in dollars, Canadian dollars, British pounds and euros.

Once a customer transfers funds from their PayPal Wallet to an eligible Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card, the money will be available in the currency associated with that card.

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While PayPal is waiving its fees for several weeks, it noted exchange rates and fees charged by a customers card issuer or bank account may still apply.

Previously, Ukrainian citizens could send money from PayPal accounts, but were unable to receive funds.

PayPal earlier this month shut down its services in Russia, joining many financial and tech companies in suspending operations there after its invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Paresh Dave in San Francisco; Editing by Jane Wardell)
Pete Davidson will no longer fly to space with Blue Origin this month after the launch date was postponed by six days, Blue Origin said Thursday. It's not yet clear who will replace the 28-year-old comedian on the voyage.

"Blue Origin's 20th flight of New Shepard has shifted to Tuesday, March 29," the company said. "Pete Davidson is no longer able to join the NS-20 crew on this mission. We will announce the sixth crew member in the coming days."

Blue Origin's 20th flight of New Shepard has shifted to Tuesday, March 29. Pete Davidson is no longer able to join the NS-20 crew on this mission. We will announce the sixth crew member in the coming days.

 Blue Origin (@blueorigin) March 18, 2022

A Blue Origin spokesperson told CBS News the company needed to delay the flight so that it could run "additional pre-flight tests on one of the vehicle's subsystems."

Davidson was originally slated to take off on March 23 with Marty Allen, husband and wife duo Sharon and Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen and George Nield.

This will be the New Shepard program's fourth trip with people. The first flight carried Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, 82-year-old aviation pioneer Wally Funk and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen. Other celebrities  including William Shatner and Michael Strahan  have also traveled to space on Bezos' flights.

Caitlin O'Kane contributed reporting.

Empty strollers in Lviv's Market Square symbolize children killed in Russian invasion

President Biden talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for first time since Russian invasion of Ukraine

MoneyWatch: Millions betting on March Madness with online gambling legal in more states
mactrunk / iStock.com

According to the latest stats, more than 65 million American women provide unpaid care in the form of child care, family care and eldercare. And a majority of these women do so while holding full- or part-time jobs, the National Partnership for Women & Families reported. For those who are working part time  or not at all  saving for retirement during this time can be a challenge. In todays Financially Savvy Female column, were chatting with Shelly-Ann Eweka, CFP, ChFC, senior director of advice strategy at TIAA, about what options these women have to ensure they dont fall behind on retirement savings while providing unpaid care.

Keep Up With the Latest: Sign Up for The Financially Savvy Female Newsletter

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Having a Plan Is Key

Unpaid caregivers need to have a plan in place for how they will fund their retirement  even if saving for it can be a struggle during this time.

Thats where you start  working with someone or working with a digital [tool] to get a financial plan put together, and that starts with understanding how youre spending your money, Eweka said.

Look For Ways To Spend Less and Earn More

Once you have a clear picture of how much you are spending, you can see how much you can put aside each month for retirement. If that amount is nothing or nominal, you may need to make some temporary adjustments to your spending.

Pay attention to what you are spending and see if there are ways to reduce that, Eweka said. With very limited income, because youre not really getting a full salary, this is the time to really pull back on your expenses as much as possible.

You should also look for ways to increase your earnings outside of your caregiving commitments, if possible.

Caregiving is such a huge responsibility, but if you can get part-time employment, or get a few more hours of employment, that will help you have extra cash flow to help you put money aside, Eweka said.

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Important: The Womans Guide To Collecting Social Security

Consider Opening a Simplified Employee Pension Plan

If you are self-employed, you can make contributions to a simplified employee pension plan, or SEP IRA.

Its really an IRA for business owners, Eweka said. You can contribute $61,000 or 25% of your earned income, whichever number is lower.

This is significantly higher than the annual limits for a traditional or Roth IRA, which is $6,000 or $7,000 if you are 50 or older. If youre able to save more than a traditional or Roth IRA would allow, a SEP IRA can be an invaluable retirement saving tool for a self-employed unpaid caregiver.

Or, Open a Spousal IRA

If you are married and are not earning income because you are providing full-time care, consider opening a spousal IRA.

According to the IRS, If you file a joint return, you may be able to contribute to an IRA even if you didnt have taxable compensation as long as your spouse did. Each spouse can make a contribution up to the current limit; however, the total of your combined contributions cant be more than the taxable compensation reported on your joint return.

Make Contributions Automatic

When youre a full-time employee, its easy to keep up with retirement savings, as many companies offer the option to automatically contribute a percentage of your paycheck to an employer-sponsored plan. If you are working part time or not at all, youll have to make more of an effort to save for retirement  but you can make it as easy as possible by automating contributions to whichever IRA you choose.

Try to do some automatic savings, even if its a little bit per month, Eweka said. When it comes out automatically, its the first thing that comes out each month, so thats one way you can do it.

Put Any Financial Windfalls Into Retirement Savings

While working as an unpaid caregiver, its vital to make sure youre still contributing as much as possible to retirement savings. Take advantage of any financial windfalls you may receive to stay on track with your retirement goals.

Were getting close to tax time, so if youre getting a refund, use a good portion of that refund to put aside into your account, Eweka said. Look for those types of opportunities.

GOBankingRates wants to empower women to take control of their finances. According to the latest stats, women hold $72 billion in private wealth  but fewer women than men consider themselves to be in good or excellent financial shape. Women are less likely to be investing and are more likely to have debt, and women are still being paid less than men overall. Our Financially Savvy Female column will explore the reasons behind these inequities and provide solutions to change them. We believe financial equality begins with financial literacy, so were providing tools and tips for women, by women to take control of their money and help them live a richer life.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Plan For a Secure Retirement as an Unpaid Caregiver
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland will formally submit a proposal for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at the next NATO summit, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday.

Poland's ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski announced the idea of a peacekeeping mission during a trip to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish and Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Porsche said it will start building out its own proprietary global network of charging stations next year, a departure from its initial strategy to rely on partnerships with other companies.

The plan, which was revealed during the company's annual meeting, comes as Porsche prepares to expand its EV portfolio beyond the Taycan to at least two more models, the Macan and 718, by 2025.

The first Porsche-branded charging locations will be built in high-demand areas beginning next year in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, company executives said.

However, Porsche's vision extends beyond mere charging ports, according to CEO Oliver Blume and Lutz Meschke, deputy chairman and member of the executive board, who provided some details in a press briefing. The charging stations will also have amenities akin to a lounge, where customers might sip coffee or work while their batteries recharge.

"It's not just about charging, it's also to get more convenience in the direction of our customers," Meschke said. "And that's very important for us that we not only focus on the electrification of our cars, but also about the customer journey beyond the car."

Porsche will focus on the European market and is considering expanding to China and the U.S., where we can offer a special service and support the public charging infrastructure, said Blume.

Porsche will also continue its partnership with Ionity, a multi-automaker venture supporting Europes largest fast-charging network that plans to grow from 400 stations to 1,000 by 2025.

We are jointly investing in premium charging stations alongside partners and in our own charging infrastructure, Blume said.

Blume said it was too soon to provide figures on the number of stations Porsche plans to build, a timeline for their arrival, or their cost. However, his comments did suggest the company was eager to invest in the project.

As the global EV market readies itself for takeoff, it's very important over the next years to have a quick ramp up for this, and therefore Porsche is investing heavily, he added.

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Porsche's efforts follow the lead of Tesla, which built out its own propriety global network of some 30,000 Supercharger stations at more than 2,500 sites. Tesla has recently started to open that network to other EVs in the Netherlands and several other European countries. Rivian also is building out its own "adventure" network, but uses the CCS direct current connector, an open international standard that in recent years has gained popularity in Europe and North America. This means that theoretically other electric vehicles with the CCS standard could use the Rivian network, although software could block their use. Rivian plans to add 3,500 fast chargers to more than 600 sites across the U.S. and Canada by the end of next year.

Porsche will continue to support the Ionity partnership and tout the benefits of the Electrify America network of 670 charging stations across 46 states and Washington, D.C. But a proprietary network gives Porsche direct control over the customer experience and quality of the charging stations. The strategy is to fill in gaps along the existing fast-charging infrastructure, according to a company spokesperson.

Audi, also owned by Volkswagen, has begun piloting a two-story lounge-like concept in Europe where customers can relax as their cars charge below.
A great egret wades at Big Marsh Park in Chicago on March 22, 2021. An Audubon report is being released with a blueprint for wetland restoration in the Great Lakes region. Audubon developed a method from modeling and analysis to identify and prioritize 12 areas that are important to the health of marsh birds and overall ecosystems. Restoration work has been completed at Big Marsh Park and marsh birds are on the rebound. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

With spring migration picking up and warmer days ahead, researchers are preparing for another season of bird banding  an effort to understand how local birds are faring and future challenges they may face.

Bird banding generally involves attaching a numbered, lightweight aluminum band to a birds leg. The process, which requires a federal permit, allows researchers to track birds as theyre subsequently spotted. It can lead to data that would otherwise be difficult to come by: how long birds are living, where theyre coming from or returning to, and even how theyre responding to climate change.

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Ive never seen a person in a picture holding a bird at a banding station not smiling, said Antonio Celis-Murillo, chief of the U.S. Geological Surveys Bird Banding Laboratory.

In addition to the joy that accompanies having a bird in hand, researchers can collect valuable data through banding. Birds are fragile, and theyre everywhere, making them trusty subjects and biological indicators, Celis-Murillo said.

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If the birds are doing well, he said, that means the environment is doing well.

Banding in the Chicago area focuses on a range of species, from songbirds to raptors. Some endangered birds are also banded, including the Great Lakes piping plovers Monty and Rose, whove been tracked over the last few years as theyve touched down south for winter and flown back to Chicago.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 37 Monty the piping plover walks the shoreline on April 21, 2022, after returning to Montrose Harbor. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

There are a few banding efforts in the Chicago area, including a program from the Cook County forest preserves, which has banded birds as small as sparrows and employed lifts to reach ospreys nesting high in platforms, and a project from the Chicago Ornithological Society focused on Big Marsh Park, a former site of pollution that today provides bird-friendly habitat.

The forest preserves recently used decades of data to map where some banded birds have landed  along with their sometimes grisly fates.

Its not always a happy story at the end, but at least theres a story, said Chris Anchor, senior wildlife biologist for the forest preserves. Otherwise, you have no information.

Today, district biologists band a few hundred birds a year. Lately, banding has focused on raptors, Anchor said, and shorebirds will be next as they pass through Chicago during migration.

During banding, researchers can also carry out bird checkups  taking measurements, drawing blood samples and identifying disease  which can assist in tracking illnesses, including those passed between animals and humans. The collected information sets a baseline, sometimes reaching back decades, so researchers can identify trends and sudden changes, Anchor said.

Researchers are currently on alert for bird flu, Anchor said, after three Canada geese in Will County tested positive earlier this month, and the virus was also found in a backyard flock in McLean County.

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The collected health information can also be used to spot environmental red flags, such as pollution, as well as signs of healthy habitats.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 An adult-size osprey sits in a nest in Busse Woods, part of Forest Preserves of Cook County, on July 9, 2021, in Elk Grove Village. Workers had hoped to band some ospreys this morning, but some were too large to safely remove from the nests. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Birds are very, very sensitive in general to environmental and pathogenic processes, Anchor said. It gives you a wonderful look into our surroundings.

The district shares banding data with the U.S. Geological Surveys banding lab, now more than a century old. The data set has about 80 million records of banding and about 5 million records of encounters with banded birds, said Celis-Murillo, chief of the lab. The records have helped tip off researchers to threats, including the pesticide DDT, and assisted in establishing hunting regulations.

Celis-Murillo said the long-term data set is especially important in the age of ecological crises and climate change, as researchers look to the past to understand whats happening now  and develop conservation strategies for warming ahead.

The labs data has led to some surprising findings, including the first confirmed hybrid golden-crowned sparrow and white-throated sparrow, an Arctic tern spotted in Africa that flew about 4,800 miles from its original banding location in Maine, and updates on the oldest banded bird  Wisdom, an albatross who is at least 70 years old.

Every day we are open to surprises, Celis-Murillo said. We have a myriad of stories of things we never knew, we didnt expect.

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Theres been a growing interest in community science efforts, a trend thats extended to reports of banded birds. The public has become more engaged in reporting banded birds, Celis-Murillo said, which he credits to the swelling popularity of bird watching coupled with access to cameras and scopes. He expects records of encounters with banded birds to increase.

Locally, some volunteers from the Chicago Ornithological Society operate a banding station at Big Marsh Park on the Southeast Side. The group has banded nearly 400 birds in its first two seasons.

They follow a protocol coordinated by the Institute for Bird Populations, which includes stations across the country collecting data to study birds during summer nesting. Studies using the data have tracked birds response to the effects of climate change, including earlier springs in Yosemite National Park and drought conditions in northern Mexico.

This will be the third season of banding at Big Marsh, where researchers will use fine mesh nets throughout breeding season to catch songbirds. Clues to breeding success can come in the form of the number of birds caught or the proportion of juveniles to adults, said Stephanie Beilke, a Chicago Ornithological Society board member who helps run the station.

With only two years of data, its not clear how long local birds in the once industrial dumping ground might be living, but researchers hope to eventually find out. The longer researchers band, the more likely theyll be to recapture, Beilke said.

It seems like the birds are doing really well here, Beilke said. Were catching a lot of birds. Were seeing a lot of young birds. Were seeing birds returning.

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But its difficult to know how the birds are doing after just two years, Beilke said.

Theres only so much information you can tell about breeding populations through standardized observation, she said. Having a bird in the hand tells you a lot more that you cant determine otherwise.

mgreene@chicagotribune.com
This is an excerpt from Please Like Me, BuzzFeed News newsletter about how influencers are battling for your attention. You can sign up here.

Spring has begun to melt away the last of cuffing season, and the dating game is now afoot. But between Tinder swindling and West Elm Caleb, cynical online flirtations might have you wondering if its possible to meet someone at all.

Finding love is not limited to dating apps, as people are meeting their partners all over the World Wide Web. From Twitch channels to the Target customer support chat, digital platforms not designed for dating have been hotbeds for falling in love, too (or making friends, as the Cut previously reported).

Ray Russo, 23, met her current boyfriend in 2019, on a Discord server for tarot-based dating simulation app The Arcana. They discussed the characters from the romance-based interactive role-play, bonding over their mutual interest for the story.

A few friends started to make a separate, smaller server and asked if we wanted to join, she told BuzzFeed News. Eventually one day he asked if I wanted to date him. So I said sure, and he sent me a DM later confirming that we were now partners. And I said yes.

Though its not explicitly a dating app, Discord has increasingly become a platform for people to make romantic connections. Sydney Hoang, 19, said its partly because of the pandemic. Its been hard to meet people, considering school is online and everything is closed, Hoang, who said her friends have met people on Discord, told BuzzFeed News.

Getting to know each other online meant lots of messaging and watching movies over screen share, and for months they texted back and forth on Discord. Babe what if we kissed and we were neopets, they would write to each other. Finally in 2020, Russos boyfriend flew from North Carolina to Los Angeles for their first IRL date at Universal Studios. Hed never been before, so it was fun to show him around, she said. They hit it off, but soon after, the COVID pandemic began.

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Because of the pandemic, most of their relationship has been on Discord, but its evolved over the DMs. I feel like this will be us when we get married, Russo wrote, sending a meme from The Big Bang Theory. They even met their third partner on the same Arcana Discord server, and the three of them met in person in November last year. It was the best thing ever, Russo said.

The throuple hopes to move in together someday, though Russo said their plans are up in the air until they can live closer in proximity and make a little more money. It felt nice to meet online, because we didnt know what the other looked like, so we got to know each others personalities, she said.

Ashley Kennedy, 35, met her husband 14 years ago on an Internet Relay Chat channel for World of Warcraft. Two children and a house later, she agreed that getting to know each others personalities online was part of why theyre so compatible.

We were in the same alliance, so we started talking because we were a part of this larger faction discussion, she said. You have nothing to lose when youre just talking to someone online  you dont have a social relationship to maintain, you can just throw it all out there and be your honest and authentic self. Its almost like an online confessional. We could vent about our real lives because it didnt mean anything to the other person.

They met at a sushi restaurant for their first date, which Kennedy said was incredibly nerve-wracking  it was her first time meeting someone shed only known online. With dating in person, attraction comes first and a relationship comes second, she said. With this, youre not seeing each other face-to-face, so your relationship is all you have. I feel like you have a stronger relationship early on because youre only connecting on what the other person is saying. In person, you might be distracted by what they look like or how theyre chewing or any kind of idiosyncrasy about how they present themselves. Online, it is higher risk, higher reward. We got lucky.

There are also ways in which the physical and digital realities come together. Ava Alexis (who asked BuzzFeed News not to share her last name to protect her privacy), 26, was asked on a date via Venmo after a stranger covered for her at a cash-only soup stand in Michigan. Hey this is a little goofy but would you wanna hang out sometime? he wrote on her payment. Lets grab a drink, or maybe some lobster bisque! At the time, she told BuzzFeed News, she was heartbroken after the end of a yearslong relationship and was flattered to be asked out so unexpectedly.

It gets exhausting [on dating apps], she said. Sometimes Id get motivated and go on multiple dates in a week, but then none of them work out, and Id just give up. The Venmo date invite came at the right time for Alexis, and it wasnt part of the oversaturated (largely horny) profiles on dating apps that can tire anyone out. And while Alexis said things with Soup Venmo Boy (my moniker for him) didnt go beyond one date, it was a cute story that she said she thinks fondly of.

The culture around romance has evolved as virtual connection becomes the new normal for meet-cutes  30% of American adults reported to have used a dating app in 2020. Its birthed a unique dating environment, with its own set of rules and expectations and vocabulary. Terms like soft launch, the phenomenon of posting a new relationship on fleeting platforms such as Instagram stories  before hard-launching onto the permanent grid  doubled in searches over the last month, according to Google Trends data. Viral memes such as the Hinge voice prompt and relationship red flags have become a part of the modern dating landscape. Finding love is an irrevocably online game now, and in many ways, its allowed for love in ways that you least expect.

The internet is your oyster, and hot girl summer is upon us once again.
Kyiv  Another major Ukrainian city  very close to the country's western border with Poland  has come under Russian fire. As the capital Kyiv reeled from more shelling, black smoke rose over the previously untouched city of Lviv for the first time on Friday morning.

A Russian strike hit what was said to be a facility for the repair of military aircraft. Lviv is the largest city in western Ukraine. It sits only about 40 miles from the NATO territory across the border in Poland. Lviv's mayor said at least one person was wounded in the strike that hit just a few miles from the center of his city.

Smoke is seen above buildings close to the airport in Lviv, western Ukraine, after an apparent Russian airstrike, March 18, 2022. / Credit: Getty

In the heart of Lviv, meanwhile, there was a silent protest against the toll Russia's brutality has taken on Ukraine's most vulnerable. More than 100 empty strollers were placed in rows in a central square on Friday, symbolizing the children killed in the country since Putin's war began.

"The lives of our Ukrainian children. Today, 109 empty baby strollers were put up on Rynok Square in Lviv to show the whole world what a terrible price we pay," said Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, in a post on the Telegram social media app.

He shared a photo of the protest, adding: "Ukraine is fighting for security around the world, losing their children!"

The United Nations has confirmed at least 816 civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia launched its war, with most of the deaths blamed on shelling and airstrikes. That figure includes 59 children, and the U.N.'s human rights agency acknowledges the "actual toll is much higher."

109 empty strollers are seen placed outside the Lviv city council building, highlighting the number of children killed in the ongoing Russia's invasion of Ukraine according to Ukrainian officials, March 18, 2022. / Credit: YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP/Getty

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata said the indiscriminate shelling of Kyiv continued spreading terror in the capital on Friday. Missiles and artillery slam into the once-thriving metropolis on a daily basis  sometimes several times a day  as Russian forces intensify their attacks across the country.

Another residential building on the outskirts of Kyiv was in ruins on Friday, and as D'Agata reported, there's no telling when or where the next rocket, or rockets, will strike.

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People sift through debris after a Russian cruise missile allegedly hit a secondary school in Merefa, near Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 17, 2022. / Credit: Andrea Carrubba/Anadolu Agency/Getty

To the east, close to the Russian border, Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv has been engulfed in flames. It has come under constant bombardment for weeks, since Vladimir Putin ordered his assault on Ukraine 23 days ago, on February 24.

In the besieged city of Chernihiv, northwest of Kharkiv but still perilously close to Russian ground, an American teacher was among the civilians killed by Putin's assault on Thursday. James Hill, 68, had stayed in the city to look after his partner, Irina, who was being treated at a local hospital for MS. In Pittsburgh, Katya Hill recalled the last time she spoke with her brother.

American James Hill, a Minnesota native, is seen in an undated family photo. The 68-year-old became the second U.S. citizen known to have died in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, on March 17, 2022, in the northeastern city of Chernihiv. / Credit: Family handout/KDKA

"I could hear bombs in the background," she told CBS News. "He was going out on a daily basis, searching for food. The hospital lost electricity. The hospital lost gas. There was no heat my brother was a peacemaker and he was a giver, and he just felt everybody in the world should love each other."

"CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell traveled to the Ukraine-Poland border as Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered the fastest refugee displacement crisis in Europe since World War II. O'Donnell shares firsthand accounts from Ukrainian refugees and looks at how NATO is preparing while Russia pushes the war in Ukraine close to Poland's border in the 30-minute documentary "Norah O'Donnell Reports: Crisis in Ukraine," premiering Friday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CBS News app.

In Kyiv, meanwhile, a man wept over the body of his dead mother. She was killed when fragments of a Russian missile, shot down by Ukrainian forces, rained down on their neighborhood.

Part of a Russian missile that was downed by Ukrainian defenses is seen on the ground in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 16, 2022. / Credit: CBS News

Even when a missile misses its target, it can wreak havoc. D'Agata and his team watched as residents of Kyiv's shell-shocked suburbs picked up the pieces of their lives and patiently lined up for plastic sheeting  some protection against the bitter cold, if not the searing shrapnel. The incredible destruction inflicted on residential buildings by the Russian missile that was stopped in its path made it clear why people in Ukraine's capital are so terrified of what's to come. But even with her neighborhood directly in the firing line, as she plucked jagged shards of glass from the window that no longer keeps out the bitter cold, Kyiv resident Gayla told CBS News that she was not going anywhere. "It's ok, we won't freeze," she said. "Love warms us up."

Asked if she had a message for those watching her country's destruction from afar, Galya said: "Peace in Ukraine. No more war, and that Putin comes to his senses and gets a brain."

D'Agata said there was one small piece of good news on Friday: Ukrainian officials said 130 people had been rescued from the debris of a theater in the battered southern port city of Mariupol that was bombed this week. It remained unclear how many people might still be trapped, or how many had died in the theater, where more than 1,000 were said to have been taking shelter.

A view shows Donetsk Regional Theatre of Drama destroyed by an airstrike amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on March 16, 2022. / Credit: Donetsk Regional Civil-Military Administration/Handout via REUTERS

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(Reuters) - Moscow and Kyiv are "halfway there" in agreeing on the issue of Ukraine's demilitarisation, and their views are most aligned on Ukraine's neutrality and giving up on joining NATO, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky was quoted as saying on Friday.

Interfax news agency quoted Medinsky as saying negotiating teams trying to agree on ending hostilities in Ukraine were discussing nuances of security guarantees should Ukraine no longer attempt to join the Western military alliance.

He declined to reveal any other details of the talks.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in an effort to degrade its southern neighbours military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

(Reporting by Reuters)




Pixar's "Toy Story" prequel "Lightyear" has restored a previously cut same-sex kiss after backlash from employees concerned Disney's handling of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" legislation, according to a Friday report.

The prequel follows popular character Buzz Lightyear, who will be voiced by Chris Evans. It reportedly includes a scene in which a character named Hawthorne, voiced by Uzo Aduba, kisses another woman, Variety reported.

The characters' relationship itself was never called into question during production, a source told Variety, but the kiss was only recently reinstated.

The Hill has reached out to Disney, Pixar's parent company, for comment.

The movie is scheduled for theatrical release on June 17.

Disney staffers had recently objected to CEO Bob Chapek's handling of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, with the entertainment giant at first remaining silent on the controversial legislation.

Pixar employees in a statement accused Chapek of being hypocritical in suggesting that "lasting change" may be better brought about by the company through "the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create, and the diverse community organizations we support."

According to the employees' statement, LGBTQ+ stories and elements at Disney often find themselves on the cutting-room floor. Employees said that Disney actively censored "overtly gay affection" in its feature films, Variety reported last week.

Former Pixar employees told the news outlet on the condition of anonymity that creatives within the studio "have tried for years to incorporate LGBTQ identity into its storytelling in ways big and small, only to have those efforts consistently thwarted."

Chapek has since apologized for the company's silence on Florida legislation, which would limit discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in primary school settings, telling Disney employees, "I let you down."

He added that the company would be pausing political donations in Florida and further supporting efforts to fight against similar legislation being introduced elsewhere.
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia looks forward to welcoming U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the near future to strengthen ongoing "positive" discussions, though no meeting has been scheduled yet in Riyadh, an official from the Kingdom's foreign ministry said on Friday.

Saudi Arabia and the United States are working very productively across all levels of government to advance common interests of security and economic stability... Saudi and U.S. officials are in constant contact at a technical level," the official added.

(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; writing by Lina Najem; editing by Jason Neely)
This June 18, 2010, file photo shows the firing squad execution chamber at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah. (File/AP)

South Carolina is now prepared to carry out executions by firing squad, the state Department of Corrections told the state Attorney General's office on Friday.

Once approval comes from the state Supreme Court, the death sentences facing the state's 35 death-row inmates can follow.

Law passed in May 2021 makes the electric chair the states primary means of execution while giving inmates the option of choosing death by firing squad or lethal injection if those methods are available.

While a lack of lethal-injection drugs has made that alternative unavailable, the state now has procedures and facilities in place for firing squads, the Department of Corrections announced Friday afternoon.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to The Greenville News by visiting greenvillenews.com/subscribe.

Without a firing squad available to select their manner of death as their execution dates neared last June, the separate executions of two Greenville men were delayed.

Now one of the two Greenville men could be first in line.

How SC will carry out executions by firing squad

The South Carolina Department of Corrections spent about $53,600 to establish a firing squad and renovate its execution facility, according to Department of Corrections spokesperson Chrysti Shain. That includes a number of rifles  exactly how many was redacted in a response to a records request by The Greenville News  and it includes renovations to the capital-punishment facility, stainless steel sheeting, ammunition and ballistic partitions, according to invoices obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Specifics for how the firing squad will operate must be approved by the state Supreme Court.

The Capital Punishment Facility inside Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia houses the state death chamber, which has been renovated to accommodate a firing squad.

The chamber now includes a chair where inmates can sit if they choose execution by firing squad. The metal chair with restraints is surrounded by protective equipment in a corner of the room away from the nearly 110-year-old electric chair, which cannot be moved.

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The firing-squad chair faces a wall with a rectangular opening 15 feet away. The squad's rifles and the open portal will not be visible from the execution chamber's witness room.

Witnesses will see the right-side profile of the inmate, and the inmate will not face the witness room directly, unlike an inmate choosing execution by the electric chair.

The inmate will be strapped into the chair, and a hood will be placed over their head. A small aim point will be placed over their heart, and after the warden reads the execution order, the firing squad will fire.

After the shots, a doctor will examine the inmate. Once the inmate is declared dead, the curtain will be drawn and witnesses escorted out.

SC's firing squad differs from Utah's

Utah is the only state in the past 40 years to carry out such a death sentence. The most recent was in 2010 for Ronnie Lee Gardner, who killed a bartender and later, during a 1985 courthouse escape attempt, shot a lawyer to death and wounded a bailiff.

While officials from the Department of Corrections visited Utah before establishing their own firing-squad system, South Carolina's procedures differ from Utah's.

Unlike Utah, which uses a five-member firing squad, South Carolina will have three law-enforcement officers in its firing squad, and all three will have live rounds, while in Utah at least one rifle fires non-lethal bullets.

Members of South Carolina's firing squad are volunteers from within the state Department of Corrections who meet certain qualifications, according to the department.

Brad Sigmon and Freddie Owens wait death sentences in South Carolina

Once the state Supreme Court approves the state's new firing-squad policies, Greenville natives Brad Keith Sigmon and Freddie Eugene Owens are likely to be among the first inmates to have death sentences carried out.

The state Supreme Court issued warrants for their deaths in May 2021.

Sigmon and Owens had execution dates set for June 18, 2021, and June 25, 2021, respectively. Those execution orders were halted June 16, 2021, when the Department of Corrections notified the court that a firing squad was not yet in place.

Sigmon was sentenced to death in 2002 after being found guilty of murder in the 2001 killings of David and Gladys Larke.

Owens was sentenced to death in 1999 after being found guilty of murder in the 1997 killing of Irene Graves, and he's confessed to killing fellow inmate Christopher Lee. In 2015, Owens legally changed his name to Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, but the state judicial system still identifies him as Owens to provide clarity.

What we know: Death penalty case of Greenville County's Brad Sigmon

What we know: Death penalty case of Greenville County's Freddie Owens

Other news: Greenville County Councilman Stan Tzouvelekas runs social media site with misinformation

 Caitlin Herrington covers government and growth in the Golden Strip and more. Get in touch with her at cherrington@greenvillenews.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @GVLnewsCat.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC death penalty: State prepared to use a firing squad for executions
When first-grade teacher Tina Berry saw that her 12-year-old needed to take a mental health day, it was because she recognized some of her own stress-induced tendencies reflected in her daughter, a seventh-grader at Old St. Marys School in the South Loop.

When I get tired, I can feel myself going down a tunnel, Berry said. For my daughter  I can see the heightened sense of nervousness and anxiety, and thats when I said, You need to just take a break.

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Since the start of 2022, that break has been considered an excused absence for K-12 students in Illinois, as new legislation was enacted allowing children to take up to five excused absences for mental or behavioral health yearly. Schools may also refer students to support personnel, like a school psychologist or counselor, after two such absences.

Experts and parents said the change is welcome for children after a taxing two years of learning amid a pandemic. However, its not clear how many families are actually taking advantage of the policy.

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Theres a lot of kids suffering and not really getting help for what they need, said Dr. Frank Belmonte, chief medical officer at Advocate Childrens Hospital. Addressing these mental health needs early can prevent more serious issues later, Belmonte said.

Allowing mental health absences to be excused is really, really helping with mental health parity in comparison with physical health, he said.

The office of Illinois Education Superintendent Carmen Ayala echoed this sentiment in an email, saying it hopes the policy will help reduce the stigma around mental health issues and promote healthy habits of self-care.

But some families have struggled with perceived privacy concerns and stigma around actually marking absences for mental health, said Faith Cole, director of student services for Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Coles district puts mental health absences in the same category as vacations and college visits, and students are limited to 12 such absences  including the five days for mental health  per year, as opposed to absences for illness or COVID-19, which are not counted in the same way.

Parents may be hesitant to share that their student is absent for mental health reasons, but the information is only shared and tracked internally in the district, Cole said.

Responses varied from other suburban districts reached about their policy on such absences.

In the north suburban Glenbrook High School District 225, 75 students  less than 1.5% of the districts total population  have taken an absence designated for mental health since the beginning of the year, the district said. In west suburban Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, that number is 6.4%, according to the district.

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A representative from Wilmette Public Schools District 39 said they have not tracked the number of students who have taken mental health days, and a spokeswoman from the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 said they had insufficient data to comment on the effect of the law.

Other districts, like New Trier Township High School District 203 in Winnetka and Wilmette Public Schools, already allowed mental health as an excused reason for absence before this year.

Districts also varied in how much they had publicized the policy to parents when it was enacted. New Trier sent out the information in a larger email about a December board meeting; Elmhurst added it to their student handbook; and Oak Park and River Forest High School hasnt publicized it at all, though its an available option for parents to select when marking their students absent, according to representatives from those districts.

Samina Hadi-Tabassum, from left, walks with 12-year-old twins, Yusef and Salma, as they depart for school on March 16, 2022, in Oak Park. Hadi-Tabassum said she has taken mental health days herself, and has advocated for her children to take days as needed, too. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Samina Hadi-Tabassum, a parent of middle schoolers in Oak Park District 97, recalled the policy being shared in a district newsletter. But it could be explained more, said Hadi-Tabassum, who is also an associate professor of cognitive development at the Erikson Institute in Chicago.

I would really appreciate having a conversation led by the school administration saying, Look, weve got these ... mental health days; kids should take advantage,  Hadi-Tabassum said.

Berry, who teaches in Cicero School District 99, said she doesnt think her district has done enough to publicize the policy. Her older daughter and 6-year-old son, a kindergartner at South Loop Elementary, have each taken a mental health day.

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Berry knew her son, who has special needs and sensory issues, needed to take a day off when he started lashing out at home, like this little peanut has this anger inside him, she said.

The two symptoms Berry recognized in her children  her daughters anxious feelings and her son acting out  are some of the most important ones for parents to watch for in deciding whether a child should take a day off, said Dr. Judith Allen, chief operating officer and clinical director of nonprofit organization Communities In Schools of Chicago.

Its adults responsibility to recognize when a normally bubbly child starts acting reserved, a well-dressed child starts wearing the same outfit everyday or any child deviates from their version of normal, Allen said.

Further, just as physical illness can be contagious, anxiety can spread between social groups and depression can manifest as violence or behavioral issues, underscoring the need to keep students home, she said.

Parents might be afraid to deal with the answer when they ask if their children are struggling or suicidal, but taking initial steps early can act as a steppingstone to professional help, if needed, Allen said.

Sometimes kids dont know how to put words to it, so they will act out instead and they end up going down that disciplinary path, she said.

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The idea that skipping school is inherently bad is archaic, reminiscent of the three-strikes-youre-out kind of approach that we used in the 80s and 90s, Hadi-Tabassum said.

If children need to take a day off, they should receive a follow-up from a social worker rather than discipline, she said. Within the recently enacted mental health day policy, schools have the option to alert appropriate personnel after a student takes two mental health days.

Districts have systems in place for schools to follow up with students, according to Jackie Matthews, a spokesperson from the Illinois State Board of Education.

We hope that the excused mental health days can provide a boon to students in many different situations who may need time to decompress and get connected to supports, Matthews said.

Hadi-Tabassum said she has taken mental health days herself, and has advocated for her children to take days as needed, too.

Maybe you just need to stay home today, Hadi-Tabassum said, and not have to face this giant wall that a lot of kids feel when theyre going into a school day.

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oolander@chicagotribune.com
The next court appearance for Sherri Papini, the Redding woman accused of faking her own kidnapping while she spent 22 days with an ex-boyfriend in Southern California, has been pushed back a month.

Papini, 39, is now scheduled to appear at 2 p.m. on April 29 in federal court in Sacramento in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Claire for a preliminary examination. The proceedings had been scheduled for next Friday.

The delay is required to allow the defense reasonable time for preparation, and for the governments continuing investigation of the case. The parties further agree that the interests of justice served by granting this continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial, U.S. Attorneys Office spokesman Lauren Horwood said in an email to the Record Searchlight.

People must wear a mask have proof of vaccination to attend next month's hearing, a court spokesman said.

Papini is being represented by Redding attorney Michael Borges, who did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Related: Papini family issues statement blasting her arrest

She was released from Sacramento County Jail on March 8 on $120,000 bail. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy Peterson imposed several restrictions as a condition of her release.

While Papinis first two court appearances were conducted via Zoom, the April 29 proceedings will be in-person, Horwood said.

During the March 8 proceedings, both the prosecution and defense lawyers described the circumstances of Papinis arrest on March 3.

After surveillance of her home, officials followed Papini when she took her children to a music lesson, prosecutor Veronica Alegria said. To separate her from her children and any potential firearm, Alegria said, a ruse was created  Papini was told there was an accident involving her car.

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When Papini came out of the building, a waiting FBI agent told her she was under arrest. Alegria said Papini screamed no before turning and running. However, she did not get far before the agent arrested her, she added.

Story continues

Borges said Papini was aware that her children were behind or nearby, witnessing the arrest.

"It's certainly conceivable that Ms. Papini thought her children were in danger, turned to protect them, and her actions were misinterpreted by the agent," Borges told Judge Peterson. "I don't think this is evidence of resisting arrest. ... It appears to be evidence of being caught by surprise."

Related: What experts say about Sherri Papini's 'bizarre' case and its five-year investigation

Related: 'Painful consequences' for Latinas linger after Papini's 2016 kidnapping tale

Timeline: Prior to Sherri Papini's arrest, these were the major events in her 'kidnapping' case

As conditions of her release, Peterson ordered Papini to surrender her passport and prohibited her from possessing or having access to any firearms or ammunition or being anywhere where firearms are present. Peterson also told her she must provide a DNA sample and restrict her travel to the Eastern Court of California if approved by the court in advance.

Papini faces charges of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and mail fraud. The maximum prison sentence is five years for the first charge and 20 years for the second. Each charge carries a maximum financial penalty of $250,000 and Peterson said she could also be required to pay restitution.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Sherri Papini next court appearance moved to April 29
Mar. 17Some unvaccinated Savannah River Nuclear Solutions employees who were granted a religious exemption could soon return to work.

These employees received the exemption from the company's vaccine mandate and are currently on a leave of absence. The news came in an email from Stuart MacVean, SRNS president and CEO.

"As cases of COVID-19 continue to decrease both nationally and in our region, along with changes to current CDC guidance, these SRNS employees are being contacted directly by their HR Business Partners to be offered the opportunity to return to work," read the email.

Those who received the exemption still had to test negative every three days, regardless of remote-work status, according to previous Aiken Standard reporting. New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states it is not required to test unvaccinated individuals in areas where the community level of transmission is considered to be low or medium.

Aiken County's level is currently low, according to the CDC.

"There are currently less than 80 SRNS employees on (leave of absence) due to the vaccine mandate and those who choose to return will be back as early as April 11," according to the email.

SRNS rolled out its COVID-19 vaccine requirements in early September 2021. Dozens of workers sued the company in an effort to deny the mandate, but U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs refused to block the policy in December, explaining that she was not persuaded to act in "extraordinary" fashion and intervene.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syrian President Bashar Assad was in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, his office said, marking his first visit to an Arab country since Syrias civil war erupted in 2011.

In a statement posted on its social media pages, the office says that Assad met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai. The two discussed expanding bilateral relations between their countries, it said.

The visit sends the clearest signal yet that the Arab world is willing to re-engage with Syrias once widely shunned president. It comes against the backdrop of the raging war in Ukraine where Assad's main ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, is pressing on with a military offensive, now in its fourth week, raining lethal fire on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv. Syria has supported Russia's invasion, blaming the West for having provoked it.

Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League and boycotted by its neighbors after the conflict broke out 11 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the war, which displaced half of Syrias population. Large parts of Syria have been destroyed and reconstruction would cost tens of billions of dollars.

Arab and Western countries generally blamed Assad for the deadly crackdown on the 2011 protests that evolved into civil war, and supported the opposition in the early days of the conflict.

When asked about Assad's visit to the UAE, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Washington was profoundly disappointed and troubled by this apparent attempt to legitimize Bashar Al-Assad, who remains responsible and accountable for the death and suffering of countless Syrians, the displacement of more than half of the pre-war Syrian population, and the arbitrary detention and disappearance of over 150,000 Syrian men, women and children.

Assad has very rarely traveled outside the country during Syria's civil war, only visiting Russia and Iran. Tehran has given the Syrian government billions of dollars in aid and sent Iran-backed fighters to battle alongside his forces  assistance that, along with Russian air power, has helped turn the tide in Assads favor.

Story continues

With the war having fallen into a stalemate and Assad recovering control over most of the country thanks to military assistance from his two allies, Arab countries have inched closer toward restoring ties with the Syrian leader in recent years.

The UAE reopened its embassy in Syria in late 2018 in the most significant Arab overture toward the Assad government, though relations remained cold. Last fall, the Emirati foreign minister flew to Damascus for a meeting with Assad, the first visit by the countrys top diplomat since 2011. The United States, a close Emirati partner, criticized the visit at the time, saying it would not support any normalization with Assads government.

A key motive for the overtures by Sunni Muslim countries in the Persian Gulf is to blunt the involvement of their Shiite-led foe, Iran, which saw its influence expand rapidly in the chaos of Syrias war.

The rapprochement, however, could serve both sides.

Syria badly needs to boost relations with oil-rich countries as its economy is being strangled by crippling Western sanctions and as it faces the task of post-war reconstruction. The UAE is also home to thousands of Syrians who work in the Gulf Arab nation and send money to their relatives at home.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency said the countrys de facto ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Syrias Bashar al-Assad at his palace in Abu Dhabi.

At the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his hope this visit would be the beginning of peace and stability for Syria and tee entire region.

The report said Assad briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the latest developments in Syria and the two leaders discussed mutual interests in the Arab world. Assad was reported to have left the UAE later on Friday from Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed to Assad that Syria remains a fundamental pillar of Arab security and that he hopes the UAE can facilitate its development. The leaders also discussed the importance of the preservation of Syrias territorial integrity and withdrawal of foreign forces, the report added.

The similarly vague statement said Dubais Sheikh Mohammed affirmed the UAEs desire to discover new paths of constructive cooperation with Syria and made no reference to the war.

___

Karam reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Tarek El Moussa thanked his ex-wife in a recent Instagram post. AP

Ahead of the "Flip or Flop" series finale, Tarek El Moussa posted an Instagram farewell to the show.

He thanked ex and co-host Christina Haack in the post, saying he wished her "nothing but the best."

The show reportedly ended because it had become "too intimate" for the exes to film together.

Tarek El Moussa thanked ex-wife Christina Haack for her work on "Flip or Flop."

The series finale of the hit HGTV series ended on Thursday after 10 seasons. The former spouses shared the news that the show would be ending in separate Instagram posts last week.

And El Moussa took to Instagram again on Thursday night to look back at his time on "Flip or Flop" with six photos.

"I can't believe this journey started in May 2010 with a home video and a dream of flipping houses on tv it's crazy to think 12 years later it's coming to an end," he captioned the photos. "I've spent almost a third of my life committed to this show."

El Moussa went on to thank Haack for filming the series with him.

"A special thank you to @christinahaack for taking this journey with me," El Moussa wrote. "I think we did a pretty good job and I'm excited for what the future holds for both us and wish her nothing but the best!"

El Moussa's fond words for Haack come after reports that the former couple ended the show because it was "too intimate" to film together, as a person familiar with the situation told People's Mackenzie Schmidt.

"Tarek and Christina are generally cordial. They're co-parenting and nothing gets in the way of that," this person told People. "The show was just too intimate of a setting at this point and it was time to close that chapter."

Haack and El Moussa were married in 2009, separated in 2016, and divorced in 2018. They share two children.

People also reported that El Moussa yelled at Haack on the set of the show in July 2021.

Story continues

El Moussa reportedly yelled at Haack in July 2021. HGTV

"Look at me, look at me, look at me. It's called winning," El Moussa said to Haack, according to People. The publication also reported that he called his ex-wife a "washed-up loser" during the incident.

A source later told People that El Moussa was "super remorseful" for yelling at his ex, but the source went on to say that Haack and El Moussa aren't friends.

"They're exes who share a history and children and a workplace, but outside of co-parenting, they're not friends," this person told People.

As HGTV confirmed in a statement to Insider last week, both Haack and El Moussa will continue to film independent shows for the network.

They will both continue their relationships with HGTV independently. HGTV

"Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack are long-time, fan-favorite stars on HGTV and it's true that 'Flip or Flop' is coming to an end after an epic 10-season run as a top-rated unscripted series," a representative for HGTV said in a statement to Insider. "More than 90 million viewers have watched the popular series since its premiere in 2013."

They continued: "We look forward to seeing more of Tarek and Christina's real life, real estate and renovation adventures in upcoming episodes of their solo series 'Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa' and 'Christina on the Coast.'"

The network announced in a March 3 press release that both El Moussa and Haack signed multiyear contracts with HGTV.

Read the original article on Insider
Merri Dee was described by the late performer Nancy Wilson, in her 2013 memoir. with the words trailblazing TV and radio icon, and girl-next-door in Dees Merri Dee: Life Lessons on Faith, Forgiveness & Grace.

Having spent 43 years in Chicago broadcasting, primarily at WGN-Ch. 9, Dee was an on-air reporter and anchor for WGN from 1972-1983 and was director of community relations until 2008, when she retired. But these are just a few of the titles for Dee, born Mary Frances.

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Merri Dee was co-host of "Our Town Today," circa 1973.

Also from her memoir: Ive been a bag girl in a grocery store, computer demonstrator, runway model, auto show commentator, disc jockey, newscaster, radio and TV talk show host, editorial spokesperson, mistress/master of ceremonies, broadcast administrator, AARP Illinois state president, commissioner on the Illinois Human Rights Commission, U.S. Army ambassador, successful fundraiser, adoption advocate, childrens champion and one of Chicagos first African American females in the broadcast business.

Dee died this week at the age of 85. Her death was reported Wednesday by WGN and family members, who said she died overnight in her sleep at her home.

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Dee was many things to many people, including advocate and philanthropists. She hosted parades and telethons, and when she retired as WGNs manager of its Childrens Charities in 2008, she had raised more than $30 million. She started in radio in 1966 at WBEE in Harvey and moved to television two years later on WCIU-Ch. 26. By 1971, she was hosting The Merri Dee Show, a talk show on WSNS-Ch. 44. Dee was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2011.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot remembers Dee as a homegrown, broadcasting legend whose time as an anchor and radio and talk show host made her a beloved, local celebrity ... she also made a huge impact on communities across our city and state through a number of philanthropic pursuits that reflected her passion for protecting vulnerable individuals such as children in need of adoptive homes.

Linda Yu, a retired WLS-Ch. 7 anchor, said Dees caring impressed her. She had a smile for you.

Merri Dee in 1970. (Maurice Seymour / Handout)

It wasnt Oh, if WGN does something, its for the Chinese community and I work for the Black community and somebody comes, and its the Hispanic community,  Yu said. She looked at every single one of these as, This is what I could help because theyre all part of the city I love. That was just so clear to me that for her, it was, we were all part of the city that she loved and if she could help in any way, she made this a better city. To me, thats the thing about Merri.

Retired WGN anchor Robert Jordan remembers Dee welcoming him to the station in 1973. The two became dear friends and Dees daughter Toya would eventually become Jordans daughters babysitter. Jordan said Dee and Toya Campbell talked every day.

She had an amazing gift for interviewing people, she could make them feel at home, Jordan said. She did the Lotto (broadcast) for a number of years, she did a newscast, she was very versatile and could do it all; she had such a depth into the Black community. She really helped solidify WGNs position as Chicagos Very Own throughout the entire city.

While people remember her personality and her ever present smile, Dee did endure a notable event on July 17, 1971, when she was kidnapped at gunpoint with psychic Alan Sandler while leaving the Ch. 44 station. She survived being shot twice in the head in a South Side field. Dee crawled to the roadside and flagged down a car. Sandler died at the hospital. Dee, blinded and paralyzed, was placed in intensive care. A little more than a month later, she was back on her feet and in her 10:30 p.m. time slot on WSNS. She made being a victim into motivation for helping other victims of violence. She helped draft a Victims Bill of Rights adopted by Illinois in 1992.

Information about Dees funeral services has yet to be announced.

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The Blues Man

Pervis Spann, 89, another iconic Chicago broadcaster, also died this week from complications due to Alzheimers, according to a statement from WVON-AM 1690. Celebrated as the voice for Black Chicago during his transformative tenure as a disc jockey and owner at WVON, Spanns career spanned more than 60 years. As president emeritus and co-founder of Midway Broadcasting Corp., WVONs parent company, Spann was instrumental in providing a platform for Black musical artists to gain national exposure.

Melody Spann-Cooper with her father Pervis Spann at WVON on June 15, 2012. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

Pervis Spann from his days at WXFM-FM and WXOL-AM radio in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune)

A native of Mississippi, Spann served as an inspiration to many showcasing the power of Black media and business ownership. His daughter Melody Spann-Cooper now leads WVON, continuing his legacy for broadcasting, music, business and community.

He had the heart of the Black community, NDigo publisher Hermene Hartman said.

In 1963, Spann became the second disc jockey hired by Leonard Chess, who founded WVON that year. His love for blues music led him to become known as The Bluesman in the broadcast industry. He was known as the person who named Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul and B.B. King the King of Blues.

Spann was also a successful concert promoter and WBBM-Ch. 2 anchor Jim Williams remembers Spann walking side by side on stage with Franklin at a Chicago concert when Williams was an Andy Frain usher.

Pervis was indeed a legend, said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker and Ch. 2 reporter. Not only did the sound of his voice inspire hope and change in Black Chicagoans, but he also shined bright as a role model to many Black journalists and communicators on how to use our platforms to uplift our communities. His presence will be missed, and his legacy will live on through every person he touched along the way.

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Spann is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lovie Spann, and four children, including Spann Cooper. Services will be held at Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave., Chicago at noon March 23.

drockett@chicagotribune.com
Harvard University students Avi Schiffmann, 19, and Marco Burstein, 18, have gone viral for finding a way to help Ukrainian refugees find shelter.

The duo created a website, Ukraine Take Shelter, which helps Ukrainian refugees find shelter all around the world, and it already has over a million users.

Schiffmann told The Washington Post that he knew he needed to take action after attending a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine at San Diego's Balboa Park in February.

The college student noted that he was visiting the West Coast while taking a semester off.

I couldnt stop thinking about what I could do to help, he said. I wanted to do something that would have an instant impact.

This wasn't the first time Schiffmann coded for a cause. Two years prior, he developed a website, ncov2019.live, devoted to tracking the spread of COVID-19 around the world.

I know how to make all these websites and apps and, you know, I felt that nobody was going to do it, Schiffmann told NBC Boston on Wednesday. So why dont I just do it? So, I made this website.

That's when he tapped Burstein to help him quickly develop the website.

That night, I started working on designing the user interface and the basic site structure, went to sleep, woke up in the morning, and called my friend Marco from college, whos an amazing web developer, he added.

The two got to work and on March 3, they launched Ukraine Take Shelter.

The site, which is in 15 languages, provides listings around the world that range from a vacant resort condo to a bedroom in an apartment. All the person has to do is input their location and the nearest places that are accepting residents will pop up.

Its like a public bulletin that you can bring with you no matter where you are, he said.

According to The Washington Post, more than 4,000 potential hosts have signed up for the website within the first week that it launched, and Burstein and Schiffmann are seeing these numbers rise every day.

The number of new hosts were getting every day is mind-blowing, and were seeing immediate results in how the website is making a difference, Burstein shared. Its literally saving lives for people in a terrifying situation.

Were really thankful for the real volunteers or the people hosting their homes for all these refugees, Schiffmann said. Weve heard incredible stories.
WASHINGTON  Nearly seven months after the United States evacuated Afghanistan, the Biden administration Wednesday granted protection from deportation for Afghan refugees living in the United States.

The administrations announcement that it would provide "temporary protected status," or TPS, for Afghans came weeks after the Department of Homeland Security granted the same protections for Ukrainians living in the United States.

Critics point to a double standard: Refugees from Ukraine received TPS status in a just one week while it took months for those fleeing Afghanistan to receive the designation.

Some immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers are slamming the Biden administration for its quick response to offer deportation protections for Ukrainians while seemingly dragging its feet on offering the same protections for majority Black and brown countries, including Cameroon where armed conflict in the country has grown in the past years.

We clearly see when it comes to people for Europe, it only took them a couple of days to decide to provide protection for Ukraine, said Guerline Jozef, president of the Haitian Bridge Alliance. It clearly shows that when it comes to Black people, we always have to push through to validate our humanity.

Immigration advocates and some Democratic lawmakers are putting pressure on the White House to offer protections from deportations swiftly for several African countries.

More: Biden administration grants TPS for Afghanistan, protecting refugees from deportation

It is critical that TPS is not politicized to preference some countries over others, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said in a statement Wednesday, where he added that he is troubled that TPS has not been granted for Cameroon and Ethiopia.

As I have said before, Black migrants are too often excluded when these important decisions are made, Menendez said. I will continue to urge the Biden administration to utilize TPS for countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary conditions that prevent people from safely returning home.

Story continues

What is TPS?

Temporary protected status is designated by DHS to non-Americans whose home countries are experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary conditions that would prevent citizens from returning safely.

DHS has granted TPS to several nations, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Haiti. The designation ends for several of these countries later this year and the administration has not indicated whether they will extend the TPS designation to any of these countries.

While TPS offers protection from deportation and allows individuals who qualify the ability to work in the United States, it does not provide a pathway to citizenship.

More: Staying could mean death. The escape nearly killed her. How one woman fled Afghanistan for freedom.

Refugee resettlement officials and immigration advocates have been calling for better protections against deportation for Afghan refugees, many who came on humanitarian parole. While immigration rights advocates praised DHS for finally granting TPS to Afghanistan, some questioned why it took so long and want more done, including granting a pathway to citizenship.

"We helped evacuate people of that country when the Taliban completely took over," said Jennifer Quigley, senior director of government affairs at Human Rights First. "Why did we not get a TPS designation in August or September? Why did it take seven months to get that designation."

Advocates, Democrats call for TPS for Cameroon

Jozef said immigration advocates started lobbying to get a TPS designation for Cameroon weeks before Biden took office.

There has been civil conflict in the African country caused by the Anglophone Crisis that began in late 2016. In addition, the rise of Boko Haram and intertribal conflicts have contributed to rising fears among Cameroonians of their well-being in their home country.

The Center for American Progress estimates there are up to 40,000 Cameroonians living in the United States who are either undocumented, on temporary visas or lawful permanent residents.

Quigley said there are several African countries, like Cameroon, that qualify for TPS under a legal standard. She noted that if its not safe to return nationals to their home countries, then they need the safety and protection here in the United States.

It's very important that we follow the law, we follow the legal standards, and we offer that protection, she said. It's not happening for these majority black majority brown countries. And that's a travesty.

More: US refugee agencies that had to gut operations during Trump administration are overwhelmed by arriving Afghans

Dozens of immigration rights groups called for the Biden administration to grant TPS for Ukraine and celebrated the administrations decision to do so. There are approximately 30,000 Ukrainian nationals in the United States who qualify for TPS. Thousands more Ukrainian refugees might soon be arriving here as the Russian invasion rolls into its fourth week  creating a new challenge for the administration who said they are looking for ways to help Ukrainians who want to come to the U.S.

However, some advocates said it was also discouraging to see how quickly the administration was able to grant TPS to Ukraine, while still refusing to grant the same protections for Cameroon or other African countries.

It becomes frustrating when you have to do this much advocacy, to protect people who are here from certain countries. But then when something happens in another country with people who look a little bit different  that was just so, so simple, Diana Konate, policy director for African Communities Together, an immigrant rights organization, said of granting TPS to Ukraine.

We're just hoping that moving forward, the administration really has the same energy that they've shown towards Ukraine, she added.

Moving as the urgency so warrants

The Biden administration pushed back against criticisms that the department is employing a double standard.

Mayorkas told reporters during an online news conference Thursday that footage from Ukraine showing the bombing of major cities and the destruction of hospitals and centers where children are housed illustrated the need for urgent action.

More: Escaping two wars in six months. Afghan refugees in Ukraine forced to flee terror all over again.

I think we are extraordinarily adept as an administration in meeting the urgency of the moment, Mayorkas told reporters. We met the moment with the speed we thought it deserved.

He said the program required an analysis of conditions in foreign countries and the duration the status might be required. He said the department also acted with historic speed to resettle 83,000 Afghans in 60 days last year, after the Taliban regained control of that country.

We think weve been moving as the urgency so warrants and we will continue to do so, Mayorkas said.

Contributing: Bart Jansen

Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Immigration advocates: Biden administration employs double standard




Former President Donald Trump is weighing whether to pull his support for Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) in Alabama's Republican Senate primary.

After handing Brooks his early endorsement last year, Trump has become increasingly frustrated with the Alabama congressman, according to two sources familiar with the race.

He has complained privately about Brooks's remarks at a Trump rally last August suggesting that Republicans should move past the 2020 presidential election and has grown increasingly worried about Brooks's lackluster performance in the primary. Despite Trump's endorsement, most polls show a tight race between Brooks and two other Republicans, Katie Britt, a former aide to retiring Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), and Army veteran Mike Durant.

"Trump has been angry at Mo ever since the rally he held with him in Alabama last year," one source familiar with the matter said.

The Alabama congressman is also trailing both Britt and Durant in the money race; his most recent federal filings show that he ended 2021 with less than $2 million in the bank, while Britt had nearly $4.1 million on hand and Durant finished the year with about $2.5 million.

Trump's frustration with Brooks spilled out into the open this week, with the former president telling the Washington Examiner that he is disappointed with Brooks.

Trump said that he had decided to endorse Brooks because of the congressman's support for Trump's baseless claim that he was robbed of victory in 2020 by widespread voter fraud and systemic irregularities. But after Brooks's remarks at the rally last August, Trump began to have doubts about his support.

"I'm disappointed that he gave an inarticulate answer, and I'll have to find out what he means," Trump said. "If it meant what he sounded like, I would have no problem changing [my endorsement] because when you endorse somebody, you endorse somebody based on principle. If he changed that principle, I would have no problem doing that."

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One source familiar said that Trump hasn't yet made a decision on whether to pull his endorsement of Brooks, but added that the former president wanted to put him on notice. The source cautioned that a decision isn't imminent, but said that he isn't taking anything off the table.

For his part, Brooks has sought to reaffirm his support for Trump's claim that the 2020 election was stolen. His campaign released an ad on Thursday touting how he "stood with President Trump in the fight against voter fraud" on Jan. 6, 2021, the same day a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to block the congressional certification of the electoral vote.

Britt, meanwhile, is poised to get a boost from her former boss. Shelby told Politico that he's preparing to transfer as much as $6 million into a super PAC supporting Britt's Senate bid.

--Tal Axelrod contributed.
By Muvija M

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's media regulator on Friday revoked Russian-backed television channel RT's licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom with immediate effect, citing its links to the Kremlin.

The regulator, Ofcom, said in a statement that RT received funding from the Russian state, which has launched am invasion of Ukraine and cracked down on independent journalism.

Ofcom said it was not satisfied that RT could be a responsible broadcaster. Its investigation took into account RT's relationship with the Russian government, it said.

"It has recognised that RT is funded by the Russian state, which has recently invaded a neighbouring sovereign country," it said.

"We also note new laws in Russia which effectively criminalise any independent journalism that departs from the Russian state's own news narrative, particularly in relation to the invasion of Ukraine.

In light of that, it was impossible for RT to comply with the impartiality rules in Britain's broadcasting code, it said.

The Kremlin crticised the move.

"This is a continuation of the madness which is going on in America and Europe - it is anti-Russian madness," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "This is yet another step that crudely limits freedom of speech."

Russia has cut access to several foreign news organisations' websites, including the BBC, for spreading what it alleged was false information about the war. Bloomberg News temporarily suspended the work of its journalists inside Russia, citing the new media law.

RT, which is currently off air in Britain due to EU sanctions, called the decision unfair.

"Ofcom has shown the UK public, and the regulatory community internationally, that despite a well-constructed facade of independence, it is nothing more than a tool of government, bending to its media-suppressing will," Anna Belkina, RT's deputy editor in chief, told Reuters.

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Britain, which has accused RT of being a tool of a Kremlin disinformation campaign in the past, had asked Ofcom to take action against RT if needed. The government imposed a travel ban and froze the assets of RT's editor in chief Margarita Simonyan this week.

Russian officials say RT is a way for Moscow to compete with the dominance of global media companies based in the United States and Britain that Moscow says offer a partial view of the world.

Separately, Ofcom currently has 29 investigations into RT's impartiality concerning coverage of the war. It said while those were ongoing, the volume and potentially serious nature of the concerns raised was deeply concerning.

Facebook owner Meta and Google have barred Russian state media from getting money for ads on their platforms. RT's Facebook page was not available to view in Britain but its Twitter handle was still active.

Ofcom fined https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2019/ofcom-fines-rt RT 200,000 pounds in 2019 for not complying with its rules in its coverage of Britain's response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy, and the Syrian conflict.

(Reporting by Muvija M; editing by William James and Angus MacSwan)
LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday said he had spoken with the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell about a further package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

"We discussed the preparation of the 5th EU sanctions package on Russia. Pressure will keep mounting as long as it is needed to stop Russian barbarism. We also discussed protection and help for Ukrainians who fled from Russian bombs to the EU," he said on Twitter.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; writing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Jason Neely)
Dana Weiner, a child welfare expert from the University of Chicagos Chapin Hall , gives a presentation at a Chicago office of the Department of Children and Family Services on May 13, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday announced a childrens behavioral health initiative to oversee coordination across state agencies with the aim of making specialized support and resources more easily available to children and families.

The initiative will evaluate and redesign the system of childrens health in the state, from school social workers and counselors to outpatient treatments and residential care centers, Pritzker said at a news conference at Lawrence Hall, a Ravenswood center that provides care for abused and neglected youths and their families.

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The initiative will produce a transformation blueprint for better support of children in need by the end of this year, Pritzker said.

Children needing mental health services or support for an intellectual or developmental disability often run into a system that is inefficient, confusing and difficult to navigate, Pritzker said.

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If a kid needs help, it should be as straightforward as possible for them to get it, Pritzker said. As a result of this work, Illinois families will be better able to access holistic, wraparound support for children in need.

Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons.

Pritzker tapped Dana Weiner, a child welfare expert from the University of Chicagos Chapin Hall, which researches best ways to improve childrens health services, to direct the initiative. Weiners work prioritizes evidence-based research to produce policies and services that best meet childrens needs.

Weiner will work with the leaders from six state agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to streamline services. The heads of those agencies, as well as lawmakers and community service providers, joined Pritzker on Friday to announce the initiative.

Families presently needing support and services for their children lack consistent, transparent solutions to the challenges they face, Weiner said.

This uncertainty can threaten the healthy development of children and the integrity and stability of families, Weiner said. What we need is an intentional, coordinated strategy to get families the help they need for children who are struggling.

The announcement comes as a Cook County Juvenile Court judge has ordered DCFS Director Marc Smith to be held in contempt of court seven times since January for failing to place troubled youth in appropriate placements quickly.

State Sen. Karina Villa, a West Chicago Democrat, said working as a school social worker and seeing the desperation in parents eyes as their children were put on monthslong waitlists for therapy, counseling and other services, or turned away altogether is what made her run for office.

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A few years after getting inaugurated, I stand here with all of you, and I stand here saying the hope is here, Villa said. We are ready, we know what the issues are with mental health, we know that there needs to be changes. And the future depends on it, our students lives, our childrens lives, our families lives, our community lives, the lives of the communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by so much in regards to COVID.

We know that the time is now.

cspaulding@chicagotribune.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Massive price spikes for food and energy sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine will push over 40 million people into extreme poverty, the Center for Global Development (CGDEV) said on Friday, warning against export curbs and sanctions on Russian food production.

In an analysis blog https://www.cgdev.org/blog/price-spike-caused-ukraine-war-will-push-over-40-million-poverty-how-should-we-respond, the Washington-based think tank said food commodity prices since the start of the conflict have risen above levels experienced in price spikes in 2007 and 2010. It cited World Bank Research showing that the 2007 spike may have pushed as many as 155 million people into extreme poverty, and separate research showing the 2010 episode pushed 44 million into extreme poverty.

"Price increases seen to date are already of a similar magnitude to the 2010 increases, and our analysis suggests at least 40 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty by the 2022 price spike," CGDEV researchers wrote.

The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 a day.

The researchers said the most immediate concern was for direct wheat customers of Ukraine and Russia, which together account for more than a quarter of world wheat exports. These include Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey, but prices will rise worldwide as importers compete for alternative supplies.

Households in low-income countries allocate nearly half of their budgets to food, and higher prices will force "hard choices between food and other necessities."

The CGDEV blog urged development agencies and international finance institutions to move quickly to respond to a clear increase in humanitarian needs around the world, while wealthy governments should provide supplemental funding to the institutions well in advance of the coming food crisis.

(Reporting by David Lawder, Editing by William Maclean)
LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's negotiator at talks with Russia on Friday said Ukraine's position was unchanged and it wanted peace negotiations to lead to a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and security guarantees.

"The statements of the Russian side are only their requesting positions. All statements are intended, inter alia, to provoke tension in the media. Our positions are unchanged. Ceasefire, withdrawal of troops & strong security guarantees with concrete formulas," Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Alex Richardson)




The Treasury Department sanctioned the African Gold Refinery in Uganda, businessman and operator Alain Goetz and other companies on Thursday for contributing to conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The department said the sanctions placed on Goetz and the companies was due to their involvement "in the illicit movement of gold valued at hundreds of millions of dollars per year from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)."

The sanctions make it so all the possessions the U.S. controls of the individual or companies will be blocked.

The illegal movement of gold funds armed groups that continue the violence in DRC.

"Conflict gold provides the largest source of revenue to armed groups in eastern DRC where they control mines and exploit miners," Brian E. Nelson, under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said.

"Alain Goetz and his network have contributed to armed conflict by receiving DRC gold without questioning its origin. Treasury has been very clear: global gold markets, at every step of the supply chain, must engage in responsible sourcing and conduct supply-chain due diligence," he added.

Goetz denounced the sanctions in a statement to Bloomberg, saying he is no longer in charge of the African Gold Refinery.

The statement by the department "seems to indicate that their research is solely based on open-source reports by non-governmental organizations, which have previously been proven to be incorrect or biased in their reporting," he told the outlet.

"The African Gold Refinery has been a model company that has contributed to the growth of Uganda and the region since inception, by improving the fiscal transparency in the regional gold trade while operating in full accordance with national, regional and international regulatory frameworks," Goetz added. "Given the chance, we will be able to demonstrate the virtuousness of our initiatives and hopefully the unfair and unjust sanctions will be lifted."

Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello said they are concerned with the sanctions and will respond after receiving them, according to Bloomberg.
Twenty years ago, getting a human genome sequenced was a billion-dollar, international project. Today, you can get your dogs genome sequenced by the end of the month for a few bucks. It speaks to the speed with which genetics has permeated our lives, but despite massive improvements to the technology, the process can still be a bit clunky in the lab.

Before you can even start to disentangle someones genetic code, you have to start with a sample. And that sample has to get prepped the right way. Its a relatively boring process that is often sidelined in favor of flashier applications of genome sequencing (read: reviving mammoths). But its a place where Volta Labs is aiming to bring a new focus.

Founded in 2018, Volta Labs is a startup spun out of MITs media lab focusing on creating a programmable approach to DNA sample prep. The team is in the process of creating a desktop-sized instrument that can automate the processes used to get genetic samples ready.

The entire world could not sequence a single human genome 20 years ago, and today, I as a non biologist can sequence a human genome in a day or two on a bench. But if you look at the steps for sample prep, it's still lagging by a large margin. It's almost been neglected, CEO and co-founder Udayan Umapathi told TechCrunch.

The origin story of Voltas instrument goes back to 2015, when Umapathi was working on his graduate thesis at MIT. What I noticed was that the existing technologies for moving, mixing and heating fluids were archaic, he said. I realized if we have to do biology at scale, automation for biology has to be built from the ground up.

The DNA sample prep process starts with a biological sample, like blood, saliva or even plant tissue. From there, a series of enzymatic and chemical reactions are performed that draw out DNA molecules. Then they need to be manipulated so they can then be read by a sequencer. Those reactions are performed by liquid manipulating robots, or in some cases by hand.

Story continues

Volta automates this process with what Umapathi called "digital fluidics"  a form of electrowetting. This uses an array of electrodes organized on a grid, each of which can be charged or discharged, creating something like a maze that can precisely position drops of liquid.

Volta's digital fluidics array. Image Credits: Volta Labs

With the right programming, Umapathi is confident his platform allows liquids to be manipulated in even more complex ways, like using magnetic fields to draw certain molecules out of samples for further analysis.

Despite these capabilities, the instrument is supposed to be small: Umapathis goal is to keep it the size of a laptop.

Umapathi isnt the first to see the potential that digital fluidics hold for biological applications. In fact, Illumina has been interested in technology of this nature for years.

In 2013, Illumina acquired Advanced Liquid Logic, a company founded in 2004 that had already been working on applying digital microfluidics to prep work for Next Generation DNA sequencing. In 2015, Illumina went on to try to launch its own version of a DNA library sample prep product called NeoPrep, which rolled the four to five day process into one instrument that could accomplish the task in 30 minutes. However, as the authors of a 2020 review paper on the electrowetting industry note, the instrument was discontinued for undisclosed reasons in 2017.

Whether the end of NeoPrep in 2017 has bigger implications for Voltas own commercialization process is hard to say. But, it does seem that Illumina hasn't put the idea to bed yet.

On Thursday, Volta announced a $20 million Series A round, which was led by Maverick Ventures (Maverick also led a previous seed round), with participation from Khosla Ventures, Casdin Capital and E14 Funds. Participants also include Illumina co-founder John Stuelpnagel, and other big names in the genetics space like Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe, and Paul McEwan, founder of Kapa Biosystems. McEwan specifically has led sequencing sample prep programs at Roche Sequencing Solutions.

The natural question here is: Does Voltas instrument actually exist yet? It does, Umapathi said, and it is already in the hands of four partners that are testing it in the field. He declined to name the partners but described them briefly.

One is a company focusing on cancer care and neurological disorders, which has been using Voltas tech to develop a DNA extraction process. One is a research institution in RNA applications. The third is a genome center, he says. The fourth company is a biotech firm interested in synthetic biology.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA8MUR4pqNE?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360]

The companys goal is to launch a limited trial edition at the AGBT Genomics conference in June. During that launch, Umapathi also expects to present data from the trial projects run with the genome center. He expects to have a commercial product ready in 2023.

The rapidly accelerating genomics industry may have room for Volta to climb on board. It cost $3 billion to sequence the human genome as part of the Human Genome Project. Today, that same process can be repeated for about $600. McKinseys 2020 genetics industry analysis estimated that the cost of genome sequencing could dip below $100 within a decade.

Amidst this background, the sample prep bottleneck seems obvious. The bigger question here is: Why havent the giants in genome sequencing already created the solution?

Part of the answer is that theyve already tried, and some places, like Roche do have instruments that will address each little piece of the sequencing prep puzzle individually, as opposed to the integrated system Umapathi aims to create. But the answer Umapathi prefers is that existing sequencing technology is already complicated enough to be a full-time job.

The technology we have built today is almost as complex as the sample prep itself. So for a lot of the sequencing tech companies, getting their core technology was already a massive challenge.

Going forward, Volta has to prove that relatively complex chemistries can be manipulated inside such a compact instrument. It will have to publish far more data than it has right now to truly prove it can fit into this niche. Confidential trials with four customers and unpublished data aren't enough.

But if it actually works, Volta may join the rise of an industry thats already booming. With this Series A round, Umapathi plans to outline a manufacturing plan, and start to build out commercialization capacity.

I think the big chunk of capital is likely going to go into building out a product strategy and commercialization or team as well as we approach commercialization next year, he said.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran has converted a fraction of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium into material crucial for detecting cancers and other diseases, the U.N. nuclear watchdog and an Iranian media report said Friday.

Iran's decision to convert the uranium takes it out of a form that can potentially be further refined into weapons-grade levels. The development comes as talks in Vienna over restoring Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers hang in the balance.

Negotiators previously said they had reached the end of a monthslong effort to find a way to bring both the United States and Iran back into the accord  just as a Russian demand threw the talks into a chaotic pause.

Since then, Iran and the United Kingdom agreed to a prisoner release and news of the decision by Tehran to reprocess the uranium appears to signal that the negotiations may still see the parties return to Vienna and reach a deal. However, Israel, Iran's archrival in the Mideast, has increasingly criticized efforts to revive the accord.

In a statement Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had used 2.1 kilograms (4.6 pounds) of its 60% enriched uranium to produce so-called "highly enriched uranium targets" at a facility in Isfahan. Those targets will be irradiated at the Tehran Research Reactor and later used to produce molybdenum-99, the IAEA said.

Molybdenum-99 decays within days into a form of an isotope called technetium-99m, which is used in scans that can detect cancer and assess blood supply to the heart. In the U.S., technetium-99m is used in over 40,000 medical procedures a day, according to the Energy Department.

Increasingly, countries around the world use low-enriched uranium to create the needed isotope to avoid the proliferation risks of employing highly enriched uranium.

Iran's semiofficial Mehr news agency, quoting unnamed officials it referred to as informed sources, acknowledged that some of this material had been reprocessed. The report added that 2 kilograms (4.41 pounds) of the material could help 1 million people. The IAEA said that as of Feb. 19, Iran had a stockpile of 33.2 kilograms (73.19 pounds) of 60% enriched uranium  material a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Story continues

The materials converted to target, was irradiated, and has no danger of spreading, and Western countries cannot criticize Iran over this, the Mehr report said.

Under the 2015 accord, Iran agreed to cap its enrichment as 3.67%, end the use of advanced centrifuges and maintain a stockpile of 300 kilograms (661 pounds) under the scrutiny of the IAEA.

As of Feb. 19, Iran had a stockpile of 2,883 kilograms (6,355 pounds) with ever-more advanced centrifuges spinning. While Iran long has maintained its program is peaceful, the West and the IAEA say Tehran had an organized military nuclear program that broke up in 2003.

Using the 60% enriched uranium to create isotope material means for all practical purposes it cant be reconstituted for the wider stockpile, said Daryl G. Kimball, the executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association.

However, he stressed that to bring Iran back to the levels of the 2015 deal, its stockpile would need to be again shipped abroad.

It may be that at this delicate juncture in the negotiations  the 11th hour  Iran is trying to suggest that it has some better intentions here, Kimball told The Associated Press. This may be an effort to show that theyre interested in working out a deal.

But, he added that it also may be a justification ex post facto to enrich uranium to 60%. It may be a way to create a cover story for what theyve already done, which they werent supposed to do.

In Israel on Friday, a joint statement from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid warned the U.S. against potentially lifting a terrorism designation on Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. That's been a remaining demand of Iran and the subject of the final negotiations in Vienna.

The attempt to delist the IRGC as a terrorist organization is an insult to the victims and would ignore documented reality supported by unequivocal evidence, the Israeli statement said, using an acronym for the Guard. We find it hard to believe that the IRGCs designation as a terrorist organization will be removed in exchange for a promise not to harm Americans.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

___

Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
WeCrashed, which arrived on Apple TV on 18 March, tells the story of the dramatic rise and fall of co-working company WeWork. Its a wild saga full of scandal and intrigue  but how much of it really happened?

The eight-part series stars Oscar winners Jared Leto as WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann and Anne Hathaway as his wife Rebekah Neumann, nee Paltrow, a first cousin of A-list actor and Goop boss Gwyneth. The show follows the couple from their first meeting and the launch of WeWork in 2010 to the moment in 2019 when Neumann was forced by investors to resign his post as CEO.

Its a tale full of outlandish twists and turns, so heres a breakdown of whats fact and whats fiction in the new series. Some spoilers follow

Adam Neumann

In episode one of WeCrashed, we see several of serial entrepreneur Neumanns pre-WeWork ventures. These include a company called Krawlers, which manufactured baby onesies with built in kneepads; another company that sold womens shoes with collapsible heels; and his first co-working real estate venture with architect and eventual WeWork co-founder Miguel McKelvey, which was named Green Desk. All of these were real companies that Adam Neumann launched. As seen in the show, the first two flopped while Neumann and McKelvey sold Green Desk and used the money to help start WeWork.

During a yoga class in episode one, Neumann wears a T-shirt emblazoned with the insignia of the Israeli Navy. This is a reference to the fact that the real-life Neumann graduated from the Israeli Naval Academy and went on to serve as an officer in the Israeli Navy for five years, rising to the rank of captain. Its true that, as mentioned in WeCrashed, Neumann is dyslexic. He could not read or write before he was eight years old. Likewise Neumanns upbringing on a kibbutz is based in reality: In 1990, his family settled at the Nir Am kibbutz near Sderot in southern Israel.

Adam Neumann and Jared Leto playing him (Shutterstock, Apple)

Neumann is frequently shown smoking cannabis throughout WeCrashed. Neumanns cannabis use is a matter of public record. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported that Neumann had chartered a Gulfstream G650 for a flight from the United States to Israel the previous year. After the flight the crew found a cereal box stuffed with cannabis, presumably for the return flight, and reported it to the jet owner who ordered the plane to return to the US. Neumann and his friends had to make their own way home.

Story continues

Episode two opens with Adam and Rebekah Neumanns wedding on 9 October 2008. That date is accurate, as is the fact that Rebekahs father Bob gave his daughter a $1m wedding gift which the couple later invested in WeWork.

Later in the series, Adam Neumann causes a PR storm when the embattled CEO is photographed walking barefoot around the streets of Manhattan. This really happened, and the pictures were widely shared on Twitter and Reddit .

Rebekah Neumann

Its mentioned several times throughout WeCrashed that Rebekah Neumann is Gwyneth Paltrows first cousin. This is true. She grew up as Rebekah Paltrow, and her father Bob Paltrow is the brother of Gwyneths late father Bruce. This also makes Rebekah the niece of Meet The Parents actor Blythe Danner.

In episode one, Adam and Rebekah Neumann meet at a party on the roof of Adams apartment building. This is a slightly revised version of reality: in truth, they were introduced by one of Rebekahs college friends. It was that friend who met Adam on the roof of his building.

Leto and Hathawy in WeCrashed (Apple)

In several early episodes we see Rebekah Neumanns attempts to follow Paltrow and Danner into the family business. Its true that Neumann was an aspiring actor: her IMDb page lists four acting credits, playing an uncredited role as a UN Diplomat in 2010s Fair Game, Sam in 2010s Nomads, which starred Lucy Liu, and two short film roles in 2010s Awake and 2012s Aunt Louisa. The most notable of these is Awake, which Rebekah Neumann wrote, produced and starred in (alongside Rosario Dawson) out of WeWorks offices.

In episode three, Rebekah Neumann becomes involved in a controversy sparked by her public comments that a big part of being a woman is to help men manifest their calling in life. This really happened. In 2018, a PropertyWeek correspondent attending the annual three-day WeWork Summer Camp reported that Rebekah Neumann tearfully thanked her husbands sister Adi for helping to pay his rent when he first moved to the US from Israel. Im so grateful you took care of Adam, she said. You helped him create the biggest family in the world. A big part of being a woman is to help men [like Adam] manifest their calling in life. At the time her comments sparked disapproving coverage in outlets like Stylist.

In the same episode we learn that Rebekah Neumanns father has become embroiled in legal trouble. Although the timeline has been condensed, this is again based in fact: Bob Paltrow pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion in 2014 and was subsequently sentenced to six months in prison.

Miguel McKelvey

Miguel McKelvey, played by The Climbs Kyle Marvin, was WeWorks real-life co-founder. In WeCrashed, McKelvey first meets Adam Neumann at a business class focused on entrepreneurship. In reality, the pair met at a party when they both worked in the same office building.

It is true that like Neumann, McKelvey was already an entrepreneur by the time they met. While visiting Tokyo after graduating from college, he co-founded English, baby!, a social network for students learning languages online.

As mentioned in the show its also true that before meeting Neumann and founding WeWork, McKelvey worked for Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture. The firm was responsible for all American Apparel design projects, and McKelvey managed their international retail roll out.

WeWork Summer Camp

The third episode of WeCrashed focuses on a WeWork Summer Camp at Lake Raquette in upstate New York, which Adam Neumann arrives at by helicopter while wearing a Summer of We T-Shirt. At the event, Neumann is in full messianic mode, often leading the audience of his staff by chanting We! as they respond: Work!

This is a condensed version based on several different Summer Camps, which were being held on an annual basis. There were Summer Camps held at Lake Raquette between 2012 and 2016. It was the 2014 edition that was covered by TheNew York Timess style section, as portrayed in the show.

It wasnt until 2018 that Rebekah Paltrow made her controversial comments about a womens role being to help men manifest their calling in life, and that actually happened at a WeWork Summer Camp held in a field outside of Tunbridge Wells, Kent. That years event was headlined by major musical artists: Bastille on Friday and Lorde on Saturday.

Cameron Lautner

Played by The Handmaids Tales OT Fagbenle, Cameron Lautner is portrayed as a partner at a powerful investment firm who is tasked with trying to instill discipline at WeWork. His character is a composite: in reality, Neumann was succeeded as WeWork CEO by real estate executive Sandeep Mathrani.
Lion dances and martial arts livened up the city's Chinatown with an air of joy on Wednesday, with hundreds of Havana residents joining to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Chinese arrival in Cuba.

In 1847, some Chinese immigrants first stepped on the Cuban soil, starting their integration into local society. After 175 years, the Chinese community has become an inseparable part of this Latin American country.

In his speech at the celebration, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui said that China and Cuba have built solid historical and cultural ties throughout history.

"Chinese descendants have played a significant role in Cuban culture," Ma said. "We will continue to be good friends, partners, and comrades."

Students from the Cuban School of Wushu honored the legacy of Chinese culture with a large-scale demonstration of martial arts, with children, adolescents and senior citizens taking part.

Roberto Vargas Lee, director and founder of the school, believed China and Cuba share a common value of solidarity in the construction of their social systems.

Thanking the Chinese embassy for donating a lion dance costume and other items to the school, he said, "We very much appreciate the support given by the Chinese government to the development of martial arts on the island."

The House of Chinese Arts and Traditions opened an art exhibition as part of the festivities, and planned to host an international seminar on the Chinese diaspora's influence later in June.

Chinese migrants and their descendants contributed to the shaping of the Cuban national identity, Teresa Maria Li, director of the cultural center, told Xinhua.

"This (exhibition) is just the beginning of a very important celebration that will gather many people interested in expanding their knowledge of Chinese culture, customs and traditions," Li said.

During Cuba's War of Independence, Chinese fighters played a significant role in defending the Caribbean nation.

For more than a century, the two countries grew intertwined in various aspects, including trade, farming, culture and cuisine.

China has also become one of Cuba's main economic partners as bilateral cooperation deepens.

Chinese-Cuban Sara Chao, 80, told Xinhua she is happy to have inherited her parent's hardworking ethos.

"I have never visited China, but China is very deep in my heart in so many ways," she said. "This celebration will continue unifying the Chinese community in Cuba."
Two Wichita men were convicted Friday by a federal jury for their role in a drug trafficking ring masterminded by a Kansas killer from his Oklahoma prison cell.

Kevin Lewis, 58, and Travis Vontress, 45, were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and powdered cocaine, among other charges. Lewis was also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and Vontress for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

In all, 21 defendants pleaded guilty to charges related to the drug ring, including 49-year-old Travis Knighten, who was imprisoned in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for killing a Kansas correctional officer in 1993.

According to a 2020 indictment, Knighten directed the movements of nearly two dozen underlings living in Wichita using calls and text messages sent from contraband cellphones.

The indictment lists Lewis as one of the main traffickers and says Vontress served as Knightens treasurer, getting the money together when the convicted killer got information about a possible deal.

At least five Wichita addresses served as stash houses.

This sophisticated criminal organization went to great lengths to conceal their illegal activities from law enforcement such as using code words for various narcotics and street names instead of actual names, U.S. Attorney Dustin Slinkard said in a DOJ release. These court convictions show that as criminals work to evade the law, there are prosecutors and law enforcement agencies working just as hard to bring them to justice.

Lewis and Vontress are both scheduled for sentencing June 22.
BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping told his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Friday that the Taiwan issue needs to be handled properly to avoid a negative impact on Sino-U.S. relations, according to Chinese media.

China says Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province to be brought back to the fold, by force if necessary, is the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with the United States.

Washington, which is seeking Beijing's help in restoring peace in Ukraine after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei but is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier.

"Some individuals in the United States are sending the wrong signals to pro-independence forces in Taiwan, and that's very dangerous," Xi told Biden on a video call.

"If the Taiwan issue is not handled properly, it will have a subversive impact on the relationship between the two countries."

China sailed its aircraft carrier Shandong through the Taiwan Strait, shadowed by a U.S. destroyer, on Friday, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, just hours before the Chinese and U.S. presidents were due to talk.

A White House statement said Biden reiterated in the call with Xi that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that Washington "continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo."

China has over the past two years stepped up its military activity near the island to assert its sovereignty claims.

"(We) hope the U.S. side will pay adequate attention" to the issue, Xi told Biden.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry expressed thanks to Biden for his "emphasis on maintaining the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as his firm support for Taiwan's security".

It called on China to take concrete actions and condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan, which rejects China's sovereignty claims, has joined in Western-led sanctions against Russia and sent humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees.

Story continues

Xi also told Biden that the war in Ukraine must end as soon as possible, according to Chinese state media.

All parties should jointly support the Russia-Ukraine dialogue while the United States and NATO should also conduct talks with Russia to solve the "crux" of the Ukraine crisis, Xi said.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Nick Macfie, Chizu Nomiyama and William Mallard)
BOCHENIEC, Poland (AP)  Twenty-two-month-old Yeva Vakulenko had been through four rounds of chemotherapy for leukemia at a hospital in Ukraine, and then suffered a relapse. As she began returning again for more treatment, Russia invaded, disrupting doctors' efforts to cure her.

Air raids forced the toddler to shelter in the basement of the hospital in the western city of Lviv for hours at a time, making her feel even worse. She cried a lot and sought comfort from her grandmother, who is caring for her after her parents were in an accident that left her mother disabled with brain and leg injuries.

So when doctors told Yeva's grandmother that they could evacuate to Poland, she seized the chance.

It is very difficult for children to go somewhere in the middle of the night and sit in the basement for a long time," said Nadia Kryminec as she held her granddaughter, whose sweet-natured smiles gave no hint of the ordeal she has endured.

We were told that she was in stable condition and we should try to go. Otherwise, she is simply doomed to death, the grandmother said.

The little girl, who her grandmother says understands everything, is one of more than 400 Ukrainian children with cancer who have been evacuated to a clinic in Poland. Doctors then place them in one of some 200 hospitals in 28 countries.

We triage the patients when they arrive at our center," said Dr. Marcin Wodarski, a pediatric hematologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, who is staffing the Unicorn Clinic of Marian Wilemski in Bocheniec, in central Poland.

Stable patients are transferred quickly from there to hospitals in other countries while those in worse condition are first stabilized in Polish hospitals, he said.

Then they return to us and can be sent for further travel, Wodarski said.

Decisions have to be made fast because time is critical for the young oncology patients.

The evacuations began immediately after Russia attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24, and is a joint effort of St. Jude, the Polish Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Poland's Fundacja Herosi (Heroes Foundation), and Tabletochki, a Ukrainian charity that advocates for children with cancer.

Story continues

Dr. Marta Salek, another pediatric hematologist oncologist with St. Jude who is staffing the Polish clinic, said the center receives large numbers of patients and convoys that arrive from Lviv through humanitarian corridors.

"At times we can have convoys with only 20-something patients but we can have up to 70 patients at a time and even more, she said.

At the clinic, a large bin of white unicorn stuffed animals sits in a room, along with a wooden train set, brightly colored balloons and other toys that the children happily play with.

More than 3 million people  about half of them children  have fled Ukraine as the country faces a brutal military onslaught by Russian forces that has targeted civilians. Of those, more than 2 million people have arrived in Poland, the largest of Ukraine's neighbors to its west. A Polish health ministry official said Friday that the country is treating 1,500 refugees in hospitals, many of whom are suffering hypothermia after their journey, and 840 of whom are children.

The World Health Organization said Friday that cancer is one of the major health challenges resulting from the war. It said it was supporting the effort by the organizations that are working against the clock to reconnect pediatric cancer patients with their treatments.

"Cancer itself is a problem, but treatment interruptions, stress and risk of infection mean that hundreds of children might die prematurely, said Dr. Roman Kizyma, head of the Western Ukrainian Specialized Childrens Medical Centre in Lviv, where the pediatric oncology patients are first stabilized before they are sent across the border into Poland.

We believe that these are the indirect victims of this war, Kizyma said in a WHO statement.

Among those at the clinic this week was Anna Riabiko, from Poltava, Ukraine, who was seeking treatment for her daughter Lubov, who has neuroblastoma.

Treatment is currently impossible in Ukraine. Fighting is taking place, there are no doctors, it is impossible to have surgery or chemotherapy. And even maintenance therapy is also impossible to obtain, she said. So we had to look for salvation somewhere.

It's not a step that all parents were able to take for their sick children, she said.

A lot of sick children stayed there, she said. Because parents were worried and did not want to go into the unknown.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the spelling of the Lviv doctors last name is Kizyma, not Kizym.

___

Vanessa Gera reported from Warsaw.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BEDFORD  An MS-13 gang member was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder for his role in the brutal March 2017 slaying of a Lynchburg teen in Bedford County.

Cristian Jose Sanchez-Gomez, 28, was among a group of four gang members who traveled from Montgomery County, Maryland, to Lynchburg to take part in the abduction and planned killing of Raymond Wood, a 17-year-old who on March 27, 2017, was abducted from his home, dragged into a car, choked unconscious and cut repeatedly with a large knife.

Woods mutilated body was found on Roaring Run Road off U.S. 221 in Bedford County. At a hearing Friday in Bedford County Circuit Court, Sanchez-Gomez pleaded no contest to the murder charge and one count of abduction, and pleaded guilty to one count of gang participation.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 5. He faces a maximum of life in prison and another 20 years but could receive a lesser punishment with sentencing guidelines noting he was cooperative in the investigation.

Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said Sanchez-Gomez has stated he had a very passive and minor role in Woods murder. Nance said Sanchez-Gomez provided substantial assistance to prosecutors and, if the case had gone to trial, evidence would have been presented from other gang members that he admitted to inflicting injuries on Wood, which the defendant likely would have contested at trial.

Wood was a small-time drug dealer seen by the gang as a rival who had disrespected MS-13 in his exchanges over transactions, which was the motive for the abduction and slaying, Nance said. Sanchez-Gomez was present during the abduction, Nance said, and got out of the car on the Bedford County road where Wood was attacked with a knife provided by Josue Moises Coreas-Ventura, a co-defendant whom a jury recently found guilty of aggravated murder and other charges in Woods death.

At Coreas-Venturas trial in February, Sanchez-Gomez testified to observing Wood being choked unconscious by Coreas-Ventura during the drive to Bedford County.

Amy Tharp, a state medical examiner who conducted Woods autopsy, testified at that trial Woods cause of death was sharp force injuries to the neck, torso and right arm, and the victim had rapid blood loss.

Three other co-defendants  Kevin Josue Soto Bonilla, Lisandro Antonio Posada-Vasquez and Victor Arnoldo Rodas  also took part in the abduction and murder, according to prosecutors evidence. Bonilla received a life sentence in December 2019, Rodas is serving 55 years and Posada-Vasquez this week was sentenced to 75 years.

Investigator Jon Maddox previously testified Posada-Vasquez led to the discovery of the knife used to kill Wood, which was buried within a few miles of the crime scene. Sanchez-Gomez, a native of El Salvador, previously testified he came to the United States illegally in 2002 and later moved to Maryland.

Sanchez-Gomez and three others fled the scene on Roaring Run Road into the nearby woods when a passing motorist drove up, disrupting their plans, Nance said. The defendant escaped the area and was later tracked to Charlottesville, where he was arrested several months after the incident, Nance said.

Carter B. Garrett, one of Sanchez-Gomezs attorneys, said his client previously escaped the gang and was trafficked to Maryland, where he was incorporated into MS-13 against his will. Garrett said the pleas and accepting responsibility for his involvement are in Sanchez-Gomezs best interests.

When he found out at the apartment in Lynchburg that there was a murder to be conducted, he had to walk away or he remained a part of the conspiracy because he had knowledge at that point, Garrett said after Fridays hearing. Going to trial was too much risk.

Sanchez-Gomez previously testified he vomited during the attack on Wood, which Carter later said is backed up by DNA evidence at the scene.  When they started on this horrific, awful butchering of this poor kid, our client was behind the car throwing up because he was so disgusted by the whole event, Garrett said.

Nance said Sanchez-Gomez testified three times for the commonwealth and once in federal court in prosecuting co-defendants and conspirators in the gang. His murder charge was amended Friday from a previous count of capital murder, and a robbery charge against him was dropped.

With Sanchez-Gomezs pleas Friday, only his sentencing and that of Coreas-Ventura, which is planned this fall, remain in the prosecution of Woods killers.

Its a great relief to the family, Nance said. This has been a long, difficult process for them.

He said as the five-year anniversary of Woods death nears, he reflects on the hard work among a wide range of law enforcement agencies along the East Coast to prosecute and convict those responsible. Bedford law enforcement and prosecutors also assisted other jurisdictions in Maryland and New York of other gang members who had a role in Woods murder who never set foot in Virginia.

We would have not gotten here without the support of Raymond Woods family and numerous agencies from across the state, federal agencies and even local agencies from other states, Nance said. Im proud of what our law enforcement agencies have accomplished and to play some small role in bringing these individuals to justice.

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The Campbell County School Board unanimously voted to approve a budget that totals nearly $110.6 million and includes a 5% raise for instructional staff in fiscal year 2023.

The budget, now in the hands of the board of supervisors, is a roughly 22% increase over last years budget of $90.3 million. According to Superintendent Robert Johnson, a big reason for the $20 million increase is $15 million in carryover funds from stimulus thats inflating the budget.

According to Johnson, this stimulus money left over from federal COVID-19 relief packages could stay in the budget through fiscal year 2024.

The school system is seeking level funding from the county, which is $28.3 million, according to Johnsons presentation. However, the superintendent said to keep things sustainable, next year we would probably need some additional funds from the county.

Past budgets show the school system has received the same amount every year since fiscal year 2020.

According to the presentation, the school system is expected to get roughly $66.3 million in state funding, but that number could change as the General Assembly finalizes the numbers on the state budget.

Campbell County schools also will receive about $15.6 million in funding from the federal government and an additional $337,250 in local funding, according to Johnson.

The additional local funding comes from things like non-residential tuition, gas reimbursements, equipment sales and miscellaneous refunds.

During a meeting last month, the superintendent had the opportunity to lay out some of the highlights of the budget, which proposes pay raises for much of the staff.

The biggest proposal from Johnson, a 5% raise for all instructional positions, will cost roughly $3.2 million. According to his presentation, there will be a $1.8 million compensation supplement from the commonwealth.

Johnson said while the school system strives to have the highest salary in the region for teachers, thats not really possible because theres a couple that have a really high salary and were not going to touch those.

He said Campbell County is aiming to be in the top two or three among Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox and Bedford.

On top of the 5% raise, Johnson said school officials would take $750,000 in additional funds and put it into the teacher pay scale to help give raises beyond a typical cost of living wage.

The school system also will be raising the minimum wage for its employees, bringing that up to $13 per hour, according to Johnson. This increase will cost the county approximately $350,000.

Bus drivers in Campbell County also could see an increase in their starting salary, according to the presentation. If adopted, the budget allows the bus driver starting salary in Campbell County to be raised to $15.59 per hour.

This increase, according to the presentation, is about a $120,000 expenditure for the school system.

In his budget, Johnson proposes adding several new full-time employee positions, most aimed at bolstering the instructional staff in the county.

He has proposed a total of 23 new positions, most of which are full time. They include a new English as a Second Language teacher, a preschool teacher, three new special education teachers and three new secondary teachers. The county also is looking to add some maintenance positions, as well as some aid and assistant positions.

While the budget request was adopted by the board members, Johnson said it was a little unnerving working on a budget with so many uncertainties surrounding it.

He mentioned the General Assemblys state budget negotiations, which potentially could require the county to make changes to its budget before its officially adopted.

But Johnson said he feels confident with the work school officials have put in to get this budget together.

As I talk to folks in Richmond ... I get the feeling that a lot of this will work itself out. They may move the deck chairs a little bit, but the overall final number will be pretty close. But who knows what may happen in the next few weeks.

The Campbell County Board of Supervisors will review the request as it moves closer to April 5, when supervisors will vote to adopt their own fiscal year 2023 budget.

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A water intake and pump station project in Fluvanna County has taken another step toward being moved away from the historic capital of the Monacan Indian Nation.

The James River Water Authority Board recently voted to have a contractor prepare a new or modified application for the project on an alternative site along the James River away from Rassawek, the historic capital of the Monacan Indian Nation.

After years of pushback, the tribe asked that the authority consider the alternative site  about 2.3 miles upstream  due to potential burials around Rassawek.

This has been a long road  a lot of pain, distrust and disagreement, Monacan Tribal Chief Kenneth Branham said at the authoritys meeting. We are glad to be moving forward in a spirit of cooperation to ensure the citizens that they get their drinking water and our sacred capital Rassawek and the burials of our ancestors are all protected.

Board chairman D.D. Watson said it has always been the intent of the board to make both counties proud of the work its doing.

We all know that mistakes can be made, but theyre not final until you leave them, he said. We chose not to leave the mistakes that we made.

The water intake and pump station is part of a larger project through the JRWA to bring water from the James River to a water treatment facility in Louisa County. The water ultimately will serve the Zion Crossroads area.

The JRWA is a joint entity of Fluvanna and Louisa that was formed in 2009 to manage the overall project.

The Amherst County-based tribe has been engaged in conversations with the authority and other agencies involved in the project since 2017, but came out publicly against the water intake and pump station in 2019 because they thought burials possibly happened at that site.

In 2020, the authority board decided to pause a pending U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit application to study a potential alternative site, known as the 1C Forsyth alternative. The Monacans had urged the board to consider the potential alternative, which is about 2.3 miles upstream from the original recommended and proposed site.

The tribe made formal commitments to the authority in January 2021 to collaborate fully and expeditiously on an agreement if the board moved the water project away from the Point of Fork area and testing indicates no presence of human remains or burials on that alternative location.

An archaeological resources survey on the alternative site was completed in December. Consultants said they found fewer artifacts than were expected, as the site is in a floodplain. The archaeologists found no evidence of any actual or potential burials.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is now accepting applications for a new internship program with Fort Valley State University (FVSU) slated for summer 2022.

The Rising Scholars Internship is an opportunity for students from FVSU to conduct research with CAES scientists and reside on the UGA campus in Athens from May 23 through July 23. The program is supported by the Office of the President at UGA.

I am excited to see representatives from both UGA and FVSU partner to provide this opportunity for students interested in studying agricultural and environmental sciences, said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. I am pleased to support this program which can be a model for collaboration between institutions across our University System.

The paid, nine-week program is intended for students who have an interest in research and are planning to attend graduate school in agriculture and related sciences.

Participants will conduct supervised research on agricultural and environmental sciences before preparing a research paper and presenting their findings in a professional setting.

On behalf of our academic programs, we are pleased to partner with Fort Valley State University in hosting the Rising Scholars Program, said Josef Broder, associate dean for academic affairs. We are grateful to FVSU for establishing this program to give exceptional students an opportunity to conduct research with our faculty, share their research experiences and prepare for graduate school in agriculture and related sciences.

Rising Scholars will receive a $1,500 stipend at the end of each month in addition to a housing and meal allowance. The internship is open to juniors and seniors attending FVSU and applications and supporting materials are due April 1.

Successful candidates have a focus in agricultural or environmental sciences, interest in conducting and communicating scientific research, availability the full nine weeks of the program, intention to attend graduate school and a minimum FVSU grade point average of 3.0.

This program represents a wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in cutting-edge research and prepare for graduate school. We are enthusiastic about our ongoing partnership with our colleagues at Fort Valley State University, and this internship is integral to our broader goal of recruiting outstanding students for graduate studies at UGA, said Ron Walcott, UGA Graduate School dean and vice provost of graduate education.

This is an exciting opportunity for our students and another example of great collaboration between Georgias two land grant universities, said Olufunke A. Fontenot, FVSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. FVSUs focus is on providing our students with an exceptional student experience and high impact practices, such as undergraduate research experiences that make our students better prepared for work and graduate school. We thank the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for extending this opportunity to our students.

Students accepted into the program will be notified by April 15.

Program details and application information can be found on the Rising Scholars Internship program website.

Details about pursuing a UGA graduate degree can be found on the UGA Graduate School website.
China's securities regulator on Thursday pledged to spare no effort to maintain the stable operation of the capital market, releasing another positive signal to bolster investor sentiment.



China will advance efforts in solving key and sensitive issues considering capital market expectations as well as ecological and environmental issues, according to a meeting chaired by the head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Yi Huiman.

The commission emphasized on stability, saying that it will fully implement relevant measures to support the economic operation and the development of small, medium and micro enterprises.

The CSRC said on Wednesday that it will encourage listed companies to increase their holdings and buy back shares. It will also guide fund companies to purchase their own shares.

The commission added that it will support all kinds of eligible enterprises to list overseas and will try to reach an agreement on China-U.S. audit supervision cooperation as soon as possible.
Ashley Knudtson said speech was an activity that helped get her out of her shell, and now shes getting ready to compete in the all-state speech competition because of it.

Knudtson, 17, was born in Omaha but has grown up in Underwood ever since. Shes been a student in the Underwood Community School District for the entirety of her education, and shes currently a senior in high school. With only so many weeks left before graduation, Knudtson wondered where all the time has gone.

Im a little excited, a little nervous, a little stressed, she said of various deadlines coming up and the thought of moving on to the next step of her life.

Regardless, Knudtson said shes been grateful for her time at Underwood, and she said its been a great high school experience. She said the staff and teachers have all been there to help her grow and a person and intellectual.

Ive made some excellent friends and my teachers have really pushed me to do more than I thought was possible, she said. I feel like Im doing a lot better than I have been.

Knudtson said one thing thats helped her break of out of her shell is extracurricular activity involvement. She also said being involved has helped her become a much better time manager. She participates in many groups and programs, including band, jazz band, choir, show choir, track, drama quiz bowl and speech.

Most of her activities are finished for the year, but she is looking ahead to a pinnacle moment: the all-state speech competition at the end of the month. Its her first time qualifying for all-state, and shell be competing in the acting category. Shell be performing Mississippi Mirror, a dramatic monologue about a teenager in therapy.

As the end of the school year draws near for Knudtson and her fellow seniors, she said there will still be plenty of action left after all-state speech.

She manages the track team, and shes looking forward to one last season with the Eagles crew. And shes busy putting together the senior video to play at graduation, and she is gently reminding her classmates to submit photos to her as soon as possible.

Following high school, Knudtson will be off to college at the University of South Dakota, where she will double major in musical arts and either math or English education. Inspired by the teachers who helped shape who she is today, Knudtson wants to follow in their footsteps to be there for future generations of students.

This is what Ive always wanted for a teacher, she said. I want to be that kind of person.

 Joe Shearer
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The Government of Philippines has voiced strong support to Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over its Sahara, commending the autonomy plan offered by Rabat as good basis to finding a political solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

On the Sahara issue, we defend the principle of sovereignty and equality of States as stipulated in the UN Charter, said Philippines Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin Jr. at a joint press briefing held Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

All States have the right to full sovereignty over all their territories, he added, noting that the UN Charter urges sovereign states to refrain from the use of force against political independence and territorial integrity of any member state.

We condemn the use of separatism () as a diplomatic weapon. The cruelest conflicts are those where neighbors turn against neighbors, underlined Mr. Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Morocco and the Philippines will coordinate to defend their territorial integrity and fight separatist and extremist groups wherever they are, said on his part Bourita.

Morocco and the Philippines share a convergent vision on the need to have strong countries to meet the economic, security and environmental challenges facing the world today, Bourita said, noting that the two countries will coordinate to defend their territorial integrity and fight separatist and terrorist groups.

During his visit to Rabat, Teodoro Locsin Jr. co-chaired with Moroccan peer the 2nd meeting of Morocco-Philippines Political Consultations and inaugurated the new Philippines embassy in Moroccos capital city.

The two sides agreed to develop economic relations especially with the wide opportunities that the two countries open for each other in their respective regions. The Philippines can be a gateway for Morocco to a strong presence in the framework of the Kingdoms advanced ties with the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN), just as Morocco can serve as a gateway for a sustained economic presence of the Philippines in Africa.
The Moroccan army and the police scored higher compared to politicians in the annual trust index released by the independent Rabat-based MIPA think tank (Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis), in collaboration with German foundation Heinrich Boll Stiftung.

Out of a sample of 1500 people, 95% said they trusted the army and 92% the police while 69% said they trusted the government.

Trust in the government increased with the election of the RNI led cabinet. In 2020, 23% said they trusted the government and 50% in 2021.

The same index showed that 86% of respondents were satisfied with the pandemic management and 76% said they were satisfied by the measures taken by the executive to attenuate the economic fallout of Covid-19.

However, 95% were worried about the scale of corruption in the country and 56% expressed support for the governments measures to fight this scourge. 90% said bribes to receive administrative services was still commonplace.
An International Monetary Fund team of experts will travel to Tunisia late this month to continue talks with authorities about the North African countrys request for a loan.

A small team of IMF experts plans to visit Tunisia this month for further discussions with the authorities to build on what I can describe as good progress in designing their reform policies, said the IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice.

Tunisia, facing harsh economic and financial challenges, has turned to the IMF for a multiple million-dollar financial package necessary to supplement national budget suffering a deficit of $2.8 billion.

The talks began on Feb. 14. The North African country hopes to finalize the negotiations by the end of first quarter of this year.

The countrys powerful labor union UGTT Wednesday vowed to oppose any austerity measures be imposed as condition for the loan.

Public companies are not for sale and the public sector is a red line  painful reforms, forget it, Noureddine Taboubi, the unions National Secretary said, calling for wage increases in 2022 and 2023.

If you want to discuss reforms, our vision for reform is comprehensive and deep, and its basis is fiscal justice, he added.
The US ambassador to Libya Thursday called on outgoing Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah to engage discussions with Fathi Bashagha, designated by the parliament last month, to avoid the escalation of violence, the US mission in Libya said in a statement.

Ambassador Richard Norland travelled Wednesday to Tripoli for consultations with various Libyan top officials and figures over the situation in the country on the edge of fresh violence as Dbeibah refuses to hand over power despite his removal by the parliament early last month over his alleged failure to organize much-waited-for Dec. 24 election.

GNU PM Abdulhamid Dbeibah and I discussed the current political situation with a particular focus on preventing any outbreak of violence. We also discussed the responsible distribution of Libyas oil wealth for the benefit of all the Libyan people, Norland said, according to the US mission statement.

I urged the immediate re-opening of #Libyas airspace to domestic flights. As Libya enters what everyone hopes will be the final stages of interim governance, I emphasized the importance of participating in good faith mediation efforts to help Libya maintain stability, the US diplomat added.

Dabeibah has closed the countrys airspace to all domestic flights in a move to prevent Bashaghas cabinet to take oath before the parliament and to take office in capital Tripoli.

Bashagha has multiplied meetings with various international partners since his selection as Prime Minister. Over the past two days, he held talks with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Norland, Spanish ambassador Javier Garcia-Larrache, German ambassador Michael Ohnmacht and the British ambassador Caroline Hurndall.

During talks with the UN Chief on the phone, the former Interior Minister stressed that the governments main goal is elections and achieving the aspirations of the Libyan people.

On Wednesday, the UN political affairs chief told the Security Council that amid a political impasse that threatens to see Libya fractured again by two parallel governments, the priority must be maintaining hard-won gains and fulfilling the electoral aspirations of nearly three million registered voters.

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, also spotlighted an increase in reported human rights violations, hate speech, defamation and threats, as well as violence against activists, journalists and political actors.

Libya is now facing a new phase of political polarization, which risks dividing its institutions once again and reversing the gains achieved over the past two years, she warned.
Spain said it supports Moroccos autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for settling the Sahara issue and pointed out that it is keen is to build with the North African country, a great friend and ally a new relationship, based on transparency, and mutual respect.

This came in a message from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to King Mohammed VI, the Royal Palace said in a statement.

Sanchez said he recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco.

The new position indicates a step forward by Spain to mend ties with Morocco after it has maintained connivance with Algeria and the Polisario.

Ties worsened after Spain disregarded the close ties with Morocco by receiving Polisario leader for medical treatment under a false identity to help him evade justice.

Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Spain and asked Madrid to refrain from its double-face.

Our goal is to build a new relationship, based on transparency and permanent communication, mutual respect and agreements signed by both parties, as well as to refrain from any unilateral action, commensurate with the importance of everything we share, Sanchez said.

Spain will act with the absolute transparency that corresponds to a great friend and ally. I assure you that Spain will always keep its commitments and its word, Sanchez said

Sanchez reiterated his determination to face together the common challenges, especially the cooperation for the management of migratory flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, always acting in a spirit of full cooperation.

All these actions will be undertaken with the aim of guaranteeing the stability and territorial integrity of both countries, he said.
The Spanish government said it is committed to respecting Moroccos sovereignty and territorial integrity, as part of a new era in bilateral ties.

We are ushering today a new era in our ties with Morocco, based on mutual respect, the implementation of agreements, refraining from unilateral actions, transparency and permanent communication, said the Spanish Presidency in a statement.

This new era will be elaboratedin a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to guarantee stability, sovereignty, the territorial integrity and prosperity for our two countries, the Spanish presidency said.

The Spanish government also reaffirmed determination to address together with Morocco all the common challenges notably in terms of cooperating to manage migration flows in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic, by acting in a spirit of full cooperation and to restore normalcy in the movement of people and goods benefiting the two peoples.

The Spanish government welcomed the scheduling of a visit by Prime Minister Sanchez to Morocco in order to elaborate the roadmap as well as the upcoming visit by Spanish foreign minister to Morocco by late March.

Moroccos foreign ministry had welcomed Spains support for the autonomy initiative and for fostering ties on the basis of transparency and mutual respect.

The Royal palace, earlier in the day, had said that Sanchez sent a letter to King Mohammed VI in which he described Moroccos autonomy plan as a serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the Sahara issue and took a pledge to improve ties.
With the European Union surpassing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to become China's largest trading partner in the first two months of the year, the China-EU trade demonstrates resilience and vitality, but it will take some more time to figure out if the EU can hold top place over the long term, said Gao Feng, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce, in an online media briefing on Thursday.

"China is willing to join hands with the EU to proactively promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, safeguard the stability and smooth operations of industrial and supply chains, and jointly elevate China-EU economic and trade cooperation to benefit enterprises and people of both sides," he said.

During the January-February period, bilateral trade between China and the EU surged 14.8 percent year-on-year to reach $137.16 billion, which was $570 million more than the ASEAN-China trade value. China and the EU also achieved a record $828.1 billion in bilateral goods trade last year, according to the MOC.

"China and the EU are mutually important trading partners, and have strong economic complementarity, wide cooperation space and great development potential," Gao said.

The spokesman also said the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement in Malaysia from Friday will further boost trade and investment cooperation between China and Malaysia, and benefit enterprises and consumers of both countries as the two countries deliver on their market openness commitments and apply RCEP rules in various areas.

That will also enhance the optimization and deep integration of regional industrial and supply chains to make more contributions to regional economic growth, he said.

The trade treaty, signed in November 2020 by 15 Asia-Pacific economies, officially took effect on Jan 1 for 10 members, followed by South Korea on Feb 1.

China and Malaysia have also been important trading partners for years. China is also the largest trading partner of Malaysia. Data from the Chinese side showed bilateral trade value was worth $176.8 billion in 2021, up 34.5 percent year-on-year.

Chinese exports to Malaysia grew about 40 percent to $78.74 billion while its imports from the latter surged about 30 percent to $98.06 billion.

Malaysia is also an important outbound direct investment destination for China.

Gao also said China will continuously expand high-level opening-up and always welcomes investors from any country to do business and expand presence in China.

China will also continue to work hard to provide better services to investors from all over the world and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment for them, he said.

He also said China's impressive performance in attracting foreign direct investment during the first two months of the year is attributable to the bright long-term prospects of the nation's economic fundamentals that have boosted foreign investor confidence, the effectiveness of Chinese authorities' policy measures to stabilize FDI and the continuously improving business climate in China.

Data from the MOC showed China's actual use of foreign capital surged 37.9 percent year-on-year to hit 243.7 billion yuan ($38.39 billion) during the January-February period.

According to a recent survey report jointly released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China and PwC, around two-thirds of the surveyed US companies plan to increase their investment in China this year.

Another report, released by the German Chamber of Commerce in China and KPMG, showed nearly 71 percent of German companies in China plan to invest more in the country.

Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said China's undented attractiveness to foreign investors showed their long-term confidence in the Chinese economy and China's growing significance in their global market layout.
North Plattes Community Redevelopment Authority Monday will consider taking the final steps to complete the citys aid package for Sustainable Beef LLC beef processing plant on Newberry Access.

The 3 p.m. meeting at the City Hall council chamber, 211 W. Third St., had been awaiting further progress on beef-plant organizers $325 million financing package.

City officials announced the CRA meeting and its agenda Thursday morning, one day before the first anniversary of Sustainable Beefs initial announcement of its project at a Prairie Arts Center press conference.

It means the nearly two-year-long organizational phase of the beef-plant project is nearing an end, Mayor Brandon Kelliher said Thursday afternoon.

The fact that the meeting has been called indicates that we have concluded the negotiations on the redevelopment contract, the mayor said.

If the five-member CRA board approves the deal, itll be signed within a week, he added. But at that point, nothing will happen until Sustainable Beef completes their fundraising.

The contract is the next step in the process, which is going well, Sustainable Beef CEO David Briggs of Alliance texted The Telegraph.

He said in December that he hoped to break ground this year so the first cattle from Sandhills and western Nebraska producers can be processed in 2024.

The redevelopment contract includes the $142,500 sale of a retired city sewer lagoon at Golden Road and Newberry as the site for the 1,500-head-per-day beef plant.

As discussed at November and December city meetings, it also makes completion of Sustainable Beefs financing package a prerequisite for closing the sale of the retired lagoon across Golden Road from North Plattes wastewater treatment plant.

The contract also incorporates the $21.5 million in tax increment financing the City Council approved 8-0 Dec. 7 to help offset Sustainable Beefs infrastructure costs.

Most of the TIF aid will be directed toward the costs of raising the base of the 8- to 10-foot-deep lagoon to enable the beef plant to be built there.

The third and last of the CRAs beef-plant meetings since Halloween initially was expected within 30 days of the councils Dec. 7 vote.

Sustainable Beefs focus has been on getting the funding done, because without the funding, theyre not moving forward, said state Sen. Mike Jacobson, who was CRA chairman until he was sworn in Feb. 23 to finish former Sen. Mike Groenes term.

He said the Legislatures Appropriations Committee has settled on recommending $20 million from Nebraskas share of federal COVID-19 aid to help offset costs of the plants wastewater treatment system.

First-round Unicameral debate should start soon on Legislative Bill 1014, which will divide up Nebraskas $1.04 billion share of American Rescue Plan Act aid.

The redevelopment contract, following up on the redevelopment plan approved by the City Council, also requires state-of-the-art odor control equipment and procedures and action to minimize or counteract odors from Sustainable Beefs plant.

We wanted to make sure the (projects) potential large investors were comfortable with the proposal before it was signed, Kelliher added.

Because the Legislature will be in recess Monday, Jacobson said, he hopes to attend the CRA meeting as an observer. He also has to attend annual meetings that day of NebraskaLand Bank, where he is founder, president and CEO.

Im excited for where we are with the beef plant, Jacobson said. Its a great opportunity for this region to get this built, and the city will be protected.

An analysis led by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss projects North Platte will gain nearly 2,000 jobs  875 at the plant itself, the rest from supporting businesses  and some $1.16 billion a year in economic impact.

In other business Monday, the CRA will elect new officers in the wake of Jacobsons resignation last month.

Mondays meeting will be the first for new member Greg Wilke, approved by the council Tuesday to finish Jacobsons unexpired CRA term.

Reorganization will follow the Sustainable Beef item, which will be presided over by panel Vice Chairman Rob Stefka.
The Votaw Road Fire just northeast of Wellfleet remained 0% contained Thursday evening, two nights after it began.

The blaze has consumed more than 1,000 acres and has generated support from roughly 20 fire departments.

Its who we can get when we can get them, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Brandon Myers said of the support.

The firefighters didnt get much assistance from a storm that developed in the central plains but produced little moisture in Lincoln County.

We were hoping that sprinkle this afternoon was going to be a lot more, Myers said in a phone call. It didnt work out that way.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency provided an update on its social media accounts on Thursday noting that extreme fire weather danger and possible red flag warnings are expected through the weekend. Please be cautious of emergency personnel if traveling through the area.

Eleven firefighters from Gering, Morrill, Minatare and Banner County drove five engines to help combat the blaze. They arrived early Thursday.

I spoke with some of the guys down there. Currently, theyre monitoring the fires edge. They say the fire is still burning, with zero percent contained, Gering Fire Chief Nathan Flowers told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald Thursday.

Flowers said the departments helping one another are an example of their mutual aid system in action. When the Panhandle experienced difficult wildfires last summer, numerous departments came to assist in extinguishing them.

We had a tough year last year. ... Many departments in the east helped us; now were returning the favor and helping them, Flowers said.

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The Opelika Police Department is currently investigating a theft of property that occurred at the Opelika Market at 1708 Airport Road and is seeking help in identifying the suspects involved.

Police said security camera footage shows four Hispanic suspects cashing several fraudulent checks.

The incident occurred on Jan. 29, and police are looking for the four suspects who are charged with theft of property, first degree, and possession of a forged instrument, third degree, according to police.

According to police, the first suspect is seen wearing blue jeans, a dark-colored sweater, a hat, and face mask. The second suspect appears to be wearing a gray t-shirt and a dark-colored New York Yankees hat. A third suspect is wearing khaki pants, white shoes, a gray shirt, white face mask and a black and white beanie cap. The fourth suspect is seen wearing dark-colored shorts, a dark-colored hoodie, white shoes, and a hat.

OPD asked for anyone with information to contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App.

Tips can also be forwarded through Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-7867, toll free at 1-833-AL1-STOP, or via their Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/215stop or their website: www.215STOP.com.
The Lee County Sheriffs Office arrested a Phenix City man and charged him with theft after he allegedly received money from citizens who were under the impression he built swimming pools.

LCSO was first notified about two reports of first-degree theft of property by deception in February. These reports claimed Michael Ray Napier, 62, obtained thousands of dollars from citizens in order for him to build them swimming pools, according to an LCSO release.

Two people in Lee County paid Napier a total of $50,000, each writing checks to his company Precision Pools, for services he did not complete, according to LCSO.

Investigators said they found more victims from Lee County as well as Muscogee and Harris counties in Georgia.

Two warrants were obtained through Lee County for Theft of Property in the First Degree (by deception) as well as a Fugitive from Justice Warrant for Harris County Georgia on Theft Charges, the LCSO release said.

Napier was arrested in Lee County on March 14, has posted a $10,000 bond and is being held in the Lee County Jail awaiting extradition to Harris County.

Deputies said more charges are expected in Lee County as well as other jurisdictions.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-7867.
The Girl Scouts of South Alabama are gearing up to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Auburn Girl Scout Hut.

The celebration will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at 234 E. Drake Ave., and will consist of face painting, crafts and demonstrations of Girl Scout skills such as building a campfire and pitching a tent. And of course, Girl Scout cookies will be served.

We want to recognize the huts rich history, said Emma Pitts, marketing and communications Specialist for the Girl Scouts of South Alabama. It has really helped pave its way through Lee County and provided many young girls with endless possibilities. Its just really special to the community.

The Girl Scouts of South Alabama council was founded in 1922 and covers 30 counties across the state. The hut was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in December 2021 and has hosted meetings of local Girl Scout troops since the 1930s.

Veteran Girl Scouts are encouraged to attend Sundays event.

Girl Scout alumnae can view old scrapbooks and a fashion show of vintage uniforms, as well as write about their experiences as a Girl Scout in the guest book.

There will be a lot of nostalgia, Pitts said. It will take them back to a fun time and enjoyable time. It will also be a time for them to share their experience with younger Girl Scouts, and they can form lifelong bonds.
Niagara Bottling, LLC is coming to Opelika and bringing 50 full-time jobs to the area.

On Tuesday, the Opelika City Council announced that the beverage manufacturer from Delaware has chosen to put their new production facility in the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park along Interstate 85.

Besides new job opportunities, the capital investment is estimated to be $112 million, according to a release from the city.

Niagara Bottling plans to begin construction no later than June 1, and it hopes to be operating no later than April 15, 2023. The bottling facility will be about 500,000 square feet.

It is truly an honor when an industry chooses to invest in our community, Mayor Gary Fuller said in the release. We are glad to assist Niagara Bottling in their continued success.

During a public hearing at the council meeting, one citizen asked how much water the company would use and whether Opelikas water supply would be affected by this new facility.

Council President Eddie Smith replied that the company will become the largest water user in the city and we have an abundance of water.

Lori Huguley, Opelikas economic development director, added that the company will use about 400 gallons of water a day, which will not damage the water supply but will actually enhance it because the water needs to be moved.

We have been working on this project in connection with Opelika utilities, Huguley said. Opelika Utilities has so much excess water now they actually need a big user like them to be able to move the water through the system, so Opelika Utilities is very much on board about being excited  that were getting a big user in here.

Niagara Bottling has been a family owned and operated business since 1963 and is a leading beverage manufacturer in the U.S.

We value the highly competitive and attractive combination of location, infrastructure, logistics and workforce in Opelika, said Brian Hess, executive vice president for Niagara Bottling, in the release. Niagara has built a strong team and community relationships throughout the United States, and looks forward to maintaining our leadership in the areas of manufacturing, innovation, supply chain and overall environmental stewardship.

The Opelika City Council approved a resolution to authorize a project agreement between the City of Opelika, the Opelika Industrial Development Authority and Niagara Bottling, as well as another resolution to approve certain tax abatements and exemptions for Niagara Bottling, LLC and Bo Knows Bottling! Properties, LLC.

Opelika has agreed to extend the water main and sanitary sewer line to the property and to design and construct a deceleration lane to improve roadway traffic into the facility.

Niagara Bottlings decision to locate its new production facility in Opelika is a testament to Alabamas strong business climate and the many advantages we can offer companies looking to energize their growth plans, Governor Kay Ivey said in the release. Niagara Bottling is making a significant investment to launch this operation, and we are happy that the company chose to do it in Sweet Home Alabama.

Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said he looks forward to seeing Niagara Bottling grow and thrive in Opelika because it perfectly aligns with their strategic economic development objectives.

The top-level priorities of Alabamas economic development team are creating meaningful job opportunities for citizens around the state and bringing in new investment to invigorate communities, Canfield stated in the release.


Thank you for Reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
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.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday urged swift containment of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Xi made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to analyze the COVID-19 epidemic situation.

Since the COVID-19 response measures were enforced on a regular basis, China has effectively responded to regional cluster infections and provided the best protection for people's lives and health as it can, Xi said.

The country's economic performance and COVID-19 response, which both led the world, fully demonstrated its strength and capacity in epidemic prevention and control. It also showed the advantages of the CPC's leadership and the socialist system, he noted.

"Victory comes from perseverance," Xi said. He asked all departments and regions to prepare for complexity and difficulty in COVID-19 response at home and abroad.

The people should always come first, said Xi. He stressed science-based and accurate measures and the adherence to the dynamic zero-COVID policy to curb the spread of the epidemic soonest.

He called for further scientific and technological innovation in research and development of vaccines, rapid testing reagents, and medicines to make the prevention and control more targeted.

More effective measures should be taken to achieve maximum effect in prevention and control with minimum cost, and to reduce the impact on socioeconomic development as much as possible, said Xi.

Noting the recent local COVID-19 cluster transmissions appeared in many places in the country, with broad coverage and frequent occurrences, the meeting called for stringent implementation of the policy of early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment.

Guidance for epidemic prevention and control should be strengthened in key areas to swiftly control local cluster cases, said the meeting.

The meeting stressed the need to secure the production and supply of daily necessities and ensure people's need for medical treatment.

It also underlined the importance of comprehensively improving the capacities of epidemic transmission monitoring, early warning, and emergency response.

The meeting asked for strengthened virus control efforts at ports to build a strong defense against imported cases and enhanced regular prevention and control measures in schools and other key places.

Greater efforts ought to be made in advancing the administration of COVID-19 vaccines and raising the vaccination rate to reinforce the defense against the epidemic, the meeting emphasized.

Relevant departments should inform the public of the latest epidemic situation and the progress of the epidemic prevention work on a timely basis, noted the meeting.

The meeting urged all localities to stay on high alert, lose no time, and attend to every aspect and detail when implementing epidemic containment measures.

In regions where the epidemic hit, officials at all levels must consider epidemic prevention and control their top priority and put their utmost effort toward the successful containment of the virus, the meeting underscored.

Officials who have lost control of the epidemic due to dereliction of duty must be investigated immediately following discipline and regulations, the meeting added.
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Oof this one was tough. Spilled water on my laptop keyboard  so had to do post on my iPhone until my laptop dries 

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you got water all over the post :(

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Need to dry it off.

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oh nooo. you are a trooper already for these, adding doing it on your phone is another level!

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Thank you for continuing these!

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thank you for these posts

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You are amazing thank you so much for these posts!!!

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Youre a badass

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Hope your keyboard is ok! Thanks as always for these poets OP! 

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I realized I've never said thank you for these posts which is an unforgivable oversight. So, thank you, for your dedication, op.

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Thank you so much for these

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Triple thank you for today's post after having to deal with that.

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Thank you so much for continuing to do these posts.

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Your dedication to these are  *chef kiss* Thank you.

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thank you for keeping these posts going, OP! discussing these events the last few weeks has really helped me cope 



Edited at 2022-03-18 01:27 pm (UTC)

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I too cried at Erin Burnett's interview with Serhiy Perebyinis. It was so heartbreaking.



I'm worried about everyone in Mariupol rn

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Arnolds video was pretty interesting to watch. I do think its worth addressing the Russian people right now, its hard to tell what they do or dont know.

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I was really surprised about how well done and thoughtful it was! I thought the parts about his father fighting in Leningrad as part of the Nazi army and how he came back with both physical injuries and immense guilt was very important. I know there's still so much stigma around talking about relatives that fought for Hitler, but it's important to learn from their mistakes.

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This is one of the few times in my life I've had charitable thoughts toward this man, so it's a nice change.

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Maybe the 2nd time, he did an excellent video smackdown on Jan 6 insurrectionists

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when I watched it last night it was one of the few times I wasn't embarrassed to share a nationality with him. it's very well done.

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He has fans all over the world and I think it could make some of them think twice about the false information and propaganda they are being fed. I appreciate everyone who uses their platform to battle misinformation (obviously it's much easier for him to do this than Marina Ovsyannikova, who I'm extremely worried for)

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Despite Russian attacks on civilians, Russian invasion of Ukraine has largely stalled on all fronts; Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses



GOOD. Stupid shithead Putin.

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Interesting speech by Blinken today, sounds like China is maybe thinking to hop on russias side of the fence?





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At the Ukraine/Poland border. Tired women and children leaving their country. Theyre being pestered by American preachers telling them they all need to accept Jesus as their saviour and their lives will be better. Receiving a lot of eye rolls in response. pic.twitter.com/Fjyc8ppKVe  Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) March 16, 2022



I don't even know what to say about these people anymore. They are disgusting. I don't even know what to say about these people anymore. They are disgusting.

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https://the-brave-and-the-dumb.tumblr.com/post/678965393760698368/thank-you-so-much-for-translating-everyone-reblog

pregnant Ukrainian refugees are also dealing with anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers. like, refugee with limited resources, oh yeah great situation to bring a child into /s



Edited at 2022-03-18 02:11 am (UTC) pregnant Ukrainian refugees are also dealing with anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers. like, refugee with limited resources, oh yeah great situation to bring a child into /s

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I have an acquaintance who has dedicated her life to helping refugees (feeding, clothing, finding shelter). Shes also Mormon, and it never even occurred to me the problem in that if youre a refugee trying to access abortion services. 

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Its just disgusting and Ordo Iuris is just evil and most likely funded by Kremlin/Oligarchs.

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If Jesus isn't stopping slavery and inequality at all, Jesus isn't stopping geopolitical war. That isn't what anyone needs.

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READ THE ROOM, LADIES. Fuck.

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Ukraine is 87% Christian. Leave them alone.



People driven by their spiritual faith to think of and do for the wider community are fine imo eg my moms church has done food drives then they coordinate with and rely on established organizations for logistics etc but those proselytizing at the border ugh bullying people and suggesting their fate has been unfortunate because they (allegedly) arent believers is one of the many reasons Im fine with people who are spiritual but not fine with the organization of religion.



Seems I remember during Iraq 2 that Christian leaflets were being dropped on towns full of the various Muslim sects. Its so disrespectful.

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dear fucking christ

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Idiots!!!! The more Christian thing would be providing them with water or helping them connect to safe shelter, etc.



Edited at 2022-03-18 02:53 am (UTC)

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Way to be a burden instead of a relief.

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i read something about a christian extremist had like 62 kids in his custody and polish authorities are concerned...those kinds of people are really taking advantage of this tragedy.

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This kind of shit is why I don't fuck with organized religion at all, like maybe actually do something purposeful with your time.



This is very "I'll pray for you!" What the fuck are prayers going to do for anyone in this situation.

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oh. for FUCKS sake

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i hate missionary work with a burning passion. i don't care how ~kind of a person you are, if you are engaged in this type of shit you're actively doing harm and contributing to a centuries-long history of oppression, genocide, etc.

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And my friends wonder why I despise evangelical white Christianity with the fire of ten million suns. These fucking vultures; I PROMISE you, there is a HUGE subset of these assholes cheering for this war, because Russia starting WWIII is a sign of the goddamned Rapture and they are here for it.

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Also, not to end on a down note, I really appreciate these posts. I come here daily to get the rundown and it's so helpful to read everyone's comments. So thanks, OP, for keeping on keeping on.

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I hope other celebs popular in Russia make videos like Arnold did to remind the majority of the Russian people are not the enemy and that their government is lying to them.

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They do. Smackdown of government was quick and brutal. Most of them are out of country now. It absolutely can't be compared to war, but atmosphere of fear and pressure now in Russia is overhelming.

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The government is lying, but theres responsibility on those still defending Putin. They know their country invaded another country, they know their soldiers are in another country. Theres absolutely no excuse to still be on Putins side, no matter the brainwashing. There was brainwashing in Nazi Germany too, Im still not gonna defend it.

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I'm so disappointed that Depeche Mode haven't said anything. They have a massive fanbase there and in all of Eastern Europe - it would be incredibly powerful if they spoke out.

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I know this isnt important in the scheme of things but My conservative dad has returned home. and I was scared to death of his take on Ukraine. And his take was to praise Biden on the level-headedness of his response. Now, I know from experience this doesnt mean he wont at some future time go down some right-wing black hole of suck, but holy shit Im so relieved I dont have to hear him talking to his conservative friends about how Russia needs to invade Ukraine because of the Nazis or some bullshit.

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ia, my whole family is republican, and the area that im in is heavily saturated, but they all support ukraine. and its funny, because they think democrats are the ones against ukraine. i think both parties are so invested with proving the other is worse that theyre ignoring the actual situation itself. or maybe im just having a bad day lol

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Its fair to say the shitheads in this situation have come from both the right and the left. Its really weird to watch play out on social media, where theyre in separate bubbles but spreading the same propaganda framed by different shitty arguments.

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I know Biden is far from perfect, but I'm so relieved as a European that he is President and not Trump. At the very least, he has years and years of experience in foreign policy (from what I understand).

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I cant believe Im crying over a speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger, like, fuck.



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Same. That was really well done and touching.

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https://playforukraine.life/ My friends mom who lives in Kyiv shared this website on Facebook. It uses browser traffic to knockout websites serving the Russian military.

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This game is so addictive, really easy way to help. Thanks for sharing!

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I don't comment on these posts because I get so upset irl about this that I usually visit ONTD to relax, but I want to thank the OP for these posts and for keeping everybody updated. I really hope this invasion will end soon, but I'm not delusional and know that these things will keep happening because, unfortunately, they have happened many, many times, in a lot of countries. I'm not a fan of Schwarzenegger but I appreciate him making this video and addressing his father's past as a Nazi soldier, since most people try to hide this. Whether the people who fought for the Nazis believed in their government or not, they have to address the fact that they fought to defend one of the most horrying events in the history of the world.

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last night i was in a pessimistic mood and was opining about how i feared that world war iii had already started, drawing parallels to how appeasement failed to stop hitler in the sudetenland so why would we expect it to work on putin now. and yes of course the world has changed and no historical parallel is ever perfect. but i find it impossible not to see the echoes.



tonight i've talked myself around to a more optimistic thought. maybe my logical fallacy here is assuming that the SECOND world war was inevitable. crimea may have been the sudetenland but the parallel for ukraine, a full-scale military invasion of a neighboring country, is the invasion of poland. (hell, hitler and putin even used insanely similar justifications -- that poland/ukraine was about to attack germany/russia and that they NEEDED TO PROTECT GERMAN/RUSSIAN-SPEAKERS WHO WERE BEING PERSECUTED IN THE OTHER COUNTRY. like wow, putin, my dude, when you claim to want to de-nazify a country maybe don't justify it by essentially QUOTING THE NAZIS.)



so what if... after that... britain and france just... hadn't declared war on germany? could hitler and germany have been managed in a similar way to how we're trying to manage putin and russia now?? i mean, obviously i have no idea and that's a completely rhetorical question, but it's my ~deep thought~ for the night.



maybe world war iii isn't inevitable because maybe world war ii ALSO wasn't inevitable.



or maybe because yes, no historical moment is ever a complete re-tread of a prior. history doesn't repeat itself, i know, but as the saying goes, i does often rhyme so i maintain it's an interesting thought experiment if nothing else.



OR ALTERNATIVELY maybe, to answer my own rhetorical question, we COULDN'T have countered hitler the same way we're trying to do putin because (1) the more insular economies of the mid-20th century wouldn't have been as vulnerable to sanctions and (2) supplying arms to poland, while not impossible, would have been way less expedient than we can accomplish today. it's not nukes, which some people tried to convince me last night to no avail, that potentially changed the calculus; it's GLOBALIZATION. come on, people, if you're gonna refute me, at least come up with a good argument! don't make me do the work and find it for you!



anyway, i think my deeply pessimistic soul still thinks we're bound for world war iii, but my optimistic consciousness is leaning hard on the above to dispute myself!!



disclaimer: these are just the musings of a bored, drunk woman with an (intentionally, but still) unused government and international relations degree taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet to dump her random thoughts out so they stop rattling around her brain. so please, please don't take them too seriously!



Edited at 2022-03-18 03:21 am (UTC)

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" it's not nukes, which some people tried to convince me last night to no avail, that potentially changed the calculus; it's GLOBALIZATION."



Social media has changed the game as well. People are far more knowledgeable and critical of what their government is doing on their behalf now compared to the past. Hell, even major news broadcasters have having difficulty keeping up; meanwhile, the general public is able to report, on social media, things that are occurring live on-site and I think that makes a big difference how Governments react to calls-to-action. We're no longer waiting for the government to synchronize their decisions with news outlets anymore.

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But the bizarre thing is that Putin should know this! Hes been using using social media against his enemies for a long time. Its just nuts he never thought about how it could be used against him.

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I dont know if I have a specific response, but I have been thinking about how wrong I was about Putin. Putin has been so successful at fucking up the western world with disinfo, social engineering, cyber attacks, etc that I started to think of him as a brilliant fucking strategist.



I think I still cant quite reconcile how really scary good Russias foreign psyops have been with just how awful the Ukraine strategy has been. Like, what the fuck? For a decade Putin was winning the information war by embracing some sophisticated cyber operations and malevolent use of wealth, which seem to fully embrace modern global interconnectivity. And then he goes and invades Ukraine using outdated ideas?



Things that just dont jive with what I thought of his cunning:

-Did it not even occur to him that globalization and the modern speed of logistics means the rest of the world can work faster than a slow ground war can keep up with? That guns and ammo would be replenishing for his enemies at speeds his logistics cant keep up with? That tanks rolling through Ukraine in the spring are gonna get stuck while Ukraines allies get weapons in to them with quickness?

- And why do they keep bizarrely trying to win the propaganda war with cumbersome false flag operations that NATO finds out about while theyre still in the planning stage?

- And why did they think the de-nazification rhetoric stood a chance when Ukraine is led by a charismatic (Jewish!) leader who is a fucking awesome public speaker?

- And why would they invade a country a FIFTH their size when theyre not able to control the skies even after 3 weeks of fighting? Have they not been paying attention to modern warfare?



Anyway. Im with you on the doomsday-vs-hope roller coaster. I think, ultimately, if it WAS 1938, Europe would be fucked. But its not 1938, and despite what I thought of Putins cunning, I think hes stuck in old paradigms in a modern war.

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I hear you, I've been having a lot of thoughts about these things recently too.



One angle I was thinking about recently, is the similarities to the 1938 Munich agreement. Maybe the parallel is Crimea in 2014, maybe the parallel is anything that stops the current invasion, but whether you consider it a disastrous piece of appeasement, a concession to buy time or an honestly made agreement that was believed in, the biggest boon it gave was giving Britain and other countries time to re-arm.



In a sense, Crimea did that. One likely reason Ukraine has held up so well here, is they have experience and relatively modern equipment from the 2014 invasion. Maybe with Putin getting bogged down in Ukraine, it will give time for NATO countries who have under spent on defense for a while to re-arm if/when Putin decides to push over the boarder into Poland and other countries.

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I just want to tell you that I take a solid five to ten minute block to read your musings and the comments to them, because I want to get each and every point you're working through in what I feel like is real time. And to commend you for posting them. I have learned much and filled in the blanks on things that I haven't studied in legit *25 years* (College was a long time ago for me). So thank you, and don't stop.

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Fiona Hill actually tried to get Arnold made the US ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration, thinking he was one of the few people who could talk sense into Putin.



Judging by this, hed have done a hell of a job. https://t.co/UBCAW666S2  max seddon (@maxseddon) March 17, 2022



I think he was a terrible governor, but Fiona Hill might have been onto something. I think he was a terrible governor, but Fiona Hill might have been onto something.

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Putin only listens to Putin.

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Yes. But hes also got some weird masculinity hang ups. I can sort of see the logic of Arnold being someone he would WANT to appeal to.

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When a far-right party held a press conference in parliament to criticise "privileges" being granted to Ukrainian refugees, the media boycotted the event.



Journalists sat at a nearby table, leaving the MPs to speak to switched-off cameras and microphones https://t.co/RmPIFIWzry  Notes from Poland  (@notesfrompoland) March 17, 2022

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This is how all the chucklefucks on the right should be treated.

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Its what they deserve. Konfederacja thinks giving people who escaped war some sense of dignity is a privilege.

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The far right in *every* country is pro-Putin. Its fascinating to watch, but I guess fascists stick together.

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This set is cursed y'all.

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The show's always been a mess. I still don't know how it's been on this long. The show's always been a mess. I still don't know how it's been on this long.

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why it's still on is super simple: it makes loads and loads of money

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i'm so happy sam finally got his oscar for this role :')

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And it has well overstayed its welcome.

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this reminds me of a really crazy story i read on twitter of a guy who got a job in the writer's room of some military-related show based on his experience in the army and then everyone slowly started to realize all the stories he was telling were bullshit



The doubt arose after Finch cited a family emergency and left the writers room to address it. Colleagues phoned Finchs wife, Jennifer Beyer, similarities to the story Finch told them and Beyers history matched.



also, is this saying she passed off her wife's stories as her own?

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i read the article so you don't have to. that is indeed what it sounds like and they are now getting divorced as a result. the writer if the article could stand to use less words and get a direct point across because they dance all around it without outright saying that.

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Im confused bc its described as Finch calling it a family emergency. So, is it like, she told them a detailed description of her wifes family emergency that happened a long time ago as if it was currently happening to her, not her wife?

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I don't understand how her wife wouldn't have found out earlier that she was doing this.

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Wasn't it a woman who did that? Unless that was another show lol.



Yeah idg that part with calling the wife, what exactly made them suspicious?

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Tropic Thunder lol

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I remember that one! I wish I could remember the details so I could post it, it was wild

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yess that is exactly what i was thinking of

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The man who claimed to be indigenous to get a job on Star Trek Voyager as a Native American consultant during Chakotays development. He had been lying about his heritage since the late 1960s.

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68 Whiskey ! I loved that show. That story was insane.

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is that set never NOT a mess? whew

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ER is the superior show anyway.

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https://ew.com/article/1998/10/30/riley-weston-fooled-us-all-about-her-age/ This happened way back on Felicity. A woman claimed to be 19 and was praised as this teen writer genius but she was 32.

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What in the CW casting age bullshit was that?? No white 32 year old woman looks 19, despite how many times she still get carded (hate to break it to people who take it as a compliment, when you're a new server/cashier the rule of thumb is to card anyone that looks under 40). This must be an Emperor's New Clothes situation, right? Like no one believed a rational adult would lie about being significantly younger than they are so they just assume they're a haggard looking 19?

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it was the 90s

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Like the TV show Younger? I love Sutton Foster but no way she could pass for 28 instead of late 30s,40 something...

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I forgot about this lol

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Lmao! The nerve!

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Lol yes I remember hearing about this!!

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some time ago there was a vague blind item on twitter about a tv writer being a fraud

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Yikes. I feel terrible for her wife.



It's interesting that the episode HWR cites her as doing press for is one of the best in the last 5 years, but maybe that's because it was a group effort and all the women writers had experiences to contribute.

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fuck i injured my sacrum and this made me laugh/hurt

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So like, none of her friends or family every saw the show or read any of her essays? But someone on the show called her wife and she what, spilled the beans?

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yeah something about this was weird, if my spouse was in a high profile job enough so to be writing essays on news platforms, and the basis of those essays were not only untrue but literally my own experience... something about the timeline is odd.

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This is what I'm wondering, how would her wife not find out that she was passing off her experiences as her own unless she literally didn't hear anything about her work.

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this is what is baffling me



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She didnt just lie in the press. She took weeks and months off of work, with Shonda Rhimess blessing, as she herself wrote about in Elle Magazine multiple times. She had other writers pull all nighters pick up the slack when she was unable to complete production on her credited episodes, but was miraculously able to muster strength to appear on screen. She brought work in the writersroom to grinding halts on many occasions as she sent us bad news from medical appointments, and we cried and prayed for her. She shut down other writers pitches for medical stories, even ones based on their loved ones, insisting that she knew better because she had lived it and her voice was the one that mattered. She appeared on ADA panels preaching about accurate disability representation in media while literally stealing a job that should have been given to a person with a real disability. This woman has made millions while occupying a seat that should have been given to a real minority while her colleagues did her homework.

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Holy shit.

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HowI almost feel like her ex-wife mustve known that she was passing the stories off as her own. And now that theyre divorcing its all coming to light?



Wild, and scummy.

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yeah maybe there's a lot left to be revealed but right now her ex-wife seems complicit in this until she wanted to stick it to her in the divorce

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oh FUCK her

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Yikes. Thats.. a lot of crazy.

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Bad Art WIFE. We've upgraded

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Thats messed up. She wrote some of my favorite episodes back when I used to be obsessed with this show. What would possess someone to lie like that? Good grief.

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She really is her own person isnt she

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I will say that Ive never seen anyone quite like her before

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girl i knew you'd be the one to post this lmao. lmao so all the money her mother was sending her for rent, she was spending on shitty coke for her 23 year internet famous fiends. lolol

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Who doesn't forget to pay rent for about eighteen months sometimes.

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Did she only get that far bc of eviction freezes or what??

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I never didn't pay my rent for longer than twelve months, so I can't answer that question.

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Yes, the eviction moratorium in New York ended at just about the time she up and left the apartment

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I wish I could

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She left that studio apartment a fucking mess, it was NASTY.

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Shes definitely not getting her security deposit applied to the outstanding balance

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It was disgusting! I dont know how Rachel and her friends could even be in there and not be inhaling tons of dust and dirt, mold, and paint.

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I want to see. SHOW ME.

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the tub still being full with water. she's got issues.

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That doesnt surprise me at all based on the info in the post. Some people just suck.

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the fact that she originally planned to COOK for other people for her creativity workshop using her nasty kitchen... I'm glad it fell through or she would have poisoned everyone.

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Why Florida

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Her moms family built Sarasota, thats where her family money comes from

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TIL what Sarasota is

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no way, forreal? I grew up in SRQ! Do you know who her parents are? I'd love to know more!!

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I mean weve been known she sucks but also like thats the risk that comes with being a landlord, I guess you just gotta hustle harder idk

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the property management conglomerate that owns her building better pull themselves up by their bootstraps

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maybe get a second job and stop getting starbucks all the time

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They just need to work. And surround themselves with people who work.

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No more avocado toast!

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Ikr. Get a real job

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her very invested subreddit must be delighted

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drag me lol

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link me tho

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Besides the scams and that article in The Cut, Caroline's terribly uninteresting to follow. That sub is weird.

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Swindlers gonna swindle

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Jfc I always figured she was one of those vague rich people that has parents that are always willing to swoop in (I work in the arts I literally know dozens of these people) but she genuinely is just kind of maybe upper middle class (this is still rich to me but not I owe 40k rich) and is just cosplaying to be that type of rich.



Edited at 2022-03-18 08:51 pm (UTC)

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she comes from money, but not "never work a day in your life" type wealth and also spent wildly on top of that. Her dad died in debt and her mom and stepdad were both undergoing cancer treatment at various points too

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No Im an embarrassed off and on reader of

her subreddit so I do know all this but I always assumed that we dont know her entire situation and she had some type of unknown backing. The fact that shes genuinely broke and still acting like this is mind boggling (and kind of concerning tbh.

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I'll miss her

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who is this?

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american royalty

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ooooohhhh really??

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Caroline Calloway https://t.co/zwiUL2beL4  LIL BITCH (@cacasmiddlename) September 30, 2019 she is impossible to explain succinctly but if you have time to waste:

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time to sell more dreamer bbs!

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That curbed article was a strip



Im so uptight about who I let into my home, I cant imagine wanting ten strangers in my place every night

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who????? lol

I just read the Curbed article, what a waste of my time.

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i love the mess of caroline calloway but dont have the patience to actively follow so i love this update



i will say i have had a friend who accidentally did not pay rent for at least a year. i assume her landlord was so rich he didnt notice and they worked out a payment plan when it was discovered. somehow i think her genuine accident (although definitely took some willful blindness on how her bank account stayed so full) and this are not the same

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How did she accidently not pay it jw? Like.. forgot every single week? For a year? I dont buy it

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Crude oil prices extended their gains from Thursday on news that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, with both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate adding more than 2 percent shortly after the start of trade today. Oil prices later gave up some of those gains.

Negotiations have been ongoing, and earlier this week, the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources close to the talks, that "significant progress" had been made on a peace plan, albeit tentative, and on a ceasefire agreement.

Negotiators cited by Al Jazeera, however, have said that the position of the two sides was still far from reconciliation, which acted as more fuel for oil prices.

"Our delegation is putting in colossal effort," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told media on Thursday. "I repeat again, our delegation...is ready to work around the clock and has demonstrated such readiness - but unfortunately we don't see such zeal from the Ukrainian side."

"Negotiations are complicated. The positions of the parties are different. For us, fundamental issues are inviolable," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said, as quoted by Reuters.

Meanwhile, adding more fuel under oil prices, President Biden called Russia's Vladimir Putin "a war criminal" after Ukrainian President Zelensky's speech to Congress.

These latest developments have reinforced uncertainty on the oil market, further enhanced by an unsuccessful visit of the UK's Prime Minister to the UAE and Saudi Arabia to try and get them to agree to boost production after the ruler of both countries refused to speak to President Biden.

According to the Wall Street Journal, neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAEthe two OPEC members with the spare capacity to increase output substantiallywant to risk a breakup of the OPEC+ group.

The U.S. is not giving up: later this month Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will reportedly visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to RBC Capital markets' Helima Croft, where he is likely to discuss the oil problem the West is having.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Historically, the oil industry has ramped up production when prices rose to meaningful levels, but the crashes have provided producers with some key lessons along the way.

Biden has repeatedly called on the oil industry to increase production, but the industry has been slow to act, and perhaps for good reason.

In the months leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. oil production hit an all-time high of just below 13 million barrels per day (BPD). As the pandemic unfolded, demand collapsed, and production followed. By May 2020, oil production had dropped by more than 3 million BPD to 9.7 million BPD.

Since then, demand has recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Oil production, however, has only partially recovered. The most recent data available from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows current U.S. oil production at ~11.6 million BPD  still 1.4 million BPD short of pre-pandemic production. This shortfall is a major factor that led to the run-up of oil and gasoline prices over the past year.

When the pandemic crushed oil demand in 2020, some oil companies went out of business. Some small stripper wells  which accounts for a respectable amount of U.S. oil production  were permanently capped given the bleak outlook. Some workers left the oil industry.

Now, with oil prices over $100/bbl, many are questioning why production hasnt bounced all the way back. The Biden Administration has pointed fingers at the oil industry, stating they have stockpiled 9,000 permits they arent using. The oil industry says that the problem  in part  is the hostile policies of the Biden Administration.

Setting politics aside, here is what we know. The part about the oil industry stockpiling permits  mostly ahead of President Biden taking office  is true. I have reported on this before. However, that doesnt mean they are sitting on them.

Obtaining a permit is just one step in the chain that ultimately results in oil production. There are many other links in that chain, some of which are still problematic today. Further, they cant just sit on the permits. There is generally a use it or lose it provision that requires them to give up a permit if they dont develop the lease over a specified period.

Thus, we have oil production that cant bounce back quickly because some has been shut in, and new production that cant proceed as quickly due to manpower and material shortages (e.g., fracking sand). Its not simply that oil companies are sitting on permits. They are working through them. The number of rigs drilling for oil and gas has risen by 60% over the past year. But it can take years for a permit to translate into oil production (if the location even yields oil).

But why did they stockpile so many permits? Stacey Morris, who is Director of Research for midstream index and data provider Alerian elaborated on these issues when I reached out to her for comment:

The President mentioned thousands of permits on federal lands. The permit number is inflated from stockpiling. Companies stockpiled permits on federal lands leading up to the Presidents inauguration, because several Democratic candidates, including the president, supported banning new drilling permits on federal lands. Permits do not equate to production. There are a number of steps between securing a permit and actually bringing a well to production, and issues like labor constraints and fracking sand shortages are added obstacles.

That leads me to another issue with the oil companies themselves, where Ms. Morris added:

Investors have demanded that producers maintain capital discipline and grow volumes modestly. Returns have taken priority over growth. Up until recently, a producer planning to significantly grow production volumes would likely have been punished by investors. However, that sentiment may be changing with oil prices where they are and the potential need to replace Russian barrels on the global market.

The geopolitical situation and oil price level may give US producers a license to grow volumes more meaningfully. It takes time for producers to respond to prices, though, and the price signal was not strong enough for E&Ps to potentially veer from their plans for moderate growth until recently. Private producers have been able to ramp upstream activity more meaningfully given that they do not have to answer to a public investor base.

Oil companies regularly lose money. In four of the past ten years, the oil industry lost money. Big oil lost $76 billion just two years ago. Therefore, they are proceeding with caution. They are maintaining more capital discipline. They arent rushing to do projects with the assumption that oil prices will remain above $100/bbl. They are doing projects with the assumption that in a year or more when the projects might pay off, oil prices will have retreated to well below $100/bbl.

On this issue, the Biden Administration is correct. The oil industry is going slow. But this belies a misunderstanding of how long it takes to execute a project. Oil companies dont have crystal balls. They have to make decisions now based on where they think prices are headed. Because of multiple collapses in oil prices over the past decade, they are proceeding with more caution and capital discipline.

These are issues in which there seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding  which leads to finger-pointing  between the Biden Administration and the oil industry. Given the circumstances, as I wrote previously I believe the Biden Administration should convene a summit with the heads of the major oil companies. There should be frank dialogue, and the outcome should be clearly communicated to the world.

By Robert Rapier

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Europe Can Survive Throughout Summer Without Russian Gas

If Russian gas flows to Europe were interrupted now, Europe would have enough gas to last it through the end of this winter and the following summer without having to curtail demand, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Friday.

European gas storage levels will likely be within the five-year range by the end of this winter, thanks to mild weather, more arrivals of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and sustained imports from Norway, according to WoodMac.

If Russian flows continue, the European Union (EU) and the UK will end this winters heating season with 27 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in storage, which is a level within the five-year range.

Although energy exports are not part of the sanctions against Russia currently, there is a risk that Moscow could stop flows as a countermeasure to intensifying sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

If Russian flows stop in the middle of March, gas in store would be sufficient for the rest of this winter and summer, without demand curtailment, said Kateryna Filippenko, principal analyst on Wood Mackenzies Europe gas and LNG team.

While this winter and the summer could be easier for Europe without Russian gas, some demand curtailments in the 2022-2023 winter will be inevitable, according to WoodMacs Filippenko.

Higher natural gas imports from Norway and Algeria, more LNG, slowing the phase-out of coal, and delaying maintenance shutdowns on nuclear power plants could also free up some gas for the power generation sector, perhaps as much as 13 bcm until the end of October 2022, according to Wood Mackenzie.

The EU is overhauling its energy strategy following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the European Commission unveiled last week a plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas. The EU will seek to diversify gas supplies, speed up the roll-out of renewable gases, and replace gas in heating and power generationall this can reduce EU demand for Russian gas by two-thirds before the end of the year, the Commission says. In addition, the Commission will propose that by October 1, gas storage in the EU has to be filled up to at least 90%.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The International Energy Agency has released a 10-point plan aimed at reducing global oil consumption by as much as 2.7 million barrels daily.

The focus of the measure that the IEA has put forward is on transportation. Measures include encouraging carpooling on inter-urban journeys and the use of alternative modes of transportation such as trains and bicycles.

Boosting fuel efficiency by changing driver habits in the freight transport industry is also among the ideas that the IEA is suggesting in a bid to cut oil consumption. So is the idea of reducing speed limits on highways to reduce fuel consumption.

According to the agency, some 290,000 bpd in oil demand could be eliminated by reducing speed limits on highways. Another half a million barrels daily of oil could be saved if more people adopt a hybrid work model, staying at home for up to three days a week.

Yet another 380,000 bpd of oil consumption could be saved, according to the IEA, if large cities ban cars for one day a week. This has been done before, the agency noted in its report, and it has had the added benefit of stimulating the use of alternative, non-polluting, and non-oil-consuming means of transportation such as bicycles and walking.

Lowering public transport prices is also among the measures proposed by the IEA, which noted some cities have done this and have seen increased use of public transport at the expense of private car transport. Encouraging people to walk more instead of driving is also among the ideas of reducing oil consumption. As a result, the IEA says, some 330,000 bpd in oil could be saved.

Increased adoption of EVs is also on the list, with the IEA noting that currently, there are supply chain problems that are affecting the uptake of electric vehicles. To address this, the IEA has proposed facilitating logistical coordination to shore up flows of materials and components.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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More than two years after Charles Schwabs blockbuster acquisition of TD Ameritrade, the merged company employs more workers in Omaha than Ameritrade did, and its looking to hire hundreds more, Schwabs CEO said during a visit to Omaha.

We are very committed to Omaha, Walt Bettinger said in an exclusive interview, the first hes given locally since the merger of the brokerage giants was announced in November 2019. Its a great location. The quality of the talent here is outstanding.

Bettinger put the combined companys current workforce in Omaha at about 2,400.

For comparison, TD Ameritrade reported it had roughly 2,300 workers in the city several weeks before the merger announcement. Schwab says a head count taken in the month after the announcement showed 2,060 Ameritrade workers in Omaha. Based on either figure, Schwab is now employing more people here.

That number could grow to 2,700 if Schwab is able to fill 300 currently open positions in Omaha. The new jobs are driven by the combined companys continued growth, as it has added millions of new customer accounts and $650 billion in investment assets since the deal closed in 2020.

Bettinger noted at the time of the merger talks in fall 2019 that Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts had asked for a clause in the agreement that he hoped would offer some protection for Omaha workers.

Bettinger said he had no problem agreeing to Ricketts request, because he was confident of the merged companys future growth potential.

I kept saying, I have no issue with that whatsoever, because this combination is going to be so successful, were going to be growing and have even more people in Omaha,  he said. Were grateful thats how its panned out.

One thing that has not been a factor in Schwabs decision to stay and grow here: the states business tax incentives.

In an effort to retain local jobs, the Legislature approved millions in tax breaks for big acquiring companies when they merge with Nebraska firms.

Schwab has not applied to receive the incentives, and apparently does not intend to. Bettinger said its Schwabs philosophy to make job-siting decisions based on how best to serve customers for the long term.

Bettinger on Wednesday made his first visit to Omaha since the merger announcement, calling it an overdue trip that was delayed by two years because of the pandemic. He said a planned trip to Omaha was the first he had to cancel when COVID-19 began spreading across the country in March 2020.

Wednesday plans in Omaha included grabbing lunch with rank-and-file workers in the company cafeteria and a town hall with hundreds of employees. He said he looks forward to regular trips to Omaha to get to know the workers better.

We are going to make every effort now that things seem to be opening up a bit to make up for lost ground, he said.

Schwabs growing Omaha employment was applauded by David Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. He said he wasnt surprised that Schwab has embraced the citys talented workers.

Omaha continues to be a prolific place for large corporate facilities as companies see the productivity and commitment of their Omaha workforce, he said.

The $26 billion Schwab-Ameritrade merger announcement two years ago was seen as a corporate gut-punch for Omaha.

It meant the loss of the headquarters of a homegrown Fortune 1,000 company. And it threw into doubt the future of workers in Ameritrades headquarters complex, towering over Interstate 680 and West Dodge Road.

Now over two years later, Omahas place in the merged company that employs some 33,000 nationally has become more clear.

Omaha ranks as Schwabs fifth-largest employment center, after its new headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, Phoenix, Denver and Austin. There are now more Schwab workers in Omaha than in San Francisco, Schwabs former headquarters.

Both Schwabs current Omaha workforce and the open jobs here span the gamut of company operations, Bettinger said, from human resources, finance, risk management, technology, and retail work with customers.

Bettinger said he understands what its like to be part of a firm bought by another. He had founded a company that was acquired by Schwab in 1995.

Trust and commitment need to be built between former competitors, he said. And he knows there can be a sense of loss within the acquired firm.

But he said he also senses a growing excitement among Schwab workers about what the combined company can accomplish.

Like other companies, Schwab is planning for a future workplace environment forever changed by the pandemic. The company will begin a phased-in return to the office on April 25.

To add flexibility, workers now have 90 work location flex days per year  nearly two per week  when they can choose to work outside the office. They can also request more such days, and about half have done so.

When it all shakes out, Bettinger ultimately expects that on any given day about half the companys Omaha workers will be in the office. Even for workers who are full-time remote, he continues to believe opportunities to connect in-person are important.

Humans are social creatures, he said. Its still important to have that engagement with your colleagues.

The work to combine the two companies also continues, with the TD Ameritrade name not expected to completely go away until the merger is fully completed next year.

But some rebranding has begun. Bettinger said hes thrilled that the Schwab name is going up on the former TD Ameritrade Park, the home of the College World Series. Hes been promised it will be done in time for this years CWS, and he might make it back for a game or two.

Im thrilled about Omaha, and thrilled about the growth here, he said, and excited to see what the future will bring.

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China's top economic planner has unveiled major tasks in promoting new urbanization and integrated urban-rural development in 2022, vowing to deepen reform of the household registration system and help migrant workers better integrate into cities.



In deepening reform of the household registration system, cities with a permanent resident population under 3 million should remove all limits on household registration, according to the plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The renovation of old urban communities will be accelerated, as the country aims to improve the basic living conditions of 8.4 million households in 2022, according to the plan.

The supply of government-subsidized housing will be increased, with a focus on addressing the concerns of new arrivals and young people in big cities, the plan says.

China's urbanization rate of permanent residence hit 64.72 percent in 2021, said the NDRC. The country aims to raise its urbanization rate to 65 percent during the 2021-2025 period, according to the 14th Five-Year Plan.
Nebraska's hospital and medical associations have sent a letter to state senators encouraging them to devote a share of the state's federal pandemic funding to bolstering the health care workforce.

Leaders of the Nebraska Hospital Association and the Nebraska Medical Association, which represents many of the state's doctors, also raised concerns in a letter dated Thursday that the Legislature's proposal does not reserve contingency funds for future public health response needs.

The associations are not alone in lobbying for a share of the state's allotment under the American Rescue Plan Act. The ARPA funding bill will be on Wednesday's legislative agenda. The committee proposal would use $1.03 billion of the $1.04 billion that Nebraska will get from ARPA.

Jeremy Nordquist, the hospital association's president, said the groups' members are concerned about the lack of investment in initiatives that would immediately strengthen the state's health care workforce, particularly in rural Nebraska. That workforce has suffered losses during the pandemic.

A study by the Nebraska Center for Nursing indicated the state will face a shortage of 5,435 nurses by the year 2025. That number actually is expected to be higher given the losses of nurses due to the pandemic. As of last week, some 7,247 open nursing positions in Nebraska were posted on Indeed.com.

According to a University of Nebraska Medical Center health care workforce study, every Nebraska county but Douglas and Lancaster has been designated a shortage area for at least one type of physician primary care specialty. Nearly a fifth of physicians in the state are approaching retirement age.

The associations urged the Legislature to appropriate funds for three initiatives to jump-start the health care workforce:

 $5 million for nursing scholarships.

 $5 million for rural health professional student loan repayment.

 Ongoing operational funding for the Rural Health Complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Nordquist said the associations' leaders also are concerned about a lack of contingency funding for future public health emergencies, such as another wave of COVID-19.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, he said, had included $20 million each for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year in his ARPA spending proposal to cover hospital capacity needs, including traveling nurses. The committee's proposal does not include such funds.

Nordquist noted that the state's hospitals are only six weeks removed from having a limit on elective procedures due to high numbers of COVID patients.

The state has until 2026 to spend the ARPA funds. The Legislature could set aside contingency funds and "have that there as a backstop."

"We don't know what the future holds," he said.

World-Herald Staff Writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report.

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A 23-year-old man from Superior, Nebraska, was killed when the vehicle he was driving collided with a semitrailer truck in south-central Nebraska.

The crash occurred about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Webster County Sheriff's Office said. Juan Perez was driving south on Nebraska Highway 78 about 7 miles north of Guide Rock when his vehicle collided with a northbound semi. Perez was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi driver was not hurt.
LOS ANGELES  Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry wrote a letter to the clerk of the House of Representatives on Monday, informing the clerk that he would not be attending votes but would vote by proxy.

The reason he gave? The ongoing public health emergency.

Fortenberry, who represents Nebraskas 1st District, did not mention in the letter that he is tied up with something else this week and next: a federal trial on three felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that the 61-year-old Republican misled authorities about whether he knew that a Nigerian billionaire had funneled $30,000 to his campaign at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Of the three charges, Fortenberry faces two counts of lying to authorities investigating the fundraiser.

Fortenberry and his attorneys deny he lied.

In the letter to the House clerk, Fortenberry wrote: I am unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency. I hereby grant the authority to cast my vote by proxy to the Hon. John Moolenaar (Michigan), who has agreed to serve as my proxy.

Andy Braner, Fortenberrys chief of staff, told The World-Herald that Fortenberry sought approval from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vote by proxy and received it. House members have done so thousands of times during the pandemic.

For the last two years, Speaker Pelosi has ruled, the only reason for members to be absent for votes is due to the COVID emergency, Braner said in a statement. As Mr. Fortenberrys trial (originally scheduled for February) was delayed due to the COVID shutdown of the California courts, (Pelosis) office allowed for Mr. Fortenberry to vote proxy (now).

I would also note, there have been hundreds of members submit a similar letter to navigate COVID effects on a variety of scheduling conflicts. This isnt something abnormal.

Just Thursday, Braner said, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the House Minority Leader, blasted the fact that many members of both parties rarely show up for votes. McCarthy has long been an opponent of proxy voting.

Jamie Dupree, who has covered Congress since 1986, obtained the letter and posted it this week.

The letter is dated Monday. A pretrial hearing in the Fortenberry case was held in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Jury selection took place Wednesday. And the trial opened Thursday  the same day the House voted overwhelmingly to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, the Associated Press reported. Voting via proxy, Fortenberry joined the vast majority of his colleagues in supporting the measure.

At the end of Thursday's court proceedings, a television reporter asked Fortenberry why he cited the health crisis, instead of the fact that hes here in LA.

See you tomorrow, Fortenberry said.

Fortenberry announced Jan. 18 he had been diagnosed with a moderate case of COVID-19 and that he would vote by proxy and work from home. That occurred eight weeks ago.

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In 2011, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services wrote a bill that would allow well-behaved prisoners the chance to shorten their time behind bars.

Eleven years later, that same department is applying the resulting law in a way neither the state senator who sponsored the bill nor the then-director of Nebraskas prisons intended.

Prison officials now shorten a prisoners final release date, but never change the day that prisoner becomes eligible for parole.

The result: Thousands of prisoners sentenced under the law have potentially stayed in prison for days, weeks or months longer than the laws authors intended.

The debate over the meaning of three dozen words buried in a state law has made its way to the Nebraska Supreme Court, whose decision could shorten the stays of thousands of people in the states chronically overcrowded prisons.

The Flatwater Free Press, in partnership with The World-Herald, looked at the case in light of the debate over how Nebraska should address its prison overcrowding and whether it should build a new prison.

On one side: The Corrections Department argues that its properly following the 11-year-old law when it comes to calculating when a prisoner is eligible for parole. If theres a flaw, its in the language of the law itself, state lawyers have argued in court.

On the other: Robert Heist II, who has been imprisoned since 2016, argues that the department is misreading the law and delaying parole eligibility.

In some cases, prisoners end up being released with no supervision  jamming out in prison-speak  before they even become parole eligible.

When you become parole eligible after youre done with your sentence, it doesnt make any sense. Thats just ridiculous, Heist said in an interview. And it is contributing to overcrowding, because if you postpone peoples parole eligibility, theyre just sitting around longer.

Nebraskas prison good time calculations are complex. The law has gone through several makeovers during its half-century on the books.

Legislative Bill 191 was meant to add to the states already existing good time  day-for-day credit prisoners earn for behaving, which effectively cuts many sentences in half. The change proposed by prison administrators in 2011 allowed prisoners to earn an additional three days of good time each month if they avoided certain disciplinary offenses after being imprisoned for a year.

The bill, written by Corrections officials and sponsored by then-Sen. Brenda Council, was expected to save the state at least $1.08 million over a decade.

This provision has the potential to lower the prison population, and, therefore, reduce costs, Bob Houston, former corrections director, said at a 2011 legislative hearing. It also rewards good behavior within the prison system.

But the states interpretation of the law  correct or not  quietly contributes to the states ongoing struggle with overcrowded prisons. It keeps the thousands of parole-eligible prisoners sentenced since 2011 from earning up to 36 days per year toward their parole eligibility date.

Nebraska continues to grapple with one of the most crowded prison systems in the country, reaching 152% of the systems design capacity as of December. The state has sought advice from outside consultants like the Boston-based Crime and Justice Institute on how to tackle the issue.

But little attention has been paid to the states interpretation of the LB 191 law. Heist first filed a grievance of the parole calculation in June 2019. So far, no one in the Ricketts administration or the Legislature has pushed to change the wording of the law so that its meaning can be clarified.

Getting prisoners in front of the parole board sooner is a good thing as it relates to overcrowding, said Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, who has grappled with prison overcrowding for years. Anything we can do that gets someone parole eligible sooner, I think is beneficial.

The question now before the Nebraska Supreme Court: Should the three days a month earned for good behavior be applied to the date when a prisoner first becomes eligible for parole?

The state senator who sponsored the bill and the former head of prisons say yes.

Making prisoners parole eligible sooner was an intended result of the bill, both Council and Houston told the Flatwater Free Press.

I introduced this bill as a means of providing additional ways to reduce the prison population and get people parole eligible, Council said in an interview.

The days were meant to apply to both a persons parole eligibility date and jam date, she said.

If theyre not calculating it that way, theyre calculating it wrong, Council said.

The bill was meant to save the department money, Houston said. Getting people in front of the parole board sooner would have played a major role in those cost savings.

I would have definitely been in favor of affecting the minimum as well as the maximum so that peoples parole eligibility date could come sooner, said Houston, who retired from corrections in 2013 and is now a criminal justice instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Even though the maximum is coming down, the real effect of reducing the population is their ability to parole sooner.

But the state is simply following the letter of the law, state lawyers have argued to the Nebraska Supreme Court. As written, they say, that law doesnt allow for the extra good time days to go toward parole eligibility.

Corrections doesnt dispute what Council and Houston said about the intentions of good time in 2011 legislative hearings, according to court records. But the department argues its irrelevant.

Parts of Heists claim are outside the courts jurisdiction, the state argued during oral arguments in September. State law outlines that ...every committed offender shall be eligible for parole when the offender has served one half of the minimum term of his or her sentence and that good time shall be deducted from the maximum term.

This interpretation of the law has potentially affected thousands of prisoners who could have had at least a little time shaved off their sentences. But the most egregious cases are those prisoners who jam out before even becoming parole eligible.

In 2019, the department told Heist that 62 prisoners at the time had tentative release dates that preceded their parole eligibility because of their earned good time.

As of March 2022, the prisons roster listed as many as 306 individuals sentenced since 2011 who were released before they became eligible for parole.

Those prisoners  whose sentences should have included a shot at parole  become guaranteed jam outs, Heist said.

Under questioning at the Nebraska Supreme Court, the states lawyers didnt dispute that inverted sentences  when mandatory release actually comes before parole eligibility  can and do happen.

Yes, it is possible that [inverted sentences] can occur, Scott Straus, assistant attorney general for the state, said during oral arguments. However, the plain language of the statute does not let us even get to whether that result is absurd or not.

Is it an absurd result to have inverted sentences? one justice then asked Straus. Or is that just a byproduct of the statutory language created by the Legislature, which, whether they intended to or not, was what happened?

Yes, your honor, Straus said. I believe it is simply a byproduct of it.

Six months later, the court has yet to issue an opinion.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services would not respond to questions about ongoing litigation, spokeswoman Laura Strimple said in an email.

The legal issue at play isnt clear cut, according to a longtime Douglas County judge.

After reading the states good time laws, Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon said he could see how applying those extra three days a month to parole eligibility could be argued either way.

Thank God thats up to the Supreme Court to make those big decisions, Bataillon said. But the Legislature could very easily change that law if they wanted to.

The good time law, as currently applied, removes parole as an option for some prisoners  even though parole is generally regarded as a better way to reacclimate prisoners to society.

Parolees have required check-ins with their parole officer, and must line up a job and a place to live. The board often requires them to complete certain clinical programming like substance abuse treatment and violence reduction programs before being released.

Not applying good time days toward parole eligibility removes an incentive for good behavior, the very thing the additional good time days were meant to encourage, said Doug Koebernick, inspector general of the Nebraska Correctional System.

That parole eligibility date is a carrot, Koebernick said. Thats a really great incentive to get your act together, to get things done, do what the board of parole wants you to do.

In the recent report by a state-led working group reviewing criminal justice policies, all committee members, including both Republicans and Democrats in the Nebraska Legislature, agreed that its preferable that prisoners are released with some form of supervision, either parole or probation.

You dont just want someone walking out of a maximum security prison  theyre not ready for it, said Spike Eickholt, government liaison for the Nebraska ACLU. Youre setting them up to fail. Society is better off having that supervision.

Its unclear what would come of a Supreme Court decision. And it isnt the first time the departments calculations have resulted in a jam date that comes before parole eligibility.

In 2014, a World-Herald investigation led the department to realize it was using a flawed formula to calculate sentences, releasing more than 200 people too early. Those miscalculations also resulted in more than 100 prisoners being released before they were eligible for parole.

In that case, the department hadnt acted on a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling from 2013 detailing the proper way to calculate sentences with mandatory minimums. Houston, the director at the time, told The World-Herald that he hadnt been aware of the ruling until informed by the newspaper.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.
LINCOLN  A top aide to U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said the Nebraska congressman followed the proper protocol when he requested to vote by proxy and the matter is "a total non-issue."

The remarks are, in part, a response to the criticism directed at Fortenberry for using the pandemic-inspired proxy vote as he stands trial for three felony counts in Los Angeles.

"I don't know why this is blowing up," Fortenberry chief of staff Andy Braner said of the proxy vote request.

The issue started after Fortenberry wrote a letter, dated Tuesday, to the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, informing the clerk that he would not be attending votes but would vote by proxy.

Fortenberry, who represents Nebraskas 1st District, is currently on trial for three felony counts alleging that he misled authorities about whether he knew that a Nigerian billionaire had funneled $30,000 to his campaign at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. The trial opened Thursday.

His trial was delayed due to the surge of omicron cases in California, Braner said, so Fortenberry submitted a request to vote by proxy due to "the ongoing public health emergency."

Braner previously told The World-Herald that Fortenberry sought approval from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vote by proxy and received it, but Pelosi's office denied this.

For the last two years, Speaker Pelosi has ruled, the only reason for members to be absent for votes is due to the COVID emergency, Braner said in a statement Thursday. As Mr. Fortenberrys trial (originally scheduled for February) was delayed due to the COVID shutdown of the California courts, (Pelosis) office allowed for Mr. Fortenberry to vote proxy (now).

I would also note, there have been hundreds of members submit a similar letter to navigate COVID effects on a variety of scheduling conflicts. This isnt something abnormal.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, told the Nebraska Examiner Thursday that Pelosis office did not evaluate Fortenberrys letter, nor does it approve or deny any members reasons for asking a colleague to vote on their behalf.

The statement implies that there was a special dispensation given (by the Speaker), and that is not accurate," Hammill told the Examiner.

Pelosi does not grant permission for individual representatives to vote by proxy, according to the Clerk's Office. Instead, starting in 2020, Pelosi allowed representatives to vote by proxy, but only if they were unable to attend the vote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representatives must submit a letter to the clerk requesting to vote by proxy. The Clerk's Office then compiles the letters on record. Since Fortenberry sent his letter, more than 50 other representatives submitted similar letters, all citing "the ongoing public health emergency" as the reason for their absence, according to the Clerk's Office website.

"We followed the rules," Braner said.

While Republican House leadership has blasted the proxy vote practice, some GOP members have voted by proxy, including Fortenberry. The congressman announced Jan. 18 that he had been diagnosed with a moderate case of COVID-19 and that he would vote by proxy and work from home.

In Fortenberry's current absence, Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., will serve as his proxy. Braner said Fortenberry is in communication with Moolenaar to make sure his district is represented in upcoming votes.

World-Herald Staff Writer Todd Cooper contributed to this report.

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LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers looking to give money back to taxpayers will have two very different options to consider in the coming week.

One would give more money back to property taxpayers while cutting top individual and corporate income tax rates. The changes would be phased in over five years.

The other would give $200 cash to every Nebraskan this year while cutting the tax rate on a middle-income tax bracket starting next year.

Both options have been introduced as amendments to Legislative Bill 939, introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chairwoman. Lawmakers are slated to debate the bill again on Tuesday.

As advanced on first round, the bill would reduce the top individual income tax rate by 14.6% over three years and cut the top corporate rate by 22% over four years. It would not make any property tax changes or send money to lower- and middle-income Nebraskans.

Linehan worked on the property tax amendment with Sen. Tom Briese of Albion. She said she backed the property tax change to help win support for LB 939 and overcome a potential filibuster.

Were trying to build a package that we can get to 33 (votes), Linehan said. Weve got to keep this rolling.

The bill cleared the first of three rounds of debate on a 40-1 vote, but several senators said they backed it only to keep the bill in play until the states fiscal picture became clearer. Since then, the fiscal picture has brightened, with the state now projected to collect $775 million more than previously expected for the two years ending June 30, 2023.

Briese said many lawmakers and constituents put a high priority on easing property taxes. The amendment would further that goal by allowing property owners to claim refundable income tax credits equal to a portion of what they paid in community college property taxes.

The new credit program would be similar to one created by LB 1107 two years ago. The existing program offsets a portion of what property owners pay in school property taxes. For this year, the LB 1107 credit program will offer $548 million worth of credits, equal to about one-quarter of school property taxes.

The proposed community college credit program would start at $50 million this year and ramp up to $195 million by 2026. At full implementation, the program could offset around three-quarters of community college property taxes.

What were putting in place is meaningful and substantial tax relief for all Nebraskans, but its done in a fiscally responsible manner, Briese said.

The Linehan-Briese amendment would still ratchet down the top corporate and individual income tax rates to 5.84% but at a slower pace. Under current law, the top corporate rate is 7.5% for this year and is slated to drop to 7% next year. The top individual rate is 6.84% now.

With the amendment, the bill would reduce state revenues by an estimated $74.5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Thats about $10 million more than under the current version of the bill.

By 2027, after all of the pieces are fully implemented, it would shrink state revenues by about $660 million a year.

Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha introduced the other amendment. It would provide every Nebraskan with a $200 debit card this year at a cost of about $400 million but take a more conservative approach to reducing income taxes.

Instead of cutting the top rate, it would take the next lower rate from the current 5.01% down to 4.01% in one year. The change would reduce state revenues by an estimated $97 million.

Cavanaugh said his approach would achieve the goal of returning money to taxpayers, while ensuring that the state does not overextend itself on tax cuts. He said it also provides more relief to middle-income Nebraskans than the current version of LB 939.

When it comes to things like this, we should do it slowly, he said. It doesnt mean we cant come back in the future and take another step.

Cavanaughs amendment would benefit single filers making more than $28,086 a year and married filers making more than $56,182, after accounting for personal exemptions and standard deductions.

Changing the top tax rate, as proposed in LB 939, would benefit single filers making more than $40,676 and married filers making more than $81,352.

Cavanaugh and others have objected that LB 939 directs most of the tax cuts to the wealthiest Nebraskans and leaves out large numbers of lower- and middle-income taxpayers. Linehan has said that cutting the top tax rate is key to making Nebraska competitive with neighboring states.

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GIBBON, Neb.  With a favorite sandhill crane roosting spot on the Platte River stretching out behind him, Gov. Pete Ricketts this week designated the crane as the official migratory bird of Nebraska.

The ceremony on Wednesday was at Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon, one of the top attractions for sandhill crane enthusiasts who flock to south-central Nebraska in the spring to glimpse the migratory event.

This designation recognizes the sandhill cranes migration as one of Nebraskas most amazing natural spectacles. It also recognizes the benefit of the cranes to Nebraskas tourism industry, which welcomes out-of-state bird-watchers each year to marvel at their migration, Ricketts said.

Kristal Stoner, executive director of Audubon Nebraska, emphasized the importance of the Platte River as a wetland habitat for sandhill cranes.

The Platte River is a hardworking river, Stoner said. Nebraskans rely on the Platte River for irrigation, drinking water and recreation. ... Keeping the river healthy requires active management because what is good for birds is good for people. Rowe Sanctuary has been here for nearly 50 years working to make sure the river is open and flowing, and providing thousands of people the opportunity to see cranes on the river.

John Ricks, executive director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, said the cranes annual migration attracts travelers from all over the world to Nebraska.

The annual sandhill crane migration is a unique, spectacular, and true Nebraska gem, offering visitors from around the world the opportunity to be awed by Mother Nature, Ricks said. What the migration looks like, feels like, and sounds like simply cannot be expressed in words; it has to be experienced.

A research project led by the University of Nebraska at Kearney found that 46,500 people visited sites in central Nebraska for the 2017 crane migration. Ninety-three percent of the visitors were not local residents of central Nebraska. The study estimated that the crane migration had a $14.3 million economic benefit for south-central Nebraska in 2017, supporting the equivalent of 182 year-round jobs.
Xi requires swift containment of latest COVID-19 outbreaks

Xinhua) 08:13, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday urged swift containment of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Xi made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to analyze the COVID-19 epidemic situation.

Since the COVID-19 response measures were enforced on a regular basis, China has effectively responded to regional cluster infections and provided the best protection for people's lives and health as it can, Xi said.

The country's economic performance and COVID-19 response, which both led the world, fully demonstrated its strength and capacity in epidemic prevention and control. It also showed the advantages of the CPC's leadership and the socialist system, he noted.

"Victory comes from perseverance," Xi said. He asked all departments and regions to prepare for complexity and difficulty in COVID-19 response at home and abroad.

The people should always come first, said Xi. He stressed science-based and accurate measures and the adherence to the dynamic zero-COVID policy to curb the spread of the epidemic soonest.

He called for further scientific and technological innovation in research and development of vaccines, rapid testing reagents, and medicines to make the prevention and control more targeted.

More effective measures should be taken to achieve maximum effect in prevention and control with minimum cost, and to reduce the impact on socioeconomic development as much as possible, said Xi.

Noting the recent local COVID-19 cluster transmissions appeared in many places in the country, with broad coverage and frequent occurrences, the meeting called for stringent implementation of the policy of early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment.

Guidance for epidemic prevention and control should be strengthened in key areas to swiftly control local cluster cases, said the meeting.

The meeting stressed the need to secure the production and supply of daily necessities and ensure people's need for medical treatment.

It also underlined the importance of comprehensively improving the capacities of epidemic transmission monitoring, early warning, and emergency response.

The meeting asked for strengthened virus control efforts at ports to build a strong defense against imported cases and enhanced regular prevention and control measures in schools and other key places.

Greater efforts ought to be made in advancing the administration of COVID-19 vaccines and raising the vaccination rate to reinforce the defense against the epidemic, the meeting emphasized.

Relevant departments should inform the public of the latest epidemic situation and the progress of the epidemic prevention work on a timely basis, noted the meeting.

The meeting urged all localities to stay on high alert, lose no time, and attend to every aspect and detail when implementing epidemic containment measures.

In regions where the epidemic hit, officials at all levels must consider epidemic prevention and control their top priority and put their utmost effort toward the successful containment of the virus, the meeting underscored.

Officials who have lost control of the epidemic due to dereliction of duty must be investigated immediately following discipline and regulations, the meeting added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China plans to conduct a number of frontier scientific experiments on its Tiangong space station, with the two laboratory modules, Wentian and Mengtian, scheduled to be launched this year, according to the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization (CSU) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The experiments include raising fish, growing vegetables, setting up the most precise clocks in space, developing new materials, studying physical laws and exploring how humans can survive in space for long periods.

The scientific experiment facilities to be installed in the two lab modules are currently under development and will be launched into orbit on schedule to support large-scale and multidisciplinary scientific research, said the CSU.

The scientific work will make use of experiment racks that can hold a variety of technical hardware and materials, allowing astronauts to upgrade and replace the facilities over time.

Testing work has begun on the experiment racks that are already installed in the Tianhe core module, which was launched last year, and these will be used for container-free material science and high microgravity experiments, said Zhang Wei, director of the Utilization Development Center of CSU.

Additional experiment racks will be included in the two lab modules, which will support a large number of research projects in fields such as space life, fluids, space materials, fundamental physics and combustion, together with the extravehicular experiment platform, Zhang said.

More than 10 life-science experiments on plants, animals and microbial cells will be carried out in the Wentian lab module, including a small closed ecosystem composed of small fish, microorganisms and algae, according to Zhang.

Scientists are also planning to establish the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system in the Mengtian lab module, consisting of a hydrogen clock, a rubidium clock and an optical clock.

"If successful, the cold atomic clocks will form the most precise time and frequency system in space, which should not lose one second in hundreds of millions of years," said Zhang.

The world's first ever cold atomic clock that operates in space was made by Chinese scientists. It was launched with the Tiangong-2 space lab in 2016, and has a margin of error of less than one second in 30 million years.

Now, in ground-based experiments, Chinese scientists have developed cold atomic clocks that are far more accurate than the Tiangong-2 version, according to Zhang.

The development of space cold atomic clock technology will contribute to higher-precision satellite positioning and navigation, and support fundamental physics research such as dark matter probes and gravitational wave detection, scientists say.

China is conducting long-term and systematic planning for space experiments in four important areas: space life-sciences and human research, microgravity physical science, space astronomy and earth science, and new space technologies and applications, said Gao Ming, director of the CSU and general director of the space application system of China's manned space program, adding that a number of scientific research facilities have been developed to support more than 1,000 in-orbit research projects.

China is also building a ground experiment base in Huairou Science City in the northeastern suburbs of Beijing to provide experimental conditions similar to those of the space station so as to conduct ground verification for the space station program, and to support space-earth comparison experiments, Zhang said.

In addition, China has been active in international space-station cooperation, including working with the European Space Agency on 10 projects.

China also cooperates with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to solicit scientific research projects on the space station from scientists around the world, and nine projects have been selected.
Concerns about drought loom large in the spring forecast issued Thursday by the U.S. Climate Prediction Center.

Across nearly all of the western half of the U.S., including virtually all of Nebraska, drought is expected to persist or intensify over the next three months, according to the center, which is part of the National Weather Service.

The reasons are varied and include the global weather pattern known as La Nina and the forward momentum of existing drought.

Beyond that gloomy long-term outlook, theres hope for much-needed moisture over the next several days in eastern Nebraska as two weather systems move through. The first was expected Thursday evening. A second round of rain is expected to arrive early next week, said Clint Aegerter, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley.

Eastern Nebraska is likely better positioned to receive more moisture with next weeks storm than was expected to fall on Thursday, he said. Thats because eastern Nebraska was on the northern edge of Thursdays weather system but is expected to catch a larger share of next weeks storm, he said.

It looks like we have a pretty good shot of rain for the entire area, Aegerter said of the Monday-Tuesday time frame.

Nearly 60% of the continental U.S. already is in drought, the largest extent since 2013, said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the operational prediction branch of the Climate Prediction Center, which is housed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

La Nina is a weather pattern that originates in cooler-than-normal waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. With that type of weather setup, Nebraska has a tendency to experience warmer and drier than average spring weather, said Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist. Ford led a regional briefing Thursday on seasonal weather patterns.

Al Dutcher, Nebraskas associate state climatologist, said hes watching the next month and a half closely to gauge how the rest of spring will look. Dutcher said that if the southern U.S. continues to experience stormy weather, then Nebraska has a better shot at a wetter spring. The downside of a potentially wetter spring is that it could also bring more severe weather, he said.

Dutcher said his assessment is that the odds favor a stormy spring across the region, something that has been lacking the last two years.

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Artists sought

for Good Friday

BLOOMINGTON  The call for artists letter for the "What's So Good About Good Friday?" has been released.

In order for artists to secure their place in the show, they must register online by Monday, March 21 by completing the form at forms.gle/WKw3iHqGJfqRSJP68.

Artists may contribute one piece of art. Art and easel drop off will be on Wednesday, April 13 from 4-6 p.m. Art must be labeled with the artists' name. No wall space will be available. Each artist will be sent a link to schedule a 15 minute time slot for art and easel drop off. Do not arrive before 4 p.m.

Art will be on display on Thursday, April 14 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Good Friday, April 15 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Artwork will also be on display for Easter weekend services and Monday's bible study fellowship group. Art is to remain at Second Presbyterian Church until pick up on Tuesday, April 9 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 4-6 p.m.

An artist reception will take place on April 15 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. A Good Friday service will follow the reception at 7 p.m.

The event is in place of the Art Circle meeting that would have taken place on April 14 at Jacob's Well.

Call 309-310-1276 or visit artcirclebn.com, facebook.com/ArtCircleBN or email artcirclebn@gmail.com for more information.

Allerton center

to host artists

MONTICELLO  The Allerton Park and Retreat Center announced the five artists selected for their Spring 2022 In-Residence, Rooting a Deeper Connection program.

The five artists include Nicole Anderson-Cobb, Barber, Latrelle Bright, Jose Gobbo and Simiya Sudduth. Each artist will spend three weeks living at the Allerton estate at 515 Old Timber Road in Monticello between March and May.

The program began in 2020 to offer artists an opportunity to immerse themselves in their work and find inspiration from the park. The program also aims to support and highlight the meaningful work of creators and researchers, making their professions more accessible to the public.

The spring program is in partnership with the University of Illinois' Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Allerton's proposal was one of 22 projects funded by the university's program.

The five finalists were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, with the selected artists residing in Champaign, Springfield, Chicago and St. Louis.

Information about each artists' program will be available on Allerton's website at Allerton.Illinois.edu as their residencies get closer.

The residence program was also made possible in part through gifts from Joan and Peter Hood, Dana Brehm and Larry Bauman. Fall 2022 residency applications will open April 1.

Visit Allerton.Illinois.edu/allerton-in-residence/ for more information.

Lincoln museum

to open exhibit

SPRINGFIELD  The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will open their new exhibit "Stories of Survival: Object. Image. Memory." on March 23.

The exhibit uses personal treasures and keepsakes, as well as photos to help tell stories of people who survived acts of genocide and the stories of friends and family who didn't make it.

The exhibit will highlight the stories of Ursula Meyer, who hid her teddy bear during the Holocaust. She survived to reclaim the bear but lost most of her family.; Siyin Duong, whose father survived the killing fields of Cambodia and managed to save a jade pendant that had been in the family for generations; and Othman Al Ani, who fled violence in Iraq and brought along a small set of dominoes to remind him of good times with friends he may never see again.

The exhibit was created by the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. It will be at the museum through Jan. 22, 2023 and will be included in regular admission prices. The exhibit will also be accompanied by a series of special events, including an appearance by the curator and photographer who oversaw the creation of the exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and a kid-friendly program on how to turn a family keepsake or photo into a work of art.

Visit presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/stories-of-survival-object-image-memory for more information.
BLOOMINGTON  Burglary and theft charges have been filed against a Bloomington man accused of stealing his neighbors hedge trimmer.

Anthony R. Fairchild, 51, is charged with one count each of burglary and theft.

Prosecutors said the victim reported March 10 that home surveillance footage at his residence in the first block of Isabelle Drive in Bloomington captured a man he recognized as his neighbor around his residence.

The victim then observed the man walk away from his residence with a hedge trimmer. He later noticed that his shed had been burglarized and his hedge trimmer was missing, prosecutors said.

Police identified the man as Fairchild through previous police contact with him, authorities said.

Fairchild remains jailed in lieu of posting $5,035 and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim and his address.

An arraignment is scheduled for April 1.

Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather

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BLOOMINGTON  A Bloomington woman charged with concealing her daughters death has been remanded to the Illinois Department of Human Services after a psychiatric report found her unfit to stand trial.

Kimberlee A. Burton, 29, is charged with two counts of Class 4 felony concealment of death for the disappearance and presumed death of her infant daughter, Zaraz V. Walker.

McLean County Judge William Workman accepted Dr. Terry Killians psychiatric report Friday in a brief court hearing.

The report was based on Burton's recent fitness hearing, which determines whether a defendant is able to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings because of his or her mental or physical condition.

Burton may be restored to fitness within a year, Workman said of the doctors report.

The grandmother of Burtons two other children, ages 5 and 6, reported Walker as missing to Bloomington police Feb. 13, a day after Burton was arrested for retail theft in Bloomington. Walker was 7 months old when she was reported missing.

Authorities have not yet found Walker. Bloomington police did not immediately respond to a request Friday for any updated information about her whereabouts.

During Burton's bond hearing last month, a prosecutor said Burton told a family member during a jail call that Walker died while falling asleep in her lap, and that she had placed Walker in a cemetery near her home in the 300 block of East Wood Street in Bloomington.

Burton interrupted the prosecutor and said, My baby passed away. Shes not living. Stop speaking on my child. She passed away.

Neighbors of Burton told police they saw Burton carrying baby items, such as a crib and a car seat, to a dumpster behind her home the week before her Feb. 12 arrest, prosecutors have said.

Two days after Walker was born in July 2021, hospital staff contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to report Burtons erratic behavior after giving birth, a DCFS spokesman said last week.

DCFS determined that report to be unfounded, but a conclusion finding evidence of abuse against her other child in a May 2021 DCFS investigation was not made until about two weeks after Walkers reported disappearance.

Law enforcement, housing authorities and DCFS were unable to locate Burton or Walker after the DCFS meeting in July until the Feb. 13 report of Walkers disappearance, DCFS spokesman Bill McCaffrey has said.

Burton has been the focus of four DCFS investigations, including an open case regarding her 5-and-6-year-old children who were found home unattended after her initial retail theft arrest. She faces two charges of child endangerment for leaving the 5-and-6-year-old children home unattended.

Those children are in DCFS custody, McCaffrey said.

A status hearing in Burton's three cases is scheduled for June 24.

Anyone with information or who has been in contact with Burton or Walker since December is asked to contact Bloomington police Detective Jared Bierbaum at 309-434-2807 or jbierbaum@cityblm.org.

Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather

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BLOOMINGTON  Lawyers for the City of Bloomington and three of its police officers denied wrongdoing in a Bloomington mans excessive force lawsuit over a K9 bite during a 2020 arrest.

Todd Kelly, through his lawyer, Louis Meyer, filed a lawsuit Feb. 2 in the Central District of Illinois federal court against the City of Bloomington and three of its police officers, alleging excessive force and failure to intervene while a police dog bit Kelly's arm, despite him complying with police orders.

Kelly suffered nerve damage to his right hand and arm when a K9 bit him for more than 13 seconds, the lawsuit said, after BPD officers Justin Shively, Todd Walcott and Stephen Brown were executing an arrest warrant for Kelly for a parole violation.

The three officers arrived the morning of Feb. 7, 2020, to a Bloomington hotel where Kelly had been staying.

Kelly said he heard an unknown individual ram the door to his hotel room, but Matthew Warner, an attorney for the city, said in a response filed Tuesday that officers clearly identified themselves before ramming the door.

Kelly jumped out of the hotel rooms window and was met by a K9 and Shively, who ordered Kelly to get on the ground.

The lawsuit said Kelly complied and went to the ground with his hands in the air when Shively deployed the K9. Warners response to the complaint said Kellys hands were in the air at some point, but denied that he complied, stopped and raised his hands.

Defendants admit that K9 Ryker was loosed while Plaintiff was standing, but deny the characterization or implication that Plaintiff was attempting to go to the ground and/or attempting to comply with Officer Shivelys lawful order at that time, Warner wrote.

The city admitted that officers Walcott and Brown were present during the detention; however, they oppose Kellys characterization of the K9 deployment as an attack and therefore argue that the bystander officers did not need to intervene.

Kelly was not charged with resisting arrest, the lawsuit noted and court records show.

The city believes that officers acted appropriately during the course of this arrest, city spokesperson Katherine Murphy said in a statement last month.

Warner and attorney Peter Jennetten, of Peoria-based Quinn Johnston law firm, are representing the city and the three police officers in the lawsuit.

An initial hearing is set for April 29.

The Pantagraph has requested police body-worn camera footage of the arrest under the Freedom of Information Act.

Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather

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NORMAL  As the war in Ukraine continues, Normal West High School students had a chance to hear perspective on the conflict from two people who have been there and know others still living in Eastern Europe.

Glen Petersen, a Normal West social studies teacher, was deployed to Ukraine in June 2020 with the Illinois Army National Guard as part of a unit to help mentor Ukrainian troops at a combat training center. Casey Peterson, the fiance of a Normal West teacher, was in the Peace Corps in Ukraine.

The war has had a direct impact on the civilians in Ukraine, as Russian attacks increasingly hit civilian infrastructure including hospitals and residences.

The reality is the Russian forces arent using any restraint at all, Petersen said.

Both men asked students to consider what they would do if they lived in Ukraine and had to leave their home in just minutes. Students said they would bring things like extra socks and books or toys for their younger siblings.

Some of the male students in the audience would not be able to leave the country, Peterson said. Ukraine has blocked men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country in case they are needed to fight.

Those of you who have dads in their 50s, can you imagine them fighting? Peterson asked.

Petersen highlighted the refugee crisis the war is creating, the largest in Europe since World War II. More than 3 million people have fled Ukraine since the war began, mostly to Poland, according to U.N. estimates.

Petersen shared the story of one refugee, a woman with a 1-year-old and a 9-year-old, who fled across the border into Poland. It took the family seven days, Petersen said. The woman had once hoped to be able to buy a car and take her family on vacations.

Now her only dream is to get to a safe place, a hot shower, some clean clothes, he said.

One of the things his unit helped train Ukrainian service members in was using the Javelin system, a shoulder-mounted anti-tank weapon. It has become one of the main tools the U.S. is sending to Ukraine's military.

While in Ukraine, Petersen spent time at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, in the far west of the country near the border with Poland. The Center has become the target of attacks by Russia as the war escalates, and he shared a photo of the office building where he worked in flames.

Students asked the presenters why Russia was invading Ukraine. There has not really been a clear answer, Petersen said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made claims that Ukraine was a threat to Russia, as it sought to join NATO.

Ukraine has never really done anything that was provocative, Petersen said.

The true blame for the invasion lies with Putin and the system he has created that surrounds him with people who just agree, Peterson said.

Its one crazy person with zero checks and balances, he said.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood

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DANVERS  Authorities identified a Danvers man Friday after his body was pulled from a pond in rural Tazewell County.

Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley said in a statement that Patrick Lindsey was reported missing at 6:46 p.m. Thursday, prompting ground search teams with the county sheriff and Emergency Management Agency offices to respond. They worked until 3 a.m. Friday and resumed efforts later that morning with help from the Illinois State Police Air Operations Bureau.

Hanley said Lindsey was found by a Fon du Lac Park District Police Department search of a pond at a property in rural Danvers.

Hanley said Lindsey, 69, was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m. Friday. He added no foul play is suspected.

An autopsy is set for Monday. The coroner's office and the Tazewell County Sheriff's office are continuing to investigate.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison

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Its been two weeks since prosecutors indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and a little over one week since he and alleged co-conspirator Michael McClain each entered not guilty pleas on charges including racketeering and bribery.

While the 106-page, 22-count indictment was the culmination of years of investigation into what prosecutors allege to be a near-decade-long criminal enterprise overseen by the former speaker, it could be a while before we find out whether the charges stick.

I cannot imagine seeing a plea deal in this case, said Nancy DePodesta, a former federal prosecutor and current white-collar criminal defense lawyer at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr. I also think that you're going to see a significant delay before this case goes to trial.

DePodestas point of view is an interesting one. From 2003 to 2015 she was a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Illinois  the same office that indicted Madigan and McClain.

She doesnt have any insider details, and shes not involved in the trial. But she did share her thoughts with me on what comes next, in a general sense, as someone whose been on both sides of similar legal fights.

For starters, she said, we can expect to see pretrial motions aiming to suppress evidence. Madigans team could try to toss recordings of McClains phone calls with other individuals, she said.

McClain, a long-time Madigan confidante, was initially indicted in November 2020 in connection with a yearslong bribery scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison, in which the company admitted to bribing Madigan and others with no-work jobs in exchange for favorable legislation.

DePodesta said it appears the feds had a wiretap on McClains calls, and his role in the case is an important one. If the jury believes he acted on behalf of the speaker, it will help the prosecution. But if they believe McClain was a rogue actor, they may be likelier to acquit the former speaker.

The challenge for the government is really to tie former Speaker Madigan to what was occurring here, DePodesta said.

The government is seeking to prove several charges under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a 1970 law originally written to go after mafia types.

Its the statute that DePodesta said was used when she was working on an investigation and prosecution of the Latin Kings street gang in her time with the prosecutors office.

After a seven-year investigation and multiple indictments along the way, and wiretaps and, you know, cooperating witnesses and sources, we brought RICO charges against the leadership of the Latin Kings street gang, she said. It's obviously very different substantively in terms of the acts that were committed and programs of the conspiracy. But theres a lot of parallels with the RICO.

For the racketeering charges against Madigan to stick, she said, the prosecution will have to prove that the parties engaged in an agreement  formal or informal  for an unlawful purpose.

And then they have to establish that there were acts done in furtherance of that conspiracy. And here those acts would be the attempts to solicit bribes, perhaps the killing of legislation or passing legislation in exchange for jobs given to political allies, she said.

The indictment alleges that Madigan used his political offices as speaker and committeeman for Chicagos 13th Ward, as well as his control over the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and his position at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner, to further the goals of what the feds have dubbed The Madigan Enterprise.

In defending himself, Madigan could argue, DePodesta said, that much of what the government describes as racketeering isnt that far beyond the parameters of what would be expected from anyone in a powerful office such as speaker of the House.

So I think that if I'm the defense, I certainly want to try to minimize some of the statements, point to some of the things that perhaps the speaker did not say, she said. Certainly, explain what it means to be the speaker of the House, and what are some of the functions that are expected in in that capacity.

It appears that Madigans lawyers, Sheldon Zenner and Gil Soffer, viewed that as a strong angle as well when they sent out a media statement on the same day of the indictment.

I was never involved in any criminal activity, Madigan said in a statement. The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: job recommendations. That is not illegal, and these other charges are equally unfounded.

As it stands, the 106-page indictment provides a roadmap for how the government will try the case, DePodesta said. But prosecutors may be wishing they had another source, such as a cooperating witness or other informant.

The government's case is made up of a lot of different pieces that they will ultimately tie together. It seems, however, that they don't necessarily have somebody to provide context for some of the recordings to really tell a story, she said.

While the prosecution may have been hoping McClains inclusion in the indictment would lead him to flip on the speaker, his public statements so far dont indicate that such a scenario is likely, DePodesta said.

But that doesnt mean there wont be other witnesses testifying against the former speaker that havent been named in media reports or court documents thus far.

The government is not limited to the evidence that it has on the date of indictment, she said. In fact, it is very common for the government's case to improve and become an even stronger case, as they continue to investigate and prepare for trial.

John Lausch Jr., the lead prosecutor in the case, made clear the investigation was ongoing in a news conference announcing the indictment, and he even called for others to come forward with more information.

The next status hearing in the case is scheduled for April 1.

Podcast: What to expect in Michael Madigan's trial Listen: Former federal prosecutor and current defense attorney Nancy DePodesta on what to expect in the trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, and why it's not likely to happen soon.

A lengthier version of my conversation with DePodesta is available in our latest episode of Capitol Cast, a regular podcast put together by our Capitol News Illinois team.

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CHICAGO - More than a year after a landmark $650 million Facebook privacy settlement was approved, checks for $397 each may finally be arriving for nearly 1.6 million Illinois users of the social media platform.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in Hawaii issued a ruling Thursday upholding the class-action settlement over Facebooks alleged violations of Illinois biometric privacy law. Barring further appeal, the money will go to Illinois class members within 60 days, according to Chicago attorney Jay Edelson, who filed the lawsuit against Facebook nearly seven years ago.

Were gratified that the 9th Circuit rejected the frivolous appeal by a couple of objectors, Edelson said Thursday. We expect that their efforts to hold up the settlement are now over and Illinoisans will get the benefit of this historic settlement.

In February 2021, a California federal judge issued final approval of the $650 million settlement, but the payout was delayed when an appeal was filed on behalf of two Illinois class members, Dawn Frankfother and Cathy Flanagan. The pair objected to the awarding of $97.5 million in attorneys fees, as well as $5,000 incentive awards to the named plaintiffs.

The appeals court heard oral arguments last month and ruled Thursday the district court did not abuse its discretion by granting the attorneys fees and incentive awards.

Kendrick Jan, a San Diego attorney representing the appellants, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act is among the strictest such laws in the U.S., and has spawned a number of lawsuits. It requires companies to get permission before using technologies such as facial recognition to identify customers.

In April 2015, Edelson filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of plaintiff Carlo Licata, alleging the social media giants use of facial tagging features without consent was not allowed under Illinois privacy law. The case was moved to Chicago federal court and then California federal court, where it attained class-action status.

The settlement class included about 7 million Facebook users in Illinois for whom the social network created and stored a face template after June 7, 2011. To qualify, Facebook users had to live in the state for at least six months over the previous nine years. More than one in five eligible Illinois Facebook users filed a claim.

Estimates of the payouts to class members have ranged between $350 and $400 as the settlement took shape. Edelson said the final tally after expenses and fees will come in at $397 for each class member.

In November, Facebook announced it would shut down its facial recognition system amid growing concerns over the widespread use of the technology. As a result, Facebook said it planned to delete more than a billion facial recognition templates it had stored, putting an end to the feature that automatically recognized if peoples faces appear in memories, photos or videos.

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The European Union has warned that consumers risk losing all their money invested in cryptoassets and could fall prey to scams.



Releasing a joint statement on Thursday, March 17, European Union's securities, banking and insurance watchdogs revealed that crypto consumers have no protections or recourse to compensation under existing EU financial services law.



It marks a racheting up of direct warnings to consumers about cryptoassets by EU authorities, as financial regulators are increasingly worried that more consumers are buying 17,000 different cryptoassets, including bitcoin and ether, which account for 60% of the market, without being fully aware of the risks, the regulators said.



"Consumers face the very real possibility of losing all their invested money if they buy these assets," the three EU authorities said in a statement.



"Consumers should be alert to the risks of misleading advertisements, including via social media and influencers. Consumers should be particularly wary of promised fast or high returns, especially those that look too good to be true," the statement said.



Consumers should also be aware of that energy consumption for producing some cryptoassets is high and poses direct impact to the environment.









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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Ming in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang congratulated Zhang Ming on his assumption of office and spoke highly of the SCO's achievements since its establishment.

In the face of the impact of the Ukraine crisis, the SCO should play a more active role in maintaining regional and even global security and stability, Wang said, calling for the "Shanghai Spirit" to be vigorously carried forward, along with a deepening of the solidarity and cooperation of member states, and the active practice of the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

Wang also called for resolute opposition to a return to the Cold War mentality, creating camp confrontation and illegal unilateral sanctions, adding that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be respected to safeguard international fairness and justice.

As the host country, China will as always support the work of the secretary-general and the SCO secretariat, Wang said.

Pledging to make due contributions to the development of the SCO, Zhang said the organization is paying close attention to the situation in Ukraine and hopes for restoring peace and shared security as soon as possible and achieving lasting peace and stability in the world.
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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has appointed a retired Justice of the High Court, Justice Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta, as a Sole Inquirer, to inquire into the circumstances leading to the alleged encroachment and demolishing of property on the land being used by the Bulgarian Embassy.



The appointment of Justice Ofori-Atta became necessary after media reports, earlier this week, that a private developer has demolished the Bulgarian Embassy and is developing the land.



The Sole Inquirer has also been tasked to inquire into all other matters relating to land in which Diplomatic Missions have an interest or which affects them, directly or indirectly. Justice Ofori-Atta has seven (7) days to present his findings on the Bulgarian Embassy issue, and one month to present his report on other lands issues that affect Diplomatic Missions.



Inaugurating the Sole Inquirer on Friday, March 18, 2022, at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minister said, following the media reports, a team from the Ministry, led by a Deputy Minister, Benito Owusu-Bio, visited the site to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the reports. He said the team met a private developer on the site and ordered him to stop work until further notice.



Mr. Jinapor said Government has no hand in the alleged demolishing exercise, and therefore the need, to commission full investigations into the matter.



He said the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is once the Minister for Foreign Affairs Regional Integration, will not authorise any action that will affect diplomatic relations or Ghanas obligation under international law.







He recalled the visit of President Akufo-Addo to Bulgaria in 2007, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the resultant Protocol that was signed between the two countries to promote friendly relations and co-operation.



He added that Government is committed to maintaining the cordial relationship it keeps with Diplomatic Missions in the country.



He expressed his confidence in the retired Judge, who has previously served as a member of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission and a member of the Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Judicial Service, to conduct the inquiry and make appropriate recommendations to the Government.



Accepting his appointment, Justice Ofori-Atta thanked the Minister for the confidence reposed in him. He assured the Minister that he will bring his experience to bear and to all that is necessary to furnish the Government with the full facts and recommendations.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Alhaji Saani Inusah, the former Wa All-Stars Team Manager, has allegedly shot and killed one Stephen Mane, a former lecturer at the Dr Hilla Limann Technical University, over a land in dispute.



Four other people also sustained various degrees of injury during the incident.



An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Alhaji Inusah got infuriated over the attitude by a group of men who had dug foundation holes on a piece of land he (Inusah) claimed ownership of.



He said in an attempt to ward off the encroachers he used a pump-action gun to shoot at them but the bullet, unfortunately, hit innocent road users, killing the former lecturer on the spot.



A filling station attendant told the GNA on condition of anonymity that the engine of the lecturers vehicle got overheated and he parked on the shoulders of the road ostensibly to solve the problem.



The attendant said as soon as the deceased alighted he was accidentally hit by a stray bullet through the sporadic shooting and died on the spot.



"Those of us selling fuel here were lucky because long vehicles were buying fuel and the bullets hit one of the vehicles and that saved some of us," the attendant said.



According to the eyewitness, a motorcycle rider and Bajaj tricycle rider, also known as Yellow Yellow" were among the injured.



Meanwhile, ACP Peter Ndekugri, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, has confirmed the incident and said the suspect was in police custody and would be processed for court.



The four injured persons are responding to treatment at the Wa Municipal Hospital while the body of the deceased had been sent to the Regional Hospital Morgue.



Mr Vitus Songotuah, the Registrar of the Dr Hilla Limann Technical University, told the GNA that the late Stephen Mane retired from the University in 2021.



He described him as a very committed and knowledgeable lecturer who never joked with his lectures at the Secretarial and Management Studies Department.

Source: GNA









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Francis Fynn Aikins, a taxi driver who is accused of having sex with his 16-year old daughter at Nungua has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.



Flynn is said to have told the police that he started having sex with the victim in June 2021.



Charged with incest, Fynn pleaded not guilty, and the court admitted him to bail in the sum of GHC100,000 with three sureties, two of whom are to be justified.



The matter has been adjourned to March 29 by the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann.



Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complainant in the case is the administrator of LEKMA Hospital, Teshie.



Chief Inspector Atimbire said the victim is a second-year Senior High School Student who has been living with her father at Nungua in Accra.



The prosecution said the accused has divorced the victim's mother but the victim lives with him.



He said the accused has been having countless sexual intercourse with the victim and who became pregnant.



Prosecution said the victim's pregnancy developed some complications and she was rushed to the LEKMA hospital where the victim disclosed that her father was responsible for her pregnancy.



The Prosecution said the victim gave birth prematurely but lost the child.



He said the hospital authorities alerted the Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the accused was arrested on 28 February 2022



Prosecution said the victim was rescued and sent to a shelter.



He said a medical report form was issued to the victim and a full report was submitted to her.



Prosecution said the accused in his cautioned statement admitted that he started having sex with the victim from June 2021.

Source: GNA









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The Ministry of Education is working out plans to ensure that the training of students in the Sciences moves to 60 per cent by 2030, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, a Deputy Minister of Education has said.



Already, the Ministry is to begin a one-year pre-engineering course at the University of Mines, Tarkwa and the Pentecost University to leverage the Public-Private partnership and prepare the minds of students towards taking up Science courses.



Rev Ntim Fordjour announced this during the 2020/2021 graduation programme and 2021/2022 matriculation programmes for the Nursing and Medical students of the Family Health University College in Accra on Thursday.



He said government was also working out with stakeholders to introduce students to a one-year pre-medical programme to encourage most of them to train as medical personnel to narrow the doctor-patient ratio in the country.



The Deputy Minister explained that although Ghana was ranked 14th in South Saharan Africa with over 6000 patients to a doctor, there was the need to adopt pragmatic measures that could increase the number of doctors in the system.



He commended the staff and management of the Family Health University College (FHUC) for complementing government in the training of medical personnel and gave the assurance that government would continue to create an enabling environment for better collaborations.



He called on the students to let the investments their parents made count by exhibiting professionalism in their fields of work.







Source: GNA









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An American business man and one-time Senate candidate, Peter Schiff, 58, has been criticized online after he asked why Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky doesn't wear a suit - before he then doubled down by accusing the president of wearing makeup before addressing members of the US Congress.



Peter , who formerly ran as a Republican for the seat of the U.S. Senator from Connecticut twelve years ago made the remarks shortly after Zelensky appeared before the US Senate in his now-trademark khaki green t-shirt.





Schiff, who is the CEO of Euro Pacific Capital bank tweeted: 'I understand times are hard, but doesn't the President of the #Ukraine own a suit?



'I don't have much respect for current members of the U.S. Congress either, but I still wouldn't address them wearing a t-shirt. I wouldn't want to disrespect the institution or the Unites (sic) States.'



This brought immediate condemnation online, with a Twitter user responding saying he'd just made 'one of your worst all time takes'.



Quoth continued: 'The guy is in the middle of a war zone ducking mortars Peter, he's not going to be rolling around his garment rack with him.'



But Schiff responded again by saying: 'He was not in combat on a battle field. Someone powdered his face. Not a hair was out of place, and he was clean shaven with a trimmed beard. He chose to wear that t-shirt. He could have easily chosen something less informal.'





Other political commentators blasted Schiff's tweets and defended Mr Zelensky's outfit.



'Good god, Peter, you're a complete A***HOLE,' Jon Cooper, former National Finance Chair of Draft Biden 2016, wrote. 'I can't believe you haven't deleted this tweet yet.'



'Dude, not only is he in a war-zone, where I'm sure it's hard to get a suit press and dry clean, but even if it was possible, it's favorable for people to see him as one of them sharing the struggle,' a twitter user called Jonathan added.

Amy Task, an analyst at CBS Sports, said that Zelensky 'is fighting to save the lives of others, he is putting his life at risk to do so - he could have left but he didn't, that speaks to the man he is he is - you care about what he's wearing, that speaks to the man you are.



Schiff replied: 'He would not have had to press a suit. I'm sure he had a clean suit hanging in the same closet as his t-shirts. Plus even if there were not suits available, maybe a long-sleeved shirt with a collar.' <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I understand times are hard, but doesn't the President of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> own a suit? I don't have much respect for current members of the U.S. Congress either, but I still wouldn't address them wearing a t-shirt. I wouldn't want to disrespect the institution or the Unites States.</p> Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1504082706598146058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>















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Captured Russian soldiers have warned President Vladimir Putin 'we'll rise against you' after they were made to carry out 'terror attacks' in Ukraine.



Moscow's troops labelled the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol on March 9 an act of 'perverse neo-Nazism'.



Three air force pilots, speaking to CNN, warned the Russian strongman 'you will not hide this for long' because 'many' troops share the same feelings and 'sooner or later, we will come home'.



They laid the blame at the feet of Russian commanders for 'horrifying' crimes against 'peaceful Ukrainian civilians' - and warned 'you cannot forgive such things'.



'I don't know, what can justify, f***, the tears of a child, or even worse, the deaths of innocent people, children,' Russian fighter pilot Maxim said. 'It's not just about demilitarizing Ukraine or the defeat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but now cities of peaceful civilians are being destroyed.'



The claims echo statements made by several Russian soldiers following their capture at the hands of Ukrainian forces and observers have raised concerns the servicemen are being pressured to denounce Moscow.



But CNN reported the three pilots appeared not to be speaking under duress, that they were not wearing handcuffs and that Ukrainian officials made no effort to direct the topic of the interview.



It comes after Russia on March 9 bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol killing four people, including a pregnant woman whose baby also died days after the attack.









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A community police officer with the Airport Police Station has been jailed 15 years by the Accra Circuit Court for defiling a 10-year-old girl.



Bright Dzebuwho pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilementwas found guilty by the court, presided over by Christiana Cann, after a full trial.



The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubts and established that Dzebu lured the girl into his room and had unprotected sex with her.



Afterwards, he warned the girl not disclose the act to anyone.



Menace to society



Delivering her judgement, Mrs Cann described Dzebu as a menace and threat to society who needed to be put away immediately.



According to her, it was important to slap the convict with a harsher sentence to serve as a deterrent to people who had made it a point to be defiling minors, adding that it was the only way the country could protect young girls and women from the preying eyes of men like Dzebu.



She described the action of Dzebu as animalistic and therefore he must be dealt with ruthlessly.



"He is a dangerous homosapien who needs to be put away immediately. He did not show mercy to the little child and therefore he does not deserve mercy, the presiding judge added.



Facts



The fact of the case as read by the Prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Agnes Boafo, was that the victim together with her aunt lived in the same neighbourhood with Dzebu. In October last year, the aunt of the girl went for a funeral, leaving the girl behind, she said.



"Dzebu took advantage of her absence and lured the victim into his room and forcibly had unprotected sexual intercourse with her", she added.



DSP Boafo said Dzebu warned the girl not to disclose what had happened to anyone including her aunt.



"However, during the early days of December, the victim fell sick and complained of severe abdominal pains and when quizzed by the complainant, narrated her ordeal to her", DSP Boafo said.



She continued that the victim's aunt reported the case to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) where a police medical form report was issued to take the victim to a government hospital for examination and treatment.



The medical examination revealed that indeed the victim had been defiled. During the course of investigations, Dzebu was arrested and he admitted the offence in the investigation.



In an unsworn evidence to the court, Dzebu revealed he indeed had sex with the victim once and that he did not know what came over him.









Source: graphiconline.com









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President Nana Akufo-Addo has been in a series of meetings concerning the easing of Ghanas land borders to open the country up again for more trade, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has announced.



The borders have remained closed for the past two years since the COVID pandemic hit Ghana.



The Minority in Parliament recently called for the opening of the borders.



Apart from the border issue, the President, according to Mr Nkrumah, has also been holding meetings on the consistent fuel price hikes in Ghana.



While petrol is almost selling at GHS10 per litre at the pumps, diesel is nearing GHS11.



Along with the rise in fuel prices, transport fares have also been rising.



Commercial drivers are still clamouring for further fare increases in light of the most recent fuel price hikes.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah said in a tweet: Yesterday and today @NAkufoAddo has been engaged in meetings in preparation to announce the easing of restrictions at our borders and tackling escalating fuel prices.

Source: classfmonline.com









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President Nana Akufo-Addo has been urged to be humble, admit there is a challenge and call for national dialogue over the raging economic hardships.



I think the best thing first and foremost is that Akufo-Addo and his team must admit to Ghanaians that there is a problem and then you tell us your alternatives or better still call for national dialogues.



Call people like Seth Terpker, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, Kwabena Duffuor or even call John Mahama and seek advice from him as a nation and not as NPP but usual of them, they claim they have the men but now see, petrol selling at almost 10, a former District Chief Executive for Sekyere Afram Plains, Fuseini Donkor, said on Adom FM, Friday.



The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, prior to taking over power in 2016 through his lectures, gave the people of Ghana hope that things can be made right with homegrown solutions.



Through his lectures and seminars he spoke at, he indicated that Ghanas problems were a result of the incompetence of the managers of the countrys economy.



Currently, the people of Ghana are complaining about hardship and the rise in the cost of living in the country.



Fuel prices are skyrocketing while the Ghana cedi is falling against other currencies in the world.



However, to Mr Donkor, nothing seems to be done to salvage the situation, especially by the people who claimed to have the solutions to the countrys problems.



This government is just jumping and clutching to excuses. Things went bad even before covid but they used covid as an excuse and we still benefitted from the fund but they have not accounted for it.



We are now organising a Cabinet meeting and just going to talk without any solution. Where is the economic team when the Finance Minister has run out of ideas? Bawumia is in E-library learning and the rest are all lost and so they have to be candid and tell Ghanaians the real truth about the economy, he added.

Source: adomonline.com









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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed bilateral cooperation and the Ukrainian crisis during a phone conversation on Thursday.

The leaders positively assessed the recent talks between their foreign ministers and voiced support for the further development of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, the Kremlin said in a statement.

They also exchanged views on Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, and Putin briefed Erdogan about the Moscow-Kiev peace talks.

Erdogan thanked Putin for the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Ukraine and the safe exit of ships with Turkish cargo from Russian ports in the Sea of Azov.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, has denied allegation that he's requesting more money to take care of his medical bills in Dubai.



According to the Daily Guide newspaper, Mr. Bagbin has allegedly sent a request for an additional $50,000,having claimed $120,000 already.



The report further intimated that "with the latest request, Mr. Bagbin would have blown $170,000 on this current trip.



"Information gleaned from the corridors of Parliament indicates that this is not the first time the Speaker is making such a request for extra money. According to a source, in July last year, when the Speaker made his first official trip to Dubai for his medical care, he went with a spending money of $150,000, after which he demanded an additional $100,000, but Parliament was able to raise $90,000, bringing the total to $240,000."



But in a statement, Bagbin clapped back saying he "has not, at any point in time, made direct cash requests from Parliament"



"We would like to state categorically that the Rt. Hon. Speaker has not, at any point in time, made direct cash requests from Parliament. The conditions of service of public employees, including political office holders, cover medical care, both local and foreign. The specific details of each category of public employees is covered by law.



"In the case of Parliamentarians and Speakers, the Presidential Commission on Emoluments details out the main areas of coverage. This covers sitting and former Speakers. The current Speaker has no authority and has not made any attempt to, in anyway amend or alter what has been in existence before he came into office."





Read the full statement below

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Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Ghana has been singled out for praise by the European Union (EU) for still maintaining its position as the bastion of democracy in the West Africa sub-region.



The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ghana Irchad Razaaly said Ghana has demonstrated that it is still the front-runner in upholding democracy despite political instability in the region.



The commendation is coming at a time when coups appear to be making a comeback in West and Central Africa. In the past two years, there have been military takeovers in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Guinea, as well as further east in Sudan.



The thing that struck me the most in Ghana is the diversity, Razaaly said on Asaase FM Friday (18 March 2022).



And speaking of his first impressions of Ghana as a first-time resident, though he has visited before, he remarked: There is the sense that the city [Accra] has been built with its back against the sea and, for me, that is very interesting.



He said the country stands out for various reasons. One of the biggest achievements of Ghana is that it has been one of the front-runners in the practice of democracy.



Razaaly added: We [the EU] are proud to have been able to play a small part in ensuring the democratic integrity of Ghana.









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One of Ghanas rising Gospel Music Artistes, Rainer Okyere Mantey is gearing up to release one of her God-given anointed songs.



Her songs are motivated/inspired by Gospel themes, drawing largely on the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross, and communicating its efficacy to our lives here by faith in Christ.



Tell you what, this new flavour is yet, another irresistible one. Rainer calls this one WAYE MU YE and is set for the songs release on Sunday, 20th March 2022.



In an exclusive interview, she said My latest single is titled WAYE MU YE, meaning Compassion. God has shown humankind his deep compassion by giving us Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. It tells us how benevolent the Lord has been to us in spite of our shortcomings.



Touching on the motivation behind the song, she revealed that her motivation is to spread the good news about Jesus through music.



This is the basic guiding principle to my music. God has been merciful to me by saving me. It is my duty to share the gospel with my talent and gifts, she said.



On how her musical journey started, she revealed that her song ministrations started in her early years.



I worked with a team called SB4K on an album in 2007 but releasing my own songs (written and sung by me) started in 2019. My first album was titled Gods Surprise. It had eight gospel songs, one worship medley, and one patriotic song. I released a single latter part of last year titled  Oguamma which means the The LAMB.



Rainer Mantey is a trained Journalist, a Product of Ghanas finest Communications School, the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).



She also doubles as a Corporate Woman and a Gifted Gospel Songtress extraordinaire.



Indeed you havent listened to her countless soothing cum very reflective Gospel tunes yet, then you are missing something.



Support Gods own work by following Rainer on all Social Media Platforms at Rainer Mantey Music.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Shatta Wale gathers momentum to face his mothers accusations as he continues to spill more family secrets. Accordingly, he blames his mother for his tough childhood because she run away from her marital home.



Mama Shatta, born Madam Elsie Evelyn Avemegah, accused her son of abandonment and neglect, which led to her homelessness. She also detailed how badly Shatta has treated her despite the sacrifices she made to make sure he excels.



In a counter-narrative, the dancehall artiste has exposed his mother for thwarting the plans his family made to better their lives. In his usual fashion, Shatta Wale spoke angrily about his familys suffering because of his mothers selfishness.



I am from a broken home. My mother left my father. Let me tell you, people, something. When I was in SHS 1, we studied thirteen subjects in Ghana. Im not a machine or factory to learn thirteen subjects a day. So I told my father that I cant continue schooling.



Then, my father planned to relocate the family to Miami (USA). The first time I heard Miami, it was from my father. When I was a child, I travelled to London and others. He had gotten a contract in America, so he wanted to relocate his family. Oh, my sister and brother, my mother left my father. She rubbished the plans. She run away and left my father. My father tried, tried and tried. God is our witness.

Source: 3news.com









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" " When you see a Neighborhood Watch sign, what does it actually mean? Chris Saulit/Getty Images

Boris the Burglar may not be a household name, but his face has been plastered across cities, towns and suburbs throughout the U.S. since the early 1970s. And if you've ever wandered around a neighborhood marked with orange-and-white signs bearing the image of a man dressed like a villain out of a 1950s noir film, then you've seen him too. These signs are often labeled with the words "NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH."

But just what, exactly, are neighborhood watch programs? Following an increase in crime in the late 1960s, the National Neighborhood Watch Program was established in 1972 under the umbrella of the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), according to the National Neighborhood Watch's website. The organization established guidelines so that local neighborhood watch groups could register with the National Neighborhood Watch and properly set up programs in communities across America.

Although neighborhood watch programs originally started in order to respond more effectively to burglaries, the concept of neighborhood watch has evolved over time so that local residents serve as the 'eyes and ears' of law enforcement by keeping a watch out for suspicious behavior in their neighborhood and reporting potential criminal activity to police.

"The general concept was that the police cannot be everywhere. So if you can keep an eye on your neighborhood and report what you see to the police and report to your neighbors, then it becomes beneficial to law enforcement," says John Thompson, a retired law enforcement officer and the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Sheriffs' Association.

According to the National Neighborhood Watch's website, the concept of neighborhood watch stems from the Chicago School of social disorganization theory, which links high crime to specific neighborhoods that have weak social structures and little community control. Neighborhood watch groups theoretically step up to provide that community control. However, the concept of ordinary citizens serving as 'eyes and ears' of the police has also been criticized by advocacy groups for failing to create meaningful trust between neighbors.

The mandate of the National Neighborhood Watch shifted slightly in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when the NSA received a grant from the Department of Justice to rebrand the organization as USAonWatch in order for residents to share information regarding homeland security concerns. But when that grant ran out, National Neighborhood Watch returned to its roots of dealing with community-specific crime, Thompson says.

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Do Neighborhood Watch Programs Prevent Crime?

It's not entirely uncommon to see reports in local newspapers of neighborhood watch groups that have helped police apprehend suspects, as in the case of this woman who was believed to have stolen an RV in Franklin County, Missouri. But could neighborhood watch groups be helpful in not only reporting and solving crime, but also preventing it from happening? A paper published in 2006 found that 15 out of 18 studies on neighborhood watch groups showed some evidence that neighborhood watch groups reduce crime. Proponents of neighborhood watch also argue that their groups prevent crime. The first line of deterrence starts with the classic neighborhood watch signs.

"You're walking through the neighborhood, and ... you get to a gate, and it's got a big sign that says 'beware of dog.' Are you going to go into the gate? I wouldn't," says Thompson. "So, yes, the signs are a deterrent  bottom line. If I was going to break into a house, why would I break into a house in a community where I know people are watching?"

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How Are Groups Organized?

So how exactly are neighborhood watch groups organized? Traditionally, neighborhood watch groups would recruit members and schedule meetings in conjunction with local law enforcement to discuss community concerns. A well-structured group might have a law enforcement liaison, a group coordinator and block captains to supervise the program on each neighborhood block. Some might even conduct neighborhood patrols and hand out information on crime prevention to their neighbors. Some communities organize larger oversight bodies beyond individual neighborhoods, such as the Citizens' Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County. You can find more information on organizing neighborhood watch groups in the official training manual.

But in reality, the organization of each neighborhood watch group depends entirely on the needs and expectations of the specific community. Some groups might be focused more on community beautification efforts like removing graffiti, whereas others might be concerned with more serious concerns like drug-related violence or homelessness. Others might be concerned with organizing responses to natural disasters.

"I don't have any personal recommendations, because I don't think there is a one-size fits all [solution]. In my neighborhood, what we need to do may be totally different [than] what you do in your neighborhood," says Thompson. "So it can be from something as simple as people sharing [information] to a fully blown organization."

Although the National Neighborhood Watch organization offers training and resources, they don't have the means to provide oversight of each of the thousands of registered groups  not to mention the countless, loosely organized crime watch groups that aren't registered with the organization, which may be operating under their own informal principles. This lack of oversight has spurred concerns over the years that some residents are taking the law into their own hands through vigilante methods, instead of allowing trained law enforcement officials to handle crime situations, as the National Neighborhood Watch advises.

"Let me just say that neighborhood watch pops up all over the place. It doesn't mean they follow our guidelines and the things we tell them they should do," says Thompson. "Now, a lot of people just say, oh, we're a neighborhood watch. And they turn into a vigilante group. Well you can't control that. But that's not sanctioned by anybody. It's not recommended."

The most infamous example of such vigilantism is the case of George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in Sanford, Florida in 2012. Zimmerman was reportedly a volunteer in a neighborhood watch group, though Thompson maintains that Zimmerman's group was not registered with the National Neighborhood Watch through the NSA.

Advertisement

Starting Your Own Group

According to the National Neighborhood Watch, there are more than 28,000 neighborhood watch groups currently registered through their website, though not all of them may be active. But increasingly, neighborhood watch groups are shifting to the digital sphere in the form of informal group texts, Facebook pages, as well as social networking platforms like Nextdoor. Corporations like Ring  a home security system owned by Amazon  are also partnering with law enforcement and neighborhood watch groups to solve crime. Are these online methods degrading the purpose of formal neighborhood watch groups? Not really, says Thompson. It's just the reality of crime prevention in the age of social media.

"I don't think fewer people are involved [in neighborhood watch]." I think it's evolved and it's changing," says Thompson. "But people are still participating. It's just not formalized."

So what should you do if you're interested in starting your own neighborhood watch group? Thompson says the first thing you should do is head to the National Neighborhood Watch website and register your group. You'll also get access to resources to assist you in forming your own group, like this training manual. You can also locate existing groups in your area.

And neighborhood watch programs aren't just a thing in the U.S. They're in pockets across the globe, from the U.K. to Australia to the Netherlands. So wherever you live, you might find a neighborhood watch group in your own community.

Now That's Interesting Boris the Burglar isn't the only trademarked crime prevention logo out there. McGruff the Crime Dog has been educating Americans to "Take a Bite Out Of Crime" since the 1980s.
Prashant Singh and Yaroslav Mudryk working on the computer. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy, Ames Laboratory

Artificial intelligence advances how scientists explore materials. Researchers from Ames Laboratory and Texas A&M University trained a machine-learning (ML) model to assess the stability of rare-earth compounds. This work was supported by Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program (LDRD) program at Ames Laboratory. The framework they developed builds on current state-of-the-art methods for experimenting with compounds and understanding chemical instabilities.

Ames Lab has been a leader in rare-earths research since the middle of the 20th century. Rare earth elements have a wide range of uses including clean energy technologies, energy storage, and permanent magnets. Discovery of new rare-earth compounds is part of a larger effort by scientists to expand access to these materials.

The present approach is based on machine learning (ML), a form of artificial intelligence (AI), which is driven by computer algorithms that improve through data usage and experience. Researchers used the upgraded Ames Laboratory Rare Earth database (RIC 2.0) and high-throughput density-functional theory (DFT) to build the foundation for their ML model.

High-throughput screening is a computational scheme that allows a researcher to test hundreds of models quickly. DFT is a quantum mechanical method used to investigate thermodynamic and electronic properties of many body systems. Based on this collection of information, the developed ML model uses regression learning to assess phase stability of compounds.

Tyler Del Rose, an Iowa State University graduate student, conducted much of the foundational research needed for the database by writing algorithms to search the web for information to supplement the database and DFT calculations. He also worked on experimental validation of the AI predictions and helped to improve the ML based models by ensuring they are representative of reality.

"Machine learning is really important here because when we are talking about new compositions, ordered materials are all very well known to everyone in the rare earth community," said Ames Laboratory Scientist Prashant Singh, who led the DFT plus machine learning effort with Guillermo Vazquez and Raymundo Arroyave. "However, when you add disorder to known materials, it's very different. The number of compositions becomes significantly larger, often thousands or millions, and you cannot investigate all the possible combinations using theory or experiments."

Tyler Del Rose working in the lab. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy, Ames Laboratory

Singh explained that the material analysis is based on a discrete feedback loop in which the AI/ML model is updated using new DFT database based on real-time structural and phase information obtained from our experiments. This process ensures that information is carried from one step to the next and reduces the chance of making mistakes.

Yaroslav Mudryk, the project supervisor, said that the framework was designed to explore rare earth compounds because of their technological importance, but its application is not limited to rare-earths research. The same approach can be used to train an ML model to predict magnetic properties of compounds, process controls for transformative manufacturing, and optimize mechanical behaviors.

"It's not really meant to discover a particular compound," Mudryk said. "It was, how do we design a new approach or a new tool for discovery and prediction of rare earth compounds? And that's what we did."

Mudryk emphasized that this work is just the beginning. The team is exploring the full potential of this method, but they are optimistic that there will be a wide range of applications for the framework in the future.

This research is further discussed in the paper "Machine-learning enabled thermodynamic model for the design of new rare-earth compounds," authored by P. Singh, T. Del Rose, G. Vazquez, R. Arroyave, and Y. Mudryk; and published in Acta Materialia.

Explore further Making ferromagnets stronger by adding non-magnetic elements

More information: Prashant Singh et al, Machine-learning enabled thermodynamic model for the design of new rare-earth compounds, Acta Materialia (2022). Prashant Singh et al, Machine-learning enabled thermodynamic model for the design of new rare-earth compounds,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2022.117759
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Taking away the rights of terrorists to automatic early release from prison threatens their human rights, new analysis argues.

The government made emergency changes to sentencing law including ending the automatic early release of terrorist offenders at the halfway point of qualifying custodial sentences following attacks by Usman Khan at Fishmongers Hall and Sudesh Amman in Streathamboth in Londonin 2019. Both had been released early from prison under license conditions following previous terrorism convictions.

Under the changesknown as TORERA 2020prisoners convicted of terrorism are only now released when the Parole Board decides it is safe to do so. Those judged to be the most dangerous of terrorist offenders will not be released until their sentence has fully expired.

The study says these changes will lead to a recognized 'cliff-edge' in managing the risks of releasing terrorists and undermines their rehabilitation.

The changes enacted by TORERA 2020 were subsequently unsuccessfully challenged via judicial review. The research says during this review the High Court's analysis of Article 5 (the right to liberty and security) of the European Convention on Human Rights was "disappointing" because it failed to adequately take account of the real nature of the right to liberty set out by the convention.

The research, published in the journal, Legal Studies, carried out by Richard Edwards from the University of Exeter Law School, argues a revised approach to the interpretation of Articles 5 and 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights is needed on this issue.

Mr Edwards said: "To argue that changes to the early release regime have no effect on Article 5, as the High Court did, is wrong and this needs to be reconsidered. Under the ECHR a prisoner has a legitimate expectation to liberty. When it is arbitrarily denied through retrospective changes that results in double punishment extending their period of imprisonment while simultaneously undermining their rehabilitation.

"Automatic release has been transformed into discretionary release with all the challenges that poses for the prisoner. This change represents a significant adjustment to the effective nature of the sentence and the rehabilitation of the prisoner under it."

The research says the Article 5 ECHR right to liberty and security plays a developing, though overlooked, role in the context of regulating determinate prison sentences. It also argues that a more generous interpretation of Article 7 of the ECHR is now required: an approach which reflects the reality of determinate sentences.

Mr Edwards says that "one of the justifications for TORERA 2020 was public protection. Yet what TORERA 2020 gives with one hand, it takes with the other. In the short term the Act will achieve its purpose, frustrating the early release of several terrorist offenders. If that is seen as in the public interest, it must be remembered that prisons are widely recognized as an important locus for radicalization. In the longer term the changes in TORERA 2020 are likely to create feelings of unfairness and leave prisoners more susceptible to radicalization."

More information: Richard A Edwards, Justice for the blackest malefactors? Determinate prison sentences, early release, and the ECHR, Legal Studies (2022). Richard A Edwards, Justice for the blackest malefactors? Determinate prison sentences, early release, and the ECHR,(2022). DOI: 10.1017/lst.2022.1
Credit: Department of Defence/Commonwealth of Australia

The Australian Defense Force (ADF) is about to get a lot bigger. Defense Minister Peter Dutton has announced plans to expand the ADF by 18,000 members by 2040. This nearly 30% increase, the largest since the Vietnam War, will require not only a renewed focus on recruitment, but also on retaining current sailors, soldiers and aviators.

Families of these uniformed personnel will be crucial to the success of these efforts. The families of defense personnel, especially those with children, experience significant impacts as a result of their service. Our research has highlighted the experiences of young children and the pressures on defense families.

The increase in ADF personnel will require a major rethink of policies and procedures to protect the well-being and education of children in defense families. The ADF needs to become an employer of choice to retain these families as well as attract recruits with families. Our research findings offer some ideas that could inform the policy changes needed to achieve this boost to defense numbers.

Slaves to two greedy masters

Recruitment is challenging because the military is a "greedy institution" demanding great sacrifice from personnel and their families. Likewise, families are also "greedy institutions," demanding enormous sacrifices from parents.

Defense families' efforts to satisfy each master are doomed from the start and many personnel list "family reasons" when they leave.

Dutton acknowledged these issues last week: "[W]e lose people at way too young an age after we've invested an enormous amount in them. I am very conscious of people being posted for two years, and their children being dragged from school to school. I'm conscious of the impact on predominantly mothers, wives, in that arrangement []"

The kids are not alright

Key aspects of military life, like deployments and relocations, have a big impact on children. It can seem like children's well-being, education and special needs are sacrificed to ADF members' career needs. This includes compromising secure relationships with their early childhood educators and peers.

The impacts on children's learning are severe because quality early education relies on interactions within secure relationships with educators.

Young children can struggle to understand the changes at home when they relocate, or a parent goes away on deployment or extended training. The trouble children have in understanding the demands of military service is clear in this exchange between two-year-old Emily, one of our research participants, and her mother: "But where's Dad?"

"Daddy's gone on the plane, darling. Remember, we took Dad to the airport yesterday." (Emily starts crying and throws herself on the ground.)

While deployment is challenging, reintegrating defense parents back into the family can be harder. In the same study, one mother said her coping strategy was to have a very relaxed style of parenting when her partner deployed. They ate when they were hungry and her son went to bed in front of the TV.

"I go to pieces in the last month again. We have to sort of prepare for him coming home. [] Paul is like a military man. You know, routines. There are mealtimes, he says what we are watching when the TV is on. [] There are bedtimes. So I say to Jack, "You know what we do now is just our thing. When Daddy gets home we have to do it his way." "

Relocation and a parent coming and going from the house for lengthy training sessions and deployments mean many transitions for the household. During these times, children can experience regressions in learning and social, emotional and physical skills. This also increases parent's fatigue and their ability to cope.

"Bethany (four years old) has [] trouble sleeping. She has slept in our bed every night except two, when Ule (sibling) came in. It is really tiring. She was fine before deployment."

As they move between schools and states, school-aged children can miss whole units of learning, putting them on the back foot. This often leads to children acting out as they struggle to keep up and make friends. Rates of behavioral and emotional difficulties are higher in children from military families.

Children also suffer from disrupted social networks as a result of relocations. They lose their connection with community groups and miss out on extracurricular activities.

A lack of understanding among children's peers and the general community can also be harmful. One participant's older sibling had been teased at school when the class found out her parent had deployed, which increased fears for the parent's safety:

"Your Dad's gonna get shot! Ha ha!"

Recommendations

Drawing on research, this report recommends policies that safeguard families. One recommendation is that families with children only be relocated up to three times until their youngest child is 18.

Also recommended is a flexible model for deployment, with longer, less frequent deployments. That way, training episodes of the military personnel can be built into deployment to reduce disruptive transitions at home.

These recommendations would provide more opportunities for children and their families to plug into protective supports. Sources of support include educators, extended family, community and defense friends, counseling, health and family workers, social media groups and ADF supports. They could then create a buffer to help families during rough times.

Parents and educators have complained about the lack of resources to support young children from military families, and their educators. Recent funding has meant free research-based resources are now available to build resilience. These also include resources to assist children whose parents have sacrificed their health in service, and their family workers.

Acknowledging and respecting the incredible resilience and contribution of children and partners in defense families should be the starting point for the policy changes needed to boost defense.

Explore further Reading builds resilience among at-risk kids

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Springer/Palgrave MacMillan

A new book reveals that the perception of 19th-century British working-class homes as being sparse and squalid is far from being universally true, and popular writers of the time, such as Charles Dickens, are partly to blame for stereotypes that still exist today.

Co-edited by Dr. Joseph Harley of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), alongside Dr. Vicky Holmes and Dr. Laika Nevalainen, "The Working Class at Home, 17901940" (Palgrave Macmillan), attempts to set the record straight by detailing the lives of working people and how they made a "home" in some of the most trying circumstances imaginable.

Much of these preconceptions of widespread deprivation is due, in part, to the highly polemical accounts of leading intellectuals of the 19th century such as Charles Dickens and Friedrich Engels.

Dickens' books were predominantly bought by the middle classes, who had a voracious appetite for the tales of workhouses and extreme poverty that feature throughout his work, while philosopher and political activist Engels was determined to show how the conditions of the working class had declined following the introduction of machinery.

In his influential The Condition of the Working Class in England, Engels wrote: "We must admit that 350,000 working-people of Manchester and its environs live, almost all of them, in wretched, damp, filthy cottages, that the streets which surround them are usually in the most miserable and filthy condition."

Meanwhile, in "Life and Labour of the People in London," social reformer Charles Booth wrote: "A row of houses falls into bad repute, due merely to a few undesirable tenants who, if they are not ejected, render the neighborhood too hot for anyone with a taste for decency  Everything is filthy, and the stench very bad."

In the new book "The Working Class at Home, 17901940," the book's contributors show how far from living in perpetual poverty, the working class made the best of their situations to create relatively comfortable environments, whether they called home an attic room with no bed, a ship, or even an asylum. "Home' was central to their lives and the working-class understood the space on multiple levels.

In a section examining the English poor between 17901834, Dr. Harley shows how people accumulated a sizable range of possessions and furnishings, although the level of comfort they enjoyed was often precarious and fluctuated depending on their immediate financial situation.

Paupers, for instance, amassed a range of "luxury" goods which were associated with decoration, status, vanity, and appearance. Clocks and watches were found in over a quarter of households, while mirrors, known as looking glasses, appear in a third of pauper inventories from this time, allowing their owners to maintain their appearance and also light their homes more efficiently.

Tea goods were found in around three quarters of pauper homes, showing that tea had gone from a rare luxury to a national drink during the 18th century. One inventory showed that a pauper in Little Wakering, Essex, owned a range of tea paraphernalia including a silver spoon and silver sugar nippers.

However, by analyzing pauper inventories and pauper letters, Dr. Harley shows how material gains could be precarious for the very poorest, with families going through several cycles of being materially rich and materially poor over their lifetimes. Possessions were often pawned or sold during difficult periods, such as sickness, to provide households with the resources to instead acquire the most basic items.

Dr. Joseph Harley, Lecturer in History at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "The concerned reformers of industrializing towns and cities painted a picture of severe deprivation, of rooms that were both cramped yet bare at the same time, and disease-ridden spaces from which their subjects required rescue.

"Even today, working-class abodes of this period continue to be perceived as being unhomely and devoid of the most basic of furnishings, material comforts, and cleanliness. However, this image is wrong and implies that working-class people didn't have the ability, desire or means to create moderately comfortable domestic spaces.

"The material wealth of the poor was, of course, smaller and much more modest than that the middle classes but for the poor themselves, the changes that took place in this period were significant and their homes contained myriad possessions.

"Our new book does not deny the existence of squalor. Instead, it demonstrates that such contemporary depictions do not represent the typical experience of the working class at home during this period."

"The Working Class at Home, 17901940" is published by Palgrave Macmillan and is co-edited by Dr. Vicky Holmes, Dr. Laika Nevalainen and Dr. Joseph Harley.

Explore further New research calls for hybrid working to be more sustainable
In Germany, children start to learn english in primary school. Credit: RUB, Marquard

An international research team has examined how English lessons in primary school affect language proficiency in this subject in secondary school. Children who started learning English in the first grade of primary school performed significantly better in listening and reading comprehension in grade nine than children who started in grade three. The study was a continuation of an earlier paper that had only covered the period up to the seventh grade and couldn't find any such learning advantage.

The team headed by Professor Markus Ritter from Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) and Dr. Nils Jakel from the University of Oulu, Finland, in cooperation with Dr. Michael Schurig from the Technical University of Dortmund, describes their findings in the journal System. The study will be published in the June 2022 edition, but is already freely accessible online. The researchers are collaborating within the university consortium UNIC: European University of Post-Industrial Cities.

Data from North Rhine-Westphalia

The study included data from around 3,000 students who participated in a longitudinal study conducted in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, between 2010 and 2014. The same data had also been used in the previous study, the results of which the researchers had published in 2017. At that time, they had compared two cohorts, one of which had started English lessons in grade one, the other in grade three. In grades five and seven, they had compared both cohorts in terms of English reading and listening comprehension. The new analysis incorporated another set of data collected in 2016 to measure the English performance of the same children in grade nine.

The previous study had found that children who had started English lessons earlier in primary school performed worse in reading and listening comprehension in grade seven than children who had not started English lessons until grade three. However, the new analysis showed that, in grade nine, the early starters in English performed better than the late starters in English.

Additional background variables such as gender, language of origin or cognitive abilities could not account for the difference between the poorer performance in the seventh grade and the late learning gains in the ninth grade.

Transition between school types decisive

"We believe the most plausible explanation is that lessons following the transition period in secondary school have been increasingly adapted to the needs of children who start to take English lessons at an early stage," concludes Nils Jakel, formerly at RUB, now at the University of Oulu.

"This explanation is in line with research that considers the transition between school types to play a key role in the long-term success of English language education across school boundaries."

With this in mind, it is crucial to optimize the didactic coordination and alignment of English classes at the intersection of school types. In addition, it may be that pupils benefit in the long run from more implicit language lessons in primary school.

"We see a high need for research to elaborate factors for successful language education, and we recommend well-coordinated, evidence-based measures in educational policy overall," say the researchers.

Explore further Early English language lessons in Germany less effective than expected

More information: Nils Jaekel et al, The impact of early foreign language learning on language proficiency development from middle to high school, System (2022). Nils Jaekel et al, The impact of early foreign language learning on language proficiency development from middle to high school,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.system.2022.102763
 Flash

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his offer to bring the leaders of Russia and Ukraine in Turkey, during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday.

"Pointing out that reaching consensus on some issues may require talks at the leadership level, Erdogan reiterated his offer to host Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul or Ankara," said a statement of the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan and Putin discussed the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the humanitarian situation on the ground, the statement said.

Emphasizing that "the war would not benefit any side and diplomacy should be given an opportunity," Erdogan stressed the need "to operate the humanitarian corridors effectively and smoothly in both directions," it added.

Ukraine expects Turkey, with other countries, to offer security guarantees to Ukraine if a deal is reached with Russia to end the conflict, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Thursday after meeting his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"We believe it is time to prepare a ground for a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia," Cavusoglu said.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals this week issued a ruling in support of a Trump-era decision and a Southwest Alaska village that has long sought construction of an 11-mile road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.

A three-judge panel for the court, with one judge dissenting, determined Wednesday that former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt in 2019 correctly approved a land exchange between the Interior Department and King Cove's Alaska Native village corporation, according to the 44-page decision. The land exchange would pave the way for the road.

The village has sought to build the road for decades, arguing that it would prevent deaths by allowing residents to quickly reach the community of Cold Bay, which has an all-weather airport and access to emergency flights. Conservation groups have argued that the road would support commercial interests, such as for fishing, and harm migrating waterfowl and other wildlife that depend on the 310,000-acre refuge near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula.

Conservation groups in the case decried the decision, and an attorney in the case representing those groups said the ruling could set an "incredibly dangerous" precedent that threatens Alaska federally protected parks, refuges and wilderness areas in Alaska.

Della Trumble with the King Cove Corp., representing Alaska Native people from the village, said the ruling is welcome after a roughly 40-year fight.

"Basically we're happy at this point of the ruling, but that's all we can say because we haven't taken the time to read through it," she said in an interview.

The ruling on Wednesday reverses a 2020 opinion by District Court Judge John Sedwick of Anchorage rejecting the land exchange, and sends the case back to the district court.

Last March, the Biden administration appealed Sedwick's decision, defending the land exchange agreement. It was a departure from a variety of other actions by the new administration seeking to stop major Trump-era decisions impacting Alaska.

Trustees for Alaska, representing several conservation groups in the case, decried the decision on Wednesday.

The group said the ruling threatens land, water and wildlife in the refuge and trades away congressionally designated wilderness to a private corporation for the purposes of building a commercial road.

"We are deeply disappointed that this decision reinstates the unethical efforts by the Trump administration to circumvent decades of legislation and regulations enacted to protect public lands and natural areas from destructive developments and preserve them for the benefit of all Americans," said David Raskin, president of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. "We will use every means at our disposal to continue the fight to save the Izembek Refuge."

In a post on social media, Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the ruling "great news!"

"This is a huge step forward for the residents getting the road their community needs!" the governor said.

Alaska's all-Republican congressional delegation said in a statement on Wednesday that the 9th Circuit made the right decision.

"The proposed single-lane gravel road enjoys bipartisan support across two administrations for good reason: in the event of medical emergencies, natural disasters, or any other crisis, access to surface transportation can mean the difference between life and death for residents of King Cove," Rep. Don Young said in the statement.

Sen. Dan Sullivan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski noted the issue isn't yet settled: "I'm hopeful that courts at all levels will read this ruling and support the land exchange agreement signed by former Secretary Bernhardt," Murkowski said.

Judges Eric D. Miller and Bridget S. Bade, appointees of former Republican President Donald Trump, issued the opinion supporting Bernhardt's decision.

Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw, appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, dissented.

The opinion, written by Miller, argues that Bernhardt correctly analyzed the statutory purposes of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the 1980 law that classified Izembek as a refuge and created other specially protected federal conservation lands across Alaska.

Under the law, Bernhardt had the right to find the appropriate balance between environmental interests and the economic and social needs of King Cove, and he did so, the ruling says.

Bernhardt acknowledged previous findings from Interior that preventing a road would best protect the refuge's habitat and wildlife, the ruling says.

"But after examining the most recent available information about alternatives to a road, Secretary Bernhardt concluded that the value of a road to the King Cove community outweighed the harm that it would cause to environmental interests," the ruling said.

Also, the ruling asserts that Judge Sedwick's view of the 1980 conservation law did not agree with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2019 decision in favor of Alaskan moose hunter John Sturgeon. In that decision, the Supreme Court upheld state management of state-owned navigable waterways running through federal conservation lands in Alaska.

In the Sturgeon case, the Supreme Court determined that Congress in the Alaska conservation law had sought to balance "scenic, natural, cultural and environmental values" in the state with the economic and social needs of its people, the ruling said.

"One of the purposes of ANILCA, therefore, is to address the economic and social needs of Alaskans," the ruling says. "The Secretary appropriately weighed those needs against the other statutory purposes in deciding whether to enter the land exchange agreement."

Wardlaw, in her dissent, argued that Bernhardt had contradicted key findings of a 2013 decision by former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and violated the stated purposes and procedural requirements of the Alaska conservation act.

Bernhardt broke with Jewell's decision rejecting a land swap in the refuge. But Bernhardt did not violate the Administrative Procedure Act when he did so, the ruling also says.

Bridget Psarianos, staff attorney with Trustees for Alaska, said the decision sets an "incredibly dangerous" precedent for parks, refuges and other conservation units in Alaska.

"It says an Interior secretary can give away lands that Congress has designated as wilderness, if it's economically beneficial to Alaska," she said.

Psarianos said the case is being remanded back to the district court to address other challenges the conservation groups had raised but that were not ruled upon by Sedwick after he had determined the land exchange was illegal.

Those remaining issues deal with procedural errors the conservation groups alleged took place under laws such as the Endangered Species Act. Those missteps are important and should be corrected, she said.

But a future ruling by the district court on those issues could delay a land exchange, but not stop it, she said.

The groups in the case are weighing their options, she said, which could include asking for an en banc review before 11 judges with the 9th Circuit, though such reviews rarely overturn previous decisions by the appeals court, she said.

"We're still evaluating what we'll do, but this fight is far from over," she said.

Explore further US approves land exchange for road through Alaska refuge

2022 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The contribution (%) of mercury pollutants in sediments along the west coast of Korea and the Chinese marginal seas calculated by a Chinese research team (Meng et al., 2019) and this study (Jung et al., 2022). Credit: POSTECH

Minamata, a British film released in 2021, is based on the true story of an American photographer documenting how the citizens of Minamata, Japan, became ill due to the industrial discharge dumped into the river by a Japanese corporation. The Minamata disease, mentioned in the movie, is a neuromuscular disorder resulting from mercury poisoning. To prevent further human health impacts from mercury pollution, the UNEP Minamata Convention on Mercury, a multilateral agreement to mitigate anthropogenic mercury emissions and releases, was initiated in 2017.

In contrast to the Minamata disaster, it is often difficult to locate precisely the specific sources of mercury leading to the ecosystem and human health impacts in the natural environment. At the moment, it is widely accepted that mercury found in the water column and sediments of global coastal oceans is introduced via riverine transport, unlike the case of the Minamata disaster.

Recently, a POSTECH research team led by Professor Sae Yun Kwon and Ph.D. candidate Saebom Jung used mercury (Hg) stable isotopes to quantify the relative importance of various mercury sources in the sediment along the entire west coast of Korea. The findings from the study were published in Science of the Total Environment.

The research team has used the end-members of mercury stable isotopes reflecting atmospherically deposited mercury, mercury discharged in the form of industrial effluent, and mercury transported via riverine systems to calculate the contribution of each source in the sediment. Analyzing this dataset showed that the Korean west coast sediments are most affected by anthropogenic mercury discharged directly into the coastal zones in the form of wastewater from industrial activities. This is also the case in many nearshore systems of the East Asian countries, including China.

There are already monitoring programs funded by the Korean government to screen mercury levels in coastal and marine sediments and fisheries products. However, analyses of mercury concentration alone do not provide sufficient information regarding the sources of mercury responsible for the contamination. In the case of Korea, many industries are located along the nearshore regions rather than along the riverine systems. The west coast also shares the Yellow Sea with Chinathe world's largest emitter of mercury. This calls for further investigation on the contribution of various mercury sources into the Yellow Sea from both countries.

Stable isotopes have widely been used to characterize sources of various heavy metals (lead, zinc, chromium, mercury) in globally recognized contaminated sites such as the Minamata Bay. The utility is spreading quickly to the field of environmental forensics to screen sources at sites where the issues of contamination is just beginning to receive public attention. Stable isotopes are also applied to understand natural processes in the environment, which enhance the exposure of contaminants to wildlife and humans. The unique properties of the stable isotopes, indicating the same element with different numbers of neutrons depending on their origin, enable them to be used to characterize the source of the pollutants.

The results of this study are noteworthy for the nearshore management in East Asian countries. The conflicting results from the conventional concentration-based and modeling studies, which have attributed the riverine transport as the major mercury source to the global coastal oceans, also merit further investigation and utility of mercury stable isotopes.

"The information on the mercury sources along the Korean sediments and fish should be directed to formulating targeted management strategies and policies to mitigate industrial mercury releases. This should be an important objective since Korea is one of the signatory countries under the Minamata Convention," remarked Professor Sae Yun Kwon who led the study.

She added that "the regulation of industrial mercury releases to coastal oceans would also have a direct effect on improving the marine environment and safe consumption of seafood."

Explore further Rivers are largest global source of mercury in oceans

More information: Saebom Jung et al, Elucidating sources of mercury in the west coast of Korea and the Chinese marginal seas using mercury stable isotopes, Science of The Total Environment (2021). Journal information: Science of the Total Environment Saebom Jung et al, Elucidating sources of mercury in the west coast of Korea and the Chinese marginal seas using mercury stable isotopes,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152598

Provided by Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Three Russian cosmonauts blasted off to the International Space Station Friday, as Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine brought the Kremlin's relations with the West to their lowest point since the Soviet era.

Russian space veteran Oleg Artemyev and rookies Denis Matveyev and Sergei Korsakov set off at 1555 GMT, a NASA live feed showed, beginning a three-hour ride to the orbital lab where they will be greeted by a crew of two Russians, four Americans and one German.

Russian space agency Roscosmos confirmed in a statement that the trio had successfully entered orbit beginning a half-year mission aboard the lab.

In the years since Russia's 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea triggered a first wave of Western sanctions, space has proved an outlier of cooperation between Moscow and its American and European counterparts.

But tensions even in this field grew after Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed nationalist ally Dmitri Rogozinan enthusiastic supporter of the current invasionas head of Roscosomos in 2018.

"Ours! For the first time in many yearsa completely Russian crew," Rogozin wrote on Friday prior to the launch on Twittera messaging service that has been blocked in Russia since March 4 as part of a crackdown on social media and the independent press.

Last month US President Joe Biden announced sanctions targeting Moscow's aerospace industry in the wake of Russia's invasion, triggering dark warnings from Rogozin.

"If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from uncontrolled deorbiting and falling on US or European territory?" the Roscosomos boss wrote in a tweet last monthnoting that the station doesn't fly over much of Russia.

The tweet sparked bizarre exchanges between him and Elon Musk, the US billionaire whose SpaceX company has ended Moscow's near decade-long monopoly on launches to the orbital lab.

Musk has offered to fight Putin in "single combat" over Ukraine.

Rogozin responded in defence of the Russian leader, citing one of Musk's earlier musings in which the entrepreneur said he often tweets on the toilet.

"Elon, get off the toilet, then we will talk," he wrote.

Medal refusal

Russian cosmonauts and Westerns astronauts aboard the ISS have steered clear of the conflict that has engulfed planet down on Earth. The war has left thousands dead and triggered Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War Two.

But Scott Kelly, a retired astronaut whose NASA record of 340 consecutive days in space was broken by colleague Mark Vande Hei earlier this week, has refused a medal awarded to him by the Russian government in 2011.

"Please, give (the medal) to Russian mothers whose sons have been killed in this unjust war," Kelly said in a tweet addressed to Russia's former president and current deputy security council chairman Dmitri Medvedev earlier this month.

The ISS, a collaboration among the US, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency and Russia, is split into two sections: the US Orbital Segment, and the Russian Orbital Segment.

At present, the ISS depends on a Russian propulsion system to maintain its orbit, some 250 miles (400 kilometres) above sea level, with the US segment responsible for electricity and life support systems.

NASA has said that it "continues working with all our international partners, including the State Space Corporation Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations of the International Space Station."

In the latest blow to cooperation in space between Russia and the West, the European Space Agency (ESA) said Thursday that it was suspending participation in a Russian-European mission to land a rover on Mars.

Rogozin called the decision "bitter" but pledged that Roscosmos would carry out the mission on its own.

The Roscosmos director has also courted controversy in Kazakhstan, which leases the world's oldest space launch facility to Moscow.

He last week posted pictures of Kazakh youth appearing to take part in political demonstrations supporting Russia in Baikonur city.

Kazakhstan has pledged to stay neutral in Moscow's conflict with Kyiv despite being a member of Russia-led trade and security blocs.

It made no official statement on the rallies, which caused outrage among some Kazakhs on social media.

Explore further Europe's joint Mars mission with Russia postponed by war

 2022 AFP
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Fundraising appeals led by the people they intend to help can raise more money and be more effective than those created by the charity itself, according to new research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and University of the Arts London (UAL).

In partnership with Amref Health Africa, the "Who Owns the Story?" study involved two appeal packs going head-to-head with supporters, the first time live financial responses to fundraising campaigns have been tested by a charity.

Charities and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) are often criticized for the use of their imagery and messaging in fundraising appeals. While there have been many recent positive examples of shifts towards what is often known as responsible or ethical storytelling from Euro-US based charities telling stories about those outside this region, the power to decide what story is told and how still firmly resides within the fundraising countries.

In this study, the researchers aimed to explore how UK audiences respond financially and emotionally to stories of poverty developed and told directly by the image "subject" in their own words, as opposed to fundraising materials designed by the charity.

Two appeal packs were sent out to about 1,800 people on Amref UK's supporter database. The first pack was created by Patrick Malachi, a community health worker in Nairobi, Kenya, who controlled all editorial decisions, took, and selected the images, and told the story in his own words, while the second was created by Amref with the help of a professional photographer and told in the voice of the INGO. Key findings from the study, published in a report today, include:

The pack designed by the community health worker raised more money than the one created by UK-based fundraisersand 38% more compared to previous appeals.

Stories produced by people from their own communities feel more authentic and can create a stronger emotional bond with donors.

Donors responded to a story told directly by the story "subject" by recognizing the positive challenge to some of the stereotypes INGOs are accused of perpetuating: "It's good to see the old paternalistic model of charitable donation give way to a realization that Africans are capable of making their own decisions about how to help their community."

David Girling, from UEA's School of International Development, said: "This research proves without doubt that it is possible to enable participant-led choices regarding storytelling, and still raise as much money as if you had created the fundraising materials yourself. It challenges the dominant sector opinion that in order to raise funds, stories must be selected and created by professional fundraisers. We hope that the project will inspire other organizations to work in partnership with the people whose stories they share."

"Our results show there is another way of gathering and sharing the stories of people living in poverty around the world," said Jess Crombie, of UAL's London College of Communication.

"It is really about trusting that if we hand the power of editorial decision-making and narrative choice to the people living these stories, we won't just be doing something ethically sound, we will also tell more powerful, more interesting and ultimately more effective stories."

The charity appeal created by the community health worker also resulted in the participants feeling good about what outsiders hear about their own community, with Patrick saying: "The best thing is that you are talking directly to the real people, they have the best knowledge, the true picture of what they are saying."

This research was inspired by previous work carried out by Ms. Crombie and Mr. Girling investigating "subject" responses to their portrayals in humanitarian campaigns. It was carried out during and following a number of events that caused the aid sector to reconsider their approach to communications and fundraising. This included the COVID-19 pandemic, the broader conversations around the need for anti-racist behaviors within the sector; and several scandals in how the humanitarian sector interacts with those that it serves. It also happened during a period of broader understanding of the need to recognize colonial histories and how attempts are made to decolonize.

Rachel Erskine, Communications Manager at Amref Health Africa UK, said: "Amref has made a public commitment to ethical storytelling and representation in fundraising and communications. In practice, this meansamong other thingscreating opportunities for the people we support to tell their own stories directly to the UK public.

"Partnering with UEA and UAL on "Who Owns the Story?" was a way for us to take that commitment to the next level and really put our money where our morals are by testing the widely-held assumption that differently-told stories won't move supporters to take action."
Farmers using a digital application in the field in Saint Louis, Senegal. Technology advocates say easy-to-use video-based technologies in local languages can drive change in agriculture in developing countries. Credit: CTA ACP-EU, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Innovations such as Web3, the third generation of the internet, and easy-to-use video-based technologies in local languages have the potential to drive change in agriculture in developing countries, say technology advocates.

Web3, which refers to efforts to create a decentralized version of the internet based on blockchain technology and focused on user ownership, can flip traditional data models and put power back in the hands of farmers, the ICTforAg forum heard.

The interactive virtual event held last week (910 March) seeks to explore ways of leveraging information technology to build resilient agricultural and food systems in low- and middle-income countries.

"Typically, farmer data is held in repository systems, controlled by private sector or governments as a way to provide services," said Rikin Gandhi, co-founder and executive director at Digital Green, a non-profit organization that aims to empower smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty through technology and grassroots partnerships.

"However, this can limit the choices and ability of farmers to a diversity of services," he added.

Web3 could offer tools to allow smallholder farmers more control and ownership of their data through data sovereigntythe principle that data is subject to the laws of the country in which it is locatedaccording to Digital Green.

Smallholder farming organizations engage with public and private sectors, civil society, and business, Gandhi explains. In the process, he adds, a lot of data is generated and held in trust by these entities on behalf of the farmers.

"Our strategy is to seek to work with this wider ecosystem, with the aim of empowering these farmer organizations so that they are the ones who can decide how their data is shared and controlled and, in some cases, perhaps, even monetized," Gandhi said.

Henry Kinyua, East Africa head at Digital Green, says central to this data sharing network is a suite of software tools called FarmStack, which enables peer-to-peer, decentralized data sharing, and allows data providers and farmers to create policies on how data can be shared, for how long, and with whom.

"FarmStack is enabling organizations to identify data needs so they can improve services they offer to farmers, while directly connecting farmers themselves through co-operatives and other partners, creating digital farmer networks for data ownership and governance," Kinyua said on the sidelines of the meeting.

However, Alexander Valeton, managing director of Yielder, an information, communication and training platform for agriculture, says the digitalization of agriculture in developing countries must be bottom-up, and monetizing data should not be the focus.

"The idea that every new digital technology developed in the West can transform agriculture in the developing world is a fallacy," he said.

"These innovations must take into account the needs of smallholder farmers in poor countries, they must be user-friendly and economical and effective," he added.

Valeton believes the aim of improving technology in farming, especially in lower-income countries, should be to alleviate hunger and poverty, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

"Decentralizing in agriculture is a fantastic idea, but the biggest aim should not be to turn farmers into data vendors," he said.

Simpler technologies are also potential change-drivers in agriculture in low- and middle-income countries, the meeting heard.

Delegates heard about Digital Green's video-based service, which allows advisors and farmers to create and share information among their communities in their own words and local languages.

"The video shows farmers how to implement agricultural practices in their own environment that improve productivity and incomes by promoting climate-smart practices," Kinyua said.

The innovation has reached about 2.3 million farmersmostly in India, Ethiopia, and Kenyawith video-based advisory services, according to the organization.

Explore further Big data arrives on the farm

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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The 2021 wildfire season broke records globally, leaving land charred from California to Siberia. The risk of fire is growing, and a report published by the UN last month warned that wildfires are on track to increase 50% by 2050. These fires destroy homes, plant life, and animals as they burn, but the risk doesn't stop there. In the journal One Earth on March 18, researchers detail how the brown carbon released by burning biomass in the northern hemisphere is accelerating warming in the Arctic and warn that this could lead to even more wildfires in the future.

Blazing wildfires are accompanied by vast plumes of brown smoke, made up of particles of brown carbon suspended in the air. This smoke poses health hazards, and can even block out the summer sun, and researchers suspected that it might also be contributing to global warming.

In 2017, the Chinese icebreaker vessel Xue Long headed for the Arctic Ocean to examine which aerosols were floating around in the pristine Arctic air and identify their sources. The scientists on the vessel were particularly curious about how brown carbon released by wildfires was affecting the climate and how its warming effects compared to those of denser black carbon from high-temperature fossil fuel burning, the second most powerful warming agent after carbon dioxide.

Their results showed that brown carbon was contributing to warming more than previously thought. "To our surprise, observational analyses and numerical simulations show that the warming effect of brown carbon aerosols over the Arctic is up to about 30% of that of black carbon," says senior author Pingqing Fu, an atmospheric chemist at Tianjin University.

In the last 50 years, the Arctic has been warming at a rate three times that of the rest of the planet, and it appears that wildfires are helping to drive this discrepancy. The researchers found that brown carbon from burning biomass was responsible for at least twice as much warming as brown carbon from fossil fuel burning.

Like black carbon and carbon dioxide, brown carbon warms the planet by absorbing solar radiation. Since warming temperatures have been linked to the rise in wildfires in recent years, this leads to a positive feedback loop. "The increase in brown carbon aerosols will lead to global or regional warming, which increases the probability and frequency of wildfires," says Fu. "Increased wildfire events will emit more brown carbon aerosols, further heating the earth, thus making wildfires more frequent."

For future research, Fu and his colleagues plan to investigate how wildfires are changing aerosol composition from sources other than brown carbon. Specifically, they are interested in the effect of fires on bioaerosols, which originate from plants and animals and can contain living organisms, including pathogens. In the meantime, Fu urges that attention be focused on wildfire mitigation. "Our findings highlight just how important it is to control wildfires," he says.

Explore further Clean air action affects black carbon and aerosol optical properties in Beijing
WASHINGTON  Canada will begin welcoming vaccinated travelers to enter the country without first taking a COVID-19 test starting on April 1, Canadian officials announced on Thursday.

The move, coming more than two years into the global pandemic, is the most dramatic Canada has taken yet to open its border. Border agents will continue to randomly hand out PCR tests to some travelers, but Canadian officials struck a remarkably positive tone about welcoming Americans and others into their country.

We have it all: beautiful, breathtaking landscapes, internationally acclaimed festivals, premier national parks and outdoor recreation, diverse options from northern peaks to our downtown cores  and first and foremost, safety, said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, who joined Canadian public health officials in announcing the change. The time has come to experience it for yourself.

Canada and the United States jointly closed their border to nonessential travel on March 22, 2020, and began the process of reopening the border last August.

But traveling to Canada remained arduous for Americans driving into the country. Canada required proof of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 until Feb. 28, when the requirement was weakened slightly to give travelers the option of showing proof of a lab-administered antigen test.

Local reaction

Area lawmakers praised the decision.

The U.S.-Canadian border has been closed or severely restricted for nearly two full years, and this has caused difficulties for thousands of people in both countries, said state Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, in a news release. Dropping the border test requirement is a first, necessary step toward restoring normal relations and getting the economy of both nations back on track. In the days and weeks to come, I urge both the United States and Canada to continue taking action to fully reopen our border.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, called the move a positive step forward for upstate New York and North Country families.

However, there is still more work left to do to fully restore our communities. Im calling on the United States to lead the path forward by dropping all COVID-19 requirements and fully restore northern border travel, and Canada should follow. Its time to return to normalcy, she said in a news release.

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The scents permeate the hallways: peanut butter cupcakes and cinnamon rolls from a culinary arts class, fresh sawdust from a carpentry class, and the burning sparks from welding rods in an automotive class  sights and smells as old as the traditional vocational experience.

But the traditional vocational experience these days might also incorporate interactive anatomy tables to handle medical treatments for gunshot wounds or ectopic pregnancies. They may include classes on robotics, cybersecurity, aviation and advanced manufacturing.

The message is getting out there, said Michael Dicken, superintendent of Gloucester County Institute of Technology, where students can earn up to 30 college credits by the time they graduate in 12 full-time programs. At the sprawling campus in Deptford, the vocational-technical high school enrolls about 1,600 students mostly from around the county. Seats are highly competitive, with about 1,200 applications annually for 400 spots.

Whether you want to be a hairdresser or a doctor, he said, students are coming here to pursue all career options. Our goal is to get students out to work or to college.

Once considered an option mostly for students to pursue skilled trades, vocational schools are attracting students who want a different pathway to college or careers. The trend is expected to continue amid the demand for skilled laborers, experts said.

More than 35,000 students are currently enrolled in New Jerseys 21 county vocational schools. More than 5,000 more are expected to enroll after the schools begin receiving additional funding this summer under a $275 million state bond to expand career training programs.

The demand is far outpacing the capacity, said Jackie Burke, executive director of the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools. About 13,000 of the nearly 30,000 who apply statewide are accepted. Similar increases are occurring nationally.

In one wing of Gloucesters 375,000-square-foot building, a group of 10th graders works on robotics and a yearlong project for the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, an annual competition for high schoolers to build and race human-powered, collapsed vehicles over simulated lunar terrain. A sign on the wall has a Nelson Mandela quote: It always seems impossible until it is done.

I just feel like it was a good opportunity, said Victoria Sweeney, 16, of Woodbury, an aspiring architectural engineer. Were learning a lot.

Deneen Clark, 42, a former restaurant owner who became a teacher in 2014, supervises a bakery kitchen where a group of sophomores wearing white chef jackets and hats work at stations filling cookies with raspberry filling or making heart-shaped donuts. There are also three commercial kitchens.

Theyre getting great hands-on experience, said Clark, a baking and pastry arts teacher who teaches in another wing at Gloucester. I tell the kids, I hope you get a job like mine. I look forward to working every day.

At the Camden County Technical School District, about 2,200 students are studying at more than 30 programs at its campuses in Gloucester Township and Pennsauken. Enrollment has increased by more than 200 students in the past five years, said Superintendent Patricia Fitzgerald.

Elsewhere in the region, the Burlington County Institute of Technology, which has about 2,215 students in Westampton and Medford, has seen enrollment increase from about 1,986 students a decade ago, said Superintendent Christopher Nagy. Each year, about 1,000 students apply for 625 available slots.

Theres such a demand for them that were not able to get these students out fast enough, Nagy said.

Burke said enrollment around the state has jumped 41% since 2000 as vocational school programs include a wider range of disciplines, the most popular choices being the health sciences, especially since the pandemic; construction and technical trades; visual arts and digital media; culinary arts; and engineering.

Theyre getting an employable skill while theyre in high school, said Fitzgerald.

The schools boast a 98% graduation rate, compared with 90% for New Jerseys traditional public high schools. In 2019, 72% of graduates went to college or pursued post-secondary training, according to the latest available statistics.

Most of the teachers are experienced in their fields, including Clark and fellow teacher Kevin Heck, a mechanical engineer and former control room operator at the Hope Creek nuclear plant in Salem County. Many had to earn teaching certifications through an alternate route, an expensive process to demonstrate mastery in their subject.

I love to be able to teach students, said Heck, 42. This is really a head start.

Alden Rowlyk, 16, of Swedesboro, a junior at the Gloucester County school who is interested in mechanical engineering, said he chose the vocational school instead of his home district because of the chance to learn from experts.

This was my top pick. Its better to learn from the pros, Rowlyk said.

Some students say they chose the educational and technical program to jump-start college. Many are enrolled in dual-degree programs and are earning credits at schools like Rowan College of New Jersey, which adjoins the GCIT campus.

Dicken said the institute has few disciplinary problems, which he attributes to the students personal decision to attend the program. He estimates about 3% eventually transfer back to their home school district.

Wearing work boots and tool belts, carpentry students followed instructions from Stephen White, a building trades teacher at Gloucester, on how to build steps. Students earn credits toward a union apprenticeship.

They learn by doing, said White, 38, who graduated from the program in 2002 and worked as a journeyman carpenter. For the trade and this type of career, theres no better way to learn.

There are auto mechanic classes that teach students how to repair everything from high-end to electric cars. Students are learning how to repair engines and wrecked vehicles.

Karli Kearney, 16, of Paulsboro, a sophomore, enrolled in the school intending to follow in her mothers footsteps and become a mechanic. She didnt like it, so she tried welding and found her passion, which she plans to pursue with a union after graduation.

A lot of guys dont think women can do this, she said. Its a chance to show them we can.
 Flash

A laboratory in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkov has studied transmitting diseases to humans through bats under U.S. control, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.



"Specialists of the Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces have studied original documents revealing the details of the U.S. implementation of a secret project to study the ways of transmitting diseases to humans through bats in a laboratory in Ukraine's Kharkov," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

"According to the documents, these studies were carried out on a systematic basis and under direct supervision of U.S. specialists for many years," he told a briefing.

The Russian Defense Ministry will publish a new package of documents on the developments of Ukrainian biological laboratories, which were received from lab employees, he added.

Russia has expressed grave concerns over U.S.-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine, where various kinds of dangerous viruses were stored and studied.

Last week, 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.

On March 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video post on his facebook account that "no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land."
A citizens revolt against local governments plan to develop part of the 400-acre Egg Harbor City Lake Park was a positive highlight of 2021 for the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

The nonprofit gave a thumbs up to the effort in its 2022 State of the Pinelands report, showcasing how residents opposed designating the park as an area in need of redevelopment so TackleDirect could build a warehouse there.

People showed up, organized and made their voices heard, PPA Policy Advocate Rhyan Grech said Friday during a news conference on the report.

Residents convinced the governing body to change its mind and reject the proposal, she said, preserving open space for public enjoyment and natural habitat.

And Waterford Township, in Camden County, turned down a proposal to turn the old Atco Raceway into an auto auction, according to the report. If built, the auction would have stored damaged vehicles on gravel directly above the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, an important water source.

The PPA calls itself the watchdog for the 1.1 million acre Pinelands National Reserve.

TackleDirect building in Egg Harbor City still possible, mayor says EGG HARBOR CITY  A new TackleDirect building in the city may still happen despite public di

Egg Harbor City is one of 56 municipalities located in part or entirely within the reserve, Grech said.

The alliance has been providing annual reports on the Pinelands since 2007, said Jaclyn Rhoads, PPA assistant executive director.

We want to make sure government entities are doing their work upholding the integrity of the comprehensive management plan and protecting native habitats, Rhoads said.

Separate from the alliance, the Pinelands Commission is an independent state agency that oversees development. Its mission, per its website, is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the Pinelands National Reserve, and to encourage compatible economic and other human activities consistent with that purpose.

On the negative side, Gov. Phil Murphy got a thumbs down for dropping a state payment-in-lieu-of-taxes fund for municipalities with a large amount of protected lands to $6.5 million this fiscal year from $10 million last year.

It is funding townships receive to compensate for their open space and preserved lands, Grech said, much of which is state parkland or forest.

Egg Harbor City Council rejects lake redevelopment proposal EGG HARBOR CITY  After hearing public discord for almost two hours, City Council rejected a

Such lands are tax exempt, but in towns like Bass River Township, Burlington County, they make up a huge percentage of the municipality. The state PILOT helps make up for a lack of ratables, Grech said

Murphy had increased it to $10 million for the first time last year, Grech said, so the decision to drop it back to $6.5 million was unexpected.

The alliance is hopeful it will be restored to $10 million, she said.

At a time when New Jersey has such surplus, $3.5 million is a relatively easy ask, Grech said.

A Murphy spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.

Grech said the alliance also believes the Department of Environmental Protection has not yet found a way to protect public lands from misuse, especially from off-road vehicle damage.

Egg Harbor City Lake redevelopment plan draws ire of residents and environmental groups EGG HARBOR CITY  Plans to develop the city's historic lake park may hit a road block due to

Damage from illegal ATVs and other vehicles has been a particularly serious problem at Wharton State Forest, which spans parts of Atlantic, Camden and Burlington counties.

Only vehicles registered for on-road use are allowed on Whartons dirt roads, but people for years have been riding ATVs and other off-road vehicles there, damaging pond areas and habitats of endangered snakes and plants.

Thats important to protect the 17 trillion gallons of fresh water in the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer under the Pinelands, she said.

Grech said it was particularly worrisome that the Pinelands Commission for the first time last year allowed development to take place in Manchester Township, Ocean County, that will destroy habitat of the endangered Northern pine snake.

The developer must preserve other habitat of the snake outside the Pinelands, she said, but the snakes living on site will be lost.

The group also called for the state to hire a new executive director for the Pinelands Commission, after the death last year of longtime Executive Director Nancy Wittenberg.

The 2022 State of the Pinelands Report is available online at pinelandsalliance.org or by visiting the alliance headquarters at 17 Pemberton Road, Southampton, Burlington County. Call 609-859-8860 for more information.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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SOMERS POINT  The COVID-19 pandemic has made apparent the importance of cooperation between hospitals and the communities they serve  something people in Somers Point understand.

City Council passed a resolution March 10 accepting a $250,000 donation from Shore Medical Center. The payment comes on top of the $222,000 Shore was required to pay the city by a state law that imposes a fee on the number of licensed beds a hospital has.

Shore Director of Finance Rob Wood said Wednesday the hospital wanted to give back to the city and its residents. While he said Shore has provided voluntary payments to the city in the past, the hospital decided to boost its donation to lighten the burdens created by the pandemic and the accompanying disruptions to the economy and peoples livelihoods. It also would pair well with what Wood said was the approximately $10 million Shore spends annually on charity care. Wood added there were preliminary plans to work with a third party to donate $7,500 to the Somers Point Fire Department.

The purpose was really for the betterment of the citizens of Somers Point, to hopefully ease maybe the tax burden or the crunch on the city, Wood said. Were trying to be a good neighbor and provide some assistance to that.

Mayor Jack Glasser praised Shore for its donations. He said the latest donation came at a time when many hospitals and health care workers across the region were still responding to the stresses created by the pandemic.

Councilman Sean McGuigan, representing the 1st Ward, echoed Glasser, thanking the hospital for its support of Somers Point.

Survey shows extent of hospital worker shortage in New Jersey New Jersey hospitals face an increased demand for medical staff in the midst of global compe

You cant say enough about what a responsible and engaged community partner that hospital is, McGuigan said.

Wood said the donation complemented Shores role as an economic engine in the city. He said the hospital creates about 1,600 jobs, making it one of Somers Points largest employers. Shore also has sold some of its properties to residential property owners, which Wood said has expanded the citys tax base.

It is an engine that does fuel lots of different activities in Atlantic and Cape May County, Wood said.

Citing its work in the community, Wood argued that Shore should receive a higher payment from the state charity-care subsidy. He said the approximately $150,000 Shore receives annually from the state program was not enough to compensate the hospital for the $10 million it spends in charity work  and that the program disproportionately benefited hospitals in the states larger urban areas. He underscored how despite what he felt were low payments to the hospital, Shore was still making an effort to give back to the community.

The law requiring hospitals to pay a bed tax to the relevant municipal government passed the state Legislature in December 2020. The law provided municipalities with additional revenue while protecting the property-tax exempt status of nonprofit hospitals and other health care facilities.

Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com

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Sunflowers have become a symbol of hope, unity and resistance this year, the Ukraine national flower used by Ukrainians and people all over the world to speak out against Russia's invasion of the country.

In a few weeks, Bereskin Art Gallery & Arts Academy will fill its space with drawn, painted and sculpted sunflowers, hoping to provide a little light of its own to Ukrainians struggling to survive.

Bereskin Art Gallery & Arts Academy will hold a gallery show April 1 to raise funds for Ukraine relief, collecting monetary donations and auctioning off submitted pieces. The gallery is taking sunflower artwork donations, and interested artists can sign up online.

Pat Bereskin, executive director of the gallery, said she's always been a doer, and it's been hard to do anything meaningful here when the conflict is across the world. Seeing the sunflower splashed across social and national media served as a catalyst for the idea, and is the theme of the show.

"In things like this, or the pandemic  it's very difficult to be one person to try to fix this, so far away," Bereskin said. "But the one thing that I can do something with is art. And so can my friends."

She's partnered with the Rotary Club of Bettendorf to handle the funds. Rotary Club President Larry Thein said the funds will be wired to Rotary Club Kyiv International, where the money will be used to support women and children fleeing Russian occupied areas of Ukraine.

An artist herself, Bereskin has created a few 2D and 3D pieces to put in the show. As of March 14, 24 artists had signed up to submit pieces to the show, and Bereskin said she expects more to register in the coming weeks. All kinds of mediums will be featured, from photography to painting to sculpture.

Artist Rose Moore used colored pencils to create her sunflower pieces, a medium she picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic. She's had pieces in the gallery for a few years, and was thrilled to hear that Bereskin was organizing a fundraiser.

"Most of us Americans feel helpless, watching the news and seeing what's unfolding around the world," Moore said. "So this was a way for me to help."

Art is a global concept, Moore said, and the artist community is worldwide. Human beings have a connection to art, and with the right piece, it can send a message anyone can understand. With works centered around the sunflower, artists at this show can convey the message of peace and support.

"When something is happening around the world, and it needs to be brought to the attention of other humans, this is one way we can do it," Moore said. "As an artist, we have the ability to convey a message, so I think it's important to artists to pay attention."

While Bereskin is excited to see other artists help her provide support for Ukrainian refugees, it all feels like it's not happening fast enough. All she can do right now is wait and hope they raise enough to make an impact on someone.

"They're hungry today," Bereskin said. "I'm more nervous right now than I was a week ago because I have to wait until April to raise this money."

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A Davenport man accused shooting a woman in 2021 made his first court appearance Friday in Scott County.

Brandon DeShane Branigan, 31, is charged with attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records.

According to the arrest affidavits, at 12:12 a.m. May 23, 2021, the shooting occurred in the parking lot of Westview Terrace Apartments, 7202 Hillandale Road.

Branigan shot the woman multiple times using two 9 mm pistols. She required emergency surgery.

Branigan appeared by video before Judge Stephen P. Wing, who set bond at $25,000 cash only, appointed a public defender and set his next court date for March 25.

Attempted murder charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law with a prison sentence of 25 years. It is a forcible felony, so Branigan would have to serve, 70%, or 17 years, before becoming eligible for parole.

Intimidation with a dangerous weapon is a Class C felony with a prison sentence of 10 years; felon in possession of a firearm charge is a Class D felony with a prison sentence of five years.

Branigan was still in custody early Friday afternoon, according to the Scott County Jail website.

Branigan was on parole out of Scott County until Feb. 8, 2023, according to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records.

He was arrested March 17, 2016, on drug and weapons charges. He pleaded guilty to intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years, and felon in possession of a firearm, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

On Aug. 4, 2016, Scott County District Judge Henry Latham sentenced Branigan to a 10-year prison sentence on the intimidation charge, and a consecutive 5-year sentence on the felon in possession charge.

Branigan was paroled from the Iowa Department of Corrections on April 9, 2020, and sent to the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was booked into the Danville Correctional Center on Aug. 6, 2020, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections website.

In the Illinois case, Branigan pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm during a hearing Sept. 14, 2017, in Rock Island County Circuit Court. He was sentenced Feb. 2, 2018, by Associate Circuit Judge Norma Kauzlarich to eight years and six months in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Branigan was paroled from Danville Correctional Center on Dec. 23, 2020. He is to be on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections until Dec. 23, 2022.

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Two of three Davenport men accused of killing a 14-year-old boy in a 2021 shooting made their first appearances in court on Thursday.

Chrystian Zamariyea Smith, 18; Javon Delbert Combs, 20; and John Eddie Hanes III, 18, are accused of shooting Jamon Winfrey to death on Feb. 24, 2021, near the intersection of 13th and Farnam streets, according to arrest affidavits filed for the men.

All three men have been charged with first-degree murder, which carries an automatic sentence of life without parole in Iowa.

Smith and Combs made their initial appearances Thursday morning by video before Scott County Judge Peter G. Gierut.

Bond for Smith and Combs was set at $1 million each. Both men remained in the custody of the Scott County Jail on Thursday, according to the jails website.

Gierut also appointed a public defender to represent the men at least in the short term. Smith said he intended to hire a private attorney.

The pair is scheduled to appear back in court for preliminary hearings on March 25.

Hanes is serving an unrelated prison sentence in the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, according to the Davenport Police Department.

Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said Wednesday that Hanes would have to be returned to Scott County to face the murder charge.

Combs parents, Saul and Miranda Combs, attended Thursday's hearing. Afterward, they said their son was innocent.

My son didnt do this, Saul Combs said.

They just need to prove it, his father said.

At about 4:22 p.m. on the day of the shooting, officers went to the area of 13th and Farnam streets to investigate a report of gunfire, the police department said.

The initial investigation indicates three vehicles  a black four-door sedan, a gold sedan and a silver minivan  were chasing one another with shots being fired from at least one of the vehicles, police said.

According to affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Jordan Sander, Combs, Smith and Hanes were able to block the vehicle they were after, causing the vehicle in which Winfrey was riding to stop in the roadway. Two of the men fired at Winfrey, striking him.

Officers located a scene and recovered spent shell casings but did not find anyone with injuries nor any damage to property during that first response.

Winfreys body was found the next day in a yard between houses in the 1300 block of Farnam Street.

Combs and Smith each has recently been on probation, according to Iowa Department of Corrections and Scott County District Court electronic records.

Combs is currently on probation until Nov. 17, 2025, after pleading guilty to first-degree theft for stealing a 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line. The charge is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. Combs also pleaded guilty to a charge of eluding while participating in a felony, a Class D felony that carries a five-year prison sentence.

Smith was supposed to have been on probation until April 14, 2024, after pleading guilty last year to a charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon in connection with an Oct. 29, 2020, shooting incident in Davenport, and a charge of criminal gang participation. He was later arrested in August for violating his probation after being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Davenport police detectives connected him to an Oct. 2, 2020, burglary at a home from which Smith allegedly stole the victims 2017 Honda Accord. He then was charged with first-degree theft and second-degree burglary.

Hanes was sentenced in August to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of criminal gang participation, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

A charge of possession of a firearm by a felon was dropped as a result of a plea agreement.

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A parolee out of both the Iowa and Illinois prison systems who is accused in a May 2021 shooting in which one person suffered serious wounds has been arrested.

Brandon DeShane Branigan, 31, is charged with one count each of attempted murder, intimidation with a deadly weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The attempted murder charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. Because the charge is a forcible felony, Branigan would have to serve, 70%, or 17  years, before becoming eligible for parole.

The charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years, while the felon in possession of a firearm charge is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Detective Aric Robinson, at 12:12 a.m. on May 23, 2021, officers were sent to the parking lot of Westview Terrace Apartments, 7202 Hillandale Road, for a report of shots fired and a gunshot victim.

Branigan was in possession of two 9 mm pistols and while sitting in a vehicle fired multiple shots at a woman, striking her multiple times. The woman suffered life-threatening injuries and required emergency surgery.

Branigan was being held Thursday night without bond in the Scott County Jail. He is expected to make a first appearance on the charges Friday in Scott County District Court.

Branigan is on parole out of Scott County until Feb. 8, 2023, according to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records.

He was arrested March 17, 2016, on drug and weapons charges. He pleaded guilty in that case to charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years, and felon in possession of a firearm, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

On Aug. 4, 2016, Scott County District Judge Henry Latham sentenced Branigan to a 10-year prison sentence on the intimidation charge, and a consecutive 5-year sentence on the felon in possession charge.

Branigan was paroled from the Iowa Department of Corrections on April 9, 2020, and sent to the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was booked into the Danville Correctional Center on Aug. 6, 2020, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections website.

In the Illinois case, Branigan had pleaded guilty to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm during a hearing Sept. 14, 2017, in Rock Island County Circuit Court. He was sentenced Feb. 2, 2018, by Associate Circuit Judge Norma Kauzlarich to eight years and six months in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Branigan was paroled from Danville Correctional Center on Dec. 23, 2020. He is to be on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections until Dec. 23, 2022.

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A 27-year-old Sterling, Ill., man is facing child pornography charges after an investigation by the Illinois State Police.

Michael T. Moreno is charged in Whiteside County Circuit Court with two counts of dissemination of child pornography.

Each of the charges is a Class X felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years.

Moreno was being held Thursday night in the Whiteside County Jail on a bond of $100,000, 10%. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for March 28 in Whiteside County Circuit Court.

Agents with the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force searched Morenos home Wednesday in connection with the investigation. Evidence at the scene led Morenos arrest.

The Illinois State Police were aided in the investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sterling Police Department.

The investigation is continuing.

The Illinois State Police said resources for internet safety and security and keeping children safe could be found at www.onlinesafeonlinesmart.com.

Police also said that people could report online exploitation at www.cybertip.org.

Also, police said materials for survivors of sexual abuse could be found at www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow.

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Dallas Law wouldn't recommend international travel during a global health pandemic. But he was too excited about the Gathering of the Green to stay in Australia.

The event gathers collectors of all things John Deere every other year in the Quad-Cities. Law, an avocado farmer, had to cancel flights in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. This week, he's back in the Quad-Cities and seeing new and familiar faces from around the U.S. and world.

"It's great to catch up with other agricultural people," he said, "because we all struggle with the same thing even though we're in different countries."

Gathering of the Green kicked off Wednesday with a huge crowd, Gathering of the Green Board Chair Tony Knobbe said, and the excitement continued Thursday with a St. Patrick's Day-friendly  and the John Deere classic  sea of green.

John Deere enthusiasts can explore a vendor fair, attend workshops and view equipment through Saturday at the RiverCenter, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport,. The Plow City Tractor Show, showcasing rare, locally made pieces, will run through Friday at the Iowa Building on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.

Day passes cost $10 and allow access to both the RiverCenter and Plow City Tractor Show on the day it was bought.

Many people had already pre-registered for the Gathering when they had to cancel in 2020, Knobbe said, and with all of the vendors and ordered merchandise, they had to scramble to let everyone know what was going on, cancel contracts and give people their money back. But some decided to let the organization keep their money, to ensure they could all gather again in the future.

"We started the process of refunding their registration fees, and hundreds of people started saying, just keep my money. We want this thing to continue. You don't have to apply it to my next Gathering fees, just keep it and make this thing happen," Knobbe said. "So they're just very, very gracious."

Dave McEachren was shutting the tailgate on his truck  filled with John Deere toys and collectibles ready to be sold at the 2020 Gathering of the Green  when he got a phone call with news of the events' cancellation. Despite the disappointment he understood why it needed to be done, and has been anticipating this week for the past two years.

The collector traveled from Glencoe, in Ontario, Canada, for the event. The only Gathering he's missed over the years was the first one, and he wasn't about to break his streak.

Business has been booming, he said, and he's barely been able to leave his booth in between selling and talking with people.

"That's one of the biggest reasons that I enjoy coming," McEachren said. "It's not about collecting or buying or selling, it's about seeing the people that are here."

Paulette Dow didn't have quite as far to travel to volunteer for the Gathering as a resident of Bettendorf, but she's seen plenty of new faces to go along with the familiar. Manning a booth filled with baskets ready to be raffled off, she said the day had been great  and incredibly busy  so far.

Preparing for this year's event was a little easier this time around, she said, since they kept the theme and plan from the canceled 2020 Gathering. But the atmosphere was a bit different from the past, with people bursting to coming together over a shared passion again.

"We're happy to be here," Dow said, "Finally, finally, finally."

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Preservationists marked a bittersweet date this week with the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the old Rock Island County courthouse, now on a course for demolition later this year.

Built beginning in 1895, the courthouse was dedicated on March 13, 1897. According to the Rock Island Preservation Society, the 60-room, four-story structure at 210 15th St. cost $112,201 to construct, not including the heating system.

Designed by the Kansas City architectural firm of Gunn & Curtis in the Spanish renaissance style, Rock Island stone cutter Charles Larkin constructed the Bedford limestone exterior. Floors in the soaring central rotunda were made of marble and mosaic tile and a 154-foot-tall dome covered in copper topped off the building.

"The newspaper account of the dedication of the courthouse from 1897 indicates how proud our community was of this building," said Diane Oestreich, a courthouse advocate and secretary for the Rock Island Preservation Society. "People from across the county attended. You don't get a building like this every day. We were so proud of it.

"We did not expect it to be torn down after 125 years or allowed to deteriorate before its time," she said. "The Tennessee pink marble in the rotunda and the stairways was not a cheap material. There are only two quarries it came from."

Oestreich said the courthouse's pending demolition "is disappointing."

County Board members voted in July 2018 to demolish the courthouse despite lawsuits, protests and push back from the public. Once photo and video documentation and recordation of the historic building is completed, demolition can proceed.

County Board Chairman Richard Quijas Brunk said Friday that a date for demolition has not been set.

"The recordation contractor has begun going through the floor plans of the building," Brunk said. "They determined it would be best to wait when temperatures are warmer so they can come on site and start digital photography and other processes. I would anticipate that work beginning very shortly."

Brunk said the recordation process could take up to three months and then the State Historic Preservation Office must review the submission.

"I would anticipate (demolition) later this year," he said.

Despite the poor condition of the interior of the building, the exterior remains in good shape.

"Please reconsider your position on the county courthouse," Randy Brockway, a landscape architect, wrote to county board members in an email this week. "The Bedford limestone walls that comprise the structure symbolizes the strength, honesty and foresight of the men and women that built one of the finest courthouses in the region."

The limestone, which came from quarries near Bedford, Indiana, "is beautiful, durable and is prized by those that construct the finest buildings and bridges in America," Brockway wrote.

"Other than for a bit of discoloration caused by dripping water from window air conditioners the stone is as clean and white as it was on the day it was completed in 1897."

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 Flash

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Wednesday evening that Iran and other related parties "are close to the final point of a deal more than any time before," according to a press release by the Iranian foreign ministry.

"What can make a good and lasting agreement certain is realistic behavior by the United States and its decline to make new and false demands," Abdollahian said in a phone conversation with his British counterpart, Liz Truss.

He added that Iran is ready for a final deal if all its red lines are respected.

In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States, plus Germany) and the European Union.

However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, with the United States indirectly involved, to revive the deal.
The Clinton County Sheriff's Office released the names of four people who died Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash in Clinton County.

Killed in the crash were Donald Bartels, 90; Benjamin Ehrhart, 94; Donna Ehrhart, 91; and Phyllis Krogman, 81, all of Clinton, according to a sheriff's office press release.

The crash remains under investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

The crash occurred at 4:54 p.m. Wednesday in the 4100 block of Iowa 136.

Based on preliminary investigations, a passenger car driven by Bartels was traveling westbound on Highway 136 when it collided with a minivan driven by Ehrhart heading eastbound on Highway 136.

Ehrhart's wife, Donna, and Krogman were riding as passengers in the minivan. A third passenger in the minivan sustained serious injuries and was transported to MercyOne Emergency Room and later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, according to the sheriff's office. The condition of the crash victim was not available late Thursday.

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol; Andover, Goose Lake, Camanche, Clinton and Charlotte fire departments; the Clinton County Medical Examiner's Office; the Iowa Department of Transportation-Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement; and Med-Force Air Ambulance.

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Overwhelming. That is the word Allan Ross used to describe the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities raising $30,500 for relief in Ukraine in three weeks  with just 37 donors to boot.

Answering a call from national groups, the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities and other local organizations are gathering monetary donations and supplies to send to Ukraine, which has struggled for weeks against a wide-ranging assault by Russian military forces.

"We see these images on TV every every day, or read it in the newspapers, and they're just heartbreaking," the federation executive director said. "People want to help."

Donations to the federation have been driven by some large gifts. The first of which came on March 1  a donation of $10,000 from the Martin Rich family and Louis and Ida Fox-Rich Endowment Fund.

Information on how to donate can be found online.

Around 25% of the total donations are going to the Jewish Federations of North America, which has amassed more than $25 million for Ukraine relief. The other 75%, of which $16,000 has already been sent, will be donated directly to relief organizations including the Joint Distribution Committee, HIAS, American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel and United Hatzalah.

Martin Rich reached out to Ross before sending the money and said he wanted to make a lead grant to try to jump-start fundraising, hoping others would follow his example.

"People certainly followed," Ross said.

Bishop Thomas Zinkula, the Bishop of Davenport, has also called on parishioners in the Diocese of Davenport to donate to a special parish in their churches this weekend. The funds raised will go to Catholic Relief Services to support displaced Ukrainians and refugees.

Genesis Health Systems answered the call of the American Hospital Association on behalf of the U.S. Ukraine Foundation this week, gathering $1,400-worth of medical supplies, including wound dressings, scalpels, stethoscopes, penlights, alcohol prep pads, Steri-Strips and outdated gloves and gowns.

The health system sent the boxes of supplies to the AFYA Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit that sends medical supplies where they're most needed. Operation Ukraine AirLIFT will then get them to medical facilities in Ukraine.

"On the news, we see the horror of the war in Ukraine, and our hearts go out to those health care workers who are working to care for patients during attacks on medical facilities," said Lisa Rogalski, director of material services, in a press release. "We are honored to join other U.S. health care organizations providing assistance and to spread the mission of Genesis to a country with overwhelming medical supply needs."

UnityPoint Health-Trinity donated cases of gloves, masks, gowns and scrubs to the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America earlier this month, said UnityPoint Health Marketing Communications Specialist Kristy Phillipson.

The Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities will continue to take donations as long as support in Ukraine is needed, Ross said. He gets reports from the national federation every day, giving updates on money raised and what support Ukrainians need most right now, and he doesn't see them stopping any time soon.

"Even if there is a ceasefire, even if there is a peace treaty, look at the hundreds of billions of dollars of destruction caused by the Russian invasion," Ross said. "It's going to take a long time to rebuild."

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CHICAGO - The Biden administration is proposing replacing much of the 100-year-old Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital  which sits about 12 miles west of downtown Chicago  as part of a national overhaul of the nations veterans' health care system.

The Department of Veterans Affairs released details earlier this week about how it plans to revamp its facilities across the country, sparking controversy with recommendations to close hospitals in some areas, such as Massachusetts, Ohio and New York.

Under the plan, the Chicago area would keep its three main VA health care facilities  Hines, the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago and the Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. But Hines, which has nearly 500 beds, would get a new building to house all of its patient care. At least some of Hines current buildings, including the one that now includes most of the hospitals patient care, would remain for administrative use, said James Doelling, Hines hospital director.

Hines sits on a nearly 150-acre campus next to Loyola University Medical Center. The VA is also recommending building a new outpatient facility at Jesse Brown.

The plan must still be reviewed by Congress and a presidentially appointed Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission, which will conduct public hearings and submit its own recommendations to the president in 2023. The VA came up with the recommendations under the requirements of the MISSION Act, signed into law in 2018 by President Donald Trump.

The current Hines (hospital) campus has ongoing facility challenges, high operating and maintenance costs, and several buildings that do not meet modern health care standards, according to the report released this week. Replacing the part of the hospital that provides patient care would address those issues, provide a better environment for veterans and maintain the hospitals ability to provide complex inpatient and outpatient care, according to the report.

Hines was originally built to help veterans returning from World War I, Doelling said. The current Hines facility would need $527.6 million worth of work to bring it up to where it should be now, if it were not replaced, according to the report.

The veterans of today have different needs from the veterans of 100 years ago, Doelling said. Renovating these older buildings, its just not cost (effective) and it wouldnt give us the space to expand our services.

The VA did not include a cost for replacing the Hines facility or building a new outpatient facility at Jesse Brown in its report. It has not yet been decided how many beds the new Hines facility might have, Doelling said.

The recommendations also include moving long-term care, a residential rehabilitation treatment program and other rehabilitation services now provided at Jesse Brown to the new Hines facility. And the VA is recommending consolidating Jesse Brown and Hines leadership teams, administration and support services, though Hines and Jesse Brown would remain as two separate hospitals. Hines would also begin offering mammograms.

The VA is also recommending modernizing parts of Lovell and is proposing building new community clinics near Morris and La Porte, Ind.

Many of the VAs recommendations focus on outpatient care, in line with a national shift that began before the COVID-19 pandemic of patients needing less overnight care and more outpatient services, now that more procedures can be done without a hospital stay. In the Chicago area, demand for overnight hospital stays is expected to decrease this decade while demand for long-term care and outpatient services is expected to climb, according to the report.

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CHICAGO  Traffic jams resulted Thursday after wealthy Chicago businessman and former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson donated $200,000 worth of gas at 10 service stations.

The giveaway in $50 increments started at 7 a.m., leading to some fender-benders and, at one location, at least a half-dozen patrol cars directing traffic, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

One station owner Neha Baig said, "it's great to have everyone here."

"It's great for the community to come together and feel like they are being helped out in any way possible," Baig said.

Wilson, asked if he regretted the traffic jams, told reporters he wished he had donated more gas. Prices at the pump were as high as $4.49 per gallon.

Wilson said he's tentatively planning another giveaway next week.

"We went out to do good, to help the needy and to help the poor and the people who can't get to work to take care of their families," he said.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden complained the giveaway at a station in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the North Side caused a "traffic disaster."

"This was irresponsible and reckless of Dr. Wilson and the gas station owners," Hadden commented on Twitter.

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CHICAGO  A man convicted for the second time in the 2013 beating death of a stranger on a Chicago Transit Authority train platform has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

A Cook County judge sentenced Anthony Jackson on Wednesday in the March 2013 slaying of Sanchez Mixon, 37, on a CTA Green Line platform, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Jurors who convicted Jackson of first-degree murder in June 2021 viewed CTA surveillance footage of Jackson punching and kicking Mixon  a complete stranger  who was also stomped on his head so hard it left a foot-shaped mark.

Mixon's death was ruled a homicide due to blunt force injuries to the head.

Jackson was represented at trial by his brother, former federal prosecutor George Jackson III, who argued that Mixon was staring down his brother on the platform and had walked up next to him in a threatening way, leaving his brother with little choice but to defend himself.

Jackson was convicted of Mixon's murder at his first trial in 2015, but a judge threw out that verdict in 2016 on the grounds that one of his previous attorneys was ineffective.

At Wednesday's hearing, Jackson's mother testified that he had been violently assaulted on his 16th birthday at the same train platform where he would later beat Mixon to death.

"I often say (the attack) was a backflash he experienced from the beating he experienced on that same platform," Theresia Jackson said.

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The pandemic has laid bare a crisis weve ignored for far too long  our chronic doctor shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States faces a shortfall of up to 124,000 physicians over the next decade.

This is a supply problem, as the demand for care will only go up. So we must create more doctors  by expanding medical school capacity and increasing the number of residency slots where budding doctors can complete their training.

The causes of this looming shortage are many. Over half of doctors in this country are 55 or older and heading for retirement. Our aging population is increasing the overall demand for medical care.

Burnout is also becoming a bigger problem. Even before the pandemic, long hours, stifling bureaucracy and a lack of autonomy had been causing many doctors to hang up their stethoscopes early. The horrors and stresses of COVID-19 pushed many more out of active practice.

The shortage does not hit all Americans equally. Rural areas and poorer communities are more likely to lack the physicians they need.

Were in this mess, in part, because of policies that ensued from a flawed, four-decade-old federal government report. In 1981, the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee concluded that America would have a large surplus of physicians. The committee said that medical school enrollment had increased too much during the 60s and 70s.

The report is one reason why no new M.D.-granting medical schools were established until after the new millennium.

By 2006, the Association of American Medical Colleges issued its own report claiming that new medical schools were needed to avoid an impending doctor shortage.

Today, were graduating far too few doctors. Only 36.2% of those who apply to medical school end up matriculating, according to AAMC data from 2021-22.

The United States cuts a sorry figure in the data for medical graduates per 100,000 people among developed countries. In 2019, Ireland topped the list with 24.8 medical graduates for every 100,000 inhabitants. That year, the United States had just 8.1 per 100,000 people. Italy, Slovakia, Belgium and the Czech Republic all had twice as many medical graduates per capita in 2019 as we did.

Med school admissions are, of course, supposed to be competitive. But how many people are denied the chance to become doctors simply because there arent enough desks  not because they wouldnt make great physicians?

Med school applications have been increasing for decades  by two-thirds since 2005. Last year, a record 62,000 prospective students applied.Acceptance rates are stunningly low, with only 7 of every 100 applicants admitted on average. At Harvard, the figure is 2.8.

Theres no escaping it  more slots are desperately needed.

Money is targeting student enrollment. The University of Utah will use a $110 million donation to increase each class size from 125 to 155, as well as to raise the number of residency slots it offers to finish training doctors.

Theres more. UMass Medical School received a transformational $175 million gift from the Morningside Foundation. Western Michigan Universitys Medical School has received gifts totaling $300 million that could lead to a transformational growth in its student body.

Rowan University in New Jersey recently received an $85 million donation for a new osteopathic school of medicine. Belmont University in Tennessee got $10 million from its board of trustees chair to bolster its med school, and Wake Forest secured $25 million from the Howard R. Levine Foundation to go toward a brand-new medical school in Charlotte.

We could also use more residency slots, the postgraduate sites where medical graduates complete their training. This past December, the federal government committed to fund 200 new slots per year over five years through Medicare. Its the largest increase in Medicare-funded residencies in more than a quarter-century.

Private philanthropists and other organizations dedicated to improving health care should seriously consider augmenting efforts like this one by funding residencies themselves.

Given the scope of the doctor shortage, we need many more actors to join the fight. This is a crisis we can stop.

Sally C. Pipes is president, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith fellow in health care policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is False Premise, False Promise: The Disastrous Reality of Medicare for All. 2022 Chicago Tribune. Visit at chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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President Joe Biden on Thursday appointed two state directors for United States Department of Agriculture programs in South Dakota, naming Steve Dick to head the Farm Service Agency and Nikki Gronli as director of rural development.

Dick formerly directed Ag United, an organization that advocates for farmers and ranchers, while Gronli was the vice chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party and worked as a marketing specialist with SDN Communications, a broadband internet service provider.

Dick said he would not start in his new role until next month, adding he was excited about the appointment." He will oversee the Farm Service Agency offices in the state. He worked on former Sen. Tom Daschle's staff for 10 years.

Gronli said she will be leaving her position with the Democratic Party and said she would focus her work on economic development in rural communities.

I look forward to working with rural and tribal communities on water access, the elimination of food deserts, and business development, she said in a statement released by the South Dakota Democratic Party. This department is key to keeping our rural areas strong, vibrant, and growing.

A presidential appointment for the U.S. Attorney in South Dakota has not yet been named.

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Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 are on the decline, according to city wastewater data.

City Water Reclamation Superintendent Dave Van Cleave said Friday the city received data back from the CDC for the Feb. 7 through March 9 samples in the National Wastewater Surveillance System. The system measures COVID-19 RNA present in wastewater. It was launched in September 2020 by the CDC to help communities prepare and act in the event of an increase in cases.

Van Cleave said the initial data shows the concentration of the RNA declined between Feb. 7 through March 9 by about two orders of magnitude.

"That matches what we're seeing around the state," he said.

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, the state has 2,597 active COVID-19 cases as of Friday, the lowest total since August 2021. Active infections dropped in Pennington County from Thursday to Friday to 422.

The CDC reports also indicate that Pennington County has a low transmission rate of COVID-19.

The city started submitting samples to the national system in February. At the time, Van Cleave said LuminUltra, the company conducting the testing for the system, reached out to the city due to a gap in data from western South Dakota.

Van Cleave said Friday the city was supposed to submit samples for about a month, but was asked to submit more. He said the city will submit samples twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday, through the end of March.

He said the city will likely receive more data next week and that the current data is not enough to show a trend.

"We need more samples (than what we have) to be good data, but it's showing the right indications," he said.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled that a Spink County board had the authority to reject an application for a large-scale hog operation in 2018.

The high court's decision upholds a lower court ruling, which rejected calls for additional testimony in the case.

Arrow Farms in 2017 applied for a conditional use permit to operate a concentrated animal feeding operation, also called a CAFO, which would include more than 7,500 hogs. Arrow Farms said it met setbacks required by the county, South Dakota Public Broadcasting reported.

The Spink County Board of Adjustment rejected the permit that led to a lawsuit by Preston Miles. He alleged the board's denial was arbitrary and that its members were biased against him and his project.

Some board members say they rejected the permit over concerns about foul odors from the operation.

The Supreme Court said the board members did not have a disqualifying interest in the permit hearing.

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When President Joe Biden mentioned the term burn pits while discussing health benefits for military veterans during his State of the Union address March 1, many Americans heard of the issue for the first time.

Congress is crafting legislation to assist post-9/11 combat veterans exposed to toxic smoke from burn pits that contractors used to dispose of human waste, chemicals, munitions and other hazardous materials in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For Jerry Somsen of Webster, who grew up dreaming of being a soldier, and who helped command a South Dakota Army National Guard battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bidens words were merely a reminder that the wounds of war can linger, even when their origin is unclear.

The 54-year-old insurance executive started experiencing tremors in his hands a few years after returning from southern Iraq in 2005. The shaking soon spread to both sides of his body and down his legs. Last year, a doctor diagnosed Somsen with Parkinsons disease, a progressive nervous system disorder, though Somsen has no family history of the disease.

Sitting at his dining room table on a recent evening with his wife Kari, a lawyer who works in Groton, Somsens hands shook noticeably as he recounted the neurological tests and other medical appointments that so far have not led to any disability coverage for his illness from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which only recognizes certain conditions as linked to burn pit exposure.

I didnt have this when I went over there, and I came out knowing something was wrong, said Somsen, a Castlewood native and South Dakota State graduate who retired after 23 years of National Guard service in 2009. I guess you could say we signed up for it, but we didnt sign up to not be protected once we got back.

Somsen is one of 16 South Dakotans on a confidential registry of veterans self-reporting symptoms of burn pit exposure, ranging in severity from nasal congestion to lung cancer. The registry is maintained by Burn Pits 360, a non-profit advocacy group that has pushed the VA to develop its own data gathering effort after Congress passed legislation in 2013.

Further action in Washington will be determined through negotiations between a Democrat-favored measure in the House of Representatives and a more modest bipartisan measure that passed unanimously in the Senate. Veterans and their families continue to seek clarity on what the government can provide in terms of treatment and financial support.

Most veterans understand that this needs to be an evidence-based process, said U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, in an interview with News Watch.

Johnson voted against the House bill but supports the Senate effort. They understand that it takes some time to get the science figured out, but what they dont like is when political fights or bureaucracy slows down the delivery of the science, he said.

Back in Webster, as Somsen and his wife look through photographs of his 14 months in Kuwait and Iraq, they lament the frustration of seeing a once-healthy husband and father in the grip of a debilitating disease, with little relief in sight.

We trust these (veterans) with our lives and with national security, Kari Somsen said. But when it comes to him saying, Look I have this issue and I believe it came from Iraq, we need to make it so we trust these people a little bit more. Theyre not lying. They need help.

Called to serve

Jerry Somsen grew up as one of seven children on a family farm outside Castlewood, south of Watertown. He joined five of his siblings in attending SDSU, but not before becoming fascinated with the pomp and precision of military service.

My oldest brother, Lowell, was in the National Guard as an officer, Somsen recalled. I went to one of his drills at the armory in Mitchell and decided that I wanted to be that guy.

Jerry entered the Reserve Officers Training Corps at SDSU with basic training already completed, wanting to hit the ground running. By the time he graduated in 1990 with a degree in mathematics, he headed to Field Artillery Officers Basic School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where his math background helped him excel.

By the time he earned his masters degree at SDSU in 1994, Somsen had three children and was going through a divorce while still a member of the National Guard but pondering his path. He took a job at Dakotah Incorporated in Webster in 1997 and met Kari through church, teasing her about her lines in an Easter pageant.

They were married in 2000 and added a daughter to a family that already included three girls. But any semblance of domestic bliss was staggered when Somsen showed up to work on Sept. 11, 2001, and saw the planes hit the World Trade Center.

He was in the South Dakota Army National Guards 2nd Battalion, 147th Field Artillery. The 1st Battalion was called to action in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom but never deployed overseas from Fort Sill. They werent needed, said Somsen. The war got over too fast.

The 2nd Battalion deployed later that year with the mission of capturing and destroying enemy ammunition, with Somsen serving as executive officer, second in command. We didnt know what our mission was until we got there, he said. We pulled our stuff out of snowbanks in South Dakota and had it in Iraq within 36 days.

They started in Kuwait and then staged at Camp Cedar in southern Iraq, escorting convoys in 130-degree heat, with Wall Drug bumper stickers on their vehicles. It didnt take long to notice the thick layers of smoke that wafted through the compound from fire pits on the perimeter.

From the first day we got there, there was smoke everywhere, said Somsen. If the wind was right, youd walk to lunch in it. We just thought they were burning the trash.

Soldiers slept in vacated Iraqi ammunition bunkers and were exposed to smoke when rockets and landmines were destroyed through demolition. Somsen spent much of his time at command base but traveled to visit these subordinate units.

Asked if it crossed his mind that the fumes were dangerous, he said, To this day, I wish it would have. The protection of your soldiers is foremost in your mind, so we were more focused on the enemy threat and IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Looking back on it, every soldier in our battalion probably spent time in those burn pits or in some kind of smoke that wasnt good for them.

Troubling signs

Even before Somsen returned home from Iraq in February 2005, he felt like something was wrong. He had periods of nervousness or anxiety that didnt exist before, though he managed to calm himself down.

The tremors in his right hand and side started after his return and worsened, making it difficult to hold the microphone when he gave a Veterans Day speech in Webster in November 2007. When he showed up at his old high school in Castlewood for a Memorial Day event six months later, he had to hide his hands behind the podium and later made the decision that his public speaking days were over.

Somsen, who was awarded the Bronze Star for his post-9/11 service, was aware of the perils of war. He knew that other veterans were more severely impacted by their time in Iraq and that some had lost their lives. He downplayed what was happening to him, even to his family, and focused on his job in the Webster office of DakotaCare, where he has worked since 2007.

On the way back from Iraq, I found out I was going to be battalion commander, which is what Id been working for basically my whole life, he said. I still had a chance to make full colonel. If I mentioned anything (about the tremors), I was afraid that Id be forced into a medical discharge.

After trying to keep his command while tremors progressed to both sides of his body and down his legs, Somsen made the decision to retire in 2009 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. His next battlefield occurred back home and took the form of hospital corridors and exam rooms after applying for disability, joining a legion of fellow soldiers seeking relief from the government.

According to VA press secretary Terrence Hayes, the department is tracking claims for about 2.5 million veterans who were deployed to the Gulf War region from September 2001 to the present and were potentially exposed to various airborne hazards. Of those, about 1.6 million have filed a claim for disability compensation.

Diagnostic procedures, including a spinal tap and brain testing, led a neurologist to conclude in 2021 that Somsen had Parkinsons disease. His assessment said the illness was more likely than not related to his exposure during his time in Iraq, possible bringing symptoms out much earlier than would have otherwise presented. He has no other family risk factors.

Contacted by South Dakota News Watch, Hayes said the VAs position is that no link has been established to date between these exposures and Parkinsons Disease, citing research from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Somsen, after years of trying to hide his ailment, is now in the uncomfortable position of having to prove it exists, with Kari as his main advocate. After seeing the most recent review of his disability claim rejected, theyre considering taking their case to the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington D.C.

In the meantime, Somsen shows up at work each day, stays active in the Webster community and keeps up with his daughters, the youngest of whom continued the family tradition by attending SDSU.

Its frustrating because I dont know what the future holds, he said. Can I live until Im 80? What if its not Parkinsons and its something else? You realize that it could be more and more debilitating and you look around for answers, and theyre not easy to find.

Legislation lingers

In the summer of 2018, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, met with representatives of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to discuss potential legislative efforts to deliver support for injuries from burn pits and other toxic exposure.

Rounds, familiar with the issue as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, pushed for more research into health effects from burn pits and co-sponsored a successful 2021 bill that improved the level of care veterans exposed to toxic substances received during the pandemic.

The momentum continued earlier this year, when the Senate unanimously passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, which would expand health care eligibility for post-9/11 combat veterans from five years after their discharge to 10 years while also providing a one-year application window for those who missed the initial deadline. The bill would also mandate education and training for VA personnel on toxic exposures and expand federal research in the field.

This legislation is a small step in the right direction to help make certain that veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances get the access to care they deserve, Rounds said in a statement. He described the $1 billion measure as the first step in a three-part plan.

The House bill, a sweeping proposal to expand treatment and benefits to all veterans with illnesses from service-related toxic exposures and expedite the VA claims process, passed by a vote of 256-174 two days after Bidens State of the Union remarks.

Johnson joined most Republicans in voting against the bill, decrying a price tag of about $300 billion over 10 years and accusing Democrats of political posturing with a bill that cant pass the Senate and thus wont become law.

Sometimes political games get in the way of quick, important bipartisan victories, Johnson said. We could have passed the Senate bill out of the House with 400 votes, and wed already be in the process of delivering this relief. Its not a silver bullet, but it would move us in the right direction and veterans would be getting the help they need.

Biden compared the situation to the aftermath of the Vietnam War, when more than 2 million veterans were potentially exposed to Agent Orange, a blend of herbicides the U.S. military sprayed over jungles to remove dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover. The president said it took far too long to reach decisions on presumptive conditions for those affected and is determined to not make the same mistake again.

With the presidents urging and legislative efforts under way, the expectation is that compromise between Senate and House bills is likely, providing more clarity on the disability status of post-9/11 veterans.

Somsen doesnt expect Congress to forge the solution to his situation because of questions about his condition. He hopes further medical research can find a link between whats happening to his body and the toxic exposures that occurred while he served his country.

At the very least, he is thankful that more attention is being paid to burn pits and soldiers who were potentially affected so they are not left to suffer in silence.

Hopefully this will help a lot of people like me, who went over there healthy and are feeling pretty ragged right now, he said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has listed six priorities during peace talks with Russia, the presidential press service reported.

"My priorities in the negotiations are absolutely clear: the end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country, real protection for our country," Zelensky said while addressing the nation on Thursday.

The negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are continuing, Zelensky said.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations started their fourth round of negotiations on Monday via video link.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said that Zelensky might hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days.

On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky is possible.

Earlier Wednesday, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said Russia and Ukraine have achieved some progress on a number of issues during the new round of talks, "but not all."

"The positions of the parties are quite clear, we are moving slowly," local media reported, citing Medinsky, who is also the head of Moscow's delegation.

"The preservation and development of Ukraine's neutral status, Ukraine's demilitarization along with a whole range of issues related to the size of the Ukrainian army are being discussed," Medinsky said.
Danielle Butler hopes the tragic end of her mothers life will help other victims of domestic violence break free of abuse.

Butler has launched a new nonprofit organization, Shirley Speaks, to provide healing services to those who are in emotionally and physically abusive situations. A kick-off event on April 2 will raise funds for Shirley Speaks.

The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at Woodlands Receptions in Piedmont. Tickets are $50 and include a silent auction starting at 4 p.m., a taco bar with appetizers and dessert at 5 p.m., and a two-hour gallery-style reading by Butler, a psychic medium. All proceeds go to Shirley Speaks. To purchase tickets, call 605-569-1417 or buy tickets at Sacred Soul in Spearfish.

Shirley Speaks is named in honor of Butlers mother.

On Aug. 27, 2021, Butler said her mothers husband attacked and tortured 79-year-old Shirley for five hours. After he fell asleep, Shirley was able to call and get help. The abuse damaged Shirleys heart and she died in November. Her husband is out on bond awaiting trial, Butler said.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. One in four women has been a victim of severe physical violence such as beating, burning or strangling by an intimate partner, and intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.

Butler, of Belle Fourche, said Shirley Speaks will help victims of abuse develop a plan for receiving spiritual, emotional and mental health services free of charge. The support services will be tailored to each person's needs and beliefs.

As a psychic medium, Butler said she works in age regression, healing and self-empowerment to teach people to love themselves. Ministers can support individuals religious beliefs, and mental health professionals can provide counseling.

We have a gamut of services. If a client is wanting to get their life back on track, whatever theyre comfortable with, wed come up with a game plan of how many treatments we would provide at no cost to them, and set up a contract and get those services in place, Butler said.

Butler said she hopes Shirley Speaks will complement the work of Artemis House and its victims of violence intervention program in Spearfish. Those who need emergency assistance can call Artemis Houses 24-hour confidential hotline, 1-800-999-2348.

For the past five years Butler has run Sacred Soul in Spearfish, and Shirley Speaks will operate out of Sacred Soul, although the counseling and other services will be provided at locations throughout the Black Hills. For more information about Shirley Speaks, call Sacred Soul at 605-569-1417 during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

She did not win her battle. However, she will bring light to the world by helping others, Butler said of Shirley. Im honored to call her my mom.

Shirley was movie star glamorous for much of her life. Living and working in Nevada, she sometimes met celebrities and Butler remembers her mother telling her Lee Majors of Six Million Dollar Man fame asked Shirley to run away with him.

But early in her life, Shirley was sexually abused. After a marriage to Butlers father that ended in divorce when Butler was 5, Shirley married a man 13 years younger. Drugs, alcohol and abuse plagued their 40-year relationship. The couple married and divorced each other at least three times, Butler said.

She wasnt in an emotionally supportive relationship, Butler said. She was a phenomenal mother. She raised three amazing kids who are all very successful, but she couldnt be there for herself.

At one point, the couple was apart for three years, but Shirley always ended up going back to him.

He was controlling and abusive, Butler said. He is a narcissist and narcissists have a hard time healing. They dont see that they do anything wrong. They try to paint a picture for everyone that (an abuser) is not who they are.

Later in life, Shirleys husband was addicted to drugs and alcohol, Butler said, and he grew more aggressive and violent. Shirley had had a stroke and was increasingly dependent on her husband in the last years of her life.

My mom absolutely lost her power. She couldnt make her own life choices, Butler said.

Im grateful to be able to be a part of the change. People have been coming out of the woodwork reaching out, needing services, asking How do I help my (loved one)? Butler said. I know theres a huge need for this.

Go to facebook.com/shirleyspeaksfoundation/ for more information about the upcoming fundraiser and the Shirley Speaks organization or email shirleyspeaksfoundation@gmail.com.

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The 97th Legislative Session is over. All we have left to do is go back on Monday, March 28 tor Veto Day. If there are any vetoes by Gov. Noem, we have the option to overturn them at that time. That would take a 2/3rds vote in each chamber to override a gubernatorial veto.

We also are probably going to have to go back to finish with the impeachment proceedings for Attorney General Ravnsborg. Ill write more on that in a later article.

What are the hot topics? Campgrounds, rifle ranges, federal stimulus money, property tax relief, marijuana? Lets go with marijuana, shall we? Going back to our General Election in November of 2020, on the ballot then was Constitutional Amendment A, authorizing the use of marijuana. It was broken down into three components: hemp, recreational marijuana, and medicinal marijuana. The amendment passed with 54% approval.

However, our State Supreme Court overruled the constitutionality of this amendment in that it was ruled to have three separate subjects. Our constitution specifies that it must be a single subject. Also noteworthy, hemp was passed by a previous legislature, so I still havent figured out how it could be on the ballot.

Also, on the ballot was Initiated Measure 26 (IM26). This measure was to legalize medical marijuana. It passed with 76% approval. Interesting to me was that medical marijuana was on the ballot 2 times, once in Constitutional Amendment A and again in IM26. Once IM26 passed, we in the legislature, along with the Department of Health, went to work to develop the rules implementing medical marijuana.

We had a summer study of which I was a member, to work on this implementation. Consequently, when Session started on Jan. 11, 2022, we had dozens of marijuana bills.

So, what happened? Well, we didnt approve recreational marijuana.

The reason I voted against it was two-fold. 1) Recreational marijuana is against federal law. 2) Law enforcement was unanimously against legalizing recreational marijuana. What will probably happen next is that it will be on the ballot in the General Election this November 2022, hopefully as an initiated measure. Im not sure it will pass since with all the three components (recreational, medical marijuana, and hemp), it only received 54% of the vote.

Recreational marijuana might not pass if its a stand-alone, single subject. Recreational marijuana is not legal in South Dakota currently.

Going next to medical marijuana, its pretty bureaucratic but Ill try to get down to basics here. First off, to buy medical marijuana you need to get a card from your doctor authorizing you to do so. We did pass legislation authorizing physicians assistants and advanced nurse practitioners to prescribe and issue cards also. Then you go to the various medical marijuana dispensaries that will be springing up throughout the state and purchase your marijuana.

Another item that had a lot of debate was if you can grow your own marijuana. We called this home grow. After much legislative debate, it came down to this: You can home grow four plants, two being juvenile plants and two adult plants. The difference between the two is that juvenile plants are non-flowering, while adult plants are flowering.

Tim R. Goodwin, District 30 Representative

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As Montanas population grows, and with new residents building trophy homes in rural areas, septic service providers like Chad Frank are bumping into problems.

All these (municipal) sewer plants are near maximum capacity, said Frank, of R.L. Frank Septic Service in Laurel.

Consequently, his company is no longer allowed to unload the septage pumped from homes and businesses at sewer plants in small towns like Columbus, Roberts and Red Lodge, even though the surrounding lands are seeing continued growth.

All these rural areas are blowing up, Frank said.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality defines septage as: the liquid and solid material removed from a septic tank, cesspool, portable toilet, or similar treatment works. Frank said a home system, depending on its size, may require 1,000 to 3,000 gallons to be pumped every year-and-a-half to two years.

Land app

One alternative to wastewater treatment facilities Frank and other haulers have found is land application of septage. In addition to providing some moisture, the septage is a source of nutrients for plant growth, substituting a farmers or ranchers need for fertilizer.

Back East, Frank said farmers pay to have septage spread on farm fields. Here, he pays friends to allow him to spread septage on their property because its cheaper than the cost of taking it to wastewater treatment plants in Laurel and Billings.

The DEQ is currently taking public comment on Franks application for a license to apply septage to 199 acres of the Richard Popp property about five miles west of Park City. It would be Franks fifth land application site for septage in Stillwater County. The agency is taking comment through April 9.

Flush

In 2020, just under 24 million gallons of septage was applied to land in Montana, according to the DEQ. Another 14.5 million gallons went to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants while minor amounts of dewatered pumpings are dumped in landfills, the agency said.

Thats up from the 22 million gallons of septage the National Biosolids Data Project calculated Montanans applied to land in 2018.

Back then, 64% of all septage was applied to land, with almost 12 million gallons hauled to the 50 wastewater treatment facilities in the state accepting additional waste.

The Billings Wastewater Treatment Plant saw its intake of septage increase from more than 4 million gallons in 2019 to 4.7 million in 2021, according to Bruce Souder, Water Reclamation Facility manager. He added the facility prefers to take septage from inside Yellowstone County since its a city-owned facility.

Meanwhile, Flathead County is considering building a new regional septage plant and biosolids facility because its treatment plant is at capacity and the valley is so developed that haulers are running out of places to apply septage on land.

Pumpers are facing much more public opposition to the land application of septage, Mary Hendrickson, of the DEQ, told Onsite Installer magazine in a 2016 online article titled Land application misunderstood in Big Sky country.

As developments emerge in rural locations, homeowners find the concept of land application distasteful and hazardous, Hendrickson told the magazine.

Theres still lots of land around here, luckily, Frank said.

But in 50 to 100 years, maybe not, he speculated.

Growing

Still relatively rural, Stillwater County saw its population grow by about 500 people in the past 10 years to 9,600 residents. For these residents, the county sanitarian counts about 2,000 septic systems that have either been installed or upgraded since the 1970s. Still being developed, just west of the Popp property, are two subdivisions with about 300 lots.

How much septage has increased in Montana in the past decade or even five years is unknown, said Kevin Stone, of DEQ.

According to the National Biosolids Data Project, more than 20% of Montanans (roughly 213,000 people) rely on septic systems for their wastewater disposal. Nationally, the figure is about 60 million, or about one in five households. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than 4 billion gallons of wastewater per day is dispersed below the grounds surface from septic systems. For comparison, thats more than 6,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Water is a precious resource, said Guy Alsentzer, executive director of the Upper Missouri River Waterkeepers conservation group. I would argue this is the exact wrong direction were going.

Septic

The issue of nutrients leaching from septic systems into the groundwater and nearby streams has been on the Upper Missouri Waterkeepers radar due to four years of algal blooms in the Gallatin River, downstream of the growing mountain community of Big Sky.

Likewise, the Flathead Valley for years has detected septic leachate containing bacteria, phosphorous and other ingredients from improperly maintained systems leaking into Flathead and Whitefish lakes, the Missoulian reported.

A 2015 U.S. Geological Survey study found pharmaceuticals, hormones and personal care products associated with everyday household activities are finding their way into groundwater through septic systems in New York and New England.

Septic systems nationwide are receiving increased attention as environmental sources of chemical contamination, USGS scientist Patrick Phillips, lead author of the study, stated in a news release.

Rising ground water levels along coastal regions is compounding the problem because septic systems need dry ground to properly function.

Concerns arent isolated to ground and surface waters, landowners across Maine are struggling with past septage applications that were contaminated with cancer-causing forever chemicals. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection plans to test more than 700 sites where farmers used the septage, according to a Maine Public Radio story.

It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from, the story quotes DEP Commissioner Melanie Loyzim telling lawmakers last month. People's homes and livelihoods have been destroyed. And the scale of the tragedy keeps growing with every sample that we take."

New spread

R.L. Frank Septic Service is looking for authorization to spread up to 500,000 gallons of waste each year on the Popp property, according to the DEQ draft environmental assessment. Frank said thats a maximum, with his trucks likely spreading only a quarter to one-half that amount annually.

About 140 acres of the farm land would be used to grow corn, hay and beans. The rest would be dryland pasture. The property is adjacent to Interstate 90 and about a half mile from the Yellowstone River, which is on the other side of the highway.

Land application by pumpers allows for safe disposal of septage without overloading Montanas wastewater treatment plants, DEQ writes in its draft EA. Land application also reduces Montana farmers reliance on chemical fertilizers to improve soil.

When properly done, land application of septage has no adverse public health effects, DEQ added.

Setbacks apply to where the septage can be applied, including 500 feet away from occupied buildings, 150 feet from any surface water or wetlands and 100 feet from public roads and drinking water sources.

The application is not supposed to exceed 28,846 gallons per acre each year for the pasture grass, which is equal to 1.06 inches of liquid, the draft EA noted. For the corn, hay and bean fields the application can be 38,462 gallons per acre each year, which is equal to 1.42 inches of liquid. It is recommended the application be rotated to allow plants to maximize their use of the nitrogen in the septage.

Despite the amount of waste, the DEQ concluded there would be no environmental impact. The agency and the Stillwater County sanitarian would conduct periodic inspections of the site to ensure compliance.

In 2021, at two of the four other properties where R.L. Frank applies septage, 212,500 gallons were applied. Septage applied to the two other approved sites in the county were not reported, according to the DEQ, which is not unusual given that the septage is also a fertilizer and may be used or not depending on a landowners crop rotation, the DEQs Stone said.

Water

Concerns about the states population growth and rural development come as Montana and much of the West continues to suffer through an extended drought with little relief in sight for some areas. The Colorado River Basin has been especially hard hit, partly because demands on the waterway from cities and agriculture far exceed capacity.

With the current megadrought in mind, people need to be more thoughtful about how they dispose of wastewater, said Alsentzer, of the Upper Missouri Waterkeepers.

Who is taking a look at the cumulative impacts? he questioned. How many of these systems exist in a watershed?

This is a question of how do we grow in Montana.

In a state that values waterways, for recreation as well as agricultural, municipal and residential use, Montana should be taking a cautious approach, Alsentzer said.

Derf Johnson, of the Montana Environmental Information Center agreed, saying his group shares concerns about land application of septage. He called the activity antiquated and the science in regards to its environmental and human health impacts "dubious."

Johnson pointed to the DEQ's alteration of water quality standards from science-based numeric limits as an example of the state's lack of planning in the face of continued growth.

"We're going to have to make some big decisions about whether we step up and make sure our water quality is protected, because the trajectory we're on is really frightening," he said.

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Corvallis High School FFA members presented a drama about the pros and cons of the Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021 via Zoom with U.S. Senator Steve Daines on Tuesday.

The students spent an intense month selecting the topic, reading the 53-page bill, visiting with groups representing different sides, then summarizing and writing the information into a 15-minute town hall drama, Corvallis educator Neela Andres said.

The effort is part of a nationwide FFA contest called Agriculture Issues Forum.

Were good at it, Andres said. Ive been a teacher for four years and weve gone to nationals twice. Last year we got in the top 16 in the nation.

This year, the CHS FFA team has all-new competitors but each of the participants has a parent in the wildfire industry  in logging, natural resource employees, or as firefighters.

In the skit, they are acting but a lot of them are connecting with their parents, which is exciting, Andres said. The Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021 is a hot topic that really involves the whole western side of the United States, California to Montana.

The state competition is on March 21 and 22. The five girls condensed their research into a script that reflects their community and have been practicing every available moment. They have also presented to different groups such as the Hamilton Community Coalition and the Montana Loggers Association.

For the presentation, the town hall chair and moderator was junior Rachel Lowitt. Representing the pro side, speaking in favor of the Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021, were sophomore Celia Bohrman, acting as a wildfire scientist, and senior Gabby Krueger, acting as a logging professional. Representing the con side were junior Sydney Wolsky, acting as a county commissioner, and sophomore Emelia Schairer, acting as a wildlife biologist.

Each character spoke eloquently and based their arguments on facts, statistics, research and interviews with industry professionals.

Lowitt said the topic is one the community is passionate about and, for the skit, the two sides cannot agree.

The whole point is not to come to a solution, Lowitt said. Basically, these two sides have an argument. We cover both sides.

The presenters spoke to Senator Daines through a laptop and used a large wall screen for their teleprompter. Audience members included parents, family members, school board member Dan Wolsky, CHS Principal Cammie Knapp and Sharon Parks-Banda from Daines office in Missoula.

After the performance, Senator Daines praised the girls for their factual presentation, gave them pointers for further contemplation and visited with them about their efforts.

You are the hope for our nation, Daines said. You are very encouraging for me, keep it up. States rights are protected and you are an example of that for me so, thank you and God bless your efforts.

Educator Andres said that leadership in communities is critical.

Last night [at the Hamilton Community Coalition] Rachel said, Being in programs like 4-H and FFA puts us 10 steps ahead to being the next group sitting at the table, Andres said. This is important, these are the leaders of tomorrow.

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HOBBS, N.M. (AP)  National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said Thursday that a 13-year-old was driving the pickup truck that struck a van in West Texas in a fiery collision that killed nine people.

The trucks left front tire, which was a spare tire, also blew out before impact, Landsberg said.

One must be 14 in Texas to start taking classroom courses for a learners license and 15 to receive that provisional license to drive with instructor or licensed adult in the vehicle. Department of Public Safety Sgt. Victor Taylor said a 13-year-old driving would be breaking the law.

The speed limit at the crash site was 70 mph. Although it was unclear how fast the two vehicles were traveling, this was clearly a high-speed collision, Landsberg said.

Read more on the crash here:

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Benefis Health System broke ground Thursday on what will be its largest expansion into the Helena area.

The $44 million, 64,000 square-foot Helena Specialty Center is being built on 3.25 acres where the Capital Hill Mall used to stand on Prospect Avenue. According to Kaci Husted, vice president of business development and communications, the center will have 34 exam rooms and a 16-chair infusion suite. Husted said there will be eight physicians based in the center at the start, but there will also be accommodations for caregivers who do not live in Helena, but work within the Benefis system.

This center will mostly focus on providing primary and specialty care services. According to Benefis officials, the site was chosen primarily due to its convenient location and size. It is expected to open in late 2023.

Benefis is expanding services to an area traditionally served by St. Peter's Health and PureView Health Center.

A 2021 study on The Economic Impact of Montanas Hospitals by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana and released by the Montana Hospital Association showed that 65.9% of Benefis patients live in Cascade County and 3.8% live in Lewis and Clark County.

It also showed that 76.1% of St. Peters patients live in Lewis and Clark County and 1.9% live in Cascade County.

The Great Falls-based health care provider has expanded around its home area, but Helena marks the first real expansion outside, Benefis officials said. Husted said there may be times when physicians from Great Falls need to travel to the Helena area to provide treatment or services and this facility will have space for them.

"We have a lot of people who would come to Great Falls for treatment," Husted said. "This will make things easier for them."

John Goodnow, chief executive officer of Benefis, made similar comments the night before and expressed enthusiasm for the project at an invitation-only gathering Wednesday at the Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel.

He said that "Benefis loves Helena," and added the health care provider has been serving people from Helena for a long time who have come to Great Falls, oftentimes for services not available in Helena.

"This will be way more convenient, to be able to do it here in your own community," Goodnow said. "I think we have a great site and I think it will be good for the Helena economy too. We are just tickled to be here and can't wait to get the new big facility built ... and to be part of Helena."

Amy Linder, division operations director for Benefis Health System, they have physicians here and community partners.

She said the employees are part of the community and have already found ways to get involved.

Linder said they have joined with Carroll College to address the states nursing shortage.

Weve seen some of those students coming out and we are excited they are taking care of us, she said. Linder said Benefis has always worked with local providers.

She said the urgent care facility on Washington Street, known as Benefis Northeast, is seeing 25-35 patients daily and expects the number to increase. The facility will remain open after the specialty center opens.

Dr. Gregory Tierney, Benefis' chief medical officer, said the center will offer access to cancer care, cardiac care and surgical procedures such as outpatient joint replacements, podiatry, urology, general surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery and gastroenterology. He said the center is designed with facilities for physicians visiting from Great Falls. He said they will also recruit physicians who will live in Helena.

He said Montana is a big state and people are used to driving long distances.

"But when you are not feeling well, when you're battling a disease or have limited mobility, traveling isn't something you are eager to do," he said. "The old model of requiring patients to travel to us is being flipped. We are bringing services to you."

The center was designed by LPW Architects and Benefis has partnered with Sletten Construction for building. Benefis said the facility will create 207 jobs in the Helena area by 2030.

Husted characterized this project as the "first big expansion outside Great Falls." Though it technically marks the fourth facility Benefis will operate in Helena. In July 2021, Benefis opened a 4,800 square-foot urgent care facility in an old IHOP building on Washington Street. Last October, the company purchased Helena Imaging, which provided two more outpatient radiology locations in town. Those facilities now operate under the name Benefis Helena Imaging.

Paul Fulbright, manager of radiology, said Benefis plans to spend $2.5 million to upgrade those offices.

Husted said they have opened facilities in small towns like Havre, which is closer to Great Falls, but nothing within the scope of this new center.

Staff Writer Phil Drake contributed to this story.

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A woman experiencing delusions sat in Montanas Cascade County jail for 125 days while waiting for a bed at the state psychiatric hospital. A man with schizophrenia spent 100 days last year in the Flathead County jail on the hospitals waitlist, at times refusing food and water. A man complaining of voices in his head was jailed for 19 months awaiting a mental health evaluation.

Montana State Hospitals forensic facility, which evaluates and treats patients in the criminal justice system, has always had a waitlist, court records show, but the pandemic has lengthened it. As a result, people have been behind bars for months on pending charges without adequate mental health treatment.

Some have undergone long stretches in solitary confinement as jail staffers have struggled to respond to their needs. Others waited so long that courts dropped the criminal charges against them altogether. Some were arrested again on more serious charges.

In Montana, as elsewhere, mental health advocates, attorneys, and sheriffs say part of the problem is a widespread lack of services to help people with serious mental illnesses. So the criminal justice system functions as the catch basin for the nations limited mental health system.

The treatment system failed people, said Matt Kuntz, director of the Montana chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Theyre locked in their mind, and theyre locked in jail. It is the saddest end to a series of tragedies.

The psychiatric hospital, overseen by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, is under intense scrutiny after a federal investigation revealed that as the facility struggled with massive staffing shortages its main campus failed to protect patients from falls and covid-19, which led to at least four deaths. The hospitals federal funding is now in jeopardy.

Its forensic facility  a few miles from the main campus  doesnt receive federal money, and so it wasnt part of that oversight. But staffing problems plague the forensic site, too. As of March 14, permanent staffers filled 46 of the facilitys 81 full-time positions, said health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt. Contract workers and hospital employees trained for both the forensic site and the main campus helped plug some of the gaps.

As of March 1, 71 people were waiting for treatment or an evaluation at the 54-bed forensic unit, Ebelt said. People with an evaluation in hand or those facing especially serious criminal charges may jump ahead in line.

In one case, court documents show, state officials wrote to Flathead County prosecutors they couldnt venture a guess as to when there will be a bed available. Attorneys were trying to get admitted Ilya Khmelev, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had allegedly violated a restraining order.

After he spent 85 days in jail, a judge dismissed the charges against Khmelev in June 2021, citing the hospitals unreasonable delay. Within days, he was arrested again, this time for allegedly trying to push his way into a house. He waited 15 days for a transfer to the state hospital for treatment. A Kalispell judge dismissed that case in January because Khmelev was deemed unfit for trial. Khmelev could not be reached for comment. Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said caring for people with a mental illness while they await trial or treatment strains detention staffers.

Everybody is really trying to do everything they can, Heino said, referring to jails, local mental health services, and the state hospital. The limitations on how many mental health professionals we have, thats an issue across the board, an issue across the U.S. right now.

Some judges have rebuked the hospital for failing to meet its obligations.

In 2020, Cascade County District Court Judge John Kutzman dismissed the case of Jose Remigio Zapata, who was waiting in jail for a state evaluation while facing charges of child sexual abuse. He is presumed innocent and he has spent the last year and seven months in jail, Kutzman wrote. This train wreck lies at the feet of the State Hospital.

Remigio Zapata could not be reached, and his attorneys declined to comment. The health department declined a request for an interview with its director or the state hospitals top boss. Ebelt said staffing shortages at the hospital didnt directly affect the forensic units waitlist. He blamed the increasing delays on too few beds and psychiatrists, numerous court-ordered admissions, and pandemic protocols.

As of March 16, the state reported only 63% of the forensic facilitys beds were full despite its waitlist. Ebelt said admissions are limited because units are broken out by gender and beds may be reserved for patients away for court or medical appointments.

Lewis and Clark County Attorney Leo Gallagher said the most frequent hang-up hes seen as a prosecutor has been people waiting for an evaluation by the state hospital, which assesses whether they are mentally competent to stand trial. Jurisdictions or defendants attorneys can pay for a local evaluation instead, but that requires money and health professionals.

These folks can be parked in the county jail anywhere from six months to eight months, Gallagher said. Its been going on for years. It has become more acute lately.

Shylah Hanway, now 20, was arrested in 2020 for allegedly exposing herself to a minor and spent nearly four months on the hospitals waitlist. A Cascade County judge had ordered the forensic unit to treat her for disorganized schizophrenia.

Hanway, who continues to grapple with mental health issues, declined to make a statement through her lawyer.

In that case, she spent large chunks of time in solitary confinement in the Cascade County jail, records said, at times refusing to shower or clothe herself, and not eating for days. The initial charges against her were dropped after her attorney argued the wait violated her right to due process. But before that happened, she was charged with a separate felony for allegedly punching a detention officer who tried to persuade her to eat.

After 114 days, a bed opened at the hospital. But once released from treatment, she was sent back to jail to face the assault charge. Her lawyer, Daylon Martin, said she still believed she was someone else, a woman in her 30s with 23 kids.

Hanway got out on bail in May 2021 but was arrested again the next month. This time she was accused of kidnapping a child who, according to court records, Hanway thought was her daughter. Again, an evaluation deemed she needed treatment, and again she went on the hospitals waitlist, sitting in jail an additional 125 days.

You put someone with a mental health issue by themselves in a cell, theyre not getting what they need, Martin said. They got worse waiting to go to the state hospital.

Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki said softer approaches are more likely if someone is charged with trespassing or damaging property. He said things get complicated if someone with a mental illness harms another person.

I understand theyre mentally ill, but I cant just let them go for fear that they will continue to victimize others, Racki said.

Although violent crimes committed by people with a mental illness often grab attention, theyre rare. People with a mental disorder are much more likely to be the target of a crime than those without.

State lawmakers are studying Montanas criminal commitment process and have discussed the need to recruit more mental health providers and increase oversight of the state hospital. But the next legislative session isnt until 2023.

Meanwhile, Hanway, who already spent much of the past two years on the hospitals waitlist, is back in jail, this time on criminal mischief and theft charges. As of March 16, she had been in jail for 22 days.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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Health care facilities that get federal funding are for now shielded from Montanas law prohibiting private businesses and other workplaces from mandating vaccines, under a federal injunction issued Friday.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy on Friday blocked the state from enforcing the law for all Montana health care facilities and individual practitioners and clinics affected by a COVID-19 vaccine requirement from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).

The Montana Medical Association, along with several other individuals and medical practices, filed the complaint against Attorney General Austin Knudsen and state Labor and Industry Commissioner Laurie Esau in Missoula federal court in September. In addition to the preliminary injunction they are also asking the judge to overturn the law as unconstitutional.

Montanas House Bill 702, passed by GOP lawmakers in 2021 and signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte that spring, broadly prohibits differential treatment based on vaccination status. At the time, Montana was the only state in the country to apply that prohibition to the private sector. Nearly all Democrats voted against it.

While COVID-19 vaccinations were in the spotlight as the bill was being debated last year, the language applies to mandates for all types of vaccinations. Schools are exempt, as are assisted-living facilities, if vaccination became a requirement of receiving federal funding.

Molloys ruling provides some legal clarity for Montana medical providers caught between competing state and federal requirements. In November, CMS issued a rule requiring facilities that get Medicare or Medicaid funding to ensure their staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Failure to do so could result in the loss of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, which for some providers amounts to the vast majority of their revenue.

Molloys ruling found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their attempt to permanently block the law where it is preempted by the federal government, under the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause.

After noting that two health care facilities in the state had already been found noncompliant with the federal vaccine requirements, Molloy wrote that the state law would make it nearly impossible for facilities to demonstrate compliance during the unannounced surveys that investigate the facilities records and interview staff."

His order did not specify which facilities were found noncompliant.

Molloy ruled against the plaintiffs request to block the state law on the basis that it violates their federal equal-protection rights. But he also wrote that the plaintiffs offered a better argument to protect public health, versus the states argument to protect individual choice and keep workers from being fired.

Certain restraints on an individual are occasionally reasonable to promote the common good and actualize the public interest in a civil society, Molloy wrote.

After the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the CMS rule in January, many of Montanas larger medical facilities indicated they would move forward with workplace vaccine mandates, despite the state law. The federal rule still faces ongoing legal challenges from coalitions of Republican-led states, including Montana.

"Todays court decision ensures Montana health care providers and facilities can comply with the federal rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings and not face the potential loss of significant Medicare funding without conflicting with state law," Montana Medical Association spokesperson Lauren Lewis wrote in a statement Friday. "As physicians, we will protect what is in the best interests of our patients and look forward to the next steps of this lawsuit.

Knudsens office, which is defending the state against the lawsuit, declined to say whether it would appeal the temporary injunction.

The order does little to change status quo and is drastically narrowed from what the plaintiffs were seeking, Knudsen spokesperson Emilee Cantrell wrote in an email Friday. It is only in place so long as the Biden administrations Interim Final Rule stands, which Attorney General Knudsen is continuing to challenge in federal court.

Another ongoing challenge to Montanas vaccine law is headed to the state Supreme Court. Earlier this month a Sidney law firm submitted its notice of appeal after a Richland County district judge ruled against its attempt to block all enforcement of the law. As of Friday afternoon, the law office had not yet filed its appeal.

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A University of Montana professor in the College of Business is stepping away from his current classes following students' calls for his firing or resignation for racist remarks he made in private communications.

Although he is stepping away, Clayton Looney still remains a UM employee and will continue to receive his salary, according to campus spokesperson Dave Kuntz. The news of Looney's decision was first reported by the Montana Kaimin.

Looney's classes will be covered by existing faculty in the department for the remainder of the semester and he is expected to return to campus next school year, Kuntz said.

At the beginning of March nearly 150 people attended a protest in front of Main Hall to call for the firing or resignation of Looney for using racial slurs against Black people and Muslims.

In the private communications, Looney used the "n" word, made jokes about Muslims wearing "towel wraps," and other racist remarks.

The university launched a Title IX investigation into the matter, but deemed it a non-workplace issue earlier this fall.

Isho Tama-Sweet, an assistant professor of accounting, in an email Wednesday broke the news to students in one of Looney's classes that he would no longer be teaching for the remainder of the semester.

In the email, Tama-Sweet provided details to complete the midterm exam and that he would be available during the scheduled class time on Thursday to answer any questions about the test or course in general.

He went on the apologize on behalf of the Management Information System Department for "the difficult situation this semester" in the class.

"And I want to assure you that we are committed to your success in finishing this class and continuing your progress toward your degree," Tama-Sweet wrote.

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" " Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, is served with an oversized straw which allows the tapioca balls to be chewed with every sip of tea. Geri Lavrov/Getty Images

There was a time when the sight of a person slurping up mysterious black balls from a slightly-bigger-than-average straw was reserved for the regulars at the local Asian supermarkets or the bustling street corners of any city's Chinatown. Admittedly, the tea drink must look exotic to those who grew up in small towns where frozen yogurt stores were hailed as "the next big thing." Boba tea, or bubble tea, is a quintessentially Taiwanese tea-based drink that incorporates tapioca balls that are chewed along with each sip. For close to 40 years, the East Asian dessert drink has risen in popularity, with stores like Boba Guys and Kung Fu Boba popping up on both U.S. coasts.

Boba tea broke onto the scene sometime in the 1980s, though its origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery thanks to two competing tales from two rival Taiwanese teahouses. Tainan's Hanlin Tea Room says the drink was born in 1986 when their founder, Tu Tsung-ho, found tapioca balls on sale at Tainan's Yamuliao market and added them to his milk tea at home.

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Rival teahouse Chun Shui Tang believes it was a then-20-year-old employee named Lin Hsiu-hui who created the drink in 1987 when she "decided to dump her Taiwanese dessert called fen yuan  a sweetened tapioca pudding  into her Assam iced tea and drink it," according to Twinings, the tea company.

The boba tea phenomenon first migrated from Taiwan to the west coast of America in the 1990s, where it quickly became a fad in Taiwanese immigrant communities, assimilating into Taiwanese-American culture next and, from there, making its way into mainstream American society.

Regardless of who can actually take claim over boba tea, both origin stories include tapioca balls, a flash of inspiration and an extensive bout of experimentation that eventually gave the world what we now know as bubble tea.

Taiwan and Tapioca

Taiwan's special relationship with milk tea began in the 1940s when a former mixologist named Chang Fan Shu opened up a tea shop specializing in hand-shaken teas mixed in a cocktail shaker. The result of the furious shaking was a rich and frothy tea with light foam bubbles on top: bubble tea! So, what classifies tea as boba tea? Traditionally, it always included the four main elements of milk, ice, black tea and, of course, those chewy tapioca pearls that manage to stay perfectly suspended within their milky homes. Variations on the classic concoction involve non-milk-based teas (almond, cashew, and oat), green tea, white or oolong tea, condensed milk, fruit and special flavors like hibiscus, saffron, cardamom and rosewater. And the mushy, round piece de resistance?

"Boba is made of tapioca, a starch extracted from the cassava root vegetable," says Aaron Yang, Vice President of Din Tai Fung Restaurant Group.

It always comes back to the pearls. Fun fact: tapioca pearls actually originate from Island Southeast Asia (a.k.a. Maritime Southeast Asia which includes the countries Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and East Timor) and are traditionally made from native starches like rice or palm hearts. Used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes, it wasn't until the introduction of bubble tea in the 1980s that boba went mainstream throughout the world.

" " Black tapioca pearls are used in traditional Taiwanese desserts and as the basis for boba, or bubble, tea. Ivan/Getty Images

Although boba tea had its origins in Taiwan, it has exploded in popularity around the world. Yang says their teas are brewed fresh every day and are still hand-shaken like they were in old times. To celebrate their Las Vegas debut, Din Tai Fung created the "spiced boba," made of a tantalizing combination of rum, ginger syrup, half and half, black tea and angostura bitters served with boba pearls.

It probably goes without saying that the boba teas of 2021 are a wee bit different than the original boba tea drinks served out of those tiny Taiwanese teahouses during the 1980s. Now, it's all about the toppings. Fruit, custard, red beans, jellies (everything from lychee to aloe vera), popping bubbles, puddings and even salted cheese that reportedly began "quite humbly as powdered cheese whipped into milk and topped with a sprinkle of salt," according to the Seattle Times. Boba tea has a couple of hallmark attributes of the perfect dessert: It's rich, thick, delicious and customizable to the nth degree.

We'll never know who's responsible for the boba tea craze  where it was Tu Tsung-ho or Lin Hsiu-hui  but with only 34 (or 35) years of history behind it, we very well could still be at the beginning stages of a full-on boba tea revolution. We've seen wild flavors inspired by childhood breakfast cereals from California's Boba Tea Lounge or The Fuego Mango topped with lemon-lime chili flakes and lychee jelly. No matter how you shake it, there's a boba tea out there for everybody.

In 2020, Apple unveiled a series of new emoji featuring everything from an anatomically correct-ish human heart to  you guessed it  a cup of bubble tea.
 Flash

Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), attended a forum of the Community Inclusion Session of the 2nd Global Disability Summit on Feb. 17 and delivered a keynote speech via video link.



Zhang pointed out that "community inclusion" is of far-reaching significance to the disability-inclusive development and is crucial to the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of "leaving no one behind."

She said that community service agencies for persons with disabilities had been established in many urban and rural areas in China. Persons with severe disabilities are well taken care of and more of them can be given rehabilitation training, so that they are able to take care of themselves and find jobs.

She noted that China has applied big data technology to disability service provision and enhanced their community inclusion. It is often seen that disability service facilities adopt digital management in providing rehabilitation guidance and daily care so as to help them have a more convenient life.

She added that China is building a high-level and international-standard rehabilitation university, which aims to train high-level rehabilitation professionals and provide better rehabilitation services for the people with disabilities.

According to Zhang, RI founded the Global Disability Development Fund and the Africa Fund, which sponsored community rehabilitation and inclusion projects in five African countries such as Uganda. In 2019, RI set up and conferred for the first time the RI Award for Outstanding Achievements, to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the disability work.

Zhang called on the international community to continue to pay attention to and promote equality, sharing, integration, and development of persons with disabilities.

The 2nd Global Disability Summit, co-hosted by the governments of Norway and Ghana, took place online on Feb. 16-17, with the aim of bringing about real change in disability rights protections. The prime minister of Norway and the president of Ghana also attended and addressed the summit.
As the co-founder of a boutique law firm that works with startup businesses, Chris Gatewood said he has helped entrepreneurs in the Richmond region raise tens of millions of dollars from investors over the last decade.

Historically, however, there have been boundaries and limitations on who can participate in those kinds of private investments.

What we see all the time is there are lots of good ideas out there that dont get funded, said Gatewood, a partner with the law firm Threshold Counsel. There are strong business founders that dont get funded. A lot of the serious and dedicated investors just dont have the time or energy or capacity to do all that, or they have their own parameters for what they are interested in.

There is a very active [startup] ecosystem here, in Richmond, he said. A lot of good work is being done, but there are always things that are not a good fit for the usual angel investors.

Its a boundary that Gatewood is hoping to break down with a new venture called Round Here, which enables practically anyone to invest in startups looking to raise money.

Gatewood partnered with local software developer Michael Lamberson to create the Round Here platform. Lamberson said hes founded several companies since 2006, and sees the Round Here site as a way to open up investments for people who have traditionally been locked out of those opportunities.

I was tired of all the gatekeepers and being told, you cannot invest in this. Lamberson said. It was really a protected class that was benefiting from this kind of investing for years, but anyone can get in on it now. Businesses can be funded by their own communities.

There are numerous so-called crowdfunding websites where people can put money into worthy causes or projects. For instance, GoFundMe is a site where people can raise money for events or to help with challenging circumstances such as illnesses. Kickstarter is a site where people can give money for creative projects such as music and films.

Platforms like Round Here are designed for people to make investments in businesses that give them a small equity  or ownership  stake in the venture and rights to a share of the future profits.

That kind of investing was enabled by changes in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations in 2016 that eased restrictions on who can participate in private investment offerings. Previously, such offerings were limited only to accredited investors who met certain income and net worth parameters.

Round Here is a registered funding portal with the SEC. The company introduced its platform in February.

Investors can put as little as $100 into businesses that offer shares on the platform. Potential investors can use the platform to review each offering companys business goals, financials and risks.

Companies can register on the site to raise up to $5 million by selling shares in their business or other types of investments.

That $5 million maximum is also a recent change. The SEC regulations changed in March 2021, raising the maximum amount that companies can raise on equity crowdfunding platforms from $1.07 million to $5 million.

It is meaningful to companies to be able to do that, Gatewood said. One million is real money, but $5 million is enterprise building money.

There are still some restrictions on how much people can invest through equity crowdfunding. Non-accredited investors with an annual income or net worth of less than $107,000 are limited to investments of either the greater of $2,200, or 5% of the greater of their annual income or net worth.

******

Round Here is not the only the Richmond-area company that is seeking to open investment opportunities to a wider customer base.

Taylor Hoffman Inc., a Richmond-based investment management firm, has recently introduced a new venture called Avidus that enables people to invest as little as $100 to buy shares in a curated portfolio of 30 businesses nationwide.

We are taking the same portfolio that we offer to our high net-worth investors and making it available to anyone in America for as little as $100, said Brandon Taylor, the firms co-founder and CEO.

There are lots of do-it-yourself apps out there that enable people to make stock investments, Taylor said, but there are few that offer professional management options. He said the firm, which already manages hundreds of millions for high-net worth investors, wants to broaden its impact on the community by opening up investments to under-represented communities.

No matter who you are and how little money you have, we will take that investment and invest in shares that we professionally manage, he said.

Taylor Hoffman raised $1.35 million in 2022 in a first round of seed funding to develop its Avidus app.

It is the democratization of professional portfolio management, Taylor said.

We are specifically letting younger people know and under-represented communities know that to the extent they want someone to professionally manage money for them, that we want to be that firm, he said. You will not get that professional invitation from anyone on Wall Street.

Another Richmond-based company called Vint  founded by University of Virginia graduates Nick King and Patrick Sanders, enables anyone  even non-accredited investors  to buy ownership shares in high-value wine collections, along with some spirits. Since the spring of 2021, the company has completed selling shares in 14 different wine collections.

******

At Round Here, Gatewood said the company wants to attract numerous types of businesses to offer shares on the platform.

Hundreds of different industries have used crowdfunding already to do whatever they need to do, he said. That could be anything from a small food-truck business to a real estate development project, he said.

Two Richmond-based companies are now offering shares on the companys platform at roundhere.co. Those companies are:

 equalityMD, a business founded by Justin Ayars that has an app designed to match patients with mental health providers. The company is particularly focused on connecting LGBTQ+ patients with culturally competent mental health providers that deliver inclusive, personalized care. equalityMD is seeking to raise at least $10,000 and as much as $107,000 on the platform.

This community has unique health care concerns and a historic lack of access to care, Ayars said. It is a question of how do you understand a community in a way that you can create safe spaces where they can be their authentic selves. We are trying to bridge health care disparities using technology.

I have always seen crowdfunding platforms as another marketing tool, Ayars said. If you make some money while getting the word out, then great. It is a way to let retail investors become part of our story.

 Team Excel, a digital platform founded by Richmond entrepreneur Johnathan Mayo that works with schools to improve student performance by setting up reverse fantasy sports programs that enable students to form teams, earn points and compete based on such metrics as academics, attendance and community service hours.

Raising capital is hard, particularly for people for color, said Mayo, who has founded several businesses. There are a lot of people who believe in our mission who may not be accredited investors, but they want to see us succeed. They can invest for as little as $100.

Team Excel also is looking to raise at least $10,000 on the platform and as much as $107,000.

We like that they are both local, we like that they are seasoned founders, and we like that their projects are community-based, Gatewood said. Certainly, they are both for-profit companies that intend to make money for themselves and for their investors, but they are both focused in areas where equity and inclusion have not always been easy and still arent, so we like that about them.
The newly named full-time president of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership said Friday that he wants to focus on such issues as site development, rural economic development and expanding international trade programs to help the states economy grow.

Virginia is one of Americas leading states for business, and we have a very strong foundation that we can leverage for accelerating our recovery from the pandemic, but we do have some challenges that need to be addressed, said Jason El Koubi, who was unanimously selected by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership board of directors as president and CEO of the state economic development authority, the VEDP announced Friday.

The economic partnership has roles including recruiting new businesses to locate their operations in Virginia and assisting businesses in the state with overseas trade.

The decision comes after a three-month nationwide search by the board for a successor to Stephen Moret, who departed the VEDP at the end of December to become president and CEO of Strada Education Network, a national nonprofit organization.

El Koubi, who had served as executive vice president of the VEDP since 2017, was named interim president with Morets departure.

There are a number of priorities that are going to be important to achieving our goals, El Koubi said. A big part of that is strategically investing in site development, expanding our international trade programs, fully funding the Virginia Talent Acceleration Program and also unlocking the full potential of the Virginia Office of Education Economics, which is a source of information and a catalyst for improving the way that our investments in education and workforce development drive economic growth.

Before joining the VEDP, El Koubi was president and CEO of One Acadiana, a regional economic development organization based in Lafayette, La.

The VEDP plays a key role in helping economic development agencies around the state identify and recruit business prospects.

For instance, about 20% of the prospective business relocation or investment leads that come to the Greater Richmond Partnership originate with the VEDP, said Jennifer Wakefield, president and CEO of the GRP, a regional economic development for the Richmond area.

Jason is a really good convener of people, Wakefield said. There is a quiet nature about him that helps bring people together, which is really important for all the different economic developers across the state, and they like to see a leader like Jason in this role.

Moret, a former secretary of economic development in Louisiana, was hired to lead the VEDP in late 2016, following a report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission  the General Assemblys watchdog group  faulting the partnership for a lack of oversight that left the state vulnerable to fraud in economic development incentive programs.

El Koubi, who had served as Louisianas assistant secretary of economic development under Moret, followed Moret to Virginia the next year.

VEDP has become one of the best economic development organizations in the country over the past few years, and we are excited to welcome Jason El Koubi to the helm, said Dan Pleasant, the VEDP board chair, in a statement.

Jason is a thoughtful, collaborative, and well-regarded leader who will keep VEDP on its trajectory of success, fulfilling its mission to promote economic expansion in the Commonwealth, Pleasant said.
Chesterfield County residents needing legal assistance for housing issues can contact the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.

CVLAS recently received a grant award from Chesterfield that will fund a housing attorney position to cover the county exclusively. The CVLAS attorney can provide advice and support for residents facing a range of issues including eviction and foreclosure.

The grant, which came from federal funds, is an investment in eviction prevention through education and empowerment of tenants in their communities, said Steve Dickinson, CVLAS executive director.

CVLAS is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal assistance to low-income clients on civil matters.

To become a client in the Chesterfield program, an applicant must have a legal problem in Chesterfield or be a Chesterfield resident; have a household income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, roughly $55,000 annual income for a family of four; have $5,000 or less in liquid assets; and be a documented U.S. resident.
Local, state and federal authorities late Friday afternoon began to scale back their operation at a house in Henrico County where potentially hazardous materials were found after explosive ordnance personnel stabilized and cleared the residence, police said.

Authorities said residents of nearby homes who had been evacuated Thursday would be allowed to return to the neighborhood by 6 p.m.

Officials involved in the investigation said several credible items were seized from the home in the 7200 block of Durwood Crescent due to their hazardous nature. Authorities did not elaborate on what was recovered.

The operation is being condensed to the immediate house under investigation, although a portion of Durwood Crescent will remain closed while investigators wrap up their efforts. Traffic will not be significantly impacted in the neighborhood, police said.

Police also noted that records show there have been 47 calls for service to the Durwood Crescent home over the past five years. Of those calls, 20 police reports were made. Police did not elaborate on the nature of the calls or the reports filed.

Earlier Friday, residents of 20 of 26 homes that were evacuated Thursday took advantage of police escorts into the neighborhood between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. to retrieve essential items from their residences, said Henrico police spokesman Lt. Matt Pecka.

The residents were then escorted back out of the affected neighborhood in the 7200 block of Durwood Crescent, near The Village shopping center off Patterson Avenue.

The items retrieved by the residents were to get them through the next operational period, whether that means six hours or early into the evening again, Pecka said.

Authorities resumed their work about 8:30 a.m. after ensuring all residents had again left the neighborhood, Pecka said. Police, fire and ordnance disposal units are working both inside and outside the residence, he added.

Just after 12:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities from Henrico police and fire, Virginia State Police, the Richmond Field Office of the FBI, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal units from several agencies responded to the targeted home on Durwood Crescent.

Police executed a search warrant on the home and found what they believed could be explosives. Authorities exercised an abundance of caution.

We cannot assume that something is or is not hazardous, Pecka said. We must treat everything as if it is.

Neighborhood resident Kirk Jones, who lives on Ridge Top Road, said he was fortunate to live in one of the homes that authorities didnt require being evacuated.

We were lucky. We didnt have to move, Jones said.

Its our understanding that about 30 or 40 families have been evacuated, he added. They were allowed to come back for about 45 minutes [Friday morning] to get their property. I guess some people probably needed to get medication and things like that.

Jones said: There have been a lot of police vehicles and other officials coming up and down the road for the last 24 hours. Last night around 10 oclock there was an explosion set off by officials.

Police said Friday that the sound heard by neighbors was caused by EOD technicians in their efforts to render safe some materials that were found.

Brenda Lindsey, another nearby resident who lives outside the evacuated area, said she believes the incident is a very one-time event.

I still feel that this is a safe neighborhood, Lindsey said. Anything can happen, anywhere. You can never be too safe, I guess. Nobody really knows anything. But were all in shock about this, not knowing whats going on. Theres something really dangerous going on, for all the firetrucks and the rescue squads, the police, all the personnel that are here. Its scary.

Authorities said the response and heavy presence stems from another call police responded to in Glen Allen about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday involving an alleged domestic assault in the 9600 block of Southmill Drive. Two adults were arrested.
Henrico County residents in a Tuckahoe neighborhood were told Thursday afternoon to evacuate or shelter in place after police searched a home in the area when they found what could be explosives.

Just after 12:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities from Henrico police and fire, the Richmond Field Office of the FBI, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD, responded to the home in the 7200 block of West Durwood Crescent, near The Village shopping center off Patterson Avenue, Henrico police posted on Twitter.

Robots are working to collect EOD-related devices from the property, police said on Twitter. Crews have yet to enter the residence as they work [to] evaluate the collected items.

Fewer than 30 homes immediately around the home were evacuated Thursday, according to Henrico police spokesman Lt. Matt Pecka.

At 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Pecka said they were suspending operations for the evening, and police were asking people to continue to stay away from the area. Officers are contacting those evacuated to coordinate a safe return to their homes Friday morning to collect any items they might need while operations continue.

Henrico police said they were executing a search warrant on the home around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Items encountered within the home prompted officers to exit and secure the area, police said in a statement posted to Twitter.

The incident stems from another call police officers responded to the day before in Glen Allen. Around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to the 9600 block of Southmill Drive for an alleged domestic assault.

Police said they arrested Sydney Crowe, 21, on outstanding warrants for possession of drugs and contempt of court. Michael O. Hardy, 52, was later charged with strangulation and assault, police said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Both adults have ties to the Durwood Crescent address, police said.
Two Richmond City Council committees have declined to endorse a resolution calling on Mayor Levar Stoneys administration to direct one-third of all potential casino revenue to public schools.

City Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch, the resolutions sponsor, said she is seeking to earmark funds to make up for an anticipated loss of at least $7 million in state funding for Richmond Public Schools due to waning enrollment and surging property values.

The councils Finance and Economic Development Committee on Thursday voted to advance the resolution, but declined to recommend it for approval. The councils education committee took the same action earlier this month.

Lynch said shes unsure if the paper will pass, but that she is opposed to a 2-cent real estate tax rate cut that Stoney and several council members have proposed in concert with the casino project, which is subject to a referendum that city is seeking to hold this fall. Richmond voters last November narrowly rejected the project.

The Richmond casino project is still facing some hurdles, as state lawmakers are considering a moratorium on another casino referendum in Richmond because officials in the nearby city of Petersburg are seeking the states permission to hold their own casino vote.

A Senate committee last month rejected legislation to let Petersburg to hold a casino referendum, but a provision in the Senates proposed state budget would block Richmond from holding a second referendum to allow time for a Petersburg casino study.
African Americans from Virginia honored for their Civil War service to the Union are among 87 potential new names for nine federal military posts that now honor Confederates, including three in Virginia  Fort Lee, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Pickett.

A federal commission said this week that it has reduced 34,000 submissions to 87 potential names, include those of nationally known military leaders such as Gens. Dwight D. Eisenhower, later the 34th president, George C. Marshall, Omar Bradley and Colin Powell, as well as Harriet Tubman, famed for spiriting enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

The lesser-known military luminaries with Virginia ties include William Carney, who was born enslaved in Norfolk and became the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor. Carney, a soldier in the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, received the honor for his heroism in saving the regiments American flag during the unsuccessful 1863 assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina.

Carney is among 10 honorees listed on the base of the Emancipation and Freedom monument on Browns Island in Richmond for his contributions to the fight against slavery.

Powhatan Beaty, who was born enslaved in Richmond, made his way to Ohio and served with the Union Armys 5th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack during the 1864 Battle of Chaffins Farm in Henrico County after the Union officers were killed or wounded.

The list also includes Norfolk-born Alexander T. Augusta, who, during the Civil War, became the Armys first African American surgeon. In 1863, he was named to lead the Freedmans Hospital in Washington, becoming the first African American hospital administrator in U.S. history. Later, at Howard University, he became the nations first Black medical professor.

Amid the racial reckoning following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, the federal government  like Virginia and other states in the South  started processes to remove commemorations of Confederates.

The federal commission said that in considering new names for the nine bases, it is focused on ensuring the names considered for military installations appropriately reflected the courage, values, sacrifices and diversity of our military men and women, with consideration given to the local or regional significance of names and their potential to inspire and motivate service members.

In addition to the three Virginia bases, installations to be renamed include Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia; Fort Rucker in Alabama; Fort Polk in Louisiana; Fort Bragg in North Carolina; and Fort Hood in Texas.

The federal commission is to make its final recommendations by Oct. 1, with the secretary of defense to implement new names in 2024.

The list of 87 potential names includes others from Virginia who received the nations highest military honor.

Van Barfoot received the Medal of Honor for his heroism as an Army technical sergeant in Italy in 1944. Barfoot, originally from Mississippi, spent his retirement years in the Richmond area and died in Richmond in 2012.

(Barfoot drew national attention in 2009 for his fight to fly the American flag from a 21-foot flagpole in his Henrico County yard. His neighborhood association, which allowed flags to be flown on angled poles attached to houses, ordered it removed and threatened legal action. The association backed down following an outpouring of support for the decorated veteran.)

Ernest Dervishian of Richmond, then an Army technical sergeant, also received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Italy in 1944.

Desmond Doss, a U.S. Army corporal and a combat medic from Lynchburg, was a Seventh-day Adventist and conscientious objector who received the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of dozens of infantrymen on Okinawa.

Jimmie W. Monteith, an Army first lieutenant who was born in Alleghany County but spent his formative years in Richmond, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Normandy on D-Day.

Frank D. Peregory, an Army technical sergeant born in Esmont in Albemarle County, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Normandy on June 8, 1944. He was killed fighting in the hedgerows six days later.

Ruppert Leon Sargent, an Army first lieutenant who was born in Hampton and graduated from Virginia State University, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on two enemy grenades in Vietnam in 1967, saving the lives of two other men.

George C. Marshall, U.S. Army chief of staff during World War II and a former secretary of state and secretary of defense, was born in Pennsylvania, but had strong ties to Virginia.

He graduated from Virginia Military Institute and lived in Loudoun County in Northern Virginia during his period of greatest renown, including the era of his Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II.

Fort Lee, built in 1917 in Prince George County, is named for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who was born in Virginia at Stratford Hall.

Fort A.P. Hill, near Bowling Green, was built in 1941 and is named for the Confederate general from Culpeper who was shot and killed in Petersburg in 1865. Hill is buried in Richmond beneath one of the citys last remaining Confederate statues.

Fort Pickett, near the town of Blackstone in Nottoway County, opened in 1942. It is named for Richmond-born Confederate Gen. George Pickett, best known for Picketts Charge, the failed assault on Union lines at Gettysburg.

Fort Lee and Fort Pickett played key roles as initial intake centers for refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
ROCKY MOUNT  A mistrial was declared in a Franklin County rape case Thursday after a judge concluded that jurors shouldnt have been told about a co-defendants conviction in the case.

Jorge Luis Penas attorney had objected to the introduction of that information at the time but was overruled, Judge Tim Allen said as he explained the step he was about to take.

After reviewing other court precedent on the point, Allen said, he concluded it had been an error to let the jury learn about the outcome of the case against co-defendant Sammy Ahmed Hamadeh.

Hamadeh, now 25, was accused alongside Pena, now 29, in a 2019 sexual assault reported at Smith Mountain Lake Community Park. The two had been at the lake on a June day with a group of people that included a 19-year-old woman who witnesses reported seeing being attacked in one of the coves.

Hamadeh, who didnt testify at Penas trial this week, pleaded no contest to a rape charge last year and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Allen, presiding over Penas trial, said records of Hamadehs conviction had been filed as an exhibit and given to the jury during proceedings the day before. That cannot be undone, he said, and he felt he had no choice but to declare a mistrial.

I dont see any way we can fix the issue at this time, Allen said. ... I wish the mistake had not been made but it has been made.

The decision was announced just before closing arguments were expected to begin in what had been a three-day trial. The 13 jurors  a 12-member panel plus one alternate  were dismissed with the courts thanks for their service.

Defense attorney Aaron Houchens moved immediately for Pena to be granted bond. He has been jailed since his arrest almost three years ago, Houchens said, and now faces a delay that was not his doing.

Pena hadnt sought bond before. Houchens said he had been awaiting his day in court. He has been ready for trial, he said. He gets to trial, and we all know what happened there.

To continue holding him now would inflict further agony on him, Houchens said. This was not his fault  Its just not fair.

Assistant prosecutor Sandra Workman opposed the request, and cited in part the seriousness of the allegations. Pena hadnt lived in the area long before his arrest, she added, and has family ties out of state.

Houchens countered that Penas mother lived in the region, and he could stay with her. Pena voluntarily spoke with investigators before his arrest and didnt flee, he added.

Judge Allen agreed to set bond but stipulated that Pena would have to be supervised by the probation office while out on release. He also declined the defenses request for a $5,000 bond and instead set it at a $50,000 secured bond.

Pena must live with his mother, refrain from alcohol use and have no contact with the woman in the case as part of his bond order.

A new trial date was set for July 26, according to online records. The defense indicated Thursday that it planned to file a motion petitioning for the case to be dismissed entirely.

Pena has maintained that hes not guilty of the allegations.
A former American Electric Power credit department employee who admitted to embezzling about $1.6 million from the company over 16 years was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to three years in federal prison.

The 36-month sentence applies to both counts to which Gregory Thomas Holland pleaded guilty in 2021  wire fraud and filing a false tax return. The sentences will be served concurrently, and Holland will be on probation for a year after his release from prison.

Holland, 64, of Moneta, is also required to pay over $1.7 million in restitution costs. He owes AEP more than $510,000; the companys insurer, the National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, more than $1,106,000; and the International Revenue Service more than $88,000 plus interest.

According to court documents, Holland was employed at AEP for about 35 years. He was responsible for managing AEPs interests during customer bankruptcies, including filing claims on behalf of AEP as well as processing and collecting customer payments, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

In 2001, unknown to anyone in the company, Holland opened a personal checking account using AEPs name and address. He has admitted to depositing hundreds of checks intended for AEP into this account between May 2002 and January 2018.

Holland used the money for numerous personal expenses, including membership dues at the Roanoke Country Club, in addition to house and car payments and clothing purchases.

Holland did not report any of this stolen income to the IRS for tax years 2011 through 2017. The court determined the total loss to AEP customers to be $1,616,591.

AEP investigated the matter when Holland failed to endorse one of those checks and his scheme was discovered.

Holland addressed the court near the end of the hearing, saying he was very sorry and remorseful.

I have accepted responsibility for this since day one, he said. He said he intends to continue to work with his psychiatrist to better understand his actions.

His attorney, John Lichtenstein, said Holland has repaid $300,000 of what he owes to AEP. He said Holland presented two-thirds of that amount on the morning of his sentencing hearing and remains committed to paying restitution costs out of pocket.

Lichtenstein asked Judge James Jones to consider Hollands willingness to cooperate with investigators and the court before sentencing him.

But Jones said that the facts of the case were clear. The judge said that the crime was serious, and not a spur-of-the-moment thing. He noted that it was hidden from everyone except the defendant and discovered, really, by accident.

Jones also said that its clear that, unlike some embezzlement cases, Holland was not in dire straits financially, and that the embezzled money was used to better his lifestyle.

He called Holland a good person who has done a very bad thing, and said that Holland did indeed show remorse for his actions. But the judge had to impose just punishment and decided that Hollands actions were simply not susceptible to anything except incarceration.

Holland was told to self-report to the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina, a minimum security facility, no later than May 22, the day after his youngest sons wedding.
The prosecution of Robert Jeffrey Jr. ended Thursday with Jeffrey a thrice-convicted felon who owes his victims more than $100,000 in restitution and faces a strong possibility of removal from his Roanoke City Council seat.

Thursdays major legal development happened during a week that included several others. Jeffrey, 52, pleaded no contest to embezzlement. A judge found him guilty of the felony charge. He was convicted earlier in the week of two other felony financial crimes.

Roanoke Circuit Judge David Carson ordered Jeffrey back to jail to await sentencing, now scheduled for June 7.

Jeffreys sentence could include prison time, but the amount was not made public Thursday. Each of his three convictions carries a maximum penalty of 20 years. The restitution will be decided as well.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Sheri Mason said the states evidence shows Jeffrey owes more than $100,000 to a nonprofit he bilked. Thats the Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization, a housing nonprofit whose board members gathered outside the courthouse to say they have already begun to rebuild after the thefts.

While working as NNEOs property manager in 2020 and 2021, Jeffrey used the NNEOs bank cards and checks to purchase goods and services for himself and others, the evidence at trial showed. Mason said Jeffrey also withdrew large amounts of cash.

Jeffrey, whose primary occupation is as a magazine publisher, had two trials this week.

The first trial began Monday and ended Tuesday with a jury convicting him of two counts of stealing $15,000 in pandemic-relief money that went to his media and real estate companies. Participating companies were required to have full-time employees; Jeffreys companies did not but his falsified applications said they did. The victim in that case was Roanokes Economic Development Authority.

Wednesday, during his second trial, prosecutors argued to a different jury that Jeffrey used his position of trust at NNEO to embezzle the organizations funds between May 2020 and the end of April 2021. Prosecutors filed two identical charges, each covering roughly half that time period.

Thursday, with the trial second still incomplete, Jeffrey decided to plead no contest to one of the embezzlement counts. The judge found him guilty. Prosecutors dropped the other embezzlement charge.

A short time later, a sheriffs deputy wheeled the 52-year-old out of the Roanoke courtroom. Jeffery was ambulatory when the trial began, but after spending Tuesday night in jail, appeared in a wheelchair midday Wednesday. Jurors were told he was having unspecified medical problems. Jeffrey previously said he has a kidney issue.

After the proceedings adjourned, Jeffreys wife Tina angrily complained to reporters outside the courthouse about pretrial media coverage. She asserted that her husband had already been convicted in the press before court proceedings began.

Congratulations, she told a Roanoke Times reporter.

Members of the board of NNEO stood outside the courthouse later and expressed relief.

We came for justice and we received justice, board President Carroll Carter said. This organizations been around for 40 years and our whole goal has been to improve the conditions of life in our community, he said, adding that the Jeffrey situation sets the NNEO back a little bit but, again, we can still go and take care of what we have to do.

NNEO terminated its contract with Jeffrey and reported Jeffrey to police last spring.

The healing started within months after he left and even today our finances are looking quite good, board member Andre Peery said.

The city council is scheduled to meet Monday and is likely to discuss Jeffreys status.

Virginia law stipulates that an elected official such as Jeffrey forfeits his office upon suffering a felony conviction and exhausting all appeals. The plea deal Jeffrey signed Thursday prohibits appeal. City officials did not immediately respond to questions asking whether that meant Jeffrey is, effectively, off the council.

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A former Rocky Mount police officer admitted Friday to participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Jacob Fracker pleaded guilty in Washington D.C.s federal court to a charge of conspiring to obstruct a special session of Congress held Jan. 6, 2021, to certify the election of President Joe Biden.

He will be sentenced later and faces up to five years in prison.

Fracker, 30, had been scheduled to go on trial next month with a fellow former police officer, Thomas T.J. Robertson. The two are among more than 775 supporters of former President Donald Trump charged in the insurrection.

Fracker and Robertson had sworn to uphold the law, even in the face of volatile and challenging circumstances, prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

They broke this public trust when they participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol, the document stated.

At Robertsons invitation, Fracker traveled by car with him and a third person, who was not identified, from Rocky Mount to Washington the morning of Jan. 6 to attend a rally, according to court documents filed Friday.

Off-duty at the time, the two officers carried their police badges and firearms, but left them in the parked car before taking a Metro subway to the Capitol area.

Trump, who claimed the election was stolen from him, encouraged a large crowd gathered near the Washington Monument to fight like hell.

After hearing Trumps incendiary speech, Fracker and Robertson donned gas masks and joined an advancing mob of rioters that stormed the Capitols lower west terrace, according to court records.

The horde gained entry into the closed building by breaking windows, ramming open doors and assaulting Capitol police officers.

Although Fracker and Robertson have said they entered the building peacefully and were not told to leave by police, federal authorities portrayed them as active participants in a violent overthrow.

It was the purpose of the conspiracy to stop, delay and hinder the certification of the Electoral College vote, according to the indictment to which Fracker pleaded guilty.

After posing for a selfie photograph next to a statue of John Stark, a Revolutionary War hero, Fracker and Robertson left the Capitol and returned to Rocky Mount.

The infamous photograph  which showed Fracker making an obscene gesture  was posted to Facebook. He and Robertson were arrested several days later and fired from their jobs with the Rocky Mount Police Department.

Fracker was allowed to remain free on bond after appearing in court via a video link.

No. No thank you, said a man who answered Frackers phone when The Roanoke Times called shortly after the hearing was completed. He then hung up.

U.S. Attorney Chris Kavanaugh, who assisted in the Capitol riots investigation while assigned to the deputy attorney generals office in Washington, D.C., before he was appointed the chief federal prosecutor for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement that he was grateful for the tireless work that went into the case.

Five men from Western Virginia are among the more than 775 individuals charged with participating in the insurrection. Fracker was the first of the five to plead guilty; Robertson is still scheduled for a trial that starts April 4.

Although Fracker had boasted on social media about urinating in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis toilet, there was no evidence of that actually happening, according to a statement of facts introduced as evidence Friday.

Back in Rocky Mount, Fracker showed photos of himself and Robertson inside the Capitol to one of his Facebook friends.

Dont share these, he wrote, according to court records. Just thought you should know theres hitters out here trying to make a f difference at any cost.

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A jury ordered Mountain Valley Pipeline to pay $523,327 Thursday for a prime piece of Bent Mountain real estate that it took, against the owners wishes, using its power of eminent domain.

The company building a natural gas pipeline first offered about $119,000 for an eight-acre easement through the 560-acre tract. After the Terry family refused to sell, Mountain Valley took possession of a 125-foot-wide right of way and quickly began cutting trees on land that includes old-growth forests, meadows and the headwaters of Bottom Creek.

Four years later, company attorneys argued this week that the Terrys deserved $151,850 for their loss.

The jury saw it differently, awarding most of the $570,000 the family had sought. The verdict in Roanokes federal court came after four days of often conflicting testimony from appraisers who were asked to put a price on land that has been with the Terry family for seven generations.

I think it was a great thing for the jury to do, said Frank Terry, who lives in a circa-1890 farmhouse on property that he jointly owns with his brother and sister, John Coles Terry and Elizabeth Terry Reynolds.

But, he added, he would rather have the land back.

I dont want them on my property, and if I could Id keep them off, Terry said of construction crews building the deeply controversial project that slices through the rural heart of the New River and Roanoke valleys.

Joe Sherman, a Norfolk attorney who represented the family, told the jury that the only measure of justice would be to award just compensation, or the difference between the fair market value of the land before and after it was condemned for the pipeline.

The Terrys cant stop this project, he said. Thats been decided. So their only remedy is money.

Jurors were asked to sort through the work of four different appraisers, who offered widely different values and accounting methods in testimony that was both dry and sometimes contentious.

Joseph Thompson, a Roanoke appraiser hired by Mountain Valley, said he found the property to be worth $1.2 million before the taking. The pipeline easement reduced the value by 12%, he testified, which worked out to a just compensation figure of about $150,000.

The Terrys countered with an initial assessment of $1.9 million and a diminution of 30%. That put just compensation at $570,000, Sherman told the jury.

But Wade Massie, an Abingdon attorney who represented Mountain Valley, argued that those calculations were based on bits and pieces of what several different appraisers said.

I dont think that you can decide this case based on some unknown, hypothetical, mystery appraiser, Massie told the jury.

In 2017, after proposing a 303-mile pipeline that would run through West Virginia and Southwest Virginia, Mountain Valley began to approach landowners in its path.

About 85% of the property owners agreed to sell their land, the company says.

Those who did not  including the owners of about 300 parcels in Southwest Virginia  were sued by Mountain Valley, which had the power of eminent domain on its side.

Over the years, eminent domain has traditionally been used for government projects to take private land for a public good, such as the construction of highways.

But the Natural Gas Act gives private companies like Mountain Valley the authority to condemn land for pipelines when there is a determination of public necessity, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found in 2017.

U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Dillon ruled the company had the right to immediate possession of the land in early 2018. Tree cutting began shortly afterward, and Mountain Valley was allowed to work out just compensation for the owners in the years that followed.

Most of the cases have been settled, either through voluntary agreements or after a judges ruling on evidentiary issues forced a resolution. Less that a dozen remain. Among them are John Coles Terry and Elizabeth Terry Reynolds, who own land near the tract that was the subject of this weeks trial.

Although Mountain Valleys power to take land was not at issue, the way it used the process was sometimes questioned. Eminent domain is not inherently evil, Sherman said. But its got tremendous potential for abuse.

Thompson, the appraiser hired by Mountain Valley, testified that he had been paid about $295,000 for evaluating dozens of properties over the past four years.

Thats a great job, Sherman told the jury, if youre willing to say what needs to be said to help the bottom line.

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The first SML Gives Day reached its end as the clock struck midnight on Thursday. For the entire 24 hours of the previous day, countless donations totaling $86,033 were raised between 13 local nonprofits.

This community never ceases to amaze us, said Jane Winters, executive director of Lake Christian Ministries. The nonprofit raised the most out of all participants on Wednesday with more than $28,000 in donations.

The amount surpassed LCMs goal of $25,000 for the day. Winters said she was pleased with the community support in the first year of SML Gives Day.

The event was rushed together late last year after the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia announced its annual Roanoke Valley Gives Day would be ending after six years. Lisa Lietz, executive director of SML Good Neighbors, rallied several lake-area nonprofits together to start SML Gives Day.

Lietz said she is pleased with how the events first year turned out. Raising $86,000 in 24 hours is pretty incredible, she said. Her nonprofit, SML Good Neighbors, was also able to raise $13,192.

Current plans are to continue SML Gives next year, Lietz said. She is hoping to expand the event to between 20 to 25 nonprofits next year.

Susan Tinsley, president of Food for Kids Weekend Pack-a-Sack program, said she is looking forward to participating in SML Gives next year. The nonprofit raised $6,178 this week, which was short of the goal, but still enough to provide weekend meals for more than 350 Bedford County students in need for two weeks.

It was a good experience for us, Tinsley said.

Lietz said this first SML Gives Day exceeded her expectations. She expects next years SML Gives Day to continue on this years success, especially with additional time to prepare.

Winters agreed that SML Gives Day will likely grow as support builds in the community. She said LCM raised more than $72,000 at the last Roanoke Valley Gives Day before it ended. She is confident donations from the community could reach that level with SML Gives Day.

Thats what we will see with SML Gives if we keep nurturing it, Winters said.

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While hundreds of floppy-eared beagle dogs await adoption to loving homes, Virginia lawmakers this winter approved regulations to prevent mistreatment of animals bred for experiments.

Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, said he does not agree with using animals for experimentation. Nonetheless, theres an industry in Virginia that breeds cats and dogs exactly for those purposes.

It has been a passion of mine that we treat our companion animals humanely, Stanley said, citing previous legislation he introduced to curtail poor practices at puppy mills and pet stores in Virginia.

After visits with Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, to a dog breeding facility in Cumberland County, Stanley said he realized the need to regulate the states experimental breeders, beyond what can be a flimsy scope of federal animal welfare laws.

If theyre going to breed these dogs for experiments, they better take good care of them and not mistreat them, Stanley said of breeders.

The breeding facility in Cumberland, owned by life science research company Envigo, received more than a dozen violations during federal inspections conducted in July and October of 2021.

Envigo was quite frank with us during the pandemic, experimentation was not going on, but they were still breeding, Stanley said. Theyd overpopulated their dog population, over-bred them during the pandemic.

About 5,000 dogs and puppies reside at the Envigo facility in Cumberland, according to inspection documents. The company website says those dogs live in a dynamic social housing environment, but inspection reports available on www.roanoke.com detail bleaker conditions.

These dogs, they never saw what grass was like, Stanley said. They never knew what their noses were good for. They never knew freedom on a leash to walk around.

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection documents from October penalize Envigo for direct and repeated sanitary, housing and employee violations, plus incomplete medical records at its Cumberland dog breeding facility.

An undercover investigation by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, commonly known as PETA, helped reveal conditions at the Cumberland breeding facility, Stanley said. Envigo did not immediately respond to an email request for comment from The Roanoke Times.

They didnt know what being petted was, Stanley said of the animals. They didnt know what love was.

When Stanley was told almost 500 dogs could not be sold for experiments, he said Envigo agreed on the spot to let Stanley arrange for those beagles to be adopted, rather than euthanized. He has since been working with adoption agencies across the state and nation to ensure the dogs go to loving homes.

When a dog or cat has served their purpose, rather than euthanize them, they ought to have a chance at a forever life in a loving home, Stanley said. So that were not euthanizing these dogs and cats unnecessarily, and theyre being rewarded for whatever good theyre doing in the experiments that are put upon them.

His family adopted two of the dogs, naming them Daisy and Dixie. If people want to adopt beagles of their own, Stanley said to contact his Senate office by phone at (804) 698-7520, or email district20@senate.virginia.gov.

My family has always been interested in animal rescue. All of our animals have been rescue animals, Stanley said, encouraging people to contact his office for information about adopting. If anybody wants a beagle, we still have plenty.

Breeders using animals for experimental purposes will soon be required to offer animals for adoption, according to bills approved by the Virginia General Assembly during its lawmaking session this winter.

They must offer them first to releasing agencies rather than euthanize them, Stanley said. Were giving those dogs a chance at a forever home, and a forever loving life.

Another bill passed through both Virginia House and Senate this year requires breeders to keep more complete records of the animals they rear for experiments.

This is something where this is going on in other states. Youre going to see these laws being put in place, Stanley said. Im hearing from other legislators around the country who have called me and asked for these packages of legislation to be sent to them.

Other legislation passed this year closed loopholes that prevents cats and dogs bred for experimentation from being considered companion animals, precluding them from certain animal welfare laws.

If youre going to do this, youre going to be humane in what you do, Stanley said of experimental breeders. Youre going to be treated the same as those that that own a companion animal in their home.

Stanley said there are surely better methods in 2022 to accomplish similar experiments, without harming beautiful beagles, or other innocent creatures. But if experiments must continue, he said they should be conducted using ethically-treated animals.

Envigo has really stepped up to embrace the program of adoption. I commend them for that, Stanley said. Envigo has also embraced that theyre going to try to do better, and were willing to subject themselves to these new regulations.

He said there is of course need for advancement in medical science, but he does not believe progress must come at the expense of mans best friend.

Its time where we as Virginians, and perhaps as Americans, take a stand, Stanley said. Im hopeful that one day very soon, this industry is not needed anymore in the United States.

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RICHMOND  The State Board for Community Colleges named a new leader Thursday, defying Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who one day earlier called for the board to restart the hiring process and appoint an interim chancellor.

The board named Russell A. Kavalhuna the next chancellor of Virginia's 23 community colleges, succeeding Glenn Dubois, who will retire at the end of June. Kavalhuna is president of Henry Ford College in Michigan, a community college founded in 1938

His appointment ends a tumultuous hiring process that the governor criticized for excluding Youngkin's administration, lacking transparency and neglecting the community college system's most significant needs.

But no delay was necessary, the board insisted Thursday, because it had met all of Youngkin's concerns.

Youngkin first raised alarm last week, writing a letter to board chair Nathaniel Bishop, accusing the board of refusing to collaborate with Youngkin's administration.

The governor called for a meeting with Bishop and members of the hiring committee, a briefing on the board's strategy and a list of nominees.

At least one of those requests was met, as Youngkin and Bishop conferred twice. But Youngkin still felt excluded from the decision-making process, he wrote in a second letter Wednesday obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"Our exclusion from your search process for the next chancellor was disappointing, and I strongly recommend that the selection committee appoint an interim chancellor and restart the process," Youngkin wrote Wednesday.

He asked the board to appoint one or more business leaders to the hiring committee and to accept a member of Youngkin's administration as a nonvoting member. He pledged not pick the chancellor himself, saying he was unaware of which finalists the board had chosen.

Undeterred, the board moved forward late Thursday, naming Kavalhuna its new permanent chancellor. The announcement came after the board spent at least three hours in closed session discussing the hire.

Kavalhuna, a former federal prosecutor and commercial airline captain, was executive director of flight operations at Western Michigan University College of Aviation before becoming president at Henry Ford College.

In Youngkin's opinion, the community college system hasn't done enough to support workforce development or grow enrollment, said Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for the governor. There are 300,000 unfilled jobs in the state, his office has said, and since the pandemic, the number of jobs in Virginia has dropped by 200,000, ranking Virginia 43rd for job recovery.

Plus, enrollment in Virginia's community colleges has dropped 27% in the past decade. The next chancellor needs to reverse these trends, the governor has said.

"While there are outstanding individual schools, Virginia needs an entire system that supports all Virginians in the pursuit of gaining skills, furthering their academic goals and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-competitive world," Porter said.

But derailing the hiring process wasn't necessary, the board wrote Thursday in a response to Youngkin. It said it had already satisfied the governor's concerns.

To include the administration, the board said, it contacted the Secretaries of Education and Commerce & Trade soon after their appointments. The input of the administration was "critical to our work and the evaluation of our candidates," the board said.

To incorporate members of the business committee in the hiring process, the selection committee added Jason El Koubi, interim president of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

"We, too, prioritized the importance of talent development," the board added.

The board publicized the job posting last summer, attracting nearly 50 candidates, and posted updates on the committee's progress to the VCCS website.

But the VCCS failed to update that site. On Thursday, the web page indicated the board was ready to conduct round-one interviews. In reality, it had made far more progress.

The transparency, administration input and business involvement Youngkin sought "has been accomplished," the board said. "Therefore, there is no need to delay nor repeat the process."

The board also touted Kavalhuna's focus on workforce development throughout his career.

"Russ Kavalhuna is a transformational higher education leader who is uniquely prepared to move forward our community college system and elevate it to be the best in the nation," Bishop said in a statement.

The new chancellor's priority will be to connect unemployed and underemployed residents with businesses suffering talent shortages, he said in a statement.

"There is broad and bipartisan agreement that families, communities and economies are stronger when more people have access to community colleges," Kavalhuna added.
Many Alabamians have been waiting to get the COVID vaccine until one is approved by U.S. regulators. Pfizer won approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday. Does that change your mind on getting the vaccine?

You voted:
 "Reasonable Moral Doubt" | Main | Federal prison population, now at 154,194, has grown by well over 1100 persons in a short month 

March 17, 2022

Contextualizing Judge Jackson's mainstream sentencing record in federal child porn cases

A tweet stream by Senator Josh Hawley about writings, comments and sentencings by SCOTUS nominee Judge Jackson has kicked off a robust discussion of her attitudes toward sex offenders and those who download child pornography (CP). Senator Hawley's tweets referenced Judge Jackson's law school Note in the Harvard Law Review and questions she asked while on the US Sentencing Commission. What the Senator references in these tweets struck me as not especially sensational nor ultimately a strong basis for questioning her judicial temperament or philosophy. But he thereafter discussed Judge Jackson's below-guideline sentencing decisions in CP cases when she served as a federal district judge, and I certainly consider reviews of sentencing decisions to be a fair and sound component of assessing Judge Jackson's record as a jurist.

But, to be truly fair and sound, any review of Judge Jackson's CP sentencings must include proper context regarding the federal sentencing guidelines for CP which are widely recognized as dysfunctional and unduly severe. As this recent US Sentencing Commission report explains, the CP guideline (2G2.2) "fails to distinguish adequately between more and less severe offenders" (p. 19), and "most courts believe 2G2.2 is generally too severe and does not appropriately measure offender culpability in the typical non-production child pornography case" (p. 22). With the CP guidelines "too severe" and poorly designed to "measure offender culpability" in the digital age, federal judges nationwide rarely follow them. Indeed, data in recent (and past) USSC reports document that Judge Jackson's record of imposing below-guideline CP sentences is quite mainstream because: (1) federal judges nationwide typically sentence below the CP guideline in roughly 2 out of 3 cases (p. 23), and (2) federal judges nationwide, when deciding to go below the CP guideline, typically impose sentences around 54 months below the calculated guideline minimum (p. 25).

Reviewing a brief accounting of nine CP cases sentenced by Judge Jackson (which I believe was produced by GOP Senators and/or staff and was forwarded to me), I was first struck by the fact that in a majority of these cases (5 of 9) the prosecution advocated for a below-guideline sentence and in three others the prosecution advocated for only the guideline minimum. In other words, Judge Jackson was generally sentencing CP defendants in cases in which even the prosecution concluded mitigating factors meant that the guidelines were not a proper benchmark range in light of congressional sentencing purposes. Notably, the recent USSC report indicates that the government formally moves for a below-range sentence in roughly 1 out of every 5 CP cases (p. 23); it is not clear if prosecutors made formal motions for departures or variances in Judge Jackson's CP cases, but it is clear that in the majority of these cases the prosecutors were the ones who requested a sentence below the CP guidelines.

In the nine cases, Judge Jackson followed the prosecutors' sentencing recommendations in two cases, and sentenced below the prison term suggested by the government in seven others. One case, US v. Hillie, distorts the average deviation from the prosecutors' recommendations, as the government there sought a sentence of 45 years and Judge Jackson imposed a sentence of "only" 29.5 years. Leaving that case out of the average, in the other eight cases, Judge Jackson's sentence was only about 1.8 years below the recommendation of prosecutors (and about .6 years above the defense recommendations). In those cases, Judge Jackson did sentence, on average, about 54 months below the calculated guideline minimum, but that degree of reduction from the guideline minimum is almost identical to the national average reduction according to the USSC report (p. 25).

In other words, Judge Jackson's record in these CP cases does show she is quite skeptical of the ranges set by the CP guidelines, but so too were prosecutors in the majority of her cases and so too are district judges nationwide (appointed by presidents of both parties). I use the word "mainstream" to describe Judge Jackson's sentencing patterns here because they strike me as not at all out of the ordinary; there are surely federal judges who have sentenced CP offenders more harshly, but there are also surely federal judges who have sentenced CP offenders more leniently. Judge Jackson's sentencing record in CP cases reflects the fundamental flaws of the CP guidelines (and perhaps a relatively mitigated group of offenders she was tasked with sentencing). As I see it, these cases do not really reveal any kind of unique or uniquely concerning sentencing jurisprudence.

There is more to say on this topic  e.g., I suspect that Judge Jackson's views in these cases were usefully informed by (1) the unanimous bipartisan USSC report authored in 2012 which stressed "the current sentencing scheme results in overly severe guideline ranges for some offenders based on outdated and disproportionate enhancements" and (2) the Justice Department's 2013 follow-up letter that "joined in the call for a critical review of the existing sentencing guidelines for non-production child pornography crimes"  and I suspect we will hear a lot more on this topic in the days ahead. For now, I will conclude where the title of this post starts: if and when we properly contextualize Judge Jackson's sentencing record in federal child porn cases, it looks pretty mainstream.

March 17, 2022 at 11:23 PM | Permalink

Comments

pure political theater. our country is doomed.

Posted by: whatever | Mar 18, 2022 10:25:09 AM

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/03/why-are-liberals-so-psychologically-needy-and-inauthentic.php

She is really remarkable

Posted by: Federalist | Mar 19, 2022 1:31:11 PM

ooo let's get her on the 1619 project. so dumb.

Posted by: whatever | Mar 21, 2022 10:05:34 AM

So now you are justifying the lenient sentencing of sex offenders and child pornography. Good for you, Mr. Berman. Not surprising since you work for OSU, an organization that has protected and covered up its own sexual abuse for decades (Dr. Strauss).

You are misguided by your own "mainstream" sentencing data. You view it as being acceptable since everybody is giving lenient sentences to sex offenders. But what the data actually shows is further evidence of the systematic protection of sexual predators in this country by judges and prosecutors. This is in addition to widespread protection given to sex predators in this country by the FBI and Justice Dept (they covered up the Olympic gymnast's complaints), and the numerous entities like OSU, Penn State, Mich, Mich State, USC, Boy Scouts, Hollywood, the list goes on.

Why don't you do some actual good and expose the system that protects sexual offenders starting with these judges. Even the laws protect sex offenders. Under Ohio Law, the definition of rape excludes rapists who have authority over the victim including doctors, teachers, coaches, and others from a university. Those sexual offenders fall under sexual battery, a lesser offense. Same crime, different person, protected.

Posted by: None | Mar 21, 2022 10:52:02 AM

I am a survivor of sexual abuse. This is disgusting to me .

Posted by: Ann Traganos | Mar 21, 2022 11:17:22 AM

This is a step forward in reducing the outrageous and lengthy sentences of CP cases. People should understand that someone who has a CP offense are not all the same. Sometimes people get it unintentionally, some people download but delete it, some people are collectors .. but whatever.. in the end, all of it is Non- Violent crimes. And not to be compared to actual hands on offenses which is a totally different ballpark.

Yes we should protect our kids, but it isnt the person who had CP on their computer who is a threat to your kids, it is the person who is closest to your kid like a family member, or a very close friend. Most cases the victim was close and knew their attacker.

I hope with her on the court, we can start seeing some cases being overturned for these harsh sentences.

Posted by: Daniel | Mar 21, 2022 8:14:05 PM

Expressing moral outrage through draconian sentencing policies does not equate to "justice". In the final analysis, it does result in flawed and failed public policy.

An increase in sentencing from 60 months to 120 months or more, for a first time CP offense is, in my opinion, out of proportion (i.e., for receipt of CP, non-contact offense).

While strong emotions and moral outrage is certainly expected and understandable, unbridled over-reactions to such offenses manifested in overly-severe punishments and sentencing schemes are not understandable and are desparetly in need of adjustment.

Overly-severe punishments (including lifetime supervised release, and lifetime listing on public registries) call into question the constitutionality of such schemes (8th A), and some courts recently have agreed.

The statistics in regards to these offenses have remained stable irrespective of punishments. In addition, the recidivism rate for first time CP offenders (non-contact offenders) is one of lowest (if not THE lowest) of all crimes, next to murder. The recidivism rate after 3 years is a mere 4.7% according to Bureau of Justice Statistics and the USSC. I would argue that this is in spite of the punishments, not as a result thereof.

The many stakeholders involved in the administration of justice need to re-visit these policies. The offenders are human beings, some very good human beings, some not, who acted inappropriately and deserve proportional punishment, but not un-ending punishment, nor capital punishment.

Posted by: Drug Cnslr | Mar 21, 2022 8:43:17 PM

WOW, Verdict: GUILTY..Negligence in failing to adequately research the psychological issues of any individual committing such crimes. To even suggest that there is degrees of pedophile obsession in any form is criminal, demented, deserves the full penalty of the law. Your mentality along with Jackson makes one think 

Posted by: URSick | Mar 21, 2022 10:27:14 PM

to URSick (oh jeez...gimme a break with that name...are you really Bill Otis?

Or perhaps "Federalist"?):

I can refer you to studies (one conducted by noted expert Prof. Dr. J. Endrass of the Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital), in which it was found that most (but not all) CP offenders psychologically differ from "contact offenders" and generally do not fit the criteria for pedophilia, absent prior contact offenses.

"To even suggest that there is degrees of pedophile obsession in any form is criminal, demented" etc.

Of course CP offenses are criminal and are deserving of punishment. You failed to address my point as to proportionality in sentencing schemes.

Perhaps you did not read it thoroughly, and just reacted without thinking. I understand strong emotional responses. My wife has them regularly.

Posted by: Drug Cnslr | Mar 22, 2022 2:27:32 AM

Drug Cnslr --

"to URSick (oh jeez...gimme a break with that name...are you really Bill Otis?

Or perhaps "Federalist"?)"

First, I sign my name to everything I write for public consumption and have done so for 50 years. What is your factual basis for the false and insulting suggestion that I'm now suddenly using a fake name?

Second, I hope you can appreciate the spectacular irony of an accusation like that coming from someone who NEVER gives his real name but uniformly elects to hide behind "Drug Cnslr."

Posted by: Bill Otis | Mar 22, 2022 8:20:21 AM

pure political theater. our country is doomed.

Posted by: whatever | Mar 18, 2022 10:25:09 AM

Agreed. First ACB and now this.

Posted by: Yeet | Mar 22, 2022 6:27:45 PM

As far as I'm concerned anybody who has porn that depicts pre pubescent human beings forced into engaging in any sexual activity let alone recording the abuse ie child rape... should be given life once proven beyond a reasonable doubt it was Thier own action downloading and was viewed at various dates and times showing it wasn't maliciously downloaded by a narcissistic partner or individual bc people with NPD arent beneath doing something that horrendous too achieve whatever minute benefit they are trying to attain even if it means destroying the life of Thier current target. My only reason to show restraint against execution by public firing squad is that federal/state government/courts are clearly not competent enough in any capacity to not inevitably end up killing innocent people due to incompetence, gross negligence (in 1990 CP was legal in 44/50 states) or worse malevolently targeted corruption bc any person with > a double digit IQ who is well read enough in political/judicial/government affairs past/present (if you believe Oswald was a lone wolf assassin acting alone on his own volition or cannot give an accurate general overview of the indisputable factual reality of MK Ultra among other intel agencies' unpunished crimes against humanity this doesn't include you) knows it is not outside of the realm of possibility that a corrupt govt actor with the right connections could easily remotely put endless amounts of CP via the NSA or other agency with unfettered access into anyone's computer or device considering the AP reports the justice dept is the owner and perveyor of the largest collected database of CP on the planet under the guise of "identifying locations and victims" which is suspicious considering the amount of Pentagon employees once found with CP on with computers. Also anyone who scoffs at the idea of politicians and other power brokers in Washington DC being involved in the dark world of child abuse or promoting it as "qanon conspiracy theories" needs to read up on Omaha's Franklin Scandal (no not the bank savings loan "scandal" the Boystown underage interstate prostitution operation), Larry king, Craig Spences DC blackmail operation catering to DC power players, Dennis hastert (former speaker of house and his subsequent charges), the Dutroix affair in Belgium, Michael Aquino or watch the documentary easily found on youtube "Conspiracy of silence" the bombshell doc pulled at the last min before airing on the Discovery Channel you'd be amazed at the household names all involved in some pretty disgusting stuff and these are also not even disputable facts just grossly unreported for the most part (probably bc media big whigs also usually implicated)... Research it for 10 mins even if it is to prove me wrong and be amazed at what goes unreported I'd highly recommend John Decamps book about theFranklin scandal and Dave Macgowans book programmed to kill or Douglas Valentine's book about the Phoenix Program for other intel agency war crimes against humanity later brought to America resulting in the serial killer phenomenon that came to a suspiciously abrupt end almost like it was an operation of some sort with a definite identifiable beginning and end...it's always healthy to Challenge your beliefs and when our children are the victims nothing is too outrageous to at least give a cursory glance to see if there is any fire when there is smoke. Lastly, show me the data that proves I'm wrong on anything I'll change my entire world perspective and publicly announce my apology for being wrong. Yes qanon is bullS*** but that doesn't mean every mention of powerful public figures involved in degeneracy with children is qanon conspiracy theory nonsense and should be ridiculed and never taken seriously that's exactly why qanon exists and that is by design it's called a psychological operation and it government orchestrates them see the TM still in use by the military authored by previously mentioned high priest of the temple of set Michael Aquino previously mentioned proud satanist who inspired by THE Heinrich Himmler uses Nazi daggers and NAZI black Sun occult symbolism (same symbol found on certain battalions insignia in Ukrainian military) to conduct satanic rituals in Germanys wewelsburg castle

Posted by: Frank franklin | Mar 25, 2022 3:05:45 PM

Nobody should be convicted for child porn for accidentally viewing someone under 18 that appeared to be 18 or was close to 18. What we're talking about is videos of sex and rape with children. They cannot consent. They don't understand what is going on. They have no idea what a video is, how it can be distributed, and how many people can see it. It's the most horrific form of invasion of privacy just to view it. Anyone found guilty of consuming and viewing explicit child porn should get a harsh sentence for the first offense. At least a five year mandatory minimum.

Posted by: OrcLivesMatter | Mar 26, 2022 10:53:56 AM

Post a comment
By Farah Master

HONG KONG (Reuters) -In just under two months, Hong Kong went from being one of the best places in the world at controlling COVID-19 to one of the worst.

Deaths have skyrocketed, the health system is swamped, morgues are overflowing and public confidence in the city government is at an all-time low.

While the government sticks to a "zero-COVID" policy similar to that of mainland China, city leader Carrie Lam hinted on Thursday she could ease restrictions amid concerns over the city's status as a global financial hub.

But with infections spilling over on to the mainland and local cases hovering around 30,000 per day among a population of just 7.4 million, there needs to be a clear exit strategy, in line with learning to live with the virus, like other major cities, rather than trying to eradicate it, health experts say.

Densely populated Hong Kong has registered the most deaths per million people globally in recent weeks  more than 24 times that of rival Singapore - due to a large proportion of elderly who were unvaccinated as the highly transmissible Omicron variant ripped through care homes since February.

The tragedy could have been avoided had, experts say, authorities offered incentives for vaccinations and used medical resources more effectively to prepare for COVID-19, which was first identified in late 2019 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

"The disaster unfolding within our hospital system is predictable, preventable and political," said Dr David Owens, a founder of OT&P clinics and an honorary clinical assistant professor in family medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

Lam's administration has been lambasted repeatedly by politicians, pro-Beijing media and on Chinese social media, just weeks before the city is due to hold an election on May 8 to choose who will lead the territory for the next five years.

Businesses and residents are frustrated at what they see as constant mixed messaging from the government and measures which have heavily disrupted business and damaged the economy for much of the past two years.

Story continues

Tens of thousands have left, with net outflows showing an exodus of more than 45,000 people so far in March, compared with nearly 17,000 in December before the fifth wave of the pandemic hit, prompting fears for Hong Kong's longer-term competitiveness.

LIVING WITH COVID

Lam has yet to give guidance for how Hong Kong can resume some semblance of normality, despite daily press briefings where she discusses details from sewage testing to thanking mainland authorities for their support. The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

"Hong Kong was certainly not ready when we entered into the fifth wave as evidently shown, but lets see whether we can get better prepared for that eventuality of that transition towards normality, said Gabriel Leung, University of Hong Kongs dean of medicine and a government adviser on the pandemic.

Leung said Hong Kong needed to decide whether it was going to stick with its "zero-COVID" policy, or try to live with it as an endemic.

"We need to be doing all that heavy thinking process now. Because you have to make plans accordingly."

Even if the government were to stick with zero-COVID by mass testing and extensive contact tracing, Hong Kong would still need to transition to living with the virus eventually, the experts said.

About half of the city's residents have likely already been infected, according to a study from the University of Hong Kong this week.

Increasing vaccinations to over 90% from about 80% currently is key, while protecting the most vulnerable, like those in nursing homes, the experts said. Currently only 56% of those over 80 have been vaccinated.

With residents developing immunity from vaccinations and infections, its likely that future outbreaks will be less severe, said Dr. Siddharth Sridhar, clinical assistant professor of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong.

So that gives us a certain degree of freedom in terms of opening up more and having more reasonable travel restrictions that what we have seen before.

Hong Kong has implemented its most draconian measures since the pandemic began in 2020.

Flights from nine countries, including the United States and Britain, are banned. Inbound travellers who test negative on arrival must stay in a hotel for 14 days, a harsher rule than for an infected resident who needs to isolate for seven days until testing negative.

Both rules have no scientific basis and should be lifted immediately, some experts said.

Social distancing measures, such as a ban on public gatherings of more than two people, the closure of most venues and a curfew on restaurant dining past 6 p.m., could also be progressively relaxed, said epidemiologist Ben Cowling.

Hong Kong could aim to do what Singapore has done so that after "three to six months, where all those measures have been relaxed, it is simply up to individuals to manage their own risks and there is no need for community-wide policies".

(Additional reporting by James Pomfret; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Nick Macfie)
A healthcare worker in Singapore (Reuters file photo)

SINGAPORE  The suspension of personal visits to hospital wards and residential care homes will be extended by two more weeks from 20 March to 3 April, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (18 March).

MOH had previously extended the suspension from 21 February to 20 March.

"While the daily number of local COVID-19 cases has fallen gradually over the past week, our hospitals continue to face a high volume of patients and our healthcare workers are still under significant stress," said MOH.

The suspension will help relieve pressure on hospital staff and nursing home staff who are caring for COVID-positive residents, it added.

Hospitals and homes will continue to have the discretion to allow visits for exceptional cases with the prevailing visitor management measures in place, said MOH. They will continue to support other methods of communication such as through telephone or video calls during the extended suspension, it added.

"We seek the understanding and cooperation of patients or residents, and their family members and loved ones. MOH will review and calibrate these measures as the situation evolves."

Singapore's total COVID-19 case count rose to 986,320 on Thursday with 10,713 new infections.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
A Saharan dust cloud seen from Waterloo Bridge in London (PA)

A huge dust storm swirling over Europe from the Sahara desert hit parts of Britain on Wednesday, leaving cars and buildings covered in fine red dust.

The conditions made it hard to breathe in large parts of Spain for a second straight day and gave cleaning crews extra work as far away as Paris and Belgrade.

The dust, suspended 2km above ground level, has been falling to earth during showers this afternoon and has left cars with a rust-coloured coating.

There were eerie skies from a grimy gray in Madrid to orange-hues in the Swiss Alps.

The European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said it was tracking the large mass of dust that has "degraded air quality across large parts of Spain, Portugal and France."

Although harmful to human health, the dust clouds bring nutrient-laden minerals from the Sahara, the planets largest and hottest desert, to ocean life and vegetation.

Sand and dust storms occur annually when powerful, hot winds, sweep across loose soils on arid land.

In England, social media users shared pictures of their powdered vehicles.

#Thames : Red dust all the way from Sahara - pic.twitter.com/FA7yQ1RqeB  sebastian usher (@sebusher) March 16, 2022

Experts, including Spain's national weather service, described the event as "extraordinary" for the amount of dust in the air but noted that it had not broken any records.

Story continues

"This is an intense event, but this type of event typically occurs once or twice a year, normally in February or March, when a low-pressure system over Algeria and Tunisia gathers up dust and carries it north to Europe.

Dust can reach the UK or even Iceland, as it did last year," Carlos Perez Garcia, a researcher studying atmospheric dust at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, told The Associated Press.

Anyone was allergies and respiratory problems is particularly vulnerable to spikes in small-particle air pollution  but forecasters say it is unlikely to have a serious impact in the UK.

Spains Almeria fortress in an orange haze yesterday (EPA)

Earlier, the Met Offices Richard Miles said: Storm Celia over Spain is indeed pulling a dust cloud up from the Sahara, which could potentially reach as far as the south of the UK.

However, we dont expect significant impacts  the most likely would be on the cloudscapes at sunset, but as conditions are likely to be generally overcast and wet for much of the day this is unlikely to amount to much. There are no air quality warnings.

People in the south might find a bit of dust left on their cars as the rain washes it out of the skies.

The term blood rain is often used loosely to describe rain mixed with high concentrations of red dust.

The Saharan dust cloud covering the skies over France, Spain and Portugal yesterday (European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery)

The Met Office says proper blood rain is relatively rare  especially in the UK.

It said: Each year on several occasions the UK will see rain falling with some amount of dust mixed into it. This usually comes from the Sahara before mixing in clouds and falling out.

However, the dust we see is usually yellow or brown and mixed in very low concentrations - so the rain would look just the same as usual. The only difference would be that you might find a thin film of dust on your car or windows after the water has evaporated.
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SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that took place Monday at a residence in the 1900 block of Ingleside Avenue.

The Sioux City Police Department said in a statement Thursday that Carlos D. Mejia, 21, has been charged with attempted murder, willful jury, and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

At 1:50 p.m. Monday, police received a report of a burglary to the residence. The caller stated a subject armed with a knife broke into his home and he fired a shot at her.

According to the statement, Mejia arranged for an adult female victim to come to his residence to get money from him to purchase methamphetamine. When the victim arrived, she sent another woman to the door to get the money. Mejia, however, sent that woman away and asked for the victim.

When the victim came to the door, Mejia beckoned her inside where he was waiting in the kitchen. He fired one bullet from a gun as she tried to flee, according to the statement.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen, which she sought treatment for at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center. She is recovering at home, according to the statement.

Mejia was held at the Woodbury County Jail on $40,000 bond.

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SIOUX CITY -- The city of Sioux City will hire a consultant to evaluate whether to upgrade or replace the city's wastewater treatment plant.

City officials pegged the estimated price tag for a new regional treatment plant at $150 million to $200 million.

"We're looking at going multiple different directions to improve not only the operation of our wastewater treatment plant, but to future-proof our community in wastewater and to provide more economic development opportunities through either the existing plant or a new plant," City Manager Bob Padmore said at press conference at City Hall.

The city is looking at the Southbridge Industrial Park as a potential site for a new plant, Padmore said. The city would pay for the project with a combination of funding, including American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The city is receiving $40.6 million from ARPA, a COVID relief package signed last year by President Biden.

"Longer term, it will be a discussion of rates and the (Capital Improvement Program)," Padmore said. "We're probably looking in the range of $150 to $250 million, depending on the technologies chosen and what we need."

Friday's announcement comes on the heels of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in January filing suit against the city over alleged repeated environmental violations at the plant dating back to March 2012. The city faces fines adding up to millions of dollars.

In response, the city concedes there have been past violations, but in each case the city self-reported them to the DNR upon discovery. The city also has denied allegations that city officials intentionally misled state regulators about the operating capabilities of the plant, calling them "reckless and libelous."

City officials believe upcoming projects and a new management structure will improve the plant's operations and eliminate many of the problems that have caused frequent state wastewater permit violations.

Built in 1961, the current plant at 3100 South Lewis Blvd. near the intersection of Interstate Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 75/20, processes waste for Sioux City and four other tri-state communities, South Sioux City, North Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff and Dakota Dunes. But the city of South Sioux City is moving forward with plans to build a $40 million facility to treat its own industrial waste. South Sioux City officials say the new plant, which will be located next to the Missouri River and north of the Tyson Fresh Meats lagoon, could be expanded to treat residential waste from other metro communities.

"Our goal would be to maintain ourselves as the regional provider, subject to each community which has to make their own decision," Padmore said Friday.

If the city decides to build a new plant, Padmore said industrial users would be phased in, followed by residential customers.

"Build it, so it's expandable so that as more things come on, we can expand it. And, then, slowly decommission the existing plant," he said.

South Sioux City is building a $40 million wastewater treatment plant next to the Missouri River and north of the Tyson Fresh Meats lagoons. The plant will treat South Sioux City's industrial waste and could be expanded to treat wastewater from other Sioux City metro communities.

Tom Pingel, who was hired this spring as the city of Sioux City's utility director in charge of the wastewater plant, said the Iowa DNR requires that the city have a facility plan, which he said will guide the city's wastewater treatment services for the next 20-plus years. He said the master plan is expected to be completed within six months.

"The plan will outline and look at all the processes at the wastewater treatment plant and what improvements are required for the next 20 years and beyond for economic development and population growth. We're going to compare those costs to the cost of the first phase of new plant," Pingel said. "Most likely, that new plant will come to fruition. The location of a plant will be in more of an industrial setting far away from residents."

Pingel said the city won't be abandoning the existing plant at 3100 South Lewis Blvd. He said the plant's newer assets will be incorporated into the facility plan, slowly decommissioned, and used until they are no longer viable.

Vicki Baker, the plant's manager, spoke about improvements that are in progress at the plant, including the construction of UV disinfection, conversion of two secondary digesters to primary digesters for more capacity, and a new hauled waste receiving station, which she said will provide a safer and more efficient way to offload waste.

"While these projects are moving forward, staff is continually faced with daily challenges to maintain and operate existing equipment. At times, this risks meeting our ultimate goal," she said.

"We've invested in a biogas facility there. We use gas that we used to flare off. Now, we clean that gas and inject it into the pipeline," he said. "We're going to keep running that facility and the facilities associated with that and any other processes that still have life in them."

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Chinese envoy calls for efforts to prevent humanitarian crisis of larger scale in Ukraine

Xinhua) 08:24, March 18, 2022

People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said a Chinese envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale.

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China supports the work by the relevant parties in maintaining communication, ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian corridors, and further facilitating personnel evacuation and humanitarian assistance, he told a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue.

The number of refugees and displaced persons caused by the conflict is still on the rise, bringing a huge impact on Ukraine and the surrounding countries. China supports relevant UN agencies in actively conducting operations and mobilizing the international community to assist all those in need, he said.

People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

In the recent past, some people of African or Middle Eastern descent encountered difficulties during evacuation. This should be taken seriously and addressed properly. All refugees, regardless of color, race or religion, shall be accorded the necessary protection under international refugee law, said Zhang.

China pays high attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and has put forward a six-point proposal. The Red Cross Society of China has provided Ukraine with three batches of humanitarian supplies, with the third batch containing milk powder and quilts for children, he said.

"We welcome any initiative or measure from any party that contributes to alleviating and resolving the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and should therefore play a positive role in easing the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. China hopes that the Security Council can stay united on the humanitarian issue and demonstrate a constructive attitude."

The international community has the common wish for a cease-fire at an early date to alleviate the situation on the ground and prevent civilian casualties. China shares this wish, said Zhang.

Humanitarian aid supplies sent by the Red Cross Society of China to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society are transported in Warsaw, Poland, March 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Chen)

To date, Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of negotiations. Keeping the negotiations going means there is a chance for cease-fire, and that there is a chance for a peaceful future, he noted. "China remains committed to promoting peace through negotiations. We support the United Nations and the parties concerned in vigorously carrying out good offices. We also hope that all parties will do more to facilitate peace talks, and not to add fuel to fire."

Facts have proved that the wanton use of sanctions will not solve any problem, but will instead create new problems. Given the sluggish recovery in the global economy, ever-escalating sanctions are undermining the stability of the international industrial chain and supply chain, thus exacerbating food and energy crises, damaging people's livelihood in all countries, developing countries in particular, and triggering new humanitarian consequences. This is also an issue that the Security Council shall pay attention to when addressing the humanitarian issue of Ukraine, said Zhang.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Explorers owner John Roost sent a letter to Mayor Bob Scott and the four City Council members in which he again asked the city to replace all of the parks plastic seats, which he described as being in "serious and poor condition."
HIGH POINT, N.C.  About 400 gallons of gas were stolen, dealing a financial blow to a BP station in North Carolina, the business owner told news outlets.

Hardik Patel said he lost more than $1,600 in gas after someone found a way to get past the payment system at one of his pumps in High Point, WXII reported.

Ive been the owner for seven years and in business for 15 years, Patel told the TV station. Ive never seen this happen or heard that people can bypass.

Keep scrolling to track gas prices in our state and across the nation

Video shared with news outlets shows a car pull up to the business after hours on March 14. Then, someone is seen pointing an object at the pump before cars filled up with free gas.

It lasted about 45 minutes until the police found out they were here, Patel told WGHP. But between that time, there were maybe 15 cars probably.

The High Point Police Department said it responded at about 11 p.m. after at least one suspicious car was spotted at the business. Officers are still investigating the incident, which was reported at the station outside of Bizzy Bee Grocery on North Main Street, according to an incident report.

Officials said the business lost hundreds of gallons of fuel just as gas prices have surged in recent weeks. The trend hit pumps nationwide after Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to sanctions, McClatchy News reported.

As of March 17, the national average was $4.289 per gallon. Thats a drop from $4.318 a week ago but still higher than the $2.879 average at this time last year, AAA data shows.

Trey Barker, a petroleum technician, told WGHP thefts like the one reported at the High Point station tend to happen when prices at the pump soar. He said those involved may have used a remote to change the gas pumps mechanics, allowing people to get fuel without paying.

A representative from Bizzy Bee didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on March 17.

2022 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Philip Zlomke, 39, of Grand Island was arrested on a Hall County warrant at Grand Islands Westridge Middle School, but authorities say his arrest on Thursday isnt tied to the school or his position there.

Zlomke was arrested on two counts of felony first-degree sexual assault that allegedly occurred Oct. 10 and 18, 2021.

Zlomke was taken into custody at the school shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, said Josh Berlie, Hall County chief deputy.

It wasnt involving a student, Berlie said of the alleged incidents.

Mitchell Roush, communication spokesperson for Grand Island Public Schools, echoed Berlie, saying, At this time we have reason to believe that it doesnt have any impact on staff or students.

Grand Island Public Schools wrote a letter to Westridge Middle School staff and families about Zlomkes arrest. According to a copy of the letter obtained by the Independent, No classes were disrupted and our students and staff all remained safe, The letter said Zlomkes arrest was part of an independent investigation by the Hall County Sheriffs Department.

Zlomke appeared in Hall County Court Thursday. Judge Alfred Corey set his bond at $20,000, or 10% of $200,000. Zlomke paid $20,000 Thursday and is free. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 10:30 a.m. April 4.

The charge of felony first-degree sexual assault alleges sexual penetration.

Zlomke is listed on the GIPS staff directory as a financial literacy teacher at Westridge. According to Roush, Zlomke has been placed on paid administrative leave.

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A 78-year-old Lewiston man died while driving near the southern Lancaster County line hours after he was released from a local hospital, according to the Lancaster County sheriff.

Terry Wagner said the man was dead when deputies arrived after his car veered off Nebraska 43 near Pella Road at about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Wagner said the man's vehicle suffered minimal damage. Deputies believe the man suffered a medical event while driving. He had been released from the hospital Wednesday.

The man, who Wagner did not identify, had a number of cardiovascular issues thought to have contributed to his death.

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Despite the dirt, the rips and the wear and tear, Erin Sorensen knew that somebody out there had to love the battered stuffed bunny she rescued from a Dundee neighborhood street.

Its the whole reason I picked it up, she said. It had the look of Someone is missing this rabbit.

Her dog, Scout, spotted the bunny on a March 3 walk. Sorensen waited for the traffic to clear near 52nd and Burt streets and then raced out and grabbed the grimy animal.

She got a few looks as she carried it home, but as she posted pictures of it on various social media platforms, she just knew shed have it home, safe in the arms of its owner, by dinner.

But it didnt happen. What happened instead is kind of cool, too.

On her posts, people told her about their favorite stuffed animals and how it still hurts that they were lost. Others shared stories of the loveys of their childhoods that they cherish today as an adult.

Sorensen is a deputy editor for Hail Varsity, and others suggested she share her bunny tale with Husker Nation via its social media channels.

I dont know how many Husker fans want to know about a pale violet bunny, she said, joking.

A few wanted to know why she was wasting her time, rescuing a stuffed bunny that looked like it had been run over once too often. Didnt she have better things to do?

Those were easy to answer.

Im somebody who notoriously lives on the internet. Im very consumed by the internet, Sorensen said. The world stinks right now. It can be overwhelming some days, especially when there is a war on the other side of the world. When you find a little piece of good, its worth fighting for.

One of her posts caught the eye of Danielle Allore-Taylor of Spring Arbor, Michigan, who has 1 million followers of her TikTok channel, A_tall_glass_of_anxiety.

It just so happens that she restores stuffed animals to their former selves, and her followers love the stories of transformation.

She liked Sorensens lost rabbit tale as well.

It pulled on my heart strings. This bunny is in really rough shape, Allore-Taylor said. Since its my specialty, I wanted to help out in some way.

So away went the bunny to Michigan, where it has been given new life. Allore-Taylor gave it a wash, new stuffing and a makeover, which revealed its true colors.

As with many of the hundreds of restorations that she has done, she put a little heart memory envelope inside its body with a piece of its old stuffing and some pink and purple thread that had been ripped off.

I really, really hope we find the owner of that little bunny, she said. You know someone was walking with their kid and it fell out of the stroller. I thought it was super heartwarming that Erin went out of her way to rescue it, and I got to be part of the story.

Sorensen, who can be reached at hello@erinsorensen.com, is sharing new posts of the transformed bunny in hopes that it will be more easily recognizable to its owner.

She knows it could still be a long shot. But she takes heart from someone who told her how they found a ring, tried to find its owner and failed and then miraculously connected with them by accident 23 years later.

I hope it doesnt take 23 years, she said.

If no one steps forward, shes still mulling ways to make a difference with her rabbit, which has reminded many people of the Knuffle Bunny book series. Maybe, she said, she can bring bunny along and read one of those books to some elementary school students.

And rest assured that bunny will have a home with her, and will be well loved.

I still feel hopeful we can find the true owner, she said. What is driving me, even though its small, in this corner of the world in Omaha, Nebraska, is it could just bring some joy. I want to see that joy through, and Im really hopeful that we do.

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This tale has all the makings of a classic farce, scripted to skewer bureaucracy at its most infuriating.

But this is a true story.

At a recent Sunday dinner, my brother-in-law told me about a conflict he is having with St. Louis City Hall, specifically the treasurers office.

The offices parking violations bureau alleges that he owes more than $2,200 on 50 (yes, 50) violations issued in 2021  on a car he hasnt owned since 2019.

And because he refuses to pay the fines, City Hall wants to take him to court.

Lets start at the beginning:

In August, 2019, Steve Moro sold a 2007 Pontiac G6 to a used-car dealership. He took the plates from the car home with him, cut them in half with a tin snip and threw them away.

Please note that Moro, a CPA with a couple of masters degrees, is as dependable and organized as any human Ive ever known. Hes the kind of guy who remembers to change refrigerator filters.

So when asked if he truly cut the plates in half, he stated, Ive done that with all the old plates Ive ever had in my life.

In other words, if City Hall hoped hed just pay the fines because he couldnt prove he wasnt responsible, they picked the wrong guy.

But back to the timeline:

For two years after he sold the car, nothing happened. Then in September last year, the car began getting ticketed in the Carondelet neighborhood of south St. Louis.

The 50 citations were issued from Sept. 9 to Oct. 3 and were divided thusly: parked five days without moving; needing repairs (inoperable); no valid inspection; and no valid plates.

The bureau began mailing the tickets to Moro, who lives in St. Louis County and couldnt understand why they were coming to him.

So he emailed the bureau stating that he no longer owned the car and that he had destroyed the license plates that had been on it. The email eventually made its way to William A. Douthit, the bureaus administrative hearing officer.

Moro also wrote to the Missouri Department of Revenue, which sent him a copy of his bill of sale from the car dealership and a copy of the bill of sale from the dealership to a woman with a Florissant address, who bought it less than a month after Moro sold it.

He forwarded copies of those records to the parking bureau and followed with another email. This would surely clear up the matter, he thought.

I figured they could just cancel my tickets and go after the woman who bought the car from the dealer, Moro said. I mean, I gave them her name and address.

But City Hall still wanted to take him to court.

In a letter dated Jan. 28, Douthit said the bureau had not received any information showing that Moros plates were lost or stolen.

Im not sure how many times I need to tell them they werent lost, they werent stolen. I cut them in half and threw them away, Moro said.

So basically, theyre telling me to file a false police report, he said.

Douthits letter said Moro had not provided a preponderance of credible evidence proving that the bureau should dismiss or invalidate the tickets.

In short, City Halls position is that state records showing both Moros sale of the car and the purchase of that same car by a Florissant woman is not enough to prove that Moro didnt own the car when it was being ticketed.

Since Moros plates were never on the car after he sold it, he figures some parking enforcer wrote down the cars vehicle identification number, and that led them to Moro.

That fits with state records  now in the bureaus possession, thanks to Moro  which show that as of Nov. 3, more than two years after buying the car, the Florissant woman had not registered the title for the car nor obtained license plates for it.

Aside from not having to pay pesky parking tickets, one of the perks of driving around with long-expired temporary tags apparently is that you dont have to pay registration fees and personal property taxes, or buy new license plates.

That left Moro as the last person to have registered ownership of the car with the state.

Still, this seemed like a problem easily fixed with a phone call  if talking to someone in the parking bureau was anywhere close to simple.

Last week, I called the bureau looking for Douthit. I was told Id reached a third-party call center that does not keep his phone number. A call center worker suggested I call the treasurers office, another number they dont keep.

Using sophisticated reporting techniques (Google), I got a number for Felice McClendon, spokesperson for Treasurer Adam Layne.

Her voicemail suggested that I leave a message or send an email, but then the City Hall voicemail system told me her phone couldnt take messages. So I emailed her.

McClendon responded, telling me she had requested Douthits contact information from the offices custodian of records and told me to file a Sunshine Law request. Five days later, I received two numbers for Douthit.

Two messages left at a business number, Education Equity LLC, and two messages left at a personal number were not returned.

Moro said his court hearing is pending to allow him to gather evidence, something he thought he had already done.

When asked to sum up his City Hall experience, Moro kept it accountant-like, accurate and brief:

Its ridiculous.

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Did you ever notice that? Do you ever think about it? Never once.

Oh, in matters of, say, foreign affairs or military strategy, one might contend that conservatives have had their moments, made arguments that, arguably, made sense. But on matters of social evolution, theyve compiled a remarkable record: Theyve never been vindicated by history. Rather, theyve always been repudiated by it, always been wrong.

You think thats harsh? You think its overly sweeping? The record begs to differ.

They stood athwart the civil rights movement, William F. Buckley once arguing (and later repenting) that white peoples cultural superiority entitled them to dominate African Americans.

They opposed womens rights, Barry Goldwater once saying that he had nothing against a woman running for vice president, just so she can cook and get home on time.

Nor are the rights wrongs limited to matters of human freedom. Every art form that ever dared deviate from status quo  music, film, books, comic books  has had to run a gauntlet of conservative opprobrium. As far back as the 1920s, they were up in arms over a new music called jazz.

Its a history that provides a jaundiced context for the latest right-wing crusade. Meaning the one against LGBTQ kids. Floridas Legislature passed its obnoxious Dont Say Gay bill last week. Gov. Ron DeSantis, evidently determined to leave no principle untrampled in his hoped-for march to the White House, is expected to sign it.

The bill, which says educators may not encourage discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, is just the latest front in the rights war on LGBTQ young people, particularly those who are transgender. The ACLU counts dozens of such bills working their way through legislatures in over two dozen states. This includes Texas, whose attorney general has defined gender-affirming health care as child abuse.

If you didnt know better, youd think transgender people just dropped onto the planet from space. They didnt. The former George Jorgensen made news way back in 1952 when he had sex reassignment surgery in Denmark and returned to the U.S. as a woman named Christine. No, the only thing that is new here is transgender peoples refusal to hide, their determination to live full, free and visible lives in the American mainstream.

Which brings them into conflict with conservatisms reflexive terror of anything that does not fit inside the white picket fence of its imagination. That tendency to look ever backward toward an imagined better past, that timorous inability to face the future  heck, to face the present  and the challenges of change, is what had conservatives at odds with everyone from Louis Armstrong to Martin Luther King to Gloria Steinem.

Now it has them standing between children and their teachers and doctors. It is cold comfort to know that these acts of invasive cruelty will one day stand condemned by history, but they will. Weve seen this movie too many times to doubt it. Youd think that would matter to conservatives; youd think theyd think about it. Then you remember that fear and thought are incompatible; its almost impossible for them to exist in the same space.

So, LGBTQ kids and their allies can only put their heads down, work for change and take such satisfaction as they may find in the fact that, where social evolution is concerned, conservatives lost the 20th century.

Now theyre about to lose the 21st.

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As we take in longer days and warmer temperatures, we reflect on all the celebrations and positive outcomes of recent months, including celebrating our third year as MercyOne. We also celebrate the rapid decrease in infection and hospitalizations due to COVID.

Most importantly, we celebrate and recognize the efforts of our caregiving family; those who give direct care and those who support these teams in their roles. Thank you for your tireless commitment to our Mission of Mercy, as together we continue to manage through this most unique and challenging time. Each of you have remained steadfast in taking excellent care of patients and their families while continuing to protect the health of the communities we serve.

While these last two years have tested everyone, our team never wavered. They are not just the caregiver, they also maintain their commitment to our Mission through their hands, hearts and eyes -- serving each person with love and compassionate care. They truly care about the patient as a person.

MercyOne colleagues were put to the test and rose to the occasion, but not without cost. We continue to recover and heal.

Our circle of care is in need of more caregivers to join our team. Serving in health care is a calling, and important to our community to help us move forward. If anyone in our communities wants to join our call to help those in need, we welcome you with open arms. Together we will be stronger and our future will be brighter.

We invite you to explore a career at MercyOne. Joining MercyOne means joining a rich history of excellence in health care and community service which started more than 100 years ago. Today, MercyOne cares for one in three Iowans. We are making a difference in each persons life. There are many opportunities including positions with no health care experience needed.

Current opportunities across our system are posted on MercyOne.org/careers.

We look forward to engaging with patients, family members and caregivers as we move forward together to strengthen the process of healing and wellness for all. Please join us in thanking our amazing MercyOne family members who share our calling to help people live their best life.

Bob Ritz is MercyOne president and CEO and Beth Hughes is MercyOne Western Iowa president.

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According to court documents, the burglaries took place during a three-month period beginning Dec. 1 in rural Carnarvon and Lake View. An estimated $8,000 in property, including numerous household items, a bicycle and trailer and frozen meat known to have been stolen in addition to the damage done to the house from which copper was stolen.

Among the other items stolen during the various break-ins were a Kirby vacuum cleaner, a Shop-Vac, a 60-piece silverware set, a battery charger, a Veterans' Honor Quilt and "25 one-pound individually wrapped hamburger packages," according to criminal complaint documents filed in the case.

Criminal complaint documents indicate that Ford gained access to some of the residences by breaking windows.

In addition to some of the stolen property, drug paraphernalia also was found when officers searched the Lake View house.
The virtual address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made to Congress on Wednesday motivated many members to want to offer more help. But perhaps no one was more fired up than Sen. Lindsey Graham.

I hope hell be taken out, one way or the other Graham said, reiterating his tweet from two weeks ago calling for someone in Vladimir Putins circle to assassinate him. I dont care how they take him out.

A couple of hours after the speech, Graham was holding his own press conference to discuss a resolution hed put together calling on President Joe Biden to get more fighter jets and air defense systems to Ukraine.

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Rarely does a foreign conflict go by to which the hawkish senator doesnt want to send maximum weaponrybut in the case of Russias invasion of Ukraine, that includes weapons Graham hadnt heard of.

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I dont know what a switchblade drone is, he said, but it sounds like it should be going to Ukraine.

The Biden administration announced later that afternoon that it was sending 100 switchblade drones, and hundreds of millions of dollars in additional weaponry, to Ukraine. But for Graham and other Republicansand some Democratsin Congress, it wasnt nearly enough. The conversation had moved onto the next thing: sending fighter jets from Poland, the transfer of which the Pentagon quashed after deeming it too escalatory.

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To be sure, Zelenskys speech, in which he called on Biden to be the leader of the world and to be the leader of peace, moved members of Congress of all stripes. As they filed out of the Capitol Visitor Center auditorium where they watched the speech, members could be overheard talking about weapons and what else could be done.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a veteran, fought back tears and told reporters it made her want to throw on my uniform, you know, and go help. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said it was very emotional, powerful and fully convincing that we have a responsibility to help defend freedom. (He added: and can do so by providing anti-aircraft systems as well as MiGs, which they very badly need and deserve.)

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He has not only the eloquence, but he demonstrated courage: Hes there in the middle of the war, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told me afterward, about Zelensky. He then added, a little more cautiously: And I think what hes asking for is all we can do to help him, and we should do that, but we should do it in a way that truly helps him and also curtails any further conflict in the region.

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But its somewhat surprising to hear Republicans, who just a couple of years ago were defending President Donald Trump against charges that he was holding up military aid for Zelensky in exchange for dirt on the Biden family, now look at Zelensky with a sort of jealousyand as a foil against which to play their criticism of weak worrywart Joe Biden.

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President Biden needs to step up his game, right now, before its too late, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters after the speech. I think comparing Zelensky to Biden is depressing.

That might sound harsh, but it was nothing compared with what the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, told Politico following the speech: I just hope it moves that senile devil we got in the White House.

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Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, told reporters he was open to the Biden administration doing more and wasnt, for example, 100 percent convinced that the transfer of the planes is unacceptably escalatory. But he was getting peeved that theres an open debate in Congress, every day, about which specific battlefield tactic should be used against Ukraine.

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Theres some level of war strategy that is better off inside the administration, he said. For us to be sort of telegraphing Russia every single day our divisions over what kind of defensive support Ukraine should getand telegraphing them exactly what weapons systems were transferringI dont know is helpful.

I have a basic level of trust that this administration, which sees all the pieces in a way Congress cannot, is making the right decisions, he added.

Thats the rub. Senators and members of Congress have been getting regular briefings from the administration. But when Lindsey Graham says this is a bluff when Putin makes nuclear threats over escalatory moves from NATO, how does he know that? When Joni Ernst does a mocking Oh, its too escalatory impression of the administrations response to transferring MiGs, is she certain that its not? Are these senators manning the hotline between Moscow and Washington?

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This pressure campaign on Biden to go one step furtherat any given timehas often appeared to work when it comes to Ukraine, whether its about removing certain Russian banks from the SWIFT financial system or imposing a ban on Russian energy. The administration, now, is working to get the S-300 missile defense systems that Zelensky requested in his Wednesday speech into Ukrainian hands. And maybe those 28 Polish MiGs will find their way across the Ukrainian border.

If all of that comes to pass, what will be the new step that senile devil Biden is too weak to take? What is the next ask that the Republicans will consider a useful cudgel against the administration, and that the White House press corps will continue to pester Jen Psaki about? Lindsey Graham may not know what it is yet. But he knows the White House needs to do it.
Since Sunday night, a 1,095-foot-long cargo ship has been stuck in the mud off the Maryland coast of the Chesapeake Bay.

For reasons that remain unknown, the shipwhich is fate-temptingly named the Ever Forwardmissed a turn while traveling from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia, and veered out of a 50-foot-deep channel that runs down the middle of the bay to accommodate such large cargo ships. Ship tracking data shows that the Ever Forward overshot the edge of the channel into waters much too shallow for it to traverse.

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The grounding came almost exactly one year after the Ever Given, a slightly larger cargo ship, got stuck in the Suez Canal for six days, blocking a massive amount of global trade. Both ships are operated by the Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine Corp. (Lots of the companys boats employ the Ever naming convention; they include the Ever Forever, the Ever Dainty, the Ever Uranus, the Ever Salute, the Ever Balmy, the Ever Boomy, the Ever Burly, the Ever Concise, the Ever Fashion, the Ever Unicorn, and the Ever Cozy.)

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Compared with the Ever Given debaclewhich froze up about $10 billion of trade per day as hundreds of waiting ships amassed at the entrance to the Suez Canalthe Ever Forwards oopsie is no big whoop.

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The ship has completely exited the channel, so Ever Forward is not blocking any path between major ports. Boat traffic in the Chesapeake will not stop. Global trade will continue. There will be no dramatic photos of a gigantic boat stuck crosswise in a narrow space, a la Austin Powers doing a 1,000,000-point-turn, no images of a tiny excavator digging valiantly alongside a hulking hull.

But, from another angle, the Ever Forwards quagmire is more serious: The process of freeing the Ever Forward will be more complicated than the Suez Canal mission, and it will take a lot longer to complete. On the spectrum of stuck boats, the Ever Forward is just much more stuck.

To compare: The center of the Ever Given always remained afloat in the Suez Canal. Only the tips of the ship were on landthe front had run aground, and the back was wedged against the side of the canal. To get the boat out, dredgers dug out mud and sand from underneath both ends, and tugboats wiggled it free.

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Thats not an option with the Ever Forward, which is resting in mud, from front to back, several hundred feet from the deeper waters where it was supposed to stay. Normally, when it floats, the ships lowest point is about 42 feet under the surface of the water. The water where the Ever Forward currently sits is between 17 and 24 feet deep.

Shes literally on land, entirely, so you cant just pull her backwards out. Its not going to work that way, said Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner and current professor of maritime history at Campbell University. Youre going to have to lighten her up, try to get some weight off her.

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Mercogliano, who started a YouTube channel about global shipping during the Ever Given fiasco, said he expects that the salvage company hired by Evergreen Marine Corp. will start by pumping the fuel out of the ship. Then, most likely, floating cranes will transfer some of its cargo to another ship. In normal conditions, when a ship is in port, cranes on solid ground take two minutes to load each container on board.

The Ever Forward has a capacity of around 12,000 shipping containers. With only a floating crane to do the work, it could take weeks to offload enough cargo to get the ship moving.

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Since the Ever Forward isnt holding up a sizable chunk of the global economya full 12 percent of the worlds goods move through the Suez Canaltheres less pressure to rush the process. Ever Given was moved as quickly as it was because of its location. They needed to move that ship, Mercogliano said. I would argue that in that salvage, they took some calculated risks to move that vessel. In the case of Ever Forward, theres no reason to take a calculated risk.

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Ships of the Ever Forwards magnitude only began traversing the Chesapeake Bay after 2016, when a new lane opened in the Panama Canal that allowed ships with a capacity of greater than 5,000 containers to pass through. As a result, the Port of Baltimore and several other East Coast ports began slowly expanding to accommodate the bigger boats. Mercogliano said the Chesapeake has seen a greater number of such ships come through in recent months, as COVID-related supply chain disruptions have caused a backup of cargo ships at major West Coast ports, leading companies to send goods through the Panama Canal to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports instead.

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If the Coast Guard or the boats operator has figured out why the Ever Forward skidded aground, it hasnt made that information public. When asked for comment, Evergreen Marine Corp. sent a statement. We can confirm that the accident did not cause damage to the vessels hull and there is no leakage of fuel, it read. The propeller and rudder of the ship are fully functional. A representative from the Maryland Department of the Environment said there are no indications of any pollution thus far.

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A Coast Guard press release said that responders are monitoring the ship and investigating how it veered off track. According to Mercogliano, after the Ever Forward ran aground, the Coast Guard probably immediately boarded the ship, retrieved the voyage data recordera device akin to an airplanes black boxand drug-tested all members of the crew. According to people familiar with the area, ships typically slow down to less than 10 knots when approaching the turn that the Ever Forward missed, Mercogliano said. Ship tracking data shows that the Ever Forward had sped up to 13 knots in that spot. Its not yet clear why, or whether that played into its muddy fate.

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Cargo ship groundings arent common, but Mercogliano cautioned against drawing any blanket conclusions about the fact that two Evergreen Marine Corp. ships have run aground in less than a year. The vast majority of international container shipping is done by just nine major companiesand Evergreen Marine Corp. is one of the biggestso its not an extraordinary coincidence that the companys ships have been involved in two of the few groundings in the past year.

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The two ships were also run by different crews and registered in different countries. (The Ever Given flew Panamas flag, the Ever Forward Hong Kongs.) So, you know, the fact that its two Evergreen ships doesnt indicate that they cant drive, for example, Mercogliano said.

As for the supply chain, we may still see a trickle-down effect. Cargo loads that were supposed to ride the Ever Forward on its scheduled April voyage from China to the U.S. will undoubtedly be diverted or delayed. Plus, the strained global supply chain has left shipping companies with no extra vessels in reserve.

I mean, if you have a container ship, go put it on the market right now. Youll make a fortune, Mercogliano said. If youve got a rowboat and you can put a container on it, theyll charter it.
On Thursday morning, Judge Laurence Silberman sent an unusual email to almost every federal judge in the United States urging them to blacklist students who protested a recent event at Yale Law School. The latest events at Yale Law School in which students attempted to shout down speakers participating in a panel discussion should be noted, Silberman wrote. All federal judgesand all federal judges are presumably committed to free speechshould carefully consider whether any student so identified should be disqualified for potential clerkships.

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A Ronald Reagan nominee and aficionado of judicial listservs, Silberman appears to enjoy kicking up controversy over email. His strongly worded email was in response to a March 16 article by Aaron Sibarium of the Washington Free Beacon, a conservative outlet, which claimed that more than 100 students at Yale Law School attempted to shout down a bipartisan panel on civil liberties.

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But interviews with participants and witnesses at the demonstration, as well as multiple videos, reveal that this account distorts reality. The students made their point at the very start of the event and walked out before the conversation began. Their exercise in free speech, however rowdy or distasteful, did not prevent the panelists from expressing their views. And their demonstration did notcontrary to the Free Beacons reportingrequire administrators to summon the police.

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The March 10 event at the heart of this controversy was a conversation between Monica Miller of the American Humanist Association and Kristen Waggoner of the Alliance Defending Freedom, hosted by the Yale Federalist Society. Waggoners organization supports criminalization of homosexuality, nullification of same-sex marriages, an end to same-sex adoption, and a ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, among other anti-LGBTQ policies. YLS students opposed the Federalist Societys decision to invite a member of an organization that seeks to, for instance, imprison gay people and trans-friendly doctors.

But the group of roughly a hundred students who protested the event expressly chose not to shout the panelists into silence. Instead, they stayed within YLSs three strikes rule, which governs the line between expressing your own views and silencing others. Under this rule, students who disrupt an event are first given an extensive warning laying out the schools free speech policy. If they continue with their disruption, theyre given a shorter, second warning. At that point, if they do not relent, administrators must ask them to leaveor call the Yale police, who are authorized to remove them if necessary.

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In a lengthy video of the event and protest reviewed by Slate, as well as a shorter video provided to Slate by an audience member, you can see how this policy played out. When professor Kate Stith rose to introduce the panelists, students interrupted her to protest Waggoners presence. Stith then delivered the first warning verbatim, reading from the approved script. Shortly thereafter, the protesters quietly filed out of the room in protest. Stith did not issue a second or third warning; she didnt have to, because the students had made their point, then walked out, as planned.

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Reasonable people can disagree about the students decision to disrupt Stith at the outset, but it is clear that they did not prevent the event from moving forward. Some students did ask pointed questions of Waggoner during Q&A, but these remarks were not vulgar or violent. There was some back and forth between audience members and panelists during this portion, but in the form of debate, not crude heckling.

Once outside in the hallway, students continued their protest, and noise undoubtedly bled into the room. But its debatable this noise made it difficult to hear the panel, as the Free Beacon reported. The conversation remained audible inside the room, albeit with the din of a demonstration just outside. (In response to an inquiry from Slate, Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson said: The efforts by the protesters to disrupt the event from outside the room were not a total failure.) This video, taken by an audience member, shows how the panelists could be heard over the chanting in the hall.

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It is also incorrect that, as the Free Beacon reported, police were eventually called to escort panelists out of the building. Yale officers attended the event from the start because Waggoner brought her own security guards, and the schools officers often attend an event when a speaker brings private security. Yale Police Department assistant chief Anthony Campbell said the officers were there to protect the safety of the demonstrators and those they were protesting. They did not arrive when the panel concluded to protect the participants from protesters, as the Free Beacon indicated. (Johnson told Slate that the outlet stands by its reporting and is immensely proud of Aarons reporting on YLS.)

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In a statement provided to Slate, YLS spokesperson Debra Kroszner laid out the events of the day as they actually occurred. At the very start of the March 10 event, when students began to make noise, the moderator read the Universitys free speech policy for the first time, Kroszner said. At that point, the students exited the event, and it went forward. When students made noise in the hallways, administrators and staff instructed students to stop. During this time, Yale Law School staff spoke to YPD officers who were already on hand about whether assistance might be needed in the event the students did not follow those instructions. Fortunately, that assistance was not needed and the event went forward until its conclusion.

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The Free Beacons depiction of raving protesters hellbent on shutting down free speech at any cost thus appears to be an exaggeration. Yet ADF is already raising money off its dramatic retelling of the story. And Waggoner appeared on Fox and Friends on Friday morning to bemoan the death of civil discourse among law students. Probably the worst that can be said about the demonstration is that it briefly disrupted a professors introduction then annoyed panelists and audience members when it moved to the hall. The dispute therefore boils down to a question of how loud protesters can get before their exercise of free speech infringes on someone elsesspecifically, protesters who are physically removed from the event they oppose. It may be reasonable to argue that the panelists had a right to speak without any audible counterprotest. But thats not what critics of the demonstration are arguing.

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Its easy to see why a skewed version of the story is now dominating conservative media. This version plays right into current conservative fears about ostensible liberal censorship on college and law school campuses. Left-leaning students, the narrative goes, are silencing their conservative peers, adopting an illiberal view of free speech that seeks to stamp out dissent from the right. (In reality, conservative law students are, at a minimum, equally guilty of suppressing free speech.)

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Silberman, who serves as a senior judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, appears to have bought into this panic. His Thursday emailsent to every judge currently serving on a federal district or appeals courtprompted a mixed response. Judge John Walker, a George H.W. Bush nominee on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: Thank you for your email. I couldnt agree more. Judge Donald Graham, a George H.W. Bush nominee on a district court in Florida, shot back: How would we as judges all over the country know about the activities of a particular student? Shouldnt there be a finding that a student acted inappropriately at least by the institution of higher learning. I dont intend to get into the fact finding process. I have enough trials in my District.

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Finally, Judge Andrew Gordon, a Barack Obama nominee on the district court in Nevada, closed the conversation by writing: Please do not hit reply all. Its very distracting to receive all these comments when Im trying to get my work done. And it clogs up my email inbox.

Other conservative outlets have already endorsed the Free Beacons version of events, including Fox News, which repeated the false claim that police were called to escort the panelists through the crowd. Silberman has previously praised Fox News while condemning mainstream media as virtually Democratic Party broadsheets. Although Silberman framed the March 10 protest as an assault on free speech, it did not prevent anyone from stating their views. There is only one plausible threat to free speech here: the possibility that federal judges will blacklist law students from clerkships because they expressed their beliefs too loudly.
Operator Arriva promises normal timetable by end of March.

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Bus company Arriva, which has been operating regional bus transport in the Bratislava Self-governing Region since mid-November last year, has said initial problems with its service have been largely resolved. It said that as of February, 98 to 100 percent of scheduled bus lines are running, and it therefore does not expect further fines from the Bratislava Self-governing region (BSK).

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We have met our promise, i.e. that the situation would be resolved over the course of March, said Laszlo Ivan, general director of Arriva companies in Slovakia, as cited by the TASR newswire. By the end of March we will be able to eliminate even small shortages and completely stabilise the system.

The company also does not anticipate any more fines. It has so far incurred around 1.1 million in penalties for failing to send out buses.

But Ivan is not ruling out minor problems in future, for example due to driver illness, but passengers in the Bratislava region should not feel these as acutely as in recent months.

Within the Bratislava region, Arriva is also continuing to renew its fleet; more than 60 new buses should arrive by May. The fleet should be renewed by the middle of the year, with more than 200 buses in total running in the region.

Arriva will stop using external companies to ensure its services after the end of March and says it not only has enough of its own buses, but also drivers. However, it also has additional drivers contracted to ensure it can provide cover if needed. The vast majority are drivers from the Bratislava region, but others are from further afield.

We have about 20 to 25 people from Ukraine and Georgia, said Ivan.

The company is currently unable to contract more due to the situation in Ukraine.

Arriva took over the provision of suburban bus transport in the Bratislava region for the next 10 years in mid-November 2021, replacing Slovak Lines after it won a 330 million contract. However, there were immediate problems with driver shortages and many buses in scheduled routes did not run, especially in the Pezinok and Senec areas. The company gave repeated assurances it would solve the problem. As compensation, passengers were allowed to travel free of charge in January and February. As of March 1, passengers must buy tickets before travelling.
When I consider what dinner conversations over Christmas carp later this year might look like, I feel sick.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stands while waiting for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko prior to their talks in Moscow, on March 11, 2022. (Source: AP/SITA)

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Vladimir Putin bet that the West wouldnt care if he invaded Ukraine. He lost that bet, but instead of folding his cards Putin is now doubling down. His new bet is that the West will eventually lose interest. In a longer war, Slovakia is one place where Putin will first look to test western resolve.

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As the Ukrainians continue their heroic resistance, its becoming clear that fighting could go on for quite a while. One recent analysis by Thomas Graham, a former member of George W. Bushs National Security Council and now a professor at Yale, presents a scary  but scarily realistic  picture for how that might look.
https://sputniknews.com/20220317/russias-envoy-to-un-refutes-series-western-accusations-of-war-crimes-in-ukraine-1093975734.html

Russia's Envoy to UN Refutes Series of Western Accusations of War Crimes in Ukraine

Russia's Envoy to UN Refutes Series of Western Accusations of War Crimes in Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia has refuted Western accusations that Russia conducted war crimes in... 17.03.2022, Sputnik International

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Mariupol, the second largest city in the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic at the time of the proclamation of its independence in 2014, has been under the control of Ukrainian forces. The city has been the site of intense fighting in recent weeks.Russia has been accused by the West over the past several days of killing civilians in a number of Ukrainian cities amid the ongoing Russian special military operation. The Russian forces in Ukraine have been accused of shelling civilian objects in Mariupol as well as obstructing the evacuation of refugees from the city.The Russian envoy called the Western allegations that Russia is forcing the people from Mariupol and other Ukrainian towns into Russia a "barefaced lie". He noted that only during the previous 24 hours alone Russia managed to ensure the evacuation of more than 31,000 civilians, including 89 foreign nationals, to the territory of the Russian Federation while some of the evacuees refused to go to Kiev-controlled territories.With respect to reports that Russian forces had killed at least ten civilians in a bread queue in Chernigov, Nebenzia noted that there are no Russian forces in the city while there are thousands of locals armed by the Ukrainian government wreaking havoc everywhere.On 24 February, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after requests from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for help to protect them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops.The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation is only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and the civilian population is not in danger. Russia has said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.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/20220317/former-inmates-of-neo-nazi-militia-run-prison-in-ukraine-share-chilling-testimony-on-torture-abuse-1093972040.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/afghanistan-bans-all-foreign-tv-series-source-says-1093978967.html

Afghanistan Bans All Foreign TV Series, Source Says

Afghanistan Bans All Foreign TV Series, Source Says

The Taliban has officially banned the broadcast of all foreign TV series in Afghanistan, a person familiar with the situation told Sputnik.

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He added that the new authorities said they would not accept any excuses for violating the ban.Previously, foreign TV series, including those produced in India and Turkey, were broadcast in Afghanistan.The Taliban's swift ascension to power in Afghanistan occurred last August, triggering economic disarray and food shortages that have pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Afghans fled the country fearful of the Taliban, widespread violation of human rights, and the deprivation of women and girls of their freedoms.*The Taliban is an organisation sanctioned by the UN for terrorist activities.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/alain-delon-asked-his-son-to-help-him-die-via-euthanasia-report-says-1093986648.html

Alain Delon Asked His Son to Help Him Die Via Euthanasia, Report Says

Alain Delon Asked His Son to Help Him Die Via Euthanasia, Report Says

This isn't the first time iconic French actor Alain Delon, widely regarded as one of the most handsome men in the world, has expressed a readiness to die. The... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

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Alain Delon has said he's chosen euthanasia as a way to end his life, his son Anthony revealed to RTL, adding that his father had asked him to accompany him until the very end.Anthony Delon said he refused to be the one to "execute" his father: his sister Anouchka will do it instead. He said that he will elaborate on his reasons in the upcoming book "Between dog and wolf". Anthony also recalled how his mother, Delon's wife Nathalie, died with the help of euthanasia - a procedure that is legal in Switzerland, where the family lives.Alain Delon has long indicated his desire to end his life, as in 2018 he said he was ready to "leave this world", even claiming he would have his dog, Loubo, go with him.Delon said he hated the times that we live in, and particularly detested being old. Euthanasia, according to Delon, is "the most logical and natural thing", because at some point in one's life a person must have "the right to get the hell out of it quietly, without going through hospitals, injections, or things". The iconic French actor said that his euthanasia process has long been agreed upon with his lawyers, as he did not want it to be a mess.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/bidens-insistence-putin-a-war-criminal-met-with-skepticism-1093994985.html

Biden's Insistence Putin a 'War Criminal' Met With Skepticism

Biden's Insistence Putin a 'War Criminal' Met With Skepticism

Speaking with reporters at the White House Wednesday, Biden was asked whether he considers the Russian president to be a war criminal. After initially... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

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2022-03-19T04:57+0000

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday that Biden "was speaking from his heart and speaking from what he's seen on television" when he accused President Putin of committing unspecified war crimes.However, media outlets, even including those which have been largely sympathetic to the official US perspective on Russia's ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, like the Associated Press, have expressed doubts about the value of such rhetoric.As the article's author points out, declaring someone a war criminal is not as simple as just saying the words, and there are set definitions and processes for determining who's a war criminal and how they should be punished.How does one become a war criminal?The exact definition of "war criminal" continues to be hotly contested. Any prosecution of such claims would likely take place under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, but neither the US, Ukraine, nor Russia is a signatory to the 1998 Rome Statute which established the body.Nonetheless, on 2 March, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced he was launching an investigation into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed in Ukraine. The investigation will cover the events that have transpired since 21 November 2013, the first day of protests which would morph into the right-wing US-backed "Maidan" coup d'etat of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych that ultimately resulted in the deaths of over 14,000 people.On 4 March, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a commission of inquiry tasked with "investigating all alleged rights violations and abuses, and related crimes, and making recommendations on accountability measures", according to UN News."Barbaric action through an invasion of a foreign country"?Beyond questions of legal jurisdiction, the history of many of the governments currently accusing Russia of war crimes points to another potential problem, however.There are a number of offences that have been carried out by US and NATO forces over the past three decades that were also televised and which, using similar logic, would likely fall under the ICC definition of "war crimes". Officials close to the current US administration are implicated in many  in 1998, for example, the bombing of the Al Shifa factory in Khartoum, which produced over half of Sudan's pharmaceutical products, and which was "taken out on the direct orders of Bill Clinton", according to Jacobin.Other well-documented NATO transgressions have frequently gone under the radar in the West, and those rare corporate outlets which do acknowledge them often paint the attacks as "claims" or something their victims merely "say" happened. "NATO Bomb Said to Hit Belgrade Hospital", read a Washington Post headline when the Dr Dragisa Misovic Hospital was reduced to rubble just two weeks after a US B-2 bomber carried out an airstrike on the nearby Chinese Embassy, killing three officials and injuring over 20. Seven people killed in a NATO airstrike on a Zliten hospital were reduced to a "Qaddafi Government Accusation" in a headline from US state-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.More recently, in a military operation under the leadership of then-Vice President Joe Biden, a US airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan on 3 October 2015, killed 30 medical staff and patients. A subsequent Doctors Without Borders inquiry found the "US knew site was safe from Taliban* but bombed it anyway", as one headline from The Independent put it.The deadly attack on health workers was closely followed up by the bombing of the Abs Rural Hospital in Yemen on 15 August 2016, when US-manufactured Paveway-series aerial bombs were dropped by the Saudi-led, US/UK-backed coalition in what Amnesty international called "the fourth attack in 10 months on a [Doctors Without Borders] facility in Yemen".US and UK involvement in the ongoing Saudi siege of Yemen, which UN experts estimate has killed 377,000 civilians  70% under the age of five  has largely gone unmentioned amid widespread Western allegations of Russian "war crimes".But the Biden administration's insistence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "war criminal" faces another serious hurdle internationally  Biden's own complicity in the bloody US war in Iraq that saw millions of Iraqis killed over the course of two decades"Joe Biden did so much more than vote for the war", according to University of IllinoisChicago history professor Dr Barbara Ransby, in a recent mini-documentary narrated by Danny Glover, "Worth the Price? Joe Biden and the Launch of the Iraq War"."It's questionable whether the authorisation to start the war could have even passed Congress without all that Biden did to get it approved", she explained. "He really did play a major role in bringing us into the Iraq War He bears much more responsibility than many other senators who simply voted for it".Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus*The Taliban is a group under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/experts-warn-half-of-hong-kong-may-have-gotten-covid-as-city-passes-1-million-registered-cases-1093995251.html

Experts Warn Half of Hong Kong May Have Gotten Covid as City Passes 1 Million Registered Cases

Experts Warn Half of Hong Kong May Have Gotten Covid as City Passes 1 Million Registered Cases

Hong Kongs Department of Health has recorded more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city over the course of the pandemic, with nearly all of them... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T20:43+0000

2022-03-18T20:43+0000

2022-03-18T20:45+0000

hong kong

covid-19

shenzhen

china

lockdown

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The department reported more than 20,000 new infections on Friday, most of which were reported online by at-home rapid antigen tests, according to the South China Morning Post. The mailing out of at-home tests has helped the city to detect far more than its PCR testing facilities can process, and revealed an outbreak far worse than believed.While the city has shuttered some places such as gyms, restricted the hours of shops and imposed other social restrictions, their efforts pale in comparison to those seen just across the border in Guangdong. On Sunday, the 17.5 million residents of Shenzhen entered a week-long lockdown in which city officials will conduct three rounds of testing - a dramatic measure taken after just a few dozen cases were detected and in line with Beijings policy of Zero Covid.On the mainland, 2,461 new cases were reported on Friday, nearly all of which were part of an outbreak in Jilin Province that officials are rushing to clamp down. For months, China has struggled successfully to keep the Omicron outbreak under control, putting to work a mass-testing infrastructure that has allowed it to test cities of tens of millions of people in a single day and to supply residents with the daily necessities while they remain in total social lockdown. So far its worked, sparing China the agony of the uncontrolled spread seen in other countries like the United States, where the death toll is approaching 1 million.However, Hong Kong has no such infrastructure and can only test up to 300,000 test samples per day.As a result, the city has pushed residents to get vaccinated or to complete their vaccination schedules, including opening up a fourth shot for immunocompromised people over the age of 11. Roughly 91% of the city has gotten at least one shot, and roughly three-quarters of the deaths have been people who were not immunized. There is also a fear that the immune protection of older or incomplete vaccination regimens are fading, leaving more already-vaccinated people vulnerable to infection. On Thursday, 206 people died, bringing the citys total to 5,401.To make matters worse, Lams government has repeatedly waffled on whether or not it would attempt such a lockdown, prompting waves of panicked buying that has led to shortages, but also harming the governments credibility in handling the crisis.Honestly, I think government policies keep changing all the time and its hard for residents to follow, resident Alison Hui told the Associated Press. We dont know if an announcement is real or not. It really makes us feel very worried.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/gop-rep-faces-criticism-over-noting-ceasefire-violations-by-kiev-bidens-financial-interests-there-1093993429.html

GOP Rep. Faces Criticism Over Noting Ceasefire Violations by Kiev, Biden's Financial Interests There

GOP Rep. Faces Criticism Over Noting Ceasefire Violations by Kiev, Biden's Financial Interests There

The US House earlier voted to extend support to Ukraine, including sending lethal weapons under the pretext of helping to end the conflict. Moscow repeatedly... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T18:49+0000

2022-03-18T18:49+0000

2022-03-18T18:51+0000

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GOP lawmaker Liz Cheney has condemned fellow Republican, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, over her decision to point out the fact that over the past eight years in Ukraine, "both sides" routinely violated peace agreements and not just the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), whom the US calls pro-Russian militias.In her address earlier this week, Greene said that compassion towards Ukrainians should not "blind" the US to "reason and common sense" and warned against calls that would result in an armed conflict between the US and Russia. She also raised concerns over the alleged conflict of interests in the US government, suggesting that President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Senator Mitt Romney have financial stakes in Ukraine.Cheney, however, was not convinced by the GOP lawmaker's appeal and accused her of spreading lies, even though Greene mostly upheld the US government's narrative about Russia conducting an "invasion" of Ukraine  something that the Kremlin strongly denies.While several US Congresspeople repeatedly called on the administration to do more in terms of supporting Ukraine as Russia is carrying out a special military operation on its territory, up to the point of imposing a no-fly zone, President Joe Biden firmly stood against using American or NATO military forces in the conflict. POTUS repeatedly underscored that such actions could easily prompt a Third World War. He also warned that such an armed conflict will likely turn into a nuclear one.Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of the operation on 24 February at the behest of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), setting its goals as the "demilitarisation" and "de-Nazification" of Ukraine. He stressed that Russia was left with no other choice as Kiev had failed to fulfil Minsk agreements and instead of peacefully resolving the conflict in Donbass continued to shell its cities  a behaviour that Putin said was akin to a "genocide" of his own people.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/india-rebukes-us-for-warning-against-russian-oil-imports-1093990479.html

India Rebukes US for Warning Against Russian Oil Imports

India Rebukes US for Warning Against Russian Oil Imports

India's public sector business Indian Oil has bought around 3 million barrels of crude oil after Russia offered a deep discount compared with Brent crude... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T18:51+0000

2022-03-18T18:51+0000

2022-03-18T18:51+0000

situation in ukraine

india

russia

us

jen psaki

crude oil

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western sanctions

ukraine

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In a strong rebuke to the US, India has said that it will continue to import energy from whatever sources suit its interests best, even if that means Russia.White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday warned that buying Russian oil implies "support for an invasion that obviously is having a devastating impact," although she acknowledged the purchases would not violate US sanctions.Indian government sources added that the jump in oil prices since the Ukraine conflict has increased the need to take advantage of competitive sourcing.Citing large importers of Russian oil and gas such as Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, the sources noted that recent western sanctions on Moscow have exemptions to avoid the impact on energy imports from Russia."Russian banks that are the main channel for European Union payments for Russian energy imports have not been excluded from SWIFT," the sources emphasised, sidestepping concerns expressed by several analysts about how the oil purchase from Russia is paid for.India, the world's third-largest energy-consumer, has secured 3 million barrels of crude oil as Russia offered it a deep discount to prevailing Brent crude. According to commodities data and analytic firm Kpler, India's acquisition from Russia touched 360,000 barrels a day of oil in March so far, nearly four times the 2021 average.Sources added that India might buy 15 million barrels of crude oil from Russia soon.Earlier this week, Russia's deputy prime minister Alexander Novak spoke with India's oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Energy has become a strong symbol of the long-standing "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Indian and Russian firms that have completed several joint projects since 2016.Rosneft owns 49 percent of Nayara Energy, India's private firm, which runs the country's second-largest refinery.A sudden rise in crude oil and gas prices has disrupted the Indian government's budget forecasts for the present financial year. As 85 percent of India's crude oil requirement (5 million barrels a day) has to be imported, higher prices for these commodities may cost India 1.6 percent of its annual gross national product.Most imports are from the Middle East (Iraq 23 percent, Saudi Arabia 18 percent, UAE 11 percent). The US has also become an important crude oil source for India (7.3 percent).

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india, russia, us, jen psaki, crude oil, ural, indian foreign ministry, western sanctions, ukraine, narendra modi, vladimir putin
https://sputniknews.com/20220318/indias-ex-fm-buying-cheaper-crude-from-russia-in-delhis-interest-us-cant-determine-our-policy-1093968179.html

India's Ex-FM: Buying Cheaper Crude From Russia in Delhi's 'Interest', US Can't Determine Our Policy

India's Ex-FM: Buying Cheaper Crude From Russia in Delhi's 'Interest', US Can't Determine Our Policy

The Russian military operation in Ukraine and the subsequent economic sanctions imposed by the US and its allies have put India in a difficult diplomatic... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T05:00+0000

2022-03-18T05:00+0000

2022-03-18T06:24+0000

situation in ukraine

russia

india

nato

ukraine

us

crude oil

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https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/14/1083423852_0:247:2915:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_8d510d5ca9a3e403634294be82f16884.jpg

India's abstention from the United Nations (UN) resolutions which labelled Moscow as the "aggressor" in Ukraine as well as its refusal to draw down its energy or commercial ties with Russia amid western economic sanctions have been attracting veiled warnings from Washington.While White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that India's decision this week to take up Russia's offer of cheaper crude won't "violate" the western sanctions, she advised New Delhi against supporting Moscow."But also think about where you want to stand when history books are written at this moment in time. Support for the Russian leadership is support for an invasion that obviously is having a devastating impact", Psaki remarked.India, meanwhile, has "expressed deep concern" over the situation in Ukraine and demanded an "immediate cessation of violence" from both sides."We have reiterated at the highest levels of our leadership to all parties concerned that there is no other choice but the path of diplomacy and dialogue", India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said in a statement this week.At the same time, New Delhi has also rejected "unilateral" sanctions imposed by the US, EU, and other allies against Russia, and has been looking for ways to sustain its energy and defence ties with Moscow."The Ukraine conflict has major economic implications. Its impact on energy and commodity prices is already visible. The disruption of the global supply chain is expected to be significant. India has substantial dealings with both Russia and Ukraine", the Indian FM said.Sputnik caught up with Yashwant Sinha, who previously served as India's finance and foreign minister. Sinha is presently the vice chairman of the Indian opposition group Trinamool Congress.Sputnik: The US and its western allies have been encouraging countries across the globe to cut trade ties with Russia. Should India follow their lead and take a stand against Russia?Yashwant Sinha: No. India has to look after its interests. If India's interests are served by not joining the western powers against Russia, then the stand taken by the government of India can't be faulted.At the same time, it is India's duty to explain to its friends why it prefers being neutral in the current situation.Sputnik: What do you think about India's decision to buy cheaper crude from Russia?Yashwant Sinha: India is right in taking up these offers. We must do what serves our national interest in the best manner.Sputnik: And do you back the idea of a rupee-rouble trading mechanism be set up to settle payments between India and Russia, with China's yuan as a reference currency?Yashwant Sinha: Yes, I do believe that we can carry our trade in our own currencies. But I don't think that the yuan should be made a reference currency. Any such arrangement should be done based on just the rupee and rouble.Sputnik: The US and the West blame Russia for the security crisis in Ukraine. Russia, on the other hand, accuses the US-led NATO of disregarding its security concerns over a period of time. One of Russia's major concerns has been NATO's continuous eastward expansion in five waves since the end of the Cold War. So, how do you view the current events in Ukraine?Yashwant Sinha: Well, there have been issues between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) with regards to Ukraine. There were some issues between Moscow and NATO over Crimea as well. I would rather prefer that the issues between NATO and Russia be resolved through dialogue rather than military means.Sputnik: Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the West has been trying to weaken Russia and doesn't want a strong Russia. Is a strong Russia in India's interest?Yashwant Sinha: First and foremost, a strong Russia is in Russia's interest. And a friendly Russia is surely in India's interest.However, at the same time, the complex issue for India relates to navigating the emerging global order. While Russia, indeed, is India's friend, one can't really say the same about China.A major question posed by Russia's actions [military operation] is that if China ever indulges in similar actions against India, how would we want the world to look at those?Sputnik: What role could India play in helping resolve this security crisis?Yashwant Sinha: India has a role and responsibility in bringing the military crisis to an end and bringing back peace to that region. India is Russia's time-tested friend and it should advise Moscow on the situation. And as India's friend, it is Russia's duty to listen to New Delhi's advice.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/20220316/putin-pro-nazi-regime-in-kiev-could-get-nuclear-weapons-in-foreseeable-future-to-target-russia-1093929815.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220307/indian-economist-calls-for-rupee-rouble-trade-to-bypass-western-sanctions-over-ukraine-1093655329.html

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russia, india, nato, ukraine, us, crude oil, vladimir putin, china, opinion
Serbian President Vucic Condemns Western 'Double Standards' Toward Ukraine & Kosovo

"They tell us about the territorial integrity of Ukraine ....Things are confusing in all of our heads: observance of the principle of international law, where, there is no doubt, who violated it and who was the victim, as well as who violated international law and without a decision of the UN Security Council made tough decisions to the detriment of Serbia. That is why we are in a difficult situation", Vucic told the broadcaster TV PRVA late Friday.

"On the other hand, Russia has never imposed sanctions against us ... We can say that they occupied and then left the airfield in Pristina. But in the last 10 years, Russia has not been against Serbia on foreign policy issues. And they [the West] are putting us in the position, in which we will lose our only ally in the UN Security Council, who has always been for maintaining the territorial integrity of Serbia and Resolution 1244", the president stressed.

Vucic said that he promised the West to maintain peace in the region and refrain from interfering in the situation in Ukraine. He added that Serbia had not made any promises on joining the sanctions against Russia.
https://sputniknews.com/20220318/meghan-mccain-us-media-betrayed-american-public-by-censoring-hunter-laptop-story-to-help-biden-win-1093989381.html

Meghan McCain: US Media Betrayed American Public by Censoring Hunter Laptop Story to Help Biden Win

Meghan McCain: US Media Betrayed American Public by Censoring Hunter Laptop Story to Help Biden Win

The story had been broken back in 2020 by the New York Post mere months ahead of the presidential election. However, not only was it practically ignored by the... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T15:07+0000

2022-03-18T15:07+0000

2022-03-18T15:08+0000

us

meghan mccain

hunter biden

joe biden

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Meghan McCain has lashed out at the corporate US media with scathing criticism over their handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020, arguing that it was an example of "absolutely stunning journalistic malpractice" that harmed ordinary Americans.She noted that the media had picked their partisan sides in highlighting the events, voluntarily hushing up stories which had the potential to damage one party and amplifying stories that made the other party look bad, and that this wasn't anything new. However, she claimed, the case of Biden's laptop went "far above and beyond" any partisan media behaviour that had taken place in the past.In her op-ed for the Daily Mail, McCain suggested that the majority of the American public had "lost faith in journalistic institutions" and added that it was difficult to blame them for such attitude considering the recent actions of the mainstream media, specifically in regards to the story surrounding the laptop that Hunter Biden purportedly left in the 2019 in the repair shop and never recovered.McCain pointed out that the story was based on "absolute treasure trove of evidence" had been broken by the New York Post and Daily Mail in 2020, but it took The New York Times to start reporting on the matter two years  based off the same material from the same laptop.She recalled that at the time in 2020 The New York Times, other media and "every Blue Checkmark on Twitter" brushed off the news as "fake", trashed or ignored it. McCain further evoked the statements by the National Public Radio, which described the articles about Biden's laptop as "not really stories", "pure distractions", a "politically driven event", and a "waste" of the listeners' and readers' time. Politico labelled the story a "Russian disinfo" with numerous media outlets repeating the claim.Two social media giants Facebook and Twitter were outright suppressing the story, taking down the posts containing the information about files found on the "laptop from hell", which suggested that the Biden facility engaged in shady business schemes in China and that Hunter used his political connections to make exorbitant sums of money. At the same time, neither of social media suppressed or took down posts with the recent New York Times' story about the same laptop, McCain stressed.McCain suggested that professional journalists should have been more curious about the story and should have investigated it before brushing off. She admitted that the laptop files contained sensitive information including on Hunter's addiction, but still insisted that its contents were a "fair game" for journalists since his father was running for the Oval Office at the time. McCain underscored that if it had been an article about shady business dealings of the Trump children, the mainstream journalists would have definitely considered it a fair game.However, The New York Times (and only it) wrote an article on the topic only two years later, she points out. The newspaper offered no explanation for the change of heart that had prompted the publication of the story about the federal investigation into Hunter Biden's possible criminal violations of tax laws, foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, which was related to the files allegedly found on his infamous laptop.The TV personality suggested that the newspaper decided to publish the story for two reasons  because the walls may be closing in on Hunter in terms of the investigation against him and because his father, Joe Biden, had already won the presidency.McCain insisted that the media treated Hunter Biden "like a child, who is not responsible for his own behaviour", despite such red flags as evidence of Biden receiving a payment from a Chinese tycoon with alleged ties to the Communist Party in the form of a $80,000 3.16 carat diamond. The only reason for such treatment was to ensure his father, Joe Biden, better chances in the election, McCain concluded.The TV personality went on to stress that the media are "flushing their credibility down the toilet" by actions like this and insisted that The New York Times, the rest of the mainstream media as well as the Big Tech companies owe The Daily Mail, The New York Post and Fox News, which reported the Hunter laptop story, an apology.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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us, meghan mccain, hunter biden, joe biden
https://sputniknews.com/20220318/polarised-light-of-mysterious-fast-radio-bursts-can-reveal-key-details-about-them-new-study-says-1093985928.html

Polarised Light of Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts Can Reveal Key Details About Them, New Study Says

Polarised Light of Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts Can Reveal Key Details About Them, New Study Says

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) have puzzled scientists ever since they were discovered in 2007 by a British-born American astrophysicist, Duncan Lorimer, and his... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T12:17+0000

2022-03-18T12:17+0000

2022-03-18T12:18+0000

science

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fast radio burst (frb)

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An international team of astrophysicists has conducted a study on mysterious fast radio bursts, which they say could reveal key details about them. According to the findings of the study, published on 17 March, in the journal Science, the researchers from Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, looked into properties of light emitted by a small population of FRBs.In particular, they examined the lights polarisation. Light is delivered in waves and those that vibrate or oscillate in more than one direction are referred to as unpolarised light. Polarised light waves, on the other hand, are light waves in which the vibrations occur in a single direction. Scientists say their research may shed light on the formation of FRBS.Researchers note that the data they obtained shows that key details of polarisation of light in fast radio bursts depended upon radio frequency in which the light was observed. These properties can change very quickly in a short time, the scientists say.The changes occur if repeating FRB emission passes through a complex environment around the bursting sources. "For example, the FRB light could be moving through the remnants of a supernova (exploded star), the gas surrounding a rapidly rotating, dense stellar corpse called a pulsar, or super-heated gas near huge black holes," the group wrote in a statement.The data also shows an evolutionary trend in FRBs, with more active sources in more complex environments and "larger polarisation changes being younger explosions". "These extremely active FRBs could be a distinct population", said Yi Feng, lead author of the study.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/psychopathy-is-form-of-adaption-rather-than-a-mental-disorder-new-study-suggests-1093987672.html

Psychopathy is Form of Adaption Rather Than a Mental Disorder, New Study Suggests

Psychopathy is Form of Adaption Rather Than a Mental Disorder, New Study Suggests

Popularised by American psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley, psychopathy is defined as a mental disorder in which a person displays aggression, antisocial behaviour, a lack of remorse and an impaired ability to establish personal relationships.

2022-03-18T14:09+0000

2022-03-18T14:09+0000

2022-03-18T14:10+0000

science

psychopath

study

mental disorder

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A team of Canadian scientists has suggested that psychopathy may not actually be a mental disorder. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 16 studies that were held between 1985 and 2017 and which involved over 2 million people. Scientists maintain that the results show that rather than being a mental disease, psychopathy is an alternative strategy for survival and a form of adaption.According to this view, the risk-taking, opportunistic, and callous traits of psychopaths increased their reproductive success in past environments by exploiting the trusting, cooperative individuals who form the majority of the population.Researchers write that this evolutionary strategy could made it possible for some psychopathic individuals to benefit from the help of other people, in order to better position themselves in the reproductive "race".Scientists claim that despite the harm it causes others, psychopathy is not a mental disorder "as it is not related to the failure of an evolved psychological mechanism, but is instead an alternative strategy that has been selected for because of its positive effects on (largely direct or personal) fitness".To prove their hypothesis researchers point to the fact that the study established that there is no clear link between left-handed individuals and persons, who have psychopathy. Non right-handedness has been associated with birth complications, prenatal stress and prenatal exposure to hormones, which is associated with disruption to pre- and perinatal brain development of critical brain areas. Thus, southpaws are more likely to suffer from schizophrenia and depression. If one is to assume that psychopathy is a mental disorder and is based on neurological problems, researchers write, then there should be more psychopaths among left-handed people. But their meta study showed that this was not the case. Only 10,6 percent of the participants who were diagnosed with psychopathy, were left-handed.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/russian-finance-ministry-fully-fulfills-obligations-on-eurobonds-coupon-payment-order-1093985168.html

Russian Finance Ministry Fully Fulfills Obligations on Eurobonds Coupon Payment Order

Russian Finance Ministry Fully Fulfills Obligations on Eurobonds Coupon Payment Order

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Finance Ministry said on Friday that it had fully fulfilled its obligations under coupon payment on two issues of Russian... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

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2022-03-18T11:04+0000

2022-03-18T11:33+0000

russia

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The ministry said that the funds for the coupon payment were received by the paying agent for Eurobonds, the London branch of Citibank."Thus, the obligations to service Russian government securities were fulfilled by the Ministry of Finance of Russia in full in accordance with the issuance documentation for Eurobond issues", the ministry said in a statement.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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russia, eurobonds, payment, obligations
https://sputniknews.com/20220318/russian-un-envoy-ukraine-and-us-breach-biological-weapons-convention-theres-data-proving-it-1093989643.html

Russian UN Envoy: Ukraine and US Breach Biological Weapons Convention, There's Data Proving It

Russian UN Envoy: Ukraine and US Breach Biological Weapons Convention, There's Data Proving It

The Biological Weapons Convention bans the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxic weapons. 183 countries... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T14:57+0000

2022-03-18T14:57+0000

2022-03-18T15:38+0000

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Kiev and Washington are violating the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons (BTWC), also known as the Biological Weapons Convention, according to Vasily Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN. At a UN Security Council meeting, the Russian envoy said there is evidence of "dangerous military-biological activities" in the centre of Eastern Europe. Nebenzia said that the aftermath of these activities could have "splashed out" beyond the borders of not just Ukraine, but the entire region.The Russian Defence Ministry earlier accused the Pentagon of funding biological research in Ukraine in order to create bioweapons and conduct studies on the spread of dangerous infections and viruses. The United States has called claims of US-funded biowarfare programmes in Ukraine "false pretexts" that are created "in an attempt to justify its own horrific actions in Ukraine". The statements from Washington came after Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said there were biological laboratories in Ukraine and added that the US was concerned about Russians possibly taking control over them.The Russian Defence Ministry, however, rolled out a handful of documents that, it said, pointed to the fact that components of biological weapons were being created in Ukraine with direct US involvement and financing. According to the released documents, several top Ukrainian biolabs had received tens of millions of dollars to study infectious diseases, particularly looking into pathogens of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, leptospirosis and hantaviruses.In light of the military-biological activities in Ukraine, Russia may establish a consultation mechanism under the Biological Weapons Convention, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted earlier. Russia, Ukraine and the United States are among the 183 countries that are party to the BTWC, which prohibits the development, acquisition, stockpiling and use of biological and toxic weapons.

https://sputniknews.com/20220317/russia-believes-components-of-biological-weapons-were-created-in-ukraine---mod-1093960475.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/situation-in-mariupol-dire-residents-lack-food-electricity--1093988723.html

Situation in Mariupol Dire, Residents Lack Food, Electricity, Sputnik Correspondent Reports

Situation in Mariupol Dire, Residents Lack Food, Electricity, Sputnik Correspondent Reports

MARIUPOL (Sputnik) - The situation in Mariupol is tense with residents lacking food and electricity and have to leave the city amid continued clashes in... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T14:43+0000

2022-03-18T14:43+0000

2022-03-18T15:08+0000

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Mariupol has been a site of intense fighting between the forces of Ukraine and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in recent weeks. On March 7, the DPR forces said that they had encircled the city and started clearing it of Ukrainian troops and extremist battalions.Clashes continue in the central part of Mariupol. The sounds of shots, explosions and artillery fire are heard throughout the city. The main roads leading to the city centre are blocked by barricades of made of various equipment and vehicles, the Sputnik correspondent said.There is no electricity in the city while the population has run out of provision as there are no food supplies. In addition, almost all the stores are either destroyed or been looted, the correspondent added.Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24 to support the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The Russian Defence Ministry said the operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/ten-russian-diplomats-declared-personae-non-gratae-in-bulgaria-1093984623.html

Ten Russian Diplomats Declared Personae Non Gratae in Bulgaria

Ten Russian Diplomats Declared Personae Non Gratae in Bulgaria

Earlier in the week, Slovakia decided to expel three Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage. 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T10:36+0000

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Ten Russian diplomats have been declared personae non-gratae in Bulgaria, the Russian Embassy in the country confirmed to Sputnik.According to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, the expelled Russian diplomats will have to leave the country within 72 hours.The statement did not clarify the exact part of the convention that the Russian diplomats have allegedly breached. Earlier in the week, Slovakia reportedly decided to expel three Russian diplomats, suspecting them of espionage. Moscow vowed to respond to Bratislava's decision.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/tickling-the-dragons-tail-why-is-us-poking-china-over-taiwan-amid-russias-spec-op-in-ukraine-1093991868.html

Tickling the Dragon's Tail: Why is US Poking China Over Taiwan Amid Russia's Spec Op in Ukraine?

Tickling the Dragon's Tail: Why is US Poking China Over Taiwan Amid Russia's Spec Op in Ukraine?

Following the beginning of the Russian special operation to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" Ukraine, which was launched on 24 February, the Western mainstream... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T18:01+0000

2022-03-18T18:01+0000

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On 28 February, US President Joe Biden announced that he would send a delegation of former senior defence and security officials to meet with Taiwan's president and defence minister. The delegation arrived on the island on 1 March to deliver "a message of reassurance" to Taipei amid "Chinas growing military threat," according to the Guardian.Beijing denounced the move as violating China's national sovereignty: "The attempt by the US to show support to Taiwan will be in vain, no matter who the US sends. The Chinese people are firmly determined and resolved to defend (their) national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated on 2 March.The Pentagon's $27 Billion Plan to 'Deter China'At the same time, reports started to emerge in the US media about the US Indo-Pacific Command's (INDOPACOM) plan to spend $27 billion over the next six years to "deter China" in the Pacific region. According to the Drive, the DoD's recent plan is an expansion of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, or PDI, which was included by the US Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2021 Fiscal Year. The new grand design envisages spending between $27.3 billion and $27.4 billion in total through Fiscal Year 2027. "This includes $2.2 billion to be spent in the 2021 Fiscal Year and another $4.6 billion expected to be available in the next fiscal cycle," the media specifies.In particular, the plan envisions the creation of "highly survivable, precision-strike networks along the First Island Chain, featuring increased quantities of ground-based weapons," referring to an area of the Pacific inside a boundary formed by the first line of archipelagos out from mainland East Asia. This area includes the contested South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. According to the Drive, in general, the initiative "include[s] the establishment of forward-deployed long-range strike capabilities, including elements that could be armed ground-based cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles" as well as "more capable missile defences," "space-based and terrestrial sensors".US State Department's Maps of TaiwanMeanwhile, the US Senate on 10 March poked Beijing by passing an amendment prohibiting the State Department from purchasing any map that "inaccurately depicts the territory and social and economic system of Taiwan and the islands or island groups administered by Taiwan authorities". According to Taiwan Times, the vague text actually meant maps depicting "Taiwan as part of China".The Chinese Foreign Ministry on 14 March strongly opposed the US congressional maps bans, stressing that "there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, which is both a historical and legal fact and the consensus of the international community."The Western media continued to ramp up the narrative about China's alleged "bellicose" plans with regard to Taiwan with the Business Insider warning on 10 March that after the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine "US officials have also been watching China closely, looking for signs that Beijing is capitalising on turmoil in Europe to strike Taiwan."On 16 March, Newsweek claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping "had plans to annex" the Taiwan island in autumn 2022 but that Russia's special operation in Ukraine "shut" this "window of opportunity" for Beijing.To back this claim Newsweek cited "a purported Russian intelligence document" written by "an anonymous analyst with Russia's Federal Security Service" (FSB). Newsweek made it clear that it "wasn't able to independently verify the authenticity of the FSB letter." Instead, the media quoted Christo Grozev, the executive director of Bellingcat, who said that his "FSB contacts" alleged that the "whistleblower" in question was authentic but did not agree with the conclusions of his analysis.However, Bellingcat could hardly be regarded as objective and independent, according to independent investigative reporters of Grayzone. Grayzone journalists previously detailed how Bellingcat covertly cooperated with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), received funding from Western intelligence contractors and the US governments National Endowment for Democracy, "employed a staggering number of former [Western] military and intelligence operatives," and peddled unconfirmed and dubious narratives about Russia and Syria.Beijing: Taiwan is Part of China, Ukraine Crisis is Product of US PoliticsThe Chinese officials have repeatedly shredded the Western claims of Beijing's war plans concerning Taiwan, adding that there are no links between Russia's special operation to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" Ukraine and China's relations with its island.In his 15 March op-ed for The Washington Post, Qin Gang, the ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the United States, also rubbished claims of China's alleged foreknowledge of the Russian Ukraine operation. The Chinese top diplomat underscored that Taiwan is a "Chinese internal affair".According to The Global Times, Washington's attempts to poke Beijing over Taiwan are part of the US attempts to force China to join the US sanctions spree against Russia over Ukraine."The US should not expect other countries to solve the mess it made in Ukraine while it still ramps up assistance and offers weapons to Ukraine," writes the Chinese daily writes citing Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Currently, the conflicts between the US and Russia and between China and the US all have roots in the US, and the US is trying to sow discord between Russia and China."

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/us-president-joe-biden-in-hot-water-over-insulting-joke-about-irish-people-1093981644.html

US President Joe Biden in Hot Water Over 'Insulting' Joke About Irish People

US President Joe Biden in Hot Water Over 'Insulting' Joke About Irish People

The Democrat made the statement during an event called Friends of Ireland, which is hosted every year at the White House on St Patrick's Day, a cultural and religious holiday celebrated both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

2022-03-18T08:32+0000

2022-03-18T08:32+0000

2022-03-18T08:34+0000

us

joe biden

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US President Joe Biden should be happy that his ancestors did not overhear the joke he made at the White House on Friday. Otherwise, he would have earned a slap to the back of his head. The 79-year-old, who is of Irish descent, questioned the intellectual abilities of the Irish while addressing guests during St Patrick's Day.Dominic Giacoppa is the Sicilian name of Biden's father-in-law Donald C Jacobs. The Democrat then went on to say how proud he is of his Irish heritage before stating that the bond between "Ireland and the United Stateshas grown deeper and stronger over the years".However, his quip about intellectual abilities has not gone down well, with POTUS facing intense criticism for making what people have described as an "insulting" and "rude" remark.According to Irish Central, eight of Joe Biden's great-great-grandparents on his mother's side and two great-grandparents on his father's side were born in Ireland. The politician mentioned one of them, namely Patrick Blewitt, who emigrated to the United States in the 1890s and settled in the state of Pennsylvania.According to Irish media, this is not the first time that Joe Biden has joked about the Irish being "stupid". The Irish Mirror writes that he has regularly made the quip over the course of his career, including while speaking to other US politician of Irish descent such as South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/us-sailors-caught-buying-sex-from-ukrainian-prostitutes-during-visit-to-sweden-1093978305.html

US Sailors Caught Buying Sex From Ukrainian Prostitutes During Visit to Sweden

US Sailors Caught Buying Sex From Ukrainian Prostitutes During Visit to Sweden

Swedish law makes it illegal to procure sex, but not to sell it. Therefore, only the buyer is punished in a bid to protect the seller, who is seen as a victim. 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T05:38+0000

2022-03-18T05:38+0000

2022-03-18T05:41+0000

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Two sailors from the USS "Forrest Sherman", which is currently on a visit in Stockholm, have been arrested for procuring sex.The Americans, a man in his 30s and a man in his 20s, admitted to buying sex during questioning by police, law enforcement in Sweden reported. One of the individuals is suspected of buying sex on two occasions. Both of the prostitutes were from Ukraine.Following their arrest, which took place in an apartment brothel in the Stockholm district of Ostermalm, the sailors were referred to the Swedish military police. During questioning, the older man stated that he searched for and found a sex purchase advertisement on the internet, and that's how he came into contact with one of the two Ukrainian women, the newspaper Expressen reported.The USS "Forrest Sherman" docked in Stockholm on Monday 14 March. According to the Swedish military, the visit had been planned for a long time. It has been described as a routine visit, with the purpose of giving the US crew an opportunity to recover after a long time at sea and stock up on fuel and other necessities.According to the US Navy, though, the aim of the port call is to enhance US-Swedish relations and build cohesion among key partners in the Baltic Sea region.The warship had previously carried out a joint exercise with the German Navy in the Baltic Sea, in which the Swedish minesweeping vessel HMS "Vinga" also participated.The USS "Forrest Sherman" is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that is capable of detecting and combating enemy targets both in the air and on land, as well as on and below sea level. The ship's weapons system is developed to be able to operate at long distances.Sweden is credited with pioneering the Nordic model on prostitution, becoming the first country to enact it in 1999. It has since spread to other Western nations, including Canada and Ireland. The Swedish stance makes it illegal to procure sex, but not to sell it. Therefore, only the buyer is punished, ostensibly to protect the seller and combat sex trafficking and pimping.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/west-turns-blind-eye-to-rocket-attack-by-kiev-in-donetsk-thus-ignoring-war-crimes-putin-told-scholz-1093983007.html

West Turns Blind Eye to Rocket Attack by Kiev in Donetsk Thus Ignoring War Crimes, Putin Told Scholz

West Turns Blind Eye to Rocket Attack by Kiev in Donetsk Thus Ignoring War Crimes, Putin Told Scholz

A missile strike carried out by Ukrainian forces and targeting the centre of Donetsk killed 20 and injured 35 more on 14 March, local authorities from the... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-18T09:36+0000

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Russian President Vladimir Putin called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's attention to rocket strikes by the Ukrainian military of the cities of Donetsk and Makeevka during a Friday telephone call, the Kremlin press service has stated. The president stressed that these strikes amount to "war crimes", but were still completely ignored by the West.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also addressed recent claims by US President Biden, who called Putin a "murderous dictator", a "pure thug", and a "war criminal" in his latest speeches, saying that his statements had already turned into daily insults. Peskov added that such statements should be unacceptable for a president of a country that has killed hundreds of thousands around the world with its bombs.Russia and Ukraine mutually accuse each other's military of attacking civilian objects. The Kremlin has repeatedly guaranteed that Russian forces are only conducting strikes against military objects.The Ukrainian armed forces and nationalist battalions have been carrying out occasional attacks against the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) ever since they declared independence following the West-backed coup in Kiev in 2014. The latest major strike came on 14 March, when a Tochka-U (NATO reporting name is SS-21 Scarab) missile hit the centre of Donetsk, killing 20 and injuring 35 more. The DPR authorities claim that the missile was armed with forbidden cluster munition. The Russian envoy to the UN slammed the strike as a terrorist attack and a war crime.Russia-Ukraine NegotiationsIn his conversation with Olaf Scholz, Putin touched upon the ongoing Russia-Ukraine talks, saying that Kiev is trying to drag out the negotiations by making more and more unrealistic proposals. He added that Russia nonetheless continues to search for solutions to negotiate a deal to end the hostilities.Peskov said that the text of an agreement is yet to be negotiated and added that the Russian delegation is ready to work at a faster pace. He expressed regret that the Ukrainian side does not show a similar intent.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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https://sputniknews.com/20220318/wh-dodges-question-on-potus-son-as-nyt-authenticates-hunter-bidens-emails-from-delaware-laptop-1093980610.html

WH Dodges Question on POTUS' Son as NYT 'Authenticates' Hunter Biden's Emails From Delaware Laptop

WH Dodges Question on POTUS' Son as NYT 'Authenticates' Hunter Biden's Emails From Delaware Laptop

In 2020, the New York Post published a story alleging that Joe Biden was engaged in his son's business dealings overseas during his tenure as US vice... 18.03.2022, Sputnik International

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Almost a year and a half after the original article in the New York Post (NYP), The New York Times (NYT) has "authenticated" the existence of Hunter Biden's laptop, which was earlier described by the newspaper as "Russian disinformation".In 2020, the NYP alleged that the laptop contained several emails, which questioned claims by Joe Biden that he never used his former position as vice president to help his son in the latter's foreign business dealings. Then-US President Donald Trump was quick to dub the device "the laptop from hell".In Wednesday's report about the ongoing federal probe into Hunter Biden's unpaid tax bills, the NYT said that when looking into the younger Biden's business dealings certain emails were examined by prosecutors.The New York Times then noted that those emails were obtained by them from "a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Mr Biden in a Delaware repair shop". The newspaper underscored that "the email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation". The admission comes in stark contrast to what the NYT had earlier said, claiming the New York Post story on the laptop was unsubstantiated.Psaki Evades Questions About NYT Report While Hunter Biden has not commented on the matter yet, White House press secretary Jen Psaki dodged questions about the new developments in the "laptop from hell" saga.In 2020, she referred to the story as "Russian disinformation", with Hunter Biden blasting the report on the laptop at the time as a "bunch of garbage" and "a Russian plant".The New York Post, for its part, has since taken a swipe at The New York Times, noting that the newspaper "finally admits Hunter's laptop is real". The NYP claimed that "unlike the Times, the Post didn't rely on anonymous sources, saying openly that [former Trump lawyer] Rudy Giuliani gave the paper a copy of the laptop's hard drive".The NYT had repeatedly cast doubt on the laptop report, claiming that the information was "purported" and quoting former Democratic officials as arguing that it was "Russian disinformation". In September 2021, the newspaper described the laptop story as "unsubstantiated".Hunter Biden Laptop ScandalIn October 2020, the New York Post published an article about two alleged emails that Hunter Biden purportedly received from a top official at the Ukrainian company Burisma while he was on the board of the firm.In a May 2014 email, Burisma board adviser Vadym Pozharskyi purportedly asked Joe Biden's son to "use [his] influence" to politically support the Ukrainian company, while in another email, dated April 2015, Pozharskyi thanked the younger Biden for arranging a meeting with his father, then-US Vice President Joe Biden.The alleged emails were reportedly sourced from the hard drive of a damaged laptop, said to belong to Hunter Biden that was dropped off for repairs at a shop in his home state of Delaware.POTUS, for his part, has repeatedly insisted that he never had anything to do with his son's business dealings, slamming the allegations against Hunter Biden as "smears from [former US President] Donald Trump's henchmen".The first son recently said that the laptop could have "absolutely" belonged to him, but added that he had never taken it to an IT store and claimed the device was perhaps stolen or hacked by Russian intelligence.Twitter's 'Total Mistake' on Banning NYP's Biden Laptop Report-R elated Posts Last year, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admitted that the platform made a "total mistake" by prohibiting users from posting the NYP report about Hunter Biden's laptop.At the time, Twitter, also suspended the newspaper's account for two weeks, citing allegations that the information was obtained by "hacking" the laptop. The platform also demanded the NYP delete a number of posts with related stories, something that was described by Dorsey as a "process error".The Twitter CEO added that the social network does not have a "censoring department" to restrict certain contain, but declined to elaborate on how the "mistake" pertaining to the New York Post happened.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus

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It was a special exhibit at the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg where Indigenous tribes in Virginia are sharing personal cultural treasures and stories as part of a main exhibit of historical photos.

Debra Martin is a citizen of the Pamunkey tribe. Some of her relatives photos are part of the exhibit.

This is a picture of Uncle Paul here. He was a chief from 1930 to 1937, she said as she points to a photo of her great-uncle Paul Miles paying annual tribute to Gov. John Garland Pollard.

But her most cherished possession in the exhibit is her mothers regalia. A ceremonial dress her mother made during the 1930s, it has been passed on through three generations.

Her mother wore it to ceremonies, pow wows and to the Dog Mart in Fredericksburg, where she and others from Native communities were allowed to participate in the annual market.

I remember this dress from when I was a child visiting my grandparents on the Pamunkey Reservation. It was in an old wardrobe, and I was always enthralled with it, she said. My mother never talked too much about wearing it. And it was something that she sort of left behind, I think because during the period when she was growing up it was not cool to be Indian.

Jamie Helmick is manager for special projects and programs. She said the exhibit is part of an increased effort by the JamestownYorktown Foundation to include Indigenous people in telling their history. A reminder of that former exclusion stands amid the exhibit. One of eight replica ceremonial posts borrowed from an older exhibit outside. It was not carved by an Indigenous person.

FOCUSED is a visual experience of the last 100 years of tribes in Virginia and their resilience despite laws to erase them. There are contemporary photos by Tracy Roberts, a member of the Occaneechee tribe, and photos from the 1940s and 1950s by Baltimore Sun photographer A. Aubrey Bodine. The earliest photos are by anthropologist Frank Speck, who photographed Indigenous tribes in Virginia from 1915 to 1924.

Frank Speck wanted to document the Virginia tribes and the thriving culture they had at that point in time, said Helmick. So, he took as many photographs as he could of the tribes in Virginia.

The exhibit highlights the resilience of tribes here during and after a century of racist laws that tried to erase their culture. Among striking art objects is an opulent turkey feather mantle woven in the 1930s by Mollie Adams of the Upper Mattaponi tribe.

Part of that movement with Speck and everybody else who was fighting the Racial Integrity Act was to try to get tribal members to reclaim a lot of their lost traditional arts, said Helmick. So, this was the first attempt at making a feather mantle that had not been done in some time.

Virginias Racial Integrity Act made identifying as Indigenous illegal. Now, tribal members are telling stories of their histories and cultures, on videos at the exhibit and online at the museums website.

The art here includes pottery, gourds and flutes. Visitors can walk around a vertical glass case that encloses story quilts by Denise Lowe Walters. They tell the history of her tribe, the Nottoway.

Those decades of discrimination led to tribes hiding their identities. Helmick said many tribal members got into the habit of not sharing with the general population they were Native.

So, you can, for decades, probably talk to many Virginia Indians as you move through Virginia, but they probably would never designate themselves as such because they just got in the habit of not saying what their race is, unfortunately. she said. I think the tribes are definitely at a point where theyre trying to move past that and theyre very proud of their culture and you see a lot of cultural reemergence, as you have for the last 400 years, but especially today, now that they feel more comfortable sharing their culture with people, youre seeing a great resurgence of it.

The exhibit will close March 25. If you cant make it, you can still go online to view lectures by tribal members on their art and tribal histories.
If youre craving a feel-good story, Culpepers Blue & Red Santa Project may be just the ticket. Its a local effort that continues to give back and inspire the community in this area and beyond.

The nonprofit group started in 2016 with Christmas gifts for underprivileged children, and is now a year-round operation helping provide for basic needs and assistance during emergencies.

The Blue & Red Santa Project volunteer board met March 10 in the community room at the Culpeper Police Department to discuss where its been and its future, including bringing aid for local homeless.

The local police department partnered with Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Dept. Co. 1 six years ago to create the service organizationthus, the Blue & Red in its name.

But its more than just cops and firefighters boosting efforts as dozens more groups, businesses and individuals in the community have joined the effort, Board President Steve Corbin, longtime Co. 1 firefighter, told the board at the recent meeting.

Culpeper Eagles, the Department of Social Services, Walmart, Target, Sievers Family Charity, Brenco Solutions, Culpeper Car Wash, Tractor Supply and JK Enterprises are among partners and supporters of the Blue & Red Santa Project. Last year they raised $40,000.

At the major event around the holidays, 150 volunteers took 150 young people shopping at Walmart for clothes and other items, ending with a hot breakfast back at Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department, with food from Ole Country Store, Peppers, BK and Marva Maid.

Culpeper Police Motor Officer Mike Grant is Santa at the event and was this past year, even as he battles cancer.

I tried to talk him out of it for 2021 because of the pandemiche refused, said board vice president Tim Sisk, a police officer.

Year-round, items like school supplies and toiletries are donated and purchased to support such programs as the Community Christmas Basket, Doris Angels, Loads of Love at Sycamore Park Elementary and various Culpeper public schools reaching the littlest of the countys neediest populations.

Loads of Love started three years ago at the Title I school with a grant from the Washington Redskins, said Melody Mackison, longtime administrative assistant at Sycamore Park.

The program that started with helping families wash and dry their clothes has grown tremendously, she said. Now, Loads of Love houses donations of clothes, sheets, towels, housewares, purses and more, Mackison said at the recent meeting. The site is open one day a week at the school, including in the summer, she said.

Anyone from anywhere can come shop at Loads of Love, Mackison said. No chargeyou can fill ups as many bags as you want. Coats have been a big need this winter. You guys supporting us is absolutely awesome.

Board member Sue Jenkins with Culpeper Christmas Basket and the Department of Social Services said community rooms were set up during COVID so kids could come and get the clothes they needed. Blue & Red also donated extra to buy teen gifts during the shopping trip.

Corbin referenced truck and trailer loads of donated supplies sent to local schools.

Its constantwere doing this year-round, he said. Constantly purchasing and storing items we know the community will need.

Back in December, in addition to getting gifts from Santa, the group responded to the devastating tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky.

Board member Mike Scott, a member of the local Eagles Club, coordinated with Eagles in Mayfield to provide needed supplies and relief.

There was nothing left, said Scott, who traveled to the area to bring the donation that included tarps and generators.

Locally, last years Dress for Success through Target reached 50-75 students, he said, for back-to-school shopping.

Looking ahead, Blue & Red Santa Project wants to attract more volunteers and partners, raise awareness of what they do and start reaching out to homeless, Corbin said.

Its the biggest No. 1 issue in Culpeper right now with no solutions and not a whole lot of help, he said.

Corbin, who has worked as a homebuilder, said shelter for the homeless needs to be built, mentioning people sleeping in cars and children without a permanent home.

Lets pull together our resources, he said. We need to have some ideas.

In closing, the groups board president noted they are not just a Santa project.

We are a community project, Corbin said. We are here to help the less fortunate.

Want to help? blueandredsantaproject.org.

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Historic Mitchells Presbyterian Church in Rapidan is officially under new leadership, after a recent ceremony officiated by the Presbytery of the James.

On Sunday, Feb. 27, Mississippi native Patrick Fisher Lane, 26, was installed as the churchs new pastor. He replaced the Rev. John Grotz, who left in 2019after serving the local congregation for 24 yearsto lead Kirk OCliff Presbyterian Church in Mineral.

Mitchells Presbyterian is Lanes first assignment after he completed his ministerial education at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., last fall.

Im very grateful to be here, Lane told the Star-Exponent in an interview at the church. After the former pastor moved on, the pandemic sort of stalled the search committee, which gave me the chance to finish my schooling. I think its evidence of Gods hand directing me here.

Lane said the search committee was great to work with and that the hiring experience was very positive.

When I told them I had decided to accept the call the whole committee erupted in cheers, Lane said. Its nice to start out with that kind of support.

Lane is not married and has no children, although he hinted there might be a female influence in his life in the near future. He said he started dating a fellow student at the Georgia seminary, and a proposal may be forthcoming.

We started out not liking each other, Lane said of his friend. Shes from Allentown, Pa. But eventually, we started spending more time together, and now were proof that a Southern guy and a Northern girl can actually get along.

The membership rosters at Mitchells show about 120 members, Lane said, with about 55 attending in person each week and another 25 or so tuning into the virtual broadcast, which continues after its initiation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its rich history and rural nature, Mitchells is the culmination of everything Ive always wanted, Lane said. Im excited about all the opportunities here to serve the people and provide help to those in need.

Mitchells Presbyterian Church began in 1844 in Orange County and was known at the time as the Rapid Ann Presbyterian Chapel, according to church records.

In 1867, the Presbytery of Rappahannock authorized the group to organize as Rapidan Church. They relocated to Culpeper County about 10 years later because the rising Rapidan River was flooding their building in Orange.

The congregation became known as Mitchells Presbyterian in 1888.

Today's church building, at 12229 Mitchell Road and built in 1879, is an example of Gothic Revival architecture. It also has unique murals painted by Italian artist Joseph Dominick Phillip Oddenino, who designed them to enhance the ornate architectural appearance of the sanctuary.

The church is listed on the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

Mitchells is in a very unique spot, Lane said. If you look at the big churches in Culpeper and Orange, were sort of split between the two and surrounded by immense green space.

He said a new pavilion is being constructed behind the church, which will provide more ministry space and opportunities to better care for the community as a whole.

We expect to open it to the staff at Coffeewood (Correctional Center), for example, to rest there as they prepare for their shifts, maybe drink a cup of coffee, he said.

Lane explained he has been collaborating on activities with the pastors of the Culpeper and Orange Presbyterian churches, since he began working here in recent months prior to his installation.

We have a wonderful congregation that cares about our mission and is interested in broadening that horizon, he said.

Culpeper is similar in many ways to the community in Greenville, Miss., where he grew up, Lane said, adding that he recently bought a house just north of Culpepers downtown.

I can really identify with the kids who say theres nothing to do hereeverybody in my hometown has that mindset as a young person, he said. But its exciting what is happening to provide more opportunities in the area. In fact, Culpeper in many ways is what Greenville would love to be.

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While Virginia ranked in the top tier of states for being prepared for a range of health emergencies from natural disasters to manmade incidents, the nation got a less than glowing review for its COVID-19 response in a report from the Trust for Americas Health.

If the United States had had a more adequate public health infrastructure when the pandemic began, lives would have been saved and economic upheaval lessened, according to Ready or Not 2022: Protecting the Publics Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism.

The report states that misinformation, mistrust in government and political division have resulted in policies and actions that are both anti-health and anti-vaccine. Americas lack of investment in health quality for all contributed to high rates of chronic disease among some more vulnerable populations. And, confusing and disjointed leadership and messages led to disparate responses in every state, the report said.

It also cited the health care system, which operates near capacity on many days, saying it was not prepared for the multiple case surges during the pandemic.

The annual report looks at how states respond in the face of emergency. Virginia health and hospital officials singled out the commonwealths placement, for the third year in a row, in the top tier.

Dr. Colin Greene, acting state health commissioner, credited the hard work of thousands of Virginia Department of Health employees.

Our ongoing attention to preparedness means that when we are faced with situations such as this pandemic or severe weather events or calculated attacks, we have systems, guidance, relationships and community partnerships in place to launch a comprehensive response, Greene said.

Hospitals also are critical partners in the states emergency preparedness infrastructure, said Sean T. Connaughton, CEO of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

The pandemic has been a real-world stress test of our health care delivery system and its level of emergency readiness, he said. While there are always opportunities to improve, it is gratifying to see that Virginias commitment to preparedness continues to place us among the top states in the nation.

But in a special section of the report on lessons from the pandemic, including what could be done to save more lives during the next public health emergency, the tone was markedly more somber.

It states that public health officials had warned about their dangerously inadequate infrastructure for decades and had asked Congress to fund public health on a sustained basis and not just in response to an emergency. Lack of funding contributed to understaffed and overworked health departments using out-of-date technologies.

Those departments are even more understaffed, two years into the pandemic, as a result of a lack of support and outright threats against them, the report said.

The nations public health data systems are woefully dated and not up to the task of tracking an infectious disease outbreak on the scale of a pandemic, according to the report.

It cited the need for increased, flexible and continued spending for public health; a strong, coordinated federal response; modernized systems to collect data and track diseases; and modern public health labs capable of increasing their capacity during surges.

The report also called for a diverse and highly skilled public health workforce. According to the de Beaumont Foundation and Public Health National Center for Innovations, state and local public health departments need approximately 80 percent more full-time staff to meet the nations basic public health needs.

During the pandemic, more than 1.65 million Virginians have been infected with COVID-19 and 19,466 have died, according to state data.
On their mission to recycle America, the American Pickers are returning to Nebraska looking for treasures hidden amongst the trash.

American Pickers Producer Jasmina Joseph said while the pickers do not have a route yet, they are looking for people willing to share their items not only with the pickers, but also viewers.

We wont know dates and locations until last minute once we see where submissions are coming from and we scout everyone to find good collections that we will actually go to, Joseph said. The team never knows what they are looking to buy. Anything that is good value like cars, vintage items that has a great story, motorcycles or anything that tells a story that they feel is worth something.

The items need to be of good quality and any vehicles must be in original or close to original condition. They are not looking for hot rods.

The pickers have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something theyve never seen before, the show said in a news release announcing the April visit to Nebraska.

The reality T.V. series on History Channel explores the world of antique picking by following pickers across the country to uncover forgotten relics people have held onto because of a personal connection to the piece. The shows pickers are looking for sizable, unique collections, historically significant objects, and exceptional antiques that may also have a history or interesting story to go with it.

Ahead of their arrival, American Pickers is looking for leads on hidden treasures and is asking anyone with large, private collections, accumulations of antiques or knows someone who would be willing to allow the pickers to look through the collection to submit their information. However, Joseph said people must understand they will be filmed.

A lot of people when they do reach out to us, they say they do not want to be on T.V. and they dont want their stuff to be shown  its private; its a family memory, Joseph said. If you have an amazing collection and youre ready to sell and ready to let go, just know that you have to be comfortable with the camera and sharing your story with us and with people watching.

Joseph helps find locations for the pickers to visit and hopes to receive several submissions.

Obviously, the more the better, she said. The search is throughout Nebraska. Wherever you are, if you have a big collection, were coming to you.

Once a person has submitted their collection information, someone from the show will be in contact to let the person know if it is a good collection or not for the pickers. They will gather more information about the persons story and items in the collection before scheduling a time for the pickers to come to the residence.

If you think you have something good or even if youre not sure, send it anyway and well let you know, she said. Just have fun in the process. Its a fun show.

To submit your collections for consideration by the American Pickers, include your name, address, phone number, location and description of the items with photos to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 646-493-2184. The public can also connect with the show on its Facebook page, Got A Pick.

The pickers only pick private collections. Stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses, or anything open to the public will not be considered for inclusion on the show.

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COLUMBUS  Orion Ross, the man barricaded in a bedroom at 33rd and Vine streets with Felipe Vazquez as Lincoln police closed in around the house to arrest him Aug. 26, 2020, said before they made their escape attempt Vazquez asked him if he could "shoot out."

"What did you say?" Chief Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Bruce Prenda asked Ross, who took the stand Thursday at Vazquez's first-degree murder trial for the fatal shooting of Lincoln Police Officer Mario Herrera.

"What you do is what you do," Ross answered. "Because it's his life."

By the end of the day, the jury would hear from Vazquez, too, after the state rested its case against him after eight days of testimony and evidence.

Vazquez said he'd looked out and saw one officer in the front yard on his radio, then looked out later and saw one with a shield.

He said his plan was to shoot at a tree in the yard to scare the officers away.

"When they hear gunshots they're gonna run straight for cover," Vazquez said.

He said by the time police looked back up, he and Ross would be down the street on the way to what they called the bat cave, a place close to nearby Wyuka Cemetery where they hung out with friends.

A friend would be waiting there to pick them up.

Vazquez said he fired while inside the bedroom after Ross smashed the window with a mug. Then they jumped out.

"Everything just happened so quick. Someone came around the tree. Boom. I felt like a cannon left my hand," Vazquez said.

He said he squeezed again. Boom.

Shots were coming from the left side, Vazquez said.

"I hear someone screaming. I was just like, 'Oh, I just know something bad happened,'" he said. "I just kept running."

Vazquez and Ross ran in the direction of an officer blocking traffic on Vine Street, who was aiming her gun at them.

Defense attorney Nancy Peterson asked Vazquez why he didn't shoot her.

"It was never my intention to hurt an officer," he said.

Vazquez admitted he lied to the sheriff's deputy who interviewed him later that day, after he was arrested after being chased out of a nearby house by the owner and holed up for a short time on his porch as police trained rifles on him.

He said he was still trying to take everything in.

"I didn't believe what happened had happened," Vazquez said.

A video, shown to the jury earlier in the afternoon, showed him mostly silent but at times quietly singing to himself as he waited for the deputy in an interview room.

Peterson asked Vazquez if he intended to shoot Herrera or any of the officers.

"No, ma'am," he said. "I regret it every day."

Ross said they stood in front of the bedroom window that faces Vine Street, and Vazquez asked if he could "shoot out."

He said Vazquez "upped the gun," pointing it at the window, while he pulled the curtain back and threw a mug to break the window.

Ross said he thought the plan was to fire a shot to scare police, so they could get away.

"I just remember him ... lowering it," he said of Vazquez and the gun that day.

"Then where did he go?" Prenda asked.

"Out the window," he said.

Ross said he followed.

He doesn't remember hearing the sound of gunfire or even where Vazquez was when he fired the shots.

"I've spent the last two years trying to forget that day and the days before it," Ross said.

But, he said, he remembers hearing an "agony-type scream" from one of the officers.

Herrera had been shot in the chest and later died of his injuries.

On cross-examination, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon asked Vazquez if he'd seen officers standing by the tree and on the sidewalk, why did he fire toward it.

"You could've fired that gun in the air," he said.

"Yes, I could've," Vazquez said.

"You're just firing at the tree and the officer just happened to show up?" Condon said, incredulously.

"Yes, sir," Vazquez said.

Closing arguments are expected Monday in Platte County District Court, where the trial was moved because of pretrial publicity.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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Its hard to pick up a foreign policy journal or even turn on the TV without encountering someone predicting, recommending or lamenting a new Cold War with Russia, China or both.

This is entirely understandable and even justifiable, if you mean a new period of strategic competition, pressure and geopolitical tension that falls short of all-out war. Such a lower-case cold war is already on display.

The U.S. and our allies are doing nearly everything short of declaring a hot war on Russia for its immoral aggression against Ukraine. Things are not so tense with China, but theres a broad consensus, particularly among Republicans, that containing China to use a Cold War term should become central to American foreign policy. And even many who disagree believe we are entering a new Cold War with China whether we want one or not. After all, sometimes wars, cold or hot, are not wars of choice.

I agree that new cold wars with Russia and China are simultaneously necessary and not necessarily desirable. But I worry that the semantic confusion of the historic Cold War and this new cold war could get us into trouble. George Orwell observed in Politics and the English Language that if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know better.

The Cold War was wholly a creature of its time. Indeed, as Orwell himself observed in his 1945 essay You and the Atom Bomb, our conflict with the Soviet Union was a product of the nuclear age, and he predicted that nuclear weapons would make the kind of war that had just concluded a few months earlier unlikely.

The fear of nuclear war still constrains our actions  and I hope our adversaries  but the differences between the Cold War era and today are profound.

To start, the Cold War was not a time of sustained peace. The Korean and Vietnam wars were part of the Cold War, as were the Soviet invasions of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan.

It was very easy to cut off economic relations with the Soviet Union, because we had so few to begin with. The same holds to a large extent with contemporary Russia, which may be a nuclear superpower but is an economic piker. Its GDP is less than half of Californias (Russias per capita GDP is an eighth of Californias).

Meanwhile, China is the worlds second largest economy and a global manufacturing powerhouse. Any expectation that the U.S. and the international community would sever ties with China over a Taiwan invasion the way they have over Russias invasion of Ukraine seems overly optimistic. China crushed democracy in Hong Kong and is putting Uyghurs in concentration camps, and the international business community has for the most part shrugged.

The Soviets vowed to liberate the world from capitalism, bourgeois democracy and religion. That kind of ideology made it comparatively easy to garner political support for containment yet even then, there was ample domestic and international opposition to Americas anti-communist policies.

Indeed, under God was officially inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance to differentiate America from the godless Communists. When Sen. Homer Ferguson, R-Mich., introduced the legislation, he said, I believe this modification of the pledge is important because it highlights one of the real fundamental differences between the free world and the Communist world, namely belief in God.

No one in the House or Senate spoke in opposition to the change.

For good or ill, it seems implausible anything like that would be possible today. Religion no longer binds the nation the same way and our domestic culture wars whether over COVID-19 pandemic response or school curricula or Vladimir Putin as anti-woke hero do not seem very compatible with a new cold war. And freedom itself is no longer the rallying cry it once was on either the left or the right.

Orwell argued that some phrases come to us like parts of a prefabricated hen-house and end up doing our thinking for us. We may indeed face a new cold war, but we need fresh thinking that doesnt necessarily flow from old phrases like Cold War.

(Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch.)
A woman who fatally shot her boyfriend in January will not be prosecuted, according to a news release from the Smyth County Sheriffs Office.

The release described the woman as a victim, saying that an incident between her and her boyfriend, James McCloud, had become physical at a home in Saltville on January 17 and the woman fired one round from a handgun, striking McCloud.

McCloud, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the release, the investigation revealed that McCloud had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit. In a search warrant seeking ADT security footage from inside the home, SCSO Captain Bill Eller noted that the woman told investigators that McCloud had started drinking on January 15.

The SCSO release went on to say that there was a history of domestic violence between the two in Alabama. According to McClouds obituary he was a Richlands native and recent resident of Newell, Ala.

After being presented with the evidence at the conclusion of the investigation, the Commonwealths Attorneys Office declined prosecution, finding that the evidence supported the girlfriends claim of self-defense, the release said.
The Wytheville Police Department has active arrest warrants for three individuals wanted for three separate incidents: two separate acts of breaking and entering and a two-day shoplifting spree.

According to a WPD press release, each case was investigated by the uniformed patrol division before being turned over to the detective division.

Many hours of investigation, viewing video footage, and sorting through and following up on citizen tips made it possible to place the charges, the release said.

The following people have warrants for their arrest and are wanted by the WPD:

 James Grey Rigney, 50, of Wytheville, is wanted for a breaking and entering that occurred at Rose Cottage School of Art on March 5. He is wanted on charges of felony breaking and entering and two counts of misdemeanor petit larceny. A childrens guitar and a guitar painted as a mermaid were taken.

 Joseph Thomas Manalis, 36, of Wytheville, was captured Friday morning. He was wanted for a breaking and entering that occurred at Lisas School of Performing Arts on Dec. 29. He is wanted on charges of felony breaking and entering and one count of petit larceny.

 James Wallace Stump, 40, of Pulaski County, is wanted for incidents at Walmart and Rural King in Wytheville. He is wanted on charges of two counts of misdemeanor petit larceny from Rural King on Feb. 10 and 11, and one count of felony grand larceny from Walmart on Feb. 11. According to the press release, Stump is also a fugitive from Virginia Probation and Parole and is wanted in multiple jurisdictions.

They Wytheville Police Department would like to thank local citizens and businesses for their cooperation with our detectives with providing information and video surveillance footage.

Anyone with information on these crimes or others, can send tips to wpdtips@wytheville.org or call the WPD non-emergency phone line at 276-223-3300 and ask to speak with a detective.
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More than two dozen citations were handed out March 5 during the states five-hour opening to recreationally catch smelt along the Cowlitz River.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police report 38 citations were issued during 24 contacts with people taking more than the states catch limit for the recreational smelt fishery in Cowlitz County.

People could catch the thin, silvery fish in handheld dipnets from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 5, along the Cowlitz River shores from the bridge over Highway 432, or Industrial Way, in Longview to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp in Castle Rock.

Officers say they gathered 2,800 pounds of smelt illegally harvested. The amount of confiscated smelt accounts for roughly 1.7% of the total smelt harvested on March 5.

Officers try to donate seized smelt to food banks, shelters, tribal centers and churches, said a Washington State Fish and Wildlife Police spokeswoman. Fish that cant be donated due to health or safety concerns are disposed of to naturally degrade, she added.

Fish and Wildlife says 10 uniform officers on March 5 focused on perpetrators taking more than twice the state-set daily limit, which is 10 pounds and fills about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket.

Police say they were somewhat successful preventing people from filling 5-gallon buckets with multiple peoples catch. The state prevents people from sharing buckets to easily identify what fish belong to what people, the Fish and Wildlife Police spokeswoman said.

Fish and Wildlife reports at least 16,000 anglers dipped for smelt March 5 and more than 166,000 pounds of smelt were harvested. Roughly 75,000 more pounds of smelt were harvested March 5 than during the five-hour fishery in 2021.

Another 2022 fishery?

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife says the 2022 smelt run is expected to be larger than the year before, and staff is monitoring the run to see if another recreational dipping day will open later this season.

March 5 marked the third consecutive year of recreational dipnet fishing in the area. Recreational smelt fishing was banned in 2018 and 2019 due to poor runs.

Columbia River smelt are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to declines in run size in the last decade, which is why recreational fishing is limited to years in which the run size is exceptionally large. Smelt have a range from Long Beach, California, to Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, but the Columbia River has a specific kind of smelt, also called hooligan or eulachon.

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An Oregon man is accused of cyberstalking a Kalama city council member, who in turn is facing charges on suspicion of hacking into the email of another council member.

Charges

Christopher Charles Jensen, 51, of Salem was charged last week in Cowlitz County Court with the gross misdemeanor of harassing Kalama Councilman Mathew Merz over the phone, as well as two felonies: Cyberstalking Merz, 41, of Kalama and possessing a stolen vehicle.

Merz is also facing two felony charges: First-degree computer trespassing and electronic data theft for allegedly hacking into Kalama City Councilman Jon Stanfills City Council email account, where he told police he found proof of misconduct by Stanfill, Kalama Mayor Mike Reuter and Kalama Police Chief Ralph Herrera.

Herrera said Merzs accusations are baseless and not rooted in reality. Reuter echoed the accusations are completely false. Stanfill could not immediately be contacted for comments.

Arraignments

Jensen and Merz had arraignments Thursday in Cowlitz County Superior Court. Merz pleaded not guilty to both of his charges.

Jensens public defender Sean Kelly did not enter a plea, and instead requested a hearing next week to review a mental health evaluation for Jensen.

His thought patterns appear to be disruptive and unpredictable, Kelly said at Thursdays arraignment.

During Jensens arraignment, Jensen said he was a victim in the alleged crimes he is accused of. Merz  also on the virtual courtroom call although his hearing was not held until hours later  interjected by introducing himself as a Kalama city councilman and said he is the man Jensen has been hunting for. Neither man was permitted to speak further during the brief hearing.

Later during Merzs arraignment, Cowlitz County Superior Court Commissioner David Nelson amended a no-contact order filed by Kalama Councilman Stanfill against Merz to allow the men to continue to hold Kalama City Council meetings together. Nelson ordered Merz to only attend meetings online and not contact Stanfill outside of council meetings.

Merz

Accusations Merz made to police in January about Stanfill, Reuter and Herreras alleged government misconduct led to Merzs March 9 arrest, according to police records.

A police report states Merz told Kalama officers on March 8 he logged into Stanfills emails at least twice in January, without permission, and downloaded information. Merz told officers he thought Stanfill, Reuter and Herrera were keeping information from him about Jensen, and improperly conducting official business, according to a police report.

Roughly three months prior to the March 8 meeting with Kalama police, Merz first reported accusations in January of official misconduct by Stanfill, Reuter and Herrera to a Cowlitz County deputy, according to a police report. He also admitted to accessing Stanfills emails without permission and gave copies of those emails to the deputy.

The misconduct Merz referred to included Stanfills emails about a police committee, states the police report, but does not detail the allegations.

Merz told the deputy he guessed Stanfills email password based on his own stock password for council emails.

During Merzs Thursday arraignment, Merz accused Stanfill of committing crimes when referring to the no-contact order that prevents the two from interacting.

Considering, all I have done is criticize the criminal behavior Ive found Mr. Stanfill engaging in, can I still present that to the citizens I represent? Merz asked.

Merzs next hearing is scheduled for April 28 and his trial is set for May 31. Merz was released from Cowlitz County Jail on March 9 on his own personal recognizance without having to pay bail, according to jail staff.

Jensen

Kalama officers arrested Jensen on March 7 for two alleged crimes: possessing a stolen vehicle on March 6 and threatening Merz on Dec. 28.

A Kalama officer allegedly found Jensen on March 6 parked in an orange Kia Soul in the 100 block of Geranium Street in Kalama. The officer confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen out of Marion County, Oregon, and detained Jensen, states a police report.

In December, Merz told police Jensen threatened to kill him over the phone. Merz also showed officers death threats allegedly texted from Jensens phone to Merz. Jensen left a voicemail on Merzs phone stating he would beat Merz up, and an officer said he recognized the voice as Jensen, states a police report.

Jensen was in Cowlitz County Jail as of Thursday afternoon with bail set at $7,500, and his next court hearing is scheduled for March 31.

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Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assault  Longview officers Thursday arrested Dezaray Rose Brittain, 34, of an unknown address, on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Harassment  Longview officers Thursday arrested Ronald Carl Ellis Jr., 49, of Castle Rock, on suspicion of felony harassment, using a weapon to intimidate and first-degree criminal trespass.

Synthetic substance  Longview officers Thursday arrested Keith Allen Kordenat, 49, of Longview, on suspicion of selling or manufacturing a synthetic substance.

Synthetic substance  Longview officers Thursday arrested Amelia Marie Ripkey, 38, of Redwood City, California, on suspicion of selling or manufacturing a synthetic substance.

Burglary

100 block of Wilson Drive, Kalama. Thursday. Report of commercial burglary.

Thefts

5300 block of Mount Solo Road, Longview. Thursday. Report of phone theft.

300 block of Oregon Way, Longview. Thursday.

Vehicle prowls

South Fifth Avenue and Mill Street, Kelso. Thursday.

100 block of Industrial Way, Longview. Thursday. Report of lunchbox and other items taken from vehicle.

300 block of Lolo Trail Avenue, Woodland. Thursday.

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The Kelso City Council meeting Tuesday night was dominated by discussions about the Kelso Police Department.

Police Chief Darr Kirk presented the departments annual report to the City Council near the beginning of the meeting. Kirk ran through some data highlights of the police actions from last year and showed videos about the benefits of the K9 team and police drones.

Numerically, the biggest change from previous years was the number of warrants. The warrants issued by Kelso police jumped from 695 in 2020 to 1,240 last year. Kirk said the rise was because warrants for the same people were entered multiple times, as jails were unable to continually hold them.

The largest declines in the data were from traffic stops and infractions which Kirk said was because officers were too busy with other calls and issues to respond to the lower-priority vehicle issues. Kirk said the department was budgeted to support 28 officers, but had between 22 and 24 employees for the majority of the year.

Kelsos number of criminal offenses for both traffic and non-traffic crimes declined in 2021. Both types of offenses had jumped higher in 2020 but last years numbers ended up slightly lower than they had been in 2019.

While answering questions from councilmembers, Kirk said the department would like to start a cadet program later this year. The cadet program brings in young adults between the ages of 16 and 21 to spend time with the police department. Cadets gain some policing experience before they officially enter the workforce and the department helps to support their education.

Kirk said that the Longview Police Departments cadet program had helped with their local recruitment for future officers.

It creates some loyalty to our agency, where we might be able to cover some of these positions that are going to go in the next five years, Kirk said.

Many members of the council were excited about the potential of the cadet program. Lisa Alexander said her granddaughter would be interested in becoming a cadet in Kelso if the program started in the near future.

Longtime sergeant retires

The first order of business for Tuesdays council meeting was the retirement ceremony for Sergeant Kirk Wiper. Wiper had been with the Kelso Police Department since 1986. He was the officer that Chief Kirk rode along with when he visited Kelso while enrolled in the training academy.

Wiper thanked the council for the work they and their predecessors had done to support the departments work and internal culture over the years.

It started long before I was hired, but its been enhanced and approved and carried on, Wiper said.

In addition to training Kelso officers in how to handle their weapons, Wiper worked as the lead firearm instructor for the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission for several years.

The city council unanimously approved an ordinance amending the body camera policy for the Kelso Police Department. The amendments included a 2% pay increase for the police chief and captain, related to the extra work needed to implement the cameras, and a uniform allowance for the chief and captain that is equal to the other officers.

In other business, the council declared a 2000 Ford pickup truck as surplus property and supported councilman Brian Woods plan to serve as the local city representative on the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board.

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10ft wide Asteroid struck the Earth above Iceland last Friday on March 11. People reported heard a boom and saw a flash of light.

A small asteroid, half the size of a Giraffe, was spotted just two hours before it struck the Earth above Iceland last Friday on March 11. The space rock, dubbed as Asteroid 2022 EB5, was believed to have struck our planet's atmosphere, however, it didnt cause any damage as it was just 10ft (3 metres) wide. The asteroid was first spotted by Astronomer Krisztian Sarneczky on March 11 with a telescope at the Piszkesteto observatory in Hungary. He shared the info to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, which tracks near-Earth objects and comets. While the calculations showed the space rock had a 100% chance of impact north of Iceland, however, there was no danger as an asteroid of such a small size will burn up in our planet's atmosphere. Through the NASA asteroid watch, the US space agency also keeps a constant eye on the skies for near Earth objects that may pose potential danger to Earth. However, if these asteroids are too small, they can escape detection till they are almost near our planet.

Some people in Iceland reported hearing a boom and witnessing a flash of light around the time 2022 EB5 hit the Earth's atmosphere at 11 miles per second (18.5 km/s) between Greenland and Norway. However, no evidence of the asteroid has been found.

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As per the European Space Agency, space rock 2022 EB5 became the fifth asteroid to be discovered before hitting Earth since 2008. The first asteroid was 2008 TC3 of a nearly 80-tonne, 13ft (4.1 metre) wide object that exploded above the Nubian Desert in Sudan in October 2008.

Meanwhile, ESA had suggested that 2022 EB5 can release energy equivalent to a magnitude 4.0 earthquake. As detection systems get more advanced, it might be possible to warn people when a small asteroid is inbound. The last major asteroid impact was seen in 2013 when a small asteroid around 60ft (19 metres) wide exploded over Chelyabinsk in Russia. The space rock hit the Earth's atmosphere with energy estimated to be equivalent to 500,000 tonnes of TNT. It caused widespread damage and injured more than 1,600 people.
A startups donation of controversial tech to Ukraine could also help distract from its wider problems.

Perhaps the saying, There is no such thing as bad publicity, holds true for controversial technology companies. New York-based Clearview AI has been criticized by privacy advocates for years because of the way it has scraped billions of images from social-media networks to build a search engine for faces used by police departments. It was the subject of a New York Times investigation, and several countries including France and Canada have banned the company.

Still, at least 600 law-enforcement agencies have used its technology, and this week Clearview revealed it had offered the government of Ukraine free access to its facial network to help stave off the Russian invasion.

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Ukraines Ministry of Defense has not said how it will use the technology, according to Reuters, which first reported on the news citing Clearview Chief Executive Officer Hoan Ton-That as its main source. Ukraines government has also not confirmed that it was using Clearview, but Reuters reported that its soldiers could potentially use the technology to weed out Russian operatives at checkpoints. Out of Clearviews database of 10 billion faces, more than 2 billion come from Russias most popular social-media network, Vkontakte, allowing the company to theoretically match many Russian faces to their social profile.

Ukraine has received several offers of help from the tech world, including from Elon Musk and satellite operator MDA Ltd. But Clearviews offer to Ukraine has, rightly, caused outrage among privacy campaigners. Chief among the concerns is that facial recognition makes mistakes. It is bad enough when that leads police to make a wrongful arrest. In a war zone, there are even greater life and death consequences.

There is evidence that frontline users of facial recognition often dont operate it properly. A British study of how London police used the tech to spot suspected criminals on the streets found that officers suffered from deference to the algorithm. They tended to agree, in other words, with whatever the software suggested. Even if police werent sure if a face caught on camera matched a mugshot, they would assume the match must be accurate if the software said so. And while other officers sometimes challenged their colleagues if they disagreed with the face-matching software, they never challenged those who agreed with it, according to the 2019 study.

It is hard to imagine soldiers taking a more nuanced approach in the midst of pressure to protect cities under siege, and with little or no training on how to use such software.

Clearviews offer ultimately has the feel of a publicity stunt. The company denies this, saying, Hoan Ton-That saw the suffering in Ukraine, and like people and companies from across the U.S. and the world, wanted to do what he could to help.

In something of a positive Streisand effect, Clearviews controversial reputation inexplicably seems to have kept it in business. Even as its data-collection tactics have led to take-down notices from Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook, Alphabet Inc.s Google and Twitter Inc., the company has forged ahead as if nothing was the matter. It recently told investors that its facial database would swell tenfold to 100 billion images, and that it was expanding into the private sector, for instance, by helping to verify gig-economy workers, according to a report in the Washington Post.

But Clearviews legal issues arent going away. The company has been plagued by lawsuits in federal courts and in several states, including in New York, California, Illinois and Virginia, and it faces a wave of regulatory probes in the U.K. France, Italy and several other European countries.

Clearview said legal problems were normal in the startup world. Just like Airbnb, Uber, PayPal and other iconic innovative startups, there is a major legal component to [our] operations early on, a Clearview spokeswoman said. She added that privacy laws across the world tended to support exemptions for law enforcement and national security.

War has a tendency to bring out both generosity and opportunism. Clearviews offer to Ukraine may well fall into the latter camp. More broadly, though, it is dangerous to bring facial-recognition technology into a war zone, all the more if doing so becomes the norm.

Clearview similarly got its police business off the ground by offering free trials to law enforcement employees.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. She previously reported for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes and is the author of 'We Are Anonymous.'
Britains P&O Ferries slashed 800 jobs on a Zoom call in an effort to cut losses, triggering protests that confined ships to port and disrupted English Channel crossings as fired workers refused to leave their posts.

Britains P&O Ferries slashed 800 jobs on a Zoom call in an effort to cut losses, triggering protests that confined ships to port and disrupted English Channel crossings as fired workers refused to leave their posts.

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The Dover-based companys vessels will be primarily crewed by an outside agency going forward, ferry workers were told Thursday via video, after P&O Ferries called its ships into port. Their union told them to stay put.

I am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect, on the grounds of redundancy, an official said in the clip, posted by the BBC. Your final day of employment is today.

The standoff that arose from the surprise move threatens continuity on vital trade links between the U.K., Ireland and continental Europe. While thousands of trucks depend on P&O Ferries each day to make the crossing, the company said it couldnt continue without major changes after Brexit and Covid-19 battered its finances.

In its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business, the company said in a statement. Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.

Hours to Days

P&O Ferries annual losses of 100 million pounds ($131 million) were covered by its owners, the Dubai ports operator DP World.

The cuts, representing more than a quarter of its workforce, disrupted services even before a formal announcement was made. The move caught the union and the government by surprise. Operations wont resume for the next few days, the company said.

Junior Transport Minister Robert Courts later clarified the time frame, saying P&Os service would be interrupted for approximately a week to 10 days while they locate new crew.

Security guards at the Port of Dover were trying to board vessels with handcuffs to remove crew, the RMT Union said.

We are seeking urgent legal action and are again calling for the government to take action to stop what is fast turning into one of the most shameful acts in the history of British industrial relations, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said in a statement.

Workers aboard the Pride of Hull, docked on the Humber estuary in northeast England, were refusing to leave while their replacements waited to board, lawmaker Karl Turner said on Twitter.

Speaking to the House of Commons, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the service halt was causing disruption at ports including Dover.

The way this was communicated to staff was not right, said Max Blain, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons official spokesman, speaking to reporters on Thursday. We are in very urgent discussions with P&O.

Employers generally must consult with staff at least 45 days before making dismissals this large, said Adam Pennington, a lawyer at Stephensons.

P&O may have failed to comply with its legal obligation to consult with those members of staff before making them redundant, Pennington said. This could give rise to claims including unfair dismissal and protective award, he said.

P&O Ferries is the largest operator on the Short Straits between the coast of Kent and Northern France, and is a major operator in the North Sea and Irish Sea. It has 2,200 employees remaining, it said in the statement. The company said it will offer redundant staff enhanced severance packages because of the short notice.

While the Dover-Calais route is a crucial trade and travel link to continental Europe for the U.K., its also served by other ferry operators, including Denmark-based DFDS A/S and Dublin-based Irish Ferries Ltd. Trucks and cars can also travel between France and the U.K. via the Channel Tunnel, operated by Getlink SE.

DFDS is providing alternative service for passengers with valid P&O tickets, Courts told lawmakers in Parliament.

Reports of workers being given zero notice and escorted off their ships with immediate effect while being told cheaper alternatives would take up their roles shows the insensitive way in which P&O have approached this issue, Courts said, a point I have made crystal clear to P&O management when I spoke to them earlier this afternoon.

Long History

P&O Ferries traces its history to 1837 and a company that carried post between the Iberian Peninsula and London by steamer.

The firm established its English Channel and Irish Sea ferry services in the 1960s. It was bought by DP World, the ports operator owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates, in 2006 as part of a $6.8 billion takeover of ports operator Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co.

P&O Ferries today carries more than 10 million passengers and 2 million units of freight every year, linking Great Britain with France, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Belgium.\
Haryana dentist Nitesh Chopra thanks his Apple Watch for saving his life after an ECG reading made him visit the doctor.

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away! But in the case of Nitesh Chopra, a dentist from Haryana, his Apple Watch made him visit the doctor just in time to save his life. Chopra, who is only 33 years old, assumed that his weakness may be a temporary stint but after taking an ECG reading on his wifes Apple Watch, which he had gifted her, he was worried and immediately sought medical help. And because he trusted his little watch, he lives to tell us the story.

Nitesh had been feeling weak for a few days, which led his wife Neha Nagal to take a general reading of his health stats on her Apple Watch Series 6. The ECG reading showed signs of Afib alert, which led the couple ponder. Nonetheless, they ignored the initial few readings but after his last reading on March 12 when watch showed the same results, they deduced to visit the doctor. And that is when they found out that Niteshs main coronary artery was completely blocked.

Apple Watch saves Haryana dentist

We ignored the readings thinking a young man in his early 30s can't have such arrhythmia. But our last reading on Saturday, March 12, was consistent with the previous alerts and made us believe that something was not right with my heart health and we should rush to the hospital, says Nitesh when we asked about whether he believed the first few readings, or was skeptical of the data.

Once we reached the hospital, the doctor did an ECG and we even compared it with the monitor. When I was in CCU, my wife and I were continuously comparing our Apple Watch reading with the monitor and they were in sync, he adds.

The hospital then immediately admitted Nitesh and the same evening, they performed an angiography that showed his main coronary artery was completely blocked. He was eventually treated and Nitesh lived on, but the doctor said he had visited the hospital in time.

His wife Neha later wrote a note to Apple CEO Tim Cook, thanking him for the role his product played in saving her husbands life. We reached the hospital only because of the technology provided by you and my husband is now fine and healthy. I wish you lots of love and happiness and thank you for giving my husband his life, she wrote.

On asking whether his perception on the Apple Watch had changed, Nitesh says,  I feel blessed. I can't express my gratitude. Initially I also used Apple Watch as a fashion accessory and to check time and my step count and could not imagine that one day it will save my life. I was quite ignorant towards it as I didnt think I would need it and thought it was just a marketing strategy. But my thoughts are different now after it saved my life. This device with all its health features and can save lives of others too.

Notess story joins the countless other stories from across the world when an Apple Watch played a crucial role is saving someones life. On asking what feature would he like to see next on the Apple Watch, Nitesh says, In the future I hope it can check body temperature too!
Today, Samsung just announced 2022's edition of the Galaxy A series - namely the Galaxy A33, Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A73. To read all of the tech specs, features, price and availability, check out below what these devices are offering.

For starters, the Galaxy A33, A53 and A73 have quite a few things in common. One of the features (and probably the highlight) is having only 8GB of RAM but a new virtual RAM function as well that gives an option with 2GB, 4GB and 6GB. Besides that, all three have a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast-charging technology but no charging adapter will be given.

Both the Galaxy A33 and A53 have the same new Exynos 1280 chipset but only the Galaxy A73 features a Snapdragon 778 5G chipset. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A53 and A73 also sport the same 256GB of storage and a 120Hz refresh rate Super AMOLED display (measuring 6.5-inch and 6.7-inch respectively).

Speaking of the Galaxy A53 and A73, the 32MP front camera is located on the Infinity O panel and the quad rear camera isn't that different. Besides the 64MP and 108MP primary camera, there's a 12MP ultrawide sensor as well as a 5MP sensor for the macro and bokeh lens.

As for the Galaxy A33, it's expected to come with lesser tech specs such as a 128GB of storage, a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display, a 90Hz refresh rate, a 13MP front camera and finally, a quad rear camera consisting of a 48MP (main) + 8MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (bokeh) + 5MP (macro) setup. Other notable features include expandable storage of up to 1TB, a Gorilla Glass 5 rated display, IP67 water and dust resistance and no 3.5mm audio jack.

Coming in five colour selections for the masses (Awesome Black, White, Blue, Peach and Mint), Samsung promises three years of Android upgrades. Below are the official local prices for each model:

Samsung Galaxy A33 - RM1,499

Samsung Galaxy A53 - RM1,849

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Graphical abstract. Credit: Nature Catalysis (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00751-0

Engineers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a promising electrochemical system to convert emissions from chemical and power plants into useful products while addressing climate change.

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science assistant professor Jingjie Wu and his students used a two-step cascade reaction to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide and then into ethylene, a chemical used in everything from food packaging to tires.

"The world is in a transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbon dioxide is primarily emitted from energy and chemical industries. We convert carbon dioxide into ethylene to reduce the carbon footprint." Wu said. "The research idea is inspired by the basic principle of the plug flow reactor. We borrowed the reactor design principle in our segmented electrodes design for the two-stage conversion."

The study was published in the journal Nature Catalysis in collaboration with the University of California Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate Tianyu Zhang, one of the study's lead authors, led a similar study last year that examined ways to convert carbon dioxide into methane that could be used as rocket fuel for Martian exploration.

"The significance of the two-stage conversion is that we can increase the ethylene selectivity and productivity at the same time with the low-cost strategy," Zhang said. "This process can be applied to various reactions because the electrode structure is general and simple."

Selectivity means isolating the desired compounds. Productivity is the amount of ethylene the reactor can produce.

"We're selectively reducing carbon emissions into something considered valuable because of its many downstream applications," Zhang said.

UC chemical engineers are developing new processes to convert carbon dioxide into useful products using tandem electrodes. Credit: Jingjie Wu/UC

Applications include a variety of industries from steel and cement plants to the oil and gas industry, he said.

"In the future, we can use this technique to reduce carbon emissions and make a profit from it. So, reducing carbon emissions will not be a costly process anymore," he said.

Ethylene has been called "the world's most important chemical." It's used in a range of plastics from water bottles to PVC pipe, textiles and rubber found in tires and insulation.

Professor Wu said the chemical they produce is known as "green ethylene," because it is created from renewable sources.

"Ideally we can remove greenhouse gas from the environment while simultaneously making fuels and chemicals," Wu said. "Power plants and ethylene plants emit a lot of carbon dioxide. Our goal is to capture the carbon dioxide and convert it to ethylene using electrochemical conversion."

So far, the process requires more energy than it produces in ethylene. By using tandem electrodes, UC engineers were able to boost productivity and selectivity, both of which are key indicators toward making the process commercially attractive to industry, Wu said.

There are huge environmental advantages to containing and converting greenhouse gases, Wu said.

"It's being pushed by the government. In the future, we'll need sustainable development so we'll need to convert carbon dioxide," he said.

And Wu said copper isn't necessarily the best catalyst for this reaction, so industry experts have likely alternatives that could boost productivity and efficiency even more.

"Our system is very general, but you can use preferred catalysts," Wu said. "But even with commercial copper we were able to more than double the performance. With an even better catalyst, we could solve the economic issue."

Wu last year applied for patents for their design.

Zhang said the system will take some time to become economical. But already they have made tremendous strides, he said.

"The technology has improved a lot in 10 years. So in the next 10 years, I'm optimistic we'll see similar advances. This is a game changer," Zhang said.

Explore further Carbon dioxide reactor makes Martian fuel

More information: Tianyu Zhang et al, Highly selective and productive reduction of carbon dioxide to multicarbon products via in situ CO management using segmented tandem electrodes, Nature Catalysis (2022). Journal information: Nature Catalysis Tianyu Zhang et al, Highly selective and productive reduction of carbon dioxide to multicarbon products via in situ CO management using segmented tandem electrodes,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00751-0
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan poses for photos in front of the 1915 Canakkale Bridge, in Canakkale, western Turkey, Friday, March 18, 2022. The bridge links the Asian side of Turkey with European side over Dardanelles Strait. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum also attended the opening ceremony. Credit: Turkish Presidency via AP

The president of Turkey, South Korea's prime minister and other officials inaugurated a massive suspension bridge Friday over the Dardanelles Strait that connects the European and Asian shores of the key waterway.

With a a 2,023-meter (6,637 feet) span between its towers, the "1915 Canakkale Bridge" becomes the world's longest suspension bridge, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

It connects the town of Gelibolu, located in the European side of Turkey's northwestern province of Canakkale, with the town of Lapseki on the Asian side. The bridge allows travelers to cross the Dardanelleswhich connects the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmarain just six minutes compared to the previous 1 1/2 hours by ferry, the president said.

"Turkey has overtaken Japan, which has the longest bridge in the world in terms of the midspan, and has taken the first place," Erdogan said during the inauguration ceremony.

The inauguration was timed to coincide with the 107th anniversary of Turkey's World War I naval victory over a joint British and French fleet attacking the Dardanelles. The failure of the naval campaign led to the ill-fated 1915 landings on the Gallipoli peninsula by the allies led by Britain and France along with troops from Australia and New Zealand.

"The 1915 Canakkale Bridge will leave this history of collision and conflict behind and will be a bridge between East and West, starting a new era of peace and prosperity," South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during the ceremony, in reference to the Canakkale region's historic battlefields.

The bridge, which was build by a consortium of Turkish and South Korean companies, will also strengthen the bonds between Turkey and South Korea, Kim said.

The "1915 Canakkale Bridge" cost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) to build but Turkey will save 415 million euros ($458 million) per year from a reduction of fuel consumption and carbon emissions, Erdogan said. He announced the bridge's toll will be 200 Turkish lira ($13.60).

The bridge's architecture is awash with symbolism. It's central span of 2,023 meters (6,637 feet) is in recognition of the year 2023, when Turkey celebrates the centenary of the founding of the Turkish Republic following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Erdogan said. The height of the bridge's towers is 318 meters (1,043 feet)a nod to March 18 (or 3/18) when Turkey commemorates soldiers killed during the Gallipoli sea and land battles.

The World War I Gallipoli campaign aimed to secure a naval route from the Mediterranean Sea to Istanbul through the Dardanelles, and take the Ottoman Empire out of the war. The April 25, 1915 Gallipoli landings marked the start of a fierce battle that lasted for eight months. Around 44,000 Allied troops and 86,000 Ottoman soldiers died in the fighting.

Explore further Diving into history: Gallipoli shipwrecks open to public

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


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KYIV, Ukraine  Its hard to think of a more unlikely combo than war zones and cinnamon buns.

Yet there the buns are in the display cabinet of Khlibar, a high-end bakery and coffee shop (whose name means Bread Bar) in Podil, the hipster neighborhood in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Slathered in cream cheese frosting, they sit on trays laden with poppy seed pastries, cherry rolls, cheese braids and delicately constructed puff pastry cakes with a bouffant of icing.

Theres no lack of takers, with dozens of patrons lining up in a chaotic queue outside or sitting on high chairs inside for a sugar-and-caffeine fix despite the drumbeat of Russian artillery and rockets blasting on Kyivs outskirts.

Its one sign of the new normal here, as the citys remaining residents readjust to a life under conflict.

The two columns of Russian armor thrusting toward the city spurred Kyiv to go on a war footing. Checkpoints with toy-jack-shaped anti-tank obstacles, concrete slabs and sandbags, manned by jittery soldiers and reservists, sprouted on every major street and boulevard. People lined up in front of supermarkets and pharmacies to stock up on supplies before hurrying home. Most other establishments were shuttered as possibly half of the citys 3 million people fled to safer areas.

But three weeks into the invasion, some of those still here have begun to make a change.

Khilbar closed at the start of the war but opened again three days later, first by offering loaves of bread to help alleviate supply shortages, said Sergei Chernets, 42, an entrepreneur who owns four businesses, including Khlibar.

We saw a problem. People even got into fights over bread, so there was a need. We opened up, and the lines were around the block, he said.

Still, people were clamoring for something more. When people came for bread, they kept asking, Where are the pastries? We want pastries! Chernets said. So we decided to do that, too.

He already had summoned his three bakers back to work; luckily, the rest of his staff was still in Kyiv, including two pastry chefs. He called them all back in.

Every day were getting more customers, Chernets said, adding that up until this week his was the only pastry shop operating in Podil. Before, it was just customers from Podil. Now were getting them from the center and the other districts.

For Victor Mozhovi, a cameraman with local public broadcaster Suspilne who was sitting down at a table and demolishing an eclair with a colleague, places such as Khilbar are a marker of what now seems a time long ago.

I drive in the car, we travel around and I see my office. ... I remember work. Its just been a few weeks but it feels like a year, he said.

Mozhovi had volunteered as a military videographer in 2015, covering the war against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine for a year before returning to civilian life. Now he was back in a war again.

A lot of people cant understand this transformation. But I lived this in 2015 and already know war is war, he said, running his fork through the eclair, which split open with a soft, cream-filled crunch. Its important to have this, just to feel Im still living the life I used to have a few weeks ago.

A stroll on a sunny spring day through Podil, which once was the heart of Kyivs industrial trade, shows others also trying to recapture a hint of their pre-invasion lifestyle.

A few blocks away from Khilbar, Valentina Yermak, 61, sat in a chair in the Koko Nailroom while Theresa Voloshyna trained her discerning eye on a lock of Yermaks hair, her hands a constant whirl around her customers head.

I want to feel like a woman. I dont want my looks to go down, and I want to stay elegant, Yermak said. She gestured to Voloshyna. And Theresa is excellent.

The salon reopened Tuesday after the proprietor, whos now in Bulgaria, received many inquiries for appointments on her Instagram page. Voloshyna, 54, was one of three staff members still in Kyiv  all the rest have gone to Germany, to Poland, Lviv, everywhere, she said. The building she lives in has 300 units, but only 15 are still occupied.

She initially volunteered with a group preparing medicines and other supplies, but there was less need for her there at the moment, so she decided to go back to work. But that, too, was a form of assistance, she found.

People are really happy when they see us. They pay for us to come to their house by taxi, and pay us extra. Its relaxing for them to see us, she said, adding that she was getting calls for something as simple as a manicure touch-up.

Voloshyna, a fashionable woman with a blond pixie cut and an air of steely competence, said that although curfew meant the salon couldnt be open for the 12 hours daily as it was before the war, there were still plenty of walk-ins.

People tell us: Because I see you open the salon, we have hope, she said, adding that only one appointment was scheduled that day but that seven people had come in so far.

The reopenings are more than just a psychological boost. The war in Ukraine is having a cataclysmic effect on the countrys finances: This week, the International Monetary Fund said the Ukrainian economy is set to contract by 10%  and possibly by as much as 35%, if the war drags on for a long time. Though the IMF has announced rapid-financing measures for Ukraine, they cant stop the devastation already wrought on the countrys infrastructure, which is thought to be in the $100 billion range.

That prompted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week  in between speeches to lawmakers around the world pleading for more military aid  to ease regulations and tax requirements for Ukrainian businesses, scrapping value-added tax and taxes on profit and levying only a single corporate tax of 2% on large companies. For smaller businesses, tax payments would be voluntary, Zelenskyy said.

That is, if you can  pay. You cant  no questions asked, he said in a video address this week.

Inspections also would be canceled for all businesses in order to allow everyone to work normally, in order to enable cities to return to life, in order to allow life to continue in all places where there is no fighting, he said, adding that the economic suppression of Ukraine was one of Russias war aims.

There is only one condition: You must ensure the normal operation of your business within the framework of Ukrainian legislation, Zelenskyy said.

Some entrepreneurs are also reorienting their businesses toward helping the government. Michael Chobanian, a Bitcoin maven who started Kuna, a cryptocurrency exchange, already had transferred much of his staff from the company office in Podil to the Balkan nation of Montenegro ahead of the hostilities. He, too, has left Ukraine but is leveraging his exchange to help the government in Kyiv convert the estimated $100 million in crypto donations received since the war began to U.S. dollars or other currencies.

Weve already managed some of that, and now were trying to scale up because a lot of donations are coming in through Bitcoin, he said. My job is to make sure everything is going as fast as possible with minimum commissions and cost.

Zelenskyys message to reopen also has resonated with Kyivites engaged in more quotidian businesses. Thats why Maria Liashenko, a 31-year-old barista ensconced amid the accoutrements of a Buck Coffee Roasters branch in Podil, reopened the store Tuesday.

I did it for the guests, for the economy. It needs to be supported. Our military needs to get paid, she said. This is my country and I will not surrender it.
For some seniors, tax season can be trying and fraught with challenges.

But with awareness and some simple preparation, it doesnt have to be.

MaryAnn Bolton, a former Central Community College business accounting instructor of more than 35 years and Grand Island coordinator for AARP, which holds free tax preparation services at Grand Island Public Library on Mondays and Thursdays, shared some helpful tips.

Getting Ready

Seniors should be aware of where their finances are coming from and especially how many 1099-R forms they should be receiving.

They need to know what theyre pulling out of one pension fund, or, is it broken into three parts? Because it helps when they go to prepare their returns that they have all of their 1099-Rs, Bolton said.

Be aware that some companies or investors will only have forms available online.

Clients in these cases will have to go online to indicate if they want a paper form sent to them by mail.

Some seniors are not on the internet. Asking them to do that is really challenging for them, Bolton said. They need to make sure they understand and communicate with their company or the investor theyre working with on whether they want a paper form or if theyre able to locate it and print it out for themselves.

Some services are free, but not everything.

There is no charge for printing off 1099-Rs, just as there is no charge for AARP to electronically file tax returns.

Some advertised online tax services, though, may have hidden fees and charges.

A lot of the ones they see advertised will say file free with us, but some of those only give a very limited time to do that, Bolton said. Still others lure them in because federal filing might be free, but to file with the state its $20 or $30 and it adds up.

She added, They need to be aware to read all the way through the print.

Some software and even some firms limit the number of 1099-Rs to only two.

If they are a couple, they could easily have two just between them. A lot of times if theyve worked for different companies during their lifetimes theyll easily have more than two, said Bolton. If theyre going to use those online services for free, they need to read through the fine print.

A great fear for seniors is having to pay taxes.

It is a legitimate fear, as many seniors have limited income and live on tight budgets.

Seniors dont always have to file a tax return, though, said AARP volunteer Nelva McNeff.

McNeff has been an accountant for more than 50 years, starting with the family farm, and has worked with AARP for more than 20 years.

Lots of times, the only reason they have to file taxes, if theyre not getting that Nebraska refund back, is to get back what theyve taken out from their 401Ks or IRAs or whatever, she said. If they quit taking it out, a lot of people wouldnt even have to file.

Theres also an element of guilt, too, McNeff said.

Theyre all so worried about making sure they pay their due and theyre horrified if they dont have to file taxes, but a lot of them do not have to really if they dont have something coming back, said McNeff.

New Opportunities

Earned income credit is available for seniors this year.

Before this year, if you were over 65, you did not get (EIC) if you worked, said Bolton. They still need to stay within the income range, but most seniors with part-time jobs are going to be in the lower income and it makes them so theyre now able to get (EIC) also.

She added, With several of our clients, it has doubled what their refund was previously. Thats how impactful it is.

A change from the Nebraska Legislature: for anyone who paid real estate taxes to their school district, they can get back 25%, said McNeff.

A lot of seniors have homestead exemption, so it doesnt apply as much to them maybe as it does to some under 65, but its a really neat thing the Legislature has done, and it has helped a lot of people, she said. People who wouldnt have to file taxes otherwise can file Nebraska and get this money back if they had to pay real estate taxes.

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Grand Island Tourism is preparing an outdoor Sculpture Walk exhibit as a year-round attraction in the downtown Railside District.

The nonprofit agency asked the Community Redevelopment Authority to help support the program with a $10,000 grant.

The project has an overall fundraising goal of $24,000.

Grand Island Tourism already has committed $2,500 to the program, said Executive Director Brad Mellema.

The CRA grant will assist with the acquisition of stone bases and sign holders to display the sculptures.

The program will bring 10 original sculptures to downtown Grand Island to foster tourism.

The sculptures will be displayed year-round in various locations throughout Railside.

All of the works are designed to be displayed outside, Mellema said.

The program is in collaboration with Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska, a joint effort between the Railside Business Improvement District and Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau.

Norfolk is getting ready for its fourth Sculpture Walk. This would be Grand Islands first year for the program.

Theyre displayed for a year on public sidewalks, Mellema told CRA members Wednesday. Theyre designed where people can walk and move through the area and enjoy the artwork. Theres descriptions of the artwork and even QR codes on them where you can get information about them.

He added, (Grand Island Tourism) believes in this and we feel like this is certainly a tourism-based thing.

Conversations are ongoing with the city to have the artwork on public sidewalks.

Its a piece-by-piece basis, based upon the type of artwork that might be presented for a particular place, Mellema said. If theres a concern for safety or traffic or whatever, the city would have the opportunity to help in final placement of those types of things.

A committee of Norfolk and Grand Island representatives received nearly 40 submissions for artworks for this years event, Mellema reported.

All types of art were there, he said. Its a little like music, some youre going to love, like rock and roll, and others might be (something else). Its a really nice mix.

Sculpture installation is planned for the first week in May.

The first year will boast 10 original pieces, but Mellema hopes that will grow with each year.

The program will be supported by continued fundraising and boosted by artwork sales.

Dana Jelinek, Grand Island Tourism program and outreach manager, added that if the sculptures are sold the pieces still will remain in place through the year.

It is a needed attraction for Grand Island, Jelinek said.

There are a lot of people coming through (who) stayed over the weekend and theyre looking for something to do in Grand Island and theres not a lot to do on Mondays because of staffing shortages, she said. This would be wonderful to have, something they can travel around town, and this could be a jumping off point because theyre already in our office.

Mellema imagines it could become a statewide feature, as well.

If we have Norfolk and Grand Island, we hope in the future some neighboring communities such as Hastings or Kearney or North Platte would be involved and becomes a regional tourism draw, he said.

Regional Planner Chad Nabity said the request is in line with CRAs other grants project funding.

The speakers for downtown, the Railside speakers we did last year, its a similar type thing, he said. Its an enhancement to the blighted and substandard area. Its helping to minimize those conditions to encourage people to use the space.

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Events unfolding in Ukraine today remind of the inexorable conclusion of an ancient Greek tragedy. After the Russian intervention, Ukraine will never be the same and Europe will never be the same. Indeed, the world will never be the same.

During the performance of an ancient Greek tragedy there was a chorus of voices on stage that spoke directly to the audience. The chorus intoned warnings, messages, and moral sentiments. The chorus element in Greek theater was prevalent in the 5th century BCE and thus not unfamiliar to the Western world.

A tragic end for Ukraine has been predicted by an array of Western diplomats and academic experts over the past several decades.

US policymakers ignored this modern-day chorus of American diplomats and academic experts who warned not to provoke Russia by exacerbating the situation in Ukraine. Provocation could result in Russian military intervention, they said.

Since the end of the Warsaw Pact military alliance in July 1991, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union later that year, the situation in Ukraine has been a key issue in European security. This is due to its geographic location, complex historical relationship to Russia, and role in Western Cold War geopolitics.

Who gave warnings?

Foremost was the warning of US Ambassador George Kennan in 1998. Kennan was the architect of the US post World War II containment policy and was the leading US expert on Russia. He commented on the consequences of NATO eastern expansion which he opposed. I think it is the beginning of the new cold war, he said. I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever.

American international relations scholars such as Professor John Mearsheimer pointed out the consequences of provoking Russia. In 2014, Mearsheimer wrote, the United States and its European allies share most of the responsibility for this crisis.

In a recent interview, Mearsheimer was more specific. I think all the trouble in this case really started in April, 2008, at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, where afterward NATO issued a statement that said Ukraine and Georgia would become part of NATO, he said. The Russians made it unequivocally clear at the time that they viewed this as an existential threat, and they drew a line in the sand. Nevertheless, what has happened with the passage of time is that we have moved forward to include Ukraine in the West to make Ukraine a Western bulwark on Russias border.

Photo taken on Feb. 12, 2020 shows the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo/Xinhua)

Back in 2014, another US political scientist when commenting for a Chinese publication had similar words about the Euromaidan coup detat sponsored by the US and western allies.

Will the Wests regime change policy in Ukraine lead to a stable democracy or to war? he said. Although the dust has yet to settle, some observers say the country could become a failed state and that military intervention cannot be ruled out. Washington and the European Union have objectives which are geopolitical and aimed squarely against Russia in Cold War fashion. US strategic objectives are not new. The Clinton Administration made no secret about its policy to recruit Ukraine into NATO. Then secretary of state Madeleine Albright was obsessive on the matter. Inspiration for US policies involving Ukraines Orange Revolution and other color revolutions relies in part on the strategic thought of Zbigniew Brzezinski, a mentor of Madeleine Albright.

The political scientist warned of Russian intervention and the fascist and anti-Semitic roots of the post coup regime.

The present regime did not come to power through democratic means, he said. The regime change came from a putsch backed by militant extremist movements such as Right Sector and neo-fascist parties such as Svoboda. The world witnessed the Euromaidan putsch on the internet and on television with glimpses of swastika-like symbols and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Whether a new and democratic constitutional order can be established is an open question. The country may descend into chaos. Russia may be forced to intervene.

Those words were part of my opinions published in Global Times years ago.

Ukraine regime change and consequences

The influential Polish-born Brzezinski was well known for his visceral anti-Russian geopolitical views. Color revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia held special geopolitical significance for Brzezinski and his protege Madeleine Albright for their strategic implications on the Eurasian landmass to contain Russia.

Back in the day, the denials of President Barack Obama and national security advisor Susan Rice that US policy in Ukraine was not geopolitical rang false. Rice herself is a protege of Madeleine Albright espousing humanitarian interventionism and regime change policies which find neoconservative allies.

As in the Obama administration, Susan Rice is in the White House today along with Victoria Nuland who was a prime advocate of the Euromaidan coup in Ukraine. It is ironic that Nulands family has roots in Ukraine.

Western media is oriented in support of regime change policies and thus it is not surprising that analysis of the Ukraine situation has been less than objective for many years.

Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2022 shows a view of the Russian-Belarusian exercises, dubbed Allied Resolve 2022, in Belarus. (Photo/Xinhua)

Failure of the Minsk Process

The Minsk Process was supposed to be a diplomatic way to resolve the Ukraine situation. It was supported in 2015 by UN Resolution 2202. The package of proposals for resolving issues in Ukraine included a call for a new constitutional dispensation that would allow for autonomy in the eastern Russian speaking area. The regime in Kiev has rejected the Minsk process for eight years. It ended with the Russian intervention.

It is no secret to anyone in Europe that the disintegrating situation of violence and economic collapse in Ukraine threatens European peace and stability, this writer said at the time. The situation presently is on a hair trigger and key European leaders do not want the US to create more problems for European security through unnecessary confrontation with Russia and through military support of the fascist regime in Ukraine. Europes challenge is to help effectively manage the situation in spite of Washington and its partner the UK.

Special status for minority cultural areas is not something new in the world. For example, there is French-speaking Quebec in Canada and German-speaking Alto Adige in Italy. In fact, the Italian foreign minister himself at the time made a constructive suggestion that Italys example could be applied to Ukraine.

Diplomacy is inevitable

At the conclusion of hostilities in Ukraine, diplomacy is inevitable. But it will be complicated and complex because Europe will not be the same. Effective diplomacy based on a model such as the Europe wide Congress of Vienna of 1815 comes to mind. It took several years to work out all the details. Similarly, a recent model is the Helsinki Accords of 1975 designed to improve East-West relations.

To promote Europe-wide peace and development new security architecture is essential. Diplomacy to that end must follow the present crisis in Ukraine.





The article reflects the authors opinions, and not necessarily the views of China Focus.
Two representatives of an Arizona company called AniCell BioTech are at Fonner Park this week to see if they can stop the spread of an equine herpes virus.

Brandon Ames, the founder and owner of AniCell, and veterinarian Dr. Tammi Epp are injecting a little more than 100 horses with an equine regenerative product derived from amniotic tissue.

The goal is to stop the spread of the virus and shorten the lifecycle of its effects, said Ames, who lives in Chandler, Ariz.

Fonner Parks Barn R, which holds about 110 horses, is under a 21-day quarantine. Ames and Epp, who arrived in Grand Island on Tuesday, are giving subcutaneous injections to all of those horses as part of a clinical trial. Epp, who lives in Ottumwa, Iowa, is the research veterinarian for AniCell BioTech.

The presence of the EHV-1 virus was confirmed last week among horses in Fonners Barn R.

Ames and Epp are in Grand Island at the behest of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to see if we cant get this thing under control, Ames said.

Epp said there are many types of equine herpes, but EHV-1 is the major one that causes the equine virus myeloencephalopathy.

The virus at Fonner Park is a new strain of EHV-1.

Viruses mutate, Epp said, when explaining the new strain. This one is a nonneuropathic strain, she said.

Fonner Park is not alone in dealing with the EHV-1 infection. Its an epidemic across the United States, Ames said.

Last month, all 2,000 horses were quarantined at a jumping competition in Thermal, Calif. And its running rampant through California right now, Ames said.

EHV-1 was confirmed this month at a racetrack in Bensalem, Pa., which is near Philadelphia.

Ames said his company was invited to Fonner Park by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state of Nebraska.

One of the horse owners having his animals treated Thursday was Bruce Sanderson of Claremont, S.D.

Even though hes not making any money at Fonner right now, Sanderson has an understanding attitude. Theres nothing you can do about it, Sanderson said. The trainer-owner, who arrived at Fonner Park on Jan. 9, has 14 horses in Barn R.

This week, his daughter, Elizabeth, is with him, while shes on spring break from high school in Langford, S.D.

All of the owners in Barn R have been understanding, Ames said. Its the best backstretch hes ever worked on.

Theyre just good people, he said.

Ames and Epp will remain in Grand Island for a week or two. They will monitor the treatment to make sure its having the desired effect and to collect data.

Using the data, the USDA and other regulatory officials will determine he effectiveness of what weve done here, Epp said.

If things go well with the AniCell treatment, it would mean that the horses could get back to racing a whole lot quicker and not have to be under this quarantine, Ames said.

Ames said some donations have been received locally, but for the most part, his company is footing the bill. The goal of the project is to see if the treatment will make a difference. If so, we can move forward from there, he said.

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Local officials hope recently struck national opioid settlement agreements will help curb local opioid addictions.

While how much settlement funds each local government will receive has not been announced, Williamson County States Attorney Brandon Zanotti suspects it will drastically help expand local treatment resources.

The settlement will help Southern Illinois first and foremost in the area of treatment, Zanotti said in an interview with The Southern. Illinois has historically ranked very high in terms of disparity regarding the need for treatment versus the resources available for treatment of opioid addiction. The amounts coming into our region can and should be used for expanding treatment resources. I am hopeful this expanded amount of treatment options will help turn the tide in both rising addiction rates and recidivism in the criminal justice system.

Illinois is set to receive approximately $76 million out of the $26 billion in the national opioid settlement agreement between three major pharmaceutical distributors and one manufacture, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office.

Funds in the second largest multistate agreement in U.S. history with more than 4,000 claims over the past three years of negotiations are set to be distributed to the 52 states and territories that joined the agreement, according to an Illinois Attorney General news release.

The money is meant to help curb the ongoing opioid crisis and provide wide-ranging support.

The ongoing deficits, devastation to families and communities throughout the state is why we are all here collectively, Raoul said during a recent press conference. We've been working collaboratively on holding the entities accountable for their roles and creating and contributing to the opioid epidemic that has impacted every state and every corner of every state, in the country and in the territories for that matter.

Several states attorneys commented on the agreement during the press conference.

Kane County States Attorney Jamie Mosser said the funds could be used for tackling mental health.

We recognize that the majority of the people that come before us do so because of addiction issues, mental health issues, or lack of resources, Mosser said. What we've also found is that we do not have enough money to put into our resources to get the people out of the cycle of addiction that has been caused because of the opiate problem. This settlement will pave the way for Kane County, as well as all of the other communities to begin to break that cycle and to save lives.

Talking about opioid addiction and the resources out there, like so many states attorneys did, while working towards the settlement is one of the best things people can do to fight the stigma, said Andy Greer, business development coordinator for the Gateway Foundation in Carbondale.

I think awareness in breaking the stigma of silence are some of the greatest things we can do, Greer told The Southern. A lot of times we want to be quiet because we don't want to hurt certain individuals feelings, or we don't want to rock the boat, or maybe we're not sure if what we're seeing is correct. What I call the big three  denial, rationalization and minimization  really keep an individual in a continual pattern of use. So, the ability to have discussions honestly and sincerely about what's going on is whats going to be one of the biggest things we can do to help break the cycle.

The settlement agreement includes the nations three major pharmaceutical distributors  Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen  and one manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson.

Per the agreement Johnson & Johnson is required to stop selling opioids, not fund or provide grants to third parties for promoting opioids, not lobby on activities related to opioids, and hare clinical trial data under the Yale University Open Data Access Project.

According to the settlement, Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen will also establish a centralized independent clearinghouse to provide all three distributors and state regulators with data and analytics about where drugs are going and how often. The goal is to eliminate deficiencies in the current systems used by distributors.

The distributors must also use data-driven systems to detect suspicious opioid orders from customer pharmacies; terminate customer pharmacies abilities to receive shipments, and report those companies to state regulators, when they show certain signs of diversion; prohibit shipping of and report suspicious opioid orders; prohibit sales staff from influencing decisions related to identifying suspicious opioid orders; and require senior corporate officials to engage in regular oversight of anti-diversion efforts.

In Illinois, 94 out of the 102 counties have signed onto the agreement, and 104 out of 113 municipalities are eligible to receive direct distributions from the settlements they have joined, according to the news release.

The expansiveness of the opioid crisis is best illustrated through how many participated in the litigation.

DuPage County States Attorney Bob Berlin commented on the scale of the issue at the press conference.

Every community has experienced enormous health care costs, treatment costs, rising crime rates, escalated social issues and increased loss of productivity in the workplace as a result of the opioid epidemic, Berlin said.

In DuPage County, between 2015 and 2020, we experienced a 120% increase in opioid-related deaths.

Roughly 55% of the money Illinois receives will go to the Illinois Remediation Fund to be used around the state for prevention and recovery from opioid addiction, according to the allocation agreement.

Of the funds, 20% will be distributed to the state of Illinois, with one fourth being used to support remediation programs.

Fifteen percent will be distributed to the Local Governmental Recovery Fund and will then be allocated to municipalities and townships who were participating local governments.

The remining 10% will also go to the Local Governmental Recovery Fund to be distributed to counties who are participating local governments.

Local Illinois governments are expected to start seeing their funds as early as April.

While local government are waiting to receive funds, Greer wanted to remind the public that addiction can look different from person to person.

Addiction has a multitude of faces, signs and symptoms, Greer said. You may have three people sitting in a doctor's waiting room all diagnosed with the flu, but they may present themselves in various ways. One may have a fever, one may have a terrible headache, one may be vomiting all over the place. They each have the same root cause, but how it's presented varies. Doesn't matter where you grew up, or what your education level was, the flu doesn't care. Addiction works the same way. Addiction comes in and affects families of all types, all shapes and sizes, all socio-economic backgrounds.

Opioid addiction is also a community crisis rather than an individual crisis, and it will take the community together to curb it, Zanotti said.

Combatting this crisis requires a community effort, he said. Everyone can play a part in fighting the opioid epidemic. One simple thing people can do is safely dispose prescribed medications no longer needed. Theft from family or friends medicine cabinets result in countless illegal opioids out in the streets and into the wrong hands. I also tell folks to educate themselves about the crisis and addiction in general. The more we all know about the crisis will in turn help us eradicate it. Knowing signs of addiction could help save a life.

Anyone who believes they or a loved one may be addicted to opioids can seek help by calling the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 833-2FINDHELP, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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CARBONDALE  The morning of March 6 passed quietly at Faner Hall on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus.

A Sunday during spring break, no professors were meandering toward their offices and the structures cold concrete walls echoed only silence in the absence of students making their way to class.

While the quiet and tranquility was unusual for one of the campus largest buildings, it might have been most appropriate.

That Sunday marked 50 years since one of the universitys most tragic and seemingly forgotten incidents  a construction accident that cost an 18-year-old freshman his life.

The tunnel

Monday, March 6, 1972 was a typical day late winter day in Carbondale. Mild temperatures with gusty winds greeted SIU students on their way to morning classes.

For many, their trek would include passage through one of the biggest building projects the campus had ever seen: Construction of a new humanities and social services building that would eventually be named Faner Hall.

Work on the planned 225,000 square-foot, $13 million building had been underway for about a year. With the 914-foot-long project stretching across many of the sidewalks connecting the eastern potions of campus with the buildings to the west, a pedestrian tunnel made from plywood allowed students and others to walk through the construction site as laborers toiled and cranes towered overhead. The environment made some, such as student Janet Burger Vaught, nervous.

Vaught was a 20-year-old sophomore who often walked through the tunnel to get to her student-work job in a building near Morris Library.

It was the only way to get from Parkinson and the other buildings over there to the west side of campus without going way around, so it was a very heavily-traveled sidewalk, she recalled. I remember that tunnel. Im not good with distances, but it was probably 30 or 40 feet and didnt really cover the entire sidewalk where the construction was. I dont remember that tunnel being very sturdy.

She recalls being in awe of the 110-ton crane lifting loads of lumber and other supplies overhead with its huge boom.

I had never seen major construction like that and when you are young and naive, you cant help but look up at it all. I was awestruck by how magnificent and huge it was and just like nothing youve ever seen before, she said.

She also said she remembers being a little nervous every time she walked through the tunnel and under that crane.

The accident

It was a path she took about 9:15 or 9:30 a.m. on March 6, 1972, just like she did at least three days a week. Some students used the passageway daily; it was a popular path, especially in-between classes.

Just minutes after Vaught passed through, the same crane that gave her such awe and anxiety was being used to lift and swing 1,000 pounds of lumber to the upper levels of the construction site.

But something went wrong.

Published reports indicate that as the crane was lifting the load, the cab of the machine began to tilt forward. The crane operator, a 30-year veteran of construction, began pulling back on the boom to regain balance when the 250-foot boom buckled and collapsed.

The massive high-intensity tubular-steel structure fell across a well-traveled walkway through the site, snapping power lines and finally crashing to the sidewalk into a crowd of students southeast of Morris Library," according to The Daily Egyptian, SIUs student newspaper that documented the incident.

The boom knocked wood from the wooden walkway, striking and injuring two female students. As the boom crashed to the sidewalk, it struck Michael G. Hayes, a freshman from Schaumburg, on the neck and shoulder before pinning him to the sidewalk as he was approaching the tunnel from the west. He was pronounced dead at a Carbondale hospital.

I cant remember if I heard the sirens first or if someone told us of the accident, Vaught recalled of the moments after, but I do remember thinking that it was probably the wind which caused something. We didnt know how many were injured that early on. I just remember all of the sirens. We didnt realize the magnitude of it until about an hour later when it hit me how it was a near-miss for me.

Witnesses told the student newspaper that they believed the load was falling too fast. The Southern Illinoisan at the time reported weather observations from the morning showed wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour at the Southern Illinois Airport about 10 a.m.

The newspaper also reported that the same crane was involved in an accident six years prior during construction of the Brush Towers residence halls.

SIU President David R. Derge, who was in Chicago for a Board of Higher Education Meeting, immediately expressed condolences to Hayes family and promised a full investigation into the incident. The walkway was closed and construction on the building was halted for about a week.

Hayes was remembered by classmates as a really great guy." His parents flew to Carbondale shortly after the accident. Hayes obituary said he was the son of Gregory and Joann Hayes. It listed no siblings.

An extensive search by The Southern could not locate family members or any of Hayes' college roommates for comment.

'Shattered by the news'

Larry Richardson, a former SIU student, said he also remembers the day of the accident. Richardson was working at Carbondales WCIL when reports of the collapse came into the radio station.

An otherwise quiet morning was shattered by the news, Richardson said. It took some time to get the doctors to confirm Michaels death as they waited for SIU to contact his family.

Recently, Richardson sent an email to Jennifer Jones-Hall, current dean of students, asking about a remembrance of Hayes death. He also sent a note to The Southern Illinoisan inquiring about the lack of a memorial.

He said he received a prompt reply from Jones-Hall that she didnt know of the accident.

Current SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane and College of Liberal Arts Dean Andrew Balkansky both told The Southern that they we unaware of the accident as well.

Richardson said he is surprised at the lack of a memorial. He suggested that the university name the plaza in front of Faner Hall in Hayes honor, place a plaque in the area or even establish a scholarship.

I know that other faculty and students have died, but this tragedy was directly connected to the school; its almost that Michael died in the mission of the university. I dont know that there is another incident in the history of SIU like that, he said.

Longtime SIU faculty member John Jackson said he remembers the accident, too.

That crane was a formidable thing, because it had to be more than three stories. There was the wooden tunnel and people thought it would have been a safe space. Its one of those things Ive never forgot because I walked through that very area so many times, Jackson said.

A county coroners inquest found the incident to be an accident. Preliminary searches of newspaper coverage and available online resources do not turn up records of any insurance settlements or lawsuits related to Hayes death.

Finished ... and then forgotten

Construction resumed about a week after the accident, this time with no pedestrian tunnel and a larger fenced-off area around the site. To the best of his memory, Richardson said there was not any sort of on-campus memorial for Hayes. He said he feels the campus just wanted to move on.

I think there was a lot going on at that time, maybe, he recalled. This was after the riots and there had been so much turmoil for so long. Plus, Faner Hall was controversial.

Vaught said the accident was the talk of the town for a while, but added if there was any sort of remembrance, she does not recall it.

If there was, I know that I would not have gone. I dont want to say I was traumatized, but it hit home and I dont know if emotionally, I would have want to put myself through that, she said, as she began to tear up during a recent interview.

When the building finally was officially dedicated on April 9, 1975, 300 dignitaries and guests heard SIU President Warren Brandt call the building a statement to the importance of the liberal arts to the life of this university.

Speakers recognized the buildings namesake for his contributions to the university. Newspaper coverage of the dedication makes no mention of Hayes death  although The Southern reported in one report that the accident was included in a time capsule placed behind the buildings commemorative plaque which simply reads Faner Hall  1971.

That plaque is still present. What is missing, Richardson believes, is some sort of tribute to Hayes.

I was back on campus several years ago and had a wonderful time in a flood of memories, Richardson, who now lives in Rochester, New York, said. I looked for some plaque or something in his memory and I couldnt find one. I made it a point to raise the profile of the incident when it had been 50 years, he said.

Richardson also urged that something be done in Hayes memory at Faner Hall.

Its not too late to acknowledge that this is sacred ground, he said.

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Originally known as the humanities and social services building, the structure came to be known as Faner Hall in honor of Robert Faner, a respected professor who taught English at SIU for 37 years.

He died of a heart attack sitting in his office in 1967. His office was in a temporary building on the site of the current structure which bears his name.

The building was first occupied in January 1974, home to a variety of academic departments, mostly in the liberal arts. It had been needed for years, as the university had outgrown former military barracks and temporary buildings.

Plans for Faner in the late 1960s called for initial construction of only two sections, The Southern reported in a special April 6, 1975 feature about the buildings dedication. Tentative long-range plans, since scrapped because of enrollment drops and reduction of faculty and staff, included eventual addition of a fourth section which would have extended the building all the way to Woody Hall on the extreme north end of campus.

The newspaper shared about plans for the building:

Then, in June 1969 the oldest building on campus, Old Main, burned to the ground, The Southern reported. Former SIU President Delyte W. Morris acted quickly. The university, which lost space for three academic departments, the University Museum and 30 classrooms in the fire, immediately declared replacement cost would be $5 million. Within weeks after the fire, approval for the third section of Faner was obtained to replace space lost in Old Main.

The building has always been controversial, just based upon the way it looked. Designed in a style known as Brutalist by architect Robert Geddes, the concrete structure has drawn ire for its design.

Mitch Jordan, a 2010 history graduate wrote about Faner Hall for Legacy, an SIU history publication. He said he always wondered about the building.

It always stood out to me as something very different than the rest of the campus. Its just a giant concrete slab in the build of campus, he said.

In his paper, Jordan said the building has always been considered an eyesore, but explained that Faner fits with the architectural and design styles of the 1970s.

The building also has been the source of on-going myths and misnomers, many debunked by a Daily Egyptian feature in 1999. The article debunked belief that the building was designed to be riot-proof and that it was impossible to get from one end of the structure to the other via interior hallways.

The building was designed long before the University ever had a problem with civil disorder. The hallways and stairways are narrow not for crowd control but to conserve classroom space, the DE reported.

Jordan said even during construction, the building was criticized.

The building had been given nicknames such as the 'aircraft carrier' and the 'concrete zeppelin,' neither of which belongs in the middle of a rural college campus, he wrote.

He added the building was finished one year behind schedule.

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CHICAGO - In a scathing ruling that was to send Jussie Smollett to jail for the first few months of his probation sentence, Cook County Judge James Linn last week told the convicted actor that sometimes the hammer of justice has to fall.

Less than a week later, an Illinois appellate court lifted Linns hammer back up  at least partially. Smollett walked out of custody Wednesday evening after two appeals court judges agreed his 150-day jail sentence should be put on hold while his appeal is pending.

That decision, however, applied only to Smolletts jail sentence, which Linn had ordered would begin immediately, perhaps anticipating the appeal move and ensuring Smollett spend at least some days behind bars. The actor still must serve the 30-month probation term while his case makes its way through the higher courts, and he is still on the hook to pay more than $120,000 in restitution, according to his legal team.

The city sought $130,106 in restitution from Smollett to recoup the cost of overtime for police investigating the case. Smollett already forfeited his $10,000 bond to the city in 2019.

The conditions of Smolletts probation are relatively lenient. He can travel without restriction and may report by phone instead of showing up in person, Linn said last week.

Meanwhile, the restitution money is not due for 30 months, according to his defense team, and the appeals process may well have run its course before then. In general, appeals can take months if not years to fully resolve, especially if efforts are made to take them beyond the appellate level to the state Supreme Court.

In comments to reporters outside the jail after Smolletts release, defense attorneys said they were eager to launch their appeal in earnest.

In the coming months, the higher court could read and consider briefings from both sides, and may request to hear oral arguments before making a decision. Smollett will stay free at least until then.

We have real, definitive issues for appeal, and thats why (the appellate court) made the decision that they made, attorney Tamara Walker told reporters.

A jury convicted Smollett late last year on low-level felony charges alleging he lied to police after staging a phony hate crime attack on himself. He was sentenced at a dramatic hearing last week, which ended with Smollett loudly proclaiming his innocence and raising his fist in the air as he was led into custody.

The one-page order issued by the Illinois Appellate Court stated that Smollett was to be released from Cook County Jail after signing a $150,000 recognizance bond, which would not require him to post any money.

The three-judge panel was split 2-1, with Justices Thomas Hoffman and Joy Cunningham agreeing to grant the motion. The only explanation offered in the order was that Smollett has never been convicted of a violent offense and would have completed his sentence of incarceration well before his appeal is decided.

In dissent, Justice Maureen Connors wrote only that she would deny this motion.

Smolletts case has an unusually complicated history, meaning there are many potential arguments to explore on appeal.

Wednesday night outside the jail, Smolletts attorneys focused largely on an argument that Smolletts second prosecution violated his rights against double jeopardy.

In this country, you cannot punish a person twice, and while everyone was focused on the sensationalism surrounding this case, people were not focused on the constitutionality of the prosecution, attorney Nenye Uche said. It is unconstitutional to charge someone twice.

Smollett was initially charged by the Cook County states attorneys office in February 2019. However, the 16-count indictment was dismissed without notice the next month, in exchange for Smolletts agreement to forfeit his $10,000 bond money and in acknowledgment of community service he had performed.

The abrupt dismissal in such a high-profile case led to great confusion and proved to be fertile ground for conspiracy theories. At the request of a former appellate judge, a special prosecutor was appointed to determine if Smollett should be charged again and investigate whether there was any wrongdoing in Cook County prosecutors handling of the case.

The entirety of the first prosecution was invalid, Judge Michael Toomin ruled, since States Attorney Kim Foxx had not properly recused herself from the first proceedings.

Special prosecutor Dan Webb brought Smollett up on new charges in early 2020. Foxx has defended her offices handling of the case and has been critical of Smolletts sentence.

Smolletts team has already tried to get Smolletts second case thrown out on double-jeopardy grounds. Legal experts have speculated that the argument would have little chance of success; double-jeopardy protections generally only kick in once there is a guilty plea or a trial has begun. And Toomins ruling voided the entire first prosecution start to finish.

However, Smolletts attorneys have recently stated that the $10,000 Smollett paid in his first case qualifies as punishment, and any further punishment on top of that would violate his rights.

Potentially complicating the matter: There was no judges order concretely defining the $10,000 as a fine or restitution, and Smolletts prior legal team in 2019 denied that any quid pro quo deal was made with prosecutors, saying charges were dropped outright and Smollett voluntarily gave up the money simply so he could move on with his life.

Smolletts attorneys have also recently argued that the initial dismissal of charges amounted to an immunity deal, or a contract with the state that the second prosecution violated.

Attorneys said Wednesday night they were hopeful that the higher court would focus on the legal issues, not the media firestorm or the potential politics of the high-profile case.

There is no room for politics in our court system, and our appellate courts in this great state do not play politics, Uche told reporters.

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And, just like that Crab Orchard Lake is back to normal pool.

The 6,965-acre lake was dropped about five feet last summer to allow for repair work on a spillway that was constructed in 1938. Southern Illinois residents were assured last summer that the lake would be back to normal pool by spring.

A late-winter 2.5-inch rain made that a reality.

The lake came up approximately five feet with that one rain, said Neil Vincent, the Visitor Services Direction at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. It was a lot quicker than most people would have thought, that one big rain would have filled it up.

Earlier rains had put the project slightly behind schedule, but the 2.5-inch shower earlier this month made the delays irrelevant.

Basically, the dam has been completed since about the first of the year, but then we were working on two boat ramps, Vincent said. We redid the boat ramp at Prairie Creek and we put a houseboat ramp in at Playport. We wanted to keep the water down to put in those boat ramps.

Officially, all the work is done and has been completed.

Vincent said past history showed that the lake would be back to normal pool by early spring. He cited a brief drawdown in 1989-90. Fish and Wildlife records from that period expressed concerns about the lake returning to normal pool in a timely fashion.

There was a comment that one good rain filled it back to normal, he said. Thats pretty much what happened here. We were anticipating if we had the work done by the first of March, we were a little bit over because a couple of rains set us back, it went a little bit longer, but March 9 the work is done and the lake is full. We didnt anticipate the lake being full until April.

The low lake levels allowed fisheries and waterfowl biologists to study the lake and do some work to restore aquatic plants to the shoreline in some areas. Early indications are the entire project was a success. However, it could take a year or two to determine the effects of the drawdown.

It was nothing but good things, Vincent said. They were able to look at some of these areas where they had concerns. The spawning areas, that kind of answered their questions about seeing some of these gravel beds. He (fisheries biologist Luke Nelson) was able to go out and put out more structures for spawning. It turned out pretty good. It gave us a good idea what can do in the future.

We were tickled not only with what we planted, but all the natural stuff. They were able to plant several of those water willows. It looks like most of them have already started developing roots.

Fishing was improving rapidly before the rains re-filled the lake. Vincent said he hasnt talked to anglers since the lake returned to pool.

Thats the thing, theyre hoping to see how this spring fishing season, if its going to turn on, he said. Were waiting for that first big fishing tournament to see how they will do. These effects should last a couple three years until we see what is going on.

The work completed during the past winter may result in future drawdowns.

We havent given up the idea of doing a partial draw down of a couple feet every couple years, Vincent said. Theyre eager to see how everything works, to see if it could be a new management tool.

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Orangeburg Democratic state Rep. Jerry Govan announced Friday he is running for South Carolina superintendent of education.

This is not a sad time but an exciting time, Govan said during an announcement at the Statehouse in Columbia. There are so many challenges unique to the state that we must address. Ive done what Ive needed to do at the General Assembly, but now its time to take it to the next level.

Govan has spent nearly 30 years serving in the legislature. He currently sits on the Education and Public Works Committee.

Govan has also served as Orangeburg Countys attendance supervisor, dropout prevention coordinator and a parent educator. He graduated from South Carolina State University.

This was not an easy decision, particularly due to the circumstances that have seen a dramatic and unforeseen change in House District 95, an area I proudly served. I want to embrace service to others as we make the transition from one door to the next and work to serve the state as the new superintendent of education.

In 2014, Govan entered the race for superintendent of education race but lost in the Democratic primary. He says this run will be different.

Were not getting in at the tail end, Govan said. The people see what we started talking about back then in terms of importance of making education a priority. I want to guarantee every child a high-quality education and consider the future. My parents did not have a high school diploma but stressed the importance of getting an education.

Govan said legislative redistricting was a major factor in his run but not the only reason he is not seeking re-election to the House of Representatives.

The whole issue of redistricting has caused a stir in my community, Govan said. House District 95 is one of the original districts court-ordered to assure that we would have minority representation. To have this district dismantled and reassigned has caused a lot of dismay in Orangeburg County; however we must support it moving forward.

Much of the Greater Orangeburg area in Govans District 95 is now in District 90, represented by Bamberg County Rep. Justin Bamberg. Orangeburg Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter resides in the new District 95 and has filed to run for the House seat.

Reapportionment placed Govan in District 93 represented by Calhoun County Rep. and House Assistant Minority Leader Russell Ott, who joined Govan at the news conference in Columbia. Ott has filed to seek re-election in District 93.

Govans message Friday was to keep politics out of education and focus on the larger task at hand.

Its critical that we talk about issues, Govan said. Im talking about building trust between parents and educators. As public servants, we need to be good listeners and help build that bridge of family engagement. Parents are an important piece of the puzzle. I want to continue keeping students safe in schools and preparing our kids for the future.

Govan quoted a report from a national conference of state legislatures that projected students in America will continue falling behind on a global scale.

Lets take the politics out of education and do right by our children, Govan said.

Govan said he will not officially file to run until Monday. To date, his only announced Democratic opposition is former Anderson 4 Superintendent Gary Burgess.

The Republican field is loaded with contenders looking to succeed Republican Molly Spearman, who said in 2021 she would not seek re-election.

Republicans in the running are: Ellen Weaver, head of the conservative think tank Palmetto Promise Institute and former chairwoman of the states Education Oversight Committee; Cindy Coats, a three-term Charleston County school board member and former board chair; Lexington County educator Kizzi Staley Gibson, who grew up in Orangeburg; Greenville County school board trustee Lynda Leventis-Wells; and Kathy Maness, head of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, S.C.s largest teachers group.

Filing closes March 30.

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Dogs and puppies

 King, a 1-year-old black male Boxer-mix, needs the warm embrace of safety with you (case 0328).

 Cyndi Lou, a 3-year-old black-and-white female Lab-mix, is no Grinch to be around (case 0361).

 Roxie, an 18-month-old tan-and-white female Lab-mix, makes you feel young again (case 0066).

 Ollie, a 1-year-old spotted white-and-black male Lab-mix, will only have eyes for you (case 0542).

 Nosey, 2-year-old tan female Shepherd-mix, needs someone to love just as much as she does (case 0001).

 Bandi, a 4-5 year-old white female Lab-mix, needs love she has never been shown (case 0051).

 Petunia, a 2-3 year-old brindle female Boxer-mix, will cuddle with you all day long (case 0137).

 Diesel, a 14-month-old black male Boston Terrier-mix, is that fire you need in life (case 0242).

 Rust, a 9-month-old black-and-brown male Huskey/Rottweiler-mix, will make you feel brand new (case 0274).

 Ranger, a 10-month-old tan female Jack Russell-mix, is ready for any adventure (case 0271).

 Rex, a 1-year-old brindle male Boxer-mix, is more than the average mans best friend (case 0261).

 Timmy, a 1-year-old tan male Mountain Curr-mix, needs someone to show him a loving touch (case 0159).

 Starlight, a 3-year-old gray female Lab/Boxer mix, will give you all of her love (case 0422).

 Sampson, a 2-year-old black male Boston Terrier-mix, is searching for his Delilah (case 0034).

 Jenny, a 3-month-old black female Lab-mix, will be your partner in crime (case 0279).

 Dick, a 5-month-old gray brindle male Pointer-mix, wants a Batman for his Robin (case 0281).

 Severus, a 4-month-old blck male lab mix, will trade love for treats (case 0018).

 Otto, a 5-month-old brown male Lab/Shar Pei-mix, will trade love for licks (case 0021).

 Smoke, a 11-month-old brindle male Boston Terrier-mix, will light a fire in your heart (case 0023).

 Max, a 6-month-old white-and-orange male Lab-mix, is the best track partner (case 0020).

 Bruce, a 16-month-old black male Lab, will always be there to save the day (case 0028).

 Sawyer, a 2-year-old white-and-orange male Lab-mix, needs a good country girl in his life (case 0026).

 Rambo, an 18-month-old white-and-black male Lab-mix, will go on any adventure with you (case 0014).

 Pugsley, a 4-month-old black male Boston Terrier-mix, needs your love to make sense of his life (case 0033).

 Archer, a 4-year-old tan-and-white male Lab/Pointer-mix, will always point his love in your direction (case 0022).

Cats and kittens

 Penelope, 2-year-old tabby female, will turn your sour in to sweet (case 0331).

 Juliet, a 7-month old black-and-white female tuxedo/magpie-mix, needs a new Romeo (case 0326).

 Carolina, a 1-year-old tabby with white female DSH, makes every day feel like sunshine (case 0416).

 June, an 18-month-old black female Bombay-mix, who makes it feel like summer all year long (case 0178).

 Dotty, a 2-year-old tabby female DSH, will make your heart skip a beat (case 0548).

 Emma, a 10-month-old black-and-white female DSH, will cast a spell over your heart (case 0059).

 Freda, an 11-year-old tri-color female calico, knows cuddles are the best medicine (case 0075).

 Missy, a 7-month-old female tortoise shell, who needs someone classy in her life (case 0229).

 Haley, an 11-month-old female tortoise shell, is out of this world fun (case 0218).

 Cynthia, a 1-year-old female diluted calico, is the best couch surfer (case 0132).

 Raven, a 4-month-old female tabby DSH, will make you feel like your soaring (case 0144).

 Kira, a 3-month-old female tabby DSH, has a way with purrs (case 0184).

 Sunshine, an 18-month-old orange-and-white female tabby DSH, will show brighten your day (case 0185).

 Jasmine, a 1-year-old gray-and-white female Persian-mix, is ready to explore the world with you (case 0134).

 Meow, an 11-month-old female tortoise shell, knows purrs are the way to your heart (case 0260).

 Boxie, an 11-week-old orange female tabby DSH, is tailless and can care less with so much fun (case 0271).

 Wanda, a 4-month-old black-and-white female Persian-mix, makes every day feel like magic (case 0042).

 Princess, a 1-year-old gray female blue Russian, is searching for her knight in shining armor (case 0043).

 Gomez, a 6-month-old black male DSH, needs a Morticia in his life (case 0031).

 Mingo, a 2-year-old grey tabby male Persian-mix, is the handsome gentleman youve been searching for (case 0029).

The Orangeburg SPCA will be limiting the number of people inside its facility at this time. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays. The SPCA is located at 225 Ruf Road and the phone number is 803-536-3918. Check out available adoptions on the internet at orangeburgspca.petfinder.com, the interactive website at www.OrangeburgSPCA.org and Facebook page at Orangeburg SPCA. Email any questions to adopt@orangeburgspca.org.

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(TBTCO) - Thi truong ket thuc thang 4 voi muc giam 8,4%, tro thanh thang giam sau nhat trong vong 2 nam. Hang loat co phieu chiet khau gia cuc sau tuy gay thiet hai rat lon cho nhieu nha au tu, nhung cung se tao co hoi cho cac nha au tu khac.
Wyomings Sen. John Barrasso has called repeatedly for uranium to be included in the federal ban on Russian energy imports. He introduced a bill in the Senate on Wednesday intended to keep Russian uranium out of U.S. reactors.

The succinct bill  it consists of two sentences beneath the header, Prohibition on importation of uranium from the Russian Federation  is also sponsored by Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-WY, Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.

While banning imports of Russian oil, gas and coal is an important step, it cannot be the last, Barrasso said in a Thursday statement. Banning Russian uranium imports will further defund Russias war machine, help revive American uranium production, and increase our national security.

The U.S. generates about 19% of its electricity at nuclear power plants, according to the Energy Information Administration.

In 2020, less than one-sixth of the uranium purchased by U.S. nuclear operators was produced domestically. The country sourced 16% of its imported uranium directly from Russia. Banning just those imports  as this bill would  isnt expected to have a significant impact on the cost or reliability of nuclear power in the U.S.

But according to Ian Lange, an economics professor at the Colorado School of Mines, figuring out where uranium came from quickly gets complicated. Converting uranium ore into the fuel rods used in nuclear reactors is a multi-step process that often takes place across multiple countries.

The former Soviet states have a lot of refining and enrichment equipment, Lange said. Kazakhstan, presumably, is still taking Russian uranium for refinement.

The U.S. obtained 22% of its imported uranium from Kazakhstan and another 8% from Uzbekistan, both former Soviet states, in 2020.

Wyoming, meanwhile, is the top U.S. uranium supplier. But difficulty competing with lower international prices left the domestic uranium industry on a decades-long downward slide. The U.S. produced so little uranium in 2020 that the numbers were, for the first time, not publicly reported. The bills sponsors want to reverse that trend.

Mining groups praised the bill, urging aggressive federal action to boost uranium production.

The domestic uranium industry stands ready to work with U.S. utilities and other Western uranium suppliers to ensure every single domestic reactor will be able to maintain operations as the U.S. economy increasingly relies on clean nuclear power, Scott Melbye, president of industry group Uranium Producers of America and executive vice president of mining company Uranium Energy Corp.

A spokesperson for the Nuclear Energy Institute, a U.S.-based nuclear industry trade association, told the Star-Tribune via email that the group was still reviewing the bill and assessing the potential impacts of fuel disruption on the countrys nuclear fleet, and that it looked forward to working with Congress to bolster the U.S. uranium supply chain.

Speaking at a nominations hearing for the Department of Energys assistant secretary for nuclear energy on Thursday, Barrasso highlighted the limited U.S. ability to enrich the uranium it mines into nuclear fuel.

I intend to introduce legislation to, first, ensure the Department is taking the steps necessary to establish domestic enrichment, and second, make DOE-produced high-assay, low-enriched uranium available, Barrasso said during the hearing.

War highlights uranium worry for the advanced nuclear industry Many next-generation reactors, including the plant proposed for Kemmerer, require a type of fuel that has only one commercial source: Russia.

Russia is currently the only commercial source of the more highly enriched fuel required for advanced reactors, including the one proposed for southwestern Wyoming. TerraPower, the developer behind that project, had originally planned to import fuel from Russia until U.S. companies started making it. Getting there by 2028 seemed, at best, unlikely.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the idea of ending U.S. dependence on Russian uranium imports has gained a lot of momentum. Establishing the necessary enrichment capacity within TerraPowers seven-year timeline is starting to seem possible.

Jeff Navin, director of external affairs for TerraPower, told the Star-Tribune on Thursday that whether or not Congress bans Russian uranium, the company doesnt want to use it.

A few weeks ago, it was not a great option, but it was the only option, he said. But the invasion of Ukraine, by Russia, one, made the Russian option completely untenable. And two, its really started a conversation, both among policymakers in Washington and among the nuclear industry, about the need to get this enrichment capacity up and running as quickly as possible.

Achieving that wont be easy. Itll require company buy-in  a challenge when the earliest advanced reactors are years away from completion  and significant Congressional support. Still, Navin is optimistic.

There is strong bipartisan support, Navin said. Democrats, Republicans, the House, the Senate, the White House, the Department of Energy  everybody recognizes that this is an urgent problem. And were impressed with the way that people are working together to come up with a solution.

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The class sat hunched over, brows furrowed, drawing gingerly on chicken eggs. Sometimes, their hands slipped, causing the tiny canvases to roll across the table.

As they worked, the students were audience to a lesson on Ukrainian history and culture.

First, its Ukraine, not the Ukraine, explained their teacher. The latter dates back to its time as a Soviet state. But Ukraine has been the countrys official name since it gained independence in 1991.

I always wondered why I wanted to say the Ukraine, one student chimed in.

Lisa McDonald, a tutor for the Natrona County School District, teaches workshops on Ukrainian Easter eggs, or pysanky. The folk art uses wax and dye to decorate real eggs with intricate, colorful designs.

Sharing Ukraines history and culture is especially important right now, McDonald, who is Ukrainian, said.

Russia invaded the country Feb. 24. Russian forces have fire upon many Ukrainian cities, especially along its eastern border. More than 3 million people have fled the country.

Ukrainian independence is at the heart of the conflict. Russia says it has a right to police Ukraine because it claims the two countries share one heritage.

But Ukraine and other former Soviet republics each have unique cultures and histories, said McDonald.

All these places are different, she said. Pysanky are her way of showing it.

This week, McDonald is hosting pysanky workshops at ART 321 in Casper to raise money for Ukraine, and help people understand more about the ongoing invasion.

Two final classes take place Sunday, the first at 2 p.m. and the second at 5.

Proceeds from the workshops will go toward humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine led by Caritas, the charity arm of the Catholic Church. Visit Art 321s website for more information.

There are two main steps to making pysanky, said McDonald: writing designs on eggs with beeswax, and dunking them in dye. The wax keeps the dye out, like a reverse stencil, protecting whats underneath.

Imagine making wax stars on a plain white egg, then dying the egg blue. Youd have a blue egg with white stars underneath. Add wax flowers on top of that, and dunk the egg in purple dye, and youd have a purple egg with white stars and blue flowers.

You kind of have to think backwards, said McDonald.

Ukrainians use specialized tools called kistka  essentially, a small funnel with a handle  like wax pens.

Beeswax goes into the funnel, then gets melted over candle flame. It has to be real beeswax, she said. The artificial stuff wont stick to eggshells.

The melted wax gently drizzles out of the other end, onto the eggs, almost like a hot glue gun.

Traditionally, pysanky are decorated with symbols of nature and harvest  like flowers, animals, baskets, crosses and stars  to usher in good fortune.

But they dont all have to be serious. One of the pysanky McDonald brought to a workshop Tuesday had Darth Vader on it  one of her sons creations.

The art form is easy and cheap enough that anyone can do it, McDonald said. Many Ukrainian families, including hers, make pysanky together every year. Kids join in on the fun from an early age.

You sit with the little ones on your lap, and you hold the kistka with them, and you draw on the egg with them, McDonald said.

McDonald told Tuesdays workshop about a traditional fortune-telling game Ukrainian children play with pysanky.

They get together, tap on their eggs, and recite a special saying: tap, tap, tap  whos going to have the best year? Whoevers egg cracks first loses, McDonald said.

Gifting pysanky eggs is also a big part of the tradition. McDonald plans to make one for each of her grandchildren every year until they turn 18.

I put the date on the bottom, and so they can look back to those and remember the good times they had with their Baba Lisa, she said.

All eggs come out beautiful, McDonald said  something she assured Tuesdays students several times.

At first, some werent buying it. One student spoke regretfully of her wobbly line-work. But those worries went away when she saw the finished product: orange swirls and dots, yellow spikes, red spikes and a flower on top.

She was looking at it going, Oh, really? Thats my egg? McDonald said.

At the very end, theres only one thing left to do: get the white and yolk out.

The easiest method is making a tiny hole in the bottom, and sucking it out with a syringe. The old-fashioned way works too, McDonald said. Traditionally, Ukrainians would make two holes, one on either end, and blow the eggs out with their mouths.

Pysanky are fragile, but can last for generations if taken care of properly.

For a time, Ukrainians couldnt make them at all. It was seen as a religious ritual, and the Soviet Union was an atheist regime.

But the Soviets could not stomp out the tradition during their years in power. Now, some Ukrainians see the art form as a sign of resistance as they fight to preserve their independence. Sharing the tradition, McDonald said, helps keep the culture alive.

Ukrainian immigrants in other countries  like McDonalds family, which settled in Canada  helped keep the tradition alive. Now, shes doing the same.

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Beijing cluster linked to overseas mail

08:35, March 18, 2022 By WANG XIAOYU ( China Daily

A house management staffer sprays disinfectants onto delivery packages at a community which has been sealed off after an Omicron case was detected in Beijing's Haidian District on Jan 16, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Article on January case says low temperatures, high elevation might help spread virus via paper

Chinese researchers have found that a COVID-19 cluster detected in Beijing in January involving the Omicron strain was likely caused by contaminated overseas mail, and they called for strengthened monitoring and disinfection of imported mail to curb the risk of infection.

Beijing registered this year's first Omicron case, that of a 26-year-old woman, on Jan 15. Five of her close contacts tested positive in the following seven days, according to an article published in late February on China CDC Weekly, an academic platform established by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Investigations led by disease control and prevention workers in Beijing found that the patient had no travel history outside Beijing and had not come into contact with high-risk groups. However, she sent and received international mail from time to time for work.

One particular packagedelivered from abroad on Jan 7 and received by her on Jan 11tested positive for the virus, despite its outer surface having been disinfected when the parcel arrived in the Chinese capital.

The article said that 12 of the 22 samples collected from the package tested positive. Samples were taken from the parcel's outer surface and inner packaging and papers that were inside.

Some of the positive samples had been taken from areas of the package that had not been touched by the patient, the article said.

"More importantly, genome sequencing showed that the genome of the case matched the samples collected from the mailed documents, which differed from other local strains in China," it said.

It is generally believed that the novel coronavirus survives longer on plastic and stainless steel than on paper. But the article said that low temperatures and high elevation could contribute to the virus's spread via documents.

"Our data emphasized the surveillance and disinfection of imported express cargo in COVID-19 control, especially in certain seasons and regions in China," it said.

Experts have long said there is a risk of virus transmission via the cold chain. Over the past winter, however, several cases were suspected to have been connected to international packages.

Zhang Liubo, chief disinfection expert at the China CDC, said during an earlier interview that as the COVID-19 pandemic is still developing, mail and cargo from overseas are likely contaminated by the virus. Though some viruses will die off during shipping, some could remain infectious in specific circumstances, he said.

Zhang said that high viral load of contaminated contents, cold temperatures in winter and short shipping periods via airfreight could increase the risk of the virus's spread.

As it was the recipient, rather than postal workers, who was found to be infected in some cases, Zhang said more attention should be paid to the virus's transmission ability via the inside of packages.

Precautions encouraged

Postal authorities in Qingdao, Shandong province, suggested on Monday that customers should refrain from buying overseas goods from online shopping platforms or receiving overseas mail.

When receiving or opening such documents or packages, people are advised to wear masks and disposable medical gloves and to keep a distance from postal workers, they said.

Authorities in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, also asked people to receive a nucleic acid test within two days after receiving international mail and to step up personal health monitoring.

Xu Fan, a resident of Beijing, said she still buys overseas goods because some are not sold in brick-and-mortar stores in China and they usually come with large discounts.

However, upon receiving them, she sprays disinfectant all over the packages and leaves them in a corner of her room for about 14 days before opening them.

"I heard that the risk of getting infected via goods is low, but it is better to be safe than sorry," she said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
ADEN, Yemen, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A senior commander of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch was killed in armed confrontations on Friday with the Houthi militia for seizing key areas in the country's oil-rich province of Marib, a military official told Xinhua.

"Ferocious fighting erupted between the Houthi rebels and some fighters belonging to al-Qaida group in the southern parts of Marib during the past several hours," the local military source said on condition of anonymity.

The clashes resulted in the killing of Ibrahim Ali al-Salafi, also known as Ammar al-San'ani, who charged the military affairs of the terrorist group, the source said.

Al-Salafi were killed while fighting beside his supports against the Houthis' continuing military advancement toward Marib, he said.

"A number of long-time strongholds of al-Qaida in Marib were also raided by the Houthi rebel fighters in recent days, sparking a major conflict," he added.

According to Yemeni officials, as the Yemen-based al-Qaida's third in command, al-Salafi's death deals a heavy setback to the terrorist group's apparent attempts to gain ground in the poorest Arab country.

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. 
A federal judge ruled Thursday that the former CFO of Wyoming Catholic College defrauded $14.7 million dollars from a financial firm by faking bank documents.

The partial summary judgment, when a judge decides aspects of the case before trial, comes after criminal charges were filed against Paul McCown in U.S. District Court last week. According to court filings, McCown has agreed to plead guilty to at least some of the seven fraud counts against him in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

WyoFile reported this week that those charges also include allegations that McCown defrauded a COVID-19 relief program and the Wyoming Business Council.

Other charges and the federal lawsuit center on a $15 million loan McCown received from Ria R Squared, a New York-based financial firm, last spring. McCown quickly transferred $10 million to the college as an anonymous donation, the suit states.

According to court filings, $14.7 million of the loan money has since been located and returned to the firm. The rest, court documents say, may still be in the possession of the college, McCowns brother Philip and Jonathan Tonkowich, the colleges vice president of operations, who the suit alleged introduced McCown to R Squared.

After learning of the allegations against him, the college placed McCown on administrative leave in June 2021. The CFO resigned three weeks later.

College Vice President of Advancement Joseph Susanka told the Star-Tribune in July that the situation had been embarrassing and painful for the school, and that it had reviewed its finances and found no other irregularities.

According to court documents, McCown faked bank statements that said he had $750 million in a local bank account to secure the loan. He also provided falsified emails, contact information and letters using the name of a real employee at the bank, the lawsuit states.

The judgment entered Thursday allows R Squared to continue the case to seek punitive damages from McCown, court filings state.

An attorney representing McCown declined to comment Friday. Lawyers for R Squared did not respond to requests for comment.

Editor's note: The headline of an earlier version of this story was missing a word that made the headline confusing. The judge found the ex-CFO defrauded the firm.

Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst.

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WELCOMING THE NEW AG: The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs (AGLA) yesterday welcomed incoming Attorney General Reginald Armour SC. Here, the Attorney General, second from right, is greeted by new Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, second from left, Minister in the AGLA Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal, right, and permanent secretary Natasha Barrow.
A Barrackpore woman returned to her house in the early hours of last Saturday and found an i
The issue of school violence has resurfaced with such an intensity that it has the nations 
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Friday urged the United States not to remove Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) from its foreign terrorist organization blacklist.

"The IRGC is an integral part of the brutal machine of oppression in Iran," the two Israeli leaders said in a joint statement. "The attempt to delist the IRGC ... is an insult," it added.

The statement came amid media reports that the United States was weighing delisting the IRGC as a step to resolve issues concerning the Vienna talks on the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal, which were nearing an agreement but halted again days ago.

"We believe that the US will not abandon its closest allies in exchange for empty promises," the statement continued.

Seeing Iran as its arch-foe, Israel has been a vocal opponent of a nuclear deal with Iran. 
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has united Western Europe.

The unity of western European countries in political and military support, despite Putin's threats and war, is encouraging. Many Europeans believe, that the continent will be better prepared to withstand security threats.

Who's next?

The representative of the European Defense Ministry asks a very reasonable question: "If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, who will be next?". The security issue is particularly relevant in the Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden and Finland. The fate of these three countries is closely related to the events in Ukraine. They are also in the focus because of their unique connection to Europe and Russia.

Finland and Norway have common land borders with Russia. Norway is a member of NATO but not a member of the European Union, while Finland and Sweden are the members of the EU, but not the members of NATO. All three countries have historically held a restrained and non-confrontational approach to relations with Russia. In addition, they are also members of the EU's Schengen area, which means, that borders are open between them.

Taking into account events in Ukraine during the last three weeks, there have been a serious rethinking of European security. How can a policy of non-confrontation be pursued, if a massive plot of land with Russia remains open? Nations, that have been neutral so far, have provided weapons to Ukrainians. Countries, that have had deep economic ties with Russia are breaking those ties now.

Read also:
The worst situation is in Mariupol, which has been blocked by the enemy for 16 days.

Russia's war against Ukraine has been going on for 23 days. During this time, the Ukrainian military dealt a devastating blow to the occupiers, destroying a large number of military equipment and killed more than 14,000 personnel. Realizing their inability to fight on land, the russian occupiers are destroying civilians and Ukrainian cities with air bombs and missiles. Some of them the Russians have already led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Mariupol

Mariupol is a city that the occupiers destroyed by 90%. Civilians have been under siege for 16 days. The city has no water, heating, electricity, communications, food and medicine. Russian invaders do not allow humanitarian aid come into the city. Every day Russia drops 50 to 100 bombs in the city, houses, hospitals, maternity hospitals, schools and kindergartens.

On March 16, the occupiers dropped a heavy bomb on the drama theater, where more than thousand people were hiding. Invaders knew that there were mostly women and children. Russia, led by Putin, is committing real terror against the people and the city.

Kyiv region

Settlements in Kyiv region were the first, who suffered from the occupiers. Bucha and Vyshhorod districts are among them. A number of villages, towns and cities were destroyed. Local civilians spent several weeks in basements without water, heating, electricity, communications, medicine and food. Some people have been evacuated, but many of them still remain in the occupied settlements, where the russian occupiers are raping women, killing men, burning homes.

As of March 18, the situation in Kyiv region is as follows:

Bucha district

There is no water, gas, electricity or communication in the Makariv community. The village is under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but under constant enemy fire. In Bucha and Nemishayev communities the enemy dug in. In Borodyanka, Gostomel and Dmytriv communities the movement of the enemy have been recorded. There were fights in Irpin and Gostomel community at night.

Vyshhorod district

In the occupied Ivankivska, Dymerska and Polissya territorial communities there is a humanitarian catastrophe, there is no communication, electricity, food and medicine. The evacuation of people from the occupied Dymer community continues. Slavutych is completely isolated. There is an urgent need for food and medicine.

Sumy region

The battle goes on in Okhtyrka and Sumy districts. In the villages of these districts the occupiers kicked people out of their houses, mocked them, took away food, broke phones and set fire to the houses. All men were taken from some settlements in an unknown direction.

Chernihiv region

The city of Chernihiv has suffered major damage - in most neighborhoods there is no light and water. Cell phone communication has been suspended. Enemy shelling continues. The situation is difficult in suburban villages, where enemies place their military equipment between houses and take away food from people.

Kharkiv region

In Kharkiv region Russian attacks continue. Battles go on in Izium, Dergachiv, Chuguiv directions. The city of Kharkiv suffered devastating destruction. The city of Izyum is almost destroyed.

Luhansk and Donetsk regions

The worst situation is along the entire front line. The occupiers are destroying infrastructure and killing civilians in Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Kreminna, Popasna, Avdiivka, and Marinka.

The occupiers continue to destroy Ukrainian villages, towns and cities with cruise missiles and air bombs, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure.

Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova emphasizes that the Russian occupiers kill at least 5 of our children every day. As of March 18, 109 children had already died due to the Russians invasion.

Read also:
A visit to South Carolinas Lowcountry means more than Palmetto trees and pralines. I should know, after spending the weekends as a grad student driving from one end of the state to the coast for one reason alone: the food. The regions restaurants serve the best briny oysters, bowls of freshly caught shrimp nestled on top of bowls of creamy grits, and, my favorite, she-crab soup. But I shouldnt have to wait for a trip to South Carolina to serve this seafood stew, and neither should you. Heres how to make the Lowcountry classic in your own kitchen.

Where did she-crab soup originate?

This creamy crab chowder is a specialty of Charleston. Scottish settlers brought partan bree, a traditional rice-and-crab bisque, with them when they emigrated in the 1700s. William Deas, chef and butler to Charlestons mayor in the early 1900s, is credited with adding the red-orange roe to the now-famous soup.

What type of crab is in she-crab soup?

Classically, she-crab soup distinguishes itself from other seafood chowders with the combination of crabmeat and crab roe. The roe gives the chowder its traditional orange hue and distinctive briny flavor. Crab roe, or the eggs from the female crab, are only available in the spring, making she-crab soup a seasonal specialty.

Today, crab roe can be difficult (if not impossible) to find because to protect the crab population, you arent allowed to harvest egg-carrying female crabs in many states. But an absence of roe doesnt mean you have to forgo this decadent dish altogether. Make this special soup at home using lump crabmeat. Pull out the biggest clusters of crab for finishing the soup. Add the rest of the crab to a Dutch oven with rich cream, briny clam juice, lemon juice, and a dash of sherry.

What does she-crab soup taste like?

She-crab soup is a luxurious and creamy chowder with an undercurrent of briny crab flavor. If this is your first time trying this type of soup, the flavor is somewhat similar to clam chowder. While clam chowder relies on hearty potatoes and bacon for flavor and heft, she-crab soup is more delicate. The smooth soup is studded with lumps of crabmeat and drizzled with sherry.

She-Crab Soup

Serves 4

1 1/2 cups whole milk or half-and-half

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco, plus more for serving

1 small yellow onion

2 stalks celery

4 cloves garlic

1/2 medium lemon

1 pound lump crabmeat

5 sprigs fresh parsley, for serving (optional)

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice, divided

2 tablespoons dry sherry, plus more for serving

1. Place 1 1/2 cups whole milk or half-and-half, 1 cup heavy cream, and 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce in a large measuring cup or medium bowl and let sit at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

2. Prepare the following, adding each the same medium bowl as you complete it: Grate 1 small yellow onion on the large holes of a box grater (about 1/3 cup). Finely chop 2 celery stalks (about 1 cup). Mince 4 garlic cloves.

3. Prepare the following, keeping each separate as you complete it: Finely grate the zest of 1/2 medium lemon until you have 1/2 teaspoon zest. Gently pick through 1 pound lump crabmeat to remove any shells or cartilage. Reserve 4 ounces (about 1 cup) of the crab for serving. Pick the leaves from 5 fresh parsley sprigs and coarsely chop if desired (1 tablespoon).

4. Melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onion mixture, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Cook until the onion is softened but not browned, about 5 minutes.

5. Add 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour coats the vegetables, is cooked, but not browned, and starts to leave a film on the bottom of the pot, about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup clam juice, and cook, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid evaporates, about 2 1/2 minutes.

6. Add the remaining 3/4 cup clam juice, milk mixture, and crab. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking often, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the lemon zest and 2 tablespoons dry sherry and stir to combine. Taste and season with more kosher salt or white pepper as needed.

7. Divide the reserved 4 ounces crab meat between 4 bowls, then ladle the warm soup on top. Garnish with the parsley and serve with more dry sherry or hot sauce if desired.

Recipe note: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days.

(Patty Catalano is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)

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BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday, with both sides agreeing to promote Belt and Road cooperation.

The two sides should engage in high-quality joint Belt and Road construction, speed up the construction of major projects such as highways, airports and special economic zones, and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as finance and digital economy, Xi said.

Xi noted that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Cambodia relations have withstood tests and grown even more unbreakable.

Facing major global changes and the pandemic, both unseen in a century, China and Cambodia have firmly promoted the building of a community with a shared future, setting an example of forging a new type of international relations, he said.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia free trade agreement should be fully tapped to push bilateral trade to a new level, Xi said.

The Chinese side will import more high-quality agricultural products from Cambodia, carry out more cooperation with Cambodia to improve people's welfare, and implement such projects related to roads and education in rural areas, so as to help develop agriculture in Cambodia and lift farmers out of poverty, he noted.

China will continue to support Cambodia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and explore new models of people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Cambodia against the backdrop of the pandemic.

Xi stressed that China firmly supports the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the regional cooperation architecture, and supports the bloc in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.

China also supports Cambodia in carrying out its duty as the rotating president of ASEAN this year, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to work with Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to push for the continuous development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. 
High gas prices have been frustrating American drivers for months  and now, the war in Ukraine is pushing oil and gas costs into a new gear.

Inflation has become an ongoing financial strain for millions of Americans filling up at the gas station, lined up at a grocery checkout lane, shopping for clothes, bargaining for a car or paying monthly rent.

But gas prices vary widely from state to state because of different taxes and regulations, as well as the local cost of doing business. Take a look for yourself.
Severe storms across the Southeast caused injuries and damage with strong winds, hail and possible tornadoes.

In Escambia County, Alabama, not far from the Gulf Coast, Sheriff Heath Jackson said six people were injured in the town of Atmore Friday morning, including two in critical condition.

Nine mobile homes were flipped over when a storm rolled through the area about 50 miles north of Pensacola, Florida, around 9 a.m., Jackson reported. He added the National Weather Service would be sending a team to evaluate whether the damage was caused by a tornado or straight-line winds.

The same line of storms rolled through Georgia Friday afternoon and was moving into the Carolinas.

The risk of severe weather stretches from the Ohio Valley to Florida, with the possibility of large-diameter hail, wind gusts to 70 mph, and tornadoes, with nearly 45 million people in the storm's path as it moves east.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) noted the forecast is "suggesting conditions will be ideal for tornadoes" and if a storm lined up just right, "then a long-track, strong tornado will be possible."

'Very large hail' possible

The storms are expected to continue eastward Friday, with areas from Columbus, Ohio, down to Wilmington, North Carolina, and south toward the Florida Panhandle.

The potential for strong thunderstorms may also impact the Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, areas, where damaging winds and large hail are possible.

"Large hail and wind damage may also occur further north across the Ohio and Tennessee Valley, some of which could have very large hail," the SPC said.

"Large hail and wind damage may also occur further north across the Ohio and Tennessee Valley, some of which could have very large hail," the SPC said. The area from far southeast Missouri northeastward across western Kentucky and into far southern Indiana has the greatest potential for hailstones of greater than 2 inches in diameter.

"Some thunderstorms may also contain excessive rainfall rates, prompting the issuance of a marginal risk (Level 1 of 4) for flash flooding in Alabama and western Georgia," the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said.

By Friday evening, rain will begin over much of the East Coast and continue through Saturday, the WPC said.

"A broad area of 0.5 - 1" of rain, with locally higher amounts in thunderstorms, is expected throughout much of the eastern US through Saturday before conditions begin to improve from west to east during the evening hours, the center said.

Additional severe storms are expected along much of the Atlantic Coast Saturday.

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

CNN's Pedram Javaheri and Mike Saenz contributed to this report.

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ADDIS ABABA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Ministry of Finance announced on Friday it has indefinitely postponed plans to privatize 40 percent share of the state-owned firm Ethio Telecom.

In a press statement, the ministry said the postponement of the privatization process was taken in light of fast-moving macroeconomic changes, both globally and locally.

"The Government of Ethiopia believes that taking time to accommodate the improved macroeconomic situation as well as continually improving financial performance of Ethio Telecom will result in better value for all the parties involved and in particular the citizenry of Ethiopia," the statement said.

"The Government of Ethiopia remains committed to finalizing the privatization process and looks forward to re-engaging in due course with existing and additional parties that have expressed interest in the Request for Proposal (RFP)," the statement further said.

Ethiopia, Africa's second populous nation with an estimated 110 million plus population, in September 2019 launched a three-year-long homegrown economic reform plan designed to reduce external imbalances, contain debt vulnerabilities, lift financial repression, increase domestic resource mobilization which will also help devote adequate resources to pro-poor spending.

As part of the reform, Ethiopia plans to liberalize key economic sectors to attract more foreign direct investment(FDI) and modernize its agriculture-dominated economy. 
GENEVA (AP)  The U.N. migration agency said Friday that nearly 6.5 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine, on top of the 3.2 million who have already fled the country.

That means that around a quarter of Ukraines 44 million people have been forced from their homes.

The estimates from the International Organization for Migration suggests Ukraine is fast on course in just three weeks toward the levels of displacement from Syria's devastating war, which has driven about 13 million people from their homes both in the country and abroad.

The findings come in a paper issued Friday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The projections also found that "over 12 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads, as well as lack of resources or information on where to find safety and accommodation."

The paper cited the IOM figures as "a good representation of the scale of internal displacement in Ukraine  calculated to stand at 6.48 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine as of March 16."

UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, has said fighting that has followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has sparked Europe's gravest refugee crisis since World War II.

"By these estimates, roughly half the country is either internally displaced, stranded in affected areas or unable to leave, or has already fled to neighboring countries," he said, alluding to Ukraine's population of about 44 million before the war began.

The paper said that 9.56 million people have been displaced by the war so far, as of Wednesday, and another 2.2 million people were considering leaving. IOM estimates that more than 3 million people had fled abroad as of Wednesday.

UNHCR, in its latest figures released Friday, said more than 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine.

Photos: The latest scenes from the Russia-Ukraine war

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Charge Trump with treason

A former so-called president called Vladimir Putin a genius for invading Ukraine! The want-to-be dictator said Putin is protecting his country! I think No. 45 must face charges of treason! As a 60% disabled Vietnam veteran, I am ashamed for this former worst president the country ever had. My brothers on that memorial wall, Korean, World War II veterans, WWI veterans are rolling over in their graves! The classified boxes found at his residence, did he give intelligence information to his buddy Putin? I want to see justice now!

David E. Leon

Vail

These patriots kiss up to Putin

How do the so-called patriots who stormed the Capitol to overthrow the government and are claiming to be defending the Constitution justify supporting Donald Trump and his toadies like Tucker Carlson, et al., who have expressed praise and support of Americas and the rest of the free worlds avowed enemy, Vladimir Putin. The Dems should take every opportunity through the media to remind real Americans that Trump and his minions are traitors by their slavish adulation and obsequiousness to Vladimir Putin, who played and manipulated Trump while he was president. And these patriots in their camo and combat gear anxious to fight for democracy, how many have rushed to go defend Ukraine? Or are they afraid to defy Trump and his buddy Putin?

Jeff Aronson,

captain, USMC 1967-1970

Northeast side

Odd criticisms of court nominee

I listen with increasing incredulity to the attacks on President Joe Bidens nominee to the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson. Tucker Carlson, without blushing, is demanding to see her score from the Law School Admission Test, something he forgot to do with Gorsuch, Barrett or Kavanaugh. Hmm  wonder why? (By the way, the LSAT measures your chances for success in law school, not what you do while in law school). Other GOP stalwarts are claiming she is an affirmative-action choice, one that hardly measures up to all the white judges around the country. This despite the fact that she graduated from Harvard Law School cum laude and was editor of the Harvard Law Review. Others claim that this is an attempt to tilt the court to the left, ignoring the fact that tilting the court had its champion in our former president. Although I am sure it will be messy, I believe she will be confirmed as the first Black woman to have a seat on the Supreme Court.

Rick Smith

Foothills

Sadly, history repeats itself

Sadly, there always seems to be a never ending line of dictators. Just as Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, Vladimir Putin is now invading the Ukraine. This time there is no Neville Chamberlin to ignore the fact. The world is reacting to this tyranny with sanctions that have made a great economic impact on the invaders. The human impact around the world is still to be defined. The Russian invasion is on the pretext of protecting its borders and preventing Ukraine from joining NATO. With this invasion Russia is proving why it is so important that there is a NATO. Russia, which geographically is the largest country in the word, under this dictator just seeks to expand its domain. History will only tell what the world consequences will be.

Fred DiNoto

Northwest side

Government by, for the people

Re: the March 3 letter Voting rights are in danger

In response to the letter about restoring government by the people in Arizona, the Arizona Constitution provides citizens with the tools to refer laws passed by the Legislature to a vote of the people (referendum) or to propose their own laws (initiative). Both require collecting hundreds of thousands of petition signatures. But the Legislature has adopted rules for signature-gathering that are unnecessarily onerous, and the news media does not provide public information about the topics of these petitions or when and where citizens can sign them. Unless a petition effort is bankrolled by some deep-pocket sponsor, referenda and initiatives have little chance of success to make it to the ballot, making our constitutional right of the people to govern a fiction.

Merrill Eisenberg

Midtown

Get educated about socialism

Re: the March 4 letter Socialism is on the march

The only reasonable response to the letter writers rather unhinged letter is a classic quote from a classic film, The Princess Bride: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Jeanne Sharp

East side

United Nations can do much more

In regard to Ukraine, the United Nations should be doing what it was originally set up to do. Stop an aggressor. The U.N. Security Council voted for an emergency special session of the General Assembly, with Russia voting no and China, India and the UAE abstaining. The General Assembly then passed a resolution signed by 141 of its 193 members reprimanding Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Eritrea and Syria voted against it. China and India both abstained. I think Russia should be removed from the Security Council and should never be allowed to be one of the revolving presidents of the Security Council. Next, the U.N. should call for and lead a naval blockade of the Dardanelles Strait to keep Russia from supplying any materials, etc. to the coast of Ukraine on the Black Sea. The entire world should cease all trade with Russia and impose a full financial shutdown with Russia. Any countries violating this should also be sanctioned.

Donald Arritola

SaddleBrooke

Press freedom being threatened

Re: the March 13 article Journalism under attack.

It is sad that the president of Mexico is not trying to help his country be more democratic and safe, but seems to be appeasing the drug cartels. This is another reason why Mexicans are risking their lives to come to the U.S.

Freedom of the press is our constitutional right and is what separates true democratic countries from authoritarian ones. Russia has removed or prevented all public media from reporting the real news of Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine. Unfortunately, this attitude to attack/stop the freedom of the press was seen during Donald Trumps administration and continues by his supporters. I think Arizona Republican leaders and their candidates for governor refuse to seek the truth and instead pursue lies without evidence. Our fundamental constitutional right of freedom of the press is being threatened and if continued, this country risks forsaking democracy for authoritarianism.

Jean Barkley

East side

A Peace Prize for Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy deserves the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize even while he fights tooth and nail for peace in Ukraine. Nominate him as soon and as publicly as possible, for it may influence the force dynamic of the war, hardening public support for Ukraine and weakening Vladimir Putin the aggressor. It may shorten the mindless invasion and save Ukrainian (and Russian) lives, homes and cultural assets. The Nobel Committee has awarded the Peace Prize for lesser reasons. Here, Zelenskyy fights for peace with his life.

Don Clarke

Green Valley

Shame on America for standing by

America has held itself out as the greatest country the world has ever seen; the champion of democracy, the supporter of democracy. America has claimed to fight for freedoms. America claims to have committed its resources toward these declared ends.

Is that the America of today? Is that the America that allows, nay, encourages by its inaction, the bully despot? Is this the America that refuses to support such a badly outgunned country?

Is the America today also outgunned by that bully? More afraid to face the bully than the country under attack by the bully. America has refused to call the atrocities inflicted war crimes. Why? Fearful that the bully will direct its weapons against us, the greatest country on earth? America has amassed the greatest military might the world has ever seen and is yet fearful of a less endowed bully. America is showing itself to be far less than the mighty democracy it touts itself to be. America is the coward. Will the shame ever go away?

Jeffrey Zelmanow

SaddleBrooke

Guns everywhere but Legislature

The Republicans in our Legislature want to see guns in bars, schools and just about any other place in Arizona. With one exception: The Arizona Legislature. While legislators routinely carry guns in the legislative chambers, Arizona citizens must pass through metal detectors and are not allowed to enter with guns.

What is the Legislature afraid of? Wont they feel safer if everyone in the chamber is armed? No, they are afraid of the people they represent.

Bruce Hilpert

North side

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Think about this for a second.

The stormwater drainage system  underneath the sidewalks of the Cherokee Street intersection in the center of Wagoner  is nearly 100 years old.

Its time for a reboot, wouldnt you think?

That reboot has already started.

City of Wagoner Public Works crews are tackling that project themselves, and by doing so, its projected to save the taxpayers of Wagoner about $1 million, according to Bill Smith, Wagoners Flood Plain Administrator.

Smith, along with Wagoner City Administrator Dwayne Elam, and Steve Powell from Infrastructure Solutions Group, LLC, spoke to a packed room of Wagoner Area Chamber members and guests on Thursday for a discussion related to the stormwater improvement project, and the streetscape and mill and fill projects to follow.

Things are going to get busy in Wagoner. Buckle up.

The goal of the stormwater project is to replace old pipes in the ground in downtown Wagoner along Cherokee and Main Street to help mitigate standing water after weather events. Smith has been studying Wagoners stormwater issues since he was hired on in 2016. He has seen firsthand how bad the flooding gets for local businesses along Cherokee after a heavy rain storm.

Smith expects the downtown Wagoner stormwater flooding project to take roughly nine months to be complete. Residents can expect lane closures, and possibly detours, while the work is going on. Its the first step in Wagoners long list of projects that need to happen since all of the other projects are mostly above-ground projects. Crews will begin tearing up concrete and asphalt west of Main Street and working down from there. Its all part of a thorough plan before Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation crews come to town.

Once May 1, 2022 rolls along, Wagoner residents can expect to see contractors hired by O.D.O.T come to Wagoner to start the downtown streetscape project  a project nearly five years in the making. Its expected to make downtown Wagoner look aesthetically pleasing, with wider sidewalks for ADA compliance, new ramps and lighting and top-of-the-line landscaping built with its own irrigation system. The project is on Cherokee Street facing north and south from the railroad tracks and going east to Casaver Avenue by the county courthouse.

The goal is for city crews assigned to the stormwater project to be working on a different part of town by May 1, so O.D.O.T. crews can begin the streetscape project at that time. Its important to remember that Cherokee Street is a state highway, OK-51, which is why O.D.O.T. has complete control of what goes on in that area.

Streetscape crews have until about Aug. 1 to be done so the next round of contractors can come in  the mill and fill crew. Look at this as the cherry on top for Wagoner projects: crews will mill and repave Cherokee Street from the railroad all the way to Story Avenue. Crosswalks will also all be re-striped.

When its all said and done, the intersection is projected to look completely different in one year.

Its gonna get tough, Elam told the crowd. Youre going to say, I wish theyd hurry up, but I promise you by the end of this thing, youre going to be proud.

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Correction: This story originally reported incorrect circumstances of Lawrence Anderson's commutation. The story has been corrected.

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitts reelection is being targeted by ads that tie the governor to a man who is accused of killing three people after being set free from prison.

I dont get it, a man says into the camera. Judges lock bad guys up. Gov. Stitt lets them out. Lawrence Anderson was a really bad guy, and Stitt knew it. He let him out anyway.

Stitt approved Anderson's release in 2020 after the Pardon and Parole Board was said to have mistakenly advanced the commutation request it had rejected in 2019.

After his release, Anderson was charged in Grady County in connection with the murders of Andrea Blankenship, his uncle Leon Pye and Pyes 4-year-old granddaughter, Kaeos Yates.

Anderson is alleged to have cooked Blankenship's heart and tried to feed it to his family members, who refused and were killed.

The February 2021 homicides took place in Chickasha, just after Anderson had been released from prison.

Craig Blankenship, Andreas former father-in-law, said Anderson was not qualified to be released in the first place.

Anderson has a lengthy record going back to 2011 that includes several cases of possession of a controlled, dangerous substance with intent to distribute, as well as violent crimes that include pointing a firearm, firearms charges and domestic abuse, according to records.

The Pardon and Parole Boards actions in recommending his release are being reviewed by an Oklahoma County grand jury.

Andrea Blankenships children have filed a claim against the state, Craig Blankenship said.

Some of the ads featuring the Anderson case are being sponsored by Conservative Voice of America. Mike Cys, the groups president, did not respond to a request for comment but has a statement on the group's website about the ads.

In the statement, Cys said the organization has launched a major statewide investment to hold Stitt accountable.

The organization describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit social welfare organization. As such, it does not have to reveal its donors.

Oklahomans are being inundated by more lies from special-interest groups who arent being transparent about their intentions or their donors, said Donelle Harder, Stitts campaign manager.

Gov. Stitts commitment to lead as a conservative political outsider is clearly upsetting some big bosses out there who feel threatened by his unwavering agenda to represent all 4 million Oklahomans, to fight for law and order and fairness in our justice system, and to deliver the promised Oklahoma Turnaround with historic economic achievements, Harder continued.

Joy Hofmeisters gubernatorial campaign is not involved with any independent group targeting Stitt, said her campaign manager, Brigette Zorn. Hofmeister, the current state school superintendent, switched parties to Democrat from Republican to run against Stitt.

Craig Blankenship said he has no connection to the ads or the group sponsoring them.

He said he reached out several times to speak with Stitt about the commutation but that the governor did not respond.

I am a Republican and have voted Republican all my life, Blankenship said. I will vote for a Democrat before I will vote for him, and I will tell you this: As we get closer to the election season, if there is some opponent of his who wants to borrow my services and my family to make an appearance in an ad, we will  just to put human faces on it.

Andrea Blankenships son, Hayden Blankenship, said he has experienced depression since the death of his mother, whom he described as a strong woman who taught him to never give up.

Some people really didnt do their job and look into the people they were letting out, he said.

Another ad, sponsored by People for Opportunity, touts Stitts record on public safety.

The ad says bipartisan reform has cut crime and recidivism and that under Stitts administration, prison overcrowding has been reduced, while people who commit low-level crimes are put into treatment.

Video: Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks in 2019 after state Pardon and Parole Board approves record number of commutations



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After years of failed legislation in Oklahoma to change how the state observes daylight saving time, a law now making its way through Congress would stop clock-changing for all Americans.

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a measure Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would be effective next year, still needs House approval and the president's signature to become law.

Many Oklahomans who've been sleep deprived in the past week since daylight saving time began are likely to celebrate any change to go to one year-round time. But depending on individuals' lifestyles, the change could be almost as dramatic as losing an hour every spring.

"It doesn't matter how we set our clocks. God sets the time," the president of the Tulsa-based American Corn Growers Association once told the Tulsa World.

"Farmers have never liked daylight saving time," Gary Goldberg said, but that was 24 years ago. Since then, nearly a dozen states across the U.S. have chosen year-round daylight saving time as opposed to standard time.

The federal change would effectively do away with standard time, the "winter hours" that last about four months in most of the country.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to discuss possible legislation last week. Chairman Frank Pallone agreed that it is time we stop changing our clocks" but said he was undecided about whether daylight saving time or standard time is the way to go.

As for plants and animals, daylight saving has little effect, said Gus Holland, agriculture educator for the OSU Extension in Tulsa County.

"Depending on which side of it that youre on, now farmers have more day length at this point to be able to go out and do stuff for their farms or ranches," he said Thursday.

But humans are on a circadian rhythm, meaning standard time is more the "body's natural clock," said Dr. Jabraan Pasha, internal medicine physician with the University of Oklahoma-University of Tulsa School of Community Medicine.

"For a lot of people, they think having another hour of light during the day may be better," he said, "especially people who have seasonal affective disorder  that could cause some mental health issues."

Pasha agrees that first and foremost in importance is to "stop having us go back and forth," pointing toward research that shows negative health outcomes of losing an hour of sleep each spring.

(With) spring forward, there appears to be an increased risk of heart-related complications, an increased risk of stroke and things like that," he said.

The change also seems connected to an increase in car accidents, said Dr. Alessandra Gearhart, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine specialist with OSU Medicine.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, they actually have a position statement to try to adopt permanent standard time as opposed to adopting permanent daylight saving time," Gearhart said. "Most of us believe that having permanent standard time would actually help us be more aligned."

The United States tried year-round daylight saving time before during the energy crisis in the 70s, and it was widely despised, Rep. Kevin West said after he introduced daylight saving legislation for Oklahoma in 2019. The emergency measure failed after eight months as the dark mornings distressed many Americans, notably parents with children waiting in the dark for school buses.

In Oklahoma, using daylight saving time throughout the winter would mean many students would begin classes in the dark, with sunrise not until after 8:30 a.m. But year-round standard time for Oklahomans would be likely to have its own challenges, with such an early sunrise that birds might become our alarm clocks as early as 5 a.m.

Oklahomans would have to consider their own lifestyle to know which year-round system they would prefer, though changing federal law could make the question moot. Pasha said daylight saving has its merits, especially in considering mental health.

I think the benefit of getting an extra hour of sunlight in the winter, for me personally, is worth it," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Correction: The story originally misidentified the university health system for Dr. Alessandra Gearhart. The story has been corrected.

Featured video: Senate passes bill to make daylight saving time permanent

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Anna Codutti Breaking News Editor After earning a master's in news editing from the University of Missouri, I joined the Tulsa World copy desk in 2010. Send news tips to news@tulsaworld.com. Phone: 918-581-8481 Follow Anna Codutti 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
With all the talk of banned books, Tulsa World Staff Writer Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, who covers education, checked with local school librarians to see what the process is like. She talks with Tulsa World Editor Jason Collington about what she found out and other hot topics when it comes to education in Oklahoma.
Correction: This story originally reported incorrect circumstances of Lawrence Anderson's commutation. The story has been corrected.

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitts reelection is being targeted by ads that tie the governor to a man who is accused of killing three people after being set free from prison.

I dont get it, a man says into the camera. Judges lock bad guys up. Gov. Stitt lets them out. Lawrence Anderson was a really bad guy, and Stitt knew it. He let him out anyway.

Stitt approved Anderson's release in 2020 after the Pardon and Parole Board was said to have mistakenly advanced the commutation request it had rejected in 2019.

After his release, Anderson was charged in Grady County in connection with the murders of Andrea Blankenship, his uncle Leon Pye and Pyes 4-year-old granddaughter, Kaeos Yates.

Anderson is alleged to have cooked Blankenship's heart and tried to feed it to his family members, who refused and were killed.

The February 2021 homicides took place in Chickasha, just after Anderson had been released from prison.

Craig Blankenship, Andreas former father-in-law, said Anderson was not qualified to be released in the first place.

Anderson has a lengthy record going back to 2011 that includes several cases of possession of a controlled, dangerous substance with intent to distribute, as well as violent crimes that include pointing a firearm, firearms charges and domestic abuse, according to records.

The Pardon and Parole Boards actions in recommending his release are being reviewed by an Oklahoma County grand jury.

Andrea Blankenships children have filed a claim against the state, Craig Blankenship said.

Some of the ads featuring the Anderson case are being sponsored by Conservative Voice of America. Mike Cys, the groups president, did not respond to a request for comment but has a statement on the group's website about the ads.

In the statement, Cys said the organization has launched a major statewide investment to hold Stitt accountable.

The organization describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit social welfare organization. As such, it does not have to reveal its donors.

Oklahomans are being inundated by more lies from special-interest groups who arent being transparent about their intentions or their donors, said Donelle Harder, Stitts campaign manager.

Gov. Stitts commitment to lead as a conservative political outsider is clearly upsetting some big bosses out there who feel threatened by his unwavering agenda to represent all 4 million Oklahomans, to fight for law and order and fairness in our justice system, and to deliver the promised Oklahoma Turnaround with historic economic achievements, Harder continued.

Joy Hofmeisters gubernatorial campaign is not involved with any independent group targeting Stitt, said her campaign manager, Brigette Zorn. Hofmeister, the current state school superintendent, switched parties to Democrat from Republican to run against Stitt.

Craig Blankenship said he has no connection to the ads or the group sponsoring them.

He said he reached out several times to speak with Stitt about the commutation but that the governor did not respond.

I am a Republican and have voted Republican all my life, Blankenship said. I will vote for a Democrat before I will vote for him, and I will tell you this: As we get closer to the election season, if there is some opponent of his who wants to borrow my services and my family to make an appearance in an ad, we will  just to put human faces on it.

Andrea Blankenships son, Hayden Blankenship, said he has experienced depression since the death of his mother, whom he described as a strong woman who taught him to never give up.

Some people really didnt do their job and look into the people they were letting out, he said.

Another ad, sponsored by People for Opportunity, touts Stitts record on public safety.

The ad says bipartisan reform has cut crime and recidivism and that under Stitts administration, prison overcrowding has been reduced, while people who commit low-level crimes are put into treatment.

Video: Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks in 2019 after state Pardon and Parole Board approves record number of commutations



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MOGADISHU, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) said Friday its forces killed seven al-Shabab terrorists during security operations conducted Thursday in different locations in Kismayo district, the southern part of the country.

SNA commanders who led the operation told military radio that the militants were killed during security operations conducted in 11 villages in Jubaland State.

"During the operations, the Army distributed water and food to the vulnerable families in the area," the SNA Radio reported.

This came hours after the troops killed three terrorists including a suicide bomber and seized a vehicle laden with explosives in Beer Xaani and Gabdhoole areas, about 40 km from Kismayo.

The government forces have intensified security operations against the extremist group across southern and central regions of Somalia as they strive to complete parliamentary elections after missing several self-imposed deadlines.

Al-Shabab militants who have opposed the ongoing electoral process have staged a series of attacks, targeting delegates in a bid to disrupt the electoral process. 
Two years into the pandemic, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has changed how it calculates its seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases, dramatically reducing the numbers reported from what they would have been under the previous methodology.

The seven-day average would be 373 per day as of Thursday if the method used for calculations during the past two years were still used. But using the state's new method, the average was reported Thursday as 95.

Previously the State Health Department's seven-day average was based on all positive test results received during the previous seven days, regardless of when the test was done. Under the new methodology, only cases where both testing was performed and results were received within that same seven-day period are used to determine the average.

So positive COVID tests that are delayed in reaching the Health Department now don't count in the seven-day averages.

That might make it seem that those lagging numbers are unaccounted for, but the Health Department does keep track of all positive test results received and still reports the cumulative total of positive cases in Oklahoma. The Tulsa World determined the seven-day average under the old methodology by subtracting last week's cumulative case total from this week's and dividing that number by seven.

Dr. Dale Bratzler, the University of Oklahomas chief COVID officer and one of many health leaders who have regularly dispensed important information to the public about the pandemics evolution, said the new methodology presents "most assuredly  an underestimate of the true number" of new daily cases.

"I think that the actual number of new cases per day is probably somewhere in between the number that I come up with using the consistent methodology and only looking at cumulative cases and the number that they're using now that reports only on tests reported in that past week."

Erica Rankin-Riley, a State Health Department spokesperson, said the new method will "slightly under-report" the average but is "more accurate" than using cumulative figures. She acknowledged that at-home COVID tests already go unaccounted for in state data.

Dr. Mary Clarke, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said her group is "a little disappointed" that the state is switching to a method that substantially lowers its new case average.

To make it seem as if COVID is over is a disservice to patients down the road when another variant is expected to come through at some point, Clarke said. She said the change is providing a degree of a false sense of security when the state isn't yet out of the woods.

"If we accidentally overcounted those cases, then that's fine," Clarke said. "But what's happening is we're undercounting cases and looking like we're doing better than we are  and that's not fine."

The State Health Department's change comes at the same time it has shifted to reporting COVID data only on a weekly basis instead of daily.

Rankin-Riley said the widespread availability of home tests means positive cases are missing from state numbers, which is why the State Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are putting more focus on hospitalizations and surveillance systems.

"As with all attempts to report real-time COVID data, there is no perfect system," Rankin-Riley wrote in response to questions. "Delayed reporting from multiple sources will always limit our ability to provide perfect data. However, this method is a much closer approximation of the current reality."

The state's most recent number of weekly cases per 100,000 residents was 59 per day, which was tied for 22nd in the U.S., according to federal data. The case rate hasn't been that low since July  and the lowest was 15 per 100,000 per day in May.

The state's recent three-day average of COVID hospitalizations released Thursday was 262, with 65  or 25%  in intensive-care units. The overall number is down 51% from 530 two weeks ago and down 88% from the record 2,243 inpatients posted Jan. 28.

COVID hospitalizations haven't been this low in Oklahoma since July, when the delta variant began spreading. The lowest COVID hospitalizations have been since the outset was 106, reported June 10.

The three-day average of Tulsa County COVID hospitalizations was 74 Thursday, with 30, or 41%, in ICUs. The county is down 50% from 148 two weeks ago and down 86% from its record 548 reported Jan. 29.

Bratzler said epidemiological models show that case counts might go up some  and might be already a bit  but that experts aren't expecting a huge surge, as happened with the delta and omicron variants.

"The one unknown variable always is: Will there be a new variant that evades the protection you get from a previous infection or from being vaccinated?" Bratzler said.

Featured video: Oklahoma health commissioner clarifies COVID reporting changes

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Four years ago on spring break, my kids stood at a Tulsa intersection with a group of friends and PTA moms with signs reading 49th is not OK and I have 30 kids in my class.

That was a preview to the two-week teacher walkout the following month that became the largest education protest in decades. A crowd of Tulsa teachers literally walked to the Capitol. A group of 200 female lawyers wearing all black went office-to-office talking to lawmakers.

Parents learned what it was like to be blown off by their elected representatives. And they learned which ones were open to conversations or were outright supportive.

The monumental effort came after a decade of legislative failures to boost minimum teacher pay. It was the steam let off after a buildup of frustrations.

Were heading back in that direction. No significant investments in public education have been made since that walkout.

Right now, keeping up with the anti-public education bills is like playing whack-a-mole. Just when a bad bill seems to go down, another pops up. Then that other bad bill reappears.

Nothing is really over at the Legislature until the final gavel comes down at 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May. Even then, there is always next year.

Despite the findings of surveys with statistical tinkering, Oklahoma currently ranks No. 35 in average starting teacher salary and No. 34 in average salary, according to the National Education Association. Its not at the top of the region but not last. Texas is still higher.

But the state is No. 46 in per-pupil expenditure. Thats the figure showing classroom and school conditions. Ranking lower are Nevada, Arizona, Mississippi and Utah.

This reflects the work environment for teachers and learning environment for students.

At schools that have active parent teacher associations and foundations (not all have this support), those groups are asked to fund basic needs like transportation costs or fees to extracurricular competitions.

Classroom sizes havent budged, and teacher resources continue to lag.

Imagine being able to regroup after the pandemic and have mass teacher training on best practices to integrate online learning.

Thats not the reality for public schools. Districts are scrambling to fill vacancies and to keep the teachers they have.

Staffing has reached a crisis level. Teachers continue to leave the state, get out of the profession and retire at record rates.

As teachers and staff call in sick or need to miss a day, schools occasionally close because they dont have enough workers. Substitutes are hard to come by, and temps are not a long-term solution.

Emergency certifications, which allow for unqualified people to teach, used to be rare. Only 32 were granted in 2011. Then, the numbers exploded. So far this year, more than 3,400 emergency certifications have been approved by the state.

Oklahoma lawmakers ought to be talking about possible remedies for improvements. Some states have various loan forgiveness programs for teachers, offer paid internships or provide other teacher incentives.

Instead, Oklahomas legislators are arguing over how much public school money ought to go to private schools. Couched as parental choice, its a not-so-subtle attempt at dismantling public education. It would take a minimum of $118 million from public schools, harm rural schools most and widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Then there are the culture war issues whipped by national special interest groups over stuff like critical race theory and misinformation about social-emotional learning.

Just last week, some lawmakers tore into teachers associations for having dues automatically taken out of paychecks. Only thats not actually happening. In Oklahoma, teachers must opt-in to that withdrawal, just like they do with health plans.

Lets not forget the wasted time trying to ban books and punish librarians. This came from fear-mongering over LGTBQ+ and race issues. As a parent of teens, Im more concerned about getting them to read more books.

Somewhere along the line, legislators suggested that parents give $1,000 anonymously to their childrens teachers and that district school nutrition programs be managed by a different state agency. One bill sought to remove school board member training.

These arent what public school parents are seeking in reforms and changes. Money is always going to be an issue, and we need to figure out how to keep up with those costs.

We want smaller classrooms and need more teachers to do that. We want schools with options for all kids, whether they need special education services or Advanced Placement courses. We want more counselors  those to handle career planning and separate ones trained in mental health.

Better coordination is needed between tech schools and local school districts. Extracurricular activities ought to be available, accessible and supported.

We want less regulation. Graduation requirements now include specific completion of the SAT with essay, a CPR test and a financial literacy course. In a couple of years, graduates will have to pass a citizenship test and finish a battery of career modules.

This is on top of annual state testing. Its too much.

We are tired of seeing good teachers leave, raising funds for basic needs, dealing with onerous state mandates, hearing about the latest national manufactured criticism and fighting for our educators to be respected.

Four years isnt that long ago, but it seems like forever. Public education needs champions, but so far at the Capitol theyve been hard to find.

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Oklahoma veterans, the states congressional delegation and Muskogee residents were greeted by a surprise earlier this week when the Department of Veterans Affairs released a recommendation that the Jack C. Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center should be closed.

The VA is undergoing a systemwide reorganization, which is still in its early stages. Shuttering the Muskogee hospital was an unexpected and unwelcome announcement. A joint statement from U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford and U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin said as much.

Its appropriate for the VA to conduct reviews like this to ensure we continue to serve veterans in the best ways possible, but we are not convinced that the contents of this report accurately reflect the needs of veterans health care, especially mental health, in our state right now, said a joint statement from the three lawmakers.

Plans for the Muskogee hospital had initially been tied to a new VA hospital set to open in downtown Tulsa. The Tulsa plan is for a $120 million renovation of an existing office building, to be turned into a 58-bed medical-surgical hospital.

In light of that, the Muskogee hospital would be transformed into an inpatient mental health and treatment center.

Inhofe, Lankford and Mullin worked diligently on the proposal, hoping to capitalize on the VAs desires to centralize medical services in the Tulsa area while keeping other services in a traditionally underserved portion of the state.

They achieved that, at least in part, with the Tulsa hospital plans now moving forward. But the VA now wants to outsource inpatient mental health services instead of offering them in Muskogee.

The disappointment in the VAs Muskogee closure recommendation is evident.

The arrangement for the expansion of the facility in Tulsa assumed we would increase mental health and substance abuse for our veterans, not contract it as this proposal suggests, their joint statement says.

We agree with these sentiments. While its understandable that the VA wants to offer its services as efficiently as possible, we wonder if the recommendation, if implemented, will create an unnecessary hardship for veterans living in rural eastern Oklahoma.

The good news is that the VAs reorganization is in its early stages. The recommendation for the Muskogee hospital is subject to review by a Senate-approved commission that hasnt been formed yet.

Also, the current VA secretary has ordered an update to market survey data that is used in developing reorganization recommendations.

That means there is still time to study this issue further and lobby for the Muskogee hospital.

We know our congressional delegation will be monitoring this situation as it develops. We hope the end result is a solution that best serves Oklahoma veterans and the communities in which they live.

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A Vietnamese tourism firm has announced it will suspend its services of sending Russian travelers to Khanh Hoa Province in response to the Russian governments request that airlines cease carrying Russian nationals abroad amidst international sanctions imposed on the country.

Khanh Hoa-based Anex Vietnam Travel and Trading Company (Anex Vietnam) has applied the suspension after a final flight carrying over 300 Russian tourists in Vietnam landed in Russia at 10:00 pm on Thursday, deputy managing director Bui Quoc Dai said.

The suspension comes amidst a decision from the Vietnamese government to restore its pre-pandemic visa exemption policy for citizens from 13 countries, including Russia, in order to attract foreign travelers to Vietnam, Dai said.

From December 26, 2021, Anex Vietnam welcomed nearly 6,000 Russian visitors with COVID-19 vaccination certificates to Khanh Hoa, a coastal locality favored by Russians in south-central Vietnam.

The company was preparing to expand its operations in Russia until Moscow commenced its attack on Ukraine on February 24, causing a sharp decline in Russian visitors to Vietnam, Dai said.

The Russian government later asked carriers to suspend taking Russian passengers out of the country on March 6, the executive added.

Consequently, Anex Vietnam canceled a number of scheduled flights and incurred losses, including the cost of the flight chartered to return the previously mentioned 300 Russian tourists to their country.

There remains a demand by Russian to travel to Vietnam, but airlines cannot take off until the Russian government loosens its restrictions," Dai stated.

"The Russian attack in Ukraine is still taking place, so we do not know when we will welcome Russian visitors again.

Dai did, however, affirm that his company will once again bring Russian travelers to Vietnam when Russia lifts its restrictions.

Russia was one of the main sources of visitors to the province before the COVID-19 epidemic hit Vietnam in early 2020, said Tran Minh Duc, vice-chairman of the Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association.

Aside from preparations to receive Russian travelers, the province should proceed with attracting visitors from other markets, including Japan and South Korea, Duc advised.

Vietnam reopened the economy in a strategy of safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of COVID-19 on October 1, 2021 and has removed all restrictions on international air passenger transport since February 15 after nearly two years of border closure due to the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, the country fully reopened to international tourism after pausing its reception of foreign travelers since March 2020 because of the pandemic.

As of Thursday, 7,102,448 COVID-19 cases, with 3,685,988 recoveries and 41,686 fatalities, had been documented nationwide, the Ministry of Heath reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Japan will provide VND1.8 billion (US$78,700) in non-refundable aid to build smart classrooms at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Information Technology, under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, according to an agreement signed on Thursday.

The VND1.8-billion funding is part of the Japanese governments Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project (GCGP).

It will be used for the construction of smart classrooms, each of which can accommodate 30 students and is installed with interactive audio-visual equipment and an intelligent control system, at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Information Technology, under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City.

The rooms will be fitted with a specialized software system for foreign language students.

Watanabe Nobuhiro, Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City, expects the smart classrooms will support Japanese language teaching and extra-curricular activities related to Japanese at the university.

The diplomat also hopes Vietnam and Japan will have more cooperation activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023.

In recent years, the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many financial assistance programs backed by the Japanese government for educational activities in Vietnam.

In 2021, Japan granted the Asia Rainbow non-profit organization more than VND2.78 billion ($121,500) to develop an education and training system in elementary schools for children with disabilities in Tra Vinh and Kien Giang Provinces, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta region.

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The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training sent on Thursday a document to local educational units regarding the preparations for the vaccination against COVID-19 for children aged five to below 12.

The education department asked educational institutions to make a list of students within the age range, as well as coordinate with their parents and health authorities to make an initial assessment of their health.

Close attention should be paid to those with underlying conditions and obesity to ensure their safety during the vaccination process.

The education and training offices in 22 districts and Thu Duc City will work with medical centers to provide additional training courses on vaccination safety and procedures for staff members of educational institutions.

The document also suggested that local schools provide parents with information about the benefits of vaccination, potential side effects, and their responsibility to ensure their childrens right to be vaccinated.

There are about 963,000 children aged five to under 12 in Ho Chi Minh City.

More than 5,600 educational institutions in the metropolis have participated in training courses on the vaccination of children in this age range.

Ho Chi Minh City has documented nearly 577,600 local COVID-19 infections since the fourth virus wave hit the country in late April 2021.

As of Thursday, health workers in the city of nine million had administered over 8.1 million first vaccine doses, 7.3 million second shots, and 4.8 million third jabs.

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Crude oil littered a three-kilometer beach in Nha Trang City under Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam on Thursday, though no oil spill or shipwreck had been reported in the vicinity, according to local authorities.

The oil was first noticed on late Wednesday afternoon, according to Huynh Binh Thai, head of the Nha Trang Bay management board.

Thais unit had discovered a smaller amount of crude oil on Nha Trang beach last year.

People walk near crude oil masses of unknown origin on a beach in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, March 17, 2022. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre

Local authorities have yet to discover the source of the oil, though they did reiterate that no spills, shipwrecks, or leaks have been reported.

Meanwhile, local residents said the burnt smell has led them to believe it was secretly discharged from a cargo ship.

A crude oil mass of unknown origin appears on a beach in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, March 17, 2022. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre

Environmental workers began a clean-up on Wednesday afternoon but had yet to finish as of Thursday.

This oil sticks to sand and other things, so it is difficult to collect it, said environmental worker Bui Thi Thanh Mai.

From yesterday afternoon until now, we have collected more than 100 sacks of oil, each of which weighs about 50 kilograms.

An environmental worker cleans crude oil masses of unknown origin on a beach in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, March 17, 2022. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre

These black crude oil masses are scattered along the coast, said Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a resident of Nha Trang City.

"It makes us wonder whether it's safe to swim in the sea.

I am quite concerned.

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Nguyen Duc Huy, a Vietnamese student studying urban planning in Germany, hopes that his modern twist on ancient Vietnamese clothing will be a big hit in his home country.

Huy fell in love with creating natural fabric and coloring them with natural dyes the first time he set foot in a workshop.

It was on that occasion that he tried dying white silk and cotton with colors extracted from natural ingredients such as leaves and wood.

He was so successful that he decided to make the process his passion.

Huy recently returned to Vietnam from studying overseas.

I majored in architecture and urban planning, Huy shared.

Brezel wood is the main ingredient in natural red dye. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

I was also interested in sociology and culture.

"The more I read, the more I enjoyed those subjects.

I began studying Vietnamese history after I returned home.

"I really liked learning about ancient Vietnamese clothing.

Ancient clothing has many pieces and accessories.

"It requires a lot of special fabric, most of which is expensive and must be imported from China and South Korea.

Dyeing fabric requires meticulous skill and steady hands. Just a small mistake can destroy a whole product. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

Seeing an opportunity to carve a niche for himself in Vietnams ancient fabric market, Huy decided to try his hand at turning his passion into a career.

Why don't I dye the fabric myself? he talked to himself.

According to the young man, dying fabric for ancient costumes is more challenging than doing it for normal clothing because the process involves creating colors from natural ingredients following directions described in historical documents and paintings.

In his two years of research and dye-making, Huy has made more than 50 colors.

He uses them to dye fabrics made from materials he finds in nature, such as silk, linen, or tussah silk.

Many of the colors are extracted from plants used in traditional medicines, fruit peels, and leaves, including from pomegranate, lychee, almond, wormwood, safflower, and brezel wood.

Though he seems to be a natural, he has also made many mistakes.

During one of his first dying experiences, he accidently damaged 20 meters of fabric because he dried it on aluminum wire.

That experience taught him to avoid drying fabric on metal surfaces and in high temperatures.

Fabric is soaked in an iron salt solution to create a layer for color coating. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

Every single step in Huys dying process is done by hand, resulting in only a modest volume of colored fabric each time.

A single strip of fabric must be dyed 14 to 20 times before it is fully colored. Occasionally, he must color a piece up to 100 times before it looks the way he wants.

A cloth of finished piece of fabric typically measures one meter in length and 60 centimeters in width. It can be sold for VND350,000 (US$15.3).

In the future, I want to make fabric with patterns, not just solid colors as I am doing now," Huy said.

In the meantime, I will continue to study Vietnamese fabrics.

Because organic and handmade fabrics are sold at high prices in different countries in the world, I think this is a great time to develop this kind of clothing in Vietnam.

I want to make these products more affordable to Vietnamese people.

Safflower, a thistle-like annual plant in the sunflower family, is an expensive traditional medicine and natural material sold for VND1 million ($43.7) per kilogram. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

To dye a 20-meter-long strip of fabric, Nguyen Duc Huy must boil a kilogram of brezel wood for 30 minutes. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

Following the dyeing process, the fabric is dried in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

Brezel wood is used as firewood after its color is extracted. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre

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Aussie Chase expert Issa The Supernerd Schultz is headed to the UK to appear in Beat the Chasers to replace Anne Hegerty, aka The Governess.

Hegerty told her Twitter followers, Unfortunately Ive contracted Covid-19 so wont be filming this series of #BeatTheChasers. The fantastic @Issa25 (Issa Schultz) will be stepping in for me and Im looking forward to watching the series when its on air later this year. I feel fine, but Im still positive! (in all respects).

Beat the Chasers screened in Australia in 2020 but is yet to be renewed by Seven.
JUBA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations refugee agency and development partners on Friday appealed for 1.2 billion U.S. dollars to address the refugee crisis in eastern Africa.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the funds will be used to deliver humanitarian assistance and protection to 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees and local communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.

"Funding is urgently needed to help these host countries to provide food, shelter, and access to essential services such as education and health care," the UNHCR said in a statement.

It said South Sudan continues to grapple with sporadic violence, chronic food insecurity and the devastating impact of major flooding after nearly a decade of conflict and despite efforts toward implementing a peace agreement.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the UNHCR said, has also strained people's resources, significantly reducing their ability to sustainably meet their needs.

According to the UN refugee agency, asylum countries are facing similar challenges from the climate crisis and the pandemic but have continued to keep their doors open for refugees.

It said governments in the five countries of asylum will be supported in their efforts to integrate South Sudanese refugees in national systems for social service delivery.

"Refugees and local communities will receive help to boost their resilience by identifying and diversifying opportunities to earn a living," the UNHCR said. "This is vital against a backdrop of chronic underfunding for food provision, which continues to result in regular ration cuts."

The refugee agency said it's increasing the use of clean energy and making other green investments to better protect the environment and to minimize the impacts of the climate crisis.

The South Sudan refugee crisis, which remains the largest on the African continent, was also one of the least funded in 2021, at only 21 percent.

The UNHCR said global solidarity and support for refugees must be extended to Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Sudan, who have generously welcomed South Sudanese refugees. 
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
ReportLinker

Forecasts by Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicle, Bus, Light Commercial Vehicle, Trucks), by Range (Short Range Distance, Long Range Distance), by Type (PEMFC (Proton-exchange Membrane Fuel Cells), AMFC (Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell), DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell)) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Recovery Scenarios

New York, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06245874/?utm_source=GNW



Despite Significant Advancements, Batteries and Fuel Cell Technology are not yet Capable of Meeting the very High Power Needs



Despite significant advancements, batteries and fuel cell technology are not yet capable of meeting the very high power needs associated with the severe circumstances encountered by many heavy-duty vehicles (particularly in the off-highway category). For example, mining trucks use several megawatts of electricity, operate 24 hours a day, and are subjected to intense vibrations and heat development, as well as airborne dirt.



Internal combustion engines have satisfied these standards for decades and switching from diesel to hydrogen might be a reasonably simple solution to decarbonize existing engines, requiring only modest additional technological innovation. Even in areas where batteries and fuel cells are technically possible, hydrogen combustion has the potential to carve out new markets. Low capital expenditures for combustion engines, falling hydrogen costs, and relatively high efficiencies attained by H2-ICEs (hydrogen internal combustion engines) at high loads all contribute to the likelihood that hydrogen combustion is a TCO (total cost of ownership) competitive alternative.



Roadmap to Hydrogen Economy



In the transportation sector, hydrogen-powered FCEVs might be used in conjunction with BEVs to accomplish profound decarbonization across all modes of transportation. FCEVs find their usage in applications that demand extended range, heavy payloads, and a lot of flexibility. Thus, over the forecast period from 2022 to 2032; hydrogen will reduce the total cost of ownership of trains & forklifts. These cost savings will need a large increase in production capacity. If implemented, FCEVs would have cheaper investment costs in long-range segments than BEVs, as well as much shorter refuelling periods.



Commercially usable FCEV buses, medium-sized automobiles, and forklifts are now available. More models in medium and large automobiles, buses, trucks, vans, and trains will be introduced during the following five years, with other sectors such as smaller cars and minibuses expected to follow until 2030. By 2030, when sales begin to ramp up in the rest of the globe, 1 in 12 vehicles sold in California, Germany, South Korea, & Japan, should be hydrogen-powered. Thousands of passenger ships and trains, as well as over 350,000 hydrogen cars and 50,000 hydrogen buses, could transport people without releasing carbon or local pollutants. By 2050, we expect hydrogen to be a feedstock for renewable fuels in freight shipping & commercial aviation sectors.



As the energy system becomes more reliant on renewables, hydrogen may play an increasingly important role in the storage and generation of clean power. Hydrogen is a crucial facilitator in the transition to renewable energy because it enables the effective storage and transportation of renewable power over extended periods



Japan plans to electrify all new passenger automobiles by the mid-2030s, according to METI



In a declaration issued by the PM in October 2020, Japan stated its ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) released the Green Growth Strategy in December, which contains action plans for 14 sectors. It will promote increased electrification, fuel cell usage, and next-generation batteries, in the transportation sector.



It advocated revisiting fuel efficiency rules, public purchase of EVs, charging infrastructure development, and large-scale investment in EV supply chains to achieve this aim. In mid-2021, a decision on choices will be taken. The fuel economy criteria for LDVs may be enhanced to achieve the more ambitious mid-2030 and carbon neutrality objectives, according to speculation.



Japan was one of the few countries where EV sales fell faster than total automobile sales in 2020. After Japan boosted its subsidies for passenger ZEVs registered after the end of 2020, sales are projected to rebound. Other tax breaks for BEVs, PHEVs, & FCEVs have been extended for another two years. Electric vehicle sales climbed by roughly 35% in January 2021 compared to January 2020.



Lower Hydrogen Supply Prices Will Make Most Road Transportation Segments Cost-Competitive



Lower hydrogen supply prices will make most road transportation segments cost-competitive with conventional choices without a carbon tax by 2030. Fuel cell electric vehicles are developing as a complementary alternative, particularly for heavy-duty trucks & long-range sectors, as battery technology advances. If hydrogen is made accessible at USD 4.5 per kg at the pump, the FCEV option may break even with diesel in heavy-duty long-haul transport by 2028.



Furthermore, in areas with extremely high power and uptime needs, like large mining vehicles, hydrogen combustion (H2 ICE) is a feasible option. Trains, ships, and aircraft are all making progress with hydrogen. Hydrogen & hydrogen-based fuels may help aviation achieve cost-effective decarbonization. LH2 (liquid hydrogen) is the most cost-effective way for the aviation industry to decarbonize short- to medium-range aircraft. To be cost-competitive, other end-applications will require a higher carbon cost. Multiple ground-breaking initiatives in the United Kingdom, for example, are testing the integration of hydrogen into natural gas systems for domestic heating. Hydrogen is also gaining popularity as a backup power source, particularly for high-power applications such as data centers.



What are the Market Drivers?

 Strict Vehicular Regulations Across Developed Economies

 Government Investments Towards Development of FCEV Technologies

 Growing initiatives towards zero-emission across the globe to support market development

 Carbon emissions regulations across geographies to fuel FCEV market growth

 Technological advancements to boost FCEV market growth over the next decade



What are the Market Restraints?

 Lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure

 High upfront costs of FCEVs

 Electric shock & flammability fears regarding hydrogen fuel cell

 Competition from other alternate fuel vehicles such as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) & Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)



What are the Market Opportunities?

 FCEV resolves problems faced by battery electric vehicle

 Korea Takes Lead in FCEV Deployment

 Publicly Accessible Charging Facility Projected to Offer Lucrative Growth Prospects



Discover how to stay ahead



Our 560+ page report provides 500+ tables and charts/graphs. Read on to discover the most lucrative areas in the industry and the future market prospects. Our new study lets you assess forecasted sales at overall world market and regional level. See financial results, trends, opportunities, and revenue predictions. Much opportunity remains in this growing Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Market. See how to exploit the opportunities.



Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects

 In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

 You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

 Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints, and challenges), Porters Five Forces, & SWOT Analysis, product profiles and commercial developments.



Discover sales predictions for the world market and submarkets



Vehicle Type

 Passenger Vehicle

 Bus

 Light Commercial Vehicle

 Trucks



Range

 Short Range Distance

 Long Range Distance



Type

 PEMFC

 AMFC

 DMFC



In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 13 leading national markets:



By Region

 U.S.

 China

 Japan

 Korea

 Germany

 France

 Netherlands

 UK

 Norway

 Switzerland

 Belgium

 Italy

 Rest of the World



Leading companies and the potential for market growth



Overall world revenue for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) market will surpass US$1 billion in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.



How the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Market report helps you



In summary, our 560+ page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Market, with forecasts for Vehicle Type, Range, and Type, each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 13 key national markets See forecasts for the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) market in the U.S., China, Japan, Korea, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, and among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) market. Some of the companys profiled in this report include Ballard Power Systems, BorgWarner Inc., Cummins Inc., Doosan Fuel Cell Co Ltd., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., Hyundai Motor Group, Nissan, Nikola Corporation, Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology BV, NUVERA FUEL CELLS, LLC, PLUG POWER INC., Robert Bosch GmbH, SFC Energy AG, Toyota, and Watt Fuel Cell Corporation among other prominent players.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06245874/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Doug Scott (left) and Sir Chris Bonington, who launched CAN in 2015

A SPECIAL event to celebrate one of Cumbria's most well-known mountaineers will kick-off soon.

At an event organised by the charity Community Action Nepal (CAN), fellow Cumbrian figures Sir Chris Bonington and Leo Houlding will be joined by Stephen Venables and Paul Tut Braithwaite to celebrate Doug Scott.

The event, called Doug Scott: Never Had A Proper Job, will be hosted by renowned author and broadcaster Julie Summers.

Also participating in person will be Dougs life-long friend, and trustee of CAN, Dr Rob Lorge.

During the evening, Rheinhold Messner, one of the worlds most famous mountaineers, will deliver a message by video.

In addition, outdoor brand Berghaus is flying Pertemba Sherpa and Ang Phurba Sherpa over from Nepal, who supported Doug and Chris on many of their expeditions, and this will be a rare and possibly final opportunity for those involved in the occasion to meet up.

News and Star: Chris and Doug on Shepherd's Crag in the Lake District, photographed for an advertising campaign by Berghaus in 2001

Chris and Doug on Shepherd's Crag in the Lake District, photographed for an advertising campaign by Berghaus in 2001

Pertemba Sherpa was the chief Sherpa on the Everest expedition of 1975, led by Chris Bonington, during which Doug Scott and Dougal Haston were the first Britons to successfully reach the summit of the mountain.

Ang Phurba Sherpa joined Chris and Doug on later expeditions in the 1980s and 1990s.

News and Star: PEAK: The summit of Mount Everest

PEAK: The summit of Mount Everest

Together, the panel will celebrate Doug Scotts achievements, both on and away from the mountains.

They will discuss Dougs pioneering style of climbing, his tenacity and strength in the face of adversity, his adventures on Everest, the Ogre and elsewhere, and his enduring passion for giving back to the mountain communities of Nepal through Community Action Nepal, the charity that he founded and worked tirelessly for right up until his death in December 2020, after being diagnosed with an inoperable cerebral lymphoma earlier that year.

News and Star: PINNACLE: Doug Scott on the summit of Everest having made the first ascent of the mountains South West Face. Picture: Dougal Haston

PINNACLE: Doug Scott on the summit of Everest having made the first ascent of the mountains South West Face. Picture: Dougal Haston

Story continues

Following the event held at The Royal Geographical Society in London on Thursday, March 24, the two Sherpas will travel to Cumbria and stay with Dougs widow Trish.

While in the Lake District, they will join Sir Chris, Leo, Tut, Trish, Dougs sons and some close friends for a hike up Dougs favourite local peak, Carrock Fell.

Tickets for attending the event in person are completely sold-out, but the public can join virtually, through a live stream on the Community Action Nepal YouTube channel.

Tickets for the online screening are available by clicking here or via the charitys website.

Online tickets are available in return for a donation of choice, with all proceeds going directly towards supporting the work of Community Action Nepal.
When 8-year-old Christodiah Amoah came to the U.S from Ghana 11 years ago, it was the beginning of many new experiences that would help inspire her to adjust to changeand become a leader.

It was cold, and there was snow everywhere, she said. That was my first time seeing snow and honestly, I was amazed and scared at the same time. I was like its so cold but this is so beautiful.

She built her first snowman with guidance from her father.

Today, shes adjusted to the temperaturesstills enjoys the snowand has her sight set on a nursing degree. Shes also a fierce debater, having won the UNG Oconee Communication Station debate December 2021.

The Athens resident is philosophical about using her debate skills in her healthcare future.

People are different and have different strengths different weaknesses, like points of view. You have to learn how to combine those and use them to whatever point you're trying to achieve, Amoah said.

But you can't be someone that just sits on the side and not help others, she explained. You have to be able to help other people be selfless, be innovative, a quick thinker, and be non-judgmental.

Applied to nursing, it translates to being a quick thinker, following doctor's orders, being able to advocate for the patient, and uphold patients rights.

Quick-thinking is an underrated leadership quality. Decisions may need to be made quickly and people often believe theres time to really think things through and weigh different perspectives. You have to be able to see different perspectives, but also be able to decide quickly if its needed, Amoah said.

As student government president at Shoal Creek High School, said she used the entire body of government, referring to it as a team, reverting back to her snowman-creating team days.

I like to like use the entire team, she said. Teamwork is important. I like to get input and then apply it. I wouldn't say relying on others, but rather everybody putting their hands in.

Patience is another key quality for strong leadership, Amoah said.

Learn to be patient, learn how to talk through things you know, and acquire knowledge first before just rushing through everything, she said. If you don't have patience then a lot of things are going to frustrate you, many may make you mad. You could miss a lot of things. But if you wait, you would have gotten them. You have to be a patient leader.
COLOMBO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-two school students were injured when the bus which they were traveling in crashed into a tree in Walasmulla in southern Sri Lanka on Friday, police said.

Police said the accident, caused by a brake failure, took place while the students were returning from an educational trip.

The injured students have been rushed to the Walasmulla hospital by local residents.

Sri Lanka faces a high number of road accidents with 52 fatal motor accidents reported from Dec. 25 to 31, 2021 alone, which left 53 people dead, police said.

According to official figures, a total of 2,365 fatal motor accidents were reported in 2021, resulting in the deaths of 2,461 people. 
HANOI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam recorded 163,174 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, according to its Ministry of Health.

The new infections, logged in 62 localities nationwide, included 163,165 domestically transmitted and nine imported.

Vietnamese capital Hanoi remained the epidemic hotspot with 23,578 cases reported on Friday, followed by the central Nghe An province with 9,968 cases, and the northern Phu Tho province with 8,042 cases.

On the same day, health authorities also documented 34,302 COVID-19 cases detected earlier in the northern Bac Giang province.

The newly registered infections brought the total tally to 7,367,112, with 41,740 deaths. Nationwide, as many as 3,861,959 COVID-19 patients, or 52 percent of the total infections, have so far recovered.

More than 201.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the Southeast Asian country, including 184.3 million shots for people aged 18 and above, said the ministry.

Vietnam has by far gone through four coronavirus waves of increasing scale, complication, and infectivity. As of Friday, it has registered nearly 7.36 million locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since the start of the current wave in April 2021, said the health ministry. 
The final leg of Interstate 35 widening through Waco, immediately south of the ongoing project, could launch in 2027, though it will be competing for funding with an Interstate 14 project, Texas Department of Transportation officials said Thursday.

The Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization voted in 2020 to postpone the additional widening instead of pushing to start it as soon as the ongoing project wraps up. The next phase of widening will run from the south end of Loop 340 to 12th Street, where the ongoing work starts and continues to the north end of Loop 340. The two phases were initially pitched as a single project, then split up because of funding constraints.

During an MPO Policy Board meeting Thursday, TxDOT officials outlined how the next phase could be funded in 2027.

Victor Goebel, director of transportation planning and development for the TxDOT Waco District, said the department is still waiting to find out how much money from the federal infrastructure law passed last year will go into each of the departments funding categories, which will be finalized in August and affect the projects prospects.

Some of the funding issues were dealing with right now are actually funding windfalls, Goebel said.

TxDOT proposes funding half the estimated $262 million Waco project with a combination of $67 million from the Waco Districts discretionary funds and $64 million from the Waco MPOs state funding allocation. The request for the other half, about $131 million, would go to the Texas Transportation Commission.

Goebel said that will be a big ask, but the projects chances are helped because it is ready to go, with plans 95% complete, no utility relocations needed and all of the right-of-way purchased ahead of time.

He said Wacos TxDOT district, which covers eight counties, includes the territory of the Killeen-Temple MPO, meaning the Waco project likely will be competing for funding with a project to widen I-14 from four lanes to six lanes.

Whichever one of those they would choose, or maybe both of them, its our duty to try to be ready as well as we can for both MPOs and have a project ready to go to take advantage of those excess funds, Goebel said. Because its not every day you have in a multi-billion dollar infrastructure bill to make that happen.

Goebel said TxDOT could also decide to fund the I-35 project abruptly, though that would happen a year from now at the earliest.

TxDOT Waco District Engineer Stan Swiatek said the stretch targeted for the Waco project is the only unimproved stretch of I-35, with the exception of downtown Austin, from Laredo all the way to the Red River.

Its on the radar, so to speak, at the commission level, and it has been on the radar ever since Ive been in Waco, Swiatek said.

He has been Wacos district engineer since 2017.

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So, what shall we make of Rep. Kinzingers apology?

Adam Kinzinger, Republican from Illinois, took to Twitter last Friday with a remarkable statement of contrition for failing to hold the last president accountable. He wrote that his biggest regret was his decision to vote against Donald Trumps first impeachment. The bottom line, Donald Trump withheld lethal aid to Ukraine so he could use it as leverage for his campaign. This is a shameful and illegal act, directly hurting the Ukraine defense today. I wish I could go back in time and vote for it, but I cannot. What we can do now is to ensure that this NEVER happens again, and that we all put the interests of our nation above our party.

The reference, of course, is to the infamous phone call in which Trump sought to strong-arm Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who wanted him to release an already approved $400 million in military aid.

I would like you to do us a favor, though, oozed Trump, going on to press Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on Joe Biden. That implicit quid pro quo was deplorable in 2019. With Russian tanks knocking on Zelenskyys door, it feels obscene.

In fairness, though, the Obama administration also resisted arming Ukraine. And Trump did send anti-tank missiles to Ukraine in 2017, albeit under the proviso that they be used only as a symbolic deterrent against Russian aggression. When details of his phone call came out, he scurried to release further aid.

Point being, the real question raised by Kinzingers apology is not whether Ukraine would have been better off had he done the right thing, but whether America would. To which the answer is yes. And it is possible to be impressed by Kinzingers integrity, yet also feel that that very probity makes the behavior hes apologizing for seem all the more tawdry and shameful. How could a man of such ostentatious honor not bring himself to do the right thing when doing the right thing might have mattered?

Yes, Trump was impeached by the House (later acquitted in the Senate) without Kinzinger or any other Republicans vote. But had Kinzinger broken with his party then, might it not have helped persuade other members in both houses to do the same? Might it not, at a minimum, have weakened the Republican canard that this was a partisan power grab?

Two presidents were impeached before Trump: Andrew Johnson, who violated the Tenure of Office Act, barring him from firing a cabinet member, and Bill Clinton, who lied about a consensual liaison with an intern. Those crimes are laughably negligible by comparison with Trump using the power of his office for his own gain. And if the seriousness of Trumps transgression is obvious now, well, it was no less obvious in 2019. The only conceivable reason for Kinzingers inability to see it then, as he himself says, is that he forgot country supersedes party.

Thats a rather basic truth to lose sight of. But then, the GOP seems to do so quite a bit.

And that is a clear and present danger to the health of this democracy. Indeed, Trumps gangsterism, appalling as it was, was less of a threat to this country than the moral destitution that emboldened and enabled it.

One is glad for Kinzingers apology. But an effective apology is restorative; it repairs the broken thing. So one hopes Kinzinger finds creative ways of reminding his ideological soul mates of what it is they should be pledging allegiance to.

Because the best apology for what he did is to stop others from doing the same.
WATERLOO  During her interview to become director of the countys health department in 2016, Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye was told that one of her priorities needed to be getting national accreditation for her department.

Now, even through layoffs and the demands of the coronavirus pandemic, Egbuonye can finally say its checked off the list.

Collectively, as a department, we all wanted this, she said in an interview. Not a single person said they want to stop the process.

The department announced this week it was awarded national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board, a rigorous, multi-year process that shows the departments capacity to carry out essential services, manage its department and communications with the county effectively, and have a strong commitment to serving the community, according to a recent release.

Achieving national accreditation for the first time in the departments history means we are meeting the highest standards as a public health agency, said the Rev. Mary Robinson, chair of the county board of health. We are proud of the outstanding leadership and service that the Black Hawk County Public Health staff demonstrates to our community.

The county joins five other county health departments in Iowa, along with the state Department of Health, in being accredited by the organization, according to PHAB. As of November, the last time the PHAB list was updated, 336 entities across the U.S. had been accredited or reaccredited, which lasts for five years.

Accreditation is voluntary, but gives entities a set of practice-focused and evidence-based standards that help it better serve its community, the nonprofit PHAB, which started in 2007, says.

Just going through the accreditation process itself helps health departments pinpoint the areas that are critical to improving the work they do for their communities, said Paul Kuehnert, CEO of PHAB, said in the release.

For Egbuonye, that work includes things like increasing the ability to respond to public health emergencies and threats, strengthening relationships with partner organizations, having the ability to seek out funding from the CDC, and working toward equity in its programs.

The county serves a vastly diverse population, and so we have to be intentional about the quality of service were providing, she said.

She praised her team, particularly accreditation coordinator Joshua Pikora, for the achievement.

We rebuilt, and then we had to respond to a pandemic. All of these different elements go to show the resiliency of the team and their strength and commitment to serving the community, Egbuonye said. Im so honored to be part of this organization and the Black Hawk County community.

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CEDAR FALLS  Police arrested a Waterloo man Thursday in connection with alleged burglaries on West 10th Street and Tremont Street.

Shane Robert Spooner, 34, was charged with two felonies for second and third degree burglary and two serious misdemeanors for a fourth degree criminal mischief and eluding authorities.

According to a Thursday evening news release from the Cedar Falls Police Department, a resident at 903 W. 10th St. called 911 after reportedly hearing the front door of their house being kicked down and then finding a man breaking into it to steal items.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a white truck with a blue tarp covering the back.

Police later located the truck and attempted to pull it over. From there, a chase ensued for several blocks until the man jumped from the vehicle and tried to flee on foot.

Officers tracked him down without further incident.

In the truck was a bicycle that also was reported stolen from a garage at 1109 Tremont St.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, said the press release. The Cedar Falls Police Department asks for the publics help. Please notify the police department if you any information, or video footage, of the incident.

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DES MOINES  A new round of federal pandemic relief funding is being distributed to Iowa airports.

The money will be distributed through the Iowa Commercial Aviation Infrastructure Fund, with 10%  or $10 million  being split equally among the airports, and the rest allocated based on 2019 travel numbers.

Each of the eight airports, including Waterloo Regional Airport, will receive a base grant of $1.25 million, plus a share of the remaining $90 million based on passenger numbers.

During a news conference Wednesday at Des Moines International Airport, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the $100 million in funding, which is from the federal American Rescue Plan passed in 2021 by Congress and President Joe Biden.

Iowas commercial airports play a vital role in supporting the economic development and prosperity of our state, and we need to ensure that continues to be the case for many more years to come, Reynolds said. This significant investment will help maintain momentum and encourage ongoing growth through transformative projects that will greatly benefit Iowans and other travelers that utilize our air transportation system.

Des Moines International Airport is eligible for $58.7 million of that money, director Kevin Foley wrote in an email earlier this week. The airport plans on spending those funds on a new terminal.

The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids will be eligible for $28.4 million, which will enable it to complete the fourth and final phase of its terminal upgrade project, an airport official said.

Other airports to receive funding:

Southeast Iowa Regional Airport (Burlington).

Dubuque Regional Airport.

Fort Dodge Regional Airport.

Mason City Municipal Airport.

Sioux Gateway Airport (Sioux City).

Leaders in the Iowa Democratic Party highlighted the fact that the federal American Rescue Plan was supported mostly by congressional Democrats. U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, Iowas lone Democrat in Congress, was the only member of the states delegation to vote for the funding. When the funding was being considered by Congress, Reynolds, a Republican, signed a letter with 21 other governors expressing their opposition.

Instead of taking credit for the funding that will revitalize airports all around the state, Kim Reynolds should thank President Biden and Congresswoman Cindy Axne for securing this critical investment for Iowas infrastructure, Ross Wilburn, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, said in a statement.

Reynolds on Wednesday called the latest disbursement of the federal pandemic relief funds strategic and responsible.

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Troy Driver, accused of killing Naomi Irion, has been formally charged with murder and will be held without bail at the Lyon County Jail.

The arraignment happened Friday, April 8th at a hearing at the Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley. Driver appeared via zoom from Yerington.

The Lyon County District Attorneys Office says Troy Driver fatally shot Naomi Irion before burying her body in the desert, according to an amended criminal complaint.

Lyon County District Attorney Stephen Rye filed the amended criminal complaint Tuesday adding first-degree murder and other crimes to the kidnapping charge already facing 41-year-old Troy Driver.

Driver is accused of kidnapping Irion from the Fernley Walmart parking lot on March 12, and killing her on or before March 25 - the same day Driver was arrested for kidnapping.

Four days later, authorities say investigators acted on a tip and found her body in a grave near the Churchill County line.

Drivers been held in the Lyon County Jail in Fernley on $750,000 bondable bail since his arrest.

Hes now accused of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping, robbery, burglary of a motor vehicle and destroying evidence, according to the new complaint Rye filed Tuesday in Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley.

Drivers public defender, Mario Walther, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The complaint said Driver shot Irion in Churchill County northeast of Fernley, where he took her for the purpose of committing sexual assault and/or purpose of killing her.

The document also alleged that Driver destroyed her cell phone and left pieces in Lyon, Churchill, Pershing, Humboldt and Eureka counties.

The Lyon County Sheriff's Office says Driver shot Irion in the head and chest.

The local community has been rallying around this family since this all started - there are a couple of events this weekend.

Kim Lovett, a Fernley resident says, "For this to happen is a scary thing, that even in our quiet little sleepy town that we have predators out there that would do something like this."

A devastated community that carried hopes of finding Naomi for weeks, and went on countless searches with her family. They said this outcome wasn't one anyone wanted. Some of the resident we spoke with extended their condolences to Naomi's family, and want them to know they are supported. Tisha Leija, another Fernley resident visibly upset told us, "I can't even imagine... the first thing I thought of was poor mom...poor mom...very sad. "

----------------------------------------------------------

The man accused of kidnapping Naomi Irion will stay in Lyon County Jail on $750,000 bondable bail.

41-year-old Troy E. Driver was arrested and booked into the jail last Friday. He's officially now charged with first degree kidnapping, a felony.

"Should the defendant post bail, he will not be released from custody until a GPS monitoring device is installed," Judge Lori Matheus, Canal Township Justice Court said.

The judge set Driver's preliminary hearing for April 12 for 1:30pm.

Irion's family attended the court hearing.

"It does look like they're going to be posting bail, from what I understand, so he's the only one who can help us bring Naomi home," Casey Valley, Irion's brother said. "He's the only one that we know about."

If he does get released from jail, Driver will be ordered to stay out of Fernley. He also must not contact Irion's family.

Driver has a criminal history. According to old articles in the Ukiah Daily Journal, he pleaded guilty to accessory to murder after the fact for his role in a 1997 homicide in Willits, California. He was 17 years old at the time of the murder. The article says Driver stuffed the body of an alleged drug dealer, Paul Steven Rodriguez in a trunk and then left it in a wooded area. The article says he pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery and one of burglary. A judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison but the article said he could have been released after serving 12.

"It is upsetting to me that there is people out here in the general public that have these capabilities with this kind of past and people should be more aware of that," Naomi's brother, Casey Valley, said. "We talk about sex offenders all the time but where is the list with this guy?"

Deputies also announced Friday, March 25th that Driver's Chevy truck was impounded and is being processed for possible evidence.

This photo below, shows the truck being taken into evidence. David Ausano took the picture from his porch in Fallon, the night of March 25, 2022.

A second public search was organized for Saturday, March 26th, 2022 by Naomi's brother, Casey Valley.

In a Facebook post, he asked community members to gather at Love's Travel Stop on Commerce Center Drive in Fernley, Saturday at 10am. Valley says, "this will be the first of a few areas of a concentrated search." He also requested no pets or children.

During the search on March 26th, more than 110 people showed up to help find Naomi. Diana Irion says she's been getting massages from all over the country from people who want to help her family.

Casey Valley tells us, "Today's search covered more ground, if not just as much, as last weekends search."

--------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday, March 24th, Lyon County Deputies said they identified a potential witness vehicle and occupant(s) that appears in the Walmart parking lot minutes before Naomi was abducted. They say they've contacted the occupant of the car.

The 4-door sedan enters the east Walmart parking lot at approximately 5:15 a.m. and then drives around the median on the east side before parking at the the southeast corner of the Walmart building.

Police were able to locate the vehicle with help from the public.

Irion was last seen March 12th at the parking lot at the Fernley Walmart. Her car was found a few days later and is undergoing processing for possible evidence.

The Lyon County Sheriff's Office held a press conference on Tuesday, along with Irion's family where again they asked for the public's help in finding her, adding they are getting "hundreds" of tips everyday.

They also mentioned that her car, which was found a few days after her disappearance, is still undergoing processing for any related evidence.

Her family also made another plea for help, with her mother saying, "please save my daughter. Bring her home." Because Irion's possible kidnapping happened near I-80, her mother also said that her daughter could be anywhere in the U.S. by now.

Irion's sister and brother also spoke, mentioning that tips to law enforcement can stay anonymous, if need be. He also said that another search will happen this Saturday.

During the weekend, the Lyon County Sheriff's Office released new surveillance video from the Walmart parking lot where Naomi was reportedly last seen.

The footage shows the suspect standing in front of the Walmart entrance, pacing the east side of the building, before walking toward the front of cars with their headlights on.

Authorities say this footage was recorded minutes before Naomi was abducted.

If you were in the east Walmart parking lot between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. on March 12th, 2022 and have not been contacted by law enforcement, reach out to the Lyon County Sheriffs Office, Major Crimes Bureau.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office can be reached at 775-463-6620, Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or by email at detective@lyon-county.org.

Authorities said a cell phone ping led officers to the Wadsworth area last week.

She was last seen wearing a blue Panasonic company shirt, gray cardigan sweater, gray pants, brown boots and was carrying a black purse. She had an iPhone, Airpods and a fidget spinner.

She is 511 tall, weighs about 230 pounds and has green eyes. Her hair is currently dyed black and she has a septum piercing and smiley face tattoo on her right ankle.

On Thursday, March 17th, Lyon County deputies announced that they were working with the Pyramid Lake Police Department and the FBI near Highway 427 in Wadsworth searching for evidence related to the disappearance of Naomi Irion.

They asked the public to stay away from the area as not to damage any evidence.

Her family made a public plea on Thursday for her safe return.

Authorities also thanked the Fernley community for their help. Her family members said that they are in contact with police about the case's progression.

On Friday, supporters gathered at the Round Table Pizza in Fernley to make signs to post around town in hopes of someone recognizing Irion's photo and calling police with information.

The newest released photos show Irion on the morning she was last seen and also include a person of interest.

The investigation now indicates that the suspect may be driving a dark 2020 or newer Chevrolet, 2500, High Country 4-Door Pickup Truck.

Authorities say the forensic evidence collected by investigators show that her disappearance is 'suspicious' in nature and that the driver of the truck "has a direct connection to her disappearance and her current whereabouts."

Previous video surveillance showed that person walking from a nearby 'homeless camp' looking in cars.

The unknown person then gets into the driver's seat of Irion's Mercury Sable and then leaves with her in the passenger seat.

During the course of the investigation, evidence was discovered leading investigators to believe Naomis disappearance was suspicious in nature.

Her 1992 blue Sable has a Nevada license plate of 595T37 was located in a industrial park in Fernley and has since been searched and forensically analyzed.

The first vehicle photo with the plate is Naomi's actual vehicle. The second vehicle photo is a stock photo and not her actual car.

If you have any information, contact Lyon County Sheriff's Office with case number 22ly01068 at 775-463-6620, or call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.
CANBERRA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Epidemiology and tourism experts have welcomed Australia's move to open the country's borders after nearly two years.

It has been nearly a month since February 21 when Australia's borders opened to all travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

It marked an end to the "Fortress Australia" approach to the coronavirus pandemic, which began more than 700 days earlier when Prime Minister Scott Morrison closed the border to all non-citizens and residents from March 20, 2020 and imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for arrivals.

Along with strict lockdowns, the border closure has been credited with Australia's relative success managing COVID-19, with the country reporting approximately 30,000 cases in the first year of the pandemic.

However, the federal government faced widespread criticism for failing to repatriate Australians who were left stuck overseas due to caps on international arrivals that were introduced to ease pressure on the hotel quarantine system.

Matthew Mason, an expert in infectious diseases and infection prevention expert at the University of the Sunshine Coast, told Xinhua that he welcomes the idea of easing border restrictions.

"We did have a lot of people who should have been able to come home and all that able to get home," he said. "I think the limits that we put on were probably in excess of what was needed."

In September 2020, Morrison promised that by Christmas on December 25 the government would repatriate all 24,000 Australians overseas who had registered with embassies to return home.

By November the figure had increased to 36,875, with 8,070 of whom considered vulnerable, where it remained until March 2021.

Mason was critical of the amount of time it took the government to set up dedicated quarantine facilities for returning Australians.

For a long time, Howard Springs, a former mining camp on the outskirts of Darwin, was Australia's only dedicated quarantine facility for international arrivals.

Queensland opened a custom-built quarantine facility in January.

Victoria opened its own quarantine hub on February 19, two days before the border re-opened to tourists, following a funding dispute between the federal and state governments.

"They had to be up and running a lot earlier so that we could have some international travel," Mason, who works with the World Health Organization via the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network program, said.

In addition to allowing for the free return of Australians to the country, the easing border restrictions also mark the start of the recovery for the nation's tourism industry.

At the time the borders were closed in 2020 Treasurer Josh Frydenberg acknowledged that the restrictions would have a significant impact on tourism.

The protracted closure has crippled the industry.

According to Tourism Australia, a government agency, tourism in Australia was a driver of economic growth, with domestic and international tourism spend 122 billion Australian dollars (about 90 billion U.S. dollars) in the 2018-19 financial year.

In the 12 months to June 2019, about 9.3 million international travelers visited the country, who injected 44.6 billion AUD (about 33 billion USD) into Australia's economy.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there were 245,770 visitor arrivals in 2021, down 86.6 percent on the previous year.

As a result, the value of the tourism industry fell 41 percent to 81 billion AUD (59.7 billion USD) in the financial year 2020-21.

Before the pandemic the Chinese mainland and New Zealand were Australia's biggest tourism markets, with 1.3 million people from each origin visiting Australia in 2019.

However, while travelers from New Zealand spent a combined 2.6 billion AUD (1.9 billion USD) in Australia in 2019, those from China spent 12.4 billion AUD (9.1 billion USD), significantly more than those from any other country.

Even with borders opened, experts have forecast that it could take 18 months before international visitor numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.

Sam Huang, an expert in China-Australia tourism from Edith Cowan University, said that Australia's recovery could be "very slow" as COVID-19 cases again surge across Australia and could take up to four years for Chinese visitor numbers to recover.

"Even though the borders are open, we still see the pandemic is going on," Huang who formerly worked at the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) told Xinhua.

"The recovery may be very slow. People are still very concerned about the virus."

"As a destination, if we still have cases here, that fact would deter people from coming to visit."

"Before the pandemic we're seeing 1.3 million visitors from China in 2019. It's unlikely we can recover to that level very quickly."

He said Australia's relative success managing the pandemic and the country's natural attractions could still act as major draw cards for tourists.

"I would say after the pandemic Australia would remain more attractive because we have our world class natural beauties and we have nature-based tourism resources in most states," he said.

"Chinese tourists may prefer nature-based tourism attractions after the pandemic. In that regard Australia is better positioned to attract Chinese tourists, that may be part of a competitive advantage."

The federal government on Tuesday further eased Australia's border restrictions by announcing that the country's ban on the arrival of large international cruise ships will be lifted after more than two years.

Before the ban the cruise ship industry employed 18,000 Australians, with more than 600,000 international visitors arriving on cruises in financial year 2018-19.

The move was welcomed by the industry, which previously criticized the government for failing to lift the ban at the same time it opened the border to planes in February.

When the ban is lifted, it will mark an end to Australia's travel restrictions for all fully vaccinated travelers.

"It's about 5.2 billion AUD (3.8 billion USD) and about 18,000 direct jobs," John Hart, executive chair of the Australian Chamber for Tourism, told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) about the value of the cruise industry.

"But it's not just that that's important. It's important that on embarkation we get all sorts of accommodation bookings, as we do bookings for restaurants, attractions, at all the ports of call," he said. "It's a massive contribution to our tourism ecosystem." 
Weather Alert

...MORE WINDY DAYS ON THE WAY, WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND... --Thursday and Friday-- * A pair of systems brushing through the region will bring gusty winds both days, with even stronger winds possible on Friday. Winds will bring travel difficulties both in the air and on the ground. Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with CalTrans/NDOT for the current road information. Please see the latest hazard text products for the latest information on anticipated wind speeds. * Area of blowing dust are possible both afternoons downwind of the Carson Sink, possibly affecting portions of I-80, US 50, and Highway 95. In addition, backcountry and ski recreation could be impacted along with choppy conditions on area lakes. * A few light showers with minimal liquid totals are possible in far northern Nevada and northeast California. --Mother's Day Weekend into Early Next Week-- * It will remain breezy throughout the weekend, with a secondary max in wind speeds on Sunday due to a strong cold front. This front will usher in a much colder air mass and high temperatures on Mother's Day will be 15-20 degrees below normal. * There will be rain and snow showers with the front, but again, liquid amounts will be minimal. There are solid chances for snow levels to fall to all valley floors by Sunday evening, which may catch many off guard, though it is hard to get snow to stick to roadways in lower elevation valleys this late in the spring. * Well below normal temperatures and chances for light showers will continue into Monday and Tuesday next week. While still some uncertainty due to winds and cloud cover, it's possible we could have frost and freeze concerns Sunday and Monday nights.

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM PDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. Wind prone areas may experience gusts in excess of 60 mph. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph and waves of 2 to 4 feet expected on Pyramid Lake. * WHERE...Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake. * WHEN...From 11 AM to 9 PM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and high profile vehicles will be prone to tip over. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Blowing dust may locally reduce visibility downwind of dry lake beds and sinks. Small boats, kayaks and paddle boards will be prone to capsizing. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with NDOT for the latest on road conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Now is the time to secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, holiday decorations, and trash cans before winds increase which could blow these items away. The best thing to do is prepare ahead of time by making sure you have extra food and water on hand, flashlights with spare batteries and/or candles in the event of a power outage. Check lake conditions before heading out on the water and be prepared for a sudden increase in winds and wave heights. Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind. &&
BANGKOK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China's development experience in poverty reduction and technological progress in particular inspires other developing countries, said a Thai scholar.

Aksornsri Phanishsarn, associate professor of the Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University, said China, by implementing targeted poverty reduction measures, instead of one-size-fits-all approach, has improved the livelihood and incomes of its poor population and achieved the goal of eradicating extreme poverty.

In an interview with Xinhua, Aksornsri summarized China's keys in such success as wise leadership and detailed directions, data-based governance system, as well as financial input and coordinated allocation of resources nationwide.

China's targeted poverty reduction measures will be helpful to other developing countries, she said, adding that Thailand values China's development experience and hopes that the targeted poverty-reduction policies would help Thailand support those living under the poverty line and address the widening gap between the rich and poor.

Aksornsri said China has increased financial input in scientific and technological sectors, and yielded substantial results in innovation-driven development and technological progress, especially in the fields of 5G, artificial intelligence as well as aerospace science and technology, among other frontier fields.

China's spending on research and development (R&D) hit a new high of 2.44 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, up 0.03 percentage points from the previous year, China's official data showed.

China's total expenditure on R&D amounted to about 2.79 trillion yuan (about 441.13 billion U.S. dollars) last year, up 14.2 percent year on year, a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics said.

"We are happy to see that Thailand and China are expanding cooperation in the scientific and technological sectors," she said.

She praised China's role in helping address complex challenges facing the world, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, saying that China's efforts in urging relevant parties to resolve conflicts through negotiation and cooperation are admirable.

She expected China to continue to play a constructive role in pushing forward the building of an international community with a shared future and closer cooperation for common development. 


Update to WA Court Decision on Billabong Gold Matter

Sydney, Mar 18, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Vango Mining Limited ( ASX:VAN ) is pleased to notify the market of its successful opposition to Billabong Gold's attempt, in the WA Court of Appeal on 11 March 2022, to obtain a stay of a mandatory injunction. The mandatory injunction was issued on 11 February 2022 by Justice Martin as a result of the decision he handed down on 14 December 2021.The terms of the mandatory injunction required Vango to issue two specifically formulated offers to Billabong by 14 February 2022 and for Billabong to decide whether it wished to accept one of the offers by no later than 11 March 2022.Vango wholly complied with its obligations pursuant to the mandatory injunction.Billabong sought a stay to defer its obligations pursuant to the mandatory injunction until after its Appeal has been heard and determined.The stay was refused by the Court of Appeal and costs were awarded against Billabong for its application.Following its failure to obtain a stay, Billabong accepted an offer from Vango on 11 March 2022. The acceptance of this offer will now provide it with an opportunity to earn an interest in, and work with Vango in relation to, the K2 tenement by contributing at least $3,000,000 to its development. It will also have an opportunity to undertake good faith negotiations with Vango for the possibility of entering into a future mining agreement which would see, if an agreement can be reached, the potential to earn an interest in other tenements that may be subject to development.Vango is looking forward to working with Billabong in developing K2, and possibly other tenements, over the next year.While Vango considers the Appeal by Billabong to be nothing more than a minor distraction to the day to day operations of its core business, it remains committed to again defeating Billabong in relation to its assertion that it was entitled to be offered further historical agreements.Vango remains open to a commercial resolution of the Appeal with Billabong so that both companies may put all of their efforts into developing their operations for the value of their respective shareholders.About Vango Mining Limited

Vango Mining Limited (ASX:VAN) is a minerals exploration mining company with ambitions of becoming a high-grade WA gold miner by developing the 100% owned Marymia Gold Project (Marymia) in the mid-west region of Western Australia. The Project comprises 45 granted mining leases over 300km. It has an established high-grade resource of 1Moz @ 3g/t Au, underpinned by the Trident Deposit, whose resource is 410koz @ 8g/t Au, with immediate extensions open at depth/along strike.

The Marymia Project has the potential to become one of Australia's largest high-grade producers. The Greenstone Belt in the Marymia region includes six major gold corridors, which remain largely un-tested beyond 100m depth - supported with an extensive drilling and geophysical database. Previous mining between 1992-2001, produced 580,000 ounces of gold almost entirely from open-pits.

Vango is focused on growing its high-grade gold resource to support a proposed stand-alone gold mining and production operation at Marymia. The Project is located along strike, immediately to the north of Superior Gold's (CVE:SGI) Plutonic Gold Mine which has produced more than 5.5Moz of gold.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

An Edgewood man is accused of stabbing his 87-year-old mother to death before covering the home they shared in bleach earlier this month in the East Mountains.

Brian Farley, 51, is charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence in the March 4 death of Fileta Farley. Farley is currently behind bars at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center.

An attorney for Farley could not be reached Thursday.

Because a shotgun was found inside the Edgewood home, federal authorities began looking into whether filing a charge of felon in possession of a firearm would be warranted. They secured a search warrant.

According to the search warrant affidavit, Farley has nine prior arrests in Texas and New Mexico, including for possession of cocaine in 2002 and making terroristic threats in 2012, telling a woman Im going to rip out your teeth and beat you when your husband isnt around. Court records show Farley has had three DWI arrests in New Mexico.

A late-night call on March 4 led Edgewood police to a grisly scene.

Just after midnight, Farley reportedly called 911, crying, and told a dispatcher his mother was unconscious and not breathing, according to a criminal complaint filed in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. Officers responded to the home in the 250 block of Venus, northeast of Interstate 40 and N.M. 344, but nobody answered the door.

Police said an officer looked through a window and saw an elderly woman facedown in the bathroom of the home before Farley opened the front door. He told police he was drunk and he and his mother Fileta had been arguing all day and she started shooting him but he had no visible injuries.

The officers and firefighters were hit with the extremely strong odor of bleach and opened windows in an attempt to air out the home while police investigated, according to the complaint. Police detained Farley and found his mothers body in the blood-spattered bathroom and a shotgun lying on the bed.

Fileta Farley had been stabbed at least 10 times and a bloodied butcher knife was found in the sink near an empty bottle of bleach.

The search warrant states the bathroom door frame and lock were broken as if Fileta Farley had locked herself in to escape her son before he kicked in the door and stabbed her.

Farley asked one officer, What was going to happen to me? and Is my mom OK? but, according to court records, Farley said he would not make a statement before talking to either his mother or an attorney.
Many of us orchestrate our mornings to the tune of caffeine and one local coffee shop owner is using the communitys love of liquid energy to give back.

Every other month, independent coffee shop Rust is Gold, off Eubank and Comanche, allows one of its baristas to craft a drink for which a portion of the proceeds will go to a charity of their choice. For co-owner Steve Maes, its just another opportunity for the community-centered business to give back to those who support them.

Its that interpersonal thing where you have a vested interest in creating something that you know is going to benefit people outside yourself, he said.

KKOB Radio will run the story Friday as part of its Good News File series.

The latest charity concoction is Bluemoon Tea, an electric blue iced drink made from a floral butterfly tea shaken with coconut syrup created by barista Mia Nakagawa. The drink will support Rock 101 Music Academy, a group operating out of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where Nakagawas parents are members.

The academy teaches kids and adults alike how to play everything from the piano to the electric guitar. Its run by local musician Kevin Herrig, who started the program more than a decade ago when he was just 21.

Albuquerque is small. Weve made a lot of connections since we started 12 years ago and Rust is Gold is a great example, Herrig said. We have a summer camp every year and the donations from this drink will help provide a scholarship to give more kids a chance to learn to play music and find community through it.

You can try Bluemoon Tea for yourself through April. Summer sessions for Rock 101 begin in June. To learn more, visit rock101nm.com.

The Good News File is a series of uplifting stories in partnership with KOAT-TV and KKOB Radio. The Journal will publish a Good News feature the first Friday of the month, KOAT-TV will present its feature each second Friday and KKOB each third Friday.
RZESZOW, Poland  As Russias invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth week, aid agencies continue to ramp up their efforts to bring much-needed relief supplies to civilians affected by the fighting, and also to over 3.2 million refugees who have fled the country since the conflict began.

Rzeszow, the largest city in southeastern Poland, roughly 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, has become a humanitarian aid hub for the region. By road and by air, aid supplies  including food, blankets, solar lamps, warm clothing, mattresses, jerrycans and plastic sheeting  continue to arrive in a massive warehouse run by the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, next to the airport outside Rzezsow.

What we have been doing is bringing more people into the country, bringing more assistance into the country, working with partners to make sure that we can work effectively, to do what we can to help, said Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR spokesman.

Saltmarsh said the UNHCRs emergency appeal to provide aid to the countries bordering Ukraine has raised in the past month well over 300 million (U.S. dollars), lots of donations from the private sector and that the agency has managed to deliver some of the relief supplies to Ukraine. So far, the UNCHR has moved 22 trucks and soon plans to move another 10 with emergency supplies to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, not far from the Polish border. Lviv has largely been spared the scale of destruction unfolding further east, becoming the first destination for many of those fleeing the country.

Some of the aid transported to the city has been unloaded and distributed there, Saltmarsh said, but the rest is waiting to go on when the security situation allows humanitarian assistance to reach the hardest-hit parts of the country, including the port city of Mariupol which has been besieged and subjected to punitive Russian attacks almost since the start of the war.

That is obviously very worrying and a big challenge for the humanitarian community, he added.

Some of the refugees arriving in countries bordering Ukraine Thursday spoke of growing desperation in Ukrainian towns besieged and bombed by the Russian army.

There is no water, there is no electricity, there is no foodchildren are crying, it is cold (there) and scary, said Irina Bogdaniuk, 24, from Sumy, in eastern Ukraine, after arriving in the Polish border town of Medyka. Sifting through her phone, Bogdaniuk showed photographs she said she had taken of destruction of her city, including that of a killed civilian lying in a pool of blood in the middle of a street.

A Red Cross official in Lviv said some of the supplies reaching the city were being sent to other parts of Ukraine when that is possible.

Anette Selmber-Andersen from the International Federation of the Red Cross said that so far, 400 tons of aid has been sent into eastern Ukraine. She said food was most needed in the countrys east, but that theres high demand for medecines.

In Lviv itself, the need for psychosocial support services was on the rise because the citys population swelled from 700,000 to about a million in less than a month due to an influx of people displaced by heavy fighting elsewhere in Ukraine, Selmer-Andersen said.

The people coming here have been through extreme situations and they are traumatized, they are afraid, they are worried, she added.

Aid agencies are also stepping up efforts to assist the refugees, about half of them children, who have escaped Ukraine over the past three weeks.

Refugees now arriving in neighboring countries are more vulnerable, in a more traumatic state than those who came in the early days of the war, said Saltmarsh, the UNHCR spokesman.

Kateryna Horiachko, who escaped from the area around the capital, Kyiv, said people there were devastated.

They lost their homes, they lost everything they had, they lost relativesthere is nothing left for (us) than (to) become refugees, added Horiachko, who arrived in Suceava, Romania, on Thursday.

Horiachko said her husband and parents remain in Ukraine and that she was hoping to find a way to support them.

Economy in Ukraine is also ruined, people (are) now without work, without income and they need support, she added.

After disembarking from a train that brought her from Zaporizhzhia, in southeast Ukraine, to the Polish border town of Przemysl, Svitlana Syichova spoke of extreme brutality of Russian forces besieging her city.

They bombed the maternity hospital, pregnant women died, Syichova said, her eyes filling with tears. Why are they doing this to us? We do not understand what is happening.

___

Eldar Emric in Suceava, Romania, Rafal Niedzielski and Maria Grazia Murru in Przemysl, Poland, contributed to this report

___

This story corrects the quote in paragraph 4.
LONDON  Britains communications regulator on Friday revoked the license of the state-funded Russian broadcaster RT amid concern that its coverage of the war in Ukraine was biased.

The decision comes as the regulator, Ofcom, conducts 29 investigations into the impartiality of RTs coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The volume and nature of the issues raised by these inquiries are of great concern, the regulator said, particularly because RT had been fined 200,000 pounds for previous violations of impartiality standards.

RTs funding from the Russian state, as well as the fact that Russia invaded its smaller neighbor, were also part of the decision, Ofcom said.

As a result, Ofcom ruled that RTs parent company, ANO TV Novosti, isnt fit and proper to hold a U.K. broadcast license. The move is largely symbolic, as the broadcaster is already off the air due to sanctions imposed by the European Union.

We also note new laws in Russia which effectively criminalise any independent journalism that departs from the Russian states own news narrative, in particular in relation to the invasion of Ukraine, the regulator said in a statement. We consider that given these constraints it appears impossible for RT to comply with the due impartiality rules of our Broadcasting Code in the circumstances.

RT said in a statement that the regulator had robbed the U.K. public of access to information and ignored its clean record of four consecutive years.

RT deputy editor-in-chief Anna Belkina said that with its decision Ofcom has shown the U.K. public, and the regulatory community internationally, that despite a well-constructed facade of independence, it is nothing more than a tool of government, bending to its media-suppressing will.

Government minister James Heappey said Ofcoms decision was very welcome. But he stressed that it was the regulator that took the choice rather than government.

Meanwhile, a court in Germany has dismissed a legal bid by RT to allow it to continue broadcasting in the country.

Berlins administrative court said Friday that RT DE may not be distributed in Germany pending regular court proceedings in the case. German media regulators last month issued a ban on RT DE citing its lack of broadcasting license.

RT DE had sought an emergency injunction against the ruling.

__

Associated Press Writer Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed.
WASHINGTON  Face to face by video, President Joe Biden laid out to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday the stiff consequences the Chinese would face from the U.S. if they provide military or economic assistance for Russias invasion of Ukraine.

There was no indication he got any assurance in return.

In fact, Xi blamed the U.S. for the crisis and insisted with a Chinese proverb that the next move was up to Biden:

He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off, Xi said, according to a Chinese government readout.

More formally after the nearly two-hour conversation, Chinas Foreign Ministry deplored conflict and confrontation as not in anyones interest, but assigned no blame to Russia and said nothing of next steps.

At the White House, press secretary Jen Psaki said, China has to make a decision for themselves, about where they want to stand and how they want the history books to look at them and view their actions.

She declined to detail possible consequences Biden specified to the Chinese president if his country provides support for the Russian invasion.

But a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the leaders call said that Biden pointed to the economic isolation that Russia has faced  including economy-battering sanctions and major Western corporations suspending operations  as he sought to underscore the costs that China might suffer.

Xi urged the U.S. and Russia, which have had limited engagement since the Feb. 24 invasion, to negotiate. He noted Chinas donations of humanitarian aid for Ukraine, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to the embattled country. He also renewed Chinas criticism of sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion, according to State media. As in the past, Xi did not use the terms war or invasion to describe Russias actions.

Ahead of the call, Psaki noted Beijings rhetorical support of Putin and an absence of denunciation of Russias invasion.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying pushed back, calling the U..S. administration overbearing for suggesting China risks falling on the wrong side of history.

The two leaders also discussed the longer-simmering U.S.-China dispute over Taiwan. In a reminder of Chinas threat to assert its claim by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call. The U.S. is legally obligated to ensure the self-governing island democracy can defend itself and treats threats to it with grave concern.

Planning for the leaders discussion had been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November, but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putins prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were at the center of Fridays conversation.

The U.S.-China relationship, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Bidens presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.

In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xis government tried to distance itself from Russias offensive but avoided the criticism many other nations have leveled at Moscow. At other moments, Beijings actions have been provocative including amplifying unverified Russian claims that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.

Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.

The White House says China has been sending mixed messages. There were initial signs that Chinese state-owned banks were pulling back from financing Russian activities, according to a senior Biden administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal analyses. But there have also been public comments by Chinese officials who expressed support for Russia being a strategic partner.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met in Rome this week for an intense, seven-hour talk about the Russian invasion and other issues.

Ahead of the Rome talks, Sullivan said the U.S. wouldnt abide China or any other country helping Russia work around economy-jarring sanctions inflicted by the U.S. and other allies in response to the invasion.

Sullivan also said the administration determined China knew that Putin was planning something before the invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government may not have understood the full extent of what Putin had in mind.

Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. The two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless friendship.

Beijings leaders would like to be supportive of Russia, but they also recognize how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.

The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Beijing is weighing the potential reputational blowback of being associated with the Russian camp. The Chinese response to Russias request for help is still being formulated, the official said.

Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.

We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength, Fan Xianrong was quoted by Ukraines state news service Ukrinform as telling regional authorities in the western city of Lviv, where the Chinese Embassy has relocated to.

State media quoted Xi as saying China-U.S. relations had yet to emerge from the dilemma created by the previous U.S. administration, but instead encountered more and more challenges, singling out Taiwan as one area in particular.

If the Taiwan issue is not handled properly, it will have an undermining impact on the relationship between the two countries, Xi reportedly told Biden.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Josh Boak and Zeke Miller in Washington and AP news assistant Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.
CABOT, Ark.  A former Arkansas deputy was convicted Friday of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail for fatally shooting an unarmed white teenager whose death last year drew the attention of national civil rights leaders.

Jurors acquitted Michael Davis of the more serious offense of manslaughter while finding him guilty of the misdemeanor charge in the death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a June 23 traffic stop outside Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.

The maximum jail term that Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office, faced was one year. Manslaughter is a felony for which he would have faced between three and 10 years in prison. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis also was sentenced to a $1,000 fine.

Davis remains free on bond pending an appeal.

Davis, who is white, told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck during the stop outside an auto repair shop after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with Davis commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit. A passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands.

The jurys deliberations, which began Thursday afternoon and resumed Friday morning, lasted less than three hours total.

After the verdict was announced, Brittains family and friends chanted justice for Hunter outside the Army National Guard facility that was used for the trial, which began Tuesday.

Rebecca Payne, Brittains grandmother, said family members wanted the deputy convicted of the felony to ensure he could not serve as a law enforcement officer again.

Now whats going to happen? Are people going to have to fear for their lives again? she told reporters.

Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley for not turning on his body camera until after shooting Brittain. The footage, presented at the trial, shows only the moments after it happened.

The passenger in Brittains truck said he and the teen had been working on the pickups transmission. Brittains family members have said he was grabbing a container that held antifreeze to place behind the trucks wheel to stop it from rolling backward. Investigators found no evidence of firearms in or near the truck.

Emotionally recounting the shooting, Davis testified Thursday that he thought the teen was grabbing for a gun.

I didnt get into this job to kill people, Davis said.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, who represent Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. The civil rights attorneys, who also represented George Floyds family after Minneapolis police killed him in May 2020, said: Hunter deserved better.

The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain, the attorneys said in a written statement.

Robert Newcomb, Davis attorney, said he was pleased jurors didnt find his client guilty of manslaughter but planned to challenge the standard they used to determine whether he was negligent.

The police officer has a lot more situational awareness of a danger than maybe your or I would be aware of, Newcomb told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The sheriff said he respected the jurys decision.

As I have said since day one, this was a tragic event and we all need to continue praying for those involved, Staley said in a statement posted on his offices Facebook page.

Brittain was eulogized last year by the Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as Jacob and Crump. They said the teens death highlighted the need for interracial support for changes in policing.
Standing Committee of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee convenes meeting on COVID-19 situation and better and more stringent epidemic prevention and control

Xinhua) 08:39, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee convened a meeting on March 17 to analyze the new development of COVID-19 and arrange for better and more stringent epidemic control. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.

Xi pointed out that China has maintained the policy of "preventing imported cases and domestic resurgences" since routine prevention and control measures were adopted. Xi said that differentiated and targeted prevention and control approach has been improved in accordance with situations in different regions and the levels of sporadic resurgence, and as a result, clusters of infections in certain regions have been swiftly brought under control and people's health and safety have been protected to the utmost. He said that China has done better than most countries in both economic development and COVID-19 containment, which has demonstrated the country's solid strength and capacity in the prevention and control of the epidemic and the advantages of the leadership of the Communist Party of China and of China's socialist system.

Victory comes from perseverance, Xi stressed. All local authorities and government departments must be fully aware of the complex, arduous and enduring nature of COVID-19 control both at home and abroad, further social mobilization, build consensus, proceed with greater confidence and perseverance, and carry out all the epidemic control work in a more solid and meticulous manner. He urged them to always put people and their lives first, adhere to the dynamic zero-COVID approach with science-based and targeted measures, and contain the spread of the virus as soon as possible. Efforts must be taken to make epidemic response more science-based and targeted, keep optimizing our response measures, and step up the research and development of vaccines, rapid testing reagents, and medicines, so that the epidemic control work will be more targeted. Xi also called for maintaining strategic focus, pursuing progress while ensuring stability, coordinating COVID-19 response with economic and social development, adopting more effective measures, striving to achieve the best results in epidemic control with minimum costs, and minimizing the epidemic's impact on the economic and social development.

The Standing Committee pointed out at the meeting that the country has recently seen cluster infections spreading widely and occurring frequently in multiple regions. It required that the local governments, epidemic control authorities, all organizations and individuals must fully take on their responsibilities, comply with the principle of "early detection, early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment" and conduct prevention and control work strictly and earnestly. Guidance for epidemic prevention and control in key regions must also be strengthened to bring local outbreaks under control as soon as possible.

The Standing Committee stressed that we need to keep people's normal work and life stable and orderly, guarantee the production and supply of daily necessities, and meet people's needs for medical treatment. We need to accelerate reforms on the disease control and prevention system, expand monitoring coverage of key groups, and improve the mechanism for monitoring and issuing early warnings through multiple channels so as to comprehensively boost epidemic monitoring, early warning and emergency response capabilities. We will see that port-of-entry areas fulfill their responsibilities for COVID-19 control, increase the resources at their disposal, improve the mechanism for routine epidemic control, and shore up weak links. With all these efforts, we will reinforce the line of defense against imported cases.

We need to strengthen routine epidemic control in schools and other key places. We will see that these key places shoulder their primary responsibilities and keep epidemic containment measures and contingency plans effective and meticulous. We need to work to get our officials and people fully understand the importance of epidemic control and grasp the knowledge about COVID-19 response, so that they can take the initiative in following epidemic prevention rules, strengthen self-protection and work together with the Party and the government to deliver good outcomes in their work. We will increase publicity to raise vaccination awareness, step up booster vaccination efforts and further raise the overall vaccination rates. With all these efforts, we will reinforce the line of defense featuring society-wide prevention and control. We need to take coordinated efforts to better our information publishing and communication work so as to keep the public informed in a timely manner on the latest epidemic situation and progress in COVID-19 response, and actively respond to public concerns.

The Standing Committee requested that all localities and all departments align their thinking and action with the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, both Party committees and governments assume responsibility, all sectors work together, and everyone holds the ground and meets one's responsibility, so as to bolster our epidemic prevention capability. While strengthening organization and leadership, we must not drop our guard, lose drive, take chances or slacken efforts, and we must seize every moment to carry out all epidemic control work in a solid and meticulous manner. Wherever the epidemic situation is serious, the principal leaders of the Party and the government as well as officials at all levels must give top priority to epidemic response and put in their utmost effort to secure the final victory. Party organizations at all levels and all their members and officials should fully play their role, go to the frontline of epidemic control, communicate with the general public, and take active measures to help resolve problems and difficulties for our people. Accountability inspections will be strengthened. Anyone who fails to perform their duties and responsibilities and thus leads to a drastic escalation will be investigated and held to account right away in accordance with discipline and regulations.

Other matters were also discussed at the meeting.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
by Bambang Purwanto

JAKARTA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's state-owned electricity company PT PLN and its subsidiaries have collaborated with the Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC) to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 5 Megawatts (MW) this year.

This collaboration was confirmed in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the strategic cooperation for the acceleration of the battery industry and the electric vehicle program in Indonesia between the PT PLN group and the IBC on March 16.

The program is a follow-up to the IBC's work plan to start a storage battery ecosystem in Indonesia as an effort to accelerate the green energy transition and achieve the net zero emission (NZE) by 2060.

The PLN's Director of Corporate Planning Evy Haryadi said the company realized that the development of new and renewable energy really needs a good BESS.

"The development of renewable energy plants is currently dominated by solar power plants and wind power plants, which are intermittent, and so they require batteries to provide a consistent electricity supply," Haryadi said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

Moreover, PT PLN has a plan to have a program on the conversion from a diesel generating power to a new and renewable energy which will be implemented in the near future, he said, adding that in line with the plan, the role of a BESS is very important to make the electricity supply to the community run around the clock.

In building this BESS, PT PLN has its subsidiaries engaged in the generation sector, namely PT Indonesia Power (IP) and PT Pembangkitan Jawa Bali (PJB), as well as the Electricity Maintenance Center business unit, as in the future, BESS technology would be applied to all power plants belonging to the PT PLN Group.

"The implementation of the cooperation that will be carried out by PT PLN, IP, PJB, and IBC in 2022 is to form a joint operation cooperation for the BESS pilot project of 5 MW," he said.

He also hoped that after conducting a joint pilot project, the joint operation would be directly implemented in PT PLN's de-dieselization program.

The IBC's finance director Bernardi Djumiril positively welcomed the collaboration between the IBC and the PLN Group which will accelerate the development of BESS in Indonesia, as this is in accordance with the company's goal to produce high-quality batteries at lower prices.

"The development and research must be encouraged in such a way that the BESS development can be accelerated properly and effectively," Bernardi said.

With the cooperation, the IBC's vision to create an integrated battery industry from upstream to downstream can be realized more quickly.

In addition, PT PLN is also collaborating with PT Energy Indonesia Berkarya (EIB), which is a subsidiary of the Sinarmas Group (one of the largest conglomerates in Indonesia), in developing the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in Indonesia.

PT PLN and PT EIB will cooperate in providing an EV Charging facility in the form of electric vehicle charging station, electric vehicle battery exchange station, and home charging facility.

In addition, PT PLN and PT EIB will also cooperate on providing two-wheeled and four-wheeled electric vehicles, strategic development in the scope of green tourism, smart regions, green corridors and digital signage.

According to Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, the year 2022 will be a pivotal moment for the development of lithium batteries for electric vehicles.

This is because several investors in Indonesia will start the construction of their factories in an effort to process nickel and cobalt into raw materials for lithium batteries, the minister said in a statement on Thursday.

"The government targets that by 2024 electric cars produced in Indonesia will already use electric batteries and also other important components produced in our country," he said. 
WASHINGTON  President Joe Bidens campaign to unite the globe against the Russian invasion of Ukraine is being challenged not only by adversaries such as China but also by the worlds most populous democracy, India.

An Indian government official said Friday that the country will increase its imports of Russian oil, allowing it to boost energy supplies at a discount as its economy struggles to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The official, who was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the latest purchase was 3 million barrels.

Although India isnt alone in buying Russian energy  several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so  the decision conflicts with Bidens efforts to isolate Russias economy with sanctions.

The increased flow of oil could further strain the relationship between Washington and New Delhi, which has already been tested by Indias recent procurement of advanced Russian air defense systems.

The White House is still considering whether to enact sanctions on India for that purchase. The issue is being looked at with a different spin following Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to a U.S. official familiar with the Biden administrations deliberations. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal decision-making.

The oil deal is a reminder of how the war in Ukraine has created a complicated geopolitical balancing act for Biden. Even as he tries to rally countries to oppose Russias invasion, he also sees India as a critical partner for countering Chinas rising influence in Asia.

Russia has long been a point of friction in U.S.-India relations, but the White House believes the two democracies have more thats in common than that divides them.

India is a member of the Quad, an international partnership that also includes the U.S., Australia and Japan, and the leaders of all four nations are slated to meet this year in Tokyo.

Although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a checkered record on human rights, he was invited to participate in Bidens virtual summit on democracy in December.

During the summit, Biden described the struggle between democracy and autocracy as the defining challenge of our time. Modi said that India stands ready to join fellow democracies in this noble endeavor.

The White House has publicly warned China against siding with Russia during the war in Ukraine, but it has been more circumspect when addressing Indias role.

Asked Friday about Indias oil purchase, White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged that even though the U.S. has banned the import of Russian oil, every country has not made that decision.

They have different economic reasoning, she said. However, she cautioned other countries that the rest of the world is watching where youre going to stand as it relates to this conflict.

Imports make up 85% of Indias oil needs, and its overall demand is projected to jump 8.2% to 5.15 million barrels per day this year.

Indian media reports said that Russia was offering a 20% discount on oil purchases below global benchmark prices.

We are exploring all possibilities in the global energy market, Indias External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said Thursday. I dont think Russia has been a major oil supplier to India.

Indias relationship with Russia revolves more around defense than energy. Russia provides only a small fraction of Indias oil but the majority of its military hardware.

Its critical for Indias military readiness, especially as they have an ongoing border crisis with China, said Richard Rossow, an expert on the U.S.-India relationship at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which is based in Washington. Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers died less than two years ago in an ongoing territorial dispute over eastern Ladakh.

India abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote condemning the invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian embassy in New Dehli responded by saying it highly appreciate(s) Indias independent and balanced position.

Ken Juster, a former U.S. ambassador to India, said the South Asian nation believes in strategic autonomy and is unlikely to line up neatly on either side in conflicts between the East and the West.

However, he expects New Delhi to face additional pressure as the war in Ukraine continues.

India is going to face an increasingly challenging situation as Russias atrocities become more apparent and more widespread, he said. Its going to be difficult for any country not to come out and condemn this.

Biden has described the situation as a work in progress.

Shortly after Russias invasion began, Biden was asked if India is fully in sync with the U.S. on Russia.

He responded that were in consultation with India, adding that we havent resolved that completely.

___

Sharma reported from New Delhi. AP writer Aamer Madhani contributed from Washington.
Lauro F. Cavazos Jr., a Texas ranch foremans son who rose to become the first Latino to serve in a presidential Cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Education during the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, has died.

His death at his Massachusetts home Tuesday was confirmed by Texas Tech University, where he served as president from 1980 until 1988. He was 95. No cause of death was given.

A Democrat whose entire career up to that point had been spent in academia, Cavazos was appointed education secretary in 1988 late in Reagans second term, a move seen by some as a cynical attempt to boost Bushs presidential aspirations among Hispanic voters, which Reagan denied.

He was seen as less outspoken and less confrontational than his predecessor, the highly conservative William Bennett.

He vowed to seek better funding for schools, focus federal services on high-risk children, and improve outcomes, especially for Hispanic, Indigenous and immigrant students. In his two years as Education Secretary, Cavazos was known for promoting the idea of giving parents the option of deciding where to send their children to school  with limits to prevent segregation  and advocating bilingual education.

He called the dropout rate among Hispanic students a national tragedy in September 1989.

Despite attempts to keep out of politics in Washington, he found it difficult.

I dont like politics, he told Texas Tech Today in 2015. I went there really to try and improve education, and I think we did a pretty good job. I can take pride in the fact that as secretary of education I really focused the federal government on the need to improve the education of minority students and how to do it.

Cavazos resigned his cabinet post in December 1990, but according to AP reports at the time, he was fired for failing to make enough progress in reaching the administrations education goals.

I am especially proud of the contributions I was able to make in expanding choice in education, promoting the executive order on excellence in education for Hispanic Americans, and raising awareness of the growing diversity of Americas student population, Cavazos wrote in his resignation letter.

Following his resignation, he came under scrutiny by the Justice Department for allegedly using frequent flier miles earned from official travel to obtain free airline tickets for his wife, who often traveled with him on official business. Federal regulations at the time required employees to turn over travel bonuses to the government. The investigation was eventually dropped.

Cavazos grew up on the King Ranch near Kingsville, Texas, and his family became the first Hispanic family at what had been a segregated school district, according to Texas Tech.

After a stint in the Army from 1944 until 1946, he enrolled at the Texas College of Arts and Industries, which is now Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Originally a journalism major, he discovered a passion for biology and transferred to Texas Tech.

He earned bachelors and masters degrees from Texas Tech, and a doctorate in physiology from Iowa State University.

He taught anatomy for 10 years at the Medical College of Virginia, then moved to the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston from 1964 until 1980, including a five-year stint as dean from 1975 until 1980.

During his time at Tufts, he became known as an accomplished investigator in endocrinology as well as for his work in academic health planning.

Dean Cavazos was passionate about education and led the medical school through an important time in its development, helping to strengthen its reputation for academic excellence, current Tufts medical school Dean Helen Boucher said in a statement.

He was president of Texas Tech from 1980 until 1988. After his government service, he returned to Tufts as a professor of public health and family medicine.

Although Dr. Cavazos became a force in higher education, he came from a humble background, and he never forgot that or the impact his work had on students in similar circumstances, current Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said in a statement.

He and his wife, Peggy, married in 1954 and had 10 children.

One of his brothers was Gen. Richard Cavazos, the first Hispanic four-star general in the U.S. Army. He died in 2017.

A family member reached at his Massachusetts home Friday said no funeral plans were available.
A former Virginia police officer pleaded guilty on Friday to storming the U.S. Capitol with another former officer who is scheduled to be tried next month on charges related to the riot.

Former Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officer Jacob Fracker, who was fired by the town after his arrest, has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors, his attorney said. A date for his sentencing wasnt immediately set.

Meanwhile, a former West Virginia state lawmaker pleaded guilty Friday to his role in the riot. Derrick Evans was a Republican member of the House of Delegates but never served a day. Evans resigned after his arrest in January 2021, a month before the start of the legislative session.

Fracker, the former police officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, the joint session of Congress that convened on Jan. 6, 2021, to certify President Joe Bidens electoral victory. The felony charge is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Frackers co-defendant, Thomas Robertson, has a trial scheduled to start on April 4. The town of Rocky Mount also fired Robertson after the Capitol siege.

Fracker and Robertson were off duty when they drove with a neighbor to Washington, D.C., on the morning of Jan. 6. Frackers indictment says Robertson brought three gas masks for them to use.

After listening to speeches near the Washington Monument, Fracker, Robertson and the neighbor identified only as Person A walked toward the Capitol, donned the gas masks and joined the growing mob, according to the indictment. Robertson was carrying a large wooden stick and used it to impede Metropolitan Police Department officers who arrived to help Capitol police officers hold off the mob, the indictment says.

Fracker and Robertson posed for a photograph inside the Capitol during the attack and later posted about the riot on social media. Robertson was photographed making an obscene gesture in front of a statute of John Stark in the Capitols crypt, prosecutors said.

Fracker and Robertson had sworn to uphold the law, even in the face of volatile and challenging circumstances, prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

They broke this public trust when they participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol, they added.

Before the riot, Robertson posted on Facebook about his belief that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate and referenced an open armed rebellion and insurgency, according to Frackers indictment.

A legitimate republic stands on 4 boxes. The soapbox, the ballot box, the jury box, and then the cartridge box. We just moved to step 3. Step 4 will not be pretty, he wrote on Nov. 7, 2021.

Robertsons attorneys didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Friday.

Robertson has been jailed since U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in July that he violated terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms. The judge rejected Robertsons suggestion that 34 guns he ordered before June 29, when FBI agents searched his home, are simply World War II collectables.

Evans, the former West Virginia lawmaker, pleaded guilty to a civil disorder charge, punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentencing was set for June 22.

Evans livestreamed himself at the Capitol while wearing a helmet. In a since-deleted cell phone video that was widely shared online, Evans was shown clamoring in a jampacked doorway with other supporters of Donald Trump before joyfully strolling inside.

Were in! Were in! Evans yelled. Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!

In the days prior, Evans told his 30,000 Facebook followers to Fight For Trump in the nations capital, according to a criminal complaint.

On Thursday, a Texas man who was forgotten by the court system after his arrest on riot-related charges pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer with a pole.

Lucas Denney has been jailed since his initial court appearance in Texas a day after his Dec. 13 arrest. He was indicted on an assault charge on March 7. Denneys lawyers accused the government of unlawfully detaining him for weeks without charging him, depriving him of his constitutional right to due process.

During a March 7 hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui apologized to Denney and said he hopes no one else has fallen through the cracks.

When I look at you, I see a presumed innocent person. And there is no circumstance under which an innocent person should be forgotten, and that is what happened here, Faruqui told Denney, according to a transcript of the hearing.

Prosecutors conceded that they failed to comply with the Speedy Trial Act and should have presented an indictment to the grand jury or charged Denney before Jan. 22.

But there is no evidence of bad faith, a pattern of neglect, or something more than an isolated incident that resulted from a number of unfortunate factors, they wrote in a court filing.

Denney is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9.

More than 760 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Over 230 riot defendants have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, and at least 127 of them have been sentenced. Approximately 100 others have trial dates.

During Denneys March hearing, Faruqui questioned whether the Justice Department has bitten off more than they can chew with its Capitol riot prosecutions.

The government here has chosen to charge the largest case ever. If they do not have the resources to manage doing something of that magnitude, they ought not do that, because you cannot charge cases if you cant follow through with them, he said.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Defining what it means to conserve land and assessing existing conservation projects will be key to meeting New Mexicos climate goals, state agency leaders said this week.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams 2021 executive order set a goal of conserving 30% of all lands in New Mexico by 2030, with an additional 20% designated climate stabilization areas.

The state 3030 order mirrors a federal initiative and created a committee to advise the governor on conservation progress.

Sarah Cottrell Propst, secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, said the initiative builds on existing healthy soil projects, conservation easements and habitat restoration work.

We want to preserve a role for natural working lands, Cottrell Propst said.

The advisory committee includes staff from EMNRD, the state Agriculture and Environment departments, Indian Affairs, Game and Fish, the Office of the State Engineer, the Outdoor Recreation Division and the State Land Office.

New Mexicos initiative prompted pushback from at least half of the states counties, which passed anti-3030 resolutions.

Texas-based landowner group American Stewards of Liberty, which calls the program a land grab, guided the resolutions.

Were not telling anybody what they have to do on their private land, Cottrell Propst said. We hope that there are landowners who are doing great conservation efforts or agricultural efforts that would count toward this initiative, and that they would want to be part of it, but its not mandatory.

The committee doesnt plan to recommend new wilderness areas or other land designations that would restrict the states ability to adapt to drought and increased wildfire risk.

That flexibility is important for managing lands, said State Forester Laura McCarthy.

One of the challenges we have with a federal wilderness designation is that we are not able to do hazardous fuels reduction, that is, cut and remove overgrown brush and trees in fire-adapted forests that have missed natural fire cycles and need trees taken out, McCarthy said. We dont want to foreclose those options.

The committee is drafting definitions of conserved lands and climate stabilization areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines those areas as healthy ecosystems that store carbon.

McCarthy said federal databases dont accurately represent how much land is conserved in New Mexico.

Were a mostly natural lands state, with active management on some of those lands, but the amount thats paved is very small compared to the area of the whole state, she said. We may already be far beyond that (goal).

The committee will host public meetings, and consult with tribes and pueblos this year to discuss conservation definitions and review existing projects.

The group is expected to issue a report to the governor in December.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
Instagram Celebrity

The transgender performer is found lifeless in her flat after her neighbor and fellow porn star Aspen Brooks calls police to do a welfare check at her Las Vegas flat following her disappearance.

Mar 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Adult film star Angelina Please has unexpectedly passed away. The transgender performer was found lifeless in her Las Vegas apartment after she went missing for nearly a week. She was only 24 years old.

The porn actress' deceased body was discovered by police in her flat on Tuesday, March 15, per AVN. The outlet also reported that there were no signs of foul play or violence at her home. A spokesperson for the Clark County Medical Examiner confirmed the death of the model, whose real name is Francesca Elizabeth, but did not disclose any further details as it is a "pending case."

A GoFundMe started by Lonnie Montalbano, who identified herself as Angelina's sibling, is trying to raise money to bring her body home to Chicago. "This is something I never imagined having to do for my baby sister," the statement on the site read. "Francesca was loved by so many, so special in a million different ways and showed so much promise."

Lonnie wrote that their father is going to give up his cemetery plot to bury Angelina next to her grandparents. The fundraiser has drawn $20,130 of their $50,000 goal as of Thursday.

On Tuesday, Angelina's neighbor and fellow porn star Aspen Brooks tweeted out a cry for help. "If anybody has seen Angelina Please I am one of her best friends. One of her other good friend hit me up saying she's worried as well. I checked on her apartment, knocked so many times and even talked to her front office!" she tweeted. "Please get in contact w/ me if you know anything!"

Many fans encouraged her to call the police and ask them to do a welfare check at her residence. "Have you thought about doing a welfare check with the police? I know it sounds bad but we did that with my grandmother and found out she passed away in her sleep," one Twitter user replied to Aspen's tweet.

"Don't forget, you can do a missing persons report at anytime, you don't have to wait and it is best to do so as early as possible," another offered. Someone else chimed in, "Police should be able to do a welfare check and get into the apartment. At least it will mark apartment off the list."

Then on Wednesday, Aspen tweeted, "I'm at a loss for words. Went to go check up on my friend after she had been missing, only to find out we lost an amazing person." She continued, "One of my best friends. My neighbor. The person I would gossip with about everything. She was just 24 years old [red heart emoji] RIP baby girl."

Aspen Brooks shared the news of her neighbor and fellow porn star Angelina Please's death.

Fans were quick to send condolences and show some support. "I love you aspen," one user wrote, "This is incredibly sad to hear I really don't even know what to say I just hope you're doing okay girl. Love you and it's a tremendous loss I grieve with you."

"Ugh, so sad. She was a beautiful person inside and out," another commented. "My condolences to you, her other friends, and all her fans. Far too many in the community have gone far too soon."
Instagram Celebrity

Jack Quaid, Chace Crawford, Olivia Munn and Jamie Chung are among those who send support to the 'Suicide Squad' star after she reveals she was 'struck in the head by a man  out of nowhere.'

Mar 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Karen Fukuhara has become the victim of anti-Asian hate crime. The Kimiko Miyashiro / The Female of DC superhero series "The Boys" has received tons of support after she revealed her disturbing experience.

On Wednesday, March 16, Karen took to Instagram to detail the incident. "Today I was struck in the head by a man," she wrote in a series of messages. After assuring that she is "physically fine," she implored, "This s**t needs to stop. Us women, Asians and the elderly need your help."

"I rarely share about my private life but something happened today that I thought was important," Karen continued, before detailing what went down. "I was walking to a cafe for some coffee and a man struck me in the back of my head. It came out of nowhere. After a few seconds of staring at each other, and him yelling at me, he eventually walked away."

"This is the first time I've been harmed physically, although racial slurs and hurtful actions have been directed to me in the past," she added. "I write this, because I've had conversations with multi-racial friends of mine that had no idea these hate crimes happen to everyday, regular people - people that they share meals with. I felt it was important to raise awareness."

The 30-year-old once again called for action to stop anti-Asian hate crimes. "Why is this something we as 'victims' have to think about? What satisfaction are these perpetrators getting from hitting women, Asians, the elderly? They need to be held accountable. What can we do as a community to prevent these horrible crimes?" she concluded.

In the comments, Karen's "The Boys" co-stars Chace Crawford and Jack Quaid expressed their sympathy to her. "F this person!! Hope you're ok this is awful," Chace wrote, while Jack thanked her for sharing her experience and added, "I'm sorry that happened to you. Love you. Here if you need anything."

Laz Alonso, who plays Mother's Milk, also commented "This pisses me off. Wish I was there." Fellow Asian-American actress Olivia Munn chimed in, "I'm so grateful you're safe," while Jamie Chung added, "I am so sorry this happened to you and glad you are ok. I know mentally this is going to take some time to heal."
Instagram/Facebook Celebrity

When reuniting with her boyfriend after being separated for one month, the 'Mama June: From Not To Hot' star is seen hugging him tightly in front of the Autauga Metro Jail in Autauga County, Alabama.

Mar 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Mama June a.k.a. June Shannon has been reunited with her boyfriend Justin Stroud after a month of separation. The "Mama June: From Not to Hot" star has been caught on camera excitedly hugging and kissing her lover in front of the courthouse steps.

Justin was released from Autauga Metro Jail in Autauga County, Alabama, on Thursday, March 17 around 11:25 A.M. In footage obtained by The Sun, the 42-year-old TV personality could be seen smiling from ear-to-ear as she emerged from the law building wearing black pants, a denim jacket and white sneakers. At one point, she exclaimed, "You've been walking so slow babe!"

Justin was arrested on February 17 for "drug charges" stemming from an outstanding warrant. The 34-year-old man, who was said to have evaded authorities for months, was seen getting placed in handcuffs at a gas station in Palm Beach Country following an upscale cocktail party. He was listed as an "Out of State Fugitive," according to a booking report.

An eyewitness who was working nearby said of Justin's arrest, "Four cop cars came into the venue and started speaking with the valets." The source added, "Next thing you know, police pull into the gas station and they all swarmed in and arrested him. I saw him get taken away."

Justin, who previously pleaded guilty to felony burglary of a dwelling in the third degree and misdemeanor theft of property in the fourth degree, was hit with the arrest warrant after he admitted to doing party drugs while in rehab. He also failed to appear for his meetings with his Alabama probation officer in October, just days after he was seen showing off his new tattoo in Atlanta.

The warrant for Justin's arrest alleged he was kicked out of rehab in Alabama for suspected drug abuse last September. He allegedly admitted to his probation officer that he used "water," which is known as party drug GHB.
WENN/Avalon Celebrity

The model's comments come after the 44-year-old rapper was banned from Instagram for 24 hours for violating its policies on hate speech, bullying and harassment.

Mar 18, 2022

AceShowbiz - Julia Fox's romantic relationship with Kanye West may be over, but she still stands up for the rapper. In a new interview, the model weighed in on the drama between Ye, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson as she believed that Ye is harmless.

As Julia was exiting Barry's Bootcamp in WeHo on Thursday, March 17, Julia was asked about Kanye's string of threats against the comedian. "No, no, no, no, Kanye's harmless. I just think that's his artistic creative expression," she told TMZ. "I know it's aggressive, but I think if it really came down to it, I don't think Kanye would hurt a fly."

Julia's comments on Kanye came after the rapper was banned from Instagram for 24 hours. The company claimed that the "Donda" artist violated its policies on hate speech, bullying and harassment with his post regarding Trevor Noah, Pete and D.L. Hughley.

On Wednesday, Ye attacked Pete in a post in which he claimed that he was "really concerned" the "Saturday Night Live" star would get Kim and their four children "hooked on drugs." He also blasted Trevor with a racial slur over the latter's comments on him.

"All in together now K**n baya my lord k**n baya K**n baya my lord K**n baya Oooo' lord K**n baya," Ye captioned a screenshot of a Google search result describing Noah as a "South African comedian." The offensive "k**n" slur replaced the original lyrics in "Kumbaya."

The post was in response to Trevor's remarks on the feud between Kanye, Kim and Pete. "What [Kardashian is] going through is terrifying to watch, and it shines a spotlight on what so many women go through when they choose to leave," he said on his show "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah". "As a society, we have to ask ourselves questions. Do we wish to stand by and watch a car crash when we thought we saw it coming?"
The Federal Council

Bern, 18.03.2022 - During its meeting on 18 March 2022, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the approval of a double taxation agreement (DTA) with Ethiopia.

With this DTA, Switzerland can extend its network of double taxation agreements to East Africa. The agreement will ensure legal certainty and a contractual framework that will have a beneficial impact on developing the two countries' economic relations.

The DTA takes account of the outcomes of the OECD's base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project.

The cantons and the business associations concerned have welcomed the conclusion of this DTA. The agreement still has to be approved by parliament in both countries before it can come into force.

Address for enquiries

Communications

State Secretariat for International Finance

Tel. +41 58 462 46 16, info@sif.admin.ch

Publisher

The Federal Council

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html



State Secretariat for International Financial Matters

http://www.sif.admin.ch



The Federal Tax Administration

https://www.estv.admin.ch




The Federal Council

Bern, 18.03.2022 - At its meeting of 18 March 2022, the Federal Council adopted a dispatch recommending a credit for Switzerland's participation in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka (Japan). The cost ceiling for Switzerland's participation is CHF 17.6 million. The Swiss Pavilion will showcase Switzerland's innovativeness, sustainability and economic strengths.

Until the end of March 2022, Switzerland will be represented at the World Expo in Dubai (UAE).The Swiss Pavilion is one of the most popular and most visited pavilions at the Expo Dubai. The next World Expo will be held in Osaka from 13 April to 13 October 2025 under the theme of 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives'. The organisers are expecting around 150 participating countries and 28 million visitors. In view of Japan's global importance and its close relations with Switzerland in the political, economic and scientific spheres, the Federal Council decided on 12 May 2021 that Switzerland would take part in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. With today's decision, the Federal Council submitted a dispatch to the Federal Assembly recommending a corresponding guarantee credit. The Federal Assembly must approve the requested guarantee credit.



The Swiss Pavilion  themed 'Innovative Switzerland'  will showcase Switzerland's innovative strengths and their contribution to sustainability and prosperity. Visitors will explore three sub-themes: 'Life'  life sciences, health and nutrition; 'Planet'  environment, sustainability, climate and energy; and 'Augmented Human'  robotics and artificial intelligence. Five years before the target date for achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, the Expo 2025 will also serve as a global platform to raise awareness about the issue of sustainable development.



Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and new digital opportunities, people still want to attend large-scale events. In an increasingly competitive environment, world expos are attractive platforms for the Swiss government and actors from the worlds of education, research, innovation and business to showcase Switzerland as a competitive, leading location for innovation and to cultivate their international network of contacts.

The total expenditure for the Swiss Pavilion in Osaka, including personnel and administrative costs, amounts to CHF 19.4 million. Of this sum, CHF 1.8 million will be covered by in-kind contributions and discounts, bringing the maximum expenditure to CHF 17.6 million. An additional CHF 4.4 million in sponsorship contributions are to be secured, reducing the government's net expenditure by the same amount. Sponsorships are granted on the basis of the FDFA's sponsorship guidelines.



With today's decision, the Federal Council also appointed Manuel Salchli, head of Events & Products at Presence Switzerland, as commissioner general and Andreas Baum, Swiss ambassador to Japan, as deputy commissioner general of the Swiss Pavilion at the Expo 2025 in Osaka.

Address for enquiries

For further information:

Ambassador Nicolas Bideau

Head of Presence Switzerland

Tel. +41 79 667 69 15

nicolas.bideau@eda.admin.ch



Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

FDFA Information

Tel. +41 58 462 31 53



Department responsible:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

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




NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League

March 17, 2022



NEW YORK, March 17, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Submitted by Bill Donohue [Note: We run this article each year on March 17]:

The heroics of St. Patrick are not appreciated as much as they should be. He is the first person in history to publicly condemn slavery, and one of the first leaders to champion the cause of equal rights.

There is much to celebrate on March 17. Fortunately, his writings, though slim, are eye-opening accounts of his life: Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus and Confession reveal much about the man. Along with other sources, they paint a picture of his saintliness.

Patrick was born in Britain in the 4th century to wealthy parents. It is likely that he was baptized, though growing up he did not share his family's faith. He was an atheist.

When he was 15, he committed what he said was a grave sin, never saying exactly what it was; it appears it was a sexual encounter with a young girl. No matter, it would haunt him throughout his life.

At age 15 or 16 (the accounts vary), Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish barbarians. They had come to plunder his family's estate, and took him away in chains to Ireland. While a slave, he converted to Christianity, praying incessantly at all hours of the day. After six years, he escaped, and made his way back home.

His family thought he was dead, and with good reason: no one taken by Irish raiders had managed to escape and return. St. Patrick biographer Philip Freeman describes how his family received him, stating "it was as if a ghost had returned from the dead."

After he returned home, he had a vision while sleeping. He felt called to return to Ireland. This seemed bizarre: this is where he was brutalized as a slave. But he knew what Jesus had commanded us to do, "Love thy enemy." He was convinced that God was calling him to become a missionary to Ireland. So he acted on it, despite the reservations of family and friends.

Patrick became a priest, practiced celibacy, and was eventually named a bishop. Contrary to what many believe, he did not introduce Christianity to Ireland, nor was he Ireland's first bishop. But he did more to bring the Gospel to Ireland than anyone, converting legions of pagans, especially in the northern parts of the island.

His missionary work in Ireland has been duly noted, but his strong defense of human rights has not been given its due.

No public person before him had denounced slavery, widespread though it was. Jesus was agnostic on the subject, Aristotle thought it was a natural way of life, and neither master nor slave saw anything fundamentally wrong with it. Patrick did.

Though he did not invoke natural law specifically, he was instinctively drawn to it. He taught that all men were created equal in the eyes of God, and that the inherent dignity of everyone must be respected.

Patrick did more than preachhe lashed out at the British dictator, Coroticus, harshly rebuking him for his mistreatment of the Irish. In fact, Patrick found his Irish converts to be more civilized than Coroticus and his band of thugs.

Patrick was way ahead of his time in the pursuit of human rights. Not only were men of every social status entitled to equal rights, so were women. In his Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus, he scolds "the tyrant Coroticusa man who has no respect for God or his priests." More important, he made a startling plea: "They must also free Christian women and captives." His reasoning showed the power of his faith when he said, "Remember, Christ died and was crucified for these people."

He did not mince words. "So, Coroticus, you and your wicked servants, where do you think you will end up? You have treated baptized Christian women like prizes to be handed out, all for the sake of the here and nowthis brief, fleeting world."

What makes this all the more dramatic is the way the pagan world thought about women: the idea that women were equal to men was totally foreign to them. But the women understood what Patrick was saying, and gravitated to him in large numbers. The Christian tenet that all humans possess equal dignity had taken root.

Did the Irish save civilization, as Thomas Cahill maintains? Freeman thinks not"it had never been lost." But everyone agrees that had it not been for St. Patrick, and the monasteries that followed, much of what we know about the ancient world would not exist.

Indeed, it is difficult to fathom how classical Greek and Roman literature would have survived had it not been for the Irish monks who attracted students from many parts of Europe. They are responsible for preserving the great works of antiquity. And all of them are indebted to St. Patrick.

It is believed that he died on March 17, sometime during the second half of the fifth century. That is his feast day, the source of many celebrations in his honor. His impact extends beyond the Irish and the Catholic Churchhuman rights are a global issuemaking him a very special person in world history.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 18.03.2022 - Switzerland is taking part in the World Water Forum from 21 to 26 March 2022, hosted this year in the Senegalese capital Dakar. This is the 9th edition of the forum and will be dedicated to water security for peace and sustainable development. Switzerland's contribution to the forum will focus on its peacebuilding experiences in the water sector.

Water scarcity is a growing problem in many parts of the world. Around 2.2 billion people have no access to clean water. Ever-increasing consumption, continued population growth, pollution and climate change are all contributing to water poverty and, as a result, economic poverty. Increasing water scarcity means more competition and conflict concerning how that water is distributed.



The World Water Forum is the largest and most important event for the water sector worldwide. It takes place every three years and addresses the most pressing challenges in terms of water and sanitation services at global level. This year's forum, which is being held for the first time in the sub-Sahara, is dedicated to the peace-related dimensions of water. The main focus will be on the sustainable and peaceful use of transboundary waters (rivers, lakes, aquifers) and their importance for security, stability and economic development in the many regions of the world increasingly affected by drought.



Development opportunities through peaceful use of water resources

The Swiss delegation to the forum is being led by Christian Frutiger, assistant director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The Federal Council has conferred on him the title of State Secretary for the duration of the Forum. Switzerland's participation at the forum will focus on its growing efforts to strengthen cooperation between riparian states in sustainable and peaceful transboundary water management. Switzerland has many years' experience and know-how in this field, which it has gained through its Blue Peace initiative and related water projects in the Middle East, Central Asia and West Africa.



The numerous and varied Swiss actors involved in water  from the public and private sectors, research institutes and civil society  give Switzerland an exceptionally broad knowledge base that it can offer forum participants, particularly the Global South. It also means that Switzerland can make a key contribution to global solutions on water. Swiss stakeholders will be taking part in the forum as well as Switzerland's exhibition stand  Swiss Water Partnership.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Winter often lies too long along the road formerly known as Hilldale, where my woodlot resides. From hill to dale the road gives up its frost 
Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the wheat market has been on a wild ride of its own.

The wheat market is still a volatile market due to the continued situation in Ukraine with the Russian invasion. Those are two large wheat producing and exporting countries, so that has a big effect on the markets, said Erica Olson, market development and research manager for the North Dakota Wheat Commission.

After jumping up quickly in the first couple weeks of the invasion, prices have actually come down a bit. Spring wheat traded at a high of just below $12, and as of March 14, when Olson provided her observations, the futures were in the mid-$10 range.

But still, almost every day its double-digit gains or losses, so were seeing wide swings in either direction, she said, adding that cash prices around the region were around $9.40-$9.85. A couple weeks before, prices were close to $11.

Weve seen elevators, just because of the volatility in the market, most of them are using either the July futures market or many have moved on to September now for their cash bids, just because of the volatile situation, and it eases delivery concerns, as well.

Looking at the winter wheat classes, Olson noted theres been even more volatility in those markets, mostly due to the fact that those would be the classes of wheat that are more competitive with the Black Sea wheat. Also, the drought in the U.S. hard red winter wheat region is another reason for the volatility.

Weve seen prices there, though, come down, as well. For a while prices got so high that some elevators weren't even offering a bid for producers and there was limited buying, she said. At one point, the winter wheat classes were at a nearly $2 premium to spring wheat, but that has narrowed considerably.

In regard to the hard red winter wheat crop, as mentioned in previous articles, its been very dry in that region resulting in condition ratings continuing to drop. As of mid-March only 24 percent of the Kansas crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, while only 15 percent in Oklahoma and 7 percent in Texas were rated in good-to-excellent condition.

They continue to report very low soil moisture. As we know with winter wheat, it tends to go through a lot of stress and sometimes can come out of it and produce a decent crop. Well see what happens, but right now its a concerning situation down there, she said.

But the big focus continues to be on Ukraine and Russia. Olson pointed out that Ukraine has officially banned exports on most commodities in an effort to try and maintain supplies for their own domestic consumption. Russia is still exporting, she added, although, looking at the volumes recently, they continue to decline.

I think many do expect their exports to drop due to shipping issues and also sanctions put on that country, she said.

The March WASDE report (World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate) incorporated some of those changes. USDA reduced exports from Ukraine by 150 million bushels (MB), bringing the new export estimate to 735 MB. For Russia, USDA reduced their export forecast by 110 MB, bringing their new estimate to just under 1.2 billion bushels (BB).

As of now, Europe has picked up some of that export slack, specifically France has been exporting more wheat, she said. Its also expected that Australian exports will be higher and exports from India will be higher, as well.

Also in the WASDE report, the Australian production number was adjusted higher again to a new record of 1.3 BB.

Looking at U.S. numbers, supplies were lowered by 5 MB this month due to a decline in spring wheat imports, going from 129 MB to 124 MB. Exports from the U.S. were lowered by 10 MB with lower exports for soft red winter and hard red winter wheat.

U.S. ending stocks were up 5 MB to 653 MB, which is still 23 percent lower than last year.

Due to the decline in spring wheat imports of 5 MB, ending stocks dropped by 5 MB, as well, from 129 MB to 124 MB. That's down 47 percent on the year.

USDA did not change the U.S. spring wheat export forecast, which is still at 205 MB. In terms of spring wheat sales, for the week ending March 11, the U.S. had about 6 MB in new sales, which was over half of total wheat exports. Spring wheat was the leading class of exports. The bulk of it was sold to the Philippines, Mexico, and Japan.

Total U.S. wheat sales now stand at 185 MB, which is only 20 MB away from USDAs estimate.

Canadian export sales are down 40 percent compared to last year.

Olson also noted that Chinas winter wheat crop is in tough shape and potentially could be the worst in history, so thats something to watch.

In general, were seeing a lot of countries limiting or proposing to limit wheat exports, including a couple of the Black Sea countries, Argentina, and a few other countries are also potentially limiting their exports in order to protect their own domestic supplies, he said.

Going forward, the volatility is going to remain. We just don't know how much the Russian exports will be affected, she added. Another big question is whether Ukraine will be able to harvest its 2022 wheat crop. That situation will continue to weigh on the market. In the meantime, the March 31 Prospective Planting Report will at least give us an idea of acreage intentions.

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EARLVILLE, Ill.  For a sixth-generation farmer, the best way to propose to his future bride was with a banner draped on a combine at harvest time.

Kayla, also from a farm family, said yes to Jared Allen.

Adding to the storied past of the Allen farm family, the couple wed in August 2021 and are expecting the next generation this summer.

This family farms story started when Jareds great-great-great-grandfather Henry Warren Willey bought this farm near Earlville in northeastern Illinois in 1848. Henry was an orphan and became a carpenter, eventually earning the money to buy the farm.

Jay Allen, Jareds father, has the original deed which dispels an earlier family belief that Henry was a homesteader. Henry bought the property from Charles Dement, who was a wealthy landowner. The story goes that Dement would trade whiskey to Irish immigrants for land scripts and amassed a lot of land, Jay said.

Henry paid $1.12 per acre for the La Salle County farm in northeastern Illinois. The 160-acre farm cost $180.

Weathering challenges

When Jays dad Fred returned home from World War II after V-J Day, he found a tornado had ripped through the farm earlier that spring. It knocked three trees onto the house, making it uninhabitable for him and his wife, Shirley (Willey) Allen.

So the young couple lived in what is now Jays garage while they built the new house and repaired other damage the storm had caused to the property. Three years later, they moved into the current family farmhouse close to Jays first birthday in 1950.

Four decades later, Jay and Linda moved into the farm home in 1991 when they married. On their lawn, the farms history is celebrated with an Illinois Department of Agriculture Sesquicentennial Farm sign.

The Willey-Allen farm is one of 1,214 that the Illinois Department of Agriculture has designated as an Illinois Sesquicentennial Family Farm since the recognition started in 2001.

Jays mother was born here and his father died here in 2003 at age 86.

Caring for the land

The family continues to prioritize land stewardship. Jay has been alert to soil erosion and soil health during his career. In the mid-1990s, soil erosion started getting attention on farms. The Allens, deemed to have Highly Erodible Land (HEL), started using a no-till drill. They introduced a six-year rotation of corn, soybeans, corn and oats (baled for oatlage) followed by two years of alfalfa on their 150 tillable acres of land which are divided into six fields of 25 acres each.

Having livestock on the farm is also part of their soil health plan. They trade rent of the land so a neighbor can raise cattle here, in return for labor and harvesting alfalfa and oats.

Jared said they may tweak the system eventually, but he will follow the conservation practices his father and grandfather started, including no-till soybeans and minimum-till corn.

Day jobs

In addition to farming, Jay worked for Moews Seed Company in Granville, Ill., for 42 years. He took over the farm when his father retired at age 65.

Like his father, Jared is working off the farm now to be ready to transition into farming. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Jared worked in Indiana for five years doing seed research. He moved back to Illinois in 2019. He and Kayla live in the village of Neponset near Princeton, and he works for Agview FS in Toulon.

Ever since I was little, I was my grandpas hired hand on the farm, said Jared of his longtime love of farming.

He starting renting land from his dad for an FFA project and now rents 150 acres as he transitions into farming.

Even though his home is 75 miles from the family farm in Earlville, Jared is there when it counts. Again this spring, after his day job, Jared will drive to the farm and work the land in the evenings so Jay can plant during the day.

Jay, at age 72, said hed be happy to farm until he is 90. He inherits that attitude from his dad. When Fred officially retired at age 65, he remained a farm worker.

Dad worked on the farm until the day before he died, Jay said.

Jay shares a fond memory of their working relationship. When Fred retired in 1985, Jay hired him back as a hired man with a wage. Under the pension system, Fred could earn up to $6,000 a year and receive his full government pension. So Jay paid him $600 monthly. All worked well until his dad turned 70 and a half. At that age, there was no limit on his earnings. Jay returned home one day during harvest to see his neighbor and his dad sitting in lawn chairs under the tree.

His dad was holding a sign: On Strike.

Dad wanted a raise and found a tongue-in-cheek way to ask for it, Jay said, chuckling at the memory. Fred got the raise and worked on the farm the rest of his life.

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NEW ORLEANS, La.  Commodity Classic returned to an in-person event this year, held March 10-12 in New Orleans, and biofuels were a hot topic.

Several farmers and guest speakers talked about the importance of biofuels for growers, as well as a recent legal challenge to an EPA emissions rule that growers say would make electric vehicles a single solution to emissions reduction.

Bradley Schad, CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Associations, one of the state growers associations in the coalition opposing the rule, says the organization supports efforts to reduce emissions but opposes regulations that attempt to mandate a single solution. He also says the rule does not factor in the impact through the whole life cycle of electric vehicles.

The rule is flawed because they dont look at the full life cycle, Schad says.

He is optimistic about the petition, although he says predicting court responses can be difficult, and the timetable could be lengthy.

The courts are backed up because of COVID, Schad says. Were hoping they take it into consideration. We just never know with the court system.

Schad says just focusing on electric vehicles to reduce emissions does not help the overall challenge.

Its not energy diversity, he says.

He says the current spike in fuel prices and war in Ukraine are reminders about the importance of getting energy from a variety of sources, and he says ethanol should be a part of that picture, especially since it is produced domestically.

The Corn Congress meeting at Commodity Classic discussed this and related topics.

We continue to work to find ways to expand ethanol demand and corn demand, Schad says.

Ed Lammers, a Nebraska livestock producer who serves on the United Soybean Board, said the biofuel industry is a key part of livestock feeding, citing soybean crush trends.

By 2025, crush capacity in the country is going to go up 30%, he said at a panel discussion on the Commodity Classic main stage. Ninety-seven percent of the meal that the crushers are producing goes into livestock feed. Seventy percent of the soybean is protein.

Dave Walton, a southeast Iowa farmer who serves as treasurer for the Iowa Soybean Association, says ag groups continue to work on developing new markets and finding ways to provide the crops consumers want.

A lot of this is just listening to what the industrys trying to tell us, he says.

Schad says growers continue to work with the U.S. Grains Council to expand ethanol exports. He says Japan is a market that shows potential, and there is demand in China, even if direct U.S. ethanol exports to that country are not currently allowed. Mexico also remains a top priority in ethanol exporting.

In Mexico, were continuing to work to develop that market, he says.

Schad says using biofuel as sustainable aviation fuel could be a new market, and even if its widespread use is still years away, he says there has been a first commercial flight using biofuel.

Looking at the year ahead, high input costs remain a concern, and Schad says the Missouri Corn Growers and other ag groups are working to find solutions and prevent any price gouging in future years.

Were focused on that politically, legislatively and judicially, he says.

Schad says farmers seem to be hopeful, boosted by high crop prices, despite the high input costs.

I think theres good optimism out there in the countryside, he says.

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The past months, our nation and the world have watched Russias unjust war in Ukraine unfold and progress. I believe for many of us, it is tru
Many were shocked to witness the Canadian governments brutal suppression of the truckers protest against vaccine mandates. Previously, draconian lockdowns oppressed many more Canadians, resulting in the arrest of pastors for holding church services. A decade before that, Mark Steyn, a critic of militant Islam, had endured his own governments show trial under Canadian bureaucrats. How could such things happen in the land of those polite, mild Canadians?

The stereotype of Canadians as polite, cooperative people seems to be widely accepted. They often view themselves that way. One Canadian joke goes, How do you get a hundred drunk and rowdy Canadians out of your pool? You say, Please get out of the pool. Comparatively speaking, Americans have probably tended to be more troublesome. Nevertheless, Americas longstanding commitment to individual freedom has also helped to foster many wholesome independent spirits. Without a large number of such people, it does not take much to transform a conformist society into a totalitarian one.

These days unthinking conformity is on the rise. In Canada and elsewhere, the Orwellian euphemism often used to promote a type of enforced, top-down conformity is community. It really does not denote any real community but rather the mass of people who submit meekly to high-handed authoritarian decrees. Consequently, they are rewarded with official and social approval. The rest can be ostracized as selfish misfits and troublemakers.

Bruce Bawer elaborates on how the Canadian government uses the community cudgel to marginalize dissenters there. Ironically, though the Canadian government justifies its policies in the name of community, they undermine real social bonds by isolating people in their homes and punishing grassroots communities like churches for meeting together.

Another society once made constant use of the concept of community  Nazi Germany. The German people were encouraged to conduct themselves as loyal partakers in the national community, always putting the common interest above self-interest. Since Germans tended to be subservient to authority, this was not such a hard thing to accomplish there.

Japan, where I live, is well-known as a conformist society, as the Japanese themselves readily admit. That type of society has significant weaknesses as well as strengths. Conformism often targets those who do not blend in, either in behavior or looks. There is a proverb in Japan about this: The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

School and job-related bullying has been a persistent problem in Japan. As a result, there is the widespread social problem of jobless shut-ins/drop-outs, called hikikomori, who number in the millions. Other casualties include the numerous suicides among the young. Young people in Japan often label as KY someone whose remarks show him to be out of sync with the groups mindset. The initials stand for kuuki o yomenai, meaning unable to read the atmosphere (of the group).

Historically, Japans descent into totalitarianism especially reveals the dark potential of conformism. During the Second World War, a concept very similar to the Nazi idea of national community was widely promulgated  the kokutai, national polity. As one historical site puts it, in schools pupils were taught to put the nation before the self and the obedience called for was to be blind and absolute. For example, in their final letters, kamikaze suicide pilots declared their loyalty to the Emperor as the personification of Japans kokutai.

A 1946 report by the Japanese Ministry of Education reflected on the causes of the Japanese debacle in World War II, as historian John Dower explains:

Teachers and administrators were called on to engage in deep reflection on the shortcomings of a society that had led to the war and to the countrys present sorry state . . . war and defeat had come about because the people did not have proper respect for human nature, personality, and individuality. Failure to develop a rational, critical spirit had allowed militarism and ultranationalism to arise.

In the aftermath of the disastrous war, these educational authorities put a lot of blame for Japans totalitarianism at the door of a lack of support for individual personhood and the widespread inability to think for oneself. Much of my educational effort has been spent inculcating critical thinking among my Japanese students, and this strong tendency toward unthinking conformity is one of the chief obstacles to it. Regrettably, in recent years the introduction of politically correct ideology into Japan has only exacerbated this problem, as it has in the West.

Collectivist ideology, bureaucracy, the mass media, and social media are now pushing much of the world toward absolute conformity. At one time the Big Tech companies encouraged a multiplicity of views and voices. Then they decided on a policy of punishing and excluding unapproved views. Rather than providing real freedom of expression, they decided to turn their platforms into engines of conformity. So now Facebook justifies its censorship in the name of the Facebook community, which is nothing more than a collection of individuals making use of that corporations social media platform.

Oppressive conformity is an enormous problem for all of us these days, as the antics of cancel culture regularly demonstrate. Of course, the pressure of conformity has always been part of life but, in the free world, it was once more effectively regulated by even-handed justice and ameliorated by mercy and forgiveness, the legacy of our religious influences. Thankfully, there are still many pushing back against conformist community  like those brave Canadian truckers.

Graphic credit: Max Pixel public domain

Bruce Davidson is a professor at Hokusei Gakuen University in Sapporo, Japan and a board member of the Jonathan Edwards Center in Japan.
Late last month, Boris Johnsons conservative government announced a new plan to overhaul Britains national history curriculum in order to, according to the Daily Mail, push diversity, migration and cultural change over classic topics like the Tudors or the Second World War. As his education minister said regarding the change: This is about the range of opportunities there are within the curriculum to teach world history and the relevance of that to modern Britain. In other words, less British history for Britains future generations.

Britain has actually been watching a social revolution of sorts over the issue of historical inclusiveness for some time. Recent British films and TV dramas, for instance, have portrayed mixed-race couples strolling the streets of 18th-century London and depicted numerous historical figures as black, including Roman soldiers who occupied the isle in ancient times, King George IIIs wife from the 18th century, and Henry VIIIs wife, Ann Boleyn. Such attempts to normalize Britains multicultural past (which ironically would seem to blunt its racist past) has spawned a popular (and regularly suspended) YouTube channel, History Debunked, partly premised on challenging these false perspectives.

Revising national history by distorting and also negating it has, of course, been taking place in the U.S. for some time. In her 1999 book, Losing Our Language: How Multicultural Classroom Instruction is Undermining Our Childrens Ability to Read, Write, and Reason, former education professor, Sandra Stotsky writes: Beginning in the early 1980s, the most effective way to upgrade the status of students whose academic performance in school had barely changed was not so much to enhance it positively through celebratory readings but to reduce the moral and cultural status of the mainstream. (emphasis mine). To do this, she writes, teachers began to load the history and literature curriculum with literary works that stressed the flaws and failings of the United States. As she concludes, many educators believed it was useful to highlight a groups victimization by white Americans because it served to elevate a minority groups moral status and create guilt in white students.

Education historian Diane Ravitch reached similar conclusions in her own book on the issue: 2003s The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn (2003). She found, for instance, sensitivity guidelines of textbook publishers McGraw-Hill to be filled with barely-concealed rage against people of European ancestry and designed to inculcate in students the idea that whites were uniquely responsible for bigotry and exploitation in all human history.

Bracing stuff (back then, at least), although its almost humorous when conservatives and centrist liberals express shock at such pedagogical pivots. It should seem pretty natural to most.

With enough demographic change, it is possible for new countries to take the place of old ones, and new countries require new histories. For instance, in order to make newcomers feel welcome, it would seem almost necessary to at least downplay the history of the founding stock and traditional majority. So, its puzzling when supporters of the immigration status quo from the right get exercised over multiculturalism and the revising of our national history. This basically includes the entire neoconservative establishment. Neocon godfather Irving Kristol, for instance, railed against multiculturalism all the while staying silent on mass immigration from non-traditional source countries -- Linda Chavez being another good example.

While assimilation is always possible (even for the most culturally distant immigrants, but more on this later), as the late British MP and mass immigration-critic Enoch Powell said throughout his career: Its all about the numbers.

Try and name a Western country today with record-breaking foreign-born populations (all, mostly) which does not have ethnic enclaves and integration problems generally. An illustrative example of Powells lesson is the Southwests small, multi-generational Mexican-American population. In the last U.S. presidential election, among those Hispanics who voted Republican (the party of national pride and patriotism, of course), it was this cohort that predominated.

Theres another reason why neocons shouldnt be surprised. As Stotsky and Ravitch intimated, building up confidence in todays immigrant and minority kids by breaking down other kids from the traditional majority would seem to be most needed for those most culturally distant i.e. non-Europeans. For a lot of them, the history of civilizational development is unarguably lopsided and, for many, the results can be painful. As the late National Review columnist Joseph Sobran once wrote: The charge of racism [from non-whites] puzzles whites who feel not hostility but only baffled goodwill, because they dont grasp what it really means: humiliation.

There is something to the idea that many non-European newcomers feel, at least subconsciously, a certain amount of envy towards their hosts -- after all, why else would they have come here? And if there is gratitude, too often its gone in their kids generation. So, the problem of weak assimilation and the clash of historical narratives would seem to be not just numbers, but cultural distance as well.

The reasons why erasing and negating Western history is so serious are manifold. According to Ernesto Caravantes, Hispanic students subjected to curricula that pushes them to feel sorry for themselves for perceived wrong-doings in the past works to perpetuate[] an activist and negative mentality... The same, of course, can be said for other minority groups; most of whom, thanks to textbooks like Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States, have grown increasingly sensitized towards Americas past.

With the ubiquity of public expressions of resentment today, were starting to see where such attitudes lead to. One British professor writing about the increased sensitivity over Britains history of black slavery rightly notes that stigmatizing an entire ethnic group [i.e. indigenous Britons] because of the sins of a small minority is a textbook example of racism. In other words, mass demonization of the traditional majority. And if left unchallenged, we all know where it can further lead.

Few have tackled how else historical negationism might affect targeted majorities own self-confidence and what it might portend, but it would seem hard to match former National Review contributor Lawrence Auster on this question. As he rhetorically asked years back in response to character assaults made against the Founders: What happens to a nation when the figure most closely associated with its own origin is demonized? What happens to children, too young to absorb the moral complexities of history, when they are told that this national grandfather figure is a monster? The answer, he writes, is:

Alienation and suspicion are implanted in their souls. Their ability to love and trust, to feel themselves a part of something larger than themselves -- whether their own family and nation, or a transcendent moral order -- is corroded [Furthermore, they will] tend to see every further act of aggression against them and their culture as getting its just deserts. They will be rendered morally incapable of defending themselves or their country.

In other words, they will begin to resemble what so much of the West has become today.

In discussing the conflict in Ukraine recently, celebrity British historian David Starkey contrasted the Ukrainians' deep sense of national pride with that of his own countrymen. Broken-down and deracinated Britons today, he said, would likely never defend themselves with such resolve. And no state, he said, can survive which cannot defend itself. This includes its own history.

You can find John Kline on Twitter

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It is said that an unreliable ally is worse than a sworn enemy. This is because you expect the enemy to act against you. But when an ally either chooses to be a bystander when you are attacked or sides with your assailant to attack you, the treachery is both shocking and unforgivable.

One such consistently untrustworthy and unreliable ally who has been a been a disappointment is Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah.

His latest betrayal came during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Romney was the sole HELP Committee Republican to vote against lifting the mask and vaccine mandates in the federal Head Start program.

Head Start is a program run by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.

Currently, the program requires masking for all individuals two years of age and older and COVID-19 vaccination proof for adults involved in the program.

GOP Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana introduced an amendment to prevent HHS from implementing or enforcing their regulations regarding mask or vaccination protections in the Head Start program again.

Braun said the following

After being subjected to federal mask mandates for almost two years, President Biden announced in his State of the Union address under the CDCs new mask guidelines, most Americans in most of the country can now be mask-free. I completely agree with him on that. Its time to get our lives back especially based upon science and not the political science.

Next Romney voted against a resolution from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky to repeal the federal travel mask mandates on public transportation. Eight Senate Democrats broke party lines to vote against the mandates.

Sen. Paul said the following about his amendment:

Public transportation and transportation hubs are places where people across communities congregate, often for extended periods and in close quarters. The determination of the timeline and circumstances under which masks should be required in these settings should be guided by science, not politics.

Last month, Romney was absent during the vote on amendments by Sens. Lee of Utah and Cruz of Texas to block the Democrat-led vaccine mandate.

Romney was also among the Republicans who crossed the aisle and voted to convict President Trump at the end of a five-day impeachment trial following the Jan. 6 protests, that went overboard.

It has to be remembered that during his contest against Obama, Romney was rather lackluster. Despite a strong performance during his first debate, he seemed to take it easy and let Obama win during the subsequent debates when he should have gone for the kill.

When Hurricane Sandy hit in October 2012, days prior to the election, Obama made sure he was seen on camera pretending to do something to help the victims. Romney on the other hand chose to stay away from the limelight, which is unforgivable in the age of TV. He was meek and often responded to attacks with an awkward giggle that had an undercurrent of obsequiousness.

During his campaign, Romney participated in a staged grocery shopping trip that was filmed. The goal of it was to show that he was the man of the people. He looked awkward and uncomfortable. One has to question the instincts of a man who agrees to be part of amateur stunts such as these.

All through his presidential campaign, he lacked the killer instinct to win.

However, he developed a killer instinct against fellow Republican candidate Trump during in 2016 primaries, despite not even running.

Romney called Trump a phony and a fraud, adding that Trumps promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing members of the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat.

Where was this fire during his run against Obama?

After Trump won in 2016, Mitt Romney interviewed for the position of Trumps secretary of state.

It was an amazing lack of self-worth on Romney's part. Why on earth would he humiliate himself by parading before the cameras as he was interviewed by Trump, the very man he called a fraud and a phony? He was also photographed having dinner with Trump once again with an awkward smile. It was a relief to all of Trumps supporters when Trump rejected Romney for a cabinet post.

Romney humiliated himself further, in an interview with The Atlantic magazine where he admitted he had a secret Twitter handle 'to follow the U.S. political conversation anonymously'. The name of the handle was Pierre Delecto. This is the sort of tactic used by teens and preteens, certainly not a former presidential candidate and senator. It was an amateurish move and foolish of him to confess.

During his run for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah, Romney sought and accepted President Trumps endorsement, despite retrospectively rejecting Trump's endorsement from the 2012 presidential election. The endorsement was a huge mistake by President Trump, who could have endorsed somebody who was neither a critic nor an opponent, and in fact, a blatant hater.

Politico recently reported that Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who is backed by President Trump, is preparing for a 2024 Senate run that could pit him against Romney in a primary contest. Reyes, who has been elected statewide three times will reportedly make a final decision and likely announce his intentions in May. If Reyes were to replace Romney, it would certainly be welcomed.

Senators have a tenure of six years during which they can do a great deal of damage. They may be voted out later, but the laws they have made are difficult to be repealed. The likes of Romney make the case for having recall facilities for every sitting senator, irrespective of state, and if not a recall, certainly term limits.

For each and every subsequent Senate candidate, it is essential that the GOP leadership and especially President Trump be thoughtful and thoroughly vet an individual before lending out endorsements. That's because endorsements from someone such as the president play an important role in voters' voting decisions.

We have seen how every vote in the Senate matters and it could be the difference between mandates and freedom. Since the Democrats have weaponized impeachments, it could also be the difference between convictions and acquittal.

Electing a Republican such as Romney may be slightly better than electing a far-left Democrat but that slight difference wont be enough. The Romney school of politicians will capitulate when you need them the most.

The midterms in 2022 and the elections in 2024 are important because they will decide the future of the country. The myriad catastrophes under Biden have made it clear how important it is to have the right people in power.

The Democrats must be stopped. Their ideas are not popular. They have no constructive solutions, only symbolism and virtue signals. They are a party that only knows how to obstruct, reject, block, and impeach.

It is time for brave and ideologically committed warriors who faithfully and fearlessly represent their voters to take over.

The likes of Romney have to be rejected.

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0
It would be hard to find a person who better represents the liberal media establishment than Thomas B. Edsall, whose career includes the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. In his latest column for the Times, he attempts to slam Ron DeSantis, letting the world know that the Democrats fear him more than Donald Trump at the top of the 2024 presidential ticket. But in the process of doing so, far from damaging the Florida governor with the GOP electorate and middle-of-the-road voters, he awards DeSantis badges of honor.

Consider:

DeSantis relishes using the state to enforce his aggressive social agenda and has consistently plotted a hard-right course on issues from critical race theory to transgender rights.

For example, DeSantis sponsored and pushed through the legislature the "Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (W.O.K.E.) Act"  or the Stop Woke Act for short  which now awaits his signature.

The legislation, Florida H.B. 7, bans teaching critical race theory that suggests that

A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national origin, or sex is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

or that

A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress because of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, national origin, or sex.

A second bill, the Parental Rights in Education Act, H.B. 1557, which opponents call the "Don't Say Gay Bill," is also on DeSantis's desk for his signature. The measure reads:

Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.
William F. Buckley, Jr., in refereeing the internecine political fights within his beloved National Review magazine, laid down a rule, suggested by senior editor James Burnham, that N.R. would support the most rightward viable or electable candidate in presidential elections. In 2016 and 2020, under the editorship of Rich Lowry, N.R. broke Buckley's rule by refusing to support Donald Trump against Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. And two years ahead of the 2024 presidential election, N.R. has begun to publish its anti-Trump screeds. We can expect that this will grow into a chorus of N.R.'s voices opposing Trump during the next two years, even if he gains the GOP nomination in 2024.

Over the last three days, N.R. has run anti-Trump pieces by Charles Cooke, Philip Klein, and Andrew McCarthy. McCarthy claims that Trump "cannot win the presidency again" because though "popular in a number of places," he is "poison in most others." Klein argues that Trump's candidacy in the 2024 GOP primaries will benefit the party but only if Trump loses to a GOP challenger. Cooke writes that Trump's presence in the GOP primaries will be "disastrous" to the party's chances to win back the presidency because he will "undermine the process itself" and will "spread pernicious lies about the American electoral system."

In the past, N.R.'s writers jousted with each other over, for example, whether to support Eisenhower for president in 1956; Nixon in 1960; Goldwater, Rockefeller, or Scranton in 1964; Nixon, George Romney, or Reagan in 1968, and on and on through many elections. After the primaries, however, N.R. supported the most rightward viable GOP candidate in the general election against the always more liberal Democratic candidate  until 2016 and 2020 with Donald Trump.

In 1964, establishment Republicans derided N.R.'s support of Goldwater, who lost to Lyndon Johnson in a landslide in the general election. Back then, N.R.'s editors sensed that the Goldwater movement would capture the GOP  which it eventually did when Ronald Reagan was elected president in two landslide elections. In 2016 and 2020, under Lowry's leadership, N.R. returned to the GOP establishment by rejecting the nationalist-populist movement that coalesced around Trump. It did this despite polls that clearly showed that Trump had become the national leader of the GOP and remains the leader of the GOP.

Lowry and his team at N.R. have become increasingly irrelevant to the Republican Party and to the modern American conservative movement. And they have betrayed the legacy of William F. Buckley, Jr.

Image via Pxhere.
Marxist deconstructionism means breaking down every societal institution to pave the way for the glories of socialism. The most fundamental institution is biological reality and the cultural traditions built around it  hence the rise of so-called transgenderism to end that institution. One of the main cultural traditions in the West is that it's a profound evil when a man forces himself sexually upon a woman. That's why it's deeply disturbing to learn that a hospital denied for almost a year that a rape occurred within its walls because the perpetrator was a so-called "transgender woman" (i.e., a man).

The story comes via The Telegraph and is behind a paywall. However, John Hinderaker, at Power Line, has pertinent details.

Actually, not many details are necessary because everything is summed up in this sentence:

The attack took place a year ago and the woman reported it but when officers contacted the hospital, which has not been named, they were told "that there was no male in the hospital, therefore the rape could not have happened".

It turns out that the hospital subscribes to the now antediluvian concept of single-sex wards. However, it is also controlled by a National Health Service rule  Annex B  mandating the postmodern deconstructionist idea that people can simply declare their "sex" ("I am woman; hear me roar"). Having done so, they will be placed in the ward consistent with that identity rather than with their biological sex (and, clearly, their biological sexual urges).

Unfortunately for the hospital, which is trying to navigate between intelligent traditionalism and actual biology, on the one hand, and the NHS's Marxist madness, on the other hand, CCTV, nurses, and other observers actually saw the fake woman commit the rape.



Image: No matter what he says, Alex Drummond is not a woman. YouTube screen grab. (Note: Drummond is not the alleged rapist. I just wanted a picture of a clear man claiming he is a woman.)

In discussing the incident in the House of Lords, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, obviously a reactionary who insists on bringing reality into the Marxist conceptual framework, explained how devastating the experience  both the rape and the hospital's denial  had been for the victim:

"During that year she has almost come to the edge of a nervous breakdown, because being disbelieved about being raped in hospital has been such an appalling shock. The hospital, with all its CCTV, has had to admit that the rape happened and that it was committed by a man." [snip] "The result of Annex B is that hospital trusts inform ward sisters and nurses that if there is a male, as a trans person, in a female ward, and a female patient or anyone complains, they must be told that it is not true  there is no male there," she told the upper chamber.

Again, while this took place in Britain, the same trends are here in full force. Do not be surprised if you read a similar report one day in an American media outlet. I hope there is still time to push back.

I like to remind myself that late Georgian England was not just a time of charming, restrained, polite Jane Austenism. It was also a period of extraordinary debauchery and government corruption. It was because of the middle class that virtue and restraint prevailed, leading to the extraordinarily successful Victorian Age. It's time to bring some neo-Victorianism to America.
Back in the fall of 2020, candidate Joe Biden spent much of his time in the basement. He was like Grandma's car: she opens the garage door on Sunday, drives to church, shares grandkid photos with everyone, drinks a little coffee, and puts the car away until the next Mass.

The Biden staff used the pandemic as an excuse. The media went along with the idea and never forced the candidate to answer questions from reporters. He could have done press conferences by video, but the media punted on demanding something that is completely normal in the modern presidential campaign. Unlike President Trump, who probably answered too many questions, candidate Biden was kept away from the media and the voters.

Now he is the president, and we understand why they hid him from the American people. He is always late for whatever speaking appointment he has. Why? No one is asking why. He never answers questions. He reads a statement and goes back wherever. Why? No one is asking or banging on the White House door for an explanation.

Do you remember anything like this before?

This is from Stephen Kruiser:

We're sending this paste-eater to a NATO summit to discuss the Russia/Ukraine horror. He shouldn't be talking about anything beyond what he wants at snack time. One of the ways that Biden "won" the election in 2020 involved his handlers using COVID panic to keep him out of the public eye. In the interest of national security, Biden's puppetmasters might want to send him to the least-used basement in the White House and keep him there for a while.

All of this wouldn't matter if he were the president of Costa Rica, a beautiful Central American country but not a superpower. Unfortunately, he is President Biden of the U.S., a superpower and leader of the West.

What can we do? Not much, because we have to wait until the next election. The nation is in the hands of a man who isn't really there, who has to read from a teleprompter and isn't seen much after 5 p.m. "A heartbeat away" is a woman who does not inspire much confidence. And watching this show of incompetence and disarray are China, Iran, and everybody else.

Pray for the U.S. We need a lot of prayers today.

PS: Click for my videos and podcasts at Canto Talk.

Image: Gage Skidmore,
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is Joe Biden's nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer when he leaves the Supreme Court. Biden selected her because she's a Black woman. He might wish he'd vetted her better than that. It turns out that Jackson, like so many leftists, has a completely unwholesome interest in children and sex. In Jackson's case, this takes the form of desperately trying to lessen sentences for pedophiles and child pornographers.

I must admit that when I first heard that Jackson was campaigning against excessive penalties for people convicted of pedophile-type crimes, I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. There have been cases in which overzealous prosecutors have abused statutory rape laws.

There was an infamous case in Texas many years ago (that I can't find online right now) that saw a young man prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law because he and his girlfriend were almost the same age, but he continued to have sex with her after he turned 18. (Many states now have exceptions to statutory rape for people close in age.) The laws may also be applied unequally depending on whether the older person is male or female.



Image: Ketanji Brown Jackson (cropped) by Innisfree987. CC BY-SA 4.0.

However, Jackson isnt interested in these marginal cases. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) did some digging into Jackson's records and discovered that she seeks blanket relief for hardcore pedophiles and child pornographers:

Judge Jackson has a pattern of letting child porn offenders off the hook for their appalling crimes, both as a judge and as a policymaker. Shes been advocating for it since law school. This goes beyond soft on crime. Im concerned that this a record that endangers our children  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

Judge Jackson has also questioned sending dangerous sex offenders to civil commitment. We have a civil commitment law in Missouri, and it protects children  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

(A civil commitment allows courts to order people to be admitted to a treatment facility to protect themselves or others without proof of a specific crime but with a due process proceeding assessing their risk factors.) Some people  me, for instance  think adults who want to have sex with children should be stigmatized. As every parent knows, children are exquisitely vulnerable. We prepare the way for them to have a good life by protecting them from early sexual activity to allow them to become secure adults who can make choices that will serve them well moving into the future.

Judge Jackson has said that some people who possess child porn are in this for either the collection, or the people who are loners and find status in their participation in the community. What community would that be? The community of child exploiters? pic.twitter.com/JDxqf9Q1AH  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

At this point, Jackson's meshing too closely with those people who wish to normalize pedophilia.

In her time on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Judge Jackson said she mistakingly assumed that child pornography offenders are pedophiles and she wanted to understand this category of nonpedophiles who obtain child pornography. pic.twitter.com/ZM16VAqpLo  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

In the case of United States v. Hawkins, the sex offender had multiple images of child porn. He was over 18. The Sentencing Guidelines called for a sentence of up to 10 years. Judge Jackson sentenced the perpetrator to only 3 months in prison. Three months.  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

Keep in mind that long sentences aren't just to punish the guilty. They are also intended to deter those who might contemplate engaging in the same behavior.

In United States v. Cooper, in which the criminal had more than 600 images and videos and posted many on a public blog, the Guidelines called for a sentence of 151-188 months. Judge Jackson settled on 60 months, the lowest possible sentence allowed by law.  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

In United States v. Downs, the perp posted multiple images to an anonymous instant messaging app, including an image of a child under the age of 5. The Guidelines recommended 70-87 months. Judge Jackson gave him the lowest sentence allowed by law, 60 months  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

In United States v. Savage, the sex offender was convicted of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and also admitted to transporting child porn. The Guidelines recommended 46-57 months. Judge Jackson gave him 37.  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

So far, the Sentencing Commission has refused to turn over all Judge Jacksons records from her time there. In light of what we have learned, this stonewalling must end. We must get access to all relevant records  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

On the one hand, Jackson's obsession with child pornography is weird. On the other hand, her views are entirely consistent with leftist views generally. Going back at least as far as the 1960s, leftists have sought to sexualize children.

They do so partly for their own sick pleasure and partly because they understand that there is no better way to teach a child to be subordinate than to deny that child agency over his own body. Whether the child is denied the evidence of his own eyes about biological sex or the child is told to start masturbating as soon as possible, adults are denying the child the right to determine who he is in nonsexual terms and to relate to the world without the mediating influence of sex.

While Jackson wraps her disturbing concern with child pornographers in the language of law and scholarship, she really is no better than the people in these videos, whether it's a gender clinic in Portland, Oregon talking about teaching little boys to "tuck" (or hide away) their genitals, a middle school pushing kids toward the joys of masturbation, or these teachers obsessively pushing their sexual issues in the kids' faces. It's all very, very wrong:

This is whos teaching young kids. Despicable pic.twitter.com/B5Po7tmOfw  Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) January 26, 2022

The schools are obsessed with sexualizing and grooming kids pic.twitter.com/AFYxIo9Ci7  Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) March 16, 2022

This is whos teaching young kids. Despicable pic.twitter.com/B5Po7tmOfw  Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) January 26, 2022

4th grade California teacher films herself coming out as trans to her students: pic.twitter.com/y88ri738bL  Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) March 17, 2022

4th grade California teacher films herself coming out as trans to her students: pic.twitter.com/y88ri738bL  Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) March 17, 2022

There is hope, though, because Mitch McConnell, whatever else you may think of him, is a wily old bird. In the power-sharing agreement he reached with Chuck Schumer in January 2020, the Senate Judiciary Committee has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. If the Republicans hang together and vote a nominee down, that nomination dies in committee. You can look at the list of Republican senators and decide for yourself whether you think the Republicans can and will hang together. I have my doubts.
Those words are not mine; they were spoken on Thursday in a Security Council debate by Albania's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ferit Hoxha. (Video here.)

Who would have thought tiny Albania would become a voice for the voiceless? But I suppose there is logic in one of the world's smallest countries, recently a theater of war, sticking up for the victims.



Ferit Hoxha (YouTube screen grab).

The Biden regime crossed its Rubicon this week, with secretary of state Tony Blinken condemning Russia categorically for its "war of aggression" and the president-inept himself calling Putin a "war criminal."

While those are welcome words, they are just that: words. Putin has shown that words can't break his bones, but he can crush civilians in Ukraine at the drop of a bomb.

Ambassador Hoxha's statement about Putin came in response to the Russians introducing a resolution at the U.N. to "protect civilians" in Ukraine, all the while bombing them in earnest.

I watched much of Thursday's Security Council debate on Sky News Arabia, where I was one of three live commentators. Two observations leapt out at me while listening to the debate. First: The U.N. has shown itself once again to be utterly powerless when faced with real aggression. Unless the U.N. sends in a peace-keeping force, which is not in the cards, its only weapons against a real tyrant are words and at best sanctions. Until now, it has used only words.

More significant, perhaps: Russia is not the Soviet Union, which could count on a bloc of occupied or client states at the U.N. to support it no matter what. Putin's Russia is pretty well isolated, not just economically, but also diplomatically. And Putin has only himself to blame.

The U.S. and Europe have been reluctant to impose sanctions or truly isolate Russia and have only been dragged into it thanks to Putin's insane barbarity. Until just this week, British prime minister Boris Johnson was alone among Europeans in even insulting Vlad the Bad.

What this means is that Russia's actions cannot be walked back. Those bodies lying in a mass grave in Mariupol will rise from the dead at some time in the future, and they will speak of the horror of Putin's crimes. The men and women slaughtered while waiting in a breadline in Chernihiv will lift their fingers weeks or even months from now, and point to Putin and shout out, "J'accuse!"

Putin continues to pretend to engage in negotiations for temporary ceasefires and humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to escape. But he cannot accept the more generalized ceasefire Ukrainian president Zelensky and many others are seeking because to do so before utterly smashing Kyiv would be to admit defeat. And that's the one thing Putin cannot do.

This war is far from over.
The New York Times has finally admitted that the infamous laptop that Hunter Biden left at a Delaware repair storethe contents of which prove that Joe Biden used his office to sell out American interests to foreign governments to enrich himself and his familyis authentic. Up until now, the Democrat establishment, from Biden on down, has insisted that the laptop was Russian disinformation. As with everything else that emanates from them, that was a lie and they knew it was a lie. Biden should be impeached on that basis alone.

Conservatives remember precisely how this played out. The New York Post broke the story that it had in its possession a laptop that Hunter Biden had abandoned at a repair store. The hard drive was filled to overflowing with pornographic images starring Hunter Biden and a series of prostitutes; drug use images, again with Hunter Biden in the lead role; and mountains of emails and text messages proving that Hunter Biden trailed after his then-Vice President father getting deals from Ukrainian, Chinese, and other foreign businesses that were fronts for, or criminals working with, their respective governments.

Because Hunter brought nothing to the table other than his fathers political connections, it was always clear that what these businesses were buying was access. That was made even more obvious with Hunters angry texts whining that he was expected to support the family using the millions and billions Joe threw his way, along with Hunters infamous statement that, when it came to a massive Chinese deal, the Big Guy gets 10%. Hunters then business partner, Tony Bobulinksi, confirmed that the Big Guy was Joe himself.

The laptops contents should have established for every American that Joe Biden was too corruptand too compromisedto be allowed anywhere near the White House. That, though, was not something that the Democrat establishment was willing to contemplate. Instead, Twitter shut down the New York Posts account and every other traditional media and social media outlet assiduously promulgated the narrative that the laptop was Russian disinformation.

Image: The moment Biden committed fraud against the American people. Twitter screen grab.

This false narrative gained extra weight from the fact that dozens of former intel officials also said the laptop was Russian disinformation. These people hadnt even seen the laptop. This was a stone-cold lie (i.e., intentional fraud), and we know thats the case because they had no actual knowledge about the laptops contents.

The biggest liar of all, of course, was Joe Biden himself. He of all people knew that everything on the laptop was true: That he sold out American interests to enrich his family, and that his son was a disgusting, debauched, sexually depraved drug addict whose one-time sister-in-law (the wife of his dead brother) wouldnt allow him near children because his behavior was so sexually inappropriate. Nevertheless, Biden stood on the debate stage across from Donald Trump and flat-out lied to the American people:

During the second presidential debate, Joe Biden claimed that the election was about character and telling the truth. He then went on to blame Hunter's laptop on a Russian plot. pic.twitter.com/h7j7l1xnn4  Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) March 17, 2022

This blatant lie, when coupled with the mainstream and social medias complete blackout of this story, was extremely consequential. A post-election poll in the swing states showed that 82% of Biden voters had never even heard about the laptop and its contents. Moreover, 17% of them would not have voted for him had they known about the laptop. Even with all the cheating in the world, Biden could not have claimed victory with 17% fewer real votes than he received.

Thats why its not enough that the New York Times, writing about Hunter Bidens tax problems (including a $1 million loan someone gave him to pay those taxes) has finally conceded that the laptop is real:

People familiar with the investigation said prosecutors had examined emails between Mr. Biden, Mr. Archer and others about Burisma and other foreign business activity. Those emails were obtained by The New York Times from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Mr. Biden in a Delaware repair shop. The email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation. (Emphasis mine.)

Every one of the people involved in covering up the information about the laptop should be investigated for fraud. And as I said, considering that Biden stood on that stage and knowingly lied to the American people, he must be impeached. Thats true even though Kamala is next in line. Its unconscionable that Biden should continue to sully the White House now that we know the truth about his influence-peddling and gross dishonesty.
(Image source from: Reuters.com)

South Korea reports more than 6 lakh new Covid-19 Cases in a day:- When the entire world is done with the third wave of coronavirus, one country is battling big with the pandemic. More than 6 lakh new cases of Covid-19 are reported in a day in South Korea and at the same time the country has the lowest death rates across the globe. The country has been consistently conducting mass tests across the nation. There is no high rate of hospitalization and the situation is under control. The vaccination rate in the country is 88 percent and lakhs of people took the booster shots. The fatality rate in South Korea is 0.14 percent which is one tenth of USA and UK.

South Korea never implemented lockdown even in those days when the nation reported more than 8 lakh cases in a day. The booster shots too are supplied on priority basis. South Korea also spent more than 1.3 billion USD on RT-PCR testing till date as per the reports from the Korea Disease Control & Prevention Agency. The country also conducted more than a million tests in a day. The healthcare system is intact. There were 9000 cases reported in South Korea early this year and the hospitalizations are just doubled. Korean hospitals are very good at handling the situations.
Samsung debuted One UI 4.1 on the Galaxy S22 series last month. It is the latest iteration of the Korean brands custom Android software, based on Android 12. Earlier this week, the company rolled out the new One UI version to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, and the Galaxy S21 series. The Galaxy Note 20 devices are now joining the party as well.

The One UI 4.1 update for the Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 5G, and Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is rolling out with firmware version N98xFXXU3FVC5. As of this writing, the OTA (over the air) rollout is available to users in Switzerland. But it shouldnt be long before the update reaches more markets.

This update for the Galaxy Note20 series smartphones brings the March 2022 Android security patch. The latest SMR (security maintenance release) contains fixes for more than 50 vulnerabilities. But more importantly, One UI 4.1 brings a host of new features to the Galaxy Note20 series. The last generation of Galaxy Note devices are receiving features like the ability to manually select the amount of virtual RAM, improved Object Eraser, automatic photo optimization before sharing, Grammarly integration with Samsung Keyboard, Google Duo live sharing, and new personalization options.

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On top of this, we have a handful of new camera features to look forward to as well. Following the One UI 4.1 update, Galaxy Note20 owners will be able to take portrait shots in low-light environments. The pet recognition feature optimizes the shooting conditions and effects in Portrait Mode to capture better photos of pets.

The Galaxy Note series is also getting the ability to manually shift the lighting position on portrait shots to make them look better. There might also be some bug fixes and stability improvements in tow.

One UI 4.1 reaches Galaxy Note20 series

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 4.1 update to its older Galaxy flagships a few days back. It has already released the new version to all flagship models launched since the second half of 2020. Going by this, the Galaxy S20 series should join the party.

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One UI 4.1 will also roll out to the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note10 series flagships, as well a bunch of Galaxy A series mid-rangers and the latest Samsung Android tablets. We will let you know when the rollout for these devices is live.

Meanwhile, if youre using any of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, Galaxy Z Flip3, Galaxy S21, and the Galaxy Note20 phones, look forward to receiving the One UI 4.1 update in the coming days. You should get a notification about the OTA rollout once it becomes available for your phone. You can also navigate to Settings > Software update and tap on Download and install to manually check for the update.
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(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 17 - Italy and the EU have enough stocks of gas to get through the end of this winter, oil engineering company Snam CEO Marco Alvera said Thursday.

He said the Ukraine crisis was not impacting the flow of gas which is excluded from sanctions on Russia for the moment.

Russia currently supplies 150 billion cubic metres of gas out of an overall consumption of 490 billion by the EU-27, the UK, Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine, he said.

Snam does not have direct investments or activities in Russia and only 1.5% of the gas transported by Snam comes from Russian companies, Alvera said. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 18 - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Friday called for an immediate truce in Ukraine to evacuate civilians.

Di Maio said there was "no alternative to a diplomatic solution to seek, in the immediate future, a (general) ceasefire or at least a ceasefire at a local level that would permit the evacuation of civilians".

Di Maio told a press conference with Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra that "we don't want to give up flanking the firmness of sanctions with attempts to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis".

He said "we continue to insist on the channel of international mediation despite news of bombing and cowardly attacks on civilians.

"We reaffirm the Italian government's firm conviction that there is no alternative to a diplomatic solution".

Di Maio added that an EU asylum pact was needed to cope with the millions of refugees fleeing the Russsia-Ukraine war.

Noting that they are estimated to top five million, he said "the response to this dramatic phenomenon can only be elaborated at a common level and be based on a solidarity approach." he said the crisis "urgently forces us to make progress in talks on the new migration and asylum pact, continuing discussions on the EU migration reform, which have received a strong impetus under the French presidency." On efforts to try to wean Italy and Europe off Russian gas, the foreign minister said he would soon make another international mission after those to Algeria, Qatar, Congo and Angola.

Earlier Di Maio said the Russia-Ukraine war is Russian President Vladimir Putin's war and only he can stop or enlarge it.

"This is Putin's war and only Putin can stop it or in a wicked way think of enlarging it ," he told RAI TV.

"But there will never come actions that contribute to an escalation from us".

Di Maio said he agreed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Putin was pretending to want peace.

"One thing is apparent to all: 10 days ago (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky made an overture to Putin, but on the other side we are seeing a Russia that is only seeking to make believe that it wants a peace accord, but continues to strike not only military targets but also civilian havens." Di Maio added that of the around 2,600 Italians in Ukraine at the start of Russia's invasion on Thursday February 24, some 326 have remained there and "I think that number will continue to drop in the coming hours".

He said the Italian foreign ministry's crisis unit was working every day to bring them out. (ANSA).


Bulgaria expels 10 Russian diplomats For breaching international conventions on diplomatic ties

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, MAR 18 - Bulgaria's foreign ministry on Friday announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats for breaching international conventions on diplomatic ties. The formulation used by the ministry is often used to designate espionage. Sofia expelled two Russian diplomats earlier this month for similar reasons. (ANSA-AFP).





 Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved
TUNIS - At the end of the Middle Pleistocene, the African continent hosted gradual and interconnected processes concerning the biological and cultural evolution of our species. Archeological and chronological data on the ancient phases of this process are however extremely scarce, and interpreting information coming from the few areas of the African continent in which evidence has been scarce so far has been particularly difficult. Today, analyses conducted by researchers of the Department of the science of antiquities, in close collaboration with the Institut National du Patrimoine in Tunis and the Faculty of literarure and human sciences of Kairouan in the archaeological sites discovered in the area of Wadi Lazalim, in southern Tunisia, have allowed to shed new light on the population of North Africa in this crucial phase of the evolution of our species. This was announced by Rome's La Sapienza University on its website, adding that findings of the work, developed with funding from the university and the ministry of foreign affairs, "thanks to which the region has been an object of research since 2015, have been published by the magazine Scientific Reports".



According to the international research group, which includes specialists based in Tunisia, Italy, France and Spain, the investigated sites, dating from 300,000 to 130,000 years ago, reveal human occupation of the northern Sahara during the ancient Middle Stone Age in a period close to the most ancient African contexts of this phase. "The research - commented Savino di Lernia, coordinator of the study and director of the archaeological mission in the Sahara - has provided key elements to understand the timing and type of population of North Africa by the first users of these technologies, probably some of the oldest H. sapiens".



"This evidence - concluded Emanuele Cancellieri of the Sapienza University, the first author of the work - strengthens the hypothesis of the precocious dispersion of human beings and of technological innovation from regions of sub-Saharan Africa".




ROME - Italy will be a guest of honor at the 25th edition of the International book fair of Algiers (SILA), scheduled to take place from March 24 until April 1, 2022, according to a statement published by the event's organizers. Italy is "a close and friendly country known for its prolific cultural production", the statement said.



The event should include a rich program reflecting the deep relations between the two countries, said the statement, adding that Italy was carefully chosen as a guest of honor.



The International book fair of Algiers (SILA) is considered one of the most important in the Arab world and in Africa and returns in 2022 after two years of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fair hosts representatives of publishing houses from different countries and hosts conferences and debates on a variety of issues. In the last edition (2019), 1,150,000 visitors were registered, while 1,030 publishing houses from 36 countries participated, including 298 Algerian publishers.




TUNIS - A few days before it ends, the online popular vote presented by Tunisian President Kais Saied as a fundamental step in his plan to reform the country still leaves Tunisians indifferent, especially due to worsening economic conditions. Launched on January 15 this year to gather proposals for a constitutional referendum planned on July 25, the consultation is scheduled to end on Sunday, March 20, the day in which Tunisia celebrates its independence.



Participation in the dedicated web page, www.e-istichara, remains low with some 412,000 voters, or 6% of the electorate (7.07 million), according to official statistics.



Over the past few days, supporters of president Saied, who took power on July 25 last year, endangering the already fragile democratic path of the country that was the cradle of the Arab spring, set up stalls on the street to encourage people to carry out their "national duty".



Ennahdha and various political groups asked to boycott the vote and civil society, which numbers dozens of associations, did not support participation in the platform.



The consultation is a questionnaire that deals with several themes, including politics, economics, social issues, digital transition, health, quality of life, education and culture.



Saied attributes the modest participation to "technical obstacles" and "attempts by the old system to interrupt this experience", alluding to his detractors like Islamic party Ennahdha, which announced a protest on Sunday.



In order to encourage participation, Saied last week urged Premier Najla Bouden to make access to the internet free from March 10 to March 20.



"People are dying of hunger and their main concern is the consultation", commented a user. The president "wants to use people to reach his objectives", also said Safia, a store manager. Her colleague Hassen added: "People are plunging into poverty and desperation and he talks to us about a political regime! We are really tired!".



Replies to the consultation will serve as a basis, according to the president, to a commission of experts charged with elaborating political reforms. In July, a referendum is planned on a new Constitution, which Saied wants to make more "presidential".



Many Tunisians have said that they are not aware of the consultation despite a campaign broadcast on television. "They should have looked for us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter", said Wajdi, a student.



"It is clear that there is a lack of interest in this consultation", confirmed the political analyst Hamza Meddeb.



"The timing wasn't studied well", he said, convinced that the vote would have recorded significant participation if it had been launched right after the coup by Saied on July 25, applauded at the time by many Tunisians. Six months later, "many problems have emerged that demotivate people", he explained. The support shown on July 25 "was a refusal of what happened before (a paralyzed parliament, unstable governments), with the hope of seeing changes. But the president showed that he did not have any project or program to improve the daily lives of Tunisians", said Meddeb. The population is now obsessed with economic problems: an increase in prices, lack of resources of a State burdened with debt and, over the past month, sporadic lack of basic food. "Kais Saied does not embody change anymore, he is too engaged in opening battle fronts: against Ennahdha, magistrates and others", stressed the political analyst.
Calls are being made for a boycott of P&O amid growing anger over the scandalous sacking of 800 workers.

Demonstrations are being held at ports on Friday and outside the Conservative Partys spring conference in Blackpool on Saturday, with unions saying they are receiving massive support for the move to be reversed.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said there should be a widespread public and commercial boycott of the ferry giant until the jobs are reinstated.

URGENT:As well as demonstrations today at Dover, Hull, Liverpool and Larne, @RMTunion will also be protesting outside @POferries parent company @DP_World  please join us and help stop the P&O jobs massacre#SaveOurSeafarers pic.twitter.com/NesCw5qc2k  RMT (@RMTunion) March 18, 2022

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Fire Brigades Union (FBU) joined the criticism of P&O over the way it fired seafarers on Thursday.

The RMT called on the Government to demand P&O reverse its decision and hold negotiations with the unions so that jobs and services can be reinstated.

If this does not happen, the Government should use powers to take over the P&O vessels, said the RMT, adding that ministers should remove any government support for the companys owner, DP World, including future contracts.

New laws are also needed to protect the long-term future of workers in the UK maritime industry, said the RMT.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: We have been overwhelmed by the widespread public and political support for our campaign to protect our members jobs and these vital services.

We welcome the fact that the Governments own MPs are calling for radical action and yesterdays events should also mark a sea change in how we treat workers in this country.

The fact that the Government knew the day before that a foreign-owned company planned to cause major disruption to UK ports but did nothing to prevent it is shocking.

 STOP THE P&O JOBS MASSACRE  Join @nautilusint and @RMTunion TODAY  Dover at 12 midday  Liverpool at 1pm  Hull at 12 midday pic.twitter.com/cuwxFGCGqR  Trades Union Congress (@The_TUC) March 18, 2022

The TUC said the scandalous treatment of P&O workers should be a turning point for workers rights in the UK.

Ministers were urged to bring forward an Employment Bill to stop workers from being treated like disposable labour.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: P&O are holding our country to ransom by halting vital ferry trade routes so they can illegally and immorally sack their staff.

The Government should nationalise these vital ferry routes which allow people and goods to get to and from our country  P&O must be hit where it hurts.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: These actions by the brutal employer are a sign of the disgraceful state of workers rights in the UK after decades of anti-union and anti-worker legislation which has created an endless race to the bottom and a bonanza for exploitative bosses.

This must be a line in the sand. Overseas billionaires must not get away with trampling over rights.  Suspend licences & contracts P&O and DP World hold w/Gvt.Claw back every penny taken during the pandemic.Outlaw fire and rehire. Gvt must stand by these loyal workers.  Louise Haigh (@LouHaigh) March 18, 2022

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh, who visited a protest in Dover on Friday, said: This was a despicable assault on workers rights, but British seafarers do not need meaningless platitudes  they need action.

Thats why the Government must consider suspending licences and contracts held with DP World, claw back every penny of taxpayers money, and outlaw fire and rehire now.

Nautilus International, which represents some of those fired, urged the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to make sure the ships are safe as the new crews are unfamiliar with the vessels and routes.

VIDEO : We have obtained further footage of private security personnel trying to force P&O workers off their vessels yesterday after they had their employment terminated by zoom with no notice. This is how P&O treats loyal & dedicated staff.#SackedandAttacked #PandOBetrayal pic.twitter.com/nd0oy3TtmX  Nautilus International (@nautilusint) March 18, 2022

P&O Ferries told passengers that sailings will be suspended for the next few days.

Before suspending sailings, the company operated four routes: Dover to Calais, Hull to Rotterdam, Liverpool to Dublin, and Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland.

It advised those already at Dover and Calais to make their way to the check-in booths for Danish firm DFDS, but there were no such instructions for those at Hull, Rotterdam, Liverpool, Dublin, Cairnryan or Larne.

#PODover #POCalais services this morning are cancelled. If your journey is not essential, please do not travel today. If travel is unavoidable, once at the port please make your way to the DFDS check-in booths.-  P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) March 18, 2022

Announcing the decision on Thursday, the ferry operator, bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, insisted the decision to cut jobs was very difficult but necessary as it was not a viable business in its current state.

It said in a statement: We have made a 100 million loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent, DP World. This is not sustainable.

Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.
Joe Biden has rounded off the St Patricks Day celebrations in Washington with an emphatic warning that the Good Friday Agreement cannot change.

Appearing at the traditional shamrock ceremony in the White House, Mr Biden made an impassioned plea that the Good Friday Agreement be protected amid the ongoing back-and-forth between the UK and the EU over post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

US President Joe Biden, speaking while Taoiseach Micheal Martin appeared virtually due to a Covid-positive test, directly addressed the ongoing negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol and the political instability in the region.

Speaking about the relationship between Ireland and the US, he said: Our nations both are deeply committed to protecting the hard-won gains of peace in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement has been the foundation of peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland for nearly 25 years.

It cannot change.

Amid resounding applause, he said he had made that point to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whom he described as a friend.

Mr Biden said all sides must continue to resolve challenges over the implementation of (the) Northern Ireland Protocol.

The United States stands ready to work with all the communities of Northern Ireland to ensure its extraordinary economic potential and ensure that its realised, and we look forward to supporting the next Northern Ireland Executive after the upcoming Assembly elections, which are on their way.

Those elections will be held in May, at a time of considerable uncertainty about the future direction of politics in Northern Ireland.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Paul Givan resigned earlier this year as part of the DUP protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, a move which also removed deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill from the joint office.

History has proven that with the people of Northern Ireland, our leaders can accomplish when they work together, Mr Biden told the audience at the ceremony.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin called for unity of purpose over Ukraine (Oliver Contreras/PA)

Earlier, Mr Martin spoke of his disappointment at being unable to meet face-to-face with Mr Biden on St Patricks Day after contracting Covid.

Mr Martin was speaking as it emerged he may have to stay in the US for up to 10 days, although he insisted he will keep working while in Washington.

Speaking to the media virtually from self-isolation, Mr Martin said: I feel good. Of course, Im disappointed personally but its not the end of the world.

I have to keep things in perspective  that is important in the context of what is happening across the world today.

I dont believe the meeting was in any way impaired as a result of this. It was a very warm meeting and it went on longer than anticipated by officials on both sides.

During the virtual meeting earlier in the day, Mr Biden hailed Irish leadership for its handling of the Ukrainian crisis.

Mr Biden also reaffirmed the US administrations unequivocal support for the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden, who identifies deeply with his own Irish heritage, was seated beside a traditional bowl of shamrock during the bilateral meeting.

He quoted Irish poet WB Yeats as he described the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on the world.

All changed, changed utterly  a terrible beauty has been born, he said.

Mr Biden said Irish leadership on the issue has been noticeable and impressive.

Both leaders condemned the invasion, with the Irish leader speaking about the need for a unity of purpose.

The leaders bilateral meeting lasted just over an hour.

The pair discussed the economy, Brexit and the Good Friday Agreement, the war in Ukraine and the undocumented Irish in the US.

Mr Martin reiterated the invitation for the President to come to Ireland, with Mr Biden saying he would love to visit Ireland again.

Mr Biden praised Irelands willingness to take in refugees, adding: What Ireland is doing now, what you are doing, taking in Ukrainian refugees, speak so loudly about your principles.

And its amazing and I want to publicly compliment you for it.

I think youve already brought in over 7,000 or so refugees from Ukraine, and youre prepared to do more, so thank you.

The Irish premier, who appeared virtually from Blair House where he is staying, also thanked Mr Biden for the USs backing of the Good Friday Agreement.

He praised the steadfast support, referencing how important the Good Friday Agreement is in respect of stability and peace on the island of Ireland.

He said: Over the last number of days, as Ive been here, weve also witnessed  once again  that two way, very robust economic relationship between the United States and Ireland.

Mr Martin, appearing virtually for the second year in a row due to a positive Covid-19 test, said it was unfortunate he and Mr Biden could not meet face to face.

This year, were meeting virtually across the road, so were getting closer, he joked.

Mr Biden is profoundly proud of his Irish ancestry and has never been shy about his passion for the country, its history and its literature.

References to Irish poets pepper many of his speeches, with Mr Biden choosing to namecheck the late Eavan Boland during a speech at the Ireland Funds Gala dinner in Washington on Wednesday evening.

It was at the same event that the Taoiseach was notified of the positive Covid-19 result just as he was due to speak.





Mr Martin appeared in good spirits during his appearance on-screen.

An Irish Government spokesperson said earlier on Thursday that the Taoiseach was feeling well.

He said Mr Martin received a negative Covid test result on Wednesday afternoon, but a further test was carried out when one of his delegation tested positive.

This resulted in a positive test for the Taoiseach.

Speaking later on Thursday, Mr Martin confirmed he will remain in Washington and continue working while he recovers from Covid.

A source said he will follow US Covid-19 guidelines which could result in no international travel for 10 days.

This means he would be unable to attend a Covid commemoration event in Dublin on Sunday.

He said: We had our cabinet meeting which I chaired from the embassy at the commencement of the week. Little did I think that I would have another cabinet meeting from here next week, but that is the way it is.

I will continue to work, we will manage this and I will be in daily contact with my colleagues and officials, particularly in respect of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

I will keep working, I feel good and we will take it day by day and step by step.

Earlier on Thursday, the speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said Mr Martin was not wearing a mask during part of their interaction at the Ireland Funds Gala event.

She sat next to the Taoiseach moments before he was told he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Ms Pelosi was about to make an award to Mr Martin, but Irish ambassador Dan Mulhall accepted the award instead, and confirmed to guests that Mr Martin had tested positive.

The Taoiseach had a mask on when he sat down but then when he started to eat, he took off the mask and then they called him aside, Ms Pelosi said on Thursday.

I didnt know why. But some time later when it was my turn to speak, they told me how we would proceed and that he would not be speaking.

I wasnt measuring it in minutes, but part of it was masked, some of it while he was eating but it was during the appetiser that they took him away.

She said she is tested for Covid almost every day and before any time she sees Mr Biden.

Meanwhile, Irish President Michael D Higgins sent his good wishes to Mr Martin.

I was so very sorry to learn of this news breaking while the Taoiseach was busy representing Ireland in the United States leading up to our National Day, Mr Higgins said in a statement.

I know that this work is continuing as he takes the necessary steps following his positive test.

I wish the Taoiseach a speedy recovery and also wish him further success with the continuation of his programme in Washington, and in overcoming the necessary constraints involved.

Sabina joins me in sending our good wishes to the Taoiseach and to his wife, Mary.

Go raibh biseach air go luath. (Get well soon).
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been settling back into life in the UK by spending time with her daughter Gabriella.

The British-Iranian charity worker, 43, who was freed from detention in Iran earlier this week, spent Friday afternoon making pizza with the seven-year-old.

Labours Tulip Siddiq, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes MP who lobbied for her release, posted a photograph of the mother and daughter on Twitter.

Alongside it, she wrote: Nazanin told me that this is what she missed most while she was imprisoned  every day moments with her little girl.

Nazanin told me that this is what she missed most while she was imprisoned  every day moments with her little girl. Today was Gabriella's choice of making homemade pizzas for lunch #NazaninIsFree pic.twitter.com/8moJ5rw59T  Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) March 18, 2022

Today was Gabriellas choice of making homemade pizzas for lunch. #NazaninIsFree.

It comes after Channel 4 said it will air a documentary about Richard Ratcliffes campaign to free his wife over the past six years.

The single-episode documentary, called Nazanin, follows the life of Mr Ratcliffe as he balanced a political campaign with raising Gabriella.

The broadcaster said it includes how the youngster coped with separation from her mother, and the moment Mr Ratcliffe realised her detention was linked to a 400 million debt dating back to the 1970s.

It also follows the final days of negotiations with the British Foreign Office in Tehran and Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes journey home.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: Nazanin is an intimate, access-driven documentary  part love story, part political thriller. It has a human story with a big heart and mixes original, observational filming with never before seen material filmed by Nazanin herself about her ordeal.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a FaceTime call with her husband Richard from Iran (Darius Bazargan/PA)

Nazanin will air later this year. It was filmed and directed by Darius Bazargan, executive produced by Ben de Pear and commissioned by Nevine Mabro.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe landed back on British soil in the early hours of Thursday, along with fellow dual national Anoosheh Ashoori, after the UK finally agreed to settle its debt with Iran.

The 43-year-old was detained on security charges in 2016 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport after a holiday to Iran during which she introduced her daughter to her parents.

She was accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government.

Mr Ashoori, 67, was arrested in August 2017 while visiting his elderly mother in Tehran. He was detained in Evin prison for almost five years, having been accused of spying.

Both have consistently and vigorously denied the allegations.

Their release came after months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran.
A Bill which would prevent taxi drivers from refusing disabled passengers has cleared the Commons.

The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill proposes to address inconsistencies in the Equality Act to ensure all disabled people are afforded protection from discrimination.

Former Attorney General Jeremy Wright (PA)

Opening the third reading debate, Conservative former attorney general Jeremy Wright highlighted the loophole in the current legislation.

He claimed that as it stands, only wheelchair and assistance dog users have specific rights and protections under the Equality Act in relation to taxis and private vehicles.

The MP for Kenilworth and Southam said: The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles sections of the Equality Act do not work well enough for all of the 13.7 million disabled people in Great Britain.

The fundamental intention of this Bill is to ensure that the protections envisaged by the Equality Act of 2010 work effectively and comprehensively when a disabled person uses a taxi or a private hire vehicle, so that any disabled person has reasonable rights and protections to book, to access and travel in a taxi or private hire vehicle at no additional charge.

The former minister added: As it stands, only wheelchair and assistance dog users have specific rights and protections under the Equality Act in relation to taxis and private vehicles.

The existing Equality Act Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle measures do not, for example, provide clearly expressed rights for a wheelchair user intending to transfer from their wheelchair into the passenger seat of a non-designated taxi or private hire vehicle.

They do not provide a visually-impaired person with a right to guaranteed assistance to find and locate a booked private hire vehicle and the current measures failed to sufficiently protect disabled people who do not use wheelchairs or assistance dogs from discriminatory treatment at all.

The Bill, given an unopposed third reading in the Commons, would also include fines to punish drivers who disobeyed the measures, similar to those in existing law.

Mr Wright told MPs the measures would create new duties for private hire vehicle operators at section 167a of the Equality Act by creating offences for refusing or failing to accept a booking from a disabled person.

However, he stressed that where a driver has a genuine reason why they could not fulfil the duties specified in this Bill, then the defences provided would be adequate to avoid them being penalised unfairly.

Shadow transport minister Gill Furniss confirmed Labours support for the Bill, saying: The barriers that disabled people continue to face in transport are downright scandalous.

She added: Labour would implement much-needed reforms to taxi and private hire services.

This includes a review of licensing authorities jurisdictions, setting national minimum standards for safety and accessibility, and updating regulations to keep pace with technological change.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns welcomed the proposals but suggested further changes to the Equality Act, as she told MPs how taxis have in the past refused to take her because she is a mother with children.

She said: Too often we have pockets of our society where there is not true equality, where there is not true access, and this Bill will fundamentally change that.

While some people may think this is just a small change, for my disabled constituents and beyond, this will make an enormous, life-changing difference.

She added: Too often I have had a taxi turn up to pick me up as a mother with a pram and two children, and they have seen that Im a mum with two children  and Id like to think its because of the children, not because theyve seen my face  but I have seen taxis turn and run, and refuse to take me as a mother.

She said it was a small minority of taxi drivers but added: The fact that they are happy to turn around and leave a mother in the rain with two small children under three, I mean its happened at least four or five times in my lifetime and my children are only three now. So, this is something that perhaps we could look at for future revisions to the Equality Act.

Transport minister Wendy Morton (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Transport minister Wendy Morton said: The Government fully supports this Bill today, not only would it level the playing field for the services which drivers provide to disabled people, but it will also be a direct contribution to delivering a fully inclusive transport network.

I recognise that the Bill will not overcome all the barriers that disabled passengers face when using taxis and private hire vehicles, she said.

She added: The Government will continue to encourage local authorities to require drivers to complete disability awareness training, and weve committed, as soon a legislative time allows, to require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to complete disability awareness training through new national minimum standards.

The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill will now undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.
Irishwoman Phyllis McDonagh is, according to an apron that hangs in her kitchen, the Worlds Greatest Hostess.

So when refugees began fleeing war-torn Ukraine, she was always going to help.

Sitting around the large wooden table in the 87-year-olds Dublin home are Viktoria Kasianenko, 39, who was driven with her four-year-old daughter Barbara Yevlakhova and step-daughter Anna Yevlakhova, 32, to join her husband Yury, 58, in Dublin.

The five-day journey, which saw them travel from badly-hit Kharkiv to Lviv and then onto Poland, has become all too familiar in recent weeks as more than 7,000 refugees from embattled Ukraine arrive in the Republic of Ireland.

Viktoria, Barbara and Anna came to Dublin to join Yury, a watchmaker who has worked for Mrs McDonaghs son in the city centre since last September.

But, in doing so, family and friends  including Viktorias father  have been left behind.

From the first days, the bombs were falling and we heard the shooting, Viktoria told PA news agency.

Like thousands of others, the trio were forced to hide in basements as soon as sirens blared to announce incoming Russian shelling.

We were like this for a few days, she said through a translator.

One morning, we woke up and we decided we were in the basement and we decided we cannot do it anymore.

The three went to a train station to escape but found it completely full.

Viktoria said: We didnt manage to get on the train, and then we decided were going to sleep on the train station and just to find any way to get out of there.

From Poland, a Scottish woman criss-crossing the continent to help Ukrainian refugees drove them all the way to Ireland.

Viktoria Kasianenko has family left behind in Ukraine (Brian Lawless/PA)

While they are now safe, Viktoria and Anna struggle to describe the fear they have for their country.

First of all, of course we are happy that they are now in a safe place. And we are very grateful to the family for hosting us now in Ireland. We can feel the support from everyone, from all the family members, Viktoria said.

We are sad and theres no words can explain how we feel because we left absolutely everything there.

Nobody knows what to expect and when we going be able to move back.

Of course, its the first and the main wish to go back to Ukraine and to see our family and friends and relatives. But nobody knows what to expect.

Barbara, who is not yet in school, is adjusting to her new surroundings.

She messed around with the keys of Mrs McDonaghs piano while her mother talked.

Viktoria thinks the youngster has become a decade older since the war began on February 24.

She understands everything and she watches the news. She understands what it going on and why we left, she said.

The family are grateful to Ireland for the help and say the Government is doing all it can.

Anna Yevlakhova, 32, at the home of 87-year-old Dubliner Phyliss McDonagh (Brian Lawless/PA)

While Anna and Viktoria say they want to work and somewhere to live, the next few weeks are full of uncertainty.

In the near future, we would like to be able to rent our own apartments so we will not be sitting on the neck of people, Viktoria says.

The plan is to create a normal life in Ireland  and to be ready to return to Ukraine whenever it is safe.

For Mrs McDonagh, she is in no rush to see her guests leave.

The family speak no English and Mrs McDonagh no Ukrainian, so they communicate using an app.

The Dubliner has six children, 17 grandchildren and in years gone by hosted French and Spanish students.

Born in 1935, she has now seen two wars in Europe.

But to her, there is nothing difficult about taking in a family  even at her age.

Its grand, she says.

The way I think of it, if my children were over there, wouldnt you love somebody to mind them?

Mrs McDonagh is proud to be Irish  and prouder still of the countrys response to the crisis.

I love our Taoiseach (Micheal Martin) and (Tanaiste) Leo Varadkar.

I think were a charitable country.

It is a great country. Best country in the world, Ireland.
By Chris Peters

(Reuters) -Sycamore Partners is in the early stage of making a possible cash offer for fashion retailer Ted Baker, the private equity firm said on Friday, in the latest sign of strong U.S. interest in taking over British entities.

New York-based Sycamore, which specialises in deals in the struggling retail sector, has until April 15 to make a firm offer for the London-listed Ted Baker. Sycamore said there was no certainty an offer would be made and did not disclose what the terms might be for any deal.

Ted Baker said it has not received an offer but would evaluate any proposal, although it was confident in its independent prospects.

Shares of the upmarket retailer jumped 20% on Friday but were still trading just above a pound each, compared with the nearly 30 pounds it was worth in 2015, giving it a current market valuation of nearly 220 million pounds ($289.26 million), Refinitiv Eikon data showed.

Takeover interest in British companies, ranging from defence groups to a leading supermarket, is its highest in years, as the pandemic and uncertainties linked to Britain's departure from the European Union have reduced valuations.

Ted Baker is in the middle of three-year turnaround plan under boss Rachel Osborne as it tries to boost its online presence and rebuild its image after profit warnings and accounting issues.

Osborne took charge in 2019 in a management reshuffle that included the exit of former chief executive Ray Kelvin following allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Kelvin has denied the allegations and retains a nearly 12% stake in the company he founded in 1988 in Glasgow.

Ted Baker, which has nearly 400 locations mostly in Europe, North America and the United Kingdom, said in February it was "cautiously optimistic" about outlook for the current year as people slowly return to working in offices.

($1 = 0.7606 pounds)

(Reporting by Chris Peters in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Anil D'Silva and Barbara Lewis)
(Reuters) - Russia is considering allowing retailers to import products from abroad without the trademark owner's permission, the competition regulator said on Friday, after global brands halted sales or stopped exports over its invasion of Ukraine.

Allowing "parallel imports" reflects how Russia's retail sector has been upended by Western economic sanctions and decisions by international firms like H&M and Nike to restrict their activity in Russia.

The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said its head had met the director of Russia's top online retailer Wildberries where legalising parallel imports was discussed. Both sides were confident the move would be positive for consumers and Russian businesses.

FAS said it had prepared draft regulations on parallel imports - sometimes also called "grey imports" - which were being discussed by the government.

"The FAS initiative allowing parallel imports will be an effective support measure. ... Small and medium-sized businesses will be allowed to legally import foreign goods without seeking additional permissions, and the consumer will get access to a wider assortment of goods of a high quality for reasonable prices," Wildberries general director Tatyana Bakalchuk said in a statement.

"This is especially important for socially-significant goods like medicines, foodstuffs and children's products," Bakalchuk added.

Russia's government has proposed a raft of support measures to try to buttress its economy in the face of Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. Nevertheless the Kremlin faces its most severe economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

(Reporting by Reuters)
The fate of impressive watercraft owned by sanctioned allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin has become one of the more unexpected barometers for how the sanctions imposed by the West are going.

Tracking the status of these incomprehensibly luxurious vessels has become a sport online, with experts including former CIA officer Alex Finley  who recently appeared on Yahoo Finance (video above)  providing updates. President Biden mentioned the yachts in his State of the Union (SOTU) address, and the topic has come up in the White House briefing room.

Let me give you just a couple of examples of assets that have already been seized, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said told reporters before diving into the details. Her summary included both the yachts and superyachts (which is most often defined as a vessel longer than 80 feet in length) now under Western control.

That is just the beginning, Psaki added, referencing a multinational task force the U.S. is involved in to hunt down the physical assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland convened the U.S. wing of the task force for the first time this week.

The superyacht Crescent, has been detained by Spanish authorities and is docked at Marina Port Tarraco in Tarragona. (REUTERS/ Albert Gea)

Yacht seizures have happened alongside other newly confirmed actions, like the impounding of an $18 million resort linked to oligarch Alisher Usmanov in Sardinia. And while the U.S. is not in a position to seize the yachts directly  since the oligarchs are clearly avoiding U.S. waters  authorities are assisting European efforts to cut off assets.

Heres a running tally of some of the watercraft that Western governments have taken control of  and others that are on move around the globe in search of friendlier waters  with internet sleuths like Finley hot on their tales.

The Lady M  linked to Alexei Mordashov

The White House confirmed that the 213-foot yacht was recently impounded in Italy.

According to a summary online, it was built in Wisconsin and finished in 2013. It requires a crew of 14 to operate and can accommodate up to 12 guests spread across six suites. One notable perk, according to the listing, is a beauty salon.

An Italian Finance Police car is parked in front of the yacht "Lady M", linked to Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov, earlier this month. (ANDREA BERNARDI/AFP via Getty Images)

This month's seizure might be a blow to Mordashov, though he apparently has a second yacht that is reportedly still at large, according to Finley.

Mordashov, who is known as Russia's richest businessman, was estimated to be the 51st richest person in the world before the invasion, based on being a majority shareholder in Severstal, the Russian steel company.

The Lena  linked to Gennady Timchenko

This yacht is also confirmed to have been seized in Italy.

It was built in 2010 and reportedly holds nearly 8,000 gallons of fuel. It has two decks and needs two diesel engines in order to power it, according to a sketch provided by Super Yacht Times.

Gennady Timchenko founded a private investment group called the Volga Group and is reportedly a close friend of President Vladimir Putin. He was able to afford luxuries like the Lena after gaining a Russian oil export license.

A picture taken on March 5 shows the "Lena" in the port of San Remo. (ANDREA BERNARDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Sailing Yacht A  linked to Andrey Melnichenko

Melnichenko made billions through his stakes in the fertilizer producer Eurochem and coal energy company SUEK. Like Mordashov, he apparently owns two boats, with the second still at large.

The "Sailing Yacht A" vessel is described online as the ultimate embodiment of German superyachts built for the 22nd century includes features like an underwater observation pod and the world's tallest masts that top out 100 meters above the waterline.

The White House confirmed this week the boat had been seized in Italy.

A helicopter land on the sail-assisted motor yacht 'Sailing Yacht A' near Denmark in 2017. 'Sailing Yacht A' is the world's largest sailing ship. (Keld Navntoft via REUTERS)

The Dilbar  linked to Alisher Usmanov

Usmanov is the 99th richest man in the world, according to Forbes, and his yacht is one of the largest in the world at 512 feet long and is reportedly valued around $600-$735 million.

The status of his superyacht is currently uncertain with reports that his entire crew has been fired because of the sanctions, leaving the vessel stuck in a port in Hamburg where it is undergoing repairs. The boat itself may or may not have been seized though it is at least being monitored closely by German authorities.

The Dilbar, a luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey May 29, 2019. Picture taken May 29, 2019. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik

Either way, the White House recently announced a host of sanctions on Usmanov, with the U.S. Treasury stating that "any transactions related to the yacht or aircraft, including things such as maintenance, the hiring of operating personnel, or payment of docking or landing fees, conducted with U.S. persons or in U.S. dollars, are prohibited." (The sanctions also apply to Usmanov's private jet, reportedly one of Russias largest privately-owned aircraft.)

A total of 9 yachts reportedly under Western detainment of sorts

The White House confirmed this week that two more yachts are now seized: former KGB officer Sergei Chemezovs $140 million yacht (seized in Spain) and Igor Sechins 280 foot yacht (impounded in France).

According to Bloomberg, the Sechins yacht was confiscated as it was preparing an urgent departure.

The superyatch "Amore Vero" - which is said to be owned by Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin - at La Ciotat Port in France on March 4 (REUTERS/ Albert Gea)

Finley added three more yachts to the tally on Thursday, bringing the total up to nine that have been seized since the invasion began. She reports a boat called the Lady Anastasia  linked to Russian businessman Alexander Mikheev  has been detained after a Ukrainian crew member reportedly tried to sink it. She also says a boat called the Royal Romance  linked to Putin pal Viktor Medvedchuk  has been detained in Croatia.

A superyacht called the Crescent  the second boat linked to Igor Sechin  has been detained and Reuters photos show it docked in Spain.

"Congratulations, Igor!" Finley tweeted after a second asset of Sechin's was apparently seized by the West.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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By Andrea Shalal and Hannah Lang

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials have observed an uptick in the use of digital assets to facilitate illicit finance since Russia invaded Ukraine, but the transaction volume is too small to play a big role in helping Moscow evade sweeping sanctions, a senior Treasury official said on Friday.

Nellie Liang, Treasury undersecretary for domestic finance, said the current state of digital assets would not be large enough to run an economy on, and that the ecosystem is too underdeveloped for individuals to effectively evade sanctions using such assets.

"The transaction size we've seen is fairly small," Liang told Reuters in an interview. "Of course, we recognize we may not see everything, but there is a fair amount of oversight. At this point, we just don't see that it could be used in a large-scale way to evade sanctions."

Liang said the Treasury has been studying the issue for years, and that Group of Seven advanced economies and other countries have also raised concerns about use of digital assets for illicit finance, making effective enforcement imperative.

"People are very aware of it, and paying attention to it," she said. "While it's growing because the use of crypto is growing, its share as a medium for illicit finance is not anywhere as large as just using cash."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen earlier this month vowed to address potential gaps in tough sanctions slapped on Russia following its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, and said there were anti-money laundering laws in place to prevent members of Russia's elite from using cryptocurrencies to evade those measures.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation" that is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbor's military capabilities.

Despite repeated assurances from Biden administration officials that crypto could not be used at a large scale to help Russia circumvent sanctions, several Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have expressed concern that Russian oligarchs could turn to digital asset platforms, having been shut out of the traditional financial system.

Warren, along with 10 other Democratic senators, introduced a bill Thursday that would enable the president to sanction foreign cryptocurrency firms doing business with sanctioned Russian entities and prevent them from transacting with U.S. customers.

Liang, who will lead Treasury's effort to implement President Joe Biden's recent executive order on cryptocurrencies, said she had not yet seen the legislation.

That executive order directed the Treasury along with the Justice Department and other agencies to study the legal and economic ramifications of creating a U.S. central bank digital currency and author reports on the role that cryptocurrencies will play in the evolving payments landscape.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Hannah Lang in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
KFC Tasting Menu

Courtesy of KFC Australia

Until this week, if you wanted to have an 11-course meal at KFC, you would've had to arranged your own by, say, adding the three piece Famous Bowl Fill-up to an eight-piece meal. But that was before KFC Australia put together an official 11-course Degustation menu, which was created in partnership with Nelly Robinson, the chef and patron of Sydney's nel. restaurant.

"What's a degustation? This is the first question we asked ourselves," KFC Australia wrote on its website. "Some would say it's a progression of rare and familiar Kentucky Fried Chicken herbs, spices and sensations. Where texture, flavor and harmony is elevated into the stratosphere. But that's ridiculous. Degustation is just a fancy way of saying heaps of food."

KFC Tasting Menu

Courtesy of KFC Australia

They're definitely delivering on the "heaps of food" parts. According to a press release, the 11 courses will include Supercharged Wings, which have been "beautifully charred" over a bed of charcoal; a Potato and Gravy course in which a potato bun is accompanied by a "gravy candle"; Popcorn Chicken served with celeriac soup, mushroom gnocchi, and basil; an Original Recipe drumstick that has been dusted with quinoa and gold; and the "Tongue Twister," which seems to be a variety of sauces that have been poured onto a plate in the shape of Colonel Sanders' face.

"As a lifelong fan of KFC, creating an 11-course degustation with their most-loved menu items and elevating them to new heights has been a dream come true," Robinson said in a statement. "For the menu, I've taken 11 KFC dishes and reimagined how the flavors and textures come to life using my expertise in degustation menus to truly blow fans away. From Wicked Wings cooked on charcoal fires to edible stencil art of the Colonel's face, we have crafted a high-end dining adventure, just like guests would find at my degustation restaurant."

As you might've guessed, this is proving to be a popular offering, and KFC Australia has opened its online waitlist for anyone who wants the chance to down a gravy candle and a gold-dusted drumstick. The as-yet-to-be-announced KFC location in Sydney will be open from Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3, and there are seatings at 4:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on all three nights. The 11-course degustation menu costs $75 per person, and reservations will be accepted for tables of two and four. KFC Australia is donating 100 percent of the profits to its charity partners, which include The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia, and WhiteLion.

"Our fans will experience KFC in ways they could never have imagined as they are taken on a world-first culinary journey that looks and tastes uniquely KFC," Kristi Woolrych, the chief marketing officer at KFC Australia, said. "We've pulled out all the stops to make it a magical moment and one that our guests will never forget."
Beach Bliss, Southern California Beach Experiences

Valorie Darling Photography

Brian Jones knows that it's the details that count when it comes to total relaxation. But don't worry, he's willing to take care of all those little things for you.

Living in Kenya, Jones fell in love with safaris, and more specifically, fell in love with mobile, luxury camping. This, he felt, helped bring people to new, remote spaces and adventure like never before. So, he founded a travel company called Kin Travel and eventually designed his own tented hotel in the Caribbean. And, when Jones moved to Los Angeles he knew he had to bring all that luxury knowledge with him. There, he founded Bliss Beach, a pop-up lounge company that will set up the best beach day ever for anyone who asks.

Beach Bliss, Southern California Beach Experiences

Valorie Darling Photography

"We offer three set-ups for couples, families, and quarantine-mates," Jones explained. Those options include the Little Lounge for 2-4 people, the Safari Room for 6-10, and the Bliss Picnic for 4-6. There's also the Little Kahuna option for larger groups up to 20 and the Bliss Bonfire package for up to 10 people with firewood included.

"They are waiting on the sand when you arrive with everything you see on our website, including a cooler with iceblocks so all you've got to do is bring whatever you'd like to eat or drink," Jones said. "When it's appropriate to host larger gatherings again, we also offer event set-ups all the way up to the Full Riviera for 50 - 100 people."

Right now the company operates in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Orange County. On weekends, the company can set up on a designated beach in each location in order to host multiple reservations at once. But fair warning, you're going to want to book early.

"Weekends fill up a few weeks in advance and weekdays require less lead time," Jones noted.

As for his favorite setup, Jones said, "That's like picking a favorite child," adding he loves them all for different reasons.

Beach Bliss, Southern California Beach Experiences

Valorie Darling Photography

"The Safari Room Deluxe is a very impressive space and reminds me of the way I grew up sitting a circle with my family in beach chairs," he said. "The Little Lounge is uniquely picturesque, like a European day and perfect for tanning, even working from the beach, and the Picnic is for a meal." But really, no matter which one you pick, Bliss Beach will certainly make the sunshine along the California coast shine just a little bit brighter. Check out all the offerings and book a Bliss Beach setup here.
In a high-stakes video call, President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping spoke Friday morning for an hour and 50 minutes for the first time since November amid concerns that China will help Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Nearly four hours after the call ended, and hours after China put out its own version of events, the White House released a readout of the meeting. While lacking concrete details, the 164-word U.S. account stressed that Biden made clear the "implications and consequences" if China aligns with Russia and provides it "material support" for its attacks.

"President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion, including by imposing costs on Russia. He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians," the White House said.

BREAKING: Pres. Biden "described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians" in call with Chinese Pres. Xi, White House says. https://t.co/1Q6dimB81Fpic.twitter.com/Ul7ubM4YW4  ABC News (@ABC) March 18, 2022

A readout from China, released ahead of the White House's, described the call as "constructive" -- a word the Biden administration did not use.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden participated in a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, March 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Newscom)

A senior administration official described the video meeting as "direct," "substantive," and "detailed," adding that Biden and Xi spend the "preponderance of their time" on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russia threatens countries arming Ukraine

After that official said Biden "really wasn't making specific requests of China" on the call and that he was, instead, "laying out his assessment of the situation, what he thinks makes sense, and the implications of certain actions," ABC News Senior White House Correspondent asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki, "Why not, given the stakes here?"

"Because China has to make a decision for themselves about where they want to stand and how they want the history books to look at them and view their actions," Psaki replied. "And that is a decision for President Xi and the Chinese to make."

President Biden spoke today with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China about Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/SnpgobFiPz  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 18, 2022

Psaki said Biden "made clear what the implications and the consequences would be if China provides material support to Russia" -- a line she repeated throughout the briefing, but she would not elaborate on whether the U.S. views military or economic aid as more of a concern or which direction they could be leaning towards if they provide help.

She also wouldn't say if Xi ever referred to Putin's war as an "invasion," saying that the White House doesn't "speak for other countries" and the Chinese can "speak for themselves."

MORE: Americans remain critical of Biden's handling of inflation, support ban on Russian oil: POLL

According to China's readout, Xi told Biden the "situation in Ukraine has developed to such a point that China does not want to see it. China has always advocated peace and opposed war."

But China has yet to directly condemn Russia for its actions in Ukraine.

PHOTO: In this March 11, 2022 file photo Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during the closing session of China's National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Sam Mcneil/AP,FILE )

China supports negotiations, Xi said, but deferred to the U.S. and NATO to "conduct dialogue with Russia to solve the crux of the Ukraine crisis and resolve the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine" -- appearing to reaffirm China's view that the NATO expansion is the root cause of the war.

MORE: Ukraine revealing GOP's drift from Trump: The Note

The readout said Xi's used two Chinese idioms to Biden: "One hand cannot clap," meaning the two sides need to come together to make any progress in ending the war, and, he said, "Only the one who tied the bell to the tiger can untie it," implying that the U.S. and NATO will need to "untie the bell" themselves, and China will support efforts.

China's president also criticized U.S. sanctions saying that it is the common people who suffer from them and that sanctions have the potential of triggering crises in the global economy, according to the readout

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks on the crisis in Ukraine during an event at Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, at rear is Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Washington, March 16, 2022. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

White House press secretary Jen Psaki had said Biden would be candid and that the call provided a chance for him to "assess where President Xi stands." The conversation would center on "managing the competition between our two countries as well as Russia's war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern," according to the White House.

Biden was expected to warn Xi that if China directly helps Russia in its assault on Ukraine there will be consequences -- but it's still unclear if he laid out specific actions the U.S. will take if China were to supply Russia with military equipment or economic assistance to offset the impact of global sanctions.

In what appeared to be a warning shot to the West, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that any foreign supplies to Ukraine containing military equipment will be considered "legitimate targets" for Russian strikes after Biden announced this week a slate of weapons the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine.

PHOTO: White House press secretary Jen Psaki answers questions during the daily briefing on March 17, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images)

"We clearly said that any cargo moving into the Ukrainian territory which we would believe is carrying weapons would be fair game. This is clear because we are implementing the operation the goal of which is to remove any threat to the Russian Federation coming from the Ukrainian soil," Lavrov said in an English-language interview with the RT television channel.

MORE: Ukraine's Zelenskyy invokes Pearl Harbor, 9/11, calls out Biden in plea to Congress for more US help

Ukrainians woke up Friday to the first strike on the outskirts city of Lviv, considered a safe haven until now, and not far from the Polish border. It follows a stark warning from the Pentagon that Russia was broadening its target and escalating attacks this week.

While the Biden administration has hesitated from drawing red lines of what would change its position on not supporting a no-fly zone or troops on the ground in Ukraine, Lavrov's message raises concerns that Russia could fire at military bases in neighboring NATO ally Poland to Ukraine, triggering an Article 5 response.

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin greets the audience as he attends a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, March 18, 2022. (Ramil Sitdikov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this week, national security adviser Jake Sullivan had a seven-hour meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Rome, which was described as "intense." A senior Biden administration declined to tell reporters whether China had expressed an openness to providing Russia with military or economic support or if it had already provided support to Russia since it invaded Ukraine.

"We do have deep concerns about China's alignment with Russia at this time, and the national security adviser was direct about those concerns and the potential implications and consequences of certain actions," the official said.

MORE: Echoing Biden, Blinken says he believes Russia committing 'war crimes' in Ukraine

That meeting had been "long-planned" and "long-discussed" as a way to maintain communication with China, but it happened to take place at "a really timely and important moment in this crisis," the official added.

PHOTO: A cloud of smoke raises after an explosion in Lviv, western Ukraine, March 18, 2022. The mayor of Lviv says missiles struck near the city's airport early Friday. (AP)

Biden and Xi's critical call comes on the heels of Biden labeling Putin a "war criminal," a "murderous dictator," and a "pure thug" in the last 48 hours. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday he "personally" agrees with Biden that Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine.

ABC News' Karson Yiu, Ben Gittleson, Conor Finnegan, Justin Gomez and Anastasia Bagaeva contributed to this report.

Biden warns Xi of 'consequences' if China aids Russian invasion of Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled the only place theyve ever called home since Russia invaded their country on Feb. 24, with most seeking refuge in neighboring European nations like Poland, Romania and Moldova. Almost all these countries have accepted fleeing Ukrainians with open arms.

Its a welcome sight for Ukrainians and migration experts alike  but also a somewhat curious one.

The reception of Ukrainian refugees by European countries has been vastly different from previous refugee crises where European countries were largely resistant to being a safe haven for those escaping persecution, including the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, where since 2015 more than 1 million Syrians have sought refuge in Europe with little to no support.

It's a striking difference, Lamis Abdelaaty, a professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, told Yahoo News.

Locals offer accommodation for people fleeing Ukraine at a train station in Berlin, March 2. (Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images)

Some experts believe that proximity is the most obvious reason for the discrepancy, as Ukraine shares a border with seven other European countries, while others have suggested cultural factors  commonality in race and religion  play the biggest part.

In a Twitter thread earlier this month, Abdelaaty, author of Discrimination and Delegation: Explaining State Responses to Refugees, argues that the difference in treatment boils down to identity and foreign policy.

Ukrainians are seen as white, Christian, Abdelaaty explained. 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.

There is a foreign policy dimension to this too, she added. 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.

Helena and her brother Bodia, from Lviv, Ukraine, wait at a border crossing in eastern Poland following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images)

NATO member countries throughout Europe have been cautious about their involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict thus far, choosing to supply weapons to Ukraine and apply financial sanctions to Russia instead of any direct confrontation that they argue could ignite a third world war.

Even so, some critics see a double standard in how Ukrainian refugees are being treated compared with asylum seekers from other countries.

Poland, which has accepted more than 60% of the 3 million Ukrainian refugees, was a big detractor of Syrian refugees just a few years ago. The leader of Poland's conservative party and current deputy prime minister, Jarosaw Kaczynski, has been one of the most outspoken critics against refugees. In 2017, he said that accepting Syrians would be dangerous and would "completely change our culture and radically lower the level of safety in our country."

Now European leaders are praising the continents largely unified response.

The response by Europe has been remarkable, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said in a statement.

Ukrainian refugees line up to file for residency permits in Prague. (Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images)

While European countries currently host more than 1 million of the 6.6 million Syrians who have fled civil war in their country in the past decade, the overwhelming majority have been accepted by only two countries  59% live in Germany and 11% relocated to Sweden, according to data from the U.N. refugee agency.

But accepting those refugees was a controversial decision, Kelly Petillo, coordinator of the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told ABC News.

It came after quite a bit of internal back and forth and lack of disagreement, Petillo said, noting that it wasnt until after the European Union came to an agreement with Turkey that Syrians were accepted into the region.

Since the Syria crisis erupted more than 10 years ago, weve seen that there was a high level of reluctancy from Europeans to share the burden amongst themselves, she said.

Abdelaaty also notes a striking difference in the framing of the Syrian refugee crisis and the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

In 2016, [the Syrian refugee influx] was framed as a huge crisis for Europe, and it was a crisis for how European countries were going to respond to this, she said, adding that Syrians were labeled as migrants, not refugees, as a way to delegitimize their request for protection.

Greek anti-riot police patroling refugees from the Moria camp hoping to get a ferry to Athens in 2020. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images)

Abdelaaty believes that the Ukrainian crisis is being framed in such a way that leads others to have empathy for those fleeing the conflict  which she says is the right thing to do, but questions why this courtesy hasnt been extended for everyone.

But not all experts agree that Europes warm reception to Ukrainian refugees is simply an issue of identity or foreign policy. Thomas Gammeltoft-Hansen, a professor of migration and refugee law at the University of Copenhagen and author of Access to Asylum: International Refugee Law and the Globalization of Migration Control, says there is another major factor at play.

Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian leadership and the European Parliament had agreed on a visa liberation agreement in 2017, which granted Ukrainians visa-free access to all of Europe. Gammeltoft-Hansen says this makes it easier for European countries to accept Ukrainian refugees.

The preexisting mobility rights of the Ukrainians means that they circumvent the entire kind of deterrence logic upon which migration policy has been based for the last 30 years, he told Yahoo News. The mobility element upends everything we thought we knew about how the EU handles refugee flows.

A Ukrainian mother and child arrive at a border crossing in eastern Poland, Feb. 27. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Gammeltoft-Hansen, Europes response to the Balkan refugee crisis in 2015, the Southeast Asian refugee crisis in the 1970s and the Hungarian crisis in 1956  which all resulted in European resettlement after substantial opposition  all suggest that both political context, not simply proximity, plays the primary role in the ongoing crisis.

The Ukrainian response looks a lot like some of the big refugee crises during the Cold War, he said. There is sometimes a willingness to welcome refugees as a way of scoring ideology points, which can be a way of politically signaling a a degree of affiliation rather than engaging in direct conflict.

Gammeltoft-Hansen describes the current refugee crisis in Europe as a historically unique political and socioeconomic experiment that will ultimately set a precedent on what allocation of resources looks like throughout the region and how countries can come together through spontaneous responsibility sharing.

However, not all refugees fleeing Ukraine have had the same experience. African and Indian men and women, many of whom went to Ukraine to further their education, have regularly reported being denied space on trains or buses or faced ridicule at the border. They have complained of a sometimes hostile reception from Ukrainian authorities and officials from other European countries that have by and large taken in scores of Ukrainians.

This disparity in treatment, for many, illustrates a hypocritical attitude they say has always been present across Europe.

There was a gap in the access Black people and brown people were getting, Patricia Daley, one of three women who founded Black Women for Black Lives as a way to help Black people escape Ukraine, told NBC News.

International refugees, including those from Africa, the Middle East and India, wait at a border crossing in eastern Poland. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images)

There was no one offering their homes to Black people, no one offering to pick up the Black individuals. There was a tremendous amount of people offering help and support, but I feel like it was limited to Ukrainian nationals alone. And we know what that means. Its excluding a group of people. There was a need to support Black people because they werent getting the support or access. There was a gap and we bridged it.

Damilare Yusef, a British-Nigerian man, said he jumped into crisis management mode when he saw the plight of African refugees trying to escape Ukraine. He used social media apps like Telegram and Twitter to coordinate help for those in need.

In the beginning it was important to have a clear message with Africans in Ukraine  so people understood the message of its not just Nigerians, its not just Ghanians, Yusef told Yahoo News. When you band together, its just easier.

At a border crossing in eastern Poland. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images)

As Russias invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth week, there is no doubt that the number of refugees seeking safety in European countries will continue. For Abdelaaty, the acceptance of those in need is necessary, but it shouldnt stop at Ukrainians.

This is exactly what they should be doing, she said. But bring this empathy to other refugee groups, because the same scenes that we're seeing in Ukraine, we see in other refugee crises as well. ... All of these scenes are not unique to the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

_____

Cover thumbnail photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Spencer Platt/Getty Images, Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images
After fleeing Kyiv, 15-year-old twins cram to catch up at school in Paris Paris high school welcomes Ukrainian refugee twins who fled Kyiv

By Yiming Woo

PARIS (Reuters) - Weeks after fleeing Kyiv with their mother and arriving in Paris, 15-year-old twins Masha and Sasha Litkovska have already started high school in the French capital and are cramming to get to grips with the language.

They are among nearly 90 Ukrainians who have transferred to high schools in Paris and the rest of the Ile-de-France region in recent weeks.

There are 700 spots available in the Ile-de-France for foreign students in need and most of them this year are expected to be allocated to people fleeing Ukraine following Russia's invasion, according to Christophe Kerrero, Paris's chief academic officer.

So far, the girls have spent most of their time in a French as a second language class, where they are being helped by two other students, originally from Russia and Kazakhstan, who translate for them.

"The objective - since these two students are really beginners in the French language - is to get them to master the language as soon as possible, so they can pursue their studies in France if they stay," said their teacher Sarah Czarnobroda.

While the twins are adapting to their new life, they remain anxious about their father, a police officer, who has stayed at home in Kyiv to fight.

"We are very worried about our father," Sasha said. "Even though we are safe now, we are still very worried about Ukraine, because you don't know if your relatives are alive. When you can't reach them over the phone, you start thinking something went wrong."

Moscow calls its action in Ukraine a "special operation".

The twins and their mother travelled through Slovakia before arriving in Paris on March 5 and are staying at an apartment in the southwest of the French capital that belongs to a friend of their mother.

Masha said she liked their new school and the girls had already made some friends.

"I am happy that I am not in Kyiv, and not in Ukraine ... and am not thinking about whether I will make it to tomorrow morning," she said.

(Reporting by Yiming Woo; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Susan Fenton)
FILE PHOTO: A school of fish swim above a staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) coral colony as it grows on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns, Australia

By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Great Barrier Reef has been hit by bleaching due to heat stress, the Australian agency that manages the reef said on Friday, ahead of a visit by United Nations officials reviewing whether the reef should be listed as being "in danger".

Australia last year dodged an "in danger" listing for the reef, a World Heritage site, for a second time, after heavy lobbying by Canberra led UNESCO to postpone a decision to this year.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said in a weekly update most of the marine park had been hit by "significant heat stress" over the summer, with water temperatures in some areas as much as 2-4 degrees Celsius above average.

"Bleaching has been detected across the Marine Park - it is widespread but variable, across multiple regions, ranging in impact from minor to severe," the agency said in an update on its website.

Aerial surveys showed whole colonies of coral had been bleached white in several locations, and in some sections there were reports of corals dying, it said.

"Corals across the Marine Park remain vulnerable to the ongoing elevated temperatures," the authority said.

UNESCO experts will be in Australia for 10 days from March 21 to meet scientists, regulators, policymakers from the Australian and Queensland state governments, and members of the public, a federal environment department spokesperson said.

The team will report to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which is due to meet in June.

Australia's conservative government has come under fire for not doing enough to save the world's most extensive coral reef, even though it boosted spending to improve water quality, reef monitoring and habitat protection by A$1 billion ($738 million) this year.

While investing in those programmes, Canberra has set less ambitious targets to curb carbon emissions, blamed for causing the warming of the oceans, by 2030 than the United States, Britain and European Union.

"Only urgent action on climate change will give the reef a chance to survive," Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Kelly O'Shanassy said in a statement.

($1 = 1.3537 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Karishma Singh)
Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams, shown in 2017, have contributed $250,000 to an independent expenditure committee supporting Rep. Karen Bass' run for mayor. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Billionaire Rick Caruso has already put millions of dollars toward television ads, and is expected to vastly outspend his competitors in the Los Angeles mayor's race.

But supporters of Rep. Karen Bass have launched an independent expenditure committee to help the longtime officeholder compete with Caruso's wealth.

The newly formed committee reported raising nearly $270,000 in the last two weeks, according to disclosure forms filed with the City Ethics Commission. This group was incorporated last month and is called Communities United for Bass for LA Mayor 2022.

That total included $125,000 each from Hollywood producer-director J.J. Abrams and his wife, Bad Robot Productions co-CEO Katie McGrath, according to disclosure filings.

Starting 90 days before an election, campaigns and independent committees are required to file disclosures of donations over $1,000 within 24 hours of receiving them. The election is June 7.

The committee is also receiving support from DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, a longtime Bass backer who has committed to giving at least $250,000, according to sources familiar with the matter, though his contribution has not yet appeared in public filings. Katzenberg and some of his key advisors are also helping make calls to prospective donors, the sources said. A Katzenberg representative declined to comment.

Independent expenditure committees are prohibited from coordinating with campaigns. Donors to independent expenditure committees are not bound by the $1,500 limit for citywide races, and can give as much as they would like.

Abrams and McGrath are longtime Democratic donors who also have given extensively to charitable causes, including the Community Coalition, which Bass helped found and ran before running for the state Assembly. In 2015, they hosted a fundraiser for Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who had also led the Community Coalition and is now a key supporter of Bass.

A representative of McGrath and Abrams declined to comment. The expenditure committee's chair, Morgan Miller, didn't respond to a request for comment.

We are a diverse coalition of voters dedicated to electing Karen Bass as our next mayor," the committee said in a statement. "We are committed to making Los Angeles a better place for all and firmly believe this office cannot be bought by anyone.

(In a statement, Caruso senior campaign advisor Lex Olbrei said: Its not surprising that special interest politicians who have raised millions from corporate interests are being propped up by a special interest Washington, D.C., super PAC.")

Abrams and McGrath were some of the many people working in Hollywood who gave directly to Bass' campaign, which raised nearly $2 million last year after she got into the race in September. They included actors Felicity Huffman, Donald Glover and Jennifer Garner  along with Katzenberg, who has recently become more politically engaged on homelessness issues, and his wife, Marilyn.

City Councilman Kevin de Leon's mayoral bid is also receiving support from an independent expenditure committee, which is being funded by a local union, and has raised $250,000 to back the former state senator and several candidates for City Council. This committee last week reported spending around $35,000 to distribute mailers in support of de Leon.

Also last week, the Ethics Commission said Caruso had already made or incurred expenses for his campaign that exceed $3.3 million. As a result, other candidates, most of whom have agreed to accept public matching funds for their campaigns, will be permitted to spend greater amounts than previously allowed.

Caruso is not lacking in Hollywood support as well. He recently hosted an event that was attended by Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, actress Gwyneth Paltrow and executive Scooter Braun.

Katzenberg has been a major player in national Democratic politics for years, giving heavily to the likes of Hillary Clinton and President Obama. Contribution records show that Katzenberg also has been giving locally, donating $50,000 in 2017 to the campaign for Measure H, which raised taxes to pay for social services that help Los Angeles Countys homeless population.





A year earlier, he contributed $100,000 to Mayor Eric Garcettis campaign for Measure M, the half-cent sales tax to support public transit and transportation programs.

In 2013, Katzenberg put more than $101,000 into the effort to elect Wendy Greuel  who worked with him at DreamWorks  as mayor.

Last summer, Katzenberg met with numerous local elected officials and aides who work on homelessness policy in the run-up to a vote to impose new anti-camping rules, which would allow the city to remove encampments that are near key public facilities, such as libraries and homeless shelters, once offers of housing have been made.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LVIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlins repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas.

Outside Lviv, black smoke billowed for hours after the early morning strike by several missiles, which the mayor said hit a facility for repairing military aircraft near the city's international airport, also damaging a bus repair facility. No casualties were immediately reported. The facility had suspended work ahead of the attack, said the mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, on the Telegram messaging app.

A soldier standing guard near the site said he heard three blasts in quick succession around 6 a.m. A nearby resident described his building vibrating from the explosions and people panicking.

The missiles that hit Lviv were launched from the Black Sea, but two of the six that were launched were shot down, Ukrainian air forces western command said on Facebook.

Not far from the Polish border and well behind the front lines, Lviv and the surrounding area have not been spared Russia's attacks. In the worst, nearly three dozen people were killed last weekend in a strike on a training facility near the city. Meanwhile, Lviv's population has swelled by some 200,000 as people from elsewhere in Ukraine have sought shelter there.

At least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school

Early morning barrages also hit on the northern edges of Kyiv. At least one person was killed by shelling on Podil, a neighborhood just north of downtown Kyiv, according to emergency services. It was not immediately known what was hit in the bombardment.

In city after city around Ukraine, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety from the bombardment have been attacked. Rescue workers searched for survivors in the ruins of a theater that served as a shelter when it was blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged southern city of Mariupol. And in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, at least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center, a local official said.

In the northern city of Chernihiv, dozens of bodies were brought to the morgue in just one day.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that American officials were evaluating potential war crimes and that if the intentional targeting of civilians by Russia is confirmed, there will be massive consequences.

A cloud of smoke raises after an explosion in Lviv, western Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. The mayor of Lviv says missiles struck near the city's airport early Friday. (AP Photo)

The United Nations political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the U.N. Security Council that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians.

She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities are reportedly indiscriminate" and involve the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area. DiCarlo said the devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks.

In Mariupol, hundreds of civilians were said to have taken shelter in a grand, columned theater in the city's center when it was hit Wednesday by a Russian airstrike. More than a day later, there were no reports of deaths and conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble. Communications are disrupted across the city and movement is difficult because of shelling and other fighting.

Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar Technologies showed huge white letters on the pavement outside the theater spelling out CHILDREN in Russian  DETI  to alert warplanes to the vulnerable people hiding inside.

We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theater could survive," Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayors office, told The Associated Press. He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes. Other officials said earlier that some people had gotten out.

Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the at least three-story building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.

'My child is hungry. I dont know what to give him to eat.'

Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.

We are trying to survive somehow, said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. My child is hungry. I dont know what to give him to eat.

She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. I cant tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing," she said.

Cars, some with the Z symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighborhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

In Chernihiv, at least 53 people were brought to morgues over 24 hours, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Ukraine's emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including 3-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000.

The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction, Chaus said.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Thursday, March 17, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shakes hands with a wounded Kateryna Vlasenko, 16, a refugee from Vorzel who covered her junior brother with her body during Russian shelling as they ran from their home town in a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The World Health Organization said it has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured.

In remarks early Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was thankful to President Joe Biden for additional military aid, but he would not get into specifics about the new package, saying he did not want Russia to know what to expect. He said when the invasion began on Feb. 24, Russia expected to find Ukraine much as it did in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea without a fight and backed separatists as they took control of the eastern Donbas region.

Instead, he said, Ukraine had much stronger defenses than expected, and Russia "didnt know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies accused Putin of conducting an unprovoked and shameful war, and called on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justices order to stop its attack and withdraw its forces.

Both Ukraine and Russia this week reported some progress in negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that some negotiators were breaking into working groups.

Zelenskyy said he would not reveal Ukraine's negotiating tactics.

Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook, Zelenskyy said. I consider it the right way.

While details of Thursday's talks were unknown, an official in Zelenskyys office told the AP that on Wednesday, the main subject discussed was whether Russian troops would remain in separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after the war and where the borders would be.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Ukraine was insisting on the inclusion of one or more Western nuclear powers in the negotiations and on legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine.

In exchange, the official said, Ukraine was ready to discuss a neutral military status.

Russia has demanded that NATO pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

The fighting has led more than 3 million people to flee Ukraine, the U.N. estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.
A former aide to the late Princess Diana has received an apology and "substantial sum" from the BBC over a 1995 interview Diana gave to then-BBC journalist Martin Bashir.

The aide, Patrick Jephson, who served for eight years as Diana's private secretary, received the apology and damages from the BBC after an independent investigation, known as the Dyson Report, found that Bashir "deceived and induced" to secure the interview with Diana.

Bashir is accused in the report of showing Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer, false bank statements in order to manipulate Diana into sitting down for the interview.

Jephson took legal action against the BBC after the report was published last May, his agent told ABC News.

Jephson was Diana's private secretary at the time of the interview, but resigned shortly after.

Diana's comments about her marriage to Prince Charles and his alleged affair with his now wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during the interview -- watched by more than 23 million people globally -- sent shock waves throughout the world -- and the royal family.

When Bashir asked Diana if she thought Camilla was "a factor" in the breakdown of her marriage to Charles, Diana famously replied, "Well, there were three of us in the marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

PHOTO: Martin Bashir interviews Princess Diana in Kensington Palace for the BBC television program Panorama, Nov. 20, 1995. (Tim Graham/Corbis via Getty Images, FILE)

Diana and Charles divorced just one year after the interview aired, in 1996.

MORE: Rare image of Princess Diana to be displayed in new Kensington Palace exhibit

One year after the divorce, in 1997, Diana died following a car crash in the Pont DAlma Bridge in Paris.

The Princess died thinking I had betrayed her after eight rewarding but often difficult years in which we had worked so closely," Jephson said in an interview with The Telegraph following the BBC's announcement. "To suddenly discover what had happened  that it wasnt a misunderstanding but a calculated, cold-blooded act of deception  is still very hard to process."

Ive thought for 25 years, what went wrong? Why did that relationship suddenly turn to ashes with all that meant for my life?," he said. "Because I now know what Bashir did, I am able to put a date on when the relationship changed; it disintegrated over the next four months and eventually I felt I had to resign. I had a young family and it was a tough time.

Jephson, who went onto write a book about Diana, "Shadows of a Princess," said he plans to donate the money from the BBC to a children's hospice for which Diana was patron.

PHOTO: Diana, Princess of Wales sits on a step at her home at Highgrove House in Doughton, Gloucestershire, July 18, 1986. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images, FILE)

In a statement, the BBC said, "The BBC accepts and acknowledges that serious harm was caused to Commander Jephson as a result of the circumstances in which the 1995 interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, was obtained, which have become apparent as a result of the Dyson Report. The BBC apologizes unreservedly to Commander Jephson for the harm caused to him and has paid his legal costs. The BBC has also paid Commander Jephson a substantial sum in damages, which he intends to donate in full to British charities nominated by him."

Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer, responded to the BBC's apology to Jephson by calling it the "right result."

"The right result - appalling what Patrick Jephson had to go through as a result of grotesque 'journalism,'" he wrote on Twitter.

The right result - appalling what Patrick Jephson had to go through as a result of grotesque journalism. Also terrible that it was covered up for so long by senior people at the @BBCNews - there will be more to come out on all this, before long. https://t.co/S0RV8k156p  Charles Spencer (@cspencer1508) March 17, 2022

In the years following the Diana interview, Bashir moved to the United States, where he worked for ABC News and MSNBC before returning to the BBC in 2016 as the networks' religious affairs correspondent.

Bashir stepped down from his role at the BBC in May 2021 due to ongoing health concerns. He said in a statement last year, following the release of the Dyson Report, that he "deeply" regrets his actions on the bank statements," but remains "immensely proud" of the interview.

MORE: Princes William, Harry respond to BBC report finding Martin Bashir 'deceived' to secure Princess Diana interview

"This is the second time that I have willingly fully co-operated with an investigation into events more than 25 years ago," Bashir said in his statement last year. "I apologized then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up. It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret. But I absolutely stand by the evidence I gave a quarter of a century ago, and again more recently."

"I also reiterate that the bank statements had no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview," he said. "Evidence handed to the inquiry in her own handwriting (and published alongside the report today) unequivocally confirms this, and other compelling evidence presented to Lord Dyson reinforces it. In fact, despite his other findings, Lord Dyson himself in any event accepts that the princess would probably have agreed to be interviewed without what he describes as my 'intervention.'"

"It is saddening that this single issue has been allowed to overshadow the princess' brave decision to tell her story, to courageously talk through the difficulties she faced, and, to help address the silence and stigma that surrounded mental health issues all those years ago," Bashir concluded. She led the way in addressing so many of these issues and that's why I will always remain immensely proud of that interview."

Princess Diana's former aide gets apology, 'substantial sum' from BBC over Martin Bashir interview originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
After three weeks of bitter and barbaric fighting in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised the coverage of the war from one American media outlet: Fox News.

Speaking to the state-owned RT network, Lavrov said Fox News has been trying to represent some alternative points of view in its coverage of the war.

We understood long ago that there is no such thing as an independent Western media, he said in the Friday interview, which was conducted in English.

He went on to denounce the social media ban of former President Donald Trump and appeared to criticize the labeling of Jan. 6 insurrectionists as terrorists.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Russian Foreign Ministry/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

But when you watch other channels, read the social networks and internet platforms, when the acting president was blocked and this censorship continues in a very big way. The substitution of notions whenever something is happening by the way of mass protest, mass demonstrations, which they dont like, they immediately call it domestic terrorism.

He added: So its a war, and its a war which involves the methods of information terrorism.

Last Friday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson suggested that U.S. government officials wanted a war between Russia and Ukraine in a bid to grab more power. While otherwise denouncing the Russian invasion, Carlson theorized that the U.S. helped provoke the conflict after emergency powers enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic had come to an end.

At exactly the moment when the emergency powers they awarded to themselves to fight COVID started to wane, our leaders began pushing for conflict with Russia, the Fox News host said.

Meanwhile, retired United States Army Col. Douglas Macgregor declared on Carlsons show on Thursday that Kyiv had lost the war with Russia and that Ukraine had been grounded to bits.

The retired colonel added: Theres no question about that, despite what we report on our mainstream media. Most military experts, however, say the Russian advance is moving much slower than Moscow expected in the face of severe logistical problems and fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Fox News hosts have continued to push certain talking points while reporting on Russias invasion, linking the war to various Biden administration policies.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Three days into the invasion, Fox and Friends co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy declared it a Green New Deal war, stating, This is John Kerrys war. This is AOCs war.

Two days before that, while covering Russias bombardment of Ukraine, Carlson accused the Biden administration of trying to degrade and humiliate the U.S. military by focusing on white rage and maternity flight suits.

Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin has made waves for her near-constant correcting of the record set forth by the news network's opinion hosts, including primetime host Sean Hannity.

And Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall corrected The Five co-host Greg Gutfeld in early March after Gutfeld complained about what he saw as a narrative presented solely through the eyes of the Ukrainians.

And they only go in one direction. And I understand why they only go in one direction, because its the invaded who experience the atrocity, right? And thats all were going to see, Gutfeld complained.

Moments later, live on air, Hall rebuked the host for making those comments from a studio in New York. Speaking as someone on the ground, I want to say that this is not the media trying to drum up some emotional response," Hall said from Ukraine. Gutfeld, whose mother-in-law escaped from Ukraine to Poland earlier this month, called it a cheap attack on him.

Hall was wounded during a Russian attack just five days later. A cameraman, Pierre Zakrzewski, and a producer, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, who were both working for Fox News on the ground in Ukraine, were killed in the attack.

_____

What happened this week in Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
Penn swimmer Lia Thomas won the women's 500-yard freestyle championship on Thursday to become the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history.

She finished the race in 4:33.24, beating Virginia's Emma Weyant by 1.75 seconds. The time fell short of Katie Ledecky's NCAA-record time of 4:24.06.

Thomas used to compete on the Penn men's team before transitioning and competing as a woman for the first time this season. Her eligibility has come under scrutiny with critics arguing that she has an unfair advantage in the pool after she went through male puberty. She met NCAA standards to compete as a woman after undergoing testosterone suppression therapy for more than two years.

Since joining the women's team, Thomas has broken two school records and posted the fastest times in the country in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events. Now she's an NCAA champion.

Thomas addressed the scrutiny on Thursday while speaking with ESPN from Atlanta's McAuley Aquatic Center, the site of the NCAA competition.

It means the world to be here.



Lia Thomas spoke about swimming in the NCAA women's championships. pic.twitter.com/aP0afVA0KE  SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 18, 2022

"I try to ignore it as much as I can," Thomas said. "I try to focus on my swimming, what I need to do to get ready for my races. Just try to block out everything else."

Among the critics of Thomas' eligibility are 16 of her Penn teammates. They sent a letter in February signed by 1984 Olympic gold medalist and chief executive of womens sports advocacy organization Champion Women Nancy Hogshead-Makar urging Penn and the Ivy League to reconsider her eligibilty.

We fully support Lia Thomas in her decision to affirm her gender identity and to transition from a man to a woman," the letter read. "Lia has every right to live her life authentically. However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someones gender identity.

"Biologically, Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the womens category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female. If she were to be eligible to compete against us, she could now break Penn, Ivy, and NCAA Womens Swimming records; feats she could never have done as a male athlete.

The Penn swimmers who endorsed the letter remained anonymous.

Lia Thomas holds her NCAA trophy on Thursday (Brett Davis/Reuters)

Stanford swimmer and Olympic silver medalist Brooke Forde is among the supporters of Thomas' eligibility. She said in January that she doesn't have a problem competing against Thomas.

"I would not wish this experience on anyone, especially Lia who has followed the rules required of her," Forde said in a January statement. "I believe that treating people with respect and dignity is more important than any trophy or record will ever be, which is why I will not have a problem racing against Lia at NCAAs this year.

Thomas is scheduled to compete in the upcoming 100 and 200 freestyle events at the NCAA championships.
TYLER, Texas (AP)  A Texas man was arrested on a capital murder charge after fatally shooting two dentists at a clinic, authorities said.

Steven Alexander Smith, 40, is accused of shooting the two people Wednesday afternoon at Affordable Dentures in Tyler, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of Dallas.

The Smith County Sheriff's Office said Smith became angry at clinic staff and retrieved a handgun from his pickup truck and then returned to the lobby and opened fire.

Two doctors were struck by gunfire and both died, the sheriff's office said. Authorities identified them as Dr. Blake G. Sinclair, 59, and Dr. Jack E. Burroughs, 75. Both were from Tyler.

Smith fled, authorities said, but police eventually arrested him at his home. He's being held in the Smith County jail on $2.5 million bond. Jail records do not list an attorney for him.

Related video: Girlfriend of dentist accused of killing his wife is charged with accessory
The Rev. Cristina Moon bows before a ceramic lotus flower at the May We Gather event at the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

One by one, the Buddhist priests bowed before the altar at the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo, wearing robes of yellow, orange and black.

Accompanied by the chanting of the Heart Sutra in Korean, they dipped a paintbrush into a bowl of golden lacquer to gently fill in the cracks of a white ceramic lotus that had been handmade for the occasion.

The ritual, which took place last May, was drenched in meaning. The lotus flower represented the purity and potential of the Buddhas awakening. The repairing of the cracked ceramic lotus, a Japanese art known as kintsugi, was a symbol of the collective effort to heal the wounds of religious bigotry.

Here, just 49 days after the March 16, 2021, killing of eight people in an Atlanta-area shooting rampage, including six women of Asian descent, was a symbolic effort to turn brokenness into beauty.

The timing was also significant: The 49th day after death represents the end of the bardo, an intermediate stage between life and rebirth in some Buddhist traditions.

The ceremony was part of May We Gather, a historic event that drew together followers from all schools of Buddhism.

I had never seen anything like it before, and I dont think there has been anything like it before, said Indigo Som, co-director of the Asian American Buddhist Working Group, which formed a year ago. It was a specific response to an attack on our community that was multi-lineage, pan-Asian and pan-Buddhist.

May We Gather served another purpose: helping to jump-start a conversation among a diverse population of Buddhists about how leaders and institutions can respond to the anti-Asian violence that has long been part of American history, and which has been exacerbated by the pandemic over the last two years.

So much of what has happened after the event is the acknowledgment that there is this shared experience, and that we have all, in different ways, confronted racism and white supremacy in America, said Nalika Gajaweera, a research anthropologist at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. We may not respond in a coherent voice, but were having a conversation.

Scholars say the history of anti-Asian violence in the United States has long been intertwined with anti-Buddhist sentiment. As a non-Christian faith, it was considered heathen, pagan and anti-American when it was introduced to the United States by Chinese laborers in the 1850s.

In the years after the Civil War, Asian Americans were denied voting rights in part because they were seen as too different  including their spiritual traditions  to be assimilated into American culture. In the 1940s, Japanese Buddhist priests were classified as a threat to national security in the prelude to Americas entry into World War II.

Funie Hsu, a professor of American Studies at San Jose State University, said that another type of anti-Asian violence occurred during the 1960s and subsequent decades, as counterculture Westerners, rejecting a society they viewed as corrupted by materialism and militarism, turned to Eastern religions to seek enlightenment. As Buddhist books, magazines and retreat centers began to highlight the work of white converts, and spiritual rebels such as Jack Kerouac popularized the ideal of the wandering, truth-seeking "dharma bum," some Asian Americans felt marginalized in their own hereditary religion.

In my experience, the way that Asian Americans have suffered racism the most in the United States is not only through hate and exclusionary laws, but by erasure and invisibilization, said Mushim Patricia Ikeda, a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland who spent 25 years trying to build bridges between hereditary Buddhist communities and largely white convert groups. It was an effort that she said largely failed.

Asian and Asian American Buddhists have been victims of religious hate in recent years as well. Buddhist temples were vandalized, including six in Santa Ana and Westminster and one in Little Tokyo, after the start of the pandemic. At one temple in Santa Ana, a person spray-painted the word Jesus on a stone statue of the Buddha.

"The damage to property is not what keeps us up at night or what bothers us the most. Its the hate crime in itself and the negative impact to interfaith relations in our community, the Venerable Vien Hay of the Dieu Ngu Temple, one of the vandalized temples in Westminster, told The Times at the time.

"The history of Buddhism in America is confronting anti-Asian violence," Hsu said.

As Asian American Buddhist leaders grapple with the current wave of violence in the wake of the pandemic, many are turning to lessons from their history and religion to inspire resilience in their sanghas, or communities.

Policy and political solutions are important, but in the face of the suffering people are experiencing, tending to their spirit and giving them fortitude is probably the most important thing religion can do, said the Rev. Cristina Moon of Daihonzan Chozen-Ji International Zen Dojo in Honolulu.

One way to do that is to help individual Buddhist communities remember the courage and drive that it took for their predecessors to come to America and make a better future for themselves in the face of discrimination and violence, she said.

Just reminding people that weve been through tough times before and we persevered by holding on to who we are and staying true to that faith, she said.

Som, who co-facilitates the Asian American Deep Refuge Sangha at the East Bay Meditation Center, agreed.

Asian Americans and Asian American Buddhists specifically have been under attack the whole time weve been in this country, and theres a whole story about people being pressured to convert to Christianity to be more American, she said. Maintaining the dharma  Buddhist teachings  maintaining the faith, and maintaining a temple is already pushing against the violence, the erasure and the racism.

Gajaweera, the anthropologist and co-director of the Asian American Buddhist Working Group along with Som, Louije Kim and Dorothy Imagire, elaborated: It might not seem like activism, but it is the day-to-day activism of keeping your doors open and supporting your community.

Brother Phap Dung, a dharma teacher at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, said between 200 and 300 members of the public come to the mountain monastery each Sunday to take refuge from the discrimination, loneliness and the basic fear and anxiety that is pervading society.

"We don't just look out for Buddhists," he said. "We try to take care of all the people who are facing discrimination  African Americans, Latinos, gay and lesbian, LGBTQ."

Monastics offer support by just being there, listening, taking visitors on hikes, showing them a sunset and reminding them of the wonders of life.

"That can also be good medicine for taking care of the mental toxins and discrimination we have received from others," he said. "Finding ways to joy and wonder helps us not be overwhelmed and monopolized by the hate in society."

Hsu said she has also found solace in the Buddhist idea of Indra's net: an infinite web of connection with a single, shining jewel at each point of connection. Each jewel reflects every other jewel in the web, and whatever affects one jewel affects them all.

"That was one of the ideas we were trying to emphasize with May We Gather," she said. "That we are not separate from each other."

For the one-year anniversary of the Georgia shooting rampage, the organizers of May We Gather published reflections from Buddhist leaders and practitioners inspired by the dharma. Contributions came in from Buddhists in California, Washington, Oregon, Maine, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Canada and elsewhere.

They expressed sorrow for those lost  and gratitude for the opportunity to grieve together.

For the record:

2:00 p.m. March 18, 2022: An earlier version of this story suggested May We Gather was the first event to draw together followers of every major school of Buddhism for the first time since the tradition was founded. It was not.



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
General view of the remains of the drama theatre which was hit by a bomb in Mariupol

LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Ukraine's human rights ombudswoman said on Friday 130 people had been rescued so far from a bombed theatre in Mariupol but that there was still no information on more than 1,000 other people officials believe were sheltering there when the bomb fell.

Ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said rescue work was ongoing at the site, which Ukraine says was hit by a powerful Russian air strike on Wednesday. Russia has denied bombing the theatre or targeting civilians.

"Rescuers are working. There is only this information: 130 people are alive and have been taken out. The rest are waiting for help," she said on national television.

This is the first time Ukrainian authorities have shared an estimate of the number of survivors of the attack. There has been no confirmation of the number of possible casualties.

"According to our data there are still more than 1,300 people there who are in these basements, in that bomb shelter," Denisova said, referring to underground shelters below the theatre.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the figures.

Mariupol city council has previously said there were more than 1,000 people sheltering under the theatre.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Philippa Fletcher)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Friday that the war in Ukraine must end as soon as possible, according to Chinese state media.

"The top priorities now are to continue dialogue and negotiations, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, cease fighting and end the war as soon as possible," Xi told Biden on a video call.

All parties should jointly support the Russia-Ukraine dialogue and negotiations while the United States and NATO should also conduct talks with Russia to solve the "crux" of the Ukraine crisis and resolve the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine, Xi said.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The process to house Ukrainian refugees in Northern Ireland may only take hours to complete, senior Stormont officials have said.

Over 6,000 people in Northern Ireland have signed up for the UK Governments Homes for Ukraine programme. This allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to bring people escaping the war to safety  even if they have no ties to the UK.

It means a substantial number of people could be housed in the country, with estimates suggesting the figure could reach at least 9,000 if the UK takes 10% of those fleeing the country.

Senior officials from the Executive Office (TEO) said on Friday afternoon: Were working on the basis that this will be significantly larger and more complex than the Syrian refugee scheme where we welcomed and settled over 2,000 refugees on a staggered and planned basis.

Anyone with a room or home available for at least six months can offer it to a Ukrainian individual or a family, although those offering to host will be vetted and Ukrainian applicants will undergo security checks.

It was said that schemes will take a personal and family-centred approach, ensuring refugees are treated with respect, allowing them equal access to public services and ensuring they can learn English to properly integrate.

Ukrainians will be asked for their details, including whether they have a criminal record, much like a visa application.

Asked how long the process will take, a TEO official told journalists: Were hearing suggestions that it certainly wont be weeks, it will be more in days, possibly hours.

Its just me guessing off the top of my head, but I think the key message from the Home Office is this is not going to be an elongated process, it is a genuinely truncated process compared with foreign visa arrangements.

The first  launching on Friday  will allow UK sponsors to nominate a named Ukrainian or family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property.

The Government is working with a number of charities and NGOs to work out the best way to match people who are not yet connected with Ukrainians. There is no limit to how many people can apply.

Another TEO official said: Safeguarding is clearly of supreme importance and all of us and the Home Office will be doing a standard DBS check.

We will be following up quickly with further checks, more advanced checks with visitors to ensure that their premises and the accommodation is suitable.

Really importantly we recognise there will be bumps in the road down the line in some of these relationships and we want to be in a position to be able to support people to work through those, so the safeguarding aspect is is key.
Tourism companies have hailed the final game-changer as all remaining Covid travel measures are axed even as cases continue to rise in the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said lifting the requirements, which include pre-travel tests for unvaccinated people, would allow greater freedom in time for Easter to go abroad.

After a meeting with senior ministers on Monday, he confirmed the measures were ending for travel to the UK from 4am on Friday under the Governments plans for living with Covid.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said a range of contingency measures would be kept in reserve so ministers could take swift and proportionate action in the face of potential new variants.

The department said they would only be implemented in extreme circumstances, but it was understood the measures would include targeted testing from a country that has seen a new strain emerge.

Demand for foreign holidays has jumped since the start of the year and there is a newfound air of positivity within the sector, airline executives said in response to the move.

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, a tourism company, said bookings had surged in recent months for destinations including the Maldives, Mauritius, the Caribbean and Europe.

The removal of all travel restrictions is the final game-changer  people can now go on holiday or visit family and friends overseas without all of the stress that comes with testing before they return home, he said.

Travel has been in turmoil for two years but now its back.

Mr Jones branded passenger locator forms used to track people after outbreaks of the virus, which are among the measures to axed on Friday, unpopular and ineffective.

The time-consuming forms require people to fill in travel details, their address in the UK and vaccination status.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines, said the time to return to the skies is now as travellers prepare for Easter and summer.

People want to go away, and there is a real air of positivity within the sector now, he said.

Aviation minister Robert Courts said: Everything we have worked for  every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the whole country means that finally, nearly two years on, we can all travel without bureaucratic restrictions.

He added that he hope(d) to never see a day where the restrictions were reintroduced.

The Transport Secretary said: I said we wouldnt keep travel measures in place for any longer than necessary, which were delivering on today  providing more welcome news and greater freedom for travellers ahead of the Easter holidays.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Government would continue to monitor potential new variants but that the final restrictions could now be lifted due to the success of the vaccination programme.

The move comes as coronavirus infections are rising in all four UK nations for the first time since the end of January, according to estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

The numbers for hospital patients with Covid were also rising, up 19% week-on-week in England.

A further 91,345 confirmed cases were reported on Wednesday.
Russia expanded its missile strikes to Lviv in the west of Ukraine as British intelligence suggested Vladimir Putins invasion had made only minimal progress this week.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said on Friday the early-morning attack on the city that has swelled with people sheltering from elsewhere in Ukraine showed Russia was broadening its strikes.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said several missiles hit a facility for repairing military planes near the citys international airport and also damaged a bus repair site.

Shelling around the capital of Kyiv also continued as the number of refugees estimated to have fled exceeded 3.4 million.

In other developments:

 Ofcom revoked Kremlin-backed broadcaster RTs UK licence with immediate effect after the regulator said it was not fit and proper.

 Russia was accused of dirty tricks after two Cabinet ministers including Defence Secretary Ben Wallace were targeted with hoax calls from an impostor posing as Ukraines prime minister.

 More than 150,000 people have registered interest in the UKs Homes for Ukraine scheme to house Ukrainian refugees.

Mr Heappey said indiscriminate shelling on cities were very probably war crimes and said the Russian President bears the ultimate culpability for atrocities.

The areas of Ukrainian territory that have been taken by the Russians havent changed for a week or so. The Russians are way behind in their plan; they are failing to achieve their military objectives and that may be some cause for optimism, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  18 March 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/tVB01HziYQ  #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/CGXYNXHMWC  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) March 18, 2022

But what that doesnt show is that in the cities that are besieged, Mariupol, most concerningly, but Kharkiv, Sumy and others as well there is just this incredible weight of artillery fire being used indiscriminately to flatten those cities irrespective of who is beneath the shells as they fall.

No causalities were immediately reported in the strikes on Lviv, which has had its population swelled by some 200,000 people seeking refuge from attacks across Ukraine.

Mr Heappey said that its very much a part of war that you would go after each others supply lines but clearly the airstrike on an airbase in western Ukraine last week and strikes on to Lviv airport last night show that the Russians are start going after Ukrainian depth as well.

An intelligence update from the Ministry of Defence said that Ukrainian forces were continuing to frustrate Moscows attempt to encircle cities despite heavy shelling.

Russian forces have made minimal progress this week, it added.

Western officials have described the advance on Kyiv as remaining bogged down amid questions over whether Moscow would still mount an assault on the city, which had been its main objective.

An ill-judged ground assault on a city as well-prepared as Kyiv with really determined and committed defenders would be a very costly business, one official said.

I think there comes a point where even Russia has to count the cost of casualties.

(PA Graphics)

There was fresh outrage at the alleged war crimes being committed under Mr Putin after an attack on a theatre in Mariupol where hundreds of civilians were said to have sheltered.

Mr Heappey warned that every single person in the military chain of command could be prosecuted for war crimes as he hit out at the barbaric tactic of trying to destroy a city forces have been unable to seize militarily.

The evidence being gathered points very much towards war crimes being committed in Ukraine. The culpability for war crimes sits absolutely with the leader of the Russian government, the man who decided to do all of this in the first place, he told Sky News.

It is not just Putin who ends up being responsible for war crimes as and when the evidence is gathered and people are held to account.

They too are involved in the prosecution or war crimes in Ukraine. This is a stain on the Russian nation.

He said the UK was training Ukrainians to use the Starstreak anti-aircraft missile system that Britain is supplying and which will arrive in the country imminently.

The Home Office said it has issued 6,500 visas under the Ukraine family scheme as of 5pm on Thursday, an increase of 400 in a day.

A total of 27,000 applications have been made, according to provisional data published on the departments website.
A Virginia police officer copped a guilty plea Friday to storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, along with supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Jacob Fracker, 30, and fellow officer Thomas Robertson, 49, traveled 200 miles northeast from their town of Rocky Mount in southwest Virginia to Washington, D.C., for the rally on Jan. 6, the Justice Department said. They were off duty that day.

Fracker is expected to testify against Robertson at his April 4 trial.

Jacob Fracker, left, and Thomas Robertson, right, pose together while committing a federal crime.





Jacob Fracker, left, and Thomas Robertson, right, pose together while committing a federal crime.

When Trump supporters overwhelmed Capitol Police and other authorities, Fracker and Robertson flooded into the building, the feds said. Both men carried gas masks. They documented their crime with a photo in front of a statue of Revolutionary War hero John Stark.

During the chaos, Robertson used a wooden stick in an attempt to fend off D.C. police officers who were arriving to back up Capitol Police, according to the government.

The feds said Robertson boasted about the riot on Facebook, writing: to anyone whos possibly concerned about the picture of me going around. sorry I hate freedom? His Facebook page also threatened an open armed rebellion after Trump lost the 2020 election. Frackers social media accounts had similar rhetoric, according to the feds.

The Rocky Mount Police Department fired both men after they were arrested in January 2021.

While both men were initially released, Robertson has been back behind bars since the summer. Per the terms of his initial release, he was not allowed to own firearms, but FBI agents searched his home in June 2021 and found 34 guns. The judge didnt buy Robertsons claim that they were just World War II collectibles.

FILE - Violent protesters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.





FILE - Violent protesters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (John Minchillo/)

In exchange for cooperating against his former colleague, Fracker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, a felony. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but he wont be sentenced until after Robertsons trial.

More than 750 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot, and about 220 have pleaded guilty. The first trial in the sprawling case concluded March 8, with Guy Wesley Reffitt of Texas convicted on all counts.

Though Reffitt didnt even enter the Capitol, prosecutors showed that he was one of the leaders outside the building, confronting cops and riling up rioters. His own teenage son secretly recorded him on the day of the riot, shared that recording with the feds and testified against his father.

Even without going inside, Reffitt was convicted on five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, being unlawfully present on Capitol grounds while armed with a firearm, transporting firearms during a civil disorder, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder and obstruction of justice.

Legal observers said that Reffitts conviction could be bad news for any Capitol rioters hoping to try their luck with a jury.

With News Wire Services
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YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Italy exchanged messages on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Italian Republic, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

In his message Ararat Mirzoyan, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, particularly emphasized the fact that the Armenian-Italian cooperation is characterized by a high-level political dialogue. He commended the growing bilateral trade turnover, as well as the volume of Italian investments in Armenia. Minister Mirzoyan expressed determination in bringing bilateral economic relations to the level of political dialogue.

Congratulating the Armenian counterpart, Luigi Di Mayo, the Foreign Minister of Italy, in his turn noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Armenian-Italian friendly relations and political dialogue have been developing and strengthening, as evidenced by the high-level reciprocal visits. He added that the friendly relations between Armenia and Italy establish stable trade-economic and cultural ties, which are complemented by the existing cooperation in various spheres.
YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 18 March, USD exchange rate down by 1.89 drams to 488.60 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.57 drams to 539.32 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.14 drams to 4.79 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 5.32 drams to 641.34 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 456.34 drams to 30626.77 drams. Silver price up by 4.69 drams to 398.06 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.
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The meeting comes days after the Group of 23 pitched for an 'inclusive and collective leadership' in the Congress

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad talks to the media after his meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi on March 18, 2022. (PTI)

New Delhi: G-23 leader Ghulam Nabi Azad met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday, after which he said leadership change is not an issue as the Congress Working Committee unanimously decided that she should continue as party chief till internal polls.

After meeting Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence here, Azad told reporters that he gave her suggestions to strengthen the party and held a discussion on how to take on rivals "unitedly" in the forthcoming assembly polls.

The meeting comes days after the Group of 23 pitched for an "inclusive and collective leadership" in the Congress.

Kapil Sibal, another G-23 leader, had said recently that the Gandhis should step aside and pave the way for someone else to take over the reins of the party.

Asked about Sibal's call for the leadership change, Azad said, "There is no question of leadership (change). When Mrs Gandhi had offered (to quit) at the CWC, then all of us asked her to continue. There will be a discussion on that when the elections take place in the party."

Party workers will decide at that time who will be the president, Azad said, adding, "The post of the party president is not vacant today.

In the working committee, when she had offered to quit, "all of us, be it from any group or thinking, said Mrs Gandhi you continue, we have no problems, but there are some suggestions we had given to strengthen the organisation," Azad said.

"Nobody has said Mrs Gandhi should just quit, let me tell you very clearly that we had decided in the working committee," he told reporters.

His remarks assume significance and indicate a softening of stance of the G-23.

Azad said he had a very good meeting with the party president and the discussion centred on how to prepare and fight unitedly the forthcoming assembly polls to take on rival parties--national or regional.

Playing down the meeting, he told reporters that it "may be news for you but we keep meeting the Congress president at various intervals".

"Mrs Gandhi keeps having discussions with leaders to strengthen the organisation. A few days ago, the working committee had met and suggestions were asked as to how to strengthen the Congress party and what were the reasons for the defeat (in five assembly polls). I had also given my suggestions," he said.

However, it is not possible to record and remember all suggestions, he added. T

he members of the G-23 have held a flurry of meetings over measures to revamp the party.

After the Group of 23 pitched for an "inclusive and collective leadership" in the Congress, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, one of its members, had met Rahul Gandhi on Thursday and the two leaders were learnt to have discussed a revamp of the party organisation, a key demand of the dissenters.

The meetings held by Rahul with Hooda and Sonia with Azad are seen as an attempt by the Gandhi family to reach out to the G-23, which had shown signs of increasing aggression on the leadership issue after Congress' abject loss in the assembly elections in five states.

Earlier on Friday, Azad also met veteran Congress leader Karan Singh and said he greeted him on Holi.

Rahul Gandhi, a former Congress president, had called Hooda for a discussion on the political situation in Haryana. However, the discussion spilled over to the party's abysmal performance in the elections.

Sonia Gandhi had earlier reached out to Azad on Wednesday ahead of the G-23 dinner meeting at his residence.

The leaders of the grouping have since held a series of meetings at Azad's residence.

The party leadership wants to resolve the differences with the G-23 and is reaching out to its leaders. It is learnt to have deputed some senior leaders for parleys with the dissenting group to resolve the differences, according to sources.

Amid calls by a section of Gandhi family loyalists for action against Kapil Sibal, who had said the Gandhis should step aside, Hooda is learnt to have conveyed to Rahul Gandhi that such a step will be unacceptable as the dissident leader had only spoken about strengthening the Congress.

The G-23 has been persistently seeking a restructuring of the organisation since it first wrote to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 about it after a string of electoral losses.

The grouping had, in a statement on Wednesday, said, "The only way forward for the Congress was to adopt a model of inclusive and collective leadership and decision-making at all levels."

The group insisted they want to strengthen the Congress and "not to undermine it in any way".
While the COVID-19 pandemic rages, prisons are operating at 343 per cent of their capacity, with more than 38,000 people stuck in facilities made for just under 9,000. For Amnesty International, the situation is like a ticking time bomb". The government announces measures, but they are late and limited.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews)  A recent report by the United Nations Human Rights Council indicates that since 2015, the number of inmates in Cambodian prisons has more than doubled, resulting in overcrowding and the violation of the rights of prisoners who often have no access to clean water and medical care.

According to government figures, 38,977 people are held in Cambodian prisons with an official capacity of 8,804. According to Amnesty International, this constitutes a time bomb that could go off at any moment.

The UN study, which covers the period from 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021, slams the lack of beds, drinking water and fresh air in prisons, which are especially a priority issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presented in Geneva (Switzerland) during a seminar on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the report reveals that Cambodian prisons are operating at 343 per cent of their maximum capacity.

The situation in prisons is perilous to the point that the conditions may constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment given the levels of mental and physical pain experienced by prisoners, the report says.

UN experts have also pointed to a series of suspicious deaths in prison that have not been reported nor investigated.

Chin Malin, secretary of state of Cambodias Justice Ministry, told Radio Free Asia that his government has worked hard to reduce overcrowding in prisons, and that there are 2,000 fewer inmates this year. Suspended sentences and early release helped in reducing the numbers, easing the pressure on courts and prisons.

In reality, these are but belated and limited measures, so much so several international NGOs have repeatedly accused the Cambodian government of still ignoring the prison emergency.

Prison overcrowding is to a great extent due to the exponential rise in the incarceration of drug addicts, this according to the president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, Ny Sokha.

With the physical and mental health of prisoners at risk behind bars, after their release from prison, they will may not be able to work.

Over the past two years, Amnesty International has published images showing inhumane conditions and extreme overcrowding, which it views as a ticking time bomb" in light of the risks associated with the pandemic. Many facilities simply completely ignore social distancing rules and overcrowding.

These conditions were never acceptable, said David Griffiths, director in the office of the secretary-general at Amnesty International. Today they are completely unconscionable. The authorities must urgently ease this overcrowding crisis while giving all detainees access to appropriate healthcare without discrimination.
by Fady Noun

The visit sends a positive signal sent to the international community, and an indirect confirmation of the smooth running of the political elections scheduled for 15 May. Agenda covers current questions Land of the Cedars and in the region, from the Iranian issue to the war in Ukraine.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The head of state Michel Aoun will pay an official visit to the Vatican on March 21, where he will be received by Pope Francis as part of his state trip to Italy March 20-22, according to the national news agency. A source close to the presidency explains the meeting will focus on, "the details of the pope's long-awaited trip to Lebanon next September". President Aoun is going to the Vatican", the source continues, "to invite the Pope and discuss the situation in Lebanon", in addition to thanking him "for his prayers and for all that the Holy See has done to ensure diplomatic cover for Lebanon".

Aoun, the communique specifies, will be received in audience by the pope on 21 March. He will then hold a working meeting with Card. Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's number two, and the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

The following day the Head of State will be received by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, whom he will congratulate on his re-election on 29 January. He will return to Lebanon the same evening.

A surprise announcement

The announcement of the head of state's forthcoming visit to Italy came as a surprise. Its date was announced simultaneously in Beirut, in the Council of Ministers, and in Rome by Lebanon's ambassador to the Holy See, Farid Elias el-Khazen. The diplomat recalled that President Aoun's visit follows Abp. Gallagher's trip to the Land of the Cedars at the end of February. The attention of the Holy See, like that of the domestic world, stressed Khazen, is currently focused on the war in Ukraine, but the solicitude of the pope and the Vatican on the situation in Lebanon remains constant "at all levels", whatever the developments.

Some observers believ the visit to the Vatican by the head of state is a positive sign addressed to the international community and confirms - albeit indirectly - the clear intention of the authorities to complete the political elections scheduled for 15 May according to schedule, as well as the formation of a new government, both fundamental conditions to ensure the internal political stability of the country. An indispensable element, according to the Holy See, for an eventual visit of the Holy Father to Lebanon.

Distortion of the Vatican's position

In the pre-electoral climate marked by mounting controversies and clashes between Lebanese political factions, Ambassador Khazen condemned the attempts of those who seek to manipulate the Vatican's position in the media, crediting imaginary positions of the Holy See in favour of or against a political party.

Western diplomatic sources say this refers to press reports that Archbishop Gallagher had recommended, during his visit to Lebanon, the removal of Hezbollah from the list of terrorist organisations. A list drawn up by the United States and approved by their European allies.

In reality, recalls the Lebanese ambassador contacted yesterday by L'Orient-Le Jour, Msgr. Gallagher simply stated that the Holy See is "ready to play the role of mediator in a dialogue between political parties, provided that an official request is presented by all the formations concerned".

The future of Lebanon

During his visit, Archbishop Gallagher did not hide his concerns about the situation in the country and in the region, which "do not guarantee the future of Lebanon". He then called on some countries to "stop using Lebanon and the Middle East to serve external interests". Any weakening of the Christian presence," he lamented, "will destroy Lebanon's internal balance and identity.

This opinion is shared by the apostolic nuncio, Msgr Josef Spiteri, who called for "greater cooperation between Christian candidates" in view of these looming threats. "With the tragedy in Ukraine, everything becomes more difficult," the nuncio added. "Aid, the attention of the international community, the crisis in the Middle East, the dialogue between the United States and Iran, the fate of displaced Syrians... President Aoun - concludes the nuncio - will certainly address all these issues during his meeting with the Holy Father, Card. Parolin and Msgr. Gallagher".
Speaking to participants in a conference organised by the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation, Francis urged everyone to examine their conscience about their personal attitude towards the conflict in Ukraine. Do I pray? he asked. Do I fast? Do I do penance? Or do I live carefree, as we normally live through distant wars? In a message for the opening of the European Catholic Social Days, the called for an urgent review of the style and effectiveness of the ars politica.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis met in the Clementine Hall participants in the international conference on Educating to Democracy in a Fragmented World, organised by the Gravissimum Educationis Pontifical Foundation and currently underway at Romes LUMSA University.

In his address, the pontiff spoke about the conflict in Ukraine, noting that The war is not far away: it is at our doorstep. Such awareness raises questions about what can be done vis-a-vis the defeat of humanity.

For Francis, the war especially represents a challenge to educational institutions. We think of so many soldiers who are sent to the front, very young, Russian soldiers, poor things. Think of the many young Ukrainian soldiers; think of the inhabitants, the young people, the young girls, boys, girls... This is happening close to us. The Gospel only asks us not to look the other way, which is precisely the most pagan attitude of Christians: the Christian, when he gets used to looking the other way, slowly becomes a pagan disguised as a Christian.

The pope noted that in Rome, at the Bambino Gesu Hospital, there are children wounded by the bombings. In view of this, we urged us to ask ourselves what we are personally doing about this tragedy. Do I pray? Do I fast? Do I do penance? Or do I live carefree, as we normally live through distant wars?

Addressing educational institutions, he said that totalitarianism and secularism [. . .] are degenerations of democracy. [. . .] By exercising ideological oppression, the totalitarian State strips fundamental rights of the person and society of their value, to the point of suppressing freedom. Even Radical secularism, which is itself ideological, deforms the democratic spirit in a more subtle and insidious way: by eliminating the transcendent dimension, it weakens, and little by little cancels, any openness to dialogue.

For this reason, educational institutions are called to nurture love for democracy in young people. It is a question of helping them to understand and appreciate the value of living in a democratic system, always perfectible but capable of safeguarding citizens' participation (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46), freedom of choice, action and expression. And to go down the road of universality versus uniformity. The poison is uniformity. And that young people learn the difference and also practice it.

We must Teach young people that the common good is formed with love. It cannot be defended by military force. A community or nation that wants to assert itself by force does so to the detriment of other communities or nations, and becomes a fomenter of injustice, inequality and violence. The path of destruction is easy to take, but it produces so much rubble; only love can save the human family. On this, we are living the ugliest example close to us.

We must also teach young people to view authority as service because When authority goes beyond the rights of society, of people, it becomes authoritarianism and ultimately becomes dictatorship.

This morning Pope Francis sent a message to the archbishop of Vilnius, Mgr Gintaras Grusas, president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), on the occasion of the opening of the European Catholic Social Days underway in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The heartbreaking cry for help of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters urges us as a community of believers not only to reflect seriously, but to cry with them and to do something for them; to share the anguish of a people whose identity, history and tradition have been wounded. The blood and tears of children, the suffering of women and men who are defending their land or fleeing from bombs rattle our conscience. Once again humanity is threatened by a perverse abuse of power and partisan interests, which condemns defenseless people to suffer all forms of brutal violence.

This tragedy makes it more urgent to review the style and effectiveness of the ars politica. [. . .] War, which leaves our world worse than it was before and is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation  before the forces of evil (261), may in this sense provoke an opposite reaction, a commitment to re-establish an architecture of peace at the global level (cf. 231), in which the European house, born to guarantee peace after the world wars, has a primary role.
by Melani Manel Perera

Amid the economic crisis, the president claims to have done his best and blames his predecessors for the crisis. For economist Liyanage, A ration system for those with the lowest income would have been a sensible step. The president instead put the whole weight of the situation on the shoulders of the people.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  In light of the serious social crisis created by rising prices, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed the nation in a televised speech asking his compatriots to trust him.

This comes as more and more people in the streets and on social media call on him to resign. To make this point, hundreds of people have protested outside the Presidents Office for the past two days.

Rajapaksa spoke to the country Wednesday evening, claiming that he was well aware of the plight of the people. He justified himself by saying that the crisis that the country is going through is not his fault and that those who created it are precisely those who are now criticising the government.

I know that this situation will continue for reasons beyond our control though we make maximum possible efforts with regard to these situations, he said.

He went on to say that he was determined to make difficult decisions working with the International Monetary Fund after considering every aspect, positive and negative. This is why he urged his fellow Sri Lankans to renew their trust in him.

For senior journalist Kusal Perera, It is clear that [. . .] this government that asked for a mandate to develop the country should take responsibility for this protracted socio-economic collapse.

If you ask me who created these crises, politicians are not alone, Perera explained, speaking to AsiaNews. Top civil servants in [government] departments are behind the corrupt mega projects that began with foreign loans that have nothing to do with development.

If the president had been 'sensitive' to the pressure of the people and rising commodity prices, he would have taken a step forward and proposed solutions. But he did not, economist Sumanasiri Liyanage told AsiaNews.

A ration system for those with the lowest income would have been a sensible step. Instead, he put the whole weight of the situation on the shoulders of the people.

He is responsible for not looking at the issues over the past two years, not prioritising them in time, and not taking the right precautions.

Meanwhile, more and more people on social media are saying Gota Go Home.

Increasingly, people who have to spend hours and days in queues for gas, fuel and milk powder, those who have lost their jobs, are publicly expressing their anger and cursing the president and the Rajapaksa family.
by John Ai

Five people were charged with stalking and harassing Chinese residents in the United States under the instruction of Beijing's intelligence service. Washington bulls them as actions of "transnational repression" against those who are not aligned with the Communist regime.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The United States Department of Justice has dismantled a Beijing spy network that targeted Chinese dissidents living on US soil. The five accused had stalked and harassed the victims, as well as collected information on Hong Kong, Tibetan, Uyghur and Taiwanese activists.

US authorities state the suspects were acting on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security, Beijing's intelligence agency. Three of them are under arrest, while two are still on the run. The US investigators have not mentioned the names of the victims, but it is not difficult to figure out who they are.

In one of the cases, Lin Qiming is accused of persecuting Xiong Yan, a former student leader who took part in the Tiananmen Square riots of June 1989, which were later bloodily suppressed by the Chinese authorities. After retiring from the US army as a chaplain last September, he announced his intention to run for Congress.

The Justice Department alleges that Lin, who is still at large, hired a private investigator to sabotage Xiong's election campaign. The alleged Chinese spy allegedly instructed the detective to "find" a prostitute who could approach Xiong, and as a last resort to "beat him up".

Another of the suspects is Qiang 'Jason' Sun, an employee of a technology company based in China. He allegedly instructed Fan "Frank" Liu and Matthew Ziburis to spy on dissidents and spread negative information about them. With Fan Liu, supposedly the president of a media company, Qiang Sun set up fake interviews to discredit and humiliate the victims.

A former prison officer and bodyguard in Florida, Ziburis posed as an art dealer interested in buying the works of a dissident artist, Chen Weiming. Ziburis installed surveillance cameras in the victim's studio and a GPS tracker in his car. Qiang Sun could access the images and location data from China.

Chen Weiming is known for creating a sculpture called 'the CCP Virus', which depicts Chinese President Xi Jinping 'as a coronavirus'. Ziburis had paid an advance for the work, which was vandalised a month after its completion.

US skater Alysa Liu, who took part in the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing, was also a target of Ziburis. The father of the Chinese-American athlete, Liu Jun, was a student leader in Guangzhou (Guangdong) during the 1989 democratic uprisings.

The latest suspect is Wang Shujun, accused of collecting information on Hong Kong activists (later arrested), Tibetans, Uighurs, and Taiwan independence supporters. The Justice Department report said Wang posed as a sympathiser of the democracy movement. He would meet with activists and then report the details of conversations, activities, phone numbers, and their contacts to 007 in Beijing.

Wang was the general secretary of the Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation for a decade. Hu and Zhao were reformist leaders in 1980s China. Jim Li, chairman of the foundation, was stabbed to death in his office in New York by a client on 14 March.

Jim Li had demonstrated in Tian'anmen Square; after the crackdown the Chinese authorities imprisoned him. He became a lawyer once he arrived in the United States. The artist Chen Weiming had hired him to sue Ziburis, who had broken the contract to buy the CCP Virus sculpture and then disappeared.

"Transnational repression harms people in the United States and around the world and threatens the rule of law," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, a member of the Justice Department's National Security Division. Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said he had no news of the US operation and that the transnational repression charge was "unfounded".
MIIT: Policies incoming to stabilize, buoy industrial economy

08:44, March 18, 2022 By Ma Si ( Chinadaily.com.cn

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China's top industry regulator, said on Thursday it will step up policy support to keep the industrial economy operating within a reasonable range in 2022.

Since the start of this year, industrial production and investment have shown a stable trend, with exports maintaining rapid growth, but the industrial economy is also facing new unstable factors and fresh uncertainties and challenges are still big, it was concluded at a meeting chaired by Xiao Yaqing, minister of industry and information technology.

More efforts will be made to implement the favorable policies unveiled at the recently concluded two sessions, and the ministry will also roll out more policies to stabilize growth to keep the industrial economy operating within a reasonable range in 2022.

Measures include supporting foreign-funded enterprises to increase investment in mid-to-high-end manufacturing in China and stepping up a push to help the nation's small and medium-sized enterprises.

MIIT also called for efforts to closely track the impact of the international situation and the COVID-19 pandemic on the industrial economy and strengthen cross-regional and cross-departmental coordination so as to ensure the stable operation of key industrial chains.

Intensified efforts will also be made to encourage the consumption of industrial products such as new energy vehicles and smart home appliances.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Athens, TX (75751)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
SUV

The name of this crossoverwill be known everywhere as (Jeep)RED Renegade, where RED is in superscript. This is meant to show the carmaker is involved in initiatives that have a global approach to stopping problems that, in one way or another, affect all of us now or in the future. The effort is made for a good cause. Heres what you can get out of it as a customer - besides being part of a global campaign to end life-altering diseases, of course.The (Jeep)RED Renegade is molded on top of the Latitude trim and will have an MSRP of $29,590 without the destination charge of $1,595. This means the recommended price has been increased by $900 for the special trim. The crimson red color that is specific for the Global Funds partners is actually Colorado Red on the 2022 Renegades that are part of this deal. But you dont have to wander around in this snappy color if you dont want. Jeep is also offering its new customers the possibility to choose from Alpine (white), Black, and Sting Gray while still supporting the cause.All (Jeep)RED Renegade models will come with the 1.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine thats connected to a nine-speed automatic gear box. Power is sent to all the wheels only when needed, as the system determines when full traction is needed. The vehicle also comes with the option of disconnecting the rear axle for a better fuel economy.By buying a 2022 (Jeep)RED Renegade youre also getting a number of safety and security systems that help with everyday usability, but also 19-inch wheels, cloth bucket seats, red accents on the speakers and vents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the Uconnect 4 infotainment with its 8.4-inch touchscreen.If you're thinking about buying one, just remember Jeep sent us only one picture with the crossover that's also just a rendering of what the vehicle will look like. Moreover, the company said the availability of these Renegades will be limited. There's no specific number mentioned, however. For now, it seems like not even one has been manufactured.The (RED) campaign was made known globally seven years ago, when Apple decided to launch its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in this striking color called crimson and with the relevant branding applied. The company wanted to give its customers the chance to help the fight against health issues worldwide.Jeep, Ram, and Fiat are the first automotive partners for (RED) as Stellantis wanted to involve itself in social causes. The agreement was signed last year, when the promise to donate over $4,000,000 was also made by the carmakers. The contract ends in 2024.
Theres no reason why Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson wouldnt enjoy a drive in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class that Kim calls her baby. Kim had been declared legally single earlier this month, despite all the drama surrounding her and Kanye Ye West. The famous couple, who started dating in April 2012, broke up last year, but they still have to fix some legal issues, including custody of their four children, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.After they broke up, Kim started dating Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson, in November 2021. And their relationship is still going strong, with Pete having the perks of driving in all her marvelous rides. In fact, just a couple of months ago, he was seen driving his girlfriends grey Rolls-Royce Ghost Now, the two went out for a food run at In-N-Out in Los Angeles on March 17, driving in Kims Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.The Maybach S-Class has two engine options, S 680 and S 580, but the only version available in the U.S. currently is the S 580. It's powered by a 4.0-liter V8 engine that puts out 496 horsepower (503 ps) at 5,500 rpm, and a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm. Besides the V8, the S 580 also has a gearbox-mounted electric motor that adds another 20 horsepower and 147.5 lb-ft (200 Nm) of torque.Tailored up to every one of Kims needs, after having worked with Platinum Motorsports for the project, its no wonder Kim calls it her baby.Previously, they were also seen driving in her silver Cadillac Escalade ESV , but her collection includes many models that the two can enjoy. But they seem most at ease in this one, and why wouldn't they?
Rockville, Ct. - 12/15/2021 - Vernon resident Jared Freeman (left) receives a COVID-19 vaccine boost from paramedic Vernon firefighter and EMT Chris Prue during a vaccination clinic run by the Town of Vernon. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

Connecticuts COVID-19 test positivity rate increased slightly over the past week, as new data suggested that the subvariant of omicron BA.2 is gaining ground in the state.

BA.2  which first appeared in Connecticut in January  now makes up 59% of COVID-19 cases among outpatients tested by Yale New Haven Hospital, according to data from a lab at the Yale School of Public Health that tracks the spread of COVID-19 variants in Connecticut.

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[ Is another COVID-19 wave on the way? Connecticut experts watching very carefully for BA.2 omicron subvariant ]

Nathan Grubaugh, an assistant professor of epidemiology who runs the lab, noted on Twitter Thursday that given the roughly week-long doubling rate of BA.2, his lab estimates that BA.2 will compose 95% of cases in Southern Connecticut by early April. In fact, Grubaugh said, BA.2 is likely dominant, or near dominant, across Connecticut (not just southern CT).

Based on our TaqPath PCR data (S-gene detected), we estimate that:



 BA.2 is >50% in Southern Connecticut

 At this rate - BA.2 will be 95% by early April

 BA.2 doubling rate = 7.8 days (BA.1 in December = 3-4 days)

 BA.2 ~43% more transmissible than BA.1/.1



(2/7) pic.twitter.com/uWqR78njCb  Nathan Grubaugh (@NathanGrubaugh) March 17, 2022

Experts in Connecticut have warned that BA.2 could drive a spike in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, as has already happened in parts of Europe. There are some factors that could mitigate a full-blown surge, however. While BA.2 is thought to be more infectious than the original omicron variant, it seems that, as of yet, it is not as deadly or as disruptive to the healthcare system.

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[ Map: Confirmed coronavirus cases, positive tests and deaths by Connecticut town ]

Jordan Peccia, a professor of environmental engineering at Yale University who leads a team testing wastewater in Connecticut, noted, also on Twitter this week, that the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in New Haven wastewater is beginning to increase again  but still remains roughly 40 times lower than it was during the most recent peak, in January.

Despite the increase, Peccia said Thursday that he was not overly concerned about Connecticuts COVID-19 outlook. He pointed out that immunity to COVID-19, through vaccines and infections, is quite substantial in Connecticut and that BA.2 really didnt take over despite having been in the state for a few months. Additionally, warmer months  which, over the past two years, have aligned with declines in COVID-19 caseloads and hospitalizations  are fast approaching.

It looks like its going up, he said of COVID-19 infections. Is it going to be the big peak that we saw in December January, or is it going to be that slow burn that we saw earlier this fall with delta? Its hard to know, though well know more next week. Well get some information about how steep that...will be.

Cases and positivity rate

Connecticut on Thursday reported 2,178 COVID cases out of 86,196 tests administered in the past week, for a weekly positivity rate of 2.53%, a slight uptick from earlier in the week yet still significantly lower than earlier this year.

As designated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, only one of Connecticuts eight counties, Middlesex, is recording a high level of COVID-19 transmission. Four others (Fairfield, New Haven, New London and Litchfield) are recording substantial levels of transmission, while the remaining three (Hartford, Tolland and Windham) are recording low levels of transmission. Masking is not considered necessary in areas with low transmission.

As of Thursday, nine of Connecticuts 169 municipalities were in the states red alert category, meaning they have averaged at least 15 daily cases per 100,000 residents over the past week.

Unvaccinated residents have been about three times as likely to test positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks as vaccinated residents, according to state numbers.

Hospitalizations

As of Thursday, Connecticut had 100 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down 40 patients since last Friday.

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Peccia, the environmental engineering professor at Yale, noted that wastewater data predicts hospitalizations, which lag by about a week. An uptick in wastewater concentration may indicate a coming increase in hospitalizations, he said.

If its going up, maybe well see eventually a little bump in hospitalizations, he said.

Officials say that many patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are incidental cases, meaning they were admitted for non-coronavirus reasons before testing positive upon arrival.

Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut >

According to the state, 43% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated  a figure likely skewed by incidental cases. Hospital officials say the rate is significantly higher when considering only patients with severe symptoms.

Deaths

Connecticut reported 62 additional deaths over the past week on Thursday, bringing its total during the pandemic to 10,677.

The United States has now recorded 968,521 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

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Vaccinations

As of Thursday, 94.3% of all Connecticut residents and 95% of those age 5 and older had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 78.2% of all residents and 82.3% of those 5 and older were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Additionally, about 54.5% of fully vaccinated Connecticut residents 18 or older have received a booster dose.

The CDC warns that booster shots are sometimes misclassified as first doses, likely inflating the reported number of first-dose coverage and understating the true number of people who have received boosters.

Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com.
EV

Mercedes-Benz Group AG announced on Friday that it has set up an R&D (research and development) facility in Shanghai, China, that will focus on mobility technology, Reuters reported.China is the largest automotive market globally, both in terms of supply and demand. It is also taking a global stand as an industry leader in new energy technology.Despite the global health cirsis, it's still the fastest globalmarket rising by 154% in 2020.Mercedes-Benz's new R&D center will be its second center in China focusing on critical electric vehicle tech, including automated driving, connectivity, and big data.With the world quickly shifting from gas-powered vehicles to electric, automakers are working hard to pursue new technology in the field to have an added advantage over consumers. Mercedes-Benz has already taken a leap in the sector, offering some of the most futuristic features in the market with their revolutionary MBUX system The German automaker said it wants to attract hundreds of new tech talents to the center. The new investment follows the automaker's move from 2021 to upgrade its research and development capabilities in the country's capital with a new facility The Beijing R&D center has 1,000 engineers, which is more than three times the size of the facility opened by the automaker in 2014. According to an insider, It is also the first of its kind that is technologically "on par" with its local R&D center headquarters near Stuttgart.The German automaker has also opened an R&D center in Silicon Valley in 2013.
EV

kWh



In the interior, you will find a massive 12 inch (304mm) AMOLED screen on the center console, in charge of the car's infotainment system. You will discover NOMI too, which is kind of a distant cousin for Alexa that you see only on Christmas.



A super cool feature is the so-called vault that is placed under the front armrest, which won't unlock unless it senses the owner's face. As a whole, the interior is quite simplistic. It's just a steering wheel, a big screen, some friendly sustainable materials, and that's pretty much it.







I am not sure how this car can be super luxurious, economical, but at the same time extremely sporty without some significant compromises. It's expected to be a lot cheaper than almost any car in the same segment, especially when compared with the overpriced and overcomplicated German luxury cars.



We don't know anything about the car's reliability ahead of its official launch. Still, the European market will be taken by storm when the ET7 goes on sale, and many people might turn to the NIO brand once the carmaker establishes a stronger foothold in Europe.



In the interior, you will find a massive 12 inch (304mm) AMOLED screen on the center console, in charge of the car's infotainment system. You will discover NOMI too, which is kind of a distant cousin for Alexa that you see only on Christmas.A super cool feature is the so-called vault that is placed under the front armrest, which won't unlock unless it senses the owner's face. As a whole, the interior is quite simplistic. It's just a steering wheel, a big screen, some friendly sustainable materials, and that's pretty much it.The trunk space is a big downsize for the ET7. For a car that is over five meters long (196 inches), the luggage compartment is too small, with only 364 liters (12.9 cu-ft) of space. However, the space for the passengers in the back is massive, so it's more understandable. The seats in the rear are also heated, ventilated, and have massage options.I am not sure how this car can be super luxurious, economical, but at the same time extremely sporty without some significant compromises. It's expected to be a lot cheaper than almost any car in the same segment, especially when compared with the overpriced and overcomplicated German luxury cars.We don't know anything about the car's reliability ahead of its official launch. Still, the European market will be taken by storm when the ET7 goes on sale, and many people might turn to the NIO brand once the carmaker establishes a stronger foothold in Europe. NIO ET7: Ready for Tomorrow from NIO on Vimeo.

Nio's engineers have taken all of their learnings and knowledge from the past few years and put all into this machinery. The NIO ET7 makes luxury connoisseurs like Mercedes , Audi or BMW shake in their boots by attacking them in their own home market. But first, let's take a look at the brief history of NIO.We need to show our respect to them because the manufacturer was on the brink of bankruptcy only two years ago, and now they are one of the best-sellingbrands in China with huge overseas growth ambitions. The ET7 will be one of the brand's first car launched in Europe and is ready to take on the luxury legends in Germany.The model has up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of range with an interchangeable 150battery. It's not only luxurious or economical but very sporty too. The time for the 0-100 kph (62mph) acceleration is about 3.8 seconds when you put it in the sport plus mode. You need some powerful brakes when you have this good of acceleration, and the NIO ET7 can stop from 100 kph in just 33.5 meters (110 ft).Sticking with the technical part, the model has a very slippery body, with a drag coefficient (which measures the effectiveness of a streamlined aerodynamic body shape in reducing the air resistance to the forward motion of a vehicle) equal to 0.208.To understand better how good it is, a BMW 7 Series has Cd of 0.24. It has an all-wheel-drive system, helping the car be more stable during cornering and have better traction. An excellent feature of this car is represented by the sensors situated near the front wheels. Basically, just like on some German luxury sedans, the car senses the road ahead and modifies the suspension so that you won't feel any bumps.From an active safety standpoint, the Chinese car is full of technology with eight megapixels cameras, three megapixels light-sensitive surrounding view cameras, an advanced driver monitoring system, millimeter-wave radars, and ultrasonic sensors. All these sensors work together to hel the ET7s semi-autonomous driving systemcalled Aquila work better.
A subsidiary of the Yunus Brothers Group, the latter company is said to have a legacy spanning over five decades, and will help the French automaker build and sell cars locally.Lucky Motors is set to change the automotive landscape of Pakistan by introducing Peugeot, the first locally-made European brand in the country, said COO Asif Rizvi. We are very excited to partner with Peugeot and look forward to being associated with Stellantis, a company that strongly believes in futuristic mobility solutions.Peugeots partnership with Lucky Motors has kicked off with the opening of eight sales, after sales, and services dealerships in Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala. Subsequently, the auto firm has announced that it will inaugurate a factory in Karachi, where they will assemble the 2008 subcompact crossover . They are also considering the local production of the zero-emission e-2008 as well, but this decision is still pending.We are delighted with this partnership. This will be the first time a European car is assembled in Pakistan, and we are excited to work with Lucky Motors to support employment, localization, and the local automotive industry in the country, said Peugeots CEO, Linda Jackson. Internationalization is a key focus for PEUGEOT, with the B and C segment SUV growth in Pakistan, representing a great opportunity for us. This is also bolstered by the evolution of the legislation of the country towards electrification which is fully in line with our own strategy.On a different note, we will remind you that Peugeot has been pondering about returning to the United States for a few years now. They even went as far as testing various new models in the New World, but that was before the global pandemic. You might be wondering if they will stick to this plan, and so are we, despite last year's report stating that they're not interested in it anymore. As a result, we reached out to them, popping the big question, and we'll be updating this story when (or if) they reply.
Porsche and Apple already have a relationship thanks to Apple Carplay. According to the CEO, the two manufacturers are looking to expand that partnership, Reuters reported. He added that both companies have a long history of working together and are on the same wavelength.Blume said the automaker is also considering participating in Formula 1 but has not finalized on the decision.VW Group has been eyeing Formula one, holding critical meetings with Red Bull over a possible partnership deal. An announcement of these high-stakes meetings could come as early as March. The global automotive leader was looking to put either Audi or Porsche as brands representing it in F1By mid-last month the talks were at an advanced stage, with the possibility of a deal, Motorsport reported.On the other hand, Apple has been flirting with the idea of building its first in-house vehicle. After getting into autonomous driving technology, the mobile phone giants automotive dreams seemed possible. However, recent reports draw a cloud of doubt over the possibility of mass production by 2025 , as earlier perceived.According to trusted sources, Apple was looking to launch Apple car by 2025, with a prototype out as early as 2023. Unfortunately, the team behind the dream is no more, and efforts at developing a prototype could take longer.The global shift from gas-powered engines to electric vehicles is closing the gap between the tech world and the auto industry. More and more companies are forming partnerships for mutual benefits.Industry leaders like VW Group, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota are investing in new technologies in a bid to have a competitive edge over their rivals in the consumer market.
#RoyalNavy Hawk T1 jets from #736NAS said their farewell by flying around the country this week before retiring after 40 years of service with the RAF.



Three jets took off from @RNASCuldrose and captured part of their flight over @HMNBPortsmouth.



???? https://t.co/nh1FBJ8PFg pic.twitter.com/uMLQ8AzS8G  Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) March 18, 2022

Over the years, the Hawks have played a critical role in defense missions. The RAF has been using BAE Systems Hawk jets for four decades, and they have been with the Royal Navy since the 1990s. They were initially stationed at RNAS Culdrose in 1994, and in 2013, they were integrated into the reformed 736 Naval Air Squadron.736NAS has used them in large multi-national NATO exercises, to train ships companies against possible threats and to simulate missile attacks. They were a key component in training air traffic controllers and were used for surveillance and in helping with radar development.The jets are capable of achieving a top speed of over 1,000 kph (621 mph) and cover more than 2,250-km (1,398-mile) distances. The Hawk T1 has been a great workhorse for the military. However, in 2021, it was reported that the aircraft was to be retired.So, on March 17th, three Hawks soared to the skies from RNAS Culdrose to say goodbye. Before traveling up to HMS Gannet in Scotland, the jets flew over their main training sites, including HMNB Devonport, RNAS Yeovilton, Bournemouth Airport, and HMNB Portsmouth. Today, the trio returned to their base, but not before flying over RAF Valley.Lieutenant Commander Jason Flintham, the commanding officer of 736NAS, said: It has to be acknowledged that this is a sad day for everyone involved with the Hawks, but we should not lose sight of the significant contribution these aircraft have made to defence.Many people gathered in Plymouth and in Portsmouth to see the iconic aircraft make the farewell flight. Instructors from the Royal Navy School of Fighter Control also watched the Hawks from the RNAS Yeovilton.
Facing the most severe sanctions any nations has ever been subjected to by the international community, Russia escalated the war on the ground over in Ukraine to areas that until recently seemed impervious to any political or miltary turmoil, including space exploration.Having already threatened to quit the International Space Station and let it fall to Earth (an inaccurate and useless threat), and stopped other nations from using its Soyuz rockets, Russias unwillingness to back down has pretty much killed all hopes for Europes first mission to Mars in the foreseeable future.Back in early March, rumors of the ExoMars mission not happening in 2022 surfaced. ExoMars was meant to carry the continents first rover, the Rosalind Franklin, to the Red Planet as early as this year. Now, after European Space Agencys (ESA) higher ups met in Paris, the project is officially and effectively suspended, for an unknown period of time.According to ESA, there is now no possibility of carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos for the rest of the year, and steps will be taken to suspend the cooperation activities accordingly.That doesnt mean Europe is giving up on ExoMars, for which the Russians contributed the Proton rocket, the surface platform, and a host of instruments and systems needed for the job ahead, which was finding signs of life.Were told ESA will now carry out a fast-track industrial study to better define the available options for a way forward to implement the ExoMars rover mission, but no exact timeframe for that is given.
kWh

The website performs all its tests in the same way: they fully charge the vehicles and drive them until they have about 10 miles left. Edmunds then charges these EVs again and measures how far they were able to travel (the final range minus the range with which the charging session started). Edmunds states it also counts charging losses.Although it did not disclose how it does that, our bet is that it calculates or checks the amount ofthe battery pack could receive and subtract it from what the charger presents. These losses are then counted as part of the energy the vehicle requires to run. It would be interesting if Edmunds showed the charging losses in its test results as well.EPA follows a different procedure. All cars are tested in lab conditions, which is a fantastic thing. If the idea is to put them through the same conditions, using a lab makes it a lot easier. Tests on regular roads or even on tracks have a more significant number of factors that can influence the tests, especially in vehicles as sensitive to variations as electric cars.EPA puts the cars to a road cycle, an urban cycle, and applies an adjustment factor to them that cuts range by 30%. Carmakers willing to have a more favorable adjustment factor can run their vehicles in three more cycles to get better numbers. Tesla and Audi follow this five-cycle testing. Were not sure about Polestar.Despite that, all the three Audi electric cars Edmunds tested still beat their EPA numbers: the e-tron GT, the RS e-tron GT, and the Audi e-tron Sportback. If the German brand also follows the five-cycle testing, why did only Tesla and Polestar fail to exceed their EPA range numbers?This is not a question we can ask Tesla because it does not talk to the press. However, we have sent Polestar a request for clarification. The company said that another vehicle in Edmundss tests which shares the same powertrain and batteries with their vehicle  the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge  performed much more in line with a number we would have expected from the Polestar 2 .Indeed: the XC40 Recharge has an EPA range of 208 miles (335 km), and Edmunds managed to drive it for 240 miles (385 km). Despite that, Polestar promised to get back to us when it discusses internally what we want to know. According to the company, some of the things we want to understand can be considered sensitive information.What crosses our mind is that EPA does not perform all these tests. Some manufacturers may do them themselves and just tell the agency the results. If that is the case, this could be the first flaw with EPAs procedures. Theres a worse one.If the idea is to compare the vehicles in similar conditions, doing tests in a lab helps a lot. Drag resistance and temperature variations do not harm nor benefit any cars  hence the adjustment factor. We wonder if it takes aerodynamics into consideration. It should. However, having different test procedures does not help compare vehicles fairly.On top of that, EPA conceived these tests for combustion-engined vehicles. Although aerodynamics play an essential role with them, it is not even close to what it represents with electric cars. A car that fights with the air will offer a much lower range with the limited amount of energy battery packs can offer nowadays.In that sense, Edmunds's tests are much better for comparing EVs. Those who did their homework with aerodynamics, mass, and rolling resistance will do much better than those who do not care that much about these aspects. In an ideal world, EPA would develop a test cycle that considered that and performed it on its own with all vehicles, submitting all of them to the very same procedures. Apples to apples, but with the same scale.
SOHC

When you stumble upon a classic two-wheeler that looks as tidy as the 1973 Honda CB350G shown above, its hard not to fantasize about taking a trip down memory lane in its saddle. With that being said, let us soothe our nostalgia by proceeding with a closer inspection of this Japanese stunner, shall we?Having covered a mere 2,400 miles (3,800 km) of asphalt since it was released, the 73 MY pearl is just a few tiny blemishes away from mint condition! A couple of months ago, the bikes current owner had its carburetors cleaned to bring about optimal airflow, while the ignition timing, valve clearances, and camshaft chain tension have also been adjusted for good measure.In order to keep the CB350G firmly glued to the road, the wheels were fitted with top-shelf Duro tires during the makeover. As for its powertrain specifications, Honda s artifact is put in motion by an air-cooled 325cc parallel-twin mill thats connected to a five-speed transmission.Thepower source comes with dual Keihin inhalers, four valves, and a generous compression ratio of 9.5:1. When pushed to its absolute limit, this bad boy is capable of delivering up to 36 horses and 18 pound-feet (25 Nm) of torque. Ultimately, the engines oomph can result in a top speed of 103 mph (165 kph).Tipping the scales at 375 pounds (170 kg) with a full tank of gas, the antique beauty stands on telescopic forks and dual shock absorbers. Finally, braking duties are handled by a single hydraulic rotor at the front and a traditional drum module at the opposite end.If youre after an old-school ride that wont be too harsh with your budget, then youll be thrilled to learn that the CB350G weve just examined is currently up for grabs. This 73 MY head-turner will be listed at no reserve on Bring a Trailer for another five days (until March 22), and youd only need about four grand to surpass the highest bid  for now, at least.
The bridge was named after a famous battle that the Turkish army won back in WWI, which is why the year 1915 is in the name of the bridge, while Canakkale is the name of the European side of a Northwestern province in Turkey The construction of the bridge was handled by a consortium of Turkish and South Korean companies, and the two countries plan to strengthen their bonds and economic collaboration.In case you wanted some figures, we are writing about a bridge that cost EUR 2.5 billion ($ 2.7 billion). We should note that the towers of the bridge are 318 meters high, while the total length of the bridge is 4.6 kilometers (2.85 miles).According to official estimates, the bridge will save the country approximately 415 million euros (ca. $458 million) per year in fuel consumption and the resulting carbon emissions, which would have been generated by the ferries crossing the straight each day.As the country's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, noted, "Turkey has overtaken Japan, which had the longest bridge in the world in terms of the midspan, and has taken the first place."The midspan in question refers to the distance between the "towers" of the bridge, which sit at 2,023 meters (6,637 feet). In case you were wondering, yes, that is a long midsection, and it came with numerous engineering challenges.To keep things celebratory, the inauguration coincided with the 107th anniversary of Turkey's naval victory in WWI that led to the name of the bridge, AP noted. The inauguration event was also graced by the presence of South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who stated that "the 1915 Canakkale Bridge will leave this history of collision and conflict behind, and will be a bridge between East and West, starting a new era of peace and prosperity."The bridge is positioned over the Dardanelles, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Because of its position and its importance, the bridge had to be tall so that ships could clear it without issues, and the midspan also had to be this long so that multiple ships could navigate it at the same time.
Everybody knows Scandinavian winters are harsh and challenging, which is why the 16-ton Volta Zero truck had to prove its worth inside the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. Aiming to evaluate the vehicles technical aspects in extreme conditions, the engineers at Volta Trucks put the Zero truck through a rigorous regime of tests meant to confirm that it is reliable in any weather and temperature scenarios.The winter tests focused on checking the thermal stability of the battery, the defrosting and demisting of the cabin, the interior thermal comfort of the electric truck, and mileage accumulation when carrying different cargo weights. All these were verified while using the Volta Zero in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 C).It was a grueling program to undertake but it was also an important box to check as the company is getting closer to starting series production of the vehicle, hopefully later this year.Volta Zero has recently and successfully completed the cold-weather testing phase, as confirmed by Ian Collins, Volta Trucks CPO. He explained that even though it is unlikely that customers from the companys launch markets (such as London and Paris) will experience those kinds of conditions, it was still necessary to push the truck to the extremes. It was the best way to ensure that Volta Trucks can deliver the highest levels of quality and reliability from the very customer vehicles produced.Weighing 16 tons and boasting ranges of 95 to 125 miles (150 to 200 km) on a charge, Volta Zero aims to have a significant impact on the environment, promising to cut down CO2 emissions by 1.2 million tons in the next three years.The full-electric truck has a modern design, a payload of 18,960 lb (8,600 kg), and features a sustainable construction with biodegradable exterior panels. It also eliminates the use of precious metals by being equipped with Lithium Iron Phosphates batteries. Volta Zero gives the driver wide, 220-degree visibility, thanks to its glass house-style cab design.Volta Trucks plans to start the production of the Volta Zero by the end of 2022.
Catalytic converter thieves continue their quick surgeries on cars, trucks and buses across Connecticut, a trend that has become increasingly hazardous for police officers who confront the crooks.

Windsor Locks Det. Dan Bontempo was the latest officer to survive a close call. Bontempo was on a suspicious-person call Thursday at about 2:15 a.m. when he heard the distinct sound of a metal-cutting saw in the parking lot of the Homewood Suites by Hilton across Route 75.

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A jack beneath the targeted car was released and Bontempo saw the car hit the pavement. Another police officer pulled into the parking lot, and Bontempo drove his marked police cruiser around the hotel to cover the other exit. He parked and was about to get out and put down a tire flattening device when the thief sped straight at him.

I braced myself for the impact, Bontempo said. I thought for sure they were going to hit me head-on.

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[ Manchester school buses disabled by catalytic converter thieves for second time this year. ]

The thief missed the cruiser by inches and fled from the lot onto Route 75 and on to Route 20, where a state trooper spotted the car but did not maintain a chase, Bontempo said. Police around the state are subject to a policy that prohibits pursuits in cases where larceny or other non-violent crimes are the only suspected offenses.

This was the third catalytic converter theft in town this week, Bontempo said. Thieves have targeted parking lots and businesses. In the past year, a local plumbing and heating contractor has reported 26 stolen converters, Bontempo said.

The problem is nationwide, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and has been ramping up since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Metals in the pollution control equipment are valuable and can fetch several hundred dollars each.

Cops around the state have gotten increasingly familiar with the thefts.

Were seeing the uptick, state police spokeswoman Sgt. Dawn Pagan said. Troopers regularly check commuter lots for catalytic converter thieves and other criminals, she said.

[ Connecticut state police say stolen catalytic converters and guns found after fatal crash on I-384 ]

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

In Glastonbury, reported thefts of vehicle parts, mostly converters, total 26 so far this year, police spokesman Lt. Corey Davis said. The thefts have climbed from 14 cases in 2020 to a record 56 incidents last year, Davis said. If the trend continues, the total this year could reach 100, he said.

Vernon police spokesman Lt. Robert Marra noted that experienced thieves can remove a converter quickly and be gone from the scene. In Vernon and other towns, school buses have been targeted.

The cat thieves typically use stolen cars to make their rounds. Last month, state police investigating a fatal car crash in Manchester found stolen converters, license plates and guns amid the wreckage.

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Police say they do not know where thieves are cashing in the converters, but state officials need to do something, Bontempo said, whether its a crackdown on scrap dealers or higher bonds for suspects or some other solution. The continuing thefts pose an imminent danger to police, he said.

[ Crushed by fleeing thief, Farmington police Officer James ODonnell is on the mend and looking to resume duty ]

After what happened to the Farmington cop, its only a matter of time, he said referring to an officer who suffered grievous injuries last year when a catalytic converter thief crushed him between the getaway car and the officers cruiser.

Police arent the only ones in danger. In January, a thief fired gunshots after a man confronted him sawing a catalytic converter off his neighbors car. No one was hurt.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
Amazon workers at a second Staten Island warehouse will vote in a union election in late April, labor union officials for the company said Friday.

Why it matters: The election is part of a wave of labor organizing at Amazon facilities across the U.S. Another Staten Island warehouse is already set to hold an in-person union vote from March 25 to 30.

Details: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) approved the second union election earlier this month.
Russias war on Ukraine is now entering its fourth week. With no signs of Putins unprovoked attack slowing down, how can President Biden and other world leaders stop Putin without escalating it further?

Plus, corporations grapple with abortion access for workers.

And, Netflix cracks down on password sharing.

Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Emily Peck, and Sara Fischer.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at [email protected] You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

Transcript

NIALA: Good morning! Welcome to Axios Today!

Its Friday, March 18th. Im Niala Boodhoo.

Heres how were making you smarter today: Corporations grapple with abortion access for workers. Plus, Netflix cracks down on password sharing.

But first, todays One Big Thing - does President Biden need a new Putin playbook?

Russias war on Ukraine is now entering its fourth week with no signs of Vladimir Putins unprovoked attacks slowing down. How can President Biden and other world leaders stop Putin without escalating things further? That question was texted to me by Axios Today listener Eric from Kansas City, Missouri, and I thought Axios Margaret Talev and I could start our Friday politics conversation with that question. Hi Margaret.

MARGARET TALEV: Hi Niala.

NIALA: Let's start with Eric's question. Is there a strategy that could work here? Are there creative ways that the Biden administration, the European Union, other leaders should be thinking about engaging with Vladimir Putin?

MARGARET: I think that that is the big question that the White House, the State Department, the Defense Department, all of the U.S. administrationDemocrats in Congress, Republicans in Congress, NATO, the EU, parts of the UN are all thinking about right now. And certainly that Ukraine is thinking about, and we heard Volodymyr Zelensky this week, implore Congress, implore Biden to do more, to think about leadership differently, to recognize that systems like NATO that are built on half century old constructs, aren't working against the way Putin is playing ball right now. Uh, the challenge is, is this just a matter of thinking creatively and redefining what a hostile act is or what a provocative act is or whether something can actually be defensive when we've always thought about it as offensive? Is that really all we're talking about thinking outside the box? Or does it come down fundamentally to having to try to protect the rest of the world from the heightened risk of a nuclear strike, a biological attack, a chemical attack.

NIALA: Margaret, it was so striking to watch Volodymyr Zelensky address Congress. I don't think we've quite seen anything like that. And a leader in very stark terms laying out pleading with Congress and President Biden to do something or more people will die. Has that been part of why we've seen a language shift from President Biden this week also?

MARGARET: It's interesting. You've actually asked a very complicated question. For Biden, part of his calculation is political. He can't get too far ahead of Western allies because the west has to show that they are united to have maximum strength against Putin, maximum force. He also can't get too far ahead or too far behind of either the American public or Congress. And there are so many different forces at work here. Americans from the outset have said in polling, they didn't want to commit military troops anywhere near this conflict. You're seeing public opinion start to shift in terms of how active, how involved America should be. But it is still a constant calibration. If he leans in hard, if he takes an aggressive tack toward Putin, does that in fact, put Americans at greater risk or Europe at greater risk of some kind of retaliation by Putin. Is Putin just testing the lines to see how far he can go.

NIALA: What are you going to be watching for next week? As president Biden goes to Europe, meets with NATO leaders, possibly other things.

MARGARET: I'm going to start by watching what happens today when President Biden and the Chinese leader have a conversation. The U.S. is pressing very hard for China to stop giving Russia, not to help Russia at all continue the assault on the Ukraine. But where is Xis head really at, what is he willing to do? That's going to be a very important first conversation. And then that trip in Brussels, I think we are going to be looking for whether some of these creative ideas that we've been talking about begin to publicly emerge. If not a no fly zone, can there be a way to protect a humanitarian corridor? How can the U.S. help civilians on the ground in Ukraine? And can there be a rethinking of what it means to defend a country? So much conversation has been about Putin defining what is a provocation? What is an act of war? Why does Vladimir Putin get to decide that? And what Zelensky said in his speech before Congress this week was that Biden has to be the leader of the world. It was really a challenge to Biden to get in front, to lean into. To act like more of a leader for him to set the pace and take the Western allies and the American public and Congress with him. So it will be a real test of Biden's leadership skills and whether he is looking for that reset.

NIALA: Axios managing editor for the White House and politics Margaret Talev. Thanks Margaret.

MARGARET: Thanks, Niala.

NIALA: Well be back in 15 seconds with how companies are covering travel costs for employee abortions.

[ad break]

NIALA: Welcome back to Axios Today! Im Niala Boodhoo.

Companies are finding it harder to ignore the issue of abortion access. Consider Citigroup: it disclosed in an obscure SEC filing earlier this week that it would begin paying for travel expenses for US employees seeking abortions.

I asked Axioss Emily Peck: is this just the first of many corporations to do this?

EMILY PECK: First it's not clear that Citi is the first because Apple reportedly is doing something similar. What they're both doing - Citi, for sure, Apple reportedly - is expanding health insurance coverage so if a woman who now lives in Texas and can't access abortion care needs to travel outside the state, that travel is paid for.

This is actually a policy that Citi and other companies have in place, not for abortion, but for other kinds of health care. So like, if you have like, a heart problem or something, you can travel far from where you live to get the care you need and your health insurance covers it. When you think about it, it's actually quite simple for something that's so controversial.

NIALA: Emily, do you think the Supreme Court decision on this will also change the way companies think about this?

EMILY: Well, I mean, it depends how the decision goes. If what winds up happening is the court upholds Mississippi's restrictive law and more states restrict abortion access, then more women in more states who are employees at more big companies are going to be impacted and need to travel for abortion care. And so it's going to be much harder for employers to sort of do nothing about it. Am I predicting that a lot of companies are going to follow Citis lead? I would be crazy to make such a prediction. I have no idea, to be honest with you, but it's not farfetched to think that that would happen.

NIALA: Axios Emily Peck. Thanks Emily.

EMILY: Thank you.

NIALA: Okay, here's my confession to you for today. I am sharing my Netflix password with about four different households, but it turns out I'm not the only one. 36% of Americans share their Netflix passwords with relatives. That's according to the Advertising Research Foundation. Well, this week Netflix said enough is enough and they're testing on a crackdown. Axios Sara Fisher has been reporting on this. Sara, first of all, how does Netflix know when someone's using the account outside of the household?

SARA FISCHER: Well, typically it would be your IP address. So they look at the devices that are signing on to the platform. And they're looking at what IP address they're connected to. Within one household, all the different devices would typically use the same IP address. Outside of the household, it would be a different address.

NIALA: And so what's Netflix saying about how people are going to be charged?

SARA: Basically Netflix is saying, look, if you want to add a person to your account outside of your household. So presumably from another IP address, you're going to have to pay a little bit more. Now this is just a test. It's something that they're testing in Latin and South America. But presumably they're doing the test because it's something that they're thinking about long-term, and given that the U.S. is the most lucrative market for Netflix, it wouldn't surprise me if someday, maybe that would come here.

NIALA: And then would that also someday maybe mean other streaming services follow suit?

SARA: Yeah, and some are ready to do similar type of stuff. Streaming services have long been experimenting with this kind of stuff. I think it's just ramping up recently because there's more competition.

NIALA: Sara Fischer is author of the Axios Media Trends newsletter. Thanks, Sara.

SARA: Thank you, Niala.

NIALA: Thats it for this week!

Axios Today is produced by Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, and Lydia McMullen-Laird. Our sound engineers are Ben O Brien and Alex Sugiura. Julia Redpath is our Executive Producer. Sara Kehaulani Goo is our Editor In Chief. And special thanks to Axios co-founder Mike Allen.

Im Niala Boodhoo. Thanks for listening - and have the best weekend.
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday in a video call that came as the U.S. tries to convince Beijing to distance itself from Russia's war in Ukraine.

Why it matters: It was the first call between the leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden "described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians," according to a White House readout of the call.

What they're saying: Biden "underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis," according to the White House.

Xi told Biden that "conflict and confrontation are not in anyones interest," and that the Ukraine crisis was "not something we want to see," according to China's Foreign Ministry.

A senior U.S. official described the call as "direct, candid, detailed and very substantive," but that Biden did not specifically request that Xi push Vladimir Putin to end the war.

The big picture: China has not publicly condemned or defended its most powerful partner's invasion of Ukraine, but Chinese officials and state media have largely put the blame on the U.S. and the West.

The FT reports that China has shown willingness to provide Russia with weapons, raising fears of a superpower proxy war with the U.S. and China arming either side in Ukraine. Chinese officials denied having received any request for arms from Moscow, and there are no indications that any such efforts have been set in motion.

In an "intense" seven-hour meeting with China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi on Monday in Rome  which appears to have set the stage for Friday's call  national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned of "consequences" if Beijing materially supports Russia's war in Ukraine, a senior U.S. official briefed reporters.

Ahead of Friday's call, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said Biden would make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.

What to watch: The approach of Chinese state media has shifted in recent days, analysts note, to include more coverage of Russian attacks, civilian casualties, and speeches by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday that China was deeply grieved by the increasing number of civilian casualties" and called for a ceasefire, per the New York Times.

Worth noting: The White House said Biden and Xi had "agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication." The two leaders also discussed Taiwan, and Biden said U.S. policy had not changed.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the White House's readout of the call.
Forget toxic pesticides: The next generation of urban rodent control relies on internet-connected traps that shock or impale a rat or mouse before isolating it in a chamber for disposal.

Why it matters: Rat complaints have surged in the aftermath of pandemic lockdowns, and cities are cracking down with renewed vociferousness, appointing "rat czars" and prioritizing citizen complaints about rodents.

The new Internet of Things (IoT) rat traps, which can be placed above ground or in sewers, continuously transmit data about rodent conditions and the number of animals caught.

The information helps cities and businesses tamp down the rodent population without using noxious chemicals, which are bad for the environment and local wildlife.

Technicians are sent out to clear traps whenever a rat has been "dispatched" (the pest control industry's preferred euphemism for "killed").

What they're saying: Smart technology is "changing the pest control industry," says Dana Cote, director of SMART operations for Anticimex, which specializes in digital vermin control.

The industry has been "somewhat static for many decades, using the same tools and materials," he said. But now "we have the opportunity to use IoT devices and data analytics and AI to really be more proactive than reactive."

When heavy rat populations are detected through a smart trap  thanks to 24/7 data collection and analytics  the city or surrounding businesses are advised to take steps like securing dumpsters, adding sanitation runs, or eliminating rat "harborages" (hidey holes).

"It gives us information to take a more holistic approach to rodent control rather than just being reactive  'I saw something, we killed it, okay, it's gone, next one,'" Cote tells Axios. "It's more of an educational process as well."

Driving the news: While smart traps with internet-connected sensors have been taking off in Europe, they're just starting to hit the U.S., with a handful of cities signing up for alternatives to the traditional extermination method  rat poison.

Somerville, Massachusetts, has just started a five-month pilot program with Modern Pest Services, which is owned by Anticimex. It's spending $40,000 to install 50 SMART Boxes in four neighborhoods, per Smart Cities Dive.

The boxes are above-ground "multi-catch" devices  meaning they can catch a lot of mice and rats  and use "fibrillation" to kill them.

"It basically shocks their heart out of working and then disposes of them into a contained container within the device itself," Cote says. "So that eliminates a lot of secondary pest issues, like flies and, you know, sightings and all of that."

Portland, Maine, is using an underground system from Modern Pest Services that works within the city's sewer pipes.

Cote says the devices dispatch their prey with "basically  I don't want to say blunt force trauma, but essentially, I would say spears would be the appropriate term."

Dead rodents are washed away by the flow in the system  unlike conventional extermination methods, no poison or bait is used.

Portland "has had close to 1,000 captures since the 40 rat-trapping devices were installed on April 1, 2021, around the city," according to Route Fifty, a publication for state and local government leaders.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, may also give IoT rat control a try.

The SMART Box looks a bit like a garbage pail. Photo courtesy of Anticimex

What's next: The extermination industry is trying to develop IoT devices for cockroaches and other insects.

Rodent control "is the Internet of Things first foray into the pest management industry, but probably not the last, as developers also aim to reinvent bird and insect control with this technology," reports Pest Control Technology, a trade publication.

Ratted out: Orkin, the extermination company, publishes a list of the "rattiest" cities and the most recent one placed Chicago first, followed by Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
The Department of Homeland Security inspector general on Friday released a report calling for the "immediate removal" of all detainees from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in New Mexico due to "egregious" living conditions.

Driving the news: Inspector General Joseph Cuffari issued a "management alert" directing ICE to address "the critical staffing shortages that have led to safety risks and unsanitary living conditions at the Torrance County Detention Facility."

This is the first time that the DHS inspector general calls for the immediate removal of detainees from an ICE facility, CNN reports, citing a DHS spokesperson.

State of play: In the report, Cuffari's said detainees must be relocated until the facility can ensure "adequate staffing and appropriate living conditions."

The inspector general's office conducted an unannounced inspection between Feb. 1 and 3, 2022.

Unannounced inspections are required in order "to ensure compliance with detention standards."

Details: The Torrance facility should have 245 staff members. However, at the time of the inspection, there were only 133 employees.

DHS found that 53% of detainee cells had toilets and sinks that were "non-functioning" or "clogged." Pictures in the report showed how these were moldy and "full of human waste."

There were also "security lapses" in the facility, with the report finding that "Torrance officers did properly supervise and monitor detainees in the housing units" due to "poor sight lines" and "blind spots" in certain locations.

The other side: ICE has disagreed with the inspector general's conclusions, and leadership said the recommendation to remove detainees is unwarranted.

"ICE is fiercely committed to ensuring that noncitizens in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments," ICE Acting Chief of Staff Jason Houser said in a memo to the inspector general included in the report.

"While ICE leadership continues to work on improving conditions at the (facility) in Estancia, New Mexico, we do not agree with the OIG's overall conclusion that it does not provide a safe, secure, and humane environment."

House said it appears that Cuffari's office has "falsified or mischaracterized evidence and ignored facts presented to it in order to achieve preconceived conclusions."

CoreCivic, which owns and operates the Torrance facility, said in a statement to Axios that they believe the inspector general "acted in a deeply unethical manner," according to Steve Owen, the company's vice president of communications.

The DHS inspector general's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Editor's note: This article was updated with new details and a statement by the owner of the Torrance facility.
Forces in New York City, California and elsewhere are leading a new push to rein in hospital prices, reviving a health cost fight thats been on hold for most of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters: Hospital prices vary considerably even in the same market, and rising prices for care are reflected in higher insurance premiums and lost wages.

Driving the news: A union health fund representing service workers in 11 states and Washington, D.C., is calling on New York State lawmakers for help and weighing whether to team up with other labor groups to gain leverage in negotiations with hospitals.

The effort drew praise Thursday from New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Colorado employers have already banded together to directly negotiate with local hospitals and insurance companies, according to Bloomberg News.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for creating an Office of Health Care Affordability to set limits on hospital, physician and insurer costs -- and fine those that don't comply.

Legislators in half of the states have debated transparency bills that, among other things, would force hospitals to disclose prices or in some cases cap cost increases, per the National Academy for State Health Policy.

Between the lines: The focus on hospital pricing is driven by a growing gap between what employers, unions and private insurers pay hospitals compared with what Medicare pays for the same services.

By the numbers: The service workers unions 32BJ Health Fund on Thursday released a report showing private hospitals in New York City charged it on average 300% more than they charged Medicare for the same services.

That gap also affects governments that buy coverage for active and retired employees. The union fund estimated New York City may be overpaying by as much as $2.4 billion.

An analysis of pricing trends at 10 major urban health systems contained in the report found major disparities in the cost of some common procedures. The union said a C-section delivery, for example, varied from $27,700 to $55,000 at New York City private hospital systems while costing $17,800 at the public Health + Hospitals system.

Hospital prices are the main driver of our costs and U.S. healthcare spending -- findings that should direct policy change going forward, the report states.

The other side: Hospitals have long argued that government programs like Medicare pay too little, and that they have to charge privately insured patients more to make ends meet. The pandemic has also disrupted many hospitals business models -- for example, by forcing the cancellation of elective procedures.

Our thought bubble: Old health cost fights are resurfacing as the pandemic ebbs, putting political pressure on providers that were hailed as heroes and seen as largely untouchable during the worst of the crisis.
Companies that never had to deal with abortion rights are now picking a side.

The big picture: After Texas effectively banned the procedure last year, and with the Supreme Court potentially poised to roll back abortion rights, new restrictions could soon put more pressure on big businesses to act.

Driving the news: It's a rare event when a change to a company's insurance benefits makes news  but that's what happened this week when Citigroup mentioned in a regulatory filing that it would cover travel expenses for U.S. employees seeking abortions.

State of play: Citi appears to be one of the first public companies to officially update its employee health care policy in response to the changing legal landscape.

Apple, which has a big presence in Texas, confirmed to Axios that its health insurance policies cover abortions, including travel fees if needed.

It's possible other employers have similar health insurance policies, but they haven't been talking about them.

The CEO of Match, another dating company, funded a program with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles to ensure her Texas-based employees receive safe and legal care.

Dating app company Bumble helped create a relief fund, in conjunction with advocacy groups, to help women pay for reproductive care in Texas.

Worth noting: 75% of these companies have female CEOs, compared to 6% of the S&P 500.

How it works: Citi's policy is surprisingly uncomplicated. Travel expenses are covered under an employee's health insurance, according to a source familiar with it.

The company plan already covers people with, say, a heart condition who need treatment at a far-off hospital. This is no different. The benefit would extend to employees in any state where access is restricted.

"Extending the benefit promotes more equitable access to health care services and supports women's health," the source said.

Not only would travel expenses be reimbursed, but paid sick leave would cover any time off for an employee who needs to travel, get the procedure done and recover.

Privacy shouldn't be an issue, the source said. Benefits are handled by an outside provider, so a woman's boss would have no reason to know details of her medical issue.

The impact: The Citi policy should immediately help employees in Texas, where the state's abortion ban is already causing economic hardship.

To travel for care, many have delayed paying bills and rent, taken out loans, or took days of unpaid time off, according to a study from the Texas Policy Evaluation Project at the University of Texas at Austin.

At least one women was fired for taking time off, the report found.

The other side: Abortion opponents were quick to criticize Citi.

"Nothing more than a PR stunt by a woke company to support a culture of death, George P. Bush, the state's Republican land commissioner in the running for attorney general, told Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, the Texas GOP chairman advised folks to avoid banking with Citi and other companies "hostile" to their values.

Citi could also be opening itself up to legal liability, but for now with the ban in constitutional limbo the ramifications are unclear, lawyers told Bloomberg Law.

What's next: Later this year, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of a 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi. If the ban is upheld, observers believe it would topple Roe v. Wade and trigger more bans in other states.

The big question now is whether more large companies will step in with policies like Citis or make public pronouncements, if Roe is overturned, said Leila Abolfazli, director of reproductive rights at the National Women's Law Center.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify that Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (not Planned Parenthood, the national organization), is working on Matchs program.
India's refusal to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and efforts to protect trade with Russia mean one of Washington's most valued strategic partners is actively undercutting its efforts to isolate Moscow.

The big picture: Vladimir Putin's invasion has become a stress test for America's global partnerships. America's treaty allies are all onside, including those outside NATO such as Japan and South Korea. India, for reasons of history and geopolitical pragmatism, is very much not.

Driving the news: India abstained on a series of UN votes condemning the invasion. One such resolution was backed by 141 countries, though a Russian diplomat contended that  with China and India both abstaining  the critics represented less than half of the global population.

While the U.S. and EU have led a global push to isolate Russia economically, India has been buying up more Russian energy at a discount.

Now, per the Financial Times, India's central bank is discussing a rupee-ruble trade plan with Moscow to ensure it can continue to buy Russian goods, potentially weakening the effects of Western sanctions.

What they're saying: U.S. officials say they understand India's delicate position vis-a-vis Russia, though White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called on India's leaders to "think about where you want to stand when history books are written.

The State Department dispatched and then quickly recalled a cable telling diplomats to warn counterparts from India and the UAE that their abstentions at the UN put them "in Russia's camp," Axios' Hans Nichols reported earlier this month.

The British trade secretary said Thursday that the U.K. is "very disappointed" by India's position and hopes it will change. That's not looking likely.

Data: United Nations; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

Between the lines: India's position is informed by decades of cooperation with Russia and the then-Soviet Union, including its disputes with China and Pakistan.

Additionally, 70% of India's military arsenal is Russian-made, and New Delhi is counting on Moscow for additional systems and spare parts.

Buying Russian oil and weaponry "is India's way of trying to ensure that Russia keeps India's interests in mind," and doesn't shift toward Pakistan or become entirely beholden to China, says Aparna Pande of the Hudson Institute. That also helps explain the post-invasion silence from New Delhi.

But calling for peace without picking sides is also India's default approach to global crises, she says.

India doesn't want other powers to intervene over Kashmir, and is reluctant to use sanctions because it doesn't want to face sanctions itself.

"At its core, Indian foreign policy is very realpolitik," Pande says. For example, "India is a democracy but India doesn't do democracy promotion."

India coordinates most closely with the U.S. than any other country, Pande adds. But rather than seeking to bind itself to Washington through a formal alliance, its focus is on balancing relations with multiple global powers, including Russia.

Zoom out: India isn't alone in hedging its bets over Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia has been snubbing the Biden administration as it seeks to increase oil production.

Israel has condemned the invasion but is also treading lightly to protect its security coordination with Russia in Syria.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, defending his own neutral stance, went so far Thursday as to blame NATO for the "instability" that led to war.

What to watch: Successive U.S. administrations have made India a centerpiece of their strategies to counter China.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid issued a joint statement on Friday urging the Biden administration not to remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps from the U.S. blacklist of foreign terrorist organizations.

Why it matters: Bennett and Lapid's statement was unusually strong in its criticism of the Biden administration, calling the proposed move "an insult to the victims."

It reveals the impact a decision on the Revolutionary Guards have on U.S. relations with Israel and other allies in the region who have been targeted by the group and would see such a move as a betrayal by the Biden administration.

Driving the news: On Wednesday, Axios reported that the Biden administration is considering removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from a terror blacklist in return for a public commitment from Iran to de-escalate in the region.

An agreement to restore the 2015 nuclear deal is nearly complete, but Iran's demand that President Biden reverse Donald Trump's decision to designate the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization is a key remaining sticking point.

What they are saying: "The Iranian Revolutionary Guards are Hezbollah in Lebanon, they are Islamic Jihad in Gaza, they are the Houthis in Yemen, they are the militias in Iraq," Bennett and Lapid said. "The fight against terrorism is a global one, a shared mission of the entire world. We believe that the United States will not abandon its closest allies in exchange for empty promises from terrorists."

Bennett and Lapid said, "The IRGC is responsible for attacks on American civilians and American forces throughout the Middle East, including in the past year." They added that the "IRGC was behind plans to assassinate senior American government officials."

"The IRGC were involved in the murder of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians, they destroyed Lebanon and they are brutally oppressing Iranian civilians," Bennett and Lapid said.

They added: "We find it hard to believe that the IRGCs designation as a terrorist organization will be removed in exchange for a promise not to harm Americans."

A state department spokesperson said that they would not "respond to specific claims about what sanctions we would be prepared to lift as part of a mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA."

"We are prepared to make difficult decisions to return Iran's nuclear program to JCPOA limits. An unrestricted Iranian nuclear program has led to an escalating nuclear crisis and to greatly increased threats to U.S. citizens, interests, and partners in the region."

"The United States and Israel share a common interest: seeing to it that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. Weve been clear that a mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA is the best diplomatic path forward and the best way to achieve this objective," the spokesperson added.

Go deeper: U.S. weighs deal to remove Iran's IRGC from terror blacklist
Latinos in the U.S. experienced a 40% spike in drug overdose death rates in 2020, according to a new study.

Why it matters: The large percentage increase for Latinos shows how the pandemic and isolation may have affected Hispanics, who experienced higher rates of COVID-19 deaths.

Details: The study published this month in JAMA Psychiatry found that Latinos had a drug overdose death rate of 17.3 per 100,000 residents in 2020, compared to around 12.3 the year before.

The overdose rate for Latinos has been steadily increasing since 1999, when it was around 5 per 100,000 residents, the study found.

Yes, but: Drug overdose rates for Hispanics remained the lowest among the other groups assessed throughout the study period.

Native Americans or Alaska Natives experienced the highest overdose mortality rate in 2020 (41.4 per 100 000).

Overdose death rates per 100,000 among Black Americans increased from 24.7 in 2019 to 36.8 in 2020.

The rate for whites was 31.6 per 100,000 in 2020.

What they're saying: "Drug overdose mortality is increasingly becoming a racial justice issue in the US. Our results suggest that drug overdose mortality has been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic," the authors of the study wrote.

"Since 2015, overdose deaths have been rising most rapidly among Black and Hispanic and Latino communities."

Don't forget: New Mexico, the most Hispanic state in the nation, has struggled with generations of opioid addiction disorders among some families in the state.

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced last week a deal to allocate opioid settlement funds to more than fifty communities, securing more than $195.5 million from four opioid manufacturing and distribution companies.

The allocation deal provides more than $107 million to local governments and nearly $88 million to the state government, the majority of which is earmarked specifically for opioid abatement efforts.

Subscribe to Axios Latino and get more news that matters about Latinos and Latin America, delivered right to your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Vacant land at the end of Ryefield Hollow Drive in Bloomfield is proposed for 90 townhouses and duplexes. (Don Stacom)

The developer building 75 duplexes in Granby is seeking to construct 90 townhouses and attached duplexes in Bloomfield.

Krown Point Capital on Tuesday applied for zoning permission to build the project at the end of Ryefield Hollow Drive on a site that was initially proposed for single-family homes.

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Theyll be higher-end and mostly three-bedrooms, over 1,600 square feet, Reggie Kronstadt, principal of the company, said Thursday.

Krown Point and partner Connecticut Realty Trust plan to take over the Maulucci Home Builders stalled development project on the site, but with major changes.

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Maulucci won approval in 2019 to build 51 single-family houses, and the town agreed in 2020 when Maulucci changed that to 71 units  33 detached houses and 38 townhouses. Even so, Maulucci never got under way with construction.

An artist's rendering of the Krown Point Capital project under construction in Granby. The configuration of units in the company's proposed Bloomfield project would be different, but the amenities and target market would be similar. (Courtesy of Krown Point Capital)

Krown Point and Connecticut Realty Trust LLC propose mid-term and long-term leased rentals, and Kronstadt said amenities will include a clubhouse, pool, dog park, barbecues and fire pits.

The plan depicts a total of 90 single-family attached units made up of 68 attached townhouse units and 22 attached duplex housing units, according to a report by F.A. Hesketh & Associate, Krown Points traffic consultant for the project.

It is our understanding that the 90 revised housing units will be market-rate rental units marketed toward empty nesters, workforce singles and partners that customarily have fewer children in their households than traditional single-family households, according to Heskeths report, which was filed at town hall.

Theres a shortage of high-caliber rental housing in this market, said Robert Kligerman, who is a principal along with Bard Kligerman in Connecticut Realty Trust.

Maulucci, a Bloomfield-based builder, owns more than 35 acres of the open, rolling fields west of the end of Ryefield Hollow Drive. It would sell the property to Krown Point, and Kronstadt said his companys intention is to keep ownership of the project after its developed.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

If everything stays on schedule, groundbreaking would be in September or October and construction would be complete 18 to 24 months after that, he said.

Krown Point in early 2020 bought a 130-unit apartment complex in nearby Granby and become increasingly interested in central and northern Connecticuts development opportunities, Kronstadt said. It was 45 percent leased, COVID hit and leasing stopped.

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The company braced for extended vacancies, but after renovations and rebranding has been impressed at how quickly the market for those apartments bounced back.

Now all the units are leased and we have a waiting list of 30, he said.

Krown Point and Connecticut Realty Trust are constructing 75 duplex units nearby on Murthas Way in Granby and expect the first will be ready for occupancy in July.

Last fall, Krown Point applied for permits to build a 12-story mixed-use building in Midtown Manhattan. The plan is to construct about 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 114 condos at East 50th Street and Second Avenue; Krown Point would take down the four-story building thats there now.

Don Stacom can be reached at dstacom@courant.com
NASA administrator Bill Nelson said on Friday that Russia is still committed to the International Space Station despite recent threats to end cooperation on the station from the head of its state-run space agency.

Why it matters: Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the space station and allow it to fall back to Earth in an uncontrolled deorbit in protest of sanctions on Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. and Russia's relationship in space was already significantly frayed after Moscow tested an anti-satellite missile in November, debris from which threatened the crew of the ISS, NASA said.

The U.S. and Russia have collaborated in civilian capacity in space for decades, primarily through the ISS  which can't function without both countries participating.

What they're saying: Nelson pointed to Russia's plan to launch three cosmonauts to the ISS on Friday as evidence of its desire to continue cooperating with the U.S. on the station.

"The Russians are still committed to the International Space Station by virtue of the fact that they're going to lift off from Baikonur today," Nelson said on CNBC Friday.

Nelson told AP that Rogozin "spouts off every now and then. But at the end of the day, hes worked with us."

"The other people that work in the Russian civilian space program, theyre professional. They dont miss a beat with us, American astronauts and American mission control."

The big picture: Roscosmos stopped all Soyuz rocket launches from the European Space Agency's primary spaceport in February in protest of sanctions, resulting in the suspension of ExoMars, Europe's first-ever rover mission to Mars that was set to launch this year.

American astronaut Mark Vande Hei, who broke the U.S. single spaceflight record of 340 days on Tuesday, is set to return back to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on March 30 with cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov.

Roscosmos has said that Vande Hei will return on the capsule, though it has also posted edited  and apparently comical  videos on social media showing the cosmonauts leaving him behind and detaching the Russian portion of the ISS altogether.

Go deeper: NATO reveals how it will operate in outer space
Russian cruise missiles struck an airplane repair facility west of Lviv's international airport on Friday, Mayor Andriy Sadovy said, according to the New York Times.

Why it matters: Lviv, which is roughly 50 miles east of Poland's border, has served as a safe haven for people fleeing fighting and seen relatively little action before Friday.

Sadovy said the repair plant was not operating at the time of the attack and no casualties were reported. A large plume of smoke could be seen rising from the citys west after the attack.

The big picture: Since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the western portion of the country has seen comparatively little of the conflict so far, though Russia started striking more targets in the region over the last week.

On Sunday, Russian missiles struck a military training facility near the Ukraine-Poland border, killing at least 35 people and prompting warnings from NATO countries.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the defensive alliance would respond to any attack on NATO territory  even an accidental strike.

A senior U.S. defense official during a background briefing Thursday said there have been more than 1,000 observed missile launches by Russian against Ukraine so far.

The official said that Russian forces appear to be increasingly relying on non-precision-guided munitions more than at the start of the invasion, which suggests that "they might be either conserving their precision-guided munitions or beginning to experience shortages."

Go deeper: Leaders call for probe into heavy civilian casualties in Ukraine
A swastika drawn on a window shade in purple ink was found inside the U.S. embassy in Bulgaria last month, Axios has learned, raising concern within the State Department headquarters itself about antisemitism.

Driving the news: News of the discovery circulated in Washington on Friday after the embassy in Sofia sent back a diplomatic cable describing the incident.

The image was first identified on Jan. 28, a day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Another swastika was found inside the department itself last July, as first reported by Axios.

Why it matters: The latest swastika was found in a secure part of the embassy, indicating whoever drew it had access inside an American diplomatic outpost, according to sources with knowledge of the cable.

"The department takes this matter extremely seriously," said Ned Price, a State Department spokesperson. "We unequivocally condemn any instances of hate or bias in the workplace, which this appears to be."

"This is a repugnant symbol that stands for everything we as a department are standing against," he said. "We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure the State Department, including our posts overseas, remain a welcoming, inclusive and bias-free workplace."

Between the lines: President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the July incident in which a swastika was found etched inside an elevator at State Department headquarters.

"Let me be clear: Antisemitism has no place in the State Department, in my administration, or anywhere in the world, Biden said in a statement in July. Its up to all of us to give hate no safe harbor and stand up to bigotry wherever we find it."

The State Department launched an investigation into the incident, but its findings have not been announced.

What we're watching: Biden has nominated Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt to lead a State Department office charged with monitoring and combating antisemitism.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging President Biden and NATO to impose a "no-fly zone" over "significant parts" of the country, telling Axios in a statement that Ukraine "can beat the aggressor" if the Western allies "do their part."

Why it matters: President Biden has ruled out sending U.S. troops to fight Russia in Ukraine. That pledge extends to a no-fly zone, which would require the U.S. military to potentially directly engage Russian air forces, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stressed on Monday.

Driving the news: Zelensky, who remains in Ukraine under siege from Vladimir Putin, said in a statement to Axios provided through an adviser: "If the West does this, Ukraine will defeat the aggressor with much less blood."

"The sanctions are heading in the right direction. In addition to disconnecting the Russian Central Bank from SWIFT and providing more Stingers and anti-tank weapons, we need the West to impose a no-fly zone over significant parts of Ukraine," Zelensky said.

"Ukraine can beat the aggressor. We are proving this to the world. But our allies must also do their part."

But, but, but: "Here's what's important for everybody to know about a no-fly zone: What that would require is implementation by the U.S. military. It would essentially mean the U.S. military would be shooting down Russian planes," Psaki told MSNBC.

"That is definitely escalatory, that would potentially put us into a place where we're in a military conflict with Russia. That is not something the president wants to do."

The big picture: Zelensky's passionate appeals to the West have yielded major steps on sanctions and military aid that would have been unthinkable two weeks ago. But direct military engagement with Russia via a no-fly zone has so far been a red line.

"We have no intentions of moving into Ukraine neither on the ground or in the airspace," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told MSNBC on Monday. "We have a responsibility to make sure that this doesn't spiral out of control that escalates even further into concern for full-fledged war in Europe involving NATO allies."

U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has also ruled out the idea, saying that "NATO would have to effectively declare war on Russia."

Between the lines: In Washington, only a very hawkish minority is publicly advocating a no-fly zone.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tweeted Friday that the U.S. should "declare a #NoFlyZone over Ukraine" to disrupt Russia's air operations and "give the heroic Ukrainians a fair fight."

Kinzinger's call was met with prompt criticism from members of both parties.

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) in a statement Saturday rejected calls for the U.S. and NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it could pull America into war with Russia.

"A no-fly zone is enforced, not declared. It requires our fighter jets to go directly against Russian fighter jets, to get them to stay out of a certain airspace. If the United States were to do this, our fighter jets would potentially have to shoot down Russian jets. This would mean the United States declaring war on Russia."

"No. This is insane," Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also tweeted in response to Kinzinger's tweet."

Go deeper ... The latest: Russian forces shell civilian areas during Ukraine peace talks
Nearly 6.5 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine since Russia's invasion, the UN migration agency wrote in a paper out Friday.

Driving the news: "The group agreed that the figures provided by IOM are a good representation of the scale of internal displacement in Ukraine  calculated to stand at 6.48 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine as of March 16th," the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs wrote.

The big picture: The number of displaced individuals is on top of the more than 3.2 million refugees who have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion, according to the UN refugee agency.

More than 1.5 million children have fled Ukraine since Feb. 24, according to UNICEF spokesperson James Elder.

The estimates out Friday suggest Ukraine is on track to match the levels of displacement from Syria's war in three weeks, AP reports. That conflict has displaced about 13 million people.

Go deeper: UN: Over 3.2 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russian invasion began
The United Nations has recorded some 1,900 civilian casualties during Russia's invasion of Ukraine  with 52 children among 726 confirmed dead, a UN official told the Security Council on Thursday.

Driving the news: UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said the actual number of civilians killed from Feb. 24 to March 15 was "likely much higher."

"This demands a thorough investigation and accountability," said DiCarlo, who did not apportion blame in the killings.

"Hundreds of residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed, as have hospitals and schools," DiCarlo said.

"The devastation and suffering in Mariupol and Kharkiv raise grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks," she added.

By the numbers: World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the Security Council the WHO had verified 43 attacks on Ukraine health care facilities, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people.

The big picture: President Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken both said this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and that the Russian military's targeting of civilians constitutes a war crime.

Blinken told a briefing Thursday that U.S. experts were "in the process of documenting and evaluating potential war crimes being committed" in Ukraine" and would "make sure that our findings help international efforts to investigate war crimes and hold those responsible accountable."

G7 foreign ministers issued a statement Thursday welcoming work being undertaken "to investigate and gather evidence, including by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court" and demanded the Kremlin comply with the International Court of Justice's order to withdraw Russian forces from Ukraine.

State of play: Russian airstrikes were targeting key cities across Ukraine as the invasion entered a 23rd day on Friday.

These included the capital, Kyiv; Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv; Lviv, near Poland's border; and Chernihiv  where an American citizen was among several people killed by Russian forces while waiting in line for bread, according to his family.

Meanwhile, DiCarlo described the situation in Mariupol as "particularly alarming," noting Wednesday's strike on a theater where civilians were sheltering in the southeastern port city.

"Many of the Mariupol residents who have not been able to safely evacuate lack food, water, electricity and medical care. Uncollected corpses lie on city streets," she said.

"While early reports indicate that the worst may have been avoided, ongoing fighting is hampering the rescue work and assessment of the situation."

By the numbers: More than 3.1 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russian forces began their invasion on Feb. 24, according to the UN.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with further comment from DiCarlo, Blinken and G7 ministers, and to include the number of Ukrainian refugees.
It's likely more enslaved Black people escaped to Mexico than originally thought, scholars say.

Why it matters: The story of the Underground Railroad to Mexico  loosely organized paths allowing enslaved Black people to escape bondage by fleeing south  exposes a neglected history about the Black experience in the Americas.

Details: Historians have known for decades that some enslaved Black people in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Alabama escaped slavery by heading south.

Oral histories, archives of slave escape ads, and narratives of formerly enslaved people show that fleeing to Mexico had been a possibility leading up to the U.S. Civil War.

Abolitionists wrote about "colonies" of formerly enslaved Black people popping up in towns across northern Mexico  a country that had abolished slavery in the 1830s.

Yes, but: How many people fled south of the border remained a mystery, and historians debate just how well-organized the network was.

The intrigue: New research shows that between 4,000 to 10,000 enslaved Black people may have taken the trek south, Alice Baumgartner, author of "South to Freedom: Runaway Slaves to Mexico and the Road to the Civil War," told Axios.

That's small compared to the Underground Railroad of the north where 30,000 to more than 100,000 may have braved that more famous journey, said Baumgartner, a history professor at the University of Southern California.

Historians also are combing through Spanish-language material discussing the arrival of enslaved people and how they would integrate into Mexican society, giving clues to what happened to those who escaped.

How it worked: Enslaved people would leave farms and head south with the help of poor Mexican Americans, German immigrants and abolitionists who hid them in places from East Texas to isolated regions approaching the Rio Grande.

Biracial Black and white couples living along the Rio Grande hid escapees until they could take ferries into Mexico, where they would change their names and marry.

Scholar Maria Esther Hammack's research into one formerly enslaved woman, Silvia Hector Webber, showed how she assisted runaways along the border.

Baumgartner founded cases of enslaved people hiding on ships docked in New Orleans heading to Mexico, where laws granted enslaved people immediate freedom.

But, but, but: Texas slaveholders organized posses to invade Mexico in attempts to recapture their "property."

The white-led mobs faced resistance from Mexico as violence erupted.

"I was shocked at how many documents I came across that had to do with kidnappers from the United States, arriving to try to kidnap enslaved people who had escaped to Mexico," Baumgartner said.

"They faced resistance from the enslaved people themselves, but also from Mexican citizens."

Those mobs in Mexico also saw armed resistance from Black Seminoles  or Los Mascogos  who had resettled in northern Mexico.

What's next: The U.S. National Park Service is looking into expanding its Underground Railroad route from Natchitoches, La., through Texas to Monclova, Mexico, which is considered a rough path of the southern-bound Underground Railroad.

Last year, the agency convened scholars like Roseann Bacha-Garza, a program manager for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valleys Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools in Edinburg, Texas, to present new research.

Bacha-Garza said she recently participated in a documentary examining the Underground Railroad to Mexico.

"This is a very important part of American history, and we are constantly on unearthing new information."

One fun fact: Relationships created in Mexico convinced some emancipated Black people to travel south over the border after the U.S. Civil War.

William Ellis, a formerly enslaved man in Texas, later became a millionaire in Mexico.

Editor's note: The story originally published on Feb. 7.

Go deeper: Story of the Underground Railroad to Mexico gains attention (via AP)

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An American citizen killed in a Russian attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv was identified by his family and Ukrainian officials on Thursday as James Whitney Hill.

Driving the news: The 67-year-old Minnesota native, known as Jimmy or Jim, "was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military snipers" on Wednesday, wrote his sister Cheryl Hill Gordon on Facebook. "His body was found in the street by the local police," she added.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine tweeted after the attack, "Russian forces shot and killed 10 people standing in line for bread in Chernihiv."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that a U.S. citizen had been killed in the attack, which Russia's military denied carrying out. He did not name Hill, but an adviser to Ukraines interior minister confirmed his details to CNN.

The big picture: Hill had traveled to Chernihiv from Driggs, Idaho, with his Ukrainian partner, Ira, months ago for her to receive medical treatment and later became trapped in the city, according to his Facebook page.
During the visit, which the Defense Ministrys press office said took place on March 17, Papikian also traveled to the border area where local residents claimed Azerbaijan had moved its military positions into Armenian territory.

According to the official report, while visiting Syunik the defense minister met with local officers to discuss the recent incidents involving conscripts.

Papikian reportedly stressed that such incidents were a result of the violation of discipline in some units as well as an insufficient moral and psychological level of individual servicemen.

After listening to the reports of the officers responsible for the incidents, the defense minister instructed that the commander of the military unit take the necessary measures to exclude such cases in the future, the report said.

The Investigative Committee on Thursday launched criminal cases over the deaths of two conscripts in noncombat conditions in Kapan and Meghri. Both were found dead with gunshot wounds. At least in one of the cases investigators suspect a suicide, but do not exclude outside influence on the soldiers decision to take his own life.

During the visit Papikian also reportedly traveled to the border area adjacent to the village of Nerkin Hand in the southeast of Syunik where the commander of the local military unit, Major-General Artak Budaghian presented to him the current situation.

The mayor of Nerkin Hand and other residents of the village told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on March 15 that Azerbaijani servicemen had moved 800-900 meters deep into the administrative territory of the community, set up five tents and began digging trenches there earlier this month.

Later that day, the Armenian Defense Ministry dismissed allegations about the advancement of the Azerbaijani military. In particular, it said that Azerbaijani servicemen had simply returned to the positions that they previously controlled, but recently had to leave temporarily due to harsh winter conditions.

There can be no question of any [Azeri] advancement. In this and all other sections of the border the Armenian Armed Forces are fully fulfilling their tasks, monitoring any movement of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and keeping the situation under control, the ministry said.
On March 8, Judge Alice Bruno filed a 75-page motion asking the state Supreme Court to postpone its hearing on suspending or removing her from the bench. The court denied Brunos motion to have her request sealed from public view.

Bruno wants to be assigned to a courthouse with less stress. If shes allowed to call the serenity docket, Bruno will return to work almost two-and-a-half years after she stopped showing up. She has been paid more than $350,000 since she last worked.

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Because Bruno claims a medical disability, her motion contains many redactions. Even with those missing pieces, the document tells a story that Bruno could not have intended in this rare proceeding. In her telling, Bruno transforms years of her colleagues attempts to help her succeed into alleged hostile acts intended to make her miserable.

[ Kevin Rennie: Superior Court Judge Alice Bruno has not shown up for work in two years ]

Bruno did not like driving 100 miles a day when she was assigned to Bridgeport. She does not want to go to Hartford or Waterbury. There is too much stress in those courthouses, she claims. Bruno points to a 2020 medical report that concludes she needs a supportive, not hostile, work environment. Seven years after her appointment to the Superior Court, the motion reveals, Bruno claimed she needs a supportive supervisor/mentor.

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She has had supportive supervisors and mentors. Other judges spent years trying to help Bruno perform her duties. When she was assigned to Hartford at the start of her 8-year term in 2015, patient judges in that criminal courthouse shared their wisdom and experience. Emails between Bruno and court administrators reveal years of frustration at her absences and alleged failure to manage the cases on her docket.

In 2019, Chief Court Administrator J. Patrick Carroll told Bruno to provide to her supervising judge a weekly record of the cases she had overseen. Deputy Chief Court Administrator Elizabeth Bozzuto gave Bruno, then a judge for more than four years, an easy to use form that you were to fill out on a daily basis so that you could keep track of the matters that required your attention. These were attempts to help, not punish.

Opinion Weekly Perspective on the week's biggest stories from the Courant's Opinion page >

Bruno does keep track of slights. In Waterbury, the presiding judge was Anna Ficeto, who served as former Gov. M. Jodi Rells legal counsel. According to Brunos affidavit, Ficeto had interviewed her when Ficeto worked for Rell and displayed her dislike for me then and did not recommend me for appointment [to the bench]. She continued to shun me after I was appointed to the bench. For example, after I was appointed to the Waterbury Judicial District she would not say hello to me when passing me in the building. Everything but a mean note left in her locker, in Brunos view.

Bruno accuses Ficeto of tormenting her. A sense of proportion is an essential quality in a judge. Bruno appears to possess none. Ficetos decision not to recommend that Rell appoint Bruno to the bench more than a dozen years ago was more insightful than the judgment of then-Gov. Dannell Malloys administration officials who supported her 2015 nomination.

In 2018 Ficeto told Bruno in a voice message, according to Brunos affidavit, that she needed to provide a note from a doctor if she was going to miss a week of work. There were audits of sick time going on, and Brunos attendance was going to be scrutinized, Ficeto warned. I understand youve got doctors appointments coming up. Once again theyre in the middle of the day. You keep digging this hole for yourself Alice. I dont know how many ways to tell you that what youre doing is not acceptable, according to Brunos motion. This looks like Ficeto trying to help Bruno, not hurt her.

Courthouses are stress factories. They are where we resolve disputes that in a darker time were decided by violence or raw power. Bruno spent years trying to become a judge but appears to have forgotten the purpose and requirements of the job.

Judges in Connecticut need to be nimble. Assignments often range in a career among criminal, civil, housing and juvenile matters. There is not a lot of slack in the system. Judges call a docket, preside at trials, and make decisions. Sometimes they research and write. On many occasions, lives are altered. If a judge is not willing or able to perform the job in its many manifestations, no accommodation is possible or in the publics interest.

The Supreme Court should understand that, even if Judge Bruno does not.

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Kevin Rennie of South Windsor is a lawyer and a former Republican state senator and representative.
Ask a question and sometimes the answer that comes back makes you regret having raised the issue in the first place.
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter.
The organizers of a petition asking voters to approve term limits for the Board of Supervisors say they have obtained enough signatures to qua
Sharis and Russell Lewis are part of a growing cohort of African American gun owners. They practice shooting at SharpShooter  an indoor range not far from their home in Florissant, a suburb north of St. Louis. (Alex Smith/Kaiser Health News/TNS)

When Russell and Sharis Lewis want to unwind, they pack up their guns and drive from their home in a suburb north of St. Louis to an indoor range called the SharpShooter on the citys south side.

Russell dons big protective headphones, carefully lays out his firearms, and selects a Panzer Arms M4 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun. He takes aim at paper targets, including one labeled snowflakes, and squeezes the trigger.

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Its just something about the power and being able to release that and let it go downrange, he said. It relaxes me.

Sharis and Russell Lewis live in Florissant, Missouri, not far from Ferguson, where Black resident Michael Brown was killed by police officer Darren Wilson in 2014. "Some people, they rely on law enforcement, which, for African Americans, that's not always the safest course of action either," Sharis said. "I would rather control the situation." (Alex Smith/Kaiser Health News/TNS)

Sharis, Russells wife, practices with her new handgun, a Sig Sauer P365. She bought it because shes been worried about the increasing crime in her area.

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The Lewises are part of a growing cohort of African American gun owners. Nationwide, surveys found that 25% of Black adults owned a gun in 2021, up from 14% six years earlier.

Gun buying among African Americans has soared in recent years. At the same time, suicide rates have increased among young Black men. Experts believe the trends may be linked, because having a gun in the home increases suicide risk exponentially, for every person who lives there.

But even gun enthusiasts say that the newest generation of gun owners sometimes lacks the training and information they need to keep themselves safe around firearms. Homicides in Missouri reached a record high in 2020, spurring even more people to buy guns. But the number of suicides in the state was even higher, and the suicide rate has been on the rise for a decade.

Thats where Bill Mays works  in the fraught space where gun ownership and suicide intersect.

As a firearms trainer and an advocate of concealed carry, Mays has been part of the St. Louis gun community for years. He said he knows how to talk with fellow gun enthusiasts in ways that health experts usually cant  especially about sensitive subjects like suicide risk, mental health issues, and crisis management for gun owners.

Its a matter of, If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then what is it? Im a duck! Mays said. Mays is Black and works for the Safer Homes Collaborative, a project based at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The effort aims to persuade gun sellers, gun owners, and their relatives to create systems for temporarily preventing people experiencing a crisis from accessing firearms.

Suicide is usually an impulsive act. One study found that nearly half of survivors reported that the time between first considering suicide and making an attempt was 10 minutes or fewer. If people in crisis can be kept away from a means of killing themselves for even a short period, their risk of dying can drop dramatically.

Thats the thing about suicide, is that you can have that feeling, but if someone intervenes, you know, that feeling can easily go away, Mays said.

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A few years ago, Mays said, he was having suicidal thoughts himself. He remembers one episode when a phone call with his daughter pulled him out of the crisis.

Firearms are a focus of suicide prevention efforts because they are more efficiently lethal than other methods. Nine in 10 people who attempt suicide with a gun die.

Missouris Safer Homes Collaborative is modeled on the New Hampshire Gun Shop Project, which sought to soothe any fears about stepping on Second Amendment rights by enlisting gun owners to deliver the message, as part of a strategy called means reduction  a twist on the concept of harm reduction in addiction treatment.

Bill Mays, a firearms trainer and an advocate of concealed carry policies, says he knows how to talk with fellow gun enthusiasts in ways that health experts usually cant  especially about sensitive subjects like suicide risk, mental health issues, and crisis management for gun owners. (Brian Munoz/Kaiser Health News/TNS)

Proponents of means reduction say suicides can be reduced significantly if businesses refuse to sell firearms to people who are in crisis and if family members temporarily keep guns away from people who feel suicidal.

For decades, the suicide rate of older white men has been among the highest in the U.S., in part because of their high rates of gun ownership. Having a gun in the home increases the suicide risk for everyone who lives there.

However, suicides rates among young Black men increased almost 50% nationally from 2013 to 2019. And the suicide rate for younger Black children (ages 5-12) has climbed and is more than double the rate for younger white children.

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Although the overall suicide rate for white Americans  including teenagers  remains much higher than the rate among African Americans, the new trends concern Deborah Azrael, associate director of the Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center.

Azrael co-authored a new study estimating that from January 2019 to April 2021, around 16 million Americans had guns introduced to their homes for the first time. Of the new buyers, about 20% were Black.

Azrael said its time to update assumptions about who may be in danger: Gun ownership is more diverse now, and so when we talk to people about the risks of guns, we want to make sure were reaching out across the board, and not just to the people weve typically thought of as gun owners in the past.

Similarly, stereotypes about who is typically at risk for suicide are changing. Reba Rice-Portwood said that when she was growing up in St. Louis in the 1970s and 80s, suicide was seen as a problem that existed outside her African American community.

When someone would die by suicide and if we heard about it on television or we read about it or something like that, we would always assume that it was a Caucasian, said Rice-Portwood, 55.

Her thoughts about that changed abruptly and tragically several years ago when she lost Ricky, her son.

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Rice-Portwood said Ricky had an old soul. He loved Sam Cooke and looked out for older people in his apartment complex. She said her son was also tormented by depression.

One day in 2014, she got a frantic call from her sons fiancee, who told her that Ricky had shot himself. He was only 22.

What did I do so bad in this life for God to allow my son to pass? Rice-Portwood asked.

She strained to understand how her son, who was known to struggle with mental illness, managed to get a gun, a question that remains unanswered. And then, amid her grief and confusion, came some surprising news: Rickys fiancee had discovered she was pregnant.

Today, Rice-Portwood is raising her grandson, Jackson, whos 6 years old. On a Saturday morning at her apartment, he shows off his multiplication skills on a tablet while Granny beams.

After working many years inside jails, Rice-Portwood became a mental health counselor. Nowadays, shes outspoken about the need to address trauma among young African Americans in St. Louis. She grapples with how to stop the spread of gun violence, especially when the proliferation of firearms in her community seems impossible to contain.

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Despite what happened to her son, Rice-Portwood keeps a .380 pistol in a safe at home. Like Sharis Lewis, shes a gun owner for one big reason: fear of crime. Actually, I went to the grocery store about three weeks ago, you know, and was almost carjacked, Rice-Portwood said. Thats the reason why I still have it now.

St. Louis had the highest homicide rate among large U.S. cities in 2020, according to FBI data.

Self-defense is the main reason people buy guns, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, but many Black gun owners say that, for them, self-defense can be a thorny concept.

Sharis Lewis started carrying a firearm because she isnt comfortable with the idea of calling police for protection. The Lewises live in Florissant, not far from Ferguson, where Black resident Michael Brown was killed by police officer Darren Wilson in 2014.

Some people, they rely on law enforcement, which, for African Americans, thats not always the safest course of action either, Sharis said. I would rather control the situation.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

For Bill Mays and his friends, discussions about self-defense and guns have taken on increased urgency.

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At the BBQ restaurant next door to the SharpShooter range, Bill Mays met up with the Lewises. After placing lunch orders, they launched into talking about firearms, and recent incidents of violence against African Americans.

Mays said his work in suicide prevention and a renewed interest in religion had changed his relationship with firearms. Mays recently stopped carrying a gun, though he continues to hunt.

I think a lot about the Bible. And the experience with Jesus  would Jesus walk around with a firearm? Of course not, Mays said. But its more than that. Its just a point of  I dont want to hurt anybody.

But he wants to keep helping the people who do carry guns, especially the newest gun owners. And he hopes that those conversations, however tough, might help prevent suicide deaths in Missouri.

___

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
When a 'Filament' Mystery Hit the Oregon Coast Last Decade

Published 05/20/22 at 9:35 PM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Oregon Coast)  You may have run into this on beaches and wondered what they were. Now you'll know.

It's always a marvel when a new science mystery hits the Oregon coast, even if it is just a puzzled visitor on the beaches. Sometimes, however, even some of the experts get hit with something new. (Photos courtesy Seaside Aquarium / Tiffany Boothe)

That's what happened about nine years ago when CoastWatch volunteers began spotting something they hadn't seen before. February of 2013, and the volunteer organization CoastWatch was getting reports as always about what was different on Oregon beaches, and maybe what was luckily staying the same. It's their mission to keep an eye on changes around here.





Since about January of that year, some of the volunteers had been spotting little filament-like objects in the sands. They were clearly natural, but they did resemble bits of wiring to some degree. Each was tiny, about one to two centimeters long, which made the giant piles of them that much more extraordinary. CoastWatchers were stumped.

Finally, it was CoastWatch volunteer coordinator Fawn Custer (who had the position back then) who made the ID.

It turns out they were from a tiny creature known as the cellophane worm, which lives in the sands around the tideline all the time. This means periodically you will find them yourself.

They aren't the worms themselves, however. They are the casings of the cellophane worm, which has several rings around it and is covered in a tube as it sits below the sands. When the casings get knocked off them, they wind up onshore. Periodically, high surf events will dislodge a lot of them all at once, and you'll see rather large piles like this.

Scientifically they're known as Spiochaetopterus costarum, and when this happens the cellophane worm is just fine. It simply disappears beneath the sands again.

Back then, sand levels were building to larger-than-normal levels for a couple of years or more. Then winter storms started taking a lot of that sand away, skimming off more and more layers, and finding the little cellophane worm more easily. They suddenly discovered their new real estate in higher sand levels was risky, and they were in contact with the surface water.

Custer explained to Oregon Coast Beach Connection back then:





The last few years the beaches have been building up sand, but this year because of more storm surges, it's been scouring out more sand, Custer said. They're always there anyway, just below the surface of the sand. But with the sand levels built higher up, and then more scouring out, they get exposed more.

The animals are a little less than an inch long and about the width of hair. The casings themselves are about one inch long as well. Once onshore they dry out into those filaments or fibers and start being found.

They feel like hair, she said. They're very pliable. You can squeeze them.



Cellophane worms inhabit the sands just below the surface, where their tubes are close to the top or just above it, allowing them to suck in food. They eat the remnants of living matter in the ocean  stuff that's already dead.

Back then they were getting taken by surprise, and they occasionally do now and again still.

Once the tubes come off, the cellophane worm grows another by secreting a kind of goo that eventually hardens into a brand new tube.



Why so many? Custer said the populations of them were simply quite large back then. Those higher sand levels played a bad trick on them and left them vulnerable to 2013's sudden shift in more scouring. Winter sand levels were much lower in some of the previous years. During that time, you didn't see so many as they managed to keep ahead of the consistently lowering sand levels.

Back in 2013, however, they were so high up in the massive sand levels they just weren't prepared for all that storm action and more of them lost their casings.

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Takarada Akira, best known as a star in the early Godzilla films and Tohos other kaiju (monster) and sci-fi movies from the 1950s and 1960s, died on Monday. He was 87. The cause of death has not been announced.

Born in 1934 in Japan-occupied Korea, Takarada came with his family to Japan in 1948 as a speaker of Mandarin Chinese and English. In 1953 he entered the Toho studio after passing the studios New Face audition. He made an impression in a major role as a Navy diver in the original 1954 Godzilla and thereafter was cast in series follow-ups including Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966).

Takarada also appeared in films by Ozu Yasujiro and Naruse Miko as well as musical films, melodramas, period dramas and other mainstay studio genres.

After the collapse of Japans studio system in the 1970s Takaradas appearances in films became fewer though his career revived in the 1990s with supporting roles in the films of Itami Juzo. He also appeared in new entries in the Godzilla series such as the 1992 Godzilla vs. Mothra and the 2002 Godzilla: Final Wars. He is credited in the 2014 Garth Edwards Godzilla as a Japanese immigration agent, though his scenes were cut from the film.

Known in his studio heyday for his leading man good looks and air of sophistication, Takarada in his latter years became a favorite on the Godzilla fan circuit, appearing at conventions and interacting with fans. He also appeared in several stage musicals.

At his last public appearance on March 10, for the Miyake Nobuyuki film If Cherry Blossoms Disappeared from the World), in which he plays and end-of-life counsellor, Takarada referred to the war in Ukraine, saying that Looking at the current situation, I think we have to make more socially conscious films. The film will be released in Japan on April 1.

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State representative James White, whose district encompassed Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton and Hardin Counties, held his seat for 12 years.

During that time, White was an advocate for his district and a conservative voice in the Texas House. White decided to look for another way to serve not only Southeast Texas, but the entire state as he ran for the Agriculture Commissioner in this months Republican primary election.

However, he was unable to unseat incumbent Ag Commissioner Sid Miller.

When asked about what he took away from his campaign for Ag Commissioner, White said, The United States is the most blessed nation in the world. We have the oil and gas supplies, agriculture potential and the most energetic, optimistic and entrepreneurial people on the globe.

When ask about his major legislative accomplishments he said, eliminating burdensome regulations on our small commercial meat processors, reforming our public school finance formula, streamlining our school attendance truancy laws, strengthing our Child Protective Services system and updating our 911 emergency communications systems and public safety matters.

Having just come off an unsuccessful campaign would he consider running again for another office? White quoted Romans 13:1 from the Bible, For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. With humility, I will submit to the sovereignty of the Almighty who gave His only Son Jesus Christ for our redemption, as to my path going forward.

White will continue to reside in Tyler County. He said that he has no plans to become a lobbyist. While he did not detail his plans after leaving his current office, he said, I will continue to have a strong interest in public policy and service.

To the people that elected and re-elected him White said, I am deeply honored and humbled that every two years, tens of thousands of my fellow Texans have sowed their trust in me through the ballot box.

White received 20,958 votes when he was first elected. In his last contested general election, he received 50,046 votes. In 2020, his last election to the Texas House he received 72,573 votes even though he was unopposed.

I have had the blessing to represent and serve the most exceptional set of Texans in the Lone Star State! Wildfires, droughts, epic rain events, millennial floods and viral outbreaks have tested our faith in Christ and challenged our love for our fellow man, he said."
Mathew Whelan TAMFS

Dry weather and high winds contributed to a number of fires across Texas this week, according to a social media post from the Lone Star State Incident Management Team.

Credit: Texas Wildfire Incident Response System

Kleberg and Jim Wells County experienced major fires at the beginning of the week in the southern region. Friday morning fires crews were taming a 40,000-acre fire in Eastland County located in the central region, according to the post. The Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid (TIFM) alongside local fire crews fought multiple fires in the state Thursday night.
The great burger debate continues. Who's better, Whataburger or In-N-Out? Food Insider's chief video correspondent gave Whataburger four and a half out of five stars but couldn't bring himself to make a decision in the heated debate.

Graham Flanagan with Food Insider stopped at a Whataburger in New Mexico and posted a video to Twitter on Sunday, March 13, trying out a Double Whataburger with cheese, fries, spicy ketchup, and a chocolate milkshake.

RELATED: 5 very extra ways to customize your Whataburger orders this weekend

The verdict, of course, is not bad. Flanagan says the burger is "very heavy" but says its very good. He then goes on to compare the Whataburger to a Whopper from Burger King. Yikes.

"I really wish we had a Whataburger in New York," Flanagan says in the video. Whataburger, are you listening?

He says the fries are similar to McDonald's fries, which is a fair comparison. He says the spicy ketchup has a kick to it, and puts spicy ketchup on his burger, calling it a "pro tip" to the sound of club airhorns.

Food Insider's tweet has the gall to say "Whataburger is the In-N-Out of Texas," but does Flanagan say whether he would go with Whataburger over the California-based burger chain?

"Too close to call," he says.

It's not.

Flanagan does say that hopes the brand continues to expand. Don't worry. It will.
The Mummy Anck Su Namun Cosplays Live Forever

6 Minute Read

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Shes back from the dead and stopping hearts. We live for these Anck Su Namun cosplays!

1999s The Mummy is arguably one of the best films of the 90s. With a stellar cast and an action-packed plot steeped in mythology, it is an unforgettable piece of cinema. The Mummy features gorgeous scenery and a romantic (if somewhat creepy) love story about a love that transcends death. Today, were excavating some extraordinary Anck Su Namun cosplays!

Back thousands of years ago in a desert far, far away, the Pharaohs mistress and his High Priest fell in love. They concocted a secret plot to rid themselves of the Pharaoh and resurrect Anak Su Namun from an untimely demise though honestly, why didnt they just run away into the sunset to be together, instead? Seems like MUCH less work. But then, we wouldnt have a plot or this delightful action-adventure flick!

Though she isnt in much of the film beyond the first 7 minutes, Anck Su Namun is a character that stops people in their tracks. Its not every day that a character dressed almost entirely in body paint struts across the screen of a major blockbuster film.. But, Anck Su Namun does so with panache. The character is incredibly unique, and proves to be an excellent challenge for cosplayers.

Creating the Cosplay

There are two main ways to go about a cosplay like this. Either attempt to recreate the movies signature bodypaint look, braving the cold and ensuring that the cosplay must be made from scratch every time it is worn Or create a body suit to wear instead as the base, mimicking the tattoo-like paint. Then, the second option is much more sustainable (and WAY more physically comfortable), but getting the paint and bodysuit fit JUST RIGHT is so much harder to do. Either way, this is an impressive character to attempt a cosplay for!

There are a few brave cosplayers who have created Anck Su Namun cosplays. One of them was so successful in recreating the character played by Patricia Velasquez that the actress herself took notice. Eventually, SAFire Art held an exclusive video call with Patricia, and the actress expressed her gratitude and astonishment at the gorgeous cosplay. We hope you enjoy this weeks Anck Su Namun Cosplay Feature!

Anck Su Namun Cosplay by SAFire Art

Thebes. City of the Living. Crown jewel of Pharaoh Seti the First.

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Home of Imhotep. Pharaohs high priest. Keeper of the dead.

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Birthplace of Anck-su-namun. Pharaohs Mistress.

No other man was allowed to touch her.

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But for their love, they were willing to risk life itself.

You must go. Save yourself.

Only you can resurrect me.

I will not leave you! Get away from me!

My body is no longer his temple!

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To resurrect Anck-su-namun, Imhotep and his priests broke into her crypt and stole her body.

Anck Su Namun Cosplay by Andy Rae Cosplay

They raced deep into the desert taking her corpse to Hamunaptura, city of the dead, Ancient burial site for the sons of Pharaohs and resting place for the wealth of Egypt.

For his love, Imhotep dared the Gods anger by going deep into the city where he took the black book of the dead from its holy resting place.

Anck Su Namun Cosplay by Yaya Han

Anck-su-namuns soul had been sent to the dark underworld, her vital organs removed and placed in five sacred canopic jars.

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Anck-su-namuns soul had come back from the dead

but pharaohs body guards had followed Imhotep and stopped him before the ritual could be completed.

Anck Su Namun Cosplay by Genevieve Marie

Imhoteps priests were condemned to be mummified alive As for Imhotep he was condemned to endure the Hom Dai. The worst of all ancient curses, one so horrible that it had never before been bestowed.

Locked away with flesh eating scarabs he was to remain sealed inside his sarcophagus, the undead for all eternity The Majai would never allow him to be released for he would arise a walking disease, a plague upon mankind, an unholy flesh eater with the strength of the ages, power over the sands and the glory of invincibility!

Anck Su Namun Cosplay by Nyima-Chan, Nefertiri Cosplay by DosadiVH

your parents wouldnt slip poisonous snakes into your bed while you are sleeping.

What a bright little child. Your mother must be missing you terribly. If you wish to see her again, youd better behave.

And The Book of the Living takes life away.

I am not afraid.

You are learning quickly, Nefertiri. Ill have to watch my back.

Anck-Su-Namun : Nefertiri.

Evelyn : Anck-su-namun.

Anck-Su-Namun : [in Ancient Arabic] Good.

Put your mask on! Lets not scar that pretty face.

~Join us next week for more Cosplay Coverage~

Have a Cosplay question you would like Mayhems Muse to answer? Know a Cosplayer youd like to see featured? Send an email here!

Learn more about Mayhems Muse

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The Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News is seen in 2020. (Jonathon Gruenke)

Virginia health regulators approved Riverside Health Systems plan to build a hospital in Isle of Wight County.

The Newport News-based health care system wants to construct a 50-bed hospital at the intersection of US Route 258 and state highways 32 and 10, about four miles east of Smithfield and a short drive from the southern end of the James River Bridge.

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The hospital would have 34 acute medical-surgical beds, 10 intensive care unit beds and eight obstetrics beds, as well as four operating rooms. It would include an emergency department and also would have a CT scanner and access to MRI scans with a mobile unit.

The authorized capital cost for the project is $100 million and is slated to be completed by September 2025.

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Virginia regulates construction and expansion of hospitals on the theory if there are too many, the increased competition will mean existing facilities will no longer be able to afford to provide care to the indigent or to maintain less profitable services, such as obstetrics and mental-health care.

The Department of Health said it approved the plan because the number of beds in the area did not provide enough access for people in the fast-growing county.

Its decision said while its staff found driving times to the 81 bed Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin and to hospitals to the east in Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth were within the guidelines set by regulations, Riverside argued that the distance-based measure did not accurately reflect real work conditions, including delays at local bridges.

Isle of Wights population, which has grown by more than 50% since 1990, is set to grow another 10% by 2030, and many residents are aging, the department noted.

With consideration of population growth, expanse of geography, singular barriers to road travel presented by watercourses and waterways, the Smithfield project bears clear potential for reasonably and effectively increasing access to general and essential health care services, the department said.

It said the new hospital would improve the delivery of emergency services in the area, and mean better services in several federally designated underserved areas.

The department received nearly 2,100 letters and emails supporting the project, and was supported by another nearby hospital, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Only Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System opposed the proposal, which in 2017 won state approval for an 18-bed surgical hospital in Suffolk that it has not started to build.

The hospital would have about 200 staff. Riverside proposes to finance construction through its own internal resources, and would not incur any expense to finance the project.

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The decision reverses a staff finding last year that the new hospital was not needed.

The decision is a tremendous win for the people of Isle of Wight and Surry Counties, Riverside said. This decision clearly reflects the Western Tidewater regions need for greater, more convenient access to high-quality, affordable medical care. It also is consistent with the overwhelming support among local residents, first responders and community leaders for this vital facility.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

The hospital will have a major impact on Isle of Wight, assistant county administrator Donald Robertson said.

It will cut the time needed to get accident victims, heart attack patients and others with urgent medical needs to an emergency room.

Were ecstatic ... reducing response time will mean better outcomes, he said.

The new hospital will also give a big boost the the economy, he said.

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This is a huge announcement, he said. Building and staffing the hospital will create hundreds of jobs, while the hospital itself will have spin off effects, as outpatient facilities and other medical offices open nearby and employees move to the community, he said. Shorter trips to the hospital will mean less wear and tear on fire and ambulance vehicles, too.

Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com
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Beloit school board candidates express views before election

jfranz / Clint Wolf/Beloit Daily News Candidates for the School District of Beloit Board of Education shared their views at the Eclipse Center Thursday evening. The forum was sponsored by Rock County First and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

BELOITSafety for students and school staff, raising expectations for academic achievement and ensuring fiscal security were the issues discussed during a forum Thursday for Beloit board of education candidates.

Eight candidates are vying for four seats on the board of education. Candidates include current board members Megan Miller and Gregg Schneider and newcomers JJuan Winfeld, Brian Anderson, Torie Champeny, Kathy Larson, Ryan McKillips and Christine Raleigh.

The school board candidates will be on the April 5 ballot.

Six of the candidates shared their views at the Eclipse Center Thursday. Larson and Winfeld were unable to take part in the forum.

In her opening statement, Champeny said if she is elected she would work to raise the bar for students so they can improve academic achievement. She also stressed the need for school safety and get the classroom chaos under control. She also stressed a need for financial responsibility in the school district.

Miller said she would like to continue the efforts the school board has initiated.

We have grown through the pandemic and still we have made strides, she said.

She said the district leadership has invested heavily in solutions to the districts current problems and she wishes to continue to seek out partnerships in the community to help meet critical goals in the district.

Raleigh said her four goals for the district are student success, district growth, safety in the schools and purposeful finance management.

She said she haw worked with young people in after-school programs and in mentorships and she knows how important it is to support young people.

Schneider said he has 40 years of experience in education, both as a teacher and as an administrator.

He has worked with departments of public instruction in Wisconsin and in North Carolina and he has managed large budgets. He said he knows what it takes to build better schools.

Anderson said he would focus on student achievement, improving student and staff safety and responsible financial management if he were elected to the board.

McKillips said in his profession as an engineer, he is focused on problem solving. He said he would bring a different perspective to the board. He said he wants to explore why families are leaving the district and find solutions so they can come back to the community school district.

Champeny, when asked for two actions she would take to improve student achievement, she said she would ask the superintendent and the board to set measurable goals for tackling student achievement.

She also said she would address classroom behaviors. She said disruptive behaviors in schools are causing families to leave the district.

Schneider said solutions to the districts problems will take time.

We didnt get into this position over night and we wont get out of it over night, he said.

He said the board needs to analyze data, analyze behaviors and that will lead to solutions.

He said the district has initiated new literacy programs in the elementary schools and the students are engaged, which is a hopeful sign of good things to come.

Raleigh said the focus should be on safety in the classrooms, because a safe environment fosters a good learning environment. She also said the district should have high expectations for students.

Anderson said any solution has to start with setting goals. He also said there should be a focus on individual students.

One size fits all doesnt apply, he said.

McKillips said classroom behaviors are disrupting the education process.

Taking the time to coral students back in order is time lost, he said.

He also said the schools should return to the foundations of education with emphasis on reading and on basic math.

Miller said the district has to have a solid framework to build from and the board has started with the creation of a strategic plan. The plan includes a plan for early childhood literacy and a focus on retaining teachers. She said teachers are the key element for a good educational experience for students.

The forum was hosted by Rock County First and the Beloit League of United Latin American Citizens #338 Council.
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detain Bangladeshis for carrying marijuana during a drive against drugs in a park, in Dhaka, Sept. 29, 2018.

Bangladesh will press the U.S. to withdraw sanctions that Washington placed on the Rapid Action Battalion security force over human rights concerns, when the foreign secretary meets with a senior State Department official here on March 20, officials said Thursday.

The upcoming Partnership Dialogue meeting was delayed for two years as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and will be the first in a series of high-level bilateral talks scheduled for the coming weeks in the Bangladeshi and American capitals.

At all the meetings, Bangladesh will emphasize the strengthening of political relations and the lifting of sanctions from RAB, a foreign ministry official said.

Dhaka will make strenuous efforts to get the sanctions on RAB removed as soon as possible the official told BenarNews on the condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

On Dec. 10, Washington imposed financial sanctions on the notorious Bangladeshi security force and six of its current and former officers, saying they were responsible for serious human rights abuses. In addition, Benazir Ahmed, a former director general of the force, was barred from entering the U.S. due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights.

A day after Washington announced the measures, Bangladesh summoned the U.S. ambassador to protest the financial sanctions, saying the superpower was undermining a government agency.

A spokesman for RAB claimed that the force does not violate human rights but protects the rights of people and maintains law and order in the country.

RAB, which comprises members of the police, army, navy, air force, and border guard, is accused of more than 600 enforced disappearances in the past 12 years, a similar number of extrajudicial killings, and use of torture, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

Founded in 2004, the force is tasked with internal security, intelligence gathering related to criminal activities, and government-directed investigations, according to the U.S. Treasury.

The meeting on Sunday will be the first one between officials of the U.S. and Bangladesh since the sanctions were imposed on RAB. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Victoria Nuland, the U.S. under-secretary for political affairs, will lead their respective sides in the dialogue.

Then on April 4, U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen are to hold a bilateral meeting in Washington, followed by bilateral talks there on security two days later, Bangladeshi officials said. Nuland is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday.

Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BenarNews: The issue of sanctions on RAB was discussed at high levels several times immediately after the [sanctions were imposed]

A security dialogue will be held with the U.S. in the first week of next month, [and] the issue will be discussed in that meeting also, he added, referring to the sanctions.

Ehsanul Haque, an analyst, sees the forthcoming U.S.-Bangladesh meeting as a great opportunity for Bangladesh.

This meeting will create a scope to explain that there were some misunderstandings over imposing sanctions on RAB, Haque, chairman of the international relations department at Dhaka University, told BenarNews without elaborating.

Bangladesh should address the sensitive issue through diplomatic efforts.

BenarNews contacted the U.S. State Department for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Rapid Action Battalion personnel stand guard in front of the national mosque in Dhaka, Dec. 4, 2012. [Reuters]

Crossfire

Meanwhile earlier this week, United Nations human rights experts alleged that Bangladeshs government was retaliating against activists and families of missing people who had worked with international bodies to bring enforced disappearances to light.

The experts said that since the U.S. imposed sanctions in December on RAB, which is allegedly involved in such disappearances, the homes of at least 10 relatives of missing individuals had been raided by Bangladeshi authorities.

On Thursday, Human Rights Watch urged the government to respond meaningfully to the U.N.s concerns.

The Bangladesh government is seeking greater influence at the U.N. while simultaneously ignoring the U.N.s inquiries into human rights violations by Bangladesh security forces, Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

Bangladesh authorities are only jeopardizing the countrys standing in U.N. peacekeeping operations by ignoring allegations of abuse and failing to clean up their act.

Bangladesh was the biggest contributor to U.N. peacekeeping operations in 2020, deploying 6,731 uniformed personnel on various missions.

When BenarNews last month asked the Bangladesh government what it was doing to address the U.S. concerns on RAB, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government had not needed to take any extra measures.

We did not get any recommendation on reforming RAB, we just received the names [of people] who are being sanctioned, he told BenarNews on Feb. 24.

But RAB is working under a law which makes them accountable always. Though I have no exact figures, some members of RAB are now in jail for wrongdoings, the minister added.

Last August, while responding to a Human Rights Watch report on enforced disappearances, A.K. Abdul Momen, the countrys top diplomat, said that allegations contained in it were fabricated.

And RAB and government officials have often said that allegations of extrajudicial killings were just that, because when suspects were killed, it was usually in incidents of crossfire or when law enforcement was trying to protect itself.

According to data compiled by human rights organization Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK), the last crossfire incident in Bangladesh by a security force took place on Dec. 10, the very day the U.S. imposed sanctions on RAB. None has occurred since the sanctions were imposed.

By comparison, 51 incidents of crossfire by security forces took place in the rest of 2021, of which 30 were carried out by RAB.
Muslims attend prayers to mark the Eid al-Adha festival at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, July 20, 2021.

Poor communication, such as likening the Muslim call to prayer to the barking of dogs, could complicate the Indonesian religious affairs ministers push for inclusivity and religious moderation.

Since taking office in December 2020, the gaffe-prone minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, 47, has found himself in hot water several times.

Earlier this week, dozens of Muslims from a group called Action to Defend Islam rallied outside National Police headquarters and demanded that he  the minister of religious affairs of all people  be arrested for blasphemy for his baffling choice of words in which he compared the muezzins summons to prayer over loudspeakers to dogs barking.

Indonesia is the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country and, in Islam, canines are considered to be unclean.

I think bad political communication is to blame for the anger of some groups towards Minister Yaqut, said Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst at Al Azhar University Indonesia.

It all began with a circular issued in February by Yakuts ministry that regulated the use of loudspeakers in mosques and prayer rooms to reduce noise.

Responding to criticism about the guideline, Yaqut said last month: If our neighbors have dogs and they all bark at the same time, dont we think its a disturbance? Therefore, we have to regulate all noises so they dont become a nuisance.

The unflattering comparison angered many Muslims here, so much so that a former minister filed a police complaint against Yaqut, accusing him of blasphemy. But police did not pursue the case.

Yaquts office has rejected accusations that he was comparing the call to prayer to barking dogs.

The minister was providing an example  an example about the importance of regulating noise, said the spokesman for the ministry, Thobib Al Asyhar, in a statement last month.

Muslims who live as a minority group in places where many people keep dogs will definitely be disturbed if their neighbors are intolerant, he explained.

When President Joko Jokowi Widodo named Yaqut as religious affairs minister, proponents of religious freedom in this multi-faith archipelago nation welcomed his appointment. Yaqut is the former chairman of the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, the countrys largest Islamic organization.

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Indonesias minister of religious affairs. [Photo courtesy Ministry of Religious Affairs]

Needs to deliver his message properly

In an interview with BenarNews last year, Yaqut had said that the government was committed to promoting religious freedom in Indonesia, where attacks on religious minorities have occurred and the places of worship have been forcibly closed.

Differences among groups, including in matters of religion, must be resolved through dialogue without resorting to unlawful acts, he had said in an interview.

My position is firm that differences in beliefs should not be the reason for the majority to persecute other groups and take the law into their own hands. This is the stance that the government is taking.

Soon after being sworn in, Yaqut pledged to stamp out intolerance and promote religious moderation in the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, where Islamic conservatism has been on the rise.

But that seems easier said than done, with his policies facing pushbacks from conservative Muslims.

His no-holds-barred communication approach, not choosing his words carefully, is causing misunderstandings, said Adi Prayitno, a political observer at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta.

His inclusive views are commendable, but he needs to deliver his message properly, he said.

For instance, Yaqut drew the ire of many Muslims last year after he said that the Religious Affairs Ministry was the nations gift for Nahdlatul Ulama, of which he and his family are among the elite.

He later clarified that his off-the-cuff remarks were intended to motivate NU members.

More recently, Yaquts ministry came under fire for introducing a new halal logo that many Indonesians say is hard to understand. The logo is supposed to be a sign that that anything it is stamped is permissible for consumption under Islam.

The new logo is a departure from the previous one that shows the green halal word in Arabic on a white background, like those found in most countries.

Instead, it takes the form of a figure found in the Javanese shadow puppet theater known as gunungan, with the word halal written in stylized calligraphy in purple.

Critics said the logo is Java-centric. Social media users responded to its release by making halal logos with the symbols of their regions traditional icons.

[The] halal logo isnt just for us Muslims in Indonesia but its for all Muslims that come to Indo[nesia], said one person on Twitter.

It should be easy for them to notice what is Halal for them.
Indonesian protesters present a no war message using Ukraine (left) and Russian flags in front of the Russian embassy in Jakarta, March 4, 2022.

While some in Indonesia have condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, many are voicing support for Moscow on social media, a phenomenon that one observer says is rooted in anti-Western sentiment and a love of strong figures.

Many in Muslim-majority Indonesia harbor a resentment over Western silence on the suffering of Palestinians and the close relationship between the United States and Israel, said Radityo Dharmaputra, a lecturer in Eastern European studies at Airlangga University in Surabaya.

Because people are anti-West and anti-American, they think they must support Russia, he said. Our society favors strong figures.

Some Indonesians see Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strong man who is challenging the West, much like Sukarno, Indonesias founding president, did in the 1950s and 60s, according to Radityo.

Twitter threads in the Indonesian language justifying Russias invasion of Ukraine have been popular. Pro-Russian talking points trending on Twitter include Ukraine as a vassal state of the United States and Russia acting in the interest of its security.

Meanwhile, a message that went viral on WhatsApp likened the Russia-Ukraine conflict to a dispute between a divorced couple. It depicted Ukraine as a wealthy ex-wife with custody of the kids who hangs out with criminals and gangsters.

Before the war, Indonesians did not pay much attention to Russia-Ukraine tensions, and were more concerned about rising food prices, said Dudy Rudianto, the founder of Evello, a social media monitoring and analysis agency.

But interest in Indonesia has soared since the invasion began on Feb. 24. Nearly 100,000 news articles have been shared on social media, and videos showing Russian air strikes and bombardments have drawn more than 550 million views on YouTube and 72 million views on Instagram, Dudy said.

Especially on Twitter, 22,000 accounts were involved in conversations [about the war], even bigger than those about the 2024 general elections, he told BenarNews.

The buzz is not unanimously pro-Russia. The Indonesian kopiganja Twitter account challenged Russias actions in Ukraine, posting: Its not @NATO that is a threat to Russias national security. Its Russias national insecurity that is a threat to Russia.

Ukrainian emergency employees and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, March 9, 2022. The woman and her unborn baby did not survive. [AP]

Diplomatic efforts

Russian and Ukrainian diplomats, in the meantime, have been wooing support from Indonesian Muslims.

Vasyl Hamianin, the Ukrainian ambassador to Indonesia, visited the headquarters of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)  Indonesias largest mass-Muslim organization  and met its chairman, Yahya Cholil Staquf, on March 7.

I really hope that NU, Yahya and all Indonesian Muslims can speak up, send prayers and help end this war to reduce the suffering of the Ukrainian people, including about 2 million Muslims in Ukraine, Hamianin told reporters after the meeting.

A day later, Russian Ambassador Lyudmila Vorobieva made her own visit. Her country is home to a large Muslim population, she pointed out.

We are very grateful to the leadership of NU for expressing their willingness to contribute to solving the situation and listening to the views of the Russian Federation, she told reporters.

Yahya called on both sides to resolve the conflict through dialogue.

Whatever the problem, no matter how complex it is, as human beings with reason we can definitely talk to each other to find a way out, he said.

Meanwhile, Teuku Rezasyah, a foreign policy analyst at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, said the ambassadorial visits were a testament to NUs influence.

Their hope is that NU, being an organization with the largest following, can influence the Indonesian government  because Indonesian policies are heavily influenced by domestic forces, he said.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo is seen on a screen delivering his speech during the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center, Feb. 17, 2022. [Reuters]

Despite pro-Russian views circulating among Indonesians on social media, the countrys government voted for a U.N. resolution that condemned Moscows military strike on Ukraine. But, at the same time, Jakarta has not directly criticized Russia or used the word invasion.

After the invasion, President Joko Jokowi Widodo posted on Twitter  without referring to Russia or Ukraine: Stop the war. War brings misery to mankind and puts the whole world at risk.

Ukraine, for its part, last week urged Indonesia to include discussions on the invasion during the G20 summit in Bali in October. But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Jakarta to stick to the established agenda instead.

China supports Indonesia, the rotating president of G20, in promoting cooperation across the board in accordance with the established agenda under the theme of Recover Together, Recover Stronger, Lijian said at a press conference in Beijing on March 15.

Teuku Faizasyah, spokesman for Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Chinas statement meant that Beijing supports Indonesias stance that the G20 forum should focus on global economic issues.

The G20 was formed as a premier forum for economic issues, he told BenarNews.

A Chinese statement said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi spoke on the phone with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on March 14.

During the talks, Retno called for an early end to the Russian war in Ukraine and respect for other countries sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.

Meanwhile, in a phone conversation on March 16, Jokowi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that all parties should stay committed to promoting talks for peace, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Williamsburg earned a big shoutout in the The Souths Best 2022 edition of Southern Living, coming in at No. 2 in the magazines ranking of the Best Small Towns in the South.

In a list that also included destinations like top-ranked Beaufort, South Carolina, and Fairhope, Alabama, Williamsburgs modern excitements were noted alongside the ever-present historical attractions.

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Its a bustling community with a big roster of things to do and places to explore, the magazine described in its blurb, mentioning The Cheese Shop on Duke on Gloucester Street as well as destinations in Merchants Square and assorted beer locales.

The list was compiled based on votes by readers of Southern Living, which also named Pierces Pitt Bar-B-Que as the best barbecue in Virginia.

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Visit Williamsburg CEO Victoria Cimino was selected as one of the top 25 extraordinary minds in her field by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. Courtesy of Visit Williamsburg (HANDOUT)

Williamsburg garnered even more positive press recently with Visit Williamsburg CEO Victoria Cimino earning recognition as one of the best of the best in hospitality, travel and tourism industries.

Cimino was selected as one of the top 25 extraordinary minds in her field by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. The 2021 top 25 recipients were judged by a panel of senior industry executives based on creativity and innovation, cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns, triumph in challenging situations, and/or sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.

Im grateful and flattered to be acknowledged alongside this impressive group of individuals, Cimino said in a release. This honor is especially meaningful, not only to me, but to the entire Visit Williamsburg team, who every day make it their mission to execute forward-thinking hospitality marketing initiatives that boldly showcase Williamsburgs unique offerings.

With their successful Life. At Your Pace. campaign, Visit Williamsburg  the official destination marketing organization for the greater Williamsburg area  helped spearhead efforts that saw Williamsburg hotels bounce back to nearly where they were before the start of the pandemic.

Sian Wilkerson, sian.wilkerson@pilotonline.com, 757-342-6616
Australian ship HMAS Toowoomba and Royal Malaysian Navy ship KD Lekir (26) participate in the Bersama Shield 2018 exercise, May 12, 2018.

Malaysia will host armed forces from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom in the annual Bersama Shield 2022 training exercise beginning Saturday and running through April 1, the Malaysian Joint Forces said in a statement.

The exercise, referred to as BS22, is conducted within the framework of the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA)  a series of bilateral and multilateral defense agreements established in 1971. Bersama means together in Malay.

The exercise will involve sea and air drills, mostly in international waters but also in part of Malaysias exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, the statement said without elaborating.

A Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia notice has warned about the closure of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore flight information regions during periods of intense aerial activity between March 24 and 31.

The drills have been organized annually since 2004.

Parts of last years edition  called Bersama Gold 2021 to mark 50th anniversary of the FPDA  were held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Live action included anti-air and anti-submarine drills, gunnery firings and maneuvering drills. A total of 2,600 personnel, 10 ships, one submarine, six maritime helicopters, three maritime patrol aircraft, 25 fighter aircraft, two support aircraft and one command and control aircraft took part.

The FPDA is the oldest defense arrangement in the region and includes counter-piracy operations as well as disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
A motorcyclist passes through the arch marking the city limits of Marawi in the southern Philippines, May 21, 2021.

Militant groups could exploit frustration over the Philippine governments delays in fulfilling economic promises to former Muslim rebels in an autonomous southern region by rekindling their recruitment efforts, a conflict monitoring group said in a report published Friday (Manila time).

A peace pact between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government has led to some gains for the war-torn Bangsamoro region, but militant groups are still operating on the fringes, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group said in its 43-page report.

Despite the interim governments policies to contain violence, sporadic clashes with insurgents continue in various provinces, ICG said.

Delays in delivering the promised peace dividends will not automatically replenish the militants ranks, but they do raise the risk of renewed recruitment, warned the report titled Addressing Islamist Militancy in the Southern Philippines.

In 2014, the MILF ended its 44-year separatist insurgency and signed a peace pact, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, with the government in the majority Catholic Philippines.

Under the deal, the MILF ceased to be a rebel force in exchange for an expanded autonomous region to be governed by its leaders who committed to turn in their weapons. In February 2019, these former guerrillas, led by Murad Ebrahim (also known as Ahod Balawag Ebrahim), formally assumed leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Ebrahim was supposed to give up leadership of the transitional government this year, but President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law postponing the polls to select new leaders to 2025 after Ebrahim said that the coronavirus pandemic had slowed the implementation of economic reforms.

According to ICG, Ebrahims government should now step up socio-economic assistance to hard-hit areas, work with local authorities to reintegrate former militants and devote more energy to resolving the local conflicts militants often exploit.

For its part, Manila should fast-track rehabilitation of Marawi, the city ravaged by battles with insurgents in 2017, it said.

Muslim women walk in a street in Marawi, southern Philippines, May 21, 2021. [Jeoffrey Maitem/BenarNews]

A large part of Marawi, a city which lies within the BARMM, remains tattered after intense ground fighting between government forces and Islamic State-linked militants, combined with large-scale aerial bombardment by the Philippine military from May to October in 2017. As many as 1,200 IS fighters, troops and civilians were killed during the five-month siege by the militants.

Many Marawi residents have been unable to return to their destroyed homes because clearing operations to remove unexploded ordnance are still ongoing.

While the government and the military have so far managed to prevent any new outbreaks, ICG said militants could be waiting in the wings to sabotage peace.

At least for now, it appears the allure of insurgency for the Bangsamoros people is fading. But the fact there is no second Marawi siege in the making is not a success in itself; militants do not need to be IS-inspired to continue fighting the Philippine state, the ICG said, noting that local grievances contribute more to the resilience of militant groups than ideology.

It emphasized that in the past, militant groups were able to tap into the frustrations of young, angry Muslims and could do so again should Ebrahims group fail to deliver on its promises.

As elsewhere, the best strategy remains to tackle underlying local causes while diversifying the current set of security operations to include better policing and intelligence gathering in order to disrupt militant networks. Absent these steps, the specter of militancy will continue to haunt the Bangsamoro, the report said.

While the Bangsamoro government is on the frontlines of tackling militancy in the region, the national government and the military have been crucial in delivering support. The report noted that sustained military operations in the past two years led to the deaths of many fighters, even as Manila also worked with local authorities to urge militants to drop their weapons or face military assault.

As a result, hundreds of militants have laid down their weapons, the report said.

Persistent threat

Rommel Banlaoi, a counter-terrorism analyst at the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said a persistent terrorist threat in Mindanao remains.

Terrorism in the Philippines is not disappearing. It is not disappearing because we have to understand terrorism in the Philippines in the context of our domestic security threats, he told BenarNews.

He noted that the Philippines has been experiencing prolonged internal armed conflicts with Muslim militant groups linked to the Islamic State in the south, as well as the communist New Peoples Army, along with insurgents elsewhere.

These groups include the Abu Sayyaf and its many cells linked to the IS and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)  a splinter organization of the MILF, experts have said.

The Abu Sayyaf, or Bearers of the Sword, a militant group based in the southern Philippines, is blamed for the countrys worst terrorist attacks, including bombings of military camps. Founded by an Afghan-trained militant in the 1990s, the group later branched out to raising funds through kidnapping when its leader was killed.

The BIFF members are ex-MILF guerrillas who are fighting in central Mindanao. They have pledged allegiance to IS, but did not join in the siege of Marawi.
President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during the inauguration of the Tacloban City Bypass Road at the provincial capital of Leyte, central Philippines, March 17, 2022.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin is my personal friend but the Philippines will stay neutral and not deploy troops to assist Washington if the U.S. intervenes military in the Ukraine conflict, President Rodrigo Duterte said, according to a transcript released Friday.

Duterte made the comments in a speech during a visit to Leyte province in the central Philippines a day earlier, and a week after the Filipino envoy to the United States said Manila would allow American forces to use Philippine bases if the war in Ukraine spread to Asia.

I am pained by whats happening. Putin is a friend. Hes my personal friend, Duterte said speaking about Russias onslaught on the smaller former Soviet Socialist republic next-door.

Duterte reiterated that his country must also remain neutral in the conflict raging in Europe.

We have to end this stupid war. Other countries  theres violence in Europe, and Russia has wreaked havoc there. So we better  we better maintain our neutrality. Lets avoid meddling in it so that we wont get involved, the 76-year-old Filipino leader said in a speech delivered in Visayan, according to the transcript released by the presidential office.

Washington and Manila, however, are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty, a bilateral military pact signed in 1951 that calls on both nations to support each other in times of war or aggression.

I wont commit. If the Americans engage in a war and theyre here, why will I send my soldiers? Its not our battle to fight, said Duterte, who will be leaving office after general elections in May.

If the violence spills over and the war somehow gets here, that will be very difficult. (But) I wont, I really wont. For as long as Im President, I wont send a single soldier of mine to go to war, he added.

Duterte also said that he planned to skip a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington that had been scheduled for March 28.

Cambodia, this years ASEAN chair, however announced on May 9 that the summit was being postponed indefinitely because some Southeast Asian leaders could not join the meeting as scheduled. In Washington on Thursday, a White House official said it was discussing new dates for the meeting with ASEAN, according to a report by Reuters.

Activists protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a march along Recto Avenue in Manila to mark International Womens Day, March 8, 2022. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews]

Dutertes remarks about Ukraine contrasted starkly with a statement made on March 10 by Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador in Washington, who indicated then that Manila would honor the Mutual Defense Treaty.

During an online forum, Romualdez told reporters that Duterte had told him that  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.

He offered that the Philippines will be ready to open its doors, especially to our ally the U.S. in using our facilities, any facilities they may need, Romualdez said, speaking from Washington.

Romualdez said that Duterte had also indicated his approval to open former military bases in Subic Bay and what is now the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in the case of emergency situation.

Im pretty sure that the president meant this to be in an emergency situation where  lets pray it does not happen  but, if it spreads out in the Asian region for some reason or another, the president obviously sees that need for us to make a choice, Romualdez said.

Since Duterte took office in June 2016, he has tried to establish closer ties with China and Russia, big powers that are both rivals of the United States. However, Washington has since continued its military and financial aid to the Philippines.

Although he expressed admiration for his Russian counterpart, Duterte said that unlike Putin, he did not kill innocent civilians.

Putin even killed civilians there. Me, who did I kill? I killed criminals. Why did I kill them? Because of drugs. Son of a bitch, they will destroy my country, said Duterte, referring to his administrations bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

Russia started its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, drawing international condemnations and strict economic sanctions, led by the U.S., in a bid to stop Putins punishing military offensive.

On Mar. 2, the Philippines joined 140 other United Nations member-states to vote in favor of a General Assembly resolution that condemned Russias military strike on Ukraine.

Romualdez, the Filipino envoy, had also said that while Duterte values the friendship he made with President Putin and President Xi [Jinping of China], he knows that this thing happening right now in Ukraine is something that should not have happened because it was unprovoked.
New Delhi: Vivek Agnihotri, the director of 'The Kashmir Files', a film based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley due to terrorism, has been given 'Y' category security by the CRPF wherever he travels across India, official sources said.

Seven to eight commandos of the CRPF will guard Agnihotri round the clock under the 'Y' category security.

The decision to provide the 'Y' category security to Agnihotri by CRPF across India has been taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the sources said.

The third-highest category of security in the country has been given to Agnihotri because of the filmmaker's increased threat perception after the release of the 'The Kashmir Files' movie.
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We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
News Details

Radar based sleep monitoring for home sense sub-millimeter movements

Date: 18-03-22

Infineon and Sleepiz working together in offering solution to measure vital signs such as heartbeat and breathing rate while person is sleeping. This sleep monitoring solution does not use any physical device to touch the monitoring person. The easy-to-use sleep monitoring at home can be integrated into any connected smart home device ranging from smart speakers to bed lamps. The solution combines Infineon XENSIV 60 GHz radar technology and Sleepiz-proven algorithms.

Infineons XENSIV radar sensors offer a great opportunity for healthcare applications as they allow to accurately measure vital signs such as heartbeat and breathing rate without touching the body or intruding on privacy, said Philipp von Schierstaedt, Senior Vice President and General Manager Radio Frequency & Sensors at Infineon. Together with Sleepiz, Infineon has developed an innovative sleep monitoring solution to be integrated into smart home and healthcare devices that is exceptionally precise. We are keen to help improve the sleep and life quality of people.

With Infineons decades of radar experience and our expertise in analyzing respiratory and sleep-related diseases and disorders, we make sleep monitoring easy-to-use while delivering accurate data. Together, we bring sleep lab technology to consumers, allowing them to observe their sleep and health in the comfort of their own homes, added Dr. Soumya Sunder Dash, CEO and Co-founder of Sleepiz. Jointly, we open a new market of high-precision sleep monitoring solutions at home and our software helps to make medical-grade insights accessible to everyone.

The solution uses sensitive detectors to sense sub-millimeter movements of the person closest to the device through various materials, such as blankets. Data is analysed with the help of machine learning (ML) algorithms from Sleepiz and stored anonymously in a cloud for the user to access.

Sleepiz has conducted many clinical studies with leading clinics, like Charite Berlin and Ruhrlandklink Essen and other sleep researchers, proving the accuracy of their algorithms. As a medical device manufacturer Sleepiz is already selling medical sleep monitoring devices with Infineons radar technology to doctors in Switzerland and Germany today. Now the two companies would like to jointly revolutionize the consumer market and integrate their solution into smart speakers and other smart home devices.
Shakespeare & Company will mark the reopening of the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre on May 6, following a two-year, pandemic-related closure. "The Approach," a contemporary play by Mark O'Rowe, May 6 - 29, in the Bernstein Theatre, officially begins the company's 45th season which runs through Oct. 30.
Edith Wharton-Straw Dog Writers Guild Writers-in-Residence, left to right, Liana Mack, Yasmine Ameli and Ella Jacobson view a book from Wharton's private library by Nynke Dorhout, the Mount's librarian.
The Kemble Inn

Historic Lenox inn was just bought for $3.1 million. Why will it go back on the market this summer?
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
A new survey documents the extent of the problems, yet help may be on the way.
After serving for three terms on the Williamstown Select Board, Jane Patton has decided shed like to serve one more term to help complete a few more chores, like stabilizing the functioning of town government by getting the new town manager and a permanent police chief on board, among other things.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts senior Paula Kingsbury-Evans is challenging state Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, to represent northern Berkshire County on Beacon Hill. Kingsbury-Evans plans to spend the next few months engaging with community members as she ramps up her campaign.
Reporter

Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S.
Yang Jiechi, left, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets March 14 with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Rome, Italy.
South Africa: UN Security Council must be overhauled, says President Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the United Nations Security Council to be overhauled and for its composition to be representative of the global landscape.

The President said this when he responded to oral questions before the National Assembly, in Cape Town, on Thursday.

He said the fact that Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, does not have a significant voice in the UN Security Council is something of great concern to the citizens of the continent.

There is a tendency for the most powerful countries to use their positions as permanent UN Security Council members to serve their national interests, rather than the interests of global peace and stability.



The Security Council needs to be overhauled so that there is equitable representation and a more inclusive mechanism for resolving international disputes.

The President said the conflict in Ukraine shows a need for a multilateral approach when nations of the world deal with issues of peace and security.



It also demonstrates the weaknesses in the structure, practices and architecture of the United Nations.



The composition of the UN Security Council, in particular, does not reflect the realities of the prevailing global landscape.



We should also work to revitalise the Non-Aligned Movement, to ensure that those countries that are not part of the hegemonic contests between the big powers can work together to build peace across the globe, he said.



The President called for the de-escalation, dialogue and a return to diplomacy with regards to the conflict in Ukraine.



Additionally, the Secretary-General has called for an immediate ceasefire, respect for the UN Charter and international law and adherence to existing peace mechanisms, including the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, as part of multilateral efforts to end the violence.

South Africa stands ready to support genuine multilateral efforts to end the conflict and achieve a lasting peace in the region.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China outlines major tasks on urbanization, urban-rural development

Xinhua) 08:46, March 18, 2022

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a relocation site for poverty alleviation in Xingye County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner has unveiled major tasks in promoting new urbanization and integrated urban-rural development in 2022, vowing to deepen reform of the household registration system and help migrant workers better integrate into cities.

In deepening reform of the household registration system, cities with a permanent resident population under 3 million should remove all limits on household registration, according to the plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The renovation of old urban communities will be accelerated, as the country aims to improve the basic living conditions of 8.4 million households in 2022, according to the plan.

The supply of government-subsidized housing will be increased, with a focus on addressing the concerns of new arrivals and young people in big cities, the plan says.

China's urbanization rate of permanent residence hit 64.72 percent in 2021, said the NDRC. The country aims to raise its urbanization rate to 65 percent during the 2021-2025 period, according to the 14th Five-Year Plan.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Elk Grove, CA (95624)

Today

A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
In the past few months, several U.S. states have passed laws limiting abortions, demonstrations, books, ballot access, transgender rights, solar installations, environmental restrictions, vaccine mandates and the teaching of history.

Welcome to Vladimir Putins America.

Im not saying the U.S is about to invade Ukraine, or anywhere, though some of the folks pushing these laws might be pleased if we did. No, Im referring to similarities between Putins invasion of Ukraine and Americas so-called culture wars. Theyre all based, at least partly, on a fear that dark, libertine forces are undermining the nations moral fiber.

In Russia, the targets are western values  you know, democracy, consumerism, secularism, gay and womens rights, free speech. Putin says theyre irrelevant to Russians, who have their own, uniquely Russian soul  the depths and yearnings of which Westerners cannot begin to fathom. That notion, fed by 19th-century writers like Nikolai Gogol, Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, is still popular among conservative Russian thinkers.

The countrys culture ministry in January published a list of characteristically Russian traditional values that must be defended from foreign assault. These include dignity, family, patriotism, mutual support, historical memory, service to the Fatherland, and prioritizing the spiritual over the material.

Westerners would probably endorse most of those. Putin, however, has warned that a decadent U.S. and its European lackeys are encircling Russia to weaken its moral underpinnings and impose a less spiritual, more materialistic way of thinking. Also, that Ukraine, having fallen under Americas spell, is becoming insufficiently Russian and dangerously Western.

This line of thinking has a religious angle. Putin has become a highly visible champion of the conservative, robustly bigoted Russian Orthodox Church in its doctrinal wars with other Eastern branches of Christianity, especially Ukraines. Hes a big supporter of the Russian Churchs campaign against gays, feminists and whats left of free thought in Russia. A mosaic with his visage decorates the wall of a new cathedral near Moscow.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Putin is popular among some Evangelical Christians and political conservatives in the U.S. They, too, want to revive the values of a hallowed national past, when men were men, gender and racial boundaries were clear, white folks didnt have to feel guilty. But, mostly, these champions of traditional tropes want to run the country, their way.

Its obvious that Putin is invading Ukraine for political reasons  namely, to restore the old Russian empire and show the West whos boss in Eastern Europe. All that religious and cultural stuff is mostly for domestic consumption. Besides, hes quite the libertine himself, with lots of mansions and mistresses.

We had a president like that. He courted the religious vote strenuously, with more success than his questionable personal and business life would have predicted. He and Putin were pals, though never seen at church together.

Theres a long tradition of statesmen wrapping themselves in the flag and bathing in holy water. Caesars aspired to be Roman gods, European kings cultivated popes, Frances Protestant Henry IV ended a 16th-century religious war by converting to Catholicism. (Paris is worth a Mass, he explained.) Even Hitler signed a politic 1933 concordat with the Vatican protecting the rights of the Catholic Church in Germany.

There are, of course, a few differences between Russian reactionaries and their U.S. counterparts. American conservatives, humbled by their countrys recent crusade against terrorism, are no longer big fans of foreign military adventures. Russian revanchists, mindful that their former empire includes non-Russian ethnic states, dont focus much on race or immigration. But, both sides see themselves as bulwarks against evil forces out to trash their countrys presumed values.

The lesson here is that 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.

And pursuing them doesnt make the alleged threat go away. Modern politicians have discovered what my former Time Magazine colleague Michael Grunwald, now at Politico, calls the perpetual culture war. That struggle persists even though the threat in question keeps changing  from, for instance, critical race theory to mask mandates to pro-transgender teachers. The point is to keep people constantly mad about something, anything. When theyre angry, you can get them to do what you want.

So, when some leader tells you we must act swiftly and forcefully to protect our values, be sure to ask which values and against whom. Oh, and hang on to your wallet.
Our Opinion: During Sunshine Week and beyond, reflect the disinfecting light of transparency
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Springfield, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's virtual remarks to Congress on Wednesday "strengthened our resolve to further isolate and weaken [Russian President Vladimir] Putin."
Franklin High School graduate Monique Sypkens has her first starring role in the Lifetime movie, "Sins in the Suburbs," which premieres on March 19.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable..

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Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable.
PULLMAN - Former Secretary of Defense and retired U.S. Marine Corps fourstar Gen. James Mattis will be at the Washington State University Pullman campus later this month speaking as part of the Foley Institute distinguished lecture series.

The event will be held Thursday, March 24 inside the Bryan Hall Auditorium, with the focus of the event being Democracy at home and abroad. The event, which will also be broadcast via the Foley Institutes Youtube channel, will kick off at 4:00 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

Director of the Foley Institute Cornell Clayton says that Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine is likely to be a central topic of discussion.

Well likely be talking a lot about Ukraine, NATO and its role going forward, China and the situation with Taiwan, as well as the continuing controversies in the Middle East such as what is happening in Afghanistan and nuclear arms agreement with Iran, Clayton said. Aside from these international issues, I am sure there will be some discussion about the Jan. 6 insurrection and challenges to democracy at home. There will also be time for questions from the audience.

Clayton said the Foley Institute began working to get Mattis to the Pullman campus two years ago, but plans were shelved due to the pandemic. Mattis appearance will be only the second inperson event for the institute since the pandemic began, and the first featuring a distinguished lecturer from outside of the university.
The mental well-being questionnaire was implemented by Ageing Research Institute for Society and Education (ARISE) at NTU

Following a successful pilot, a free health monitoring initiative led by graduate students from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has been expanded to the residents of Bukit Gombak, in partnership with South West Community Development Council (CDC).

The Community Telehealth Service (CTS) now aims to provide free health screening to 2,000 people, doubling its target from the pilot in January 2021, which took place in Punggol.

The second phase of CTS also includes monitoring for mental well-being, which has been a recent area of concern. A new study by the Institute of Mental Health pointed to a likely increase in mental health issues in Singapore amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AI eye health screening system is provided by Singapore start-up EyRIS with camera support provided by Mandarin Opto-Medic Co. Called EyRIS SELENA+, it uses an automated camera to take several images of a persons eye and its artificial intelligence-powered system then processes the retinal images to examine for three types of eye disease - diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma suspect, and age-related macular degeneration.

The mental well-being questionnaire was implemented with the expertise of researchers from the Ageing Research Institute for Society and Education (ARISE) at NTU, a pan-university institute focused on ageing-related research, programmes, and activities to address the demands of an ageing population. The questionnaire is based on the World Health Organisations Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), which has been shown to be effective in screening for depression. NTU faculty advised on the implementation of the questionnaire and trained volunteers on how to best conduct it.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged South African consumers and businesses to actively choose to 'buy local' to accelerate the country's economic revival and stimulate job creation.

Source: Getty

Transformative power of localisation

Flying the SA flag at home and abroad

Creating a supportive environment

By buying local we are supporting livelihoods, small business development and job creation. We are supporting investment and research in new technology and in innovation. As long as we are producing quality, locally made goods, we should also be buying them, he said during a pre-recorded address presented at Proudly SAs Buy Local Summit and Expo this week.Proudly SA is a government initiative that seeks to influence local procurement in the public and private sectors, to increase local production and to influence consumers to buy into local goods and services in order to stimulate job creation.As the governments official localisation campaign, Proudly SA annually hosts the Buy Local Summit, its flagship event, to amplify this mandate.The 'buy local' message is more important than ever before, Ramaphosa said, as the economic damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has placed greater demands on the South African economy to provide employment. At the same time, the health crisis exposed the fragility of global supply chains and revealed great capacity in SA for innovation and adaptation in manufacturing.In the space of just two years, through collaboration and out of necessity, we managed to build local production capability in ventilators, hand sanitisers, medical-grade face masks and gloves, as well as vaccines, therapeutic drugs and anaesthetics.In addition to catering to local needs, South African manufacturers of these goods were also able to meet demands of other African countries to which weve started exporting.The president said that local production is important because it encourages national pride in the goods, services and products made on home soil. He added, It supports the growth of small businesses and the expansion of local firms. It creates employment and sustains livelihoods. Local production supports our manufacturing sector. It enables us to build much-needed infrastructure and improve our services.Ramaphosa highlighted that a growing local market enables producers to expand and to start exploring export opportunities in other markets.Highlighting local success stories, he said, We manufacture many of the vehicles that are exported to the rest of the world. The BMW X3, just like the Ford Ranger and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, is manufactured and assembled here in South Africa. The employment value chain in this sector is enormous - from the factory to dealerships, components and spare-parts manufacturing, after-sales service, mechanics and sales personnel.Touching on the output of the countrys creative industries, Ramaphosa said that South Africans are setting trends in music, literature, art and fashion, both locally and beyond our borders.Day by day our artists are gaining new audiences around the world. We see, for example, the runaway success of amapiano, and how it is part of the music scene in many parts of the world. More and more locally produced films are being seen on screens across the globe and on the world's largest streaming platforms, he said.Ramaphosa noted that it's not enough to encourage people to buy local, but that the government, public sector and private sector need to work together to create an environment that supports local companies.That's why we've partnered with stakeholders in various industries to develop sector plans that have already increased investment in production in several industries. To create an environment more conducive to local production, we are reducing red tape and removing the barriers to entry for emerging companies, the president said.We all need to make a contribution to this effort - from government to state-owned enterprises to businesses, producers and consumers, because we all benefit from this effort, Ramaphosa added.
Business Insider Africa has launched its inaugural Business Insider Africa Awards which aim to recognise influential business leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact in sub-Saharan Africa.



Marketing Professional of the Year

Fintech Leader of the Year

Internet Entrepreneur of the Year

Young CEO of the Year

Social Entrepreneur of the Year

Business Influencer of the Year

Female Leader of the Year

Investor of the Year

Creative Leader of the Year

Serial Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrepreneurship Lifetime Achievement Award



The awards will kick off with a nomination process - handled byjury panel from diverse backgrounds across sub-Saharan Africa - whose talents and contributions to the continent and environment are instrumental to building a community of African leaders.The nominees - many of whom are trailblazing entrepreneurs - will then be announced to the general public to kickstart the voting phase, which starts on Monday, 21 March at 10am (WAT) and ends on Sunday, 3 April at 11.59pm (WAT).The influential business leaders and entrepreneurs who emerge with the highest votes in each category will be crowned winners at the virtual award ceremony on 12 April, which will bring together the most talented and inspirational entrepreneurs from SSA on the same stage for the first time.TheAwards is the first initiative launched by the publication and the awards focus on recognising extraordinary individuals across 11 business categories that cover Sub Saharan Africas market landscape.
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Since October 2021, there have been 14 separate reports of failures or faults connected to an important piece of equipment at Brandon Municipal Airport.

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Since October 2021, there have been 14 separate reports of failures or faults connected to an important piece of equipment at Brandon Municipal Airport.

Whenever there is an incident or accident related to air travel in Canada, it gets reported to Transport Canada and then reported through the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System.

These reports are then posted on Transport Canadas website for members of the public to search through.

They reveal that once in October 2021, twice in November 2021, twice in December 2021, three times in January 2022, five times in February 2022 and so far once in March 2022, there were incidents involving the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport in Brandon.

When the ILS first went active at Brandon Municipal Airport in 2011, it was considered a major step toward attracting one of Canadas airlines to bring services to the city.

What the devices do is provide approaching aircraft with guidance on how to safely land at their destination, especially during inclement weather.

Though the device has been failing or displaying faults regularly, airport manager Greg Brown told the Sun this week that it hasnt been a major problem for the facility and also said that the device has been a pain dating back to 2020.

For commercial flights landing at Brandon, Brown said there are other tools like GPS-guided approaches that can assist.

"All planes that use instrument flight rules rather than visual flight rules, theyre obligated to have alternate airports to land at," Brown said. "GPS approaches are not recognized under instrument flight rules as an alternate landing. For Brandon to be an alternate airport to Winnipeg  lets say Winnipeg is closed and air traffic is landing in Brandon  that requires this technology."

From June 2020 through the summer of 2021, no planes could use the ILS at all. Being placed along the road to the airport from Highway 10, the ILS took on water, and repairs were dependent on parts that arrived slowly due to COVID-19 supply-chain issues.

The problems that the system has been experiencing since October, Brown said, are largely due to the extreme weather and heavy precipitation the area has been experiencing this winter.

The snow and cold can cause the device to malfunction. Sometimes it can be brought back online with a reset, but other times the airport has to call out its technician from the Southport area near Portage la Prairie to make repairs.

However, the weather and the snow on the ground limit how much of the system can be accessed. While the airport has managed to keep the system going, full servicing is being planned post-melt to get the ILS back in tip-top shape.

Unlike most airports, where Nav Canada is in charge of taking care of ILS, Brandons airport owns its system and is therefore in charge of upkeep. Brown said only two of five airports in Manitoba have ILS not owned by Nav Canada.

Keeping the device working is important because its not only a safety device but a bit of a draw as well.

One of the reasons that military flights sometimes land at Brandon Municipal Airport is to train pilots on how to use ILS, according to Brown.

Brandon Flight Centre CEO Dave Creighton told the Sun this week that while the ILS problems havent really affected their operations, it sometimes affects instructors ability to teach students how to use the system. Thankfully, the centre operates a flight simulator that can provide those lessons as well.

When flights sometime detour to Brandon because of bad weather, the ILS helps them land safely.

"Earlier this winter, we had a [Boeing] 737 going to Churchill that couldnt land at Churchill and they diverted to Brandon," Brown said. "They landed here for a couple of hours while the weather cleared and then they took their route back to Churchill."

Asked if the ILS problems had impacted their operations in Brandon, a spokesperson for STARS air ambulance said there hadnt been any issues.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Manitobas Independent Investigation Unit continues to have a clarity problem in how it holds police officers to account for their behaviour.

Manitobas Independent Investigation Unit continues to have a clarity problem in how it holds police officers to account for their behaviour.

On March 2, Court of Queens Bench Justice Sandra Zinchuk found both the City of Brandon and Terry Lynn Peters jointly and severally liable for damages in the citys intimate images case.

Brittany Roque sued Peters for sharing Roques intimate images without her consent. The trial was heard virtually in mid-February 2021. The City of Brandon is listed as a third party in the lawsuit.

Zinchuk found both Peters and the city jointly and severally liable for general damages of $45,000, and Peters liable for aggravated damages of $15,000.

The case stems from a 2017 incident in which Peters shared Roques intimate images with the Brandon Police Service senior executive during a police hiring competition Roque applied for.

In March 2017, Roque underwent a polygraph test as part of the hiring process, where she disclosed her past relationship with Brandon police officer Ryan Friesen, Peters then-partner.

At the end of the meeting, she was told she could either withdraw from the hiring process or else she would be removed by the Brandon Police Service, according to the agreed statement of fact in Zinchuks decision.

Roque declined to withdraw from the competition and subsequently filed complaints with the IIU and the RCMP.

In the written decision, Zinchuk said while she agrees it is in the publics interest for BPS to do a thorough background check on applicants, there is "no rational explanation for why any of the images needed to be provided to BPS in order to fully consider and assess her application." She wrote that distributing the intimate images was not in the publics interest.

The IIU, the provinces civilian-led police watchdog, investigated the incident after Roque made a complaint, but did not file charges against Brandon police deputy chief Randy Lewis.

"On careful review of the available evidence and material facts obtained in this investigation, together with consideration of the applicable law, I am not satisfied that there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe [the officers] conduct warrants charges under the Criminal Code, or any other federal or provincial statute. Accordingly, no charges will be laid against [the officer]," IIU civilian director Zane Tessler concluded in his final report released in July 2018.

But Lewis was in breach of a law by viewing Roques intimate images, Zinchuk said. A person has the right to control who sees intimate and private images of their body, she wrote, and Lewis viewed the image without her consent.

"I find that this substantially, and unreasonably violated her privacy," Zinchuk wrote, adding Lewis receiving and using the images was "not in the public interest." While he did not distribute the images, he still accepted and viewed them in the hiring competition.

The test in civil court is lower than in criminal court, but Zinchuk states Lewis did make a mistake in how he dealt with the intimate images.

"I would still find that Lewis, in his capacity as a police officer with BPS, committed the tort of breach of privacy pursuant to the [Privacy Act]," she wrote.

The Justices decision out of the civil trial leads us to wonder whether the IIU will revisit the case given the decision. It also makes us wonder why Tessler said the conduct didnt breach any other "federal or provincial statute."

The Sun asked these questions to the provinces media relations line, but was told the IIUs report "speaks for itself."

"It is important to note that it was completed from the perspective of whether criminal or quasi-criminal charges could or should be pursued. The burden of proof, or standard of review is different in a civil suit which could lead to a different interpretation of whether there was a breach of the Privacy Act," the province said in a statement.

The Sun also asked the Brandon Police Service for comment at the time, but Chief Wayne Balcaen said the decision was still being reviewed by the City of Brandons legal team. While that is perhaps fair for the time being, the Brandon police and city administration both have an obligation to address the outcome of this case with the public, especially considering that taxpayers may well be on the hook for the restitution to Roque should Peters be unable to pay her court-ordered share.

The story has also gone national as a result of an article that appeared in the Globe and Mail this week. Kevin Toyne, a lawyer who represented Roque in the case, called it a "precedent-setting" decision, and hes likely correct on that assumption, given that Zinchuk referenced other cases out of Ontario in her decision, and not federal or provincial legislation.

Other people embroiled in similar situations will be able to look to the decision and see courts can recognize the wrong committed.

The IIUs mandate is extremely important and the work the organization does is critical. The police, who we trust to uphold the law, should be held to an extremely high standard and deserve full scrutiny. On the surface of it, that does not appear to have happened in this case.

At the same time, the public deserves to know how the provinces police watchdog operates and how it makes decisions. Given the attention on the case and the $45,000 for which Brandon taxpayers could be on the hook, the public is owed more explanation from the IIU.
The Missouri University Extension will host a class to help seniors stay fit with basic strength training at the Kimberling City Senior Center.
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Laneway cafe Degraves Espresso, one of the first cafes to open in the strip between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, has been leased to the operator of its neighbour, the Quarter. But its not changing its name. The 60 square metre cafe is getting a new fit-out and will open in the coming weeks, according to leasing agent Fitzroys James Lockwood. The off-market deal for 23-25 Degraves Street was negotiated at $145,000 a year for five years. Degraves Espresso is getting a new fit-out. Credit:

The Degraves Espresso name has a huge amount of goodwill associated with it, Mr Lockwood said. Its the archetypal Melbourne laneway cafe. It holds a special place in the citys laneway culture. The new operator has been in hospitality for more than 30 years. Theyre confident the CBD will return in a big way, he said. The cafe was originally established in 1996 by Con Christopoulos, who has since moved east to Spring Street where he runs the European, City Wine Shop and Spring Street Grocer. Hawthorn Woolies Supermarkets have been the pandemics market darlings, and the latest to get a For Sale sign is the Hawthorn Woolies, built into the old Glenferrie Market.

Next door to Glenferrie station, the 1827 square metre supermarket is on a 3640 square metre site with 69 car parks on the roof. It makes up about 60 per cent of a strata building. Stonebridge Property Group agents Justin Dowers, Kevin Tong and Julian White are handling the listing. It could fetch up to $15 million, but the pricing is tricky given its a strata asset. Woolies has a five-year lease and pays around $424,000 a year. Recent supermarket deals in the leafy eastern suburbs have sold for bumper prices, with underlying land value giving the retail assets a boost. The Coles Local across the street sold for $24.5 million, reflecting a yield of 1.9 per cent and a land rate of $16,800 per square metre. The buyer was neighbouring cinema owner Eddie Tamir, who paid a premium to take control of a large parcel of Glenferrie Road.

Watervale Shopping Centre in Taylors Hill. Credit: In mid-December, the nearby Woolworths at 383 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn sold for $45.7 million on a 2.99 per cent yield. That supermarket, high on the Balwyn hill, is on a 4700 square metre corner parcel of land with views. Also on the market, deep into the north-western suburbs, is the Watervale Shopping Centre in Taylors Hill. JLLs Stuart Taylor, Tom Noonan and Sam Hatcher and CBRE agent James Douglas are running expressions of interest. The vendor is being advised by Advise Transacts Mark Wizel. The 5286 square metre centre is on a large 18,700 square metre of land and anchored by a 3388 square metre Woolworths and 17 shops.

Loading The Woolies lease has 10 more years to run with two more 10-year options. Its expected to sell for more than $40 million. Tax office The South Melbourne home of the National Tax and Accountants Association is coming to market. The five-storey building at 29-33 Palmerston Crescent is in the heart of South Melbournes hot fringe office and residential precinct, and is expected to fetch more than $15 million.

CBREs Nathan Mufale, Scott Hawthorne, David Minty and JJ Heng are running the campaign. The triple-fronted 640 square metre site last changed hands in 2005 for $4.6 million. Recent deals in the area include a 2040 square metre super-site at 256-262 Normanby Road, which recently sold for more than $10 million to a Sydney-based investor on a yield of 2.6 per cent. Mr Minty said 14 offers came from potential buyers around Australia and south-east Asia. It is a great sign of Melbournes recovery following the past 24 months of interruption, said Mr Minty.

Liquor licence The London Hotel in Port Melbourne is sadly long gone, but the new three-storey space built in its place has managed to retain its 3am late-night liquor licence. Loading The brand new 949 square metre three-storey building is expected to fetch more than $9 million. The historic pub was demolished in 2016 after more than 150 years of trading and an apartment building designed by Ewert Leaf was built on the site. An ill-fated campaign to lease the new hotel opened in March 2020.
Sophie: Like Jewel, I have personal reasons for my interest in mental health. I also cover personal health in my work as The Age and the Heralds deputy lifestyle editor. As a community, weve come a long way in how we view the mind as something that needs to be cared for, just like our bodies, and that message is so important for young people to absorb. What can we expect from the rest of the series? What are some of the other issues you cover across the six episodes? Sophie: Mainly, you can expect to hear a lot of incredible young Australians. They talk about some of the darkest moments, but they also share a lot of important messages of hope and seeking help. Each episode will focus on a different topic, including suicidal ideation, anxiety and eating disorders. Just to mention a few, youll meet 18-year-old Alex, who is transgender, and dealt with depression and self-harm. Theres also Daniel, who was on 24/7 suicide watch for several months when he was 16 because of panic attacks, anxiety and depression. Hes unrecognisable now: his stutter no longer bothers him and hes a foster parent at 22. And youll hear from Portia, a young Indigenous woman who explains how intergenerational trauma and racial discrimination have contributed to her suffering from anxiety. Jewel: While we have six core episodes, were also planning a few surprises. We wont give too much away just yet, but were encouraging listeners to email or call with questions about mental health. So if theres anything you would like to know, or you would like to send us some feedback, wed love to hear from you. You can contact us on (02) 9906 9915 or enoughpodcast@smh.com.au / enoughpodcast@theage.com.au Young people are a lot more open about mental illness, partly because they know its nothing to be ashamed about, but also because they know full well that its only by talking about it that we can eliminate any lingering stigma. Sophie Aubrey

These are difficult subjects that will strike a personal note for some. How did you encourage young people to speak openly about their experiences? Sophie: We had pre-interview catch-ups on Zoom in the middle of last year with every young person youll hear in the podcast. That gave them a chance to ask us questions and for us to prepare them for the kind of topics we would like to talk about. It meant that when we eventually sat down together, there were no surprises. We also gave each interview lots of time. It was really important that the young people felt comfortable, and we would often be sitting together, gently moving through their story for more than an hour. That might not sound long, but a lot of the time interviews in this job are very short - 10 to 15 minutes isnt unusual. The interviewees also knew there was no pressure to speak about their deeply private moments - we would make that clear - although more often than not they simply wanted to. Young people are a lot more open about mental illness, partly because they know its nothing to be ashamed about, but also because they know full well that its only by talking about it that we can eliminate any lingering stigma. Jewel: That was one of the things that struck me too. I was blown away by how candid and comfortable the young people we interviewed were talking about their mental health and how normalising this felt. They sought help from psychologists, counsellors and GPs as readily as they would for any other medical concern, which was so encouraging. It was very different from when I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s. I was aware of eating disorders and there would be hushed mentions of nervous breakdowns, but it certainly wasnt something we talked about openly. I remember being surprised when a friend told me she had depression about 25 years ago. Sophie: This is so true. I remember the phrase Im depressed being thrown around when I was in high school in the 2000s, but that was the extent of it. There was no understanding of what that actually meant, I suspect even by those who said it. Thats certainly not the case any more. How have some of the stories you feature in the podcast touched you?

Loading Sophie: I can think of heaps of moments. This might sound cheesy, but with every young person I interviewed, I walked away feeling both touched and like Id genuinely learnt something valuable. Anita reminded me of the preciousness of life and my loved ones when she expressed how grateful she was to be alive after surviving two suicide attempts; Melani opened my eyes to the complexity of binge-eating disorder, which very few people really understand despite it being by far the most common eating disorder. Ive learnt that having coping mechanisms is absolutely not a marker of weakness - its one of strength. And I have a personal goal this year to come up with some of my own. Cuddling my dog will definitely be on the list - the number of times young people gave a shout-out to their pets was really sweet. Jewel: One of the interviews that really resonated with me was Ava, a year 12 student who has depression. She talks about being frustrated with the tips often given to tackle depression, such as getting exercise and eating healthily. Ava makes the salient point that although rationally we all know this will make us feel better, its virtually impossible when you cant get out of bed. Ive had exactly the same thoughts when Ive been depressed. When we asked our interviewees what had helped them, they tended to talk about spending time with pets or listening to music. I also cant go past the final line of the LGBTQI+ episode. Todd Fernando, the youngest, first openly gay Indigenous commissioner in Australia, gives this gorgeous advice to young queer people who are struggling with their mental health. In his lovely soft voice, he says: I know its a cliche, but life really does get better. For those who are still yet to come out of the closet or yet to fully understand who their identities are, we are here waiting whenever the time is right for you to do so in a safe way. The queer community is willing to embrace you with open arms and love. It has me in tears every time I listen. Who do you hope listens to the podcast, and what do you hope it achieves? Sophie: Above all, we hope young people listen and realise that if theyre dealing with mental health issues, theyre really not alone. I also really hope they feel more equipped to manage whatever they might be experiencing. The episodes have so much wonderful advice direct from young people who have been there, as well as mental health experts. A lot of Australians dont know what its actually like to have a panic attack or suicidal thoughts or an eating disorder, and Im confident that youll come away with a lot more compassion and understanding. But we also have broader goals.

The first episode of the six-episode series looks at depression. Credit:The Age/the Herald Jewel: Well, we hope that youth mental health will be a national priority for this country, especially in a federal election year. I think we are allowed to say that! It was really concerning to hear of just how overwhelmed the mental health system is with psychologists closing their books because their waiting lists are so long. Did you have any memorable moments making the podcast? Jewel: So many. Like the time we had to re-record our voice-overs because of this thing I had never heard of called vocal fry. For the uninitiated, it is when (mostly young womens) voices sound raspy or pop at the end of a sentence. I read its called fry because it sounds like bacon sizzling in a frying pan. Listen to Kim Kardashian speak and youll know what we are talking about. We disappeared down this fascinating rabbit hole on the internet about whether vocal fry is a feminist issue. But vocal fry aside, I feel very lucky to have worked with Sophie and Margaret Gordon, our gun producer, whose experience and patience was invaluable for an amateur like me. I couldnt have asked for better people with whom to make a podcast in the middle of a pandemic. And I am overwhelmingly grateful to the young people who shared their stories with us with such candour and rawness and humour. Meeting them in parks (we werent allowed into studios during the height of lockdown) was inspiring and energising. My own mental health was pretty battered at the time and it was exactly what I needed. Sophie: Ah, vocal fry. Guilty! I shant forget the Kim Kardashian vocal fry compilation. I have a few other favourite moments, like the first time Jewel, Margaret and I met up in real life. We had started working on the project a month or two earlier but had only done so virtually because we were in the middle of Melbournes long 2021 lockdown. When restrictions allowed, the three of us caught up at a park in Footscray on a sunny afternoon. Sprawled on a picnic blanket for a couple of hours, we plotted out the episodes. It was also the first time Jewel and I got to know the recording equipment wed soon know so well. I also shared some unforgettable moments with Jewel at a three-day camp for disadvantaged youths. There was one group therapy session where both of us were quietly bawling behind our masks, so moved were we by the teenagers who were speaking. That same weekend, we held hands, performed eye connects and lay on the floor top-to-toe listening to a childrens bedtime story. It was a really special weekend (and youll be hearing all about it in one of our episodes). And really, I want to echo what Jewel said. Podcasting was a new storytelling medium for me too, but working with Jewel and Margaret has been a dream. And words really cannot express just how grateful I am to every young person who sat down with us.
An elderly western Sydney carer has been charged with murder after the body of a woman was discovered in a home.

Paramedics attended a home on Pandora Street, at Greenacre, just before 11am on Friday, after receiving a report of a medical episode.

On arrival, they found the body of a severely emaciated 60-year-old woman and alerted police, a NSW Police spokesperson said.

An 82-year-old man at the home was arrested by officers from Bankstown Police Area Command.

He was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with murder. He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
He said festivals and motorsports events planned for April attracted attendees who drove long distances. It is going to be at the forefront of peoples minds, he said. Those people are going to be not only driving vehicles but towing trailers [which uses more fuel]. Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said the domestic tourism sector would feel the pain, particularly if prices pushed past $2.50 a litre. Wojtek and Sandy Borowik were planning a trip to Adelaide with their five-year-old daughter, Maya, but cancelled it because of fuel costs. Credit:Jason South If we see prices escalate to that point, people will be rationing how theyre using the car, she said.

But Ms Mariani said rising airfares also had the potential to do great damage to Melbournes tourism economy, if interstate visitors decided against flying to major events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix in April. She said interstate arrivals were just beginning to return in significant numbers. Monash University tourism expert Glen Coy said fuel price increases created perceived barriers to travel, even if they did not significantly add to a holiday budget. Unfortunately perception can be very influential, he said. Tourism operators a long way from Melbourne may feel the pain from rising fuel prices if holidaymakers decide against long-haul road trips. Credit:Nick Moir But Associate Professor Coy warned businesses against offering discounts to entice holidaymakers.

Instead, he said, they should emphasise the value they were offering, such as the chance to relax in the natural world or creating memorable family experiences. Wojtek Borowik cancelled plans to drive to Adelaide with his wife and daughter this Easter, saying it was too expensive to travel all that way. He said his family loved road trips but paying more for petrol made it prohibitive to take longer journeys. We might do a small trip to Mount Dandenong or Lorne, but nothing big, the Tarneit resident said. He planned to take either his 2013 Mercedes, which takes diesel, or their VW Tiguan, which runs on 98 unleaded and is more expensive than standard unleaded fuel.

Well wait until the prices come down before we go anywhere far. You feel guilty paying for all that petrol. Murray Regional Tourism Board chief executive Mark Francis said petrol prices were a serious concern because 98 per cent of visitors came to the region by car. I think it will have an impact over time, he said. Mr Francis said the higher fuel prices would also drive up costs for tourism businesses, and they may have to pass these on to customers. He said families might also spend less money on holiday.

Something weve seen previously is that they still go on a trip, but they do fewer activities. Or they might go out for dinner once and not three times. Loading RACV mobility general manager Elizabeth Kim urged motorists to look around for the best petrol deals. Figures collected by the RACV show a round trip from Melbournes CBD to Mallacoota in a Ford Ranger would have cost $139 before February 19, compared to $163.10 this week. Earlier this month, Qantas chief Alan Joyce said soaring oil prices would result in a 7 per cent increase in average airfares.

Qantas is shielded from higher oil prices in the short term under its hedging program, with 90 per cent of its fuel use locked in until the middle of the year, after which it declines to 50 per cent for the September quarter. Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said his airline, which services domestic routes in Australia, had no intention yet of raising airfares or introducing a surcharge to cover additional fuel costs. At this stage we dont have any plans to introduce a fuel levy, he said. Destination Gippsland chief executive Terry Robinson said the impact of more expensive petrol was still unclear on the local travel sector. Mr Robinson said he had not received any reports of cancellations and bookings were strong for the Easter break. But he hoped holidaymakers would not cut their spending despite paying more for fuel.
A woman has died after she was severely burnt in a house fire that police suspect was lit by her husband in Melbournes north-west on Monday night.

Kylie Griffiths, 36, and a 17-year-old girl were injured as they tried to put out the fire that engulfed the single-storey home in Sutherland Street, Albanvale, at 5.20pm.

Kylie Griffiths, pictured with her husband Roland, has died following a fire at their Albanvale home on Monday. Credit:Facebook

Five other children were at the home when the fire broke out.

Mrs Griffiths died in hospital from her injuries early on Friday morning, Victoria Police confirmed.
Asked whether Senator Kitching had called Mr Albanese to ask him to support her and stop any backbiting about her future in Parliament, the caucus member said: Thats not how you do business. In one text message, Senator Kitching sent a screenshot of comments in which an anonymous colleague criticised her for naming Chau Chak Wing in a parliamentary committee hearing when she used the protection of parliamentary privilege to identify someone she believed had tried to recruit Labor candidates. She was very anxious about it, said one friend. A third said she was very, very stressed about it because the anonymous colleague noted her preselection was not decided.

But the concerns were based on conjecture about the sources of the remarks, in part because the journalists who wrote the stories were perceived to be close to Mr Albanese, when several caucus members noted there was no known candidate standing against her. Loading I didnt get any clear sense of any action that was being taken directly against her, said one Labor MP. But you cop shit in this job for standing up for what you believe in, and thats what she did. Another MP familiar with the discussions within the Victorian Right said the delay to the preselection did not mean Senator Kitching was going to be replaced.

In no conversation I had was that seriously on the table, he said. If youd asked me who was going to be the Labor Senate candidate, I would have said Kimberley Kitching, no question. With the Victorian Right split into six sub-groups and the national executive using extraordinary powers to intervene in the branch, the decision on the preselection was delayed pending a court challenge over the national executives authority. When you speak your mind, two things happen: you gain respect, but you antagonise people on your own side A Liberal source Senator Kitchings anxiety over her future in Parliament, as told to her colleagues, shows the pressure on her was wider than the reported isolation she suffered from the Senate leadership team of Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher.

The three Labor frontbenchers issued a joint statement on Friday morning saying they felt it was necessary to respond to the ongoing hurtful statements. Our priority at this time has been Senator Kitchings husband, Andrew, her family and her loved ones. Their grief is profound, their loss immeasurable, they said. Loading The opposing accounts of events are themselves a sign of the stress in politics when those elected to public office learn to be wary of party allies because of the intense competition for a prized position in Parliament. Speculation about the sources quoted in media reports rarely reveals those sources. Close friends of Senator Kitching said she was treated badly by the trio of Senate leaders when they took her off the Labor tactics group in the upper house and gave her very few chances to ask a question in question time. Others said they respected her independence but could see the tension with Senators Wong, Keneally and Gallagher.

When you speak your mind, two things happen: you gain respect, but you antagonise people on your own side, said one Liberal. The claim that Senator Kitching was punished was countered by several who said Mr Albanese named her to his frontbench after the last election ahead of another member of the Victorian Right, Peter Khalil. Loading In a later reshuffle, however, she lost the position of spokesperson on government accountability despite placing intense pressure on the government, for instance in furore over the removal of Australia Post chief Christine Holgate, and she was given a portfolio supporting Bill Shorten, the former Labor leader and a close friend. She told many contacts, including journalists, she felt this was unfair. Mr Albanese denied there was a bullying culture within the ALP that he needed to address and said he was proud to have Senators Wong, Keneally and Gallagher on his team.

Thats not to say that we cant always look to do better, he added. Politics is a really tough business. Kimberley Kitching is someone who I appointed to the frontbench. She rose pretty quickly in her second term. She was making a contribution. And its an absolute tragedy that contribution was all too short. Labor deputy leader Richard Marles, the most senior federal figure in the Victorian branch, said it was wrong to walk down the path of speculating on events before her death. Kimberley Kitching was an incredible person, you know, we are all experiencing the grief of her loss. It has been sudden, it has been shocking, he told the Nine Network on Fridays. Senator Kitching took her place in the upper house in 2016 and spent many years campaigning for a Magnitsky Act so Australia could join allies such as Britain, the US and Canada in placing tougher sanctions on human rights violators including those linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli says it is factually wrong to blame dud public school teachers for the decline in the academic results of Australian students, adding the assertion was bad politics by the federal Education Minister ahead of the election.

In comments that angered some educators, academics, and the teachers union, Stuart Robert declared in a speech on Thursday that a bottom 10 per cent of teachers were the key reason for Australias plummeting performance in the international education benchmark tests. But he assured independent schools leaders he was not talking about their schools, because they did not accept dud teachers.

Adrian Piccoli (right), former NSW education minister, has rejected claims by Federal Minister Stuart Robert that dud teachers at public schools are the key reason for students declining academic performance. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen, Dominic Lorrimer

Mr Piccoli, who served six years as education minister in the Coalition state government, said it was factually wrong to suggest the long-term decline in Australian students results in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) was a matter only for government schools.

Weve got this very long underperforming tail, but the biggest decline is in high-performing students not doing as well as they used to. A large chunk of those high performing students go to independent schools and selective government schools, Mr Piccoli, the former director of the Gonski Institute for Education at the University of NSW, said.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has reported severe bleaching to 60 per cent of the corals along a 500-kilometre stretch of the Great Barrier Reef between Innisfail and Mackay.

Surveys are ongoing on the southern section of the reef, but with reports of local bleaching, scientists cannot rule out widespread bleaching of similar severity.

Bleached coral on John Brewer Reef, offshore from Townsville, photographed in February 2022. Credit:Grumpy Turtle Designs.

Bleaching occurs when the sea surface temperature is too hot for too long, causing corals to expel the algae living in their tissues and turn white. Scientists say global warming is the major factor driving more frequent bleaching events.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) chief scientist David Wachenfeld said coral bleached when it was severely stressed but could recover if sea surface temperatures returned to normal quickly enough.
A wave of new apartment completions had already been affecting prices in the CBD, Southbank and Docklands, he said, and the international border closure exacerbated falls by cutting off demand from international students and new arrivals, resulting in a sharp drop in rents for long and short-term leases, as well as a decline in investor interest. Inner-city apartment towers emptied during lockdown. Credit:Wayne Taylor In Melbourne in the past year or two weve had that last wave of the biggest projects being completed, [but] this year probably will be the last year of big supply, he said. Investor demand for apartments in the suburbs would likely improve as the rental market continued to recover, international borders reopened, and more workers returned to the office, but could also be hit by looming rate rises, he said. PRD chief economist Diaswati Mardiasmo said new apartment supply had been completed at the same time as international border closures reduced demand.

Loading Some of those apartments could have been approved back in 2018 or 2019, she said. No one planned for COVID. At the same time, some residents had to move out of the inner city because they lost work as the pandemic hit, or had to leave Australia as international borders closed, and international students could not arrive. But she expects demand for units could pick up, particularly from first home buyers, because few new detached houses are being built in the inner city, where houses are expensive even when they become available. She said there are still hundreds of units to be built in inner Melbourne in coming years, risking an oversupply. For example, even outside the CBD, across key inner suburbs for new projects in North Melbourne, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Richmond and Fitzroy, there are 2112 units due for completion this year, 1144 next year and 500 in 2024.

In the CBD, Melcorp Real Estate director Mark Giuliano said investor-grade apartments had not performed as well in the sales market as larger units designed for owner-occupiers. New building work was in train before the pandemic hit. Credit:Jason South That stock that was built for size normally always struggles, he said. The developers that built good properties that were more for owner-occupiers in good buildings, they have definitely performed better. With fewer of the latter, the more plentiful investor-grade product puts downward pressure on the median price, he said. Nearby Carlton also recorded a drop in median apartment prices as demand for its student accommodation towers dried up while the international border was closed.

Loading Belle Property Carlton principal director and auctioneer Scott McElroy said there are more student-style units along Swanston Street near the universities than there are high-end boutique apartments near the parks and cafes, pushing down the suburbs median unit price. The larger apartments have had good growth, he said, but there hasnt been good growth in the smaller stock. They keep building more and more of them, so your apartment doesnt have a very high level of exclusivity. Buyers agent Greville Pabst, chairman of WBP Group, is optimistic that some older-style flats in sought-after suburbs, perhaps with courtyards or balconies in small art deco blocks, could start to rise in value again amid demand from first home hopefuls priced out of detached housing.
Kabul: The Taliban will allow girls in Afghanistan to return to class when high schools open next week, an education official said, after months of uncertainty over whether the new rulers would allow full access to education for girls and women.

All schools are going to open to all boys and girls, Aziz Ahmad Rayan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education, said.

But there are some conditions for girls, he said, adding that female students would be taught separately from males and only by female teachers.

An Afghan girl looks out at Tajrobawai Girls High School in Herat, Afghanistan. Credit:AP

In some rural areas where there was a shortage of female teachers, he said older male teachers would be allowed to teach girls.
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Singapore: Australia has begun granting protection to defectors from Myanmars armed forces who have escaped the south-east Asian nation with tales of the militarys brutality. While Russia wages a war in Ukraine that threatens to unsettle the global order, Myanmar continues to be held hostage by a junta that seized power in a coup in February last year. Soldiers march in Myanmars capital Naypyitaw in February. Credit:AP The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have spoken to two former members of the military whose pleas for asylum have been accepted by the Australian government since January. One ex-soldier, who joined a resistance group before fleeing to the Myanmar-Thailand border, told of how he deserted because he didnt accept the coup.
Vatican City: A once-powerful cardinal has testified he donated 125,000 ($188,000) of Vatican funds to a Sardinian diocese for purely charitable reasons, rejecting Vatican prosecutors claims that the money benefitted his brother who ran the charity.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was once the powerful No. 2 in the Vatican secretariat of state, is the first-ever cardinal to testify before the Vaticans criminal tribunal. He said he couldnt deny that his brother Antonino Becciu was the legal representative of the Spes charity, which is the operational arm of the Diocese of Ozieris Caritas charity operation.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu talks to journalists in Rome after the scandal broke. Credit:AP

But Becciu insisted that Spes had a long track record of doing good works in his home diocese, and that the donations of Holy See money, which he was authorised to distribute, responded to verifiable needs requested by the Ozieri bishop.

One initiative concerned rebuilding a burnt-down bakery that employed disadvantaged youths, while another was to build a multi-use social centre for the poor.
Property investment advisory Wealthi is adding a mortgage broking service to its offering to provide a holistic suite of services for investors.

Wealthi runs a well-established property investment service and has now launched Wealthi Money to assist clients one step further.

The broking service is designed to make property investing easy and as a complementary extension to existing services. Wealthi helps property investors with structuring deals, offers expert advice on refinancing and investment loans, along with providing home owners with information on releasing equity.

Our goal is to be the most trusted brand in the real estate investment space, Wealthi co-founder Domenic Nesci (pictured) said. It is not about writing large loans for us, it is about clients recognising us as trusted and transparent people, who work with you when they need you and are there every step of the way.

Read more: UBank sets cheapest ever advertised variable rate

Wealthi has appointed two experienced mortgage brokers to lead its broking service  Carla Nesci and Paula Bosolasco.

This is our way of offering a genuinely holistic service - from identifying suitable properties, to finding the best mortgage rate and settling on a property, Domenic Nesci said.

When we are talking to our clients, what were finding out is that people are more comfortable in discussing their investment goals and situation if we have a team of experts in one place.

Carla Nesci has almost a decade of marketing, real estate and design experience across Sydney and Newcastle, giving her a broad understanding of the investment property market.

Bosolasco, originally from Uruguay, has several years of financial services experience during her work within the international banking sector.

Carla and Paula bring a lot of expertise, knowledge, and client services skills into our team. What stood out with them is they are both service-centric people and devoted to their clients success, said Nesci.

He said property investors would rather speak with one team around their investments and financial situations.

By providing a holistic suite of services, Wealthi can provide a more transparent and streamlined service, he said.

The Wealthi team has completed over $1 billion in property transactions.
SME fintech lender Shift has made changes to its technology platform for brokers after hearing their feedback.

Launched last year, Shift Connect allows brokers to access a real-time view of their clients financial position. Brokers can access this information to gain a deeper understanding of clients needs and have better conversations with clients.

Shift sales director Kristian McCausland (pictured) said the company has listened to brokers and their feedback about the need to access information quickly and efficiently.

This latest release is in response to brokers telling us that while accessing information for clients is great, they really need it presented in a way that can take the process of reviewing and recommending products to a customer down from days or hours to minutes, McCausland said.



He said Shift Connect provided brokers with an efficient and easy-to-use platform at no cost.



Over time, Shift Connect should become an embedded part of a brokers daily workflow, he noted. Weve been working on this release since we rolled out Shift Connect last year.

Read more: GetCapital rebrands as Shift, pivots from lender to broker platform

Brokers can determine the best financial results for their clients through Shift Connect by running and viewing credit scores, seeing financial commitments with other lenders, including any missed payments, break down income and expense reports, check any adverse markers on credit files, and view the structure of the clients/businesses, including who the directors and shareholders are.

With this release, weve created a dashboard that not only presents data, but takes it to the next level by turning it into actionable insights that brokers can use on-demand to engage with clients, McCausland said.

Brokers can analyse information in real time from streaming transactional banking data so they can easily see thresholds clients might be eligible for with asset finance and cashflow products.

Shift offered a beta version of the platform prior to launch to gauge feedback.

Grove Finance director Travis Keay said the new releases data analysis fast-tracked the process of reviewing a clients situation, so brokers could have the right conversations to assist them.

Theres so much information to take in and various systems to use to get a full view of a customer, that it can be really time-consuming, Keay said.

What Ive found with Shift Connect is that I can jump in, get a clear snapshot, and know the right questions to ask, which saves the client time and helps me add more value to their business.

Shift has been conducting roadshows in Brisbane and Sydney to promote the updated Shift Connect platform and these will finish in Melbourne on March 22.
Tom Forrest, chief executive of Urban Taskforce Australia, has commended the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply, as well as the drive and determination of committee chair Jason Falinski, for tackling the big issues on housing affordability.

The report pins the responsibility for rising prices and the lack of supply, on poor planning, poorly targeted taxes and charges, a lack of leadership, and a regulatory environment which favours reducing supply and increasing costs over meeting demand for housing with housing supply for our growing population, Forrest said.

The recommendations included increasing urban density to meet housing supply needs for large Australian cities and providing additional infrastructure to support local communities that are prepared to accommodate growth.

Economic growth depends on population growth, Forrest said. But we need to ensure that as the population grows, they have homes to live in and that means a clear focus on supply.

The findings also promote the Commonwealth taking on a more direct role in providing funding to support councils and states that boost housing numbers.

That means a stick for states which over-regulate and fail to deliver sufficient housing supply and carrots for those that cut the red tape and support growth, Forrest said.

With over 98% of all new homes developed and delivered by the private sector on to the private housing market, Forrest said focusing on social housing is not the way to solve worsening affordability issues.

If housing supply was depicted as a dog, social housing would be the end of its tail, he said. The dog (housing supply) is sick. Affordability has gone through the floor. You dont cure the dog by supplementing its tail.

Forrest slammed Labor members for their political move of rejecting report recommendations, saying they have missed the opportunity for reform.

Clearly the findings, which revolve around reducing red tape and driving increased private housing supply, did not fit neatly with the romantic recasting of the joys of 1960s-style social housing estates, that appear to be driving the soft socialist agenda of some in the Albanese team, Forrest said.

Forrest also noted that although the report identifies a clear need for more crisis housing and opportunities for an improved supply pipeline in co-operation with the private sector, it fails to put focus on the delivery of a massive boost in social housing.

Urban Taskforce welcomes the recommendation to increase collaboration with the private sector in private sector partnerships to deliver discount to market rental accommodation, he said. Offering support for states and local governments to boost housing numbers by assisting in the funding of local infrastructure is critical to delivering more homes and reducing upward pressure on housing prices.

On committee findings regarding the negative impact of transaction taxes on the workings of the market, Forrest said the Commonwealth will have to take the lead in shifting towards a broader land (or property tax).

The committee has drawn very clear conclusions opposing the level of fees and charges levied on the production of new homes by state and local governments, Forrest said. The so-called developer contributions simply shift the burden of local infrastructure away from state governments and on to new home purchasers.

Lastly, Forrest said Urban Taskforce welcomes the committees findings in relation to the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, and its role in providing affordable housing.
Indian conglomerate is exploring potential partnerships in Saudi Arabia, including the possibility of buying a stake in the worlds largest oil exporter, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The group, led by Gautam Adani, has held preliminary talks on a range of potential cooperation and joint investment opportunities with and the countrys Public Investment Fund, according to the people. It has discussed the idea of buying part of the PIFs stake in Aramco, the people said.

While Adani is unlikely to shell out billions of dollars in cash for Aramco stock, at least in the short term, it could seek to link an investment to a broader tie-up or asset swap deal, the people said. The Indian firm could team up with Aramco or subsidiaries like Sabic in areas such as renewable energy, crop nutrients or chemicals, one of the people said.

Adani may also offer the PIF, which is Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, the opportunity to invest in infrastructure in India, another person said. Deliberations are at an early stage, and Adani hasnt made a decision on which form any potential cooperation could take, the people said.

A deal could help Aramco deepen relationships in one of the worlds fastest-growing energy consumers. The Saudi petroleum giant spent more than two years negotiating a potential $15 billion investment in the oil-to-chemicals unit of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd., only for talks to be scrapped in November. Aramco said at the time it would continue to look at investing in India.

A representative for didnt offer any immediate comment. Spokespeople for Aramco and the PIF declined to comment.

Strategic ties

Last month, the Saudi government transferred a 4% stake to PIF. The shares are now valued at about $89 billion based on Aramcos Thursday closing price in Riyadh. PIF recently has kicked off discussions about how to monetize that holding as it seeks to raise funds for its ambitious investment goals, Bloomberg has reported.

is Asias second-richest person with an estimated net worth of about $90.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His conglomerate has a range of businesses covering ports, power, renewable energy, airports, coal trading and data centers.

In January, Adani signed a pact with South Koreas Posco to explore business opportunities in India. The agreement includes the setting up a green steel mill in Gujarat, with a potential investment of as much as $5 billion over the coming years.

Saudi Arabia has been looking to boost ties with India for several years. During a 2019 visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said the country could invest $100 billion into India.

The PIF has since done several deals in India, buying stakes in Reliances retail business, wireless arm and fiber-optic network assets. The Indian conglomerate has also appointed Yasir Al-Rumayyan, whos chairman of Aramco and governor of the PIF, to its board.
On the back of a revamped retail-first business model post-pandemic, Ahmedabad-based premium packaged drinking water brand Clear Pani is now expecting to treble its turnover to Rs 300 crore by next fiscal year.

The target follows the firm's confidence in doubling its turnover in the current financial year 2021-22 to over Rs 110 crore, from Rs 45 crore last year.

Having pioneered in a highly competitive market like with innovations like square water bottles, red colour branding and biodegradable bottles that use 40 per cent less plastic, Clear Pani is now consciously moving from hotels, restaurants, catering and airlines (horeca) first business model to retail first.

Known for cracking enterprise sales for premium bottles including Jet Airways, Air India, Air Asia, Holiday Inn, Marriott and Hilton, among others, Clear Pani is now looking to bank upon retail distribution to become a pan-India brand.

"The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was a turning point for our business which was 90 per cent dependent on horeca and only 10 per cent on retail. As a result, our business went to zero whereas our branded competitors were hit with only 20-25 per cent of sales. That is when we decided to balance our business segmentation to retail first," said Nayan Shah, founder and chief executive officer of Clear Pani.

Contrary to its branded competitors, another strategy that Clear Pani has adopted based on its learning from the pandemic is to lean on contracted packers for bulk of its capacity. Even as it is on its way to clock three million bottles a day from current 2.5 million, Clear Pani is adding at least two co-packers a month with its bottle capacity being met today by plants run by 22 co-packers and just two company owned plants.

"This way, we have also kept our need for fundraising at bare minimum since there is hardly any capital expenditure and low working capital requirements. However, going forward as we grow our turnover and retail reach, we may look at raising funds to fuel future expansion," said Shah.

According to Shah, the market offers immense scope for branded players to grow pan-India since hardly 12-15 per cent of the Rs 40000 crore market is branded and organised, with the rest being unorganised.

"There are also very few truly pan-India packaged water brands. We are already doing well in western, southern and northern markets. We are now looking to have a few more plants of our own even as we expand our co-packing and distribution network, including in the eastern region," said Shah.

The company is looking to expand its current network of 52000 retail stores and 1186 distributors to touch 150,000 stores before launching additional products which are currently in the pipeline.
Union Home Minister, is arriving here on Friday to begin his two-day visit to .

Shah will reach here on Friday. He is scheduled to address the CRPF Raising Day parade at the Maulana Azad stadium and also chair a high level review of the security situation with senior officials of the MHA, J&K police, CAPFs, Intelligence agencies and the civil administration.

The Union Home Minister will stay at the Raj Bhawan during his visit. He will address CRPF Raising Day parade at the Maulana Azad stadium on Saturday.

Jitendra Singh, MoS (PMO) is expected to accompany Shah during his visit along with the Union Home Secretary, A.K. Bhalla, DGs of CAPFs and heads of central intelligence agencies.

The Home Minister will be reviewing the security situation in J&K in the aftermath of the recent killings of three Panchayat members and two security men.

--IANS

sheikhqayoom/shs

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A Bihar-born global health expert has been appointed by US President to the White House position of overseeing the nation's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am excited to name Dr Ashish Jha as the new White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator", Biden said on Thursday announcing the appointment.

"Dr Jha is one of the leading public health experts in America, and a well-known figure to many Americans from his wise and calming public presence."

Jha, who is the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, is one of the most popular experts that the media reaches out to for explaining the Covid pandemic and the efforts to control it.

"For all the progress we've made in this pandemic (and there is a lot). We still have important work to do to protect Americans' lives and well being. So when @POTUS asked me to serve, I was honoured to have the opportunity," Jha said in a tweet.

He will be joining Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Drug Control Policy Director Rahul Gupta, and Center for Medicare Director Meena Seshamani at the higher echelons of US health care system.

Jha succeeds Jeff Zients, who is leaving the White House after 14 months during which two variants, Delta and Omicron, fuelled a surge in Covid cases that the US struggled to contain.

Zients leaves office with 65 per cent of Americans having received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine and nearly 77 per cent have been fully vaccinated with the seven-day average of infections plummeting from 806,851 in mid-January to 30,570 in mid-March.

Jha was born in Pursaulia in Bihar in 1970 to parents who were educators.

The family moved to Canada in 1979 and to the US in 1983.

He did his BA in economics at Columbia University and switching to medicine, he got his MD and master's in public health from Harvard University.

He came to Brown from Harvard, where he was the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute and the dean for Global Strategy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

He had also served as the co-chair of the Independent Panel on the Global Response to Ebola, which examined the failure of the international community's response to the disease.

Even while he was heading the Brown University's School of Public Health, he continued to practice medicine at a hospital for ex-military members.

During the Covid pandemic, he made frequent appearances on TV, wrote op-eds for leading newspapers and was often quoted by reporters.

The medical news website, STAT, called him "network TV's everyman expert on Covid" with the qualities of a "telegenic phenom" and a "great communicator".

Zients was a businessman and a bureaucrat, unlike Jha who is a doctor.

He is a former CEO of an investment company and a member of Facebook's board of directors.

Before that, he had served as a special assistant to former President Barack Obama and as the director of the Economic Council.

The changeover to a doctor marks an inflexion point in the pandemic where the logistics of mass vaccination and testing are in place and the future task is to monitor and prepare for new variations or other developments.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

--IANS

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A bipartisan group of US lawmakers on Thursday urged to speak out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The lawmakers, led by Congressman Joe Wilson and Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, had a call with India's top envoy to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu where they discussed the matter.

Appreciated the opportunity to join Wilson in a bipartisan call with Ambassador Sandhu, urging to speak out against Putin's targeting of civilians in Ukraine, Khanna said.

"On both sides of the aisle, friends of are urging India to use its influence for peace," he said in a tweet.

Congressman Wilson tweeted, "Grateful to join my colleague in a bipartisan call with the Ambassador of India to the U.S. It is critical that world leaders condemn the atrocities being committed by Putin in Ukraine."



This is for the second time in two days that US lawmakers have urged India to condemn Russia over its military offensive against Ukraine.

A day earlier, two lawmakers Ted W Lieu and Tom Malinowski, had urged India to condemn Russia.

"Though we understand India's relationship with Russia, we are disappointed with your government's decision to abstain from the UN General Assembly's March 2 vote," they had said in a letter to Sandhu.

Early this week, Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera had expressed his disappointment over India abstaining at the UN vote against Russia.

"Even worse, India is now reportedly looking to bypass international sanctions and buy Russian oil at a steeply discounted rate, potentially giving Putin an economic lifeline at a time when the Russian economy is reeling from international sanctions," Bera had said in a statement.

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BJP chief J.P. Nadda and other leaders on Friday celebrated 'Holi' with party workers and supporters.

Union ministers and also celebrated 'Holi' with supporters and party colleagues. Nadda celebrated the festival with party workers and leaders at his official residence at Motilal Nehru Marg here.

Hundreds of party workers and office-bearers of party unit in the capital went to Nadda's residence to celebrate. Earlier, wishing people Nadda tweeted, "May the colours of bring happiness and prosperity in your life. With this wish, I wish all the countrymen a very happy festival of colours."

Union ministers Ranath Singh, celebrated the festival of colours with supporters and party colleagues at their official residences in Delhi. Naqvi even tried his hands on 'dhol'.

"Greetings on the special occasion of . It is a festival associated with colours, positivity, vibrancy, happiness and harmony," Singh tweeted wishing people.

BJP Lok Sabha members from Delhi, Manoh Tiwari and Parvesh Verma also celebrated with party workers and people from their constituencies. Verma and Tiwari celebrated with people at their official residence with full enthusiasm.

Other BJP leaders, including former union minister Vijay Goel, also celebrated Holi with supporters and party workers.

--IANS

ssb/shb/

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Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said Naveen S G, killed in shelling in on March 1, would arrive here on Monday and not on Sunday as was stated earlier.

The body of Naveen Gyanagouda, who was recently killed in in Russian shelling, will be brought to Bengaluru on Monday at 3 AM, the Chief Minister tweeted on Friday.

He had told reporters that the body would arrive on Sunday.

Officials close to him said there was a confusion on the arrival.

It has been clarified now that the body will arrive on Monday and not on Sunday as was stated earlier, an official close to Bommai told PTI.

A fourth year medical student in Kharkiv city, Naveen was killed when he ventured out of his bunker to get some food, water and exchange money.

The 22-year-old student from Chalageri village in Ranebennur Taluk of Haveri in was the second son of Shekarappa Gyanagouda

Gyanagouda has been demanding his son's body to be brought to India for final rites.

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The in Ukraine, which has been temporarily relocated from Kiev to Warsaw due to the fighting, on Friday said that it has been functioning round the clock for Indian nationals in Ukraine who are trying to seek assistance and they can contact it through email and help line numbers.

In an advisory, it also circulated the email: cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in and the official numbers- +3809333559958,+919205290802,+917428022564.

Soon after the war broke out between Ukraine and on February 24, the majority of the Indian diplomats had moved from the Ukrainian capital to Lviv which is close to the Ukraine-Poland border. But the in Kiev was kept functional, with a few officials stationed there to coordinate with the Ukrainian authorities on the evacuation of Indians from the country.

The External Affairs Ministry recently decided to temporarily shift the embassy in Warsaw after the Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian city increased as by that time, the evacuation of the Indian nationals was almost done.

In a statement on March 13, the MEA said: "In view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, including attacks in the western parts of the country, it has been decided that the in Ukraine will be temporarily relocated in Poland."

The situation will be reassessed in the light of further developments, it added.

--IANS

ams/vd

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emphasized that humanitarian action shall be guided by the principles of humanity and should not be politicised while reiterating its previous calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Thursday (local time).

"Allow me to underscore that it is important that humanitarian action is always guided by the principles of humanitarian assistance, i.e., humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. These measures should not be politicized," India's Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti said at the meeting.

The UNSC session was called following a request by six countries including the UK, US, France, Albania, Ireland, and Norway to discuss the humanitarian situation in .

"We reiterate our call for the immediate cessation of hostilities across . Our Prime Minister has reiterated this on several occasions and called for immediate ceasefire and emphasized that there is no option but the path of dialogue and diplomacy," Tirumurti further said.

India's representative also raised concerns on the ongoing humanitarian situation, including the displacement of thousands of people internally and the outflow of more than three million refugees to neighbouring countries. He also highlighted India's contribution in addressing the worrisome situation.

"Keeping in view the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Ukraine, has already sent over 90 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Ukraine and its neighbours, as part of nine separate tranches of humanitarian assistance delivered thus far since 1st March. These supplies have included medicines and other essential relief material. We are in the process of identifying other such requirements and sending further supplies in the coming days," Tirumurti said.

Talking about India's evacuation of its citizens from conflict-ridden Ukraine under Operation Ganga, Tirumurti said, " has ensured the safe return of about 22,500 Indians from Ukraine. We have also assisted nationals from 18 other countries in that process. We are deeply appreciative of the facilitation rendered by the authorities of Ukraine and its neighbouring countries in ensuring their safe return."

"We stand ready to continue to engage on these objectives in the Security Council, as well as with the Parties, in the coming days. We continue to underline the need to respect the UN Charter, international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," Tirumurti said.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry today expressed disappointment over the "unfriendly actions" of the Slovakian authorities which expelled three Russian diplomatic staff.

"We are disappointed by the unfriendly actions of the Slovakian authorities which expelled three Russian diplomatic staff under false pretexts. It goes without saying that the decisions taken by Slovakia will not go unanswered," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

However, the European Space Agency today announced it has suspended the Russian-European Mars mission over the Russia Ukraine war."We deeply deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the aggression towards Ukraine. While recognizing the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States," ESA said in a statement.

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With possessing the S-400 missile system, an official has told a parliamentary standing committee that countering the potent weapon of the adversary will be based on India's "direct tactical planning".

India is in the process of acquiring a batch of S-400 Triumf missile systems from Russia.

"As regards S-400, you are right that they have it. But finally, it remains a potent weapon for them and it will be our tactics how to take them out," the representative told the parliamentary standing committee on defence.

"Perhaps we have better precision weapons. So, do they. That will be direct tactical planning," the official said.

The comments of the representative featured in the 27th report of the committee that was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar told the panel that concerted efforts have been made in the last few years to ramp up the overall capability of the .

"This pace of acquisition was not there earlier. We have acquired 36 Rafale fighter planes, we have issued orders for 83 LCAs (Light Combat Aircraft)," he said.

He further added,"We have ordered S-400, we have ordered UAVs. So, the composite effort to ramp up the air defence and the air capability in the last four to five years has been significant.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will commence his two-day visit to India starting Saturday for the 14th India- Annual Summit where he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister .

This visit on March 19-20 will be Kishida's first such visit in his role as Prime Minister and the Summit would be the first meeting between the two leaders. The previous India- Annual Summit took place in Tokyo in October 2018.

India and have multi-faceted cooperation within the ambit of their "Special Strategic and Global Partnership".

The Summit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review and strengthen the bilateral cooperation in diverse areas as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest so as to advance their Partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Earlier PM Modi had spoken to PM Kishida on phone in October 2021 soon after the Japanese prime minister had assumed office.

Both sides expressed a desire to further strengthen our Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Since PM Modi's visit to Japan in 2014, tremendous progress has been made on the implementation of several important decisions which have been taken by both the Prime Ministers. Shinzo Abe was then the Japanese PM.

A target was achieved of Japanese Yen 3.5 trillion public and private investments in India which were announced by PM Modi and PM Shinzo Abe in 2014.

At present, there are 1455 Japanese companies in India. Eleven Japan Industrial Townships (JIT) have been established, Neemrana in Rajasthan and Sri City in Andhra Pradesh with the most number of companies. The 5th largest source of FDI; largest supplier of ODA (development partner of India).

However, several infrastructure projects are underway through Japanese assistance including Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail, Dedicated Freight Corridor, metro projects, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project.

India and Japan had signed a Digital Partnership in October 2018. At present, Indian startups have raised more than USD 10 billion from Japanese Venture Capitals. India and Japan have also launched a private sector driven fund-of-funds to invest in technology startups in India which has raised USD 100 million so far.

Both sides also have Cooperation in the field of ICT, in areas such as 5G, under-sea cables, telecom and network security. A workshop on 5G was also held.

Progress has also been made in skill development. The total number of Japan-India Institutes of Manufacturing (JIM) now is 19 (it was 8 in 2018). These institutes are established by Japanese companies based in India for training skilled workers.

Japanese companies have also set up 7 Japanese Endowed Courses (JEC) at various colleges. 220 Indian youth placed in Japan as interns under Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP).

Last year India had also signed a Specified Skilled Workers Agreement. The Japanese side has since January this year started examination for nursing care under this programme.

The Agreement on Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defence Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces (or ACSA), which was signed on 9 September 2020, came into force on July 11 2021.

Both the countries signed a convergence on free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. They signed a Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS). Meanwhile, the inaugural 2+2 ministerial meeting was held in November 2019.

In terms of the Act East Forum, a decision was taken in the 2017 Summit to establish the India-Japan Act East Forum. The objective is to coordinate our developmental projects in North-East India in areas of connectivity, forest management, disaster risk reduction and capacity building.

Several projects including the up-gradation of highways in Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are underway.

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The COVID-19 tally in reached 10,40,852 on Friday after the detection of 31 cases, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,733, a health department official said.

According to the official, the positivity rate was 0.1 per cent, up from 0.08 per cent on Thursday.

The recovery count rose to 10,29,828 after 81 people were discharged during the day, leaving the state with 291 active cases, he said.

and Bhopal, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered five and two cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he said.

With 23,129 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,85,96,748, the official added.

A government release said 11,44,54,989 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 323 on Holi.

figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,40,852, new cases 31, death toll 10,733, recoveries 10,29,828, active cases 2911, number of tests so far 2,85,96,748.

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More than 100 hectares of government worth over Rs 150 crore has been freed from clutches of the mafia in Orchha, a tourist town in Niwari district bordering Uttar Pradesh, a senior official has said.

The district administration has issued an order retaking possession of these parcels, which were usurped by some people using fraudulent means and manipulating records, he said. Collector Narendra Singh Suryavanshi issued the order on Thursday to get these tracts of land re-registered in government records. I have passed an order to retake tracts of land admeasuring more than 100 hectares and worth over Rs 150 crore and mutate them as that of government in official records, Suryavanshi told PTI. The collector said he passed the order after courts heard and disposed of cases related to these land parcels which were illegally occupied. They included land given to tribals on lease by the government free of cost to support their livelihood, he said. The collector asserted the drive against the land mafia will continue in the district.

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Pakistan's Foreign Office on Friday rejected as unwarranted and gratuitous the remarks made by Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning the Partition and the location of the revered Darbar Sahib gurdwara in .

Foreign Office said in a statement that also reiterated its serious concern over the BJP leadership's increasing tendency of dragging into its domestic affairs.

"Pakistan categorically rejects the unwarranted and gratuitous remarks made by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent event, questioning the Partition and location of Sahib in Pakistan," the statement said.

It is deeply regrettable that distortion of historical facts has become the hallmark of the BJP government along with its ideological fountainhead RSS, it said.

The FO reminded that it was Pakistan which had brought to fruition the idea of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Corridor and completed the project in record time as a gift to the Sikh community in India and worldwide.

The Kartarpur Corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, where Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev lived and died at the start of the 16th century, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. The 4 km-long corridor provides visa free access to Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

In November 2019, Pakistan Prime Minister had formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor as part of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at a colourful ceremony, paving the way for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit one of their religion's holiest sites in Pakistan without needing a visa.

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Putin tells Scholz that Kyiv is stalling peace talks with Moscow

Russian President told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a phone call on Friday that Kyiv was attempting to stall peace talks with Russia but that Moscow was still keen to continue negotiations.

"It was noted that the Kyiv regime is attempting in every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said in a readout of the call. Read more here

Oil continues rally as Russia-Ukraine talks see slim progress

Oil prices extended their gains on Friday at the end of a third volatile week of trade after slim progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine raised the spectre prolonged disruption to .

Brent crude futures rose $1.14, or 1%, to $107.78 a barrel at 1003 GMT, after surging nearly 9% on Thursday in the largest percentage gain since mid-2020. Read more here

Iran ready to meet India's energy needs, Tehran envoy tells New Delhi

Iran is ready to meet India's energy needs by launching rupee-rial trade for export of oil and gas, said Ali Chegeni, Tehran's Ambassador to New Delhi.

"Rupee-rial trade mechanism can help companies from both the countries to deal with each other directly and avoid third party intermediation costs," the Ambassador said speaking at an interactive meeting on Thursday organised by the MVIRDC World Trade Centre, a trade facilitating body, and the All India Association of Industries (AIAI). Read more here

Investor wealth rises Rs 19 trn as Sensex soars 5,000 pts in 8 sessions

After a sharp decline after the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, the Indian equity benchmark Sensex has risen over 5,000 points in the past eight trading sessions - since March 8.

During the same time period, Nifty rose over 1,400 points.

Some moderation in internal commodity prices -- including crude oil -- had pushed investors to make a comeback in the markets. Read more here
Russian oil exports to India have quadrupled this month in a sign of the vast reshaping of global energy flows since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Financial Times reported.

India, the world's third-largest energy consuming country, has snapped up multiple cargoes of Russian oil from traders as buyers in shunned the country's vast commodities market following western sanctions on Moscow.

Russia has exported 360,000 barrels a day of oil to India in March so far, nearly four times the 2021 average. The country is on track to hit 203,000 b/d for the whole month based on current shipment schedules, according to Kpler, a commodities data and analytics firm. Export data represent cargoes that have been loaded on to tankers and are enroute India, Financial Times reported.

Alex Booth, head of research at Kpler, said India typically buys CPC, a blend of predominantly Kazakh and Russian crude, but the big increase in March was for Russia's flagship Urals crude, suggesting Indian buyers weighed up significant discounts against public opinion.

"Already committed oil cargoes from Russia that can't find buyers in are being bought by India. Exports to India surged in March before any official announcement by New Delhi," he said, FT reported.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki warned that India would be on the wrong side of history if it bought Russian oil, although she acknowledged the purchases would not violate US sanctions. Historically, Russian crude oil has constituted below 5 percent of India's total imports, which were 4.2mn b/d last year.

"Indian companies weren't sourcing much from Russia given high shipping costs," said Vivekanand Subbaraman, research analyst at Ambit Capital. "This appears to be changing now." Lars Barstad, chief executive of Frontline, a New York-listed tanker company, said that the discount on Russian Urals was about $25-30 a barrel, whereas freight rates would only add $3-4 per barrel, making the trade economic, FT reported.

Frontline and other tanker companies have been avoiding trading Russian oil because of the complexity of complying with sanctions, but many oil majors and traders are legally bound under contracts to keep lifting Russian barrels.

Speaking to Indian lawmakers this week, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri stressed that energy prices in India have not soared as much as they have in and the US, rising only 5 per cent.

India would act in the interest of local consumers within "the margin of persuasion", he added.

Russia's deputy prime minister Alexander Novak and Puri spoke over phone last week.

"We are interested in further attracting Indian investment to the Russian sector and expanding Russian companies' sales networks in India," Novak said.

Indian officials have said that the central bank and government are looking at establishing a rupee-rouble trading mechanism, which would facilitate trade after western restrictions on international payments to and from Russia, Financial Times reported.

--IANS

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The government in on Friday presented the Budget for 2022-23 in the Assembly and Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said for the first time since 2014, the revenue deficit is set to decrease by over Rs 7,000 crore.

Tthe main opposition AIADMK staged a walkout and boycotted the Budget presentation, the second by the government after it assumed power in May 2021.

Citing the pandemic, the floods, and the government action to tackle the situation, Thiaga Rajan said such aspects had a negative impact on the stressed states finances.

In view of the prudent fiscal management, the overall revenue deficit has decreased to Rs 55,272.79 crore in revised estimates against the budgeted Rs 58,692.68 crore. The 15th Central Finance Commission recommended a fiscal deficit up to 4.5 per cent of GSDP to states in 2021-22. However, the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GSDP has reduced to 3.80 per cent in the revised estimates from 4.33 per cent in the Budget estimates."

The minister said Rs 2,531 crore for waiver of agricultural loans, Rs 1,000 crore for waiver of jewel loans and Rs 600 crore for waiving self-help group loans has been allotted. All girl students who studied from Classes 6 to 12 in government schools will be paid Rs 1,000 per month directly into their bank account till the uninterrupted completion of their undergraduate degree, diploma and ITI courses. The students will be eligible for this in addition to other scholarships.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (local time) said that at least 12 people have been killed and 34 people have been injured in at least 43 attacks on facilities in amid intensified attacks by .

Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his remarks to the UN Security Council said, "Attacks on are a violation of humanitarian law - anytime, anywhere. They deprive people of urgently-needed care and break already strained health systems. That is what we are seeing in ."

Mental health services are also being greatly affected by the conflict, with more than 35,000 mental health patients in Ukrainian psychiatric hospitals and long-term care facilities, "which are facing severe shortages of medicines, food, heating, blankets and more."

Tedros said the war in is also exacerbating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country due to decline in testing rates and only 40 per cent Ukrainian population being vaccinated.

"Declining rates of testing since the start of the conflict mean there is likely to be significant undetected transmission. And with less than 40 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated, this increases the risk of large numbers of people developing severe disease," Tedros said.

has sent about 100 metric tons of medical supplies to the region, including "oxygen, insulin, surgical supplies, anesthetics, and blood transfusion kits - enough for 4,500 trauma patients and 450,000 primary patients, for one month. Other equipment, including oxygen generators, electrical generators and defibrillators have also been delivered, and we are preparing to send a further 108 metric tons," Tedros said.

Although has more critical supplies ready for UN convoys attempting to enter regions in Ukraine, they have not been successful, the Director-General said.

"For example, the UN convoy to Sumy that included a WHO truck carrying critical medical supplies was unable to enter. Loads ready for Mariupol remain in staging areas and cannot proceed. Access to these, and other areas, is now critical," Tedros said.

Tedros ended his remarks by stating that while Ukraine is "rightly the focus of the world's attention," he urged the council "not to lose sight of the many other crises in which people are suffering," including millions of people still suffering in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, and Yemen.

(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 absence of a clear denunciation by China of what is doing in flies in the face of everything Beijing stands for, including the basic principles of the UN Charter and respect for the sovereignty of nations, the has said ahead of the much-anticipated call between US President and his Chinese counterpart on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said China's assistance to in invading a foreign country was of significant concern and the response to that would have consequences.

Psaki announced on Thursday that Biden will speak with Chinese President Xi on Friday to discuss the ongoing economic competition between the two countries and Russia's war against .

This (the call) is an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands. There has been, of course, rhetorical support, or the absence of clear rhetoric and denunciation - or the absence of denunciation by China of what is doing.

This flies in the face of everything China stands for, including the basic principles of the UN Charter, including the basic principles of respect for the sovereignty of nations, she said.

The fact that China has not denounced what Russia is doing, in and of itself, speaks volumes. It also speaks volumes not only in Russia or in Ukraine, but around the world. This call also comes as we have made clear our deep concerns about China's alignment with Russia and the potential implications and consequences of that, she said.

The announcement of the much-awaited call between the two leaders comes days after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Yang Jiechi, Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, in Rome.

The President is a big believer in leader-to-leader diplomacy. And they have a lot to discuss, given the last time the President met with President Xi virtually was last November - a couple of months ago, Psaki said.

The meeting tomorrow, in terms of how we got here, came as a direct follow-up to the meeting our national Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, had with his counterpart.

They talked about the two presidents' meeting or engaging in the near future during that meeting. So, hence, it is happening tomorrow, she said.

Responding to a question, she said the US was concerned that China is considering directly assisting Russia by providing them with more military equipment to use in .

It is a high concern, a significant concern, given our Secretary of State just conveyed that. And certainly, our concerns about China assisting, in any way, Russia as they invade a foreign country is of significant concern and the response to that would have consequences, she said.

China has refused to condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's ceremonial parliament early this month, Foreign Minister Wang described Russia as Beijing's most important strategic partner.

No matter how perilous the landscape, we will maintain our strategic focus and promote the development of comprehensive China-Russia partnership in the new era, Wang told reporters.

The friendship between the two peoples is ironclad," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 announced a military operation against Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to unprecedented consequences.

More than three weeks of war has created a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that has accelerated in recent days. The estimates that over 2 million Ukrainians have fled their country, and the number is expected to grow.

(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 State Department confirmed on Thursday that an American citizen was killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv.

The department did not immediately confirm the identity of the American, who was at least the second US citizen to be killed in the conflict, after the killing of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week.

Chernihiv police said on Facebook there was a heavy artillery attack on the city and a US citizen was among the civilians killed.

In Chernihiv, a city north of Kyiv, the capital, at least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours, killed during heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

(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.)
Economic Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have launched negotiations to upgrade the Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), the regional bloc said a statement.

The announcement was made during the virtual 28th Economic Ministers' (AEM) Retreat, which was held under the chairmanship of Cambodia's Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying on Thursday.

"The AEM retreat has adopted the guidelines, terms and conditions for the ATIGA Upgrade Negotiations committee and announced the launch of the ATIGA Upgrade Negotiations," Sorasak said in the statement.

The ministers also fully supported 19 Priority Economic Deliverables for 2022 proposed by Cambodia, and one of them was the ATIGA Upgrade Negotiations, he said.

Signed in Thailand in 2009, the ATIGA aims to achieve free flow of goods in the region resulting in less trade barriers and deeper economic linkages among member states, lower business costs, increased trade, and a larger market and economies of scale for businesses.

The upgraded negotiations are to ensure that ATIGA remains relevant in transforming the region into a more integrated and cohesive economy, particularly in the face of global economic shocks and volatility.

According to the statement, the Ministers also chartered priority tasks for 2022 towards expediting regional economic recovery.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

--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.)
has imposed sanctions on 11 Russian banks and many governmental entities, including those responsible for managing the Russian sovereign debt, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The sanctions have been introduced over the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

"The Australian Government has placed sanctions on 11 additional Russian banks and government entities, with the majority of the country's banking assets now covered by our sanctions along with all of the entities that handle Russia's sovereign debt," the ministry said in a statement.

"Today's listing includes the Russian National Wealth Fund and the Russian Ministry of Finance. With our recent inclusion of the Central Bank of Russia, has now targeted all Russian Government entities responsible for issuing and managing Russia's sovereign debt," the statement 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.)
U.S. President is expected to tell Chinese President on Friday that Beijing will pay a price if it supports Russia's military operations in Ukraine, a warning that comes at a time of deepening conflict between the nations. Biden and Xi will speak by phone, scheduled for 9 a.m.

Eastern time (1300 GMT), and Washington has already threatened lower-level Chinese government officials privately and publicly that greater support for risks isolation for Beijing.



The conversation between Biden and Xi, their first since November, will be loaded with tension. Biden "will make clear that will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.



"We're concerned that they're considering directly assisting with military equipment to use in Ukraine," he said.

has denied such plans. Washington is also concerned that could help circumvent economic sanctions imposed by Western nations.



Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has killed hundreds of civilians, reduced city areas to rubble and sparked a humanitarian crisis as millions flee the country. It has also added a new front in the contentious U.S.-Chinese relationship, deflating Biden's initial hopes of easing a wide range of disputes by using a personal connection with Xi that predates his term in office.



Biden greeted Xi warmly during the first moments of a video conference in November. Xi called Biden an "old friend." U.S. officials increasingly view relations with Beijing through the prism of inherent competition, even though they want to avoid a 'cold war' or a direct confrontation between the rival powers.



Washington sees China growing even closer to Russia after Xi and Russian President last month announced a "no-limits" strategic partnership last month. China has refused to condemn Russia's action in or call it an invasion, and it has censored online content in China that is pro-West or unfavorable to Russia.



Beijing, while saying it recognizes sovereignty, has also said Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed, and has urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

While Biden's administration has threatened unspecified counter-measures if China helps Russia's effort in Ukraine, officials have grown more resigned to that likelihood. The and its allies have not yet decided on precisely what steps to take against China, according to one person involved in those conversations.



Targeting Beijing with the sort of extensive economic sanctions imposed on Russia would have potentially dire consequences for the and the world, given that China is the second largest economy and largest exporter. A seven-hour meeting in Rome on Monday between lower-level aides to Biden and Xi were described as "tough" and "intense" by officials.



Biden's administration has not yet offered evidence of the claim that China has signaled a willingness to help Russia. Moscow has denied asking China for military assistance, and China's foreign ministry called the idea "disinformation." Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said this week the country was counting on China to help it withstand the blow to its economy from punishing Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia's economy from the rest of the world.



The European war is not the only challenging topic on the agenda for Biden and Xi. The two leaders are also expected to compare notes on the Iran nuclear talks, North Korea's missile launches and Taiwan.

China and the are also engaged in separate trade talks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FMCG major Limited (BIL) has said it aims to achieve a diversity ratio of 50 per cent by 2024 by increasing the participation of women in its factory workforce.

BIL Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Amit Doshi said that at present 38 per cent of the company's factory workforce is women.

"We aim to achieve a diversity ratio of 50 per cent by 2024 from the current national average of 38 per cent across our factories," he said.

At Britannia's Guwahati factory, the proportion of women in the workforce is 60 per cent and it will be increased to 65 per cent, he said.

"We are proud to have a women workforce in areas typically dominated by men like engineering, taping and grinding as well as packing, housekeeping, pantry, lab testing, canteen and security," he said.

For empowering women, the company has already launched a start-up challenge among woman entrepreneurs, Doshi said.

So far, the company has provided seed capital of Rs 10 lakh each to 30 woman entrepreneurs for start-ups in areas like e-commerce, digital services, ophthalmological care through mobile vans and child education, among others, he said.

The company has also tied up with Google for providing skill training to women across the country, he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ukrainian Armed Forces have said that Russian troops cannot resume the attack on Kiev in the near future due to their losses, and instead they are focusing on the separatist Donbas region.

The military said Russian forces did not conduct active offensive operations in the Polissya region.

"The aggressors' main efforts were focused on maintaining the previously occupied borders and carrying out preparatory measures for a possible attack on Kiev," Ukrayinska Pravda reported citing the Armed Forces as saying.

The low moral and psychological condition of private soldiers and sergeants of the occupying forces, as well as the lack of experienced commanders of tactical units after the losses inflicted by Ukrainian defenders, rule out resuming offensive operations in the near future, a briefing said.

Russian have concentrated their main efforts on preparing for the attack on Severodonetsk and the encirclement of Mariupol (Luhansk and Donetsk directions).

They did not carry out offensive operations in Volyn and continued to strengthen the protection of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border by units of Belarusian Armed Forces, the military said.

The probability of provocations by Russian special services is high, it added.

The Armed Forces went on to say that the Russian forces are trying to maintain certain borders, restore the combat capability of units and replenish supplies (Sivershchyna direction).

"The invaders continue to partially blockade the city of Chernihiv and carry out artillery shelling of the city."

--IANS

san/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.)
Commentary: Washington: The world's biggest bully

Xinhua) 08:54, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Washington dumbfounded the world again earlier this week after it had the brass to pitch itself as the one standing "on the side of the rules-based order" on the Ukraine issue and accuse others of violating "the basic tenet that big countries cannot bully small countries."

Apparently, it never crossed Washington's mind to look in the mirror before speaking out. The reflection would be appalling: a bellicose history of overseas military intrusions and covert subversions.

Washington's bullying has long been evident on the world stage. The primal American culture of piracy that advocates pillage and conquest has been sharpened by Washington into a hegemonic foreign policy to flex its muscles wherever possible, bully others whenever it sees fit and dictate the world's rules of the road as a matter of course.

As former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower said in his farewell address, "the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist" in the country.

Indeed, Washington's reckless interference has pushed countries in the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe into war and strife, leaving behind death and destruction.

The U.S.-led NATO forces carried out continuous airstrikes for 78 days against Yugoslavia, leaving more than 8,000 civilians dead or injured and nearly 1 million displaced.

The U.S.-launched war in Afghanistan killed around 50,000 Afghan civilians from 2001 to mid-April 2020 and reduced some 11 million to refugees. The scenes of terrified Afghan civilians trying to scale airport fences and chase airplanes in Kabul was a chilling echo of what happened in 1975 when U.S. Army helicopters lifted evacuees from the roof of the U.S. embassy in Saigon.

Furthermore, years of bloodshed have left more than 200,000 Iraqi civilians dead and dragged Libya into greater turmoil.

Last year, the anti-war group CODEPINK revealed that an average of 46 bombs have been dropped on other countries per day by Washington and its allies since 2001. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said in 2019 that his country has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history, making it "the most warlike nation in the history of the world."

Textbook cases of Washington bullying small countries with sanctions also abound. Washington's sanctions have increased tenfold in the past 20 years. It has long put Cuba, Venezuela, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Syria and others on its blacklist, wantonly disrupting their economies and damaging people's livelihoods even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

To eliminate what it sees as a threat to its technological hegemony, Washington has used nearly every available means, including blacklisting tech companies, imposing chip trading sanctions and impeding cooperation and exchanges between countries.

"It is the age-old 'with us or against us' strategy, and delivers all the consequences that a hegemon can inflict upon non-compliant states," read an op-ed published early December in the South China Morning Post.

The op-ed made a good point of Washington's arbitrary mentality. The arrogant minds of the White House have long undermined international rules, coerced others to pick sides and retaliated against whoever refused to comply.

This perverse logic was laid bare once again when Washington earlier in the week threatened "every country" to "make very clear where it stands" on Ukraine.

Against Washington's will, many people have realized that the fundamental way to resolve the Ukraine crisis lies in a ceasefire, followed by dialogue and negotiation. And just as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Wednesday, most countries agree that "the world needs peace, not war; it calls for justice, not hegemony; it aspires for cooperation, not confrontation."

If Washington truly cares about easing the situation in Ukraine, it should learn to stand on the right side of peace and justice. Pondering its past misdeeds could be a good start.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
US Secretary of State on Thursday (local time) said that "bears responsibility" to use its influence with Russian President to stop the war in Ukraine.

Blinken's remarks come ahead of US President Joe Biden's call on Friday with China's Xi Jinping, reported CNN.

"We continue to call on all nations, especially those with direct influence with Russia, to use whatever leverage they have to compel Moscow to end this war of choice. We believe China, in particular, has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the rules and principles that it professes to support," Blinken said.

"Instead, it appears that is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter. And we're concerned that they're considering directly assisting with military equipment to use in Ukraine. President Biden will be speaking to President Xi tomorrow and will make clear that will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression and we will not hesitate to impose costs," he said.

There is a lot of conjecture about the strategic relationship between China and Russia, and the degree of knowledge that Chairman Xi Jinping had before President launched his lamentable invasion of Ukraine.

This war is proving to be fraught with risks for China, putting Beijing in an awkward nexus as it tries to juggle support for its ally while pretending to be neutral.

China has tried hard to portray itself as neutral in this conflict, but it is patently obvious that it is not easy walking such a tightrope.

Russian talking points are blithely repeated by Chinese officials, one example being the ridiculous notion that the USA has biological warfare laboratories in Ukraine.

(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 leader assured U.S. President that his country didnt want war in during a highly anticipated, two-hour video conference on Friday, their first conversation since Russias invasion last month.

Xi told Biden that the invasion is not something we want to see, according to summaries released by the Chinese side, and that the events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield.

The White House has not yet issued a statement on the call.

The video conference began shortly after 9 a.m. Washington time and ended just before 11 a.m. It was an opportunity for Biden to assess where Beijing stands on the war and how Xi views his countrys role, after some Chinese officials issued conflicting statements on their support for and Russia.

Xi lamented the state of the world, according to his governments statement, observing that the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges and the world is neither tranquil nor stable.

But he criticized Western sanctions against Russia, saying that the ordinary people are the ones who suffer, according the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

If further escalated, it will also trigger a serious crisis in global trade and economy, finance, energy, food, industrial supply chain, etc., which will add to the already difficult world economy and cause irreparable damage, he added.

And he warned Biden on Taiwan, saying the U.S. has misread and misjudged Chinas strategic intentions.

If the Taiwan question is not handled properly, it will have a subversive impact on the relationship between the two countries, he said.

Biden held the video conference in private from the White Houses secure Situation Room.

U.S. officials have warned China of serious consequences should they decide to provide Russia with any military or financial assistance for the invasion.

We are ready to impose costs on China, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told MSNBC ahead of the call on Friday, urging Beijing to instead stand with .

China should understand that their future is with the United States, with Europe, with other developed and developing countries around the world, she said. Their future is not to stand with Vladimir Putin.

Earlier, the Chinese dismissed the suggestion that they have chosen the wrong side in the war.

The claim that #China is on the wrong side of history is overbearing. It is the #US that is on the wrong side of history, Hua Chunying, Chinas assistant foreign minister said in a tweet.

The White House has called out Beijing for efforts to portray itself as a neutral arbiter, while U.S. intelligence suggests China is open to supplying Russia with military and financial aid -- a request the U.S. has said was made by Moscow shortly after the invasion.

Its not clear if China has decided to provide material support for Russia. China and Russia have denied such asks were made.

The Ukraine crisis has increased the pressure on a relationship already strained by everything from trade disputes to U.S. support for the democratically elected government on Taiwan. Chinese officials have repeatedly accused the U.S. side in recent weeks of failing to live up to the consensus reached during Bidens video summit with Xi in November.

While China has refrained from criticizing the invasion and voiced support for Russias legitimate strategic concerns, it has also urged peace talks and the protection of civilians. Chinas ambassador to the U.S., Qin Gang, has rejected speculation that Xi had advance knowledge of Putins plan as disinformation, saying China wouldve tried to stop the conflict.

The call is also part of the U.S.s ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the two countries even as tensions run high.

It follows a six-hour meeting earlier this week in Rome between Bidens National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinas top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, which the White House described as an intense back-and-forth.
has dismissed as rumours about sending troops to Russia, including a cropped picture showing a fully-loaded Chinese military truck convoy at the border with Russia, according to a media report on Friday.

A photo circulating on Twitter is a cropped version of a picture first published in 2021, China's internet watchdog said.

had earlier denied reports that Russia had asked it for military support in its Ukraine military offensive.

The Cyberspace Administration of (CAC), the country's internet watchdog, said on Thursday that there were many reports online aimed at discrediting China's position on the war in Ukraine, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Friday.

A photograph of a long line of fully-loaded Chinese military vehicles travelling at night has circulated on Twitter, triggering speculation that China was providing assistance to Russia.

But it was actually an edit of an old shot from May 2021, the CAC said.

A tweet had said a photo of 200 to 300 People's Liberation Army (PLA) trucks was taken by a local driver on March 14 in the north-eastern Heilongjiang province, near Suifenhe, a town on the border with Russia.

The original photo was an official publicity shot of a PLA regiment's night transport exercise in the western region of Xinjiang last year, which was first published in the official PLA Daily on May 10, 2021, the CAC 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.)
A Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the sensitive Strait on Friday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said, just hours before the Chinese and U.S. presidents were due to talk.

claims democratically ruled as its own territory, and has over the past two years stepped up its military activity near the island to assert its sovereignty claims, alarming Taipei and Washington.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter, who was not authorised to speak to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the carrier Shandong sailed close to the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, which sits directly opposite the Chinese city of Xiamen.

"Around 10:30 a.m. the CV-17 appeared around 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Kinmen, and was photographed by a passenger on a civilian flight," the source said, referring to the Shandong's official service number.

The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier at least partly on its route.

The Shandong did not have aircraft on its deck and sailed north through the strait, the source added.

also sent warships to keep an eye on the situation, the source said.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry, in a brief statement, confirmed the passage of the Shandong but gave no details other than to say its forces have a "full grasp" of what China's ships and aircraft do in the Taiwan Strait.

U.S. Navy spokesperson Lt. Mark Langford said the Ralph Johnson had "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit March 17 (local time) through waters in accordance with law". He did not elaborate.

Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian referred questions to the Defence Ministry - which did not respond to a request for comment - but said the Shandong has a "routine training schedule".

"We should not associate this with the communication between the heads of state of and the United States. You may think it is too sensitive. What is sensitive is you, not the Taiwan Strait," Zhao told reporters in Beijing.

'Provocative' Timing

The sailing happened about 12 hours before U.S. President is due to speak to his Chinese counterpart, .

The source described the timing of the Shandong's movement so close to that call as "provocative" and that it was unusual it sailed during daylight hours, with previous missions happening at night.

Last April, China's navy said a carrier group, lead by the Liaoning, the country's first aircraft carrier put into active service, was carrying out routine drills in the waters near Taiwan.

Taiwan is already in a heightened state of alert due to the Ukraine war, wary of taking advantage of the situation to make a move of its own, though there have been no signs Beijing is about to mount any kind of military strike.

Lo Chih-cheng, a senior lawmaker from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party called the Shandong's transit a "very provocative message" when countries in the region are already alarmed by the war in Ukraine and hours before the Biden-Xi call.

"Tensions across the Taiwan Strait won't rise sharply because of this, but it will likely cause neighbouring countries to raise their military alert level," he told Reuters.

China says Taiwan is the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with the United States. Washington has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is Taiwan's most important backer and arms supplier.

Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims and has repeatedly vows to defend its freedom and democracy.

Kuo Yu-jen, a security expert at Taiwan's National Sun Yat-sen University, said the Shandong was likely to be on its way up to northern China for next month's celebrations marking the founding of China's navy.

"It was carrying no aircraft and had no frigates" accompanying, he added.

The Shandong is China's newest aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2019.

In December 2019, shortly before presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan, it sailed through the Taiwan Strait, a move condemned by Taiwan as attempted intimidation.

Taiwan's air force also scrambles aircraft almost daily to see off Chinese warplanes flying into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, mostly to the southwestern part of the strait at the top end of the South China Sea.

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and on Friday imposed new sanctions on Russian entities as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine, which the West says has been stalled by staunch resistance but continues to take a devastating toll on civilians.



Western sources and Ukrainian officials said Russia's assault has faltered since its troops invaded on Feb. 24, further dashing its expectations of a swift victory and the removal of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government.



has relied heavily on missiles and shelling to subdue Ukraine's forces but has yet to secure any of its 10 largest cities.

At least three blasts were heard in the western city of Lviv on Friday morning, 24 television station reported, publishing a short video in which a mushroom-shaped plume of smoke could be seen rising on the horizon.



Despite battleground setbacks and punitive sanctions by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little sign of relenting. His government says it is counting on China to help withstand blows to its economy.



The United States, which this week announced $800 million in new military aid to Kyiv, is concerned China is "considering directly assisting with military equipment to use in Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

President Joe Biden, who described Putin as a "murderous dictator", will make clear to Chinese President in a call Friday that China "will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression", Blinken told reporters.

The pair are due to speak at 9 a.m. Eastern time (1300 GMT), the White House said.

China has declined to condemn Russia's action in or call it an invasion. It says it recognises Ukraine's sovereignty but that Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed.

A Chinese foreign ministry official met this week with Russia's ambassador to China to exchange views on counter-terrorism and security cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.



SIDES FAR APART

and announced separate measures sanctioning Russian individuals and organisations, including two oligarchs with links to Australia's mining industry, as well as Russia's state-owned arms exporter, its finance ministry and central bank.



The U.N. human rights office in Geneva said it had recorded 2,032 civilian casualties in - 780 killed and 1,252 injured.

Some 3.2 million civilians have fled to neighbouring countries, the United Nations said.



A fourth straight day of talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators took place on Thursday by videolink, but the Kremlin said an agreement had yet to be reached. Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia launched the war to subjugate a neighbour Putin calls an artificial state. Russia says it is carrying out a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine.

DIGGING FOR SURVIVORS

Rescuers in Mariupol, a southern port city, dug survivors from the rubble of a theatre that officials said had been hit by an air strike on Wednesday as civilians took shelter there from bombardments. Russia denies striking the theatre.



Mariupol has suffered the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the war, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in basements with no food, water or power. City officials say they are not able to estimate the number of casualties from the theatre.



Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the assertion that Russia had bombed the theatre was a lie.

Northeastern and northwestern suburbs of Kyiv have suffered heavy damage but the capital itself has held firm, under a curfew and subjected to deadly rocket attacks nightly.



A building in Kyiv's Darnytsky district was extensively damaged on Thursday. As residents cleared glass, a man knelt weeping by the body of a woman covered in a bloody sheet. Viacheslav Chaus, governor of the region centred on the front-line northern city of Chernihiv, on Thursday said 53 civilians had been killed there in the past 24 hours. The toll could not be independently verified.



One of those killed in Chernihiv was a U.S. citizen, Jimmy Hill, who was gunned down while waiting in a bread line, his family said. "His body was found in the street," his sister wrote on Facebook.

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Kosovo's president on Thursday asked US President to help Kosovo become a member at a time that Russia is making efforts to destabilize the Balkans.

President Vjosa Osmani sent a letter to Biden saying that Kosovo's membership in has become an imperative."



Kosovo, the most pro-American and pro- country in the world, is excluded from NATO enlargement processes, she said in a letter made available to The Associated Press.

Osmani urged Biden to use the US leadership and influence to actively support and advance the complex process of NATO membership for Kosovo.

While the world's eyes are focused on the devastating war in Ukraine, Osmani said that we must not lose sight of the fragile situation we face in the Balkans.

We are exposed to persistent efforts by Russia to undermine Kosovo and destabilise the entire Western Balkans, she wrote.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Joe Biden's words to Russian President are a personal insult, said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian President.

"We really hear and see statements that are actually already personal insults against President Putin," Peskov said, RT reported.

According to him, Biden allows himself such statements almost daily. He added that the would not give sharp assessments, so as not to cause more aggressiveness.

Biden, speaking at a Friends of Ireland dinner, called Putin a "bloody dictator" and a "thug."

Earlier, Moscow considered "inadmissible and unforgivable" the words of Biden, who called Putin a "war criminal", Peskov said.

The press secretary of the President of Russia recalled that hundreds of thousands of people around the world were killed by US bombs.

The words of Biden, who called Putin a "war criminal", are "absolutely inadmissible, unacceptable, unforgivable," Peskov said, RT reported.

"Our President is a very wise, far-sighted and cultured figure and the head of the Russian Federation," said Peskov, answering a question as to why the head of state does not answer the American leader.

--IANS

san/arm

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Cases of BA2, a Covid-19 subvariant, are rising across the (EU) as member nations were lifting restrictions, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said.

"While many EU countries are lifting restrictions, we notice that the infection rates are increasing again in some member states, partly because of the circulation of BA2, which seems to be more transmissible than other variants," Xinhua news agency quoted Marco Cavalieri, head of the EMA's strategy on biological health threats and vaccines, as saying to journalists here on Thursday.

What matters the most, he said, is how this increase in cases will stress the healthcare systems.

The EMA called non-vaccinated citizens to get jabbed as soon as possible, emphasizing that there are now five Covid-19 jabs authorised in the EU using different technologies.

"There is currently no evidence that immune response after vaccination is significantly different with BA2. Vaccines continue to offer high protection against hospitalization and death," he said.

The vaccines that have received conditional marketing authorisation from the EMA are those produced by Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novavax.

--IANS

ksk/

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on Friday denounced the perverse abuse of power on display in Russia's war in and called for aid to Ukrainians who he said had been attacked in their identity, history and tradition and were defending their land.

Francis' comments, in a message to a gathering of European Catholic representatives, marked some of his strongest yet in asserting Ukraine's right to exist as a sovereign state and to defend itself against Russia's invasion.

It came just days after Francis told the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, that the concept of a just war was obsolete since wars are never justifiable and that pastors must preach peace, not politics.

Those comments, during a video call Wednesday with Kirill, seemed to be an indirect jab at the patriarch's apparent defense of the war.

Kirill, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has seemingly justified the invasion by describing it as part of a struggle against sin and pressure from liberal foreigners to hold gay parades.

He has blamed the West and a fellow Orthodox patriarch for fomenting enmity between and and echoed Putin in insisting they are one people.

In his comments Friday, Francis did not mention by name evidence of the Vatican's tradition of not identifying aggressors and its attempts to keep open a dialogue with Kirill's church. But Francis strongly backed .

"The heartbreaking scream for help from our Ukrainian brothers pushes us as a community of believers not just to serious reflection, but to cry with them and work for them; to share the anguish of a people wounded in its identity, history and tradition, Francis told the meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The blood and tears of the children, the suffering of women and men who are defending their land or fleeing from the bombs shake our conscience.

Once again humanity is threatened by a perverse abuse of power and partisan interests, which condemns defenseless people to suffer all forms of brutal violence.

Kirill, for his part, insisted that Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who also spoke by video call with the patriarch this week, understood the Russian position and were sympathetic to it.

He repeated that the goal of the Russian Orthodox Church despite the very negative political context" was to preserve the spiritual unity of our people - the Russian and Ukrainian peoples - as a single people who emerged from the Kiev Baptismal font.

Neither the Vatican nor Lambeth Palace expressed sympathy with the Russian position in their readouts of the calls and did not refer to Russians and Ukrainians as one people.

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Russian President told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a phone call on Friday that Kyiv was attempting to stall peace talks with but that was still keen to continue negotiations.

"It was noted that the Kyiv regime is attempting in every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.

"Nonetheless the Russian side is ready to continue searching for a solution in line with its well-known principled approaches."

Western officials said on Thursday that and were taking peace talks seriously but that a big gap remained between the two sides.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Putin's call with Scholz had been harsh but business-like, told reporters on a conference call that the Russian delegation was "demonstrating its readiness to work much faster than is being done now".

"Unfortunately the Ukrainian delegation is not ready to step up the pace of negotiations. But the (negotiation) process continues nonetheless."

has previously said it was close to agreeing a formula that would keep neutral, one of its key demands.

has said it is willing to negotiate but will not surrender or accept Russian ultimatums. It is sticking to its position that it retains sovereignty over areas seized by and Russian-backed forces since 2014.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
halted its call for a vote on its draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in over lack of support and will instead call for an emergency meeting to address the US bio-laboratories in the war-torn country.

"We decided, on this stage, not to ask for a vote on our draft, but we are not withdrawing the draft resolution. Instead, tomorrow morning, we will ask for an emergency meeting to discuss again the issue of US bio laboratories in Ukraine, using the new documents we obtained in the course of the special military operation," Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said during a Security Council meeting on Thursday.

The Russian UN Security Council resolution had called for a humanitarian ceasefire in to enable the safe evacuation of civilians, Sputnik reported citing a draft text of the resolution released on Tuesday.

Condemning all violations of humanitarian law and human rights, including the Geneva Conventions, the resolution demanded respect and protection for all medical and humanitarian personnel engaged in medical and related duties, according to Sputnik.

The had held a special session on Thursday (local time) to discuss the humanitarian situation in following a request from six countries including the US, UK, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway.

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US President on Thursday (local time) called Russian President a "murderous dictator" and a "pure thug" while speaking at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on St. Patrick's Day at Capitol Hill.

"(Putin is) a murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine," Biden was quoted as saying by CNN.

Earlier on the same day, in a meeting with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, he said that "Putin's brutality and what he's doing and his troops are doing in is just inhumane."

The strong remarks come just a day after Biden called Putin a "war criminal" during a press briefing.

"I think he is a war criminal," Biden had said.

Biden had initially said "no" when asked whether Putin was a war criminal but returned to a group of reporters immediately to clarify what had been asked. When asked again whether Putin was a war criminal, he answered in the affirmative, reported Sputnik.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that US President Joe Biden's remarks on Russian President speak for themselves when asked to comment on the remarks.

Kremlin had taken serious objection to Biden's "war criminal" remark with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying, "We consider such rhetoric of the head of state, whose bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, unacceptable and inexcusable."

The recent rhetoric from Biden is a significant escalation in his condemnation of Putin's actions in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday Biden's comments were "absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable," CNN reported.

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Ukraine's Lviv city mayor Andriy Sadovyi said that the Russian missiles struck an aircraft repair plant in Lviv on Friday, according to The Kyiv independent, a media outlet.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian air forces said that fourteen Russian aerial units were destroyed on March 17.

Ukraine's air defence destroyed seven aircraft, one helicopter, three UAVs, and three cruise missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force command.

After the US and other western countries, Japan has also imposed sanctions on 15 Russian persons and nine more entities over the military operation in Ukraine, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Amid the Ukraine- crisis, several currents and former European politicians request the Norwegian Nobel Committee to nominate Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 and due to this, the nomination process has been extended to March 31.

"We therefore humbly call upon you, the Committee, to consider: Extending and thereby re-opening the nomination procedure for the Nobel Peace Prize until March 31, 2022, to allow for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine," the statement, dated March 11, said.

On February 24, began a special military operation in after the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics requested help in defending themselves.

has been facing immense pressure from the community to stop its military operations in which has created an immense humanitarian crisis with thousands of refugees from Ukraine fleeing to the neighbouring countries to the West.

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US President Joe Biden's campaign to unite the globe against the Russian invasion of Ukraine is being challenged not only by adversaries such as China but also by the world's most populous democracy, India.

An Indian government official said on Friday that the country will increase its imports of Russian oil, allowing it to boost energy supplies at a discount as its economy struggles to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The official, who was not authorised to talk to reporters and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the latest purchase was 3 million barrels.

Although India isn't alone in buying Russian energy several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so the decision conflicts with Biden's efforts to isolate Russia's economy with sanctions.

The increased flow of oil could further strain the relationship between Washington and New Delhi, which has already been tested by India's recent procurement of advanced Russian air defence systems.

The White House is still considering whether to enact sanctions on India for that purchase.

The issue is being looked at with a different spin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to a US official familiar with the Biden administration's deliberations.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal decision-making.

The oil deal is a reminder of how the war in Ukraine has created a complicated geopolitical balancing act for Biden. Even as he tries to rally countries to oppose Russia's invasion, he also sees India as a critical partner for countering China's rising influence in Asia.

has long been a point of friction in US-India relations, but the White House believes the two democracies have more that's in common than that divides them.

India is a member of the Quad, an partnership that also includes the US, Australia and Japan, and the leaders of all four nations are slated to meet this year in Tokyo.

Although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a checkered record on human rights, he was invited to participate in Biden's virtual summit on democracy in December.

During the summit, Biden described the struggle between democracy and autocracy as the defining challenge of our time. Modi said that India "stands ready to join fellow democracies in this noble endeavour.

The White House has publicly warned China against siding with during the war in Ukraine, but it has been more circumspect when addressing India's role.

Asked Wednesday how the U.S. was working with India, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said we remain in touch through a range of channels.

On the previous day, when asked about India considering buying discounted Russian oil, Psaki said the US message to any country is to think about where you want to stand when the history books are written.

Imports make up 85% of India's oil needs, and its overall demand is projected to jump 8.2% to 5.15 million barrels per day this year.

Indian media reports said that was offering a 20% discount on oil purchases below global benchmark prices.

We are exploring all possibilities in the global energy market, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said Thursday. "I don't think Russia has been a major oil supplier to India.

India's relationship with Russia revolves more around defense than energy. Russia provides only a small fraction of India's oil but the majority of its military hardware.

It's critical for India's military readiness, especially as they have an ongoing border crisis with China," said Richard Rossow, an expert on the U.S.-India relationship at the Centre for Strategic and Studies, which is based in Washington.

Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers died less than two years ago in an ongoing territorial dispute over eastern Ladakh. India abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote condemning the invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian embassy in New Delhi responded by saying it highly appreciate(s) India's independent and balanced position.

Ken Juster, a former U.S. ambassador to India, said the South Asian nation believes in strategic autonomy and is unlikely to line up neatly on either side in conflicts between the East and the West.

However, he expects New Delhi to face additional pressure as the war in Ukraine continues.

India is going to face an increasingly challenging situation as Russia's atrocities become more apparent and more widespread, he said. It's going to be difficult for any country not to come out and condemn this. Biden has described the situation as a work in progress.

Shortly after Russia's invasion began, Biden was asked if India is fully in sync" with the U.S. on Russia.

He responded that we're in consultation with India, adding that we haven't resolved that completely.

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The Security Council has adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in (UNAMA) for a year till March 17, 2023.

Resolution 2626 decides that UNAMA and the UN Secretary-General's special representative will continue to carry out their mandate in support of the people of Afghanistan, in close consultations with all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, including relevant authorities as needed, obviously in reference to the Taliban, reports Xinhua news agency.

Norwegian UN ambassador Mona Juul, whose country tabled the draft, explained after the vote that the resolution authorizes UNAMA to engage with all relevant actors on all aspects of its mandate, including the Taliban.

But she emphasized that the resolution "in no way" implies UN recognition of the Taliban.

The resolution also stresses the critical importance of a continued presence of UNAMA and other UN agencies, funds and programs across .

It calls on all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders and actors to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of UN and associated personnel throughout the country.

It requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council every three months on the situation in and the implementation of UNAMA's mandate.

The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favour. Russia abstained.

--IANS

ksk/

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Over half a dozen eminent Indian-American women from various parts of the country were felicitated at the for their remarkable accomplishment.

Congressman Danny K Davis presented the awards to these eminent women at the 10th Annual Congressional Women's Day Gala organised jointly by American Multiethnic Coalition and Multiethnic Advisory Task Force at the here on Wednesday.

Indian-American women who were felicitated on the occasion were producer artist Rashaana Shah; Indica News founder and journalist Ritu Jha; physician Dr Kalai C Parthiban; social activists Madhu Rohatgi and Chandani Duvvuri; artist Indrani Davaluri; popular anchor and host Nilima Mehra and community activist Suhag Mehta.

It means a lot when a woman is appreciated for her work. Such appreciation gives her confidence, and drives her to do better, and gives her courage to take up more challenges, Ritu Jha said in her acceptance speech.

Congressman Davis congratulated the awardees for their accomplishments.

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The UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) on Friday announced that it has revoked Russia Today's license to broadcast in the country "with immediate effect," arguing that it did not consider the television channel "fit and proper" to hold the broadcasting permit.

"Ofcom has today revoked RT's license to broadcast in the UK, with immediate effect. We have done so on the basis that we do not consider RT's licensee, ANO TV Novosti, fit and proper to hold a UK broadcast licence," the watchdog said in a statement.

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Britain's communications regulator has revoked the licence of Russian-backed broadcaster RT amid investigations of its coverage of the Ukraine war.

The regulator, Ofcom, said it a statement that it did not consider RT's licensee, ANO TV Novosti, to be fit and proper to hold a broadcast license.

Ofcom says Friday's decision followed 29 ongoing investigations into the impartiality of RT's news and current affairs coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The regulator says: We have concluded that we cannot be satisfied that RT can be a responsible broadcaster in the current circumstances. Ofcom is therefore revoking RT's licence to broadcast with immediate effect.

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The head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukrainian officials says the parties have come closer to an agreement on a neutral status for .

Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian negotiators in several rounds of talks with Ukraine, including this week, said Friday that the sides have narrowed their differences on the issue of dropping its bid to join NATO and adopting a neutral status.

The issue of neutral status and no NATO membership for is one of the key issues in talks, and that is the issue where the parties have made their positions maximally close, Medinsky said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies.

He added that the sides are now half-way on issues regarding the demilitarization of Ukraine.

Medinsky noted that while Kyiv insists that Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine's east must be brought back into the fold, believes that people of the regions must be allowed to determine their fate themselves.

recognised the separatist regions' independence and used their call for military support as a pretext to launch an attack on Ukraine on February 24.

Medinsky noted that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is possible after the negotiators finalise a draft treaty to end the hostilities and it receives a preliminary approval by the countries' governments.

Medinsky also bristled at a recent statement by Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Zelenskyy, who called for disrupting railway links to supply Russian troops in Ukraine, saying it could undermine the talks.

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Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak has said that it would take between a few days and a week and a half for and to reach a peace agreement, the Ukrainian online media outlet Liga.net reported.

Kiev wants to fix in detail a specific plan for the withdrawal of Russian troops from in the peace deal, said Podolyak on Thursday, who is also a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the peace talks with .

If the agreement is inked, it would allow and to end the acute phase of the conflict, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

On Wednesday, Podolyak said that Ukrainian President may hold talks with his Russian counterpart in the coming days.

--IANS

int/shs

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The ExoMars rover mission, built in partnership with Russia, has been suspended by the (ESA) in the wake of Moscow's ongoing war on Ukraine.

ExoMars rover was slated for launch in September 2022.

The decision to suspend the mission comes after ESA's ruling Council meeting, held in Paris on March 16-17, with representatives of the agency's 22 member states.

The meeting "acknowledged the present impossibility of carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos on the ExoMars rover mission with a launch in 2022", according to the ESA statement.

The council also "mandated the ESA Director General to take appropriate steps to suspend the cooperation activities accordingly".

"Over the past two days, our Member States discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on ESA's space programmes," ESA director general Joseph Aschbacher said on Twitter.

"Together, we took a tough - but necessary - decision to suspend the launch of ExoMars foreseen for September with Roscosmos, and to study options for a way forward."

All the member states have imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its Ukraine invasion. In late February, Germany, which is the largest contributor to the ESA budget, suspended all science cooperation with Russia.

The ESA has also condemned Russian invasion.

"We deeply deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the aggression towards Ukraine. While recognising the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States," the ESA statement said.

The ESA Council meet has authorised the ESA Director General to study better "available options for a way forward to implement the ExoMars rover mission", as it won't be launched by Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency.

The decision on ExoMars is a blow for the beleaguered mission, which has been delayed since 2018 due to parachute issues. It was most recently scheduled to launch on a Russian Proton rocket in September, Space.com reported.

The ExoMars rover, named Rosalind Franklin after the British chemist whose work was fundamental for decoding the structure of the DNA, is the second of two missions forming the ExoMars programme.

It has been designed to search for traces of life in the atmosphere of Mars.

--IANS

rvt/ksk/

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his visiting Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu during their talks on Thursday agreed to focus on organising a meeting between Ukrainian President and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

"We understand that all key issues related to ending this war must be resolved with President Putin," Kuleba said after the talks, Xinhua news agency reported.

He reaffirmed Kiev's readiness to continue working on all diplomatic tracks to end Russia's offensive against Ukraine and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine.

For his part, Cavusoglu said stands ready to host a meeting between Zelensky and Putin.

"Now, we are focusing our efforts on organizing a meeting of leaders of Ukraine and Russia," Cavusoglu said.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said that Zelensky may hold talks with Putin in the coming days.

--IANS

int/shs

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UN Secretary-General has called for calm in amid the political strife during a phone call with Fathi Bashagha, one of the two competing Prime Ministers in the country.

The House of Representatives withdrew confidence from Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah's Government of National Unity in September 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

On March 1, the House of Representatives held a vote of confidence on a new government led by Bashagha and swore in the new government two days later.

Dbeibah has rejected the legitimacy of the March 1 vote and said he will only transfer power to an elected government.

Guterres on March 2 voiced concern over reports that the vote fell short of the expected standards of transparency and procedures and included acts of intimidation prior to the session.

In the phone call, the Secretary-general and Bashagha discussed the latest developments in Libya, said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman.

Guterres expressed deep concern at the ongoing political polarization in Libya, which carries significant risks for Libya's hard-won stability.

"The Secretary-General stressed the need for all actors to preserve calm and stability on the ground, while reiterating the UN's firm rejection for the use of violence, intimidation and hate speech," said Dujarric.

Guterres added that the current stalemate required urgent dialogue to find a consensual way forward and reiterated his full support to mediation efforts carried out by his special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said the spokesman.

Guterres held a phone call with Dbeibah on March 5. Guterres initiated both calls, said Dujarric.

But the spokesman said Thursday's call does not mean the Secretary-General is recognizing Bashagha's premiership.

"We are not in the business of recognizing other countries. What the secretary-general recognizes is that there is a situation in Libya, with competing claims to the authority, with a great risk of things going backward. So he is supporting Stephanie Williams. Our effort is to ensure that does not go back," said Dujarric.

"What we have said is that Williams has offered her good offices, is trying to bring the parties together, so that the solution is one that is supported by the Libyan people where political decisions on leadership are agreed upon through transparent and accountable processes. But it's not about the secretary-general choosing favourites, far from it," he said.

--IANS

ksk/

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Chinese President on Friday told his US counterpart that the crisis is not something "we want to see" and called for joint US- cooperation to shoulder " responsibilities" for world peace and tranquility.

The prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges. The world is neither tranquil nor stable. The crisis is not something we want to see. The events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield, Xi told Biden during a video summit, amid US criticism that is not condemning Russia's invasion of considering close ties between Beijing and Moscow.

Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone's interest, and peace and security are what the community should treasure the most, Xi was quoted as saying by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He also called for bringing the China-US ties which were under turmoil over a host of issues, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet on to the right track.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world's two leading economies, we must not only guide the China-US relations forward along the right track, he said.

Significantly he also said both the countries should also shoulder our share of responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility.

It is not clear whether he is calling for a joint initiative to end the Ukraine crisis as there was no clarification on his comment.

The video summit took place after a meeting between China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Rome on Monday.

Ever since began military operations in Ukraine on February 24, China, a close ally of Moscow, has been treading a fine line, declining to condemn it as an invasion.

On March 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in his annual press conference, said that the China- relationship is grounded in a clear logic of history and driven by strong internal dynamics, and the friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples is rock-solid.

"No matter how precarious and challenging the international situation may be, and will maintain strategic focus and steadily advance our comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," he added.

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The US' bipartisan Congressional delegation is expected to visit by the second week of April, days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day trip to .

Wang is scheduled to visit on March 26-27, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Nepali officials confirmed that the delegation comprises 25 members will be visiting Kathmandu.

Wang's planned visit and Beijing's increased concern over the US grant seems that the powerful countries are again taking interest in Nepal, according to the experts and Nepal's official.

This interest came after the US granted USD 500 million to Nepal for improving electricity supply and roads as per the US Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

After the MCC compact's ratification on February 27, the Chinese government's mouthpieces wrote in their editorials that the US is interfering in Nepal's sovereignty.

delegation visit is expected to be high-level exchanges later this year from both sides to mark the 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and the US, Nepali newspaper reported citing sources.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nepal-US diplomatic ties and a lot of political and social engagements are taking place between the two counties," the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu post.

Meanwhile, Chinese officials say Wang's visit to Kathmandu has agenda and that is to reassess Beijing's geopolitical and security challenges, as no longer feels secure in Nepal."Implementation of the BRI projects in Nepal is important for Beijing," says a second Kathmandu-based Chinese official who has long liaised between Kathmandu and Beijing. He was also speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"But this time Beijing is more worried about the security challenges emanating from the compact's approval," he added.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Wang will also take stock of the political climate in Kathmandu, reported The Annapurna Express.The Chinese government is also unhappy with its Kathmandu-based diplomats for their supposed failure in curbing anti-Chinese activities.

The MCC saga has been a sobering experience for . Beijing is reportedly reassessing its relations with Nepali leaders, particularly those it had trusted before.

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The is providing with intelligence that is making a difference in its fight against Russia, US Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie said during a hearing.

"I would say that the intelligence that we are sharing and the work that we're doing to support the Ukrainian government is making a difference," Moultrie said to the US House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. "It's accurate. It's timely, and it's actionable."

Moultrie added that he believes is pleased with the support the is providing to it.

Earlier in the day, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russian forces have advanced 10 kilometres (6 miles) in the Donbas and seized two more settlements and are continuing their successful offensive.

Since the beginning of the special military operation, Konashenkov said, Russian forces have destroyed 182 Ukrainian aircraft and helicopters, 177 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,393 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 134 multiple rocket launchers, 523 field artillery guns and mortars, and 1,182 special military vehicles.

On February 24, launched a special military operation in after "requests" from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for help to protect them from t intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation targets Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. has said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

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US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken on Thursday (local time) said that the will continue to provide life-saving aid to the Ukrainians.

He was speaking at the press briefing and these remarks came ahead of US President Joe Biden's call on Friday with China's Xi Jinping.

"The support we are providing Ukraine, as well as our financial and economic measures against Moscow, will strengthen Ukraine's hand at the diplomatic table. And we commend for staying at that table and continuing to pursue diplomacy while the Kremlin's brutal aggression continues," Blinken said.

Blinken said that Russia's military operation in is not welcomed by and on contrary, the country is fighting against Putin's armed forces to protect their families, people and homes.

Blinken further explains how the Kremlin is manufacturing narratives about chemical weapons, then falsely blaming Ukraine to justify potential escalations of attacks.

Blinken also discusses the innocent people who lost their lives in this war. He said, "With every day that passes, the numbers of civilians, including children, killed and wounded continues to climb."

US President Biden will meet Chinese President Xi on Friday and US will make clear that if China supports Russia's aggression then China will bear responsibility for any actions, and the US can impose costs.

There is a lot of conjecture about the strategic relationship between China and Russia, and the degree of knowledge that Chairman Xi Jinping had before President launched his lamentable invasion of Ukraine.

This war is proving to be fraught with risks for China, putting Beijing in an awkward nexus as it tries to juggle support for its ally while pretending to be neutral.

(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 President told U.S. President in a video call on Friday that the war in must end as soon as possible and called on NATO nations to hold a dialogue with Moscow, but did not assign blame to for the invasion.

In the call, which lasted nearly two hours, Biden was expected to tell the Chinese leader that Beijing would pay a steep price if it directly supports Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a warning at a time of deepening acrimony between the world's two largest economies.

The White House did not immediately comment after the call but was expected to give details in the early afternoon.

Earlier Friday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said China should ensure it does not end up on the wrong side of history over by supporting .

"China needs to stand on the right side of history. It needs to ensure that it does not backfill, financially or in any other way, sanctions that have been imposed on Russia," she told CNN.

Xi told Biden that conflicts and confrontations were in no-one's interests, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

"The top priorities now are to continue dialogue and negotiations, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, cease fighting and end the war as soon as possible," Xi said.

He said all parties should support Russia- dialogue and negotiations while Washington and NATO should also conduct talks with to solve the "crux" of the Ukraine crisis and resolve the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine, the statement said.

"The Ukraine crisis is something that we don't want to see," Chinese state media quoted Xi saying in the call, which it said was requested by the U.S. side.

Major nations should "respect each other, reject the Cold War mentality," and "refrain from bloc confrontation," the Chinese foreign ministry statement said.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration was concerned China was considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment for use in Ukraine, something Beijing has denied.

Blinken said Biden would make clear to Xi that China will bear responsibility if it supported Russia's "aggression" and Washington "will not hesitate to impose costs." Russia says it is carrying out a special military operation in Ukraine.

Washington is also concerned that China could help Russia circumvent Western economic sanctions.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has killed hundreds of civilians, reduced city areas to rubble and sparked a humanitarian crisis as millions flee the country.

Russia fired missiles at an airport near Lviv on Friday, a city where hundreds of thousands had sought refuge far from Ukraine's battlefields, as Moscow tries to regain the initiative in its stalled campaign against Ukraine.

U.S.-CHINA TENSIONS

Ukraine has added a new front in a U.S.-Chinese relationship already at its worst level in decades, further deflating Biden's initial hopes of easing a wide range of disputes by using a personal connection with Xi that predates his term in office.

Ahead of the call, a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday. The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier at least partly on its route.

China claims Taiwan as its own, and has stepped up its military activity near the islands, alarming Taipei and Washington amid concerns that Beijing might follow Russia's example and use force.

Biden has been anxious to avoid a new "Cold War" with China, seeking instead to define the relationship as one of competitive coexistence, but China's "no-limits" strategic partnership with Russia announced last month and its stance on Ukraine has called that into question.

China has refused to condemn Russia's action in Ukraine or call it an invasion. While saying it recognizes Ukraine's sovereignty, Beijing has repeatedly said that Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed and urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

While Biden's administration has threatened counter-measures if China helps Russia's Ukraine effort, it and its allies have not yet decided precisely what steps they might take, according to a person involved in the conversations.

Targeting Beijing with the sort of extensive economic sanctions imposed on Russia would have potentially dire consequences for the United States and the world, given that China is the world's second-largest economy and the largest exporter.

Analysts say China is unlikely to turn its back on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, but its diplomatic efforts to appear even-handed are becoming harder to maintain and closeness with Moscow could cost Beijing goodwill in many world capitals.

However, Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, scorned the idea of Beijing being discomfited and instead lashed out against Western counties, accusing them of stoking fears in countries like Russia.

"Those who really feel uncomfortable are those countries that think they can lord it over the world after winning the Cold War, those that keep driving NATO's eastward expansion five times in disregard of other countries' security concerns, those that wage wars across the globe while accusing other countries of being belligerent," Zhao said on Thursday.

A seven-hour meeting in Rome on Monday between U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi was described as "tough" and "intense" by U.S. officials.

Biden's administration has not offered evidence of its claim that China has signaled a willingness to help Russia. Moscow has denied asking China for military assistance, and China's foreign ministry called the idea "disinformation." However, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said this week the country was counting on China to help it withstand the blow to its economy from punishing Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia's economy from the rest of the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that he held a telephone conversation with French President to discuss France's support for .

"Discussed the support for Ukrainians in the fight against Russian aggression, especially in the defense sphere," Zelenskyy tweeted.

According to him, during the talks, a special emphasis was put on the continuation of peaceful dialogue aimed at ending the conflict between and Russia.

"We must strengthen the anti-war coalition," Zelenskyy 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.)
When Robert Solow asked me in Cambridge if Id like to join the faculty at MIT in the other Cambridge, I was taken aback, and asked for some time to think about it. Until then I never imagined living in the US, a country I had never visited before, and what I saw in Hollywood films was not always attractive.

I was planning to go back to India where my aging parents, younger siblings, and the majority of my friends were. There was also a mental block. Growing up in the leftist environment of Bengal, I had developed a visceral distaste for the American political regime in general, ...
The on Friday named fashion designer turned MLA Agnimitra Paul as the party candidate for the by-election to the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency to contest against of the Trinamool Congress.

For the by-poll to Ballygunje assembly seat in Kolkata, the BJP's women's wing leader Keya Ghosh, a known face in television panel discussions, has been nominated as the party candidate. She was pitted against former union minister and candidate .

The names were announced by the central leadership in Delhi, the party's West Bengal spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told PTI.

By-polls in both seats will be held on April 12 and votes will be counted on April 16.

Paul had been elected to the state assembly from the Asansol South seat in Paschim Bardhaman district last year on ticket.

supremo Mamata Banerjee nominated actor turned politician to contest from the industrial city of Asansol having a sizeable Hindi speaking population.

The Left Front fielded senior CPI(M) leader Partha Mukherjee as the candidate for the by-election in the Asansol Lok Sabha seat.

It named Saira Shah Halim of the CPI(M) as its candidate for the bypoll in the Ballygunge assembly seat. She is a known face on prime time debate shows on national news channels.

The bypoll to Asansol was necessitated as Supriyo resigned as the BJP MP after joining the in September last year.

The Ballygunge Assembly seat is going to the by-election as incumbent MLA and state minister Subrata Mukherjee died in November 2021.

Paul could not be contacted for her comment as she did not reply to calls and text messages.

Keya Ghosh alleged that Supriyo had acted in the most unethical manner by switching loyalties.

"Besides fighting against the TMC's misrule and attack on democracy, my job will be to unmask Supriyo. He will be defeated in the by-poll," she 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.)
plays a critical and positive role in highlighting government policies to the people and in changing their lives, Prime Minister said on Friday and remembered its contributions in popularising initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme which were beyond the political domain.

Hailing the role played by the in popularising government initiatives as well as fitness activities like Yoga, the Prime Minister suggested that lesser known events of freedom struggle and unsung freedom fighters could also be highlighted or amplified by the fourth estate.

"For any nation to develop, making good policies is one aspect. But, to enable the policies to succeed and to ensure that large scale transformation takes place, active participation from all walks of society is needed. For that the plays a critical role. In these years gone by, I have seen the positive impact the media can play," the Prime Minister said while inaugurating online the centenary celebrations of leading Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi.

"In the same way, every town or village has places associated with the freedom movement. Not much is known about them. We could highlight those places and encourage people to visit them.

Among other suggestions he made included encouraging up and coming writers from non-media backgrounds.

"Can we encourage the up and coming writers from non-media backgrounds and give them a platform to showcase their writing skills? One of India's biggest strengths is our diversity. Can we think about making key words of other languages popular through your media properties?"



During his speech, he also spoke about how the country overcame the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis which followed.

He said that when the pandemic reached Indian shores, there was speculation that India would not be able to handle it.

"The people of India proved these critics wrong. We used the last two years to improve the health of our society and the health of our economy. For two years, 80 crore people got access to free ration. 180 crore doses of vaccines have been administered.

"In a time when many nations are unable to overcome vaccine hesitancy, the people of India have shown the way. Powered by India's talented youth, our nation is moving towards atma nirbharta or self-reliance. At the core of this principle is to make India an economic power-house that caters to domestic and global needs," the Prime Minister said.

Reforms, like production linked incentive schemes, were brought in to boost economic progress and as a result the start-up ecosystem of the country is "more vibrant" and India is leading the world in technological advancement, he said.

Besides that, Rs 110 lakh crore was being spent on a Infrastructure Pipeline, PM Gatishakti was going to make infra creation and governance more seamless and the government was working to ensure every village of India has high-speed internet connectivity, he further said.

"The guiding principle of our efforts is to ensure the future generations lead a better lifestyle than the present ones," he added.

Modi further said that the way UPI transactions have increased by over 70 times in the last four years indicates the "eagerness of our people to embrace positive changes".

The Prime Minister, in his speech also recalled the contributions of Mathrubhumi in the Indian freedom struggle and also some of its "leading lights" like K P Kesava Menon, K A Damodar Menon, Kerala Gandhi K Kelappan and Kurur Neelakantan Namboodiripad.

"Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, Mathrubhumi was born to strengthen India's freedom struggle. Mathrubhumi is a key part of the glorious tradition of newspapers and journals founded all across India to unify the people of our nation against colonial rule," he said.

He also particularly remembered M P Veerendra Kumar and recalled how he oversaw the rapid growth of Mathrubhumi.

"We will never forget his efforts to uphold India's democratic ethos during the Emergency. He was a great orator, scholar and was passionate about the environment," Modi said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also joined online the programme which was attended by dignitaries including Union Minister V Muraleedharan and state Tourism Minister P A Muhammed Riyas.

Speaking at the event, the Kerala Chief Minister said that Mathrubhumi's commitment to the freedom struggle was well-known.

"Even after independence, Mathurbhumi upheld the principles of socialism and democracy. Mathrubhumi was in the forefront to strengthen the values of renaissance in the state. The institution stood with the fight against untouchability.

"Mathrubhumi supported the cause of temple entry. Mathrubhumi has the history of being headed by the leaders of historic Vaikom and Guruvayur satyagraha....At a time when communal forces are dragging the country back, Mathrubhumi has an important role to play," Vijayan said.

Union Minister Muraleedharn also spoke at the event where he said that the popularity of Mathrubhumi even in the advent of social media was because of its commitment towards journalism.

Muraleedharan also criticised mediapersons over the coverage of the last last assembly election in the southern state, saying there was no difference between campaign and journalism.

"It was an unfortunate situation. Journalists may have personal political opinion. But it must not reflect in their job," he said.

Muraleedharan said that even after the recent assembly elections in five states, when the poll results of Uttar Pradesh were announced, "certain journalists were analysing it as something bad has happened to the people of that state".

"Why are they showing such intolerance towards a political party which rules the biggest democratic country in the world? I feel pity towards the journalists in Kerala who say the people who vote for BJP are communalists," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government in Maharashtra will last a full term and retain power in the 2024 Assembly elections, MP said here on Friday.

Raut's comments came a day after former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that as in neighbouring Goa, the BJP will return to power in Maharashtra on its own in the next elections. The MVA is made up of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. The Uddhav Thackeray government has completed two-and-half years. Another two-and-half years will pass. Elections will be held again (in 2024) and we will retain power, Raut told reporters here. Asked about Fadnavis's comment, Raut said Fadnavis had been the BJP's in-charge for the Goa Assembly polls and the victory in that state has emboldened him to make such a prediction. But Fadnavis will soon find out what Goa is, the leader said cryptically. Even the Portuguese and British did not understand Goa. Several political parties also could not understand it," he said. To a question, Raut accused the BJP of destroying the "culture and humour" that marked Maharashtra's earlier. People are afraid of speaking now. Such a situation did not exist in Maharashtra earlier. Unfortunately, our friends in the BJP have done this, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government in Uttar Pradesh will be held in the state capital on March 25, a senior government official said on Friday.

The ceremony will take place at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ikana stadium in Lucknow at 4 pm on March 25, he said.



Before the ceremony, Yogi Adityanath, who led the party to a thumping victory in the just concluded elections, will be elected as the leader of the House, party sources said.

This is the second consecutive term of Adityanath.

Senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, national president J P Nadda, are likely to attend the event, sources said.

Besides chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states are also expected to attend the function, they said, adding that top leaders of opposition parties will also be extended the invitations.

Massive preparations for the function have already started wherein beneficiaries of various schemes of the previous government, including women, will be invited, they said.

The size of the ministry or who all will be taking oath on the day is not clear as of now, they added.

The BJP won 255 seats in the 403-member assembly and its allies won 18 seats, paving way for the saffron party to return to power for the second consecutive term.

Elections in the northern state were held in seven phases and the results were announced on March 10.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Growing fuel prices, rising pollution level and climate concerns are driving the growth of electronic vehicles. But the concern about their high cost is also weighing heavy on everyones mind.

So to address this concern, the battery-as-a-service model was born. Battery price makes up as much as 50% of an electric vehicles cost. Battery-as-a-service model helps customers save money at the time of purchase.

Customers can pay during every swap or subscribe to battery subscription plans. In August last year, the government had also announced the sale of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers without a factory-fitted battery.

And this year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her Budget speech that the government will bring a battery swapping policy to boost the use of electric vehicles in the country in view of space constraints for setting up charging stations.

Sitharaman also said that the private sector would be encouraged to develop sustainable and innovative business models for battery-as-a-service to improve efficiency in the Electric Vehicle ecosystem.

Swapping allows EV owners to replace depleted battery blocks for fully-charged ready-to-go ones at swap stations.

The technology is being tested for various segments, including e-two wheelers, e-three wheelers, electric cars and even e-buses.

Battery swapping stations can be either manual or automated. In a manual station, batteries are placed and removed manually from the individual slots of the station by hand. The stations dont occupy much space.

These are mainly used for two and three-wheelers, as the battery pack sizes are smaller and can be handled by one person.

Automated stations with robotic arms are used for four-wheelers as the battery packs are heavier. The other worry for any EV buyer is range anxiety or the worry that the battery will run out of power before a charging point is reached.

And also the time that is taken in charging them. Swapping addresses both these problems. Battery swapping is designed to eliminate range anxiety as it is easier to set up a dense network of swapping stations even in urban areas.

Not just this, electric charging takes time and Indian cities do not have physical spaces that can accommodate hundreds of vehicles when EVs become mainstream.

In China and in the US, some companies have already set up automated swapping stations for cars, which is particularly useful for commercial fleet operators.

While in India, several states including Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh are providing incentives and subsidies to set up battery swapping stations.

Sun Mobility, Lithion Power and Chargeup are some of the battery swapping solution providers in India. Bengaluru-based Bounce recently launched Indias first swappable battery scooter and also operates a battery swapping network.

Reliance Industries and Britains BP formed a joint venture for battery swapping in the country last year. Motorbike maker Hero MotoCorp and Taiwan's Gogoro have also formed a partnership for swapping.



According to NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute, about 80% of two- and three-wheelers and 50% of the countrys four-wheelers would be electric vehicles by 2030. And battery swapping will drive this growth.
Goods wagons carrying freshly-cultivated sacks from parts of north are rolling in near Kandla port in a tad hurry now. They have to unload and come back again. War in Ukraine is clearly turning the fortunes back home. at Kandla port is being procured at over 2,400 per quintal now, about Rs 300 more than what it was a fortnight ago. While the government MSP is Rs 2,015 per quintal. So, its a win-win situation for everyone. Farmers are happy because they have started getting better rates for than the government was offering them a few weeks ago. The government is happy as it will have to procure less wheat and its subsidy bill will plummet. Despite being the second-largest producer of wheat in the world, India accounts for less than one per cent of exports. Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of wheat, accounting for about 30 per cent of the global supply. Now, with a war being waged between the two nations, wheat exports from Russia have come to a standstill and ports in Ukraine have halted commercial activity. This has left a gap that India is filling. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that India should seize the opportunity to export wheat of the best quality, as demand surges amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And, it appears that the government and other authorities concerned have decided to act. This comes at a time when Indias wheat exports have already been growing at a significant pace during the past few years. Let us examine where they are headed, what measures are being taken to give them a boost, and who are the major players involved. According to an agency report citing unnamed government sources, significant measures will be taken in next few weeks to establish India as a dominant exporter of high-quality wheat. Three primary measures will be implemented over the course of around two weeks. The first one is ensuring that government-approved laboratories test the quality of wheat for export. The second is ensuring that extra rail wagons are available for transport. And, the third one involves working with port authorities to give priority to wheat exports. Trade and market sources have told Business Standard that Indias opening stocks of wheat in the central pool as on first April 2022 are expected to be the lowest in the last three years. But, they will still be much higher than the level required for maintaining a buffer and strategic reserve.

Both government and trade sources have said that in FY22, wheat exports will be about 7.25 million tonnes. This would be a record. In the upcoming financial year, exports might even touch 10 million tonnes if the current momentum is maintained. This also depends on global market conditions remaining benign and the outbound shipments dont face any hassle.

And, this opportunity comes at a time when India's wheat exports were already rising at a fast clip. According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Indias wheat exports surpassed 872 million dollars in the April-October period of 2021-22. They had touched 243 million dollars in 2020, against 50 million dollars in 2016.

The current price of Indian wheat is the cheapest among all global competitors. This is good for the private sector, which had already stepped up to boost wheat exports. Out of the nearly 7.25 million tonnes of exports in FY22, over 50 per cent has been done by ITC.

Meanwhile, the rest has been shared between a clutch of multinational trading companies that include Olam Agro and Cargill.

So, what are the challenges Indian traders will face if they want to export record quantities? Apart from sudden changes in global conditions, one of the only other bottlenecks in achieving exports of 10 million tonnes next year is if the government curbs exports to enable it to achieve the annual wheat procurement target for FY23.

However, most analysts told Business Standard that in the coming financial year, the Centre might not have to purchase the full target for wheat if the current interest shown by private players continues.

A lower procurement of wheat, along with lower carryover stocks, is sure to have an impact on the food subsidy for FY23, a good portion of which comes from wheat.)

According to one report, in some parts of the country, commissioning agents and traders are seeking tax reliefs to cash in on the opportunity. For example, sellers in Punjab have reportedly been fielding enquiries from food retail giants and foodgrain exporters.

But, even as the demand grows, high taxes could play spoilsport. Consider the 3 per cent each in market fee and rural development fund, along with the 2.5 percent commission to agents and 1 per cent service charges, that they have to deal with.

So, in Prime Minister Narendra Modis words, Indian exporters have the golden opportunity to provide the best-quality product with the best service to the world. It should not be a stop-gap arrangement but Indian exporters should make it a permanent arrangement and take the Indian wheat export to above 15 million tons per year.

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Photo: Contributed The planet Uranus was discovered by an amateur astronomer.

Today our astronomical tool kit includes telescopes with 10-metre diameter mirrors (or bigger), radio telescope arrays spanning continents, and of course all located at the best available sites. Then, of course, there is also our growing collection of telescopes in space.

So, it might be surprising that even now there are opportunities for amateurs to contribute to astronomical science.

A century or more ago, many important astronomical discoveries were made by people working just for the fun of it. Only a lucky few were actually paid. The recipe seemed to be to make a discovery, and then name it after someone rich and famous, and then hope they give you money.

For example, when William Herschel discovered a new planet in 1781, he proposed naming it Georgium Sidus (George's Star), after King George III. It worked. He thereafter got an annual grant from the king. This name was not accepted internationally, and the planet was instead named Uranus. However, Herschel still got the money.

As astronomy got established as a science, the instrumentation and support required to build and operate it became beyond the reach of all but the richest amateurs. Probably the title for the maker of the biggest backyard telescope goes to the Earl of Rosse, who built, at his home in Ireland, a 16-metre long leviathan with a 1.8 m diameter mirror.

However, as the astronomical need for bigger telescopes and more advanced instrumentation grew, serious astronomical research moved more and more into the realm of universities, colleges, rich foundations and national research institutes. Today, many front-line astronomical facilities are beyond the reach of single nations and are built and operated as international collaborations.

Until quite recently there was an area of astronomy that was still the exclusive province of amateur astronomers with small backyard telescopes. The big telescopes used by professional astronomers had two huge drawbacks. The could only see a tiny bit of sky at a time, and with the tremendous competition to get observing time, the only projects that got telescope time were those focussed on particular objects. It was like studying a huge forest by looking at a single a tree at a time.

The smaller telescopes used by amateurs could see bigger patches of sky, and binoculars bigger patches still. In addition how much time spent observing was a matter only for the observer. Thus, finding new things, like comets, novae and supernovae, or monitoring variable stars became an important amateur contribution to science.

The situation was changed by the advent of survey instruments: new optical and radio telescopes that could observe huge areas of sky at a time, with all the data being stored and searched, often automatically, for interesting things.

New comets and asteroids are often seen by these instruments before they become bright enough to observe from the backyard. It might seem that amateur astronomy is at last just becoming an activity aimed only at personal enjoyment. However, that is not the case.

Instrumentation for backyard astronomers has improved enormously, so that even finding planets orbiting other stars is possible for amateurs. Intriguingly, amateurs are getting back to the astronomical research frontier because of the sheer power of the new astronomical instruments available to professional astronomers. These produce such a flood of data that the researchers cannot analyse it all.

Today, much of this data is stored in databases that are being made accessible to amateurs. Amateurs are now busy searching for comets, supernovae, new planets and other interesting things.

Unfortunately, these days, we are no longer allowed to name our discoveries after people with lots of money.



 Venus, Saturn and Mars lie low in the dawn glow. Venus is the brightest and Saturn the faintest.

 The Moon will reach its last quarter on March 24.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: The Canadian Press Police move in to clear downtown Ottawa near Parliament hill of protesters after weeks of demonstrations on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

The voice of Canadian credit unions says their members watched people make significant withdrawals after the federal government vowed a financial crackdown on the so-called "freedom convoy."

The government's use of the emergency powers in February included allowing financial institutions to freeze the accounts of those involved in the protests that occupied streets in downtown Ottawa and blocked key border crossings.

But a House of Commons committee was told Thursday that the government was less than clear about the intended targets shortly after the financial measures were announced.

The government also granted a level of latitude to institutions that contributed to the confusion, MPs have been told.

Martha Durdin, president and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association, said the combined effect was a degree of panic among Canadians that their accounts could be frozen because they made small donations to the convoy.

She said that led to Canadians withdrawing large amounts from their credit union accounts, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands and, on a few occasions, millions of dollars.

Credit unions ultimately froze 10 accounts with a total value of less than half a million dollars, Durdin said, adding that many credit unions would have appreciated further guidance about precisely which accounts would be frozen.

Durdin, among others testifying today to the committee, said the situation points to a need for federal officials to communicate more clearly about emergency powers, and consult a wider array of financial institutions beyond the country's biggest banks.

"Credit unions had to really answer a lot of questions from members about under what circumstances the government can freeze accounts because many Canadians felt surprised that the government had that authority," Durdin said.

The testimony came as part of hearings the Commons finance committee is holding about the government use of never-before-used emergency powers to put an end to the protests.

Among the measures were ones requiring crowdfunding platforms to disclose information to federal law enforcement officials, as millions in donations flooded sites like GoFundMe and GiveSendGo.

Although the reporting measures for fundraising platforms were short-lived, the Liberals have said they want to make the change permanent.

Juan Benitez, the president of fundraising website GoFundMe, said his company's analysis of the more than $10 million donated through the platform found that 88 per cent of donations and 86 per cent of donors were from Canada.

The largest donation to the campaign was $30,000 and it came from Canada, said Kim Wilford, the platform's general counsel.

The platform ultimately decided to freeze funds and issue reimbursements after speaking with Ottawa's mayor and police about reports of violence, harassment and threatening behaviour.

Liberal MP Sophie Chatel raised the possibility of "Russian dark money" flowing to the convoy without citing direct evidence. Later in the hearing, Benitez said there were only a handful of donations from Russia to the convoy fundraiser and no evidence of a co-ordinated effort.

As streets in downtown Ottawa, including in front of Parliament Hill, were clogged with cars and trucks protesting public health restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, sympathy protests sprang up around the country, including at key border crossings.

The weeklong blockade at the busy Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit, Mich., cost the North American automotive industry roughly $1 billion in unrecoverable production, said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association.

He said a similar amount was lost in pay for some 100,000 Canadian autoworkers.

During his opening remarks, Volpe said the blockade also cost Canada goodwill with our trading partners, and laid some blame on politicians who "shamelessly egged on" their social media followers.

"We need to have a better overall mitigation plan amongst all levels of government in place to avoid future freedom barbecues from blockading critical public infrastructure," he said.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Drugmaker Moderna asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults.

The request is broader than rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer's request earlier this week for the regulator to approve a booster shot for all seniors.

In a press release, the company said its request for approval for all adults was made to provide flexibility to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and medical providers to determine the appropriate use of a second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities."

U.S. officials have been laying the groundwork to deliver additional booster doses to shore up the vaccines' protection against serious disease and death from COVID-19. The White House has been sounding the alarm that it needs Congress to urgently approve more funding for the federal government to secure more doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, either for additional booster shots or variant-specific immunizations.

U.S. health officials currently recommend a primary series of two doses of the Moderna vaccine and a booster dose months later.

Moderna said its request for an additional dose was based on recently published data generated in the United States and Israel following the emergence of Omicron.

On Tuesday, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech asked U.S. regulators to authorize an additional booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine for seniors, saying data from Israel suggests older adults would benefit.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A former Arkansas deputy was convicted Friday of negligent homicide but acquitted of the more serious offence of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a white teenager whose death had drawn the attention of national civil rights leaders and activists.

Jurors found Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office, guilty in the shooting death last year of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a traffic stop outside Cabot, a city of about 26,000 northeast of Little Rock.

Negligent homicide is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison. Manslaughter is a felony for which Davis would have faced between three and 10 years. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that a sentencing hearing for Davis began after the verdict was announced.

Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before reaching the verdict.

Davis, who is white, was fired after the shooting by the Lonoke County sheriff for not turning on his body camera until after the shooting occurred. Davis body camera footage, presented at the trial, shows only the moments after the shooting.

Davis told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck during the stop outside an auto repair shop after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with his commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit. Brittain was holding a container  which his family members have said held antifreeze  and no evidence of firearms were found in or near the truck, investigators said.

A passenger with Brittain said he and the teen had been working on the transmission for Brittains truck Brittains family members have said he was grabbing the container to place behind the trucks wheel to stop it from rolling backward.

The passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands.

Emotionally recounting the shooting, Davis testified Thursday that he thought the teen was grabbing for a gun in the trucks bed.

I didnt get into this job to kill people, Davis said.

Brittain was eulogized last year by the Rev. Al Sharpton and two attorneys who represented George Floyds family. They said the teens death highlighted the need for interracial support for changes in policing. Brittains family and friends have regularly demonstrated outside the Lonoke County sheriffs office, demanding more details on the shooting.

Floyd died in May 2020 when a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin the handcuffed Black mans neck to the ground. His death sparked nationwide protests over policing and racial inequality.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Key figures for a war half a world away, President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday as the White House looked to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Chinas Foreign Ministry was the first to issue a readout of the video conversation, deploring conflict and confrontation as not in anyones interest, without assigning any blame to Russia.

Ahead of the call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijings rhetorical support of Putin and an absence of denunciation of Russias invasion.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Chunying Hua pushed back, calling Biden's administrations suggestions that China risks falling on the wrong side of history in the conflict overbearing.

Planning for the call had been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November, but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin's prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were expected to be at the center of the call.

China on Friday also sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine.

In an attempt to show international support for Chinas position, state broadcaster CCTV said Xi discussed Ukraine in phone calls with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, adding that the leaders views were extremely close.

The U.S.-China relationship, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Biden's presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.

In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xis government tried to distance itself from Russias offensive but avoided criticizing Moscow. At other moments, Beijings actions have been provocative and have included amplifying unverified Russian claims that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.

Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reiterated that the Biden administration remains concerned that China is considering providing military equipment to Russia. He said Biden would make clear to Xi that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs."

The White House says China has been sending mixed messages about its support for Russia. There were initial signs that Chinese state owned banks were pulling back from financing Russian activities, according to a senior Biden administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal analyses. But there have also been public comments by Chinese officials who expressed support for Russia being a strategic partner.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met in Rome earlier this week for an intense, seven-hour talk about the Russian invasion and other issues.

Ahead of the Rome talks, Sullivan said the U.S. wouldn't abide China or any other country helping Russia work around economy-jarring sanctions inflicted by the U.S. and other allies since the Feb. 24 invasion.

Sullivan also said the administration determined China knew that Putin was planning something before the invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government may not have understood the full extent" of what Putin had in mind.

Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. During Putins visit, the two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless friendship.

Beijing's leadership would like to be supportive of Russia but also recognizes how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.

The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Beijing is weighing the potential reputational blowback of being associated with the Russian camp. The Chinese response to Russias request for help is in the process of being formulated, the official added.

Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.

We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength, Fan Xianrong was quoted by Ukraines state news service Ukrinform as telling regional authorities in the western city of Lviv, where the Chinese Embassy has relocated to.

In a reminder of China's threat to assert its claim to Taiwan by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said.

Any conflict over the self-governing island democracy stands to involve the U.S., which is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan can defend itself and treats threats to the island as matters of grave concern."

The national army's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems are in complete possession of the movements of Chinese ships in the sea and planes in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait to safeguard national security," the ministry said in a statement.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he had no details about the ship's passage through the strait, but added that I believe the carrier has its routine training schedule, and it should not be linked with the communication between Chinese and American leaders."
Photo: Pixabay Syrian refugee camp.

When it comes to welcoming refugees, more Canadians are willing to open their hearts and homes to those fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine than those escaping the Syrian civil war, according to a new study by the Angus Reid Institute.

The study found that four-in-five Canadians support the Liberal governments plan to allow unlimited Ukrainian refugees into the country in the coming weeks and months, a considerably higher level of support than was shown for Syrian refugees in 2015.

At that time, the government committed to settling 25,000 Syrians in Canada, which was supported by 39 per cent of Canadians. Support for that influx of refugees eventually rose to 52 per cent in February 2016 but remained far short of the enthusiasm seen for accepting Ukrainians fleeing war now, the study finds.

In October 2015, half of Canadians (51 per cent) said they opposed bringing 25,000 Syrian refugees into the country.

Overall support at the time for welcoming a limited number of Syrians was approximately half of the support now for bringing in an unlimited number of Ukrainians, the study found.

Eventually, more than 73,000 Syrian refugees resettled in Canada, according to the studys authors, who conducted an online survey from March 10 to 15 among a representative randomized sample of 4,292 Canadian adults.

In an interview with New Canadian Media, Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, said the difference could be that Canadians feel "a greater connection to the people of Ukraine, given the 1.4 million strong diaspora in this country, whose roots go back more than 100 years. This would be understandable.

Kurl says the news coverage of the Russian attack could also be a factor. The tenor of the reporting, at least initially, as well as the volume of coverage, has differed from wars and attacks in the Middle East, she says.

This is racism to the core, said Professor Nour El Kadri, of the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa

He pointed out that while Canada promised to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees during the Syrian crisis in 2015 and 40,000 Afghans after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, it has not set any limit for Ukrainian refugees.

We need to sympathize with and support refugees from anywhere, with no exception, El Kadri said.

Other key findings in the Angus Reid Institute study released today include:
COVID-19 infections surge in South Korea due to the highly contagious Omicron variant as the country is about to end its pandemic restrictions.

According to authorities on Thursday, new daily COVID-19 infections were recorded at 621,328 and 429 fatalities. The government earlier said that it expected the wave to increase the daily cases to around 400,000.

In the past seven days, as per the Associated Press report, South Korea had recorded an average of roughly 337,000 new cases daily, including 362,283 on Tuesday, an increase of more than 80 percent from rates seen in mid-January, when Omicron arose as the dominant variant.

The total number of cases in the country has already surpassed 7.2 million, with 6.4 million recorded since February.

Health officials say more than 62% of South Korean got booster shots. The high vaccination rates helped the country maintain lower levels of deaths due to the virus in comparison to the numbers recorded in the US and Europe, where COVID-19 surged significantly due to Omicron.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported that South Korea has 17.6 COVID-19 fatalities per 100,000 people, in comparison with 285.5 deaths in the US and 237.5 in Britain.

Pandemic Restrictions Will Be Eased

However, the South Korean government seems to be firm with its plan to lift the majority of pandemic restrictions such as social distancing, which the public supports.

It has already halted the requirement of vaccine passes and moved the curfew on restaurants to 11 pm. Social distancing rules in bars, eateries, movie theaters may be eased in the following days to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy.

South Korea, per Al Jazeera, has reduced test, track, tracing, and quarantine strategies that significantly helped manage previous outbreaks.

The government is also planning to remove the quarantine mandate for travelers entering the country abroad.

Though, the requirement to wear masks in public spaces is still in effect. The KDCA reported that more than 1.6 million infected individuals with mild or moderate symptoms are isolated at home to ensure enough hospital space.

Moreover, South Korea is set to launch a vaccine drive for children between 5 to 11 years old this March.

Read Also: Japan Begins Cleanup After Massive 7.4 Earthquake That Killed 4 Near Site of 2011 Nuclear Disaster

Better Situation Ahead

One government study on 141,000 Omicron infections in South Korea over the past year indicated no fatalities among persons below 60 years old who got a booster dose, according to health ministry official Son Young-rae, The Guardian reported. He added that there is a possibility that COVID-19 could be treated like seasonal flu.

In a media briefing, Son said that the latest surge "could be the last major crisis" in South Korea's COVID situation, and the country would get "nearer to normal lives" once they get through it.

According to a poll published this week by Seoul National University's graduate school of public health, the percentage of South Koreans anxious about COVID-19 having a major health impact has declined to around 48%, the lowest level since the surveys commenced in January 2020.

However, health ministry official Park Hyang noted that they anticipate the number of serious COVID-19 cases to increase to around 2,000. "We are preparing our medical response for that," he said.

Related Article: Good News! New Zealand Opening Borders to Tourists After COVID-19 Lockdown, When Can US Travelers Visit?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
What if the Tolko property (in Kelowna) was developed over time to be a benefit to the populace, not to a few developers and those with wealth?

First, one must keep in mind what amenities we have locally, being a four-season lifestyle (destination).

What are we either lacking, or have not developed, that will benefit the majority of people living and attracted to the Okanagan?

So, what if tourist surgeries and healing are a part (of the plan). Yes, this sounds unreal, but please take off the blinders and expand your minds.

Twenty-storey buildings of wood are lighter and an environmentally sustainable building solution. And with the amount of fill (required), they would allow for lighter and eco friendly buildings.

Now to the grandeur, a huge hospital facility catering to cutting-edge transplants, cutting-edge surgeries, hotel accommodation for world-travelling surgical patients and recuperating residencesworld class surgeons, equipment, hotel residences for those to reside in for recovery as needed. (There could also be) translation facilities for both patients and medical staffers, doctor training facilities, nursing training and residences, long-term residential and a hospice. And a five-storey, 1,500-stall visitor parkade, as well as a longer-term staffing and residence parkade.

Our location offers a better lifestyle to many professionals (that is) not available in Delhi, Boston, Houston, or San Francisco, to name a couple of centres with great medical staffers.

Think of all the locals, as well as other B.C. people and foreign medical students, doctors, patients, touring families with ties to these folks, our local economics, area expansions and possible federal and provincial contributions.

Yes, (it would be) expensive, but so is not considering the best solutions to develop those lands. It could be a costly endeavour to our local taxpayers.

No, I'm not smoking anything, but trying to stimulate (others) into doing, and paying, for something that will useful in perpetuity to every individual involved, sick or well.

So, lets see what (the public) wants to erect, subsidize and tolerate for the rest of our lifetime that benefits our needs, now and into the future.

R. Brown, West Kelowna
Re: Lloyd Vinishe letter Canada a friend to Ukraine? (Castanet, March 17)

In an attempt to make hay out of the perceived shortcomings of the current Canadian government's historical support for Ukraine, Lloyd Vinish wonders aloud how Ukraine's President Zelenskyy views Canada.

I would suggest to Mr. Vinish that the answer can be found via the president's Twitter feed, where he said earlier this week, "Held talks with another true friend of [Ukraine], PM of [Canada] @JustinTrudeau. Noted the importance of yesterday's address to [Canada's] Parliament & people. Thanked for the significant support in the war with Russia. We need to strengthen the anti-war coalition. The common goal is peace in Ukraine."

Mr. Vinish would do well, of course, to look at the significant military training that Canada has provided Ukraine over the years. He can start by searching Operation UNIFIER, where he would learn that Canada has provided Ukraine with more than $890 million in multifaceted assistance to support Ukraines security, prosperity, and reform objectives. In the long-term, reforms are the most effective strategy for building Ukraines resilience to Russian aggression. Don't take it from me, take it from Canada's Department of National Defence.

Canada continues to act during this illegal war of aggression by Russian President) Vladimir Putin against Ukraine, fully demonstrating the measure of Canada's friendship with Ukraine. Our government has been a leader among our democratic allies, providing humanitarian support, taking a lead role in implementing punishing sanctions that have effectively cut Russia out of the international economic system, and increased support through Operation UNIFIER with over $25M in additional support.

We live in an age where information is readily accessible. Instead of undermining confidence in Canada's government and its steadfast support of Ukraine, we should all be uniting in our support for our democratic ally, taking pride in what Canada has done and continues to do.

Richard McAdam, Kelowna
Following (Ukranian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyys video address to the U.S. Congress on March 16, U.S. President Joe Biden announced another huge aid package to help thwart the terrifying acts of aggression that Russia is inflicting on Kyiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Odesa and several other Ukrainian cities. Biden didnt take questions, but acknowledged a shout from one reporter with: Yes, I think (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin is a war criminal.

The belligerent and bellicose actions of Russia are deplorable and unforgivable, but international media seem reluctant to recall recent history, when several global organizations had labelled (former) U.S. President George W. Bush, (former) Vice-President Dick Cheney, (former) Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld and others as war criminals.

Now playing the good guys in the white hats", the inconvenient truth is that several NATO member countries still have blood on their hands, after attacking sovereign nations themselves (in the past).

In 2003, the U.S., along with some NATO members, formed a multi-national task force known as the Coalition Of The Willing, to invade the sovereign nation of Iraq under the pretext of overthrowing the government of (then President) Saddam Hussein, claiming he had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) aimed at the U.S.and its allies.

War raged until 2011, not before nearly 17,000 Iraqi military were killed, and the Coalition Of The Willing lost almost 5,000, mostly Americans. Surveys of Iraqi civilian deaths vary, but most are in the 500,000 range. Large areas of Baghdad, Falluja, Ramadi, Tikrit, Basra, Mosul and other cities were laid waste, with depleted uranium munitions and cluster bombs used in densely populated areas causing huge civilian casualties.

Hussein was eventually caught and hanged, but the war spawned insurgencies across Iraq with about 27,000 more fighters killed, and which spread to neighbouring countries with a civil war still raging in Syria. No WMDs were ever found in Iraq.

Those leaders who were part of NATOs naked aggression in Iraq, and also in Libya in 2011, are war criminals indeed.

Bernie Smith
Photo: pixabay

A central figure in one of the biggest frauds in Canadian history has been cited by U.S. securities regulators for allegedly marketing worthless penny stocks through a "boiler room" from Medellin, Colombia.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Frank Biller of civil securities fraud charges.

The SEC alleges Biller operated a call centre out of Medellin that bilked investors in Canada and the United States of more than $58 million in a scheme involving at least 18 companies, including one formerly based in the Fraser Valley.

Canadians Raymond Dove and Troy Gran-Brooks have also been charged in the alleged scheme, also known as a boiler room operation whereby phone calls are made using high-pressure sales tactics and misleading information to convince prospective investors to buy stocks in near-worthless companies.

"These scam artists went to great lengths  using bogus companies, aliases, and spoofing their phone numbers  to defraud and mislead investors into a pump-and-dump scheme," said Paul Levenson, director of the SECs Boston regional office, in a statement.

Biller, now 52, is presumed innocent until a judge rules on his charges.

Biller was convicted of criminal fraud and theft for his participation in the high-profile B.C.-based Eron Mortgage Corp. Ponzi scheme through the late 1990s.

The Eron Mortgage saga is one of, if not the biggest, financial fraud cases in B.C. history. It garnered significant media attention given the sheer volume of victims.

Eron Mortgage promised over 3,300 B.C. investors big returns on syndicated mortgages, according to the B.C. Securities Commission (BCSC); in reality, it was a Ponzi scheme whereby new investments were used to pay returns for older ones while much of the money went to personal use by the fraudsters, including Biller. In total, the investors lost over $170 million.

In 2000, a B.C. Securities Commission (BCSC) panel of commissioners provided some leniency toward Biller by not banning him from the securities industry for life unlike Erons president Brian Slobogian. Instead, Biller was handed a 10-year suspension and fined $300,000 for his role as vice-president. The fine remains unpaid.

Although his conduct demands his removal from the markets for a substantial period of time, we are not convinced that Biller is a permanent risk to the markets. Biller is a young man and we do not believe it will serve the public interest to permanently deprive him of career opportunities that will bring him into contact with participants in the public markets, the panel stated in 2000.

The panels decision was criticized publicly, in media reports, by Eron investors.

As it turned out, Biller didnt abide by his orders and in 2002 he was caught promoting stocks and engaging in investor relations after participating in a boiler room in Vancouver.

Biller was then found guilty of criminal fraud and theft in 2005 for his role with Eron Mortgage. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

The BCSC reached a settlement with Biller in 2007, finally banning him from the markets (at least in B.C.) for life.

At the time the Eron Mortgage scheme unfolded, the sale of syndicated mortgages was only loosely regulated by the B.C. Registrar of Mortgage Brokers Now, such investments require offering memorandums (filings explaining the investment, including risks) overseen by the BCSC.

These changes were outlined in a March 2005 study by Simon Fraser University criminologist Neil Boyd.

The [B.C.] Securities Commission has, in the wake of Eron, removed any doubt about whether an Eron-style syndicated mortgage is a security; it clearly is, Boyd said in his report.

Boyd also surveyed the damage among investors, who lost savings and retirement assets.

The effects of the Eron Mortgage losses were literally devastating to hundreds of the Eron investors, wrote Boyd. More than half of those who lost more than $50,000 reported extreme or major harm to their emotional well-being, their current financial situation, and their retirement security. Between 20 and 30 per cent of these investors also reported extreme or major harm to their marital relations, friendships and physical health.

Fast forward to 2016, Biller is said to have started the Colombia boiler room with Dove, according to the SEC.

There, Biller and others allegedly marketed, or "pumped," the shares controlled by company insiders, who formed so-called control groups of nominee shareholders who would sell, or "dump," the shares to unwitting retail investors.

The control groups unlawfully concealed their control of the float [of shares], by breaking up their stock into small blocks owned by foreign nominee companies they directed, and failing to file disclosures that would have revealed that all of those smaller blocks were under their common control.

The control groups wanted to sell the stock they owned in order to make a significant profit. The control groups used Defendants boiler room both to create demand from investors so they would have buyers for their shares, and to increase the price of the stock, thereby increasing their profits, stated the SECs complaint against Biller and others.

Among the involved companies is Garmatex Holdings Ltd., a Nevada-incorporated fabric technology company that once had a subsidiary office in Chilliwack and Surrey. The SEC claims 88% of Garmatex Holdings Ltd. shares were held by Luis Carillo, who is facing fraud charges in a separate but related case.

Garmatex is among the hundreds of companies whose insider shares were allegedly concealed by offshore shell company facilitator and ex-Vancouver lawyer Fred Sharp. The SEC alleges Carillo used nominee shells created by Sharp and moved shares through Swiss trading platform Wintercap SA, operated by convicted fraudster Roger Knox.

Sharp faces criminal securities fraud charges from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this photo released by the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, meets with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 18, 2022. Assad travelled to the United Arab Emirates, marking his first visit to an Arab country since Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, his office said Friday. (Syrian Presidency Facebook page via AP)

Syrian President Bashar Assad was in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, his office said, marking his first visit to an Arab country since Syrias civil war erupted in 2011.

In a statement posted on its social media pages, the office says that Assad met with Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai. The two discussed expanding bilateral relations between their countries.

The visit sends the clearest signal yet that the Arab world is willing to re-engage with Syrias once widely shunned president.

Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League and boycotted by its neighbors after the conflict broke out 11 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the war, which displaced half of Syrias population. Large parts of Syria have been destroyed and reconstruction would cost tens of billions of dollars.

Arab and Western countries generally blamed Assad for the deadly crackdown on the 2011 protests that evolved into civil war, and supported the opposition in the early days of the conflict.

With the war having fallen into a stalemate and Assad recovering control over most of the country thanks to military assistance from allies Russia and Iran, Arab countries have inched closer toward restoring ties with the Syrian leader in recent years.

A key motive for Sunni Muslim countries in the Persian Gulf is to blunt the involvement of their Shiite-led foe, Iran, which saw its influence expand rapidly in the chaos of Syrias war.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency said the countrys de facto ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Syrias Bashar al-Assad to his palace in Abu Dhabi.

At the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his hope this visit would be the beginning of peace and stability for Syria and tee entire region.

The report said Assad briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the latest developments in Syria and the two leaders discussed mutual interests in the Arab world. Assad was reported to have left the UAE later on Friday from Abu Dhabi.
Spain's cement sector closes plants as energy prices rocket

18 March 2022

This week Spain's cement industry reacted to rising energy prices with the temporary closure of several cement plants. Cementos Portland Valderrivas, Tudela Veguin and FYM-HeidelbergCement have all taken action, calling upon the Spanish government to address the high electricity prices, which have been further aggravated by the war in Ukraine. ICR looks at the background to Spain's energy price spike and Oficemen's news on the latest market results.

Spanish cement consumption grew by 14 per cent in February, reaching, in absolute values, 1,269,455t, being the best month of February in the last five years. Moreover, consumption over the 12 months to February grew by 16 per cent, according to Oficemen, Spain's Cement Association.

In spite of the positive demand trend, the energy crisis has prompted the industry to shut down kilns across the country. "The cement industry is experiencing an energy emergency situation. Currently, almost half of the kilns in the sector have had to stop as a result of the high electricity costs derived from the war," explains the general director of Oficemen, Aniceto Zaragoza.



"Now that the European Commission has already agreed to review the system to limit the contagion effect of gas prices on electricity prices, it is time for its immediate implementation by the Government, as well as to reduce tolls and charges to electro-intensive industries. In addition, CO 2 has significantly lowered its price, which should help lower electricity prices," adds the director general of Oficemen.

Oficemen further reported that the cement companies affected by the temporary stoppages have communicated that they will maintain the supply to meet the demand. The outage time will coincide with planned maintenance at some of these plants and the stoppages seem to have been timed to put pressure on ministers to sort out energy solutions for the cement industry in the coming days. Currently, cement supply is not being affected by the action and inventories remain in good shape.

A perfect storm

Energy prices across western Europe have risen steeply in recent weeks. Spain and Portugal are the countries in western Europe where the effect of a rise in the price of natural gas on electricity changes most dramatically in line with the price of electricity itself.

It is not just the cement sector that has shut down plants in Spain. The steel industry has added to the slowdown for the construction sector by Acerinox SA and ArcelorMittal SA suspending some operations this week. Heavy industry is at the forefront of the impact with the sustained surge in energy prices reinforced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while economies are trying to emerge from the COVID pandemic and begin the transition away from fossil fuels, with oil and coal prices going through the roof. It has become apparent that the EU must wean itself off of Russian gas dependence, which accounts for 40 per cent of its requirements, reports EURACTIV.

Moreover, the EU's current toolbox to tackle rising energy prices has not been sufficient to protect the cement sector in Spain, which has asked the European Commission for immediate reform on energy prices that is expected to be communicated next week.

Emergency measures

The electricity market price in Spain stood at a record EUR112/MWh in 2021, even though cheap renewable sources generate 45 per cent of the countrys power production. Last week, however, the price of wholesale electricity reached EUR442.54/MWh in Spain. Electricity prices are driven by marginal production available from gas power plants, whose costs have surged since last summer because of the supply shortage from Russia coupled with a lack of storage.

Ministers have proposed that the formation of wholesale electricity prices should be decoupled from the high volatility of gas prices by having an emergency brake that would split the price-setting mechanisms of electricity markets. Spain also welcomes the European Commission decision to hold an open discussion on the high windfall profits of the energy companies. Earlier in the energy crisis, Spain introduced a new tax on windfall profits which angered electricity producers and the industry body has warned against a similar measure across the EU.

The Spanish government has warned that it may place temporary limits on power prices to prevent further industry shutdowns and to prevent workers from being furrowed. Teresa Ribera, Spain's Ecological Transition Minister, believes the European Council will give the go-ahead for limits to be imposed at the 24-25 March 2022 meeting. "If there is no European solution, we would have to consider challenging the European system," Ms Ribera said in an interview with Bloomberg.

For Spain's cement sector there is likely to be continuing difficulties over energy pricing ahead. Cement demand is being catered for at present and the plants that have been shut are likely to re-open in seven to 10 days. Still, the transition to renewable energy is expected to accelerate with Cementos Alfa (Portland Valderrivas group) already announcing last October that it would move to 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

Published under
Cement producers raise prices in Vietnam

18 March 2022

Cement manufacturers have raised prices by VND100,000-150,000 (US$4.40-6.60) /t, or by 5.5-8.3 per cent, in Vietnam, claiming production costs have risen.

Ha Tien 1 Cement JSC, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Cement Corporation (VICEM), announced a hike of VND100,000/t to VND1,800,000/t for its Vicem Ha Tien brand of packed cement with effect from 23 March.



Hoang Long Cement JSC has increased its prices by VND120,000 and Thanh Thang Group Cement JSC has hiked the prices of its packed and unpacked cement, branded Thanh Thang and Thinh Thanh, by VND150,000.

According to the Vietnam National Cement Association, 13 manufacturers have increased prices. Cement prices have been driven up by higher raw material and transport costs as gasoline prices are now at a record high.

Vietcombank Securities expected cement production costs to keep rising since the price of imported coal has shot up by 90 per cent to US$154/t and that of domestic coal by 9-12 per cent to over US$50/t.

Published under
FYM-HeidelbergCement temporarily shuts down Malaga clinker production

ICR Newsroom By 18 March 2022

The FYM-HeidelbergCement Group cement plant in Malaga, of which the sale to Votorantim Cimentos is being finalised, will stop its clinker production until the end of March. The company said the step was necessary due to the unhealthy costs of electricity that tax the cost of production since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."



The CEO of FYM-HeidelbergCement Group, Jesus Ortiz, attributes the high cost of electricity in Spain to the marginal pricing used for charging electricity consumption. Mr Ortiz, who is also vice-president of the Spanish cement association Oficemen, also calls for a temporary disconnection of gas-fired power from the marginal pricing system.



While it guarantees supply to domestic customers, the company expects to significantly reduce export volumes.

Published under
In the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, a US citizen was slain during an attack on citizens waiting in a bread line, according to his sister.

The US Embassy in Kyiv reported earlier Thursday that Russian soldiers fatally shot ten individuals in the incident, which Russia maintained was a fabrication. Cheryl Hill Gordon, James Whitney Hill's sister, claimed the State Department informed her of Hill's death in a brief phone chat. For the previous 25 years, Hill had lived in Ukraine and worked as a teacher.

Another US Citizen Was Killed During Russia Attacks

Gordon claimed he got romantically connected with Irina, a former pupil in her 40s diagnosed with multiple sclerosis roughly eight years ago. Hill discovered a hospital in Chernihiv "after two years of searching" with a doctor who "knew considerably more about MS than other doctors in the region," according to his sister.

Hill had to regularly return to the United States to meet Ukrainian visa requirements, and he had property near Yellowstone National Park in Idaho that his brother rented out as an Airbnb while he wasn't there, according to the New York Post.

After the assassination of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week, another civilian has been slain in the fighting. The State Department acknowledged to the Washington Examiner on Thursday that one of the fatalities was a US citizen but did not name the individual.

Hill had come to Ukraine in December for his wife, Irina, a Ukrainian citizen, to get life-extending multiple sclerosis medication. He was stranded inside a provincial hospital when the invasion began, with inadequate food, water, and electricity.

Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Issues Chilling World War 3 Warning Amid Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Civilization Is 'At Stake'

Vladimir Putin Orders To Bomb Public Places

Despite the difficulties in communicating with the outside world, Hill has managed to keep his Facebook page updated regularly. President Joe Biden declared in February that if Russia targeted and killed any Americans, it would pay a high price.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, he has faced fierce opposition from the international community, which has imposed harsh sanctions on him, his associates, and the oligarchs linked to him.

Around least ten individuals were killed when Russian forces opened fire on Ukrainian citizens queuing for bread at 10 am on Wednesday. According to Ukraine's emergency services, rescue personnel uncovered the corpses of five individuals, including three children, among the wreckage of demolished residential structures devastated by shelling.

Grieving Ukrainians were seen putting remains in sacks from a truck before dropping them into mass graves in Bucha, close outside Kyiv, in further terrible sights.

It happened after Vladimir Putin's army blasted a theater that was claimed to be housing up to 1,200 scared individuals, despite the term "children" being painted on the building's front. The Mariupol Drama Theater provided a haven for civilians escaping Russia's relentless bombing of the southern port city, with food being distributed and many staying overnight.

As the bombardments continue, an estimated 20,000 Ukrainians have left Mariupol, and more than 2,300 people have been murdered in the vicinity. Serhiy Orlov, the city's deputy mayor, estimated that between 1,000 and 1,200 people were inside the theater when the Russians attacked it on Wednesday, as per The Sun.

Related Article: Putin Sends Disguised Transponder Decoys To Confuse Ukrainian Defense Allowing Missiles To Hit Targets

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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
Danville City leaders get ready to breathe new life into the old mill village; Danville leaders ready to weigh proposal to provide real estate tax help to elderly and disabled; Danville native taking his place in Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Police were dispatched to Bailey Avenue where a man said there was a male walking around in his backyard. He went out and confronted the man, and he began running away. The man just wanted a report for this.

* * *

A woman at Walmart at 490 Greenway View Dr. told police she had been in a disorder with her boyfriend. The woman said the boyfriend wanted her to go with him but she didnt want to. She asked police to walk her to her vehicle so she could leave, which police did.

* * *

A woman on Timber Knoll Drive told police someone stole a package from her front door. After reviewing her Ring video footage, she observed a Door Dash delivery driver steal her package. She said she has seen the delivery driver before but does not know who he is. She was able to show the officer video of the incident. She didnt know what the package was but she believes it was her medicine from the VA. The officer told her to try to identify what the contents of the package were and notify police once she has knowledge of what it was. She just wants her package back but she would prosecute.

* * *

A man on Rogers Road told police he and a woman were in a verbal argument and he wanted to know if she would leave. Police spoke with the woman who said that she pays bills and that she did not wish to leave the residence at this time. The man said both of them had been drinking and they would just chill out away from each other for a bit and make up later.

* * *

Police saw a man rummaging through a dumpster on McCallie Avenue. Police checked him for warrants with no returns. He left the area while police remained on scene.
City Council Vice Chairman Ken Smith said he plans to seek a position that may become open on the County Commission.

The Commission is to appoint a temporary replacement for House District 26 representative after the resignation of Robin Smith. District 3 County Commissioner Greg Martin is seeking the appointment from the rest of the commissioners and also plans to run in the August election.

There were three candidates applying with the Commission for the temporary appointment to House District 26. They are Commissioner Martin, David C. Swinford and Shannon Stephenson, chief executive officer of Cempa Community Care, who said she would just serve until the election.

If the Commission chooses Commissioner Martin as the temporary replacement, then that opens up a vacancy in District 3.

That is the post Vice Chairman Smith said he would apply for.

Charlie Hunt, a long-time political activist, is also a potential candidate.

Commissioner Martin has already qualified for the election for the House District 26 seat. Mr. Swinford has picked up papers.

Ms. Stephenson said, "With the Tennessee House of Representatives District 26 seat being recently vacated, please accept this letter of intent expressing my desire to be appointed to fill that post for the duration of the present term.

"I currently serve as the chief executive officer at Cempa Community Care, a community healthcare organization that works to eliminate health disparities experienced across East Tennessee. As a female who started her own small business, served in public safety, and holds a Certified Public Accountant license, I bring a unique set of skills to adequately serve my community during this difficult time. I have, through my work, become very familiar with General Assembly functions, know first-hand the legislation currently before the house, but most importantly, I understand what servant leadership looks like and how it benefits everyday Tennesseans.

"I seek this appointment because I firmly believe that my professional skills and expertise, coupled with my lifelong affinity for the individuals, families, and organizations of my home district will enable me to be a strong representative for its well-being until the conclusion of this term. My wish is simple, to restore confidence in District 26 by offering my services as a steward of this office until the people are able to elect a representative in the fall of 2022.

"This is the second time a vacancy has opened in my district, last year with the vacancy of County Commission District 9 and now the vacancy of Tennessee House of Representatives District 26. The constituents of both deserve adequate representation at all times, and I want my community to know that if I am able to perform the duties with excellence and integrity, I will always be willing to answer the call to serve. I would respectfully ask each of you, that if I am not the choice, please make a swift appointment so that another day does not pass by where our district is without a voice.

"Thank you for your consideration."






A California man who had been sending large amounts of drugs to Chattanooga hotels with no room number listed has been arrested on drug charges by federal authorities.

Curtis James Bingham was taken into custody after authorities began investigating suspicious packages coming to Chattanooga from a post office in Bakersfield, Ca., beginning last November. There were at least eight Priority Express Mail parcels shipped from Bakersfield to hotels in Chattanooga.

At least six parcels were sent from Chattanooga to two addresses in Bakersfield.

All shipping fees were paid in cash.

Authorities said one parcel was picked up by Curtis Bingham and a phone number used to track the parcels was tracked to him.

On Jan. 20, suspicious parcels were sent from the Post Office on Shallowford Road to Bakersfield. A K-9 alerted on the parcels.

After a warrant was obtained, agents opened the parcels and found $18,260 in cash going to one Bakersfield address and $39,000 in cash going to another.

Authorities also monitored two phones used by Bingham and found that the phones traveled from Los Angeles to Chattanooga on Feb. 8. It was found that Bingham flew from LA to Chattanooga that day and afterward rented a car in Chattanooga.

He then traveled to the same hotel where the latest parcels were sent - the Sonesta Select on Bams Drive. Bingham and a female were followed until they went to an apartment in Red Bank at 120 Wolfe St.

The next day authorities made a controlled delivery of a package to the Sonesta Select. It was found that Bingham was at the Walmart off Brainerd Road. He then went to a CVS and then to the Sonesta.

An agent took the package to the front desk and the clerk said a guest had been asking about it. Bingham then picked up the package and took it to his room. At 2 p.m., Bingham went from the rental car into the hotel and returned with a white plastic bag that looked to be heavy.

Agents followed his car to Tunnel Boulevard and Wilcox Boulevard. He stopped at a parking spot and a black Dodge Challenger backed in nearby. Bingham pulled beside the Challenger and exited his rental car with the white plastic bag. He got into the Challenger. Three minutes later, he returned to the rental car without the bag.

Bingham then left. A man in the Challenger walked over to a food truck, then he drove to an apartment complex. He was later stopped by police and identified as having a history of drug and weapons arrests. He did not have anything on him at the time.

On Feb. 16, Bingham was found to be at a residence occupied by an individual who had been arrested in April 2021 with counterfeit fentanyl tablets, marijuana, cash and a loaded pistol. It was learned that the counterfeith fentanyl tablets had been shipped from California.

Authorities on March 2 identified three more suspicious inbound packages from Bakersfield, Ca., to a Chattanooga hotel with no room number. It was addressed to Mr. B at the Wingate Hotel on Shallowford Road. The packages were opened and found to contain 10 pounds of meth, seven pounds of counterfeit fentanyl tablets, and five pounds of marijuana.

It was found on March 3 that Curtis Bingham had checked into the hotel. There was a controlled delivery of the packages on March 7 and Bingham was observed picking them up. The hotel manager observed that it was odd that no hotel room number was on the address. Bingham said he was "Mr. B" and said he sent the packages to himself for his business.

Agents then arrested Bingham in room 327 of the Wingate. Bingham said he was from California and had been in Chattanooga a few weeks earlier. He said the boxes in the room were his. Inside the room agents found $9,300 in cash, postal receipts for the packages and Bingham's California driver's license.

In an interview, Bingham said he "was starting over" and "had no people in Tennessee." He said he was trying to make money so he could get out of pills and meth and "just sell weed."
Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland announced Friday it has received $74,000 granted by Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to build two new homes in Bradley County.

THDA will provide a one-time $1 million increase to the 2022 Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee Program allocation on behalf of the State, to match a $1 million anonymous donation received by Habitat. This will bring the total allocation available for 2022 to $1,500,000.

Habitat will use these funds to build 50 new homes across Tennessee by providing grants to Habitat affiliates in all three of the states grant divisions. Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee provides education, technical assistance, and resources to empower our 40 Habitat affiliates while they are on the ground making a difference in their local communities, serving over 60 counties statewide.



"Our partnership with THDA is fundamental to our continued growth, said Colleen Dudley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee. Our Habitat affiliates are able to take these grant funds and spur donations in their local communities. Habitat affiliates will raise an additional $5.5 million in donations from local individuals, churches, foundations and businesses to complete these builds.



Tammy Johnson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, said, Together we bring hope, stability and affordable home ownership to our community. Like Habitat, THDA is committed to making decent, affordable homeownership accessible to low-income families. We are honored to count THDA as a partner, as we continue to work alongside volunteers, Habitat families, sponsors and community leaders to build homes, communities and hope.

THDA shares Habitats commitment to creating new homeownership opportunities for Tennessee families, said THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey. We know that Habitat will put this funding to good use building new homes across the state.



In addition to supporting Habitat for Humanity with grant funding, THDA also provides zero-interest home loans to qualified Habitat homeowners. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage that, in turn, helps fund future Habitat builds.






Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association, Local 820 endorsed Sabrena Smedley for Hamilton County mayor on Friday, becoming the second major first responder group to support her surging candidacy.

Our members are focused on providing first-rate services that lower costs for our businesses and homeowners while protecting the lives and livelihoods of the men and women who proudly stand ready to don turnout gear at any hour to keep our communities safe and save lives, Local 820 said. Our members closely examined the candidates and decided there is one candidate who clearly stands out for Hamilton County mayor, and that is Sabrena Smedley. Her record is rock solid, and we know we can count on her leadership.

Commissioner Smedley, a Republican candidate for Hamilton County mayor and current chairman of the Hamilton County Commission, is a longtime small businesswoman and mother of a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputy.

Long before I was ever called into public service, I have always held the greatest esteem for the folks in uniform who show up at any time, day or night, in fair weather or foul, to rescue our citizens in their greatest hour of need, Commissioner Smedley said.

As Hamilton County Commission chair, I have led the way on providing ample support for training, equipment, facilities, and benefits that reflect the seriousness of the job we ask these men and women to perform on behalf of their neighbors. I am deeply thankful for the endorsement of Local 820. This is one more validation that Im ready for the job and running for the right reasons.

Along with Firefighters Local 820, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local #673 has also endorsed Commissioner Smedleys candidacy, noting that, Theres no stronger candidate in this race when it comes to protecting the welfare of Hamilton County first responders. No other Hamilton County mayoral candidate has received public support from any organization representing first responders.

The voters of Hamilton County know who is the real deal, Commissioner Smedley said, and so do our first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. As this race begins to come into focus, its clear there is only one candidate with a proven track record of supporting our uniformed personnel and who really understands the values of working people.

Commissioner Smedley is chairman of the Hamilton County Commission and has previously chaired the education, legal and legislative, and finance committees.

She earned her Master of Business Administration from Bryan College, is the owner/broker of Sabrena Realty Associates, LLC in East Brainerd, and owns two franchises of Pure Barre fitness.
Lee University will host its spring 1918 Society Alumni Lecture Series, Women Professionals, featuring Lee alumnae and community partners who are successful in business. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 29, at 6 p.m. in Pangle Hall.

Women Professionals will feature five panelists from across the country who will share about their professional success and how Lee helped prepare them for their endeavors. The panelists include Debbie (Ledford) Melton, Heaven Muncy, Jodi (Harris) Schaffer, Jessica Seard, and Glenda (Peters) Weinert.

As a part of our celebration of International Womens Month, we are thrilled to welcome these panelists to our campus, said Dr. Susan Ashcraft, director of alumni relations at Lee. These five women are stellar examples of the savvy leadership and strong commitment to excellence required to excel in the marketplace today. Our students will have the opportunity to learn from the best, and we are very proud of our alumni.

Ms. Melton is the general manager at Don Ledford Automotive and has been a friend of Lee for many years. She is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduate with a bachelors degree in mathematics and computer science. She is also a graduate of the Dealer Management Course sponsored by General Motors.

Ms. Muncy is the legislative auditor for Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. She is a 2017 Lee alumna and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting.

Ms. Schaffer is an attorney at Samples, Jennings, Clem & Fields, P.L.L.C. She is a 2004 Lee alumna and graduated with a BS in business administration. Schaffer went on to study at Florida Coastal School of Law and graduated in 2007.

Ms. Seard is a senior accountant at Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough. She graduated from Lee in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in public relations.

Dr. Weinert is the owner of GCW Enterprise Inc., doing business as Firehouse Subs. She is a 1985 Lee alumna and graduated with a BS in accounting. She went on to earn a Master of Business Administration in organizational leadership from Kennesaw State University and a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.



The 1918 Society is Lee Universitys alumni community, which provides a network for alumni, united by the Lee experience to connect to one another and the current Lee culture. The Society holds the idea that the Lee experience doesnt end at graduation but lasts a lifetime.

This is a free, non-ticketed event, open to the public. Pangle Hall is on the corner of Central and Church streets in downtown Cleveland.

Livestream will be available via the Lee University Alumni Facebook and at leeu.live.
The Indian Central Bank is not complying with western sanctions heaped on Russia by skirting around it with alternatives to avoid adverse effects from these embargos.

Moscow was taken out of the Swift international banking system, and companies boycotted Russia. To survive this assault on the economy, the Kremlin is turning to China and India as lifelines and oil as trade to keep on earning to the dismay of the west.

India Allows Trade Deal With Russia

New Delhi is looking for the best alternative to allow exports to Moscow despite the embargo placed and rendering limited western payment schemes useless, the Express reported.

An agreement would allow India to persist in purchasing Russian energy and other products while preventing the repercussions of Western sanctions against Vladimir Putin.

The move risks diminishing Western nations such as the United States, which also imposed extraordinary sanctions on Moscow in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Reports from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), that a senior banker is talking with New Delhi and state banking institutions; how to go about enacting a new rupee-ruble trade agreement that will face opposition from the west.

According to the president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), Dr. A Sakthivel, the rupee-rouble arrangement deal is requested from the government. They are now working on its particulars, citing the Financial Times.

The United States and most of its allies agreed to do the economic penalties but not all of them, trying to cut off foreign trade to stop Putin with non-military means.

Yet the Indian Central Bank wants to trade with Moscow even in the face of western sanctions.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Isolation of Moscow from the Swift international banking system to stop the Russian Central Bank from accessing international reserves. These western penalties have been in effect since last month.

Several of the biggest banks in the country were also penalized. They are supposed to keep Moscow from global financial markets enough to hurt its economy.

But what Joe Biden did not count on is that his attitude towards certain countries like India would cause it to choose not to side with the US or Russia.

In effect, it is a snub that says that Washington is not as influential, especially when it needs the support of India.

The point of contention is that New Delhi has links with Russian defense firms from whom it buys its weapons.

India Beats Russian Sanctions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to abstain from denouncing the incursion and has retained strong connections with President Putin, such as concerning the rescue operations of hundreds of Indian students from Ukraine due to Russia's war of aggression.

The west wanted to impose its will on a free country like India when it did not vote to call out the invasion, which the Biden administration pushed.

Last Tuesday, Ami Bera, one of the members of the US congress who is Indian American, said that New Delhi would not be pushed by any US influence to condemn Putin.

The Indian government runs a gambit if it would displease Washington that might endanger its trade agreement as over $50 billion worth of goods is bought from India every year.

Russia has been wise to keep good relations with India and China, unlike the White House that was snubbed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noted USA Today.

Relate Article: Vladimir Putin Game To Win Pivotal Concessions From the West by Deft Statesmanship Not War Leaving NATO, the US Perplexed

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I have had the pleasure of knowing Neal Pinkston since I met him at the 2010 Susan G. Komen walk for Breast Cancer. I then came to know him in a professional capacity in 2015 when I expanded my practice into criminal defense law.

From both a personal and professional perspective, I unequivocally support Neal in the Hamilton County Primary on May 3 in his run for re-election as our countys district attorney. Though there are many reasons he has my vote, they mostly boil down to a couple of his qualities: those qualities are his experience and expertise as a trial lawyer and district attorney, and his deep sense of the importance of justice.

Neal has been working in the Hamilton County District Attorneys office since 2003, the year his opponent started high school. He was promoted to executive assistant district attorney under then District Attorney Bill Cox in 2007. Largely because of his success as the second in command at the DAs office, Neal ran unopposed for district attorney in 2014, and won.

Among his skills as a prosecutor is his ability to successfully try and convict dangerous criminals. But he has the equally important skill of digging deep into the facts of a case, and the Tennessee laws and the United States Constitution which apply, and discerning what true justice requires in each case.

Because he cant address every case which comes into the Criminal Courthouse, he gives his prosecutors the freedom to pursue the goal of justice in each case. He has no quotas or set rules for his prosecutors  except that they always seek a just result.

In my opinion, a district attorney who is pursuing real justice, and successfully doing so, is one who deserves the vote of anyone who wants to see justice done in the Hamilton County Criminal Justice System. That is why Neal has my vote and my hearty support.

Lizzy Schmidt






In Kenneth Branaghs Belfast, the writer/actor/director tells a semi-autobiographical story about life during the troubling sixties. A love letter to his homeland and a cautionary tale of war, Branagh wanted everything in his movie to be as realistic as possible. This required going beyond the titular locale to a place that felt more like Belfast during its 1960s setting.

(L-R) Kenneth Branagh, Ciaran Hinds, Caitriona Balfe, Jude Hill, and Jamie Dornan | Lisa OConnor/Getty Images)

What is Belfast?

According to The Washington Post, the Troubles, as theyre called, started in 1969 when the Protestant contingencies clashed with the Catholics. This resulted in a decades-long war where over 3,000 people died, including 1,617 Belfast residents. While religion played a significant part in these battles, they were actually over politics and land.

According to IMDb, the film takes place at the beginning of the Troubles and tells the story through the eyes of a young child named Buddy, who watches the terror unfold firsthand. From political strife to religious posturing, critics praised the film upon release. Now, its up for the biggest trophy in the industry after winning several more.

Shot in black and white, Branagh aimed to bring people back to the 1960s. To do so, he went back to his hometown and tried to recreate his childhood home before the war. Unfortunately, a combination of time, war, and industry meant that the Belfast of now no longer looked like the city he grew up in. Luckily, he found a good stand-in.

Where was Belfast filmed?

According to Belfast Live, Branagh and his crew scouted and filmed throughout England. Branagh and his team searched far and wide for places that felt closer to those of fifty years ago. After all, Branaghs childhood street is largely gone, and the modern Belfast isnt quite the same. The crew built sets just outside of London at an old Airport.

They tried to recreate a Belfast street that wasnt a historical recreation but a believable stand-in for the films fictional version. According to Branaghs recent interview with Deadline, he took the production designers to the places that still stood so they could understand the personal connection.

I took Haris Zambarloukos, our DP, and Jim Clay, our production designer, and we walked from where my school was through the houses and then through Grove Park, which is a small park.

This helped the director reconnect with his childhood. Not just the houses and the parks, but the natural beauty that still shows through despite the ugly war.

It was a cornucopia of nature. I could really see there, where every idea for a western, every idea for a story was set because there was a little river, there was a little stream, there was a hill, there were places for cowboys to hide, the director said.

Recreating Belfast

Belfast is no stranger to Hollywood. Branagh mixed the footage with actors with actual footage of the titular city. However, thanks to some good old Hollywood magic, one cant help but believe that they are right there in Belfast circa 1969. The Cinemaholic notes how Northern Ireland often stands in for archaic settings such as Game of Thrones.

Belfast, the city, is both modern and a relic of the past. A wall erected during the 33-year war remains as a reminder of the countrys bloody history. The fog of battle subsided, and Branaghs vision became a new reality. Now, his love letter to Northern Ireland tells a story not just of pain and war but the resilience of families such as his.

Belfast is still in theaters, and many believe it could take home the big prize at the Oscars. Whether or not it does, Branagh did his job. While Belfast is a well-known city, most worldwide dont know much about it. Thanks to this movie, they have somewhere to start.

RELATED: Tenet Star Kenneth Branagh Describes His Backwards Forwards Dialogue In the Christopher Nolan Movie
James Wans Dead Silence officially hit its 15 year anniversary. Many audiences are surprised to know that so much time passed since the horror movie gained its cult following. However, Wan would later prove that he still has an eye for horror long after making Dead Silence. He revealed that he kept one particularly creepy doll that survived the fire that consumed the rest of them.

Dead Silence is James Wans second feature film after Saw

James Wan | Matt Carr/Getty Images

Dead Silence follows Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten), whos a young widower. He makes the journey back to his hometown to uncover the mystery behind his wifes murder. Jamie believes that the ghost of a dead ventriloquist named Mary Shaw (Judith Roberts) is responsible, but not everybody is so convinced.

Before Wan made 2007s Dead Silence, he hit the horror scene with 2004s Saw. He launched his first successful franchise, even though he stepped away from the camera after the first installment. The franchise continues to survive to this very day, most recently with 2021s Spiral. Nevertheless, he continued to prove that he understands what goes into making an impactful horror film.

James Wan revealed that 1 creepy Dead Silence doll survived the fire, which he keeps in his home

Wan took to Instagram to celebrate Dead Silences 15 year anniversary. Hes ecstatic to see the horror movie continue to get love from its loyal fan following. The fans continue to talk about the films eerie dolls, creepy atmosphere, and major jump scares.

I cant believe its been 15 years since Dead Silence was released, Wan wrote. My second movie, and my first studio film (boy, was that an experience for Leigh [Whannell] and I). Really happy to see this little flick getting rediscovered and gaining cult love.

However, Wan apparently set fire to all 101 dolls on the set, but he couldnt resist saving one from the flames.

Wan continued: Out of the 101 dolls of Mary Shaws, this was the only one that survived the first when we set the cabinet alight. I couldnt bring myself to burn it, so I rescued it from the scene. Now she sits proudly on my shelf. Happy 15th birthday, Mary Shaw!

Malignant is a big return to horror for the filmmaker

Wan made other successful horror franchises with The Conjuring and Insidious. He soon moved away from the genre and into major Hollywood tentpoles with Furious 7 and Aquaman. However, that didnt diminish his appreciation for his fans or his ability to tell a scary story.

The Giallo-inspired horror movie Malignant marked a big return to the genre for the filmmaker. Wan carries over the jump scares and ups the camp value from movies like Dead Silence. Hopefully, this isnt the final time that the filmmaker brings the audience back to the genre.

RELATED: Malignant Movie Review: James Wan Makes a Bold Return to the Horror Genre
After a Toei Animation hack, the anime movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has been delayed from its original April 22, 2022 release date. Unfortunately, fans in Japan, North America, the UK, and beyond have to wait even longer to see Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo in action in the Dragon Ball Super: Broly sequel. Heres everything you need to know about the hack and the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero new release date.

TL;DR:

Why Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has been delayed.

Toei Animation addressed the new release date for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.

The release date change might only affect the Japanese release.

The Toei Animation logo | John Keeble/Getty Images

Why is Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero delayed?

On March 6, 2022, an unauthorized third party tried hacking Toei Animations internal systems. As a result, the companys online store and internal systems temporarily shut down as a safety measure. And the Toei Animation hack caused the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero delay despite being seemingly unaffected at first.

In a press release, Toei confirmed investigations into the hack to determine if any personal information had leaked.

The incident would allegedly only affect upcoming episodes of Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, Delicious Party: Pretty Cure, Digimon Ghost Game, and One Piece.

The release of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is indefinitely delayed following a hacking incident at Toei Animation.



Details here: https://t.co/Qrsfvbzqtd pic.twitter.com/uZvdCsiClR  Comic Book Resources (@CBR) March 18, 2022

However, Toei issued a new statement regarding the Super Saiyan fighters themselves. They confirmed they would have to push Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero back to a later date due to the hack.

What is the new release date after the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero delay?

Once fans understood the internal issues, they wanted to know the new release date of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Toei Animation issued a new statement regarding the Dragon Ball film.

As previously announced, Toei Animation, the production company behind Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, has experienced unauthorized access to its network by a third party. This has made it difficult to produce the film. As a result, we have no choice but to postpone the release of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. We apologize to those looking forward to the release of the film.

NEWS! Due to the Toei Animation website getting hacked recently, the production of DBS: SUPER HERO movie has been affected. As a result, movies release has been postponed, new release date will be revealed later. pic.twitter.com/v5SKj1X4mh  Hype (@DbsHype) March 18, 2022

The first part of the statement addresses the Toei Animation hack and its effect on the anime movie. Toei has hyped up Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero through trailers, merch, and posters. The hack must have proved larger than the fan believed.

In regards to the new release date for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Toei Animation had this to say:

However, we will announce a new release date in the near future. Thank you for your understanding.

Unfortunately, while the company has yet to announce a new release date for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, some believe it could only affect the Japanese release.

As of now, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has been delayed and will presumably premiere in Japan sometime in 2022.

Toei Animations hack has prompted one anime to take a 3-week hiatus, and it might last even longer.https://t.co/C0D9Dsjb9O pic.twitter.com/9hqCoNNI37  ComicBook.com (@ComicBook) March 17, 2022

While Toei previously scheduled it to release in summer 2022 in North America, there is no word on if the date will be affected at all.

RELATED: Crunchyroll Absorbs Funimation Content to Create Worlds Largest Anime Library
Who doesnt love a good dinner party? Being surrounded by good conversation, great food, friends, and family is a vibe that most people enjoy. However, the parties can be stressful for the people who host them. Putting together an acceptable menu, cleaning, cooking, decorating, and creating a playlist requires time and attention to detail. It can be hard to execute a great dinner party. Emma Watson certainly had a rough time navigating her first supper soiree.

Emma Watson | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Emma Watson loves to cook and attending culinary school is on her bucket list

Its pretty on-brand for Watson to throw a dinner party. She hasnt made her love of cooking a secret throughout the course of her career. The Harry Potter alum is known to be pretty adventurous in the kitchen. In fact, when Marie Claire asked her what was on her bucket list, she mentioned going to culinary school.

RELATED: Emma Watson Explains How Her Parents Kept Her Down to Earth

Going to Le Cordon Bleu for a year would be super bada**, Watson shared. I dont like using recipes  I like to cook things I just know how to cook. I figure if I went and really learned, I would be the kind of person who could open the fridge and be like, I know what I will make with this one piece of celery and this random piece of butter and this pasta.

The movie stars first dinner party was a disaster

Unfortunately, Watsons penchant for cooking without recipes may have contributed to the downfall of her very first dinner party. In a conversation with Interview Magazine, the activist revealed that she didnt leave enough time for herself to get everything cooked. This, of course, was not the ideal outcome for The Perks of Being a Wallflower alum.

Well, it was a disaster, Watson shared of her inaugural dinner party. Not because Im a terrible cook, but because the time limit was too short. I was only able to make half the piea cottage pie, which is this very British beef mince mealso I had to abandon it. Continuing on, Watson revealed that she underestimated the amount of time she needed which added to her anxiety.

RELATED: Emma Watson Did 27 Takes of Her First Harry Potter Audition

I ran out of time, Watson shared. It was like MasterChef in my kitchen last night, a really stressful atmosphere. Watsons first dinner party may have been a bust, but shes had quite a few successful ones since. The Bling Ring star even threw one for her fellow Harry Potter castmates during the last week of filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  Part 2. So, clearly, she eventually found her groove.

Watson is confident about her banana bread

Even if Watson struggled with getting dinner prepared for her first party, dessert may have been a success. Watson has been baking for years and is pretty confident about many of her recipes. In a separate conversation with Interview Magazine, Watson revealed that she has perfected her banana bread recipe. I bake, Watson shared. Im pretty competitive about my chocolate chip banana bread. I dont think anyone can believe how good it is. Its really on another level.

RELATED: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, & Rupert Grint Didnt Hang Out When They Werent Filming Harry Potter
Matthew McConaughey is a Hollywood icon. The actor has dazzled audiences for decades, from hilarious roles in goofy comedies to heartbreaking portrayals of real people. In addition to being an amazing actor, McConaughey has numerous other talents, including teaching and writing.

Matthew McConaughey | Charles Sykes/Getty Images

McConaughey quickly became one of Hollywoods most popular heartthrobs in the 90s. He eventually graced the cover of People as the Sexiest Man Alive. His charm, his smile, and that hair made fans across the globe swoon every time he appeared on the big screen. Even at 52 years old, McConaughey still has that beautiful head of thick, shiny hair. So whats his secret?

Whats the secret behind Matthew McConaugheys stunning hair?

Matthew McConaughey stole hearts from the moment he stepped on the screen in Dazed and Confused. Despite the fact that he played a perpetually stoned loser who hung out with high school kids, McConaugheys charm was instantly obvious. It took no time at all for the talented actor to become a heartthrob, with his sparkling eyes, adorable dimples, and gorgeous curls.

That thick, curly mane is pretty important to McConaughey, and he panicked when his hair started thinning in the late 90s. According to Insider, there were once rumors that McConaughey had hair transplants. In fact, a surgeon actually tried to take credit for the procedure, saying that McConaughey was one of his patients.

The actor was approached by a Beverly Hills doctor who filled him in on the rumors origin. He said hed heard the surgeon telling people at a hair-transplant convention about performing the procedure. McConaughey disputes ever having had hair transplants at all, and certainly not from the surgeon in question. So whats the secret behind his youthful head of hair?

McConaughy says that he tried shaving his hair once he noticed the thinning, but he wasnt happy with that solution. He then discovered his secret weapon  a topical ointment called Regenix. McConaughey swears by the treatment, saying he only has to rub it into his scalp for about 10 minutes a day. He continues to use the treatment now, even though his hair is even thicker than it was before because hes worried it will thin again if he stops.

Matthew McConaughey isnt just a pretty face (and great hair)

Its true, hes not just a pretty face  he also has that incredible, slow Texas drawl. Aside from his inarguable charm, McConaughey is an absolutely phenomenal actor. His talent is undeniable, and fans have enjoyed stellar performances across multiple genres on the big screen.

His big break came in 1993 when he landed a supporting role in the comedy Dazed and Confused. In 1996, he delivered a heartfelt performance in the legal thriller, A Time To Kill. McConaughey was part of a powerful cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, and Donald Sutherland. In the late 90s, he went on to work with top-notch directors like Robert Zemeckis (Contact) and Steven Spielberg (Amistad).

According to Biography, McConaughey ran into a bit of trouble in 1998. There was talk about his erratic off-screen behavior, and he was arrested after a noise complaint in his neighborhood. When the police arrived, he was naked, smoking cannabis and playing the bongos. He also resisted arrest. The drug charges were dropped and McConaughey paid a fine for the noise complaint.

It didnt take long for the actor to bounce back from his troubles. He lit up the screen again as the heartthrob in several romantic comedies, including The Wedding Planner, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Fools Gold. He also snagged the title of Sexiest Man Alive from People magazine in 2005.

His memoir hit shelves in 2020

From where it started to a NY Times #1 Bestseller  Delayed gratification at its best. A big thank you from me to you for this incredible reception of Greenlights. #greenlightsbook pic.twitter.com/2TfJS01poq  Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) October 29, 2020

Matthew McConaughey has become a legendary actor. His most notable performance was perhaps his role in The Dallas Buyers Club. The 2014 film was based on the true story of Ron Woodruff, an activist who was diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s. McConaughey lost nearly 50 pounds for the role. McConaughey received both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his work in the film.

According to the University of Texas at Austin, McConaughey has been a part of the faculty since 2015. He began working as a visiting instructor at the Moody College of Communication. He co-taught the Script to Screen film production class and developed the course curriculum.

McConaughey looked back at his accomplishments (and failures) in his recent memoir, Greenlights. The #1 New York Times Bestseller is compiled of stories pulled from McConaugheys 35 years worth of diary entries. The honest approach McConaughey takes is refreshing and humanizing. Readers can easily relate to the brilliant actor, and he inspires people to keep working hard, even through tough struggles.

RELATED: Matthew McConaughey Wont Answer to Matt for This Horrifying Reason
The new Hulu miniseries The Dropout introduces Tyler Shultz in episode 5. The series follows the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos. Its no secret that Theranos collapsed and Holmes time as CEO ended in scandal. Over time, many people voiced their concerns about Theranos, but one of the most famous whistleblowers was Shultz, who is played by Dylan Minnette in The Dropout.

Dylan Minnette as Tyler Shultz in The Dropout | Beth Dubber/Hulu

Dylan Minnette plays Tyler Shultz in The Droput

Minnettes character Tyler Shultz arrives at Theranos in episode 5. The actor explained his character in The Dropout during a video on the shows official Twitter. Tyler Shultz was one of the very first whistleblowers at Theranos, Minnette said.

He is the grandson of George Shultz, who is former Secretary of State, board member at Theranos. So being Georges grandson, Tyler sort of got his foot in the door and got a job at Theranos. After spending some time at the company he was able to realize pretty quickly they were manipulating data and with his friend and co-employee Erika, decided to bring it to light.

Who is Tyler Schultz? @DylanMinnette discusses taking on the role of the Theranos whistleblower. #TheDropout pic.twitter.com/S6YsSWdDgE  The Dropout on Hulu (@TheDropoutHulu) March 15, 2022

Tyler Shultz blew the whistle on Elizabeth Holmes company Theranos

So far in The Dropout, Holmes methods at her company Theranos have gone from questionable to downright unethical. In episode 2, Holmes takes her Theranos prototype to Switzerland, where she fakes a demo on the malfunctioning machine. Later, Holmes goes even further, performing clinical trials on cancer patients with a prototype that doesnt work.

As Minnette said, his character quickly realized that Holmes innovative invention, called The Edison, did not work. There is nothing that the Edison could do that I couldnt do with a pipette in my own hand, the real-life Shultz told NPR. It was clear that there was an open secret within Theranos that this technology simply didnt exist.

According to NPR, Shultz contacted state regulators in New York under a false name. Along with his Theranos co-worker Erika Cheung, he also worked with John Carreyrou, a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, to reveal the truth about Theranos. Tyler and Erika were corroborating sources, and that was absolutely critical, Carreyrou told NPR.

Shultz decision to take down Theranos wasnt easy

Blowing the whistle on Theranos was not an easy thing to do, especially for a young man just starting out in the professional world. It would have been easier to quietly quit and move on with my life, Shultz told NPR. And thats actually exactly what my parents advised me to do when I was a 22-year-old kid fresh out of college.

To make matters even more difficult, Schultzs grandfather did not exactly support his whistleblowing at first. He didnt believe me. He said Elizabeth has assured me that they go above and beyond all regulatory standards, Shultz told NPR. Eventually, Shultzs grandfather would tell him that he did the right thing.

Minnette praised the bravery of his character in The Dropout and acknowledged the difficulty of what he went through. It sort of takes a big toll on Tyler once this happens. It sort of changes his life forever and his relationships with the people around him, Minnette said in the Twitter video. Tyler is an extremely admirable man and I think deserves to be called a hero.

New episodes of The Dropout are available to stream Thursdays on Hulu.

RELATED: The Dropout: The Real Life Ana Arriola on Leaving Theranos  I Was One of the Few People That Stood up to Her
This years theme for the Symposium on American Indian is Fulfilling Our Ancestors Dreams.
China enhances protection over blocks of historical, cultural value

08:59, March 18, 2022 By Ding Yiting ( People's Daily

To protect and keep alive historical and cultural heritage in the course of planning and construction in urban and rural areas is a mission raised in China's 2022 government work report.

As old urban buildings manifest historical and cultural characteristics of a city, many places in China are currently searching for ways to properly coordinate protection and development for better inheritance of their history and culture.

People visit Yandaixie Street, which literally means "Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street", in Beijing, Feb. 1, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Chen Xiaogen)

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, China had identified over 1,200 blocks of historical and cultural value and around 57,500 historical architectures as the end of the last year. The two figures respectively increased twofold and fivefold from 2016.

Chongyong Street is a 5.2-kilometer street that links seven historical blocks in Beijing. It starts from the Temple of Earth in the northern part of central Beijing, where the emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties would attend the annual summer solstice ritual of offerings to the heaven, and extends all the way down to the Temple of Heaven in the other side of the city, which is a complex visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest.

Buildings along the northern section of the street are mostly archaic Chinese quadrangles, Chinese-style storefronts, as well as houses with archways and carved tiles, and they gradually turn into simple and exquisite modern architectures as the street stretches southward.

Folk art performances are staged in an ancient city in Suixi county, Huaibei, east China's Anhui province, Jan. 26, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Chen Wenxiao)

A couple of years ago, the street was in a complete disorder as it was bothered by roadside booths and unapproved structures. Besides, public facilities along the street were also scattered.

"Now the street is much wider and tidier, and the old architectures here have been renovated. It wakes up my childhood memories," said a local resident.

The improved environment was made through years of efforts by Xu Meng, a planner with the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, and dozens of his colleagues.

"We must respect the authenticity and integrity of historical and cultural heritage and maintain its characters in order to protect and inherit it," said Xu.

He and his colleagues had collected a wide range of historical materials, and even found a set of photos of Beijing that were taken more than six decades ago. From the photos, they discovered that the street had diverse cultural elements, and was antique in the north and modern in the south.

"However, many of the archaic buildings along the street had been covered by billboards and unapproved structures after years of development," Xu told People's Daily.

Xu and his colleagues firstly dismantled door cases and outer-wall tiles of the buildings to restore the original look of them. They also removed over 150 poles on the street and camouflaged panel boxes, which both made the street good-looking and saved public space.

Xu and his colleagues renovated the old buildings on Yonghegong Street to return a traditional image to them. The renovation took the planners nearly two years, during which they recycled 550,000 old bricks and 130,000 old tiles. Over 80 percent of the materials used in the renovation were recycled.

The renovation, aiming to restore the historical characters of the buildings, adopted no "one-size-fits-all" approach. A total of 48 patterns for windows and doors were provided for local residents and merchants to choose.

People visit a historical tourism attraction in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Feb. 5, 2022. (People's Daily Online/Ding Genhou)

"They invited a calligrapher to design a signboard for us that well presents the local features of Beijing. Many customers told us that our shop has become cleaner and more characteristic," said Ye Jingrui, who owns a 30-year-old traditional Beijing street food store.

"The local people are very proud of their culture, and they feel obligated to carry it on. To tidy up the place doesn't necessarily mean that we have to make everything the same. Offering a chance for equal communication and options will better mobilize the people," Xu said.

In the recent decade, many historic streets and alleys across China have been fostering new businesses for revitalization.

For instance, a historical block in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu province encourages merchants to run cafeterias, 24-hour reading rooms, and other small service facilities to make the community more energetic. Another historical block in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province has introduced a series of new business forms that are expected to create 1,300 local jobs.

Through reasonable utilization, enriching business forms and functional activation, historical blocks and modern lifestyles are fusing with each other.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning on Wednesday aimed at "traitors" and anti-war protesters as police arrest thousands in the region amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The lawmaker's remarks were followed by graffiti warnings daubed on the doors of many activists living in Moscow. One food blogger was also threatened with up to 15 years of imprisonment for "discrediting" the Russian military. There were also calls to sack a senior former official for "treachery" in his opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Putin's Chilling Warning

Putin's venomous warning noted that the West would try to take advantage of the so-called traitors and use them as a fifth column to destroy Russia. However, he noted that the citizens of the country will be able to quickly differentiate between "patriots" and "scums."

After a few hours from the Russian president's speech, a Moscow-based activist, Dmitry Ivanov, said that his mother told him she found a graffiti message on their door. The markings read, "Don't betray the motherland, Dima," as per Reuters.

The graffiti also bore several of the "Z" signs that were used to gather support for Russia's war in Ukraine and have been seen painted on tanks. Ivanov, who repeatedly protested against the invasion, said that he knew of three other people who also found similar graffiti on their doors.

Read Also: Russia Hacks Ukrainian TV, Desperately Posts Fake Surrender Message of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky

Experts said that despite fears of Western sanctions having little effect on Putin's state of mind and decisions, the Russian president's Wednesday speech suggested that not everything was going according to his plans. However, some raised concerns that he would soon turn his attention away from Ukraine and double down on his own citizens who oppose his views.

According to CNN, while there are a few Russian citizens who have drummed up support for the war against Ukraine, many others have taken to the streets to protest Putin's actions. They know very well that they could be arrested by heavily-armed police even if they held peaceful demonstrations.

Patriots and Scums

In his remarks, Putin said, "The Russian people will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and simply spit them out like a fly that accidentally flew into their mouths." The Russian leader said he was convinced that the process, a natural and necessary self-purification of society, will only result in a stronger country.

Putin has repeatedly compared the West to Nazi Germany and has accused Russians who opposed the war in Ukraine of having a "slave-like" mentality. He also labeled the conflict a "struggle for our sovereignty, for the future of our country and our children."

But Russia's environment of anti-war sentiment, including a criminal case against a famous lifestyle blogger, paled in comparison to the horrifying incidents in Mariupol. The area is where Moscow's forces appeared to have gone all out.

On Thursday, Russia's military bombed a theater that resulted in thousands taking refuge. The attack was conducted despite satellite footage showing there was the Russian word for "children" written on the ground near the theater to let Russian forces know that there were civilians in the area, Fox News reported.



Related Article: Volodymyr Zelensky Issues Chilling World War 3 Warning Amid Russia 's Invasion of Ukraine: Civilization Is 'At Stake'

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Fighting in the country has displaced 8 million people since 1985, with church leaders under particular threat.

FARC guerrillas showed up week after week at Marias house demanding vacunasprotection moneythe rebels version of an offer not even a poor Colombian peasant farmer could refuse without risking death for his entire family.

Beyond extortion, the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) added fighters by luring them with bogus promises of money, or via forced conscription. Wherever the FARC showed up, children were in danger. That included Maria and her siblings. Colombias government made no effort to protect families, even those like Marias who lived near a military base.

So, in the late 1990s, her dad, Saul, uprooted the family to El Tigre, a mountain village two days walk away. With that, the family joined the ranks of Colombias internally displaced. Colombia's half-century-long civil war has produced the worlds biggest population of IDPs (more than 8 million since 1985). Operation World estimates 7.5 percent of Colombians are evangelicals.

The same guerrillas showed up at his new doorstep, palms extended.

But Sauls family might as well have stayed put. Civilians on that mountain found themselves caught between the 26th Front of the FARC, the guerrillas paramilitary rivals and Colombias Army warring for control. The same guerrillas showed up at his new doorstep, palms extended.

Saul, a Christian, believed a strict home life might keep his children from danger. Instead, Maria, 13, ran off with her boyfriend, who started beating her. At 16, she ran from him and joined the FARC. In time, she came to faith in Christ through Christian radio.

Not long after Marias miraculous liberation from the FARC after losing her leg to a landmine, I met the former guerrilla in Bogota. Shed been a broadcaster for the rebel group. Now in civilian life, she was using her skills to edit sermons for the radio station through which she had come to faith. The station, founded by missionary Russell Martin Stendals ministry Colombia for Christ, reaches all sides in the nations civil war. I detail Marias story from IDP to FARC guerrilla to Christian in my recent book release Victorious: The Impossible Path to Peace.

Although a peace accord ended the war between the FARC and the Colombian government, it didnt bring peace. Since the 2016 signing, more than 650,000 more people have become displaced within the nations borders. Fighting for control of coca fields, oil drilling, mining and narcotrafficking routes are guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the still-mobilized elements of the former FARC, along with paramilitaries and other criminal gangs.

Meanwhile, across Colombias eastern border, Venezuela has been under socialist dictatorship for a quarter century. The once-prosperous country is embroiled in chaos, hunger and lawlessness. More than 6 million Venezuelans have become refugees. More than 1.8 million of them are in Colombia.

While writing Victorious I visited Puerto Carreno, a hardscrabble eastern Colombia town on the Orinoco River border full of desperate Venezuelans. There, Colombia for Christ was warehousing Bibles; three former ELN or FARC guerrillas were among those smuggling Scriptures across the Orinoco into Venezuela, an effort empowered with help from both nations militaries.

Carmen, from northern Venezuela, was selling coffee from a carafe on a Puerto Carreno street. Widowed when police shot her taxi driver husband for a murder he did not commit, she left her daughter with her mom and traveled eight hours to Puerto Carreno seeking work. Carmen planned to earn money to buy food she would send home with her brother.

We heard her story as we bought her coffee. Supporting her microenterprise might keep her from being sucked into prostitution, a common fate of other young destitute Venezuelan women. Russ Stendals brother called a guy at the warehouse, who brought her a Bible.

Carmen hugged her new Bible. She kissed it.

They all do that, I was told later.

On my most recent trip to Colombia I changed planes in Panama City. Next to seat 32D, a young woman was sobbing. Cielo, 21, from Venezuela, shared her story, beginning with her name, heaven in Spanish. She was born after her childless mother had prayed for a miracle.

Cielo, a Christian, had fled her homeland for Mexico to start a new life with her aunt there. But upon arrival in Mexico City, immigration officials demanded a bribe she could not pay. Mexican officials singled out Venezuelans for extortion. She learned young women had been taken into custody, some for days. Rumors flew of sex abuse.

Cielo saw she had no choice but to board a flight to Bogota, where another aunt lived.

So, I prayed for Cielo, gave her Bible bookmarks and Scripture memes filed between the pages of my New King James and encouraged her from the Word of God that Jesus will take care of her. After we parted, I found a Bogota church friendly to Venezuelans (which, sadly, I learned is not usual among Colombian congregations) and linked her to a family at that church. Fortunately, Colombian immigration officials allowed her into the country to join another aunt.

Colombia is 30th on the 2022 Open Doors World Watch List that ranks countries by the severity of persecution faced by active Christians. Thats because criminal gangs, guerrillas and indigenous groups still threaten, harass, extort and even murder church leaders, who are targeted because they denounce corruption, defend human rights and oppose cartels.

As news crews have long since moved on, Jesus has not. Maria, Carmen, and Cielo are among the worlds 84 million forcibly displaced people.

Maria came to faith through the crisis brought about by the very guerrilla group that forced her family from their home. Carmen saw Jesus provision of a Bible and, later, clothing to replace what insects had eaten overnight and money to return home to Venezuela with supplies when her daughter needed emergency healthcare.

And in Bogota, Cielo found paying work on the phone bank of food delivery service while living with her aunt.

Gods heart is moved with compassion as Hes intervened in each unique plight.

Author and journalist Deann Alford, a former Christianity Today senior writer, is the author of Victorious: The Impossible Path to Peace about her decades covering Colombia, among of the worlds darkest places. There she finds radical forgiveness breaks the vicious cycle of violence and reprisal. Victorious is available on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play and other platforms.
Infectious disease physician Nathaniel Smith took on two new roles during the pandemic: acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Center for Global Health and interim priest of his Anglican church plant.

My interest in faith and medicine come from the same place: the desire to share Christs love in practical, tangible ways, said Smith, a former medical missionary. They both flow out of my identity in Christ.

In his role at the CDC, Smith helps his team identify emerging public health threats in more than 60 countries, run treatment programs for diseases ranging from HIV to measles, and support COVID-19 monitoring and vaccination efforts worldwide.

But the isolation of the pandemic urged him toward greater involvement in his local church. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2020 and stepped in as interim priest of Atlantas Trinity Northside Parish in 2021.

Smiths CDC office is situated along the Clifton Corridor in Atlanta, a major hub of education, research, and health care that also houses Emory University and multiple hospitals. And Smith is one of many Atlanta-area Christians working there who have lived out a dual calling during the pandemic, seeking to reduce illness through their clinical knowledge and to proclaim Christ in word and deed.

That task started with a swell of public gratitude at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 but has grown more difficult over time as public perception toward medical recommendations has shifted. And this provides a central challenge for Christians working in public health and medicine at this stage of the pandemichow to persevere in their faith while wrestling with their limits and trusting Gods sufficiency.

This is the hardest time I have ever walked through as a physician, as a hospital administrator, and as a laboratorian, said Dr. Colleen Kraft, associate chief medical officer at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. I dont know how people come through this experience without having faith.

Kraft is no stranger to high-stakes medicine. She was on the team of infectious disease doctors who treated the first Ebola patients in the United States in 2014 as an anxious nation watched. Thankfully, those patients recovered, and the hospitals rigorous protocols prevented the deadly virus from escaping into the community. But the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has been much different.

Working in hospital administration, Kraft is part of the team that makes sure the hospital can handle the COVID-19 surges. Shes addressing logistics and staffing issues, doing things from tracking down reusable hospital gowns when others are held up in the supply chain to staying late to log samples alongside overwhelmed lab technicians to improve morale.

The intensity of her role during the pandemic has kept her from participating in church activities as much as she used to. Im missing the ritual of [church] community, said Kraft. Sometimes work can feel like a worship community. We are trying to relieve suffering together, and that is worshipful to me.

As her job intensified during the pandemic, she found herself going back to basics, revisiting old college worship music and her Experiencing God workbook. It helps me look out for those it could only be God moments, said Kraft, thinking of the times when an impossible administrative obstacle somehow cleared by the end of the day.

Fighting misinformation and COVID fatigue

One key struggle for Christians working in health care and public health during the pandemic has been pushing back against misinformation.

Rose Glass is a founding member of the CDCs 320-member Christian Fellowship Group, created in 2001 for CDC Christians to worship and pray regularly for the CDCs work and one another. The Christian Fellowship Group hosts weekly lunchtime prayer and Bible studies and had offered monthly worship services before the pandemic.

As a 34-year veteran of the CDC, Glass has been stunned at the misinformation she has witnessed both from political figures and from faith leaders she once admired.

These messages that the vaccine will kill you, these conspiracies  Its madness, said Glass, an ordained minister in a nondenominational church. But that is what the Enemy wants us to do, to turn against each other.

Glass lost a cousin to COVID-19 earlier this year because of lax protocols by family members, despite their knowledge that the cousin was high-risk. That was a low point for me. Your cousins are your first best friends, she said. It was so avoidable.

Nursing clinician and educator Rachel Blanchard has seen new challenges emerge in later stages of the pandemic. Though the pace of ER admissions has slowed, her Atlanta-area hospital now struggles with staffing shortages and sagging morale as travel nurse incentives encourage rapid turnover.

We have a sense of When will this end? says Blanchard, a mother of three who worships at a Methodist church. How long can we continually find new staff?

She is finding the need to relax her instinct to plan for every scenario. I have to let go of what I cannot control.

Embracing limits

If any lesson has emerged from the pandemic, it is that we do not control our world as we thought we did.

We had all sorts of preparedness plans, said Smith. But so much didnt go according to plan.

Kraft says this reality is ushering her into a new phase of faith. Im constantly having more and more things to turn over to Godthings that I thought I had control over. It makes me yearn for a place that is not this earth.

This acknowledgement of limits can lead to deeper, more dependent faith.

Jonathan Yoder, who worked on COVID-19 in addition to his role as deputy chief for waterborne disease prevention at the CDC, describes the upheaval of the past two years: If [something like] this doesnt lead you to question your faith, you probably arent being honest with yourself.

He appreciates how the pandemic has underscored the simple reality that life is fragile. And that we all must learn to walk in greater humility.

There have been missteps and we have a commitment to learn from this and get it right, said Yoder, a Presbyterian. We must approach it with transparency and humility.

But he finds that his ultimate hope in Christ gives him freedom to focus on what is essential. The pandemic has shaken loose a new understanding of the Christian walk. We often think about being a Christian as doing things to show our faithfulness, said Yoder. But thats not it at allits about how faithful he is to us.

He was initially drawn toward public health as a tool for the common good, a way of bringing shalom to the world God has made. During the pandemic, he has been reminded of the Hebrews 13 passage that describes how Jesus was sent outside the camp to die a death of isolation, mirroring Israelites with infectious disease in Leviticus who were sent outside the camp.

He suffered for us and experienced physical and spiritual loss, said Yoder. Maybe part of the loss of connection that we experienced during COVID will bring us closer to understanding Christs sacrifice for us.

Lessons from the pandemic

Nathaniel Smith has made multiple adjustments during the pandemic. His family moved from Arkansas, where he worked for the state health department in the early months of the pandemic response, to Atlanta so he could work at the CDC.

As he stepped in as interim priest last year, he learned to fit sermon preparation into evenings and weekends. Leading his 100-person congregation amid the COVID-19 waves was an opportunity to see past political divides and to lean into the person of Jesus, he says.

We learned to love even as we disagreed, said Smith. As the world turned upside down, his congregation saw that God was still active and in control.

Smiths faith deepened further as his wife was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer during the pandemic. The couple was prompted to reflect on Gods faithfulness through years of grueling, at times perilous, medical missionary service in Kenya.

We have seen the Lord take us through difficult times in the past, said Smith, and he will continue to provide in the future.

Despite the loss and uncertainty brought by the pandemic and his wifes diagnosis, Smith finds himself tightly tethered to God, believing that his purposes are beyond our understanding.

If God can draw me close to him and reveal things that are most true, he can do the same thing in our world, said Smith. We can come out of the pandemic with a better way of thinking about each other, the world, and God as the source of life.
Brian Houston has resigned from Hillsong Church, the congregation he founded nearly 40 years ago and led as global senior pastor.

The boards of the Australian congregation and the global ministry announced they accepted his resignation in a letter posted Wednesday.

Houston had been on leave from the church awaiting his appearance in court on charges he had covered up abuse by his late father.

Last week, news broke that Hillsong had also investigated the pastor in two instances of inappropriate behavior. One involved text messages sent to a female staff member; the other occurred when Houston drunkenly entered a womans hotel room after a Hillsong conference three years ago.

The letter from the board stated:

Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades and that their ministry has resulted in millions of people across the world being impacted by the power, grace, and love of Jesus Christ. Hillsong Church was birthed out of Brian and Bobbies obedience and commitment to the call of God and we are extremely grateful for all that Brian and Bobbie have given to build His house. We ask that you continue to pray for them, and the entire Houston family, during this challenging time.

Last Sunday, Phil DooleyHillsongs interim global leaderapologized to the congregation and pledged to make it a safe place for healing.

Where trust and aspects of transparency have been lost, we will do our best to rebuild that, he said.

The church plans to undergo an independent review of its governance structure and processes.

There is still much to be done and our church leadership continues seeking God for His wisdom as we set the course for the future, the boards wrote. We acknowledge that change is needed.

----------

Earlier story (March 18, by Roxanne Stone and Bob Smietana  Religion News Service): The board of directors of Hillsong, the global megachurch and music empire co-founded by Australian pastor Brian Houston, released a statement Friday addressing two complaints about Houston, including an accusation that the married pastor had spent time alone in a hotel room with a woman in 2019.

The statement, which came as the story was breaking in the Australian press, said the Hillsong board has been dealing with two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the last 10 years, and said each was investigated by a board member or a body appointed by the global board, and dealt with confidentially.

The other complaint related to an accusation that Houston had flirted with a staff member over text message a decade ago.

Prior to the statement being released, Hillsong reportedly held a video meeting with 800 Hillsong staffers around the world in which interim senior pastor Phil Dooley, who is leading the church while Houston is on leave due to ongoing legal troubles, discussed the complaints for the first time with the church at large. Dooley explained the texts, according to Australias ABC News, as being to the effect of, If I was with you, Id like to kiss and cuddle you, words of that nature.

The second incident, as reportedly detailed in the staff meeting, took place during its annual conference in Qudos Bank Arena in Homebush, New South Wales in 2019. According to ABC, Dooley said Houston had been drinking with a group.

Later that evening, Pastor Brian attempted to get into his room but didnt have his room key and ended up knocking on the door to the womans room, Dooley reportedly said. She opened the door and he went into her room.

The truth is we dont know what happened next, ABC reported Dooley telling the staffers. The woman has not said there was any sexual activity. Brian has said there was no sexual activity, but he was in the room for 40 minutes.

The Hillsong board statement said that Houston, 67, had become disoriented after taking more than the prescribed dose of an anti-anxiety prescription, mixed with alcohol. This resulted in him knocking on the door of a hotel room that was not his, entering this room and spending time with the female occupant, read the statement.

The boards statement said Houston was also under the influence of sleeping medication at the time he sent the inappropriate texts, upon which he had developed a dependence. The text messages ultimately led to the staff member resigning, according to the statement, which also said Houston apologized to the staff member.

We also worked closely with Pastor Brian to ensure he received professional help to eliminate his dependency on this medication, and this was achieved successfully, the statement read.

After the hotel room incident, the board said there was an investigation by the integrity unity, and that although all parts of the complaint were unable to be sustained, important elements of the complaint were sustained and the conduct was of serious concern.

The boards statement also said they agreed to refund money the woman had donated to the church, in order to bring resolution in a spirit of love and care, and to abide by her request for confidentiality. The statement said Houston repaid the money to the church.

At the time, Houston agreed to step down from leadership for a period and take specific action, but ultimately, according to the statement, he did not take all of the agreed upon steps, which resulted in the board taking further action in late 2021.

The statement did not indicate whether Houston would return to his position at the church.

The incidents are the latest controversy to engulf Hillsong, a Pentecostal powerhouse Houston founded with his wife, Bobbie, in 1983. The church, which draws a reported 150,000 to services in 30 locations, has also produced some of the most popular worships songs used in evangelical churches around the world, including Oceans, What a Beautiful Name, and Shout to the Lord.

In January, Houston announced he was taking a leave from his pastoral duties during 2022, in order to prepare for his trial in Australia on charges that he failed to report sexual abuse.

The result is that the Hillsong Global Board feel it is in my and the churchs best interest for this to happen, so I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year, Houston said in the January 30 video announcement.

Houston was charged in August 2021, with concealing a serious indictable offense of another person. Police say his late father, Frank Houston, also a preacher, indecently assaulted a young male in 1970. Court documents allege Houston knew of his fathers abuse as early as 1999 and without reasonable excuse, failed to disclose that information to police.

His son has long denied covering up his fathers abuse.

I think Im quite a tolerant person, but one thing Ive really never had any tolerance for is sexual abuse, and especially child abuse, Brian Houston said in an 2005 interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. So, I dont think you could have kicked me in the guts with a bigger blow, in some ways.

According to Australian news sources, Brian Houstons trial will be held in late 2022.
One month ago, Taras Dyatlik gathered in Moldova with friends and partners for another 10-day round of mundane seminary meetings. Serving as regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia for Overseas Council, he was a lynchpin for strategy and funding for a network of theological institutions in Ukraine and Russia.

Three days later, he was desperately scrambling back to Kyiv. Dyatliks familylike much of Ukrainewas under Russian military fire. And the only thing louder than the air raid sirens that would soon pervade his sleepless nights was the silence of his Russian colleagues.

Its not a conflict, its not a situation, its not tension within Ukraine; this is invasion, this is aggression; this is not a special operation, he said, using the terms employed by most Russiansand too many otherwise cautious supporters in the West.

He emphasized the Bible shows the importance of precision in language.

Its not just that Abel died or that Jesus was just betrayed; Judas betrayed Jesus, Cain killed Abel, he said. Not just that a man sinned; Adam and Eve sinned. Biblical truth has names, has a cause-and-effect chain.

Dyatliks charged remarks mirrored others voiced at an online roundtable organized Thursday by the Ukraine-based Eastern European Institute of Theology (EEIT). About 500 supporters, partners, and general wellwishers registered for The Russia-Ukraine War: Evangelical Voices, eager to hear from fellow believers on the front lines.

Follow CTs Ukraine-Russia coverage on Telegram: @ctmagazine (also available in Chinese and Russian

The attendees, from at least 25 nations and 20 US states, received theological reflectionand raw emotion.

Its difficult for us Ukrainians to stay calm when we talk about what is happening in Ukraine, said Roman Soloviy, EEIT director, who served as moderator. Most of us men have never cried so much as during the last three weeks. We really need your help, your prayer, and your voice in the world.

Oleksandr Geychenko, rector of Odessa Theological Seminary (OTS), expressed the shock of all.

We died with the pregnant woman and her child when the maternity hospital was bombed. We fled with those running from Russian shooting, he said. All we were used to is wiped outnow just a wilderness.

OTS is the oldest of the Ukrainian evangelical seminaries, tracing its history to a 1989 local effort to train preachers and Sunday school teachers. The campus was evacuated at the start of the war as the Ukrainian military took up occupancy in defense of the Black Sea port.

But what has puzzled and discouraged Geychenko most is the position of many Russian evangelicals. A week before the invasion, as tensions were rising with Moscow, he participated in an initiative to craft a joint statement by theological educators in Eastern Europe and Central Asia that would condemn the threat of and preparations for war.

The Russian participants balked, he said. They wanted a generic call to prayer for peace.

A week later, our cities were hit by missiles and these colleagues started changing their perspective, Geychenko said. Unfortunately, the wider circle of Russian ministers, evangelical celebrities, and average Christians have not done this.

Most of the experts are wrong when they say that this war is Putins war, he said. No, this war is supported by a significant portion of Russian people.

The great challenge, said Valentin Siniy, rector of Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI), is processing the feelings of hurt and betrayal.

Located in Kherson, the first major city to fall under Russian control, his seminary is now occupied by the Russian army. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church labeled these occationally repeated actions sacrilege.

Siniy cited the biblical example of Jesus cleansing the temple of money-changers with a whip. If we are going to hide our fear, our anger behind a mask, then we will be acting like Pharisees, he said.  We Ukrainians will need to accept our anger and give it to God.

He reflected on the Mennonite-influenced history of his youth. But today Siniy is praying the curse of Deborah in Judges 5 upon those who did not come to help. Seeking to direct it against the war itself, he also prays positively that Gods kingdom would more clearly manifest itself in the world.

Ivan Rusyn is more specific.

Someone has said that the expression How much longer, Lord? is as spiritual as the word hallelujah, he said. I want to take a step further and say that I have come to the conclusion that the words God, break the bones of my enemy are as spiritual as Aarons blessing.

As rector of Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv, Rusyn is one of a handful of staff who have stayed behind to help their community. The campus initially served as a hub for ministry to both neighbors and those fleeing war zones further east.

But then it was shelled, his neighborhood fell under Russian control, and he now lives in the office of the Ukrainian Bible Society.

Missile fire, he added, was audible during the presentation.

This is a full scale, unprovoked war of the Russian Federation against the Ukrainian people, he said. The goal is the complete destruction of Ukraine.

Yet he still sees God at work. Rusyn is learning the meaning of incarnational ministry. Neighbors promise to visit the campus when the war has ended. Bibles are distributed to soldiers and civilians alike.

And he sees an even greater impact.

The war has brought Ukrainians together, Rusyn said. If the church follows Christ, it follows where the need is greatest and stays there.

Still able to remain safe so far is Stanislav Stepanchenko, dean of Lviv Theological Seminary near Ukraines western border. Every day his campus hosts about 100 people fleeing on their way to neighboring Poland or Romania.

The UN estimates more than three million refugees from Ukraine.

We are the first place they can take a deep breath and get some food, he said. There is no fighting in our streets, but we see the war in the eyes of those escaping.

Coordinating the work of 40 volunteers, Stepanchenko agreed with the imprecatory prayers of his colleagues. He has been praying Psalm 82 and Psalm 55, wishing the aggressors to descend into the pit.

But he and his team find hope in Matthew 25I was a stranger, and you took me inand they remind themselves of this in every act of service. Even so, they think of the dozens of children killed in the war, returning frequently to the Genesis cry of Rachel.

Ukraine is weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, Stepanchenko said. Why is Putin doing this? Because he can.

Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys address to Congress, US President Joe Biden called Putin a war criminal.

A theater sheltering hundreds of civilians in Mariupol was shelled on Thursdaydespite two large labels of CHILDREN painted outside. A neighboring pool complex was also hit, with women and children inside.

The damage throughout Ukraine is considerable. The Russian offensive has largely stalled, with major cities shelled from a distance. Religious sites have not been immune.

Soloviy and Geychenko joined dozens of other clerics and religious freedom advocates to condemn the damage suffered by 28 churches, mosques, and synagogues. The Religious Freedom Roundtable in Ukraine also tallied the killing of four Orthodox priests and the capture of two more (one released since).

Similarly, CBN reported the kidnapping of one of its affiliated aid workers near Mariupol, a woman named Valentine.

The roundtables appeal, signed also by the Ukrainian Bible Society, Youth for Christ, and leaders from the Baptist, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Muslim, and Jewish communities, called for Orthodox Church parishes affiliated with Moscow to break ties with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

It has already happened abroad. Churches in Amsterdam and Estonia have announced separation.

Kirill foresees a tense struggle for Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and a recent survey bears it out. Prior to the war, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) reportedly had about 12,000 parishes, while the breakaway Orthodox Church of Ukraine had about 7,000, notedEurasia Daily Monitor. (Though the Jamestown Foundation journal also noted this tally fails to reflect attendance at each parish and requests for transfers that remain unapproved.)

But a recent poll conducted March 89 found that more than half of parishioners in the UOC favor breaking relations.

Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop Justin Welby of the Anglican Church remain in dialogue with Kirill. Separate communications emphasized an agreed-upon need for peace and justice.

The church must not use the language of politics but the language of Jesus, Francis stated. We are pastors of the same people who believe in God, in the Holy Trinity, in the Holy Mother of God.

Kirill, meanwhile, told Welby the politics trace back to 2014, alleging Ukrainian efforts to repress Russian speakers in the occupied Donbas region. The problem, his office stated, was that information on both sides of this conflict is completely different.

Too many are falling for the propaganda, according to the Ukrainian evangelical seminary leaderspained particularly by their fellow evangelicals in Russia.

They believe what is shown on the news, Dyatlik said, but dont believe the witness of Christians from the shelters, from the ruins, from the street fighting.

He was keen, however, to honor those who have protested the war.

We know the heroes  who were not silent, he said, risking their families and their freedom. We pray for them, we are thankful to them.

In early March, hundreds of Russian evangelical leaders signed an open letter calling on their government to stop this senseless bloodshed.

Putin has labeled domestic opposition to the war as gnats, traitors, and scum.

Nearly 15,000 Russians have been arrested for anti-war protests. Tens of thousands have reportedly left the country since the war began.

Valerii Antonuk, president of the Baptist Union of Ukraine, appealed to Christians abroad. Speaking from the heart of the capital, he said success in Kyiv, indirectly, will impact Moscow.

Stand with and for us in this spiritual breach, and hold this shield of prayer over Ukraine, he said. We pray today that God will allow our country to persevere and win, and to defend the freedom that is so important for spreading the gospel in Ukraine [and] Russia.

But beyond the call for prayer and advocacy, the evangelical seminary leaders suggested ways supporters can helpalongside essential financial assistance.

Geychenko requested consultation on how theological education can continue in the seminaries tattered shape. Having lost all materials but their e-readers, he suggested online libraries abroad can be opened for faculty and graduate student use.

UETS said it is ready to start online education immediately. OTS hopes to do so by April.

Siniy, however, advised beyond theology as many refugees will wind up having to remain a long time in their host nations. Think about their education, he said, not just food and water.

Ukrainians must organize in their displacement, to start schools for their youth and to plant churches for their families. Pastoral care must be prioritized quickly, as feelings of survivors guilt are starting to develop among refugees.

But to close the meeting, Dyatlik offered a theological messageone he said was needed greatly in a post-truth society.

Satans first challenge was to get Adam and Eve to question reality: Did God really say? And as this brought sin into the world, requiring Gods initiative to cure, so also can only the Holy Spirit convict the hearts of blinded Russians, he said. Argument and evidence will not help the cause.

Besides, there is too much work to do, and little time to rest.

Today is the 22nd day of the war, Dyatlik said. Now there is no weekend, no Monday, no Tuesday. We are just counting the days.

Correction: An earlier version of this article errantly quoted Dyatlik as stating that Judah betrayed Jesus, instead of Judas. CT regrets the error.

Follow CTs Ukraine-Russia coverage on Telegram: @ctmagazine (also available in Chinese and Russian ).

[ This article is also available in espanol. ]
Denzel Washington says his gifts were given by the grace of God

Academy and Tony Award-winning actor and director Denzel Washington continues to give God the glory for his many talents, most recently as a guest on the fourth season premiere of a late-night comedy talk show.

In the 23-minute video interview on Showtime's Desus & Mero, hosted by podcasters Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, Washington speaks of his love for NewYork, pizza, his upcoming film The Tragedy of Macbeth, how he prepares for his roles and what hes learned after the many years in Hollywood.

During the conversation, the New York native testified that by the grace of God, he was given the natural ability to act.

Washington said despite having the natural ability, he still had to study to be as good of an actor as he can be.

"That's why I did," He said. "And it paid off."

Later in the video, Washington was asked to name "one of the most important lessons in Hollywood that everyone should know."

One of the most important lessons in life that you should know is to remember to have an attitude of gratitude, of humility, understand where the gift comes from, Washington advised.

The actor assured the young men that everything hes done, Its not mine, its been given to me by the grace of God.

He encouraged everyone to use what they have to help others, as he said he has done.

Youll never see a U-haul behind a hearse, Washington assured. Egyptians tried. What did they get? They got robbed!



Washington often uses his U-haul analogy. He shared it during his commencement address at the University of Pennsylvania in 2011.

Washington expounded on the quote in a 2014 conversation with young actors posted on actor Tyrese Gibsons Facebook page.

Youll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. Now, Ive been blessed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in my life. I cant take it with me, and neither can you. Its not how much you have but what you do with what you have, he told the actors.

In a 2017 interview with The Christian Post, Washington shared part of his Christian testimony, saying that when he was 20 years old, it was prophesied that I would travel the world and preach to millions of people. I thought it was through my work and it has been.

My mother said to me, when I was 59, she said, Denzel, you do a lot of good. You have to do good the right way, and you know what Im talking about, Washington continued. I dont drink anymore; I dont do any of those things. Im all about the message, to the degree that I know it, and Im unashamed and unafraid to share it!

So you have to be unafraid and unashamed to share it in the way your millennial generation knows how, he told this CP reporter at the time.

In September 2021, Washington was among the featured speakers at The Better Man Event hosted by First Baptist Orlando. He engaged in a sit-down discussion with one of his spiritual mentors, Pastor A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In every prayer, all I hear is: Feed my sheep. Thats what God wants me to do, Washington, a father of three, shared.

The actor said his response is often, Whats that mean? But what I found out in the last couple of years is there are all kinds of sheep.

So thats why I talk to experienced shepherds to help guide me, he said.
Sen. Josh Hawley: Supreme Court nominee has 'alarming' record on child porn offenders

With Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court slated to begin next week, a senator on the influential U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is warning about her record on the Sentencing Commission and how it reflects her views on punishment for child pornography offenders.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that will question Jackson in confirmation hearings next week, sent out a Twitter thread Wednesday expressing concerns about an alarming pattern when it comes to Judge Jacksons treatment of sex offenders, especially those preying on children. He asserted that Judge Jackson has a pattern of letting child porn offenders off the hook for their appalling crimes, both as a judge and a policymaker.

Ive been researching the record of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, reading her opinions, articles, interviews & speeches. Ive noticed an alarming pattern when it comes to Judge Jacksons treatment of sex offenders, especially those preying on children  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 16, 2022

Shes been advocating for it since law school, he added. This goes beyond soft on crime. Im concerned that this is a record that endangers our children.

Hawley provided screenshots of some of Jacksons commentary on child porn offenders, including a declaration that she had [mistakenly] assumed that child pornography offenders are pedophiles. Jackson suggested that there was a category of nonpedophiles who obtain child pornography that are nonsexually motivated offenders.

Jackson contended that the group of nonpedophiles who commit child pornography offenses do so because of the challenge or a desire to use the technology. She described this group of nonpedophiles as very sophisticated technologically and not necessarily interested in the child pornography piece of it.

Hawley also listed specific examples illustrating how Jackson deviated from the federal sentencing guidelines in favor of child porn offenders. In a case involving a sex offender who had multiple images of child porn, the sentencing guidelines called for a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Jackson gave the offender three months in prison.

Sentencing guidelines called for a prison sentence between eight and 10 years for a criminal with thousands of images of child porn who also hoped to travel across state lines to abuse a 9-year-old girl. Jackson gave the man a sentence of 57 months, less than five years. In another case, she sentenced a child pornographer who possessed more than 600 images and videos and posted many on a public blog to 60 months in prison, far short of the 151-188 months suggested in the guidelines.

In another case, Jackson sentenced a child pornographer who posted multiple images online to 60 months in prison, even though the recommended sentence was 70 to 87 months.

Another man who possessed more than 100 child pornography videos, including a video of his own 10-year-old daughter, received a 71-month sentence from Jackson as opposed to the recommended 97-121 months.

Jacksons past comments in support of critical race theory, which Encyclopedia Brittanica defines as an intellectual and social movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to express and exploit people of colour, are also receiving renewed attention.

Christopher Rufo, an outspoken opponent of critical race theory, took to Twitter Thursday to share some of Jacksons remarks about Derrick Bell, whom he described as the father of critical race theory. Jackson spoke about Bell when addressing students at the University of Michigan Law School for a Martin Luther King Day lecture in 2020.

Ketanji Brown Jackson is a lifelong admirer of the father of critical race theory, Derrick Bell, who wrote that the Constitution was like "roach powder," that whites might commit "racial genocide," and that his motto was "I live to harass white folks." pic.twitter.com/fhGEf0kFk0  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) March 17, 2022

Ketanji Brown Jackson is a lifelong admirer of the father of critical race theory, Derrick Bell, who wrote that the Constitution was like roach powder, that whites might commit racial genocide, and that his motto was 'I live to harass white folks,'" he said. In her speech to the law school students, she praised his book Faces at the Bottom of the Well, written in the early 1990s, as influential to her upbringing.

My parents had this book on their coffee table for many years, and I remember staring at the image on the cover when I was growing up; I found it difficult to reconcile the image of the person, who seemed to be smiling, with the depressing message that the title and subtitle conveyed, she recalled. I thought about this book cover again for the first time in 40 years when I started preparing for this speech, because, before the civil rights gains of the 1960s, black women were the quintessential faces at the bottom of the well of American society.

Responding to her speech, Rufo insisted that Jacksons math doesnt add up because She was born in 1970 and Faces at the Bottom of the Well wasnt published until 1992, when she was 22 years old and a student at Harvard  during the exact timeframe that Derrick Bell was engaged in his nationally-publicized protest. He maintained that the books publication date and her age make her story that her parents had Faces at the Bottom of the Well  a key text of critical race theory on their coffee table when Jackson was growing up false.

President Joe Biden nominated Jackson, who serves as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to become an associate justice on the Supreme Court last month. If confirmed, Jackson would become the first female African American Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. Jacksons nomination comes ahead of long-serving Justice Stephen Breyers impending retirement.

Jacksons confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin on Monday, where the nominee, as well as the leading senators on the Judiciary Committee, will have the opportunity to make opening remarks. Senators from both parties will also question Jackson about her judicial record and legal philosophy before witnesses are called to testify for and against her confirmation.

After the hearings conclude, senators on the Judiciary Committee, which consists of an even split of Republicans and Democrats, will vote on whether to advance Jacksons nomination to the full Senate. If the nomination makes it to the Senate floor, she must receive support from a majority of senators in order to secure a spot on the court. The Senate consists of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Democrats.

Ketanji Brown Jackson is a lifelong admirer of the father of critical race theory, Derrick Bell, who wrote that the Constitution was like "roach powder," that whites might commit "racial genocide," and that his motto was "I live to harass white folks." pic.twitter.com/fhGEf0kFk0  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) March 17, 2022
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is freed from Iran; reveals details of interrogation, torture in prison

A British-Iranian mother, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, has arrived in Britain to be reunited with her husband and 7-year-old daughter and has shared grim details about her six-year detention in Iran on the false accusation of plotting to overthrow Irans government.

Aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe, along with a fellow dual national, Anoosheh Ashoori, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly spying for Israels Mossad and two years for acquiring illegitimate wealth, arrived in Oxfordshire Thursday afternoon, Reuters reported.

Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband, Richard, and her daughter, Gabriella, received her at the British military airbase of Brize Norton, and the family will be at a government-run safe house for a week.

Ours has been a cruel experience in some ways, but its also been an exposure to such a level of kindness and care, he was quoted as saying after meeting his wife for the first time in six years. This will be a chapter in our lives, but there are many more chapters to come.

He also said, as quoted by The Times, People come out with an extra will to make up for lost time and to stop others having to battle against the bad guys that they feel are responsible. And that can take different directions. While Im sure shes happy today, I cant tell where her head will be in six months. Im sure shes feeling a lot less angry today than she was a week ago. Theres nothing like freedom for changing your perspective.

She now wants to focus on being a full-time mother, though an eventual campaigning role remains a possibility.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 45, who worked with a Thomson Reuters Foundation charity as a project manager, was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 while she was returning to Britain with her daughter, Gabriella, after visiting her parents. A court later convicted her of plotting to overthrow Irans clerical establishment.

She was first sent to Evin prison in Tehran, which has a reputation for being the worst prison in that country, then released in 2020 but kept under house arrest. Last year, she was sentenced to a new term in jail on the charge of propaganda against the state.

Ashoori, 67, was arrested in 2017 and sentenced in 2019.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ashoori were released after Britain agreed to pay a decades-old debt of $520 million to Iran relating to a contract for undelivered tanks, Reuters said, adding that an Iranian-American environmentalist, Morad Tahbaz, whos also a British citizen, had been released on furlough as part of the deal.

After her arrival, Zaghari-Ratcliffe shared how intense interrogations and inhumane conditions in prison affected her health.

The questioning by Iranian officials was so aggressive that she once fell off her chair, she said, according to The National, which also quoted her saying that on another day, she cried so much she ended up fainting.

Iranian officials also told her she was lying about her marriage and that she did not know her husband and that he was a spy and that he had lied about where he worked.

They kept telling me I had lost my job and that if interrogation took too long my husband would leave me, she recalled.

Talking about her arrest, she said, I couldnt sleep a wink for the first week. My heart palpitated so hard that when I put my head on the blanket it felt as if it would explode, according to The Telegraph.

Zaghari-Ratcliffes employer kept her job open and also promoted her in her absence, The Daily Mail reported.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, had called on Christian leaders in 2017 to intervene for her release, condemning London and Tehran for putting diplomacy before the life of the woman.

I think whats going to help most is if this case can be taken right out of political point scoring and I think religious leaders are well-placed to do that, Williams told Premier in an interview at the time.

I think there [are] some basic moral issues here which Christian leaders are in a good position to raise, the former archbishop added, alluding to Britains debt.
Fearing the Lord and fearing Americas president

God established governing authorities to help maintain law, order, peace, and security for people here on Earth, as well as to punish wrongdoers.

Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is Gods servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is Gods servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer (Romans 13:2-4).

Peace on Earth is far from perfect due to the selfishness and brutality of vicious tyrants who seek world domination. And when these marauding despots go unchecked by America and other freedom-loving nations, bloodshed and misery are sure to increase exponentially.

Winston Churchill said, An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. Ronald Reagan said, There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.

The world has witnessed Americas president sliding down the slippery slope of appeasement for the past 14 months.

Unfortunately, the mainstream media refused to ask tough questions of the Biden/Harris team during the 2020 presidential campaign, and this favoritism and soft journalistic approach is coming back to bite the United States and the world in more ways than one.

The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and the catastrophic war in Ukraine could have both been avoided. Bill Maher recently put it this way: If Putin thought Trump was really that supportive of him, why didnt he invade when Trump was in office? Its at least worth asking that question if youre not locked into one intransigent thought.

I wonder if there is a single dictator in the world today who fears Joe Biden.

Imagine if Jesus had been indecisive and weak in explaining the consequences of rejecting the Gospel. Instead, Jesus made clear, bold, and loving statements, such as these:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for Gods wrath remains on him (John 3:36).

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Hell (Matthew 10:28).

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Christian leaders are called to speak the truth in love, while American presidents must understand that appeasement simply emboldens the enemies of freedom and democracy.

Charles Colson wrote, In his 1978 Harvard commencement address, Solzhenitsyn listed a litany of woes facing the West: the loss of courage and will, the addiction to comfort, the abuse of freedom, the capitulation of intellectuals to fashionable ideas, the attitude of appeasement with evil.

The fear of the Lord is what leads a person to humble himself before his Creator. Without humility, we tend to charge off and do things that are unwise and harmful to ourselves and others.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13). The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death (Proverbs 14:27). The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them (Psalm 25:14).

Human beings need the fear of the Lord, and despicable dictators need the fear of Americas president and the fear of other freedom-loving countries. Otherwise, a person tends to think he can simply get away with anything!

While every president throughout American history has made mistakes, some of Joe Biden's appeasement policies over the past 14 months have delivered deadly consequences that were entirely avoidable.

In the midst of war, suffering, and death, our ultimate hope is found in the Redeemer who gave His life on the cross for our salvation. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15)

God commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30,31).

Jesus said, Repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15). Those who fear the Lord are called to repent of their sins and invited to trust Christ as Savior. And thankfully, Jesus is quick to welcome new believers into His eternal family.
Is the spirit of 1776 imperiled?

A recent Quinnipiac University Poll generated some profoundly shocking results.

I have been tremendously inspired in recent days by the incredibly courageous defense Ukrainians have mounted in response to the Russians savage and unprovoked invasion of their country. I have even said publicly, I recognize the Spirit of 1776 when I see it as part of appeals for America to give substantial military assistance to help the Ukrainians to defend themselves.

The Spirit of 1776 does live in Ukraine, but does it still live in the United States of America? The Quinnipiac Poll revealed that when Americans were asked, If you were in the same position as Ukrainians are now, do you think that you would stay and fight or leave the country?

The good news is that 55% of Americans said yes (70% of men and 40% of women). The bad news is that 38% said no (22% of men and 52% of women). As depressing as those figures are, when you delve deeper into the findings, the news gets even more disturbing.

Like virtually every other issue in current American culture, there is a large partisan divide. Broken down on party lines, 68% of Republicans said yes, they would stay (57% of Independents and 40% of Democrats said yes). Among those Americans who said no, they would not stay and fight an invader, broke down as follows (25% of Republicans, 36% of Independents, and 52% of Democrats).

When the poll results are divided by age groups, the results were as follows:

Age in Years Stay and Fight Leave the Country

18-34 45% 48%

35-49 57% 37%

50-64 66% 28%

The stark generational decline from the oldest to the youngest does not bode well for the future. Why is it that the percentage who would stay and fight drops 21% in two generations?

The answer is found in the profound assault on the basic Judeo-Christian values upon which our nation was founded.

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) sounded the warning way back in 1943 when, after reading a British textbook advocating moral relativism (The Green Book), he wrote The Abolition of Man, describing how the denial of the concept of absolute truth would lead to the decay of moral virtue in society.

In a sort of ghastly simplicity, we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.

As usual, C.S. Lewis was prescient.

Another one of the 20th centurys great men, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008), eloquently sounded a similar warning to the West. The Nobel Laureate, in his Harvard Commencement address in 1978, said that the humanistic worldview ignored, or denied the intrinsic evil in fallen man and was responsible for Western Civilizations dangerous trend of worshipping man and his material needs. Solzhenitsyn, a Russian Orthodox Christian, added the sobering thought that the secular humanism of the West would ultimately succumb to its communistic materialistic ideological cousin since communism was more consistent with the presuppositions shared by both views (Ronald Berman ed. Solzhenitsyn at Harvard, Washington, D.C., Ethics & Public Policy Center, 1980, p. 320).

In the midst of the Soviet Unions nuclear confrontation with the West in the Cold War, Solzhenitsyn saw the moral relativism represented by Bertrand Russells (1872-1970) Cold War infamous slogan Better Red than dead as abominable.

Solzhenitsyns response to Russell is illuminating!

All my life and the life of my generation, the life those who share my views, we all had one viewpoint. Better to be dead than to be a scoundrel. In this expression of Bertrand Russells there is an absence of all moral criteria. Looked at from a short distance, these words allow one to maneuver and to continue to enjoy life. But from a long-term point of view, it will undoubtedly destroy those people who think like that.

Unfortunately, during the last eight decades or so, those defending Judeo-Christian values have been playing checkers while those advocating for no absolutes and the moral relativity of everything have been playing multidimensional chess or Nintendo.

The twentieth century witnessed the virtual triumph of humanistic world views both in the West and in an authoritarian form in Russia and China. Men as influential and important as John Dewey (1859-1952) the father of modern education and B.F. Skinner (1901-1990), the enormously influential Harvard behavioral psychologist, have disseminated humanistic views deeply in education pre-kindergarten through graduate school.

Traditional Judeo-Christian proponents were not without those who were sounding the alarm. In addition to Lewis and Solzhenitsyn, no less a personage than Nobel Laureate T.S. Eliot warned of the Wests inevitable choice between a reassertion of Christian culture or an emerging pagan, humanistic culture. (T.S. Eliot, The Idea of a Christian Society in Christianity and Culture, New York: Harcourt, Brace, and World, 1949).

The tidal wave of moral relativism that has engulfed our culture has profoundly changed our nation.

Thirty-three years ago, in 1989, President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), in his Farewell Address sounded the alarm bells:

Those of us who are over thirty-five or so years of age [i.e. born before 1954] grew up in a different America. We were taught, very directly, what it means to be an American. And we absorbed, almost in the air, a love of country and an appreciation of its institutions.

President Reagan went on to observe that for some reason Younger parents arent sure that an unambivalent appreciation of America is the right thing to teach modern children.

Why would that be true? Those younger parents were the products of a culture that was increasingly uncomfortable with unambiguous terms like good and evil.

As I read the depressing Quinnipiac Poll results concerning the precipitous decline of younger and younger men to defending their country, I recalled a conversation I had several years ago with my son. We had just finished watching a particularly graphic and bloody episode of the great Band of Brothers miniseries depicting the progress of American paratroopers from Normandy to V-E Day.

This particular episode portrayed scenes of hand-to-hand combat between American and German soldiers. My son asked, Dad, what made the Greatest Generation the greatest generation?

I replied, Well, son, as a Baby Boomer, I may not be qualified to answer that question. But my father, your grandfather, was in the Pacific from Dec. 7, 1941 through V-J Day in 1945 and had 13 battle stars. I continued, here are some probable reasons. First, they almost all had their fathers in the home, with the example and discipline that infers. Second, most of them grew up on farms and they had chores. Third, they almost all went to somebodys church, temple or synagogue. And they were taught at home, church, and school that America was a great country, well worth defending and even dying to protect. Also, they were taught the importance of winning and that losing has real consequences. There were no trophies for participation.

I concluded, I think it was all those reasons that shaped the men and boys who kept coming ashore at Normandy, Okinawa and Iwo Jima until the victory was secured.

We continued to produce such men into the Vietnam era. In the Ken Burns documentary on Vietnam, an infantry platoon commander was quoted as follows, Nineteen-year-old high school dropouts from the lowest socioeconomic rung of American society, they werent going to be rewarded for service in Vietnam, and yet their infinite patience, their loyalty to each other, their courage under fire was phenomenal. And you ask yourself, he said, how does America produce young men like this?

Since then, we have adopted an all-volunteer military, so we have a highly motivated warrior caste that has performed with admirable dedication and bravery. The question is, as the Quinnipiac Poll queried, what would happen when volunteers are not enough and we need the general population to man the barricades?

If we, as the Poll suggests, may not have enough men willing to stand up and fight, we cannot say we havent been warned. A comprehensive study was conducted by the Y.M.C.A., Dartmouth Medical School and the Institute for American Values in 2003, titled Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities, A Report to the Nation from the Commission on Children at Risk.

The report warned that one in five children in America is at scientific risk for emotional and physiological problems because of a connection crisis. The report presented extensive scientific evidence that the human brain is hardwired for two fundamental kinds of connection: horizontally, in close relationships with other human beings (now severely vitiated with social media addiction); and vertically in family, moral, and spiritual meaning through a relationship with a transcendent divine being.

If the New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities is true, and the scientific evidence is overwhelming, then, in allowing the continuing atrophy of all the mediating institutions in American life, we have been unwittingly practicing collective physiological, emotional, and spiritual child abuse on more than a generation of our children.

The disturbing Quinnipiac Poll findings are one more piece of evidence of what happens when people no longer believe in themselves or their country.

The corrosive and sulphuric critique of America being spawned by the purveyors of critical race theory are perhaps the fatal last dose of the poison that may yet destroy America, if not successfully countered.

In 1997 I was elected to the great honor of preaching the Convention Sermon for the Southern Baptist Conventions annual meeting. The opening line of my sermon was if America dies, she will perish from self-inflicted wounds! I then followed with a sad, graphic list of the symptoms our society was presenting that it was in steep moral and spiritual decline, and that only a heaven-sent, Holy Spirit led, spiritual revival, which ripens into an awakening, and culminates in a Reformation, could reverse the decline. I emphasized that our problems were God-sized problems and only Gods answers could solve them.

It was true then, it is true now, and it will be true tomorrow. Let us all pray God, send revival, and let it begin with me!
Christians who attend church have more flourishing relationships than non-churchgoers: Barna

Practicing Christians in the United States are twice as likely to say they're in flourishing relationships than the general adult population, according to a study by the Barna Group.

According to the study, which was released earlier this month, 61% of practicing Christians said they're flourishing in romantic relationships and friendships, compared to only 28% of all U.S. adults who responded the same.

Some 52% of "churched adults," which Barna defined as adults who have attended church in the past six months but might not identify as Christian, said they were flourishing relationally.

Data for the study was based in part on an online survey conducted from Sept. 16 to Oct. 4, 2021, of 1,003 churches adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9% at a 95% confidence level.

Alyce Youngblood, vice president of editorial at Barna, said in a statement to The Christian Post that the study suggests there was a direct positive correlation between the number of practicing Christians that are flourishing in relationships and the spiritual formation that takes place in church.

The study defined spiritual formation as the process in which a church body fulfills the "mission to nurture, send and equip disciples."

According to Youngblood, the study recognized that the higher the spiritual formation rate within a church, the more likely the church will contain a higher rate of practicing Christians.

The study, she added, further emphasized that the more practicing Christians there are in a church, the more flourishing relationships there will be.

"We see a connection here," she said. "Three-quarters of churched adults who give high scores for spiritual formation in their church are also experiencing relational flourishing  compared to only 32% of churched adults who do not give high scores for spiritual formation."

"In Barnas research of both human flourishing and church thriving, qualities tend to hang together; positive qualities in one area relate to positive qualities in the other."

The study stated that "a church that not only welcomes and connects people but [has] an awareness [of] the realities of what it takes to be content and satisfied in relationships today, is key in supporting the whole-life flourishing of congregants."

According to Youngblood, in the Barna study, the direct causes for why practicing Christians are flourishing relationally and experiencing higher levels of spiritual formation is unknown because the study can only show correlations. However, she said, through the study, she was able to observe a number of positive outcomes associated with higher levels of Bible engagement and church attendance among the respondents.

The study, Youngblood said, is not the first evidence of "strong, consistent and deep connections among people who are engaged in faith communities."

Youngblood noted that the correlation showing an uptick in both flourishing relationships and higher spiritual formation "has surfaced in secular research on the topic as well."

"Im not surprised by this finding. Barna consistently sees that practicing Christians experience rich community, often more so than Christians who arent practicing their faith, or people who could be called 'nones,'" she explained.

"I do feel its encouraging to see these relational patterns persist even in research we conducted during the pandemic era. ... Despite the distance or disruptions to regular gatherings that have no doubt affected many in this group, committed Christians continue to report great contentment and high satisfaction in their relationships."

The study also found that while 72% of practicing Christians report that their church is an essential partner in their spiritual formation, only 58% of churched adults said the same.

Barna CEO David Kinnaman said in a statement that he hoped Barnas framework for measuring what matters in ministry will encourage future church leaders.

I firmly believe this moment provides an opportunity to pioneer new ways of leading Gods people and new, deeper pathways to discipling people, Kinnaman said.

Its a kairos moment. ... An opportunity to fashion new wineskins, as Jesus suggested we do. A chance to seek the Lords heart for more of what he desires. Of course, God is still changing lives. And he seeks to do that through the Church, through your church.

Barna added that much like previous studies, including Households of Faith and Restoring Relationships, the study found that "relationships are keys in connection and in faith  and, further, relational flourishing plays a significant role in human flourishing overall.

God is always doing new things in the world (see Isaiah 43:19). What a privilege it is for us to leverage this moment to pursue a renewed and revived Christian community, concluded Kinnaman.
Children went missing in Minnesota and Georgia, prompting their states to issue an Amber alert. One child is suspected to be abducted.

The Pope County Sheriff's Office was notified about the missing youngster early Thursday morning. Throughout the day, investigators gathered information that led them to suspect Robert was taken.

2-Year-Old Boy in Minnesota Went Missing

At this moment, there is no information on the kidnapper or the car. Robert is characterized as a Hispanic man with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 3 feet tall.

He was last spotted wearing a long-sleeve red T-shirt and green-striped black trousers. Authorities in Minnesota are seeking the public's assistance in locating a youngster whom they suspect was taken on Thursday.

Pope County Sheriff's officers were contacted this morning about a missing youngster, identified as 2-year-old Robert William Ramirez near Westport, Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The circumstances behind the boy's abduction are unknown, but authorities suspect the youngster was abducted as the investigation continued. The BCA claims to have no information on the perpetrator or suspect car at this time.

Ramirez was last seen wearing a long-sleeved red T-shirt and black pants with green stripes. His eyes are brown, and his hair is brown. Anyone with information about the boy's whereabouts should call 320-634-5411 or 911, according to the Pope County Sheriff's Office, Fox9 reported.

Amber Alert Also Issued in Georgia

Another youngster has gone missing, prompting a state to issue an Amber warning. The father of a 1-year-old child who was the subject of an Amber Alert was taken into jail Thursday afternoon after she was located safe.

The youngster was placed on an Amber Alert after the City of South Fulton Police Department posted on Facebook early Thursday morning that she had been reported missing the day before. After a "physical altercation" between the girl's parents, the child's father took her, according to South Fulton Police.

Around 9 pm, the father and daughter were last seen leaving their house on Upper Elm Street in South Fulton. According to authorities, the incident occurred on Wednesday. They were traveling in a black Range Rover with a Georgia license plate.

South Fulton Police sent a social media post hours after the kid was reported missing, stating that she had been discovered safe and that her father was in arrest. He was earlier claimed to be sought for abduction.

The procedure by which they were discovered has yet to be revealed. Anyone with information on the case can call the South Fulton Police Department at 404-808-3011, as per 13WMAZ.

Read Also: Did Anna Delvey Really Pose as a German Heiress? Scammer Socialite Says That's "Completely Ridiculous"

Harmony Montgomery Case

Following the hunt for a missing girl called Harmony Montgomery, these youngsters are the latest in a series of missing children cases across the United States. The girl's kidnapping made headlines amid claims claimed she went stolen in 2019 but was discovered in 2021.

Harmony Montgomery's mother is contesting the results of a report produced by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu's office on her daughter's case.

According to the investigation, child welfare professionals made at least one attempt to verify that Harmony, a 7-year-old who went missing in Manchester, was living with her mother in early 2020, as Harmony's father said at the time.

Crystal Sorey stated that she hasn't given up hope that her daughter will come home. But she also wants to see more accountability and less finger-pointing from the officials responsible for Harmony's disappearance in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, according to Wbur.

Related Article: Harmony Montgomery Probe: New Hampshire Governor Questions Massachusetts Decision To Place Child's Custody To Drug Dealer Father

@YouTube

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Christian artist Gawvi apologizes for sending explicit photos; ex-wife claims he cheated

Christian hip-hop artist GAWVI broke his silence after being dropped from his record label and admitted he is guilty of sending inappropriate photos to women who were not his wife. The artists ex-wife, Brianna Azucena, claims his infidelity also contributed to their split.

In February, GAWVI was released from Reach Records after being accused of sending unsolicited, explicit photos to women while he was still married. That same month, the artist revealed that his marriage to Azucena had ended in 2020 after nearly six years. The couple has two small children together.

After GAWVI went public with his divorce, his label said new details emerged that made them realize the decision to part with him was necessary. Those details were made public by visual artist and designer Cataphant, who spoke out on Twitter to defend her friend Azucena.

On Wednesday, GAWVI made a public statement for the first time on Instagram, admitting that he acted outside of the biblical standard of marriage.

Dear everyone, I have been spending time reflecting on these past couple of months and the years before, having meaningful conversations with God, my counselors, family, friends, and myself, about the mistakes Ive made and the man I want to be on this earth, he wrote.

The dance artist and popular producer said he hoped his post would reach everyone that has been confused and disappointed by the controversy surrounding him.

A few years ago, my marriage began to fall apart, he continued. Instead of leaning on God and facing the situation, I acted outside of the boundaries of my marriage. I began communicating and exchanging inappropriate photos with several women on social media.

The Florida native clarified that all of his conversations were between adults.

Even though I never met any of these women in person, it was inexcusable and wrong, GAWVI added. I regret these mistakes, I take full accountability, and I apologize to everyone Ive hurt by my actions.

Now as I continue to reflect and wrestle with the choices Ive made, I accept that God may continue to use this period of my life to show me things that I have needed to learn, so I can become the man he has called me to be.

GAWVI said he will continue to work on himself, grow in faith and continue to be present in his childrens lives. He vowed to reconnect with his fans in the coming weeks and thanked them for their support.

Following her ex-husbands post, Azucena shared a statement claiming he was not fully honest in his public apology.

I have kept my silence for years in order to protect my family and marriage. I have been focusing on my healing but I no longer want to sit back as the dishonesty continues. The lack of full ownership and true apology has been extremely hard to stomach, Azucena revealed.

I was in a marriage where I fought for it with every ounce of me. Was I perfect? Absolutely not. What was done in my marriage I did not deserve, she commented. This goes beyond explicit photos being sent all throughout our marriage. This is about infidelity, emotional abuse, and more.

Azucena said she was emotionally abused, told that it was my fault. She claimed he manipulated scriptures to put blame on me for his cheating and the cause of his sin.

I was really in a broken place and I victimized myself so I would apologize repeatedly to him for causing him to cheat, she wrote.

She shared that in 2020, the artist began an affair with someone with whom he worked. Azucena said she told GAWVI she was uncomfortable with the relationship, yet he remains in a romantic relationship with that person.

This has been exhausting and a false narrative continues to be communicated, she wrote. Ill continue on my healing journey and part of healing is the whole truth. Even when the truth hurts its necessary for genuine healing to begin for all who are involved.

GAWVIs former label president, Grammy Award-winning rapper Lecrae, shared Azucenas statement on his Instagram page. He said he was proud of her for speaking out.

Ahead of the drama, GAWVI was gearing up for the We Are Unashamed Tour with his former label mates Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, Tedashii, 1K Phew, Wande, WHATUPRG and Hulvey. Following his departure from Reach Records, the label noted that he was no longer participating.

Lecrae and Lee opened up about their decision to part professionally with Gawvi.

When women come to our concerts or interact with us we want them to be encouraged and blessed, not taken advantage of, Lee told Relevant Magazine. Theres absolutely no excuse for that, and it grieves me to think anyone has had a different experience.

We want to raise the bar on how women are treated and valued in hip hop, not lower it, he continued. I think thats one of the things weve been called to. And theres no room for anything else.
Citigroup will cover travel costs for employees to have abortions out of state

A major financial institution has announced that it will pay for its employees to have abortions out of state, prompting backlash from the pro-life community.

One of the largest banks in the United States, Citigroup announced its intention to pay for employees abortions in a definitive proxy statement submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of its annual shareholder meeting, scheduled for April 26.

The SEC requires that shareholders of a company whose securities are registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 receive a proxy statement prior to a shareholder meeting, whether an annual or special meeting.

Page 20 of the proxy statement includes compensation and human capital management highlights designed to illustrate how Citigroup is continuously innovating in how we recruit, train, compensate, promote and engage with our workforce and encouraging career growth and development by offering broad and diverse opportunities to colleagues.

In addition to paid parental leave, some of the opportunities offered to Citigroup employees touted in the proxy statement involve the company taking a definitive stance on hot-button issues in the culture war.

In response to changes in reproductive healthcare laws in certain states in the U.S., beginning in 2022, we provide travel benefits to facilitate access to adequate resources, the statement reads.

While Citigroup did not mention any particular state by name, the most notable pro-life law passed in 2021 is the Texas Heartbeat Act. The law bans abortions once a heartbeat can be detected, usually around six weeks gestation. Multiple courts at the state and federal level have upheld the law as pro-abortion groups want the law struck down.

Multiple pro-life groups and politicians reacted unfavorably to Citigroups new policy. In a tweet, the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List characterized Citigroups new policy as inconsistent with the vow of forward-thinking companies to implement policies to empower working moms.

Forward-thinking companies: We will implement policies to empower working moms@Citi: Here's some cash to cover travel/accommodation costs so your child can be aborted



How poorly you think of working moms. Shame on you. https://t.co/hF49lv0ZGA  Susan B. Anthony List #ModernizeOurLaw (@SBAList) March 16, 2022

The pro-life advocacy organization told Citigroup that providing employees some cash to cover travel/accommodation costs so your child can be aborted shows how poorly you think of working moms.

George P. Bush, who is running as a Republican for Texas attorney general, threatened to take action against the financial institution if elected. In a tweet Wednesday, Bush lamented the travel benefits offered by Citigroup as nothing but a PR stunt by a woke company to support a culture of death.

Noting that Texas is a pro-life state, Bush vowed to hold actors who attempt to find loopholes in our laws accountable.

The travel benefits offered by Citigroup are nothing but a PR stunt by a woke company to support a culture of death. Texas is a pro-life state, and if elected Attorney General, I will hold actors who attempt to find loopholes in our laws accountable.https://t.co/mahRp3925N  George P. Bush (@georgepbush) March 17, 2022

Republican state Rep. Matt Schaefer contends that Citigroup is violating Texas law by vowing to pay for travel expenses so women working in the state can have abortions.

According to Texas state law: If any person shall designedly administer to a pregnant woman or knowingly procure to be administered with her consent any drug or medicine, or shall use towards her any violence or means whatever externally or internally applied, and thereby procure an abortion, he shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than five years.

Its a criminal offense to furnish the means for procuring an abortion knowing the purpose intended. See article 4512.2, Tx revised civil statutes. Punishable by 25 yrs prison per abortion. @Citibank officials need to check the law before paying for abortion expenses. #txlegepic.twitter.com/tIJp0kyBB4  Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) March 16, 2022

Whoever furnishes the means for procuring an abortion knowing the purpose intended is guilty as an accomplice, the law declares. Schaefer suggested that Citigroup fell into this category, encouraging the financial organization to check the law before paying for abortion expenses.

Citigroup also indicated that it continues to broaden gender affirmation medical coverage and incorporate it in our basic medical plan coverage around the world. In other words, the health insurance provided to Citigroup employees pays for people to have sex-change operations and receive hormone drugs.

The enactment of Citigroups policy comes ahead of the U.S. Supreme Courts expected ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health. In this case, the state of Mississippi is asking the justices to uphold a 15-week abortion ban. A ruling in favor of Mississippi would weaken the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

Citigroup is not the only major company to institute a policy paying for women to obtain abortions following the enactment of the Texas Heartbeat Act.

Shortly after the law went into effect last year, the CEO of Match Group, the parent company of the dating site Match.com, announced that she was setting up a fund to ensure that if any of our Texas-based employees or a dependent find themselves impacted by this legislation and need to seek care outside of Texas, the fund will help cover the additional costs incurred.
Majority white Illinois church with no ties to slavery donates over $50K to reparations fund

A predominantly white congregation in Illinois has donated over $50,000 to a reparations fund to benefit African Americans in the area.

First United Methodist Church of Evanston donated $50,080 late last month to the Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Evanston through the Evanston Community Foundation.

The RSAE is a nonprofit organization that is overseen by African American community leaders and will provide grants to various local community projects. It does not receive taxpayer money.

This fund is not tied to a separate reparations fund created following a resolution passed in June 2019 by city officials aimed at ending systemic racism and advancing equality that is funded by "recreational cannabis" sales.

First UMC Senior Pastor Grace Imathiu told The Christian Post that the donations came from an effort to raise money for the fund on Easter Sunday last year.

In the spring of 2021, the church council approved a motion to dedicate the 2021 Easter offering to reparations. We were hoping for at least $500. In less than five weeks, 91 members had donated $50,080 toward the fund, Imathiu said.

Imathiu told CP that she found the RSAE appealing because their "programs and projects will impact the local African American community."

Although the congregation was established in 1854, Imathiu told CP the church had not directly benefited from slave labor during the Antebellum Era.

Nevertheless, explained Imathiu, the congregation wanted to set an example by showcasing an experience of renewed courage to confront and repent our past injustices, as well as a sense of renewed determination and bravery that we can do big hard things as a community and an experience of great hope for our future together as One Evanston.

In recent years, some churches and seminaries in the United States have created funds to pay reparations for slavery, generally because they had historic connections to the abolished practice.

For example, Virginia Theological Seminary of Alexandria, an Episcopal seminary founded in 1823, announced the creation of a $1.7 million reparations fund in 2019 in response to the school having direct ties to slavery.

The VTS fund is supposed to pay for projects such as assisting African American clergy and helping to support work by historically African American congregations.

Others within American Christianity have been critical of slavery reparations in general, arguing, among other things, that it punishes the wrong people and fosters unnecessary division.

John Carpenter of Covenant Reformed Baptist Church in Yanceyville, North Carolina, has previously denounced the idea as something that creates social Justice Contras.

Calling for reparations ignores the enormous sacrifice already given to end slavery and the (failed) attempt to re-organize the South (i.e. reconstruction), like the 300,000 lives lost, tweeted Carpenter in 2019.

I dont know if those calling for reparations are intentionally race baiting but I dont see how they cannot see that their campaign is certain to inflame racial animosity. Its irresponsible.
Stovall Weems files lawsuit against Celebration Church amid dueling claims of financial fraud

Founders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, Stovall Weems and his wife, Kerri, have filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction that would force the megachurch to recognize Weems as their chief executive officer and settle dueling claims of financial fraud involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In his Feb. 23 lawsuit, Weems claims he was illegally ousted from his role as senior pastor by the churchs board of trustees earlier this year when he tried to address financial abuse involving one of the trustees. The church, in turn, has accused Weems and his wife of financial impropriety and banned them from church property.

Pastor Stovall and Kerri have filed this lawsuit to compel compliance with the churchs bylaws, which require disputes among church members to be submitted to non-court proceedings such as mediation and/or arbitration, Weems complaint reads. The Bylaws specifically contemplate the issuance of an injunction whereby all parties are restored to their status quo pending resolution of the dispute in accordance with the Bylaws.

Since the church was founded in 1998, Weems was empowered as the senior pastor in the churchs bylaws to use complete plenary authority, control, and responsibility for directing missions and spiritual activities of the church, according to the legal filing.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims the bylaws tasked Weems to serve as president and chief executive officer of the church and gave him authority to direct all of the churchs day-to-day operations, including establishing budgets, raising funds and directing monies. The bylaws, the complaint says, gave Weems authority to act as chairman of the board of trustees.

The churchs board of trustees, which must be comprised of no less than five and no more than nine members, is responsible for management and oversight of Church corporate matters and financial resources.

According to the lawsuit, Weems expressed his intent in early 2019 to transition out of the senior pastor role in name only and assume the title of founding pastor so he could focus on church missions. He would still retain his legal authority as senior pastor. Weems and the board identified pastor Tim Timberlake to be his successor.

Pastor Tim assumed responsibility in March 2021 for leadership of the Church in Jacksonville and its affiliate campuses in the USA, while Pastor Stovall retained his legal position and authority as the senior pastor, president, chief executive officer of the church, and chairman of the board, the court document alleges.

At that time, the church hired lawyers to help develop a retirement package for Stovall and Kerri Weems.

The couple argues in their lawsuit that in 2018, a businessman identified as Kevin Cormier entered into a collaboration whereby construction-type entities owned by him were hired by the Church to perform land and housing improvements and management services at Honey Lake Farms, Inc. and Honey Lake Clinic, Inc. The collaboration was entered into before Cormier became a member of the churchs board of trustees.

Honey Lake Farms, Inc. and Honey Lake Clinic, Inc. are two legally separate nonprofits that were started and initially funded by the church. Those entities are now only partially funded by the church. The business accounts for those entities were also separately managed by then Celebration Church CFO Lisa Stewart.

In 2020, Weems alleges that Cormier pledged to donate $1 million of in-kind construction-type services to the Churchs mission at Honey Lake Farms. And throughout 2020 and 2021, Cormiers companies did construction work and land management services at Honey Lake Farms.

Pastor Stovall was lead to believe that Kevin Cormiers work was part of his $1 million pledge to the Churchs mission at Honey Lake Farms, the lawsuit notes.

In January 2021, Stewart resigned her position as CFO at Celebration church to work solely for Honey Lake Clinic. She was replaced by a new CFO. Shortly after, Celebration Church received an influx of billing invoices from Kevin Cormiers entities, eventually totaling approximately $700,000, according to the lawsuit.

Tojy Thomas, Celebration Churchs new CFO, brought the bills to Weems attention, which had vague descriptions of the work performed and included requests for significant payments for work performed on Kevin Cormiers personal property.

Weems alleges that he discovered that Cormier was overbilling or improperly billing the Church for enormous sums of money for alleged services at Honey Lake Farms.

For example, Kevins for-profit company was charging the church money to rent the churchs own lodge for a church-related event. Pastor Stovall discovered that Kevin Cormier was charging the church rent for use of a residential house (Monticello) and at the same time, inappropriately charging the Church $137,871 for renovation expenses to that same property, the lawsuit explains.

It was further alleged that Cormier billed the church $18,000 per month for the churchs use of another residence individually owned by him while it was being renovated and not habitable. The lawsuit claims Weems discovered that Stewart was fully aware that Cormier was not donating any of the $1 million he had pledged for free and was billing the church.

Lisa Stewart and Tojy Thomas allowed payments to be issued to Kevin Cormiers entities knowing that no agreements were in place and that no authorization or approvals were obtained for the work allegedly performed, Weems lawsuit states.

The legal filing further claims that when Cormier was asked to substantiate his bills, he failed to do so while Stewart allegedly fed false reports to Weems and misrepresented balances in the church accounts.

Lisa Stewarts financial and operational mismanagement of Honey Lake Clinic and its agreements with the Church caused irreparable harm and hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial damages to both the Church and Honey Lake Farms, the lawsuit argues.

Weems eventually confronted Cormier about the situation in April 2021. The lawsuit contends that Cormier confessed that he had reneged on his pledge to donate $1 million of in-kind services to the Church but failed to inform the pastor.

When Weems highlighted inappropriate billing, Cormier responded by announcing that God spoke to him just then and inspired him to donate the $550,000 of fraudulently billed work. He allegedly also pledged to donate the Monticello house the church had been renting from him.

Weems said he accepted that as a biblical response from Cormier and thought he had repented. But Weems lawsuit accuses Cormier of setting in motion a plan to turn the board of trustees and senior church members against Weems with lies and misinformation. Within two weeks, Weems was accused of misconduct.

Kevin Cormier falsely claimed that Pastor Stovall was improperly manipulating and misdirecting the Churchs finances or was guilty of some unspecified and vague wrongful conduct, the lawsuit alleges.

In reality, Pastor Stovall had the Honey Lake Farms bank accounts transferred to another financial institution to stop Kevin Cormiers wrongful access to the accounts and to protect the church and Honey Lake Farms from Kevin Cormiers financial abuse.

On Jan. 3, Weems said he used his authority as senior pastor to remove Cormier as a trustee. On Jan. 7, the lawsuit states that Weems was compelled to remove Trustees as a result of their intent, based upon false and inaccurate information, to undermine the Churchs basic [governance] protocols.

On that same day, the board voted to suspend Weems from his role as senior pastor after a series of further confrontations.

Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss Weems lawsuit on March 10. The church claims his lawsuit is the latest chapter in a campaign of deception, manipulation, distraction, and abuse of power by Stovall and Kerri Weems against Celebration.

Having founded Celebration, the Weemses over time came to act like they owned the church and could do with it what they wanted without the management and oversight required by Florida law and the churchs governing documents, the churchs filing argues. When the current board of trustees discovered that the Weemses had engaged in a series of questionable financial transactions without board knowledge or authorization, they requested an investigation.

Since that time, the Weemses have sought desperately to avoid the accountability and transparency that the churchs board is committed to pursuing for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom, the motion added. For the reasons discussed below, the complaint should be dismissed.

The church alleged that management and oversight of the church is provided by a board of trustees, who have plenary power to manage and govern the affairs of the church.

The trustees have the duties and the responsibilities generally associated with and exercised by a corporate board and as such, are the only governing body within the Church, the motion argues.

The churchs filing claims that trustees analyzed the churchs financial position in December 2021 and discovered that the Weemses made several large financial transactions earlier in 2021 without notice to or authorization from the board.

These transactions included multiple large transfers to new for-profit entities that the Weemses intended to manage going forward. The motion claims that the church had purchased a parsonage for $1.2 million that a company owned by Stovall Weems had purchased four months earlier for $855,000.

Additionally, the board took issue with the advancement of nine months salary to Kerri Weems and seven months salary to Stovall Weems in violation of Florida statute and church policies despite neither Stovall nor Kerri Weems performing the duties of the offices that purportedly justified those salaries.

The couple was also accused of using $1 million worth of Paycheck Protection Program loan funds improperly to purchase a speculative digital currency known as TurnCoin.

Celebration Church has grown and thrived since Pastor Tim Timberlake became the churchs spiritual leader in September 2021. Celebrations board of trustees recently suspended Pastor Stovall Weems pending an investigation into certain decisions made by him in early 2021 that were not in the best interest of the church and were not approved by the board, Celebration Church Executive Pastor Wayland Wiseman said in a statement to News 4 Jax on Wednesday.

As that investigation remains ongoing, the church does not intend to make any further comments about it at this time. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, and is confident in Gods plan for the church and that ultimately the truth will prevail. We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God.

In their statement to the news outlet on Wednesday, the Weemses said, we have nothing to hide.

We could never have imagined that the church we started and nurtured for nearly 25 years would be seized by individuals whom we believe are prioritizing their individual interests in power and money ahead of their duties to Celebration Church and its mission. We have nothing to hide, they said.

We are being retaliated against and have been denied a proper investigation according to long-held church by-laws. Meanwhile, the substantive allegations made in our Complaint about financial improprieties perpetrated by current board members have gone unanswered. We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us. Celebration Church members have a right to know what is happening in their church and we have a right to be treated fairly.
Ukrainian Orthodox churches in 'jeopardy' if Russia expands control in Ukraine, USCIRF warns

The top religious freedom watchdog panel in the United States has warned that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church could be in jeopardy if Russia expands control over the neighboring Eastern European country that it began invading last month.

The independent and bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which is tasked with advising Congress and the federal government on religious freedom matters, said Tuesday that there could be egregious religious freedom violations if Russia is successful in taking over Ukraine.

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in late February as many are concerned that President Vladimir Putin might have his eyes set on recapturing the global influence held by the former Soviet Union. Since then, hundreds of civilians have been killed while millions have been forced to flee their homes.

We are horrified by Russias attacks on Ukraine, the senseless loss of life, and the lack of respect for human rights. There is a direct relationship between religious freedom violations and the dismantling of civil society in and by Russia, USCIRF Commissioner James W. Carr said in a statement Wednesday.

The Russian government uses distortions of religious history to support its claim that Ukrainians have no independent ethno-religious identity or state tradition.

In the background of Russias invasion of Ukraine is an ongoing rift between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church centered on the political tension between Russia and Ukraine.

In 2019, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, which holds authority over the worlds 300 million Orthodox believers, recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent, meaning it no longer falls under the jurisdiction of Moscow Patriarch Kirill.

Months earlier, the Russian Orthodox Church voted to cut ties with the Patriarchate of Constantinople after a Ukrainian church was granted independence.

After the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was granted autocephaly, several churches under Moscows jurisdiction severed their ties with the Russian church, moves that infuriated Russian nationalist sentiments, Carr warned.

Additionally, hundreds of churches joined the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

These parishes and their leadership are in jeopardy if Russian control expands, Carr added.

USCIRF Commissioner Khizr Khan said in a statement that areas of Ukrainein which Russia captured in 2014 have seen the Russian government use baseless charges of religious extremism and terrorism to silence dissent, justify endless raids and mass arrests, and close religious institutions that do not conform to its narrow interpretation of traditional religion.

Indigenous Crimean Tatar Muslims  who oppose the Russian occupation of their homeland  are routinely charged with terrorism based on their ethno-religious identity rather than any substantive evidence, Khan stated. Many of these individuals receive prison sentences of up to 20 years. The Russian governments aggression toward religious freedom is an indicator that much worse will follow, as we certainly see a risk of this pattern being repeated as Russia expands into Ukraine.

Over the years, Russia has been criticized for policies that infringe upon religious freedoms.

In 2016, Putin signed into law a bill that criminalized missionary work and evangelism outside of houses of worship.

Christian groups referred to it as the anti-missionary bill. Many feared that the law would be used to crack down on evangelists and house churches not affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Passage of the law motivated evangelist Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to move a planned global summit for the persecuted church out of Moscow. The event was later held in Washington, D.C.

Following the laws passage, reports surfaced of pastors and missionaries being deported or arrested.

One year after the law was enacted, the Norway-based Forum 18 recorded 181 cases prosecuted under the law, most of which involved Evangelical Protestants.

In Ukraine, Russian shelling has damaged numerous religious buildings, USCIRF notes. One of those buildings is a 16th century Orthodox monastery where over 500 people took shelter. Another was a mosque in Mariupol, where 80 civilians were taking refuge.

While nearly 300 Russian Orthodox clergies have signed a letter voicing their opposition to the war, Patriarch Kirills comments have seemingly provided a religious justification for the war.

In late February, Kirill reportedly called Russias opposition in Ukraine evil forces who have fought against the unity of Russia and the Russian Church prevail.

The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee, which advocates on behalf of Orthodox churches worldwide, condemned Kirills remarks, saying in a statement that his words enable Putin by giving religious cover to this unconscionable and unjustified conflict.

Kirills statements ring hollow and have the stench of direct government interference, the OPAC statement shared with The Christian Post reads. Is this because he owes his position and the lucrative benefits he receives to Vladimir Putin? Why does he not speak out for his Ukrainian Flock? Why does he endorse the Russian military, even presenting them with a holy icon?

Russia is no longer an empire, the statement continues. It is a nation-state that tried to recover from the legacy of the economic misery and humanitarian failures of the Soviet Union. Patriarch Kirill owes his allegiance to Jesus Christ, not to Vladimir Putin, an ever-increasing tsar-pretender.
DC nun has medical license restored as litigation over vaccine mandate continues

A Roman Catholic nun who sued the District of Columbia for an exemption to the citys COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers has had her medical license restored and can continue to practice medicine for the foreseeable future while her lawsuit is adjudicated.

Sister Deirdre Byrne, an outspoken pro-life activist and practicing physician who serves a ministry providing free medical services to the poor, filed a lawsuit against District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, the city and D.C. Health Department Director LaQuandra Nesbitt last week over their refusal to grant her a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate.

Byrne first submitted a request for a religious exemption to the coronavirus vaccine mandate shortly after it was rolled out as an emergency measure six months ago, citing concerns about the use of aborted fetal tissue in the development and testing of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Throughout most of the past several months, Byrne had been able to practice medicine in D.C. without taking a coronavirus vaccine and had not faced any objections from the hospitals and clinics where she served.

Following a continued back-and-forth with the D.C. Department of Health, Byrne was informed late last month that her request had been denied and was told that failure to take at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine would result in a prohibition on the renewal of her medical license or its revocation or suspension.

In an appearance on EWTNs The World Over Thursday, Byrne said that her license had been suspended and that she was forced to close her clinics. She was unable to see patients and couldnt help anyone.



With assistance from the Thomas More Society, the nun asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to issue a declaratory judgment asserting that the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers violates her rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Additionally, she sought a temporary restraining order and a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting the defendants from enforcing the vaccine mandate against her as well as an award of nominal damages, attorneys fees and other costs related to the litigation.

On Facebook Tuesday, the Thomas More Society announced that Byrnes medical license had been restored.

The religious liberty law firm noted that Fridays letter notifying Sister Dede that her license was now active until September doesnt resolve all of the issues raised in her lawsuit. The legal group expressed concern that the letter stated that her exemption could be rescinded at a later date if the director finds that it is in the best interest of public health.

The letter informing Byrne that her medical license was restored came just a week before the order denying Byrnes religious exemption to the coronavirus vaccine was scheduled to become final.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Byrnes attorney Christopher Ferrara described the letter as unacceptable but said shell take it. Ferrara said litigation will continue because the letter was not a solution but instead a Band-Aid on a problem that has to be solved.

So Sister Deirdre, the Mother Teresa of the District of Columbia, whos devoted herself to providing free medical care to the needy, including surgeries that can save their lives, is now living with the Sword of Damocles hanging over her head, wielded by defendant Nesbitt, he added. This is a woman who could have made a million dollars a year easily. Now, shes a nun in a habit.

Byrne first burst onto the national stage with a speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention, where she described the unborn as the largest marginalized group in the world and argued that then-Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, and his running mate, Kamala Harris, were the most anti-life presidential ticket ever.

Byrne also delivered remarks at a conference hosted by the pro-life group Heartbeat International last spring. She condemned abortion as the greatest inhumanity. She urged people to pray 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. She warned, their soul is in a mortal state.

The District of Columbia has wound down most of its coronavirus restrictions and mandates, mirroring other major cities and states across the U.S.

Last month, the nations capital eliminated its requirement that those seeking entry into most businesses provide proof of vaccination while dropping its mask mandate for both public and private school students two weeks later.
Idaho lawmakers approve Texas-styled heartbeat abortion ban, await governors signature

Lawmakers in Idaho have passed a modification to the states heartbeat abortion ban that, if enacted, would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers, comparable to a law passed in Texas last year.

Known as Senate Bill 1309, the measure was passed by the Idaho House on Monday in a vote of 51 ayes, 14 nays and five abstentions. The bill passed the Idaho Senate earlier this month in a vote of 28 ayes, six nays and one abstention.

The measure, which awaits the signature of Gov. Brad Little, amends a law passed last year that bans most abortions after an unborn babys heartbeat is detected, which is normally around six weeks into a pregnancy.

Whereas the 2021 law would not take effect until triggered by an appeals court decision, the new bill would take effect 30 days after being signed and be enforced by family members who could sue abortion providers for damages.

While the Texas bill allows for anyone who helps facilitate an abortion to be sued, the Idaho bill would limit who can be sued under the law. The Idaho law states that private citizens can sue only abortion providers.

While Texas law allows private citizens anywhere in the U.S. to sue over an illegal abortion, the Idaho bill limits who can sue for damages to just family members of the aborted child.

Idaho Family Policy Center contends in a statement that the measure could save around 1,000 babies every year.

Im optimistic that Gov. Brad Little will sign this legislation to ensure preborn babies with beating hearts receive the equal protection they deserve, said IFPC President Blaine Conzatti.

These proposed changes to the Idaho Heartbeat Law are constitutionally, scientifically, and morally sound. A similar Texas law has successfully withstood several legal challenges in the federal courts, and were confident that this Idaho legislation, if it becomes law, will survive any forthcoming legal challenge and begin saving preborn babies.

The Idaho chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the legislation, arguing that it violates the U.S. Constitution by threatening the right to abortion access, which was solidified in the 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade.

Not only is SB1309 blatantly unconstitutional as a near total ban on abortion, but it is also designed in such a manner that undermines the separation of powers and could be weaponized by other states to limit the constitutional rights that we all hold dear, stated ACLU Idaho Policy Strategist Lauren Bramwell.

The ACLU will continue advocating for an Idaho that respects and supports each of us in making the deeply personal decisions that determine the shape of our lives, including whether, when and how we choose to have children.

Last May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 into law, which prohibits most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Instead of being enforced by state officials, 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. The Texas Supreme Court effectively killed a legal challenge to SB 8 last week by ruling that state officials were not responsible for enforcing the legislation.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this year on whether Mississippis 15-week abortion ban is constitutional, a case that some believe could lead to the legal precedent set in Roe being altered.
Kansas teacher sues school officials for forcing her to use trans pronouns

A middle school teacher in Kansas has filed a lawsuit against her school district after being suspended for refusing to use a trans-identified students preferred name and pronouns because doing so would violate her religious beliefs.

Pamela Ricard, a math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, filed a suit last week against school officials in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Defendants named in the lawsuit include the USD 475 Geary County School District Board Members, Superintendent Reginald Eggleston and Fort Riley Principal Kathleen Brennan.

According to the lawsuit, Ricard was suspended in April 2021 for three days and given a written reprimand because she called a biologically female student by her legal name and used female pronouns.

Neither the District nor the school had a formal policy regarding student preferred name and pronoun use at the time Ms. Ricard was suspended and reprimanded, stated the lawsuit.

Instead, Ms. Ricard was suspended and reprimanded under generic school district policies related to Bullying by Staff; Diversity and Inclusion; and Staff-Student Relations prohibiting harassment and bullying of students by staff.

The lawsuit further states that Ricard is a Christian who holds sincere religious beliefs consistent with the traditional Christian and biblical understanding of the human person and biological sex.

Any policy that requires Ms. Ricard to refer to a student by a gendered, non-binary, or plural pronoun (e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them, zhe/zher, etc.) or salutation (Mr., Miss, Ms.) or other gendered language that is different from the students biological sex actively violates Ms. Ricards religious beliefs, continued the lawsuit.

The complaint noted that the school board denied Ricards request for a specific accommodation and policy that would allow her to continue to address students by their names but refrain from using preferred pronouns or other gender-specific language, for a student when such pronouns or language were different than the students biological sex.

Additionally, the board adopted a new policy requiring teachers to refer to each student both in and out of class  using whatever names or pronouns the student claims reflect his or her particular gender identity on any given day.

The District and the Defendants now threaten to punish Ms. Ricard again if she continues to refrain from using a students preferred pronouns, express her views through silence or neutral language, or even engage in a neutral policy of referring to students by their enrolled last names or with other gender-neutral language, the legal document added.

Will Rapp of the Kansas chapter of the LGBT advocacy group GLSEN told CNN that he considers Ricards actions to be harmful to trans-identified youth.

This incident isnt an isolated issue. According to GLSEN research, more than 40% of transgender students in Kansas report being unable to use their chosen name and correct pronouns in school, Rapp said.

When educators express this kind of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment it sends a message that school is not a safe place and many LGBTQ+ youth and especially transgender youth feel unable to approach trusted educators for support.

Rapp argues that educators must be held accountable for creating a safe and affirming environment for all students, regardless of gender identity.

In recent years, there has been considerable debate over the extent to which schools can require teachers and other employees to use students preferred names and pronouns.

Last year, Loudoun County Public Schools in northern Virginia garnered national headlines when the Washington, D.C.-area school district suspended elementary school teacher Byron Tanner Cross for speaking out against a proposed policy requiring teachers to use trans-identified students preferred names and pronouns.

Like Ricard, Cross maintained that his sincerely held religious beliefs, informed by his Christian faith, prevented him from complying with such a policy, which has since passed.

Im a teacher, but I serve God first, and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because its against my religion, Cross told the school board. Its lying to a child, its abuse to a child, and its sinning against our God.

Cross sued the school district over his suspension, and last August, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld an injunction that reinstated the teacher as the litigation continued.

Another Virginia teacher was placed on leave in 2018 and later fired for his refusal to refer to a trans-identified student by the preferred name and pronouns. Last year, the teacher, Peter Vlaming, appealed his case to the Virginia Supreme Court.
Woman accused of setting fire to houses of worship practiced dark magic, friends say

Former friends of a Connecticut woman who was charged with starting fires in a church and a Jewish synagogue on Friday said she recently went down a path worshiping the devil and practicing dark magic and is now in need of psychological help.

The woman, 30-year-old Kimorah Parker, allegedly set fires at St. Matthews Lutheran Church and the Congregation Tephereth Israel 45 minutes apart in New Britain on Friday night, police told WTNH.

Police said the burglary alarm went off at St. Josephs Church, another nearby church where investigators believe Parker broke in. Authorities said they were alerted of a break-in at the church after the alarm system was triggered.

Police also noted that Parker was observed on surveillance video near the houses of worship. When they picked her up, she was in possession of two lighters and religious documents with clothes that smelled like smoke. They believe the religious documents were taken from the church.

Pastor Mark Valigorsky of St. Matthews Lutheran Church further told the news outlet that investigators informed him that Parker threw one of the churchs planters through the churchs front window to gain entry.

It is a hate crime, if you will, that someone would do this, Valigorsky said.

He said the woman set fire to items on a lit stove inside the church then left them to burn while she apparently got out of the building as fast as possible.

As for the Congregation Tephereth Israel, a statement from the synagogue on Facebook said there was damage to a number of areas, including an upper balcony, walls and doors. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Michelle Joyce, a longtime member of Congregation Tephereth Israel, told WTNH that damage to the building will need to be evaluated by an engineer.

It means a lot to me, this building means a lot to me, Joyce was quoted as saying. We grew up here. I brought my children here. It means an awful lot to me, so my hope is that they will be able to restore it.



WSFB spoke with two of Parker's former friends who were in attendance in the courtroom Monday as she answered the charges. They are concerned that she's been practicing witchcraft and worshiping the devil.

Luis Malave, who said he has known Parker since she was 15, said that she has been practicing Santeria and witchcraft.

Santeria is described as a syncretic, Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements.

She starting worshipping Santeria and witchcraft and thats all that stuff and thats what shes practicing, Malave said. And thats what she is putting in her home. She is taking elements from our streets, breaking them and using them as part of rituals. She said that its time for the world to change.

Malave accused Parker of having previously burned a Bible.

I just want you to do right. Burning churches isnt righteous. You already burned the Bible. I just hope that God can touch you while youre in there [jail] and make a change for you, he said.

Parker is currently in custody on a more than $250,000 bond.

On her Facebook page, Parker frequently shares videos from her home depicting what appears to be an altar in the corner of a room.

Another friend, Caleb Newburry, said he thinks she is having a mental breakdown.

I think shes having a mental breakdown, Newburry said. I think she is psychologically just not there. She is losing her grip on reality.
Catholic diocese cancels gay author's visit to London school, removes officials

A Catholic diocese in the United Kingdom is facing backlash after canceling a children's book signing event featuring a gay author at one of its schools, and reportedly removed the school's governors for backing the decision to invite the speaker.

As the Scottish website Catholic Truth first reported, children's book author Simon James Green was scheduled to visit students in years eight and nine at The John Fisher School in Purley, London, on March 7.

As indicated in a letter obtained by Catholic Truth and written by the librarian at the all-boys' Catholic School, the book signing event was part of the school's World Book Day and LGBT History Month celebrations.

The purpose of the event was for Green to discuss his novel, Noah Cant Even, which features a gay character. Another one of Green's books, Alex in Wonderland, was "selected as one of the top 20 LGBTQ+ books of 2019 by Attitude," according to his website.

The prospect of a Catholic school promoting books advancing an ideology that runs contrary to Catholic Church teachings on marriage and sexuality did not sit well with the Catholic website, which seeks to "report on the crisis in the Church" and calls out "unfaithful clergy who are living double lives of sexual immorality."

"Catholic Schools cannot, under any circumstance, endanger the Faith of pupils in their charge by presenting as a good, something which is condemned by the divinely bequeathed teaching authority of Christ's Church," the website argued.

The article, which urged Catholics to protest Green's speech and called for its cancellation, cited Paragraph 2357 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as justification for its position. The document states that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered," "contrary to the natural law" and "Under no circumstances can they be approved."

Simon Hughes, the director of education and diocesan schools coordinator for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark, issued a "formal position statement" on the book signing event on March 3, four days before Green's scheduled appearance speech.

"From time to time materials or events emerge for consideration that fall outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school," he wrote.

"The book-signing event scheduled for 7 March 2022 at The John Fisher, Purley is one such event and we have recommended that the school's leaders cancel it," Hughes added.

While the school initially planned to continue with the event despite the archdiocese's recommendation, one school leader vigorously disagreed with that decision.

In a message shared by Green on Twitter, John Fisher School Chaplain Father James Clark warned parents that "the event involves an author who's books are not in line with Catholic Education and are contrary to the ethos of our school and to the teachings of The Church."

"The Head teacher and some Governors have decided to disobeythe clear instruction from the Diocese and this will have serious consequences in the weeks ahead," Clark lamented.

Turns out if was the actual chaplain at the school who emailed all the parents of students due to attend urging them to complain, in a a letter which ignorantly suggests being LGBT is a lifestyle choice pic.twitter.com/k8GvDnd9Lr  Simon James Green (@simonjamesgreen) March 9, 2022

Clark encouraged parents to "email the school to stress your request that the event is canceled and that your trust can be restored."

"This is not about diversity," Clark maintained. "No one is denying the existence of those who have differing beliefs to ourselves, the event is about promoting the literature of a lifestyle choice that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and therefore has no place in a catholic school."

While the event was canceled, the fallout continues.

I News reported last week that Hughes expressed outrage that the school's "foundation governors" decided to allow the event to move forward. In the letter published March 5, Hughes said the decision has "eroded" his and Archbishop John Wilson's "confidence in the governing body" and that they are "removing the remaining foundation governors under the powers set out in the Articles and Instrument of governance." The move renders "the governing body inquorate and dysfunctional."

Correspondence reviewed by The Tablet indicates that two of the school's governors resigned while the other foundation governors had been removed by Southwarks Education Commission.

Catholic Truth reported that Clark resigned over the weekend, citing a conversation with a source close to the situation who asserted that "Fr. Clark decided he simply couldn't work in a school that was promoting and selling unsuitable, pornographic material to children."

For his part, Green stressed a need to "make some noise" by liking, retweeting and amplifying the story about his event's cancellation.

"I want [the Archdiocese of Southwark] to see how wrong they are," he tweeted. Green emphasized that he did not want people to direct their outrage at the school itself because "they've been lovely."

We need to make some noise. Like, RT, and amplify. I want @RC_Southwark to see how wrong they are. Dont bother the school - theyve done nothing wrong. Theyve been lovely. More importantly  Simon James Green (@simonjamesgreen) March 9, 2022

The archdiocese's decision to cancel the event was criticized by the Catholic Education Service, an arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

Catholic schools welcome pupils from all backgrounds. This isolated incident has given a false impression of the inclusive nature of Catholic schools," a CES statement reads.

Catholic schools are places where all children can flourish and as such have a zero-tolerance approach to LGBT+ discrimination. Nationally the CES has worked closely with schools, dioceses, and charities to produce Catholic inclusivity guidance and resources for schools that have won acclaim from LGBT+ organisations."

The National Secular Society, a British group that opposes government funding of religious schools, also condemned the archdiocese's cancelation of the event.

In a statement, NSS chief executive Stephen Evans contended that "If a visit from one of the UK's leading writers of LGBTQ+ teen fiction is considered 'outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school,' the state should reconsider publicly funding such schools."

"The disturbing behaviour of this diocese highlights a broader problem of faith schools stigmatising same-sex relationships and therefore contributing to a climate where many young LGBT people are growing up feeling ashamed or frightened about who they are," he added. "Our own research has shown that a significant number of faith schools promote the idea that same-sex attraction is 'morally wrong,' 'disordered' or a 'lifestyle choice.'"

Evans described such ideas as unacceptable for a "publicly funded school."

"Regardless of their sexuality or the sexuality of their parents, children of every religion and belief background should be entitled to study in a welcoming and accepting school," Evans argued.

A Department for Education spokesperson told The Tablet that the department is "looking into the circumstances surrounding the diocese's role in this incident."

We have made relationships education compulsory for all primary school pupils, and relationships and sex education compulsory for all secondary school pupils," the Education Department statement reads.

Schools should teach students that everybody has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, with particular regard to their duties under the Equality Act.

James wrote on Twitter that another visit to a Catholic primary school under the archdiocese's control has also been canceled.

"That was for a talk about my picture books and MG, which contain no LGBT content whatsoever," he tweeted. "All I do with my books and school events is encourage reading for pleasure, acceptance of difference and celebrate being who we are."

"You can't be made gay by reading about gay characters in books," he added. "If you're LGBT, you're LGBT. I want LGBT kids to find comfort and understanding in my books, and non-LGBT kids to understand other lives, empathise, see we're really not so different."
North Carolina state investigators are looking into former Trump aide Mark Meadows for alleged voter fraud after the former White House chief of staff registered to vote in 2020 using the address of a mobile home that was never occupied.

The public information director for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Anjanette Grube, confirmed on Thursday that Meadows' case was under investigation. Previous reports said that the North Carolina State Board of Elections was also looking into the former Trump aide.

Voter Fraud Investigation

The press secretary for the North Carolina Department of Justice, Nazneen Ahmed, released a statement saying that local district attorney Ashley Welch referred the matter to the Department of Justice's Special Prosecutions Section. Ahmed noted that the agency has agreed to the request and asked the SBI to investigate, the findings of which they will later review.

The 62-year-old lawmaker is known for representing North Carolina's 11th Congressional District from 2013 to 2020. Meadows was also the chief of staff of former United States President Donald Trump from March 2020 until the Republican businessman left office in January 2021, as per the Washington Post.

In a letter on Monday that was sent to the attorney general's office, Macon County, North Carolina, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch asked to get designations of agencies to investigate Meadows. They said that the allegations against the former Trump aide involved potential crimes committed by a government official.

Read Also: Did Anna Delvey Really Pose as a German Heiress? Scammer Socialite Says That's "Completely Ridiculous"

The probe is a result of reports from Mar. 6 that raised questions about the legitimacy of Meadows' voter registration in North Carolina in September 2020. The home address that the former Trump aide used was a mobile home in Scaly Mountain, which measured 14 by 62 feet.

According to CNBC, however, it is believed that the former Republican congressperson does not and has never owned the property. There were also debates on whether or not he lived there for even a single night. Debbie, Meadows' wife, had rented the residence once in the last several years.

Voter Registration

Under state law, a voter is required to live at their registered address for 30 days before the election in which they vote. Lying on voter registrations is considered a crime and is punishable as a felony.

The former president, who lost his bid for re-election in November 2020 to President Joe Biden, has repeatedly claimed that he lost due to voter fraud. During the time when Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger in January 2021, Meadows was on the phone line.

The former chief of staff repeatedly echoed Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 elections, suggesting that Biden was not the legitimate winner of the race. Furthermore, he expressed baseless claims in his new memoir. For a long time after, judges to election officials to Trump's own attorney general, William Barr, said that there was no voter fraud, Politico reported.

On Thursday, Meadows was not in the office at the Conservative Partnership Institute in Washington where he is currently a senior partner. Staff at the CPI said that she would forward the requests for comments to Meadows' spokesperson.



Related Article: Pence Raises Tensions With Trump, Contrasts Former President in Stance Regarding Putin's 'Violence'

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Ben Nicholson: master of clarity and the great art of omission

In a long life spanning London, St Ives and Switzerland, Nicholson earned international acclaim and the admiration of peers such as Paul Nash and Piet Mondrian. Two rare and important works by the artist are offered in London on 22 March

To say that Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) had a complex relationship with his father would be an understatement. Both were artists, in Sir William Nicholsons case a successful landscapist and portrait painter, who depicted the likes of Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling. A man of Edwardian wit and flair, he was no fan of his sons avant-garde endeavours  and told him so. On visiting an exhibition of Bens in 1935, William asked sneerily, Why don't you paint proper pictures? At the time, Nicholson fils was producing the white abstract reliefs that are today regarded as his great contribution to Modernism. On March 22, one of the largest and finest of these, 1936 (white relief), features in the Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale at Christies.

The differences between the two men werent just artistic. During the First World War, Ben had missed out on military action because of asthma  and, for the best part of a year, attended a health spa in California. While he was away, his beloved mother Mabel died from Spanish flu. To make matters worse, shortly after his return to England, Ben lost his girlfriend Edie, too  to his newly widowed father. The young couple had met while students together at the Slade School of Art in 1910, but Edie ended up deciding that the older Nicholson was the one for her. In the autumn of 1919, she and William married. According to Bens biographer, Sarah Jane Checkland, The initial shock of betrayal gradually hardened into hatred for his father. Not only was he now determined to succeed as an artist, but to do so by pursuing a course that diametrically opposed that of his father Hence his commitment to abstraction.

The truth was probably more nuanced than that. For a start, Ben spent his career moving seamlessly back and forth between the figurative and the abstract, rather than being devoted to the latter. The inspiration for his art extended far beyond his own family, too. His first works were still lifes painted in a naturalistic fashion, but new influences soon brought themselves to bear  notably Cezanne and the Cubists. The influence of Cubism and Alfred Wallis Nicholson first encountered Cubism through the works of Picasso, on a visit to Paris in 1921. Thereafter he started rendering his repertoire of jugs, glasses and other table-top objects as flat shapes on the picture plane. A fine example, July 25-47 (still life  Odyssey 2), was sold at Christies in 2021. In later life, looking back on that period, Nicholson stated that Cubism, once discovered, couldnt be undiscovered. It was a movement that continued to inspire him at different points throughout his career. In the late-1920s, another major influence arrived: namely, Alfred Wallis, a retired Cornish fisherman who doubled as a self-taught painter of naive port scenes. Nicholson would paint a host of landscapes  such as 1928 (cornish port)  inspired by Walliss playful distortion of scale and perspective.

Open a larger version of this image Ben Nicholson, O.M. (1894-1982), Aug 27-54 (St Ives), 1954. Oil wash and pencil on paper. 12 x 19 in (32 x 50 cm). Offered in the Modern British and Irish Art Day Sale on 23 March 2022 at Christies in London

Its worth stressing, though, that his art never really followed a clear and obvious path. Nicholson was always too questing for that, often creating very different types or series of work at the same time. The white reliefs From 1934 to 1938, he made the most overtly abstract pieces of his career: the aforementioned white reliefs. These consisted of geometric shapes (predominantly circles) carved into a wooden board, which was painted all over in white. Shortly before that period, Ben had left his first wife, the painter Winifred Nicholson, for the sculptor Barbara Hepworth, and it was when he casually picked up one of Hepworths tools one day that he hit upon the idea for his reliefs. Although theyre nowadays considered a peak of his oeuvre, few of Nicholsons peers appreciated the works. One rare admirer was the artist Paul Nash, who interpreted the reliefs metaphysically, as microcosms of the infinite which should each be seen as something like a new world.

Relationship with Mondrian In the 1930s, Nicholson made several trips to Paris, visiting the studios of Mondrian, Braque and Brancusi, among others. With their simple geometric structure, his reliefs have an affinity with Mondrians famous Grid paintings, and the two men would go on to become close friends  and neighbours. In 1938, with the threat of war in mainland Europe looming, the Englishman convinced the Dutchman to settle near him in London. The pair lived a stones throw apart, in the suburb of Hampstead, with Mondrian frequently joining Nicholson, Hepworth (now his wife) and their young triplets for tea. At around the outbreak of the Second World War, however, Nicholson and Hepworth quit London for the picturesque town of St Ives in Cornwall. They begged Mondrian to go with them, but he declined, ultimately deciding to board a boat for New York, where he would spend the rest of his life.

Open a larger version of this image Ben Nicholson (1894-1982), Greek and Turkish forms, 1968. The complete set comprising 10 etchings and an additional etching with unique handcolouring in gouache, on wove paper. 635 x 515 x 50 mm (portfolio. Offered in Prints and Multiples until 24 March 2022 at Christies Online

Still life meets landscape in St Ives Nicholson remained in St Ives for the best part of two decades, enjoying its intense light and sea views. Perhaps his best-known works from this period are the paintings from the 1950s in which he inventively fused two genres: still life and landscape. Essentially, this entailed  in a single picture  superimposing an example of the former on an example of the latter. Nicholson thus collapsed the distinction between interior and exterior  and, under the influence of Cubism anew, replaced an illusionistic compositional space with a set of elegantly flattened forms and overlapping planes. The most expensive artwork by Nicholson ever sold at auction  his 1957 painting, April 57 (Arbia 2)  is one of these still-life/landscape fusions. It fetched 3.75 million at Christies in London in 2016. Guggenheim Award and art-world recognition After many years in which he had struggled both for sales and recognition, the late 1940s and the 1950s saw a significant upturn for Nicholson  as if contemporary tastes had finally caught up with his radical creations. In 1949, he was invited to create two large panels for the interior of the New Zealand Shipping Companys new steamship, the M.V. Rangitane  one of which, October 1949 (Rangitane), also appears in the Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale at Christies. In 1951, he produced a vast mural for the Festival of Britain. Three years later, he was asked to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale. Then, in 1957, he won the inaugural Guggenheim International Award for painting, receiving his prize and $10,000 cheque from President Eisenhower in the White House.

Open a larger version of this image President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarding Ben Nicholson the Guggenheim International Award in 1957. Photo: Bettmann / Getty Images

By the 1960s, Nicholson was living in Switzerland, in a house overlooking Lake Maggiore, with his third wife, the photographer Felicitas Vogler. There he returned to his painted reliefs of the 1930s, albeit with slightly different results. The type of shape was now more varied than before, and the palette went beyond white to include earthy colours. The drawing (1965) Olympia (below), its title referring to ancient ruins in Greece, illustrates the career-long distillation of forms in his work that Vogler described as clarity and the great art of omission. Nicholson died in 1982, aged 87.

Open a larger version of this image Ben Nicholson, O.M. (1894-1982), (1965) Olympia, 1965. Ink and oil wash on paper. 22 x 19 in (57.8 x 50 cm), shaped. Sold for: 5,040 on 23 March 2022 at Christies in London

The market for Ben Nicholson The market for his work today is well-established, says Angus Granlund, Head of Evening Sale in the Modern British and Irish Art department at Christies. Nicholsons importance as an artist has long been accepted, and its exciting to see two import works like 1936 (white relief) and October 1949 (Rangitane) appear on the market at the same time. Which Nicholsons are the most sought-after? The white reliefs from the 1930s, says Granlund. Theyre extremely rare and the majority are held in major museum collections. However, the post-war paintings fusing still life and landscape are more typical and abundant, accounting for four of his top five prices. This was an artist of international significance, he adds, with a truly global audience.

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The best Polonaise to come on the market in recent years

Christies head of Oriental Rugs and Carpets, Louise Broadhurst, explains why this Safavid Polonaise carpet, once owned by Baron Adolphe Carl von Rothschild, is such an exciting find

It should come as no surprise that Louise Broadhurst describes this Polonaise rug as exceptional. The head of Oriental Rugs and Carpets at Christies says that she has never seen a silk and metal-thread carpet with such a variety of colours. The masterpiece dates from the early 17th century, during the reign of Shah Abbas (1571-1629), who initiated a cultural renaissance in Persia. It was sold in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 31 March 2022 at Christies in London.

A carpet of this quality would have been made as a gift for a visiting nobleman or ambassador. That is how they were disseminated to the West, and it explains why many remain today in eminent Western collections of private individuals and world-class museums, says the specialist. In the 19th century, this example belonged to the philanthropist and art connoisseur Baron Adolphe Carl von Rothschild (1823-1900), a member of the celebrated international banking family.

Open a larger version of this image Baron Adolphe Carl von Rothschild, a distinguished connoisseur, collector and former owner of the carpet. Photo: reproduced with the permission of the trustees of The Rothschild Archive

He lived at 47 rue de Monceau in Paris  an avenue of grand stone houses famous in the mid-1800s as a centre of haute finance. The writer and sculptor Edmund de Waal recently published a novel about Rothschilds neighbour and fellow collector Count Moise de Camondo. De Waal describes rue de Monceau at the time as a street of conversations, where the Rothschilds, the Ephrussis and the Camondos were at the centre of a shifting constellation of art, literature and music. Baron von Rothschild had commissioned the fashionable architect Felix Langlais to create a handsome gallery in his home, surmounted by a glass lantern. The glazed ceiling ensured that the collection was lit naturally, so that it looked its best, says Broadhurst.

Open a larger version of this image A painting of the top-lit gallery at Baron von Rothschilds home on rue de Monceau, Paris. Private collection

A luminous watercolour of the gallery (above), from the late 1800s, reveals the Rothschilds stunning collection of classical sculptures, allegorical paintings, Islamic glassware, figural bronzes and Persian carpets. It shows how intrinsic carpets and textiles were to the Rothschilds, and how they were hung and used, says the specialist. Today it is thought that around 250 Polonaise rugs remain in existence, but few are in good condition. This is because of the fragile nature of the silk and the intricately woven metal thread which over time has worn away. The exceptional condition of the present carpet makes it rarer still. To have a Polonaise that has retained so much of its silk and metal thread and that still has such an intense palette of colour is extraordinary, says Broadhurst. Many Polonaise carpets were created as pairs that would have been displayed together on ceremonial occasions. The twin to the Rothschilds Polonaise once belonged to the American financier Charles Yerkes (1837-1905), who commemorated it in watercolour (below) in his leather-bound catalogue of carpets  a copy of which is also offered in the sale.

The Yerkes Polonaise was sold more recently at auction, but its condition had deteriorated since it was painted for the 1900-1905 catalogue  a reminder of what can happen if due care is not taken. According to Broadhurst, the term Polonaise is a misnomer first used at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878, when a collection of rugs owned by the Polish Prince Czartoryski (1734-1823) was misattributed. His coat of arms had been added to some of the carpets, so it was assumed they were made in Poland, she explains. By the time the mistake was discovered, the name had stuck.

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Per AP News, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, advocating for the reinstatement of an employee it claims was fired in retaliation for leading protests over safety concerns regarding the company's Covid-19 protocols in April 2020.

Gerald Bryson worked at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse (JFK8) until he was fired at the start of the pandemic. At one point during a protest, Bryson got into a heated exchange with another worker, his attorney confirmed. Amazon cited the incident as grounds for Bryson's firing, claiming he violated the company's vulgar-language policy.

In a recent filing cited by Engadget, the NLRB highlights a video recording that confirms Bryson's use of foul language, but also reveals that the other employee, a white female, used foul language as well and directed a racial slur at Bryson. The female employee was let off with a warning.

Bryson will be able to resume his position at Amazon if the court approves the NLRB's request.

Related: An Amazon Driver Was Told She Would Be Fired If She Didn't Continue Delivering Packages Despite Tornado Warnings: Report

In December, New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is suing Amazon over Covid-19 safety measures, also filed a request to force the company to reinstate Christian Smalls, another fired employee who is a leader in the Amazon Labor Union, which aims to unionize JFK8.

The NLRB's lawsuit comes as Amazon faces union votes at both the Staten Island facility where Bryson worked and at the company's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse. In-person voting will begin next week for those at the Staten Island facility and is already underway via mail-in ballot for those in Bessemer.

The NLRB has also requested Amazon post a copy of the court order at the JFK8 facility in all breakrooms, bathrooms, bathroom stalls and any other locations where notices for employees are typically found, and for English and Spanish versions to be made available on internet sites or apps the company uses to commnicate with its employees. Additionally, the labor board has asked for the order to be read aloud during at a least one mandatory meeting.

Related: Amazon Sued by New York Over 'Flagrant Disregard' for Covid-19 Safety

Kathy Drew King, a regional director for the NLRB office overseeing the lawsuit, said in a statement, "No matter how large the employer, it is important for workers to know their rights  particularly during a union election  and that the NLRB will vociferously defend them."

Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Katy resident Bethany Dufilho and her husband, Paul, began having reservations about their church after witnessing the evangelical support of Donald Trump during the 2016 election. I just knew that the way [Trump] was acting and the words he was using was antithetical to what I had grown up learning about Jesus and the gospel, says Dufilho, a writer for Houston Moms.

It wasnt until 2018 that the Dufilho family left their local Southern Baptist megachurch, albeit with some hesitation, even telling friends theyd likely return. But after roughly six months away, they decided to never go back. Theres a broader world out there, she says. Now, she and her family of five attend a small United Methodist Church and Dufilhos Instagram bio describes her as an Ex-vangelical in the TX suburbs.

"I had a really small box of what a good Christian wife and mother should be."

Dufilho is one of many Evangelical women across the U.S. who consider themselves ex-evangelical. These women are gathering in Facebook groups, congregating around hashtags, and sliding into DMs as a way of questioning the church, their faith, or their God.

Deconstruction, the process of interrogating what you believe and why, is happening across America with women leading the way. Its reverse engineering, says Mary Jo Sharp, assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University. Peeling back the layers of commitment and traditions to see what you actually believe and if you agree with those beliefs.

DEFINING DECONSTRUCTION

Questioning ones faith obviously isnt new, says Beth Allison Barr, associate professor of history at Baylor University. What is new are the methods: Rallying around the term deconstruction offers Christians a community that lets them examine core doctrines like whether the Bible is without fault or not, if the world was created in six literal days, and the conviction that homosexuality is sinful, all without fear and without feeling alone. Its also compelled many to leave loudly by sharing experiences online, Barr says.

Evangelicals, especially in conservative evangelicalism, grew up thinking that there were aspects of their faith that were critical to the gospel, Barr says. We find these people who grew up in these really rigid environments and they find that theres no room for questions. They also find that theres no room for them to think differently.

Some people deconstruct only specific parts of their faith. Others may tear apart their entire ideology. Notably, deconstruction has no established end goal, even if some who quarrel with the basic tenets of the faith may change churches, denominations or leave the faith entirely.

There is a real moment in history to pause and say What am I a part of as a woman.

Chrissy Stroop, a senior correspondent at Religion Dispatches whos been writing about deconstruction since 2016, says those who dont understand deconstruction assume its an emerging movement that will ultimately advance a new church establishment.

They have a really hard time understanding that people can come together through a shared term that relates to a shared background and not really care if we land in the same place or not, Stroop says. It was very clearly established from early on that the only sort of rule is that there is no rule of where you end it.

To Dufilho, deconstruction is freedom from certainty, and freedom from others telling you, This is how you have to interpret the Bible; this is how you have to express your faith, she says.

FINDING ANSWERS ELSEWHERE

Dufilho says she didnt want to bring her questions to her Southern Baptist pastor due to her experience with the Billy Graham rule: No man should be alone with a woman who isnt his wife.

He might think Im trying to have an affair with him, she says. But since the Southern Baptist Convention doesnt allow women pastors, there was no one on staff to whom Dufilho felt comfortable she could bring her questions, she says. Instead, she began her search for answers elsewhere, listening to podcasts, reading blogs, and discovering authors such as Rachel Held Evans, considered an essential deconstruction voice.

I think its really important for women to have safe outlets to talk without judgment or misperceptions, Dufilho says, and that just didnt exist for me.

Dufilho soon discovered other women who were going through deconstruction, mainly via social media. It helped me not feel so alone, she says, helped me not feel crazy. Instagram has grown as an outlet for deconstructionism, with accounts like The New Evangelicals holding the church accountable or Deconstruction Girl, who uses memes to share about why she no longer believes.

I think its really important for women to have safe outlets to talk without judgment or misperceptions."

On Twitter, Stroop created the hashtag #emptythepews in 2017, which is still going strong today. Through it, people find a community and use it to share why they left evangelicalism.

Its important for us to open up to each other and expose to the public about how evangelicalism harms people, says Stroop, who now identifies as an agnostic atheist. And to maybe find some solace in relating to each other. Stroop lists Professor Barr, anti-racism educator Tori Glass, historian and Jesus and John Wayne author Kristin Du Mez, and Parenting Forward podcast host Cindy Wang Brandt as essential voices in the deconstruction movement.

However, a recent article on Desiring God, a ministry site tied to famed theologian John Piper, warns women against seeking advice online. Christian author Tilly Dillehay argues in the piece that a woman should discuss theology with an older woman mentor at church rather than an online community. Some of Satans best work is accomplished by women talking to women, in the floating world of disembodied souls on the Internet, Dillehay states.

Women talking to each other is dangerous. Theyre not wrong about that, Stroop confirms. Its going to challenge their male patriarchal authority if were going to be able to talk to each other.

WHY WOMEN, WHY NOW

Beyond the politicizing of faith spurred by recent elections, which Sharp agrees has done a lot of damage to Christianity, she points to the prevalence of sexual abuses and misconduct in evangelical churches as to why women specifically are questioning the church establishment.

Its not only the church where Evangelical women endure sexual misconduct. A Christianity Today article posted this week reported on unchecked sexual harassment in the evangelical publications offices. For more than 12 years, the article explains, two men in leadership who were the subject of multiple sexual harassment claims faced no consequences or inquiries. Both men have since left the magazine that was founded by Billy Graham, with one now registered as a sex offender for trying to pay a minor for sex.

There is a real moment in history to pause and say What am I a part of as a woman, Sharp explains. I think women want a very strong response from churches.

Women may be leading deconstruction, but Barr isnt sure if the church will notice as she says evangelicalism has a history of discounting women's voices. She hopes that the dwindling number of congregants may force churches to take notice this time.

Women are often the constants in the family who go to church and bring their children and teach their children, Barr says. According to Pew Research Center, Evangelical Protestants consist of 55 percent women and 45 percent men. While 59 percent of women say that religion is important in their life, compared to 47 percent of men.

Women may be the majority, but several evangelical denominations use Biblical text to deny women the opportunity to hold leadership positions, instead believing men and women have different but complementary roles in the church with women in the supporting role.

Complementarian theology is tied most closely to the Apostle Pauls teachings, such as 1 Timothy 2, which states: Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

Dufilho recalls trying to attain this biblical standard of womanhood. She has stacks and stacks of prayer journals in which she begs God help me. Forgive me. Help me to submit. The prayers ask forgiveness for what Dufilho now calls basic human emotions: anger, sadness, jealousy.

For a long time, I just felt like I wasnt living up to the expectations of being a godly woman. I had a really small box of what a good Christian wife and mother should be, she says. I thought thats what God thought I should be.

Its important for us to open up to each other and expose to the public about how evangelicalism harms people.

It wasnt until after she left her Southern Baptist Convention church that Dufilho felt free to explore feminism and challenge scripture. I didnt want to be two-faced, she says. If Im going to go down this path, I cant stay here at this church anymore.

When Dufilhos family began visiting other churches, they were able to listen to women preaching from the pulpit. I felt so grateful my children were going to grow up hopefully with a different perspective, she says.

Complementarianism, Barr argues in her book The Making of Biblical Womanhood, isnt even biblical and has damaged all of our relationships with God because it has made us think that God is something that God is not. All women are different and not all women fit the mold that evangelicals say that women have to be. It has created distance between women and God.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

In a sermon last fall, lead pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church in Flower Mound outside of Dallas disparaged deconstruction, calling it a fad, some sort of sexy thing to do. A clip of the sermon spread across social media and sparked outrage from the deconstruction community.

Historically, people have always done this examination of what they believe and why they believe it, Barr says. Its not trendy in a sense that its something that is going to go away because its always been there. Its that social media allows more people to see it.

The end of evangelicalism, the renouncement of Godthere are those who worry that deconstruction only results in Christians leaving the faith. But Barr hopes the movement will elicit positive change in evangelical churches. I think that what this has done is shown the church in very clear language that there is a problem, she says. There are more people leaving than we really realized. I think its really opened peoples eyes.
An anime voice actress has been splitting her time between Midland and Houston to advance her career.

Christina Kelly, 30, started her voice acting career in 2015, playing main character Mine in Akame ga Kill!. Anime is a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults but featuring shows for children too.

Ive been in Midland for about six years, Kelly said. Im not from here originally but my husband (Gary Graham) works in the oil field. He has been working in the industry since 2012 and he got a promotion which moved him here to become a district valve manager for his company.

Realization set in when she saw Midland on a map and started to wonder how she was going to make her acting career work.

When he got offered the position, I didnt really think about where Midland was in Texas, she said. I went to school in Houston then I moved to Corpus Christi where my husband was working while commuting to work in Houston every now and then.

Kelly was supportive of her husbands promotion and figured she could continue working as a freelance artist based from wherever he needed to relocate.

She started acting in theater during high school which prompted her to want to pursue acting as a career. Kelly didnt set out to become a voice actress. She attended the University of Houstons School of Theatre and Dance then graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting.

I didnt think I was going to do voice-overs at all, she said. I really thought I was going to act in television, film or professional plays. Houston has a very big theater community. ... I love the grandiose of the theater, including the costumes and makeup.

During her senior year at the University of Houston, an adjunct faculty member at the time -- who had worked in voice-over for more than 20 years -- sent out an email to a couple of students that he liked in the program to tell them Sentai Filmworks was holding auditions. She auditioned in October 2015, despite feeling unwell, but didnt hear back from the studio for a while. Four months later she landed her main character role in Akame ga Kill!.

The training I got (at the University of Houston) really helped with voice-over because anime can be a very big, loud and crazy world, she said. The characters are generally larger than life and really fun.

More Information Millennials in Midland is a feature that will look at a growing segment of the Midland population -- those born from 1981 to 1996. See More Collapse

Kelly said her favorite character so far has been Mine.

I really identified with the character, I think I was a lot like her when I was younger, she said. I think she was like a 15-year-old and I was like her, really insecure, strong and shy. She has a crush on the main character and is really mean to him to hide it. She is a tiny but mighty character.

Kelly is also known for playing Mary Saotome in Kakegurui, Alice Nakiri in Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Loki in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? and Saotone Shichimiya in Love, Chunibyo and Other Delusions. So far, she has more than 70 credits in the anime world of voice acting.

I dont feel like thats a lot, she said. Theres a few actresses I know who have done more than 200 shows, but Im sure I will get there eventually.

Kelly continues to do on camera acting as well. She splits her time between her apartment in Houston and her home in Midland. She said she will usually spend two weeks a month in Houston, recording voice-overs then if she doesnt have anything going on for a while she would simply stay in Midland.

I love being a Texan and a lot of us (anime voice actors) live here, she said. California has a lot of studios, including Burbank, which focuses on dubbing studios, but there is so much work here in Texas.

The industry has changed from when she first started, especially in Texas, she said. In late 2020, Sony announced that it had acquired AT&Ts Crunchyroll, through Funimation, two major anime studios. Funimation is a Flower Mound-based anime distributor founded in 1994. The Funimation headquarters moved to the Cypress Waters mega-development in Flower Mound.

She said some studios want voice actors to sound similar to the original Japanese voice actor when playing characters.

Most of the time you get a little bit more freedom but at the end of the day it all depends on the director.



Kelly will not be at this years Permian Basin Comic Con, but she attended the event last year. She will be going to the Central Texas Comic Con, and she will be at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Houston instead. Kelly said she had a great time at last years Permian Basin Comic Con. She was even able to show some of her colleagues her home in Midland after the event. She also attended the Midessa Anime Convention last year.

I was hanging out with some of my friends from California during the Midessa Anime Convention, she said. They asked if I flew in from Houston, but I told them, 'no I live here' and they couldnt believe that I got to go home and sleep in my own bed.

She added that finding things to do in Midland was a little overwhelming to begin with but she has soon found the most important aspects for her including yoga, Starbucks, Target and a great friend group.

At first it was a little overwhelming trying to find things to do in Midland but then I started building a foundation and finding a friend group, Kelly said.

She added that those interested in a career doing anime voice-overs should look into pursuing an acting degree.

There are definitely avenues to take like community theater or voice-over classes in Dallas, if this is something you really want to do, she said. I wouldnt change it for anything. Of course, it is hard but it is worth it.
Its no secret that Houston offers some of the best Asian food in the country, a fact thats made abundantly clear if one is lucky enough to catch the Asian Night Market on one of the few nights a year it takes place.

So it makes sense that Top Chef dedicated an entire episode paying homage to this event during its Houston-based season.

Hosted by the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinities, the real Asian Night Market held at Hong Kong City Mall is a favorite for anyone interested in sampling street food from across the vast Asian continent. Stalls feature dishes from Vietnam of course, in addition to offerings from Japan, China and Pacific Island nations, among others.

The Asian Night Market is not on a set schedule and had scaled back during the COVID-19 pandemic. Houstonians had to hear about it from word-of-mouth or catch a glimpse of an announcement on the organizations Facebook page.

Perfectly timed with its nod on Top Chef this week, the Asian Night Market is returning March 26 and 27 at Little Saigon Plaza and May 14 and 15 at Railway Heights Market. And the event now has an Instagram page, created last October.

At their own Asian Night Market, each of the 13 remaining Top Chef contestants was tasked with drawing a knife that bears the name of the cuisine they must take inspiration from for the Elimination challenge. In the chopping block: Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese.

To guide them, the contestants got to taste food from an impressive roster of local chefs representing their specialty, a testament to the diversity and breadth within Houstons Asian food scene.

David Moir/Bravo

Heavy hitters offering Vietnamese dishes included Crawfish and Noodles Trong Nguyen, who has been vitally important to the advancement of Viet-Cajun cuisine in Houston. He was joined by Christine Ha of Blind Goat and Xin Chao, a Masterchef winner who is fresh off the announcement that she is a James Beard Award finalist in the Best Chef: Texas category this year.

Chef Kiran Verma, of the inimitable fine-dining Indian restaurant Kirans, returns to the show, along with Kaiser Lashkari of Himalaya, whose Indian fusion fried chicken has a cult following in Houston. They both showcased South Asian food flavors and techniques.

Chinese examples included Mala Sichuan Bistros spicy mapo tofu, and Cantonese-style dumpling soup and ginger scallion egg noodles by chef Elaine Won of Dumpling Haus.

Shun Japanese Kitchens chef and owner Naoki Yoshida served karaage, a Japanese fried chicken, and we got a glimpse of the Filipino food chef Andrew Musico will serve at his soon-to-open Fattest Cow (slated for early 2022).

With the tasting done, the chefs dispersed to shop at their assigned specialty stores. Though it required navigating Houstons freeways, everyone seemed to safely arrive at their destinations, which again showed off Houstons bounty to a T: pan-Asian grocery stores 99 Ranch Market, Hong Kong Food Market and Viet Hoa International Foods; Japanese specialist Seiwa Market; and Subhlaxmi Grocers in Little India.

Its at Viet Hoa that we see hometown chef Evelyn Garcia in her element. The born-and-raised Houstonian specializes in Southeast Asian cuisine, as evidenced by her product line, Kin, which includes condiments and spice rubs informed by years of work at high-end Asian restaurants in New York and abroad.

Garcia gamely helped her two fellow contestants competing in the Vietnamese food category as they wandered Viet Hoas aisles, offering information on the spices to use and pointing them in the right direction to sections of the store.

David Moir/Bravo

Her expertise panned out at the reimagined Night Market, held at POST Houstons rooftop park, where Garcia landed in the top three for her dish, a chilled chicken salad with rau ram (Vietnamese coriander), rambutan, avocado crema and sesame crisps.

Other contestants dishes were hits, too. Jae Jung of New York came out on top for her stir-fried udon with Chinese sausage, Korean melon and ramen topping.

Even Californias Jackson Kalb ranked in the top three, redeeming himself somewhat for last weeks crispy queso blunder by producing a fresh spring roll with sausage, shallot and pho reduction (the spices for which Garcia helped him find).

Unfortunately, the delightful chef-educator Sam Kung had to pack his knives and go after a fatal error of judgment: grilling raw potatoes for his potato curry. There was no coming back from that.

Though most of us werent lucky enough to be one of the 100 guests who sampled the bites from the contestants that night, the benefit of living in Houston is that we can attend the real Asian Night Market next weekend.
The 2022 12X12 Conroe Art League Show was a great success. The auction raised $9,345 which was 125 percent of their goal. The funds will benefit the Student Awards Show for Montgomery County High School Seniors scheduled for May 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Conroe Art Gallery, 127 Simonton in Conroe.

Continuing for the next two weekends is The Players Theatre Company production of Disneys Newsies. Relax and enjoy the musical production with fun choreography. Tickets available at OwenTheatre.com.

The University of St. Thomas Max Center (USTMAX) Downtown Conroe on Main is hosting a Creative Writing eight-week workshop for writers of all levels covering poetry, essay, and short fiction taught by Texas Poet Laureate, Dave Parsons Fridays 1 to 4 p.m. beginning March 25. Scholarships are available for Veterans by emailing maxcenter@stthome.edu or by visiting the website www.ustmax.com/leisure-learning.

Did you know Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County assists with Home Repairs as well as builds new homes in Conroe? Habitat MCTX is hosting a New Home and Home Repair Workshop Saturday, March 26 at the Montgomery County Central Library, 104 I-45 N in Conroe from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. to fill out applications and learn about the process. No appointment necessary.

Make plans to enjoy to upcoming events by the City of Conroe: The Easter Bunny and Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 9, and the First Thursday Concert Series, starting April 14.

The FREE Easter with egg hunts for children ages 18 months to 10 years will take place Carl Barton Jr. Park Softball Complex from 10 a.m. to noon with all egg hunts beginning promptly at 10:15 a.m. Bunny will also be available to take pictures during the event.

We all love the First Thursday Concert Series! It is back Thursday, April 14 with the music of Dirty River Boys starting at 7 p.m . Outside food and beverages (nonalcoholic) are permitted with beer and concessions available at the park. Thursday, May 5 will be a Beatles tribute with the Fab 5.

Have you been to the Hideaway through 202 Main yet? Live music, cocktails, food, and a fun lively attitude!

Order your pies and cakes for Easter ahead of time at Verneles New Orleans Bakery and Cafe.

Be safe. Shop Local. Visit Downtown Conroe.

- Margie Taylor

Margie may be reached at margie@taylorizedpr.com.
Hunter Biden's laptop is real, according to the New York Times, which denied the validity of the story before. Confirming it could have changed the outcome of his father's bid for the presidency.

President Joe Biden's son became the center of the political storm that outlined his alleged connections to Ukraine while he was still the vice-president of Barrack Obama.

But, the Democrat-aligned media called to tech giants to allegedly stop the story from spreading, much to the dismay of conservatives.

Hunter's Laptop Holds Secrets

New York Post reported the bombshell, involving Hunter Biden in October 2020, when an alleged laptop owned by the presidential son stored sensitive material was left abandoned in a Delaware computer shop.

It only got more interesting when the laptop was siezed by the FBI in 2019, but this story was blocked before the 2020 elections.

In the hard drive were emails, shared by Trump allies, pointing to what was called Biden's involvement in several illegal activities.

Then vice-president Biden and his family were involved in corrupt activities with Burisma Holdings, a natural gas company from Ukraine, reported the Blaze.

One of the charges is that media accused by President Donald Trump colluded with the Democratic party to stop the story of Hunter Biden's laptop.

Social Media firms like Twitter and Facebook were involved and practiced censorship which was detrimental to the run of the 45th president, noted Fortune.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Hunter Biden Laptop Story Now Verified

Now the New York Times posted a story on Wednesday admitting the denials of the detail which were supposed to be true. The activities of Hunter Biden are now highlighting something else.

The president to this day denies the controversial contents of the laptop. Accoding to the paper, a meeting was arranged by the presidential son in 2015 when he spoke to a the 'Big Guy,' a Burisma executive, as labeled by Hunter.

Several facts were established from the emails from the laptop outlining Hunter Biden's connection to Devon Archer and the Burisma firm, a foreign entity.

The FBI checked the emails from files in the laptop that was abandoned by the president's son in the Delaware computer shop. All the information obtained was verified as accurate by those involved in the probe.

One of the interesting emails looked over by the prosecutor detailed a dinner in April 2015, with Hunter and Mr. Archer, who invited Burisma for a business talk in Washington. Now President Biden would pass and still deny he knew nothing.

The New York Post story was called fake and another one in September 2021 from the Washington Examiner had edited content in its report.

A retraction by the NYT story says that it was Russian disinformation that opened new outcomes for the flagging the Democrats invested in stopping the report about the laptop

The bombshell was now acknowledged as true, but NYT drew exasperation from the outlet that reported it.

More polls going against the president will further open other secrets in Hunter Biden's laptop that would be destructive to the administration, and the Democrtas.

Related Article: Hunter Biden Scandal Reports Have Been on the News Only After the Election

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A documentary film made by a native of Bad Axe about his hometown earned a special jury prize this week at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

"Bad Axe," directed by David Siev, is described in promotional materials as "a real-time portrait" of 2020 unfolding "as an Asian-American family in Trump's rural America fights to keep their restaurant and American dream alive in the face of a pandemic, Neo-Nazis and generational scars from the Cambodian Killing Fields."

The film had its world premiere Monday during the SXSW Documentary Feature Competition and was given the Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling award. Along with the award, the jury issued this statement:

"Stories centered on the pursuit of the "American Dream" abound. Rarely do they portray the sacrifices and recurrent trials that the promise of a better life entails the way Director David Siev accomplishes with Bad Axe. Examining those closest to him with profound compassion and incisive curiosity, he paints a distinct and easily recognizable portrait of the alienation many feel in the place they call home, by birth or by circumstance. For its ability to reveal something unexpected about the American fabric and the American family, Bad Axe deserves celebration."

Siev thanked his family, producers, collaborators and financial backers for the support they provided during the making of the film.

"This week has been such a whirlwind of emotions, and I am just so happy and grateful to SXSW for the opportunity to share this film with an audience who loved watching it just as much as I enjoyed making it," Siev wrote in a post on social media. "I will never have the words to describe the way I felt when we received a standing ovation from the crowd on opening night. Thank you to everyone who has played role in helping the film make it this far."

The film was one of just eight selected for the festival's documentary film competition.

One of the film's executive producers is Jeff Tremaine, a director, screenwriter and producer best known for co-creating the MTV reality stunt show "Jackass" with Spike Jonze and Johnny Knoxville.

A promotional six-minute "sizzle reel" for the film features many familiar sights filmed during the summer of 2020, including Bad Axe Theater, downtown Bad Axe and a number of area businesses, as well as members of the Siev family, owners of Rachel's restaurant.

The sizzle reel also includes footage of the Black Lives Matter march that took place in downtown Bad Axe in June of 2020 that attracted armed white nationalists, members of a group known as The Base.

According to the film's website, David Siev, a graduate of the University of Michigan, left Bad Axe for Los Angeles and landed a home at Tremaines production company, Gorilla Flicks, where he spent several years "finessing the art of guerrilla filmmaking."

Described as "a jack-of-all-trades filmmaker," David holds producing, camera operating and consulting credits on films like "Bad Trip" with comedian Eric Andre and the rock and roll biopic "The Dirt."

David first made his mark in the Asian-American festival circuit with the debut of his award-winning short film, "Year Zero." The film would go on to win Best Narrative Short awards from the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Manhattan International Film Festival, and several others.

David currently lives in New York, where he is now focused on writing and directing his own projects.

To watch the reel, visit www.badaxefilm.com.
Every year, brush fires erupt along the borderland areas close to El Cenizo on the Mexican side causing residents of the city to fear that the fires may extend to the American side and see their homes being threatened.

Tuesday's fire sparked some quick backlash by city residents who are upset that there is no actual fire department in the city that can handle situations like these as they have to depend from outside help, such as from the City of Rio Bravo Fire Department or the Webb County Fire Department.

On Thursday, City of El Cenizo Mayor Elsa Degollado stated that this is not the case, as the city does have a fire department and several volunteers operating it. Degollado states that the volunteers -- through partnership and basic training -- are ready for any situation. But the mayor stressed that no certified personnel to work as a firefighter is currently serving in the volunteer force.

We dont have firefighters, but we do have a fire department that is all fully volunteer-based as we do have the volunteer resources that have always been volunteers when it comes to emergency situations such as these types of fires, Degollado said. What we do not have is a fire department with certified firefighters. These are all just volunteers, and some of them are certified with some basic training, as the city sends them to get such training and also practice with real fire situations. The volunteers we have are actually trained individuals that know what to do during an emergency, and they are not just individuals that will go into a situation without knowing what to do.

Degollado states that the city still has its fire department fully operational and that the city still has its fire engine, its fire chief and also several volunteers who operate in the area. However, she states that there are currently no certified firefighters working in the city and no funds to help pay for the salary of an actual firefighter.

The City of El Cenizo right now does not have the money nor budget to pay at least one firefighter, because the salary for one true firefighter is somewhat high," Degollado said."This issue is very similar to the topic about the ambulance, as these are services that do end up being extremely expensive, and realistically the city does not have those monies to do those types of things."

Degollado says that the city currently needs to be heard from state and national officials in efforts to get the resources to get a fire department moving. She calls this an effort that can help transform the fire department of the city and it can sustain itself as well.

We need to be heard more by the congressman and other state and federal officials so they can hopefully help us have the monies needed for these services that are needed for these communities, Degollado said. These fires are something that occur every year, and thank God that this fire did not catch us blind-sighted like it did 10 years ago when it did reach the city and one home was completely burned and several others affected.

The mayor states that after two days of the fire ravaging the area, it finally was extinguished, and what is left of it is now far away from the river.

The latest update we have is that indeed the fire did begin in Nuevo Laredo, in Mexico, and it did cross briefly into the American side but not within the city limits of El Cenizo, as it only affected private ranches near El Cenizo that are very close to the river, Degollado said. This report was made by the Webb County Fire Department, the City of Rio Bravo Fire Department and also from volunteers of the City of El Cenizo Fire Department. Thanks to God, we did not have any tragedy happening as the fire did not cross into the limits within the city. ... With the help of God and the climate, the fire on the Mexican side slowly but surely got extinguished.

According to City of Rio Bravo Fire Department Chief Juan C. Gonzalez, he never saw any firefighters on the Mexican side of the border arrive at the scene to help extinguish the fire. The mayor also reported that no such action was seen.

Gonzalez states that the fire still continues to burn in Mexico in a very small area away from the border, and he states that they will continue monitoring it just to ensure that the fire slowly dies down if there is no wind.

Fire is out by the riverbanks almost off further inside Mexico side, Gonzalez said. It was scary, but our department did a good job. Windy today, hopefully nothing happens.

As to how or why the fire started, Degollado states that there is no knowledge as to how it started -- whether it was the warmer weather or if someone intentionally or unintentionally caused it.

Amid the fact that the city does not have any official firefighters working, she does state that she applauds the collaboration and partnership that the city has done with the City of Rio Bravo and Webb County to ensure that situations like these are treated in a collaborative effort so any problems for the City of El Cenizo are mitigated.

The mayor and Gonzalez also stated that they hope people take more precautions to avoid any fires, such as checking if their light switches are up to date, that they do not burn trash or any other items, and for people to not throw cigarette butts and other things that during hot weather temperatures can cause fires to spread.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo teased a potential political bid against current Gov. Kathy Hochul despite opposition from his own party and has argued that "cancel culture" was taking control of Democrats.

The former official's remarks mark his attempt at a comeback after his resignation in the face of several sexual harassment allegations from former aides. Cuomo reluctantly left office last year as he continued to deny the accusations against him and has since gathered support for a possible run against Hochul, who was his former lieutenant governor.

Andrew Cuomo's Return?

Cuomo's aides have also been conducting their own internal voter polling on a potential matchup between him and Hochul. The people involved declined to be named so that they could speak freely about the matter.

The former governor also received calls from allies that urged him to run against Hochul after a recent public poll from Emerson College and The Hill showed that he was only a few points behind the current governor. The survey, which was published last week, showed that the former governor was only four points lagging behind his successor, as per CNBC.

On Thursday, Cuomo gave a campaign-style speech to a friendly audience of roughly 100 people in the Bronx. During his remarks, he blamed cancel culture for his resignation last year and he carried himself like a candidate, posing for pictures with attendees.

Read Also: Pence Raises Tensions With Trump, Contrasts Former President in Stance Regarding Putin's 'Violence'

After the speech, reporters asked the former governor if he would once again run for office, to which he replied that he was "open to all options." Cuomo indicated that he was open to potentially gathering enough petition signatures to get on the ballot in the general election, allowing him to bypass the Democratic primary that will be held in June.

According to ABC News, in a statement, Cuomo said that he was knowledgeable of how to get onto the ballot and noted that he has already done it a number of times before. He noted that since the election is still later this year, he still had a lot of time to gather petitions.

Sexual Harassment Scandals

Cuomo is facing several scandals, including his documented sexual harassment of 11 women, misuse of government resources to write his $5 million pandemic memoir and misleading the public about COVID-related deaths in nursing homes.

During the interview, the former governor said that he had been going through a very difficult year and said that he had done a lot of "soul-searching." He noted that he was thankful he had three beautiful daughters and a beautiful family. Cuomo also expressed his pride to have served as New York's governor.

Furthermore, Cuomo said he was open to creating his own political party to run, rather than attempting to secure the Democratic party's spot on the November ballot. His remarks of doing the process before was a reference to his 2014 invention of the "Women's Equality Party."

He also said that his father had done it before, apparently referencing Mario Cuomo's unsuccessful mayoral bid in 1977 while running in the general election on the Liberal Party's line, the New York Post reported.



Related Article: North Carolina Investigates Former Trump Aide Mark Meadows for Alleged Voter Fraud

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SPRINGFIELD  Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White on Friday announced more than $1.4 million in School District Library Grant Program awards.

More than 1.5 million Illinois students served by school library programs will benefit from the grants. The grants were awarded based on a formula of 88.5 cents per student, with a minimum grant award of $850. The funding can be used for fiction and/or non-fiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, subscriptions, electronic resources, new computers, and wifi connectivity improvements.
The Canadian federal government on Thursday announced that it will remove the COVID-19 testing requirements for pre-entry into the country for all fully vaccinated travelers, which removes a major roadblock to the free flow of people.

In a statement, Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said that the reason for the decision was the high vaccination rates and the stable COVID-19 case count. He noted that Ottawa was not comfortable enough to reduce restrictions on travelers who were planning to go to Canada, which will take effect starting next month.

Canada's Pre-Entry Tests

During a press conference, Duclos said that Canada was not entering a transition phase of the coronavirus pandemic. He said authorities were now ready to announce further changes to border measures.

The Canadian government has been facing pressure from frequent travelers, border towns, some medical professionals, the opposition Conservatives, airlines, and tourism operators. They have called for the removal of pre-entry testing, a process that has received criticism for being expensive and pointless at this stage of the health crisis, as per CBC.

However, authorities made the announcement alongside a warning that travel restrictions may need to be reimposed. Duclos said that, with the summertime coming up with rising temperatures, people are spending more time outside of their homes, which could result in a waning of collective and individual immunity.

Read Also: COVID-19 Cases in South Korea: Over 600,000 Positive Tests, 429 Deaths Recorded Ahead of Removal of Anti-Pandemic Measures

The health minister added that authorities can still randomly select fully vaccinated travelers who will be required to get tested upon entry to Canada. However, he noted that they will no longer be required to quarantine while waiting for their results to come out.

According to CNN, on the other hand, travelers who are still unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and are eligible to travel to Canada are still required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival and on day 8. They will also still be mandated to quarantine for 14 days after arrival to the country.

Removal of Restrictions

The pre-entry tests, which cost up to roughly $200 each, have long discouraged Canadians from traveling internationally and foreigners have been reluctant to go to the country. The tests have also added another layer of uncertainty for people who are already worried about getting a positive test before they are scheduled to travel.

Rep. Brian Higgins, a New York Democrat who represents a border district in Buffalo, praised Canada's decision. However, he argued in separate letters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden that more easing of restrictions was needed.

Higgins called on the two leaders to remove COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all travelers at land ports of entry. The lawmaker said that the measure has significantly reduced cross-border travel and the flow of commerce.

In his letter, Higgins said that it was time to follow the science and remove existing restrictions at the U.S. and Canadian borders and allow Americans and Canadians to move freely between the two regions. All air travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required to be fully vaccinated to enter the U.S., Politico reported.



Related Article: Good News! New Zealand Opening Borders to Tourists After COVID-19 Lockdown, When Can US Travelers Visit?

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WASHINGTON (AP)  An American man was killed in a Russian attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, where he was seeking medical treatment for his partner. The death of Jim Hill was reported Thursday by his sister.

My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military forces, his sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, wrote on Facebook. His body was found in the street by the local police.

Ukrainian officials reported that 10 people were killed Wednesday in Chernihiv while standing in the bread line.

Chernihiv police and the U.S. State Department confirmed the death of an American but did not identify him. Hill was at least the second U.S. citizen to be killed in the conflict, after the killing of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week.

In poignant posts on Facebook in the weeks before his death, Hill described indiscriminate bombing in a city under siege and joked about wanting to appear feeble-minded if captured by the Russians.

Under a photo of himself he wrote on March 8: me unshaven for 10 days. I am actually trying to look as old and feeble-minded (not hard) as possible in case they catch me. I am working on my Rainman accent Oh Boy...

Hill, a native of Eveleth, Minnesota, who was living in Driggs, Idaho, identified himself as a lecturer at universities in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and Warsaw, Poland. He said he was in Chernihiv with his partner for her to receive medical treatment.

We are staying on 3rd floor in Hospital. Most patients in basement bomb shelter. But cold down there and no internet, he wrote on Feb. 26, two days after the invasion began.

Four days later, he said: Nobody in Chernihiv is safe. Indiscriminate bombing. ... Ukrainian forces hold city but are surrounded. Its a siege here. Nobody in. Nobody out.

At least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours, killed during heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire in Chernihiv, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.
A schoolteacher was on a walk in an Arizona desert in July 1960, surveying the ground for noteworthy rocks, when he made a startling discovery: the remains of a little girl.

Decomposed and partially buried in the sandy terrain lay a small figure dressed in white shorts, a checkered blouse and adult-sized flip-flops that had been cut to fit her small feet, authorities said. Her fingernails and toenails were painted red.

Detectives called to the scene believed she was around 7 years old. They named her "Little Miss Nobody."

Now, 61 years after sheriff's deputies in Yavapai County, Ariz., north of Phoenix, found the little girl, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday that they have identified her through DNA analysis. Her name is Sharon Lee Gallegos, and she was kidnapped at 4 years old near her home in New Mexico.

"We're honored to be here today to give this little girl her name back," a representative from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said at a news conference.

On July 21, 1960, 10 days before the little girl was found dead in Arizona, Gallegos was playing with two other children in an alley near her family's home in Alamogordo, N.M., when a "dirty, old green car" drove up to her, according to a report from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. A woman asked Gallegos to get into the car, offering to buy her clothes and candy. But when the little girl refused, the stranger "grabbed her arm and dragged her into the car," the report says. The woman and her male companion had allegedly been stalking Gallegos for a week.

One of the witnesses of the kidnapping who had been outside playing with Gallegos told law enforcement that he saw two children in the car, including a "freckle-faced little boy," Lt. Tom Boelts said at the news conference.

The FBI joined the Alamogordo Police Department in the search for Gallegos, and when investigators learned of a little girl's remains being found in Sand Creek Wash, near Congress, Ariz., they reached out, suspecting a connection, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. But unsophisticated science and forensic analysis led law enforcement to rule out Gallegos as the girl found in Arizona. Arizona detectives believed the girl who was found dead was around 7 years old, and footprint comparisons, along with descriptions of the two girls' clothes, did not match up, Boelts said at the news conference.

Both cases went cold. In the meantime, community members in Prescott, Ariz., raised money to bury the unidentified girl, Boelts said. Her headstone read "Little Miss Nobody" and was inscribed with the Bible verse "Blessed are the pure in heart."

The case resurfaced in 2014, when it caught the attention of detectives working on an unrelated case in Colorado. The following year, the remains of the little girl were exhumed so investigators could extract DNA. In 2017, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office sent the remains to a lab in Texas, which produced an image reconstructing the little girl's face. In 2018, the sheriff's office released the image to the public in hopes someone might recognize her.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also shared the image on Facebook and a database for missing children, according to the organization. Later that year, the nonprofit received a tip that the girl might be Gallegos. But DNA tests from Gallegos's family were inconclusive.

Meanwhile, investigators with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office continued to look for leads, relying on old newspaper clippings to reconstruct the case, since police and FBI records were gone.

In 2021, the sheriff's office raised money to perform DNA testing using a new technology. Last month, using DNA from a family member, the lab positively identified Gallegos as "Little Miss Nobody." The discovery marks the oldest cold case solved for both the sheriff's office and the missing children's organization.

"The unidentified little girl who won the hearts of Yavapai County in 1960 and who occupied the minds and time of YCSO and partners for 62 years, will now rightfully be given her name back and will no longer need to be referred to as Little Miss Nobody," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.

The sheriff's office said it is continuing to investigate who kidnapped Gallegos and uncover what happened during the 10 days between when she was abducted and when her body was found.

"There is a lot of work that is still yet to be done," Boelts said. "This is the first step."

Gallegos's nephew Ray Chavez, who was born five years after she went missing, said at the news conference that his family described his aunt as a "feisty" and "jovial" child who enjoyed playing with her cousins. He added that the kidnapping shaped his own upbringing, with his mother, Gallegos's sister, being very protective.

"Unfortunately, my mom and my grandmother aren't here anymore," Chavez said. "But . . . I wanted to be here to thank everybody, to thank the sheriff's office for relentlessly not giving this up. . . . It's amazing the work that you did for our family to be at peace."
RIGA, Latvia - Fake U.S. biowarfare labs. Fake killer birds. Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump cameos. Ukrainian "Nazis" everywhere.

Russia's domestic television propaganda machine has reached such an intensity amid President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine that a tiny - but previously unthinkable - crack in Moscow's state news juggernaut broke open earlier this week with an on-air protest.

For three weeks, what are known as Russia's "federal channels" - separate state-controlled news networks that offer different flavors of the same Kremlin-fawning fare - have been serving up Putin's spin on a war that his government calls a "special military operation."

It goes like this: It was a necessary measure to save the people of the Moscow-backed separatist regions in Ukraine's eastern Donbas and liberate the rest of the nation from illegitimate "Nazi" authorities armed by reckless Americans - and the Russian military is hitting only Ukrainian military targets while its opponents are killing civilians.

To watch is to gaze through the Kremlin's looking glass. It's also a lesson in why Putin feels confident that his domestic apparatus, armed with a combination of propaganda and repression, can withstand the blowback of a war that U.S. officials say already has left thousands of Russian soldiers dead since the invasion Feb. 24.

Anton Shirikov, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison who studies Russian state propaganda, said trying to pierce the propaganda bubble can feel impossible. Shirikov compared it to telling a fervent Trump supporter and voracious consumer of right-wing U.S. media that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election fair and square.

"People who are genuinely supportive of Putin and the Putin government are really unlikely to believe stories that portray Ukraine positively and the same for the West," Shirikov said. "They have this filter that even if they see this story from their relatives or their friends, they will just reject it."

While ramping up wartime propaganda, the Kremlin has simultaneously cracked down on the last vestiges of Russia's free press, pulling the plug on the radio station Echo of Moscow and passing a new restrictive law that threatens years in prison for those who publish "fakes" about the "special military operation." The law prompted Russia's independent TV Rain to shut down and caused many journalists from independent outlets and foreign media in Russia to leave the country.

Digitally savvy Russians can still access independent news by using YouTube, the messenger app Telegram or virtual private networks, better known as VPNs. But older Russians tend to rely more on television and comprise the primary viewership of Russia's state news apparatus.

The state information bubble was pierced ever so briefly when Marina Ovsyannikova, an employee at Russia's flagship state-controlled Channel One, stormed Monday night's live news broadcast to demand an end to the war and held up a sign reading, among other things, "You're being lied to here."

Not long afterward, the independent Russian media outlet Meduza confirmed that one of Channel One's star correspondents, Zhanna Agalakova, had quit in protest of the war as well.

Despite those fissures, and the possibility of other turmoil behind the scenes, Russia's state propaganda has continued to flow unabated, luring millions of Russians into supporting a large-scale war where no mention is ever made of anyone dying at the hands of the Russian military. Reporting of Russian military casualties is practically nonexistent, limited to official Defense Ministry statistics that dramatically understate losses.

Gleb Pavlovsky, a former political strategist for Putin, said the government-controlled news channels have become a critical branch of Russian state power, as important as the General Prosecutor's office or the Interior Ministry, albeit outside the Russian constitution. They "provide everyone with a set of loyalty symbols," Pavlovsky said.

"We see that it is powerful enough to preserve that support. It works and it gets results," Pavlovsky said. "Of course, without it, there would be no such results."

The slickly produced reporting packages and talk shows, some of which have been airing extra hours since the war started, have fallen primarily into two thematic categories since the start of the war.

The first presents Russian military operations as a necessary measure to subdue savage Ukrainian "Nazis" who are killing civilians indiscriminately for a country that only questionably exists. The second emphasizes how the United States and its European allies, through sanctions and other retributive measures, are trying to destroy Russia and must be counteracted with patriotic defiance and self-reliance.

Dmitry Kiselyov, the Russian propagandist who anchors "News of the Week" on Rossiya-1, began his show Sunday by saying Kyiv would "be forced to answer for war crimes and genocide," and warned of made up "concentration camps and mass executions."

He then quickly cut to a teaser of Fox News host Tucker Carlson lending credence to a false Russian state propaganda talking point claiming the United States operates secret biological weapons labs in Ukraine - one of the myriad causes belli that Russia has promoted in recent days.

Russian propaganda for years has targeted a Defense Department program started after the Cold War to ensure safety at foreign laboratories and identify potential biological threats. Ukraine is one of 27 countries where the program operates.

During Sunday's show, Kiselyov claimed the United States was trying to "get the genetic code for Russians" in those Ukrainian labs, exclaiming "this alone confirms Americans think of us as one people." He told listeners that Americans were trying to figure out which chemicals would be most effective in targeting Russian genetic weaknesses.

The two speeches Putin gave the week he started the war made long detours into history. State news programs have followed his lead, airing segment after segment questioning modern Ukraine's boundaries and its validity as a nation.

State news shows have been airing the map of an unrecognized self-declared Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic, which existed only in theory for about a month in 1918, to imply modern Ukraine's boundaries are a fiction and the eastern part of the country belongs to Russia. Beyond questioning the borders, Russian state channels have been openly challenging the notion of an independent Ukraine.

"When we had a czar, there was no such thing as Ukraine," Kiselyov said on his Sunday show.

At the end of the show, Kiselyov dedicated a segment to claiming images of Russia's attack on a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city Mariupol were "crude and cheap" fakes. He brought on a military expert to say it wasn't clear whether one of the pregnant women photographed by the Associated Press in the aftermath of the attack "was willingly taking part in this provocation or she was forced."

Russian forces are portrayed as good-hearted liberators. On the Rossiya-1 nightly news on Monday, one Russian special forces soldier was shown shaking hands with a local man after "liberating" his town and another Russian soldier patted a crying woman on the shoulder. At the end of Kiselyov's show, three Chechen soldiers - part of Russia's military forces - were shown giving medicine to a man in Ukraine and explaining how to take it.

At the same time, Russian state news has been showing civilians allegedly maimed by Ukrainian forces. State news broadcasts earlier this week led with incredibly graphic imagery of civilians killed and maimed in central Donetsk.

Russia and its separatist proxies blamed the attack on Ukrainian Tochka-U missile they said was intercepted, but Ukraine said it was a Russian missile. Ruslan Leviev, founder of a Russian analytical group that uses open-source data to track military activities, said photos from the incident suggest the missile flew from Russian-controlled territory and was not intercepted.

Shortly after Russia's invasion, state news channels echoed false comments by Russian officials that tried to present Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as having fled Kyiv. More recently, state broadcasts have portrayed Zelensky as unhinged - in contrast to his hero status in much of the West.

As the United States and its European allies have stepped up sanctions and economic restrictions on Russia, state news commentators and reporters have sought to show how bad things are in the West and also dismiss the economic threat posed to Russia.

Russian state news broadcasts have regularly been airing segments about Americans panicking over rising gas prices.

One segment included, as evidence of the panic, the Instagram video of a Philadelphia comedian, reposted by rapper 50 Cent, in which the parody actor cries, telling Biden he now has to "walk these streets because the gas price is too high."

Margarita Simonyan, head of the state controlled foreign language television network RT, appeared on the popular state news talk show "Sunday Night with Vladimir Solovyov" and told Russians that no matter what they think of the "military operation" in Ukraine, they must "retain the stability" of the country avoid a repeat of 1917 or 1991 - the years, respectively, when the Russian Revolution took place and the Soviet Union collapsed.

Simonyan, responding to Western sanctions, said the country would live without $1,000 bras and heralded the beginning of Russia's "economic freedom."

"It might be rougher or softer, but one way or another, all the television channels convey the same point of view," said Ilya Shepelin, a journalist who analyzed Russian state propaganda for a show on Russia's now-shuttered independent channel TV Rain. "It is very difficult for a person to break out of that, because if he is surrounded by a unified information wall, it's difficult to even believe that in Kyiv they could possibly be bombing civilian homes - that everything may not be so simple."
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The head librarian at a branch in Llano County was fired this month after refusing to remove books a group of local residents complained were "pornographic" and "inappropriate." The librarian, Suzette Baker, told KXAN News that she was terminated from her position after her boss gave her a final warning for "creating a disturbance, insubordination, violation of policies and failure to follow instructions."

"The books in my library in Kingsland were not taken off the shelves, we did not move them, I told my boss that was censorship," Baker told KXAN, adding that one of the books targeted was about the life of a transgender teen. "It is her biography of her life growing up ... Obviously this group thought that was too much for their children to read. Which no one is forcing their kids to read anything."
On Friday, Australia imposed sanctions on two Russian oligarchs with ties to the country's mining sector, one of which is a billionaire with a stake in Rio Tinto's Gladstone alumina refinery joint venture.

Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the country was working closely with international allies to intensify sanctions pressure on billionaires close to Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Australia Sanctions Russian Billionaires

According to her, the measures are in addition to the restrictions imposed on 41 oligarchs and their immediate family members, who are already subject to targeted financial sanctions and travel bans. Russia claims to be conducting "a special military operation" to prevent the Ukrainian government from committing "genocide," which the West dismisses as a lie.

Vekselberg is a Russian energy investor having stakes in a firm collaborating with Origin Energy on a gas project in the Northern Territory's Beetaloo Basin. Origin said it was seeking clarity from the Australian government on the sanctions, adding that the Beetaloo Basin project was not a producing asset with no revenues.

Rio Tinto, a major Anglo-Australian mining company, did not react to a request for comment on the sanctions' impact on Deripaska, who owns 44.9 percent of EN+ Group, a Russian aluminum and power company. EN+ Group is a key stakeholder in Rusal, a Russian business having a 20% stake in the Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) refinery in Gladstone, which is part of a joint venture with Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto has previously stated that it will terminate connections with Rusal as part of its broader exit from Russia, according to Yahoo News.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has announced that 11 more Russian banks and government institutions with the majority of the country's banking assets, as well as all companies that manage Russia's sovereign debt, have been sanctioned as a result of Russia's military activities in Ukraine.

On Monday, Australia announced new sanctions against 33 Russian oligarchs and corporate leaders, joining a growing list of Western countries that have imposed restrictive measures against Russians. According to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, "Reinforce Australia's genuine determination to penalize Russians of economic and geopolitical significance, particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin."

In making the announcement, Australia's foreign minister also stated that individuals who have reaped enormous gains and are of economic and strategic importance to Russia," particularly because of their relationships with President Putin, will face sanctions. Many of these billionaires have benefitted directly from the Kremlin's illegal and indefensible activities in Ukraine since 2014, according to the report.

Since Russia's aggressive military activities in Ukraine began, Australia has placed over 450 sanctions on Russian individuals, entities, organizations, banks, Putin, his security council, and the Russian Armed Forces, Republic World reported.

Read Also: US VP Kamala Harris Needs To Brush Up on Foreign Policy Because She Mistakenly Called Ukraine a NATO Member

Australia May Sanction China if it Backs Russian Invasion

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned that if China backs Russia's conflict in Ukraine, it would suffer repercussions, calling such a move an "abomination" and threatening additional international penalties against Beijing. When asked if China would face any consequences for its unwillingness to denounce the continued Russian onslaught, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia would join other partners in penalizing the nation.

Morrison went on to say that Beijing must be "very transparent" about its ties to Moscow, including when it comes to throwing them an economic lifeline during this global crisis and potentially what, if any, military support has been discussed, adding that the latter decision would be an abomination.

The president's remarks mirror similar ones from the US, which has warned of "significant consequences" if Moscow receives military or economic help, as per National Herald.

Related Article: Indian Central Bank Adopts a Trade Agreement With Russia; Defies Western Sanctions Against Moscow

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Local

Win-win move relocates Homosassa River Restoration Project; removes derelict trailers

mattbeck / Photos by Matthew Beck / Chronicle photo editor A worker with Sea & Shoreline demolishes one of the last remaining manufactured homes Monday, March 14, at the former Sportsman Cove RV park along the Homosassa River. The land, once cleared, will be a base of operation for the Homosassa River Restoration Project, which is working to improve the rivers water quality.

A win-win strategy is in motion to give the rehabilitation of the Homosassa River better footing, and also rid a former riverfront RV park of its derelict trailers.

Sea & Shoreline, LLC crews contracted by the nonprofit Homosassa River Restoration Project Inc. (HRRP) recently demolished roughly a dozen unlivable mobile homes at Sportsman Cove off of Fishbowl Drive, near the Homosassa water tower.

mattbeck / Photos by Matthew Beck / Chronicle photo editor Property along the Homosassa River is cleared Monday, March 14, to make way for a base from where Sea & Shoreline will operate the Homosassa River Restoration Project. The property had fallen into a state of disrepair, and Sea & Shoreline agreed to clear the lot in exchange for a worksite.

Workers tore down the last trailer Monday, March 14, and hope to clear the 10-acre site of remaining debris within the next two weeks, depending on their haulers availability.

In exchange for the demolition, the property owner agreed to let the HRRP on their land so the organization can set up its final base of operations and finish restoring 46.19 acres of the river by 2025, from its headspring to south of the Halls River Road bridge.

He had heard about our project, HRRP Board President Steve Minguy said of the landowners representative, and thought this would be a great fit for us to have a new worksite to help the river, and to help the owner with some of the trailers he was having an issue with with Citrus County.

mattbeck / Matthew Beck / Chronicle photo editor Steve Minguy, board president of the Homosassa River Restoration Project, stands Monday, March 14, with his wife Cyndi Minguy at the former Sportsman Cove RV park along the Homosassa River.

Hes happy, were happy, and this is going to be the future of the project, this site, added Mark Mekelburg, a Sea & Shoreline superintendent. It was effort and teamwork to get stuff done, and this is the ticket for the future of the project.

Sea & Shoreline barges and divers are slated to go in the river April 1 to start vacuuming out layers of accumulated muck and detrital materials from its depths, which will then be planted with lush and sustainable eelgrass to help bolster marine habitats.

Whatevers removed from the river is piped back to Sea & Shorelines on-land filtration site before clean water is pumped back into the river.

HRRP has used Sea & Shorelines method since 2020, when it launched the first phase of cleanup in canals and coves between Fishbowl Drive and Spring Cove Road.

Sea & Shoreline rented private land behind the Bella Oasis Hotel off of U.S. 19 to house its filtration devices, including large and porous Geotube bags river water seeps through after its treated for microscopic contaminants.

During 2020 and 2021 from the site along the highway, the HRRP has restored a total 13.56 acres of the river, planted almost 74,500 eelgrasses, and reopened 21 spring vents.

However, Sea & Shorelines access to the water from upriver has been limited, requiring its workers to rely on a long network of pipes running down Pepper Creek and into the Homosassa River.

Entering the river closer to its headsprings, where many boaters gather, also put Sea & Shorelines in-water crews in close and sometimes dangerous contact with vessels.

Weve had some pretty close calls here, Mekelburg said, boaters traveling over divers in six feet of water. We dont want anyone to get hurt.

Being at Sportsman Cove gives Sea & Shoreline direct and safer access to the water, keeping costs down for the HRRP.

Both sides of a canal leading to the Homosassa River are being cleared for use to help facilitate a water-quality project.

Moving downstream, this was great, Minguy said. The less distance Sea & Shoreline has to pump, then the cheaper it is per square foot for us to get things done so it works for us.

According to prior reports, power to the Sportsman Cove RV park was shut off in October 2015 after Citrus Countys building department cited several instances of illegal wiring between its mobile homes, along with electrical repairs being done by unlicensed electricians or without permits.

Florida Department of Health officials also refused to renew the parks license to operate because of septic issues.

County spokeswoman Veronica Kampschroer told the Chronicle on Thursday the building departments open code cases for the property are all pertaining to the existing unsafe structures.

If those structures were to be demolished, Kampschroer said, that would satisfy the open code cases as of today.

A large excavator from Sea & Shoreline removes part of a manufactured home Monday, March 14, in Old Homosassa.

From its new location, Sea & Shoreline is hoping to complete the HRRPs remaining 10.13 acres of its first cleanup phase by November.

Mekelburg said Sea & Shoreline and the property owner have an agreement in place to last until January 2025, and are working to extend it to 2027 just in case.

Homosassa River Restoration Project This is the status of the Homosassa River Restoration Project as of December 2021.

Sea & Shoreline also has other uses in mind for its Bella Oasis site but if those plans dont happen, the company will revert the land to manage stormwater, per its owners wishes.

HRRP officials also look like they secured funding to finish the last 22.5 acres of their projects remaining two phases, which the nonprofit hopes to have permitted by April to start work as soon as possible.

We have the money, Minguy said, its just a matter of Sea & Shoreline having the crews, and the weather cooperating.

mattbeck / Photos by Matthew Beck / Chronicle photo editor Sea & Shoreline workers demolish a manufactured home on property in Old Homosassa Monday, March 14, to make room for their equipment that will be used in the Homosassa River Restoration Project.

Florida lawmakers in their March 14 pass of the 2022 state budget allocated $10 million toward the Homosassa River Restoration Project, but Gov. Ron DeSantis could still veto the line item.

Minguy said he cant stop smiling about how the HRRP has grown from a grassroots campaign started in 2016.

Its very exciting for us, he said. It seemed like it took forever, and the fact that were here now is amazing.

Community support is crucial to the success of the HRRP, especially when its board is asking legislators for money.

Without that support, we can afford to get those permits, Minguy said. When the communitys behind you, then the states more willing to fund your project.

Contributions to the HRRP go toward the nonprofits administrative, permitting and operating costs, while state funding is dedicated to the rivers restoration.

For more information about the HRRP and how to donate, visit homosassariverrestorationproject.com.

Have a question about the project itself? Call either Mekelburg at 352-231-1077 or Minguy at 407-832-1598. Project updates are also posted on HRRPs Facebook page, tinyurl.com/4bv5atxs.

Mekelburg and Minguy asked the public to stayed informed about the project and its latest status so they know either where not to boat or what not to disturb, like Sea & Shorelines underwater pipes and cages protecting young eelgrasses.

Be aware of our barges and divers in the waters, Mekelburg said. Were here because we care about the water, we care about the quality of the water, and, in turn, we care about the people going out on the water.
Florida, US (34429)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
The healthcare community gathered at ViVE 2022 in Miami in early March to discuss the industrys latest technology and business strategies. The event was an excellent opportunity for healthcare leaders to come together and share their insights on the industrys most pressing issues. This years conference was especially important, as healthcare providers face increasing financial burdens and patient expectations continue to evolve. Here are the top three themes that healthcare CIOs were thinking about at the event.

Mergers and acquisitions

The recent round of announcements such as 

Oracle acquiring Cerner

Microsoft acquiring Nuance

Harris Computer Corp. acquiring parts of Allscripts

Baxter acquiring Hillrom

Stryker acquiring Vocera

and others

 makes healthcare CIOs reevaluate their portfolio of products to align better strategically and establish new or deeper partnerships. We will continue to see vendor consolidation in the healthcare technology space, and many CIOs are keeping that theme in the back of their mind as they make purchasing decisions. The main question is whether decision-makers will gamble on an early-stage solution knowing that it is an acquisition target.

Unicorn search

According to a recent study from Rock Health, U.S. digital health companies secured $29.1 billion in funding in 2021, nearly double the amount invested in 2020. Everyone is looking for unicorns in digital health. Aaron Miri, SVP, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Fla., said, SPACs and investors that promised limited upside for start-up valuation are hitting the target. Everyone is looking for the next unicorn, but the reality is that we are driving a well-equipped ford instead of the Bentley the world thinks we drive.

William Walders, CIO & Senior Vice President, Operations Support at Health First, is excited about the start-up culture. Walders said, lots of folks are nibbling at the edges of big healthcare and will be successful in ways we cant be. Examples include the announcement of Amazon digging into the retail pharmacy space by teaming up with Blue Plans in five states to roll out prescription discount savings cards.

We saw many start-ups and investors at Vive 2022. CIOs such as Walders are advising other healthcare CIOs to work closely with early-stage companies and startups on bringing innovation to their organization.

Workforce burnout

Clinical workforce burnout is a primary focus as clinical teams were working extremely hard to fight the pandemic. Behind the scenes, healthcare organizations are also supported by technology teams, and IT teams also experienced high levels of burnout. Kevin Shimamoto, CIO at Valley Childrens Hospital, is focused on retaining talent while fighting burnout at the same time. Valley Childrens Hospital, based in Madera County, Calif., competes with Silicon Valley big tech companies as everyone is poaching talent since employees can work from anywhere in technology.

Dr. Zafar Chaudry, senior vice president, chief digital and information officer at Seattle Childrens, spends a lot of time meeting with frontline remote staff to ensure that they are engaged and feel inclusive from working in a remote environment. Health systems have traditionally not embraced a remote working environment, and CIOs are adjusting their management style in supporting a remote setting.

So there you have it: The top three themes from the ViVE 2022 healthcare conference that healthcare CIOs will be thinking about for the months ahead. These themes will continue to shape the healthcare landscape and the IT infrastructure supporting it.
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Prince William offered a touching tribute to his brother Prince Harry as he went out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

To mark the renowned Irish-themed holiday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marched alongside the Irish Guards in Aldershot, 40 miles southwest of London.

Royal fans noticed Prince William delivering a sweet nod to Prince Harry, who is still in California, during the ceremony. On Thursday, the Duke of Cambridge was pictured in his Irish Guards Colonel uniform, which has a rich history.

Prince William Wears Similar Uniform in Happier Times With Prince Harry

Prince William, like many other members of the Royal Family, serves in the military and wears a variety of uniforms, according to Daily Express.

Prince William was dressed in uniform for his honorary status as Colonel of the Irish Guards when visiting the 1st Battalion Irish Guards with Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in a deep green coat dress by Laura Green, complete with matching heels and hat.

Experts have remarked that the Duke's St. Patrick's Day attire resembles the one he wore during happier times with Prince Harry. When Kate Middleton and Prince William married in 2011, the Duke wore an Irish Guards officer's stunning red outfit, which contrasted sharply with the black Royals and Blues uniforms used during Prince Harry's wedding years later.

The attire of Prince Harry's wedding and Prince William's Irish Guards are quite similar. The gold rope element, as well as the red-striped pants, white gloves, and layered breast design, are all shared by the two outfits.

When the royal couple arrived, they were greeted by a boisterous audience, with Kate Middleton receiving a special greeting by Turlough, the Irish wolf hound regimental mascot, also known as Seamus. Kate Middleton even gave the furry pal his own branch of shamrock, according to ET Online.

To commemorate the occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official Twitter account shared a 36-second behind-the-scenes video. The uniform of Prince William's honorary status as Colonel of the Irish Guards was worn. Following his promotion in 2011, he served as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

Go behind the scenes at todays #StPatricksDay parade with Seamus, mascot of the Irish Guards pic.twitter.com/QjezULUjxe  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) March 17, 2022

Read Also: Kanye West Banned From Instagram for 24 Hours After Series of Vile Attacks, Threats Toward Pete Davidson, Other Celebrities

Princes Commended About Positive Influence on Mental Health

Princess Diana's close friend Julia Samuel, on the other hand, thanked Prince William and Prince Harry for influencing the public discussion about grief and mental health in a good way.

Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris, France, on Aug. 31, 1997, and the 62-year-old best-selling author, who is also one of Prince George's godmothers, recalled her sentiments at the time. When asked about her links to the royal family, she expressed gratitude for being Princess Diana's close friend. George, her godson, is someone she adores.

Per PEOPLE, both princes have been outspoken about their own personal issues with mental health throughout the years. As an air ambulance helicopter pilot, Prince William was inspired to raise awareness about the need of supporting mental health and wellness.

Prince Harry has already spoken up about his journey to therapy. He also said that his wife, Meghan Markle, was the one who persuaded him to get assistance.

Related Article: Prince Charles' Forgotten Step-Children: Will Camilla's Siblings Get Royal Title When Prince of Wales Becomes King?

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PayPal is extending its services in Ukraine allowing users to receive funds from around the world with waived service fees.

PayPal Expansion in Ukraine

PayPal announces the expansion of their services to Ukraine.

Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted the letter Paypal addressed to him and welcomed the company's expansion in Ukraine. Fedorov added "Thank you for supporting ukraine and peace!"

Paypal now allows peer-to-peer transactions to and from Ukraine. The company announced the expansion in Ukraine as a response to help the country amid the armed struggle. Back then, before the recently announced expansion, Ukrainians could only use their PayPal apps to send money out of the country.

However, this expansion will make that narrative even better as PayPal now provides a feature for Ukrainian account owners to send and receive money from friends and family in different parts around the world.

As reported by TechCrunch, Ukrainian account owners can withdraw their money from their PayPal wallet through linking their bank accounts to PayPal, any eligible Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card will do.

After linking their bank accounts to their PayPal wallet, users can now transfer the money to their cards to be able to use it and make any transactions they want. Furthermore, PayPal announced that it will waive its fees towards customers sending funds to Ukrainian account owners.

The waived fees are also applicable to Ukrainian nationals receiving money through their accounts. PayPal stated that this waived fees will last through June 30.

When Russia declared a specialized military operation against Ukraine, PayPal decided to suspend its operation in Russia in support of the smaller country, stating that the company stands against violent military aggression.

We received a letter from @Dan_Schulman, CEO PayPal. So now its official: PayPal shuts down its services in Russia citing Ukraine aggression. Thank you @PayPal for your supporting! Hope that soon you will open it in for  pic.twitter.com/RaJxEMSLQe  Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) March 5, 2022

The expansion of PayPal in Ukraine was granted as per request of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine asking the company to release upgraded features that would allow Ukrainian account owners to start receiving funds from around the world.

Read Also: Amazon Pull Down Stock Prices from $2,785 to $139 Through a Stock Split; Board Buys Back $10 Billion Shares

Support and Donations for Ukraine

The support and Donations for Ukraine comes flooding from around the world. This effort is stated by PayPal as a way to support Ukraine for an extensive humanitarian relief effort.

The company also stated in the letter that their customers around the globe have collectively donated $250 million in relief efforts and an additional $6 million from its global customer giving campaign.

Aside from PayPal, Ukrainians also stated that most Airbnb locations have received multiple bookings without guests. Some bookings are from different people around the world wanting to donate money directly to these Ukranians.

Most guests would message the Airbnb hosts to keep the money and inform them that they made the booking to extend help.

Ukraine has also received insurmountable aid from people around the world through digital assets. It has been reported that Ukraine received a total donation of $100 million worth of cryptocurrency.

Just recently, Ukraine President Zelenskyy legalized cryptocurrency in the country. However, the legalization signed by President Zelenskyy does not make cryptocurrency their legal tender.

As reported by iTech Post, "The law pinpoints the legal status, classification, ownership, and regulators of virtual assets, in addition to establishing registration requirements for the crypto service providers, the statement added."

Related Article: Anonymous Continues Hacking of Russia, Targets Streaming Services
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In February, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota reintroduced the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which is designed to make Silicon Valleys billionaires pay for the harms theyve inflicted on the news industry.

What does Big Techs dominance over the news mean for Americans? Klobuchar asked during a recent hearing on the legislation. Her answer: Less revenue for local news, fewer journalists to do in-depth high-quality reporting, more exposure to misinformation and fewer reliable sources.

The decline of local news is a tale often told against the rise of Silicon Valley. But equating the shuttering of local newspapers with the flourishing ad business at companies like Google and Meta (formerly Facebook) doesnt get the story entirely right.

The news-business model itselfrooted in the belief that journalism must live or die by the dictates of the marketplaceis a primary reason that tens of thousands of newsroom jobs have been lost.

Its easy to see why some blame journalisms demise on the rise of digital platforms. Between 2008 and 2020, more than a thousand newspapers ceased printing, and the number of newspaper newsroom employees shrank by more than half. But while these numbers are alarming, they reveal only a part of the problem. Free Press found that more than 40 percent of the jobs lost in the newspaper industry since 1990 occurred prior to 2008 and the boom years for online advertising.

In other words, local dailies were shedding jobs long before a few tech platforms reported ad revenues in the tens of billions of dollars. Its a trend that points to a deeper problem with the business of local newsand to the need for solutions that dont merely make Big Tech subsidize old ways of producing journalism.

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Solving the right problem

To be sure, the popular adoption of the internet and the way the platforms changed how we consume information undermined the local-news economy. But we cant ignore the ways that conglomerate and hedge-fund media ownership subjects news production to the predatory demands of profit and growth. Decades of mergers and acquisitions also saddled consolidated media companies with sizable debts that their top executives chose to service not by cutting their own salaries but by downsizing local newsrooms.

We need to reinvent the news economy from one that serves a few owners to one that serves the needs of democracyincluding holding leaders accountable, challenging disinformation, and exposing corruptionwhile supporting the jobs and content communities need.

No amount of tinkering with free-market mechanics can restore the business fundamentals that sustained local news in the twentieth century. This peak era for daily newspapers was due in large part to their unique ability to bundle local information with daily advertisements targeted to local audiences. This newsprint formula no longer functions in a media world where connections are instantaneous and attention is the main commodity.

To make matters worse, this digital marketplace down-ranks the kinds of journalism that inspire people to participate in community affairs, support local charities, or speak out against injustice. Researchers at MIT found that information that prioritizes sensationalism over accuracy is most effective at keeping eyes glued to your app or website. As such, platforms have a built-in commercial incentive to engage users with low value content that holds viewers attentionand not the often costly news reporting that bolsters civic participation and holds local officials to account.

Its not clear how the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act will alter that basic equation or create a sustainable news model for the thousands of communities across the country where people have little to no access to credible and comprehensive local-news sources.

The legislation would give broadcasters, publishers, and other news producers an antitrust exemption to collectively negotiate for payments from powerful online platforms. Its primary beneficiaries would likely be national and international news conglomerates, the companies least in need of a bailout. When Australia implemented a similar ruleencouraging payment negotiations between news businesses and the platforms that sometimes feature or link to their contentthe countrys largest media outlets were the first in line for payouts from Google and Facebook.

Rupert Murdochs News Corp is getting tens of millions of dollars a year from these arrangements, writes Nieman Labs Joshua Benton. Meanwhile, the small fr[ies] in Australia media are getting bupkis.

Its no surprise, then, that the lobbyists representing consolidated media groups like News Corp, predatory hedge funds like Alden Global Capital, and consolidated broadcasters like Sinclair Broadcast Group are among the most vocal supporters of Klobuchars US legislation.

If news outlets are to survive over the long term, it wont be because weve grafted their operations to digital enterprises that are more efficient at connecting advertisers to consumersbut less capable of separating fiction from fact, or disinformation from reporting that fosters democratic participation.

Doubling public funding is a start

Far too many of the bills circulating in Congress, including Klobuchars legislation, are designed to benefit existing media giantsmany of the very same commercial operations that have gutted local newsrooms and profited from runaway media consolidation.

Clearly theres a better way forward. Congress would better spend its time on bills that treat journalism as a public good. This is done by allocating public funds to support local innovations in noncommercial media.

The US hovers near the bottom of the list of advanced democracies when it comes to per-capita spending on federal funding for public-interest media. We spend about $1.50 per capita each year, while per-capita spending by Japan exceeds $50; per-capita spending in Germany and Sweden is more than $100. The concept of such funding for public broadcasting routinely receives high levels of bipartisan support in the United States.

As a start, Free Press has called for a doubling of public funds for noncommercial news and information. This kind of congressional commitment would recognize that propping up private industry alone wont create a viable model for local journalism.

Dramatically increased public investment in locally engaged reporting would help support the wide array of new nonprofit outlets that are focused on meeting the information needs of communities that commercial media too often ignores.

To get there, Free Press has proposed a new tax on digital advertising to fund the kinds of innovative news production thats now needed. A tax of 2 percent would generate more than $2 billion annually, enough to support new distribution models, especially those that dont rely on data harvesting and targeted ads for revenue.

In New Jersey, Free Press helped conceive and create the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, an independent nonprofit funded by a state-budget appropriation. The consortium, including representatives from public colleges and universities across the state, supports inventive local-news projects like the Newark News and Story Collaborative and the Bloomfield Information Project, which train local residents to report the news from their own perspectives.

This New Jersey experiment, which received overwhelming bipartisan support, could be replicated by other states to help put journalists on local beats from Key West to Anchorage.

Its been encouraging to see the recent growth in other not-for-profit news models, especially those that amplify the voices of people of color. State and federal funding could also help spur the sort of attempts at hybrid commercial-noncommercial media that are being explored by dailies in Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and elsewhere.

These and other good ideas have been testing new strategies for news production. But they cant fill the massive gaps left by the collapse of for-profit newspapers. One thing is certain: legislation that sends tax dollars to hedge funds or keeps an antiquated commercial model on life support isnt the solution.

Lawmakers should provide comprehensive funding for noncommercial news instead of wedding a sputtering business to a Silicon Valley attention engine that cant possibly foster the sort of journalism that is vital to civic health.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Timothy Karr Timothy Karr is a senior director at Free Press Action, the national not-for-profit organization that advocates for just, equitable and democratic media.
For years, oligarchs and other wealthy foreigners and corporations have used British courts to sue journalists over reporting they dont like, taking advantage of the countrys historically weak libel laws. Russias invasion of Ukraine, and Britains subsequent sanctioning of Russian oligarchs, has shined a harsh new spotlight on the practice. Earlier this month, Bob Seely, a lawmaker in the governing Conservative Party, took advantage of a doctrine that shields British lawmakers from legal liability for things they say in Parliament to name and shame elite British attorneys and law firms that, he said, have helped Russian oligarchs try to silence their critics, and called for action. A free press should be intimidating kleptocrats and criminals, he said. Why have we got to this position in our societya free society, the mother of Parliamentswhere we have kleptocrats, criminals, and oligarchs intimidating a free media?

This week, two British journalists who have found themselves on the receiving end of such lawfare tactics themselves appeared in Parliament, to testify before a committee. Catherine Beltona Reuters reporter who, along with her publisher, HarperCollins, was sued by four oligarchs and the Russian state oil company Rosneft over a book about the rise of Vladimir Putin and his associatestold lawmakers that British libel laws currently favor deep-pocketed litigants who are subjecting the media to a reign of terror. (The suits against Belton have since been settled.) Tom Burgisa Financial Times journalist who, along with his paper and HarperCollins, was sued by a Kazakh mining companydescribed the psychological pressure of receiving legal letters on behalf of powerful interests, usually with a tone of righteous indignation where the journalist is said to have behaved appallingly. (Burgis claimed that one law firm threatened him with details of a private meeting that seemed to have been obtained using surveillance; one case against him was recently dismissed and another was dropped.) Both reporters called for better protections against slapps, or strategic lawsuits against public participation, which aim to tie journalists in litigation to curb their reporting on damaging truths.

New from CJR: Reporting on Americas longest war

Yesterday, the British government responded to these calls, kickstarting a two-month consultation on tackling slapps and laying out a number of options under consideration, including a cap on the costs that litigants can recover from libel cases, restraint orders for repeat litigants, a stronger public interest defense for defendants, and an ability for courts to throw out slapps more quickly. Intriguingly, the government also said that it might introduce an actual malice standard, presumably requiring litigants to prove that a given defendant acted with a reckless or knowing disregard for the truth. (Currently, as The New Yorkers Patrick Radden Keefe notes in a new piece on oligarchic influence in London, the defendant must prove their claim.) Announcing the consultation, Boris Johnson, the prime minister, referenced his own background as a journalist as he declared that we must never allow criticism to be silenced.

At least where public figures are concerned, actual malice has been the standard in US defamation law since the Supreme Courts landmark 1964 ruling in the New York Times v. Sullivan case. It may not be for much longer. In recent years, high-profile conservatives, not least Donald Trump, have argued that US libel law is too stringent; last year, justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch seemed to concur in a Supreme Court dissent, with Gorsuch castigating the Sullivan precedent as a subsidy for published falsehoods on a scale no one could have foreseen that doesnt work in an age of mass informationand disinformation.

Last month, Sarah Palin took the Times to trial over an editorial that wrongly accused her of inciting a mass shooting; the judge and jury both ruled that the Times did not act with actual malice, but Palin appealed yesterday. Some observers fear that the case could end up before the Supreme Court and that other right-wing justices, who have increasingly been critical of the media, may side with Thomas and Gorsuch. Other expertsincluding Stuart Karle, a media lawyer for CJR and others who recently discussed the case on our podcast, The Kickerdont think that Palins suit is likely to lead to the overturning of Sullivan, arguing, among other points, that if the justices want to chip away at the actual-malice standard, theyre more likely to use a case involving a less high-profile plaintiff. But the threat, clearly, remains.

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The Sullivan precedent is also at issue in a bevy of other ongoing cases, with voting-technology companies and other plaintiffs suing right-wing media outlets for helping to spread Trumpian conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. Last week, a judge allowed one such company, Smartmatic, to proceed with parts of a defamation suit against Fox, ruling that the plaintiff has thus far pleaded facts sufficient to allow a jury to infer that Fox News acted with actual malice; yesterday, Fox appealed and countersued Smartmatic for legal costs, arguing that the network has a constitutionally protected right to cover and convene debate on issues of public concern. (Foxs claim against Smartmatic invokes an anti-slapp law that New York instituted to protect defendants against frivolous lawsuits. Trump also recently invoked that law to countersue E. Jean Carroll, a writer who has accused him of both rape and defamation, but a court this week threw his anti-slapp claim out.)

Some First Amendment experts recently told the Times that they actually want the election defamation cases against right-wing media to succeedbecause, perhaps ironically, the opposite outcome could bolster largely right-wing claims that the Sullivan standard is too high to ensure accountability for the publishing of falsehoods. Others, including Reasons Elizabeth Nolan Brown, have pushed back on that logic, arguing that these suits succeeding would itself weaken the Sullivan standard, with ramifications for news outlets of every stripe.

Whatever the eventual outcome of these individual cases, journalists should be wary of any rationale that erodes the actual-malice precedent as currently applied. The information environment today is clearly very different from that of 1964, but the basic threat at issue in Sullivana powerful person suing a news organization in a bid to curb speech around issues of pressing public interestis timeless, as a glance at the UK proves. Its not yet clear how or whether Britain will move to implement its own actual-malice standarddoing so in any comparable way to Sullivan would upend British libel law across the board, whereas other reforms under consideration would seem, to me at least, to be more narrowly tailored to officials immediate objective of causing Russian oligarchs pain. (Plus, if we are to glean any lessons from Boris Johnsons journalistic background, its not to take his pledges at face value.)

Still, the direction of travel in Britain is more promising than in the US right nowand while the US libel debate has not centered around coverage of foreign corruption, the threats that journalists in the two countries face are not as different as they might first appear. If we often cite Thomass and Gorsuchs skepticism of Sullivan, we forget the particulars of the case in which they laid it out, which was brought by the son of Albanias former prime minister against an author who suggested that he had links to an arms-dealing scandal. As Casey Michel, who has written about international kleptocracy, noted in The New Republic last year after Belton was sued in the UK, oligarchs have also recently gone after journalists in US court, which can have a chilling effect even if litigants must meet a higher legal bar. If US and UK libel laws are to align, we must hope that they meet at this bar, and not at a lower one.

Below, more on Britain, the media, and the war in Ukraine:



Other notable stories:

New from CJR: What happened to Afghanistans journalists after the government collapsed

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.
TOKYO (AP)  Residents in Fukushima and Miyagi were cleaning their homes after a sleepless night following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck off the northern Japanese coasts, smashing furniture, knocking out power and killing four people.

The region is part of an area devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami 11 years ago that caused nuclear reactor meltdowns, spewing massive radiation that still makes some parts uninhabitable.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters Thursday morning that four people died during the quake and the cause of their deaths are being investigated, while 107 others were injured. A man in his 60s in Soma city died after falling from the second floor of his house while trying to evacuate, and a man in his 70s panicked and suffered a heart attack, Kyodo News reported earlier.

The Japan Meteorological Agency early Thursday lifted its low-risk advisory for a tsunami along the coasts of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. Tsunami waves as high as 30 centimeters (11 inches) reached shore in Ishinomaki, about 390 kilometers (240 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

The agency upgraded the magnitude of the quake to 7.4 from the initial 7.3, and the depth from 60 kilometers (37 miles) below the sea to 56 kilometers (35 miles).

Residents in hard-hit areas found new damages in daylight Thursday, cleaning their homes, putting fallen furniture and appliances back into place and scooping up broken dishes and windows.

At a hotel in Yabuki town in the Fukushima prefecture, where its wall was broken, front door thrown out of place, and dishes were broken, employees were starting to clean up.

I dont even know where to start, hotel president Mineyuki Otake told NHK.

NHK footage showed broken walls of a department store building that fell to the ground and shards of windows scattered on the street near the main train station in the inland prefectural capital of Fukushima city. Roads were cracked and water poured out from pipes underground.

On Thursday, Self-Defense Forces delivered fresh water to residents in Soma, Iitate and several other coastal towns in Fukushima where water systems were damaged.

Footage also showed furniture and appliances smashed to the floor at apartments in Fukushima. Cosmetics and other merchandise at convenience stores fell from shelves and scattered on the floor. In Yokohama, near Tokyo, an electric pole nearly fell.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant where the cooling systems failed after the 2011 disaster, said Thursday that workers at the site  which is being decommissioned  found some tanks holding treated radioactive water were out of alignment due to the rattling, and what could be a steel beam fell from a roof of the No. 4 reactor building, which has no fuel inside.

Japans Nuclear Regulation Authority said a fire alarm went off at the turbine building of No. 5 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi but there was no actual fire. Water pumps for the spent fuel cooling pool at two of the four reactors at Fukushima Daini briefly stopped, but later resumed operation. Fukushima Daini, which survived the 2011 tsunami, is also set for decommissioning.

More than 2.2 million homes were temporarily without electricity in 14 prefectures, including the Tokyo region, but power was restored at most places by the morning, except for about 37,000 homes in the hardest hit Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, according to the Tohoku Electric Power Co., which services the region.

The quake shook large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings swayed violently.

East Japan Railway Co. said most of its train services were suspended for safety checks. Many people formed long lines outside of major stations while waiting for trains to resume operation late Wednesday, but trains in Tokyo operated normally Thursday morning.

A Tohoku Shinkansen express train partially derailed between Fukushima and Miyagi due to the quake, but nobody was injured, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

Matsuno, the top spokesman, said, We are doing the utmost in rescue operations and putting peoples lives first.

He urged residents in the affected areas to use extra caution for possible major aftershocks for about a week.

Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama contributed to this report.

About the photo: A partially derailed express train sits following an earthquake in Shiroishi, Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan Thursday, March 17, 2022. A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday night, smashing furniture, knocking out power and killing some people. A small tsunami reached shore, but the low-risk advisory was lifted by Thursday morning. (Kyodo News via AP)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A group of New Orleans residents whose homes were built on a toxic landfill decades ago have won a $75.3 million court judgement against the city, its housing authority and the local school board.

State district Judge Nicole Sheppards ruling said 5,000 residents are entitled to that total amount for emotional distress and property damage involving the former Agriculture Street landfill, according to The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.

Sheppards Monday ruling says the housing authority and the parish school board were liable for building two residential communities  Gordon Plaza and Press Park  and Moton Elementary School atop the landfill, which was later named a federal Superfund site.

Homes in the area were built in the 1970s and 1980s and marketed to Black, low- and middle-income residents who werent told that the site was a one-time landfill. As awareness grew and environmentalists raised concerns, the area was named a federal Superfund cleanup site in 1994. Amid reports that the soil was contaminated with lead and carcinogens, including arsenic, residents began a decades-long effort to be relocated at government expense.

This is a big deal for the residents of Agriculture Street, said Suzette Bagneris, a lead attorney representing residents.

The city said it was reviewing the ruling but a spokesperson declined to discuss it further or say whether an appeal was planned.

Dozens of mostly Black families still live in the area. Last November, EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured the New Orleans site while making a five-day Journey to Justice tour that highlighted low-income, mostly minority communities adversely affected by decades of industrial pollution. The trip included other stops from Mississippi to Texas.

A Toxics Release Inventory prepared by the EPA shows that African Americans and other minority groups make up 56% of those living near toxic sites such as refineries, landfills and chemical plants. Negative effects include chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension.

While pleased with this weeks court ruling, one resident questioned whether the final number would be enough to help residents relocate.

Its good news that will hopefully get some of us off this nasty landfill, said Jesse Perkins, a member of Residents of Gordon Plaza Inc., a nonprofit representing the subdivisions residents. But he was skeptical about how much residents would benefit.

Bagneris said the $75 million will be apportioned based on factors including the number of years each resident lived in the affected places and the locations of their homes. An example cited by the newspaper: Someone who lived in Gordon Plaza for 20 or more years could receive $25,000 and 20% of the value of their home. But residents have questioned whether their homes have any value, given the Superfund designation.

Another concern for residents is the citys reputation for failing to pay legal judgments in a variety of types of lawsuits, including wrongful deaths and and disputes over city contracts. As of late November, the city had more than 560 outstanding judgments and settlements in state and federal courts with some dating back 25 years, according to a Times-Picayune  New Orleans Advocate analysis of city law department records.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A longtime friend of South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh now faces 18 charges involving the theft of more than $3 million in insurance money from the family of Murdaughs dead housekeeper, according to newly unsealed court documents.

An indictment made public Wednesday accuses Cory Fleming of working with Murdaugh to defraud the sons of Gloria Satterfield, who died following a fall at the Murdaugh home in 2018, by suing Murdaugh on behalf of the sons but diverting the resulting insurance payouts to Murdaugh and himself.

Fleming also wrote himself checks from Satterfields estate to pay for his own mortgage, credit card debt, tax payments, video games and other purchases, prosecutors said.

The sons said in a lawsuit that they never got any of the money. They said Murdaugh convinced them at their mothers funeral to use Fleming as their attorney and sue him for wrongful death, without disclosing that Fleming had been his college roommate and godfather to at least one of Murdaughs sons.

According to the latest indictment, Fleming, 53, chose not tell Satterfields sons about two settlements he secured from insurers. He instead knowingly moved money from both agreements to a fraudulent bank account Murdaugh had named similarly to that of a company that handles settlements, authorities said.

Fleming previously said he was helping the sons new lawyers and maintained he was not a willing participant in Mr. Murdaughs scheme but was used, according to a joint statement between Fleming and the sons attorneys in October.

Deborah Barbier, an attorney for Fleming, said in a statement that Fleming was deeply disappointed by the charges. Barbier said Fleming looked forward to defending himself in court and maintained her client was yet another casualty of the host of crimes perpetuated by Alex Murdaugh.

Fleming plans to turn himself in before a virtual bond hearing scheduled for Thursday, said Robert Kittle, a spokesman for the state attorney generals office.

Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, attorneys for the Satterfield sons, said Wednesday that the grand jury clearly did not believe Flemings defense that he was yet another of Murdaughs victims: Justice may move slow but when it moves it comes crashing down like a tidal wave, they said in a statement.

Grand jurors also issued four new charges for Murdaugh. Murdaugh currently faces 75 state charges, among them trust, forgery, money laundering, computer crime and now criminal conspiracy with Fleming, altogether accusing him of stealing nearly $8.5 million intended for victims of wrongful death and insurance settlements. Hes also accused of trying to arrange his own death so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy.

Murdaugh, 53, has been jailed since October. A judge set his bail at $7 million and refused to reduce it, even as Murdaughs lawyer argued his bank accounts were seized in civil lawsuits and he could barely afford to buy underwear at the Richland County jail. He has pinned his problems on a years-long drug addiction.

His legal troubles were revealed after his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, were killed in a shooting at the familys home in June. Murdaughs lawyers insisted he had nothing to do with it, calling on investigators to work as hard to find their killers as they are trying to unravel Murdaughs finances.

Murdaughs great-grandfather, grandfather and father were all elected prosecutors in Hampton County, where his family law firm bore the Murdaugh moniker until recently. The South Carolina Supreme Court has suspended Murdaugh and Fleming from practicing law in the state.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Phoenix, AZ., March 18, 2022: TheBest Claims Solutions is pleased to welcome our new Executive Vice President of Delegated Authority, Matt Osterhaudt! Utilizing his 30+ years in the insurance industry, Matt will be responsible for the development and implementation of our new Delegated Authority division.

Matts education includes a degree in Marketing, State University of New York, Plattsburgh. He began his journey in the industry in 1988 with a national insurance company where he spent the next 21 years. Prior to joining TheBest Claims, Matt oversaw field operations and the TPA division at a regional independent adjusting firm for 12 years. Through hard work and dedication, he grew their division

from only one program to over 50.

To be appointed to hold delegated authority through domestic clients and those in the London market requires a high degree of technical expertise as well as being able to deliver on a multitude of key performance indicators. Im excited to provide the technical underpinnings through TheBest Claims Solutions as well as lead a team with the collective goal of delivering world-class performance.

We look forward to much success and growth with Matt and our newest division!

About TheBest Claims Solution: Through meaningful partnerships, our mission is to lead the claims industry in providing quality solutions that put people first. Whether youre looking for claims services or TheBest talent in the nation, we offer customized solutions to organizations in the insurance claims industry.

TheBest Claims Solutions is a 10-time winner of ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing Award and has been named one of Arizonas top places to work by AZCentral.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call (866) 658-4477 or email news@thebestclaims.com.

Media Contact:

Matt Osterhaudt

matt.osterhaudt@thebestclaims.com

602-889-3908
Claremore, OK (74018)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
A bank official sorts ruble banknotes at Hana Bank in Seoul, in this March 8 file photo. Newsis





The government said Friday it plans to open temporary settlement lines between local banks and their units in Russia in a bid to help local firms facing difficulties in trade financing due to global sanctions against Russia.







The government plans to support SWIFT trade financing-related payments for local companies as Woori Bank and Hana Bank are set to open ad hoc settlement accounts with their affiliates in Russia, according to the Financial Services Commission (FSC).







The move is aimed at minimizing the use of global intermediary banks as such lenders have tried to avoid transactions with Russia due to the sanctions, causing the handling of money payments to be delayed or rejected.







The FSC said the new settlement lines, however, will not be allowed to be used for transactions with Russian banks or entities that are on the list of global sanctions against Moscow.







Korea has joined the multilateral move to impose financial sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including cutting transactions with Russia's central bank and the removal of Moscow from the SWIFT global payment system.







Meanwhile, the government said Russia's potential default on its foreign debt is expected to have a limited impact on South Korea as local financial institutions' exposure to Russia remains low.







The woes over Russia's imminent debt default slightly waned as some creditors received dollar payments for Russian bond coupons that came due Wednesday. But the default risk still lingers, depending on whether it is able to pay the interest on maturing bonds amid global sanctions over its war with Ukraine.







"There would be limited direct impacts from Russia's potential default on its debt as local banks' exposure to Russia is not big," First Vice Finance Minister Lee Eog-weon said.







"But there is a need to be wary of a possible increase in market volatility as Russia's default could spark jitters about global liquidity," he added.







Local banks' exposure to Russia, including potentially risky loans and investment, came to US$1.47 billion as of the end of September, accounting for 0.4 percent of their total external exposure, according to the FSC. (Yonhap)


If a visitor to Israel had the time to take a month to really get to know the country, I would recommend the period that has just concluded  from Passover through Israeli Independence Day. Its Israel in a nutshell. And it also happens to be a time of year when most of the days are picture-
China and over 60 countries warn COVID-19 "vaccine divide"

Xinhua) 09:00, March 18, 2022

A medical staff shows the COVID-19 vaccine doses at a center in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 26, 2022. (Xinhua)

"The 'vaccine divide' poses the biggest obstacle in defeating the pandemic, as only 5 percent population in low-income countries are fully vaccinated, far lower than the high-income countries," Chen noted.

GENEVA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- On behalf of over 60 countries, China on Wednesday voiced concern over the inequitable allocation and unbalanced vaccination for COVID-19, saying that the "vaccine divide" is posing the biggest obstacle in defeating the pandemic.

The world is still far behind schedule to achieve the World Health Organization's goal of 70 percent COVID-19 immunization coverage by mid-2022, Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva, told the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

A nurse shows a vial of the Sinopharm vaccine at the Panadura Health Office in Kalutara District, in the outskirts of capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 8, 2021. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)

"The 'vaccine divide' poses the biggest obstacle in defeating the pandemic, as only 5 percent population in low-income countries are fully vaccinated, far lower than the high-income countries," Chen noted.

He called on all countries to put the rights to life and health first, uphold the primary attribute of vaccination as a global public good, ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and speed up vaccination, so as to close the gap in immunization.

The international community needs to act in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, give play to the role of multilateral mechanisms, give greater help to developing countries, and improve the availability and accessibility of vaccines and other health products in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, he said.

A medical worker prepares a dose of China's COVID-19 vaccine in Windhoek, Namibia, on Jan. 9, 2022.(Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

"We support intensified cooperation among countries in the research of variants and pharmaceutic research and development, strengthen multi-tiered defense against the pandemic, and bring an end to the pandemic," Chen added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
From left are Choi Sang-mok, the head of presidential transition team's first economic subcommittee tasked with the macro-economic and financial agendas, and his team members, Kim So-young and Shin Sung-hwan. Yonhap





High-profile figures from conservative Park Geun-hye administration stand out







By Yi Whan-woo







President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has pursued a return to a market-driven economy, and the make-up of his transition committee concerning macro-economic policies certainly indicates a right-leaning agenda.







His economic policy aides are among a 24-member transition team that is divided into seven standing committees. Most of them reached their peaks  in their respective careers  under disgraced conservative former President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 over a massive corruption scandal.







Either ex-bureaucrats or scholars, some of them have been outspoken critics of President Moon Jae-in's income-led growth, a government-fostered economic initiative. Others were pushed out from the bureaucratic circle under the Moon administration and remained low key for past five years.







They are Choo Kyung-ho, the head of the planning subcommittee; Choi Sang-mok, the head of the first economic subcommittee tasked with setting the macro-economic and financial agendas; plus Kim So-young and Shin Sung-hwan, who work with Choi as a team.







Although not included on the committee, two other figures share similar backgrounds. They are Lee Suk-joon and Kang Seog-hoon, serving as Yoon's special advisor and policy advisor, respectively.







"It was the corruption that led Park to be ousted, not her economic policy, which actually can be said to be in tandem with Yoon's," Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, told The Korea Times, Friday. "In that regard, Yoon may have found it not so problematic to hire outstanding policymakers who worked for Park."







Kang Seog-hoon, left, and Lee Suk-joon serve as President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's special advisor and policy advisor, respectively. Korea Times file





Choo, 61, was the first vice finance minister from 2013 to 2014 and later became the government policy coordination minister under the Prime Minister's Office.







He is currently a two-term lawmaker for the People Power Party (PPP). He is a hardliner against Moon's income-led growth, attributing it to "the worst economic indicators ever" and demanding the suspension of his expansionary fiscal policy.







Also the PPP vice floor leader, he was behind settling the internal power struggle between Yoon and PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok in January. Choo and Yoon were believed to have no connection until then.







Political sources assessed it is only since January that Yoon has trusted Choo and then relied on him throughout the campaign as well as after the March 9 election victory.







Choi, 58, was Park's secretary for economy and finance before becoming the first vice finance minister in her final two years.







Joining the finance ministry in the mid-1980s, he was considered an "ace" among those who passed the rigorous entrance exam and entered the ministry in the same year as he did.







Choi served in key positions in various fields, including in macro-economy, financial policy and securities policy, outpacing his colleagues in receiving promotions.







Despite his highly-decorated credentials, he left the bureaucratic circle as the Moon government shunned hiring many of those who worked for Park after her impeachment.







He worked as a visiting professor in and outside of Korea, before becoming the president of Agricultural Cooperative University in June 2020.







Leaving such turbulent years behind, his joining of the transition committee is thus seen as a sign of the return of Park's financial aides to the bureaucratic circle.







An economics professor at Seoul National University, Kim called Moon's income-led growth "inefficient," arguing that the role of the private sector should be enhanced to increase supply over demand.







He was the architect of Yoon's overall economic policies and outlined the details of a cycle of growth and welfare.







Also an advisor to the Bank of Korea, he is seen as having "a smooth relationship" with monetary policy decision makers.







Currently a finance professor at Hongik University, Shin worked on economic issues for Park's election camp during the 2012 presidential campaign.







He later became the president of the Korea Money and Finance Association. On the transition team, he deals with transparency in capital markets and regulations to ease housing loans.







Lee was the second vice finance minister from 2013 to 2014 and government policy coordination minister under the Prime Minister's Office from 2016 to 2017.







He has been one of Yoon's aides from an early stage after Yoon announced his presidential bid in June 2021. They went Seoul National University together as law majors and have known each other for decades.







A Sungshin Women's University professor, Kang was Park's senior presidential secretary for economic affairs from 2016 to 2017.


Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Visitors take a look at art works on display in the "Kandinsky, Malevich & Russian Avant-Garde" exhibition at the Sejong Museum of Art in the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul, Jan. 2. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki





By Kwak Yeon-soo







Russia has called for the early return of art works that are currently on display as part of the "Kandinsky, Malevich & Russian Avant-Garde" exhibition in Seoul, as escalating tensions created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have spilled over into the art world. Co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper, the Hankook Ilbo, the exhibition is to be held until April 17 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.







The exhibition offers a rare view into an influential wave of early modern art through 75 paintings of 49 major Russian and Soviet artists, including Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Alexander Rodchenko and Natalia Goncharova.







The art works were loaned by four Russian museums  the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts, Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, Krasnoyarsk Surikov Art Museum and Far Eastern Art Museum.







In an email sent to the Hankook Ilbo on March 15, an official at the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts requested the early closure of the exhibition by April 3 and the return of 75 pieces loaned to the newspaper, citing "the difficult political situation."







This request comes in line with the Russia Ministry of Culture's move to return 23 art works from the Gallerie d'Italia in Milan that are currently on display as part of an exhibition titled, "Grand tour: The dream of Italy from Venice to Pompeii." In addition, it also requested the Palazzo Reale Museum in Milan to return two paintings.







The Hankook Ilbo opposed the request, saying that the exhibit will remain open, as previously agreed upon, until April 17. "We will adhere to the contract and run the exhibition until the promised date," the company official said.







Kim Young-ho, a professor at Chung-Ang University and the art director of the "Kandinsky, Malevich & Russian Avant-Garde" exhibition, also expressed disappointment with Russia's abrupt decision.







"Art is transmission of human values, such as freedom, equality and peace. An artist's job is to be at the frontline of reform efforts, or to criticize acts that violate universal values and help us see the real world differently," he said.


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The tally of Filipinos out of jobs in January fell despite the return of tighter COVID-19 restrictions, but fewer people were able to actually work, Philippine Statistics Authority figures released Friday show.

The PSA estimates 2.93 million persons aged 15 and up were unemployed during the month  dropping from the 3.27 million tally the month prior. The national joblessness rate stood at 6.4% in January, the lowest since the record 17.6% logged in April 2020 during the countrys harshest lockdowns when the pandemic began.

Central Visayas logged the highest unemployment rate nationwide at 8%, while Cagayan Valley had the lowest at 4.3%. The survey, held January 10-31, did not include Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands due to the aftermath of Typhoon Odette.

However, National Statistician Dennis Mapa acknowledged that the labor force participation rate (LFPR) went down after Metro Manila and other areas reverted to the stricter Alert Level 3 due to an Omicron-driven surge in cases in January.

The LPFR, the percentage of persons 15 years old and up who are in the labor force, went down from 65.1% in December to 60.5% in January. In numbers, these translate to 49.55 million versus 45.94 million.

Meron ding impact yung restriction natin at itoy nakikita naman natin since last year na talagang pag stricter, yung ibang mga gusto maghanap ng trabaho nagkakaroon sila ng hurdles. At itoy nakikita natin sa pagbagsak ng ating labor force participation rate, said the PSA chief.

[Translation: Our restrictions also have an impact and weve seen this since last year wherein when theyre stricter, those finding work are faced with hurdles. And we see this with the decline in our labor force participation rate.]

The National Economic and Development Authority separately said that employment levels  which eased from 46.27 million in December to 43.02 million in January  saw a temporary drop due to the Omicron variant-driven surge and shedding of seasonal jobs as the holiday season ended.

On a year-to-year basis, manufacturing gained the most jobs in January at 490,000. Big gainers also included administrative and support service activities, wholesale and retail trade and repair of vehicles, transportation and storage, and public administration and defense.

Agriculture and forestry, meanwhile, lost the most at 740,000. Education, real estate, and activities of extraterritorial organizations likewise slashed more jobs.

The underemployment rate also climbed from 14.7% to 14.9% in January, or about 6.81 million Filipinos seeking additional work hours or better work opportunities.

The PSA reported an average of 41.8 hours worked weekly for the month, up from the 39.7 mean in December.

With the latest figures, NEDA chief Karl Chua stressed the importance of placing the entire country under the loosest Alert Level 1 along with resuming all in-person classes.

It will also free up the time of parents, one in four of whom have to skip or reduce work hours in order to assist their children with online classes at home, he added.
The work-from-home setup was a durable strategy in the worlds early standoff with COVID-19. But as with every pandemic-induced trend, the model is fleeting. The Philippines and several other countries seem to have sights on the finish line to the pandemic, thereby proclaiming the end for the need of the virtual labor roll call. However, is the work-from-home framework here to stay or ready to leave? CNN Philippines Life asked some members of the work force the realities of adjusting to the new old amid the current Alert Level 1 implementation.

For many, remote work was just a small part of pre-pandemic life. A study by SEEK Asia, however, claims otherwise. Out of over 5,000 local respondents, 52% of Filipinos had started working remotely before the pandemic. This number spiked to 85% during the onslaught of COVID-19, suggesting that working from home had been around longer than weve realized. And this fact furthers the argument that perhaps, remote work has always been endemic in economical operations.

Alert Level 1 and the back-to-on-site model brought back many steps to the work routine that went unnoticed during the pandemics harshest. While some have been working on-site continuously during the last two years, the governments implementation of Alert Level 1 essentially called for institutions and establishments, including public transport, to operate at full capacity. In speaking to a worker who recently started going to on-site work at a new job in a logistics company, they said that there was a concern.

The biggest part of my adjustment was regaining my stamina  for the commute, the socialization, the fatigue that comes with arriving home after the sun comes down... It helps to remind myself that this was my everyday pre-pandemic and I just have some catching up to do, but it's definitely a whole process on its own, they said.

Absolute or hybrid?

For Rosanna Periquet, who currently works as a Senior Leasing Associate at Ayala Malls, its best to maintain an equilibrium. [I think] more days in the office [than not] is a really good balance for me. It helps me to remain extremely productive and professional and have that balance of having meetings in person and walking around, doing my rounds at the mall.

On the other hand, she said that her performance at home does not fall short of her capacity on-site. I do believe also that we can be equally as effective. At home, I think more time in the office is definitely necessary for the [kind of] work I'm in. But at the same time, I think that working at home for maybe two days a week wouldn't be a [significant] change.

In talking to other members of the workforce, the receptiveness to the hybrid setup is not as positive, with others deeming this to be more of an issue than a solution, as it would necessitate more adjustments to their routine. It sounds like [a lot of] logistics and wasted energy to find my mojo from one workspace to another. [I think] my comfortability lies within the demands of the work and the industry, states Julia Ramos, who works in logistics.

While studies have indicated that 77% of employees who occasionally work remotely have shown increased productivity, 30% of whom accomplish more work in shorter time frames and 24% accomplish more work within the same time frame, the recently implemented on-site work activity has instigated a surge in work productivity and enthusiasm for many.

I do have my A-game much more now on-site, claims Ramos. Working remotely gave me a sense of agency and autonomy over my work habits but I did miss the collaborative energy that's brought about by a good, real-time conversation, they add.

For others who prefer working on-site due to their line of work, its a breath of relief and another opportunity to compartmentalize. When it comes to productivity, I feel much more [productive] on-site. Im able to separate my space from my work space. When I get home, I can rest and when Im at work, Im so focused, according to Noel Santos, a research intern at the University of the Philippines.

Adjusting to the new old normal

The adjustment after more than two years proves to be a highly individualized process. Many look forward to escaping the four-walled havens-turned-workspaces that are their homes but others remain skeptical amid the lower number of COVID-19 cases. The adjustment to a much more physical work experience proves to be a challenge for others who are still unwilling to relieve the comfort of a more personal professional experience.

And while its hard to determine whether on-site work is the optimal option, many believe that its best to maintain cautiousness. The remote work structure was the best, or arguably the only option during the pandemic, but nowadays, most people are more concentrated on doing whats best for themselves  mentally, emotionally, physically, and professionally.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  Vice presidential candidate Walden Bello said subsidies and cash aid will not help solve the problem of soaring oil prices.

"It's sort of a response that doesn't fit the emergency character of what's happening," Bello told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

He added that the government's interventions are "very, very vulnerable to corruption."

Despite the series of oil price hikes, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Department of Finance's proposal to keep the fuel excise tax.

But Bello said it would be better to implement measures that would immediately have an impact to Filipinos - like freezing the excise tax and value added tax on fuel, repealing the Oil Deregulation Law, and imposing price controls.

"It's a set of measures, both short-term, medium-term, and long-term. That's really what we need to put at this point," he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  Six ex-secretaries and at least 90 former officials, staff, and teachers from the Department of Education have endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan to be the countrys next president and vice president.

The statement was signed by former Education Secretaries Edilberto de Jesus, Fe Hidalgo, Mona Valisno, Jesli Lapus, Florencio Abad, and Br. Armin Luistro FSC, as well as officials, personnel, and teachers.

They said a vote for the tandem of Robredo and Pangilinan means a vote for quality education for all Filipino learners.

Both bring solid experience and a grounded understanding of the education sector, its challenges, and what needs to be done, read the statement released on Friday.

Robredo and Pangilinan were also previously endorsed by educators from Ateneo De Manila University, the different schools of De La Salle, and San Beda University, among many others.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The Department of Health (DOH) said the public does not need to be alarmed by the entry of travelers despite reports of a new COVID-19 variant in Israel since safety and surveillance measures are still in place.

"'Wag kayong mangangamba dahil even though we have allowed travelers, meron pa rin tayong protocols na pinapatupad so we have safeguards," Health Usec. Ma. Rosario Vergeire on a DOH media forum on Friday.

(Translation: Do not be alarmed because even though we have allowed travelers, we still have protocols in place, so we have safeguards)

Vergeire added they are always monitoring the situation in other countries. She was responding to a query about a possible new variant of COVID-19 first discovered in Israel, that is a combination of the two subvariants of Omicron BA. 1 and BA. 2.

Infectious diseases expert Edsel Salvana said the case of combining subvariants is not unusual.

"Occasionally pag nagkataon talaga, you can actually have two different lineages na makapasok sa isang tao at habang nagmumultiply 'yung virus na 'yun, pwede silang maghalo," he explained.

(Translation: Occasionally, you can actually have two different lineages that can enter a person and while the viruses are multiplying inside, they may combine)

However, it does not mean that the combination is more dangerous. It still needs further study, he clarified.

Vergeire said the DOH is awaiting word from the World Health Organization on this matter. She added that neither the new variant nor the delta-omicron hybrid "deltacron" variant have been detected in the country yet.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The Department of Health (DOH) will bring back the daily COVID-19 bulletins if it detects an uptick in new infections. However, these bulletins will take a new format.

"Kapag ka nakita natin na may uptick uli ng kaso, definitely para ma-track natin lahat, ito ay ibabalik as to the number of cases, but this will be different," Health Usec. Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a DOH media forum on Friday.

[Translation: When we see again an uptick in cases, we will definitely bring it (daily bulletin) back to track the number of cases.]

According to Vergeire, the daily bulletins will still highlight the number of severe and critical cases, as well as hospital admissions  much like the current weekly design.

She said this is because the government hopes to shift the public's mindset to focus only on cases that need attention, while accepting to live with the virus.

"(W)e all know that the virus will never go away," Vergeire asserted. "Kailangan alam natin na anytime, there will be mild and asymptomatic cases pero ang improtante sa atin walang magkaroon ng severe cases, walang ma-ospital, walang mamatay."

[Translation: We need to know that anytime there will be mild and asymptomatic cases but what's important is to prevent severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.)

Infectious diseases expert Edsel Salvana agreed, stressing that the mindset is more important than the numbers.

"Pupunta na tayo doon sa tinatawag na endemic mindset. For instance, ang trangkaso hindi naman tinetest araw-araw," he said.

[Translation: We are approaching the endemic mindset. For instance, we don't test for flu every day.]

The daily case numbers can still be accessed in the DOH website.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  Presidential candidate Leni Robredo said Friday unity is not about politicians banding together and pushing for their own agenda, in an apparent swipe at her fiercest rival's slogan.

"Ang pagkakaisa, pagkakaisa ng lahat ng mga Pilipino na merong pag-ako ng responsibilidad na bahagi sila ng solusyon sa ating mga problema," the Vice President said in a campaign rally in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

(Translation: But unity is about uniting Filipinos, recognizing they have a responsibility that they're part of the solution to the problems.)

The UniTeam of Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte combined a number of controversial political figures and families.

Marcos always called for unity in all his campaign rallies, but some critics pointed out the lack of details about his platform.

This was not the first time Robredo talked about 'true' unity. In the Iloilo rally, Robredo urged voters to remember history and learn from the past. For over two decades, the country was ruled by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, where thousands were allegedly killed and tortured.

Robredo held a people's rally Thursday at the historic Cesar Climaco Freedom Park. It was named after the late mayor who was a staunch critic of the Marcoses. He was assassinated in 1984.

If elected, the presidential hopeful said she would not promise to solve the country's problems by herself.

"Meron kayong nararamdaman na bahagi kayo ng pamamahala. Di kayo titingnan na beneficiaries ng programa kundi titignan ko every step of the way, partner namin kayo pag-aayos ng ating pamahaalan," she said.

(Translation: You will feel that you're part of governance. You won't be treated as beneficiaries, but I'll make sure that every step of the way, you will be our partners in fixing the government.)
A shop window in Seoul shows the 11 p.m. business curfew, March 18. Yonhap





South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit above 400,000 on Friday, led by the wave of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, amid the government's steps to shift away from rigorous social distancing.







The country reported 407,017 new COVID-19 infections, including 39 from overseas, raising the total caseload to 8,657,609, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.







The latest tally is a sharp drop from the all-time high of 621,328 on Thursday, but the Thursday count had included some 70,000 omitted cases from the day before.







The fast spread of Omicron has pushed up the virus curve in recent weeks, with the numbers hitting six digits in mid-February from four digits in late January.







The death toll from COVID-19 came to 11,782, up 301 from Thursday. The fatality rate was 0.14 percent.







The number of critically ill patients stood at 1,049, down 110 from the previous day.







As of 6 p.m. Friday, 284,280 new cases had been confirmed nationwide, down 20,459 cases from the same time the previous day, according to health authorities and local governments.







Daily COVID-19 cases are counted until midnight and announced the following morning.







The current six-person limit for private gatherings will be eased to eight people starting next week, regardless of vaccination status, while maintaining the 11 p.m. business curfew, Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said.







"Considering the Omicron wave, the burden on the medical response system and the uncertainty of predicting the peak of the pandemic, it's too risky a situation for a drastic easing of social distancing," Kwon said at a virus response meeting.







"After heated discussion, we decided to make the mild adjustment on the number of people to help small businesses and self-employed people ease the pain and in consideration of the inconvenience to the general public," he said.







The measures will take effect for two weeks starting March 21.







South Korea has been weighing the option of further relaxing the virus restrictions amid the fast Omicron spread, due largely to the pressure from small businesses and self-employed people hit hard by the pandemic.







But at the same time, the government has also largely abandoned the rigorous social distancing and contact tracing to shift to a new scheme in order to bring back normalcy to everyday life.







"The effectiveness and efficiency of social distancing is diminishing, as we have shifted our focus to minimizing seriously ill cases and deaths, and gradually revamping the quarantine and medical systems," Lee Ki-il, a deputy health minister, said at a separate media briefing.







The government will consider a further easing of the virus curbs as it closely watches the Omicron trend after reaching its peak, predicted to come around next week, Lee said.







Seoul reported 81,997 new infection cases, with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province logging 113,673. The western port city of Incheon reported 25,797.







As of Friday, 32.26 million people out of the 52 million population, or 62.9 percent, had received booster shots. Fully vaccinated people came to 44.44 million, representing 86.6 percent, the KDCA said. (Yonhap)


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  Presidential candidate and labor leader Leody De Guzman disagrees with the administrations move to retain fuel excise taxes.

De Guzman insisted suspending the collection of fuel excise and VAT will provide immediate relief to Filipinos struggling to cope with rising prices.

Yung ibibigay na 200, prop lang yan gaya nung mga nakaraan. Kunwari nagbigay pero karamihan ng mga tao hindi naman nakatanggap, De Guzman said Friday.

[Translation: The 200 will only serve as prop like before. It would look like they've provided it but in reality, most people did not receive it.]

President Rodrigo Duterte, upon the advice of economic managers, has rejected calls to suspend the collection of fuel excise taxes.

Instead, the government promised to provide a 200 monthly subsidy to about 12 million poor families for a year.

De Guzmans running mate, former party-list representative Walden Bello, pointed out that cash grant programs are prone to irregularities.

He also questioned the failure of the current and past administrations to pass the oil deregulation law which would give the government authority to control oil prices

Ang hirap talaga ipatupad yan (It's hard to implement that). It favors certain groups, its prone to corruption, Bello said.

No car day

Both De Guzman and Bello supported calls to mandate a no car day once or twice a week.

They believe Filipinos should be less reliant on cars and go for more environmental friendly modes of transportation like the bike.

Relatedly, De Guzman said he is against the construction of more elevated expressways as it will encourage more people to buy cars.

Yung mass transport ang dapat i-develop at gawing maayos at convenient, on time, reliable, De Guzman explained.

[Translation: They should instead develop mass transport and make it better, more convenient, on time, and reliable.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  Opportunities to work in the sciences should not be limited to men, and must be more open to women.

That's the stand of Dr. Gay Jane Perez, one of those who made a career in space science - a relatively unfamiliar career path among Filipino women.

Perez is currently the Deputy Director General of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). She played a key role in developing the first Philippine microsatellites Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, and other space technologies that enhanced the country's data on environmental applications and climate studies.

"Unfortunately, girls are raised to believe that math, engineering, and physics are masculine fields. This is not true. This actually is a stereotype, which undermines the performance of women in these fields because they believe they can't excel on it," Perez told CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Friday.

Perez graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Physics. She also received her Master of Science in 2005 and Doctor of Philosophy in Physics in 2009 from the same university.

Perez shared that her love for space science was solidified when she took her post-doctoral studies at the famed NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

"I saw how I could further enhance what I learned as a student, but this time analyzing huge amount of earth observation satellite data. At the same time, when I was there, I gained better appreciation on the value of space signs and technology and exploration," she said.

"More than looking at the stars or sending astronauts in orbit, there are very practical applications of space that improve our lives here on earth," she added.

The PhilSA official pointed out there is a lack of enough female role models in their field - citing the global average that only one out of five workers in the space science sector are women.

"Generally, there is a lack of awareness in career opportunities in space science and engineering," said Perez.

Perez said she hopes their social media campaigns in PhilSA will entice more women to start a career in space science.

"To the young girls out there, don't hesitate. Pursue your dreams and passions. Go out, explore, and embrace opportunities. If there's a chance, pursue advanced degrees," she added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The Aboitiz Group is again ramping up investments this year to boost its expansion, it said Friday.

In a statement, the conglomerate said it set aside around 69 billion in capital expenditure, more than twice the 27 billion last year.

"The substantial budget increase will be used to fund the growth plans for 2022 and beyond as it approaches the coming years with balanced optimism," said the company.

Its infrastructure business units will have the lion's share at 29 billion. A departure from its usual power segment pick, it said the move is in line with its long-term goal of balancing its portfolio.

Some 7 billion will go to Aboitiz InfraCapital's economic estates, 5 billion for expanding its telco tower business, and another 5 billion for other digital infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, 3 billion will fund the completion of AIC's bulk water project in Davao City seen to supply more than 300 million liters of safe and sustainable water to locals.

The rest of the budget will go to the infrastructure firm's other projects, along with major maintenance and safety-related capex of Republic Cement.

AboitizPower and its partners get the second largest chunk of the total capex at 28 billion for the development of solar power, hydro power, and better energy storage systems. The funding will also be used to improve baseload plants' reliability, added the group.

Pilmico and Gold Coin Group, which comprise Aboitiz's food segment, have assigned 6 billion for various projects like expanding feed mills in China and Vietnam. The firms will also be increasing the agribusiness division's capacities nationwide - with a third breeder farm set to be finished this 2022.

Union Bank of the Philippines, meanwhile, has set aside over 3 billion to boost digital channels and platforms, transforming its branches, and building its capacity and that of its subsidiaries.

RELATED: UnionBank bags Citi's Philippine consumer banking business in 55-B deal

AboitizLand also set aside 2 billion for launching new phases of its Foressa Mountain Town project in Cebu and The Villages at Lipa in Batangas.

"Over the next 10 years, we will be more committed than ever to investing in accelerated growth and diversification. We will advance business and communities in the 9 Asia Pacific countries where we operate by providing products and services that are not just life-essential but life-changing," said Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz.
(CNN)  As its troops have gotten bogged down in Ukraine, the Russian government has been fueling a conspiracy theory on social media about the purpose of US-funded biolabs in Ukraine.

In posts spread across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube viewed by CNN this week, Russia's foreign and defense ministries have repeated claims that Ukraine had been researching biological weapons  an assertion that's previously been rejected as false by the United States, its allies and a top United Nations disarmament official.

In fact, the US-supported labs are part of a program to develop vaccines and perform peaceful research, the United States has said, while White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has described the Russian claim as "propaganda" and a potential pretext for Russia to deploy chemical or biological weapons itself in Ukraine.

The issue marks yet another front in the sprawling information war over Ukraine. And it highlights the challenge for social media platforms posed by Russian government accounts that critics say are freely allowed to spew disinformation to millions of users, even as those same platforms have moved to restrict Russian state media content over similar concerns.

Rather than announce blanket restrictions on Russian government accounts, as they've done with Russian state media, tech platforms have instead taken a more surgical approach by removing individual posts by government accounts that violate platform rules.

However, as the information war continues, and as US officials increasingly blast the Russian government for spreading false claims, tech platforms may come under more pressure to crack down on accounts linked to the Kremlin, disinformation experts say.

"We're in a serious crisis situation right now, and we're in an information warfare situation where maybe suspending these accounts, if not banning them for all eternity, would make a lot of sense," said Alina Polyakova, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a think-tank that receives support from some tech giants including Google and Microsoft. "For now [the platforms] have stuck to a more free-speech approach rather than a blocking approach, which I also understand, but again, we're in a very different situation when it comes to what's happening in Ukraine right now."

California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell put it more bluntly in a tweet last week: "RT NOW if @twitter should BAN the baby-killing country of Russia from its platform."

Earlier this week, Facebook removed a post by Russia's embassy in the UK for disputing reported facts about the bombing of a hospital in Mariupol. The post violated Facebook's policy against denying violent events, said Drew Pusateri, a spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

Similar posts by Russian embassy officials were also removed from Twitter for violating that platform's policy against denying violent events, company spokesperson Katie Rosborough told CNN.

The affected Russian accounts remain active on both websites, along with the Russian foreign ministry and ministry of defense. On Twitter, an account run by the office of Russian President Vladimir Putin still shares Kremlin promotional photos and links to press releases. And on YouTube, a Russian government channel broadcasts speeches by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"We don't remove accounts even when we disagree with the content they post  but we do take action when they violate our rules," said Meta's Pusateri. "The world deserves the opportunity to hear and scrutinize the content of Russian leaders at this moment."

Like Facebook, Twitter labels government-run accounts, including Russia's, for transparency. Twitter added Wednesday that its moves to restrict Russian state media has led to a 30% decrease in that content's reach, and that it has also begun labeling accounts belonging to the Ukrainian and Belarusian governments.

"While we've had a policy around state-affiliated media and government accounts for years, the war in Ukraine raises a complicated set of challenges in how we handle the accounts," Rosborough said in a statement. "Our goal is to consistently enforce our rules while balancing the public interest."

Ivy Choi, a spokesperson for YouTube, said the platform's policies apply equally to all users, including Russian government channels, and that "our teams continue to monitor the situation closely." Asked to name an account linked to Russia that has been banned from the platform, Choi said YouTube had terminated Vladimir Solovyov, a pro-Russia broadcaster, for repeatedly violating YouTube policies, including its policy against incitement. But the company did not identify any official Russian government accounts that have been banned.

Russia has objected to what it's described as censorship at the hands of western tech platforms, and has moved to block Facebook, Instagram, and to a lesser extent, Twitter within its borders. Russian internet users have flocked to digital circumvention tools in response to defeat the government's information blackout.

Differences among platforms and how they work have in some cases led to varying policies and approaches to enforcement, said Polyakova, adding that greater regulation could lead to more uniform policies across the industry.

"We've seen this hodgepodge approach that hasn't always been coordinated or consistent; in general, this creates a lot of vulnerabilities and openings for spreaders of disinformation," Polyakova said.

Social media sites' handling of Russian government accounts also echoes how the companies have dealt with individual politicians for years.

Tech companies famously grappled with how to handle claims by Donald Trump  both before and during his presidency  with most platforms arguing it was important for users to hear what public figures have to say, if only to help keep them accountable. While some may argue it's in the public interest for Russia's claims to be documented and preserved, said Polyakova, there will always be ways to access Russia's propaganda without giving it a megaphone on social media.

The posts viewed by CNN this week containing the debunked claims about Ukrainian biolabs were not accompanied by content warnings or labels, though the platforms did label the Russian accounts as government-run in accordance with existing policies.

The rapidly unfolding military, political and diplomatic situation may prompt platforms to hesitate in many scenarios, said Karen Kornbluh, a disinformation expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

"It's a tough balancing act for platforms," Kornbluh said. "They do not want to call the shots in foreign policy disputes."

But even though tech companies may be wary of getting caught in an uncomfortable position, Kornbluh said, social media platforms should nevertheless consider applying to Russian government accounts some of the same restrictions they've applied to Russian state-run media, "especially when that same government is criminalizing truth in Russia with the new 'fake news' law" that threatens over a decade of jail time for contradicting official narratives about the war.

This story was first published on CNNcom, "Social media platforms tread carefully when it comes to the Russian government."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) Actor Kit Thompson is currently under police custody after allegedly beating his girlfriend in a hotel in Tagaytay City, police said Friday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Rolando Baula  chief of Tagaytay police  said authorities received an emergency call this morning from the establishment, seeking assistance for the victim, actress Ana Jalandoni.

Initial police investigation said Jalandoni sustained several bruises and was rushed to a nearby medical center.

Her family said they are ready to file charges against the actor.

Later in the day, the actress posted on social media a photo of her with a badly bruised face.

"When you love someone you will never ever harm them. Minahal mo ba talaga (Did you really love them)?" she wrote.

"This is me saying, you all should be careful out there I will release a statement soon."

Thompson's camp has yet to issue a statement.

Women's group Gabriela, meanwhile, expressed concern over the report  stressing that nothing can justify "acts of violence inflicted on women by their partners."

"This unfortunate news comes at a time when we are celebrating Women's Month," it said in a statement.

Thompson and Jalandoni publicly confirmed their relationship in December last year.
Russian playwright Anton Chekhovs classic Uncle Vanya barely appears in Haruki Murakamis short story Drive My Car, about a theater director enveloped by grief and regret. But when Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi adapted it for the screen, Vanya became the films lifeline.

Hamaguchis characters are subdued; it is only when they started working on a production of the play did some degree of truth peek out. The filmmaker was surprised to see parallels between Vanya and Drive My Car protagonist Kafuku: The lines spoken by Vanya really match up with the feelings Kafuku has. Because I wasnt using [Murakamis devices of] flashback and inner monologue, this would also help express those things, he told the LA Times.

Interestingly, the films Vanya is multilingual, with actors hailing from different Asian countries. This choice, Hamaguchi explained in interviews, compels actors to connect more intensely. Even if its just one language you dont speak  lets say for me, its in English  Im not going to get everything, but Im going to base my understanding on nuances, emotions, things like that. And so Chekhovs dialogue is translated and acted out in the actors native languages, including Japanese, Mandarin, Korean Sign Language, and Filipino.

Perry Dizon, the Filipino stage and film actor who co-stars in Drive My Car, told Rappler that Hamaguchi directed the cast the same way the protagonist Kafuku directed his fictional Vanya production. You hear the lines over and over spoken in zero emotion on flat mode until somehow, you memorize your co-actors lines, unaware that your body is adapting and reacting to what is happening in the scene, he said. You find ease and comfort when you are with your co-actors speaking in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Korean Sign Language, and, for my part, Tagalog.

Korean actor Jin Dae-yeon (left) and Filipino actor Perry Dizon (right) in "Drive My Car." Photo from JANUS FILMS/FACEBOOK

Uncle Vanya has been translated to Filipino before  most notable is Rolando Tinios Tiyo Vanya, which the National Artist penned in 1976. Aside from Chekhov, he had also translated the seminal works of Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Arthur Miller, among many others. In 1975, Tinio founded Teatro Pilipino with the mission to promote local theater and the national language through translated world classics and Filipino-made productions. Tiyo Vanya graced the stage as recently as 2016.

Dizon hypothesized that the Filipino Vanya lines he acted out in the film were sourced from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) archives, perhaps alluding to the Tinio translation. Philippine production coordinator Kristine Kintana tells CNN Philippines Life that while this was the original plan, pandemic restrictions pushed her to improvise.

When the Japanese production team expressed the need for a Filipino Vanya translation, Kintana reached out to actor and director Dennis Marasigan, who directed the 2016 restaging of Tiyo Vanya, and was one of the actors invited to audition for the part that eventually went to Dizon.

This was between June to October 2020, pandemic pa rin siya nang todo, Kintana says. Hindi mahanap ni Sir Dennis yung translation because of course he was at home [due to] the lockdown. Sarado rin daw yung CCP, Kintana says. Even though the production team has acquired the permission of Tinios son, Antonio Tonchi Tinio, to use his fathers translation, a copy of it was proving difficult to find, especially with having to work around so many limitations.

Thats when the films associate producer tapped Kintana to translate. She agreed, thinking she would only do it for the Filipino lines in the script. She says, But then they said na, can you translate the whole thing kasi malay mo may mga shots, during the rehearsal [scenes] kunyari, na makikita yung binabasa [ng characters]. Baka mahagip daw yung ibat-ibang parts [ng script]. So kinailangan kong i-translate yung buong Uncle Vanya.

Doing extensive translations is not new to Kintana  shes worked with Lav Diaz for a long time, providing the English-translated subtitles to his films. Still, this undertaking was admittedly daunting. Its from English to Filipino, tapos kahit kailan di pa ko nakakabasa ng Chekhov. May mga nuances dapat yan para ma-gets mo yung beats nila, yung pagka-dark ng humor, she says. Medyo mahirap siya, but it was very eye-opening.

Philippine production coordinator Kristine Kintana was tasked to translate "Uncle Vanya" to Filipino for the production of "Drive My Car." Photo courtesy of KRISTINE KINTANA

When Kintana confirmed with Hamaguchi that she would be translating, the filmmakers only instruction was to not make the dialogue, written by Chekhov in 1898, sound contemporary. Filipinos who watched Drive My Car could attest to Kintanas success  together with Dizons unmissable performance, the resulting play is equal parts inviting and contemplative.

I was surprised to hear that Kintana wrote the translation in just 2-3 days, considering the caliber in which it was made. On how she took the nuances of Chekhovs writing into account, she says, Like how he uses his words, even though it was the first time [I read it], you would get into his rhythm. Kung papaano niya sinasabi, ganoon mo na rin siya masusulat. Yung humor, nare-retain pa rin, plus yung desperation ng characters. She gives credit to the well-written English Vanya the Japanese production team gave her, which she used in her translation.

That said, not a lot of people know it was Kintana who supplied the translation. When Drive My Car came out, she sometimes posted about having translated the entire Uncle Vanya in Filipino, but only the films production team has a copy of her work.

Shes overjoyed at the films overwhelmingly positive reception, particularly its four Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, International Feature Film, and Adapted Screenplay. She shares that pre-production began as early as November 2019, and like the rest of the industry, it suffered major delays and pushbacks. Were proud kasi mahaba yung trabaho na ginawa namin, Kintana says. Fulfilling talaga.
(CNN)  We've been advised to stand 6 feet apart from others to lower our risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. But how can we tell whether we're standing just far away enough from people, or if we need to tell them to back up a little bit more?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention( describes social distancing as "remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible."

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, small drops of liquid spray from their nose or mouth. If you're standing too close, you can breathe in the droplets, which may contain the coronavirus if the person coughing is infected, according to the World Health Organization.

The "6 feet of distance" rule comes from studies of respiratory physiology, said Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University.

"Without a cough or a sneeze, if we exhale, the distance 3 to 6 feet from each other is called the breathing zone. And it's in that kind of volume of air that what I exhale begins to mix with the air that's already in the room," Schaffner said. "So if you're standing within 3 to 6 feet of me, you may well inhale some of what I exhale. And of course if I have the virus, what I'm exhaling microscopically contains the virus."

If you're finding it hard to estimate what exactly 6 feet looks like, we've got a list of animals, people and things you can keep in mind to help you judge the appropriate distance you should keep from other people.

Two Golden Retrievers standing nose to tail

The average Golden Retriever has a body length of 37 to 42 inches. Two of these dogs should amount to just over 72 inches, or 6 feet.

A man wearing a top hat

A man of average height stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall  if that man wears a President Abraham Lincoln-esque top hat, he'd be just over the distance we're advised to keep from others.

An average sedan

Think of the width of your car when trying to gauge an appropriate distance  an average large sedan is a little more than 6 feet wide.

A sofa

A standard three-seat sofa can be up to 6 feet long  which means that you and the person sitting on the other end of it probably aren't far away enough from each other.

A dining room table

Try imagining you and your friend sitting across from each other at a long, fancy dining table  some of them stretch 6 feet across.

The length of a mattress

The lengths of full- and twin-size beds are about 6.2 feet from top to bottom.

A moose's antlers

A moose grows to be between 5 and 6.5 feet tall on average. That height doesn't include its antlers, which can measure 6 feet across, according to National Geographic.

Two adult cats

Cat lovers may find it easy to commit this comparison to memory: Two male adult cats, at 35 inches each from their heads to the tips of their tails, can amount to nearly 72 inches.

A door

A door should be relatively easy to find when questioning whether you and your friend should move farther apart. Six feet is a little shorter than the average modern door, which runs from 78 to 80 inches.

A 6-foot long bathtub

A more relaxing comparison: Some bathtubs are 72 inches long.

It's not just about distance

Though it's important to distance ourselves from others right now, you can relax a little in your own home.

"I think within our own households we have to essentially do the best that we can," said Allison Chamberlain, a research assistant epidemiology professor in epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. "Obviously everyone is in a different living scenario and has a different amount of space that they can distance themselves from people living within their own homes."

We should still, however, be aware of our habits regarding sneezing and coughing no matter who we're around, Chamberlain said.

You should make sure that you, and the people around you, follow what the WHO calls "good respiratory hygiene." This means you should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the crook of your arm when you cough or sneeze, then throw away the tissue immediately.

"What we're doing is trying to enforce the 6-feet-plus rule, if you will, by asking everybody to stay home who can stay home," Schaffner said. "On occasion, when people cough or sneeze, they give their exhalation -- and sometimes that can travel more than 6 feet. But just to be practical, that's what the rule has become.

"That's what people can get in their minds and work on knowing that we don't live in a perfect universe and we're not going to wrap ourselves in plastic," Schaffner continued.

By heeding these precautionary measures, you have a greater chance of protecting yourself and others not only from the coronavirus, but from cold and flu, too.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Social distancing means standing 6 feet apart. Here's what that actually looks like."
Metro Manila (CNN Philipppines, March 16)  The Philippines' Tracy Maureen Perez may have failed to win the Miss World crown at Thursday's coronation night, but a pageant analyst noted that she did not fall short in raising the country's flag on the global stage.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' Balitaan, pageant expert Adam Genato said the judges could have considered other factors behind the scenes, given the "unpredictability" of the competition.

"She was perfect nung evening gown, tapos nung opening segment nila (She was perfect during the evening gown and opening segment), she was dancing in that national costume, and there's nothing I would have wanted her to change," Genato said when asked to comment on Perez's performance. "She was really meant for that moment. Unfortunately, it did not resonate well with the judges."

Genato noted that during the pre-pageant competition, Perez even bested the other finalists who made it to the Top 6.

Unfortunately, the Cebuana beauty only landed in the Top 13 shortly after the evening gown portion in the 70th edition of the pageant held in Puerto Rico.

"Siguro the nerves lang probably," he added. "There's nothing to criticize about her performance. Sayang lang kasi ang ganda niyang magsalita eh."

[Translation: Maybe it was the nerves. There's nothing to criticize about her performance. It's just a waste because she really had a good diction.]

Poland's Karolina Bielawska was crowned Miss World 2021. Beauty with a Purpose winner Shree Saini of USA was the first runner up, while fan favorite Miss Cote d'Ivoire Olivia Yace was named second runner up.

READ: PH's Tracy Perez finishes in Top 13 of Miss World 2021

The Philippines has only brought home the elusive blue crown once when Megan Young won in 2013.
(CNN)  When ice cream maker Adrienne Borlongan first experimented with a White Rabbit flavor, she thought it tasted like "cheap vanilla."

A few weeks after adding it to the rotating lineup at her Los Angeles shop, Wanderlust Creamery, visitors were about as meh on it as she was.

But when Borlongan posted a photo of an ice cream cone wrapped in White Rabbit-branded paper, word quickly spread on social media. The candy, first manufactured in Shanghai in the 1940s, is known for its iconic red-white-and-blue packaging and beloved by kids all over China. And when Chinese people began emigrating all over the world, their love for the white, creamy candy went with them.

Soon after Borlongan posted that photo, people were driving to Wanderlust from all over California. And that's when she realized she had a phenomenon on her hands.

Since then, White Rabbit has been a mainstay of Wanderlust's ice cream lineup and is regularly sold out in their webshop.

But the story of a bestselling ice cream is about way more than taste  it's about the Chinese diaspora, the power of nostalgia, and adorable, eye-catching branding.

Made in China

White Rabbit's origins date back to a now-defunct business called the ABC Company, founded in Shanghai in 1943. It was later sold to the state-owned Guan Sheng Yuan Food Group, which owns it to this day.

Originally, the candies had a picture of Mickey Mouse on their wrappers  perfect for appealing to children. But as Chinese national pride soared and it became less fashionable to use Western images, the company rebranded and put a cartoon rabbit on the packaging instead.

Enter da bai tu. In Mandarin: big white rabbit.

The mix of colorful, easy-to-spot wrappers and the sweet milky taste proved a winner. Kids from Beijing to Hong Kong grew up on the sweets, and it also became a national symbol of the country  most famously, US President Richard Nixon was given some when he made his historic visit to China in 1972.

White Rabbit succeeded as a symbol of China that didn't have any connections to politics or controversy  a form of culinary diplomacy.

As for the flavor? The creamy consistency comes from actual milk, and there's an edible piece of rice paper between the candy and the wrapper to prevent melting.

Over the years, White Rabbit tried out other flavors, including red bean and peanut. But it's the original version that has the most nostalgia connected to it.

CNN reached out to Guan Sheng Yuan but the company wouldn't offer a comment about their product.

However the candy's popularity can be easily seen in the enthusiastic response in the market towards all things White Rabbit.

The White Rabbit brand has amassed a devoted following among the newer generation that has moved beyond its various flavored candies.

When it teamed up with a local beauty brand to sell White Rabbit-inspired lip balms online in 2018, the first batch of 920 products sold out in half a minute. An additional 10,000 sets of lip balm sold out in three hours when sales opened the next day.

In 2019, a pop-up White Rabbit Milk Tea shop in Shanghai was so popular that people were willing to wait in line for up to four hours for a cup of milk tea.

A new generation

Some of the kids who grew up snacking on White Rabbit candies are now artists, chefs and entrepreneurs doing their part to evolve the brand.

"I did (grow up with White Rabbit). During my childhood the variety of candy was not very rich, the White Rabbit candy was very popular, even a little extravagant," says Li Xiang, founder of X+ Living and chief designer of the recently opened White Rabbit Flagship store in Shanghai.

"It sweetened the childhood of many people."

Growing up in Harbin in northern China, Li remembers White Rabbit as being closely linked with festivities in China  a luxurious gift for children as a special reward. But what inspires Li the most is the brand's evolving business philosophy.

"As the modern business develops, their business philosophy also evolves, such as collaborating with other brands, opening pop-up stores, selling merchandise and opening their first flagship store," says Li.

The brand's modern identity is reflected in the decor of its first permanent flagship store, which also sells White Rabbit-themed merchandise like hand lotions, apparel and umbrellas.

Located in Shanghai's new JKS Arts and Cultural Center, it feels more like a futuristic playground than a candy shop.

Greeted by a white, 3-D printed art installation  inspired by the flow of milk  that curves through the 200-square-meter space, visitors experience a whimsical feeling of "falling down a rabbit hole."

"We hope when customers walk into the space, they are not only impressed by the artistic installations, but can also feel the spirit of the brand," says Li.

Controversy and change

But White Rabbit's 63 years of history haven't been purely sweet and smooth.

In 2007, a recall order was issued on White Rabbit candies in the Philippines and Indonesia when traces of formaldehyde were detected in some packaged food products from China, including White Rabbit.

Some foods, like fruits and milk, contain a small amount of formaldehyde naturally but consuming large amounts may cause poisoning, leading to symptoms like headaches and vomiting.

White Rabbit manufacturer Guan Sheng Yuan, however, suggested that the tests might have used counterfeit candies instead of the authentic ones.

It also hired an international independent testing company to inspect samples of their candies to prove that no toxic substances were found before the freeze on White Rabbit Candies was lifted.

Courting global audiences

By collaborating creatively with different brands, the candies have not only regained lost ground but have become even more popular among global audiences in recent years, with reports claiming the brand exports its candies to more than 40 countries around the world.

Meanwhile, White Rabbit is regularly credited as an inspiration for food products and branded items.

In Hong Kong alone, there are multiple iterations of White Rabbit goodies. Baked Indulgence, a baked goods shop run by two sisters, has a White Rabbit-esque cookie for sale, and an ice cream stand near the busy Central Piers has a popular White Rabbit flavor.

Hip New York City store Chop Suey Club sells socks with the White Rabbit logo on them, while parents can pass their fandom on to the next generation with Wee Bean's candy-printed onesie.

Meanwhile, online portals like Etsy and Society6, where artisans can sell their products directly to consumers, feature dozens of White Rabbit pillowcases, T-shirts and other crafts.

But the company itself doesn't always view these items in a positive light. There's often a gray area in which companies or designers create products inspired by the famed brand but without its endorsement.

In 2021, Bright Dairy & Food Co  which had the official rights to produce White Rabbit dairy products  filed a lawsuit against two companies in China for creating an unlicensed version of White Rabbit-flavored milk and milk tea powder. Bright Dairy & Food Co won the case and received a payment of $39,000.

There are also debates surrounding Wanderlust's White Rabbit ice cream.

While Guan Sheng Yuan stated that the ice cream shop didn't obtain the rights to sell White Rabbit ice cream with its branding, it was also pointed out on local news sites that the ice cream shop serves White Rabbit ice cream in a plain cone in the store, unlike the photo that Borlongan shared online.

As a manager at Bright Dairy & Food Co said in an interview with local media, "(Seeing) these time-honored Shanghainese brands frequently become trending items overseas has inspired us to go global faster."

Borlongan, who was raised in California by Filipino parents, knows the power of food in the Asian diaspora and regularly experiments with her own favorite childhood flavors like ube (purple sweet potato).

"I believe that there's such a big demand now for more than just Eurocentric appeal in flavors," she says, citing tamarind and green tea as flavors that went from being "ethnic" to mainstream in the United States in the past decade.

While White Rabbit's international success has been organic, these days the bunny logo appears to be commanding just as much attention as the candy's actual flavor.

This story was first published on CNN.com "How Shanghai's White Rabbit candy became a globally beloved brand"
Metro Manila (March 1)  Government forces launched an airstrike against members of the local Daulah Islamiyah-Maute terrorist group on Tuesday, with initial reports of casualties from both sides, military officials said.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) spokesperson Maj. Andrew Linao confirmed that the 103rd Infantry Brigade orchestrated an airstrike in Barangay Ilalag in Maguing, Lanao del Sur early Tuesday morning. He said the move was followed by a pursuit operation after around 50 militants reportedly fled the area.

"All in all nasa 12 'yung bomb run na na-execute so ngayon habulan na ito. Syempre nagtakbuhan na," he told defense reporters.

[Tranlsation: Twelve bomb runs were executed. Now it's chasing time. Of course, they are running away.]

Capt. Mary Jepte Manebog, spokesperson of the 1st Infantry Division, said at least two militants under Abu Zacharia and one soldier were killed based on initial reports.

The military said no civilian was harmed and urged residents to stay calm.

"Stay put lang dun sa mga communities nila kasi malayo naman ito sa mga communities. Baka nag-aalala yung mga counterparts natin, especially civilian communities. Wala tayong namonitor so far na mga casualties dun sa civilian side," Linao noted.

[Translation: We asked them to stay in their communities since this is far. The civilian communities may be worried. But we have not monitored casualties from the civilian side.]

WesMinCom commander Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. assured they are closely tracking the movement of the Maute group in the area.

"Talagang very deliberate 'yung operation dito. We are ensuring na walang madadamay na mga civilians dito," the AFP official said.

[Translation: This is a very deliberate operation. We are ensuring no civilians will be caught in the crossfire.]

CNN Philippines senior correspondent David Santos contributed to this report.




Nine South Koreans, including Navy SEAL-turned-YouTuber Rhee Keun, are in Ukraine, having entered the war-ravaged country without government permission after March 2, many of them presumably as volunteer fighters, a foreign ministry official said Friday.







South Korea has prohibited its citizens from traveling to the country since mid-February.







The Korean nationals are believed to have entered Ukraine via neighboring countries, the official noted.







"Many of them are assumed to have entered the country in order to join foreign militaries," the official said, adding the ministry is striving to confirm their whereabouts.







Famed YouTuber Rhee entered Ukraine, along with two others, in early March, as volunteer soldiers and posted on social media during the trip.







The two associates returned home Wednesday, but Rhee remains in Ukraine.







Last week, the foreign ministry filed formal passport law violation charges against the three with the police, and said it will take measures to invalidate their passports. (Yonhap)


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16)  Commissioner George Garcia said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allow the request of the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo for a random examination of printed ballots.

Garcia said the seven-member en banc on Wednesday agreed to grant election lawyer Romulo Macalintals appeal to let representatives of candidates and political parties examine three to five ballots for each city or municipality to see if all security features are in place and were not pre-shaded.

These randomly selected ballots will be verified and examined by said representatives of the parties to determine if they contain all the security features as required by the law and will be fed into the vote-counting machines to find out if said ballots would be recognized by these machines, Macalintal said in his letter Wednesday morning.

Garcia told reporters the matter was discussed and will be scheduled for next week, subject to guidelines. He described the random ballot sampling request as reasonable.

It is our sworn duty to ensure transparency and remove any cloud of doubt as to the integrity of the entire process, he added.

In his letter, Macalintal also asked the poll body to allow watchers from political groups to oversee the printing process.

Officials of other political parties, as well as Senate electoral reforms committee chair Sen. Imee Marcos, the sister of presidential bet Bongbong Marcos, earlier questioned why the Comelec proceeded with the printing of ballots even without the presence of witnesses. Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said it was initially due to COVID-19 work restrictions, which have now been relaxed.

Beginning March 15, the National Printing Office will be open to all stakeholders, including members of the media.

The Comelec said it has printed and verified 51% of the 67.44 million ballots needed for voting day, with a target to complete the process on March 28. Ballots will be deployed nationwide and in embassies by April 20 after thorough verification.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17) A poll official on Thursday clarified how cases can be considered as vote buying as some candidates or their camps have allegedly been handing out money.

In a media briefing, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia explained that officials would first have to "look into the totality" or circumstances of an incident before making any judgment.

He gave as an example a candidate who may be thinking of giving alms.

"[I]big sabihin ba 'di na ako pwedeng magbigay sa pulubi simply because baka makasuhan ako ng vote buying?" Garcia said.

"Titingnan ko 'yung kabuuan ng ganon, teka muna, mukha namang naging humanitarian 'yung kanyang naging ginawa," he added. "Iba naman 'yung inisa-isa ko talaga 'yung mga pulubi, binigyan ko pa ng sample ballots, e baka 'yun naman ay vote buying na."

[Translation: Does that mean I can't give to the poor simply because I might be accused of vote buying? We're going to look at the whole picture. What if the person did that for humanitarian reasons? But it's a different story if I give money and even sample ballots to each and every beggar, that could already be vote buying.]

Garcia also warned that even a simple promise of giving something may translate into an election offense.

The giveaway  even if rejected by voters  can still be listed under vote buying.

"Mere attempt to give substantial amount  in cash or in kind  to our voters, even if refused by the voters, is already vote buying," the Comelec official noted.

READ: 'You can't win against vote buyers'

Questions were earlier raised when Senators Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto gifted newlywed couples with money. Also grabbing netizens' attention was the Nueva Ecija sortie of former senator Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte  as some claimed attendees received envelopes with cash inside.

Garcia, however, stressed that the poll body will wait for a formal complaint and evidence before launching an investigation.

"At this point, lahat po kasi ay (everything is just) allegation," he said. "Basta may mag-complain lang (But if a complaint is filed), we will definitely act on it."

CNN Philippines' Melissa Lopez and Alyssa Rola contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17)  President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the dozens of sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts missing for months are dead, even as authorities have yet to provide updates on their investigation.

During a speech in an event in Leyte, the President echoed an angle eyed by the police: the sabungeros were taken because of game-fixing.

Game-fixing would require putting a fighting cock at a disadvantage to make sure it loses.

Lain ang kultura sa mga sabungero ug kanang mga sindikato. Nagkabukuhan lang sila eh. Ang problema gipatay tanan. Thirty-eight, 36? Duterte said.

[Translation: The culture of sabungeros and syndicates are different. The sabungeros were caught, and the problem is they were killed. Thirty-eight or 36 of them?]

Over 30 people linked to e-sabong activities, or online betting on live cockfighting, were reported missing since April last year. Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa, chairman of the public order and dangerous drugs committee, identified them as players, "master agents" or recruiters, and drivers whose whereabouts remained unknown.

CNN Philippines contacted the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for comment on the Presidents claim. Its probe into the cases is still ongoing, although Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano earlier said eight suspects were identified.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa told reporters in a text message that those missing are presumed dead only since no remains have been recovered yet. He added that the next Senate hearing into the matter is set for March 21.

Duterte rejected senators' appeal to suspend e-sabong operations, saying the government would otherwise stand to lose some 640 million a month, or billions of pesos in a year. He added the state cannot afford this much loss in the middle of a pandemic.

During the Leyte event, the President also noted e-sabong is legal, saying the disappearances "is not the fault of the management," but "the fault of evil men doing something wrong.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  Senator Imee Marcos' claim there had been a serious security breach in the operations of elections software provider Smartmatic has received mixed reactions from candidates.

While some raised concerns over the senator's allegation, others questioned the motive for her revelation.

In a statement, presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should maintain its integrity and of the 2022 elections. He added that the poll body should implement protections to prevent any breach - especially on the vote counting machines.

For vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the issue should be taken seriously. She said her political party, Lakas-CMD, is already looking into the security breach issue.

Another vice presidential candidate, Senate President Tito Sotto, expressed concern - noting that "Comelec is tasked to ensure that the results of the elections are not tainted with doubt and especially, that the conduct of the electoral exercise was not attended by anomalies."

Sotto also said the Senate should investigate the matter, and recommended that Comelec implement increased transparency and vote security measures.

Meanwhile, the tandem of Leody de Guzman and Walden Bello questioned Marcos' claim.

"Parang gustong palabasin na sila ay pinagpaplanuhang dayain. Baka naman yan ay in reverse kaya maging mapagbantay tayong lahat dito sa move ng mga political dynasties at trapo sa eleksyong ito," presidential candidate De Guzman told reporters.

[Translation: It seems they want to show they are being planned to be cheated on. Maybe it's the other way around so we need to be vigilant with the moves of these political dynasties and traditional politicians in these elections.]

Bello also warned members of the media against Marcos' revelation.

"But if Imee Marcos says something talagang (really) you need to think twice, thrice, four times before you accept whether it's true or not. Why is she saying it? Meron bang personal interest dyan (Is there personal interest there)?" the vice presidential bet said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  Not all minimum wage earners are included in the 24-billion subsidy proposed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), an official said Friday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Labor Asec. Dominique Tutay said freelancers or informal sector workers are not covered by their proposal.

"Ang pinagu-usapan po natin ay mga formal sector worker dahil ito po 'yung merong mga employer-employee relationship at ito po 'yung mga bumabalik ngayon, muling sumisigla ang mga sektor sa paggawa as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," she explained.

[Translation: What we're talking about are formal sector workers because they have employer-employee relationships and they are the ones returning now, with their sectors flourishing again as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.]

Tutay said the aid will also prioritize micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as they are the ones that will be hit hardest if minimum wages are hiked.

The department already received ten wage hike petitions from six regions so far  with the National Capital Region set to begin consultations next week, she added.

RELATED: Higher transport fares, minimum wage in NCR to raise consumer prices  Chua

DOLE proposed the wage subsidy as fuel prices soared. It wants each employee to receive 8,000 for three months.

The department recommended that the money be sourced from President Rodrigo Duterte's contingency fund. The proposal awaits the chief executive's approval, Tutay said.

Department of Finance Asec. Paola Alvarez told CNN Philippines separately that the government doesn't have funds for the proposed subsidy at the moment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18)  The Iloilo City government is set to implement a four-day workweek schedule among city hall employees, in response to the rising fuel prices.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas said they are doing active consultations with stakeholders and the Civil Service Commission in holding a 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. work schedule from Monday to Thursday.

"We are planning to use this scheme while fuel prices are still up. I think everyone has to cope with the problem," Trenas told CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Friday.

Trenas said the extended hours under the proposed four-day workweek will compensate for the lost eight hours that city hall employees will miss on Fridays.

"As far as our employees concerned, it is now accepted," he added.

Trenas said buses and jeeps will be provided by the Iloilo City government to carry their employees and other commuters going to their workplaces.

For the private sector, the mayor said businesses can decide for themselves if they will adopt the four-day workweek scheme.

"If you're in the manufacturing business, you cannot have a day off because you are trying to reach your quotas, your goals. So in government offices, I think this is really possible," Trenas noted.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16)  Billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs were seized by authorities during an operation in Infanta, Quezon on Tuesday, where ten suspects were arrested.

A police report from Infanta said the drug haul was the result of an anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by authorities on March 15 at a checkpoint purposely set up along the national highway in Barangay Comon.

It said three vans were intercepted and resulted in the confiscation of "an aggregated 80 sacks of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride." The seized items weighed around 1,650 kilograms with a market value of P10 billion.

"Inventory and markings of pieces of evidence were conducted in the presence of officials of Barangay Comon and media representatives of Infanta, Quezon at the third floor of the Taytay Tiangge Building, Taytay, Rizal," said the report.
(CNN)  Western leaders and security agencies are spending huge amounts of resources on getting into Russian President Vladimir Putin's head. It's a futile exercise  at times when the West has thought Russia's war in Ukraine might be losing steam, Putin has doubled down, sending his forces to bomb maternity hospitals and shelters harboring children.

Now, an apparent pause in the advancement of Russian troops has the West guessing: Has Russia's war effort stalled? Or is it a tactical regrouping?

Either way, an incendiary Stalinesque speech on Wednesday night in which Putin called Russians opposing the war "traitors" marked a change in tone and a sign that not all is going to plan, experts said. Perhaps more worrying, many observers saw it as a sign that the head of the Russian state, facing setback in Ukraine, would take a vengeful turn at home and crack down more forcefully than ever on any sign of dissent.

While some Russians support the war, many others are protesting against it in the streets, fully aware they will be rounded up by heavily armed police even for the most peaceful of demonstrations. The Russian state has made mass protests illegal, and now, insulting the military is against the law. Still, people show up in groups, while others demonstrate entirely alone. Even lone protesters have been detained, social media videos have shown.

A journalist who jumped on camera on a state-controlled news program, holding an anti-war sign, has become a cause celebre for free speech in Russia. A renowned ballerina has left the Bolshoi. Russian prisoners of war are calling Putin out for using propaganda to justify the war.

Putin, who has enjoyed consistently high ratings in Russia, is now turning to a strategy of intimidation to keep Russians on side, experts said. His speech Wednesday hinted darkly that those Russians who do not side with him were, in essence, traitors  chilling words in a country where mass political repressions and the Gulag system are still within living memory.

"The West will try to rely on the so-called fifth column, on national traitors, on those who earn money here with us but live there. And I mean 'live there' not even in the geographical sense of the word, but according to their thoughts, their slavish consciousness," Putin said. The "fifth column" usually refers to sympathizers of the enemy during a war.

"Such people who by their very nature, are mentally located there, and not here, are not with our people, not with Russia," Putin said, mocking them as the type that "cannot live without oysters and gender freedom."

"But any people, and even more so the Russian people, will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors, and simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths, spit them out on the pavement," he said.

For Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of the political analysis firm R. Politik, Putin's speech proved the leader's plan has derailed.

"It seems to me that everything is starting to crumble with Putin. This speech of his is despair, strong emotion, impotence," she wrote on her official Telegram account.

Pointing to the situation in Russia, Stanovaya argues that Putin is losing the battle of popularity, too.

"This is the beginning of the end. Yes, they will twist everyone's elbows, lock them up, imprison them, but it is already all without a future ... Everything will crack and slip."

Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said Putin's speech reflected how isolated the Russian leader had become.

"What we saw as the war began, and what we have seen since  including last night's speech  is really the result of a man whose entire world takes place inside his head," Braw told CNN, explaining how Putin had isolated intensely during the pandemic and was now more cut off as Western sanctions batter the Russian economy.

She said that he was likely surprised and angered by how far the West has gone with sanctions, and was now worried of the backlash that would likely soon come from the Russian people.

"There is a sort of humiliation of a country that is now seeing McDonald's close, where Russians are flocking to IKEA to get every last item that's available before it leaves the country  that is humiliating, and of course, also rather frightening when you think of the potential reaction among the Russian public once these consumer goods are no longer available," she said.

Putin's ominous warning to Russians came as the UK's Defense Ministry said the invasion had "largely stalled on all fronts."

"Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses," the ministry tweeted Thursday, adding that Ukrainian resistance remained "staunch and well-coordinated."

That chimes with the assessment from a senior US defense official, who told reporters on Monday that Russian forces in and around several key cities had made no appreciable progress over the prior weekend.

It may be wishful thinking to read so much into this pause. Russia's military is far mightier than Ukraine's by every measure. Any "stall" is more likely to be tactical than a sign of Russia backing down.

Nonetheless, Russia's invasion hasn't brought easy pickings for Putin. In 2014, Russia was able to annex Crimea in around three weeks  the same amount of time this war has raged so far. Ukraine's resistance, propped up by weapons sent from the West, has been greater than Putin had calculated, experts said.

That's clear by the way Russian forces are now bombing civilian targets indiscriminately. They are also showing signs of being stretched to their limits.

A public intelligence assessment report released Tuesday by the UK Defense Ministry said that Russia was calling up reinforcements from across the entire country. This includes the eastern section of the Russian Federation, troops in the Pacific Fleet and Armenia, as well as fighters from "private military companies, Syrians, and other mercenaries."

Braw said that the stall in Russian forces' movement was likely the result of Russia working out next steps.

"Russia clearly counted on a swift and decisive success, which didn't happen. They face more united, better trained Ukrainian fighters than Russia appreciated," she said. "So they went to Plan B, which was brutal warfare, but Ukraine is standing firm. They are winning back towns, they recently liberated a local mayor who was taken captive. So if that's not working, what's Plan C?"

At the very least, Ukraine's resistance has put the country in a better place for negotiations with Putin than it would have been at the start of the war, Braw said.

What Putin won't want is to lose many more soldiers, she added.

"If Russia returns from the Ukrainian war with a completely decimated military, it's clearly pursued the wrong strategy."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Putin's chilling warning to Russian 'traitors' and 'scum' is a sign things aren't going to plan"
(CNN)  Russia launched missile strikes near an airport in Lviv on Friday, a strategic Ukrainian city not far from the Polish border that had until now largely been spared from the relentless bombardment witnessed across much of the country during the war.

Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi said several missiles hit an aircraft repair plant, but that work at the facility had stopped before the strikes and there were no reports of casualties.

Ukraine's armed forces say initial information suggests Russia launched six missiles towards the Lviv on Friday morning. It says the missiles were most likely air-launched cruise missiles fired from warplanes over the Black Sea.

Two of the six were intercepted by air defense systems, the armed forces' statement on Facebook said.

The attack will add to concerns that Russia's war could spread further west. Here's what you need to know about the importance of Lviv.

Location

At about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Poland's border, Lviv is at NATO's doorstep  so if attacks are ramped up here, it could have international repercussions.

Friday's attack comes after Russia launched a barrage of missiles at the Yavoriv military base, located between Lviv and the Polish border, on Sunday, killing at least 35 people.

Refugees

Lviv has become a safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing other war-torn parts of the country.

It hosts more than 200,000 internally displaced people in a city of just over 700,000, according to the mayor. They've flooded into Lviv in search of relative safety, with many using it as a stopping point before making their way to the border.

Logistics

The larger region serves also as a crucial weapons supply route to the Ukrainian military and a wider resistance effort that has foiled Moscow's plans for a blitz-like invasion.

Western Ukraine's supply lanes have become even more important as Russia chokes off sea passages and lays siege to the country's south. To the north is Belarus, which hosts Russian troops and has been one of the launching pads of the invasion.

Culture and history

Lviv's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the National Museum houses the country's most complete collection of sacred medieval art and rare religious manuscripts.

According to the city's official website, Lviv was the site of Ukraine's first mass actions in support of independence when communism collapsed.

On September 17, 1989 Lviv became the site of the largest demonstration in support of revival of Ukraine's independence, with 100,000 participants.

The Act on State Independence of Ukraine was passed on August 24, 1991 and hundreds of people flooded the streets of Lviv in celebrations the following day.

"Being an indisputable capital of Ukrainian culture, spirituality and national identity, Lviv has always played a major role in the development of democracy and struggle for Ukraine's independence," the website states.

Lviv was once part of the Hapsburg monarchy  then known as Lemberg  but became the real stronghold of Ukrainian national resistance during Soviet times, according to the country's official tourism site.

Details on UNESCO's site describe how Lviv, founded in the late Middle Ages, became a flourishing administrative, religious and commercial center for several centuries. Up until the invasion, the medieval urban topography, as well as the city's many fine Baroque and later buildings, were well preserved, according to UNESCO.

UNESCO said earlier this month it was in permanent contact with all relevant institutions across Ukraine, as well as with Ukrainian cultural professionals, to assess the situation and to reinforce the protection of cultural properties.

At the start of the conflict Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, said: "We must safeguard the cultural heritage in Ukraine as a testimony of the past, but also as a catalyst for peace and cohesion for the future, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve."

Temporary base

The city has also become the makeshift home for many media organizations and embassies, which were forced to relocate from Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Russia has attacked Lviv. Here's why the western city is so important to Ukraine's defense"
(CNN)  Blunt US rhetoric heading into President Joe Biden's call with Chinese President Xi Jinping suggests that a meeting of the minds on Russia's brutality in Ukraine is unlikely, and reflects the current bitter tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Biden and Xi are due to speak at 9 a.m. ET Friday, with the US setting the stage for a stern warning that Chinese firms would pay a serious price if the Beijing government heeds Russian President Vladimir Putin's pleas for military and economic aid. The call will find the US surmounting one of its deepest-set foreign policy fears  risking an open clash with China while simultaneously facing down Russia  in another extraordinary geopolitical shuffle triggered by the Ukraine war. It also puts Biden in the odd position of seeking the tacit cooperation of the nation seen as America's most powerful rising foe to suppress its historic Cold War rival of the second half of the 20th century.

Given that China is known for ruthlessly pursuing its own interests and has no interest in shoring up the Western-led world order that Putin is seeking to buckle, it seems fanciful that Xi will choose what the US sees as the right side of history on the Ukraine conflict  at least until its own economic self-interest dictates a change of course. And US-China relations are so toxic that many analysts had been predicting a new Cold War in the Pacific between the rivals, before the original version reignited in Europe with Putin's invasion of Ukraine at the end of last month.

The theatrics of a call that will be closely watched around the world cannot be dismissed. Just by holding the conversation, and publicizing it heavily beforehand, Biden is sending a signal to Putin that his "no limits" friendship forged with Xi in Beijing shortly before the invasion may not be as significant as the Russian leader had hoped. The conversation also fosters an impression that Washington sees China as the key global power other than itself  instead of Moscow.

It comes as a surprisingly swift and effective Western and international front has clamped a devastating economic, banking, cultural, sporting and diplomatic boycott on Russia. Any significant help from China for Russia could, therefore, be hugely valuable to Putin, possibly allowing him to offset some of the isolation and economic blight in his country and sustain his brutal Ukraine war longer.

Two US officials told CNN this week that Russia had asked China for military support, including drones, as well as economic assistance following the invasion. The US also informed allies in Asia and Europe in a diplomatic cable that China has expressed some openness to offering such help. Both Russia and China have denied that there have been any such requests.

Any pledge from Xi not to break international sanctions on Russia would be seen as a major victory for Biden, though it's possible the Chinese would seek concessions from the US for such a move  possibly over Trump-era tariffs.

A tough warning for China

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday offered a robust preview of the call, saying that "China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression," and that the US "will not hesitate to impose costs" on China if it does so.

His comments were a barely disguised hint that Chinese firms could face secondary sanctions if the government in Beijing offers aid to Moscow. That would be a concern for Xi's government given the current slowing of China's traditionally soaring growth rates and the economic consequences of the latest Covid-19 surge. The US President may have some leverage since Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Monday that China was not a party to the conflict and "still less wants to be affected by the sanctions," according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Xi's government has attempted to adopt a delicate balance throughout the Ukraine crisis.

It has a clear interest in Putin's attempt to use the conflict to weaken democracy, the West and the rule of international law. And if the United States is bogged down for years in Europe, it could frustrate Washington's goal of pivoting military, intelligence and diplomatic resources to Asia to deal with broader consequences of China's rise.

But China's long-term economic interests are also at risk if the Ukraine war sends the global economy into reverse. So Beijing has sought to create a diplomatic middle ground, refraining from criticizing Putin but seeking to avoid going to a point of no return with the US  and its significant trading partners in the European Union.

While China has not formally condemned the invasion, Xi did stress the situation was "worrisome," that China was "deeply grieved" by the war and that it would "work actively" to support a peaceful settlement. Those comments came in a video call with French and German leaders last week, Xinhua reported.

Beijing also endorsed comments made by its ambassador to Ukraine, Fan Xianrong, that were quoted in a press release from the Lviv regional government. "China will never attack Ukraine. We will help, especially economically," Fan said in comments that appear incompatible with any possible Chinese military aid to Putin's war effort.

But in line with a desire to discredit the US, China's media has also amplified false Russian propaganda that Washington had funded biological weapons labs in Ukraine. The conspiracies are seen by Washington as a possible precursor to a "false flag" event that Moscow might use as a ruse to deploy such weapons.

The Biden White House is making the case that China's straddle on the war is unsustainable. The issue appeared to have been the subject of tough exchanges on Ukraine during a seven-hour meeting in Rome this week between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi in Rome, which the US side describes as "intense."

Biden's call on Friday is expected to be equally frank.

"This is an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday, promising that her boss would be "candid" and "direct" on the call.

What could change China's mind?

Robust US rhetoric running up to the telephone call, which almost verges on scolding of China, would not seem likely to improve the chances of a successful conversation. Xi, who has adopted an increasingly nationalistic and belligerent tone in foreign policy, is unlikely to want to seem to be bowing to US pressure. The American rhetoric might also reflect the tense nature of most of the contacts between the Biden administration and China so far in the US President's term. And it may be indicative of low expectations in the White House of success on the call following Sullivan's reception in Rome.

Beijing is showing every sign of trying to keep its options open and avoiding committing itself beyond its own area of interests.

"I think there is a mismatch in the views about what the optics are," said Scott Kennedy, trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "Either you are with Russia or you are with Ukraine and the rest of the world" is one view, Scott said but, "I think China's view is that there is a third path, an unaligned path."

Still, the longer the war drags on, the harder China's choices could get, and it might find itself forced to adopt a tougher stand toward Moscow  one that could make Xi's new friendship with Putin look like a strategic error.

In the long term, China has little to gain from a prolonged economic crunch because of the war. While it has a strong trading relationship with Russia, the value of its exports to the United States and the European Union are worth may times more in dollar value. And Chinese growth prospects are intertwined with the American and European economies in a way that gives the West leverage if it were to sanction China for aiding Moscow's war effort.

Years of higher crude prices could also hurt China's oil-thirsty manufacturing sector. And the current year is also an important one for Xi, who is set to secure a third term at the Community Party's National Congress in the fall, cementing his status as one of his country's most historic leaders alongside Mao Zedong.

Economic disruption from Ukraine that worsens the knock-on effects of a new Covid-19 wave, which saw restrictions imposed in the crucial southern trading city of Shenzhen, could also disrupt Xi's hopes for a smooth political year.

Kennedy suggested several possibilities that could prompt Xi to reconsider his current path regarding Russia. First, if the war starts to go even more poorly for Putin and it threatens his own rule. "They don't want to back a loser," Kennedy said of the Chinese. Then, if the so-far unified Western front against Russia is sustained  and might be turned on China if it seeks to breach the sanctions barricade against Moscow  Xi might shirk from a serious confrontation.

Dramatic course shifts are unlikely in Biden's call. But if the President is able to pry China even a slight bit away from Putin  or give Russia the impression he has done so  he may be able to claim some progress.

This story was first published on CNN.com "US sets the stage for contentious Biden call with China's Xi"




Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook met his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Mohammad Ahmed Al Bowardi in Seoul on Friday to discuss arms industry cooperation and other issues, his ministry said.







Their meeting came two months after the UAE signed a preliminary deal to purchase Korea's mid-range surface-to-air missile system (M-SAM).







Suh expressed gratitude to the UAE minister of state for defense for the import decision, saying Korea will continue helping the UAE military obtain related operational capabilities.







The M-SAM system, called Cheongung II, is a core element of Korea's multi-layered anti-missile program.







Al Bowardi praised Korea's defense industry capabilities, reaffirming arms industry cooperation as a top priority in the two countries' special strategic partnership.







The two sides also shared their assessments on the regional and security environment, with Al Bowardi expressing support for Korea's endeavors for denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.







After the talks, they visited the Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, as the UAE expressed interest in Korea's T-50 trainer jet, KF-21 fighter, light-armed helicopter and next-generation helicopter satellite system.







The two countries have held annual defense ministerial talks since 2011. Suh visited the UAE last year. (Yonhap)


In a bustling college town like State College, it may come as no surprise the area is beaming with centers of cultural significance.

The creative energies present in some of these places help fuel the beating heart of this community, providing memories that can last a lifetime.

Three locations in particular have become essential in keeping those creative energies alive. By providing safe spaces where people from all walks of life can enjoy unique and eye-opening experiences, State Colleges creative hubs are a refuge for artistic pursuit.

3 Dots Downtown, Websters Bookstore Cafe and The Makery have all provided sacred spaces for State College creatives for years. While the experiences cultivated through these businesses seem to be endless, they simply wouldnt exist if not for the women who run them.

The stories of these women are at the very heart of why the businesses are now thriving.

After receiving her bachelors degree in photography and literature from Juniata College, Erica Quinn said she couldnt stop returning to central Pennsylvania and the communities she found here. Even after living abroad in England and New Zealand and receiving her masters from Pratt Institute in 2013, Quinn said she ended up sticking around.

Despite feeling as though she couldnt initially find her way in State College, Quinn said working at Penn State helped her discover a place in the community. Part of this discovery came through the interactions she had with creatives in the area, many of whom are fascinating to be around, Quinn said.

Now serving as the executive director of 3 Dots, Quinn said she came across the initial posting for the position as she was in the process of applying to a variety of jobs across the country. With the possibility of relocating to a different city in mind, Quinn said she was yearning to feel connected.

When the posting for the executive director position came into play, Quinn said she realized she had only really scraped the surface of what was possible in the local community. She said the position offered her everything she couldve asked for, and she said she felt it was aligned with the core of how she wanted to live her life.

It feels very humbling to be a steward for the community and having the key to this place that means so much to so many people, Quinn said.

The mission of 3 Dots is to provide an inclusive, intergenerational community art space, Quinn said. In its mission to open its doors to creatives, Quinn said the space remains a judgment-and barrier-free space where people can choose their own journeys.

Within its logo theres an ellipses before the 3 Dots name, which signals the ability for people to come into the space and finish the sentence how they see fit, Quinn said. The space amplifies peoples voices, Quinn said, and ultimately gives them the agency to make things happen.

Quinn said part of the process of curating an inclusive space is actively listening to what the community wants or needs. Beyond even the State College area, she said the organization has created ties with artistic and cultural communities across the state, allowing 3 Dots to become a central hub of creativity for a wide range of people on regional, statewide and national levels.

Originally founded in 2019, 3 Dots has since become a center of community engagement, Quinn said. Since its conception, the space has hosted a wide variety of events and exhibits.

Currently, Quinn said the space offers rotating programming that offers something different for everyone to enjoy. From album listenings on Mondays to poetry readings hosted by Penn States department of comparative literature on Saturdays, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved, Quinn said.

The space also has a rotating calendar for gallery exhibitions, allowing creatives a chance to showcase their artwork in a community space.

Beyond the events and the exhibits, Quinn said there are opportunities for anyone to get involved at 3 Dots. Whether it's donating financial resources to the organization or simply helping to keep the place tidy and welcoming, she said people are always welcome to reach out and find ways they can help keep the organization alive.

There is something for everyone to be involved with here, Quinn said. There's so many different things that we're involved in, so there's a huge scale of ways to be involved. We work with folks in terms of plugging them into the thing that feels meaningful to them and that they feel is available to them in terms of their time or resources.

Going forward, Quinn said the need for more robust community spaces will always be prevalent, especially coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. With hopes of expanding into farther communities and possibly even a larger space in State College, Quinn said the organization may be young, but it plans on continuing to do incredible things for the community.

I've been involved in community arts programming since I was 18, and I have never seen it work like it works here, Quinn said. I think the way that people care for the space and the programming that happens here is really the way that you would care for your home  this place is not just a building, [3 Dots] has a different kind of meaning for everybody who walks into the door.

State College native Elaine Meder-Wilgus has always been a part of the community. After moving to New York City to pursue work, Meder-Wilgus temporarily moved back to State College, where she has remained ever since.

During her third year of pursuing a degree in biological anthropology at Penn State, Meder-Wilgus gave birth to her daughter and began working at a local secondhand bookstore, which first opened as the Book Swap in 1975.

After the business transitioned into Seven Mountains Books, Meder-Wilgus eventually became a co-owner and helped lead it into a new era.

On June 26, 1999, the bookstore was officially reopened to the public as Websters. And since then, Meder-Wilgus has served as its leader through several challenges, including moving locations, the Great Recession and now a pandemic.

During the initial years of expanding the business, Meder-Wilgus said she was even challenged by local bankers in the area who questioned her intent of taking over the business.

The most ridiculous thing a banker said to me is  I don't understand why your husband isn't just underwriting this bank loan for you, Meder-Wilgus said. I was like, What world do you live in? The idea I would only own a business as a vanity project to keep me out of his hair.

Despite these concerns, Websters has grown throughout the years under the leadership of Meder-Wilgus. Now, the current location encompasses a secondhand bookstore, a cafe, Stax of Trax records and Tigers Eye Vintage, as well as a performance and event space for various State College and Penn State organizations. Websters also offers an online store for new and used books and a meal-ordering service.

Over the years, Meder-Wilgus said the State College community has embraced the bookstore and cafe with welcoming arms. She said knowing Websters has the support of numerous loyal patrons is something she cherishes.

Through the hard work of the community and her own staff, Meder-Wilgus said she simply opened the door for the creative energy and welcoming environment Websters provides.

I truly feel like the wealthiest person in town because I spend my day with the people and things I love, Meder-Wilgus said. I think I just opened the door We work to be a safe space for many people, and that is not done by one person  that's done by a loving, caring community.

Part of the mission for Websters is to offer a third space  a place away from work and the home where people can gather and be themselves, Meder-Wilgus said. Through community engagement and programming, she said Websters will always provide a space where diverse groups of people can come together.

Meder-Wilgus said being involved in the longevity of creative spaces in State College and being present in the community will help keep these spaces alive.

I often say to people, I dont need to be the best be-all place in State College, Meder-Wilgus said. ... Supporting Websters looks like supporting 3 Dots and supporting The Makery and supporting the town.

Amy Frank hasnt always been set on State College. In fact, she originally wanted to attend school in New York to pursue her dreams of fashion design, but she eventually came to Penn State to pursue a degree in business.

Since then, Frank has become an integral part of State Colleges creative community through The Makery, a nonprofit focused on spreading creativity and joy to local communities.

As the founder and director of The Makery, Frank said the organization offers a wide range of classes taught by a collective of 14 women with passions for teaching people how to get creative.

But the organization didnt always look that way, Frank said.

In the beginning, Frank said she began creating artwork to sell in local arts festivals and boutiques. Eventually, she said she was approached by one of the boutiques with requests to begin sewing classes for clients children.

After doing a couple of classes, Frank said she quickly fell in love with offering classes to families, but she realized she wouldnt be able to offer them all of the time. To combat this, Frank came up with the idea to gather a small group of creatives she knew to begin offering rotating classes.

Starting small, Frank said the group operated out of a boutique in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, in the beginning, with each person contributing to fees. After complications arose with the initial space, Frank said the group relocated downtown into the Blue Brick Theatre.

While the space offered the group a chance to expand, Frank said it ultimately was too spacious. Frank said the group experienced a sort of Goldilocks effect where the first space was a little too small and the second space was a little too big.

But the group found its perfect fit, Frank said, after moving to its current space in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza on Fraser Street. One year after the move, Frank said the organization found where it was supposed to be.

As an organization that offers creative experiences as its primary programming, Frank said being composed of an all-female collective gives the group a unique perspective into the needs of the community.

I think its really interesting  the way that women tend to approach things tends to be very inclusive, like community-centered and lifestyle-centered, Frank said. Because I think we're all in that space together, and by holding hands and sharing that responsibility, it's easier to hold.
Inside the cold, dim 111 Forum lay a Penn State No Refund Theatre performance of 26 Pebbles that had audience members tearing up and opening their eyes to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

The play embraces themes of sadness and grief but also brings a twist of light into the darkness.

The performance opened with a description of the town and the townspeople who were happy to live in their safe community.

The play moved on with lighting changes, writing on chalkboards and sound effects, which determined a change of tone. Lights turned off and glass shattered to shift the town from being happy and content to terrified and distorted.

On the contrary, there were bright lights and words of encouragement such as hope and love as the residents moved forward with their lives. The people of the town chose to become joyful, because the alternative is misery."

The production will continue to play at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in 111 Forum with free admission. NRT will also collect donations for the Sandy Hook Promise during these shows.

Student Kailey McSteen said she attended after thinking the play looked interesting.

McSteen (sophomore-supply chain) said the performance was really eye-opening, and she thought it was overall heart-warming. She said her favorite part of the performance was seeing all the different perspectives of the people that live in the town, as she never really thought about that.

Families expressed their fear, and even if their children didnt die, they all lost something. One parent portrayed in the play said surviving doesnt mean you are 100%."

Zachary End said he heard about the performance from Sam Fremin, and the two decided to go together. End (junior-cybersecurity) said he was being very emotionally moved and teared up at least seven times from the start."

Fremin (junior-political science and journalism) said he's a regular at NRT events and goes every week.

He said 26 Pebbles is a "very heavy show, and the most interesting part was portraying the medias role in tragedies.

Throughout the first half of the play, media swarmed the town. The performance depicted how some reporters would cry and say they had never cried before."

Three girls who attend every NRT play said they were excited to see the performance.

Morgan Lalor said the performance was really good and important. The part that stood out to her was when the characters grappled with anger after the shooting.

Alysha Foo (freshman-art history) recalled hearing about the shooting on the news, and she said hearing it put in first-person perspective was really cool."

Jordan Durst said she was looking forward to this performance because its something [she] really cares about, and she receives emails from the Sandy Hook Promise.

I remember hearing about Sandy Hook when I was younger, Durst (freshman-psychology) said. [The children were] a couple years younger than me and experienced something so tragic It could have been me or someone I love."

MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT

+4 Female business owners command the forefront of State Colleges creative hubs, communities In a bustling college town like State College, it may come as no surprise the area is beamin
For students like Brent Toliver, Aziaun Scott and Ava Starks, The Penn State Student Black Caucus has provided them with a place to call home and a platform for advocacy.

Black Caucus is the umbrella organization for all Black student organizations, according to Membership and Outreach Chair Scott (junior-broadcast journalism).

As the first vice president, Toliver (senior-telecommunications and sociology), said the clubs mission is to bring the Black community at Penn State together, make sure Black students feel safe on campus and celebrate Blackness at the university.

Toliver said he first heard about the club from his twin brother and joined Black Caucus as a general body member his sophomore year. He then held the position of Sankofa Chair his junior year.

At Penn State, I always felt like I'm one step in with the Black kids but then one step in with the white kids, Toliver said. [But] Ive really felt like Black Caucus gave me a home, and I felt safe there.

Scott and Starks (sophomore-global and international studies) said they both knew about Black Caucus prior to attending Penn State.

Since the university is a predominantly white institution, Scott said before coming to campus, she researched organizations for students of color and was looking for places where she could meet other students who looked like her.

Scott said she joined the club her freshman year and was elected to the executive board in April 2021.

Since joining the club, Scott said Black Caucus has been like her second family, and the organization feels less like an organization and more like a bunch of friends coming together [and] helping other people.

Political Action Chair Starks said she lived in State College and heard about Black Caucus through its protests during summer 2020.

Starks said she joined the club her freshman year and has held her position in the club since fall 2021.

So far, Starks said her experience in the club has been amazing and really fun.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

With the transition to more in-person gatherings, Starks said its been rewarding seeing events come to fruition, creating spaces for people to get close and watching people grow and succeed.

For her, the most rewarding part of being in the organization is finding a family and community within Black Caucus.

Forming those bonds with people is just like really an unmatched feeling because some of these relationships I'm building I know are going to be for life, and that's awesome, Starks said.

Toliver said being involved in the club has been a great experience where hes been able to gain structure in his day and meet lifelong friends.

For members of the organization, Toliver said he hopes people really get involved.

Because even though [marginalized communities on campus] are small, making that difference, continuing the tradition people have put on for Black Caucus and carrying that torch is very inspiring and rewarding, Toliver said.

Being a Black student and a student of color at Penn State can be very difficult at times, according to Starks.

I really hope that our general body members feel a sense of community, a sense of family and they feel like they can really just come to us if they have any problems with anything, Starks said. I want them to see Black Caucus as a space to celebrate themselves. Because the work that people of color do on campus should never go unnoticed.

On Feb. 24, Black Caucus celebrated 50 years of being at Penn State, according to Black Caucus Twitter page.

During that week, Toliver said Black Caucus celebrated its charter with a movie night, a collaboration with Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. sorority, an exhibit in the Palmer Museum of Art and a cake-cutting ceremony in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Toliver said its important to not forget where we came from and the accomplishments African Americans have had over the years, and the celebration was a great way to see where the club came from and how far its come.

We're only continuing to grow. We're not getting smaller, Toliver said. More students of color are going to come to Penn State and help the organization grow and be the representation of voice on campus that is needed for students.

Scott said during the cake-cutting ceremony, she was overwhelmed with happiness.

At an institution like Penn State, Scott said the longevity of a Black student organization is monumental.

It's so important for students to have other students who have the same beliefs, the same literal physical features, Scott said. It's so important for other students to have people who are similar to them around them in order for them to excel mentally, physically and emotionally I believe [Black Caucus] will be there to offer that safe space for a very long time to come.

Scott said she hopes members realize their voices are louder than they think.

Especially being on such a huge campus [and] part of such a huge institution, people don't feel as if the things that they say and the things that they do can really make change, Scott said. But if you're persistent enough, and if you have like-minded individuals around you, you can really accomplish more than you think you can.

For Starks, celebrating 50 years of charter was a reflective and fun week that was about honoring the past and being excited for whats to come.

Being able to be a part of that celebration and thinking about all of the people that came before us who laid the foundation to make us what we are today it was really special for me to recognize all of our achievements and all of those people who had my position before so I can have it today, Starks said.

An aspect Starks said she wants outsiders to know about the organization is that Black Caucus is always there for students.

We have a voice here on campus, Starks said. Even though Penn State may not be the most welcoming all the time, Black Caucus is here, and we're here to make change, and we're here to lay a foundation for future Black students and for future students of color to strive and be successful  and for those students to always be celebrated.

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Penn State students in Tara Wyckoffs Public Relations Campaigns senior capstone course  COMM 473  have been working toward entering the national Bateman Case Study Competition led by the Public Relations Student Society of America at the end of March.

The Bateman Competition is for collegiate-level public relations students and designed to provide an opportunity to apply your classroom education and internship experiences to create and implement a full public relations campaign, according to its website.

For this years competition, PRSSA selected the Lymphoma Research Foundation as its universal client for all competing groups to build their campaigns around. LRFs mission is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those impacted by this blood cancer, according to its website.

To register for the class, students had to complete an application, and Wyckoff, assistant teaching professor of advertising and public relations in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, explained the selection process was meant to identify students with previous notable experiences.

Since the course starts, you hit the ground running, Wyckoff said. I knew that I needed students who came to me with some experience already in PR, so I was really looking  not just for the coursework but some experience either in student organizations as leaders or possibly in internships.

Following the application process, Wyckoff said 15 Penn State public relations students were selected to take her class, and she then put them in groups for the Bateman Competition.

After the students were selected, I asked them to self-identify what they thought their greatest PR strength was, Wyckoff said. I really wanted to ensure that we had some cross-functional teams.

One of the classs teams is made up of students Tyler Dornan, Ethan Harris, Riley Snowden, Eric Yang and Kalli Curtiss, and they created a campaign for LRF designed to spread awareness throughout Penn States University Park campus.

Our goal is to reach 5% of the Penn State population by spreading LRF awareness, Snowden (senior-public relations) said. Weve been doing that through certain PR stunts and events weve had  like tabling events in the [HUB-Robeson Center].

The first tabling event the team hosted was on Valentines Day, themed No Love for Lymphoma, where the members handed out goodie bags and QR codes for Instagram and TikTok pages.

Besides tabling, the team founded its campaign based on the Erase Lymphoma campaign launched by LRF in 2014, which was designed to increase awareness and offer support directly to adolescent and young adult lymphoma patients and survivors.

The team created its own hashtag  #dontletiteraseyou  to help the campaign resonate with Penn State students as they pursued PR stunts like erasing landmarks around campus, Dornan (junior-public relations) said.

We were covering up the Lion Shrine with a sheet, and then we covered up the paws at the Palmer Art Museum and also the globe at Old Main, Dornan said. People would come up to us and say, What are you doing? And wed explain that we dont want lymphoma to erase you  its erasing these landmarks, and that was kind of our main theme.

The team said it already surpassed its goal to reach 5% of the University Park campus population, which equates to a little over 2,000 people, reaching over 3,000 people via Instagram interactions, Snowden said.

Thats the goal of all of the events, so we can get as many eyes on our campaign  99% of the time, someone was looking, Dornan said.

For overall impressions, the team has reached over 6,000 people as of March 3, Snowden said.

We actually had cars stop when we were at the Lion Shrine covering it, and they were like, What are you doing? They pulled their phones out, and they were taking pictures of it, Harris (senior-public relations) said. A couple came up to us, and they were like, We thought you were Ohio State students. They thought we were from another school covering up the shrine.

The students didnt only capture the attention of their audience, but they captured the attention of their professor as well.

This team wasted no time getting started, Wyckoff said. They had a solid, creative idea, which was to really focus on the word erase and tap into some of the visual cues and how powerful they can be linked to communication.

Wyckoff said she considered the erasure of landmarks around campus to be beyond a publicity stunt and a really curious and creative way to capture peoples attention.

The team said its two-pronged approach is to not only educate the university population on lymphoma but gain publicity and recognition for Penn State through the Bateman Competition as well.

I think I speak for all of us in that we really want to educate people on lymphoma, Harris said. There are 90,000 people diagnosed with lymphoma every year.

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, about 90,390 people in the U.S. were expected to be diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021. There are about 825,651 people in the U.S. living with, or in remission from, lymphoma, according to the society.

Lymphoma can specifically affect Penn State students and other college students since the adolescent and young adult age group spans from age 15 to 39, and one in five cancer diagnoses among AYAs is a lymphoma diagnosis.

Its really important to talk about AYAs specifically because theyre such an understudied group, Snowden said. People think, Its not going to happen to me, which is why were such an understudied community.

The exigence of the teams campaign timing in the weeks post-THON is another reason why Wyckoff said she believes in its overall importance.

I think that Penn State can stand to benefit in extending this conversation about the many ways that our students mobilize to help in really important causes that can link between student interest, passion, fundraising and science, Wyckoff said.

The second importance of the campaign will lie within the Bateman Competition itself, Wyckoff said.

This is a national competition, and the winners in the PR world are known and recognized, Wyckoff said. I think that any time our students can shine and get national recognition for their hard work and compete with our peer groups as well as communications schools across the country, thats a great thing.

Dornan, Harris, Snowden, Yang and Curtiss will submit their campaign, along with the other groups within Wyckoffs class, to the Bateman Competition at the end of March.

Even if we place in the top three or get an honorable mention, it brings accreditation to the university to have a Bateman Competition winner, Harris said. One side of us is really passionate about spreading lymphoma awareness, but were also competing for Penn State to win the school national recognition.

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Penn State student Keaton Zang said he doesnt drink alcohol because of genetics. His family is predisposed to alcoholism, and he said he prefers to not risk becoming a person with alcoholism himself.

However, Zang (junior-computer science) said he doesnt mind being around people who are drinking and is often the designated driver when he goes out with friends.

Even though its much harder to make friends and connections at Penn State because many people drink at parties or bars to socialize, he said theres no shortage of sober people at the university.

Although Penn States party reputation is at odds with the interests of a sober student, Zang said he couldnt see himself going anywhere else for school.

Zang comes from a Penn State family, with multiple family members graduating from the university. For Zang, this, combined with Penn States computer science program, sealed the deal.

For Dan Boell, he said he abstains for different reasons.

Boell (freshman-civil engineering) said drinking was never that rebellious thing for [him] because since he said he could pass as 21 from a younger age, the challenge of obtaining alcohol never interested him.

He said he chooses not to drink for other reasons since hes witnessed firsthand the effects excess drinking can have on individuals, leading Boell to be afraid of being blackout drunk.

Boell said while staying sober can be a slight social challenge, being a part of various Penn State clubs help make up for this.

He said he chose Penn State for similar reasons as Zang  citing over seven members of his family who graduated from Penn State, and he wanted to take advantage of the in-state tuition rates.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

For Keeley Boell, Dans sister, she said her uncle died of alcoholism, and she saw the effect it had on her immediate family.

Keeley (junior-biomedical engineering) said she prefers to avoid alcohol and people drinking entirely when possible.

If you need alcohol to have fun, youre not having fun, Keeley said.

For her, sober fun comes from places like the AURORA Penn State Outdoor Orientation Programs, which prohibits alcohol, and shes also a member of the Society of Women Engineers.

While she said it may bar her from certain social scenarios, Keeley said she met her roommate and best friend because she doesnt drink.

That best friend is a member of Penn State ROTC, and therefore, has to be in a sober environment for risk of losing her scholarship, which for Keeley, is an ideal roommate to have.

Keeley said she chose Penn State for similar reasons to her brother, Dan. They both took interest in the in-state tuition, engineering programs and family ties.

However, Keeley said she also took interest in State Colleges location and the university's alumni network.

I dont like cities, Keeley said. I knew I would be in the mountains hiking, and that's awesome.

For Lamar Cooley-Russ, a graduate student, he prefers to be in the right state of mind and sees drinking as a way to potentially put [himself] in a vulnerable spot.

Taste doesnt seem to be that much of an appeal either, as I'm pretty content with nonalcoholic drinks, Cooley-Russ (graduate-cybersecurity ) said.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Cooley-Russ said hes the epitome of just chilling in reference to his social life.

He said hes content with the friends hes made and doesnt feel the need to use alcohol to expand that group.

Peer pressure to drink doesnt get to him, Cooley-Russ said.

If anyone did put that kind of pressure on me, theyre probs not the kind of people Id want to be hanging out with, Cooley-Russ said.

Cooley-Russ said he wasnt aware of Penn States party culture when he applied and then found out after witnessing it firsthand.

He visited Penn State through Upward Bound Math-Science, a program that brings underrepresented students to Penn State. He said he ended up loving the campus and its students, which led him to decide to enroll.

For Aviauna Beckett, she doesnt drink because of medical concerns, but it hasnt had much impact on her social life at all, and most people dont ask why she doesnt drink.

Beckett (sophomore-biochemistry) didnt have a particularly strong affinity for Penn State, but a close friend of hers was attending, so she followed them, and while theyre no longer close, she said she has no regrets about her decision.

Id be sad I cant have the same experiences as everyone else, but its for the best, Beckett said.

For Daniel Godzieba, it comes down to a matter of taste. He doesnt like the taste of alcohol, so abstaining from drinking was an easy decision.

Godzieba (graduate-physics) said he doesnt mind being around alcohol or people who are drinking, as hes been around it his whole life.

For Godzieba, he chose Penn State because of its proximity to his hometown and graduate program.

Parties were a complete nonentity in my consideration.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE
In 2018, Pasha Ripley was supporting her husband on disability and facing foreclosure on their home when she was forced to turn to sex work to get by. Within the month, she was brutally attacked by one of her clients.

Ripley said the client grabbed her by the hair when she entered the room and savagely beat her with his fists and a leather belt. During the attack, he also violently raped her, she said.

I was sure he was going to kill me, Ripley said. You could not set a quarter on my body and not hit a bruise or cut. And the last thing he said as he walked out the door was, Who are you going to tell? What are you going to do? Because if I go to the police, its very likely that I would be arrested."

Ripley didnt end up going to the police, but years later, her story has inspired Colorado lawmakers to take action.

House Bill 1288, which the state House advanced on Friday, would grant people who report violent crime immunity from prostitution-related charges. This immunity would be granted to both victims and witnesses of crimes.

Bill sponsor Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, said she started working on the bill last year after Ripley told her what happened to her. Titone is a personal friend of Ripley, who now serves as executive director of the anti-human trafficking nonprofit, Red Light Resources International.

How could I say no to helping? Titone said through tears. Shes my friend. What happened to her was horrible. She's a human being and she deserves respect. ... We have to do this because people, human beings, are being brutalized and theyre afraid to do anything.

Ripleys experience is far from unique. Of adult sex workers, 82% have been physically assaulted, 83% have been threatened with a weapon, 68% have been violently raped and 84% were or are currently homeless, according to the Academic Journal of Womens Health.

Supporters of the bill described sex workers as easy targets who are specifically chosen by criminals because they are less likely to go to the police. For those who do report when they are victims of crimes, they are sometimes left worse off, being ignored or arrested themselves.

Tiara Kelly, a Black transgender woman and former sex worker, said she was once beaten in a parking lot by a client and called the police for help. When the police arrived, she said they didnt ask her any questions about the assault or the perpetrator.

They asked me what I did, why I was in the persons car, what I had done to deserve it, basically. Then they convinced me not to press charges, telling me that nothing would happen anyway, Kelly said. Those types of things lead to my brothers and sisters that happen to be outside of the binary ending up on the side of the road dead.

Ripley and Kelly testified in support of the bill during the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The bill unanimously passed the committee and its second full House vote on Friday. The third and final House vote is expected to be held on Monday.

Titone said she has received no opposition to the bipartisan bill  also sponsored by Delta Republican Rep. Matt Soper  calling it a commonsense way to crack down on violent crime and protect some of societys most vulnerable.

Whatever reason a person is engaging in sex work, they should never have to become a victim of a heinous assault or worse, Titone said. The question is, will we continue to allow these violent crimes to happen to vulnerable people who are afraid to speak out?
Legislation working through the state House aims to establish a long-promised universal preschool program and a new Department of Early Childhood in Colorado.

The House Education Committee approved House Bill 1295 Thursday, sending it to the appropriations panel before it will reach the full House for consideration. Bill sponsors said this is the next step after legislation passed in 2021 and 2022 to create and fund the department, as well as to create a transition plan and recommendations for universal preschool.

This is the end result of decades of progress that we have made in the world of early childhood in Colorado, said bill sponsor Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. Early childhood is a critical period in the development of a child. It dramatically shapes a childs subsequent education and life experiences."

Under the bill, the Colorado Universal Preschool Program would begin in 2023, providing 10 hours per week of free preschool for all children the year before they enter kindergarten. Parents may choose a preschool provider themselves within their community.

The program would save Colorado parents an average of $4,300 per year in child care costs, according to state estimates.

House Speaker Alec Garnett, who is also sponsoring the bill, called it monumental for Colorado children and families. Garnett said he has watched his three young children thrive socially and developmentally after entering child care and preschool.

The 10 hours of free high-quality preschool will help all the kids across Colorado have the same experiences that my wife and I fought so hard for our children to have, Garnett, D-Denver, said. This bill is going to save parents money, it is going to enroll more kiddos in that high-quality experience that we know is so critical, and were going to make it as easy as possible to do it.

Garnett said the Department of Early Childhood will be groundbreaking, boosting access to early education by creating a one stop shop of state services.

Currently, early childhood programs are spread across multiple agencies with different eligibility requirements and funding streams, making it difficult for families to navigate, supporters say. Under the bill, the programs would be consolidated under the new Department of Early Childhood to streamline the system. With this change, a single application would be created for all early childhood programs.

The education committee passed the bill in a 7-2 vote with bipartisan support. Republican Reps. Mark Baisley of Roxborough Park and Tim Geitner of Falcon voted "no" without explanation.

Were going to meet families where theyre at," said Rep. Colin Larson, R-Littleton, who said he was previously hesitant of the bill. "Im just excited about the prospect of literally thousands of more kids coming into kindergarten ready to learn, having that foundation already set.

If enacted, the universal preschool program and Department of Early Childhood would cost over $365 million through 2024, over $190 million of which would come from taxes on tobacco and nicotine products passed by Colorado voters in 2020. Another $127 million would come from the states general fund or education fund.

No organization registered in opposition to the bill, which received support from over a dozen organizations, including the Colorado Children's Campaign, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children and the Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Members of local activist group Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) hold a press conference to condemn Seoul Metro's alleged media manipulation against the group in front of the city-owned corporation's headquarters in Seongdong District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap





By Lee Hae-rin







Seoul Metro is facing fierce criticism for allegedly compiling an internal report on using media manipulation against a disability advocacy group that has been holding daily protests since last year.







Local broadcaster YTN reported that it acquired a document titled "Media tactics against social minority groups: Focus on Solidarity against Disability Discrimination (SADD) protest," from the enterprise's online bulletin board, Thursday.







The document, created this month, contains 25 PowerPoint slides  in Seoul Metro's official template  and displays the words "Seoul Metro PR department" and the company logo on the cover page. It was taken offline after the news report, but local disability advocacy group Beminor disclosed the full document on its website, Thursday.







"Jam wheelchair wheels in the gap between the platform and the train, take a picture of wheelchairs blocking train doors and publicize it naturally to prove the intentional obstruction of metro operations," the document reads.







It contains several other detailed guidelines for creating negative perceptions of the protesters and mentions the "underdog effect" as the reason behind the company's current unfavorable public image.







To minimize media scrutiny against Seoul Metro, the presentation suggests taking an "emotional stance" by claiming a lack of funds is the primary factor, thereby appealing to public sympathy.







The document even presents an inappropriate (and in poor taste) analogy to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating that the transportation company is like a hopeless majority in a battle against a fierce minority and has few options.







In response, SADD condemned the company's alleged media manipulation plans in its official statement. "Seoul Metro tarnished disabled people's just demands for basic rights by pitting disabled people and others against each other," the group said, demanding an official apology and resignation from Seoul Metro's CEO.







However, the company denied any link to the document and claimed it was created and shared voluntarily by an employee from the PR department. The company posted an apology on its social media channels Thursday, saying, "We are heartbroken and afraid this incident might cast a shadow over our countless efforts in the past to service the disabled and elderly."







The employee who compiled and uploaded the document, identified by his surname Yoon, told The Korea Times, Friday, that he was "frustrated with confronting the press and public reactions over the past months" and created the report of his own will after work to share his concerns and insights, but did not present it to his colleagues during office hours. He said he was transferred to another department as of Friday.







Many people find Seoul Metro and Yoon's response unacceptable.







"It's hard to believe he made it voluntarily because he was using the company template. No employee would do such a thing in their spare time and anyone who has worked for a company would know that," Seoul-based freelancer Jeong Mi-joo, 32, said, arguing that Seoul Metro could be setting up the employee as a scapegoat.







"What angers me the most is that a public corporation tried to make a fool of the people with such underhanded manipulation. Those suggestions (on the document) avoid confronting the real issues," Jeong said.







Seoul Metro is a public enterprise affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government that operates subway lines 1 to 8. It is set to receive a total 65.5 billion won ($ 54 million) in government subsidies this year.


Democratic state lawmakers and allies were on the steps of the state Capitol Wednesday to announce a 2022 bill to protect access to abortion in Colorado. The proposed legislation is in response to challenges to Roe v. Wade and Wednesday's U.S. Supreme Court hearing on Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health Organization. Photo courtesy Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver.
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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
The sign for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is displayed at the ministry headquarters in the Government Complex Seoul, Sunday. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative main opposition People Power Party said on the same day that he would carry out his election pledge to abolish the ministry. Yonhap



Experts call abolishment too harsh, unrealistic, with long way ahead to gender equality



By Jung Da-min



The fate of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has emerged as a controversial post-election issue, as President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has refused to back down from his campaign pledge to abolish the ministry after winning the election on March 9.



Yoon and his party, the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), have accused the ministry of dividing men and women with certain policy measures such as setting quotas for women in public- and private-sector jobs, and claim the ministry's existence amounts to "reverse discrimination."



But their election strategy targeting young male voters' support also drove away women. In fact, female voters under age 60 overwhelmingly turned their backs on the PPP and cast their ballots in favor of Yoon's election rival, Lee Jae-myung of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).





President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative main opposition People Power Party speaks during a press conference at the party headquarters on Seoul's Yeouido, Sunday. Joint Press Corps



The debate surrounding the abolishment of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is not new, as similar pros-and-cons debates have been held since the ministry was first established in 2001 under the liberal Kim Dae-jung administration.



The inaugural name of the ministry was the Ministry of Women, until it was changed in 2004 under the subsequent liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration to its current name, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The English name for the ministry has a different nuance from the original Korean name, which translates directly to the "Ministry of Women and Family."



Including the word "women" in the Korean name of the ministry is related to the purpose of its creation: to narrow the gap in the statuses of men and women by promoting women's rights  otherwise known as gender equality  and this has recently been ruffling the feathers of many young men.



Park Chang-hwan, a political commentator and a professor at Jangan University, said the ministry has failed to address properly the fundamental structural problems facing women, as it is accused of creating the wrong impression that promoting women's rights comes at the expense of "men's rights."



"One of the first major policies the ministry carried out after its establishment was the abolishment of the extra points system for men who have completed their mandatory military service... Removing that perk means that most men sacrifice their careers by serving in the military for years without any compensation (beyond the monthly salaries they are provided)," Park said.



"Such policies which the ministry said were aimed at leveling the playing field for women caused a backlash among young men, leading them to harbor hard feelings toward the ministry, which paved the way later for hostility toward the feminist movement. Then the ministry was urged to take a balanced stance over such thorny issues, but it failed to do so while giving the impression that it was taking women's side only."





Members of a women's rights group hold a press conference to call for the abolishment of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, in front of the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, Monday, accusing the ministry of failing to fulfill its purpose of protecting women's rights by maintaining silence on political heavyweights' sex crimes and provoking gender conflicts rather than solving them. Yonhap



Some political watchers pointed out that the ministry has at times failed to serve its original purpose of protecting women's rights.



When former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, an activist-turned-politician who won local elections on the DPK's ticket, was embroiled in a sexual harassment allegation before he committed suicide in July 2020, some DPK lawmakers referred to the victim as "the woman who claims to be the victim," which elicited criticism from the public.



At the time, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family did not take any active measures nor issue a strong reprimand of DPK members or any others who tried to downplay the allegation against Park. Rather, then-Minister Lee Jung-ok said that the 2021 April by-elections following the revelations of sexual harassment by Mayor Park and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, also a DPK politician, would provide "an opportunity for the people to learn about gender sensitivity."



Cha Jae-won, a professor of special affairs at the Catholic University of Pusan, said, "What is behind the controversies over the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is the criticism against the hypocrisy of the ruling liberal bloc, which created the ministry."



Cha said that the PPP's Lee Jun-seok, who won the PPP's leadership election with great support from young men in their 20s and 30s, was among those who first caught such anti-feminist sentiment among young male voters and made use of it for his own political ends.



"Lee took this anti-feminist sentiment as an opportunity for his political rise to the position of PPP chairman and again used it during the presidential campaign to help boost Yoon's support rate," Cha said.





Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the conservative main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, March 10. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun



But these political watchers also called it premature to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, despite the criticism from some that it was not resolving gender conflicts.



Cha said the ministry is a unique government organization with no parallel in many other countries. He said the ministry was first created by former President Kim Dae-jung, who considered himself a feminist, with the hope of not having to exist forever, but of being able to disappear once full gender equality is realized in Korea.



While the media have often focused on gender conflicts, diverging from Korea's actual deep-rooted problem of gender inequality, the country still has a long way to go before achieving full gender equality.



Korea ranked 102nd out of 156 countries in the 2021 Global Gender Gap report by the World Economic Forum. Of the 38 OECD member nations, Korea ranked highest in the pay gap between male and female employees in 2020, standing at 31.5 percent, meaning that women earned 31.5 percent less than men on average.





Members of a women's rights group call on President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative main opposition People Power Party to withdraw his plan to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, during a press conference at the headquarters of Women's Center for Equality and Peace in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Thursday. Yonhap



Despite this reality, the country's stagnating economy and rising economic inequality, in which many young people feel frustrated about fewer good job opportunities and soaring housing prices, have created high competition among the younger generations, dividing them along gender lines, according to political watchers.



"Criticism that the ministry's handling of gender conflicts has been poor is valid. But we also need to ask if the ministry should be taking the sole responsibility for gender conflicts, when it receives a very small portion of the national budget and such conflicts are fundamental problems of a capitalist society," Jangan University professor Park said.



He said that politicians who exploit such conflicts among the public for their own political ends should be blamed for deepening the social conflicts and divisions.



"It is true that such social conflicts and divisions were there, but politicians have brought them to the forefront or center of society, stressing that such conflicts are facts, rather than resolving them," he said.





Members of a women's rights group hold a press conference in front of Gangwon Provincial Office, Thursday, to call for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative main opposition People Power Party to withdraw his plan to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,. Yonhap
03/18/2022

Photo (c) carmengabriela - Getty Images COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 79,685,587 (79,632,049)

Total U.S. deaths: 970,116 (968,343)

Total global cases: 466,313,781 (464,103,184)

Total global deaths: 6,067,720 (6,060,570)

Moderna seeks approval for fourth shot

Moderna has announced that it will apply for emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine. It follows Pfizers announcement earlier this week that it is doing the same thing.

"The request to include adults over 18 years of age was made to provide flexibility for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and healthcare providers to determine the appropriate use of an additional booster dose of mRNA-1273, including for those at higher risk of COVID-19," the company said in a statement.

Without going into specifics, the Moderna statement said real-world evidence continues to confirm the effectiveness and robust safety profile of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, clinical trials are ongoing for Moderna's Omicron-specific booster.

Large study finds ivermectin didnt reduce severe COVID-19 symptoms

Scientists who are testing some existing antiviral drugs as potential treatments for COVID-19 report that ivermectin did not reduce severe cases of the virus requiring hospitalization. The drug is one of several that have sparked controversy because it is being used as a treatment without FDA approval.

In a large trial, nearly 1,400 COVID-19 patients at risk of severe disease received either ivermectin or a placebo. The researchers say those getting the drug didnt achieve better protection than those who received a placebo.

The subjects had all tested positive for the virus and had underlying conditions that put them at risk. There was no indication that ivermectin is clinically useful, Edward Mills, one of the studys lead researchers, told the Wall Street Journal.

Getting COVID-19 not inevitable, experts say

In the last two years, nearly 80 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19. That means millions more havent, and health experts say its not inevitable that they will.

Scientists who have tracked the spread of the virus and its variants say there are several reasons that millions of Americans havent gotten sick. They point to careful behavior on one hand but also say genetics may play a role.

They also say most people who havent gotten infected have been fully vaccinated and boosted. Doctors tell ABC News that it's impossible to disregard the effect that vaccination rates have had on preventing infections among Americans.

Around the nation
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This CoolSocial report was updated on 2022-03-17, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
The memorial service for Judith McFerran Robertson will be held at Algiers United Methodist Church, 637 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114 at 2PM on Sunday, May 22, 2022 with Reverend JoAnne Pounds officiating. The obituary for Judi can be viewed and online condolences made at www.shule
Retired Rear Adm. J. Robert Lunney is seen in this photo provided by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Yonhap





President Moon Jae-in offered his condolences Friday over the death of a U.S. veteran who participated in a famous evacuation operation during the 1950-53 Korean War.







Retired Rear Adm. J. Robert Lunney, who died last week at the age of 94, was a crew member of the merchant ship SS Meredith Victory, which helped rescue some 14,000 refugees during the Heungnam evacuation in December 1950.







"I extend my condolences to the family and comrades who must be mourning the death of the admiral and submerged in grief," Moon wrote on Facebook.







"The dedication of the SS Meredith Victory in rescuing many civilian refugees during an urgent evacuation operation deeply moved our people and the people of the world," he continued. "My parents were also able to flee then, so it is something for which I should personally give deep thanks."







Moon's parents are known to have boarded the ship and fled to the southeastern city of Geoje, where he was born two years later.







Moon recalled that he met with the deceased during his visit to Washington in June 2017.







"I will deeply cherish the respect and love you showed for our people and remember the admiral's name with the people for a long time," he wrote.







The evacuation took place as U.S.-backed South Korean forces retreated from North Korea in the face of an onslaught by Chinese-backed North Korean troops.







The mission, dubbed the Miracle of Christmas, is known as one of the world's greatest wartime rescue operations. (Yonhap)


Seemingly out of nowhere, comedy is suddenly awash in murder. Sure, we find killing people as hilarious as the next guy, but whats going on? In the past year or two, weve seen:

Only Murders in the Building - Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short start a true-crime podcast (comedys second favorite pastime) to solve a murder;

Murderville - Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) welcomes celebs to solve an improv game of catch the killer;

The Afterparty - Tiffany Haddish is a detective trying to solve a murder at a high school reunion afterbash;

Murder Mystery - Married couple Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston get framed for murder and need to solve the crime to prove their innocence;

Summer in Argyle - Mr. Shows Bob Odenkirk and David Cross reunite in this scripted podcast about one town, one murder, one million hot dogs;

The Resort - Nick Offerman just joined production on this upcoming Peacock series described as a comedy/thriller/mystery.

Thats not even counting the dozens of comedy/true crime podcasts, suddenly one of the most popular genres in the medium. This isnt a trend, its a damned bloodbath!

Whats up, comedy? Should we read this as an allegory for the trainwreck were living through right now, attempting to laugh our way through this darkest timeline?

Or did the meteoric rise of the true-crime podcast, coupled with the enduring drone of countless CSIs and Law and Orders, just make this kind of storytelling ripe for a satiric rip? Here are ComedyNerds four reasons for all this bloody good comedy.
Chung Sye-kyun, center, the new chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, poses with former chairman Ryu Si-min, on his left, and former acting-chairman Rhee Jung-ho, on his right, during his inauguration ceremony held at Daraehun Center in Seoul's Mapo District, Friday. Newsis



By Jung Da-min



Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) assumed his post Friday as head of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, a public foundation in memory of liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun.



"We can be discouraged, but we cannot be frustrated or give up," Chung said during his inauguration ceremony, held at Daraehun Center in Seoul's Mapo District. Chung's remarks were widely seen as a move to comfort DPK supporters after DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung lost to Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in the March 9 presidential election.



"The world that President Roh had longed for  a world for people to live in  seems so far away and to take a long time to reach," Chung said, referring to Roh's signature phrase, "a world for people to live in," meaning a world where the underprivileged can live without discrimination and be treated the same as the privileged.



Among the other attendees were Ryu Si-min, a politician, writer, commentator and the former chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, and Rhee Jung-ho, the former acting-chairman of the foundation, as well as DPK lawmakers including Rep. Kim Young-joo, Rep. Seo Young-kyo, Rep. Kim Kyo-heung and Rep. Lee Won-wook.



Ryu said, "The Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's name includes former President Roh's name in it, but it should go further to represent the whole vision and belief of democracy, reformation and progress to support and spread such values."



Ryu said that the foundation has close spiritual ties with the DPK, and that it should be developed as a private organization which is physically independent but connected in terms of its purpose and aims.




Margaret Pearl Blaylock, age 85, of Crossville, TN, passed away at her home on May 3, 2022. She was born on November 18, 1936, in Crossville, TN, daughter of the late William Wyatt and Alice (Hale) Wyatt. Margaret was a homemaker and attended Stephen Gap Church of Christ. She is survived by 
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

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A new library designed to be a centralized source of security information and communication for energy company suppliers was announced Tuesday by Fortress Information Security. The Asset to Vendor Library Trust Center is a project of Fortress, American Electric Power and Southern Company, and offers a way for suppliers to connect with their customers and provide information about their supply chain security practices.

The library is a supplier-centered marketplace with the ability to share and update cybersecurity information, as well as provide marketing materials for patrons. Vendors and original equipment manufacturers can control the information they provide their customers, such as security attestations, completed North American Transmission Forum questionnaires, and third-party certifications.

Suppliers can choose how to share their information in the library

Suppliers can choose to share information with everyone in the library or limit access to members who request it. Giving suppliers control over access to their information helps them solve the challenge many suppliers experience of receiving and exchanging security controls questionnaires from multiple prospects or clients. Each is phrased slightly differently but all are essentially the same.

"A lot of these vendors only play in this market," explains Betsy Soehren Jones, COO of Fortress, a provider of cyber risk management solutions for supply chains. "They're frustrated with having to fill out 3,000 copies of the same form and sending it to all their customers."

She added that the library is designed with security in mind. "All the transactions in the library are encrypted," Jones says. "Information flowing from the vendor and requests from customers to the vendor are done in a secure and protected manner."

"There are no analytics happening in the library itself," Jones says. "Once a customer requests something from the library, that transaction goes away. So, there are no records of who is using what part or where a part is installed. It would take an enormous amount of work to use the material in the library for malicious purposes."

Information from 40,000 companies in the library

Capabilities the Trust Center provides users include:

Compliance management and audit preparation questionnaires and surveys patterned to meet existing and emerging regulatory standards

Data-driven risk ranking that employs AI and open-source intelligence to determine the criticality and cyber maturity of supplier assets

Supplier validated product assessments that provide visibility on vulnerabilities, patch history, and security controls

Insights into the geopolitical relationships of suppliers, their products, and their fourth-party suppliers

Patented blockchain technology for securely sharing software and hardware bills of materials and analyses designed to uncover open-source vulnerabilities, product components, and geopolitical affiliations

Continuous monitoring of all active suppliers, their customers, and fourth party vendors

Some 40,000 companies have submitted information to the library, but more information is needed. "The Trust Center and Fortress are positioned to help the industry educate the vendor community on why this is needed and have them deposit their answers in the Trust Center," Jones says. "In the meantime, we understand that utility companies need to make business decisions, so what we will be doing in the interim is provide them with a data-driven reports compiled from open-source sources."
There's one surefire way to end ransomware once and for all: Stop paying. If every organization that suffered a ransomware attack refused to pay up, the threats would lose their income stream, and the work would dry up leading to the end of these attacks as we know them.

Simple, right? It turns out, not so much.

The ransomware industry has become increasingly adept at generating demand. While there are both government and private entities working to dissuade organizations from paying, including legislation that may ban ransom payments for certain sectors, or the phasing out of ransom payment coverage by cyber insurance companies, the hold that cyber ransom has on its victims makes it likely that breached companies will continue paying the ransom. Organizations that do not pay ransomware risk potential losses that far outweigh the financial hit taken from an extortion fee, which gives attackers a clear advantage.

When an organization's bottom line is at risk, the decision to actually pay ransomware gangs is also a tough one for victimsthe benefits and drawbacks have to be carefully considered, as payment never results in immediately reverting back to business as usual. To help organizations demystify the business impact of paying an extortion fee, Gartner published Quick Answer: RansomwareWhat Happens If You Pay? The Quick Answer details how organizations should respond to an extortion demand, and how much data they may or may not recover as a result.

Quick Answer: Ransomware  What Happens If You Pay?

Before understanding what happens when an organization pays, it's important to consider how the decision should be made. While the act of preventing, detecting, and stopping ransomware prior to any encryption and exfiltration lies solely within the realm of security teams, our takeaway from the Gartner Quick Answer is that, by the time ransom is demanded, how an organization reacts is a high-level business decision. At this point in the attack, the role of a security team becomes to provide the necessary information to business leaders so that they can make an informed decision.

When data is encrypted or exfiltrated, the first priority is typically to restore business operations as soon as possible to minimize additional damage caused by lost production, halts in sales, and reputational damage. To resume business as usual, victims have to ensure that attackers will deliver on their promise. While there is a slight risk that an attacker will not provide a decryption key, it's a fairly safe bet that one will be provided. As the Quick Answer points out, "Ransomware is a business, the criminals will provide the decryption tool, and they will withdraw the threat to publish any stolen data. If they don't do so, they effectively break their business model."

While obtaining an actual working decryptor is highly likely, the Quick Answer reports that full data recovery is uncommon among victims as "even with the decrypter, there is no guarantee that all the data will be recovered. Only 8% of organizations manage to recover all the data following a ransomware attack." The Quick Answer also gives clues as to how much data an organization may expect to recover, citing that "the business model of ransomware means that the decryption key will be provided by most attackers, and an average of 65% of the data will be recovered."

Of the data that is recovered, victims should expect the recovery to be a long, painstaking process. The report warns that decryptors can be sluggish or fail entirely: "However, the decryption is often very slow, and if a large amount of data has been encrypted, it can take weeks to recover. The average time to recover was 23 days in the first quarter of 2021."

To help with the process of recovery, the Gartner Quick Answer recommends seeking outside help to negotiate and stay within the boundaries of the law, saying "engage with a professional incident response team as well as law enforcement and any regulatory body before negotiating. Negotiation needs to be part of incident response planning." They also recommend "using the incident response teams to build a new decryption tool by extracting the keys from the tool provided by the attacker."

Finally, when an organization pays ransom, the Quick Answer warns that "although the threat actor will honor their promise not to publish any data, there is little doubt that the data will be shared or sold to other threat actors, increasing the probability of future attacks." Our takeaway from this recommendation is that companies that have already been breached should stay especially diligent about looking for signs of compromise to prevent repeat attacks.

New Gartner Report: Quick Answer: Ransomware  What Happens If You Pay?

Deeper Dive: Strategies for Avoiding Ransomware Payments

Gartner's Quick Answer reminds us that, as a business, ransomware offers terrible value for its services. Unfortunately, even when ransomware recovery is known to be slow and incomplete, the appeal of making ransomware payments remains, thanks to evolving cyber extortion tactics that now include data exfiltration and exploitation. These tactics have ensured that payment of ransom is extremely common, with 83% of victims paying the demand, according to a 2021 survey by ZDNet. This all points to the conclusion that the best tactic for avoiding cyber extortion and ending the ransomware cash supply is to prevent breaches from occurring in the first place.

Ransomware Prevention

To understand how to prevent ransomware, we need to understand the tactics today's extortionists are using. The adversary is rapidly adjusting its business models to become more agile. They're outsourcing specialty tasks and honing in on tactics to skirt conventional security strategies.

By the time today's advanced attackers target an organization, they're already inside. They're gaining this shortcut into an organization's network through the use of initial access brokers (IABs). IABs are specialty criminals who hunt and sell stolen credentials, known unpatched vulnerabilities, or supply chain compromises to larger ransomware operations. Before IABs, cyber extortionists needed in-house technical know-how to be able to effectively target an organization without detection. IABs remove barriers of entry into an organization by enabling them to purchase everything from active directory credentials to VPN access.

Detecting Lateral Movement

With the adversary already past perimeter defenses, modern security teams have to change their strategy by putting the focus on detecting threats post compromise. After an initial intrusion, ransomware follows a pattern of lateral movement toward an organization's data, which they subsequently exfiltrate and encrypt. By knowing the lateral movement playbook, security teams can employ solutions that offer network visibility and behavior-based detections to their arsenal of defenses. From there, any time ransomware makes a move, whether it's early-stage lateral movement or late-stage activity, including data staging, defenders have a chance to catch them in the act and stop it before serious damage is done.

Even with the ability to detect lateral movement, it's important to keep in mind that attackers don't like being predictable. The more defenders are aware of their playbook, the more the adversary will alter and obscure their movements to avoid detection.

Hiding in encrypted traffic is one way they're achieving this. By leveraging encrypted protocols such as Active Directory or Kerberos, attackers are able to exploit what you trust the most for their own gains. With that in mind, defenders should strongly consider adding tools that offer strategic decryption to detect attacks that are taking advantage of encrypted traffic.

Ransomware Recovery: Preventing Repeat Attacks

For ransomware victims, the recovery costs expand far beyond any extortion fees: The average ransom payment for mid-size companies in 2021 was $170,000, while the average recovery cost for ransomware totaled $1.85 million, according to a report published by Sophos.

Among other things, the heavy burden on IT and security teams to ensure the future security of their networks adds to the total recovery costs. Beyond data recovery, the biggest challenge for ransomware response is removing the offending malware from the organization's network and securing any vulnerabilities that enabled initial access.

Unfortunately, for many organizations, effectively identifying and securing the initial attack vectors or rooting out malware from their environments can be time-consuming, costly, and incomplete. These pitfalls can result in repeat attacks by adversaries that are able to either regain or maintain their foothold: Cut corners due to budget and time constraints can lead to ineffective handling of affected devices, and a general lack of network visibility can leave attack vectors such as vulnerable IoT devices in place.

Because of these challenges, a startling 85% of ransomware victims see repeat attacks. This is why, even after an attack, network visibility and behavior-based detection are necessary for organizations to maintain proper security hygiene, patch vulnerabilities, and detect signs of malware in their environment that may be left over from an initial attack.

Staying a Step Ahead of Threats

In a perfect world, the question, 'should companies pay ransomware?' is a clear, unequivocal nobut we know that from a business perspective the answer isn't so simple. If your organization is ever faced with that hard question, refer to Gartner's Quick Answer as a starting place. To avoid paying the ransom altogether, consider adding network visibility and behavior-based detection from a network detection and response (NDR) solution to increase your chances of catching the adversary in the act. We can hope that, by staying ahead of ransomware's game plan, successful extortions will become less and less common.

To learn more, visit us here.
Is the time right for a unified lexicon of known tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) used by insiders who opt to break trust with their employers? MITRE thinks so and has positioned itself to serve as the locus for insider threat knowledge.

In mid-February, MITRE Engenuitys Center for Threat Informed Defense, supported by a phalanx of multi-sector powerhouses including Citigroup Technology, Microsoft, Crowdstrike, Verizon, and JP Morgan Chase, published their Design Principles and Methodology for the Insider Threat TTP Knowledge Base.

Malicious insiders a unique threat

Contemporaneously with the TTP knowledge base effort, a MITRE Engenuity blog post by Jon Baker, director of research and development at the Center for Threat-Informed Defense, posited something every CISO is aware of, Malicious insiders represent a unique threat to organizations. Bakers post acknowledged the focus is on the cyber threat and activities which were observable by a SOC in the IT environment. CISOs will be well served to take note of Bakers admonishment to not, focus on the TTPs of the last major insider threat case to hit the news.

14 techniques of malicious insiders

The TTP highlighted 14 separate areas of interest, which included 54 identified techniques with respect to the behavior of the malevolent insider:

Reconnaissance Resource development Initial access Execution Persistence Privilege escalation Defense evasion Credential access Discovery Lateral movement Collection Command and control Exfiltration Impact

It is often posited how the trusted insider who stays within their swim lane may never percolate onto the radar of the insider threat management program. The MITRE effort is designed to put a fork into that position and demonstrate that even those who stay in their swim lane can be detected when they take actions in support of their having broken trust.

Common malicious insider tactics

The design principles, of the program, astutely included an assessment of the skill level required for each TTP and highlighted those where case files existed as having occurred as did and not hypothetical, would and could parameters. Their findings noted these inferences:

Insider threats routinely use unsophisticated TTPs to access and exfiltrate data.

Insider threats routinely leverage existing privileged access to facilitate data theft or other malicious actions.

Insiders routinely stage data they intend to steal prior to exfiltration.

External/removable media remains a common exfiltration channel.

Email remains a common exfiltration channel.

Cloud storage represents both a collection target for insiders and a common exfiltration channel.

They then took those inferences and assigned a weight of frequency of use, assigning Frequent, Moderate or Infrequent tags to each threat-based, to help practitioners sort the likelihood of a technique being used and to ensure those which occurred with greater frequency were covered. The accompanying GitHub documents are designed to assist teams with their categorizing their experiences.

Entities with limited resources should focus their attention on the probable and save the possible when the queue permits. Focusing on what is possible, though improbably, according to Baker, while creative, causes insider threat programs and SOCs to lose focus. Appropriately, he goes on to quote Frederick the Great, He who defends everything defends nothing. So CISOs should adopt those with the biggest bang for the buck.

Focus on the most likely insider threat scenarios

While nation-state suborning of an employee is a very real possibility, the greater likelihood is the realized insider malicious action will be in support of the individual and their career. This may range from individuals harvesting information to launch their own endeavor, to sell the commodity at hand (the IP and trade secrets of their employer), or to taking the information/data as a condition of their next employment gig.

The purpose of creating the TTP and community is to ensure that, The insider may no longer operate under the cover of legitimate use; we will detect the insider threat prior to its costly and embarrassing impact on our organizations. This will be accomplished by industry sharing, of processes and procedures, webinars, and conferences, where use cases are shared and defenders can learn from each other.

Putting structure around the cyber activity quotient of the insider threat makes sense and CISOs should minimally review the MITRE TTPs for applicability with an eye toward determining how one might adopt the philosophy and avail themselves to the community of entities all rowing in the same direction to thwart the malevolent insider.
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Two years after a pandemic-stricken state sent its office employees to work from home, Wednesday brought the full-staff return at the Department of Transportation, one of the largest Connecticut agencies.

It was dubbed the first All Hands Wednesday, a weekly event. Hundreds, perhaps more than 1,000 people came together at the DOT headquarters in Newington  planners, designers, inspectors and more  connecting with old friends and colleagues on a sunny, pre-spring day.

Parking lots filled.

But the moment also signaled dark clouds of discord as the issue of telework  who can work from home, and how often  hung, for many, over the reunion. Like all state executive branch units, the DOT is now operating under the ruling of an arbitrator who rejected Gov. Ned Lamonts plan to set caps on how much time unionized employees can spend working remotely.

As the tens of thousands of state employees return to normal, how many will request and win telework, for what percentage of their time? No one can say.

The new rules, negotiated under the states 2017 labor agreement, give a roadmap that says agencies can require workers to spend at least one day a week in the office. Beyond that, its a judgment call based on the efficiency and productivity of the employee or the work group.

And it appears to favor state workers exercising their telework rights.

Two facts seem clear: First, state agencies will see more telework than many commissioners and department heads would have preferred, perhaps a lot more.

Some commissioners are privately grumbling, and worrying. Its happening as thousands of state employees from the core of the old office culture prepare to retire in the next few weeks to avoid a change in pension rules  leaving a workforce more focused on remote work.

And second, we will see some royal battles over state employee telework rights until this shakes out.

Its all part of the great reimagining of work thats happening across America in the wake of a pandemic that pointed the way toward a universal online office workplace, in an economy where scarce employees call the shots, led by a millennial generation not playing the old game.

State trends can be a benchmark for the private sector. But the difference is that public officials cant dictate the rules; that happens though bargaining and arbitration.

It is not shaping up to be clean and neat.

Union accuses DOT of violations

I spoke with Travis Woodward, president of one of the largest state bargaining units with thousands of state employees including more than 400 DOT engineers. He said Commissioner Joseph Giulietti had set a maximum of 50 percent telework for DOT employees.

Thats not in line with the arbitration award that we got for the final agreement, said Woodward, president of the Connecticut State Employees Association SEIU Local 2001, and himself a supervising engineer at DOT. A lot of people feel side-winded about the commissioners decision.

In the arbitration award, issued Dec. 27, the union coalition agreed not to object if agencies required at least one day a week, or 20 percent, in the office. With that as a standard, the arbitrator specifically rejected the states plan to allow agency heads to set lower caps on telework time for the units they lead.

The arbitrator, Michael R. Ricci, sided with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), whose proposal said, An employee may request telework schedules of any amount the individual employee believes to be consistent with job duties and operational needs.

DOT is not violating that, spokeswoman Kafi Rouse said in an emailed response late Wednesday. CTDOT does not have a policy capping telework for employees and has never mandated a certain amount of telework. The DOT continues to be in accordance with state law while ensuring the operational needs of the agency are met.

Cap or none, DOT under Giulietti values interactions in-person, in the office.

Succession planning, team cohesion, and culture building are the goals of All Hands Wednesday and we were able to observe this taking place, Rouse said.

Giulietti outlined his goals in a Feb. 22 letter to DOT employees and a 20-page telework policy.

Going forward at the DOT, we will build a hybrid working environment: taking the best of the former all-staff, in-person structure and combining it with the new at-home workspace we created over the past two years, the commissioner said in his letter.

Working together in a community environment will improve our collaboration and provide the in-person interactions that weve been missing....Of course, we want to keep some of the work-life balance that working at home has offered.

I hope you will agree that this is the best of both worlds.

No reason...to show up in the office

I do agree with Giulietti. As a columnist and editor, I worked under a hybrid arrangement for five years before COVID  at Hearst and previously the Hartford Courant. Spontaneous interaction does matter in the world of ideas, though apparently Im too loud for them to let me work in-house all week.

Woodward, the DOT supervising engineer and union president, spends much of his time on highway construction sites. He said he, too, prefers a flexible arrangement with some time in the office and some working remotely.

Trouble is, many state employees do not agree. And the new state rules might favor them regardless of what well-meaning managers such as Giulietti prefer. To reject a bid for telework, management must show material negative impact on service delivery to internal or external customers, clients, consumers or the general public.

Take rank-and-file DOT engineers, for example. Theres no reason why they would need to show up in the office at all, Woodward said. We have team meetings over Microsoft Teams and we meet regularly at least once a week and we share ideas that wayBetween Teams, texting and phones youre only an electronic device away.

No one needs to worry about productivity, he said, because the work product is easily measurable.

Were going to file grievances, Woodward added  hundreds of them if necessary.

A PhD in telework

Multiply that across the state and we could be looking at a mess, not to mention, if Giulietti is right, a lot of lost opportunities.

None of this is directly related to the negotiations just completed between Lamonts office and SEBAC for new, 3-year contracts, which are now subject to ratification votes. Rather, it stems from the 2017 SEBAC contract under former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

That agreement, good through 2027, said telework is a bargainable right with limits, and it called for the state and SEBAC to come up with a telework policy. By 2019, an interim policy took shape but with key issues in dispute as Lamonts negotiators looked for the sort of balance Giulietti described.

Then the coronavirus crisis hit and suddenly, everyone not on the front lines with clients was working remotely. The pandemic, Ricci said in his arbitration ruling, has served as a PhD in telework for the parties.

He added, At times, the parties briefs are love songs to telework. However, where the parties differ, is the degree of telework.

And thats the rub. Lamont spokesman Max Reiss, continuing the love song, said the administration has embraced technology, telework and a different view of how offices should run.

Woodward likens telework to flexible work hours, which took a few years for state managers to accept after that innovation launched in 2008.

Once everybody looks at the spirit of the agreement, 80 percent is where well schedule, Woodward said  meaning 4 out of 5 days remote for state employees who can do it.

Even with our new PhDs, thats a scary prospect.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
EASTON  A group of Easton Republicans has filed a lawsuit claiming the Republican State Central Committee and town officials disenfranchised them during the recent Republican Town Committee caucus.

June Logie, Beverly Dacey, Adel OKane, Elizabeth Maiorano and Shari Williams, all of whom either ran or voted in the now voided RTC caucus in January, said in the lawsuit that state Republicans disenfranchised them by nullifying the caucus results, while town employees facilitated that nullification by following state guidance.

The lawsuit, which was filed on March 4, claims the Republican State Central Committee, its chairman Ben Proto and the dispute committee Proto formed to investigate complaints about the Easton caucus did not have the jurisdiction to rule the caucus invalid. Furthermore, it argues that town employees improperly accepted the state Republican partys determination.

The state committee has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction.

Proto said on Thursday that the state central committee was operating by proper bylaws when it nullified the caucus.

We invalidated the caucus under our bylaws, because thats what the rules require, he said, adding he didnt know who else would have this jurisdiction outside of the state committee.

The lawsuit also claims Easton Town Clerk Christine Halloran allegedly failed to oversee and issue the proper notice that the RTC changed the caucus venue location, resulting in the nullified caucus.

Halloran could not be reached for comment.

Peter Gelderman, an attorney for the town of Easton, said that even though the town is named as a defendant there are no allegations against the town itself in the lawsuit. Both Halloran and Republican Registrar of Voters Dori Wollen are also named as defendants. Gelderman said the allegations against them are ministerial in nature, as all it notes they did was carry out the decisions of state Republicans.

This is really a complaint between the plaintiffs and the state Republican committee, he said.

Wollen said she followed the rulings of the state central committee and the Secretary of the States Office. It is up to the court to determine whether their decision was wrong, she said.

I followed instructions. I have it in writing, she said.

Tossed out caucus

The Republican State Central Committee of Connecticut threw out the results of a January caucus for Eastons Republican Town Committee in early February, leaving the nine candidates petitioning for a primary as the only ones to fill the positions when the new term starts in March.

The decision came after Easton Republicans Raymond Martin and Louis DiPietro, filed complaints with the state party over how the caucus was held and the way residents were notified about the event. The central committee then convened a dispute committee to look into those complaints. It found the meeting was void because then RTC Chair Wendy Bowditch did not properly notify residents of a last-minute change in venue.

Bowditch, who was named in the lawsuit but declined to comment Thursday, has previously said she improperly posted the meeting.

Since the state party did not recognize the event as official, the only eligible members for the RTC are the nine who were petitioning to get seats after originally being ousted at the caucus, the Secretary of the States office has said. This is because members only have a two-week window after the caucus to petition for a primary or position on the RTC.

That window had closed, and so the office noted the nine petitioners were the only eligible people running for seats on the RTC. Gabe Rosenberg, the communications director for the office, said at the time that the situation became one of a no-contest election after the state Republican Party determined the caucus was invalid.

That meant the 30 people selected at the caucus no longer had a chance to vie for seats on the RTC  OKane and Williams were two of those who lost their seats.

The lawsuit

The five people claim in the lawsuit that all of the decisions made at the state and town level caused votes to be nullified without the ability to appeal the decisions being made  causing them harm by disenfranchisement.

Proto said state central committee rules require the chairman to appoint a dispute committee when there is a dispute filed. None of the five members can be from the town, he said, and all those on the dispute committee in question were from other parts of the state.

The committee made a determination that they simply just did not comply with the five-day requirement, he said. Its unfortunate that it happened, but I think it kind of speaks volumes about where were at that so many people want to become involved with the Republican Party.

Proto said there were a number of complaints made in Easton from both sides of the argument, but once the caucus was determined invalid, all the other complaints got dropped because they happened after that point.

As restitution for this, the lawsuit said the plaintiffs want an order declaring that the Republican State Central Committee and its related members did not have jurisdiction to determine whether the meeting was properly posted. They also want an order nullifying the decisions made throughout that process and another order reinstating the original 30 members elected at the caucus, instead of the 10 petitioners who ended up taking office.

Proto said he did not know who else would have this jurisdiction outside of the state committee.

Its in our state bylaws that theyre required to do that, he said. Its also a state statute. Obviously, we disagree with (the claimants) with that. The rules are in place for a reason.

In a press release Thursday, a group called Preserve Easton 06612 said it is calling for Republicans to support the five women in their lawsuit. It said the alleged disenfranchisement named in the lawsuit impacted every Easton Republican, and asks for people to donate to its group.

A hearing for the case is scheduled for Monday in Bridgeport Superior Court.

joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com
Public consensus needed to pursue relocation of presidential office



Controversy is growing over President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to relocate his presidential office from the current site at Cheong Wa Dae. Yoon originally declared he would open "an era of Gwanghwamun" if elected. However, the compound of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan has emerged as the more promising candidate site for the new presidential office, due mainly to issues relevant to security and costs.



"We have yet to reach a conclusion over the matter and are reviewing multiple alternatives," Yoon's spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said during a press briefing Thursday. "But it is certain that there are zero chances for the President-elect to move into the current presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae."



This has invited a strong backlash from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). "The land in Yongsan is replete with a history of humiliation, where armed forces of Qing Dynasty and Imperial Japan were stationed. Is it proper for the presidential office to be relocated there?" Rep. Yun Ho-jung in charge of the DPK's emergency committee said, Friday.



DPK Rep. Youn Kun-young also said, "Relocation of the presidential office has been attempted to promote communication with the people. But the defense ministry's compound is not suitable for such purposes. It is nonsense."



Wary of growing public backlash over the plan to relocate the presidential office, Yoon's transition team has allegedly decided to postpone its plan to announce the relocation site Friday. Critics have cited Cheong Wa Dae as a symbol of the "imperial" presidency, given its secluded location on the slope of a mountain north of Gwanghwamun.



It is desirable for Yoon not to move into the Cheong Wa Dae to facilitate his communications with the people as he promised during the presidential campaign. But the people are now perplexed due to the conflicting stances regarding the new location. The transition team should give appropriate and clear explanations to the public on the matter.



Criticism is also flaring up over the plan to move the presidential office immediately in a hasty manner. The nation's Constitution stipulates that "The President is head of state who represents the nation to foreign states." This well demonstrates the weight of the presidency. And it is not appropriate for Yoon to relocate the presidential office hastily. He needs to take time and all possible factors into account through sufficient consultations with top-level experts.



Before Yoon, Moon also pledged to open the Gwanghwamun age in his 2017 inaugural speech. Yet he renounced the plan in January 2019. At that time, experts cited difficulties in terms of guarding the President, security and costs. Yet, most of all, they said, "the new office is not meant for the current president only." Unless the current plan undergoes sufficient debate, the head of state after Yoon may attempt to move it to another place. This would mean a humiliation for the nation. Thus, though it may take time, the plan for relocating the presidential office needs a proper process to extract public consensus.






Car thefts likely declined across Connecticut last year after experiencing a brief upturn early in the pandemic, according to new data presented to lawmakers on Thursday.

Preliminary crime statistics from state and local police departments last year showed car thefts declining between 4 and 10 percent from the 7,773 incidents reported in 2020, which coincided with a nationwide increase in property crimes.

The latest numbers were compiled by the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at the University of Connecticut, which presented the findings to members of a legislative committee with oversight of juvenile justice matters.

Lawmakers and police officials have largely attributed the increase in car thefts during the pandemic to teenage thieves, causing some officials  particularly Republicans  to call for a renewed crackdown on crime and stiffer penalties for juvenile offenders.

Despite the common association between car thefts and youths, Kenneth Barone, the associate director of IMRP, said on Thursday roughly a third of people arrested for car thefts are under the age of 18, though he pointed out a significant number are in their early 20s.

Youths once made up nearly half of those arrested for car thefts in the early 1990s, Barone added, when the overall number of thefts was drastically larger than today. The state saw an all-time low in the number of reported car thefts in 2019, with 5,964.

Since the records that [the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection] has made publicly available since 1985, weve generally been on a downward trend in auto thefts, Barone said. Were nowhere near where we were 20 and 30 years ago with this crime.

Christina Quaranta, executive director of the Connecticut Criminal Justice Alliance, said the latest figures were a promising sign amid the focus on juvenile crime.

Young people are dealing with things that we and you cannot imagine, Quaranta said. We need to invest in young people to have their needs met so we dont have to talk about this again next year.

Barone added that the declines in vehicle thefts were seen across most of the the state last year, including a decrease of 11 percent in Hartford, 15 percent in New Haven. More than half of the towns with municipal police departments in Connecticut likely saw a decline in car thefts last year, Barone said.

The preliminary data from 2021 showed car thefts beginning to decline in the second half of last year as pandemic-era restrictions were lifted, Barone said, adding that the earlier spike in thefts showed a pretty clear correlation to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to remain under control, its likely that motor vehicle thefts will continue to decline through 2022, Barone said.

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed his own set of anti-crime initiatives during this legislative session, including funding to hire new police officers and deploy mobile crime labs, as well as giving officers the authority to ask people who openly carry firearms to show their permits.

While car thefts have been declining, there has been a recent surge in catalytic converters stolen from vehicles.

Lawmakers on Thursday separately considered legislation by House Democrats to slow the proliferation in thefts by preventing scrap metal shops and junk car dealers from accepting individual converters without proper documentation of where the parts came from.

One victim, Edward Noivo, of Newington, told lawmakers that he had been forced to spend $1,500  equal to his Social Security check  to replace his cars catalytic converter after it was stolen by juvenile thieves.

If I hear a noise at night, I jump out of bed and fear someone is once again attempting to steal my car parts, Noivo said.

Republicans have criticized Lamonts and other lawmakers crime-prevention approach, however, particularly any proposals that focus on placing new restrictions on guns.

During Thursdays hearing on car thefts, state Rep. Pat Callahan, R-New Fairfield, questioned Barones statements that the temporary increase in thefts was linked to the pandemic or new technologies, such as key fobs that are being increasingly left in cars, making them easy targets for thefts.

Its not the key fobs that are causing these cars to be stolen, Callahan said. Its why are individuals out there doing it?

Barone responded that a number of factors during the pandemic could have contributed to the increase in car thefts, including a lack of school programs to occupy youths, fewer court interventions or the strain on police departments as more officers called out sick.

I think theres a lot of reasons why society was impacted by COVID, which could be causing this, Barone said. I dont claim to understand or know the motive of individuals that go to steal a car.

Barone added that the low clearance rate for car thefts, about 7.3 percent in 2020, indicates that increasing penalties on offenders who are caught would likely have little impact on the overall rate of the crimes.

Barone said it would be several months before the final crime statistics for 2021 are released by state and federal agencies.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations most recent annual report, for 2020, showed homicides and motor vehicle thefts spiking in Connecticut, while overall rates of violent crime fell.
An internal investigation that abruptly ended the careers of eight Connecticut State Police recruits shows they improperly accessed a test on accident investigations hours before it was to be administered to the 61-person class earlier this year.

In the 162-page internal affairs report, two investigators detail how the test was posted through an online software system  PowerDMS  and the eight recruits accessed the document throughout the day on Jan. 10 before it was scheduled to be administered in person that night.

I decided to save it to my computer to use it as a study guide, one recruit said when interviewed by investigators, according to the report.

When asked why, the recruit said: To use it as an advantage, sir, the report stated.

Several other fired recruits admitted when asked that they also downloaded the exam to use as a study guide.

The decision I made was an absolute mistake, one recruit said, according to the report. I regret it every single day.

The report identified the fired recruits as Andrew Boucher, Bruno Franceschi, Jennifer Giron, Christian Sienko, John Simmon, Tanner Studlack, Jovanni Vincenty-Medina and Cody Witkowski. Hearst Connecticut Media Group could not reach them for comment.

When asked if any changes were being made at the academy, Col. Stavros Mellekas said, the process is being reviewed by command staff.

Test posted early

While recruits usually live on the Meriden campus while attending the police academy, the report noted they had been working from home given the worsening COVID-19 situation in the state in early January.

The instructor for the accident investigation portion of the academy created the exam with the option for recruits to take it at home during an allotted two-hour window.

Staff at the academy had planned to administer the test on Jan. 7, so the accident investigation instructor drafted a 25-question exam in a Microsoft Word document. It was uploaded to the PowerDMS platform on Dec. 27, 2021, by another instructor, the report read. The instructor who wrote the exam then went on personal leave from Dec. 29, 2021, until Jan. 11.

But on Jan. 6, staff decided to administer the exam in person on Jan. 10, so a commander at the academy changed the publish date to that day, according to report.

Recruits were notified the exam would be held in person from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, the report stated. However, instructors left the exam on PowerDMS with a Jan. 10 publication date in case the recruits were unable to return to in-person learning. At 12:01 a.m. that day, the test was released and recruits could access the document online, the report read.

Investigators noted that around 12:48 a.m., recruits began accessing the exam. They were required to provide a signature that they reviewed it. But the report noted that the students were not supposed to work on the test.

Returning to the academy

Recruits were required to return to the academy on Jan. 10 at 5:45 a.m. for a schedule that included Taser and criminal investigations training, along with a criminal investigations test and the accident investigations exam, the report read.

During the day, information circulated that the document posted to PowerDMS was the actual exam scheduled for that evening, according to the report. Investigators said some of the recruits accessed the exam with designs of referencing or downloading the test in a manor tantamount to a violation of Connecticut State Police Training Academy Rules and Regulations section 1.13.1 pertaining to Cheating/Plagiarism, the report stated.

After lunch, an individual, whose name was redacted, was behind two recruits in line for the mens bathroom when the person saw one of the recruits holding a printed copy of the exam and appearing to be studying it, the report stated. The recruit was also talking to other recruits in a way that made clear he was using the test as a study guide, the report read.

The entire recruit class was informed about the exam being available on PowerDMS and they were urged not to access the document, the report stated. They were also told to inform an instructor if they had worked on the exam, the report stated. It was unclear from the report who addressed the recruits. After receiving these instructions, an audit of the PowerDMS system showed that some recruits continued to access the exam, the report read.

At 4:30 p.m. that day, the recruit coordinator, a sergeant in the state police, informed the class the test would be administered on paper and not through the online system. Investigators said this was the first time the recruits were told explicitly how the exam would be administered, the report read.

An individual, whose name was redacted, then told the sergeant that other recruits witnessed one of their classmates working on the exam, the report read. The sergeant told the individual to return to class and that he would speak to the recruits after the criminal investigation exam.

Recruits confronted

Around 5:10 p.m., the sergeant called all 61 recruits into the academy auditorium. He told them he was aware that some of them had accessed the document through PowerDMS so they could work on the exam, the report read.

The sergeant said accessing the document to work on the exam was not allowed. He asked for the recruits who accessed the exam for this purpose to stand up and go to the back of the auditorium, the report stated.

Two of the recruits stood up and headed to the back of the auditorium, the report read. The sergeant repeated his request, but no other recruits stood up, the report stated.

After the sergeant said the agencys technology department was going to review each recruits laptop to see who had worked on the exam, six other recruits stood up, according to the report.

The eight recruits, who were the subject of the internal investigation, were taken out of the auditorium and told to write a memo about what they had done, the report read.

When later asked by investigators, some of the recruits who initially did not stand up said they froze or panicked.

Termination packages were later put together for the eight recruits before they went before the agencys Termination Board to explain their actions.

The remaining 53 recruits were given a questionnaire as investigators looked into the cheating allegations. According to the report, the investigators said a vast majority of the recruits knew the document was a test, and many closed out of it. Some expressed confusion about the test showing up in the documents section of PowerDMS and not the test section.

All of the accusations of cheating against the eight recruits were upheld, according to the report.

The men and women of the State Police are expected to hold themselves to the highest standards in law enforcement, Mellekas, commander of state police, said in a statement earlier this week in announcing the termination of the eight recruits. When those standards are not met, a process for review must be followed to determine if recruits are worthy of earning the title of state trooper.
For decades, Connecticut has been garnishing the assets of formerly incarcerated individuals  from inheritances, legal settlements, and other assets  to make them pay for the costs of their incarceration. This practice undermines important criminal justice goals and is out of step with national trends. Connecticut legislators are now considering whether to repeal the law that allows the practice. They should do so.

There are many reasons to end this law, like the constitutional concerns that arise from imposing a devastating financial penalty on those who have finished their sentences, and the message of social marginalization it sends. However, one of the reasons this practice must end is the growing realization  across the country  that these laws are simply bad policy. The overwhelming trend of the last decade has been the steady repeal of laws that put the economic burdens of funding governments and criminal systems on defendants.

Connecticuts law allows the state to place a lien on assets of a formerly incarcerated person within two years of their release, and up to 20 years after release for certain assets, like legal settlements and inheritances. While the incarceration lien adds little to the state coffers, approximately .0003 percent of the state budget, the loss to individuals is enormous. The law perpetuates intergenerational poverty and, like with most incarceration fees, disparately impacts BIPOC populations and the economically vulnerable - populations the state should aim to lift up, not push down.

Pay-to-stay statutes have roots dating back to the civil war and were expanded in the 1990s, when accountability logic and economic dips led legislators to shift the costs of carceral systems onto defendants and their families as a way of balancing state budgets. By 2004, one survey found that approximately one-third of county jails and more than 50 percent of state correctional systems had instituted pay-to-stay fees. Individuals across the country are paying fees for their arrest, attorney, courthouse appearances, court transcripts, and more. Costs for formerly incarcerated people can run into six figures. In Connecticut, the state shifted incarceration costs through high-priced commissary charges for basic necessities like soap and toothpaste, exorbitant phone fees, and its sweeping pay-to-stay law. Meanwhile, incarcerated people working in Connecticut prisons are paid about $1.25 per day. Once out of prison, the incarceration lien creates a looming debt burden on those working to reenter society.

Over the last decade, states and local governments across the country have realized the harms of imposing the costs of running criminal systems on the people least likely to be able to pay. A national organization called the Fines and Fees Justice Center now works with communities, researchers, policymakers, judges, and others to help governments find ways to abolish criminal system fees. More state and local governments are joining this effort every day. A few weeks ago, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed a bill that would end court fees for people who cannot pay. In January, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for an end to parole supervision fees. According to the Fines and Fees Justice Center, 2021 saw a wave of reforms in red and blue states and localities, including the end of debt-based driving restrictions, the elimination of juvenile fees, and the abolition of a host of other criminal system costs, in places such as Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Connecticut and Maine remain the only states in New England and the Tri-State Region authorizing room and board charges for individuals after they have left prison. Fortunately, in recent decades, media have shined a spotlight on the inequities that persist when laws perpetuate economic and physical hardship for criminal defendants. Two years ago, Illinois abolished its pay-to-stay law. State Sen. Robert Peters, the sponsor of the repeal bill, summarized the case against pay-to-stay: Pay-to-stay is morally wrong. These folks are already being punished for their crimes by being locked up. Its unconscionable that we would place them into indentured servitude upon their release. In 2021, Washtenaw County in Michigan forgave more than half a million dollars in debt owed by more than 31,000 people who have been incarcerated at their facilities within the past eight years.

The effort to curtail carceral fines and fees as punishment has been bipartisan. Conservative groups like Cato, Right on Crime, and the Texas Policy Foundation have linked up with criminal justice advocates to end charging practices in Texas, Florida, California, and many other places. When COVID hit, many feared that the economic burden on states and local governments would halt progress, but in many places the opposite has happened. Since COVID, governments began suspending payment obligations, offering amnesties, and ending charges for items in prison  everything from phone calls to soaps. In 2019, a unanimous Supreme Court wrote in Timbs v. Indiana that excessive fines imposed by states are unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. Justice Ginsberg wrote for the Court that a fine not be so large as to deprive (an offender) of his livelihood. Conservative justices agreed. Justice Thomas, concurring, wrote that the the right to be free from excessive fines should be an inalienable right under the Privileges or Immunities Clause.

In the Land of Steady Habits, Connecticut is slow to catch up to national trends, but not inert. Last year, Connecticut made significant strides. The Legislature eliminated a welfare lien that threatened to take property from those receiving welfare benefits and ended phone fees for people in prison. Repealing incarceration liens and the remainder of pay-to-stay fees is a critical step that Connecticut must take to eliminate policies that deprives free individuals and their families of reentry and economic stability.

Mumina Egal is a student at the University of Connecticut School of Law and a Fellow for UConn Laws Center on Community Safety, Policing, and Inequality. Luke Reynolds is a student at the University of Connecticut School of Law and a member of the UConn Law Criminal Defense Clinic. Anna VanCleave is an associate professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law and the director of the Criminal Defense Clinic and a member of the Affiliated Faculty for UConn Laws Center on Community Safety, Policing, and Inequality
Staffing shortages are big news across the country of late, but few states are in as severe a crisis as Connecticut, which has more than 110,000 job vacancies. Although the needs of workers have shifted dramatically as a result of the pandemic, the root of our problem is stagnant population growth, attributable in large part to the states one-size-fits-all housing landscape.

Homes have rarely been so scarce here. Those that are available  mostly single-family homes on large lots  are selling for absurd amounts and are categorically beyond the reach of most working families. Earlier this month, Connecticut Comptroller Natalie Braswell summarized the dilemma: With inflation driving up the cost of everyday essentials, rising rent threatens the ability of workers to save, pushing homeownership out of reach.

This hot housing market may sound like good news to some, but its bad news for business in our state if youre an employer looking for workers or a worker looking to plant roots. If youre a younger adult looking to stay in the place you grew up, or an older adult looking to age in place, this is bad news for you, too.

Last year, Connecticut began to reform its housing and zoning practices by legalizing accessory dwelling units, addressing outdated parking mandates, and requiring training for planning and zoning commissioners. These reforms make it easier to create more and different types of homes in Connecticut, but there is more work to be done.

This year, a new bill proposed with bipartisan support in the Connecticut General Assemblys Planning and Development Committee would give communities more tools to create the homes they need by advancing the concept of transit-oriented communities, also known as transit-oriented development or TOD. On Monday, hundreds of residents testified before the Committee during a public hearing on the bill, HB5429.

The bill asks all communities to allow  as of right  a minimum of 15 homes per acre within a half-mile radius of the 62 rail and rapid bus transit stations in the state. This is comparable to a proposal adopted by Massachusetts last year, which was promoted by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, and passed with bipartisan support.

For many years there has been growing support for diverse housing options near transit in Connecticut. As transit-oriented communities become increasingly popular, we must seize this opportunity to meet the demands of businesses and residents. Housing and job growth are interdependent, and its time we champion policies that recognize this.

Transit-oriented communities create more homes and more kinds of homes near transit. This strategy concentrates homes in areas with infrastructure, preserving natural spaces while putting new residents close to businesses and amenities.

Certain Connecticut communities are already leading the way. Berlin is beginning to welcome new residents  a really nice mix of demographics and ages  thanks to new transit-oriented homes in their downtown area. Derbys transit-oriented zoning strategy, championed by Republican Mayor Rich Dziekan, has jump-started mixed-use housing development. Both communities provide a model others can follow.

More transit-oriented communities are a win for everyone. They attract talent and support business, and they offer benefits to residents by providing vibrant, walkable districts with amenities that serve local communities. They offer an opportunity to provide more affordable homes for people who work in communities where they cannot currently afford to live, help reverse the troubling decline of our younger population, and allow older residents to age in place.

In order to meet their staffing needs, businesses in Connecticut rely on the availability of homes for workers of all incomes. Jobs in Connecticut remain unfilled in many cases because potential workers cant afford the cost of homes in our state.

More transit-oriented communities mean that fewer people would have to endure long commutes that make it hard for companies to fill positions, and for workers to balance work and life.

It means that fewer young adults would live with their parents or move away for their careers or to start families because they could find homes in Connecticut that suit their needs. It means fewer older residents would be forced to leave the communities where theyve spent their lives and raised their families because they could downsize to smaller units near amenities like restaurants, health care and transit in their hometowns.

We all want an economically vibrant Connecticut where businesses can find workers and all residents  new and existing  can find a home. By supporting transit-oriented communities, together we can make that vision a reality in our state. Its time to get on board.

Melissa Kaplan-Macey is vice president for state programs and Connecticut director of the Regional Plan Association.
There are many questions worth asking about housing policy in Connecticut. At the moment, there appear to be many more people interested in living in the state than there are places available to live, as evidenced by the long list of potential buyers for properties on the market and rising prices. But we dont know how long that will last.

What we do know is whats on the table at this years short session of the states General Assembly. A pair of bills on housing have generated most of the attention, one of which would be far-reaching and generate a new approach to affordable housing based on a fair share model, where individual communities would have to come up with ways to meet assigned goals. The other is more modest, and focuses on loosening zoning codes around transit stops.

It was this second bill that generated attention on Tuesday by virtue of a public hearing that lasted many hours and featured proponents and opponents stating their cases. But the debate went far beyond the issue at hand, and the most noteworthy exchange may have been when a Greenwich legislator asked a supporter of the plan if he believed housing was a right.

Alan Cavagnaro, a sophomore at Manchester Community College and a planning and zoning commissioner for South Windsor, replied that he believed it was, to which state Rep. Kim Fiorello, who posed the question, replied, Housing is not a right, because housing is built by other people.

Shes in her rights to believe that. Its also completely beside the point.

Connecticut is one of the richest states in the country, and yet many people here struggle with homelessness. This is a serious problem that is worthy of consideration by the state Legislature, but it was not the subject of the public hearing this week. Whether housing is a right is a complete non sequitur.

What is on the table is an overhaul of zoning codes that would allow for multifamily housing near transit stations. This is deemed necessary by some because individual towns are not acting by themselves, and, though we value home rule in this state, there are times when a push from above is necessary to make good policy happen. Thats why this bill has been proposed.

Allowing multifamily housing near transit stops is a sensible policy for many reasons. It would allow more people to live in Connecticut, for one reason, and boosting the population is a top priority for the state business community. We have thousands of unfilled jobs and we need people to get the state economy moving.

Homes near transit allow people to forgo cars, at least some of the time. That means less traffic on the highway, less emissions, less congestion. Local businesses benefit, to say nothing of the gains for public health.

Legislators may choose against supporting this proposal because they think such decisions should be up to individual towns. What they shouldnt do is change the subject and try to score points over questions that are not up for debate.

Connecticut has some real challenges. Solving them should be lawmakers only priority. The least we could ask is that they try to focus.
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Digital transformation in energy sector gives boost to green, low-carbon development

09:05, March 18, 2022 By Kang Pu ( People's Daily

Thanks to the employment of digital technologies, work efficiency at the Qingdong 5 offshore oil production platform of Sinopec Shengli Oilfield in east China has been significantly improved.

Workers are busy producing photovoltaic modules at a 5G-based smart factory of a new energy technology company in Haian city, east Chinas Jiangsu province. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhai Huiyong)

The oil production platform with 14 workers and 35 oil wells is able to produce about 230 tons of crude oil a day.

With the help of 12 high-definition dome cameras, workers can easily monitor the entire oil platform through a large screeneven the screws on oil wells can be clearly seen. Meanwhile, computer beside the screen can provide the real-time data about various factors of oil wells, including wellhead pressure, temperature, oil production as well as electricity consumption.

In the past, such data were manually collected, during which workers had to run back and forth carrying thermometer and pressure gage to record the readings. Now they are able to get various indexes with a click of the mouse.

With real-time data displayed on the computer, workers can know whether there are pump leaks, lack of liquid feeds and other problems and keep track of the production of oil wells, said Yuan Liang, who is in charge of the production and maintenance of the oil platform.

While digital economy thrives, digitalization of the energy sector, which refers to leveraging digital technologies to build a more efficient, cleaner and more economical modern energy system and improve the safety, productivity and sustainability of energy system, is quietly penetrating peoples production and life.

Workers monitor production via a 5G-based management system at a mining company in Suxian district, Chenzhou city, central Chinas Hunan province. (Photo/China Mining News)

Digitalization bears great significance for the development energy companies. It can not only liberate mankind from burdensome manual labor, but bring plenty of benefits to enterprises. Since Chinas new development philosophy toward low-carbon development was put forward, digital and intelligent transformation of the energy sector has become even more important.

Digital technologies can help the energy industry reduce costs and increase efficiency. Based on all-optical sensing products and arithmetic engine, Chinese tech giant Huawei helped Shandong Jihua Gas Co., Ltd. find a solution to smart oil and gas pipeline inspection, which increases the accuracy of pipeline integrity threat identification to 97 percent.

In this way, it has helped the energy company comprehensively improve pipeline safety and management quality and reduce operation and maintenance costs, accelerating the digital transformation of oil and gas industry.

Digital technologies are playing an important role in Chinas energy supply and consumption revolution strategy and have become the driving force for the transformation of the energy industry, according to Liu Wenqiang, deputy head of the China Center for Information Industry Development.

The integrated development of cloud computing, mobile Internet, big data, blockchain and 5G technology is transforming the models of energy production, operation and transmission; and by empowering the energy industry, digitalization can improve the management and production efficiency in the industry and promote green and low-carbon transition, Liu pointed out.

Many companies at a chemical fiber industrial park in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou city, east Chinas Zhejiang province recently installed energy consumption data collectors, which upload their energy consumption and carbon emission data in real time to the citys digital platform for energy conservation, carbon emission peaking and carbon neutrality.

Hangzhou is making use of digital technologies to integrate data on electricity, gas, oil and coal and information about energy consumption of enterprises under intensive monitoring so as to precisely control energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Staff members with China Mobiles branch in Inner Mongolia autonomous region debug 5G network connectivity for the autonomous operations of large mining dump trucks at an open-pit mine of Shenhua Baori Hiller Energy Co., Ltd. (Photo/China Mobiles branch in Inner Mongolia autonomous region)

Promoting changes to the production side with digital and intelligent technologies to create a brand new green production model represents a future direction in the development of the energy sector, said Cen Kefa, a professor at the College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University.

Chinas State Council has issued a plan for the development of digital economy during the countrys 14th Five-Year Period (2021-2025), proposing accelerating digital transformation of the energy sector, advancing the digital upgrading of facilities in energy production, transportation, storage, sale and use, and implementing digital construction and transformation targeting the equipment, facilities and production process of coal mines, oil and gas fields, oil and gas pipeline networks, power plants, power grids, oil and gas reserves, final energy consumption and other fields.

Experts noted that there is an increasingly urgent need for digitalization in various links of the energy industry, including production, transportation, retail and consumption. Its believed that the top-level design and overall planning of the country will further facilitate digitalization of the energy sector.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Models pose with Outback Steakhouse food at The Plaza Seoul, July 11, 2017. Korea Times file



By Kim Jae-heun



The quality of food at Outback Steakhouse has been under criticism lately, as some people claim the Australia-themed family restaurant has seen a decline in food quality after its acquisition last November by bhc, Korea's second-largest fried chicken franchise. But the company flatly denied such claims, saying it will take legal action against anyone spreading "groundless" rumors.



"We did not change any of our recipes for Outback Steakhouse meals, but instead strived to offer the best quality food and services to maintain its reputation as a premium dining brand," a bhc official said. "Outbeak Steakhouse will take legal action to protect its customers from rumors circulating on internet communities that the steakhouse franchise has downgraded food quality to cut costs."



Bhc refuted every single criticism raised at dcinside.com, the country's largest community portal site that is visited by 3 million people per day.



One of the posts uploaded on Monday showed a picture of Outback's "Gimme Five" platter with a comment saying the Aussie Cheese Fries had been replaced with cheese sticks. It further alleged that Outback seems to have used cocktail shrimp for its Toowoomba Pasta and had been microwaving ribs before serving them. The poster also claimed the Fruit Ade drinks no longer use extracts of real fruit and they taste like fruit-flavored sparkling water.



This post went viral instantly with more than 1,000 commenters sharing their own experiences.



"It is not true that we used cocktail shrimp for our Toowoomba Pasta and that we did not cook our ribs on the grill. Also, we replaced the Aussie Cheese Fries with cheese sticks due to a global potato shortage," a bhc official said. "Cheese sticks are more expensive than Aussie Cheese Fries, so it is wrong to claim we are trying to cut costs with them."



Customers also complained over the earlier ending time for the lunch period, from 4 p.m. to 3 p.m., when Outback offers special prices for its food.



However, bhc said the hours were reduced as a countermeasure that the company came up with after its employees complained of a heavy workload during the lunch period.



"We do not want our employees to suffer from groundless rumors online that depreciate the value of Outback Steakhouse's brand," a bhc official added.


BRIDGEPORT - City police Sgt. John Klesyks roller coaster ride continues.

Initially docked five holiday days over his alleged use of a nationwide police database for his personal use, Klesyk, second in command of the Office of Internal Affairs, was suspended with pay last week by Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia.

Then, late Thursday Garcia issued a memo in the Police Department that Klesyk was immediately being reinstated to full duty status.

Sergeant Klesyk has been returned to full duty status as he has fulfilled his state-mandated requirement, stated Police Department spokesman Scott Appleby in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media Friday morning. He did not comment further.

The Bridgeport Guardians, the police departments minority officer organization, which had previously demanded city officials remove Klesyk from OIA, the office that polices the police, claimed Friday that Garcia mislead the Board of Police Commission that Klesyks offense was not criminal.

In a March 3 memo Garcia stated that Klesyk 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.

Acting Chief Garcia has an obligation to maintain and uphold the values, integrity, and mission for the Bridgeport Police Department. Acting Chief Garcia has now set precedence within the department with her most recent actions regarding Sergeant Klesyks police misconduct and discipline rendered that this behavior is acceptable, the Guardians stated in a complaint to the city attorney on Friday.

Daniel Roach, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, confirmed Friday that during Tuesdays commission meeting the board met with Garcia in executive session to discuss the Klesyk situation. He declined to disclose what was discussed and said no action was taken and the matter was deferred to the commissions next meeting.

The chief is in charge of discipline in the matter but not whether he (Klesyk) remains in internal affairs, Roach said. Discipline has been taken care of in this matter.

Later Friday afternoon, Rowena White, a spokesperson for Mayor Joe Ganim, sent an email statement that Mayor Ganim is requesting that the Police Commission consider transfer of Sergeant Klesyk from the Office of Internal Affairs.

In addition to complaints to the mayor, police commission and city attorney, the Guardians this week also filed a complaint with the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council.

Due to the circumstances, Sergeant John Klesyk actions has violated the public trust and (in light of) the national climate for police transparency and Connecticut laws enacted for public safety reforms (police accountability), the complaint states. At the time, Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia initiated an investigation but never took the proper steps by having Sergeant Klesyk placed on administrative status or leave during this process. As a result, he 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.

POST officials did not return calls for comment.
With the U.S. Congress debating President Joe Bidens request for $15 billion in new COVID aid, coronavirus efforts in Connecticut could be affected by the decision.

In a letter to congress, Biden said without new coronavirus funding, COVID mitigation efforts, testing and treatment would suffer.

Without the requested funding, the White House says the federal government would not have adequate resources to purchase enough booster vaccine doses for all Americans, if additional doses are needed.

My office is starting to get calls from clinics and testing sites around the district and their message is clear: If this funding runs out, testing stops, said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District. While the omicron wave is behind us, the pandemic is not over. Congress needs to come together to pass funding to keep live-saving testing and treatment open and available.

Senate Republicans have argued that much of the money already allocated for COVID relief has not yet been spent.

I think that we ought to determine  and weve asked the administration  how much unspent money is there, said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., ranking member of the appropriations committee, as The Hill reported. There are billions of dollars unspent.

Lora Rae Anderson, a spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont, said the state is closely monitoring the situation in Washington in partnership with our congressional delegation.

While we believe our state is in a good place, if Senate Republicans do not end their obstruction, we, like all other states could face challenges in our health care system because of vaccination and therapeutic supply challenges, she said. We remain hopeful that Senate Republicans will do the right thing and put the public health and safety of our residents first.

The proposed funding extends the program through which uninsured patients obtain COVID testing and treatment, the White House said.

Providers will no longer be able to submit claims for providing these services to uninsured individuals, forcing providers to either absorb the cost or turn away people who are uninsured, the White House said.

The latest round of funding will run out March 22. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration posted on its website that the uninsured program will stop accepting claims for testing and treatment due to lack of sufficient funds at 11:59 p.m. March 22. The program will also stop accepting vaccination claims due to lack of funds at 11:59 p.m. April 5, the website states.

We need to maintain sufficient testing capacity and grow the availability of COVID-19 outpatient therapies, the Connecticut Hospital Association said in a statement. We must also ensure that the uninsured and underinsured have access to COVID-19 testing, treatments and vaccines. All of this requires the support of the federal government and we hope that Congress and the administration will agree on additional federal funding in the very near future.

Its not just the uninsured, according to Yale School of Medicine professor Howard Forman. He said less COVID funding will hurt "those who have the greatest risks, due to lower resources and less access to usual care."

"Think about the person with a large deductible who would readily access a free monoclonal antibody clinic or testing site for testing and early treatment, but who might be afraid of large bills if they went to a private physician or even a hospital," Forman told NBC.

Additional federally funded purchases of monoclonal antibody treatments as well as new antiviral treatments are also in jeopardy, according to the White House.

When she introduced legislation that would provide $15.6 billion in supplemental COVID funding, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said more money was needed.

While we have made great strides to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, additional resources are needed to manage the virus at home and around the world, she said in a statement.

COVID funding was removed from an omnibus spending bill, which Biden later signed, so DeLauros one-off introduction was considered as a standalone request.

The continued funding for COVID mitigation efforts is being requested amid the backdrop of waning coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.

The state reported Friday that 336 new COVID cases had been identified out of 12,309 reported tests for a positivity rate of 2.73 percent. COVID hospitalizations declined by eight patients for a total of 92 statewide.

The federal government has so far spent $3.6 trillion on pandemic-related issues, according to the U.S. Treasury.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities sent a survey to local municipal leaders, asking how they are using and would allocate funding through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Those projects include COVID testing sites, HVAC upgrades and programs for mental health services related to the pandemic.

COVID pandemic-related issues have been very costly to local governments, said Kevin Maloney, CCMs director of communications. The towns are very dependent on getting that funding.

Different buckets of federal COVID funding have also gone to support schools in Connecticut. School districts are worried about what happens when federal COVID funding runs out, according to Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

I think theyve been worried from the beginning that there's going to be a huge fiscal cliff, she said. Weve been sounding the alarm.

In Norwalk, the school district estimates it will need more than $15.5 million more than is allocated to address recurring expenses covered by the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grants.

Federal COVID relief funding to schools, which Rabinowitz said must be spent by 2024, was used to shore up general operating costs.

What happens when that funding goes away? she said. Those districts have traditionally been underfunded for a very long time.

Rabinowitz said towns kept annual budget increases to schools lower than they might have been, because of the federal money.

The actual operating budgets were cut by the cities because the districts had extra funding, she said. Perhaps they gave them a 1 percent increase when they would have given them a 3 percent increase.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Norwich, chair of the legislatures appropriations committee, said there is still a lot of money that schools have gotten that they have not spent yet.

If more federal funding is made available, she said it could be used for infrastructure-related projects.

If I had my druthers, what I'd really like to see is the federal government put some money into early childhood care and infrastructure, she said. Those are two areas where I think it would be the most impactful.
The issue: Connecticut legislators are trying again  as they have since the 1980s  to ban driving with open containers of alcohol in the vehicle.

What we wrote: Given its strong anti-drunk-driving laws and reputation for passing progressive legislation, its surprising that Connecticut has not yet prohibited open alcohol containers inside motor vehicles. Even if it prevents one alcohol-related tragedy, this law would seem to be worth the trouble to adopt. But the states bottom line finally may force the issue. Editorial, Aug. 28, 2007

The price Connecticut pays goes beyond the well-being of drivers and passengers  theres a literal price, too. States without an open container law have a percentage of annual funds from the federal government that would otherwise go toward infrastructure improvements instead diverted to other uses. Connecticuts total penalty has added up to $152.6 million, a not-insignificant sum. With an ongoing political fight over funding for transportation improvements and tolls, it seems obvious the state should not turn down money it needs for these purposes. Editorial, Jan. 23, 2020

Whats the holdup?: There has been occasional pushback, but that reasoning has been, and remains, flawed. Concerns have been raised that, without the federal funding, Connecticut would not stay on top of anti-alcohol education. We trust that groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving would continue to be reliable watchdogs in that regard. In 2008, a lengthy debate ensued after members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus warned it could lead to more racial profiling from police targeting traditions of city denizens enjoying drinks together in parked cars. Thats just another reminder to confront profiling issues, not enable them. Finally, there has always been a claim that it comes down to individual rights. That echoes more loudly in the wake of mask debates, but there will never be a good argument for why anyone needs to imbibe in a moving car. Its a distraction no driver needs. There would be exceptions regarding hired vehicles. So passengers in a wedding limo, for example, can still share a toast on the way to the reception.

Whats new: The 2022 effort to outlaw open containers is a piece of a much longer bill that also includes the effort to require motorcycle helmets. Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti is stressing a statistic that should make this an easy call  that Connecticut is experiencing a rise in alcohol-related deaths. In the pre-COVID year of 2019, there were 94 traffic fatalities in the state involving alcohol-impaired drivers, according to the DOT.

Whats next: If passed, the law would take effect Oct. 1. Remaining a holdout on open containers sends the wrong message in  and about  Connecticut. We shouldnt still be having this same discussion in a fifth decade. That banning open containers would result in more infrastructure funding is a bonus, but its not the best reason for a ban. Saving lives will always come first.
Funeral Service for Brenda Joyce Wright, 71, of Cullman, will be 3 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022 at Northbrook Baptist Church. A viewing will be on Friday from 2-3 p.m. prior to the service. The visitation will be 5:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday night, May 5, 2022 at Cullman Funeral Home. Rev. Keith Warde
POSCO Chairman Choi Jeong-woo speaks during the shareholders meeting at the company's office in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of POSCO



By Baek Byung-yeul



POSCO Holdings' shareholders' meeting finished without any major hitches on Friday as the group's Chairman Choi Jeong-woo succeeded in gaining support from shareholders after vowing to speed up its transition to an eco-friendly materials company and strengthen its shareholder return policy.



"This year, POSCO Group will switch to a holding company system and be reborn as a company that will last more than 100 years," the chairman told shareholders at the group's offices in Seoul. "We will faithfully play a platform role to develop future portfolios, reorganize group businesses, lead ESG management and establish corporate citizenship."



The meeting was the first one held since the group launched POSCO Holdings on March 2. The holding company serves as a parent of its spun-off steelmaking unit, named POSCO, as well as its other subsidiaries such as POSCO International, POSCO Chemical, POSCO Energy, POSCO E&C and POSCO ICT.



Chairman Choi stressed that the company will work on improving its value through what he called "real value management," which refers to the sum of economic, environmental and social value created by corporate activities.



"We will realize the five major goals of achieving carbon neutrality in the steel business, improving our capability in new mobility, leading in green energy, realizing future housing and securing global food resources," Choi said.



Shareholders supported the chairman's move by passing all of his proposals, including the appointments of new board members.



When asked about the company's dividends policy, Choi said, "We will offer 17,000 won in dividends per share and the dividend payout ratio is at 6.2 percent. We seek shareholders' understanding because it is expected to be higher than other large companies and requires enormous investment funds in the new growth sector."



Choi also confirmed that the company will retire a certain amount of treasury shares this year, as part of its efforts to enhance corporate value.



During the meeting, shareholders did not raise any questions about POSCO Holding's relocation issue. The holding company has its headquarters in Seoul, but recently decided to move to the company's hometown of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province.



Pohang residents, politicians and civic groups have raised issue with the southeastern port city losing its competitiveness if the holding company maintains its headquarters in Seoul. Facing such a backlash, the company promised on Feb. 25 that it will relocate its headquarters to Pohang by March 2023.


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If one were to take a drive down the surrounding streets of the University of Oregon, its easy to see infrastructural change and expansion. Our university's freshman class of 2021 welcomed a record-high number of students this fall, and this growth shows no signs of slowing down. With this influx of students, the university and affiliated businesses are already opportunizing to accommodate.

Multiple student-targeted apartments are being built on Franklin Blvd, while the most recent and prominent development is the expansion of the Duck store on East 13th Avenue. The Duck Store, while an independent business, sells University of Oregon apparel and supplies to UO students. And, on February 1st, the store finalized plans for a mixed-use development, demolishing property currently occupied by Toxic Wings X-Press, Bobahead, Caspian Mediterranean Cafe, Oregon Colors clothing boutique and Simply Mac.

The current plans for the development project include expanded retail space for the Duck Store as well as additional retail shops on the ground floor with four stories of student housing above the storefronts.

Caspians Mediterranean cafe, one of the businesses being displaced by the development, currently has plans to either temporarily close or attempt to relocate during the move. And, while they hope to return, according to employee Nicholas Tyler Smith, there is still some uncertainty during this time. I think its nice that they are trying to give us a new space because we obviously would like one, but the other problem is that once they build this new space it's like are we going to be able to afford to rent it? Smith questioned.

This is an unfortunate reality when it comes to development as there is always the threat of pricing certain people in the community out of their spaces. Whether we are in a college town or a big city, this aspect of gentrification is always present.

As a UO student here in Eugene I often cant help but feel guilty as I hear Eugene locals and small businesses such as Caspians complain about the ugly student high rises filling their streets and our Duck Store displacing their business.

Being someone who grew up in Oakland, one of the primary places in the US experiencing gentrification and displacement today, the idea of being a perpetrator in another city deeply concerns me. At home, I live 10 minutes away from the UC Berkeley campus where a longstanding houseless people encampment is under threat of being built over to provide dorms for students. I cant help but see parallels here in Eugene, another place that has a large houseless population.

However, unlike some bigger cities, new developments in increasingly popular college towns are inevitable and often necessary, whether the community welcomes them or not. With UCs and other out-of-state school systems decreasing their acceptance rates and raising fees, the University of Oregon is becoming the best option for many students both in and out of state. With this draw, more developments will come and we ultimately cant fully fault the developers and University for expanding to accommodate.

As college students who are contributing to the studentification of Eugene we still must be aware of our participation in this system that ultimately harms others, and the effects we have on the community. At the end of the day, Eugene is a college town, but we rely on the surrounding community for as much as they rely on us financially. The politics surrounding the gentrification of Eugene is a nuanced issue that not many people in the community have answers for on both sides. But, no matter where you stand on it, we should all continue to support small businesses in this town and consume consciously.
Barbara Faye Boyles, 75, of Raceland, Kentucky passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at her residence. Barbara was born August 1, 1946, in Load, Kentucky a daughter of the late Homer and Gladys Johnson Boyles. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one nephew Robert Boyles. Bar
Kyung Kye-hyun, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions division, speaks during a shareholders meeting at its Suwon headquarters, March 16. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics





By Baek Byung-yeul







Kyung Kye-hyun, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions division, met with the company's union leaders for the first time, Friday, as unionized workers have been intensifying pressure on management to meet their demands. The union leaders called on Kyung to increase wages and offer additional paid holidays, according to the company, but Kyung made no concessions at the gathering.







"The meeting was held for about an hour from 1 p.m. in the CEO's office in Hwaseong," a company spokesman said. "As this was the first time a Samsung CEO and union met, it was not a place where strong questions were exchanged. It was a meeting where the CEO listened to what the union leaders said and had a dialogue. There was no particular conclusion made from the meeting between the president and union leaders."







The meeting came about a month after union members asked the company on Feb. 16 for a meeting with a high-ranking executive, after wage negotiations between the union and management broke down.







On Feb. 4, Samsung's union applied for mediation with the National Labor Relations Commission after failing to reach an agreement with management over the wages for 2021.







The arbitration effort failed to reach an agreement and the unionized workers consequently earned the right to legally go on strike. However, they deferred a walkout and instead requested a meeting with top executives.







The union, comprised of around 4,500 members, has been negotiating since October with management over wages for 2021.







The union requested changes in its bonus system from the current system that calculates based on the company's economic value added index, a calculation of how much profit remains after deducting the costs of the firm's capital spending from its operating profit, to calculate bonuses based on operating profit. It also requested more paid holidays.







"I heard that the CEO first asked the union members for their thoughts. He also said 'let's talk candidly with each other.' The conversation was not in a harsh atmosphere, but a time to talk honestly with each other," the Samsung spokesman added.







The union side also noted the CEO's "willingness" to continue talking with them. "Management reiterated their previous position that it was difficult to reflect all the demands of the union, but CEO Kyung tried to listen to our opinions as much as possible," a union member told reporters after the meeting.







"To be honest, it is half and half whether the negotiations will be changed compared to the previous talks, but we will monitor the situation with expectations."


More than three weeks into his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, President Putin is still no nearer anything that looks like victory. Astonishingly, it is even possible he is staring defeat in the face.

Whatever the military outcome, Putin faces one of only two prospects: his demise, possibly bloody; or a future as an isolated global pariah with whom almost nobody will deal.

Certainly, the longer he clings on in the Kremlin, the more he will impoverish Russia. Economic sanctions will only get tighter as his military machine in Ukraine acts in ever more brutal ways.

Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured at a news conference in Moscow, Russia, last month

America and its Nato allies have already made it clear to those who matter in Moscow that there can be no return to anything resembling 'normality' as long as Putin remains in power. That could embolden some to act.

The Russian blitzkrieg, which was meant to overwhelm Ukraine in a matter of days, never got off the ground. The UK's latest defence intelligence assessment reports that Russian advances have ground to a halt for more than a week.

The Russian airforce still does not control the skies over Ukraine, and its navy seems to be baulking at amphibious landings on Ukraine's Black Sea shores.

Meanwhile, Russian casualties continue to mount, with U.S. intelligence estimating 7,000 Russian dead so far. Ukraine claims the death toll is twice as high. Even the lower figure, after only four weeks, is more than America's total losses after 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Independent analysis of video footage and photographs suggests Russia has lost more than 200 tanks, almost 500 armoured vehicles, 70 air-defence systems, 13 helicopters and 32 fighter jets.

But given that not all incapacitated vehicles have been visually documented, the actual count will be much higher. Even as things stand, the number of tanks lost is already the highest in any military action since World War II.

And the scope for reinforcing the troops currently on the ground in Ukraine is diminishing by the day. With 75 per cent of its Battalion Tactical Groups  the Russian army's basic fighting unit  already deployed, sending in more effectively leaves much of Russia defenceless, in terms of conventional forces.

As Phillips O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at St Andrews University, says: 'Russia could no more attack Nato at the moment than it could attack Mars.'

True, much of Russia's invasion force remains intact. But they are running out of food, fuel and ammunition. Russian military logistics are so poor that re-supply is in doubt.

This will further undermine their morale, which is already low. At the outset, Putin assured his military commanders that sending columns of heavy armour into a friendly nation would be a walk in the park. So the ferocity of Ukrainian resistance came as something of a shock.

A school, pictured today, in the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine, destroyed after Russian forces' shelling

So did the appalling performance of the Russian armed forces. They have failed to operate as a combined military force, with poor command and control, a breakdown in encrypted communications (with the result that Nato intercepts their exchanges and passes them on to the Ukrainians) and useless leadership.

Generals almost never die on the battlefield in modern warfare but four Russian generals have managed to get themselves killed by venturing too far forward in a desperate bid to sort out the chaos at the frontline. Putin, in fits of fury, has sacked eight more.

Before the invasion, U.S. and UK intelligence intercepted communications between tank commanders querying if they were really expected to go to war with a bunch of conscripts. They were told Putin had assured them that Ukraine would welcome the Russian army as saviours. Nobody around him felt able to gainsay that nonsense.

It therefore came as something of a shock to the conscripted men, who had been told it was just a big military exercise, that they were invading a foreign country and expected to kill people.

Ukrainian resistance has rightly won the respect of the world. But it would have been much less effective without American and British support.

After Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, U.S. intelligence assessed that Ukraine proper could be next. The CIA set up a training camp in the east, with the British later following suit in the West.

In recent years, Ukraine's military has been taught how to wage unconventional war in small, mobile groups with devastating weapons against a Russian army trained to fight en masse and therefore vulnerable to 'shoot and scoot' guerrilla warfare.

Of course, it is still possible for Putin to secure a victory of sorts by razing Ukraine's towns and cities, as he's done before in Syria (Aleppo) and Chechnya (Grozny).

But even a scorched-earth victory would leave Putin facing an urban insurgency for which Ukrainian forces have been specially trained.

Because Western intelligence underestimated how well Ukrainians would resist Russian invasion, they concentrated on training them for a post-invasion war of attrition. If that's what comes, they have the skills and resolve to mount it. And weapons are pouring in to arm them.

The destructed aftermath of a school in a residential area near Kharkiv after it was wrecked by Russian troops' shelling, pictured today

It all adds up to the Russian military's worst nightmare. To prevail in such circumstances Western military experts reckon the invading force needs a superiority of around of 25:1  in other words, 25 invaders for every local defender. Russia could only muster around 4:1.

One U.S. intelligence assessment suggests that Ukraine's forces could reckon on killing eight Russian soldiers a day and, over time, that cost would be impossible for the Russian public to bear. The current 'kill rate' is far higher.

As the grip of sanctions tightened, Putin's ability to replenish his military would weaken. More than 1,000 missiles have been fired at Ukraine.

Sanctions will make it hard to replenish that arsenal. Particularly as the West has already cut off the Kremlin from the portion  approximately half  of the $640 billion 'Fortress Russia' fighting fund he invested in the West. There has also been a mass exodus of Western companies from the Russian market. Even Europe is now working on ways to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas, thereby reducing the Kremlin's main source of cash.

No democracy and no self-respecting business that wishes to retain its ability to operate in the West will be able to deal with Russia as long as the current Russian president remains in power.

Putin's mission was to re-establish Russia as a Great Power. It is one of the ironies of his Ukrainian escapade that not only does its failure mark the beginning of the end for him, it signifies the relegation of Russia from the ranks of the world's superpowers for at least a decade, if not a generation.

Even China looks to be having second thoughts about its previously unstinting support of the Moscow regime. Its state media are now broadcasting footage of Russian war crimes. The Chinese ambassador to Kyiv said this week: 'We've seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is'.

President Xi has been left in no doubt that if he sends military aid to Putin he too risks sanctions.

So it's hardly surprising that Putin looks and sounds not just increasingly isolated but increasingly deranged. This week his broadcast to the Russian people was full of neo-fascist meanderings about 'self-purification' and the 'cleansing of the nation', with internal enemies being 'spit out like flies'.

But he remains a force to be reckoned with. He is in charge of monstrous arsenals of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons; though whether he could ever deploy them is another matter.

We do not know if and when he will be removed from office; but he must surely live in constant fear (rightly) of an assassin's bullet.

Resistance certainly appears to be growing on the home front despite his increasingly draconian penalties for anyone with the temerity to even mention the word 'war' let alone protest against it.

Andrew Neil writes: 'President Xi (pictured) has been left in no doubt that if he sends military aid to Putin he too risks sanctions'

If Putin's days are indeed numbered, and the Kremlin falls into more civilised hands, then the West must be ready to react with a positive spirit and helping hand.

It must learn from the mistakes it made during Russia's last brief flirtation with democracy in the 1990s, when all manner of hucksters flooded into Moscow pushing policies that denuded the Russian people of their wealth and assets.

Above all, the West needs to remember that Russia went from centuries of tsarist tyranny to Soviet despotism without trying anything in between. There is almost no experience of democracy in Russia and we know democracy takes its time to put down roots, especially in unfertile soil.

So the West will need a longer-term strategy to embrace a post-Putin Russia and bring it for ever into the democratic community of nations. It will not be easy, but there is no alternative.

As long as Russia is in the grip of kleptocrats and dictators there can be no settled peace in the world.
Everyone knows the hardships endured by wildlife film-makers  the long days and weeks spent hunched in a hide, patiently waiting for a single glimpse of an elusive snow leopard or a black jaguar. For camerawoman Mary Melville, filming a family of pumas in Patagonia at the frozen tip of South America for BBC1's new four-part series of Dynasties, the shoot turned out slightly differently.

'The pumas weren't bothered by our presence at all,' she says. 'They simply ignored us, in fact. It was almost rude!'

The result was some of the most astonishing footage of big cats in the wild ever captured on film. Single mother Rupestre, bringing up four cubs on the shores of a crystal blue lake in the Chilean Andes, allowed the team to film within a few feet of her family.

One afternoon saw the five animals line up side by side, all gazing into the lens as if for a portrait photo, with the spectacular ice-capped mountains as their backdrop.

Sir David Attenborough narrates epic footage of animals in the wild in his latest series of Dynasties. Pictured: Angelina leads her twins and others away from the waterhole

It's an image that sums up this big-budget natural history show, which focuses each week on a single family of animals and follows the journey of a new generation from birth to adulthood.

The first series in 2018 included lions, tigers and chimpanzees, and this time the teams watch the pumas, a pack of surprisingly lovable hyenas, a trio of cheetah cubs struggling for survival  and an elephant mother who repeatedly risks everything to save her babies.

Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, every episode is crammed with epic footage. But above all, it's the astonishing true stories that make this series so memorable, almost like a soap opera set in the wild. 'The animals write the scripts,' says producer Simon Blakeney.

The crew had no idea what was in store when they trekked to the Amboseli National Park in Kenya in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro to film a group of two dozen elephants  including a female known as Angelina. With her left tusk twisted so that it points backwards, she is unmistakeable.

Already the mother of several daughters, she was heavily pregnant when the team arrived, and when she gave birth her family gathered round her in a tight knot, guarding the male baby  soon dubbed Atlas  as he took his first unsteady steps.

The team captured the rare birth of twin elephants after trekking to Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Pictured: Twins Atlas and Alana wallow in the muddy waterhole

Newborn elephants are almost blind, and with so many females around him it took Atlas several attempts before he found his mother and began to suckle. The camera team were thrilled, but four days later they were left speechless... when another calf was born, a female the crew called Alana.

Angelina had produced twins, an event so rare it has been recorded in Kenya less than half a dozen times before. But this brought terrible risks, because keeping just one infant alive is a tough challenge  this herd had lost ten calves in five years. Protecting and feeding two would be next to impossible.

Marauding bull elephants lashed out at the calves

Within a couple of weeks, as the older elephants let their concentration slip at a muddy waterhole, Atlas strayed into fatal danger. Bogged down in soft mud, he fell over and sank.

Within seconds, all the crew could see were his four feet and the tip of his trunk, desperately writhing for air. Then he vanished completely.

It seemed certain he had drowned, but by a miracle the adults were able to dig him free and roll him into shallow water, where they held his head up until he regained the strength to stand.

Game Of Thrones... with hyenas Hyenas get a bad press, says producer Simon Blakeney. 'Ever since The Lion King they've been painted as villains. But they're amazing animals with really complex social rules.' Their hierarchies are more like those of macaques and baboons than other carnivores such as wolves or wild dogs. Females form alliances and close family bonds, and a matriarch rules over the pack. When the crew arrived in Zambia, the hyena clan's alpha female had just died. Scientists tracking the animals expected to see the mantle fall onto her oldest daughter Sia. But Sia was too young and inexperienced to assert her dominance, and another female, Suma, muscled in. What followed was a power struggle more akin to Game Of Thrones than a wildlife documentary, as the two feuding hyenas sought allies and formed cliques. It's not all intrigue though. 'We've tried to show their softer and more playful side too,' says Simon. Advertisement

Atlas was in danger again when marauding bull elephants, invading the herd in search of a mate, lashed out at the calves with their trunks and feet. The family panicked and stampeded, with the babies battling to keep up.

Distressing as it is to see, the herd in full flight is a remarkable sight. But the scenes that follow are more upsetting still as the elephants endure months of drought.

Atlas and Alana are skin and bones, too exhausted to stand. Somehow, their mother finds the will to drive off repeated attacks by hyenas, until at last the rains come.

Mothers willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, is a constant theme in Dynasties II. In Patagonia, the cameras caught a fight between Rupestre and a male puma who was lying in wait to mate with her  and kill her four cubs.

Like lions, male pumas will kill any litter that is not their own. 'Rupestre was not expecting this attack,' says Mary Melville.

'She was forced to face the challenge, even though he was much bigger than her, to give her cubs a chance to escape.'

As the four youngsters scattered, Rupestre lashed out, slashing at the male's flanks with her claws and then rolling onto her back to protect herself. Again and again, as he tried to turn his attention to the cubs, she went on the attack.

By the time he broke away, the young pumas were gone. Battered and bleeding, Rupestre spent the next 36 hours searching for them, calling in pitiful mews until the last one returned.

The cameras caught graphic pictures of hunting scenes too, as the pumas stalked wild relatives of llamas known as guanacos.

In Patagonia, the cameras caught a fight between Rupestre and a male puma who was lying in wait to mate with her and kill her four cubs. Pictured: Rupestre gets a cuddle

To ensure her cubs had enough meat, Rupestre tackled the biggest animals, taking the risk of being badly kicked by the thrashing guanacos as she threw herself onto their backs.

Nine out of ten hunts ended in failure. And when she returned exhausted, she had to put up with her cubs practising their own hunting skills, jumping on her back as she tried to sleep.

It's the animals who write the scripts

The most impressive pictures of all were taken at night with thermal imaging cameras. A party of bull elephants, searching for an easy meal, were filmed raiding a field of crops.

In total darkness, they stepped over the wire perimeter fence and then tiptoed  picking up their feet and moving so slowly that they made no sound at all. By the time the farmers realised they were there, it was too late. Hungry elephants can strip an entire field of maize in less than two hours.

To prevent farmers from harming the elephants, armies of conservationists patrol the fields, throwing firecrackers in the dark to drive the animals away. It's a serious problem, but it cannot be denied there is something comical about an elephant on tiptoes.

Dynasties II, tomorrow, 8pm, BBC1.
The granddaughter of Spain's former king Juan Carlos, Victoria Federica de Marichalar, spoke of her disgraced grandfather in her first ever interview.

Victoria, 21, who is fifth in line to the Spanish throne, is the younger child and only daughter of King Felipe's older sister, Infanta Elena, 58 and her ex-husband Jaime de Marichalar, 58.

The business student appears on the cover of the current issue of Spanish Elle, which features a candid interview with the royal as well as a series of stunning images, which show fashionista Victoria styled in designer and high street clothing, including a Prada dress, chiffon Valentino shirt, and Levi's jeans.

Speaking to Elle, Victoria defended her grandfather, former Spanish King Juan Carlos, who has been living in Abu Dhabi since summer 2020 after becoming the target of several probes in Spain over his financial dealings.

Spain shelved all three of its financial investigations into the former king earlier this month.

Victoria Federica de Marichalar, 21, was interviewed by Spanish Elle, which accompanied its article with this series of stunning photographs. Here she is pictured wearing a dress by Prada

21-year-old Victoria, seen here in pictures taken by Spanish Elle, has been hailed as Spain's next 'It girl' - but despite having a substantial social media following, with 139,000 Instagram followers, she says she isn't interested in fame

During the Spanish Elle interview (pictured) Victoria, who is fifth in line to the Spanish throne, spoke about her admiration for her grandfather, former Spanish king Juan Carlos

Juan Carlos I reigned as king of Spain from November 1975 until his abdication in June 2014

Victoria, who is the niece of reigning King Felipe VI, said she has always admired her grandfather and said she hopes his legacy is 'esteemed.'

The royal, who's been hailed the next Spanish It Girl, said she wanted to show people who she really is, and added that she does not care about the controversy surrounded her candid Instagram account where she shares glimpse of her life.

Victoria, who attended a gala in Madrid earlier this week, praised her grandfather as a 'dedicated' man.

'I have always seen him as a dedicated man and I hope that all the work and effort that she has made of her throughout her life is recognised and esteemed,' she said.

She added she sees Juan Carlos as a second father figure and speaks to him regularly in spite of the distance.

Speaking to Spanish Elle, she took the defense of former Spanish King Juan Carlos, who has been living in Abu Dhabi since summer 2020 after becoming the target of several probes in Spain over his financial dealings.

The royal said the former king is a big source of inspiration for her and that one of her tattoos was modelled on the last boat he sailed on before he left the country in disgrace in 2020.

Victoria, who described herself as a practicing catholic, said she could tell when people approach her under false pretences, and that she has learned to trust a close-knit network of friends.

She said she is also very close to her grandmother Queen Sofia, and cherishes the memory of her paternal grandmother Concepcion Saenz de Tejada.

Victoria, who is the niece of reigning king Felipe VI, said she has always admired her grandfather and said she hopes his legacy is 'esteemed.' (pictured attending a Moet & Chandon party in Madrid in December 2021)

She also talked of her strong bond with her family, revealing how her interest in fashion stemmed from her father's career.

Jaime de Marichalar works as an advisor at the LVMH group in Spain and has access to all established brands like Loew as well as the upcoming designers making waves in the Mediterranean.

The royal, who is currently finishing her studies in business administration and management at College for International Studies (CIS), in Madrid, wants to follow into her dad's footsteps and work in fashion.

The jet-setter (pictured), who is fifth in line to the Spanish throne, is the younger child and only daughter of King Felipe's older sister, Infanta Elena, 58 and her ex-husband Jaime de Marichalar, 58

Victoria (pictured in November 2021) reportedly went to a boarding school in Sussex during her teenage years before enrolling at the College for International Studies (CIS), in Madrid, to study business administration and management

Earlier this year, she made waves at Paris Fashion Week, where she sat in the front row of several shows and rubbed elbows with Rihanna at the Dior show.

She added that the thing she values the most in life is quality time with her family.

However, the young royal said she's learned to live with a public profile, saying she was not phased by the attention she's gathered in recent years.

She said Juan Carlos taught her to be herself 'in everything that I do' and for that reason, the young royal has been keeping a candid Instagram account, sharing snaps of the glitzy she has been invited to in recent years.

She said she does not care that her Instagram account has gathered controversy over what royals should and should not share.

Victoria, pictured with Rihanna at Paris Fashion Week, said her social presence gives people the opportunity to see who she really is, however, she said she has no interest in oversharing on social media

She argued that as part of a generation where people her age have strong digital presences, she could not fathom not being on social media.

She added her social presence gives people the opportunity to see who she really is, however, she said she has no interest in oversharing on social media.

While she has little interest in fame, Victoria, who counts 139,000 followers on Instagram said she wouldn't hesitate to use her public platform to advocate for charitable causes.

The young royal said she has the same concerns as any girl her age, but still acknowledged she is privileged.

Victoria went public on Instagram in 2019, aged 18, and has since amassed 139,000 followers thanks to the glimpses she gives of her glamorous life.

The royal, who was is known to be a fan of bull-fighting, often spotted attending shows at the Las Ventas bullring in Spain's capital city, made her first red carpet appearance at the ELLE Style Awards in October last year.

Who is Spain's former king, Juan Carlos I? Juan Carlos I reigned as king of Spain from November 1975 until his abdication in June 2014. He was a popular monarch for most of his four-decade reign who played a critical role in the country's transition to democracy. He is the grandson of Alfonso XIII, the last king of Spain before the abolition of the monarchy in 1931 and the subsequent declaration of the Second Spanish Republic. Juan Carlos was born in Rome, Italy, on January 5, 1938, during his family's exile. He came to Spain in 1947 to continue his studies and entered the Zaragoza military academy. He completed his tertiary education at the University of Madrid and went on to marry Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark in Athens in 1962. They went on to have two daughters and a son together: Elena, Cristina, and Felipe. Juan Carlos first began periodically acting as Spain's head of state in the summer of 1974. Fascist dictator Francisco Franco died in November the following year and Juan Carlos became king on 22 November 1975, two days after Franco's death. Juan Carlos was hailed for his role in Spain's transition to democracy and reforms to dismantle the Francoist regime. However the King and the monarchy's reputation began to suffer after controversies surrounding his family arose. In April 2012, Juan Carlos faced criticism for an elephant-hunting trip in Botswana during a time of financial crisis in Spain. The public found out about the trip only after the King injured himself and a special aircraft was sent to bring him home. Pictured left to right: Then-Princess Letizia , Prince Felipe, Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos pose for a photo in 2009 Spanish officials stated that the expenses of the trip were not paid by taxpayers or by the palace, but by Syrian businessman Mohamed Eyad Kayali. Corruption scandals circling the royal family closed in when his daughter, Princess Cristina, was accused of tax fraud in 2014 and became the first Spanish royal to stand trial. She was later acquitted, but her husband was sentenced. He abdicated in favour of his son, Prince Felipe, in 2014, and last year, Juan Carlos announced his decision to withdraw from public life, ending his remaining institutional functions and appearances from June 2019. Last August, he successfully underwent heart surgery in Madrid. In June 2020, Spain's supreme court prosecutor opened an investigation into Juan Carlos' involvement in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia that was granted to a group of Spanish companies in 2011. King Felipe renounced his own inheritance and stripped his father of his palace allowance in March after reports the latter received $100 million from the late Saudi king and gave millions to a businesswoman. Advertisement

Since then, fans have been eager to note the similarities between Victoria and her fashionable aunt Queen Letizia.

For her first red carpet appearance, she sported a blue floor-length gown with a cut-out back by Spanish designer Lorenzo Caprile, a favourite of Letizias.

She teamed the eye-catching ensemble with Manolo Blahnik heels, according to Tatler, while opting to style her hair in a high ponytail.

And her glamorous displays havent stopped there. In December, she attended the Moet & Chandon party at the royal theatre in Madrid.

She sported a silver metallic dress for the occasion, featuring a cape detail and teamed with dazzling drop earrings.

At the time of her birth in 2000, Victoria was third in the line of succession, after her mother and Felipe.

However, since the birth of her cousins Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, she is now fifth in line to the throne followed by her aunt, Infanta Cristina.
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Players have been challenged to find three daffodils hidden among the vibrant flowers in this spring-themed brainteaser.

There is a mixture of colours, textures and petals to distract the eye but just three pretty daffodils. Can you spot them?

The seek-and-find puzzle was created by online plant specialists Hopes Grove Nurseries in Tenterden, Kent, to mark the start of spring this weekend.

The record time to find all three is 40 seconds. Do you have what it takes to beat it?

Players have been challenged to find three daffodils hidden among the vibrant flowers in this spring-themed brainteaser. There is a mixture of colours, textures and petals to distract the eye but just three pretty daffodils. Can you spot them?

Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, said: 'We wanted to create this brainteaser as a fun way to celebrate the start of Spring. With the record time of 40 seconds to complete, we're looking forward to seeing who can beat that. Good luck.'

If you're struggling to find the daffodils, we'd recommend giving the bottom right corner a miss. There's nothing for you there.

Still not having any luck? Then pay close attention to the orange petals... you might find a yellow flower tucked behind.

If you're ready to give up and need the answers then keep scrolling because the reveal is coming next.

The daffodils were hidden next to the vibrant orange flowers, making them trickier to spot. How did you fare?

It comes after cartoonist Gergely Dudas created this tricky seek-and-find puzzle which challenges you to find four caterpillars crawling in a field of snowdrops.

The charming brainteaser made by the Hungarian, better known as Dudolf, is known for his playful, vibrant creations.

In this one, he has hidden four wriggly caterpillars somewhere in the springtime scene. To make things even more difficult, the caterpillars are the same shade of green as the plants and the grass.

Scroll down for the reveal and more puzzles!

Can you find four caterpillars? There are creepy-crawlies hidden somewhere in this springtime snowdrop scene

The cartoonist has also added a number of adorable bears eating apples to try and throw you off the scent.

If you need a hint, try and avoid looking at the top right of the image - there is nothing for you there.

The caterpillars are also not as distinctive as you might think. Try looking for collections of squiggles and curves that make up the loose shape of a creepy-crawly.

Still struggling? Scroll down for the reveal.

There they are! The cartoonist made the caterpillars the same shade of green as the rest of the image so they're trickier to find

It comes after Dudolf released another mind-boggling seek-and-find puzzle - this time taking inspiration from birds in their birdhouses.

Players are challenged to find three red apples somewhere among the bird boxes.

Do you have what it takes to spot them?

Somewhere in this pretty scene of chirruping birds are three red apples. Do you have what it takes to spot them?

To make things even more difficult, the cartoonist has made all of the birds the same shade of red.

Then there's the added distraction of the birdhouses, which are bright and colourful and enough to throw you off the task.

If you're trying to find the apples, take a look towards the bottom centre of the image to find the first one.

The other two are in opposite corners, towards the top left and top right.

Still struggling? Scroll down for the solution.

The apples are scattered throughout the image (seen above). Did you find them all?

It's the second puzzle in recent weeks from the viral cartoonist.

He shared one of his classic brainteasers to Facebook, challenging players to find the snake among the tortoises.

The adorable animals are all standing in a forest glade full of trees and ferns.

Hungarian cartoonist Gergely Dudas, better known as Dudolf , shared one of his classic brainteasers to Facebook, challenging players to find the snake among the tortoises

But somewhere in the idyllic scene there is also a single smiling snake.

To make things even trickier, Dudolf has drawn the tortoises so their long necks look snakelike, making it difficult to tell the animals apart.

Still struggling to see it? Look on the left side of the image and pay close attention.

If you give up or need the answer then keep scrolling for the reveal.

The snake is slithering alongside the tortoises on the left side of the image

It comes after Dudolf created a loved-up seek-and-find puzzle in honour of Valentine's Day.

The illustration shows loved-up animals embracing in a field of pink flowers.

But somewhere in this vibrant image there is a single pink love heart. Do you have what it takes to find it?

All loved up! Can you find the single pink heart in this Valentine's Day themed puzzle?

In his typical fashion, Dudolf has made things trickier by adding plenty of little details that are designed to distract the eye.

The canoodling owls, for example, have a single pink flower between them. Elsewhere a grey cat falls in love with his own reflection.

If you're struggling to find the heart then try looking on the left-hand side of the image, near the owls and kissing bears.

Still not having any luck? Then scroll down to check your answer.

There it is! The tiny pink heart is tucked between some flowers, just above the canoodling owls

It comes after players were challenged to find the only love-heart shaped balloon in a busy Valentine's Day scene.

The baffling seek-and-find puzzle was created by British retailers 247 Blinds to celebrate the romantic holiday ahead of February 14.

So, do you think you'll be able to find the hidden balloon ? Give it a try and put your observational skills to the test.

Scroll down for the answer

A tricky brainteaser is challenging players to find the only love-heart shaped balloon in a busy Valentine's Day scene (pictured)

There are many hearts, Cupid's arrows and roses throughout the print, but hidden within the drawings is a love-heart-shaped balloon.

If you're struggling to find the balloon, turn your attention to the middle section of the right hand side of the Valentine's Day scene.

If you still haven't spotted the pesky object, scroll down to find the answer.

There are many hearts, Cupid's arrows and roses throughout the print, but hidden within the drawings is a love-heart-shaped balloon (circled above)

If you want some more, try your hand at these tricky brainteasers below.

Designers have hidden a single open umbrella in this crowded street scene which is sure to leave you baffled.

The extremely tough seek-and-find puzzle was created by hotel chain Premier Inn following a recent poll revealed that brollies are one of the nation's most lost items.

There are many people featured in the crowded design, but only one of them is keeping dry under an umbrella.

So, do you think you'll be able to find it or will you be left scratching your head? Give it a try and put your observational skills to the test.

Hidden in the crowded street scene is a person holding an umbrella - but it's incredibly difficult to spot

The hotel chain commissioned the brain teaser after research found umbrellas are one of the nation's most lost items: 10 per cent of Brits will lose or break 10 or more umbrellas in their lifetime.

Almost a fifth of those polled (18 per cent) said they had broken or lost an umbrella after just one outing.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults also showed 28 per cent have turned up to an important work meeting soaking wet as they didn't have a brolly. And despite almost a fifth of Brits owning three umbrellas, one in 10 have spent up to 50 on replacements.

So, have you been able to spot the hidden brolly? If you're still struggling scroll down for the answer.

So, have you been able to spot the hidden brolly? If you're still struggling take a look at the top left-hand corner of the scene

Premier Inn commissioned the brain teaser to mark its new rental umbrellas trial in 30 of its hotels launched in partnership with DripDrop with a minimum of 15 percent of each borrowing fee going to the hotel chain's charity partner Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSH Charity).

Elsewhere, an infuriating brainteaser challenges players to find a snowflake in an unlikely tropical scene.

The seek-and-find puzzle, created by The French Bedroom Company in collaboration with wallpaper designer Elizabeth Ockford, features beautiful tropical birds and flittering butterflies, as well as palm fronds and ornate bird cages.

But hidden among the tropical picture is a single snowflake, which is almost impossible to spot.

The seek-and-find puzzle features beautiful tropical birds and flittering butterflies. Hidden among the tropical picture is a single snowflake, which is almost impossible to spot

The creators claim it's so difficult that it takes players an average of 7 minutes and 23 seconds to find.

The picture shows colourful budgies, butterflies, parrots and golden cages - but where is the snowflake?

Nestled within elegant illustrations of botanical birds, leaves and butterflies, the snowflake has proved tricky for Brits to find.

Focus your eye on the top corners of the painting - can you see it yet? The answer is below.

Answer: The delicate snowflake can be seen in the top left hand coner of the picture beneath one of the palm leaves

Can your brain handle more strain? Next up, this autumnal seek-and-find quiz challenges you to find the hidden hedgehog, but will you be up to the challenge?

British blinds retailer 247 Blinds have created this challenging brainteaser with a seasonal theme to test your attention to detail.

If you're looking for a clue, try focusing your attention on the bottom of the image and you might have more luck. Still struggling? Simply scroll down for the answer.

Scroll down for reveal

Can you find the tiny hedgehog hiding in this leafy scene for a brainteaser created by British blinds retailer 247 Blinds?

To make it harder, the hedgehog is shaped to look like the items that surround him, so that you'll need to have a proper look at the picture to locate him.

Struggling to find the little critter? Focus your attention on the bottom part of the picture.

Giving up or want to check you got it right? You can scroll down to see the answer.

The small hedgehog was hiding at the very bottom of the picture. It was hard to locate, because it was shaped like a pine cone

Want to try your hand at other fiendishly difficult seek-and-finds? Look below for Femail's selection of some of the trickiest.

To make things even trickier, Dudolf has made only the slightest changes between the mushrooms' markings so you'll really have to be eagle-eyed to spot the difference.

The slight changes in colours patterns and shapes distracts the eye from the task.

Struggling to find the one mushroom without a match? Try looking towards the lower half of the image.

Still having difficulty? Then scroll down for the reveal.

The odd mushroom out has a blue cap with red spots and is situated in the lower half of the image

It comes after another puzzle challenged players to pick out the two safety pins hidden among vibrant sewing equipment.

The brainteaser has been created by Dutch lingerie brand Hunkemoller, with puzzlers asked to spot the two tiny items in the sea of tools.

But thanks to the brightly coloured products cluttering the graphic, it is almost impossible to notice the missing safety pins.

According to the creators the puzzle takes an average of one minute and 23 seconds to solve, but with the mesmerizing colours, how quick can you spot the hidden items?

This new seek-and-find puzzle challenges you to pick out the two safety pins hidden among vibrant sewing equipment (pictured)

There's plenty of little details designed to distract the eye, so it's no wonder that some puzzlers struggle to stay on task and find the pins.

If you're looking for a clue, try focusing your attention towards the centre of the image and you might have more luck.

Still struggling? Don't worry, the answer is coming next so just scroll down to put yourself out of your misery.
Every teacher knows it can be difficult to keep students focused in class, so some have come up with amusing ways to keep the school day interesting.

The photos have been taken from educators around the world and shared on Instagram page @TeacherGoals before being collated in an online gallery by Bored Panda.

One photograph shows a teacher was counting down the days since they had last heard the song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' from the Disney film Encanto.

Meanwhile in another snap, the teachers used a popular meme from Real Housewives to wish their students a Merry Christmas.

Here, FEMAIL shares some of the most creative and humorous examples from the bunch...

Teachers from around the world have been sharing their hilarious moments from the job - including one in the US who appeared frustrated with hearing the song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' from Encanto (pictured)

Not pulling any punches! Another member of the school staff in the US was unafraid to admit they were often counting down to the weekend

A meme which transcends language! Several teachers, from the US, were left chuckling after they admitted a humorous sign to their door wishing their students a Merry Christmas

Very clever! One teacher, believed to be British, was left impressed after one student took their homework too literally

One student, whose location is unknown, appeared to be more perceptive than they were good at spelling

This kid is going places! Another teacher, from the US, told one creative student that using white out to block out a question was no way to do homework

A lesson for students AND teachers! Another person in the US snapped a picture of an informative sign drawn on a white board

All the single ladies! One teacher had a rude awakening after asking her students to use the word 'single' on a poster they were creating

If you can read this...you probably are a teacher! One person, whose location is unknown, was left amused by these playful napkins

Eating donuts and making announcements! One American child had his teacher in stitches after he wrote what he believed a principal's job was
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In the upcoming Starz movie Gaslit, Julia Roberts transforms into Martha Mitchell, who is credited as the first person to publicly accuse President Richard Nixon of being involved in Watergate  and as the first trailer promises, it's 'based on the insane but shockingly true story.'

With a '70s hairdo and wardrobe, Roberts, 54, transforms into Martha, who at the time of the Watergate break-in was 53 and married to Nixon's former Attorney General John Mitchell.

While past films and TV series have mostly zeroed in on the men involved in the story  from Nixon himself to journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein  the new movie, premiering April 24, spotlights Martha's role in the drama.

Nicknamed the 'Mouth of the South' for her outspokenness with the press, Martha was a controversial but generally well-liked figure until, in 1972, she suspected that Nixon and his re-election committee were responsible for the Watergate break-in.

Not one to keep quiet, she repeatedly complained to the press, resulting in her getting painted as crazy and a drunk by White House officials  and, in one horrific weekend, being held as a 'political' prisoner in a hotel room, where she was reportedly beaten and drugged.

Julia Roberts plays Martha Mitchell in Starz's Gaslit, which premieres on April 24

Martha was married to John Mitchell, who served as Nixon's Attorney General and then the head of the Committee to Re-Elect the President

Martha is credited as the first person to publicly accuse President Richard Nixon of being involved in Watergate

Martha was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1918, and grew up to graduate from University of Miami and work as a teacher and a secretary.

Her first marriage was to US Army officer Clyde Jennings, Jr. in 1946. After welcoming a son, the couple separated and eventually divorced in 1957.

Months later, she married John Mitchell and they moved in Rye, New York.

About a decade after they said 'I do,' in 1969, Mitchell was appointed as Nixon's Attorney General in 1969, and the couple moved into the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.

Martha quickly became a press fixture thanks to her willingness to talk and express frank opinions. She certainly had a lot to say and was politically-minded, first calling anti-Vietnam War protesters 'liberal Communists,' then later saying the Vietnam War 'stinks.'

She publicly criticized Democratic politicians, but also had opinions about racism, desegregation, and the Supreme Court, which she gave freely.

In 1970, the New York Times called her 'the most talked about, talkative woman in Washington.'

Martha, who was also known to drink and smoke, didn't think she was painted all that fairly.

Martha quickly became a press fixture thanks to her willingness to talk and express frank opinions. She certainly had a lot to say and was politically-minded

In March 1972, her husband became head of the Committee to Re-Elect the President (officially abbreviated CRP, but often referred to as CREEP) for the 1972 campaign

'Why do they always call me outspoken?' she said, according to Timeline. 'Cant they just say Im frank?'

Her outspokenness could, occasionally, cause headaches for the Nixon administration. Though Nixon sometimes approved of her  she generally supported him and was critical of Democrats  she didn't always toe the party line.

And little did Nixon know in those early years just how much of a liability she could prove to be. According to her biography, Martha would eavesdropped on husband's phone calls, listen in on his work meetings, and even read his papers to stay in the loop.

In March 1972, her husband resigned as Attorney General to head the Committee to Re-Elect the President (officially abbreviated CRP, but often referred to as CREEP) for the 1972 campaign.

Later, reports would show how CREEP was involved in money laundering and illegal slush funds, among other nefarious deeds.

But all of those might have remained in the dark if it hadn't been for what happened in June 17, 1972: That night, five men were caught breaking into and burglarizing the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex.

When burglars were caught breaking into Democratic National Committee HQ at the Watergate complex, Martha grew suspicious and called a reporter friend

A CREEP security guard stopped her, ripping the phone from the wall and reportedly beating her and keeping her prisoner

At the time, the Mitchells were with other Nixon officials in Newport Beach, California, when John got a call alerting him to the news.

He left immediately to go back to D.C., but told Martha to stay and enjoy the rest, without telling her what was going on.

But Martha suspected something was up, and two days after he left, she found a newspaper where she read about the Watergate break-in. In the coverage, she recognized one of the burglars, former CIA officer James W. McCord, and guessed that her husband and the president were somehow involved.

Eager to talk, Martha called United Press International reporter Helen Thomas, complaining to her that she was 'sick and tired' of what was happening and that if her husband didn't get out of the 'dirty business' of politics, she'd leave him.

But before she could say more, CREEP security guard Steve King  whom Mitchell had left to watch his wife  came into her hotel room and disconnected the phone.

Martha said that after that, King would not allow her to leave the hotel room.

'From then on I saw no one  allowed no food  and literally kept a prisoner,' she said.

She continued to speak to the press once she got out, calling for Nixon to resign and complaining about 'outrageous and dirty campaign tricks'

Later, James W. McCord Jr., the Watergate conspirator she recognized in the news coverage, confirmed that what Martha said was true, that she had been 'basically' kidnapped to keep her from learning what was going on.

Martha later said King kicked her and put her hand through a window, requiring her to get six stitches.

She also said that King called a doctor, and together they held her down on the bed while the doctor pulled down her pants and gave her a tranquilizer in her rear.

She called herself a 'political prisoner.'

Later, King would go on to become chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and was named ambassador to the Czech Republic by Donald Trump.

Once Martha got out of the hotel after several days, she called back Thomas at UPI.

'I love my husband very much, but Im not going to stand for all those dirty things,' she said, according to Slate's Slow Burn podcast.

'Im black and blue,' she said. 'They dont want me to talk.'

But she did talk, calling reporters often, and frequently in the middle of the night. She complained about 'outrageous and dirty campaign tricks  and dishonest deeds' in politics, accusing some officials of being liars.

'I love my husband very much, but Im not going to stand for all those dirty things,' she said

Mitchell would be found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury in relation to Watergate and serve 19 months in prison

Facing an ultimatum from his wife and a desire to muzzle her, Mitchell quit Nixon's campaign and moved back with her to New York.

Still, Martha talked.

In March 1973, she told The New York Times that she thought somebody was trying to make her husband 'the goat' for Watergate, and she would 'not going to let that happen,' saying that Nixon was to blame.

'Mr. President should resign immediately,' she told UPI in May 1973.

'He bleeds people,' she added of Nixon. 'He draws every drop of blood and then drops them from a cliff.'

However, Mitchell remained loyal to his old boss, telling a reporter: 'Martha's late-night telephone calls have been good fun and games in the past. However, this is a serious issue.'

Martha wasn't pleased that her husband had Nixon's back.

She told Helen Thomas, 'I love him very much. He loves me because Ive stood up for him. But he is defending the president, who planned the whole god-damned thing. Im under surveillance day and night. Im no fool.'

But he wasn't the only one discrediting her. White House officials and those close to Nixon painted her as mentally ill, and leaked gossip that she was a drunk.

Nixon allies smeared her as mentally ill and a drunk, and Nixon later said 'if it hadnt been for Martha,' then 'thered have been no Watergate'

Ultimately, amid impeachement proceedings, Nixon resigned in 1974

Finally, in September 1973, Mitchell left her.

But while Martha wasn't taken seriously, more evidence would come to light, and ultimately, amid impeachment proceedings, Nixon resigned in 1974.

Her husband would be found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury in relation to Watergate and serve 19 months in prison.

Martha never got to be truly vindicated in the press. Just a year later, she was diagnosed with an advanced stage of multiple myeloma, and she died at age 57 on May 31, 1976.

A year after that, Nixon seemed to hold Martha responsible for his downfall.

'Im convinced if it hadnt been for Martha  and God rest her soul, because she in her heart was a good person. She just had a mental and emotional problem that nobody knew about. If it hadnt been for Martha, thered have been no Watergate,' he told David Frost in 1977.

'The point of the matter is that if John had been watching that store, Watergate would never have happened. Now, am I saying here at this late juncture, Watergate should be blamed on Martha Mitchell? Of course not. It might have happened anyway. Other things might have brought it on. Who knows?'

Gaslit premieres April 24 and is available only on Stan in Australia.
DIY professional and lifestyle author Geneva Vanderzeil has made a checkered rug by combining two fluffy shag rugs from Bunnings.

'This one really tested me,' she said. 'I've been wanting to add a checkered rug to the studio for a while but didn't want to spend thousands of dollars.'

'I was walking down the aisles at Bunnings and found two fluffy shag rugs with the perfect colour palette,' she said. 'And I thought - if only they could be combined together...'

Scroll down for video

DIY professional and lifestyle author Geneva Vanderzeil has made a checkered rug by combining two fluffy shag rugs from Bunnings

She first trimmed the edges and marked the underside into 20cm x 20cm squares. Geneva recommended using a mask and eye goggles because of the excess fluff

The process of creating the rug was easier than she expected it to be.

She first trimmed the edges and marked the underside into 20cm x 20cm squares. Geneva recommended using a mask and eye goggles because of the excess fluff.

Next, she lay the squares from both rugs together until she was satisfied with the layout.

Geneva stuck the squares together with industrial duct tape and used adhesive spray on top of the tape before adding a non-slip mat as the backing.

She also made a runner with the leftover bits of the rugs but used a different method to put it together - a canvas drop cloth backing and construction glue. She used 10cm x 10cm squares for the smaller rug.

When asked about which method she preferred, Geneva was said both had their benefits.

'I was originally unsure of the taping idea, but adding the back and adhesive spray really helped,' she said. 'It definitely took longer but the tape is more secure.'

'I made a large area rug and a smaller runner for the price of just two shag rugs and a few other items, which cost a little over $100!' Geneva said.

Geneva stuck the squares together with industrial duct tape and used adhesive spray on top of the tape before adding a non-slip mat as the backing

She also made a runner with the leftover bits of the rugs but used a different method to put it together - a canvas drop cloth backing and construction glue. She used 10cm x 10cm squares for the smaller rug

Hundreds flooded Geneva's post with support and awe, with many sharing their own experiences with DIY projects.

'You always go above and beyond,' wrote one woman. 'It's unbelievable!'

'This is so beautiful,' said another. 'You're inspiring me to try some DIY projects myself.'

'You're a DIY genius,' added a third. 'I tried something similar and it held up surprisingly well.'
Sophie Wessex 'undoubtedly benefits' from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from royal life because it has 'raised her profile', a royal expert has claimed.

The Countess, 47, who is often been noted as the monarch's 'favourite' family member, has embarked on a rare high profile solo trip of New York in recent days, cementing her position as the Queen's secret weapon within the new look monarchy.

Royal expert Russel Myers has now explained how the mother-of-two has seen her star rise after the Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, stepped down as senior royals and moved to California last year.

Speaking on True Royalty TVs The Royal Beat, he explained: 'Are the Instagram generation going to be as obsessed with Sophie and Edward Wessex as they are with the Sussexes? Obviously not.

Sophie Wessex 'undoubtedly benefits' from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from royal life because it has 'raised her profile', a royal expert has claimed

'However, when youre dealing with them Sophies really across her subject matter.

'Its not just for show and she has really grown into that. With the Sussexes not here, the Wessexes will undoubtedly benefit.'

Meanwhile he also pointed to how similar the Meghan and Sophie's interests are, saying: 'The similarities between Sophie and Meghan are there to be seen.

'Sophies working with girls education, shes done a lot of stuff about violence against females in Africa.'

Russel Myers has now explained how the mother-of-two has seen her profile rise after the Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, stepped down as senior royals and moved to California last year

The comments come after a busy few days for Sophie, who has just undertaken a rare solo trip to New York.

During the trip, she delivered the keynote address at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan event, as part of her busy schedule of engagements for her four-day visit.

The spring of this year will see The Earl and Countess of Wessex - who live in Bagshot Park with their children Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14, visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Queen, who no longer flies, would not have been expected to travel, but it's rare for Wessexes to do a high profile joint overseas tour that might have otherwise been handed to Harry and Meghan.

The Countess has embarked on a high profile solo trip of New Yok in recent days in another glimpse into the new look monarchy

Her Majesty's daughter-in-law Sophie has often been noted as the monarch's 'favourite' family member and closest confidante.

She was reportedly encouraged by the monarch to fill the gap left by Prince Harry and Meghan following Megxit at the start of 2020.

Experts previously noted the Countess being in the spotlight is what Prince Philip 'would have wanted' and helped to 'keep his memory alive.'

'The Queen is very canny. And she has always been very fond of Sophie,' Ingrid Seward said, speaking to The Times.

The spring of this year will see The Earl and Countess of Wessex visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines in a trip which might otherwise have gone to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

'Prince Philip adored Sophie, and the Queen feels that now is the moment to push her, just gently. "Give some interviews, do some stuff. You work very hard, no one takes any notice. Get out there!" I can see her saying that.

'It's what Prince Philip would have wanted, and now he is gone, doing what he would have wanted keeps his memory alive. I think he would have really liked Edward and Sophie to be a bit more high profile.'

It was previously reported that Sophie is one of four loyal, discreet and utterly trustworthy women of the Queens inner circle who are offering crucial support as she faces life without her beloved Prince Philip, who died on April 9, aged 99.

This episode of The Royal Beat will be available on 18 March on True Royalty TV.
President Joe Biden meets virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 15, 2021. AP-Yonhap





U.S. President Joe Biden will warn his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday that he will face "costs" if Beijing rescues fellow authoritarian ally Russia from intense Western sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.







The two leaders' first phone call since a video summit in November will be a chance to air differences as the United States spearheads an unprecedented pressure campaign on Russia, placing China in a geopolitical bind.







It's "an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.







Trade rows and snarled international supply chains will be discussed, according to Psaki, but a big focus is expected to be the Western bid to force Russia from Ukraine, where President Vladimir Putin's invasion is in its fourth week.







Biden has successfully marshalled a tight Western alliance against Russia, while giving military support to Ukrainian forces.







But Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow and Washington fears the Chinese could switch to full financial and even military support for Russia, transforming an already explosive transatlantic standoff into a global dispute.







Not only could Beijing potentially help Russia weather crippling pressure on its banks and currency, but Western governments would then face the painful decision of whether or not to impose sanctions against China, likely prompting turmoil on world markets.







The White House was tight lipped on whether Biden will threaten China with sanctions during his call, but some sort of response is on the table.






An Instagram-famous cat has escaped war-torn Ukraine and found safety and refuge in France amid Russia's bombing of the city of Kharkiv.

Stepan, 13, who has more than one million followers on the platform, became popular thanks to his amusing photos thanks to his singature grumpy poses.

His owner (a woman called Anna) updates his Instagram account (@loveyoustepan) regularly, so when it went silent for almost two weeks, with no posts between March 3 and 16, fans started to worry they may have been hurt or killed by attacks on Kharkiv, where they live.

The city, which is Ukraine's second largest, is around 25 miles away from the Russian border, making it a major target. Though Russian troops have not yet managed to capture it, it has faced relentless bombing since the end of February.

After not posting on social media since March 3, fans of Stepan were worried that he and his family may have been killed following bombing in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, where he lives

Stepan looked frightened in the images taking during the family's gruelling journey from Ukraine to France (left), a far cry from the amusing 'casual lean' images that made him famous and garnered him a legion of more than 1 million fans (right)

Stepan's owner Anna also shared this image of Saltovka, a residential area in their city of Kharkiv, which has been relentlessly bombed by Russia

Anna took to the platform this week to reassure followers, and let them know Stepan and she are safe, and have found refuge in France after leaving Ukraine.

A post featuring images of Stepan looking scared in his travel bag and on a train was accompanied by a long caption detailing the gruelling journey from Ukraine.

'On February 24, early in the morning, we were sleeping at home. At 5 am, some explosion was heard, and I didn't even understand what it was,' she said.

'After a while, after half an hour later, there were more explosions, the windows trembled. I jumped up and understood that something terrible was happening!

'The attack and shelling of Kharkiv (especially on the North Saltovka where we live). We realized that the war had come to our house.'

The post added that neighbouring homes were being struck by shells daily, and while their own building remained intact for a week, on the eight day, it was damaged after a shell hit their neighbours' balcony.

Anna shared an image of Stepan in his travel bag as the pair fled their city of Kharkiv. Thousands of fans shared their relief at finding out they were safe

The pictures Anna shared of Stepan are a far cry from the pre-war images his fans love, like this picture of the cat dressed in a bowtie and taking a selfie

In a lengthy Instagram caption, Anna revealed that 'the war had come to [their] house', and she had to flee along with Stepan

It said: 'There was no fire. Thank God! In two or three dozen apartments, all the windows spilled out. Also, two shells fell in our yard in front of the house.

'We spent two nights in the basement and without electricity for a week. We had to go to the nearby basement to charge the phone. Then we managed to leave the city. Kharkiv volunteers helped by taking us to the railway station.

'We got on the train Kharkiv - Lviv (in 20 hours, we got to Lviv). Then we followed to the border with Poland. At the border, we stood in a line in a pedestrian crossing. There were a lot of people (4-5 thousand). After 9 hours, we crossed the border.

'When we reached Poland, we were offered help from the World Influencers and Bloggers Association from Monaco.

Fans of the famous cat took to social media to share their feelings of relief that he and Anna are safe, with many revealing that they had been worried

'They helped us get to France to wait for the very day when we could return home. We're all right now. We worry very much about our relatives in Ukraine and will do the very best we can to help our country.'

The post, which received almost half a million likes, garnered numerous comments from concerned fans.

One wrote: 'I am crying with joy that you are all safe. Ive been so worried!'

Another added: 'So glad to hear that you're safe now. Thank you for sharing this terrible experience with us. We're with you!'

And a third wrote: 'We love you Stepan and Anna are are so relieved you are both safe. I will keep checking on you each day.'
The all-female final of The Apprentice next week will see a pyjama brand founder and a dessert brand owner go head to head to become Lord Sugar's next business partner.

Last night, for the first time ever, four women presented their business plans to be scrutinised by Lord Sugar's most trusted advisors in the penultimate episode of The Apprentice.

Having fought off the competition and answered criticism from Lord Sugar's team, Kathryn Burn and Harpreet Kaur made it through to to next week's final where one will walk away with a 250,000 investment and will go into business with Lord Sugar as a 50-50 partner.

Insta star Kathryn left school at 16 and credits her 'working class' upbringing with instilling her with the values of hard work and entrepreneurship.

She started her pyjama company in her parents' spare bedroom and now hopes to take her business to the next level.

However she was criticised by Lord Sugar's advisors for manufacturing her products in China, and her overly-ambitious business plan.

Described by Karren Brady as 'bossy', Harpreet had her start working in her parents' convenience shop before juggling an Open University degree with a full-time job in a bank.

Believing she could be her own boss, Harpreet and her sister Gurvinder founded a dessert parlour which Harpreet believes could be scaled up with Lord Sugar's help.

But Lord Sugar had questioned about the relationship between Harpreet and Gurvinder, asking who he was really investing in.

So who will win next week's final? Read on to learn more about the candidates and decide for yourself...

Having fought off the competition and answered criticism from Lord Sugar's team, Kathryn Burn and Harpreet Kaur made it through to to next week's final of The Apprentice

KATHRYN BURN

Insta star Kathryn left school at 16 and hopes to use Lord Sugar's 250,000 to help her grow her online pajama business

Glamorous: Decisive, daring and confident, Kathryn Burn credits her parents' work ethic with driving her success as a 'sassy' and 'loud' business owner. She also boasts 41,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares bikini-clad pics from her jet-set adventures

Decisive, daring and confident, Kathryn Burn, 29, credits her parents' work ethic with driving her success as a 'sassy' and 'loud' business owner.

'We've come from a very working class background but we've always had such happy memories,' she said in special BBC programme The Apprentice: The Final Four.

'They've always wanted to provide for me, my brother and my sister so I think I've seen a great work ethic from a young age. I've carried that through because it's all I know.'

Proud father John worked for the local electricity board for 'a long time' before being made redundant. 'Then I did anything that was available, knocking on doors, selling whatever I could,' he said. 'I tried anything. We did it out of necessity.'

Strike a pose: The blonde beauty loves to party and uploads glamorous make-up snaps

Shining star: Kathryn has impressed throughout The Apprentice and is now in the final four. Pictured, selling products during the shopping channel task

He remembers his middle daughter as 'the boss' while her mother Sarah said she was a 'wheeler dealer', even as a child, who used to buy and sell items in online auctions.

Kathryn left school at 16 and spent time living in Australia, where she worked for an events company.

It was there she realised she wanted to be her own boss - and came up with the idea for her business.

Family-oriented Kathryn founded My Christmas Pyjamas, which provides matching pyjamas for the whole family, including dogs, from her parents' spare bedroom.

Bright future: Kathryn, pictured as a young girl, has always wanted to make money

Proud: Kathryn credits her parents (pictured) for showing her the value of hard work

She later branched out to My Everyday Pyjamas, catering for the rest of the year.

During last night's episode, she said: 'Having this investment would let me grow my business to a much larger scale. It would change my life.'

However the businesswoman was grilled on how she designs the pyjamas, as well as her decision to manufacture the products in China.

Linda questioned her: 'All your goods are coming from China. This is a time when there are significant delays in China - what happens is something goes wrong? What happens to your business?

'Have you got any experience of working with this factory? Learning as you go does not cut it with me.'

Kathryn defended the decision, adding: 'I was going to manufacture them in England but the cost was so much higher, so I decided to go down the route with Chinese factories instead.

Starting out: Family-oriented Kathryn founded My Christmas Pyjamas, which provides matching pyjamas for the whole family, from her parents' spare bedroom. She later branched out to My Everyday Pyjamas, catering for the rest of the year

Jet-setter: She has travelled around the world, with trips to St Lucia, Montego Bay and Australia evident on her profile

'I did find a factory which is ethical and I did a lot of research to make sure it is a good factory.'

Meanwhile the advisors also questioned her overly ambitious plans to grow the business.

Kathryn described to Claude how she hoped to grow the business from 89,000 to 750,000, who told her it was 'impossible.'

She said: 'I think I can do it. If I can do 89,000 on my own, with the investment, I think that is achievable.'

Meanwhile Claude questioned what the reward was for Lord Sugar after noticing she had a 250,000 loss in the first year of her business.

However when speaking to Lord Sugar, Claude backed Kathryn and suggested he could act like 'a bit of a mentor' to the businesswoman.

Despite clear problems in her business plan, the candidate has set herself apart from episode one when she led her team to victory in the first cruise ship task and immediately impressed mentor Karren Brady.

Bring it on: Describing herself as ambitious, kind, and often 'savage', she says she's there to win, not to make friends

Standing out from the crowd: Kathryn set herself apart from episode one when she led her team to victory in the first cruise ship task and immediately impressed mentor Karren Brady

Final four: With three wins and seven losses under her belt, Kathryn certainly has plenty to prove going into tonight's business plan showdown. Pictured, Kathryn (right) and Stephanie

'You could see when Kathryn walked into the boardroom she was full of confidence,' Baroness Brady recalled. 'She had poise. She had something about her.

'Kathryn did really well. She excelled at managing everybody, having a clear vision. You could tell from the start that she was one to watch.'

But after her early success, Kathryn struggled and lost two of the next three tasks.

Week five gave her the chance to put things right. When developing a character for a new computer game, she based it on herself, winning praise from investors and Lord Sugar.

Next came a string of failures, namely in the Wales tourism task, in which she put herself forward as project manager but ultimately lost.

With three wins and seven losses under her belt, Kathryn certainly has plenty to prove going into next week's finale.

Describing herself as ambitious, kind, and often 'savage', she says she's there to win, not to make friends.

She said: 'My dreams in my head are absolutely huge and I believe I can achieve them.'

HARPREET KAUR

Harpreet Kaur, 30, from Yorkshire, is fighting it out for Lord Sugar's investment to grow her dessert parlour business into an empire across the country

Boss lady: On The Apprentice, Harpreet's assertiveness, decisiveness, and winning record has made her stood out from the rest of the candidates

'I'm definitely a leader, I was born to take control,' Harpreet, 30, says of herself. 'And I'm always right.'

On The Apprentice her assertiveness, decisiveness, and winning record has made her stood out from the rest of the candidates.

But this same leadership was not visible in childhood.

Harpreet grew up with her parents and siblings in Birmingham. Her family remember her as a 'quiet' child who didn't mind time alone.

Own venture: Together with her sister, Harpreet founded Barni's dessert parlour. It started in a shopping centre and is now a standalone restaurant in Huddersfield, pictured

'I was happy being in a corner by myself, I didn't feel the need to be a big character,' she said.

When Harpreet was 11 the family moved to Yorkshire where her family ran a convenience shop. Harpreet had her first taste of work when she helped her mother behind the counter.

By the age of 18, she took on a full-time position at a high street bank while attending university.

'Harpreet used to come home, have something to eat then she'd work until about midnight on her Open University course,' her mother Jasbir said. 'She's always got this passion, this drive to do her best.

During the interview stage last night, Lord Sugar's advisors questioned Harpreet over her relationship with her sister Gurvinder, who is currently co-owner of her business

Sweet: The dessert parlour owner uploads special family moments and lots of her beloved pooch

Harpreet graduated with a first class degree and by 22 she was managing the bank branch.

'My parents were so proud to finally say "my daughter is a bank manager". It's pretty much the moment all Indian parents wait for,' she said.

Then one day, she decided to break away and start her own business.

She explained: 'I was working so hard for somebody else but I knew I had the talent and the skill to be able to do it by myself and make some of my own money.'

Together with her sister, Gurvinder, Harpreet founded Barni's dessert parlour. It started in a shopping centre and is now a standalone restaurant in Huddersfield.

Reserved: Harpreet grew up with her parents and siblings in Birmingham. Her family remember her as a 'quiet' child who didn't mind time alone

During the programme, she explained she hoped to grow her business with six new stores with the help of Lord Sugar's investment.

She said: 'We've got these two cafes now, I've perfected the model, it can be scaled up. It works.'

She also revealed she hoped to diversify into the savoury snack market, which the advisors warned her against.

Harpreet's go-getter attitude has shone through in The Apprentice. She has the joint best record in the process, including two wins as project manager.

Now she has her sights set on the future: 'I feel I've got my business to a fantastic level but I'm want to scale up, I want to level up. I want the pressure.

First job: When Harpreet was 11 the family moved to Yorkshire where her family ran a convenience shop. Harpreet helped her mother (pictured) behind the counter

'I'm really confident Lord Sugar will see the opportunity in me and my business.'

Baroness Brady added: 'Harpreet has been a solid candidate throughout this process but now, none of that matters, it's all down to the business plan.'

However during the interviews, Harpreet's relationship with her sister was questioned by Claude - who accused her of being a liar for saying she was the 'founder and CEO of the business.

He said: 'It's not straight. You're not the owner...You make light of it, but Lord Sugar could have a problem. He's seen you and he hasn't seen your sister. It sounds like one of you is superfluous.'

Go-getter: By the age of 18, she took on a full-time position at a high street bank while attending university. Harpreet graduated with a first class degree and by 22 she was managing the bank branch

While speaking to Lord Sugar later in the programme, Claude said: 'I was impressed with her, but who is leading the business?

'But maybe the sister is the grafter? We don't know. That would need to be examined.'

But later Harpreet said the relationship wouldn't be a problem, saying: 'If it's a problem, she is prepared to step down.

'I've already had that conversation with her on a personal level, it wouldn't affect the business going forward.'

'If you don't want to invest in the business with the current structure, I've already had the conversation with her. You can invest in it 50 per cent and do it with myself.'
John Lewis chairwoman Sharon White says the 'only people who looked like her' while working in the Treasury in the 1990s were cleaning the loos'.

The 54-year-old businesswoman, who grew up in Layton, east London, joined the Civil Service in 1989 and took on a number of senior roles throughout her lengthy career.

The former Ofcom chief said there were very few female or ethnic minority members of staff and that being educated at Cambridge helped her fit in to the Westminster elite.

In 2013, Sharon became the first black person and the second woman to become a Permanent Secretary at the Treasury.

Speaking to Amol Rajan for his BBC2 interview series, Sharon said: 'I think if I hadn't been to Oxbridge I would have found the Treasury much tougher.'

The former Ofcom chief said there were very few female or ethnic minority members of staff and that being educated at Cambridge helped her fit in to the Westminster elite. Sharon is pictured front row, middle, at her Cambridge graduation ceremony

'There were so few women, let alone from an ethnic minority background. So the only people who really looked like me were cleaning the loos or were on the reception.

'But there were also very few women, the one woman on the Treasury board at the time who said to me, "You are permitted one eccentricity if you're at the Treasury and if you're a woman, basically that's it". She was very supportive and helped navigate [her way through the Treasury.'

When asked whether she ever felt the need to change her behaviour in order to fit in with work colleagues during her career, Sharon said: 'I've never felt that very explicit way.

'One role I had, I suddenly looked around the table and thought "Goodness everybody looks and dresses in a different way".

John Lewis chairwoman Sharon White says the 'only people who looked like her were cleaning the loos' when she worked at the Treasury in the 1990s

'I bought a completely different style of clothes. Colours and a style that wasn't naturally me. I thought maybe I have to adjust my style to fit in.

'I remember at the end of the year thinking "What have I done?". There was just something that felt a bit uncomfortable.

John Lewis' first chairwoman in its 157-year history: Who is Sharon White? John Lewis appointed Sharon White as the first ever female chairwoman in its 157-year history in 2019. White left her job as chief executive of Ofcom to take over from former chairman of the retailer Sir Charlie Mayfield at the beginning of 2020. Cambridge-educated Ms White had a number of senior civil servant roles at the Treasury and Ministry of Justice before she joined the media watchdog in 2015. She had no formal retail experience and was described as an 'unlikely candidate' by her predecessor. She is married to Robert Chote, who is head of the Office for Budget Responsibility, with whom she has two children. The couple have been repeatedly dubbed 'Mr and Mrs Treasury'. The mother-of-two was rumoured to be in the running to become the next Governor of the Bank of England, a 480,000-a-year role. After becoming Second Permanent Secretary in 2013, The Voice named Ms White as the seventh most powerful black person in Britain. She was born to Jamaican immigrant parents and was brought up in Leyton, east London, where she went to a state secondary school. Ms White graduated from Cambridge with an economics degree before studying for her Master's at University College London. Advertisement

'I remember the day I piled up all these clothes and took them to Oxfam and re-started wearing training shoes to the office and I was quite far into my career at that stage.'

Sharon grew up in Layton as the daughter of a Windrush generation family and says that being able to buy a house was a 'huge thing' for her parents.

'It was really difficult to rent as a black family', she said. All those signs of "No blacks, no Irish, no dogs". So it was a really big thing trying to buy your own house, hats off to my dad.'

Her parents came over to the UK from Jamaica in the late 50s and early 60s and had only planned to stay five years before meeting one another and starting a family in London.

'My dad always wanted to improve himself', said Sharon. Even though he didn't do very much schooling. He left school at 15 or 16. My mother left school when she was 11 and hardly did any primary school because she was the eldest of nine.

'So every time my grandmother had a baby my mum had to leave school to look after them, neither of them had huge amounts of formal schooling.'

Sharon admitted she felt 'conscious' that her parents were not born in Britain, saying: 'Having a brown skin in a community that was majority white working class...I felt very British, but I felt very British with a brown skin.'

Sharon, who attended a local state school, says she had an extremely high level of education and always knew she wanted to go to Cambridge as a child.

'I think if you have a non-traditional background it's very easy to be given a label of underprivileged. I had lots of privileges. I had to my mind one of the best educations, she said.

'The issue looking back is how much of that is down to luck, if my parents house was 20 meters further away I would have been [attending a] much less academic, much less successful school'.

John Lewis axed around a third of its stores in less than a year after suffering a hefty annual loss following the pandemic.

'We've had to take some very difficult decisions, she said. 'Closure of stores and partners made redundant.

'I think it's difficult for any business, but for a partnership I think it's been really painful, because as a partner you feel yourself part of a community, part of a family.'

The high-end brand confirmed in August 2020 that their flagship 35million store in Birmingham would never reopen after closing during lockdown.

The retailer said at the time that the affected stores were 'already financially challenged prior to the pandemic and a number of contributing factors, including the shift towards online shopping which Covid-19 has accelerated, meant these shops would not be commercially viable in the future'.

Sharon says that while it was 'painful' closing their flagship store, the company had to prioritise profit amid the pandemic.

'Wherever we close a store it's really hard for the community and there was a lot of debate around Birmingham, she said. 'But the painful fact is that we weren't making profit on the store and that's really hard.

Speaking to Amol Rajan for his BBC2 interview series, Sharon said: 'I think if I hadn't been to Oxbridge I would have found the Treasury much tougher'

Dame Sharon White and her husband Sir Robert Chote with the awards they received at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle last year

'I'd love to say we're able to keep all our stores open, but then I don't want to find ourselves five years down the track saying the partnership itself is at risk, as chairman your job is to take the really hard decisions'.

Sharon defended John Lewis' decision not to pay back 190 million in furlough support and business rates relief to the government, insisting the company did what was necessary to maintain jobs.

'The last two years have been an economic shock that we haven't seen in our lifetime and probably haven't seen since the depression or Spanish flu, she said.

'So we only claimed business rates relief as it was intended and used it as intended and without that money sadly even more of our partners would have been at risk and the scale of restructuring would have been even greater'.

Amol Rajan Interviews airs on Thursdays at 9pm
The Duchess of York met mothers and children forced to flee war-torn Ukraine during a visit to a Polish monastery today.

Prince Andrew's ex wife, who is grandmother to Princess Eugenie's son August, one and Princess Beatrice's daughter Sienna, born in September, is the first member of the extended royal family to travel to Poland to meet Ukrainian refugees.

Almost three million people have fled the country since Russia invaded last month, with the majority, more than 1.7 million, going to Poland. Fergie has been vocal about both the refugees and Polish people needing help, describing the situation as 'heartbreaking'.

Today, the royal visited a Cistercian monastery in Rudy, where she was pictured embracing children and chatting to their mothers.

Sarah Ferguson, 62, hugs a young Ukrainian girl who has fled to Poland during a trip to a Cistercian monastery in Rudy today

The royal, the first member of the extended family to go to Poland to visit Ukrainian refugees, is pictured talking to a young boy during her monastery trip today

Fergie has sent three articulated lorries packed with aid including clothing, nappies, and non-perishable food to Poland. Here, she is pictured talking to mothers who were forced to flee Ukraine with their children, following the Russian invasion

Upon her arrival at the monastery, Sarah was seen holding her 'Little Red' doll as she stepped out of the car, the mascot for her Story time With Fergie and Friends YouTube show, and heroine of her own series of children's books.

The royal, who recently relaunched the programme in a bid to show support to the children of Ukraine, said she hoped Little Red would be a real 'bringer of joy and bringer of hope' on the show, which appears to be her mission during the Poland trip.

Today's outing follows yesterday's visit to a centre for Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw. During which Sarah met Mayor Rafa Kazimierz Trzaskowski, saying she wanted to find out 'what more we can do'.

Following the visit, Fergie took to Instagram, where she said that she was heartbroken watching the invasion of Ukraine and in particular was affected to see families being separated and civilians being caught up in the bloodshed.

A man at the monastery in Poland presents the duchess with a card decorated with the Union Jack, as well as the Ukrainian and Polish flags

Sarah Ferguson was snapped stepping out of her car with her doll 'Little Red' - the mascot for her YouTube show Story time With Fergie and Friends

Fergie said she believes 'the smile of a child is the most important thing in the world', which is why she is so affected by the suffering of young people

She added: 'I have always believed the smile of a child is the most important thing in the world, so to see so many children caught up in this crisis is particularly affecting.'

Fergie gave further details about the trip, and her own relief efforts, via Twitter, where she made several posts outlining her thoughts about the situation.

She wrote: 'The invasion of Ukraine is heartbreaking to watch. So many families are being separated and displaced. I'm honoured to be welcomed to Poland today by [Mayor Rafa Kazimierz Trzaskowski] and meeting Ukrainian refugees. Poland has taken in at least 1.7m so far.'

The Duchess of York (pictured right) meeting Olga (picture left) a mother of two who fled from Dnipro with her two children David 4, and Sophie, 2 - her husband is fighting in the Ukrainian army

Fergie, 62, was welcomed into Poland by Polish politician and the current Mayor of Warsaw Rafa Kazimierz Trzaskowski. She is pictured here meeting Ukrainian children who have fled to Poland with their families

The grandmother of August, one and Sienna, born in September said in an Instagram post that she has always believed that the smile of child is the most important thing in the world. She is pictured here speaking with a little girl

In another Tweet, she added: 'My charity [Sarah's Trust] is doing all it can to help: so far we have sent three articulated lorries with supplies from UK donors to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland. I'm here to learn from [Mayor Rafa Kazimierz Trzaskowski] what more we can do. So many people are caught up in this conflict.'

In a third post, she called on people to help, writing: 'Mayor [Trzaskowski] showed me around one of the buildings giving refuge to families including Olga and her young children. He told me how an extra 9,000 children have arrived in Warsaws schools over the last 10 days and theres a real shortage of teachers. Warsaw needs our help.'

Among the aid sent to Poland by Sarah's Trust are clothes for women, children, nappies, hand sanitisers, toiletries, torches, and non-perishable food. Fergie said she 'can't thank the kind hearted donors' enough.

Sarah toured the centre's sleeping facilities for refugees. Rafa Kazimierz Trzaskowski (who she met during the visit) has been part of the opening of a Warsaw job mediation point for the refugees

Fergie, who has sent three articulated lorries full of aid including clothing and nappies to Poland for Ukrainian refugees, was pictured engaging with children during the trip

Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski (pictured, left) welcomed Sarah to the centre for refugees, where they discussed how best to help people fleeing Ukraine

During the visit, Fergie (pictured, left), posed with volunteers working at the centre for refugees

Fergie, who recently returned to her online show Story time With Fergie and Friends to show support to the children of Ukraine, was pictured embracing and comforting young people and their families who have escaped the invasion.

In an Instagram post detailing the visit, she revealed she had spoken to families about their experiences of fleeing the country in a bid to find safety, including one mother, Olga, who fled from Dnipro with her two children David 4, and Sophie, 2, leaving her husband behind to fight in the Ukrainian army.

She wrote: 'I had the privilege to listen to Olgas unimaginably brave story of escape from bloodshed. I promised her that I would pass on her deepest wish, NO MORE WAR, to the world. I am humbled by such courage and humility.

'I also met Anna, a production assistant whose parents remain in the outskirts of Kyiv, taking refuge in the basement of their building with no electricity or water for days. What these people are going through is unimaginable.'

Fergie shared details of her trip on Twitter, branding the invasion 'heartbreaking', and calling on people to help

Mayor Rafa Kazimierz Trzaskowski, a Polish politician and current Mayor of Warsaw, showed Sarah around the refugee centre.

He has been part of opening a Warsaw job mediation point for the refugees, where there are interpreters, positions to fill out forms and information and leaflets in Ukrainian.

In a post on social media he said that at the mediation point they are looking to hire influencers as soon as possible, primarily in healthcare and education.

He said: 'We are trying to ensure that the large number of new residents does not negatively affect the comfort of life of all Warsaw residents.'

Much of the aid sent to Poland by Fergie's charity Sarah's Trust is to support parents and their young children. Here, the Duchess is seen chatting with a young refugee during her trip

Mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, spoke to Sarah Ferguson about the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Warsaw, and how they can be helped

The Duchess, who recently returned to her online show Story time With Fergie and Friends to show support for both the children of Ukraine and their parents and grandparents, was pictured embracing refugees at the centre

Fergie said that it has been a privilege to meet the Ukrainian refugees and to hear their stories

Fergie has already received a lot positive comments from her social media posts about the trip, many brimming with blue and yellow hearts to show their support and love.

One user commented: ' Sarah you are the best!!'

Whilst another added: 'Amazing xx they def need lots of support xx'

A third said: 'Amazing! Keep up the great work! Thank you for sharing her story and thank you for sharing links on your story last week where we could donate.'
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made donations of an undisclosed amount to charities to support the people of Ukraine as they paid tribute to Invictus Games athlete killed in action in Ukraine.

In past weeks as Ukrainians fought tooth and nail to defend their cities against Russian aggression, the Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, accepted awards at Hollywood events and announced their new podcast series would launch this summer.

It was revealed this week that former Invictus Games triallist Serhii Karaivan died in the conflict on Sunday, with Prince Harry paying tribute to the athlete in a statement online today.

Meanwhile the couple also announced they made donations to several charities including The Halo Trust, the humanitarian landmine clearance charity, and HIAS, an international Jewish humanitarian organization that supports refugees.

Meghan and Harry went on to reveal they had donated to 'a coalition of domestic media such as Kyiv Independent, supported through Are We Europe.'

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made donations of an undisclosed amount to charities to support the people of Ukraine as they paid tribute to Invictus Games star killed in action in Ukraine

Meghan Markle's friend and Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie shared a tweet online about the donations from the couple

In a statement posted to their website, the couple wrote: 'Finally, our hearts are heavy as we acknowledge the recent loss of a member of our veteran community in Ukraine, who was defending his country from attack.

'We also pay tribute to the brave men and women from our global veteran community, past and present, who have long protected their countries and families with unparalleled strength and determination.

'We are continuing to work and speak with the Invictus Games Foundation daily to help however we can.

'All of us at Archewell have been inspired by the work these organizations have taken on.'

Tpday the couple announced they made donations to several charities including The Halo Trust, the humanitarian landmine clearance charity, and HIAS, an international Jewish humanitarian organization that supports refugees (pictured Kyiv)

The pair previously paid tribute to the people of Ukraine as they accepted the President's Award at the NAACP Image Awards last month.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared on stage in LA's Pasadena Civic Auditorium in February to accept the award in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.

The pair accepted the award for their work helping a Texas women's shelter, promoting vaccine equity and creating community relief centers, Harry first wanted to address the conflict in Ukraine following Russia's invasion this week.

'We would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community,' he told a room filled with glammed-up Hollywood stars and dignitaries.

It was revealed yesterday that former Invictus Games triallist Serhii Karaivan died in the conflict on Sunday, with Harry going on to pay tribute to the athlete in a statement online

His speech in front of Hollywood A-listers, such as Daniel Kaluuya and Jennifer Hudson, took place as Ukrainians in Kyiv came under siege for a third successive night and Russian troops rolled into the second city of Kharkiv.

The charities Prince Harry and Meghan Markle donated to to 'support people of Ukraine' The Halo Trust - Halo is a non-political charity that helps communities across the world remove the deadly devices from their land. Halo has 8,500 staff in 25 countries and territories and has been providing ambulances and logistics to medical authorities in Zimbabwe, Somalia, Libya, Afghanistan and Guinea-Bissau. The duke made an emotional pilgrimage to Africa in 2019 to retrace the steps of his mother Diana, who famously walked through a partially cleared Angolan minefield in 1997 to highlight the trusts efforts and the threat of the military munitions. HIAS - Founded in 1881 as the Hebrew Immigrant Society, an organization assisting Jewish families fleeing the pogroms. Are We Europe - Are We Europe is an independent media that publishes stories with local perspectives. Advertisement

Throughout the pandemic, the couple's Archewell Foundation has taken on many endeavors, including the promotion of COVID-19 vaccine equity and support for the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice.

Yet they had spent more money on legal fees for their charities than they actually raised in 2020, according to their legal findings.

Archewell reported to the IRS in December that it raised less than $50,000 in 2020  only opening a bank account last January.

And documents for their UK charity Sussex Royal, which changed its name to MWX Foundation in 2020 and is currently being dissolved, show that between June 2020 and June 2021 spent more than $55,000 on legal fees including attorneys' costs for wrapping up the nonprofit.

Meghan and Harry's charities have been mired in controversy since their launch, revealing family divisions and were hit with a UK watchdog investigation and criticism over their use of opaque and secretive Delaware corporations.

UK Companies House filings show the defunct British charity had more than $380,000 in its accounts in 2020, and spent at least $55,600 on attorneys, including about $35,000 to Harbottle & Lewis and $20,600 to an unidentified law firm.

The Duke and Duchess had previously written on the website of their Archewell charity: 'Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same.'

But the couple, who live in an $14.7 million mansion in Montecito, California, some 6,000 miles away from Kyiv, were criticized for a 'breathtakingly arrogant' statement and accused of 'once again making this about them.'

If the Sussexes raised more than $50,000 in 2021, they will be required to file more detailed accounts next December. Pictured: IRS Form 990 e-Postcard for Archewell

One Twitter user said: 'Phew, that's that sorted then. Putin will immediately recall the military and send them back to their garrisons. Thanks for that Harry and Meg, you saved us all. We owe you one!'

Another wrote: 'What a joke. Are they speaking for the UK or American? Or just jumping on for attention. Harry and Meghan have spoken. Putin Russian president is now scared LOL.'

And one social media user said: 'Don't tell me they actually care about someone else beside themselves, once again making this about them again, you got to laugh.'

Their latest news comes hours after Meghan announced her Spotify podcast will finally debut this summer - 18 months after she inked a $25m deal - after unsuccessfully calling for a crackdown on Joe Rogan.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex condemned the Russian invasion, in a statement published on their Archewell website

Many went on social media to criticize Harry and Meghan's statement on the Ukraine, saying they were making a serious issue all about them

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Archewell foundation shared the news in a statement Thursday. It came two months after they called on their new employer to crack down on COVID vaccine lies peddled by Joe Rogan, which only resulted in a slap-on-the-wrist for the hugely popular libertarian podcaster.

Meghan's statement said: 'As we all continue to tackle the misinformation era, Archewell Audio has found it important to work with our partners at Spotify to ensure that the digital technologies so many of us use every day are rooted in strong principles of trust and safety,' according to the Archewell statement.

'We are encouraged by ongoing conversations we've had with Spotify on this shared goal and have been working closely with their teamas well as their senior leadershiptowards policies, practices, and strategies meant to raise creator awareness, minimize the spread of misinformation, and support transparency.'
European monarchs have confirmed their attendance at Prince Philip's memorial at the end of the month - but Queen Elizabeth's attendance is now 'in the balance', a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral was held last April at Windsor Castle when pandemic rules stipulated that only 30 people could attend, and a memorial has been planned for March 29 to provide an opportunity for more friends and dignitaries to mark his lifetime of duty.

Royals including the Kings and Queens of The Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Spain are amoung those who have announced they are attending.

However it has now emerged Queen Elizabeth may not be able to attend the memorial service.

Speaking on True Royalty TVs, Russell Myers told The Royal Beat: 'You have to be realistic. [She is] just weeks away from 96, she has accepted her own limitations.

Kings and Queens from across the world have confirmed their attendance at Prince Philip's memorial at the end of the month - but Queen Elizabeth's attendance is now 'in the balance', a royal expert has claimed

'She's having issues moving around, [and is] described by people at the Palace as having good days and less good days

'I don't think we'll ever see her step back, but we probably will see her less and less.

'Will she make Prince Philip's memorial service in a few days? That's in the balance.'

Meanwhile Alan Jones, Royal Correspondent for the UK's Press Association news agency, adds: 'The Queen obviously wanted to be at the Commonwealth Service but she's got mobility issues.

Foreign royals including King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain (left) and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (right) are due to attend the memorial next week

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will pay their respects to Prince Philip at the event (pictured)

'The word we've been guided to use is the Queen's comfort [is the priority].'

There are a host of other European royals set to fly into London to attend the service next week, including Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain.

Meanwhile Princess Beatrix, the former Queen of The Netherlands, will be joined by her son, King Willem-Alexander, and his wife, Queen Maxima at the event.

It has also been confirmed King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will pay their respects at the event, as well as Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Radu will also attend the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of The Duke of Edinburgh next week.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have confirmed they won't be attending the memorial next week

While a guestlist has not been announced for the event, it is understood that senior members of the royal family including the Prince of Wales and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Royal and husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex will be in attendance.

It's likely the Queen and Prince Philip's other grandchildren will also attend, including Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike and Peter Philips.

Others from his funeral guest list to attend the memorial could include the Queen's first cousins Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, who loyally supported the monarch and Philip by carrying out royal duties over the decades.

The children of the Queen's late sister Princess Margaret - the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband David Chatto - may also be in attendance.

There are a host of other European royals set to fly into London to attend the service next week, including Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia

Prince Philip's best female friend from Sandringham, Penelope Knatchbull also attended his funeral in April, alongside three of Prince Philip's German relatives.

While it is unknown if they will definitely be in attendance, it's likely they will be invited given their close relationship with the Duke.

It comes after fears grew among courtiers last weekend that the Queen may be forced to pull out of the thanksgiving service for Prince Philip at the end of the month.

While the Queen 'still hopes' to attend Philip's service, which will be held at the abbey on March 29, she may not be mobile enough to do so.

Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja (left) and Queen Margrethe of Denmark (right) is also set to attend the memorial service in London next week

The Mail on Sunday understood she has ruled out the option of using a wheelchair at this stage and remains determined to continue to walk for as long as possible.

This is despite the Monarch reportedly being too frail to walk her beloved corgis over the last six months.

The Queen, who turns 96 next month and has recently recovered from Covid, was this week moving around Windsor Castle without a walking stick and is not suffering from a new illness.

Nevertheless, her mobility issues remain at the heart of a 'regretful' decision taken late on Friday to pull out of the annual Commonwealth Service, which is usually a highlight in her calendar.

Detailed plans are being configured to find a way in which the Queen may comfortably attend the service for Philip, Britain's longest-serving consort and the beloved husband she once referred to as 'my strength and stay'.

The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral was held last April at Windsor Castle when pandemic rules stipulated that only 30 people could attend

The thanksgiving service has already been cut down to a relatively brief 50 minutes and to save the Queen from the long walk down the aisle to reach her seat, a side door may be deployed. Yet even that may prove too much.

Penny Junor, a royal biographer, said: 'The Queen is extraordinary. She has gone on with great vigour for years but we have to remember she is 95 and not superhuman.

'In other respects, she is on great form. The Queen is fantastic on Zoom calls, but I think events where she is required to walk or go up any steps are not going to be feasible any more.

'And fortunately we have the technology that means she is not going to disappear from view altogether.'

But reports said she has been unable to walk her corgis over the last six months and there are fears she may never again. A source told the Sun: 'She is not well enough.

'The Queen usually turns to her beloved corgis in time of crisis and stress and took them out almost every day after Philip fell ill and then died last year.

'They are an enormous source of solace, so it is a real shame.'

Last month, while receiving the incoming and outgoing Defence Services Secretaries, the Queen quipped: 'I'm here. Good morning. Well, as you can see I can't move.'

She gestured at her feet before shuffling forward slightly to greet the pair. A Palace source later said her comments referred to feeling stiff rather than being unwell.

The Queen has not appeared at a formal public engagement since October 19.

Yet she has carried out numerous video calls and last Monday met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle.

It seems increasingly unlikely, however, that she will make many appearances during this summer's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A Palace source said: 'Unlike previous jubilees, the Queen won't be at every event, but she will be at the significant moments.'

This episode of The Royal Beat will be available on 18 March on True Royalty TV.
The Prince of Wales stepped out in Gloucestershire today, as he planted a tree in honour of The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC).

QGC is a UK-wide Platinum Jubilee initiative which will create a lasting legacy in tribute to the Queen's 70 years of service to the nation, through a network of trees planted in her name.

Prince Charles joined staff at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum to plant the aptly named Monarch Birch tree.

Despite being dressed in his trademark double-breasted blazer and brogues, the heir to the throne was not afraid to get his hands dirty, and was seen grasping a shovel and digging a small hole for the sapling.

He was seen giving the sapling his customary 'handshake' to wish it well, a custom he carries out every time he plants a tree.

Clarence House previously confirmed to FEMAIL that it is indeed a tradition of the royal's, and it's one of 70 facts about the heir to the throne published on his personal website.

The Prince of Wales visited The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire today, to plant a tree in honour of the Queen's Green Canopy project, which celebrates the Queen's platinum jubilee

The heir to the throne, who famously loves nature, was seen gently holding the sapling upfront after planting it in the soil

After prepping the ground for the tree, the royal was seen waiting for one of the Arboretum staff to gently put it in the earth.

Once the plant was in place, Charles was seen patting down the soil with his oxblood brogues.

The specially selected sapling was propagated from a seed at the arboretum and was collected from the wild, in its native home of Toyama, Japan in 2019 by a team from the University of Oxford.

This isn't the first tree Charles has planted as part of the QGC. Last October, he was joined by his mother the Queen as they kicked off the initiative at the Balmoral Estate.

Charles was not worried about getting his hands dirty, and was spotted digging a hole for the sapling

The future king watched intently as one of the Arboretum staff carefully moved the small tress from its pot into the ground

Once the aptly-named Monarch Birch was in the ground, Prince Charles patted down the soil with one of his oxblood brogues

Her Majesty, who is the first British monarch to reach a 70-year reign, acceded to the throne on February 6 1952, aged 25, dressed down for the occasion.

Donning wellies and one of her traditional headscarves, her Majesty took a spade to the ground alongside Charles, as they planted the tree.

As they poured soil around the copper beech sapling, Charles quipped: 'Let's hope it will survive.'

Prince Charles and the Queen kicked off the Queen's Green Canopy initiative last October (pictured), with the pair planting a copper beech sapling at Balmoral

Her Majesty appeared in good spirits as she donned a headscarf and ventured into the Balmoral grounds to plant a tree and kick of the QGC in celebration of her platinum jubilee

The Queen's Green Canopy, which has its own Twitter account, says the tree planted by the monarch in October joined some 1,500 the Queen has planted around the world throughout her 70-year reign.

It is calling on people across the nation to follow her lead, and plant their own trees, using the slogan: 'Plant a tree for the jubilee.'

It encourages people to plants their trees between October and March, to give them the best chance of survival.
A New York City woman has shared her horrifying spring break experience, describing how a man wearing no pants followed her and her friends into a Miami Starbucks and masturbated for several minutes while looking straight at them.

Halley, a college senior, called the ordeal 'the most horrifying, traumatizing thing of my life,' sharing details and footage of the man on TikTok.

She recounted how she and her friends stood frozen and terrified as the man masturbated to completion in the store before following them outside and continuing to watch them with his hand down his boxers, touching himself.

When the group got up to leave, she said, the man 'sprinted' after them down the street while they desperately called 911.

Finally, she said, police found them and managed to subdue the man with a taser.

'He's clearly very mentally ill, and I assume on drugs, and I'm just glad we got him off the street so he doesn't do that to other girls, but he did just give me a little bit of trauma,' she said

Halley, a college senior, called the ordeal 'the most horrifying, traumatizing thing of my life,' sharing details and even footage of the man on TikTok

'I'm gonna share this story as a warning to other girls,' Halley says. 'Cause I'm gonna be honest, I thought things like this didn't happen to people, and they were made up  but it's real.'

She says she and her friends stopped by a Miami Starbucks on spring break last week when they were targeted by the man.

'As we walked in, this man from behind us ran in front of us, cut us off, and opened the door for us,' she says, adding that she didn't think anything of it, assuming he was being a gentleman.

'There are like 30 people in line, but me and my friends had mobile ordered, so we just walked over to the mobile order counter and waited there.

'I then noticed that the man who opened the door for us is standing right behind us at the mobile order counter. He hadn't ordered anything. And I notice he was not wearing shoes.

'Literally just socks and boxers. No pants, no shoes, just standing behind us. And I realized his hand was in his pants.

She recounted how she and her friends stood frozen and terrified as the man masturbated to completion

After they walked out, the man followed and walked up to their table, his hand still down his pants. They immediately got up to leave, but he chased them

'I really wasnt paying much attention to it. Im from New York City, I see a lot of weird s***, so I was just like whatever. I really assumed the best for him, and I was like, he's just waiting for his drink as well.

'About five minutes later, I turn around and I see this man with no pants, no shoes, still standing behind us, and his hand is still in his pants.

'I then start to pay a little more attention and I realize that he is jerking himself off,' she goes on.

Here, she cuts to video showing the man in Starbucks, standing by himself without pants or shoes and moving his hand rapidly inside his boxers.

Halley makes it clear that the man was staring directly at them.

'At this point, me and my friends are literally in a corner where we can't move, we're waiting for our drinks. I'm so scared to say or do anything because I don't want him to put his hands on me or assault me,' she continues.

'I am like eyeing the Starbucks workers, like, "Please f***ing help," no one's doing anything.'

Meanwhile, they were on the phone with 911 'begging them, please help us'

When the man saw the police, he ran in another direction, but they managed to catch up and tase him

A Starbucks representative told Daily Dot that 'alerted to the customers behavior,' store employees called authorities immediately.

'Me and my friends are just standing there frozen solid, terrified,' Halley says.

At this point, another young woman started recording the man and screaming, 'You're f***ing disgusting, get out.'

But the man just stared her down, and Halley says he eventually 'finished' and semen was 'dripping out of his pants.'

'At this point, I'm so scared. He's gonna start swinging, I'm not ready for this, so I sprint out of the Starbucks. Me and my friends go outside,' she says.

'While we're sitting outside, the Starbucks people just let him walk outside, follow us, sit down at this table, and continue.'

She cuts to another video showing the man standing near a table a few feet away, his hand still down his pants.

'He's clearly mentally ill, and I assume on drugs, and I'm just glad we got him off the street so he doesn't do that to other girls, but he did give me a little bit of trauma,' Halley (center) said

@halleykate This got deleted yesterday, but I feel it needs to be shared  original sound - halley

'I was already traumatized, but this is where the story takes a turn for the worse,' she says.

Halley and her friends immediately got up to walk away, but the man continued after them.

'As we're walking away, he chases us. I'm not trying to exaggerate, he liked chased us, literally chased us,' she said, adding that they were 'legit sprinting' away.

Meanwhile, they were on the phone with 911 'begging them, please help us.'

'The cops, as we're sprinting, kind of drive past us, we try to wave them down. They end up stopping in front of us and they see the guy,' she says.

When the man saw the police, he ran in another direction, but they managed to catch up and tase him  which Halley also caught on camera.

'He's clearly very mentally ill, and I assume on drugs, and I'm just glad we got him off the street so he doesn't do that to other girls, but he did just give me a little bit of trauma. And this is just a PSA to stay safe, ladies!' she concludes.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Halley for comment.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended the launch of a website aising Ukrainian refuges obtain visas today.

The Dutch royal showed her support for the new online platform helping Ukrainian refugees obtain visas in the Netherlands at an application centre in the Broodfabriek in in Rijswijk.

Maxima, 50, later met pupils at a school in the The Hague which is teaching Ukrainian children who fled from the war.

The mother-of-three was the picture of elegance in pair of red cigarette trousers teamed with a matching blouse and a burgundy wool coat as she attended the event.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended the launch of a website aising Ukrainian refuges obtain visas today

Maxima, 50, later met pupils at a school in the The Hague which is teaching Ukrainian children who fled from the wa

The Dutch royal showed her support for the new online platform helping Ukrainian refugees obtain visas in the Netherlands

Maxima spent the morning attending the launch of 'Refugee Help', an online platform which helps Ukrainian refugees looking to find sanctuary in the Netherlands.

The website, founded by Dutch Council for Refugees and SparkOptimus, provides relevant information in various languages and provides an overview of organisations and initiatives available to them.

During her visit she spoke with young women who helped launch the site and chatted with refugees before she was shown around the registration point.

This afternoon, Maxima travelled to a school in the Hague to meet Ukrainian children who have fled from the conflict and appeared deep in conversation with some young pupils.

The mother-of-three was the picture of elegance in pair of red cigarette trousers teamed with a matching blouse and a burgundy wool coat as she attended the event

Maxima stepped out at an application centre in the Broodfabriek in in Rijswijk where the website was being launched

Her blonde tresses were swept back into a chic updo and the mother opted for a light smokey eye and a touch of peach blush and silver highlighter

Queen Maxima met a group of young women who helped with the launch of Refugee Help at the registration location for refugees from Ukraine in Rijswijk

Maxima spent the morning attending the launch of 'Refugee Help', an online platform which helps Ukrainian refugees looking to find sanctuary in the Netherlands

Looking typically chic, Maxima opted for a pair of high waisted trousers teamed with a matching oversized blouse and a pair of killer red heels.

She carried a stylish red clutch bag and accessorised her outfit with a pair of statement bronze earrings and a golden link bracelet.

Her blonde tresses were swept back into a chic updo and the mother opted for a light smokey eye and a touch of peach blush and silver highlighter.

Nearly three million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded late last month and all Ukrainian refugees travel free of charge in the Netherlands upon presentation of a Ukrainian passport or identity card.

Queen Maxima opted for a pair of high waisted trousers teamed with a matching oversized blouse

Queen Maxima posing with members of staff at the launch of the website 'Refugee help' this morning

During her visit Queen Maxima of the Netherlands spoke with young women who helped launch the site

The Dutch royal appeared in high spirits as she attended the launch of a website aiding Refugees seeking visas to the Netherlands

Queen Maxima listened as staff members spoke at the launch of the website in Rijswijk this morning

Queen Maxima listened closely to staff members at the registration location for refugees from Ukraine in Rijswijk

Queen Maxima visits a school in The Hague where they teach Ukrainian children who fled the war zone

Many international organisations are turning their focus and support towards the exodus of refugees who are fleeing and primarily going to neighbouring Poland, Moldova and other European states such as the Netherlands.

In a statement issued by the Dutch royal household last month, Maxima and her husband King Willem-Alexander said: 'Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and everyone affected by the violence.

'Our thoughts are very much with the people there and with the Ukrainian community in the Netherlands, who will be anxious about the situation of their families and friends.'

Maxima has been showing her support for the cause, visiting a humanitarian service point for Ukrainian refugees on Wednesday.

Donning the colours of the Ukrainian flag, the Dutch royal was shown around the refugee centre by members of staff, and met with families who have fled Ukraine.
A Southern California mall has replaced traditional signs listing mall hours with ones that direct shoppers to scan a QR code to bring up those mall hours on its website.

The switch, which appears to have been recently implemented at Glendale Galleria, is being met with derision on social media.

Angry Twitter users argue that requiring shoppers to scan a QR code makes a simple process unnecessarily harder, and renders it inaccessible to people who don't have smartphones.

A photo of the sign was shared on March 14 by comedian Grant O'Brien, who complained: 'No. You simply have to put the mall hours on this sign. You simply have to.'

The sign is labeled 'Mall Hours,' but instead of listing hours, most of the sign is taken up by a giant QR code with the directions: 'Scan to view mall hours. Aim your camera here.'

A Southern California mall has replaced traditional signs listing mall hours with ones that direct shoppers to scan a QR code to bring up those mall hours on its website

A photo of the sign was shared on March 14 by comedian Grant O'Brien, who complained: 'No. You simply have to put the mall hours on this sign. You simply have to'

The tweet has quickly gone viral, with over 300,000 likes from irate and confounded Twitter users.

'I cannot imagine a world where this is a better option than just putting the hours on the sign wtf,' wrote one commenter.

'What if Im going to the mall to get my phone fixed????' asked another.

'I thought maybe it was one of those magic eye illusions and if you stare at it long enough you'll start to see the mall hours,' tweeted a third.

'People who are not technically savvy will hate this because it is an annoying new technology. People who are technically savvy will hate this because it is a terrible and invasive new technology,' wrote a fourth.

Several commenters pointed out that this is not only inefficient, but it also makes accessing mall hours difficult for people who don't own smartphones or who aren't particularly adept at using them.

The sign is labeled 'Mall Hours,' but instead of listing hours, most of the sign is taken up by a giant QR code with the directions: 'Scan to view mall hours. Aim your camera here'

The mall hours are available online and are listed not just by day of the week but by date

'This uses far more ink than a conventional message and is useless to anybody over 50; i.e. people who still use malls,' tweeted one.

'Reminder that many people don't have a smart phone or don't know how to easily use one. Expecting every member of the public to access content vital to an experience (i.e., visiting a mall, ordering from a restaurant) is classist, stupid, and unnecessary,' said another.

'I hate to break it to people who run this mall, but not everyone can afford fancy camera/cell phones. This sign smacks of elitism and privilege. Just saying,' yet another chimed in.

'Theyre trying to tell paying customers when the mall is open, without tipping off the homeless people who might use the mall as temporary shelter,' suggested one more.

Angry Twitter users argue that requiring shoppers to scan a QR code makes a simple process unnecessarily harder, and renders it inaccessible to people who don't have smartphones

One commenter noted that the QR code is a particularly complex one because the URL it directs to is so long with tracking mechanisms.

'Cool, the QR blocks are so tiny because it's a really long URL including metadata like 'campaign=holiday-season' and 'medium=print' and 'source=signage' so they can track useless nonsense about who is trying to scan for their hours, all while lowering the odds that scanning works,' they said.

Some people also helpfully posted screenshots of the mall hours, proving how much easier it is to have them immediately available.

DailyMail.com had reached out to Glendale Galleria for comment.
A woman walks past a large video screen at a shopping mall showing Chinese President Xi Jinping arriving for the opening session of the annual meeting of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, March 5. AP-Yonhap





Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that the country will "stick with" its zero-Covid strategy, state TV reported, as the world's most populous nation battles its largest outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.







The country where the virus emerged in late 2019 has largely kept subsequent outbreaks under control thanks to a combination of strict border controls, lengthy quarantines and targeted lockdowns, and has not reported any coronavirus-related deaths for over a year.







But the highly transmissible Omicron variant is posing a stern challenge to that strategy, prompting authorities to close off cities including the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, home to 17.5 million people.







The world's second-largest economy has gone from reporting under 100 daily infections just three weeks ago to more than 1,000 per day for over a week.







More than 2,400 cases were reported Thursday, according to the National Health Commission.







Speaking at a meeting of China's top leaders, Xi said the country should "continue to put people and life at the forefront, stick with scientific accuracy and dynamic-zero, and curb the spread of the epidemic as soon as possible," according to state broadcaster CCTV.







Beijing must "raise the level of scientifically accurate prevention and control and continuously optimize disease control measures," the report quoted Xi as saying.







He called to "strengthen technological key areas like vaccination, rapid testing and drug research" to make virus curbs more "targeted," CCTV said.







Xi also urged tighter virus controls at ports of entry and stressed the need to "swiftly control local clustered outbreaks."







Tens of millions of people are currently under stay at home orders across China to try and stamp out the latest outbreak.











Beijing's communist leadership has made its handling of the pandemic a matter of political capital, saying the low death rate demonstrates the strength of its governance model.







Racing to tamp down outbreaks in multiple cities, Chinese officials have also moved to free up hospital beds over fears the virus could put the health system under strain.







Northeast China's Jilin Province  which has reported thousands of cases over the past week  has built eight "makeshift hospitals" and two quarantine centers to stem the surge in infections.







State news outlets this week broadcast footage of dozens of giant cranes assembling temporary medical facilities in Jilin, which has only around 23,000 hospital beds for some 24 million residents.







Authorities also said people with mild cases could isolate at central quarantine facilities, having previously sent all patients with any symptoms to specialist hospitals.







The latest flare-ups have prompted long queues to form outside mass testing sites and seen tight controls at ports, raising fears of trade disruption.







In Shanghai  China's biggest city and home to 25 million people  authorities have closed school campuses, locked down some residential compounds and launched a rigorous round of mass testing, according to state media. (AFP)


Dear Bel,

My husband and I (weve been together for 27 years) are in our early 70s, although were young for our age. Our finances are closely entwined and we are dependent upon each other for money. I love him very much and he, supposedly, feels the same about me.

I had thought we were so happy, but he has had a two-and-a-half-year affair with a much younger woman. I knew the moment this affair began and I stood by and watched it unfold. I was in shock.

When challenged, he denied, denied, denied everything and lied, lied, lied all the way through.

He assured me repeatedly that this woman meant absolutely nothing to him.

When I eventually saw a text from her (I was not snooping, but I walked into a room unexpectedly) which confirmed their affair, he still denied everything.

He told me he would never leave me, that there was no one but me and that I was the love of his life. Perhaps the truth was that she did not want him to leave me, but I will never know.

I have had a total breakdown from which I am just starting to recover. Now, I have four questions for you:

1. How do I live with myself for being such a pathetic fool to still love him so much, and for standing by and allowing this affair to go on?

2. I have to see this other woman quite frequently, and there is no avoiding this unless I move home, which I do not want to do. I feel so much anger towards her (as well as my husband). I want to do something to cause her the same enormous amount of pain she has caused me.

Yes, of course, I understand any affair takes two, but she knew my husband was married as I was with him the first time we met her. How do I let go of this tremendous hatred and anger?

3. How do I come to terms with the fact that the person I loved so much  the one person I truly thought would never hurt me  has two-and-a-half years worth of secrets with another woman?

4. My husband now assures me the affair is over, and the signs suggest that it is. We both want our marriage to continue. How do I ever learn to trust him again?

Alice

This week, Bel answers the questions of a woman agonising over her decision to take her husband back after an affair

My sympathies. In the same postbag I received another agonised letter from a woman of 30 whose husband had a brief affair then came back, but (it has turned out) passed on a sexually transmitted infection to his wife.

After individual counselling, they were dealing with the fallout from the affair, but now this has set them back. All of your questions  posed by a much older person  would be relevant to that younger mother-of-one. So I hope she reads this, too.

Let me take your questions in order.

Thought of the Day The beauty of the world hath made me sad, This beauty that will pass; Sometimes my heart is shaken with great joy To see a leaping squirrel in a tree, Or a red ladybird upon a stalk. From The Wayfarer by Patrick Pearse (Irish poet and Republican activist, 1879-1916) Advertisement

1. It is the opposite of pathetic to be steadfast in your love, hoping each day that the mans foolishness will stop. You thought he would come to his senses, and eventually he did. It wasnt your fault that it took so long. I believe it was brave of you to stick to the for better, for worse vow.

Please flip the shame you are expressing at the moment, and feel proud of yourself for an extraordinary display of strength, not weakness.

2. It is no surprise that you hate the other woman. Of course you do. It would be unnatural if you didnt.

Yes, it takes two to tango, but I can see why it helps to transfer the loathing you do not wish to feel for the man you love to the woman who (you think) seduced him, knowing he was married. Its terrible that you have to see her  and I rather wish you would decide to move, as it would also give you and your husband a new project, a new start.

If that is impossible, I must tell you unequivocally that its also impossible for you to hurt her as she has hurt you. To wish that is to strap an impossibly heavy weight to your chest and step into an icy river. It will destroy you. But how to let go of anger is a perennial mystery.

In time, you will find it does wear itself out, because rage is exhausting as well as destructive. In the meantime, write down all your feelings of hatred and violence in two letters, making them as abusive to the sinners as you like. Then burn each one.

3. This is, to me, the hardest question of all. The fact is, sexual passion makes utter fools of people, making them change. Shakespeare found the potential for comedy in this in A Midsummer Nights Dream, but the other side of that coin is the stuff of tragedy. When your spouse is unfaithful, you see them alter before your eyes.

They lie  and will even deny long-cherished truths about your life and love together  in order to feel less guilty. Its horrible, but the only thing to do is ask yourself if you would rather they had left  or died. If the answer to that is No, then you have to say Yes to the flawed future.

This now segues into your fourth question, doesnt it?

4. Im afraid theres no choice but to accept that you and he have both changed, and so need to find each other once more. If your marriage is to continue, it must grow with the change. Thats why I wish you would move away to rebuild your life together.

Help free me from this living grief

Dear Bel,

I have been in a living grief for many years because of my situation. I am not a whole person and never will be again unless things change. Its hard to hold on to hope when all attempts to mend things are hopeless.

It began more than 30 years ago  too long a story. After my difficult marriage ended, my youngest daughter, then 16, became a victim of the situation. Ive been excluded from her life ever since.

Then, 15 years ago, her twin brother also shut me out. My father was dying and my sons wife interfered, causing upset for Mum. I asked her to mind her own business and stop phoning Mum, and instead help her husband through that distressing time.

I feel like a stranger in my own life  robbed of what I should have had with my whole family. I have four girls and a boy, but since two have chosen to exclude me I do not know three of my grandchildren. I treasure time with the others who do want me, but theres always something missing.

There is a photograph of all my children, and their spouses and children, with my ex-husband and his wife in the centre.

I have no problem with his wife, who was not to blame for the marriage break-up. But Im heartbroken that I dont have my own version of that happy picture.

I have a wonderful husband, without whom I would not be here. I count my blessings and my faith is important. But my sleep is often disturbed by heartache and longing. Coping with my see-saw existence is becoming harder. I am a fit and active 73-year-old, but Im so tired.

Pamela

The phrase living grief is usually associated with the long-term stress and pain of looking after very sick and/or dying people, followed by another grief when they pass away. Or any loss which does not seem to change with the passage of time.

For you, it is living with permanent estrangement from your twins. For some reason your daughter probably took the side of her father, 30 years ago.

Some 15 years later, at another time of great stress, you quarrelled with your daughter-in-law and your son never forgave you.

In your long letter, you explain that you tried to make up, to no avail. Your sense of rejection and loss is profound, and it is hard to see what you can do about it  other than learn to live with the reality of your life, calming the happy-sad-happy see-saw of your mind.

I understand your frustration that, while your ex-husband and his wife can treasure a photograph of them with the whole family, you cannot.

If that lack is, in fact, a consequence of your own past mistakes, it doesnt make the sadness easier to bear.

Yet surely you must move on? For if you fail to come to terms with what has happened, you risk ruining the life that you do have with your beloved husband and three out of your five children.

By brooding over the idealised symbolism of the missing photograph, you place yourself permanently on a spike of longing and loss.

This is to suffer pointlessly  and at the expense of all the happy snaps you must have of good times spent with the rest of the family.

You say you count your blessings  and that is the only saving grace. Count them more.

I believe we can help to heal ourselves with small, symbolic actions. I could suggest various things to aid you in accepting the reality of your life  sadness and all.

But Ill choose just one. Why not buy yourself a present of a pretty, heart-shaped locket?

Instead of putting a photograph inside, I would get the finest felt-tip pen and write out the names of your five children and those of all the grandchildren on two pieces of paper, to fit both sides.

Take trouble over this. Wear the locket every day. Take a deep breath and hold it as needed.

And finally... In a world of darkness, faith can help

It uplifted me to receive so many supportive emails following my reply to last weeks lead letter. It asked what God is doing while the horror in Ukraine unfolds, and suggested it is deluded to pray.

My reply came from the depths of my own despair and doubt, yet I found hope in human goodness. So many letters thanked me for writing as I did  a reply (I will be honest) of which I was proud, especially given the context.

The Mail publishes brilliant comment on political and social issues, but on the deep angst of an ancient philosophical question? Not so much.

Contact Bel Bel answers readers' questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. Names are changed to protect identities. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Advertisement

One lady, full of gratitude, expressed astonished approval that the paper allowed me to mention Jesus in my column! I cant think why the Editor would not, since this newspaper is a broad church and respects all faiths.

Our great, still-growing appeal for Ukrainian refugees, and also the number of readers wanting to give space in their homes to women and children escaping Putins bombs, are a testimony to goodness, generosity and love. That is faith, too.

Like so many others I remain a doubting, seeking Christian.

The deluge of comment encourages me to believe that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, Britain is still a Christian culture.

My life has been (and still is) shaped by the glorious tradition of Western art and music, rooted in the Christian faith. And I believe the message of tolerance and forgiveness preached by Jesus can save the world.

People usually say: Im not religious, but    needing to make the disclaimer. Nevertheless, there is a need for belief in something larger than the Self. A need, in dark times, to stretch out a hand to a heaven and beg: Please.

Not one of us can know for sure what is true, but we can hope. And, as the soldiers say: There are no atheists in foxholes under fire. If faith can offer consolation for your problems, why not try it?
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The United States' drug epidemic set another grim record in October, according to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The agency revealed that an estimated 105,752 Americans died of a drug overdose between October 2020 to October 2021, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. It was also the fourth straight month where a record for year-over-year drug overdose deaths was set.

It also represents a 16 percent increase in overdose deaths within the past year.

A vast majority of these deaths were caused by opioids - specifically, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl - that have torn through the U.S. in recent years.

The CDC reported that 79,481 deaths were caused by opioids, with 87 percent of those caused by synthetic versions of the drug.

Drug overdoses were already spiraling out of control before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the disruptions to everyday life, social isolation and loss suffered by some Americans due to the virus created the perfect storm to exacerbate the situation.

A group of four men overdosed on fentanyl over the weekend. Pictured, law enforcement officials work the scene in the 1600 block of Southwest 40th Terrace near Fort Lauderdale on Sunday

Researchers say that while lockdown orders were successful at preventing transmission of the virus, they also closed resources homeless people could have used to deal with drug overdose. The lockdown order was the start of when homeless deaths began to surge

A study performed by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, finds that people experiencing homelessness are an example of those that were hard struck by drug overdose deaths last year.

Deaths doubled among the group during the first year of the pandemic, with Covid not responsible for any of the increase. Instead it as drugs, and mainly fentanyl, to blame.

Fentanyl has ruined spring break for some revelers in Florida as well, with at least ten overdoses on the drug being reported over the past week. As of Friday afternoon, none of the overdoses have resulted in death.

Last week, four people were hospitalized after using fentanyl-laced cocaine in Broward County.

Two of the four went into cardiac arrest and were then given mouth-to-mouth by the other pair, who then also became exposed to fentanyl and had to be hospitalized.

Fire rescue crews found the men, aged between 26 and 39, in the Fort Lauderdale home that contained 'drug residue', on Sunday.

Their hospitalizations come days after after six military cadets from West Point also overdosed from fentanyl while in the state celebrating spring break. Several of them went into cardiac arrest and were taken to hospital.

The CDC report revealed that the states in the Midwest and Appalachian regions of the country are dealing the brunt of America's overdose problem.

West Virginia is still far and away suffering the biggest drug overdose issue in America, with 85.3 out of every 100,000 residents dying from an overdose during the time span included in the report.

Other states in the region like Tennessee, which recorded 55.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, Pennsylvania, 55.4 deaths, and Kentucky, at 53.5 deaths, are among the leaders as well.

The Department of Health and Human Services has specifically targeted the Appalachian region as an area of concern during the nation's opioid crisis, as rural areas in these states have been hard struck by the opioid crisis.

It is also harder for many of these people to receive treatment when they overdose, as they often live much further from hospitals and urgent care facilities than a person in an urban or suburban environment.

Combine these factors with growing poverty in the area, and now a pandemic that left millions out of work and isolated from their communities, and many people unfortunately allowed drug use to spiral out of control and cause their eventual death.

The states with the lowest number of opioid deaths per 100,000 residents are South Dakota (10.7), Nebraska (11.3), Iowa (14) and New York (15.5).

Some states have experienced worrying surges of overdose deaths over the past year as well.

Alaska logged a 78 percent jump in deaths from 2020 to 2021, the most of any state according to CDC data. Vermont was right behind with a 48 percent increase.

A total of 11 states recorded increases of 30 percent or more, a massive surge over the course of only one year.

These increases during the pandemic are likely tied to the devastating social isolation caused by early lockdowns.

Black Americans (yellow) surpassed White Americans (gray) in opioid deaths per 100,000 residents for the first time since 2001 in 2020, as the racial group bore the brunt of a record opioid surge

Black Americans (yellow) suffered a 49% increase in drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020, the highest of any group. Every single racial group suffered an increased of 25% or more (dotted line marks start of COVID-19 pandemic)

A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 41 percent of Americans reported having mental health issues in January 2021, a figure that dwarfs the 11 percent rate from before the pandemic.

The rise was especially noticeable among people that had recently lost a job due to Covid or made an annual salary of less that $40,000 per year.

Researchers at KFF also found a clear correlation between people reporting increased levels of depression and anxiety during Covid and their likelihood to abuse drugs.

Some states did record a decline in overdose deaths, though, a sign that things did not degrade everywhere in America over the past year.

New Hampshire (five percent drop in overdose deaths), Hawaii (four percent), Delaware (three percent), Wyoming (two percent) all saw death rates drop from September 2020 to 2021, the CDC reports.

The U.S. eclipsed the 100,000 annual overdose deaths total for the first time between April 2020 and 2021, a grave milestone for the nation after a full year of the pandemic.

'As we continue to make strides to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot overlook this epidemic of loss, which has touched families and communities across the country,' President Joe Biden said when the data was revealed in November.

'As we grieve those we've lost and honor their memories, my Administration is committed to doing everything in our power to address addiction and end the overdose epidemic.'

Since then, the 100,000 overdose death mark has been reached in every single report.

Opioids (black) make up nearly 80% of drug overdose deaths in the U.S., and synthetic opioids like fentanyl (brown) make up a large portion of overall opioid deaths

Opioids, and specifically synthetic opioids like fentanyl, are most at fault for the surging overdose deaths.

An estimated 79,481 deaths were caused by the drugs over the 12-month period, with 69,425 being attributed to synthetics like fentanyl. Semi-synthetic opioids were responsible for 13,706.

The next leading cases were psychostimulants, causing 30,922 deaths, followed by 22,691 deaths from cocaine and just over 10,000 deaths caused by heroin.

Black Americans suffered the brunt of these recent drug overdoses, a study by researchers from the University of Califronia, Los Angeles, found.

The research team found that Black Americans suffered a 49 percent increase in deaths per 100,000 residents between 2019 and 2020, up to 36.8 from 24.7.

While drug overdoses have long been associated with white Americans, and still are devastating to that group, black Americans are now the race in America suffering the most deaths per capita after surpassing white people at the start of the pandemic.
Printing health warnings on individual cigarettes would make England a world leader in eradicating smoking, ministers have been told.

Tobacco manufacturers would have to use eight different warnings in rotation on its sticks and rolling paper under the terms of the Cigarette Stick Health Warnings Bill.

These would include 'smoking kills' and other messages to highlight the devastating health effects, the financial cost and contact details for advice on quitting.

Conservative peer Lord Young of Cookham has spent four decades lobbying for his proposal to become law. He first raised it as a health minister in Margaret Thatcher's government in 1979.

Tobacco manufacturers would have to use eight different warnings in rotation on its sticks and rolling paper under the terms of the Cigarette Stick Health Warnings Bill (a mocked up version of one of a warning)

Conservative peer Lord Young of Cookham has spent four decades lobbying for his proposal to become law. He first raised it as a health minister in Margaret Thatcher's government in 1979

He told the Lords: 'This is likely to be particularly effective in dissuading children, who tend to start smoking with individual cigarettes rather than packs.

'While England is undoubtedly amongst the most successful nations in the world at tackling the tobacco epidemic, we've tended to follow rather than lead when it comes to the implementation of bold policies to address this deadly addiction.

'This Bill gives us the opportunity to be the first, helping to cement our place as a world leader in tobacco control.

'We know only a third of the 280 children who take up smoking every day in England will successfully quit.'

He added that another third would go on to die from smoking-related diseases.'

Lord Young said: 'I first proposed cigarette warnings as a health minister in Margaret Thatcher's government in the late 1970s.

Javed Khan, pictured, former CEO of children's charity Barnardo's, is mulling over the idea of a ban

The number of smokers aged 16 and over in Britain continued to fall last year, dropping by 1.3 per cent according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data

Under-25s could be BANNED from buying cigarettes in England Under-25s could be banned from buying cigarettes under stringent new plans drawn up by a new anti-smoking tsar who is leading an independent review on how to stop Britons smoking. Javed Khan OBE, former CEO of children's charity Barnardo's, is considering a ban, similar to one already introduced in New Zealand, in the Government's bid to get the country smoke-free by 2030. The report was commissioned by health secretary Sajid Javid, and Mr Khan will report his findings next month. There are an estimated 6 million smokers in England and tobacco is still the single largest cause of preventable death; 64,000 smokers died from smoking in 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics. Speaking to The Times, Mr Khan said: 'We are thinking seriously about the age of sale.' Considering measures such as the ones in New Zealand, in which anyone born after 2008 won't be able to buy tobacco products, the anti-smoking tsar is contemplating whether there is an argument for 'for raising the age to 19, 20, 21, or even 25'. Advertisement

'By 2024 I'll have been in Parliament for 50 years, I hope I won't have to wait that long before this policy is introduced.'

For Labour, former public health minister Baroness Merron said: 'This is a considered and sensible Bill.'

Boris Johnson's administration has not offered its support to the Bill, which cleared the House of Lords after receiving a third reading.

Health minister Lord Kamall said: 'The Government is committed to reducing the harms caused by tobacco and is proud of the long-term progress successive governments of different parties have made in reducing smoking rates  currently at 13.5 per cent, the lowest on record.

'But we cannot be complacent. With nearly 6million smokers in England, smoking is still one of the largest drivers of health disparities and causes a disproportionate burden on our most disadvantaged families and communities.'

He highlighted the Government's ambition for England to be smoke-free by 2030, and said he had been assured its white paper and tobacco control plan will be 'published later this year'.

The Bill is unlikely to progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time to consider it further in the House of Commons.

Last week it was revealed under-25s could be banned from buying cigarettes under plans drawn up by a new anti-smoking tsar.

Javed Khan OBE, former CEO of children's charity Barnardo's, is currently leading an independent review on how to stop Britons smoking.

He is considering a ban, similar to one already introduced in New Zealand.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report showed usage dropped from 15.8 per cent in 2019 to 14.5 per cent last year.

This is the equivalent of 7.6million over-16s, down from a high of just under 27million in the 1970s, when half of all adults engaged in the habit.

Rates have consistently dropped over the past two decades, with officials declaring the end of smoking to finally be 'in sight'.

Health warnings on packaging became mandatory in 2002, adverts were banned in 2003 and smoking indoors was banned in 2007.

Officials followed up the measures in 2017 with a policy that meant all branded packaging had to be replaced with plain greenish-brown boxes.
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Some experts and health officials are warning that Covid cases will start rising again in the U.S., with wastewater figures and data from overseas showing that a resurgence in the receding virus could be around the corner. Not all are in agreement, though, with others confident that while the nation will likely suffer a slight uptick in cases soon, a full-fledged surge is unlikely this spring.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former director of the Food and Drug Administration and current board member at Pfizer, told CNBC's Squawk Box on Friday that while he expects cases to increase in the near future, he does not predict the same devastating Covid wave that some others are.

'I don't think this is going to be another major wave of infection, but we're probably going to go up from here before we see a decline,' he said.

This puts Gottlieb at odds with a few other health officials who are issuing grim warnings about the future of the pandemic as cases rise elsewhere in the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that global cases are rising, and that this is just the 'tip of the iceberg' in regards to a spring surge. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease, warns that mask orders and lockdown restrictions that were just lifted may have to return.

Global COVID-19 cases (green) are starting to rise once again after plummeting in recent weeks after the Omicron variant reached its peak. The WHO reports that global Covid cases rose eight percent last week. Cases are still declining in the U.S. (red) but the recent surge in cases in the UK (pink) and across Europe has officials worried the U.S.'s fortune could soon reverse

Despite rises abraod, U.S. Covid cases are down 14% over the past week and 32,820 cases being averaged a day is one of the lowest daily averaged since the pandemic first started

The BA.2 Omicron 'stealth' variant (pink) now makes up around 23% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, up from 11% last week and 6% the week before. The Omicron variant makes up every single sequence case in America

The WHO reports that Covid cases increased eight percent globally last week, up to 11 million per every seven days. The biggest jump was found in the Western Pacific region, where cases jumped 25 percent week-to-week. There was a 14 percent jump in Africa and two percent rise in Europe, as well.

European nations which often trend ahead of the U.S by a few months during the pandemic are among those to have experienced worrying rises. In the UK, cases have jumped 36 percent over the past week, to 91,000 per day. This comes after weeks of declines.

Dr Scott Gottlieb (pictured), former FDA chief, believes that Covid cases could rise in the near future, but that the U.S. will avoid a full scale surge

These rises come after two consecutive months of declining Covid cases after the Omicron variant-fueled surge quickly peaked, and then plummeted.

Some notable officials are sound the alarm that these slight increases spell doom to come for much of the world, just as many nations approach a 'return to normal' heading into the spring.

'These increase are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we're seeing are just the tip of the iceberg,' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said at a news briefing, warning that cases will grow even more in the coming weeks.

The agency has been more cautious than many other officials during the pandemic, often calling for the continuing of mask and lockdown orders even as much of the world started to leave them behind in recent weeks.

'If in fact we do see a turnaround and a resurgence, we have to be able to pivot and go back to any degree of mitigation that is commensurate with what the situation is,' Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said in a CNN interview on Thursday.

'We can't just say, 'We're done. We're going to move on.' We've got to be able to be flexible because we're dealing with a dynamic situation.'

Fauci has also been among the more cautious voices during the pandemic, often valuing strict lockdown measures and other mandates over all else in an effort to control the virus.

These rises have been attributed to the Omicron 'stealth' variant, or BA.2 as it is officially known. The stealth variant is a lineage of Omicron that is believed to be 30 percent more transmissible - but just as mild - as the BA.1 lineage that took over the world at the end of last year.

Gottlieb has a more positive outlook, though. Experts believe that people who have been infected with the BA.1 strain of the variant should have natural immunity against BA.2, since both lineages are similar enough to each other, natural antibodies should provide cross-immunity.

'What we know is that the immunity that you get from omicron is very protective against this BA.2 variant,' Gottlieb said.

'There's no reason to believe the contours of this wave will be very different than BA.1 and probably less so because we have so much Omicron immunity.'

America's situation is very positive at the moment, with cases still declining and the stealth variant still failing to take hold in the nation.

As of Thursday morning, the U.S. is averaging 32,820 new cases every day, an 11 percent drop over the past week and a 96 percent drop from the peak of 800,000 daily cases reached during the Omicron surge's mid-January peak.

The plummeting of cases has slowed, though, and there are early signs that the trend could soon reverse. After rapid falls since mid-January, America's daily case total has settled around 30,000 per day over the past week with little movement.

This is one of the lowest cases totals the country has reached since the virus first exploded across the country in early 2020, but the shrinking of cases has slowed.

The CDC warned this week that the agency is seeing early signs of an increase in cases as well. Wastewater data from the first ten days of March shows cases increasing in one-third of testing sites across America.

Wastewater tracking works by using sewage samples to find virus prevalence within each community. Which people are actually testing positive for the virus cannot be determined, and exact case numbers cannot either, but it does give officials a general look at how cases are trending in certain areas.

The surveillance can be more accurate at judging Covid risk than raw case numbers, since many people - especially in a period where so many are vaccinated and boosted - are carrying an asymptomatic infection that they will never get tested for and unknowingly spread without being added to official totals.

Covid appears in waste before a person feels symptoms, as well, meaning there is a gap between wastewater figures increasing and official figures rising.

Dr Amy Kirby, who leads the CDC's wastewater surveillance, assures the public that there is still nothing to worry about, but officials are keeping an eye on the situation.

'While wastewater levels are generally very low across the board, we are seeing an uptick of sites reporting an increase,' she told NBC.

'These bumps may simply reflect minor increase from very low levels to still low levels.'

America's current case totals are so low, though, that small increases in case numbers should not be devastating or manage to overwhelm healthcare systems.

The nation has a high vaccination rate as well, with nearly 90 percent of U.S. adults having received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 100 million Americans boosted.

BA.2 has not been able to take hold in the U.S. the same way it did in much of Europe either. While the 'stealth' variant was quick to become dominant in the U.K. and Denmark when it was first discovered earlier this year, it is yet to have made a large impact in America.

According to most recent data revealed by the CDC on Tuesday, BA.2 makes up 23 percent of active Covid cases in the U.S., with BA.1 still being dominant.

The Omicron variant as a whole makes up every single sequenced case in the U.S., per the CDC, with the highly transmissive, vaccine-resistant, strain totally snuffing out the Delta variant this year.

BA.2's share of Covid infections in America is rapidly growing, though, with the variant only accounting for 11 percent of sequenced cases last week, and only six percent the week previous that.

It is most prevalent in New Jersey and New York, and Northeastern regions of the U.S., accounting for around 40 percent of cases in both designated areas.

The strain is not yet the dominant Covid strain anywhere in America, while it has taken over in many parts of Europe.
An Indian man's four-month bout of hiccups may have been triggered by a brain tumour, doctors believe.

The unidentified man, in his early 30s, sought medical treatment for a headache which had caused him agony for over a fortnight.

He also complained of projectile vomiting up to three times a day, according to a case report of his illness.

Doctors in Rishikesh, situated in the Himalayan foothills, also heard how the man's health began to deteriorate four months earlier, when he began to suffer frequent hiccups.

His hiccups eventually became 'continuous', affecting both his sleeping and eating patterns.

Brain scans were conducted to get to the bottom of his mystery illness.

Results revealed he had a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a highly aggressive and difficult to treat type of brain tumour.

The man's hiccups began to subside after beginning treatment for his cancer, it was revealed in in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

Experts theorised the tumour was affecting the part of the brainstem responsible for controlling the nerves and muscles that normally provoke a hiccupping response.

This MRI scan identifies the tumour on the Indian man's brainstem which medics identified as the source of his continuous hiccupping

Hiccups: What are they and what's normal? A hiccup is caused by an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle in your chest which plays an important part in breathing. This involuntary contraction causes your vocal cords to briefly close as you breath causing the 'hic' sound. Hiccupping is generally caused by something that irritates the diaphragm such as eating or drinking too quickly or being stressed or nervous. Most bouts of hiccups usually only last a few minutes and are not a sign of anything serious. However, the NHS does advise people who have been hiccupping for 48 hours or more to speak to their GP. They can then explore if the hiccupping is related to a health condition you have or due to medication you might have taken. Advertisement

Dr Nagasubramanyam Vempalli, of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, wrote the medical report.

The man told the A&E medics that he had asked doctors for help with the hiccupping previously, but to no avail.

After a series of blood tests and a physical exam prompted no immediate answers, medics decided to have the man undergo a CT scan.

They found a lesion within his brain, with medics then getting the man to undergo a more detailed MRI scan.

This revealed a mass of tissue indicative of a pontine glioma, a type of brain tumour that grows on the brainstem, the part that connects the organ to the spine, as well as internal bleeding within the brain itself.

Pontine gliomas are impossible to remove surgically due to how interconnected they are with the actual brainstem.

The man was sent for an operation where surgeons cut into his brain to normalise the pressure within his skull, which was resulting from a build-up of fluid in the brain.

After eight days recovery the man underwent a six-week course of radiotherapy in an attempt to kill the tumour.

'The patients hiccups began to resolve after the initiation of radiotherapy and after 1 month of radiotherapy, the patients hiccups had subsided considerably,' Dr Vempalli said.

The case report does not detail exactly when this case occurred but the man did eventually die, though it is unclear if this was due to the cancer.

While continuous hiccupping has been observed in brain cancers before the authors note that is is rare for hiccups to be the sole symptom of this kind of tumour.

Dr Vempalli added the case demonstrated the importance of clinicians identifying the causes of continuous hiccupping in a timely manner to ensure a patient does not suffer further complications.

The NHS advises people to speak to a GP if they have had hiccups for over 48 hours.
NHS drug watchdogs have today approved a 'game changing' drug for lung cancer patients.

Mobocertinib tablets will be given to patients battling a rare and aggressive form of the disease, Britain's biggest cancer killer.

Roughly 100 people will be eligible to take the drug every year, with doctors set to start to dishing it out within weeks.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said mobocertinib was a 'lifeline' for dozens. Trials have shown it can extend the lives of patients by up to two years.

NHS officials struck a deal for the drug, thought to cost almost 19,000 ($25,000) for a month's supply, with Japanese pharmaceutical firm Takeda.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, today insisted the deal was 'affordable' for the taxpayer.

He said it was 'fantastic news' for patients battling the rare type of cancer, which is driven by a type of altered gene called epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 insertion mutations.

NHS drug watchdogs have approved mobocertinibc, brand name Exkivity, for a specific group of lung cancer patients, with about 100 patients per year expected to receive it in England

Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured at Conservative Party Spring Conference in Blackpool today) said the drug will be a 'lifeline' for those with this rare form of lung cancer

Mobocertinib: what do we know about the new drug the NHS is using? What type of drug is mobocertinib? Mobocertinib is a kinase inhibitor. Kinase is type of enzyme which promotes cell growth. There are many types of kinase. Mobocertinib blocks a specific type of kinase from working which helps slow the growth of cancer cells in a particular type of tumour found in some lung cancer patients. What benefits does it have for patients? Mobocertinib only works on a specific type of lung cancer cancer which has a certain mutated gene. Clinical trials in patients with this type of cancer have suggested it can extend their life for up to two years. How many patients are set to benefit here in the UK? NHS England estimates about 100 people will benefit from from this treatment per year. It will only be given to patients who've already undergone chemotherapy and whose cancer can't be removed surgically. How much does it cost? It is estimated to cost just under 19,000 per month though the NHS is acquiring it on a zero-profit basis for the manufacturer. Who makes it? Japanese pharmaceutical firm Takeda make it under the brand name Exkivity. How is taken? It comes in tablets which people prescribed it take one of each day. Are there any side effects? It can cause slow or irregular heart beats that can lead to heart failure as well as severe diarrhoea. Patients have their heart health measured before being prescribed the drug and are regularly monitored while they take it. Other more minor side affects like rashes and vomiting have also been reported. Advertisement

Nowhere else in Europe has yet to receive the drug, although the US approved the drug for use in September last year.

Professor Powis added: 'This is the latest in a long list of deals we have struck to provide the latest cutting-edge cancer treatments for patients  at a price affordable for the taxpayer.'

Exkivity is the branded name of the drug. Mobocertinib inhibits a type of kinase, an enzyme which promotes cell growth, found in a some types of lung cancer, slowing the growth of the disease.

It has a number of possible side effects including serious ones like heart failure, and severe diarrhoea.

More common side affects include rashes, vomiting, non-severe diarrhoea, decreased appetite, muscle or bone pain, infection of the skin around nails, mouth sores and tiredness.

It is only given to patients who've already undergone chemotherapy, whose cancer can't be removed by surgery.

The cancer the drug targets is called non-small cell lung cancer, with between 4 to 12 per cent of tumours caused by this type of cancer having the altered gene that mobocertinib works against.

Patients will have to undergo a test to determine if the cancer they have could be slowed by the drug.

Trials show that some patients who have taken mobocertinib have lived for two years after being treated with the breakthrough drug.

NHS England significantly longer than expected for patients with this type of lung cancer.

Mr Javid said: 'NHS patients are the first in Europe to benefit from this cutting-edge new treatment for lung cancer.

'Mobocertinib is a breakthrough drug which will be a lifeline for those with this rare form of the illness.'

Mobocertinib will be accessible to eligible lung cancer patients in England on a zero-profit basis for the manufacturer to the NHS while NICE completes its ongoing appraisal.

Dame June Raine, chief executive of medical watchdog the MHRA, said: 'We are working to ensure patients receive earlier access to promising cancer treatments.'

Helen Knight, programme director in the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, said she was 'delighted' about the deal.

This is the fourth drug made available by the NHS through an early national access agreement following a Project Orbis licence.

Project Orbis is an international collaborative project between the drug approval authorities of the US, UK and six other nations.

Similar NHS agreements already exist for osimertinib, atezolizumab, and cutting-edge therapy Sotorasib which targets the so-called death star mutation.
A British man who suffered a severe allergic reaction to Johnson's baby shampoo described the harrowing experience as feeling like 'acid' was being poured on his skin.

Luke Tyrell, 34, of Clitheroe, 30 miles north of Manchester, was left with intense throat and neck pain for an hour after using the shampoo made for infants.

He said that he had to use anti-inflammatory medication for a time after the ordeal to manage the pain and side effects.

Tyrell, who works as a hairdresser, contacted Johnson's, which is the portion of the Johnson & Johnson brand that produces products for babies, and was told that the company would investigate the matter.

'It was very painful, like an acid burn all down my neck, and my throat started to swell,' Tyrell said.

'Luckily, I had some antihistamines, so I took a couple and sat and meditated to stop the panic and it calmed down.'

Luke Tyrell, 34, of Clitheroe, England, suffered a severe allergic reaction after using Johnson's baby shampoo. He said he notified the company and was unhappy with the 'bog standard' response

'It was very painful, like an acid burn all down my neck, and my throat started to swell,' said Tyrrell, a hair stylist

He took to social media to share the horrendous event with his friends and family, only to learn that others had similar experiences.

When looking online, Tyrell found other stories of people using Johnson's baby shampoo only to have horrible reactions.

'I put a status on my Facebook on Tuesday, and I was shocked at how many other people have suffered reactions to their products,' he said.

'I'm not after compensation or anything like that but just to warn other people off it, a lot of people on my status feel it needs banning.

'I've had a look online and the stories of negative effects are endless. It's scary, and I do not have sensitive skin.'

Tyrell (pictured) said that after sharing his story on social media, others reached out with their own tales of disaster after using the shampoo

Other stories shared include a person who said their face turned red and began to swell when they used the shampoo at age 14.

Another person described the shampoo as 'awful stuff' and said it made their scalp itch, with another saying that they would 'never again' use it to take off makeup after a previous poor experience.

Tyrell emailed Johnson's to inform them of the situation that had occurred, though he did not plan any sort of lawsuits of other measures seeking damages.

The company replied, thanking him for the notice and notifying him that they would investigate the matter.

They said they were unable to make time for a phone call with him, and sent him information about allergies to their products.

Johnson's told Tyrell they would investigate the matter. Other products under the same parent company, like Johnson and Johnson's talc-based baby powder, have been under similar scrutiny

Tyrell expressed displeasure with the company's response, describing it as 'bog standard' and said he did not expect them to do much to address the issue many have faced with the shampoo.

'The health and safety of the people who use our products is our highest priority,' the company told SWNS is a statement.

'We take all complaints very seriously and have been in contact with Luke to investigate. We only choose high-quality ingredients, and all of our products go through a rigorous five-step safety assessment.'+

There have been more serious reports of people having negative reactions after using Johnson & Johnson products.

The company famously had to pull its talc-based baby powder from shelves in Canada and the U.S. in recent years over allegations that it was tainted with asbestos, and caused cervical cancer in some women.

Billions were paid out by the company to settle thousands of lawsuits and the company even ended up declaring for bankruptcy as a result.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) now recognized 'Prolonged Grief Disorder' as an official psychiatric ailment, a long sought after change.

America's most influential organization in the field released its latest edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and added 'Prolonged Grief Disorder' to its listing.

The manual assists medical professionals, researchers and others in the industry on how to recognize, diagnose and treat certain psychiatric conditions.

Experts have long called for 'grief' to be considered an official disorder when people feel it for longer than usual six month period.

Now with its official inclusion, researchers and medical professionals should have easier access to funds and resources to investigate the condition and its causes.

The American Psychiatric Association now officially considers 'Prolonged Grief Disorder' as a psychiatric ailment, opening the door for further research into and the development of drugs for the condition

'Two hundred expert researchers and practitioners put in countless hours to ensure that the DSM-5-TR is an indispensable contribution to our understanding of mental illness,' Dr Saul Levin, CEO of the APA said of the manual.

Discussion about the topic can be traced back to the manual's release a decade ago, when some experts wanted the condition to be separated from depression and places in its own category.

The condition is described as a person feeling grief for longer than usual after a major life event.

While the loss of a friend, family member or other tragedies will obviously spur feelings of grief in someone, intense grief is not expected to last for more than six months.

For some people, though, crippling, life-altering, feelings of grief can last well beyond that period and start to have long-term negative effects on their life.

'They were the widows who wore black for the rest of their lives, who withdrew from social contacts and lived the rest of their lives in memory of the husband or wife who they had lost,' Dr. Paul Appelbaum, chair of the steering committee overseeing revisions to the manual, told the New York Times.

'They were the parents who never got over it, and that was how we talked about them.

'Colloquially, we would say they never got over the loss of that child.'

Some fear that turning grief into a medical ailment instead of a natural human process can be dangerous, and are against the APA decision

Some studies have even found that while people grieving did enter a better mental state after taking drugs like antidepressants, the medication did little to alleviate their grief.

Not all agree with this change, though. Grief is a normal part of human life, and feeling it after a great loss or other traumatic event is not anything odd.

'I completely, utterly disagree that grief is a mental illness,' Joanne Cacciatore, an associate professor of social work at Arizona State University, told the Times.

Some fear that pharmaceutical companies will use this as an excuse to start pushing medication on to people who are going through a normal, healthy, process

Other experts believe that it could make people feel unsettled or uncertain about the process.

'When someone who is a quote-unquote expert tells us we are disordered and we are feeling very vulnerable and feeling overwhelmed, we no longer trust ourselves and our emotions,' Cacciatore said.

'To me, that is an incredibly dangerous move, and short sighted.'
On 10th February 2022 Mail Online reported that Adam Chowdhary had been previously acquitted of the murder of Yousef Makki. In fact, Mr Chowdhary was never charged with murder. He admitted possessing a flick-knife and was acquitted of perverting the course of justice. We apologise to Mr Chowdhary and have agreed to pay him damages for libel.

To report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonline.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonline.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form. You can also write to Readers' Editor, MailOnline, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or contact IPSO directly at ipso.co.uk
As Nissan celebrates 35 years of production at its Sunderland factory, the brand is announcing further plans to spearhead battery-powered vehicle manufacturing in Britain.

The plant, which has a 6,000-strong workforce, currently produces the top-selling Qashqai SUV (with an electrified Qashqai e-Power about to be launched), alongside the second-generation all- electric Leaf and the funky Juke (with a new hybrid on the way).

Remarkably, around 80 per cent of these are for export, mainly to mainland Europe. Each of the two lines produces a car every minute. And both petrol engines and electric motors run down the same line.

Top-seller: A Nissan Qashqai SUV - an electrified version called the Qashqai e-Power is about to be launched

As a huge vote of confidence both in Britain and Sunderland, Nissan has recently announced ambitious future expansion plans for the plant.

Going green

A new all-electric SUV, based on Nissans Chill-Out Crossover Concept, is already earmarked for Sunderland.

That will be one of 23 new electrified models Nissan is to produce by 2030, with three-quarters of all cars electrified by 2026 and the company pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Last summer, Nissan announced a 1 billion expansion of electric car and battery production at Sunderland, including a new Electric Vehicle Hub and 423 million to create the all-electric SUV.

Power specialist Envision AESC, which owns and operates the existing battery factory at Sunderland, will build the 450 million factory, which will be equipped with state-of-the- art technology.

Nissan is also creating an 80 million green energy micro-grid to deliver 100 per cent clean electricity to power its automotive manufacturing in Sunderland.

Nissan calculates that the interconnected projects will together create up to 6,200 new green jobs at Nissan and among suppliers in the UK.

Walk the line: Ray takes an exclusive tour of the Sunderland plant. As a vote of confidence in Britain, Nissan has recently announced ambitious future expansion plans for the site

Green drive: With ten wind turbines and an existing 4.75 megawatt solar farm installed in 2016, Nissan will add an additional 20 MW solar farm to the Sunderland site this May

With ten wind turbines and an existing 4.75 megawatt solar farm installed in 2016, Sunderland will add an additional 20 MW solar farm for completion by this May, doubling the amount of renewable electricity generated to 20 per cent of its needs.

Separately, this summer will see first deliveries of the new all-electric Nissan Ariya SUV priced from 41,845 to 58,440 but built in Japan.

Its a sharp contrast to some of the dire warnings issued by Nissan bosses before the Brexit vote.

Way back when

I made the journey up to Sunderland in a Qashqai this week and I remember well the effect Nissans arrival had on the local economy, morale and pride because I grew up in the North East, though in Newcastle.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opened the plant in September 1986  then with just 430 staff  as the first Nissan Bluebird Job 1 rolled down the line.

As well as now employing 6,000 people, the factory supports 46,000 more jobs with suppliers.

Jobs: As well as now employing 6,000 people, the Sunderland factory supports 46,000 more jobs with suppliers

This newspaper proclaimed the Bluebird probably the best-built car in Britain.

Since 1986, three-and-a-half decades and more than 5 billion of investment later, nearly 11 million cars have followed it down the line at the plant.

These cars include the original Bluebird (187,178); Primera (957,337); Micra city car (1,197,743); Almera (527,084); Note (676,483); Juke (1,053,178); Infiniti Q30 (76,166); electric Leaf (225,020) and three generations of the record-breaking Qashqai with nearly four million vehicles built.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of production, Nissan created a new custom-built version of its first Bluebird car  powered with a pure electric motor from its current zero-emissions Leaf.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of production, Nissan created a custom-built version of its first Bluebird car - powered with an electric motor from its zero-emissions Leaf

It called the one-off project car Newbird in honour of the two vehicles that bookend the Sunderland plants history.

The Bluebirds original petrol engine and gearbox were removed and a Leaf motor, inverter and 40kilowatt-hour battery pack installed in its place.

That gave it a range from a single charge of around 130 miles and the ability to accelerate from 0-62mph in just under 15 seconds.

Nineteen staff who started in 1986 are still working today. And while in 1986 each Bluebird took more than 22 hours to build, a new electric Leaf takes just ten hours.

Six landmark British built Nissans Bluebird: The car that started it all  built from 1986 to 1990 and reborn as a one-off electric-powered Newbird with a Leaf electric motor to celebrate 35 years. Micra: The city car that kept Sunderland lines busy for 18 years from 1992 to 2010 with nearly 1.2 million models sold. Primera: Launched in 1996 and revamped in 2001, nearly a million Primeras were built in Sunderland. Qashqai: The Qashqai redefined the SUV  some would say invented it  in 2006 with nearly 4 million built. Its dubbed the cash-cow because of its success. Juke: The funky Juke added some attitude to Nissan in 2010 and is still going strong today, with more than a million sales. Leaf: The electric Leaf sparked huge interest at launch in 2010 and the second generation is now in production with 225,000 sales.

Promised land

So why Sunderland? The UK economy had been reeling throughout the 1970s from economic decline, which came to a head in the Winter of Discontent and Margaret Thatchers election.

One of the UKs industrial basket cases was the motor industry, which was beset by walkouts, lousy industrial relations, poor quality products, weak management, restrictive practices and high costs. Some companies went bust, others were nationalised to prolong their agony.

A new all-electric SUV, based on Nissans Chill-Out Crossover Concept (pictured), is already earmarked for Sunderland

So when Japanese car-makers such as Nissan, Honda and Toyota started looking to set up car and other factories in the UK, they steered clear of the traditional strike-prone car-making hotspots in the Midlands.

Nissan chose Sunderland with its plentiful, open-minded, and frankly grateful workforce, which could be trained to do things the Nissan way.

Britains closeness to the rest of Europe (at the time it was a member of the EEC) was certainly one draw. But economics were not the sole criteria.

I have been told by Japanese motor industry executives that they feel more empathy with the British character  somewhat reserved, polite, understated, sometimes quirky  which they put down to our two nations being island dwellers, and not part of a vast continental landmass.

Make of that what you will, but major investment decisions have been made on less. And ironically, the only risk of things being lost in translation was not down to the Japanese but the local accents.

I well remember an early Nissan TV advert in which the local workforce spoke in their natural dialect  but with sub-titles so other English people could understand.
A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces assists a woman to cross the street in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 16. AP-Yonhap



As Russian forces press their assault on Ukraine, world leaders called anew for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeated attacks on civilian targets, including airstrikes on schools, hospitals and residential areas that led one official to lament that his city had never seen such "nightmarish, colossal losses."



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that American officials were evaluating potential war crimes and that if the intentional targeting of civilians by Russia is confirmed, there will be "massive consequences."



In city after city, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety from the bombardment have been attacked. Rescue workers searched for survivors in the ruins of a theater that served as a shelter when it was blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol. And in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, at least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center, a local official said.



In the northern city of Chernihiv, dozens of bodies were brought to the morgue in just one day.



The United Nations political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the U.N. Security Council, Thursday, that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians.



She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities "are reportedly indiscriminate" and involve the use of "explosive weapons with a wide impact area." DiCarlo said the devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv "raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks."





Ukrainian firefighters work at a destroyed apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 16. AP-Yonhap



In Mariupol, hundreds of civilians were reportedly taking shelter in a grand, columned theater in the city's center when it was hit Wednesday by Russian forces. More than a day after the airstrike, there were no reports of deaths. With communications disrupted across the city and movement difficult because of shelling and other fighting, there were conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.



Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar Technologies showed huge white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the theater spelling out "CHILDREN" in Russian  "DETI"  to alert warplanes to those inside.



"We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theater could survive," Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, told The Associated Press. He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes. Other officials said earlier that some people had escaped.



Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the at least three-story building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.



Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.



"We are trying to survive somehow," said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. "My child is hungry. I don't know what to give him to eat."



She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. "I can't tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing," she said.



Cars, some with the "Z" symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighborhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.



Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol, Wednesday.






It has been more than two years since the the UK was first put under Covid travel restrictions in March 2020.

The years that followed were torrid one for the travel industry, with holidays abroad dropping around 75 per cent in the 12 months afterwards.

But with most restrictions now having ended for those living in the UK, many are looking forward to taking their first trip away in some time.

But unfortunately, Covid continues to disrupt holiday plans and sometimes even cancel them altogether. That means that getting the right insurance is still important. We explain more below.

> Travel insurance quick link: Check policies with our partner Compare the Market

Travel experts are advising holidaymakers to read the fine print when it comes to your Covid protection to ensure you don't get caught out by positive tests or isolations abroad

Though self-isolating is no longer a legal requirement for those with Covid in the UK, it is still recommended by the NHS.

What's more, some countries around the world still require a negative Covid test on entry.

With cases now on the rise in some places, there is also the risk that holidaymakers could catch Covid while abroad and need treatment, or to be taken home.

How to compare travel insurance The quickest and easiest way to save money on travel insurance and compare the best policies is to use a comparison site. While results will broadly be the same across most comparison sites, they may slightly differ, so it is worth checking a couple. Also check insurers such as Direct Line and Aviva that do not appear on comparison sites and if you have previous serious medical issues consider a specialist insurer or broker. This is Money has partnered with Compare the Market to help you find great travel insurance. You can compare prices, cover, features and special elements via the link below. > Travel insurance: Check policies with Compare the Market

What should travel insurance cover?

For these reasons, it is still important that holidaymakers get travel insurance that covers them for Covid-related cancellations or disruption.

According to Which?, those booking a holiday at the moment should look out for three key things in their travel insurance policy, if they want to be covered for all possible Covid-related scenarios:

Coronavirus medical and repatriation cover: To cover them if they are infected when they are abroad

To cover them if they are infected when they are abroad Coronavirus cancellation cover: So they can claim a refund if Covid stops them travelling for any reason

So they can claim a refund if Covid stops them travelling for any reason Scheduled airline failure insurance: To cover them if their airline goes bust. This has become more common as operators struggled during the pandemic

Looking at travel policies more generally, it recommends that holidaymakers have the following levels of cover for the typical trip:

Emergency medical cover - 5million worldwide

Cancellation, curtailment and missed departure - 2,000 or the total value of the holiday

- 2,000 or the total value of the holiday Personal belongings and money - 1,500

- 1,500 Personal liability - 1million

99 per cent of travel insurance providers currently offer cover for Covid medical expenses as standard, with 93 per cent covering cancellations due to a positive Covid test

According to Matt Sanders of comparison site Go Compare, 99 per cent of travel insurance providers offer cover Covid medical expenses as standard, with 93 per cent covering cancellations due to a positive Covid test as standard.

However, different providers will have different small print, and different limits when it comes to how much travellers can claim.

'Each travel insurer will have different levels of Covid cover, so its important to check the medical, cancellation and Covid cover parts of your policy to make sure you have the right cover in place,' says Sanders.

'Its important to check whether your policy allows you to cancel due to Covid-19 illness or isolation; covers your medical expenses and flight home if you are ill; extend your stay if necessary; or covers you for airline or tour operator failure.

Does vaccination status affect travel insurance?

It is also worth checking what coverage you have depending on your vaccination status.

Go Compare has found that, out of the 826 annual travel insurance policies currently available, 16 per cent have a vaccination exclusion  meaning that those who arent vaccinated will be excluded from certain parts of the Covid cover.

Around 12 per cent of insurance policies exclude both medical and cancellation cover for those who have not had a vaccine, while 3 per cent exclude them from medical cover only and 1 per cent exclude them from cancellation cover only.

It is also essential that travellers consult the latest Foreign Office travel guidelines to find out whether it is safe to travel to their destination.

Says Sanders: 'If you decide to travel against their advice, its very likely that you wont be covered by your travel insurance at all.'

Most countries now only require proof of full vaccination, instead of a PCR test

Do I need specific protection for Covid lockdowns?

While we would like to hope that lockdowns are a thing of the past, travel experts suggest that holidaymakers protect themselves against the worst-case-scenario.

So they do advise getting cover for a situation where a lockdown, either in the UK or abroad, stops them from travelling.

If lockdown restrictions in the UK don't allow travel, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says that customers should get a full refund from the company they booked with.

This is in the case of a package holiday, however, and those booking their own flights and hotels will need to check the refund policies of the companies concerned.

Those whose travel plans are thwarted by a lockdown is in the country they are travelling to will need to claim on their travel insurance - and whether a refund will be issued depends on the policy's fine print.

Sanders says: 'If your travel insurance policy includes cancellation cover, and you booked your trip before a lockdown was announced or the Foreign Office issued its travel advice, then you should be covered.

'However, travel insurance wont cover you for cancellation if you booked your trip after the Foreign Office advised against travelling, or if you cancel it yourself because you decide you dont want to go.'

Customers should ensure their travel insurance covers the full cost of their trip, as some have limits on how much they are willing to pay back if it is cancelled.

Many Britons are looking forward to heading off on holiday - but even though the legal requirement to self-isolate has been scrapped, a positive Covid test could still scupper plans

Will my insurance cover me if I test positive for Covid before travelling, now I don't legally have to isolate?

Fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to take Covid tests before departing from, or after arriving in, the UK.

But even with this rule relaxation, a positive Covid test could still wreck their holiday plans.

Many of those who test positive will still decide to self-isolate, and even if they decided to attend their holiday anyway, they could be denied entry.

When booking travel insurance, customer should look out for 'coronavirus cancellation cover' to see what scenarios they are covered for.

Most should cover cancellation as standard if someone tests positive, but they may need to opt in to an additional charge to ensure they are completely protected.

If someone tests positive while on holiday, they need to follow the advice of the local authorities when it comes to leaving the country.

Travel insurance may cover extending their stay until they have a negative test result, but again this is something to look out for in the policy fine print.

Will events in Ukraine affect the insurance I need?

With the unfortunate events occurring in Ukraine, it is conceivable that those heading to Eastern Europe or destinations close to it could find their plans disrupted.

Travellers should ensure they you are covered against unpredictable circumstances where possible, including flights being cancelled or holidays needing to be abandoned.

Sanders said: 'The invasion of Ukraine could have an effect on travel.

'It is an unpredictable situation and could impact anything from flights being grounded if your destination is close to conflict areas, as well as the possibility of any civil unrest that could possibly spill over into acts of terrorism in other countries.

'Pay close attention to your travel insurance policy wording to assess the level of cancellation cover you have and also again, check the Foreign Office advice before you travel.'
Gas find: Reabold Resources won planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council to drill at hamlet West Newton

An energy group has been given the green light to search for more gas near Hull. Reabold Resources won planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council to drill at hamlet West Newton.

The nationally significant discovery at the site is thought to be the biggest onshore oil and gas field found since Wytch Farm was uncovered in 1973.

The all-clear from the local council comes as the Government is focusing its attention on bolstering the UKs own energy industry and weaning off foreign imports in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukraine war has exacerbated an energy crisis that began last year.

A new energy security strategy is expected to be unveiled next week, which is widely expected to include fresh commitments to resources such as the North Sea.
Retreat: Anton Bilton (pictured with wife Lisa B) set up Raven Property in 2005

A property company set up by millionaire tycoon Anton Bilton has pulled out of Russia and delisted from the London Stock Exchange.

Raven Property, which owns warehouses in cities including Moscow and St Petersburg, said sanctions imposed on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine have completely compromised its business.

The firm, set up in 2005 by Bilton, husband of American model and actress Lisa B, was among a handful of Russia-focused firms booted out of the FTSE indices earlier this week, dealing a blow to its reputation and depriving it of investment from tracker funds.

Matters worsened yesterday when Raven said sanctions made it impracticable for the business to continue in its current form.

It has drawn up plans to scrap its LSE listing and transfer its business to a Cyprus-based company controlled by its Russian management team.

The sale, which will be for a nominal cost, and the de-listing are expected to be backed by major shareholders, which include asset managers Quilter and Schroders.

Bilton, 57, who serves as the groups executive deputy chairman, has also backed the plans alongside the rest of the companys directors.

The plans mean Raven Property will effectively be left as a shell company, with any assessment of its value or that of its Russian business deemed to be unfeasible unless sanctions were lifted.

The end of the companys stock market listing follows a brutal period for its share price, which has plunged 88 per cent so far this year.

It left the firms shareholders nursing heavy losses, with Bilton seeing over 12million wiped off his fortune. Trading in the shares was suspended yesterday morning.

Austrian based Raiffeisen Bank International, which makes a third of its profits in Russia, is considering leaving the country  just weeks after it vowed to stay.

The lender has 4.2m customers and 9,400 staff in the country. A fortnight ago, its chief executive Johann Strobl told investors: Its very important that you understand, we are not walking away.
Simigon, the training specialist, has moved a step closer to its proposed merger with Maxify Solutions.

The deal, which values Simigon at $8.5million, prompted 4 per cent shareholder Gal Erez to apply for a restraining order to prevent the cancellation of the company's shares on AIM.

This week, though, Simigon announced Erez has withdrawn his application, and it expects the merger to be completed on 28 March.

Simigon has moved a step closer to its proposed merger with Maxify Solutions

A lawsuit in the Tel Aviv District Court remains in place, however, the company said. Shares in Simigon were this weeks best performers, doubling in price.

Conroy Gold and Natural Resources soared 52 per cent after it announced a step-out drilling programme on the Clontibret gold target.

The programme is part of the joint venture with Demir Export to further explore and develop the new district-scale gold trend discovered by Conroy Gold along the Longford-Down Massif in Ireland.

The initial programme will comprise eight drill holes totalling about 3,000 metres and is anticipated to commence in late April 2022.

The battered share price of estate agent Purplebricks is looking a lot healthier after a show of support from the companys directors and their associates.

Sharon Pindar, the wife of the companys chair Paul Pindar, purchased 112,500 shares at a price of 15.75p per share and a further 587,549 shares at a price of 18.19p per share while Elona Mortimer-Zhika, a non-executive director, purchased 37,500 shares at a price of 15.75p per share and a further 205,650 shares at 18.19p a pop.

Finally, senior independent non-executive director Simon Downing purchased 1,000,000 shares, paying 16.3p per share.

ValiRx, a life science company focusing on early-stage cancer therapeutics and women's health, is looking to save a few bob by bringing in the testing of its early-stage projects in house.

The company is considering acquiring capabilities and infrastructure to create a more efficient and effective translational drug development service. As well as handling the companys own testing, the new unit would offer its services to third parties.

The idea found favour with the market, as the shares rose by a third this week.

The battered share price of estate agent Purplebricks is looking a lot healthier after a show of support from the companys directors and their associates

Also up by a third this week on news of a subsidiary was EQTEC, which has launched a French unit that will collaborate with French company SEPS SAS to develop contaminated waste treatment plants.

Bezant Resources said authorities in the Philippines have renewed the mineral production sharing agreement for the Mankayan Project for a further 25 years, calling it a 'catalyst' for the development of the copper-gold property.

Crescent Mining is developing the porphyry-hosted deposit. It has begun the feasibility study process and has engaged contractors to complete the scoping phase. The next step is a drill campaign that will assist with the geotechnical studies.

Bezant, which has an interest in Mankayan via a 27.5 per cent holding in Australian company IDM, said it was 'very pleased' the production sharing agreement had been renewed; so were investors, as they chased the shares 24 per cent higher.

OptiBiotix Health jumped 23 per cent this week as it unveiled plans to list its ProBiotix Health arm on the Aquis Growth Market, raising 2.5million in the process for the newly independent business.

It was a busy week for Mobile Streams, which announced its half-year report, an acquisition, a share placing and a proposed partnership.

The share placing was at 0.3p and was largely responsible for the shares plunging 21 per cent this week to 0.305p.

The 1.2million raised will finance its share of a joint venture with esports gaming company Gfinity.

Half-year revenue rose to 281,000 from 176,000 in the second half of 2020. The loss before tax widened to 640,000 from 353,000 the year before.

It was a decent week for two tiddlers hammered in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Amur Minerals, which is focused on base metal projects in the far east of Russia, rose by a third this week while Eurasia Mining, which operates the West Kytlim mine in the Urals and the Monchetundra project in northwest Russia, ended the week 30 pc higher.

Finally, SpectrumX, which is tapping the healthcare and commercial potential of hypochlorous acid, has fired the starting pistol on a London listing.

It is understood the group has submitted its prospectus to the London Stock Exchange ahead of a float in late spring, targeting a valuation of around 50million.

Sources suggest that a 10million pre-IPO round is largely complete, with the group looking to bring in circa 5million at the time of the companys stock market debut.
Twenty years before a dingo took nine-week-old Azaria Chamberlain from her family's tent at Uluru a truck driver said he saw an Aboriginal baby killed in eerily similar circumstances.

But whereas Northern Territory police charged Lindy Chamberlain with murdering her daughter and she was wrongly imprisoned, the death of the Indigenous infant was apparently never even investigated.

While Chamberlain was protesting her innocence a mystery man came forward to say his pet dingo had killed a nine-month-old child in 1964 at a Territory cattle station.

The truck driver said he had reported the baby's death at a remote police station on his way out of the property but was told: 'Forget it, no one wants to know about dead Abos.'

Truck driver Brian Rogers claimed in 1984 that his dingo killed an Aboriginal infant in the Northern Territory in 1964 and police told him: 'Forget it, no one wants to know about dead Abos'. Rogers came forward when Lindy Chamberlain was fighting to prove a dingo took her daughter Azaria from Uluru in 1990. Coroner Denis Barritt is pictured with police in 1983

Lindy Chamberlain is pictured with her nine-week-old daughter Azaria at Uluru, then known as Ayers Rock, before the infant disappeared from the family's campsite in August 1980. Despite police initially believing a dingo had taken Azaria, the mother was jailed for murder

Dingo expert Les Harris made a damning case that a wild dog took Azaria Chamberlain. His collection of documents (pictured) which included a statement by the man who claimed to have seen a dingo kill an Aboriginal child on a cattle station in 1964, was sold late last year

These extraordinary claims are contained in a statement found inside a box of documents related to the Chamberlain case unearthed late last year when the collection came up for auction.

If the report of that earlier fatal dingo attack had followed up properly it could have prevented one of the most notorious injustices in Australian legal history.

Brian Rogers had been with two companions at Alroy Downs, 200km east of Tennant Creek and 850km north-east of Uluru, when he said his dingo grabbed an Aboriginal infant by the head and carried it off into the scrub.

In April 1984, while Azaria's disappearance was still being treated as a murder, Rogers told dingo expert Les Harris that one of his companions that day at Alroy Downs had recently reported to police what he saw 20 years earlier.

Rogers said police tried to dissuade his companion from making a statement and told him if he did they would charge him with not reporting the baby's death back when it happened.

At the time Northern Territory authorities were desperate to prove their misplaced belief that Lindy Chamberlain had killed her daughter and her husband Michael had helped cover up the crime.

The Rogers allegations appear in a document Harris signed in October 1986 when he was president of The Dingo Foundation and the Chamberlains were still trying to clear their names.

It has never previously been published but some of its contents were referred to that year during the Royal Commission into the Chamberlain Convictions conducted by Justice Trevor Morling.

Les Harris of The Dingo Foundation tried to convince various courts in the 1980s that a dingo could have taken Azaria Chamberlain with ease. Harris (above) interviewed truck driver Brian Rogers who told him that in 1964 he had watched his pet dingo attack a kill an Aboriginal child

Brian Rogers had been with two companions at Alroy Downs, 200km east of Tennant Creek and 850km north-east of Uluru, when a dingo grabbed an Aboriginal infant by the head and carried it off into the scrub. The dingo was later shot and photographed

Alroy Downs shares boundaries with Brunette Downs to the north, Rockhampton Downs to the west, Dalmore Downs to the south and Alexandria station to the east. It currently occupies more than 4,000 square kilometres. A truck is pictured on Alroy Downs in 2016

Lindy Chamberlain had insisted from the start that a wild dog took baby Azaria from a tent near what was then known as Ayres Rock on the night of August 17, 1980.

Coroner Denis Barritt, who heard the first inquest into Azaria's death in December 1980, found a dingo took the child but two years later Lindy was charged with and convicted of murder.

Harris had told Barritt that a dingo could easily have taken Azaria. He continued to offer evidence showing that was almost certainly what had happened but was largely ignored during subsequent court cases.

The aeronautical engineer gathered records of other dingo attacks in Australia and deaths caused by wolves and wild dogs around the world.

Harris, who died aged 83 in 2017, kept records of previous dingo encounters at Uluru, statements made by other campers to police and his own handwritten notes made at court.

Along the way amassed an even broader collection of science papers, official reports and newspaper articles.

Dingo expert Les Harris, who knew Lindy Chamberlain was innocent from the start, kept a trove of evidence from the case as he tried to help exonerate the mother of murder. This image was produced during the case to show whether or not a baby could fit in a dingo's jaws

Les Harris kept police statements made by campers when Azaria Chamberlain disappeared, records of previous dingo encounters at Uluru, and his own handwritten notes made at court. This picture shows a tourist photographing a nearby dingo at Uluru in April 1986

All the material Harris assembled over the years and stored in a cardboard box, along with a dingo skull, turned up for sale in October last year at a Sydney auction house.

Among the trove was the statement Rogers made about two long conversations he had with Brian Rogers on March 9 and 12, 1984.

Rogers told Harris he had been given legal advice that he should say nothing to anyone about what had happened at Alroy Downs but he was nonetheless happy to answer his questions.

[The names of a man and woman who accompanied Rogers to the pastoral lease on the Barkly Tableland have been replaced in his quotes by 'Smith' and 'Jones'].

'In summary, he said that he was trucking in the Northern Territory during 1964 and had called at the Alroy Downs outstation where Smith and Jones were working,' Harris wrote.

Dingo expert Les Harris typed up what Brian Rogers told him about seeing his dingo kill an Aboriginal infant on a cattle station in a three-page document (above)

Les Harris concluded a dingo could have taken Azaria 'with ease', that it could 'probably' have removed Azaria's clothing, and could have totally consumed the baby, 'without any doubt'

'Rogers had with him a young dingo which travelled with him. On arrival, he let the dingo out of the truck as was his custom, whereupon the dingo began to scout around the area.

'As he stood talking to Smith and Jones, the dingo found an Aboriginal baby of about nine months of age on the ground with no adults in the immediate vicinity.

'With no apparent hesitation, the dingo seized the baby and carried it off. They did not realise what had happened until the dingo was already moving away carrying the baby.'

One of the trio grabbed a rifle from Rogers' truck and shot at the dingo, which dropped the child and ran off into the bush. They retrieved the child's body and Rogers recalled 'the throat had been torn out'.

'I asked how the baby had been carried and he wasn't entirely sure, probably because of the shock,' Harris wrote. 'But he thought it was by the head, commenting that the dingo appeared to "strike and go without stopping".'

In 1952 there were about 30 Aboriginal workers aged 14 to 60 at Alroy Downs, according to a report in the National Archives of Australia. The station employed indigenous stockmen, general hands, a camp cook and domestic helpers. The homestead is pictured in 1956

Two Aboriginal girls were occupied nursing babies belonging to camp women at Alroy Downs and were not technically paid. Instead they were given two pounds and ten shillings to spend at the annual races held at Brunette Downs Station. Alroy outbuildings are pictured

The dingo was found and shot dead later that day. It's carcass was hung on a fence and photographs were taken by a man known as Gerry the German.

'Rogers said the photographs are still in existence but said he would be concerned about showing them to anyone "because the dingo looks too small to have done it to anyone who doesn't know dingoes",' Harris wrote.

'Rogers said that in fact he (Rogers) had reported the matter at the Frewena Downs police station on this way out from Alroy Downs but was told to "forget it, no one wants to know about dead Abos".'

A decade earlier there were about 30 Aboriginal workers aged 14 to 60 at Alroy Downs, according to a report in the National Archives of Australia.

The station, then run by the Playford River Pastoral Company, employed indigenous stockmen, general hands, a camp cook and domestic helpers.

Two Aboriginal girls were occupied nursing babies belonging to camp women and were not technically paid. Instead they were given two pounds and ten shillings to spend at the annual races held at Brunette Downs Station.

There were 25 children on the property when the report was made.

For decades after Azaria disappeared from a campsite at what is now called Uluru on the night of August 17, 1980, the case would divide a nation and intrigue the world. Her mother's jailing was one of the greatest injustices in Australian legal history. Azaria is pictured at six weeks old

Azaria's bloodstained jumpsuit was found near a dingo's lair a week after she disappeared and there was much argument about the lack of significant damage to the clothing. Les Harris said a dingo could have easily peeled off the clothing

Harris wrote that when Coroner Barritt appealed for information from anyone who had knowledge of dingoes attacking or interfering with children, Smith contacted Northern Territory police.

Two officers travelled from Alice Springs to interview Smith at Tennant Creek.

'Smith reported to Rogers that "they gave me a very hard time" and attempted to dissuade him from making a statement,' Harris wrote.

'He was asked if he had reported the death to the Northern Territory police when it happened.

'When Smith said said that he had not, they told him that they would be forced to charge him with concealing the death of an infant if he insisted on making a statement.

'Rogers pointed out that Smith runs road trains in the Northern Territory and "could not afford to get on the wrong side of the police because they could wipe him (ie, his business) out overnight".'

Les Harris captioned this photograph: 'Adult male dingo engaged in threat display, ie he is showing another dingo the equipment he will use on her if she does not knuckle under in this particular situation. Incidentally, she did, very promptly'

Les Harris was the president of The Dingo Foundation in the early 1980s and based on his knowledge of Australia's wild dog knew what had happened to Azaria from the start. This skull was among the exhibits he used to show the baby was snatched by a dingo and eaten whole

Smith had insisted on making a report to the police and saw a solicitor immediately afterwards. Rogers believed Smith had taken part in a record of interview but did not know if he was given a copy.

'During one of the conversations, Rogers mentioned that he had heard of another Aboriginal baby being killed by a dingo on the Bushy Park station in 1969 or 1970,' Rogers wrote.

'Unfortunately, he could be no more specific than that and knew of no names or the circumstances of the killing.

'Much more was said than what I have reported but much of it was not relevant to the actual killing of the baby that he witnessed. I do not have Rogers' address, only the phone number on which I rang him.'

That number, unsurprisingly, is no longer connected.

Michael and Lindy Chamberlain are pictured on the steps of Alice Springs courthouse holding a photograph of Lindy with Azaria after the first inquest into the nine-week-old's disappearance. Coroner Dennis Barritt accepted a dingo had taken Azaria

In April 1984 it was reported that an unnamed man had told police investigating Azaria's disappearance of seeing a dingo kill an Aboriginal child at Alroy Downs.

That was 18 months after Lindy Chamberlain had been sentenced to life in jail for Azaria's murder and the unnamed man was Rogers.

Sydney Morning Herald reporter Malcolm Brown had rung Rogers at his Newcastle home at the time and was told: 'I have nothing to say. I am sorry you have wasted a telephone call.'

When Brown said he understood Rogers was wary about his legal position, he replied, 'That's right'.

Harris gave evidence about Rogers' claims in October 1986 at the Morling Royal Commission, where the counsel assisting was the late Sydney silk Chester Porter.

Les Harris was bombarded with pictures and stories from other tourists about their encounters with dingoes. This photograph was taken in central Australia about July 1979 several days before the animal carried off the young man's large cat in its mouth

Les Harris received support from others who understood dingo behaviour as he fought to have Lindy Chamberlain cleared of killing her daughter. 'Thankyou for informing the public of Australia about dingos,' one doctor wrote in the telegram above

Porter told Morling that Rogers' whereabouts were unknown and he was still apparently fearful of telling his story on oath due to the potential legal repercussions.

The Morling Royal Commission had followed the discovery in February 1986 of Azaria's matinee jacket near a dingo lair at Uluru after a British tourist fell to his death in the same area.

During the inquiry the case against Lindy and Michael Chamberlain was torn apart. Both would be exonerated.

Blood specialist Professor Barry Boettcher showed the Crown's assertion that foetal haemoglobin had been found in the Chamberlains' car relied on tests that were effectively useless.

Lindy and Michael Chamberlain with eldest son Aidan (right), second son Reagan (left) and youngest daughter Kahlia (front) who was born when her mother was in prison. Lindy and Michael divorced in 1991 and the next year she married American publisher Rick Creighton

A supposed spray of Azaria's blood located in the boot of the vehicle was eventually proven to most likely be a soundproofing material.

Harris claimed in his statement that he first became aware of the Alroy Downs story in March 1984 after he received a message that Rogers had rung Boettcher's wife.

The esteemed Boettcher is now an emeritus professor with Newcastle University's College of Engineering, Science and Environment.

He told Daily Mail Australia his wife had no recollection of any call from a Brian Rogers, or of what Rogers claimed happened almost 60 years ago at Alroy Downs.

'Neither my wife nor I know a person named Brian Rogers,' Boettcher said. 'Further, the name does "not ring a bell" with either of us.'

A spokesman for Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services directed an inquiry about the Rogers claims to Archives NT.
The stepfather accused of murdering nine-year-old Charlise Mutten and dumping her body in a barrel on a river bank in western Sydney in January was on parole for drug supply when he allegedly killed her.

Justin Stein was briefly mentioned in Penrith Local Court on Friday morning where he was remanded in custody until May for the murder of Charlise, and a separate charge of breaching parole.

Defence solicitor Peter Katsoolis told the court the alleged parole breach related to a drug charge from 2016.

Stein did not appear on screen from Silverwater prison, where he is believed to have been held since his arrest in January.

Magistrate David O'Neil set the next hearing on the murder charge for May 20.

The stepfather of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten (above) will face court on her her alleged murder plus a charge of drug importation dating back to 2016

Justin Stein, 31, is due in court on Friday for the alleged murder of his girlfriend Kallista Mutten's nine-year-daughter Charlise Mutten, whose body was found in a barrel in January

Charlise was allegedly fatally shot with a 'small calibre rifle' between the evening of January 10 and the morning of the following day this year.

The Tweed Heads schoolgirl had been holidaying with her mother, Kallista Mutten, and Stein at his family's luxury Blue Mountains wedding venue and at a Lower Portland caravan Park over the Christmas holiday season.

Kallista Mutten reported her daughter missing from the Wildenstein property on the morning of January 14, and police located her remains inside a blue barrel 65km on the banks of the Colo River on the afternoon of January 18.

Kallista Mutten (above) took her daughter Charlise, 9, on a holiday to NSW with new boyfriend Justin Stein, a trip which ended with the tragic alleged murder of the schoolgirl

Justine Stein was arrested on the same night and charged with Charlise's alleged murder

An autopsy on the remains of Charlise Mutten revealed the cause of death and detectives released CCTV footage last month which allegedly shows Justin Stein's red Holden Colorado ute with a barrel-shaped object in the back under a blue tarpaulin towing a white boat around various Sydney locations.

Police allege Stein was behind the wheel when the red ute visited the BP service station at Marsden Park, in northwestern Sydney at 5.53pm on Thursday, January 13.

It was then captured driving along Victoria and Bayswater roads at Drummoyne around 7.20pm when Stein allegedly drove it to Five Dock boat ramp.

Ms Mutten, 31, is now reportedly pregnant with Stein's child.

TIMELINE OF CHARLISE MUTTEN'S DISAPPEARANCE January 13: Charlise Mutten, nine, was last seen on the verandah of an estate called Wildenstein in Mount Wilson, north-west of Sydney. January 14: Charlise was reported missing at 8.20am. Police flocked to the 12.5-acre wedding venue and established a crime scene. Neighbours told detectives they saw a car at 4.20am on Friday, with no headlights on. Investigators seized a Holden Colorado ute on High Street in Penrith for forensic testing, which belongs to her mother's fiance. Her mother Kallista Mutten, 31, collapsed and was taken to hospital. Ms Mutten's fiance Justin Stein, whose family owns the lavish property, spoke with police in Penrith. January 15: Homicide detectives took over the search. Police divers seized a boat in the Hawkesbury River and scanned it for fingerprints. The boat will also be kept for forensic testing. Investigators continued to scour fire trails in dense bushland surrounding the property. January 16: RFS volunteers found 'very small and barefooted' prints along a fire trail. 'Certain items' have been uncovered by detectives, but police have not been able to determine the schoolgirl's whereabouts. January 17: A convoy of five police vehicles and detectives on foot entered the property around 11.30am. One detective ordered media to 'leave, now!' from outside the gates of the five hectare wedding venue retreat A police bus followed by unmarked police cars rolled through the gates as a uniformed officer stood guard. Earlier, plain clothes child protection squad officers drove into the property. Ms Mutten will be questioned by police. January 18: Police say Charlise will likely be 'lethargic' and 'stationary' if she's lost in the bush. January 19: Police reveal Charlise's stepdad Justin Stein has been charged with murder after finding a body in a barrel overnight Later, police reveal they have not yet been able to interview Charlise's mother because she remains in hospital under guard and is difficult to access January 25: Police reveal further CCTV of a red ute travelling between Marsden Park and Drummoyne as they continue to investigate Charlise's death Advertisement

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Stuart Kelly, pictured at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner 'burst into tears' and was left 'scared out of her wits' after being blamed over the alleged murder of Sir David Amess, a court heard.

Stuart Kelly, 53, and Michael McGrath, 70, both pleaded guilty on Thursday to sending offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages to the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that both men linked her comments at the Labour Party conference, calling Conservatives 'scum', in September last year to Sir David, 69, being stabbed to death at a surgery in his Leigh-on-Sea constituency in Essex.

On the day of his death, Kelly left three voicemail messages for Ms Rayner, 41, at her constituency office during a 30-minute period.

One said: 'I hope you get shot. You contributed to his death, you dirty scum', and in another he told her: 'Well done, he's a father-of-five. Well done, you're a great MP.'

In the third message, Kelly said: 'Murderer, f****** murderer.'

Former barber McGrath sent an email to Ms Rayner's office in the early hours of the following morning in which he branded her a 'vile bitch' and 'tasteless lefty scum'.

'When I saw the contents of the email together with the voicemails I burst into tears,' Ms Rayner told the court

'Hope it never happens to you,' he wrote. 'I bet you will be celebrating.'

Ms Rayner said in a statement that she is 'no stranger' to criticism, which she usually sees as 'people exercising their right to free speech'.

'When I saw the contents of the email together with the voicemails I burst into tears,' she said. 'It made me feel extremely upset.

'I believe I have quite a thick skin when it comes to name-calling and nasty comments, but this was in a completely different category.

'I am scared out of my wits, not only for my own safety but also the safety of my family, children and staff.

'This has left me frightened and caused me to question the job I do.'

She added: 'The fact these people are trying to link the death of an MP to me is absolutely devastating.

'For people to say I'm responsible for the death of David Amess has caused me genuine distress.'

The court heard that, after he was arrested, Kelly, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, said he had 'been out for a few drinks' when he left the voicemails and had been feeling 'quite angry and sad' about Sir David's death.

He told police he woke up the next morning, 'remembered what he done and felt regret', said prosecutor Jonathan Bryan.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted Kelly, who has been to court 27 times for 50 offences, unconditional bail as he adjourned sentencing to April 14, but warned him he faces time in jail.

The court heard that McGrath, from Sheffield, who has bowel cancer, later sent an apology email to Ms Rayner.

He was handed a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay a total of 413 in costs and compensation, including 200 to the MP.

Mr Goldspring told him: 'There is no doubt in my mind, whether you are in public service as an MP or perhaps as a judge or a member of the royal family, it does not make you any less susceptible to attack or any less susceptible to feelings about that.'
Fake heiress Anna Sorokin has finally expressed remorse for her scams  telling DailyMailTV: 'No money in the world is worth going to jail  even for a day.'

The real life inspiration for the Netflix series Inventing Anna has never before said sorry for swindling New York's elite by pretending to be a millionaire socialite.

But Sorokin, 31, currently behind bars trying to fight deportation, has finally admitted wrongdoing in an exclusive jailhouse interview with DailyMailTV.

'I admit I made some mistakes,' she concedes. 'I never tried to harm anybody and I'm trying to fix it now. I don't know what that makes me.'

Sorokin  who also goes by the name Anna Delvey  conned friends, banks and fancy Manhattan hotels out of $275,000 by passing herself off as a German heiress with a $67million trust fund back in Europe.

Anna Sorokin, aka Anna 'Delvey', expressed remorse for her scams for the first time in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com

The fake German heiress spoke to DailyMailTV's Alicia Quarles (right) from an ICE detention facility, where she is being held for overstaying her visa

Sorokin was convicted in 2019 of second-degree larceny, theft of services and first-degree attempted larceny after she refused to pay at some of the city's most expensive hotels

But her spiraling debts caught up with her in April 2019 when she was convicted of four counts of theft of services, three counts of grand larceny and one count of attempted grand larceny.

Russian-born Sorokin was jailed for between four and 15 years and ordered to pay $199,000 in restitution to her many victims.

When asked at that time whether she had any regrets, the champagne-swilling fraudster told a journalist: 'I'd be lying to you and to everyone else and to myself if I said I was sorry for anything.'

Despite her attitude, Sorokin, who grew up in Germany and worked as an intern for a fashion mag before coming to the US in 2013, was released from prison in February of last year for good behavior.

However her legal problems were far from over and a month later she was taken back into custody by ICE for overstaying her visa.

Sorokin has appealed her deportation and is hoping to learn her fate next week, she told DailyMailTV, speaking to us from the Orange County Correctional Facility in Goshen, New York.

'No money in the world is worth going to jail  even for a day,' she warned.

'I'm just trying to make the best out of the situation I'm dealing with right now. I could have done so many things different and I would have never seen the inside of the jail. But it just is what it is.

The 31-year-old con artist admitted that breaking the law is 'definitely not worth it' and that she is now trying to turn her story around

Anna was acquitted, however, of stealing from her friend, Rachel DeLoache Williams (pictured), who she brought to a $7,000-a-night Morocco villa, claiming she would pay

She made headlines around the world after pretending she was a super-rich heiress called Anna Delvey with a $60million trust fund to gain access to her wealthy targets, and to take out tens of thousands of dollars in bank loans. She is pictured, right, at a New York social event in 2014

'You don't get to press a reset button and go back and fix what you've done in the past. So don't commit any crimes and don't go to jail. It's definitely not worth it.'

Sorokin claimed she has settled her restitution and covers her own legal bills thanks to the $320,000 windfall she received from Netflix for the rights to her wild life story.

The resulting Netflix miniseries, Inventing Anna, featuring Julia Garner in the lead role, has been a smash hit since its February release.

Sorokin says she's only been able to watch about 20 to 30 minutes of it so far in video calls to friends.

'Julia did a great job, a great job. Everybody loves it,' Sorokin says.

But she adds: 'I wouldn't want people to glamorize crimes and use me as an example, like the poster child.

'This is totally not the message I'm trying to send. I'm trying to turn my story around. I know I'm getting a lot of criticism for, like, why are you giving a platform to a criminal?

'I feel like I deserve a second chance and I deserve to move on. And I'm not doing anything illegal as of right now.'

Sorokin is appealing her deportation so she can stay in the States, write a memoir and work on her podcast.

Russian-born Sorokin was jailed for between four and 15 years and ordered to pay $199,000 in restitution to her many victims

Sorokin, pictured last March, is now receiving 'poor person's relief' after she reportedly used the Netflix money to pay off her debts

She claims that a number of her fans and friends, including new bestie Julia Fox, 32, have even offered to 'adopt her' so she can work around immigration rules.

The pair struck up an unlikely friendship after Kanye West's ex contacted her on Instagram.

'Julia is a great friend of mine and she is really, really fun,' said Sorokin.

'She's been very supportive over the past months and she can relate a bit to my situation. She had a couple of boyfriends who were in prison or in jail.

'She always tries to find creative ways to help me. She offered to adopt me. It couldn't happen but it was very sweet of her.'

Sorokin said she expects her deportation appeal to be decided any day now but if she does have to leave, the UK could be next on her radar.

'I have a German passport, so technically I could go to a lot of places,' she explains.

'I guess I'll think about that when that happens. London would be an option  I have a lot of friends there.'

If Sorokin does end up back in Germany she's confident that her working class parents will forgive her.

Sorokin's dad Vadim, a former truck driver, has a heating and cooling business in Duren, 45 minutes west of Cologne. Her mom owns a convenience store.

On Sunday, Sorokin likened her experience at Rikers Island to a luxury Moroccan villa when compared to her experience at the ICE detention facility

Sorokin has been held at the Orange County Correctional Facility in Goshen, New York since March 2021 for overstaying her visa

Anna revealed she struck up an unlikely friendship with Kanye West's ex Julia Fox (right) who offered to 'adopt her' so she can work around immigration rules

Vadim told DailyMail.com in 2019 that he had disowned his daughter because of her 'selfish personality'.

But Anna insisted: 'I'm still in touch with my parents and I call them every other day.

'They're not going to drop life in Germany and buy a house by the jail in New York and come see me every day. But whatever I need, I can always give them a call and ask if that's reasonable. So I have support from them.'

Sorokin is still on US soil despite a chaotic deportation mix-up that had many thinking the con artist was finally on her way out of the country on Tuesday.

She remains in the Orange County jail, where she has been for the last seven months.

As she is Russian-born, Sorokin even had something to say about the war in Ukraine. She feels that people in Russia are not aware of what is happening in the besieged former Soviet republic.

'Obviously, people cannot make up their minds if they are being brainwashed daily. If you only have one source, how can you not believe them?

'I feel it's just really awful and sad.'

An episode of the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, in which she is interviewed from the jail, aired Thursday. It was previously recorded.

She is being held in ICE custody for overstaying her visa, and is due to be deported to Germany although it's not exactly clear when.

She has previously said that the Goshen prison is worse than notorious Rikers Island in New York City where she was previously held.

She told DailyMailTV that is because Rikers gets so much scrutiny while the upstate facility flies under the radar.

'They just make up the rules as they go,' she said. 'I'm still figuring out what comes from ICE and what comes from the jail.

'So I don't want to bad-mouth ICE because I'm really not sure it is them that is making up the rules.'

She complained that the days can be monotonous. 'It's just like absolutely nothing all day long.

'You don't have to do anything. You don't have to wake up  literally.

Sorokin sold the rights to her life story to Netflix for $320,000. Above, actress Julia Garner plays Delvey in the series 'Inventing Anna'

In an interview with Call Me Daddy podcast host Alexandra Cooper earlier this week, Sorokin laughed as she revealed how she effortlessly scammed New York City's high society and denied being a con artist

'If you just sit in your cell, nobody will ever bother you.'

But she said she keeps herself busy working on her podcast and her planned book.

On Tuesday, Sorokin's lawyer and friends sparked chaos when they couldn't get hold of her. The texting system from the jail she is being held in also changed her status to say that she had been released.

A rush of European reporters flocked to Frankfurt Airport to await her arrival and her attorney, Manny Arora, told Good Morning America that he thought she was on her way back to Germany.

A source from the detention center told DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning that she has not left the facility at all, despite reports she may have been on her way to the airport.

She will stay there until ICE agents come to collect her.

'They don't give us a heads up, she's with us until they come to collect her,' the source said.

Arora told DailyMail.com that he filed an emergency stay Tuesday to block a deportation order that was filed on February 17.

The order will give Sorokin another 30 days in the country.

It's unclear what her grounds for appeal are, or what kind of visa she hopes to obtain that would allow her to stay in the US.

On Thursday an ICE spokesman confirmed: 'In November 2021, the Board of Immigration Appeals granted Sorokin's emergency stay request; she remains in ICE custody pending removal.'
A bus passenger who believes Covid is a 'scam' has been filmed shouting abuse at a bus driver who asked him to wear a mask - before telling her to 'go back to China.'

Video filmed on a Sydney bus this week shows the unmasked man immediately arguing with the driver after he was told to put on a face covering, which are mandatory on public transport in NSW.

The driver tried to stop the man from coming on board but he walked onto the bus anyway.

'You are not gonna f**king push me! F**k you, I'm not doing it! It's over, Covid's a scam and I'm not sick, f**k you,' he said while walking to his seat.

Covid denier was seen shouting horrific abuse at an Asian bus driver in Sydney after he was told to wear a mask

But the bus driver wasn't having any of it and got out of her seat as she repeatedly yelled at the man to get off.

'No, you go back to China!' he said, mocking her accent.

'You shut your mouth! This is Australia, f**k you!'.

The driver then called him 'stupid' before giving up and returning to her seat.

'No, you're stupid,' the man replied. 'You're spreading the fear, I'm not vaccinated, I'm free.'

He then spoke to the other bus passengers.

'There you go ladies and gentleman, that gronk has a go at me for no mask,' he said.

'Three years into a so called pandemic and people are still not woken up to the bulls**t.

'Shame on you.'

The bus driver repeatedly told the unmasked man to get off the bus but he fought back telling her to 'go back to China'

The footage shared on TikTok has amassed more than 27,000 views with many concerned that nobody stood up for the driver as other passengers sat silent.

'Everyone who didn't speak up is just as bad as the guy,' one TikTokker said.

'He was lucky I was not on that bus,' another said.

But some people commented supporting the Covid denier and his refusal to wear a mask.

'If he wasn't racist, I'd back him 100 per cent,' one said.

'If everyone was like that guy this whole scam would have been over long ago,' said another antivaxxer.
A student who attends a $25,000-a-year private school has threatened to ditch classes to lead more protests if Scott Morrison does not meet her demands on climate change policy.

Anjali Sharma, 17, criticised the Prime Minister for not matching the United Kingdom and United States' unenforcable promises to cut emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

'We're competing with a really, really weak 26 and 28 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030,' the high school student told ABC's 7.30 on Tuesday.

'We're up against the climate crisis which is rapidly accelerating and demanding real change.'

Her comment adds to her ongoing criticism on Twitter where she accused the Prime Minister of 'destroying lives'.

'Scott Morrison, why are you making a choice to destroy people's lives??' she wrote. '#fundourfuturenotgas FUND OUR FUTURE. NOT GAS.'

Ms Sharma is a Year 12 student at Melbourne's Huntingtower School, which is an elite private school that charges families $24,630 a year.

A student who attends a $25,000 private school has threatened to ditch class to lead more protests if Scott Morrison does not meet her standards on climate change policy (pictured, Ms Sharma addressing media following the court appeal on Tuesday)

Students break down outside the NSW Federal Court after environment minister Ms Ley won her appeal on Tuesday

Anjali Sharma, 17, called out the prime minister for not matching the United Kingdom and United State's target to cut emissions by 50 per cent by 2030

She has frequently skipped classes to speak at climate change protests with the 17-year-old promising there will be more to come.

'So many other countries are stressing the need for really ambitious climate policy, but the only reason that we're taking so much time off school is because we feel like that job is not being done as quickly,' she said.

'This is not a passion project, this is not something I do on my day off from school. I do my sport and my music. This is something I do because I have the need to. I feel like I have the responsibility to.'

Ms Sharma called on Mr Morrison to spend more taxpayer money on renewable energy projects, arguing Australia was one of the 'sunniest, windiest' countries in the world.

Host Leigh Sales challenged Ms Sharma and questioned whether an abrupt transition from the fossil fuel industry would leave thousands of miners out of work while crippling the Australian economy in the short term.

Ms Sharma was less moved by those concerns, saying 'unemployment is a completely different issue, actually'.

'Places in Gunnedah and in the Hunter Valley are actually some of the strongest communities fighting for climate action,' she said.

'While there are so many families and so many people who rely on fossil fuel projects, for much of their income, much of their livelihood, the government has the opportunity to invest in a just transition.'

Ms Sharma led a class action court case against federal environment minister Sussan Ley.

Ms Ley successfully appealed on Tuesday against a court ruling that she had a legal duty of care to protect young people from the impacts of climate change.

Ms Sharma is well-known for leading a class action court case against federal environment minister Sussan Ley (pictured, students are comforted outside the courtroom on Tuesday)

Ms Sharma is well-known for leading a class action court case against federal environment minister Sussan Ley

Litigation Guardian sister Brigid Arthur was among the disappointed students following the court decision on Tuesday

Ms Sharma is a Year 12 student at Melbourne's Huntingtower School, which is an elite private school that charges families $24,630 a year

Ms Sharma took to Twitter to say she was devastated by the decision.

'Not sure who this will even reach lol but i'm lying in bed literally devastated,' she wrote.

'I'm angry. It's not every day that the Federal #EnvironmentMinister decides to argue that she doesn't have to care about climate impacts on children, and it's not every day she wins. What the hell.'

Ms Sharma revealed she had spent the night crying following the court decision.

'Woke up and cried all over again because yesterday still doesn't feel real,' she wrote.

'Won't ever forget looking at one of my lawyers after the judgement - who fought so hard - only for her to say 'Anj, i'm so sorry.' These are not the people that should be sorry.'

Ms Sharma was one of eight teenagers and an 87-year-old nun who launched the class action lawsuit against Ms Ley.

The court ruled last year the government had a legal duty to consider how future fossil fuel projects would impact children.

'We're competing with a really, really weak 26 and 28 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030,' she told ABC's 7.30 on Tuesday

Ms Sharma was one of eight teenagers and an 87-year-old nun who launched the class action lawsuit against Ms Ley

Ms Sharma and her legal team still have the option to challenge the overruling in Australia's highest court

Ms Sharma took to Twitter where she accused the prime minister of 'destroying lives'

Plans were underway at the time to expand the Vickery coal mine in NSW, which would have released another 170 million tonnes of fossil fuel emissions.

The court decision marked a world first where a government was held directly accountable.

Ms Sharma and her legal team still have the option to challenge the overruling in Australia's highest court.

'Today's ruling leaves us devastated, but it will not deter us in our flight for climate justice,' Ms Sharma said in a statement.

Ms Sharma was born in India and moved with her family to Australia when she was 10 months old.

She said her passion for climate activism was sparked by floods in South Asia in 2017.

'I saw my family in India deal with the effects of climate change and severe floods. It really made me angry that Australia, as a country, was not doing the things it should be doing to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change,' she previously told SBS.
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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dodged questions about new developments in the Hunter Biden laptop saga Thursday  directing queries to the Justice Department after the New York Times said investigators confirmed the authenticity of emails appearing to be from his infamous computer.

The matter came up hours after the Times referenced it in a story about how the president's son had settled his unpaid tax bill amid a federal investigation.

The report referenced emails between Hunter Biden and former business associates, which it said appeared to be from a 'cache' of files that appears to have come from the laptop, which was cited as the source of a series of damaging reports the New York Post published weeks before the election.

'The email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation,' the paper reported.

Asked at Thursday's White House press briefing about the paper's authentication of the information a year and half after the original report, Psaki responded: 'I would point you to the Department of Justice and also to Hunter Bidens representatives  he doesnt work in the government.'

'I would point you to the Department of Justice and also to Hunter Bidens representatives  he doesnt work in the government,' responded White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki after the New York Times reported that investigators authenticated emails purported to come from Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop

She was asked about the Times report on Wednesday, although DailyMail.com had computer experts verify the laptop months ago

She didn't offer much more when asked by DailyMail.com about her own labeling of the laptop as Russian disinformation in October 2020.

'Again, I would point you to the Department of Justice and Hunter Biden's representatives. I'm a spokesperson for the United States. He doesn't work for the United States,' Psaki said.

Biden had blasted reports on the laptop as a 'bunch of garbage.'

'There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what hes accusing me of is a Russian plant,' he said, adding that 'five former heads of the CIA, both parties, say what hes saying is a bunch of garbage.'

Both Biden and Psaki were referencing a letter from 50 top former intelligence officials saying the laptop stories had 'all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.'

The paper identified a 'cache' of files that appears to have come from the laptop pertaining to Hunter's business dealings

The laptop contained a trove of embarrassing images

President Joe Biden quoted from generations of family members at St. Patrick's Day events Thurdsay

Psaki tweeted about 'Russian disinfo' weeks before the election

If we are right, this is Russia trying to influence how Americans vote in this election, and we believe strongly that Americans need to be aware of this,' the officials wrote, four years after the Intelligence Community interfered in the 2016 elections.

However the Times story established that government investigators had confidence at least in the information uncovered on Hunter's laptop, however bizarre the story of how the information surfaced.

The laptop resulted in numerous reports about Hunter Biden's business dealings, and contained a trove of embarrassing photos.

The original story in the Post stated that Hunter had dropped off the his Mac at a computer repair shop in Wilmington, Delaware but neglected to pick it up.

The Times had cast doubt on the provenance of the laptop during its own reports.

It also reported that prosecutors had examined emails between Biden and Devon Archer, one of his business partners at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, citing sources familiar with the probe.

DailyMail.com authenticated the laptop a full year earlier, and was the first  and only  news organization to publicly verify its contents using expert analysis.
A successful gym set up by Chris Hemsworth's exercise physiologist that boasts it bans 'all millennials' in favour of Boomers could be confusing potential members and even practising discrimination.

Club Active, started by Jonathan Freeman, said it has opened 'Sydney's exclusive new fitness club banning all Millennials, gym junkies and fitness posers' at Castle Hill in the city's north-west.

Mr Freeman is credited with helping Hemsworth get into shape for the movie Thor (when the Aussie actor was 28).

Young people wanting a new gym at Castle Hill in Sydney may be forced to exercise at home after the Club Active gym claimed it was banning Millennials

Club Active was started by Chris Hemsworth's (pictured) former exercise physiologist Jonathan Freeman

Six years later Mr Freeman opened his first over-50s focused gym chain, having spotted a gap in the health and fitness market.

Much of Club Active's material is focused on catering to Boomers - the generation born between 1946 and 1964 - and it also says people born after 1970 'need not apply'.

But the Millennial generation did not begin until 1981, meaning the gym's statements could be discouraging Generation Xers who have flocked to the Hills District to reside in new housing.

Mr Freeman wants to create safe spaces for over-50s gym goers that are not intimidating

Much of Club Active's material is focused on catering to Boomers - the generation born between 1946 and 1964 - and it also says people born after 1970 'need not apply'

The club's message that it 'was born out of a need for those over 50 to exercise in a safe, fun, non-intimidating environment' also appears to contradict the 'no-one born after 1970' guideline.

The club lists its vision on its websites as becoming 'the worlds largest active over 50s community'.

People born in 1970 are turning 52 this year.

'If you were born after 1970, were not the gym for you  until you reach the 50 milestone and youll be more than welcome,' a Club Active spokesperson told The Courier Mail when it opened its sixth gym in Carindale, Brisbane.

When asked about the new Sydney gym's exclusive audience, Millennials were unimpressed.

'I wonder whether its age discrimination but Im not a lawyer, twentysomething public servant Lawrence Rogers told the Daily Telegraph.

He questioned the need to 'lock out' any age group.

Young accountant Rebecca Chapman said she likes going to gyms where people of all age groups work out under one roof.

'I like it when people have different reasons for attending a gym.'

Mr Freeman clarified marketing messages saying the club would not prevent anyone under 50 from joining and that they could exercise at a Club Active

But Mr Freeman clarified marketing messages saying the club would not prevent anyone under 50 from joining and that they could exercise at a Club Active.

'If you want to exercise at any age, Club Active will be able to help  you just might not be around younger people.'

A Club Active spokesperson clarified that it was 'banning' Generation X gymgoers too - although she added they could attend if they really wanted, just as Millennials can if they didn't mind exercising with Boomers.
Chandler Halderson, 24, of Windsor, was convicted in January of all eight charges filed against him in the murder of his parents

An unemployed Wisconsin man was convicted of killing and dismembering his parents after they discovered his web of lies, including that he was police scuba diver and working for SpaceX, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole.

Chandler Halderson, 24, of Windsor, was convicted in January of all eight charges filed against him, including first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and hiding a corpse in the July deaths Bart and Krista Halderson.

Investigators said Halderson killed his parents after his father initially discovered he had been lying about attending a technical college.

The judge said that it was his obligation to protect the public in requiring the stiffest possible sentence. Wisconsin does not have the death penalty.

'I have to, for this sentence, ensure that the only time Mr. Halderson comes back into the community is to have the privilege of a burial that he denied his parents,' Judge Hyland said as he handed down the sentence.

Scroll down for video

Chandler Halderson, pictured, is escorted into the Dane County Circuit Court for his sentencing hearing, Thursday, in Madison, Wisconsin

Halderson reads a statement during his sentencing hearing. He was convicted of killing his parents last summer and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole

Pictured: Bart and Krista Halderson, who authorities said were killed by their son after discovering his web of lies, including his employment and college education

Prosecutors said his false claim that he was attending technical college was one in a series of lies he told about work, school and being on a police scuba dive team.

The web of lies came crashing down on Halderson after his father Bart called the college his son had told him he was attending in an effort to request transcripts.

Halderson had also told his parents, as well as other witnesses who testified in the case, that he was a police scuba diver as well as a SpaceX employee at various times, utilizing fake email addresses to further con his family into believing his lies.

When the college stated that his son was no longer a student at the school, and that several people Halderson told his father he had spoke to at the college did not exist, Bart reportedly asked for a meeting with school officials.

He was fatally shot by his son in the days leading up to that meeting, according to court transcripts.

Halderson then allegedly killed his mother after she returned home later that same day.

Pictured: Halderson being interviewed by police after reporting his parents missing

According to testimony at Halderson's trial, he tried to burn his parents' bodies in the family fireplace, pictured, before dumping them along the Wisconsin River and at a rural property

Pictured: the firearm Halderson used to shoot and kill his father

Pictured: tools Halderson used to dismember his parents bodies after killing them

According to testimony at Halderson's trial, after dismembering his parents bodies, he tried to burn his parents' bodies in the family fireplace before dumping them along the Wisconsin River and at a rural property, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

Halderson didn't testify and his attorneys did not call any witnesses. According to a court filing this week, he did not speak to his attorneys about the events, the State Journal reported.

Chandler's grandmother said she still loves him, even though she described his actions as 'horrific' in a letter she read to the court.

She added that she hoped Chandler could eventually be paroled later in life.

Halderson's father, Bart, pictured, had discovered his son's web of lies after calling the college his son said he was attending

Krista Halderson, pictured, was killed after returning home on the day her husband was shot and killed by their son

Meanwhile, Chandler's brother's fiance told the court she would fear for the remaining family's safety if Halderson is ever released.

Halderson spoke briefly Thursday, saying he would appeal his conviction and asking any interested attorneys to contact him.

'It's not that I do not have feelings; it's that I was warned to not show them in the scrutiny of this case,' he said.

Before Circuit Judge John Hyland passed sentence, Assistant District Attorney Andrea Raymond said that Halderson 'grew up with a life of privilege' that made it difficult to explain his crimes.

Hyland rejected a request Halderson made last week not to be in court for his sentencing.
A former Australian ambassador to eastern Europe has defended Russia's invasion of Ukraine - invoking a very angry response from a Ukrainian MP living in the war zone.

Tony Kevin, a retired diplomat and self-published author, regularly hails Russia's president Vladimir Putin as a respected leader, shares Kremlin propaganda on his social media accounts, claims 'Ukrainian Nazis' are behind the bombings, and that Russian forces are not targeting civilians.

The former ambassador to Poland who was a diplomat in Moscow during the Cold War also claimed very few people in Ukraine have been killed over the four weeks of the current conflict.

The estimated death toll among soldiers varies significantly between the two sides, while the United Nations say 780 civilians have died as of Wednesday.

'In the days the war's been going, there's been an absolutely, incredibly small number of casualties,' Mr Kevin said on Nine's Under Investigation program hosted by Liz Hayes.

Scroll down for video

A former Australian ambassador has defended Russia's invasion of Ukraine - evoking a very angry response from a Ukrainian MP Kira Rudyk (pictured) living in the war zone

'The Russians won this war on the 24th of February and what's been going on since then are bands of armed thugs who control some major cities.

'(Mr Putin) has said that Russian troops will not attack civilians.'

Ukraine MP Kira Rudyk, the leader of the pro-western Voice party, was outraged at Mr Kevin's assertions.

'This is a total nonsense,' she said.

She was also incensed at his repeating of Mr Putin's claim that Nazis had taken over Ukraine, which needed Russia to save it.

'You're saying the Nazis? What are you talking about right now?' she said.

'My country's been bombarded by crazy person. My people are being killed and you are saying this insanity on camera right now.

'This is unprecedented.'

In a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Kevin suggested Ukrainian Nazis and not Russians were bombing buildings in what he described as 'Ukronazi fake flag operations'.

Ms Rudyk was particularly upset at his suggestion he knew more about what was happening in Ukraine despite not personally witnessing the invasion.

Tony Kevin (pictured), a retired diplomat and self-published author, regularly hails Russia's authoritarian President Vladimir Putin as a respected leader, shares Russian propaganda on his social media accounts and even dubiously claims Russia is not deliberately attacking civilians

The former ambassador to Poland who was a diplomat in Moscow during the Cold War made the extraordinary claim very few people in Ukraine had been killed, despite strong evidence of Russian air strikes on civilians in a maternity hospital and a makeshift shelter in a theatre (pictured is a man mourning the death of his mother in Kyiv after a Russian attack)

'I'm here. I'm telling you the people are dying,' she said.

'You're telling some nonsense about Nazis that you can never seen because you're sitting in your warm and whatever safe place and you dare to tell me what's happening in my own country.

'I'm telling you what's going on here, on the ground, where people are being killed by Putin who is trying to take our country just because he is crazy.

'There is no false narrative: there is the truth and the BS you're feeding to people right now.'

Mr Kevin, who has recently visited Moscow, said Mr Putin had the support of the Russian people despite widespread evidence of vote-rigging in elections.

'Vladimir Putin has the confidence of his people,' he said.

'I believe that Putin is the legitimate president of Russia.

Tony Kevin, who has recently visited Moscow, even suggested Putin had the support of the Russian people, despite only staying in power because of rigged elections

'He speaks on behalf of the Russian people - I would be saying, "Keep your nerve".'

He added that 'Ukraine will be a happier place, whether in a few weeks or a couple of months'.

British chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, who also appeared on the program, said Mr Putin had relied on people around the world to spread his 'vile propaganda'.

'If your man Tony believes that there are only a few hundred people dead and that this is some kind of peace mission, then Putin is winning,' he said.

Mr Kevin's shared an article from the Kremlin-backed Russia Today website on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Tony Kevin, who has recently visited Moscow, even suggested Putin had the support of the Russian people, despite only staying in power because of rigged elections (he is pictured right with Russian diplomat Alexander Yakovenko

The text is typed out in his Facebook message to get around the social media giant's censorship of Russian state-controlled media.

Mr Kevin suggested Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky does not have the widespread support of his own people, even though the former actor and comedian won a landslide 73 per cent of the vote in 2019, defeating incumbent Petro Poroshenko.

Mr Kevin said that Nazis were a threat in the Ukraine, and could ultimately wrest power away from Mr Zelensky who is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust.

The Ukrainian far right played a significant role in the 2014 uprising that drove out the elected pro-Russian president Vladimir Yanukovych.

'Zs biggest problem is still the risk that Ukronazis may mount a oup against him and kill him,' Mr Kevin said.

Mr Kevin on Twitter thanked Nine for giving him air time

'Yet he has defanged them too in a way, by exposing their inability to protect the people from Russians.'

Mr Kevin on Twitter thanked Nine for giving him air time.

'I went on Channel 9 as a public service,' he said.

'Australians need to know there's an alternative to hatred of Russia.

'For the sake of our kids and grandkids we must challenge this hatred in every possible venue and before every audience.'

The University of Western Australia appears to have distanced itself from him, with the Institute of Advanced Studies removing him from their website.
Too often those working in the media pick sides  either Republican or Democrat.

They embrace the events and scandals that make their side look good and ignore the ones that make their team look bad.

Of course, this goes both ways.

But the absolutely stunning journalistic malpractice committed by the media in regard to their coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story goes far above and beyond anything that we've witnessed to date.

It is the most blatant example of media favoritism that I have ever witnessed and a betrayal of the American public.

To put it frankly, the vast majority of the American public have lost faith in journalistic institutions and I don't entirely blame them, even if I am heartbroken by it.

On Thursday, the New York Times published a bombshell article.

In the piece, journalists for the Gray Lady reported that Hunter took out a loan in late 2022 to pay off a nearly $1 million tax liability amid a wide-ranging federal investigation.

Hunter's reported failure to pay his taxes is just one small piece of a grand jury probe into his finances, which is all wrapped up in allegations that he traded on his family name and political connections to make millions of dollars overseas.

Not to mention, there are credible claims that his father, our president, Joe Biden was also involved in and profited from these shady deals.

The Times reported that, 'The investigation, which began as a tax inquiry under the Obama administration, widened in 2018 to include possible criminal violations of tax laws, as well as foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, according to the people familiar with the inquiry.'

That is a mouthful. But that's not all.

When The New York Post ran the story about Hunter Biden during the election, it was censored by Twitter and Facebook under their misinformation policy.

Tucked about two dozen paragraphs down this shocking report is another whopper  that honestly deserves its own headline.

Hunter Biden's laptop is real.

You heard that right!

That laptop -- 'The Laptop From Hell.'

A big part of the New York Times' reporting is actually based on emails pulled from Hunter Biden's laptop.

The laptop that the nearly every Blue Checkmark on Twitter told us was fake news.

Jen Psaki even once tweeted a Politico story titled, 'Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say.' And nearly every mainstream media outlet took that Politico story and ran with it.

Now, let's all think back to October of 2020, the heat of a presidential election campaign.

The New York Post exclusively reported on the contents of a computer that Hunter had allegedly abandoned at a Delaware repair shop in April 2019.

In the laptop's hard drive was an absolute treasure trove of evidence of moral depravity, including pornography and drug use.

Before I continue, I want to make crystal clear that I have compassion for Hunter.

It is not an easy path having a family in politics and as someone who has many friends and family who have struggled with dependency and addiction, I commend him for getting sober and overcoming so many of his demons.

I believe there is grave stigma in our country concerning dependency and addiction, which only exacerbates this crisis and can bring on darkness and pain to those suffering.

I do not want any of that for him and do not wish or have any intention to embarrass or criticize him for having a disease.

My own mother shares this disease and is truly one of the strongest women in the entire world and a beacon of hope and example for so many as to what life can look like on the other side of addiction.

All of that being said, I believed the laptop and its contents were fair game while Biden was running for office, in the same way that the questionable and seemingly shady business dealings of the Trump children were fair game during Trump's tenure in office.

Hunter's laptop contained emails, text messages, photos and financial documents detailing how he used his political leverage to make money.

In one April 2014 email cited by the New York Times, Hunter talks about how the announcement of his father's upcoming trip to Ukraine as vice president may have a positive impact on his business deals with the energy firm Burisma.

Those emails are now reportedly central to the investigation into Hunter.

The New York Times even went to the trouble of obtaining the laptop material for themselves, and  shock  found that there are people who could authenticate them.

Well, what in the holy heck took them so long!

My employer and this news site, DailyMail.com hired cyber forensics experts to authenticate the contents of the laptop  more than a year ago.

So, what changed between the time of this New York Times report and The New York Post and The Daily Mail reporting?

Nothing really  except that Biden is now president and the walls may be closing in on Hunter.

In the laptop's hard drive was an absolute treasure trove of evidence of moral depravity, including pornography and drug use. (Above) Image recovered from Hunter Biden's laptop

Ignoring the story is bad enough, but the media and Big Tech did not stop there. They also suppressed and trashed the story.

When The New York Post ran the story about Hunter Biden during the election, it was censored by Twitter and Facebook under their misinformation policy.

(Notice that the New York Times story is not being censored on any of these platforms today.)

National Public Radio did not report that story at all, and embarrassingly  they owned it.

'We don't want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories,' said NPR Managing Editor for News Terence Samuel at the time, 'And we don't want to waste the listeners' and readers' time on stories that are just pure distractions this was  a politically driven event and we decided to treat it that way.'

You'd think that professional journalists would be a bit more curious.

You'd be wrong.

Consider this hypothetical -- if I or Jenna Bush, Chelsea Clinton or Barron Trump were involved in foreign business deals that would set off media alarm bells.

Why did the media give Hunter a pass?

One of the most incredible stories based on material recovered from the hard drive and detailed in Miranda Devine's book, Laptop from Hell, is that Hunter received a $80,000 3.16 carat diamond as payment from a Chinese tycoon.

Umm red flag?

The media treated Hunter like a child, who is not responsible for his own behavior.

Why? I think the answer is obvious  they wanted his father to win an election.

In one of the most embarrassing displays of media tone-deafness, the New York Times media columnist Ben Smith (above) penned a piece titled, 'Inside the 'Misinformation' Wars.'

In an interview, Hunter even admitted the laptop may be his, and it was met with a collective media shrug.

'There could be a laptop out there that was stolen from me,' he told CBS News while he was promoting his memoir, Beautiful Things, 'It could be that I was hacked. It could be that it was the that it was Russian intelligence.'

In one of the most embarrassing displays of media tone-deafness, the New York Times media columnist Ben Smith penned a piece titled, 'Inside the 'Misinformation' Wars.'

Smith is best known for making the decision to publish the one true recent piece of verified misinformation, the Christopher Steele Dossier, when he was the editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed.

Exhibit A for Smith's scholarly garbage about 'fake news' was the Hunter Biden laptop saga.

'The story about the laptop was an old-fashioned, politically motivated dirty tricks campaign,' Smith wrote.

'While some of the emails purportedly on the laptop have since been called genuine by at least one recipient, the younger Mr. Biden has said he doesn't know if the laptop in question was his,' he continued.

Wow  that's some piss poor detective work.

As I said, partisans ignoring bad news is not new.

What is new is the media's complicity in the coverups, and by doing so they are causing a festering rot between our journalistic institutions and the American public.

The media treated Hunter like a child, who is not responsible for his own behavior. Why? I think the answer is obvious  they wanted his father to win an election.

When I was working in corporate media during the 2020 election, there was a hesitation in pitch meetings to even mention anything to do with Hunter Biden, which was a clear tone and attitude shift from the Trump children.

I have hundreds of examples of explicit media bias that I saw and experienced.

I assure you with all sincerity that the corporate media is Democrat-aligned, and it is an egregious ethical problem.

They're flushing their credibility down the toilet.

The New York Times, corporate media and Big Tech owe an apology to The Daily Mail, The New York Post and Fox News.

Now that the New York Times has admitted that the reporting was real, legitimate and accurate despite the widespread conspiratorial dismissal, shouldn't we be taking a second look at how and why we get our news sources from these people?

Don't look at me though, when I was first approached by DailyMail.com about joining the team, one of the things that I liked about the site was their willingness to publish stories that the vast majority of the mainstream media was too scared or biased to do, including Hunter Biden's laptop.
A former leader of the Ku Klux Klan who spent time in prison for beating a black man is running for office in Georgia as a GOP 'white civil rights activist.'

Chester Doles, 61, was once known as the Grand Klaliff of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Maryland, and made multiple appearances on TV and in newspapers to share his racist beliefs.

In a recent interview, CBS46 asked Doles if he denounced racism and he responded, 'I do publicly denounce racism, yes ma'am,' Doles responded.

Doles said a criminal record should not disqualify someone from public office and compared himself to civil rights activists including the late Rep. John Lewis who have held public office despite their pasts.

'If you look at Hosea Williams, he was on the City Council, he was arrested 168 times. Congressman John Lewis, he was arrested 68 times, so that's not a reason to disqualify someone,' Doles said. 'Don't matter if you're out there for the civil rights movement, than I'm a white civil rights activist then.'

Chester Dole, 61, (pictured on campaign trail) a former Ku Klux Klan leader who served time for beating a black man, is running as a Republican for the Board of Commissioners in Georgia

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Doles was sentenced to prison for the 1993 beating of a Black man in Maryland and again on weapons violations in Georgia. Pictured in 1992 in a KKK hat

Doles, 61, was once known as the Grand Klaliff of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and has been featured in many newspaper clippings from the early 1990s

Doles has been front and center of photos from KKK marches in newspaper clippings from the early 1990s, but claims to have reformed his racist ways in 2020 with the help of a black Republican preacher - and now claims he's fit for office.

Doles also marched with the Hammerskins, a racist skinhead gang, and at the notorious 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that resulted in the murder of protester Heather Hayes.

But the convicted felon, who claims to have 'renounced racism' in 2020, told CBS46 in early March that he's a reformed man and is now fully qualified to run as a Republican for a seat on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners in Georgia.

Doles told CBS46 in March that a criminal record should not disqualify someone from public office and compared himself to civil rights activists who have held public office despite arrests

Doles's prison time dates back to 1993 when he was convicted of beating of a black man in Maryland, and served four years for the crime. He spent another four years in 2003 on weapons violations in Georgia, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Doles told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the incidents were each 'misunderstandings or extenuating circumstances.'

Doles was also arrested In 2016 after a brawl at a bar, where authorities reportedly identified him as a leader in the Hammerskins. He was sentenced to probation.

In early March, CBS46 looked into how a convicted felon was able to get on the ballot for the commissioner seat.

According to Georgia code, felons can hold elected office in Georgia if they get their civil rights restored and if at least 10 years have passed from the time they completed their sentence, CBS46 found.

Doles was released from federal prison on weapons charges in 2007, which means he had passed the 10 year threshold.

Doles is pictured in 1992, at the height of his 'career' as a KKK member

Doles is a longtime white supremacist who spent decades in the Ku Klux Klan and the neo-Nazi National Alliance (pictured at a Trump rally last year)

In 2019, Doles started a new organization called American Patriots USA, a group supportive of President Donald Trump

In a March 8 tweet, Doles said he had fully qualified for the Lumpkin County commission candidacy and has been campaigning ever since.

In a recent campaign photo, he's seen holding signs that reads 'Stop Socialism. Save America,' which is a slogan from Georgia's controversial Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who Doles supports.

'This sick insane culture of wokeness is destroying America. These people want us gone. We American patriots are the new most endangered species,' Doles said to a crowd on the campaign trail.

Doles said his main policy would be the 'guardian of the educational system of Lumpkin County, to keep out Critical Race Theory.'

'It's Marxist,' he added. 'It's trying to put a sense of white guilt into young white children. It needs to be abolished.'

The primary election is scheduled for May 24.

Chester Doles and armed militia and pro-Trump supporters in front of the Georgia Capital

Doles, who had attempted to insinuate himself into Republican politics in 2020, said he renounced his past while maintaining ties with longtime friends in the white supremacist movement.

In 2019, Doles started a new organization called American Patriots USA, a group supportive of President Donald Trump but stayed deeply tied to the far-right militia movement.

Doles endorsed several long shot political candidates in the 2020 election, but also attempted to tie himself to Greene, who had Doles removed from an event.

Georgia Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler posed for a photo with Doles in 2020 that circulated on social media leading to an outcry from activists.

Her campaign said she 'had no idea' who Doles was when she took a picture with him, her campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson said in a statement to The Associated Press in 2020.

'Kelly had no idea who that was, and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for,' Lawson said.
Yale Law School has defended a group of its students who snarled 'I'll hurt you bitch' at a conservative speaker during a debate on freedom of speech.

The Ivy League college claims the woke rabble-rousers have been 'spoken to' about their threatening behavior on March 10, raising concerns that they've only been given a slap on the wrist which will embolden them to continue their authoritarian behavior.

Despite the chaos at the college's Federalist Society-organized event, Yale Law said in a statement issued Thursday that school police 'assistance was not needed' and that students had followed the rules.

'At the very start of the March 10 event, when students began to make noise, the moderator read the Universitys free speech policy for the first time,' the school said, referring to its three-warnings protocols for its free-speech policy.

'At that point, the students exited the event, and it went forward. When students made noise in the hallways, administrators and staff instructed students to stop.'

The school went onto to say that staff called out to Yale police officers 'about whether assistance might be needed in the event the students did not follow those instructions.

Yale Law School said in a statement that students had followed directions and that there was no need for police presence despite the guest speakers being escorted out.

'Fortunately, that assistance was not needed and the event went forward until its conclusion,' Yale Law said.

Officials added that the administration is 'nonetheless in serious conversation with students about our free speech policies, expectations, and norms.'

They issued the mealy-mouthed statement after nearly 120 Yale Law students were filmed yelling at Kristen Waggoner, a conservative Christian of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) nonprofit during a debate with a liberal humanist about freedom of speech last Thursday.

The protesters berated the speaker, chanting 'protect trans kids' and 'shame, shame' throughout the law school building after police officers escorted Waggoner and her debate opponent out of the building.

More than 100 students intimated a conservative panelist during Yale Law School's free speech debate last Thursday

The panel featured conservative Christian Kristen Waggoner (right), who was threatened with, 'I'll fight you b*tch,' among other profanities. Ellen Cosgrove (left), Associate Dean and Dean of Students at Yale, has remained silent over the incident

Waggoner's opponent, progressive Monica Miller of the American Humanist Association, was also escorted out of the building

Yale Law also noted that school officers were on the scene because the school's policy dictates they assist security guards for Waggoner and the other speaker, progressive Monica Miller from the American Humanist Association.

The presence of those cops further infuriated the woke protest group, who claimed having them on campus 'prevents queer lives from flourishing.'

Ellen Cosgrove, Associate Dean and Dean of Students at Yale, remained silent during the chaotic incident, sparking allegations of academic cowardice.

In the statement, Yale Law said the dean is committed to allowing others to speak freely at the university.

'We allow people to speak even when their speech is flatly inconsistent with our own values.'

The incident began when students were filmed threatening the guest speakers and staff at a free speech event where a conservative guest successfully defended a Supreme Court decision of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a gay wedding ceremony.

The purpose of the panel was to illustrate that a liberal atheist and a conservative Christian could find common ground on free speech issues, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Both the ADF and the American Humanist Association took the same side in a 2021 case involving legal remedies for First Amendment violations that was presented to the Supreme Court, but protesters were outraged by the ADF's successful Supreme Court defense of a Colorado baker who refused to make a gay wedding cake.

Miller was harangued ahead of the event by totalitarian students claiming her very presence at the event was 'harming the flourishing of queer lives,' with Waggoner and ADF supporters hit with threats at the meeting itself.

When law school professor Kate Stith introduced Waggoner, the protestors stood up and displayed signs attacking the nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom, for which Waggoner works.

Video of the incident, which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, shows the students screaming profanities at Waggoner.

Waggoner expressed horror at the students' behavior, alleging 'the future of the legal profession in America is in dire straits.'

'It was disturbing to witness law students whipped into a mindless frenzy. I did not feel it was safe to get out of the room without security,' she told the newspaper.

'Yale Law students are our future attorneys, judges, legislators, and corporate executives. We must change course and restore a culture of free speech and civil discourse at Yale and other law schools, or the future of the legal profession in America is in dire straits.'

Miller, who during Thursday's panel characterized Waggoner's nonprofit as a 'hate group,' echoed her debate opponent's remarks, claiming the disruption was an 'ominous sign' for the legal profession.

'As lawyers, we have to put aside our differences and talk to opposing counsel,' she told the Free Beacon. 'If you can't talk to your opponents, you can't be an effective advocate.'

The students screamed profanities at Waggoner, including one who threatened they would 'literally fight you, b***h'

The protesters berated the speaker, chanting 'protect trans kids' and 'shame, shame' throughout the law school building after police officers escorted her and Miller out of the building

A member of the Federalist Society, which hosted the panel, said they selected Waggoner and Miller to demonstrate how a conservative Christian and a liberal atheist could were able to find common ground on issues of free speech.

'It was pretty much the most innocuous thing you could talk about,' he alleged.

However, the nearly 120 demonstrators still managed to cause havoc amid the event, violating the university's free speech policies which prohibit any protest that 'interferes with speakers' ability to be heard and of community members to listen.'

When Stith reminded the protesters of the policy, she was met with chants and raised middle fingers, to which she replied: 'Grow up.'

The students hit back, arguing that their disturbance was execution of 'free speech' and continued to scream at the panelists.

Two days after the panel, 417 students reportedly signed an open letter issuing support for 'peaceful student protesters.' The letter also claimed the protesters had been 'imperiled by the presence of police'

The letter also slammed Stith for telling the demonstrators to 'grow up' and blasted the Federalist Society for hosting an event that 'profoundly undermined our community's values of equity and inclusivity'

After the riot, Waggoner (pictured outside the Supreme Court in 2018) expressed detest for the students' behavior, alleging 'the future of the legal profession in America is in dire straits'

The extent of free speech: Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission Yale Law students were outraged Wednesday by a conservative group's involvement in a 2018 Supreme Court case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in which a baker successfully defended his right to refuse service to a gay couple looking for a wedding cake on free speech grounds. Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, a Christian who claimed to oppose same-sex marriage due to his faith, was initially found to have violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by the state's Civil Rights Commission. The agency issued specific guidance that would have required Phillips to provide service to Charlie Craig and David Mullins for the pair's wedding - which Phillips appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 7-2 decision, the court ruled narrowly that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission did not use 'religious neutrality' in making its decision - which allowed Phillips to refuse service to the couple. Justices have repeatedly emphasized that the 'narrow' ruling only applies to the specific case and does not affect broader anti-discrimination laws, religious freedom or freedom of speech. The decision was nonetheless decried by progressives, who claimed that the decision effectively sanctioned discrimination against LGBTQ people under the First Amendment. Advertisement

'I'm going to have to ask you to leave, or help you leave,' Stith responded.

Ultimately, police were called to the auditorium to safely escort the speakers out of the building.

Three members of the Federalist Society allege Heather Gerken, Dean of Yale Law School, contacted authorities for additional security, however the law school declined to comment on the request.

As protesters left the event, one yelled 'F**k you, FedSoc' as others began to stomp, shout, clap, sing and pound on the hall walls.

Students and professors claimed the protesters were so loud that they disrupted classes, exams and faculty meetings.

Two days after the panel, 417 students - equating for more than 60 percent of the law school's student body - reportedly signed an open letter issuing support for 'peaceful student protesters.'

The letter also alleged the protesters had been 'imperiled by the presence of police'.

'The danger of police violence in this country is intensified against Black LGBTQ people, and particularly black trans people,' the letter, which was obtained by the newspaper, read.

'Police-related trauma includes, but is certainly not limited to, physical harm. Even with all of the privilege afforded to us at YLS, the decision to allow police officers in as a response to the protest put YLS's queer student body at risk of harm.'

The letter also slammed Stith for telling the demonstrators to 'grow up' and blasted the Federalist Society for hosting an event that 'profoundly undermined our community's values of equity and inclusivity.'

However, it remains unclear if the majority of the student body actually felt the letter reflected their personal ideals as group chats, Discord posts and emails reviewed by the Free Beacon revealed that students who hadn't signed the petition were outwardly shamed.

'It feels wild to me that we're at this point in history and some folks are still not immediately signing a letter like this,' one student allegedly posted in a class GroupMe. 'I'm sure you realize that not signing the letter is not a neutral stance.'

Others alleged the bullying began prior to the open letter, citing that some student activists littered the law school with flyers claiming attending the free speech panel was a bigoted act.

'Providing a veneer of respectability is part of what allows this group to do work that attacks the very lives of LGBTQ people in the U.S. & globally,' the flyers read.

'Through your attendance you are personally complicit, along with the Federalist Society, in platforming and legitimizing this hate group.'
The hunt is on to find the alleged arsonists who set a Telstra communications tower alight in Australia's anti-vaxxer capital, sparking widespread community anger.

Firefighters have shared extraordinary footage of the top of a tower burning in Mullumbimby in far northern NSW after emergency services were called to the scene early Friday morning.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway with the site declared as a crime scene as community leaders and residents vent their anger.

Authorities say the blaze was deliberately lit, which has cut mobile phone coverage in the town for the second time within weeks.

The close-knit community is still cleaning up and getting back on its feet after widespread flooding devastated the region and caused damage to the tower earlier this month.

It may be several days before coverage is restored.

The blaze at a Telstra communication tower in Mullumbimby has cut mobile phone coverage

Technicians will remain on scene for most of Friday to assess the damage.

'At a time like this, when communications are so crucial to flood recovery, to have our mobile site damaged and critical telecommunications taken out is reprehensible,' Telstra regional manager Michael Marom said.

'What is already a difficult time for Mullumbimby has been made that much harder by what we suspect is an unnecessary, dangerous and selfish act of vandalism.

'Were working on bringing a temporary mobile service in to Mullumbimby but, with a number of our temporary mobile services already deployed elsewhere across the NSW and Queensland flood zones, were having to balance the need for mobile connectivity in a number of places at the same time.'

Telstra has rolled out 5G coverage across the region and was recently completed in Mullumbimby, where anti-5G conspiracy theories and demonstrators have run rampant since 2019.

'It looks like someone has gone in to cause malicious damage to our tower which is incredibly regrettable,' Mr Marom told 2GB's Ray Hadley.

'Now we're in the process of assessing the damage to understand if it's short-term or long-term restoration.

'We're just making sure we can do as much as we can, whether it's mobile assets or any other types of work to get connectivity back into that community.'

The communication tower blaze in Mullumbimby is the second incident this month to devastate the close-knit community in the wake of recent flooding (pictured)

Mr Marom believes an accelerant was used to spark the blaze.

'Lives could be lost because of this,' he said.

Local federal MP Justine Elliott expressed her disgust in the vandals, just weeks after the town was devastated by widespread flooding.

'As a result of these actions, people right now cannot use their mobile phones in or around Mullumbimby,' she said.

'This deplorable act by criminals has further crippled our infrastructure when our community has suffered so much from the flood.

'How dare you. This places lives at risk and will significantly set back our recovery. To the people who committed this act of bastardry: you are a disgrace to our community. Shame on you.'

Another local commented: 'After what everyone just went through if this was intentional I hope they are found and fined but mostly evicted from the community! How does this even catch fire?

Mullumbimby is part of the Byron Bay Shire, arguably regarded as Australia's anti-vax capital.

Tower upgrades in Mullumbimby began in early 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic, sparking angry demonstrations that went on for days.

It forced Telstra to delay its 4 and 5G upgrades in the town until recently.
The Department of Homeland Security is considering calling on volunteers for reinforcement at the southern border, fearing an onslaught of migrants that would far outweigh its resources.

The U.S. could be just hours away from another wave of mass migration if the Biden administration lifts Title 42, a provision border agents have relied on to quell the border crisis during the pandemic.

DHS Deputy Secretary John Tien asked employees 'to consider stepping forward to support the DHS Volunteer Force,' according to an email, more than a year after the volunteer force was activated for last year's migrant surge.

The volunteer force has also been called up to assist with Afghan evacuee resettlement operation last year, and the 2019 migrant surge. More than 1,400 employees have volunteered, according to the email, seen by Fox News.

'[Customs and Border Protection] continues to encounter large numbers of individuals at the Southwest Border,' the email says. 'We are seeking your help to support our CBP frontline workforce.'

It comes as a new report shows more than 170,000 migrants are waiting on the Mexican-side of the U.S.-Mexico border to cross and claim asylum should the policy be lifted.

Estimates show many of these individuals are as little as hours away from the border  while others planning to migrate are within a few-days trip, an officials familiar with discussions told CNN.

Progressive activists have pushed for the Biden administration to end Title 42, a coronavirus public health order used to expel migrants, but the number of migrants encountered at the southern border for February were already up 60 percent, prompting fears that the historic surge in the spring and summer months could outpace that of last year.

More than half of the 164,973 migrants encountered last months were expelled under Title 42.

At the same time, reports emerged that Ukrainian refugees are being detained under the Title 42 expulsion provision.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday afternoon Border Patrol agents were reminded there are individualized exceptions to Title 42 that can be applied to Ukrainians arriving at the southern border.

The number of migrants waiting to cross, shared with Axios by sources with direct knowledge of discussions, has led to the creation of the Southwest Border Coordination Center (SBCC) to create an interagency response to the impending surge.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence estimates 25,000 migrants are already waiting in Mexican shelters waiting for Title 42 to end so they can cross into the U.S.

Title 42, a policy put in place by former President Donald Trump to allow expulsions in the midst of the pandemic, has been used to rapidly remove more than 1 million migrants at the southern border.

It allows the U.S. to bypass asylum claims and instantly remove these individuals from the country after crossing the border illegally.

Title 42 wasn't meant to be permanent, but has continued to be enforced and defended in court under Biden as the administration tries to quell the southern border crisis.

Recent reports reveal that the administration is leaning toward ending Title 42 entirely, after they were forced to end the practice for unaccompanied minors crossing the border.

The court order notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'anticipates additional lifting of restrictions' as DHS becomes increasingly able to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities.

Every 60 days, the CDC reassess Title 42  and the deadline for the next renewal is in early April, meaning the provisions could end as early as next month.

A Thursday report claims intelligence officials are bracing for more than 170,000 migrants crossing into the U.S. once COVID-era Title 42 is lifted, which allows instant expulsion of asylum-seekers due to the ongoing public health emergency. Pictured: Migrants wait in Mexico for their court date for asylum claims

Ukrainian refugees and their Mexican relatives arrive at the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 as people flee the region following Russia's invasion

Ukrainian refugees arrive at the Benito Juarez International airport on Wednesday after being evacuated from Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Asylum-seekers are being turned away from the U.S. border due to Title 42

'As it stands right now  there are no changes: Title 42 is still in effect and anyone attempting to enter the country unlawfully will be subject to border restrictions  including potentially expulsion,' a White House official told Axios.

They added: 'We continue to defer to the CDC on the use of Title 42 and how long it might remain in effect.'

DHS Deputy Secretary John Tien asked employees in a Wednesday email 'to consider stepping forward to support the DHS Volunteer Force.'

The email, reviewed by Axios, seeks support from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), specifically in relation to helping with data entry  and cites the large number of migrants at the southern U.S. border.

Since Biden took office, CBP has encountered at least 2.25 million migrants at the southern border  and officials expect those numbers to climb due to seasonal trends and the expected impending end of Title 42.

In February alone, CBP encountered 164,973 migrants at the southern border  up more than 10,000 from January figures of 154,745. The highest peak in decades came in July 2021 with nearly 214,000 encounters.

Border patrol arrests also reached an all-time high of 1.7 million in FY2021. Officials project similar figures for FY2022 with the end of Title 42.

Democrats have been highly critical of Biden's continued enforcement of Title 42 and Immigration advocates are outraged over low numbers for refugee admissions.

Meanwhile, Republicans have slammed the Biden administration for its 'open border' policies leading to overwhelmed officials and record numbers of crossings at the border, along with reports of a large number of illegal immigrants being released into the U.S.

The situation seems like a lose-lose of Biden.

Further complicating the matter is the war in Eastern Europe leading to hundreds of Ukrainians arriving at the U.S. southern border and being turned away due to title 42 restrictions.

Other reports show that these refugees seeking asylum are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Immigration advocates have been calling for an end to enforcing Title 42  even though the U.S. is still in a state of emergency  and calls have increased this week as Ukrainians begin to arrive and request asylum.

It was revealed this week that journalists witnessed dozens of Ukrainian and Russian families gathering outside the U.S. southern border and families in Tijuana claim CBP agents are selective of who they let in.

Vicente Calderon, editor for Tijuanapress.com, said: 'Even people with humanitarian parole, it would take a long time for them to get a waiver. Some are allowed to get in, but not others.'

Ukrainian refugees are arriving at the U.S. southern border seeking asylum but are being turned away due to Title 42. Pictured: a Ukrainian woman and her boyfriend wait for humanitarian visas outside the San Ysidro Port of Entry in Tijuana, Mexico on March 10

Since Biden has taken office, the crossing per-month has massively increased. In 2020, the last year of Donald Trump's presidency, a total of 458,088 migrants were encountered at the border. In 2021, that number spiked to 1.73 million with Biden in the White House.

As the administration struggles to find ways to deter migration and stop the surge at the southern border, now Ukrainian refugees are seeking asylum in the U.S.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, leading to a massive refugee crisis in Eastern Europe with millions fleeing the conflict. While many are going to neighboring countries like Poland, more and more are arriving in the U.S. now that Ukraine faces its 19th day of attack from Vladimir Putin.

Immigration lawyers in San Diego argue the Title 42 policy is no longer needed and is leading to inhumane treatment of migrants and asylum-seekers at the border as the administration claims it's necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Biden administration already ended the policy for children crossing without their parents, but as restrictions in the U.S. ease, there are increased calls to ditch the policy altogether.

A Ukrainian family listen to an agent of the Mexican immigrant welfare agency Grupo Beta while waiting for a humanitarian visas outside the San Ysidro Port of Entry at the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana on Friday, March 11

'This is actually an inhumane policy and people are calling to cancel it and it's not safe for families who are fleeing their country and are trying to look for peace,' Immigration Lawyer Jacob Sapochnick said.

Sapochnick, who has been helping Ukrainian families, says Border Patrol agents are taking advantage of Title 42 provisions and turning families away.

'The moment they reach the U.S. soil and they say they are here for asylum, they can't send them back. They have to actually process them and go through the critical interview,' Sapochnick detailed.

'However, they are just sending them back and they are not supposed to do that.'
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Mykola Khalupenko opened the first winery in Ukraine built along the lines of a French vineyard.

He worked hard to win an international reputation for his bountiful bottles of Chateau Kurin.

But now this celebrated Ukrainian winemaker is distraught. His lifetimes work has been wrecked by Russian troops who moved into his hotel, threatened to shoot his family, stole all their belongings and burned down their vines.

They wanted to execute us, said Khalupenko, 71, describing the atrocities after Vladimir Putins troops moved through his village of Stepanivka.

We ran away. We took nothing. We had nothing to take since they took everything from us.

In captured regions, including Kherson (pictured), brave flag-waving residents have marched through streets and shouted abuse at the invaders

His family had spent three decades nurturing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Saperavi grapes on their 125 acres of land and building a thriving business  but their efforts were destroyed in days after Russian troops invaded from Crimea.

The Russians started taking everything they wanted, he said.

They took the machinery, the cars, our belongings, our laptops, even our phones. They took the wines from the cellars, stole all the wine. They were robbing us and we could not say anything.

His voice breaking, Mykola seemed on the verge of tears as he recalled the horror.

We are safe now, but the vineyard is on fire, he said.

I built it with my own hands, all of our family built it  and they just burned it.

One more family shattered by Vladimir Putins forces as evidence grows that the Kremlin and its troops are turning to hostage-taking, looting, theft and wanton destruction as their struggling invasion meets a ferocious Ukrainian response.

The Russian president planned a rapid blitzkrieg to capture the country, then  just as he did in the separatist Donbas region eight years ago  to subvert local leadership, suppress dissent and install his repressive regime.

But from the Belarus border in the north to the Sea of Azov in the south, Putins forces have found frenzied resistance. In the captured regions, brave flag-waving residents have marched through streets and shouted abuse at the invaders.

This has led to the beating and disappearance of civic leaders such as politicians, activists and journalists in a desperate attempt to enforce collaboration.

Yesterday the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov (pictured), revealed that he was free after being detained for six days, during which time Galina Danilchenko, a pro- Russian councillor, assumed control of the city in south-eastern Ukraine and told people to adapt to their new reality

They are using intimidation, said Oleksandra Matviichuk, director of the Centre for Civil Liberties.

Were seeing so many reports of people being threatened, some beaten and detained. It is the first stage of something terrible.

Galina Lugovaya, secretary of the city council in Kherson in southern Ukraine  the only major city so far captured by the Russians  fled her street during shelling on the invasions first day only to discover that her home had been burned down deliberately on Sunday.

Neighbours saw two men running away after throwing an explosive device into the building. I put my whole life into that house, said Lugovaya.

I built it with my own hands. This was intentional. Now I think I am on the list for physical extermination.

Yesterday the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, revealed that he was free after being detained for six days, during which time Galina Danilchenko, a pro- Russian councillor, assumed control of the city in south-eastern Ukraine and told people to adapt to their new reality.

At least seven other senior local officials have been seized, including the mayor of another city who was grabbed on the same day as Fedorov. The leader of a community near Kharkiv, in north-east Ukraine, was abducted yesterday.

Fedorov was marched from the centre of Melitopol by armed men with a plastic bag over his head. He was released after being swapped for nine Russian conscripts taken as prisoners of war, although other local activists remain missing.

I thank Melitopol residents who were not afraid to defend their position, go to rallies and declare that we  Ukrainians  are free people, said Fedorov in a statement.

One of those who took part in the Melitopol protests in support of the mayor was Natalya, 35, who told the Daily Mail that the Russians have unleashed terror on the city to thwart their demonstrations and create a climate of fear.

We were coming into the streets to say that we do not agree with the occupation  that we are Ukrainians and we do not need to be saved, she said.

On Monday armed forces blocked their access to the citys central square, dragging away one man with a Ukrainian flag who was badly beaten, along with two other citizens who have not been seen since.

The next day Natalya was told that she was not allowed on the streets holding a bag in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraines flag.

Brave protests have led to the beating and disappearance of civic leaders such as politicians, activists and journalists in a desperate attempt to enforce collaboration

When she queried the decision, asking Russian security forces if they were fascists, she was put on a police bus.

They started beating people up with batons and sprayed tear gas and put some more people in police cars. They were severely beating people and handcuffing them. One man lost consciousness  we were afraid that he might die.

At the same time, they were emptying peoples pockets taking their money, wallets, mobile phones. They took us out of the city and dumped us in a field 25 kilometres outside Melitopol. We walked three hours back to the city.

Now the protests have stopped. Natalya said many people were missing and women were scared to be in the streets alone.

People are so afraid  they know that the occupants are kidnapping and beating people, said Natalya.

They feel like they can do anything here. They tell us that its Russia here now, not Ukraine.

She claimed the Russians have brought in thugs from the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

They are always drunk walking in the streets, she said.

Weve heard that they were brought here to rob and loot.

Kyiv alleged that Russia has sent in top-level security operatives to crush dissent and ensure compliance of the local population in places such as Kherson.

Protesters have been seen holding anti-war signs (left) and taping themselves to poles (right) while Russian troops watch on

Konstantin Ryzhenko, a journalist in Kherson, claimed that specialist security forces have lists of activists who either oppose occupation, have shown support for Ukraine or shared details of Russian military movements.

I was told several times that they were specifically looking for me, he said.

They know which floors to go to, which doors to knock and which apartments to search.

Missing journalists include Oleg Baturin, who has not been seen since leaving his home in Kherson region on Saturday to attend a meeting.

This is pure terror, said another journalist, currently in hiding in a captured town in the Luhansk region.

Oleksandr Starukh, head of Zaporizhia Regional Administration, said they have seen regular kidnapping reports and business leaders being taken hostage for ransom.

There are multiple reports of looting and robbery in the occupied territories, he added.

Russians steal food, gasoline, medical supplies from homes, shops and even stop the cars of the refugees.

He said even women and children fleeing the horrifying bombardment of Mariupol were being stopped at checkpoints by soldiers to steal their food and possessions.

They are robbing civilians trying to escape.

This matches a raft of claims that Russian troops are stealing food, looting homes, taking cars and raiding shops in seized areas following reports their forces are running out of supplies due to the logistics failures that have blunted their attack.

Ukraine claims the Russian army has been told to switch to self-sufficiency, which it terms Kremlin-sanctioned looting.

One video widely shared  and mocked  on social media even shows soldiers chasing after chickens in a village smallholding.

Distressed families arriving in Zaporizhia from Russian-held areas have talked about roving bands of starving, undisciplined troops shooting unarmed people, scavenging food from shops and pillaging homes for any valuables they can find.

They just brazenly come in, without any shame and take whatever they want, said one woman in her sixties, who spent several days hiding in a cellar with her daughter and grandson as occupying troops ransacked houses.

Additional reporting by Kate Baklitskaya
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has described her detention in Iran as a hell of solitary confinement and intense interrogations almost daily.

The British-Iranian mother said her cell had no natural light and just a putrid hole in the floor for a toilet.

The aid worker spoke of the unbearable pain of separation from her daughter Gabriella, in her first detailed account of her initial ordeal in Kerman Central Prison.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has described her detention in Iran as a hell of solitary confinement and intense interrogations almost daily

Speaking to Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi  a fellow former detainee  for a forthcoming book, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe told how she suffered frequent panic attacks, nausea, starvation and constant crying until she fainted.

She was arrested at Tehran airport in 2016 and separated from her then 22-month-old daughter, before being put into the prison's sole quarantine cell for 40 days  in which time she saw Gabriella just once.

Describing her cell, she said: 'The room had a heavy iron door with a large iron lock and a hatch.

'Inside the cell was a half-wall with a squat toilet on the floor behind it. There was no natural light, but a powerful light bulb that never went out.'

She was forced to sleep on a dirty blanket on the cold stone floor and was not allowed to wash herself.

She only knew it was day by the light coming in from the ventilation fan, and had to work out the time by the sound of the call to prayer and the chirping of sparrows.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said conditions deteriorated further when the 'stifling' heat of summer arrived and she found it hard to breathe in the 'muggy' air. 'The cell toilet smelled so horrible that guards covered their noses when they came to distribute food,' she added.

During her first week in detention, she was interrogated daily. The following week, it was four times; then three.

The British-Iranian mother said her cell had no natural light and just a putrid hole in the floor for a toilet

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said her captors tried to get her to confess to criminal activity: 'The interrogators threatened that I would receive a heavy sentence unless I confessed to espionage.

'They said that I did not know my husband and that he was a spy and that he had lied about where he worked. There were days when they wanted me to say that my husband was a spy and that I worked for spy organisations, but I refused.'

The relentless questioning even led her to doubt her memory. 'They said they had top-secret evidence that I worked for the [British] Parliament and against Iran,' she said.

'I knew that was not the case, but they repeated it so much that I doubted myself when I returned to the cell.'

The agony of being apart from her daughter  to whom she refers by her Farsi name Gisou  was acute after their sole meeting.

'After the meeting I felt awful. Gisou had changed. She had teethed. She didn't recognise me. I didn't recognise her either when I first saw her,' she said.

She described how every day of detention was torment: 'I cried. I shouted. I read the Koran a lot. I talked to God, shouted and fainted.'

The aid worker added: 'The solitary cell gave me panic attacks. I'm claustrophobic, and being confined and alone was severe torture.'
Bright middle-class teenagers are being lured into Right-wing terrorism through video games, a police expert warned yesterday.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes, Britain's head of counter-terrorism policing, said extremists were using shooting games to spout propaganda and recruit children online.

Police were seeing increasingly young children drawn in, with many not knowing it is a terrorist offence just to share some of the hateful links with their school friends.

Bright middle-class teenagers are being lured into Right-wing terrorism through video games, a police expert warned yesterday

One in eight counter-terrorism arrests now involves children, and of 20 teenagers held last year, 19 were linked to extreme Right ideologies.

Mr Jukes said gaming message platforms were targeting boys as young as 13 with anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and violently misogynist propaganda.

In some instances, youngsters were directed to encrypted chatrooms after looking at the comments section about a game. He suggested the extreme Right was 'very heavily dominated by the online community and gaming'  especially 'first-person shooter' games.

'They are presenting something which is very attractive, potentially, to a vulnerable young boy who spends a lot of time gaming,' he said.

And it's not only those from 'disenfranchised or disengaged white communities'.

Mr Jukes said: 'Many of those seduced are well-educated and come from stable backgrounds and loving families. We see people whose backgrounds might be relatively middle class, relatively well-educated.

'This is a group substantially younger than we have seen in the past. There is a picture here of young people who are spending a great deal of time discussing and sharing and exchanging material online  but we are absolutely seeing some of that shift to plans to carry out terrorist attacks.'

Luke Hunter (pictured) , 23, the son of a counter-terrorism officer, was jailed for four years over death threats to West Midlands Chief Constable Sir Dave Thompson

Mr Jukes advised parents to watch for worrying changes in behaviour: 'It's withdrawal from the patterns of family life and friendships. The advice is to be active in the online lives of your kids. The principal thing, above all, is to talk to them.

'One thing we see is young people who do not understand that researching and then sharing some of the material which they encounter is a terrorist offence.'

Up to the end of 2021, just over 40 per cent of terrorism arrests were related to the extreme Right. The youngest person investigated was a Cornish boy who started hoarding terrorist material at 13 and went on to lead a neo-Nazi cell from his grandmother's cottage, recruiting a network of dangerous youngsters who aspired to commit 'lone wolf' attacks.

Pictured saluting in front of a Nazi flag in military fatigues, he became the leader of the British cell of Feuerkrieg Division (FKD). From his bedroom he recruited and vetted schoolboy extremists with talk of nail bombs, 'gassing' Jewish people and 'shooting up' gay pride parades.

Among the recruits was Luke Hunter, 23, son of a counter-terrorism officer, who was jailed for four years over death threats to West Midlands Chief Constable Sir Dave Thompson.

Of 32 'late stage' terror plots foiled in the last five years, 12 related to Right-wing extremism. Mr Jukes said nearly all of those involved were male and one in three referrals to the Prevent anti-terror programme had some history of domestic abuse, either as victim, witness, or mostly as an abuser.
A mother-of-six has died after suffering severe burns when her husband allegedly set his home on fire while she and at least one of their children was inside.

Rowland Griffiths, 38, allegedly ignited a flammable liquid at his house on Sutherland Street in the western Melbourne suburb of Albanvale on Monday afternoon.

His wife Kylie Griffiths, 36, was in a critical condition after sustaining burns to 90 per cent of her body but died on Friday morning.

She had fled from the burning house still alight before falling into a heap.

Rowland Griffiths, 38, (pictured with Kylie on their wedding day) bragged on social media that he had spent time behind bars

Damage is seen at the Sutherland Street home in Albanvale which was allegedly set fire to on Monday afternoon

Mrs Griffiths' 17-year-old daughter was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.

Griffiths was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries under police guard.

A neighbour, who wished not to be named, told Daily Mail Australia he had often heard Griffiths' voice emanating from the home.

'He talks a lot. He yells a lot,' he said.

'He normally kept to himself. He didn't really speak to anyone besides his family.'

On Tuesday afternoon, Mrs Griffith's father Tony Sheahan returned to the scene of the blaze.

Neighbours have told Daily Mail Australia Griffiths' voice could often be heard emanating from the home

Kylie Griffiths, 36, died early on Friday morning after sustaining burns to 90 percent of her body from the fire on Monday

Rowland Griffiths, 38, is under police guard in a Melbourne hospital after a house fire in the suburb of Albanvale

Mr Sheahan earlier told Daily Mail Australia he remained in the dark about what had happened leading up to the fire.

'We don't know what happened apart from what we've read on the news. That's all we could get,' he said.

Mr Sheahan said he knew little about his daughter's husband.

The Sutherland Street home in Albanvale, Melbourne, which was allegedly set fire to on Monday

The house was close to collapse of Tuesday after fire tore it apart on Monday

'When I met him he was alright. He was nice and polite to me and he's always been family orientated,' he said.

'This is so traumatic it's not funny.'

It is understood Griffiths had previously spent time behind bars.

The family's children remain in the care of their grandmother, with Mrs Griffith's previous partners expected to return to Melbourne in the coming days.

'There are three different fathers, one of them lives in Adelaide and I'm not too sure where the other two are,' Mr Sheahan said.

On Tuesday, the scattered remains of the family's life lay strewn across the front lawn of their home, which appears close to collapse.

A window of the house was smashed open, with everything in the front room seeming to be burnt.

Children's toys remain scattered outside the home of the Albanvale fire

The Sutherland Street home in Albanvale, Melbourne, which was allegedly set fire to on Monday

Toys and a helmet were stacked on top of a worn-down cupboard sitting on the front porch

Much of the roof, particularly at the back, had fallen in and parts of the front yard grass were burnt.

It took 26 firefighters about a half hour to bring the blaze under control, a spokesman for Fire and Rescue Victoria said.

Detectives remained on the scene, with forensic officers seen leaving the blackened home just before 4pm.

A day earlier, neighbours had heard the home erupt in flames with a loud 'bang'.

It is understood police will allege Griffiths - a keen motorcyclist - used petrol to light the devastating fire.

A witness told Daily Mail Australia Mrs Griffiths had only expressed concern for others after running from the house on fire.

'She was coherent, she was alert and she was speaking to us. She was just worried about her kids and worried about her dogs,' the witness said.

Pictured: The charred remains of the inside of the fire-gutted Albanvale home on Tuesday
Australia's competition watchdog is taking legal action against Facebook's parent company, Meta, over scam ads featuring celebrity endorsements.

In a statement, the ACCC said scam ads on the platform featuring the likenesses of businessman Dick Smith, Sunrise presenter David Koch and former NSW Premier Mike Baird were being used to promote crypto and money-making schemes.

'The schemes were in fact scams, and the people featured in the ads had never approved or endorsed them,' ACCC chairman Rod Sims said in a statement.

David Koch has previously fumed about his likeness being used in fake Bitcoin ads

In an action launched in the Federal Court on Friday, the ACCC alleged the ads - common to the platform - featured fake news articles where the celebrities appeared to endorse the scam products, when they had not.

Users were then invited to sign up and were contacted by scammers who would repeatedly call them and convince users to deposit funds into the fake schemes.

'Meta should have been doing more to detect and then remove false or misleading ads on Facebook, to prevent consumers from falling victim to ruthless scammers,' Mr Sims said.

Mr Sims said Meta is responsible for the ads it publishes on its platforms.

The ACCC alleged Meta knew about the ads on Facebook and didn't take the sufficient steps to remove them.

'Meta failed to take sufficient steps to stop fake ads featuring public figures, even after those public figures reported to Meta that their name and image were being featured in celebrity endorsement cryptocurrency scam ads,' Mr Sims said.

'In one shocking instance, we are aware of a consumer who lost more than $650,000 due to one of these scams being falsely advertised as an investment opportunity on Facebook. This is disgraceful.'

A Meta spokesperson said they did not want to see ads scamming or misleading people on Facebook.

Karl Stefanovic was also used to try lure people into investing in fake bitcoin schemes

'We use technology to detect and block scam ads and work to get ahead of scammers' attempts to evade our detection systems,' the spokesperson said.

'We've cooperated with the ACCC's investigation into this matter to date. We will review the recent filing by the ACCC and intend to defend the proceedings.'

Koch in 2019 urged his followers not to fall victim to the scams.

'It is driving us crazy the con artists using (wife) Libby and I as bait to lure people into investing in Bitcoin,' he said.

'Facebook are doing their best to take them down but then they pop back up using different offshore servers.'

Karl Stefanovic and Waleed Aly have also been used to promote the schemes.
America's top infectious-disease expert warned that the country could face more COVID-19 lockdowns if cases go up once again due to the latest variant, even as the most cautious begin to shrug off their virus fears once-and-for-all.

Dr Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and adviser to President Joe Biden, said easing restrictions, the waning protection from vaccines and the rise of the BA.2 subvariant around the world could bring on another wave of rising infections to the U.S.

'If in fact we do see a turnaround and a resurgence, we have to be able to pivot and go back to any degree of mitigation that is commensurate with what the situation is,' Fauci said in a CNN interview on Thursday.

'We can't just say, 'We're done. We're going to move on.' We've got to be able to be flexible because we're dealing with a dynamic situation.'

Fauci added that the variant, which has seen a spike in the UK, could cause a surge in the U.S. as it appears to be as infectious as Omicron, but less fatal.

'The overall mortality is actually down,' Fauci said. 'Its a very interesting situation where the cases are going up, but it does not, at this point in time, appear to be any degree of severity.'

'We generally follow what goes on the UK by about two to three weeks,' he added. 'I would not be surprised in the next few weeks, given the fact that weve begun to open up, and we have an increase in the BA.2 variant, that well be seeing an increase in cases.'

The warning came as COVID restrictions have been lifted all across the country amid a sharp drop in daily cases after the Omicron surge earlier this year.

Anthony Fauci (right), adviser to Joe Biden, appeared on CNN to warn that the U.S. could see the return of COVID restrictions if cases go up again

American's are beginning to grow accustomed to the return to normal as all states across the country have lifted their COVID mask and vaccine mandates

"We can't just say we're done, now we're going to move on. We've got to be able to be flexible because we're dealing with a dynamic situation."



Dr. Anthony Fauci discusses with @jaketapper the BA.2 subvariant in Europe and what it means for the US. pic.twitter.com/VkoF2mJ6hh  CNN (@CNN) March 17, 2022

The U.S. recorded about 45,015 new cases over the past day, with about 1,943 new deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. At the height of the Omicron surge, the US hit an all-time record of well over a million new infections every day.

As of Thursday, the U.S. is averaging 32,168 new cases every day, a 14 percent drop over the past week and a 96 percent drop from the peak of 800,000 daily cases reached during the Omicron surge's mid-January peak.

Nationwide pandemic restrictions that have been in place for nearly two years were lifted after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised earlier this month that only 10 percent of the country - those living in 'high' COVID risk area - need to wear masks indoors in public settings.

New York City, which had some of the strictest COVID policies in place, has done away with its vaccine and masking mandate, as have Chicago and San Francisco, who were the longest holdouts of maintaining the policies in place.

As many welcomed the return to normalcy, some have criticized Fauci's pessimistic view of the future of the pandemic.

Scott Atlas, a former White House COVID adviser, criticized Fauci during an interview with Carlson Tucker on Thursday night, questioning whether he should even still be America's top adviser.

'When do we admit that the person in charge of the policy is wrong and has been a failure,' Atlas asked.

The criticism extended to the White House, which has been put on edge after a series of positive test results, including Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris' husband who tested positive last week.

'Just because COVID isn't disrupting some of our lives in certain communities as much as it was a few weeks ago, it doesn't mean it's gone,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday.

'It's not gone. And I think this variant is an example of that,' she added, referencing the new BA.2 subvariant.

Scott Atlas (right), a former White House COVID adviser who served under Donald Trump, criticized Fauci's pessimistic view on the future of the pandemic

New York City, which had some of the strictest COVID policies in place, has done away with its vaccine and masking mandate, although some residents still exercise caution

Global COVID-19 cases are starting to rise once again after plummeting in recent weeks after the Omicron variant reached its peak. The WHO reports that global Covid cases rose eight percent last week

On Thursday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, warned that the rise of the new variant was just the 'tip of the iceberg,' warning that COVID cases will grow in the coming weeks.

Last week, the WHO reported that global COVID cases increased eight percent to 11 million. The biggest jump was found in the Western Pacific region, where cases jumped 25 percent week-to-week. There was a 14 percent jump in Africa and two percent rise in Europe, as well.

The subvariant is a lineage of Omicron that is believed to be 30 percent more transmissible - but just as mild - as the BA.1 lineage that took over the world at the end of last year.

Cases are rising in much of the world, and European nations which often trend ahead of the U.S by a few months during the pandemic are among those to have experienced worrying rises. In the UK, cases have jumped 36 percent over the past week, to 91,000 per day. This comes after weeks of declines.

The CDC warned this week that the agency is seeing early signs of an increase in cases as well. Wastewater data from the first ten days of March shows cases increasing in one-third of testing sites across America.

The BA.2 Omicron 'stealth' variant (pink) now makes up around 23% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, up from 11% last week and 6% the week before. The Omicron variant makes up every single sequence case in America

Wastewater tracking works by using sewage samples to find virus prevalence within each community. Which people are actually testing positive for the virus cannot be determined, and exact case numbers cannot either, but it does give officials a general look at how cases are trending in certain areas.

The surveillance can be more accurate at judging COVID risk than raw case numbers, since many people - especially in a period where so many are vaccinated and boosted - are carrying an asymptomatic infection that they will never get tested for and unknowingly spread without being added to official totals.

COVID appears in waste before a person feels symptoms, as well, meaning there is a gap between wastewater figures increasing and official figures rising.

Dr. Amy Kirby, who leads the CDC's wastewater surveillance, assures the public that there is still nothing to worry about, but officials are keeping an eye on the situation.

'While wastewater levels are generally very low across the board, we are seeing an uptick of sites reporting an increase,' she told NBC.

'These bumps may simply reflect minor increase from very low levels to still low levels.'

America's current case totals are so low, though, that small increases in case numbers should not be devastating or manage to overwhelm healthcare systems.

The nation has a high vaccination rate as well, with nearly 90 percent of U.S. adults having received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 100 million Americans boosted.

BA.2 has not been able to take hold in the U.S. the same way it did in much of Europe either. While the 'stealth' variant was quick to become dominant in the U.K. and Denmark when it was first discovered earlier this year, it is yet to have made a large impact in America.

According to most recent data revealed by the CDC on Tuesday, BA.2 makes up 23 percent of active COVID cases in the U.S., with BA.1 still being dominant.

The Omicron variant as a whole makes up every single sequenced case in the U.S., per the CDC, with the highly transmissive, vaccine-resistant, strain totally snuffing out the Delta variant this year.

BA.2's share of COVID infections in America is rapidly growing, though, with the variant only accounting for 11 percent of sequenced cases last week, and only six percent the week previous that.

It is most prevalent in New Jersey and New York, and Northeastern regions of the U.S., accounting for around 40 percent of cases in both designated areas.

The strain is not yet the dominant COVID strain anywhere in America, while it has taken over in many parts of Europe.
Penny Wong has revealed she apologised to Kimberley Kitching after insulting her childless fellow Labor senator by saying: 'If you had children you would understand'.

The Labor Upper House leader has addressed the nasty sledge from two years ago in a joint statement with fellow ALP senators Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher denying the trio bullied Senator Kitching before her fatal heart attack last week.



Reports they ostracised their 52-year-old colleague earned them the nickname 'mean girls' in reference to the main characters in the 2004 teen comedy.

Three Labor senators (pictured) accused of bullying colleague Kimberley Kitching before her fatal heart attack have denied the allegations

In their statement, the trio said 'allegations of bullying are untrue' but admitted that 'robust contests and interactions' are frequent in politics.

In October 2019 Senator Wong told Senator Kitching 'if you had children, you might understand' in a discussion about climate change.

Ms Kitching - who was unable to conceive with husband Andrew - had argued the party should not support students who ditched school to attend climate protests.

Senator Kitching's supporters said the comment hurt because she wanted to have children but could not.

In October 2019 Senator Wong told Senator Kitching (pictured in May last year) 'if you had children, you might understand' in a discussion about climate change

Senator Wong has now revealed she apologised for the horrendous remark when it was reported by the ABC in November 2019 in an article that didn't name her.

'After these matters were publicly reported more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with Senator Kitching and apologised,' the statement said.

'Senator Wong understood that apology was accepted. The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wong's views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets pain these reports have caused.'

The three senators also confirmed they will be attending Senator Kitching's funeral in Melbourne on Monday after speaking to her shattered family.

Senator Wong had earlier said she was unsure if she could go as she had a fundraising event in the Northern Territory on the same day.

Meanwhile, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has refused to set up an inquiry into the bullying allegations and repeatedly refused to answer questions about the matter, claiming they are disrespectful to Senator Kitching.

After blasting the Coalition over the poor treatment of women, the scandal threatens to derail his bid to become Prime Minister in May.

Scott Morrison said Mr Albanese had gone into hiding. 'Where is Anthony Albanese? I mean, where is he on this issue,' he said.

The full statement by Wong, Keneally and Gallagher This has been a difficult time for the Labor family. Senator Kitching's tragic death has been a shock to us all. People are grieving and hurting. Our priority at this time has been Senator Kitching's husband, Andrew, her family and her loved ones. Their grief is profound, their loss immeasurable. Out of respect for them, and for Senator Kitching, we have not responded to allegations that have been made, despite them not being true. This has been hard, but we believed it to be the right thing to do to maintain some dignity for all concerned. Given the hurtful statements that continue to be made we feel it necessary to respond. The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate. All of us have spent many years in the service of the public. We do so because we want to make a contribution to the nation. Politics is a challenging profession. Contests can be robust and interactions difficult. All of its participants at times act or speak in ways that can impact on others negatively. We have and do reflect on this, as individuals and as leaders. It is for this reason Senator Wong wishes to place on record a response to specific claims regarding an exchange in a meeting with Senator Kitching. After these matters were publicly reported more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with Senator Kitching and apologised. Senator Wong understood that apology was accepted. The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wong's views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets pain these reports have caused. All three of us will be attending Senator Kitching's funeral. This follows engagement with Senator Kitching's family about our attendance. We will do so to recognise and respect her contribution to public life. Advertisement

Senator Kitching - who was from the Labor Right faction - made allegations of in-party bullying to Deputy Leader Richard Marles in June and then to workplace safety consultants in November.

She told Mr Marles she believed she was being 'frozen out' by the left-dominated Senate leadership team and claimed to have been unfairly dumped from the tactics committee meetings.

Mr Marles reportedly said he would 'sort it out' but nothing happened.

In an awkward interview with Ally Langdon on the Today show on Friday, Mr Marles refused to say if he had let Senator Kitching down.

'I'm not going to walk down that path,' he spluttered.

'Right now we want to honour Kimberley Kitching, who she was, what she achieved, the warm and wonderful person that she was and that's what I'm focused on.'

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Ms Kitching's friends and family deserved answers about how she suffered in her final years in parliament.

'There are many people, close friends of Kimberley's within the Labor Party, making these allegations and if I was leader or deputy leader of the Labor Party I would want to know the answers,' he said.

Meanwhile, bombshell texts have emerged showing Ms Kitching messaged a friend about Ms Wong the night before she lodged a bullying complaint.

'Wong has been bad,' the message obtained by The Australian reads.

'She would love to never see me again.'

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Kristina Keneally (right) and Katy Gallagher in 2019

Today show host Ally Langdon fired up after the top MP again avoided questions about the party's plans to investigate allegations

Kitching sent the text late at night on the November 4 last year. The next day she lodged her bullying complaint.

The relationship between Senator Kitching and Wong - a key figure of the Labor Left - was reportedly stony and the pair had previously fallen out.

Former Labor MP Emma Husar has verified reports of bullying within the party, claiming it caused her so much stress she also developed a heart condition.

Ms Husar, who once represented the Western Sydney seat of Lindsay, claims she was also a victim of Labor's 'incredibly toxic' culture.

Ms Husar left Parliament after Labor mounted an investigation into ultimately unproven charges of sexual harassment against her.

Senator Kitching, who was friendly with Coalition MPs and frequently spoke out against China, died on Thursday when she pulled over her car in suburban Melbourne during a suspected heart attack.

She was under stress because he preselection for a senate spot was up in the air. She also had a thyroid condition which caused her to lose weight in recent years.

Senator Kimberley Kitching sent a text message to a close friend saying that Senator Penny Wong never wanted to see her again the night before she lodged bullying claims (Pictured, mock-up text)

Senator Penny Wong and Senator Kitching's relationship was reportedly often tumultuous
Bali has been inundated with holiday-starved Aussies this week after borders finally opened after two long years - but travelling to the Indonesian island isn't as easy as just buying a plane ticket.

There are several requirements Australians entering the resort island have to meet before getting on the plane, and again after touching down in Bali.

Vaccination status checks, Covid swabs and travel insurance are some of the many boxes Australians need to be tick to return to one of the nation's favourite playgrounds.

The first plane-load of Aussies flew into Bali from Melbourne on Monday, with thousands keen for a tropical getaway.

One Aussie who arrived in Bali proudly donned a shirt with the slogan: 'Centrelink, living the dream'

There are several requirements Australians entering Bali have to meet before getting on the plane, and again after touching down on the island

Balinese beaches are once again teeming with travellers as tourists from 23 countries are now allowed to enter Indonesia

Travellers from approved countries, including places like the US, Australia, the UK, Italy and Germany, have now started flying back to the island.

Travellers over the age of 12 must be double vaccinated and are required to take a PCR test within 48 hours before their flight.

People must show proof they've received their second vaccination at least 14 days prior to travelling.

Fully vaccinated travellers also don't have to quarantine but visas are required which can cost just $47 and be bought at the airport.

Those heading to Bali must be double vaccinated and return a negative PCR test result before boarding the plane

Aussies have flocked to Bali after borders opened after two long years of the Covid pandemic

All tourists must also show proof of a booking for at least four days of accommodation at a Bali-approved hotel.

Upon landing in the Indonesian country, tourists are required to take another PCR test and isolate until a negative result is given.

Travellers also need to fill out two forms - a Health Alert Card and a Customs declaration form. On top of that, travel insurance is also mandatory.

Bali's main airport Ngurah Rai International Airport has been inundated with Aussie travellers in singlets and thongs as the island slowly returns to what it was before the pandemic.

One man was seen donning a shirt at a Bali bar with the slogan: 'Centrelink, living the dream'.

Meanwhile an Australian woman who has been living in Bali shared a snap of herself surrounded by local workers offering her massages while she lounged on the beach at Kuta.

Upon landing in the Indonesian country, tourists are required to take another PCR test and isolate until a negative result is given

One Australian woman who has been living in Bali shared a snap of herself surrounded by local workers offering her massages while she lounged on the beach at Kuta

'The minute these ladies heard my Aussie accent I was surrounded,' she said.

'These sweet ladies are SO EXCITED that the first direct flight from Australia will land in Bali this week.'

A video from locals on the island shows holidaymakers back under beach umbrellas and soaking up the island sun.

After two long years without travellers and more than 700,000 job losses, residents on the island are welcoming back tourists with open arms.

The country expects many more international arrivals to flock in now, with some airfares from Australia available for under $150 dollars.

Tourists are seen enjoying the beach at Canggu in Bali

Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said that the company was excited to return to Bali on Monday after two years and bookings confirmed travellers were as well.

'Our recent Bali sale saw the biggest surge in bookings we've seen since 2016, and our recent surveys have consistently shown that Bali is still the top international destination people want to travel to.' he said.

The island relies on tourists. It had over 6.3million visitors in 2019 but in the first nine months of 2021, just 43.
Ukrainian MPs yesterday blasted Marks & Spencer for allowing its franchise stores to continue operating in Russia.

The politicians claimed that every rouble the British company makes in Moscow is helping to fund Vladimir Putins deadly war machine.

M&S has 48 shops in Russia which are operated by FiBa, a franchise business in Turkey.

It has suspended shipments to FiBAs Russian business but the stores remain open.

MPs Maria Mezentseva (left) and Alona Shkrum (right) have called on M&S to leave Russia. Pictured together in Downing Street on March 17

MP Alona Shkrum yesterday pleaded with the retailer to leave the country.

She told a briefing in Westminster: Every dollar, every rouble they make right now goes just to the Army and to the Russian soldiers killing Ukrainian kids in Ukraine.

Putin is not spending it any more on any other accessories. He is just spending it on his Army, on his jets, on his rockets, on his shellings of our peaceful cities.

Her colleague Maria Mezentseva added: Everything that is contributed to the Russians is coming back severely with bloody bullets to innocent Ukrainian people.

Downing Street said individuals and businesses should do everything to put pressure on Mr Putin to change course.

We would ask every business to think carefully, and I think what weve seen by and large are companies take responsible action, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

M&S said in a statement that it is doing everything we can to support the people of Ukraine.

A spokesman said last night: M&S does not operate stores or have any employees in Russia. Our Turkish franchise licensee holds the rights to trade under the M&S banner in Ukraine and Russia.

We suspended deliveries to our franchise licensees Russian business two weeks ago and have no plans to reinstate them. We are actively discussing the future of the business with our franchise licensee.

In an emotional briefing in Westminster, the MPs also blasted international aid agencies for not having a strong presence in Ukraine.

They said Ukrainians were not getting enough support from the UNHCR and International Committee of the Red Cross on the ground.

M&S said in a statement that it is doing everything we can to support the people of Ukraine

The MPs also attacked Nato as impotent, and repeated a plea for Western leaders to form a coalition against President Putins terrorist regime.

Lesia Vasylenko said: When Putin was unable to take Ukraine and Kyiv in the three days that he envisaged he would by flying flags over the Ukrainian parliament, he shifted his strategy to target specifically women and children.

She also said the green humanitarian corridors out of Mariupol have turned red with the blood of the people who leave under Russian fire.

The tactics Russia uses on Mariupol is medieval siege tactics so that city is besieged in the worst traditions of medieval times: people are deprived of food, people are deprived of water.
Ministers announced a U-turn on security checks for Britons hosting Ukrainians in their homes last night.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced earlier this week that hosts would only have to undergo very light touch criminal records checks.

But, in fact, the measures will be significantly tougher, the Government said.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced earlier this week that hosts would only have to undergo very light touch criminal records checks. But, in fact, the measures will be significantly tougher, the Government said

All hosts will now have to undergo a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which looks at whether they have any convictions.

However, those who intend to welcome children or vulnerable adults into their homes will have to undergo an even more detailed enhanced DBS check, which looks at their background more deeply.

A Communities Department spokesman said: Its not a change in stance. Weve been working at pace to get this running as quickly as possible.
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St. Patrick's Day celebrations stretched well into the night across the country as revellers made sure to make up for Covid-hampered partying over the last two years.

Clubbers were seen laughing, dancing and drinking in the streets while dressed in their best emerald green outfits to mark the traditionally boozy celebration.

The streets of London, Leeds, Nottingham, Cheltenham and other parts of the country were filled with revellers with Guinness hats and shamrock headbands to mark the occasion while others jubilantly waved Irish flags.

Even those who weren't wearing it on their head raised a pint of the black stuff - one of Ireland's most famous exports - to toast St Patrick, the nation's foremost patron saint.

It marked the first time Brits were able to celebrate St Patrick's Day since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which meant events were hampered or cancelled altogether over the past two years.

Not everyone was having the best time though as some revellers looked a little worse for wear after indulging in one too many pints of Guinness.

St. Patrick's Day celebrations stretched well into the night across the country as revellers made sure to make up for Covid-hampered partying. Pictured: two women dressed in green and gold celebrate St Patrick's Day in Cheltenham

St Patrick's Day coincided with the Cheltenham Festival this year meaning many revellers were dressed as jockeys

Some revellers brought Irish flags out with them to mark nation's patron saint day like this group of friends in Leeds

Donned in their finest Guinness hats, it was all smiles for these ladies celebrating St Paddy's Day in Leeds city centre

Going all the way: Some clubbers went all out to look the part for St Patrick's Day in Newcastle city centre last night

Clubbers were seen laughing, dancing and drinking in the streets while dressed in their best emerald green outfits to mark the traditionally boozy celebration. Pictured: Three ladies wearing Guinness hats enjoyed a night out in Leeds city centre

One too many: The celebrations got a bit much for some in Newcastle where one reveller saw the booze get the better of him

Celebrating in style: Friends were pictured celebrating St Patrick's Day in Newcastle City Centre on March 17

In London, thousands of revellers lined the streets wearing their finest St Patrick's Day headgear. Pictured: friends in Soho

Snack time: Some partygoers headed to McDonalds in Leeds city centre after enjoying St Patrick's Day celebrations

Pictured: This group of friends wore matching green tutus to represent Ireland while celebrating in Leeds city centre

Green was the theme of the day as pub goers looked to look the part while celebrating the Emerald Isle on St Patrick's Day

A pair of friends enjoy a night out in Leeds wearing emerald green outfits and clover glasses to mark St Patrick's Day

Pictured: Three revellers celebrated St Patrick's Day in Soho, London, dressed in green and wearing Leprechaun headbands

Pictured: Revellers celebrate St Patrick's Day and the Cheltenham Festival in Newcastle's Bigg Market last night

Revellers in Newcastle city centre on Thursday evening dress up while visiting the pubs and bars to celebrate St Patrick's Day

Some clubbers went to more effort than others to look the part donning clover printed suits and leprechaun-style tailcoat

Pictured: Friends dressed up in Irish rugby shirts and green jumpers took their stuffed leprechaun out for a drink in Leeds

Pictured: Partygoers in Leeds looked the part while they were out celebrating St Patrick's Day in the city centre last night
Some of the best years of my life  I miss those people.

Good times and memories, but I have moved on.

Not my best days, but I have made peace with them.

Glad to be away from those people  I dont miss the high school experience.

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Moderna called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize a fourth COVID-19 shot for all adults, just two days after Pfizer made the same request for its second booster shot for adults aged 65 and older.

Moderna said its request covered all adults over the age of 18 so that U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health care providers could determine the appropriate use of an additional booster dose of its vaccine, including 'for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities.'

Moderna, without specifically commenting on the effectiveness of a fourth shot, said its submission was partly based on data recently published in the United States and Israel following the emergence of the Omicron variant.

The requests from the companies, which are expected to make $51 billion in COVID-19 vaccine sales this year, come as the U.S. continues to see a sharp drop in daily cases after the Omicron surge earlier this year.

Moderna has called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize a fourth COVID-19 shot for all adults to help fight waning vaccine protection. A New Yorker is pictured receiving a shot of Pfizer's COVID vaccine during November 2021

Both Moderna (left) and Pfizer (right) have called on the government to release their second booster shots. The companies relied heavily on data from Israel that shows less than a third of a boost in protection against COVID-19

The FDA has yet to make a decision on the booster shots as many experts disagree on just how effective the fourth shots would be in helping fight COVID infections

The FDA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

As of Thursday, the U.S. is averaging 32,168 new cases every day, a 14 percent drop over the past week and a 96 percent drop from the peak of 800,000 daily cases reached during the Omicron surge's mid-January peak.

The U.S. recorded about 45,015 new cases over the past day, with about 1,943 new deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. At the height of the Omicron surge, the US hit an all-time record of well over a million new infections every day, raising hopes that much of the US now has natural immunity to the virus.

Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that vaccine efficacy wanes over time and that a third shot helps restore it, it has not released comprehensive data based on age or health status to support the case.

U.S. health officials, including top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, have raised the prospect of a fourth shot, especially for older people and to prepare for the possibility of another surge in cases caused by the BA.2 subvariant.

But many experts are at odds with how effective a fourth shot would be.

Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, a former chief scientist for the F.D.A., told the New York Times: 'While protection is waning against mild infections, without more information we do not yet know to what extent, if any, protection is waning against severe disease.'

At the heart of the question is a study last month by the Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer, Israel, which found that another booster would reduce the risk of COVID infection by about 10 to 30 percent.

Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, an infectious disease expert and the study's lead author, concluded that a fourth dose restores some protection lost after a third shot but 'doesn't boost immunity beyond that.'

'Not a third dose, not a fourth dose, not a fifth dose will do anything to stop infections [long term],' Regev-Yochay told NPR.

Yet other experts believe that waning immunity from booster shots are enough to warrant another dose for those who are more susceptible to infection.

Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told the Times: 'It's also clear that protection is waning now pretty quickly a few months after your third dose. So it's short-lived. The hope is that a second booster would restore it.'

Pfizer's shot has been administered 326 million times to fully vaccinate 123 million Americans and boost 52 million others, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Pfizer earned $41.9 billion in revenue in 2020, and reported about $36 billion in its most recent quarter.

The CDC also reports that Moderna's shot has been administered 208 million times to fully vaccinate 41 million people. The company reported that it made $12 billion in vaccine sales last year.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel (pictured) predicts that Covid booster shots will be necessary once again this fall, likely another financial windfall for the pharma giant

Both companies have big plans for 2022, with more vaccine products on the way and foresee a financial windfall ahead with some experts saying annual booster shots may be needed for upwards of a decade to control Covid long-term.

Moderna and Pfizer, which partners with the German company BioNTech for the development and manufacturing of Covid vaccines and splits profits with, both have a Omicron-specific vaccine expected to become available in the coming weeks.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in February that his company believes another Covid booster shot will also be needed come fall, which should only add to the company's revenue projections going forward.

The company's profit allowed Bancel to increase his golden parachute by $9.4 million since the pandemic began to a whopping $926 million, including a $1.5 million cash severance and a $2.5 million bonus.

Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, has said he believes regular, annual, boosters will be necessary for at least the next ten years.

While the pharmaceutical company's vaccine rollouts have certainly been profitable, and the effectiveness of the vaccines has likely saved millions of lives worldwide, the way they have conducted business during the pandemic has not gone without critics.

The WHO has called for greater vaccine equity across the world, as many developing nations, and specifically those in Africa, have had trouble getting the vaccine to their population.

While in countries like America, the vaccine is widely available to everyone who wants it - and millions of doses are even trashed due to lack of demand - in Africa only 19 percent of residents have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 12 percent are fully vaccinated.

Some African nations still have vaccination rates below five percent.

Bourla has claimed that this is not because of lack of access to vaccines, but instead because of vaccine hesitancy existing in these nations.

The possible need for a fourth dose comes amid a spike in the new BA.2 variant in the UK and Europe.

On Thursday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, warned that the rise of the new variant was just the 'tip of the iceberg,' warning that COVID cases will grow in the coming weeks.

Last week, the WHO reported that global COVID cases increased eight percent to 11 million. The biggest jump was found in the Western Pacific region, where cases jumped 25 percent week-to-week.

There was a 14 percent jump in Africa and two percent rise in Europe, as well.

The subvariant is a lineage of Omicron that is believed to be 30 percent more transmissible - but just as mild - as the BA.1 lineage that took over the world at the end of last year.

Global COVID-19 cases are starting to rise once again after plummeting in recent weeks after the Omicron variant reached its peak. The WHO reports that global Covid cases rose eight percent last week

The BA.2 Omicron 'stealth' variant (pink) now makes up around 23% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, up from 11% last week and 6% the week before. The Omicron variant makes up every single sequence case in America

Cases are rising in much of the world, and European nations which often trend ahead of the U.S by a few months during the pandemic are among those to have experienced worrying rises.

In the UK, cases have jumped 36 percent over the past week, to 91,000 per day. This comes after weeks of declines.

According to most recent data revealed by the CDC on Tuesday, BA.2 makes up 23 percent of active COVID cases in the U.S., with BA.1 still being dominant.

The Omicron variant as a whole makes up every single sequenced case in the U.S., per the CDC, with the highly transmissive, vaccine-resistant, strain totally snuffing out the Delta variant this year.

BA.2's share of COVID infections in America is rapidly growing, though, with the variant only accounting for 11 percent of sequenced cases last week, and only six percent the week previous that.

It is most prevalent in New Jersey and New York, and Northeastern regions of the U.S., accounting for around 40 percent of cases in both designated areas.

The strain is not yet the dominant COVID strain anywhere in America, while it has taken over in many parts of Europe.
Kemi Badenoch said the idea of teaching race ideology is 'absolutely terrifying' and warned that teaching black children that they are being oppressed by their white peers 'gives young people a grievance before they have even experienced it'.

Children should not be forced to take the knee at school, the equalities minister said yesterday.

Kemi Badenoch said the idea of teaching race ideology is 'absolutely terrifying' and warned that teaching black children that they are being oppressed by their white peers 'gives young people a grievance before they have even experienced it'.

Speaking at the launch of the Government's Inclusive Britain strategy, Mrs Badenoch branded critical race theory 'morally wrong' and insisted that traditional values should not be 'thrown away'.

The strategy includes an updated history curriculum by 2024 which is developed by a 'diverse panel... to support high-quality teaching of our complex past'.

Mrs Badenoch also said civil servants should not show their support for Black Lives Matter at work, for example in their email sign-offs.

She also spoke of the absurdity of Home Office officials supporting an organisation that called for the defunding of the police.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and 38th President Dwight Eisenhower are also under consideration

mong the names are World War II hero and First Lieutenant Audie Murphy, Mary Walker - the only woman to receive the military's highest decoration for valor

World War Two hero Audie Murphy, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and ex-President Dwight Eisenhower are set to have their names used on US military bases whose titles honor Confederate figures.

Murphy, a former US Army soldier, became the most-decorated serviceman of World War Two. Powell was the first black person to serve as Secretary of State, between 2001 and 2005, and died last year.

Eisenhower was a hero World War Two commander who later served as president between 1953 and 1961. He is credited with a series of public works programs - including the Interstate system - that helped transform America into the world's only hyper-economy.

Created by Congress in 2021, the Naming Commission has for duty to rename and remove military assets which have 'names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia' that commemorate officers of the Confederacy.

The nine Army bases subjected to renaming are: Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Lee, and Fort Pickett in Virginia; Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Fort Hood, Texas.

Audie Murph (left), Colin Powell (center) and Dwight Eisenhower, right, are all in the frame as potential options to rename military bases currently titled in honor of Confederate figures

The Naming Commission, assigned by Congress to replace the names of military bases honored after Confederate soldiers, released 87 potential candidates who have received some of the U.S. Army's most prestigious honors on Thursday

Fort Bragg in North Carolina is one of nine bases across the U.S. subjected to renaming due to its association with Confederate General Braxton Brag

First Lieutenant Audie Murphy, who passed away in a plane crash in 1971, is one of the most decorated combat soldiers of World War II in America. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 for demonstrating an act of valor after single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for around an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition.

He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, and two Bronze Stars. In total, Murphy was the recipient of all military combat award for valor available from the U.S. military, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism.

A host of other names are also in the frame as potential renaming options.

Mary Walker - one of the rare women in the twentieth century to pursue and complete a medical degree - was approved for the Medal of Honor in 1855 for her acts to treat wounded soldiers during the Civil War and her bravery to cross enemy lines.

Walker, who is also only one of only eight civilians to receive the award, earned her medical degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855. She tried to join the Union Army as a surgeon after the outbreak of the American Civil War, but was not taken into consideration.

She was later hired by Union Forces after temporarily serving as at a hospital in D.C. Designated as the first female surgeon in the US army after being called to serve in the Army of the Cumberland and later the 52nd Ohio Infantry, Walker was eventually captured by Confederate soldiers after crossing enemy territory to treat wounded civilians and arrested as a spy. She was sent as a prisoner of war to Richmond, Virginia until released in a prisoner exchange.

In 1917, Walker's was removed from the Army Medal of Honor Roll, but was later restored in 1977.

Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman appointed to the level of assistant surgeon during the Civil War and female recipient of the Medal of Honor, features on the list

The list also includes more distinguishable members affiliated with Army, including President Dwight Eisenhower, who commanded Allied armies in Normandy on D-Day before being elected in office in 1952.

Famous underground railroad conductor, slavery abolitionist, and Civil War scout and spy Harriet Tubman, as well as Colin Powell are also nominated for the revision of military base names.

Powell served as the 65th U.S. Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. Furthermore, he was also the first African-American Secretary of State elected.

Other Medal of Honor recipients such as First Class Sergeant Alywn Cashe are also in the running. Cashe, who served in Iraq, saved the lives of six of his fellow soldiers while riding in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle that struck an improvised explosive device in October, 2005. The soldiers were trapped inside of the vehicle after the fuel cell was set on fire, giving them little chance of survival.

Harriet Tubman, who along with Walker is one of the rare women on the list, is also listed under consideration. Tubman was influential in antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad in the 19th century

However, Cashe managed to pull everybody out of the incident despite suffering second and third-degree burns over 72 percent of his body. He succumbed to his injuries on November 8, 2005 and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden in December of last year.

Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, Medal of Honor recipient Army Captain Francis Wai, as well as First Class Sergeant Randall Shugart and Master Sergeant Gary Gordon are additional names featuring on the list.

The Naming Commission is expected to submit its final recommendations of names to Congress by October 1, 2022.

Over last summer, the commission met with Army and community leaders in the area while visiting military bases, asking the public for name recommendations.

'We are grateful to the thousands of Americans who participated in this historic process,' the commission's website read. 'More than 34,000 submissions were received during this period and have been reviewed by the Commission'.
A hospital has finally admitted a woman may have been raped by a transgender patient after denying the possibility of an attack for almost a year, the House of Lords has heard.

When police were called to the unnamed hospital in England, they were allegedly told by staff that 'there was no male' on the single-sex ward, 'therefore the rape could not have happened'.

But almost 12 months later, they revealed one of the patients had been trans.

The details of the case were shared by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne during a debate on single-sex wards in the Upper Chamber yesterday.

She claimed: 'They forgot that there was CCTV, nurses and observers.

'None the less, it has taken nearly a year for the hospital to agree that there was a male on the ward and, yes, this rape happened.

'During that year she has almost come to the edge of a nervous breakdown, because being disbelieved about being raped in hospital has been such an appalling shock.

Baroness Nicholson (pictured), 80, said current NHS policy on single-sex wards 'gives priority to trans people over women'

'The hospital, with all its CCTV, has had to admit that the rape happened and that it was committed by a man.'

The legal definition of rape means that it can only be carried out by a physically intact man, reports the Telegraph.

An investigation by the police into the alleged rape is still underway.

Lady Nicholson believes the incident stemmed directly from the NHS's Annex B policy, which allows patients to be placed on single-sex wards depending on the gender they identify with.

The policy states that trans people should be accommodated 'according to their presentation: the way they dress, and the name and pronouns they currently use', rather than their biological sex at birth.

A review into the policy is set to be published later this year.

Lady Nicholson added: 'The result of Annex B is that hospital trusts inform ward sisters and nurses that if there is a male, as a trans person, in a female ward, and a female patient or anyone complains, they must be told that it is not true - there is no male there.

'I think it is completely wrong that the National Health Service should be instructing or allowing staff to mislead patients -to tell a straightforward lie. It is not acceptable.'

She told the Upper Chamber she believes the policy should be withdrawn because it 'gives priority to trans people over women' and therefore threatens the 'dignity, privacy and safety' of female patients.

Lady Nicholson's previous amendment to the Health and Care Bill calling for patients to be put on wards according to their birth sex was rejected by peers.

She told the House of Lords yesterday that the policy undermines the provision of single-sex wards which were voted on by Parliament and 'undermines' protections for women that 'took at least 50 years to come through'.

NHS policy states that trans people should be accommodated 'according to their presentation: the way they dress, and the name and pronouns they currently use', rather than their biological sex at birth. (Stock image)

The former Tory party vice-chair added: 'Parliament has been ignored and bypassed and surreptitiously something far-reaching has been brought in that affects all families, all faiths, all identities and all levels of society.

'In place of sex-based rights, we are giving priority rights to one special section of society.'

She went on to say that she had not witnessed such 'filleting of legislation anywhere before in Britain' and claimed it was 'cheating the public'.

Lord Etherton QC disagreed with Lady Nicholson, saying he believed the current policy to be 'entirely appropriate and consistent with the anti-discrimination law in the Equality Act'.

It comes after some women's groups, including Fair Play for Women, Woman's Place UK and Sex Matters have all written to Sajid Javid and Baroness Nicholson demanding the review into the Annex B policy be cancelled.

The review is part of NHS England's process, which makes sure its guidance is correct and up-to-date, and looks to see if there is any way to improve it.

But some women's groups claim they were excluded, while accusing the review of being open to bias as one of the leading doctors involved is a reportedly an 'LGBT Adviser'.

An NHS spokesperson said on Wednesday: 'The review, which is currently ongoing, is being led by England's Chief Nursing Officer, Ruth May.

'The engagement phase of the review closed this week with a wide range of groups involved and every organisation or individual who requested a meeting as part of this process was offered one.'
Awkward footage shows Anthony Albanese dodging the media in his taxpayer-funded car as reporters tried to ask him about claims Kimberley Kitching was bullied by her Labor colleagues.

When asked if the party planned to investigate reports the late senator was ostracised by senior ALP senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher, the Opposition Leader said only: 'Thanks mate'.

Mr Albanese's disappearing act came after his deputy, Richard Marles, also repeatedly refused to reveal whether the allegations would be probed by party officials.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday accused the ALP leader of 'vanishing' over the issue. 'As soon as things get a bit difficult for the Leader of the Opposition, he goes missing,' he said. 'He vanishes.'

Kimberley Kitching pictured with fellow Labor senator Kristina Keneally. The party has been hit by allegations Ms Kitching was ostracised by Ms Keneally and other senior Labor senators Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher before her death

'As prime minister... I'm regularly up in front of you and deal with the hard questions.'

Ms Wong meanwhile has revealed she apologised to Ms Kitching after insulting her childless fellow Labor senator by saying: 'If you had children you would understand'.

The Labor Upper House leader addressed the nasty sledge from two years ago in a joint statement with Ms Keneally and Ms Gallagher today.

In the statement, the trio denied bullying Ms Kitching, after they were labelled 'mean girls' in reference to the main characters in the 2004 teen comedy.

In their statement, the trio said 'allegations of bullying are untrue' but admitted 'robust contests and interactions' are frequent in politics.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese mustered only a 'thanks mate' as a reporter asked him if the party planned to investigate the claims

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday accused Mr Albanese of 'vanishing' over the bullying allegations that have rocked the Labor party

In October 2019, Senator Wong told Senator Kitching 'if you had children, you might understand' in a discussion about climate change.

Ms Kitching - who was unable to conceive with husband Andrew - had argued the party should not support students who ditched school to attend climate protests.

Senator Kitching's supporters said the comment hurt because she wanted to have children but could not.

Senator Wong has now revealed she apologised for the horrendous remark when it was reported by the ABC in November 2019 in an article that didn't name her.

'After these matters were publicly reported more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with Senator Kitching and apologised,' the statement said.

'Senator Wong understood that apology was accepted. The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wong's views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets pain these reports have caused.'

In October 2019 Senator Wong told Senator Kitching (pictured in May last year) 'if you had children, you might understand' in a discussion about climate change

The three senators also confirmed they will be attending Senator Kitching's funeral in Melbourne on Monday after speaking to her shattered family.

Senator Wong had earlier said she was unsure if she could go as she had a fundraising event in the Northern Territory on the same day.

Mr Albanese has refused to set up an inquiry into the bullying allegations and repeatedly refused to answer questions about the matter, claiming they are disrespectful to Senator Kitching.

After blasting the Coalition over the poor treatment of women, the scandal threatens to derail his bid to become prime minister in May.

Scott Morrison said Mr Albanese had gone into hiding. 'Where is Anthony Albanese? I mean, where is he on this issue,' he said.

The full statement by Wong, Keneally and Gallagher This has been a difficult time for the Labor family. Senator Kitching's tragic death has been a shock to us all. People are grieving and hurting. Our priority at this time has been Senator Kitching's husband, Andrew, her family and her loved ones. Their grief is profound, their loss immeasurable. Out of respect for them, and for Senator Kitching, we have not responded to allegations that have been made, despite them not being true. This has been hard, but we believed it to be the right thing to do to maintain some dignity for all concerned. Given the hurtful statements that continue to be made we feel it necessary to respond. The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate. All of us have spent many years in the service of the public. We do so because we want to make a contribution to the nation. Politics is a challenging profession. Contests can be robust and interactions difficult. All of its participants at times act or speak in ways that can impact on others negatively. We have and do reflect on this, as individuals and as leaders. It is for this reason Senator Wong wishes to place on record a response to specific claims regarding an exchange in a meeting with Senator Kitching. After these matters were publicly reported more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with Senator Kitching and apologised. Senator Wong understood that apology was accepted. The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wong's views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets pain these reports have caused. All three of us will be attending Senator Kitching's funeral. This follows engagement with Senator Kitching's family about our attendance. We will do so to recognise and respect her contribution to public life. Advertisement

Senator Kitching - who was from the Labor Right faction - made allegations of in-party bullying to Deputy Leader Richard Marles in June and then to workplace safety consultants in November.

She told Mr Marles she believed she was being 'frozen out' by the left-dominated Senate leadership team and claimed to have been unfairly dumped from the tactics committee meetings.

Mr Marles reportedly said he would 'sort it out' but nothing happened.

In an awkward interview with Ally Langdon on the Today show on Friday, Mr Marles refused to say if he had let Senator Kitching down.

'I'm not going to walk down that path,' he spluttered.

'Right now we want to honour Kimberley Kitching, who she was, what she achieved, the warm and wonderful person that she was and that's what I'm focused on.'

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Kristina Keneally (right) and Katy Gallagher in 2019

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Ms Kitching's friends and family deserved answers about how she suffered in her final years in parliament.

'There are many people, close friends of Kimberley's within the Labor Party, making these allegations and if I was leader or deputy leader of the Labor Party I would want to know the answers,' he said.

Meanwhile, bombshell texts have emerged showing Ms Kitching messaged a friend about Ms Wong the night before she lodged a bullying complaint.

'Wong has been bad,' the message obtained by The Australian reads.

'She would love to never see me again.'

Today show host Ally Langdon fired up after the top MP again avoided questions about the party's plans to investigate allegations

Kitching sent the text late at night on the November 4 last year. The next day she lodged her bullying complaint.

The relationship between Senator Kitching and Wong - a key figure of the Labor Left - was reportedly stony and the pair had previously fallen out.

Former Labor MP Emma Husar has verified reports of bullying within the party, claiming it caused her so much stress she also developed a heart condition.

Ms Husar, who once represented the Western Sydney seat of Lindsay, claims she was also a victim of Labor's 'incredibly toxic' culture.

Ms Husar left Parliament after Labor mounted an investigation into ultimately unproven charges of sexual harassment against her.

Senator Kitching, who was friendly with Coalition MPs and frequently spoke out against China, died on Thursday when she pulled over her car in suburban Melbourne during a suspected heart attack.

She was under stress because he preselection for a senate spot was up in the air. She also had a thyroid condition which caused her to lose weight in recent years.

Senator Kimberley Kitching sent a text message to a close friend saying that Senator Penny Wong never wanted to see her again the night before she lodged bullying claims (Pictured, mock-up text)

Senator Penny Wong and Senator Kitching's relationship was reportedly often tumultuous

Former Labor MP slams Anthony Albanese as a 'gaslighting narcissist'- as she claims she was bullied so badly by colleagues she developed a heart condition By Charlie Coe An ex-Labor MP has called Anthony Albanese a 'gaslighting narcissist' for blowing up at a reporter after he was questioned about the 'mean girls' culture within his party - before claiming she was bullied by peers so badly she developed a heart condition. Emma Husar, who represented the Western Sydney seat of Lindsay, slammed the Labor leader following his outburst at a press conference on Wednesday. Mr Albanese was pressed to comment on allegations of a 'mean girls' culture within his party before he lashed out and said the term was 'disrespectful'. The term was also used by Kimberley Kitching, who accused senior female ALP members of in-partying bullying before she died of a heart attack last Thursday. Ms Husar claimed Mr Albanese's fired-up response over the term 'mean girls' was a form of 'gaslighting'. Emma Husar, who represented the Western Sydney seat of Lindsay, slammed the Labor leader following his outburst at a press conference on Wednesday 'A woman lost her life and there were circumstances that point to the Labor Party, but what Albo is doing here (by turning the phrase around) is absolute gaslighting,' Ms Husar told Daily Telegraph. 'This is the phrase Kimberley Kitching used to describe her (alleged) bullies. If this was on a different sort of work site where would the ALP, which says it is the party of workers, be then?' Ms Husar claimed she was targeted by ALP powerbrokers during her time in Parliament. She said the bullying was so severe she developed a leaky mitral valve condition that prompted her to visit a cardiologist. Mr Albanese was pressed to comment on allegations of a 'mean girls' culture within his party before he lashed out and said the term was 'disrespectful' Ms Husar claimed she was mistreated by Mr Albanese who was 'happy to pump up my tyres to get at (then leader) Bill Shorten... but he never called to check on me.' Ms Husar then took aim at the Labor party for refusing to launch an investigation into the alleged in-partying bullying after Labor's deputy leader Richard Marles said it was not an appropriate time. 'If not now, then when?' she told Channel Nine's Today Show on Friday. 'The Labor Party weren't interested in taking action on what happened to me five...almost five years ago now. 'They've had a lot of time since then. There's been a lot of water under the bridge and they are still happy to turn a blind eye.' Ms Husar admitted she was not aware Ms Kitching had made any complaints, but said she could empathise with her after drawing on her own experiences. Advertisement

More to come
Detectives have arrested a series of alleged online perverts as police put Australian families on high alert to beware of digital predators.

The NSW Police child exploitation unit swooped on series of homes across the state this week after months of investigations into alleged online grooming.

Five men were arrested by detectives within days of each other after officers allegedly posed as young children or their mother in online chatrooms.

Each of the accused are then alleged to have 'expressed desires to engage in sexual activity' with the youngsters.

The NSW Police child exploitation unit swooped to raid a series of homes across the state after months of investigations into alleged online grooming

The arrests have led detectives to issue a fresh warning about the dangers posed to children online.

'The insidious nature of online predators is that they seek out children,' Detective Acting Superintendent Adam Powderly said.

'They adopt online behaviours typical of that age, such as the use of emojis, acronyms and slang as a way to groom their victims

'In most cases what then follows is a request for explicit photos or attempts by the offender to meet up in person  an act which could have devastating consequences for a young child.

'As a parent or carer, you should explain to your child that people online may not always be who they claim to be and remain approachable and understanding in the event something makes the child uncomfortable online.'

Last June, child exploitation officers posed as the 40-year-old mother of a a 10-year-old girl.

A man, 77, then allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child.

After months of investigations, the man was arrested just before 7.30am on Tuesday and taken to Goulburn Police Station where he was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 years.

Five men were arrested by detectives within days of each other after officers allegedly posed as young children or their mother

This week's arrests also included a 56-year-old man from the Blue Mountains accused of having sexually explicit conversations with a girl he thought was under 16.

A Windeyer man, 66, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly trying to groom a child under 16 for sex. He was also charged with handling explosives after fireworks were allegedly found during the raid on his house.

Officers allegedly also posed as a girl under 16 to a man, 35, from Orange in the state's Central West last December before his arrest on Thursday for allegedly sending indecent material to a person under 16.

And a 29 year old man from Fairy Meadow in Wollongong was arrested on Monday after allegedly trying online to arrange to meet up with a young girl in real life.
Embattled former Hillsong pastor Brian Houston allegedly committed 'indiscretions' towards two women, the current head of the global church has revealed in a meeting with staff.

Pastor Phil Dooley, who took over leadership of the church from Houston in January, told staff about the apparent incidents during a video conference on Friday morning, the ABC reported.

The claims, revealed during a Zoom meeting with some 800 staff, come just months after Mr Houston stepped down as leader of the mega-church while he fights criminal charges that he covered up his father's child sex abuse.

Pastor Dooley explained that the first of the two alleged incidents involved Mr Houston allegedly sending a female staff member an 'inappropriate' text message.

'It was along the line of 'if I was with you, I'd like to give you a kiss and a cuddle or a hug', words of that nature,' Pastor Dooley told the meeting, according to Crikey. Hillsong said the incident took place a decade ago.

Pastor Brian Houston is seen during a meeting at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Sydney. He was there for a meeting of the church's board which was exclusively pictured by Daily Mail Australia

Houston (above, with wife Bobbie) is accused of two 'indiscretions' towards different women - one about a decade ago, and another more recently in 2019

The woman complained and was later paid 'a couple of months' salary' as compensation, according to the report.

The second incident occurred during the church's famous conference held at Qudos Bank Arena in 2019, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison opened.

Pastor Dooley explained that Mr Houston met a woman, who was not a church member, in the foyer of the Pullman Hotel. He had been drinking in a group and allegedly 'ended up knocking on the door to the (unnamed) woman's room.'

He entered, the pastor reportedly said, and 'the truth is we don't know what happened next'.

Pastor Phil Dooley, who took over leadership of the church from Houston in January, told staff about the apparent 'indiscretions' during a video conference on Friday morning

Mr Houston, who is married to fellow senior pastor Bobbie, has denied that any sexual activity took place with the unnamed woman.

The woman has reportedly also not alleged sexual activity took place, and it is not suggested otherwise.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hillsong's media representatives for comment on the claims.

The revelation comes after Houston stepped down as the leader of Hillsong in January while he fights criminal charges that he covered up his father's child sex abuse.

Houston told worshippers the charge of concealing the serious indictable offence came as a 'complete shock' and he would 'vigorously defend' it.

The 67-year-old is accused of knowing from September 1999 that his father Frank sexually abused a seven-year-old boy in 1970, and helped cover it up.

Brian Houston (pictured with his wife Bobbie) stepped down as the leader of Hillsong in January while he fights criminal charges that he covered up his father's child sex abuse

Pastor Dooley said Mr Houston met a woman, who was not a church member, in the foyer of the Pullman Hotel. He had been drinking in a group and allegedly 'ended up knocking on the door to the (unnamed) woman's room'

Frank Houston sexually abused numerous young boys in New Zealand and Australia from 1965 to 1977 when he lead the Assemblies of God church.

In January Brian Houston told Hillsong worshippers he would immediately step down temporarily so he could be 'fully committed' to 'setting the record straight'.

Houston said Hillsong's external legal counsel advised the move to the church board during the annual retreat in December.

'[They said] it would be best practice for me to step aside completely from church leadership during the court proceedings,' he told hundreds of worshippers.

'[They said] it would be best practice for me to step aside completely from church leadership during the court proceedings,' Houston (right) told hundreds of worshippers in January

'So it's likely to be drawn out and take up most of 2022, especially considering the backlog in courts exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.

'And along with this the board and I have been having detailed discussions around requirements for leadership and we've talked about the effects of the situation with my father, going back many years up to the current legal case, and the impact that this has had on me emotionally.

'So the result is Hillsong's global board feel it's in my and the church's best interest for this to happen, so I've agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year.'

That case remains before the courts.
A former Army sergeant-turned-undercover FBI informant that joined a militia group accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer testified in the group's trial Friday that he initially became interested in membership to 'maintain his gun skills' but quickly became disillusioned with their mission when they began to plan assaults on law enforcement.

The informant, Dan Chapel - who goes by 'Big Dan' - is a major witness for prosecutors in the trial of four 'Wolverine Watchmen' members charged with the kidnapping conspiracy in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It was an unusual odyssey for Chapel, 35, a postal worker, self-described libertarian and gun rights advocate who said he was simply looking for ways to keep his firearm skills sharp after serving in Iraq.

He found the Wolverine Watchmen on Facebook but things quickly turned sour when his fellow militiamen suggested killing police officers - a plot that Chapel immediately told a friend in law enforcement about.

'A week later, I was contacted by the FBI. ... They asked if I would stay inside the group and monitor their activity,' Chapel told the jury.

A courtroom sketch of Dan Chapel, known to the group as 'Big Dan,' who was a US Postal Service worker, a retired Army sergeant and firearms instructor

Top row from left, Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft; and bottom row from left, Adam Dean Fox, Daniel Harris. The four are accused of a plot to abduct Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announces the first round of Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants on Sept. 15, 2021, at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan

Chapel became especially close to Adam Fox, who is described as a leader of the scheme, secretly recording hours of conversations in 2020, participating in gun training and making road trips to northern Michigan to look at Whitmer's vacation home.

Fox, Barry Croft Jr, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta have all been charged with conspiracy.

Prosecutors say they turned their anger toward government in 2020 into a plot to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home because of restrictions she imposed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jurors were hearing a fourth day of testimony Friday in a trial that could last more than a month.

FBI agent Mark Schweers said Thursday that he fooled Fox and others into believing he was Mark Woods from Michigan's Upper Peninsula who shared their disgust for government and Whitmer.

Chapel, left, a former Army sergeant-turned-undercover FBI informant that joined a militia group accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer, testifying during trial Friday

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer addresses business leaders, on December 20, 2021, in Detroit

He, too, wore a recording device, bonded with the men while firing guns and traveled to Elk Rapids to scout the governor's second home.

'We want her flex-cuffed on a table while we all pose and get our pictures taken like we just made the biggest drug bust in ... history,' Fox said of Whitmer, laughing and using profanities.

'You give us that, we'll be happy,' he said.

'Then you lock her ... up, even if we gotta go with her.'

Defense lawyers claim informants and agents improperly influenced the men.

Schweers acknowledged that he paid for meals and provided rides for Fox, who promised to make him 'warden of the north' a reference to a 'Game of Thrones' character.

Whitmer, a Democrat who is seeking reelection, rarely talks publicly about the case. She has blamed former President Donald Trump for fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists like those charged in the case.

She has said Trump was complicit in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Vladimir Putin will edge closer to deploying a nuclear attack if Ukraine continues its valiant pushback against the invasion of Russian troops, a top US defense official warned.

Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency detailed the grim concerns in a new 67-page summary of global threats on Thursday.

It raises the specter of a possible nuclear attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital which has so-far resisted Russian advances, and said a desperate Putin posed a threat to the whole world.

His report notes that Russia claims to be developing missiles that are capable of circumventing Western defenses in order to 'ensure that Russia can credibly inflict unacceptable damage on the West.'

Russia recently deployed non-nuclear missiles that come equipped with decoy projectiles - a feature that hadn't previously been seen by western defense bosses - giving a possible glimpse of the type of feature that could be fitted to the most devastating bombs in Putin's arsenal.

'As this war and its consequences slowly weaken Russian conventional strength, Russia likely will increasingly rely on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project strength to its internal and external audiences,' he wrote in the report that was obtained by Fox News.

The report's grim assessment comes less than 24 hours before a Friday call between President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping, as Biden is expected to ask for Xi's help on pressuring Moscow to end the conflict.

Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, revealed concerning details in a new report that Putin is likely to threaten to use nuclear weapons against the West if Ukrainian defense forces continue to push back against the invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting on measures of socio-economic support of the regions outside Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday

A Russian Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile launcher in 2019. The same type of missile was also deployed with a previously unknown decoy during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine

A satellite image taken over the city of Chernihiv, in northern Ukraine, on Wednesday and released Thursday shows blasts and fires caused by Russian air strikes in civilian areas

'U.S. efforts to undermine Russia's goals in Ukraine, combined with its perception that the United States is a nation in decline, could prompt Russia to engage in more aggressive actions not only in Ukraine itself, but also more broadly in its perceived confrontation with the West,' Berrier said in the report.

He added that a key motivation for the invasion is Russia's determination 'to restore a sphere of influence over Ukraine and the other states of the former Soviet Union.'

'Despite greater than anticipated resistance from Ukraine and relatively high losses in the initial phases of the conflict, Moscow appears determined to press forward by using more lethal capabilities until the Ukrainian government is willing to come to terms favorable to Moscow,' he wrote.

However, a senior Pentagon official told Bloomberg on Thursday that the invasion is largely stalled, with Russia relying on more than 1,000 long-range missile strikes into Ukraine.

That in itself has further stoked fears that an embarrassed Putin would be emboldened to take the conflict nuclear, and possibly trigger World War Three.

Earlier this week, U.S. Intelligence discovered that Russia has been using secret 'decoy dart' missiles to strike Ukrainian targets.

These dart-shaped armaments, originally thought to be cluster bombs, have been seen on social media from almost the beginning of Russia's invasion

The darts protect the Iskander rockets from air defense missiles by using heat-seeking and radar technology to fool defense systems, a US intelligence officer claims

It seems that Russian forces are using Iskander missiles in combination with darts that US intelligence thinks are very close to 'penetration aids' used in the Cold War.

Mobile rocket launchers in Russia and Belarus are believed to be shooting Moscow's Iskander-M missiles while deploying decoy systems to fool Ukrainian air defense.

The darts protect the Iskander rockets from air defense missiles by using heat-seeking and radar technology to fool defense systems, a U.S. intelligence officer claims according to the New York Times.

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense on Thursday described the Russian invasion as 'faltering' due to sloppy logistics and poor planning.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 17 March 2022



Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/a5algmAMCg



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/mZIb3wyBG4  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) March 17, 2022

'Incessant Ukrainian counterattacks are forcing Russia to divert large numbers of troops to defend their own supply lines,' the ministry said in a statement. 'This is severely limiting Russia's offensive potential.'

The counterattacks are resulting in Russia using 'indiscriminate methods' of attack  long-range artillery and missiles that are leveling cities, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure in retaliation for Ukraine's effective resistance, according to the report.

The report questioned Putin's claims to have 'modernized' the Russian military.

'Russia's modernization is intended to ensure Russia can field a military capable of engaging in the full spectrum of warfare to deter or defeat a wide scope of threats, but initial setbacks in Ukraine call some of Putin's narrative into question,' Berrier wrote.

But Russia claims to be developing missiles that are capable of circumventing Western defenses in order to 'ensure that Russia can credibly inflict unacceptable damage on the West.'

'Russia continues to improve capabilities for its Ground Forces, Airborne Forces, and coastal troops. It is upgrading main battle tanks (MBTs) and introducing new MBTs, artillery, and multiple rocket launchers to its arsenal. Russia has also steadily increased its number of battalion tactical groups (BTGs)the Ground Force's primary maneuver element,' Berrier wrote.

'In 2021, Russia's Defense Minister claimed its force structure could generate 168 BTGs, which is a 75 percent increase from the 96 BTGs it claimed it could generate in 2016.'

Berrier also warned that in the next decade, Russia, which likely has a secret stash of chemical weapons, could also obtain nuclear weapons including a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, 'a transoceanic torpedo' and a new intercontinental cruise missile.

Ukrainian servicemen carry containers backdropped by a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday

Russian forces bombed a theatre where hundreds of civilians, including children, were sheltering in the encircled port city of Mariupol on Wednesday, the city council said

Putin's forces have continued their brutal military operations across Ukraine by bombing and besieging the city of Mariupol over the last 24 hours. The State Department also confirmed an American citizen was shot dead by Russian forces in the northern city of Chernihiv.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden called Putin a 'murderous dictator and pure thug' in his St. Patrick's Day speech that started with the joke: 'I may be Irish but I am not stupid'.

Biden ramped up his attacks on the Russian leader, a day after finally calling him a war criminal, in remarks that started with him going through his Irish heritage at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon.

He called Putin a 'murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine.'

Biden's latest war of words are the most direct at the Russian leader in the 21 days since the start of the invasion.

The Kremlin has also upped the ante by warning the U.S. may need to be 'put in its place' for sharing 'disgusting Russiaphobia'.

President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a 'murderous dictator and pure thug' in his St Patrick's Day speech on Thursday that started with the quip: 'I may be Irish but I am not stupid'

As Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukraine, world leaders called anew for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeat attacks on civilian targets, including airstrikes on schools, hospitals and residential areas that led one official to lament that his city had never seen such 'nightmarish, colossal losses.'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that American officials were evaluating potential war crimes and that if the intentional targeting of civilians by Russia is confirmed, there will be 'massive consequences.'

In city after city, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety from the bombardment have been attacked. Rescue workers searched for survivors in the ruins of a theater that served as a shelter when it was blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol.

And in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, at least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center, a local official said.

In Chernihiv, dozens of bodies were brought to the morgue in just one day.

The United Nations political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians.

She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities 'are reportedly indiscriminate' and involve the use of 'explosive weapons with a wide impact area.'

DiCarlo said the devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv 'raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks.'

In Mariupol, hundreds of civilians were reportedly taking shelter in a grand, columned theater in the city's center when it was hit Wednesday by Russian forces.

More than a day after the airstrike, there were no reports of deaths. With communications disrupted across the city and movement difficult because of shelling and other fighting, there were conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar Technologies showed huge white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the theater spelling out 'CHILDREN' in Russian - 'DETI' - to alert warplanes to those inside.

Evacuees fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict walk out of the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 17, 2022

Pictured: Evacuees fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict sit in a car as they wait in a line to leave the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 17, 2022. What appears to be a bullet hole is seen in the car's windscreen

'We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theater could survive,' Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, told The Associated Press. He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes. Other officials said earlier that some people had gotten out.

Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the at least three-story building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.

Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.

'We are trying to survive somehow,' said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. 'My child is hungry. I don't know what to give him to eat.'

She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. 'I can't tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing,' she said.

Cars, some with the 'Z' symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighborhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

In Chernihiv, at least 53 people were brought to morgues over 24 hours, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Ukraine's emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including 3-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000.

'The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction,' Chaus said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said he agreed with President Joe Biden's assessment that war crimes are being committed by Russia in Ukraine

Ukrainian officials said 10 people were killed Wednesday while waiting in a bread line in Chernihiv. An American man was among them, his sister said on Facebook.

The World Health Organization said it has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more help for his country in a video address to German lawmakers, saying thousands of people have been killed, including 108 children. He also referred to the dire situation in Mariupol, saying: 'Everything is a target for them.'

The address began with a delay because of a technical problem caused by an attack close to where Zelenskyy was speaking, Bundestag deputy speaker Katrin Goering-Eckardt said.

Zelenskyys office said Russian airstrikes hit the Kalynivka and Brovary suburbs of the capital, Kyiv. Emergency authorities in Kyiv said a fire broke out in a 16-story apartment building hit by remnants of a downed Russian rocket, and one person was killed.

In remarks early Friday, Zelenskyy said he was thankful to U.S. President Joe Biden for additional military aid, but he would not get into specifics about the new package, saying he did not want Russia to know what to expect.

He said when the invasion began on Feb. 24, Russia expected to find Ukraine much as it did in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea without a fight and backed separatists as they took control of the eastern Donbas region.

Instead, he said, Ukraine had much stronger defenses than expected, and Russia 'didn't know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.'

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies accused Putin of conducting an 'unprovoked and shameful war,' and called on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justice's order to stop its attack and withdraw its forces.

Both Ukraine and Russia this week reported some progress in negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that some negotiators were breaking into working groups.

Zelenskyy said he would not reveal Ukraine's negotiating tactics.

'Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook,' Zelenskyy said. 'I consider it the right way.'

While details of Thursday's talks were unknown, an official in Zelenskyys office told the AP that on Wednesday, the main subject discussed was whether Russian troops would remain in separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after the war and where the borders would be.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Ukraine was insisting on the inclusion of one or more Western nuclear powers in the negotiations and on legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine.

In exchange, the official said, Ukraine was ready to discuss a neutral military status.

Russia has demanded that NATO pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

The fighting has led more than 3 million people to flee Ukraine, the U.N. estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.
Ukraine's second-largest airport in the city of Lviv has been targeted by Russian shelling.

Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport was hit by the aerial bombardment in the early hours of Friday morning.

Video footage shot from a distance showed fireballs erupting from the facility, which sits 43 miles east of the Polish border.

Afterwards, plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the transport hub.

At least two fireballs were seen erupting from the airport, but it is currently unclear how many missiles struck and where they came from.

Footage shared on social media showed a fireball erupting from Lviv Airport in Western Ukraine as it was shelled by Russia on Friday morning

Huge plumes of black smoke are seen filling the air after Friday morning's bombing of Lviv Airport on Western Ukraine

The attack represents the westernmost assault conducted by Moscow in the Ukraine

The attack comes just days after dozens of people were killed after more than 30 Russian cruise missiles targeted a military facility just outside the city on Sunday.

Lviv Gov. Maxim Kozitsky said in a statement that at least 35 people were killed in the attack and another 134 were wounded.

The governor has yet to comment on the most recent attack, which is the westernmost assault conducted by Moscow.

Earlier in March, Ukraine's Vinnystia airport was 'completely destroyed' by eight Russian missiles, the Ukrainian president confirmed in an address as he urged the West to send more aircraft.

Shocking footage shared online appears to show an airfield in Vinnytsia destroyed by the attack.

In a translation of the impassioned address, which was shared on social media, Volodymyr Zelensky said the 'peaceful Vinnytsia just was bombed'.

He added: 'We repeat every day: close the sky over Ukraine. Close for all Russian missiles, for Russian combat aircraft, for all their terrorists.'

The barraged airport, which is roughly a four-hour drive away from Kyiv
A head girl of a prestigious private school has tragically died, seven months after a horror crash left her in a coma.

Sally Hicks, 17, was critically injured when a car she was travelling in smashed into trees and the Goldfields pipeline near Cunderdin, 156 km east of Perth, in August.

The St Mary's Anglican Girls' School student was placed into a coma with serious head injuries.

Sally Hicks, 17, (pictured) has died seven months after she was placed in a coma following a horror car crash

Sally succumbed to her injuries and passed away at Bethesda Hospital in Claremont on Monday.

An outpouring of grief has flowed for the teen as heartbroken family paid tribute to their 'beloved daughter and sister'.

'Forever in our hearts,' wrote parents Sonia and Steve, and brothers Daniel and Ryan.

'Be free darling girl to fly with the angels and watch over us.'

Sally Hicks (pictured left) was appointed Head Girl at St Mary's Anglican Girls' School in 2021

Her brother Daniel remembered Sally as a 'truly amazing girl'.

'She was kind, caring, incredibly smart, strong, funny and beautiful,' he said.

'I'm so proud of her and grateful to have been able to spend 17 years with her.'

Her grandparents wrote: 'You filled our hearts with so much love and pride and your spirit will live on in our family forever. So dearly loved.'

St Mary's Anglican Girls' School said it was mourning the passing of 'our beloved 2021 Head Girl'.

Ms Hicks (pictured second from right) was remembered by family and friends this week after she was critically injured in a car accident in August

An outpouring of grief has flowed for the 17-year-old as heartbroken family paid tribute to their 'beloved daughter and sister' (pictured right, Sally Hicks)

'Sally was a vibrant and confident young woman who was loved and respected by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her,' the school said.

'She led the school with distinction in its centenary year and exemplified the true spirit of a St Mary's student.

'The entire St Mary's community offers its heartfelt condolences to Sally's parents, Sonia and Stephen, and her brothers, Daniel and Ryan.'

The heartbroken family of Sally Hicks (pictured) paid tribute to their 'beloved daughter and sister'

Sally was appointed Head Girl as the college celebrated its centenary and wrote a column for the school's magazine Fideliter to mark the occasion, reported The West.

She compared the opportunities students had to a hundred years ago and joked: 'I must admit, however, that ladders in stockings are still an issue for most girls.

'The most important things, however, have not changed ... we benefit from a rich, well-rounded education, taught by excellent teachers who are dedicated to seeing us discover our best.'

Just months before the tragic accident, Sally (pictured) had organised a fundraiser for West Australians affected by cyclone Seroja

St Mary's Anglican Girls' School (pictured) said its community was mourning the passing of 'their beloved 2021 Head Girl'

Just months before the tragic accident, Sally had organised a fundraiser for West Australians affected by cyclone Seroja.

She had also participated in an overseas student exchange program at Connecticut's Westover School in the United States, where she was remembered for her 'infectious smile'.

'Keep fighting Sally. We are here fighting with you. This kind soul became a part of our family two years ago,' US family friend Adriene Jarrell wrote on social media after learning of the crash.

Ms Hicks (pictured right) passed away on Monday after succumbing to significant injuries following a 'freak' car accident

WA Police said detectives from their major crash team are investigating the circumstances surrounding the horrific smash.

A woman in her 50s was reportedly driving with four passengers - three teenage girls and another woman in her 50s - when the accident occurred.

At the time of the crash, Sally's mother said it was a 'freak car accident'.

'We want to thank everyone for all the beautiful messages of support, love and prayer for our family and especially Sally,' she wrote on Facebook in August.

'We are blessed to have such strong supportive and loving communities around us at such a difficult time.'
Tourism companies have hailed the 'final game-changer' as all remaining Covid travel measures are axed even as cases continue to rise in the UK.

Grant Shapps said lifting the requirements, which include pre-travel tests for unvaccinated people, would allow 'greater freedom in time for Easter' to go abroad.

After a meeting with senior ministers on Monday, he confirmed the measures were ending for travel to the UK from 4am on Friday under plans to 'live with Covid'.

But it comes amid another surge in Covid which is being driven by a new highly transmissible 'Stealth Omicron'.

Meanwhile a mass booster vaccine rollout is likely this autumn as the NHS starts offering over-75s a fourth jab from next week.

Grant Shapps (pictured this week) said lifting the requirements, which include pre-travel tests for unvaccinated people, would allow 'greater freedom in time for Easter' to go abroad

Get set for ANOTHER round of boosters this autumn Britain's Covid booster vaccine programme is gearing up for another round of inoculations this autumn, the Health Secretary has revealed. Fourth jabs will be dished out to all over-75s, care home residents and patients with weak immune systems from next week. But Sajid Javid hinted last night millions more may be eligible for top-up doses later this year, ahead of the country's third Covid winter. Grilled about the topic on ITV's Peston programme, he did not specify exactly who would be invited in any roll-out this autumn. However, he admitted there may be a 'need to give a lot more people a boost'. Experts have speculated another inoculation drive this year could be expanded to include over-50s, effectively covering the same groups who will be offered a free flu vaccine on the NHS. When asked if the booster drive would be widened to the general population, Mr Javid said: 'I think at some point they will.' He claimed the Government would follow the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a panel of influential scientists that have guided No10 through their historic inoculation campaigns. Mr Javid insisted the group had been 'clear', adding: 'Their most recent advice is they think towards the end of this year, maybe in the autumn, there will be a need to give a lot more people a boost, an offer of a boost. But I'll wait for that advice.' Advertisement

The Department for Transport said today's changes include a 'range of contingency measures' in reserve so ministers could take 'swift and proportionate action'.

The department said they would 'only be implemented in extreme circumstances', but it was understood the measures would include targeted testing from a country that has seen a new strain emerge.

Demand for foreign holidays has jumped since the start of the year and there is a newfound 'air of positivity' within the sector, airline executives said in response to the move.

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, a tourism company, said bookings had surged in recent months for destinations including the Maldives, Mauritius, the Caribbean and Europe.

He said: 'The removal of all travel restrictions is the final game-changer - people can now go on holiday or visit family and friends overseas without all of the stress that comes with testing before they return home.

'Finally, we've seen the back of the unpopular and ineffective passenger locator forms, which were always a hassle to complete. Travel has been in turmoil for two years but now it's back.'

Mr Jones branded passenger locator forms used to track people after outbreaks of the virus, which are among the measures to axed on Friday, 'unpopular and ineffective'.

The time-consuming forms require people to fill in travel details, their address in the UK and vaccination status.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines, said 'the time to return to the skies is now' as travellers prepare for Easter and summer.

'People want to go away, and there is a real air of positivity within the sector now,' he said.

Aviation minister Robert Courts said: 'Everything we have worked for - every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the whole country means that finally, nearly two years on, we can all travel without bureaucratic restrictions.'

He added that he 'hoped to never see a day' where the restrictions were reintroduced.

Mr Shapps said: 'I said we wouldn't keep travel measures in place for any longer than necessary, which we're delivering on today - providing more welcome news and greater freedom for travellers ahead of the Easter holidays.'

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Government would continue to monitor potential new variants but that the final restrictions could now be lifted.

Passengers are pictured at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 in west London last month

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Government would continue to monitor potential new variants but that the final restrictions could now be lifted

But the government is expected to launch another vaccine booster rollout this autumn as the NHS starts offering over-75s a fourth jab from next week.

Mr Javid said he expects advisers to recommend giving a booster to millions more to combat waning immunity.

It comes as new cases and hospital admissions surge due to a more infectious sub-strain of the Omicron variant.

More than half a million people in the UK tested positive in the past seven days (534,747), up 44 per cent on the previous week.

And hospitals in England admitted 10,757 patients with the virus over the same period  up 28 per cent in a week.

But half of those in hospital with Covid are primarily there for other reasons and deaths remain relatively low.

A spring booster programme for over-75s, care home residents and over-12s with weak immune systems  eight million people in total  is due to begin in England next week using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Officials say it is a 'precautionary' move against waning immunity in the most vulnerable groups, many of whom had their initial booster more than six months ago.

The above map shows the proportion of all cases triggered by BA.2 across England in the week to March 5, the latest available. The variant is now dominant across the country

It will be offered from about six months after each patient's previous jab. Asked on ITV's Peston show if his advisers wanted to expand the programme, Mr Javid said: 'Their most recent advice is that they think that towards the end of this year, maybe in the autumn, there will be a need to give a lot more people a boost.'

The infection surge is piling pressure on the NHS, with Covid-related staff absences at their highest level in a month.

An average of 17,579 staff at English hospitals  2 per cent of the total workforce  were absent each day last week, either sick with Covid or self-isolating.

And new data from the Zoe Covid Study shows there are now 258,155 new symptomatic cases in the UK each day, up 47 per cent in one week.

Study leader Professor Tim Spector, of King's College London, said: 'Covid cases are now at the highest levels the Zoe study has ever recorded.

'Even more concerning is the rise in new cases in people aged over 75. The data shows this pandemic is definitely not over yet and is more unpredictable than ever, despite government messages to the contrary.'

Meanwhile, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency yesterday approved the use of Evusheld, an antibody therapy for patients who do not respond to vaccines.

The injection, which can be given in a GP surgery, reduced the number of people developing Covid by at least 77 per cent and cut deaths in clinical trials.
The BBC has compiled an all-female shortlist for the 290,000 a year role of political editor, reports say.

The Corporation is believed to want Sophy Ridge, Anushka Asthana, Pippa Crerar or Alex Forsyth to replace Laura Kuenssberg.

Ridge, from Sky News, and Asthana, from ITV, are thought to be the frontrunners for one of the most gruelling jobs in journalism.

Bosses will meet the four leading candidates for a second round of interviews on Friday before announcing the winner by the end of next month.

The Corporation is believed to want Sophy Ridge (pictured), Anushka Asthana, Pippa Crerar or Alex Forsyth to replace Laura Kuenssberg

Ridge, from Sky News, and Asthana (pictured), from ITV, are thought to be the frontrunners for one of the most gruelling jobs in journalism

Left: BBC political correspondent Forsyth, who has forged a career finding politics stories away from Westminster, is the only applicant from inside the Corporation. Right: Crerar, 46, who is political editor of the Daily Mirror, is the only contender not from a broadcast background

Ex-News of the World reporter, Guardian's editor-at-large, a BBC lifer and Mirror editor... who're the runners and riders? Sophy Ridge: State-educated Sophy Ridge went to Tiffin Girls' School in South West London before getting a degree in English Literature at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Prior to getting her own show in 2017, she was a Sky News political reporter, during which time she revealed Ed Miliband's resignation as Labour leader following the General Election in 2015. Ms Ridge, 38, who has been at Sky News for more than a decade, has recently returned from maternity leave. Sky staff say she would be a 'huge loss' if she joined the BBC. Anushka Asthana: Anushka Asthana's ITV News colleagues believe their outgoing chief executive Deborah Turness, who is due to take on the same role at BBC News this year, is a big fan of hers. As well as being deputy political editor of ITV News, Ms Asthana, 41, a former Guardian journalist, stars on its political show, Peston. The former chief political correspondent at The Times attended 12,600-a-year Manchester High School for Girls before going on to read economics at St John's College, Cambridge. She spent two years working for Sky News as a political correspondent. Alex Forsyth: Alex Forsyth is the only internal candidate among the four favourites. She has been at the BBC since 2010, having started as political reporter. She was promoted to home affairs correspondent later that year and also served as middle east correspondent before returning to politics. She was previously political editor of The News Portsmouth. Pippa Crerar: Pippa Crerar went to Glasgow Academy before attending Newcastle University ahead of her journalism career. She learnt her trade on Fleet Street at the Independent, Evening Standard and the Guardian before becoming the Mirror's political editor in 2018. She also hosts BBC Radio 4's programme Week in Westminster. She became most notably for a number of scoops on Downing Street parties - dubbed Partygate - during the pandemic, which left the government red-faced at the time. Advertisement

Oxford-educated Ridge, 38, is a former News of the World reporter who now presents her eponymous Sunday morning politics show on Sky News.

Asthana, 41, is a former editor-at-large for the Guardian. As well as being ITV's deputy political editor she co-presents Peston with Robert Peston on Wednesday nights.

BBC political correspondent Forsyth, who has forged a career finding politics stories away from Westminster, is the only applicant from inside the Corporation.

Meanwhile Crerar, 46, who is political editor of the Daily Mirror, is the only contender not from a broadcast background.

But she has grown in popularity over the last year after digging out stories on Downing Street parties during the pandemic.

Of the four, the Times reports that Ridge and Asthana were the favourites to take the helm.

But Labrokes has Forsyth as favourite at 6/4, Asthana second at 5/2, Crerar 7/2 and Ridge 4/1.

The BBC's political editor is widely seen as one of the hardest jobs in the industry, with the journalist constantly accused of being left or right wing.

Asthana and Crerar's background at left-wing newspapers may make their hiring controversial for some.

In January, BBC recruitment staff extended the deadline for applications for the job by three weeks. Initially it was set for January 20, but it then became February 10.

A BBC source said: 'There has been much exodus of talent at the Beeb recently, and this is an opportunity to reverse it with a really highly regarded appointment.'

The BBC's former North America editor Jon Sopel had been considered the frontrunner, but he quit last month to join the commercial broadcaster Global.

Ms Kuenssberg's deputy Vicki Young pulled out of the race in January, reportedly because her husband is ill.

BBC bosses are said to have wanted to ensure Ms Kuenssberg's replacement arrives with no political bias after a controversy over the appointment of Jess Brammar.

The news executive was blasted for tweeting numerous comments critical of Brexit and Government policies.

Julian Knight MP, the Tory chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, told the Telegraph: 'They are clearly four very capable people - and that is what counts at the end of the day.

'Whoever is going to be given this landmark position in the BBC needs to keep impartiality at the centre of what they do.

'Because let's be frank about it - the BBC, despite the work of the director-general, still has a long way to go in terms of impartiality.'

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: 'Latest rumours suggest BBC chiefs have whittled Lauran Kuenssberg's replacement down to just a handful of names, and having attracted plenty of interest from punters over the past few weeks, Alex Forsyth continues to lead the way ahead of Anushka Asthana - that being said, the latest odds suggest the race for the role is far from over.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'We don't comment on ongoing recruitment processes.'
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Moscow and Kyiv are 'halfway there' in agreeing on the issue of Ukraine's demilitarisation, and their views are most aligned on Ukraine's neutrality and giving up on joining NATO, according to Russian negotiators.

Chief negotiator for Russia Vladimir Medinsky said on Friday that negotiating teams were currently trying to agree on ending hostilities in Ukraine, and were discussing nuances of security guarantees, should Ukraine no longer attempt to join the Western military alliance.

He declined to reveal any other details of the talks.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine will have been ongoing for a month next week, with the Kremlin having experienced heavy losses in the number of their troops, military vehicles and equipment.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected a Russian plan to become 'neutral' like Sweden or Austria as the warring sides try to hash out a deal to end the bloodshed in eastern Europe.

Moscow is thought to be demanding that Ukraine refuse to join any military alliance or host foreign military bases on its soil in exchange for a ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops currently terrorising the country.

But Kyiv has said any deal will need to include security guarantees underwritten by 'international partners' who would agree to come to Ukraine's defence in the event it is attacked again.

Ukraine's top negotiator Mikhailo Podolyak said the international community cannot be allowed 'to stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today' should fighting restart.

The plan includes 'limits' on Ukraine's armed forces in return for Russia withdrawing from areas captured since the start of war on February 24, including along the Black Sea coast in the south, and Ukraine's northern and eastern borders.

But it is unclear what would become of Crimea - which Russia insists must be recognised as part of its territory - and Donetsk and Luhansk - which the Kremlin says should be recognised as independent.

Putin insists that the whole of Donetsk and Luhansk - known as the Donbass - should split from Ukraine, and not just the parts occupied by pro-Moscow rebel forces before fighting broke out. It is unclear if Kyiv would agree to such terms.

Smoke rises over the city of Lviv, in western Ukraine, after two Russian cruise missiles hit the city early Friday - destroying an aircraft repair workshop at the airport and a nearby bus garage

Russia's ground attacks have stalled on almost all fronts, with limited gains happening in the east, as Putin's generals increasingly launch long-range strikes on the west of the country in an attempt to weaken Kyiv's war effort

Civilians and members of Ukraine's territorial defence force look on as smoke rises over the city of Lviv, in the west of Ukraine, after Russian cruise missile strikes early on Friday

A Ukrainian civilian, wounded by flying glass from a Russian airstrike, evacuates from an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine

The 15-point-plan, which was obtained by the FT, only lays out Russia's negotiating position and does not take into account Ukrainian demands, said chief negotiator Podolyak.

'The only thing we confirm at this stage is a ceasefire, withdrawal of Russian troops and security guarantees from a number of countries,' he tweeted.

Summing up peace talks from the Russian side, one senior official told Reuters that there is 'a small chance of a peaceful resolution,' adding: 'Something will be decided in the next three days to a week.'

Another senior Russian source said Putin is willing to consider a peace on Russia's terms and that there is a window of opportunity for some sort of deal.

Chief negotiator for Russia Vladimir Medinsky said on Friday that negotiating teams were currently trying to agree on ending hostilities in Ukraine, and were discussing nuances of security guarantees, should Ukraine no longer attempt to join the Western military alliance

Russian airstrikes pounded the city of Lviv in the west of Ukraine in the early hours of Friday, as Vladimir Putin increasingly strikes close to NATO-member Poland in his bloody-minded invasion of his ex-Soviet neighbour.

Andriy Sadovyi, mayor of Lviv, said two Russian missiles launched from the Black Sea - likely by warships - had destroyed an aircraft repair facility and a bus garage close to the airport, but there were no immediate reports of casualties because both facilities were shut down. Four incoming missiles were shot down, he added.

Lviv has largely been spared the devastation wreaked by Russia on cities further to the east but is now being dragged into the fighting as Putin's advance grinds to a halt - forcing his generals to launch long-range strikes on cities in an attempt to weaken their defences and terrorise civilians. Kyiv was also struck in the early hours.

Russia's invasion is now grinding into its third week with heavy losses for Moscow, prompting the US warns that Putin will increasingly resort to nuclear threats in order to keep the West out of the conflict because he will no longer be able to rely on the strength of his conventional forces - which will be weakened in the fighting.

Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, told Congress yesterday: 'As this war and its consequences slowly weaken Russian conventional strength, Russia likely will increasingly rely on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project strength to its internal and external audiences.'

While Berrier specified that the nuclear threats will be directed at the West, he also warned that Russia appears determined to increase its attacks on Ukraine as well - with the aim of forcing Kyiv to sign a peace deal favourable to Moscow rather than accept an embarrassing compromise.

'Despite greater than anticipated resistance from Ukraine and relatively high losses in the initial phases of the conflict, Moscow appears determined to press forward by using more lethal capabilities until the Ukrainian government is willing to come to terms favorable to Moscow,' he said.

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after bombing by Russian forces in Kyiv

Rescuers work at a site of buildings damaged by a shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in the capital city of Kyiv

Civilians watch a storage facility go up in flames after it was hit by artillery shelling in the north of Kyiv

A residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, is seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine

A man with a cat evacuates from a building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues in Kyiv

Residents of Lviv have told of their shock at the Russian missile attack on their safe-haven city. Families living in a housing estate close to the bomb strike described how buildings shook and windows rattled from the explosion.

Professional dancer Anna Malchevska, 25, told MailOnline: I was woken up by the explosions, there were four of them. The windows were shaking and the building was shaking. It must have been about 6 oclock this morning.

There was no warning. No air raid siren, just boom, boom. Then I looked out of the window and there was a huge plume of black smoke.

Ira Melnyk, 60, who is retired, said: Im not sleeping at the moment because of all the stress of the war. So when I heard the first explosion I pick up my dog and rushed into the bathroom where its safer.

The building was shaking and the windows were rattling. It was awful. When I went up the window I could see a plume of black smoke. It was really scary.

Father Andriy Mousiyiyev told how he no longer takes his children to the bomb shelter after surviving the bombing raids in his home city of Kharkiv. He told MailOnline: We came from Kharkiv where we lived under the bombs for days on end. We thought we had escaped the war when we got here to Lviv about a week ago.

'But now the war is everywhere. We have young children do we dont go to the shelter every time the air raid sirens go off. So this morning we were in the flat when the bombs went off. It was about 6.10. The children were not frightened. They just want to go home to Kharkiv, we all do.'

In city after city around Ukraine, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety from the bombardment have been attacked.

Rescue workers searched for survivors in the ruins of a theater that served as a shelter when it was blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

And in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, at least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center, a local official said.

In the northern city of Chernihiv, dozens of bodies were brought to the morgue in just one day.

As Russia's ground advance has stalled under fierce Ukrainian resistance, Moscow has increasingly turned to air and long-range strikes to gain the upper hand.

According to Pentagon estimates, Russia has now fired over 1,000 missiles at Ukrainian targets since the war began three weeks ago.

In the early hours of Friday air raid alarms again rung in cities from Kyiv in the north to Odessa in the south and Kharkiv in the east.

Ukraine's government listed a kindergarten and market in Kharkiv among the latest targets.

In his latest late-night video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in several Ukrainian cities was 'difficult.'

But, he said, 'we will not leave you behind and we will not forgive them. You will be free.'

Hoping to sustain the fight, he has beseeched allies for more assistance - even as an arsenal of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles flood into the country.

Slovakia confirmed it is willing to provide powerful Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine, but only on the condition that it receive a substitute from NATO allies.

On Wednesday Zelensky told German lawmakers that Russia was throwing up another 'Berlin Wall', a dividing line between 'freedom and bondage' in Europe.

'And this wall is growing bigger with every bomb,' he added.

That dividing line is currently drawn around 15 kilometres from Kyiv, where Russian troops are still trying to surround the capital in a slow-moving offensive.

On Wednesday AFP journalists witnessed Ukrainian and Russian forces trade shell and rocket fire to the northwest of the city.

Civilians ran for cover as shelling set fire to a building near a warehouse.

Inside the warehouse's car park, a Ukrainian soldier carrying a rifle ran in a crouch as gunshots crackled through the air.

A man carried a prone child in his arms into a nearby block of flats, and at least five ambulances raced towards the scene.

An interior view shows a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

Rescuers work next to a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

Smoke rises from the ruins of a building in Sievierodonetsk, in the Ukrainian-held part of eastern Donetsk region, where fighting with Moscow-backed rebel forces is ongoing

A view shows a building of a hospital damaged by shelling as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Sievierodonetsk

A fire broke out in a residential building in Kyiv's Podilskyi district after it was struck by a downed Russian missile, with one person killed and four injured

A fire broke out in a residential building in Kyiv's Podilskyi district as a result of a downed missile

Rescuers work on remains of a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv

Rescuers work on remains of a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv

Destroyed cars are seen in an area damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, are seen in Kyiv

Locals walk next to residential buildings damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine

Residents of a shell-damaged house in Kyiv, Ukraine, clean broken window panes

In Odessa, on the Black Sea, civilians were bracing for attack, with tanks deployed at intersections and monuments covered in sandbags.

'Our beautiful Odessa,' said Lyudmila, an elegant elderly woman wearing bright lipstick, as she looked apologetically at her city's empty, barricaded streets.

'But thank God we are holding on! Everyone is holding on!'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that American officials were evaluating potential war crimes and that if the intentional targeting of civilians by Russia is confirmed, there will be 'massive consequences.'

The United Nations political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the U.N. Security Council that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians.

She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities 'are reportedly indiscriminate' and involve the use of 'explosive weapons with a wide impact area.' DiCarlo said the devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv 'raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks.'

In Mariupol, hundreds of civilians were said to have taken shelter in a grand, columned theater in the city's center when it was hit Wednesday by a Russian airstrike. More than a day later, there were no reports of deaths and conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble. Communications are disrupted across the city and movement is difficult because of shelling and other fighting.

Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar Technologies showed huge white letters on the pavement outside the theater spelling out 'CHILDREN' in Russian - 'DETI' - to alert warplanes to the vulnerable people hiding inside.

'We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theater could survive,' Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, told The Associated Press. He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes. Other officials said earlier that some people had gotten out.

Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the at least three-story building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.

Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.

'We are trying to survive somehow,' said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. 'My child is hungry. I don't know what to give him to eat.'

She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. 'I can't tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing,' she said.

Cars, some with the 'Z' symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighborhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

In Chernihiv, at least 53 people were brought to morgues over 24 hours, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Ukrainian soldiers and firefighters search in a destroyed building after a bombing attack in Kyiv, Ukraine

Members of a Territorial Defense unit guard a defensive position on the outskirts of Kyiv

Ukrainian soldiers take cover from incoming artillery fire in Irpin, the outskirts of Kyiv

Ukraine's emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including 3-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000.

'The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction,' Chaus said.

The World Health Organization said it has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured.

In remarks early Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was thankful to President Joe Biden for additional military aid, but he would not get into specifics about the new package, saying he did not want Russia to know what to expect. He said when the invasion began on Feb. 24, Russia expected to find Ukraine much as it did in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea without a fight and backed separatists as they took control of the eastern Donbas region.

Instead, he said, Ukraine had much stronger defenses than expected, and Russia 'didn't know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.'

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies accused Putin of conducting an 'unprovoked and shameful war,' and called on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justice's order to stop its attack and withdraw its forces.

Both Ukraine and Russia this week reported some progress in negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that some negotiators were breaking into working groups.

Zelenskyy said he would not reveal Ukraine's negotiating tactics.

'Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook,' Zelenskyy said. 'I consider it the right way.'

While details of Thursday's talks were unknown, an official in Zelenskyy's office told the AP that on Wednesday, the main subject discussed was whether Russian troops would remain in separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after the war and where the borders would be.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Ukraine was insisting on the inclusion of one or more Western nuclear powers in the negotiations and on legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine.

In exchange, the official said, Ukraine was ready to discuss a neutral military status.

Russia has demanded that NATO pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

The fighting has led more than 3 million people to flee Ukraine, the U.N. estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.
Facing stiff resistance in Ukraine and crippling economic sanctions at home, Russian President Vladimir Putin is using language that recalls the rhetoric from Joseph Stalin's show trials of the 1930s.

Putin's ominous speech on Wednesday likened opponents to 'gnats' who try to weaken the country at the behest of the West - crude remarks that set the stage for sweeping repressions against those who dare to speak out against the war in Ukraine.

His rant appeared to reflect his frustration about the slow pace of the Russian offensive, which bogged down on the outskirts of Kyiv and around other cities in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces made comparatively bigger gains in the south, but they haven't been able to capture the strategic port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, and their advance along the Black Sea coast also has stalled.

Putin's language mirrored speech used by authorities in Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union, when so-called 'enemies of the people' were labelled as 'mad dogs' and 'reptiles'

Meanwhile, Russia has been battered by devastating Western sanctions that cut the government's access to an estimated half of the country's hard currency reserves and dealt crippling blows to many sectors of the economy.

With his hopes for a blitz in Ukraine shattered and economic costs mounting swiftly, Putin unleashed a venomous diatribe at those who oppose his course.

'The Russian people will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and will simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths - spit them out on the pavement,' Putin said during Wednesdays call with top officials. 'I am convinced that such a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to respond to any challenges.'

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 16, 2022

The coarse language carried ominous parallels for those familiar with Soviet history. During show trials of Stalin's Great Terror, authorities disparaged the declared 'enemies of the people' as 'reptiles' or 'mad dogs.'

His voice strained by anger, Putin charged that Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine were a 'fifth column' obsequiously serving Western interests and ready to 'sell their own mother.'

'I don't condemn those who have villas in Miami or the French Riviera, those who can't live without foie gras, oysters or so-called gender freedoms,' Putin said. 'It's not a problem. The problem is that many of those people are mentally there (in the West) and not here with our people, with Russia. They don't remember or just don't understand that they are just ... expendables used for the purpose of inflicting the maximum damage on our people.'

As he spoke, the Russian State Investigative Committee announced the opening of criminal probes against several people accused of spreading 'false information' about the military action in Ukraine.

The first person singled out by the country's top investigative agency was Veronika Belotserkovskaya, a popular blogger and socialite who has written books about French and Italian cuisine and divides her time between Russia and southern France. She appeared to be a target conveniently fitting Putin's scathing description of cosmopolitan Russians who love fancy food and are seemingly at odds with the broad masses.

The investigative committee said it would move to issue an international arrest warrant for Belotserkovskaya, alleging her Instagram posts 'discredited' state authorities and the military.

Belotserkovskaya responded by writing: 'I have been officially declared to be a decent person!'

She is being investigated under new legislation fast-tracked on March 4 by the Kremlin-controlled parliament, a week after Putin launched the invasion. It envisions prison terms of up to 15 years for posting 'fake' information about the military that differs from the official narrative.

Putin and his lieutenants describe the war in Ukraine as a 'special military operation' intended to uproot alleged 'neo-Nazi nationalists' and remove a potential military threat against Russia- goals that most of the world has rejected as bogus.

Russian officials have attributed the offensive's slow pace to their desire to spare civilians, even as the military pummelled Mariupol, Kyiv, Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities with indiscriminate barrages and airstrikes, killing untold numbers of civilians.

With the action in Ukraine in stark contrast with official declarations, the authorities acted quickly to control the message, shutting access to foreign media websites, along with Facebook and Instagram and moving to outlaw their parent company Meta as an 'extremist' organisation.

The tight lids on information have helped the Kremlin rally support of broad layers of the population who rely on state-controlled television as their main source of news. State TV programs carried an increasingly aggressive message against those who oppose the war.

Asked about incidents in which the apartment doors of war critics were spray-painted with the letter 'Z' - a sign used to mark Russian military vehicles in Ukraine that has been heavily promoted by the state - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as an 'emotional' move by Putin's supporters.

The campaign in support of the war saw Russian cities flooded with 'Z' posters and vehicles emblazoned with it. School children were shown standing in groups in the shape of the letter or wearing clothes marked with a 'Z.'

Despite the draconian new laws, tight controls on information and increasingly aggressive propaganda, however, thousands of Russians showed up at antiwar protests across the country to face immediate arrest.

In a powerful symbol of defiance, an employee of state television interrupted a live news program, holding a handmade sign protesting the war. Marina Ovsyannikova was fined the equivalent of $270, but still faces a criminal probe that could land her in prison.

One loud voice of dissent was that of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putin's fiercest political foe who is serving 2 1/2 years in prison and now faces a trial that could hand him a 13-year sentence.

In a speech at his trial Tuesday, Navalny warned that the war will lead to the breakup of Russia, saying that 'everyone's duty now is to oppose the war.'

People walk past the letter Z, which has become a symbol of the Russian military, and a hashtag reading 'We don't abandon our own' in an underground station in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 9, 2022

Russian army tanks move down a street on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine, March 11, 2022

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, March 16, 2022

Firefighters extinguish an apartment house after a Russian rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, Ukraine, Monday, March 14, 2022

A family walk past a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a sign reading 'Go Russia!' and the letter Z, which has become a symbol of the Russian military, displayed in the window of a children's library in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, March 11, 2022
A fast-moving electrical storm has swept through Sydney knocking out TV signals and train lines with the wet weather is set to continue over the weekend.

Heavy rainfall and cackling thunder battered the city on Friday just after 9pm, catching Sydneysiders by surprise.

Fans watching the footy reported patchy TV signals, while others noted similar disruptions to satellite streams across the Harbour City.

Heavy rainfall and cackling thunder tore through Sydney on Friday just after 9pm (pictured)

Commuters were left stranded at North Sydney after lightning strikes damaged equipment on train lines causing trains to cease operating in both directions.

Confused Sydneysiders flocked to social media, reporting wild weather stretching from the city's Inner West to the Lower North Shore.

'Because Sydney needs more thunder, lightning and heavy rain! (Not!). Terrifying storm in the inner west right now! Lightning coming in through the windows...' Tweeted one person.

Twitter user @_museumguy captured a shot of the Sydney Opera House as a sudden deluge struck the city on Friday night

'Very heavy, strange storm rolling from the south in Sydney tonight, not normal by any stretch,' wrote another.

'Woah! The storm over Sydney is fierce! I have a sudden urge to hide under my bed but with cats,' said a third.

Despite the downpour, State Emergency Services (SES) said they only had a handful of reports for help.

'So far we have received just under 20 requests across Sydney Metropolitan for assistance,' the SES told Daily Mail Australia.

'There were two calls for flood rescues requested due to flash flooding in Mascot.'

The SES said the storm is moving quickly towards the coast but urged residents to stay vigilant during extreme weather.

'When there's a storm make smart safe decisions. Don't go out and about if you don't need to and never walk or drive through floodwater.'

The Bureau of Meteorology said on Friday wet and cool conditions are expected over the weekend.

'A southerly change will bring showers and cooler conditions to Sydney on Saturday mostly during the morning and afternoon. Dry conditions returning on Sunday,' BoM wrote on Twitter.

Showers are expected to ease late on Saturday with temperatures reaching a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 24.

The city will be cloudy on Sunday with the mercury set to drop to a minimum of 16 and hit a peak of 25.

This comes as endless rain and wild weather is set to continue to linger over Australia's east coast before La Nina's weather system finally weakens.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned the La Nina weather event bombarding the country is expected to 'persist' for several weeks.

The 'stalled' end of La Nina will mean the east and north coast could experience more rain, cyclones, and flooding.

The event usually forms in the late spring or early summer and will dissipate during autumn, however Australia's current La Nina is set to stay longer than expected.

The BoM announced during this week's climate update that the La Nina is past its peak but will continue to affect weather conditions.
A bombshell claim about another person 'possibly involved' in the murder of Charlise Mutten has been made after the man accused of shooting the nine-year-old and disposing of her body in a barrel appeared in court.

Defence solicitor Peter Katsoolis, who made the claim after appearing for accused murderer Justin Stein on Friday at Penrith Court, also told Nine News he was yet to read a 4000 page police brief on the case and hadn't received a post-mortem report on Charlise's death.

He said 'there is no clear motive' for his client or anyone else to have allegedly killed Charlise and that he had 'a long way to go to analyse all of those movements' in relation to CCTV released by police which allegedly showed Stein driving around with a barrel in the back of his red ute soon after the girl's death.

The lawyer for accused murderer Justin Stein has claimed it was possible someone else was involved in the death of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten (above)

At the time of the alleged murder, police say Charlise's mother Kallista Mutten was staying at a caravan park at Lower Portland on the Hawkesbury River, 81km from the luxury Mount Wilson estate where Charlise is believed to have died.

Stein was briefly mentioned in Penrith Local Court on Friday morning where he was remanded in custody until May over the murder charge, and a separate charge of breaching parole.

Mr Katsoolis told the court the alleged parole breach related to a drug charge from 2016.

Stein did not appear on screen from Silverwater prison, where he is believed to have been held since his arrest in January.

Magistrate David O'Neil set the next hearing for the murder charge on May 20.

Lawyer Peter Katsoolis (pictured) appeared for accused murderer Justin Stein on Friday at Penrith Court

Stein did not appear on screen from Silverwater prison, where he is believed to have been held since his arrest in January

Charlise was allegedly fatally shot with a 'small calibre rifle' sometime between January 10 and 11.

The Tweed Heads schoolgirl had been holidaying with her mother and Stein at his family's luxury Blue Mountains wedding venue and at a Lower Portland caravan Park over the Christmas holiday season.

Ms Mutten reported her daughter missing from the Wildenstein property on the morning of January 14, and police located her remains inside a blue barrel 65km on the banks of the Colo River on the afternoon of January 18.

Charlise (pictured) was allegedly fatally shot with a 'small calibre rifle' sometime between January 10 and 11

Kallista Mutten (above) took her daughter Charlise on a holiday to NSW with new boyfriend Justin Stein, a trip which ended with the tragic alleged murder of the schoolgirl

Stein was arrested on the same night and charged with Charlise's alleged murder.

An autopsy on the remains of Charlise revealed the cause of death and detectives released CCTV footage last month which allegedly shows Stein's red Holden Colorado ute with a barrel-shaped object in the back under a blue tarpaulin towing a white boat around various Sydney locations.

Police allege Stein was behind the wheel when the red ute visited the BP service station at Marsden Park, in northwestern Sydney at 5.53pm on Thursday, January 13.

It was then captured driving along Victoria and Bayswater roads at Drummoyne around 7.20pm when Stein allegedly drove it to Five Dock boat ramp.

Ms Mutten, 31, is now reportedly pregnant with Stein's child.

TIMELINE OF CHARLISE MUTTEN'S DISAPPEARANCE January 13: Charlise Mutten, nine, was last seen on the verandah of an estate called Wildenstein in Mount Wilson, north-west of Sydney. January 14: Charlise was reported missing at 8.20am. Police flocked to the 12.5-acre wedding venue and established a crime scene. Neighbours told detectives they saw a car at 4.20am on Friday, with no headlights on. Investigators seized a Holden Colorado ute on High Street in Penrith for forensic testing, which belongs to her mother's fiance. Her mother Kallista Mutten, 31, collapsed and was taken to hospital. Ms Mutten's fiance Justin Stein, whose family owns the lavish property, spoke with police in Penrith. January 15: Homicide detectives took over the search. Police divers seized a boat in the Hawkesbury River and scanned it for fingerprints. The boat will also be kept for forensic testing. Investigators continued to scour fire trails in dense bushland surrounding the property. January 16: RFS volunteers found 'very small and barefooted' prints along a fire trail. 'Certain items' have been uncovered by detectives, but police have not been able to determine the schoolgirl's whereabouts. January 17: A convoy of five police vehicles and detectives on foot entered the property around 11.30am. One detective ordered media to 'leave, now!' from outside the gates of the five hectare wedding venue retreat A police bus followed by unmarked police cars rolled through the gates as a uniformed officer stood guard. Earlier, plain clothes child protection squad officers drove into the property. Ms Mutten will be questioned by police. January 18: Police say Charlise will likely be 'lethargic' and 'stationary' if she's lost in the bush. January 19: Police reveal Charlise's stepdad Justin Stein has been charged with murder after finding a body in a barrel overnight Later, police reveal they have not yet been able to interview Charlise's mother because she remains in hospital under guard and is difficult to access January 25: Police reveal further CCTV of a red ute travelling between Marsden Park and Drummoyne as they continue to investigate Charlise's death Advertisement

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One of Russia's top paratroop commanders has been killed in Ukraine in the latest blow to Vladimir Putin's debilitating war effort.

The death of Col Sergei Sukharev, of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment from Kostroma, was confirmed by state TV in Moscow.

Earlier his 'liquidation' had been claimed by Ukraine's Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security.

'Commander of the Kostroma Airborne Regiment, Colonel Sergei Sukharev got lost in the "[military] exercises", but returned home the right way,' said the Ukrainian statement.

His deputy Major Sergei Krylov was killed alongside him, said the report.

Colonel Sergei Sukharev of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment, Kostroma, died in Ukraine together with senior sergeant Sergei Lebedev, sergeant Alexander Limonov and corporal Yuri Degtyaryov of the same regiment

They were among a number slain from the 'glorious' Kostroma regiment, seen as among Russia's most elite fighting forces.

Russia acknowledged that senior sergeant Sergei Lebedev, sergeant Alexander Limonov and corporal Yuri Degtyaryov were also killed.

Sukharev was seen on Russian TV in January when he led his troops back from Kazakhstan where they had been sent following a wave of protests.

Sukharev was seen on Russian TV in January (pictured) when he led his troops back from Kazakhstan where they had been sent following a wave of protests

Russia described their mission as 'peacekeeping' and Sukharev said his forces protected a vital power plant in Almaty.

Killed, too, in the latest Ukrainian fighting was military intelligence officer Sergey Vishnyakov, of the GRU's 22nd Separate Special Forces Brigade.

He is believed to have been killed fighting near Mariupol in a Grad attack by Ukraine's Azov battalion.

Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Agarkov, from Volgograd, commander of a motorised rifle regiment, died during a special operation.

Major Ruslan Petrukhin, deputy battalion commander of the 38th Motorised Rifle Brigade, was also reported killed in action in Ukraine.

Commander of the Guards Tank Kantemirovskaya Division, Colonel Andrey Kolesnikov, of the 29th Combined Arms Army became the latest high profile casualty of the war on 11 March after getting killed during fighting

Oleg Mityaev, 47, left, major general of the Russian army - commander of the elite 150th motorized rifle division, reportedly died in Ukraine, as well as Major General Vitaly Petrovich Gerasimov, who was killed on 7 March outside the eastern city of Kharkiv (pictured right)

Russia has failed to announce its estimated death toll in Ukraine for more than two weeks.

There are claims it runs to around 7,000 with suspicions the true figure is being kept secret to prevent a sapping of support in Russia.

Yet the daily toll - including elite soldiers - indicates Russia is haemorrhaging its forces in a 'military operation' supposedly fought to boost its security, and 'deNazify' Ukraine.

Moscow had deployed the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment previously in Chechnya in two wars after the fall of the USSR, in Georgia in 2008, and in the Donbas in 2014.

Russia has seen the deaths of at least four generals in Ukraine.

Before the latest death of Sukharev, Major-General Oleg Mityaev, 47, commander of the army's 150th motorised rifle division, died fighting around the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukraine's interior ministry said late Tuesday as officials released a photo of what they claimed was his corpse on the battlefield.

Two weeks ago, Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, 47, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, was reportedly killed by a sniper on 3 March

He marked the fourth Russian general that Ukraine claims to have taken out and the 13th officer overall, as Putin's invading forces suffer heavy losses at the hands of dogged Ukrainian defenders.

Before him, on 11 March, Major General Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army became the latest high profile casualty of the war, which came four days after the killing of Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, 45, the first deputy commander of Russia's 41st army.

And two weeks ago, Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, 47, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, was reportedly killed by a sniper on 3 March.

The deaths have come as Russia's invasion grinds into its third week with heavy losses for Moscow.

The Pentagon estimates at least 7,000 Russian troops have now died in the fighting, with another 14,000 to 21,000 having been wounded, accounting for nearly a fifth of the estimated 150,000 men that Putin amassed on the border before before giving the order to attack 21 days ago.

The number of Ukrainians fleeing from their country passed three million on Tuesday, according to the UN.

Those escaping fighting and Russian bombardment are rising in numbers after Sunday's Russian strike on the Yavoriv military base near Lviv, with some people from western Ukraine having now joined the refugee flow across the border.
Tory-run Wandsworth Council was this morning at the centre of a massive data protection scandal - after it emailed 43,000 strangers' names, addresses and voting instructions to other residents.

The extraordinary mistake happened yesterday afternoon and saw voters' personal information sent out at random ahead of elections.

It is understood even those who had opted out of the open register could have had their details distributed.

The huge breach - sent by its Electoral Services department - raises the prospect of allowing identity theft and potentially security concerns.

A number of famous high-profile names also live in the borough and may have had their personal information shared.

Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid and Sadiq Khan have properties there, but it is not known if their details were emailed out.

Last night the Information Commissioner's Office was informed by Wandsworth about the wide-ranging error. The ICO did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

The council apologised but tried to play down the mistake, saying the information was already available to view in the public domain if people chose to go to view the electoral register.

But one Wandsworth resident told MailOnline: 'I don't want people to know my address because I have a sensitive job.

'When I received an email from the council with someone else's name and address on it, my first thought was 'Well, who has been sent mine?'.

Then Prime Minister Theresa May with supporters during a visit to Wandsworth Town Hall, London, where the Conservative Party retained control of Wandsworth Council in the local elections in 2018. The new elections are coming up in two months' time.

E-mails like the one above containing a name and address was sent to another random person

Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid and Sadiq Khan are known to live in Wandsworth, but it is not known if their details were emailed out

'I can see it's happened to other people as well - they need to come clean about what has gone wrong here.

'Them saying it is already in the public domain on the electoral register is missing the point, people have to make an effort to view that and often you have to sign in to look at it - here the council has just emailed data to people's inboxes without any checks whatsoever.

'It's one thing information being available in the public domain if you chose to look for it, but quite another thing the council actively distributing it to random people.'

Once the council had discovered what had happened a follow-up email was sent urging people to delete the message containing the data.

It read: 'We are writing to apologise once more for you being sent information in error in an earlier email today, which we'd be grateful if you would now delete.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron with Wandsworth Council Leader Ravi Govindi

Wandsworth has a population of 329,677 and 43,000 are known to have details shared

'We understand that you may be concerned to have received someone else's details. 'Please note that if you have previously chosen to opt out of the 'open' electoral register you cannot opt out of the public register and so all of the information you were sent is available on that public register. 'We are continuing our investigation of the issue to ensure this does not happen again and we are discussing the matter and will be taking further advice from the Information Commissioner's Office, we will of course abide by that advice as needed.'

It is not clear whether the named person in the wrong data email had received the same information belonging to that recipient.

Wandsworth Council Electoral services was not responding last night to emails from those affected asking how many people had been sent their information.

But Labour councillor Simon Hogg said it had been nearly 45,000.

He said: 'The council tells me that today 45,000 emails to voters notifying them of their polling station have been sent to the wrong email address

'This is obviously unacceptable. The council is writing to all the people affected to apologise.'

The council posted a statement on Twitter apologising.

It read: 'We are aware of an issue with emails sent out to some residents today in relation to the local elections which contained incorrect information.

'We'd first of all like to apologise to those people who have mistakenly received this information and can confirm we are investigating this matter to make sure it cannot happen again.

'We would like to reassure residents that the information contained in these emails is all publicly available in the borough's electoral register, which is an open document that can be inspected by any member of the public at any time during the year.

'The emails did not contain any other information beyond what is already in the public domain.

'We are seeking advice from the relevant data authorities and will of course act on any further guidance they provide.'

It added on Friday afternoon: 'Following discussions with the ICO they have initially indicated this is not a reportable incident and we will continue to work with them regarding this matter.'
China sailed an aircraft carrier through the sensitive Taiwan Strait this morning, shadowed by a U.S. destroyer.

The journey by elite carrier Shandong comes just hours before the two country's presidents are due to talk for the first time in months.

The Taiwan Strait in the South China Sea is a hotly contested stretch of water, with China claiming democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory.

Chinese elite aircraft carrier Shandong arrives at Dalian, a city in northeast China, in May 2018. It is the first aircraft carrier produced domestically in China and a jewel in the navy's crown

Over the past two years Beijing has stepped up its military activity near the island to assert its sovereignty claims, alarming Taipei and Washington.

An anonymous source who was not authorised to speak to the media told Reuters Shandong sailed close to the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, which sits directly opposite the Chinese city of Xiamen.

It was shadowed by American missile destroyer the USS Ralph Johnson.

The Taiwan Strait between the People's Republic and Chinese city Xiamen is a contested stretch of water in the South China Sea - with Shandong sailing through to 'intimidate' Taipei

"Around 10:30 a.m. the CV-17 [carrier] appeared around 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Kinmen, and was photographed by a passenger on a civilian flight," the source said, referring to the Shandong's official service number.

The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, followed the carrier, which did not have aircraft on its deck and sailed north through the strait, the source added.

Taiwan also sent warships to keep an eye on the situation, they added.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry declined to comment.

China's Defence Ministry and the U.S. Navy did not immediately responded to requests for comment.

American missile destroyer the USS Ralph Johnson (foreground), seen sailing through the Philippine Sea in June 2020, is based at US Navy centre Yokosuka, near Tokyo

The sail happened about 12 hours before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to speak to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The source described the timing of the Shandong's movement so close to that call as "provocative".

China says Taiwan is the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with the United States.

Washington has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier.

The Shandong is China's newest aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2019.

China's only other carrier, the Liaoning, is mostly used for training purposes.

Both ships have ventured close to Taiwan before.

In December 2019, shortly before presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan, the Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, a move condemned by Taiwan as attempted intimidation.

Taiwan's air force scrambles aircraft almost daily to see off Chinese warplanes flying into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, mostly to the southwestern part of the strait.

Taiwan calls this "grey zone" warfare activity, designed to both test its responses and wear out Taiwan's air force.
Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Erdogan renews proposal to bring Putin, Zelensky together

Xinhua) 09:13, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues on Friday as relevant parties are working to broker a peaceful solution. Following are the latest developments of the situation:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his offer to bring the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to Turkey, during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday.

"Pointing out that reaching consensus on some issues may require talks at the leadership level, Erdogan reiterated his offer to host Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul or Ankara," said a statement of the Turkish presidency.

Declaration of a lasting ceasefire would pave the way for a long-term solution, said Erdogan, expressing his hope that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would yield positive results, according to the statement.

- - - -

According to the Kremlin, in their conversation, Putin and Erdogan exchanged views on Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, especially the humanitarian situation.

Putin briefed Erdogan about the Moscow-Kiev peace talks, while Erdogan thanked Putin for the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Ukraine, it added.

- - - -

During their talks on Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his visiting Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to focus on organizing a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

"Now, we are focusing our efforts on organizing a meeting of leaders of Ukraine and Russia," Cavusoglu said, adding that the date of the meeting has yet to be confirmed.

- - - -

Zelensky said Thursday that he held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss France's support for Ukraine.

They discussed the support for Ukrainians in the conflict and the continuation of peaceful dialogue, he tweeted.

- - - -

During his visit to Pakistan, Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Thursday that no one in Austria is allowed to go and fight in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.

"I can tell you one thing anybody going to conflict will lose, by law, its nationality. This is Austrian law," he told a media briefing.

- - - -

On Thursday, the Lithuanian parliament unanimously approved a proposal to increase this year's national defense funding to 2.52 percent of GDP, according to Lithuanian ministry of finance.

The new amendment allows the state to borrow funds for its NATO membership commitments, ensuring defense allocations at 2.52 percent of GDP. The current budget allocates just over 1.2 billion euros, or 2.05 percent of GDP, to the Defense Ministry.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
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Ofcom has revoked Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT's UK licence with immediate effect.

The TV watchdog said RT's licensee, ANO TV Novosti, is 'not fit and proper' to hold a licence amid 29 ongoing investigations into the 'due impartiality of the news and current affairs coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine'.

A statement released by the regulator on Friday said: 'We consider the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concern  especially given RT's compliance history, which has seen the channel fined 200,000 for previous due impartiality breaches.

'In this context, we launched a separate investigation to determine whether ANO TV Novosti is fit and proper to retain its licence to broadcast.'

Speaking this morning, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said it was 'right our independent regulator has taken action against RT'.

She added: 'The outlets' lies and propaganda, where victims are cast as the aggressors and the brutality of Russias actions are concealed, have absolutely no place on our screens.'

The media regulator has repeatedly found RT to have breached its rules on impartiality and on one occasion found it had broadcast 'materially misleading' content.

The network, which has been described as Vladimir Putin's 'personal propaganda tool', was previously fined 200,000 for 'serious and repeated' breaches of impartiality rules over a string of 2018 broadcasts on the Salisbury poisonings and the Syrian war.

RT, which employed a number of British presenters and reporters, has referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation' (file image)

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries (above) had raised concerns with Ofcom over the possibility that the Kremlin-backed outfit 'could look to spread harmful disinformation'

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey today welcomed the decision to revoke RT's licence, saying it was 'welcome' action against a 'propaganda channel'.

Lucy Powell MP, Labour's shadow culture secretary, added: 'Labour has long called for Russia Today, Putins propaganda factory, to have its licence revoked. We welcome this decision though it should have come much sooner.'

RT had come under fire from a string of British politicians in recent weeks following the invasion of Ukraine.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries had raised concerns with Ofcom over the possibility that the Kremlin-backed outfit 'could look to spread harmful disinformation'.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also called on the government to take a stand on 'the propaganda' put out by RT, warning the channel was Vladimir Putin's 'personal propaganda tool'.

Watchdog Ofcom has revoked Kremlin-backed broadcaster RTs UK licence with immediate effect

The media regulator has repeatedly found RT to have breached its rules on impartiality and on one occasion found it had broadcast 'materially misleading' content

The channel even has its own branded merchandise it peddles on its online store, including unisex t-shirts with the pro-war 'z' symbol and 'freedom of speech' face masks (right)

British staff at RT's London and Moscow offices reportedly resigned in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Award-winning and former BBC Wales newsreader Kevin Owen announced he had finally had enough of working for RT International, resigning 'on principle'.

The Russian state-backed channel exiled from the West... What is RT? RT, previously known as Russia Today, is a Russian state-backed news channel, based in the UK. Launched in 2014, it is funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government. The UK media regulator, Ofcom, has repeatedly found RT to have breached its rules on impartiality and on one occasion found it had broadcast 'materially misleading' content. In September 2015, Ofcom found RT in breach of the impartiality rules in its coverage of the events in Ukraine and Syria. In December 2018, Ofcom ruled that seven programmes broadcast by RT between 17 March and 26 April of that year, in the wake of the Salisbury poisonings, had breached the UK's impartiality rules. RT said it was 'extremely disappointed by Ofcom's conclusions', but it was fined 200,000. It closed for TV broadcasting on 30 July 2021. But it still runs live streams via its English-speaking website. Nadine Dorries had ordered Ofcom to take 'timely and transparent' action against Russia Today amid growing concerns it is spreading propaganda during the Ukraine crisis. The Culture Secretary spoke to the broadcast regulator to raise concerns that the Kremlin-backed outfit could 'look to spread harmful disinformation' in the UK. Advertisement

Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, later suspended his talk show after viewers criticised his decision to work with the controversial broadcaster.

Mr Salmond had continued broadcasting on the maligned channel right up until Putin launched a full-scale invasion.

A statement from the politician released to the media said his show featuring the interview with Vince Cable would be the last until hostilities between Russia and Ukraine come to an end.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon had said she was 'appalled' at her predecessor Alex Salmond's involvement with RT.

Social media platforms were quick to distance themselves from RT in the wake of Putin's illegal invasion, with YouTube and Facebook banning access to all RT and Sputnik channels across Europe.

Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said: 'Freedom of expression is something we guard fiercely in this country, and the bar for action on broadcasters is rightly set very high.

'Following an independent regulatory process, we have today found that RT is not fit and proper to hold a licence in the UK.

'As a result we have revoked RT's UK broadcasting licence.'

RT, previously known as Russia Today, is a Russian state-backed news channel, based in the UK.

Launched in 2014, it is funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government.

It closed for TV broadcasting on 30 July 2021. But it still runs livestreams via its English-speaking website.

The channel even has its own branded merchandise it peddles on its online store.

These include unisex t-shirts with the pro-war 'z' symbol, 'freedom of speech' face masks and 'RT vs Censorship' t-shirts.

RT say all profits will go towards the 'refugees of Donbass'.
A scheme allowing thousands of kind Britons to open their own homes to Ukrainian war refugees officially opens today after an astonishing 150,000 people said they were willing to help.

Homes for Ukraine aims to match refugees with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, enabling those without family ties in Britain to enter the country.

More than 150,000 people in Britain had registered their interest by last night, and refugees who have found a sponsor can apply from Friday.

However, concerns have been raised about red tape, safeguarding and resourcing, with one major charity warning the Government is 'unleashing chaos' with the scheme and that refugees could die before they are matched with a sponsor and can safely reach the UK.

Labour said the programme's 'excessive bureaucracy' and 'DIY nature' are the greatest barriers to its success, and urged the Government to 'cut unnecessary paperwork and play an active role in matching sponsors to refugees'.

Meanwhile former health secretary Matt Hancock has suggested the scheme be used as a template in future to offer sanctuary to refugees from around the world.

The Suffolk MP, who plans to take in a family in his constituency home, said the UK needed 'a permanent system that's ready to go whenever there's a crisis somewhere in the world.'

Homes for Ukraine aims to match refugees with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, enabling those without family ties in Britain to enter the country.

Meanwhile former health secretary Matt Hancock has suggested the scheme be used as a template in future to offer sanctuary to refugees from around the world.

Ministers announced a U-turn on security checks for Britons hosting Ukrainians in their homes last night.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced earlier this week that hosts would only have to undergo 'very light touch' criminal records checks.

But, in fact, the measures will be significantly tougher, the Government said.

All hosts will now have to undergo a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which looks at whether they have any convictions.

However, those who intend to welcome children or vulnerable adults into their homes will have to undergo an even more detailed 'enhanced' DBS check, which looks at their background more deeply.

A Communities Department spokesman said: 'It's not a change in stance. We've been working at pace to get this running as quickly as possible.'

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, claimed the scheme is a 'smokescreen' and distraction from what really needs to happen, which she says is the removal of the visa requirement for Ukrainians to come to the UK, as other European countries have done.

She accused the Government of putting charitable organisations in an 'invidious' position and foisting the scheme on them without prior consultation, adding that she expects just a 'trickle' of refugees to arrive through the scheme because they will have to find people to become sponsors while abroad before they can apply, and then make their own way to the UK.

She said: 'Are some of the people going to be alive by the time the process has been gone through?

'They should be letting people in now, but the Government is doing to refugees what they've done to the Syrians and to Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust, and what they're doing is to reduce to an absolute minimum the number of refugees making their way to the UK in the midst of the worst refugee crisis since World War Two.'

Shadow levelling up and housing secretary, Lisa Nandy (centre), welcomed the scheme's launch but said there remains a 'worrying lack of engagement with local councils and charities'.

Positive Action in Housing, which runs Room for Refugees - the UK's longest running refugee hosting programme which has been in place since 2002 - is receiving around 40 calls and up to 150 emails an hour from Britons who want to offer accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.

Almost 70 Ukrainian refugee families have registered with the charity, including 60 children and several heavily pregnant women currently in Ukraine, France, Poland, Belgium and Germany.

Ms Qureshi questioned how many people who have expressed an interest via the Government's website will have to withdraw because they later realise they do not have 'the physical or mental room'.

She said: 'We do not have half a hosting program in place.

'All they've got is expressions of interest - they have not identified individuals to match them up... this is an illusion of people helping because they're distracting from the fact that they haven't lifted visa restrictions.'

Shadow levelling up and housing secretary, Lisa Nandy, welcomed the scheme's launch but said there remains a 'worrying lack of engagement with local councils and charities'.

She said: 'They stand ready to do their job but, unless the government steps up and provides clear guidance, we risk squandering the amazing generosity of people who have offered to open their homes.

'Getting Ukrainian families here quickly is vital so they are secure and there is certainty for those welcoming them. The biggest barriers are excessive bureaucracy and the DIY nature of this scheme. The Government needs to cut unnecessary paperwork and play an active role in matching sponsors to refugees.'

A spokeswoman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: 'We are moving as quickly as possible to ensure that those fleeing horrific persecution in Ukraine can be found the families and sponsors they need.

'The Government continues to work closely with non-governmental organisations and local government in order to speed up the process to bring Ukrainians to safety in the UK.'
Foreign fighters in Ukraine have ridiculed an American who fled the country when he was faced with fighting Russians in Kyiv with supplied gear, and complained in a viral video that he had been lured into a 'trap'.

Henry Hoeft, 28, was among thousands of foreigners to answer the call of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to help repel Moscow's invasion of his country - including a reported 3,000 U.S. citizens.

Hoeft, who also goes by the name of Henry Locke, is a 28-year-old former U.S. Army infantryman with associations with the American far-right group Boogaloo Boys.

A video of the Ohio native speaking to camera about his experiences trying to escape the country went viral on social media this week, with the army veteran admitting that he and two others fled the country in an ambulance.

He claimed that he and others in his unit were supplied with limited gear when asked to fight in Kyiv, something they refused to do.

But according to other foreign fighters, when the American attempted to join the Georgian National Legion - a unit of foreign fighters separate from Ukraine's Foreign Legion - he was rejected for not meeting the necessary requirements.

They also disputed claims that he made about an alleged attack on a Georgian National Legion base, and his experiences trying to leave Ukraine.

Henry Hoeft, 28, was among thousands of foreigners to answer the call of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to help repel Moscow's invasion of his country - including a reported 3,000 U.S. citizens. A video (pictured) of Hoeft speaking to camera about his experiences trying to escape the country went viral on social media this week

In the expletive-ridden video, he claimed he was in a base that was attacked, resulting in the deaths of multiple foreign fighters.

He then said his unit was asked to go to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital which has been bracing itself for a huge Russian assault.

His unit, he claims, refused to go. Instead he says, along with two others, he fled the country - by hiding in the back of an ambulance disguised as humanitarian workers.

Theyre trying to send us to Kyiv with no f***ing weapons,' he claimed. 'No kit. No f***ing plates. The people who are lucky enough to get weapons are only getting magazine with like 10 f***ing rounds.

'When they wanted to send us to Kyiv we said no  the whole group. Bunch of Americans, Canadians, British,' he said in the video filmed in an unknown location.

'So they told us we have to get the f*** out of there or they were going to shoot us in the back, alright. So me, this British guy and another American, we f***ing hid in the back of an Ambulance to get out.'

Hoeft claims that he had heard stories of foreign fighters being told by Ukrainian borders guards they could not leave without leaving their kit behind, or in some cases had their passports ripped up and were told to return to the front lines.

'They're pulling people out, cutting up passports, sending them back,' he claimed, before saying that he and his comrades disguised themselves to escape.

'So we dump out s**t, we got like  in like red cross vests and they had f***ing humanitarian passes to get us through the Ukrainian border,' he told the camera.

Hoeft (pictured), who also goes by the name of Henry Locke, is a 28-year-old former U.S. Army infantryman with associations with the American far-right group Boogaloo Boys

Hoeft, a resident of Frazeysburg in Ohio, has been recording his experiences in Ukraine on his TikTok channel, which has been deleted or banned since his posted his most recent video

He concluded his video by warning other potential foreign fighters not to come to Ukraine, claiming it was a 'trap'.

'People need to stop coming here. It's a trap. And they're not letting you f***ing leave. The best way to leave is [...] in a car or something.

'People who get out by vehicle have a better chance of hiding their f***ing kit in the back, doing whatever the f*** they can. But do not try to leave here on foot if you are a volunteer. It's a mess. And it's a trap. And I have multiple people who can confirm this story for me,' he claimed.

However, since he posted the video, at least two other foreign fighters in Ukraine have recorded their own videos hitting back at his claims.

One member of the Georgian Legion, Harrison Josefowitz, posted a response to Hoeft's claims, calling them 'completely false'. He said Hoeft - and another individual - did not pass the Legion's vetting process.

'This is in direct retaliation to them being rejected through our vetting process,' he said of Hoeft's claims. 'And that is exactly why we have a vetting process - to stop those kind of mindset people from getting here. From helping us out.'

He also said that the Legion has had a number of people who have crossed the border, and have had no issue getting gear across the border into Poland.

Pictured: Hoeft, who has previously claimed he was called by the FBI warning him against going to fight in Ukraine

Rescuers work at the site damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 18, 2022

On the claim that the Legion's base was hit, Josefowitz said: 'Well I'm still here, and so are the multiple amounts of Brits that were there with us, and the Americans that were here with us.' He added: 'The base that was hit was 30 kilometres away.'

Another foreign fighter, who identified himself as 'Mike' and referring to Hoeft just as 'Henry', said he had seen no issues with foreign passports at the border.

Another video, posted before entering Ukraine, showed Mike with Hoeft and a British man - suggesting two pair are well acquainted.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, 'Mike' is Mike Dunn - the former leader of the Last Sons of Liberty, a faction of the Boogaloo Boys.

The far-right group gained notoriety in recent years by attending Black Lives Matter protests carrying weapons, such as AR-15 rifles. The Dispatch reported that Hoeft has distanced himself from the group when it 'got all crazy'.

Hoeft, a resident of Frazeysburg in Ohio, has been recording his experiences in Ukraine on his TikTok channel, which has been deleted or banned since his posted his most recent video.

He claimed that when he first telegraphed his intention to go to Ukraine, he got a call from the FBI advising against it.

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 18, 2022

'He told me that I in no way have the support of the U.S. government when I'm over there, and if I get in any trouble, I need to just call the embassy,' Hoeft said.

'I get it. They don't want to be implicated if Russia harms any of us, and they don't want to escalate the conflict by saying that they're sending American soldiers over.'

While it is not illegal, the U.S. government have advised citizens against going abroad to fight in Ukraine.

In a statement earlier this month, the U.S. statement department said: 'Ukrainians have shown their courage and they are calling on every resource and lever they have to defend themselves. We applaud their bravery.

'However, our Travel Advisory remains: U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine, and those in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using commercial or other privately available options for ground transportation.'

Russia has warned that foreign fighters will be considered mercenaries and 'will not be afforded the rights given to lawful combatants according to international humanitarian law.' They would face criminal charges, or worse, should they be captured in Ukraine, Russia has said.

'At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals,' Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russia's state-owned TASS news agency

'We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kyiv's nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way.'
A Chinese diplomat has blamed the US for the war in Ukraine and accused them of 'fanning the flames' by supplying weapons and ammunition to the country.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, said: 'The claim that China is on the wrong side of history is overbearing. It is the US that is on the wrong side of history.'

Her comments come ahead of US President Joe Biden's call with Chinese President Xi Jinping today after the administration warned Beijing of severe consequences if they came to Russia's aid in Ukraine.

Ms Chunying added: 'If the US had honored its assurances, refrained from repeatedly expanding NATO and pledged that NATO would not admit Ukraine, and had not fanned the flames by supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, the situation would have been very different.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, said: 'The claim that China is on the wrong side of history is overbearing. It is the US that is on the wrong side of history

Her comments come ahead of US President Joe Biden's call with Chinese President Xi Jinping today after the administration warned Beijing of severe consequences if they came to Russia's aid in Ukraine

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, said: 'The claim that China is on the wrong side of history is overbearing. It is the US that is on the wrong side of history'

Smoke rises after an explosion in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on March 18, 2022

'If the US had truly abided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, how could it have staged wars without remorse for the people of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq & Syria ...?'

It comes just 10 days after Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the country's relationship with Russia is 'rock solid' despite 'lamenting' the casualties caused by President Vladimir Putin's war.

But the country's stance on the war in Ukraine seems confused, with government ministers giving different opinions almost every day.

Just yesterday Beijing's ambassador to Ukraine announced that 'China will forever be a good force for Ukraine.

President Joe Biden will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday after the administration warned Beijing of severe consequences if they came to Russia's aid in the Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a photograph during their meeting in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022

Fan Xianrong added: 'We will always respect your state... We will respect the path chosen by Ukrainians...

'China will never attack Ukraine, we will help, in particular in the economic direction. We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength.'

Zhao Lijian, China's foreign ministry spokesman, then endorsed Fan's comments on Thursday in the clearest sign yet that Beijing is attempting to publicly distance itself from Moscow, having initially lent strong support.

But Zhao did little to quash suspicions that backdoor efforts to prop up Putin's war effort are still underway, as he refused to rule out the possibility of sending military supplies to Moscow or relief from sanctions.

Asked specifically whether China supporting Ukraine would mean a refusal to send weapons to Russia, he said: 'That's your own interpretation.

How China's tone has changed on Ukraine February 4 China 'opposes further enlargement of NATO and calls on the [alliance] abandon its ideologized Cold War approaches' - Beijing statement after Xi-Putin summit at Winter Olympics February 23 US is 'raising tensions, creating panic, and playing up the schedule of war' - foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, a day before Russia invaded February 24 'Russia launched a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. Russia says its armed forces will not... strike cities. China... calls on all sides to exercise restraint' - Hua Chunying, declining to call it an 'invasion' on the day Russia invaded March 7 Beijing 'laments' the conflict and is 'extremely concerned' about civilian casualties, but relationship with Russia 'rock solid' - Foreign minister Wang Yi March 11 'We hope to see fighting and the war stop as soon as possible,' Wang Yi, describing the conflict as a 'war' for the first time March 15 China 'must not be affected' by sanctions because it 'is not party to the crisis' - Wang Yi March 17 'China will forever be a good force for Ukraine... We will always respect your state... We will respect the path chosen by Ukrainians... 'China will never attack Ukraine, we will help, in particular in the economic direction. We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength' - Fan Xianrong, Beijing's ambassador to Ukraine Advertisement

'China has made repeated statements. There is no reason for you to make such a connection.'

But Zhao also refused to rule out the possibility that China would lend support to Russia, after US intelligence suggested the Kremlin had reached out for military equipment and help skirting sanctions.

American intelligence suggested this week - ahead of a meeting between high-level US and Chinese diplomats - that Moscow had reached out to Beijing for support.

The Kremlin was said to have asked for ration packs for its troops, drones, armoured vehicles, intelligence equipment and relief for economic sanctions.

Washington subsequently warned of 'consequences' if Beijing tried to 'bail out' Putin's war effort. It is not clear whether any aid has been sent.

Friday's call between Biden and Xi is 'part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC [People's Republic of China],' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Thursday.

'The two Leaders will discuss managing the competition between our two countries as well as Russia's war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern,' she noted.

Biden and Xi last spoke in November, when they held a three and a half hour virtual meeting.

Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was in Rome earlier this week, where he was trying to keep China - Russia's most powerful diplomatic partner - from coming to President Vladimir Putin's aid in his invasion of the Ukraine.

Putin was in Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympic Games where he met with Xi.

Beijing has offered to act as mediator between Russia and the Ukraine but it also denounced trade and financial sanctions against Russia.

Meanwhile, Sullivan met for seven hours with China's top diplomat, Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi, on Monday.

Ukraine was the main topic in what a senior administration official called an 'intense' conversation.

Officials said Sullivan made clear there would be 'severe' and 'significant' consequences should China assist Russia.
A British tourist who claims she was left 4in shorter after breaking her back on a Banzai water slide while on holiday in Spain is suing the park operators for 500,000 compensation.

Jennifer Proctor, 27, smashed her spine during her descent of the extreme 40ft-high slide at the Aqualand waterpark in Mallorca at the end of a nightmare holiday in 2019.

She had to undergo an emergency spinal fusion in Spain to treat her injuries, and claims the damage left her 5ft 7in tall  4in shorter than her height before the accident.

She has now launched a 500,000 damages claim against Spanish amusement park operators Aspro Ocio SA, as well as a firm of Spanish insurers Liberty Seguros, alleging fault in management of the slide. Miss Proctors claims are being challenged.

Jennifer Proctor, 27, smashed her spine during her descent of the extreme 40ft-high slide at the Aqualand waterpark in Mallorca at the end of a nightmare holiday in 2019

She had to undergo an emergency spinal fusion in Spain to treat her injuries, and claims the damage left her 5ft 7in tall  4in shorter than her height before the accident

The Banzai ride is designed to power users down the slide boosted by water jets at the top, with riders then flying across the water when they reach the bottom

Before the tragedy Miss Proctor, of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, was training to be a teacher, but the accident left her struggling to pay for her course. She is currently not working.

Miss Proctors lawyer Katherine Deal told a hearing at the High Court in London: One would not expect to use this water slide and come off it with a broken back.

The issues of liability and compensation for her injuries are both disputed.

The Banzai ride is designed to power users down the slide boosted by water jets at the top, with riders then flying across the water when they reach the bottom.

Miss Proctor claims she was not given proper instruction before beginning her descent down the chute on a bodyboard. She also claims that she was thrown off her board before even hitting the water.

Her case reached Londons High Court as lawyers discussed pre-trial issues involving analysis of Spanish law and expert evidence about the use of the water slide

After the emergency surgery on her spine, Miss Proctor suffered a recurring septic infection for several months after treatment.

Her case reached Londons High Court as lawyers discussed pre-trial issues involving analysis of Spanish law and expert evidence about the use of the water slide.

The trial itself is expected to be dealt with in line with Spanish law.

Although Miss Proctor has now recovered from her fractured spine, her injury has left a legacy of lasting chronic pain, her barrister said after the hearing.

Miss Proctor previously told MailOnline: I thought I would have the time of my life on holiday, but instead it quickly became a nightmare.

Having to undergo surgery abroad, away from family and friends, was extremely difficult, and I feel that my life has been turned upside down by my injuries.

I just hope that I can get the answers I am looking for as to what happened.
Ms Lenarczyk has suffered chronic neck pain and migraines since receiving her first Covid jab

Waking up with migraines and neck pain is the 'infuriating' reality of a high-flying Sydney banker who has suffered persistent neurological problems six months after receiving the Covid jab.

Daniella Lenarczyk, 34, was eager to get her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in September last year.

But since getting the shot she claims to have battled a multitude of medical complications.

Ms Lenarczyk told Daily Mail Australia that despite spending upwards of $4,000 on GPs, tests, and medical specialists, doctors have been left scratching their heads and unable to offer her any answers.

'I wish there was more support for the people that are going through this,' she said.

While it is not yet known if the health issues are linked to the jab, she insists she never suffered from them before being vaccinated.

Danielle Lenarczyk, 34, was a high-flying young professional who for the last few months has struggled to get out of bed

'I've had so many different things, doctors are stumped, when so many people just look at you and see you're in pain but have to say I don't think I can help you, its infuriating.'

Ms Lenarczyk suffers from a range of strange symptoms including tinnitus - a constant ringing in your ears - as well as agonising migraines lasting six weeks.

The senior business development manager at ANZ's private equity intelligence firm Preqin, has been left desperately bouncing around between medical professionals complaining that information regarding 'vaccine injury' is almost impossible to come by.

She said most of her tests have come back 'inconclusive'.

'The doctors have empathy but if there's nothing coming back from the tests what can you do. They have to keep going back to square one.'

Lack of information

Government support is available for those who have experienced adverse vaccination reactions but in Ms Lenarczyk's case, her conditions are not recognised.

The Covid-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme was implemented by the Australian Government to allow those who have suffered a 'moderate to significant' impact following an adverse reaction to vaccines approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

But the TGA does not consider tinnitus or migraines severe enough to warrant financial support - despite its database listing 770 cases of tinnitus linked to the jab and another 914 for migraines.

Ms Lenarczyk (pictured) has visited many medical professionals who are baffled by her condition

The Therapeutic Goods Administration does not recognise tinnitus or migraines which Ms Lenarczyk experiences as side effects of the Pfizer vaccine

Ms Lenarczyk is adamant she is not an anti-vaxxer but hopes that coming forward with her story will start a conversation and help others in a similar situation.

'I had no hesitancy when I was getting the vaccine, all my friends had got Pfizer and were completely fine, I just was wanting to do something for the state and for the country so we could all get back to normal as soon as possible,' she said.

'When I was supposed to get my second vaccination, I wasn't able to go through with it because I had chest pains, which later I was told were my inflamed lungs.'

The investment adviser said she is disappointed that a government who pushed so hard for Australians to get vaccinated have not done more to compensate those who have experienced severe and adverse reactions.

'I can't go without answers still with this condition now, I cant do this anymore. My frustrations are that you couldn't google anything about vaccine injury and receive answers,' she said.

'There needs to be transparency about what's going on.

'It's warned that around one per cent of those who get the vaccine will have an adverse reaction but then there's no support for many of those that do.'

Adverse side-effects from vaccinations are rare but there are calls for the government to provide more information about them

Last week an American doctor directing the Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group told MedPage Today that he developed tinnitus after receiving his second Covid-19 jab - though he remains a steadfast vaccination advocate.

Gregory Poland, MD, told the news site that his tinnitus has been life-altering and says more research needs to be done to determine the cause of rare but adverse post-vaccination symptoms for the potentially millions of people affected by them worldwide.

He fears that the lack of authoritative advice and clinical studies into Covid vaccine injuries could provide fodder for vaccine hesitancy and leave those suffering from side effects with a scarcity of medical information.

'Floor falling from under my feet'

Ms Lenarczyk was beginning another bachelor degree in social science and had achieved many of her career goals when the pain set in and meant she needed to take time off work and move back in with her parents.

'It's taken me 10 years of hard work to get to where I am and now it feels like everything is falling from under my feet.' she said.

'Every morning I wake up hoping that this has all been a bad dream. It isn't the life I want to live.'

But since sharing her struggles online, Ms Lenarczyk has been inundated with messages of support.

'I've had many people message and reach out with very similar experiences and advice,' she said.

'I wanted to share my story because I was just seeking answers, and for other people to know they're not alone.'

Ms Lenarczyk (pictured right) had a very different reaction to her first covid vaccine which sees her spending most Friday nights at home while her friends are out
The parents of the cinematographer who was shot dead by Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust are trapped in war-torn Ukraine.

Halyna Hutchins's mother, Olga Androsovych, is valiantly continuing her work as a nurse at a Kyiv hospital as Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion continues into its third week.

The cinematographer, 42, died on October 21 last year when a prop gun used in the film Rust was fired by actor Alec Baldwin after he was told it wasn't loaded, shooting her in the chest.

And her husband, Matthew Hutchins, also revealed that her sister and three-year-old niece have managed to flee to the border of Romania and are hoping to be evacuated.

Halyna Hutchins's mother, Olga Androsovych is valiantly continuing her work as a nurse at a Kyiv hospital as Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion continues into its third week. Pictured: Halyna Hutchins and her husband Matthew Hutchins on their wedding day flanked by her mother Olga Androsovych and father Anatoly

Alec Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in Santa Fe after he was questioned about the shooting on the set of the film Rust

Halyna Hutchins, 42, was shot and killed on set on October 21

He told TMZ that the family is trapped because Russia continues to attack areas which house humanitarian corridors - supposedly safe passages for civilians to leave Ukraine.

Ms Androsovych believes she can't leave the country safely so has decided to continue working in the same hospital she has nursed at for more than 10 years.

And Ms Hutchins's father Anatoly Androsovych is also staying put in the country's capital.

Mr Hutchins added that he thinks a no-fly zone should be enforced over Ukraine and is pleading with China to intervene.

Russian airstrikes pounded the city of Lviv in the west of Ukraine in the early hours of this morning, as Vladimir Putin increasingly strikes close to NATO-member Poland in his bloody-minded invasion of his ex-Soviet neighbour.

Andriy Sadovyi, mayor of Lviv, said two Russian missiles launched from the Black Sea - likely by warships - had destroyed an aircraft repair facility and a bus garage close to the airport, but there were no immediate reports of casualties because both facilities were shut down. Four incoming missiles were shot down, he added.

Matthew and Halyna Hutchins are pictured with their son Andros, aged nine

Halyna Hutchins is pictured with her son, Andros

Hutchins and Halyna (pictured together) had a whirlwind romance that he described as 'magical' and love at first sight. They were married for 16 years

Lviv has largely been spared the devastation wreaked by Russia on cities further to the east but is now being dragged into the fighting as Putin's advance grinds to a halt - forcing his generals to launch long-range strikes on cities in an attempt to weaken their defences and terrorise civilians. Kyiv was also struck in the early hours.

Russia's invasion is now grinding into its third week with heavy losses for Moscow, prompting the US warns that Putin will increasingly resort to nuclear threats in order to keep the West out of the conflict because he will no longer be able to rely on the strength of his conventional forces - which will be weakened in the fighting.

In city after city around Ukraine, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety from the bombardment have been attacked.

Rescue workers searched for survivors in the ruins of a theater that served as a shelter when it was blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

Rescuers work at a site of buildings damaged by a shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after bombing by Russian forces in Kyiv

A Ukrainian civilian, wounded by flying glass from a Russian airstrike, evacuates from an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine

Russia's ground attacks have stalled on almost all fronts, with limited gains happening in the east, as Putin's generals increasingly launch long-range strikes on the west of the country in an attempt to weaken Kyiv's war effort

And in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, at least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center, a local official said.

In the northern city of Chernihiv, dozens of bodies were brought to the morgue in just one day.

As Russia's ground advance has stalled under fierce Ukrainian resistance, Moscow has increasingly turned to air and long-range strikes to gain the upper hand.

According to Pentagon estimates, Russia has now fired over 1,000 missiles at Ukrainian targets since the war began three weeks ago.

In the early hours of Friday air raid alarms again rung in cities from Kyiv in the north to Odessa in the south and Kharkiv in the east.

Ukraine's government listed a kindergarten and market in Kharkiv among the latest targets.

In his latest late-night video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in several Ukrainian cities was 'difficult.'

But, he said, 'we will not leave you behind and we will not forgive them. You will be free.'

Hoping to sustain the fight, he has beseeched allies for more assistance - even as an arsenal of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles flood into the country.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is on the warpath after being duped into a 10-minute video chat with a Russian imposter pretending to be the Ukrainian prime minister, his deputy revealed today.

James Heappey said the Cabinet minister could dish out a 'good b*llocking' after being left 'cross and embarrassed' by a fake politician who managed to get through several Government departments to speak to him about the war.

Mr Wallace lashed out last night at the Kremlin's 'dirty tricks' after he and Home Secretary Priti Patel were targeted.

He spent around 10 minutes on a Microsoft Teams call with a man claiming to be Denys Shmyhal, who asked about British policy and eventually urged him to shout slogans.

Armed Forces Minister Mr Heappey insisted that Mr Wallace would have followed security protocols and would not have discussed secret matters on Teams before he became suspicious and hung up.

He admitted aides were facing 'tough questions' over how the fake managed to bypass security in several departments.

Mr Wallace (left) lashed out last night at the Kremlin's 'dirty tricks' after he and Home Secretary Priti Patel were targeted.

He spent around 10 minutes on a Microsoft Teams call with a man claiming to be Denys Shmyhal (right), who asked about British policy and eventually urged him to shout slogans.

Armed Forces Minister Mr Heappey insisted that Mr Wallace would have followed security protocols and would not have discussed secret matters on Teams before he became suspicious and hung up.

'But you also know that he's been a security minister for years before he's promoted to be Secretary of Defence. He just instinctively understands threat and is always aware of the means of communication that he's on,' Mr Heappey added.

'He knew he was on Microsoft Teams. He was having a conversation with someone who he believed to be the Prime Minister of Ukraine. But because it was on Teams, all that Ben was really doing was exchanging platitudes.

'And Bens suspicions, because of the way that Ben's mind is so well attuned to security matters, when this guy started asking questions about potential military movements, Ben knew full well that's not the sort of question that anybody who was really who they say they were, would ever ask on Teams. And so he moved pretty quickly to terminate the call thereafter.'

The level of sophistication involved in the hoax has convinced Government sources that it was a Russian plot.

The video call was set up after an email, purportedly sent from an aide at the Ukrainian embassy, was sent to a government department and then forwarded to the Ministry of Defence.

The call was set up and Mr Wallace was put through on Teams to the 'prime minister of Ukraine', posing with the country's flag behind him.

The Times reported that Mr Wallace was asked about the chances of UK warships going to the Black sea and whether Ukraine should get nuclear weapons or join Nato.

Senior Ministry of Defence sources fear Moscow may attempt to splice together Mr Wallace's comments in an attempt to embarrass him.

He has ordered an immediate inquiry to find out how the impostor was able to speak to him.

His admission was followed by a similar one by Ms Patel, who said she was targeted earlier this week.

The Defence Secretary said it was a 'desperate attempt' but 'no amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks' could distract from the human rights abuses carried out during the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's forces.

Mr Wallace revealed he had been targeted by the hoax call in a Twitter post.

The fact that a hoax caller was able to speak directly to the Defence Secretary raises security questions, particularly given Mr Wallace's suggestion that Russia was behind it.

He said: 'Today an attempt was made by an imposter claiming to be Ukrainian PM to speak with me.

'He posed several misleading questions and after becoming suspicious I terminated the call.

'No amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks can distract from Russia's human rights abuses and illegal invasion of Ukraine. A desperate attempt.'
Speculation that UK and other states could be asked to guarantee Ukraine's security as part of any peace deal

Boris Johnson and Joe Biden could meet to discuss the 'endgame' in Ukraine at the NATO summit next week

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Boris Johnson is planning a face-to-face meeting with Joe Biden to plot the 'endgame' in Ukraine after crisis rejuvenated the Special Relationship.

The PM is expected to hold talks with the US president at a NATO summit in Brussels next week, amid speculation that Britain could end up acting as one of the guarantors of Kyiv's future security.

The bilateral talks have yet to be confirmed, but Mr Johnson and Mr Biden's personal connection appears to have strengthened significantly during the standoff with Russia.

The president is said to have referred to the PM as 'pal' in phone calls, and the US and UK have been moving in lockstep over imposing sanctions and supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces.

A government source told The Times: 'Thoughts are turning to the endgame. The losses Russia is suffering are unsustainable. If there is a settlement, there needs to be a discussion about how that settlement can be guaranteed.'

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has revealed his own 'endgame', with the Kremlin demanding that Ukraine 'demilitarise' as part of any peace deal.

In return, Ukraine insists that Western countries act as guarantors that could intervene in the event of further aggression.

However, Volodymyr Zelensky would demand much firmer commitments than those given in 1994, when Britain was among the states that guaranteed Ukraine's security after it agreed to give up huge nuclear weapons stocks.

The manoeuvring came as it emerged Britain is in the process of buying a 500million defence system from the US capable of detecting missiles fired at the UK.

The UK government has requested to buy a ballistic missiles defence radar and specialist equipment that would bolster the country's capabilities in detecting missiles. The U.S. State Department last night said it had approved the potential sale.

Boris Johnson is planning a face-to-face meeting with Joe Biden to plot the 'endgame' in Ukraine after crisis rejuvenated the Special Relationship

Vladimir Putin (left) and Volodymyr Zelensky (right) are mulling how the conflict in Ukraine could be wound up

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday

A woman cries in front of a block of flats, which was destroyed by Russian strikes in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol on Thursday

Ukrainian servicemen carry containers backdropped by a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday

A market in a residential area destroyed by the explosions of Russian combat missiles in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 17

A man mourns next to the body of his mother, who was killed when the remains of an intercepted Russian missile hit a residential building in the capital Kyiv, leaving dozens of others wounded

A member of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces walks near a damaged apartment block after it was hit by debris from a downed rocket in Kyiv

A satellite image taken over the city of Chernihiv, in northern Ukraine, on Wednesday and released Thursday shows blasts and fires caused by Russian air strikes in civilian areas

Local residents, who seek refuge in the basement of a building during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are seen in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 17

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 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 10003 Advertisement

A Western official, speaking about the possibility of UK involvement in acting as Ukraine's security guarantor, said: 'In terms of Britain's position as a guarantor, that is the subject of conversations with international partners.

'Obviously, it has been asked for but the terms are very important before anyone could say Yay or Nay. And it is not something that would happen without very concerted discussion with international partners.'

In Ukraine, rescue workers searched for survivors on Thursday in the ruins of a theater blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol, while scores of Ukrainians across the country were killed in ferocious urban attacks on a school, a hostel and other sites.

The UK has announced plans to supply air-defence systems to Poland to protect it from any Russian incursions.

No10 also left the door open to a possible role in holding the peace in Ukraine, but said the issue was still 'quite far down the road'.

The PM's spokesman said the UK had not yet had a 'formal request', adding: 'We will support President Zelensky and Ukraine in pursuing a diplomatic path if that is what they wish. But, clearly, the first route to that must be a ceasefire, and we've seen no sign of that.'

Ukraine has not spelled out the terms of the 'security guarantees' it is seeking.

But its top negotiator, Mykhailo Podolyak, suggested this week that countries would be asked to guarantee that they would intervene militarily in the event of a further Russian invasion  something Nato countries have so far refused to do because of the risk of triggering a world war.

He said any deal would have to involve a legally binding security agreement, signed by international partners who would 'not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today'.

The NATO summit next week could be a showcase for the renewed US-UK special relationship, which has been put under strain in recent years, most notably over the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Mr Johnson had asked Mr Biden to delay the US exit last August in order to provide more time for humanitarian airlifts.

But Mr Biden stuck to his hard deadline of August 31 as all remaining US forces left the country and the UK followed suit.

There have also been tensions related to Brexit, with Mr Biden having been opposed to the UK leaving the EU.

A trade deal with the US had been held up by Brexiteers as one of the main prizes of Brexit but hopes of a pact being struck in the near future have faded.

Western officials yesterday said Russia and Ukraine appeared to be taking the peace talks 'seriously', but warned there was a 'very, very big gap between their positions'.

Zelensky is said to be increasingly hopeful that the peace talks will prove successful because intelligence suggests Putin's troops are only making small advances without a major strategic breakthrough in the face of 'fierce and mobile' Ukrainian resistance.

Officials suggested Russia may not be able to mount an all-out attack on Kyiv as its demoralised troops suffer increasing casualties and become bogged down outside the Ukrainian capital.

British defence intelligence analysts also said Russia is being forced to divert 'large numbers' of troops to defend its supply lines rather than continuing its attacks in Ukraine.

The latest intelligence assessment published by the Ministry of Defence said: 'Logistical problems continue to beset Russia's faltering invasion of Ukraine.

'Reluctance to manoeuvre cross-country, lack of control of the air and limited bridging capabilities are preventing Russia from effectively resupplying their forward troops with even basic essentials such as food and fuel.

'Incessant Ukrainian counterattacks are forcing Russia to divert large number of troops to defend their own supply lines. This is severely limiting Russia's offensive potential.'

Russia has demanded that Ukraine renounce any ambitions to join NATO, be neutral along the lines of Sweden and Austria, acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory and recognise the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent territories.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said neutrality was taking centre stage at the talks and that Moscow and Kyiv were 'close to agreeing' the wording of an agreement on neutrality.

But Kyiv rejected the proposal and instead called for legally binding guarantees that international forces signed by international partners, who would 'not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today', to 'prevent attacks' in the future.

Evacuee fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict sit in the body of a cargo vehicle while waiting in a line to leave the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 17

A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces assists a woman to cross the street in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, after she was evacuated from a burning building hit in a Russian missile strike

'Big gap' between two sides in peace talks Ukraine and Russia are taking peace talks seriously but a very big gap remains between the two sides, Western officials said on Thursday, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin did not seem in the mood to compromise. Although both sides have pointed to limited progress in peace talks this week, Putin showed little sign of relenting during a televised speech in which he inveighed against 'traitors and scum' at home who helped the West, and said the Russian people would spit them out like gnats. 'Both sides are taking (the talks) seriously but there is a very, very big gap between the positions in question,' one Western official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Those ... who saw President Putin addressing the nation yesterday would be forgiven for thinking that Russia was not in compromising mood,' another official said. A Ukrainian negotiator has said that a 'model' of legally binding security guarantees that would offer Ukraine protection from a group of allies in the event of a future attack is 'on the negotiating table' at talks between Kyiv and Moscow. A Western official said the details of who would be a security guarantor was the subject of conversations with international partners but it was important to establish the terms. Advertisement

President Zelensky suggested Ukraine could drop its ambition to join Nato. But there is little sign of compromise on Russia's demand that Ukraine permanently relinquish Crimea and territory it has seized in the Donbas region.

Yesterday, Turkey offered to host peace talks between Putin and President Zelensky.

In Ukraine, rescue workers searched for survivors on Thursday in the ruins of a theater blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol, while scores of Ukrainians across the country were killed in ferocious urban attacks on a school, a hostel and other sites.

Hundreds of civilians had been taking shelter in the grand, columned theater in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the southern port city of 430,000.

More than a day after the airstrike, there were no reports of deaths. With communications disrupted across the city and movement difficult because of shelling and other fighting, there were conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

'We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theater could survive,' Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, said.

Other officials had said earlier that some people had gotten out. Ukraine's ombudswoman, Ludmyla Denisova, said on the Telegram messaging app that the shelter had held up.

Satellite imagery on Monday showed huge white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the theatre spelling out 'CHILDREN' in Russian - 'DETI' - to alert warplanes to those inside.

Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.

'We are trying to survive somehow,' said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. 'My child is hungry. I don't know what to give him to eat.'

She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles away. 'I can't tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing,' she said.

The strike against the theatre was part of a furious bombardment of civilian sites in multiple cities over the past few days.

In the northern city of Chernihiv, at least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Rescues work at a site of buildings damaged by a shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, on Thursday

A market in a residential area destroyed by the explosions of Russian combat missiles in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 17

Ukrainian servicemen guard their position near Brovary, north of Kyiv, on Thursday

A doctor walks in a hospital basement, used as a bomb shelter, during an air raid alarm in Brovary, north of Kyiv, on Thursday

A market in a residential area destroyed by the explosions of Russian combat missiles in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 17

Ukraine's emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including 3-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000.

'The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction,' Chaus said.

Ukrainian officials said 10 people were killed Wednesday while waiting in a bread line in Chernihiv. An American man was among them, his sister said on Facebook.

At least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center before dawn in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, according to Mayor Veniamin Sitov. The region has seen heavy bombardment in a bid by stalled Russian forces to advance.

Boris Johnson faces pressure to increase military funding Boris Johnson is facing political pressure on all sides to reexamine the UK's military spending levels as defence chiefs and politicians demand an increase in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Last month, MailOnline revealed Boris Johnson's Global Britain foreign policy has forced military chiefs to scrap equipment programmes worth 2billion - enough to build two new Royal Navy warships - MailOnline can reveal. Politicians have warned that whilst the UK meets the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence - it is not enough and leaves the UK exposed to attack. Former Royal Navy chief Lord West told the Mirror: 'We probably need 3% to 3.5% on defence because Putin looks at this sort of thing. 'He has been looking at us cutting out defence here and in Europe thinking, 'That lot aren't willing to fight, they're scared, I can do what I want'.' Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader has praised Britain for supporting Ukraine, including providing anti-tank weapons. Sources yesterday confirmed that the UK will supply Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. The UK is also to supply Sky Sabre missiles and 100 personnel to Poland to 'protect her airspace from any further aggression by Russia'. The Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'It is a purely defensive capability. It will remain under UK control at all times.' On Sunday, Russia struck a Ukrainian base 12 miles from Poland. Its drones are also said to have trespassed in Polish airspace. Advertisement

In eastern Ukraine, a municipal pool complex where pregnant women and women with children were taking shelter was also hit Wednesday, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional administration. There was no word on casualties in that strike.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more help for his country in a video address to German lawmakers, saying thousands of people have been killed, including 108 children. He also referred to the dire situation in Mariupol, saying: 'Everything is a target for them.'

Zelenskyy's office said Russian airstrikes hit the Kalynivka and Brovary suburbs of the capital, Kyiv. Emergency authorities in Kyiv said a fire broke out in a 16-story apartment building hit by remnants of a downed Russian rocket, and one person was killed.

At a Thursday meeting of the U.N. Security Council, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured.

Tedros said disruption to hospital services now poses an extreme risk to people with serious illnesses and 'the lifesaving medicine we need right now is peace.'

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies accused Putin of conducting an 'unprovoked and shameful war,' and called on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justice's order to stop its attack and withdraw its forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin went on television Wednesday to excoriate Russians who don't back him.

Russians 'will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and will simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths,' said Putin, using language reminiscent of the Stalinist era. 'I am convinced that such a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country.'

He said the West is using a 'fifth column' of traitorous Russians to create civil unrest. 'And there is only one goal, I have already spoken about it - the destruction of Russia,' he said.

The speech appeared to be a warning that his authoritarian rule, which had already grown tighter since the invasion began on Feb. 24, could become even more repressive.

In a sign of that, Russian law enforcement announced the first known criminal cases under a new law that allows for 15-year prison terms for posting what is deemed to be 'false information' about the war. Among those charged was Veronika Belotserkovskaya, a Russian-language cookbook author and blogger living abroad.

One day after U.S. President Joe Biden called Putin a 'war criminal,' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American officials were evaluating and documenting potential war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. Blinken said the intentional targeting of civilians would amount to a war crime and that there will be 'massive consequences' for any such crimes that are confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader has praised Britain for supporting Ukraine, including providing anti-tank weapons. Sources yesterday confirmed that the UK will supply Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

The UK is also to supply Sky Sabre missiles and 100 personnel to Poland to 'protect her airspace from any further aggression by Russia'.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'It is a purely defensive capability. It will remain under UK control at all times.'

On Sunday, Russia struck a Ukrainian base 12 miles from Poland. Its drones are also said to have trespassed in Polish airspace.

Russian troops hunt for local ammo to give themselves a 'Blighty' Vladimir Putin's forces are looking for Ukrainian ammunition so they can shoot themselves in the leg and get sent home, according to an intercepted Russian phone call. Audio reveals a Russian soldier telling his mother that his unit 'want to find some 7.62 bullets, the Ukrainian ones' instead of 5.62mm ammunition being used in Russian AK-74's, to wound themselves with, adding that others 'already did this'. He explained 'in secret' that his fellow troops are hoping 'to shoots each other's legs so they would put some bandages on and sent us to the hospital in Budennovsk', a town in southern Russia. Shooting yourself to inflict a minor injury was carried out by British soldiers in the First World War in the hope of getting 'a Blightly' - a wound serious enough to warrant repatriation to the UK without risking your life. The audio, which was published by the Ukrainian Security Service, also claims that '120 people' have already been 'sent back to the hospital with wounds' and that '350' have been sent back to Russia in coffins. The unidentified serviceman tells his mother that his crew is no longer 'combat equipped' because 'Ukrainians blew all of it up' and that 'if they attack us now, we are dead'. Advertisement

But Mr Johnson is facing political pressure on all sides to reexamine the UK's military spending levels as defence chiefs and politicians demand an increase in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Last month, MailOnline revealed Boris Johnson's Global Britain foreign policy has forced military chiefs to scrap equipment programmes worth 2billion - enough to build two new Royal Navy warships - MailOnline can reveal.

Politicians have warned that whilst the UK meets the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence - it is not enough and leaves the UK exposed to attack.

Former Royal Navy chief Lord West told the Mirror: 'We probably need 3% to 3.5% on defence because Putin looks at this sort of thing.

'He has been looking at us cutting out defence here and in Europe thinking, 'That lot aren't willing to fight, they're scared, I can do what I want'.'

Meanwhile, Ben Wallace hit out at Russian 'dirty tricks' today after he and Home Secretary Priti Patel were targeted by an impostor posing as the Ukrainian prime minister.

The Defence Secretary spent 10 minutes on a Microsoft Teams call with a man claiming to be Oleksiy Honcharuk, who asked about British policy and eventually urged him to shout slogans.

Mr Wallace, who revealed the deception in a Tweet this afternoon, said he became suspicious and terminated the call after 'several misleading questions'.

His admission was followed by a similar one by Ms Patel, who said she was targeted earlier this week.

The level of sophistication involved in the hoax has convinced Government sources that it was a Russian plot.

The video call was set up after an email, purportedly sent from an aide at the Ukrainian embassy, was sent to a government department and then forwarded to the Ministry of Defence.

The call was set up and Mr Wallace was put through on Teams to the 'prime minister of Ukraine', posing with the country's flag behind him.

The Times reported that Mr Wallace was asked about the chances of UK warships going to the Black sea and whether Ukraine should get nuclear weapons or join Nato.

Senior Ministry of Defence sources fear Moscow may attempt to splice together Mr Wallace's comments in an attempt to embarrass him.

He has ordered an immediate inquiry to find out how the impostor was able to speak to him.

The Defence Secretary said it was a 'desperate attempt' but 'no amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks' could distract from the human rights abuses carried out during the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's forces.

The five most-likely scenarios for what happens next in Ukraine  including peace deal, Putin military success and Russian elite revolt

Russian forces in Ukraine continue to blast cities and kill civilians, but are no longer making progress on the ground, Western countries said on Thursday, as Moscow's invasion Ukraine entered its fourth week.

With each passing day, it is beginning to look more likely that Vladimir Putin's war could drag on for months, while peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow stalling.

Meanwhile, the UN has said more than 3 million refugees have fled across Ukraine's borders, not knowing when they will be able to see their homes again.

Despite the Kremlin insisting it is not targeting civilians, local officials said rescuers in the besieged southern port of Mariupol were combing the rubble of a theatre where women and children had been sheltering, bombed the previous day.

The Governor of the northern Chernihiv region said 53 civilians had been killed there in bombardment over the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Kyiv has resisted the Russian advance, but is also sustaining heavy bombardment in the outer-regions of the capital.

Here are five possible scenarios for the weeks and months ahead, according to Western government sources and think-tank experts.

1. Military quagmire: Russian forces get bogged down and Ukraine soldiers continue their fierce resistance

A view of burned tank is seen amid Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the city of Volnovakha, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on March 12, 2022

Ukrainian forces are still resisting Russia's invasion, inflicting serious equipment and human losses.

Crucially they repelled an attempt by paratroopers to seize the capital in the opening days and have since withdrawn to defensive positions that have enabled them to keep control over all strategic cities.

Although Russia has long claimed it has air superiority, Ukraine's air defences appear to be still working, while Western countries are pouring in portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

'The Russian invasion has largely stalled on all fronts,' an update from the UK defence ministry said on Thursday.

US intelligence estimates that 7,000 Russian troops have died, The New York Times reported, while Ukraine's military claims that figure to be much higher - although experts say that all such claims should be treated with caution.

US President Joe Biden announced a massive new package of military aid for Ukraine on Wednesday, including S-300 missile defence systems, 100 Switchblade 'kamikaze' drones and thousands more missiles.

Ukrainian military resistance comes at a high civilian cost, however, with thousands dead and towns devastated such as Mariupol and Kherson.

2) Peace deal: Ukraine and Russia reach an agreement with Putin withdrawing his forces when his demands are met

Pictured: The second round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the Belarus-Poland border on March 3

Negotiators from both sides began talking just days after the war started, first on the Belarus-Ukraine border, then in Turkey and latterly in the capital Kyiv.

Mounting battlefield losses and crippling Western sanctions on the Russian economy could be pushing Putin to seek a face-saving way to end the conflict.

'Ukraine may be able to compel the Russians to make a choice: to persist and suffer irreparable losses, or desist and achieve some compensatory peace,' wrote Rob Johnson, a warfare expert at the University of Oxford, this week.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the two sides were 'close to agreeing' a deal that would see Ukraine accept neutrality modelled on the status of Sweden and Austria.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already publicly acknowledged that his country will not join the Western NATO military alliance - a key demand from the Kremlin.

But though the chances of a deal have grown significantly in recent days, there is no sign of a ceasefire and Ukraine wants a full Russian withdrawal and security guarantees about its future.

Some Putin critics suspect that the diplomacy is a smokescreen.

'Reminder that to Putin 'ceasefire' just means 'reload',' dissident politician and former chess champion Garry Kasparov wrote on Twitter.

3) Domestic Russian change: Anti-war movement grows in Russia and oligarchs turn on their leader

Police officers detain a man during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Manezhnaya square in central Moscow on March 13, 2022

Putin is tightening his grip over Russian society.

A crackdown on independent media and foreign news providers has cemented the dominance of the ultra-loyal Russian state media.

Thousands of anti-war demonstrators have been arrested, while a new law threatens up to 15 years in jail for spreading 'fake news' about the army.

There are signs of cracks in the ruling elite, with some oligarchs, MPs, and even private oil group Lukoil calling openly for a ceasefire or an end to fighting.

A Russian editor held up a sign saying 'No War' during a prime-time news broadcast on state TV this week.

Though not seen as likely at this stage, the possibility of Putin being brought down in a popular backlash or even a palace coup cannot be ruled out.

'His personal security is very good and it will be very good until the moment it isn't,' said Eliot A. Cohen from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think-tank.

'That's happened numerous times in Soviet and Russian history.'

Huge sanctions have been placed on Russia and also its oligarchs - Russia's elite who are also hugely influential, and close allies of Vladimir Putin.

However, it is often the case that an oligarch is powerful because Putin allows them to be, not the other way around.

4) Russian military success: Putin's generals crush resistance with superior weapons and devastating artillery

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin in Moscow, Russia March 2

Given Russian troops' superior weapons, air power and indiscriminate use of artillery, Western defence analysts say they are capable of grinding forward.

A senior European military official cautioned Wednesday against underestimating their ability to replenish and adapt their tactics.

They appear to have logistical and morale problems, with diesel and even engine lubricants in short supply, the official said.

'But you need to keep it in perspective. All of that does not change the superiority of the Russian military,' he said.

Moscow is openly recruiting mercenaries from Syria to supplement its forces, while also using the Wagner Group, a shadowy Russian private security company.

But even if they captured strategic cities such as Kyiv or the southern port of Odessa, Putin would then face the challenge of occupying them.

5) Conflict spreads: Russia attacks NATO country bringing the alliance into the war

Members of Pro-Russian separatists walk near a tank in front of a heavily damaged apartment in the pro-Russian separatists-controlled Donetsk, Ukraine on March 11, 2022

Ukraine has a border with four former Soviet states that are now members of the US-led NATO military alliance, which considers an attack on one member to be an attack against all.

Putin's nostalgia for the Soviet Union and his pledge to protect Russian minorities - which are found in the Baltic States - has left an open question about his territorial ambitions.

Few expect Putin to openly attack a NATO member, which would run the risk of a nuclear attack, but analysts have warned about provocations that stop short of sparking a war.

Putin has ordered Russia's nuclear deterrent forces onto high alert and Foreign Minister Lavrov has also warned that 'World War Three can only be a nuclear war'.

Western analysts say such warnings should be taken as posturing to deter the United States and Europe from considering ideas such as a 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine.
Moscow has today accused Joe Biden of hurling 'personal insults' at Vladimir Putin fueled by 'irritation, fatigue and forgetfulness,' after the President called the Russian leader a 'murderous dictator' and a 'thug' over his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also accused Ukraine of trying to drag out peace talks, saying that Russia's delegation was showing readiness to work faster than the Ukrainian side.

Biden has ramped up his attacks on the Russian leader in recent days, after the Russian leader last month sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

Putin has called the invasion a 'special operation' to degrade its military capabilities and root out people he called dangerous nationalists, with Moscow insisting it was not targeting civilian sites. Reports, photographs and videos prove otherwise.



Moscow has today accused Joe Biden of hurling 'personal insults' at Vladimir Putin fueled by 'irritation, fatigue and forgetfulness,' after the President called the Russian leader (pictured last week) a 'murderous dictator' and a 'thug' over his brutal invasion of Ukraine

'We hear and see statements that are actually personal insults to President Putin,' Peskov told reporters.

'Given such irritability from Mr Biden, his fatigue and sometimes forgetfulness... fatigue that leads to aggressive statements, we will not make harsh assessments, so as not to cause more aggression.'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also railed against the United States on Friday, accusing the country of acting like a 'global sheriff'.

Lavrov said Russia has lost all illusions about relying on the West and Moscow will never accept a view of the world dominated by a United States.

In the same speech, Lavrov also threatened countries sending arms to Ukraine, saying Russia could consider all transporters brining weapons military targets.

Western nations have imposed sweeping sanctions across Russia's financial and corporate sectors in response to the invasion, plunging Russia's economy into its gravest crisis since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.

Lavrov, President Vladimir Putin's foreign minister since 2004, said the West's reaction to what Moscow has called a 'special military operation' had illustrated that the West was completely dominated by the United States and that the European Union was largely powerless.

'If there was any illusion that we could one day rely on our Western partners, this illusion is no longer there,' Lavrov told Russian state-funded RT in English.

Russia would look eastwards, he said.

'What the Americans want is a unipolar world which would not be like a global village but like an American village - or maybe like a saloon where you know the strongest calls the shots,' Lavrov said.

He added that many countries such as China, India and Brazil did not want to be ordered around by 'Uncle Sam' acting like a sheriff.

The pair's attack came after Biden yesterday turned up the heat of his anti-Putin rhetoric, calling the Russian strongman a 'murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine'.

'And Putin is paying a big price for his aggression, and they are part of the reason the cost is going so high,' Biden added, in reference to sanctions placed on Russia.

The comments came during Biden's St Patrick's Day speech on Thursday, and a day after he called Putin a war criminal - which also enraged Moscow.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance against Russian forces and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow in an effort to force it to withdraw.

Biden yesterday turned up the heat of his anti-Putin rhetoric, calling the Russian strongman a 'murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine'. Pictured: President Biden gives a St. Patrick's day speech at the White House on Thursday

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (left) accused Joe Biden of hurling 'personal insults' at Vladimir Putin fueled by 'irritation, fatigue and forgetfulness'. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) also railed against the United States on Friday, accusing the country of acting like a 'global sheriff'

So far, peace talks have made little progress. Putin's forces have continued to take heavy losses while launching seemingly indiscriminate artillery strikes on Ukraine's cities - killing and injuring thousands. Over 100 children have so far been killed.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday backed Biden's assessment that Putin's armed forces were committing war crimes.

He confirmed that another American citizen had been killed in the country and also warned China not to come to Russia's aid.

'Yesterday, President Biden said that in his opinion, war crimes have been committed in Ukraine,' he said. 'Personally, I agree. Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime.

'After all the destruction of the past three weeks, I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are doing otherwise.'

U.S. officials had avoided the 'war crimes' designation until Wednesday.

They said a complex legal process was under way to ascertain whether civilians were being targeted deliberately.

That changed when Biden was asked for his opinion by reporters at the White House.

'I think he is a war criminal,' the president said.

Civilian casualties have been mounting in Ukraine.

The United Nations says that so far it has recorded 780 killed and 1,252 injured, although it estimates actual casualties are much higher.

It says that most of the civilian casualties were due to explosive weapons with a wide impact area, such as heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems as well as missile and air strikes.

Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been killed.

The World Health Organization has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the United Nations Security Council Thursday.

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 18, 2022

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today he was thankful to Biden for the additional military aid, but said he would not say specifically what the new package included because he didn't want to tip off Russia.

'This is our defense,' he said in his night-time video address to the nation. 'When the enemy doesn't know what to expect from us.

'As they didn't know what awaited them after Feb. 24,' the day Russia invaded. 'They didn't know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.'

Zelenskyy said Russia expected to find Ukraine much as it did in 2014, when it seized Crimea without a fight and backed separatists as they took control of the eastern Donbas region.

But Ukraine is now a different country, with much stronger defenses, he said.

He said it also was not the time to reveal Ukraine's tactics in the ongoing negotiations with Russia. 'Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook,' Zelenskyy said. 'I consider it the right way.'

Yesterday, a top US defense official warned that Putin will edge closer to deploying a nuclear attack if Ukraine continues its valiant pushback against the invasion of Russian troops.

Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency detailed the grim concerns in a new 67-page summary of global threats on Thursday.

It raises the specter of a possible nuclear attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital which has so-far resisted Russian advances, and said a desperate Putin posed a threat to the whole world.

People look at damaged residential buildings in the aftermath of a morning shelling in the Podilskyi district of Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 18 March 2022. At least one person was reportedly killed and 19 others were injured

His report notes that Russia claims to be developing missiles that are capable of circumventing Western defenses in order to 'ensure that Russia can credibly inflict unacceptable damage on the West.'

Russia recently deployed non-nuclear missiles that come equipped with decoy projectiles - a feature that hadn't previously been seen by western defense bosses - giving a possible glimpse of the type of feature that could be fitted to the most devastating bombs in Putin's arsenal.

'As this war and its consequences slowly weaken Russian conventional strength, Russia likely will increasingly rely on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project strength to its internal and external audiences,' he wrote in the report that was obtained by Fox News.

The report's grim assessment comes less than 24 hours before a Friday call between President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping, as Biden is expected to ask for Xi's help on pressuring Moscow to end the conflict.

Also on Friday, Putin accused Ukrainian authorities of stalling peace talks, but added that Moscow was ready to search for solutions as he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

'It was noted that the Kyiv regime is trying in every possible way to stall negotiations, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals,' the Kremlin said after the phone call.

'Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue to search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches.'

Putin's spokesman Peskov called the phone talks between Putin and Scholz 'tough' but added that such contacts were still needed.

Peskov said it was still early to talk about an agreement that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators could sign.

'I can only state that the Russian delegation is showing a willingness to work much faster than it is doing now,' he told reporters.

'Unfortunately, the Ukrainian delegation is not ready to accelerate the pace of talks.'

In talks with Scholz, Putin also stressed that Russian troops were 'doing their best' to save civilians including through safe corridors, the Kremlin said, adding that some 43,000 people had been evacuated from the southeastern city of Mariupol on Thursday.

Putin will also speak by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron Friday evening, Peskov said.


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They are portraits that serve as a living memorial to the six million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis.

The paintings, which were commissioned by Prince Charles, reveal four women and three men who survived the Holocaust.

Six million Jewish men, women and children were slaughtered in Nazi Germany's network of death and concentration camps between 1941 and 1945.

The depictions of Lily Ebert, 98, Arek Hersh, 93, Helen Aronson, 95, Manfred Goldberg, 91, Rachel Levy, 91, Zigi Shipper, 92, and Anita Lasker Wallfisch, 95, have gone on display at Edinburgh's Holyroodhouse.

For the first time, members of the public visiting the royal palace will be able to see the moving portraits - each of which was painted by a different artist - up close.

Each of the survivors, four of whom were imprisoned in Auschwitz, sought refuge in Britain after the war.

Ms Ebert, whose story was recently told in her bestselling autobiography Lily's Promise, was one of those who survived Auschwitz.

While in the camp, she kept a golden pendant safe from the SS guards by hiding it first in her shoe and then in her daily bread ration.

She still bears her number tattoo from the notorious death camp and previously showed it to the Prince of Wales when her portrait and those of the other survivors were unveiled at the Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace on Holocaust Memorial Day in January.

Prince Charles wrote in the catalogue accompanying the Edinburgh portrait display: 'As the number of Holocaust survivors sadly, but inevitably, declines, my abiding hope is that this special collection will act as a further guiding light for our society, reminding us not only of history's darkest days, but of humanity's interconnectedness as we strive to create a better world for our children, grandchildren and generations as yet unborn; one where hope is victorious over despair and love triumphs over hate.'

Portraits of seven Holocaust survivors have gone in display at Edinburgh's Holyroodhouse. The paintings were commissioned by Prince Charles. Above left: Lily Ebert, 98, painted by Ishbel Myerscough. Ms Ebert survived the notorious Auschwitz death camp. Above right: Ms Ebert (centre) with her family in 1943

Ms Ebert was on one of the last trains carrying Hungarian Jews to enter Auschwitz in 1944, enduring months at Birkenau before being transported to Altenburg, a sub-camp of Buchenwald (pictured in a documentary talking about her experience)

In July 1944, a 20-year-old Ms Ebert and her family - mother and five siblings - were transported to Auschwitz.

Ms Ebert was on one of the last trains carrying Hungarian Jews to enter Auschwitz in 1944, enduring months at Birkenau before being transported to Altenburg, a sub-camp of Buchenwald.

Her parents and some of her siblings were condemned to death in the gas chamber after encountering the infamous Josef Mengele, notorious for his experiments on those in the camp, while the remaining family members were put to work.

She made headlines last year when, with the help of her great-grandson Dov, she was reunited with the American soldier who penned her a heartfelt note on a German banknote after she was liberated from a Nazi Death March in 1945.

When she met Prince Charles earlier this year, Ms Ebert showed the future king her pendant and rolled up the sleeve of her jacket to reveal the tattoo on her left forearm A-10572 - A for Auschwitz, 10 her block number and 572 her prisoner number.

Speaking about her pendant in the shape of angel she said: 'This necklace is very special. It went through Auschwitz and survived with me.

'Auschwitz took everything, even the golden teeth they took off people. But this survived.

'I put it in the heel of my shoe but the heel wore out so... I put it every day in the piece of bread that we got to eat. So that is the story of it. I was five years old when I got it from my mother for my birthday.

'My mother did not survive. My little brother and little sister did not survive.

'They arrived and they saw Dr Mengele, he took them straight away. I have worn my necklace every day since I survived.'

Arek Hersh, 93, is seen depicted left in his painting, by artist Massimiliano Pironti. He is pictured above right as a teenager. He survived Auschwitz by pretending to be 17 and a lockmaker. He endured what he calls 'the train of damnation', a reference to the horror of being ferried for a month on open wagons across Europe as the German army retreated with their prisoners

Mr Hersh survived the Lodz ghetto, forced labour at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a death march to Buchenwald and finally Theresienstadt (pictured in 2022)

Mr Hersh was 11 when he was taken to his first concentration camp and survived Auschwitz by pretending to be 17 and a lockmaker.

He endured what he calls 'the train of damnation', a reference to the horror of being ferried for a month on open wagons across Europe as the German army retreated with their prisoners.

He survived the Lodz ghetto, forced labour at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a death march to Buchenwald and finally Theresienstadt.

When he returned to Auschwitz decades later, he recalled: 'In January it was 25C. People died in the night and they came in the morning with a little cart to take the bodies out. I never forget. Everyday I think about this place.'

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday's Weekend magazine in 2020, he said: 'I remember the way we all grabbed at the bread.

'We'd hide it under the mattress and the people who looked after our rooms kept finding mouldy bread. We thought the food might suddenly stop.'

Mr Hersh was among 300 orphaned survivors of the death camps who were transported to the British beauty spot of Lake Winderemere.

The initiative was the brainchild of British Jewish philanthropist Leonard Montefiore, who had helped found a group that rescued 65,000 people from Nazi Europe.

When the war was over, he helped convince the British government to rehabilitate 1,000 child Holocaust survivors, funded by the British Jewish community.

Only 732 were found, of which 300 were accommodated at the Calgarth Estate at Windermere, wartime housing for aeroplane factory workers.

In August 1945 the first children, who were mainly Polish and many of whom were still in camps as they had nowhere to go, were transported in RAF planes that had delivered their cargo and were on their way home.

There were no seats and the children, who were sitting on the floor, had little idea of where they were going or if they were to be safe, with no reason to trust adults.

Mr Hersh recalled how when the children are first presented with bread they all run away with it, trying to hide it as they didn't know if there will be more.

But Mr Hersh also told Weekend: 'I felt like living again. I started feeling like a human being again. That is what Windermere did for me.'

The Windermere children retained a bond that led to regular reunions.

They formed a charity together in 1963 called The '45 Aid Society, raising money for those in need.

Some of the boys and girls (there were only 80 girls as far fewer females survived in the camps) became well-known, including Sir Ben Helfgott, whose story is featured in the film and who went on to represent Great Britain as an Olympic weightlifter.

Anita Lasker Wallfisch, 95, was painted by Peter Kuhfeld. She is seen right playing the cello prior to the Second World War. Ms Lasker Wallfisch was 18 in December 1943 when she was deported to Auschwitz. In November 1944, she was taken to Bergen-Belsen - the concentration camp where diarist Anne Frank died after also being transferred from Auschwitz at around the same time - where she and other inmates were eventually liberated by the British army in April 1945

Artist Peter Kuhfeld with Ms Laskar-Wallfisch when her painting was unveiled at the Queen's Gallery in January

Ms Lasker Wallfisch was 18 in December 1943 when she was deported to Auschwitz.

In November 1944, she was taken to Bergen-Belsen - the concentration camp where diarist Anne Frank died after also being transferred from Auschwitz at around the same time - where she and other inmates were eventually liberated by the British army in April 1945.

Mrs Lasker-Wallfisch revealed in 2020 that she escaped death in Auschwitz by 'complete fluke' because the band in the camp needed a cellist.

Brought up in a musical family in the then-German town of Breslau but now Wroclaw in Poland, Mrs Lasker-Wallfisch survived both the notorious extermination camp and the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

In April 1942 her parents were deported to a camp near Lublin in south-east Poland, she later learned they had been killed on arrival.

Mrs Lasker-Wallfisch and her sister Renate were conscripted to work at a paper factory, but were arrested and imprisoned for helping forge documents for French prisoners of war.

'I didn't find it very convincing that I was going to be killed just because I happened to be Jewish, I thought I better give them a better reason to kill me,' she said.

'That was constantly on your mind  when and how you were going to be killed.'

After serving a year, they were put on a train to Auschwitz where she was made to play in the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz.

The orchestra was used to help the work gangs march in time as they were sent out each morning and returned in the evening and also played whenever an SS officer wanted to hear music.

'It was complete fluke that there was a band in Auschwitz that needed a cellist,' Mrs Lasker-Wallfisch said. 'I didn't think I would arrive in Auschwitz and play the cello there. I was prepared to go into the gas chamber.'

As the Red Army marched on Auschwitz in early 1945, Mrs Lasker-Wallfisch and her sister were loaded onto a cattle truck with 3,000 other inmates and taken to Bergen-Belsen.

After liberation, she worked as an interpreter for the British army before settling in the UK in 1946.

Mrs Lasker-Wallfisch co-founded the English Chamber Orchestra and in 1952 married musician Peter Wallfisch, her childhood friend who had left Germany in the 1930s.

She was awarded an MBE in 2016 for services to Holocaust education.

Asked how she coped with the trauma of the Holocaust, she said: 'That I can't answer  obviously I coped and I am here. There is no description of how you cope. I was very lucky because I am a musician, that helps as well, but you just cope.'

Ms Lasker-Wallfisch immigrated to Britain in 1946, married and had two children.

Zigi Shipper, 92, was painted by Jenny Saville. During the Holocaust, Mr Shipper was taken with his grandmother to Auschwitz. His grandmother tragically died on the day that the camp was liberated. Mr Shipper said his first six months in the UK 'were hell' because he missed his friends so much but that he went on to have a 'wonderful, wonderful life'. He is seen above right aged two

The Prince of Wales studied the portrait of Holocaust survivor Zigi Shipper at The Queens Gallery, Buckingham Palace, in January

Mr Shipper was born in January 1930 inodz, Poland. His parents divorced when he was five and he was brought up by his grandmother and father, having been told his mother had died.

In 1939 his father escaped to the Soviet Union, believing that it was only young Jewish men who were at risk, and not children or the elderly, and Mr Shipper never saw him again. His grandmother tragically died the day of the liberation.

In 1944, Mr Shipper and his grandmother, whom he was brought up by, were taken to a train station and transported to Auschwitz.

Speaking to Kate in 2021, he said: 'So after a few days we came to the station, I said to my grandmother "I cant see any trains".

'She said, "They are standing in front of you". I said, "That's not for us, thats for animals. It is not for me". Anyway they opened the doors and they started putting people in.

'There was nowhere you could sit down. If you sat down, they sat on top of you. I was praying that maybe - I was so bad, I was - that I said to myself, "I hope someone would die, so I would have somewhere to sit down". Every morning they use take out the dead bodies, so eventually I had somewhere to sit down.

'I can't get rid of it, you know. Even today, how could I think a thing like that? To want someone to die so I could sit down. That's what they made me do.'

He continued: 'Eventually we arrived one early morning, they opened the door and we didnt know where we were and somebody said, "oh, we [are at] Auschwitz". I didn't have a clue what Auschwitz was.

'They told us to leave everything. They took us to washing and cleaning. It happened that other people that went with the group, they had to go for a selection - and 90 per cent of them were killed straight away.

'There were women with children and they were holding the baby and the German officers came over and said "Put the baby down and go to the other side". They wouldn't do it. Eventually they shot the baby and sometimes the woman as well.

'Us, we didnt know what was going to happen. They took us, we washed. We didn't get a number on our arms but I had a number, 84,303. I always remember. How can I forget that number. I cant forget it. I want to get rid of it.

'Eventually some officers came and they told us, "We need 20 boys to go to a working camp". This was the camp where Manfred was.

'It was a very small camp and we went there, I was three months in hospital. Then I went to a place, then I went to another place.

After he was freed in May 1945, he got a letter from England - a country he had never visited - which was written by a Polish woman.

She explained that she was searching for her son and had found his name on a British Red Cross List.

She asked him to check if he had a scar on his left wrist that he suffered after burning himself as a two-year-old. He did.

At first he refused to leave as his friends, including Manfred, were the only family he had. But ten months later, he travelled to England to be reunited with his mother, who he had barely met.

Mr Shipper said his first six months in the UK 'were hell' because he missed his friends so much but that he went on to have a 'wonderful, wonderful life'.

The widower, who worked as a stationer in the UK and went to marry and have two daughters, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, said he wanted to tell his story because he wanted young people to know about what happened during the Holocaust.

Manfred Goldberg, 91, was painted by Clara Drummond. He was three years old when the Nazis came to power, nine when the war broke out and 11 years old when he was sent to the camps, along with his mother and younger brother, Herman. He is seen above right when he was a child

Mr Goldberg and his family were initially deported from Germany to the brutal Riga Ghetto in Latvia. In August 1943, just three months before the ghetto was finally liquidated, Manfred was sent to a nearby labour camp where he was forced to work laying railway tracks, before being moved again to Stutthof the following year

The Duchess of Cornwall posed with Mr Shipper (left) and Mr Goldberg in January, when their portrays were unveiled at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace

Mr Goldberg, who was born in Kassel, central Germany, in April 1930, was three years old when the Nazis came to power, nine when the war broke out and 11 years old when he was sent to the camps, along with his mother and younger brother, Herman.

His father had escaped to England just two weeks previously and was unable to reach his family.

Mr Goldberg and his family were initially deported from Germany to the brutal Riga Ghetto in Latvia.

In August 1943, just three months before the ghetto was finally liquidated, Manfred was sent to a nearby labour camp where he was forced to work laying railway tracks, before being moved again to Stutthof the following year.

He spent more than eight months as a slave worker there, as well as at Stolp and Burggraben camps.

The camp was abandoned just days before the war ended and Manfred and other prisoners were sent on a death march in appalling conditions, before he was finally liberated at Neustadt in Germany on 3 May 1945.

Mr Goldberg explained that his own life - he was 13 when his brother was killed - was spared as he was able to work in the camps.

Because Jewish schools in Germany were closed in 1938, he told the duchess that he had no education for seven years but came to England and had a 'wonderful' life.

In the UK Mr Goldberg managed to catch up on some of his missed education and he eventually graduated from London University with a degree in Electronics. He and his wife, Shary, have four sons and 12 grandchildren.

Last year, he spoke to Kate Middleton about his experiences in the camp alongside fellow survivor Mr Shipper.

'That is what saved my life. I was always fairly strong for my age.

'We were facing a selection which meant shuffling along single file until we faced an SS man who would say "left or right".

'And by that time we knew that left meant death today, right meant survive until the next selection at least, he recalled.

'I was sent to those to be spared, my mother was sent to those to be murdered. And she resourcefully managed - it was miraculous.

'As I shuffled forwards the man behind me whispered to me, "if they ask you your age say you are 17". In fact I had just passed my 14th birthday. But as he primed me and he [the SS man] did ask me that question and I said 17.

'I have pondered on it, but I will never know [whether] that man saved my life. I never saw him again. He was behind me, I dont know which way he was sent. Hes in my thoughts, as my angel who primed me.

'I don't think I would have had the resource myself to say 17. But possibly that helped save my life.

He told Kate: 'Well, I know that many survivors have not had a peaceful nights sleep, many even to this day. Invariably they have nightmares.

'I was really very lucky, perhaps one in a million, who had both parents alive after the war. All of my friends, including my friend Zigi, none of them had two parents alive. I had a home life.'

Helen Aronson, 95, was painted by Paul Benney. She was among was among a group of around 750 people liberated from a Nazi-run ghetto in Poland out of 250,000 people sent there. The family had been separated from her father who had been murdered by the Nazis. Above right: Ms Aronson as a child

Duchess of Cornwall posed with survivor Helen Aronson and family plus artist Paul Benney (right) at the unveiling of her portrait in January

Ms Aronson was among a group of around 750 people liberated from a Nazi-run ghetto in Poland out of 250,000 people sent there.

The family had been separated from her father who had been murdered by the Nazis.

Speaking in January of her portrait, she said: 'The portrait was just excellent, absolutely true to life. It has been such an experience.

'I talked to the prince about life in the concentration camp and the exterminations.

'It is something that I didn't talk about for a long time but I have gone on to have a very happy life. My family is everything to me.'

Rachel Levy, 91, was painted by Stuart Pearson Wright. Her father Solomon was taken to a Labour camp and never returned, while she was later forced onto a train to Auschwitz

Ms Levy (pictured centre) lost her parents and three of her siblings to the Nazi regime, but managed to escape death herself

The Prince of Wales is pictured chatting with Holocaust survivor Ms Levy as her portrait was unveiled in January

Ms Levy grew up in the former Czechoslovakia where she felt the start of the Nazi persecution came when Jewish children were barred from going to school.

Her father Solomon was taken to a Labour camp and never returned, while she was later forced onto a train to Auschwitz.

Her younger siblings Rivka, 10, Etta, eight and toddler Ben-Zvi were considered too young to work and were sent to the gas chambers immediately alongside her mother.

However Ms Levy, then 14, and her brother Chaskie, 16, were spared. She was among the children overseen by Dr Josef Mengele, but he gestured she too should be killed.

However a delay forced a female SS guard to listen to their pleas for help, and they managed to run away.

She hid among kitchen workers and eventually was forced to walk 21 days from Poland to Bergen-Belsen.

There, she contracted typhoid and saw her aunt die, as well as other unimaginable horrors.

When the camps were liberated in April 1945, she was reunited with her brother and moved to Britain.

She was among those child survivors who were awarded an British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2018.

Seven Portraits: Surviving the Holocaust, is being held at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
Sarah Everards depraved cop killer Wayne Couzens has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure as the police watchdog was preparing to publish its findings into Scotland Yards handling of the allegations.

The former Metropolitan Police officer is accused of flashing his genitals between January 22 and February 27 last year  in one case, just 72 hours before he abducted, raped and murdered the 33-year-old marketing executive.

Couzens, who is currently serving a whole-life sentence for the killing which shocked Britain, allegedly presented himself to at least one person at a McDonalds drive-thru in Swanley, Kent while he was serving with Scotland Yard. The allegations were made to the Met on February 28, but no arrests were made.

Scotland Yard previously said the McDonalds allegations were allocated for investigation but by the time of Sarahs abduction it was not concluded. It then referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over how it handled the case.

The watchdog last year launched an investigation into officers for possible misconduct over the failure to identify Couzens.

It has now emerged that the IOPC was preparing to publish its findings on whether Scotland Yard could have stopped Couzens before he murdered Miss Everard next month. A source told MailOnline that just two of the four alleged incidents were referred to the IOPC.

The decision to charge Couzens means that the watchdogs findings now must be placed on hold until the conclusion of his trial.

The source added: It begs the question: Why did the Metropolitan Police only refer two of the four alleged incidents?.

MailOnline has contacted the Met for comment.

Wayne Couzens has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure just days before he raped and murdered Sarah Everard

The killer was said to have flashed his genitals between January and February last year when he was a serving Metropolitan Police officer

In a statement, Scotland Yard said it had been authorised by the CPS to charge Couzens with indecent exposure between January 22 and February 1 last year, and between January 30 and February 6 last year. The force said it had also charged the killer cop with two offences which allegedly occurred on February 14 and February 27 last year.

Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police, the CPS has authorised four charges of indecent exposure against Wayne Couzens.

The four alleged offences took place between January and February 2021. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 13 April.

The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges to a court to consider.

Criminal proceedings are active and nothing should be published that could jeopardise the defendant's right to a fair trial.

Wayne Couzens will die in jail serving whole life sentence for killing Miss Everard in March 2021

Couzens carried out a fake Covid arrest to trap Miss Everard inside his hire car

A Met Police spokesman said: Detectives investigating a series of sexual offences in Swanley, have been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge a man.

Police have been authorised to charge Wayne Couzens, 49, of no fixed address, with the following offences: Indecent exposure between the January 22, 2021 and February 1, 2021. Indecent exposure between January 30, 2021 and February 6, 2021. Indecent exposure on February 14, 2021. Indecent exposure on February 27, 2021.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place in the Swanley area.

Couzens will be formally charged on a date yet to be fixed. We will issue an update when this happens.

Couzens showed Miss Everard his warrant card to force her into his car as part of a fake Covid arrest in March 2021. He then used his Met-issued equipment to handcuff her before strangling her with his police belt.
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Feared Chechen special forces are fighting house-to-house in besieged Mariupol while 'hundreds' of women and children remain trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders.

Video said to have been released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers.

The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians.

The footage emerged as hundreds of people were still feared trapped under the rubble of a theatre in the devastated city. Evacuees have also told of the 'hell' they have been subjected to at the hands of Vladimir Putin's men.

Russian troops have now reached the city centre and civilians remain hiding in bunkers while fighters battle on the streets.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko said: 'Tanks and machine gun battles continue. There's no city centre left. There isn't a small piece of land in the city that doesn't have signs of war.']

Nick Osychenko, the CEO of a Mariupol TV station, said that as he fled the city with six members of his family, aged between 4 and 61, he saw dead bodies on nearly every block.

'We were careful and didn't want the children to see the bodies, so we tried to shield their eyes,' he said. 'We were nervous the whole journey. It was frightening, just frightening.'

Serhiy Taruta, a Ukrainian politician, said that around 130 people had been rescued from the theatre but hundreds of others are unaccounted for - possibly buried under rubble in one part of the bomb shelter, and cannot be evacuated because rescue services have been destroyed by Russian troops.

'No one understands. Services that are supposed to help are demolished, rescue and utility services... are physically destroyed. A lot of doctors have been killed. This means that all the survivors of the bombing will either die under the ruins of the theater, or have already died,' he wrote on Facebook.

Ukraine war: The latest Russian forces destroy an aircraft repair plant near Lviv airport. The city is just 45 miles from the border with NATO member Poland

President Biden will warn his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping of 'costs' if Beijing helps Russia in its invasion of Ukraine in a call today

Putin accuses Ukrainian authorities of stalling talks, but added that Moscow is ready to search for solutions as he speaks with German Chancellor Scholz

Antony Blinken says he believes Russia is guilty of war crimes over attacks on Ukrainian civilians

The European Union issues a statement accusing Moscow of 'serious violations and war crimes'

Russia cancels plans for a UN security vote on a 'humanitarian' resolution over Ukraine, after allies fail to line up in support

Russian troops and their separatist allies are fighting in the centre of Mariupol, Moscow says

Britain's broadcasting regulator revokes the licence of Russia's state-funded television channel RT

US House of Representatives votes to suspend Russia's 'most favoured nation' trade status, tightening the Western chokehold on Moscow's economy

Poland's border guards say that more than two million refugees have crossed since fighting broke out

Canada announces it is offering Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion temporary residence permit for up to three years Advertisement

Dmytro Gurin, a Ukrainian MP from Mariupol, told the BBC that some people have managed to evacuate but that others are trapped in the shelter and rescuers are struggling to reach them because Russian troops continue to shell it. A rescue mission is underway, he insisted.

Meanwhile survivors of the siege who managed to flee described the city as 'hell', saying that people are being left to bleed or burn to death in the streets because doctors cannot reach them and hospitals have been destroyed, with the bodies covered by a thin layer of soil in makeshift burials.

Russia's defence ministry said on Friday that its troops have now entered the city and are fighting in the centre, amid fears that it could soon fall into Putin's hands after three weeks of shelling weakened the defences. If the city does fall, it will be the largest captured so-far - albeit at the cost of near-totally destroying it.

Svitlana Zlenko, who said she left the city with her son on Tuesday this week, described how she spent days sheltering in a school building - melting snow to cook pasta to eat while living in constant terror of Russian bombs which flew overhead 'every day and every night'.

She described how a bomb hit the school last week, wounding a woman in the hip with a piece of shrapnel. 'She was lying on the first floor of the high school all night and prayed for poison so that she would not feel pain,' Svitlana said. '[She] was taken by the Red Cross within a day, I pray to God she is well.'

She added: 'There is no food, no medicine, if there is no snow with such urban fights, people will not be able to go out to get water, people have no water left. Pharmacies, grocery stores - everything is robbed or burned.

'The dead are not taken out. Police recommend to the relatives of those who died of a natural death, to open the windows and lay the bodies on the balcony. I know you think you understand, but you will never understand unless you were there. I pray that this will not happen again in any of the cities of Ukraine, or of the world.'

Despite the pleas, shelling was well underway in other Ukrainian cities on Friday - with Lviv, in the west of the country, the capital Kyiv, and Kharkiv, in the east, coming under fire.

The war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin ground into its fourth week as his troops have failed to take Kyiv - a major objective in their hopes of forcing a settlement or dictating the country's future political alignments.

But back home in Moscow, Putin today gave a tub-thumping speech to tens of thousands of banner-waving Russians in an attempt to drum up support for his stalled invasion.

Feared Chechen special forces are fighting house-to-house in besieged Mariupol while 'hundreds' of women and children remain trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders

Video released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers

The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians

Hundreds of people are feared to be trapped in the underground bomb shelters of Mariupol theatre which was destroyed by a Russian airstrike on Wednesday evening

Rescuers are trying to dig through the rubble to get to the bomb shelters, but the city's mayor warns the building is still being shelled meaning work is slow and 'very, very dangerous'

Up to 1,200 people are thought to have been using the theatre as a shelter when Russian bombs struck and completely destroyed it - despite signs saying 'children' being clearly visible outside

A woman and her baby are pictured fleeing the city of Mariupol along a humanitarian corridor that was opened on Thursday, though previous attempts have failed after Russians shelled the routes

Local residents seeking refuge in the basement of a building are seen in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol

A woman weeps after seeing the ruins of her destroyed block of flat in Mariupol, which is under bombardment by Russia

Women seek refuge in the basement of a building in Mariupol, which has been under Russian bombardment for weeks

A heavily bombed building is seen in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, after being destroyed by Russian shelling of the city

Evacuees fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict sit in a damaged car as they wait in a line to leave the besieged port city of Mariupol

A school in a residential area on the outskirts of Kharkiv after it was destroyed by Russian shelling today

Debris is scattered over a school classroom in Kharkiv, with chair and desks blown over by the force of the airstrike today

Several buildings are destroyed by fragments of a Russian missile in Kyiv today

Vladimir Putin has today given a tub-thumping address to tens of thousands of Russians gathered at Moscow's world cup stadium, celebrating his invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and drumming up support for his new war

Putin spoke in front of a crowd tens of thousands strong at the Luzhniki World Cup stadium in Moscow, one of the few times he has been seen in public since launching his invasion 23 days ago

Russia's ground attacks have stalled on almost all fronts, with limited gains happening in the east, as Putin's generals increasingly launch long-range strikes on the west of the country in an attempt to weaken Kyiv's war effort

'Horror' in Mariupol: A survivor's account Svitlana Zlenko, who said she left the city with her son on Tuesday this week: 'Yesterday we left Mariupol under the shelling at our own risk, stayed the night in the field, in the gray zone, did not make it to the curfew, there was frost outside, thank God we are alive. They are alive to scream that everyone who stayed in Mariupol needs help. This is not a city of hero, this is a city of fear, death and horror. !!!!!! We did not have a humanitarian convoy, no one took us out, there is no city administration in the city, we ran after cars under shelling, united into columns, glued the inscriptions children on the cars. I personally put my own son in the car to the sound of a flying shell in the next yard. No one saved us, we saved ourselves and God. There is no connection in the city, no water, gas, ambulance, people with torn limbs bleed in the yards and no help, and these are peaceful people, our acquaintances and relatives. The dead are just caught on the spot, and the relatives can't find them later. Most often, this happens when searching for water, queues at wells or while cooking soup on a fire. !!!! Yes, we were collecting snow, melting it on a campfire and cooking pasta. My family was in the refuge of high school number two, three days ago a shell flew there, knocked out part of the windows, a woman in her hip was wounded with a scint, she was lying on the first floor of the high school all night and prayed to give her poison so that she would not feel pain, there is no one to take her to the hospital. Every day and every night there are fireworks, whistles, shaking walls and the horror of 'where will it fly' The survivor part of the 3rd city hospital works heroically, they are operating, they are saving. this woman was taken by a red cross within a day, may God grant her all is well. Two shells flew into my entrance, two into my yard, and the same man ripped off his leg with the same shell. My mother Angela and three brothers Roman (16 years old), Vasya (11 years old) Vladislav stayed in the city center for 9 years, at home on the fifth floor. Mother-in-law Lyubov and mother-in-law Anatoly on the ninth floor, opposite the Moscow State University, where the houses to the 9th floor are cut with shackles. There are almost no shelters in the city, there are not enough, no bunkers with ventilation, at best ground floors, my mom's house has no one. People need to be taken out, women, children, elderly people, give them buses, green corridor, make an agreement!! I pray for the loved ones, every Mariupolian and Ukrainian soldier. The enemy came to us and left us no choice, but there is nothing more valuable than human life. It needs to end!!!!!! No food, no medicine, if there is no snow with such urban fights, people will not be able to go out of water, people have no water left. Pharmacies, grocery stores - everything is robbed or burned, the dead are not taken out, the police recommends to the relatives of those who died of a natural death, to open the windows and lay the bodies on the balcony, and then take them to the house of prayer. I know you think you understand, but you will never understand unless you were there. Now I can hear the sound of sirens and I'm not afraid because in Mariupol there was no power for 16 days and when planes were dropping bombs on us, we couldn't even know it. I beg everyone to stop this!!!!!! If tanks protect the city standing in front of residential houses with people who then burn, then they are not protecting people. I do not understand war strategies, I pray with all my heart for Ukraine, but I do not understand why they destroy my relatives and my city. I don't know what will happen next, but I pray that this will not happen again in any of the cities of Ukraine and the world, and with no family and mother. A girl who gave birth to a baby in the hospital, where a shell flew in, pregnant, died in the same hospital, failed to give life, mother shaking in fear, covering her son in the hallway of each entrance to the sound of shaking windows, walls and flying shell, old man and, left without a chance to survive, wounded civilians, dying in the streets fighting. They show you how houses burn, but they don't show you how people burn. I need to burn myself to make you believe this shouldn't continue!!!!??? I beg you to stop this. And let your heart choose life This 21 day changed everyone, everything changed, so much now doesn't matter and costs nothing, only if everyone left in the Mariupol hell wouldn't shake in fear and horror Praying for the people of Mariupol.' Advertisement

Missiles and shelling struck the edges of Kyiv as well as Lviv, close to Ukraine's western border with NATO countries such as Poland.

Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nighttime video address to the nation that he is thankful to U.S. President Joe Biden for additional military aid but won't say specifically what the new package includes because he doesn't want to tip off Russia.

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies meanwhile said in a joint statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin is conducting an 'unprovoked and shameful war.'

The fighting has led more than 3 million people to flee Ukraine, the U.N. estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.

The Ukrainian air force's western command said that six missiles were launched at Lviv from the Black Sea, but that two of them were shot down.

The city's mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, said the missiles hit a facility for repairing military aircraft near Lviv's international airport, also damaging a bus repair facility. No casualties were immediately reported. The facility had suspended work ahead of the attack, the mayor said on the Telegram messaging app.

Early morning barrages also hit a residential building in the Podil neighborhood of Kyiv, killing at least one person, according to emergency services, who said 98 people were evacuated from the building. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 19 were wounded in the shelling, just north of downtown Kyiv.

Two other people were killed when strikes hit residential and administrative buildings in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Civilian casualties have been mounting. The United Nations says that so far it has recorded 780 killed and 1,252 injured, although it estimates actual casualties are much higher. It says that most of the civilian casualties were due to explosive weapons with a wide impact area, such as heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems as well as missile and air strikes.

Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been killed.

The World Health Organization has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the United Nations Security Council in a virtual briefing Thursday.

The besieged southern city of Mariupol has borne much of the bombardment. There, rescuers continue to search for survivors of a Russian airstrike on a theater where hundreds of people were sheltering, local officials said.

With communications disrupted across the city and movement difficult because of shelling and other fighting, there were conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed. Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes.

Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Britain's Defense Ministry said Thursday that Russia's invasion 'has largely stalled on all fronts' amid stiff Ukrainian resistance. It said Russian forces have made 'minimal progress' on land, sea or air in recent days, and are suffering heavy losses.

Ukrainian forces are using inexpensive Turkish-made drones to carry out lethal attacks on the Russian invaders.

The United Nations political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the UN Security Council that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians.

She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities 'are reportedly indiscriminate' and involve the use of 'explosive weapons with a wide impact area'.

Ms DiCarlo said the devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv 'raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks'.

In Mariupol, hundreds of civilians were said to have taken shelter in a grand, columned theatre in the city's centre when it was hit on Wednesday by a Russian airstrike.

More than a day later, there were no reports of deaths and conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

Communications are disrupted across the city and movement is difficult because of shelling and other fighting.

A Ukrainian civilian, wounded by flying glass from a Russian airstrike, evacuates from an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine

A man walks past a damaged residential building in the aftermath of a shelling in the Podilskyi district of Kyiv

People stand amid the rubble after an airstrike targeted a Kharkiv school today

A man carrying a dog speaks with a member of the Ukrainian military next to cars damaged by shelling in Kyiv

The city of Kharkiv was reduced to rubble after Ukraine's second largest city was subjected to heavy bombardment

A woman who was injured at the site of a residential district of Kyiv after it was hit by shelling, touches her head, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

A person looks at a building damaged by shelling in a residential district of Kyiv

What was a school is now nothing but rubble after heavy bombardment hit Kharkiv today

A firefighter works at the site damaged by shelling in a residential district of Kyiv

A woman cleans glass from the front of a residential apartment complex that was heavily damaged by a Russian attack

A view of a destroyed children's preschool in a residential district of Kyiv after it was hit by shelling, amid Russia's invasion

A view of a destroyed children's preschool in a residential district of Kyiv

A missile attack took place in the Podilskyi neighborhood in the Vitryani Hory area today

Several buildings are destroyed by fragments of a Russian missile in the Ukrainian capital today, hitting residential sites

One building was struck right next to a children's playground today as Putin's savage attacks on Ukraine continue

Biden warns Xi of the 'consequences' if China supports Putin President Joe Biden warned on Friday Chinese President Xi Jinping of the consequences Beijing would face if it provides support to Russia during its invasion of the Ukraine. In the nearly two-hour video call between the two leaders, Biden described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians, the White House said in a readout of the conversation. But the White House declined to say what those consequences would be and refused to say whether or not Biden made any specifics asks of China, which has a close diplomatic relationship with Russia. The call was part of the administration's effort to keep China from providing a lifeline to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is becoming increasingly isolated since he invaded the Ukraine nearly a month ago. Biden spoke to his Chinese counterpart from the Situation Room in the White House, where he outlined the efforts of the United States and it allies to respond to the invasion, including the financial sanctions imposed on Russia. In the readout of the call, the White House did not list any items the two men agreed upon other than to keep the lines of communication open. A senior administration described the call as direct and substantive. Advertisement

Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar Technologies showed huge white letters on the pavement outside the theatre spelling out 'CHILDREN' in Russian - 'DETI' - to alert warplanes to the vulnerable people hiding inside.

'We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theatre could survive,' Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayor's office, told The Associated Press.

He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes. Other officials said earlier that some people had got out.

Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the at least three-storey building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.

Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.

'We are trying to survive somehow,' said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. 'My child is hungry. I don't know what to give him to eat.'

She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles away. 'I can't tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing,' she said.

Cars, some with the 'Z' symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighbourhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Russia's military denied bombing the theatre or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

In Chernihiv, at least 53 people were brought to morgues over 24 hours, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Ukraine's emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including three-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000.

'The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction,' Mr Chaus said.

A residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, is seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine

Rescuers work on remains of a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv

Rescuers work on remains of a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv

A view shows a building of a hospital damaged by shelling as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Sievierodonetsk

Smoke rises from the ruins of a building in Sievierodonetsk, in the Ukrainian-held part of eastern Donetsk region, where fighting with Moscow-backed rebel forces is ongoing

A man with a cat evacuates from a building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues in Kyiv

The World Health Organisation said it has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured.

In remarks early on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was thankful to US President Joe Biden for additional military aid, but he would not get into specifics about the new package, saying he did not want Russia to know what to expect.

He said when the invasion began on February 24, Russia expected to find Ukraine much as it did in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea without a fight and backed separatists as they took control of the eastern Donbas region.

Instead, he said, Ukraine had much stronger defences than expected, and Russia 'didn't know what we had for defence or how we prepared to meet the blow'.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies accused Mr Putin of conducting an 'unprovoked and shameful war', and called on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justice's order to stop its attack and withdraw its forces.

Both Ukraine and Russia this week reported some progress in negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that some negotiators were breaking into working groups.

Mr Zelensky said he would not reveal Ukraine's negotiating tactics.

'Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook,' Mr Zelensky said. 'I consider it the right way.'

While details of Thursday's talks were unknown, an official in Mr Zelensky's office told the AP that on Wednesday, the main subject discussed was whether Russian troops would remain in separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after the war and where the borders would be.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Ukraine was insisting on the inclusion of one or more Western nuclear powers in the negotiations and on legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine.

In exchange, the official said, Ukraine was ready to discuss a neutral military status.

Russia has demanded that Nato pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

The fighting has led more than three million people to flee Ukraine, the UN estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.

Ukraine is 'humiliating' Russia on the battlefield: New video shows Putin's troops cowering under hail of fire in MORE inept tactics from 'unprepared' army

Russian invaders were ambushed by Ukrainian soldiers in another display of tactical humiliation for Vladimir Putin's army.

Footage filmed at the start of the war but only recently seen for the first time showed Russian soldiers cowering behind tanks and trees at the side of a road as bullets rained down on them.

Moscow has suffered multiple defeats because of 'inept' tactics that have baffled military experts.

It came as a British military expert said Ukraine was 'humiliating' Russia and 'wiping the floor with them in terms of world opinion'.

Russian troops were ambushed at the start of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, on February 24

Soldiers were seen hiding behind tanks marked with a 'V' symbol as Ukrainian bullets rained down on them

It was yet another show of inept Russian tactics that has plagued Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Prof Michael Clarke, the former chief of defence and security think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the Russians were 'making almost every tactical mistake it is possible to make'.

'They look like forces that were completely unprepared, that hadn't thought through what a major campaign might look like,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He said: 'The Ukrainians are stalling the Russian advance in all areas and even operating now quite effective counter attacks.

'The Russians are losing a lot of equipment and troops.'

Meanwhile, a British Army veteran told MailOnline: 'What you see in [the video] is contact right, so they're all piling out of a vehicle, you can see on camera that some soldiers are squatting behind tyres and are grouped in.

'This is what we'd call a 'snap ambush', so an unexpected ambush from single direction.

'What the Ukrainian army have probably done is set up a kill zone.

'It could be the Ukrainians have just decided to take pot-shots, but what's more likely is they've got intel that vehicles are going up road and they've planned an area where they're going to engage them.

'You try to make an area where the enemy is going to struggle to get out of, in this case there are banks to the left and right so the Russians are stuck on the road

'Russians are maybe getting out of their vehicles because they're scared of anti-tank weapons the Ukrainians have.

Advanced Western weaponry and tactics are helping the Ukrainian army to inflict heavy losses on the Russian army despite their inferior numbers, military experts revealed today

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

'There isn't a lot of commands from corporals or sergeants.

'You'd expect the first people out of the vehicles to be shouting locations so other soldiers know where they're being contacted from and where to return fire.

'They're not going forward, sometimes you do that because there's going to be IEDs or something like that to make the situation to worse  but they're not going backwards either.

'Grouping together isn't something you'd normally do. What you'd do is define where fire is coming from and spread yourself out in a line to make it harder for incoming fire to group against

'If I was them, I would have lined up men along the ditch to the right, then you can start shooting back.

'Nobody seems like they know what they're doing.It looks like a game of paintball. They seem lost.

'Could be that they're young, could be that they're old. Could be that they're scared.'
A missing eight-month-old baby boy was found safe after spending the entire night in an open field where he was abandoned by his mother.

The baby didn't appear to be injured but was taken to a local hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for precautionary medical treatment.

It is believed that his mother suffered some medical issues, according to Baton Rouge Police. There are no charges pending but an investigation is ongoing.

The baby was found after an hours-long search that included the fire department, Parish Search and Rescue, East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office, Emergency Medical Services, Acadian Ambulance and hospital staff.

The baby doesn't appear to be injured but was taken to a local hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for precautionary medical treatment

It is believed that his mother suffered some medical issues, according to Baton Rouge Police

His mother helped in the search and was guided authorities to the place she left him.

Curt Monte, from the Baton Rouge Fire Department, told WAFB: 'We were able to bring the mother to the scene, city police took the mother, the mother showed them an area on Plank Road near a church.'

The baby was then found near the Saintsville COGIC on Plank Road.

The baby was found after an hours long search including the fire department, Parish Search and Rescue, East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office, Emergency Medical Services, Acadian Ambulance and hospital staff

Mike Chutz, from East Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services, added: 'The medics jumped on him and started treating him right away and... I think he's gonna be fine...

'The timing didn't give us a lot of hope but the baby was tough.'

The mother showed up at a fire station on Tuesday needing medical treatment and was taken to a hospital before checking into a mental treatment facility.

During the treatment, officials said she mentioned leaving her baby in a field, according to the news station.
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President Joe Biden warned on Friday Chinese President Xi Jinping of the consequences Beijing would face if it provides support to Russia during its invasion of the Ukraine.

In the nearly two-hour video call between the two leaders, Biden described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians, the White House said in a readout of the conversation.

But the White House declined to say what those consequences would be and refused to say whether or not Biden made any specifics asks of China, which has a close diplomatic relationship with Russia.

The call was part of the administration's effort to keep China from providing a lifeline to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is becoming increasingly isolated since he invaded the Ukraine nearly a month ago.

Biden spoke to his Chinese counterpart from the Situation Room in the White House, where he outlined the efforts of the United States and it allies to respond to the invasion, including the financial sanctions imposed on Russia.

In the readout of the call, the White House did not list any items the two men agreed upon other than to keep the lines of communication open.

A senior administration described the call as direct and substantive.

I would say the conversation was direct. It was substantive and it was detailed. The two leaders spent the preponderance of their time discussing Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, as well as the implications of the crisis for US China relations and the international order, the official said.

The official said the call wasn't for President Biden to make any 'specific requests' for Xi but to lay out 'his assessment of the situation, what he thinks makes sense, and the implications of certain actions, the official said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration wasn't offering any more details on the conversation because the next move was China's.

'Because China has to make a decision for themselves about where they want to stand and how they want the history books to look at them and view their actions. And that is a decision for President Xi and the Chinese to make,' she said when asked at her Friday press briefing about the lack of specifics.

President Biden and President Xi spoke about the situation in the Ukraine, where Biden warned of the consequences Beijing would face if they helped Russia

White House readout of call between Presidents Biden and Xi President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Xi Jinping of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The conversation focused on Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. President Biden outlined the views of the United States and our Allies and partners on this crisis. President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion, including by imposing costs on Russia. He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians. The President underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. The two leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, to manage the competition between our two countries. The President reiterated that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that the United States continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo. The two leaders tasked their teams to follow up on todays conversation in the critical period ahead. Advertisement

For his part, Xi told Biden that a war in Ukraine is not in anyone's interest.

'Ukraine crisis is something we don't want to see,' Xi said, according to a summary released by the Chinese government.

'We should not only steer China-U.S. relations forward on the right track, but we should also shoulder our international responsiblities and strive for world peace and tranquility,' he added.

It was the first time tha Biden and Xi spoke since a video summit in November. Relations between Washington and Beijing have gotten more tense amid Chinese aggression in the Pacific and concerns it will back Russia's invasion of the Ukraine.

The two men also discussed Taiwan amid concerns that China will invade the neighboring island.

Biden also told Xi that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that the United States continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo.

His warning to stay away from Taiwan came as China has upped its military presence in the region.

'He underscored as well concerns about Beijing's coercive and provocative actions across the Taiwan Strait. President Biden made clear that we remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,' the senior administration official said.

'The Biden administration has consistently demonstrated rock solid support for Taiwan and will continue to do so,' the official added.

Hours ahead of the call, China sailed its elite aircraft carrier Shandong through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Its provocative voyage, amid heightened fears that Beijing is preparing to seize the autonomous island of Taiwan, was shadowed every step of the way by a U.S. destroyer, the USS Ralph Johnson.

China claims Taiwan as its own. The increased military action by Beijing has both Taipei and Washington worried Xi might follow Russian President Vladimir Putin's example and use force to get what it wants.

Washington and Beijing has endured a tense relationship during Biden's tenure as the president has spoken out against China's increasing influence in Asia. The situation in the Ukraine has heightened the situation.

The Biden administration is concerned China could help Russia circumvent Western economic sanctions that has crippled it economy and sank the rubble.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday warned China that the Biden administration would not hesitate to make it pay for moves that could prolong the war in Ukraine.

'President Biden will be speaking to President Xi tomorrow, and will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression,' he said.

'And we will not hesitate to impose costs.'

China released a photo of the video call between Presidents Biden and Xi, which lasted nearly two hours

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi have met dozens of times as they tried to forge an alternative to American hegemony. That gives Xi particular leverage, in the eyes of Washington as diplomats try to hasten the end of the Ukraine war

The 70,000-ton Shandong is the pride of the Chinese navy and can carry 32 planes and 12 helicopters. It sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday morning hours before the Biden-Xi call in a clear sign of muscle flexing

A satellite image taken over the city of Chernihiv, in northern Ukraine, on Wednesday and released Thursday shows blasts and fires caused by Russian air strikes in civilian areas

Ukrainian servicemen carry containers backdropped by a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday

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 18, 2022

Relations between China and Russia have warmed in recent years, giving Beijing an opportunity to make a difference.

Putin and Xi met in Beijing in February when the Russian president was in town for the opening of the Winter Olympic Games. China initially seemed to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the joint statement denouncing 'NATO's eastward expansion' - which has been Moscow's position.

Beijing also has offered to act as mediator between Russia and the Ukraine but it also denounced trade and financial sanctions against Russia.

The U.S. is urging China to use its close ties with Moscow to help convince Putin to back down.

'We believe China in particular has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support,' said Blinken.

'Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression, while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter.'

Earlier this week, the U.S. told allies it had intelligence that China had signaled to Russia that it was willing to provide military and financial backing to help stave off the impact of sanctions imposed by the West.

Meanwhile Putin on Friday gave a tub-thumping speech to tens of thousands of banner-waving Russians in an attempt to drum up support for his stalled invasion of Ukraine, as he peddled debunked claims about why the war started and shilled a false narrative of Russia's battlefield 'success'.

It was a rare public sighting of him since the invasion began.

The Russian president took to the stage at Moscow's Luzhniki World Cup stadium dressed in a 10,000 Loro Piana jacket - despite his country's economy crumbling under the weight of Western sanctions - to address a crowd waving Russian national flags and banners marked with the letter 'Z', which has become a potent symbol of the invasion.

Putin, who called the rally to mark the anniversary of the last time he attacked Ukraine to annex the Crimea region, spoke of sharing a 'common destiny' with Crimeans, of 'de-Nazifying' the region in 2014, and of the 'bravery' of soldiers currently fighting in Ukraine. He was met with chants of 'Russia, Russia, Russia.'

Speaking in front of banners that read 'For a world without Nazism' and 'For Russia' - with the letter 'Z' in each picked out in bold - he said: 'Sevastopol [capital of Crimea] did the right thing when they put up a barrier to neo-Nazis and radicals, which is already happening on other territories.

'[The] people of Donbass also disagreed with this, and straight-away they organised military operations against [the Nazis]. They were surrounded and shelled by guns, the Ukrainians sent airstrikes against them. This is called genocide,' he said, repeating his widely-debunked justification for attacking. 'It is to save people from this suffering and genocide that we launched our military operation.'

Putin then praised troops taking part in his 'special operation', who he said are fighting for the 'universal values' of all Russians. The words 'we don't abandon our own' were emblazoned on screens around the stadium. Paraphrasing the Bible, he said: 'There is no greater love than giving up one's soul for one's friends.

'The best confirmation of this is how our guys are fighting during this operation, shoulder to shoulder, helping each other. When it is necessary, they cover each-other as if it was their own brother from bullets. We haven't had such unity in a long time,' he said.

The event included patriotic songs, including a performance of 'Made in the U.S.S.R.,' with the opening lines 'Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, it's all my country.' Moscow police said 200,000 people had attended the event - though the stadium's capacity is only 81,000. Some Russians spoke to journalists at the event about how they had been brought there in government buses.

With the Russian-Ukraine war now in its 23rd day, U.S. defense officials say the Russian advance has been stalled for at least a week.

Instead its forces have relied on long-range bombardment of cities in what appears to be an attempt to destroy the will of the Ukrainian people.

Worse could follow.

More than 3.2 million Ukrainians have fled the country, the United Nations said. Hundreds of civilians, including children, have been killed.

Blinken warned on Thursday of false flag operations designed to set the stage for a chemical weapons attack.

And a senior intelligence figure detailed the possible use of nuclear weapons in a new, 67-page summary of global threats.

Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, raised the specter of a possible nuclear attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital which has resisted Russian advances, and said a desperate Putin posed a threat to the whole world.

Vladimir Putin gave a tub-thumping speech to tens of thousands of banner-waving Russians in an attempt to drum up support for his stalled invasion of Ukraine

The event included patriotic songs, including a performance of 'Made in the U.S.S.R.,' with the opening lines 'Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, it's all my country'

Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, revealed concerning details in a new report that Putin is likely to threaten to use nuclear weapons against the West if Ukrainian defense forces continue to push back against the invasion

A Russian Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile launcher in 2019. The same type of missile was also deployed with a previously unknown decoy during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine

These dart-shaped armaments, originally thought to be cluster bombs, have been seen on social media from almost the beginning of Russia's invasion. They are thought to be decoys, protecting missiles from air defense systems

'As this war and its consequences slowly weaken Russian conventional strength, Russia likely will increasingly rely on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project strength to its internal and external audiences,' wrote in the report that was obtained by Fox News.

His report notes that Russia claims to be developing missiles that are capable of circumventing Western defenses in order to 'ensure that Russia can credibly inflict unacceptable damage on the West.'

But attention shifted to China's role on Friday morning, there was a series of signs that Beijing is in no mood to back down.

Instead a Chinese diplomat blamed the US for the war in Ukraine and accused Washington of 'fanning the flames' by supplying weapons and ammunition to the country.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs,Hua Chunying, said: 'The claim that China is on the wrong side of history is overbearing. It is the US that is on the wrong side of history.'

She also repeated Russian talking points justifying its invasion of Ukraine.

'If the US had honored its assurances, refrained from repeatedly expanding NATO and pledged that NATO would not admit Ukraine, and had not fanned the flames by supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, the situation would have been very different,' she added.

And the passage of the Shandong will be interpreted as a furtherprovocative move.

The Taiwan Strait in the South China Sea is a hotly contested stretch of water, with China claiming democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, said: 'The claim that China is on the wrong side of history is overbearing. It is the US that is on the wrong side of history

Chinese elite aircraft carrier Shandong arrives at Dalian, a city in northeast China, in May 2018. It is the first aircraft carrier produced domestically in China and a jewel in the navy's crown

The Taiwan Strait between the People's Republic and Chinese city Xiamen is a contested stretch of water in the South China Sea - with Shandong sailing through to 'intimidate' Taipei

Over the past two years Beijing has stepped up its military activity near the island to assert its sovereignty claims, alarming Taipei and Washington.

An anonymous source who was not authorised to speak to the media told Reuters that the Shandong sailed close to the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, which sits directly opposite the Chinese city of Xiamen.

It was shadowed by American missile destroyer the USS Ralph Johnson.

'Around 10:30 a.m. the CV-17 [carrier] appeared around 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Kinmen, and was photographed by a passenger on a civilian flight,' the source said, referring to the Shandong's official service number.

The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, followed the carrier, which did not have aircraft on its deck and sailed north through the strait, the source added.

Taiwan also sent warships to keep an eye on the situation, they added.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry declined to comment.

China's Defence Ministry and the U.S. Navy did not immediately responded to requests for comment.

American missile destroyer the USS Ralph Johnson (foreground), seen sailing through the Philippine Sea in June 2020, is based at US Navy centre Yokosuka, near Tokyo

The sail happened about 12 hours before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to speak to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The source described the timing of the Shandong's movement so close to that call as 'provocative.'

China says Taiwan is the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with the United States.

Washington has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier.

The Shandong is China's newest aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2019.

China's only other carrier, the Liaoning, is mostly used for training purposes.

Both ships have ventured close to Taiwan before.

In December 2019, shortly before presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan, the Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, a move condemned by Taiwan as attempted intimidation.

Taiwan's air force scrambles aircraft almost daily to see off Chinese warplanes flying into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, mostly to the southwestern part of the strait.

Taiwan calls this 'gray zone' warfare activity, designed to both test its responses and wear out Taiwan's air force.
A Grey's Anatomy writer who wrote episodes of the hit show based on her own medical traumas has now been accused of making it all up by her estranged wife.

Writer Elisabeth Finch, 44, is now on personal leave.

According to The Ankler, her 40-year-old wife Jennifer Beyer called Shondaland - Shonda Rhimes' production company that makes the show - and Disney to report Finch for lying.

The alleged lies started unraveling when Finch left the show suddenly, citing a family emergency. Her concerned colleagues phoned Beyer for an update, and the details of the story Finch had given them were similar to things Beyer had experienced - not her wife.

Among stories she has projected are having an abortion while undergoing chemotherapy, and how her doctors 'missed' her diagnosis.

Writer Elisabeth Finch, 44, (right in scrubs) is on leave from the show pending an investigation. She wrote episodes of the show that she claimed were based on experiences she had including one titled Silent All These Years (shown)

Finch's wife Jennifer (right) is who reported the alleged lies to Shondaland and Disney. The pair are shown on their 2020 wedding day. They are now in the midst of a divorce

Finch has written multiple essays and articles for publications including ELLE and The Hollywood Reporter detailing her battle with bone cancer

She has written 13 episodes of Grey's Anatomy, regularly does press for the show and has penned essays for ELLE and The Hollywood Reporter about her medical background and being bi-sexual.

She also claims to have suffered sexual abuse - which inspired the Grey's episode Silent All These Years.

Beyer and Finch are in the midst of a divorce. The pair tied the knot in the summer of 2020.

Finch had been single until then, but Beyer had five kids from a previous relationship. The couple are understood to have lived with the family in Kansas.

Finch is a successful writer who has worked on Grey's for more than eight seasons. In articles for ELLE and The Hollywood Reporter, she has written proudly of using her medical traumas to inspire episodes of the hit show.

Finch has also claimed in the past to have been the victim of abuse and harassment at The Vampire Diaries, the show she previously produced

Finch, 44, is now said to be under investigation. Her attorney has said she will not comment on the allegations or her pending divorce

One article from 2018 was titled: 'Catherine Avery's Cancer Plot Line On 'Grey's Anatomy' Is Based On My Life. This Is Why I Finally Wrote About It.'

In that piece, she wrote: 'When my job at Grey's Anatomy asked me if I would not only write about cancer, but also admit its my life, I wanted to say no. No to the showrunner I love on the show Ive worked on for five years. A big, fat, super-emphatic, though ever-polite No.

'My boss, Krista Vernoff, suggested I use my point of view as a person with cancer to write a storyline where one of our beloved characters is diagnosed, too,' she said.

In an earlier piece in 2016, she told how she 'confronted the doctor who missed' her diagnosis

She was diagnosed, she said, with bone cancer at the age of 34.

According to The Ankler, Finch's estranged wife called bosses recently to claim that she was lying.

Finch on the set of Grey's Anatomy with co-executive producer Linda Klein

Finch with one of the show's stars Sarah Drew in an episode titled Who is He and What Is He to You?

Colleagues told The Hollywood Reporter they were stunned by the suggestion that she could have made it all up, and many are not convinced.

'You believe this poor woman was going through this awful thing and you want to support her,' one said.

Another however told The Ankler that some people were suspicious about the opaqueness of her story.

'There was so much craziness in her life and she was so cryptic and private and it was always like, what is the story here? It often felt like a carrot-dangle but I just thought we were dealing with someone who was wildly insecure but not some sort of mastermind,' they said.

Finch's attorney told DailyMail.com: 'Ms. Finch is not going to discuss her private health matters. Likewise, she will not speak about her pending divorce from her estranged wife, Jennifer Beyer, or comment on any statements that Ms. Beyer may have made to third parties about Ms. Finch.'

When asked if she had been placed on leave, a Shondaland rep told The Ankler: 'Only Elisabeth can speak to her personal story.'
One of the killers of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani will soon be freed on parole from jail in South Africa, despite having served barely half of his 18-year sentence.

Zola Tongo, now 42, was alleged to have hired two men to kill Anni, 28, on the orders of her new husband in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town on November 13, 2010.

She was killed in the back of Tongo's taxi, suffering a single gunshot to her neck after her husband fled the taxi which was later found abandoned with her body in it.

Tongo pleaded guilty to his part in the murder, and was sentenced to 18 years. Her husband - Shrien Dewani - was cleared of all charges.

Tongo was due to be released from Malmesbury prison on parole in 2020, but was kept behind bars after opposition from Anni's family.

He since renewed his plea for parole, and his lawyers were successful in arguing for his release. He will leave prison on June 21.

Zola Tongo, now 42, was alleged to have hired two men to kill Anni, 28, on the orders of her new husband in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town on November 13, 2010. He is now set to be released from prison on June 21 after successful pleading for parole

Anni's family reacted furiously to the news, with her uncle Ashok Hindocha telling MailOnline that the decision has brought 'shame to the South African justice system.'

Speaking on behalf of the family, he said: 'This just confirms that South Africa doesn't want to reduce crime rather encourage it.

'Good police work has gone down the drain. We saw and heard that at the main court hearing, but it seems that this applies even further down.'

We were let down when the trial against Shrien Dewani was stopped half way through by the judge and we have been let down again.

I know South Africans feel robbed of the full story of how an innocent young women on honeymoon came to die here. They are now being cheated by the legal system.

I spoke to Tongo yesterday. I told him that he and I could speak man-to-man, with nobody else in the room and no recording.

All I asked him was for him to tell us what happened to his mobile phone, because we know the police say there were messages on there that they were interested in.

We believe he is hiding some important information. He lied to us. He is keeping valuable information to himself.

He told us that if he is freed he would have a job with a relatives transport firm, But he couldnt even tell us the relatives name or the name of the company.

Annis father Vinod said: Tongo is a ruthless killer. A greedy man who helped take Annis life for a small amount of cash.

He was given 25 years after he agreed to tell the police about what really happened. But he is a liar who has shown no genuine remorse for what he helped to do to my daughter.

As far as I am concerned, they should lock him up again and hide the key. He is an evil man. He always will be and now he can carry on with his life as if nothing happened.'

Tongo's parole was granted on a number of conditions, including house detention, a community service order and a ban of drinking alcohol and taking drugs.

Rynold Sedeman , chairperson of the parole board, said Tongo must undergo treatment from a psychologist and be assessed by social workers while on parole.

Anni Dewani was killed in the back of Tongo's taxi, suffering a single gunshot to her neck after her husband fled the taxi which was later found abandoned with her body in it

His house arrest will be in place for the first year of his six-year parole, after which he will be a completely free man - providing he doesn't breach the conditions.

He must also submit to High Risk subversion monitoring for 12 months, and has been ordered not to intimidate or threaten anyone, commit a crime or contact the victims.

The killer gained his freedom after a six-hour parole hearing, according to The Sun. It was attended by Vinod and his brother Ashok.

South African law states that a convicted criminal who is serving 25 years or less in prison is eligibly for parole after serving half their sentence.

Swedish-born Anni had been married for only a few weeks to British millionaire nursing home boss Shrien Dewani, now 41

Swedish-born Anni had been married for only a few weeks to British millionaire nursing home boss Shrien Dewani, now 41.

He said his life was spared as the two gunmen forced him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, before murdering his new bride.

Dewani was accused of organising the hit on his engineer wife with the taxi driver and paying him and two accomplices, but was cleared.

Tongo was said to have been paid R15,000 (700) by Shrien to organise two hitmen to kill. He was first set to be released in August 2020 on parole.

However, after the parole board decided to release him, an appeal by Anni's father her uncle led to a rethink.

Tongo was visited in his cell and was grilled face-to-face to reveal the truth of what happened but he gave nothing away and Anni's family demanded South African authorities revoked his parole.

Tongo had packed his bags and said goodbye to his cellmates and his family had driven up to Malmesbury Prison 40 miles outside of Cape Town to pick him up.

But with less than 24 hours before he was due to be released, Tongo's freedom was taken away again.

When news of Tongo's pending release in 2020 broke, Anni's father Vinod said: 'This man should be behind bars he is dangerous to society and has never told the truth and deserves to be inside.

'If you are a murderer and you know you have done something wrong naturally you will try to be nice in prison to escape the long sentence and he was pulling the wool over eyes'.

Tongo was due to be released from Malmesbury prison on parole in 2020, but was kept behind bars after opposition from Anni's family. Pictured: Zola Tongo, covers his face in the Cape Town High Court, on December 7, 2010 in Cape Town

After Tongo's parole was revoked in 2020, Vinod said: 'I am glad he is remaining locked up'.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe is serving life and the man who fired the shot that killed Anni, Xolile Mngeni died from cancer in prison while serving his sentence.

Anni's husband said his life was spared as the two gunmen forced him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, before murdering his new bride.
Two young brothers who went missing in the Amazon rainforest for four weeks have miraculously been found alive.

Glauco, seven, and Gleison Ferreira, nine, left their home in the Lago Capana nature reserve in Brazil's Amazonas state to find small birds on February 18.

After they failed to come home the authorities began a wide search of the rainforest in the country's northwest - but called it off on February 26.

Incredibly, they were found on Tuesday night almost four miles away from home by a tree cutter, who heard one of the boys screaming at the sound of his chainsaw.

The man found the two boys lying on the rainforest floor, hungry and painfully thin, with skin abrasions. They told their parents they had eaten nothing while lost and had survived only by drinking rainwater.

BEFORE: Brothers Glauco (right) and Gleison (left) were searched for by 260 members of the public when emergency services abandoned their efforts on February 26 - after just eight days

AFTER: Youngsters Gleison (above) and Glauco Ferreira (below) are given drinking water moments after being found in the remote Amazon rainforest. They were missing for 26 days

Long-suffering Glauco (right) and Gleison (left) were taken by boat from the remote area where they were found to a small dock, where an ambulance rushed them to a local hospital

Tearful dad Claudionor Ribeiro Ferreira told TV station Band Jornalismo: 'When I saw my children, I was thrilled.'

He said he was also taken aback by the size of the crowd who came to see his boys' safe arrival.

The tree cutter found the two boys lying on the rainforest floor, both in severe condition.

Glauco and Gleison were then rushed to hospital in nearby Manicore, where they were treated for severe malnutrition, dehydration and skin abrasions.

Video mostra criancas resgatadas sob comocao e aplausos no interior do AM pic.twitter.com/d9jgyi9glk  AM POST (@portalampost) March 16, 2022

Volunteers took the severely malnourished and dehydrated brothers back to dry land by boat

A huge crowd assembled to witness Glauco and Gleison's miraculous return to safety

Gleison was covered almost entirely by cloth to protect him from the elements

After being placed in the ambulance, the fragile Ferreira brothers were taken to a local hospital

Glauco and Gleison were then airlifted yesterday morning to an ICU in regional capital Manaus.

A video tweeted by the Amazon Manaus Post shows the pair being transported on a boat from the remote part of the jungle where they were found.

Arriving at a dock to be put in an ambulance, a hundreds-strong crowd greets them.

The post's caption reads: 'The video shows children being rescued amid commotion and applause in the morning.'

A search party of more than 250 people, which had continued to search for the boys after official efforts ended, celebrated as the boys were stretchered to safety.

The Ferreira family are members of the indigenous Mura ethnic group, with local leaders also adding to search efforts.

In an interview for local TV, dad Claudionor said he was 'thrilled' to have his sons back and overjoyed that so many people helped him search for them after they went missing

Claudionor struggled to hold it together when he thought about the critical condition his boys were found in

Gleison and his brother were moved yesterday morning from a small local hospital near where they were found to the regional capital Manaus so they could be treated in an ICU

Glauco and Gleison disappeared from their Palmeira, Lago Capana home on February 18 after saying they wanted to bring home small birds from the jungle. Luckily, they were found

Lost during the Amazon's turgid rainy season, the brothers had a hard task moving around, not to mention finding food and clean water.

They won't be fed properly until they gain enough weight to process solids, local media reported.

Brazil is home to almost two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest, which covers much of the country's northwest region.

Last year a crashed pilot lost four stone (25.4kg) during a 36-day stint lost in the Amazon.

Antonio Sena, 36, lost control of his small plane after a mechanical failure shortly after lift-off.

He was finally found by a group of chestnut pickers in the Para region.

Glauco and Gleison were flown to Manaus, where they are now receiving round-the-clock care from doctors at an intensive care unit in the regional capital
The devastated husband of a marketing executive who died of a stroke caused by the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid jab has demanded that the Government compensate the nearly 80 families who lost loved ones to vaccine-induced blood clots, following his wifes inquest.

Nicola Weideling suffered catastrophic bleeds on her brain after being hospitalised with blood clots caused by the vaccine which she had received 24 days before dying, a coroner has ruled.

The 45-year-old Oxford University Press executive had complained to her GP about neck pain but she was not diagnosed with vaccine side effects until she was taken to hospital with several other symptoms of blood clots.

Speaking after his late wifes inquest at Hampshire Coroners Court in Winchester, Kurt Weideling said ministers now need to follow through on their promise to pay affected families 120,000 under the Vaccine Damage Payment programme.

Her family insist those like Mrs Weideling who lost their lives after doing the right thing and getting vaccinated should not simply be dismissed as collateral damage.

The distraught 52-year-old IT manager said: My fundamental problem here is this country is the only Western country I know of which decided it was safe to give this vaccine to people over the age of 40.

This is even after other people had already died from blood clots, and they still kept going.

Nicola Weideling suffered catastrophic bleeds on her brain after being hospitalised with blood clots caused by the vaccine she received just 24 days before she died, a coroner has ruled

Speaking after his late wifes inquest at Hampshire Coroners Court in Winchester, Kurt Weideling said ministers now need to follow through on their promise to pay affected families 120,000 under the Vaccine Damage Payment programme

Nicola Weideling's husband and sister Kurt Weideling and Liz Young attending the inquest at Winchester Coroners Court in Winchester, Hampshire

What is the risk of getting blood clot after AstraZeneca's jab? British health chiefs recommended all under-40s are offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's vaccine because of blood clot fears. According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, as of September 1, 2021 there have been 416 cases of VITT and 72 deaths. But statisticians analysed the numbers and found rates were slightly higher among younger adults, with females appearing to be at most risk, too. Cambridge academics estimated around 1.9 in every 100,000 twenty-somethings given AstraZeneca's jab would suffer serious blood clots alongside abnormally low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia)  the specific disorder linked to the jab. For thirty-somethings the figure was 1.5. They compared that against the average number of Covid intensive care admissions that would be prevented by giving that cohort the jab. And they then analysed the risk/benefit ratio in different scenarios, based entirely on how widespread the disease was at the time. For example, only 0.2 ICU admissions would be prevented for every 100,000 twenty-somethings given the jab at prevalence levels seen in April (fewer than 30,000 infections per week). For adults in their thirties, the figure was around 0.8. It showed, however, the benefits of giving AstraZeneca's vaccine to 40-49 year olds outweighed the potential risk (1.7 prevented ICU admissions per 100,000 people compared to 1.2 blood clots). But the decision to recommend under-40s are offered Pfizer or Moderna's jab instead was basically only taken because the outbreak was squashed to extremely low levels, as well as the fact younger people are known to face tiny odds of falling seriously ill with coronavirus. For older adults, who the disease poses a much greater threat to, the benefits of vaccination are clear, regulators insist. Jabs have already saved around 13,000 lives in England, top scientists believe. However, because there were so few blood clots, it made it impossible for No10's vaccine advisory panel to give an exact age cut-off. Instead, they were only able to analyse figures by decade. The first clots to alarm people were ones appearing in veins near the brains of younger adults in a condition called CSVT (cerebral sinus venous thrombosis). Since that, however, people have developed clots in other parts of their bodies and they are usually linked to low numbers of platelets, which is unusual because platelets are usually used by the immune system to build the clots. In most cases people recover fully and the blockages are generally easy to treat if spotted early, but they can trigger strokes or heart or lung problems if unnoticed. Symptoms depend entirely on where the clot is, with brain blockages causing excruitiating headaches. Clots in major arteries in the abdomen can cause persistent stomach pain, and ones in the leg can cause swelling of the limbs. Researchers in Germany believe the problem lies in the adenovirus vector  a common cold virus used so both vaccines can enter the body. Academics investigating the issue say the complication is 'completely absent' in mRNA vaccines like Pfizer's and Moderna's because they have a different delivery mechanism. Advertisement

I accept there is a delicate balance to be struck between the benefits of the vaccine and the risks but no other country would have given my wife that vaccine.

Seventy people have died in the UK from this side effect. Hundreds of people have life changing disabilities because of it.

They set up the Vaccine Damage Payment but have not paid out to anyone for Covid vaccinations.

There are families where the main breadwinner has died or has been left with brain damage and needs lifelong care. Everyone goes oh well there are always side effects, but we werent really given a choice. You had to do the right thing.

We were all told to do the right thing and get vaccinated, but the Government needs to do the right thing and pay compensation to those affected.

The court heard Nicola had her first Covid-19 vaccine on April 21, 2021, and received the AstraZeneca injection, despite reported cases of people suffering devastating blood clots as a result of its side effects.

After a few days she started to complain of neck pain and had a telephone consultation with her GP on May 6, but at this stage it was believed to be muscular.

Mrs Weideling was taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital two days later, after her symptoms of headaches and bruising developed.

Giving evidence to the inquest, Mr Weideling said: An ambulance came and took her to the hospital in Winchester.

I wasnt allowed in but we were chatting on our phones and she was diagnosed pretty quickly within an hour or two. She said I have been told I have the blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mrs Weideling was given a CT scan of her head which revealed clots and she was urgently transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Southampton, the local specialist hospital for these cases.

Mr Weideling, who was married to his wife for 22 years, added: She was transferred to Southampton and on Sunday and Monday she was responding, she was fine and chatty.

But Nicola stopped responding to texts on Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting Mr Weideling to call the hospital.

Then I had a call back from the hospital and they said shes had a significant brain bleed and she never regained consciousness after that, he said.

They did surgery but on Thursday they said theres been another bleed and theres nothing they could do.

A post-mortem examination showed Mrs Weideling died on May 15, 2021 after suffering a stroke caused by Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT), otherwise known as blood clots caused by a vaccine.

Jason Pegg, area coroner for Hampshire, said: Nicola was only 45 at the time of her death.

She was a very thoughtful and kind lady, she was the hub of the social life in the circle of family and friends and someone who enjoyed a successful career. She was a very much-loved wife and sister.

Globally, we have been plagued with the Covid-19 pandemic and we in this country had the fortune to be offered vaccinations.

I have heard evidence today that Nicola was someone keen to get her first vaccine.

With the benefit of hindsight, it seems to me that the symptoms of pain in Nicolas neck were more likely than not to be associated with [blood clots].

Nicola was somebody who did succumb to blood clots. Nicola developed cerebral blood clots in consequence to her Covid-19 vaccination. A rare but recognised complication of the vaccination which led to a cerebral infarction [stroke].

Mr Weideling paid tribute to his wife during his evidence, adding she was a supporter and believer in getting vaccinated. She went on the first or second day she was eligible for her age group to get vaccinated.

Nicola was kind of the hub of every social interaction. She was always organising parties and events and holidays for people and catch ups and family get togethers, he said.

Im from Australia, shes from here. We lived together in Australia, America and the UK and she was always the one who kept in contact with people.

She was also very professionally driven. She had just had a big promotion in her job at Oxford University Press. She was very proud about that.

Speaking after the inquest, Nicolas sister, Liz Young, 42, added: She was a very thoughtful and kind person.

Speaking after the inquest, Nicolas sister added: She was a very thoughtful and kind person

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme allows people who are severely disabled due to a vaccination to claim a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000 (stock image)

What I find hard is that my sister is always referred to as collateral damage, but she's not collateral damage. We want to know if they handled it appropriately or if they should have handled it differently.

According to the British Heart Foundation, as of February 23, 2022, there were 438 reports of people developing blood clots after receiving a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK.

Of the 438 people who developed blood clots, 79 died. Six of these deaths occurred after the second dose.

Up to 920 compensation applications have been filed by people who were left seriously injured after getting the Covid-19 vaccine as claims could hit 110million.

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) allows people who are allegedly severely disabled due to a vaccination to claim a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000.

Family members of someone who has died after becoming disabled because of what they claim is the vaccination are also eligible to apply for the fixed payout.

It has emerged that the bill paid to those left with life-changing injuries from the Covid-19 vaccine or the families of those who died after getting the jab could top 110million, The Times reported.
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Covid is now more rife in England than it was before Christmas, when gloomy scientists were calling for another lockdown to thwart the Omicron threat.

Gold-standard surveillance data estimates more than 3million people  or roughly one in 20  were infected on March 12, the latest date available.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) projection marked a 28 per cent increase on the week before, taking it to levels exceeding the sky-high rates seen in the festive period. At the time, Boris Johnson was actively considering adopting tough coronavirus curbs to slow the spread of the ultra-transmissible variant.

Grim modelling by SAGE had warned of up to 6,000 deaths a day, prompting the Government's own advisers to call for stringent measures. Some doom-mongering scientists even wanted a circuit-breaker.

But Boris Johnson held his nerve and stuck to the 'Plan B' measures already in place, which saw the return of work from home, face masks in public places and a ramping up of the booster programme.

Covid deaths peaked at 300 a day  similar to levels seen in a bad flu winter and a fraction of rates seen during the darkest days of the pandemic. NHS hospitals were never overwhelmed and intensive care admissions barely budged.

Experts believe the fresh resurgence, driven by England's 'Freedom Day' and the rise of an even more infectious strain of Omicron called BA.2, will die out in the next fortnight without crippling the health service. Booster jabs are just as effective against the new variant as they are its predecessor and a fourth vaccine roll-out is imminent. No10 has no plans to U-turn on its 'living with Covid' strategy.

The ONS infection survey, based on tens of thousands of swabs carried out every week, found as many as one in 13 people were infected in the worst-hit area of Sutton in London on March 12.

But in Scotland infections rose to an all-time high, with 376,000 estimated to have been infected over the same period  or one in 14 people. Cases also ticked up in Wales, estimates suggest, but fell in Northern Ireland.

The above graph shows the daily estimates of Covid cases from the Office for National Statistics gold-standard survey. It reveals cases have now surged above the levels at Christmas, when scientists were calling for a lockdown

Weekly Covid cases have now reached an all-time high in Scotland, official data from the Office for National Statistics suggests. It came after Nicola Sturgeon extended the mask mandate in the country

 Slide me  Government data showed cases have risen in every area of England for two weeks in a row (left). In eight in ten boroughs they rose by more than 50 per cent over the week to March 13 (red) compared to the previous seven-day spell, and in Wiltshire and North Lincolnshire (dark red) they doubled. This was a significant surge from the previous week

Pictured above are the weekly estimates of Covid cases for England since the survey began. It reveals that cases rose 28 per cent last week compared to the previous seven-day spell. The uptick is being driven by the more infectious Omicron variant BA.2 and, ministers say, by relaxing the final Covid restrictions

Covid cases are rising in every region of England, official figures show, ticking up fastest in the South East and East Midlands

Covid cases are also surging in all age groups, rising fastest among under-16s and those aged 50 to 69 years old

The ONS survey showed BA.2 was behind the majority of cases in each UK nation, with the proportion rising in a week

The ONS survey is seen as the best way of tracking the Covid outbreak because it is based on random swabs of over 100,000 people, meaning it can detect community spread.

It is separate from the daily cases published every week day by the Government, solely based on positive results from routine PCR and lateral flow tests. Rates can be skewed by fewer people coming forward.

Free swabbing across England is set to end at the start of April, with the country shifting to relying on the ONS survey to track its Covid outbreak.

Scotland will stop handing out free lateral flows in May, while in Wales they will no longer be available from the end of June. Northern Ireland is yet to outline its plans.

Get set for ANOTHER round of boosters this autumn Britain's Covid booster vaccine programme is gearing up for another round of inoculations this autumn, the Health Secretary has revealed. Fourth jabs will be dished out to all over-75s, care home residents and patients with weak immune systems from next week. But Sajid Javid hinted last night that millions more may be eligible for top-up doses later this year, ahead of the country's third Covid winter. Grilled about the topic on ITV's Peston programme, he did not specify exactly who would be invited in any roll-out this autumn. However, he admitted there may be a 'need to give a lot more people a boost'. Experts have speculated another inoculation drive this year could be expanded to include over-50s, effectively covering the same groups who will be offered a free flu vaccine on the NHS. When asked if the booster drive would be widened to the general population, Mr Javid said: 'I think at some point they will.' He claimed the Government would follow the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a panel of influential scientists that have guided No10 through their historic inoculation campaigns. Mr Javid insisted the group had been 'clear', adding: 'Their most recent advice is they think towards the end of this year, maybe in the autumn, there will be a need to give a lot more people a boost, an offer of a boost. But I'll wait for that advice.' Advertisement

Covid cases rose across all regions and all age groups in England last week, the ONS survey found.

Infections rose fastest in the South East (up 66 per cent in a week, to one in 13 people infected), the East Midlands (up 50.9 per cent, to one in 17) and Yorkshire and the Humber (up 42 per cent, to one in 20).

At the other end of the scale was the East of England (up five per cent, to one in 20), West Midlands (14 per cent, to one in 25) and the North East (up 34 per cent, to one in 25).

Breaking the figures down by age group showed Covid cases were rising fastest among under-16s and people aged 50 to 69 years old.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures published yesterday showed all 149 local authorities in England recorded an uptick in Covid cases last week.

Nationally, cases have been spiralling for a fortnight on the back of the nation's 'Freedom Day', which Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted was 'expected'. Climbing infection rates are also being blamed on BA.2, which is now behind three-quarters of cases in the country.

But Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, predicted the resurgence would likely run out of steam before April.

He told MailOnline: 'Covid cases will likely peak next week or the week after that, but likely before the end of this month. We should then see quite a rapid fall like in the Netherlands and Denmark.'

Latest estimates from Government scientists, released yesterday, show vaccines are just as effective at stopping people falling ill with BA.2.

Despite statistics showing a clear uptick in Covid hospitalisations over the past fortnight, at least half are thought to be 'incidental' cases  those who test positive after being admitted for another reason, or beat the illness only to fall ill with something else.

It may mean the recent rise in hospital admissions is more likely to reflect infection rates in the community, rather than severe illness.

Intensive care rates have barely budged and are still 15 times lower than seen during the darkest days of previous waves, with sky-high immunity rates and BA.2's milder nature blunting the virus's threat.

The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) weekly infection report showed Covid cases rose in every region and every age group last week.

Across England's boroughs the biggest weekly surges were recorded in North Lincolnshire (up 106 per cent in a week), Wiltshire (up 101 per cent), Sefton (up 98 per cent), Dorset (up 97 per cent) and Cumbria (up 96 per cent).

Underlining the pace of the uptick in infections, the smallest week-on-week rise was the 27 per cent recorded in Hackney, followed by 31 per cent in Southwark and 33 per cent in Newham.

The surges were recorded even as the number of PCR tests carried out fell 30 per cent in a week to 600,000, and lateral flow testing fell 15 per cent to 1.3million.

The rise of a more infectious version of Omicron, scientifically named BA.2, has been blamed for the uptick. It is the blue area above, and is now behind more than seven in ten infections. The light green is the Delta variant, from India, and the yellow is the old Omicron variant. Ministers have suggested surging infections could also be down to dropping all restrictions

The above map shows the proportion of all cases triggered by BA.2 across England in the week to March 5, the latest available. The variant is now dominant across the country

The UK Health Security Agency's weekly report showed Covid cases ticked up in every age group last week compared to the previous seven-day spell

Infections also rose across all nine of England's regions last week compared to the previous seven-day spell

This was despite the number of lateral flows carried out falling by 15 per cent in a week, and the number of PCRs dropping by 30 per cent over the same time period

Despite cases plunging in both Denmark and the Netherlands, deaths have yet to follow suit. Experts have argued that a large share are incidental, however

Professor Hunter said the rise was 'largely down' to BA.2 but that it was not the only driver.

He told MailOnline: 'The rate of growth in BA.2 has increased since March 1, and the rate of decline of the other Omicron variants has also slowed.

'This is probably [also] down to relaxing the remaining restrictions a bit too early. Either directly as a result of the relaxation or indirectly from people mixing more.

'Respiratory viruses like Covid always spread more rapidly during autumn and winter and it would probably have been better in my view to wait till the end of March when we are into spring.'

Asked when the wave might peak, he said this was likely to be 'fairly soon' followed by a rapid decline similar to that seen in Denmark where the sub-variant was dominant weeks ago.

Despite cases plunging in both Denmark and the Netherlands, deaths have yet to follow suit. Experts have argued that a large share are incidental, however.

BA.2 was behind 75 per cent of Covid cases over the week to March 5, according to the latest available data from the UK's largest Covid surveillance centre the Sanger Institute. This is a jump from 58 per cent the week before.

Yet latest UKHSA figures suggest the sub-variant  thought to be as infectious as measles  was behind 83 per cent of Covid infections last week.

Experts have repeatedly said there is no reason to be concerned because there is no evidence that the variant is more lethal than the old Omicron, which never overwhelmed the NHS.

The UKHSA's weekly vaccine report showed vaccines were still 40 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid infection among people who got AstraZeneca's jab and then a booster up to 15 weeks ago.

For those who got Pfizer for their first and second dose followed by a booster effectiveness against symptomatic infection was around 60 per cent.

Vaccines remained up to 90 per cent effective against hospitalisation triggered by the virus, the report said.

The above shows vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with Delta (black squares) and Omicron (circles) after two or three doses of the Covid vaccine. It reveals protection gradually wanes as ministers prepare to dish out boosters to the most vulnerable people
The President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has appointed three Cabinet Sub Committees to negotiate with China, Japan and the Middle East Region on economic matters. These three Cabinet Sub-Committees have met for the first time on 09 and 10 March 2022 at the Parliament of Sri Lanka under the Chairmanship of Prof. G.L. Peiris, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Cabinet Sub Committee on China has been briefed on the current progress related to the ongoing negotiations on the proposed China  Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Committee agreed to fast-track the possible next steps in consultation with the relevant stakeholders at the earliest.

The Sub Committees have directed the relevant officials to obtain a list of urgent requirements from all Ministries and agencies, which Sri Lanka may solicit from partner countries, to achieve economic stability and quick progress. China is the most lucrative consumer market in the world. However, Sri Lanka has performed poorly in its exports to China in comparison with other countries of the region such as ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand.

As per the data available in the Exports Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB), China has exported around $ 4.7 billion worth of goods to Sri Lanka last year. However, Sri Lanka has only exported around $ 274 million worth of goods to China in 2021. Although achieving parity in trade may not be possible, Sri Lanka has the possibility to export much more. China has been encouraging Sri Lanka to enter into an FTA, which could be asymmetrical in its commitments.

The Ambassador, Dr. Palitha Kohona, is hopeful that the FTA will open new market opportunities for Sri Lankan products such as garments, fruits, vegetables, spices and fisheries products to enter the lucrative Chinese Market and expand the existing market for Ceylon tea and sapphires.

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The attorney for Lunden Alexis Roberts - the mother of one of Hunter Biden's five children - revealed he turned over to federal investigators a 'significant amount' of Hunter's financial records and said he would be 'surprised' if he was not indicted.

Clint Lancaster, who represents Roberts, said that he was complying with a subpoena in turning over 'a significant amount of Hunter's financial records,' and that both he and Roberts were interviewed by investigators.

Lancaster told CNBC that he and Roberts had spoken with an assistant U.S. attorney, an FBI agent and an IRS agent  'one that carries a badge and gun' over a year ago in Little Rock, Ark.

'I expect him to be indicted,' the attorney said of Biden. 'Just based on what I saw in his financial records, I would be surprised if he's not indicted.'

Still, Lancaster said that he and Roberts 'don't want Hunter to go to jail.'

If Biden were indicted, it's likely he'd be convicted - federal prosecutors tout an over-95 percent conviction rate.

DailyMail.com exclusively reported that Roberts had testified before a federal grand jury in February for Biden's alleged tax crimes.

Roberts, 30,and Biden, 52, conceived daughter Navy Joan together in 2018, and for years Biden has refused to acknowledge his youngest daughter's existence.

'It's sad, because the baby looks like him, with blond hair,' the lawyer said.

Lunden Roberts gave evidence at a federal courthouse in Joe Biden's home state of Delaware for several hours on Tuesday morning

Clint Lancaster, who represents Roberts, said that he was complying with a subpoena in turning over 'a significant amount of Hunter's financial records,' and that both he and Roberts were interviewed by investigators.

Roberts, 30, was subpoenaed to give evidence in the Department of Justice's secretive three-year probe into Hunter's murky financial affairs

Asked if Biden had ever seen the daughter or expressed an interest in doing so, Lancaster said, 'No, he has not.'

It was initially reported that Biden met Roberts while she was studying crime scene investigation in graduate school and working as a stripper at a DC club which he frequented.

Texts uncovered last year by DailyMail.com revealed she was, in fact, on the payroll at Rosemont Seneca and had remained in communication with him throughout her pregnancy. Roberts worked in a junior level position at the investment firm owned by Biden.

The New York Times, upon acknowledging the legitimacy of Biden's infamous laptop, also reported that federal investigators had asked Roberts about the corporate entity he used to pay her and whether that entity received payments from Burisma, where he sat on the board.

In December 2018, three months after Navy Joan was born, Biden emailed his assistant Katie Hodge to ask: 'Who is pay roll paid to now and for past 9 months?' according to emails uncovered from the abandoned laptop by DailyMail.com.

Hodge replied: 'Past nine months has been you, me, Lunden, Hallie, Liz & Erin. But currently only you me & Erin.'

Texts found on the laptop include a message from Roberts on July 24, 2018 letting him know their child's due date was September 8.

When he failed to reply she messaged again on August 8 to say: 'Reached out a few times, it's clear you don't want to be reached. Need to talk to you. If you feel the need to reach out, my line is always open. Hope all is well.'

Again, Biden didn't reply, just as he never reached out to meet Navy Joan after her birth, according to filings in the paternity suit.

Navy Joan's existence remained a secret until Roberts filed for paternity and child support in May 2019, just days after Biden married his second wife, Melissa Cohen, after a whirlwind six-day romance.

Having initially denied Navy Joan was his, Biden was forced to take a DNA test in November of that year which proved once and for all that he is the father.

In his memoir, Beautiful Things, Hunter claimed he went on so many 'rampages' in the wake of his 2017 divorce from Kathleen Buhle that he couldn't recall his conquests

The battle was far from over, however, as Roberts fought for months to force the 46th President's younger son to disclose the details of his financial affairs.

Even after DNA proved he was the father, Hunter claimed he did not have enough money to pay child support. When an Arkansas judge ordered him to produce financial records he settled out of court.

In his memoir, Beautiful Things, Hunter claimed he went on so many 'rampages' in the wake of his 2017 divorce from Kathleen Buhle that he couldn't recall his conquests.

'It's why I would later challenge in court the woman from Arkansas who had a baby in 2018 and claimed the child was mine  I had no recollection of our encounter,' the recovering drug addict wrote.

'That's how little connection I had with anyone.'

Investigators alleged in court documents that Biden's assets were worth a staggering $156 million, owing largely to his much-scrutinized $50,000 per month role at the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, and his business interests in China.

Lunden and Hunter conceived Navy Joan  the fourth of his five children - around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie Biden. Lunden is seen with Navy Joans in 2021

Texts messages from Hunter's abandoned laptop show Lunden informed him about the baby's due date and pleaded for help in caring for the child multiple times in 2018, but her messages went ignored

Roberts was captured exclusively by DailyMail.com with daughter Navy Joan, who here lawyer says 'looks like' dad Hunter Biden

In his memoir Hunter referred to Lunden as 'the woman from Arkansas' and claimed he had 'no recollection of our encounter'

Biden pleaded poverty, however, insisting that he was cleaned out by his 2017 divorce from Buhle, with whom he has three kids.

He repeatedly failed to hand over his tax returns, reveal his home address in Los Angeles or even supply his phone number, citing the threat of media intrusion.

'In an effort to demonstrate to this Court my good faith, I attest that I am unemployed and have had no monthly income since May 2019,' Biden said in filings lodged with the Independence County Circuit Court.

'I currently have significant debts (in part as a result of obligations arising from my divorce which was final in April 2017) that are being calculated by accountants.'

Biden is now under federal investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office for Delaware for alleged tax fraud, and the Times reported Thursday that he told an associate he had to take out a loan to pay his over $1 million tax bill. That investigation has broadened to include looking into whether Biden broke money laundering and foreign lobbying laws.

Lunden Roberts looked glamorous as she left court in Batesville, Arkansas in 2019, when she was suing Hunter Bidenfor child support

Navy Joan is yet to meet her grandfather Joe, 79, despite the President routinely boasting of his love for his six other grandchildren, whom he brought on stage after his election win

Navy Joan's existence remained a secret until Roberts filed for paternity and child support in May 2019, just days after Hunter married his second wife, Melissa Cohen (pictured), after a whirlwind six-day romance. They share a son Beau Jr

Court filings show that Biden ultimately agreed to pay child support and his share of Navy Joan's healthcare, though the exact terms are under seal.

He was accused several times of treating the proceedings with contempt by failing to show up for hearings but it was announced in March 2020 that the two sides had 'reached a global, final settlement of all issues' without the need for a trial.

Navy Joan gets none of the perks, nor the round-the-clock Secret Service protection, enjoyed by the rest of the Biden brood.

However friends say the blonde-haired toddler is 'adorable, loved, safe and very happy' as she grows up in rural Arkansas blissfully unaware of her proximity to the caustic world of US politics.
A married couple from upstate New York have been arrested in the death of their 17-year-old son with cerebral palsy, whom investigators said had been neglected, starved down to just 55 pounds and left covered in bedsores.

Lisa Waldron, 43, and Anthony Waldron, 37, from Palermo were taken into custody on Wednesday, charged with criminally negligent homicide, second-degree manslaughter and first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person stemming from the May 2021 death of Jordan Brooks.

The couple were arraigned in Oswego County Court just hours after their arrest and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A judge set Lisa's bail at $10,000 and Anthony's at $20,000, because he has a prior conviction and was deemed a flight risk.

Lisa Waldron, 43 (left), and Anthony Waldron, 37 (right), have been charged with criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a disabled person for the May 2021 death of their son, 17-year-old Jordan Brooks

Brooks, who was born with cerebral palsy, died by homicide caused by malnutrition and an infection

On May 9, 2021, deputies responded to the Waldron familys home for a report of an unresponsive special-needs child, according to the Oswego County Sheriffs Office.

Brooks was subsequently rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The following day, his mother penned a gushing tribute to her son on Facebook.

'My god I miss you,' she wrote. 'You were more than my son and I was more than your mother. We were best friends.

'Nobody could make me laugh like you did. The pain I feel is like none other. ... Your empathy will be missed. Your laugh will be missed. Your sarcasm will be missed. Jordan you will be missed. I love you my little buddy.'

An autopsy later determined that the teen was severely underweight, tipping the scales at only 55 pounds at the time of his death, which is the average weight of a healthy eight-year-old boy. Brooks also had bedsores covering a significant portion of his body.

The sheriffs office launched a months-long investigation into the teens death, which included interviews with his parents, teachers, doctors and occupational therapists, as well as an extensive review of medical and school records.

Deputies responded to the Waldrons' family home in Palermo, New York, on May 9, 2021, and found Brooks unresponsive. He later died in a hospital

A day after her son's death, Lisa Waldron wrote this gushing tribute to her 'little buddy'

For Christmas, the mom had this ornament made, featuring her son's photo

Brooks weighed just 55lbs at the time of his death and was covered in bedsores

In February 2022, the medical examiners office released its final report, which determined the manner of Brooks death to be homicide caused in part by infection and malnutrition.

During the Waldrons' arraignment, a prosecutor successfully petitioned the judge to issue a protective order for Lisa's 14-year-old daughter, who is currently staying with her maternal grandmother, arguing that he did not want the parents to potentially tamper with the girl's future testimony about her brother's care, reported Syracuse.com.

It was revealed in court that both the husband and wife are unemployed and Anthony collects disability payments.

Anthony Waldron has a criminal record, which includes a conviction for an attempted second-degree burglary. He served two years in state prison and was paroled in 2004.

Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton said that multiple complaints were made about Brooks' treatment at home to a child abuse hotline from the Mexico City School District, where Brooks was a student, prior to his death.

Multiple teachers and staffers raised concerns about the boy's condition, according to a criminal complaint cited by Syracuse.com.

One teacher's aide alleged that on one occasion, the teen showed up in class on a Monday wearing the same diapers he had on Friday.

School workers reported that Brooks would come to school after a break feeling stiff, as if he had not been moved. They said he suffered from bleeding gums from an apparent lack of dental care and had trouble swallowing food and water, which required medical attention.

An investigator on the case wrote about the parents' alleged failure 'to move Jordan and/or remove him from his wheelchair frequently enough to prevent his bed sores from becoming infected or exposing his bones.'

A teaching assistant who was responsible for helping Brooks said his wheelchair smelled of urine and he often wet himself because he was wearing toddler-size diapers.

School staffers said they had repeatedly raised concerns with child protective services about Brooks, but claimed that little was done. It was alleged that a caseworker visited the boy's home and concluded that everything was 'fine.'

The parents appeared before a judge on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty

Anthony Waldron has a criminal record that included a burglary conviction

The Oswego County Department of Social Services has not commented on the allegations that Brooks' case might have been mishandled.

Social Services Commissioner Stacy Alvord released a statement that expressed condolences.

'A lengthy and thorough investigation determined that this young man was not provided with the care he desperately needed and deserved,' the statement read, in part. 'The matter is now in the hands of law enforcement and the courts. '

'The Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS) coordinates its efforts with law enforcement. We have faith and trust in our public safety and court systems that the justice this young man deserves will be served.

'Law enforcement and criminal proceedings may ultimately provide further details of this tragedy, but DSS cannot comment on anything that could potentially impact a criminal investigation or compromise a fair trial.'

Anthony Waldron is due back in court on March 22, and both he and Lisa are scheduled to appear before a judge again on April 4.
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Dozens of homeless people have been removed from an encampment in Downtown Los Angeles - after residents and business owners complained the area was blighted by crime ranging from sexual assault to open drug use, vandalism, fires and prostitution.

The cluster of around 30 remaining people were relocated from the Little Tokyo neighborhood, a few blocks from City Hall, in the latest of a series of clean-ups to move the homeless into temporary housing and confront the staggering level of homelessness in the City of Angels, where 94 percent of residents say the issue is a serious problem.

Sanitation staff worked into the night to clear debris left on the streets after volunteers helped move people and some of their belongings.

It is the second sweep of the Toriumi Plaza in recent weeks. Last month, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority relocated 55 people from the encampment into shelters, leaving just 25 to 30 people to house, FOX11.com reported City Councilman Kevin de Leon as saying.

Previous clean-ups have targeted the Echo Park and MacArthur Park areas.

In a recent poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times, the city's homelessness crisis was named the biggest concern among residents, ahead of housing affordability, or traffic, air quality and climate change.

Piles of garbage remains as the last of the people still living in the encampment collect their belongings before it is closed

A man awaits to be relocated from the homeless encampment in Toriumi Plaza as it is set to be closed for maintenance

The cleanup is the latest effort to confront the staggering homeless crisis in Los Angeles. 94 percent of people living in the City of Angels say homelessness is a serious or very serious problem

Los Angeles City sanitation workers clear the remains of abandoned belongings after moving homeless people from an encampment in the city's Little Tokyo neighborhood

The homeless are currently being housed in several facilities, including A Bridge Home temporary shelter and permanent placements within the Project Roomkey program at the Cecil Hotel, de Leon's office said.

But the clean-up has sparked protest from activists with J-Town Action and Solidarity, who say the new housing set up is temporary and takes away the rights of those in the encampment with their rigid rules that include curfews and drug testing.

'You talk to the unhoused people out here throughout L.A. and they will tell you the housing actually makes them feel like prisoners, makes them feel like animals in cages, and it's just not right,' organizer Steven Chun told ABC7.com.

But according to Pete Brown, communications director for councilman De Leon, the sweep is providing the homeless with a chance at quality of life they cant get on the streets.

'The most inhumane thing we can do is to leave people on the streets to live and die and to live in squalor,' Brown said. 'What the city is doing is providing housing opportunities for people to treat with the modicum of dignity they deserve.'

The remaining tents at the homeless encampment in Toriumi Plaza. After dozens have been relocated there are currently just 25 to 30 people remaining

A man packs up his tent as Los Angeles officials are relocating dozens of homeless living in an encampment in the Little Tokyo area

City Councilman Kevin de Leon said that since last month the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has relocated 55 people living in the encampment into shelters, leaving just 25 to 30 people to house, but the clean-up has sparked protest from activists, who say the new housing set up is temporary and takes away people's rights because the rules are too rigid

Homelessness has DOUBLED in LA in past five years as the city struggles to combat the humanitarian crisis Los Angeles has been ravaged by its homeless crisis for the last decade, with the number of homeless people rising steadily from around 40,000 in 2011. In the last year, homelessness increased by 12.7 per cent in LA County because there aren't enough homes people can afford, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. More than 63,000 people are homeless in LA County, the authority reports. The issue is most visible in downtown LA, where hundreds of people live in makeshift shanties that line entire blocks in the notorious neighborhood known as Skid Row. Tents regularly pop up on the pavement outside City Hall and encampments are increasingly found in suburban areas under freeway overpasses. In 2015, City Council members and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that they would declare an emergency locally. However the proposal was abandoned because the mayor wanted a statewide declaration from then California Governor Jerry Brown, who refused the request. Four years ago, LA voters then approved a tax hike and $1.2 billion housing bond to channel investments into helping solve the homeless crisis. That bond money has so far been used to build more than half of the 10,000 new housing units planned countywide over 10 years - but housing is still in short supply. In 2018, LA declared a shelter crisis, which reduced construction hurdles around developing emergency beds on public land. Then in 2019, County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and City Councilman Joe Buscaino put forward a proposal calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the crisis - a call that never materialized. Advertisement

Despite protest, the sweep has been positively received by residents and local business owners who have said the encampment is unsafe and has been a site for rampant drug use, sexual assault, prostitution.

Over the past two years, LAPD and fire departments have received more than 130 calls for services related to overdoses, assault and fires, Brown told the Los Angeles Times.

Brian Kito, president of the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association and owner of the Fugetsu-Do Confectionery- the oldest business in the area-says he is grateful for the cleanup efforts and for the peace that will hopefully follow.

'The last two years with the encampment has created a lot of havoc down here,' Kito told ABC7.com. 'My employees used to go there on a nice spring day to have lunch and now you don't even want to walk by that place.'

A poll conducted by The Los Angeles Times in December found in 10 Los Angeles residents cited the city's homelessness problem as a main cause for feeling unsafe in their communities, with one in five people saying they would consider moving to escape the problem.

The poll-takers also expressed concern for the safety of their children.

'I didn't feel safe over there, especially raising my children,' said Amber Morino, a 35-year-old mother of seven, living in San Fernando Valley.

'I am also considering moving out of the state because it's so bad. Like, I just feel like every corner I turn here there are encampments  campers. It's just terrible.'

Thirty-five percent argued that wages weren't rising enough to keep up with increasing cost of living and 27 percent cited a lack of access to healthcare for physical and mental illnesses. 18 percent of people said homelessness was caused by an individual's own actions.

Many voters, approximately 57 percent, argued officials should develop short-term shelter sites to combat the issue.

Fifty-two percent argued that providing services to individuals in homeless encampments should be a higher priority to city leaders.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, who responded to the poll results, said the resounding pessimism about the problem is a reflection of everyone's feelings.

'I think it reflects how debilitated we all feel,' he said. 'How many years and how many new tents  even as we have successes  can we see in a neighborhood before we feel that we need some short-term places to stabilize people that are on the street?'

Meanwhile, there are at least 63,706 people experiencing homelessness in the county, according to a 2020 count from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

The homeless are currently being housed in several facilities, including A Bridge Home temporary shelter and permanent placements within the Project Roomkey program at the Cecil Hotel, City Councilman Kevin de Leon's office said

Volunteers of J-Town Action & Solidarity helped move belongings from the encampment

Volunteers were seen loading belongings into Ikea bags and carrying them away

The population of homelessness increased 13 percent from the prior year.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, studied data from the county coroner's records and found that nearly 1,493 people experiencing homelessness died on the city's streets between March 2020 and July 2021.

The most common cause of death among the alleged homeless population was an alcohol or drug overdose.

'We are acutely aware of the limitations of coroner's data  of how people are identified and counted, of the causes to which death is attributed, and the absences and silences in the data,'' the report reads.

'Our broader research endeavor is precisely a counterpoint to such dehumanization. Yet, we have felt the imperative to present this analysis of coroner's data because it provides an understanding of key patterns and trends that are of direct relevance to the struggle for justice and freedom in Los Angeles.'

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, facing re-election this year, has budgeted record sums to combat homelessness that pervades all of the state's major cities and many smaller communities as well.

The state is providing roughly $12 billion on homelessness programs over two years.

Still, the government's inability to clear encampments from streets, parks and sidewalks has left voters angry and frustrated.

In February a self-proclaimed' old-school junkie' who moved from Texas to San Francisco because 'it's f*****g easy' to be homeless there claimed he was being paid by the city government to live on the street.

Crews begin their clean up of the encampment, which is being closed for maintenance- including landscaping, electrical repairs and permanent fencing

A sign reading ' Housing is a human right' is placed on a fence around the homeless encampment in Toriumi Plaza before it was cleared. It will remain closed for maintenance, including landscaping, electrical repairs and permanent fencing

Chester Butch Cassidy Arthur, 32, is one of the people who has been living at a homeless encampment in Toriumi Plaza

Residents argued that homelessness is the top problem facing the county, with 94 percent of voters viewing it as a serious or very serious problem

J.T. Jackson and his girlfriend Lae Cockrell, both 20, who have been living for six months in a homeless encampment at Toriumi Plaza will soon have to relocate

Sarah Perry and her dog Squeaker wait for a housing provided by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority before leaving the Little Tokyo homeless encampment

Protestors heckle Pete Brown (right) communication director of councilman Kevin de Leon, as Brigitte Smith pleads her case to him during the cleanup of homeless encampment at Toriumi Plaza on Thursday

But the clean up has sparked protest from activist from J-Town Action and Solidarity, who say the new housing set up is temporary and takes away the rights of those in the encampment with their rigid rules
Punters hoping to win Oz Lotto may need to compete with a proposed change that will further diminish any chances of hitting the jackpot.

Parent company Tabcorp is proposing adding two further numbers to the draw, shifting the lottery structure from seven numbers drawn from 45 to seven drawn from 47.

The maths behind the additions means the chance of winning division one would reduce from one in 45,379,620 to one in 62,891,499.

New proposals to restructure the Oz Lotto lottery would see Aussie's chances of taking out the jackpot diminished

Oz Lotto will need approval from all jurisdictions of Australian regulators to sign off on the changes before they proceed

A 10c increase to the price per game of an Oz Lotto entry has also been proposed.

However, the average chance of winning any prize would increase from one in 55 to one in 51 and the minimum jackpot would rise from $2 million to $3 million.

Victoria already permitted the change on Wednesday but Oz Lotto will need approval from all jurisdictions of Australian regulators to sign off on the changes before they proceed.

For those looking for an edge in Australia's Powerball draw, Daily Mail Australia has previously revealed that the most frequently drawn numbers were 17, 7, 9, 11, and 25 last year.

For the actual Powerball, the most frequently drawn number is 19 - the least drawn, 18.

The most frequently drawn numbers in Oz Lotto are 7, 33, 45, 25, 26, and 28, according to OzLotteries.
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The battle against P&O Ferries lies in the hands of Britain's most militant trade union - including a gun-toting Tory hater who said he'd 'throw a party' if Boris Johnson died of Covid.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is led by General Secretary Mick Lynch, whose name is now notorious among London commuters as the public face of a recent wave of crippling Tube strikes.

Reporting to him is Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley, a controversial figure whose sickening comments when the Prime Minister was taken to A&E while gravely ill during the pandemic caused widespread disgust.

Today, he called on the government to nationalise P&O Ferries.

Completing the 'Lynch Mob' is RMT National Secretary Darren Procter. Elected to his role in 2018, he has a lower public profile but has also played a prominent role in the battle for the rights of P&O Ferries employees.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is led by General Secretary Mick Lynch (seen rallying protesters today outside Maritime House in Dover)

Reporting to him is Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley, a controversial figure who mocked Boris Johnson while he was gravely ill with Covid

Completing the 'Lynch Mob' is RMT National Secretary Darren Procter. Elected to his role in 2018, he has a lower public profile but has also played a prominent role in the battle for the rights of P&O Ferries employees

The RMT leadership yesterday urged its members to stage a sit-in on their ships - only for them to be forced to disembark by hired heavies equipped with handcuffs.

The union faces a powerful foe in the form of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of P&O Ferries' owner DP World, while behind him stands Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler who owns a majority stake in DP World's parent company.

The sheikh, who has a net worth of $4bn, was recently ordered by an English court to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya a record-breaking divorce settlement of more than 500m.

This followed a 'sustained campaign of intimidation and threat', which included ordering the kidnapping of his two daughters.

Mick Lynch - who once sighed 'All I want from life is a bit of socialism' - collects a pay packet worth some 124,886.

He has described P&O Ferries' move to sack 800 staff and replace them with cheap agency workers as 'one of the most shameful acts in the history of British industrial relations'.

The union faces powerful foes in the form of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of P&O Ferries' owner DP World (left) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (centre), Dubai's ruler who owns a majority stake in DP World's parent company

The sheikh, who has a net worth of $4bn, was recently ordered by an English court to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya a record-breaking divorce settlement of more than 500m

Sheikh Mohammed and Princes Haya meeting the Queen at Ascot in 2016

The Sheikh owns horse racing operations in Ireland, the US and Australia, a 385million 500ft superyacht (pictured)

An aerial view of the Beach Palace of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in Dubai

Steve Hedley, meanwhile, shared his thoughts about the dispute on BBC's Good Morning Ulster, where he insisted it proves 'the complete imbalance between employer and employee and trade union'.

An avid Corbynite who receives a salary of 100,000 a year, he greeted the news of Boris Johnson by writing on Facebook, 'I don't want to offend you but if Bojo pops his clogs I'm throwing a party.'

He then hit back at friends who criticised him, telling them: 'I hope the whole cabinet of Tory b*stards get it too.'

The Lynch Mob's enemy, P&O Ferries, is run by one of the world's largest logistics firms that is itself owned by the controversial ruling family of Dubai.

Since 2006, the ferry operator has been controlled by either DP World or previously its parent business Dubai World.

The historic Longcross estate, near Chobham in Surrey, was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed in the 1990s as a place to escape the stifling summer heat in the Gulf

Sheikh Mohammed snapped up the historic Dalham Hall in 2009 for 45m, to serve as a stud farm near to Newmarket race course

The grade II-listed house is eight miles west of Bury St Edmunds and comes complete with 3,300-acres of land

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum's 63,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands boasts a 14-bedroom holiday mansion and a triple helipad

DP World's CEO and Chairman is Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a well-connected Emirati businessman whose father was an advisor to the Maktoum family, currently headed by UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed is also the majority stakeholder in Dubai World, the current parent company of DP World.

With a huge portfolio of businesses and projects that manages more than 70 million shipping containers a year, the firm boasts significant business interests and reported a $896million (683m) profit last year.

Despite this, at the start of the pandemic P&O Ferries were among the firms to apply for a 150m government bailout to mitigate the reported 257million impact of coronavirus on its trade.

Speaking to the BBC at the time, CEO Sulayem criticised the government's response as 'slow' while adding that P&O Ferries had furloughed 1,400 workers.

His request for the money came as DP World shareholders were expecting a dividend of 270m.

Sulayem seen with Prince William and former Foreign Secretary William Hague at an Earthshot Prize event at Dubai's Expo2020 earlier this year

Having become a prominent face in Dubai, Sulayem has looked to make his mark on businesses and projects in the UK and US.

He is chairman of the Virgin Hyperloop One vacuum train project, and has been pictured meeting with ex chairman Richard Branson.

Sulayem's DP World has also become a Global Alliance Founding Partner of the Earthshot Prize scheme, established by Prince William, and has donated 1million for prize recipients.

Sulayem was seen speaking with the prince and former Foreign Secretary William Hague at an Earthshot Prize event at Dubai's Expo2020 earlier this year.

Awkwardly for the government, DP World also owns Thames Freeport - one of eight of Boris Johnson's flagship 'Freeports' that are being established around the UK.

Union mob turns on MP as angry P&O Ferries protests break out at ports in Dover, Liverpool and Hull

By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter

'Tory hating' union members turned on Dover's Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke today when she came out to support them over P&O Ferries' 'jobs massacre' of 800 crew.

Mrs Elphicke even held a 'save Britain's ferries' banner at the event with Labour's hard-left former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and amid calls for the Dubai-owned business to hand back their 10million furlough cash, she said: 'We supported them with furlough and they should be backing Britain and backing Dover'.

But when she began speaking on TV about the sackings being 'devastating' for the Kent town, union activists started screaming: 'We hate Tories, we are the Tory haters', 'shame on you', 'you're on their side' and 'you voted for fire and rehire', forcing her to abandon her interview.

One protester confronted her saying: 'Tory anti-union laws allow bosses to get away with this'. The Conservative MP replied: 'Nonsense, it's bad business behaviour' before she walked off as others yelled in her face.

The picket then marched on the docks, where police are parked at the entrance to the freight terminal and three P&O ferries - Pride Of Canterbury, Pride of Kent and Spirit of Britain - all remain docked. There appeared to be agency staff already working on the ships with security guarding the gangplanks. There were also protests in Hull, attended by Ed Miliband, as well as in Liverpool and Belfast, where police guarded the ports as union members called for ministers to 'sink P&O' by nationalising it.

It came as MailOnline revealed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are being urged to cut ties with the Dubai owners of P&O Ferries and campaign to stop the redundancies as calls also grew for the Government to claw back 10million in furlough cash. Unions have accused the company of turning UK ferries into 'modern slave ships' with cheap labour.

One sacked worker at Hull told MailOnline that the agency workers brought in to replace them were on as little as 2 to 3 an hour, compared with the 28 to 30 hourly rate paid to British sailors.

A new video also showed the brutal and undignified way DP World treated sacked P&O staff yesterday, where security told the crew they had 'two hours to pack up' and get off the ferry just minutes after being sacked on Zoom.

The hired heavy in a high-viz told the group of shocked staff: 'I think two hours would be a reasonable time for you to pack your stuff up and be ready to leave'. The workers replied in chorus: 'We need to talk to the union', to which the security guard, backed by colleagues, said bluntly: 'That's fine but you've got two hours'.

As P&O Ferries' failed to set a date to restart services and faces a boycott from Britons irate over the sacking scandal, it also emerged today:

Devastated workers described dedicating their working lives to the company only to be sacked by video and thrown off their ships with their belongings in bin bags;

P&O claimed 10million in furlough cash during the pandemic - and tried and failed to get a 150million Government bailout. There are calls for the Dubai-owned business to hand any taxpayers' money back;

Downing Street has warned P&O Ferries that there could be 'ramifications' over its decision to sack some 800 seafarers. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will consider the removal of public contracts;

Employment lawyers have said the company faces 'a hell of a lot of unfair dismissal claims' and the company's directors could also end up in the dock and face criminal prosecutions for failure to follow redundancy consultation rules;

P&O Ferries handles 15% of UK freight and a third into Dover from France. Experts predict that there will be serious supply chain problems for fresh food, booze and engineering parts if the ships don't start moving again soon;

Local MP Natalie Elphicke clashes with protesters gathered in support of sacked P&O Ferry workers at Dover in Kent

Mrs Elphicke was blamed by the union members and crew she had turned up to support

Backed by a team of hired heavies, this security guard told P&O staff they had 'two hours' to clear off the ship after they were sacked by Zoom yesterday

P&O Ferries crisis: The lowdown What's going on? P&O Ferries has made 800 workers redundant and replaced them with cheaper agency staff. Can it do that? Unions have threatened legal action and lawyers suggested workers could bring unfair dismissal claims. Tom Long, partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, said the move 'appears to contravene the requirements needed for a normal mass redundancy'. Booked a ferry? P&O Ferries was updating guidance over Twitter every half an hour yesterday. On some routes, including Dover to Calais, it advised customers to show up as usual and make their way to check-in booths run by ferry company DFDS. On others, such as between Larne and Cairnryan, the firm suggested customers only travel if essential. Other options? If you are travelling in the near future you can book on an alternative carrier. DFDS and Irish Ferries offer routes between Dover and Calais. There are no direct alternatives for the other routes but Stena Line offers services to Ireland and Holland. Refunds? The firm has not commented but its terms and conditions say it will refund the 'total fare' of a crossing if 'we cannot ship you at all with us or arrange a suitable alternative ferry crossing, or if you do not wish to take any alternative journey offered by us'. And P&O Cruises? P&O Cruises is owned by a different company and is not affected by the disruption. Advertisement

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke joined workers ahead of their march - but it turned ugly as unionists started singing 'We hate tories, we are the tory haters'.

She had been speaking to reporters about the the P&O Ferries job losses when some union members began shouting 'shame on you'.

The Conservative representative said: 'It's absolutely been a stab in the back for P&O workers.

'They need to rethink and change their minds. They need to reinstate these jobs and make sure they back Dover as we have backed them.

'We have supported them and worked with them for decades - especially throughout the pandemic.'

'My understanding is they've decided to throw over the loyal and hardworking workers here in Dover and put in agency workers.

'It's not acceptable, it's not the way to behave and they should not have just given notice in the way they did and sacked everyone.

'We have worked very closely with P&O during the pandemic. Myself, the unions and ministers have supported them with furlough and they should be backing Britain and backing Dover.'

Asked if the Maritime minister was given pre-warning of P&O Ferries' plans, she said: 'The minister made it clear in Parliament that he had spoken with the P&O chief executive the same day as the rest of us which was Thursday and I had a conversation with the CEO and left him in no doubt that his actions were disgusting, unnecessary and they shouldn't be doing it.

'I've been speaking to the Union and I know they're exploring all legal actions and the government is looking at what action is available.

'It's absolutely unacceptable for P&O and DP World to act in the way they have. They should reverse their decision. This is not the way we expect business to behave in the UK.

'It was appalling to have security with handcuffs forcibly trying to take people off the boats. It's a disgusting way to behave.'

The group started marching down the A20 at 12.20pm chanting 'seize the ships now' and 'whose ships? Our ships'.

Lorries queue to enter a ferry terminal at the Port of Dover, following an announcement made by P&O Ferries, outside Dover today

P&O carries a third of freight between the UK and France. Their ferries are not moving because of the dispute, causing problems

Around 200 people made the 20 minute walk to the Port of Dover before standing on the roundabout blockading the entrance while union leaders made speeches.

After around 15 minutes, police urged protesters to clear one lane so traffic could pass, which demonstrators complied with while listening.

The group dispersed at 1.20pm and began walking back to the Union headquarters.

No 10 has said it is probing P&O's firing of 800 staff over claims it was unlawful - with Boris Johnson's spokesman refusing to rule out firm being stripped of public contracts if found to have broken employment rules.

'We are looking very closely at the actions that this company has taken to see whether they acted within the rules,' the spokesman said.

'Once we have concluded that, we will decide what the ramifications are. Obviously there are a lot of valid questions in relation to existing contracts, etc.

'We are working through exactly the detail of what action the company took. Once we have have come to that conclusion, we will set out any further steps'.

The protest left the RMT Union HQ and headed for the port where the P&O Ferries' ships are moored and not moving

Downing Street has said ministers do not believe P&O explored all possible avenues to secure the future of their business before making staff redundant.

'We expect companies to treat employees fairly,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

'It is only in extreme circumstances that employers need to make extreme decisions to secure the future of their business if all other avenues have failed, including negotiations between employer and employee.

'We don't believe this was the case for P&O staff but we are looking into this very carefully.

'The actions this company took yesterday are deeply disappointing and will be causing deep upset amongst loyal staff.'

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham attended the Liverpool protest and branded the sackings as 'gangster practice' - and called for P&O Ferries to be nationalised.
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It was the day the sea turned black.

Exactly 55 years ago, the supertanker the SS Torrey Canyon ran aground on rocks between the Scilly Isles and Cornwall and spilled more than 100,000 tonnes of crude oil into the ocean.

What was and still is Britain's worst ever oil spill killed more than 15,000 sea birds in both the UK and France and seriously contaminated up to 70 miles of beaches.

In an effort to try to reduce the size of the spill by burning off the oil, the RAF and Royal Navy haphazardly bombed the wreck of the Torrey Canyon to set it on fire  but the flames were repeatedly put out by the high tide and many of the explosives missed their target.

In the bungled clean-up operation, a 'detergent' chemical called BP 1002 was sprayed over affected areas of water and beaches.

Rather than having the intended effect of breaking down the oil, this killed all marine life that it came into contact with and it took up to 15 years for the treated areas to recover  five times longer than places where the oil dispersed naturally.

Within days of the disaster, ocean currents had swept much of the oil to the island of Guernsey, which was heavily dependent on tourism and could not cope with having its beaches left in a sorry state.

With the aim of cleaning up as quickly as possible, officials decided to suck the oil into sewage tankers and dump it in a disused quarry on the island, where much of it remains today.

As the decades have progressed, the quarry has continued to be a menace for dozens of unfortunate birds that have mistaken the black surface for solid ground.

It was the day the sea turned black. Exactly 55 years ago, the supertanker the SS Torrey Canyon ran aground on rocks between the Scilly Isles and Cornwall and spilled more than 100,000 tonnes of crude oil into the ocean. Above: The fire caused by the RAF's bombing raids on the vessel, which were carried out in the hope of burning off the oil

The Torrey canyon hit Pollard's Rock on Seven Stones Reef, which sits between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly  and its hull was torn open

What was and still is Britain's worst ever oil spill killed more than 15,000 sea birds in both the UK and France and seriously contaminated up to 70 miles of beaches. Above: An oil-covered bird is held by RSPCA inspector Gilbert Griffiths

Within days of the disaster, ocean currents had swept much of the oil to the island of Guernsey, which was heavily dependent on tourism and could not cope with having its beaches left in a sorry state. Above: A recent image of the quarry and its oil-filled waters

The Torrey Canyon had been chartered by UK oil firm BP. It had been en route to Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire on the morning of March 18 when its captain opted to take short cut.

However, he hit Pollard's Rock on Seven Stones Reef, which sits between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly  and the Torrey Canyon's hull was torn open.

In the ensuing hours, the ship's cargo of oil seeped into the surrounding water. By the evening, the slick was eight miles long.

The following day it had stretched to 20 miles and ended up becoming a 270 square mile smear.

The crew were finally rescued by lifeboats after failed attempts to shift the tanker off of the rocks.

Harold Wilson's Labour government then ordered the ship to be bombed in the hope that the explosives would burn off the leaking oil and also scuttle the vessel.

The Torrey Canyon hit rocks between the Scilly Isles and Land's End. The above graphic shows the beaches in mainland Britain, Guernsey and France that were affected

In the bungled clean-up operation, a 'detergent' chemical called BP 1002 was sprayed over affected areas of water and beaches. Above: Drums that were filled with the chemical are seen on Cornish beach Whitesand Bay

On March 20 1967, the Daily Mail reported on the 'battle' to stop the oil from the Torrey Canyon doing damage to Cornwall's beaches

The paper reported later that the ship had split in two and spilt millions more gallons of oil into the surrounding ocean

Over the course of two days, 62,000lbs of explosives were dropped on the ship and waters around it.

The RAF and Royal Navy also dropped aviation fuel and even napalm on the area to help burn the oil.

Predictably, even though many of the explosives missed their targets, the fire that did result from the tactic sent smoke soaring hundreds of feet into the air.

Dramatic images showed the extent of the plume of toxic fumes. After the further damage caused by the bombing raids, the vessel finally broke up and sank on March 30.

Along with the birds that were killed, seals and other marine life perished and Cornwall's tourism was heavily impacted.

Brittany in northern France was heavily impacted by the oil slick, with the bulk of sea birds being killed there.

The RSPB also estimated that around 85 per cent of puffins on the French coast were killed and it took several decades for the population to recover.

The Torrey Canyon had been chartered by UK oil firm BP. It had been en route to Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire on the morning of March 18 when its captain opted to take short cut

However, he hit Pollard's Rock on Seven Stones Reef, which sits between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly  and the Torrey Canyon's hull was torn open

The 61,000 ton tanker Torrey Canyon goes up in smoke after being blasted by Royal Navy Buccaneer bombers

Firemen and fishermen are seen surrounded by a swirling oily sludge off the coast of the Cornish town of Porthleven

In the hope that it would break down the oil, more than two million gallons of the chemical BP 1002 was sprayed on the affected waters.

Hoses were also squirted over beaches. However, whilst this did break the oil down, it meant that it slipped below the surface of the water and was ingested by marine life.

It ended up killing every organism that it came into contact with.

In France, the authorities did not use any chemicals and instead let the oil come ashore before scooping it up.

Oil that remained gradually dissipated and did less damage in the long-term.

In Guernsey, the local authorities sucked the oil into sewage tankers and then dumped it into a disused quarry.

Since then, the spot has become known as Torrey Canyon quarry and much of the oil has remained.

Soldiers install floating booms to prevent oil slick, on April 20, 1967 on Perros-Guirec beach, in Brittany, northern France

Children and other volunteers are seen using watering cans and buckets to spread the BP 1002 chemical on the beach at Marazion. At the time, it was believed it would help to break down the oil

A young bird covered in oil from the Torrey Canyon spreads his wings in a vain effort to fly, but the slick coating his weathers disables him

A thick swirl of oil surround Porthleven, Cornwall. The south-westerly county was not the only place impacted by the spill

Smoke rises from the stricken oil tanker 'Torrey Canyon' near Seven Stones Reef, Land's End, Cornwall, after the Royal Navy dropped explosives

Oil from the tanker Torrey Canyon glistens on rocks as troops spray detergent at the small beach and bathing area of Dollar Cove in the Cornish hamlet of Gunwalloe

The Torrey Canyon is seen sinking off the coast of Cornwall after it ran aground. It leaked more than 100,000 tonnes of oil into the ocean

Soldiers and volunteers citizens clean up oil slick, 13 April 1967 on the beach of Port-Blanc, in Brittany, northern France

Soldiers clean up oil slick, on April 16, 1967 on the beach of Perros-Guirec, in Brittany, northern France. French beaches were heavily impacted by the disaster

A decision to introduce micro-organisms into the water in the hope that they would convert the oil into water and carbon dioxide is said to have had limited success.

Down the decades, hundreds of birds have lost their lives after landing on the oil-filled water.

The Government's clean-up operation cost the taxpayer tens of millions of pounds.

Attempts to recover cash from the tanker's owners  the Barracuda Tanker Corporation  proved nearly impossible.

In an attempt to secure compensation, British lawyer Anthony O'Conner served a writ against the firm by sneaking aboard the Torrey Canyon's sister ship, the Lake Palourde, when she was moored in Singapore.

He made it aboard the vessel by pretending to be a whisky salesman and then stuck the writ to the mast.

French naval speedboats ended up chasing the vessel but were unable to board her to serve their own writ on behalf of the French government.

Sir Elwyn Jones, the then Attorney General, told Parliament seven months after the disaster that the Barracuda Tanker Corporation was trying to limit its liability in the U.S. courts to just $50.

In the end, compensation of 3million was paid but this was only a small fraction of the clean-up costs and costs to the tourism industry.

Men equipped with masks are seen spraying a British beach after the Torrey Canyon disaster in March 1967
Maria Shriver was every inch the doting grandmother as she spent quality time with her namesake granddaughter Lyla Maria Pratt in Montecito, California earlier this month.

The 66-year-old was seen going for a stroll with through Upper Village Park, while visiting daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, 32.

The smiling grandma couldn't get enough of the adorable 18-month-old tot, keeping her occupied so her pregnant mommy, could grab a quick bite to eat at the Pierre LaFond & Co market nearby.

'Maria looked radiant,' an onlooker told DailyMail.com, adding: 'She never let go of Lyla's little hand and was pointing out things in the park for her to look at like dogs, flowers and insects. You can tell she's relishing her new role as grandma.'

Maria Shriver was one beaming grandmother earlier this month when she was spotted taking 18-month-old daughter Lyla Maria Pratt for a stroll through the park in Montecito, California

According to onlooker, Maria was relishing her new role as grandma, pointing out sights for her adorable granddaughter to see

Shriver became a grandmother for the first time in August 2020. She is seen holding little Lyla's hand as they walk through the park

The trio huddled in the parking lot before returning to Katherine and husband Chris Pratt's 3,300 square foot, five bed, eight bath, $20,000 a month mid-century modern rental just minutes away.

While more of a political dynasty, the Kennedys are often referred to as the closest thing the US has to royalty.

Chris, 42, and Katherine exchanged wedding vows at the San Ysidro Ranch on June 8, 2019, and will soon become parents for the second time

Maria is the daughter of Eunice Kennedy, the niece of President John F. Kennedy - assassinated at age 46 in 1963 - and the granddaughter of family patriarchs Joe, who died in 1969 at 81, and Rose Kennedy who passed away in 1995 at the age of 104.

Thus, it's only fitting that the rental home of American royals is so close to that of a British royal family.

The Guardian's of the Galaxy star and his wife of almost three years live two-fifths of a mile away from the $14.7million estate owned by Prince Harry and wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, reside in the nine-bedroom, 19-bathroom chateau they purchased in June of 2020, with their children Archie, two, and Lilibet, nine months.

'Living that close, if they haven't all bumped into each other already, it's only a matter of time, especially with small children to entertain,' a longtime resident told DailyMail.com.

Katherine, who is expecting her second child with husband Chris Pratt, was seen stopping for a bite to eat while her mother cared for little Lyla

DailyMail.com can reveal exclusively that the Pratts have been renting the $4.3million home for just over one year

The 3,300 square foot, five bed, eight bath, mid-century modern home costs $20,000 a month to rent

DailyMail.com can reveal exclusively that the Pratts have been renting the $4.3million home for just over one year.

They appear to be dividing their time between this 'small' vacation rental in Montecito and their main residence in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.

Their 10,000 square-foot Mediterranean-style home in the Palisades was purchased in January of 2021 for $15.6 million and has been completely renovated by the couple.

Unlike the Sussexes, the family has some ties to the ritzy seaside town of Montecito, which sits just 85 miles north of Los Angeles.

The Pratts are now neighbors with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who moved to Montecito in 2020

Back in 1953, Maria's uncle John and aunt Jackie Kennedy famously honeymooned at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. There is a cottage named after them on the property to this day.

Chris, 42, and Katherine also exchanged wedding vows at the San Ysidro Ranch on June 8, 2019.

And now, the Kennedys' great-granddaughter Katherine is living just two miles from that historic five-star hotel.

Another connection to the area is that Maria's best friend Oprah Winfrey, 68, who lives in a $50million Montecito estate, but on the opposite side of town.

'Even before Oprah moved here in 2001, you'd see Arnold and Maria vacationing at the Biltmore hotel (now the Four Seasons), walking on Coast Village Road and holding hands on Butterfly Beach,' a local said.

The Pratts live two-fifths of a mile away from the $14.7million estate owned by Prince Harry and wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured)

Maria was married to actor and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, 74, from 1986 to 2011, and have four children together: Katherine, Christina, 30, Patrick, 28, and Christopher, 24. Their divorce became final on December 28, 2021.

Their marriage suffered irrevocable damage when it was revealed Arnold had fathered a son - Joseph Baena, 24 - with the family housekeeper.

Meanwhile Katherine and Chris are expecting their second child later this year. The actor also shares a son Jack, nine, with ex-wife Anna Farris, 45.
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Extinction Rebellion activists who enraged commuters by scaling a Tube at Canning Town station at rush hour before being dragged off and roughed up by commuters admitted: We got it wrong as a judge spared them jail on Friday.

Mark Ovland, 38, and his fellow protester James Mee, 37, unfurled a banner saying business as usual = death as angry passengers bombarded them with coins, coffee and sandwiches in east London on October 17, 2019, during a two-week protest.

Mee was eventually pulled onto the platform at Canning Tube station and kicked by commuters during the morning rush-hour.

Edmund Blackman, prosecuting, said the pair were only on top of the train for 20 minutes but 48,000 people had their morning journeys affected.

After both men were given 12-month community orders, Ovland said: We had the best of intentions but this time we got it wrong.

Judge Silas Reid told the pair: Each of you was part of a team under the wider Extinction Rebellion umbrella. This was a protest about a hugely important area. It is, though, irrelevant whether your argument is on the right side entirely or not. Of course, climate change is a vitally important matter for everyone to consider for the future.

What you did though is you went too far.

Mark Ovland (left in left picture, and right) was among those arrested at Caning Town for scrambling atop a tube

Mark Ovland, 38, and his fellow protester James Mee, 37, unfurled a banner saying business as usual = death as angry passengers bombarded them with coins, coffee and sandwiches in east London on October 17, 2019

Mee was eventually pulled onto the platform at Canning Tube station and kicked by commuters during the morning rush-hour

Edmund Blackman, prosecuting, said the pair were only on top of the train for 20 minutes but 48,000 people had their morning journeys affected

The aim of the Canning Town protest was to target financial institutions and bankers in Canary Wharf, but it resulted in stopping ordinary from getting to work by train and, in some cases, losing out on pay

The crowd first turned on the protesters who were filming the operation

They were set upon, dragged from the bench they were sat on and stamped on while on the ground, said Judge Reid

The Battle of Canning Town: How an XR protest in October 2019 rush-hour sparked commuter fury and turned violent Extinction Rebellion received criticism and even left members of its own camp divided for choosing to target the underground station during rush hour. Several videos surfaced of ugly scenes at Canning Town station, showing one protester walking on top of the train as a crush of commuters jeer at him to get down. One throws a cup of coffee over the him and a group then give another commuter a boost so he can reach the protester's ankle and drag him off the carriage to the platform. Once he hits the ground, the video shows, an angry group of commuters surround him and some were caught on camera seemingly kicking and attacking the man, before a London Underground employee steps in. Before 7am protesters arrived en masse at the east London station and unfurled a banner reading 'business as usual = death'. At least two scaled a train as it waited to depart, sparking violent fury from commuters. In a statement Extinction Rebellion acknowledged one of their own protesters had turned violent. XR said: 'We are aware that one of our activists responded in self defence in a moment of panic when confronted by a threatening situation. He acknowledges his accountability for this action and we offer gratitude for members of the public who helped to protect him.' The group went on: 'The people involved today did not take this action lightly. They were a grandfather, an ex-buddhist teacher, a vicar and a former GP among others who acted out of rational fear for the future as this crisis deepens.' Advertisement

Accounts administrator Mee, and former Buddhist teacher Ovland had parted company with their defence barristers after Judge Silas Reid ruled that there was no legal defence available to them.

A jury at Inner London Crown Court convicted them of obstructing engines or carriages on railways under the Malicious Damages Act 1861 after deliberating for 90 minutes.

After handing down their verdict the jury said in a note: We wholeheartedly support the cause. Our verdict is based purely on the law rather than any personal feelings we may have about climate change.

The protest was part of a two-week demonstration when Extinction Rebellion protesters targeted DLR trains in east London stations including Canning Town, Shadwell and Stratford.

The aim of the Canning Town protest was to target financial institutions and bankers in Canary Wharf, but it resulted in stopping ordinary from getting to work by train and, in some cases, losing out on pay.

Judge Reid said: This is not an isolated incident on the day. There were at least three incidents that took place at exactly the same time. This was a coordinated action as against the... Underground system on the day in east London.

However, Mee and Ovland had limited information about the demographics and set up of Canning Town, said Michale Goold, defending.

He added: They were told this was a specifically picked location to have a greater impact on the financial sector. This action they took part in was part of the two-week October event.

Judge Reid conceded that they were not aware of the demographics of Canning Town as neither are from London and they were only told about the location the night before.

The people impacted were not the people working in the financial districts of Canary Wharf, he said. These were people trying to earn money to feed and house themselves.

He continued: There was a significant degree of group planning. What wasnt planned for was what happened... the crowd became angry, that anger moved over into violence.

The crowd first turned on the protesters who were filming the operation. They were set upon, dragged from the bench they were sat on and stamped on while on the ground, said Judge Reid.

He continued: You, Mr Mee, were dragged down from the train and set upon thankfully very briefly. You were absolutely terrified... You said you thought you might be killed.

Ovland was effectively chased down from the train, he added.

Judge Reid sentenced on the basis that both men have shown remorse and recognise that their protest targeted the wrong people.

Each of you have stated that in the future you have no intention to engage in behaviour that is criminal, he said.

After sentencing, Ovland said: Our action two years ago was a mistake. We had the best of intentions but this time we got it wrong and I really want to apologise to anyone who was affected on the day.

The climate crisis is real, I think we all know that now, and its impacts are going to be increasingly devastating. We need to come together, we need to put our arms around each other and help and support the stumbling and the blind as we walk into this uncertain future.

As for my sentencing, that has always been the least concern for me. What was important was raising the alarm on the climate crisis, no matter what personal repercussions thered be. That said, I'm more than happy to have been given community service. Ill look forward to working with a team and helping out with whatever tasks were put to.

XR activists Mark Ovland (left) and James Mee (right) were showered with coffee and coins as they refused to get down from the top of a tube train

The protest was part of a two-week demonstration when Extinction Rebellion protesters targeted DLR trains in east London stations including Canning Town, Shadwell and Stratford

TfL staff asked Mee and Ovland to come down but they refused

XR activist, 37, was 'scared and thought his life was in danger as commuters threw coffees and sandwiches at him' An Extinction Rebellion activist who scaled a Tube train to protest about climate change told a court he did not get down because he feared he would be killed. James Mee, 37, was eventually pulled onto the platform at Canning Town station and kicked by enraged passengers during the morning rush-hour on October 17, 2019. Inner London Crown Court has heard accounts administrator Mee, and former Buddhist teacher Mark Ovland, 38, were showered with coffee, sandwiches and coins as they refused to get down. They unfurled a banner saying 'business as usual=death' while a public announcement told the crowd to evacuate. Edmund Blackman, prosecuting, has said the pair were only on top of the train for 20 minutes but 48,000 people had their morning commutes affected. Giving evidence Mee said the original plan had been to block the Jubilee line for one hour, from 6am, to disrupt workers travelling into the City - but they were 45 minutes late. 'We were told no one would be about other than a few cleaners coming home and if we got on top of the train and staged the protest the police would arrive very quickly, the station would be closed, a special removal team would have to be called.' Advertisement

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said: What happened was deeply regrettable. Both James and Mark have expressed their remorse and lessons have been learnt.

They were motivated by the urgent need to act in the face of the existential threat of climate breakdown and we stand with them wholeheartedly.

Three years ago, Ovland, along with two other XR protestors, was convicted of obstructing the railway after they glued themselves to a DLR train at Canary Wharf station on April 17, 2019.

Edmund Blackman, prosecuting, said during the trial: The attitude of the crowd and some of the public who were inconvenienced were angry and hostile and things on the platform got very ugly.

People were reaching up, trying to pull the people and the banner off the train, throwing things, coffee, coins, verbally jeering.

TfL staff asked Mee and Ovland to come down but they refused.

A lot of people had their camera phones out, recording what was going on, said Mr Blackman.

One of the people who was recording seems to have been there by arrangement, involved in Extinction Rebellion, recording what was going on for, presumably, publicity purposes.

The crowd turned on him when they realised who he was and he was assaulted by members of the public on the platform.

Giving evidence, Mee said the original plan had been to block the Jubilee line for one hour, from 6am, to disrupt workers travelling into the City  but they were 45 minutes late.

We were told no one would be about other than a few cleaners coming home and if we got on top of the train and staged the protest the police would arrive very quickly, the station would be closed, a special removal team would have to be called.

We wanted the protest to be a success and also it was scary and I didnt know what people were going to do, Mee said.

We were up there for 18/19 minutes, waiting for the police to arrive, the pressure increasing. I didnt know what the crowd was going to do, I was overreacting in my mind.

I went to the most catastrophic conclusion. People were making death threats, I thought my life was in danger and the last thing I wanted to do was get down.

Mee said he expected to receive a serious, serious beating if got off the train. As it happened, there were a few people who wanted to put the boot in, none of them really connected. The crowd very quickly pacified after we were brought down.

Asked about footage of him kicking out at a passenger who reached up to grab him, Mee said he felt guilty about breaking Extinction Rebellions code of non-violence.

Mr Blackman played footage of Mee and Ovland climbing onto the train, after which a passenger approaches shouts and throws a sandwich at them.

The prosecutor asked: Within a minute of you getting on that train people are already angry, arent they? Did you not think at that stage, its not going where you want, should we not get off now?.

You can see in the footage someone throws a sandwich, replied Mee. At that point there was less fear of our safety from violence in the crowd.

We were there to do a protest and theres that human psychology in that its harder to abandon something youve started and as things got more violent it became harder to come down.

Mee, of Bristol, and Ovland, of Somerset, denied but were convicted of obstructing engines or carriages on railways under the Malicious Damages Act 1861.

Mee has nine previous convictions for 14 offences, the most recent being criminal damage on 9 December 2019, two months after this offence took place.

Ovland was in breach of a conditional discharge that he received on October 14, 2019 for gluing himself to the doors of the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane while a BP conference in relation to oil and gas was taking place. Both protestors were given community orders for 12 months with 60 hours unpaid work.

Mee, who has recently got a job as a part-time administrator, was ordered to pay costs of 600 at a rate of 50 per month starting 1 May.

Ovland, who receives a carers allowance as he looks after his grandmother full-time, was ordered to pay 480 in costs, paid back at a rate of 40 per month starting 1 May.

This is a third of what prosecutor Oliver Weetch asked for which was total costs of 3,360  1,680 each. Both must also pay 85 each in victim surcharge.

Mee, the taller of the two men, appeared in court wearing green Adidas shorts and a grey t-shirt and Ovland was wearing brown chino trousers with a t-shirt.
A member of the Sarah Lawrence 'sex cult' has told a court how she was destabilized, broken and groomed through the charisma and coercion of alleged cult leader, Larry Ray.

Claudia Drury, 31, took the stand in Manhattan Federal Court to tell jurors how she went from naive student to a life of prostitution, ultimately handing over $2.5million in earnings to Ray, his daughter Talia and his 'lieutenant' and co-accused Isabella Pollok.

Demurely dressed in black pants and cardigan Drury looked at Ray, 62, only once, to point at him where he sat and name him as her alleged abuser.

Fighting back tears she laid out a relationship that began with talking and escalated to physical and sexual humiliation and trafficking, and her misplaced belief that she was indebted to Ray for, 'wrongdoings.'

'He slapped me so hard I fell over, pulled my hair, strangled me, suffocated me, hit me,' Drury told the court.

'He threatened to put me in jail numerous times, threatened to kill me on one memorable occasion, threaten to cut my face, have me abducted and dropped in the Middle East, to blackmail people that I knew, threatened to beat up my father.'

Claudia Drury, 31, took the stand in Manhattan Federal Court Friday, describing how she was destabilized and groomed by alleged cult leader, Larry Ray

Demurely dressed in black pants and cardigan, Drury looked at Ray (lower right) only once, to point at him where he sat and name him her alleged abuser

Drury told the court how Ray (right) allegedly forced her into a life of prostitution, abused her, and threatened to kill her

Drury told the court how she had overcome her initial misgivings when Ray, newly out of prison for a custody battle violation, first moved into his daughter's dorm room in the elite liberal arts college just north of New York in her sophomore year.

She admitted: 'I was pretty freaked out,' by the fact that Ray went from occasionally spending the night in his daughter's room to sleeping in Pollok's bed.

Ray is accused of 17 counts including sex-trafficking, extortion, money laundering, violent crime in aid of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy

She reported her misgivings to her philosophy professor but under pressure from Ray she later withdrew her claims, saying she had lied.

On Friday she told how, over the course of weeks and months, she was won over by the man she described as initially, 'magnetic and charismatic,' and prone to philosophizing with his daughter and her student friends for hours on end  gaining their trust and soliciting their confidences.

He was someone, she said, who seemed to be helping her friends deal with a host of issues. She wanted help too.

She said: 'Very early on I remember the first time we actually talked when I went with him to dinner in Bronxville,' the town where Sarah Lawrence is located.

'The first thing I highlighted was that growing up I would tell stories, embellishing things and I expected to grow out of it, but I hadn't, and it was getting obvious.'

She told prosecutor Danielle Sassoon: 'Larry really listened.'

Witness Claudia Drury (white sneakers) walks into Manhattan Federal court on Friday with the prosecution team

Ray is accused of forcing one of the students, Claudia Drury, into prostitution, according to prosecutors

He also talked  six, seven hours at a time  ultimately ingratiating himself with and holding court over Drury and friends, Santos Rosario, Daniel Levin, Felicia Rosario, Pollok and his own daughter Talia.

She told the court how he preached a philosophy he claimed to have written, 'Q4P' (Quest for Potential) and spoke of the importance of honesty.

Little by little he began to introduce sex into the conversations  never with the larger group, she said, but with her.

'It began by Larry telling anecdotes about sexual experiences he had or things he had done,' she said.

'[He said] the more open you were sexually, the more honest you were with yourself, being more open an uninhibited was as sign of being more honest.'

Drury recalled the first time Ray had made an overtly sexual overture to her, 'gently touching her all over her body at the table one night during dinner.

'He was talking about how sensation could be heightened,' she said.

On another occasion  during the summer when the group had all but moved into Ray's apartment on New York's Upper East Side  she recalled: 'Larry came out and stood over me and started grabbing himself under his pants and saying how he could make me orgasm without touching me just by talking about it.

'And he did. I didn't. I believe he also suggested that Dan and I had sex right there and when he left, we did.'

Ray ultimately ingratiated himself with his daughter Talia's friends at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, Santos Rosario (pictured left with Talia) Daniel Levin, Felicia Rosario (right) and Isabella Pollok

Isabella Pollok is accused of being Ray's 'lieutenant' and conspirator

Sarah Lawrence College is an elite liberal arts college in Bronxville, just north of New York City

Another time, she said: 'He bent me over a table and used his fingers on me when everyone else was out.

'He came out of his room and said I should get naked and masturbate in front of him. He wanted to me to finish, and he also wanted me to be very loud.'

Drury admitted that she had always been very uncomfortable and lacked confidence about her body and couldn't believe that anybody would find her attractive.

She credited this insecurity along with Ray's coercion with her decision to have sexual encounters with 'Sam', a married man from whom Ray bought power tools.

On more than one occasion, she said, she had sexual encounters including giving oral sex to Sam in his truck with Ray's encouragement.

Any resistance on her part was attributed to psychological problems and while he encouraged her to be sexually open, Ray battered her psychologically  and sometimes physically  convincing her of a slew of wrongdoings that started with damage to his property and would ultimately escalate to the allegations that she had poisoned him and five others.

Sitting in court, polished and for the most part poised, Drury today was a very different figure to the haggard, wan student, 'confessing' to wrongdoings in a video clip played to the court.

A red mark on her forehead was, she said, where Ray had hit her with a crop.

Ray's transformation from helpful confidante to coercive bully was, according to Drury, swift, but so too was her sense of utter dependence on the man.

Drury also seems to have been convinced by Ray that she poisoned him and even made a video 'confession' where she said, after being prompted by him, that she had tried to kill them

The pattern, she said, was that she would 'try to be good' but fail and be confronted by Ray or Pollok who would lay out her 'wrongs' and demand confession and reparation.

At one point the cycle became so extreme that Drury claims she lost all sense of reality or her grasp on it, believing Ray when he told her she wanted to kill her parents or that she had thoughts about Pollok committing suicide.

Earlier jurors had been shown texts between Drury and Pollok and Pollok and Talia apparently discussing Drury's prostitution, her clients, payment and transfers of cash into Pollok's bank account.

In the texts read aloud, Drury listed meetings and sums of money she expected in payment.

One read: 'I'm seeing Joe, the $3,500 guy at 3:30pm. I believe that will be another $8k though maybe less.'

Sums of money ranging from a few hundred to more than $17,000 in cash and bank accounts were discussed.

In a follow up text exchange between Pollok and Talia allegedly regarding the transfer of money earned by Drury through prostitution, Talia reassures Pollok: 'We got the moollah.'

At one point Pollok, 29  who will stand trial separately later this year  responds to information regarding money Drury is collecting with the question: 'Did you always get the mercury that you poisoned us with from the same source?'

'No,' Drury replied, 'Originally I got it from Santos and later on from my mother.'

Ray is accused of turning his daughter's group of college friends into a cult by moving in with them once he got out of prison. He is pictured painting at his home

Asked why she admitted to such things Drury said, 'I believed I had done them.'

Later the court was played audio of a conversation between Drury and Ray when she, at her lowest ebb, had been convinced that she was a danger to herself and others.

With her head in her hands, Drury shook with emotion, as the conversation was played in court.

In it she can be heard at her parents' house, refusing to listen to their pleas to hang up on Ray and talk to only them.

Instead she follows Ray's suggestion that she needed to remove herself from college and enter a psychiatric hospital.

She will continue her testimony Monday and is expected to be on the stand through Tuesday morning.

Earlier in the trial, prosecutors said Ray held sway over the college student, forcing some of them into prostitution and making others wear diapers as punishment.

Assistant US Attorney Lindsey Keenan began her opening statement last week with a description of a gruesome October 2018 alleged attack.

Keenan said Ray and his 'trusted lieutenant' found the victim they had 'forced into a life of prostitution' at a hotel, where Ray tortured her for hours to make sure she'd continue her sex work.

The prosecutor said Ray used 'violence, fear, sex and manipulation' to gain sex, power and money.

Ray's lawyer told the jury that Ray committed no federal crimes as he encircled himself with college-age 'storytellers' who claimed to have poisoned him and arranged to have him physically attacked.

'You'll see that Larry Ray is not guilty,' attorney Allegra Glashausser said.

Ray, who once served as the best man at a wedding of disgraced former New York City police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, has been incarcerated since his 2020 arrest.

He is a well-known New York scammer with a murky past. In addition to spending times behind bars for his role in a securities fraud scam, he has worked on Wall Street, owned nightclubs, been an FBI informant and inserted himself in into powerful networks by brokering meetings.

He had previously been sentenced to five years probation for his role in a securities fraud scam.

The allegations involving the latest case were laid out in a lengthy article by New York magazine's The Cut in 2019, that included accounts from some of the purported cult members.
A British-Iranian businessman freed alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe says he 'is not angry with the UK'.

Anoosheh Ashoori, 67, had been detained in 2017 in Iran on spying charges and sentenced to ten years behind bars.

He and Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 43, were freed on Wednesday at Tehran international airport before being flown back to the UK.

Mr Ashoori is now back at his family home in Lewisham, south-east London, after five years in prison.

He had denied charges of 'spying for Israel's Mossad' and 'acquiring illegitimate wealth'.

Anoosheh Ashoori is not angry with the UK following his return from Iran, his daughter has said.

Pictured: British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and dual national Anoosheh Ashoori, who were freed from Iran

Finally reunited: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured holding her seven-year-old daughter Gabriella and with her husband Richard, and Anoosheh Ashoori with family members including his daughter Elika after landing in the UK

Elika Ashoori told BBC Radio 4's Today programme her father seems 'fine and in good spirits' and has lost weight.

'I don't think he's angry with the UK, as far as I know, I don't think he's angry at all. He's not an angry person,' she said.

'I think he was just very furious with the Iranian officials, with the Iranian government and the way he was treated there.

'But so far he's been welcomed home, he's had a very warm welcome home by the Foreign Office, by his family.

Anousheh Ashoori embraces family members after landing at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, with Nazanin this evening

'And if there is anger, we haven't seen it yet, because he's all smiles now.

'And I don't think we will see his anger come through in an aggressive way. I think he would channel it, as he always does, into humanist activities and campaigns rather than just an aggressive form of anger.'

Their release follows months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran, including the eventual payment of an outstanding 400 million debt owed by Britain to the regime.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss, who was at RAF Brize Norton for their arrival, said on Twitter: 'Delighted that Nazanin and Anoosheh have landed safely in the UK and are reunited with their families and loved ones. Welcome home.'

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori were initially taken to the Gulf state of Oman, which has been closely involved in the behind-the-scenes negotiations to secure their freedom.

Charity worker Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe travelled to an airport in Tehran yesterday to come home to her family in the UK along with another detained British-Iranian, Anoosheh Ashouri, according to their lawyer Hojjat Kermani.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashouri were then handed over to a British team at Tehran's International Imam Khomeini Airport. A source close to their families later told the Reuters news agency that both had left Iran.

Later, Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister for the Sultanate of Oman, tweeted a picture of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashouri after they landed in Muscat.

He said: 'Nazanin and Anoosheh have arrived safely in Oman. Sincere thanks for the hard work and good faith in Tehran and London that made this possible. Soon they will be with their loved ones at home. We hope this result will bring further progress in the dialogue between the parties.'
St. Patricks Day was Thursday, but the fun and celebrations dont end yet. There are plenty of holiday-related activities and food and drink options still to come this weekend, including the Allentown St. Patricks Day Sunday.

Here are some of the other top things to do:

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  With masks now optional on all Lehigh University campuses, the 2022 Lehigh Valley Auto Show will open tomorrow, March 16 at 5 p.m.! The show will be held at Lehigh Universitys Goodman Campus. Parking is free. See you there! #lvautoshow https://t.co/gGWZXgNB1E pic.twitter.com/MgjrwMWQCI  Lehigh Valley Auto Show (@LehValAutoShow) March 15, 2022

LEHIGH VALLEY AUTO SHOW: This years theme is Leading the Charge  Find out whats electrifying the auto industry. The show features 125,000 square feet of new cars, trucks, SUVs, crossovers, vans, and cycles and more. Itll be the best the industry has to offer from Detroit and abroad. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets available online. $12; $10 seniors (55+); $8, children (6-14); $30 family of 4. Lehigh University, Goodman Campus, 150 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem. 610-758-4263. glvada.org.

Da Vinci Science Center will fill its 500-gallon aquarium. (Contributed photo)

DA VINCI POND GRAND OPENING: The new 500-gallon aquarium will feature native animal and plant species, including pumpkinseed sunfish, painted turtle and hornwort. There will be live native animals and hands-on conservation activities with Wildlands Conservancy. There are also special Pre-K exhibits, Hidden animals and Magnet Wall. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Included with museum admission, $14.95; 2 and under, free. Da Vinci Science Center, 3145 Hamilton Boulevard Bypass, Allentown. 484-664-1002. davincisciencecenter.org

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DESALES DANCE ENSEMBLE CONCERT: The ensemble showcases an exciting blend of new and innovative choreographic premieres. This spring, former dancer of regisseur Annmaria Mazzini returns to stage a longer excerpt of Paul Taylors Cloven Kingdom, which includes the memorable male quartet performed for the first time by female students. In addition, the concert welcomes groundbreaking choreographer and former BalletX dancer Caili Quan. 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., Friday; 8 p.m., Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, $18; $15 for seniors, students. Main stage, DeSales University, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley. $18; $15, seniors, students. 610-282-1100. desales.edu.

The youth fiddle competition is Sunday at Muskifest Cafe. (Contributed photo)

FIDDLE COMPETITION: As part of the Slainte celebration at Steelstacks, the debut youth fiddle competition will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at Musikfest Cafe. There will be two categories: 13 and under, and 14-18 years. A panel of adjudicators will determine first through third place in each category. First places will get $100 and a $25 Donegal Square gift card; second places get $50 and a $25 Donegal Square gift card, and third places get $25 Donegal Square gift card. Fee to apply is $19. General admission is $5. The competition will be recorded, so there will be a high resolution recording of all players. Musikfest Cafe, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. 610-332-1300. steelstacks.org

WISHBONE ASH: For about five decades, Wishbone Ash has been introducing and refining two-guitar harmony for millions of fans. At 8 p.m. Saturday, the band will be at Sellersville Theatre for a show that has already been rescheduled twice. Wishbone Ash is still led by founder, guitarist and vocalist Andy Powell, who has recorded with dozens of big name acts over the years. Tickets, $33-55. (NOTE: Steve Forbert, who was to have appeared at Sellersville Friday night, said this week that complications from surgery in 2017 have forced postponement of the show, tentatively until June 11.) Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville. 215-257-5808. www.st94.com
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Friday accused Florida of playing political games with children and said its 'Don't Say Gay Bill' amounted to bullying in 'our own backyard.'

The state's Parental Rights in Education bill has triggered national controversy, adding fuel to the nation's culture wars over what should and should not be taught in schools.

It prohibits 'classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity' and was passed last week by the state legislature. It now awaits the signature of Governor Ron DeSantis.

On Thursday, Cardona and other administration officials held a closed-door meeting with Florida LGBTQ students and their families.

'I had a 12th grader who shared that he knew he was different since he was five. He said this is pure hatred,' Cardona told CBS Mornings.

'I had a parent saying, please don't use my children as a pawn in your political games.

'So for me, this is about protecting all students.

'I feel frustrated. You know, across the world we know we don't like bullies, right. But yet right in our own backyard, it's happening.'

When it comes to recovering from the pandemic, @SecCardona says listening to students is a top priority: We have to make sure that the foundation of this recovery is the mental health supports that our students need. pic.twitter.com/uhsL6LTxjM  CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) March 18, 2022

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona condemned Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill as 'bullying' in 'our own backyard' during a TV appearance on Friday

Marchers wave flags as they walk at the St. Pete Pier during a rally and march to protest against a bill dubbed by opponents as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill in St. Petersburg, Florida

The bill has passed the state legislature and now awaits the signature of Governor Ron DeSantis. He accuses opponents of exaggerating its impact

The Parental Rights in Education bill bans the instruction of gender identity to children in kindergarten through to third grade HB 1557 was introduced by two Republican members of the Florida Legislature - Representative Joe Harding and Senator Dennis Baxley. They say the bill's aim is to 'empower parents' in their children's education, and make teachers recognize the distinction between 'instruction' and 'discussion.' 'What we're prohibiting is instructing them in a specific direction,' Baxley said about how teachers lead students in a classroom. 'Students can talk about whatever they want to bring up, but sometimes the right answer is, ''You really ought to talk to your parents about that.''' The bill applies to children in kindergarten through third grade. It states that 'classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur.' It also requires districts to 'adopt procedures for notifying a student's parent if there is a change in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being,' something LGBTQ advocates argue could lead to students being outed to their parents without the student's knowledge or consent. It was passed on March 8 in a 22-17 vote. The state House had approved the bill late last month. DeSantis has said he will sign it into law. It will come into effect on July 1. Advertisement

Opponents characterize it as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill but supporters say it empowers parents to decide to make decisions for their children rather than educators.

'There are over 12 states that are passing or trying to pass legislation like this,' said Cardona, who began his career as an teacher in Connecticut.

'We need to protect our students. We need to protect our students, including our LGBTQ students.'

A poll published this week shows how the bill splits the nation down the middle.

When a survey for POLITICO/Morning Consult poll asked 2,005 registered voters for their views, it found that 51 percent supported 'Banning the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade.'

Some 37 percent said they 'strongly supported' the idea.

When it comes to 'limiting lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity after third grade to age appropriate discussions' those polled were also in support, with 52 percent saying they favored that aspect of the bill and 32 percent strongly supporting, while only 33 percent were opposed.

On the other hand, 'allowing parents to sue school districts over alleged violations of sexual orientation and gender identity discussions in schools' drew only 41 percent support.

A plurality, 43 percent, were against the rule with 30 percent strongly opposing.

Republican lawmakers pushing the legislation argue that parents, not teachers, should be the ones talking to their children about gender issues during their early formative years.

The bill prohibits 'classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity.'

It also requires districts to 'adopt procedures for notifying a student's parent if there is a change in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being,' something LGBTQ advocates argue could lead to some students being outed to their parents without the student's knowledge or consent.

The legislation has attracted scrutiny from President Joe Biden, who called it 'hateful,' as well as other Democrats who argue it demonizes LGBTQ people.

In Florida, Disney workers have held walkouts during their breaks every day this week to protest CEO Bob Chapek's 'slow response' in publicly criticizing the law.

As the state's largest private-sector employer - Walt Disney World outside Orlando had more than 75,000 workers before the coronavirus pandemic - Disney has contributed huge amounts of money to Florid's political parties and politicians and has wielded incredible influence on the states government.

The Florida legislation, championed by DeSantis, is part of nationwide effort by Republicans who feel they are wresting back control from liberal policies they say undermine traditional family values.

President Biden himself branded the bill as 'hateful' last month, in a tweet that similarly assured members of the LGBT community that his administration would 'fight' to ensure that their rights are protected, especially gay or transgender kids that would be affected by the bill

Similar moves are afoot in other Republican-led or Republican-leaning states, chiefly in the south.

They include a plan by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to label as 'child abuse' medical treatments considered in progressive states to be standard care for transgender teenagers.

Liberals, such as White House spokeswoman Jen Pskai, have slammed the bill, calling it 'horrific' and a 'form of bullying.'

She recently said the bill '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.'

DeSantis has repeatedly accused opponents of exaggerating the effects.

He said that it only bans formal lessons on LGBT topics for children aged from kindergarten to third grade. Teachers who breach these rules can then be sued by parents.

If signed, it will become law on July 1.
A teacher who allegedly dragged a primary school pupil along the floor as she tried to get them back into the classroom said she felt 'ashamed' after 'pulling the youngster on their knees'.

Rachel Wadsworth was accused of leaving the student 'terrified' during the incident at a school in South Lanarkshire, Scotland in December 2017.

She has now partly admitted the allegation to a panel at the General Teaching Council for Scotland, who are investigating her actions, building in Edinburgh.

Miss Wadsworth claims she was holding the pupil's arm to encourage them to come back into class and that pupil was 'pulled to their knees' during this. She added that she didn't realise the pupil was being pulled along as she was 'distracted' by what was going on in her classroom.

She admitted that she was 'too eager' to get back to the classroom and was 'walking too quickly' at the time, and said she felt ashamed after realising what had happened. She apologised to the pupil afterwards.

Rachel Wadsworth was accused of leaving the student 'terrified' during the incident at a school in South Lanarkshire (stock image)

She has also been accused of making the same pupil sit in a seat she had urinated on.

If the panel finds against her, she could be struck off from teaching for two years.

Speaking to the panel earlier this week in relation to the allegation of dragging the pupil, she said: 'I admit this in part, but there was no violent element to it.

'Mrs Dougall [a support teacher] was supervising Pupil A at the sink. I heard a thud and I sent Pupil D with another pupil to go to the office.

'Pupil A ran out of the class. I took Mrs Dougall and went and got Pupil A.

'In the corridor I told the three pupils to stop and when they did I told the other two to carry on to the office.

'I told Pupil A not to not to go with them, then they collapsed to the ground. I took their hand, they needed a bit of encouragement to come back.

'I told them 'up' and that it was time for yoga. They crawled towards the class with me holding their hand.

'For five seconds my attention was diverted to what was happening in the class. I took a few steps forward and I heard them against the floor.

'Mrs Dougall said 'you can't do that. I surmised that I walked with the child about one foot.

'On reflection I was too eager to get back to the class and I was walking too quickly.

'I was shocked that I pulled Pupil A on their knees. I fully accept that I walked them a couple of steps on their knees. I feel ashamed that I allowed myself to get distracted and I apologised to Pupil A.'

She also told the panel she did not feel ready to take on her role at the school due to a 'lack of experience.'

'I initially declined the role because of my lack of experience,' she said. 'I felt pressured to take the role in the class.

Miss Wadsworth claims she was holding the pupil's arm to encourage them to come back into class and that pupil was 'pulled to their knees' during this (stock image)

'When I first started the class management directed me to make changes after the way the class was previously run. Particularly after support staff raised the issues at a meeting.

'Being a new teacher, I would have much preferred to carry on the way things were.'

She spoke about the difficulties she faced working with support staff in her class and said that she felt she and her colleagues 'never got into a groove.'

'They recommended we have a group [chat] to share ideas in order to have a collaborative approach,' she said. 'I was met with real reluctance to give out phone numbers.

'I understand that I only knew them for a few months, so I suggested Facebook Messenger.

'I felt from the beginning it was an effort. I never felt that we got into a groove.

'We struggled to be on the same page, but we all wanted the best for the children.

'I felt very critiqued and that I always had to be on my toes. It was very detrimental when they started going to management to complain about me.

'I felt that the additional support I was given was an additional burden.'

She added that she experienced 'gradual bullying' in her role.

'I also experienced a gradual bullying from the support staff, they would insult me personally and professionally,' she said.

'They refused to follow my requests. They were saying things like 'she's not capable' and making derogatory comments against the pupils.'

Richard White, a member of a church that Miss Wadsworth currently attends, spoke to the panel on behalf of her character.

'Rachel opened up to me and said she had always struggled to pick up on subtle humour with adults,' he said.

'I have taken on mentoring her throughout the year. She has a greater self-awareness on how her behaviour impacts others.

'Rachel's desire to teach is so strong it helps keep her motivated.

'I do not believe that she is trying to distort events, it would be out of character for her.'

The hearing continues.
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe made pizzas with her child Gabriella today as she enjoyed more mother-daughter time after 'six years of hell' being held captive by the Iranians.

The newly-freed mother-of-one remains in a British Government safe house with her family at an unknown UK location until at least next week and they are putting use to its industrial kitchen.

The smiling picture of Gabriella spreading cheese on the lunchtime pizza after her smiling mum spooned on the tomato sauce was shared by their local MP, Labour's Tulip Siddiq.

She tweeted: 'Nazanin told me that this is what she missed most while she was imprisoned - every day moments with her little girl. Today was Gabriella's choice of making homemade pizzas for lunch'. Yesterday the family shared a selfie of Richard Ratcliffe with his wife and daughter taking a walk with spring daffodils in the background.

MailOnline revealed yesterday that Nazanin is excited to do other 'normal' things like take her daughter to school and the shops.

The freed mother-of-one, who remains in a British Government safe house with her family until at least next week, returned home to her family in an emotional reunion on Wednesday night after she was finally freed.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Gabriella are making pizzas today as they bond again at a Government safe house after her return from Iran early yesterday

Nazanin Zagari-Ratcliffe has shared her first family selfie with her husband Richard and daughter Gabrielle following her release from an Iranian jail after 'six years of hell'

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe worked for the Thomas Reuters Foundation as a project manager before she was detained at Tehran Airport in 2016 and accused of attempting to overthrow the Iranian Government, a charge she has always rigorously denied.

She shared her first family selfie with her husband Richard and daughter Gabriella after the family spent their first night together in six years on Wednesday.

Husband Richard, who campaigned tirelessly for her release and was instrumental in securing her freedom, told the Times that Nazanin would like to focus on being a full-time mother in the immediate future but that she has not ruled out returning to a campaigning role.

He told the newspaper: 'People come out with an extra will to make up for lost time and to stop others having to battle against the bad guys that they feel are responsible.

'And that can take different directions. While I'm sure she's happy, I can't tell where her head will be in six months. I'm sure she's feeling a lot less angry today than she was a week ago. There's nothing like freedom for changing your perspective.'

Nazanin worked as a project manager for the Thomas Reuter Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, which covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly.

In an interview by the charity after her release, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO Antonio Zappulla described her as 'a very dedicated and bubbly colleague', adding: 'I didn't know just how resilient she is. I have nothing but admiration. Nazanin's life was upended, but her spirit was never broken. She is a truly remarkable woman, with a truly remarkable family.'

Mr Zappulla said the charity had supported her throughout her detention in Iran and said she is welcome back whenever she is ready.

He said: 'We will be providing all the support we can. Nazanin has continued to be a member of staff ever since the day she was detained. When she wants to come back her job will be there for her.'

He told the Times the foundation had never replaced Nazanin, adding: 'In fact, we promoted her while she was away.'

It comes as Nazanin shared the first family selfie with her husband Richard and daughter Gabrielle following her release.

The family have been reunited after the mother-of-one's harrowing six-year stint in an Iranian jail on trumped-up spy charges (pictured before her arrest)

The freed mother-of-one, who will remain in a British Government safe house with her family until the weekend, shared the photo with her MP Tulip Siddiq who has campaigned for her freedom

This is the moment Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was reunited with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella at RAF Brize Norton

The family shared the photo with their MP Tulip Siddiq who has also campaigned relentlessly for her freedom.

Ms Siddiq said: 'So lovely to have uplifting conversations with Richard and Nazanin today. They are both relentless in their pursuit of justice and raised the plight of Morad Tahbaz with me.

'Here I was hoping to sleep for a week Heres their first family selfie!'

Nazanin's neighbours told MailOnline earlier today that she cannot wait to return home and take Gabrielle to school for the first time like any other mother.

Her parents-in-law John and Barbara have joked that their son's north London home needs to be cleaned up urgently because it is in an 'appalling' state after years of living without her - and they are considering heading up from Hampshire to do it themselves.

Nazanin's friends and neighbours in North London said Richard and Gabriella are 'obviously absolutely overjoyed that mummy is home. There is so much going on and they need time to adjust but Richard said that they just wanted to settle back into normal life - taking walks in the park, going out for a coffee.

The neighbour added: Richard said that Nazanin was most excited about taking Gabriella to school in the morning and picking her up at the end of the day like any other parent. Im so happy for them.

Another neighbour said: They left here on Wednesday afternoon and Richard said that they were unlikely to be back for a couple of days. I think that now they are all back together, coming home for the first time will feel like taking their first steps towards returning to normality.

Home at last: The Zaghari-Ratcliffe family are finally reunited after Nazanin was detained for nearly six years in Iran

Nazanin holds her daughter close after landing on British soil for the first time in six years in the early hours of this morning

Meanwhile Richard's father John Ratcliffe told BBC Breakfast that his son's home is 'appalling', to which his wife, Barbara, replied: 'It is, but if you can think about it, it was a three-bedroom flat when Nazanin got taken and they'd only got a baby in it. Well, that baby's grown up'.

Mrs Ratcliffe added that the home is full of Gabriella's toys and campaign material, and that she and her husband have kept some campaign things at their home, and suggested that 'maybe we should all be up there at the moment tidying', adding: 'There's lots of texts going around about who's going to tidy up the flat'.

Mr Ratcliffe said that Nazanin, Gabriella and Richard are 'going to be in a house or accommodation provided by the Foreign Office for a couple of days and then we hope to see them at the weekend'.

When asked about his son, he said: 'I think Jeremy Hunt in the Commons yesterday described him as the bravest person he'd met and I think that's a fitting tribute to him.'

Nazanin's first hours of freedom in the UK involved enjoying a cup of tea with her family and then sharing a bed with her husband and daughter after returning to Britain following almost six years of detention in Iran.

At around 1.15am the British-Iranian landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire where she was reunited with Richard and Gabriella, who had refused to believe her mother was coming home after several 'false dawns' and 2,173 days of tortuous detention by Ayatollah Khamenei's hardline regime.

In an extraordinary and emotional video filmed by the daughter of Anoosheh Ashoori, 67, who was also released by Iran yesterday in return for a 400million debt repayment, the seven-year-old can be heard yelling 'mummy, mummy - is that mummy?' as Nazanin walks down the steps of the British jet with Mr Ashoori.

Pure joy: Nazanin shares an emotional moment with her seven-year-old daughter Gabriella after landing back in the UK

Liz Truss was there to meet the family at the RAF base in Oxfordshire and tweeted: 'Nazanin and Anoosheh have landed safely in the UK and are reunited with their families and loved ones. Welcome home'

Richard Ratcliffe has campaigned tirelessly for his wife's release, including going on a hunger strike outside Ms Truss' Foreign Office

In an emotional reunion shared by Mr Ashoori's daughter, Nazanin was pictured tearfully embracing her seven-year-old daughter Gabriella and her husband Richard Ratcliffe who has campaigned relentlessly for her freedom and return to the UK

Finally reunited: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured holding her seven-year-old daughter Gabriella and with her husband Richard, and Anoosheh Ashoori with family members including his daughter Elika after landing in the UK this morning

Anousheh Ashoori embraces family members after landing at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, with Nazanin

Pictured: British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and dual national Anoosheh Ashoori, who were freed from Iran

Pictured: A car with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe leaves the Royal Airforce Base in Brize Norton, in the early hours of Thursday

Revealed: Nazanin's family organised a 'welcome home' party LAST YEAR after being told a deal had been done with Iran before their hopes were dashed again The family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe believed she would be released last year and threw a 'welcome home party' that was cancelled at the 11th hour, it emerged . Tulip Siddiq accused the Government of doing a deal with Iranians in 2021 - but changed their minds. A party thrown in her honour was then called off. Over the past weekend Nazanin feared they were about to hit her with more trumped up charges during a surprise interrogation - before handing over her passport. Ms Siddiq said: 'There were many times when we thought it would happen, especially last year when we knew a deal had been reached last year but then at the last minute Britain pulled out. We were having a celebration party and then she didn't turn up. 'This time we were cautious and over the weekend she was picked up by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for questioning, we were a bit apprehensive about what was going to happen, and astonishingly what happened at the end of it, they handed her back her British passport. 'And then said in a threatening manner: 'Don't book your own flight, we'll do it for you'. And that was our first glimmer of hope'. Expanding on her final interrogation her husband Richard told the Daily Mail this week: 'I was really worried it was bad news, but it was good news. 'They told her they would give her British and Iranian passports back, but then gave her a serious talking-to. It put the fear of God into her.' Even with those travel documents finally in her hands there were no guarantees. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sent home but summoned again on Monday by the Revolutionary Guard who said that they needed to discuss her passport. 'They told her, 'Make sure your husband is careful. If you do that, we'll let you go',' her husband said. Richard was right to go public with his campaign to get his wife freed by Iran, the couple's local MP also said. Ms Siddiq said Mr Ratcliffe was advised by the Foreign Office to stay quiet - but she thinks he was right not to. 'When Richard first came to me he was very clear about the fact that the Foreign Office had said to him he must stay quiet and he can't talk about his wife's detention,' she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. 'But he said after not having any news from Nazanin because she was in solitary confinement right at the beginning, he felt he had no choice but to go public. 'Some people might disagree with this and the Foreign Office told us many times 'We could have got Nazanin out earlier if you didn't make such and song and dance about this' but Richard disagreed with that. 'Throughout the course of the years, I think I have come round to thinking about Richard and thinking he was probably right. 'I think we did put pressure on particularly the current Prime Minister by being so vocal and public and campaigning.' Advertisement

It brought to a close six years of hell for the charity worker, who suffered extreme psychological torture, solitary confinement and hardship in jail in Tehran thanks to the trumped-up spying charges she was convicted of.

The moment Richard and Gabriella were reunited was not filmed - though the tears of joy can be heard - but a picture of the ecstatic family was taken seconds later. Nazanin then emerges from behind a blue screen and cannot stop tenderly hugging and kissing her only child, who she had not seen or touched for three years. Nazanin holds her daughter's hands and strokes her hair throughout the reunion, leaning in for regular kisses and cuddles.

During one tender embrace Gabriella tells her: 'You smell nice', to which her mother laughs and hugs her again saying: 'Do I smell nice? I haven't had a shower for 24 hours. Is that okay?'. They hug again as Richard says: 'She smells nice to daddy'. Nazanin then holds her daughter's hand again and says: 'I will be back in just a minute' and then looks down at her and says: 'That is a very very cool jumper'. Gabriella had also picked out her favourite toys to show her mother on her return.

The family were also met by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who signed off on the 400m debt owed by Britain to Tehran from the 1970s that secured her release, before being moved to a safe house where Nazanin, Richard and Gabriella shared a bed together after so long apart, Richard's sister Rebecca Ratcliffe said today.

The couple's local MP Tulip Siddiq said that the family are now going to have to rebuild their life together, while former hostage Terry Waite said it will take Nazanin 'some time' to recover from the 'trauma' she has suffered in Iranian prison.

Ms Siddiq said: 'They are very different people now. There is going to be a huge process of getting to know each other again and Gabriella has to trust her mother again as well'.

She added: 'Gabriella came back [to the UK] three years ago and when I first met her didn't speak any English and now she's forgotten her Farsi and only speaks English.

'So she's really gone through a transition in the seven years she's been alive. But when she heard mummy was coming home, she thought her father was joking. She said to her dad ''you're pulling my leg'' and she reconfirmed with me when she saw me yesterday said ''is it true that mummy's really coming home?' and my heart just broke because there's this little girl who's been promised her mother is coming home. And then she started playing the piano and singing and dancing and that was just lovely.'

Nazanin and her family are in government accommodation. It is not known if or when they will return to their north London home.

Her sister-in-law Rebecca Ratcliffe told the BBC: 'We've had a beautiful photo of Nazanin, Richard and Gabriella all together.

'Then they went back, they're staying with Anousheh and his family in a safe house somewhere undisclosed.

'And I suspect just had cups of tea and stuff and Gabriella slept in between Richard and Nazanin last night for the first time in six years, so a very special moment.

'I've had a message from Richard this morning, everyone else is still asleep. I imagine they're all pretty tired but he was certainly very buoyant this morning'.

She also told Good Morning Britain: 'Seeing that footage of her touching down in the arms of Richard and Gabriella was just really overwhelming.

'It feels a little bit like Christmas morning, waiting for Santa and then Santa finally arriving.' She said that the family has has several 'close calls' over the years 'where there've been planes waiting to take her home or phone calls from the British Embassy that she's about to come home, and so we've found it really hard this week to get too excited'.

Terry Waite has supported Nazanin as 'for many years' and said it 'is a wonderful day' now she is back home.

He said: 'Over the past 12 months it's been possible to have conversation with Nazanin via the internet and also to exchange emails, and the purpose of that really was to keep in touch with her obviously and to enable her to maintain hope, because this has been, as you all know, a terrible rollercoaster ride.

British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has finally arrived in the UK with fellow detainee Anoosheh Ashoori bringing to a close her momentous journey home after six years in detention in Iran. Pictured: their arrival at RAF Brize Norton

Nazanin and Anoosheh Ashoori, 67, with the pilots who brought them back to the UK overnight

'One moment it looked as though she was going to go back to prison and then it looked as though she was going to be released, and so on and so forth. So that has been the purpose of those conversations.

'And now when she's out, my strong advice is - as Richard has already confirmed - first of all there's the welcome and all the attention and all the excitement of coming home. But after that, get out of the public limelight, just take it easy, get back and give yourself time to process this whole long and very difficult experience - and it does take time.

Terry Waite: Nazanin needs time to recover from her 'trauma' in Iran and says a returning to life after captivity is like having 'The Bends' Terry Waite has urged Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to treat trauma like a doctor would treat the bends. Mr Waite, who lives in Suffolk, 'eased himself back into normal life' and urged Nazanin to do the same. He was captured in Lebanon in January 1987 and held captive - most of it in solitary confinement. He also had contact with Nazanin when she was in an Iranian jail, urging her to 'take every say as it comes'. Mr Waite said: 'After a long period away, you really need time to readjust. Things have changed, you have changed, the family have changed, her daughter has grown - it's wonderful to see everybody again, but it does take time to readjust and get accustomed to the new situation that you are in. 'I went away - I lived in Trinity Hall, Cambridge where I had a fellowship for the middle part of the week, and went home at weekends. And that was really a very good thing to do. People said at the time 'aha, everything's breaking up'  far from the truth. 'Someone once said to me, and I've repeated this many times, when you come out of an experience of trauma, take it easy, take it as if you're coming up from the sea  if you come up too quickly, you'll get 'the bends'. If you come up gently, there's a good chance that things will be OK. That's really good advice to follow.' Advertisement

'It's not easy, and yet the conversations were easy. Nazanin was able to speak to me from home and therefore was in a more relaxed situation, and so we could have a relaxed conversation together. And she's been remarkably resilient over the last year, remarkably resilient, over the whole period. But she did have a very hard time in the prison. A prison myself that I've been into many years ago to bring hostages home.

'When I heard that she was at the airport, I really was very apprehensive, because I do remember years ago when I got a number of hostages to the airport and were about to come home.

And the very last moment we were turned away, we couldn't get on the flight, we'd been through all the processes. And I was just hoping that would not happen to her. Fortunately it didn't. And this is some good news at a time when we really need it, when the world is in a dreadful state.'

Nazanin broke down in tears as she was reunited with her seven-year-old daughter just minutes after landing back on British soil following almost six years of detention in Iran.

The charity worker embraced daughter Gabriella and husband Richard Ratcliffe, whose relentless campaigning since 2016 helped secure his wife's freedom, bringing a close to her momentous journey back home to the UK.

The mother-of-one left Iran with fellow British-Iranian Anoosheh Ashoori, 67, on Wednesday after their release was secured.

In an emotional video shared by Mr Ashoori's daughter Elika, they can be seen tearfully hugging ecstatic family members only minutes after landing back in the UK.

Seven-year-old Gabby shouted 'Mummy' before running to meet Nazanin who burst into tears as she entered the building before Richard joined them for a poignant reunion which lasted for more than an hour at the base.

In a message shared online, the Zaghari-Ratcliffe family said: 'No place like home. Thank you to everyone who made this possible, to all of the care and campaigning, and diplomatic efforts. You have made us whole.'

It is understood the families are being put up in Government-supported accommodation for the night.

The plane touched down at RAF Brize Norton at 1.08am following an eight-hour flight from Oman. Prior to that, the British nationals had boarded a flight from Tehran, where Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first detained six years ago.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori, who was locked up in Evin prison for almost five years, were accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government and of spying respectively, which they have consistently and vigorously denied.

A third British detainee, Morad Tahbaz, has been released from prison on furlough but remains in Iran.

Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe said he was 'deeply grateful' for her release and that he and their daughter Gabriella were 'looking forward to a new life'. He said she had asked for him to make her a cup of tea on her arrival home.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Ratcliffe said: 'There will probably be a couple of days peace and quiet somewhere else, and then back here.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe departed the plane first, followed by Mr Ashoori, before the pair walked down the steps away from the aircraft together.

The British-Iranian mother waved at cameras as she walked into a reception building at the Oxfordshire airport, while Mr Ashoori, who was carrying a magazine, gave a salute.

After finally leaving Tehran, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and fellow detainee Anousheh Ashoori arrived at Muscat in Oman at about 3.30pm UK time yesterday before travelling to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on a Titan Airways Boeing jet which was chartered privately by the UK Government.

Their release follows months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran, including the eventual payment of an outstanding 400 million debt owed by Britain to the regime.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss, who is at RAF Brize Norton for their arrival, said on Twitter: 'Delighted that Nazanin and Anoosheh have landed safely in the UK and are reunited with their families and loved ones. Welcome home.'

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori were initially taken to the Gulf state of Oman, which has been closely involved in the behind-the-scenes negotiations to secure their freedom.

'The first thing she wanted was for me to make her a cup of tea, so we will do (that). I think actually we were looking at the house and it needs a bit of tidying, so there might be a bit of tidying, perhaps directed by mummy.'

He added that he had been 'kept out of' discussions about the debt the UK owed Iran, which Foreign Secretary Liz Truss confirmed had been settled.

Asked by broadcasters about this, Mr Ratcliffe said: 'We have obviously been kept out of the loop on it and at various points I've said, 'look, listen, this is why she's being held, it is why it has gone on so long, and this is not our fight, please solve it'. And until this point we have been kept out of it.'

He told the Times Nazanin will begin spending her first day home 'learning how to be happy again', adding: 'There's no solace looking back at the time we have lost.'

Charity worker Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 44, travelled to an airport in Tehran yesterday to come home to her family in the UK along with another detained British-Iranian, Anoosheh Ashouri, according to their lawyer Hojjat Kermani.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashouri were then handed over to a British team at Tehran's International Imam Khomeini Airport. A source close to their families later told the Reuters news agency that both had left Iran.

Later, Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister for the Sultanate of Oman, tweeted a picture of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashouri after they landed in Muscat.

He said: 'Nazanin and Anoosheh have arrived safely in Oman. Sincere thanks for the hard work and good faith in Tehran and London that made this possible. Soon they will be with their loved ones at home. We hope this result will bring further progress in the dialogue between the parties.'

There had been much nervousness in Whitehall about the situation regarding Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe despite her being freed, with sources stressing that she would not be considered free until she was actually on a plane.

On her way home: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's plane took off at about 6pm, landing in the UK after 1am

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has returned to the UK following her six-year detention in Iran after her flight from Muscat, Oman

The family's reunion, which will undoubtedly be emotional, will take place in a private room inside the building

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe greeting dignitaries after touching down in Oman on a Royal Air Force of Oman jet yesterday afternoon

Richard and Gabriella Ratcliffe meeting the MP Tulip Siddiq in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and officials from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development listen on the phone as they hear the moment that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has boarded the plane in Tehran after being detained in Iran for six years

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter Gabriella. Her ordeal began in 2016 when she was detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport after a holiday visit to Iran where she showed Gabriella to her parents

Pictured: British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella

Who are the Britons who were released in Iran? Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian dual national who was detained in Iran for nearly six years, serving five years in prison. The mother-of-one was detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport in April 2016 after a holiday visit to Iran where she showed her daughter Gabriella to her parents. She was later convicted of plotting the overthrow of Iran's government, a charge that she, her supporters and rights groups deny. Aid worker Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been held under house arrest and unable to leave the country since her release from prison in March 2020. Anoosheh Ashoori Another British-Iranian dual national, Anoosheh Ashoori, was detained in Tehran in August 2017. The retired engineer from South East London had been sentenced to ten years in prison for alleged ties to the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, something long denied by his supporters and family. In January, he began a hunger strike at Tehran's Evin prison. Morad Tahbaz Morad Tahbaz, an Iranian-American who also holds British nationality, was arrested alongside other environmentalists in January 2018. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail for 'conspiring with America'. The UK Government confirmed that Mr Tahbaz had been release from prison on furlough. Advertisement

Mr Ratcliffe, who lives in London, said the situation had been kept 'behind closed doors', adding: 'So I don't know what's happened, I've seen briefings and so on. I'm relieved the problem has been solved.

'I think the Government has two jobs - to protect people in situations like this and to make sure it doesn't happen again.

He said he was 'deeply grateful' to all who had worked to bring dual-nationals captured in Iran back to Britain.

Mr Ratcliffe described his wife as 'pretty agitated' in the run-up to getting on a plane out of Iran, but said the family was 'looking forward to a new life'.

Speaking about how she had been feeling, he said: 'Pretty agitated as the day went on. I mean, anxious - it has been bumpy.

'There have been some scary conversations in the last couple of days as well, with people trying to make sure she would be well behaved when she came back.

'There is a big grin on her face in that photo (on the plane). It is going to be lovely to see her, lovely to catch up with her. We've chosen which toys we're taking so that she can get to see them. We're looking forward to a new life.'

Asked how the family planned to make up for six years apart, he said: 'There is a recovery process - you can't get back the time that is gone, that's a fact. But we live in the future and not the past, so we'll take it one day at a time.'

And asked if a hug would 'make all this hardship worthwhile', he said: 'I'm not sure it was all worthwhile. I think it is going to be the beginning of a new life, a normal life, and hopefully a happy family.

'And there will be bumps, no doubt, and all the normal squabbles we had before but, yeah, I think we're really looking forward to seeing her.'

Mr Ratcliffe said: 'Homecoming is a journey, not an arrival. I don't think it will just be today, there will be a whole process, and hopefully we'll look back in years to come and just be a normal family and this will be a chapter in our lives, but there are many more chapters to come.'

He also expressed thanks for the help given by UK Government and Foreign Office officials, along with 'ministers at different points', and MPs, during the campaign to bring Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe back to Britain.

He added: 'It has been a tough journey for all of us for lots of different reasons and I'm really grateful for the grace, patience and stoicism that they have shown to get Nazanin home.'

Detained British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured in March 2020) has been freed after nearly six years
The gas tank on a Volkswagen sedan exploded in a bizarre incident caught on camera in northeastern Brazil Wednesday, with authorities confirming that an illegally installed fuel cylinder was to blame for the blast.

The owner of the vehicle had stopped to refuel the car with natural gas at a station in Fortaleza, Ceara, on Wednesday when the explosion tore the car apart.

The gas station camera showed the driver standing in front of the car while the attendant waited nearby for the fueling to complete.

A worker (left) at a gas station refuels a customer's (right) Volkswagen with natural gas before its illegal tank exploded Wednesday in Ceara, Brazil.

Brazils National Union of Vehicle Inspection Companies told G1 that the car's gas tank explosion was caused by a sequence of errors,' among them being that the gas cylinder was illegally installed by the driver

Moments later, the gas tank blew up and destroyed the rear part of the car.

The car owner could be seen running away from the explosion while the station worker turned off the gas and avoided further catastrophe.

According to Brazilian news outlet G1, the gas cylinder landed about 200 feet from the gas station, damaged a wall and also struck a car in the area.

A gas station worker in Brazil seeks covers after a car's gas tank exploded as it was being refueled with natural gas Wednesday

The station worker immediately shut of the gas at the station moments after a car's illegal gas tank exploded in Brazil on Wednesday

Authorities said that the gas station worker and the owner of the vehicle were not injured by the car's gas tank explosion

The owner of the wrecked Volkswagen and the gas station worker didnt suffer any injuries.

Fortalezas Civil Police opened an investigation into the theft of the gas tank after the local fire department was unable to locate it at the scene hours after the incident.

Brazils National Union of Vehicle Inspection Companies told G1 that the explosion was the byproduct of a sequence of errors involving the owner of the car and the gas station.

The (owner) installed an irregular cylinder (gas tank), did not carry out the mandatory safety inspection, agency director Marco Neves said. And the gas station did not require the presentation of the inspection seal issued by one of the technical institutions accredited by INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Standardization, and Industrial Quality).
An 'intimate' documentary about the campaign run by the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to free his wife after she was detained in Iran is set to air on Channel 4.

The single-episode documentary, called Nazanin, follows the life of Richard Ratcliffe over the past six years as he balances a political campaign with raising their daughter, Gabriella.

The broadcaster said it includes how the seven-year-old has coped with the separation from her mother and the moment when Mr Ratcliffe realises her detention is linked to a 400 million debt dating back to the 1970s.

It also follows the final days of negotiations with the British Foreign Office in Tehran and her journey home.

In an effort to secure his wife's release, Mr Ratcliffe last year went on a 21-day hunger strike outside the Foreign Office in central London.

A documentary about the campaign run by the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to free his wife after she was detained in Iran is set to air on Channel 4. The single-episode documentary, called Nazanin, follows the life of Richard Ratcliffe over the past six years as he balances a political campaign with raising their daughter, Gabriella. Pictured: Mr Ratcliffe during his hunger strike last year

He was visited by supporters including Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman, writer and presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: 'Nazanin is an intimate, access-driven documentary - part love story, part political thriller.

'It has a human story with a big heart and mixes original, observational filming with never before seen material filmed by Nazanin herself about her ordeal.'

Nazanin will air later this year. It was filmed and directed by Darius Bazargan, executive produced by Ben de Pear and commissioned by Nevine Mabro.

The broadcaster said it includes how the seven-year-old has coped with the separation from her mother and the moment when Mr Ratcliffe realises her detention is linked to a 400 million debt dating back to the 1970s. Above: The reunited family pictured yesterday

In an effort to secure his wife's release, Mr Ratcliffe last year went on a 21-day hunger strike (pictured) outside the Foreign Office in central London

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian charity worker, landed back on British soil in the early hours of Thursday along with fellow dual national, Anoosheh Ashoori, after the UK finally agreed to settle its debt with Iran.

The 43-year-old was detained on security charges in 2016 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport after a holiday visit to Iran, where she introduced her daughter to her parents.

She was accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government.

Mr Ashoori, 67, was arrested in August 2017 while visiting his elderly mother in Tehran.

He was detained in Evin prison for almost five years, having been accused of spying.

Both have consistently and vigorously denied the allegations.

Their release came after months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran.
Senate Republicans are planning to grill President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee about her rulings on child sex cases when her confirmation hearings begin next week.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley previewed the attack when he announced he found an 'alarming pattern' in Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's treatment of sex offenders.

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee circulated a background document on the topic, Politico reported. It suggests that Jackson 'routinely handed out light sentences but the lightest in all categories reviewed by Judiciary Republicans was in child pornography cases.'

Press secretary Jen Psaki went after Hawley for his questioning, accusing him of taking Jackson's record out of context.

And she got in a shot at the Republican senator from Missouri.

'I'm not sure if someone who refused to tell people whether or not he would vote for Roy Moore is an effective and credible messenger on this,' Psaki said in Thursday's press briefing.

Hawley, as a Senate candidate, had initially hedged on whether he'd support Moore, who had been accused of sexual misconduct with teenage girls. Hawley later said Moore should drop out of the race.

Jackson has been on Capitol Hill, holding one-on-one meetings with senators ahead of her confirmation hearings, which begin on Monday.

'As of today, Judge Jackson has completed 44 meetings with Senators of both parties, including every member of the Judiciary Committee. These have been engaging and respectful discussions that showcase her extraordinary qualifications, experience, intellect, and character,' wrote Doug Jones, who is handling Jackson's nomination for the White House, on Twitter on Friday.

He defended her judicial record.

'She brings unquestionable credentials to the table, and its been a pleasure to hear her articulate her approach to cases which, like retired conservative judges have observed, is rooted solely in facts and the law,' he wrote.

The White House and Jackson's advocates have described her time as a public defender and a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission as a strength, noting she would bring a diversity of experience to the high court.

Senate Republicans are planning to grill Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her ruling on child sex cases during her confirmation hearings

White House Press secretary Jen Psaki went after Senator Josh Hawley for his questioning of President Joe Biden's nominee for the Supreme Court

Senator Hawley, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a long Twitter thread on Wednesday where he questioned Jackson's rulings in child sexual abuse cases.

'I've noticed an alarming pattern when it comes to Judge Jackson's treatment of sex offenders, especially those preying on children,' he wrote on Twitter.

'Judge Jackson has a pattern of letting child porn offenders off the hook for their appalling crimes, both as a judge and as a policymaker. She's been advocating for it since law school. This goes beyond 'soft on crime.' I'm concerned that this a record that endangers our children.'

Hawley told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday that he did not talk about this issue to Jackson when he met with her on March 9, saying he hadn't finished going through her legal record at that point, but he said he would ask her about it during her confirmation hearing next week.

'I'd like to hear from her next week - what her thoughts are,' he said, adding that he's 'sure she'll be prepared to talk about it.'

Psaki, however, argued Hawley took Jackson's words out of context.

'In the vast majority of cases involving child sex crimes, the sentences Judge Jackson imposed were consistent with or above what the government or U.S. probatation recommended,' she said.

'He took a snippet of a transcript out of context, when in fact Judge Jackson repeated something a witness said to ask her a question,' she added. 'Attempts to smear or discredit her work are not borne out in facts.'

Senator Josh Hawley issued a long twitter thread where he questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's treatment of sex offenders - above the two met on March 9

And earlier the White House slammed Hawley's criticism as 'cherry-picking.'

'This is toxic and weakly-presented misinformation that relies on taking cherry-picked elements of her record out of context - and it buckles under the lightest scrutiny,' said spokesman Andrew Bates.

In the 18-tweet thread, Hawley claimed that Jackson had been soft on sentencing people accused of possessing child pornography and that she questioned whether people accused of sex crimes should be required to register as sex offenders.

'This is a disturbing record for any judge, but especially one nominated to the highest court in the land,' he wrote. 'Protecting the most vulnerable shouldn't be up for debate. Sending child predators to jail shouldn't be controversial.'

Jackson's confirmation hearings begin on Monday when she introduces herself to the committee and senators make their opening statements. Senators will begin questioning her on Tuesday.

'I'd like to hear her why she sentence the way that she did,' Hawley told reporters on Thursday. And what her philosophy is when it comes to child sex offenders and crime more generally. But you know, let's start with child sex offenders.'

He also said he had no intention of turning her hearing into one that brings to mind Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump's controversial nominee who was accused of sexual assualt. His hearings were contentious and heavily protested.

Republicans have said Jackson would get a fair hearing.

Hawley said the same, saying he was just going to question the judge about her record.

'This is her record,' he said. 'So this is what we're here to do. We're here to ask a judicial nominee questions about her judicial record, and that's what I intend to do. Listen, I like her a lot. I was impressed with her. I think she's a good person. I want to ask for a better record, though. And she's, she can speak for herself.'
As the BBC's Middle East correspondent based in Beirut, Quentin Sommerville has probably seen it all.

The Glasgow-born journalist was in Kabul when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan and accompanied Iraqi troops as they retook Mosul from Isis in 2017.

But even Sommerville was more than a little taken aback as Russian Grad rockets rained down on Kharkiv yesterday afternoon.

Sommerville (right) is rushed into a bomb shelter underneath a damaged building on a dense residential street in Kharkiv - and moments later, the rockets begin to fall

The Ukrainian army guide (left) stays ice cool as he leads the BBC crew to shelter

The war reporter's latest dispatch shows him, a BBC cameraman and their Ukrainian army guide hurry them into a hollowed out building on a bombed residential street in Kharkiv.

Just moments after taking cover inside, a flurry of explosions strike the street outside.

Sommerville says to a driver still outside while the rockets hit: 'Get in! Get in!'

A Ukrainian soldier (background, right) takes Sommerville's driver (foreground) to safety

Sommerville yells 'Get in!' to a BBC colleague rushing back into the bomb shelter as rockets fall

Quentin Sommerville has become one of the BBC's most respected overseas journalists, covering conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Israel

Angered that control of Kharkiv has proven hard to come by, Sommerville says, the Russians 'are taking out their anger with artillery'.

'Away from the front, no neighbourhood is safe', he adds. 'Russian Grad rockets fall all around us. This is the reckless targeting of human life.'

Sommerville started his career as a Shanghai correspondent for the BBC, later moving to Beijing. He temporarily hosted BBC Breakfast in 2008 and moved to the Andrew Marr Show, where he continued to cover China.

The journalist went viral in 2014 when he got so high on drugs he couldn't deliver a serious news package without laughing hysterically.

Based in Jerusalem at the time, Sommerville tweeted the incredible video as a 'Christmas present' to his followers.

Covering the Ukraine conflict, however, has been a much more serious endeavour.

Ukraine's second biggest city, where the vast majority speak Russian as a first language, was previously populated by 1.4 million.

Now it is just a proportion of that, with all those able to flee doing so - to safer climes in the west of Ukraine and, if possible, across the border to Poland, Hungary and other neighbours.

Smoke fills the street in the residential neighbourhood after a smattering of Grad rockets fall

The tiny shelter below the apartment block is strong enough to withstand blasts on the street

Ex-air force pilot Constantine, 58, told Sommerville he was fighting once again to protect his homeland.

Now walking with a limp and an old broom handle to help him, Constantine is a symbol of Ukraine's rugged resistance.

He said: 'This is the last line of defence for the city. If they get through here, they will enter Kharkiv. This road takes you from Russia to the very heart of the city.'

Refugees who are lucky enough to find a space on westbound trains wait for 20 nervous hours to arrive in Lviv.

Waiting times on the Polish border are now around nine hours, according to Ukrainians.

It may get worse before it gets better. But for now, Kharkiv - and the BBC crew stationed there - is holding firm.
An Arkansas jury found a former police sergeant guilty of negligent homicide for fatally shooting an unarmed white teenager - an incident that drew the attention of national civil rights leaders last year after it family members revealed that the 17-year-old was simply reaching for a bottle of antifreeze that had rolled into his truck bed when the officer opened fire.

Former Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. Michael Davis was sentenced to a year in jail Friday after jurors found him guilty of misdemeanor negligent homicide in the shooting death of Hunter Brittain, who Davis killed during a June 23, 2021 traffic stop.

The former sergeant was acquitted of the more serious offense of manslaughter - for which he would have faced between three and 10 years in prison.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis also was sentenced to a $1,000 fine.

Scroll Down For Video:

Michael Davis (pictured) was sentenced on Friday to a year in jail after he was found guilty of misdemeanor negligent homicide in the shooting death of Hunter Brittain, 17

17-year-old Hunter Brittain (left) was shot and killed by Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. Michael Davis (right) during a June 23 traffic stop

Davis was acquitted of the more serious offense of manslaughter for which he would have faced between three and 10 years in prison

Davis, who is white, told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck during the stop outside an auto repair shop after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with Davis' commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit.

A passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands.

Brittain's family members have said he was grabbing a container that held antifreeze to place behind the trucks wheel to stop it from rolling backward. Investigators found no evidence of firearms in or near the truck.

Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley after the shooting for not turning on his body camera until after the shooting occurred.

On Tuesday jurors were shown bodycam footage of the aftermath of the shooting, Arkansas Online reported.

'The guy jumped out of the f****** truck,' Davis was heard saying in the video. 'Grabbed a f****** oil can.'

Davis was also captured yelling at the 16-year-old passenger, asking why the two were driving the way they were.

When images of Brittain's body being turned over were shown, family members sobbed and some exited the courtroom while a few of the jurors were seen patting their eyes.

Davis, who is white, told investigators he shot Brittain (pictured) once in the neck during the stop after the teen failed to comply with orders when he exited his truck

Crump attended the funeral of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain on July 7 and called for justice in his case

The video ends with Davis sitting alone in a police vehicle crying out loud, Arkansas Online reported.

Emotionally recounting the shooting, Davis testified Thursday that he thought the teen was grabbing for a gun.

'I didn't get into this job to kill people,' Davis said.

The jury's deliberations, which began Thursday afternoon and resumed Friday morning, only lasted less than three hours total.

After the verdict was announced, Brittain's family and friends chanted 'Justice for Hunter' outside the Army National Guard facility that was used for the trial, which began Tuesday.

Outraged family members have been protesting following the teen's shooting death and demanding 'Justice for Hunter'

Rebecca Payne, Brittain's grandmother, said family members wanted the deputy convicted of the felony to ensure he could not serve as a law enforcement officer again.

'Now what's going to happen? Are people going to have to fear for their lives again?' she told reporters.

Brittain was eulogized last year by the Rev. Al Sharpton and two attorneys who represented George Floyds family. They said the teen's death highlighted the need for interracial support for changes in policing.

Last year, Crump told CNN he believes Brittain's death could push lawmakers to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which has been stalled in the Senate since early March as bipartisan negotiations continue.

Rebecca Payne, Brittain's grandmother, said family members wanted the deputy convicted of the felony to ensure he could not serve as a law enforcement officer again

Outraged family members have been protesting following the teen's shooting death and demanding 'Justice for Hunter'

Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump comforted family members of Hunter Brittain last year during at the teen's funeral

The civil rights attorney says he hopes the image of an unarmed, white teenager killed by police will open people's eyes to the fact that anyone in the United States can be a victim of police brutality.

'That is going to be looked at differently because he wasn't a teenager who was a child of color,' Crump told CNN. 'Because we've always said that our white brothers and sisters couldn't fathom their child being killed by the police. That people are supposed to protect them. But that's a reality that parents of children of color literally deal with every day of their lives.'

Although an overwhelming majority of attention is paid to black victims of police shootings, according to Mapping Police Violence since January 156 white people have been killed by police in the U.S. compared to 102 black people.

The database that collects data on police killings also pointed out that black Americans, who make up roughly 14 percent of the U.S. population, are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people, who make up 76 percent of the country's population, CNN reported.

During an appearance on Sharpton's MSNBC show PoliticsNation, Sharpton said that there is no difference between what happened to George Floyd and Hunter Brittain and that during the funeral service everyone came to the determination that 'it was not about black or white, but about right and wrong.'

'Both were victims, both are dead... Unless we come together we can't solve it for anyone,' Sharpton said. 'Americans of all races suffer at the hands of police, this is not just racial, its class, its many things but its a lack of accountability, it's an American problem.'

Sharpton asked Crump what needs to be done to stop this from happening over and over again and Crump said that at the end of the day no progress can be made for one racial group unless progress is made for all.

'We all have to come together because we all want our children to get home safely, it doesn't matter whether its a black parent, a white parent, a Hispanic parent, a native parent, it doesn't matter! we want our children to get home and not be killed by the very people who are to protect and defend their lives,' Crump said.

Crump pointed out that he and other civil rights activist have spoken up for all kinds of marginalized groups who have been unjustly killed by police officers.

'The fact that we went when George Floyd was killed unjustly, and said that George Floyd's life mattered,' he said. 'Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed unjustly by police, we said her life mattered, Christian Hall, a young Native American teen killed on a bridge by police in Pennsylvania, we went and said his life mattered and so we have to go Beebe, Arkansas when they killed Hunter Brittain, this 17-year-old unarmed teenager and we have to say as loud as we said for George Floyd 'Hunter Brittain's life matters!'''

Floyd died in May 2020 when a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin the handcuffed Black mans neck to the ground. His death sparked nationwide protests over policing and racial inequality.
A Ukrainian-born lecturer at the University of Portsmouth has said he is 'appalled' at the Government's handling of visas for war refugees from his country.

Andrii Zharikov, a senior lecturer at the Hampshire university's law faculty, said he had given up on the idea of bringing his sister, Anna-Maria Zharikova, 19, and mother, Tetyana Zharikova, 53, to the UK because of red-tape restrictions.

He explained that although the UK Government has offered to allow Ukrainians to bring family members here, it does not apply to people who have relatives with work visas, like himself.

The 30-year-old said: 'I was appalled by the way it has been presented with the Government saying it has an open door policy, but the scope is very, very limited.

'I am very grateful for the EU approach and know my family will stay in the EU because of this and they are better off there, and I will do my best to look after them by sending money.'

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee had her visa application to come to the UK 'terminated' due to an error by the Government for unknown reasons, her family said.

Anastasia Marunich applied to come to the UK along with five family members after they fled Cherkasy, on the banks of the Dnieper river in central Ukraine, two weeks ago.

Andrii Zharikov (left), a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth's law faculty, said he had given up on the idea of bringing his sister, Anna-Maria Zharikova, 19, and mother, Tetyana Zharikova, 53, to the UK because of red-tape restrictions. (Also pictured, Andrii's sister, mother, and father, Victor, 55)

Meanwhile, Anastasia Marunich (above) - a 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee - had her visa application to come to the UK 'terminated' due to an error by the Government for unknown reasons, her family said. The issue was understood to have been resolved this afternoon - with her entire family granted visas to the UK

Mr Zharikov said his father (above), a history teacher with no military training, had chosen to remain in Kyiv where he has joined the self-defence territorial forces

Andrii (left) explained that although the UK Government has offered to allow Ukrainians to bring family members here, it does not apply to people who have relatives with work visas, like himself

Mr Zharikov added there is a huge difference between how the general public in the UK has responded to the war through donations, fundraising and emotional support, and that of the Government's 'limited' visa offering to refugees. (Above, damaged buildings in Kyiv)

But her application - which was aided by her cousin Vitalina Clarke and her husband Callum Clarke - was 'unable to be concluded' after she provided biometric data alongside her mother, cousins and aunts at a visa centre in Rzeszow, the largest city in south east Poland, earlier this week. However, it is understood that her visa issue was resolved this afternoon.

Mr Zharikov said there is a huge difference between how the general public in the UK has responded to the war through donations, fundraising and emotional support, and that of the Government's 'limited' visa offering to refugees.

Ukrainian refugees are told: Don't travel to UK until sponsorhip application decision Ukrainian refugees without UK family members applying for visas under the new sponsorship scheme have been told not to travel to Britain until they have received a decision on their application. Ukrainian refugees and their sponsors are now able to fill in an online form on Gov.uk under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, which formally launched on Friday. Those with valid passports who apply under the scheme will receive a permission letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) confirming that they can travel to the UK. Ukrainians without passports will have to submit their biometrics at a visa application centre, where they will receive a visa. The Government said refugees should not make their own way to the UK before they have received a permission letter or visa. It said it is prioritising applications under the scheme and aims to make a decision 'as quickly as possible'. Guidance published on Friday says that, by completing the online application form on Gov.uk, both the applicant and sponsor have given permission for their data and contact details to be shared for the purpose of checks. Those who hold a valid Ukrainian passport will not need to attend an appointment at a visa application centre to give their biometrics. When they reach the UK, they will receive a six-month entry stamp. They will need to submit their biometrics within this time to extend their stay for up to three years and to receive a residence permit. Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members, who were living in Ukraine before January 1 this year, will be eligible to apply under the sponsorship scheme. Relatives who fall under this definition are a spouse or civil partner, unmarried cohabiting partner of at least two years, a fiance/e or proposed civil partner, a child under 18, and a parent of a child who is under 18. Applicants and sponsors will undergo security and safeguarding checks. Advertisement

He said his sister had managed to leave Ukraine with the help of a stranger who drove her to the border, before a friend then drove from Amsterdam to collect her and took her to live with him.

She will soon move on to Germany to live with their mother, who left with relatives by refugee train and bus and who has been given somewhere to live for at least six months.

Mr Zharikov said his 55-year-old father Victor, a history teacher with no military training, had chosen to remain in Kyiv where he has joined the self-defence territorial forces.

He said: 'We have been messaging each other twice a day, I managed to talk to him for like 20 minutes, it made me so happy to hear his voice finally.'

He explained his father's battalion of volunteers is protecting a major road to the south of the city, checking for suspicious people attempting to enter the capital.

Mr Zharikov said: 'I think it is better for him to be there than somewhere else. He was always of a patriotic nature and performed his duty to Ukraine.

'I am so proud of him. I worry about him a lot because you can't be safe now anywhere, but at least I know he is happy for what he is doing and possibly even safer than at his home doing nothing.'

He said he had considered returning to Ukraine himself to fight but decided he would be more useful to his family to remain working, as he is the only one with a steady income to support them.

Mr Zharikov said he believes the invasion has united the people of Ukraine against Russia.

'I haven't seen such consensus in the country. What (Russian President Vladimir) Putin did was dreadful, but the good thing is he united the country, we never had such unity.

'We need to use this moment to reset our development and get closer links to Europe,' he said.

He explained the feelings of his father and other members of his battalion are that the Russian army needs to be expelled not only from its recent invasion but also from Crimea and the separatist regions.

He said: 'From what I see from people on the frontline, they are prepared to stay there. They are not prepared for a ceasefire to allow Russia to regroup and attack again. Russia already violated so many agreements.

'I don't think there will be peace soon where both sides will be satisfied.'

Mr Zharikov said he wants to thank the international community for its support, but said more weapons, particularly anti-aircraft defence systems, are needed.

'Ukraine is standing for certain values, democracy and freedom. We are defending those values,' he said.

'We have scenes like Mariupol, a city being besieged like in medieval times, cut off from all supplies and being constantly bombarded with 80 or 90% of buildings destroyed or damaged.

'If you look at those atrocities, my heart is bleeding because that's my country, those are places I have been to and I'm seeing them being destroyed.

'All those atrocities, the reaction should be stronger. Maybe World War Three has already started. Russia will find a pretext if they want to start a wider war anyway.'

Anastasia Marunich's application - which was aided by her cousin Vitalina Clarke (back row, right) and her husband Callum Clarke (back row, second right) - was 'unable to be concluded' after she provided biometric data alongside her mother, cousins and aunts at a visa centre in Rzeszow, the largest city in south east Poland, earlier this week. (Anastasia is in the grey jacket, second from right)

Civilians and members of Ukraine's territorial defence force look on as smoke rises over the city of Lviv, in the west of Ukraine, after Russian cruise missile strikes early on Friday

The family of 12-year-old Anastasia Marunich, meanwhile, felt 'abandoned' by the Home Office after her visa application was 'terminated'.

Her application - which was aided by her cousin Vitalina Clarke and her husband Callum Clarke - was 'unable to be concluded' after she provided biometric data alongside her mother, cousins and aunts at a visa centre in Rzeszow, the largest city in south east Poland, earlier this week.

The issue has now been resolved and the entire family have been given visas to come to the UK, the PA news agency understands.

They will be able to collect them on Saturday morning, a source confirmed.

The family had already faced issues with their application after being 'pushed to the back of the queue' when the visa centre changed from being a walk-in centre to appointment-only.

Mr Clarke earlier told PA: 'Her application was terminated. We don't know what's going on or why this is happening. It's really worrying - but what's also worrying is the fact that they were able to make mistakes in the first place.

'The other applications are being processed but we don't know if this means that we're going to end up in the situation where all the adults and other children have their visas approved at the same time and then we have a child who's not allowed into the UK.

'We don't know if it reorders the queue either and it means we have to reapply for everyone again and travel 250 kilometres back across to Poland to give their fingerprints again.'

The family left Rzeszow earlier this week after completing their biometric data and are currently staying in Krakow.

Mr Zharikov said he believes the invasion has united the people of Ukraine against Russia. (Above, a devastated area of Kyiv today)

Before the issue was resolved, Mr Clarke said 'We're living days at a time at the minute. We didn't have anywhere to stay on Wednesday and my wife's company really kindly stepped in and said they would pay for a hotel. We're in a position where a private business is having to step in because of the Government's failure basically ... we've basically been abandoned by the Home Office in Poland at this point.'

He described the situation as 'stressful', adding: 'It prolongs the not knowing. We've had delays, which haven't been our fault, and we don't know how long anything is going to take when meanwhile we've got real people with real lives happening.

'I've got my gran lying in bed in a hotel, and she's happy to be there, but it's costing a lot of money to be there and she's got medications she's taking that will eventually run out. These are real people with their lives on hold.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and the changes we've made to the visa process are making it quicker and simpler for Ukrainians to come here, as well as ensuring those already here can stay.

'Valid passport holders no longer have to attend in-person appointments to submit fingerprints or facial verification, and we have also expanded capacity at our Visa Application Centres to 13,000 appointments per week across Europe to help those without their documentation.

'This week, the Government's sponsorship route will open to allow Ukrainians with no family ties to the UK to come here and we will continue to work closely with our Ukrainian partners to deliver the measures we have put in place.'

Ukraine is 'humbled' by 150,000 Britons hoping to house refugees Ukraine is 'humbled' by the more than 150,000 Britons who have expressed an interest in housing refugees fleeing Russia's invasion, the nation's ambassador to the UK said. Vadym Prystaiko said it has been a 'bumpy ride' getting the Government to set up visa-free travel since Russian president Vladimir Putin launched his war, but welcomed the Homes for Ukraine scheme as it opened for refugee applications on Friday. Concerns have been raised about the programme's bureaucracy, safeguarding and resourcing as Ukrainians are matched with British sponsors. But the ambassador is cautiously optimistic, saying 'this is a temporary solution but I hope it will work' as they work on details including school places and jobs, and is hopeful any issues linking refugees with homes can be 'remedied quite soon'. Ukraine is 'humbled' by the more than 150,000 Britons who have expressed an interest in housing refugees fleeing Russia's invasion, said Vadym Prystaiko (above), the nation's ambassador to the UK In an interview with the PA news agency, he said: 'We're in an initial stage of this work but I'm very grateful that the UK Government and citizens are opening up their hearts, and sometimes homes, offering Ukrainians to stay here. 'I'm humbled by the sheer number of people who are opening up, sometimes just saying, 'I have a spare room, it's not even a spare house, or flat, it's just a spare room.' This is something that's very unusual.' Speaking from the Ukrainian embassy in west London, Mr Prystaiko said that in his discussions with ministers he broadly estimates that between 100,000 and 200,000 Ukrainian will want to temporarily seek refugee in the UK. More than 150,000 people in Britain had registered their interest in the scheme by Thursday, and refugees who have found a sponsor could start applying on the Government website from Friday. Those with valid passports who apply under the scheme will receive a permission letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) confirming that they can travel to the UK. Mr Prystaiko also sounded an alarm on Ukraine's need for further humanitarian aid, as the Kremlin's troops surround major cities and bombard them with missiles. And he warned the war could have further effects on the world's food supplies. 'Ukraine is a major agricultural producer in the world, if we don't start planting the grains the world will feel it quite soon, at the end of this year this ripple effect... there will be not enough food not just for Ukrainians, Ukrainians will survive, but for the rest of the world...' he said. 'Things like that have to be thought of right now. And humanitarian, the breadbasket of Europe now is begging for food. This is an effect the war is having right now on us.' He welcomed Britain sending defensive weapons but said 'we need much more stuff' as he continued talks with ministers. Advertisement

Homes for Ukraine scheme allowing kind Britons to give sanctuary to war refugees officially opens TODAY after 150,000 said they wanted to help

By DAVID WILCOCK, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline

A scheme allowing thousands of kind Britons to open their own homes to Ukrainian war refugees officially opens today after an astonishing 150,000 people said they were willing to help.

Homes for Ukraine aims to match refugees with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, enabling those without family ties in Britain to enter the country.

More than 150,000 people in Britain had registered their interest by last night, and refugees who have found a sponsor can apply from Friday.

Homes for Ukraine aims to match refugees with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, enabling those without family ties in Britain to enter the country

However, concerns have been raised about red tape, safeguarding and resourcing, with one major charity warning the Government is 'unleashing chaos' with the scheme and that refugees could die before they are matched with a sponsor and can safely reach the UK.

Labour said the programme's 'excessive bureaucracy' and 'DIY nature' are the greatest barriers to its success, and urged the Government to 'cut unnecessary paperwork and play an active role in matching sponsors to refugees'.

Meanwhile former health secretary Matt Hancock has suggested the scheme be used as a template in future to offer sanctuary to refugees from around the world.

The Suffolk MP, who plans to take in a family in his constituency home, said the UK needed 'a permanent system that's ready to go whenever there's a crisis somewhere in the world.'

Ministers announced a U-turn on security checks for Britons hosting Ukrainians in their homes last night.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove announced earlier this week that hosts would only have to undergo 'very light touch' criminal records checks.

But, in fact, the measures will be significantly tougher, the Government said.

All hosts will now have to undergo a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which looks at whether they have any convictions.

However, those who intend to welcome children or vulnerable adults into their homes will have to undergo an even more detailed 'enhanced' DBS check, which looks at their background more deeply.

A Communities Department spokesman said: 'It's not a change in stance. We've been working at pace to get this running as quickly as possible.'

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, claimed the scheme is a 'smokescreen' and distraction from what really needs to happen, which she says is the removal of the visa requirement for Ukrainians to come to the UK, as other European countries have done.

She accused the Government of putting charitable organisations in an 'invidious' position and foisting the scheme on them without prior consultation, adding that she expects just a 'trickle' of refugees to arrive through the scheme because they will have to find people to become sponsors while abroad before they can apply, and then make their own way to the UK.

She said: 'Are some of the people going to be alive by the time the process has been gone through?

'They should be letting people in now, but the Government is doing to refugees what they've done to the Syrians and to Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust, and what they're doing is to reduce to an absolute minimum the number of refugees making their way to the UK in the midst of the worst refugee crisis since World War Two.'

Positive Action in Housing, which runs Room for Refugees - the UK's longest running refugee hosting programme which has been in place since 2002 - is receiving around 40 calls and up to 150 emails an hour from Britons who want to offer accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.

Almost 70 Ukrainian refugee families have registered with the charity, including 60 children and several heavily pregnant women currently in Ukraine, France, Poland, Belgium and Germany.

Ms Qureshi questioned how many people who have expressed an interest via the Government's website will have to withdraw because they later realise they do not have 'the physical or mental room'.

She said: 'We do not have half a hosting program in place.

'All they've got is expressions of interest - they have not identified individuals to match them up... this is an illusion of people helping because they're distracting from the fact that they haven't lifted visa restrictions.'

Shadow levelling up and housing secretary, Lisa Nandy, welcomed the scheme's launch but said there remains a 'worrying lack of engagement with local councils and charities'.

She said: 'They stand ready to do their job but, unless the government steps up and provides clear guidance, we risk squandering the amazing generosity of people who have offered to open their homes.

'Getting Ukrainian families here quickly is vital so they are secure and there is certainty for those welcoming them. The biggest barriers are excessive bureaucracy and the DIY nature of this scheme. The Government needs to cut unnecessary paperwork and play an active role in matching sponsors to refugees.'

A spokeswoman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: 'We are moving as quickly as possible to ensure that those fleeing horrific persecution in Ukraine can be found the families and sponsors they need.

'The Government continues to work closely with non-governmental organisations and local government in order to speed up the process to bring Ukrainians to safety in the UK.'
One of the nation's top generals said goodbye on Friday as he retires from military life, following a turbulent final year as head of Central Command overseeing the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Gen. Frank McKenzie said he was proud of the way that American troops evacuated 124,000 people from Kabul but will be forever haunted by the suicide attack that killed 13 U.S. service personnel and more than 100 Afghans.

In his final briefing with journalists, he also described what he believed to be the most dangerous threats to American interests in the Middle East.

Among his successes was the high-profile raid to kill or capture the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, but he also described how he thinks every day about the troops killed in Kabul.

'The collapse of the Afghan government was not the result we desired when we began our withdrawal,' he said.

'That said the courage and hard work of several thousand service members under difficult and dangerous conditions, which allow the evacuation of 124,000 U.S. partners and Afghan nationals is something the nation can be very proud of.

'It came at the terrible costs of 13 US service members and over 100 Afghan civilians killed.

'And that is a loss that I deeply regret. I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

'We owe these heroes our gratitude.'

They died when a suicide bomber detonated explosives close to a U.S. checkpoint at Kabul airport in the final, desperate days of the withdrawal.

Gen. Frank McKenzie said he was proud of the way American troops evacuated 124,000 people from Kabul but will be haunted forever by the suicide attack on the airport

The 13 fallen service members were returned to the U.S. after the August 26 attack on Kabul airport during the final days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan

Left to right: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo

Marines Corps Corporals left to right: Daegan W. Page, Hunter Lopez, Humberto A. Sanchez

Marine Corps Lance Corporals left to right: Kareem M. Nikoui, Dylan R. Merola, Rylee J. McCollum, Jared M. Schmitz

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza (left) and Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak (right)

Thousands of Afghans were trying to flee to safety, and U.S. Marines were checking them one by one when the explosion happened.

The local offshoot of the Islamic State - known as ISIS-K - claimed responsibility.

'Not a day goes by that I don't think about August of last year and the loss of our 11 Marines, one soldier and one sailor there,' said McKenzie.

'I think about it a lot. You go back and you always try to find ways things that you could have done different.'

But he said the battlefield was a dynamic place.

'We were not able to stop this attack,' he said.

'I don't know what we could have done that would have presented this particular attack,' he said.

'For those for those family members who've lost a child or loved one there. My heart breaks for them and I feel their pain.'

He has led U.S. troops in the Middle East and south west Asia for the past three years. And he took over responsibility for the mission in Afghanistan last year, as the U.S. was winding down its presence.

A single suicide bomber is believed to have been responsible, detonating his explosives as thousands of Afghans thronged Kabul airport in an attempt to flee the Taliban

He alluded to some of the darkest moments during his final comments to journalists.

'And there have been days, I'll tell you, I would rather have my leg taken off below the knee, then come in there and talk to you guys,' he said by videolink.

'But it was an important thing to do.'

He used the occasion to deliver an assessment of the region under his command, and describe the threats to the U.S.

'Continue to see Iran as the greatest threat to regional security and stability,' he said.

'They furnish weapons, support and direction to proxies across the region who engage in acts of terror and undermine local governments, all advancing Iranian interests.

'Iran's ballistic missile threat has continued to advance and expand with greater ranges and accuracy. CENTCOM has continued to watch Iran and its proxies as we act as a deterrent to Iranian attacks on US interests.

Those attacks, and the threat to American interests, were on display last weekend when its rockets smashed into a U.S. Army base and a Kurdish news channel office in Erbil, Northern Iraq.

Iran's arsenal was on display at the weekend when missiles slammed into a U.S. Army base and a Kurdish news channel office in Erbil, Northern Iraq in retaliation for an Israeli attack

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps last month unveiled a new missile - the 'Khaibar-buster' - with a range of about 900 miles

Iran later claimed responsibility, saying it mounted the attack in retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard last week.

No one was hurt in the attack on Erbil.

Last month, Iran unveiled the latest weapon in its arsenal.

The Khaibar-buster, a reference to a Jewish castle overrun by Muslim warriors led by Prophet Mohammed in the early days of Islam, has a range of 900 miles and runs on solid fuel, state media reported.

McKenzie described Iran's ballistic arsenal when he gave evidence to the Senate Armed Services Committee during the week.

'They have over 3000 ballistic missiles of various types, some of which can reach Tel Aviv - to give you an idea of range,' he said then.

'None of them can reach Europe yet, but over the last five to seven years they have invested heavily in their ballistic missile programme.

'Their missiles are of greater - significantly greater - range and significantly enhanced accuracy.'
Candidates for the Pennsylvania Legislature on Thursday prepared for the frenzied effort of collecting hundreds of required signatures in 11 days  half the time allotted in previous election cycles  and many were not happy about it.

Late Wednesday, the state Supreme Court set March 18-28 as the period for candidates to get the required signatures ahead of the May 17 primary election. Senate candidate need 500 signatures, and House candidates 300.

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Circulating the petitions is labor-intensive and requires organization. Many observers said the shortened time frame favors incumbents.

I wish the Legislature had moved back the primary, said Democratic Rep. Mike Schlossberg of Allentown. I dont appreciate that it gives incumbents the advantage.

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Republican Rep. Milou Mackenzie of Lower Saucon Township said the short period is a great disservice to all the voters because they might be deprived of having good candidates.

The Supreme Court set the schedule in tandem with a Wednesday order that dismissed all challenges to newly drawn legislative maps.

In the last two election cycles, the nomination-petition period lasted 22 days.

This year, all 203 House seats and half of the 50 Senate seats are up for election. The shortened petition period only exacerbates frustrations some people had with the way the maps were drawn.

There were a lot of disappointments with the maps and the process in general, Republican Rep. Rosemary Brown of Monroe County said. Specifically citing a new split of Middle Smithfield Township in her county between two House districts, she said, I dont think some of the maps reflect how people live.

Brown, who previously said she was not seeking reelection to the House, on Wednesday announced she would seek a state Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mario Scavello, who is retiring.

Sen. Lisa Boscola of Northampton County, a Democrat who filed one of the unsuccessful court challenges to the maps, said the Legislative Reapportionment Commission that created them could have worked more quickly.

The process, she said, may have been a sort of ploy to make it as hard as possible for challengers to win seats in the Legislature.

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State Sen. Lisa Boscola, who intends to seek reelection in her redrawn Northampton County Senate district, said the redistricting process did not play out well. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call )

Boscola, who plans to seek reelection, has been a major proponent for taking the map-drawing process out of the hands of politicians.

The way it works now, four of the five members of the commission are lawmakers.

Fair Districts PA, a coalition at the forefront of seeking redistricting changes, said in a statement, While the maps are not perfect, they are far better than maps in recent decades. The current process, embedded in the PA Constitution, requires affirmative votes from a majority of commissioners. As long as four of those are caucus leaders, the process will be both political and partisan.

Latino concerns

There are only three Latino members among the 253 lawmakers serving in Harrisburg, although about 8% of the states nearly 13 million people identifies as Latino, according to the latest U.S. census estimates.

The commission placed a major emphasis on creating more opportunities for minority candidates. But Ray Sosa of Cheltenham, Montgomery County, a Democrat and Latino candidate for lieutenant governor, said it came up short.

Latino community observers around the state, he said, have said the legislative maps appear to have been drawn by a bipartisan old guard intent on protecting incumbents.

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Reading, same thing. Allentown, same thing, Sosa said, referring to the decision to split Allentown and Reading into three districts apiece.

Allentown radio station owner Victor Martinez, who testified before the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, said the decision to split Allentown and its huge Latino community among three House districts hurts overall Latino chances.

If you are an incumbent in a new district, you are still in office. You think the unions are going to abandon you? You think your donors are going to abandon you? Martinez said.

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Rep. Peter Schweyer, one of Allentowns two representatives, plans to run in the 134th. He and Schlossberg, who is seeking reelection in the 132nd district, disputed any assertion the Allentown Latino community was not served well by the new arrangement.

It is going to be really helpful in Harrisburg, having the extra seat at the table, Schweyer said of Allentown.

Enid Santiago, a Latino Allentown resident who lost narrowly to Schweyer in the 2020 primary, is expected to announce her candidacy Friday.

Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. >

In 2020, Schweyer and Santiago were in the 22nd district.

The redrawn House map has their homes in the 134th district, which covers Emmaus and parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township.

The redrawn 22nd district has no incumbents, and more than half of its voting-age population is Latino.

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You have a majority-minority district  a majority Latino district  that is occupied by no incumbent, is how Schlossberg described it.

Democrat Norberto Dominguez of Allentown intends to seek the open House seat in the 22nd district. (Courtesy of Norberto Dominguez)

On Thursday, a Latino candidate for the 22nd, Democrat Norberto Dominguez, was preparing to circulate his petitions.

Eleven days is not enough, he said. My heart goes out to everyone involved. All the teams. All the candidates.

Morning Call Capitol correspondent Ford Turner can be reached at fturner@mcall.com
An Iowa construction worker made a 'once in a lifetime' discovery when he found a massive wooly mammoth tooth while working on a community college site, crediting his two sons and their love of dinosaurs for giving him the knowledge to identify the fossil.

Father-of-two Justin Blauwet happened across the rare remnant on March 4 while performing construction observation for the company he works for, DGR Engineering, on property owned by Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, DNG said in a news release.

Blauwet spotted the 11.2-pound woolly mammoth tooth laying on the ground, clearly exposed during excavation and said he was able to identify the tooth because of his interest in fossils and pre-historic animals.

The woolly mammoth roamed the icy tundra of Europe and North America for 140,000 years, disappearing at the end of the Pleistocene period, 10,000 years ago. They are one of the best understood prehistoric animals known to science because their remains are often not fossilized but frozen and preserved.

Justin Blauwet (pictured) made a 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery while performing construction observation on a lift station project for DGR Engineering

The massive molar measures 11 inches by 7 inches by 4 inches and weighs in at 11.2 pounds

In fact the father credited his two sons, who have grown to have a huge interest in dinosaurs, with helping with the find.

'I'm a 'nerd' like that,' he joked.

The massive molar measures 11 inches by 7 inches by 4 inches and weighs in at 11.2 pounds.

'This is an upper 3rd molar, probably a right. Based on the degree of wear, this animal was probably in its early 30s when it died,' Chris Widga, Head Curator at East Tennessee State University, said.

The tooth is estimated to have been underground since the Last Glacial Maximum over 20,000 years.

According to Tiffany Adrain, Paleontology Repository Instructor at the University of Iowa, finding the tooth in such good condition was 'lucky'

'While discovery of mammoth remains is not uncommon in Iowa, once the bones and teeth are out in the open, they can fall apart and disappear quickly because they are not completely fossilized. This was a lucky find,' she said.

The tooth (pictured) is estimated to have been underground since the Last Glacial Maximum over 20,000 years

The woolly mammoth roamed the icy tundra of Europe and North America for 140,000 years, disappearing at the end of the Pleistocene period, 10,000 years ago.

Although Blauwet was the one to discover it, the tooth belongs to NCC, who plans to donate it to the Sheldon Prairie Museum, (pictured) where it will be displayed and housed

Although Blauwet was the one to discover it, the tooth belongs to NCC, who plans to donate it to the Sheldon Prairie Museum, where it will be displayed and housed.

'NCC already has many connections with its communities forged throughout the past half-century. When Blauwet discovered this woolly mammoth tooth, it uncovered an even deeper connection  one that now ties our campus property way back to the prehistoric era of the retreating glaciers,' NCC President Dr. John Hartog said in a statement.

The discovery comes as Dallas-based technology firm Colossal Biosciences is working to resurrect the long-extinct woolly mammoth using preserved DNA from frozen fossils.

Colossal launched last September with $15 million in seed funding, but has since raised another $60 million from a group of star-studded venture capitalists, including Paris Hilton and billionaire 'Jurassic World' producer Thomas Tull.

George Church, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences and a Harvard University geneticist, likened mammoths to the cuddle version of a velociraptor.

Theyre vegetarian, theyre not threatening, he said in a call announcing the funding round attended by Fortune.

Im all in on mammoths, co-Founder Ben Lamm said in the same virtual meeting, sitting in front of a bookshelf lined with a number of models of the prehistoric creature.

The company plans on using mammoth DNA that has been frozen in ice for thousands of years and combining it with modern-day genetic material from Asian elephants in order to create a hybrid animal that most closely resembles the extinct creature.

Through the creation of Arctic elephants, as Church refers to them, the company aims to help slow climate change and offer a gold mine of research opportunities in fields like genetics and genome editing.

Key to the company's climate change ambitions is its plan to restore permafrost across tundras on multiple continents.

Because of their size, mammoths would consistently stomp down new layers of snow, insulating the ground and allowing permafrost to stay frozen. Under the current rate of atmospheric warming, these areas are melting and releasing carbon dioxide thats harmful to the environment.

The creatures would also knock down trees and clear a path for other large animals to continue packing down the snow, which could transform whole forests into grassland  which Church says is more efficient at photosynthesis and sequestering carbon.

Were making the path to de-extinction and species preservation a reality by bringing the planet one step closer to reversing the downward trend of ecosystem degradation and the staggering loss of biodiversity through cutting edge genetic tools, Lamm said in a statement to Fortune.
Vladimir Putin's body language at a rally in Moscow showed him trying to present himself as an 'emotional, reasonable and patriotic man', an expert said today.

The Russian president praised his troops in front of his adoring supporters as forces pressed their lethal attacks on Ukrainian cities with shelling and missiles.

And body language expert Judi James has told how his pauses for cheers 'seem to be choreographed for moments when he tries to appear overcome by emotion'.

She added that Mr Putin displayed a 'dramatic rolling of his shoulders' during the event, which suggests he is trying to reboot his strength and his ability to fight'.

And Ms James said that he uses alternate hands to gesticulate with signalling that 'ranges from tentative, thoughtful explanation with explanatory rituals, like a spread-eagled gesture that rolls into a loose fist, and a flaccid chopping gesture'.

Mr Putin spoke today as Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around the Luzhniki stadium for the rally and concert which marked the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula, seized from Ukraine.

Here are Ms James's thoughts after she watched the video of his speech today:

BY JUDI JAMES FOR MAILONLINE

Body language expert Judi James has written about Vladimir Putin's rally in Moscow today

It is naturally chilling to see Putin address a rally surrounded by waving flags and the sinister-looking 'Z' insignia. Large groups like this tend to be swayed as a herd rather than as individuals.

Individual evaluation and opinions can be lost to group influence. Add a charismatic speaker shouting powerful rhetoric and the effect can be contagious, spreading far beyond the rally itself.

It is an old-fashioned way of changing hearts and minds. Powerful charisma is even said to have a hypnotic effect on an audience, dulling even strong moral stances and opinions.

Stadium speeches were clearly very much the weapon of leaders like Hitler.

Modern speakers tend to aim at creating more of a one-to-one style that is so effective on social media. Zelensky's charisma works on Zoom, where he seems to be addressing each one of us each personally, with a more natural speaking style.

Donald Trump's charisma is made for the big, cheering rally event. His body language and delivery are those of a stand-up comic at events like that.

Russian President Vladimir Putin waves to the crown at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow today

He presents as a puffed, know-it-all, strutting alpha and his show-boating comes complete with repeated sound bites and an entertaining style.

Putin's body language and rally style today might at a glance appear to be similar to Trump's. Both men normally like to present as Silverbacks, with their non-verbal rituals suggesting power bordering on omnipotence. But there is actually very little similarity here when it comes to delivery techniques.

The influence of any speech relies on the sensation of the audience. How do they feel while the speaker is talking?

Much of Putin's signaling here appears to be about presenting himself as an emotional, reasonable and patriotic man. In alpha terms he seems at moments to bare his belly to his country.

His dramatic pauses for support and cheers seem to be choreographed for moments when he tries to appear overcome by emotion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on the big screen during today's event in Moscow

At one point (3.39 in the video) he appears almost overcome by tears. He quotes the Bible twice (3.15) The second quote makes him pause and lick his lips as though trying to control himself.

His facial expression becomes sad and his eyebrows pucker slightly. He pulls his lips in and then performs what is probably the most potent sign of them all, the part smile of sadness.

This is a tie-sign to his audience. His dramatic rolling of his shoulders suggests he is trying to re-boot his strength and his ability to fight. It is as though he is asking them to will him on.

A supposedly weeping alpha is a psychologically powerful sight. He seems to get the response he wants from the audience because they get behind him, filling the long pause with chanting of support as they shout 'Russia'.

Pauses during any speech have a very dramatic effect as they will put pressure on an audience to fill them and the easiest way of doing this is via clapping or cheering, meaning they can be compelling.

The Russian president praised his country's troops in front of his adoring supporters today

Putin seems to have subtly placed himself in the role of victim here at times and it looks frighteningly effective.

Even the outfit seems styled to suggest reasonableness. His polo-neck and his puffa coat suggest he is a man who feels the cold, rather than some tough military leader.

Instead of standing rigid behind a lectern he paces the stage in a stroll, clutching the mic to his chest, often with both hands, and keeping his head angled down and at a slight tilt.

He uses alternate hands to gesticulate and when he does the signaling ranges from tentative, thoughtful explanation with explanatory rituals, like a spread-eagled gesture that rolls into a loose fist, and a flaccid chopping gesture.

His right hand (2.09) tends to be more attacking in its style of gesticulation. His eyes dart and his blink rate accelerates as he switches to signals of dominance and anger, like the stabbing point and the thumb of power gesture, where the fingers are curled inwards and the thumb placed on top (2.25), which converts to a hammer gesture to suggest fight.

When he talks of 'genocide' (2.52) his left hand performs a precision pinch to suggest he is talking accurately.

President Donald Trump waves after speaking at a rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, in August 2019. Ms James said Mr Trump and Mr Putin both 'normally like to present as Silverbacks'

But this is all building to the Biblical references and the suggestion of being overwhelmed by tears.

By the end of this clip he stops pacing and comes to the front of the stage to perform a leg splay of power and emphasis. (4.49)

His pose is now symmetric and his voice raises in what would be a more usual rally style. He talks about 'How our guys are fighting) and 'Brothers covering each other'

Alpha leaders rarely show weakness or softer emotions. They tend to use rallys to shout and posture to show strength and inspire fear. By baring his belly during certain moments here, Putin has tried a technique that is borderline unique.

With the tearing up and the Bible quotes it looks like a pitch for the high moral ground.

The inner anger and power signals are all still there but the outer performance of softer emotions look like the main pitch in terms of winning the crowd.

It could be that global criticism of his more openly aggressive body language rituals or his chilling 'poker face', plus that rather rambling, stream-of-consciousness' style talk he gave yesterday, which might have been the most puzzling of the lot, might have made him decide to try to display what he might see as his 'human' side here, rather than his 'angry, threatening alpha', which is often described as him potentially 'losing it'.

It looks like a fall-back direct plea to his own people, with him trying to suggest that he has human emotions behind all the show of strength.
The Biden administration on Friday reversed a Trump-era expansion of 'expedited removal,' whereby some illegal immigrants can be rapidly deported without an appearance before a judge.

The July 23, 2019 rule targeted immigrants across the nation who could not prove they had been in the U.S. continuously for two years or more. Prior to the rule's expansion, the 2004 expedited removal policy only applied to a 100-mile zone from the border, to those who had arrived by sea or to those who had been in the U.S. 14 days or fewer.

In announcing the reversal of the expansion, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdrawal notice said that the Trump-era rule had been used so infrequently due to 'operational complexities and limited utility. The notice said that more aggressive use of the rule could subject Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to more legal challenges.

The expanded expedited removal authority was rarely used while it was in effect. Still, immigration activists celebrated the formal recission of the policy, which ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project direct Omar Jadwat said 'thumbs its nose at due process.'

In October DHS had paused use of the expanded expedited removal while it reviewed the policy. The policy had been only been used several times in Biden's first year in office - from Jan. 20 to late August, ICE officials only deported four immigrants under it, Buzzfeed reported.

Currently most people who arrive at the border are immediately deported under Title 42, a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) coronavirus public health order. Under the Biden administration, border agents have reported 2.3 million migrant arrests, 63 percent of whom were turned away under Title 42.

Most single adult migrants who are not expelled under Title 42 are sent to immigrant detention facilities or deported under expedited removal. Families too can be deported under expedited removal if they do not pass initial asylum screenings or if border officials determine they did not ask for asylum.

The U.S. could be just hours away from another wave of mass migration if the Biden administration lifts Title 42, according to a new report.

More than 170,000 migrants are reportedly waiting on the Mexican-side of the U.S.-Mexico border to cross and claim asylum should the policy be lifted.

DHS is reportedly considering calling on volunteers for reinforcement at the southern border, fearing an onslaught of migrants that would far outweigh its resources.

Estimates show many of these individuals are as little as hours away from the border  while others planning to migrate are within a few-days trip, an officials familiar with discussions told CNN.

Progressive activists have pushed for the Biden administration to end Title 42, a coronavirus public health order used to expel migrants, but the number of migrants encountered at the southern border for February were already up 60 percent, prompting fears that the historic surge in the spring and summer months could outpace that of last year.

More than half of the 164,973 migrants encountered last months were expelled under Title 42.

At the same time, reports emerged that Ukrainian refugees are being detained under the Title 42 expulsion provision.

Migrants are detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Bravo river to turn themselves in to request for asylum in El Paso, Texas, U.S., as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, February 24

A Thursday report claims intelligence officials are bracing for more than 170,000 migrants crossing into the U.S. once COVID-era Title 42 is lifted, which allows instant expulsion of asylum-seekers due to the ongoing public health emergency. Pictured: Migrants wait in Mexico for their court date for asylum claims

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday afternoon Border Patrol agents were reminded there are individualized exceptions to Title 42 that can be applied to Ukrainians arriving at the southern border.

The number of migrants waiting to cross, shared with Axios by sources with direct knowledge of discussions, has led to the creation of the Southwest Border Coordination Center (SBCC) to create an interagency response to the impending surge.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence estimates 25,000 migrants are already waiting in Mexican shelters waiting for Title 42 to end so they can cross into the U.S.

Title 42, a policy put in place by former President Donald Trump to allow expulsions in the midst of the pandemic, has been used to rapidly remove more than 1 million migrants at the southern border.

Ukrainian and Russian refugees remains in a makeshift camp next to the San Ysidro Garita, in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, 16 March as they wait to claim asylum in the US

Russian citizens seeking for asylum in the US sleep at an improvised camp on the Mexican side of the San Ysidro Crossing port in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on March 17

It allows the U.S. to bypass asylum claims and instantly remove these individuals from the country after crossing the border illegally.

Title 42 wasn't meant to be permanent, but has continued to be enforced and defended in court under Biden as the administration tries to quell the southern border crisis.

Recent reports reveal that the administration is leaning toward ending Title 42 entirely, after they were forced to end the practice for unaccompanied minors crossing the border.

The court order notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'anticipates additional lifting of restrictions' as DHS becomes increasingly able to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities.

Every 60 days, the CDC reassess Title 42  and the deadline for the next renewal is in early April, meaning the provisions could end as early as next month.
A $10 million reward has been issued information that would lead to the arrest and/or conviction of Guatemalan drug kingpin, Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, the U.S. Department of State announced Friday.

Molina-Lopez is accused of leading the Los Huistas drug trafficking organization and carving an alliance with Mexico's two most powerful criminal organizations to flood American streets with deadly drugs.

Along with the ransom for Molina-Lopez, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control revealed sanctions against Moline and the organization, cartel co-founder Alec Baldoremo Samayoa-Recinos, five other cartel members and a coffee company owned by Molina-Lopez.

U.S. federal authorities allege the Los Huistas have been operating along the Guatemala-Mexico border since 2012.

The U.S. Department of State issued Friday a $10 million reward for information that will lead to the arrest and/or conviction of Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, leader of Guatemalan drug cartel, Los Huistas

Los Huistas, a Guatemala-based cartel, aligned itself with Mexican rival drug trafficking organizations, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel

Guatemalan cartel Los Huistas has operated since 2012, sending cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine from its base in the northern region of Huehuetenango into Mexico, where the narcotic shipments are later sent across the southern United States border and distributed throughout cities in the country

The group is aligned with rival Mexican organizations, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel.

Cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine is trafficked from the Los Huistas' base in the northern Guatemalan region of Huehuetenango into Mexico, where the narcotic shipments are later sent across the southern United States border and distributed throughout cities in the country.

'Criminal groups such as the Los Huistas DTO (drug trafficking organization) contribute to instability in Guatemala and the region,' said Brian Nelson, under secretary for the Treasury's Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Molina-Lopez reportedly heads the Los Huistas' day-to-day operations and is hands on with the trafficking of multiple tons of cocaine from South and Central America into Mexico.

Los Huistas cartel co-founder Alec Baldoremo Samayoa-Recinos was sanctioned by the Department of Treasury on Friday. He is accused of coordinating the shipments of cocaine that are sent from Huehuetenango to the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

He was indicted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on several drug trafficking charges related to an operation led by Homeland Security Investigation.

'This reward offer complements a Department of Justice indictment against Molina and other co-conspirators, as well as a Department of the Treasury action taken by the Office of Foreign Assets Control to impose financial sanctions on Molina and other individuals and entities associated with Los Huistas under Executive Order 14059,' U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said. 'This is another example of the U.S. government's coordinated approach to fighting transnational organized crime in Central America.'

Samayoa-Recinos is accused of coordinating the shipments of cocaine that are sent from Huehuetenango to the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

He is also involved in laundering the cartel's drug proceeds. In 2018, he was indicted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia indicted for drug trafficking as part of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Samayoa-Recinos is also on Guatemalas most wanted list for his purported involvement in drug trafficking, murder, and money laundering.

The cartel reportedly controls poppy fields located in the Guatemalan departments of Huehuetenango and San Marcos. It also imports precursor chemicals from China which are used produce methamphetamine.

The organization has a centralized and hierarchical that reportedly launders money.

Werner Dario Molina-Montejo, the son of the Los Huistas cartel co-founder Eugenio Dario Molina-Lopez, supports his father's "business affairs," according to the U.S. Department of Treasury

Freddy Arnoldo Salazar-Flores is a a member of the Guatemala's parliament and is accused of shipping and storing cocaine for the Los Huistas

The Department of Treasury levied sanctions on Axel Bladimir Montejo-Saenz, Molina-Lopez's son-in-law, and Freddy Arnoldo Salazar-Flores, Samayoa-Recinoss son-in-law.

According to the government, Montejo-Saenz is a top ranking leader in the cartel and organizes the shipment of drugs to the United States. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California indicted him in 2017 on drug trafficking charges based upon an HSI-led investigation.

Salazar-Flores is identified as a member of the country's parliament and is accused of shipping and storing cocaine for the cartel.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia indicted him in 2016 on drug trafficking charges stemming from a DEA investigation.

The Department of Treasury said both individuals were sanctioned "for having engaged in, or attempting to engage in, activities or transactions that materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production."

Axel Bladimir Montejo-Saenz holds's a senior leadership role in Los Huistas, a cartel from Guatemala. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California indicted him in 2017 on drug trafficking charges based upon an HSI-led investigation.

Molina-Lopez's son Werner Dario Molina-Montejo and Ervin Rene Moreno-Lopez were also sanctioned.

As a member of the cartel, Molina-Montejo supports his father's "business affairs."

Moreno-Lopez is accused of providing accounting services to a company owned by Molina-Lopez.

Both men "were designated for having acted or purported to act for and on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Los Huistas DTO," the Department of Treasury said.

Samayoa-Recinos' son, Roger Antulio Samayoa-Montejo, reportedly is a lieutenant in the cartel and arranges its operations.

He is sanctioned 'for having acted or purported to act for and on behalf of Samayoa Recinos and Los Huistas DTO.'
Finland has been named the world's happiest country for the fifth year running, in an annual UN-sponsored index that ranked Denmark as second happiest and Afghanistan as the unhappiest.

The latest list was completed before Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia recorded the biggest boosts in wellbeing.

Finland has been named the world's happiest country for the fifth year running. Pictured: Snow covered trees and houses after snowfalls in Helsinki, Finland, 23 February 2022

Close behind in second place was Denmark, with a score of 7.636 on the UN-sponsored index. Pictured: Yachts in the old town of Copenhagen (File image)

The largest falls in the World Happiness table, released on Friday, came in Lebanon, Venezuela and Afghanistan.

Lebanon, which is facing economic meltdown, fell to second from last on the index of 146 countries, just below Zimbabwe.

War-scarred Afghanistan, already bottom of the table last year, saw its humanitarian crisis deepen since the Taliban returned to power last August following the pullout of US-led troops.

A man and a woman hold placards during an anti-corruption protest march in Harare, Zimbabwe (File image)

Lebanon, which is facing economic meltdown, fell to second from last on the index of 146 countries, just below Zimbabwe. Pictured: The aftermath of a huge explosion that rocked a port warehouse two years ago

War-scarred Afghanistan, already bottom of the table last year, saw its humanitarian crisis deepen since the Taliban returned to power last August following the pullout of US-led troops. Pictured:Taliban border fighters (File image)

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a co-author of the index, said: 'This presents a stark reminder of the material and immaterial damage that war does to its many victims.'

The World Happiness Report, now in its 10th year, is based on people's own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data.

It assigns a happiness score on a scale of zero to 10, based on an average of data over a three-year period.

Northern Europeans once again dominated the top spots, with the Danes second to the Finns, followed by the Icelandic, the Swiss and the Dutch.

The United States rose three places to 16th, one ahead of Britain. France climbed to 20th, its highest ranking yet.

As well as a personal sense of wellbeing, based on Gallup polls in each country, the happiness score takes account of GDP, social support, personal freedom and levels of corruption.

This year the authors also used data from social media to compare people's emotions before and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

They found 'strong increases in anxiety and sadness' in 18 countries but a fall in feelings of anger.

The United Kingdom ranked within the top 20 happiest countries, coming just behind the United States

Afghanistan came in at the bottom of the index for the second year in a row after the US pulled out troops and the Taliban took over

'The lesson of the World Happiness Report over the years is that social support, generosity to one another and honesty in government are crucial for wellbeing,' report co-author Jeffrey Sachs wrote.

'World leaders should take heed.'

On Helsinki's market square on Friday, next to the still frozen Baltic Sea, Jukka Viitasaari said he was not surprised that Finns describe themselves as happy.

'Many things are undeniably good here. Beautiful nature, we're well governed, lots of things are in order,' the business owner said.

The country of vast forests and lakes is also known for its well-functioning public services, ubiquitous saunas, widespread trust in authority and low levels of crime and inequality.

The list was compiled before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after bombing by Russian forces in Kyiv

A Ukrainian civilian, wounded by flying glass from a Russian airstrike, evacuates from an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine

Rescuers work at a site of buildings damaged by a shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

Nonetheless, the report raised some eyebrows when it first placed Finland at the top of its listings in 2018.

Many of the Nordic country's 5.5 million people describe themselves as taciturn and prone to melancholy, and admit to eyeing public displays of joyfulness with suspicion.

'Someone from outside needed to tell us that we had it good compared to lots of other places,' Viitasaari said.

'But after five years of coming top (of the rankings) we're getting used to it!'
A Salt Lake City zoo is being sued by a family who claims one of its free-roaming peacocks attacked four children in two days including a toddler who was scratched in the face.

The family of one of the toddler, a two-year-old girl, filed a lawsuit against Utah's Hogle Zoo in March, claiming four children had been attacked over two days in late April last year.

They claim that the bird scratched her back and face and hit her in the forehead.

The same bird attacked another child later that day, as well as two children the day prior, the complaint states.

The family of one of the toddler, a two-year-old girl, filed a lawsuit against Utah's Hogle Zoo in March, claiming four children had been attacked over two days in late April last year. Pictured: One of the peacocks at used to roam the zoo

The same bird attacked another child later that day, as well as two children the day prior, the complaint states. Pictured: Hogle Zoo

All of the zoo's peacocks and peahens have now been re-homed but the zoo hasn't stated whether they will be brought back in future.

The family's lawsuit claims the two-year-old girl was left with 'pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement'.

Court documents state the peacock leapt at the girl just as her family were leaving the monkey enclosure.

The suit adds that the toddler had been taken out of her stroller just before the attack but was knocked to the ground by the 'dangerous bird'.

And adds that the zoo is liable because staff didn't do anything to 'subdue or sequester' the bird.

All of the zoo's (pictured) peacocks and peahens have now been re-homed but the zoo hasn't stated whether they will be brought back in future

The family also claims that zoo staff told them a peacock attacked another child later that day and two children the day before, according to the complaint seen by the Salt Lake Tribune.

Zoo spokesman Marilyn Hsiung told the publication: 'Shortly after the incident involving the young guest, Utah's Hogle Zoo Animal Care Team and Safety Staff swiftly responded and proceeded to successfully capture and relocate all free-roaming peafowl.

'Currently, there are no free-roaming peafowl on zoo grounds.'
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy chastised his fellow House Republican Madison Cawthorn for calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a 'thug' as even a senator from Cawthorn's home state turned on the young congressman for his comments.

McCarthy, Calif., answered 'yes' when asked if he had spoken to Cawthorn since his comments. 'Madison is wrong. If there's any thug in the world, it's Putin.'

McCarthy noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had directed his forces to bomb a maternity ward and a theater housing children. 'This is the aggressor. This is the one that needs to end this war. This is the one that everybody should unite against.'

Still, the GOP leader said he will support Cawthorn's reelection. Leaders typically back the incumbents in primary elections, but McCarthy has already come out in support of a primary challenger to Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.

'Remember, that Zelensky is a thug,' the 26-year-old freshman Republican Congressman said in the short clip shared by WRAL.

He appeared to be discussing the US sending military aid to Ukraine before lashing out at leaders in Kyiv -- who refused to flee the country despite reports that many are on a Russian 'kill list' including Zelensky and his family.

McCarthy, Calif., answered 'yes' when asked if he had spoken to Cawthorn since his comments. 'Madison is wrong. If there's any thug in the world, it's Putin'

'Remember, that Zelensky is a thug,' the 26-year-old freshman Republican Congressman said in the short clip shared by WRAL

'Remember the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and incredibly evil and it has been pushing woke ideologies,' he said.

According to CNN, Cawthorn made the comments to a group of supporters in Asheville, North Carolina, last weekend.

About an hour after the video was first posted, the North Carolina lawmaker condemned Russia's invasion on Twitter but then stunningly accused Zelensky of pushing 'misinformation' to pull Americans into the conflict.

'The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting. But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America,' Cawthorn said.

'I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Pray also we are not drawn into conflict based on foreign leaders pushing misinformation.'

Zelensky, elected in a landslide victory in 2019, has received praise from the international community for his bravery since Putin first launched his attack on February 24.

Cawthorn's comments fly in the face of the sentiment of most of his GOP colleagues, but a collection of fringe Republican sentiment has been making airwaves on Kremlin state TV in Russia.

NBC News reporter Raf Sanchez shared a clip on Twitter of footage gathered from Russian state TV peddling Cawthorn's remarks. 'Russian state TV also jumped on comments by Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn, who called Zelenskyy 'a thug'. That got played over and over,' he wrote.

Volodymyr Zelensky, elected in a landslide victory in 2019, has received praise from the international community for his bravery since Putin first launched his attack on February 24

A warehouse with household goods is seen on fire after shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Sumy, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 18

Local residents gather next to a damaged residential building after shelling by the Russian military, in Podilskyi district, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 18 March

A man walks in the debris of buildings damaged by shelling in Kyiv as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, Kyiv, Ukraine, 18 March

'If your comments are being replayed over and over by Russian state propaganda outlets...' Sen. Thom Tillis said, quoting the clip on Twitter.

South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham distanced himself from Cawthorn's remarks during a Senate GOP press conference last week. 'Like 90 percent of the country is with the Ukrainians,' Graham said. 'So when you see a member of Congress say things like this, the one thing I want you to know, they are outliers in the largest sense possible on our side.'

Media outlet RT, controlled and funded by the Russian government, previously circulated a clip of Tucker Carlson Tonight where the host urged his viewers not to 'hate' Putin.

'Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him? Has he shipped every middle-class job in my town to Russia? Did he manufacture a worldwide pandemic?' Carlson questioned.

'Vladimir Putin didn't do any of that, so why does permanent Washington hate him so much?' he continued.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., questioned this week why the U.S. was sending military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. 'We're told that we have an urgent moral responsibility to send money and munitions to a country 6,000 miles away,' Greene said in a diatribe posted to Facebook Live, 'a country that just coincidentally Joe Biden has business interest in, as do many other people.'

Trump weeks ago famously called Putin a 'genius.' In a rare break from Trump, McCarthy subsequently said there was no place for Putin apologists in his party and said, 'I do not think anything savvy or genius about Putin. I think Putin is evil, I think he's a dictator, I think he's murdering people right now.'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene gave a House floor speech where she said U.S. funding of 'biolabs' in Ukraine could 'lead to deaths' and introduced legislation to 'stop taxpayer funding for bioweapons.'

'No government should be creating bioweapons. That's evil and wrong,' she said.

The Georgia Republican, who has also introduced the 'Fire Fauci Act,' called for blocking bioweapons research at a time when the Kremlin has been amplifying claims about U.S. funded 'biolabs' in Ukraine amid its ongoing attacks on its neighbor.

The Pentagon says it has invested $200 million in Ukraine since 2005 through its Biological Threat Reduction Program. The relationship began as part of a U.S. effort to lock down unsecured biological materials after the fall of the Soviet Union, and has extended to viruses and diseases that affect animals and people.

But Russia has used the information to accuse the U.S. and Ukraine of planning to use biological weapons  something the Biden Administration could be a signal of a planned 'false flag' operation.

Marjorie Taylor Greene said she is introducing legislation to 'stop taxpayer funding for bioweapons'

The Biden administration this week blasted Russian 'disinformation' after Russia's ambassador to the UN claimed the US was backing an effort to use bats and birds to spread bioweapons.

'When were talking about biolabs, we do know for a fact that the U.S. has funded the contracts, not only to take over the labs, reconstruct them, but also build them. And this goes through grants, through private companies, at millions and millions of dollars,' Green said in her speech, which was flagged by Mediaite.

'Now, what if these biolabs are handling very dangerous pathogens that may lead to the deaths in people in the areas? There are reports of possibly deadly pathogens escaping these biolabs in places like Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan. That is responsible for killing people, what if thats true?' she asked.

She called them 'worthy questions.'

'And so for that reason, because its become such an issue, and because it upsets so many people that I talk to constantly, I have introduced a bill to stop taxpayer funding for bioweapons,' she said. Because no government should be creating bioweapons, she said. Thats evil and wrong.

Postings about the 'biolabs' appeared online just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine and proliferated afterward, as Russia sought to justify an invasion it also claimed was required to 'deNazify' the country

The Pentagon says it has invested $200 million in Ukraine since 2005 through its Biological Threat Reduction Program  an offshoot of the Nunn-Lugar program enacted after the end of the Cold War

The Russians have put out information about the labs for years in what has been called a disinformation campaign, in statements tracked by EU vs. Disinfo

An armed man passes near a destroyed car near a building damaged by shelling in Kyiv as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, Kyiv, Ukraine, 18 March 2022

President Joe Biden announced a new $800 million package of military aid to Ukraine this week

Legislative text had not yet been received, according to the House website, although its formal title is 'To amend the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Act to prevent the proliferation of biological weapons under the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, and for other purposes.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Thursday that 'Moscow may be setting the stage to use a chemical weapon and then falsely blame Ukraine to justify escalating attacks on the Ukrainian people,' and accused Russia of 'manufacturing events.'

Greene's push comes days after former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tore into Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), after he called her own marks on the subject 'treasonous.'

'Number one is they are accusing me of saying that somehow there are bio weapons labs in Ukraine. I said no such thing at any point,' Gabbard pushed back.

She had posted a video Sunday about 'dangerous pathogens' that cold escape if the labs are breached.

It all came with Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine as a backdrop, with Russian President Vladimir Putin pushing a series of narratives to justify it, including casting it as an effort to 'deNazify' the country and protect Russia from U.S.-provided weapons in Ukraine.

'Tulsi Gabbard is parroting false Russian propaganda. Her treasonous lies may well cost lives,' tweeted Romney after her Sunday video got traction online.

Greene's legislation isn't likely to go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled House, where her other legislative proposals have also gone nowhere, although she has been able to build her profile and raise funds through her fights against
A black schoolgirl who was strip-searched by Metropolitan Police officers while on her period after she was wrongly suspected of smelling of cannabis has launched legal action against Scotland Yard and her school.

The girl, known only as Child Q, seeks to hold both institutions to account including through cast iron commitments to ensure this never happens again to any other child, her lawyers said in a statement.

Child Qs mother has called on the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate the officers involved.

The familys lawyers accused Scotland Yard of institutional racism and institutional sexism and called on Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to appoint someone to replace Cressida Dick who will tackle its culture.

The traumatic and disproportionate search by police took place at Child Qs school without another adult present, and in the knowledge that she was menstruating, a safeguarding review found.

It concluded that the strip-search was unjustified and that racism was likely to have been an influencing factor.

According to the report, the impact on the secondary school pupil was profound and the repercussions obvious and ongoing. Family members described her as changing from a happy-go-lucky girl to a timid recluse that hardly speaks, who now self-harms and needs therapy.

Mr Khan described the case as shocking and deeply disturbing in a series of tweets on Tuesday, adding that he would be following the outcome [of an investigation into the case] closely.

Scotland Yard has apologised and said that the incident should never have happened.

A black schoolgirl who was strip-searched by police while on her period after she was wrongly suspected of smelling of cannabis has launched legal action against Scotland Yard

What did the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review find? Finding 1: The school was fully compliant with expected practice standards when responding to its concerns about Child Q smelling of cannabis and its subsequent search of Child Qs coat, bag, scarf and shoes. This demonstrated good curiosity by involved staff and an alertness to potential indicators of risk. Finding 2: The decision to strip search Child Q was insufficiently attuned to her best interests or right to privacy. Finding 3: School staff deferred to the authority of the police on their arrival at school. They should have been more challenging to the police, seeking clarity about the actions they intended to take. All practitioners need to be mindful of their duties to uphold the best interests of children. Finding 4: School staff had an insufficient focus on the safeguarding needs of Child Q when responding to concerns about suspected drug use. Finding 5: The application of the law and policy governing the strip searching of children can be variable and open to interpretation. Finding 6: The absence of any specific requirement to seek parental consent when strip searching children undermines the principles of parental responsibility and partnership working with parents to safeguard children. Finding 7: The Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time appeared to have frustrated effective communication between school staff and the Safer Schools Officer. Finding 8: Having considered the context of the incident, the views of those engaged in the review and the impact felt by Child Q and her family, racism (whether deliberate or not) was likely to have been an influencing factor in the decision to undertake a strip search. Advertisement

In a statement issued through her lawyers, Child Q said: I want to thank the thousands of people across the world of all backgrounds who have offered me support  both publicly and through messages conveyed to my legal team  following everything Ive been through. I know I am not alone.

Child Qs mother said: We now look to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to make sure there is an effective investigation into the officers involved so they are individually held to account and face real consequences for what they have done.

We expect the school to reflect on the findings of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership report and take necessary action against all members of staff involved.

Chanel Dolcy, a solicitor specialising in police misconduct and claims against public authorities at Bhatt Murphy, said: Child Q has launched civil proceedings against the Metropolitan Police and relevant school.

She seeks to hold both institutions to account including through cast iron commitments to ensure this never happens again to any other child.

The Metropolitan Police has seemed incapable of reform for generations, and it is difficult to say that will ever change. Nevertheless, this is a pivotal time for the Metropolitan Police as it awaits the appointment of a new Commissioner and so the family are calling on the Home Secretary and Mayor of London to ensure that only someone willing to declare publicly the persistence of institutional racism and institutional sexism in the Metropolitan Police is appointed.

The family expect the new Commissioner to include affected communities in designing a plan to rid the force of these diseases and to affect that plan as a priority.

Florence Cole, an Education & Community Care solicitor at Just for Kids Law, added: From the education aspect, there is still ongoing correspondence with the school following the initial complaint launched by Child Q and her mother in 2020; in which they seek to hold the school to account and to ensure this never happens again to any other child.

No child should be subjected to such an ordeal, and it is hoped that the school will reflect and consider the detrimental effects and negative impact that adultification, disproportionate sanctioning and the over policing of black children has on their emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing, particularly in light of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership report and its findings.

All children should feel safe in schools and parents should feel reassured that their children will be kept safe; and that the correct policies, practice, and procedures are followed.

This is an appalling, shocking case which illustrates wider problems in schools and communities about the treatment of black children which unfortunately is systemic; and the lack of safeguarding and the failure to recognise the ripple effects of trauma that follows, long after such an ordeal.

As the Government sets guidance for schools, we strongly urge it to learn from the failings in this case.

The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review, published in March, was conducted by City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP) following the incident at the end of 2020.

It said police arrived at the school after being called by teachers, who said they were concerned that the teenager had drugs in her possession because she smelt of cannabis.

Sadiq Khan described the case as shocking and deeply disturbing in a series of tweets, adding that he would be following the outcome [of an investigation into the case] closely

She was taken to the medical room and strip searched by two female officers, while teachers remained outside.

During the ordeal her intimate body parts were exposed and she was asked to take off her sanitary towel, according to the review. No drugs were found. She was then sent home by taxi, later sharing her distress with her mother.

The review found that her experiences are unlikely to have been the same had she not been black.

It said it is highly likely that adultification bias was a factor  where adults perceive black children as being older than they are because they see them as more streetwise.

It reads: The disproportionate decision to strip search Child Q is unlikely to have been disconnected from her ethnicity and her background as a child growing up on an estate in Hackney.

Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, deputy mayor and cabinet member for Hackney Council's Children's Services, and the mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, said they were appalled by all aspects of the review.

The police must stop inexcusable behaviours and mindsets in order to properly serve all our diverse communities, they added.

They have asked for a report in six to nine months on progress made regarding the reviews eight findings and 14 recommendations.

These include calls for the Department for Education to make more explicit reference to safeguarding in its guidance on searching, screening and confiscation, and for police guidance on strip searching children to clearly outline the need for a focus on safeguarding.

The Metropolitan Police said the IOPC was investigating, following a complaint in May 2021.

Detective Superintendent Dan Rutland of the Mets Central East Command said: We recognise that the findings of the safeguarding review reflect this incident should never have happened.

It is truly regrettable and on behalf of the Met Police I would like to apologise to the child concerned, her family and the wider community.
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Britain's Covid resurgence shows no signs of slowing down yet, with cases jumping by another quarter and both hospitalisations and deaths creeping up.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses logged another 90,349 positive tests, an increase of 23.9 per cent on last Friday's count.

Meanwhile, hospitalisations have jumped by a third week-on-week and deaths by 10 per cent.

Infections have been spiralling for a fortnight and the coronavirus is now more rife in England than it was before Christmas, when gloomy scientists were calling for another lockdown.

Sajid Javid said it was inevitable that scrapping all of England's final curbs on 'Freedom Day' would trigger a rise.

But the climbing case rates  which have soared to pandemic highs in Scotland, where strict mask and isolation rules remain in place  have also been blamed on the emergence of an even more transmissible type of Omicron, named BA.2.

Some optimistic experts believe the fresh resurgence will die out in the next fortnight without crippling the NHS.

Booster vaccines are just as effective on the new variant as they are against its predecessor and a fourth jab roll-out is imminent among the most vulnerable.

No10 has no plans to U-turn on its 'living with Covid' strategy. It held firm in the face of spiralling Omicron cases before Christmas, despite calls from doom-mongering scientists to impose a circuit-breaker amid warnings from Government advisers of up to 6,000 deaths a day.

That wave fizzled out without overwhelming the NHS, and up to half of hospitalised 'patients' were thought to be incidental cases at the height of the crisis.

Intensive care admissions also barely budged and deaths peaked at 300 a day  similar to levels seen in a bad flu winter and a fraction of rates during the darkest days of the pandemic. Commentators credited the UK's sky-high immunity rates and Omicron's milder nature for making the virus no more lethal than flu.

The above graph shows the daily estimates of Covid cases from the Office for National Statistics gold-standard survey. It reveals cases have now surged above the levels at Christmas, when scientists were calling for a lockdown

Weekly Covid cases have now reached an all-time high in Scotland, official data from the Office for National Statistics suggests. It came after Nicola Sturgeon extended the mask mandate in the country

 Slide me  Government data showed cases have risen in every area of England for two weeks in a row (left). In eight in ten boroughs they rose by more than 50 per cent over the week to March 13 (red) compared to the previous seven-day spell, and in Wiltshire and North Lincolnshire (dark red) they doubled. This was a significant surge from the previous week

Pictured above are the weekly estimates of Covid cases for England since the survey began. It reveals that cases rose 28 per cent last week compared to the previous seven-day spell. The uptick is being driven by the more infectious Omicron variant BA.2 and, ministers say, by relaxing the final Covid restrictions

Covid cases are rising in every region of England, official figures show, ticking up fastest in the South East and East Midlands

Covid cases are also surging in all age groups, rising fastest among under-16s and those aged 50 to 69 years old

The ONS survey showed BA.2 was behind the majority of cases in each UK nation, with the proportion rising in a week

The UKHSA dashboard data shows that over 550,000 people have tested positive over the past week. At the same time, there has been a slight uptick in swabs carried out.

The majority of today's cases were logged in England (68,492), followed by Scotland (18,124), Wales (1,935) and then Northern Ireland (1,798).

Hospital data shows that almost 14,700 Covid 'patients' are now on wards, marking the highest level since early February. But the number of patients on ventilators is still below 300, a fraction of the 4,000-plus seen during the 2020/21 winter wave.

It came as gold-standard surveillance data estimated more than 3million people in England, or roughly one in 20, were infected on March 12, the latest date available. As many as one in 13 people were infected in the worst-hit area of Sutton in London.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) projection marked a 28 per cent increase on the week before, taking it to levels exceeding the sky-high rates seen in the festive period.

At the time, Boris Johnson was actively considering adopting tough coronavirus curbs to slow the spread of the ultra-transmissible variant. But he held his nerve and stuck to 'Plan B' measures already in place, which saw the return of work from home, face masks in public places and a ramping up of the booster programme.

The ONS survey is seen as the best way of tracking the Covid outbreak because it is based on random swabs of over 100,000 people, meaning it can detect community spread.

It is separate from the daily cases published every week day by the Government, solely based on positive results from routine PCR and lateral flow tests. Rates can be skewed by fewer people coming forward.

Free swabbing across England is set to end at the start of April, with the country shifting to relying on the ONS survey to track its Covid outbreak.

Scotland will stop handing out free lateral flows in May, while in Wales they will no longer be available from the end of June. Northern Ireland is yet to outline its plans.

Get set for ANOTHER round of boosters this autumn Britain's Covid booster vaccine programme is gearing up for another round of inoculations this autumn, the Health Secretary has revealed. Fourth jabs will be dished out to all over-75s, care home residents and patients with weak immune systems from next week. But Sajid Javid hinted last night that millions more may be eligible for top-up doses later this year, ahead of the country's third Covid winter. Grilled about the topic on ITV's Peston programme, he did not specify exactly who would be invited in any roll-out this autumn. However, he admitted there may be a 'need to give a lot more people a boost'. Experts have speculated another inoculation drive this year could be expanded to include over-50s, effectively covering the same groups who will be offered a free flu vaccine on the NHS. When asked if the booster drive would be widened to the general population, Mr Javid said: 'I think at some point they will.' He claimed the Government would follow the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a panel of influential scientists that have guided No10 through their historic inoculation campaigns. Mr Javid insisted the group had been 'clear', adding: 'Their most recent advice is they think towards the end of this year, maybe in the autumn, there will be a need to give a lot more people a boost, an offer of a boost. But I'll wait for that advice.' Advertisement

Covid cases rose across all regions and all age groups in England last week, the ONS survey found.

Infections rose fastest in the South East (up 66 per cent in a week, to one in 13 people infected), the East Midlands (up 50.9 per cent, to one in 17) and Yorkshire and the Humber (up 42 per cent, to one in 20).

At the other end of the scale was the East of England (up five per cent, to one in 20), West Midlands (14 per cent, to one in 25) and the North East (up 34 per cent, to one in 25).

Breaking the figures down by age group showed Covid cases were rising fastest among under-16s and people aged 50 to 69 years old.

The ONS report also revealed that infections rose to an all-time high in Scotland, with 376,000 estimated to have been carrying the virus over the same period, or one in 14 people.

Cases also ticked up in Wales, estimates suggest, but fell in Northern Ireland.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures published yesterday showed all 149 local authorities in England recorded an uptick in Covid cases last week.

Nationally, cases have been spiralling for a fortnight on the back of the nation's 'Freedom Day', which the Health Secretary insisted was 'expected'. Climbing infection rates are also being blamed on BA.2, which is now behind three-quarters of cases in the country.

But Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, predicted the resurgence would likely run out of steam before April.

He told MailOnline: 'Covid cases will likely peak next week or the week after that, but likely before the end of this month. We should then see quite a rapid fall like in the Netherlands and Denmark.'

Latest estimates from Government scientists, released yesterday, show vaccines are just as effective at stopping people falling ill with BA.2.

Despite statistics showing a clear uptick in Covid hospitalisations over the past fortnight, at least half are thought to be 'incidental' cases  those who test positive after being admitted for another reason, or beat the illness only to fall ill with something else.

It may mean the recent rise in hospital admissions is more likely to reflect infection rates in the community, rather than severe illness.

Intensive care rates have barely budged and are still 15 times lower than seen during the darkest days of previous waves, with sky-high immunity rates and BA.2's milder nature blunting the virus's threat.

The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) weekly infection report showed Covid cases rose in every region and every age group last week.

Across England's boroughs the biggest weekly surges were recorded in North Lincolnshire (up 106 per cent in a week), Wiltshire (up 101 per cent), Sefton (up 98 per cent), Dorset (up 97 per cent) and Cumbria (up 96 per cent).

Underlining the pace of the uptick in infections, the smallest week-on-week rise was the 27 per cent recorded in Hackney, followed by 31 per cent in Southwark and 33 per cent in Newham.

The surges were recorded even as the number of PCR tests carried out fell 30 per cent in a week to 600,000, and lateral flow testing fell 15 per cent to 1.3million.

The rise of a more infectious version of Omicron, scientifically named BA.2, has been blamed for the uptick. It is the blue area above, and is now behind more than seven in ten infections. The light green is the Delta variant, from India, and the yellow is the old Omicron variant. Ministers have suggested surging infections could also be down to dropping all restrictions

The above map shows the proportion of all cases triggered by BA.2 across England in the week to March 5, the latest available. The variant is now dominant across the country

The UK Health Security Agency's weekly report showed Covid cases ticked up in every age group last week compared to the previous seven-day spell

Infections also rose across all nine of England's regions last week compared to the previous seven-day spell

This was despite the number of lateral flows carried out falling by 15 per cent in a week, and the number of PCRs dropping by 30 per cent over the same time period

Despite cases plunging in both Denmark and the Netherlands, deaths have yet to follow suit. Experts have argued that a large share are incidental, however

Professor Hunter said the rise was 'largely down' to BA.2 but that it was not the only driver.

He told MailOnline: 'The rate of growth in BA.2 has increased since March 1, and the rate of decline of the other Omicron variants has also slowed.

'This is probably [also] down to relaxing the remaining restrictions a bit too early. Either directly as a result of the relaxation or indirectly from people mixing more.

'Respiratory viruses like Covid always spread more rapidly during autumn and winter and it would probably have been better in my view to wait till the end of March when we are into spring.'

Asked when the wave might peak, he said this was likely to be 'fairly soon' followed by a rapid decline similar to that seen in Denmark where the sub-variant was dominant weeks ago.

Despite cases plunging in both Denmark and the Netherlands, deaths have yet to follow suit. Experts have argued that a large share are incidental, however.

BA.2 was behind 75 per cent of Covid cases over the week to March 5, according to the latest available data from the UK's largest Covid surveillance centre the Sanger Institute. This is a jump from 58 per cent the week before.

Yet latest UKHSA figures suggest the sub-variant  thought to be as infectious as measles  was behind 83 per cent of Covid infections last week.

Experts have repeatedly said there is no reason to be concerned because there is no evidence that the variant is more lethal than the old Omicron, which never overwhelmed the NHS.

The UKHSA's weekly vaccine report showed vaccines were still 40 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid infection among people who got AstraZeneca's jab and then a booster up to 15 weeks ago.

For those who got Pfizer for their first and second dose followed by a booster effectiveness against symptomatic infection was around 60 per cent.

Vaccines remained up to 90 per cent effective against hospitalisation triggered by the virus, the report said.

The above shows vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with Delta (black squares) and Omicron (circles) after two or three doses of the Covid vaccine. It reveals protection gradually wanes as ministers prepare to dish out boosters to the most vulnerable people
At times, I feel like Ive run out of ammunition in my quest to motivate society to take a stand against gun violence.

Ive shared stories of grieving mothers pleading for the shooting to stop. Ive shared evidence of how laws in other states have made an impact.

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Nothing changes.

Occasionally, I hear from gun owners who agree. Mostly, though, I hear from Second Amendment worshippers complaining about attempts to squash the constitutional rights of law-abiding folks.

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I certainly hope we all can agree that some recent shootings  exceptionally tragic shootings  were preventable. They all occurred because people were irresponsible with their firearms.

In Coatesville, a 4-year-old boy fatally shot himself in the head with a loaded gun he found in his home.

In Philadelphia, an 80-year-old grandmother who uses a wheelchair was shot in the head when a gun accidentally was fired through the floor above while teenagers were playing with it.

The saddest shooting occurred near Chicago, in the city of Dolton.

A mother buckled her 3-year-old son in his car seat after a stop at the grocery store. She got in the drivers seat and was fatally shot. Her son found a gun in the back seat and it went off.

[ It just has to stop. Listen to plea from mother of Whitehall Walmart shooting victim in wake of Lehigh Valley gun violence ]

Preventing these shootings obviously would not have been difficult. It doesnt take new laws. It just takes common sense.

So today, thats what Im pleading for.

If you own a firearm, be responsible with it.

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I dont care if youre a law-abiding gun owner or someone on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted list.

Treat your gun for the threat it is.

Dont get so complacent that you leave it lying around and assume that anyone who comes across it will recognize the danger.

A 3- or 4-year-old child certainly wont. Teenagers should, but theyre still kids, too.

I grew up in a home with guns. My father was a police officer. I never saw his guns except for when he came home from work with one on his belt. He kept them locked away.

If you dont have a sure way to keep a gun out of reach, put a lock on it. Gun locks cost less than $10. Some police departments, community organizations and health departments give free ones away at times.

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I hope even people who possess guns illegally care enough about the people they live with that they would keep them out of reach of children.

The shootings in Coatesville, Philadelphia and near Chicago are sad. I feel for the families involved. These are difficult times for them and the last thing they probably want is publicity.

But publicizing incidents like these may help prevent future tragedies.

I believe authorities have done that, tactfully.

[ Eight shot, six dead in the Lehigh Valley area in the past week. The lesson from this mayhem ]

For the safety of everyone, lock up your guns. This heartbreaking and tragic death of an innocent child was 100% preventable, and now a family has to live with the devastating consequences for the rest of their lives, Chester County District Attorney Deborah Ryan said in a news release Monday about the Coatesville childs death.

Heres what Philadelphia police Capt. John Walker told NBC 10 about Tuesdays shooting of the grandmother, who survived:

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Eighty years old. You live that long, you would think you have so many years to go and unfortunately people playing with a gun, dont know how to handle it. She takes a shot and it couldve ended her life here today over nothing. Kids being infatuated with these guns and instead of picking up guns they should pick up books.

In Dolton, city trustee and community activist Andrew Holmes pleaded with adults to be responsible.

Guns kill, especially when it gets in the hands of children and its not the childs fault, Holmes told the Chicago Tribune. Its the adults fault because they have a responsibility to keep these guns locked down and away from these kids.

Reminders like that cant hurt. Even if they reach only a few people, and those people act, thats an improvement.

Accountability also is important. Gun owners must understand there can be consequences if they act carelessly.

In Dolton, the father of the boy who shot his mother is facing a gun charge.

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In Coatesville, authorities charged the dead boys brother with involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and other offenses. He is accused of leaving the gun unsecured and unholstered on a table in his bedroom, with the door open and unlocked.

Morning Call columnist Paul Muschick can be reached at 610-820-6582 or paul.muschick@mcall.com
He attempted to sue but a tribunal threw out claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination

Colleague alerted the school sparking investigation that led to his dismissal

He also put videos on Youtube claiming Catholics were 'evil' and gay people have the 'DNA of Satan'

A teacher who discussed conspiracy theories with pupils including that the Earth is flat and claimed gay people have the 'DNA of Satan' was sacked for gross misconduct.

Robert Headley also claimed Catholics were 'evil' and preached about it on his social media channel which had a following of almost 300,000, an employment tribunal heard.

The Design and Technology secondary school teacher from East London said he would discuss the theories such as that the Moon landings were 'faked' with students in a bid to teach them 'perspective'.

He also made and posted videos on YouTube that made similarly 'deeply offensive' claims.

But when a colleague alerted the school about the offensive nature of his video called 'DNA of the Wicked', he was investigated and sacked for gross misconduct.

A teacher at an East London school who discussed conspiracy theories with pupils including that the Earth is flat and claimed gay people have the 'DNA of Satan' was sacked for gross misconduct

He attempted to sue but a tribunal concluded the school had sufficient reason to restrict his rights to express his views publicly in such a 'trenchant' manner.

It also found that Mr Headley was 'evasive' at the tribunal about whether he actually believed the earth was flat, instead he 'simply acknowledged' the weight of scientific evidence pointing against that conclusion.

The hearing held in East London heard Mr Headley is Christian with orthodox beliefs who also believes 'the chosen people' were from Africa.

Mr Headley began working at Rokeby School, an all-boys secondary school in Newham, in 2008 before being promoted to Head of Graphic Products.

The panel heard the school has been affiliated with LGBT charity Stonewall in an effort to combat intolerance of sexuality and had strong emphasis on inclusivity and tolerance.

In 2013, he wrote a book called 'Scattered not Lost' where the premise of the book was that the true 'Children of Israel' were black Africans who were then enslaved forming Black Diaspora throughout the world.

Around this time, he also began making and posting videos on YouTube talking about religion and a complaint was made that these videos were discriminatory and contradicting the school's values.

In one of the videos, he was in his classroom wearing the school logo sitting in front of a noticeboard which included pictures of staff members, a panel heard.

Deputy head Emma Hobbs was alerted to this by a member of staff. She told him filming in school was unacceptable and he then took down all the videos filmed in school or those which displayed the school logo in 2018.

But he continued making the videos for his 274,500 subscribers and followers.

The tribunal heard in cards given to him by students, some had included the words 'subscribe' and the YouTube logo indicating some pupils were aware of his channel.

The following year, the headteacher Charlotte Robinson learned that some students had been overheard discussing Mr Headley and flat earth theory during a walk in Epping Forest, Essex.

Several students were then interviewed who confirmed that Mr Headley had been discussing flat earth theory and whether the moon landings were faked but that he had asked for these chats to be 'confidential', a panel heard.

Then in 2019, there was a disagreement over marking and he submitted a complaint to the external examiner about the school which Mr Headley felt then affected how he was treated afterwards, the hearing was told.

Ms Robinson was then told of Mr Headley's 'DNA of the Wicked' video published in May 2019.

A teacher had been 'very offended' by Mr Headley claiming LGBTQ+ people were from 'the seed line descended from the antichrist' after which he was investigated for gross misconduct.

He was sacked for using language that refers to LGBTQ+ people as having the DNA of Satan and equating Jews and Catholics as being satanic or evil on a public forum which might be seen by students.

Mr Headley then unsuccessfully made claims at an employment tribunal which included unfair dismissal and discrimination.

Dismissing his claims, Employment Judge John Crosfill concluded: 'The school was entitled to conclude that its own interests in promoting pluralism and the welfare of its students were a sufficient reason for restricting [Mr Headley's] rights to manifest his religious beliefs and/or express his opinions in public in the manner that he did.'

Mailonline has contacted Rokeby School for comment.
A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of a student found stabbed to death in a park in Manchester.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with the murder of 17-year-old student Alan Szelugowski.

Greater Manchester Police were called to Clowes Park in Salford at around 7.30am on Sunday January 30 to reports of an 'unresponsive male'.

They found Alan with a single stab wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services attended.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with the murder of 17-year-old student Alan Szelugowski (pictured)

The 17-year-old's family moved to Britain from Poland several years ago and lived in Crumpsall.

He was a student at the Albion Academy and died less than a month after his 17th birthday.

Family and friends paid tribute to Alan online, with one writing: 'It still can't come home that you're gone Alan, someone took you away from us at such a young age, took away all your plans and dreams, leaving wounds in our hearts, we will miss you but we hope that the person responsible for your death will soon be caught.'

Greater Manchester Police were called to Clowes Park in Salford at around 7.30am on Sunday January 30 to reports of an 'unresponsive male'. Pictured: Police at the scene

And his neighbour wrote on a fundraiser she created to support his family: 'Alan was such a polite respectful young lad.

'We are trying our best to help do what we can in this awful situation and we are hoping you can help us too, even if it is a little, we are all really devastated about the news.'

Others wrote: 'RIP Alan' and 'Your smile was so beautiful and someone took it away from us' and 'so sad.'

Speaking to Manchester Evening News in February, Rabbi Arnold Saunders, a Salford councillor, said: 'It is such a waste of a young life- a life that was just beginning, with all of it in front of him.'

The boy charged with Alan's murder was remanded into custody and today appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court.
A New Jersey chef who appeared on the Food Network's show Chopped in 2020 has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child, a year after being sued by two women who say he forced himself on them when they were minors.

Shalom 'Sal' Yehudiel, 40, is accused of sexually assaulting a child in Teaneck, New Jersey. The alleged crime was reported to Bergen County prosecutors in November last year, around the same time as two women sued him.

Those women included a former waitress who worked at his restaurant, The Humble Toast. She said she was working for him when she was 17 when he forced her to perform oral sex on him.

Another woman claimed he abused her when she was 15. It's unclear if the woman in that lawsuit is the same person involved in the assault he has now been arrested for.

Yehudiel, who is originally from Israel, is married and has young children. He has two restaurants in New Jersey - The Humble Toast and La Cucina Di Nava.

Shalom 'Sal' Yehudiel, 40, is accused of sexually assaulting a child in Teaneck, New Jersey. The alleged crime was reported to Bergen County prosecutors in November last year, around the same time as two women sued him

Yehudiel, who is originally from Israel, is married and has at least one daughter. He has two restaurants in New Jersey - The Humble Toast and La Cucina Di Nava. He is pictured with his wife

The Humble Toast, the chef's deli in Teaneck, New Jersey. He also runs an Italian restaurant

He has not yet commented on the allegations but he denied the women's claims at the time.

It's unclear when Yehudiel is due in court next. He is being held in the Bergen County Jail.

Yehudiel has not yet commented on his arrest. He remains in custody

Last year, Yehudiel was sued by a woman who claimed he forced her into performing oral sex on him when she worked as a waitress at The Humble Toast.

She said she was 18 at the time and he allegedly made lewd comments to her on multiple occasions.

He denied her allegations, and those of another woman who said he abused her when she was 15.

At the time, he said the two women were trying to extort him.

The controversy however sparked a boycott of his restaurant, where protesters showed up with signs last year.

He stepped down from the day-to-day running of the restaurant.
Russian forces are raping and hanging women who are unable to escape their savage invasion, Ukrainian MPs have claimed.

Lesia Vasylenko, an MP for Ukraine 's opposition Holos party, said some women over 60 had committed suicide after being accused by Putin's forces to stop the horrific attacks.

Other vulnerable women were unable to escape the invading troops in Kyiv and its suburbs of Bucha and Irpin and have been subjected to the barbaric sex assaults, she said.

The MP, who visited the House of Commons with fellow MPs Olena Khomenko, Maria Mezentseva and Alona Shkrum, told journalists Putin had 'changed his strategy to target the most vulnerable groups of women and children'.

She said, according to The Mirror: 'Most of them were executed after being raped or took their own lives.

Local residents gather next to a damaged residential building after shelling by the Russian military in Kyiv today

Ukrainian Members of Parliament Olena Khomenko, Maria Mezentseva, Alona Shkrum and Lesia Vasylenko pose outside Number 10 Downing Street

'The main problem is that victims and families do not have the strength or capacity to come forward.'

Mezentseva added: 'The ladies who were raped and suffered sexual violence, some of them were also hanged.

'These are the facts we are gathering for evidence on war crimes and to take to the ECHR.'

The MPs were calling on the British government to provide targeted humanitarian support to Ukraine to help the alleged victims of sexual abuse.

They also want the crimes to be formally documented as war crime evidence against Putin.

The MPs said a generation of children in Ukraine are being traumatised, with one child as young as five already on anti-depressants.

They said newborn babies have been born amid air raid sirens and have been crammed alongside wounded people in dark basements to shelter from the airstrikes.

A woman and her baby are pictured fleeing the city of Mariupol along a humanitarian corridor that was opened on Thursday, though previous attempts have failed after Russians shelled the routes

Local residents seeking refuge in the basement of a building are seen in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol

Meanwhile in besieged Mariupol, feared Chechen special forces are fighting house-to-house while 'hundreds' of women and children remain trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders.

Video said to have been released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers.

The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians.

The footage emerged as hundreds of people were still feared trapped under the rubble of a theatre in the devastated city.

Serhiy Taruta, a Ukrainian politician, said that around 130 people had been rescued from the building but hundreds of others are unaccounted for - possibly buried under rubble in one part of the bomb shelter, and cannot be evacuated because rescue services have been destroyed by Russian troops.

A woman weeps after seeing the ruins of her destroyed block of flat in Mariupol, which is under bombardment by Russia

A Ukrainian civilian, wounded by flying glass from a Russian airstrike, evacuates from an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine

A woman who was injured at the site of a residential district of Kyiv after it was hit by shelling, touches her head, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv

'No one understands. Services that are supposed to help are demolished, rescue and utility services... are physically destroyed. A lot of doctors have been killed. This means that all the survivors of the bombing will either die under the ruins of the theater, or have already died,' he wrote on Facebook.

Dmytro Gurin, a Ukrainian MP from Mariupol, told the BBC that some people have managed to evacuate but that others are trapped in the shelter and rescuers are struggling to reach them because Russian troops continue to shell it. A rescue mission is underway, he insisted.

Meanwhile survivors of the siege who managed to flee described the city as 'hell', saying that people are being left to bleed or burn to death in the streets because doctors cannot reach them and hospitals have been destroyed, with the bodies covered by a thin layer of soil in makeshift burials.

Russia's defence ministry said on Friday that its troops have now entered the city and are fighting in the centre, amid fears that it could soon fall into Putin's hands after three weeks of shelling weakened the defences. If the city does fall, it will be the largest captured so-far - albeit at the cost of near-totally destroying it.

Hundreds of people are feared to be trapped in the underground bomb shelters of Mariupol theatre which was destroyed by a Russian airstrike on Wednesday evening

Feared Chechen special forces are fighting house-to-house in besieged Mariupol while 'hundreds' of women and children remain trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders

Svitlana Zlenko, who said she left the city with her son on Tuesday this week, described how she spent days sheltering in a school building - melting snow to cook pasta to eat while living in constant terror of Russian bombs which flew overhead 'every day and every night'.

She described how a bomb hit the school last week, wounding a woman in the hip with a piece of shrapnel. 'She was lying on the first floor of the high school all night and prayed for poison so that she would not feel pain,' Svitlana said. '[She] was taken by the Red Cross within a day, I pray to God she is well.'

She added: 'There is no food, no medicine, if there is no snow with such urban fights, people will not be able to go out to get water, people have no water left. Pharmacies, grocery stores - everything is robbed or burned.

'The dead are not taken out. Police recommend to the relatives of those who died of a natural death, to open the windows and lay the bodies on the balcony. I know you think you understand, but you will never understand unless you were there. I pray that this will not happen again in any of the cities of Ukraine, or of the world.'

Despite the pleas, shelling was well underway in other Ukrainian cities on Friday - with Lviv, in the west of the country, the capital Kyiv, and Kharkiv, in the east, coming under fire.

The war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin ground into its fourth week as his troops have failed to take Kyiv - a major objective in their hopes of forcing a settlement or dictating the country's future political alignments.
Former prime minister David Cameron is driving a small lorry full of supplies for Ukrainian refugees to the country's border with Poland.

Mr Cameron announced the surprising intervention on Twitter, where he said he had been volunteering for two years at a food project in west Oxfordshire called the Chippy Larder.

Through the project, he said donations had been taken in for refugees from Ukraine and they now had enough 'to fill a small lorry with everything from nappies to sanitary products, warm clothes to first aid kits'.

Mr Cameron announced the trip on Twitter, where he said he had been volunteering for two years at a food project in west Oxfordshire called the Chippy Larder

I'm currently driving to Poland with two Chippy Larder colleagues to make our delivery to the Red Cross. Its going to be a long drive, but Ill keep you updated along the way. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/T0ORCT4Eek  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 18, 2022

Posting a photograph sitting behind the wheel of the lorry, Mr Cameron said: 'I'm currently driving to Poland with two Chippy Larder colleagues to make our delivery to the Red Cross.

'It's going to be a long drive, but I'll keep you updated along the way.'

Earlier this week, Mr Cameron called for more humanitarian help to be given to Ukraine.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, he called on the Government to 'get back' to dedicating 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) to overseas aid, after it was cut to 0.5% last year.

The trip comes as part of the former Prime Minister's work with food project Chippy Larder in Oxfordshire

Mr Cameron was Prime Minister from 2010 until 2016 - resigning the day after the UK voted to leave the European Union

Mr Cameron said the Cabinet should have an aid minister, who would be '100% dedicated' to the role.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised to return the UK's aid contributions to 0.7% by the end of this Parliament.

But Mr Cameron said: 'Let's do more on humanitarian aid. We achieved 0.7% of GDP in our aid payments. I'm sad we've got away from that. I hope we can get back there.

'Let's  with the EU  lead the donor conference, lead the aid effort.

'Let's have a dedicated aid minister in the Cabinet doing development.

'The Foreign Office ministers do a great job but it'd be good to have someone who's 100% dedicated to humanitarian aid and development.'

He also said permanent Nato bases should be created in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Mr Cameron was Prime Minister from 2010 until 2016 - resigning the day after the UK voted to leave the European Union.
The Metropolitan Police has said it will appeal a High Court ruling that it breached rights over the Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham Common,.

In a ruling on March 11, two senior judges found the Met's decisions in the run-up to the planned event were 'not in accordance with the law'.

Reclaim These Streets (RTS) had planned the socially-distanced vigil for 33-year-old Ms Everard, who was murdered by former Met officer Wayne Couzens, near to where she went missing in Clapham, south London, in March last year.

Police detain Patsy Stevenson as people gather at a memorial site in London's Clapham Common park following the kidnap-murder of Sarah Everard

The force said in a statement on Friday it had 'taken time to consider' the decision but that it wanted to 'resolve what's required by law when policing protests and events' in future.

'Following the High Court judgment issued on Friday, 11 March the Met has taken time to consider with great care the decision itself and the wider implications for policing,' the statement read.

'It's absolutely right that we are held to account for our actions and that there is proper scrutiny of the decisions we make as a police force in upholding legislation and maintaining public order.

'We also respect the strong views held by Reclaim These Streets in defence of human rights and public protest, and their pursuit of justice for these views.

The vigil was held for 33-year-old Ms Everard

'As an organisation we work with, support and police hundreds of protests and events across London every day, and take our responsibilities under the Human Rights Act in doing so, very seriously.

'It's important for policing and the public that we have absolute clarity of what's expected of us in law.

'This is why we feel we must seek permission to appeal the judgment in order to resolve what's required by law when policing protests and events in the future.'

RTS co-founder Jamie Klingler was among those to express anger at the announcement and accused the force for wanting to 'exhaust us'.

'I'm not going to pretend I am not furious,' she tweeted.

'I was stood outside of Stoke Newington Police Station when I heard they filed permission to appeal. They want us to give up. They want to exhaust us. F*** that. Learn the law.'

Activist Patsy Stevenson, who was photographed being detained at the vigil on March 13, tweeted: 'Still can't hold themselves accountable.'

Ms Klingler and the three other women who founded RTS, brought a legal challenge against the force over its handling of the event, which was also intended to be a protest about violence against women.

(Left to right) Henna Shah, Jamie Klingler, Anna Birley and Jessica Leigh celebrate outside the Royal Courts of Justice last week

They withdrew from organising after being told by the force they would face fines of 10,000 each and possible prosecution if it went ahead, and a spontaneous vigil and protest took place instead.

Jessica Leigh, Anna Birley, Henna Shah and Ms Klingler argued that decisions made by the force in advance of the planned vigil amounted to a breach of their human rights to freedom of speech and assembly, and said the force did not assess the potential risk to public health.

Upholding their claim, the High Court found the Met had 'failed to perform its legal duty' to consider whether the women might have a reasonable excuse for holding the gathering.

In a summary of the ruling, Lord Justice Warby said: 'The relevant decisions of the (Met) were to make statements at meetings, in letters, and in a press statement, to the effect that the Covid-19 regulations in force at the time meant that holding the vigil would be unlawful.

'Those statements interfered with the claimants' rights because each had a 'chilling effect' and made at least some causal contribution to the decision to cancel the vigil.

People gather to lay flowers and pay their respects at a vigil on Clapham Common in March last year

'None of the (force's) decisions was in accordance with the law; the evidence showed that the (force) failed to perform its legal duty to consider whether the claimants might have a reasonable excuse for holding the gathering, or to conduct the fact-specific proportionality assessment required in order to perform that duty.'

RTS took urgent legal action the day before the planned event, seeking a High Court declaration that any ban on outdoor gatherings under the coronavirus regulations at the time was 'subject to the right to protest'.

But their request was refused and the court also refused to make a declaration that an alleged force policy of 'prohibiting all protests, irrespective of the specific circumstances' was unlawful.

Couzens, 49, was given a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey in September after admitting her murder.

The policing of the spontaneous vigil that took place drew criticism from across the political spectrum after women were handcuffed on the ground and led away by officers.

A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services concluded the police 'acted appropriately' when dealing with the event, but also found it was a 'public relations disaster' and described some statements made by members of the force as 'tone deaf'.

It comes as Couzens has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure as the police watchdog was preparing to publish its findings into Scotland Yards handling of the allegations.

Wayne Couzens has been charged with four counts of indecent exposure just days before he raped and murdered Sarah Everard

The former Metropolitan Police officer is accused of flashing his genitals between January 22 and February 27 last year  in one case, just 72 hours before he abducted, raped and murdered the marketing executive.

Couzens allegedly presented himself to at least one person at a McDonalds drive-thru in Swanley, Kent while he was serving with Scotland Yard. The allegations were made to the Met on February 28, but no arrests were made.

Scotland Yard previously said the McDonalds allegations were allocated for investigation but by the time of Sarahs abduction it was not concluded. It then referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over how it handled the case.

The watchdog last year launched an investigation into officers for possible misconduct over the failure to identify Couzens.

It has now emerged that the IOPC was preparing to publish its findings on whether Scotland Yard could have stopped Couzens before he murdered Miss Everard next month. A source told MailOnline that just two of the four alleged incidents were referred to the IOPC.

The decision to charge Couzens means that the watchdogs findings now must be placed on hold until the conclusion of his trial.

The source added: It begs the question: Why did the Metropolitan Police only refer two of the four alleged incidents?.

MailOnline has contacted the Met for comment.

The killer was said to have flashed his genitals between January and February last year when he was a serving Metropolitan Police officer

In a statement, Scotland Yard said it had been authorised by the CPS to charge Couzens with indecent exposure between January 22 and February 1 last year, and between January 30 and February 6 last year. The force said it had also charged the killer cop with two offences which allegedly occurred on February 14 and February 27 last year.

Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police, the CPS has authorised four charges of indecent exposure against Wayne Couzens.

The four alleged offences took place between January and February 2021. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 13 April.

The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges to a court to consider.

Criminal proceedings are active and nothing should be published that could jeopardise the defendant's right to a fair trial.

Wayne Couzens will die in jail serving whole life sentence for killing Miss Everard in March 2021

Couzens carried out a fake Covid arrest to trap Miss Everard inside his hire car

A Met Police spokesman said: Detectives investigating a series of sexual offences in Swanley, have been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge a man.

Police have been authorised to charge Wayne Couzens, 49, of no fixed address, with the following offences: Indecent exposure between the January 22, 2021 and February 1, 2021. Indecent exposure between January 30, 2021 and February 6, 2021. Indecent exposure on February 14, 2021. Indecent exposure on February 27, 2021.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place in the Swanley area.

Couzens will be formally charged on a date yet to be fixed. We will issue an update when this happens.

Couzens showed Miss Everard his warrant card to force her into his car as part of a fake Covid arrest in March 2021. He then used his Met-issued equipment to handcuff her before strangling her with his police belt.
A Russian born Tory activist in a foreign affairs group headed by former Prime Minister Sir John Major last right declined to denounce Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.

London based Ilma Bogdan, who studied at the same elite Moscow State Institute for International Relations as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, declined to condemn the war eight times.

Eventually she said she was 'against all forms of war.'

Pressed by the Daily Mail to condemn Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine she hung up.

It is not the first time Miss Bogdan has been involved in recent controversy.

London based Ilma Bogdan (pictured), who studied at the same elite Moscow State Institute for International Relations as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, declined to condemn the war eight times

Her father was named in a Commons debate in January as having links to the FSB, the successor to the Soviet Union's KGB.

Miss Bogdan, 34, is an executive member of the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council, whose patrons include ex Foreign Secretaries Jeremy Hunt and William Hague, as well as Sir John Major.

She is listed on its website which boasts the organisation is a 'forum for discussing international relations' which 'visits embassies and high commissions and hosts events in Parliament.'

She has been active in Conservative circles since moving to the UK ten years ago.

She took part in a meeting with Cabinet Minister Mark Spencer during the pandemic, was photographed with Attorney General Suella Braverman at a Tory function and been a guest at London's Carlton Club, favoured by Tory grandees.

Miss Bogdan, 34, is an executive member of the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council, whose patrons include ex Foreign Secretaries Jeremy Hunt and William Hague, as well as Sir John Major. Pictured: Miss Bogdan with Stanley Johnson

She is also a member of 'Women2Win', an organisation which seeks to recruit more female Conservative MPs.

Miss Bogdan first came to public attention when she and her father Leonid were named in a Commons debate earlier this year on calls to change laws used by Russian oligarchs to silence journalists who investigate them.

Using Parliamentary privilege, ex Labour Cabinet Minister Liam Byrne said Leonid Bogdan was the 'most concerning' of a number of Russians whom Conservative donor Mohamed Amersi was 'connected to.'

Mr Byrne said he had been told by 'Kremlin sources' that Mr Bogdan had 'interesting friends' in the FSB.

He was also a 'minor partner' in a Russian bank 'associated to supplying arms to Syria and Iran which was sanctioned by the US in 2014.'

Asked yesterday by the Mail about Russia's war with Ukraine, and her role as a member of the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council, Miss Bogdan said she could not comment because the group had not discussed the matter

Mr Byrne also claimed 'Mr Bogdan's daughter works for the Conservative Party's Central Office' and was 'briefly secretary of the Conservative Friends of the Middle East,' a group launched by Mr Amersi.

Mr Amersi's bid to set up the group has been mired in a separate controversy over claims surrounding his own past business links with Russia, claims that Mr Amersi says are false and that have led him to sue.

Mr Amersi said Mr Byrne's allegations about him were 'utter b******t and drivel.'

Miss Bogdan also rejected the claims made by Mr Byrne about her and her father.

She told the Daily Mail at the time that her father had 'no connection' with Russian security services or Mr Amersi.

Asked about her life in the UK and how she funded it, Miss Bogdan said her ambition was to be an 'academic' and that she relied on her family for financial support.

'Am I a spy?' she commented. 'Of course not, neither a diplomat or a spy.'

When it was pointed out to her that she appeared reluctant to condemn Mr Putin, she hung up. Pictured: Miss Bogdan

Asked yesterday by the Mail about Russia's war with Ukraine, and her role as a member of the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council, Miss Bogdan said she could not comment because the group had not discussed the matter.

She declined eight times to respond to the same question.

Asked specifically to reply as an individual, she said: 'I am against all forms of war.'

When it was pointed out to her that she appeared reluctant to condemn Mr Putin, she hung up.

After graduating from the Moscow State Institute for International Relations in 2010 with a distinction in international relations and journalism it would not have been a surprise if had Miss Bogdan had become a diplomat.

Mr Lavrov is one of hundreds of senior Russian diplomats and politicians  not to mention spies  who studied there.

Miss Bogdan proudly describes the institute in her CV as 'the Harvard of Russia.'

Photographs on her public Facebook pages show her in elegant evening dress attending drinks and dinners at a host of establishment venues and society events including the House of Lords, Royal Ascot, Cambridge University Polo Club and the Savile Club. Pictured: Miss Bogdan

But instead of becoming a diplomat she became a journalist  though in Russia there is not necessarily much difference.

Miss Bogdan worked for two state owned news agencies, including TASS, which has pumped out pro Putin propaganda since the Ukrainian war started.

Her life and politics changed dramatically after she came to England where she obtained an impressive array of additional qualifications.

She gained an MA in international relations from King's College, London, an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from London's SOAS and a PhD in Divinity from Cambridge.

It was at Cambridge where she first got involved with the Tory Party, joining the University Conservative Association and serving as secretary of the City's local Tory Party.

Miss Bogdan (pictured) lives in a rented 1million flat next to the exclusive Chelsea Harbour in West London

She also threw herself into the traditional political and social pursuits of ambitious Tories, becoming active in the riding club, wine society and the debating society.

She soon became a familiar face on the Conservative cocktail party circuit in London.

Photographs on her public Facebook pages show her in elegant evening dress attending drinks and dinners at a host of establishment venues and society events including the House of Lords, Royal Ascot, Cambridge University Polo Club and the Savile Club.

She served two internships in the Commons and Lords and was on the board of the Conservative Friends of India.

Miss Bogdan lives in a rented 1million flat next to the exclusive Chelsea Harbour in West London.

On job networking site LinkedIn she describes herself as an 'academic, political activist and former diplomatic journalist' and uses the title 'Dr' as well as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Pictured: Miss Bogdan

According to Land Reigstry records, the flat is owned by a company which is registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Until 2020, Miss Bogdan was chief of staff of Terrestres Servo Corona, a small charity which says it promotes the Commonwealth.

Run by Devon-based chairman Paul Lancelot Borrow-Longain, the charity's webstie claims to have a 'Royal patron' identified as 'Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia.'

It claims she is 'in the line of succession to the British thorne as a descendant of Queen Victoria.

On job networking site LinkedIn she describes herself as an 'academic, political activist and former diplomatic journalist' and uses the title 'Dr' as well as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Republican Senator Ron Johnson said Friday it is 'jaw-dropping' the media has 'finally acknowledged' that Hunter Biden's laptop and its content are legitimate - even though it was verified a year ago.

The Wisconsin lawmaker, who was one of the first to investigate what was on the computer, has joined his GOP colleagues demanding accountability for those who dismissed the story as fake in the months before the 2020 general election.

Many in his party are now also calling for Meta and Twitter to be investigated for removing or reducing the distribution of stories when they were first published a year ago because they were labeled 'disinformation'

The outrage and demands for apologies follows a New York Time's story published on Wednesday night about the federal tax probe into the President's son that confirmed the laptop abandoned at a Delaware repair store was authentic.

The Grey Lady has also asked the State Department for any emails they have relating to Hunter Biden and his business dealings.

DailyMail.com authenticated the laptop a full year earlier than the New York Times story, and was the first  and only  news organization to publicly verify its contents using expert analysis.

'I didn't realize anyone was still questioning that Hunter Bidens computer disk drive was fake. I thought that had been established for well over a year,' Johnson said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson said Friday it is 'jaw-dropping' the media has 'finally acknowledged' that Hunter Biden's laptop and its content are legitimate - even though it was verified a year ago

The outrage and demands for apologies follows a New York Time's story published on Wednesday night about the federal tax probe into the President's son that confirmed the laptop abandoned at a Delaware repair store was authentic. DailyMail.com authenticated the laptop a full year earlier, and was the first  and only  news organization to publicly verify its contents using expert analysis

'It shows how bias the mainstream media truly is. Theyre not journalists anymore. Theyre advocates for the radical left.

'Its jaw-dropping that they would come out now and finally acknowledge what the rest of us acknowledged to be true long ago and they wont ever admit they were wrong.

He then questioned the role of the 50 former intelligence officials who insisted in 2020, before the election, that the laptop and its emails were Russian disinformation.

'That again, proves corruption. Theres corruption within the mainstream media too.

'Its an enormous problem were facing in this country today. We need a free press, but we need a free press that is largely unbiased.

'That is not what we have today. We have to take a look at what has happened to our society  the division, the disunity  because of the falsehoods they've been pushing out for years. Its scandalous. When will the advocates in the media apologize for what theyve done to America?'

Republican Rep. Jim Banks also called for Meta and Twitter to be investigated with a tweet on Thursday asking when they will be 'held accountable for knowingly and intentionally lying to the American people to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story days before the election???

'Big Tech interfered in our democracy and there must be consequences!'

In October 2020, Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said on Twitter: 'While I will intentionally not link to the New York Post, I want be clear that this story is eligible to be fact checked by Facebook's third-party fact checking partners. In the meantime, we are reducing its distribution on our platform.'

Twitter took the same action.

Meta and Twitter had not responded to request for comment at the time of publication.

DailyMail.com published dozens of a stories based on the scandalous contents of Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop - including a cache of 103,000 text messages, 154,000 emails, more than 2,000 photos (pictured)- that were verified by top forensics experts

Former President Donald Trump on Friday said the New York Times 'admitted' being part of an effort to 'rig' the election for Joe Biden with their report Wednesday night.

There was also vindication for the ex-President who was told he was told by Lesley Stahl during a 60 Minutes interview in October 2020 that the contents of the laptop could not be verified and it had already been investigated by Republicans in the Senate.

When files from the laptop were published before the 2020 presidential election, the newspaper cast doubt on its provenance, linked it to Russian disinformation, and made no public attempt to obtain and verify it.

But buried 1,200 words into a story this week about a federal probe into the president's son, the Gray Lady admitted to an astonishing U-turn.

Reporters referenced emails 'obtained by The New York Times from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Mr. Biden in a Delaware repair shop', adding that they 'were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation.'

Last March, DailyMail.com hired top cyber forensics experts at Maryman & Associates to examine the hard drive to determine its authenticity.

Since then, DailyMail.com has revealed a series of troubling stories based on the scandalous material from the laptop that go to the heart of the FBI's probe into Hunter's alleged dodged taxes, foreign lobbying and suspected money laundering.

Over the past year we have published stories including:

In October 2020, the New York Post reported that the laptop's hard drive contained a cache of emails, texts, photos and documents between Hunter Biden, his family and his business associates. The correspondence detailed how Hunter used his father's vice presidency as leverage in overseas business dealings.

Both Facebook and Twitter blocked users from sharing the original bombshell report, and Democrats all the way up to the White House suggested that the laptop could be part of a Russian disinformation campaign.

Emails specifically related to Biden's time serving on the $50,000-a-month board seat on Ukrainian energy firm Burisma were first reported by the Post, and Democrats claimed the laptop was likely part of some Russian disinformation campaign.

The now-infamous photo of Hunter lying in bed with a crackpipe in his mouth was among the files found on his device

The New York Post had published excerpts of emails and photos from the laptop ahead of the 2020 election, but without authentication they were widely dismissed as fake or 'Russian disinformation'. Pictured: Photos recovered from the computer

OCTOBER 2020: Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said on Twitter: 'While I will intentionally not link to the New York Post, I want be clear that this story is eligible to be fact checked by Facebook's third-party fact checking partners. In the meantime, we are reducing its distribution on our platform'

The laptop repair shop owner reported the FBI after making a copy of its hard drive. The FBI seized the laptop and its hard drive.

Prosecutors have examined emails between Biden and business associates related to Burisma that were recovered from the laptop, the Times reports. Some of the correspondence in question was between Hunter and his business colleague Devon Archer, who also served on the board.

Prosecutors have already interviewed Archer and subpoenaed him for documents and grand testimony. He was sentenced last month in an unrelated securities fraud case.

Those emails, which the Times looked at as well, 'appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Mr. Biden in a Delaware repair shop.' People familiar with the investigation confirmed the emails' authenticity to the Times.

Other contents of the laptop, obtained by DailyMail.com detail how the first son would, in a drug-induced stupor, often blow tens of thousands of dollars on drugs and prostitutes.

The Times report also reveals that the younger Biden paid off a tax liability of $1 million, and that he told and associate he had to take out a loan to do so, one year after he revealed he was under investigation by the Department of Justice for tax fraud.

Asked by DailyMail.com about the New York Times report, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stonewalled. 'I point you to the the Department of Justice and Hunter Biden's representatives. I'm a spokesperson for the United States. He doesn't work for the United States.'

'Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote in October 2020, linking to a Politico story.

While wiping out his debts won't spare him from possible criminal charges, the payoff could make it harder for prosecutors to win a conviction or a long sentencing for the crime. Judges and juries can be more sympathetic to defendants who have paid off their debts.

But the investigation also extends broadly into how Hunter's business career may have been tied to his last name, and investigators have looked into his relationships with business interests in Kazakhstan, a Chinese energy conglomerate, Burisma and more.

The probe is searching for criminal violations of tax laws, as well as foreign lobbying and money laundering rules. So far, Biden has not been charged with any crime.

People familiar with the investigation said prosecutors had looked into payments and gifts Biden and his associates received from foreign interests, including a car paid for by a company related to a Kazakh oligarch and a diamond paid for by a Chinese energy tycoon, the Times reports.
A desperate hunt is underway for an 18-year-old girl who has been missing for six days after being abducted by a homeless man in a Walmart parking lot.

Naomi Irion, 18, was last seen in the parking lot of the Walmart in Fernley, Nevada, around 34 miles east of Reno, on March 12 at 5am.

In surveillance footage, she can be seen parking her car in the Walmart parking lot, and sitting in the driver's seat while she waited for a company shuttle to take her to her job at Panasonic.

According to her family, surveillance footage showed a man walk to the parking lot from a nearby homeless encampment.

He then approached the car while she was still sitting in the driver's seat, 'said something to her' and she moved over into the passenger seat, before the man got behind the wheel and drove away.

On Thursday, police were searching an industrial park where they found her car around noon after receiving a ping off her cellphone.

Police said that there was 'evidence of a crime' inside the car, but did not reveal what they found.

Naomi Irion, 18, is shown inside the Walmart where she went missing on March 12 at 5am

Naomi would park her car in the Walmart parking lot then take a bus to her job at Panasonic but on March 12, was abducted in her car

This suspect was filmed walking from a homeless encampment near the store, circling her car then forcing his way inside but police have not released that footage

These images show Naomi's car, a grey sedan that has now been found

The video then shows the pair driving away with the suspect behind the wheel.

Casey Valley, her older brother who she lives with, spoke to the media on Thursday.

He was chastised by their other sister for saying that Naomi 'lived' with him in the past tense, rather than that she 'lives' with him.

Speaking of the suspect, Valley said: 'He circled around the parking lot maybe to make sure there were no witnesses.

'He came up behind the car and forced his way into the drivers side of the car. Maybe her door was unlocked.

'He either said or did something to make her move to the passenger seat, and then he drove her car away into an unknown direction.'

Police say they believe the suspect is in this vehicle

Naomi's family are desperately hoping for information that could lead to her whereabouts

It's unclear if she was in the store at the time he broke into the vehicle or if she was in the car, but footage shows the pair driving off with the man in the driver's seat.

Naomi's car has been found abandoned, but there is no sign of her.

Police are searching for the suspect, who they think is driving a black SUV.

Much of the case remains unclear, including why she was at the Walmart, what she was buying or whether or not the man was armed.

He was filmed approaching vehicles in the parking lot but his face is not visible in the images police have released.

They have not released the video of him abducting Naomi, only still images from it.
Kharkiv and Chernihiv; or indeed in the artillery-battered fringes of the capital Kyiv.

A slight 13-year-old, Vova is dazed from painkillers and able to speak to me only out of the left side of his mouth. In other respects, he is very lucky to be alive. But what is left of that life?

Tomorrow they will bury his father Oleksandr, whose abandoned corpse Jamie and I have unwittingly passed in the street almost every day these past three weeks.

The details of Vova's family's particular tragedy are horrific. Certainly the picture of the gaping bullet wound in the boy's face, taken by doctors when he was first brought into Kyiv's Ohmatdyt hospital, is too graphic to reproduce here.

He was wounded on February 26. He and his father, 43, and mother Natalya were trying to flee Kyiv with Oleksandr's second cousin, his wife and their son and daughter.

A slight 13-year-old, Vova (pictured) is dazed from painkillers and able to speak to me only out of the left side of his mouth. In other respects, he is very lucky to be alive. But what is left of that life?

They were all crammed into an ancient blue Lada saloon when it was caught in a gun battle on Peremohy Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares. Russian reconnaissance forces were trying to push into the centre of the city at the time.

Someone  it is not clear on what side  opened fire on the Lada with an assault rifle. Everyone inside was hit.

Natalya was struck by 'ten or 11' bullets that passed through her without hitting vital organs. But her husband and the cousin's six-year-old son Maxym were killed instantly.

'The Ukrainian military pulled us out of the car,' recalls Natalya. 'They were shouting 'Stop shooting, stop shooting'. All the people in the car were brought here.'

Except her husband's body. Inexplicably, it was left inside the wreck by the roadside. The Lada was then covered in plastic sheeting, held in place by tape. His corpse remained there until discovered two days ago.

He will be buried this weekend in the Mikalev region. 'I won't be able to go to the funeral,' says Natalya. 'I will go to the morgue to say my goodbyes. He worked in a grocery. In September we would have been married for 15 years.'

Natalya (pictured with son Vova) was struck by 'ten or 11' bullets that passed through her without hitting vital organs. But her husband and the cousin's six-year-old son Maxym were killed instantly

Her son Vova was hit by five bullets; in his right cheek, his back and legs. Three of the rounds passed through his body. He has since undergone five operations.

'You could fit a small cup into the hole in his back,' says his mother. 'They had to cut out a piece of him there.'

How does he feel? 'Right now, good,' Vova says stoically. 'But when I try to stand my back hurts too much. I am not allowed to walk.' In fact, the doctors do not know yet if he will ever regain full use of his left foot.

He tells me he likes computer games and looking at his phone. A typical 13-year-old. He has even done a little homework in bed. But life won't ever return to 'normal'.

'We would like to go anywhere but here in Ukraine, right now,' his mother tells me.

Yesterday the Mail was given exclusive access to Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital, the largest in Ukraine. We were last here 12 days ago to witness the evacuation of around 200 young patients. The hospital had received collateral damage from nearby Russian airstrikes and doctors were worried that their logistical supply chain might fail.

And so all the children they thought could survive the journey were put on buses and taken to Kyiv's main railway station. It was the start of a trek lasting several days that would see many of them cross the border to be treated in hospitals in Western Europe.

Pictured: The Lada in which Vova and his family were shot as they tried to flee the city

In recent days Ohmatdyt has been damaged again by nearby missile strikes. Windows are shattered, a ceiling collapsed. Shrapnel has been collected from the yard outside the surgical department.

Staff are exhausted, as much mentally as physically. But morale is high, boosted by daily additions to what might be called a 'love wall' in the hospital reception.

This is where messages of support from around the world are pinned. The handwritten notes have arrived in aid packages from across Europe. Some are in German, Chinese and French. Most are in English. One says: 'Even if this package cannot relieve the pain in this difficult time we hope to give you a little joy with it. We are always thinking of you. God be with you.'

Another reads: 'Hello you wonderful human being, our thoughts are with you and we send you love and light and we pray for peace.'

There are children's drawings and regiments of soft toys. Nearby are piled ten huge sacks of cheesy puff-style crisps. Succour comes in all shapes and flavours.

Pictured: Damaged apartment buildings in a residential area after shelling in Kyiv today

While the peacetime patients have largely been evacuated, dozens of war-wounded children have been  or, like Vova  are being treated here.

Dima, 4, was brought in on Thursday with a severe wound to his lower back. He was returning home with his father when a Russian missile fell close by. Both received shrapnel. Doctors discovered that Dima had suffered significant injury to his kidneys. He has been operated upon and remains in a serious but stable condition.

'We are seeing a lot of injuries to children from mortar shelling,' says microsurgeon Valerii Bovkun. 'We are coping, because we still have quite a lot of staff. Almost all of the doctors who were here before the war have stayed.'

They have only lost a handful of cases. 'One boy died here after three days in intensive care,' he says. 'Another was dead on arrival. Then there were three kids from Irpin and Hostomel [heavily contested satellite towns near Kyiv] who we weren't able to evacuate due to shelling. They died there and were delivered to our morgue.'

He and his colleagues are used to dealing with injured children  but war is different. The pressure is tremendous and feelings run high.

A residential building seen damaged by Russian military shelling today

'We try to stay calm but it is a very sad and depressing situation and it invokes fury towards those who have caused it,' he says.

The need to treat ailments in children who have not yet joined the refugee exodus has not gone away. Dmytro, 7, from the Kyiv region, is lying glumly on a trolley in the emergency department, being comforted by his mother.

He has a sharp, persistent pain in his lower right abdomen. The doctors think it is appendicitis.

Dmytro looks pale and worried, smaller and younger than his years. You will see little Dmytros in hospitals anywhere in the world.

We leave, passing the huge mural on the hospital's outer wall that depicts Superman carrying a child and the legend: 'You can feel like a superhero.'

And there, still, within walking distance of the hospital gate, is Vova's family Lada; parked by the kerb on a main intersection. The bodywork is bullet riddled and the sheeting that had hidden Oleksandr for so long has been reaffixed.

A few yards away on a patch of waste ground yet another concrete fortification is being built. A soldier is holding a number of red signs warning of landmines.

Peremohy Avenue is where Vova's childhood died and it remains a battleground still.
Prince Harry has praised the 'amazing' efforts of Ukrainians who have been working for a landmine clearing charity.

The Duke of Sussex held a video call with two women who have made the decision to stay in Ukraine with the Halo Trust which has been clearing military ordinance in the eastern European country since 2016.

Princess Diana worked with the Halo Trust in Huambo, Angola, during the 1990s in a fight against landmines. At the time, her support for an international treaty banning use of the explosive devices was seen as a political stance, but it was widely regarded as one of her greatest humanitarian efforts.

The Duke of Sussex held a video call with two women who have made the decision to stay in Ukraine with the Halo Trust which has been clearing military ordinance in the eastern European country since 2016

Prince Harry met virtually with Olesia (left), Halo's communications manager in Ukraine, and Maryna (right), 25, the charity's monitoring and evaluation officer

Princess Diana wearing a bombproof visor during her visit to a minefield in Huambo, in Angola in 1997

Prince Harry, who has served as the charity's patron and visited Angola to see the work they are doing, met virtually with Olesia, Halo's communications manager in Ukraine, and Maryna, 25, the charity's monitoring and evaluation officer.

Harry is seen asking the pair how the past couple of weeks have been, to which Maryna responds: 'Life has turned upside down. Sometimes it seems to me it's just a nightmare and I'm going to wake up soon.

'And now we are all together with my family and we have a three-year-old child and each time when we hear the sirens my nephew asks me "what's happening" and "when will the war end?"

Harry goes on to ask if the women, both aged in their 20s, had the opportunity to leave Ukraine when the war started.

Maryna said: 'I personally decided to stay because it was quite vague to get the idea about what is happening right now.

'We don't know what will happen tomorrow and what is the right decision but now we are here.'

Harry praised the volunteers for their work in Ukraine, adding: 'Keep doing what you're doing, saving lives'

Olesia added: 'It's really, really important because right now we see the use of ammunitions and mines so we needed to inform people how to recognise explosive devices and even just some parts of those so that adults and children can stay safe.'

Ending the call, Harry added: 'I know you are going to continue doing the work that is so desperately needed for Halo, for your families and your country.

'Thank you for being so brave and being so amazing and well done.

'Thank you for doing it. Keep doing what you're doing, saving lives.'

Olesia replied: 'It's the least we can do.'

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made donations of an undisclosed amount to charities to support the people of Ukraine as they paid tribute to Invictus Games star killed in action in Ukraine

Today the couple announced they made donations to several charities including The Halo Trust, the humanitarian landmine clearance charity, and HIAS, an international Jewish humanitarian organization that supports refugees (pictured Kyiv)

Earlier today, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they made donations to several charities including The Halo Trust.

The non-political charity helps communities across the world remove deadly landmines from their land.

Halo has 8,500 staff in 25 countries and territories and has been providing ambulances and logistics to medical authorities in Zimbabwe, Somalia, Libya, Afghanistan and Guinea-Bissau.

The duke made an emotional pilgrimage to Africa in 2019 to retrace the steps of his mother Diana, who famously walked through a partially cleared Angolan minefield in 1997 to highlight the trusts efforts and the threat of the military munitions.

In 1997, Diana said: 'I am not a political figure. As I said at the time, and I'd like to re-iterate now, my interests are humanitarian.

'That is why I felt drawn to this human tragedy. How can countries which manufacture and trade in these weapons square their conscience with such human devastation?'
Bill Roggio is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of FDD's Long war Journal.

As Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine grinds on into its fourth week, the physical war rages in the cities and countryside, while an information war is waged over the airwaves and on the internet and social media.

On the actual battlefield, the Russian offensive has undoubtedly slowed over the past week. But what is being described as a 'stalled' takeover may be the result of the Russians taking time to reorganize their forces and improve their logistics.

On the Western side of the information war, we were told from the opening days of the conflict that the Russian military would break due to high casualties and defections, loss of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and aircraft, and domestic opposition.

Videos of Russian battlefield setbacks abound in the media, and strangely there is little reporting on Ukrainian losses.

And yet, over three weeks into the war, Vladimir Putin remains president and the Russian war machine has not collapsed but in fact continues its plodding, imperfect, and messy advance.

Ukraine certainly has won the war on social media and in the press. This gives the average Western viewer the impression of a lopsided victory in favor of Ukraine.

Additionally, the Pentagon has taken the unprecedented step of conducting daily briefings on the war, even though the U.S. is not at war.

The Pentagon assessments often track closely with assessments given by the Ukrainian government.

The Russian military has used a mix of maneuver and siege warfare in an effort to achieve its goal of breaking the Ukrainian military and government and conquering vast regions of the country.

This is not a condemnation of the West's use of information and disinformation.

These tactics play a role in the management of conflicts. But the West should not delude itself into believing that the Ukrainians will be saved by wishful thinking.

Russia has waged its own clumsy disinformation campaign in an effort to show that its people are united in Putin's so-called 'special military operation'  the name he gives for his country's illegal invasion and war.

On Friday, Russia organized a massive rally in an effort to show the Russian people stand behind him. Meanwhile, thousands of Russians have been arrested for protesting the war.

Putin has also issued a chilling warning to dissenters in his country, likening them to gnats and signaling new repression, while passing laws that make protests illegal and protesters are subject to fines and even prison sentences.

The leader of a unified cause does not employ these tactics.

While each side attempts to promote its narrative of success, one potential sign of the true condition of the Ukrainian defense is Volodymyr Zelensky's recent concession on NATO membership.

Zelensky appears to have caved on one of Putin's reasons for going to war.

'It is clear that Ukraine is not a member of NATO; we understand this,' the Ukrainian president said. 'For years we heard about the apparently open door, but have already also heard that we will not enter there, and these are truths and must be acknowledged.'

Without NATO membership, Zelensky must rely on Western weapons shipments, sanctions, economic embargoes, and other forms of soft support. It remains to be seen if these efforts are enough to turn the tide against the Russians.

The truth on the ground is that Ukrainians are putting up stiff resistance everywhere in an effort to defend their cities and make the Russians pay for every inch of ground.

But short of the quick capture of Kyiv and the collapse of President Zelensky's government, the Russian assault on Ukraine was always going to take time.

Conventional warfare is a time, manpower and equipment consuming effort and quick victories are rare.

On Friday, Russia organized a massive rally in an effort to show the Russian people stand behind Putin. Meanwhile, thousands of Russians have been arrested for protesting the war.

We must remember that it took the U.S. military three weeks to take Baghdad and 42 days to conquer Iraq in 2003.

The Russian military is far less proficient than its American counterpart, and the Ukrainians are superior defenders and more highly motivated that Saddam Hussein's army.

As I've written previously, the Russian offensive was launched on multiple fronts and has four major targets: the capital of Kyiv; Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city and the north; the east, including areas west of the Donbas region, and the south, including the ports on the Black and Azov seas.

The Russian military has used a mix of maneuver and siege warfare in an effort to achieve its goal of breaking the Ukrainian military and government and conquering vast regions of the country.

Where the Ukrainians have put of stiff resistance in the cities, Russian forces are bypassing them to take other key objectives, while at the same time the Russians are attempting to surround the cities and pound them into submission with deadly air and artillery strikes.

This can be most easily seen in the north on the Kharkiv front, where Russian troops hit a wall north of the city.

The Russian military is now attempting to encircle Kharhiv, while pummeling it with artillery.

They also dispatched troops southward towards the town of Izium, which U.S. Defense officials said was taken yesterday.

If the Russians can push south of Izium, they can encircle Ukrainian troops in the northeastern part of Ukraine and cut them off from resupply.

This is a classic military maneuver. Once a force is surrounded, they will begin to run out of necessities, like food and ammo.

While each side attempts to promote its narrative of success, one potential sign of the true condition of the Ukrainian defense is Volodymyr Zelensky's recent concession on NATO membership.

Run out of ammo and you can't defend yourself  it's that simple.

In the south, the situation is also tenuous for the Ukrainians as Russia controls all major coast areas except for Odesa and Mariupol.

The latter city is completely surrounded, being hammered by artillery and starved.

The Russian force is slowing pushing northward from there.

Further west, Odesa is proving to be a tough nut to crack as Russian forces are finding it difficult to reach the city.

Some Russian forces are also pushing north to Kryvyi Rih with the likely goal of reaching Dnipro.

If the Russians could reach Dnipro, the entirety of eastern Ukraine would be in danger of falling to the Russians.

In and around Kyiv, the situation has stabilized for the Ukrainians for the time being.

But Russian forces are on the outskirts of the city, and only the areas south of Kyiv are open.

Ukraine is understandably prioritizing the defense of its capital. However, this likely drawing resources from other fronts.

West of Kyiv, Russia forces have stepped up long range attacks, hitting Ukrainian bases with missile strikes, including some key air bases near the Polish border.

While the information campaigns have clouded the reality of the situation on the ground, what has also become clear is that Russian military does not pose a conventional threat to NATO.

Smaller, non-NATO members, such as Moldova, are not so lucky.

Whatever successes the Russian military has had in Ukraine, the operation has exposed serious flaws in its ability to wage war against an adversary with advanced weaponry and sophisticated tactics.

Author Bill Roggio was embedded with the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and Iraqi forces in Iraq between 2005 and 2008, and with the Canadian Army in Afghanistan in 2006. From 1991 to 1997, Bill served as a signalman and infantryman in the U.S. Army and New Jersey National Guard.

The Russian air force's inability or unwillingness to gain air superiority over the whole of Ukraine against a less capable foe raises questions about its performance in a potential war against the West.

NATO air power is far superior to that of Ukraine, and would very likely savage Russian armor, ground forces and its logistical support.

NATO ground forces would exploit the Russian military's inability or unwillingness to deploy its infantry to screen against mobile anti-armor teams.

In conclusion, the Ukrainians are currently playing for time, slowly ceding ground while whittling down Russian armor and infantry.

The Russians strategy is also predicated on time; its multi-front offensives also seek to grind down Ukrainian forces and encircle them requires time to execute.

It remains be seen if time is on the Ukrainian or Russian's side. Good arguments can be made for both.

Wars are ultimately about will  the will to sacrifice soldiers, civilians, material, and land in order to set the conditions for victory. Both sides have shown they have the will to continue the fight.
A widely used food colouring that has been banned as a potential cancer risk in the EU will continue to be permitted in Britain.

Titanium dioxide, which is commonly used in paint and sunscreen lotion, can be added as a whitening agent in sweets, cakes, mayonnaise, hot cross buns and even Easter eggs.

A snapshot survey of supermarket websites found products containing the chemical, which can appear on labels as E171, are widely available.

It appears in many supermarket own-brand products along with some sold by famous names such as Mr Kipling's Angel Slices, Dr Oetker's Fairy Sprinkles Mix and Cadbury's Dairy Milk Jelly Popping Candy Chocolate Easter Egg.

The European Food Safety Authority has ordered a ban on the basis it is potentially genotoxic  a cancer risk. Some research has linked it to irritable bowel syndrome.

However, experts at Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) are confident there is no safety risk and will continue to allow it to be used.

Titanium dioxide, which is commonly used in paint and sunscreen lotion, can be added as a whitening agent in sweets, cakes, mayonnaise, hot cross buns and even Easter eggs. (stock image)

Despite this, the additive will be banned in Northern Ireland, which must fall in line with EU food safety rules as a result of Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

FSA chief executive Emily Miles told board members: 'The EU action was on the basis of the advice of the European Food Safety Authority which had raised potential concerns over accumulation of particles of the additive in the body and possible genotoxicity.'

But she said the FSA has not identified any safety concerns based on the advice of two UK expert committees on food and additives.

Despite these reassurances, FSA board members are concerned it may be difficult to explain why Britain will have different food safety rules to Europe and Northern Ireland.

Board member Margaret Gilmore said: 'It is very confusing when the EU says something is not safe and we say it is safe.

'How can we keep the public's trust onside when it comes down to a different interpretation of the science?'

The European Food Safety Authority has ordered a ban on the substance on the basis it is potentially genotoxic  a cancer risk. Some research has linked it to irritable bowel syndrome. It is also found in hot cross buns (pictured in stock image)

The EU ban was announced in October last year, but businesses have been given until August 7 for it to take effect.

The FSA said it is carrying out a safety review and will report early next year. The Food and Drink Federation, which speaks for manufacturers, referred questions to the FSA.

Many brands and UK supermarkets have decided to follow the decision of EU watchdogs and remove the ingredient. Cadbury, owned by Mondelez International, Dr Oetker and Tesco have all said they are phasing out the use of titanium dioxide.

Sainsbury's and Waitrose both said they are monitoring its use while awaiting the FSA review.

Premier Foods, which owns Mr Kipling, said it had no comment on the issue.
The first time I met Vladimir Putin in his giant office at the Kremlin in early 2006, an official directed me to a low couch with very soft cushions into which I naturally sank.

Putin sat at a high table, designed to disguise what Russia officially records as his height of 5ft 7in. He's probably only 5ft 5in if you discount the platform shoes.

The message was clear from the beginning: this was not a meeting of equals. He would look down on me and I was to have no choice but to look up to him.

From a box on his desk, he brought out file of index cards that listed my date and place of birth, parentage and current residence, all of which he started to read out.

The old KGB agent in him  cold and calculating  was intent on putting me on the defensive, suggesting he knew more about me than I knew myself.

The first time I met Vladimir Putin in his giant office at the Kremlin in early 2006, an official directed me to a low couch with very soft cushions into which I naturally sank. Pictured: Gordon Brown and Vladimir Putin at their bilateral meeting in the Kremlin in 2006

Russia watchers say he has changed since the early years of his presidency, but he was issuing threats even then. He would sell Russian oil and gas to the West only on his terms, he told me. But if we did not accept his conditions, he would sell to the East.

'East or West,' he said, 'it's your choice.'

Later that year, Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian defector, was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 in London. The official report into the death would find a 'blatant and unacceptable' breach of international law and conclude that the order to assassinate Litvinenko was 'probably' given by Putin himself.

I had no doubt he was the ringleader. We in government believed Putin was intent on murdering other opponents resident in the UK, with his agents under orders to come to Britain to start a new wave of assassinations.

We sent less-than-subtle messages, letting him know we knew he was behind these missions to kill and would not hesitate to take action in reprisal if attacks occurred.

For years, we gave day-and-night security protection to several at-risk Russians Putin had earmarked for death

For years, we gave day-and-night security protection to several at-risk Russians Putin had earmarked for death

Eleven years on, when our guard had dropped, came the Salisbury Novichok poisonings. He had never abandoned the plan to kill or maim his enemies: all he had been waiting for was the opportunity.

Our paths crossed a few times after the Litvinenko case including when he was prime minister  from 2008 to 2012  before he became president yet again.

His 'stand-in' president, Dmitry Medvedev, was soft-spoken and tried charm rather than menace, but he was never allowed to make a decision.

At meetings of international leaders, Medvedev would set out the Russian position only to find himself overruled by the next day as revised orders came through from Moscow.

Such was Putin's control over his president that at a 2009 summit, Medvedev's wife volunteered a toast  not to her husband, but to his predecessor. 'To President Putin,' she said 'Once a president, always a president'.

Eleven years on, when our guard had dropped, came the Salisbury Novichok poisonings. Pictured: Dawn Sturgess, who was killed by traces of Novichok from the Salisbury spy poisonings

My experience of the man and his methods left me in no doubt that he would continue this ruthless pattern of threatening people and countries the invasion of Georgia in 2008, the annexation of Crimea and the placing of Russian troops in the Donbas region in 2014, supporting the Assad regime in Syria... and now Ukraine.

His bombing of a theatre sheltering civilians  including many children  in Mariupol, his breach of humanitarian corridors and ceasefire deals, the threat to use chemical and even nuclear weapons that led President Biden to this week call him 'a war criminal'  none of it surprises me.

In 1997, Vladimir Putin's Russia gained membership of the Western-dominated G7 club of advanced economies, which became known as the G8. The Germans had been most keen for this to happen.

Now, he's a pariah; his country kicked out of the G8 and ever more isolated within Europe as the Germans turn against him, an embarrassment as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and so unwelcome at the G20 leader's group that he no longer attends in person.

The hope that Putin would honour the promise he made years before  that Russia would take its place in a common European home  is of course, long gone. He has chosen a different path. And as strength is all he understands, we must respond accordingly.

His bombing of a theatre sheltering civilians  including many children  in Mariupol (pictured), his breach of humanitarian corridors and ceasefire deals, the threat to use chemical and even nuclear weapons that led President Biden to this week call him 'a war criminal'  none of it surprises me

He must get the message that the long arm of international law is coming for him.

During World War II, a group of governments in exile in London showed us the way forward. They issued a declaration that Hitler and his cronies should be punished for war crimes. A trial was necessary 'to satisfy the sense of justice in the civilised world'. It led to the Nuremberg Trials.

I believe we should follow suit, by indicting President Putin and his inner circle for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Aggression is Putin's original crime: the planning, initiation and pursuit of a policy to declare and prosecute an invasion of Ukraine. Building a criminal case against him is the least we can do to respond to the bravery of the Ukrainian people and give them hope that justice will prevail.

As Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told the American Congress in a televised address on Wednesday, Ukrainian hearts are being broken every hour of the day  but the unity of Ukraine remains unbreakable. And it is the Ukrainians' resilience  and courage under fire  that has stirred the conscience of the world.

That is why pressure is growing from all continents to supplement the sanctions, travel bans, and humanitarian and military help offered to Ukraine with action to arraign Putin and his inner circle for their crimes.

Aggression is Putin's original crime: the planning, initiation and pursuit of a policy to declare and prosecute an invasion of Ukraine

Today, 140 lawyers and former world leaders, myself included, will issue a declaration calling for a special international war crimes tribunal to be set up to arrest Putin and bring him to trial. Such a tribunal would show we are serious and close off a loophole in international law that Putin could use to dodge justice.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has already begun an investigation into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Ukraine: 41 states have referred the situation to the ICC, and have asked ICC lead prosecutor, British lawyer Karim Khan QC, to open an investigation.

Such is the strength of the case against Putin that a lawyer who has previously represented Russia at the ICC and International Court of Justice has said he cannot act on Moscow's behalf, and has resigned from the legal team.

However, the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the separate charge of aggression because Russia has not signed up to the relevant statute.

So, there is a gap in international law. An international tribunal would fill that gap, creating a system in which those most responsible for the crime of aggression would be held accountable. This would be complementary to the investigation of the ICC, and would support its work.

This week, President Zelensky declared: 'We are stepping up work to bring the invaders to justice. There must be an international tribunal. And it will be... for every act of terrorism of Russian troops on the territory of our state'

A body dedicated to the crime of aggression would speed up the investigation and reinforce a sense of global solidarity. And that is what the Ukrainians want.

This week, President Zelensky declared: 'We are stepping up work to bring the invaders to justice. There must be an international tribunal. And it will be... for every act of terrorism of Russian troops on the territory of our state.'

We must move with speed, to assure people in Ukraine that we are committed to action and not just warm words. And we must make Putin's collaborators aware that the noose is tightening. If they do not distance themselves from Putin, they face prosecution and prison.

Ukraine's foreign minister has called on Western countries to support his country's request for the special tribunal. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia  countries bordering Russia and most at risk from Moscow's bullying  are likely to follow suit

It is time for governments like ours to oil the wheels of justice by appointing an interim prosecutor, based alongside the ICC in the Hague, to record all incidents which may constitute the crime of aggression.

A charge sheet itemising each crime has already been published by a group of American lawyers, starting from the decision to invade Crimea in 2014 plus sending Russian troops to Donbas.

We must move with speed, to assure people in Ukraine that we are committed to action and not just warm words. Pictured: An apartment building in Kyiv destroyed by shelling

But the crime of aggression does not end with the invasion of Ukraine: it continues with Putin's systematic attacks on the country's cities and towns, the bombing of innocent civilians and the shelling of hospitals.

The cost of Putin's war is not only to be counted in tanks destroyed, aircraft shot down, and missiles fired but in lives cut short, children maimed and the unspeakable suffering of the innocent.

The reasons given in 1942 for proposing a war crimes tribunal  and for indicting the authors of crimes against humanity in Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the 1990s  are as apposite today as they were then.

In both instances, we spoke of the need for moral leadership and argued that such a tribunal was there to 'draw a line'  the one dividing line that really matters between those who would wield a clenched fist against their neighbours and those who would extend a welcoming hand.

Today, the choice we must make is exactly the same.

It is time to match the generosity of the British people with the full force of international law. Pictured: The aftermath of shelling in Kyiv today

When the dividing line is between those like Vladimir Putin, who see the world as a never-ending struggle between the 'us' and 'them', and those who would embrace the common humanity we all share, we know what side we are on.

So strongly do the British people sympathise with Ukrainians that thousands of families have offered accommodation to refugees and many more  including Mail readers  are giving money.

They want our leaders to leave no stone unturned in humanitarian and practical efforts to help Ukraine. It is time to match the generosity of the British people with the full force of international law.

In just two days, an online petition backing a tribunal has already gained more than 750,000 signatures. From Britain  which rightly prides itself on democracy and the rule of law  the message must go out. At Nuremberg we held the Nazi war criminals to account. Eight decades on, we must ensure there will be a day of reckoning for Putin.
John Bercow claimed thousands in taxpayers' cash to put his wife on furlough during the pandemic  while the couple had 400,000 in their firm's bank account.

The former Commons speaker  found to be a 'serial bully' and a 'serial liar' by the parliamentary watchdog in a coruscating report  used the scheme to claim for his wife, Sally, who provides 'administrative support' to the company.

Official documents reveal he dipped into the employment support scheme in each of the ten months for which the Government has published figures.

Each claim was in the category from 1 to 10,000, but Mr Bercow insisted the total figure claimed is 'well under 10,000'.

The claim was made by the couple's company, Fedhead Ltd, through which he appears to funnel payments for public speaking.

John Bercow claimed thousands in taxpayers' cash to put his wife on furlough during the pandemic  while the couple had 400,000 in their firm's bank account. The former Commons speaker  found to be a 'serial bully' and a 'serial liar' by the parliamentary watchdog in a coruscating report  used the scheme to claim for his wife, Sally (pictured together), who provides 'administrative support' to the company

Mr Bercow (above in 2019) was one of the top earners in the Commons with a salary of 155,000, and now takes home a final salary pension of 35,000 from the taxpayer every year

It had more than 400,000 in the bank in March 2021  12 months after the start of the pandemic.

It is impossible to say exactly how much the couple paid themselves through this period because of the type of accounts Fedhead uses.

Asked if Mr Bercow and his wife had paid the cash back after continuing to make healthy profits throughout Covid, his representative declined to comment.

Harry Fone, of the Taxpayers' Alliance campaign group, said: 'Many taxpayers will be angered that a wealthy individual such as Mr Bercow is claiming furlough, especially when some businesses have rejected or at least repaid furlough funds  they should serve as an example to others.

'Taxpayers will have long memories of those that helped in the national effort and those that didn't.'

Mr Bercow was one of the top earners in the Commons with a salary of 155,000, and now takes home a final salary pension of 35,000 from the taxpayer every year.

On leaving parliament in November 2019, he joined elite speaking agency JLA.

Mr Bercow makes between 5,000 and 10,000 for every talk he gives to businesses and appears to move his earnings into Fedhead Ltd, which he set up on quitting politics.

The couple live in a 950,000 townhouse in Battersea, south London, and are said to have made an estimated 750,000 selling three other properties that they lived in with taxpayer support through his time as an MP.

Mr Bercow also made full use of parliamentary expenses, spending 31,000 of taxpayers' cash refurbishing his grace-and-favour Westminster apartment, including a claim for 80 for a 'large clock' in 2011.

Official documents reveal Mr Bercow dipped into the employment support scheme in each of the ten months for which the Government has published figures. Each claim was in the category from 1 to 10,000, but Mr Bercow insisted the total figure claimed is 'well under 10,000'. The claim was made by the couple's company, Fedhead Ltd, through which he appears to funnel payments for public speaking

The couple are the only employees of Fedhead, which appears to be set up to simply manage their income.

The firm, which does not state the exact nature of its business, is 76 per cent owned by Mr Bercow with the rest belonging to his wife, who has starred on Celebrity Big Brother.

But it is not clear how many businesses will be lining up to invite him as a speaker after he was banned from Parliament for life earlier this month over 21 claims of bullying.

An investigation found bullying rules had been 'breached repeatedly and extensively by the most senior member of the House of Commons'.

It suggested that 'his conduct brought the high office of Speaker into disrepute', adding: 'No person at work however senior, indeed particularly such a senior figure, should behave in this way. This was an abuse of power.'

The former Tory MP who defected to Labour was suspended after the 89-page report by Parliament's independent expert panel found he had hurled a mobile phone at staff, sworn at officials and made racially and sexually offensive remarks.

It said he had been 'a serial bully' and 'a serial liar'.

Mr Bercow denied bullying and dismissed the report as a 'travesty of justice' in an astonishing 800-word statement.

Responding to the furlough claims, a spokesman for Mr Bercow said: 'In line with employees across the country, Sally was furloughed for the administrative support she provides to Fedhead Ltd for the duration of the pandemic, as Fedhead's normal activities were rightfully put on pause in line with Government rules.

'Well under 10,000 was claimed in total.'
South Carolina has given the greenlight to firing-squad executions, a method codified into state law last year after a decade-long pause in carrying out death sentences, because of the states inability to procure lethal injection drugs.

The state Corrections Department said Friday that renovations have been completed on the death chamber in Columbia and that the agency had notified Attorney General Alan Wilson that it was able to carry out a firing-squad execution.

The state had officially blocked executions last May after its new capital punishment law allowed death row inmates to choose death by electrocutions, lethal injection or firing squad, with the state not having the proper procedures in place for the later two options.

It allowed death row inmates Brad Sigmon and Freddie Owens, both convicted murderers, to delay their executions for a lack of options, but if the state Supreme Court approves the new firing squad policies, they could be the first to be executed by the method in 12 years.

South Carolina is ready to use firing squads to carry out executions after the state put a moratorium on the process when it could only provide deaths by the electric chair last year

Death row inmates Brad Sigmon (left) and Freddie Owens, both convicted murderers, had asked for death by lethal injection last year and said death by the electric chair was 'cruel and unusual.' The men will now have a choice to die by a firing squad

The state spent $53,600 to upgrade its facilities to allow for death by firing squad at the Capital Punishment Facility at Broad River Correctional Institution, in Columbia

SOUTH CAROLINA'S DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD PROTOCOL Three firing squad members will be behind the wall, with rifles facing the inmate through the opening. The rifles and open portal will not be visible from the witness room. All three rifles will be loaded with live ammunition. The witnesses will see the right-side profile of the inmate. The inmate will not face the witness room directly. The electric chair faces the witnesses directly. The inmate will wear a prison-issued uniform and be escorted into the chamber. The inmate will be given the opportunity to make a last statement. The inmate will be strapped into the chair, and a hood will be placed over his head. A small aim point will be placed over his heart by a member of the execution team. After the warden reads the execution order, the team will fire. After the shots, a doctor will examine the inmate. After the inmate is declared dead, the curtain will be drawn and witnesses escorted out. Advertisement

According to officials, the death chamber now also includes a metal chair, with restraints, in the corner of the room in which inmates will sit if they choose execution by firing squad. That chair faces a wall with a rectangular opening, 15 feet away, through which the three shooters will fire their weapons.

State officials also have created protocols for carrying out the executions. The three shooters, all volunteers who are employees of the Corrections Department, will have rifles loaded with live ammunition, with their weapons trained on the inmate's heart.

A hood will be placed over the head of the inmate, who will be given the opportunity to make a last statement.

According to officials, Corrections spent $53,600 on the renovations.

South Carolina is one of eight states to still use the electric chair and one of four to allow a firing squad, according to the Washington-based nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center.

Lawmakers set about tweaking state law to get around the lethal injection drug situation as countries who supplied the chemicals for the lethal cocktail condemned their use for executions in the U.S.

During South Carolinas lengthy debate, Democratic state Sen. Dick Harpootlian - a prosecutor-turned-criminal defense lawyer - introduced the firing squad option.

He argued that it presented 'the least painful' execution method available.

'The death penalty is going to stay the law here for a while,' Harpootlian said. 'If we're going to have it, it ought to be humane.'

A similar argument was brought up for two Oklahoma death row inmates, Donald Grant and Gilbert Postelle, who agreed to choose death by firing squad over the electric chair in February.

'While it may be gruesome to look at, we all agree it will be quicker,' Jim Stronski, the inmate's attorney said during a court hearing last month.

Dr. James Williams, an emergency medicine specialist from Texas, told the Oklahoma court that death from at least 'four high-powered rifles' would deliver a blow to the heat so quickly that 'an inmate wouldn't feel pain,' NPR reported.

Both Grant and Postelle's pleas were rejected by a U.S. District Judge.

Last year, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from Missouri death row inmate Ernest Johnson who had asked the state to allow him to choose death by firing squad because lethal injections would cause him excruciating pain, The New York Times reported.

Oklahoma death row inmates Donald Grant (left) and Gilbert Postelle had asked for death by firing squad last month. Their plea was rejected by a U.S. District Judge.

The Supreme Court rejected Alabama death row inmate Tommy Arthur's' request to die by firing squad over a lethal injection in 2017. He was executed by lethal injection later that year

In 2017, The high court rejected Alabama death row inmate Tommy Arthur's' request to die by firing squad over a lethal injection due to a series of botched executions using the later method.

Arthur, who had killed his girlfriend's husband in 1982, was executed later that year by lethal injection.

South Carolina, Utah and Oklahoma are the only states that allow death by firing squad.

South Carolina's plans to execute Sigmon and Owens, the court wrote in an unanimous order, were on hold 'due to the statutory right of inmates to elect the manner of their execution.'

Prisons officials had previously said they still couldn't obtain lethal injection drugs and have yet to put together a firing squad, leaving the 109-year-old electric chair as the only option.

Now that a firing squad has been formed, the court will need to issue a new order for any execution to be carried out.

The executions were scheduled less than a month after the passage of the new law.

Sigmon was sentenced to death in 2002 for the murder of David and Gladys Larke in 2001.

Owens was sentenced to death in 1999 for the murders of Irene Graves in 1997 and for killing fellow inmate Christopher Lee.

Attorneys for the two men argued in legal filings that death by electrocution is cruel and unusual, saying the new law moves the state toward less humane execution methods.

They have also said the men have the right to die by lethal injection - the method both of them chose - and that the state hasn't exhausted all methods to procure lethal injection drugs.

Representatives for Sigmon and Owens did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Lawyers for the state have maintained that prisons officials are simply carrying out the law, and that the U.S. Supreme Court has never found electrocution to be unconstitutional.

The last person to be sentenced to death by firing squad was Ronnie Lee Gardner, of Utah, in 2010. Gardner had said he preferred to die by the method

South Carolinas last execution took place in 2011, and its batch of lethal injection drugs expired two years later. There are 37 men on the states death row.

Utah is the only state in the past 40 years to carry out death by firing squad, with the most recent sentence carried out in 2010 against Ronnie Lee Gardner, who killed a bartender and then shot a lawyer to death and wounded a bailiff during a 1985 courthouse escape.

Utah adopted lethal injection as the default execution method in 2004, but Gardner was still allowed to choose the controversial firing squad option because he was sentenced before the law changed.

He told his lawyer he did it because he preferred it - not because he wanted the controversy surrounding the execution to draw attention to his case.
Our record-breaking appeal to help the people of Ukraine has soared past 8million  after a torrent of cheques from generous Mail readers.

In a magnificent response to the humanitarian crisis, kind-hearted readers have sent more than 60,000 cheques to support the Mail Force fundraiser.

A team of 30 people at the charitys finance HQ has been working overtime to open envelopes all week  and there are still thousands of cheques yet to be counted.

The sums donated range from 15p to 20,000 and are accompanied by heartfelt messages that have moved staff to tears.

Many of the notes are handwritten by readers who lived through the Second World War and never imagined theyd see such horror in Europe again.

A woman cradles a girl in a gym of an academic institution in western Ukraine where almost 300 internally displaced persons who fled the Russian invasion are staying

Ukrainian people embrace as they arrive in Athens from Ukraine by bus, a journey that lasts at least 36 hours

Yvonne Thickett, 84, of Hessle in East Yorkshire, gave 100 and said: I clearly remember the horrors of World War II. The appalling destruction and suffering in Ukraine is murder.

Jane Powell from Builth Wells in Wales, wrote: Like many I remember World War II. I am horrified at what is happening in Ukraine. What brave people. I cannot write any more, for the tears in my eyes.

Margaret Roberts, 90, from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, donated 20 with her husband Derek.

She wrote: I still remember running for shelter at night with my baby brother bouncing along in a pram while the bombs were dropping. It is heartbreaking to see it again.

A girl draws while lying on a mattress in a gym of an academic institution in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia region, western Ukraine

And an unnamed reader, who turns 100 this year, added: I want for nothing. You need everything. Good luck.

Younger generations have also dug deep to support the appeal. A note from Aoife, ten, and nine-year-old Paddy read: To all of those struggling, I wish you well. Have faith, we are praying for you.

A grandmother, who did not give her name, also wrote on behalf of her 11-year-old grandson who chose to donate 5 from his pocket money saved up over ten weeks.

The astonishing total raised includes a 500,000 donation from the Mails parent company DMGT, at the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere.
Russia has been using phone data captured by its spies operating in the UK to target British former special forces teams in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has compiled a database of mobile phone numbers in a top secret operation  and this information is being used to decide where to launch missile attacks.

The numbers and accompanying personal data were gathered by spies near some of the UK's most sensitive military sites, including the headquarters of the Special Boat Service (SBS) and Special Air Service (SAS). GRU officers  Russia's equivalent of MI6  used the latest scanning technology to detect the smartphones, such as iPhones, which soldiers typically turn on after leaving their bases.

The moment a mobile phone joins a local network  known as 'the handshake'  their numbers are revealed to the Russian agents.

The Kremlin has compiled a database of mobile phone numbers in a top secret operation  and this information is being used to decide where to launch missile attacks (stock image)

Some of these have later appeared on Ukraine's phone network, which has been hacked by Russia, the Daily Mail understands. And last night, security experts said Russia's use of this mobile data posed a significant threat.

The Mail has also obtained an urgent security notice shared among former military personnel with close links to the SBS and SAS. Officially, they no longer belong to these Special Forces units.

However, they have been deployed to Ukraine as volunteers to train the country's troops, assist with the delivery of Western weapons and in humanitarian capacities.

The notice said: 'If a single phone hits the network in Ukraine that has just once been seen before in the vicinity of Hamworthy, Credenhill (and any number of other establishments), this is instantly visible to Russia.

'If two or more appear, that is an IMMEDIATE missile target. It does not matter if this is an aid camp, it will not appear that way to Russian forces.' Hamworthy in Poole, Dorset, is where the SBS is based, while the SAS is at Credenhill, Herefordshire.

The notice added: 'The informality of this deployment means that operational security is out of the window.' It concludes by urging officers not to use a phone that has been used near a UK military or government establishment.

The numbers and accompanying personal data were gathered by spies near some of the UK's most sensitive military sites, including the headquarters of the Special Boat Service (SBS) and Special Air Service (SAS). GRU officers  Russia's equivalent of MI6  used the latest scanning technology to detect the smartphones, such as iPhones, which soldiers typically turn on after leaving their bases. Pictured: A destroyed building after shelling in Kyiv today

The Ministry of Defence insists no serving UK troops have been deployed to Ukraine in accordance with Nato's stance not to engage directly with Russian forces.

Scanners, which can be purchased online, can identify smart devices within a coverage area and will record all handshakes.

Wifi penetration equipment capable of performing a range of 'wireless attacks' on networks are also available. A person's home wifi system can also be targeted to provide access to data.

Last night, former UK intelligence officer Philip Ingram said: 'Russia will have intelligence capabilities in Ukraine monitoring the mobile phone networks for foreign registered devices and will compare data with records held centrally.

'Modern mobile devices are perfect target locating beacons for an enemy, even if you think you have turned off all location trackers. Awareness of this threat among UK military personnel is poor.

'Harvesting of phone data could easily have been done by covert visits by Russian intelligence officers to the vicinity of bases. Gaining access is easy using inexpensive hacking equipment.

The Ministry of Defence insists no serving UK troops have been deployed to Ukraine in accordance with Nato's stance not to engage directly with Russian forces. Pictured: Destroyed buildings after shelling in Kyiv today

'Targets for Russian intelligence gathering in the UK will have included military bases, military accommodation and contractors.' It emerged in 2020 that SAS troops, who are supposed to remain anonymous, were inadvertently revealing their identities on fitness-tracking apps such as Strava, which has 50 million users worldwide.

The investigative website Bellingcat obtained sensitive information from Strava, which allows users to map their runs, on troops who were exercising at the SAS's base.

They found the identities of 14 personnel in just five minutes. In 2018, a security alert was issued at every British military base after a camera team from a Moscow-funded television channel was caught 'spying' at the UK's secret cyber warfare headquarters.

Troops were ordered to urgently contact police if they spotted the reporter or cameraman from the Russian state broadcaster.

It came after they were seen repeatedly driving around the perimeter of the 77th Brigade's headquarters in Berkshire.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment last night.
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More than 1,300 people including women and babies are still feared trapped in the bombed ruins of a theatre in the besieged city of Mariupol as rescue efforts are hampered by constant Russian shelling.

The helpless casualties were yesterday forced to spend a third night entombed in the basement of the destroyed Drama Theatre which was hit by Vladimir Putin's forces on Wednesday.

Their prospects of survival are growing bleaker by the day, with no supplies and Russian troops firing at rescuers trying to dig through the rubble.

Last night a local MP said those inside were forced to dig from within the wreckage because rescue attempts had been thwarted by ongoing airstrikes.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who branded Russia's attack as 'outright terror', last night vowed to continue the rescue mission.

'Hundreds of Mariupol residents are still under the debris. Despite the shelling, despite all the difficulties, we will continue the rescue work,' he said.

Russian troops have now reached the city centre and civilians remain hiding in bunkers while fighters battle on the streets.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko said: 'Tanks and machine gun battles continue. There's no city centre left. There isn't a small piece of land in the city that doesn't have signs of war.'

The devastating losses across Ukraine have sparked a poignant protest in Lviv, where 109 empty prams were arranged in solemn rows to mark the number of children killed since Russia invaded.

More than 1,300 people including women and babies are still feared trapped in the bombed ruins of a theatre in the besieged city of Mariupol (pictured)

The helpless casualties were yesterday forced to spend a third night entombed in the basement of the destroyed Drama Theatre which was hit by Vladimir Putin's forces on Wednesday

Residents are seen on the street after emerging from bomb shelters, gathering their belongings as they prepare to flee the city

109 empty baby carriages on display in Lviv city center for the 109 babies killed so far during Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Pictured: The aftermath of a theatre in the encircled Ukrainian port city of Mariupol where hundreds of civilians were sheltering on Wednesday March 16

A woman and her baby are pictured fleeing the city of Mariupol along a humanitarian corridor that was opened on Thursday, though previous attempts have failed after Russians shelled the routes

Local residents seeking refuge in the basement of a building are seen in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol

Local authorities said more than 130 survivors have emerged from the rubble of the Mariupol theatre which was being used as the ravaged port city's biggest civilian bomb shelter.

But they said that those saved represented just one tenth of the civilians still trapped within the refuge which miraculously withstood the blast.

Ukraine's human rights commissioner Lyudmyla Denisova said: 'According to our data there are still more than 1,300 people there who are in these basements, in that bomb shelter. We pray that they will be alive but so far there is no information about them.'

Former governor MP Serhiy Taruta said he fears many survivors will die because the city's emergency services have been destroyed by Russian troops.

'Services that are supposed to help are demolished, rescue and utility services are physically destroyed. This means that all the survivors of the bombing will either die under the ruins of the theatre, or have already died,' he wrote on Facebook.

An aerial view shows smoke rising from damaged residential buildings following an explosion in Mariupol on Friday

An aerial view shows residential buildings which were damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol

A woman weeps after seeing the ruins of her destroyed block of flat in Mariupol, which is under bombardment by Russia

Women seek refuge in the basement of a building in Mariupol, which has been under Russian bombardment for weeks

A heavily bombed building is seen in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, after being destroyed by Russian shelling of the city

The haunting spectacle shows the human tragedy at the centre of the conflict: Families torn apart by war

In its sunlit cobbled central square, one Ukrainian city hosts a poignant protest at the innocent lives lost in the fighting

Evacuees fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict sit in a damaged car as they wait in a line to leave the besieged port city of Mariupol

He said those trapped had been left to dig their way out of the collapsed three-storey building.

'People are doing everything themselves. My friends went to help but due to constant shelling it was not safe.'

However Mariupol MP Dmytro Gurin insisted that while the rescue mission had been hampered by constant Russian attacks, efforts were still under way.

One woman said the strike had taken place while those sheltering beneath the theatre were cooking and only around 100 had time to flee.

Nick Osychenko, the CEO of a Mariupol TV station, said as he fled the city with six members of his family, aged between 4 and 61, he saw dead bodies on nearly every block.

'We were careful and didn't want the children to see the bodies, so we tried to shield their eyes,' he said. 'We were nervous the whole journey. It was frightening, just frightening.'

Feared Chechen special forces are fighting house-to-house in besieged Mariupol while 'hundreds' of women and children remain trapped in the rubble of a city theatre destroyed by Russian invaders

The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians

Video released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers

Russia has denied responsibility for the devastating strike which was branded a 'war crime' and sparked global outrage.

After an agonising first night of uncertainty following the bombing, Ukrainian officials revealed on Thursday that they were hopeful that the majority within had survived.

Rescuers said that while the entrance to the basement had caved in, the relatively modern shelter had remained intact.

But Miss Denisova said that while some had survived, the situation remained unclear.

She said there was 'currently no information about the dead or wounded under the rubble' and called the attack 'an act of genocide and a terrible crime against humanity'.

Ukraine's Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov branded the Russian pilot behind the bombing a 'monster'.

Vladimir Putin has given a tub-thumping address to tens of thousands of Russians gathered at Moscow's world cup stadium, celebrating his invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and drumming up support for his new war

Putin spoke in front of a crowd tens of thousands strong at the Luzhniki World Cup stadium in Moscow, one of the few times he has been seen in public since launching his invasion 23 days ago

Putin used the rally to peddle falsehoods about why the war started and to shill a narrative of Russia's battlefield success, speaking of 'how our guys are fighting during this operation, shoulder to shoulder, helping each other'

Putin called the rally to mark the eighth anniversary of 'annexing' Crimea, speaking of 'de-Nazifying' the peninsula and of debunked claims of 'genocide' in the Donbass

But the Kremlin's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya yesterday denied that Russia had targeted the shelter.

Meanwhile feared Chechen special forces are fighting house-to-house in the besieged port city.

Video said to have been released by pro-Putin Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows heavily armed fighters from the region pounding a high-rise building in the bombed-out city during a fierce gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers.

The propaganda video then cuts before showing some of the Chechen fighters emerging from the building with children in their arms while supposedly 'liberating' civilians.

Russia's defence ministry said on Friday that its troops have now entered the city and are fighting in the centre, amid fears that it could soon fall into Putin's hands after three weeks of shelling weakened the defences. If the city does fall, it will be the largest captured so-far - albeit at the cost of near-totally destroying it.

Svitlana Zlenko, who said she left the city with her son on Tuesday this week, described how she spent days sheltering in a school building - melting snow to cook pasta to eat while living in constant terror of Russian bombs which flew overhead 'every day and every night'.

She described how a bomb hit the school last week, wounding a woman in the hip with a piece of shrapnel. 'She was lying on the first floor of the high school all night and prayed for poison so that she would not feel pain,' Svitlana said. '[She] was taken by the Red Cross within a day, I pray to God she is well.'

She added: 'There is no food, no medicine, if there is no snow with such urban fights, people will not be able to go out to get water, people have no water left. Pharmacies, grocery stores - everything is robbed or burned.

'The dead are not taken out. Police recommend to the relatives of those who died of a natural death, to open the windows and lay the bodies on the balcony. I know you think you understand, but you will never understand unless you were there. I pray that this will not happen again in any of the cities of Ukraine, or of the world.'

Despite the pleas, shelling was well underway in other Ukrainian cities on Friday - with Lviv, in the west of the country, the capital Kyiv, and Kharkiv, in the east, coming under fire.

The war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin ground into its fourth week as his troops have failed to take Kyiv - a major objective in their hopes of forcing a settlement or dictating the country's future political alignments.

But back home in Moscow, Putin today gave a tub-thumping speech to tens of thousands of banner-waving Russians in an attempt to drum up support for his stalled invasion.
The sole carer of a woman has been charged with murder after her emaciated body was found in Sydney's south-west, police say.

Paramedics went to a Greenacre home on Friday morning to respond to a medical episode.

They alerted police after they found what authorities described as 'the body of a severely-emaciated 60-year-old woman'.

Officers arrived and arrested an 82-year-old man, the woman's sole carer, taking him to Bankstown Police Station where they charged him with murder.

The Greenacre man was held in custody and expected to face Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

It's understood the man and the woman were not family members.




PHNOM PENH, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A team of 10 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts arrived here in the capital of Cambodia Wednesday evening to help the southeast Asian nation fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team was warmly welcomed by Cambodian health ministry's secretary of state Oeun Boraroth and Wu Guoquan, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia, at the Phnom Penh International Airport upon their arrival.

Boraroth said the experts will carry out medical tasks at the Cambodia China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh.

"The TCM experts will play an important role in sharing China's experience in treating COVID-19 patients with Cambodian doctors," he told reporters, adding that they will also carry out the clinical diagnosis and treatment of other diseases.

He said more TCM experts will be dispatched to Cambodia in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Boraroth expressed his profound gratitude to China for having provided a large number of TCMs to Cambodia, saying that they are very efficacious to treat COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.

"Traditional Chinese medicines are very useful. A lot of patients have recovered after using them," he said.

The medical team was organized by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and selected by the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Two TCM experts have arrived in Cambodia ahead of the team to carry out medical assistance work.

Some of them used to be the frontline doctors during the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Wu said the state-level TCM medical team would train Cambodian medical professionals on how to treat COVID-19 patients using TCMs.

"You are all not only doctors who save lives and heal the wounded, but also the builders of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future," he said.

He said TCMs, namely Lianhua Qingwen capsules and Huashi Baidu granules, have been licensed to use for treating symptoms of COVID-19 patients in Cambodia, and they are very popular here and in other countries.

"Facts have proved that traditional Chinese medicines are safe and highly efficacious," Wu said.

Xu Fengqin, one of the TCM experts, said she was very pleased to be selected for such a vital mission in Cambodia.

"We hope that China's experience and TCM technology will help Cambodia to treat COVID-19 patients more effectively," she said.

Cambodia has fully resumed its socio-economic activities in all sectors and reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine since mid-November last year after most of its population have been inoculated against the COVID-19.

The country reported 140 new cases and one fatality on Wednesday, bringing the national total caseload to 134,492, with 3,049 deaths and 130,028 recoveries, the health ministry said.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service








Ministers are poised to relax planning rules for onshore wind farms, despite warnings it will spark a rural backlash.

Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to double the rate at which new wind power is installed in the UK as part of a push for renewable energy in response to the Ukraine crisis.

A Whitehall source said the scale of the ambition  to be set out in a new energy security strategy next week  is too great to be met by offshore wind alone.

'We are going to need some more onshore wind,' the source said.

Ministers are poised to relax planning rules for onshore wind farms, despite warnings it will spark a rural backlash. (File image)

Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to double the rate at which new wind power is installed in the UK as part of a push for renewable energy in response to the Ukraine crisis. (Above, the PM visits the Scottish Power Carland Cross Windfarm in Newquay, Cornwall, in June 2021)

'It is clearly the cheapest renewable energy available and it is also the quickest to install.

Shell revives its bid for new North Sea gas field Shell has revived its plan to open a major new North Sea gas field as ministers scramble to reduce dependence on foreign energy. The energy giant's initial proposal for the Jackdaw field was rejected by regulators last year on environmental grounds, but has been amended. It comes as the Government has promised to boost the North Sea in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Jackdaw could supply 6.5 per cent of the UK's gas output. Shell aims to have it in production by the end of 2025. The latest version of Shell's plan will be subject to a 30-day consultation and will then be reviewed to the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning. A final decision on the project could be made in three months. Advertisement

'We have basically had a moratorium on onshore wind for the last seven years. But a lot has changed and that is no longer sustainable.

'If we are going to diversify away from Russian oil and gas and produce more green power in the UK quickly then we have to look at every option, and that includes ending the effective moratorium on onshore wind.'

Applications to install onshore wind farms in England have slumped by 96 per cent since the rules were tightened in 2015 in response to opposition from Tory MPs and countryside campaigners.

Next week's strategy will include a review of strict planning rules which make it almost impossible to get approval for onshore sites.

A Government source said the move was 'the single biggest change' in the new strategy.

But the plan is likely to prove highly controversial.

Former energy minister Sir John Hayes, who drove through the 2015 restrictions, last night urged ministers not to relax the rules or risk upsetting 'very large numbers of voters'.

He told the Daily Mail: 'There is really very little to be said for onshore wind farms.

'They do enormous damage to the character of the countryside and the landscape, there are real questions about their impact on wildlife and even human health, they reduce house prices and, most of all, the transmission costs in getting the energy from often remote areas to where it is needed mean they are very inefficient.'

The energy security strategy has not yet been signed off by ministers and could yet slip until later this month.

Other elements will include:

Issuing at least six licences to exploit new gas and oil fields in the North Sea;

A pledge to review the science around fracking to establish whether it is possible to extract shale gas without the risk of causing earth tremors;

Approval in principle for a third new nuclear power station on Anglesey;

Extending the life of the Sizewell B nuclear plant by up to 20 years, along with shorter extensions for existing coal-fired plants;

Giving the green light to the development of major 'solar farms' on agricultural land.

Shell has revived its plan to open a major new North Sea gas field as ministers scramble to reduce dependence on foreign energy. It comes as the Government has promised to boost the North Sea in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. (Above, the aftermath of an explosion in Lviv, western Ukraine, on Friday)

The Prime Minister hinted at the new push for wind power this week during a trip to the Gulf.

Mr Johnson said moving away from Russian oil and gas would mean a 'massive jump forward on renewables' as well as 'more nuclear and using our own hydrocarbons more effectively'.

Trade body RenewableUK has called on ministers to double the amount of onshore wind  equal to installing a further 11,000 turbines.

Its chief Dan McGrail said: 'Under the current system, unlike other planning applications, onshore wind projects in England can be rejected if one single person objects to them going ahead that needs to change if we're serious about securing our energy independence and reaching net zero as fast as possible.'
Thursday, December 3, 2020 and a 15-year-old schoolgirl arrives at her inner-London school for a mock exam; a scene played out across the country as pupils prepare for their GCSEs.

Only here, the day is about to take a disturbing turn. Teachers believe they can detect the strong smell of cannabis on this high-achiever. Concerned she might be carrying weed, they question her but she denies using or having any drugs. Still, they ask to search her bag, blazer, scarf and shoes, but nothing of significance is found.

That, however, is not the end of it.

Teachers believe they have smelled cannabis on her before. Someone she knows was previously excluded from the school for drugs.

So they seek advice from the Safer Schools Police Officer. Off-site because of Covid-19 restrictions, however, he recommends the school call 101 and ask for a female officer to attend.

Instead, four Met police officers turn up, two male and two female, to deal with one pupil. The teenager is escorted to the school medical room.

Worried about missing her exam, the black teenager  who is on her period  does everything she is told without complaint, but remains adamant she has no illegal substances on her.

She is not believed. Instead, she is subjected to a naked strip-search by the two female officers under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, as if she were a suspected adult criminal.

No drugs are found on her, nor in the room she had been waiting in, which is also searched.

Distressed and humiliated, the schoolgirl is not even allowed to go to the bathroom afterwards before being sent back to her exam.

During the search, shed been asked to remove her underwear and sanitary pad for a visual inspection of intimate parts of the body.

Now imagine this was your 15-year-old daughter, niece or grandchild. As a parent you might expect a phone call from the school and be given the opportunity to be present or challenge the decision to carry out such an intrusive search.

How would any parent feel for their child to arrive home by taxi later that day so distressed she needs to be taken straight to her GP, who refers the teenager for psychological support?

But, as a review  headed by Independent Child Safeguarding Commissioner Jim Gamble  this week revealed, this is exactly what happened to someones child in one London school.

Initiated by the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership, the review panel was of the overwhelming opinion the search was unjustified and that the teenager, referred to as Child Q, had been exposed to a traumatic incident and had suffered harm.

The child is said to be so disturbed by the experience she has self-harmed and the change in her, from a happy-go-lucky girl to a recluse has been profound.

As she explained in her written account: Someone walked into the school, where I was supposed to feel safe, took me away from the people who were supposed to protect me and stripped me naked, while on my period.

I cant go a single day without wanting to scream, shout, cry or just give up.

I feel like Im locked in a box, and no one can see or cares that I just want to go back to feeling safe, my box is collapsing, and no one wants to help. I dont know if Im going to feel normal again. I dont know how long it will take to repair my box. But I do know this cant happen to anyone, ever again. The most disturbing question raised by the report is this: would this teen have been strip-searched had she been white?

A black schoolgirl who was strip-searched by police while on her period after she was wrongly suspected of smelling of cannabis has launched legal action against Scotland Yard

The childs family are convinced not, while the review panel concluded: Racism (whether deliberate or not) was likely to have been an influencing factor in the decision to undertake a strip search.

The report, which makes eight findings, adds: The review is clear that the strip search should never have happened and there was no reasonable justification of it.

Police officers can carry out such searches, if they have reasonable grounds to suspect, but the PACE code states searches involving exposure of intimate parts must not be conducted as a routine extension of a less thorough search, simply because nothing is found in the course of the initial search.

In this instance, the panel indicated, officers had carried out the search based on what theyd been told and not because the pupil was acting in a way which might lead them to reasonably suspect she was in possession of any drugs.

The familys solicitor Chanel Dolcy said this week: This case is indicative of the adultification of black children undertaken by state authorities. The findings have recognised it is unlikely Child Q would have been treated in this degrading way had she not been black.

Police in Hackney have since apologised, admitting the search took place without the presence of an appropriate adult.

Detective Superintendent Dan Rutland of the Mets Central East Command said: We recognise the findings of the safeguarding review reflect that this incident should never have happened. It is truly regrettable and, on behalf of the Met Police, I would like to apologise to the child concerned, her family and the wider community.

It is wholly right that the actions of officers are held to scrutiny and we welcome this review which was commissioned by the statutory partnership with the support of police. We have reminded local officers of the appropriate policies around searches in schools.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, to which the family made a formal complaint in January 2021, is ongoing. The Met Police Service voluntarily referred itself to the IOPC in May last year and three constables were served with notices that they were under investigation for misconduct.

But once again the Met Police finds itself the focus of intense scrutiny over the conduct of some of its officers and facing accusations of institutionalised racism.

In a letter to the review, Child Qs mother wrote: Do you think it appropriate for a black girl to be searched without a parent or family member? Would you allow your child to be strip-searched and questioned without consent?

Why doesnt my child deserve the same rights as every other? Is this because they think she is a girl with no respect for adults and no fear of consequences or because she is a black child in a poor city area?

Her maternal aunt wrote that her niece, before the search, was doing exceptionally well at school, top of the class and getting praised every day for her good work and good conduct.

She added: The family dont believe officers would have treated a Caucasian girl child that way.

And what of the school, which carried out an investigation following a formal complaint?

The review found the teachers demonstrated good curiosity and an alertness to potential indicators of risk when responding to concerns of the smell of cannabis.

However, school staff  it added  deferred to the authority of the police when they should have been more challenging  seeking clarity about the actions they intended to take and mindful of their duties to uphold the interests of children.

They had insufficient focus on the safeguarding needs of Child Q, but the review concluded it was unlikely the school was informed by the attending police officers of the intention to strip-search her.

People outside Stoke Newington Police Station in London, protesting over the treatment of Child Q, the black 15-year-old schoolgirl who was strip-searched by police while on her period

A child had never been strip-searched on the school premises before, nor  as far as anyone is aware  in any other local school.

It appears to have been a highly irregular occurrence, but can the same be said of the way black and ethnic minority communities are treated outside schools?

During 2020/2021 there were 299 further searches  which includes strip-search activity  conducted in Hackney by the Mets Central East Basic Command Unit.

The review panel found that over this period 25 children under the age of 18 were subject to further searches. Nineteen were male and 18 were handcuffed. The reasons for the search primarily related to suspicions about drugs, followed by weapons and stolen property.

Twenty-two of the searches, 88 per cent, were negative and no further action was recorded in 20. Fifteen of the children searched were black, two white, six Asian and two Arab or North African.

Human rights solicitor Lawrence Davies, director of London law firm Equal Justice, told the Mail of an incident where a black boy aged ten was allegedly grilled by Met officers while walking home from his primary school in North London, in November 2020.

He said: The boy was in Muswell Hill and had almost reached home when he was stopped by officers and asked what he was doing.

White pupils walked by while he was questioned, which left him distraught. When his parents rang to complain, the police claimed they had been concerned for his welfare.

Racial profiling is creeping into the operational approach of the police towards London communities. Child Q is the latest case.

Commander Dr Alison Heydari of the Mets Frontline Policing yesterday added that action had been taken to refresh the understanding of officers of policy for conducting a further search, with advice around dealing with schools to ensure children are treated as children.
Black people suffer from a stereotype that they have to be Left-wing, according to the author of a race report castigated by the Left.

Tony Sewell, chairman of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, said the 'race industry' was unable to accept that not all black people had the same views.

He published a controversial report last year that concluded Britain was not an institutionally racist country.

Earlier this week the Mail revealed he had had the offer of an honorary degree from Nottingham University rescinded as a result of the debate around the report.

Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch said it was an example of how ethnic minorities can be 'silenced'.

Dr Sewell, who was appointed commission chairman by Boris Johnson in June 2020, argued in his report that strong families and belief in success rather than victimhood were the best way forward.

Tony Sewell (pictured), chairman of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, said the 'race industry' was unable to accept that not all black people had the same views.

'There is an issue here about a black person being able to have a range of views the race industry may not be comfortable with,' he said.

'There's almost a stereotype that we have to be centre-Left in everything we think and do.

'We're not allowed to think out of that space whether we're saying family is important, that looking at issues of disparity is complex or interrogating notions like white privilege and institutional racism instead of having them as given facts.'

Referring to the withdrawal of his degree, Dr Sewell said: 'I thought that's what university scholars did  they interrogate the data.

'I had thought, "Should I go down a legal ground to challenge this?"

'Then I thought, "I don't want to beg for an honorary degree". That's why it's called an honorary degree.

'It's something you get because people give it to you in good grace. So I left it.

'I decided to go public because I don't want it to happen to other people.

'It's clear the criterion people were using was a political one and it's very dangerous for universities to do that.'

Dr Sewell said he had sought an explanation from the university's registrar, Dr Paul Greatrix.

'He said they were worried there would be protests by the students and didn't want to disrupt the graduation ceremony,' he said.

'So it was clearly coming from, maybe, the student union and lobby groups. I think people wrote to them and they were lobbied.

'If you go onto the university website you'll see there was a new membership of the honorary degrees committee in September.

'The old membership probably decided, 'Yes, we'll give it to him' then they changed that membership to one that was more woke.

'Members of that committee felt, because of the perceptions around the report, they couldn't have me have it. I'm surmising.

'I don't know  but why does the same committee give it and then take it away? It doesn't make sense.'

He added: 'There were a number of things going on in that university tent. It wasn't all about wokedom. It's also about money.

'The student's 9,000 fee is what changes the minds of the vice chancellors. They think, "Wow, I've got to deal with these people as clients. Am I harming my clients? Am I doing something that's going to offend?" The driver there is cash.

'The administrators of universities are not the woke people. They're just cynical bureaucrats.'
Some wealthy second homeowners have been reassessing their property priorities during the pandemic, with a pied-a-terre rather than a main home in the city becoming more of a priority.

Upmarket estate agents report some well-heeled owners have swapped their main residence with what was previously their weekend country retreat.

But they'll need very deep pockets if they want to buy one of these new London flats overlooking Hyde Park as their city base, as prices start at 3million and run up to 11million for the penthouse.

This new development in the heart of the capital includes just 15 luxury flats and overlooks London's Hyde Park

For many of those who have swapped a permanent London home for the country along with a pied-a-terre, there is no longer a need to be based permanently in the city if they only need to be in the office two or three days a week.

Their home in the country is now more like to cater for their needs in providing more space to enjoy following the confines of several lockdowns.

It is a perfect property set up if you can afford it - particularly if you work internationally - and that is where the new development of just 15 flats overlooking Hyde Park comes in.

The luxury properties have a starting price of 3million for a two-bedroom flat and go to 11million for a three-bedroom penthouse

The luxury new builds have a starting price of 3million for a two-bedroom flat and prices range up to 11million for a three-bedroom penthouse at the affluent Bayswater Road address.

We take a closer look at the new properties that will be completed late summer, and what type of buyers they are likely to attract.

What's the deal?

The new development of just 15 flats is called Elie Saab Residences - Elie Saab being the name of the interior designer.

It overlooks the north east corner of Hyde Park. The two and three-bedroom homes are on London's Bayswater Road, and are within walking distance of the West End.

What's the asking price?

The two-bedroom homes start from 3million. The collection also features two three-bedroom penthouses, with views of Hyde Park and London's skyline.

All of the properties are leasehold with a share of the freehold with no ground rent. There is an annual service charge of around 8 per square foot, which would equate to 8,000 a year for a two-bedroom flat with 1,000 sq ft of space.





What is so special about it?

There are not many addresses in central London where you can have views overlooking open green space, much less Hyde Park itself.

The flats are also new build, which is rare for this part of London.

Surely it's not completely perfect?

As a boutique development, there are only 15 homes available at the scheme, so it will not have a wide community feel to the development.

There is also the on-going costs of the service charges to consider, which are around 8,000 every year for a two-bedroom flat.

And buyers will have to wait until later this summer before the build is fully completed and they can move in.

The name of the flats is Elie Saab Residences, which takes its name from the interior designer behind the flats

The expensive design is likely to attract international buyers who can afford the high on-going costs of the service charges

Some of the properties have extensive views of Hyde Park and of London's skyline

Who would live in a house like this?

Wealthy young professionals and international business travellers who want to be based in the heart of the capital, with good access to London's amenities.

These are perfect pied-a-terre properties for people wanting somewhere in the heart of London and to enjoy the views of Hyde Park.

Who are the neighbours?

Residents in Hyde Park and Bayswater tend to be families taking advantage of the local good schools, or professional couples and singles appreciating the easy commute to the City.

The apartments overlooking Hyde Park are also likely to appear to international buyers, such as those from the Middle East, US and Brazil, according to the developer GRID Properties.

What is the local area like?

The big attractions nearby are Kensington Palace and the open green space of Hyde Park. There is also a wide range of restaurants nearby featuring cuisines from all over the world, which pave the way into London's bustling West End.

Is there a local hidden gem that would take buyers a while to find?

Connaught Village holds annual fetes that are often attended by famous locals while the area itself is predominantly home to boutiques and independents with a strong cafe culture.

Where's the best place for dinner nearby?

You cannot fault the view from the Serpentine Bar & Grill, while other restaurants such as upscale Italian Osteria Romana offers authentic dishes.
Whales today are usually considered to be gentle creatures, but an ancient whale that swam the seas of what is now Peru 36 million years ago was anything but gentle.

The terrifying animal, which researchers from Peru's National University refer to as a 'marine monster', measured 55 feet (17 metres) long, and had razor-sharp teeth, allowing it to feast on large animals including tuna and sharks.

'This is an extraordinary find because of its great state of preservation,' researcher Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi told AFP.

'This animal was one of the largest predators of its time.'

The terrifying animal, which researchers from Peru's National University refer to as a 'marine monster', measured 55ft long, and had razor-sharp teeth, allowing it to feast on large animals including tuna and sharks

The whale's skull was dug up in Peru's Ocucaje desert last year, and features rows of long, pointy teeth

Based on an analysis of its skull, researcher sblieve that the Ocucaje Predators was around 55ft in length - almost twice the length of a killer whale

The Ocucaje Predator: Peru's 'marine monster' The whale's skull was dug up in Peru's Ocucaje desert last year, and features rows of long, pointy teeth. The team believes it's likely the animal was a basilosaurus - part of the aquatic cetacean family, whose descendents include whales, dolphins and porpoises. The one-time top predator, which the team have nicknamed the 'Ocucaje Predator,' was about 55 feet (17 metres) long and used its massive, powerful teeth to feed on tuna, sharks and schools of sardines. Advertisement

The whale's skull was unearthed in Peru's Ocucaje desert last year, and features rows of long, pointy teeth.

'At that time the Peruvian sea was warm,' explained Mr Salas-Gismondi, who heads the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Natural History Museum in Lima.

'Thanks to this type of fossil, we can reconstruct the history of the Peruvian sea.'

The team believes it's likely the animal was a basilosaurus - part of the aquatic cetacean family, whose descendants include whales, dolphins and porpoises.

While basilosaurus means 'king lizard,' the animal was not a reptile, though its long body might have moved like a giant snake, according to the team.

The one-time top predator, which the team have nicknamed the 'Ocucaje Predator,' was about 55 feet (17 metres) long and used its massive, powerful teeth to feed on tuna, sharks and schools of sardines.

'It was a marine monster,' said Mr Salas-Gismondi.

'When it was searching for its food, it surely did a lot of damage.'

The one-time top predator, which the team have nicknamed the 'Ocucaje Predator,' was about 55 feet (17 metres) long and used its massive, powerful teeth to feed on tuna, sharks and schools of sardines

The Ocucaje Desert is rich in fossils, the researchers said, providing scientists with 42 million years' worth of evolutionary evidence

The researchers explained that when the ancient basilosaurus died, its skull likely sunk to the bottom of the sea floor, where it was quickly buried and preserved.

'Back during this age, the conditions for fossilisation were very good in Ocucaje,' Mr Salas-Gismondi added.

The first cetaceans, like the basilosaurus, evolved from land animals some 55 million years ago.

By the late Eocene period (between 56 million and 34 million years ago), cetaceans had fully adapted to marine life.

The researchers explained that when the ancient basilosaurus died, its skull likely sunk to the bottom of the sea floor, where it was quickly buried and preserved

While basilosaurus means 'king lizard,' the animal was not a reptile, though its long body might have moved like a giant snake, according to the team

Whales had not yet evolved, and almost all cetaceans were marine macropredators, according to the research team.

The Ocucaje Desert is rich in fossils, the researchers said, providing scientists with 42 million years' worth of evolutionary evidence.

Other fossils found there include four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period (between 23 million and five million years ago).'
Three Russian cosmonauts have launched to the International Space Station (ISS) today, despite escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington over the war in Ukraine.

Their Soyuz spacecraft embarked on a three-hour-plus ride to the orbiting outpost after blasting off from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at around 15:55 GMT (11:55 ET).

Soyuz commander Oleg Artemyev will lead the team, joined by two spaceflight rookies, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov, on a science mission aboard the ISS that is set to last six-and-half months.

It continues more than two decades of shared Russian-US presence aboard the laboratory.

However, it comes amid growing animosity between the two former Cold War adversaries, with Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine putting strain on the countries' collaboration in space.

Three Russian cosmonauts have launched to the International Space Station (ISS) today, despite spite escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington over the war in Ukraine

Commander Oleg Artemyev was joined by two spaceflight rookies, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov, as they embark on a science mission aboard the ISS that is set to last six months

It continues more than two decades of shared Russian-US presence aboard the laboratory

RUSSIA'S THREATS, DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS IN SPACE In response to sanctions imposed by the international community, Russia has made a series of threats, caused delays and cancelled projects. International Space Station Russia's space agency boss, Dmitry Rogozin said 'who would save the ISS' with Russia were to withdraw from the orbital laboratory project. The ISS is split into two halves, with life support coming from the US half, and propulsion, stopping it falling to Earth, from the Russia side. Rogozin said the ISS could fall on to the US or Europe if it pulled out. Rocket sales to the US Russia sells two major rocket engine types to the US, and has done so since the mid-1990s. The RD-180 and RD-181. It announced an end to these sales, and the maintenance of the engines in response to sanctions. Rogozin said that the U.S. launch providers should 'ride their brooms'. Building military satellites Russia has announced it will redirect funding towards the construction of military satellites and equipment. It is ending some upcoming science projects, in favor of defense. Ending science projects Russia has withdrawn cooperation with Germany on a space telescope and experiments on the ISS. It says it will continue with the telescope, which it temporarily switched off, and the experiments on its own without German support. No more launch Roscosmos pulled out of a Soyuz sharing agreement with the European Space Agency launch partner Arianespace in French Guiana. It also threatened to withhold US-built, UK-owned OneWeb satellites without a guarantee they won't be used for military purposes. OneWeb later cancelled its planned launch on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome. This prompted Roscomos to paint over British and US flags on the rocket. Advertisement

The trio of new cosmonauts will join the ISS's current seven-member crew to replace three who are scheduled to fly back to Earth on March 30.

These are cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov, as well as US astronaut Mark Vande Hei, who will have logged a NASA record-breaking 355 days in orbit by the time he returns to Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz capsule.

Remaining aboard the ISS with the newcomers until the next rotation a couple months later are three NASA astronauts  Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron  and German crewmate Matthias Maurer, of the European Space Agency.

Those four crew members arrived together in November aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin a six-month stint in orbit.

Launched in 1998, the research platform orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth has been continuously occupied since November 2000, while operated by a US-Russian-led partnership including Canada, Japan and 11 European countries.

It was born in part from a foreign policy initiative to improve US-Russian relations following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Cold War hostility that spurred the original space race.

But recent actions by the chief of Russia's space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, have prompted some in the US space industry to rethink the NASA-Roscosmos partnership.

As part of US economic sanctions against Putin's government last month, President Joe Biden ordered high-tech export restrictions against Moscow that he said were designed to 'degrade' Russia's aerospace industry, including its space program.

Rogozin immediately lashed out in a series of tweets suggesting the US sanctions could 'destroy' ISS teamwork and lead to the space station itself falling out of orbit.

A week later, he retaliated by announcing Russia would stop supplying or servicing Russian-made rocket engines used by two US aerospace NASA suppliers, suggesting American astronauts could use 'broomsticks' to get to orbit.

At about the same time, Moscow said it had ceased joint ISS research with Germany and forced the 11th-hour cancellation of a British satellite launch from Baikonur.

The Roscosmos chief also said last month that Russia was suspending its cooperation with European launch operations at the European Spaceport in French Guiana.

He even got into a Twitter spat with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly.

Rogozin called Kelly a 'moron' and threatened to pull out of the ISS.

Ann Kapusta, executive director of nonprofit space advocacy group the Space Frontier Foundation, told Reuters in a recent statement that the United States should end its ISS collaboration with Russia.

Concern: Recent actions by the chief of Russia's space agency, Dmitry Rogozin (pictured), have prompted some in the US space industry to rethink the NASA-Roscosmos partnership

Rogozin even got into a Twitter spat with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, calling him a 'moron' and threatening to pull out of the ISS (pictured)

Kapusta, a onetime ISS research operations lead for NASA, said 'toxic behavior' by Rogozin 'shows there is no distance between Roscosmos and Putin's war machine,' and that Russia can no longer be trusted to safely cooperate in space.

NASA officials, however, insist that the US and Russian crew on the ISS are still working together professionally and that geopolitical tensions had not infected the space station.

Addressing the US space agency's 60,000 employees on Monday, NASA chief Bill Nelson said: 'NASA continues working with all our international partners, including State Space Corporation Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations' of the ISS.

NASA this week posted a fact sheet outlining the technical interdependency of the US and Russian segments of the space station.

For example, while US gyroscopes provide day-to-day control over ISS orientation in space and US solar arrays augment power supplies to the Russian module, Russia provides the propulsion used to keep the station in orbit.

NASA 's Mark Vande Hei (pictured) is due to return from the International Space Station with two Russian cosmonauts aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on March 30

Russia's space agency says it will return NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei to the Earth on a Soyuz rocket later this month, after earlier suggestions it would abandon him
Last year was a record year for wildfires, with devastating blazes wreaking havoc in California, Australia and Siberia.

While wildfires destroy homes, plant life and animals, they also contribute to global warming, according to a new study.

Researchers from Tianjin University have revealed how 'brown carbon' released during wildfires in the northern hemisphere are accelerating global warming in the Arctic.

Their study revealed that brown carbon from burning biomass  including from wildfires  was responsible for at least twice as much warming as black carbon from fossil fuel burning.

Worryingly, they say this could spark a vicious cycle, leading to even more wildfires in the near future.

'The increase in brown carbon aerosols will lead to global or regional warming, which increases the probability and frequency of wildfires,' said Professor Pingging Fu, senior author of the study.

'Increased wildfire events will emit more brown carbon aerosols, further heating the earth, thus making wildfires more frequent.'

Researchers from Tianjin University revealed how 'brown carbon' released during wildfires in the northern hemisphere is accelerating global warming in the Arctic. Pictured: The Dixie wildfire in California

Their analysis revealed that brown carbon from burning biomass  including from wildfires  was responsible for at least twice as much warming as black carbon from fossil fuel burning

Wildfires in the US are increasing due to climate change Recent fires have fueled concerns that regional and global warming trends are leading to more extreme burning. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder analyzed data on thousands of wildfires since 1984. They found evidence that average fire events in regions of the US were four times the size, triple the frequency, and more widespread in the 2000s than in the previous two decades. The most extreme fires were also larger, more common, and more likely to co-occur with other extreme fires. 'This documented shift in burning patterns across most of the country aligns with the palpable change in fire dynamics noted by the media, public, and fire-fighting officials,' they said. Advertisement

Brown carbon is a major product of wildfires, and is created when grasses, wood, and other biological material burn.

It poses severe health hazards and can even block out the sun enough to cause measurable temperature differences at the surface - even after the flames have died down.

In contrast, black carbon, also known as soot, is released from high-temperature fossil fuel burning.

To understand how brown carbon affects the Arctic, the team travelled there in 2017 on board the Chinese icebreaker vessel Xue Long.

There, they completed observational analyses and numerical simulations to understand the contributing factors behind ice melt in the Arctic.

Their analysis revealed that brown carbon was contributing to warming in the Arctic more than previously thought.

'To our surprise, observational analyses and numerical simulations show that the warming effect of brown carbon aerosols over the Arctic is up to about 30 per cent of that of black carbon,' said Professor Fu.

Their analysis also revealed that brown carbon from burning biomass  including from wildfires  was responsible for at least twice as much warming as black carbon from fossil fuel burning.

The researchers point out that in the last 50 years, the Arctic has been warming at a rate three times that of the rest of the planet  and say that it's likely that wildfires are one of the leading drivers.

Last year was a record year for wildfires, with devastating blazes wreaking havoc in California (pictured), Australia and Siberia

The team hopes the findings will draw more attention to the impacts of wildfires on the climate.

'Our findings highlight just how important it is to control wildfires,' Professor Fu added.

The study comes shortly after research revealed that wildfires in the US are becoming more extreme as a results of climate change.

According to work by the University of Colorado Boulder, on average, US wildfires have become four times larger and three times more frequent since 2000.

The team suggests that these large wildfires are also spreading into new areas, and impacting land that previously wasn't subjected to regular burning.

'Projected changes in climate, fuel and ignitions suggest that we'll see more and larger fires in the future. Our analyses show that those changes are already happening,' said Virginia Iglesias, the study's lead author from UC Boulder.

They found that the West and the Great Plains were most affected, but that there were more fires across all regions in the contiguous U.S. in the past two decades.

The findings come off the back of a report by the United Nations that found global wildfires could increase by up to 50 percent over the next 80 years due to global warming.
From anxiety to depression, loneliness is known to have a range of unpleasant symptoms in humans.

And now a new study has shown that loneliness is just as problematic for elephants, who show more signs of stress when alone than in a group.

Researchers from the University of Turku studied the behaviour of Asian elephants in Myanmar, and compared the levels of stress hormones in their faeces, to assess whether sociality is linked to stress in the animals.

Their analysis revealed that loneliness increased male elephants' levels of stress, while females were less stressed when they had babies.

Researchers from the University of Turku studied Asian elephants in Myanmar to assess whether sociality is linked to stress in the animals

Asian vs African elephants There are more than 10 physical characteristics that differentiate Asian and African elephants. For example, Asian elephants' ears are smaller compared to the large fan-shaped ears of the African species. Only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female African elephants grow tusks. It is also important to note that there are two distinct elephants species on the African continentthe savanna elephant and the forest elephant, with a number of characteristics that differentiate them both as well. Source: WWF Advertisement

Previous research has shown that people with strong friendship groups experience a range of benefits, including improved health, lower disease risk and increase lifespan.

'Feeling lonely can also have a negative impact on your mental health, especially if these feelings have lasted a long time,' the charity Mind explains.

'Some research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress.'

However, until now, little research has looked into how loneliness affects Asian elephants  a typically social species.

In the study, the team studied 95 Asian elephants in Myanmar who were working in the timber industry.

'This is a unique research environment and population that allows us to study many elephants living in their natural environment, but at the same time have detailed information about their social lives,' said Dr Martin Seltmann, who led the study.

During their investigation, the researchers assessed the size of the elephants' work groups, the number of males and females in each group, and if there were any babies within the group.

They also assessed the concentrations of stress hormones in the elephants' faeces.

In addition, the researchers spoke to the elephants' handlers from 2014 to 2018, who were able to give information on the social interactions of each individual animal.

'We found that male elephants show higher levels of stress when they have no friends and when they are in social groups with more males than females,' said Dr Seltmann.

Their analysis revealed that loneliness increased male elephants' level of stress, while females were less stressed when they had babies

'Female elephants show lower levels of stress when babies are present in the social group.

'The size of the social group is not related to levels of stress hormones in males nor females.'

While the researchers expected that solitary females would shown signs of stress, they found that this was not always the case.

Compared to male elephants, solitary females might still be able to interact with other individuals without forming strong social bonds, according to the researchers.

This means the lack of those bonds may not be perceived as a stress.

Overall, the findings highlight the importance of sociality in species beyond humans.

The team hopes the findings could be used to develop methods to improve the welfare of captive social animals in the future.
A new method of making carbon fibres from the dregs of petrol could pave the way for a new generation of lighter, more eco-friendly cars, scientists have found.

Vehicles made out of carbon fibre are much lighter than those made from steel or aluminium, meaning they consume less fuel and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

However, the high cost of manufacturing carbon fibres means that they have only been used in a handful of very expensive models.

Now scientists have come up with a method of manufacturing carbon fibres from feedstock, the heavy, gloppy waste material left over from refining petroleum.

Feedstock is too dirty to be burned like normal fuel and is often sent to landfill because it's so cheap.

A circle of carbon fibres which have a diameter of about 10 micrometer. Making these from feedstock rather than traditional methods could massively reduce the cost of carbon fibre vehicles

Author Dr Nicola Ferralis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said: 'If you look at the same model car now, compared to 30 years ago, it's significantly heavier.

'The weight of cars has increased more than 15 percent within the same category.'

She explained that carbon fibres of the quality needed for automotive use currently cost at least $10 (7.60p) to $12 (9.13) per pound, and can be a lot more.

'That compares to about 75 cents (57p) a pound for steel, or $2 (1.52) for aluminium, though these prices fluctuate widely, and the materials often rely on foreign sources,' she said.

'At those prices making a pickup truck out of carbon fibre instead of steel would roughly double the cost.'

A human hair and carbon fiber, with a clear ruler on the bottom half of the image. The human hair, pictured in a vertical orientation, is thicker (about 60 micrometers) than the carbon fiber behind it

Part of the reason why carbon fibres cost so much is the process used to extract them from petroleum, known as polymerisation.

Dr Ferralis said: 'The cost of the polymer can account for more than 60 percent of the total cost of the final fibre.'

To reduce the cost, the researchers used a material called petroleum pitch, or what is leftover from the refining process, known as the 'bottom of the barrel'.

Dr Ferralis said: 'Pitch is incredibly messy and that's actually what makes it beautiful in a way, because there's so much chemistry that can be exploited.

'That makes it a fascinating material to start with.'

Feedstock is too dirty to be burned like normal fuel and is often sent to landfill because it's so cheap

The researchers looked at how the material's molecules bonded together and developed a standardised process which companies can easily replicate.

Co-author graduate student Asmita Jana said: 'We were able to reproduce the results with such startling accuracy to the point where companies could take those graphs and be able to predict characteristics such as density and elastic modulus of the fibres.'

The carbon fibres could be made strong in tension and compression, meaning they could carry large loads, by adjusting certain conditions at the start of the process, the researchers found.

Their new method will cost around $3 (2.28) a pound, although a detailed economic analysis still needs to be carried out.

The new method will cost around $3 (2.28) a pound, compared to $10 (7.60p) to $12 (9.13) per pound using the traditional polymerisation method

Dr Ferralis said: 'The new route we're developing is not just a cost effect, it might open up new applications, and it doesn't have to be vehicles.'

Their discovery could also be used to boost the environmental credentials of aircrafts and spaceships, as well as other products.

Dr Ferralis said: 'Part of the complication of making conventional fibre composites is that the fibres have to be made into a cloth and laid out in precise, detailed patterns.

'The reason for that is to compensate for the lack of compressive strength but with the new process all that extra complexity would not be needed.'

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a race to be ready for Liverpool's title showdown at Manchester City after he suffered hamstring damage.

It is a huge blow for both Jurgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate, who will now be without the right-back for England's friendlies against Switzerland and Cote D'Ivore, and Liverpool's manager said the issue will keep Alexander-Arnold sidelined for "weeks".

To make matters worse for Southgate, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel cast doubt on Reece James's availability for the squad. The England head coach will now call up a replacement after the weekend, with Leicester's James Justin and Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters being considered.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a race to be ready for Liverpool's title showdown at Man City

The 23-year-old will be unable to meet up with Gareth Southgate's (left) upcoming squad

Alexander-Arnold has been in outstanding form recently but it emerged after Wednesday's 2-0 win at Arsenal he was hurt and further tests on Merseyside indicated the full extent of the issue, leaving Klopp with his own selection dilemma ahead of Sunday's trip to Nottingham Forest.

Aside from the FA Cup quarter-final at The City Ground and the two Wembley friendlies, the 23-year-old - who has contributed 16 assists so far this season - looks set to miss Liverpool's Premier League return on April 2 against Watford.

He is also unlikely to make the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Benfica; Liverpool are odds-on to set up a semi-final clash against Bayern Munich or Villarreal but Klopp insisted it would be "the first mistake" if his team looked one step further.

Klopp said he picked up the injury during Liverpool's Premier League clash with Arsenal

'The only thing I didn't want in this draw was another English team,' Klopp added. 'I know people will say we are favourites but we are too long in the business to make those mistakes.'

After Benfica, Liverpool then face a trip to the Etihad on April 10 that many believe will determine who wins the title and Klopp - who may call up Connor Bradly to replace Alexander-Arnold against Forest - did not attempt to hide the significance of the news.

'We will see how long it will take but, of course, to replace Trent is difficult but possible,' said Klopp. 'We always did it. We have Joey (Gomez). Theoretically we can change the system as well. These kinds of things. So we have a couple of options, but you are right he is very influential.

The Liverpool boss may call up Connor Bradly to replace Alexander-Arnold against Forest

'If you look in the past when James Milner had to step in, he did incredibly well. He just has to be available (after illness) and then that is fine. I don't know if he will be ready for Sunday. Maybe we have a very young solution as well.

'The way he [Alexander-Arnold] plays, I don't know any player who plays like Trent in the world. So it will be difficult to find a one versus one replacement.' Klopp would be delighted to re-introduce Gomez to his team at the City Ground after what has been a challenging season in terms of starting opportunities and he said: 'He is top class player not an inch worse than all the other three central defenders who are playing.

'But the other three have rhythm because they have played more often. That's the problem we have but for a club with aims and ambitions we have it can happen. It will not last forever but so fat it happened like this. And the next game would be a good opportunity for him - that's true.'
Video: The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has kicked off a months-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of its giant panda program. (Xinhua)

"After 50 years, giant pandas remain an iconic species for our zoo," says Brandie Smith.



WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has kicked off a months-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of its giant panda program.

Located in northwest Washington, D.C., the famed zoo announced a series of online and on-site events starting March 16 through Aug. 27 to mark "50 years of unprecedented achievement in the care, conservation, breeding, and study of giant pandas."

"After 50 years, giant pandas remain an iconic species for our zoo," said Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars director, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, in a statement.

Photo taken on March 16, 2022 shows giant pandas Mei Xiang (L) and Xiao Qi Ji at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"More importantly, they represent how great conservation outcomes can be achieved through great partnerships with our Chinese colleagues," Smith underlined. "Being able to introduce hundreds of millions of people worldwide to pandas and inspiring them to care about their conservation for five decades, coupled with our scientific breakthroughs, is a milestone truly worth celebrating."

At least hundreds of visitors -- mostly parents and their children -- explored the zoo's giant panda habitat around Wednesday noon.

While the fluffy bears in black and white were all sleeping, people still enjoyed the sight of them while curious to learn knowledge of the valuable species through posters on the wall.

Tourists take photos of giant pandas at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

In the outdoor exhibit is the Giant Panda Family Tree Photo Gallery, where there are photos and information about the zoo's giant panda breeding program and how cubs born there are contributing to their species' survival in China.

More events will come next month. On April 16, visitors can enjoy lion dance performances, panda-shaped buns, and calligraphy demonstrations at the habitat, while the giant pandas will receive special enrichment treats.

There are currently three giant pandas living in the zoo -- 23-year-old female Mei Xiang, 24-year-old male Tian Tian, and their 18-month-old male cub Xiao Qi Ji.

Photo taken on March 16, 2022 shows the giant panda family tree at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Mei Xiang gave birth to three other cubs in the zoo, all of who returned to China when they were four years old as part of the institute's cooperative agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA).

Ever since their arrival at the zoo, giant pandas have symbolized cross-cultural collaboration between the United States and China.

In 1972, then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai gifted two giant pandas to the United States as a gesture of goodwill following then-U.S. President Richard Nixon's groundbreaking visit.

Visitors look at the giant panda family tree at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Nixon and his wife, Pat Nixon, selected the Smithsonian's National Zoo as female Ling-Ling and male Hsing-Hsing's home in the United States.

Then-Zoo Director Theodore Reed personally escorted the bears from China, and they arrived in Washington, D.C., on April 16, 1972. Four days later, Pat Nixon formally welcomed the giant panda pair to the zoo.

For five decades, the zoo has cared for the giant pandas by creating and maintaining one of the world's foremost panda conservation programs. Collaboration between Chinese colleagues and the zoo's team of animal care staff, scientists, and researchers has been the cornerstone of those efforts.

Photo taken on March 16, 2022 shows giant panda Mei Xiang at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The unified effort to create and share knowledge is saving this species from extinction. Giant pandas are listed as "vulnerable" in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are an estimated 1,800 in the wild.

The zoo has renewed its Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement with the CWCA three times since 2000.

The current research agreement extension was signed on Dec. 7, 2020, and stipulates the zoo's pandas will continue to live at the zoo through 2023. In exchange, the zoo contributes funds and expertise toward conservation efforts in China. 
Joe Cole has backed Chelsea to beat Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the Champions League, following the quarter-final draw on Friday.

The Blues will face Carlo Ancelotti's side for the second successive season, whilst Manchester City face Atletico Madrid and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool will take on Benfica.

Despite Chelsea seemingly having the hardest opponent out of the three Premier League teams remaining, Cole is confident that his former side will beat Madrid and progress to the semi-finals.

Joe Cole has backed Chelsea to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals

The Blues have been the centre of attention recently, following Roman Abramovich's sanction

When asked if he thought the Blues had the hardest draw, Cole said to BT Sport: 'No, no! Chelsea will be quite happy with that.

They were comfortable against Madrid in the semi-final last year and not much has changed with the sides.

I think all the English clubs will be happy to avoid each other. It could have been better for Chelsea, of course, but it could have been worse too.

'Last year, Real Madrid they looked like an ageing team against a young, vibrant Chelsea team. A year has past and not much has changed.

I know Carlo Ancelotti has come in and they have quality, theyre Real Madrid, they will always be a threat. But I think Chelsea will be reasonably happy with that.

The London side beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League last year

The former Chelsea midfielder backed all three of the Premier League clubs to progress to the semi-finals, and even think it'll be another all-English final in May.

When asked if he thinks they'll all progress, Cole said: Without a doubt. No questions about it.

They will all be delighted with the draw and I can see another all-English final as well.

It would be the fourth time in history that both teams in the Champions League final were from England - with two of the other instances coming in the last three seasons.
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The worlds best value holiday hotspots for Britons in 2022 have been revealed in an annual report and it's Marmaris in Turkey that's number one in the ranking.

Its here where their pound will stretch the furthest, followed by Sunny Beach in Bulgaria and the Algarve in Portugal (3rd).

Meanwhile, Reykjavik in Iceland has been deemed the worst value holiday destination for British holidaymakers.

The worlds best value holiday hotspots for Britons in 2022 have been revealed in an annual report and it's Marmaris in Turkey that's number one in the ranking. Above is the area's picturesque Turunc Bay

Bulgaria's Sunny Beach, pictured, ranked second overall, with a basket of everyday tourist items in the resort costing just 26.19

This is according to Post Office Travel Money's annual Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, which compared the cost of eight everyday tourist items in 36 cities and resorts worldwide to see where Britons will get more bang for their buck.

The basket of goods that were compared includes a three-course evening meal for two with wine, a bottle of beer, a cup of coffee, sun cream and insect repellent.

Sterlings strength against many currencies has helped to keep holidaymakers' costs down, the survey found - Britons will pay less than they did a year ago in half of the destinations surveyed.

Above is the Ponta da Piedade headland in Lagos, the Algarve. The Portuguese region is the best-value destination for Britons in the Eurozone and third overall, according to the report

The Post Office Travel Money Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, above, compares the cost of eight everyday tourist items in 36 cities and resorts worldwide

The report revealed that the collapse of the Turkish lira helped gold-medal winner Marmaris - where a three-course meal for two with vino will set Britons back as little as 16.02 - to edge past Sunny Beach for the first time.

There's less than a 10 pence difference between Marmaris and Sunny Beach - a 37 per cent fall in prices caused by the weak lira made Marmaris marginally cheaper at 26.13 for the eight items, compared with 26.19 in Sunny Beach.

However, Bulgaria may prove a more popular choice for holidaymakers this year, as sales of Bulgarian lev at Post Office Travel Money has outperformed the Turkish lira by nearly 14 per cent, the survey found.

On the pricier end of the spectrum, in Reykjavik (36th), the basket costs a sizeable 158.16, with a three-course meal with wine priced at 109.96 and a bottle of sun cream costing 18.03.

Five Eurozone countries ranked in the top 10, led by third-place Algarve, which has dropped by one per cent since last year. There, holidaymakers can get the basket bundle for 44.39.

Cape Town, South Africa - the best-value destination for long haul holidaymakers - retained fourth place, registering a 1.6 per cent price fall to 53.23.

And, according to the report, Cyprus has taken fifth place after recording a steep price fall of over 15 per cent to 56.44 in Paphos. Its followed by sixth-place Costa del Sol (59.56, down 2.2 per cent).

A fall of 5.9 per cent helped Mombasa, Kenya (61.30), to jump five places to seventh in the table.

Reykjavik in Iceland, pictured above, has been deemed the worst value holiday destination for British holidaymakers

Orlando, Florida (10th), has entered the top 10 for the first time in the reports history, even though sterling has lost ground against the US dollar since last year. The price of the basket in the city fell by 10.1 per cent year on year to 67.01.

Post Office Travel Money says that it is worth noting that Britons visiting the worlds theme park capital for the first time in two years will find prices around 22 per cent lower since then.

The rest of the top 10 comprises eighth-place Funchal in Madeira (an increase of 3.4 per cent, 64.05) and, with a drop of 5.8 per cent, Sliema in Malta (9th, 65.35).

Discussing the reports findings, Nick Boden, Post Office Head of Travel Money, said: It will pay dividends to invest time in holiday homework because many people wont have travelled abroad in the past two years. They need to be aware that prices have risen sharply in some destinations and fallen significantly in others. We advise making a destination shortlist and comparing costs before booking a trip.

Above are the top 18 best-value holiday destinations for Britons, as determined by Post Office Travel Money

Aside from price falls in the top 10 destinations, costs have plummeted by over 15 per cent in Corfu (18th, 76.94).

They have also fallen by 11.8 per cent in Phuket, Thailand (14th, 72.98), and 6.5 per cent in Darwin, Australia (31st, 115)  two popular destinations that are just open to tourists after two years of closure.

According to the report, both Thailand and Australia feature in the ranking because of reduced resort costs and the buoyant pound.

Boden added: The buoyancy of sterling is welcome news as Britons get set to book holidays abroad but, to get the most for their money, they should not only pick destinations where sterling is performing well, but also where the cost of meals, drinks and other tourist staples is low. There is plenty of choice: In Europe, Turkey and Bulgaria are best buys but further afield it will be worth considering Thailand or Mauritius.

Other destinations included in the study are Porec, Croatia (17th, 76.55), and Jumeirah Beach, Dubai (34th, 132.73).

The report revealed that prices have risen in all the Caribbean and Central American destinations surveyed except Tamarindo, Costa Rica and St George's, Grenada

Though Jumeirah Beach recorded a rise of almost a third in barometer costs since last year, it made the ranking because a 29 per cent rise in sales made the UAE dirham third in the Post Office bestseller list - which ranks the bestselling foreign currencies in the UK - behind the euro and US dollar last year. This ranking underlines the strong consumer demand for Dubai, the report revealed.

It added that demand is also expected to grow for Croatia after its currency, the kuna, scored 2021s biggest sales increase of 52 per cent.

Post Office Travel Money's report revealed that prices have risen in all the Caribbean and Central American destinations surveyed except Tamarindo in Costa Rica (19th, 79.50, down 3.9 per cent) and St George's, Grenada (24th, 95.23, down 7.1 per cent).

However, the demand for Caribbean and Mexican currencies is soaring - while visitors to Cancun (22nd, 83.33) can expect to pay around 22 per cent more than last year, the Mexican peso has moved into the Post Office's top 10 list of bestselling currencies for 2022, ranking in ninth place. Whats more, 2022 sales of the peso are now 45 per cent higher than in the same period in 2020, the survey found.

The report also noted that barometer costs in Cancun are lower than in St George's, Montego Bay, Jamaica (23rd, 85.92), St Lucia's Rodney Bay (30th, 112.04), St John in Antigua (33rd, 123.36) and Bridgetown, Barbados (35th, 156.74).

For more information visit www.postoffice.co.uk/travel.
Oscar Isaac looked more debonair than ever before as he attended the screening for Moon Knight at The British Museum on Thursday in London.

The Star Wars actor, 43, looked handsome, sporting a grey blazer, crisp white shirt and black tie.

He ensured all eyes were on him by also opting to wear a matching grey kilt, showing off his smart black boots and black socks underneath.

Looking good: Oscar Isaac looked more debonair than ever before as he attended the screening for Moon Knight at The British Museum on Thursday in London

Moon Knight is a new TV series based on the Marvel comics that tells the story of a mercenary with Dissociative Identity Disorder who is drawn into a deadly mystery involving Egyptian Gods with his multiple identities.

It stars Oscar in the titular role, as well as Ethan Hawke and May Calamawy, and will be released on Disney+ on March 30.

It comes after Oscar hosted Saturday Night Live earlier this month with Charli XCX as the musical guest.

Dashing: The actor, 43, looked handsome, sporting a grey blazer, crisp white shirt and black tie

Turning heads: He ensured all eyes were on him by also opting to wear a matching grey kilt, showing off his smart black boots and black socks underneath

For his opening monologue the Dune actor took the stage in grey slacks and a dark blazer with his glossy hair neatly slicked back.

He was clean shaven as he joked about the pandemic, his name, and his ethnicity being considered 'ambiguous' in Hollywood.

'My name is Oscar Isaac, but my full name is Oscar Isaac Hernandez Estrada,' he began.

Exciting: Moon Knight is a new TV series based on the Marvel comics that tells the story of a mercenary with Dissociative Identity Disorder who is drawn into a deadly mystery involving Egyptian Gods with his multiple identities

Starring role: It stars Oscar in the titular role, as well as Ethan Hawke and May Calamawy, and will be released on Disney+ on March 30

Host with the most: It comes after Oscar hosted Saturday Night Live earlier this month with Charli XCX as the musical guest

'I said to Hollywood - I said to them, "You can pick two of these names." Guess what they went with. The white ones,' he wisecracked.

Continuing, he said: 'I'm half Guatemalan, half Cuban. Or as casting directors call that, "Ethnically ambiguous.'

Also included in his monologue were childhood home videos of the entertainer showing off his early interest in acting.

Pristine: For his opening monologue the Dune actor took the stage in a dark blazer and jumper by Acne Studios with his glossy hair neatly slicked back

Started young: Also included in his monologue were childhood home videos of the entertainer showing off his early interest in acting

Tying it all together he said, 'Now, you might be asking, Oscar, why did you use your monologue to show us these old home videos?

'And the reason is it's important to encourage kids to be weirdos. Because every once in a while one of those weirdos grows up to host SNL,' he closed out to a raucous applause.

The first-time host didn't miss a beat as he kept the audience laughing before getting into his first sketches.

In character: In his first skit of the night, the Scenes From a Marriage star played Herb Tangier, city councilman and a concerned father aiming to push the mayor - played by Ego Nwodim - out of office

Funny squad: The 'voting ad campaign' saw other members of the SNL ensemble join in as a group of citizens aiming to push the mayor - played by Ego Nwodim - out of office

In his first skit of the night, 'Paw Patrol,' the Scenes From a Marriage star played Herb Tangier, city councilman and a concerned father calling for the removal of the paw patrol.



Wearing a purple suit Oscar said, 'Mayor Goodway has put all our lives at risk with her paw patrol initiative and I say it's time to vote her out.

'This mayor fired all of our city's police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, and replaced them with a group of six talking dogs.

I think that was a bad idea. And I'm not alone. Listen to these concerned citizens.'

The 'voting ad campaign' saw other members of the SNL ensemble join in as a group of citizens aiming to push the mayor - played by Ego Nwodim - out of office.

HR Sketch: The laughs continued with a hilarious HR skit that saw Oscar and Cecily Strong lead a seminar about inappropriate workplace behavior

Funny team: The two made for a strong comedic duo as they instructed a group of employees about dos and don'ts in their work setting

The laughs continued with a hilarious HR skit that saw Oscar and Cecily Strong lead a seminar about inappropriate workplace behavior.

The two made for a strong comedic duo as they instructed a group of employees about dos and don'ts in their work setting.

The twosome stunned the workers as they tossed out scenarios with advice that was anything but appropriate.

In the end it turned out to be a hoax as Oscar's character admitted. 'We're from a group called "It could be worse." And we show employees that no matter how bad your workplace environment might be, it could be worse.'

Very entertaining: The next bit featured Aidy Bryant in a five-minute dream that the comedian had concocted and roped Isaac into

The next bit featured Aidy Bryant in a five-minute dream that the comedian had concocted and roped Isaac into.

The Shrill star modeled a gaudy, glittery pink dress and a blonde wig as she portrayed a 'sensual' and 'sexual' woman.

In a confessional sequence the actress spoke to the camera saying, 'So, yeah, I lied to Oscar Isaac. I told him I have a recurring character on the show called "The Sexual Woman." Is that a crime?'

Isaac's character gushed and fawned over Aidy as he said, 'I need you to know I see you sexually. I don't see you as someone who would, like, run a school. I mean you are the most under 35 person I've ever met.'

Laughable: Oscar joined forces with Kenan Thompson for a home repair show scene that interviewed people whose DIYs went wrong

Oscar joined forces with Kenan Thompson for a home repair show scene that interviewed people whose DIYs went wrong.

Among the guests was a guy who punctured his septic tank, played by Kyle Mooney, and another character who was electrocuted, played by Oscar.

Making his appearance he showed up with frizzed out hair, singed clothing, and his face covered in char.

Yikes: Making his appearance as a guy who was electrocuted Oscar showed up with frizzed out hair, singed clothing, and his face covered in char

His character's name was Felix Cruz and he spoke with an accent.

Kenan introduced him as he said, 'Our next guest thought that he should "do his own electrical." Please welcome Felix Cruz.'

When the host asked how he ended up in his situation, Isaac brought in laughs as he explained, 'Well, I kept telling my wife "It's just wires. Babe, it's just wires. Honey, nothing's gonna happen. It's wires!"'

Felix said he intended to install his own circuit breaker, to which the host replied, 'Oh, god.'

'No, there is no god,' Cruz quipped back. The scene wrapped with Ego joining to call out her husband on his fraudulent home improvement skills.

Too funny: The scene wrapped with Ego joining to call out her husband on his fraudulent home improvement skills

Fiction workshop: Another notable sketch featured Oscar as a janitor who happened upon a fiction writing workshop

Another notable sketch featured Oscar as a janitor named Michael who happened upon a fiction writing workshop during his shift.

Aidy was the course instructor and invited him to join the group to read a piece he'd written.

Michael was coy at first, but quickly dived into a lengthy fantasy essay that included Dua Lipa as a siren.

He called his essay 'The Apogee of Midnight' and shocked the group with the frisky nature of the content.
Their rocky romance has played out on screens during this year's season of Married at First Sight.

But it seems that Ella Ding and 'husband' Mitch Eynaud are still going strong.

The pair looked very close as they left a Sydney hotel together during filming back in November.

Proof they're till going strong! Married At First Sight bride Ella Ding looked close with her 'husband' Mitch Eynaud when they stepped out in Sydney during filming for the show

In exclusive pictures taken by Daily Mail Australia, Martha Kalifatidis lookalike Ella, 27, showed off her curves in a pair of skintight leopard print leggings.

The beauty therapist teamed the look with a white crop top, black sneakers and a houndstooth bag.

Financial planner Mitch, 26, meanwhile kept things casual in a pair of beige shorts and a black T-shirt.

Wild thing! In exclusive pictures taken by Daily Mail Australia, Martha Kalifatidis lookalike Ella, 27, showed off her curves in a pair of skintight leopard print leggings

Close: The pair were spotted leaving a Sydney hotel together during filming back in November

You won't miss her! The beauty therapist teamed the look with a white crop top, black sneakers and a houndstooth bag

The pair were spotted wheeling around their suitcase from their hotel room in Martin Place.

They then stopped in at the local post office before picking up a fresh juice.

During this year's season, Ella and Mitch have had a rocky romance.

The pair recently discussed the idea of a long-distance romance, with Ella saying she was 'scared' it may not work because she lives in Melbourne while Mitch lives on the Gold Coast.

Casual: Financial planner Mitch, 26, meanwhile kept things casual in a pair of beige shorts and a black T-shirt

Fears: The pair recently discussed the idea of a long-distance romance, with Ella saying she was 'scared' it may not work because she lives in Melbourne while Mitch lives on the Gold Coast

Rocky road to love? During this year's season, Ella and Mitch have had a rocky romance

'There's a big factor of trust which comes into that, with someone I've only known for 10 weeks, and he's frickin' gorgeous,' she told producers

'There's a big factor of trust which comes into that, with someone I've only known for 10 weeks, and he's frickin' gorgeous,' she told producers.

When she confided in Mitch, 27, that he could forget about her while at home, he eased her concerns by saying: 'That is not going to happen.'

Meanwhile, Ella told Yahoo earlier this week that their romance was actually a lot more harmonious in real life compared to what was shown on TV.

When she confided in Mitch, 27, that he might forget about her while at home, he eased her concerns by saying: 'That is not going to happen'

Harmonious: Meanwhile, Ella told Yahoo earlier this week that their romance was actually a lot more harmonious in real life compared to what was shown on TV

'In terms of watching Mitchell and I's relationship and the narrative that the producers have gone with, it's completely different to what I had imagined,' she told the publication.

'I had no idea this is the direction that our relationship would go down [in the edit], but that's TV for you,' she added.

Ella also admitted she and financial planner Mitch had plenty of positive moments in the experiment, but they didn't make it to air.
Elle and Dakota Fanning joined up for some sister bonding on Thursday as they went shopping together in Beverly Hills.

Elle, 23, and her older sister Dakota, 28, were spotted perusing shops along the city's swanky Rodeo Drive while rocking complementary ensembles.

The Girl From Plainville star looked totally at ease in a cream-colored jumpsuit with a set of baggy pants legs.

Sister act: Elle Fanning, 23, and her older sister Dakota Fanning, 28, joined forces on Thursday to do some high-end shopping on Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive

She paired the short-sleeve outfit with sandals featuring thick white straps and a rumpled brown knit tote bag, while styling her blond locks casually in a bun.

Dakota looked similarly comfortable and casual in a white linen button-up shirt and grayblue jeans that were rolled up at the bottoms.

She wore simple brown flats and carried a thick brown handbag while sporting chunky black sunglasses with a dangling white strap around her throat.

The acting duo were both masked up with pink and lavender exam masks to protect against the novel coronavirus, which is currently surging across Europe.

Summery style: Elle looked chic in a flowing cream-colored jumpsuit and white sandals, while Dakota looked comfortable in a white linen shirt with jeans and brown flats

Elle and Dakota have a strong sibling relationship and often meet up to spend time together in public, even though Dakota revealed in a 2019 Shape cover story that they 'don't have to' talk every day to stay close.

'My sister, Elle, and I are really close,' she told the publication. 'We always have been. Were very different, but were very connected. We dont talk every day, but we dont have to. We just have that special bond.'

She added, 'Theres no one I want to succeed more in this business than my sister, and I know she wants the same for me.'

Their outing together comes after Elle took the Critics Choice Awards by storm in a shimmering gold gown.

She cut through the glamour in a playful photo posted to Instagram showing her sitting sidesaddle on a toilet at the event, which she joked was 'The Golden Throne.'

She was nominated at the ceremony for starring in her Catherine The Great series The Great, which also earned an acting nomination for her costar Nicholas Hoult and a Best Comedy Series nod, though it wasn't victorious in any of the categories.

Party: Their outing together comes after Elle took the Critics Choice Awards by storm in a shimmering gold gown. She was nominated for her lead role in The Great

True crime: Hulu released a trailer for The Girl From Plainville, a true crime series starring Elle Fanning (left) as teenager Michelle Carter (right), who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after encouraging her boyfriend Conrad Roy to kill himself

Her next project finds her completely transformed as she plays Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend Conrad Roy to kill himself.

The series, which costars Chloe Sevigny as Michelle's mother and Colton Ryan as Roy, shows Elle adopting Carter's distinctive hairdo and thick dark eyebrows, making her almost unrecognizable.

Dakota has been keeping busy as well, as she was seen in Venice last month while filming the Showtime thriller Ripley, which is based on the series of novels by Patricia Highsmith about the psychopathic chameleon Tom Ripley.

Andrew Scott plays the title character in this iteration, and Matt Damon, Dennis Hopper, John Malkovitch, Alain Delon and Barry Pepper have all previously played him.

The Girl from Plainville premieres March 30 and is available only on Stan in Australia.
Aaron Eckhart and Nina Dobrev were seen filming their upcoming movie The Bricklayer at a cafe in Greece on Thursday.

The Dark Knight actor, 54, and the Love Hard actress, 33, filmed in the streets of Thessaloniki, a city of more than 1 million people in the northeastern part of the country.

Eckhart donned an off-white suit over a blue button down shirt, and he appeared to have a small communications device in his right ear.

Europe shoot: Aaron Eckhart, 54, and Nina Dobrev, 33, filmed scenes for their upcoming film The Bricklayer at a cafe in Greece on Thursday

The film's leading lady wore a gray double-breasted blazer over a brown button down shirt and a pair of blue jeans with brown boots.

A chair was overturned in between the two stars, and extras looked on in shock, suggesting the scene may have involved a fight outside the establishment.

The Bricklayer is an action-thriller centered around a series of assassinations that someone is using to blackmail the CIA by making it appear that the organization was involved.

Professional look: The film's leading lady donned a gray suit jacket over a brown button down shirt and a pair of blue jeans with brown boots

Rooting out the truth: In the Bricklayer, Eckhart plays plays an ex-CIA agent who is brought back in by the clandestine organization to investigate a series of assassinations (pictured 2011)

The London Has Fallen actor plays an ex-CIA agent who will have to get to the bottom of who is really behind the assassinations.

Dobrev and Eckhart star alongside The Ballad of Buster Scruggs actor Tim Blake Nelson, Westworld actor Clifton Collins Jr. and Rocky IV actress Brigitte Nielsen.

The Bricklayer isn't the only project Eckhart and Dobrev are working on. Both of the film's stars have a number of upcoming projects that will soon be released.

Eckhart is in the process of filming two different television series, The First Lady and Pantheon.

The highest office in the land: Eckhart will soon appear in The First Lady, a biopic series about three notable first ladies, as President Gerald Ford

New movie coming soon: Fans of Dobrev will be able to see the actress in the Netflix film The Out-Law later this year (pictured February 2022)

The First Lady centers around three different first ladies, Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt, as they deal with the responsibilities of their office. Eckhart will appear as President Gerald Ford in the show.

Pantheon follows a young woman after she receives phone calls from a person claiming to be her dead father. The Batman actor Paul Dano and Maude Apatow are set to star in the movie.

Fans of Dobrev will be able to see the actress in the comedy The Out-Law later this year.

The film tells the story of a bank manager who is ready to marry the love of his life. However, when his in-laws arrive in town, he believes them to be infamous bank robbers.

Adam Devine, Pierce Brosnan and Michael Rooker will all star in the Netflix movie.
Mark Labbett - also known as 'The Beast' - has revealed he has been axed from The Chase US for 'no reason'.

The 56-year-old Chase star - who has featured the UK, US and Australian version of the show - admitted he was 'gutted' after not being invited back on the series.

The quiz genius previously participated in the ABC channel series, but confirmed to fans online that a new line-up was selected and he wasn't part of it.

Oh no! Mark Labbett - also known as 'The Beast' - has revealed he has been axed from The Chase US for 'no reason'

He wrote about how disappointed he was and couldn't give fans an explanation for the decision: 'No they just didn't renew me. No reason was offered.'

The news came from the Chase US's account as they tweeted ahead of a new series: 'New season. New Chasers.

'Victoria Groce, Brandon Blackwell, and Buzzy Cohen join Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer on May 3 when #TheChase returns.'

The TV star replied replied: 'Gutted to not be invited back but really excited at the new lineup. Am expecting Brandon and Victoria to wow America :).'

Sad news: The Chase star - who has featured the UK, US and Australian version of the show - admitted he was 'gutted' after not being invited back on the series

Proving there are no hard feeling torwards the new arrivals, he added: 'They will be fantastic :) Bon chance!'

New Yorker Brandon has appeared on the UK's University Challenge while Victoria - widely regarded as among the greatest quizzers - was recommended by Mark.

On Thursday Mark - who has dropped 10 stone over the past year - was back in The Beast mode as the team filmed new episodes of Beat The Chasers in the UK.

He took to Instagram and shared a picture of him and Shaun 'Dark Destroyer' Wallace on the set of the show in their regular clothes.

Mark wrote: 'Be afraid, be very afraid :)' tagging in his 61-year-old co-star.

Friends: Mark took to Instagram and shared a picture of him and Shaun 'Dark Destroyer' Wallace on the set of the show

Earlier in the day, The Chase announced on Instagram that Anne Hegerty won't be returning for the next series of Beat The Chasers.

The Governess - who has tested positive for Covid - tweeted: 'Unfortunately I've contracted Covid-19 so won't be filming this series of #BeatTheChasers.'

Tagging in The Chase Australia's Issa Schultz, she added: 'The fantastic @Issa25 will be stepping in for me and I'm looking forward to watching the series when it's on air later this year.

'I feel fine, but I'm still positive! (in all respects).'

Gutted: Earlier in the day, The Chase announced on Instagram that Anne Hegerty won't be returning for the next series of Beat The Chasers due to Covid-19

Mark recently hit the headlines as he has undergone an incredible weight transformation - dropping 10 stone.

He recently revealed on Loose Women that he's lost a staggering five trouser sizes by cutting down on sugar and carbs.

He explained that he was advised by a friend not to have a gastric band because of how he gets his calories from sugar, which is hard to digest.

Mark also credited his four-year-old son for his weight loss, saying: 'The principal thing is running after a hyperactive toddler when nurseries have been shut.

Wow! Slimmed-down The Chase star Mark 'The Beast' Labbett showed off his incredible 10st weight loss in a beaming shirtless mirror selfie on Thursday (pictured right in 2017, pre-weight loss)

'I'm sure every woman knows this, how do you keep up with them? I found at the end of the evening instead of going to the fridge for late night snacking, all I could do was collapse on the bed,' he said.

Mark shares his four-year-old son with estranged wife Katie, 28, who he married in 2014.

They officially announced their split in August 2020 and Mark revealed they'd split after seven years of marriage so she could be free to date her lover, after their plans to have an open marriage failed to work.

It was revealed at the time Katie, who works as a nurse, had been seeing her senior design engineer lover Scott Bate, 30, for 18 months.

He said: 'Well let me put it this way I don't think it's possible to do any kind of dating while in lockdown, let's say I'm married to my work. My priority is on my son.'
The superhero movie Eternals is considered the first 'misfire' ever for Marvel Studios and their wide-ranging Marvel Cinematic Universe, with director Chloe Zhao speaking out about the negative response.

Eternals was the first of the MCU's 26 movies to earn a 'rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a lowly 47% rating from the RT critics, and its $168.4 million domestic gross the second worst, behind the second-ever MCU film, 2008's The Incredible Hulk ($134.8 million).

Zhao, who was coming off a Best Picture win for her film Nomadland, spoke about the divisive reaction to the film for the first time in an interview with Empire, revealing that she, 'definitely felt it coming.'

Speaking out: The superhero movie Eternals is considered the first 'misfire' ever for Marvel Studios and their wide-ranging Marvel Cinematic Universe, with director Chloe Zhao speaking out about the negative response

Rotten: Eternals was the first of the MCU's 26 movies to earn a 'rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a lowly 47% rating from the RT critics, and its $168.4 million domestic gross the second worst, behind the second-ever MCU film, 2008's The Incredible Hulk ($134.8 million)

Eternals was one of several movies whose release was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the film originally set for release on November 6, 2020.

It was ultimately delayed to February 12, 2021 (where Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings wound up opening) and then to November 5, when it opened in theaters.

Zhao revealed that the subject matter of the film - along with its release in the midst of a global pandemic - likely resulted in the negative response, which she was expecting.

COVID: Eternals was one of several movies whose release was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the film originally set for release on November 6, 2020

Expecting: Zhao revealed that the subject matter of the film - along with its release in the midst of a global pandemic - likely resulted in the negative response, which she was expecting

'Eternals was planned to be released soon after (Avengers) Endgame, and not at a time when everyone is having an existential crisis,' the director said.

'The film itself is about existential crisis, both for humanity and God. So I think we definitely felt it was coming,' she added.

She said she was aware of the mixed reviews, but simply brushed them off, stating, 'I think the need for consensus is a hindrance for any authentic creative process.'

Crisis: 'Eternals was planned to be released soon after (Avengers) Endgame, and not at a time when everyone is having an existential crisis,' the director said

Reviews: She said she was aware of the mixed reviews, but simply brushed them off, stating, 'I think the need for consensus is a hindrance for any authentic creative process'

'Just like its a hindrance for living an authentic life as a person. I have been on the receiving end of somewhat consensus, and divisiveness about my work,' she added.

'Neither of them has any real influence on me as an artist, because every time Im lucky enough to create, I learn from the process. From what Ive succeeded, and what Ive failed,' the director added.

'But that learning process is a very intimate affair. Anything beyond that, for me, its just a part of the ecosystem that exists because of the nature of the industry were in. Like a flower or a rock, I acknowledge and appreciate their presence. But thats as far as it goes,' she said of the reviews.

Hindrance: She said she was aware of the mixed reviews, but simply brushed them off, stating, 'I think the need for consensus is a hindrance for any authentic creative process'

No influence: 'Neither of them has any real influence on me as an artist, because every time Im lucky enough to create, I learn from the process. From what Ive succeeded, and what Ive failed,' the director added

She added that she added a layer of her indie filmmaking sensibilities into the $200 million big-budget blockbuster, which she acknowledged made some uncomfortable.

'The truth is that nobody is one layer. In this case, we truly stepped out of the box that I think the world put us in, and met in the middle because of our shared interests,' she said.

'And by truly doing that, it made a lot of people uncomfortable on both sides. But there are also people who are more comfortable with the order of their world [being] disturbed. And then they look at our love-child and go, Oh! This touches different sides of me! I like that,' she added.

'So I completely understand the divisiveness coming from critics and the fans. Because when you take this to extremes that are seen as opposition  the world I come from and the world of Marvel, that has been divided in a way thats so unfair and unfortunate  and to merge the way we did, I actually see the reaction as a testament to how much we had merged with each other; how uncomfortable that might make people feel,' Zhao stated.
She is edging closer and closer to her due date.

And pregnant Tammy Hembrow's maternity wardrobe appears to be getting more daring by the day.

The 27-year-old fitness influencer showed off her growing baby in a sheer Jean Gaultier dress.

Sheer daring! Pregnant Tammy Hembrow showed off her large baby bump in a see-through Jean Paul Gaultier dress as she headed out in Melbourne on Thursday

The blonde bombshell also flaunted her ample cleavage in a black push-up bra worn underneath the long-sleeve frock.

Tammy accessorised her look with a pair of blue strappy Bottega Veneta stilettos and a Louis Vuitton handbag.

She swept her blonde locks up in a tight bun and rocked a wing-tipped eyeliner.

The successful Instagram star is in Melbourne to work on a photo shoot for her Saski Collection, and was dining out at popular eatery Chin Chin.

Expensive accessories: Tammy accessorised her look with a pair of blue strappy Bottega Veneta stilettos and a Louis Vuitton handbag

Tammy is expecting a child with her fiance Matt Poole.

On Sunday, the Gold Coast-based star showed off her changing shape at 27 weeks pregnant in a series of photos shared to Instagram.

She put her blossoming baby bump on full display in a cropped black blazer and ripped blue jeans as she posed in front of a buffet unit.

Eye-popping display: The blonde bombshell also flaunted her ample cleavage in a black push-up bra worn underneath the long-sleeve frock

Baby mama: On Sunday, the Gold Coast-based star showed off her changing shape at 27 weeks pregnant in a series of photos shared to Instagram

Tammy added touches of designer style with $1,480 chunky black Prada loafers and a black Hermes Birkin bag, which can retail anywhere from $12,000 AUD to a staggering $435,000.

She concealed her gaze behind trendy narrow-frame sunglasses and was dripping in bling, including her sparkling diamond engagement ring.

Tammy's blonde locks were styled into a half-up do, and her makeup was glamorous, with a bronzed complexion, contoured cheekbones and a matte nude lipstick.

Got the cash to splash: The Gold Coast-based star, who is 27 weeks pregnant, added touches of designer style with $1,480 chunky black Prada loafers and a black Hermes Birkin bag, which can retail anywhere from $12,000 AUD to a staggering $435,000

Off the market: She concealed her gaze behind trendy narrow-frame sunglasses and was dripping in bling, including her sparkling diamond engagement ring from fiance Matt Poole, 32

The star has been updating fans on her pregnancy journey, and once again showed off her growing bump in a series of bikini-clad Instagram snaps earlier this month.

The beauty modelled swimwear from her own collection, including a brown bikini worn along with a sarong in a similar tone.

She also donned skimpy, bright green swimwear as she showed off her bump from the side.

In further photos, Tammy, who had a full face of makeup, posed in an orange two-piece.

In her element: The star has been updating fans on her pregnancy journey, and once again showed off her growing bump in a series of bikini-clad Instagram snaps earlier this month

A look: The beauty modelled swimwear from her own collection, including a skimpy orange two-piece that put her baby bump on full display

Wow! Tammy also donned skimpy, bright green swimwear as she showed off her bump from the side

A multi-coloured, striped bikini was also in the selection, featuring a very revealing pair of bottoms and a strapless top.

Additionally, Tammy wore a number of activewear outfits consisting of midriff tops and bike shorts.

She turned her back to the camera in one image, her g-string underwear visible underneath her tights.

Tammy is expecting her first child with her Ironman fiance Matt, 32, with the couple announcing the news in December.

The blonde bombshell was given a $46,000 diamond ring when getting engaged to her beau in November.

She already shares two children, son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five, with her ex-partner Reece Hawkins.
The delightful Melbourne home owned by comedian and television personality Shane Bourne will go under the hammer this Saturday.

The Logie-nominated actor, best known for appearing on Thank God You're Here and Hey Hey It's Saturday, has not listed a minimum price for the auction.

But the renovated three-bedroom cottage in Albert Park could fetch as much as $2.4million based on recent sales for the suburb, reports Realestate.com.

Going, going, gone! The delightful Melbourne home owned by comedian and television personality Shane Bourne will go under the hammer this Sunday

Located close to the beach, Port Melbourne and Albert Park Village, the Victorian single-frontage house underwent a complete renovation a decade ago.

The property, which started off as a two-bedroom weatherboard, was transformed by architects into an airy, light-filled and cosy two-level modern home.

Keeping the modest frontage and ornamental archway to maintain the original character, the new design now boasts an impressive master bedroom.

Sale: The Logie-nominated actor (pictured), best known for appearing on Thank God You're Here and Hey Hey It's Saturday, has not listed a minimum price for the auction

Estimates: However, the renovated three-bedroom cottage in Albert Park could fetch as much as $2.4million based on recent sales for the suburb. (Pictured: the spacious living area)

Modern: The stairs leading to the second level are seen on the left, next to the modern kitchen

There is also a large bathroom with double vanity and oversized tub on the ground floor, plus a 'European' laundry and linen closet.

There is a second bathroom upstairs, next to a rear main bedroom that comes with a private balcony.

A skylight was installed on the upper level, and glass doors replaced the old walls downstairs.

Well designed: The home's rooftop terrace (pictured) is perfect for entertaining

Dining splendour: The downstairs outdoor patio and living area at the rear is seen here

Features include a large living area and courtyard, as well as a kitchen fitted with timber benchtops and upscale appliances.

An upstairs terrace, perfect for entertaining, offers grand views of Melbourne and the leafy surrounds.

Bourne, 72, a veteran of Australian media for more than 40 years, replaced Daniel MacPherson as co-host of Dancing with the Stars in 2015.
Goitseone Ishmael, a Chinese language assistant teacher, gives a lesson at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Excitement and joy could be felt as students at Legae English Medium School in Gaborone, Botswana, greeted their teacher Goitseone Ishmael with the Chinese phrase "ni hao," which literally translates to "hello" in English, before she began her Chinese language lesson.

"Today we are going to begin our class by watching a Chinese movie," she says, and the students jump up and down with joy. Some of the students ask if it's about the well-known actor Jackie Chan. Finally, she manages to get them to settle down.

Ishmael, also known as Liu Weiwei in Chinese, started her job as a Chinese assistant teacher at Legae English Medium School in 2022. Now she teaches around 350 students consisting of 14 classes per week from Standard 3 to Standard 6.

After graduating from university with an associate's degree in business information systems, Ishmael was encouraged by her sister to enroll in the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana (CIUB) in 2017.

"During my study at CIUB, I developed a strong interest in the Chinese language, culture and lifestyle, especially in August 2018 I set my foot for the first time in China through the Summer Camp by CIUB," she told Xinhua during an interview.

Ishmael went to study at Shanghai Normal University in China in 2019. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, she couldn't go back to China to finish the last semester and ended up finishing it online and graduating while in Botswana.

As a Chinese assistant teacher, Ishmael has her main teaching work done like teaching students Chinese songs, teaching them how to make paper cutting or lanterns. She also helps Zhang Lu, the only Chinese teacher who comes from the CIUB, to teach the Chinese language.

"Teaching a language is really interesting and kids are always interested in learning more, especially about the Chinese culture, the food and they even ask a lot of questions during my lesson like what the thing they like is called in Chinese," she said, adding that most of the students want to visit China now since she started teaching them.

According to Ishmael, Batswana can benefit a lot from learning the Chinese language. She said, in China, everything is convenient like transportation and payment methods, so Batswana can learn and see how they can improve services here. Batswana can also go teach English in China because of the demand for English teachers.

The 33-year-old woman teacher encouraged people to consider a career in the Chinese language. "It is not only for communication, it will open another opportunity for them. There are different types of jobs that one can do after learning Chinese like working as a Chinese language teacher, a translator or interpreter," she said.

Basel Ncaagae, the head of Legae English Medium School, said Chinese was introduced full-time in 2018 after management expressed a desire to move away from the Chinese club, given that the club was not reaching out to many students. And as a result of the large number of students who expressed an interest in learning Chinese, the school implemented Chinese as a full-time language study program called Confucius Classes.

Some of the content the class teaches are Chinese greetings, teaching kids how to count numbers in the Chinese language, how to introduce themselves in Chinese, their age, the weather and time. Kids also participate in the Primary School Chinese Bridge where the winner gets an opportunity to travel to China and represent the school. There are also competitions like Talent Show where students can also take part in. 

Goitseone Ishmael, a Chinese language assistant teacher, is pictured at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

Goitseone Ishmael, a Chinese language assistant teacher, gives a lesson at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

Goitseone Ishmael (R), a Chinese language assistant teacher, talks with Zhang Lu, a Chinese instructor, at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
Sydney Sweeney showed off her incredible bikini body while frolicking on a beach as she announced her latest brand partnership with Sol by Jergens.

To promote the brand's collection self tanners, the 24-year-old Euphoria actress shared a video of herself running toward the ocean as she flashed a beaming smile.

Her gorgeous blonde hair, styled in loose curls, cascaded down her back as she looked over her shoulder before posing with a bottle of Jergens.

Radiant: Sydney Sweeney showed off her incredible bikini body while frolicking on a beach as she announced her latest brand partnership with Sol by Jergens

The White Lotus actress sported an open white linen button-down over her pale blue two-piece, which included a pair of tiny thong bottoms.

'Collaborating with @solbyjergens self-tanner has been an absolute dream,' she captioned the post. 'This is legit my secret for sun-kissed skin without worrying about exposure to harmful UV rays.'

The Fifty-Fifty Films founder continued: 'This is legit my secret for sun-kissed skin without worrying about exposure to harmful UV rays.'

Looking fabulous: To promote the brand's collection self tanners, the 24-year-old Euphoria actress shared a video of herself running toward the ocean as she flashed a beaming smile

Beaming: Her gorgeous blonde hair, styled in loose curls, cascaded down her back as she looked over her shoulder before posing with a bottle of Jergens

She also said she swears by their Water Mousse, which is similar to a self-tanning lotion, but it is made of a lighter formula made of natural sugars and infused with coconut water.

The product retails for $17.99 and worn by Sweeney in the medium shade.

Earlier this week, Sweeney spoke to People about always washing her face 'no matter how tired' she gets after a long day at work.

Working it: The White Lotus actress sported an open white linen button-down over her pale blue two-piece, which included a pair of tiny thong bottoms

Beauty secrets: She also said she swears by their Water Mousse, which is similar to a self-tanning lotion, but it is made of a lighter formula made of natural sugars and infused with coconut water

Affordable: The product retails for $17.99 and worn by Sweeney in the medium shade

On what prompted her to collaborate with Jergens, she said: 'It's my sun in a bottle. I'm always on the go and try to protect my skin as much as possible, so being able to use something that's easy to apply, not messy and safer than cooking in the sun.'

As for why she swapped her signature blonde tresses for red, Sweeney teased the new look is for a role.

'It's actually just a tinted wash, so I'm not having to constantly color my hair and kill it,' she said.

To prevent any damage to her locks, Sweeney noted: 'I use a lot of deep conditioning masks and try not to use heat on my hair when I'm not working. It's always fun diving into a character that's not myself and changing up my looks.'

Maintaining her complexion: Earlier this week, Sweeney spoke to People about always washing her face 'no matter how tired' she gets after a long day at work
Trevor Noah has responded to Kanye West who called him a racial slur.

The 38-year-old South African comedian took the high road as he commented on an Instagram post by the 41-year-old West on Wednesday night in which the rapper called the comedian a 'k**n', resulting in a 24 hour suspension of his account.

Noah had previously expressed concern for Kim Kardashian, 41, and said West's feud with his estranged wife was 'terrifying to watch' on The Daily Show, which resulted in Kanye calling him a 'k**n'.

However Noah approached the situation with compassion, leaving a comment underneath the post telling the rapper: 'It breaks my heart to see you like this.'

Showing compassion: Trevor Noah took the high road when responding to Kanye West, after the rapper called him a racial slur in an Instagram post on Wednesday; Pictured in 2021

The television host began his lengthy comment writing, 'Damn, here we go again, everybody sayin' what's not for him.... There are few artists who have had more of an impact on me that you Ye.'

'You took samples and turned them into symphonies. You took your pain and through the wire turned it into performance perfection,' he praised the Donda hitmaker.

'I thought differently about how I spend my money because of you, I learned to protect my child-like creativity from grown thoughts because of you, s**t I still smile every time I put on my seatbelt because of you,' he continued.

Kind: The South African comedian, 38, approached the situation with compassion, leaving a comment underneath the post telling the rapper, 44, 'It breaks my heart to see you like this'

'You were a serious rapper who also knew not to take himself seriously. You effortlessly brought comedy into music and made us all smile while we rapped along.'

Noah continued, saying he didn't care about Kanye roasting Kim's new boyfriend Pete Davidson, 28, except that he doesn't see it leading him down a good path.

'You're an indelible part of my life Ye. Which is why it breaks my heart to see you like this. I don't care if you support Trump and I don't care if you roast Pete. I do however care when I see you on a path that's dangerously close to peril and pain.'

Concerned: The television host expressed concern for Ye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 41, writing, 'I've woken up too many times and read headlines about men who've killed their exes, their kids and then themselves. I never want to read that headline about you'; Kim pictured in 2020, Kanye pictured in 2022

The political commentator then touched on the dangerous turn that domestic family disputes can take if they turn violent.

'You have every right to fight for your family. But you have to know the difference between that and fighting your family. I've woken up too many times and read headlines about men who've killed their exes, their kids and then themselves. I never want to read that headline about you.'

'If you're just joking about it all and I'm an idiot for caring, then so be it. But I'd rather be the idiot who spoke up and said something to you in life, than the cool guy who said nothing and then mourns for you in prison or the grave,' he said.

Regarding Pete: 'I don't care if you roast Pete. I do however care when I see you on a path that's dangerously close to peril and pain,' Trevor added in regards to Kim's beau Pete Davidson, 28

Noah also touched on the racial slur Kanye used against him. 'Oh and as for K**n... clearly some people graduate but we still stupid.'

'Don't ever forget, the biggest trick racists ever played on black people was teaching us to strip each other of our blackness whenever we disagree. Tricking us into dividing ourselves up into splinters, so that we would never unite into a powerful rod.'

At the end he was able to laugh the situation off. 'I can't front though, K**n Baya is also funny as s**t.'

He wrapped up his thoughts in a positive statement, saying, 'Look after yourself my brother. Hopefully one day we'll all be laughing about this.'

Kanye's Instagram account has since been reinstated and all his posts have been deleted from his account.
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Bella Thorne set temperatures soaring on Thursday afternoon as she appeared on Instagram in two skimpy bikinis.

The former Disney Channel star, 24, is vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with her older sister Dani Thorne, 29.

Taking to her Instagram Story, Bella struck a seductive pose in a black mesh two-piece suit while venturing out on the water on a luxury yacht.

Bikini babe: Bella Thorne set temperatures soaring on Thursday afternoon as she appeared on Instagram in two skimpy bikinis

Reminiscent of lingerie, Bella's bikini top had lace detailing on the cups and gold hardware meant to adjust the straps on her shoulders and waist.

The Shake It Up alum rocked bold graphic eyeliner and amplified her pout with a magenta lip stain.

Her wavy auburn hair was worn down and flowed in the wind during her boat ride photoshoot.

Getaway: The former Disney Channel star, 24, is vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with her older sister Dani Thorne, 29

In the photo, she also had a green Gucci robe slung over her arm.

Bella eventually changed out of her black bikini and into a neon green bikini in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

'Feeling lucky,' she wrote, followed by a winking emoji.

Lingerie-inspired: Taking to her Instagram Story, Bella struck a seductive pose in a black mesh two-piece suit while venturing out on the water on a luxury yacht

Getting in the spirit: Bella eventually changed out of her black bikini and into a neon green bikini in honor of St. Patrick's Day

Bella accessorized her eye-catching two-piece with a pearl and rhinestone body chain that spelled out 'B***H'

She also held some of her hair back this go around with a thick silver headband.

Bella's sister Dani put her enviably slender frame on display in a neon green bikini of her own and a pair of bedazzled pants.

Overseas: Bella's trip to Mexico comes after her lengthy stay in Europe, which included time in Paris and her fiance Benjamin Mascolo's home country of Italy

'My lime green twin,' captioned the actress, who shared a fun snap of her and Dani on the boat to her Instagram Story.

Bella's trip to Mexico comes after her lengthy stay in Europe, which included time in Paris and her fiance Benjamin Mascolo's home country of Italy.

The lovebirds got engaged in March 2021 after approximately two years of dating.
She spent a month soaking up the sunshine in Dubai with fiance Matthew Sarsfield and their 13-month-old son Noah.

And Charlotte Dawson showcased her bold sense of style as she stepped out for the first time on Thursday since her Dubai getaway.

The reality star, 29, cut a glamorous figure in a purple sparkly blazer and matching trousers as she attended the Hayu exclusive preview screening and launch party for Below Deck Down Under at Everyman, Borough Yards.

Strike a pose: Charlotte Dawson showcased her bold sense of style as she arrived at the Below Deck launch party in London on Thursday

Charlotte donned a tiny purple crop top underneath the suit and teamed her look with a pair of nude heels, while she carried a small round peach purse as she posed for a slew of snaps.

The bronzed beauty opted for a nude makeup look while she styled her caramel tresses in loose curls. She accessorised with a flashy watch and several bracelets.

She looked in high spirits at the event as she was joined by other influencers such as Kady McDermott, Shaughna Phillips and Demi Jones.

They all looked stunning as they settled in at the event, ready to watch the exclusive screening of Below Deck Down Under.

Looking good: he cut a glamorous figure in a purple sparkly blazer and matching trousers as she attended the Hayu exclusive preview screening at Everyman, Borough Yards.

Wow! The reality star donned a tiny purple crop top underneath the suit and teamed her look with a pair of nude heels, while she carried a small round peach purse as she posed for a slew of snaps.

Charlotte has been keeping her 1.3 million Instagram followers updated as the fun night unfolds. She captioned the post: 'Suited & chuffin booted mama still got it'

It comes as the reality star recently admitted she's in the shape of her life as she showed off her slimmer physique in a social media post.

The beauty looked trim in a bold orange bikini while posing for a selfie ahead of her first overseas holiday since giving birth to son Noah in January 2021.

Captioning the post, Charlotte gave followers advance warning that even more bikini snaps will follow when she arrives in Dubai.

Bold: The bronzed beauty opted for a nude makeup look while she styled her caramel tresses in loose curls.

Stunning: Kady McDermott and Demi Jones both looked effortlessly chic at the event

She wrote: 'Feeling in the best shape everrrr so watch out for more bikini chuffin spam cos we're goin on our oliiiidays. [sic]

Charlotte recently shared images from before and after shots that appeared to document her weight loss journey as she encouraged her followers to show off their bodies no matter what size they are.

In before image, the reality star who shared two different swimwear looks, looked fantastic as she showcased her curves in a bikini with a strappy top and matching bottoms.

A subsequent photo taken after her dramatic weight loss showed Charlotte wearing a cut-out swimsuit while confidently posing with her hand on her hip.

The television personality decided to lose weight and overhaul her lifestyle after being diagnosed with diabetes.

Fashionista: Shaughna Phillips showcased her sensational style in a Fendi top and a baby pink blazer

Looking good: Remel London (left) and Kelsey Sratford (right) turned heads in their bright ensembles
Erin Doherty will play an enemy of the crown in her next screen role. The actress, who won acclaim for her turn as Princess Anne in Netflix's The Crown, will star as Protestant martyr Anne Askew, who was tortured at the Tower of London then burnt at the stake.

Psychological thriller Firebrand, which begins filming next month, will explore the fractious relationship between Henry VIII (being played by Jude Law) and his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander).

One of its key storylines involves Henry's adviser Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester (Simon Russell Beale), and his ruthless investigation to uncover high-profile heretics, as part of a campaign to destroy Parr.

The actress, who won acclaim for her turn as Princess Anne in Netflix's The Crown, will star as Protestant martyr Anne Askew, who was tortured at the Tower of London then burnt at the stake

Psychological thriller Firebrand, which begins filming next month, will explore the fractious relationship between Henry VIII (being played by Jude Law) and his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander). Pictured: Erin Doherty in The Crown

Gardiner ordered Askew to be taken to the Tower, hoping she would betray the queen. But Askew refused to give up names, despite enduring torture so barbaric even the Tower's constable begged Henry to stop.

Michelle Williams was due to be Parr, but withdrew for personal reasons.

The screenplay, by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth, is based on Elizabeth Fremantle's novel Queen's Gambit. But producer Gabrielle Tana changed the film's title so it would not be confused with Netflix's hit mini-series.

One of its key storylines involves Henry's adviser Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester (Simon Russell Beale), and his ruthless investigation to uncover high-profile heretics, as part of a campaign to destroy Parr. Pictured: Alicia Vikander

Gardiner ordered Askew to be taken to the Tower, hoping she would betray the queen. But Askew refused to give up names, despite enduring torture so barbaric even the Tower's constable begged Henry to stop. Pictured: Jude Law is playing Henry VIII

The screenplay, by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth, is based on Elizabeth Fremantle's novel Queen's Gambit. But producer Gabrielle Tana changed the film's title so it would not be confused with Netflix's hit mini-series. Pictured: Simon Russell Beale will also star in Firebrand

Bonnie: Why I'm not fussed about fame-or facelifts

Despite it being her 50th year in showbusiness, Bonnie Langford is not making a song and dance over her new role.

The actress will appear in the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes when it tours the UK.

The show, which will also head to London's Barbican for ten weeks from June 25 (three weeks earlier than originally intended), was a fun-filled tonic when it was revived last year.

Director Kathleen Marshall has cast Langford as the aristocratic Mrs Evangeline Harcourt, a comedic acting role ('I think I sing about three lines,' Langford said) which gives her the opportunity to show off her comic chops.

Despite it being her 50th year in showbusiness, Bonnie Langford is not making a song and dance over her new role

Other stars include Kerry Ellis as glamorous evangelist Reno Sweeney, with Denis Lawson and Simon Callow also joining the company. Ellis will be doing the show's heavy lifting: singing and dancing Reno's big numbers, with Marshall's show-stopping choreography worth the price of admission alone.

Langford joked that she's been kicking up her heels for, well, 51 years: ever since she made her first appearance on Opportunity Knocks  and half a century since making her stage debut as a child in a musical version of Gone With The Wind at the Drury Lane theatre in 1972.

She was better received by critics when she played Baby June, opposite Angela Lansbury, in Gypsy in London and on Broadway. 'I was a sponge!' she said, of watching and learning from Lansbury's artistry.

She played many precocious young girls but told me she was 'actually a very quiet child off stage'. 'I was surrounded by my family, who are very grounded,' she told me.

Other stars include Kerry Ellis as glamorous evangelist Reno Sweeney, with Denis Lawson and Simon Callow also joining the company. Pictured: Kerry Ellis and Samuel Edwards at rehearsals

The actress is a virtuoso all-rounder: as at home on the set of EastEnders as she is doing musical theatre. She has always found work, and told me she would never contemplate 'having any work done to 'improve' my looks'.

'I'm too frightened and scared to do anything like that! In any case, I like the experience of living  of laughter and tears  to show in my face.

'I'm blessed with a certain joie de vivre. Those lines on my face tell a story.'

She puts the longevity of her career down to the fact 'that I haven't been doing it to become famous'.

She and the rest of the Anything Goes cast, which also includes the hilarious Carly Mercedes Dyer, Samuel Edwards, Nicole-Lily Baisden and Haydn Oakley, have been rehearsing near Regent's Park

Part of the fun for Langford is that she's reunited with Callow  who played Captain Hook to her Peter Pan at Richmond Theatre. 'I'm a different gender this time,' she observed, before we both decided to tiptoe away from that subject. Pictured: Kerry Ellis and Samuel Edwards in rehearsals

She said she worries that so many people now enter the profession wanting fame and blames some of that on shows such as Britain's Got Talent.

'They sell a lifestyle that, frankly, doesn't exist.'

She and the rest of the Anything Goes cast, which also includes the hilarious Carly Mercedes Dyer, Samuel Edwards, Nicole-Lily Baisden and Haydn Oakley, have been rehearsing near Regent's Park.

Langford's maltipoo, Poppy, will accompany her on some legs of the tour that kicks off at the Bristol Hippodrome on April 11, ending June 18 at the Palace, Manchester. Pictured: Kerry Ellis and Samuel Edwards in rehearsals

Part of the fun for Langford is that she's reunited with Callow  who played Captain Hook to her Peter Pan at Richmond Theatre. 'I'm a different gender this time,' she observed, before we both decided to tiptoe away from that subject.

Langford's maltipoo, Poppy, will accompany her on some legs of the tour that kicks off at the Bristol Hippodrome on April 11, ending June 18 at the Palace, Manchester.

Her grande dame role as Mrs Harcourt calls for her to carry a pampered pooch on board a ship in Anything Goes. 'I thought: this could be a part for Poppy!' she said, laughing, because we both know that the canine on stage is a mechanical one!

Her grande dame role as Mrs Harcourt calls for her to carry a pampered pooch on board a ship in Anything Goes. 'I thought: this could be a part for Poppy!' she said, laughing, because we both know that the canine on stage is a mechanical one! Pictured: Kerry Ellis in rehearsals

Stars align for Old Friends

Cameron Mackintosh has lined up a host of stars to perform in Old Friends, at London's Sondheim Theatre on May 3, to raise funds for the Stephen Sondheim Foundation.

Anna-Jane Casey, Julian Ovenden, Rob Brydon, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Rob Houchen and Gary Wilmot will stand, side by side (metaphorically), with Michael Ball, Petula Clark, Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Hannah Waddingham and others.

Mackintosh said that there had been an avalanche of applications for tickets enough to pack the Royal Albert Hall. But the show has been created for the intimacy of the Sondheim. 'It wouldn't be the same thing at the Albert Hall,' he said. But he's looking at ways of having a livestream fed into a second theatre.
Bradley Cooper kept it causal when he went for a walk through New York City with a friend on Wednesday.

The actor, 47, stepped out in a gray hoodie, light blue pants and gray sneakers as he walked along the Big Apple's streets.

Cooper's brown hair was combed back out of his face and parted in the middle.

Out for a stroll: Bradley Cooper kept it causal when he went for a walk through New York City with a friend on Wednesday

The Guardians of the Galaxy actor talked expressively with his hands to his confidant who appeared to be listening intently.

The star's walking buddy wore a puffy dark blue jacket over a black shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

He walked in black sneakers and wore sunglasses while his black hair was stuck up in a prominent mohawk.

While Cooper was able to take some time to go on the walk yesterday, the star has stayed as busy as ever over the past few months.

Keeping warm: The actor, 47, stepped out in a gray hoodie, light blue pants and gray sneakers as he walked along the Big Apple's streets

Big huge: The star hugged his walking companion before the two began their excursion

The A Star Is Born actor is currently filming his part as Rocket in the third installment of The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

He's also preparing to play a very different role than a computer generated raccoon in his film Maestro. Cooper will take on the role of famed American composer Leonard Bernstein.

Maestro will follow Cooper's Bernstein, who was a closeted homosexual, during his 27-year-long marriage to Felicia Montealegre. Carey Mulligan will play Montealegre.

The Nightmare Alley star also co-wrote the screenplay and will direct the film as well.

Working hard: The A Star Is Born actor is currently filming his part as Rocket in the third installment of The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise

Busy personal life: Though he is not currently in a relationship, the Wedding Crashers actor is apparently a fantastic father to his 4-year-old Lea

While Cooper certainly has a lot on his plate professionally, he will also be busy personally in the coming months as well.

Though he is not currently in a relationship, the Wedding Crashers actor is apparently a fantastic father to his 4-year-old Lea, at least according to his baby mama Irina Shayk.

The supermodel called Cooper 'the most amazing dad,' in an interview with Elle last year.
Lisa Rinna's daughter Amelia Hamlin posted a few Instagram shots this week from her latest modeling assignment.

The 20-year-old showbiz legacy could be seen frolicking about in a set of Balenciaga sweats over a scarlet bikini.

She was modeling the look for the fashion website FWRD, which Kendall Jenner happens to have been named 'creative director' of last September.

Making it happen: Lisa Rinna's daughter Amelia Hamlin posted a few Instagram shots this week from her latest modeling assignment

Amelia spent much of last year hitting the headlines for her relationship with the smoldering reality TV heartthrob Scott Disick, 38.

Scott shares his three children with his superstar ex-fiancee Kourtney Kardashian, who is one of Kendall's half-sisters.

At the moment Scott is in the midst of swirl of romance rumors with Too Hot To Handle star Holly Scarfone, 23.

Hard at work: The 20-year-old showbiz legacy could be seen frolicking about in a set of Balenciaga sweats over a scarlet bikini

By the way: She was modeling the look for the fashion website FWRD, which Kendall Jenner happens to have been named 'creative director' of last September

Holly has been noted for her uncanny resemblance to Kendall's younger sister Kylie Jenner, who is herself 24 years old.

Amelia was 19 when she first became involved with Scott, as was his previous girlfriend Sofia Richie, whose father is Lionel Richie.

Earlier this year Amelia, who has been candid about her past struggles with anorexia, could be spotted flitting from Fashion Week to Fashion Week.

Degrees of separation: Kendall, who is pictured this Wednesday in Los Angeles, is half-sisters with Kourtney Kardashian who has three children by Amelia's ex Scott Disick

She made her way onto runways or into events throughout the four fashion capitals - New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Amelia has an elder sister called Delilah, who last month announced she was 'six months sober' after suffering an accidental overdose last year.

Back in November she candidly revealed that she had previously suffered an accidental overdose of the beta blocker propranolol after taking it with Benadryl.
Leonardo DiCaprio took to Instagram on Thursday to make a rare post as he advocated for the victims of war in Ukraine.

The Titanic actor, 47, posted photos from various humanitarian organizations helping those affected by Russia's military invasion, which began on February 24, 2022.

'The victims of warfare in Ukraine have lost everything from their loved ones to basic materials for survival,' the Hollywood heartthrob wrote.

Advocating for victims: Leonardo DiCaprio took to Instagram on Thursday to make a rare post as he advocated for the victims of war in Ukraine

'Humanitarian organizations like @SavetheChildren @careorg @IRC and @refugees are on the ground, dedicating their personnel and resources to support families and innocent people,' he added.

The Academy Award winner's fans were touched, with one person commenting, 'Thank you for using your platform to help the people of Ukraine.'

CARE organization also left a comment saying, 'Thank you for supporting Ukrainians in need.'

Helping: The Titanic actor, 47, posted photos from various humanitarian organizations helping those affected by Russia's military invasion, which began on February 24, 2022

In the first photo from Save the children - an international humanitarian organization that protects children around the world - a volunteer worker is seen escorting a woman with her two small children.

In another powerful image there is rubble and destruction as a fire consumes what's left over of a building. The actor tagged CARE in the image, an organization fighting for social justice.

In yet another moving picture from Rescue.org a woman in a black beanie and pink jacket with tears in her eyes is seen tightly hugging another woman.

Kind: 'The victims of warfare in Ukraine have lost everything from their loved ones to basic materials for survival,' the Hollywood heartthrob wrote

Moving: In one of the images a UNICEF worker is seen checking up on a small child, as she holds out her hand in front of him

While in a fourth image a UNICEF worker is seen checking up on a small child, as she holds out her hand in front of him.

Earlier in the week a false story about the actor donating $10 million to Ukraine made its way through the media, but has since been debunked by CNN.

The story reported that DiCaprio's late maternal grandmother was born in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, but a source close to the actor cleared up the rumor and said he 'does not have a family member from Odessa or anywhere else in Ukraine.'

The source also stated that DiCaprio 'stands with Ukraine' and has made humanitarian donations to CARE, the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children and the UN's refugee agency.

Organizations: The star mentioned humanitarian organizations Save the Children, CARE, Rescue.org, and UN Refugee Agency, to which he has reportedly donated

DiCaprio is famous for his humanitarian and environmental efforts, and has established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998, which supports over 35 conservation projects around the world tasked with the protection of fragile ecosystems and species.

Interestingly enough the A-list actor met with Russian President Vladimir Putin - who was the Prime Minister at the time - on November 23, 2010, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The two were seen talking at a reception held during the International Tiger Conservation Forum, which was held as a response to concerns over the possible extinction of the tiger as a species.

At the time BBC reported that Putin called DiCaprio a 'muzhik' - or 'a real man' - due to his efforts to be there for the event after two major plane delays.
She is known for her sensational figure.

And on Thursday, Australian model Simone Holtznagel showed off her curves in a form-fitting $3,000 Alex Perry dress.

The SAS Australia star put her ample cleavage on full display in the bustier-style frock.

Bombshell! Model Simone Holtznagel showed off her VERY ample cleavage in a stunning $3,000 Alex Perry gown to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the designer working with Specsavers

She teamed the look with a black Bvlgari Serpenti clutch bag and gold hoop earrings.

Simone, who rose to fame on Australia's Next Top Model back in 2011, tied her hair back into a high bun and wore a dewy makeup palette.

Busty babe! The SAS Australia star put her ample cleavage on full display in the bustier-style frock

Simone and other stars celebrated the ten-year anniversary of designer Alex Perry working with Specsavers.

The stunner, who hails from Wollongong, has done considerably well for herself and had a stint overseas in Los Angeles.

She has modelled for the likes of Guess and also posed for the racy publication, Playboy.

Curvaceous: Simone has modelled for the likes of Guess and also posed for the racy publication, Playboy

Stint: More recently, she appeared on Channel 7's grueling military-style show SAS Australia, but spectacularly quit after just one week

More recently, she appeared on Channel 7's grueling military-style show SAS Australia, but spectacularly quit after just one week.

She recently showed off the injuries she sustained on the show, saying: 'These are my f**king bruises... It really hurts, like everywhere.'

Simone's sister Madeline Holtznagel, 26, meanwhile, is dating millionaire pub baron and Merivale boss Justin Hemmes, 49.
Schapelle Corby's car broke down in Brisbane last Saturday.

But despite the ordeal, the convicted drug smuggler appeared in relatively good spirts as she took her nephew out for a spot of fishing that same day.

The 44-year-old went barefoot and cut a casual figure in a vibrant blue kaftan.

Laidback: Schapelle Corby, 44, went barefoot and cut a casual figure in a blue kaftan as she took her nephew out fishing in Brisbane after her car broke down last Saturday (pictured)

Schapelle tied a sarong in a contrasting blue fabric around her waist and concealed her gaze behind stylish black sunglasses.

She swept her brunette locks back into an effortless ponytail, and opted for glamorous makeup.

Schapelle was spotted leaving a local bait and tackle shop with supplies and appeared relaxed as she engaged in conversation with her heavily tattooed nephew.

Family: The convicted drug smuggler appeared in relatively good spirits despite the ordeal as she engaged in conversation with her heavily tattooed nephew (pictured)

Ensemble: Schapelle showed off her legs in the summery ensemble and concealed her gaze behind stylish black sunglasses

The sighting comes after Schapelle revealed her surprising career change following stints on SAS Australia and Dancing With The Stars.

She told The Daily Telegraph in December that she's now a clock maker, selling handmade epoxy resin pieces for $199 each.

Schapelle revealed that she's so passionate about her new project she even dreams up ideas for clock designs in her sleep.

Effortless: She swept her brunette tresses back off her face into a ponytail and drew attention to glamorous makeup

Fishing trip: Schapelle was spotted leaving a bait and tackle shop with supplies

Shock move: The sighting comes after Schapelle revealed her surprising career change following stints on SAS Australia and Dancing With The Stars

'Epoxy resin has become more than just a hobby for me; it really occupies most of my thoughts,' she said.

'This creative art form has given me so much purpose to my days; I absolutely love this passion of mine.'

Schapelle said she sells her pieces through Instagram and does 'all the work' herself, including drilling and sanding.

Unique product: She told The Daily Telegraph in December that she's now a clock maker, selling handmade epoxy resin pieces for $199 each

Dream project: 'Epoxy resin has become more than just a hobby for me; it really occupies most of my thoughts,' the reality star said

She added that each piece, typically with a beach design, is made with love.

Schapelle made her debut as a reality star in November 2020, appearing on Seven's SAS Australia.

However, she quit just two days into the military-style show, after Firass Dirani's antics forced the recruits to run a series of laps as a punishment.

Her passion: Schapelle added that each piece, typically with a beach design, is made with love

Fulfilled: 'This creative art form has given me so much purpose to my days; I absolutely love this passion of mine,' the brunette went on to say

In October 2004, Schapelle became a household name when she was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of cannabis wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag.

The world watched in May 2005 as she broke down in the Denpasar courtroom after being sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in Kerobokan Prison.

Following a series of sentence reductions, Schapelle was released on parole in February 2014, having served nine years behind bars.

Proud: Schapelle is pictured with one of her clocks, which she often shows off on Instagram
International voices urge US explanation for bioweapons accusations

(Global Times) 09:21, March 18, 2022

Russia is now strengthening its accusations against the US of developing biological weapons in Ukraine with documents and evidence it had detained amid its military operations in its neighboring country, and the US keeps claiming that Russia's accusations are "disinformation" even if statements from different officials of the Biden administration are contradictory, and this has caused rising international concerns over US biolabs worldwide.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an extensive speech on the Ukraine crisis on Wednesday. "There was a network of dozens of laboratories in Ukraine, where military biological programs were conducted under the guidance and with the financial support of the Pentagon, including experiments with coronavirus strains, anthrax, cholera, African swine fever and other deadly diseases," Putin said during his speech.

Putin noted that "frantic attempts" are underway to conceal the "traces of these secret programs," according to RT.

Analysts said Putin's remarks showed that Russia is very serious about the accusations against the US, and apart from providing documents it had obtained in Ukraine, and in order to further verify the accusations, Moscow and Kiev could consider inviting an international investigation team to include neutral countries like China, India, Turkey and representatives from international organizations to enter the relevant facilities to collect more direct and convincing evidence.

The responses from Washington have made the international community more concerned. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki last week called out Russian claims that the United States has secretly operated chemical and biological weapons laboratories on Ukrainian territory as a "disinformation campaign."

But Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland previously said at a hearing in Congress that the US has "biological research facilities" in Ukraine and she said "we are now in fact quite concerned that Russian troops may be seeking to gain control of [those labs], 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."

The US is a country that has rejected the protocol of monitoring bioweapons to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), so all its biolabs worldwide have no transparency. Due to the accidents related to these labs in the past, and the nasty record of the US using biological and chemical weapons in Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula, experts said it's necessary for the international community to exert more pressure on the US to accept the BWC, and to prevent it from using other countries' soil for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) development.

Wang Yiwei, director of the institute of international affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Thursday that the US needs hundreds of biolabs worldwide in the territories of its allies so that when it can't break the nuclear balance with its competitors, it needs some other WMDs to reinforce its strategic deterrence, and the biological and chemical weapons are their choices.

"The international community has already been greatly concerned about US military biological activities. They have 336 laboratories around the world. This number comes from the information provided by the US to the Conference of Parties of the BWC," Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Junsaid at a UN Security Council meeting on March 11 on the matter of US biolabs in Ukraine. At the meeting, the US groundlessly accused China of spreading disinformation while China was just simply urging the US to clarify itself with transparency and evidence.

Du Kaiyuan, a Shanghai-based military commentator, said the US needs hundreds of such facilities around the world rather than concentrate on the research at its domestic labs because "the tests for biological weapons need live tests which might cause legal problems in the US, but it can get enough samples from other countries."

World concerns

The concerns are not only from Russia and China. Experts from many other countries, including the US, also raised their concerns over the matter.

Jeffrey Kaye, a former clinical psychologist in San Francisco, told the Global Times on Thursday in a video interview that the US needs to provide the documentation and open up to what's really being done in those labs in Ukraine.

"We need to declassify the records going back to the end of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War so that we can find out what they are doing in these hundreds of biolabs." But unfortunately, "the problem is they [the US government] won't do that," Kaye said.

Sheradil Baktygulov, a Kyrgyz independent political analyst based in Bishkek, told the Global Times on Thursday, "The formal explanations of the US authorities on more than 300 US biolabs activities around the world do not match the real situation on the ground. The truth is much darker as has been shown by many independent investigations since 2018."

"There were numerous mysterious outbreaks of human illnesses and losses of livestock in Georgia, Ukraine and Russian provinces bordering that country since 2007. Moreover, the US is keeping its bioweapons in violation of international treaties," he.

If the US is a peaceful and peacemaking country and follows democratic principles, then it has to be more transparent and open on US biolab operations around the world, said Baktygulov, noting that "Greater transparency will give mankind the opportunity to see beyond the formal explanations on US biolabs and the US might be recognized as a more trusted partner internationally."

"At this point, all humanity needs transparency, not only the people on the battlefield but also the entire world," Abdullah Agar, a security expert and academic at the Istanbul-based Bahcesehir University, said in a recent interview with the Xinhua News Agency.

Korkut Ulucan, a Turkish specialist in medical biology and genetics, said such laboratories must be accessible to international scientific committees, and their activities need to be audited by multiple independent organizations.

"To prevent a leak, these laboratories should be gradually evacuated with utmost care, under high-level security conditions and the supervision of a committee of scientists, and they must be inactivated," Ulucan, also an academic at the Istanbul-based Marmara University and lecturer at the Uskudar University, told Xinhua.

What can we do?

Wang said that the problem is that the current international order can't impose very effective restrictions and law enforcement on the US when it violates international laws or breaks the basic norms of international relations, or force it to be transparent on sensitive issues like WMDs.

"So if the US refuses to be transparent and be immune to accusations from Russia and keeps pretending to be blind to the concerns raised by world scientists, Washington won't pay a significant price," he said.

Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that the international community can keep pressuring the US to accept the protocol for monitoring bioweapons of the BWC, as this is the obligation that the US should take, so that it will abide by laws, and the difficulties for the US to continue such research worldwide will be harder.

"And those US allies who have cooperated with the US on biological research with military or CIA backgrounds should also be responsible for their own people's security, and these countries should also join the BWC and execute the right to monitor what the US is doing in their countries," Song noted.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
BEIRUT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Yusupjan Memet, vice chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Thursday accused anti-China forces in the United States and some other Western countries of fabricating lies and fallacies about the so-called "forced labor," "religious prosecution" and "ethnic genocide" in Xinjiang, according to a statement by the Chinese embassy in Lebanon.

"These lies aim to undermine Xinjiang's stability and development, strain ties between China and Islamic countries and mislead international public opinion," Memet said during a virtual meeting organized by the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon.

Memet highlighted the remarkable achievements Xinjiang has scored in economic and social development, people's livelihood, culture and education since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian thanked the Lebanese government and people for their consistency in holding an objective and just stance on issues related to Xinjiang and expressed his hope that through this meeting, the Lebanese people could get to know the real situation in Xinjiang. 
Jade Tuncdoruk has revealed that being on the receiving end of backlash following a series of headline-making scandals was 'one of the worst periods' of her life.

The influencer, 26, was asked by a follower during an Instagram Q&A session on Friday how she was feeling, after she drew criticism for demanding a small business refund her $2,000 honeymoon deposit after ignoring the terms and conditions.

Jade, who also became a target after a racially insensitive Uber Eats rant of hers went viral, admitted that she cried 'for the better part of four weeks' and 'hated' herself.

'It was one of the worst periods of my life': Jade Tuncdoruk (pictured), 26, revealed on Friday that she spent 'four weeks crying' after facing mass backlash over her travel refund scandal and racially insensitive Uber Eats rant that went viral

The brunette revealed she's been feeling 'pretty rough' and said 'there's hardly any room for forgiveness' when you're in the public eye.

'When you mess up with your friends and family, they know who you are, so when you say sorry, they'll accept it and continue to love you.'

Jade continued: 'I spent the better part of four weeks crying, hating myself, hating my life, hating my job and hating the industry. I felt silenced as many people told me not to share any comments on the matter.'

Honest response: The influencer was asked by a follower during an Instagram Q&A session how she was feeling after she drew criticism for demanding a small business refund her $2,000 honeymoon deposit after ignoring the terms and conditions

Emotional: Jade admitted, 'I spent the better part of four weeks crying, hating myself, hating my life, hating my job and hating the industry. I felt silenced as many people told me not to share any comments on the matter'

The socialite suggested that you 'feel like a victim' when you receive 'hundreds of comments and messages from people saying horrible things about you'.

Jade concluded by saying she's grateful to those that have always supported her.

'I'm in a better place now but it's been one of the worst periods of my life. I'm trying to learn and grow from it. That's the other thing, nobody actually cares if you're trying to better yourself. They just want to dislike you for the sake of it.

'I'm thankful for the people in my life who've supported me wholeheartedly because they know who I am.'

Jade sparked backlash in January after it emerged she'd demanded a small business refund her $2,000 honeymoon deposit after ignoring the terms and conditions.

Cash: The model was slammed in January for 'demanding' that a small business give her a refund for a deposit on her honeymoon - after she ignored the company's terms and conditions

She raised eyebrows by complaining to her online fans about the financial woes of cancelling her lavish Hunter Valley honeymoon with fiance Lachie due to Covid.

In her now-deleted post, Jade, who is frequently gifted with luxury designer handbags and clothing, explained that she'd booked her stay with premium holiday rental company Weekenda last year, putting down a $2,000 deposit.

She however decided to cancel her booking with the company Weekenda in August, after postponing her wedding due to Covid.

'Incredibly poor form': She said she'd booked her stay with premium holiday rental company Weekenda last year, putting down a $2,000 deposit. After cancelling the booking due to Covid, she demanded that the company refund her deposit. Weekenda denied their request

Jade demanded that the company refund her deposit - even though Weekenda's terms and conditions clearly states that customers aren't entitled to a refund of their deposit if they cancel.

'We requested a refund due to the pandemic, but they said the best they could do was put it back up on line to be booked by someone else,' Jade explained.

'Six weeks out of [sic] the booking and we've asked again for a refund which they've denied. They've had months to refund us for a booking that we don't need. They're taking our money just because they can,' she raged.

In black and white: Weekenda's terms and conditions (pictured) clearly states that customers aren't entitled to a refund of their deposit if they cancel

She added: 'It's just incredibly poor form and so disappointing that businesses are taking advantage of people in the middle of a pandemic.'

Jade included a link to Weekenda's Instagram page, and it didn't take long for her supporters to lash out at the company.

She later claimed she was surprised that her followers had begun contacting the company directly and demanding they refund her money.

Success: Not long after, Jade shared another post announcing that Weekenda had agreed to refund her deposit

'Not y'all following them,' she wrote, rolling her eyes.

Not long after, Jade shared another post announcing that Weekenda had agreed to refund her deposit.

Things went from bad to worse when Jade was forced to apologise for a racially insensitive Uber Eats Facebook post from 2017 which went viral.

The brunette copped huge backlash in early January when a Facebook post showing her complaining to Uber Eats about their 'annoying non-English speaking delivery drivers' resurfaced.

The influencer apologised for her 'hurtful comments' after her Facebook post was uploaded by the Celeb Spellcheck Instagram page.

More backlash: Things went from bad to worse when Jade was forced to apologise for a racially insensitive Uber Eats Facebook post from 2017 which went viral

The resurfaced post read: 'I order off you guys all the time and I'm starting to find it really annoying that you have so many non English speaking delivery people who can't follow basic delivery instructions.

'I got a notification today saying my food was arriving and it took the person a further 20 mins to get to my door because he didn't read my delivery instructions properly and when I called him to explain he didn't understand a word I was saying.'

She continued: 'Your GPS is consistently sending drivers to the wrong address which I've explained in my instructions which most people read and have no problem with but when foreigners are delivering it takes twice as long for me to receive my then cold food. Sort it out.'

Post: In the resurfaced post, Jade' wrote, 'I order off you guys all the time and I'm starting to find it really annoying that you have so many non English speaking delivery people who can't follow basic delivery instructions'

Jade subsequently issued a grovelling apology to fans that month, writing on Instagram: 'Hey everyone. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way I've conducted myself recently.'

'I'm aware that my actions were poorly thought out and lack integrity. I want everyone to know that I hold myself to a higher standard than this. I've made it my priority to reevaluate the aspects of my life that have lead to the disconnect between my soul and my actions.'

To conclude, Jade wrote: 'I am sorry to anyone I've let down, including myself.'
Irina Shayk slid her enviably trim frame into a skintight ensemble for a leggy outing in Los Angeles this week.

The 36-year-old Russian model, who shares her four-year-old daughter Lea De Seine with her friendly ex Bradley Cooper, opted for head to toe black.

She emphasized her statuesque figure in a clinging black top with matching leggings from Alo and a pair of sneakers.

Looking fab: Irina Shayk slid her enviably trim frame into a skintight shirt and Alo leggings for a leggy outing in Los Angeles this week

Warding off the California rays with a large pair of black shades, she added a splash of dazzle to the look with a glimmering necklace.

Irina, who was born in an industrial Soviet town on the slopes of the Urals, rounded off the look with a large dark handbag.

Last week could be spotted at London Fashion Week joining a cavalcade of models sauntering down the runway for Burberry.

Late last month after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Irina posted a peace sign to Instagram and wrote: 'No To War.'

Legging it: The 36-year-old Russian model, who shares her four-year-old daughter Lea De Seine with her friendly ex Bradley Cooper, opted for head to toe black

She added that she would give money to both the Ukrainian Red Cross and to UNICEF, noting that fans could find donation links in her Instagram bio.

Irina's dating history includes Cristiano Ronaldo and last year she was briefly linked to Kanye West in the wake of his split from Kim Kardashian.

She and Bradley are such close co-parents that they have made sure to live just blocks apart in Greenwich Village in order to raise their daughter.

'Hes a full-on, hands-on dad - no nanny,' Irina told Highsnobiety last year. 'Lea went on holiday with him for almost two weeks - I didnt call them once.'

Sizzling sensation: Last week could be spotted at London Fashion Week joining a cavalcade of models sauntering down the runway for Burberry

The mother of one added: 'Me and her father are very strict. When she finishes eating, she gets up from the table, takes her plate, says "thank you." Without "please" or "thank you" shes not getting anything.'

Irina noted: 'Its hard, because she has so many toys. I had one doll, and I still have this doll. Blonde, blue eyes, big Russian doll.'

The Soviet-born fashionista explained: 'My grandma used to make clothes for her. And I always explain: "Look, this is my doll. I had only one." Or sometimes: "You have this candy. I used to have candy only for Christmas."'
She's never been afraid to show off her phenomenal figure.

And Hofit Golan put her incredible physique on full display as she stripped naked for a sizzling Instagram snap on Thursday.

While soaking up the sights of the luxurious Courchevel ski resort in the French Alps, the 36-year-old socialite exuded glamour.

Wow: She's never been afraid to show off her figure. And Hofit Golan put her incredible physique on full display as she stripped naked for a sizzling Instagram snap on Thursday

Hofit looked incredible as she draped a fur blanket over her shoulder and donned a pair of Moon Boots.

She kept her accessories to a minimum with the exception of a bobble hat.

She captioned the snap: 'Ready to turn up the heat and melt the snow. The Caribbean islands are calling. Next stop #StBarts Do you prefer vacation on the beach or in the snow?'

Dare to bare: Hofit looked incredible as she draped a fur blanket over her shoulder and donned a pair of Moon Boots

Hofit loves the jet set life and recently returned from a trip to Mexico.

She took to Instagram earlier this month to document the trip and wowed in a plunging swimsuit as she frolicked on the beach with her boyfriend Alvaro Nunez.

The pair put on a PDA packed display as they celebrated their 1st anniversary in Mexico on Thursday.

The socialite, 36, and her entrepreneur beau, 28, enjoyed a lavish getaway to Tulum where they shared a kiss on the beach after sampling the resort's culinary delights.

The founder of Super Luxury Group, Alvaro, flashed his abs in a pair of black swimming shorts as he laughed with his love.

Hofit and Alvaro enjoyed their anniversary celebrations as they dressed up to attend dinner at the various hotels.

The couple stayed villa at Aldea Canzul beach resort before they travelled onto Azulik and finished up their trip at the Papaya Playa Project.

The fashionista has been travelling the world with her businessman beau by her side, and confirmed their romance when they made their red carpet debut in July.
Japanese actor Akira Takarada, who starred in the original 1954 Godzilla and several later films featuring the city-wrecking monster, has died in Tokyo aged 87.

Takarada, who appeared at the premiere of his latest film earlier this month, passed away in hospital having contracted pneumonia, Japanese media reported Friday.

A tweet posted by the official account of the Godzilla franchise: 'We are saddened to hear of the passing of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many Godzilla fans.'

Sad news: Japanese actor Akira Takarada, who starred in the original 1954 Godzilla and several later films featuring the city-wrecking monster, has died in Tokyo aged 87 (pictured 2013)

Takarada quickly rose to stardom after playing the lead role of a heroic ship's captain in the first Godzilla, a movie that resonated in Japan as a walking, radiation-breathing analogy for nuclear disaster.

The star played the role of a sailor called Hideto Ogata in the company's 1954 production of the original Godzilla film.

Akira's character was also there at the film's end to watch Godzilla die from the Oxygen Destroyer.

Just nine years earlier, the country had suffered the world's first, and still only, atomic bomb attacks at the hands of the United States in the closing days of World War II.

Tragic: Takarada passed away in hospital having contracted pneumonia, Japanese media reported Friday (pictured in Godzilla)

A tweet posted by the official account of the Godzilla franchise: 'We are saddened to hear of the passing of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many fans'

Takarada also played a small role in The End of Summer, a 1961 film by cinematic master Yasujiro Ozu about a sake-brewing family in Kyoto.

The actor became popular in Asia around the same time, having appeared in joint Japan-Hong Kong productions with the actress Lucilla Yu Ming, and went on to star in many Japanese films and TV series.

Takarada was born in 1934 on the Korean peninsula and grew up in the Chinese province of Manchuria, then a Japanese colony.

He was known for speaking some Mandarin. Just after Japan's defeat in 1945, he was shot in the stomach by a Soviet soldier and severely wounded.

Rise to stardom! Takarada quickly rose to stardom after playing the lead role of a heroic ship's captain in the first Godzilla, a movie that resonated in Japan as a walking, radiation-breathing analogy for nuclear disaster

'I still remember the sound of (a doctor) cutting my body while I was half-fainting' to remove the bullet without anaesthesia, he told news agency Jiji Press.

He later became an anti-war advocate and said he believed 'the greatest sin committed by man is war'.

'We should no longer be losing lives in the name of war. There's no reason or intelligence in war. We create a world of madness,' he told Jiji.

About Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, he told reporters: 'When we see the reality of a peace-loving country (Ukraine) being overrun, I think we need to make films that are a little more socially conscious.'
Lateysha Grace has brought her daughter Layke home from hospital two weeks after she gave birth to the little girl six weeks prematurely.

The Valley's star, 29, had to leave her baby in neonatal intensive care when she was discharged last week and shared her heartbreak on social media that she wasn't able to take her newborn with her.

However Lateysha has since revealed that Layke has now also been discharged from the ward and she has been able to take her home for the first time.

Joyful news: Lateysha Grace has brought her daughter Layke home from hospital two weeks after she gave birth to the little girl six weeks prematurely

The reality personality shared pictures of her daughter wrapped up in a pink blanket as she left the unit with her in a baby carrier.

The mother of two, who was wearing a cosy pink co-ord, also shared snaps with her little girl in the back of the car before heading home.

Lateysha also posted a picture of the tattoed arm of her currently unidentified boyfriend carrying Layke out of the hospital.

Mother and daughter bond: The Valley's star, 29, had to leave her baby in neonatal intensive care when she was discharged last week and shared her heartbreak on social media that she wasn't able to take her newborn with her

She captioned the series of images: 'Baby girl is home. What a rollercoaster its been, thank you to everyone thats sent supportive messages'

She captioned the series of images: 'Baby girl is home. What a rollercoaster it's been, thank you to everyone that's sent supportive messages throughout the whole experience! You honestly don't understand how much it helped me.

Lateysha added: 'And thank you to nicu staff they were absolutely amazing . I'm excited for this next chapter with my little fighter.'

Last week, Lateysha revealed she's been discharged from hospital, but her baby daughter Layke remained in intensive care.

Love: However Lateysha has since revealed that Layke has now also been discharged from the ward and she has been able to take her home for the first time

She took to Instagram to reveal she was allowed to go home after two weeks in hospital, sharing her heartbreak that she wasn't bringing her newborn with her.

Lateysha was rushed into hospital last month with preeclampsia after contracting Covid, and later gave birth to her daughter, who weighed just 3.15 pounds.

Sharing a gallery of images of her tiny daughter, she wrote: 'My little Angel yesterday was so hard for me I finally got discharged from the hospital after being there for two weeks.

'Although I was relieved I was so sad leaving there because I felt like I was leaving my baby.

'Giving birth and walking out without your baby is honestly the most heartbreaking thing. I can't wait to bring her home.'

Tough time: Lateysha revealed she's been discharged from hospital, but her baby daughter Layke remains in intensive care after being born six weeks early

Upsetting: She took to Instagram to reveal she was allowed to go home after two weeks in hospital, but shared her heartbreak that she wasn't bringing her newborn with her

Ordeal: In a heart-wrencing post Lateysha detailed the struggles of leaving her baby daughter in intensive care after recovering from pre-eclampsia

Emotional: Lateysha also shared a gallery of snaps of her tiny baby daughter in an incubator, after being born weighing just 3.15 pounds

Supportive: After returning home, the star revealed her longtime partner, whose identity she hasn't revealed, moved their belongings into their new home while she recovered

Soon: Taking to her Stories on Thursday, the star revealed she was returning to the hospital to reunite with her daughter

After returning home, the star revealed her longtime partner moved their belongings into their new home after getting the keys while she was recovering in hospital.

Taking to her Stories, the star revealed she was returning to the hospital to reunite with her daughter.

She wrote: 'On my way to see my baby. I haven't washed my hair in like two weeks to going to get it washed later on today, then back to the nicu.'

Tough experience: Lateysha detailed how she was receiving extensive medical treatment following her early birth

Getting better: She posted a picture with a lengthy caption cradling her newborn close to her chest while still receiving medical treatment in hospital

Previously, Lateysha detailed how she was receiving extensive medical treatment following her early birth.

The reality personality was rushed to hospital last week with preeclampsia while postive with Covid and welcomed her little girl three days later.

Sharing a post about her experience on social media, Lateysha wrote: 'Don't even recognise myself at the moment and I litrelly feel like a science project, having bloods done twice a day taking so many medications.

'I can't wait for this to be over with. But I am honestly so thankful that layke was delivered safely! It was the most scary experience I've ever been through in my life.

'She's doing so well and I couldn't be more proud of her, I just wish I could take her home to meet her sister.

Struggling: The reality star had a tough couple of days in hospital after giving birth to a premature baby after being rushed to hospital

'Such a odd feeling not being with her 24/7 after giving birth then returning to a ward with mothers and their babies. Anyway thanks for all the well wishes guys not my usual post but I want to continue raising awareness for #preclampsia.'

In an image that accompanied her words, Lateysha cradled her newborn close to her chest in the adorable snap.

Lateysha also shared a series of snaps of her baby girl to her Instagram stories.

She captioned a picture of her daughter sleeping with a tube attached to her nose: 'Can't stop staring at my princess'.

Baby: She captioned a picture of her daughter sleeping with a tube attached to her nose: 'Can't stop staring at my princess'

Lateysha shared the news to Instagram on March 5 that she had welcomed Layke, weighing 3.15 pounds, into the world.

She posted a snap of herself holding her newborn daughter and captioned the photo: 'Welcome to the world @babylayke 04/03/2022 , 3.14 pounds . My little Angel baby 34 weeks.'

Lateysha also took to her Stories posting a black and white photo with Layke as Queen Naija's song Mama's Hand played in the background.

Tagging a new account for her daughter, she penned: 'What a crazy last two weeks I've had, but she's here and thriving. I love you @babylayke.'

Lateysha gives birth! The reality star took to Instagram on March 5 to reveal she had welcomed daughter Layke six weeks early

'Angel baby': She captioned the photo: 'Welcome to the world @babylayke 04/03/2022 , 3.14 pounds . My little Angel baby 34 weeks'

In another photo showing her hospital bed and a closed curtain, Lateysha wrote: 'Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, we're honestly over the moon and can't believe how amazing she is.

'I'm going to take some time away from Instagram until I'm better. Love to you all.'

It came after she was rushed to hospital with preeclampsia while also positive with Covid on Wednesday. Lateysha asked her followers on Instagram to pray for her unborn baby.

She also critised the hospital for not taking her 'more seriously' when she was admitted with swelling a couple of weeks ago.

'Some time away': In another photo showing her hospital bed and a closed curtain, Lateysha wrote: 'Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, we're honestly over the moon and can't believe how amazing she is'

Worried: Lateysha was rushed to hospital with pre-eclampsia while also positive with Covid on Wednesday

Sharing a picture of her pregnant belly from her hospital bed, she wrote: 'What's meant to be the most exciting week for me has turned out to be the worst!

'Honestly if anyone feels like they may have preeclampsia please get it checked out ASAP it's so dangerous to you and your baby. I don't know how long I'm going to be in here for but please just pray for my baby.'

Lateysha also listed a series of symptoms which are related to preeclampsia including headaches, vision issues, pain below the ribs, vommitting and swelling.

She later thanked her fans for their prayers and well wishes  before adding that she had first visited the doctor two weeks ago with symptoms.

'I wish I was taken more seriously when I went in with swollen feet two weeks ago. I don't think it would be as severe as it currently is right now,' she revealed.

'And to top of all of this I have covid. I just have to be as strong as I can be for my baby.'

WHAT IS PRE-ECLAMPSIA? Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure, which can be deadly for both a woman and her unborn baby if untreated. It usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure is typically normal. The most effective treatment is an early delivery; usually via C-section. However, this may not be best for the baby if it is early on in the pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia affects about 25,000 women in England and Wales each year, and four per cent of pregnancies in the US. It can have no symptoms if it develops gradually rather than coming on suddenly. A blood pressure reading above 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) on two occasions is usually the first sign. Other symptoms may include: Severe headaches

Blurred vision, temporary loss of sight or light sensitivity

Upper abdominal pain, particularly under the ribs on the right side

Nausea or vomiting

Reduced urination

Shortness of breath due to a build up of fluid in the lungs Sudden weight gain, and swelling in the face and hands, are also symptoms, however, these can occur during normal pregnancies. Pre-eclampsia is thought to begin in the placenta when its blood vessels narrow and do not react to hormones properly. This reduces the amount of blood that flows through them. Its underlying cause may be genetic, due to a problem with a woman's immune system or existing blood vessel damage. A woman is more at risk if she, or a member of her family, suffered from pre-eclampsia before. The risk is also highest during the first pregnancy, and if a woman is over 40; obese; black; having a multiple birth, like twins; or conceived via IVF. Existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines and kidney disease also raise the risk. If untreated, pre-eclampsia can restrict a baby's growth or cause it to be delivered early. The placenta can also separate from the uterus wall, which can lead to severe bleeding. A woman may also suffer seizures, organ damage and even heart disease as a result of untreated pre-eclampsia. Although treatment is usually inducing labour, if it is too early to deliver the baby, medications may be prescribed to lower a woman's blood pressure. There is no clear advice on how to prevent pre-eclampsia, however, research suggests taking a low-dose of aspirin and calcium supplements may help. Pregnant women should talk to their doctor before taking any drugs or supplements. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

Lateysha revealed she was pregnant with her second child in December.

She shared the happy news in an interview with Closer magazine, revealing she feels 'blessed' after having tried to conceive for over a year with her boyfriend of two-and-a -half years.

Lateysha admitted at the time that she is anxious about giving birth following the traumatic labour she experienced with her eldest child Wynter, where she had to undergo an emergency C-section.
Late Late Show host James Corden kept it casual as he headed out to dinner at trendy eatery Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday.

The star, 43, looked smart in a Gucci wool cardigan with bee applique and matching navy polo shirt.

He finished off the look with some denim jeans and wore a pair of Gucci water snake-trimmed embroidered leather sneakers.

Casual: James Corden cut a casual figure in a Gucci wool cardigan with bee applique as he headed out to dinner at trendy eatery Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday

James who was seen arriving solo flashed a grin as he made his way into the celebrity hotspot.

The English actor has become a regular at the A-list establishment since landing roles in Hollywood movies such as 2014s Into the Woods and eventually becoming the host of The Late Late Show from 2015.

Earlier this year, the comedian was forced to cancel recordings of his hit CBS show after testing positive for coronavirus.

Beaming: James who was seen arriving solo flashed a grin as he made his way into the celebrity hotspot

Low-key: He finished of the look with some denim jeans and wore a pair of Gucci water snake-trimmed embroidered leather sneakers

On January 6, he took to Instagram to reveal that he has tested positive for a case of breakthrough COVID-19 .

He wrote: 'I just tested positive for COVID 19. I'm fully vaccinated, boosted, and because of this, am fortunate enough to say I feel completely fine.'

James told his followers that his CBS program 'will be off the air for the next few days' as he quarantines.

The latest: On January 6, James took to Instagram to reveal that he has tested positive for a case of breakthrough COVID-19. He was seen on the show last month

He wrapped up the post in writing, 'Stay safe everyone. All my love, James x.'

Prior to his coronavirus diagnosis, the British funnyman welcomed guests Aaron Sorkin and Sophia Bush, Lily Collins, William Jackson Harper and St. Vincent and Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz and Andrew Sleighter.

The Late Late Show is taped in Los Angeles, where Los Angeles County officials on reported a record 37,215 new cases in the area on the same day.

The announcement came after a number of his fellow late night hosts have also revealed they had tested positive for COVID-19, including The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers host Seth Meyers.

I'm positive! The Late Late Show host updated fans on his health on the social media site

Guests: The British funnyman welcomed guests Penelope Cruz and Jessica Chastain days before testing positive (pictured)

Pals: He snapped a selfie with St. Vincent during an episode of the late night program

Star-studded: Actor William Jackson Harper also appeared on the episode of the show

Fallon, 47, took to Instagram Monday to detail his health battle, along with a photo of himself seated in a testing room.

'Hey guys, on the first day of our holiday break I tested positive for Covid,' Fallon said. 'I was vaccinated and boostered which made me lucky enough to only have mild symptoms.

'Thank you to the doctors and nurses who work so hard around the clock to get everyone vaxxed. Thank you to NBC for taking the testing protocols so seriously and doing a great job.'

Meyers, 48, revealed his diagnosis Tuesday, writing, 'The bad news is, I tested positive for COVID (thanks, 2022!) the good news is, I feel fine (thanks vaccines and booster!). We are canceling the rest of the shows this week, so tune in next Monday to see what cool location we will try and pass off as a studio!!!'
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Denise Van Outen's cheating ex fiance Eddie Boxshall was pictured hopping into a taxi at 4am following a DJ set with his friend and business partner Julia Pinkney.

MailOnline can exclusively reveal that Eddie, 48, and club promoter Julia, 47, have grown close and she has been a 'shoulder to cry on' following his split from TV presenter Denise, 47, earlier this year.

Eddie, whose been accused of cheating on Denise during their relationship, was DJing at a Chelmsford bar earlier in the evening, before withdrawing some cash and getting into a taxi with Julia following the raucous night out.

Out and about! Denise Van Outen's cheating ex fiance Eddie Boxshall was pictured hopping into a taxi at 4am following a DJ set with his friend and business partner Julia Pinkney

Denise and Eddie split in January after seven years together, and the TV personality admitted on Thursday's episode of Lorraine that she struggled to 'accept' that this would be her new future.

Eddie, who was wearing a pale blue denim shirt and a pair of jeans, and Julia were seen walking along together in the early hours. MailOnline understands that Julia is not one of the women Eddie was accused of cheating on Denise with.

Julia was dressed all in red for the night out, wearing a jacket over a pair of suit trousers with red heels, she also wore her blonde hair loose and sported a full face of make-up.

The pictures were taken last month, weeks after Denise announced they had gone their separate ways.

Supportive pal: MailOnline can exclusively reveal that Eddie, 48, and club promoter Julia, 47, have grown close and she has been a 'shoulder to cry on' following his split from TV presenter Denise, 47, earlier this year

It's over: Denise and Eddie split in January after seven years together, and the TV personality admitted on Thursday's episode of Lorraine that she struggled to 'accept' that this would be her new future (pictured in 2015)

Heading home! Eddie, whose been accused of cheating on Denise during their relationship, was DJing at a Chelmsford bar earlier in the evening, before withdrawing some cash and getting into a taxi with Julia following the raucous night out

Their budding friendship has been documented on social media, as Julie reshared a photo of Eddie DJing on Valentine's Day. The pictured showed Eddie on the decks as he played at her Love Bytes event on February 14.

Eddie commented underneath the post with a purple heart emoji.

Last summer during the 2020 Euros bikini-clad Julia shared a picture of herself chugging a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne in a hot tub while watching one of the matches.

The post caught the attention of Eddie, who replied underneath: 'That's one way to do it!'

Social media: Their budding friendship has been documented on social media, as Julie reshared a photo of Eddie DJing on Valentine's Day. The pictured showed Eddie on the decks as he played at her Love Bytes event on February 14

Stepping out: Eddie, who was wearing a pale blue denim shirt and a pair of jeans, and Julia were seen walking along together in the early hours. MailOnline understands that Julia is not one of the women Eddie was accused of cheating on Denise with

Laden down! Eddie was carrying a rucksack on his back as he got into the taxi with Julia

Hailing a cab! The two pals flagged down a taxi and got in following the late night out

The sighting comes after Denise admitted she 'wasn't in a great place' after discovering her long-term partner Eddie Boxshall cheated on her for three years.

Despite her heartache, Denise insisted there are 'no hard feelings' and that's she managed to move forward.

She said: 'I'm feeling really good now because I wasn't in a good place, it was all a bit of a shock. These things happen. I'm not the first person it's happened to and I won't be the last, sadly. But it's life, isn't it, Lorraine?

'You just have to get on with it and there are no hard feelings on my side. It's happened and you just accept it. I can't change what's happened.'

Champagne lifestyle: Last summer during the 2020 Euros bikini-clad Julia shared a picture of herself chugging a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne in a hot tub while watching one of the matches

Casual: Eddie, who was dressed casually for the night out, was pictured withdrawing cash from a nearby machine

Career: Entrepreneur Julia works as a club promoter and has shared snaps of Eddie DJing at her events

Denise recently revealed she caught Eddie flirting sexually with three women and described his behaviour as 'disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful'.

She claimed that she found pictures and Instagram messages on Eddie's iPad, detailing the ordeal in her new autobiography, A Bit Of Me: From Basildon To Broadway And Back.

She said: 'Among photos was a screenshot of a woman's breasts  and they definitely weren't mine!

'Also, there was a flirty text exchange between Eddie and this woman, which, of course, set off alarm bells.'

Strolling: Julia carried a bag under her arm and a jacket in her hand

The star admitted the exchange happened in a week she had booked a Spanish holiday, explaining: 'Eddie decided not to come to Spain because he didn't feel well.

'While sympathetic, I was slightly confused about why he couldn't chill with me beside the pool but could still manage to go to the pub.'

Denise also discovered selfies of Eddie with a woman in a bar on a day he had told her he was in London for business.

She realised by looking at the outline of the woman's chest she was not the same one in the first photos. She also found messages which suggested 'phone sex' with a third woman called Tracy.

Cheers! Earlier in the evening Eddie enjoyed a Guinness on St Patrick's Day which he shared to Instagram

Denise decided to contact Tracy and said: 'They'd never met in person, but she said the conversations had become sexual in nature reasonably quickly  some of the stuff I found on the phone seemed to support that.'

She added: 'To me, sexual chats and continued communication over a long period of time amount to cheating.

'Especially when it's done from a home I'd strived to build for us as a family. A home that Eddie found and I bought for us.

'A home we'd only just moved into when it all started. It was disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful.'

Honest admission: The sighting comes after Denise admitted she 'wasn't in a great place' after discovering her long-term partner Eddie Boxshall cheated on her for three years

Denise confronted Eddie about the women, but he denied doing anything wrong and she told him to leave.

The star, who has an eight-year-old daughter with ex-husband Lee Mead, insisted: 'The thing I battled with most was that it wasn't just one person, one mistake or drunken night. This was something that had gone on for more than three years. I felt betrayed.'

She 'cried her heart out' to her mother, adding: 'I was in pain and shock. I'd thought we had the perfect life.

'Any relationship has to be built on trust and once that's gone, there's no way forward. If I hadn't found those pictures, I'd be planning a wedding right now. Instead, I've simply got to move on.'

On Wednesday, Denise explained that she was 'really proud' of herself for knowing when to walk away.

Brave face: Despite her heartache, Denise insisted there are 'no hard feelings' and that's she managed to move forward

She said on Radio 2 on Tuesday: 'The one thing I'm really proud of myself for is I do know when to walk away and I don't like to be taken advantage of.

'Sometimes it's been to the detriment of my own career or in my own relationships, but I just feel like it's really important as a woman to have self-worth and self-respect.

'I've always tried to maintain that in anything that I do in life, generally. More so now as a mother because I feel like I'm a role model and I've got to set an example.'

Denise went on to the muse that she can see light at the end of the tunnel, noting: 'The bad times are always followed by good times and that's what I always look forward to.

'I think you just ride the wave of the bad times knowing that eventually you will get to a good place.'

It's over: Confirming their split in an Instagram post, Denise wrote: 'Over the past couple of months, there has been much speculation regarding my relationship with Eddie

Confirming their split in an Instagram post, Denise wrote: 'Over the past couple of months, there has been much speculation regarding my relationship with Eddie.

'It saddens me to confirm that we are no longer a couple. I had to make the difficult decision not to continue in our relationship.

'I will always treasure the good times we spent together, and the memories made. We ask that you please respect our privacy at this time, especially for our children.'

Eddie is reportedly 'desperate' to win Denise back and paid tribute to his ex-fiancee to mark International Women's Day last Tuesday.

The DJ took to his Instagram Story to post a beaming snap of presenter Denise, calling her 'hard working', 'driven' and an 'amazing mummy' to her daughter Betsy, 11.

Eddie wrote in his post to her: 'Regardless of us sadly going our separate ways I have to acknowledge that in our wonderful 7 and a half year relationship I witnessed the hardest working and most driven woman in her business and amazing mummy to Betsy #neverstops #upmostrespect'.
Priscilla Presley has arrived in Australia for a very sentimental reason.

The American actress attended Bendigo Art Gallery in Victoria to open the new Elvis Presley exhibition, Elvis: Direct from Graceland.

The 76-year-old shared her thoughts on what her former husband, who died in 1977 at age 42, would have thought of Australia, which he never visited.

In town: Priscilla Presley (centre) has arrived in Australia for a very sentimental reason. The American actress attended Bendigo Art Gallery in Victoria to open the new Elvis Presley exhibition, Elvis: Direct from Graceland

'Elvis at one time thought that he would be forgotten. He didn't get to tour all of the places he wanted to go, and Australia was one of them,' she said in a video shared by ABC Central Victoria.

'So it'll be exciting for all of you to share his life and the things that he did, the clothes that he wore, especially his jumpsuits.'

Drawn on her thoughts about the town of Bendigo, Priscilla said: 'I love it here. This is so quaint and unusual. This is a town I'm in love with. It's really, really sweet.'

'Elvis at one time thought that he would be forgotten. He didn't get to tour all of the places he wanted to go, and Australia was one of them,' she said

The star has brought several of Elvis's belongings from his home of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, to Australia for the exhibit.

There are 300 authentic artefacts and personal items owned by Elvis on display, including his 1976 Red Harley Davidson, military uniforms, and jumpsuits.

The show opens on March 19th and runs until July 17th, with tickets already selling out fast.

Memories: Priscilla wed Elvis in 1967, later divorcing in 1973, when she was 27 - and just four years prior to his death. Pictured together

Relics: The star has brought several of Elvis's belongings from his home of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, to Australia. There are 300 personal items owned by Elvis on display, including his 1976 Red Harley Davidson, military uniforms, and jumpsuits

Priscilla wed Elvis in 1967, later divorcing in 1973, when she was 27 - and just four years prior to his death.

Elvis passed away from a heart attack in 1977, leaving behind daughter Lisa Marie Presley, now 54.

In an interview with People, Priscilla also reflected on her marriage to Elvis, saying: 'I loved taking care of Elvis very much. I loved tending to him.

'I loved feeding him. We would baby talk, because you have to have your own language when you have that many people around. It was a good life. It was different, but it was ours.'
Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis has admitted that she felt some pressure to change her looks from her mother Mary after she turned 20.

The influencer, 33, made the admission on her podcast Swipe Up while discussing model Bella Hadid's Vogue interview.

In the magazine, Hadid, 25, detailed her battle with depression and insecurities, and revealed that she had a secret nose job at age 14.

Family affair: Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis (right) says her mum Mary Kala (left) encouraged her to change her looks after she turned 20

'I feel like because we've come so far with cosmetic procedures and stuff, that the mothers are doing it and therefore the daughters are doing it at a younger age,' Martha said.

'When my mum was 40, I was, what? Like 20? And so it was just starting, and she was pushing it on me a little bit,' she continued.

'But when my mum's mum was 40 and my mum was 20, no way my Yiayia (Greek for grandmother) was saying to her, "a little bit of filler in your brow bone would really give you a nice angle."

'So we've evolved, and maybe in some ways it's not for the better. Our mental health is at an all time low. We are struggling.'

Before and after: Martha got a nose job at 22, which she says she now regrets. (Pictured on the left before surgery and on the right after surgery)

Martha has been open about her many enhancements, which include a nose job, a breast augmentation, fillers and Botox.

In 2020, she admitted that she regretted going under the knife to have her nose done.

'If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn't get my nose done,' she said on Instagram.

'I feel like my old nose had a little ethnic vibe and it was unique. Now I just feel like I look like everyone else on Instagram.'

Star power! Mary has followed her famous daughter into the reality TV spotlight by appearing on Big Brother last year

Since Martha shot to fame on Married At First Sight in 2019, her mum Mary has followed in her footsteps by becoming a reality star in her own right.

The 57-year-old starred on Channel Seven's Big Brother last year, and now spruiks beauty and fashion products to her 67,000 followers.

Martha's admission comes after supermodel Bella Hadid opened up about her mental health struggles in Vogue magazine.

Model mama: The 57-year-old is now an influencer, promoting beauty and fashion products to her 67,000 followers

During the chat, the 25-year-old model, who previously claimed that she had not undergone any plastic surgery, revealed that she had a nose job at the age of just 14 - and now regrets it.

Bella also detailed her struggles with body image and mental health, admitting she always felt 'ugly' and 'uncool' in comparison to elder sister Gigi, while reflecting on her battle with anorexia and seeking treatment for depression.

Half-Dutch, half-Palestinian Bella said of her plastic surgery: 'I wish I had kept the nose of my ancestors. I think I would have grown into it.'
Melissa Gorga spoke about not being asked to serve as a bridesmaid at her sister-in-law Melissa Giudice's upcoming wedding to Luis Ruelas during the latest episode of her On Display podcast, which was shared on Thursday.

The 42-year-old reality television personality was revealed to have not been included as part of the bride's party during Tuesday's episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, when the media figure, 49, spoke about the plans for her nuptials.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey castmate responded to her sister-in-law's statements during the podcast and pointed out that she wanted her relative to be happy during her upcoming ceremony.

Being honest: Melissa Gorga spoke about not being asked to serve as a bridesmaid at her sister-in-law Melissa Giudice's upcoming wedding to Luis Ruelas during the latest episode of her On Display podcast , which was shared on Thursday; they are seen in 2019

Gorga began by acknowledging Giudice's statements, as she said: 'I'm not going to lie: I've had a lot of news outlets reaching out to me. Since everyone wants to know how I feel, let's just answer it.'

She then pointed out that she was fine with not being included in the bride's party and learned about the decision by watching the hit Bravo program.

'Yes, I watched Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and I did find out on TV that I'm not gonna be in Teresa's wedding and I'm not a bridesmaid, which I'm okay with, I'm fine with. 'I understand, to each their own.' she said.

Gorga went on to question how Giudice set up her bride's party and wanted to know how the wedding would be organized.

Over it: She then pointed out that she was fine with not being included in the bride's party and learned about the decision by watching the hit Bravo program; the pair is seen in 2019

She said: 'I pretty much assumed that, but I guess my big caution is, are her new sisters-in-laws in the wedding? Is it a no-fam wedding other than the four daughters? Her four, beautiful daughters and a couple of her friends?'

The reality television personality pointed out that 'if that's the case, that makes perfect sense.'

Gorga then expressed that she wanted all the best for her sister-in-law and that she was supportive of her relationship with Ruelas.

No hard feelings: Gorga then expressed that she wanted all the best for her sister-in-law and that she was supportive of her relationship with Ruelas

'I wish her nothing but happiness. I'm very happy that she's happy. I love to see her smile when she's with Louie. Whatever she decides, it's her wedding and I'll be fine with it,' she said.

The media figure also stated that both she and her husband were on the same page regarding their feelings about Giudice.

'Joe and I have been here for a long time. We've always backed her up and...we want her happy and we want it to be good,' she said.

Backing her up: The media figure also stated that both she and her husband were on the same page regarding their feelings about Giudice

Gorga concluded by remarking that she had said her piece about the wedding and reiterated that she wanted to see her sister-in-law find contentment with her soon-to-be husband.

'I hope she sees that and realizes that. I wish her nothing but happiness and I'm sure her wedding will be absolutely beautiful. I just wanted to touch on it a little bit so everyone can stop asking me,' she said.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star previously admitted that she did not ask her sister-in-law to stand by her side when she says 'I do' later this summer during a big wedding celebration.

Soon-to-be-bride: Teresa Giudice is in the throes of planning her wedding to fiance Luis Ruelas after the couple became engaged last fall when he proposed during a romantic trip to Greece

When Teresa was asked about a few of her plans while in town, she admitted to having a meeting set up with Oprah's florist Preston Bailey.

'How many bridesmaids will you have?' Loni asked the longtime Bravo star.

'Eight bridesmaids,' Teresa quipped, with Love coming back: 'Any of the housewives and your castmates?'

'No,' Giudice sternly responded.

Shocked to hear the news, Andy chimed in: 'Melissa will not be a bridesmaid?'

Oh no: The Real Housewives of New Jersey star admitted that she did not ask her sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga, to stand by her side when she says 'I do' later this summer during a big wedding celebration

Family forever? Melissa has been married to Teresa's brother, Joe, since 2004, and began starring on RHONJ in its third season; seen in 2018

That's awkward: Shocked to hear the news, Andy chimed in: 'Melissa will not be a bridesmaid?'

'Don't make a big deal of it,' Teresa assured everyone. 'I mean come on.'

Andy asked: 'Will this be news to her, hearing this now?'

'I mean, I guess so,' she said over her signature nervous laughter. 'I mean, hello, we're on national TV.'

Melissa has been married to Teresa's brother, Joe, since 2004, and began starring on RHONJ in its third season.

'Don't make a big deal of it,' Teresa assured everyone. 'I mean come on.'

'Eight bridesmaids,' Teresa quipped, with comedian Loni Love coming back: 'Any of the housewives and your castmates?'

Their at-times tense relationship has played out in front of the cameras as Teresa and her ex husband Joe were indicted on 39 counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, mail and wire fraud, and making false statements on loan applications

They both served time in prison (she served a year while he was behind bars for 41 months), and Joe was deported back to his home country, Italy, before Teresa made the difficult decision to divorce her husband of 20 years, which was finalized in September 2020.

Teresa since rebounded with Luis and the couple began dating in 2020, roughly one year before he proposed in Greece. Their relationship is currently under fire as the cast questions his intentions with Giudice on this season of RHONJ.
Photo taken on Jan. 16, 2022 shows tourists visiting Dune 45 of Sossuvlei at the Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

Namibia is exploring ways to grow its base for China as a key source market for its tourism and hospitality sector following disruption by the COVID-19.

WINDHOEK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is exploring ways to grow its base for China as a key source market for its tourism and hospitality sector following disruption by the COVID-19.

Nelson Ashipala, manager for corporate communications at Namibia Wildlife Resorts, said Friday that China is part of the country's short and long term strategy geared towards the revival of the sector.

Strategic interventions include a targeted marketing approach and nurturing partnerships."Amid COVID-19, a new phenomenon, we are exploring new ways to establish such collaborations. China is very much on our radar exploring new ways and means," he said.

According to Ashipala, the hampering of COVID-19 on travel has been negative towards the sector's accomplishments, particularly on international travel and markets, including China.

Tourists visit the sea of lilies at Sandhof farm of Maltahohe, south Namibia, Jan. 24, 2022. The sea of lilies reappeared here recently because of abundant rainfall. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

Tourist arrivals to Namibia from all markets severely fell in 2020. Although initially observing a 26.1 percent positive growth in 2019, the 2020 arrivals from China were not spared, observing a 91.9 percent decrease, according to the Tourist Statistical Report 2020. Before that, Chinese tourists were among those that frequently visited Southern African nations.

"For now, though, it is starting to pick up, and we are seeing some travellers returning, mostly after we started to relax COVID-19 rules and procedures. Seeing flights returning is also a welcoming gesture," Ashipala said.

So far, Namibia has witnessed a positive trend in international tourists' arrivals in 2021. Tourist arrival trends from January to December 2021 indicate an upward increase of 37.81% compared to 2020 figures. 
Judge Robert Rinder has spoken of his experience on the border in Ukraine when he found his Strictly partner Oskana Platero's disabled grandparents.

The TV judge, 43, journeyed to the border of war-torn Ukraine when he heard that Oskana's relatives had to flee their home following the Russain invasion.

Rob appeared on Friday's Lorraine to dicuss the experience, where he revealed the elderly couple were forced to escape without their wheelchairs or medication.

Experience: Judge Robert Rinder has spoken of his experience on the border in Ukraine when he found his Strictly partner Oskana Platero's disabled grandparents

He said: 'Her grandfather has Parkinson's and her grandmother wasn't able to get out of bed. Disabled people have had to escape with nothing that they need, no wheelchair or medication.'

Rob continued: 'They had nothing when we arrived really, except each other, we gave them what we could - a wheelchair, they gave us tea. They said despite having nothing, they were grateful to us and the British public for absolutely everything.'

Sharing an insight into their experience, Rob said: 'They are 85 and 95, they took a week to get over the border. They went through a trauma of being able to cross the border.'

Emotional: The TV judge, 43, journeyed to the border of war-torn Ukraine when he heard that Oskana's relatives had to flee their home following the Russain invasion

'That's the thing about what matters most, what this crisis brings home is hold your family close, hold democracy close. How great we can be at our very best.'

Rob also touched on his friendship with Oskana, who he said was 'desperately worried' about her grandparents when he first spoke to her following the outbreak of the war.

He told Lorraine Kelly: 'It was such a priviledge to be able to give her something back. I think people watch strictly and think it's a load of hoo-hah when people say we'll be friends forever, it's telly!

'But we really did become close. As soon as I saw what was happening in Ukraine, I got in touch and she was desperately worried about her grandparents.'

Candid: Rob appeared on Friday's Lorraine to dicuss the experience, where he revealed the elderly couple were forced to escape without their wheelchairs or medication

Discussing his week on the border more generally, Rob said: 'it's overwhelming, everyone I know that has been at the border and at the train stations there, it's really hard to communicate that as a safe Western city, unless you're standing there.

'But it doesn't feel any different from Britain, it's a first world country. Surrounded by the vestiture's of a liberal city. Four weeks ago people were sitting happily in bars and clubs, taking completely for granted that they were safe forever.

'I was standing at this modern train station, it looked like the Pedalino line, not that much different than standing at Euston. In and out of Ukraine, where a week ago people would commute. There was this sea of humanity and by humanity we talk about women and kids. At the border people walking with just the clothes on their backs.'

'But I saw, the British people, the spirit of Dunkirkery at that border, within hours. There was a big table, set up by the Sikh community giving out food.'

Sharing an insight into their experience, Rob said: 'They are 85 and 95, they took a week to get over the border. They went through a trauma of being able to cross the border' (pictured with Oskana's aunt)

'British ex-servicemen who had driven 30 hours with equipment, ambulance drivers on their day off, policemen at the border giving out toys and whatever people needed.

'There was so much human decency there and at the reception centre. Also British charities giving out whatever aid they could. It represented the greatest of humanity.

'There's a sense of lighting a candle in the dark and it illuminates everything. There's so much light there. Every other reporter, despite all of the horror that we are. That get's to stand on that border will tell you the same thing. Of course you come away with the crushing feeling that we need to do more.'

Urging the British government to do more, Rob said: 'Governments need to get the administrative stuff in place. But they also come away with the sense that confronted by horror, humankind will step up now. Especially the British will do their best to help.'

Rob continued: 'They had nothing when we arrived really, except each other, we gave them what we could - a wheelchair, they gave us tea'

Rob related the experience to his Jewish grandparents, who were on a Kindertransport from Germany during the Blitz.

He said: 'My grandfather had no safety he came here after the war, his family were killed. Just before the war there were kinder transports out of Germany and in this country we provided trains out of the Blitz.

'Which both of my grandparents were recipients of. As you've described, that is evocative of that.'

'When we think about why we feel safe, lots of it is because of things around us. You realise how fragile that is when you stand there.'

Earlier this week, Oksana thanked her Strictly partner after he finally found her family in Ukraine after a week-long search.

He said: 'Her grandfather has Parkinson's and her grandmother wasn't able to get out of bed. Disabled people have had to escape with nothing that they need, no wheelchair or medication'

The criminal barrister has been reporting from the front line and told last week how he was heading to the war-torn country in search of his former dance partner's family members.

The TV star has been documenting his trip to the Poland/Ukraine border where he has met many other refugees - he has not yet given details about how he tracked Oksana's family members down.

Rob told Talk Radio that Oksana's grandparents and aunt are currently staying in 'one small room' in a 'chalet bungalow' in Tuchow, Poland. He said her uncle and cousin are on their way to join them.

Sharing snaps hugging the two women, Rinder wrote in the caption: 'Oksana's family: Auntie Lidya and Grandma Zoya.

'We managed to reach them this morning with a wheelchair & some medical supplies.

'Despite having nearly nothing.. they are 'grateful for everything'.'

Oksana's auntie looked visibly emotional in the snap as he hugged auntie Lidya and kissed her on the forehead.

Helping: He wrote in the caption: 'We managed to reach them this morning with a wheelchair & some medical supplies...'

In the second snap he hugged her grandma Zoya - who isn't able to walk without a wheelchair - as she sat in bed covered by blankets.

Professional dancer Oksana, who has not been able to make the journey herself because she has work commitments in America, took to Instagram on Wednesday to thank Rob.

In a heartfelt caption, she wrote: 'I can't say thank you enough to my wonderful SCD partner @robrinder and his team for being there for my family and so many others.

'You are a truly remarkable man and my love for you is limitless. The world needs more people like you.'

Speaking to Talk Radio, Rob said Oksana's family are hopeful that they will be able to return to their home in Ukraine, as he described their journey to Poland.

'You are a truly remarkable man': Oksana, who has not been able to make the journey herself because of work commitments in America, took to Instagram on Wednesday to thank Rob

In another post, Rob revealed Oskana's family also had their puppy Tesla with them, as he shared a snap of the dog and wrote: 'He brings us so much love that we forget the bad things'

He added: 'It really drives into sharp focus what happens when you need to leave your home suddenly, you're left without a wheelchair, without the basic needs, you know the basic things that are required for people's human dignity - going to the loo and so and so forth - and things you need if you are disabled.

'All of that had to be left, as they journey for seven days, sometimes without water, fleeing shelling to arrive here.'

In another post, Robert revealed Oskana's family also had their puppy Tesla with them, as he shared a snap of the dog and wrote: 'He brings us so much love that we forget the bad things'.

On Instagram, Robert shared another heartwarming picture of him hugging a woman and said the 'women of Ukraine' were 'safeguarding' their nation.

Sweet: On Instagram, Robert shared another heartwarming picture of him hugging a woman and said the 'women of Ukraine' were 'safeguarding' their nation

He wrote: 'Tonight is Purim, the story of Queen Esther, a Jewish Queen who learned that Haman (the king's adviser) was planning to destroy the Jewish people.

'Esther revealed the plot & saved her people. Thousands of years on, the women of Ukraine are safeguarding the future of their nation.'

Robert and Oksana reached the quarter-final stage of Strictly, when they competed together in 2016.

And announcing he was going to the Ukraine last week, Rob said: 'Oksana Platero my Ukrainian dance partner on @bbcstrictly gifted me so much.

'Right now her grandparents are a week into their struggle to find sanctuary in a safe country.

Dynamic duo: Robert and Oksana reached the quarter-final stage of Strictly, when they competed together in 2016

Hope: Rob said Oksana's family are hopeful that they will be able to return to their home in Ukraine. Pictured: Oksana with her mother and younger brother

'I'll be trying to meet them on the border next week. They're just a few of the millions who need us.'

Robert added at the time that it was unclear where he could meet Oksana's grandparents, but he was hoping to meet them somewhere on Ukraine's border with Poland.

He added: 'Depends on where they make it to but I'll be at the Polish border from Monday.

'If they cross into Hungary the next step will be getting them to safety with their family.'

Robert and Oksana reached the quarter-final stage of Strictly, when they competed together in 2016.

Family: Robert announced that he was going to the Ukraine last week. Pictured: Oksana with her family member Rosita

Worrying: In a series of tweets last week Robert explained he was travelling to Ukraine's border with Poland to hopefully meet Oksana's grandparents

The dancer herself also took to Instagram last Wednesday pleading for help from her followers, and explaining how her family fled their hometown last week to reach safety.

She wrote: 'Dear Friends, as you already know, many families are going through such hardship with the war in Ukraine. My family and my cousins, @kateryna_klishyna, family are escaping and close to the border.

'My mother, my 10 year old brother, and Kateryna's sister, left their home the morning of March 2nd and arrived to safety March 6th.

'As you can imagine, the journey there was brutal but all that matters is that they made it, and they are safe. We are forever grateful to still have them as we know so many who can't say the same.

'The rest of our family which include our 3 grandparents, 2 who are not able to walk, and Kateryna's mom and dad are still in danger as they are currently still trying to escape. We are praying that they will make it out of Ukraine and into safety soon.

'What's next is unclear, unpredictable, and terrifying. This is where we'd like to ask for any support as they spend their time away from home.

Worrying: The dancer herself also took to Instagram last Wednesday pleading for help from her followers, and explaining how her family fled their hometown last week to reach safety

Help: Posting a series of snaps of her family (left: her auntie Lidya and grandma Zoya), she wrote: 'What's next is unclear, unpredictable, and terrifying'

'They will be in need of accommodations, food, and medical attention for quite some time. We are raising money to send to them and keep them in good hands. Anything you can do to help would be much appreciated.

'From the bottom our our hearts we thank you and please keep our family and the rest of Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. Oksana and Kateryna.'

It's thought around two million Ukranian citizens have now fled their country in the wake of the Russian invasion, but the Government has come under fire for handing out just 500 visas to refugees.
He recently sparked controversy after making a Holocaust joke during his Netflix special His Dark Material.

But Jimmy Carr appeared to be in good spirits as he enjoyed an evening out at Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, London, on Thursday evening.

The comedian, 49, cut a smart figure in a moss green suit jacket, which he paired with navy trousers and a white collared shirt.

Controversy: Jimmy Carr appeared to be in good spirits as he enjoyed an evening out at Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, London, on Thursday evening

He completed his dapper ensemble with a pair of brown loafers as he arrived at the luxury hotel and restaurant.

The presenter styled his short brunette locks in a slicked back fashion as he flashed a huge grin during the jovial outing.

His rare public appearance comes after he caused controversy after joking that the 'thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis' was a 'positive' effect of the Holocaust on his Netflix special.

Channel 4 backed him after the joke as they announced he'll front another series of his game show I Literally Just Told You.

Dapper: The comedian, 49, cut a smart figure in a moss green suit jacket, which he paired with navy trousers and a white collared shirt

The broadcaster confirmed the star will host another eight episodes of the series, which first aired last year, despite calls for him to be 'cancelled' in the wake of his controversial gaffe.

In an interview with Broadcast magazine, Channel 4 chief Ian Katz backed Jimmy's controversial humour, saying: 'I defend the rights of comedians to make offensive jokes and if they can't, then comedy is dead.'

'Jimmy hasn't espoused any views at odds with C4 values and just as we as a broadcaster exist to serve and represent a wide range of communities, we should always be home to the widest range of voices.'

In a widely-shared clip from his Netflix show, Jimmy joked about the horror of the Holocaust and 'six million Jewish lives being lost'.

Stylish: He completed his dapper ensemble with a pair of brown loafers as he arrived at the luxury hotel and restaurant

As a punchline, he then made a disparaging remark about the deaths of thousands of gypsies at the hands of the Nazis.

'But they never mention the thousands of gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives,' Carr quipped to a laughing audience.

The joke caused widespread backlash and prompted a debate about racism and free speech.

Jimmy left the joke out of his live comedy show in Cambridge after the council said it would light up the venue in the colours of the Romani flag.

His management was said to have 'assured' Cambridge city councillors that no material from the show will feature at the gig at the Corn Exchange.

Defence: It comes after he caused controversy after joking 'thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis' was a 'positive' effect of the Holocaust on his Netflix special His Dark Material

Katherine Ryan has defended Jimmy, exclusively telling MailOnline that she felt the joke had been 'taken out of context' and that showing just a small snippet of the stand-up gig was designed to be 'hurtful'.

Earlier this month, Katherine defended the 'roast' style of comedy, stating at The National Comedy Awards: 'That is a genre of comedy that he happens to be best at. I think it is important that we all protect that genre even if people get offended by it.'

Doubling down on her remarks, Katherine told MailOnline: 'I just think that sometimes with social media there is a trend of taking something in one context and isolating parts of it that are going to make people angry by publishing that one bit

'And it could probably feel like an ambush if youre just surfing social media and youre not the kind of person who is into that genre of comedy because what Jimmy does is very specific to that genre and its understood by the people who love it.

'But if you take anything he says, any of his jokes and write them down and show them to people who arent expecting that type of comedy, its out of context.'

Defence: But Katherine Ryan has insisted his Holocaust joke was 'taken out of context' as she doubled down on her support for the star in an exclusive interview with MailOnline

But Jewish comedian David Baddiel, 57, was among swathes of other people to slam Jimmy over the gag.

David said: 'You can obviously tell a Holocaust joke that is cruel and inhumane and mean-spirited and racist.

'Or you can tell one that targets the oppressors, or draws attention to the fundamental evil of it, or shines and light on the humanity of the victims.

'It's not the subject matter of the joke that counts, it's the specifics of the individual joke. Clearly, Jimmy Carr's was the former.'

Conservative MP and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told BBC News that the gag was 'abhorrent' while Prime Minister Boris Johnson even commented on the 'unacceptable' remarks.
Holly Willoughby was overcome with emotion as she spoke to an Ukrainian student for her podcast show.

The presenter, 41, focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine for her latest Wylde Moon blog and spoke to 19-year-old Ukrainian politics student Valentina Butenko who paused her studies in London to go 'fight back' in her native country.

Holly grew emotional listening to the harrowing tale, as Valentina explained she left her mother in the UK to join her father in their hometown.

Upsetting: Holly Willoughby was overcome with emotion as she spoke with an Ukrainian student for her podcast show (stock image)

Valentina explained: 'The moment this war started, I think my future became very simple for me. My future is about defending my country and rebuilding my country.

'My identity and what is valuable to me is tied in with these people and this land, and everything I do going forward, it has to be about rebuilding and re-growing Ukraine - because this is where my identity is.

'I don't see any other path, or I don't want to see any other path.'

New chat: The presenter, 41, focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine for her latest Wylde Moon blog and spoke to 19-year-old Ukrainian politics student Valentina Butenko

As Holly struggled to choke back tears, she said: 'I can't stop thinking about your poor mum. Firstly, she must be so proud of you - what an incredible woman you are.

'But she must just want you to come back to London where you're safe. Does your mum not want you back and safe?'

Valentina responded: 'You know, there always comes this conflict in these times of crisis between what you personally crave and what you want for the ones you love. Of course I miss my mum, of course she wants me to be safe.

'I really deeply miss my mum, but she is also a person who taught me strength and bravery.'

Tone: For this month's blog, Holly explained in an Instagram post that the Wylde Moon team 'wanted to do something different', given the current war

For this month's blog, Holly explained in an Instagram post that the Wylde Moon team 'wanted to do something different', given the current war.

She explained: 'The moon reflects the sun's light and I wanted to reflect what is unfolding in the Ukraine right now by speaking to four fascinating women.

'We have watched in horror as families have been separated, displaced and worse. We have seen the basest and the best in human nature, and the mental scars for many will be as hard to repair as the physical destruction of their towns, cities and villages.

'Looking back at previous conflicts, they have impacted social changes that are still felt today. Take the first world war when two million women took up roles usually undertaken by men. Women proved they were equal and it strengthened their fight for the right to vote.

'In this podcast, I wanted to shine a light on women who have felt the impact of war, directly and indirectly, and to talk to them about how it changed their lives.'

The post comes as Holly is still suffering with Covid but is 'fine' yet just 'annoyed' according to her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield.

The presenter was forced to pull out of hosting Dancing On Ice on Saturday after testing positive and has been replaced by Josie Gibson on This Morning while she self-isolates at home.

Phil, 59, confirmed Holly is doing well and he and Josie, 37, wished her a speedy recovery on Tuesday's show.

He said: 'Holly obviously still got rona so sending her massive love. Texting her throughout the day and making sure she's OK. She's fine, just annoyed. Lots of love, get well soon.'

Josie added: 'Get well soon, Holls.'
Gwyneth Paltrow showed her fans on Thursday what she likes to wear when headed for a day of work at the her GOOP offices.

She traded in the glamor as she modeled some work friendly pieces from her own Goop brand on social media.

The 49-year-old lifestyle guru donned an A-line skirt and white blouse from the high end GOOP clothing line. But followers were not too hot on her $1,195 patent loafers by Roger Vivier with one troll saying, 'Those shoes are hideous honey.'

Work it!: Gwyneth Paltrow models some work friendly clothing from her high end Goop brand on social media. Her millions of followers seemed to like the clothing, but the shoes created an online controversy

Reaction: The thick soled patent leather loafers were loved by some fans, but others called them 'hideous' and one joked 'the shoes are the latest from the Herman Munster collection'

Pricey: The Roger Vivier Viv Creepers Patent Monk Loafers retail for $1,195

Ever the entrepreneur, the mom of two gave some helpful styling hints on the Goop Instagram page as she suggested various ways her fans could mix and match the wardrobe basics.

Goop clothing is not for penny pinchers.

According to the website, the grid-print skirt retails for $475 and the puff sleeve snap top is another $375.

Save your pennies: Paltrow gave advice about how to mix and match the basic pieces. The luxury brand is not for penny pinchers

According to the website, the grid-print skirt retails for $475 and the puff sleeve snap top is another $375

The Shakespeare in Love star kicked off Goop in 2008, first as a newsletter focused on recipes and lifestyle advice to family and friends. Now the company is valued at some $250 million.

In posting the outfit on her personal Instagram page, Gwyneth wrote, 'Office bound in nothing but #Glabel.'

Followers seemed to like the clothes just fine, but the Roger Vivier patent leather loafers with the oversized silver buckle created an online controversy.

Smart cookie: The Oscar winning actress created Goop in 2008 as a newsletter sharing recipes, beauty hints and advice

Proud of her look: The company has since gone on to be valued at some $250 million and still shares recipes, beauty hints , advice and much more

Many devotees loved the thick soled Viv Creepers Patent Monk Loafers, but many did not, posting comments such as, 'Those shoes are hideous honey,' and 'Its a triple NO regarding the shoes! Eekkkkkk.'

One user joked the shoes were the 'latest from the Herman Munster collection.'

Another commenter went all out on her criticism of the shoes and the cost saying, 'Im just sitting here wondering how many peoples lives could be entirely transformed by the cost of those shoes alone Juuuuust wondering. Thinking specifically about those who are food insecure.'

The Iron Man actress is used to creating controversy, whether it's the names of her children, Apple and Moses, the 'conscious uncoupling' ceremony she and former husband Chris Martin of Coldplay, conducted to mark their divorce, or selling $75 vagina scented candles. The Duets star is currently coupled with husband, TV director Brad Falchuk. The two tied the knot in 2018, but didn't combine households until a year later.

Profits from controversy: The Iron Man actress has caused quite a bit of controversy since launching Goop, including products such as $75 vagina scented candles and jade eggs to promote sexual energy

.
Just a little over a week after cracking his femur in half, 53-year-old professional skateboarder Tony Hawk is walking again without the aid of crutches.

His remarkable recovery comes after the athlete vowed that despite the gruesome injury, he would 'be back' on a skateboard - even if he wasn't at full capacity.

In a new Instagram video set to the rock tune of Aerosmith's Walk This Way, which was shared on Thursday, Tony triumphantly took a few unassisted steps in the right direction.

Amazing: Just a little over a week after cracking his femur in half, 53-year-old professional skateboarder Tony Hawk is walking again without the aid of crutches

Standing barefoot with no cast, brace or crutches, Hawk successfully took a few steps across his tiled living room floor.

The pro-skater wore gray shorts and a black hoodie, which put his injured leg on display, though it did not appear bruised or particularly swollen.

Nine days prior, Tony revealed his injury on social media, sharing a cringe-worthy photo of his leg X-ray.

'Yesterday sucked. I broke my elbow 20 years ago and managed to make a full comeback; this recovery for a broken femur will be much harder because of its severity (and my age). But I'm up for the challenge,' he penned in a long caption.

Road to recovery: In a new Instagram video set to the rock tune of Aerosmith's Walk This Way, which was shared on Thursday, Tony triumphantly took a few unassisted steps in the right direction

Yikes! Tony previously revealed that he snapped his femur in half in an Instagram post with his X-ray

He added: 'There is a strange irony that this happened on the eve of HBO releasing a trailer for 'Until The Wheels Fall Off,' Sam Jones' documentary about my life & career, which has a strong focus on the philosophy of how I/we do this at our age.'

'The answer is complicated, but ultimately it's because I have found my sense of purpose and shaped my identity through skating, and it nourishes my mental health immensely,' Tony explained.

'I've said many times that I won't stop skating until I am physically unable. A broken leg - with plenty of hardware - will probably be the biggest test of that creed. I'll be back maybe not at full capacity but I resigned to that notion years ago as I approached 'mid-life.''

A few days after the incident, Hawk actually walked the red carpet of his HBO documentary at the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festival.

On the move: Standing barefoot with no cast, brace or crutches, Hawk successfully took a few steps across his tiled living room floor

Road to recovery: The pro-skater wore gray shorts and a black hoodie, which put his injured leg on display, though it did not appear bruised or particularly swollen

While attending the premiere of Until the Wheels Fall Off in Austin on Friday night, the 53-year-old professional skateboarder sported a black jacket, jeans and a pair of Vans sneakers.

He showed no sign of pain from the break as he mingled with executive producers Mel Eslyn and Mark Duplass as well as director Sam Jones.

Orthopedic surgeon David Abbasi previously told TMZ that the skating legend may have also fractured his hip, evidenced by an X-ray posted by Hawk that shows three screws in the area.

Abbasi called Hawk's injury 'very very serious,' noting that surgeons were able to stabilize his femur - one of the hardest bones in the body - with an intramedullary nail in the middle of the bone.

'I broke my elbow 20 years ago and managed to make a full comeback; this recovery for a broken femur will be much harder because of its severity (and my age). But I'm up for the challenge,' he penned in a long caption.

Hawk has been keeping his fans updated on his miraculous progress with various social media posts.

An earlier Video posted by Hawk shows the San Diego native walking carefully on crutches in a hospital hallway as a nurse follows closely behind with his medical equipment.

And one photo not long after his accicent, he stands on his two feet in front of a hospital bed.

'Some of the pictures look like he's already weight bearing on it,' Abbasi said of Hawk's hospital photo dump. 'Hopefully he's not overdoing it too soon, but I would love to see follow up X-rays of actual fracture area.

'That's gonna be what determines how quickly he's able to recover from this,' the medical professional added

Hawk says he plans to continue skating after his recovery.

The legendary boarder is the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. He also licensed his name to a series of very successful video games titled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, designed for PlayStation and other consoles.
Denise Van Outen has revealed the extreme lengths her cheating ex Eddie Boxshall went to in order to keep his affairs secret.

Writing in her autobiography, A Bit Of Me: From Basildon To Broadway And Back, Denise claimed that Eddie secretly stole her phone and blocked a women he had been sexting so that she wouldn't be able to contact Denise via her accounts.

Despite his best efforts, Denise, 47, still found out about Eddie's infidelities when she was using his iPad and the messages came up, with Denise splitting from him in January after seven years together.

Shocked: Denise Van Outen has revealed the extreme lengths her cheating ex Eddie Boxshall went to in order to keep his affairs secret

Denise wrote: 'There were also Instagram messages alluding to phone sex with a third woman. I quickly found the woman's profile by her screen name, only to discover I'd previously blocked her on my Instagram account - which struck me as odd.'

She continued: 'This was a woman I didn't know, who'd clearly had an online connection with my boyfriend. Why would I have blocked her from my Instagram account. Straight away, I unblocked her and sent her a message saying how she knew Eddie.'

She added: 'She suggested that Eddie had probably gone into my phone and blocked her so she couldn't message me.

Crafty: Denise claimed that Eddie had stolen her phone and blocked a women he had been sexting so that she wouldn't be able to contact Denise via her accounts

'She has apparently spoken to Eddie over FaceTime and text for a long period - often from our home and sometimes from my flat in Hampstead, which she seemed to think was his.

'They'd never met in person, but she said the conversations had become sexual in nature reasonably quickly - some of the stuff I found on the phone seemed to support that.

'However she was upset with Eddie because he'd apparently ghosted her.'

Heartbroken: Denise recently admitted she 'wasn't in a great place' after discovering her long-term partner Eddie cheated on her for three years

Despite her heartache, Denise has insisted there are 'no hard feelings' and that's she managed to move forward.

Speaking on Thursday's episode of Lorraine, she said: 'I'm feeling really good now because I wasn't in a good place, it was all a bit of a shock.

'These things happen. I'm not the first person it's happened to and I won't be the last, sadly. But it's life, isn't it, Lorraine?

'You just have to get on with it and there are no hard feelings on my side. It's happened and you just accept it. I can't change what's happened.'

Denise recently revealed she caught Eddie, 48, flirting sexually with three women and described his behaviour as 'disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful'.

She claimed that she found pictures and Instagram messages on Eddie's iPad, detailing the ordeal in her book.

She said: 'Among photos was a screenshot of a woman's breasts  and they definitely weren't mine!

'Also, there was a flirty text exchange between Eddie and this woman, which, of course, set off alarm bells.'

Speaking out: Denise admitted on Thursday's episode of Lorraine 'I'm feeling really good now because I wasn't in a good place, it was all a bit of a shock'

The star admitted the exchange happened in a week she had booked a Spanish holiday, explaining: 'Eddie decided not to come to Spain because he didn't feel well.

'While sympathetic, I was slightly confused about why he couldn't chill with me beside the pool but could still manage to go to the pub.'

Denise also discovered selfies of Eddie with a woman in a bar on a day he had told her he was in London for business.

She realised by looking at the outline of the woman's chest she was not the same one in the first photos. She also found messages which suggested 'phone sex' with a third woman, who she called Tracy in the book.

She said: 'These things happen. I'm not the first person it's happened to and I won't be the last, sadly. But it's life, isn't it, Lorraine?'

Denise decided to contact Tracy and said: 'They'd never met in person, but she said the conversations had become sexual in nature reasonably quickly  some of the stuff I found on the phone seemed to support that.'

She added: 'To me, sexual chats and continued communication over a long period of time amount to cheating.

'Especially when it's done from a home I'd strived to build for us as a family. A home that Eddie found and I bought for us.

'A home we'd only just moved into when it all started. It was disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful.'

Brave face: Despite her heartache, Denise insisted there are 'no hard feelings' and that's she managed to move forward

Denise confronted Eddie about the women, but he denied doing anything wrong and she told him to leave.

The star, who has an eight-year-old daughter with ex-husband Lee Mead, insisted: 'The thing I battled with most was that it wasn't just one person, one mistake or drunken night. This was something that had gone on for more than three years. I felt betrayed.'

She 'cried her heart out' to her mother, adding: 'I was in pain and shock. I'd thought we had the perfect life.

'Any relationship has to be built on trust and once that's gone, there's no way forward. If I hadn't found those pictures, I'd be planning a wedding right now. Instead, I've simply got to move on.'

Striking: Denise looked radiant for her appearance as she paired a floral blouse with an olive green pencil skirt and strappy nude heels

On Wednesday, Denise explained that she was 'really proud' of herself for knowing when to walk away.

She said on Radio 2 on Tuesday: 'The one thing I'm really proud of myself for is I do know when to walk away and I don't like to be taken advantage of.

'Sometimes it's been to the detriment of my own career or in my own relationships, but I just feel like it's really important as a woman to have self-worth and self-respect.

'I've always tried to maintain that in anything that I do in life, generally. More so now as a mother because I feel like I'm a role model and I've got to set an example.'

Denise went on to the muse that she can see light at the end of the tunnel, noting: 'The bad times are always followed by good times and that's what I always look forward to.

'I think you just ride the wave of the bad times knowing that eventually you will get to a good place.'
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Casey Affleck enjoyed an ultra romantic getaway to Tulum with his girlfriend Caylee Cowan amid rumors of an engagement.

The couple were spotted packing on the PDA on Wednesday as they frolicked in the waves together.

The shirtless star, 46, could hardly keep his hands - or lips - off his beautiful girlfriend, 23, who wowed in a red gingham print bikini.

Mi amor! Casey Affleck packed on the PDA with his girlfriend Caylee Cowan during a getaway to Tulum, Mexico on Wednesday

The lovebirds were feeling the love as they shared countless smooches and hugs in the shallow depths of the crashing waves.

Casey and Caylee have been fueling engagement rumors as of late with the actress being seen wearing a brilliant ring as of late.

Caylee chronicled their make-out session on their camera, holding out her phone at arms-length to capture their kisses.

She also appeared to take a close-up shot of her perky behind.

Caylee looked absolutely beautiful with her raven tresses styled into loose curls and a touch of makeup amplifying her radiant complexion.

Hugs and kisses: The couple shared plenty of smooches and embraces

Can't keep his hands off of her: Affleck smooched his girlfriend as she took a selfie of their romantic adventures

Toned! Affleck put his defined body on display as he hit the waves in his floral print trunks

Cheeky! Caylee appeared to take a shot of her perky behind as she posed in the waves

The brother of Ben Affleck put his toned torso on display in yellow floral print swimming trunks.

The Manchester By The Sea star was the picture of vacation bliss wading through the crystal clear water with a relaxed expression on his face.

Caylee appeared to be getting a few shots of Casey as well, as she held out her phone as he walked into the water.

The kissing continued on dry land where the couple snuggled up in an intimate cabana together.

Remembering the moment: Affleck was also the subject of several photos taken by his lady love

Making waves! Caylee enjoyed some fun in the sun in her flirty bikini

Picture perfect! Caylee looked absolutely beautiful with her raven tresses styled into loose curls and a touch of makeup amplifying her radiant complexion

Couples goals! Casey tenderly placed his hands on her waist as she held her phone out at arms length

Caylee tenderly placed her hands on either side of his head as she gave him a kiss.

The actress also enjoyed a bit of beach reading.

As Casey laid next to her wearing a grey T-shirt and floral trunks, Caylee was engrossed in a book.

Casey and Caylee's romance went public in November when Page Six ran pictures of them passionately kissing in the street.

Picture perfect: Cowan was clearly determined to capture their romantic getaway on her phone

Making a splash! Casey enjoyed a refreshing swim in the water

Kiss me! Caylee smooched her beau as they took their PDA to dry land

Beach read! The 23-year-old was engrossed in a book as she laid out next to her boyfriend

The sighting appeared to confirm rumors that Casey had broken up with his longtime girlfriend Floriana Lima, whom he had been with since 2016.

The actor then made their romance official as he posted photos of them donating blood to the Red Cross in late November 2021.

Then this January Casey posted a gushing tribute to Caylee revealing that they had known each other for exactly a year.

'A year ago, we met. A few months ago, I got smart. Thank God, it wasnt too late,' he wrote, rhapsodizing that 'you make me a better man every day.'

Bikini babe! Cowan looked phenomenal in her pretty bikini with her hair styled into perfect waves

Going public: Casey and Caylee's romance went public in November when Page Six ran pictures of them passionately kissing in the street

Prior to his relationship with Floriana, Casey was married to Summer Phoenix, whose siblings include Joaquin and and the late River Phoenix.

The duo, who share sons Indiana, 17, and Atticus, 14, were married in 2004 and then separated in late 2015 before finalizing the divorce in 2017.

In 2018 after the Me Too movement took off, Casey commented on the 2010 allegations of sexual harassment against him that had reentered the public eye.

Producer Amanda White and cinematographer Madalena Gorka, who worked with Casey on the 2010 film I'm Still Here, had accused him of sexual harassment. Both filed suit, and the cases were settled in 2010.

Casey told the Associated Press in 2018 that 'it was an unprofessional environment and, you know, the buck had to stop with me being one of the producers and I have to accept responsibility for that and that was a mistake.'

He stated that 'I contributed to that unprofessional environment and I tolerated that kind of behavior from other people and I wish that I hadnt. And I regret a lot of that.'

Casey added: 'I really did not know what I was responsible for as the boss. I dont even know if I thought of myself as the boss. But I behaved in a way and allowed others to behave in a way that was really unprofessional. And Im sorry.'

What a beauty: Cowan wore a woven beach cover-up over her swimsuit

'You make me a better man every day': Then this January Casey posted a gushing tribute to Caylee revealing that they had known each other for exactly a year
Jean Slater is set to immerse herself in the water of the Thames Estuary while dressed as a blushing bride in an upcoming episode of EastEnders.

Actress, Gillian Wright, 61, who has played the character since 2004, has filmed scenes showing Jean run into the sea at Southend as she suffers a manic episode due to her bipolar disorder.

Jean's daughter Stacey (Lacey Turner) follows her in and desperately attempts to pull her up after her mother sinks to the bottom.

Dramatic: Jean Slater is set to immerse herself in the water of the Thames Estuary while dressed as a blushing bride in an upcoming episode of EastEnders

In pictures released earlier this week, Gillian was seen on land in Walford before escaping to Southend, running through the crowds as Jean in her white gown, seemingly in a panic.

The character had already become impulsive, and previously stole from her family to fund a weekend away with her boyfriend.

And now, Jean is on the run from her loved ones with daughter Stacey and former son-in-law Martin Fowler (James Bye) in hot pursuit.

Unexpected: Actress, Gillian Wright, 61, who has played the character since 2004, has filmed scenes showing Jean run into the sea at Southend

Escape: Jean suffers a manic episode due to her bipolar disorder and leaves Walford for the Essex seaside town

Upcoming episodes will see Jean get into a fight with Stacey who declares her parent dead to her.

Stacey grows concerned when Jean reveals she is planning a surprise for the children.

Following the arrest of serial killer Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) and the truth about Kush Kazemi's (Davood Ghadami) death coming to light, Jean pressures Stacey to tell her son Arthur Brian Fowler Jr, whose father was Kush, what has happened.

High alert: Jean casually strolls into the water with her arms out wide to her side in the surprise scenes

Danger! Jean's daughter Stacey (Lacey Turner) follows her in and desperately attempts to pull her up after her mother sinks to the bottom

Looking back: In pictures released earlier this week, Gillian was seen on land in Walford before escaping to Southend

All a fluster: She was seen running through the crowds as Jean in her white gown, seemingly in a panic

In a pickle: The character had already become impulsive, and previously stole from her family to fund a weekend away with her boyfriend

Chase is on: And now, Jean is on the run from her loved ones with daughter Stacey and former son-in-law Martin Fowler (James Bye) in hot pursuit

Sinking feeling: Upcoming episodes will see Jean get into a fight with Stacey who declares her parent dead to her

Worrying: Stacey grows concerned when Jean reveals she is planning a surprise for the children

Arthur is Kush and Stacey's son but was adopted by the latter's former husband, Martin.

Later on, Jean blocks the market by buying a bouncy castle, worrying Martin.

Getting on the bouncy castle, Jean accidentally hurts Arthur and embarrasses herself - until Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) joins her.

Truth: Following the arrest of serial killer Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) and the truth about Kush Kazemi's (Davood Ghadami) death coming to light, Jean pressures Stacey to tell her son Arthur Brian Fowler Jr, whose father was Kush, what has happened

Family affair: Arthur is Kush and Stacey's son but was adopted by the latter's former husband, Martin

Unexpected turn of events: Later on, Jean blocks the street in the market by buying a bouncy castle, worrying Martin

Stranger things have happened? Getting on the bouncy castle, Jean accidentally hurts Arthur and embarrasses herself - until Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) joins her

Taking a stand: Stacey is frustrated that Harvey doesn't seem to understand her mother's bipolar disorder and bans her from being alone with the children

Stacey is frustrated that Harvey doesn't seem to understand her mother's bipolar disorder and bans her from being alone with the children until she sees a doctor, sparking a huge row.

Jean angrily confronts Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) about Stacey's ultimatum and tries to convince her she is more than capable of looking after the children.

Later on, Jean manages to slip out to the tube station with Arthur, and she explains to him what happened to Kush.

Seeking help: Stacey wants her mother to see a doctor but the pair don't see eye-to-eye on the matter

Frustrated: Jean angrily confronts Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) about Stacey's ultimatum and tries to convince her she is more than capable of looking after the children

Breaking free: Later on, Jean manages to slip out to the tube station with Arthur, and she explains to him what happened to Kush

Detective work: With help from Martin, Stacey finds Jean and Arthur but is devastated to discover what her mother has done

With help from Martin, Stacey finds Jean and Arthur but is devastated to discover what her mother has done.

Later on, Harvey suggests to Jean to get out of London and Jean insists on leaving now and not waiting.

They then leave for Southend to get away from their troubles back at Albert Square.

Break away: Later on, Harvey suggests to Jean to get out of London and Jean insists on leaving now and not waiting

Leaving their woes behind: They then leave for Southend to get away from their troubles back at Albert Square

Making amends: Catching up with her mother at the seaside resort, Stacey is heard shouting 'sorry' for lying to her, but what the tall tale was about is unclear

Safety first: Chasing Jean into the water, both she and Stacey end up under the water before she pulls her to the surface and helps drag her back to shore

Catching up with her mother at the seaside resort, Stacey is heard shouting 'sorry' for lying to her, but what the tall tale was about is unclear.

Chasing Jean into the water, both she and Stacey end up under the water before she pulls her to the surface and helps drag her back to shore.

Martin was seen standing with two paramedics as the four days of filming in Essex climaxed.

Dramatic scenes: Jean is seen being helped out of the water by two aids along with Stacey as they made their way to shore

Quick chat: Stacey stopped to calmly talk to her mother in a bid to encourage her to return to land and not go under the water

Rescue efforts: Martin was seen standing with two paramedics as the four days of filming in Essex climaxed

Towel down: Actress Gillian was seen drying off after filming the dramatic scenes in the sunshine

It comes as actress Gwen Taylor, 83, will be returning to EastEnders as Vi, the grandmother of Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) and Callum 'Halfway' Highway (Tony Clay).

Vi was last seen in November 2021 and left on bad terms with Stuart after he discovered she had another son who she had given up for adoption years ago.

In an upcoming episode, Vi will return to Walford and try to help Stuart who is refusing treatment for his cancer but will Vi be able to get through to Stuart?

EastEnders continues on BBC One on Monday at 7.30pm.
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum met when their daughters had a fight in preschool.

The 57-year-old actress and 41-year-old actor star together in The Lost City but admitted they have 'blocked out' the details of one of their first proper encounters because they had been called to meet with teachers after Laila Bullock and Everly Tatum were involved in a battle to prove who was the 'alpha.'

Channing - who shares Everly, eight, with ex-wife Jenna Dewan - said, 'I've blocked it all out.'

Parenthood: Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum met when their daughters had a fight in preschool

Children normally enter preschool at age four or five, so this must have taken place over three years ago.

Sandra - who adopted Louis, 11, and Laila, eight, as a single parent - added, 'There's some PTSD attached to it.

'We met through drama, in the principal's office at preschool. We were called in together because Everly and Laila were trying to alpha the other one out, and we prayed it was the other's child that caused the damage.'

Fortunately, the girls get along well now and their famous parents joked they took on the movie so their kids could spend time together in a 'COVID-safe' environment.

Sandra told The New York Times: 'That's the reason we did this film, so they could have one long, COVID-safe play date. We even brought motorbikes down there. All we cared about is that Everly and Laila were just having the time of their lives.'

Protective mom: Sandra cradled her young son Louis in Venice in 2013

Channing and Sandra actually met for the first time at the actress' birthday party when the Magic Mike star was just an unknown.

Sandra recalled, 'But actually, I think we met for the first time at my birthday party. You were a plus-one.'

Channing corroborated, 'That's right, I think that was my first week in Hollywood. You were the first celebrity person I met.

'God bless his soul, Chris Huvane [the late talent manager] actually brought me there. I believe he was DJing at that point, he wasn't managing.'

Sandra confirmed: 'All the Huvanes took over my party  I had no say in my own birthday. I went, "I have three friends here. I don't know who anybody else is." The other Huvanes are publicist Steve Huvane (who reps Jennifer Aniston) and agent Kevin Huvane (who reps Jennifer Lopez).

'I was like, "Is anyone here for me?"'

While the Oceans 8 star didn't enjoy her own celebration, Channing enjoyed himself.

He said: 'I had a blast, personally. I was a kid from Florida, basically not even an actor at that point. I was still just a model, and I made it to her party!'

Consummate professional: On Monday's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Bullock described how she stayed focused while filming a scene in The Lost City with an almost nude Tatum

On Monday's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Bullock described how she stayed focused while filming a scene in The Lost City with an almost nude Tatum.

She explained how she was in front of his crotch but tried instead to divert her eyes and focus on his thigh.

In the film the longtime actress plays a shut-in author who gets kidnapped and has a scene where she has to help Channing, who plays a romance novel cover model, peel leeches off his body.

'He's full on Fabio,' said Sandra before the host joked, 'He's more than that he's full on Monty. Let's sell some tickets right now, Sandy!'
The cast of Selling Sunset have been left shaken after an armed robbery took place outside of their office in West Hollywood, Los Angeles on Thursday.

A man was forced to hand over his luxury watch after a thief approached him with a gun as he left a restaurant in the same parking lot as The Oppenheim Group offices.

Company founder Jason Oppenheim spoke just hours after the incident occurred, and revealed that he has now banned his glamorous staff from wearing flashy watches and expensive jewels as a precaution.

'I told them not to wear jewelry or watches anymore,' Oppenheim told TMZ. 'We have to be diligent, you've got to look over your shoulder these days.

Ordeal: Jason Oppenheim spoke just hours after an armed robbery took place outside the Selling Sunset office in West Hollywood on Thursday

Oppenheim, 44, also said he is now considering getting a firearm to protect himself as Los Angeles has been experiencing a crime wave in recent months.

The incident comes as crime has risen by more than 130% in West Hollywood according to Fox11.

That data was revealed by the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station as officials looked at crime statistics from February 2021 to February 2022.

While Oppenheim said the cast of the show were not present at the time of the robbery, he promptly informed them all of the situation.

'I've let everyone know of the situation,' he said. 'We still have to work as normal but obviously not wearing any watches.'

'[We're] being careful, just looking around. It was very concerning, this city is having a lot of issues right now.'

Scene of the crime: The incident took place in the parking lot behind The Oppenheim Group offices on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood (Pictured above)

Glam office: The cast of Selling Sunset are known for dressing up to the nines for work including wearing expensive jewels and watches

When asked if he's now going to hire armed security, the star confirmed he is talking to the landlord of the offices to get extra protection.

He also revealed he is now going to get a gun to protect himself and had already begun practice shooting.

'Between Christine [Quinn] last week, and this in the parking lot today, it's very real,' he added, admitting that they have all been shaken up by the incident.

Earlier this month it was revealed that Selling Sunset star Christine Quinn had a terrifying scare after her house in LA was the target of a home invasion.

Quinn, 33, was at home asleep with her husband, Christian Richards, 43, and their nine-month-old son Christian Georges Dumontet, when they woke up to a noise outside.

Shaken: Oppenheim, pictured above with the cast and his twin brother Brett Oppenheim, revealed he informed the cast of the robbery

The couple checked their security footage and noticed two armed robbers trying to break in through a window, as reported by TMZ.

Quinn and her husband called 911 and even though the police were quick to respond, the home invaders were gone by the time they arrived.

The star took to her Instagram Stories to discuss the scary ordeal: 'We were sleeping and we woke up to noises. The noises started getting louder and louder, and we didn't know what was going on.'

'We immediately checked the security footage and outside of the master bedroom there was two armed robbers breaking our glass window,' she went on.

'Our windows are so strong, we have such good security in this house, that they weren't able to get in,' she explained.

Gascon's PSA offered four tips- including always locking car doors, not leaving a spare key in vehicles, parking in well-lit areas and investing in anti-theft devices

The crimes come as progressive Los Angeles DA George Gascon released a new PSA last week offering residents 'tips' to avoid having their vehicles stolen - amid skyrocketing car thefts fueled in part by his soft-on-crime policies.

Gascon finally addressed the spike in car thefts after months of headline-grabbing incidents - which have reached a 10-year high in the city, according to LAPD statistics - by saying he is planning on 'working with law enforcement' to hold car thieves accountable.

In 2021, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported a total of 39,894 stolen vehicles compared to 34,003 in 2020- a staggering 17 percent surge.

'In Los Angeles County, we're seeing a noticeable increase in auto theft,' Gascon starts off the PSA. 'My office is working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable the people involved in this property crime.'

Gascon then goes on to offer four practical tips to avoid car theft, including advising LA residents always keep their car doors locked to make it more difficult to break into and not leaving spare keys behind in vehicles.

He also advised car owners park in well-lit areas where thieves are less likely to attempt to steal vehicles and suggested investing in anti-theft devices as an extra security measure.

'Working together, we can keep our community safe,' Gascon says at the end of the 45 second clip.

Gascon, a 67-year-old former assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, took over as district attorney in the heavily Democratic city in December 2020 and immediately embarked on a progressive justice reform agenda - eliminating the use of sentencing enhancements for gang membership, certain uses of guns and for prior convictions.




Chinese mainland medical staff arrive in Hong Kong, south China, March 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Chan Yung, an HKSAR lawmaker, said the mainland medical teams and support in building COVID-19 isolation facilities are timely rescues to Hong Kong when it is grappling with a raging COVID-19 outbreak, and reflect the unbreakable bond between the mainland and Hong Kong.

HONG KONG, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Various sectors in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have voiced their strong opposition to the sinister and despicable vilification by Western forces and anti-China disruptors against the Chinese mainland support for the local fight against COVID-19.

Chan Yung, an HKSAR lawmaker, said the mainland medical teams and support in building COVID-19 isolation facilities are timely rescues to Hong Kong when it is grappling with a raging COVID-19 outbreak, and reflect the unbreakable bond between the mainland and Hong Kong.

"Some anti-China elements are not only ungrateful but also engaged in fanning smears and disinformation," Chan said. "Shame on them."

Lau Siu-kai, vice president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said some anti-China elements have fabricated rumors and denigrated mainland doctors and nurses who are boosting local anti-epidemic efforts in Hong Kong.

Their claims are totally against the facts and do not represent the mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong, he said.

Lau said the majority of Hong Kong residents have responded with heartfelt thanks to the mainland medical experts who have put forward valuable advices, mainland medical workers who are busy helping the seriously ill patients, and steady mainland supplies to Hong Kong.

Photo taken on March 16, 2022, shows the community isolation facility (CIF) for COVID-19 patients, constructed with support from the mainland, in Hung Shui Kiu, south China's Hong Kong. (Xinhua)

Andrew Fung, chief executive officer at Hong Kong Policy Research Institute, said the HKSAR government cannot effectively deal with the raging wave of COVID-19 on its own, and the mainland help at the request of the HKSAR government is in line with the Basic Law of the HKSAR and meets the aspiration of the majority in Hong Kong.

Those carping about central government's support during such a crisis are trying to drive a wedge between the people in the mainland and Hong Kong, Fung said.

Chan said the central government's staunch support fully reflects the advantages of "one country, two systems," and the unreserved love of the central government and the mainland people for Hong Kong is in a stark contrast to the situation in some Western countries.

"In China, when a disaster strikes in one location, help comes from all quarters. In some Western countries, people are left at the mercy of the virus as the central government passes the buck to local governments," he said.

Photo taken on March 11, 2022 shows the newly-built community isolation facility located in Fanling, south China's Hong Kong. (Xinhua)

Chan added that the accusations against Hong Kong from some Western countries that have failed in their own epidemic control exposed their hypocrisy.

He said Hong Kong has managed to navigate multiple crises, such as the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the SARS outbreak in 2003, with the firm support of the central government.

"The firm support of the motherland has always given Hong Kong the confidence and strength to overcome difficulties. History proves that the motherland will always be the strongest backing for Hong Kong," the lawmaker said.
Kylie Jenner was wearing some eyebrow raising jewelry on Thursday.

The reality star, 24, sparked speculation she tied the knot with boyfriend Travis Scott as she showed off two dazzling bands on her ring finger.

The rings - a diamond-encrusted band and a simple gold piece - were shown in a photo posted to her Instagram Stories on St. Patrick's Day.

I do? Kylie Jenner sparked speculation she tied the knot with boyfriend Travis Scott as she showed off two dazzling bands on her ring finger on Thursday

The image showed Kylie's manicured hand resting on her green alligator print Birkin bag. She posted two four leaf clover emojis in the picture.

It's unclear if the rings are new or old but Kylie has been seen wearing similar jewelry on her ring finger in the past.

A year after welcoming their first child together, a daughter named Stormi, Kylie was seen wearing a similar ring style while out in Los Angeles in 2018.

She also showed off a gold band with a tiny band in 2020.

Not the first time: Jenner wore a similar style of jewelry back in 2018

Bling bling: She also showed off a gold band with a tiny band in 2020

Kylie refrained from discussing the ring in subsequent Instagram Stories which showed her brother Rob Kardashian's birthday cake, a basket full of fresh fruit and vegetables, video of the full moon and dogs.

The rings were also absent in video she shared of her petting a pooch.

Earlier this week Kylie, who welcomed son Wolf with Travis in February, got candid with fans about her postpartrum struggles.

'I just want to say to my postpartum moms that postpartum has not been easy. It's not been easy, it's very hard. This experience for me, personally, has been a little harder than with my daughter,' she said.

Healthy living: Jenner did not mention the ring in her subsequent Instagram Stories which included a photo of a basket of fresh fruit

Happy birthday! The beauty also shared a photo of her brother Rob Kardashian's birthday cake

Out of this world! Jenner posted video of the full moon

Aww: The rings were absent in another video Jenner shared of her petting a dog

'It's not easy mentally, physically, spiritually ... it's just crazy. I didn't want to just get back to life without saying that because I think we can look on the Internet and for other moms going through it right now, we can go on the Internet and it might look a lot easier for other people and, like, the pressure on us, but it hasn't been easy for me.'

She continued: 'It's been hard. And I just wanted to say that. I didn't even think I'd make it to this work out today, but I'm here and I'm feeling better, so you've got this.'

'And, it's OK not to be OK,' she said. 'Once I realized that, I was putting some pressure on myself, and I just keep reminding myself, I made a whole human. A beautiful healthy boy, and we have to stop putting pressure on ourselves to be back - not even physically, just mentally after birth.'

Happy campers: The pooches were elated to see Jenner

Daddy's little girl: Scott posted a photo of his daughter on a private jet to his Instagram Stories on Friday

Candid: Earlier this week Kylie got real about her postpartum struggles

The star ended the chat with: 'So ya, just sending some love. I love you guys.'

Kylie and Travis confirmed in September that they were having a sibling for daughter Stormi.

The businesswoman and reality star has been laying low since her baby daddy Travis' Astroworld concert in Houston on November 5 led to 10 people being killed.

She broke her social media silence on New Year's Day, sharing a baby bump snap to her Instagram as she reflected on the 'blessings' and 'heartache' of 2021.

In the accompanying caption, she wrote: 'As 2022 is approaching I've been reflecting on this last year and the blessings that it brought but also the many heartaches it held.

'I will never forget this year and all the significant changes it made to my life. I pray this new year is filled with a lot of love for all of you and i hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time.'

Ten people died at Travis' Astroworld concert in Houston on November 5.

The concert had a crowd of 50,000 people with a surge toward the stage happening at 9:38 pm local time in Houston.

Local firefighters and police called it a 'mass casualty' at that time, which took place 32 mins after Travis' set began.

Travis continued to perform up to 30 minutes as people were killed and with the crowd chanting 'stop the show.'
Josh Peck has spoken out for the first time on his longtime feud with former Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell.

On Wednesday, the 35-year-old actor appeared on Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards' BFFs podcast and was asked whether the two were still friends.

'Not really. No,' Josh replied with a laugh.

The latest: Josh Peck has spoken out for the first time on his longtime feud with former Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell. Pictured in March 2022

Drake, 35, and Josh played stepbrothers on the hit Nickelodeon show that ran from 2004 to 2007.

However, they became engaged in highly publicized spat when Josh did not invite Drake to his 2017 wedding.

Taking to Twitter after the ceremony, Drake wrote: 'When you're not invited to the wedding the message is clear... True colors have come out today. Message is loud and clear. Ties are officially cut. I'll miss you brotha.'

Back then: Drake, 35, and Josh played stepbrothers on the hit Nickelodeon show that ran from 2004 to 2007. Seen in 2004

Speaking out: On Wednesday, the 35-year-old actor appeared on Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards' BFFs podcast and was asked whether the two were still friends. 'Not really. No,' Josh replied with a laugh

In a separate Tweet, he wrote, 'Loyalty is key. ALWAYS remember where you came from.'

Until his appearance on Wednesday, Josh had never publicly addressed Drake's tweets, which the Superhero star later deleted.

'I didn't invite him to my wedding and the internet went crazy,' Josh said.

Falling out: However, they became engaged in highly publicized spat when Josh did not invite Drake to his 2017 wedding

The New York native shared the backstory of his nuptials to his wife Paige O'Brien, noting that he married a 'good Irish-Catholic girl' and they had a 'small wedding'.

He continued, 'The dirty little secret, I guess, was like, I knew that Drake and I didn't stay in touch for the 10 years since we made the show.'

'But no one needed to know that,' Josh added. 'I was happy to just die with that secret that like, we made this thing that people really love, but maybe we weren't that close. So I didn't invite him to my wedding because I hadn't really talking to him in many, many years.'

The How I Met Your Father star continued, 'Cut to, I'm getting married that night and I see these text messages from him, like cursing me out, coming for me. On the night of my wedding!

Angry reaction: Josh said that Drake cursed him out in texts that he sent to his former co-star the night before his wedding to Paige O'Brien

'And it's like, delusional, like bro, we worked at Coffee Bean when we were 16, like I'm sorry, I'm 31 now and I might have lost your number.'

Josh went on to recall how Drake vented his feelings with social media posts that immediately caused a stir with fans.

'And then he leans in and goes on this press tour about how heartbroken he is and creating this narrative that just wasn't true.'

The Amanda Show alum expressed that he was concerned for Paige amid the furious backlash from fans.

Backlash: The Amanda Show alum expressed that he was concerned for Paige amid the furious backlash from fans. Drake seen in 2019

'I don't care about me, it's, whatever, I signed up to be a public person,' he said. 'It is what it is. But here's my wife, who's like, getting torn down on the Internet and I'm like, she's private and she just got married.'

Josh explained that there was nothing for him to say because he did not want to disillusion fans about the true state of his relationship with Drake.

'Then I would be the bearer of bad news so I just had to eat it and let him go wild,' he recalled.

Six months later, the actors appeared to have reconciled when they both posted an Instagram photo in which they were seen hugging at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards.

In both posts, the photo was captioned, 'Hug me...,' in reference to the famous Drake & Josh catchphrase, 'Hug me, brotha.'

Reconciled? Six months later, the actors appeared to have reconciled when they both posted an Instagram photo in which they were seen hugging at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards

However, Josh shared the story of the events leading up to the snap, revealing that the moment was not as amicable as it seemed.

'I see him at the Music Video Awards and he sees me. I go up to him and this might be the most Sopranos thing I've ever done, I look at him and I go, 'Go apologize to my wife right now.''

'And he goes, 'Okay' and he like, made a beeline for my wife and I see him do like, this whole five-minute performance of an apology and I was like, 'Go apologize to my wife or something bad's gonna happen.'''

Though Josh indicated that the VMAs interaction was the 'pretty much' the last communication between the pair, they did appear together in a 2018 Instagram video in which Drake congratulated Josh on his wife's pregnancy.

When asked if he and Drake were ever close when they worked together, Josh replied, 'Obviously there were times where we were closer than not, but inevitably when the show ended, I mean, we were just totally different kids.'

Remembering it differently: On Thursday, Drake's wife Janet Von Schmeling contradicted Josh's account of the VMAs interaction in an Instagram Story that she later deleted

On Thursday, Drake's wife Janet Von Schmeling contradicted Josh's account of the VMAs interaction in an Instagram Story that she later deleted.

According to E! News, she said, 'I stay quiet until lies happen. And the fact [is] that I was there at the VMAs I was next to Drake.'

She continued, 'I was one who told him that Josh was coming up with the camera. I literally was there, heard it all.

'Drake was never threatened by Josh, like, ever. That's actually hilarious that he would act like he could be the tough guy. Like, bro you're not tough.'

Janet asserted that her husband apologized to Josh after he 'nicely' asked him.

'You said, "Could you apologize to my wife?" And Drake was like, "Absolutely". And he did, and it was great.'

She also disputed Josh's claim that the two had not interacted since the VMAs.

Hitting back: Meanwhile, Drake also responded to Josh's claims on his Instagram Story

Mocking: Drake then posted a poll in which he asked his followers to choose between 'Drake Bell' or 'Josh Peck'

'And we actually hung out after that, multiple times,' Janet said. 'We've talked multiple times since then. So like, you're a f******g liar. A f******g liar, Josh.'

Meanwhile, Drake also responded to Josh's claims on his Instagram Story.

On Thursday, he shared a screenshot in which a reporter appeared to have mixed up Drake and Josh's managers when attempting to get Drake's side of the story.

He wrote, 'This who is writing all the celebrity gossip you believe! They literally can't even get his name right or who his manager is and they are about to run a story. Man life is really weird'.

Comeback: He also shared a photo of Josh in character as teen Italian mob boss Tony Pajamas in The Amanda Show to mock his Sopranos reference in the interview.

Drake then posted a poll in which he asked his followers to choose between 'Josh Bell' or 'Drake Peck'.

He also shared a photo of Josh in character as teen Italian mob boss Tony Pajamas in The Amanda Show to mock his Sopranos reference in the interview.

He wrote out Josh's quote,'This might be the most Sopranos thing I've ever done, I look at him and I go, '"Go apologize to my wife right now.''

'Hey A.J. Soprano, too bad this interaction is on film,' he wrote adding a crying laughing smiley emoji.

'Oh and,' he wrote with a smiley face surrounded by hearts emoji.
The song Faith, from Skip Marleys 2020 Grammy-nominated EP Higher Place, is featured in Our Great National Parks, a Netflix docuseries scheduled to commence on April 13.

The 5-part documentary series is narrated by former President Barack Obama, and tells the story of the importance of the worlds most famous national parks in countries such as Chile, Indonesia, and Kenya, which are regarded as a hotbed for scientific research and the well-being of mankind.

Cedella Marley, Skips mother and daughter of Reggae legend Bob Marley, made the announcement on Wednesday, a day after Netflix released the trailer for the docuseries.

Skip Marleys song Faith is featured in Our Great National Parks a 5 part series narrated by Barack Obama that invites viewers to celebrate the power of our planets greatest national parks and wild spaces, Cedella noted on her social media pages.

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Faith is an inspirational song about overcoming adversities by remaining hopeful in spite of lifes challenges and was among the seven songs on the EP which was released on August 28, 2020.

The other tracks were Make Me Feel, My World, No Love, Thats Not True and also the Gold-certified Slow Down with H.E.R, a track which almost immediately amassed tens of millions of global streams, making it the quickest-streaming song in the history of the Marley clan. At the time, Skip also became the first Jamaica-born lead artist inside the Top 15 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart since 2006.

In November, ahead of his upcoming full-length album, Skip released Vibe with Popcaan, which was produced by Rykeyz, who had also produced Slow Down.

Born in Kingston and raised in Miami, Florida, Skip, who is also the grand-nephew of Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths, released his debut single, Cry to Me, in April 2015 on the Tuff Gong label.

His first headline tour of the United States dubbed Change, will get underway on March 20 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. It will include stops in other cities such as New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, and will close at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California, on April 27.

As for Our Great National Parks, the five-part docuseries will cover Monterey Bay in Northern California, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Tsavo National Park in Kenya, and Patagonia in Chile, while a nature protection campaign will also be launched alongside the series, according to reports.

A fish that can walk. Surfing hippos want to catch the waves. Species found nowhere else on Earth, Obama is heard saying in the trailer.

Join me in a celebration of our planets greatest national parks and wilderness, he added as he walked on a seemingly deserted beach.

According to Rolling Stone, this is the first time Obama is appearing on screen for a show produced by Higher Ground Productions, the production company he launched with his wife Michelle.

The series was announced last year, but never mentioned the former Presidents involvement. The docuseries is being executive produced by James Honeyborne, Tonia Davis, and Obama, Rolling Stone reported.

In a release, Netflix noted that President Obama protected more public lands and waters than any US president, and that the docuseries was as much a celebration of nature as it is a call to action.

Describing the earth as a shared birthright, the release noted that this birthright is constantly under attack, by manmade disasters and indulgences that have hastened a global climate crisis, and many species are on the brink of extinction.

The conservationist spirit of Our Great National Parks is clear: These wonders deserve to be preserved, and one of the best ways to prove that is to show audiences what these wonders look like when they thrive, it added.
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GREENWICH  Gene and Angela Schmidt, once high school sweethearts and now elementary school principals, have seen the world during their 45-year careers and 50-year marriage: Arkansas, Florida, England, Italy  and finally Greenwich.

Now, they are ready to retire at the end of the school year and revisit the places they hold dear, including the homes of their children and grandchildren.

Gene Schmidt, Cos Cob School principal, credited the couples adventures to his wife. He is a homebody while she expands his comfort zone, he said.

I definitely love change. I do, said Angela Schmidt, North Mianus School principal. I get bored quickly, so to be here this long is amazing.

The Schmidts arrived in the Greenwich Public Schools in 2000, hired over an hourlong call to Milan to work at the districts first magnet school, the International School at Dundee.

The school attracts students from all over the district with its International Baccalaureate focus. Angela Schmdit described IB as a framework for developing critical thinking in students that uses Greenwichs units of study in a more global way.

The couple had experience with the IB program from their time in Italy and believe in the methods effectiveness.

Schmidt knew she wanted to be a school administrator when they returned to the States. She accepted the teaching position at ISD after receiving assurances she could advance when a position opened.

She became ISDs assistant principal in 2003 when Teresa Ricci was promoted to principal.

When we opened ISD, having taught in an international school, they brought their experience and their perspective to what we were trying to establish here, Ricci said. And I think that was the impetus for two of them getting hired: to offer a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences, and they did.

Ricci, who is also retiring at the end of this school year, laughed as she told the Greenwich Time that she made sure that at teacher evaluation time, Angela Schmidt wasnt assigned to grade her husband.

Different but effective

After Angela Schmidt moved to a different school, Gene Schmidt became Riccis assistant principal. Ricci describes the Schmidts as different but effective in the job. She says Gene Schmidt holds more of an artistic eye.

He has an art degree and hopes that retirement will bring him a time and place to paint. The couple also said they would like to create together in the kitchen with the help of international cooking classes.

Were not the type thats just going to sit around on the couch and binge; thats not going to happen, Gene Schmidt said.

The couple has a bucket list. At the top is a Viking River Cruise, something they have never been able to do in the school calendar.

Angela Schmidt said she also would like to volunteer regularly at an animal shelter, preferably one that supports pit bulls. The couple said they have four dogs at home and hearts to care for those still looking for their homes.

Soon, the Schmidts plan to sell their house in Stamford and move into their second home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. They said they would like to buy a house closer to their four children and six grandchildren, who live across the country.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not seen their grandchildren for two-and-a-half years, delaying visits out of precaution. But, now, the whole family is planning to travel to Connecticut for a retirement celebration.

Teaching credentials

The Schmidts have accomplished much over their careers, with some of their achievements coming together and some independently. They co-taught a multi-age program in Florida, which led to their Fulbright Scholarships to England, Gene Schmidt said.

Also, he was named the teacher of the year in Florida and distinguished teacher at ISD, and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians honored him as the 2016 Administrator of the Year.

Angela Schmidt says her proudest moments are walking into North Mianus as principal and receiving the call to apply as a National Blue Ribbon School. North Mianus was one of 362 schools awarded the title in 2019.

The two would have retired earlier, they said, but they felt needed in the school district.

We had thought about retiring two years ago, but the pandemic and then the ensuing flood in this building reminded me of the importance of consistent leadership during difficult times, Angela Schmidt said.

In February 2021, a ceiling collapsed and a pipe broke, flooding part of North Mianus. While repairs were made, many of its students attended classes in other Greenwich buildings for the rest of that school year, and some classrooms were moved to the former Trinity High School in Stamford from September until December.

The entire student population was reunited at North Mianus just before the holiday break in December.

I have been very happy to see this school through some of the most incredible obstacles and to know the staff is ready and able to take on new leadership, she said.

There was no way that my wife would leave until the staff and students were all back at the school. Once North Mianus was back in the building and COVID seemed to be on the wane, we were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel for our schools and our next phase of our lives, Gene Schmidt said.

annelise.hanshaw@hearstmediact.com
MANILA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Over 100,000 foreign tourists have arrived in the Philippines since the Southeast Asian country reopened its borders last month, the government said on Friday.

The country famous for pristine white beaches allowed fully-vaccinated foreign nationals from visa-free countries and regions to enter in February. This month it eased further the COVID-19 restrictions, allowing entry to all fully-vaccinated foreign nationals.

"Inbound visitor arrivals reached 102,031 as of March 16, a high note for the country since its closure of borders at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Puyat expressed optimism the influx of foreign tourists will lead to the "inevitable revival of the sector" hardly hit by the pandemic.

"We are happy to see the gradual reopening of our borders finally bearing fruit as evidenced by the much higher foreign visitor arrivals," she said, hoping the reopening will provide more jobs and livelihoods to Filipinos in the tourism sector.

As a key economic driver, the tourism industry's contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product stood at 12.7 percent in 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The pandemic has badly hit the tourism sector in the Philippines, forcing hotels and airlines to lay off staff. Almost 1.1 million workers were affected in the tourism industry across the country.

Data showed that tourists from the United States topped arrivals, followed by Canada, Britain, South Korea and Australia.

"Our numbers are still far from pre-pandemic levels, but we are optimistic that this will continue to increase amid the sustained decline in COVID-19 cases in the country as well as the ongoing efforts of the Philippine government to improve its healthcare capacity," Puyat said. 
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HYDERABAD: With exams approaching and teachers working hard to complete the syllabus in government schools, several government primary school teachers have complained that they are unable to focus on teaching.

This, they said, is because they have to do additional clerical work allotted by the government. Several government teachers and headmasters have said that the education system is hopeless,

especially when it comes to primary education.

There is already a shortage of teachers wherein two teachers are

teaching 400 students. From them, if one teacher is on leave, the other one cannot teach the students as she/he has to fill all unwanted feedback forms given by the government, said the headmaster of a

government school.

These teachers are supposed to keep track of mid-day meals including

food storage, shortage and supply. Not only that, they have to attend to register admissions, registration of students for scholarships, issue bona fide and TC certificates, all of which are keeping these teachers busy, distracting their attention from their main job of teaching the

students.

The government teachers said they are managing to complete the syllabus. But, as they are supposed to finish these extra clerical works, and with shortage of teachers, they are forced to teach children through TV lessons and ask other sharp students to take over the class

and teach the rest of the students.

Another headmaster from a government school said that there is no service staff, no attender, no clerk, which is increasing the workload on teachers.

Why do the government teachers have to take care of registering online attendance, mid-day meals, and uniforms? The entire registration process takes hours to complete. When will the teachers focus on students, especially when a half-day system is followed, asked the headmaster. The areas from where such problems are reported are Medak, Sangareddy, Adilabad, Patancheruvu etc. The government teachers have pleaded with the state government to reduce the unnecessary additional tasks or hire staff for the

same.
Finding the lacunae in the government's orders, the mandal revenue office sold agricultural lands by dividing them into small chunks ranging from one gunta to three guntas. (file photo)

Hyderabad: Mandal revenue offices have become the epicentre of all GO 111 violations. Despite the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) wing curtailing registration of farmlands that are less than 20 guntas, revenue authorities have been registering them and uploading them in the Dharani portal.

According to highly placed sources, the government is succumbing to the pressure mounted by real estate developers and public representatives of 84 villages which fall in the purview of GO 111. In March 2017 came the news leak that the government would revoke order prohibiting construction in and around Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes. This speculation gained ground after the announcement of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao during his election campaign in December 2018 in Chevella.

He promised protesters in the catchment areas of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar that GO 111 would be scrapped once the TRS returns to power. Rao said that GO 111 had no relevance as the two reservoirs were no longer the primary drinking water sources for the city, since the government is compensating that with Krishna and Godavari water.

Meanwhile, post the 2018 elections, many encroachments have come up in Moinabad, Shamshabad, Shabad, Kothur, Rajendranagar, Shankarpally and Chevella mandals. In October 2019, the government introduced the layout regularisation scheme for the 68 newly-formed municipalities. The order clearly stated that all unauthorised layouts or plots under the GO 111 would not be regularised and restriction on development activity and layouts will continue. It assured that registration could be done for layouts or plots sold by registered sale deed before March 30, 2018.

However, this has given rise to over 10,000 encroachments. Finding the lacunae in the government's orders, the mandal revenue office sold agricultural lands by dividing them into small chunks ranging from one gunta to three guntas.

In July 2021, special chief secretary and MA&UD principal secretary issued orders asking IG Stamps and Registrations to issue necessary instructions to all the registering authorities not to allow registration of farm plots if its area was less than 2,000 square metres (20 guntas) and insist on an approved layout copy if the farm plot abuts a new road. Through a memo, he said that the Telangana Municipalities Act-2019 and Telangana Panchayat Raj Act-2018 provide safeguards against registration of unapproved plots, sub-divisions, buildings and structures.

In view of these provisions, the IG Stamps and Registrations issued orders prohibiting registration of plots in unauthorised layouts. This step has yielded the desired results and helped curb unauthorised layouts. However, he said, it has come to the notice of the state government that some land owners or layout developers were still continuing with development of unauthorized layouts in the name of farm lands and executing sale deeds as farm plots of two guntas to three guntas, which had to be curtailed. He said the IG Registrations was requested to issue necessary instructions to all relevant authorities not to allow registration of farm plots if its area was less than 2,000 square metres.

Surprisingly, following the Chief Ministers announcement to revoke GO 111, registration of farm plots have increased alarmingly and the data pertaining to it is readily available in the Dharani portal. A top official from the state government, requesting anonymity, said that the recent announcement has given wings to MROs for indulging in malpractices. He said that though this was brought to the notice of the government, they remained silent. The official said that the developers have already hiked land prices.

The land prices in villages of Shankarpally and Moinabad mandals have increased by 30 per cent. The per gunta land prices in these villages are currently anywhere between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, he added. The official also said as per the previous directions of the apex court, there are less chances for scrapping of GO 111.
Hyderabad, he told, has become a cement and concrete forest with increasing numbers of high-rise buildings and no sources of oxygen. There is a twodegree temperature rise because of these cement concrete buildings, noted Rajendra Singh, the Magsaysay Award in 2001 and Stockholm Water Prize in 2015 winner. (DC Representational Image)

The Telangana governments decision to scrap GO 111 that accorded protection to the twin lakes of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar will be the biggest disaster for Hyderabad, the Waterman of India, Rajendra Singh, has said, adding that environmentalists might move the Supreme Court, if need be.

Hyderabad, he told, has become a cement and concrete forest with increasing numbers of high-rise buildings and no sources of oxygen. There is a twodegree temperature rise because of these cement concrete buildings, noted Rajendra Singh, the Magsaysay Award in 2001 and Stockholm Water Prize in 2015 winner.

But, worse, they are scrapping this GO. This is a big disaster to the city. There will be no greenery after that. The whole area in the protected zone around the two lakes will be under concrete buildings. There will be no soil protection.

He said, This is not just an issue about water. This is an issue about the ecosystem, an issue of the entire ecosystem around the lakes.

It was back in 1996 that Anna Hazare and I were advisers on water conservation for the Chandrababu Naidu government, when the GO was issued.

At that time, we were really fighting for water conservation. We boldly suggested to Naidu that if he doesnt protect the catchment areas, the lakes cannot be kept alive or rejuvenated. Naidu listened to us and had this GO issued, he said.

We were very fortunate when this soil, greenery, and water conservation orders were issued by the then government. Now it is a disaster, he said. "I am surprised why the Telangana Chief Minister is doing this. I keep asking myself in my mind, what is he doing? If you destroy the catchment area, you destroy the lakes. This is a really bad feeling for me, the Waterman of India said. After the March 15 announcement in the Telangana Assembly by Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao, about the states plan to scrap GO 111, Rajendra Singh was quick to take to Twitter to denounce the move.

Referring to the statement that the government was waiting for a report from an expert committee, Rajendra Singh said, This means the CM has already decided to do it and I dont believe in the (report from the) expert committee appointed by him, which will be tailor-made to suit the purpose of the government and not intended to protect the water bodies.

Revoking GO 111 would mean going against the Supreme Court verdict in the 2001 case of Hinch Lal Tiwari vs Kamala Devi and Others in a PIL, as well as several other judgments given by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal, Singh said in a statement. If KCR wants, he can shift the people of these 84 villages from the catchment area and keep the area free for the prestigious Himayatsagar and Osmansagar lakes. Thus he can become a role model for other chief ministers, he said.

Rajendra Singh also rejected the claim that there will be water for the city for the next 100 years, saying: The CM cannot say he has enough water for the next 100 years based on water pumped artificially into these lakes. Further, the state is constitutionally obligated to protect and improve the natural resources under Article 48-A of the Constitution. He cannot escape from it.
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Residents from northwest China's Xinjiang have shared their life and career stories to show the all-round progress of human rights in the autonomous region.

On Thursday, representatives of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region attended a press conference held in Beijing via video link, in response to the groundless allegations on Xinjiang by some countries at the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

EXERCISE OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

Hornisa Qadir, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, has just returned from Beijing after attending the NPC's annual session. She is a senior agricultural technician in the city of Turpan, famous for the local grape industry.

After years of efforts of Hornisa Qadir and her colleagues, Turpan grape varieties have been improved, and the production process has been mechanized and standardized.

Nearly 40 percent of local farmers' income comes from grapes, raisins, wine, and other related industries. "The grape industry has become a pillar industry for farmers to increase their income," Hornisa Qadir said, adding that she will continue to perform her duty as a national lawmaker.

Ilzat Zada, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and deputy director of the Xinjiang regional health commission, said he prepared several suggestions, including one on improving health service at primary levels.

"I hope that governments at all levels will increase investment and train more qualified doctors at the township and village levels," Ilzat Zada said.

"Xinjiang has adhered to a people-centered development approach and practiced whole-process people's democracy," said Xu Guixiang, spokesperson for the regional government.

In Xinjiang, all ethnic groups enjoy equal status, participate in state affairs, manage local affairs and exercise democratic rights regardless of their population, history, development level and differences in customs, Xu said.

ANTI-TERROR AND DE-RADICALIZATION

Patigul Qasim is a graduate of Moyu County's former vocational education and training center. In 2010, she opened a dessert shop in the county. Due to the influence of the extremist ideas of some customers, she was distracted from managing her business and had to close the shop in the end.

She even often lost her temper and quarreled with her family members. "My mother worried about me and persuaded me to go to the center for training," she said.

In the former center, she realized that the extremist thoughts were wrong and harmful for herself and others. She learned new skills in dessert making.

After graduation, she again opened a dessert shop. Now she owns two stores with a total of ten workers.

"The education and training center pulled me out of the quagmire of extreme religious thoughts. It gave me a new life and changed my destiny," said Patigul Qasim, who wants to open a new branch in the city of Hotan.

In the face of the threat of terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang has carried out counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts under the law and effectively curbed the frequent occurrence of terrorist activities, said Xu.

No terrorist cases have been reported for the past five consecutive years in Xinjiang.

"A real happy life is the greatest human right. Respecting and safeguarding human rights is not a verbal commitment but a real action, not a blank check but real investment," said Xu.

"Xinjiang is tranquil and peaceful. Those small bunch of countries should not try to make troubles and creat chaos," he warned. 
HYDERABAD: Bilingual textbooks in English and Telugu languages are being printed for the students of class 2-10 in government schools for the next academic year. This, after the state government's plan to introduce English medium under the Mana Ooru Mana Badi scheme for over 26,000 government schools in the state. The preparation for these textbooks has been going on for the past eight months.

Sources from the school education department said this policy of issuing bilingual textbooks to students would most likely be continued for two years, however, it was not yet finalised. "As the students would be attending school in a proper manner after two years, it would be difficult for class 1 students to directly learn subjects in English, thus the government has so far planned to introduce bilingual textbooks for students of classes 2-10," added sources.

Other than language textbooks, like English, Hindi and Telugu, other textbooks would be printed in English and Telugu Language. Bilingual textbooks would be printed for subjects such as E.V.S and Maths for primary sections. And from class 6 to 10, other subjects like social studies that include geography, history and science would also be printed in Bilingual format, apart from physics, chemistry and biology. Sources said these textbooks would have Telugu matter printed on one side and English on the other. The printing has begun, but after the complete approval by the government, the number of textbooks to be printed would be finalised.

It may be remembered that there would be no fee applicable even if students choose to study in English medium. They can also continue with Telugu medium, but according to headmasters of various government schools, they are expecting to see great inflow in admission starting next academic year. Many students shifted from private schools to government schools since Covid-19 began, and now with the introduction of the English medium, more parents were willing to send their children to government schools, they said.

The sources also mentioned that there would be one digital classroom in each government school, however, digitalisation depends upon the resources available in the government schools. Over Rs7,000 crore budget is being used for the facelift of these government schools which includes improving the infrastructure of schools. If the schools have a big classroom, it would be converted to a digital room with all equipment. However, those schools who do not have the capacity to build a digital room, will soon be provided with a solution by the education department.
The court ordered IndiGo to pay the petitioner Rs 1 lakh as compensation for the hardship and mental agony he faced. It also asked IndiGo to refund the amount paid extra towards alternative travel tickets, as well as pay Rs 20,000 towards costs of litigation.  Reuters

Hyderabad: A citizen who took IndiGo Airlines to consumer court after he missed a flight had to attend 15 hearings in the court here, but he won the case by a Rs 1 lakh compensation payment order.

Didugu Suresham and his daughter had missed their flight from Hyderabad to Kolkata as there was a delay in printing their boarding passes, though they had been allotted seats. As a result, they missed another connecting flight from Kolkata to Jorhat, Assam, as well.

There was only one flight to Jorhat from Kolkata, which they missed. Suresham's daughter had to report in Jorhat the next morning for admission into a college.

Suresham then had to book two more Indigo flights -- from Hyderabad to Kolkata and then one from Kolkata to Guwahati, after which they had to travel by bus overnight to reach Jorhat the next morning.

Suresham registered a complaint with the airline, seeking an apology, action against the executive responsible at the airport and refund of the amount they spent for their flights. The airline rejected the pleas. He then lodged a case against the airline before the district consumer disputes redressal commission  I, Hyderabad in December, 2019.

Suresham had to attend 15 court hearings over two years because counsel for the airline kept seeking more time to present his papers.

However, the complainant says he was not required to arrange for an advocate as the case was a Party in Person (PIP) filing, and also said the procedure was consumer- friendly.

The court ordered IndiGo to pay the petitioner Rs 1 lakh as compensation for the hardship and mental agony he faced. It also asked IndiGo to refund the amount paid extra towards alternative travel tickets, as well as pay Rs 20,000 towards costs of litigation.
We will help them fight injustice and file cases. When a visually challenged in Pondicherry was removed from his job without a valid reason, we fought the case and he was reinstated, said J.L. Kaul, secretary-general of AICB, said J.L. Kaul, secretary-general of AICB.  Representational image/By arrangement

Hyderabad: The south India headquarters of All India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) will be inaugurated by Thanneer Ranga Rao, chairman, Electricity Regulatory Commission in the presence of MLC Thakellapally Ravindar Rao at Basheerbagh here on Saturday

Its library will have Telugu books in Braille that are not currently available, in order to cultivate reading habits among the visually challenged. The centre will teach the visually challenged on using computers.

We will help them fight injustice and file cases. When a visually challenged in Pondicherry was removed from his job without a valid reason, we fought the case and he was reinstated. We will have an exhibition of Braille gadgets like walking sticks, basic writing instruments, calculators, and smart display devices, which all would be sold at subsidised prices. said J.L. Kaul, secretary-general of AICB.

The office can be approached by the visually challenged for any help or guidance, said Ponugoti Chokka Rao, AICB secretary.
By Archana Narayanan, Debjit Chakraborty, P R Sanjai and Dinesh Nair

Indian conglomerate Adani Group is exploring potential partnerships in Saudi Arabia, including the possibility of buying a stake in the worlds largest oil exporter, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The group, led by Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, has held preliminary talks on a range of potential cooperation and joint investment opportunities with Saudi Aramco and the countrys Public Investment Fund, according to the people. It has discussed the idea of buying part of the PIFs stake in Aramco, the people said.

While Adani is unlikely to shell out billions of dollars in cash for Aramco stock, at least in the short term, it could seek to link an investment to a broader tie-up or asset swap deal, the people said. The Indian firm could team up with Aramco or subsidiaries like Sabic in areas such as renewable energy, crop nutrients or chemicals, one of the people said.

Adani may also offer the PIF, which is Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, the opportunity to invest in infrastructure in India, another person said. Deliberations are at an early stage, and Adani hasnt made a decision on which form any potential cooperation could take, the people said.

A deal could help Aramco deepen relationships in one of the worlds fastest-growing energy consumers. The Saudi petroleum giant spent more than two years negotiating a potential $15 billion investment in the oil-to-chemicals unit of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd., only for talks to be scrapped in November. Aramco said at the time it would continue to look at investing in India.

A representative for Adani Group didnt offer any immediate comment. Spokespeople for Aramco and the PIF declined to comment.

Strategic Ties

Last month, the Saudi government transferred a 4% stake to PIF. The shares are now valued at about $89 billion based on Aramcos Thursday closing price in Riyadh. PIF recently has kicked off discussions about how to monetize that holding as it seeks to raise funds for its ambitious investment goals, Bloomberg News has reported.

Gautam Adani is Asias second-richest person with an estimated net worth of about $90.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His conglomerate has a range of businesses covering ports, power, renewable energy, airports, coal trading and data centers.

In January, Adani signed a pact with South Koreas Posco to explore business opportunities in India. The agreement includes the setting up a green steel mill in Gujarat, with a potential investment of as much as $5 billion over the coming years.

Saudi Arabia has been looking to boost ties with India for several years. During a 2019 visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said the country could invest $100 billion into India.

The PIF has since done several deals in India, buying stakes in Reliances retail business, wireless arm and fiber-optic network assets. The Indian conglomerate has also appointed Yasir Al-Rumayyan, whos chairman of Aramco and governor of the PIF, to its board.

--With assistance from Matthew Martin.

Watch latest videos by DH here:
The Indian aviation industry, already reeling from the financial repercussions of Covid-19, faces more strain with Wednesdays massive hike in jet fuel prices.

From looking to operate international routes to seeking government support, national carriers are trying to find ways to deal with the pressure of high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, after the steepest ever increase of 18 per cent.

Low-cost carrier IndiGo says the government needs to intervene and rationalise taxes if it wants flying to remain affordable for the common man.

Also Read | ATF prices hiked again: What it means for you

Over the past few weeks, crude oil prices have soared to a seven-year high nearing $140 per barrel, due to the ongoing (Russia-Ukraine) conflict. This has resulted in over 50 per cent hike in ATF price from January 2022 till date, including the 18 per cent hike in jet fuel prices on Wednesday. The situation adversely impacts us, given that ATF constitutes over 45 per cent of our operational costs, IndiGo told DH in a statement.

We believe that such measures are needed now, more than ever, to offset this increase in cost and make flying viable for airlines and affordable for consumers, the airlines said.

The Tata group-owned Vistara says that it is looking forward to the commencement of international travel to offset high jet fuel prices. The resumption of scheduled international flights from March 27 is expected to stimulate demand and we hope it will help the industry in managing the increase in ATF prices, the full-service carrier told DH.

Rohit Tomar, Managing Partner, Caladrius Aero Consulting, says Vistara can benefit due to the sanctions against Russia. The restrictions on long-haul air traffic due to the Russian airspace sanction will help someone like Vistara as they could look at a possible yield premium on the Europe and USA markets. However, the airlines focused on the Middle East and Southeast Asia region would be caught in between high fuel price pressure and fare discounting, says Tomar.

He says carriers like Vistara want to resume international flights so that they could push up prices on long-haul flights to the US. They can take advantage of the supply-demand gap which has occurred due to the US not wanting to fly on Russian airspace, he explains.

There will be pressure on Indian carriers on Middle East routes because once they open up and old bilaterals come into force, middle-eastern carriers will up their capacity, which will put pressure on them and the Indian airlines cannot increase their prices, Tomar adds.

Check out latest DH videos here
Russias invasion of Ukraine has shaken the global market for nickel just as the metal gains importance as an ingredient in electric car batteries, raising fears that high prices could slow the transition away from fossil fuels.

The price of nickel doubled in one day last week, prompting the London Metal Exchange to freeze trading and effectively bring the global nickel market to a standstill. After two years of supply-chain chaos caused by the pandemic, the episode provided more evidence of how geopolitical tensions are destroying trading relationships that companies once took for granted, forcing them to rethink where they get the parts and metals they use to make cars and many other products.

Automakers and other companies that need nickel, as well as other battery raw materials such as lithium or cobalt, have begun looking for ways to shield themselves against future shocks.

Volkswagen, for example, has begun to explore buying nickel directly from mining companies, Markus Duesmann, CEO of the carmakers Audi division, said in an interview Thursday. Raw materials are going to be an issue for years to come, he said.

Read | Deadly wake-up calls traumatise Kyiv

The prospect of prolonged geopolitical tensions is likely to accelerate attempts by the United States and Europe to develop domestic supplies of commodities that often come from Russia. There are nickel deposits, for example, in Canada, Greenland and even Minnesota.

Nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, even copper  we already realised we need those metals for the green transition, for mitigating climate change, said Bo Stensgaard, CEO of Bluejay Mining, which is working on extracting nickel from a site in western Greenland in a venture with KoBold Metals, whose backers include Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. When you see the geopolitical developments with Ukraine and Russia, its even more obvious that there are supply risks with these metals.

But establishing new mining operations is likely to take years, even decades, because of the time needed to acquire permits and financing. In the meantime, companies using nickel  a group that also includes steel-makers  will need to contend with higher prices, which will eventually be felt by consumers.

An average electric-car battery contains about 80 pounds of nickel. The surge in prices in March would more than double the cost of that nickel to $1,750 a car, according to estimates by trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

Russia accounts for a relatively small proportion of world nickel production, and most of it is used to make stainless steel, not car batteries. But Russia plays an outsize role in nickel markets. Norilsk Nickel, also known as Nornickel, is the worlds largest nickel producer, with vast operations in Siberia. Its owner, Vladimir Potanin, is one of Russias wealthiest people. Norilsk is among a limited number of companies authorised to sell a specialised form of nickel on the London Metal Exchange, which handles all nickel trading.

Unlike other oligarchs, Potanin has not been a target of sanctions, and the United States and Europe have not tried to block nickel exports, a step that would hurt their economies as well as Russias. The prospect that Russian nickel could be cut off from world markets was enough to cause panic.

Analysts expect prices to come down from their recent peaks but remain much higher than they were a year ago. The trend would be to come down to a level close to where we last left off, around $25,000 a metric ton compared with the peak of $100,000 a ton, said Adrian Gardner, a principal analyst specialising in nickel at Wood Mackenzie, a research firm.

Nickel was on a tear even before the Russian invasion as hedge funds and other investors bet on rising demand for electric vehicles. The price topped $20,000 a ton this year after hovering between $10,000 and $15,000 a ton for much of the past five years. At the same time, less nickel was being produced because of the pandemic.

Read | At the ICJ, its advantage Russia

After Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the price rose above $30,000 in a little over a week. Then came March 8. Word spread on the trading desks of brokerage firms and hedge funds in London that a company, which turned out to be the Tsingshan Holding Group of China, had made a huge bet that the price of nickel would drop. When the price rose, Tsingshan owed billions of dollars, a situation known on Wall Street as a short squeeze.

The price shot up to a little over $100,000 a ton, threatening the existence of many other companies that had bet wrong and prompting the London Metal Exchange to halt trading.

The exchange tried to restart trading in nickel twice this week with new price limits, but sudden drops caused trading to halt once again. The market is broken, said Keith Wildie, head of trading at London-based metals firm Romco.

There is no sign that nickel prices will lead to factory shutdowns in the way that shortages of components made in Ukraine brought assembly lines at Volkswagen, BMW and other carmakers to a standstill. It will take a few weeks for price increases to ripple through the system.

For now, automakers and other big nickel buyers such as steel-makers may be able to find alternative suppliers, use more recycled material or switch to battery designs that require less nickel.

There is enough nickel, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said in an interview this week. But carmakers might have to pay more, he said, adding, Its not unlikely that we will have secondary effects from this conflict.

The Ukraine conflict has underscored the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels, said Duesmann. Russian oil plays a much bigger role in the global economy than Russian nickel. It would be too shortsighted to say, Electromobility doesnt work, he said.

Beyond the immediate disruption to supplies, automakers are concerned about a retreat from the open markets that have been so good for business. Katrin Kamin, a trade expert at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, noted that global commerce had held up remarkably well during the pandemic.

Perhaps we should speak less of globalisation being in crisis and more of international relations being at a low point, Kamin said in an email.

But the Ukraine conflict, she added, is a major blow to trade.

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Myanmar's junta has given the final approval for the sale of Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor's operations in the country to a local company and a Lebanese investment firm, the firm said on Friday.

Sigve Brekke, Telenor's President and CEO, said in a statement posted online that the firm had to leave the country to "adhere to our own values on human rights and responsible business, and because local laws in Myanmar conflict with European laws."

"The security situation is extreme and deteriorating, and we must ensure that our exit does not increase the safety risk for employees," he said.

Reuters reported the approval earlier on Friday, citing three sources with knowledge of the deal.

According to a letter of approval sent on March 15, seen by two of the people, the transfer of Telenor's Myanmar unit to its new owners must happen within five days.

Myanmar authorities did not immediately respond to telephone and email requests for comment.

Telenor, one of the biggest foreign investors in Myanmar, sought to leave the country after last year's military coup. The company told Reuters in September it was selling its operations to avoid European Union sanctions after "continued pressure" from the junta to activate intercept surveillance technology.

Its departure has been mired in difficulty.

Military leaders late last year rejected its plan to sell its local operations to Lebanon's M1 Group for $105 million, Reuters reported. Instead, they wanted M1 to partner with a local firm, Shwe Byain Phyu.

Reuters reported in February that Shwe Byain Phyu, whose chairman has a history of business ties to the military, will own 80% of the unit while M1 will own the rest.

Shwe Byain Phyu has denied ties to the Myanmar army and previously said it was "selected by Telenor ... because it was the most unrelated to the military".

In its statement, Telenor said the agreement to sell the Myanmar unit was with M1 alone, but added that the "regulatory approval requires that M1 ensures a local majority owner after the closing of the transaction between Telenor and M1."

The firm said on Friday that M1 had informed Telenor that its local partner, Shwe Byain Phyu, would be the 80% owner after the transaction

"Sanctions screening from external consultants has assured Telenor that Shwe Byain Phyu and its owners are not subject to any current international sanctions," Telenor said.

Reuters reported earlier in March that Telenor is planning to transfer $100 million held by its Myanmar operations to the units new buyers - an amount roughly equivalent to how much it will be paid over five years, three people with knowledge of the deal's terms said.

M1 and Shwe Byain Phyu did not respond immediately to requests for comment by Reuters.

Senior foreign Telenor executives were barred from leaving Myanmar while negotiations around the sale were ongoing, a junta minister told Reuters last year.

Two of the sources said a senior Telenor foreign executive had recently received permission from authorities to fly out.

The company did not respond to requests for comment on whether its senior foreign staff had been permitted to leave Myanmar.

Civil rights groups have said the deal could put the data of 18 million people within the junta's reach and called on Telenor to delete personal information of customers.

Telenor has said doing so would violate local laws and expose employees to danger.

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More than half (57 per cent) of South Asian women in Canada are planning to leave their jobs for other opportunities, according to a new study.

South Asian women, who are also the largest female immigrant labour force according to the 2016 Census, have the highest unemployment rate in the nation.

The study, released by CulturaliQ in partnership with Pink Attitude, revealed that South Asian women are twice as likely to report unfair treatment in the workplace  34 per cent compared to the 17 per cent average of all females surveyed and 20 per for all the men surveyed.

These findings are significant considering that over the next five years, 100 per cent of Canadas labour force growth will be from immigration, especially given that newcomers from South Asia and the Philippines comprised almost 39 per cent of all newcomers in Canada (Immigration Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) in 2018.

The key reasons behind the decline in South Asian women's presence in the Canadian workforce include unsatisfying work, lesser pay as well as the pandemic. Nearly 47 per cent women said are considering leaving the workforce altogether due to the pandemic  compared to the 25 per cent for women and 32 per cent for men in general.

Meanwhile, 58 per cent of those surveyed revealed that they are planning to resign because of empty promises made by work managers about their career progression.

We have been keenly aware of the ongoing underutilisation of South Asian women in the Canadian workplace. The first step in developing a support plan is to understand the reasons for these statistics then we can go on to demonstrate how incredibly important and valuable this asset is to the current Canadian economy, said John Stevenson, Founding Partner, CulturaliQ.
Rescue workers searched desperately for any survivors buried beneath the rubble of Mariupol's bombed-out theatre Friday, as Russia's forces pounded residential areas across Ukraine, stoking allegations of war crimes.

Twenty-four hours after Mariupol's once-gleaming whitewashed theatre was hollowed out by a Russian strike, the number of dead, injured or trapped is still unclear.

Ukraine's ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said a bombshelter in the building had survived the impact, and some "adults and children" had emerged alive.

"Work is underway to unlock the basement," she said, amid fears that up to 1,000 people may have been taking refuge underground at the time of the blast.

The attack on a civilian building marked with the words "DETI", or "children" in Russian, has sparked a wave of international revulsion and heaped pressure on Russia's few remaining allies -- most notably China -- to condemn Moscow's apparent deliberate targeting of civilians.

Track live updates of Russia-Ukraine crisis here

In a call later Friday US President Joe Biden is set to warn his counterpart Xi Jinping that Beijing will face "costs" for "any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression," according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In the wake of the theatre attack, Blinken also said it was "difficult to conclude" that Vladimir Putin's regime had not engaged in war crimes by targeting civilians.

Biden hoped China would use "whatever leverage they have to compel Moscow to end this war," the top US diplomat said.

Russia has routinely denied such allegations and the Ministry of Defence has said it did not strike any ground targets in Mariupol on the afternoon the theatre was hit.

It instead claimed Ukraine's hardline nationalist Azov battalion, a frequent target of Russian propaganda, mined the theatre and held civilian hostages there in "a new bloody provocation".

Russia's siege of the city -- cutting power, as well as many communications links and food supplies -- has closed access and made independent verification all but impossible.

Local officials say more than 2,000 people have died so far in indiscriminate shelling, and 80 percent of its housing has been destroyed.

"In the streets, there are the bodies of many dead civilians," Tamara Kavunenko, 58, told AFP after fleeing the city.

"It's not Mariupol anymore," she said. "It is hell."

Also Read  Why so many countries want to sit out the new Cold War

Ukrainian MP Sergiy Taruta said that Russian forces' blockade of the city, killing of medics and destroying emergency equipment was stymying rescue efforts.

He claimed some people had emerged from the wreckage, but warned: "all those who survived the bombing will either die under the rubble of the theatre or have already died."

Italy's minister of culture Dario Franceschini said his country was ready to rebuild the theatre "as soon as possible."

With stop-start peace talks ongoing, officials in Kyiv said Russia had agreed to nine humanitarian corridors Thursday for fleeing refugees, including one out of Mariupol.

As Russia's ground advance has stalled under fierce Ukrainian resistance, Moscow has increasingly turned to air and long-range strikes to gain the upper hand.

According to Pentagon estimates, Russia has now fired over 1,000 missiles at Ukrainian targets since the war began three weeks ago.

In the early hours of Friday air raid alarms again rung in cities from Kyiv in the north to Odessa in the south and Kharkiv in the east.

Ukraine's government listed a kindergarten and market in Kharkiv among the latest targets.

In his latest late-night video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in several Ukrainian cities was "difficult."

But, he said, "we will not leave you behind and we will not forgive them. You will be free."

Hoping to sustain the fight, he has beseeched allies for more assistance -- even as an arsenal of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles flood into the country.

Slovakia confirmed it is willing to provide powerful Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine, but only on the condition that it receive a substitute from NATO allies.

On Wednesday Zelensky told German lawmakers that Russia was throwing up another "Berlin Wall", a dividing line between "freedom and bondage" in Europe.

"And this wall is growing bigger with every bomb," he added.

Also Read  India prepares to buy crude from Russia; US says no breach of sanctions, 'but history will judge'

That dividing line is currently drawn around 15 kilometres from Kyiv, where Russian troops are still trying to surround the capital in a slow-moving offensive.

On Wednesday AFP journalists witnessed Ukrainian and Russian forces trade shell and rocket fire to the northwest of the city.

Civilians ran for cover as shelling set fire to a building near a warehouse.

Inside the warehouse's car park, a Ukrainian soldier carrying a rifle ran in a crouch as gunshots crackled through the air.

A man carried a prone child in his arms into a nearby block of flats, and at least five ambulances raced towards the scene.

In Odessa, on the Black Sea, civilians were bracing for attack, with tanks deployed at intersections and monuments covered in sandbags.

"Our beautiful Odessa," said Lyudmila, an elegant elderly woman wearing bright lipstick, as she looked apologetically at her city's empty, barricaded streets.

"But thank God we are holding on! Everyone is holding on!"

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AYBAK, Afghanistan, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A total of 100 young cadets were commissioned to Afghanistan's police force in the northern Samangan province after receiving necessary training, a statement released by the provincial police said on Friday.

According to the statement, the newly graduated cadets received their certificates at a ceremony held in the provincial capital Aybak city on Thursday and were commissioned to the police force to serve the nation.

Without providing more details, the statement added that the newly graduated policemen were ready to serve the people elsewhere in the war-torn country.

On Tuesday, 744 cadets joined the national police forces in the eastern Paktia province. 
From her shelter in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv, Vera Lytovchenko has become a social media sensation with her violin performances that help her forget the war, if only for a few minutes.

Her renditions of Vivaldi and Ukrainian melodies have triggered an avalanche of messages of support from around the world and she has used the attention to launch a fundraiser.

"I'm not a doctor, a soldier, or a politician. I just play the violin," Lytovchenko told AFP over WhatsApp.

Also Read | Sheltering from bombs, Ukraine's 'cellar violinist' plays on

"I don't want to feel helpless. I want to help my friends and music teachers who have lost their homes, their jobs, their instruments," she added.

A soloist with the Kharkiv Opera Orchestra, the 39-year-old said she was inspired by one of her students who played violin for people taking refuge in a subway.

She has been living in the basement with 11 others, including children and elderly, since the city near the Russian border came under heavy bombardment.

"I consider myself very privileged because I'm in a cellar where we have heating, electricity, food. There are people who are not so lucky," she said.

Helping his country through music is also the goal of Illia Bondarenko, 20, who filmed himself in a shelter playing a Ukrainian folk song, "Verbovaya Doschechka", on the violin.

Through a video montage, he was joined by 94 violinists from 70 countries, including the entire violin section of the Munich Chamber Orchestra, as well as nine of his compatriots.

The clip went viral after being shared by the London Symphony Orchestra with over 3.6 million views on Facebook alone -- part of a "Violinists for Ukraine" campaign raising money for victims of the war.

"Music has power and Ukrainian musicians are now soldiers on their battlefield," said Bondarenko, who took refuge with his grandmother in the Lviv region of western Ukraine but remains worried about his parents stranded in Zhytomyr, closer to Kyiv.

Bondarenko, who was studying composition at the Kyiv Conservatory, sees his instrument as a "weapon of resistance".

"I can do more with my music than with weapons," he said.

The London Symphony Orchestra's Kerenza Peacock, who organised the project, said some violinists had apologised for not being able to participate because they were going to the front.

"There are many musicians who have taken up arms to defend our country," confirmed Mariya Klymenko, 23, who left the Kyiv region for Lviv.

She posted a video on Instagram playing a Ukrainian lullaby with her colleague, guitarist Yuri Bikbaev -- but by video link because he was stuck back in the capital.

"He stayed in Kyiv and sealed the windows of his apartment to protect himself. We wanted to get back to the bond that we had before the war," she said.

"I chose this lullaby because my mother sang it to me to calm me down when I was a baby. And I want people who watch the video to feel peace in their hearts."

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China sailed its aircraft carrier Shandong through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday, shadowed by a US destroyer, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, just hours before the Chinese and US presidents were due to talk.

China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and has over the past two years stepped up its military activity near the island to assert its sovereignty claims, alarming Taipei and Washington.

The source, who was not authorised to speak to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Shandong sailed close to the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, which sits directly opposite the Chinese city of Xiamen, and was shadowed by a US warship.

"Around 10:30 am the CV-17 appeared around 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Kinmen, and was photographed by a passenger on a civilian flight," the source said, referring to the Shandong's official service number.

The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier, which did not have aircraft on its deck and sailed north through the strait, the source added.

Taiwan also sent warships to keep an eye on the situation, the source said.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry declined to comment.

China's Defence Ministry and the US Navy did not immediately responded to requests for comment.

The sailing happened about 12 hours before US President Joe Biden is due to speak to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

The source described the timing of the Shandong's movement so close to that call as "provocative".

China says Taiwan is the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with the United States. Washington has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier.

The Shandong is China's newest aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2019.

China's only other carrier, the Liaoning, is mostly used for training purposes.

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China on Friday ruled out relaxing its much-criticised "dynamic zero-Covid" policy of restricting international travel and minimising contacts with the outside world, as it battles sporadic spikes of fresh coronavirus cases with prolonged lockdowns of cities.

China will adhere to its "dynamic zero-Covid" policy to contain its current outbreak, Wang Hesheng, vice-minister of the National Health Commission and administrator of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration told the media, as the country mobilised health officials to contain spikes of coronavirus cases in a number of cities.

The goal of the 'Zero case policy' approach is to bring the epidemic under control in the shortest possible time with minimum cost to society, official media here quoted him as saying.

The essence of the approach is swift response and targeted prevention and control, he said.

China has pledged rigorous and targeted Covid-19 prevention and control measures to contain the latest wave of infections caused by the Omicron variant, Wang said.

His comments came as President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for swift containment measures to arrest the spread of the outbreak.

Also read: Chinas Covid lockdowns set to further disrupt supply chains

"The 'dynamic zero' policy does have some impact on life and work," Wang admitted. "But considering people's safety and health, the sacrifices will be worth it."

Under this policy, China has drastically cut international travel which has affected several lakhs of international students, including over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine who are stuck in India following the cancellation of visas and flights.

Significantly, China is experiencing its biggest spikes in coronavirus cases in recent weeks just as the rest of the world opened up with a drastic fall of cases.

Defending the two-year policy, Wang said it is effective as China has a "very low" number of infections, critical cases and deaths.

Also, China acted with speed to contain virus outbreaks whenever they occurred within one to two incubation periods, which is quite fast, he said.

The vast majority of Chinese people are living normally at the expense of inconvenience in very few areas, he said and played down the economic costs.

"It's not objective to count only the areas where Covid-19 spreads. We should look at the big picture," he said

People should not blame all the economic losses on Covid-19 control measures. "We need to identify which part of the losses was caused by Covid-19 and which part was due to economic development itself," he said.

Wang also said China will pay more attention to details in Covid-19 control, respond faster and stronger in order to minimise the economic impact.

His comments came as China is fighting its biggest wave of locally transmitted Covid-19 cases since it contained the initial outbreak in Wuhan in 2020.

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 4,292 Covid-19 cases including 2,388 locally transmitted and 1,904 asymptomatic cases, the National Health Commission said Friday.

The number of confirmed Covid-19 patients currently undergoing treatment stood at 16,974, it said.

Since the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan city, China has so far reported 4,636 deaths due to the virus.

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A distraught man crouches over a woman's body draped in a bloodstained cloth, the latest victim of a new Russian tactic that is making Kyiv wake up to daily terror.

At daybreak for each of the last four days, the Ukrainian capital has been hit by isolated strikes on apartment blocks, killing at least seven people in total.

Kyiv has been bracing for a full-on Russian assault, but Moscow's forces have stalled as they try to encircle the city with a pre-war population of 3.5 million people.

Instead the Russian invaders have launched a sudden but limited escalation in attacks, always at around the same time, in what Ukrainian authorities say is an attempt to break Kyiv's will.

In the most recent attack, debris from a downed missile blew a huge chunk out of the top of a 16-storey apartment block at 5:04 am, emergency services said.

"At five in the morning I heard a whistle, then my husband screamed, calling me," Iryna Voinovska, a 55-year-old woman who lives on the bottom floor, told AFP sobbing.

"The main thing is that we are alive... Unfortunately, one woman died on the 16th floor, she was crushed by a concrete slab."

Read | Search on for Ukraine theatre bombing survivors

Every day since Monday it has been the same in Kyiv: explosions echoing across the city as the sun rises and emergency services rushing out.

The targets have almost all been the same too, Soviet-era apartment blocks left badly damaged and in one case reduced to a charred husk by flames.

On Monday a shell hit a building in the capital's Obolon district at 5:09 am, killing at least two people. An attack later that morning killed one person.

On Tuesday a few minutes after 05:00 am AFP journalists heard loud blasts in central Kyiv, and emergency services later said two residential buildings had been hit.

Four people died as flames swept through one residential block in the Sviatoshynsky district.

Dawn on Wednesday brought another strike at 06:16 am, as the pattern of attacks was repeated.

Read | What does it mean to be neutral over Ukraine?

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko has visited the scenes of several of the early morning blasts to show solidarity, and warned residents to make preparations for more such attacks.

"I call on Kyivans to trust a warning siren and go down to a shelter. The air defence forces fight back the enemy's air attacks and our army heroically resists the Orcs," he said in a statement.

The city's police chief said Russian forces may be seeking to scare Kyiv residents with attacks that were being carried out "chaotically".

"Either it brings them pleasure, or it is intimidation of the population," Andriy Nebitov, head of the Kyiv region police, told reporters on Thursday.

"But they will not intimidate our people. With each shelling, we become even more united."

As in other Ukrainian cities hit by Russia's invasion, it is civilians bearing the brunt.

At the wrecked building hit on Thursday, a 54-year-old resident who gave his name as Sergiy was recovering from the blast.

"I live on the 14th floor, I was sleeping, the blast wave pushed me off my bed," Sergiy told AFP.

"Everything is ruined in the apartment, completely."

Several residents tried to clean their balconies and apartments, throwing out shards of glass and debris, as other survivors gathered their belongings and rushed to leave the building.

Vlad, another inhabitant, said he had seen an initial explosion around five kilometres (three miles) away and seen smoke -- perhaps the initial impact of a Ukrainian air defence missile hitting a Russian projectile.

Ten seconds later I heard "a hissing sound for five seconds and the explosion", he said as he hurried out with two large shopping bags in his hands.

The traumatic toll of the attacks could be seen on the face of 32-year-old Anastasiya as she helped clean an apartment from debris.

Her parents live on the first floor of the block that was hit, while she and her husband live in a neighbouring building.

"Thank God they stayed alive. Please, make it stop!" she cried.

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After fleeing the war in Ukraine and reaching Warsaw by car and on foot, 22-year-old Khrystyna Trach had no idea how she would make it to Spain where her sister lives.

Then she heard about a convoy of Madrid taxi drivers who had come to Poland to deliver aid and ferry a group of 135 Ukrainians from a Warsaw refugee centre back to Spain.

"They are our heroes," Trach told AFP outside a central Madrid church where the convoy of 29 taxis arrived in the early hours of Thursday after an epic five-day journey, pulling up to cheers from well-wishers gathered outside.

Most refugees are women and children who, like Trach, already have family or friends living in Spain. With them were four dogs and a cat.

"I am going to look for work now to get money to help my country and my family," said Trach, an orphan who left her grandparents back in Kyiv where she worked in telesales.

She spoke in Spanish which she learned as a child while staying with a family in Spain for three months.

Also read: Biden looks to assess where China's Xi stands on Russia war

The convoy, which included two drivers in each taxi who took turns behind the wheel, left the Spanish capital last Friday on the 6,000-kilometre (3,700-mile) round-trip.

For many, like 46-year-old Olha Shokarieva who fled the capital Kyiv with her 15-year-old son, leaving was a bittersweet experience.

"I'm here only with my youngest son. My husband is now in Kyiv and my older son is in (the western city of) Vinnytsia, they are staying there and fighting," she said in English.

"We don't know if we have our house anymore and we don't know what is our future."

After crossing Europe together, many drivers and their passengers hugged each other and cried as they said goodbye.

The idea sprang from a discussion between taxi drivers about the Russian bombing of Ukraine as they waited for customers at Madrid airport.

When one suggested driving to Poland to bring back refugees, several others agreed, said Jose Miguel Funez of the Madrid Professional Taxi Federation, who coordinated the operation.

Soon dozens had signed up.

"The response was incredible. We didn't expect this," said Funez.

Javier Hernandez, who brought over a couple and their 12-year-old son, said he "could not sit still" after watching images of children and women fleeing bombings.

When they first set off, the refugees were initially subdued, refusing to get out when the taxi convoy paused for breaks, but after the first day they were "hugging us, making jokes," said the 47-year-old.

Also read: Russian troops, allies fight in Mariupol city centre

"In just a day, their lives changed. It's very moving. It's really nothing, it's just driving for a few days which is what we do in Madrid."

Organisers estimate the operation cost about 50,000 euros ($55,000), mostly in petrol and toll fees, with the funds raised through donations, mainly from fellow taxi drivers.

"Our people are amazing," said Jesus Andrades, 38, one of the coordinators who transported three young Ukrainian women.

"Some taxi drivers' children even gave the money in their piggy banks."

Madrid taxi drivers have a long track record of helping out during a crisis.

During the 2004 Madrid train bombings which killed nearly 200 people, taxi drivers ferried the injured to the hospital.

And when the Covid pandemic hit in spring 2020, they ran doctors house-to-house or took the sick to hospital.

"We are common people, and at the end of the day, I think common people help out more," said Hernandez, who once lived on the street for over a year after becoming depressed following his divorce.

More than three million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24, with Poland taking the bulk of them, United Nations figures show.

The Ukrainian embassy in Madrid helped select the refugees for the convoy.

Like other drivers who took part in the convoy, 34-year-old Nuria Martinez said she was ready to hit the road again to collect more refugees.

"You can't do anything to help sitting at home on your sofa. We all have to do our bit," said Martinez who brought back a mother and her two-month-old baby.

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The Covid-19 pandemic continued its resurgence this week, in particular in Asia and Europe, but the number of related global deaths plunged by a fifth.

Here is the state of play based on AFP's database:

The average number of global daily cases increased over the week by 12 per cent to 1.8 million, after taking a new turn for the worse the week before, according to an AFP tally to Thursday.

Western European countries are seeing a rebound, including France, where the number of cases increased 35 per cent, while Italy and Britain were up 42 per cent each.

Also Read: Restart monitoring ILI, SARI cases, Centre tells states amid Covid-19 surge in southeast Asia

In Asia, several countries beat their own records, including South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.

The confirmed cases only reflect a fraction of the actual number of infections, with varying counting practices and levels of testing in different countries.

The pandemic's upturn is being driven by Oceania, where the number of new cases increased by 86 per cent compared to the previous week. They also increased 23 per cent in Asia and seven per cent in Europe.

However, the situation continues to greatly improve in Africa, where the numbers dropped 56 per cent.

In the Middle East, cases declined by 26 per cent, while the Latin America-Caribbean zone saw a fifth fewer cases and the United States-Canada zone registered a 12 per cent drop.

Laos recorded the biggest new case increase with 151 per cent over the week, followed by Ireland with 52 per cent more, South Korea 47 per cent, and Finland 44 per cent.

By head of population South Korea recorded the biggest number of new cases this week, with 5,288 per 100,000 people.

Austria followed with 3,484, New Zealand (2,706), Cyprus (2,613) and the Netherlands (2,504).

The number of Covid-linked deaths continued to decline, shrinking 20 per cent to an average of 5,401 a day.

The decline was reflected in all regions of the world.

Hong Kong reported by far the highest death rate in proportion to population with 26.49 per 100,000 inhabitants.

It was followed at a distance by Latvia with 4.61, Denmark 4.33, Slovakia 4.08 and Chile 3.76.

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Russia has established a no-fly zone over Ukraine's Donbass region, according to a separatist official from the Donetsk People's Republic, the Interfax news agency said on Friday.

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Russia is using the UN Security Council to spread disinformation and propaganda about its invasion of Ukraine, six Western members states said Friday.

They made the allegation at a council meeting called at Russia's request to discuss its allegations that Ukraine is developing biological weapons.

"Russia is once again attempting to use this council to launder its disinformation, spread its propaganda, and justify its unprovoked and brutal attack on Ukraine," the six countries with seats on the council said in a statement read out by US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Also Read: Xi Jinping says conflicts like Ukraine crisis in 'no one's interests'

She was accompanied by representatives of France, Norway, Albania, Ireland and Britain.

Last week the council held a meeting on the same issue, also at Russia's request.

Then, Western countries accused Russia of spreading conspiracy theories after Moscow's envoy told diplomats that America and Ukraine had researched using bats to conduct biological warfare.

At Friday's meeting the United States reiterated that Ukraine has no biological weapons program.

Critics say the Russian allegations maybe a subterfuge for using such weapons themselves in the war in Ukraine.

"We continue to believe it is possible that Russia may be planning to use chemical or biological agents against the Ukrainian people," said Thomas Greenfield.

Western states said it was Russia that has expertise in chemical and biological weapons, as Russia repeated its allegations that Ukraine has bioweapon labs.

As was the case last week, Izumi Nakamitsu, UN high representative for disarmament issues, said his department had no knowledge of a Ukrainian biological weapons department or a mandate to carry out an investigation.

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The US House of Representatives voted Thursday to suspend Russia's "most favored nation" trade status, tightening the Western chokehold on Moscow's economy over its deadly invasion of Ukraine.

The Senate is expected quickly to rubber-stamp the legislation -- which also applies to Russian ally Belarus  allowing President Joe Biden to raise tariffs on imports from both nations.

"For weeks members of the Senate, the House and the White House have been working together to draft a strong and effective bill that will increase the pain on Putin's Russia and that our European allies will accept," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor.

"To date, both parties, Democrat and Republican, remain united in sending Putin a clear message: his inhumane violence against the Ukrainian people will come at a crippling price, and today's step by the House is another way we are making that come true."

The sanction, which had broad cross-party support with only a handful of no votes, follows the announcement of a US ban on Russian energy imports, as well as extensive sanctions on banks, businesses and oligarchs.

The IMF has predicted that the penalties will see Russia fall into a "deep recession" this year.

The House also voted to direct the US trade representative to use Washington's "voice and influence" to push for Russia and Belarus to be suspended from the World Trade Organization.

The bill gives Biden the authority to restore normal trade relations "if these countries have ceased their acts of aggression against Ukraine and other certain conditions are met."

Schumer said he expected the move to have "broad bipartisan support" in the Senate, vowing to push it through quickly.

The United States currently extends normal trade relations to all but two nations: Cuba and North Korea.

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By Maartje Abbenhuis for The Conversation

Theres a popular cartoon by Tom Toro thats been doing the social media rounds since 2012, in which two historians sit in a book-lined library as one complains:

Those who dont study history are doomed to repeat it. Yet those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it.

As a historian, I dont much subscribe to the histoire se repete (history repeats itself) school of thought. No two moments are ever the same. Context changes everything  and the complexities of context are as important to understanding an event as the potential similarities with another moment in time.

I find many of the historical analogies being bandied about over the war in Ukraine banal. There is nothing to be gained from equating Putin with Hitler or likening Russias invasion of Ukraine with Germanys invasion of Poland in 1939.

But what is useful in studying past wars is that they help us understand what aspects of a current crisis might be worth asking critical questions about

In that sense, Toros cartoon is apposite, especially when it comes to interrogating our collective responsibility for the war in Ukraine and its victims. Is watching in horror as the war unfolds all we can do? What responsibilities do we have as non-belligerent neutrals?

Track live updates of Russia-Ukraine crisis here

Neutrals and non-belligerents

Ive spent much of my academic career studying international systems and great power diplomacy, particularly in time of war. Ive written several books about neutrality, peacemaking and avoiding war. My most recent (co-authored) title, Global War, Global Catastrophe, integrates the history of neutrals and non-belligerents into the global history of the first world war.

This research highlights the many ways in which governments and communities approach wars in which theyre not actively involved as belligerents. Neutrality is the formal term used for a state that chooses not to go war when other countries do.

While we rarely use the word neutral today to describe countries that are not fighting a war (preferring to reserve that term for non-aligned countries like Switzerland), in a legal sense everyone who remains non-belligerent in this conflict is neutral according to the laws of war.

Neutrals and non-belligerents feature in all international conflicts. Even in the age of collective security that evolved after 1918 and through the Cold War, there were always neutrals and non-aligned states.

But the world watching the war in Ukraine today is most akin to the 19th-century age of neutrality, when most wars were fought by a small number of states, while the rest opted out as neutrals, including many great powers.

Neutrality helped these wars stay localised and limited, preventing them turning into major conflicts involving more of the militarised world. Much like today, there were always more non-belligerents watching a war than belligerents fighting it.

Also Read  India prepares to buy crude from Russia; US says no breach of sanctions, 'but history will judge'

Neutrality isnt passive

This history reveals that neutrality was not (and cannot be) a value-neutral concept. Neutral countries and communities are never politically impartial or evenhanded in their response to a military conflict, even if they have legal obligations regarding the warring parties.

As such, sanctioning Russia and sending military equipment to Ukraine are not, on the face of it, anti-neutral acts  although they certainly send powerful messages to Russia about the limits of what the rest of the world will allow or endure over Ukraine.

As in the past, neutral countries and non-belligerent organisations and communities often take on a range of key responsibilities and actions to help alleviate the suffering of a war or bring it to an early close.

Neutral governments are often the mediators and arbitrators of international crises and offer safe spaces for the warring parties to negotiate a solution. They also offer humanitarian support for the victims of war, including front-line medical care and havens for refugees.

And since all wars are also information wars, independent media sources play an influential role: unmasking the extreme violence of war, establishing how the watching world understands what the war is about, and determining which belligerent is perceived as being on the side of right.

Also Read  Why so many countries want to sit out the new Cold War

Neutrality and ending war

Neutrals, then, actively determine what is at stake in a war. Winning the hearts and minds of the people watching as non-belligerents is therefore vitally important to the warring parties.

At the moment, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is doing an exceptional job of influencing the watching worlds expectations and framing what the invasion of Ukraine is about. He needs that global support to help set the terms of any peace negotiations with Russia.

Historians of warfare almost always fixate on the actions of those actually doing the fighting or falling victim to the violence of a war. Today, too, we seem fixated on understanding Russia and Putin and on explaining why Ukraine is so important.

But its as important to ask questions about the responsibilities and actions of the neutral and non-belligerent world  those of us watching the war unfold in real time  as it is to interrogate those of any warring parties.

Just as in the 19th century, neutral parties have a massive role to play in the conduct, outcome and terms of this war. Their assessments will help to determine how we understand the conflict in years to come.

Alongside asking serious questions about why Russia invaded Ukraine, we should therefore also train our mirrors on ourselves as non-belligerents. How are we shaping the contours of this conflict? How are we responding to it? Where are our responsibilities to bring its suffering to a successful and speedy close?

(The author is Professor of History at University of Auckland)

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BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi made the remarks in a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden at the latter's request.

Noting the international landscape has experienced new major developments since their first virtual meeting last November, Xi said the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges, and the world is neither tranquil nor stable.

"The Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see," Xi said.

The events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone's interest, and peace and security are what the international community should treasure the most, he added.

"As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's two leading economies, we must not only guide the China-U.S. relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility," Xi said. 
Ukraines government is openly neo-Nazi and pro-Nazi, controlled by little Nazis, President Vladimir Putin of Russia says.

US officials led by President Joe Biden are responsible for the nazification of Ukraine, one of Russias top lawmakers says, and should be tried before a court. In fact, another lawmaker says, it is time to create a modern analogy to the Nuremberg tribunal as Russia prepares to denazify Ukraine.

In case the message was not clear, the Kremlins marquee weekly news show aired black-and-white footage Sunday of German Nazis being hanged on what is now central Kyivs Independence Square. The men drop, dangling from a long beam, and the crowd cheers.

Also Read | US lawmakers vote to end normal trade ties with Russia

The language of Russias invasion of Ukraine has been dominated by the word Nazi  a puzzling assertion about a country whose president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish and who in the fall signed a law combating antisemitism. Putin only began to apply the word regularly to the countrys present-day government in recent months, although he has long referred to Ukraines pro-Western revolution of 2014 as a fascist coup.

The Nazi slurs sudden emergence shows how Putin is trying to use stereotypes, distorted reality and his countrys lingering World War II trauma to justify his invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin is casting the war as a continuation of Russias fight against evil in what is known in the country as the Great Patriotic War, apparently counting on lingering Russian pride in the victory over Nazi Germany to carry over into support for Putins attack.

This rhetoric is factually wrong, morally repugnant and deeply offensive, scholars of genocide and Nazism from around the world said in an open letter after Putin invaded. While Ukraine has far-right groups, they said, none of this justifies the Russian aggression and the gross mischaracterization of Ukraine.

Also Read | UN says over 700 civilians killed in Ukraine, urges investigation

Ukrainians say that the horrors of Russias invasion show that if any country needs to be denazified, it is Russia. Its war has brought devastation to Russian-speaking Ukrainian cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol and widespread suffering to the capital, Kyiv.

And Putin, in a speech Wednesday, used the us-versus-them language of a dictator to proclaim that Russian society needed a self-purification from the pro-Western scum and traitors in its midst.

Many believe that Putins stated determination to denazify Ukraine is code for his aim to topple the government and repress pro-Western activists and groups. It is an echo of how he has used Russian remembrance of the nations suffering and victory in World War II to militarize Russian society and justify domestic crackdowns and foreign aggression.

Ukrainians have closed ranks behind Zelenskyy, however, causing Putin to escalate the brutality of his war. Putins denazification mission increasingly means that he is determined to destroy all Ukrainians, the countrys information minister, Oleksandr Tkachenko, wrote on Facebook, in Russian, last week.

This is worse than Nazism, Tkachenko wrote.

It may seem hard to fathom that regular Russians could accept Putins comparison of neighbouring Ukraine  where millions of Russians have relatives and friends  to Nazi Germany, the country that invaded the Soviet Union at the cost of some 27 million Soviet lives.

Like many lies, Putins claim about a Nazi-controlled Ukraine has a hall-of-mirrors connection to reality. Jewish groups and others have, in fact, criticized Ukraine since its pro-Western revolution in 2014 for allowing Ukrainian independence fighters who at one point sided with Nazi Germany to be venerated as national heroes.

Some fringe nationalist groups, which have no representation in parliament, use racist rhetoric and symbolism associated with Nazi Germany.

Eduard Dolinsky, director general of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, a group representing Ukrainian Jews, said that some in the country do derisively refer to those far-right groups as Naziki  little Nazis  as Putin does. On social media, Dolinsky in recent years has frequently called attention to things like the renaming of a major stadium in western Ukraine for Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian nationalist leader. He commanded troops that were implicated in mass killings of Jews and Poles during World War II.

This problem did exist and continues to, Dolinsky said in a phone interview from western Ukraine, a few days after fleeing Kyiv. But it has of course receded 10 times in importance compared to the threat posed by Russia in its alleged fight against Nazism.

Dolinskys posts about far-right issues in Ukraine were often amplified by Russian officials, who used them as evidence that the country was dominated by Nazis. Some Ukrainians criticized him for playing into Russian propaganda, but Dolinsky said that he has no regrets  and noted that he has steadfastly refused invitations to appear on Russian state television.

Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst who appears frequently on state television, claims that Ukraines modern-day Nazis are not anti-Jewish but anti-Russian  because that is the agenda that he claims Western intelligence agencies set for them. In Russias increasingly convoluted propaganda narrative, reprised by Putin in his speech Wednesday, the West is backing Ukraines Nazis as a way to degrade Ukraines Russian heritage and use the country as a platform to destroy Russia.

We are being convinced again and again that the Kyiv regime, for which its Western masters have set the task of creating an aggressive anti-Russia, is indifferent to the fate of the people of Ukraine themselves, Putin said.

Markov said the Kremlin started using the Nazi terminology to get through to Western politicians and media about the necessity of invading Ukraine. But the use of the word also appears geared toward Russians, for whom remembrance of the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany remains perhaps the single most powerful element of a unifying national identity.

Now, the narrative goes, Putin is finally carrying out the Soviet Unions unfinished business.

From the point of view of Russian society, todays Ukrainian fascists are successors to the cause of the fascism of that time, Markov said, echoing a Kremlin talking point.

Even as state television ignores the devastation that Russian forces are causing in Ukraine, and the mounting tally of Russian casualties, it is filled with reports about Ukrainian extremist groups  ones that in reality occupy a marginal place in Ukrainian society. Reports about streets being renamed for Stepan Bandera, a Ukrainian nationalist leader who at one point sided with Nazi Germany against the Soviets  before the Germans turned against him and put him in a concentration camp  offend older generations of Russians who heard about the evils of Nazi collaborators.

With Ukrainian nationalist groups now playing an important role in defending their country from the Russian invasion, Western supporters of Ukraine have struggled for the right tone. Facebook last week said it was making an exception to its anti-extremism policies to allow praise for Ukraines far-right Azov Battalion military unit, strictly in the context of defending Ukraine, or in their role as part of the Ukraine national guard.

Russias state media seized upon Facebooks move as the latest proof that the West supported Nazis in Ukraine. They also highlight it when Western politicians, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday, greet Zelenskyy with Slava Ukraini!  Glory to Ukraine!  a greeting used by Banderas troops.

For people socialized in this Soviet culture, these are definitely negative associations, said Vladimir Malakhov, a historian at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences who studies nationalism and ethnicity. Its antisemitism, its being anti-Russian, its radicalism.

Dolinsky, of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, noted that there have been many Jews among the 3 million Ukrainians who have fled the country, and that some may not return. Putins war may thus deal a devastating blow to Ukraines Jewish community, he said.

This will be among the results of this denazification, Dolinsky said. Our lives have been destroyed.

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With so much going wrong in the world, should we now also worry about a nine-tailed fox demoness that may be loose in a forest in Japan?

The answer depends partly on your reading of ancient Japanese mythology.

This month, a volcanic rock split in two in Nikko National Park, about 100 miles north of Tokyo. Intact, the rock was about 6 feet tall and 26 feet in circumference, according to a guide at the park. It had long been associated with a Japanese legend in which an evil fox spirit haunts a killing stone, or Sessho-seki in Japanese, making it deadly to humans. Some people have speculated that the fracture set the fox loose to cause further harm.

Others have focused on a variation of the legend that ends on a happier note. In that telling, after a Zen monk splits the rock into several pieces and coaxes out the fox, she promises never to harm humans again.

Social media has plenty of theories about what the fracturing of the stone means for ordinary mortals. So does the Japanese news media. Is this an advance warning of a disaster or a good omen? asked a recent article in The Asahi Shimbun, an influential newspaper.

Heightened interest in the fractured stone may be a sign of our times, said Nick Kapur, a professor of Japanese history at Rutgers University who wrote a popular Twitter thread about it in early March.

Theres a kind of millenarian sense in the air, an apocalyptic feeling, with the coronavirus and this war in Ukraine, he said in an interview. People are feeling like, Ah, why is all this stuff happening now? And so maybe this stone cracking open at this particular time just touches a nerve.

'Kind of an antihero'

The nine-tailed fox legend is set in the 12th century at the royal court in Kyoto, Japans imperial capital. Scholars say it first appeared in written texts in the 15th century.

In the basic version, a retired emperor, Toba, an actual historical figure, is enchanted by a beautiful and intelligent visitor, Tamamo no Mae. When Toba falls mortally ill, a royal astrologer discovers that the visitor is an evil fox in disguise. She flees into the wilderness, and warriors dispatched by the palace shoot her with arrows, transforming her into a poisonous rock.

In real life, Tobas death set off a succession crisis that led to an era of samurai fighting and military rule. In all likelihood, the story of Tamamo no Mae sprang from the real world of palace politics, scholar Janet Goff wrote in a 1997 essay about foxes in Japanese culture.

In another version of the legend  one that appeared in ancient plays and illustrated scrolls  a Zen monk is walking past the stone when a woman warns him not to go near it. She says it will kill any human, bird or beast that does.

The woman admits that she is the spirit of the stone and disappears inside it. After the monk strikes and breaks the stone with a staff, she reappears, promises never to harm humans again, and disappears for good.

For centuries, the telling of the fox legend echoed a misogynistic trope of Japanese mythology in which female characters were held responsible for the downfall of dynasties, Kapur said. But when the nine-tailed fox has appeared in modern Japanese cultural products  including anime, manga and even video games  she tends to be portrayed more favorably.

Theres a hint of evil still there, but shes kind of an antihero, maybe, he said. Its interesting how this character has transformed from an unredeemed villain to almost someone youd admire or want to be friends with.

'A scary spot'

The stone that broke apart in Nikko National Park sat in a forest dotted with sulfurous hot springs. Park rangers had been photographing cracks in the stone for years, and local officials said the final rupture was caused by toxic gas and rainwater seepage.

The stone is a government-designated cultural asset, so we cannot decide what to do by ourselves, said Riko Kitahara, an official at the park. But from a maintenance standpoint, we think it should be left as it is since it split naturally.

The Nikko stone was designated a cultural asset in 1957 by Tochigi prefecture and as a scenic spot by the national government in 2014. It is said to be one of several stones that the Zen monk created when he broke the larger boulder apart during his mythical encounter with the chastened fox spirit.

The government says 17th-century poet Matsuo Basho was referring to the stone when he wrote of visiting one that emitted poisonous fumes and was surrounded by ground covered in so many dead bees and butterflies that you can barely see the color of the sand.

Masaharu Sugawara, 83, a volunteer tour guide in Nikko National Park, said the poets reference to the stone has long been a selling point for tourists. He added that animals that gravitate to hot springs near the stone in winter sometimes die from toxic gases.

As Matsuo Basho wrote, its a scary spot, he said.

A fox of our time

It is unlucky to discuss bad luck in Japan, so if people are worried that the fracturing of the stone will produce bad vibes, they might not be telling reporters.

Publicly, at least, many have said they believe the stones fracturing is a good sign, not an omen of impending doom. Some have even expressed hope that it could be exactly what the world needs at this chaotic juncture in history.

In a recent Facebook post, a tourism association in the Nikko area said that it hoped the stones fracturing was an auspicious foretoken, and that the nine-tailed fox could perhaps tame the coronavirus and the current world situation.

Masaki Akutsu, an official in Nasu, a town near the park, told The Asahi Shimbun that he hoped the fox had been set free to address global warming.

This is the start of a new killing stone legend, he said.

Masako Hitomi, 80, whose husband is a retired Shinto priest at a shrine in Nasu that pays homage to the fox, said she believed the scientific explanation for the stones fracture.

At the same time, she said, all the dreary news lately, including the war in Ukraine and the pandemic, seems to have played a role in the stones fate. (On Wednesday, a powerful undersea earthquake off the Fukushima region of Japan, north of Nasu, left at least three people dead and more than 190 injured.)

It broke shouldering too many woes of the world, she said. Since the stone shouldered the evils, I hope all these awful events will end soon.

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India on Friday hit out at its critics and defended its decision to buy crude oil from Russia, which came under sanctions from the United States and the other western nations after it launched military operations in Ukraine on March 24.

With the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) already making a move to buy as much as 3 million barrels of crude oil from Russia, New Delhi sought to silence its critics arguing that Indias legitimate energy transactions should not be politicised. Noting that India is highly dependent on imports for meeting its energy requirements, a source in New Delhi said that the nations with oil self-sufficiency or the ones which are still importing oil from Russia could never credibly advocate restrictive trading.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis government already conveyed to the US, UK and other western nations that India would go ahead and continue to buy crude oil from Russia. Russia has been a marginal supplier of crude oil to India.

But with Moscow offering crude oil to New Delhi at a discounted price, India has already planned to buy about 12 million barrels of crude oil from Russia at a discounted price over the next few weeks. notwithstanding criticism in the US and the UK.

Also read: India's legitimate energy transactions with Russia should not be politicised, say government sources

New Delhi took note of the fact that Russia was exporting oil and gas to various countries across the world, particularly Europe. It noted that 75% of Russias total natural gas exports was to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Europe (like Germany, Italy, France). The European countries like the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Romania were also large importers of Russian crude oil.

Notably, recent Western sanctions on Russia have carve-outs to avoid impact on energy imports from Russia. Russian banks that are the main channels for European Union payments for Russian energy imports have not been excluded from SWIFT, a source in New Delhi pointed out.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, British Secretary of Trade for International Trade, recently expressed disappointment over Indias decision to avoid criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering military offensives against Ukraine and its move to buy oil at a cheaper rate from Russia. British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons spokesperson said that the UK wanted every country to move away from importing oil and gas from Russia, because it directly funded the invasion of Ukraine.

Dr Ami Bera, an Indian-American member of the US Congress, of late criticised India for buying oil from Russia. He also said that if India went ahead to increase its oil import from Russia, it would be choosing to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite his regimes aggression against Ukraine. Not only Bera, but Ro Khanna, another Indian-American member of the US House of Representative, too joined a bipartisan delegation of the American Congress in a meeting with Taranjit Singh Sandhu, New Delhis envoy to Washington D.C., and called upon India to directly condemn Russia for its military operations in Ukraine.

President Joe Bidens Press Secretary Jen Psaki told journalists at White House recently that India buying oil from Russia might not be a violation of the sanctions imposed by the US. She, however, underlined that history would remember where the nations stood on the issue of Russias aggression against Ukraine.

Nearly 85% of India crude oil requirement of 5 million barrels a day has to be imported. India mostly imports from West Asia  23% from Iraq, 18% from Saudi Arabia and 11% from the United Arab Emirates. The US too has now become an important crude oil source for India, amounting to 7.3% of total trade.

The source in New Delhi pointed out that imports from the US were expected to increase substantially in the current year, probably by around 11%.

New Delhi argued that geopolitical developments had posed significant challenges to the energy security of India, which had to stop sourcing from Iran and Venezuela in the wake of the US sanctions on the two nations and alternative sources had often come at a higher cost. "The jump in oil prices in the wake of the Ukraine-Russia conflict now added to our challenges. The pressure for competitive sourcing had naturally increased."

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Iran is ready to meet India's energy security needs, its ambassador to India was quoted as saying on Friday, as negotiations continue between the world powers and Tehran on the lifting of sanctions against the OPEC-member.

Iran used to be the second largest oil supplier to India but New Delhi had to halt imports from Tehran after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed sanctions on its oil exports.

"Rupee-rial trade mechanism can help companies from both the countries to deal with each other directly and avoid third party intermediation costs," Ali Chegeni was quoted as saying by Indian facilitation body MVIRDC World Trade Center.

Also Read: Iran ready to launch rupee-rial trade to supply oil and gas to India, says envoy

India, the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer, covers over 80 per cent of its crude oil needs with imports.

India and Iran had devised a barter-like mechanism to settle trade where Indian refiners were paying for Iranian oil in rupees to a local bank and the funds were used by Tehran to pay for imports from India.

Due to sanctions, the India-Iran trade declined sharply from $17 billion in the fiscal year to March 2019 to less than $2 billion in April-January, the first 10 months of this fiscal year.

Chegeni said, "If both countries launch rupee-rial trade mechanisms, the bilateral trade could grow to $30 billion".

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Israel is preparing a master plan for the water grid project in Marathwada -- but the ambitious project has been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, at a meeting of a high-level Israeli delegation with the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, on Thursday, the Middle-Eastern country sought the revival of the project.

"The National Water Company of Israel is preparing the master plan for the ambitious Marathwada water grid project which got delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. He sought the support of the Maharashtra government to revive the project, a Raj Bhavan press communique said.

The delegation of senior officials from Israel was led by Deputy Director-General of Israel for Asia and Pacific Rafael Harpaz.

Consul General of Israel in Mumbai Kobbi Shoshani and Political Advisor to the Consulate Anay Joglekar were also present.

Shoshani told the Governor that Israel has recently gifted a state-of-the-art cancer treatment device to the Tata Memorial Hospital. He reported that the success rate of the treatment of cancer from the ICE Cure Cryoablation Device has been found to be 98 per cent. He added that early detection of cancer helps in the effective treatment of cancer.

Thanking the officials, Governor Koshyari said that Israel's help in the water management of Marathwada will prove to be a boon for the region.

The vast Marathwada region -- spread over 65,000 sq km -- receives less rainfall leading to farmer distress and crop failures.

The region comprises eight districts including Aurangabad, Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Jalna, Nanded and Hingoli. These districts have around 12,000 villages.

In January 2018, Mekorot Development & Services Ltd and Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran had signed an MoU for the project.
After raising the pitch on reforms in the party, senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday met party president Sonia Gandhi and discussed organisational issues and the need for cohesive functioning of the party.

The meeting came two days after Sonia spoke to Azad over the phone and the meeting of change-seekers or G-23 leaders led by him after the poll debacle. It also came a day after another G-23 leader Bhupinder Hooda met top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Azad told reporters that the discussion was on how the Congress should unitedly fight the upcoming elections besides reiterating suggestions for strengthening the party organisation.

Also Read | The case of Congress and the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

The meeting with Sonia Gandhi was good. There was no question about leadership. When Sonia Gandhi offered to quit, we all asked her to continue. Any change happens when elections happen. Elections will be in some months. The post of presidentship is not vacant now, he said.

Everyone, whether you belong to one group or another, whether you have a view, all said you should continue. When an election happens, party workers will decide (who will be president). We had some suggestions to further strengthen the organisation, which we shared, he said.

Earlier in the day, Azad, the most prominent leader among the G-23, also met veteran leader Karan Singh, considered to be close to the Congress leadership but keeping a low profile after his retirement from Rajya Sabha, on Friday. Azad said that he met Singh to wish him on the occasion of Holi.

Also read: G-23 leaders' 'collective and inclusive' leadership call a warning for Sonia Gandhi

On Wednesday, eighteen leaders had gathered at Azads residence and issued a joint statement calling for collective and inclusive leadership and decision making at all levels after the partys dismal poll performance. Last Sunday, the Congress Working Committee had authorised Sonia to make necessary organisational changes.

Sources said the G-23 leaders have conveyed to the leadership that their intention is not to weaken the party or seek positions, though a number of leaders have pointed out to the interviews by Kapil Sibal and Manish Tewari saying they were not helpful in resolving the crisis.

The meeting with Sonia indicated that the leadership wants to resolve issues and that was the reason why Sonia and Rahul reached out to them. Some senior leaders like Ashok Gehlot are also playing the mediators role.

Also Read  'Only way forward...': Congress G-23 leaders meet over party leadership

Rahul had met former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda. Rahul had also a telephonic chat with Hooda, who is growing impatient about the organisational structure in his home state where he wants to change Kumari Selja as party president and install himself.

However, it is to be seen whether the leadership would heed Hoodas demand. However, there is speculation that Hoodas son Deepender Hooda, a Rajya Sabha MP, may make the cut as both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have trust in the young leader.

M Veerappa Moily, who severed his ties with G-23, said Sonia wants reforms within the party but people around her have sabotaged it. The G23 leaders are targeting the senior leader and weakening the Congress. BJP cannot be a perennial party and it will not stand the turmoil of politics after Modi, he was quoted by ANI as saying.

"Just because we are not in power, Congress leaders or workers should not panic. The BJP and other parties are transit passengers, they will come and go, it is the Congress that will remain here. We should be committed to the downtrodden and need not lose hope," he said.

Sandeep Dikshit, who was a signatory to the August 2020 letter of the G-23 seeking clarity on the leadership and attended the meeting on Wednesday, said party strengthens when it works as a family. In a family, there's equality, justice and youngsters-elders. Elders are respected and youngsters are loved. Party workers want leadership to consider everyone their own, he said.

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The National Conference on Friday broke its silence on 'The Kashmir Files' and said the movie was far from the truth as the movie makers have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy.

Vice President of the party and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if 'The Kashmir Files' was a commercial movie, no one has an issue, but if the filmmakers claim that it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way round.

"When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the chief minister. Jagmohan was the governor. It was V P Singh's government at the Centre which was supported by the BJP from outside," Abdullah told reporters in Damal Hanji Pora of Kulgam district of South Kashmir.

Abdullah wondered why this fact was kept away from the movie.

"Don't manipulate the truth. It's not the right thing.

"If Kashmiri Pandits have fallen victims to terrorism, we have utmost regret about that, but let us not forget the sacrifices of Muslims and Sikhs who were also targeted by the same gun," he said.

Abdullah said that some of those from the majority community were yet to return.

"Today, there is a need to create an atmosphere where we could bring back all those who had left their homes and not create a communal divide," he said.

The former chief minister said an atmosphere would be created for the return of Kashmiri Pandits.

"But I do not think that those people who have made this movie, want them (Kashmiri Pandits) to return. Through this picture, they want Pandits to remain outside always," he said.

Earlier, in his address, Abdullah said attempts were being made to defame a community across the world.

"A common Kashmiri is not happy with what happened 32 years ago, that people were made to leave the Valley. Today, an impression is being created that all Kashmiris are communal, that all Kashmiris do not bear the people from other religions. What will be achieved by this? Will it make the road easier for their return?

"I am afraid that the hatred which is being created against Kashmiri Muslims today, God forbid, our children studying outside the state, should not bear its brunt," he said.

During his tenure as the chief minister, Abdullah had advocated setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to go into the events unfolding since the onset of militancy.

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The swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected BJP government in Uttar Pradesh will be held in the state capital here on March 25, a senior government official said on Friday.

The ceremony will take place at the Ikana stadium on the Shaheed Path in Lucknow at 4 pm on March 25, he said.

Before the ceremony, Yogi Adityanath, who led the party to a thumping victory in the just-concluded elections, will be elected as the leader of the legislature party, party sources said.

Also read: Yogi, other UP leaders extend Holi wishes to people

This is the second consecutive term of Adityanath.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das have been made the observer and co-observer, respectively for the government formation in Uttar Pradesh.

The list of ministers who will take oath will be finalised when Adityanath reaches Lucknow from Gorakhpur.

Senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president J P Nadda and other central ministers will attend the event, sources said.

Besides chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states, leaders of the Sangh and office-bearers of the party are also expected to attend the function, sources said, adding that top leaders of opposition parties will also be extended the invitation.

Sources in the party said consultation on the state cabinet has already taken place between Adityanath and the party leadership.

Besides Adityanath, other ministers will also take oath on March 25. Women and youth will be given representation, they said.

Massive preparations for the function have already started wherein beneficiaries of various schemes of the previous Yogi Adityanath government, including women, will be invited, according to sources.

This will be the second swearing-in ceremony of the BJP government under the leadership of Adityanath, who created history for his party returning to power in the state after a successful five-year tenure.

The BJP won 255 seats in the 403-member assembly and its allies won 18 seats.

Elections in the northern state were held in seven phases and the results were announced on March 10.

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Six alleged militant associates were arrested after a module of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was busted in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that they were involved in providing logistics, shelter, managing and transferring terror finance and motivating youth to act as hybrid terrorists, a police spokesman said.

Police in Pulwama have busted a terror module linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and arrested six terrorist associates, he said.

He identified them as Rouf Ahmad Lone alias Amjid, a resident of Lelhar Kakapora, Aqib Maqbool Bhat, a resident of Alochibagh Pampore, Javaid Ahmad Dar, a resident of Larve Kakapora, Arshid Ahmad Mir, a resident of Parigam Pulwama, Rameez Raja, a resident of Parigam Pulwama, and Sajad Ahmad Dar, a resident of Larve Kakapora.

The investigating team also learnt that they were working for terrorist commander Reyaz Ahmad Dar alias Khalid alias Sheeraz of LeT, the spokesman said.

Reyaz Dar hails from Sethergund Kakapora in Pulwama, he added.

Besides, the spokesman said, the arrested accused on Dars directions were instrumental in perpetuating terrorism in the district.

A case has been registered and investigation initiated, he said.

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After two years of muted festivities due to Covid-19, people came out of their homes in large numbers on Friday to celebrate Holi in Madhya Pradesh with traditional fervour in an environment largely free of curbs due to an ebbing third wave of the pandemic.

People gathered in big numbers and sprayed colours mixed with water, applied gulal on each others faces and later distributed sweets as cries of 'Holi hai' reverberated the streets. For the last two years, coronavirus had played spoilsport on Holi and forced citizens to remain indoors to check the spread of the infection.

Revellers in groups were seen singing as well as dancing to the tune of famous Bollywood song 'Rang Barse' and throwing colours at each other across the state to celebrate the festival that marks the triumph of good over evil. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had recently asked people to celebrate Holi with pomp and gaiety in view of a drastic fall in daily Covid-19 cases.

On the eve of Holi, Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang had slammed the message to save water on Holi as an attack on Hindu festivals. According to an estimate, 4,125 quintals of 'gaukashth' (made of cow dung) was sold from centres in Bhopal for the 'Holika Dahan' ritual (symbolic burning of Holika, a demoness and sister of King Hiranyakashipu) on Thursday.

This positive development came amid a campaign to promote 'gaukashth' for 'Holika Dahan' in order to save trees. The Chief Minister also used the cow dung cakes to burn Holika, a ritual that symbolises the victory of good over evil. No untoward incident has been reported from the state so far.

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UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Thursday that helping Afghanistan ease the humanitarian and economic crises is the top priority for the international community.

Since the withdrawal of foreign troops last August, Afghanistan has ushered in a critical phase of peaceful reconstruction. China supports the important role of the United Nations in Afghan and welcomes the mandate renewal of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to enable it to provide assistance for the peace, stability and development of Afghanistan, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

In an explanation of vote after the vote on the mandate renewal, Zhang said helping Afghanistan ease the humanitarian and economic crises is the most urgent task at present, and should be the most important work of UNAMA in the coming period.

UNAMA should actively implement its mandate, urge major donors to increase aid without political preconditions, and help Afghanistan improve people's livelihood, he said. "We expect UNAMA to assist Afghanistan in cooperating with international financial institutions to gradually activate Afghanistan's commercial and financial activities and promote economic and social development."

The Security Council resolution specifies that Afghan assets belong to the Afghan people, which reflects the common view of the international community. In line with the clear mandate from the Security Council, UNAMA should further coordinate the unfreezing of Afghanistan's overseas assets. China calls on the expeditious unfreezing of Afghan assets and the unconditional return of these assets to the Afghan people, said Zhang.

The de-facto authorities in Afghan are actively conducting foreign relations and taking measures to respond to the expectations of the international community. The general direction is correct. The international community should adhere to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned principle, strengthen contacts with the Afghan interim government and all other parties, activity guide and promote the establishment of an open and inclusive political structure, and gradually restore order, rule of law and economic development, he said.

The international community should support Afghanistan in increasing investment in education and health, protecting the basic rights of all people, including women and children, combating terrorism in all its forms, and developing friendly cooperation with other countries, he added.

This time, the Security Council significantly reprioritized UNAMA's mandate in light of the changing situation on the ground. As the situation is unfolding too fast and filled with many uncertainties, it is not an easy task to ensure that the new mandate fits the latest developments, meets the real needs of the Afghan people, and is practical and feasible to implement, said Zhang.

He asked Security Council members to take stock of UNAMA's future work in a timely fashion and be ready to make new adjustments at any time.

Always respecting the sovereignty and leadership of Afghanistan, UNAMA should pay attention to the legitimate concerns of the Afghan interim government and carry out various tasks on the basis of active communication and mutual understanding, he said.

For a long time, the neighbors of Afghanistan and regional countries have actively supported Afghanistan in its peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process, and made great efforts to promote its peaceful development. China is making preparations for the third meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbors, and is ready to promote communication and coordination of regional countries so as to create a favorable environment for the stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan, said Zhang. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said media can play a positive role in changing the lives of people and hailed the contribution of the fourth estate in promoting government's ambitious initiatives like Swachh Bharat Mission, popularising Yoga, fitness and 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme, saying these are the subjects beyond the domain of politics.

"I have seen the positive impact the media can play. The example of the Swachh Bharat Mission is well known. Every media house took up this mission with great sincerity", the Prime Minister said, inaugurating online the centenary celebrations of leading Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi. Observing that the media has also played a very encouraging role in popularising Yoga, fitness and 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,' the Prime Minister said these are subjects beyond the domain of politics and political parties.

"They are about making a better nation in the coming years", Modi said. Addressing the programme, also joined online by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and attended by dignitaries including Union Minister V Muraleedharan and state Tourism Minister P A Muhammed Riyas, Modi said in today's day and age, the world has many expectations from India.

"When the Covid-19 pandemic hit our shores, it was speculated that India would not be able to manage things well. The people of India proved these critics wrong," he said.

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In what is suspected to be an outbreak of Anthrax, four deer inside the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) campus have died in the past two days with one sample revealing the presence of Anthrax. The other sample tests are inconclusive.

The institute said it will very soon start vaccination against anthrax and has asked a team of nine people to watch the wildlife for any symptoms round the clock for immediate intervention. An antibiotic dosage is also being administered, the IIT-M said.

The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) has asked the veterinary doctor at the Guindy National Park to collect the samples of the deer and send them to the university for testing. It also issued a slew of instructions to the IIT-M on handing the carcass of the deer.

TANUVAS also refuted IIT-Ms suggestion that dogs being carriers could be one of the reasons for the outbreak and asked people not to panic. It said Anthrax is not transmitted through dogs.

The campus which is surrounded by thick forests has reported four deer deaths in the last two days. Out of this, one sample tested revealed the presence of Anthrax and the other three sample tests were inconclusive, a statement from the institute said.

The IIT-M said standard operating procedures are being followed in disposing of the carcass, while the area where the carcass was found has been sanitised and cordoned off.

We are going by the advice of the Wildlife Warden with regard to safety measures on campus. The Wildlife and Animal Husbandry authorities and Chennai Corporation are guiding the institute on protocols for such notifiable disease, the statement added.

All the handlers including the Wildlife personnel in close proximity to the carcass or who have handled the carcass will be put on a course of antibiotics by our hospital for the next 10 days.

The institute said it was analysing all possibilities of how the disease could have entered the IIT-M campus as since inception we have not witnessed any such disease.

It is an emergency but not a panic situation. We have handled a pandemic so we are geared and on full alert. IIT Madras is working towards ensuring the safety of all students, faculty, staff and residents on the campus, the statement added.

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India's legitimate energy transactions should not be politicised and countries self-sufficient in oil or those themselves importing from Russia cannot credibly advocate restrictive trading, government sources said on Friday.

The assertion came amid some criticism against India over its position that it is open to buying discounted crude oil from Russia.

Sources said the jump in oil prices following the Ukraine conflict added to India's challenges and pressure for competitive sourcing has naturally increased.

They said Russia has been a marginal supplier of crude oil to India and it is less than one per cent of the country's requirement, adding there is no government-to-government arrangement for the import.

"India has to keep focusing on competitive energy sources. We welcome such offers from all producers. Indian traders too operate in global energy markets to explore best options," said a source.

Also read: India's February oil imports surge as refiners boost runs

Russia has offered discounted crude oil in the wake of the Western sanctions on it following its military aggression against Ukraine.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday did not rule out buying discounted crude oil from Russia saying India looks at all options at all points of time as a major importer of oil.

"India does import most of its oil requirements, it's met by imports. So we are always exploring all possibilities in global energy markets because of this situation that we face of importing our oil requirements," he said at a media briefing.

Bagchi said Russia has not been a major supplier of crude oil for India.

"Let me just highlight that a number of countries are doing so, especially in Europe, and for the moment, I will leave it at that.

"We are a major oil importer and we are looking at all options at all points, we need the energy," he said.

Asked whether the purchase can be made under the Rupee-Rouble arrangement, Bagchi said he was not aware of the exact details on the offers.

He said doing business in currencies Rupee and Rouble were in existence in past and that he was not aware of its current status.

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Holi was celebrated in a sprightly manner in Maharashtra on Friday for the first time in two years as vast improvement in the coronavirus situation prompted people to come out of their homes for the festival of colours and indulge in revelry.

The Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020 and resultant restrictions had cast a grim shadow on celebrations of all festivals in the state for the past two years. Things were different this year as citizens were seen celebrating the festival with traditional fervour and enthusiasm.

Revellers splashed bright colours and applied 'gulal' to each other and danced to drum beats and music enthusiastically in the state, including in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Jalgaon.

In the coastal Konkan region, where Holi is celebrated with great fervour, the festival was marked in a traditional manner after a two-year hiatus.

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The people lived in a spell of fear caused by Covid-19 for two years. But this year, the situation has improved for good and hence, all friends and families are in a festive mood again, said Uday Singh Bandal, a resident of Dombivli near Mumbai. Jayendra Pawari, a resident of Jaigad in coastal Ratnagiri district, seconded Bandal.

Holi/Shimga is celebrated on a huge scale in our part of the world. We missed badly for two years the festivity which is so integral to our lives. But we are happy this year, Pawari added.

In Mumbai, former mayor Kishori Pednekar celebrated the festival by applying colours to people.

Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav took part in 'palkhi' (palanquin) dance in Chiplun in Ratnagiri district to mark the festivities. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole celebrated the festival with family members in Nagpur district.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam, who has been a critic of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), burnt a pyre of wood (Holika) in Mumbai's Ghatkopar to protest against the state government over various issues and engaged in sloganeering against it.

Earlier in the day, greeting the people on the occasion of Holi, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray put out a tweet hoping that the festival brings happiness, peace and colours of prosperity in their lives.

Maharashtra has witnessed a sharp decline in daily Covid-19 cases of late.

The state government, however, on Thursday urged the people to celebrate the festival without congregating on a big scale and insisted on observing Covid-appropriate behaviour to ensure the disease does not spread.

Maharashtra reported 229 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the state's overall count of infections to 78,72,032.

The state has reported 1,43,762 deaths due to the disease so far (till March 17).

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More than 75 years ago, not a long period in historical terms, the Indian National Congress was the symbol of Indias hard-fought struggle for Independence and of national pride, prestige and aspirations. The Congress party ruled the country for decades thereafter without much opposition and managed to keep the country on a progressive trajectory, however slow and bumpy.

The Gandhi name itself was re-designed by Feroze Ghandy, a Parsi, reportedly as a tribute to the Mahatma and in order to marry the Hindu Indira. If so, it certainly suited the political need of the Nehru dynasty starting with Indira Gandhi. This was regardless of the fact that after Gandhiji, it was the Nehru/Patel duo and then the Narasimha Rao/Manmohan Singh team that really created milestones for the country.

The Gandhi name, by then unconnected with the Mahatma, returned to prominence with Indira Gandhi in the intervening period, beginning 1966, when Lal Bahadur Shastri died. She provided strong leadership -emphasised by her conduct of the Bangladesh liberation -- but also faced a split in the party and an exodus of many experienced members of her team. She certainly marked her political presence with such spectacular, if questionable, acts as the nationalisation of banks and insurance companies, withdrawal of the privy purses of the former ruling families, all in a much-publicised display of concern for the garib log  the poor.

Also Read | The case of Congress and the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Then, of course, there was the 1975-77 Emergency. This was what kept the Gandhi name alive in Indian politics and created a dynasty, more by accident to begin with than by design. The design seems to have come later when Rajiv Gandhi was persuaded to test his piloting skills in the turbulence of domestic and international politics.

After Indiras untimely death, Rajiv Gandhi became PM on a high note of acceptability with his amiable manner, willingness to listen and, of course, much sympathy, thanks to the circumstances of his ascent. All that soon dissipated in the pressures of bad advice and wrong judgement. The hasty Sri Lankan intervention was a huge disaster that finally led to his death in 1991. This Lok Sabha election statistic tells the story of the fall of the Congress from grace to its present dismal stature: 1984, vote share: 48%; seats: 352. 2019, vote share: 26.5%, seats: 52.

The elections to the state Assemblies have also reflected the decline in the influence of the party. From total control of all state governments for many years after Independence, the Congress now rules just two states.

Practical wisdom would have helped Congress retain a toehold in governance if after the 2014 debacle they had exploited the comparative inexperience of the BJP and its shortage of administrative talent. An offer to cooperate in a mutually agreed national development programme could have been managed and negotiated to suit mutual needs. Meetings did take place brokered by Manmohan Singh, with Sonia Gandhi conferring with Narendra Modi a couple of times. Then there was an abrupt break and that was that. Ego undoubtedly was the culprit.

Quite understandably, the Congress, still smarting after the 2014 defeat, took the 2019 result almost as a repeated affront to what it considered its traditional right to rule! Gone was the old conventional promise of the electoral losers to be a constructive Opposition and to support or oppose on an issue by issue basis. Nowhere was to be seen any parliamentary procedure or courtesy in either House. It was not even an undeclared war. It was a war declared by Congress which brazenly vowed to unseat Modi. The enfeebled regional parties took up the Congress refrain and promoted the unseating of Modi as the sole aim of the united Opposition!

The role of the Constitution and democratically conducted general elections that empowered Modi and the BJP were ignored in the mindless descent of politics to its depths. The family seemed to have tightened its mysterious but power-laden grip on the party. Young and potential leaders allowed themselves to be compromised and deprived of their opportunity to lead their party to a more meaningful future. Power continued to stay with the oldies who saw no future for themselves outside the party. Party workers would forever remain so, with no electoral system that would give them an upward route.

I belong to a generation that straddled British rule and the fight for and winning of Independence. We grew up breathing Congress air and drawing inspiration from those few who led the fight for a cause that was considered doomed right from the start. They laid the foundation of a nation and gave us a Constitution that promised us all a happy and stable future. The only blunder they committed was that they assumed that their successors in power would be guided by the same ideals and aspiration for the future as they were. Ambedkar was prescient when he said, However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good. They did not expect that national welfare would be relegated and party and personal gains would rule political aspirations.

Nobody expected that the seat of democracy, the Parliament, where the Constitution was to be passionately followed, would see that very Constitution being violated by party politics and disruption, petty bickering and long periods of forced inactivity. Most shameful of all has been the failure of the Congress to sustain the principles and ethics of its own leaders who gave it a sacred legacy.

It grieves me to see a great party in which we all believed being reduced from a powerful national party to a splinter group waiting on the political roadside to be picked up by disparate groups to make up numbers to gain and stay in power.

Today, after so many lessons have appeared so clearly over the years, the Congress leadership is still planning to introspect. Dissent within the party has arisen and been suppressed. The teetering senior leaders are still aiming for a revival and return to its old glory, saying that the Congress is the only party with the DNA to be a national party! The younger of the leaders have been silent or making half-hearted squeaks of protest. Maybe they find greater comfort and security where they are, and in modern politics the conscience is pliant!

It is only now that Kapil Sibal has broken ranks with his half-hearted G-23 friends and dared to ask the Gandhi trio to quit leadership. Will Kapil Sibals clear message raise a louder echo? We shall wait.

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The BJP may have registered a massive victory in the recently concluded Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and became the first party to win a second term in over 40 years in Indias politically weightiest state, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha and plays a crucial role in determining the winner in the national elections, but the fact that its tally came down from 312 seats in 2017 to 255 in five years despite the high decibel campaign, due largely to a resurgent Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, should cause the BJP some worry.

In fact, the huge turnouts, mainly of youth, at Akhileshs election rallies during the campaigning had led many political experts to believe that he was poised to come back to power. That he didnt came as a shock to them. For Akhilesh, who led his party into the Assembly polls singlehandedly for the first time, the results may not be satisfactory as he failed in his attempt to dethrone the BJP, but he managed to increase his partys tally by 2.5 times, from 47 in 2017 polls to 111, and the vote share by 1.5 times, from 21% to 34%.

In doing so, the SP leader also helped his party sweep several eastern UP districts, including Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Ambedkar Nagar, and even wrested several seats in the saffron strongholds of Ayodhya, Ballia and some other districts.

Also Read | The bumpy road ahead for Akhilesh Yadav

Akhilesh Yadav may be down but he is certainly not outhe has shown that he has what is required to take on the BJP despite the latters vast resources and a well-oiled election machinery, remarked a Lucknow-based political analyst.

Akhilesh himself has said that the results had shown that the BJP can be defeated. We have shown that the seats of the BJP can be reduced...this decrease (in BJP seats) will continue...we have already reached the halfway mark (to winning a simple majority)...the rest will be achieved in the days to come, Akhilesh had said after the results were out.

A major achievement for Akhilesh in these polls was that he succeeded, even if partially, to rid his party of the Yadav tag attached with the SP.

Hitherto the SP was considered a party of the Yadavs and was anathema to many non-Yadav OBCs and other communities, including Brahmins and Thakurshe has been able to shed this baggage to some extent in these polls, the analyst said.

This fact was evident in the coalition formed by Akhilesh before the Assembly polls. Several OBC outfits, including the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), a Rajbhar outfit, Apna Dal (K), and Mahan Dal, another OBC outfit. The poll results also indicated that a section of the OBCs had voted for the SP in the eastern districts of Ghazipur, Mau and Ballia.

A section, though smaller, of the Brahmins also seems to have supported the SP, as was evident in the victory of its Brahmin leaders like Rakesh Pandey, who won from Ambedkar Nagar, and Mata Prasad Pandey, who emerged victorious from Itwa seat in Siddharth Nagar district.

The analysts also point out that Akhilesh lost the polls not because his party fared badly but because his alliance partners and the OBC leaders who had joined his party days before the polls failed to bring the votes of their communities to his kitty. OBC leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini, who had resigned from the BJP and joined his party days before the polls, could not win their own seats. Even the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a predominantly Jat outfit, which was expected to do well in the western UP region, also failed to perform as per expectations.

Akhileshs electoral ambition was also hurt to a great extent by the Muslim candidates fielded by Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which failed to open its account in the polls, and the BSP, which could manage to win only one seat.

Another major achievement for Akhilesh in the polls was that he was also able to rid his party of the pro-Muslim image. Although the Muslims did vote for the SP almost wholly, Akhilesh managed to counter the BJPs attempts to polarise the polls along communal lines and the SP also got good support from the Hindus, the analyst said.

The analyst noted that the BJP should be wary of the fact that Akhilesh was able to make the recent Assembly polls a two-cornered fight.

There was a direct fight between the BJP-led alliance and the SP-led alliance on almost all the seats in the state.

A two-cornered contest will not suit the BJP in the 2024 LS polls as it will prevent division in the anti-BJP votes. Akhilesh has emerged as the only challenger to the BJP in Indias biggest state as the two other players -- Congress and BSP -- have been rendered irrelevant in the states electoral scenario, another political expert said.

Akhilesh has dropped hints that he will strive to continue with his alliance with the OBC outfits as well as the RLD. He has also asked his party workers to keep raising issues concerning the common people and take on the BJP. We will make sure that the BJP fulfils the promises it has made to the people, and we will expose its failures, SP leader Rajendra Chaudhary said.

The BJP had, along with its alliance partners Apna Dal (S) and Nishad Party (NP), won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2019 LS polls. If the results of the recent Assembly polls are projected onto 2024, the BJPs tally could come down to 50-55.

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It's strange how we have to repeatedly bring up issues that impact women, hoping that things will change for the better. A key point is whether menstruating people should get paid leaves during their period days. The menstrual leave policy in India has long been contested, but the debate stands still. The need for such leaves, statistical analysis and bottlenecks for bringing in such a policy have been discussed later in this article. But the critical point is that as more women continue to enter the workforce, it becomes even more important to acknowledge the need for more equitable and comfortable working conditions.

What do we mean by menstrual leaves?

Menstruation brings pain, emotional problems, discomfort, and other health issues that make it difficult for people to work. Many advocate a day or two leaves each month to alleviate this discomfort. Menstrual leave refers to a specific form of time off for those who experience period pains. It recommends that workers be given leave from work while menstruating, just as they would for any illness. These leaves are not covered and are taken in addition to the usual sick leaves provided to all employees.

How menstruation is neglected and tabooed

Over the past decade, there have been several efforts put in by the government and various civil society organisations to raise awareness regarding periods. Despite these awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, talking about periods is still taboo in the country. We are far from getting conversations about menstruation normalised in our society. Period sensitivity is not even considered a topic for discussion, apart from a few educational institutes and corporate houses.

Due to its taboo nature, menstrual hygiene continues to be one of the most neglected issues that Indian women face. In a country where more than 355 million women are in the menstrual age, it is saddening to know that more than 75 per cent of them use an old cloth, which is often reused, ashes, newspapers, dried leaves and husk sand during periods instead of safer and hygiene methods of protection. Misinformation, superstitions, societal restrictions and poor access to sanitation facilities and menstrual products are all apparent indicators of the country's reality and levels of neglect.

Menstrual leave policies around the world

Nearly 100 years ago, in the 1920s and 30s, Soviet Russia relieved menstruating women from paid labour to safeguard their reproductive health, thus originating the idea of formal menstrual leave policy. In the late 1920s, labour unions in Japan popularised the concept, subsequently codified in Japanese Law in 1947. Japan's menstrual leave policy has stood for more than 70 years now, and it isn't the only country in Asia to have such a policy. In South Korea, period leave was implemented in 1953. Certain regions, businesses, and provinces are rapidly enacting menstrual leave laws in China that include a variety of privileges. Taiwan, Indonesia, Zambia are a few more countries that recognise menstrual leave and is a part of their employee leave policy.

Status of menstrual leave in India

Ninong Ering, a former Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh, introduced the Menstruation Benefit Bill, a private member's bill, in 2017 to provide women working in public and private sectors with two days of paid menstruation leave each month. The bill triggered a debate.

However, there have been some landmarks in this domain previous to Ering's bill. Since 1992, the Bihar government has granted two days of period leave to female employees. Women can choose which two days of the month they want to work without having to justify their choice. Similarly, a Kerala girls' school has provided menstruation leave to its students since 1912. In the corporate world, companies like Zomato, Mathrubhumi (Malayalam News Channel), Wet and Dry (New Delhi based organisation) have introduced the menstrual leave policy in their organisations. Some other companies have introduced working from home for their employees. Despite some popular companies coming forward, the change has been slow and met with applause and criticism.

The biological significance of menstrual leaves

There are distinct biological differences between men and women. Women experiencing menstrual discomfort of any degree and suffering from illnesses related to menstruation, including dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and mood disorders, may benefit from menstrual leave. Menstruation symptoms can disrupt some women's daily lives, making it harder for them to attend to routine daily tasks.

Women reported that, on average, their menstrual symptoms moderately affected their daily lives in a study of 762 participants, showing that 71.5 per cent believed dysmenorrhea to be a normal part of life for women. According to a study conducted in 2012, 20 per cent of women have painful cramps that significantly affect their everyday activities. A 2017 study on Dutch women also showed that "productivity was below par on more than 23 days of the working year with lost productivity totalling about nine days every year". This study also found that women experiencing menstrual symptoms were less productive for a third of the time (33 per cent).

It is also essential to keep in mind the social unacceptability of discussing menstrual symptoms, which can pressure women to keep their menstrual pain to themselves when they are at work and when interacting with coworkers. Menstrual leave could be an opportunity for women to speak up about their menstrual cycle and to recuperate or receive treatment in the case of health issues related to the menstrual cycle.

Arguments against menstrual leave policy

In a country where the word menstruation is met with raised eyebrows, a case for a menstrual leave policy faces several challenging arguments. The first argument is how women have been in the workforce for decades, and they have been managing well. Why do we all suddenly need to provide them with menstrual leaves? It is even more problematic because it has been normalised for women to do that or probably eat a Meftas plus (a pain-relieving medicine) every month to prove that they are equally productive to their male counterparts.

The other argument is that if menstrual leaves come into the picture, more organisations will further restrain from hiring women. Organisations across the globe have already found enough reasons not to hire women. This one is just an addition to the never-ending list of excuses. The argument supports the idea of women tolerating their anguish in silence to 'fit in'. By doing so, we are undoubtedly propelling the patriarchy cycle forward.

The economic case for menstrual leave

Many people argue that menstrual leaves hinder business and can prove to be economically harmful. But in reality, menstrual leave policies make a lot of economic sense, even if the benefits aren't immediately apparent. Employee dissatisfaction, in this case of people menstruating, usually affects the turnover and commitment towards their work and organisation. Menstrual leaves help boost people's faith and consequently their productivity at work.

Women's labour-force participation has been continuously reducing, falling from 42.7 per cent in 2004-05 to 23.3 per cent in 2017-18. Despite increased literacy and declining fertility rates, this is the case. This could be due to challenging and unpleasant workplaces. Menstrual leaves can help overcome the gap and encourage more women to enter the workforcefurthermore, policies like these help create a good brand image and a suitable market position.

A blanket policy directing exact leave days might not be the best answer to a societal problem. However, an approach like this can indeed bring about two positive consequences. First and foremostly, it will initiate healthy and progressive discussions about periods and menstrual hygiene in societal conversations. This can further help in sensitising the issue. Secondly, the policy can help create workspaces that are not discriminating based on gender but are more equitable, promising and safer.

(The authors are with The Takshashila Institution)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.



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Last month, while global attention was fixated on the Ukraine crisis, Mauritius sent an expedition, a first of its kind, to the Chagos archipelago, also known as the Chagos Islands. The archipelago, located in the Central Indian Ocean, is part of British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and Mauritius claims the archipelago as its own.

The purpose behind the expedition was to assert Mauritian claims. The visitors included government officials, scientists, former residents of the Chagos archipelago, British and American journalists, and the Mauritius government's legal advisor. The expedition was carried out without seeking permission from Britain and has put the British government in a difficult position.

The expedition landed at the Blenheim reef and was ostensibly sent to conduct a scientific survey. The expedition party, after landing, planted the Mauritian flag at the atoll of Peros Banhos. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has warned that removing the flag will be considered a "provocation". The latest action by Mauritius has brought forth the complex issue of the Chagos archipelago to the fore.

The issue of Chagos is entangled between the British colonial past, American strategic interests and Mauritian claims of sovereignty. Britain took control of the Chagos archipelago, located at about 1600-km from the Indian subcontinent, in 1814. It also controlled the other islands in the Western Indian Ocean that form the modern-day nations of Seychelles and Mauritius. The Chagos archipelago and Seychelles were considered part of the Mauritius dependency. Later, in 1903, Seychelles was separated from Mauritius and recognised as a separate colony.

The control of the Chagos archipelago solidified the already firm British control over the Indian Ocean. After the decolonisation of British colonies across Asia and Africa in the 1950s and 1960s, the importance of these smaller yet strategically important islands went up considerably. In the late 1960s, Britain decided to withdraw "East of Suez". In 1968, Mauritius was granted independence without the Chagos Islands.

In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius. To continue its hold over Chagos Islands, Britain created the BIOT. British officials had closed the plantations and forcibly removed the entire archipelago population. As a result, most of the population settled in Mauritius, while some went to the Seychelles and Britain.

At the same time, Britain had also signed an agreement with America to allow the United States (US) military to use the Chagos archipelago for communications and defence-related purposes. In the context of the Cold War and the growing Soviet presence in the region, the formidable American military base of Diego Garcia came up in the Chagos archipelago.

Mauritius has been asserting its claims over the Chagos archipelago in the last few years. In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to provide an Advisory Opinion about the legal consequences of separating the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius.

The ICJ concluded that "the process of decolonisation of Mauritius was not lawfully completed when that country acceded to independence" and that "the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible." Subsequently, Britain lost the vote in the UNGA (116-6), and the UNGA members urged the UK to withdraw from the Chagos. Even the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has rejected the British claim over the Chagos archipelago as well.

However, Britain, so far, has not demonstrated any signs of willingness to withdraw from the Chagos Islands. On the contrary, in 2019, a statement by Sir Alan Duncan, the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, asserted that "we have no doubt about our sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, which has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814". The statement added, "We have, however, made a long-standing commitment since 1965 to cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes". It is an open-ended commitment. In 2016, the American lease was extended by Britain for 20 years.

Like the firm British position about its control over the Chagos archipelago, Mauritius has taken an unyielding view about its sovereignty and yet has sounded a conciliatory note about the base at Diego Garcia. In June 2020, Mauritian PM Jugnauth, in his address to the National Assembly, termed the British control over the Chagos Islands as "manifest illegality" and that the forcible removal of the Chagossians of Mauritian origins is a "blatant violation of their basic human rights".

However, he also made it clear that "Mauritius is conscious of the security concerns expressed by the United Kingdom and the United States, but considers that such concerns cannot justify the United Kingdom's continued unlawful administration of the Chagos Archipelago" as Mauritius "has time and again expressed its willingness to enter into a long-term arrangement with the United States or, if needed with the United States and the United Kingdom, in respect of the defence facility on Diego Garcia."

Although the dispute is between Britain and Mauritius, the American military base at Diego Garcia is a crucial factor in this dispute. The military base of Diego Garcia is a centrepiece of American presence in the Indian Ocean. The base provides "logistic, service and installation support for the US and Allied forces forward deployed in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf regions". American Navy and the Air Force use the base, and at any given point of time, about 3000-5000 personnel are stationed.

The base hosts a signals intelligence facility as well. During the Global War on Terror, Diego Garcia proved helpful in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, it allegedly housed a CIA detention centre as well.

As China has been expanding its security presence in the Indian Ocean in the last few years, Diego Garcia's strategic importance has significantly increased. The base is useful to watch the Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean island states like Seychelles, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Besides, the forward operating base at an archipelago without any civilian population is a luxury that no military would like to give up easily. The firm foothold at Diego Garcia enables the US to monitor the international trade and energy traffic crisscrossing the busy sea lanes of the Indian Ocean as well. As Bertil Lintner notes, "Diego Garcia is smaller than America's military outposts in South Korea, on the Japanese island of Okinawa, and in Germany  but its strategic importance is possibly greater".

In the dispute between Britain and Mauritius, the US has sided with Britain. In the UNGA vote, America was one of the six countries to vote in favour of Britain. The US had stated that it "unequivocally supports" the British control of the Chagos. In fact, it believes that the status of the BIOT "as a territory of the United Kingdom is essential to the value of the joint United States-United Kingdom base on British Indian Ocean Territory".

However, many observers have pointed out that the US position in favour of Britain goes against the American arguments for the rules-based international order. The US had supported the ICJ ruling in the case of a maritime dispute between the Philippines and China in 2016. How will the US reconcile its divergent positions in the case of the Chagos and South China Sea? Can it demonstrate a willingness to accommodate the Mauritian claims?

Apart from Mauritius, Britain and America, the Maldives is another interested party in the dispute over the Chagos. The Maldives and Mauritius are locked in a dispute over the maritime boundary as their claims for the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) overlap. In the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Maldives had taken the view that Britain was an indispensable third party to the dispute and that sovereignty claims over the Chagos archipelago are disputed. However, the Tribunal has rejected both claims, and Mauritian sovereignty over the archipelago has been reaffirmed.

It is clear that Mauritius is on a firmer footing when it comes to the legal arguments over the claims to the Chagos archipelago. However, the territorial control over the Chagos remains with Britain. The US is in favour of the UK's claims over the Chagos. The only way forward is to diplomatically resolve the dispute, with the onus being on the US and UK to accommodate the legitimate demands of Mauritius.

Meanwhile, China's ties with Mauritius are deepening as the issue gets dragged on. The operationalisation of the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2021 was a significant step in the evolution of the relationship. Mauritius has the potential to become China's gateway to Africa and the Indian Ocean.

The dispute over the Chagos archipelago has implications for India. It is in a position to broker an acceptable solution, perhaps, as it enjoys cordial ties with the UK-US as well as Mauritius. However, can India take the lead to balance the strategic interests of the UK-US and sovereignty claims of Mauritius?

(The writer is a strategic analyst based in New Delhi)
Owls are commonly found in the illegal wildlife trade in India due to various superstitions and taboos attached to them.

Despite the immense ecological role of owls in our ecosystem, these endangered birds are trapped in large numbers for sacrifice and use in multiple rituals often promoted by local mystic practitioners.

In light of this, TRAFFIC and WWF-Indias new identification (ID) tools for strengthening owl protection were launched recently.

The owl identification tools are in the form of ID cards to enable law enforcement authorities to accurately identify 16 commonly found owl species in the illegal wildlife trade.

The ID cards are available in English and Hindi and will be distributed free to wildlife law enforcement agencies across India.

Authored by Dr Saket Badola, Head of TRAFFIC's India office and Dr Merwyn Fernandes, Coordinator, TRAFFIC's India office, the new ID tools provide essential information related to the species' legal status, habitat, and distribution.

They provide valuable tips on identifying the owls at the species level and highlight common threats.

Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India said, "Owls play an essential ecological role in our ecosystem. They enhance agricultural productivity by keeping a check on the rodent populations. Unless the trafficking and illicit trade of owls is controlled, the owl populations will remain under threat. Adequate conservation and protection efforts for owls and other endangered species is crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem."

India is home to about 36 owl species, all protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making their hunting, trade, or any other form of utilisation a punishable offence.

All owl species found in India are also enlisted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts their international trade. Despite the legal protection, owls are often seen in the illegal wildlife trade.

Since 2019, at least 20 seizure incidents related to the poaching and trafficking of owls have been reported in India, while many more go unreported, according to a WWF-India statement.

Badola said, "The main strategies to recover key wildlife species is to provide them with a safe habitat and protect them from the threats of poaching and illegal trade. Protecting owls will support ecosystem restoration and biodiversity.
The world needs to launch a "transformation" to curb global warming, a top researcher behind an upcoming UN report on climate solutions said, adding that it is never to late to act.

In a United Nations assessment in February dubbed an "atlas of human suffering", experts laid out in devastating detail the past, present and future impacts of climate change on people and the planet they depend on.

Science now considers it unequivocal that humans are responsible for this accelerating climatic upheaval, and the next report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), expected in early April, focuses on how we might get ourselves out of the mess we created.

Also Read: World far short of climate goals during 'decade of action': Report

To do that the world must find a way to drastically cut the amount of planet-warming gases pumped into the atmosphere.

"We are talking about the large-scale transformation of all the major systems: energy, transport, infrastructure, buildings, agriculture and food," climate economist Celine Guivarch told AFP.

The war in Ukraine not only shows the world's "great dependence on fossil fuels", particularly responsible for climate change, but it also could be an opportunity to make the right choices, she said.

"We are at a crossroads and depending on the decisions taken, we can contribute to making the problem of climate change worse or to find answers", said Guivarch.

But to reach carbon neutrality by mid-century, major changes must be started now, said the researcher at the International Centre for Research on the Environment and Development.

That is in part because of the inertia in human systems -- like the time it takes to build new infrastructure -- and natural ones, because CO2 remains in the atmosphere for several centuries.

According to the UN, emissions must be slashed almost in half by 2030 to have a hope of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era, the most ambitious Paris Agreement goal.

But emissions are still on the rise.

Also Read: Mumbai sets an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero by 2050

Despite the urgency, some still want to do nothing.

"We hardly hear climate-sceptic commentary anymore, but there is this new 'delay discourse'," said Guivarch.

"They recognise that there is climate change and that it is of human origin, but they seek to justify minimal action or no action."

Some suggest waiting for future technological solutions to be deployed in 10, 20 or 30 years.

And people, companies and even nations may argue that since their emissions are dwarfed by bigger polluters, it is useless to take action.

Others shrug at the signs that climate change is ramping up extreme events and say it is too late to do anything about it.

"This is wrong," said Guivarch, adding that every fraction of a degree increases the impacts and multiplies the risks.

So, "it is never too late to act, because all greenhouse gas emissions avoided, stave off impacts and risks".

But she does not minimise the challenges ahead.

To trigger a real economic transformation will require bringing on board "the whole of society, businesses, citizens", while focusing investments on solutions and away from fossil fuels.

While awareness has grown since the Paris deal was signed in 2015 and decision-makers are increasingly embracing the subject, she said there is still a lack of understanding of the "orders of magnitude, the speed and the extent of the transformation that we are talking about".

"Collectively on a global scale, the actions are not up to the challenge," said Guivarch.

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Video: Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on March 17, 2022 called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale. (Xinhua)



China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said a Chinese envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale.

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China supports the work by the relevant parties in maintaining communication, ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian corridors, and further facilitating personnel evacuation and humanitarian assistance, he told a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue.

The number of refugees and displaced persons caused by the conflict is still on the rise, bringing a huge impact on Ukraine and the surrounding countries. China supports relevant UN agencies in actively conducting operations and mobilizing the international community to assist all those in need, he said.

People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

In the recent past, some people of African or Middle Eastern descent encountered difficulties during evacuation. This should be taken seriously and addressed properly. All refugees, regardless of color, race or religion, shall be accorded the necessary protection under international refugee law, said Zhang.

China pays high attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and has put forward a six-point proposal. The Red Cross Society of China has provided Ukraine with three batches of humanitarian supplies, with the third batch containing milk powder and quilts for children, he said.

"We welcome any initiative or measure from any party that contributes to alleviating and resolving the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and should therefore play a positive role in easing the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. China hopes that the Security Council can stay united on the humanitarian issue and demonstrate a constructive attitude."

The international community has the common wish for a cease-fire at an early date to alleviate the situation on the ground and prevent civilian casualties. China shares this wish, said Zhang.

Humanitarian aid supplies sent by the Red Cross Society of China to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society are transported in Warsaw, Poland, March 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Chen)

To date, Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of negotiations. Keeping the negotiations going means there is a chance for cease-fire, and that there is a chance for a peaceful future, he noted. "China remains committed to promoting peace through negotiations. We support the United Nations and the parties concerned in vigorously carrying out good offices. We also hope that all parties will do more to facilitate peace talks, and not to add fuel to fire."

Facts have proved that the wanton use of sanctions will not solve any problem, but will instead create new problems. Given the sluggish recovery in the global economy, ever-escalating sanctions are undermining the stability of the international industrial chain and supply chain, thus exacerbating food and energy crises, damaging people's livelihood in all countries, developing countries in particular, and triggering new humanitarian consequences. This is also an issue that the Security Council shall pay attention to when addressing the humanitarian issue of Ukraine, said Zhang. 
Uttar Pradesh Acting-Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended 'Holika Dahan' programme in Gorakhpur on March 17. "People have started playing Holi from March 10 onwards itself. I want to thank you for choosing a government of law and order. This election showed that truth will always triumph," CM Yogi added.

Watch here
If you plan to carry forward your Holi party to an unexplored destination, consider a short trip to these offbeat locations.

Royal Rendezvous at Rajasthan

Remember the super-secret destination for Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif's intimate wedding ceremony? The Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan could be on your list for the Holi weekend if you want to experience the palatial life. Escape to this 700-year-old fort consisting of two palaces and two temples for an exciting celebration in the Aravallis. Stop by the Chauth Mata temple and get a cultural experience at the Rajasthani village of Barwara.

Solitude at Pauri Garhwal

While the fear of Covid still looms, many families and travellers prefer to holiday in safe and spacious surroundings. To break away from the city celebrations, head to the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve (Northern zone of Corbett National Park) in Uttarakhand and soak in the beauty of the Shivalik Mountain range covered with lofty trees and fragrant pines. The Vanvasa Resort is a perfect hideout for those who want to chill at the luxurious forest cottages spread over 30 acres on a hilltop, away from the Internet, phone, and technical traps.

Rustic charm at Mansurpur

If you are interested in taking a closer look at rural Holi celebrations, opt for a quick getaway to Mansurpur on NH-58, Delhi-Haridwar Highway in Uttar Pradesh. Enjoy the authentic village experience at Namaste Dwaar and a special Ganga aarti at the private ghat of Gang Nehar to immerse in spiritual and eco-friendly festivities.

Eco-friendly Holi at Dharamshala

If you keep looking for reasons to head to the hills, think about spending the Holi weekend at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, in the Kangra Valley. Enjoy the scenic Bhagsu waterfall, monasteries, or head to Chamunda Devi and Kangra Devi temples at this famous hill town. Here, the Holi festival marks the end of the winter season and ushers in a new sowing season for the local farmers, who celebrate this occasion with dance and delicious food. Celebrate a pahadi Holi at the boutique Adivaha Resort.

Stargazing in Uttarakhand

Holi falls at a time when one can observe the transitions of the seasons and cosmic highlights from pollution-free destinations away from the cities. In the hills of Almora, explore the Kasar Devi village and be a part of the unique Kumaoni Holi played with natural colors made of flowers. Shake a leg with the local Chholiya dancers, who perform martial arts traditions in local dress at The Kumaon resort, Uttarakhand.

(The writer is an independent journalist, free-thinker and an avid traveller)


Mines & Geology Minister Achar Halappa Basappa told the Karnataka Assembly on Friday that the government is unable to utilise about Rs 19,000 crore funds meant for development of mining-ravaged districts, as the Supreme Court had not yet approved implementation of Comprehensive Environment Plan for Mining Impact Zone (CEPMIZ).

The minister spoke about the issue in response to a question by MLA Somashekar Reddy. The legislator pointed out that until now no funds were released to the mining-affected districts by the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC), a special purpose vehicle.

Based on the Supreme Court directions, the state government in 2014 constituted KMERC for implementation of the CEPMIZ. The government has already given an environmental plan to the Supreme Court. However, it is yet to be approved.

Until now, Rs 19,443 crore has been collected under CEPMIZ. However, these funds are locked as the monitoring committee and the state government cannot utilise it until the Supreme Court approved. The court has now said it will consider the constitution of a special bench to resolve this issue, the mines minister said.

Meanwhile, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy said the government is expecting the court to hear its case by April 2022. "The state government is keen to resolve this issue and has engaged senior counsels. However, the hearing has not taken place until now. Every time, there is an adjournment," he said.

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Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje urged girls to give priority to education as it is critical for self-empowerment.

She told reporters in Udupi that girls should stand on their own feet.

As women, we do not require pity. We must be self-sufficient. We will only be heard when we are financially and socially empowered," she added.

Shobha urged the six Muslim student petitioners in the hijab case not to give in to the demands of fanatical organisations.

"No organisation will come to your help in future. Your destiny is in your own hands and it is you who should shape it. We must uphold the Constitution and the law of land. People who believe they are above everyone else should be punished. For education and work, there is no religion. Wealthy people in the community are unconcerned about headscarves. Only poor women are being lured into such propaganda campaigns," she said.

Shobha, recollecting her electioneering experience in Uttar Pradesh (UP), said she was entrusted with the responsibility of Avadh with 82 Assembly seats. BJP battled against odds and won eight Assembly seats in Lakhimpur.

BJP won in Hardoi, Unnao and many other areas. This is the first election in UP to be contested under development, as opposed to previous elections, which was fought in the name of religion and caste, she added.

Shobha, responding to a query on the film, Kashmir Files, said she was well aware of the situation of Kashmir pundits and their sufferings.

The minister, responding to another query, said Naveen's body has been kept at a morgue.

"As many as 20,000 people were evacuated with the assistance of 90 operational planes, 14 among them were air force flights," she added.
A unique initiative of Rs 1 per day has been initiated to provide scholarships to all the students at Kittel Memorial PU College at Gorigudda in Mangaluru.

The alumni and well-wishers of the college in the year 2020 had started the Kittel charity for love and service' initiative.

Accordingly, Rs 1 per day or Rs 365 per year or above was raised from the alumni and well-wishers of the college for the benefit of the students in the college. However, it was discontinued due to the pandemic.

Principal Vittala A said that during the academic year, the college has decided to continue the initiative.

A majority of students pursuing their studies in the college hail from an economically weak background. To help all the students, the initiative has been taken up. At present, there are 99 students studying in the college, he said.

We have a bylaw to ensure that money will be used for a scholarship for the students and also for the infrastructure of the college, high school. The alumni and well-wishers of the college can donate either Rs 365 or more through an online payment. The collected money is distributed equally among the students as a scholarship. The students are motivated to score well while distributing scholarship, said the principal.

In fact, to maintain transparency on the collected funds, a separate account has been maintained. The payment should be only made online. The college has decided to publish accounts of the same through a website.

Eco-friendly initiatives

Meanwhile, the alumni of Kittel Memorial High School have taken up a series of eco-friendly initiatives to mark the completion of 40 years of existence of the school.

Jayaprakash, Yogini and others from the alumni association visited about 24 schools in the district and taught students about making pens using used papers by inserting seeds into them.

An awareness campaign holding a placard that read 'don't dump waste' was held for a week at Valencia.

In addition, awareness on scientific disposal of garbage and management of plastic by distributing pamphlets were held near Gorigudda, Valencia and Ekkur.

Further, pamphlets with 30 simple methods to improve the environment were read out in schools.

The students were also taught about preparing eco-bricks using plastic bottles.

In addition, an eco-brick bench was also laid at Kittel Memorial High School using around 90 plastic bottles, said Jayaprakash.
The Karnataka government is considering introducing Bhagavad Gita in all state schools as part of moral science education and has kick-started discussions around it.

The move  which comes a day after the Gujarat government announced that the scripture will be part of school curriculum in the state  is said to have the backing of several ministers.

Also Read  Bhagavad Gita to be part of school syllabus for Classes 6 to 12 in Gujarat

Primary and Secondary education minister BC Nagesh said the government is thinking of introducing moral science education from the academic year 2023-24 in all the state schools.

There has been a demand to introduce moral education in schools. Moral education may include Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata or any other holy books such as Quran and the Bible that teach values, the minister said, adding that he will discuss the matter with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and academicians before arriving at a decision.

Let the experts decide on what should be included in moral science education, he said.

Nagesh said there used to be a class on moral education at least once a week when he was in school.

The Gujarat government has planned to introduce this in two or three phases. In the first phase, they are bringing in Bhagavad Gita, Nagesh said.

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Karnataka will dispatch Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol to New Delhi with the task of pushing the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to approve the Mekedatu project.

The government will also consider taking an all-party delegation to meet Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat if necesary, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Friday.

Bommai said this after an all-party meeting on inter-state water disputes attended by Congress and JD(S), including former water resources ministers.

"We'll contact the Union Jal Shakti minister and fix a meeting of the CWMA. Karjol will go to Delhi on Monday or Tuesday," Bommai said. "We want to get the Mekedatu DPR discussed in the next CWMA meeting."

Also Read: Mekedatu project will create a disaster, says ecologist

The Mekedatu project, opposed by Tamil Nadu, involves building a balancing reservoir and store 67 tmc water. The project promises to provide 4.75 tmc water for Bengaluru.

Bommai said that he would go to Delhi after the budget session of the legislature to discuss Mekedatu, Mahadayi and Upper Krishna projects with the Centre.

"Opposition parties have demanded to start work on Mahadayi based on allocation and notification (of the Cauvery tribunal). We'll get environmental clearance as soon as possible and start work," Bommai said.

On Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna recusing from hearing the Krishna water dispute case - they hailed from Maharastra and Karnataka, respectively - Bommai said that the state government has requested the Chief Justice of India to appoint new judges. "We are confident that notification can be issued in two or three hearings," he said.

Though the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal had finalised water sharing in 2013, it was opposed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he said.

Commenting on interlinking of Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery and Pennar rivers, Bommai reiterated that Karnataka will allow it only after getting its rightful share of water.

"We'll get the technical details and share them with opposition parties. First, (union government) has to allocate water from four river basins (to Karnataka). We can't approve the project without knowing our allocation," he said.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah claimed that though there were five meetings of the CWMA, the Mekedatu project was yet to be discussed. "We urged the government to get environmental clearance for the project immediately," he said, adding that an all-party delegation is needed to mount pressure on the Upper Krishna Project, too, as nothing has been done since the Tribunal award in 2013.

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The mortal remains of Naveen Gyanagoudar, the Haveri student who was killed by Russian shelling in the war-hit Ukraine will arrive in Bengaluru on March 21, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Naveens body will arrive at the Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of the day. The body will arrive at 3 am," Bommai told reporters.

The 21-year old from Chalageri village of Ranebennur taluk in Haveri, died on March 1 in an attack by Russian forces on Kharkiv city, making him the first Indian casualty in the ongoing Ukraine war.

He was a student at the Kharkiv National Medical University. Bommai represents the Haveri district and knows Naveens family.

Naveen, who was holed up in a bunker during the attack by Russia on Ukraine, had stepped out to buy groceries. However, he was among the victims who died when a shell fired by Russians hit the city.

Due to the ongoing war, Naveen's body was embalmed and kept in a local mortuary. Both the Centre and state governments were making efforts to bring his body back to India.

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A Derry-exile who came back home with his business partners has said they were won over by the city's wow factor.

Paul Nelis, the co-founder and director of consultancy firm, ChallengeCurve, said both his fellow co-founder, Chris Bean and business advisor, Yann Gloaguen were blown away by the welcome that Derry had to offer.

So much so, that both were, like Paul, keen to move the business to the city  which is now based in the AMP Incubator at Ebrington.

Former St Columb's pupil and North West College student Paul, who is from the Creggan but has been living in London since the mid-1980s, said that ChallengeCurve has already employed 10 people from the city and are looking to add to their numbers in the summer.

He said: I'm pleased to say that Chris, my business partner, and Yann, our business advisor, were blown away by Derry. They just couldn't believe how friendly and how supportive everyone was.

Derry has a 'wow' factor. Chris and Yann got a guided tour of the Guildhall and then we walked across the Peace Bridge to visit Ebrington Square back in June. Some of the buildings were ready  some were not.

I kind of took a back-seat and let Chris and Yann do the talking and ask the questions. They were both of a mind of 'wow  this great and the people are so friendly.... we will make this work'.

I'm an exile so I've been living in England for 30 years. I left Derry in the mid-1980  the place was literally a war zone when I was a teenager so I left to study Mathematics and Computer Science in London.

I have family back in Derry so I always come back and forth every summer and Christmas time. I still have a great affinity with the place.

But because of Covid, remote-working has now become a standard business practice. Previously we would have had to conduct our work on the client's sites. Due to the pandemic, a realisation of 'hey if we're going to get our work done, we are going to have to support remote-working'.

The current project we're working on for a banking client at the moment consists of 150 people working across 30 countries in Europe and the Middle East. That's what gave us the idea if we wanted to expand, as it's very expensive hiring people in London.

Previously we have used contractors, people that we know in London on a day-rate. But it's always been our intention to grow our operation and I thought that we should go on a reconnaissance visit to Derry.

Myself, Chris and Yann all went to Derry. It was a case of if Chris and I disagreed about setting up here, Yann would have the casting vote.

We came to Derry, we met the Council  who were fantastic  who introduced us to the North West Regional College because we wanted to explore if Derry had the skills and talent that we could hire and is that talent on a conveyor belt.

ChallengeCurve co-founder and director, Paul Nelis

I'm pleased to say that the North West Regional College were superb. We also met the Derry Chamber of Commerce. Since then, we have engaged with other local businesses and we're moving all of our operations so we've also engaged with a local legal firm and an HR firm. We've used a local photographer and we've also drunk in the pubs and eaten in the restaurants  so we've been spending quite a lot on the local economy.

Initially the company drew their intake of software testers for their remote office from the Kickstart Your IT Software Fundamentals Programme which is delivered by North West Regional College in partnership with Council and the Department for the Economy.

The programme provided the participants with OCN Level 4 Diploma in Software Testing plus industry recognised ISTQB Foundation Cert in Software Testing.

ChallengeCurve delivered a pre-employment training programme and recruited all participants while the North West Regional College supported the company to identify candidates, supported the candidates and provided temporary office space.

Paul added: We interviewed nine people  we had been initially thinking of hiring three or four. However, we couldn't differentiate from any of the nine we interviewed.

We put them on a four-week induction programme  which they all got paid for  and they all did so well that we felt we've got to hire them all.

It was a very emotional experience for me. We hired the roof-top bar at the City Hotel during that heatwave we had last summer. They didn't know that they had a job and didn't know if we were hiring one or two people.

We announced that we were hiring them all because they had all done so fantastically well. We've also hired an office manager so that's ten people in total that we've taken on.

We are currently interviewing more people and hopefully we will have another ten employees by the end of the summer. Our financial year runs between May to May so by the end of the financial year in 2023, we're hoping to employ fifty people based in Derry.

ChallengeCurve is a specialist software Quality Assurance and Testing consultancy based in London that was established in 2015 by Paul and Chris. Last year the company connected with Derry City & Strabane District Council and with the Councils assistance set up a remote office in Derry to service their London and international based clients, including Nationwide, Prudential, Tandem Bank, Nomo Bank and NHS.

Paul continued: What we do is, as an example, say if you do online banking, you would typically download a smartphone app. That's your user interface so you would hit buttons to make a payment or check your balance. It's sending a signal and it's been received by your bank.

Your banking systems would be composed of 30, 40 or 50 separate components or services underneath the covers. Imagine the engine of a car  when you sit in that car, you can turn right or left or brake or speed up. You get a very simple user interface but underneath the covers of that engine, are very sophisticated pieces of machinery.

So what we do, is we test the user interface. We test the smartphone application both on an iPhone and an Android and make sure its function works. When you hit the button to make a payment, underneath the covers, it is getting you the correct amount of money and transferring that to the recipient.

The banking world these days is very complicated  there's lots of these integrated systems and we test all of those integrations. One of the key things is that UK banks are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who have standards and regulations in place to ensure that the banks have platforms that are fit for purpose.

If, for example, the bank systems were to crash and you couldn't get your money, you might incur interest charges because you couldn't pay a bill or a mortgage payment or pay salaries, the FCA would fine those organisations millions of pounds.

There was a debacle a few years ago with TSB when they converted their platforms and people couldn't access their money. The CEO lost his job (as a result) with the TSB being fined tens of millions of pounds.

So we make sure their systems are fit for purpose against a range of criteria and make sure that they are scalable. If 10,000 people try to perform a payment on a Monday morning, we make sure that something such as that is going to work. We make sure those systems are robust, reliant and maintain data and financial integrity.

Of ChallengeCurve's investment, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Alderman Graham Warke said he was delighted that a company of their calibre were recognising the benefits of locating here.

He said This is a really good news story and something that will hopefully encourage other companies to consider when they see the added benefits of locating in our city and district.

Our region is exceptionally well-placed as an investment hub and for companies like ChallengeCurve to do business in.

We have a young, talented and educated workforce with good connectivity and competitive salary costs and a pro-business environment and I am delighted to see the success of the companys establishment in our city.

The financial and business technology is a key growth sector for Derry City and Strabane District Council and ChallengeCurve is joining a strong fintech ecosystem in the North West with major international players such as FinTrU, Alchemy, Fujitsu, Allstate NI, TCS, Optum and SIT.
A 22-year-old man has been told that 'mind-altering drugs' are not the most appropriate way of dealing with his mental health and self-harm issues.

Sam Mitchell, of Ronan Court, Magherafelt, appeared before Magherafelt Magistrates Court last week and entered guilty pleas to two charges of possessing Class A drugs.

The court heard how a mobile police patrol had stopped a vehicle on Smith Street on October 29 2021 and identified the defendant as the driver.

After observing both the defendant and the passenger were 'extremely nervous', police searched the vehicle, locating a quantity of drugs in the front central console.

The seizure amounted to four tablets of ecstasy to a weight of 4g and two 'deal bags' of MDMA totalling 2g. Mitchell admitted the drugs were his.

Defence for Mitchell said he had struggled with his mental health and had self-harmed. They added he had found lockdown difficult and used drugs as an 'escape route'.

They said the defendant had been holding down a steady job as a maintenance man, and that he had bought the drugs in anticipation of 'blow-out' parties over the Halloween weekend.

Judge Mullan said mind-altering drugs were not the answer to his difficulties with mental health and self-harm and that he should be attending with a doctor or counsellor.

She fined Mitchell a total of 400 for the offences, alongside an offender's levy of 15, and issued a destruction order for the drugs.
CAIRO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- If people take a close look at the Western coverage on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, they can easily see racial prejudice and double standards -- practices that Western media have often scoffed at.

"These are not refugees from Syria, these are refugees from Ukraine ... They're Christian, they're white, they're very similar (to us)," Kelly Cobiella, an NBC News correspondent based in London, recently said on video.

Since the onset of the conflict, such remarks of a racist nature have been circulating on Western media.

When numerous journalists have focused on the look, skin color, race and religion of Ukranian evacuees, and made a comparison between them and refugees from the Middle East and North Africa, their unspoken implication is that the former are superior to the latter and have less reason to suffer from any plight.

Behind the double-standard coverage is the condescending mindset and the penetration of Western-centrism in their journalism industry, which views the Western countries "more civilized" than the rest of the world.

Obsessed with preaching others on human rights and civil rights, and chanting such slogans as "all men are created equal," the United States and its allies, however, have long been holding double standards and racist bias.

A basic rule of journalism is to be sensitive to victims' feeling when reporting on any tragedy, but in fact, some in the West just associate the need of comfort to people's race.

As Andrew Mitrovica, an Al Jazeera columnist who had previously worked at several Western news organizations, has criticized, "editorial staff shaped institution-wide editorial policies that, in effect, established who and what kind of 'victims' warrant sympathy and attention and who and what kind of 'victims' do not."

"While the invasion of Iraq by the United States was considered a liberation, the operation taken by Russia is seen as a cut-throat invasion in the eyes of the Western media," Egyptian professor and writer Azza Radwan Sedky wrote in an article published on Ahram Online, the English news website of Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper.

Moreover, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict is under the spotlight, the sufferings of people in such countries as Iraq and Afghanistan, both invaded by the United States, are receiving less coverage by Western media.

Joy Reid, an MSNBC political analyst and host, criticized the Western coverage of Ukraine, saying Americans only care about the war because Ukrainians are "white and largely Christian."

"We should also care this much for refugees and those facing occupation and war in the Middle East and Asia and Africa, too," Reid said. "But we haven't witnessed the same type of solidarity for the Yemenis as we do for the Ukranians."

Obviously, Western media have been posting contradictory narratives on similar situations, with the difference hinging on their own interest and calculation, rather than professional ethics or responsibilities. That's why they have called the U.S.-launched wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as "a liberation" and an "anti-terror" fight.

Facing a conflict, media outlets are expected to play a role in bridging understanding gaps and promoting peace, in addition to providing information and documenting what is going on.

Unfortunately, some Western media's deeds have run counter to these aims, which only tarnished their reputation and credibility, and exposed their hypocrisy and racist bias. 
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A Catholic parish in Derry is to lose its only church after a religious order decided not to renew the lease on the building.

Since being set up 27 years ago, Culmore parish has used a church owned by the Sisters of Mercy Order for its services.

However, the Sunday Independent has revealed that the Order recently informed the Derry diocese, which manages the parish, that its lease for the church building would not be renewed after April next year.

Culmore parishioners have been told they will have to attend church services in neighbouring areas once their church is no longer available.

When this happens, it is believed that Culmore, will be the only Catholic parish in Ireland operating without its own church.

The church currently used by Culmore parish, which has a population of around 4,000 people, is located on the large site, which was previously home to Thornhill College.

However, the school moved to a new location in 2002 and the Sisters of Mercy retained ownership of a building known as Thornhill House on the site. The chapel attached to Thornhill House is the one used by Culmore parish.

A spokesperson for the Sisters of Mercy Order said Thornhill House has been 'mostly vacant' for over two years, with the exception of the chapel, which is leased 'short term' to the Derry diocese.

This lease is due to expire at the end of April 2023 and is not being renewed, by agreement of both parties, the spokesperson said.

We must now make a decision on the problem of a much wider and unoccupied vacant site.

We have had discussions with the local parish priest and bishop on this matter.

We are now in the process of deciding what to do with the wider site, with the lease expiring early next year and the entire property then becoming vacant.

We have taken no actions or made any decision in regard to the future of the property at this time.

The Sisters of Mercy representative said they understood that many local people had developed links with the Thornhill chapel.

We deeply regret that it will not be possible to facilitate its use by the community into the future, said the spokesperson.

A spokesperson for Bishop Donal McKeown, the Catholic Bishop of Derry, confirmed to the Sunday Independent that the Culmore parish was to lose its only church.

The parish has never had a church of its own since its establishment around 27 years ago. For all of its lifetime, it was able to use the chapel of Thornhill House for public masses and other sacraments.

However, the diocese was informed on February 7th, 2022 that the Sisters of Mercy had definitively decided to divest themselves of Thornhill House.

The Diocese of Derry would not be able to use the chapel, once the house was sold.

The Bishop informed the parish priest that it would be important that parishioners should find out the facts as soon as possible, added the spokesperson.

While Culmore parish has never had its own church, plans were put forward a number of years ago to build a church in the area.

A collection was set up and one local source claimed that as much as 750,000 was raised before the plans for the new church were later scrapped.

It is understood that the proposal to build the new Culmore church did not proceed because the Derry diocese was happy with the arrangements in place in relation to the leasing of the Sisters of Mercy church at Thornhill.

The Sunday Independent asked the diocese what had happened the money raised for the proposed Culmore church.

In response, the spokesperson for Bishop McKeown said that towards the end of 2011, Culmore parish priest, Father Colum Clerkin, had told parishioners that there would be no new church built. Parishioners were informed that they were insufficient funds to build a church and there would be no new donations sought to the fund.

The spokesperson added: Some of those who contributed to the building fund asked for and received back what they had contributed.The parish currently holds around 400,000 from that original fund.

The diocese declined to comment on what plans they have for the money left over from the Culmore church collection.
Buncrana's Danielle McLaughlin

It feels like yesterday, even though it seems like a lifetime since I last saw her.

These were the heart-rending words of Buncrana's Andrea Brannigan on the fifth anniversary of her daughter Danielle McLaughlin's murder in Goa.

Danielle was found dead on March 14, 2017. Goan man, Vikat Bhagat, was subsequently charged with her rape and murder. His trial opened in 2018 and is ongoing.

I remember, she ran up the stairs, said Andrea, to give her two wee sisters a hug because her lift had just arrived. The last thing she said to me was she would be back in the summer. She was going to Goa to teach yoga.

Andrea said she always worried when Danielle was off travelling. That's why she had to contact me every day because I always worried that she was alright.

Showing Danielle's poignant and precious last text messages, Andrea said: She arrived in North Goa on February 24 and she stayed there until March 12. That evening she went to South Goa. Hoi [the Hindu festival of colours] was on March 13 and that was the last day Danielle was seen alive. Her remains were found on March 14.

Describing the agonisingly slow trial, Andrea said: They are still on witness number 10 out of 58 witnesses.

The trial continued during covid but there were a lot of delays. The accused applied to get out on bail due to covid but he was unsuccessful. He fought for a while too regarding handcuffs.

He did not want to wear handcuffs going to and from court. His reason was, prisoners in India do not wear handcuffs unless they are violent of a flight risk. He is appealing the handcuff decision.

Andrea is being represented in Ireland by Derry solicitor, Desmond Doherty and in India by Vikram Varma.

She said she was very disappointed she not heard from the Irish Embassy in India since the start of December 2021.

She added: The Embassy was meant to keep me informed about what was happening in relation to the trial. I have asked them to phone me a few times nut have never received a call.

I never got a liaison officer. I was told when I met then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, on September 11, 2018, I would get a liaison officer but I never did.

I think the Irish Government could do a lot more. It could appoint liaison officers, not just for me but for other people as well. It could organise counselling for families who lose someone abroad. None of that was ever done for us. I am still fighting for it.

I am not receiving counselling at the minute and none of Danielle's siblings, who are now 17, 14 and eight, received counselling.

In 2020, the Government published The Victims' Charter. The section dealing with supports for Irish victims of violent crime abroad and their family members was included 'in recognition of Irish victims of violent crime abroad and their family members  in particular in memory of Danielle McLaughlin, Buncrana, County Donegal.

Andrea said she was still fighting for justice for Danielle because she was constantly told Danielle did not have any human rights because she was dead.

She explained: I was asking why the accused had the right to a court case about him, for example the wearing of handcuffs, yet Danielle did not have the same right?

It is not about him. It is about the fact he is accused of murdering somebody. I don't want the trial to be about his rights, at Danielle's and our expense. What about Danielle's rights when she was lying murdered? It seems she has no rights.

The trial started 2018 and continued during covid but, if the accused refused to go, everything was delayed and he did refuse a few times. That is what I am arguing about, his rights seem to come above Danielle's.

He has said he felt sick so twice the trial court could not go ahead. He refused to go to court because of the handcuff issue and he did not want to do it online, until recently. If it didn't suit him, he didn't do it.

Andrea said she would like to see the trial continuing on a weekly basis. It was adjourned from February 22 until March 3, which Andrea said was unsatisfactory.

According to Andrea, a new court is being opened in India dedicated to women and children who have been the victims of rape and murder. She is hopeful Danielle's case will be going to that court.

I feel that it has been a constant fight for justice from day one, said Andrea. I have been constantly fighting, even for the right to an inquest.

I have been told officially, I am not entitled to an inquest in Ireland. If there had been an inquest here, I could, at least, have been party to it. But, there is no inquest, even though Danielle had a second post mortem in Dublin. I am not aware whether or not there will be an inquest in India.

I insisted on the second post mortem. It was carried out by Marie Cassidy, the then State Pathologist. Her findings matched the first one in Goa. Danielle died of suffocation and blunt force trauma to the head. Her remains could not be viewed.

Andrea said the family talk about the things Danielle did, rather than what happened to her.

As the anniversary approaches, you are remembering what you said to her. You remember what you were doing.

I remember the last message she sent me. She said she safe because she was with her friend. On March 14, I was not on Facebook all day and Louise and Maria McMenamin came to the front door.

Louise was Danielle's best friend. She had got a phone call from a person in Liverpool, where Danielle had been at university and studied sociology and psychology, to say Danielle was dead.

I have never been officially told that Danielle was murdered. Never, ever, ever. No-one ever officially told me she was dead.

We immediately phoned the Gardai and the Gardai came out. We gave them photos and they came back the next morning and they said we needed to contact the Irish Embassy, so we did and they sent us to the British Embassy. Danielle was born in Glasgow. She had an Irish and a British passport and she had entered Goa on her British passport.

What really upset me was that random strangers were there viewing the body and taking photographs, which were posted online forever. Things like that are very traumatising. I tried to get them off certain sites but it never happened.

Initially, Andrea said she was promised by the Indian authorities, Danielle's case would be fast-tracked by the Indian jurisdiction and treated the same way as India's daughters.

I think I have had to fight very hard to get justice for Danielle, said Andrea, and there are days I want to give up. I will not give up but it is taking its toll. It is constant.

I have received brilliant support from my family and friends in Buncrana and all over. My family in Glasgow, mammy's nieces, are amazing. They contact me daily.

I have also met a few families who have gone through the same thing and they are very supportive, including some people whose children have been murdered in Ireland.

I would like Danielle to be remembered with love and the kindness she did for people.
Statement at the UNSC Briefing on Ukraine

Statement

Thank you very much, Madam President.

And I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and our other briefers this morning.

I want to express a very warm welcome to President Zelenskyy being with us this morning. President Zelenskyy, your courage, your leadership, and the courage of the Ukrainian people, are an example to all of us.

Secretary-General, on 24 February, as Russia launched a large-scale invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine, you told the world that Russias action was wrong, that it was against the Charter, that it was unacceptable.

We agreed with you. However, you also told us that this invasion was reversible; and called on President Putin to end this war; to save innocent lives. We echoed those calls.

Sadly, 40 days later, our call has been left unanswered. Instead, over the last forty days, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of destruction and human suffering.

We are watching cities pounded by Russian artillery. We are seeing millions forced to flee their homes seeking refuge from Russian aggression.

Just minutes ago, here in this Chamber, we have seen the utterly shocking images of civilians lying dead in the streets of Bucha and elsewhere in Ukraine. Some, we know, are piled into improvised mass graves. Simply harrowing.

So many innocent lives lost on our watch, as our pleas for peace go unheeded. The attempts here today to deny Russian culpability are frankly appalling in their cynicism, and I seem them as an insult to the memory of those slaughtered civilians.

Madam President,

We roundly condemn the atrocities reportedly committed by the Russian armed forces in a number of occupied Ukrainian towns.

The images from Bucha, and other towns in the Kyiv region liberated by Ukrainian forces, are horrifying. We, here, cannot suspend our humanity.

Our thoughts, first and foremost, must be with the families of those killed. Their pain at the loss of their loved ones in such an unspeakable manner is almost unimaginable.

Lets be clear: the Russian authorities are responsible for these atrocities, committed while they had effective control of the area. The Russian authorities are subject to the international law of occupation.

There can never be impunity from such crimes. Never ever. Not in Bucha, not in any other town or village. Ever.

Where crimes have been committed, they must be fully investigated and evidence preserved so that these crimes can be prosecuted by domestic and international courts, including the International Criminal Court. Ireland will continue to support efforts to ensure robust and independent investigation of all violations of international law.

We must have accountability and justice for the victims and for the survivors of this war. We at this table share that responsibility in face of such atrocity.

We call on the Russian Federation to abide by the order of the International Court of Justice and to immediately cease its military action and withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine.

Madam President,

In the last forty days, we have seen a horrific humanitarian disaster unfold in Ukraine because of the Russian Federations unprovoked and unjustifiable further invasion of that country.

A country where, just weeks ago, citizens lived in relative peace and prosperity and which has been transformed now into one where families lack access to basic necessities, where basements have become bomb shelters, where millions  millions  have become IDPs and refugees.

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has had a devastating impact on civilians in the midst of active hostilities.

Once again we call for the parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, including the obligation to direct attacks only against military objectives, the prohibitions against indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, and the obligation to take all feasible precautions in attack.

We have heard increasing allegations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers. You referred to this this morning, Secretary-General. We must stress that conflict-related sexual violence can constitute a war crime. The perpetrators of such crimes must be accountable. They must be held accountable; they will be held accountable. Sexual violence is another abhorrent crime of this war that cannot go unanswered.

We again reiterate the need for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need as called for today by Martin Griffiths

Secretary-General, we again echo your call for Russia to implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It is the very least the aggressor can do. It is way past time.

As we know, the reverberations from this war are reaching far beyond Ukraine.

It is unacceptable that Russias war of choice against Ukraine is also having and will continue to have significant spillover effects across the globe: deterioration of food security, surging energy prices, increasing poverty.

The most vulnerable and impoverished in developing countries will suffer the most. We utterly reject that.

Madam President,

It is our collective responsibility, here, at this table, to maintain international peace and security. Nothing less.

This is why we call on the Russian Federation to stop this war, to stop its unlawful attempts to establish occupying authorities, to stop destabilising the democratic foundations of the Ukrainian State.

Such steps are yet further reprehensible violations of Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It gets harder each time to say this, but it is never too late to do the right thing and to end this war now.

Thank you, Madam President.

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OLYMPIA The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) received $40 million for economic development and $25 million for community broadband funding in the 2022 supplemental capital budget.

CERB said in a press release that these historic levels of funding will assist rural communities and tribes in building their economic futures. CERB also announced that four projects in Clallam, Pacific, Spokane and Yakima Counties have been awarded a total of $200,000 in CERB planning grants. These grants will be used for economic development feasibility studies that will spur broadband deployment, business growth and job creation in the four counties. For more information on the projects visit https://tinyurl.com/CERBawards/.





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Photo from @uwcherryblossom on Twitter Now is the time to see UWs famous cherry trees in bloom. Take a walk  and lots of photos  down the UW Quad this weekend.





SEATTLE  The cherry trees are in bloom, and the University of Washington is welcoming back visitors to view the famous blossoms in person for the first time since 2019.





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SEATTLE  A small apartment building at 1403 E. Olive Way sold for a little over $2.6 million, according to King County records.

The seller was C & A Hua LP, which had owned the property for decades.





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China-EU trade sees sound momentum in first two months

Xinhua) 09:31, March 18, 2022

A freight train bound for Hamburg, Germany, is ready to depart at the Shijiazhuang international land port in north China's Hebei Province, on April 17, 2021. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade between China and the European Union (EU) saw a rapid growth in the January-February period, demonstrating vitality and resilience in their trade cooperation, a commerce spokesperson said Thursday.

China-EU trade jumped 14.8 percent year on year to 137.16 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months this year, making the EU the largest trade partner of China during the period, said Gao Feng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce.

As significant trading partners to one another, China and the EU enjoy a high degree of economic complementarity, broad areas of cooperation, and great potential for development, Gao told a regular press conference.

China is ready to work with the EU to further liberalize and facilitate trade and investment and safeguard the stable and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, Gao said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Photo taken on Oct. 28, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Washington's repeated approvals of arms sales to Taiwan represent its habitual and dangerous provocation against China as well as its irresponsible and even hostile attitude towards regional peace and stability, and have sparked widespread concern among the international community.

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Washington played with fire again recently by signing another arms deal worth 245 million U.S. dollars with Taiwan, a follow-up to its arms sale plan to the inalienable part of China's territory in December 2020.

Washington's flagrant move to advance arms sales to and military ties with the region is firmly opposed by China, as it seriously interferes in China's internal affairs, grossly violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and severely undermines China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The recent days have witnessed increasing instability and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait, the roots of which lie in Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities' growing military collusion with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence," and in Washington's continuous manipulation of the Taiwan question to suppress China.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attends a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Washington's repeated approvals of arms sales to Taiwan represent its habitual and dangerous provocation against China as well as its irresponsible and even hostile attitude towards regional peace and stability, and have sparked widespread concern among the international community.

"To avoid inflaming tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. needs to halt sales of weapons to Taiwan," Trevor Thrall, senior fellow for Washington-based think tank the Cato Institute, wrote in a commentary published on U.S. newspaper Defense News in August 2021, adding that U.S. arms sales are "sure to inflame tensions between Beijing and Washington, increasing the risk of conflict."

In 1982, China and the United States released the August 17 Communique concerning the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, in which Washington states that it "intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan." In the following joint communiques released in 2009 and 2011, Beijing and Washington reaffirmed their respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Washington states that it "abides by the principles of the three China-U.S. joint communiques."

Most recently, Washington has on multiple occasions reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy and pledged not to support Taiwan separatist forces in seeking so-called "independence."

However, it has brazenly reneged on its own words. Such inconsistency has seriously tarnished Washington's own political credit and harmed the international reputation of the United States.

A citizen runs in front of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Many ordinary people in Taiwan have become well aware of Washington's sinister intentions behind such arms sales: The U.S. politicians in the White House have long been ardent to sell weapons to Taiwan because they hope to use the old cheap trick to contain China's development while profiting hugely by playing the "Taiwan card."

In fact, Washington's arms sales to Taiwan are just one of the many living proofs of its scheme to make a wartime fortune by inciting confrontations. According to a report published Monday by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, against the backdrop of an overall decline in the global arms trade, U.S. weapons exports rose 14 percent in 2017-2021 compared to the previous five-year period.

The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations and concerns China's core interests. No provocation or threat would make China budge an inch.

It is high time that Washington recognized the sensitivity and peril of its arms sales to Taiwan, stopped playing the "Taiwan card," avoided sending more wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatists, and started to handle Taiwan-related issues prudently. 
13:30 - TRIUMPH HURDLE - This looks like a good renewal of the Triumph with all the top trainers well represented. Willie Mullins's VAUBAN (2/1) looks like it will be added to a lot of accumulators on Friday and I couldn't turn you off that idea. He looks the most likely winner to me after his win over Fil Dor at Leopardstown last month. He improved massively from his runner-up run behind Pied Piper in December. He quickened up smartly to win by three lengths and looks like there is even more to come.

Another of Willie Mullins' runners Icare Allen would also have an eachway chance. He was fifth behind Vauban that day but went on to beat Prairie Dancer a couple of weeks later at Fairyhouse. He travelled well but was sticky at more than one of his hurdles which could catch him out in a Triumph. There is no doubting his engine though as he galloped all the way to the line. He's a player at Cheltenham, no matter where he goes.

Pied Piper is many peoples' idea of the Triumph winner having already beaten Vauban and followed that up with a nine-length win over Moka De Vassy at Cheltenham in January. The course form has to be a big plus and you couldn't help but be impressed by his turn of pace that day at Cheltenham, albeit he didn't have to beat too many classy rivals. The runner-up was subsequently beaten 20 lengths by Britain's main hope for this race, Knight Salute. Speaking of Knight Salute, he's not flashy but he gets results and will rock up at Prestbury Park with five consecutive wins under his belt. Discount him at your peril.

SELECTION - VAUBAN (2/1)

14:10 - COUNTY HURDLE - As always this is a maze to work out but I like two eachway in this with most bookies enhancing the number of payout places. COLONEL MUSTARD (8/1) and SURPRISE PACKAGE (12/1) look solid in the market with the latter representing the winning jockey-trainer combination from this race 12 months ago. Kevin Sexton rode Belfast Banter to stunning win in this last year for Peter Fahey and this Surprise Package could live up to his name here just a week after bolting up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, beating Lively Citizen by nine lengths after cutting through the field like butter from the back. This big field will suit him and he won so easy last week, it probably hasn't taken much out of him. Colonel Mustard has some of the best form in the book. Last time out at Leopardstown, he was third, beaten 12 lengths, behind Sir Gerhard who won the Ballymore. The Ballymore (run over tow and a half miles) probably proved Sir Gerhard's best trip is two miles, the trip he won over at Leopardstown. Three Stripe Life (second in the Ballymore) split Sir Gerhard and Colonel Mustard that day. Colonel Mustard was just over two lengths behind Jonbon on his run prior to that so has form on both sides of the Irish Sea and is a major player here.

SELECTIONS - SURPRISE PACKAGE (12/1) AND COLONEL MUSTARD (8/1) EACHWAY

14:50 - ALBERT BARTLETT - I think this is a case of keeping it simple and backing GINTO (3/1) to win this for Gordon Elliott. He has looked very progressive and is unbeaten over hurdles, winning his maiden at the first time of asking and following up with a Grade 2 and Grade 1. He won all three so easily and will be suited by this longer trip too. Ginto beat a horse of Willie Mullins called Whatdeawant by over eight lengths (eased down) at Naas in January and that rival went on to finish third in the Ballymore here earlier this week, finishing 12 lengths behind Sir Gerhard. Ginto still had plenty in the tank that day and is quick and efficient at his hurdles. It's hard to find a negative. One at a bigger price that could get involved for places is The Nice Guy (12/1), trained by Willie Mullins and owned by Offaly Live owner Malcolm Denmark. Mullins has said he's been surprised by the progress the horse has made in his work since winning his maiden at the first time of asking against subsequent winner Ramillies at Naas in January. He'll certainly stay this trip and could be finishing better than most here.

SELECTION - GINTO TO WIN (3/1) AND THE NICE GUY (12/1) EACHWAY

15:30 - BOODLES GOLD CUP - Another tricky race to work out despite not being the highest quality Gold Cup of all time. A lot of the debate here centres on A Plus Tard and Galvin on the basis of their titanic clash in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Galvin came out on top on that occasion while Kemboy, who skips this assignment, was less than a length behind them.

Galvin is certainly the up-and-coming staying chaser in Ireland and Irish runners dominate the market. Paul Nicholls' Protektorat is the only home challenger currently in single figures in the betting market. I was slightly turned off A Plus Tard after his runner-up run in this race last year. He had the entire hill to pass his stablemate Minella Indo but couldn't do it. It was a cracking run all the same; he had the two-time winner Al Boum Photo behind him and lost nothing really in defeat.

However, Henry De Bromhead's yard was in sensationally form last year, proven by that Gold Cup one-two, and I'm not saying they won't be in the same vein at Cheltenham but his horses haven't quite reached those heights yet this term. Galvin is hugely exciting and won the National Hunt Chase at the festival in 2021. He's short enough for a Gold Cup at 7/2 and I like a bit of eachway value in this.

For those purposes, I like AL BOUM PHOTO (12/1) and CHANTRY HOUSE (18/1). There has been plenty of talk about Al Boum Photo's poor work at home in the build-up to this race but having finished third in it last year, his bid for a famous third Gold Cup win is far from off the cards.

He is so lightly raced and travels so well around Cheltenham that you just can't ignore him at the prices. He's repeated his Cheltenham prep of the last couple of years by winning at Tramore over Christmas where he beat Burrows Saint at his ease. Trainer Willie Mullins did say he wished he was in better order at home in February but last week he worked him at Navan racecourse where he said he was "much, much happier" with him. Paul Townend was also impressed with his work at Navan so it could be a case of him coming into form at the right time for a famous hat-trick.

Chantry House is very interesting for Nicky Henderson having good Cheltenham form. He won the Marsh Novices Chase here in 2021 and has impressed stepped up in trip this year. He beat The Big Breakaway by 37 lengths in a two-runner contest at Sandown in November but we can't read too much into that.

He was then pulled up in the King George won by Tornado Flyer but got back to winning ways at Cheltenham in preparation for this. He beat Santini that day in January while giving his rival four pounds. That reads well if you consider Santini's form in the top grade, including when second to Al Boum Photo in the 2020 Gold Cup. Chantry House is still a relative unknown in this grade and at the distance, but there is enough in the form book to like his eachway chances at 16/1.

SELECTIONS - AL BOUM PHOTO (12/1) AND CHANTRY HOUSE (18/1) EACHWAY

16:10 - FOXHUNTERS CHASE - I like BILLAWAY (5/2) in this for Willie Mullins. He was denied in the same race at Cheltenham last year but comes into the renewal in brilliant form. He was beaten by 12 lengths by Winged Leader at Thurles in January but that was his seasonal reappearance. He has been primed for this race by Willie Mullins and they are sweet on his chance of going one better than his second-place finish last year. He prepped for this with a win over stablemate Good Bye Sam at Naas in February. A big run is expected and I think he'll do it for top connections. It Came To Pass is one at a bigger price (20/1) that could run a big race, even as a 12-year-old.

SELECTION - BILLAWAY (5/2)

16:50 - MARE'S CHASE - ELIMAY (2/1) is just a brilliant mare, a stunning grey, and is once again a solid bet in the mare's chase. She came unstuck against stablemate Colreevy in this race last year but lost nothing in defeat. She jumped well and saw out the trip well. Colreevy went on to beat Monkfish by eight lengths at Punchestown before being retired and that is excellent form. Elimay was a good second to Mount Ida at Fairyhouse in January and then gave weight and crushed Court Maid by five lengths at Naas in February. She is being ripened for this race and is one of JP McManus's leading chances of a winner on Friday.

SELECTION - ELIMAY (2/1)

17:30 - MARTIN PIPE HURDLE - It's no secret that LANGER DAN (5/1) has been campaigned for another crack at this after being beaten into second last year. In fairness, he bumped into a top prospect in the shape of Galopin Des Champs on that day and hasn't been harshly treated since. You can put a line straight through his prep run for this where he was sixth of six at Taunton. It was a pipe opener for this and there is plenty more to come with him. He was a clear second in this last year, nine lengths ahead of Floueur in third. He's on a three-pound lower mark now and will be backed on the day. Grand Jury (16/1) is an interesting one eachway for Henry De Bromhead. He was just four and a half lengths behind Ginto at Naas in January and could outrun those odds.

SELECTIONS - LANGER DAN TO WIN (5/1) AND GRAND JURY EACHWAY (16/1)
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Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable.
URUMQI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Chinese embassy in Lebanon held a video conference on Thursday to show the people of Lebanon what life is really like in Xinjiang.

Some 50 government officials, scholars and journalists from Lebanon attended the conference online.

Dilmurat Arkin, who once received training at a former vocational education and training center, told the audience that the center was well-equipped, with multi-media equipment in classrooms, as well as TVs and air-conditioners in the dormitories.

He recalled that students were free to choose courses according to their interests, such as advertising, e-commerce and tour guiding, and if anyone felt uncomfortable, they could get treatment in the clinics at the center.

"Now I manage a wholesale food store in Xinjiang's Kashgar Prefecture, earning more than 200,000 yuan (about 31,500 U.S. dollars) each year," he said. "Thanks to the knowledge of e-commerce I learned at the center, I can sell goods all over China."

"Some people abroad claimed that those centers were 'concentration camps.' I wonder which 'concentration camp' would care about the students like this and teach them skills to become rich," said Dilmurat Arkin.

Melida Ghayrat, a public transport employee in the regional capital Urumqi, has been working for her company since graduating from a technical school focused on public transport in 2016.

"Before I joined the company, I signed a contract. I got a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan, plus all the basic insurances," she said.

Rumors of "forced labor" in Xinjiang are just not in accord with the facts, she added. "What I've seen is that some of my colleagues of different ethnic groups have become managers because of their excellent performance." 
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The fifth community isolation facility (CIF) in Hong Kong constructed with support from the mainland was put into operation on Thursday after it was handed over to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.





John Lee, chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, on Thursday visited the newly-built CIF located in Hung Shui Kiu, Hong Kong, which can provide about 2,350 beds for COVID-19 patients.





The facility, which covers a land area of about 32,000 square meters, is composed of modular cubicles, with each room equipped with basic furniture and bedding, air conditioner, and smoke sensor, among others.





Designed and built by the China State Construction International Holdings Ltd., the construction of the facility was completed in less than a month.





The CIF also sets aside sections for care services for the elderly, which will begin operation in April.





During his visit, Lee expressed his gratitude to the central government's aid in Hong Kong's epidemic fight, noting that the five CIFs provide over 10,000 beds and play a very important role in reducing severe cases, deaths in confirmed cases, and infections.





On Thursday, Hong Kong registered 8,628 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 13,022 additional positive cases through self-reported rapid antigen tests, official data showed.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
CORK secondary school the North Monastery CBS and the Cork Polish School recently collaborated to organise donations in aid of Ukraine.

Their joint appeal for donations received a huge response from both the local community and the Polish community.

A total of four carloads and two van loads were collected by Cork Missing Persons Search and Recovery and Cork Penny Dinner. Their donations formed part of a convoy of five vans containing more than 12 tonnes of medical supplies, food and warm clothing which was brought to the Polish/Ukrainian border.

Edyta Bakula who is the principal of the Polish School in Cork which provides education for 700 students said she was touched by the generosity. It was nice to help this project. We collected many vital things for the Ukrainian people such as baby wipes, nappies, and medical equipment. We got a good response. I was really touched by the generosity, she said.

Ms Bakula said she is proud of the role her native country has played in helping the Ukrainian citizens who have been forced to flee their homes following the Russian invasion.

Ukraine and Poland are neighbours so we are really touched by this situation. Poland has played a big part in helping Ukraine. I am very proud of the role Poland has played in helping the refugees.

North Monastery CBS and the Cork Polish School recently joined forces to organise donations in aid of the Ukraine.

North Monastery teacher Margaret Ann Kehoe said the North Mon school community wanted to play their part and help.

We worked with the Cork Polish School. We did a joint appeal together between the two communities. We are a Yellow Flag school, and we are aware of diversity. Everyone has been shocked by what we have seen on the news. We wanted to do something and help.

Ms Kehoe said their collection far exceeded their initial expectations with former students even popping in with donations. We got a huge response. Originally, I was meant to bring a carload of donations and we far exceeded our expectations which was great. It shows the great community spirit in the local area. It is all about helping other people out.

Students and all the staff members donated, and even past pupils dropped in donations. It is nice to play some part in helping the Ukrainian people, she added.
REPAIR and rehabilitation works are set to be carried out at five bridges across the city, following a funding allocation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

The five bridges are among 15 structures on national routes throughout Cork City and County Kerry which TII has allocated funding for works to be undertaken.

The five bridges in Cork are Eamon de Valera Bridge , Michael Collins Bridge, Douglas Road Overbridge, Rochestown Interchange and Waterfall Bridge.

In a report to city councillors at a full meeting of council on Monday, Cork City Council stated that TII has requested that Kerry County Council would undertake the role of Lead Authority for this programme of works.

The Lead Authority will assume the role of Contracting Authority for all Works and Service Contracts and the role of Employer in the case of the main construction contract, the report stated.

Rehabilitation works to the five bridges in the city include the installation of new vehicle restraint systems, repair of expansion joints and elements of carriageway re-surfacing.

In 2020, Cork's iconic Shakey Bridge, formally known as Daly's Bridge, reopened following refurbishment and conservation works, which cost over 1.7 million.

The works were undertaken to address serious corrosion and extensive damage to the 50.9 metre suspension bridge.
As part of Operation Tara, Midleton Gardai in Cork seized in excess of 60,000 of suspected cannabis herb following an operation on St Patrick's Day.

The seizure was made in the Rocklands area of Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, following a search by Gardai attached to the Midleton District, with assistance from the District Drugs Unit.

An estimated 65,000 worth of cannabis herb, along with drug paraphernalia was discovered.

The drugs seized will now be sent for further analysis.

No arrests have yet been made. Investigations are ongoing.
The conversation about spaces in Ireland has gathered pace in recent months and years. Our housing and rental situation is showing no signs of improving, and these frustrations have been shared by those in the music scene, whose options have become limited also. I recently wrote about the amount of clubs closing in Ireland, and the last nightclub in Galway will now be turned into another hotel, as the situation gets worse.

As war continues in eastern Europe, we can reflect that music venues and nightclubs are hardly the most important priority in the world, but nevertheless arts and culture play a very important role in all societies, and in Cork a group of passionate music fans are trying to change things.

The Electronic Music Council (EMC) was recently formed by a number of DJs and producers who hope to support a sustainable music scene. I met with some of the group last week at Eventi Marketing agency, who have been supporting them from the off. I was impressed by the determination of everyone involved.

The EMC is an organisation of creatives working together to generate a support network that continues to improve the current state of the electronic music scene in Cork City.

It will campaign for positive, sustainable night culture solutions and multipurpose event spaces.

They recognise that the pandemic has drastically impacted those within the music scene, with a deficit of night-time establishments in Cork meaning options are very limited for promoters, DJs, producers, and clubbers.

The EMC make an important point in highlighting that many talented people have relocated from Cork to elsewhere due to this lack of options. Many of my music friends have done so in the last 10 years. The whole music scene is suffering.

EMC aims to create a support network working towards creating a shared space for live events, workshops, conferences, and much more. This will foster and support culture that can rebuild our electronic music scene, making it more inclusive, sustainable, positive, safe, and educational for emerging artists to grow, reducing the inequalities they face in the current climate.

These arent lofty or unreasonable aims. Its incredible that we have so many nightclubs and venues lying vacant in the city, just gathering dust.

We spoke about the work Frank OConnor and Jude Sherry are doing online under the hashtag #DerelictIreland, highlighting the many buildings that are lying desolate and unused in all of our cities and public places.

Many music venues lie derelict as well, and many lie unused. The late-night ones that are open, bar Cyprus Avenue and a few late bars, are generally operating as venues where chart music is the thing, so opportunities to run nights are few and far between.

The Give Us The Night campaign has been making great progress on repealing the licensing laws, but when this happens we need viable options late at night.

There must be some venues or bars that might be more open to even giving up their space on an off-night. I used the example of a club night we used do in the 90s called Mor Disco, which started in the upstairs of a bar that would not have been that busy on a Tuesday. The promoters got the venue, and proved themselves, and the night became so big we eventually filled the City Hall two years in a row, and they started a festival on the back of it. There are no limits when you have a vision, but sadly many young promoters and DJs dont even make it as far as a chat with the venue owner.

Sometimes dance music has a bad rep, but I would imagine lots of venues could do with more business, so there might be some opportunities for promoters and venues to collaborate on off-nights, or even early evenings.

Besides that, there will hopefully be more opportunities for spaces that are not traditional club spaces, such as The Marina or Black Market, or other such spots.

From an underground perspective, there are lots of warehouses and other buildings around, so it would be cool if we could make progress on the licensing here too, as ultimately I think we need to look at music from a community and cultural perspective too.

Workshops, discussions and practice spaces could all be incorporated, and then we could really watch the youth of Cork build something special!
By Jake Johnson

An intense lobbying campaign by the pro-fossil fuel Australian government succeeded Friday in keeping the Great Barrier Reef off a list of World Heritage Sites considered in danger, despite experts warnings that the biodiverse ecosystem is increasingly imperiled by the global climate emergency.

The 21-nation World Heritage Committee  organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)  voted down a push to categorize the Great Barrier Reef as endangered, an effort that the right-wing Australian government fervently opposed with the backing of Saudi Arabia and other oil-friendly countries.

Instead of designating the Reef as in danger, the World Heritage Committee on Friday instructed the government of Australia to produce a progress report on the structures condition by February 2022.

David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia, said in a statement that Fridays vote is a victory for one of the most cynical lobbying efforts in recent history.

Under the UNESCO treaty, the Australian government promised the world it would do its utmost to protect the Reef  instead it has done its utmost to hide the truth, said Ritter. This is not an achievement  it is a day of shame for the Australian government.

Lesley Hughes, a spokesperson for Climate Council, an Australia-based advocacy organization, slammed the government lobbying blitz and said lawmakers must stop censoring science.

The science is clear: climate change is accelerating and is the single, greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef. In the past five years it has been repeatedly and severely damaged by three marine heatwaves, said Hughes, a professor of biology at Macquarie University in Sydney. Until we see credible climate action, and the phasing out of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, this situation will worsen, not improve. The Great Barrier Reef is in danger, and trying to hide the facts wont change a thing.

Relentless lobbying by the Fed Gov has once again seen UNESCO back away from placing the #GreatBarrierReef on its In Danger list. Political lobbying doesnt help the Reef & the science remains clear: climate change is accelerating and is the single, greatest threat to the Reef. pic.twitter.com/WSFDImzSIl  Climate Council (@climatecouncil) July 23, 2021

Home to hundreds of types of coral and more than 1,000 species of fish, the Great Barrier Reef has been badly damaged in recent years by mass coral bleaching fueled by warming ocean temperatures  which is why scientists have been pushing Australia and the international community to formally recognize the system as endangered.

The World Heritage Committees vote Friday came a month after UNESCO issued a report warning that the Great Barrier Reefs condition has further deteriorated from poor to very poor due to human-caused climate change. The U.N. body advised that the reef be listed among the worlds in danger sites  a call endorsed by scientists around the world.

UNESCOs recommendation sparked furious backlash from the Australian government, which launched an aggressive lobbying push to prevent the listing.

As The Guardian reported, More than a dozen ambassadors flew from Canberra to Cairns, Queensland, for a snorkeling trip on the reef, and Australias environment minister, Sussan Ley, was dispatched to Europe on an RAAF diplomatic jet to visit Budapest, Madrid, Sarajevo, Paris, Oman, and the Maldives.

Australia  a major producer and exporter of coal and gas  initially won support from oil-rich Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, both members of the committee, to delay any decision on the danger listing until at least 2023, the outlet noted. But after an interjection from Norway, the committee decided instead the reefs health would be considered again at next years meeting.

Sarah Hanson-Young, an Australian senator with the Greens Party, warned following Fridays vote that the decision to delay the in danger listing for the Great Barrier Reef is ridiculous and will cost Australia in the long run.

Everyone knows the climate crisis is threatening the Reef, she added. Delay is denial, and a sop to fossil fuels.

Reposted with permission from Common Dreams.
The coral of the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing widespread bleaching just two years after the reefs last mass bleaching event in 2020.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said Friday it had observed the bleaching after conducting surveillance flights over the 1,243-mile reef, as AFP reported.

Bleaching has been detected across the Marine Park  it is widespread but variable, across multiple regions, ranging in impact from minor to severe, the authority said in an update. Most observations of bleaching have been of paling or fluorescing but several locations have whole colonies bleached white.

Reef health update for Friday 18 March 2022: Sea surface temperatures remain above average. Future weather patterns will be critical in determining the severity of coral bleaching across the Marine Park. https://t.co/eV9Tqm0cuj. #ReefAuthority continuing to monitor the situation pic.twitter.com/bTr6NvtFhK  Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (@gbrmarinepark) March 18, 2022

The reef had been experiencing a heat wave during February and early March, the authority said. Temperatures began to cool this week, but sea surface temperatures are still above average, ranging from 0.52 degrees Celsius above average across the park. In the Far North and in inshore areas between Townsville and Rockhampton, temperatures are as much as two to four degrees Celsius above average. They are expected to stay around one degree Celsius above average through the end of the month.

Most of the Marine Park has accumulated significant heat stress over the summer, with the central Reef experiencing the highest heat stress accumulation, the authority said.

Coral bleaching occurs when high water temperatures force the coral to expel the algae that give them food and color. Mass bleaching events have become more frequent because of the climate crisis, and the reef has experienced five in a little more than two decades.

Professor Terry Hughes, a coral expert from James Cook University, told The Guardian on Wednesday that he thought the reef was in the midst of a sixth mass bleaching event.

We all breathed a sigh of relief because corals that were pale in December regained their colour in January and February. But in the last three weeks there have been reports of moderate to strong bleaching all along the reef, he said.

However, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park chief scientist Dr. David Wachenfeld told Guardian Australia that it was too soon to tell if this bleaching represented a mass event.

There is certainly a risk we are seeing a mass bleaching event, but we arent in a position to confirm that yet, he said. We want to finish the aerial surveys to really understand this before we make a call on the extent and severity of this bleaching.

One concerning element of the current bleaching is that it is occurring during a La Nina weather event, which usually brings cooler temperatures to the Pacific Ocean, AP News reported.

This is a sure sign that climate change caused by burning coal, oil and gas is threatening the very existence of our reef, Greenpeace Australia Pacific climate impacts campaigner Martin Zavan said in a statement reported by AP News.

The bleaching comes days before the UN is expected to start a 10-day investigation of the reefs health on Monday, The Guardian reported. The investigation is supposed to help determine whether the reefs United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site status should be listed as in danger because of climate change, AP News explained. The Australian government, which supports the burning of fossil fuels, managed to stave off such a status change last summer, but the World Heritage Committee will consider the question again in June.

To protect the reef, environmental advocates called on the Australian government to reduce fossil-fuel emissions.

Reducing Australias domestic and exported emissions fast, this decade, is the main solution within our control, WWF Australia head of oceans Richard Leck said, as The Guardian reported.
Climate activist and actress Jane Fonda has announced a new political action committee (PAC) aimed at getting Big Oils political allies out of office.

Fonda is no stranger to political action, and in recent years, shes been arrested five times for protesting climate issues. Now, she wants to fight the fossil fuel industrys financial hold over politics through her own climate-focused PAC.

Scientists have been very clear: We have to cut our fossil fuel emissions in half by 2030, Fonda said in a video about the PAC. We have eight years  thats just four election cycles  before the point of no return.

We have one goal: do whatever it takes to defeat the political allies of the fossil fuel industry no matter which side of the aisle theyre on, she added.

In 2020, the fossil fuel industry put over $359 million toward federal campaign donations and lobbying efforts, according to Yale Climate Connection. In her PAC launch video, Fonda noted that the industrys donations go to politicians of both major parties. Instead, she wants to help support and elect politicians who will fight for solutions to the climate crisis before it is too late.

Aside from her recent arrests for climate protests, Fonda has had a major role in educating others on climate change and working toward solutions for it. Each week, Fonda hosts Fire Drill Fridays, which brings together activists, scientists, Indigenous leaders, and the younger generations to discuss different aspects of the climate crisis and explore ways to create a sustainable future.

This isnt her first time establishing a PAC, either. In the 1970s, Fonda and then-husband Tom Hayden registered the Campaign for Economic Democracy, a PAC that funded several different progressive causes.

As reported by Grist, the Campaign for Economic Democracy put funding toward solar energy development, equitable housing and pollution cleanup. Much of the money in that PAC came from Fondas fitness empire. But with the new PAC, Fonda plans to do her most significant work yet.

I dont say this lightly, but I feel this is likely to be the most important thing I do in my life, Fonda said on her website. The climate crisis poses unprecedented threats to our communities, our environment, our economy, and our security. Its not too late to change course. But it wont happen as long as oil, gas, and coal companies maintain their stranglehold on American politics.

To learn more, visit the Jane Fonda Climate PAC website.
NANCHANG, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The foreign trade in east China's Jiangxi Province saw robust growth in the first two months of this year, local customs authorities said.

Jiangxi's import and export volume rose by 30.9 percent year on year to 93.2 billion yuan (about 14.7 billion U.S. dollars) from January to February, according to the Nanchang customs.

Of the total, exports stood at 70 billion yuan, up 34.4 percent compared with the same period last year, while imports went up 21.3 percent to 23.2 billion yuan.

Jiangxi's trade with countries and regions along the Belt and Road increased 60.7 percent to 31.4 billion yuan during the period, while its trade with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members totaled 30 billion yuan, up 49.2 percent.

The foreign trade of Jiangxi's private enterprises witnessed a strong performance, with the total volume up by 35.3 percent year on year to nearly 68 billion yuan, accounting for 72.9 percent of the province's total. 
Independence, consigned to oblivion. The prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, has given in and defended that the autonomy plan for Western Sahara presented by Morocco in 2007 is "the most serious and realistic basis" for reaching a solution to the five-decade-long conflict. This has been stated in a letter sent to king Mohammed VI which the Moroccan royal house released on Friday, in which Sanchez made an unprecedented and radical turn in the position held up till now by successive Spanish governments and acknowledged "the importance of the Sahara issue", stressing "Morocco's serious and credible efforts within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution" to the dispute between the kingdom and the Polisario Front over the former Spanish colony. At the same time, he expressed his desire to "build a new relationship, based on transparency and permanent communication, mutual respect and the agreements signed between the two sides and the abstention of any unilateral action."

The existence of the letter has been confirmed by the Spanish government itself in a statement issued just after the news broke. Although the Sahara is not mentioned at any time, the Sanchez executive states that today marks the start of "a new stage in relations with Morocco", which will serve to "guarantee the stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity" of both kingdoms. "We reiterate our determination to face the common challenges together, especially cooperation in the management of migratory flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, always in a spirit of full cooperation, and restoring full normality in the movement of people and goods, for the benefit of our peoples," the statement said.

Both the Spanish government's press release and the information made public by the Moroccan authorities insist that the new era will be "based on mutual respect, compliance with agreements, the absence of unilateral actions. and transparency and ongoing communication" and will be developed "on a clear and ambitious roadmap". Spain also confirmed that both Sanchez and foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares are to travel to Morocco to develop the aforementioned "roadmap for this new stage". In the case of Albares, the statement states that he will visit Rabat before the end of the month.

Spain's letter to the Moroccan king also said that "the two countries are inextricably linked by affection, a history, a geography, interests and a shared friendship." The Spanish PM told Mohammed VI that "the destinies of the two peoples are also united in the same way", as well as that "the prosperity of Morocco is linked to that of Spain, and vice versa". "Spain will act with the complete transparency that can be expected of a great friend and ally. I assure you that Spain will always fulfill its commitments and its word," the letter reads.

Polisario: "Spain is giving in to Moroccan blackmail"

This is the first time that the Spanish state has supported the proposal for Western Sahara to be a self-governing region within Morocco, which has provoked deep indignation in the Polisario Front. "Spain is giving in to Morocco's blackmail and manipulation," Polisario sources told the digital daily El Independiente. The Polisario, the Western Sahara national liberation movement, has also criticized the Spanish executive for opting for self-government within Morocco and for disengaging from the UN roadmap amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in defiance of the principles of international law. The United Nations maintains that the Sahrawi people have a right to self-determination. "The [latest] statements show the hypocrisy of the discourse in the current situation. International law and international law are being defended in Europe and denied in the Sahara," a Polisario representative told the newspaper.

Sanchez's message comes months after the worst crisis in two decades between Morocco and Spain, which began in late April last year with the admission by Spain of Polisario Front leader Brahim Gali for hospital treatment in the Spanish city of Logrono. Subsequently, the tension intensified when a wave of irregular immigrants entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, many by swimming, in May. Despite this unprecedented crisis, which materialized in the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid being called for consultations, the monarchs of the two countries have not stopped exchanging messages of courtesy and signals of their commitment to improve bilateral relations.
Manannan to resume sailings to and from Liverpool next month

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel Manannan will be resuming sailings to and from Liverpool from Friday 1st April.

As well as operating primarily between the Island and Liverpool, Manannan will also resume services to Ireland, including Belfast from Wednesday 13th April and Dublin, from Thursday 14th April.

Brian Thomson, Managing Director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, said: This time of year we look forward to the return of Manannan and the recommencement of daily sailings to Liverpool and regular crossings to Dublin and Belfast. With new and exciting developments happening on board both vessels, were endeavouring to make customer journeys even more comfortable and enjoyable, were excited to welcome people on board in the near future.

With travel on and off the Island opening-up after a challenging couple of years following the outbreak of Covid-19, its wonderful to see many residents and visitors alike using the Steam Packet Company to take a well-earned holiday.

Manannans first sailing to Liverpool is scheduled for 07:30 on Friday 1st April, with a return at 11:15.
Isle of Man suspends tax co-operation with Russia

The Isle of Man has today suspended all forms of tax co-operation with Russia in light of the exceptional and distressing events in Ukraine and following consultation with the UK Government.

The Isle of Man complies fully with all international tax standards, which includes exchanging information for tax purposes with many countries. As a party to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the Island has a legal basis on which to exchange tax information with Russia. In the current circumstances, and the imposition of sanctions, it is deemed inappropriate to continue to share information with Russia under the Convention.

Treasury Minister David Ashford MBE MHK said: As a consequence of its military activity in Ukraine, the Isle of Man will not assist Russia in any way. The Island been a consistent and strong supporter of international information exchange for tax purposes as a tool for combatting tax evasion and aggressive avoidance.

It would, however, be wrong to provide information to Russia that could be used for its economic benefit at a time when the Island has imposed economic sanctions.
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
Instacart is joining Uber, Lyft and other car-centric internet services in adding a temporary fuel surcharge to cover rising costs at the pump. The company will charge customers an additional 40 cents per order "over the next month," with all the extra money going directly to delivery workers. The higher pricing will arrive sometime in the days ahead.

The company also pointed to existing tools drivers could use to soften the blow, including cashback perks for gas and advance information that makes it clear which order batches will make the most income. Fuel surcharges will appear as tags on those batches.

As with other surcharges, this hike was prompted by a spike in fuel prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Whether or not it's enough is another matter. While Instacart's workers "spend more time" shopping than driving, as operations VP Tom Maguire said, 40 cents per order isn't huge. Prices have climbed 19 percent since late February, according to the Energy Information Administration  the extra expenses could easily outweigh the benefits of the surcharge.

Compensation at rivals might also be better in some cases. Uber Eats deliveries, for instance, now include surcharges between 35 cents to 45 cents. That's clearly worse in some cases, but Uber's offering will also last for at least 60 days. If prices remain high, Instacart's couriers may either have to hope for an extension or swallow the full transportation costs.




ANKARA, March 18 (Xinhua) --The United States should be as transparent as possible about the existence of its biological laboratories in Ukraine and reveal details before dragging the world into a dangerous process, two Turkish experts have told Xinhua.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




LG is joining other tech heavyweights in halting Russian sales following that country's invasion of Ukraine. The company said in a statement it was "suspending" all product shipments to Russia. The firm didn't say how long this would last, but noted it would keep a "close watch" on the situation. LG is "deeply concerned" about everyone's welfare and "committed" to humanitarian relief, according to the notice.

It's not clear just what prompted the timing of the decision, which comes weeks after the late February invasion. There's a lot of pressure to act, however. Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and others have already frozen shipments and sales in Russia  LG wasn't going to look good if it continued to serve the Russian market despite that country's war against Ukraine.

This move could be particularly damaging. While LG has left the phone industry, it's still a major force in electronics that makes everything from TVs through to air conditioners and refrigerators. Between LG's move and Samsung's, Russia will have lost two of the largest device brands on the planet. Russians are likely to still have options thanks to brands from China and elsewhere, but their choices will be considerably narrower.
Blue Origin's three previous crewed flights had taken familiar faces and people known in their fields to space. Those include William Shatner, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, Good Morning America host Michael Strahan and even company founder Jeff Bezos For its fourth mission with humans on board  and its 20th overall  one of the passengers was supposed to be Pete Davidson, SNL star and, well, the person who's recently been on the receiving end of Kanye West's ire. Turns out that won't be happening.

On Twitter, the aerospace company has announced that Davidson will no longer join the mission as a crew member. Blue Origin didn't reveal the reason why he's no longer flying with the rest of the crew to the edge of space and only said that the mission will launch on March 29th instead of on March 23rd as planned. Davidson was recently seen shooting scenes for horror movie The Home, but it's unclear if conflict of schedule was the reason why Blue Origin changed its lineup. It's also unknown at this point if Davidson will join another Blue Origin flight later on.

The other passengers for the NS-20 mission are SpaceKids Global founder Sharon Hagle and husband Marc Hagle, University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen, President of Commercial Space Technologies Dr. George C. Nield and Marty Allen, a former CEO of Party America. Blue Origin said it will announce Davidson's replacement in the coming days.
The ExoMars mission has been suspended. Its future is uncertain at this point in time, as the European Space Agency looks for a way to proceed without the involvement of Russian space agency Roscosmos. The ESA previously announced that it's fully implementing sanctions imposed on Russia by its member states following the country's invasion of Ukraine and that a 2022 launch for the ExoMars rover was looking unlikely. Now, the mission has officially been put on ice after the ESA's ruling council met in Paris to assess the situation.

The ESA said in a statement:

"As an intergovernmental organisation mandated to develop and implement space programmes in full respect with European values, we deeply deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the aggression towards Ukraine. While recognising the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States."

The council has determined that it's impossible to keep cooperating with Roscosmos and has ordered the ESA Director General to take steps to suspend the operation. In addition, the council authorized the Director General to conduct and fast track an industrial study to find options on how the agency can move forward with ExoMars.

ExoMars is a two part mission, and the agencies sent its first spacecraft  the Trace Gas Orbiter  to Martian orbit back in 2016. They were supposed to launch a rover named after scientist Rosalind Franklin this year for the second part of the program after delays causes in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ESA was in charge of developing the rover, which was going to use a Russian launch vehicle and lander.

This is just one of the space programs affected by the war in Ukraine. Roscosmos previously pulled out of the Guiana Space Center in retaliation for EU's sanctions and also refused to launch OneWeb internet satellites that were supposed to head to orbit on Soyuz rockets. Dmitry Rogozin, the Director General of Roscosmos, also claimed that the sanctions against Russia could interrupt the operations of the country's spacecraft that's steering the ISS and could cause the station to "fall down into the sea or onto land. Russia stopped supplying the US with rocket engines, as well. At the time, Rogozin said "Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks."
The first branch of Googles Equiano underwater internet cable  which will eventually run from Cape Town, South Africa to Lisbon, Portugal  has landed in Lome, Togo, the company announced Friday. The massive fiber optic cable will be Googles first to run from Africa to Europe, and is expected to bring internet connectivity to millions of people across both continents. This will be especially impactful in Togo, where according to DataReportal an estimated 74 percent of people dont have access to the internet. The cable is expected to deliver 20 times more internet capacity to the region.

Google began investing heavily in subsea cable internet nearly a decade ago, with its first co-owned cable project Unity (which stretches from Chikura, Japan to Redondo Beach, California) going into service in 2010. The company has invested ineither solely or as a part of a consortium  a total of 19 undersea cables . Its most recently completed project, Dunant, went into service in January 2021 and runs from Virginia Beach to the French Coast.

Alphabet far from the only tech giant to invest heavily in undersea cables , which have become more ubiquitous with the growth of the mobile internet. Google along with Meta, Microsoft and Amazon now dominate the worlds critical cable infrastructure, as the Wall Street Journal notes . Last month, Meta announced plans to build at least two transatlantic undersea cables by 2027.

Undersea cables have one notable downside: The cables can tear and break , either due to natural disasters or human activity like fishing . Cable breaks are particularly common along the coasts of Africa, and can leave entire regions without connectivity for days . Last year a massive mudslide in South Africa caused two undersea cables to break , which led to service disruptions and slowdowns across the entire continent. But in the event of a break, a nearby undersea cable can be used as a backup.

Once in service, Equiano will provide additional insurance to a region that badly needs it. After Togo, Equianos next stop will be in Nigeria and Namibia, before heading to its final landing in Cape Town, South Africa. It is expected to be fully in service later this year.
PayPal will now allow peer-to-peer payments to and from Ukraine. The company announced today that it was significantly expanding its services in Ukraine in the wake of Russias invasion. Prior to this, Ukrainian PayPal customers could only use the payment platform to send money outside of the country. Earlier this month, the company announced it was exiting Russia, citing the countrys violent aggression against Ukraine.

PayPal users in Ukraine will now be able to send money to and receive money from outside the country, as well as domestically. Its a move that likely will make life easier for Ukrainians receiving financial support from family and loved ones who live abroad. Ukrainians will also be able to send funds directly to their bank account by linking their Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card.

Perhaps most significantly, PayPal is waiving its own fees (until June 30th) for both sending and receiving funds in Ukraine. The payment platform traditionally charges a fee for international transactions that starts at 5%, and increases depending on your payment method and the region where your recipient resides.

A new payment option is likely to have a significant impact in Ukraine, where only a few options exist to send or receive money abroad. Sending money to individuals in Ukraine (or virtually anywhere abroad) can be costly. Every payment platform that serves a global customer base in Ukraine (including WesterUnion, MoneyGram, Remitly) charges an international transaction fee or commission, and exchange rates can often be unfavorable. Hopefully, this temporary grace period from PayPal will make a significant impact for those seeking to send money to loved ones in Ukraine.
Enid, OK (73701)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Enid, OK (73701)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Zhang Jun (C, front), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie E)

"We do not consider it too much to ask. And on this issue, no double standards should be applied," said a Chinese envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday asked relevant parties to the biological security issue in Ukraine to respond to newly discovered documents and offer clarifications to remove the doubts of the international community.

China was once a victim of chemical and biological weapons. China believes that any information and lead on biological military activities should trigger heightened concern and attention of the international community to avoid irreparable harm, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"In this regard, relevant parties should take a responsible approach. Russia has further revealed newly discovered relevant documents. The party concerned should respond to questions, and offer timely and comprehensive clarifications to remove the doubts of the international community," he told a Security Council meeting on the biological security issue in Ukraine.

"We do not consider it too much to ask. And on this issue, no double standards should be applied," he said.

China's position on weapons of mass destruction and biological security is consistent and clear. China stands for the complete prohibition and destruction of all weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, said Zhang.

China resolutely opposes the development, possession or use of biological and chemical weapons by any country under any circumstances, and urges countries that have not done so to destroy their chemical weapons stockpiles as soon as possible. Complying with the Biological Weapons Convention is the obligation of all state parties. China calls for early negotiations on the establishment of a verification regime under the convention, which will help improve global biosecurity, he said.

Firefighters work near a building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 13, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

Under the current situation, it is the shared desire of the international community to achieve a cease-fire in Ukraine as soon as possible to avoid more civilian casualties and to prevent a massive humanitarian crisis. China shares this wish, said Zhang.

Direct negotiations between the parties concerned are the fundamental way to solve the problem. Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of negotiations. While the negotiations are kept going, there is hope for a cease-fire and a peaceful future. China will continue to facilitate dialogues for peace. China supports the United Nations and all parties in ramping up mediation efforts, and hopes that all parties can do more to promote peace talks, rather than adding fuel to the fire.

"Behind the Ukraine crisis is the issue of European security. It is our hope that the United States, the European Union and NATO can sit down with Russia for in-depth and comprehensive dialogues and explore ways to put in place a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism based on the principle of indivisible security so as to achieve lasting peace and stability in Europe." 
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Disney has been making empty promises for a long time about LGBTQ+ inclusion in its films, underdelivering on big moments that they had advertised - like when the "first openly gay character" in Disney history was just a police officer in Onward who mentions her girlfriend in passing in the few minutes she spends onscreen.

However, it looks like the tide is finally beginning to turn, as both artists and shareholders at Disney alike have stood up to say 'enough is enough' after CEO Bob Chapek's insultingly inadequate initial response to Florida's recent "Don't Say Gay" bill - so much so that they reinstated a scene that had already been cut from Pixar's upcoming Toy Story spinoff, Lightyear.

Chapek fell under heavy fire after that statement, not only because he was responsible for Disney's large donations to the campaign of the man who drafted the bill, as well as many of his colleagues, but also because part of the statement read:

"I believe the best way for our company to bring about lasting change is through the inspiring content we produce."

This was too much for Pixar animators, who quickly fired back in a letter and series of statements on social media accounts, calling out the hypocrisy in that statement - because, they said, Disney higher-ups had been cutting queer content from their movies for years, leaving crumbs or nothing at all in the place of genuine moments.

Now, we're finding out, one of those moments was in Lightyear - because, according to Variety's sources, the character Uzo Aduba plays is openly in a gay relationship in the movie, and a kiss between them that Disney has cut has now been reinstated in the film.

Now we're even more excited to see Lightyear in theaters this summer - we'll be sure to show our support on June 17!
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This is in the context of the allegations that the political parties, which claim to fight elections on behalf of the socially oppressed and communally harassed groups from the margins, have been responsible in contributing to a party gaining power, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. While the leaders of these parties would provide reasons and justification as to how their decision to contest the election was in accordance with their right to contest elections and that they had good intention in fighting elections for the seats they chose to contest, they ended up getting comprehensively defeated. While the right to contest elections is important, it comes with the huge responsibility of giving an honest account of the consequences of exercising such a right. These leaders may arguein fact, some of them did arguethat it is not their concern whether their right to fight elections independently would benefit the party against whom they offer a rather mild critique. Keeping in view the function of the consequences, which by implication produces the truth, their decision to fight elections independently did enable the right-wing party to capture power. It is this truth that should compel us to emphasise on the need for internal critique that is so essential to provide a radical alternative politics that challenges the numerous impediments posed by the right-wing political parties to the realisation of constitutional goals. The editorial in the current issue of Economic & Political Weekly does provide grounds for such opposition as a lived reality and not simply the party of oppositional imagination.

The political parties, which, due to their social basis in the depressed castes and communities, have not only a rhetorical but also a consistently firm belief in the Constitution and its essential thrust and direction to protect their rights and offer them social security. It is this constitutional cover to their social life with dignity that should make it imperative to stand against all the impediments that threaten to undermine the Constitution. Since government formation can be constitutive of such impediments, the leaders of such parties are expected to take utmost care to see that their actual political decisionseven by consequencedo not help the party that seeks to undermine the constitutional framework. They are supposed to keep in mind that such an insistence of autonomy to contest elections possibly involves a danger that the right-wing political partywith its enormous resourcesis empowered, both to mobilise itself into the seat of power as well as to decide which corner of the political grounds should these parties of the Bahujan and minorities occupy. It is rather tragic to know where these parties stand in terms of their electoral results and social credibility. The leaders from these parties, in the aftermath of their electoral debacle, have been facing anger that is occasional and hence does not form a part of the internal critique, which continues irrespective of the events of elections. It is needless to say that an outburst of anger against these leaders lacks the mediation and moderation of internal critique. Internal critique has the function to work against the leaders whose political decisions knowingly or unknowingly contribute to the rise of forces that create impediments to the protection of those facing continuous marginalisation. In fact, it is an irony that the right-wing party, with its enormous resources, seeks to consolidate its own grounds of political domination and, as a consequence, tends to push these parties of the Bahujan and minorities almost underground.
Little magazines have played a vital role in cultivating literary taste, enabling counterculture movements and nurturing young writers and poets.

From the 20th century, little magazines in the United States, England, and India, among other countries, have played a vital role in the cultivation of literary and artistic taste as well as being the stage for significant literary and social movements. A little magazine is a periodical run with little capital and resources, driven by artistic expression rather than commercial gain. Although the Dial (1840) is recognised as the first little magazine, the trend became popular in the beginning of the 20th century with little magazines such as Poetry: A Magazine of Verse (1912), Little Review (1914), and the Egoist (1914).

Two factors set little magazines apart from other literary publications. First, they are not driven by commercial interest. Second, little magazines symbolise protest and change. However, lacking financial resources, little magazines run perennially short of funds, are often irregular, and most do not survive long. Their circulation rarely exceeds 1,000 copies. Historically, little magazine editors have been less bothered by concern for profits and have prioritised editorial independence. This independence enabled them to highlight issues and concerns generally not addressed by the mainstream media and, in the process, challenge the dominant narratives. In his article The Little Magazines (1942), Alan Swallow, who accomplished one of the earliest scholarly works on little magazines, mentions three fundamental functions of these magazines: to provide a market for the great writing of our time; to sponsor experiments, controversy, and new movements; and to give a hearing to unpopular ideas. Little magazines also provided a much-needed platform for talented, budding writers, and poets, many of whom later became acclaimed literary personalities. American little magazines like the Double Dealer (192126) and the Fugitive (192225) printed some of the early work of famous writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, poets like Allen Tate, John Crowe Ransom, apart from producing brilliant editors and literary figures.
Liberal Education and Its Discontents: The Crisis in the Indian University by Shashikala Srinivasan, New Delhi: Routledge, 2019; pp 246, `995.

Shashikala Srinivasans book Liberal Education and Its Discontents: The Crisis in the Indian University (2019) is a critical intervention in the ongoing debate on the crisis of universities in India. The question she raises is about the nature of the crisis in India, and is part of the larger global debate on decolonising the university in different parts of the world, especially in South America and the African continentthough its repercussions are felt strongly in the global North too.1 Her central question is straightforwardwhat is the fundamental cause of the crisis of the modern liberal university in India and whether it is similar to that in the West? By only addressing this fundamental cause of the crisis, can we have a flourishing education system that will suit our needs?

In the introduction, Srinivasan claims that this debate in the West and India is different. In the West, at least, there was a golden period when liberal education and the modern liberal university captured the best ideals of intellectual inquiry and good life for the society; however, this stands compromised due to the neo-liberal transformation of the university (pp 48). The responses to this change have been either revivalism or transformation in order to change the aims of education for the 21st century. However, in India, Srinivasan claims that liberal education was never able to do the job for which it was established, that is, to morally uplift the natives to become truthful and civilised in taste and manners (Chapter 3). Since independence, we have not been able to make these liberal education institutions our own (Chapter 4).
Russia has markedly increased its influence in Africa in the last four years. Many European and African leaders have been concerned about this trend. But Europe has failed to grapple with it as a strategic threat, instead falling back on country-specific responses. A prerequisite of a coherent strategic response is to understand the objective of ones opponent. Yet Europeans are not even sure whether Russia has a strategic objective in Africa. Still, regardless of Russias original intentions, its role in Africa takes on a new meaning in light of its all-out war on Ukraine. The war has deepened the divide between Russia and the West in just its first two weeks, prompting a remarkable economic decoupling between the sides. The war has also sparked a multi-regional contest between Russia and the West that will soon extend to Africa. The Kremlin may not have previously seen its ambitions in Africa in terms of conflict with Europe  and African countries want to avoid such conflict at all costs  but this is now the reality.

In the new strategic view Russia has adopted since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the role of Africa appears to have two main dimensions. Firstly, Russia sees Africa as a source of commodities such as rare or valuable minerals. Gold extraction features in nearly every recent Russian expansion into Africa. This activity, which seemed to be mere profiteering just weeks ago, will now likely become part of a concerted effort to build a war chest that might help Russia cope with Western sanctions. Secondly, Russia could use Africa as an alternative battlefield on which to weaken Europe and thereby ease the pressure on Russian forces in Ukraine. This might take the form of simply creating instability to shift Europeans attention to the south, and to divide EU member states on the issue of which region to prioritize.

RUSSIA IN THE ARC OF INSTABILITY  In Africa, Russia is focused primarily on the swathe of insecure, autocrat-dominated countries that together make up an arc of instability. Aided by the foothold it established in Sudan in 2017, the Kremlins activities in Africa now extend from Ethiopia and Libya to the Central African Republic and, most recently, Mali. These countries need external security support for various reasons. Those in the east face armed or popular uprisings, while those in the west  in the Sahel  contend with these challenges and with the persistent threat of transnational armed extremism. The state-building tools Europe currently uses in the arc of instability include peacekeeping, political dialogue, and aid. Mali stands out as a country in which Europe has done even more: training the countrys army as France deployed forces to fight extremists directly. Europe spends billions of euros on state-building with the objective of promoting stability and democracy. But Russias objective is influence. Through far cheaper security assistance  an asset whose scarcity inflates its value to autocratic governments  Russia is efficient in gaining influence.

Russia has found opportunities to intervene where Europe has pushed autocrats to undertake painful changes  either because the unrest they face is rooted in their approach to governance or because they have violated democratic principles that Europe shares with pan-African institutions. Following a hiatus in the post-cold war period, coups and dubious extensions of presidential terms are back in vogue in the arc of instability. Russia, then, can provide a welcome alternative to Europes lectures and conditions. For the most part, Europe provides no security assistance. Where Europe does so, as in Mali, this assistance comes with conditions attached. Russias comparative geopolitical advantage is in exporting security assistance with no questions asked. Russia is the most influential non-Western actor in several countries in the arc of instability. But an axis of Middle Eastern powers  which comprises the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and which is known as the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA)  follows a similar approach. For geographical reasons, this grouping is most active in Libya and the eastern part of the arc of instability. While Russia is engaged in power projection, these Middle Eastern states are trying to dictate geopolitical outcomes in their neighborhood. Taken together, these countries provide African autocrats with an alternative that prevents Europe from gaining the influence it needs to achieve its state-building objectives  or, in the case of Mali, threatens to displace Europeans altogether.

WHAT CAN EUROPE DO?  Europes focus on state-building as its central objective implies that who governs African countries is secondary to how they govern. In contrast, Russia and the MESA axis are in the business of picking sides, promoting their allies, and creating client states. With their thumb on the scale, Europes state-building objective  which is ambitious at the best of times  becomes impossible to achieve. When Europe focuses on state-building that requires equidistance from all local actors, this creates an opportunity to gain an advantage by backing only one group of actors  autocrats. Therefore, Europes approach to state-building is a relic of a bygone age in which the arc of instability was insulated from external interests. In the new conflict with Russia, this approach is Europes Achilles heel.

EU member states with robust militarily capabilities have sometimes attempted to compete with their rivals in Africa by adopting a similar approach, presenting this as realpolitik. The idea is that Europe should deal with autocrats on their own terms by playing down the need for democratic reform, stepping up security cooperation with them, and thereby competing with Russia and the MESA axis. Europe should, so the argument goes, embrace the reality that the armed force remains the ultimate arbiter of power while democracy is fragile and transient. The question is: what use is the access and influence Europeans gain in this way? A compromise on values might be practical if a higher strategic imperative merits this. But, generally, no such imperative is apparent. Europes objective is not to plunder natural resources such as gold in Sudan or Mali (anymore). African autocrats are not especially effective at reducing migration to Europe, despite their claims to the contrary. And, in any case, the arc of instability is a negligible source of such migration. Finally, there is little point in Europe compromising on its values to secure autocrats permission for its state-building objectives if that effort will be fatally undermined by Russia and the MESA axis.

Ethiopia and Libya may be exceptions to this. Their geopolitical value creates a strategic imperative that does not apply to other parts of the arc of instability. Thanks to its massive  if underdeveloped  economy and its importance to East Africas security order, Ethiopia draws in China and the United States as much as Russia and the MESA axis. Libyas energy resources and strategic position near Europe draw in the same cast of characters (aside from China). The motive for the counter-terrorism campaign in Mali also approaches a real strategic imperative. But, with an alternative offer from Russia, the Malian government has shown Europeans the door and thereby made the choice for them. Otherwise, Europe has no major economic or geopolitical interests in Mali. Rather than compete for influence on autocrats and participate in a race to the bottom by compromising on its values, Europe should prioritize its natural allies in Africa. Sudan provides the readiest example of what such an approach would look like. The countrys popular protest movement shares Europes democratic values and provides a durable alternative to autocracy. As the movement is focused on values, Russia and the MESA axis will be unable to compete with Europe for influence on it.

Learning from Sudan, Europe should support allies who share its values across the arc of instability. Sudan made the decision easy because the protest movement formed by itself. In other contexts, there is no such ready-made solution to hand. Many African countries are home to actors who share Europes values but  due to state repression or their internal differences  have not coalesced into a politically influential bloc. If Europe drops state-building as its central objective, it will remove the leverage that autocratic governments gain in return for their cooperation with, and permission for, European efforts in this area. Free of the sunk costs of state-building and the need for equidistance, Europe could change the focus of its engagement. Europe could shift the diplomatic priority it normally assigns to government institutions to actors that share European values, regardless of whether they are in power. In many cases, these actors would not be in power  meaning that Europeans would need to begin to rediscover a technique they first employed in Soviet countries in eastern Europe: support the growth of popular democratic movements that operate in a repressive environment.

Europeans inclinations towards security assistance still have a place in this new approach. But rather than seeking an accommodation with autocrats, they would be implementing strong countermeasures to the security support provided by Russia and the MESA axis. For example, instead of spending years cajoling Sudanese paramilitary leader Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti) in the vain hope of changing his behavior, Europeans would have targeted him with sanctions after the first massacre of members of the protest movement. This approach would have helped prevent him from becoming an increasingly powerful tool in Russias hands  especially if it was combined with significant financial aid for the protest movement, including that for the development of political parties and security training for front-line protesters. Such a strategy would alienate some governments in the arc of instability. But Europe could bear that cost because it would measure success differently: in the growth of constituencies that share its values across the region. When these constituencies eventually come to power, they will be the partners Europes state-building efforts were unable to find in autocrats.

So, Europe need not discard state-building altogether. State-building tools are still useful. But Europe would prioritize assistance for partners that are a prerequisite for successful state-building. Europes foreign policy in the arc of instability needs an injection of strategic purpose. Many Europeans interpreted the recent vote at the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Russias war on Ukraine as a litmus test of African countries support for democratic values. The reality is that Europe is no longer Africas pre-eminent international partner. Instead, it is one of several major partners. In this environment, Europe needs to shore up allies who share its values  starting with Sudans protest movement.

Competitive Values: Russias Conflict with Europe in Africa  Commentary by Theodore Murphy  European Council on Foreign Relations / ECFR.

The Commentary can be downloaded here
The EUs foreign policy chief issued a thinly veiled warning to Russia on Wednesday (16 March) to cease meddling in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), amid growing concerns about instability to Europes south with a war already raging to the east, in Ukraine. Speaking in Sarajevo, Josep Borrell, told EU peacekeeping troops that their presence at this critical moment [] is more important than ever and, without naming Russia, he appeared to warn Moscow not to upset the delicate politics of Bosnia.Russias invasion of Ukraine has raised fears among many Bosnians that their vulnerable state could also become a target. Like Ukraine and Georgia, both now having suffered Russias military intervention, Bosnia and Herzegovina too has NATO membership aspirations that infuriate Moscow.

The Bosnian Serb member of BiHs tripartite Presidency, Milorad Dodik  who is also by many seen as Putins proxy in Bosnia  said that he understood from his meeting with EU Josep Borrell that there will be no accelerated path for BiH towards EU membership.There is no accelerated path of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the European Union. This is what I concluded from their views regarding their demand that the standards must be respected and this is absolutely clear to everyone, Dodik said.He also strongly criticized statements that could often be heard recently regarding parallels between the situation in Ukraine and BiH.In Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovinas Serb-dominated entity that, like the breakaway regions of Donbas, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, is opposed to NATO, Vladimir Putins prospects are of the highest geopolitical value, namely securing a loyal proxy ready to do Moscows bidding.

The Russian president has already held numerous official consultations with Dodik, the latest one taking place in December 2021. During his second consecutive meeting with Putin in the midst of the 2014 Ukraine crisis, Dodik shared his unequivocal affiliation with Moscow, saying: Naturally, there is no question that we support Russia. We may be a small and modest community, but our voice is loud. But as Russias current military intervention progressed in Ukraine, Dodik argued that there was a civil war here in BiH, there wasnt anything here similar to what is happening in Ukraine. We support the territorial integrity of all UN member states, as well as Ukraine. Still, in neighboring Kosovo, fears are growing that Russia could inspire a new Serbian offensive in the territory. Having celebrated the 14th anniversary of independence from Serbia just one week before Russian soldiers crossed into Ukraine on 24 February, Kosovo knows the invasion found it in a precarious and uncertain position.

While Dodikhas actively threatened a separation of Republika Srpska, Serbia continues to maintain a heavy influence in the northern part of Kosovo along the border. Given the mutual cultural affinity and the stable political alliance between Serbia and Russia, there has been an ongoing debate in Kosovo whether Belgrade might use the conflict In Ukraine as an excuse to attack the country. Some argue that if Russia had been able to advance quickly in Ukraine, the Balkans would be in real trouble.When the Ukraine war began, Kosovo was quick to throw its weight behind the country. The Pristina-based political analyst and expert Agon Maliqi says that the Kremlin has followed an aggressive path in the Balkans by sustaining conflicts in Kosovo and Bosnia, after it had actively tried to prevent NATO accession for Montenegro and North Macedonia in a bid to create destabilization fronts in the war of influence with the West in the region.
Russian forces in Ukraine are blasting cities and killing civilians but no longer making progress on the ground, Western countries said, as a war Moscow was thought to have hoped to win within days entered its fourth week.
NAIROBI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved 85.77 billion shillings (about 750 million U.S. dollars) to help accelerate Kenya's ongoing inclusive and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

The World Bank said in a statement released Thursday that the Development Policy Operation (DPO) will help Kenya strengthen fiscal sustainability through reforms that contribute to greater transparency and the fight against corruption.

Keith Hansen, the World Bank country director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda, said that the government has maintained the momentum to make critical reforms progress despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

"The World Bank, through the DPO instrument, is pleased to support these efforts which are positioning Kenya to sustain its strong economic growth performance and steering it toward inclusive and green development," said Hansen.

The DPO is the second in a two-part series of development operations initiated in 2020 that provides low-cost budget financing along with support to key policy and institutional reforms.

It organizes the multi-sector reforms into three pillars -- fiscal and debt reforms to make spending more transparent and efficient and enhance domestic debt market performance; electricity sector and public-private partnership (PPP) reforms to place Kenya on an efficient, green energy path, and boost private infrastructure investment; and strengthening the governance framework of Kenya's natural and human capital including the environment, land, water and healthcare.

The Bank said its DPO also supports Kenya's capacity to handle future pandemics through the establishment of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (NPHI), which will coordinate public health functions and programs to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats, including infectious and non-infectious diseases, and other health events.

"By the end of 2023, the program aims to have five strategically selected ministries, departments, and agencies, procuring all goods and services through the electronic procurement platform," it said.

The lender also said measures on infrastructure will create a platform for investments in least-cost, clean power technologies, and enhance the legal and institutional setup for PPPs to attract more private investment. Aligning clean energy investments to demand growth and ensuring competitive pricing through a transparent, competitive auction-based system has the potential to generate savings of about 1.1 billion dollars over ten years at current exchange rates.

Alex Sienaert, the senior economist for the World Bank in Kenya, said the government's reforms supported by the DPO help reduce fiscal pressures by making public spending more efficient and transparent, and by reducing the fiscal costs and risks from key state-owned entities.

"The package includes measures to spur more private investment and growth, whilst strengthening the management of Kenya's natural and human capital which underpin its economy," Sienaert added. 
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Two banking regulators slammed San Antonio-based USAA Federal Savings Bank with $140 million in fines Thursday for failing to timely report thousands of suspicious transactions.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, hit USAA Bank with a $140 million fine, while the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency assessed a $60 million penalty.

However, the bank has to pay $140 million instead of $200 million because FinCEN agreed to credit the $60 million civil penalty imposed by the OCC.

As its customer base and revenue grew in recent years, USAA FSB willfully failed to ensure that its compliance program kept pace, resulting in millions of dollars in suspicious transactions flowing through the U.S. financial system without appropriate reporting, FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das said in a statement.

USAA FSB also received ample notice and opportunity to remediate its inadequate (anti-money laundering) program, but repeatedly failed to do so, Das added. Todays action signals that growth and compliance must be paired.

On ExpressNews.com: USAA Bank racks up huge losses on falling revenue, rising costs over last 2 years

In the consent order with FinCen, USAA admitted willfully violating the Bank Secrecy Act.

While the issues identified in these orders did not result in any individual member harm, we understand the importance of these requirements, USAA CEO Wayne Peacock said in a statement.

Compliance is a top and urgent priority that is fundamental to providing our members with the highest level of service, he added. USAA has already made progress in many critical areas by investing in new systems and training, enhancing staffing and expertise, and improving our processes. And we have an unwavering commitment to the military community.

USAA Banks compliance failures were pervasive across its business lines and affected all layers of the its overall risk management, according to FinCENs consent order.

We dont see any more these kind of heavy (Bank Secrecy Act) penalties and these really egregious types of actions claimed by the government, said Kenneth Thomas, a Miami-based bank analyst and president of Community Development Fund Advisor. It probably doesnt get much worse.

The penalties follow actions against the bank in 2019 and 2020 for alleged violations of banking regulations.

In October 2020, the OCC fined the bank $85 million for violations of law that were part of a pattern of misconduct.

The bank neither admitted nor denied violating banking laws.

The OCC, which regulates federally chartered banks, found USAA Banks internal controls did not comply with certain guidelines. The bank also failed to implement and maintain a risk-management program sufficient for its size.

The Bank failed to correct problems with its (anti-money laundering) program that the OCC previously reported to the Banks management and the Board of Directors, FinCens consent order said. These managers therefore had knowledge of the violations, yet they failed to quickly and effectively remediate the identified deficiencies.

In 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau directed the bank to pay a $3.5 million penalty and $12 million in restitution to settle charges that it violated banking laws.

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USAA Bank began beefing up its risk management and regulatory compliance in the wake of those fines, it has said.

No financial danger

The investment contributed to combined losses of $710 million over the last two years, the first time the bank has posted losses in consecutive years since its first two full years of operation in 1984 and 1985.

The then-fledgling institution, a fraction of the size it is today, lost a combined $2.3 million those years. Thats about $6.2 million in todays dollars.

Despite the huge losses, USAA Bank is in no financial danger.

It had $117.4 billion in assets at the end of last year, ranking it among the 35 largest financial institutions in the country.

As part of the consent order with FinCEN, USAA Bank must develop and implement within 30 days a written plan detailing the remedial actions it will take to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act.

The act, passed by Congress in 1970, requires financial institutions to assist U.S. government agencies to detect and prevent money laundering. Financial institutions must keep file reports of cash transactions exceeding $10,000 and report suspicious activity that might signify money laundering, tax evasion or other criminal activities.

Both FinCen and the OCC are bureaus of the Treasury Department.

pdanner@express-news.net
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Arnold Schwarzenegger released a nine-minute video Thursday addressed to the people of Russia, urging the government to end the war in Ukraine and denouncing state propaganda.

I know that your government has told you this is a war to denazify Ukraine, the actor and former California governor said in the video, which was produced by ATTN:. Denazify Ukraine? This is not true. Ukraine is a country with a Jewish president. A Jewish president, I might add, whose fathers three bothers were all murdered by the Nazis.

He continued, You see, Ukraine did not start this war. Neither did nationalists or Nazis. Those in power in the Kremlin started this war.

In a rare move for Schwarzenegger, he openly spoke about his father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, who was a Nazi. He discussed the lies his father was told by his own government, as well as the effects it had on him later in his life, before his death in 1972.

When my father arrived in Leningrad, he was all pumped up on the lies of his government, Schwarzenegger said. And when he left Leningrad, he was broken, physically and mentally. He lived the rest of his life in pain; pain from a broken back, pain from the shrapnel that always reminded him of his terrible years and pain from the guilt that he felt. To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast: You already know much of the truth that Im speaking. Youve seen it in your own eyes. I dont want you to be broken like my father.

I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share. pic.twitter.com/6gyVRhgpFV  Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 17, 2022

Schwarzenegger also addressed Russian censorship of independent media, as well as its tactics to send its citizens to war under false pretenses: The Russian government has lied not only to the citizens, but to its soldiers.

Before closing on a message to the Russian people commending them for their strength, Schwarzenegger addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin directly: You started this war, you are leading this war, you can stop this war.

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Jacala, one of San Antonios oldest restaurants, went up in flames early Thursday morning, the damage so extreme fire officials deemed it a total loss. The West Side Tex-Mex institution opened in 1949, amassing a loyal following of regular customers over the years.

Jarrett Vocke, a batallion chief with the San Antonio fire department, said that the loss of the restaurant was personal to him, because it was the gathering place after his own fathers funeral. This is a huge loss to the community, theres no other way to say it, Vocke said.

Lucille Hooker, who co-owns Jacala with two sisters, said Thursday afternoon she was in shock. I dont have any idea what the future holds ... Its just gone.

Now Playing: Firefighters have spent several hours battling an enormous blaze at Jacala, one of San Antonios oldest and well-known Tex-Mex restaurants. The fire started at around 6:30 a.m. Video: Stephanie Padilla

No one was in the building when the blaze started around 6:30 a.m., and fire officials are still investigating the cause, Vocke said. Twenty units were called out to he scene of the fire, which burned for nearly three hours. Fire crews were forced to mostly flatten the building to extinguish the fire. As of 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jacala was still smoldering.

It was the second fire in the restaurants history. A fire in 2016 forced a six-week closure for repairs.

On ExpressNews.com: Jacala Mexican Restaurant a San Antonio landmark

Rudolph G. Quinones and his wife Adelfa opened the restaurant in 1949 at the intersection of Culebra Road and Wilson Boulevard. In 1952, they moved it to its current location at West Avenue near Hildebrand, a space with just four booths and two tables.

It would go on to grow to into a space with five dining areas that could seat 250 guests. Jacala expanded and had eight locations between San Antonio and Tyler, but the West Avenue location was the last of its kind before the fire.

Jacalas classic Tex-Mex garnered many awards from the Express-News, which over the years has lauded its excellent enchilada, puffy tacos, tamales, fajitas and combo plates. The bar featured drinks such as the Sangria Swirl and the Chamoy-A-Rita.

A video of the fire posted on Jacalas Facebook page had more than 750 comments by Thursday afternoon, many of them from regulars mourning the loss.

One comment addressed to the owners said, Lucille, Yolonda & Cindy, my heart breaks for all of you. What a devastating and historical loss. Some of the best times of my life were spent with you all, wrote Lynda Diann.

Others commented on their own familys longtime history eating there. This is my familys favorite restaurant. Weve been going since I was a kid (and my parents have been going since way before I was born). Heartbreaking! Staci Chriswell Moore wrote.

One regular showed up in person to the restaurant site Thursday to take in the damage. Ive been going here since the 1970s, and it always had a special place in my heart, said Paul Ballantine, who took a few snapshots on his phone as the property continued to smoke from the heat.

Hooker said she said it was too early to say what she and sisters would do with the business after the fire.

We could rebuild there. We could do another location. All I can say is that I loved our food and we served it with pride and that means something.

cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount | Instagram: @bbqdiver
Two Department of Family and Protective Services staffers have been fired over their handling of sex abuse allegations at a Texas-contracted foster care facility, the department head said Thursday.

The mid-level supervisors were released after failing to elevate allegations that an employee at The Refuge, a Bastrop center for survivors of sex trafficking, sold nude photos of two girls and used the money to provide them with drugs. State officials first received a report of the incident on Jan. 24, and an initial investigation appeared to show that the children were no longer in danger because the employee had been terminated.

But DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters told lawmakers that she should have been notified two days later, when state officials uncovered that the ex-employee was related to several other people who still worked there. Instead, Masters wasnt informed until last week, a month and a half after the first report.

RELATED: Sex trafficking accusations at Texas foster care facility prompt legislative hearings

None of us can be everywhere at all times, Masters said in a hearing. Everyone depends on everyone up the chain to do what they are tasked with doing, and this is what did not happen here. Policy was not followed. Naked pictures of children in our care should have rang every bell.

Her statements were before the state Senates Special Committee on Child Protective Services, created last week after the allegations came to light. State officials initially claimed that The Refuge had been sex trafficking the children staying at the facility, but a Department of Public Safety investigation produced no evidence of sexual abuse there.

The Refuges leaders have denied all sex-trafficking allegations and said they are cooperating with local and state law enforcement on other claims.

Still, the DPS probe confirmed the nude photo allegations and described a separate incident in which several staff members helped two girls escape the operation, according to a letter from Director Steve McCraw on Wednesday.

When something happens  like what happened at Bastrop, allegedly  the systems not working exactly the way it should, said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. If youre taking nude photos and youre helping them escape, then you are putting them right into the hands of those who would exploit them.

Everything was over at that point

There were multiple occasions in which supervisors should have notified DFPS executives about the situation at The Refuge, Masters said.

The first came in January, when it was discovered that several staff members were related to the former employee who had allegedly sold the photos.

Everything was over at that point, Masters said, reiterating that state employees initially believed the situation was safe because the worker had been fired. Once we knew (that) no, she's got a sister, an aunt, a cousin  and these are all top-level staff ... then you have to assume everyone's lying.

The next month, state workers twice classified The Refuge as high risk for the children staying there, but two managers failed to relay the incident, Masters said. One said the incident slipped her mind, and another said she was disengaged. The second manager had created an unbelievable culture in which employees believed they would be punished with additional work for bothering her with the reports, she said.

Both were fired.

State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, suggested an electronic system to automatically notify DFPS leadership if workers decide there is a high risk at a facility.

Then, we take the human element out of it, he said.

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The department is notorious for its digital issues, most notably lacking a centralized system to track foster children and their records. In this case, DFPS officials were working out of multiple data systems to track the states response to complaints at The Refuge, including reports, risk assessments, interviews and other activities.

It took seven hours to even compile a timeline of events, Masters said.

All the information was there, but it made it a challenge, said Robert Richman, the associate commissioner for child protective investigations. If it's a problem for me, I would suspect it's a problem for my supervisors. It would be a problem for our investigator who loads that information up. ... It's inefficient, in my opinion.

Investigation finds no trafficking

Allegations against The Refuge surfaced late last week after a DFPS employee sent a letter to two court-appointed monitors in a longstanding legal case over Texass foster care conditions, describing an urgent situation in Bastrop.

The letter detailed the photo allegations and seven other complaints. State officials said there were seven alleged victims and nine alleged perpetrators, claiming that several staffers at The Refuge were aware of the accusations but did not act on them.

In all, 11 girls were housed at the facility through early March, and all of them were removed from the operation last week  six weeks after the first complaint was submitted on Jan. 24.

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate the situation the same day the letter was released. McCraws Wednesday memo described the photo and runaway incidents, both of which produced no evidence that any of the residents at the Refuge shelter have ever been sexually abused or trafficked while at the shelter.

McCraw said the initial DFPS letter to the court monitors contained material inaccuracies and information that had not been properly verified.

The employee accused of selling the photos has not been arrested but is under investigation by the Bastrop County Sheriffs Office, McCraw said. Another worker involved in the escape situation has been arrested and is accused of lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Brooke Crowder, the founder and CEO of The Refuge, said the organization was deeply relieved by the Rangers findings and will continue to cooperate with state and local authorities as they pursue justice for the girls involved in the cited incidents.

cayla.harris@express-news.net
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Police are trying to piece together how a 14-year-old boy was shot Thursday afternoon at a Southwest Side apartment.

Officers were alerted at about 1 p.m. to the shooting in the 700 block of West Mayfield Boulevard, said Officer Sarai Nemeses, a San Antonio police spokeswoman.

Police found the boy outside the apartments with at least one gunshot wound to his lower torso, Nemeses said. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

On ExpressNews.com: Teen dies in shooting on far Northwest Side after drug deal goes bad, BCSO says

At least two other people were around when the shooting occurred, but Nemeses said the witnesses and the boy are not cooperating with police.

The witnesses relationships to the boy were not immediately known, she said.

We dont know if this was an accident or not, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: Overnight shootings in San Antonio leave two men dead

At least two males could be seen in police vehicles as officers collected evidence at the scene.

The boys parents were notified of the incident, Nemeses said.

jbeltran@express-news.net
DEtte Cole didnt know much about development in San Antonio until she learned a site near her Government Hill home could become a 24-hour gas station.

Cole and her neighbors put up a yearlong fight against a QuikTrip moving in near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Walters. They ultimately got a compromise from City Council in the form of new zoning that allows for commercial development, but not a gas station.

The battle made Cole realize San Antonio doesnt have many restrictions for how close a gas station can be to homes, apartments or schools. So she submitted an amendment to the citys code that would change that.

San Antonio began accepting proposals like Coles in October, kicking off a process to update the citys Unified Development Code that only happens once every five years or by City Council request. Its meant to streamline development, reduce costs and comply with any new state laws. It also lets city staff and residents suggest bigger-picture changes that affect sensitive development concerns in a growing city.

It just seems like such a simple thing to amend the UDC to give a little bit of buffer protection for these older communities, Cole said. They really are the roots of the city.

The Unified Development Code is a chapter in the municipal code that governs the rules, policies and procedures for development in San Antonio.

It affects things like zoning, which determines how a property can be used by owners and developers. It also impacts trees, landscaping, streets, stormwater drainage and more.

The UDC amendment process was slated to take place in 2020, but the city delayed it during the coronavirus pandemic. The code was last updated in 2015.

The update process gives residents the chance to have a say in how the city progresses  but first, they must gain support from San Antonios Planning Commission, which decides what amendments can move forward for other boards and committees to hash out and eventually go before City Council.

Only amendments submitted externally are required to get the extra go-ahead from the Planning Commission. Internal submissions from city staff and city-owned utilities CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System can move forward without the additional step. Some have said that hinders public participation in changing the code.

On ExpressNews.com: Environmentalists push tight limits to build in floodplains  and developers arent happy about it

Others say it safeguards the process. The increased review lets planning professionals decide if amendments submitted by residents contradict existing code, said Melissa Mota Ramirez, the assistant director over land development in the citys Development Services Department. Mota Ramirez oversees the ongoing UDC amendments.

City Council is ultimately responsible for deciding whether any policy shifts should take effect, Mota Ramirez said.

A number of boards, commissions and committees will review the amendments. They can send a recommendation of approval or denial or changes to the submissions  internal or external  to the full City Council.

One central review body is the Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee. Members are appointed by the Planning Commission and include residents from the planning and zoning commissions, members of the board of adjustment, engineers and architects. Others who are active in environmental and historic advocacy, as well as generally active community members, also are on the committee.

Were trying to build our regulations with all the players at the table to provide that feedback, Mota Ramirez said.

The group has meetings scheduled weekly or biweekly through June to discuss UDC amendments. City Council is expected to vote on the submissions in October. Any that pass would become effective in November.

Hard conversations

Feb. 1 was the deadline for amendment submissions. In all, staff and residents suggested 234 changes to the citys UDC. Most proposals, 127, go beyond edits or clarifications. About 25 percent, or 59, amendments are simple edits or clarification. Another 48 require detailed discussion.

Of all the submissions, just 43, or 18 percent, came from residents or other external organizations like Tier One Neighborhood Coalition. The large majority of those  40  were sponsored by the Planning Commission and will be considered in the coming months.

There are hard conversations that were having, Mota Ramirez said. But at the end of the day, the goal is to create successful UDC amendments that work and form our city.

The discussion over Coles proposed amendment for gas station development was one of the 40 submissions the Planning Commission voted to move forward. The initial approval came after a back-and-forth between commissioners, one of whom said he couldnt support it because it was reflective of one bad incident.

But District 9 Councilman John Courage, who sits on the Planning Commission, motioned to move it forward.

For her part, Cole knows updating the citys code now wont affect the zoning change that already happened in her neighborhood. And she acknowledges shes no expert on the tedious language of city code.

She hopes the next committee to review it can help craft the best amendment that makes sense for San Antonio, even if that means altering what she sent in to still end up with something that maintains her intent.

Spending most of the year following her amendment through the various committees makes the process hard to navigate, she said. Cole prepared a speech for the Planning Commission and organized other neighbors to show up and speak.

It has been an uphill battle, Cole said. But this amendment just seems it could really safeguard and solve a problem.

megan.stringer@express-news.net
A Texas man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for offering to torture a sex trafficking victim for money, the Department of Justice said.

Billie Joe Sanford, 39, of Eustace, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to attempted kidnapping.

In October 2020, Sanford replied to an online ad  posted by an undercover Department of Homeland Security agent  seeking help with a sex trafficking victim who needs breaking, according to a federal complaint. Sanford said he could help make her a proper slave.

The undercover agent, posing as the head of a human trafficking ring, told Sanford he planned to make a fortune pimping out the victim but was concerned about her refusal to engage in commercial sex and her repeated attempts to escape.

On ExpressNews.com: Woman escapes kidnapping attempt with help from stranger at gas station

Sanford requested $5,000 a week and a space to torture the victim that provided complete privacy far from neighbors.

Sanford communicated with the agent for about a month regarding the logistics of his services.

He bragged that he had broken trafficking victims before and said his methods included flogging, caging, shock therapy, blaring heavy metal music, whips, paddles lined with nails and black out contacts. Sanford also said that he would rape the victim as part of the torture, the criminal complaint said.

He also told the agent that he would cause excruciating pain but would not leave any scars that would affect the victims later sale and that he knew where sensitive parts of the body are from his training as a certified nursing assistant, the DOJ said.

You want someone that when its done, if she gets just a smidgen out of line, then you can say, Hey, Im going to call him back, he told the agent. You want her to believe that whenever she leaves her job, if she does not report back to you, she is going back to Bill.  I just make sure they understand they never want to experience this again.

On ExpressNews.com: Four men accused in trafficking, sexual assault of girl

On Nov. 5, Sanford was arrested after he set up a meeting with the undercover agent. The agent brought another undercover agent who posed as the victim to the warehouse where Sanford was supposed to torture her. Sanford brought restraints, flogs, spurs and other equipment.

When questioned by police, Sanford said that he had been in the kink lifestyle for years and that he just wanted to break the victim to help her enjoy life, the criminal complaint said. He said he needed the money because he had financial problems.

Sanford was originally arrested on suspicion of attempting to aid and abet sex trafficking and later pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping.

Tragically, all human trafficking victims endure trauma, U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham said. But the cruelty this defendant was prepared to inflict is almost unthinkable.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Those who work with children whove lost a parent will tell you the grief is long lasting and that rebuilding their resilience can be a challenge.

For children who lost a parent to COVID-19, the grief can be compounded.

Theirs is a distinct brand of orphanhood, a word that seems better suited to previous centuries but has been rekindled by the stark realities of the coronavirus pandemic.

The plight of such orphans may be hidden, exacerbated by isolation and poverty. Too much remains unknown and unaddressed by policies at all levels of government.

A December report titled Hidden Pain: Children Who Lost a Parent or Caregiver to COVID-19 and what the Nation Can Do to Help Them, addresses those points in detail.

At the time it was written, the report estimated that 760,000 COVID deaths in the United States left 167,082 children without a parent or caregiver. Various sources are now reporting that number may exceed 200,000.

The Hidden Pain report also found children of color lost parents or primary caregivers at higher rates than their white counterparts.

American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children lost them at nearly four times the rate of white children.

COVID made Latino and Black children orphans at more than twice the rate of white children. Texas was among the states most affected, along with California.

The citys Metro Health division doesnt track such data locally.

Just last month, however, a study estimated 5.2 million children globally lost a parent or caretaker to the coronavirus, and a model suggests it will grow to 6.7 million.

All this follows a declaration in late October by national pediatric health experts who said its a national emergency. The World Health Organization called it a heartbreaking hidden pandemic that has outpaced COVID deaths.

As Europe sustains another wave of a sub-variant of omicron, these numbers likely will grow, as such trends often jump across the Atlantic.

In San Antonio, Latino children were likely to be placed in kinships with other relatives. Thats viewed as the best outcome but can strain households where resources must be stretched thinner.

Some children have been placed with older siblings in their 20s, said Tami Logsdon of the Childrens Bereavement Center of South Texas, among the local entities serving this population.

Like those whove lost parents in the invasion of Ukraine or other traumatic events, a child who loses a caregiver on top of other upheaval will find it hard to mend.

The bereavement center, which this year marks its 25th anniversary, has been made busier, perhaps because it provides free services: individual counseling, support groups, bereavement camps and school-based programs.

Logsdon said the center needs volunteers to serve as greeters and support group facilitators.

A licensed professional counselor-supervisor, she points to a few trends since the center began telehealth counseling for all but its youngest clients.

It has seen people with pre-existing mental-health issues among its clients, which range from as young as 3 to young adults 18 to about 25, she said.

They first may have struggled with anxiety, she said. Now were seeing more depression and suicidal ideation.

COVID-19 deaths most notably have spurred feelings of guilt, she said, because the grieving child might have contracted the virus and feel responsible for spreading it in their households.

Its an all-too-common situation thats exacerbated by living in close quarters and in multi-generational households.

Mental health experts are most concerned about adolescents, whove experienced isolation, a lost year  two years, really  of schooling and may be having trouble re-engaging.

These kids lost their homes, pets, schools, friends. They had to move. Theyre possibly sharing bedrooms with cousins, Logsdon said.

By the end of 2021, we served 300 individuals after a COVID death, or about 100 families, she said.

Hope remains.

As part of a grief community, those in pain can open up. Knowing theyre not alone will validate their pain and normalize what they are feeling, she said.

That can be the beginning of a long road.

To inquire about services at the bereavement center, call 210-736-4847 and request an intake coordinator to learn if you or a family member qualify for services, Logsdon said.

eayala@express-news.net
Its not enough that we see the devastation and slaughter in Ukraine from the comfort of our homes, through television screens and newspaper photos. Its not enough that we feel sympathetic toward the victims of Vladimir Putin.

Sympathy happens in brief moments of feeling sorry for others while wishing things were better. Hearts are touched, not moved. We see people hurt and how they respond to that pain, but we often dont take the time to imagine what that pain feels like because it belongs to someone else.

Its not sympathy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking; its empathy. Its the use of our imaginations to understand the bombardment and suffering of Ukraine as if it were happening to us. Empathy, activated by imagination, moves people to act as if it were themselves, or someone they know and love, who is in danger.

So, when addressing the Canadian Parliament last week, Zelenskyy said, Imagine that Canadian facilities have been bombed similarly as our buildings and our memorial places are being bombed. A number of families have died. Every night is a horrible night.

Throughout his speech, he used the refrain, Can you imagine?

TYLER HICKS /NYT

The next day, when speaking to the U.S. Congress, Zelenskyy appealed to memory, a stimulant to imagination.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, Americans, in your great history, he said, you have pages that would allow you to understand Ukrainians, understand us now when we need you, right now. Remember Pearl Harbor, terrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you. Just remember it. Remember September 11th, a terrible day in 2001 when evil tried to turn your cities, independent territories, into battlefields. When innocent people were attacked, attacked from air, just like nobody else expected it, you could not stop it. Our country experiences the same every day. Right now, at this moment, every night for three weeks now.

Requesting, again, a no-fly zone, Zelenskyy invoked Martin Luther King Jr. when he said: I have a dream. These words are known to each of you today. I can say I have a need. I need to protect our sky. I need your decision, your help, which means exactly the same. The same you feel when you hear the words, I have a dream.

Zelenskyy understands that most people yearn to do good and right by each other, to ease suffering and help each other along. That yearning can be buried, muted, cowered and forgotten until its awakened by a call for help, a plea for empathy, a demand that we look beyond ourselves or those who look like us.

In John Grishams novel A Time to Kill, a Black Mississippi father kills the two men who raped his 10-year-old daughter. In the movie version, his defense attorney, played by Matthew McConaughey, gives a closing argument in which he asks the all-white jury to close their eyes as he describes in horrific details the brutalities committed on the child. He concludes, Can you see her? I want you to picture that little girl.

He pauses for 21 seconds.

Now imagine shes white.

Empathy shouldnt be reserved for only those who look, think and worship like us. Our power to imagine the suffering of strangers, of anyone different from us, shouldnt be limited by our inability to see beyond those differences.

In the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several Western journalists embarrassed themselves by expressing surprise this was happening somewhere which was relatively civilized and not a developing third world country.

In an unchallenged interview with a BBC reporter, a Ukrainian politician spoke of seeing European people with blue eyes and blond hair being killed.

It took the invasion of Ukraine for these folks to know that white people could be victimized by war? This was the same racism that made it difficult for Black refugees to get out of Ukraine.

But if imagining the suffering of those with whom were most familiar broadens our ability to imagine the lives of those with whom were least familiar, that expands the number of people moved to act.

One reason Zelenskyy inspires is because he believes enough in our humanity to appeal to it. Trying to stay alive one more day to save his country, he dreams, he imagines, hoping the world joins him in this quest for peace.

cary.clack@express-news.net
MOGADISHU, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's international partners on Friday called on the country's stakeholders to resolve any obstacles to completion of the process in the remaining voting sites through dialogue and on a consensus basis, so as to rapidly and credibly conclude the elections.

The partners including the African Union, European Union, United Nations noted that more than 80 percent of the House of the People seats were completed as of March 15 deadline.

"We, therefore, call upon all political leaders to avoid approaches, including a parallel process, that are not based on an agreement among the key actors," the partners said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The statement comes after the electoral committee set April 14 for the swearing-in of the elected members of two chambers of the country's Parliament.

The electoral body said 50 of the elected lawmakers are women. Jubbaland and Hirshabelle States are to elect the remaining 33 seats.

The partners reiterated that efforts must be redoubled to achieve the 30 percent quota for women's representation in parliament.

The 54-member Senate and the 275 members of parliament from the House of the People, or the Lower House, are expected to jointly elect a new president later in 2022. 
As Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine grinds on, many cant resist its powerful pull.

Outside the besieged country, were immersed in breaking news, social media snapshots and dialogue about the conflict as volunteers from around the world rush to help train, fight, document and provide humanitarian aid.

With each day, I hear of more friends and acquaintances swept up in the steady flow of foreigners headed to Ukraine. They join the millions moved by the draw of evil conflict throughout history.

Last week, Paul Schwennesen, a college classmate and fellow history major, posted online that he was headed to Ukraine.

On ExpressNews.com: Taking risks to share the horror in Ukraine

Wed been out of touch for years, but his new mission sparked a reconnection, and weve corresponded via email.

Like most of us, he watched the war boil up from afar until one day on a long drive home he heard a report about little kids kissing their fathers goodbye.

Something within the 43-year-old father of three clicked, and he knew he had to go. He wrote, if the world can stand up hard and fast against this kind of trespass against Liberty, then maybe there is hope this will end soon.

The former Air Force officer with experience in Afghanistan called the war a fundamental moment for Liberty: for the world to push back and defend the right to choose individual autonomy over centralized autocracy.

Armed with masters degrees in history and political philosophy, as well as an in-progress doctorate focused on the 16th-century Spanish New World, theres no doubt the lessons of the past played in his mind as he prepared for the trip.

People must choose to stand up against atrocity.

On ExpressNews.com: Ukraines story may inspire; still, its one of horror

Schwennesen, a second-generation Arizona cattle rancher, said he respectfully ignored the U.S. governments warnings to stay away from Ukraine as his loose affiliation of Liberty-minded academics and policy wonks quickly repurposed itself into a global and keenly effective resistance network.

Hes on the ground with a team thats coordinating with the Ukrainian parliament and medical nongovernmental organizations. The group of about 45 people from around the world is setting up forward operating locations to ship in humanitarian aid/defensive tactical gear and get refugee families out to the West.

Humanitarian work has taken him to other troubled places, but the conflict in Ukraine is different. He called the war a genuine contest of might and right.

When asked about an image thats struck him, he described a young family out for a stroll  little girl in a pink coat, mom carrying an umbrella, and the dad in brand new military uniform  undoubtedly a new recruit.

Where is that family today?

On ExpressNews.com: As invasion looms, lessons go unlearned

Benthe Dore, Schwennesens spouse  a native of the Netherlands living in the U.S.  supports the endeavor from afar. She coordinates communications and fundraising. Theyve raised $15,000 so far. The money helps buy equipment and supplies like protective gear, medication, fuel and food.

Shes also used online food delivery services for those on the ground. The menu was in Polish, so the meal was a surprise.

Dore said her husband is very passionate about defending peoples liberties.

Although its hard to see him go into a potentially dangerous zone, its something he feels strongly about, and Im not holding him back, she said. I believe it is for a good cause.

Views & Voices: Editorials, columns and commentary, delivered to your inbox

The Russian missiles that struck near the Western city of Lviv on March 13 highlighted the risks. Before that, she said, they thought western Ukraine was reasonably safe.

And the perception of reasonable safety is about the best you can get in a war zone.

Hes averaging 16 to 20 hour days, and after joking about how he should be writing his dissertation, he wrote this vivid snapshot: broad open expanses of church-dotted countryside with the iconic black soils of the breadbasket of Europe spotted in snow. Road barriers and checkpoints that look straight out of Saving Private Ryan. Cold gray skies, and a sort of ominous sense off in the distance like an impending storm. People in cities behaving pretty much normally, but with a kind of furtive and suspicious glance  no welcoming smiles or big thumbs up like in Afghanistan. Rumors of Russian infiltration and sabotage are so rife that everyone looks downright unhappy.

Im grateful to my classmate and all those volunteering to help Ukraine. May they all return safely and soon.

brandon.lingle@express-news.net
The first time I took the staff elevator at the now-closed Express-News building, I pushed the button, turned around and came face to face with a distraught child. He looked stunned as he held a hand to his head, sitting atop the hood of a vehicle with a shattered windshield.

This was the lead photo on the San Antonio Express and News on Aug. 14, 1965, framed on the wall behind the staff elevator. The best pictures evoke strong emotions, but the problem with this photo is the story is about the riots in Watts, a Black section of Los Angeles, yet it focuses on a white boy.

The photo was part of a lead Associated Press story about the riots in Los Angeles that used racist language: National Guardsmen with fixed bayonets marched Friday night into a wild Negro district no-mans land where arsonists and looters were out of control and flying bullets killed both police and civilians. Four persons, one a deputy sheriff, were reported slain by gunshot just before the first wave of 400 steel-helmeted troops rolled into, and quickly took over without incident, the community of Watts.

While this story and photo were not produced by San Antonio Express and News staff, its journalists made the poor decision to run them. It was a different time, but it never should have happened, and we must ensure it never happens again.

In my nearly six years as an Express-News researcher, archivist and now op-ed and letters editor, this isnt the first time Ive come face to face with something in our paper that just didnt sit right with me.

Juanito Garza / San Antonio Express-News

Like other employees in newsrooms confronting their racist pasts, including the Orlando Sentinel, Kansas City Star and Los Angeles Times, Ive been thinking about how our paper has covered race. Throughout our papers 157-year history, Ive seen misleading headlines, derogatory language and missing coverage  all of it coming down to the choices made in the newsroom.

Im not the only one thinking about it. Shocked and saddened by this past coverage, my co-workers share thoughts such as: I hope we are doing better than that, and How can we improve to be even better?

Thankfully, we are doing better. Opening the dialogue and listening to the voices in our community and within our newsroom will help us to continue to strengthen our racial coverage.

Those old framed front pages are discarded, and our new office at the remodeled San Antonio Light building will feature new artwork and Express-News work worthy of being showcased.

About a year ago, I joined our papers Diversity and Inclusion Committee, formed in 2020 to help improve diversity among our newsrooms staff and publications. A group of 18 employees across the Express-News organization, with the support of Hearst, our publisher, Mark Medici, managing editor, Marc Duvoisin, and human resources director, Nancy Sandoval, weve developed important initiatives.

We brought back the Teen Team, a journalism education program for high school students, to foster future diversity. Were also working on a community engagement initiative so employees of the paper, including reporters, editors, advertising executives and marketing managers, are more accessible to all members of our community. You can read more about some of our efforts on our website, WeAreSAEN.com.

On behalf of the Express-News Diversity and Inclusion committee, Im excited to invite you to a special event on Wednesday, History & Headlines: A reckoning of the Express-News coverage of race from the 1960s to present day.

The panel, held online, will feature MySA culture editor Madalyn Mendoza, Express-News Editorial Board member and columnist Cary Clack, and myself, with Express-News columnist Gilbert Garcia moderating. More details of the event can be found here. I hope you join us for this important conversation.

We cant discard our past as easily as we can a framed front page, but we can confront and learn from it.

mharris@express-news.net
Abraxas Petroleum has had a rough couple of years, as the pandemic and a financial crunch forced it to stop drilling. Now, with oil prices up and a discovery that Abraxas oil and gas reserves are bigger than thought, there may be an opening for the company to revive itself and restart drilling  or to sell its assets and liquidate.

The San Antonio-based driller has been a shaky operator in recent years; it hasnt posted a profit or had a quarterly earnings call with analysts since 2018. Last year, it was kicked off the Nasdaq stock exchange after its share price failed to top $1 for several days.

But Abraxas stock has boomed this month alongside crude oil prices, which shot up after Russias invasion of Ukraine rocked global oil markets.

The price of West Texas crude peaked at $123 per barrel March 8 after breaking $100 at the beginning of the month. On Thursday, the domestic oil benchmark closed just shy of $103.

On ExpressNews.com: Abraxas Petroleum sells North Dakota assets to pay down debt

Abraxas stock price jumped from just more than $1 in late February to over $4 per share by March 7. Its move coincided with gains for stocks of companies across the industry. The high price of crude globally has potentially opened a window for U.S. producers to profitably pump more oil.

Abraxas, which was already facing financial woes entering 2020, saw its stock price plummet during the COVID-19 pandemic and as agreements with creditors to limit spending have prevented it from pouring cash into drilling.

A new chapter

In January, it sold assets in North Dakotas Williston Basin for $87.2 million to Houston-based Lime Rock Resources. It used the proceeds to pay off one bank loan. It converted other debt held by creditor Angelo Gordon Energy Financing to preferred shares. Angelo Gordon took control of the companys five-member board of directors and now holds 85 percent voting power.

The move to turn Angelo Gordon into a shareholder  rather than creditor  wiped out Abraxas debt and allowed the company to access capital and form a drilling plan, CEO Robert Watson said last month.

This is a new chapter for the Company as we begin 2022 as a pure play Delaware Basin operator with no debt, Watson said, referring to a segment of the Permian Basin where Abraxas has assets.

The discovery of potentially larger reserves of oil and gas have also buoyed the company, driving up its worth.

In an late February report, it said its reserves of oil and gas at the end of 2021 were up 8.5 million barrels from a year earlier  an increase attributed to implementation of a 2-mile lateral well strategy in its Permian acreage. That discovery  combined with higher oil prices  pushed the value of its oil and gas reserves up 370 percent from the end of 2020.

At the end of 2021, Abraxas oil and gas reserves across 200 drilling locations were valued at nearly $230 million based on a price of $66.55 per barrel. That was up from $49 million at the end of 2020, with oil at $39.54 per barrel.

But while continuing higher prices and the ability to invest in new drilling could present an opportunity for Abraxas, it may instead be heading toward liquidation.

Newfound reserves

Among the reasons is the fact most of its newfound oil and gas reserves are considered probable and possible. That means that while theres a chance of a driller extracting oil or gas from those locations, its not guaranteed.

Just 27 of Abraxas 200 drilling locations are classified as proven, with reserves worth $89 million at the end of last year.

A rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission says firms can only classify oil and gas reserves as proved if they can show they plan to develop the location within five years. Otherwise, companies have to refer to a reserve as probable or possible if they want to disclose it.

Abraxas said it doesnt have the cash to develop hundreds of drilling sites in the next half-decade. But it suggested a bigger oil company might be able to operate the companys sites.

Alternatively, a company with the funding availability to develop all the locations could book the majority of these engineered locations as proven, Watson said in a statement last month.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Valero Energy was a big buyer of Russian oil; with new ban, its looking elsewhere

In an early January SEC filing, Abraxas said proceeds from an acquisition or sale of company assets up to $137 million would go to Angelo Gordon. A quarter of proceeds exceeding that would go to the companys other shareholders.

Abraxas isnt saying its looking for a buyer. Watson said the firm plans to engage lenders so it can jump start its own drilling in the Permian.

We are excited with the balance sheet moves weve made, he said last month. We will seek to drill at a measured pace, and within cash flow in order to drive multiple years of growth and returns for our shareholders.

Shares of Abraxas closed Friday at $2.16, up about 2 percent on the day and 102 percent higher than a month ago.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

A few passing clouds. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Harrisburg, Pa.  In honor of a long-time supporter and advocate of the Pennsylvania dairy industry, and in memory of Susan S. Beshore, the Pennsylvania Dairymens Association and Morrissey Insurance have created a one-time Susan S. Beshore Memorial Scholarship for undergraduate students who are pursuing an education in a dairy-related field. One $7,000 scholarship will be awarded for the 2022-23 academic year. The scholarship opened for applications on March 14 and must be submitted online by May 1.

The Susan S. Bashore Memorial Scholarship honors a leader who was committed to community service across the dairy industry during her lifetime. We encourage students to apply for this scholarship and help continue her legacy of community-driven leadership throughout the Pennsylvania dairy industry, said Dave Smith, Executive Director at the PA Dairymens Association.

The Susan S. Beshore Memorial Scholarship is similar to the Student Leader Scholarship but has a heightened emphasis on community service and giving back. The scholarship will provide recognition, encouragement, and financial assistance to outstanding students who are committed to community service and enrolled in academic programs that support the dairy industry. Undergraduate students and high school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible for the scholarship.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must demonstrate a commitment to working in the dairy industry. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, interest in a dairy-related career, community service, evidence of leadership, character and integrity, and application compliance.

We are proud to be part of the Susan S. Beshore Scholarship, honoring Sues memory for the dairy industry that she dearly loved, said Craig Morrissey, President of Morrissey Insurance.

Pennsylvania residents who are full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled in a qualifying field of study or high school seniors who are planning to enroll in a qualifying field of study are given consideration for this scholarship. Qualifying fields of study include dairy and animal science, agricultural marketing and business, nutrition, food science, agriculture and extension education, agricultural communications, agricultural engineering, or related fields.

To submit an online application, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/susan-beshore-memorial-scholarship or contact Michelle Shearer at 570-768-8316 or by email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
Organic dairy farms dropped by Horizon Organic and Maple Hill last year could soon have a new home for their milk. Organic Valley  the nations largest organic cooperative  offered 80 farms in the Northeast a market for their milk through a letter of intent. The news was announced March 8.

The farms are in New York, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. These 80 farms would join 10 other Northeast farms that have already accepted membership offers. Its part of an effort by Organic Valley to save Northeast family farms, the co-op announced earlier this year.

Our mission is to sustain our farms, not to be profitable as a business, said Bob Kirchoff, Organic Valley chief executive officer, in an interview with Farm and Dairy.

Horizon Organic announced last August it would end its contract with 89 dairy farms throughout New England and New York. New York-based Maple Hill Creamery also announced last year it was ending contacts with 46 dairy farms.

After facing criticism for the move, Horizon announced it was giving the option to extend contracts an additional six months past the initial cutoff date of August and offering transition payments to affected farmers.

Horizon, owned by Danone North America, cited growing transportation and operation challenges  basically, the logistics of transporting milk from many small farms to the one Horizon processing plant in western New York  as reasons for the decision not to renew the contracts, the company said in a statement.

While it is moving away from farms in the Northeast, Horizon added 50 new farms in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Of those, 12 are in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

As this suggests, our eastern dairy shed remains a critical area for the Horizon brand and we look forward to continuing to partner with farms in the region, Chris Adamo, vice president of government affairs, policy and partnerships for Danone North America, told Farm and Dairy in an email. We thank our producers in Ohio and Pennsylvania for their commitment to helping bring health through food to as many people as possible.

Organic Valley was able to add farms because of its unique business model as a cooperative, Kirchoff told Farm and Dairy.

Its about the whole, he said. That is our cooperative mindset. We dont have shareholders to answer to. We have to make money, too, and we do, but its driven first and foremost by sustaining our farmers. Its sort of backwards from a corporate model.

Demand for Organic Valleys dairy products is growing, Kirchoff said, so the company had room to take on more farms. It didnt matter as much where the milk came from, he said.

We start with the milk  and work it into our supply chain, Kirchoff said. We do have processing in the northeast and east, and we move milk when we need to.

(Reporter Rachel Wagoner can be contacted at 800-837-3419 or rachel@farmanddairy.com.)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's exports surpassed the 100 billion ringgit (about 23.8 billion U.S. dollars) mark in February, increasing 16.8 percent to 102.27 billion ringgit, official data showed Friday.

The export growth was boosted by higher shipments of electrical and electronic (E&E) products driven by global digitalization trends, as well as palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products, which was supported by higher prices of crude palm oil, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said.

It also said exports to major markets notably the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, the European Union and Japan recorded double-digit growth.

Meanwhile, trade in February rose 17.5 percent to 184.75 billion ringgit compared to February 2021, the 13th consecutive month of double-digit growth.

Imports for the month expanded 18.4 percent to 82.48 billion ringgit and trade surplus grew 10.7 percent to 19.79 billion ringgit.

In February, Malaysia's trade with China, which represented 17.4 percent of Malaysia's total trade, expanded 11.9 percent year-on-year to 32.18 billion ringgit.

Malaysia's exports to China registered a growth of 19.2 percent to 15.28 billion ringgit following higher exports of E&E products as well as chemicals and chemical products.

Malaysia's imports from China, on the other hand, rose by 6 percent to 16.9 billion ringgit.

For the first two months of 2022, Malaysia's total trade leapt 21.4 percent to 388.33 billion ringgit from the same period last year, with exports growing 20.4 percent to 213.34 billion ringgit and imports climbing 22.6 percent to 174.99 billion ringgit.

Trade surplus also increased 11.2 percent to 38.35 billion ringgit.

Trade with China during the first two months jumped 23.3 percent to 72.35 billion ringgit compared to the same period of 2021.

Malaysia's exports to China for the period edged up 24.5 percent to 32.28 billion ringgit assisted by higher exports of E&E products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as chemicals and chemical products.

Meanwhile, imports from China gained 22.4 percent to 40.07 billion ringgit.

Taking into account the recent trade performance, MIDF Research on Friday revised Malaysia's exports and imports growth forecasts this year to 7.8 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively.

"We opine that the rate of growth will moderate this year due to the diminishing low-base effect. Overall, we expect growing foreign demand for E&E and commodities, especially palm oil and oil and gas, will support expansion in exports in the coming months," it said in a statement.

But the research house noted the outlook for global growth and international trade could be constrained by prolonged disruption in the global supply chain and rising prices. (1 U.S. dollar equals 4.19 ringgit) 
Welsh farmers have stressed the importance of sourcing local food in a meeting with Anglesey County Council following concerns over procurement policies for school meals.

The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) met with the council this week to discuss how the county can better serve schoolchildrens nutritional needs, whilst honouring its pledge to buying local.

The union had raised concerns about the procurement policies for school meals with the council in October last year, following their agreement with catering supplier Chartwells to supply school meals.

The FUW said it was 'encouraging' that Chartwells had committed to source 30% of the total produce locally and from within a 60-mile radius.

Speaking after the meeting, FUW Anglesey county executive officer, Alaw Jones said: "Our farmers produce outstanding food here on Anglesey and across Wales.

"Our food is produced to world leading animal health and welfare standards, is sustainably produced and with the environment in mind. Our children deserve to benefit from that.

Union officials further raised concerns about how the Welsh governments commitment to provide free school meals from 2023 onwards would influence the ability for local authorities to source produce.

It said it would now be monitoring how Anglesey County Council would be incorporating future policies to provide free school meals.

Ms Jones added: "As always, we are keen to continue working with Chartwells and Anglesey County Council and hope that they put their money where their mouth is.

"Both the council and Chartwells have also committed to reaching net zero by 2030, and the best way for them to achieve that is by sourcing their produce from Anglesey and keeping the food miles down."

The union further questioned how Chartwells would ensure that market influences such as input costs would not affect their ability to maintain the commitment to source local produce.

FUW senior policy and communications officer, Gareth Parry said this came in light of ever increasing food production costs in Wales and across the globe.

"We stressed that their procurement policy to source directly from producers to help mitigate the impacts of market influences must be enforced.
The UK sheep sector has expressed 'serious concern' over the future of their sector after P&O Ferries announced major operational changes.

The firm sacked 800 staff on Thursday (17 March) without giving them any notice, replacing them with cheaper agency staff.

A spokesperson for the company said it was a "tough" decision but it would "not be a viable business" without the move.

Aside from passenger transportation, P&O Ferries is responsible for most overseas movement of animals and goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

The ferry company is also the biggest shipper of breeding sheep from Great Britain to continental Europe.

But the firm warned that there would be no future for the business without significant change to the way in which it operates.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has expressed 'serious concern' over the impact this could have on the movement of breeding sheep between GB and NI.

It is not yet clear how P&O's changes will be implemented, but in the short term the NSA fears this could create 'serious disruption' to the movement of sheep.

Brexit brought new controls for moving live animals into Europe. Currently, there is no Border Control Post (BCP) with live animal facilities on the other side of the channel.

This means British breeders have not been able to sustain what was a long standing and important trade for valuable UK livestock genetics.

Negotiations are ongoing about establishing such a facility, but the NSA said the news from P&O was "likely to create further uncertainty and delays".

The body's chief executive, Phil Stocker said: The company has been the mainstay of shipping live breeding sheep between Britain and Europe, and between GB and Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland protocols have allowed the continued movement of animals between GB and NI, but have imposed serious extra controls resulting in many sheep farmers in Northern Ireland feeling cast adrift."

He added: "It is not clear from the P&O statement what might happen immediately but this disruption will do nothing to allow farmers in NI to integrate with the wider UK industry.

We await further details and hope that solutions can be found to prevent any immediate or short term disruption, and to provide confidence for plans for a live animal BCP to progress in time for this years breeding sales this summer.
The UK needs to reduce its reliance on Eastern Europe for cereal crops, just as it is for oil and gas, the farm manager of Bradford Estates has said.

Oliver Scott, who is responsible for managing 4,000 acres of farmland in Shropshire, warned that the British farming industry had 'tough challenges ahead'.

The war in Ukraine had created a 'perfect storm' of wheat shortages, he explained, as well as 'massive hikes' in the price of diesel and fertiliser.

Mr Scott warned that the ongoing conflict "starkly illustrated the fragility of food security", with only 60% of the crops the country needs produced in the UK.

Normally, Ukraine produces around 12 percent of the world's wheat. Russia is also a major wheat producer.

These are worrying times, Mr Scott said, "Russia and Ukraine are some of the biggest wheat producers in the world.

"Thats fine when everything's on an even keel and imports and exports are flowing freely, but when that grinds to a halt, we soon realise how much we rely on imports to make up the 40% gap in our food security.

"That has a big bearing going forward," he said, asking "Will we find ourselves not exporting as we need to keep homegrown wheat for our countrys needs?"

The industry is currently seeing high prices, with old crop wheat selling at 301 per tonne, and ew crop wheat at circa 250 per tonne.

"The markets are still volatile," Mr Scott added, "The price you are offered depends on when you make that call to your traders.

"Just yesterday that price was fluctuating by 20 a tonne and that uncertainty doesnt help.

Mr Scott said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine had vastly driven up overheads for farmers across the UK.

"When I started at Bradford Estates, I anticipated diesel would be around 0.65 a litre," he explained.

"As the crisis started to unfold, this increased to 0.85 a litre, however, quotes today are between 1.20 to 1.50 a litre, and that is if you can get a delivery

"As we come into spring Ill be using around 700-800 litres a day. I was speaking to one contractor who does a lot of livestock work and will be using 2,200 litres a day."

He said farmers were also incurring additional costs in respect of fertiliser, which has increased from 275 per tonne to around 1,150 per tonne.

"Ultimately, the retailers are going to have to pass this cost onto the consumer, but my suspicions are retailers do not appreciate the potential pressure on the food supply chain," Mr Scott said.

"We could be heading towards a potential food crisis, which is likely to have a larger impact on the developing worlds countries, before it does in the EU and UK."

He added that there was a parallel between cereal crops and gas and oil. "There is a lot of talk about how we need to end our reliance on Russia for gas and oil and that is the same for exported cereal crops.

"We need to be able to produce more food in the UK and keep it here," Mr Scott concluded.
The war in Ukraine is going to 'negatively impact' UK food and drink businesses trading ambitions, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned.

The FDF said the war was pushing up energy prices and impacting certain key ingredients, including vegetable oils, cereals and white fish.

In its new report, released today (18 March), the body warned that the Ukraine conflict would have ramifications for UK food exports "in the short term, with supply chains and trade routes disrupted".

The federations chief executive, Karen Betts said: The war is likely to negatively impact our businesses trading ambitions.

"That underscores the need for business and government to work closely together, ensuring that companies can develop new markets and seize new opportunities in a difficult economic environment, to underpin their resilience.

The FDFs Trade Snapshot report also examined the latest developments in the UKs exports and imports of food and drink in 2021.

Key findings include sales to non-EU countries growing over 8% compared to 2020, driven by a strong recovery in exports of whisky (+18.7%) and salmon (+20.6%).

Exports to East Asia are recovering faster than in most other regions, with exports to China of food and drink worth over 800m and close to overtaking imports.

The boom has been aided by a new UK-Japan trade agreement entering into force in 2021, the report explained.

However, sales to the EU fell by 12% compared to 2020, with much of the drop in the first quarter of 2021 when many UK firms paused movements and supplied customers with stockpiled goods.

The FDFs research showed there were significant improvements towards the middle and end of the year.
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The purpose of the legislative session is for priority bills to become law. Thousands of bills are introduced; this year, 293 bills became law. Its hard to keep up with them all, so heres a brief rundown of major bills that became lawand bills that did not.


VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga yesterday said Zanu PF had already won the March 26 by-elections and told party members to start celebrating.

Speaking during the launch of the public procurement registration services in Nkulumane, Bulawayo, Chiwenga said the ruling party would celebrate the victory with a big pomp.

The launch was a partnership between the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) and Zimpost.

We are celebrating 2022 with a big pomp in that I am quite sure he (Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Jabulani Sibanda) is going to take all the seats which we had lost to the opposition. I am saying so because we are delivering what we have said, Chiwenga said.

The ruling party has suffered defeats in Bulawayo since the formation of the opposition MDC in 1999.

It was only in 2015 when the ruling party got five seats in by-elections boycotted by the opposition.

But Chiwenga said the ruling party will spring a surprise.

Here in Nkulumane we have David Ndlovu (Zanu PF aspiring MP for Nkulumane), he will be in Parliament and we want to celebrate his victory before he comes to Parliament, he said.

We also want to celebrate those who will be in the council, Janet Moyo and Thabo Thwala. More also what is important after the elections is that in Bulawayo, you will be having Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta opening the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

Chiwenga said the launch of the public procurement service at all Zimpost offices and community information centres would result in the decentralisation of public procurement services.

The partnership between Zimpost and Praz is riding on the vision of the President Emmerson Mnangagwa to close the digital divide through the increased participation of marginalised communities in national development, he said.

The reforms in public procurement aim to achieve an efficient, fair, transparent and competitive public procurement system in the country. This means that no eligible bidder, contractor or consultant should be left out in the bidding of services or goods advertised.

Chiwenga said the move had made it easier for those in remote areas to have access to the services.

The participation of bidders throughout the country promotes competition for delivery of goods and services resulting in the competitive pricing and value for money in public procurement

Information Communication Technology minister Jeffery Muswere said the partnership between Zimpost and Praz has made the journey to vision 2030 easy.

The coming together will ensure that the public procurement services become a success. Vision 2030 identified key areas that are going to turn around the macroeconomic areas. One of the key areas is the digital economy and in order to ensure our Vision 2030, Muswere said. Newsday
A new bakery in OFallon, Missouri, offers a variety of sweet and savory scratch-made pastries inspired by South American food traditions. South America Bakery & Cafe debuted in October, featuring alfajores, baked and fried empanadas, beverages and more.

The concept comes from husband-and-wife duo Luigi and Kathryn Guzman. Luigi, who is Peruvian-Chilean, studied culinary arts in his native country of Peru. He has also lived in Venezuela and Brazil and has traveled to almost every South American country. With South America Bakery, he brings the best of his food experiences stateside with handcrafted baked goods.

According to Kathryn  a native of the area who previously worked as a Spanish teacher  the couple started selling Luigis alfajores at farmers markets a few years ago after receiving encouragement from friends and family who enjoyed his cooking. The tender butter cookie sandwiches filled with creamy dulce de leche were an instant favorite, and they gradually added more items to their menu.

Everywhere we went, people were asking us where our storefront was and telling us we needed to open one, Kathryn says. When COVID hit, we stopped doing farmers markets, used that time to look at what wed done so far and decided to take the jump.

South America Bakery fills an approximately 1,200-square-foot space with seats for around 30 guests. The walls are painted a lively blue hue to coincide with colorful tapestries and red and white highlights that represent the Peruvian flag. At the counter, visitors will find a case full of ready-to-eat empanadas and another filled with delicate desserts.
Floral scents are such a cult for a reason  versatile, wide-ranging, soft and supremely feminine, floral scents do the magic without being overpowering at most times. From roses to patchouli and the very many other notes in between, each floral note is peculiar in its beautiful way and possesses the ability to rouse different memories and emotions. Plus, floral scents have evolved considerably over the years with unique blends and richer flavours  making those typically floral scents a thing of the past. So, if youre a sucker for that flower power, here are our best picks.

Gucci Bloom





Image: Instagram





This fan-favourite is as exotic as it can get! Concocted with a melange of floral notes  jasmine and tuberose coupled with the very unique Rangoon Creeper (found exclusively in the southern parts of India), this perfume is sure to set the mood in your favour, every time you spritz it on.

MASIC Beauty Boujee





Image: Instagram



Let us start by saying  the fragrance does absolute justice to its name. Smelling luxurious and swanky  basically, boujee; this perfume combines the sweet n floral notes of cherry blossom with nutty undertones coming from almonds and pink pepper. All in all, a great pick to slide into your handbags as is it wont disappoint even from AM to PM.

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede





Image: Instagram



With clean, sweet and indulgent notes of apples, peony and suede (in that order), this is one of the brand bestsellers, and why not? The scent ties floral with fruity perfectly to exude a perfect blend of excitement and freshness.

Miss Dior





Image: Instagram





This is the OG and has a different fan base altogether. Just a whiff of this perfume is enough to sense a fresh bouquet full of roses and lilies around you. Yes, its that powerful. The iconic fragrance has many reasons to be loved, for us, its the olfactory pleasure that spurs up. Oh, and of course, that pretty pink bottle with the signature poignard.

All Good Scents Dewy Rose





Image: Instagram



Who loves roses? We love roses. Muffling in the romance of roses in a sleek bottle, this fresh and delicious fragrance unveils the magical meld of lychee, pomegranate with roses.

Also read: 6 Best Vanilla Based Perfumes To Ensure Youre Smelling Sweet All Day Long
The Gallipoli Campaign (known in Turkiye as Canakkale Savas), was a campaign in the First World War that took place on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Today (18 March), Turkiye commemorates the 107th anniversary of the Ottoman Empires World War One victory over Allied fleets that were attempting to break through the Strait of Dardanelles in the northwestern province of Canakkale.

Britain and France, sought to weaken the Ottoman Empire by taking control of the straits that provided a supply route to Russia. In February 1915, the invaders launched a naval attack followed by an amphibious landing on the peninsula, to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

107 years ago hundreds of thousands of troops were killed and wounded as they fought for a tiny patch of land.

The landing and the succeeding months-long stalemate ended in early 1916 when the allied army gave up and withdrew.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, further proved his military skills and patriotism as a commander in Gelibolu. Then a Lt. Col., Ataturk (then known as Mustafa Kemal Pasha) led the 19th Division of the Ottoman army during the campaign in Canakkale. His successful tactics stopped the advance of the Anzac troops in the peninsula. Outnumbered, the forces led by Mustafa Kemal won multiple victories against the invading troops who were forced to withdraw when their campaign proved futile.

Canakkale

The Gallipoli peninsula overlooking Canakkale (Dardanelles) Strait is where the commemoration ceremonies culminate.

The Canakkale Martyrs Memorial commemorates hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed during the World War I Battle of Gallipoli. (AA Photo)

Ahead of the March 18 ceremonies, workers give final touches to renovation work in a vast area where battles were fought and martyrs are honoured with monuments. Though it is a well-preserved area, the peninsula is more vivid nowadays, with 12,000 red and white peonies (plants), in the colours of the Turkish flag, planted throughout the site.

Flowers against the backdrop of graves of martyred soldiers, in Canakkale, western Turkey, March 13, 2022. (AA Photo)

Fethiye honours the fallen

A ceremony was held at the Martyrs Monument in Ugur Mumcu Park in Fethiye to mark the occasion. The ceremony was attended by the Fethiye District Governorship, Fethiye Municipality and Fethiye Combatant Veterans and Martyr Families Aid and Solidarity Association. Wreaths were laid at the Martyrs Monument followed by a one-minute silence, the Turkish National Anthem and the recital of the poem To the Martyrs of Canakkale by Huseyin Uveys Agr.

The Martyrs Monument in Ugur Mumcu Park,

Sources: Wikipedia/Anadolu Agency/Daily Sabah

Featured image courtesy of Wikipedia
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- Developments in easy storage and transportation system are projected to boost the global turmeric oleoresin market significantly in the near future

- Oleoresins are becoming more popular due to their antioxidant properties as well as their capacity to lower cholesterol levels and treat pains & aches

ALBANY, N.Y., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global turmeric oleoresin market is estimated to value over US$ 68.1 Mn in 2022. The global market is anticipated to develop at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period, from 2022 to 2032. It is expected to surpass the valuation of US$ 165.7 Mn by 2032. The demand for turmeric oleoresin is high due to the growing inclination toward eating natural and nutritious foods. Oleoresins, which are generated from spices, offer a wide range of healing properties. Oleoresins are becoming increasingly popular among consumers as a result of their antioxidant characteristics, as well as their potential to lower cholesterol levels, treat aches and pains, and offer various health benefits.

Turmeric oleoresin aids in the preservation of food products. The global turmeric oleoresin market is expanding due to the growing use of turmeric oleoresins in various food products. Turmeric oleoresin is becoming increasingly popular due to its extended shelf life and potential to be used as a cost-effective alternative to ground spices. In the forthcoming years, this factor is likely to bolster the growth of the global turmeric oleoresin market. With developments in easy storage and shipping facilities as well as better government taxation systems and incentives, the global turmeric oleoresins market is likely to observe considerable growth during the forecast period.

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South Asia is likely to account for more than 60% of the global market's revenue. The market in the region is expected to be worth US$ 46.3 Mn in 2022 and reach US$ 109.7 Mn by 2032.

Key Findings of Market Report





Use of oleoresin in dry mixes and margarine is likely to emerge as a significant driver for the global turmeric oleoresin market. Turmeric oleoresin in the form of dry powder is simpler to blend than regular oleoresins; therefore, it is becoming more popular in instant mix food products, such as beverages, soups, and ready - to - eat meals.





The potential of turmeric oleoresin to increase stability and allow usage in food items is expected to drive global market in the years to come. Turmeric oleoresin is also projected to witness growth in demand in the future, owing to its extended shelf life and potential to function as a cost-effective alternative to ground spices.

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Turmeric oleoresins are increasingly being used in the preparation of soaps and body lotions. Growth and development of the cosmetics and personal care segments are likely to drive the demand for oleoresin in the near future. Besides, oleoresins are increasingly being utilized in healthcare products to treat different ailments.





Use of antioxidants in food items is growing with rising customer demand. The demand for turmeric oleoresin is being fueled by the global trend of eating healthy and natural food products

Global Turmeric Oleoresin Market: Growth Drivers

Due to the growing popularity of ethnic cuisines such as Mexican, Thai, and Indian throughout the world, oleoresins are likely to remain in high demand. Turmeric oleoresins are inexpensive, and commonly utilized in instant-mix food products such as ready-to-eat meals, drinks, and soups.

Consumers are more likely to purchase items through online channels as a result of digitalization and secure online payment options. In the future years, this factor is likely to boost the global turmeric oleoresin market. Strong presence of various product manufacturers across eCommerce platforms is likely to assist in market develop rapidly.

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Global Turmeric Oleoresin Market: Key Players

Some of the key market players are

Naturite Agro Products Ltd.

Kancor Ingredients Limited

Synthite Industries Ltd

Asian Oleoresin Company

DDW The Color House

Ungerer & Company

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Global Turmeric Oleoresin Market: Segmentation

Nature

Organic

Conventional

Extraction Method

Solvent Extraction

SCFE

End Use

Food & Beverage Industry

Pharmaceutical

Nutraceuticals

Retail/Household

Distribution Channel

Business to Business [B2B]

Business to Consumer [B2C]

Food & Beverages Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Food & Beverages:

Packaged Turmeric-Based Beverage Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/packaged-turmericbased-beverage-market.html

Organic Turmeric Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/organic-turmeric-market.html

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Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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SUNNYVALE, Calif., and TOKYO, Mar 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, and NEC Corporation (NEC: TSE: 6701), a leading global IT and network transformation services provider, today announced that they have been selected by new Raizen, a global leader in bio-energy solutions, to design and deploy an innovative new Wi-Fi network for its headquarters in Sao Paulo and offices in Piracicaba, Brazil. In a competitive bid that ousted the legacy provider, the Juniper Mist AI solution was chosen to revolutionize the online experience for Raizen's workforce across its main campus. This Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) approach to Wi-Fi provisioning is also expected to dramatically streamline the IT helpdesk function for Raizen, which is one of Brazil's largest private business groups.The Juniper solution has quickly become Raizen's standard Wi-Fi platform, completely replacing the incumbent solution. (Juniper Networks was named a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure). With the consultancy and implementation services provided by Juniper's key global partner NEC, the new platform provides automated and real-time data insights into exactly what Raizen's users, devices and sites are experiencing on the network. In addition, by using actionable data from individual users, Mist AI provides tailored feedback and proactive support, as well as correlated, AI-driven insights into the network's overall ongoing health and performance.The Mist AI solution features enterprise networking's first virtual network assistant that provides a conversational AI interface, known as PDFMarvis. This unique feature enables Raizen's IT team to interact with an automated, intelligent tool that understands user intent and delivers improved value and quality of returned results. Marvis can contextualize requests to accelerate troubleshooting workflows, answer product or feature specific questions, provide information about the network and help find any type of network device. Ultimately, this improves specific user experiences by learning from user feedback.News HighlightsRaizen is anticipating a 75 percent reduction in its Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) network performance, thanks to Mist AI's ability to provide real-time visibility and apply automated trouble-shooting.In a pre-sales proof-of-concept session, Marvis detected and remediated a major Power over Ethernet problem on a third-party switch in Raizen's network, taking just two minutes to find, identify and resolve the issue successfully.The proactive approach to trouble-shooting and network support delivered by Mist AI and Marvis enables Raizen's relatively small IT team to scale and utilize time and budget resources in an optimized way.NEC's integration and services support, underpinned by its expertise in networks including Juniper solutions, results in a smooth migration and deployment of the new platform.The Mist AI solution is transforming Raizen's productivity and job satisfaction by providing its workforce with consistently-available network connectivity in support of key business applications including voice and video over Teams, SAP, Office 365 and intranet access.Raizen is assessing further projects based on the capabilities of the Juniper Mist cloud, including Wired Assurance, warehouses becoming Wi-Fi enabled and newly-acquired companies making the move to the Juniper solution.Supporting Quotes"Wi-Fi should be about convenient, agile and scalable network connectivity that consistently enables employees to be more productive and creative. However, our previous, non-AI solution was delivering exactly the opposite. The Mist AI solution from Juniper is infinitely more reliable to use and simple to operate, intelligently able to detect potential problems, flag them and fix them before our workforce even sees an issue. This approach has transformed our IT operations and support, with remarkable user experiences to show for it," says Jose Eduardo Massad, CIO, Raizen."Juniper is delivering experience-first networking to Raizen and thousands of other enterprises, built on technology that has been designed to leverage the operational and user benefits of the cloud and AI. Fundamentally, this approach transforms network operations from reactive troubleshooting to proactive remediation through self-driving actions, which in turn creates a superior user experience," Sujai Hajela, Executive Vice President, AI-Driven Enterprise, Juniper Networks."NEC is honored to contribute as a key business partner to the transformation of Raizen's network with Juniper's AI-driven technologies. We are constantly enhancing our network engineering capabilities and strengthening partnerships with industry leaders such as Juniper to deliver state-of-the-art solutions that bring significant value to customers. Based on our rich experiences in Brazil and other markets globally, we take a customer-centric approach aimed at achieving business objectives for the long term," says Mayuko Tatewaki, General Manager, Service Provider Solutions Division, NEC Corporation.About Juniper NetworksJuniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the world's greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (wwww.juniper.net).Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed where are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - International Airlines Group said it reached an agreement to provide a 100 million euros seven-year unsecured loan to Globalia. Subject to any relevant regulatory approvals, IAG will have the option to convert the loan into an up to 20 per cent equity stake in Air Europa. The agreement is conditional on Globalia receiving approval from syndicated banks that provided the loan agreement partially guaranteed by the Instituto de Credito Oficial and by Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales. 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.
Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors, is shipping its AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY on Xiaomi's Redmi smartphones the K40S, K50, and K50 Pro. Working with Elliptic Labs' partners Qualcomm, Redmi has chosen Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 chipset to power the Redmi K40S. Elliptic Labs' partner MediaTek drive both the Redmi K50 (Dimensity 8100 chipset) and Redmi K50 Pro (Dimensity 9000 chipset). The contract for this launch was announced September 2021.

"This launch of three more Redmi smartphones utilizing the AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform further confirms our leadership position in developing and offering Virtual Smart Sensors," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "The largest OEMs in the world, like Xiaomi, continue to demonstrate that they value how Elliptic Labs' software-only solution makes devices more intelligent, greener and more human-friendly."

Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor turns off the smartphone's display and disables the screen's touch functionality when users hold the device up to their ear during a phone call. Without that capability to detect proximity, a user's ear or cheek could accidentally trigger unwanted actions during a call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers while the call is ongoing. Turning off the screen automatically also helps conserve battery life. Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones across today's market. Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with software sensors, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk.

About Elliptic Labs

Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor-fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity, presence, breathing and heartbeat detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor-fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022.

Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South-Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company.

INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs.

AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform, and Virtual Smart Sensors are trademarks of Elliptic Labs.

All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220317006041/en/

Contacts:

PR Contacts:

Patrick Tsui

pr@ellipticlabs.com

Investor Relations:

Lars Holmy

Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com
Dufry International AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Dufry wins new duty-free and duty-paid contract at Felipe Angeles International Airport in Santa Lucia, Mexico



18.03.2022 / 07:00





Dufry has been awarded two five-year concession contracts at the new Mexico City International Airport, Felipe Angeles (AIFA) in Santa Lucia. Initially the contract will be to operate a commercial area of 652 m with a mix of both duty-free and duty-paid shops. A further increase of retail space will be considered by AIFA in line with the growth of international and domestic passengers.

Felipe Angeles International Airport is located 35 km from the current Benito Juarez International Airport (AICM). It will have two runways, one for civil service and one for military service, helping to ease the volume of air traffic that Mexico City Airport currently handles. The airport has been created to meet the demand for civil airport services for the next 50 years, by serving 100 million passengers per year at its peak.

Dufry has operated successfully in Mexico for 25 years and this new contract win helps further increase the company's footprint in this region. The commercial offer will include all the core product categories such as fragrance & beauty, liquor, tobacco and food, with a wide selection of international brands and local products.

Commenting on the new contract, Juan-Antonio Nieto, Chief Operating Officer for Dufry in Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico said: 'We are proud to have been awarded this important concession at the recently completed Felipe Angeles International Airport. We would like to thank AIFA for the trust they have shown in us and as the leading global travel retailer, we will use our extensive knowledge and expertise of the sector and of the Mexican market in particular, to take the shopping experience in this impressive new airport location, to an entirely different level.'

For further information:



CONTACT



RENZO RADICE DR. KRISTIN KOHLER Global Head Corporate Global Head Investor Relations Communications & Public Affairs Phone: +41 79 563 18 09 Phone: +41 61 266 44 19 kristin.koehler@dufry.com renzo.radice@dufry.com

End of Media Release


New batch of China-donated supplies arrive in Afghanistan

Xinhua) 09:32, March 18, 2022

KABUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) has received a fresh batch of assistance donated by the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) as the country is suffering from an economic meltdown.

A handover ceremony was held Wednesday in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, attended by Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu and ARCS Secretary General Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis.

"In order to help Afghanistan to improve needy people's livelihoods, the RCSC has taken a number of measures. After it donated a batch of assistance to Afghanistan in December last year, today another batch of flour has been donated to Afghanistan. Thousands of families will get this batch of flour," Ambassador Wang said at the ceremony.

"At present, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the international food price has risen sharply, but China extended a helping hand to Afghanistan without hesitation, which showed the sincere friendship of the Chinese government and people to the Afghan people," he said.

The Chinese ambassador noted that China is willing to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and help it rebuild its economy.

"At the same time, China calls on the relevant party to unfreeze Afghanistan's overseas assets and return them all to the Afghan people." Wang added.

"The fresh donation by Red Cross Society of China that recently arrived in Afghanistan included 131 tons of flour. The flour has been packed in 5,250 sacks and each sack contains 25 kg. The donated flour will be distributed to needy families in Kabul and eastern Paktika province," Khalis told reporters.

"We are grateful to the Red Cross Society of China for its latest donation," he said, adding that the donation is very important for the Afghan people to address their urgent needs, Khalis said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
SAKUNDA Holdings, linked to businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, redeemed Treasury Bills (TBs) it held under the US$1 billion Command Agriculture programme at a favourable exchange rate approved by the central bank, while 67% funds of the facility were not recovered by 2018.

The explosive revelations are carried in a forthcoming investigative report, first made available by The Sentry to the Zimbabwe Independent.

The report titled Legal Tender? The role of Sakunda and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in Command Agriculture casts light on how Sakunda was cherry picked to run the multi-billion-dollar programme outside public tendering regulations.

The report questions the selection process of over 30 input suppliers by the entity and how it redeemed TBs running into millions of United States (US) dollars with approval from the RBZ at a preferential exchange rate allegedly in violation of the countrys laws.

The Sentry is an investigative and policy organisation that seeks to disable multinational predatory networks that benefit from violent conflict, repression, and kleptocracy.

The opaqueness surrounding Command Agriculture has been a subject of intense scrutiny by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (Pac) and Auditor General Mildred Chiri, who pointed out in her 2018 report that the programme was replete with gross irregularities.

As pointed out in The Sentry report, Sakunda was issued with TBs amounting to US$1 billion outside United States dollar (USD) cash payments received during the period that the company rolled out Command Agriculture between 2016 and 2019.

In 2019, the time Sakunda converted some of its TBs at a favourable exchange rate, Zimbabwe had introduced Statutory Instrument (SI) 33, which pegged the exchange rate at US$1:RTGS$1.

However, while other USD denominated accounts were converted to the equivalent value of local currency, Sakunda and Landela Investments, as revealed by the report, cashed in on the TBs at a favourable rate approved by RBZ, thereby making extra cash in the process.

In one such transaction involving US$336 million Treasury Bill (TB), the report highlights Sakunda transferred part of it to Landela, which proceeded to buy state-owned gold mines and a 50% stake held by the government in platinum mining concern Great Dyke Investments (GDI).

The report reads: Part of the US$366 million Treasury Bill that Sakunda received in January 2019 was transferred to another company, Landela Investments.

The Treasury Bill was converted into local currency at a favourable rate by the RBZ, giving Landela the equivalent of US$50 million that was then used to purchase gold and platinum mines owned by the government and military.

According to Sakunda, the January 2019 US$366 million Treasury Bill (ZTB 365 20190109B) was split: US$256 million went to a specific bank and US$100 million relating to the same instrument went to a different bank.

However, Sakunda, in its responses to The Sentry seen by the Independent, denies any wrongdoing relating to receiving preferential treatment from RBZ and contributing to the local currency losing value.

Sakunda also denied any association with Landela Investments.

As we have stated, Sakunda and Landela, called by whatever name, are not related, and we, therefore, refrain from commenting on matters to which we are not privy, Sakunda Holdings company secretary Maurice Makoni said.

Sakunda told The Sentry that although an open tendering method was not used by the government in 2016, it was appointed as part of a competitive process, having put forward the most attractive proposal.

The company noted that it was appointed in terms of a Cabinet Authority, which according to the company is the overriding instrument in terms of the countrys public procurement protocols.

In June 2019, Landela Investments asked its bank to transfer a US$60 million portion of the same Treasury Bill (ZTB 365 20190109B) to the RBZ, in turn requesting that the RBZ pay local Zimbabwean dollarsfor the purchase of mining companies, buses and fertiliser. It is unclear how the Treasury Bill was transferred from Sakunda to Landela, the report reads.

In two separate letters written on June 6, 2019, Landela director Chris Fourie requested from the BancABC Clients Relationship manager to transfer Treasury Bills worth US$21 million and US$39 720 685,59 to an RBZ Central Securities Depository (CSD) Account.

Zimbabwe Independent saw Fouries letters.

Prior to that, Fourie on June 4, 2019 had written two letters to RBZ governor John Mangudya, firstly requesting the apex bank to liquidate Treasury Bills worth US$39 720 685,59 at an exchange rate of US$1:RTGS$5,5135 which was the prevailing interbank rate to facilitate payments of RTGS$219 million to GDI and Chemplex.

In the another letter to Mangudya, Fourie additionally requested the conversion of Treasury Bills worth US$21 million at that days interbank rate of US$1: RTGS$5,5135 to process a payment of RTGS$115 783 500,00 for the purchase of Bindura Nickel Mine (BNC), buses and fertiliser.

Essentially, The Sentry report states that the transaction was problematic for two reasons being: the companies were using Treasury Bills intended as security for Command Agriculture for other purposes including buying mining companies held by the government.

RBZ also appeared to have given Sakunda and Landela a preferential rate when converting the US dollar denominated Treasury Bill into local Zimbabwean currency.

Responding on whether Sakunda received preferential treatment from RBZ, Makoni wrote to The Sentry: This allegation is simply false, and part of a coordinated character assassination intended to discredit our organisation, of which your organisation is a knowing participant. There was never a time Sakunda was favoured with preferential treatment by the RBZ.

It must be noted that (SI) 33 of February 2019 did not summarily convert corporate USD balances to the Zimbabwe dollar at the rate of 1:1.

The net effect of SI 33 was that the government assumed all proven external legacy debts by quarantining them into blocked funds, and they came to an amount in excess of US$3 billion on the basis of 1:1 principle, Sakunda said in its responses.

Since then, local companies chose different instruments and structures to liquidate their blocked funds using financial institutions of their choice at USD auction rate of the day. This was neither exclusive nor a favour to Sakunda but a government position which benefited more than 600 companies.

These funds were traded as United States dollars at the ruling exchange rate of the day. I refer you to the Finance Bill HB 16, 2021, as ratified by parliament, seeking to rationalise this framework, Sakunda said.

However, The Sentry insists that the conversion of all assets and liabilities valued in US dollars into the local currency at an equivalent rate of 1:1 as stipulated by the legal instrument was not applied to Sakunda.

However, as revealed by the organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), this change did not affect Tagwireis January 2019 U$366 million Treasury Bill. Portions of the Treasury Bill were redeemed at a favourable rate by the RBZ after SI33 came into force on February 22, 2019, the Sentryreport reads.

Mangudya told the Independent this week that it was in the purview of the Treasury to decide how TBs are redeemed.

Treasury Bills are the prerogative of the government through the Ministry of Finance who are the issuers. The Reserve Bank does not therefore issue Treasury Bills and bonds but provides custody of government securities through the Central Securities Depository (CSD) as the banker of the State, Mangudya.

The response to your enquiry is that the said Treasury Bill was handled in line with terms of the referenced Treasury Bill.

A top Treasury source said the RBZs role in the conversion of TBs is that of an agent of government, through the Ministry of Finance.

The soon-to-be published report highlights that Command Agriculture was highly politicised while it became a feeding trough for the elite and politically connected.

The Sentry estimates that at least 67% of Command Agriculture expenditure was not recovered.

Many farmers did not repay their loans. The IMF estimated that 35% defaulted, while the World Bank and the government of Zimbabwe estimated that, in 2018, two thirds of Command Agriculture expenditure was not recovered, the report reads.

In the report, The Sentryproffered a range of recommendations to authorities, including financial institutions, to conduct enhanced customer due diligence on transactions involving natural resources in Zimbabwe  especially when transactions involve the Tagwirei network.

Justyna Gudzowska, Director of Illicit Finance Policy at The Sentry, told the Independent: The central banks granting of a seemingly favourable exchange rate to an oil tycoon to pay a Zimbabwean military company for Zimbabwean-Russian platinum mine doesnt pass the smell test.

Its time for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and police to investigate properly.

In addition, Oliver Windridge, Senior Advisor at The Sentry, said: The US$1 billion Command Agriculture programme was the product of a behind-closed-doors culture.

Part of the solution is to embrace open contracting  making all contracts and payments public. Zimbabwe Independent
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (18 March 2022) - IMCD N.V. ("IMCD" or "Company"), a leading distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients, is pleased to announce the proposed appointment of Marcus Jordan as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and member of the Management Board. Marcus Jordan (1974, British) has been working for the Company for 23 years and currently serves as Executive Committee member and President IMCD Americas. With the proposed appointment, the Management Board of IMCD will expand to a total of three members.

Marcus Jordan's proposed appointment to the Management Board will be submitted for approval at the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") to be held on 2 May 2022. Upon appointment, he is to join Piet van der Slikke, CEO and chair of the Management Board and Hans Kooijmans, CFO and member of the management board in Rotterdam.

The responsibilities of Mr. Jordan as COO include the group's strategy execution for digitisation and sustainability and driving operational excellence, globally. In addition, the Americas region will report to him.

Marcus Jordan started his career as a formulation and application specialist and joined IMCD in the UK in 1998. Over the years, he held various strategic roles in the UK as well as in the group organisation, including the global role of Group Development Director. In 2014 he was appointed as member of IMCD's Executive Committee and as of 2016, he was appointed President Americas. In this role, Mr. Jordan has been responsible for IMCD's operations in the Americas, accomplishing national footprint and coast-to-coast coverage in the US, and successful expansion into Latin America. Marcus Jordan holds a Chemistry degree after studying at the University of East Anglia, UK, and University of Illinois, US, and completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of Harvard Business School, Boston, US.

Janus Smalbraak, chair of the Supervisory Board: "IMCD's growth throughout the years has been strong. Adding a third board member to the management team is a logical next step in view of the current size of the Company and the ambition for further long-term growth and market leadership. Marcus Jordan has over two decades of experience in the Company and an excellent track record in growing the business in multiple functions."

Further details on this nomination and other agenda proposals are included in the documentation for the 2022 AGM, available as of today on IMCD's website here.

This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation and was issued on 18 March 2022, 07:00 a.m. CET.

Attached, please find the full press release in pdf format.

Attachment
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (18 March 2022) - IMCD N.V. ("IMCD" or "Company"), a leading distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients, today published the convocation and agenda for its Annual General Meeting of shareholders (AGM), which will be held on Monday 2 May 2022 at 1:00 p.m. CET at the Mainport by Inntel Hotel, Schiedamsedijk 140, 3011 EN, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The convocation, agenda and further documentation for the AGM will be available in the Investors' section of IMCD's website: www.imcdgroup.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/general-meeting-of-shareholders . The meeting will be held in person.

The agenda for the AGM includes, amongst other, nomination proposals for the Management Board and Supervisory Board, and a proposal to reappoint Deloitte Accountants B.V. as external auditor for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Full details of all voting items are included in the proxy materials published on the website. The materials also include the 2021 Annual Report as published on 25 February 2022, including the financial statements, the reports of the Management Board and Supervisory Board and the 2021 Remuneration Report.

Shareholders are advised to check the information on the website regularly for any updates, including details on admission requirements relating to Covid-19.

This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation and was issued on 18 March 2022, 07:00 a.m. CET.

Attached, please find the full press release in pdf format.

Attachment
Press Release

Outside trading hours - Regulated information* - Public disclosure of inside information

Brussels, 18 March 2022 (08.00 a.m. CET)

Ales Blazek: new CEO at CSOB, Czech Business Unit of KBC Group

With effect from 5 May 2022, KBC Group will make the following change to the composition of its Executive Committee:

John Hollows, CEO Czech Business Unit, (who has reached the statutory age limit last year), will retire after a career of nearly 26 years with KBC.



(who has reached the statutory age limit last year), will retire after a career of nearly 26 years with KBC. On the recommendation of the KBC Group Nomination Committee, the Board of Directors has appointed Ales Blazek , the current CEO of KBC Bank Ireland, to the Executive Committee and successor to John Hollows as CEO of the Czech Business Unit.



to the Executive Committee and successor to John Hollows as CEO of the Czech Business Unit. The appointment of Ales Blazek as CEO of the Czech Business Unit has been approved by the Czech National Bank. His approval as member of the executive committee of KBC Group (KBC Bank and KBC Insurance) is still subject to approval by the National Bank of Belgium and the European Central Bank.



The successor to Ales Blazek as CEO of KBC Bank Ireland has been identified and will be announced shortly, once his appointment has been approved by the European Central Bank.

Koenraad Debackere, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KBC Groupcommented on today's announcement as follows: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to sincerely thank John Hollows for his tireless commitment and significant contribution to our group in his different roles and at various entities abroad, and especially in the Czech Republic in more recent years. We're truly grateful to John for his efforts in implementing the pillars of KBC's strategy in our Czech Business Unit. Considerable progress has been made and results have been achieved in all areas of transformation, especially digital transformation and innovation. John also truly embraced and lived the KBC values.

I am delighted to welcome his successor Ales. I'm convinced that his deep insights and far-reaching and extensive international experience in the financial sector and as CEO of KBC Bank Ireland at a crucial moment in its history, will help him to lead the Czech Business Unit through the challenging times of unprecedented change, innovation and digital transformation we are currently going through."

Johan Thijs, KBC Group CEOexplicitly thanked John Hollows: 'Together with my colleagues at the Executive Committee I wish to express my deepest gratitude to John, who is retiring, for his longstanding career and outstanding performance. I am convinced that the Czech Republic Business Unit and its various stakeholders have benefited from John's broad international experience, strong track record, strategic insights and exceptional leadership qualities. I have worked closely with John in the Executive Committee for several years now and appreciate him as a friend. My colleagues and I are extremely grateful to him for his years of dedication to our customers and staff in his various roles, and for his support, unconditional commitment and important contribution to our group's development. We wish John all the very best in the future."

Johan Thijs also congratulated Ales on his appointment asCEO of KBC Group's Czech Business Unit and welcomed him within the KBC Group Executive committee: "I'm also delighted that Ales has agreed to take over from John as CEO of the Czech Business Unit. As customer experience, innovation and digital transformation have become top priorities, Ales' experience at KBC Bank Ireland and earlier as Head of Data and Strategy at CSOB, will prove invaluable in his new role as CEO in Czech Republic and in taking the digital transformation of our operations in that country to the next level. Over the years, Ales has consistently demonstrated he has the right combination of experience, leadership skills and deep understanding of our business to bring our Czech Business Unit to further growth and prosperity, to the benefit of all stakeholders."

Ales Blazek (born in 1972). After graduating with a Master's Degree in Law at the Charles University Law School in Prague in 1997, Ales started his professional career as an associate at the Prague Office of White & Case. From 2000 until 2007, he worked in Citigroup in Prague and London in numerous legal managerial positions in Corporate and Investment Banking. In 2007, he joined GE Capital and served as the General Counsel for GE Capital International with responsibility for legal services in all GE Capital businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and being a member of the senior executive team. He joined CSOB in Prague in the Czech Republic Business Unit of KBC Group in 2014 as Head of the Legal Department, responsible for legal and regulatory services and corporate governance. In April 2019, he became Head of Data and Strategy at CSOB. In this capacity he closely participated in the preparation and review of CSOB Group's strategy. Also he was responsible for management of CSOB Group data infrastructure. In 2021 he was appointed CEO of KBC Bank Ireland.

He is married, with five children.

John Hollows (born in 1956) earned his degree in law and economics at Cambridge University. Between 1978 and 1991, he worked for the head office of Barclays Bank in London and subsequently as Country Manager for Barclays Bank in Taiwan from 1991 to 1995. He joined KBC Bank in 1996 as Country Manager of the Shanghai operations and in 1999 became General Manager for the Asia-Pacific region, where he was responsible for ten branches in six countries. He was appointed CEO of K&H Bank (Hungary) in 2003. In 2006 he became Senior General Manager of the Central and Eastern Europe banking division of KBC Group. He was appointed member of the KBC Group Executive Committee and CEO of the Central & Eastern Europe and Russia Business Unit in 2009. In 2010 he became KBC Group Chief Risk Officer. Since 2014 he has been CEO of the Business Unit Czech Republic of KBC Group.

John is married with 4 children.

For more information, please contact:

Viviane Huybrecht, General Manager, Corporate Communication/Spokesperson, KBC Group

Tel +32 2 429 85 45 - E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be

* This news item contains information that is subject to the transparency regulations for listed companies.



KBC Group NV



Havenlaan 2 - 1080 Brussels



Viviane Huybrecht



General Manager



CorporateCommunication /Spokesperson



Tel. +32 2 429 85 45







Press Office



Tel. +32 2 429 65 01 Stef Leunens



Tel. +32 2 429 29 15 Ilse De Muyer



Tel. +32 2 429 32 88 Pieter Kusse



Tel. +32 2 429 85 44 Sofie Spiessens



E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be (mailto:pressofficekbc@kbc.be)







KBC press releases are available at www.kbc.com (http://www.kbc.com/) or can be obtained by sending an e-mail to pressofficekbc@kbc.be (mailto:pressofficekbc@kbc.be)



Follow us on www.twitter.com/kbc_group (http://www.twitter.com/kbc_group)

Stay up-to-date on all innovative solutions (https://www.kbc.com/en/newsroom/innovation/innovatie-2022.html?zone=topnav)

Attachment
Press Release

Lyon (FR) - 18 March 2022, 8:00 am CET

Vaxxel , a French start-up developing vaccines against respiratory viral infections, announces it has raised 1.2 million funding to support the development of the first intranasal bivalent vaccine candidate against human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a major source of bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia.

The 1.2 million funding has been provided by, Family Offices, Financial institution, Business Angels and individual investors. In particular, BpiFrance, Angels Sante and Femmes Business Angels have participated to this fundraising.

The proceeds will be used for the preclinical development of Vaxxel's proprietary live-attenuated intranasal vaccine candidate against both RSV and HMPV. The objective of Vaxxel's technology is to mimic natural infection without causing the disease, and to activate both humoral and mucosal immunity. The vaccine candidate is based on Metavac, Vaxxel's proprietary recombinant HMPV virus attenuated through reverse genetics.

"We are very pleased with this new round of funding and grateful to the new investors. It will allow Vaxxel to get through the next preclinical value milestones and prepare a Series A round later this year. Candidate-vaccines from Vaxxel respond to a large unmet public health need worldwide. RSV and HMPV are major sources of bronchiolitis and pneumonia for children under 5 years old and for adults above 65 years old. Our innovative monovalent and bivalent vaccine candidates target a market potential exceeding 5 billion euros. The recent filing of a European patent protecting our bivalent candidate vaccines reinforces Vaxxel's intellectual property rights." said Denis Cavert, President of Vaxxel.

***

Contacts

Vaxxel

Denis Cavert

CEO

denis.cavert@vaxxel.fr PRESS - ACTUS

Serena BONI

Tel.: +33 (0) 472 180 492

sboni@actus.fr

About Vaxxel

Vaxxel is a spin off from VirPath, the virology and human pathology Laboratory of the University Claude Bernard in Lyon (UCBL), France, and has been founded by Dr. Manuel Rosa-Calatrava Co-Director of Virpath (Lyon), by Pr. Guy Boivin of the University of Laval (Quebec), and by Denis Cavert, President of Vaxxel. Vaxxel develops live-attenuated viruses as vaccine-candidates against Metapneumovirus and against Respiratory Syncytial Virus based on the versatile Metavac vaccine platform. This platform has been funded and licensed by Pulsalys Technology Transfer Office and incubator of Universite de Lyon and supported by Lyon Ingenierie Projets (LIP), a subsidiary of UCBL. Proof of Concept of the first monovalent vaccine candidate against the Metapneumovirus has been demonstrated on both animal and human ex-vivo models. The company is a recipient of the 2019 i-Lab award, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in partnership with Bpifrance, and has also received the "FrenchTech seed" label. Transgene (Euronext: TNG) is a shareholder of Vaxxel.

For this fundraising, VAXXEL was advised on all corporate law matters by FAIRLIGHT, a legal practice based in Lyon.

About Vaxxel vaccine candidates

Vaxxel develops two vaccine candidates against respiratory infections: a monovalent vaccine against human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), and a bivalent vaccine against both hMPV and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (hRSV). These two pneumoviruses are the source of acute respiratory infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia in children below 5 years old and in older adults above 65 years old. There is no vaccine available today to protect the 195 million persons at risk (including 46 million children) from these severe infections (US and EU, 2020). Vaxxel's live attenuated intranasal vaccine candidates are based on two proprietary technologies: Metavac, a recombinant hMPV seed attenuated through reverse genetic, and DuckCelt-T17, an avian cell line grown in suspension with demonstrated capability to be used at industrial scale. The objective of Vaxxel's technology is to mimic natural infection without causing the disease and to activate both humoral and mucosal immunity.

About Angels Sante

Angels Sante, based in France, is the first European Business Angel network dedicated to healthcare. Angels Sante is at the heart of healthcare early-stage funding. Angels Sante is a member of both European Business Angels federations: Business Angels Europe (BAE) et European Business Angels Network (EBAN). It also leads the EIT Health Investor Network program, a pan European network of healthcare investors.

About Femmes Business Angels (FBA)

FBA is the only women business angels network in France, and n 1 in Europe. About 170 women individually invest in high potential startups and supports their growth. FBA investors are focused on high potential companies in various fields, at an early stage, led by men and women, and wishing to raise between 200k and 2m.

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CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro weakened against its most major counterparts in the Asian session on Friday, as optimism over a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia faded after Kremlin admitted that a substantial gap remained and 'fundamental issues are inviolable.'



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday blamed Ukrainian delegation for the delay in the negotiations.



U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss the ongoing economic competition between the two countries and Russia's war against Ukraine later today.



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned that Beijing is 'considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine.'



S&P Global Ratings downgraded Russia's debt rating to CC from CCC- saying that the country's debt is highly vulnerable to nonpayment amid international sanctions.



The euro weakened to 1.1076 against the greenback and 0.8419 against the pound, off its prior highs of 1.1119 and 0.8438, respectively. The euro is poised to challenge support around 1.08 against the greenback and 0.82 against the pound.



The euro touched 4-day lows of 1.6046 against the kiwi and 1.4969 against the aussie, pulling back from its previous highs of 1.6127 and 1.5049, respectively. The euro is seen finding support around 1.58 against the kiwi and 1.47 against the aussie.



The euro dropped to a 2-day low of 1.3964 against the loonie, from a high of 1.4031 hit at 8:15 pm ET. If the euro falls further, 1.36 is likely seen as its next support level.



Reversing from a previous high of 1.0401 against the franc, the euro edged down to 1.0371. The euro may test support around the 1.02 level.



In contrast, the euro held steady against the yen, after climbing to 131.90 at 8:15 pm ET. At yesterday's close, the pair was worth 131.52.



Looking ahead, Eurozone trade data for January is due in the European session.



U.S. existing home sales for February, Canada retail sales for January and new housing price index for February will be published in the New York session.







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Regulatory News:

Air Liquide strengthens its presence in the Japanese Electronics sector through significant capital investments

Two major semiconductor market leaders have awarded Air Liquide (Paris:AI) long-term contracts for the supply of ultra-high purity industrial gases in Japan. To fulfill these contracts, Air Liquide has begun a staged investment of more than 300 million euros in four state-of-the-art gas plants in key Electronics basins to produce more than 1.5 billion Nm3 per year of nitrogen and other high purity gases.

Air Liquide will build, own and operate ultra-high purity industrial gas plants to support our customers' strategic growth in the production of advanced semiconductors. Compared to previous generation units, the four energy efficient plants will enable the Group to avoid the emission of an estimated 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions associated with the electricity used by around 11,000 Japanese homes in one year. The first plant is expected to start production at the end of 2022.

Air Liquide has been supplying industrial ultra-pure gases in Japan and abroad to these two customers for more than two decades. The new production facilities will strengthen Air Liquide's leading position in Electronics in Japan and support the growth momentum of the Group's Electronics activities.

Francois Abrial, Member of the Air Liquide Group's Executive Committee supervising Asia Pacific, said: "We are pleased to strengthen our collaboration with these long-term partners, in line with our strategy to invest for the semiconductor industry and to reinforce our presence in major industrial basins. These contracts illustrate Air Liquide's capacity to provide our customers with reliable and power-efficient ultra-high purity industrial gas production solutions. They are also aligned with our Sustainability Objectives, which include helping our customers lower their carbon footprint. "

Air Liquide in Japan

Air Liquide Japan ("ALJ") was established in 1907, and has been contributing to the development of Japanese industries for over 100 years. Supported by a highly-skilled workforce of approximately 2,000 employees, ALJ supplies nitrogen and oxygen to companies in electronics and other industrial fields, collaborating with our clients in problem solving and joint research.

Air Liquide Electronics

Generating 2,096 million in revenue in 2021, the Electronics business line of Air Liquide is a world reference in designing, manufacturing and supplying ultra high purity gasses and advanced materials for this industry. The Electronics business line of Air Liquide is a long-term partner providing innovative and sustainable solutions to the semiconductors, photovoltaics and flat-panel displays markets. Close to 4,500 employees worldwide are dedicated to providing the working agility and reliability our customers need. www.electronics-airliquide.com

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 75 countries with approximately 66,400 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide's revenue amounted to more than 23 billion euros in 2021. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.

www.airliquide.com

Follow us on Twitter @airliquidegroup

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220318005138/en/

Contacts:

Corporate Communications

media@airliquide.com

Investor Relations

IRTeam@airliquide.com
Firm joins as Associate Member of global futures and options organisation, alongside leading clearing firms, exchanges, clearinghouses and trading firms

B2C2, the crypto-native liquidity provider across market conditions, today announced that it has joined FIA, the leading global trade organisation for the futures, options and centrally cleared derivatives markets, as Associate Member, alongside global institutions supporting open, transparent and competitive markets.

Established in 2015, B2C2 provides liquidity to diverse institutions globally, with 450+ active clients in 50+ countries. Agency OTC desks, aggregators, banks, exchanges, FX brokers and hedge funds rely on B2C2 for liquidity 24/7, especially during periods of market volatility. B2C2 provides a full-service offering spanning spot, funding and derivatives.

From the outset, B2C2's leading-edge trading technology has delivered transparency, efficiency and best practice to the crypto market, paving the way for global financial institutions to participate. Continuously innovative, the firm has achieved a number of firsts, including launching a crypto-native single-dealer platform in 2016 and trading a crypto non-deliverable forward (NDF) in 2021.

Rob Catalanello, Co-CEO of B2C2, said: "Since our start in 2015, B2C2 was certain that crypto would evolve from a retail to an institutional market. Everything about our offering from the technology to the products and services we provide is built to enable institutional access. FIA's mission to protect and enhance the integrity of derivative markets will also greatly enable institutional participation in crypto."

Ends

About B2C2

B2C2 is the crypto-native liquidity provider across market conditions. 450+ institutions globally, including agency OTC desks, aggregators, banks, exchanges, FX brokers and hedge funds, rely on B2C2's full service offering for 24/7 access to the crypto market.

Since it was founded in 2015, B2C2 built its technology, products and services to meet the evolving needs of diverse institutions. Continuously innovative, B2C2 is trusted by clients to find solutions to industry challenges, such as creating the first crypto ISDA Master Agreement in 2018.

Acquired by Japanese financial group SBI in 2020, B2C2 remains a standalone company, headquartered in the UK, with offices in the US and Japan. B2C2 OTC Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 810834). For more information, please visit https://www.b2c2.com

About FIA

FIA is the leading global trade organization for the futures, options and centrally cleared derivatives markets, with offices in Brussels, London, Singapore and Washington, D.C. FIA's membership includes clearing firms, exchanges, clearinghouses, trading firms and commodities specialists from about 50 countries as well as technology vendors, law firms and other professional service providers.

FIA's mission is to:

support open, transparent and competitive markets,

protect and enhance the integrity of the financial system, and

promote high standards of professional conduct.

As the principal members of derivatives clearinghouses worldwide, FIA's clearing firm members play a critical role in the reduction of systemic risk in global financial markets.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220318005012/en/

Contacts:

Teresa Chick

Group Head of Marketing and Communications

press@b2c2.com
The alternative asset hedge fund's new office follows on the heels of the fund's recent office opening in Zurich

RIGA, Latvia, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hedonova , an alternative assets hedge fund, today announced the opening of a new office in Riga, Latvia, continuing the fund's rapid European expansion. The Latvia office is the fund's second European office opened this year, and is the fund's third office operating in Europe.

The new office will specifically focus on Hedonova's operations and technology, and is actively hiring technology, design and social media professionals. Hedonova is a unique hedge fund that champions accessibility and inclusivity. The fund offers its investors access to over twelve alternative asset classes, including cryptos, NFTs, art, startups, real estate, media assets, art, and more. These assets are available through a single diversified fund that Hedonova has created to make investing in modern assets more accessible and convenient. The hedge fund has more than 2,000 accredited investors and $92 million in holdings. Hedonova not only focuses on accessibility and inclusivity for investors, but also its employees worldwide. From its inception, the fund has made accessibility a fundamental part of its business by actively hiring people with disabilities.

"We are sensitive to the current issues plaguing the Eastern European community, particularly in Ukraine, and we are offering employment opportunities for all," said Alexander Cavendish, Co-founder and CEO of Hedonova. "Our company is an equal opportunity employer and will fund Latvian permanent residency for qualifying applicants."

"As we continue expanding into different markets and regions, our operations and technology teams need to be stronger than ever," said Suman Bannerjee, Co-Founder and CIO of Hedonova. "Our hiring practices are amongst the most inclusive in the industry and we are excited to welcome all who are interested."

To learn more about open roles at Hedonova and apply, visit https://www.hedonova.io/more/careers . For more information about Hedonova, visit www.hedonova.io .

About Hedonova

Founded in 2020, Hedonova is a global alternative assets hedge fund that is open to everyone. Its investments include cryptocurrency, NFTs, startups, emerging real estate markets, art, media assets, wine and more. With over 12 alternative asset classes in one fund, the fund is on a mission to make investing accessible to everyone by requiring an investment of just $1,000.
REIMS, France, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The famous magazine Drinks International has unveiled its traditional ranking of the 30 "World's Most Admired Champagne Brands". For this 9th edition, more than 300 wine experts, including Giles Fallowfield, participated in the voting.

For the first time in its history, Maison Rare Champagne is present in this most coveted Drinks International magazine's list. Ranked 15th, Rare Champagne is also the only House to make its debut this year. This honors the work accomplished by the teams in Reims and around the world for the recognition of Rare Champagne as a House in its own.

"It has been a relatively short journey for Rare Champagne from becoming a standalone brand only in late 2018 to making it into the top half of our Most Admired brands table."

- Giles Fallowfield

ABOUT RARE CHAMPAGNE, THE TRUE EXCEPTION.

The noble origin of Rare Champagne dates back to a tribute to the Queen of France, Marie-Antoinette and expresses its revolutionary spirit against the trivialisation of vintages. Over the last forty years, Rare Champagne only declared twelve vintages. Our Cellar Master, Regis Camus, the most awarded cellar master of the century, exclusively selects a truly singular year, when nature has been tamed, when time and expertise unveil exceptional champagnes. The tiara designed by Arthus Bertrand adorning the precious bottle features the triumphant vine prevailing over the whims of weather. Rare Champagne is a wine of patience, with an unlimited potential for expression. Time is no longer an obstacle but a benefit which emphasizes the personality of each vintage. Blossoming year after year, Rare Champagne expresses an elegant style: endless freshness, long-lasting minerality, with a radiant purity and subtle contrasts. Discovering Rare Champagne is an introduction to the French Art de Vivre, whose timeless elegance knows no borders.

ABOUT THE "WORLD'S MOST ADMIRED CHAMPAGNE BRANDS" LIST DRINKS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

All 300 experts were asked to select the five champagne brands they most admire in descending order. The brands featured on the list are all well-established, prestigious and widely enjoyed around the world. This Drinks International Magazine supplement honors the champagne brands and their teams for their commitment and hard work.

PRESS CONTACT

communication@rare-champagne.com

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First of its kind initiative in India bringing wearable technology for post-surgery care.

NEW DELHI and LONDON and SINGAPORE, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Manipal Hospitals, the second-largest healthcare services provider in India, today announced a strategic partnership with ConnectedLife built with Google Cloud to use Fitbit's wearable technology with ConnectedLife's virtual platform to monitor patient progress and empower "Continuity of Care Post-High-Risk Surgeries". Through this virtual platform, the clinical teams at Manipal Hospitals will gain a holistic view of the patient post-discharge, tailor their intervention precisely to the patient's needs, and monitor them in their journey towards a healthy post-surgery recovery.

This digital initiative aims to use wearable technology to stay connected with patients post surgeries like total knee replacement, angioplasty, cardiac bypass surgery, and other high-risk surgeries.

The advanced digital solution can remotely capture heart rate, oxygen saturation level, and activity metrics (sleep quality, steps taken, and pain score) both pre-and and post-operatively. The technology optimizes patient care via triggering reminders to take medications or participate in physiotherapy and triggering warnings if there are significant deviations outside normal physiological parameters.

Early data indicates patients on the programme have seen improved adherence to medication and exercise schedule with associated improvements in physical activity. Within this programme we are able to give patients in post-operative care a better view of their activity, sleep and other health metrics that can help empower them in managing their day-to-day wellbeing.

"This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of Manipal Hospitals and in the Indian healthcare eco-system. Today, we have an excellent opportunity to develop a cohesive program for the continuity of care after hospitalization. Through this partnership, we are expecting post-surgery care to become seamless, as wearable technology will help us monitor certain critical parameters of patients who have undergone total knee replacement surgery, angioplasty, cardiac bypass surgery, and other high-risk surgeries," said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Hospitals.

"In the long run, it will help facilitate Manipal Hospitals to determine if the post-operative data collected from the ConnectedLife with Fitbit dashboard match with functional outcomes and improved patient satisfaction post-surgery. This data will allow us to understand and develop new methods in cost-effectiveness, compliance, comfort, and ease of use, all while giving us accurate data on the vitals," said Mr. Dilip Jose, MD & CEO, Manipal Hospitals.

"The intuitive, user-centric platform will help every person, from at-risk patients to chronic sufferers. We will be able to better understand their condition and then collaborate with care teams to achieve better health outcomes. Through its patient-centric platform, we will be able to replace lengthy manual processes with 24/7 insight-based care and monitoring, and thus enabling recovery outside of hospitals," Mr Jose added.

Alok Shankar, Country Manager for Fitbit India said, "We continue to work with ConnectedLife to facilitate engagement with strategic partners like Manipal Hospitals to develop and implement solutions that play a key role in building the digital health ecosystem in India. This programme gives people a better view of their health metrics, which can help empower them to better manage their recovery."

"We are honoured to partner with Manipal Hospitals and Fitbit in bringing about a digital transformation within the Indian health eco-system to continuity of care post-high-risk surgeries. For ConnectedLife this is an incredible opportunity to deliver at scale and further advance the application of easy-to-use smartphone and wearable technology, and novel data analytics and AI, and population health management tools. With our trusted, secure and scalable enterprise infrastructure, ConnectedLife will deploy new features and capabilities based on patient and clinician feedback every two to four weeks, and maintain the strictest accountability for data acquisition, privacy and protection," said Mr. Daryl Arnold, Founder & CEO, ConnectedLife.

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Nearly three dozen companies worldwide will soon be manufacturing generic versions of the Pfizer anti-COVID pill Paxlovid, thanks to a deal between the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool and the pharmaceutical giant.

The Medicines Patent Pool said Thursday it had signed agreements with 35 companies to make the generic nirmatrelvir which, combined with a low dose of ritonavir, can save lives in 95 low- and middle-income countries  where more than half the worlds population lives, the international agency said in a statement.

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This will make an enormous difference for countries, MPP executive director Charles Gore told The Associated Press, alluding especially to the critical need among the worlds poorest nations given their lack of access to vaccines. They have been at the back of the queue for vaccines, so having a treatment like this in the armory will be absolutely critical to prevent deaths.

Pfizer is partnering with the Medicines Patent Pool. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

Companies in a dozen countries are participating, the MPP said: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Jordan, India, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Serbia, South Korea, and Vietnam. An offer to a company in Ukraine is pending because of the Russian invasion, but will remain open as they are no table to sign due to the current conflict, the medicines pool said.

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Six companies will focus on producing the drug substance, nine companies will produce the drug product, and the remainder will produce both.

Pfizer will forgo royalties as long as COVID-19 remains classified as a global public health emergency, the MPP said. After the World Health Organization has declared the pandemic phase of COVID to be passed, sales in low-income countries will continue to be free of royalties, while lower- and upper-middle-income countries will pay a 5% royalty for public-sector sales and 10% for private sector sales.

The agreement follows in the footsteps of one signed in January with Merck to enable two dozen companies to make that firms anti-COVID pill, molnupiravir.

Paxlovid cuts the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk patients by as much as 90% and is potentially effective against the omicron variant because it targets something other than the spike protein, where the bulk of the mutations are forming, the AP said. The U.S. has bought enough pills to treat 10 million people.

The drug was hailed as a game changer when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in December, with NYU Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital epidemiologist Dr. Jennifer Lighter telling the Daily News that it could change the course of this pandemic.
LONDON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- enfinium will provide support to assist the humanitarian relief efforts through a corporate donation of 20,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together 15 leading U.K. aid charities to raise funds quickly and effectively at times of crisis overseas. In addition to our corporate donation, we are offering to match fund any individual employee donations, up to 250 per donation that our employees wish to make to support those in need.

Bill Roberts, Chief Operating Officer said "Words can't express how we feel watching the suffering in Ukraine and the loss of innocent lives. Through match funding and a corporate donation we hope to help employees moved by the suffering of another to make the biggest impact possible with their donations and in turn build support for the people of Ukraine".

This fundraising campaign will initially run from 18 March to 30 April 2022.

About enfinium

enfinium is the largest pure play waste-to-energy business in the U.K. and is an industry leader in the conversion of non-recyclable residential and business waste into heat and partially renewable power. enfinium currently has a platform of seven (two in construction and one under advanced development) strategically located facilities across the U.K. Today, enfinium has an annual waste processing capacity of over 2.3 million tonnes, and a total combined electric generating capacity of 247MW (gross) - enough energy to power more than 500,000 U.K. homes. The vision "Make a difference today to deliver a cleaner tomorrow" speaks to the company's ongoing commitment to the development of clean and renewable energy solutions for its customers and local communities. For more on enfinium, please visit www.enfinium.co.uk.

About First Sentier Investors

First Sentier Investors are stewards of over 130 billion in assets managed on behalf of a client base that extends across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. With more than twenty years' experience in infrastructure investment, it is one of the longest established managers of infrastructure assets on behalf of institutional investors and currently manages approximately 12.0 billion of equity invested across assets in the utility, transport and energy infrastructure sectors in Europe, Australia and North America. FSI operates as a standalone business owned by the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
Swiss Re Ltd / Key word(s): Miscellaneous/Personnel

Swiss Re announces new appointments in Asia and North America



18.03.2022 / 10:00





Zurich, 18 March 2022 - Swiss Re announces that Ivan Gonzalez has been appointed CEO Reinsurance China and China Country President with effect from 1 July 2022. He will relocate from New York to Beijing. Katie McGrath will succeed Ivan as Regional CEO for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in North America. She will be based in New York. Both appointments are subject to regulatory approvals.

Ivan will have composite responsibilities for all Reinsurance operations in China and serve as Swiss Re's president in the country. He was most recently the CEO North America for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, a role he held since 2016, offering innovative, high-quality insurance capacity and customised risk transfer solutions to corporations in the United States and Canada. Ivan began his career in 2001 as a financial analyst with Swiss Re Capital Partners in New York and assisted in several corporate development initiatives, including the acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions. In 2006, he moved to Swiss Re Group Strategy in Zurich and was subsequently appointed as CEO Latin America for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2011 out of Sao Paulo.

Katie has more than 25 years of experience across multiple roles in commercial insurance. Since joining Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2019, she has been responsible for its Accident & Health portfolio in North America. A seasoned leader with expertise in underwriting, revenue and profit growth, integration and change management, product development and strategy, Katie has also been an integral member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions' management team in North America. Prior to joining Swiss Re, she has worked in several senior roles in AIG in New York.

Russell Higginbotham, Chief Executive Officer Reinsurance Asia, said: 'Swiss Re remains committed to investing in China's long-term future and being part of this dynamic high growth market. Ivan's move is an exciting one as he brings his knowledge, global mindset, and fresh perspectives to support our clients in this strategically important country. His keen interest to understand China and its role in shaping the future of business, and personal passion to help make the world more resilient will further strengthen Swiss Re's position in the country.'

Andreas Berger, Chief Executive Officer Corporate Solutions, said: 'Ivan has been instrumental in the repositioning of Swiss Re as a specialised risk partner for corporations in the Americas and we wish him great success in China. We are proud to have Katie succeed him, reflecting the strength of our talent pool and the stability of our management team. We are confident she will accelerate the strategic engagement with our customers and business partners by further leveraging our risk knowledge and differentiated propositions.'

For further information please contact Swiss Re Media Relations: + 41 (0)43 285 7171 or Media_Relations@Swissre.com.

Please use this link to access the Swiss Re website.

Swiss Re

The Swiss Re Group is one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk - from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally.

Cautionary note on forward-looking statements

Certain statements and illustrations contained herein are forward-looking. These statements (including as to plans, objectives, targets, and trends) and illustrations provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical fact or current fact. Further information on forward looking statements can be found in the Legal Notice section of Swiss Re's website.

End of Media Release


Shareholders in Elanders AB (publ) are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday April 21, 2022 at 11.00 a.m. at Sodra Porten Conference, Flojelbergsgatan 1 C, Molndal.

RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE

Shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting must be recorded in the register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Monday April 11, 2022. In addition, shareholders must notify the company of their intention to participate in the Meeting by latest April 13, 2022.

In order to be entitled to participate in the meeting, shareholders who have trustee-registered their shares must, in addition to notify its intention to participate in the meeting, re-register the shares with Euroclear Sweden AB in their own name in order for the shareholder to be registered in shareholders' register as of April 11, 2022. Such registration, which may be temporary (so called voting rights registration), is to be requested with the trustee in accordance with the trustee's routines at such time in advance as decided by the trustee. Voting rights registrations made no later than the second bank day after Monday April 11, 2022 will be considered in the production of the share register.

There is a total of 35,357,751 shares in Elanders, whereof 1,814,813 class A-shares with ten votes per share and 33,542,938 class B-shares with one vote per share. The shares entitle to 51,691,068 votes in total. The company does not hold any treasury shares.

NOTIFICATION

Notice of attendance shall be made in one of the following ways:

on Elanders' website www.elanders.com (https://www.elanders.com/about-elanders/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting/annual-general-meeting-2022/);

(https://www.elanders.com/about-elanders/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting/annual-general-meeting-2022/); in writing to Elanders AB (publ), att "Annual General Meeting 2022", c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, Box 191, 101 23 Stockholm, Sweden; or

by telephone +46 8 402 91 33.

The notice shall state name, address, telephone number, personal or corporate identity number and, if applicable, the number of advisors (not more than two) that will accompany the shareholder at the Meeting.

Shareholder represented by a proxy shall issue a power of attorney for the proxy. If the power of attorney is issued by a legal entity, a registration certificate or a corresponding document which indicates the authorised signatories of the legal entity must be enclosed. The original power of attorney, and any registration certificate or the equivalent, should be sent to the company well in advance of the Meeting at the address above. Proxy forms are available at www.elanders.com and can also be ordered from the company at the address above.

PROPOSED AGENDA

Opening of the Meeting Election of Chairman of the Meeting Preparation and approval of the voting list Approval of the agenda Election of two persons to approve the minutes Determination of whether the Meeting has been duly convened Presentation by the Chief Executive Officer Presentation of the work performed by the Board and its committees Presentation of the annual accounts and the auditors' report as well as the consolidated financial statements and the auditors' report for the group Resolutions regarding adoption of the income statement and balance sheet as well as the consolidated income statement and balance sheet allocation of the company's profits according to the adopted balance sheet the discharge of Board Members and the Chief Executive Officer from liability Determination of the number of Board Members, deputies and auditors Resolutions regarding the remuneration to the Board of Directors the remuneration to the auditor Election of Board Members and Chairman of the Board re-election of Carl Bennet; re-election of Eva Elmstedt; re-election of Dan Frohm; re-election of Erik Gabrielson; re-election of Cecilia Lager; re-election of Anne Lenerius; re-election of Magnus Nilsson; re-election of Johan Stern; re-election of Caroline Sundewall; and new-election of Dan Frohm as Chairman of the Board. Election of auditor Resolution regarding the nomination committee Resolution to approve the Board of Directors' remuneration report Resolution regarding new guidelines for executives' remuneration. Closure of the Meeting

DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION (ITEM 10 b)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves on a dividend of SEK 3.60 (3.10) per share for the fiscal year 2021. As record date for the dividend, the Board proposes Monday 25 April 2022. If the Meeting resolves in accordance with the proposal, it is expected that the dividend will be disbursed by Euroclear Sweden on Thursday 28 April 2022. The last day for trading in the Elanders share including the right to dividend is Thursday 21 April 2022.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ETC (ITEMS 2 and 11 - 14)

The nomination committee, composed of Carl Bennet (Carl Bennet AB), Chairman, Hans Hedstrom (Carnegie Fonder), Adam Gerge (Didner & Gerge Fonder) and Fredrik Karlsson (Svolder), proposes:

the appointment of Carl Bennet as Chairman of the Meeting,

that the Board shall be composed of nine Members without any deputies,

that the remuneration to the Members of the Board shall amount to SEK 4,252,000 (4,119,000 preceding year), to be divided so that the Chairman receives SEK 784,000 (760,000) and the other Members not employed by the company receive SEK 392,000 (380,000) each, the chairman of the audit committee receives SEK 160,000 (154,000) and each other Member of the audit committee receives SEK 80,000 (77,000), the chairman of the remuneration committee receives SEK 82,000 (80,000) and each other Member of the remuneration committee receives SEK 41,000 (40,000),

the re-election of the Board Members Carl Bennet, Eva Elmstedt, Dan Frohm, Erik Gabrielson, Cecilia Lager, Anne Lenerius, Magnus Nilsson, Johan Stern and Caroline Sundewall,

the new-election of Dan Frohm as Chairman of the Board,

that the company shall have one auditor without any deputies,

that remuneration to the auditor be paid according to approved invoices within the limits of the offer, and

the re-election of PricewaterhouseCoopers AB as auditor of the company.

THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE (ITEM 15)

The nomination committee proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves:

to instruct the Chairman of the Board to convene a nomination committee for the Annual General Meeting 2023, composed of the Chairman of the Board and one representative of each of the company's four largest shareholders as per August 31, 2022,

to instruct the Chairman of the Board, in consultation with the representatives of the company's four largest shareholders, to determine if one representative of the minority shareholders also should be appointed to the nomination committee,

that, in the event any of the four largest shareholders refrains from exercising its right to appoint a representative to the nomination committee, such right shall pass to the shareholder that, next to these four shareholders, has the largest shareholding in the company,

that, in the event a representative no longer represents the relevant shareholder, or otherwise resigns from the nomination committee prior to the completion of its work, such shareholder shall be offered the opportunity to appoint a new representative to the nomination committee,

that, in the event a representative represents a shareholder that has sold all or the main part of its shareholding in Elanders, the nomination committee may resolve that such member shall resign and, if deemed appropriate by the nomination committee, offer another representative for a larger shareholder a place in the nomination committee, and

that the nomination committee shall perform such duties that fall on the nomination committee in accordance with the Swedish Corporate Governance Code.

GUIDELINES FOR EXECUTIVES' REMUNERATION (ITEM 17)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to change the limitation regarding the CEO's variable remuneration in the guidelines for executives' remuneration. Today, the variable remuneration is limited to 60% of the fixed salary. The Board of Directors proposes that this limitation be changed to 70% of the fixed salary. No other significant changes are proposed in the guidelines.

DOCUMENTS

The annual report, the board's remuneration report and other supporting documentation will be held available at the company's premises at Flojelbergsgatan 1C in Molndal, Sweden, and on its website, www.elanders.com , at least three weeks before the Meeting. Copies of these documents will be sent to shareholders who so request and provide their postal address.

The shareholders are reminded of their right to demand information according to Chapter 7 Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act.

For information about the processing of your personal data, please refer to www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf .

Elanders' corporate registration number is 556008-1621 and its registered office is in Molndal municipality, Sweden





Molndal, Sweden in March 2022

The Board of Directors of Elanders AB (publ)

Attachment
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 three to four 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.
DEESIDE, Wales, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- enfinium, which operates the Parc Adfer waste-to-energy facility will provide support to assist the humanitarian relief efforts through a corporate donation of 20,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together 15 leading U.K. aid charities to raise funds quickly and effectively at times of crisis overseas. In addition to our corporate donation, we are offering to match fund any individual Parc Adfer employee donations, up to 250 per donation that our employees wish to make to support those in need.

Bill Roberts, Chief Operating Officer said "Words can't express how we feel watching the suffering in Ukraine and the loss of innocent lives. Through match funding and a corporate donation we hope to help employees moved by the suffering of another to make the biggest impact possible with their donations and in turn build support for the people of Ukraine".

This fundraising campaign will initially run from 18 March to 30 April 2022.

About enfinium

enfinium is the largest pure play waste-to-energy business in the U.K. and is an industry leader in the conversion of non-recyclable residential and business waste into heat and partially renewable power. enfinium currently has a platform of seven (two in construction and one under advanced development) strategically located facilities across the U.K. Today, enfinium has an annual waste processing capacity of over 2.3 million tonnes, and a total combined electric generating capacity of 247MW (gross) - enough energy to power more than 500,000 U.K. homes. The vision "Make a difference today to deliver a cleaner tomorrow" speaks to the company's ongoing commitment to the development of clean and renewable energy solutions for its customers and local communities. For more on enfinium, please visit www.enfinium.co.uk.

About First Sentier Investors

First Sentier Investors are stewards of over 130 billion in assets managed on behalf of a client base that extends across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. With more than twenty years' experience in infrastructure investment, it is one of the longest established managers of infrastructure assets on behalf of institutional investors and currently manages approximately 12.0 billion of equity invested across assets in the utility, transport and energy infrastructure sectors in Europe, Australia and North America. FSI operates as a standalone business owned by the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
NECKARSULM (dpa-AFX) - Bechtle AG (BC8G), a German IT system house, on Friday reported a rise in earnings for the fiscal 2021, amidst an increase in incoming orders and revenue from e-commerce segment. For the fiscal 2021, the IT firm posted its post-tax earnings at 231.44 million euros or 1.84 euros per share, compared with 192.54 million euros or 1.53 euros per share, reported a year ago. The Neckarsulm-headquartered firm's EBT for the 12-month period rose to 320.50 million euros as against 270.70 million euros, on year-on-year basis. EBIT for the year was also climbed to 325.72 million euros, from 276.95 million euros, reported for the fiscal 2020. Bechtle registered a 16-percent rise in incoming orders to 1.80 billion euros, a year-on-year increase of 80 percent. The Group generated revenue of 5.30 billion euros for the year, compared with 5.05 billion euros, reported for the previous fiscal. In the IT e-commerce segment, the revenue for the last fiscal moved up by 14.5 percent to 1.91 billion euros. The company has proposed an increased annual dividend of 0.55 euros per share. 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.
Premium auto brand EXEED enters Middle East market

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The EXEED media preview event themed "Born for More" was recently held at Leylaty Function Hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event was attended by 64 members of the region's mainstream media including journalists and influencers from key newspapers, magazines, websites and video platforms, among them, Mouhamed Alkeinani, Hani Amro, Mohammed Orfli and Hatan Arab, all of whom came to witness and share in the premium car brand EXEED's journey into the Middle East market.

A new player in the global premium car market, EXCEED, on the one hand, inherits the century-old experience accumulation of the European car industry, while, on the other, integrates the best and the latest of Chinese intelligent technology, empowering the brand in its challenge to traditional premium car brands. The VX and TXL models displayed at the event drew the attention of the participating journalists the moment the vehicles were unveiled.

As EXCEED's premium representative products, the two models have quite different focuses. The VX features More Space + More Power + More Premium, with a nearly 5-meter length and 3-meter wheelbase creating a desirably roomy interior, coupled with a 2.0TGDI engine for on-the-road power. The TXL emphasizes Beauty + Safety with a head-turning borderless air intake grille and breathing light with the star logo that is sure to appeal to the diverse expectations of drivers worldwide. Taking into account the desert-like conditions of the Middle East, the EXEED was designed especially for hot climates with seat ventilation and powerful cooling systems.

The media preview event is EXEED's debut in Saudi Arabia and its first stop in the Middle East market. Next, EXEED plans further expansion in the Middle East with market entry scheduled next in Kuwait and Qatar.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1769194/image1.jpg

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TOKYO, Mar 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) will showcase the new Xpander crossover MPV and two new Ralliart special editions - Triton Ralliart (Double-Cab)(1) and Mirage Ralliart(2) - at the 43rd Bangkok International Motor Show 2022(3) to be held from March 22 to April 3.Since its launch in Indonesia in 2017, the Xpander has expanded its global footprint in the ASEAN region, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia and Africa, and has become Mitsubishi Motors' global strategic model with more than 100,000 units sold globally in 2021(4). The refreshed Xpander was premiered in Indonesia in November 2021, and after the launch in Thailand, the company plans to roll it out in other markets centering on the ASEAN region. The new Xpander features an upgraded design inside and out to emphasize the SUV styling, while a high-efficiency continuously variable transmission (CVT) is adopted to reduce fuel consumption, yet achieving powerful road performance.Following the Triton Ralliart and Pajero Sport Ralliart launched in Thailand in November 2021, the Triton Ralliart (Double-Cab) and Mirage Ralliart are new Ralliart special editions designed especially for customers who seek their own unique driving and styling. The models are equipped with special accessories including side decals with red, silver and black stripes and red mud flaps reminiscent of the brand's historic rally cars, as well as other exterior and interior accessories with the Ralliart logo."The new Xpander is gaining popularity in Indonesia, where its strengthened SUV styling, a high-quality interior and an eco-friendly yet powerful road performance are highly recognized, so we believe it will also be well received by customers in Thailand," said Yoichiro Yatabe, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors. "As for the Ralliart special editions, we add two models to the lineup, which embody Mitsubishi Motors-ness and Ralliart's passion for road performance."Product Overview(5)XpanderThe new Xpander is evolved with strengthened SUV styling and secures a high ground clearance of 220 millimeters - a top-level in its class - to improve off-road performance. Inside, the quality of the cabin is upgraded by using soft pads for the armrest and door trim, and convenient features including additional storage spaces further enhance comfort for the passengers.For the transmission, a high-efficiency CVT is newly adopted. When the accelerator is deeply depressed, a powerful and sharp acceleration is delivered, with a gear shifting feel added to allow the driver to feel the acceleration. When the accelerator is lightly depressed, smooth shifting unique to CVT maximizes engine performance while achieving high fuel efficiency and quietness.Triton Ralliart (Double-Cab)The Triton Ralliart (Double-Cab) is based on the low-riding variant and features side decals, mud flaps and bed liner with the Ralliart logo. Having further evolved from the Triton Ralliart introduced last year, the special edition is newly equipped with a front airdam, side airdams and rear airdam to emphasize the low profile of the low-riding variant. For the interior, floor mats with the Ralliart logo and red-accent overlocks are specially equipped.Two exterior color options are available for the Triton Ralliart (Double-Cab) - a two-tone exterior with a Solid White body and a Black roof, and Jet Black Mica - and the front grille, alloy wheels, door mirrors, door handles and rear gate handle are painted black.Mirage RalliartThe Mirage Ralliart is equipped with side decals and mud flaps with the Ralliart logo, and features black over fenders with carbon grain, adding a touch of Ralliart's tough driving to the Mirage's sharp and dynamic styling. Inside, floor mats with the Ralliart logo and two-tone red and black seats are specially equipped.The Mirage Ralliart is available in Whited Diamond and Red Metallic, and is made sporty with a black roof, front grille, alloy wheels, door mirrors and rear spoiler.(1) Triton is sold as L200 in some markets.(2) Mirage is sold as Space Star in some markets.(3) March 22 is press day, and the show is open to the public from March 23 to April 3.(4) Global sales of Xpander and Xpander Cross.(5) Thailand specifications. Vehicle specifications may vary depending on model and/or market.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211), MMC-a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan-, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has more than 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. MMC has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, MMC has been a leader in electrification-launched the i-MiEV - the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV - the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. MMC announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross PHEV (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on MMC, please visit the company's website athttps://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The Manufacturing Execution System Market Size, Growth driven by the growing usage of technology and automation in the manufacturing sector, the wide-scale adoption of Industry 4.0 worldwide and high degree of integration with other solutions.

NEW YORK, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/--The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Manufacturing Execution System Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component (Software and Services), Deployment (Cloud and On-Premise), and Industry Type (Process Industry and Discrete Industry)", the global manufacturing execution system market was valued at $11.88 Bn in 2021 and is projected to reach $24.28 Bn by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.8% from 2021 to 2028.

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Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 11,880.90 Million in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 24,286.32 Million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 10.8% from 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 188 No. Tables 97 No. of Charts & Figures 90 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Component, Deployment, and Industry Type Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Manufacturing Execution System Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

42Q; AVEVA Group plc; Dassault Systemes SE; EAZYWORKS INC.; Emerson Electric Co.; General Electric Company; Honeywell International Inc.; Oracle Corporation; SAP SE; and Rockwell Automation, Inc. are a few key players profiled during the study of the global Manufacturing Execution System market. In addition, several other essential market players were studied and analyzed to get a holistic view of the market and its ecosystem.

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In November 2021, AVEVA launched the Vision AI Assistant 2021, an image classification-based analytics tool. The AI solution is currently integrated into AVEVA Insight and System Platform and Operations Management Interface, and the extension is expected to strengthen its position as a market leader in innovation.

In September 2018, Fabbriica Italiana Sintetici (FIS), a leading active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturer, selected Emerson to digitize operations and work processes at three manufacturing across Italy. The development led to Emerson's strong relationship with FIS and expanded the company's presence in Europe.

In response to the modern security threats, manufacturers are focused on improving the capabilities of MES with the integration of state-of-the-art technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to analyze large volumes of data quickly. The AI supports quick mathematical calculations to augment the vital capabilities of human intelligence and detect threats such as anomalies, outliers, and patterns effortlessly with a less skilled workforce. Many MES service providers have integrated their existing solutions with AI to enhance their analytical and incident response abilities. With the surge in end users expectations regarding user behavior and threat detection capabilities, the integration of existing MES with advanced analytical technologies is driving the growth of the manufacturing execution system market.

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Manufacturing Execution System Market: Component Overview

Based on component, the manufacturing execution system market is segmented into software and services. In 2021, the software segment led the manufacturing execution system market and accounted for a larger market share. It is expected to continue its dominance over the forecast period. Manufacturing execution system is designed and built for manufacturing operations. Most manufacturing companies use a planning process, such as manufacturing resource planning or enterprise resource planning, to determine which products are to be manufactured. The manufacturing execution systems reduces work-in-process inventory, reduces manufacturing cycle time, improves product quality, reduces eliminates data entry time, and many others. Such factors drive the global manufacturing execution system market.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Manufacturing Execution System Market:

The tremendous spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had urged governments worldwide to impose strict vehicles and human movement restrictions. Due to travel restrictions, mass lockdowns, and business shutdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic affected economies and countless manufacturing and production industries in various countries. The lockdown imposition had reduced the production of commodities, goods, and services.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the global economies, leading to many challenges. Several manufacturing industries were temporarily closed due to lockdowns, which reduced the demand for manufacturing execution system (MES) solutions globally. According to the World Manufacturing Production Statistics by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), for the second quarter (April-June) in 2020, manufacturing output decreased by 11.2% compared to the same quarter in 2019. China has recorded a greater drop (1.6%) than industrialized economies in the US and Europe, wherein value-added in 2020 plummeted by 15% and 14.3%, respectively. Therefore, as the MES solutions are directly proportional to manufacturing activities, the manufacturing execution system market was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Relaxations in lockdown restrictions led to the resumption of manufacturing businesses, with upgraded and improved supply chains, which further propelled the use of MES. The rise in the demand for MES in 2022 due to their increasing applications in manufacturing industries and the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based high-tech products in these industries are driving the market growth.

Browse Adjoining Reports:

Industrial & Factory Automation Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - by Product (Field Devices, Industrial Control System, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)); and Application (Automotive, Packaging, Pharmaceuticals, Oil & Gas, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Food & Beverage and Others)

Cloud Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component (Software, Services); Deployment (On-Premise, Cloud); Enterprise Size (SMEs, Large Enterprise); Industry Vertical (IT and Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics, Defense, Government, BFSI, Others) and Geography

Industrial Cloud Platform Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Solution (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Distributed Control System (DCS), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Human"Machine Interface (HMI), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Others); Components (Platform, Professional Service); End-User (Oil and Gas, Electric Power generation, Water and Waste Water Management, Food and Beverage, Mining and Metal, Others) and Geography

Smart and Mobile Supply Chain Solutions Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Components (Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Sourcing and Procurement, Supply Chain Planning (SCP), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)); Enterprise Size (Small and Medium Enterprises, Large Enterprises); Industry Vertical (BFSI, Government, Transportation and Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail and Consumer Goods, Others) and Geography

Automation in Chemical Petrochemical Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component (Distributed control system (DCS), Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), Manufacturing execution system, (MES), Programmable logic controller (PLC), Advanced process control (APC)) and Geography

Supply Chain Management Software Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - by Deployment Type (On-Premise, Cloud); Enterprise Size (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise, Large Enterprise); Product (Transportation Management System, Warehouse Management System, Supply Chain Planning, Procurement Software, Manufacturing Execution System); End-user (Automotive, Transportation and Logistics, Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare, Retail, Oil and Gas, Food and Beverage, Others) and Geography

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market by Product Types (Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair loss treatment products (Masks, etc.), Hair Oil, Hair colour and Other Products), Platforms (Consultation/digital questionnaires, Apps and specialized hardware, and Others) - Market Trends, Competitive Landscape, Revenue and Forecast To 2030."

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According to the latest research, the Global Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market is valued at US$ 2.21 Billion in 2021. It is expected to reach US$ 10.55 Billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 19.3% during the forecast period of 2022-2030. By Region, North America dominated the market with a 42.2 % market share in 2021.

Customized hair care products are the best alternatives for traditional hair care formulas as they are specific for each consumer rather than the traditional one. Effective, safe, personalized hair care products are made possible through its online quiz and feedback platform. These quizzes ask for information about the consumer's hair texture, dandruff, oily scalp, modifications, and daily care. Artificial intelligence platform is the modern way to deliver the most suitable and applicable ingredients for the user and enhance direct customer service.

Consciousness about personalized hair care products based on specific beauty requirements is a significant growth factor of the direct to customer personalized hair care product market globally. Developing innovations and consumer interactions using AI platforms regarding the product will enhance the rapid and essential conversation between consumers and the company. These objectives are expected to fuel market growth. For instance, in Dec 2020, L Catterton invested $150 million to accelerate the company's product development, expansion, and customized manufacturing capabilities. In Dec 2021, Procter & Gamble announced the acquisition of Ouai. Henkel Beauty Care announced the Schwarzkopf Professional SalonLab - a digital platform for quantifying and customizing the hair care experience, boosting hair salons into the digital age. The express developments in the application of digital platforms and AI for catching the consumer and the study of an individual's body features are likely to show specific market opportunities in the upcoming years.

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The expensiveness of personalized hair care products is the primary restraining factor of the D2C market. Instead of pricing, delayed product approvals are also affecting the market growth. The North American and European markets probably witness speedy growth during the forecast period (2019-2030) due to the vital Collaborations and acquisitions, growing understanding regarding the D2C product market of hair care, and the rising developments in customization.

The leading companies in the personalized haircare market are Function of Beauty, Belle Bar Organic, Form Beauty, Prose Personalized Hair Care, Strands, Henkel (Schwarzkopf Professional SalonLab), P&G(Ouai), Ravel, Formulate Labs, Inc, Vert Home & Personal Care Pvt. Ltd., eSalon (Aura), Gemmist, Bare Anatomy, Skinkraft, Rituals, vedix, MDALGORITHMS inc., Shampora, L'Oreal (Color&co), Oddity (SpoiledChild), Other Prominent Players

Key Developments in the market

In Feb 2022 , Oddity launches personalized skin and hair care brand, SpoiledChild. It uses artificial intelligence to deliver individualized, age-agnostic skin and hair health products to consumers. The brand uses a proprietary machine-learning engine to recommend products or sequences of products for every customer based on their needs.

, Oddity launches personalized skin and hair care brand, SpoiledChild. It uses artificial intelligence to deliver individualized, age-agnostic skin and hair health products to consumers. The brand uses a proprietary machine-learning engine to recommend products or sequences of products for every customer based on their needs. In Aug 2021 , Function of Beauty acquired Atolla; the expansion revolutionizes beauty through customization and data science

, Function of Beauty acquired Atolla; the expansion revolutionizes beauty through customization and data science In Jan 2021 , eSalon launched personalized hair care brand 'Aura' to tackle the personalized haircare segment with the addition of semi-permanent pigments. The launch of Aura stands as an intersection of developments within the at-home hair dye and personalized haircare categories. Aura's product lineup includes shampoos, conditioners and hair masks personalized for a customer's hair needs and "goals."

eSalon launched personalized hair care brand 'Aura' to tackle the personalized haircare segment with the addition of semi-permanent pigments. The launch of Aura stands as an intersection of developments within the at-home hair dye and personalized haircare categories. Aura's product lineup includes shampoos, conditioners and hair masks personalized for a customer's hair needs and "goals." In Nov 2018 , Prose raised $18 Million to Expand the personalized Hair Care market. Company preparing to use capital to invest in data science research and build its custom fulfilment infrastructure to meet consumer demand. The new automated manufacturing system started by Prose, will have the capacity to customize up to 10,000 products per day, allowing Prose to service more consumers than ever before.

, Prose raised to Expand the personalized Hair Care market. Company preparing to use capital to invest in data science research and build its custom fulfilment infrastructure to meet consumer demand. The new automated manufacturing system started by Prose, will have the capacity to customize up to 10,000 products per day, allowing Prose to service more consumers than ever before. In Dec 2017 , Function of Beauty, the YC-backed company that designs personalized shampoo and conditioner based on hair goals, has announced the close of a new $9.5 million Series A funding round led by GGV Capital.

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Market Scope/Segments:

Global D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Products, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

Shampoo

Conditioner

Hair loss treatment products (Masks, etc.)

Hair Oil

Hair colour

Other products

Global D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Platforms, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

Consultation/digital questionaries

Apps and specialized hardware

Other platforms

Global D2C Personalized Haircare Market, byRegion, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

North America D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Country, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

The U.S.

Canada

Europe D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Country, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Country, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

India

China

Japan

South Korea

Australia & New Zealand

Latin America D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Country, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

The Middle East & Africa D2C Personalized Haircare Market, by Country, 2019-2030 (Value US$ Bn)

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Why should buy this report:

To receive market insights and regional analysis of the prospects for the global Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market

To receive an industry trends and overview of the Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market

To analyze the Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market drivers and challenges

To get information on the Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market size (Value US$ Bn) forecast to 2030

Significant investments, mergers & acquisitions in the Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) Personalized Haircare Market industry

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Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

Global Personalized Skin Care Market

Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Beauty and Cosmetics Market

Global Beauty Ingestible Market

Global Microbiome in Skincare Market

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InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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What began as charity at home has crossed an ocean and a continent to war-torn Ukraine, where money raised by a Manhattan ministry is feeding and sheltering refugees.

In the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Franciscan Friars from New York Citys Holy Name Province raised money to help workers and families devastated by job loss and food shortages. The Franciscan Relief Fund provided supermarket gift cards to 5,598 unemployed in the hospitality, service and trade industries.

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After the storm passed, and the number of COVID cases began to decline, the money kept coming in, and the friars saw no shortage of people in need. They decided to look beyond our borders, and see who could use a hand.

Then Russia invaded Ukraine.

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A Franciscan friar provides food at a drop location. (Holy Name Province)

In one week, the Franciscan Relief Fund has raised more than $250,000 that is being used by friars on the frontlines in Ukraine to buy and distribute food, medicine and clothing for Ukrainian families left hungry, homeless and without basic necessities, said Father David Convertino, director of Holy Name Provinces Development Office in New York City.

A Franciscan friar provides necessities to a Ukrainian family. (Holy Name Province)

Covertino established the relief fund nearly two years ago to assist unemployed hotel workers, Broadway stagehands, and restaurant servers struggling with food insecurity during the pandemic.

The Franciscan friars in Ukraine have chosen to stay on the frontlines, where they are distributing food, water and warm clothing to children, women and the elderly who are waiting  sometimes for days  in vehicles and on foot in long lines at border crossings, Convertino said.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Friars are even helping families to evacuate, in one instance transporting more than two dozen people to the Poland border.

A Franciscan friar at work in Ukraine. (Holy Name Province)

All of the food, medicine and clothing purchased with Franciscan Relief Fund resources are being delivered from Poland and channeled to locations in Ukraine for distribution by the friars, Coventino said.

Refugees fleeing the war have left behind all they own to take refuge in subway stations, basements and underground shelters, Convertino said. More than 3.3 million refugees have left Ukraine, while more than 6 million people have been displaced within the country, officials said.

A Franciscan friar loads a vehicle with food to be taken to a drop location on the Poland-Ukraine border. (Holy Name Province)

The majority of those who have left the country have crossed into Poland, where friars of the Ukraine-Poland Franciscan Province of St. Michael the Archangel are providing boots on the ground, Convertino said.

The generous outpouring and support of the Franciscan Relief Fund has greatly contributed to this important lifeline the friars have become to thousands of Ukrainians, he said.

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Franciscan friars are beggars by nature. But we beg for the people we serve, not for ourselves. We are begging for Ukrainian citizens who are enduring unfathomable suffering.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices headed back towards $110 a barre on Friday, as peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow stalled and the White House warned Beijing that providing military or economic assistance for Russia's invasion of Ukraine will trigger severe consequences from Washington and beyond. Brent crude futures for May delivery rose 1.3 percent to $108.05 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures for April settlement were up 1.6 percent at $104.61. Despite resuming its advance, oil is considerably below its 14-year highs of about $130 a barrel reached less than two weeks ago. Russian President Vladimir Putin today accused Ukrainian authorities of stalling talks, saying the Kyiv regime is putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities, raising concerns that there may be further sanctions on its energy output and a lengthy disruption to supply. Delay in Iran talks and the International Energy Agency prediction for a sharp fall in Russian oil production also contributed to the upward move. The agency expects production to fall by 3 million barrels per day from April, due to the sanctions and the voluntary 'self-sanctioning' boycott by many buyers. 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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Idaho Champion Gold Mines Canada Inc. (CSE: ITKO) ( OTCQB: GLDRF) (FSE: 1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") reports assay results from the next five drill holes of the 2021 exporation drilling campaign at its 100%-controlled Champagne Gold Project ("Champagne") near the city of Arco, Butte County, Idaho. These results for drill holes DDH-CC-21-03 through 06, and -10 include 2,269 metres out of a total of 3,430 metres drilled in the program. Results remain pending for drill holes DDH-CC-21-07 through 09 (Figure 1).

All five of the new drill holes returned highly anomalous intervals of silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and lead (Pb). Gold (Au) is usually elevated with higher silver values, but there is only one narrow interval of gold exceeding 0.3 g/t (1.58 m at 1.26 g/t and 23.3 g/t Ag in CC-DH-21-05 at 505 m depth). As in the previously released drill holes (DDH-CC-21-01 and -02), the drill results from Champagne continue to suggest the presence of a large zoned polymetallic system, consistent with the potential for a porphyry copper or molybdenum deposit at depth (See Company press release dated November 4, 2021).

Jonathan Buick, Idaho Champion's CEO, commented: "Champion's 2021 drilling strategy at Champagne was built around drilling "fences" starting on the west end of the property and working our way east to test the geology and structure associated with the large anomaly that we identified in 2020. The drilling results are consistent with our interpretation that a deeper porphyry copper system underlies the Champagne district. We can see favourable indications and potential targets on the eastern and western portions of the caldera complex. These targets definitely warrant more drilling. We will compile the remaining data and formulate a follow-up program with the best likelihood of hitting the larger system we believe to be present."

Selected Drill Hole Highlights

DDH-CC-21-03: 0.1m at 124 g/t Ag and 2.55% Cu from 63.4 m depth





DDH-CC-21-06: 0.4 m at 7.88% Zn and 11.68 g/t Ag with anomalous Cu, Mo, and Pb from 329.0 m depth





DDH-CC-21-05: ~140 m of highly anomalous Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag, and Mo from 393 m depth





DDH-CC-21-10: ~121 m of highly anomalous Zn, Ag

Each of the new drill holes includes narrow intercepts of quartz-sulfide-sulfosalt veining with moderate to high Ag-Zn-Pb values. The narrow veins are often associated with strongly anomalous Cu and Mo mineralization. As shown in Figure 2, 3, and 4, such veins may occur in the outer halos around porphyry systems. The Champagne Project is host to a large interpreted volcanic caldera complex containing significant volumes of altered rock, which is also consistent with the shallow portions of a porphyry copper or molybdenum system. The Company is most encouraged by the numerous thick sections of anomalous Ag - Zn - Pb + Cu + Mo + As + Bi encountered by this drilling. These broader zones of weak to moderate mineralization are sometimes punctuated by the narrow high-grade veinlets as reported previously and again here.





Figure 1: Champagne Project Drilling Location Map

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/117265_d1a5abe8e4c8093d_001full.jpg

Summary of Geology and Drilling Details

The primary purpose of the 2021 drill program was to test the large IP anomaly, coincident soil geochemistry anomalies, and the Company's model for a structurally disrupted porphyry - epithermal Au-Ag system for the Champagne Project. Sampling and drilling have confirmed the presence of a large alteration system with multi-element zonation and complex geometry controlled by a highly-faulted volcanic caldera. The first two drill holes tested the northern portions of the IP anomaly where it was interpreted to be shallowest (See Company news release dated November 4, 2021). These holes encountered altered volcanic tuffs, flows, and narrow porphrytic dikes before passing into the metasedimentary rocks of the underlying basement. Mineralization in this northern area included two narrow high-grade Ag-Cu veins as well as longer runs of low-grade but anomalous pathfinder elements.

These drill holes reflect the generally thicker volcanic pile of the caldera complex going south, but major faulting is indicated by the offset volcanic units and variable depth to basement. The rocks continue to reflect clay and pyrite alteration over a large area, sometimes crosscut by narrow veins (0.1 - 0.4 m) and zones of anomalous trace elements over significant widths (10 - 140 m).





Figure 2 - Interpreted Cross-Section along IP Line 6 - Looking North-Northeast

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/117265_d1a5abe8e4c8093d_003full.jpg

DDH-CC-21-03 and -06 (IP Line 6). Both drill holes DDH-CC-21-03 and -06 were located on IP Line 6. These holes penetrated clay-pyrite-altered volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks to depths of 408 m and 490 m, respectively. Both holes also intercepted a steeply west-dipping quartz monzonite porphyry dike that was strongly altered. In the upper reaches of the dike, DDH-CC-21-03 intercepted a crosscutting sulfide-sulfosalt veinlet that contained 124 g/t Ag and 2.55% Cu over 0.1m width. Drill hole CC-21-06 also intercepted a narrow sulfide-sulfosalt veinlet with high Zn (7.68%) and Ag (11.68 g/t ) over 0.4 m width. These holes also intercepted significant anomalies in Mo, Pb, and Zn related to veinlets and local disseminated sulfides.

Historical desktop studies provided by a previous claim owner indicated that the Phelps Dodge Corporation ("PD") drilled a vertical core hole close to IP Line 6 in 1980 to a depth of 473 m. The hole was collared approximately 100 m west of DDH-CC-21-06. The multi-element geochemistry in the PD drill hole is consistent with the distal geochemical response from the 2021 drilling so far (anomalous Zn, Pb, and Ag). The Company's updated interpretation of the area indicates that the western end of this line is upthrown relative to the central part of the caldera compex (Figure 2).

DDH-CC-21-04 and -05 (IP Line 3). Drill holes DDH-CC-21-04 and -05 were located on IP Line 3 and were inclined westward to test the deeper-seated IP anomaly. Both holes drilled weakly clay-altered tuffaceous volcanic rocks and andesite flows until bottoming in basement metasedimentary rocks. Both holes encountered elevated pyrite and trace element geochemistry consistent with the peripheral response of a large mineralizing system (Figure 3). Hole CC-21-04 was collared in a downdropped fault block such that the pyrite and trace element anomalies were deeper than in hole CC-21-05.





Figure 3 - Interpreted Cross-Section along IP Line 3 - Looking North-Northeast

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/117265_d1a5abe8e4c8093d_004full.jpg

There is a long interval in drill hole CC-21-05 from 393 m depth to the bottom of the hole (~140 m) that is enriched in Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag, and Mo. The enrichment in this suite of elements is consistent with the distal Pb-Zn-Ag halo that is common to porphyry copper systems (Figure 4).

DDH-CC-21-10 (IP Line 4). IP Line 4 is positioned within an uplifted (horst) block located in the middle of the St. Louis-Reliance Corridor. The drill holes penetrated strongly clay-sericite-silica-pyrite-altered tuffaceous volcanic rocks, andesite flows and megacrystic felsic porphyry dikes. Both DDH-CC-21-10 and -02 passed through multiple felsic porphyry dikes that appear to be dipping to the west (See Figure 4). Each of these holes encountered zones of anomalous Cu, Bi, and Mo, which may be associated with the felsic dikes. Overall, the geochemistry for DDH-CC-21-01, -02, and -10 help define concentric, anomalous, base-metal zoning patterns of Zn and Pb-Zn-Ag Zones, interpreted to be peripheral to a porphyry Cu system at depth (Figure 5).





Figure 4 - Interpreted Cross-Section along IP Line 4 - Looking North-Northeast

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/117265_d1a5abe8e4c8093d_006full.jpg





Figure 5: Sillitoe Model of Porphyry Cu-Au-Mo Deposit and Its Zonation

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/117265_d1a5abe8e4c8093d_008full.jpg





Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures

Idaho Champion Gold adheres strictly to a regimented drill core handling and processing procedure. Core from the drill rig(s) is logged for lithology, mineralization, structure, alteration, and veining. During the logging process up to 2-metre samples are delineated by company geologists. Core is then photographed and sawn in half.

Following sawing, individual samples are extracted from core boxes and inserted into individual sacks with a unique waterproof sample number tag and sealed. The remaining half-core is left in core boxes for storage. Sacks containing samples are kept indoors on site until they are transported to the assay lab.

Quality control (QC) samples are inserted into the sample stream such that there is one QC sample for every ten drill core samples. These QC samples consist of certified standards (known metallic content) and certified blanks (known barren of metals). QC sample insertions alternate between standard and blank.

Sample shipments are delivered to the ALS Sample Preparation facility in Twin Falls, ID. ALS conforms to ISO 17025 requirements. All drill samples and coarse blanks are crushed to 70% passing 2mm at the sample prep lab, and 1 kg of material is split and pulverized to 85% passing 75 micron. All samples are processed by 30 gram fire assay- inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Samples are additionally analyzed for multi-element analysis by ICP-OES and/or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples containing Au or Ag above detection limits by their respective methods are automatically re-analyzed by the appropriate assay method, including fire assay with a gravimetric finish for Au.

About the Champagne Project

The Champagne Mine was operated by Bema Gold as a heap leach operation on an epithermal gold-silver system that occurs in volcanic rocks. Bema Gold drilled 72 shallow reverse circulation holes on the project, which complement drilling and trenching from other previous operators. The property has had no deep drilling or significant modern exploration since the mine closure in early 1992.

The Champagne Deposit contains epigenetic style gold and silver mineralization that occurs in strongly altered Tertiary volcanic tuffs and flows of acid to intermediate composition. Champagne has a near-surface cap of gold-silver mineralization emplaced by deep-seated structures that acted as conduits for precious metal rich hydrothermal fluids. Higher grade zones in the Champagne Deposit appear to be related to such feeder zones.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Karelse, P.Geo., a consultant to the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Karelse has more than 30 years of experience in exploration and development.

About Idaho Champion Gold Mines Inc.

Idaho Champion is a discovery-focused gold exploration company that is committed to advancing its 100%-owned highly prospective mineral properties located in Idaho, United States. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB1". Idaho Champion is vested in Idaho with the Baner Project in Idaho County, the Champagne Project located in Butte County near Arco, and four cobalt properties in Lemhi County in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and a contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates. Idaho Champion takes its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jonathan Buick"

Jonathan Buick, President and CEO

For further information, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com.

For further information, please contact:

Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications

Phone: (416) 567- 9087

Email: nkonkin@idahochamp.com

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Cautionary Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company, including suggested strike extension. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117265
COEUR D'ALENE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Idaho Strategic Resources (NYSE American:IDR) ("IDR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company is ringing the Opening Bell for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Monday, March 21st, 2022.

IDR is planning to become the first company ever to ring the Opening Bell of the New York Stock Exchange virtually, via video stream, from underground at the Golden Chest Mine. Idaho Strategic CEO, John Swallow commented, "It was a long road to get to this point and we couldn't have done it without our entire team and community supporting the business. When we were notified of the opportunity to ring the Opening Bell, it was a unanimous decision to do it virtually so all of our employees and our greater community can be involved. We are excited for the opportunity and want to thank the folks at the NYSE for supporting us and helping us make this event a reality."

To watch the Opening Bell, tune into Squawk on the Street at 6:30 am Pacific time (9:30 am Eastern time) on CNBC. A replay of the opening bell will also be available at www.NYSE.com/bell. The Company has plans to share the footage on its website and social media in the days following the event.

About Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

Domiciled in Idaho and headquartered in the Panhandle of northern Idaho, Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR) is one of the few resource-based companies (public or private) possessing the combination of officially recognized U.S. domestic rare earth element properties (in Idaho) and Idaho-based gold production located in an established mining community.

Idaho Strategic Resources produces gold at the Golden Chest Mine located in the Murray Gold Belt (MGB) area of the world-class Coeur d'Alene Mining District, north of the prolific Silver Valley. With over 7,000 acres of patented and unpatented land, the Company has the largest private land position in the area following its consolidation of the Murray Gold Belt for the first time in over 100-years.

In addition to gold and gold production, the Company maintains an important strategic presence in the U.S. Critical Minerals sector, specifically focused on the more "at-risk" Rare Earth Elements (REE's). The Company's Diamond Creek and Roberts REE properties are included in the U.S. national REE inventory as listed in USGS, IGS and DOE publications. Both projects are located in central Idaho and participating in the USGS Earth MRI program as well as the IGEM Program, focused on finding an 'Idaho Solution' to our nation's dependence on foreign sources for minerals critical to a low-carbon future and our national defense.

With an impressive mix of experience and dedication, the folks at IDR maintain a long-standing "We Live Here" approach to corporate culture, land management, and historic preservation. Furthermore, it is our belief that successful operations begin with the heightened responsibility that only local oversight and a community mindset can provide. Its "everyone goes home at night" policy would not be possible without the multi-generational base of local exploration, drilling, mining, milling, and business professionals that reside in and near the communities of the Silver Valley and North Idaho.

For more information on Idaho Strategic Resources click here for our corporate presentation, go to www.idahostrategic.com or call:

Travis Swallow, Corporate Development/Stakeholder Relations

Email: tswallow@idahostrategic.com

(208) 625-9001

SOURCE: Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693637/Idaho-Strategic-to-Ring-the-Opening-Bell-of-the-New-York-Stock-Exchange-from-Underground-on-Monday-March-21st-2022
Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Sibannac, Inc. (OTC Pink: SNNC), a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), announced the following:

With Eric Stoll coming aboard as the Company's Chief Marketing Officer, he conceived and has developed The Campus Co. platform. The Campus Co. is a community for start-up and emerging brands in the Solutions Lifestyle category. With a focus on wellness and fitness, the Campus is already bearing fruit.

Currently, we are actively engaged with several companies to develop and bring their innovations to market. We are working with SOMO, innovator of a patent pending sleep mask, integrating the use of the Yin-Tang pressure point into its wearable tech. The sleep market is over $400 billion worldwide.

We are also developing a marketing strategy with Spur Agritech and Spur Biotech, operating in the Controlled Environment Agriculture and Plant-Based Vaccines areas.

The Company is also developing its next generation wellness products through the Campus. Under development is a Copper1 Niacin product through its licensing agreement with the patent owner, Mitosynergy. Mitosynegy has been awarded multiple U.S. patents for molecular compounds for bioavailable coppers, namely Cuprous Nicotinic Acid. We will be bringing a product to market engineered to aid immunity.

Also under development is a product designed around Kratom. Kratom is a plant in the coffee family, native to southeastern Asian countries, and contains a compound called Mitragynine, long used in eastern medicine for natural pain relief. Today, Kratom is growing in popularity as a natural pain relief alternative to prescription drugs. Manufacturing of the product is designated to be done out of our FDA registered facility in Scottsdale.

Sibannac's CEO, David Mersky, was interviewed on New to The Street, where he discusses the Company's new products. It will be aired on Newsmax this Sunday, March 20th at 10:00 AM EST and on Fox Business , Tuesday, March 22nd at 10:30 PM PST.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Sibannac, Inc. (the "Company"), its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.

Media Contact: IR@theCampusCo.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117266
18 March 2022

Early Equity PLC

("Early Equity" or "the Company")

Board Changes

Early Equity Plc ('The Company') announces that Tracy Davy has filed a Termination of Director Appointment (TM01) at Companies House without the prior knowledge of the board.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.

This announcement contains information which, prior to its disclosure, was inside information as stipulated under Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310 (as amended).

For further information please contact:

Early Equity Plc

Greg Collier

Tel: +44 (0)7830 182501

Novum Securities Limited

AQSE Corporate Adviser

David Coffman / Lucy Bowden

Tel: +44 (0)207 399 9400

About Early Equity plc:

Early Equity is an e-commerce focused group based in Malaysia whose Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on the AQSE Growth Market in London with the trading symbol EEQP.
HANGZHOU, China, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 18th, 2022, Venus Medtech (Hangzhou) Inc. ("Venus Medtech", 2500.HK), a leading provider of integrated solutions for structural heart disease in China, announced the appointment of Shakeel Osman as Senior Vice President of Sales Europe, responsible for the commercialization of congenital heart devices. At present, the company's transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement (TPVR) system VenusP-Valve designed for congenital heart disease patients is awaiting CE mark approval.

Prior to joining Venus Medtech, Shakeel Osman served as General Manager UK & Vice President Sales Middle East Asia and Africa at Occlutech Medical Devices, a Germany-based global leading provider of minimally invasive cardiac devices. As a 20-year veteran in the global marketing of medical devices, Shakeel Osman has been heavily engaged in the European and Middle East markets, boasting extensive experience in marketing and distributor management in the cardiovascular field.

Shakeel Osman said, "It is a great honor to join Venus Medtech's commercialization team in Europe. As a leading company in structural heart disease, Venus Medtech possesses internationally competitive innovative pipelines. I'm excited to leverage my experience and work closely with the team to lay a solid foundation for the commercialization of VenusP-Valve across Europe and contribute to the company's global presence."

VenusP-Valve is the only self-expanding TPVR system undergoing CE certification at the present time. It is expected to be Venus Medtech's second innovative medical device marketed in Europe following TriGUARD3 cerebral embolic protection device. In March 2021, VenusP-Valve received a special use authorization from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Eric Zi, Founder, Executive Director and General Manager of Venus Medtech, warmly welcomed Shakeel Osman to the company. "We are delighted to have another professional medical device marketing veteran joining Venus Medtech. The expertise and experience of Shakeel will be a tremendous addition to the commercialization of VenusP-Valve in Europe, which is expected to give important weight to the clinical progress of future innovative devices in the market."

Following the launch of TriGUARD3 in Europe in 2020, Venus Medtech has been committed to enhancing its international commercialization endeavors to lay the foundations for global innovation and facilitate overseas clinical trials for more structural heart products. Furthermore, Venus Medtech appointed David Breant as Vice President of Sales Europe, responsible for the adult structural heart disease business, as well as direct sales in Germany, France and other markets; and Joyce Heo as Director of Sales, responsible for sales in emerging markets.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1769308/image_821354_34074430.jpg


MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Two people were killed in bombing in a residential area in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. Russia also targeted the western city of Lviv on Friday, Ukraine's military said.



Missiles fired by Russian forces hit an aircraft maintenance plant near the Polish border, which has been relatively safe so far.



Two million people have fled Ukraine to Poland as the war entered its fourth week, the Polish Border Guard agency said. The lion's share of the refugees is flowing to Polish cities of Warsaw and Krakow, which are reportedly struggling to accommodate them.



Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 9 humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from Russian attacks have been agreed for Friday.



Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to call Chinese President Xi Jinping at 9 PM ET Friday to urge his Chinese counterpart not to provide Russia with military equipment in its war against Ukraine.



In a news conference just hours ahead of the talks between the two powerful world leaders, Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.



The call comes at a critical moment in the war, because Russia has requested military assistance from China as its military sustains major losses in Ukraine.



Russian onslaught is nearly stalled in several war fronts as a result of dogged resistance from Ukrainian forces, according to U.S, British military experts. Officially, the war is not at a stalemate; rather, the Ukrainians are actively resisting any movement by the Russians, even though the Russians have advantages in terms of their long-range missile fires, according to a senior U.S. Defense Department official.



'(The) Ukrainians are putting a lot of effort into defending Kyiv as you would expect them to do. (The) Ukrainians are the reason why (the Russians) haven't been able to move forward. And it's because they're very actively resisting any movement by the Russians,' The Pentagon said in a press release.



'The Ukrainians are stalling the Russian advance in all areas and even operating now quite effective counter attacks. The Russians are losing a lot of equipment and troops,' BBC quoted Prof Michael Clarke, former director of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, as saying.







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Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Star Alliance International Corp. (OTC PINK:STAL) ("STAR") is pleased to announce that it has signed an engagement agreement with Weild & Co., an independent investment bank. The agreement sets out the terms and conditions for Weild & Co. to assist the Company in raising funds for its acquisitions and growth.

Richard Carey, Chairman of STAR, commented, "I am pleased to confirm that the Company has engaged with Weild & Co. to act as the Company's investment bank. I am personally very pleased that Weild & Co. and their team have agreed to work with our Company. We feel they bring the expertise and contacts that we need to support our acquisition and growth plans.

As Chairman it is my intent to continue to build the team necessary for the Company to continue its momentum and this is yet another huge step forward for us. Please continue to watch out for our updates and news."

About Weild & Co.

Weild & Co. is an independent investment bank harnessing the power of the cloud to create a platform that enables its independent and proven professionals to collaborate and provide a broad spectrum of corporate finance and capital raising services. These services span across a range of industries and transaction types from strategic advisory, M&A, private placements, and public securities offerings to investor relations services. The investment bank takes particular pride in helping businesses and funds that contribute to job formation, economic growth, innovation, and social impact. Founded in 2016, Weild & Co. recently joined the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, which is a validation of the firm's revolutionary vision to bring Investment Banking to Main Street. See more at www.weildco.com

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 Honduran Corporation. 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

Email: info@staralliancemines.com

Web Site: staralliancemines.com

Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter @staralliancein1

SOURCE: Star Alliance International Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693614/Star-Alliance-International-Corp-Signs-Engagement-Agreement-with-Investment-Bank-Weild-Co
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Beauce Gold Fields (TSXV: BGF) (Champs D'Or en Beauce), ("BGF" or the "Company"): is pleased to announce that filtered geophysics data from a 2019 IP survey reveals anticline folds indicative of a saddle reef formation on the company's Beauce Gold property located in St-Simon les Mine, Quebec.

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO of Beauce Gold Fields said, "This IP is another exciting data set supporting a Saddle Reef Formation as a leading geological model as the source of the historical placer gold nuggets." Mr. Levasseur added: "We look forward to further explore and sample Antiform outcrops for new drill hole targets to test the Saddle Reef Formation for lode gold discoveries."





Image 1: Cross section model of a Saddle Reef Formation on the Beauce Gold Property.

To view an enhanced version of Image 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6198/117261_735df363f4c44baa_001full.jpg

In winter of 2019, the Company carried out three 1,200 meter lines of electrical resistivity and induced polarization (IP) surveys that crossed the Gilbert River, parallel to the right and left banks of the Grioux creek (Lines 2, 4 and 5 BGF press release 2020-01-03, ). The INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique) enhanced the 2019 data for lines 4 and 5 by applying a noise reduction filter to the 2D inversion electrical resistivity and electrical chargeability data. The filter could not be applied to Line 2 due to signal distortions likely caused by underground tunnels of the 19th century placer gold mines. Lines 4 & 5 filters revealed tomographic 2D images characterized by deformed structures of synform-like pleated zones suggesting the presence of Antiform structures with relatively tight vertical anticline limbs. This correlates with the structural pattern of Saddle Reef formations.





Image 2:2D IP images characterized by synform - antiform structures Lines 4 & 5

To view an enhanced version of Image 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6198/117261_735df363f4c44baa_002full.jpg

The geological model of a Saddle Reef formation indicated by the IP survey is also supported by observed eroded anticline vertical limbs in the 2019-2020 trenches and by the discovery of exposed domed Axis of Antiform ridges along the Giroux creek. The Axis trends NE & SW for 4 km to the North of the Gilbert River as well as North of the historical placer gold channel (BGF press release 2021-12-21). Eroded segments of the Saddle Reef formation is the leading hypothesis as to the source of the historical placer gold deposit.

In its upcoming spring/summer exploration program, the Company will continue to trace and sample significant mineralized Crack and Seal type quartz veins stockwork outcroppings along the Axis of the Antiforms located between the Rang St-Charles to the Rang VI roads. Finding gold mineralization in Antiform outcrops will generate new drill targets to drill through axial folds of the Saddle Reef.

It is theorized that the placer gold, such as the famous large nuggets mined in the 19th century, were formed in stressed quartz pockets of the domed Axis of Antiforms as demonstrated in Saddle Reef formations. Saddle Reef examples include the huge Bendigo and Ballarat gold fields of Australia (over 60 million ounces), and the high grade Dufferin deposit in Nova Scotia.

Jean Bernard, B,Sc. Geo., is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical information presented in this release.

About Beauce Gold Fields

Beauce Gold Fields is a gold exploration company focused on placer to hard rock exploration in the Beauce region of Southern Quebec. The Company's flagship property is the St-Simon-les-Mines Gold project site of Canada's first gold rush that pre-dates the Yukon Klondike. The Beauce region hosted some of the largest historical placer gold mines in Eastern North America that were active from 1860s to the 1960s It produced some of the largest gold nuggets in Canadian mining history (50oz to 71oz). The intent of Beauce Gold Fields is to trace the placer gold workings back to the bedrock source and uncover economic bedrock gold mineralization.

Comprising 152 contiguous claims and 7 real estate lots, the project area contains a six-kilometer long placer gold channel consisting of unconsolidated gold-bearing auriferous units of a lower saprolite and an upper brown diamictite.

Beauce Gold Fields website www.beaucegold.com

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding mineral exploration. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

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.

For further information contact

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO Tel: (514) 262-9239

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman and COO Tel (514) 907-1011

www.beaucegold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117261
SANTA MONICA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Demand Brands, Inc. (OTC PINK:DMAN), ("Company" or "DMAN") http://dman.co , a leading cannabis operating business, hereby announces the official on boarding of a new 4 member board and management team. The new management team found, managed, and operated all businesses acquired by the Company as part of the recent acquisition of CF3 SPVI, LLC ("CF3"), announced on March 7, 2022, and boasts a combined industry experience of over 35 years in cannabis cultivation, processing, distribution, and marketing, dating back to when Proposition 215 legislation was introduced.

The hiring of the management comes at a time when DMAN is aggressively looking to acquire and joint venture with synergistic cannabis companies, especially in anticipation of federal deregulation of cannabis. "We are excited to manage and grow DMAN's operations into a leading cannabis business", said Andrew Colehower, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Company, "our business plan is predicated upon integration, optimization, and innovation. We truly believe in the opportunity for consolidation in the industry and the need to institutionalize the business to optimize supply chain management. The incoming management recently set up a trading desk for wholesale and retail distribution generating $28Mn in revenue per annum. We plan to do the same for the Company as our first order of business, especially in anticipation of entering into an offtake agreement with a 700,000 SF pharma grade cultivator and grower shortly hereafter that will allow us to scale our distribution business to over 200,000 pounds of AAA grade cannabis in the next 18 to 24 months. Currently, we have 236,000 SF and 11 licenses for cultivation and processing and to grow the cultivation and processing side of our business we are also in conversations to acquire the same 750,000 SF facility which would allow us to integrate that relationship fully vertically under DMAN, expand our footprint to dominate the Southern California market share, fully leverage our access to over 250 retail stores through strategic partners, and institutionalize our operations to use best in class SOPs to produce only the highest-grade quality product. In the interest of optimizing our SOPs and further vertical integration, DMAN has exclusive rights to certain microbial technology patents that we will use to manufacture proprietary plant nutrients and crop protection solutions through a strategic partner. Similarly, we are also in conversations to enter another strategic partnership with a payment solutions technology company to build a POS platform for retail cannabis businesses."

Mr. Colehower further added, "A Chief Marketing Officer, a Chief Operating Officer and a Chief Agronomist will also join our executive team shortly."

The incoming Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer have spent the last 6 months compiling the financial and accounting records for the Company. "My foremost task as Chief Financial Officer of the Company is to file a Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Q2 of this year to access greater liquidity for our stakeholders through a U.S. or Canadian national exchange", said Ankur Chhapolika the incoming Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

The following executives have been hired by DMAN:

Andrew Colehower, Chief Executive Officer, a legacy member of the Viridi Farms executive team, started his career at the department of agriculture and environmental sciences at University, UC Davis. Most of his career he has focused on building companies and brands both in the United States and internationally. Some of his notable achievements include setting up a trading desk for World Variety Produce and growing it to an annual revenue of more than $20M per annum, similarly, he spearheaded the sales and distribution management for United Natural Foods Incorporated where he built and grew a national trading desk to $60M in top line revenue, and in Dominican Republic he led the sales and marketing team for Caribbean Liquid Sugar and secured product placement with 600 Walmart stores across the nation. Fast forward to 2015, Andrew took his brand management skills to the cannabis space and worked with California industry leaders to craft a plan for success. In 2019, Andrew shifted gears to run the Trading Desk for GrupoFlor, and in under one year, built it to generate 8-figure top line revenues through 20 new partnerships focused on supply line management, supporting local growers, and a 1.5 million+ square feet cultivation in the Salinas Valley.

Ankur Chhapolika, Chief Financial Officer, Ankur Chhapolika, is a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary by profession. He has held executive management roles with notable companies, including Infosys, Deloitte and QuEST. His experience encompasses sale side advisory, mergers and acquisitions, capital raise, repatriation planning, ETR optimization strategies and PPA. He has been instrumental in advising on more than ten acquisitions spanning across US, UK, Australia, Germany, Romania, Japan and India. He has spearhead accounting and finance operations across a myriad of a capital raise efforts, most notably a capital raise of $350 Mn by QuEST from Bain Capital, GIC and Advent. Additionally, he has defended and represented tax assessments before tax authorities in USA, Italy, Spain, Japan and India.

Ankit Jain, Chief Accounting Officer, brings 7 years of experience in audit and assurance with Price Waterhouse Cooper, Ernst and Young, and KPMG. He holds experience in providing internal and external audit services in the Financial Services, Real Estate, Healthcare, and Banking industries. He has served as Senior Associate for MUFG Investor Services where he managed compliance and accounting for Blackstone Hedge Fund Services. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing accounting practices and managing the overall finance and accounting operations for mid to large-size companies.

Dawn Loos, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary, a legacy member of the Viridi Farms executive team, brings 20 years of experience in the cannabis and legal sectors. Her cannabis experience dates to the early Prop 215 days. Ms. Loos was instrumental in establishing the compliance and administrative procedures and systems for numerous vertically integrated and single use cannabis facilities. She has secured over 20 state and local licenses in multiple California counties including Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Calaveras, and Monterey. Facilities under her stewardship have been called "models of the industry" by city and state inspectors.

Deep Singal, Director of Business Development, brings 7 years of combined experience in business development and medical nutrition therapy. He has completed business development projects for various groups, including Kaiser Permanente, DaVita Kidney Care, and The American Heart Association.

About Demand Brands, Inc. The Company, AKA Pacific Technologies Group, Inc., is a vertically integrated cannabis operation that specializes in all stages of the seed to sale process for cannabis.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements. This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms "believes", "belief", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "projects" "will", or "plans" to be uncertain and forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Demand Brands, Inc.

PRESS CONTACT

ir@dman.co

+1 (415) 685-0317

SOURCE: Demand Brands, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693589/Demand-Brands-DMAN-Announces-New-Board-And-Management-Team
A victim in a Sarah Lawrence sex cult testified Friday that she went from liberal arts major to high-end prostitute working to pay off fictitious debts owed to leader Lawrence Ray.

Claudia Drury, 31, told jurors in Manhattan Federal Court that over a four-year period she paid about $2.5 million in prostitution proceeds to Ray. She said shed started having sex for money at Rays suggestion.

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FILE - This undated file photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's office shows Lawrence Ray, the ex-convict charged with sex trafficking and extortion for forcing young women into prostitution or forced labor after winning trust by posing as a father-figure. (HONS/AP)

Drury met the accused cult leader in 2010 through Rays daughter Talia, who was Drurys roommate at Sarah Lawrence. The charming and chatty Ray listened to Drury intently and tried to help her navigate anxiety and personal issues in a way no one ever had, she testified.

But within a year the relationship had transformed. Ray ordered Drury to have sex with other members of the cult, she said.

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Later, he suggested she have sex for money as a way to pay him back for wasting his time and poisoning him, among other alleged infractions. She recalled working for Ray as a prostitute until at least 2018.

Sometimes he would accuse me of not making enough and (said) I had been intentionally not making enough, she testified calmly at the end of the second week of the trial.

Ray is on trial for 17 racketeering counts alleging he physically and sexually abused a small group of college students and other young adults between 2010 and 2020. Prosecutors say he constructed a sinister, bizarre fantasy world in which the young people followed his every command.

This Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 photo shows the Barbara Walters Campus Center building on the campus of Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, N.Y. (Luke Sheridan/AP)

The sex work was a 24-7 gig. She testified she saw between three and five johns per day at upscale hotels across New York City.

At first, Drury started having sex for money because she believed she owed Ray money, but eventually she felt she had no other choice, she testified.

He threatened to put me in jail... He threatened to kill me on a memorable occasion. He threatened to cut my face, have me abducted and dropped in the Middle East. He threatened to blackmail people I knew. He threatened to beat up my father, she recalled.

The threats were backed up with physical violence, she said.

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He slapped me in the face so hard I fell over, pulled my hair, strangled me, suffocated me, hit me, she claimed.

Isabella Pollok, who was the best friend of Lawrence Rays daughters at Sarah Lawrence, is accused of serving as Rays trusted lieutenant. She allegedly facilitated much of Drurys sex work by scheduling appointments with clients and collecting money. (Official Court Evidence)

Drurys testimony comes after a two-day hiatus in the trial following Rays hospitalization Wednesday after suffering an apparent seizure.

Also charged in the scheme is Isabella Pollok, who was the best friend of Rays daughters at Sarah Lawrence. Pollok is accused of serving as Rays trusted lieutenant. She allegedly facilitated much of Drurys sex work by scheduling appointments with clients and collecting money.

Pollok has pleaded not guilty and will face a separate trial.

Prosecutors say Ray extorted many of his followers using threats, physical violence and compromising information that he used as collateral. Like other victims, including Santos Rosario, Drury believed for a time that she was poisoning Ray and others as part of a scheme to destroy Ray involving former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik. Prosecutors say Ray was never actually poisoned. Kerik has laughed at the notion to the Daily News.

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 physically abused him and extorted him for hundreds of thousands of dollars, which he begged his parents for. Ray humiliated Rosario by forcing him once to wear diapers and directing him to have sex with other members of the cult, he testified.

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Like Rosario, Rays mental control over Drury was complete, she testified.

He persuaded Drury to have herself hospitalized in a psychiatric ward in 2012 by convincing her that she was trying to kill her own parents, as well as Pollok. A recording of the disturbing conversation was played for jurors.

I have been scared for a while Im going to do something really, really bad and irreversible... I had a fantasy about stabbing Isabella, Drury said to her parents as Ray listened over the phone and gave her instructions.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Her parents told her to hang up with Ray, but Drury refused.

No I cant get off the phone with Larry right now cause Im in a really weird place and I feel like hanging up the phone would be bad, she said.
Company Provides Update on Clinical Trial Design of Upcoming Phase 3 Clinical Trials in Parkinson's Disease on March 20, 2022

Berwyn, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) ("Annovis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing neurodegenerative diseases, will present an update on the trial designs of the Company's upcoming Phase 3 trials evaluating Buntanetap in Parkinson's disease (PD) during the International Conference on Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases (AD/PD 2022), hosted in-person in Barcelona, Spain, and virtually from March 15-20, 2022.

Buntanetap (previously known as ANVS401 or Posiphen) is an oral translational inhibitor of neurotoxic aggregating proteins (TINAPs) currently being developed for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and PD. In Phase 2a trials, Buntanetap was shown to be well-tolerated and safe, and its pharmacokinetics were found to be in line with levels measured earlier in humans, meeting both the primary and secondary endpoints. Additionally, exploratory endpoints were met as Buntanetap treatment resulted in statistically significant improvement in motor function in PD patients and cognition in AD patients and in a reduction of the spinal fluid markers.

In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided Annovis guidance for two Phase 3 clinical trials with Buntanetap in early and late PD. Maria L. Maccecchini, Ph.D., Founder, President, and CEO of Annovis, will present an update on the Phase 3 design in early PD patients during the talk "Positive clinical outcomes of Posiphen in two Phase 2a studies - Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease" during the session "ABeta and other targeting therapies in AD", March 20, from 9:05-11:05 a.m. C.E.T. / 4:05-6:05 a.m. E.D.T. (Abstract SO394 / #308).

"We are encouraged and motivated by the positive results of the Phase2a study and the fruitful dialogue with the FDA," said Dr. Maccecchini. "Our Phase 3 trial and the broader program are aimed at advancing the development of Buntanetap towards our goal of transforming the lives of patients with neurodegenerative diseases."

The study plans to recruit 450 PD patients with Hoehn & Yahr 1, 2 and 3 and randomize them at 1:1:1 into placebo, 10mg or 20mg Buntanetap once daily - on top of their standard of care for six months. Primary endpoints will be assessed using MDS-UPDRS Part II and III, while secondary endpoints will be measured using total MDS-UPDRS and Participant Global Impression of Change. Additionally, exploratory endpoints will be evaluated through WAIS coding, plasma biomarkers and MMSE.

The presentation is available on the Events & Presentations section of the Annovis website.

About Buntanetap

Buntanetap (previously known as ANVS401 or Posiphen) is an oral translational inhibitor of neurotoxic aggregating proteins (TINAPs), which mode of action leads to a lower level of neurotoxic proteins, and consequently less toxicity in the brain. In a Phase 2a clinical trial in AD and PD patients, Buntanetap was shown to be well-tolerated and safe, and its pharmacokinetics were found to be in line with levels measured earlier in humans, meeting both the primary and secondary endpoints. Additionally, exploratory endpoints were also met, as treatment with Buntanetap resulted in statistically significant improvement in motor function in PD patients and cognition in AD patients.

About Annovis Bio, Inc.

Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and other chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's in Down Syndrome (AD-DS). We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD, PD, and AD-DS that inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. Annovis conducted two Phase 2 studies: one in AD patients and one in both AD and PD patients. In the AD/PD study Buntanetap showed improvement in memory loss and dementia associated with AD, as well as body and brain function in PD.

For more information on Annovis Bio, please visit the Company's website www.annovisbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "will," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "outlook," "forecast" or other similar words, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the timing, effectiveness, and anticipated results of Buntanetap clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on Annovis Bio, Inc.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Annovis Bio, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

###

Media and Investor Contact:

Nic Johnson

Russo Partners, LLC

(303) 482-6405

nic.johnson@russopartnersllc.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117219
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.
Wield a Deadly Hand Cannon Alongside an Attack Support Monkey with the Mobile MMORPG's Newest Character Class

This week, MapleStory M, Nexon's free-to-play mobile MMORPG, added the Cannoneer, an explosive and deadly new class accompanied by a playful monkey that provides attack support. A number of celebratory growth events mark the arrival of the Cannoneer, alongside a new season of the Daisy Style Festival, where mobile Maplers have the chance to earn rewards by impressing their fellow players with their fashion sense.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220318005071/en/

MapleStory M Cannoneer Class Banner (Graphic: Business Wire)

The Cannoneer uses its titular weapon, a deadly hand cannon forged by the Nautilus' resident inventor, to deal massive damage with a wide attack range. This powerful pirate is accompanied by his best friend, a monkey befriended on Coco Island, who provides attack support in combat. In addition to dealing damage, the Cannoneer can use his Pirate Blessing skill to buff other characters in the same party.

This class joins MapleStory M with three celebratory events to support the growth of new Cannoneers and their adorable primate companions:

Cannoneer On-Time Event Login from March 16 to March 23 to receive rewards including character slot coupons, auto-battle tickets, pet packages, and more!

Cannoneer Mega Burning Event - From March 16 to April 19, Maplers can select one character as a Mega Burning Character that will then receive 2 additional levels each time they level up.

Cannoneer Growth Support Mission - From March 16 to April 19, Cannoneer characters can attempt various missions to receive various rewards that will support their growth. On top of growth-focused rewards, completing certain missions will also grant Cannoneer exclusive cosmetics.

This update also marks the start of Season 2 of the Daisy Style Festival, which runs until March 30. This fashion competition invites Maplers to register their characters in order to show off their sense of style and vote for the best styles from other players. Rewards including event coins, titles, and more will be awarded based on the number of votes received from fellow Maplers. Players can vote twice per day and register their style once per week, per account.

To learn more about MapleStory M, visit the App Store or Google Play Storepage and follow @PlayMapleMon Twitter for the latest updates.

Assets: Artwork

Social Media: Facebook/ Instagram /Twitter Twitch YouTube Discord

About MapleStory M https://maplestorym.nexon.com/

MapleStory M, launched globally on July 24, 2018, brings the nostalgic world of side-scrolling MMORPG MapleStory to mobile, offering the same endless amount of customization, immersive storylines and epic boss raids that fans have come to expect from the legendary franchise. MapleStory M quickly reached 10 million downloads within 100 days after global launch and last year celebrated its 3-year anniversary with 16 million global downloads.

About Nexon America Inc. https://www.nexon.com/

Founded in 2005, Nexon America Inc. delivers outstanding free-to-play online game expertise and live game support, taking the strengths of NEXON Co., Ltd. ("Nexon") and applying them for uniquely western audiences. Nexon America has consistently sustained iconic franchises such as MapleStory and Mabinogi for more than a decade, which have gone on to break records and captivate players. With new projects on the horizon, Nexon America maintains the pioneering and innovative spirit of its parent company, employing its player-first approach, while designing the best possible gameplay experiences for the western market.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220318005071/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact Information

Brian Klotz

Nexon America

pr@nexon.com
Pentwater Capital Management LP ("Pentwater"), the largest minority shareholder of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill" or the "Company") (TSX:TRQ) (NYSE:TRQ), has delivered the attached letter to the Turquoise Hill Independent Directors:

Dear Independent Directors:

Would you agree to sell your house to your corrupt banker for less than the equivalent of one and a half years of rental income? That is what Rio Tinto is asking you to do.

Rio has offered to purchase the shares of Turquoise Hill it does not own for $2.65 billion. Based upon current gold prices of $1,945 per ounce and current copper prices of $4.65 per pound, we believe that Turquoise Hill will generate over $17 billion of after-tax free cash flow between 2025 and 20301

Year Free Cash Flow Minority Shareholder Free Cash Flow 2025 $1.732 billion $844 million 2026 $1.772 billion $868 million 2027 $2.944 billion $1.442 billion 2028 $4.070 billion $1.994 billion 2029 $3.713 billion $1.819 billion 2030 $2.895 billion $1.418 billion

This means that Rio's current offer to the Board of Turquoise Hill is 32% of the amount of free cash flow that Turquoise Hill will generate between 2025 and 2030. Rio's offer is also equivalent to less than 17 months of after-tax free cash flow between 2028 and 2029 for an asset that has a 70 year mine life.

In Pentwater's opinion, the only reason that Turquoise Hill's share price has traded below Rio's offer price is because Rio has consistently taken actions to harm Turquoise Hill minority shareholders over the past decade. It was just two months ago that Rio forced Turquoise Hill to take a $2.4 billion debt write-down for reparations to the government of Mongolia as a result of Rio's intentional concealment of cost overruns and schedule delays. At the same time, Rio forced Turquoise Hill to agree to raise $650 million of equity when debt could have easily been raised to avoid any equity dilution.

Rio's oppressive actions have all been taken with the goal of enriching itself to the detriment of Turquoise Hill minority shareholders. That is why Canaccord Genuity wrote this week that "[w]e view this C$34.00/sh bid by RIO as an opportunistic low-ball offer post-de-risking the project... and ~12 months out from first production."

However, now Rio's scheme is apparent for all shareholders to see. Rio is in possession of non-public information, and it wants to use that non-public information to buy out Turquoise Hill at a fraction of the value of what the shares are worth. In Pentwater's opinion, it is highly improbable that Rio will be successful at its current bid price and equally improbable that Turquoise Hill shares will ever fall back to the levels they traded at prior to Rio's offer now that Rio's true intentions are known.

Pentwater agrees with Sailingstone's open letter from two days ago. Rio paid $63.70 per share for its existing stake in Turquoise Hill. If Rio believes that its current $26.90 proposal is, "compelling for Turquoise Hill shareholders," Pentwater would be pleased to purchase part of Rio Tinto's stake in Turquoise Hill for that price.

Kindest Regards,

Matthew C. Halbower

Chief Executive Officer

Pentwater Capital Management

____________________ 1These figures are based upon OT's most recent Technical Report combined with recent management guidance. If Turquoise Hill disagrees with these projections, we believe that Turquoise Hill should state what it believes after tax free cash flow will be between 2022 and 2035 while disclosing its copper and gold price assumptions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220318005077/en/

Contacts:

David Zirin- Chief Operating Officer

Pentwater Capital Management

312-589-6401
Elektros (OTC PINK:ELEK), an emerging leader in the electric mobility space, is pleased to announce their intent to acquire Sunday Scooters, an electric scooter company that services in the U.S. and Mexico.

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Elektros Inc. is thrilled to announce their negotiation to acquire Sunday Scooters, a well-established e-scooter company found in the U.S. and Mexico. The two companies met on Tuesday, March 15th, at the Diplomat Hotel in Hallandale Beach, FL to discuss the terms of the purchase and reach a verbal agreement.

Elektros Inc. sees potential in the acquisition of Sunday Scooters to become a leader across all industries in the electric mobility space. With numerous projects in the works, such as their own electric vehicle design, Elektros Sonic, the company continues to pave the way in providing electric mobility solutions to the world. Elektros aims to grow Sunday Scooters' presence in the electric transportation space beyond its competitors like Bird (BRDS).

Elektros is now submitting final details to Sunday Scooters and hopes to have a purchase agreement signed shortly. The two companies have established a strong relationship and have found synergy in their missions to reduce the carbon footprint by providing consumers quick, convenient uses of transportation in their everyday lives.

The company looks forward to finalizing the purchase agreement and continuing to build their connections across the industry with the future of electric mobility in mind.

About Elektros, Inc.

Elektros is an American electric transportation company that innovates mobility solutions for consumers and businesses. The automotive landscape faces existential disruption over the next decade to reach carbon neutrality. Elektros addresses this paradigm shift with mobility technologies that support sustainability for a transformative user experience. Elektros aims to present a compelling and completely new electric vehicle experience known as Elektros Sonic to consumers beginning as early as 2023.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" that include information relating to future events and future financial and operating performance. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential," and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in demand for Elektros, Inc.'s products, the introduction of new products, the Company's ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Company's liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in Elektros Inc.'s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of such forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future sales, costs, and market acceptance of products as well as regulatory actions at the State or Federal level. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Elektros Inc., please refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at www.sec.gov. Elektros, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:

Elektros, Inc. IR and Media Inquiries

Email: ElektrosInc@gmail.com

Website: Elek.World

SOURCE: Elektros, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693638/Elektros-Inc-OTC-ELEK-Elektros-Aims-to-Acquire-Sunday-Scooters
SURREY, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Gungnir Resources Inc. (TSXV:GUG)(OTC PINK:ASWRF) ("Gungnir" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Altius Minerals Corporation (ALS: TSX; ATUSF: OTCQX) ("Altius") pursuant to which Altius has agreed to purchase 6,250,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.12 per Unit (the "Unit Price"), for total gross proceeds of $750,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price per Warrant Share of $0.18 per share for a period of 24 months from the closing. Altius' investment forms part of a larger non-brokered private placement offering of the Company of up to 11,666,667 Units at the Unit Price for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,400,000 (the "Offering").

The Company has also entered into a royalty option agreement with Altius (the "Option Agreement") pursuant to which the Company has granted Altius the right, in exchange for $250,000, to enter into: (i) a royalty agreement with respect to licences at the Company's Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget projects (the "Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget Option"), and (ii) a royalty agreement with respect to licences at the Company's Knaften project (the "Knaften Option"). Under the Option Agreement, Altius may exercise its Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget Option by paying the Company $8 million at which time the Company and Altius will enter into a royalty agreement for a 2.0% gross sales royalty in perpetuity, and Altius may exercise its Knaften Option by paying the Company $2 million at which time the Company and Altius will enter into a royalty agreement for a 1.0% gross sales royalty in perpetuity.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to continue the exploration program, inclusive of drilling, at the Company's 100% owned projects in Sweden, concentrating on the Company's nickel resources, as well as for general corporate purposes.

The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions, including but not limited to, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange"). All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Offering.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and application state securities laws.

About Altius Minerals Corporation

Altius is a member of the S&P/TSX Small Cap, S&P/TSX Global Mining and S&P/ TSX Dividend Aristocrats Indices and is focused on growing its royalty business through prospect generation and the creation and acquisition of royalties. Altius holds royalty interests in 12 producing assets throughout the Americas. Further information on Altius may be found at https://altiusminerals.com/.

About Gungnir Resources

Gungnir Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based TSX-V listed mineral exploration company (GUG: TSX-V, ASWRF: OTCPK) with gold and base metal projects in northern Sweden. Gungnir's assets include two nickel-copper-cobalt deposits, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, with inferred resources totalling 177 million of nickel, and the Knaften project which hosts a developing intrusion-hosted gold system, and VMS (zinc-copper) and copper-nickel targets, all of which are open for expansion and further discovery. Further information about the Company and its properties may be found at www.gungnirresources.com or at www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Jari Paakki, CEO and Director

For further information contact:

Head Office/Investor Relations

Phone: +1-604-683-0484

Jari Paakki, CEO

Email: jpaakki@eastlink.ca

Chris Robbins, CFO

Email: robbinscr@shaw.ca

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 Information

Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (also known as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and may cause actual results, performance or achievements or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or industry results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "feel", "intend", "may", "plan", "predict", "project", "subject to", "will", "would", and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Some of the specific forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the closing of the Offering; the anticipated Offering size; the Option Agreement and Gungnir's licences; Gungnir's plan for future exploration and development of its properties, Gungnir's plan for future disclosure relating to exploration and development of its properties within the timelines set out above or at all; the exercise of warrants; expectation to raise additional funds under the Offering; and the use of net proceeds from the Offering.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by Gungnir, including, without limitation: the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian and global economy and Gungnir's business, and the extent and duration of such impact; the impact of international conflicts or wars on global economy and Gungnir's business; no change to laws or regulations that negatively affect Gungnir's business; there will be a demand for Gungnir's services and products in the future; Gungnir will be able to raise additional funds under the Offering; Gungnir will receive the required approvals to closing the Offering; the terms of the royalty agreement will be reasonable if Altius exercises the options under the Option Agreement; and Gungnir will be able to operate its business as planned. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what Gungnir believes to be reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such information.

Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to: no certainty that any economically viable mineral deposit will be located on Gungnir's properties; that Gungnir may not be able to complete its planned drilling as anticipated; the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; the impacts of war and/or other international conflicts; ability to access capital markets and complete successful financings on terms Gungnir determines to be reasonable; environmental matters; changes in legislation or regulations; receipt of required licenses, permits and approvals; if Altius exercises its option(s) then the royalty agreement(s) may not be on terms that Gungnir considers reasonable at such time; and resource estimates may not be accurate and may differ significantly from actual mineral resources. Management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information contained herein are based upon reasonable assumptions and information currently available; however, management can give no assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Gungnir. The forward-looking information is stated as of the date of this news release and Gungnir assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Gungnir Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693669/Gungnir-Resources-Announces-1-Million-Strategic-Investment-from-Altius-Minerals-Including-Equity-Financing-and-Royalty-Option-on-Nickel-Assets
NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers has attorneys with extensive experience in personal injury law that, since 1985, have dedicated themselves to assisting Tennessee residents who have experienced serious injuries from auto accidents, big truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents, nursing home abuse, slips and falls, wrongful death, and more.

Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers in Nashville, located at 446 James Robertson Pkwy #100, Nashville, TN 37219, has a team of experienced attorneys who assist injured victims that need legal help quickly. For decades, the Hughes & Coleman legal team has provided high-quality legal advice and has successfully represented thousands of clients in Tennessee.

Every year, millions of Americans suffer serious injuries from preventable accidents. These accidents occur in many different places, but negligence or recklessness is the ultimate cause in most cases. Tennessee law only allows a person one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in court, and if they miss this deadline, their case may be dismissed. If a person suffers an injury in the previous year, it is imperative that they make a quick decision to file a lawsuit.

When a victim is involved in a serious accident, they may sustain serious injuries that have a long-term impact on their life. These injuries may necessitate ongoing medical treatment, a lengthy recovery period, and time away from work, which could incur high costs for the victim and their family. This is where experienced lawyers from Hughes & Coleman can help.

Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers provides individualized and compassionate service to all clients. They recognize that clients are going through a difficult time when they seek an attorney and that it is important to work with a trustworthy legal team. The Hughes & Coleman lawyers take the time to explain legal options to clients and are available to answer questions at any time. They also make it a point to keep clients informed at every stage of their injury claim, so they don't feel lost or alone.

The Hughes & Coleman team is ready to help if someone needs a personal injury lawyer. Call 800-800-4600.

For more information on how the Hughes & Coleman Nashville Law Office encourages accident victims to take back control after being injured, visit https://www.accesswire.com/691520/Nashville-Law-Office-Encouraging-Accident-Victims-to-Take-Back-Control-After-Being-Injured.

For more information about Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, visit www.hughesandcoleman.com/personal-injury/nashville/.

About Hughes & Coleman:

Hughes & Coleman was founded in 1985 and has recovered over a billion dollars for our clients in Kentucky and Tennessee injured from auto accidents, big truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents, defective medical products, nursing home abuse, slip and fall accidents, and wrongful death. Hughes & Coleman believes that Control Starts With A Call. Hughes & Coleman operates 10 offices in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Contact:

Lora Fisher, Client & Community Relations Core Leader

270-782-6003 ext. 147

lfisher@hughesandcoleman.com

SOURCE: Hughes & Coleman

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693559/Hughes-Coleman-Injury-Lawyers-Nashville-Office-Offers-Decades-of-Experience-to-Handle-Personal-Injury-Cases
LOS ANGELES, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand with a mission to inspire people to live spectacular, sustainable lives, is putting the spotlight on high-quality sleep this World Sleep Day. The following three tips can help unlock better sleep, with silk the key for sweet dreams.

Tip #1: Set the Right Temperature

According to scientific research, the ideal temperature for sleep is about 60 to 67 F (15 to 19 C). Not only is the temperature of the room important, but the temperature of the comforter is crucial as well. Because silk can absorb moisture quickly - and we tend to sweat while we sleep - silk comforters help regulate body temperature. They are also designed to let air flow more freely within, and this method of temperature regulation prevents us from getting too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter during sleep.

Tip #2: Choose the Right Pillow

The pillow is an essential accessory for sleep, and finding the right design is critical. Pillows should never be too low or too high, as these positions can prevent you from falling asleep and the cervical spine from entering a state of relaxation. A silk pillowcase is also recommended as the strength of the fibers prevents the pillow's filling from moving and transforming into an uneven shape.

Tip #3: Get in the Mood

A relaxed state of mind helps us mentally prepare for sleep. When the hour does come, silk pajamas such as LILYSILK's 22 Momme Chic Trimmed Silk Pajamas Set offer the comfort needed to enter this zone. Not only is silk breathable, but it is also smooth and soft to the touch.

"At LILYSILK, we firmly believe that a good night's sleep means more to your health than anything else in the world," says David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK. "We seek to help our customers unlock the power that rest brings, by enabling them to create the healthiest and most comfortable sleeping environment with our silk pajamas, pillowcases, sheets, and eye masks."

About LILYSILK

LILYSILK is a world-leading silk brand with a mission to inspire people to live spectacularly as well as more sustainably, driven by its care for its customers as well as the planet. For more information, visit www.lilysilk.com and follow @lilysilk on Instagram and @Lilysilk on Facebook.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1767601/LILYSILK_Unlocks_Secrets_Better_Sleep_World_Sleep_Day.jpg
DUBAI, UAE, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the campaign "Legumes from Europe" promoted by ANICAV - the Italian Association of Canned Vegetables Industries, and co-funded by the European Union, the competition is open to Professional and Amateur Chefs alike.

The stars of our recipes are delicious, nutritious, and convenient Canned Legumes From Europe!

To enter, submit a video of you preparing your recipe, which must feature at Canned Legumes from Europe as at least 50% of the recipe ingredients. Be sure to read and follow the Rules and you could win a Trip to Italy or one or more of the great prizes! Enter as often as you like for multiple chances of winning.

Rules:

a) Any professional chef or amateur cook may enter.

b) Show all the ingredients at the start of the video, highlighting the Canned Legumes From Europe you are using.

c) Include the recipe, ingredients, and method in English on the format supplied by organizers.

d) Video should be between 4 -7 minutes.

e) Prepare 1 portion of your recipe.

f) The dish can be a starter, meze, salad, main course, side dish, soup, sandwich, wrap or whatever delicious dish you choose!

g) Canned Legumes from Europe must be at least 50 % of the recipe: the main ingredient.

h) These include Chickpeas, Cannellini beans, Red kidney beans (also organic), Lentils, Green peas Canned Legumes from Europe may be purchased at quality supermarkets, specialty shops and online.

i) Video can be made by either mobile phone or DSLR camera.

j) Make sure there is sufficient lighting to enhance the finished video.

k) Film in landscape for YouTube Channel.

l) Music is not required, but if you use background music make sure the music is free to use.

Send your registration to: emiratesculinaryguild@gmail.com

Chosen videos will be posted on the Emirates Culinary Guild YouTube Channel; see how many likes and views you can get by promoting them with your colleagues and friends. Extra points will be awarded for the most viewed and liked videos.

By sending your videos and recipes you agree that the ECG and ANICAV and Partners reserve the right to use them freely.

Registration is open for one month, from 15th February 2022.

You may enter as many videos as you like.

Awards will be announced on May 15th, 2022.

We look forward to seeing your videos! Good luck!

Enjoy. It's from Europe!

Discover more on:

www.legumesfromeurope.com

Follow us on:

https://www.facebook.com/LegumesFromEuropeUAE/

https://www.instagram.com/legumesfromeuropeuae/

Contacts:

contact.uae@legumesfromeurope.com, +971 4 3758574

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1769427/ANICAV_banner.jpg
A 33-year-old tourist from Hong Kong was shot and wounded in a pre-dawn robbery attempt Friday in Midtown, police said.

The victim, struck in the groin, is in stable condition. His wife was with him at the time, police said, but was not hurt.

Advertisement

The shooting happened about 4:10 a.m outside Fifty Hotel & Suites, on E. 50th St. near 3rd Ave.

Police said the gunman confronted the victim and his wife after they exited a cab.

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The suspect rifled through the victims pockets and then ran away when his wife tried to intervene, cops said. A police source said it wasnt clear if the gunman realized the victim was wearing a pricey Richard Mille watch. A Mille watch can cost as much as $1.3 million though the average price is about $200,000.
'One size doesn't fit all' in AI cardio breakthrough to address nearly 18 million deaths annually

LONDON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A precision medicine platform with data at its centre has won this year's annual SCI Bright SCIdea competition. CardiaTec, the winning University of Cambridge alumni team, was presented with the award at the SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) offices this week. The team, consisting of co-founders Raphael Peralta, Thelma Zablocki and Namshik Han, explained to the judges how their drug discovery tool can help fight the global problem of 17.8 million deaths a year from cardiovascular disease. At present in the UK, only 9 per person goes to cardiovascular research and development, one third the investment in oncology. CardiaTec's next generation therapeutic model should help redress this imbalance.

The annual SCI Bright SCIdea challenge was open to international entries for the first time this year, with entries for the top prize and the poster competition coming from as far afield as Indonesia Peru, Brazil and Germany. Teams of 3 - 4 university students (both undergraduates and postgraduates) were asked to develop a business plan for a product or service that could be commercialised to benefit society. The judging panel consisted of Sarah Skerratt, SVP, Head of Drug Discovery, CHARM Therapeutics, Victor Christou, Partner at YFM Equity Partners, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Founder, Genius Foods and Chair, Scotland Food and Drink and Robin Harrison, VP, Platform Technology and External Innovation, Synthomer.

"There is a 'one size fits all' treatment approach to cardio-vascular disease currently," said Raphael, "with every person who has an acute heart attack treated the same way, but this needs to change if we are to address this increasing problem. CardiaTec is working to improve our understanding of the disease, revealing its underpinning biological pathways for novel target discovery. For example, half of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol. Also, much is known about the impact of lipids on the disease, but what about inflammation? CardiaTec is the first company to specialise in the early stage of drug discovery in cardiovascular disease - responding to the NHS's call to tackle this killer and reduce the burden on public health. Tailoring this platform is what makes us different."

The 5,000 Bright SCIdea award will now help the team to complete its fundraising round and further develop the technology.

According to judge Sarah Skerratt, CardiaTec's winning formula was "a highly innovative approach to identifying therapeutics for a key area of unmet medical need - all delivered and executed really well."

During the event, Team Metallogen, 2020 Bright SCIdea winners, were presented with the award in person by SCI Chair of Trustees, Harry Swan. Covid-19 restrictions had meant this could not happen in person previously.

Sharon Todd, SCI CEO, explained that:

"The role of SCI is to accelerate scientific innovation into industry for the benefit of society and the winning team demonstrates just that. It also illustrates how multidisciplinary approaches are critical to providing the next generation of precision medicines. CardiaTec's winning entry relates to SCI's goal of addressing the global challenge of health and wellbeing for all. SCI is also a global innovation hub so I was delighted to see young scientists from around the world use the event for networking and collaboration."

The 2022 Bright SCIdea winners in full:

CardiaTec, University of Cambridge alumni - an AI drug discovery company specialising in cardiovascular disease Happy BioPatch - Oxford University and Manchester University - entering 'a wearable gadget which continuously monitors cortisol levels aiming to prevent serious consequences as a result of stress' Unmasked - University of Durham - 'tackling the UK energy crisis by producing insulation materials from disposable face masks'

The 2022 Bright SCIdea Poster Competition winners:

Vo & Airro -Imperial College London & Royal College of Art GenomAbs - University College Dublin, Copenhagen Business School, Open University of Catalunya and University of Barcelona Aruna - Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Leibniz University Hannover, The Technical University of Central Hesse Friedberg, and Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia .

About SCI: where science meets business:

SCI is a unique global multidisciplinary network connecting scientists, business people, students and other key players involved in science-based innovation. SCI promotes innovation via its international network to advance the commercial application of science into industry for the benefit of society.

SCI works across crucial sectors as diverse as food and bio-renewables, water, environment, energy, materials and manufacturing, and health and wellbeing.

For more information, please visit www.soci.org

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1769543/SCI___Society_of_Chemical_Industry.jpg


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - For several months at the outbreak of Covid-19, U.S. employees felt strongly that their organization cared about their wellbeing, but two years later, that feeling has dwindled to just one fourth of the same workforce, according to a new survey released by Gallup.



This is the lowest percentage in nearly a decade.



This finding has significant implications, as work and life have never been more blended and employee wellbeing matters more than ever- to employees and the resiliency of organizations, the international polling organization said on Friday.



The discovery is based on a random sample of 15,001 full and part-time U.S. employees who were surveyed in February 2022.



Prior to Covid-19, in 2014, about the same percentage (25) of employees strongly agreed that their employer cares about their overall wellbeing. Then at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, employers responded quickly with a plan, communication, and what many employees believed was genuine concern for them, their work, and their lives. The percentage who felt cared about nearly doubled, reaching a high of 49 percent in May of that year. Since 2020, the perception has plummeted to the previous low levels, the survey shows.



The one-year decline in employees' perceptions that their organizations care about their overall wellbeing was generally consistent across employee job types - from production and front-line to white-collar professionals. The decline was especially high among managers.



Gallup found increases in manager burnout in 2021 and declining employee engagement. The surge in cases combined with increased employee resignation rates in 2021 made it difficult for leaders to design and communicate a predictable course of action.



The percentage of employees who are extremely satisfied with their organization as a place to work dropped from 23 to 18 from late 2021 to the first quarter of 2022.



The survey found patterns in organizations that consistently improved their cultures even during the tumultuous last two years, sich as embracing flexible work environments while developing future-of-work plans.



With new variants of the virus emerging in 2020 and 2021, back-to-workplace planning included many frustrating starts and stops for organizational leaders. With the rates of Covid now at a low and decreasing rate in the U.S., the removal of many social restrictions and mask mandates affords organizational leaders the opportunity to set predictable workplace plans in motion, Gallup says.



The United States on Thursday recorded one of the lowest daily number of Covid cases Thursday.



With 45014 new cases of coronavirus infection recorded from across the country, the national total increased to 79,632,049, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.



With 1943 deaths reporting on the same day, total U.S. Covid casualties reached 968,343.







Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Harvest Trading Cap takes a tour of the OGGO WALLET EXCHANGE ECOSYSTEM facilities in El Salvador

MIAMI, March 18, 2022together with Moon Capital, has signed a collaboration agreement with OGGO Medical, with the objective of representing the international company in the Dominican Republic.



The signing of the agreement was made by Jairo GonzalezMA CEO of Harvest Trading Cap, CEO Moon Capital SRL Lic. Gregorix Polanco, Mr. Philip Ong CEO and Chairman of OGGO Medical. The event was held at the Acantilados restaurant, where a framework of collaboration was established to help the health of the Dominican population being Harvest Trading Cap and Moon Capital the representatives and ambassadors of NICAS in the Dominican Republic and other countries where they have international presence.

NICAS is a revolutionary device developed by OGGO Medical, for the detection of the impartation long before external symptoms are reflected in people.

This alliance will be feasible to help improve the health system in the Dominican Republic, impacting in a positive way to people who today suffer and suffer from this disease and do not find a solution in time due to the few alternatives they have. The intention of Jairo Gonzalez, Lic. Greorix Polanco and Mr. Philip Ong is to expand to all of Latin America.

Among the special guests present at the event were Claudia Fernandez, President of the Edu Cripto Organization.

Harvest Trading Capthanks OGGO Medical Services for trusting in their project and for collaborating in the development and expansion of the health mechanisms of Dominicans with their new technologies. The vision of Harvest Trading Cap and Moon Capital is that there will be many more people benefited.

The Harvest Trading Capteam was also cordially received by Mr. Philip Ong, CEO and Chairman of OGGO Wallet Exchange Ecosystem, a traditional business platform with an active Bitcoin ecosystem and new technologies in El Salvador.

Mr. Philip Ong together with Jairo GonzalezMA CEO of Harvest Trading Cap, Lic. Gregorix Polanco Executive Director of Harvest Trading Cap Academy, Dr. Roberto Torres Rector of Andragogy Autonomous University and the Harvest Trading Cap entourage, toured the OGGO facilities.

During this wonderful tour several topics were discussed, including the history, trajectory and evolution of cryptocurrencies, how they have grown significantly and revolutionized in El Salvador. They also talked about future projects in collaboration with Harvest Trading Capand its educational entity Harvest Trading Cap Academy.

Jairo Gonzalezemphasized the development of the aforementioned topics and the contributions that guarantee economic stability in the use of new financial technologies in Central and Latin America.

OGGO seeks to generate an ecosystem of economic and social impact based on cryptocurrencies and contemplates the creation of a university, a cryptocurrency academy, food and water security projects, a medical center and the creation of virtual currency exchange platforms.

This meeting was very rewarding for both parties, as they learned about what both entities wish to do in favor of the future growth of new financial technologies.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d938d5c-afe9-4adc-ba52-b7ec51b02d80

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ec7b22e-8ac0-4a12-88c2-d36e9f982da6
HOUSTON, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Petroleos Internacionales del Caribe ("PIC") and its operating division in Mexico, Petroleos Internacionales del Caribe Inc., Sucursal Mexico ("PICMEX") and EXCEL ("EXCEL") jointly announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") exclusive agreement with PIC for the total commercialization and build-out of its key Export Facilities in Houston, TX together with compressed storage systems for various fuels and key gas pipeline forward positions for the required fueling elements for its Maritime and Terrestrial Operations. The operations will be vital to the Americas and the United Mexican States with PIC one of kind solutions with its other key partnership.



The MOU and exclusive partnership between PIC and EXCEL represent a significant investment milestone in the commercialization of the export facilities and receiving terminals, as it signals the commencement of project specific pre-FEED (Front End Engineering Design) studies by PIC's other partner for the delivery of its maritime and terrestrial operations that will ensure uninterrupted shipments by PIC and its other exclusive partnership for decades to come.

These studies will cover the design of the production and export terminals, receiving terminals and plants, along with the Fleet that will be built to transport and deliver fuel to PIC's markets in Mexico and throughout the Americas. Following completion of the pre-FEED studies and Final Investment Decision (FID) by PIC, PIC and its partner will undertake the FEED for final design and construction for the projects in Mexico that PIC has positioned thus far.

"EXCEL is very enthusiastic about partnering with PIC, and looks forward to a long and mutual growing relationship building out state of the art export and strategic pipeline operations." Jason Hardwick, President of EXCEL Midstream Solutions. "EXCEL looks forward to partnering and providing PIC our best-in-class service across the entire project life cycle." Dave Roberts, CEO of EXCEL

"These projects will provide Mexico, and other countries in Central and South America, and the Americas with affordable fuels and power, as well as significant carbon emissions reductions, a key component in achieving sustainability and balanced for PIC and its Partner."

"We are excited to take this significant step with EXCEL," said Michael Hood, CEO of PIC. "Through this exclusive operational partnership, PIC and EXCEL will accelerate commercialization of the Export Facilities to help meet the fuel supply and electricity needs of PIC's customers in Mexico and throughout the Americas while substituting higher-emission fuels to continue driving down emissions towards a greener brighter future." In addition to the thousands of new employment opportunities, this operation will bring forth to the Great State of Texas over the next decade.

About Petroleos Internacionales del Caribe and Petroleos Internacionales del Caribe Inc., Sucursal Mexico

Petroleos Internacionales del Caribe



About EXCEL

EXCEL is a premier provider of full service civil, structural, mechanical, fabrication, electrical and instrumentation engineering, construction, and maintenance services, as well as disaster recovery services. EXCEL has a long successful history of managing and meeting the challenging schedules and budgets of projects of all sizes, and we are consistently recognized for our exemplary safety record and work quality. Our experience, breadth of projects, dedication to safety and excellent corporate culture help us attract and retain the most highly skilled team of craft and supervisors available to serve our clients' needs. For more information, please visit www.excelusa.comand www.excelmidstream.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Lion Copper and Gold Corp. (TSXV: LEO) (OTCQB: LCGMF) ("Lion CG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced option agreement (the "Agreement") with Houston Minerals Ltd. ("Houston") pursuant to which Houston agreed to grant to the Company the option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in the Chaco Bear Property and the Ashton Property which are located in British Columbia (collectively, the "Properties").

On closing of the Agreement, Lion CG issued 8,000,000 common shares of the Company to Houston and has funded an initial work program of $200,000 on the Properties in consideration for the grant of the Option. The Company may exercise the Option for a period of up to ten years to acquire (i) the Chaco Bear property by paying $1,500,000 to Houston, in cash or in common shares of the Company at the Company's option; and/or (ii) the Ashton Property by paying $1,000,000 to Houston in cash or in common shares of the Company at the Company's option, and in either case common shares will be valued using the volume weighted average trading price of the Company's common shares for the twenty trading day period ending three trading days prior to the date of issuance of such Lion CG shares, with such cash payments being subject to a discount of between 5% and 15% based on the timing of exercise and cumulative exploration expenditures incurred as at the time of exercise. Houston will retain a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty on any of the Properties for which an Option has been exercised by the Company.

The Chaco Bear Property is located in northern British Columbia, within the Stikine Terrane and hosted in similar rock formations as the Eskay Creek deposit, a precious metals volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia that was in production from 1994 to 2008.

The Ashton Property is located within the Spences Bridge Group, a narrow, northwest-trending belt of early cretaceous volcanic rocks covering nearly 3,200 square kilometers from Princeton to Lillooet in British Columbia that are highly prospective for epithermal style gold mineralization.

For further information on the Properties and the Agreement, see the Company's prior news releases dated October 21, 2021, January 31, 2022, and March 16, 2022.

About Lion CG

Lion Copper and Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based company advancing its flagship MacArthur Copper Project in Mason Valley, Nevada, in addition to advancing its exploration projects including the Chaco Bear and Ashton properties in highly prospective regions in British Columbia, Canada, and the Blue Copper Project in Montana, USA.

Further information can be found at www.lioncg.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Stephen Goodman

President

For more information please contact

Karen Robertson

Corporate Communications

778-898-0057

Email: info@lioncg.com

Website: www.lioncg.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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117335
BOSTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network created a new whistleblower program that will pay more than $5 million to any whistleblower with original information that helps them seize assets of Russian elites seeking to evade U.S. sanctions. It's called the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program, and it's aimed at seizing stolen assets by elites and their associates and the proceeds of their corruption. The Treasury Secretary can authorize greater amounts than $5 million if the case merits it. "This program can be used by any person, in any part of the world, who provides original information that aids in the recovery of stolen Russian assets," said Jeffrey Newman, a partner in the firm of Newman & Shapiro which represents whistleblowers worldwide. "It gives incentives to bank employees, financial insiders, real estate brokers, and anyone else who to renders primary and original information about items of value. It is expected that this tool will help the U.S. government enforce its sanctions and, hopefully, help Ukraine."

About Newman & Shapiro

Jeffrey Newman of Newman & Shapiro represents whistleblowers in major whistleblower cases. For more information, visit newmanshapiro.com or call 978-880-4758.

Contact:

Jeffrey A. Newman, Esq.

jnewman@newmanshapiro.com

978-880-4758

Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1769624/Jeffrey_A_Newman.jpg
DGAP Voting Rights Announcement: QIAGEN N.V.

QIAGEN N.V.: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution



18.03.2022 / 22:03

Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The AFM (the Netherlands Authority For the Financial Markets has informed us on March 15, 2022 that a notification related to our institution has been released by the AFM. The following notification has been disclosed in the relevant register on the AFM website: Date of transaction: 09 mar 2022

Person obliged to notify: Goldman Sachs Group Inc., The

Issuing institution: Qiagen N.V.

Registration Chamber of Commerce: 12036979

Place of residence: VENLO Distribution in numbers Type of share Number of shares Number of voting rights Capital interest Voting rights Manner of disposal Settlement Ordinary share 956.430,00 956.420,44 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs International Physical Delivery Convertible bond 924.240,00 924.240,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs International Physical Delivery Ordinary share 259.443,00 259.440,41 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Physical Delivery Option 3.863.782,00 3.863.782,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Physical Delivery Swap 18.610,00 18.610,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC In cash Ordinary share 5.394,00 5.393,95 Real Real Indirectly - United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC Physical Delivery Ordinary share 36,00 36,00 Real Real Indirectly - Folio Investments Inc. Physical Delivery Ordinary share 31.731,00 31.730,68 Real Real Indirectly - Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE Physical Delivery Swap 270.157,00 270.157,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs International In cash Ordinary share 24.017,00 24.016,76 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE Physical Delivery Warrant 41.177,00 41.177,00 Potential Potential Indirectly - Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE In cash Ordinary share 14.775,00 14.775,00 Real Real Indirectly - The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware Physical Delivery Ordinary share 472.205,00 472.200,28 Real Real Indirectly - Goldman Sachs International Physical Delivery Ordinary share 284,00 284,00 Real Real Indirectly - Benson Street Limited Physical Delivery Distribution in percentages Type Total holding Directly real Directly potential Indirectly real Indirectly potential Capital interest 2,98 % 0,00% 0,00% 0,23% 2,75% Voting rights 2,98 % 0,00% 0,00% 0,23% 2,75% QIAGEN N.V. is not responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the notification above. The content has

been taken from the relevant register of the AFM:

https://www.afm.nl/en/professionals/registers/meldingenregisters/substantiele-deelnemingen/details?id=121488

18.03.2022 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement to the Company through the issuance of 750,000 units (each, a "Unit"), at a price of $0.10 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $75,000 (the "Offering"). The net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company for working capital and for other general and administrative costs.

Each Unit consists of one common share (each a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of CDN$0.10 per Common Share for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the closing of the Offering (the "Warrant Term"), provided, however, should the closing price at which the Common Shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (or any such other stock exchange in Canada as the Common Shares may trade at the applicable time) exceed CDN$0.30 for 10 consecutive trading days at any time following the date of issuance, the Company may accelerate the Warrant Term (the "Reduced Warrant Term") such that the Warrants shall expire on the date which is 30 business days following the date a press release is issued by the Company announcing the Reduced Warrant Term.

In connection with the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 60,000 broker warrants ("Broker Warrants") to certain eligible persons (the "Finder"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Unit at an exercise price of $0.10 for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the closing of the Offering and subject to the acceleration provision noted above.

All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About American Aires Inc.

American Aires Inc. is Canadian-based nanotechnology company which has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The technology was developed by a team of highly credited scientists and confirmed by independent third-party validation including peer reviewed studies and publications in scientific journals. Aires' Lifetune products specifically target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, Wi-Fi radiation, including the rapidly expanding next-generation high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under ticker 'WIFI'. Learn more at www.airestech.com.

On behalf of the board of directors

Company Contact:

Dimitry Serov, CEO

Email: dimitry@airestech.com

Telephone: (905) 482-4667

Website: www.airestech.com

For further information please contact:

5 Quarters Investor Relations, Inc.

Cindy Gray, CEO & Managing Director

Email: wifi@airestech.com

Telephone: (403) 705.5076

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Common Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour.

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 news release.

Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117330
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Radio Fuels Energy Corp. (CSE: CAKE) (OTCQB: CKEFF) (formerly, Mainstream Minerals Corporation) (the "Company") is pleased to announce receipt of approval from the OTC Markets Group to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market (the "OTCQB"), effective March 18, 2022, under the symbol "CKEFF". The OTCQB quotation will increase the accessibility of the Company to U.S.-based retail and institutional investors and aligns well with the Company's focus. The company profile can be viewed at the OTC Market site at www.otcmarkets.com.

The OTCQB offers developing Canadian companies the benefits of being publicly traded in the U.S. with lower cost and complexity than a U.S. exchange listing. Streamlined market standards enable Canadian companies to provide a strong baseline of transparency to inform and engage U.S. investors. To be eligible, Canadian companies must be current in their SEDAR reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.

Nauth LPC acted as the Company's OTC Markets Sponsor in connection with the listing on the OTCQB.

About Radio Fuels Energy Corp.

The Company is a junior natural resource company focused on providing exposure to uranium and other commodities through the investment, acquisition, exploration, and development of projects and companies.

For further information, please contact:

Cejay Kim

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (778) 886-1826

Email: cejay.kim@gmail.com

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.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117351
A veteran off-duty correction officer trying to evict a tenant from his Brooklyn home smeared feces on her bedroom door and in her bathroom, police said Friday.

Nigel Escalona, 44, was charged with criminal mischief and illegal eviction.

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He was arrested Thursday after the 52-year-old victim came home from work and found the locks on her Canarsie apartment, inside which she rents a room, had been changed, according to the NYPD.

A broken window at the Canarsie, Brooklyn home where an off-duty city correction officer allegedly smeared poop on a door to get his tenant to move out. (Ellen Moynihan)

Neighbors saw the woman arguing with a man they believe to be Escalona outside the E. 83rd St. home before the city correction officer was arrested.

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The screen was up, her head was through the window, said one man who asked to remain anonymous. The two guys were standing there and they were asking her if they could get some stuff out.

Another neighbor, a woman, heard glass breaking from inside the apartment. At first, just a few cops showed up, she said.

Then they came back and there was a lot of them, she remembered. I dont know what it was but it was terrible, it was just so crazy.

The damage after a fight between an off-duty city correction officer - who allegedly smeared poop on a door - and the Brooklyn tenant he wants to evict. (Ellen Moynihan)

Escalonas tenant previously reported that she caught the officer running out of her bedroom on March 4. When she looked inside she found poop smeared on the door and door frame, as well as on the bathroom doorknob and faucet, police said.

Even if shes not paying the rent, thats not the way to go about it, the neighbor who saw Thursdays confrontation said. On both parties its tough but you have to go about it the right way. Screaming and smearing stuff in the house isnt right.

Another neighbor claimed the woman often acts erratically, resulting in frequent visits from police which send Escalonas other tenants packing.

Theres more than ten people who have moved in and moved out, said the neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. As soon as these tenants move in they move right back out.

Shes up screaming from 7:00 to 7:00, she said. My sister lives upstairs with her husband and he works the graveyard shift. And he cant get to sleep when he comes in.

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I can honestly say shes a nuisance, the neighbor continued. Im telling you, this lady, shes a problem.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

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Escalona, who joined the city Department of Correction in 2004, is assigned to the Manhattan Detention Complex. His duty status is dependent on what happens at his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court, an agency spokeswoman said.
Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) today announced it immediately suspended future business in Russia as the Company complies with sanctions that prohibit transactions and work, including for certain state-owned Russian customers. Halliburton will prioritize safety and reliability as we wind down our remaining operations in Russia.

Several weeks ago, the Company halted all shipments of specific sanctioned parts and products to Russia. Halliburton has no active joint ventures there.

"The war in Ukraine deeply saddens us. We have employees in both Ukraine and Russia, and the conflict greatly impacts our people, their families, and loved ones throughout the region," said Halliburton Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Miller. "Since the start of this conflict, we prioritized employee safety and compliance with all relevant sanctions."

ABOUT HALLIBURTON

Founded in 1919, Halliburton is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With more than 40,000 employees, representing 130 nationalities in more than 70 countries, the company helps its customers maximize value throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production throughout the life of the asset. Visit the Company's website at www.halliburton.com. Connect with Halliburton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220318005419/en/

Contacts:

Halliburton

For Investors:

David Coleman

Investor Relations

investors@halliburton.com

281-871-2688

For News Media:

Emily Mir

External Affairs

pr@halliburton.com

281-871-2601
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2022 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC PINK:LKMNF)(FRA:LKY) ("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company will be participating in Renmark Financial Communications Inc.'s live Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow Series to discuss the latest investor presentation on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 11:00 AM, CDT and Monday, March 28, 2022, at 1:00 PM PDT. Lucky welcomes stakeholders, investors, and other individual followers to register and attend this live event.

The presentation will feature President and Chief Executive Officer, Francois Perron. Topics to be covered will include the latest investor presentation followed by a live Q&A. Investors interested in participating in these events will need to register using the links below. As a reminder, registration for the live event may be limited but access to the replay after the event will be on the Company's website.

PLEASE REGISTER BY CLICKING LINKS BELOW:

Monday, March 21, 2022 - 11:00 AM CDT, Houston, Texas

Registration - Renmark Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow: Lucky Minerals Inc. TSX-V - LKY Monday, March 28, 2022 - 1:00 PM PDT, San Francisco, California

Registration - Renmark Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow: Lucky Minerals Inc. TSX-V - LKY

PLEASE NOTE:

To ensure smooth connectivity, please access the link above using the latest version of Google Chrome.

About Lucky Minerals Inc.

Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna Property. The Company's Fortuna Project is comprised of twelve contiguous, 550 km2 (55,000 Hectares, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concessions. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador.

About Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Founded in 1999, Renmark Financial Communications Inc. is North America's leading retail investor relations firm. Employing a strategic and comprehensive mix of exposure tactics; Renmark hosts Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows as well as in-person corporate presentations and maintains daily communications with thousands of brokers and money managers across Canada and the United States. Renmark empowers its publicly-traded clientele to maximize their visibility within the financial community and strengthen their investor audience.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Francois Perron"

Chief Executive Officer

Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Francois Perron, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.

Or by contacting:

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Kerry Schacter: kschacter@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989

www.renmarkfinancial.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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will not update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements unless required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/693776/Lucky-Minerals-Inc-to-Participate-in-Renmarks-Virtual-Non-Deal-Roadshow-Series-on-Monday-March-21st-Monday-March-28th-2022
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Wealth Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: WML) (OTCQX: WMLLF) (SSE: WMLCL) (FSE: EJZN) (the "Company" or "Wealth") reports that, pursuant to the Company's 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Company has granted incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase up to 5,450,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company. The options are exercisable on or before March 18, 2024 at a price of $0.38 per share.

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada, Mexico and Chile. The Company's focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America. To date, the Company has positioned itself to work alongside existing producers in the prolific Atacama salar, where the Company has a substantial licenses package.

Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. The Company also maintains and continues to evaluate a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration-stage projects.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

"Hendrik van Alphen"

Hendrik van Alphen

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Marla Ritchie or Henk van Alphen

Phone: 604-331-0096 Ext. 3886 or 604-638-3886

E-mail: info@wealthminerals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral projects, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117366
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Royalty North Partners Ltd. (TSXV: RNP) (the "Company" or "RNP") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated February 22 and March 9, 2022, the Company has completed a second tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its subscription receipt financing (the "Private Placement") of 2,768,000 subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts"). The Second Tranche was conducted pursuant to the previously announced reverse takeover transaction (the "Transaction") with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm") whereby RNP will acquire certain copper-gold assets from Sandstorm, repositioning RNP as a high-growth copper mining company. The assets acquired by RNP include a 30% equity interest in the Hod Maden copper-gold project and approximately 49.7 million shares in Entree Resources Ltd. Closing of the Private Placement satisfies the financing condition of the proposed Transaction.

The Subscription Receipts were issued at a price of $0.60 per Subscription Receipt for total gross proceeds of $1,660,800, which funds will be held in escrow by the Company until the closing of the Transaction and the satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions (collectively, the "Release Conditions"). Each Subscription Receipt, upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions, will automatically convert into one unit (a "Unit"), with each Unit comprising of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.80 for a period of five years following the automatic conversion of the Subscription Receipts. If the Release Conditions are not met within 180 days of closing of the Second Tranche, then all of the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled and all funds will be released from escrow and returned to subscribers.

The Second Tranche was conducted on a non-brokered private placement basis and finders' fees will be paid in association with the Second Tranche of $35,280 (the "Finders' Fees") which will be settled by the issuance of units (the "Finder Units") at a price of $0.60 per Finder Unit, which Finder Units will be issued on the same terms of the Units. The Finders' Fees will only be paid by the Company upon the automatic conversion of the Subscription Receipts.

The net proceeds of the Second Tranche will be used to help fund the Company's interest in the Hod Maden asset, the potential acquisition of other assets, as well as for general working capital. All securities issued pursuant to the Second Tranche are subject to a four month and one day hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, expiring on July 19, 2022.

Certain insiders of the Company purchased an aggregate of 1,943,832 Subscription Receipts under the Private Placement, constituting, to that extent, a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of such insider participation. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the closing dates of the Private Placement, as applicable, as the details and amounts of the insider participation were not finalized until closer to closing and the Company wished to close the transaction as soon as practicable for sound business reasons.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") acceptance and, if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the information circular to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of RNP should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX-V has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Trading in the common shares of RNP is currently halted and it is not anticipated that trading in the common shares of RNP will resume prior to completion of the Transaction.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell and is not a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company 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 "U.S. Persons" (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration.

For more information, please contact:

Victoria McMillan, Chief Financial Officer

Royalty North Partners Ltd.

Phone: (604) 628-1033 www.royaltynorth.com

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the automatic conversion of Subscription Receipts, the use of net proceeds of the Second Tranche, payment of Finders' Fees and the terms of the Transaction. Although RNP believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. RNP cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by RNP is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: RNP's ability to complete the Transaction; the expected timing and terms of the Transaction, the state of the financial markets for RNP's securities; the state of the natural resources sector in the event the Transaction is completed; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; RNP's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that RNP is unaware of at this time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. RNP disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117375
Getir, a Istanbul, Turkey-based grocery delivery company, closed a $768m Series E funding round, bringing the valuation to $11.8 billion.

The round was led by Mubadala Investment Company, with participation from Abu Dhabi Growth Fund (ADG), Alpha Wave Global, Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global.

The company, which has raised $2 billion to date, intends to use the funds to expand within the countries in which it operates.

Since January 2021, Getir has been successfully realizing its ambitious expansion plans across Europe and the US, now reaching a total network of over 1,100 g-stores and close to 40 million app downloads across 9 countries, delivering almost one million orders daily. The latest investment will be utilized to

Founded in 2015 by Nazim Salur (founder of BiTaksi, Turkeys leading taxi app), Serkan Borancili (founder of GittiGidiyor which was acquired by eBay in 2011) and Tuncay Tutek (ex-PepsiCo and P&G executive in Europe & the Middle East), Getir is a last-mile delivery company offering approximately 2,000 everyday items to its customers in minutes, 7 days a week, day and night. The company is now operating in all 81 cities of Turkey and has launched operations in the UK in January, in the Netherlands in May, Germany and France in June, Spain and Italy in September, Portugal in October and the United States in November 2021.

FinSMEs

18/03/2022
YZR, a Paris, France-based startup that uses AI to normalize data, raised $12m in Series A funding.

The round was co-led by Nauta Capital and Orange Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to scale-up its operations, improve its product, specifically in health and consumer data, make strategic key hires, and to widen its global reach by penetrating both European and US markets, with plans to set up a US subsidiary.

YZR have created a no-code, plug-and-play, data preparation platform that makes it easier, better, and faster to normalise and prepare data for downstream ingestion. Their AI-powered standardisation, labelling, and context-understanding software has in-depth sector specific semantic knowledge to quickly enable business units to draw value from it.

Despite the widespread impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the start-up has managed to become one of the most promising French start-ups and in 2020, they were recipients of the prestigious Galion Booster award.

Founded in September 2019 by Sebastien Garcin, President, and Jean-Philippe Poisson, General Manager, YZR is a smart data normalization platform, delivered as a SaaS (Software as a Service). Thanks to AI, the platform aims to simplify the work of 54 Million data workers in the world who are currently manually standardizing data using spreadsheets. YZR thus provides its solution to retail and e-commerce leaders such as Monoprix or La Redoute to automatically standardize heterogeneous product data from their suppliers.

YZR previously raised more than $2m in seed funding in 2021 thanks to major French tech investors such as Frederic Mazzella (Blablacar), Laurent Ritter (Voodoo) and Jean-Baptiste Rudelle (Criteo). Since then, they have onboarded several notable brands such as Monoprix, Clear Channel, Aramis Auto and BNP Paribas.

FinSMEs

18/03/2022
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Almost 500 straphangers have been ticketed this year for taking up too much space napping in subway cars, an NYPD chief said Friday at a City Council budget hearing.

The enforcement is part of a crackdown that began after Mayor Adams and police last month announced a determination to drive down subway crime and restore order underground while trying to connect the homeless with social services.

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NYPD Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox said more than 1,000 extra cops now patrol the subway system as part of the focus on the crime rate. The NYPDs latest crime data shows 467 criminal code arrests on the subway and bus systems so far in 2022, up 80% from the 259 arrests reported in the same period pf 2021.

He said officers have helped place 198 homeless people in shelters and have issued 471 summonses for the offense of outstretching, which is the legal name for sprawling out to sleep in a subway car. The number of outstretching summonses so far in 2022 is up 37% from the 343 issued in the same period of 2021.

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Cops so far this year have issued more than 13,628 summonses for fare evasion  down 4% from 14,211 issued in the same period of 2021.

But Wilcox said fare evasion arrests are up 44% year to date. Police have arrested 266 people for fare evasion so far this year, compared to 185 in the same period of 2021.

Summonses for smoking, drinking and public urination are all up, NYPD data shows. So far this year, police have issued 1,084 summonses for smoking, up 149% from the same period of 2021. Summonses for drinking stand at 620 year to date, up 143% from 2022, and summonses for public urination are at 222, up 86% over 2021.

NYPD Transit Officers are seen stationed at the Union Square Station. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

We are now very much focused on these quality-of-life situations that were experiencing in transit, Wilcox said. Were working very hard to restore that sense of calm, that sense of order in the transit system.

The increase in transit arrests and summonses reflects a broader rise in enforcement this year as the NYPD deals with a 45% surge in the citywide crime rate.

Murders are down thus far, to 76 compared to 82 at the same time last year. But the other six felonies that comprise the crime rate are up sharply. Rape is up 35%, robbery is up 44%, grand larceny is up 62%, and grand larceny auto is up 92%.

Commissioner Keechant Sewell (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

On top of that, petty larcenies, many of them incidents of shoplifting, are up 35%.

Sewell, in her first appearance  albeit virtual  before the councils Public Safety Committee said she expects the newly-unveiled Neighborhood Safety Unit to help drive down the gun violence that has surged across the city the past two years.

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So far this year, she said, arrests for major crimes have increased, including 40% for rape and 24% for robbery.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

But, she noted, the key to long-range success will be less about enforcement and more about prevention, namely by steering young people away from trouble and toward services such as a police-run East New York community center that provides services and programs.

Transit Police Officer surveys the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal. (Craig Warga/New York Daily News)

It will take a collective effort to change the mindset that has led some of our youth to believe they must join a gang to be safe, or that striving for academic success isnt cool, or that it is not worth trying to become a doctor, lawyer, financier or police commissioner -- because it is attainable, the commissioner said.

Sewell acknowledged flaws in the criminal justice system, noting that too often ex-prisoners quickly wind up homeless because when they are released they are given little more than a bus ticket and a couple of dollars.

The preliminary NYPD budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $5.2 billion, down from $5.6 billion for the current fiscal year.

A homeless person at the Court Square Subway Station. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Sewell said she is reviewing every bureau in the department with an eye on reducing redundancies and maybe even eliminating certain units.

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But City Councilwoman Tiffany Caban (D-Queens) scoffed at the idea police are trying to do more with less.

Your budget is bigger than that of the Ukrainian military, Caban said. Its bigger than that of many countries militaries, in fact.
As the war in Ukraine rages on, major Western companies are coming under increasing scrutiny for continuing business dealings with Russia despite the raising of... Read More
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A former NYPD sergeant and martial arts instructor fired for shooting the mother of his child is suing to get his job back after learning that Yonkers police used fabricated facts in the criminal complaint against him, the Daily News has learned.

Nicknamed the Karate cop for teaching martial arts to at-risk children, Sgt. Jose Guerrero of the 45th Precinct in the Bronx, was dismissed from the department four years ago, even though his would-be victim recanted statements she made under duress and prosecutors dropped the case for lack of evidence.

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The last four years have been very hard for me, Guerrero, 54, told The News. I didnt leave my home for six months I was so humiliated. People put articles of the arrest in the elevator and women in the building looked uncomfortable when I was around all for something I didnt do. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy.

Yonkers cops arrested Guerrero following an ugly confrontation with Yaharya Feliz  his sons mother  on Dec. 23, 2015, that ended with her being shot in the neck.

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Guerreros arrest and termination from the NYPD was built on a trumped up criminal complaint filed by Yonkers police officers, who never found evidence to corroborate Felizs initial claim that Guerrero shot her, according to the suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on March 4.

The lawsuit names the Yonkers police involved and the City of New York.

Former Bronx NYPD Sgt. Jose Guerrero teaching martial arts. (Ken Goldfield for New York Daily News)

Feliz wasnt allowed to leave as cops drafted the complaint, Guerreros suit claims. She was exhausted and was on heavy duty pain medication when she signed the complaint, which she never read, the lawsuit states.

She recanted her statement in the complaint in front of both a Westchester grand jury and at Guerreros NYPD disciplinary trial, claiming that she was the one who picked up Guerreros NYPD-issued Glock .9-mm pistol during a heated argument. The gun went off as she and Guerrero fought over the pistol.

Guerrero was charged with reckless endangerment, but Westchester prosecutors chose not to pursue charges against him.

Although the criminal case was dropped, the NYPD sought to fire Guerrero  ignoring the martial arts teachers claims that he was the actual victim and Felizs assertions that the shooting was an accident.

Guerrero was fired in 2018, two years before he could collect his pension.

While researching the case, Guerrero and his lawyer, Eric Sanders learned that NYPD Assistant Deputy of Trails David Weisels decision was solely based on the questionable criminal complaint filed by Yonkers police.

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Former Bronx NYPD Sgt. Jose Guerrero ran a Yonkers karate school allowing students' parents to pay what they can afford for classes. (Ken Goldfield for New York Daily News)

Weisel disregarded the testimony of Ms. Feliz and he chose to credit the same fabricated facts, legal arguments and documents submitted by (Yonkers police), Sanders alleges in the suit.

The NYPD never conducted its own forensic investigation into the matter, instead bringing in the Yonkers cops who wrote up the complaint. The cops parroted the same fabricated facts, legal arguments and documents as they have done since the arrest of Mr. Guerrero, Sanders said in a letter to then Police Commissioner Dermot Shea on Nov. 22, demanding the sergeants reinstatement.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

The department responded to Sanders request less than a month later. Upon review of this matter, your request for Jose Guerreros reinstatement will not be reconsidered and the termination stands, Deputy Inspector John Kanganis of the NYPD Legal Bureau wrote in his response, sparking the lawsuit.

In a separate, pending federal suit, Sanders is suing the Yonkers police officers who investigated his case and produced the inaccurate complaint that led to his firing, calling the document a fraud perpetuated upon the court.

These Yonkers police officers are disgraceful and dont deserve to wear the uniform and needless to say, the NYPD Disciplinary System is a sad joke, waste of taxpayers monies and needs to be shut down, Sanders said Friday. Hopefully the courts will correct this obvious injustice.

A spokesman for the Yonkers police department declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The city Law Department noted that Sanders first attempt to get Guerrero reinstated was dismissed.

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Well review this new matter, a spokesman for the agency said.

Guerrero said he hopes the suit reveals the truth.

Not only will I be able to regain some dignity, but I can hold my head up high again, he said. Its not only the moral thing to do, but the correct thing to do.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 77F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 77F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph.
A Queens man out on bail for sexually assaulting a woman he lured to his apartment with a fake Facebook ad brutalized a second woman at knifepoint last week using the same ruse, police said Friday.

Edson Cledion, 30, was busted Thursday after DNA from the March 7 attack was linked to a disturbingly similar incident from last summer, police said. Cops charged him with committing a criminal sex act, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, menacing and weapons possession.

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Edson Cledion (Obtained by Daily News )

Cledion, using the fake online name Eduardo, sent a livery driver to pick up his 32-year-old victim and bring her to his Queens Village home on 103rd Ave. near 225th St. to interview for a cleaning lady job he posted, police said.

Once the woman was inside, Cledion showed her around his basement apartment, still pretending he was looking to hire someone to clean it.

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The Queens Village home where police say a man sexually assaulted a woman who responded to a fake job listing. (Liam Quigley/for New York Daily News)

But when they got to the bedroom, he pulled out a knife and ordered her to take off her clothes, court records reveal.

Do what I say or Ill kill you, the 5-foot 8-inch, 280-pound suspect allegedly told the woman.

He forced the woman to perform a sex act on him while holding the knife against her and then anally raped her, police and prosecutors said.

When he was done, police said, he grabbed the womans phone, erased all messages they exchanged, and walked her to the bus stop.

She called police when she got home and went to Elmhurst Hospital, where a rape kit was done. Investigators quickly learned that the DNA recovered in the rape kit matched Cledion.

He was picked up at his home after detectives learned DNA linked the two attacks, police said.

I always thought something weird about that person, said one neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous. Cledion would often leer at her daughters, she said. At the window, he would always stand there and look over here. If the girls would go out, or be sitting here.

After cops showed up last week asking to look at her surveillance camera footage, which has a good view of Cledions front door, the vigilant mom began keeping her lights on at night, she said.

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They just said my camera would have a good angle, but they didnt tell me what happened, she said. He just gave me bad vibes.

A Queens Criminal Court judge ordered Cledion held without bail. Queens Defenders, who represented him at his arraignment, declined to comment.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Cledion is due back in court next month for an earlier sex crime that virtually mirrors the one this month.

In the Aug. 5 incident, Cledion allegedly lured a 36-year-old woman to where he was living on 103rd Ave. in South Jamaica with a similar Facebook ad. In the advertisement, he identified himself as Donald Richemond . He was renting the apartment under the name Edson Solon, prosecutors said.

If you listen to me, he allegedly told the victim when he pulled a knife inside his bedroom, I wont kill you.

Just like the more recent crime, Cledion ordered the woman to perform a sex act on him then further abused her, according to court papers. When he was done, he took that victims phone and erased any text messages they shared. He then called a livery for her, put money in her bag and let her go.

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The woman reported what happened when she saw a cop at the Long Island Rail Road station, police said. The blade Cledion allegedly threatened her with was found inside his home and he and the woman were on video going into and leaving his apartment, prosecutors said.

Cledion, indicted for committing a criminal sex act, was freed after posting $30,000 bail for that attack.

Prior to the two sex crimes, Cledion had never been arrested, police said. Nobody answered the door at his Queens Village address Friday.
Streaming giant, Netflix, may soon charge you for sharing your account password with people outside your household. The company will be trialling this policy in selected countries in the coming weeks, Variety reported.

Whats the plan?

For a start, Netflix intends testing this punitive measure in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru and may extend it to other markets after the trial period. The test will allow Netflix to ask standard- and premium-plan customers to add accounts for up to two people they don't live with for an extra monthly charge.

Like what currently exists, this new feature will mean that the extra members will have their own profiles, personalized recommendations, but they will also have their own logins and passwords, different from that of the paying customer. The fees range from 2.29 to 1.61 per month.

Read more:

 This is why Netflix has raised its prices for its UK subscribers

 You can get paid $70,000 to Netflix and chill

 Netflix: This new feature will change your viewing experience forever

Why the change?

Netflix has always made it possible for people who live together to share one account with multiple streams and separate profiles under the standard and premium plans. In a blog post, Netflix explains why they are thinking of changing this model.

While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared. As a result, accounts are being shared between households  impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.

Netflix prohibits the sharing of password amongst people, but has never really been strict in enforcing it. Last year, the streaming service tested a prompt on viewers using accounts owned by people outside their households. Users who tried logging in from a different location would see this message on their screens:

If you don't live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching.

They would then have to verify the account with either a text or email that would be sent to the account holder. The monthly subscription fee for Netflix has increased in the UK and other markets in recent weeks.
A 19-year-old man smoking pot in Washington Square Park was stabbed in the head early Friday when he wouldnt give two strangers a toke, cops said.

The New Rochelle resident was standing by the fountain in the center of the Greenwich Village park with two women about 2:30 a.m. when two men walked up and asked if he would share his marijuana, police said.

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The victim declined.

Why you talking funny to my friend? one of the men screamed, sparking a fight. As the three came to blows, one of the suspects pulled a sharp blade, and jammed it into the side of the victims head, leaving him with two deep gashes, cops said.

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EMS rushed the victim to Bellevue Hospital with a minor wound.

The suspects ran off and were seen fleeing down Washington Square North. No arrests have been made.
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.

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Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
China's Shaanxi sees record air quality improvement in 2021

Xinhua) 09:38, March 18, 2022

Citizens exercise in the open air within their community classified as a low-risk area for COVID-19 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

XI'AN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, one of the major coal production areas of the country, saw record good air quality in 2021, with its six major air quality indicators reaching the level-II national standard for the first time.

The province's 12 city-level areas had monitored an average concentration of PM2.5 at 36 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, down 14.3 percent year on year.

The PM2.5 reading is a gauge monitoring airborne particles of 2.5 microns or less in diameter, which can penetrate deep into people's lungs.

The average concentrations of PM10 in these areas fell to 66 micrograms per cubic meter, down 7 percent year on year.

A total of 295.4 days with good air quality were logged during the period in Shaanxi's 10 cities under national assessment, 10.3 days more than the goal set by China.

This is the first time for Shaanxi to reach the overall national air quality standards, marking solid progress in the battle against air pollution, said Ji Wu, director of the province's atmospheric environment office.

In 2021, Shaanxi launched a series of pollution prevention and treatment campaigns, including reducing industrial coal consumption except for coal used in electricity generation, penalizing enterprises that commit environmental offenses, and upgrading iron and steel enterprises, in an effort to better protect the environment and improve local air quality.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The one-time roommate of a college student who was found stabbed to death inside the North Dakota apartment they shared has been arrested for the slaying nearly 15 years later.

Officers with the Minot Police Department announced the arrest of Nichole Rice during a press conference Wednesday evening. The 34-year-old suspect was working on Minot Air Force Base when she was taken into custody for the murder of her former roommate, Anita Knutson, according to Police Chief John Klug.

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There was never enough to arrest her but I would say she was always a person of interest in this case, Klug said of Rice.

Nichole Rice, left, was taken into custody for the murder of her former roommate, Anita Knutson, right.

On June 4, 2007, Knutsons father called police after not hearing from his daughter for a few days, KXNET-TV reported. When officers arrived at the apartment, the concerned parent pointed them toward a slashed window screen leading into his daughters bedroom.

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Knuston, an 18-year-old student at Minot State University at the time, was found dead inside her bedroom and covered with a large housecoat.

Her murder remained a mystery until 2017, when authorities finally got a break in the case. Klug said he couldnt provide further details on the matter, but vowed to reveal the critical evidence at some point in the future.

My heart goes out to the family, Klug said. I wish we could have solved this sooner but at the same time Im glad to say that we have the person responsible for the murder of Anita Knutson in custody.

.
OKLAHOMA CITY, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Devon Energy announced today a pledge of up to $20 million to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and neighboring countries supporting Ukrainian refugees. These donations will be split among several organizations providing emergency medical care, food supplies, financial support, and housing for displaced civilians and refugees in the region.



Homes, roads, airports, and schools in Ukraine lie in ruins, with dozens of health facilities also suffering attacks while hundreds of thousands are without water or electricity.

We heard Ukrainian President Zelenskys call for help in his address to the American people and are stepping up, said Rick Muncrief, President and CEO. Ukrainians need medical assistance, food and shelter, and I am proud that Devon and our employees are doing what we can to help those desperately in need. Russias unprovoked invasion has led to a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that calls upon the global community  governments, businesses, and individuals  to act in solidarity.

According to UN reports, more than 3 million people, to date, have fled from Ukraine to neighboring countries and more than 2 million people have been internally displaced since Russias attack on the country Feb. 24. The UN estimates more than 12 million people inside Ukraine may need relief and protection in the coming months.

About Devon Energy

Devon Energy is a leading oil and gas producer in the U.S. operating in five basins while focusing on sustainable operations. For more information, please visit www.devonenergy.com.

Investor Contacts Media Contact Scott Coody, 405-552-4735 Lisa Adams, 405-228-1732 Chris Carr, 405-228-2496












NEW YORK, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE: GATO): (a) pursuant and/or traceable to the Registration Statement issued in connection with the Companys initial public offering (the IPO or Offering) conducted on or about October 28, 2020; and/or (b) between October 28, 2020 and January 25, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important April 25, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.



SO WHAT: If you purchased Gatos Silver securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Gatos Silver class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=3100 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 25, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the technical report for Gatos Silvers primary mine, the Cerro Los Gatos deposit, contained certain errors; (2) among other things, the mineral reserves had been overestimated by as much as 50%; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, defendants positive statements about Gatos Silvers business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Gatos Silver class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=3100 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

lrosen@rosenlegal.com

pkim@rosenlegal.com

cases@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
The cubs were so cute he could bear-ly stand it!

Cody Dylon Setzer and an unidentified co-worker spotted a pair of month-old bears tucked inside their den, hidden behind a tree that had fallen across a forest path, and took them, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday. He initially contacted authorities about the animals on March 9, 2019, when he realized he was not capable of caring for them properly.

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The 29-year-old California man claimed he and his friend discovered the cubs along Highway 263 north of Yreka in Siskiyou County  but when officials arrived at the spot, they became immediately suspicious of Setzer, given the lack of bear tracks.

The second person involved confessed to his role and is cooperating with authorities, said Capt. Patrick Foy of the departments law enforcement division. He told investigators he tried to return the bears to their den, located east of Salt Creek and Interstate 5 in Shasta County. When he returned to the site, however, their home had been completely destroyed.

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Officials said both men work at a local timber management company.

Foy noted the cubs mother was never located. They were instead turned over to CDFWs Wildlife Health Laboratory in Rancho Cordova and then taken to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care for rehabilitation. Wildlife officials said they were the youngest ever brought into the facility.

On April 28, 2020, the cubs were deemed old enough to survive on their own and returned to their native habitat in Shasta County, the department said.

Setzer pleaded guilty in November in Siskiyou Superior Court to possession of a prohibited species and obstructing a peace officer in the course of his duties.

He was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and to pay $2,290 in fines and fees. Setzer was also placed on probation for 12 months with his hunting and fishing privileges suspended for the duration of his probation, and sentenced to 90 days in the county jail, which will be stayed if he successfully completes probation, the department said.

With News Wire Services
Company gives explanation of current progress on resumption of trading activities



LOS ANGELES, CA, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PINEAPPLE, INC. (OTC Markets: PNPL) (the Company or Pineapple), a publicly traded company in the legal cannabis industry with a portfolio of assets spanning operational management, technology, IP licensing, cannabis property rentals, and equity ownership in cannabis retail and production facilities, today announced it is no longer a grey market stock and apprised shareholders of its progress as related to its anticipated OTCQB tier upgrade.

CEO and President Shawn Credle commented, We have completed the necessary steps to be designated as a Pink Current Information company with OTC Markets and are no longer designated as grey market. The Company is currently pursuing an OTCQB designation, which is a higher trading tier on the OTC Markets platform.

Matthew Feinstein, Director at Pineapple, added, We are deeply focused on securing regulatory approval so that normalized trading can commence for our shareholders. We hope to be nearing the finish line as related to the review of our 15c2-11 application and will be updating our shareholders once completed.

About Pineapple, Inc.

Pineapple, Inc. (the Company or Pineapple) is based in Los Angeles, California. Through its operating subsidiary Pineapple Express Consulting, Inc., as well as its 45% owned portfolio company, Pineapple Ventures, Inc. (PVI), the Company runs a cannabis delivery service, Pineapple Express, via www.PineappleExpress.com, as well as hemp CBD e-commerce company, Pineapple Wellness, via www.PineappleWellness.com. PVI also provides capital to its canna-business clientele, leases real properties to those canna-businesses, takes equity positions and manages those operations, and provides consulting and technology to develop, enhance, or expand existing and newly formed infrastructures. Pineapple is built to become the leading portfolio management company in the U.S. cannabis sector. The Companys executive team blends enterprise-level corporate expertise with a combined three decades of experience operating in the tightly-regulated cannabis industry. Pineapples strategic asset integration has provided it with the infrastructure to support its subsidiaries with cost-effective access to all segments of the vertical: from cultivation and processing, to distribution, retail and delivery. With its headquarters in Los Angeles, California PVI is rapidly increasing its footprint throughout the state and looking to scale into underdeveloped markets.

Forward-Looking Statements:

All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, which may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as expects, anticipates, intends, estimates, plans, potential, possible, probable, believes, seeks, may, will, should, could or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. 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. These factors include uncertainties as to the application and enforcement of U.S. and state federal laws in the cannabis industry (including to the Companys business activities and the business activities of some of its customers and counterparties), ability to attract new canna-business clientele, successfully implementing the Companys growth strategy (including relating to the Companys intention to create a nationally branded and vertically integrated chain of cannabis retail stores under the Pineapple Express name and anticipated development of Company-owned cultivation and processing facilities), dependence on key Company personnel, timing of the filing of the Companys Form 211 with FINRA and clearing related comments, obtaining approval for the Companys common stock to be quoted on one of the three OTC Markets, changes in economic conditions, competition and other risks including, but not limited to, those described from in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on October 4, 2021, the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 29, 2021 and other filings and submissions with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligations to update these statements except as may be required by law.

Company Contact:

Matthew Feinstein, Director

Pineapple, Inc.

Office: 877-310-PNPL
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rome Resources Ltd. (the Company)  is pleased to announce the appointment of David Jenkins to its board of directors, as an additional director, effective immediately.



Mr. Jenkins has many years of experience in leading positions in the finance industry and has vast knowledge of corporate issues. His contacts in the financial world, in North America, Europe and Asia are very welcomed by the Company and will help in the further development of the Company's business.

We are very pleased that Mr. David Jenkins has joined the Board of our Company.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Georg Schnura

President, CEO and Director

Telephone: (604) 687-6140

Email: romeresourcesltd@gmail.com

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
BOCA RATON, Fla., March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recent times, the stigma commonly associated with mental health is slowly beginning to fade away, which is a reason why mental health therapist Karen Corcoran Walsh decided to launch her scholarship fund for mental health awareness. More and more people are starting to learn the importance of having good mental health along with good physical health. Balancing between these two aspects can be difficult but not impossible as taking care of your wellbeing and personal safety should always be at the top of your priority list.

This sad reality is what caused registered marriage and family therapist Karen Corcoran Walsh to launch a scholarship program as a call to action to the problem as well as serve as her way of helping fix this issue. Her scholarship is primarily geared towards students who want to become therapists to help with mental issues. Additionally, she is using this scholarship opportunity to help bring even more awareness to mental health. The scholarship is open to students who are either studying in university or graduating high school to attend one.

The unfortunate thing is that the stigma is still present in modern times with many people having misconceptions about mental illness or having a difficult time sympathizing and empathizing with those who have them. The state of ones mental health has become an increasing concern in many places such as school and work as having poor mental health equates to poor performance in any area similar to being sick. For students, academics can greatly make them feel drained thus raising the need for therapists and councilors who can help improve the situation.

A therapist has slowly become a rising need in recent times. Worldly events such as the pandemics have shown the importance of having someone who can help you deal with your issues that are taking a toll on your mental health. While becoming a therapist is incredibly appealing, not everyone who dreams to become a therapist can have the means to be able to fulfil that ambition. For aspiring therapists who come from a family without a stable source of income, attending university is a challenge in itself. The financial hurdles needed to attend university is one of the most common reasons why students forgo going to college.

Karen understands the important role education plays in building the future and she believes that through it, the stigma of mental health can be completely eradicated while also having the opportunity to nurture the future therapists that can help aid with her cause of helping those with mental health issues.

For more information about the Karen Corcoran Walsh Scholarship For Mental Health Awareness, visit the official scholarship page and see all the details on how to apply.

Name: Karen Corcoran Walsh

Website: https://karencorcoranwalshscholarship.com
TORONTO, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For years, Premium Liquid Labs better known as Premium Labs proudly touted its A Drop Above the Rest motto with a strong foothold in the Canadian market. With its sale in February to the Lumo Group company, many vapers will once again be able to get their favourite Dr. Fog brands like Decoded, All Stars, Worlds Best and Evercloud.



Lumo agreed to buy all the assets in a winning auction bid for the Premium Labs brand, including intellectual property for original recipes and manufacturing equipment, the company said Tuesday. The deal for Premium Labs, which filed for bankruptcy in September 2021 was finalized last month.

Lumo did not acquire any of the companys debt but has recognized that prior to the bankruptcy Premium Labs management received payment for orders that werent fulfilled for vape shops and retail customers alike. Khaled Shaker, the head of Lumos customer service stated, Customers are likely to be compensated in some fashion by Lumo if our goal of rebuilding the brand is to succeed.

Lumo is considering whether it will keep some warehouse and manufacturing operations in Burnaby, British Columbia. However, there are ongoing discussions with a manufacturer that is more centrally located in Northern Ontario.

Josh Alberga, chief executive of Lumo, said in a statement that The Lumo Group will continue to deliver the high quality and complex flavours that Premium Labs is well-known for. Global vapers can expect their classic flavours to be available soon with the same original recipes. Alberga went on to say, We see strong potential to grow Premium Labs sales with a capacity to drive further market share penetration in North America and the international vaping markets.

Vapers can expect fan favourites such as, Da Vinci Code, Big Foot, Du More, Atlantis, BC Fog, and Delta to be back on the shelves in the near future.

About Lumo Group

Lumo Group is an e-liquid distributor in the electronic cigarette industry. As a distributor of high-quality e-liquids, we ensure the manufacturing standards for the e-liquid we promote meets internationally recognized Standards and Good Manufacturing Practices. Everything we sell is tested for safety and satisfaction. Our goal is to provide global vapers with the largest selection of the best flavours while maintaining safety standards.
Dublin, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Brain Imaging Modalities Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Product Type, Patient Age, End User, and Regional Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2022-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global brain imaging modalities market report highlights that the market was valued at $12,334.2 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $20,209.2 million by the end of 2031. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.06% during the forecast period 2022-2031.

Global Brain Imaging Modalities Market Industry Overview

The global brain imaging modalities market is projected to witness significant growth during the forecast period 2022-2031. The high prevalence and growing incidences of brain diseases and neurogenerative disorders and the technological advancements in brain imaging modalities and systems are the key propellers for the growth of the market.

Five key modalities of brain imaging modalities include computed tomography (CT) devices, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, positron emission tomography (PET) devices, PET-CT devices, and PET MRI devices. The field of cognitive neuroscience has emerged and developed rapidly over the last 20 years. To address the neural underpinnings of human cognition, this new field combines two traditionally separate disciplines, cognitive psychology and neurology.

The market for brain imaging modalities devices is rapidly growing, with an increasing number of modalities used in the imaging of various brain diseases and neurogenerative disorders (NDs). The high prevalence and growing incidences of neurological disorders (NDs) are one of the major factors augmenting the growth of the global brain imaging modalities market.

Neurological diseases and mental disorders have emerged as serious public health concerns and substantial challenges to healthcare systems around the world. Genetic disorders, congenital anomalies or disorders, infections, lifestyle, or environmental health problems such as malnutrition, brain injury, spinal cord injury, or nerve injury are some of the causes of neurological problems.

Global Brain Imaging Modalities Market Drivers

Personalized and tailored treatment approaches based on monitoring and imaging findings and respecting pre-injury comorbidities and their therapies are warranted due to traumatic brain injury is a syndrome encompassing a variety of different affections to the brain, and since age-related comorbidities and treatments may also have a significant impact.

More importantly, as the prevalence and incidence of neurological illnesses continue to rise, so will technological adoption. As a result, the growth of disease diagnosis and, as a result, the global market for brain imaging modalities will accelerate.

Governments invest a significant amount of money in healthcare insurance so that the overall healthcare costs can be reduced, and the quality of life and affordability of the treatment can be enhanced.

Global Brain Imaging Modalities Market Restraints

The factors restraining the growth of the global brain imaging devices market include the risks associated with radiation exposure and delay in regulatory approvals.

Delay in regulatory approval for the products due to the stringent government regulations concerning the use of AI-enabled software in medical imaging hinders the market's growth. Moreover, another factor restraining the growth of the global brain imaging devices market is the high cost associated with medical imaging.

Global Brain Imaging Modalities Market Opportunities

High growth opportunities in emerging economies and the emergence of local companies in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa hold immense potential for the global brain imaging modalities market growth.

In an era of machine learning and artificial intelligence, extracting quantitative biomarkers from medical images to aid illness detection, characterization, monitoring, and therapy response assessment is becoming increasingly desirable.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Brain Imaging Modalities Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had a debilitating impact on the global healthcare ecosystem. Hospitals and clinics faced several challenges such as lack of resources, high patient influx, and risk of infection among care providers.

The market is projected to witness considerable growth during the forecast period 2021-2030. The increasing innovations and product designs in the global market and the growing use in emerging economies are the driving factors for the growth of the market.

Key Questions Answered in the Report

How has COVID-19 impacted the growth of the global brain imaging modalities market?

What are the key regulations governing the brain imaging modalities market in key regions?

What technological developments are projected to have the maximum influence on the global brain imaging modalities market?

Who are the leading players holding significant dominance in the global brain imaging modalities market?

What are some of the growth opportunities which market players can capitalize on?

What are the drivers and restraints for the global brain imaging modalities market?

Which region has the highest growth rate in the brain imaging modalities market?

Which are the fastest growing countries in terms of the global brain imaging modalities market?

What are the key strategies being adopted by market players in the global brain imaging modalities market?

Which are the emerging companies in the global brain imaging modalities market?

Market Growth Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Neurological Disorders and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Technological Advancements in the Brain Imaging Modalities and Systems

Growing Popularity of Molecular Imaging in Brain Imaging

Market Challenges

Hospital Budget Cuts and High Upfront Cost

Declining Helium Availability

Market Opportunities

Integration of Imaging Systems and Software with Novel Biomarkers

Market Report Coverage - Brain Imaging Modalities

Market Segmentation

Product - CT Devices, MRI Devices, PET Devices, PET-CT Devices and PET-MRI Devices

Patient Type - Adults and Pediatrics and Infants

End User - Hospitals and Clinics, Diagnostic Imaging Centers, and Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Regional Segmentation

North America - U.S. and Canada

Europe - Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, and Rest-of-Europe

Asia-Pacific - Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

Rest-of-the-World - Latin America, and Middle East and Africa

Company Profiles

Aspect Imaging

Canon, Inc.

Esaote SpA

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation

General Electric Company

Hyperfine Inc.

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Mediso Medical Imaging Systems

MinFound Medical Systems Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Shenzhen Anke High-Tech Co.,Ltd.

Shimadzu Corporation

Siemens Healthineers AG

United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd.

VUNO Co., Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lxx9ru

Attachment
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Guinea-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

Global Voice Group (GVG) was contracted to develop a platform as well as the tools required. The company will manage the monitoring aspects for five years, after which the regulator will take over responsibility.



The regulator has also imposed a ruling which enforced SIM card registration. In common with other countries in the region, it was claimed to be directed against potential fraud, crime, and terrorism. The ruling effectively implemented a provision of the 2015 Telecommunications Law concerned with subscriber identification, and which had not yet taken effect. Operators face a fine of up to GNF10 million if they provide mobile voice or data services to SIM cards activated without the registered subscribers being properly identified.



The number of mobile subscribers increased 11.6% in 2020, and by 8.7% in the year to September 2021, reaching 15.136 million. This strong growth has been stimulated by the various demands made on subscriber usage during the pandemic. It has also been encouraged by the renewed licenses secured by the two MNOs. Orange Guinea was awarded a ten-year licence to provide LTE services in March 2019. Under the terms of its licence, the operator was obliged to provide GSM and 3G coverage to all districts, roads, and railways across the country, and also to provide LTE to all cities and all capital towns of the prefectures and sub-prefectures. MTN Guinea was awarded an LTE licence in February 2022, and at the same time it renewed its GSM and 3G licences for ten years, under the same coverage obligations as its competitor.





Key developments:





Mobile broadband traffic increased 18.2% in the third quarter of 2021, quarter-on-quarter;

Regulator imposes SIM card registration rules, contracts GVG to develop a platform to monitor mobile and digital platforms in the county;

MTN Guinea pays $55 million to renew its mobile licences for ten years, effective from February 2022;

Guinea joins the free roaming initiative within ECOWAS countries;

National fibre backbone is completed;

M-money services gain strong customer take-up;

MTN signs management services contract with Huawei;

Report update includes the regulator's annual report for 2020, market data to September 2021, operator data to Q4 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Societe des Telecommunications de Guinee (Sotelgui), MTN (Areeba, Investcom), Orange (Spacetel), Intercel (Telecel Guinea), Cellcom Guinee, MiriNet (Afribone), ETI, Universal Communication (DiscoveryTel), Ristel, Afripa Telecom, Alternet Systems, Broad Telecom, Soguicis, Thucatel, Telekom Malaysia







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Guinea-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mali-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





This consideration, along with the relatively low bandwidth capacity, has contributed to the high cost of access to internet services. Indeed, the country came in at 187th of 2011 countries in a recent comparison of the average monthly cost of a broadband service.



In 2020, the regulator commissioned a report aimed at addressing these issues, hoping to reduce the wholesale price of bandwidth to a level closer to costs. It developed a program of measures, including the creation of a virtual landing point to increase international bandwidth, unbundling the copper and fibre access network, facilitating civil engineering required for additional terrestrial cabling, and setting up a monitoring system for wholesale and retail tariffs (aimed at bringing the two closer together).



Fixed broadband subscriptions are provided via a variety of platforms, including DSL, fibre, WiFi, WiMAX, and fixed-wireless (based on 3G and LTE). The number of subscriptions increased 71% in 2020 (to 243,806), though the sector still accounted for only 2.5% of all broadband connections. In common with most markets in this region, broadband access is dominated by the mobile platforms.



DSL accounted for less than 10% of all fixed broadband connections. Almost four-fifths of all DSL connections are in the capital, Bamako. The small fibre broadband sector has grown rapidly though it accounts for only a small fraction of fixed connections.



The national carrier Sotelma is the principal provider: the company reported a 2.7% increase in the number of fixed broadband subscribers in 2020, year-on-year, and a 4% increase in 2021.



Some progress is being made with improving international connectivity, including Mali being tapped into the National Fibre Optic Backbone Project (the PBNT) of neighbouring Burkina Faso. This network also provides Mali with interconnection to Cote dIvoire, Ghana, and Niger.





Key developments:





Orange Mali completes 5G trials;

Sonatel contracts to manage Sogems fibre network across Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal;

Government progresses with the Mali Numerique fibre network project;

G5 Sahel countries adopt free mobile roaming measures;

Sotelma begins project to upgrade its network infrastructure;

Report update includes the regulators market data for 2020, ITU data updates, telcos operating data to Q4 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Societe des Telecommunications du Mali (Sotelma, Maroc Telecom, Vivendi), Orange Mali (Ikatel, Orange Group), Monaco Telecom, Planor Afrique, Afribone, CEFIB, Datatech







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mali-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Dublin, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Europe Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Europe data center market by investments is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.53 % during 2022-2027. In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 are included in this report.

There is a high demand for data centers in UK, Germany, and France due to the increased growth in cloud computing, IoT, and big data. The UK is among the leading data center locations in Western Europe.

Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, and Apple are the major hyperscale companies that operate data centers and have a presence across the globe. In terms of hyperscale investments, Nordics is one of the hubs for hyperscale investments from cloud operators across globe.

The adoption of lithium-ion UPS systems grew in 2021. Most data centers operating in European regions adopt N+N redundant infrastructure, with most facilities being developed with space for installing up to 2N+2 redundant UPS systems.



COVID-19 IMPACT

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to an increase in the demand for data centers. During the initial outbreak, data center operators faced several challenges to operate facilities. The demand for data centers grew significantly due to the pandemic, with a majority of the region's workforce shifting to remote working.

The demand for colocation services led to strong utilization of existing data center space and drove revenues of service providers by over 10% in those two quarters. The data center market in Europe has always been an attractive asset with better Return on Investment (ROI) compared to other commercial and industrial properties. This has attracted several new entrants into the market.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

The Western Europe data center market is a major region in the Europe and has presence of several global and local data center operators. The Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect in May 2018, had a positive impact on the data center market in Western Europe, leading customers to shift data to cloud-based services for data localization. This resulted in a greater number of data center projects.

MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

COVID-19 to Boost Data Center Investments

Cloud Connectivity to Drive Demand for Data Centers

Increasing Data Center Investments

IOT & Big Data Drive Demand for Data Center

Adoption Of OCP & Hyperscale Infrastructure

Key Topics Covered:



1 Research Methodology



2 Research Objectives



3 Research Process



4 Scope & Coverage

4.1 Market Definition

4.2 Base Year

4.3 Scope of The Study

4.4 Market Segments



5 Report Assumptions & Caveats

5.1 Key Caveats

5.2 Currency Conversion

5.3 Market Derivation



6 Market at a Glance



7 Introduction

7.1 Electricity Pricing in Europe

7.2 Data Center Site Selection Criteria

7.2.1 Key



8 Market Opportunities & Trends

8.1 Growth In Sustainable Initiatives

8.2 5G Fueling Data Center Development

8.3 Increasing Adoption of District Heating Concept

8.4 Growing Artificial Intelligence Adoption

8.5 Innovative Data Center Technologies

8.5.1 Hydrogen Fuel Cells

8.5.2 DCIM Solutions

8.5.3 Innovative UPS Battery Technologies

8.6 Adoption of Advanced IT Infrastructure



9 Market Growth Enablers

9.1 COVID-19 To Boost Data Center Investments

9.2 Cloud Connectivity to Drive Demand for Data Centers

9.3 Increasing Data Center Investments

9.4 IOT & Big Data Drive Demand for Data Center

9.5 Growing Submarine & Inland Connectivity

9.6 Adoption of OCP & Hyperscale Infrastructure

9.7 Impact of Tax Incentives on Data Center Market

9.8 Impact of Data Regulations on Colocation Investment



10 Market Growth Restraints

10.1 Security Challenges in Data Centers

10.2 Location Constraints for Data Center Investments

10.3 Lack of Skilled Workforce

10.4 Rising Carbon Emissions from Data Centers



11 Market Landscape

11.1 Market Overview

11.2 Investment: Market Size & Forecast

11.3 Area: Market Size & Forecast

11.4 Power Capacity: Market Size & Forecast

11.5 Five Forces Analysis



12 Facility Type

12.1 Investment: Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2 Area: Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.3 Power Capacity: Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.4 Hyperscale Data Center

12.5 Colocation Data Center

12.6 Enterprise Data Center



13 Infrastructure

13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2 Market Overview

13.3 IT Infrastructure

13.4 Electrical Infrastructure

13.5 Mechanical Infrastructure

13.6 General Construction



14 IT Infrastructure

14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2 Market Overview

14.3 Server Infrastructure

14.4 Storage Infrastructure

14.5 Network Infrastructure



15 Electrical Infrastructure

15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

15.2 Market Overview

15.3 UPS Systems

15.4 Generators

15.5 Transfer Switches & Switchgears

15.6 PDUS



16 Mechanical Infrastructure

16.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

16.2 Market Overview

16.3 Cooling Systems

16.4 Racks



17 Cooling Systems

17.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

17.2 Market Overview

17.3 CRAC & CRAH Units

17.4 Chiller Units

17.5 Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers

17.6 Economizers & Evaporative Coolers



18 Cooling Technique

18.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

18.2 Market Overview

18.3 Air-Based Cooling Technique

18.4 Liquid-Based Cooling Technique



19 General Construction

19.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

19.2 Market Overview

19.3 Core & Shell Development

19.4 Installation & Commissioning Services

19.5 Engineering & Building Design

19.6 Fire Detection & Suppression

19.7 Physical Security

19.8 DCIM/BMS Solutions



20 Tier Standards

20.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

20.2 Market Overview

20.3 Tier I & Tier II

20.4 Tier III

20.5 Tier IV



21 Geography

21.1 Investment: Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

21.2 Area: Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

21.3 Power Capacity: Market Snapshot & Growth Engine



Companies Mentioned

Arista Networks

Atos

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Extreme Networks

Fujitsu

Hitachi Vantara

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Inspur

Juniper Networks

Lenovo

MiTAC Holdings

NEC Corporation

NetApp

Pure Storage

Quanta Computer (Quanta Cloud Technology)

Super Micro Computer

Wistron (Wiwynn)

3M

ABB

Aermec

Airedale International Air Conditioning

Aksa Power Generation

Alfa Laval

Carrier

Caterpillar

Condair

Cummins

Daikin Applied

Delta Electronics

Eaton

ebm-papst

EMICON INNOVATION AND COMFORT

Enrogen

FlaktGroup

GESAB

HiRef

HITEC Power Protection

Johnson Controls

KOHLER-SDMO

KyotoCooling

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Munters

NetNordic

Nlyte Software (Carrier Global Corporation)

Perkins Engines

Piller Power Systems

Riello Elettronica (Riello UPS)

Rittal

Rolls-Royce

Schneider Electric

Siemens

Socomec

STULZ

Trane (Ingersoll Rand)

Vertiv

AECOM

AEON Engineering

ARC:MC

AODC

Ariatta

ARSMAGNA

Artelia

Arup

Atkins

Aurora Group

Basler & Hofmann

BENTHEM CROUWEL ARCHITECTS

Bouygues Construction

Callaghan Engineering

Cap Ingelec

Caverion

Collen

Coromatic

COWI

DataDome

Deerns

Designer Group

Dipl.-Ing. H. C. Hollige

Dornan

DPR Construction

Etop

EYP MCF

Ferrovial

Fluor Corporation

Free Technologies Engineering

Future-tech

Gottlieb Paludan Architects

Granlund Group

GreenMDC

Haka Moscow

ICT Facilities

IDOM

IMOS

ISG

JCA Engineering

JERLAURE

Kirby Group Engineering

KKCG Group

Linesight

Mace

M+W Group (EXYTE)

Mercury

Metnor Construction

MT Hojgaard

Nicholas Webb Architects (NWA)

NORMA Engineering

Oakmont Construction

PM Group

PORR Group

PQC (Power Quality Control)

Quark

Qumak

Ramboll Group

RED

Royal HaskoningDHV

STARCHING

STO Building Group

STRABAG

STS Group

Sweco

TECHKO

Tetra Tech

TPF

TTSP

Turner & Townsend

Warbud

Winthrop Engineering and Contracting

YIT

ZAUNERGROUP

3data

3S Group

Amazon Web Services

Artnet

Aruba

Apple

atNorth

Bahnhof

Beyond.pl

China Mobile

ClusterPower

Colt Data Centre Services (COLT DCS)

CyrusOne

DATA4

DigiPlex

Digital Realty

Echelon Data Centres

EcoDataCenter

EdgeConneX (EQT Infrastructure)

Equinix

Euclyde Data Centers

Facebook

Global Switch

Google

Green Mountain (AZRIELI GROUP)

Iron Mountain (IO)

IXcellerate

KDDI

Liberty Global

Magenta Telekom

Microsoft

Mobile Tele Systems (MTS)

Neterra

Netia

NDC-GARBE Data Centers Europe

NTT Global Data Centers

Orange Business Services

Proximity Data Centres

Rostelecom Data Centers (RTK-DC)

T5 Data Centers

Telecom Italia Sparkle

Vantage Data Centers

Virus Data Centers (ST Telemedia Global Data Centres)

VK Cloud Solutions (MAIL.RU)

Yandex

AtlasEdge

AQ Compute

Global Technical Realty

Nautilus Data Technologies

Stratus DC Management

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sbatcm

Attachment
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Turkmenistan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

At the same time, it enjoys near saturation levels for mobile phone subscriptions.



Part of the reason behind this incongruity is down to the governments autocratic, repressive control over the media and access to information  particularly anything coming from outside its borders. But perhaps whats more consequential is the extremely high cost of broadband  up to ten times higher than whats found in neighbouring Central Asian countries. And thats down to the monopoly being enjoyed by the state-owned telco Turkmentelecom (and its mobile offshoot TM Cell). Shortly after the only other MNO had its license revoked and was forced to exit the market, TM Cell announced a five-fold increase in mobile broadband prices.



The inevitable outcome has been mobile broadband subscriber penetration rates of less than 20%  far below the levels seen elsewhere. Considerable political and economic reform is desperately needed to give Turkmenistan any chance of playing catch-up to the rest of the world.





Key developments:





Presidential elections announced for March 2022 bring with them some hope of telecom sector reform.

Internet access and broadband penetration rates in Turkmenistan remain among the lowest in the world.



Key companies mentioned in this report:





Turkmentelecom, TM Cell (Altyn Asyr), Asgabat Saher Telefon Ulgamy (ASTU), MTS Turkmenistan.



Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Turkmenistan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
HOUSTON, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mike Lindell, owner of My Pillow, will be the keynote speaker at the Freedom Gala. It will be held Saturday, April 2, at the Hyatt Regency in Houston, Texas. Dinner and program start at 7:00 P.M. Visit www.FreedomGalaTx.com for details.

The Freedom Gala will be a rallying point for Conservative Republicans and Christian Patriots who are committed to ensuring election integrity.

Dr. Steven F. Hotze, Publisher of CRTX News, said, "We are proud to have the support of Mike Lindell who is a bold Conservative Christian Patriot. Mike Lindell has been a strong advocate for election integrity across the country."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will also address the Constitutional crisis we face in enforcing the Texas Election Code to prevent vote fraud. Other speakers include Russ Ramsland, Computer Vote Machine Specialist; Attorney Jared Woodfill; John Beckmeyer, Executive Director, Republican Party of Texas; Vidal Martinez, Candidate for Harris County Judge; Aubrey Taylor, Investigative Reporter, Gerry Monroe, Candidate for Texas House of Representatives, District 131, and Weston Martinez.

At the Freedom Gala, attendees will be informed on plans to ensure election integrity by exposing and preventing any election corruption in Harris County and in Texas.

The funds raised from this event will be used to:

1. Monitor upcoming elections to ensure election integrity in Harris County and across Texas.

2. Ensure that poll watchers are hired and trained for the upcoming elections.

3. Fund legal efforts to ensure election integrity.

281-698-8656

Related Images











Image 1: Mike Lindell





Owner of My Pillow and Christian Patriot









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Three men have been charged with fatally shooting a security guard as he provided protection for a news crew working in the San Francisco Bay-area.

The group of suspects are facing counts of murder, attempted robbery and assault with a semiautomatic weapon in connection with the November slaying of Kevin Nishita, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley said in a statement. They were identified on Thursday as Laron Gilbert, Hershel Hale and Shadihia Mitchell.

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OMalley said that while both Hale and Mitchell have been arrested, Gilbert remained at large as of Friday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong added that one of the suspects was taken into custody on Wednesday and another was already in the San Francisco county jail on unrelated charges.

From left: Laron Gilbert, Shadihia Mitchell and Hershel Hale (Oakland Police Dept.)

Nishita, a retired veteran cop, had been assigned as a security guard on Nov. 24 to protect a KRON-TV journalist reporting on the recent burglary of a clothing store on 14th Street. He was trying to stop a group of assailants from stealing the camera equipment when he was struck in the abdomen.

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He died several days later of his injuries.

Nothing brings back your loved one, but people can feel some sense of justice with these arrests, Armstrong said.

Before working for Star Protection Agency, which provides guards for TV news crews, Nishita served as a police officer in Hayward, San Jose and Colma.

With News Wire Services
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Sudan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

As a result, the number of lines in service has fallen dramatically, with little incentive to invest in fixed-line infrastructure. Such investment as there is tends to go to upgrading mobile networks.



The landlocked country depends on its neighbours for transit connections to international submarine fibre cables. Two of these countries have direct access to such cables: Sudan and Kenya. Another option is to connect via Ethiopia to cables landing in Djibouti. Kenya, which is connected to the EASSy, Seacom, TEAMS, and LION cables, offered South Sudan access to its landing stations in 2012, and has extended a fibre link to the border. An alternative route via Uganda was also considered: a consortium including Sudatel and the incumbent telcos of Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, worked on a plan for a fibre route following the Nile River but this was put on hold by the civil war.



In early 2015 the governments of Kenya and South Sudan agreed to construct a fibre link from Eldoret (Kenya) to Juba. Kenya laid 630km of cable from Eldoret to the border at Nakadok, while South Sudan was responsible for the link to Juba and on to other parts of the country. The project was completed at the end of 2021, and formed part of Kenyas National Fibre Optic Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI), as also the Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade, and Development Facilitation Project. The World Bank contributed $25.5 million for the new cable.





Key developments:





Digitel Telecom launches services with the support of the government;

Zain South Sudan launches M-Gurush m-money service, expands the reach of its LTE service;

South Sudan gains an international fibre link to Kenya;

Report update includes operator data to Q3 2021, ITU data for 2020, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Zain, VivaCell (Network of the World, NOW), MTN Group, Gemtel Green Network (G Telecom, LAP Green), Sudatel, Sudani, Canar Telecom (Canartel, Etisalat), fastNet, RCS Communication, iBurst, Thuraya, Yahsat, O3b Networks, Fujairah Media Group (FMG), Equity Bank







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Sudan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Dublin, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cleanroom Robots In Healthcare Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Type (Traditional Industrial Robots, Collaborative Robots), by Component (Robotic Arms, Motors), by End Use, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global cleanroom robots in healthcare market size is expected to reach USD 2.69 billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 26.4% from 2022 to 2030

The growing adoption of robots in cleanroom settings, product innovations catering to the market trends, and increased demand for robotic automation in pharmaceutical manufacturing are some of the key factors contributing to the market growth. Robots help in avoiding the risk of contamination in cleanrooms, especially during drug manufacturing procedures.



The collaborative robots type segment is likely to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period due to the features such as rapid installation, cost savings, flexibility, and better safety around manufacturing units. The motors component segment is likely to grow at the fastest rate in the coming years as the robots are attached to the motors and provide a working mechanism to the robots for smoother functioning.



In pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing settings, human operators are the source of contamination. As the risk of contamination is the most challenging factor, automated robots offer seamless operations by eliminating or decreasing manual interventions. The cleanroom technology proved to be useful while dealing with COVID-19 patients as it helped reduce the spread of the virus across the hospitals to a greater extent. Hospitals relied on cleanroom robots to protect the hospital staff.



In cleanroom settings, robots can perform repetitive tasks, enabling smoother operations without human intervention. The manufacturers in the cleanroom robots market are introducing innovative solutions to strengthen their market position.

For instance, in February 2021, Epson Robots launched NuTec Tooling Systems, an architect of custom automation solutions to provide efficient, precise, and cost-effective robotics to the syringe manufacturing process. In November 2020, OEM in collaboration with the government agencies utilized a cost-effective procedure for manufacturing large quantities of syringes to fight COVID-19.



Cleanroom Robots In Healthcare Market Report Highlights

Based on type, the traditional industrial robots segment held the largest share in terms of revenue in 2021 as they are extensively used in large manufacturing processes that rely on continuous assembly lines. They are mainly used in the drug manufacturing processes.

Based on component, the robotic arms segment dominated the market in terms of revenue share in 2021 as the robotic arms are essential for the seamless operations of the robots in cleanroom environments.

Based on end-use, the pharmaceuticals and medical devices segment held the largest revenue share in 2021 owing to the growing adoption by the manufacturing companies for contamination control.

The hospitals and diagnostics end-use segment is likely to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period. The cleanroom technology was used in the hospitals to control the spread of COVID-19.

In 2021, North America dominated the market in terms of revenue share owing to the growing adoption of robotics and artificial intelligence-based solutions in the healthcare sector. In addition, a rise in COVID-19 cases in the region contributed to the market growth.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to register a significant growth rate from 2022 to 2030 owing to the increase in the number of healthcare providers, high unmet needs, improving healthcare infrastructure.

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Report Scope and Objectives

1.1 Market Segmentation & Scope

1.2 Regional Scope

1.3 Objectives



Chapter 2 Methodology



Chapter 3 Executive Summary

3.1 Market Outlook

3.2 Segment Outlook

3.3 Competitive Insights

3.4 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Market Outlook, 2021



Chapter 4 Market Variables, Trends & Scope

4.1 Market Lineage Outlook

4.1.1 Parent Market Outlook

4.2 Cleanroom Robots In Healthcare Market Dynamics

4.2.1 Market Driver Analysis

4.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis

4.3 Cleanroom Robots In Healthcare Market: Business Environment Analysis Tools

4.3.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.3.2 Pestel Analysis

4.4 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

4.5 Impact of COVID-19 on Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Market



Chapter 5 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Market: Type Analysis

5.1 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Type Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030

5.2 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Type Market: Segment Dashboard:

5.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the Type Segment

5.3.1 Traditional Industrial Robots

5.3.2 Collaborative Robots



Chapter 6 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Market: Component Analysis

6.1 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Component Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030

6.2 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Component Market: Segment Dashboard

6.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the Component Segment

6.3.1 Robotic Arms

6.3.2 End Effectors

6.3.3 Drives

6.3.4 Controllers

6.3.5 Sensors

6.3.6 Power Supply

6.3.7 Motors



Chapter 7 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Market: End-use Analysis

7.1 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare End-use Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030

7.2 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare End-use Market: Segment Dashboard

7.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the End-use Segment

7.3.1 Hospitals & Diagnostics

7.3.2 Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices



Chapter 8 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Market: Regional Analysis

8.1 Cleanroom Robots in Healthcare Regional Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030

8.2 Regional Market Snapshot



Chapter 9 Competitive Analysis

ABB Ltd

Denso Corporation (Denso Robotics)

Fanuc Corporation

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.(Kawasaki Robotics)

Midea Group Co. Ltd. (Kuka Sa)

Nachi Fujikoshi Corporation

Tessy Plastics Corp.

Seiko Holdings Corporation (Seiko Epson Corporation)

Yaskawa Electric Corporation

Teradyne, Inc. (Universal Robots)

Aerotech, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bwvf3f

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Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Cote-d-Ivoire-Ivory-Coast-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

Investment among the MNOs increased 8.7% in the third quarter of 2021, year-on-year, as they upgraded network infrastructure to better manage higher data traffic demand. Similarly, investment in the fixed-line internet sector increased 181% in the third quarter of 2021, year-on-year, largely due to Orange Cote dIvoire improving network capabilities. The company accounted for 91.4% of the total invested in the quarter, followed by MTN and VipNet.



Much of the fixed-line investment has been earmarked for fibre infrastructure. The DSL platform accounts for a declining share of fixed-line broadband connections, having fallen quite rapidly since 2018. By contrast, the share held by fibre has increased steadily in recent years, and by early 2022 about a third of all fixed and fixed-wireless broadband connections were via fibre. Again, the vast majority of investment is undertaken by Orange Cote dIvoire.



The company operates terrestrial fibre links to the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali, providing connectivity to its landing station for the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable. The parent company Orange Group also operates the recently launched Djoliba cable system, reaching across several countries in the region and bolstering Cote dIvoires internet connectivity.





Key developments:





Orange Bank Africa launches in Cote dIvoire;

VipNet responds to growing data demand by upgrading network capacity to 1Gb/s;

Vivendi Africa launches its FttP-based Canal Box service;

New tax introduced for money transfers via mobile phones;

Government further tightens SIM card registration rules;

MTN Cote dIvoire commits to CFA120 billion network upgrade investment;

Report update includes regulator's market data to September 2021, telcos' operating data to Q4 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Cote dIvoire Telecom (CI-Telecom), MTN CI, Arobase Telecom, Orange Cote dIvoire, Comium CI (KoZ), Etisalat (Moov), LapGreen (Green Network, GreenN, Oricel), Warid Telecom, Globacom, CORA de Comstar, Aircomm CI, Mainstreet Technologies, Africa Online, AfNet, Aviso, Globe Access Internet (Omnes), Intel Afrique, Solaris Telecom, Africom, Afripa Telecom (Atlantique Telecom), Comete, Globe Access, Monicash.







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Cote-d-Ivoire-Ivory-Coast-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Malawi-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





A national fibre backbone has been built to connect all 28 districts in the country. Started in May 2017, the first phase of the project, running to 1,320km, was completed in 2018. The second phase, running to 2,800km, was started in June 2021. This phase also included a new data centre, and connected an additional 29 cities.



Malawi is linked to the national telecom network of Tanzania, and through this it has onward connectivity to Mozambique, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Zambia.



However, capacity remains low and as a result the wholesale price for bandwidth is high, despite several successful orders obliging the telcos to reduce costs for end-users.



An additional burden is the high tax for telecom services. The 17.5% tax on mobile phone sales introduced in 2015 is considered one of the main reasons why Malawi has low smartphone take-up. In January 2022 the Malawi Confederations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the ICT Association of Malawi called on the government to reduce taxes imposed on ICT services. These taxes, together with spectrum fees and annual licence fees paid by operators, have raised the cost of internet services and thus contributed to them being unaffordable for a significant proportion of the population.



The telecom regulator in August 2021 published a report which noted the economic boost to be gained if the estimated two million people who had no access to the internet were connected, so enabling them to take part in the digital economy. The report influenced the government to adopt a five-year universal services strategy, under which some 720,000 Malawians are to be connected to broadband, while 1,300 institutions will be provided with Wi-Fi.





Key developments:





TNM Mpamba m-money service partners with Mastercard;

Telcos agree to reduce cost of mobile data packages;

Government urged to reduce rate on several ICT taxes contributing to high cost of internet services;

TNM partners with the PPPC to provide free wireless Internet services nationally;

Government begins review of the National ICT policy and the Malawi Digital Broadcasting policy;

Regulator uses USF to install mobile towers in rural areas, to be leased to Airtel Malawi and MTL for a fee;

Regulator leans on Universal Access Fund to improve mobile services to rural areas;

Report updates include recent market developments, regulators market report for 2019, operator data to Q2 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), Access Communications (ACL), Bharti Airtel (Zain, Celtel), Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), G-Mobile (GAIN), Celcom, ESCOM, MalawiNet, MTL Online, Skyband, Globe Internet, Broadmax, Burco







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Malawi-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mauritius-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

FttP services were launched in 2006, and extensive investment in subsequent years meant that national fibre coverage was reached by the end of 2017. By late 2021, about 315,000 premises were connected with fibre broadband.



In September 2021 the company launched a 1Gb/s service, though it was not initially available on Rodrigues Island.



In addition to fibre and LTE, the government and telecom regulator have pressed for the country to be served with 5G. This determination has partly been influenced by the need to ensure that the country is equipped to manage high-end data traffic when the tourism sector recovers. Generous spectrum in the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz bands was allocated to the three mobile network operators in mid-2021, and shortly afterwards my.t mobile launched a service with the claim that its network could support speeds of up to 1Gb/s.





Key developments:





METISS cable linking Mauritius to South Africa comes online;

Mauritius gains satellite knowhow with the launch of the MIR-SAT 1 nanosatellite;

Mauritius Telecom launches a 1Gb/s fibre-based broadband service;

My.t mobile launches 5G services;

Government makes progress with its 'Wi-Fi Mauritius' program;

Report update includes telcos' operating data for 2020, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, regulator's market data to June 2021, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Mauritius Telecom, Mahanagar Telephone (MTNL), Emtel (Millicom, Currimjee Jeewanjee, Bharti Airtel), Bharat Telecom, Network Plus, DCL Internet, Outremer Telecom.







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mauritius-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Eswatini-Swaziland-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





The vast majority of mobile calls made are on-net, which encourages MNOs to offer competitive pricing and discounts on their own networks. With off-net calls, costs are partly determined by the MTR, and so calls are more expensive. On-net promotions are the main driver for multiple SIM card use. Handsets sold in the country commonly allow for dual SIM cards, making its easier for subscribers to switch between networks for each call when required.



Recognising that there was no effective competition in the voice call termination market, the regulator determined that the three operators had to adopt various obligations of the 2013 Electronic Communications Act and the 2016 Electronic Communications (Interconnection) Regulations. These collectively will see a reduction in termination rates in stages through to March 2023.



In common with most markets globally, subscribers in Eswatini have responded to the particular circumstances of the pandemic by making greater use of mobile voice and data services. The volume of domestic voice calls increased 26% in the year to March 2021, reaching 3.4 billion minutes, and a similar increase is expected to have been maintained for the rest of the year.



The country has long had some of the highest charges for mobile data services in Africa, and the lack of affordability held back consumer take-up of services. To help address this, MTN Eswatini in late 2020 reduced the cost of postpaid monthly data bundles by 70% and of prepaid packages by 32%. This greatly supported the development of the sector to coincide with a pandemic-related increase in traffic.





Key developments:





MTN Eswatini consolidates dominance in the mobile market, expands LTE service reach, reduces the cost of monthly data bundles;

Regulator imposes sliding scale reduction in call termination rates through to 2023;

Paratus completes 750km terrestrial cable linking Maputo through Eswatini to Johannesburg;

Mbabane Internet Exchange Point (MB-IX) is opened to route local traffic;

Report update includes operator data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, regulators market report to March 2021; recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Eswatini Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), MTN Eswatini, Africa Online, Posix, Real Image, Viettel, Eswatini Mobile







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Eswatini-Swaziland-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mauritania-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

Although this has widened the availability of fixed-line connections, take-up remains stubbornly low. The incumbent telco Moov Mauritel reported a fall in the number of fixed-line connections in the year to September 2021, though there was a slight increase compared to the end of 2020.



The international infrastructure greatly improved following the completion of a cross-border fibre link to Algeria in 2019. The country is also connected to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable, providing direct links to France, Portugal, and a number of countries on Africas western coast. In the same year, the government joined the consortium building the EllaLink system, which connects points in Brazil with Portugal and Spain. This system was ready for service in June 2021, and includes a branch line to Mauritania which significantly improved local broadband services through the addition of additional bandwidth.





Key Developments:





Last section of Mauritanias 4,000km fibre backbone network is completed;

Mauritania improves international bandwidth through connecting to the EllaLink submarine cable system;

Regulator awards LTE licenses to Moov Mauritel, Chinguitel, and Mattel;

MNOs again fined for poor QoS;

Mattel secures satellite backhaul connectivity for remote areas;

Report update includes ITU data for 2020, operator data for Q3 2021, updated telecom Maturity Index and charts, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Moov Mauritel, Mattel, Chinguitel, Sudatel, Expresso Telecom, Tunisie Telecom







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mauritania-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Senegal-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

The introduction of competition heralded a dramatic growth in the number of mobile subscribers.



Tigos parent company, MIC, in February 2017 aimed to sell the unit to the Wari Group for $129 million, and at the same time sell its 22% stake in Helios Towers Africa. Both transactions were in line with the companys focus on developing fixed and mobile data services in markets where it had a strong market share.



The deal with Wari Group failed to progress, and Tigo Senegal was instead sold to the Saga Africa Holdings consortium, operating since then under the Free brand.



Free sold its passive infrastructure assets (including 1,220 sites) to Helios Towers in 2020, in turn securing a 15-year lease on the infrastructure. In mid-2021, Helios



Towers Senegal began a $200 million investment program aimed at upgrading telecom coverage in Senegal through to 2026. As with investments made by Sonatel in recent years, this commitment forms part of Helios Towers contributing to the 2025 Digital Senegal plan, which is aimed at implementing ICT measures to boost economic productivity in teh country.





Key developments:





Orange Senegal completes second 5G tests, with Nokia as partner;

National Digital Council of Senegal gets to work;

Intersat signs deal with Eutelsat Communications to deliver broadband services using the Eutelsat Konnect satellite;

Three MNOs are fined for failing QoS of networks;

Helios Towers acquires passive infrastructure assets from Free Senegal, commits $200 million investment in upgrading telecom coverage through to 2026;

Expresso launches e-money platform;

Digital Senegal 2025 program to cost XOF1,346 billion;

Report update includes the regulator's market data to September 2021, operator data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.



Companies mentioned in this report:





Sonatel (Orange Senegal), Free Senegal (Sentel, Tigo Senegal), Saga Africa Holdings, Sudatel (Expresso), Arc Informatique, Globacom, Mainstreet Technologies, Lycamobile Senegal







Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Senegal-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
New York, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Algorithmic Trading Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06246232/?utm_source=GNW

Applications, such as algorithmic trading, have built-in intelligence to search for opportunities that exist in the market, as per the yield and other criteria defined by the user.



Key Highlights

Factors such as favorable government regulations, increasing demand for fast, reliable, and effective order execution, growing demand for market surveillance, and reducing transaction costs are expected to spearhead the need for the algorithmic trading market. Institutional investors and big brokerage houses use algorithmic trading to cut down on costs associated with bulk trading.

FinTech tools have been developed to expand the capacity of the financial industry in recent years, particularly in the last decade, and algorithmic trading has dominated the capital markets, particularly the trading business. The digital revolution reduced several access barriers to the market. The general public now has high-speed internet, computational capacity, and data science tools. Trading financial products have become more accessible due to the rise of internet trading platforms and apps. Trading stocks, futures, and currencies now take simply a few mouse clicks.

Algorithmic trading (also known as algo-trading, black-box trading, or automated trading) is defined as a method of executing trade orders with the help of automated pre-programmed trading instructions. Considering several variables, such as time, price, and volume, the programs send small slices of the order to the market over time.

Furthermore, the emergence of AI, ML, and big data in the financial service sector is expected to be a major factor aiding in the growth of the algorithmic trading market. Regulators are also starting to take note of the ways by which individuals interact with the market due to advances in technologies. Some of the major banks across the world started using such technologies for advancing Algo trading.

In April 2021, the management at JP Morgan, a prominent investment bank, announced that the growth in the fixed income futures algorithmic trading accelerated rapidly in 2020, as THE buy-side traders turned to the companys machine-learning equipped algos to grapple with the intense market volatility.

Further, there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of electronification and automation. During the epidemic, buy-side and sell-side desks shrink as commissions and fees shrink as well. The increase in volatility has increased the need for algorithmic trading solutions and services for handling the surge.

In order to understand whether the calibration and deployment of circuit breakers have been effective in the European Union, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) analyzed the trading data during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The period between the end of February 2020 and March 2020 was characterized by a significant sell-off and high volumes traded.



Key Market Trends



Institutional Investors are Expected to Hold Major Share



Institutional investors handle accounts for a group or institution and buy and sell stocks on their behalf. Institutional investors include pension funds, mutual fund families, insurance firms, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Institutional investors and large brokerage firms largely utilize algorithmic trading to reduce trading expenses. Algorithmic trading is particularly helpful for high order sizes.

Institutional investors daily use numerous computer-driven algorithmic strategies in the volatile trading markets, which drives share markets. These techniques enable the investors to cut down the costs of trades and improve their profitability.

These investors are required to execute high-frequency numbers, which are not possible every time. Algorithmic trading helps institutional investors break the whole amount into small parts and continue to perform in specific time intervals or according to dedicated strategies. For instance, instead of placing 1,00,000 shares at a time, an algorithmic-trading technique may push 1,000 shares out for every 15 seconds and gradually put small amounts into the market studied over the period or the entire day.

With high-frequency traders making many trades per day, automated trading utilizing computer programs and artificial intelligence is required, principally to speed up the execution of trades. Therefore, only institutional investors are able to afford this technology. Furthermore, they get an advantage to profit off from value, which is based around millisecond arbitrage. Moreover, when the institutional-based investors targets to take advantage of various occasional tiny market price discrepancies, which arise in the stock available on two different exchanges, they incorporate algorithmic trading via following up on arbitrage strategy.

Institutional investors care a lot about their money; therefore, they need something that can make good decisions. Overtrading is significantly reduced by automating procedures since some traders purchase and sell at the first sign of a trade window opening. These methods reduce the likelihood of human-caused errors. It is a desired investment alternative because it reacts to marketing conditions in a fraction of a second.



North America Expected to Dominate the Market



North America is expected to hold the major market growth in the market studied. The rising investments in trading technologies (such as blockchain), with increasing presence of algorithmic trading vendors, and growing government support for global trading are the major factors contributing toward the market growth during the forecast period.

Algorithmic trading accounts for around 60-73% of the overall US equity trading (source: Wall Street). According to Select USA, US financial markets are the largest and most liquid globally. Sentient Technologies, an AI company based in the United States, operates the hedge fund developed an algorithm processing millions of data points to find trading patterns and forecast trends.

As algorithmic trading strategies, including high-frequency trading (HFT) strategies, have grown more widespread in the US securities markets, the potential for these strategies to impact the market adversely and firm stability has likewise grown.

Modern technologies are rapidly changing the formats of traditional investment models, automating all related trading processes, which makes it possible to create a safe and efficient ecosystem that will be available to every interested investor. In February 2022, a team of developers created a new ecosystem known as Dex Finance. By automating advanced trading strategies and incentivizing investors to leave their deposits within the protocol, Dex Finance created a low-risk algorithmic trading model that nearly anyone can use.



Competitive Landscape



The global algorithmic trading market is moderately fragmented due to the presence of various market players globally, including Virtu Financial, Inc., Algo Trader AG, MetaQuotes Software Corp., Refinitiv Ltd, etc. Key players focus on developing new solutions and creating effective marketing strategies for market surveillance to maintain and increase their market share.



June 2021 - IG Group completed its acquisition of brokerage and investor education platform Tastytrade. The purchase was worth USD 1 billion with a deal initiated in January 2021, seeing IG Group agree to pay an initial USD 300m in cash and also issue 61 million new IG Group shares at a price of USD 11.47 each. IG Group received all the necessary regulatory and anti-trust approvals and satisfied necessary pre-conditions to complete the deal, with the operator having made an application for the new shares.

November 2021 - Refinitiv and Pio-Tech announced the partnership to provide banking clients of both companies in the Middle East and African region with sophisticated contemporary solutions that offer many distinct business values. This partnership focuses on maximizing the level of efficiency of the various anti-money laundering (AML) internal operations across all banking functions.



Additional Benefits:



The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06246232/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Crosslinking Agent Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06241310/?utm_source=GNW

The major factors driving the market are rising demand for a variety of coatings and an increased emphasis on high-performance crosslinking agents.

In contrast, the presence of self-crosslinking agents might hamper market growth.

Whereas the increasing demand for innovative coatings is a major opportunity in the global crosslinking agent market during the forecast period.



Key Market Trends



Increasing Demand for Decorative Coatings



Decorative coatings are applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings. ?The increase in the construction sector across the world is, in turn, boosting the demand for various crosslinking agents in decorative coatings.

The construction sector in the Asia-Pacific region is the largest in the world and is increasing at a healthy rate, owing to the rising population, increase in middle-class income, and urbanization.?

China is one of the leading countries, with respect to the construction of shopping centers. China is one of the leading countries in shopping-center construction. China has almost 4,000 shopping centers, while 7,000 more are estimated to be open by 2025.?

In Canada, various government projects, including the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI), New Building Canada Plan (NBCP), and Made in Canada, have been supporting the expansion of the sector. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the number of housing units sold in Canada in 2019 were 489 thousand and was forecasted to reach 583 thousand in 2021.?

The market is expected to recover with the resumed construction activities, which is anticipated to drive the demand for decorative coating during the forecast period.?



Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market



Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global market, owing to the highly developed automotive sector in China, coupled with the continuous investments done in the region to advance the architectural and various industrial sectors through the years.

The government of China estimates a 20% penetration rate of electric vehicles by 2025. With the increasing production of vehicles in the country, the demand for automotive coating is likely to ascend, which is anticipated to influence the market for crosslinking agents.?

Automobile manufacturing in China is a significant contributor to global automobile production. As per the reports by OICA, the country accounted for over 30% production share in 2021. This includes the production of passenger cars and light and heavy commercial vehicles. The country produced 25,225,242 units of vehicles in 2020 and 18,242,588 units from January to September in 2021.

In India, under the Make in India reform, the government of the country has offered favorable regulations for multinationals to set up their bases in India. Moreover, an increase in FDI share in the manufacturing industry is further likely to attract investments by foreign players. Thereby, it is expected to support industrial production in the upcoming years.

As per the reports by the Ministry of Economy Trade & Industry (METI), industrial production in Japan increased by over 3% in 2021. The global market has witnessed ascending growth in 2021, leading to the increased demand for industrial electronics and household appliances. The country has a large production base for electronics and other components, the majority of which is exported to the economies in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Continuous growth in the paint and coatings industry for various applications is expected to drive the market for crosslinking agents through the years to come.



Competitive Landscape



The global crosslinking agent market is partially fragmented in nature in terms of revenue with many players competing in the market. Some of the major players in the market include (not in any particular order) Evonik Industries AG?, BASF SE, DOW, Huntsman International LLC, and Allnex GMBH, among others.



Additional Benefits:



The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06241310/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
The federal government is ramping up its efforts to get Brittney Griner out of Russian prison.

The State Department demanded that Russia allow U.S. officials to speak with the detained WNBA star on Saturday. The request was not granted.

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Brittney Griner plays for the U.S. in the Aug. 8, 2021, gold medal game of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

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A Russian court ruled Thursday that Griner must remain behind bars until May 19. The WNBA season is scheduled to start May 6. Griner plays for the leagues Phoenix Mercury.

Russias prison-monitoring group said Griner was being treated fine during her pre-trial detention. Griners legal team has not publicly spoken about any mistreatment.

Griners representatives have attempted to prevent her from becoming a valuable political pawn amid Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Everyones getting the strategy of say less and push more privately behind the scenes, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. Its the strategy you get from the State Department and administration. Its our No. 1 priority in talking with her agent and strategists.

Many WNBA stars play overseas during the U.S. leagues offseason because foreign leagues pay better. Griner was the last WNBA player left in Russia before Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

Two American men, Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, are also detained in Russia.

With News Wire Services
New York, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Hospital Bed Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06245876/?utm_source=GNW



The Hospital Bed Market Report 2022-2032: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region.



The Number Of Private Hospitals Has Been Steadily Increasing, Resulting In Increasing Demand For Beds



The quantity of private clinics has been consistently expanding, especially in poor and arising nations, which is probably going to help market advancement all through the conjecture period. The development of the emergency clinic furniture industry is supported by an increment in private emergency clinic medical care spending. Administrative experts in developing economies, for example, China have specific regulations and guidelines overseeing medical services foundation, which prompts the development of emergency clinic framework and the arrangement of better clinical benefits to patients. Because of increasing infection rates, individuals inclination for clinics invigorates interest for clinical goods, pushing the business forward. For instance, The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has uncovered a four percent development in private wellbeing offices in Dubai, demonstrating a reliable increment. Drug stores, analytic and dental focuses, private clinics, and specific focuses are totally remembered for this number. Likewise, 12 new private medical clinics with north of 800 beds opened in Dubai by 2020. Notwithstanding current clinics under development, the quantity of private clinics in Dubai will increment to 38, surpassing the quantity of public emergency clinics nearby.



High Obese Population Fuels Innovations in Hospital Furniture



The tendency of contract manufacturing is becoming more popular in the hospital furniture industry. The notion of customised furniture is gaining traction in the marketplace, with a greater focus on product quality and refinement. Manufacturers are embracing well-thought-out designs centered on end users appearance, comfort, and hospitality. Manufacturers are gaining international fame thanks to high-performing hospital furniture. Traditional hospital furniture has the drawback of producing skin ulcers in overweight patients due to additional furniture strain on already weak skin. As a result, firms are putting more effort into improving the usefulness and aesthetics of obese-friendly healthcare furnishings. This is good news for hospitals who are investing in furniture that can support hundreds of pounds of patient weight.



For example, Obesity levels in America remain high, with 70 percent of persons classified as obese or overweight, with no signs of change in sight. More women are embracing the size acceptance movement and demanding trendy attire for over size people, as well as dating services, specialist beds, and medical equipment. As healthcare institutions aim to accommodate larger and larger patients, the market for high-capacity bariatric hospital beds, wheelchairs, and lift systems is predicted to grow to $1 billion by 2022.



What Are These Questions You Should Ask Before Buying A Market Research Report?

 How is the hospital bed market evolving?

 What is driving and restraining the hospital bed market?

 How will each hospital bed submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032?

 How will the market shares for each hospital bed submarket develop from 2022 to 2032?

 What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032?

 Will leading hospital bed markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

 How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032?

 Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

 What are the hospital bed projects for these leading companies?

 How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implication of hospital bed projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

 Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the hospital bed market?

 Where is the hospital bed market heading? And how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

 What can be the best investment options for new product and service lines?

 What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path? C-suite?



You need to discover how this will impact the hospital bed market today, and over the next 10 years:

 Our 500-page report provides 285 tables and 282 charts/graphs exclusively to you.

 The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them  NOW.

 Contains in-depth analyse of global, regional and national sales and growth

 Highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors



This report tells you TODAY how the hospital bed market will develop in the next 10 years, and in-line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years.



Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects

 In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

 You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

 Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising hospital bed prices and recent developments.



This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report.



Global Hospital Bed Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Application

 Non-intensive Care Beds

 Intensive Care Beds



Global Hospital Bed Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Type

 Electric Beds

 Semi-electric Beds

 Manual Beds



Global Hospital Bed Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Hospital Type

 Publicly Owned Hospitals

 Not-for-Profit Owned Hospitals

 Privately Owned Hospitals

 For-Profit Owned Hospitals

 Other Hospitals



Global Hospital Bed Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Type of Care

 Curative Care Beds

 Rehabilitative Care Beds

 Long-term Care Beds

 Psychiatric Care Beds

 Maternity Care Beds

 Other hospital beds



Global Hospital Bed Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by End User

 Hospitals

 Home Care Settings

 Elderly Care Facilities

 Other End-User



In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 4 regional and 20 leading national markets:



North America Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 U.S. Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Canada Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Mexico Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Europe Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Germany Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Spain Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 United Kingdom Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 France Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Italy Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Europe Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Asia Pacific Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 China Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Japan Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 India Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Australia Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Korea Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Asia Pacific Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



LAMEA Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Brazil Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Turkey Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Saudi Arabia Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Africa Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 UAE Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Latin America, Middle East and Africa



The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations.



Leading companies and the potential for market growth

 Amico Corporation

 Antano Group

 Famed Zywiec Sp Zo. O

 Gendron Inc.

 Getinge AB

 GF Health Products, Inc.

 Hard Manufacturing Co, Inc.

 Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

 Invacare Corporation

 LINET Spol S.R.O

 Malvestio S.P.A

 Medline Industries

 Merivaara Corporation

 Midmark Corporation

 Paramount Bed Holdings Co. Ltd.

 Savaria Corporation

 Savion Industries

 Stiegelmeyer GmbH & Co.

 Stryker Corporation

 Umano Medical Inc.



Overall world revenue for Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$xx million in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.



How the Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market report helps you?



In summary, our 521-page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for application, hospital type, bed type each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 4 regional and 20 key national markets  See forecasts for the Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Hospital Bed Market, 2022 to 2032 Market.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06245876/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
London, England, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today announced the listing of its NSBC Token on Korean based, VAEX Cryptocurrency Exchange https://vaex.tech/en_US/ .VAEX is a Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX) regulated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The NSBC Token commenced trading on the VAEX Exchange at 9:00 AM EST this morning.

The NSBC is the native token for the NSAVDEX Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange and is powered by OKEx Chain Protocol. OKEx https://www.okex.com/ Exchange ranks third in terms of 24 hour trading volume for Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges https://coinranking.com/exchange/hUlMcwWZp_+okex . The NSBC is a utility token, whose primary functions are yield farming and staking, plus a variety of additional functions

After the recent trendsetting accomplishments by Uniswap https://uniswap.org/ , NSAV management believes now is the perfect time to list its DEX Native Token on the VAEX Exchange. Uniswap, the globe's largest Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange, had its Native Token (UNI) hit $140 in market capitalization only 7 hours after its launch. Recently, UNI reached a market capitalization of over $15 billion and a new all-time high of over $26.00.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/3-reasons-why-uniswap-uni-token-hit-a-new-all-time-high-above-15

Min Jae-sung, Chief Executive Officer of VAEX stated, We are thrilled and honored to be able to work with NSAVs management and I was extremely impressed with their skill set and vision in the blockchain world. VAEX is regulated in the UAE and is a full service CEX in Korea.

Dato' Sri Desmond Lim, Interim CEO and Senior Vice President of Cryptocurrency Operations for NSAV and Silverbear Capital partner stated, We are excited to list our NSBC token on the VAEX Exchange today. We wish to thank the team at Silverbear Capital for their assistance in fast-tracking this listing. We also look forward to enhancing the services on our DEX Exchange.

About NSAV:

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.

For further information, please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavtech

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at http://nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX) website can be accessed at https://ex.nsavexchange.com/main

The NSAV CEX Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavcex

The NSAVDEX 1 Exchange website can be accessed at https://nsavdex.org/#/home

The NSAVDEX 2 Exchange website can be accessed at https://nsavdex.io/

The NSAV NFT Marketplace website can be accessed at https://nsavnft.com/

The NSAV Premium OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://nsavholdinginc.com/otc-desk/

The NSAV Hong Kong OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://hkotc.co/

The NSAVDEX Exchange Telegram account can be accessed at https://t.me/NSAVDEXorg

Silverbear Capital Inc. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/ , a leading, global investment banking firm, will be advising NSAV on strategic matters related to this transaction.

Silverbear Capital Inc. (SBC) has a dynamic of disciplines on a broad commercial level and practice. SBC has a strong group of Partners in a wide range of disciplines with seasoned experience in finance, management, and professional practice. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/meet-our-team/ .

Disclaimer: Silverbear Capital Inc. does not constitute investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to sell, or a solicitation to buy, or any other investment product (nor shall any such shares or product be offered or sold to any person) in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities law of that jurisdiction.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

Attachments
English Lithuanian

Special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate, legal entity code 152105644, the registered address Gyneju str. 14 Vilnius, Lithuania (hereinafter  the Company or  INVL Baltic Real Estate), informs that on the initiative and decision of the management company UAB INVL Asset Management (hereinafter  the Management Company) , the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting (hereinafter- the Meeting) is to be held on 12 April 2022.

The place of the Meeting: the office of Company, the address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius.

The Meeting will start at 09:00 a.m. (registration starts at 08:30 a.m.).

The Meetings accounting day 5 April 2022 (the persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of accounting day of the Meeting or authorized persons by them, or the persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting).

The day of accounting of rights is 27 April 2022.

The total number of the Company's shares is 8,061,414 shares.

Agenda of the Meeting:

Presentation of the Companys consolidated annual report for 2021 Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company Presentation of the Companys investment committees recommendation on the draft of the profit (loss) distribution (including the formation of the reserve) and the draft of the remuneration report Presentation of the Companys Supervisory Boards feedback and suggestions on the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2021 of the Company, draft of the profit (loss) distribution, Companys consolidated annual report for 2021, draft of the remuneration policy, also regarding the activity of the Board of the Management Company and Companys investment committee, presentation of the information on Companys strategy implementation Regarding the assent to the remuneration report of the Company, as a part of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2021 Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2021 of the Company Deciding on profit distribution of the Company Presentation of the Companys Management Companys statement on the share purchase price Regarding the purchase of own shares of the Company Regarding the adjustment of the terms of payment for audit services Regarding the Report of the Audit Committee of the Company

Draft resolutions of the Meeting:

1. Presentation of the Companys consolidated annual report for 2021

1.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the consolidated annual report of the Company for 2021 (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

2. Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company

2.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

3. Presentation of the Companys investment committees recommendation on the draft of the profit (loss) distribution (including the formation of the reserve) and the draft of the remuneration report

3.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the Companys investment committees recommendation on the draft of the profit (loss) distribution (including the formation of the reserve) and the draft of the remuneration report (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

4. Presentation of the Companys Supervisory Boards feedback and suggestions on the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2021 of the Company, draft of the profit (loss) distribution, Companys consolidated annual report for 2021, draft of the remuneration policy, also regarding the activity of the Board of the Management Company and Companys investment committee, presentation of the information on Companys strategy implementation

4.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the Companys Supervisory Boards feedback and suggestions on the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2021 of the Company, draft of the profit (loss) distribution, Companys consolidated annual report for 2021, draft of the remuneration policy, also regarding the activity of the Board of the Management Company and Companys investment committee, presentation of the information on Companys strategy implementation (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

5. Regarding the assent to the remuneration report of the Company, as a part of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2021

5.1. To assent to the remuneration report of the Company, as a part of the consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2021 (attached).

6. Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2021 of the Company

6.1. To approve the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2021 of the Company.

7. Deciding on profit distribution of the Company

7.1. To distribute profit of the Company as follows:

Article (thousand EUR) Retained earnings (loss) at the beginning of the financial year of the reporting period - Net profit (loss) for the financial year 3,399 Profit (loss) not recognized in the income statement of the reporting financial year - Shareholders contributions to cover loss - Distributable profit (loss) at the end of the financial year of the reporting period 3,399 Transfers from reserves 663.5 Distributable profit (loss) in total 4,063 Profit distribution: (2,581) - Profit transfers to the legal reserves - -Profit transfers to the reserves for own shares acquisition* (1,613.5) - Profit transfers to other reserves - - Profit to be paid as dividends** (967) - Profit to be paid as annual payments (bonus) and for other purposes - Retained earnings (loss) at the end of the financial year 1,482

*the reserve is formed to purchase own shares

**0.12 EUR is paid per share

8. Presentation of the Companys Management Companys statement on the share purchase price

8.1. Shareholders of the Company are presented with the Companys Management Companys statement on the share purchase price (attached) (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

9. Regarding the purchase of own shares of the Company

9.1. To authorise the Management Company to use the formed reserve (or the part of it) for the purchase of own shares and after evaluation of the economic viability to purchase shares in INVL Baltic Real Estate by the rules mentioned below:

The goal for the purchase of own shares  discount reduction between the net asset value and the market share price of INVL Baltic Real Estate and the possibility to sell its shares to the shareholders; The maximum number of shares to be acquired could not exceed 1/10 of the authorised capital INVL Baltic Real Estate; The period during which INVL Baltic Real Estate may purchase its own shares is 18 months from the day of this resolution; The maximum and minimal shares acquisition price of INVL Baltic Real Estate: the maximum one share acquisition price  the last announced net asset value per share, the minimal one share acquisition price  EUR 1.45; The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and minimal sale price: the acquired own shares may be annulled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or sold by the decision of the Management Company on condition the minimum sale price of own shares shall be equal to the last net asset value and the procedure of selling the shares shall ensure equal opportunities for all shareholders to acquire the said shares; The Management Company is delegated on the basis of this resolution and the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania to organise purchase and sale of own shares, to organise purchase and selling procedure of own shares and to determine an order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares.

10. Regarding the adjustment of the terms of payment for audit services

10.1. To set an additional salary of up to EUR 4,000 per year (VAT will be calculated and paid additionally in accordance with the order established in legal acts) to the Company's audit company UAB PricewaterhouseCoopers, legal entity code 111473315, for the audit services of the annual financial statements for 2021 and 2022 years in order to meet the requirements of the Articles 3 and 4 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/815 of 17 December 2018 supplementing Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards on the specification of a single electronic reporting format.

11. Regarding the Report of the Audit Committee of the Company

11.1. In accordance with the rules of procedure of the Audit Committee of the Company (approved on 11 April 2017 by decision of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company), the shareholders are hereby briefed on the activity report of the Audit Committee of the Company (attached)(no decision is taken on this item of the agenda).

The documents related to the agenda, draft resolutions on every item of the agenda, documents that have to be submitted to the General Shareholders Meeting and other information related to the realization of shareholders' rights are published on the Companys website www.invlbalticrealestate.lt section For investors, and also by prior agreement available at the premises of the Company, located at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius (hereinafter  the Premises of the Company) during working hours. Phone for information +370 5 279 0601.

The shareholders are entitled:

to propose to supplement the agenda of the Meeting submitting draft resolution on every additional item of agenda or, than there is no need to make a decision - explanation of the shareholder (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes). Proposal to supplement the agenda is submitted in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail breinfo@invl.com. The agenda is supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Meeting. In case the agenda of the Meeting is supplemented, the Company will report on it no later than 10 days before the Meeting in the same way as on convening of the Meeting; to propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting at any time prior to the date of the Meeting (in writing, sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail breinfo@invl.com or in writing during the Meeting (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes); to submit questions to the Company related to the issues of the agenda of the Meeting in advance but no later than 3 business days prior to the Meeting in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail breinfo@invl.com. All answers related to the agenda of the Meeting to questions submitted to the Company by the shareholders in advance, are submitted in the Meeting or simultaneously to all shareholders of the Company prior to the Meeting. The Company reserves the right to answer to those shareholders of the Company who can be identified and whose questions are not related to the Company's confidential information or commercial secrets.

The shareholder participating at the Meeting and having the right to vote, must submit the documents confirming personal identity. A person who is not a shareholder shall, in addition to this document, submit a document confirming the right to vote at the Meeting. The requirement to provide the documents confirming personal identity does not apply when voting in writing by filling in a general ballot paper.

Each shareholder may authorize either a natural or a legal person to participate and to vote on the shareholder's behalf at the Meeting. An authorised person has the same rights as his represented shareholder at the Meeting unless the authorized person's rights are limited by the power of attorney or by the law. The authorized persons must have the document confirming their personal identity and power of attorney approved in the manner specified by law which must be submitted to the Company no later than before the commencement of registration for the Meeting. The Company does not establish special form of the power of attorney. A power of attorney issued by a natural person must be certified by a notary. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by law. The persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, also have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.

Shareholder is entitled to issue power of attorney by means of electronic communications for legal or natural persons to participate and to vote on its behalf at the Meeting. No notarisation of such authorization is required. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication means must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through the means of electronic communication by e-mail breinfo@invl.com not later than on the last business day before the Meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be issued in writing and could be sent to the Company by electronic communication means if the transmitted information is secured and the shareholder's identity can be identified. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder free of charge.

The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the Meeting through electronic means of communication.

Shareholders of the Company are urged to use the right to vote on the issues in the agenda of the Meeting by submitting properly completed general voting bulletins to the Company in advance. The form of general voting bulletin is presented at the Company's webpage www.invlbalticrealestate.lt section For Investors. If shareholder requests, the Company shall send the general voting bulletin to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person no later than 10 days prior to the Meeting free of charge. If general voting bulletin is signed by a person authorized by the shareholder, it should be accompanied by a document certifying the right to vote.

Having into account that the threat of coronavirus (Covid-19) remains in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, the Company invites its shareholders who decide to participate in the Meeting to choose one of the following alternatives:

__________

Alternative No. 1:

A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete and sign a written voting bulletin and send it to the Company by e-mail ( breinfo@invl.com) and send the original bulletin by registered or ordinary post to the address Gyneju str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius. Properly completed written voting bulletins may be sent by registered or ordinary post to the address Gyneju str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius without submitting a copy to the e-mail address specified or delivered in person to the Company on business days at the Companys registered address mentioned above. Along with a bulletin, a document confirming the right to vote must also be sent. Those voting bulletins shall be deemed valid which are properly completed and are received before the start of the general shareholders meeting.

__________

Alternative No. 2:

A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete a written voting bulletin, save it on their computer and sign it with a qualified electronic signature. Send the written voting bulletin which is properly completed and signed with a qualified electronic signature to the Company by e-mail at breinfo@invl.com.

The Company suggests using the following free qualified electronic signature systems: Dokobit and GoSign

__________

Alternative No. 3:

If shareholders of the Company do not have the possibility to use voting alternatives No. 1 or No. 2, the Company will provide conditions for the shareholders or persons duly authorised by them to come on 12 April 2022 to the address Gyneju str. 14 in Vilnius, to the Companys Meeting.

We stress that safety recommendations must be followed by shareholder regarding the use of safety measures and maintaining distance.

The person authorized to provide additional information:

Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company

Vytautas Baksinskas

E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com

Attachments
KANSAS CITY, Kan., March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1840 & Company (www.1840andco.com), a global vetted freelance marketplace and outsourcing company, has announced that they are immediately rolling out several new measures to aid and show support for Ukrainian freelancers and the Ukrainian community. Furthermore, the company has decided to immediately suspend all operations in Russia and Belarus.

"We are deeply saddened and concerned for our Ukrainian freelancers, and we resolutely stand with the Ukrainian people against Russia's unprovoked war," says Bryan DiGiorgio, CEO and Founder. The company is headquartered in Kansas, USA, with one of its hubs in Ukraine.

"While we know that substantial donations are going towards those that cannot work, our efforts are to assist the hundreds of thousands of capable displaced Ukrainians back to work from whatever country they refuge to support themselves and their family. Although we are a humble, boutique marketplace and outsourcing company, we will do all we can to help support the Ukrainian community and will now provide displaced Ukrainians with a 10% increase in their base compensation. This increase will be for the rest of 2022 and the increase will not be passed on to our clients."

In addition to giving Ukrainians a 10% increase in base compensation, the company will:

Halt all operations in Russia and Belarus to boycott Putin's unlawful attack on Ukraine

Expedite early payout for Ukrainian freelancers so they can withdraw their earnings as soon as possible

Offer dedicated support to Ukrainian freelancers to assist and help keep them working as much as they possibly can

Highlight and feature Ukrainian freelancers who are ready and able to work for 1840 clients

Show support for Ukraine on their social media profiles

1840 & Company recognizes there are certain limitations due to client criteria and online access that need to be met by an individual. They are seeking partners in the area of localized facilities and computer equipment within Eastern European Countries to support individuals without access to space and/or technology. Additionally, 1840 & Company suggests any client seeking to support their effort should contact them through the company website at www.1840andco.com.

According to a 2018 survey by the International Labor Organization, there are over 500,000 Ukrainians registered on freelancing platforms and an Oxford report found that the country is the world's seventh-largest supplier of online labor. The entire team at 1840 & Company is heartbroken and appalled with the horrific invasion of Ukraine and stands with the world in support of the talented and hardworking Ukrainian people. #StandWithUkraine

For additional information or to make a press inquiry, please call Jay Douglas at (913) 213-3650 or send an email to jayd@1840andco.com.

Related Images











Image 1: 1840 & Company logo





1840 & Company logo









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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English Spanish Portuguese

MIAMI, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Sunday, March 6, 2022, the Dominican company Harvest Trading Cap together with Moon Capital, has signed a collaboration agreement with OGGO Medical, with the objective of representing the international company in the Dominican Republic.



The signing of the agreement was made by Jairo Gonzalez MA CEO of Harvest Trading Cap, CEO Moon Capital SRL Lic. Gregorix Polanco, Mr. Philip Ong CEO and Chairman of OGGO Medical. The event was held at the Acantilados restaurant, where a framework of collaboration was established to help the health of the Dominican population being Harvest Trading Cap and Moon Capital the representatives and ambassadors of NICAS in the Dominican Republic and other countries where they have international presence.

NICAS is a revolutionary device developed by OGGO Medical, for the detection of the impartation long before external symptoms are reflected in people.

This alliance will be feasible to help improve the health system in the Dominican Republic, impacting in a positive way to people who today suffer and suffer from this disease and do not find a solution in time due to the few alternatives they have. The intention of Jairo Gonzalez, Lic. Greorix Polanco and Mr. Philip Ong is to expand to all of Latin America.

Among the special guests present at the event were Claudia Fernandez, President of the Edu Cripto Organization.

Harvest Trading Cap thanks OGGO Medical Services for trusting in their project and for collaborating in the development and expansion of the health mechanisms of Dominicans with their new technologies. The vision of Harvest Trading Cap and Moon Capital is that there will be many more people benefited.

The Harvest Trading Cap team was also cordially received by Mr. Philip Ong, CEO and Chairman of OGGO Wallet Exchange Ecosystem, a traditional business platform with an active Bitcoin ecosystem and new technologies in El Salvador.

Mr. Philip Ong together with Jairo Gonzalez MA CEO of Harvest Trading Cap, Lic. Gregorix Polanco Executive Director of Harvest Trading Cap Academy, Dr. Roberto Torres Rector of Andragogy Autonomous University and the Harvest Trading Cap entourage, toured the OGGO facilities.

During this wonderful tour several topics were discussed, including the history, trajectory and evolution of cryptocurrencies, how they have grown significantly and revolutionized in El Salvador. They also talked about future projects in collaboration with Harvest Trading Cap and its educational entity Harvest Trading Cap Academy.

Jairo Gonzalez emphasized the development of the aforementioned topics and the contributions that guarantee economic stability in the use of new financial technologies in Central and Latin America.

OGGO seeks to generate an ecosystem of economic and social impact based on cryptocurrencies and contemplates the creation of a university, a cryptocurrency academy, food and water security projects, a medical center and the creation of virtual currency exchange platforms.

This meeting was very rewarding for both parties, as they learned about what both entities wish to do in favor of the future growth of new financial technologies.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d938d5c-afe9-4adc-ba52-b7ec51b02d80

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ec7b22e-8ac0-4a12-88c2-d36e9f982da6
Linthicum, MD, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mortgage veterans Mack Dadyan and Larry Colangelo announced today that they have joined NFM Lending in their Medford Lakes, NJ branch located at 4 Trading Post Way. The branch, specializing in residential mortgages throughout Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia is led by Branch Managers Dana Gounaris and Ron Gosewisch.

We are excited that Mack Dadyan and Larry Colangelo chose to join our team at NFM Lending, said Gounaris. They have both demonstrated that they are a top originating team in our market. We are glad they saw the value of our partnership and we are thrilled about the future together.

Dadyan and Colangelo, whose reputation among clients and business partners have led them to become top mortgage consultants in the nation, conducted an exhaustive search for the right mortgage company.

After spending the good part of five years as a mortgage banker, I had a clear understanding of the issues that the banking system faces, noted Dadyan. There is a dire need for a streamlined, efficient, and technologically comprehensive mortgage process. After investigating 36 companies and interviewing six, I discovered that NFM Lending was the obvious choice. They are by far the most forward thinking and proactive company in our marketplace. Their desire to grow with the loan originator and provide them with the technological resources and tools to manage market changes was the separating factor. Most banks and mortgage companies want the loan originator to look to them for solutions, and those companies then propose one corporate solution to all problems, whether that solution is beneficial to the loan originator or not. NFM Lending was different. They recognize that every loan officer is unique and may require unique solutions to their own individual problems. So, they encourage loan originators to bring the solutions that they require, and NFM works to implement these solutions as quickly and painlessly as possible. They recognize that the loan originator is their own brand and that NFM must first provide us the support to promote our brand. So we feel confident pushing out and acknowledging the corporate brand of NFM. We are excited for new beginnings and to have continued success under NFM.

Dadyan and Colangelo will focus on expanding NFM's flexible and powerful lending platform to better serve Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia community families with exceptional customer service. The branch's goal is to continue to provide the same commitment and dedication to borrowers, ranging from first-time homebuyers to seasoned buyers looking for their next home, a second home, or investment properties. NFM Lending offers Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, FNMA, Jumbo, and many other loan options to fit every borrower's need.

For more information, please contact:

Mack Dadyan

Senior Loan Originator

NMLS# 1417652

4 Trading Post Way

Medford Lakes, NJ 08055

856-813-0475

mdadyan@nfmlending.com

https://nfmlending.com/mdadyan





About NFM Lending

NFM Lending is a national mortgage lending company currently licensed in 47 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, Bluprint Home Loans, Freedmont Mortgage Group, and Elevate Home Loans. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

Via KISS PR Distribution - Media Contact: Az@kisspr.com
VALENCIA, Spain, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two large European productions with recognized products agreed to cooperate with JuicyFields on a 'higher' scale in Denmark.



JuicyFields management is treating its cultivating partners very seriously, by providing them comprehensive support, including financial aid, experts and common development goals. Denmark has deserved even more attention from JuicyFields Group as well as its partners.

It's been over a year now since Cannabis International Aps. , based in Denmark, has signed a shareholders agreement with JuicyFields and planned to develop and build new, GMP-compliant greenhouses. As of March 7th, 2022, the first agreement was expanded from 20% to 60% of shares that are now obtained by JuicyFields. The construction of the Research and Development Facilities as well as greenhouses have been in process since last year together with the necessary GACP certification that's ongoing. While the first harvests for commercial distribution are expected shortly, the company plans to produce up to 40 000 KG of dried flowers annually in the future.

Apart from that, the wholesaler agreement has been signed with the Danish Tjellesen Max Jenne regarding sale of the cannabis to intermediates and to the Danish pharmacies.

Among the other news in the first quarter of 2022, JuicyFields can feature a partnership agreement that was reached with Formula Swiss , an international leader dealing with the cannabis infused products in more than 60 countries. Both companies have now agreed on a development plan focusing on the products with the high THC content. That involves launching a new project in Denmark with a full production cycle from seed to end-user products with the highest production standards in reference to GACP and GMP resulting in the finest quality of cannabis products. The expected annual harvests may reach up to 50 000 KG according to the initial plan. The medicinal experts, doctors and clinics together with Shlomo Booklin, Chief Cannabis Strategist in JuicyFields, constitute an essential part of this Danish project.

According to CEO of JuicyFields Group - Alan Glanse, "we're planning to construct 2-3 greenhouses in each European country over the course of the next few years".

Having strong and reliable partnerships combined with the serious investors create a juicy balance in this difficult cannabis industry and provide certain assurance for the e-growers of the crowdgrowing movement.

About JuicyFields

It is recognised primarily for being the first crowdgrowing cannabis platform uniting cultivators and e-growers - supporters of the project.

Social Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juicyfields.official/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/juicy-fields

Media Contact

Brand: Juicy Holdings B.V.

E-mail: marketing@juicyfields.io

Website: https://juicyfields.io/

SOURCE: Juicy Holdings B.V.
Beirut, Lebanon, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the rise of crypto, NFTs, the Metaverse, and Web 3.0, its no surprise that some companies are looking to populate those spaces with things we have in the real world, from real estate to assets. Elite Nerdz Club is bringing something new to the table, however, by selling their own unique NFT collection and building the first peer-to-peer teaching marketplace in the Metaverse.

Elite Nerdz Club is passionate about providing valuable and exclusive Web 3.0 educational content to their NFT holders and the larger community. By giving people the chance to monetize their skills and sell their courses in the Metaverse, people can learn more about this new, sometimes confusing digital space, while a portion of the revenue will be left aside and given back to holders of their NFTs.

We are a group of ambitious nerdz looking to build the first teaching marketplace in the Metaverse. Were giving the community the chance to build and sell their courses in the Metaverse while providing learners with an unmatched educational experience through virtual reality, they explained.

Theres plenty of debate over what the Metaverse will be like when it finally launches, but innovative companies like Elite Nerdz Club are already building digital infrastructureafter all, fortune favors the bold. By using the power of NFTs and blockchain technology, creating an education marketplace is the obvious next step for this new virtual world.

With this one-of-a-kind, ground-breaking concept, Elite Nerdz Club is looking to become pioneers in the educational sector in the Metaverse. They also plan to be the first NFT collection to offer holders the opportunity to earn passive income from the revenues of our marketplace.

We will help our community with building their courses, preparing their material, and marketing their offerings in the Metaverse."

Their collection of 7,777 nerd NFTs will be sold on the Ethereum blockchain sometime in late March or the beginning of April.

Learn more about this amazing new opportunity on their Twitter!

Join us on Discord!

Media Details:



Name: Elite Nerdz Club

Email: info@elitenerdzclub.io

City: Beirut

Country: Lebanon

There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any medical related or any other product or service in this article. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, purchase, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your objectives, circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your medical advisor, attorney, or medical professionals regarding your specific medical situation. Newsroom: abrelease.submitmypressrelease.com



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English French

Update on Worldline exposure

to the situation in Ukraine and Russia

Paris La Defense, March 18, 2022  Worldline [Euronext: WLN], a global leader in the payments industry, informs about its Group exposure to the situation in Ukraine and Russia according to European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) relayed by the French regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) recommendations.

Considering the development of the situation in Ukraine and the geopolitical context, the Worldline Group, in compliance with its corporate policies, has been immediately enforcing all the international sanctions applicable to Russia and will pursue doing so as long as necessary.

In line with the recommendations of the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) relayed by the French regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), the Group confirms that its business related to Russia is limited, representing only c. 1.5% of its 2021 estimated proforma annual Worldline Groups revenue on continued operations, mainly from its online acceptance business, operated from outside Russia and allowing domestic consumers to transact online with non-Russian international Merchants.

More broadly, while having no business exposure to Ukraine, other Eastern European neighboring countries to Russia and Ukraine1,represent only c. 1.5% of the estimated proforma annual Group's revenues in 2021 on continued operations, of which circa half of it related to transaction processing activities (Financial Services) in the Baltics. These activities are not impacted by the current conflict in Ukraine.

Moreover, the Group has no significant exposure to Russian software solutions or subcontractors impacted by the ongoing sanctions or those who could be, due to its internal development policy of its own solutions.

Forthcoming events

April 27, 2022 Q1 2022 revenue

June 9, 2022 Annual General Shareholders Meeting

July 27, 2022 H1 2022 results

October 25, 2022 Q3 2022 revenue

Contacts

Investor Relations

Laurent Marie

+33 7 84 50 18 90

laurent.marie@worldline.com

Benoit dAmecourt

+33 6 75 51 41 47

benoit.damecourt@worldline.com

Communication

Sandrine van der Ghinst

+32 499 585 380

sandrine.vanderghinst@worldline.com

Helene Carlander

+33 7 72 25 96 04

helene.carlander@worldline.com

About Worldline



Worldline [Euronext: WLN] is a global leader in the payments industry and the technology partner of choice for merchants, banks and acquirers. Powered by 20,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Worldline provides its clients with sustainable, trusted and innovative solutions fostering their growth. Services offered by Worldline include instore and online commercial acquiring, highly secure payment transaction processing and numerous digital services. In 2021 Worldline generated a proforma revenue close to 4 billion euros. worldline.com

Worldlines corporate purpose (raison detre) is to design and operate leading digital payment and transactional solutions that enable sustainable economic growth and reinforce trust and security in our societies. Worldline makes them environmentally friendly, widely accessible, and supports social transformation.

Disclaimer

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including references, concerning the Group's expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or competitors behaviours. Any forward-looking statements made in this document are statements about Worldlines beliefs and expectations and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include statements that may relate to Worldlines plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or synergies, or performance, and other information that is not historical information. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties that are described within the 2020 Universal Registration Document filed with the French Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) on April 13, 2021 under the filling number: D.21-0303 and its Amendment filed on July 29, 2021 under the filling number: D. 21-0303-A01.

Worldline does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any of the information above except as otherwise required by law.

This document is disseminated for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States unless they have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or the securities laws of any U.S. state, or are exempt from registration. The securities that may be offered in any transaction have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any U.S. state and Worldline does not intend to make a public offering of any such securities in the United States.

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Nicosia, Cyprus, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gmradar.com, the renowned name in the non-destructive testing industry, is now offering top quality NDT and GPR equipment on sale and rental, to bring worldwide clients cost-effective options for their specific needs.

The company has been in the business for almost two decades and has been growing its reputation on the back of the superior quality supplies and impeccable service it provides customers. Starting off only in the field of geophysical equipment, it has grown to offer a diverse range of products and services to its clients. In fact, Gmradar.com also offers training around the globe to ensure that its clients can get the most of the GPR and NDT equipment they buy or rent.

Its the quality of products and services that has won the company many accolades and the trust of its customers. The company is a member of many renowned International organizations and has certifications including European Startup Association, ISO 9001 System Certification, SEG, and many others. And now the company is offering a wide range of NDT and GPR equipment on sale and rental options for its clients.



GMRadar

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a crucial tool for utility locators around the world. Thats because it has the capability of detecting both metallic and non-metallic items at different depths. Gmradar has built its forte with its GPR equipment that has ticked the right boxes for clients in different industry sectors. The company offers crucial information about how this equipment works, its benefits, limitations, etc. to help buyers make the right decisions.

Proceq GS 8000 GPR is a state-of-the-art option available with the company. It is a smart solution for locating objects and mapping the underground world using SFCW ground penetrating radar technology. Gmradar highlights its important features that include superior clarity of data and adaptability to different terrains. It also allows users to access data from anywhere at any time.

This Proceq GS 8000 GPR can be used for a number of applications including forensics, archeology, geophysical investigations, utility strike prevention and so much more. Gmradar has also partnered with the best in the business to ensure that clients can get access to top-quality Non-Destructive Testing equipment for their specialized and unique applications.

This range of equipment includes concrete testing, digital radiography, rebar detectors, and steel structure analyzers. These Non-Destructive Testing equipment have huge benefits and applications in the oil and gas industry, aviation and aerospace, shipyards, construction, foundation integration, moisture flooring inspection, roofing inspection, pest control and so much more.

Interested clients can know more about these NDR and GPR supplies with ease on the companys website, and also have their queries answered by the professionals working with the company. They can buy these products or make the most of the short and mid-term leasing of the equipment, which spells quality at affordable rates.

About Gmradar.com

For close to twenty years the company has been the leading provider of top quality geophysical and non-destructive products that are available on sale or rent at competitive rates.

###

Media Contact

GMRadar

URL: https://www.gmradar.com/

Phone: +357 99 39 21 43

Address: PO Box 25126, Nicosia, Cyprus

Newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com

Attachment
A Virginia police officer copped a guilty plea Friday to storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, along with supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Jacob Fracker, 30, and fellow officer Thomas Robertson, 49, traveled 200 miles northeast from their town of Rocky Mount in southwest Virginia to Washington, D.C., for the rally on Jan. 6, the Justice Department said. They were off duty that day.

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Fracker is expected to testify against Robertson at his April 4 trial.

Jacob Fracker, left, and Thomas Robertson, right, pose together while committing a federal crime.

When Trump supporters overwhelmed Capitol Police and other authorities, Fracker and Robertson flooded into the building, the feds said. Both men carried gas masks. They documented their crime with a photo in front of a statue of Revolutionary War hero John Stark.

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During the chaos, Robertson used a wooden stick in an attempt to fend off D.C. police officers who were arriving to back up Capitol Police, according to the government.

The feds said Robertson boasted about the riot on Facebook, writing: to anyone whos possibly concerned about the picture of me going around. sorry I hate freedom? His Facebook page also threatened an open armed rebellion after Trump lost the 2020 election. Frackers social media accounts had similar rhetoric, according to the feds.

The Rocky Mount Police Department fired both men after they were arrested in January 2021.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

While both men were initially released, Robertson has been back behind bars since the summer. Per the terms of his initial release, he was not allowed to own firearms, but FBI agents searched his home in June 2021 and found 34 guns. The judge didnt buy Robertsons claim that they were just World War II collectibles.

FILE - Violent protesters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (John Minchillo/AP)

In exchange for cooperating against his former colleague, Fracker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, a felony. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but he wont be sentenced until after Robertsons trial.

More than 750 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot, and about 220 have pleaded guilty. The first trial in the sprawling case concluded March 8, with Guy Wesley Reffitt of Texas convicted on all counts.

Though Reffitt didnt even enter the Capitol, prosecutors showed that he was one of the leaders outside the building, confronting cops and riling up rioters. His own teenage son secretly recorded him on the day of the riot, shared that recording with the feds and testified against his father.

Even without going inside, Reffitt was convicted on five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, being unlawfully present on Capitol grounds while armed with a firearm, transporting firearms during a civil disorder, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder and obstruction of justice.

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Legal observers said that Reffitts conviction could be bad news for any Capitol rioters hoping to try their luck with a jury.

With News Wire Services
DENVER, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inc. magazine revealed that Raincatcher is No. 10 on its third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals Rocky Mountain list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies based in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Rocky Mountain region economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.



Its a great honor to have been recognized yet again by Inc. and to be a part of this prestigious list, says Raincatcher CEO, Marla DiCarlo. Last year, we were ranked No. 376 in the Inc. 5000 List, and have previously been named the best business brokerage and a best workplace by this incredible industry publication. It is affirming for us to be recognized repeatedly for our different approach to the business brokerage industry.

The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Rocky Mountain region. Between 2018 and 2020, these 60 private companies had an average growth rate of 252% percent, and, in 2020 alone, they added 4,176 jobs and nearly $1 billion to the Rocky Mountain regions economy. Companies based in the Las Vegas, Nevada, Boise, Idaho, and Vail, Colorado, areas had the highest growth rate overall.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals Rocky Mountain, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found here .

This years Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of Americas off-the-charts growth companies. Theyre disruptors and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies youll be hearing about for years to come, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc.



Headquartered in Denver, Raincatcher uses the latest technologies and integrated digital marketing to connect the most qualified buyers with its sellers. Founded in 2011, the company has been nationally recognized as #1 best business brokerage by Inc. Magazine, named a 2020 Best Workplace by Inc., and awarded #376 on the Inc. 5000 List in 2021. Raincatchers core mission is to serve the small businesses community. It has an award-winning business brokerage team and mergers & acquisitions team that can also support small to large-scale transactions.

To learn more, visit raincatcher.com .

More about Raincatcher, Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals

Methodology

The 2022 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2018 and 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.

The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Raincatcher

Raincatcher is a national business brokerage that specializes in small and mid-market businesses. Our mission is to help entrepreneurs buy and sell remarkable companies.

In an effort to locally serve national business owners at every stage of their journey, Raincatcher has specialized directors to suit different business needs.

Director of Business Growth, Susan Frew

Managing Director - Midwest, Cameron Bishop

Managing Director - East Coast, Steve Fisher

Managing Director - West, Aaron Linnebach

Managing Director - Digital, Mark Woodbury

To learn the story about our sales process and results, click here .
Miami, FL, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Layer1 Events (www.layer1events.com), the premier multifaceted approach to blockchain events and marketing, and Miami Crypto Experience (www.expcrypto.io), the first crypto event endorsed by the City of Miami, and featured in Forbes as a Top 5 NFT Event, today announced the debut of Blockchain2022, an interactive conference bringing together thought leaders driving the growth of blockchain technology and Web 3.0. The event will take place April 10-11, 2022 at the popular James L. Knight Center in Miami. All entrepreneurs, creators, collectors, developers, investors, crypto degens and crypto curious are welcome to attend. Early-bird and VIP tickets are available at www.blockchain2022.miami.

Sponsored by Transform Ventures, Blockchain Wire, and Bizbits, Blockchain2022 will feature five stages with keynotes, fireside chats, and thought-leadership panels around topics such as NFTs, metaverses, DAOs, mining, DeFi, ReFi, interoperability, regulation, and investing.



Initial Speakers include:

Brock Pierce, CEO of Helios; Chairman of Bitcoin Foundation; Candidate for Senator of Wyoming

Michael Wagner, Co-Founder & CEO of Star Atlas

James Haft, Chairman at DLTx

Masha Prusso, Marketing for Polygon; Partner at Story Ventures

Irina Litchfield, Partner at Percival Capital; BitAngels City Leader Austin

Dirk Lueth, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Upland

Brad Yasar, CEO, EQIFI

Michael Terpin, Founder and CEO of Transform Ventures; Co-founder of BitAngels

Paul Puey, CEO and Co-Founder of Edge

Kaitie Zhee, CMO of DLTx

Adryenn Ashley, Founder of Foxies NFT; NFT Community Designer at Wow! Is Me, Inc.

Ed Prado, CEO/Co-Founder at RAIR Technologies; Founding Partner at Novena

Mitchell Dong, CEO at Pythagoras

Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank

Christina Cartagena, Founder of BizBits; Founder of Architechtura; Co-Founder of Miami Crypto Experience

Brian Nelson, VP of Surety at Crypto & MSBs; Advisory Board Member at Utah Blockchain Coalition

In addition, Blockchain 2022 will offer signature features like a Bored Ape Yacht Club After Party powered by NFT.tips at the Wharf, BitAngels Breakfast Pitches, NFT Carnival (the first digital gallery event series for non-fungible tokens), Executive Soiree Area, Recovery Zone, Miami Crypto Block Party, Builder Block Experiences, a Vendor Village, Neural Networking, Media Studio, and more.



Last June, Miami was the epicenter of the crypto world as Bitcoin2021 rolled into town and brought 50,000 people to sunny South Florida for a series of conferences, with the main event being exclusively by and for bitcoin, said Michael Terpin (AKA The Godfather of Crypto) and Founder of Layer1 Events. With Bitcoin2022 returning to Miami this April, we decided to create a new conference for everything in crypto that's not bitcoin, including Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, BNB, NFTs and DeFi, in partnership with our friends at Miami Crypto Experience.

Ultimately our partnership is about uniting the crypto curious with the crypto veterans, showcasing that Blockchain is more than just Bitcoin, and providing intimate learning and networking opportunities that give people the chance to experience the next big thing first-hand, said Christina Cartagena, Miami Crypto Experience Co-Founder.

To learn more, sponsor a presentation or party, showcase your art or buy tickets, visit www.blockchain2022.miami or follow @blockconference.

ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN2022

Blockchain 2022 (www.blockchain2022.miami) is an inclusive, interactive conference bringing together thought leaders driving the growth of blockchain technology and Web 3.0. Blockchain2022 does not solely focus on one chain, brand, or demographic and welcomes all entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and creators to experience the latest blockchain innovations and build and network with some of the most influential names in crypto.

Twitter - Linkedin - Instagram - Telegram

ABOUT LAYER1 EVENTS



Layer1 Events (www.layer1events.com) is a multifaceted approach to blockchain events and marketing. Through our various event series offerings, we provide individuals and projects options to meet their goals such as Brand Awareness, Funding, Community Building, Lead-Gen, Education, and Partnerships. Our team of experts has been producing international blockchain events since 2014, including CoinAgenda, BitAngels, NFT Carnival, and Satoshi Salon.

Twitter - Linkedin - Facebook - Telegram

ABOUT MIAMI CRYPTO EXPERIENCE



Miami Crypto Experience (www.expcrypto.io), the first crypto event endorsed by the City of Miami, and featured in Forbes as a Top 5 NFT Event.

Facebook - Twitter
Albuquerque, NM, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A company with a mission to enable carbon-free fuel and reduce the climate impact of air travel will build a manufacturing and distribution center in New Mexico with a goal of hiring hundreds of employees in Albuquerque.

Universal Hydrogen has chosen a 50-acre parcel of property northeast of the passenger terminal at the Albuquerque International Sunport to manufacture and distribute its hydrogen storage modules, assemble airplane retrofit kits, perform aftermarket maintenance services, and manage administrative activities. The location includes access to a runway and the potential future reclamation of a rail spur south of the Sunport.

New Mexico will be at the heart of the companys mission to decarbonize hard-to-abate greenhouse gas emissions in aviation, ground transportation, and heavy industry to help the United States meet the Paris Agreement goals. The company also has facilities in California, Washington State, and Toulouse, France.

This project puts New Mexico and Universal Hydrogen at the center of the global effort to decarbonize transportation and aviation in particular," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. "Hydrogen, solar, wind, and alternative energy are job-rich industries and New Mexicos partnerships with these companies are part of a forward-thinking model to create a robust and diversified economy, while being a part of the solution when it comes to a changing climate.

Aviation is going to be one of the most difficult sectors of our economy to decarbonize. The clean hydrogen capsules that Universal Hydrogen plans to manufacture in Albuquerque will be central to reducing carbon pollution in air transportation  a major contributor to our climate crisis. Im proud to welcome all of the jobs and investment that Universal Hydrogen is bringing to New Mexico, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said.

Universal Hydrogen will spend one to two years on the planning and construction of its New Mexico facilities, with a goal of commencing full-scale manufacturing by 2024. It anticipates investing over $254 million into New Mexico and aims to hire 500 employees over the next seven years. These jobs will include highly skilled engineers and composite technicians with attractive salaries and benefits. The construction project alone is expected to generate over 1,200 jobs, and the manufacturing and distribution center is expected to have an economic impact of over $700 million over the next 10 years.

With two federal Department of Energy research labs and a skilled workforce, the future for new, innovative energy technology is here in New Mexico, Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said. Gov. Lujan Grisham gets it and she thinks big  New Mexico is now competing for sophisticated companies with highly paid jobs, and winning.

Universal Hydrogen is uniquely positioned to address the hydrogen value chain for aviation, both for hydrogen fuel distribution and hydrogen-powered airplanes. The company utilizes proprietary capsules that safely store hydrogen during transit and serve as modular tanks that are loaded directly onto aircraft. The technology will underpin a logistics network that can move hydrogen from production facilities to airports over existing freight infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly new pipelines, tankers, and hydrogen storage facilities.

The company is also developing powertrain conversion kits to retrofit existing regional turboprop aircraft, including the Dash 8-300 and ATR 72, to enable these aircraft to fly on hydrogen. It thus far has agreements with 11 air carriers to retrofit nearly 100 regional airplanes with a goal of being FAA-certified and in commercial service by 2025.

After demonstrating success with regional aircraft, Universal Hydrogen plans to apply its modular fueling solution to larger commercial airplanes as well as drones, industrial equipment, and ground transportation, all domains with high-carbon footprints that will require hydrogen to meet pollution-reduction goals.

Hydrogen is the best and only scalable solution to truly decarbonize aviation, and we want to bring it to market decades sooner than anyone thought possible  by 2025, Jon Gordon, co-founder and general counsel for Universal Hydrogen, said.

Gordon said the company chose Albuquerque for manufacturing and distribution because of its strategic location that allows the company to leverage air, rail, and the interstate highway system as well as robust partnerships in governments, industry, and research institutions. I cant imagine a better place to be. We need a highly skilled workforce, and we need it immediately, Gordon said. We see New Mexico as a place that will give our employees an affordable, high quality of life with access to culture and the outdoors. Its really a dream location.

He added that both Sen. Heinrich and Gov. Lujan Grisham are rare among elected officials in fully appreciating the transformative economic effect of sustainable hydrogen, including its ability to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

New Mexico has some of the most forward-looking political figures in the country right now as far as seeing the potential of hydrogen to transform our economy and eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels, Gordon added. New Mexicos leadership will attract other companies to the region as well. Thats important to us. We want to be a significant catalyst to build this sustainability-focused ecosystem in New Mexico.

The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, the areas non-profit, private-sector economic development organization, provided technical assistance for Universal Hydrogens expansion. AREA first began providing site-selection services to Universal Hydrogen in early September 2021. This investment affirms the states profile in aviation, manufacturing and energy, all of which are target industries of AREAs strategic plan. We are actively working on projects in all these areas, and we expect that, with Universal Hydrogens announcement, well only see more inquiries, Danielle Casey, president and CEO of Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, said.

Universal Hydrogen has been featured in Bloomberg, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times, among many others, as one of the innovative startups working to decarbonize the transportation sector. For Universal Hydrogen related media inquiries, please contact Kate Gundry at uh2@pluckpr.com.

New Mexico has taken a bold approach towards clean hydrogen development. In January, the state signed an MOU with Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories that leverages their respective areas of expertise with hydrogen to deliver timely and efficient transformation of energy systems. In February, Gov. Lujan Grisham signed an MOU with the governors of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in announcing that they will compete jointly for a portion of the $8 billion allocated in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the development of regional clean hydrogen hubs.

About AREA: The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is leads and executes strategies designed to grow and diversify the economic base of the greater Albuquerque region, creating a prosperous, diverse and inclusive economy and elevating the standard of living for all. AREA provides confidential assistance to businesses considering the area for expansion and new investment. Since its creation in 1960, AREA has recruited more than 250 companies and more than 35,000 jobs to the Albuquerque metro area. AREA also provides retention and expansion assistance to existing industry. For more information, visit ABQ.org.
LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP) (the Company or TAAT) is pleased to announce that all three of its TAAT varieties (Original, Smooth, and Menthol) will be launching in more than 180 new stores in Houston, Texas (fourth-largest U.S. city) and at least 120 stores in Puerto Rico (which is advancing to an official launch, following a test placement in Cayey). During the second year in which TAAT is being sold at retail in the United States, the Company has taken measures to integrate marketing programs in parallel with its nationwide store placements to include billboards located near Nevada locations of a U.S. gas station chain (as announced in a March 2, 2022 press release ) and an incentive strategy for chain retailers to convert TAAT sample recipients into first-time purchasers of a full pack (as announced in a February 11, 2022 press release ). The Company has aggressively pursued store placements in new as well as existing U.S. markets to bolster overall availability of TAAT, while driving sell-through and reorder rates through these parallel initiatives to reach current smokers.



Guaranteed Placement of 180 Stores in Houston, Texas

Earlier this week, a pallet shipment of TAAT arrived at the warehouse of a distributor who has guaranteed the placement of TAAT in at least 180 stores in the city of Houston (population 2.3 million). The state of Texas has a cigarette use incidence rate of 14.7%1, and current Texas-based retailers of TAAT represent a relatively small percentage of the Companys total footprint in the United States. As such, the Company is eager to build a presence in one of the countrys largest urban centres to complement its comparatively high store counts in the metro areas of large cities such as Chicago, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio. This launch of TAAT in Houston is planned to coincide with the Companys multistate billboard advertising campaign announced in its December 14, 2021 press release , which includes billboard placements in Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, and multiple other U.S. cities.

Official TAAT Launch in Puerto Rico

TAAT was initially placed with a Puerto Rican distributor in Cayey (population 43,000, approximately 34 miles from San Juan) in 2021 on a test basis. The Company anticipates TAAT could perform especially well in Puerto Rico based on its ability to retail at an exceptionally low price point as a non-tobacco product, given Puerto Ricos high taxes on tobacco cigarettes (among the nations highest per-pack taxes of USD $5.102). At the ASD Market Week trade show in Las Vegas in March 2022, the Company was introduced to a distributor in Puerto Rico who ultimately placed a purchase order for two pallets of TAAT (one full pallet of TAAT Menthol and one half pallet split between TAAT Original and Smooth) as well as 180 pre-filled countertop displays (containing an additional 6,480 TAAT packs). This purchase order is expected to land in Puerto Rico by April 2022.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/22b33864-d973-4afb-b452-8c2613f7bf6c

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

TAAT Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella commented, Now that we have generated momentum for TAAT at the consumer level, it has become significantly easier to convert wholesalers and retailers to begin carrying our products. With proven reorder rates and verified placements in high-profile gas and convenience chains across the United States, we have established valuable credibility as a serious player in the tobacco industry. We are making excellent progress towards our goals for the growth of the TAAT retail footprint in 2022 between organically adding stores through distributors, approaching retailers directly, and making connections at trade shows. These milestones so far in our calendar Q1 2022 are impressive, and we are excited to continue building upon them in an effort to make 2022 our best year yet.

Sources

1 - https://www.cdc.gov/statesystem/cigaretteuseadult.html

2 - https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0097.pdf

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC.

Setti Coscarella

Setti Coscarella, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT Investor Relations

1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)

investor@taatglobal.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About TAAT Global Alternatives Inc.

The Company has developed TAAT, which is a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional cigarettes offered in "Original", "Smooth", and "Menthol" varieties. TAAT's base material is Beyond Tobacco, a proprietary blend which undergoes a patent-pending refinement technique causing its scent and taste to resemble tobacco. Under executive leadership with "Big Tobacco" pedigree, TAAT was launched first in the United States in Q4 2020 as the Company seeks to position itself in the $812 billion1 global tobacco industry.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com .

References

1 Statista: Consumer Markets - Tobacco Products

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the anticipated performance of TAAT in the tobacco industry, in addition to the following: Placement of TAAT in Houston and Puerto Rico retailers as described in the press release, potential success of TAAT in Houston and Puerto Rico as well as continued success of TAAT in the United States. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individuals health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms

Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by TAAT Global Alternatives Inc. can be found under the Company's profile on http://sedar.com .




OSLO, Norway, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meltwater, a leading provider of social and media intelligence, together with the Play Magnus Group is pleased to announce the next tournament in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour  the Charity Cup  a fundraiser for UNICEF and their work supporting families affected by the war in Ukraine.



Deeply troubled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Meltwater and Play Magnus Group have come together to find a way to support humanitarian efforts for those who are in the country or have evacuated. The Charity Cup will serve as a fundraiser for UNICEF and their life-saving support for children and their families in the areas of health, nutrition, sanitation and more. The UN reports that more than 2.8 million people have been forced to flee the Ukraine as refugees since 24 February, and at least 2 million more have been displaced within the country.

The tournament runs March 19 - March 26, with activations benefitting UNICEF throughout. Viewers can join the Tour in their support of humanitarian work to help families affected by this war with a donation here: https://www.unicef.no/stott/privat/donasjon/chess-tournament

Together with Play Magnus Group, Meltwater is honored to lend our support to UNICEF as they provide vital assistance to families still in Ukraine and those who have been forced to flee from their homes. We believe in the power of sport for good and tech for good, and how we can come together in moments of need to support the most vulnerable, said Zubair Timol, VP of Global Culture at Meltwater.

As a global organization serving millions of chess fans around the world, we are humbled to be in a position to organize our upcoming tournament, the Charity Cup, as a fundraiser for UNICEF to support their vital humanitarian activities in and around Ukraine, said Andreas Thome, CEO Play Magnus Group.

The tournament begins March 19 featuring 16 Grand Masters competing, including World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen and Womens World Champion Ju Wenjun. Coverage will be provided by chess24 and available on Play Magnus Group channels in several languages, and in Norway, the event will be broadcast live on TV 2.

The Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, the worlds leading online chess tour, continues to break records in terms of press, TV, and social media attention. Following the huge success of the last tournament in the series, the Airthings Masters, which generated a potential reach of 570 million on social media, the Tour has reached more than 1 billion potential media impressions and over 2500 articles published across the world in over 10 languages. The Tour partners hope to channel this momentum into support of the humanitarian work UNICEF is doing to help Ukrainian families at this critical time.

For more information contact:

pr@meltwater.com

About Meltwater

Meltwater provides social and media intelligence. By examining millions of posts each day from social media platforms, blogs and news sites, Meltwater helps companies make better, more informed decisions based on insight from the outside. The company was founded in Oslo, Norway, in 2001 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with 50 offices across six continents. The company has 2,200 employees and 27,000 corporate customers, including industry leaders in several sectors. Learn more at meltwater.com.

About the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour

The Champions Chess Tour is the leading online chess Tour worldwide determining the world's best chess player over a full competitive season of online chess. The 2022 season begins in February 2022 and features monthly tournaments culminating in a Final in November 2022. The best chess players in the world are competing in rapid chess. All games take place online on www.chess24.com with players competing for a total prize pool of over USD 1.5 million. The MCCT is operated by Play Magnus Group listed on Euronext Growth Oslo under the ticker PMG. For more information visit www.championschesstour.com.
Vancouver, Canada, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oroco Resource Corp. (TSX-V: OCO, OTC: ORRCF) (Oroco or the Company) is pleased to announce that due to investor demand, and further to its news release of March 10, 2022, it is increasing its non-brokered private placement from 8,000,000 units to 10,500,000 units at a price of 1.70 per unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $2.40 for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering.

ABOUT OROCO:

The Company holds a net 73.2% interest in the collective 1,172.9 ha Core Concessions of the Santo Tomas Project in NW Mexico and may increase that majority interest up to an 85.5% interest with a project investment of up to CAD$30 million. The Company also holds a 77.5% interest in 7,807.9 ha of mineral concessions surrounding and adjacent to the Core Concessions (for a total project area of 22,192 acres). The Project is situated within the Santo Tomas District, which extends from Santo Tomas up to the Jinchuan Groups Bahuerachi project, approximately 14 km to the north-east. Santo Tomas hosts a significant copper porphyry deposit defined by prior exploration spanning the period from 1968 to 1994. During that time, the property was tested by over 100 diamond and reverse circulation drill holes, totaling approximately 30,000 meters. Based on data generated by these drill programs, a historical Prefeasibility Study was completed by Bateman Engineering Inc. in 1994.

The Santo Tomas Project is located within 160km of the Pacific deep-water port at Topolobampo and is serviced via highway and proximal rail (and parallel corridors of trunk grid power lines and natural gas) through the city of Los Mochis to the northern city of Choix. The property is reached by a 32 km access road originally built to service Goldcorps El Sauzal Mine in Chihuahua State.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements relating to future events or achievements of the Company, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in such statements. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these matters. Oroco does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements should they change, except as required by law.
English Icelandic

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Icelands Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at A and revised the Rating Outlook to Stable from Negative.

The revision of the Outlook to Stable reflects the resilience shown by the Icelandic economy to the pandemic shock and Fitchs expectation of a sustained growth recovery which should facilitate fiscal deficit and debt reduction over time.

The Icelandic economy has proved more resilient to the pandemic shock relative to Fitchs initial expectations. The recovery is underpinned by a rebound in tourism flows, solid performance of the aluminium sector supported by high aluminium prices, improvement of the labour market and sizeable fiscal policy support. Private consumption and investment will remain the main growth drivers, supported by further declines in unemployment and the governments Investment and Construction initiative.

Icelands 'A' rating is driven by its very high income per capita and very strong governance and human development indicators that are more consistent with those of 'AAA' and 'AA' rated countries. A favourable demographic composition (the share of people of working age was 65% in 2020) supports growth potential. The rating is constrained by the small size of the economy and limited export diversification that result in vulnerability to external shocks and capital account risks.

Factors that could lead to positive rating action/upgrade:

Public Finances: Greater confidence that the government debt to GDP ratio will be placed on a firm downward path, for example through implementation of a fiscal consolidation strategy or sustained GDP growth over time.

Macro: Sustained economic recovery beyond 2022, for example supported by a diversification of the export base and without generating macroeconomic imbalances.

Factors that could lead to negative rating action/downgrade:

Public Finances: Evidence that the government's economic and fiscal strategy will lead to a resumption of an upward trajectory of the government debt/GDP ratio over time.

Macro: Renewed economic weakness or an adverse shock, for example due to a slower-than-expected recovery in tourism, a sustained correction in the real estate market and material negative impact on the banking sector.

Attachment
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board) along with students from Hunter College and Fordham University are collaborating to raise awareness about the importance of improving access to clean water in low-resource countries to commemorate World Water Day on Tuesday, March 22nd.

The second annual #ACT4Water campaign will take place on Sunday, March 20th at 2:00PM. Visit our website for more information at: cmmb.org/act. The campaign calls on college students and others to walk 5K, the approximate distance it takes women and children living in low-resource countries around the world to collect water. The campaign encourages students to carry an extra weight  such as a backpack of textbooks  to simulate the experience of carrying a jerrycan with 5 gallons of water, weighing about 44 lbs.

On March 20th, students and other participants will walk from the Upper East Side of New York, through Central Park, and end at the Dublin House, where participants can socialize and discuss the importance of increasing awareness of the global water crisis. Those interested in joining the 5K walk event can sign up at: cmmb.org/act.

The lack of access to clean water and basic sanitation is one of the most troubling inequalities of our time. One in three people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. Twenty-five percent of health facilities worldwide do not have a consistent source of clean water. Good health begins with clean water, said Mary Beth Powers, CMMB president and CEO. CMMB is delighted to partner with college students to find new ways to make a difference.

Access to clean water is a basic human right, said Matthew Modine, activist and American actor known for his iconic roles in Full Metal Jacket and Stranger Things. Mathew Modine joins college students by advocating for improved access to clean water around the world. Women and children in poor and rural communities are the most vulnerable and at risk. Unsafe water results in countless deaths  almost all of which are preventable.

We believe in a world where everyone has access to clean water, said Sandi Bajrami, a pre-med student and President of CMMB x Hunter student chapter at Hunter College in New York organizing the campaign with fellow students. Our goal is to think globally and act locally by raising awareness to support communities in need of clean water.

CMMB is investing in water infrastructure to ensure long-term access to safe water for rural communities and health facilities. In 2021 alone, CMMB improved access to clean water for 263,819 people. We are digging solar-powered borehole wells, installing indoor plumbing in health facilities, and constructing handwashing stations, rainwater catchment systems, latrines, and much more.

For college students and others interested in joining the campaign, learn more at: cmmb.org/act.

For questions about the information contained within this press release or about CMMB and its programs, please contact the Senior Director of Communications, Luke Dougherty at: LDougherty@cmmb.org





About CMMB

CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board) provides long-term medical and development aid to communities affected by poverty and unequal access to healthcare. Focusing on womens and children health, we deliver sustainable health services in Peru, Haiti, Kenya, South Sudan, and Zambia. For over a century, we have worked to strengthen and support communities through healthcare programs and initiatives, the placement of volunteers, and the distribution of medicines and medical supplies. CMMB has delivered over 3,000 shipments to 88 countries over the last ten years, with a total value of more than $4 billion worth of medical aid.

Learn more at: https://cmmb.org/

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NEW YORK, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DIFFA BY DESIGN is next week, Thursday, March 24 to Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Center 415 (415 Fifth Avenue) in NYC. The event promises a fun and immersive experience, all with the goal of raising funds for DIFFA in their efforts to combat AIDS, homelessness, food scarcity, and mental health issues across the country. Top NY design talent will create inspiring and instagrammable installations that are open to consumers and design cognoscenti alike. Ticketed events include a formal Gala with Broadway stars and a late-night cocktail/dance party. Attendees can also attend talks, shoppable experiences and weave a textile made with recycled materials.

The three-day fundraiser will commence Thursday evening, March 24, with a formal Gala featuring a chefs tasting menu and a Titos sponsored bar. The star-studded event will feature special guest Tony Award-winning actor Jane Krakowski, and live performances by acclaimed Broadway actress and Co-founder of Tony Award-Winning Broadway Advocacy Coalition Amber Iman, cast members from Broadway hit Company, and DJ Michaelangelo L'Acqua. It will be co-hosted by DIFFA Chair Emeritus and prolific architect, David Rockwell and DIFFA Board Chairman and Editor in Chief of Interior Design, Cindy Allen. Come Friday evening, the DIFFA NIGHTS! cocktail/dance party will take over the magnificent space, and feature a DJ set from design industry dynamo, Royce Epstein and a live dance performance choreographed by Matthew Krull.

Exciting activations will be peppered throughout the three days, including timely panels and programming like: The Real Facts on the Circular Economy and Design's Impact, moderated by Laurel Christensen, Director of Outreach & Engagement, mindful MATERIALS, featuring panelists: Samantha McCormack, Creative Director & Director of Sustainability & Wellness, TPG Architecture; Jonathan Durling, Founder & CEO, Sossego Design; Rebecca Best, Vice President Sustainability & Market Engagement, Material Bank; and Jane Abernethy, Chief Sustainability Officer, Humanscale (March 25, 3:00pm-4:00pm); Battle of the Platforms: Instagram vs TikTok, moderated by Rio Hamilton, Marketing & Business Development Strategist, featuring Christine Vandover, Principal & Sr. Project Interior Designer, HOK; Reeves Connelly, designer, Pratt Institute architecture graduate student and TikTok dynamo; Vanessa Deleon, Interior Designer, Lifestyle Expert, and TV Personality; Tom Kligerman, Partner at Ike Kligerman Barkley; and Matthew Krull, Social Media Strategist & Influencer, Novita Communications (March 25, 4:30pm-5:30pm); a Shop & Sip Styling Party with Robert Verdi, leading lifestyle expert, celebrity stylist, and television personality and Jessie Freschl, Founder of Repurpose (March 26, 11:00am-5:00pm).

Additional activations throughout the three days include a silent auction of luxury goods and experienceswhich will be available online starting Wednesday, March 23rd at 10am at diffabydesign.givesmart.com, as well as Community Weaving for DIFFA with Suzanne Tick. The internationally known weaver and artist opens up her loom to guest weavers throughout the three-day event, inviting all attendees to contribute to creating a one of a kind piece with all proceeds going to DIFFA. The communal weaving experience will be open during the Thursday Gala and Friday DIFFA NIGHTS evening events, as well as on Friday and Saturday, from 11:00am-5:00pm.

When I assumed the role of Chairman nine years ago, I knew of the design industrys steadfast commitment to give, but I have been truly awed by the communitys generosity, year after year, comments Cindy Allen, DIFFA Board Chairman and Editor in Chief of Interior Design. For this exceptional back together celebration, we hope to inspire all people to find meaning in helping others to come together as one for DIFFA.

Attendees can immerse themselves in the colorful and vibrant designer installations throughout the 30,000 square foot space. Eye-catching vignettes on display include creations from Corey Damen Jenkins for Benjamin Moore, Gensler + Knoll + EvensonBest, Teknion | LUUM | Studio TK + Vocon + Officeworks, WB Wood + TPG Architecture + Eventscape + Haworth, HOK + Shaw Contract, Carl Hansen & Sn with design by Rockwell Group, Dan Mazzarini of BHDM Design, FLORIM + Perkins Eastman, Fogarty Finger + Menu + Bower + Maharam + Unity, HDR, Inc., Jeffrey Beers International + Maya Romanoff, Lauren Rottet for Rottet Studio, Material Bank + Slade Architecture, LAB at Rockwell Group, Sossego Design, and Steelcase.

DIFFA BY DESIGN comes at a critical moment in DIFFAs history. Weve expanded our mission to serve those affected by homelessness, food scarcity, and mental health issues in addition to HIV/AIDs and we need everyones help in spreading the word and raising funds, says DIFFA Executive Director Dawn Roberson. With the help of our partners at Rockwell Group we have designed a stellar space with exciting activations and anchor events. There will truly be something for everyone.

Additional DIFFA Sponsors and Supporters include:

Interior Design, Aspire, Galerie, Aspire Home Plus, Hearst Design Collection, Modern Luxury Manhattan, 200 Lex, Designtex, Inside Source, ASID, Bentley Mills, LSM, Stylex, Boss Design, Buck Agency, Crosby Street Studios. The press room furnishings will be provided by True Residential, Stylex, Humanscale, JB Lighting Collection, Lodes, Timbur, and Aronsons Floor Covering, with wall art by Maiarelli Studio and design by HDR Inc. The green room furnishings will be provided by Stellar Works and Liora Manne.

For more information about DIFFA BY DESIGN, including a full list of programming and to purchase tickets, visit diffa.org/diffa-by-design/.

Interviews with the installation designers, DIFFA leadership, DIFFA Gala co-hosts, as well as talent are available.

###

ABOUT DIFFA

DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS grants funds to organizations providing treatment, education, and assistance for people impacted by HIV/AIDS, homelessness, hunger, and mental health issues.

For four decades, DIFFA has created legendary programs and events that highlight a cause that has significantly impacted the industry. As times change and we face a new set of challenges, DIFFA answers the community's needs by expanding our mission to include funding for those with food and housing insecurities and to support mental wellbeing.

Harnessing the design industry's resources and creativity to respond to critical health issues and build a healthier, robust, and inclusive community. Making a DIFFArence!

DIFFA is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States. Mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community, DIFFA has granted more than $50 million to hundreds of HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide. Including Alpha Workshops, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Housing Works, God's Love We Deliver, Bailey House, SAGE, Health, Hetrick-Martin Institute, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, among many others. www.diffa.org.

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TORONTO, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Flowr Corporation (Flowr or the Company) (TSXV: FLWR, OTC: FLWPF) is pleased to provide a business update and announces the departure of Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darryl Brooker and appointment of Tom Flow as Interim CEO.



Business Update

In the last six months, Flowr has increased its product offerings significantly with the launch and success of Strawnana, Sour Sis, BC Dog Walkers, and the recently introduced strains of BC Clementine Crush, BC Lemon Ice, BC Spiced Grape and BC Mango Melon OG. Q2 will see the introduction of seven new SKUs across the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The genetic and innovation pipeline continues to expand and new product launches are planned for Q3 and Q4.

From January 2022 to February 2022, our BC Strawnana Dog Walkers (pre-rolls) represented a top 15 pre-roll SKU in Ontario (above $10/gram) and continues to show strong traction in the provinces of British Colombia and Alberta. We have also seen significant growth in retail penetration across our core markets. In Ontario, over 65% of stores currently carry at least one Flowr product, representing significant growth from under 50% in August 2021. Weve seen a similar story across our other major markets, where our store distribution has grown from ~30% to over ~60% and ~27% to over 55% in British Colombia and Alberta, respectfully.

Over the past year, the Company has significantly reduced its overhead costs and paid down much of its senior indebtedness. Since January 1, 2021, the Company has reduced the amount of principal indebtedness under its overall debt from $43.5 million to $27.9 million and has repaid its senior secured indebtedness from $18.5 million to $5.7 million to date. The sale of the KRS R&D facility as previously announced will further reduce the Companys indebtedness by $12 million. The Company has also reduced SG&A expenses each quarter since the end of 2020 and is on track to achieve annualized SG&A savings of $3.3 million as previously announced. Our revenue continues to show quarter-on-quarter growth and will achieve record annual revenue for 2021 and further growth into 2022. We expect to release our Q4 and full year 2021 financial results prior to the end of April 2022.

The Company has freed up additional funds and streamlined its focus through the sale of non-core assets, including its Australian business, TCann Pty. Ltd. for $500,000, sale of the K2 lands for $6.3 million and the recently announced agreement to sell the KRS R&D facility for net proceeds of $4 million.

Leadership Transition

Mr. Brooker has resigned as Director and CEO effective immediately in order to pursue other opportunities. The Company would like to thank Darryl for his efforts over the past year and wish him success in his future endeavours.

Leaving Flowr was a very tough and personal decision for me as I pursue other opportunities. I could not be more impressed with the performance of the management team over the last 10 months in terms of productivity, innovation, new strains and a laser focus on driving the business to profitability in 2022. This strong management team remains in place and I am confident that Flowr will continue to improve its share and leadership in the premium Canadian cannabis dried flower market.

In the short-term, Tom Flow has been appointed Interim CEO to help support the leadership transition of the Company. As the founder and former CEO of the Company, Tom has an intimate knowledge of the business and is well-positioned to help guide Flowr through its leadership transition.

The Board of Directors will be providing additional support to management during the leadership transition to ensure effective leadership and decision-making as the Company continues its focus on streamlining the business and works towards its goal of becoming cash-flow positive during 2022.

About The Flowr Corporation

The Flowr Corporation is a Canadian cannabis company with operations in Canada and the European Union. Its Canadian operating campus, located in Kelowna, BC, includes a purpose-built, GMP-designed indoor cultivation facility; an outdoor and greenhouse cultivation site; and a state-of-the-art R&D facility. From this campus, Flowr produces recreational and medicinal products. Internationally, Flowr services the global medical cannabis market through its subsidiary, Holigen Holdings Limited, which has a license for cannabis cultivation in Portugal and operates a GMP licensed facility in Portugal. In 2020, Flowrs BC Pink Kush was recognized as the top indica strain in Canada by KIND magazine.

Flowr aims to support improving outcomes through responsible cannabis use and, as an established expert in cannabis cultivation, strives to be the brand of choice for consumers and patients seeking the highest-quality craftsmanship and product consistency across a portfolio of differentiated cannabis products.

For more information, please visit flowrcorp.com or follow Flowr on Twitter: @FlowrCanada and LinkedIn: The Flowr Corporation.

On behalf of The Flowr Corporation:

Tom Flow

Interim Chief Executive Officer

CONTACT INFORMATION:

INVESTORS & MEDIA:

John Chou

Chief Financial Officer

John.chou@flowr.ca

Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements made in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, future oriented financial information or financial outlooks (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to: the satisfaction of all of the conditions under the Supply Agreement; the anticipated size of the European medical cannabis market; the Companys expectation that it will build on its achievements as it continues to invest in sales and marketing; Flowr servicing the global medical cannabis market and operating GMP facilities in Portugal; Flowrs business, production and products; Flowrs plans to provide premium quality cannabis to adult use recreational and medical markets; EU-GMP certification opening the medicinal cannabis opportunity for the Company in global markets; the Company being well positioned to distribute EU-GMP compliant product into underserviced markets; Flowrs ability to realize revenue from the Companys European operations within the anticipated timeframe or at all; Flowrs ability to establish further sales and distribution channels in Europe to deliver medicinal cannabis to underserviced markets; future legislative and regulatory developments in Canada, in Europe and elsewhere; the cannabis industry in Canada and Europe, generally; the ability of Flowr to implement its business strategies; and the ability of can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, believe, estimate, plan, could, should, would, outlook, forecast, anticipate, foresee, continue or the Flowr to produce or sell premium quality cannabis. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking information is current as of the date it is made and is based on reasonable estimates and assumptions made by us at the relevant time in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. To the extent any forward-looking information in this press release constitutes future oriented financial information or financial outlooks, within the meaning of applicable securities laws, the purpose of such information being provided is to demonstrate the potential of the Company and readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. However, we do not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information as discussed in the Risk Factors section of the Companys 2020 Annual Information Form dated April 28, 2021 (the AIF). A copy of the AIF and the Companys other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Companys profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.

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.
The family of an Ohio man fatally shot by police after he fired his own weapon into the air to celebrate the new year, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the officer and the city of Canton.

I will fight today, tomorrow and every day until I have no breath left because its my family today but may be yours tomorrow, James Williams widow, Marquetta, said during a press conference on Wednesday.

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Marquetta Williams gestures to a section of family's wooden security fence on Jan. 3, 2022, in Canton, Ohio, as she recounts the events surrounding the death of her husband, James Williams. (Julie Vennitti Botos/AP)

The family is seeking unspecified compensatory and special damages for claims including excessive force, wrongful death, deliberate indifference to medical needs, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

It was just minutes into 2022 when Williams, a Black man, was fatally struck by gunfire unleashed by Officer Robert Huber. Williams at the time, on his own property and surrounded by a 6-foot-tall fence, was shooting his own firearm into the air to ring in the New Year. According to the familys complaint, Huber fired through the fence without warning, shouting get down only after the smoke had already settled.

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James Williams, an Ohio man fatally shot by a police officer after he fired his own weapon into the air to celebrate the New Year.

Williams was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. He was the father of four daughters and stepfather to two more.

Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo on the day of the shooting said Huber, in the area to investigate reports of gunshots, feared for his life when he pulled out his gun and opened fire.

This still image taken from from Canton Police Department body camera video shows officers holding up their weapons before entering a house Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Canton, Ohio. James Williams, 46, of Canton, was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. (AP)

Canton Mayor Thomas Bernabei in a statement to The Canton Repository said the shooting remained under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and that the findings would be turned over to a Stark County grand jury to determine whether criminal charges would be filed. He declined to provide additional comment.

The City of Canton was made aware of the lawsuit through media coverage yesterday, Bernabei said. The City of Canton has not yet been served with the lawsuit but obtained a copy of the lawsuit which is being reviewed by the Canton Law Department. Because this is now a pending case, it is not appropriate to comment on it in any extensive manner.

With News Wire Services
Washington, D.C., March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group, filed an amicus brief today in Dr. A, et al. v. Kathy Hochul, et al., encouraging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant review and hold that New Yorks administrative Covid-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers denies the free exercise of religion to the Petitioners by allowing secular exemptions while denying religious ones. New Yorks policy is inherently unequal, prejudiced, and violative of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Although the discriminatory administrative policy at issue in this case came with blatantly prejudicial attitudes expressed by Governor Hochul, the case provides a vehicle for the Court to address the inherent inequality of all administrative rulemaking for many religious Americans.

On August 18, 2021, the New York Department of Health proposed an emergency Covid-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers. The original proposal included mandatory exemptions for those with either religious or medical reasons for not taking the vaccine. In a shocking reversal, three days later, the States Public Health and Health Planning Councilan advisory committee headed by the Commissioner of the Department of Healthproposed a revised mandate, this time with no religious exemption.

Governor Hochul explained that a religious exemption is not needed because true believers would get vaccinated. She acknowledged that we left off [the religious exemption] in our regulations intentionally. She provided no scientific or legal basis for this intentional omission, explaining instead that there was no sanctioned religious exemption from any organized religion and that organized religions are encouraging the opposite.

An essential element of republican government is to have policies adopted via laws made by a representative legislature that is elected by, and thus responsive to, the people, including religious minorities. Instead, New York imposed its healthcare worker vaccine policy through an administrative body that is unelected and thus unresponsive, and even institutionally prejudiced against orthodox or traditional religionin this case led by a governor expressly prejudiced against petitioners religious views.

New Yorks health bureaucrats have already deemed it reasonable and risk-justified to allow unvaccinated healthcare workers with non-religious, medical objections to the vaccine to work in person and treat patients, provided such workers follow certain test-and-mask requirements. But they forbid the same test-and-mask accommodation for healthcare workers with religious objections to the vaccine. There is no compelling reason for this unequal treatment because tested and masked unvaccinated workers present the same (low) risk of carrying and transmitting Covid-19 regardless of why they are unvaccinated. New Yorks Department of Health even allows healthcare workers who are infected with Covid-19 and actively exhibiting symptoms to return to work in person and treat patients, provided such infected workers are vaccinated and wear N95 or KN95 masks.

The Supreme Court should grant the petition for certiorari and confront the religious inequality present in administrative policymaking. The ubiquity of discriminatory administrative edicts and the magnitude of the civil liberties they violate compels the Court to act.

NCLA released the following statements:

Governor Hochul said the quiet part out loud when she condemned religious objectors for not adhering to dogma she deems acceptable. Countless unelected bureaucrats across the country silently share her disdain for non-mainstream religious views. That silence, however, neither prevents nor excuses systematic administrative discrimination against religious Americans. The only way to restore religious liberty and equality is for the courts to set aside such prejudiced policies, thereby taking lawmaking power away from unelected bureaucrats and handing it back to elected legislators.

 Sheng Li, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

This case exemplifies a fundamental problem with the administrative state. Those who make policy through the administrative process often look down on those impacted by their policies. That contrasts with legislatures, comprised of elected officials who are accountable to, and representative of, the public.

 Jenin Younes, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

For more information visit the amicus page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###
Wheat Ridge, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wheat Ridge, Colorado -

Denver IT support company Office Automation Technologies Inc. is providing managed IT services to small to midsized companies in Colorado.

Managed IT services refers to the outsourcing of the responsibilities that come along with using digital technologies in the workplace. Small to midsized companies, that are not primarily tech-focused companies, might struggle to justify the need for on-site dedicated staff to manage their IT infrastructure. However, regardless of how old school a company is or how far removed it is from modern times, some critical business processes still need to be handled by computers in this day and age such as accounting, payroll, scheduling, status reporting, and many more.

It may be comforting to think that once IT infrastructure has been invested in and put in place, there wont be any recurring expenses as long as the employees treat the computer systems with common sense and intuitiveness. However, there are many problems with this assumption. Humans are not perfect and neither is the software and hardware that they manufacture. Hardware needs maintenance, software needs updates, and humans need tech support from time to time.

Managed IT services fix all the aforementioned problems for small to midsize companies who want to focus on their core product and business without having to make the costly move to have full-time staff to deal with IT problems that may or may not occur regularly. Office Automation Technologies Inc. is filling this niche for companies in Denver who are willing to forgo investing in a full-blown IT department and would rather have a trusted team of IT professionals that they can call when the need arises.

On its website, Office Automation Technologies Inc. says that it provides services that become an extension of your team, sitting on the same side of the table to help architect, manage and support your technology requirements quickly and efficiently, without the costs that come with maintaining a 24/7 IT team on your payroll. The companys range of services includes technology consulting, business continuity management, business security, cloud services, architectural & engineering IT support, IT consultation, and employee security training.

A spokesperson for the company talks about the services it offers by saying, Running a business is already as hard as it is. Regardless of how old-fashioned and steeped in tradition you think you are, there is no fighting the relentless march of technology that slowly and eventually swallows all aspects of life. However, the 21st century is a different ball game and it is crucial to keep up with the times to stand a chance in this competitive market. You know that your competitors are using the latest technologies to find the thinnest edge in what they are offering. We are sure that you feel compelled to match their high-tech processes to survive as a business. We understand the apprehensiveness as we have helped dozens of clients like you get a handle on the latest buzzwords and fancy tech lingo that might seem overwhelming to sieve through and helped them find the exact elements that they needed to succeed. Our range of services is designed to help you optimize your business using only the most relevant technologies that are going to have a tangible impact on your bottom line. We dont stick you with expenses just for the sake of making a buck. We take the time to understand your business, streamline your IT operations, help you keep costs down, and reliably show up to solve any issue every single time if there happens to be a problem with the systems that we have set up. Our clients trust our integrity and our drive for helping them succeed, two endearing qualities that have helped us succeed as IT service providers since we started operations in Denver in 1994. Find us on Facebook today to stay updated with news from the company and to find our contact information.

Office Automation Technologies Inc. can be contacted at the phone number 303.202.5152 or the email address info@oati1.com.

###

For more information about Office Automation Technologies Inc., contact the company here:



Office Automation Technologies Inc.

David Wacker

(303) 202-5152

info@oati1.com

11919 W Interstate 70 Frontage Rd N # 123, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
A possible tornado hit at least two buildings and several mobile homes in south Alabama Friday morning.

Six people were hurt but none of the injuries appeared life-threatening, Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said.

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Atmore and Poarch authorities, Alabama state troopers, as well as several ambulances were dispatched to the area, a mobile home park about 7 miles north of Atmore, around 9:30 a.m. local time, authorities said.

Atmore is a city of about 8,500 located on the Alabama-Florida line in Escambia County.

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All of our police officers are out there now, Atmore Mayor Jim Staff told AL.com earlier on Friday. The fire department too, theyre all out there. We havent heard anything back yet.

Local television station WEAR-TV later reported that five people were transported to a hospital. A sixth person arrived at the hospital later, Jackson said.

At least nine mobile homes were destroyed, Jackson said. Everybody in them has been accounted for, he added.

Its devastating, and those people have nothing left. We are so thankful that nobody was killed or severely injured, Jackson said.

We had one guy that was in his mobile home when the storm hit. He was asleep. He said when he woke up, he was in the woods. So, you know, obviously the good Lord was looking out for him, Jackson told WALA-TV.

WATCH: Drone footage shows damage to mobile homes near Atmore, Alabama after severe weather and a possible tornado. We're LIVE with the latest.



: @CharlesPeekWX pic.twitter.com/PeXtwq73eb  The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) March 18, 2022

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Its still not clear whether the damage was caused by a tornado or heavy straight-line winds.

Late Friday morning, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch for portions of southeast Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, southwest Georgia and coastal waters.

Damaging wind with gusts of up to 70 mph, as well as a couple of intense tornadoes, were possible, authorities said.

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Air mass moistening and destabilization is expected through the afternoon across southeast Alabama and Florida panhandle into southwest Georgia, with additional storms expected to develop near and immediately ahead of an ongoing band of storms, the weather service reported.

Residents were being asked to be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.

More than 13,000 homes and businesses lost power, and the storm brought flash-flooding south of Birmingham.

With News Wire Services
Underpaid prosecutors overwhelmed by a mammoth backlog of cases are quitting in droves when their work is needed more than ever, the citys district attorneys told the City Council on Friday.

Former staffers cited the responsibilities of discovery, managing the backlog of cases, and increased night and weekend shifts among the reasons why they leave, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark told the councils Public Safety Committee at a virtual budget hearing.

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People are in tears when they leave because they love the work they do for the Bronx community, but the job is now overwhelming.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark on Oct. 10, 2019 in the Bronx. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Clark said 104 attorneys and 90 professional staff had quit her office from July 2021 to February, surpassing the 96 attorneys and 51 professional staff who left between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

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Clark said the departures come as the Bronx DA faces 1,270 open gun cases.

Gun violence is a blight on the Bronx that highlights a need for resources, Clark said. We must save a generation of boys and young men, predominantly of color, from death and prison.

Staten Island DA Michael McMahon said staff retention and recruitment had similarly reached a crisis level in his office. He told the council hes losing skilled employees to higher paid positions at the NYPD and the state Office of Court Administration, who offer them a much more manageable workload, and therefore, a much more amenable lifestyle.

The Daily News previously reported that reforms of rules regarding handling of evidence  known as discovery reform  have dramatically changed prosecutors jobs. The reforms, implemented in 2020, require prosecutors to disclose a wide range of evidence earlier in the trial process. Cases can be tossed if evidence is not handed over within certain deadlines.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg told the council he needs more funding to investigate hate crimes, which he said saw a staggering 160% spike last year.

We have more active cases than we have had at any other time, said Bragg. We need more investigators. We in particular want to deepen our language competencies  and we need more lawyers.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks at the National Action Network headquarters in Harlem Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Queens DA Melinda Katz said her $82.2 million operating budget in 2021 came out to the least amount of money per resident and arrest compared to the other boroughs.

The preliminary budget for city prosecutors for the upcoming fiscal year is $458.9 million, down from $488.5 million in the current fiscal year.
Governor Youngkin Announces Over $5.4 Million in Growth and Opportunity Virginia Grants to accelerate economic growth and job creation efforts

~ Funding will support workforce development and middle-mile broadband infrastructure development~

RICHMOND  Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced $5,482,330 in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards for two projects focused on creating a critical talent pipeline to support the emerging advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and expanding middle-mile broadband infrastructure to increase access and service quality to existing industry, as well as key economic development sites.

Industry-responsive workforce development programs will play a critical role in jumpstarting our economy, as will increasing the marketability of sites through improved infrastructure, like broadband, said Governor Youngkin. These projects will provide invaluable support to our goals of opening Virginia for business, reinvigorating job growth and delivering on our Day One promises.

The GO Virginia Board includes key members of the Governors cabinet, leadership from the business community and the General Assembly, including Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick and Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings. Newly appointed House of Delegates members include Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert, Del. Terry Kilgore, House Majority Leader, Del. Barry Knight, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, and Del. Terry Austin.

GO Virginia plays an important role in developing the next generation of leaders and innovators across the Commonwealth, said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. These projects showcase a collaborative approach by bringing regional partners together to expand and attract businesses and provide quality job opportunities to Virginians.

These recent efforts of the GO Virginia program demonstrate the critical nature of strategic thinking in these regions and how addressing near-term economic and infrastructure needs can create long-term economic growth opportunities, said GO Virginia Board Member and Virginia Senator Frank Ruff. These two projects represent how regions can come together to combine public, private and federal resources to ultimately produce a tremendously positive impact on communities in these particular regions and around the Commonwealth.

Since the programs inception in 2017, GO Virginia has funded 209 projects and awarded approximately $81 million to support regional economic development efforts. To learn more about the GO Virginia program, visit dhcd.virginia.gov/gova.

2022 STATEWIDE COMPETITIVE AWARDS:

MBC Middle Mile Fiber Expansion Project | $5,000,000

Region 3: Counties of Prince Edward, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg

Region 4: Counties of Dinwiddie, Prince George and Sussex, and the city of Petersburg

Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Inc. will build six middle-mile broadband infrastructure segments that will provide critical broadband connectivity and diversity in nine localities. The effort will extend middle mile open-access fiber optic infrastructure to critical business and industrial parks in GO Virginia Regions 3 and 4, increasing marketability, reducing future infrastructure extension costs and providing a robust fiber connection that will enable private-sector telecom carriers to support business and industry on strategic economic development sites.

2022 REGIONAL GRANT AWARDS:

Building a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Talent Pipeline | $482,330

Region 4: Counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George, and the city of Petersburg

John Tyler Community College (JTCC), which is becoming Brightpoint Community College, has developed the Building a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Talent Pipeline (BPMTP) project to offer career-training programs and credentials to emerging advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technicians. The project will address regional interest in growing a diverse pharmaceutical manufacturing talent pipeline, offer programs and credentials that meet the emerging global pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors immediate workforce demands and grow a diverse regional pipeline of skilled, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technicians.

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Lewis Hamilton has escaped a grid penalty. The seven-time world champion missed the FIA gala last year and FIA regulations dictate that the Mercedes driver could receive a grid penalty for that. It will not come to that, however. Hamilton donates 50,000 euros.

Hamilton and Mohammed Ben-Sulayem met on Thursday to discuss how motorsport can become more inclusive. The British driver has many ideas on the subject and the FIA wanted to hear his views on how things could be done better on a social level in the future.

The statement states that 50,000 euros will be donated by Hamilton, but earlier on Friday he already spoke of a fine. Hamilton also said then that this money would go to charity.

Hamilton and FIA president engage in conversation on diversity and inclusiveness

FIA President Mohammed @Ben_Sulayem meets with Sir @LewisHamilton to discuss Diversity and Inclusion in motor sport pic.twitter.com/0OCi8whz8v  FIA (@fia) March 18, 2022
After the first free practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari seem to have the best papers. Meanwhile, it is starting to look more and more like Mercedes wasn't bluffing about the problems they would have after all this year, because on Friday the team was still not there. Toto Wolff is watching with dismay and acknowledges that Max Verstappen is "in a league of his own" at the moment.

Verstappen closed Friday with the fastest time but would have an even bigger lead in the long runs. Meanwhile, Mercedes is still plagued by porpoising and the team seems to lack speed on the straight.

Read more F1 LIVE | Follow all the action of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix

Wolff acknowledges superiority in Verstappen

Wolff didn't let on much on Friday, but the Mercedes team boss can't help but conclude that things are looking good for Red Bull. "Max is driving in a league of his own," he says according to Auto, Motor und Sport, describing the Austrian as "annoyed."

While, according to George Russell, Mercedes is up against AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo, Red Bull Racing looks set to battle it out for pole position with Ferrari. In terms of race pace, Red Bull seems to have the best papers at the moment, but according to the German medium, the team also has a little more engine power up its sleeve.
ALBANY  A budget battle over bail is brewing.

Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocates are up in arms following reports that Gov. Hochul plans on pushing a package of public safety proposals, including changes to New Yorks bail reforms, as part of budget negotiations.

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The governors 10-point plan includes expanding the number of bail eligible crimes to cover more gun charges and would allow judges to consider a suspects criminal history and set bail for repeat offenders, according to reports.

Legislative leaders have expressed no desire to revisit bail after amending state laws in recent years, meaning the overhauls proposed by the governor could set up a major showdown ahead of the April 1 budget deadline.

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Despite the plan being leaked to media outlets, Hochul spokeswoman Hazel Crampton-Hays said the governor does not negotiate in public.

We look forward to continuing to work with the legislature to deliver a budget that serves New Yorkers, she said.

The proposals drew swift rebukes from Democratic lawmakers, who said they were blindsided by the plan.

I dont think our public safety should be politicized, said Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens). I think we can be a lot more responsible than succumbing to knee-jerk reactions instead of scientific, well-researched solutions with positive outcomes.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Advocates, meanwhile, excoriated Hochul, accusing her of caving to political pressure and vowing to fight tooth and nail against the proposals.

In a single sweep, (Hochul) has proposed rolling back years worth of justice reforms, caving to disingenuous attacks on bail, discovery and Raise the Age reform, said Marvin Mayfield, director of organizing at the Center for Community Alternatives. In doing so, she is placing political expediency over all evidence about what actually improves safety.

Both Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) have similarly defended New Yorks cashless bail aimed to reduce the number of people jailed while awaiting trial simply because they were poor.

The Democratic-led Legislature approved the sweeping changes to the states bail laws in 2019, limiting pretrial detention for most nonviolent crimes. The overhauls were amended in 2020 to make more offenses bail-eligible, such as criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter.

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View of the Assembly Chamber during a Legislative Session at the New York state Capitol, Monday, March 8, 2021, in Albany, N.Y. (Hans Pennink)

However, a slew of critics, including Mayor Adams, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-L.I.), Hochuls primary opponent, and Republicans have tied cashless bail to recent spikes in violent crime and shootings seen across the city and state.

Running to Hochuls right, Suozzi accused the governor of lifting from his own 15-point public safety platform.

Hochuls failed leadership is too little too late for the victims of violent crime, he said.

Additionally, Adams has also called for changes to the states Raise the Age laws to allow more teens to be prosecuted in a bid to stem violent crime, another reform Hochul is reportedly considering.

Hizzoner called the governors plan a big step forward.

Reports of the proposal came hours after former governor Andrew Cuomo joined the anti-bail chorus, railing about violent crime and castigating the laws enacted during his tenure.

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Cuomo, rumored to be weighing a gubernatorial run after resigning in disgrace last year following allegations of sexual harassment, told ministers at a Bronx church that if bail isnt addressed in the budget, it wont happen.

People die while theyre sitting up there deciding what to do, and theyre not going to do it, he said of Albany lawmakers.

Patrolmens Benevolent Association head Pat Lynch said hes encouraged by Hochuls proposal, but added that hes keeping a watchful eye on what will happen once it hits the Legislature.

As always, when its up in Albany, you have to read the fine print to see if its change for changes sake or change to fix the problem, he said after marching in the St. Patricks Day parade.

With Chris Sommerfeldt
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams  one of several candidates running for governor  rolled out his affordable housing platform Thursday, the same day former Gov. Andrew Cuomo appeared to inch closer to announcing his own run.

As part of his plan, Williams vowed to pour more state funding into housing subsidies, end the sale of public land to for-profit developers and revamp the Empire State Development Corp. to build and preserve more affordable housing.

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New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Under this system, housing would be available to all people at a range of income levels, he wrote in a policy statement shared with the Daily News Thursday. Moderate income households, paying 30 percent of their income in rent, will be able to cross-subsidize lower rents paid by lower-income families. The state can make up any funding gap through both new and existing subsidy programs.

As Williams explained it to The News, the way it would work is that rent in new affordable-housing developments would be set at 30% of a tenants income. Instead of just housing low-income earners, the units would also go to higher earners, whose 30% would amount to a more significant chunk of change and help subsidize the overall upkeep of the building.

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We have a bold problem, so we need a bold solution, he said.

Williams is widely regarded as a longshot candidate in the race, with the most recent polling projecting hed only receive 3.7% in the Democratic primary if Cuomo decides to run. That poll, conducted by Emerson College, also predicted that Gov. Hochul would edge out Cuomo by 37% to 33%.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a New York Hispanic Clergy Organization meeting, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Bronx, New York. (Seth Wenig/AP)

Cuomo appeared in the Bronx on Thursday with former state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., in the latest sign that he may be considering a campaign to get his old job back.

But Williams said he remains unfazed by the poll numbers. When asked how he plans to leapfrog Hochul, Rep. Tom Suozzi  who earned 7.3% in the Emerson poll  and a possible Cuomo comeback, Williams pointed to what he views as a through-line that extends from Cuomos administration to Hochul, who served as lieutenant governor before Cuomos resignation.

While he views Hochul as a better governor, he criticized her housing policies as nibbling around the edges of the issue.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Darren McGee/Darren McGee- Office of Governor)

Thats the floor of what we should be doing, not the ceiling, he said. Polls have never been good to us. Theyve never shown what we actually do.

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi suggested that his bosss record speaks for itself.

Plans are nice. Accomplishments are better, Azzopardi said. Under our administration, we pledged, passed, and built a record number of affordable housing units. Its a record were proud of.

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Williams vowed to pour more state funding into housing subsidies if elected and keep a closer eye on NYCHA.

I would prioritize improving oversight and transparency of entities like the New York City Housing Authority and work closely with federal and local partners to realize a Green New Deal for Public Housing, said Williams, who represented parts of central Brooklyn as a Councilman before becoming public advocate.

Williams said he would also push to enact whats known as the Good Cause eviction bill, which would make it much harder for landlords to evict tenants, and expand a tenants right to an attorney to cover the entire state. As its widely known, the right to counsel became law in New York City during Williams time on the Council.
Hong Kong: Latest jab arrangements announced

The Government today announced that from 8am on March 21, people aged 18 to 59 can make appointments online via the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for the third dose three months after their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The system will simultaneously be open to bookings by immunocompromised people aged 12 or above for receiving an additional dose, ie the fourth dose, with a time interval of three months since the third dose. The arrangements for other groups of people making appointments for receiving the third dose was announced on March 4.

The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, the Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection and the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel earlier jointly recommended to shorten the time interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses.

They also strongly recommended a third dose of the BioNTech vaccine for adults who have received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine or the BioNTech vaccine as soon as three months after they had received their second dose.

The experts announced on March 13 the updated consensus interim recommendations in respect of the use of COVID-19 vaccines for people and children with previous infection.

Taking into account the expert recommendations, recovered people who had not received two doses or more of a COVID-19 vaccine before infection can receive vaccination as soon as three months after recovery.

To receive the jab, they should go to vaccination venues with their recovery records, such as a discharge letter issued by a hospital; a text message, electronic record or paper certificate of a positive polymerase chain reaction test result issued by the Government or a recognised laboratory under the Department of Health's Laboratory Recognition Scheme; a text message or electronic record of a completed declaration of a positive rapid antigen test result on the declaration system for people who tested positive using rapid antigen tests; or any other documents or records issued by the Government or the Hospital Authority pertaining to the recovered person status of an individual.

Photos of positive rapid antigen test results are not accepted as valid recovery records.

The Government will modify the online booking system having regard to the latest expert recommendations as well as the recovery records of individuals in the computer system for online booking by people who have recovered from COVID-19.

For recovered residents of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), those who are unvaccinated may receive their first dose one month after recovery and the second dose with a time interval of one month since their first dose at the earliest.

If they had received one dose before infection, they may receive another dose three months after recovery.

The visiting medical officers providing an outreach vaccination service to RCHEs will make appropriate arrangements according to the updated consensus interim recommendations.

For immunocompromised people who have recovered from COVID-19, they should bring the relevant medical certificate to the designated vaccination venues to verify their status for receiving the jab.

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Kenyan firm secures approval to export avocados to China

Xinhua) 09:40, March 18, 2022

NAIROBI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's integrated agro-business firm Kakuzi said Thursday it has secured approval from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to process and prepare export-grade fresh avocados for the Chinese market.

Kakuzi managing director Chris Flowers said the firm said they secured the approval following a stringent phytosanitary audit for its extensive Kakuzi farms and packhouse.

"We recently were subjected to a series of random and procedural inspections by KEPHIS, and I am glad to announce that the Kakuzi's orchards and Packhouse are among the first approved large scale farming and packing operations, cleared for the Chinese market," Flowers said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

He said the approval comes following the recent signing of two bilateral trade protocols to facilitate the export of fresh avocados and aquatic products from Kenya to China.

KEPHIS has been undertaking facility audits to ensure the integrity of local packhouses earmarked to provide packaging solutions for avocado exports as part of the implementation of the protocols.

Flowers said the Kakuzi fresh produce Packhouse and Orchards had been inspected and found to be compliant with the high international standards.

Kenya and China signed bilateral trade protocols allowing the export of avocado products in January. The protocols provide specific phytosanitary and inspection quarantine, veterinary sanitary requirements that avocado and aquatic farmers must comply respectively with before exporting their produce to China.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Mayor Adams opened the door Friday to scrapping a city rule requiring NYPD officer applicants to have earned college credits.

Adams, himself a retired NYPD captain, entertained the idea after a closed-door meeting with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, whose administration recently scrapped a similar requirement for the Windy Citys police department.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (right) hold a press conference at City Hall in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, March 18, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

I like what the mayor is doing in the recruitment. Were hearing all over the country that there is a requirement problem with police officers, Adams said during a joint press conference with Lightfoot at Chicago City Hall after their sit-down. There were historical barriers that were preventing people from using life experiences to waives. Were going to look to duplicate that in New York City.

Under current protocols, NYPD officer applicants mustve earned at least 60 credits from an accredited institution while maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA.

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The Chicago Police Department dropped its 60 college credit application requirement last week amid an ongoing struggle to attract new recruits.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (right) hold a press conference at City Hall in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, March 18, 2022. They discussed public safety issues in the two cities. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Under the new policy, Chicago Police Department applicants without college credits must have at least three years of professional experience in health care, education, social services or certain trade industries, or prior work in the security, correctional or law enforcement fields.

Adams, whose Chicago visit came after he traveled to Washington, D.C. earlier this week to meet with Mayor Muriel Bowser, said its critical for him to engage with his counterparts in other major U.S. cities.

This is an entryway to learn from each other, he said.

Lightfoot, whose city, like New York, has seen a spike in gun violence during the pandemic, echoed Adams sentiment.

I know were going to be great partners, she said.
Toyota Ventures launched its third global call for innovation today to search for early-stage companies that can help make the factory of the future a reality sooner. In partnership with Toyotas Manufacturing Project Innovation Center (MPIC) and Toyota Research Institute (TRI), the 2022 call focuses on finding scalable solutions to modernize manufacturing and advance sustainable production.

Through 31 May 2022, qualified entrepreneurs are invited to apply to the call for an opportunity to receive between $500,000 and $2 million in venture capital funding from Toyota Ventures.

We take a founder-first approach to investing, partnering with entrepreneurs to help them bring disruptive technologies and business models to market more quickly. With the 2022 call for innovation, we are looking to support talented startup teams that are developing smarter and more sustainable factories of the future. There are a host of challenges facing the supply chain and manufacturing industryits a critical time, and we see this as a perfect opportunity for startup teams with bold ideas and solutions to accelerate the Industry 4.0 transformation. Jim Adler, founding managing director of Toyota Ventures

With more than $500 million in assets under management and more than 50 portfolio companies, Toyota Ventures invests in startups worldwide through its flagship funds, the Toyota Ventures Frontier Fund and the Toyota Ventures Climate Fund. The first call for innovation, in 2018, sought out robotics startups and led to an investment in Pasadena, California-based Elementary. In the 2020 call for innovation, focused on smart and connected cities, Toyota Ventures made an investment in Montreal, Canada-based YPC Technologies.

Now, Toyota Ventures invites startups developing solutions focused on Industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing that meet the following criteria to apply to the 2022 call for innovation:

raised less than $10 million in funding; can demonstrate a working prototype; and have a viable business model that can deliver real value to customers.

More specifically, the investment team is in search of entrepreneurs who are challenging the status quo in areas such as:

3D simulation

AI and computer vision

Adaptive robots

Additive manufacturing

Augmented reality

Autonomous mobile robots

Carbon footprint reduction

Collaborative robots

Cybersecurity

Data analytics

Electrification and battery manufacturing

Energy efficiency

Worker training and safety

Toyota Ventures is now accepting online applications for this call for innovation through 31 May 2022, and submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Qualified startups will be evaluated based on their team, technology, business model and go-to-market strategy, and will be subject to standard diligence before any investment is made.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Face to face by video, President Joe Biden laid out to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday the consequences the Chinese would face from the U.S. if they provide military or economic assistance for Russias invasion of Ukraine.

There was no indication he got any assurance in return.

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Chinas Foreign Ministry, in a readout after the nearly two-hour conversation, deplored conflict and confrontation as not in anyones interest, but assigned no blame to Russia and said nothing of next steps.

China has to make a decision for themselves, about where they want to stand and how they want the history books to look at them and view their actions, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

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She declined to detail possible consequences Biden specified to the Chinese president if his country provides support for the Russian invasion.

In this image provided by the White House, President Joe Biden meets virtually from the Situation Room at the White House with Chinas Xi Jinping, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (The White House via AP) (AP)

The two leaders also discussed the longer-simmering U.S.-China dispute over Taiwan. In a reminder of Chinas threat to assert its claim by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call. The U.S. is legally obligated to ensure the self-governing island democracy can defend itself and treats threats to it with grave concern.

China noted its calls for negotiations and its donations of humanitarian aid for Ukraine, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine. Xi also renewed Chinas criticism of sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion, according to State media. As in the past, Xi did not use the terms war or invasion to describe Russias actions.

As leaders of major countries, we need to consider properly resolving global hotspot issues and, more importantly, global stability and the production and life of billions of people, he was quoted as saying.

The U.S.-China relationship, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Bidens presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.

In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xis government tried to distance itself from Russias offensive but avoided the criticism many other nations have leveled at Moscow. At other moments, Beijings actions have been provocative including amplifying unverified Russian claims that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.

Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.

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The White House says China has been sending mixed messages. There were initial signs that Chinese state-owned banks were pulling back from financing Russian activities, according to a senior Biden administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal analyses. But there have also been public comments by Chinese officials who expressed support for Russia being a strategic partner.

Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. The two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless friendship.

Beijings leaders would like to be supportive of Russia, but they also recognize how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.

Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.
Green River Police Department reports for March 4

At 7:11 p.m., officers responded to a report of a REDDI (Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately) at the intersection of Uinta Drive and East Flaming Gorge Way. Upon arrival in the area officers located the vehicle unoccupied but were able to identify the owner. Officers then located the owner on foot and met with the individual. Officers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from their breath, and subsequently issued Rickie Maynard, of Green River, a citation for alleged public intoxication. Officers completed a report of the inc...
By HANNAH ROMERO

Staff Writer

The Sweetwater County Fire Department will soon be a thing of the past after the Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a plan which will close the county fire department and contract its services out to existing fire agencies in the county.

In no way is county fire (protection) going to be eliminated, reduced  if anything it will be enhanced, Commissioner Mary Thoman said.

At the last commission meeting March 1, the commissioners discussed the findings of the Sweetwater County Fire Committee, which was formed to examine fire service in...
To the graduating class of 2022, applications are now being accepted for the Sweetwater County Commissioners Scholarship.

The Board of County Commissioners will select three local students to receive a $1,000 scholarship during their May 17 meeting.

Applicants can use the money to attend the University of Wyoming or any Wyoming Community College. All forms and letters of recommendation must be received no later than April 29.

The application can be found on the county website: www.sweetwatercountywy.gov, under the tabs Departments, Board of County Commissioners, Forms, County Commissio...
CASPER  Legislative leaders have asked a Senate panel to consider whether to launch a formal investigation into allegations recently brought against Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Burns.

The request for an investigation comes days after the Senate voted to remove Bouchard from his committee assignments for a long pattern of misconduct, said Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs.

The subcommittee must determine if the factual situation is sufficient to warrant a reasonably prudent person to believe that you committed misconduct, Senate President Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, wrote in a Monday lett...
Fawn Vessels, a graduate of Treatment Court, speaks to the Green River City Council Tuesday night about how the program helped her turn her life around.

A program designed to help addicts receive treatment and overcome their addictions through court-ordered intervention is having a positive impact in Sweetwater County.

Treatment Court is a non-profit program operated through a partnership between local law enforcement, the Sweetwater County Attorney's Office, Circuit Court and other organizations and aims to help divert people facing drug charges away from addiction and the problems addiction can cause them.

For Kiesha Martinez, the program led to her receiving an associate of arts degree from Western Wyoming Community College in psychology...
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Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge flag-waving rally at a packed Moscow stadium Friday and lavished praise on his troops fighting in Ukraine, three weeks into the invasion that has led to heavier-than-expected Russian losses on the battlefield and increasingly authoritarian rule at home.

Meanwhile, the leader of Russias delegation in diplomatic talks with Ukraine said the sides have narrowed their differences. The Ukrainian side said its position remained unchanged.

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The Moscow rally came as Russian troops continued to rain lethal fire on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and pounded an aircraft repair installation on the outskirts of Lviv, close to the Polish border.

Shoulder to shoulder, they help and support each other, Putin said of the Kremlins forces in a rare public appearance since the start of the war. We have not had unity like this for a long time, he added to cheers from the crowd.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin greets people after his speech at the concert marking the eighth anniversary of the referendum on the state status of Crimea and Sevastopol and its reunification with Russia, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Ramil Sitdikov/AP)

The invasion has touched off a burst of antiwar protests inside Russia, and the rally  held to mark the eighth anniversary of Moscows annexation of Crimea, which was seized from Ukraine  was surrounded by suspicions it was a Kremlin-manufactured display of patriotism.

Several Telegram channels critical of the Kremlin reported that students and employees of state institutions in a number of regions were ordered by their superiors to attend rallies and concerts marking the anniversary. Those reports could not be independently verified.

Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around the Luzhniki stadium. The event included patriotic songs, including a performance of Made in the U.S.S.R., with the opening lines Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, its all my country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, centre right on a podium, delivers his speech at the concert marking the eighth anniversary of the referendum on the state status of Crimea and Sevastopol and its reunification with Russia, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Evgeny Biyatov/AP)

Seeking to portray the war as just, Putin paraphrased the Bible to say of Russias troops: There is no greater love than giving up ones soul for ones friends.

Taking to the stage where a sign read For a world without Nazism, he railed against his foes in Ukraine as neo-Nazis and continued to insist his actions were necessary to prevent genocide  a claim flatly denied by leaders around the globe.

Video feeds of the event cut out a few times but showed a loudly cheering crowd that broke into chants of Russia!

Putins appearance marked a change from his relative isolation of recent weeks, when he has been shown meeting with world leaders and his staff either at extraordinarily long tables or via videoconference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech at the concert marking the eighth anniversary of the referendum on the state status of Crimea and Sevastopol and its reunification with Russia, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Ramil Sitdikov/AP)

In the wake of the invasion, the Kremlin has clamped down harder on dissent and the flow of information, arresting thousands of antiwar protesters, banning sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and instituting tough prison sentences for what is deemed to be false reporting on the war, which Moscow refers to as a special military operation.

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Standing on stage in a white turtleneck and a blue down jacket, Putin spoke for about five minutes. Some people, including presenters at the event, wore T-shirts or jackets with a Z  a symbol seen on Russian tanks and other military vehicles in Ukraine and embraced by supporters of the war.

Putins quoting of the Bible and an 18th-century Russian admiral reflected his increasing focus in recent years on history and religion as binding forces in Russias post-Soviet society. His branding of his enemies as Nazis evoked what many Russians consider their countrys finest hour, the defense of the motherland from Germany during World War II.

Rescuers work at the site of the National Academy of State Administration building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Andrew Marienko/AP)

The rally came as Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russian negotiators in several rounds of talks with Ukraine, said that the sides have moved closer to an agreement on the issue of Ukraine dropping its bid to join NATO and adopting a neutral status.

That is the issue where the parties have made their positions maximally close, Medinsky said in remarks carried by Russian media. He added that the sides are now halfway on issues regarding the demilitarization of Ukraine.

Mikhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, characterized the Russian assessment as intended to provoke tension in the media. He tweeted: Our positions are unchanged. Ceasefire, withdrawal of troops & strong security guarantees with concrete formulas.

Rescuers evacuate a man from under the rubble of damage by shelling of the National Academy of State Administration building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Andrew Marienko/AP)

In other developments, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours in a bid by the U.S. to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russias invasion.

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Earlier Friday, one person was reported killed in the missile attack near Lviv. Satellite photos showed the strike destroyed a repair hangar and appeared to damage two other buildings. Ukraine said it had shot down two of six missiles in the volley, which came from the Black Sea.

The early morning attack was the closest strike yet to the center of Lviv, which has become a crossroads for people fleeing from other parts of Ukraine and for others entering to deliver aid or join the fight. The war has swelled the citys population by some 200,000.

Zelenskyy boasted that Ukraines defenses have proved much stronger than expected, and Russia didnt know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies on Friday, March 18, 2022 shows artillery impacts and burning fields in Chernihiv, Ukraine. (AP)

But British Chief of Defense Intelligence Lt. Gen. Jim Hockenhull warned that after failing to take major Ukrainian cities, Russian forces are shifting to a strategy of attrition that will entail reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower, resulting in higher civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

In city after city around Ukraine, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety have been attacked. Rescue workers continued to search for survivors in the ruins of a theater that was being used as a shelter when it was blasted by a Russian airstrike Wednesday in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

A man shouts anti Russian slogans at the site where a bombing damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)

Ludmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliaments human rights commissioner, said at least 130 people had survived the theater bombing.

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But according to our data, there are still more than 1,300 people in these basements, in this bomb shelter, Denisova told Ukrainian television. We pray that they will all be alive, but so far there is no information about them.

The fighting has led nearly 3.3 million people to flee Ukraine, while an additional 6.5 million have left their homes for other parts of the country, according to the U.N.
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Mystic's newest cocktail experience is a sail around the world, complete with global plates from port cities and meaningful decor touches from the region's maritime history.

Welcome to Port of Call, a new venture from the 85th Day Food Community. The nautical-themed two-level bar on Water Street, next door to its flagship restaurant Oyster Club, is a collaboration between Dan Meiser's Mystic-based restaurant group and The Real McCoy Rum brand.

"We make no bones about it," Meiser said. "We are trying to put this place on the map as one of the premier cocktail bars in the country. We're really trying to do that. It's a bold endeavor, but we know what's out there."

Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Renee Touponce has created international small plates inspired by port cities around the world. The Dive Bar, on the second level of Port of Call, features a full-color mural of a deep sea diver. The cocktails crafted by Jade Ayala are also inspired by port cities, and are paired with each food item. Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst CT Media

Port of Call is led by beverage director Jade Ayala, who also heads up the bar program at Oyster Club; Renee Touponce, Oyster Club's executive chef, who's crafted a worldly assortment of cocktail-driven food pairings, and general manager Nancy Hankins. Meiser also hired head bartender Sebastian Guerrero, who's worked in acclaimed New York City bars Dante and Mother of Pearl.

Upstairs, the stately "saloon" space, designed by Jennifer Pryor, features mahogany walls adorned with portholes, leather-backed chairs and teak floors made from the original deck boards from the Joseph Conrad ship. The star of the room, though, is the gleaming U-shaped bar, constructed with wood reclaimed from the Charles W. Morgan. The last wooden whaleship in the world traveled a million miles over 180 years, so it's known as the "Million Mile Bar," Meiser said.

One level down, the atmosphere transforms from opulent to casual. The "Dive Bar" on the basement level takes on two connotations: a laid-back lounge, with a tribute to the region's deep sea diving history. A full-color mural of a deep sea diver overlooks tabletop arcade games, and framed historical photos of divers hang above a shuffleboard game.

Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Assorted plates from Mystic's Port of Call, including boquerones, papas rellenas, Singapore grilled mushroom salad and squid ink empanadas. Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst CT Media

Port of Call's drinks draw inspiration from port cities in the United States, the Carribean, South America, Europe and southeast Asia. Ayala's opening menu features takes on a Cuba Libre, made with Real McCoy aged rum, housemade cola syrup and ancho and guajillo chiles, and tropical presentations with pineapple Campari, passion fruit and reduced coconut milk. A savory Manhattan with rye gets umami flavor from mushrooms, brined in shio koji and blended with Zucca amaro to make a vermouth, Ayala explained.

Touponce's street food menu spans several continents: bacalaitos (salted fluke fritters with cilantro foam), pork pinchos and squid ink empanadas inspired by Puerto Rico; a Singapore-style grilled mushroom salad, papas rellenas from Peru and Spanish-style boquerones, which she makes by curing local smelts with vinegar and herbs. Yeosu, South Korea gets a nod with a warm hotteok pancake, made with cinnamon, sugar and walnuts.

Ayala and Touponce worked together to pair the small plates and cocktails, with two food suggestions per drink. A "gingery and approachable" Curry Barbados cocktail, with aged rum, ginger, curry, lime, bitter chocolate and fennel bitters, is partnered with papas rellenas and Merguez sausage with tzatziki, for example.

The Dive Bar will have its own specialty dishes, too, Touponce said: an egg sandwich with pork roll and fermented ketchup, a New Orleans-inspired fried chicken and a hot dog with housemade kimchi, bonito aioli, shallot and kelp crunches on a house-baked, double-fermented bao bun.

The collaboration with Real McCoy rum offers innovative experiences for guests: The Lab at Real McCoy Spirits, owner Bailey Pryor's boutique rum and single malt whiskey distillery in Stonington, will be a space for custom spirits, blends, tinctures, and cocktails on tap.

Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media, Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst Connecticut Media The Kind & Generous cocktail from Port of Call in Mystic, made with Berkshire gin, nixta corn liqueur, rice koji apertivo, milk liquor, hopped grapefruit bitters and citrus foam. A Cuba Libre #2, a nitro rum and Coke, is made with Real McCoy aged rum, housemade cola syrup, cinnamon, ancho and guajillo chiles, vanilla clove, Applachian fernet and lime. Lisa Nichols / Special to Hearst CT Media

"The bar staff here can develop concepts around different types of spirits we'll be making," Pryor said. "Rather than selling a product to be a catch-all for all cocktails, now we can specifically develop certain types of spirit for certain types of cocktails."

Real McCoy is also working with Port of Call to introduce a private barrel program, where guests can choose their own small custom barrel of aged spirit to be stored on the wall of the Dive Bar. They'll be able to taste and consume the spirit whenever they visit.

Meiser said his team jokes that they have "the block on lock," with the two restaurants spanning a portion of Water Street. He pictures guests visiting all four parts of the Oyster Club and Port of Call this summer.

"We kind of envision a lazy Saturday afternoon," he said. "Start at the Treehouse [Oyster Club's seasonal rooftop deck], you make your way over to have cocktails and small plates at Port of Call, you go over to Oyster Club for your dinner reservation, and then after dinner, you come down [to the Dive Bar], play shuffleboard, and close the bar."

Port of Call is at 15 Water Street in Mystic. It's open at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday to start. Follow social media updates at @theportofcallct.
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GREENWICH  The new owners changed the name of a beloved eatery in western Greenwich, but they promised that fans of the poultry-centered menu can still find their favorites.

Chicken Joes has flown the coop at 364 W. Putnam Ave., as the new owners this week celebrate the grand reopening of the business, which is now known as The Chicken Coop.

Anthony Marini sold the business to Jessica and Joseph Passero of Port Chester, N.Y., in January 2021. His brother Joe formed and still owns the flagship Cos Cob location of Chicken Joes.

My husband and I have been in the food industry for a long time as food wholesalers selling produce and meat, Jessica Passero told Greenwich Time on Thursday. Owning this kind of a place is a dream for us.  The opportunity came a year ago for us to buy it  and we jumped at it.

The couple knew Chicken Joes well: It is one of the nearly 40 restaurants in the area they supply with meat and product through their wholesale food company, Fresco Foods.

They heard Anthony Marini wanted to sell the landmark restaurant  and they jumped at the chance to buy.

You always want to showcase your flavors, Passero said. Im Peruvian and my husband is half Italian. We always like to eat, and what better way to showcase your flavors than to have your own place. This is a great location and they already have a loyal following.

Grand reopening

The Passeros are now unveiling a few long-planned changes, including remodeling work that was completed at night while they kept the iconic spot open during the day.

But they are letting their customers know that they dont plan any major changes. As customers head toward The Chicken Coop, they are greeted by many signs, including one that says, The love and the food is the same. We just changed our name.

Fans can still get hand-cut chicken nuggets, potato cones, fried chicken platters, salads, sandwiches and wraps as well as such new items as popcorn chicken and seafood. Breakfast sandwiches are still on the menu, too.

If people want the nuggets, they can still get the nuggets, Joseph Passero said. Thats not changing.

The Passeros said they also kept the staff in place, so customers will see familiar faces behind the counter.

Weve upgraded the menu, and weve upgraded the interior, too, with new TV screens, Passero said.

But the ingredients are not changing. The Passeros wholesale company, Fresco Foods, is still going strong and supplying meat and produce to The Chicken Coop as well to the Chicken Joes in Cos Cob.

Popular menu items such as The High School Special, with a half-pound of chicken nuggets plus a side of fries or potato cones mixed in and a can of soda, are still available at Chicken Joes Cos Cob spot. Those items are trademarked by the Marinis, but the menu at The Chicken Coop will carry similar items with different names.

At the Chicken Coop, customers will find combos such as The Chicken Little, a quarter-pound of nuggets with fries and sauces; The Coop, which has the popular half-pound of nuggets; The Bad Chick, with three-fourths of a pound of nuggets; and The Big Bird, with a whole pound of nuggets plus fries, sauces and either a can of soda or bottle of water.

Joe Marini said nothing has changed at the Chicken Joes location in Cos Cob and he said he has no plans to sell.

Ive been here 29 years, and I still love it, Marini said.

Bye-bye to pizza

But one item is gone from the menu at The Chicken Coop  pizza. That decision was made, Jessica Passero said, because she wanted to focus on what the restaurant is best known for: Chicken.

The menu now also offers daily specials: On Thursday, it was corned beef and cabbage for St. Patricks Day. Another special was chicken scarpariello, and the plan is to add other items such as burritos and empanadas, she said.

We want to hear from people about what they like the most, Passero said.

They expect to add more sandwiches in the coming weeks and months, too.

Were always working on the menu, Joseph Passero said. Were going to add some local favorite sandwiches. Theres always word of mouth about what people like in town, and were going to want to make sure people can get what they want here.

Running a restaurant and a wholesale food business is a double challenge for the Passeros  and add in the couples two young children, and thats a lot on their plates. But they have managed to split the work, with Joseph Passero overseeing much of the wholesale food business and Jessica Passero taking much of the lead at The Chicken Coop.

Plus, there is one secret ingredient of their own that keeps them going.

Coffee, Joseph Passero said with a laugh.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the new owners name.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
The number of COVID cases involving students in Connecticut schools increased by more than 100 in the past week, according to data released Thursday.

A total of 721 COVID cases among students were identified in the past week, an increase of 105 infections from 616 reported last week. The majority of the students  408  had been fully vaccinated, the data shows.

Cases among school staff, however, dropped slightly to 148 from 155 last week.

Masks became optional in Connecticut schools this month as COVID cases have declined since the surge fueled by the omicron variant in January.

COVID cases among Connecticut students peaked when 16,369 infections were reported on Jan. 12. Infection rates have been dropping since then except for the week of March 2 when there were 725 cases reported, according to the state data.

According to the data, only 48 percent of children aged 5-11 have received at least a first dose of vaccine. The rates increase to 81 percent among 12- to 15-year-olds and 88 percent among 16- to 18-year-olds.

More than 95 percent of adults 55 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine with the rates dropping to 91 percent of residents aged 45-54, and 94 percent of adults aged 35-44, the data shows.

On Thursday, the state reported 404 new COVID cases detected in 16,807 reported tests for a positivity rate of 2.4 percent. COVID hospitalizations increased by two to 100.

The data showed 62 more people died with COVID in the past week, increasing the Connecticut pandemic total to 10,677.

Amid the decline of COVID rates in the state, the Connecticut National Guard Thursday announced it ended its coronavirus response mission on Tuesday, two years after it began.

Working out of the state commodities warehouse in New Britain, members of the state national guard distributed more than 38 million KN95 and N95 masks, 82 million surgical masks, 9 million surgical gowns, 128 million non-sterile gloves, 2 million disposable face shields, and 170 thousand Tyvek coveralls, according to a release.

To say Im proud of all the men and women of the Connecticut National Guard whove assisted with the COVID-19 response would be an understatement, said Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, adjutant general for the Connecticut National Guard. As we rode the waves of this pandemic, we were called upon to help with many different missions, but our warehouse mission was a constant throughout it all.
Connecticut lawmakers are set to consider a bill this session that would provide financial relief to individuals who received unemployment benefits during the pandemic but were later ordered to repay all, or part, of that money to the state.

The proposed legislation would allow thousands of additional people to qualify for forgiveness from what the state describes as overpayments, which occur when someone receives jobless benefits that they are later found to be ineligible for.

Overpayments are a normal part of running a state unemployment program. The federal government requires states to identify instances where money was improperly issued to people.

But the problem became more pronounced during the coronavirus pandemic as millions of Americans lost their jobs and state labor departments were inundated by a historic number of jobless claims.

The Connecticut Mirror published a story last year highlighting the millions of dollars in overpayments that the state Department of Labor identified in early 2021 and the growing number of people who were receiving demands to return that money.

But the problem has only grown since then.

Connecticuts Department of Labor identified more than $25.7 million in overpayments in 2021, which is more than the previous two years combined. And that doesnt include all of the federal unemployment programs that people collected money from during the pandemic.

An unspecified portion of those overpayments are tied to fraud. But many others are the result of unintentional mistakes on the part of unemployment applicants or the state.

Its the latter cases that state Democratic lawmakers want to remedy with the legislation this year, which they refer to as unemployment amnesty.

Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, said it is unfair to ask workers who honestly submitted an unemployment application to repay money because of filing errors or other mistakes that were outside of their control.

The concern among lawmakers, Kushner said, is that households that are just starting to recover from the recession will be forced to repay a significant amount of money  in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars.

Too frequently, the money has already been spent, and the person isnt earning enough to repay, said Kushner, who chairs the legislatures Labor and Public Employee Committee.

The bill that Kushner and her colleagues introduced did not get much attention during a busy public hearing this week, but several groups, including the states most prominent labor organization, submitted written testimony in support of the legislation.

Ed Hawthorne, the president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, which represents roughly 200,000 unionized workers in the state, argued the legislation was needed to protect the tens of thousands of people who filed for unemployment assistance during the pandemic.

Unemployment insurance should have provided them some assistance and helped quiet their fears until they could return to work, Hawthorne wrote in his testimony. Unfortunately for some workers, their unemployment applications may have contained mistakes, were mishandled, or not adequately reviewed for months.

They received weekly payments to help survive the downturn, but now, months later, the state has deemed them ineligible and wants that money back, he added, citing the CT Mirrors story last year.

Seeking forgiveness

There is already a process in place for people to apply for forgiveness of overpayments as long as state officials dont allege any fraudulent behavior on behalf of the unemployment applicant.

Data that is submitted to the federal government shows Connecticut used that process to waive more than $5.4 million last year  or roughly 21% of the overpayments the state identified in that time frame.

Eligibility for the waivers requires certain findings by the state. The overpayment, for instance, needs to be caused by unintentional error or the state overturning someones benefits after an appeal hearing.

Its ultimately up to state officials in the Department of Labor to make the determination in each case.

The agency also takes into account things like whether someone filed for bankruptcy or whether the person has a mental or physical disability that limits their chances of finding a new job. The applicants death can also guarantee them a waiver.

But Democratic lawmakers are concerned that a significant number of people may have missed their chance to apply for that forgiveness during the pandemic.

A legal group that frequently represents low-income individuals in Connecticut agreed with that assessment. Sara Parker McKernan, the legislative advocate for CTs Legal Services, told lawmakers in written testimony this week that it has not been easy for everyone to apply for those waivers.

The state sets strict timelines for anyone seeking a waiver. The applicants only have 14 days to submit the needed paperwork after they are notified about an overpayment.

The instructions that the Department of Labor provided in the past, McKernan added, were not always understandable, and the details were not easily identifiable on the state website or in the notices that were mailed to unemployment claimants.

CT Legal Services, she said, worked with the state agency to produce flyers and other educational material, but in many instances, she said, people fell through the cracks.

The Legal Services Programs were inundated with questions from clients and potential clients about what to do in response to letters saying they owed what was often viewed as an insurmountable amount of money to the state, McKernan wrote.

This proposal will make a huge difference for individuals who have found themselves, through no fault of their own, faced with the burden of paying back benefit amounts for which they were initially determined to be eligible, McKernan added.

A $50 million fund

The proposed legislation seeks to increase the number of people qualifying for that forgiveness in several ways.

The bill requires the Department of Labor to re-notify anyone who could qualify for a waiver, and it gives those individuals up to six months to apply.

That change, Kushner said, should benefit a large number of people who didnt apply on time or didnt know they were eligible for forgiveness.

What we are doing is reopening a window and urging those folks to ask for a waiver, Kushner said.

The bill also calls for $50 million in state funding to be set aside to cover the debts of anyone who doesnt qualify for a waiver under the traditional guidelines used by the Department of Labor.

Those cases would still exclude anyone accused of fraud, Kushner said, but it would allow far more people to avoid having their wages garnished or their tax refunds intercepted by the state.

The $50 million would be used to pay back the state or the federal government, depending on where the money initially came from.

That money could be important for Connecticuts unemployment trust fund, which has been historically underfunded.

As of this month, that trust fund, which the state relies on to pay out jobless benefits, had roughly $85.3 million remaining in it.

The state also owes the federal government another $462.9 million that it borrowed in the past to keep the fund solvent.

Some clarifications

Officials with the Department of Labor didnt oppose the legislation during the public hearing this week, but the agency raised numerous questions about how the legislation would work in practice.

Heidi Lane, the agencys legal director, provided written testimony to the labor committee laying out a number of issues she identified with the bill.

Gov. Ned Lamonts proposed budget, she pointed out, does not include the $50 million in funding that the bill calls for.

She also asked lawmakers to clarify several other questions about the bill.

Should the applications be processed on a first-come, first-served basis? What happens with individuals who already paid back part of the money the state said they owed? How will the forgiveness work with state and federal taxes, since jobless benefits are considered personal income?

The effective date of the law would also need to be adjusted, Lane told lawmakers, so the Department of Labor could finish rolling out its new online system for processing jobless claims, which is expected to launch in July

Its unlikely that the agency and its employees would be available to start reviewing the additional waivers until this fall at the earliest, Lane said.

Meanwhile, other overpayments will continue to be identified, she said.
A jury found a man guilty Thursday of shooting and killing his daughter in 1995, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

Robert Honsch, who is serving a life sentence in Massachusetts for killing his wife, is scheduled to be sentenced June 15 for his daughters homicide, according to New Britain States Attorney Brian Preleski.

Police found two unidentified bodies in September 1995 that were later determined to be Honschs wife and daughter. His daughter, 17-year-old Elizabeth Honsch, was discovered shot in the head and wrapped in sleeping bags and garbage bags in a parking lot in New Britain, according to Preleski.

About 10 days later, police found another unidentified woman, later identified as his wife Marcia Honsch, shot in the head in the Tolland State Forest in Massachusetts, Preleski said.

A tireless effort to identify the two individuals proved to be fruitless until a break in the case in 2014, Preleski said.

Police were able to connect Honsch with his daughters homicide through DNA and fingerprint evidence, according to Preleski.

Police found and arrested Honsch in 2014 in Dalton, Ohio. At the time, he was remarried with three children and living under the name of Robert Tyree, Preleski said.

In 1995, Honsch and his family lived in New York, the Associated Press reported. Honsch went to family members homes shortly after the homicides and told them that his wife and daughter went to Australia ahead of him. He said he would follow them due to a job transfer, according to Preleski.

Honsch then fled to South Africa and came back to the United States years later, Preleski said.

Honsch is serving a life sentence in Massachusetts for his wifes homicide. In 2019, he rejected a plea deal from Connecticut prosecutors that offered a 25-year prison sentence.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
I look forward to Greenwichs St. Patricks Day Parade Sunday (March 20). Ive marched with the Scouts a number of times but this will be my first as a Greenwich Selectperson. Im fortunate to serve Greenwich in this role; its one more reason to think Im blessed with the luck of the Irish.

I have no Irish ancestry, but the Emerald Isle has nevertheless generously, gently rained its blessings on me. Im happily married to Peter, who shares his Irish name with me  if you want to make his Irish eyes smile, pronounce the Gu in McGuigan like Maguire, and the i like in wig  and the proud mother of James, born in Dublin and my favorite souvenir from our expat stay there.

The best deal about St. Patricks Day is anyone can choose to be Irish on the day, and why not? The music and food are great and the humor doesnt stop. Its a day to celebrate a resilient culture and the contributions its people have made to this country. Perhaps fittingly, it was one of historys most famous Irish-Americans, John F. Kennedy, who took this tradition to another level with his ich bin ein Berliner speech. Ive admitted Im not actually Irish, but this speech does strike close to one of my roots. In 1870, my widowed great-great grandmother left Prussia with her stepson and five children, entirely on her own. The narrative goes that she feared her sons  not yet men  would be lost to the war. At more or less her age when she undertook this flight, Im in awe of the courage she had to summon.

In the future I may share more of her story, which turned out very well (and inspires me to support fair immigration laws). But in 1870, who knew how things would turn out? And today, as the world watches the horror unfolding in Ukraine, who knows how things will turn out?

Just as everyone is Irish on St. Patricks Day, and JFK and every free citizen was a Berliner in 1963, now we are all Ukrainian. Ukraine needs our prayers, and it also needs our purse strings. The human toll from this crisis is going to continue for some time. There are many well-established and reputable humanitarian organizations working on behalf of Ukraine that are ready to take our contributions. Further, the fact that Putin has declared sanctions to be the equivalent of a war declaration means they have had an impact. Americans may feel the pinch at the pump, but the small pain of higher oil prices is worth it. And perhaps motivation for us to truly wear our green and become less dependent on fossil fuels and make much needed investments in renewables.

In closing I will return to Ireland. My familys years there were incredibly happy, no less because our Irish friends and neighbors were so kind to us. Many had ties to the United States and wanted to return the kindness they received from Americans. Were it not for the power of story, a visitor to Ireland might not suspect the dark history of the Irish Famine, an unnecessary, man-made crisis, and the reason the McGuigans came to the United States. Were it not for the Famine or Franco-Prussian War, my family would not be, but I wouldnt wish these histories on anyone. Im heartsick over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and I fervently hope for better days ahead for the Ukrainian people.

Janet Stone McGuigan is a member of the Greenwich Board of Selectmen.
The parents of late Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins are reportedly trapped in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as Russian forces continue to attack humanitarian corridors, areas designed to evacuate civilians in war.

Hutchins was the Ukrainian-born cinematographer who died after accidentally being shot by a prop gun held by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico in October.

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Halyna Hutchins (left) with her husband, Matthew, and their son Andros.

Her husband, Matthew Hutchins, said that her mother continues to work as a nurse in the same Kyiv hospital she has worked for more than 10 years, TMZ reported on Friday.

Her father also remains in Kyiv.

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The late cinematographers sister, as well as her 3-year-old niece, have both made it to the Romanian border, a spokesperson for Hutchins told the news site.

On Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration said that more than 3 million people have Fled Ukraine since Russia began invading the country three weeks ago. Most of them are women and children.
At the recent shareholders meeting the CEO of the Samsung Devices Solutions division Kyehyun Kyung reported that the companys foundries are improving the yield rates for advanced process nodes.

The executive explained that each new node brings higher complexity, so improving the yield rates requires time, but didnt offer any specific details.

The company didnt officially confirm it, but the yield rate for the 5 nm node, the one used for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, is reportedly only 35%. This makes Qualcomms flagship chipset expensive and difficult to produce. Samsungs own Exynos 2100 is fabbed in the same foundry.



Samsung's path to 5 nm

Samsung is also reportedly lagging behind TSMC in sub-5 nm yield rates. This may cause Qualcomm to switch foundries for 3 nm chips. Apple has probably already reserved a significant portion of TSMCs 3 nm capacity for future Apple A and M chipsets and its not the only one (e.g. AMD is working on 3 nm Zen CPUs).

There is talk that the switch may happen as soon as this year - reliable leaksters are reporting that Qualcomm will shift part of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 production to TSMC later this year (and that the new chips will be marketed under the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ name).

Source
During its MWC event in February, Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy Book2 Pro and Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 laptops, and today these are finally going up for pre-order in the US ahead of an April 1 release (no joke, we hope).

You can purchase the Galaxy Book2 Pro starting at $1,049.99, and if you pre-order you're getting a 32" Odyssey Gaming Curved monitor for free, which is a $329.99 value. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 starts at $1,249.99, and you're getting the same monitor for free if you pre-order. Finally, the Galaxy Book2 360 is the cheapest option, starting at just $899.99, and pre-ordering this will see you receive a free 24" CRG5 Gaming Monitor worth $259.99. For all three devices, you're also entitled to 30% off Samsung Care+ plans.

There are also heavy price cuts to be had with qualifying trade-ins: the Galaxy Book2 360 can be as low as $549.99, the Galaxy Book2 Pro $599.99, and the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 $749.99 - in the base configuration for all three.

If you're interested in the new Galaxy Book2 laptops, don't miss our hands-on review straight from Barcelona. And if you want to pre-order, head right on to Samsung's online store at the Source linked below.

Source | Via
As with any language, having an opportunity to listen and converse with other speakers is irreplaceable. In the case of CHamoru, that experience is even more important given the contention around orthography and the generational divide of fluent speakers.

Unfortunately many people seeking to learn or practice CHamoru are not surrounded by other speakers, and may need to supplement their in class practice with independent study  or may opt for independent study without classes at all. This list of online resources has something for beginners and fluent speakers, happy learning!

Learning CHamoru

Learning CHamoru is a robust, free online resource from the University of Guam and Kumision I Fino CHamoru. Users must create a profile in order to access the entirety of their materials, which include an English to CHamoru and CHamoru to English dictionary, drills and lessons with accompanying audio files, information on grammar and orthography, dialogues, and videos. Visit learningchamoru.com to get started.

The Chamorro Language

This website features a CHamoru language dictionary that, rather than being searchable, is used more like a physical book. By clicking on a letter in the alphabet you can see all the words that begin with that letter in alphabetical order and click on them for definitions. The website also includes language lessons for beginner speakers, vocabulary sets, useful phrases, proverbs, and links to additional language resources. Visit chamoru.info for more information.

Guam Linguistics

For more advanced students, this nifty tool allows you to input CHamoru words and it will give you the various roots the word is derived from in addition to the definition. This is a great way for students to make connections with vocabulary and various parts of speech. Visit guamlinguistics.com/morph/ to try it out.

Ekungok i Estoria-ta

Produced by PBS Guam, Guam Preservation Trust and the Guam Department of Education CHamoru Studies, this website is a collection of audio visual stories told about various places on Guam in an effort to preserve both the CHamoru language and knowledge about Guams history.

Teachers were selected to research and write about various historic locations before recording the story in CHamoru, and users can choose to either listen to the audio, watch the videos, or read the narratives written in PDFs to strengthen their understanding of CHamoru and to learn about Guam. Visit estoriata.org to get started.

Blogs and Vlogs

For students seeking immersion, blogs and vlogs produced entirely in CHamoru are fantastic resources. Strengthen your reading comprehension, spelling, and grammar by reading posts at CHamoru Boy (chamoruboy.blogspot.com) or I Sakman I Fino-ta (isakman.com), and build your listening skills on YouTube with channels from Sinora Mesa, Peter Santos, and Cody Lizama.20220319 chamoru websites

Pale Eric Forbes keeps a blog that covers many, many aspects of CHamoru culture and history, including language. His Lengguahe section covers etymology, CHamoru expressions, and explorations of grammar. Visit paleeric.blogspot.com to dive in, or his YouTube channel, Palecap.

Guam Department of Education Google Site

Developed in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, this site includes links to a CHamoru film and coloring pages, audio visual lessons covering stories and important cultural material, and vocabulary flashcard videos. Get started at bit.ly/3qfmCQ3.
A man charged in connection to leading police on a high-speed chase was accused last year of locking a woman and her children in a closet for a week, according to a magistrate's complaint filed in Superior Court.

Salvador, or Zaldy, Bautista Jasmin was seen by police driving erratically and fast before nearly colliding with a patrol car that had to swerve to avoid a crash on Wednesday.

The patrol car followed Jasmin, who was driving a black Honda Accord, and led the police on a high-speed chase. Jasmin allegedly overtook multiple cars, driving into the oncoming lane to pass one and nearly colliding with another.

A second patrol car clocked Jasmin's speed at 55 to 60 mph, according to the complaint.

Jasmin was told to stop by police but he continued to drive fast while still swerving in and out of traffic lanes and passing more cars while driving southbound on Marine Corps Drive, the complaint stated.

Officers later learned Jasmin had a suspended license from a 2017 driving under the influence of alcohol as a misdemeanor conviction.

Jasmin is also on pre-trial release for a 2020 case where he is charged with possessing a Schedule II controlled substance and driving without a valid driver's license.

Kidnapping

Last year a woman known to Jasmin accused him of hitting her in the face with his elbow in December 2020, according to the complaint.

The woman further indicated Jasmin had caused her landlord to evict her.

Then in the week leading up to April 15, 2021, Jasmin allegedly kept her and her children locked in a closet. He made them use a pot for a toilet, and hit her and choked her on several occasions, the complaint stated.

It was not clear to the police at the time whether Jasmin let the woman and her children go or they escaped.

Jasmin was charged with the following between the two incidents:
Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to correct the name of Assistant Attorney General Thomas Keeler, legal counsel for the Contractors License Board.

The Contractors License Board for the past 13 years has been issuing specialty licenses to local contractors without any legal authority.

As a result, an investigation into a potentially unlicensed contractor that is installing Wi-Fi at public schools may be impeded.

The issue was raised during a board meeting Wednesday as board members were reviewing licensing rules following the resignation of Cecil Buddy Orsini, former executive director. A report issued by the Office of Public Accountability in February found Orsini committed procurement fraud.

According to Nida Bailey, investigator supervisor at the licensing board, additional rules and regulations for licensing were introduced in 2009 but never were adopted.

The law doesnt allow the board to issue C-68 licenses, a catch-all temporary license for specialized contractors handed out until the work a contractor does can be properly classified.

What will be the boards option on those that are currently licensed under the temporary state classifications? Because we have issued a lot of these, Bailey asked.

The answer is, if the regulations havent been duly enacted, you have no authorization to license anything on that, said Assistant Attorney General Thomas Keeler, legal counsel for the board.

Board members motioned to review the 2009 rules and update them by the next meeting on April 20, before passing them off for legal review and proper adoption.

Investigations

However, Bailey said there still are investigations the board is pursuing related to the C-68 licenses. Keeler said the investigations would have to be dismissed.

You cant enforce something that is not authorized, Keeler said.

One case involving a C-68 license is a complaint filed by G4S Security Systems against Technologies for Tomorrow, Bailey confirmed Friday.

G4S protested the award of a Guam Department of Education contract to Technologies for Tomorrow last year to install Wi-Fi in 40 schools on the grounds the company didnt have a C-68 license.

Public Auditor B.J. Cruz dismissed the appeal because the now-resigned Orsini issued a findings and decisions document in the G4S appeal which found that Technologies for Tomorrow didnt have a license. It was similar to another fraudulent document, unauthorized by the board, which Orsini issued in another procurement dispute raised by industrial equipment supplier JMI-Edison against Menzies Aviation.

Still open

While the board voted to rescind both documents at a March 1 meeting, staff investigators said neither company had a license with the board. The board planned to continue the investigation into both Technologies for Tomorrow and Menzies Aviation.

Linda Ibanez, Contractors Licensing Board acting executive director, said the case would remain open and that she would seek legal guidance on the matter once the revised rules for licensing were adopted.

It is the responsibility of Contractors License Board ... to take action and so the case will still remain open and there will be discussions with the staff and the board on the process, Ibanez said.

As for the complaint against Menzies Aviation, board investigators are planning to conduct onsite inspections at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport for the companys work on the airports baggage handling system.
Wettengel Elementary School Headstart teacher Shalina Matanane Borja said Rainbows for All Children Guam was a godsend for her and her family as they were dealing with the death of her oldest daughter in 2007.

Celestina Mari Stina Matanane turned 12 just two months before committing suicide.

Shed been a straight-A student all the way. She went to (Benavente Middle School). She was in (National Junior Honor Society). She was really excelling, Borja said.  Its been 15 years and it still feels like it was just yesterday. She was my best friend.

A counselor at the school reached out to Borja and explained what Rainbows was about. The program, established in 1988, is a research-based, nonprofit peer support organization that helps children and their families who have suffered the loss of a loved one or are facing a life-altering crisis.

Divided into different sessions throughout the school year, the program provides activities that help children express and deal with their losses in healthy ways.

Borja said Rainbows helped the family understand that they werent alone in their loss.

If (my children) werent able to talk to me about what they were going through, they had a different facilitator (who) was able to help them with that, she said.

Her family has remained part of the program.

Processing loss

The program helped Christiana Williams, 28, formerly of Dededo, and Mikayla Huskinson, 21, process their parents separations.

Williams said when she was 11, her mother signed her and her brother up for Rainbows. The program became a safe haven for them to express the emotions and confusion that came with having divorced parents.

We both kind of went through it together and had some kind of outlet that was together, but separate, because we were different age groups, she said. I felt like it was a really good place for kids to be able to unpack those emotions without fear, punishment or feeling like theyre going to get in trouble for saying how they feel about their situations.

Williams said the felt it strengthened her relationship with her mother and brother.

Now residing in Seattle, Washington, and being a parent herself, she is grateful to Rainbows for helping her appreciate what her mom went through.

It also helped her when she went through her own separation. She now co-parents a 6-year-old daughter without hostility.

She understands that she can come to both of us and she knows we both still love her, Williams said. Were still both her mom and dad. Nothings changed as far as thats concerned. 

Helped to cope

Huskinson, who lived on Guam from 2006 to 2014, became a part of Rainbows when she was a student at Agana Heights Elementary School. She was in a single-parent home and the program helped her cope with her parents separation.

A year later, her parents reconciled, but her dad was deployed soon after.

It was a very hard thing for me and my family to go through. Rainbows truly helped me to cope with the absence of my dad once again and to always be positive with each day, taking one day at a time, she said.

Huskinson said the lessons she learned at Rainbows have helped her deal with other experiences in her life. She said the program helped her talk to her mom after her uncles suicide in 2017.

I learned that pain is only for a short time and the journey of overcoming may seem long but you will come out of it stronger, she said. I am very grateful that Rainbows was there for me and still there for others.

Williams said she wants to start a program similar to Rainbows in Seattle. Borja wants to help expand the program further into all of the 41 public schools.
What goes down the drain in your toilet could help the Department of Public Health and Services predict when another surge of COVID-19 might be coming.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has launched a National Wastewater Surveillance System, which monitors community wastewater samples to see if SARS-CoV-2 is present. Public Health wants to implement a similar program on Guam.

They just take a sample of the sewage, and then they basically run a COVID test on it, said Vince Campo, Public Healths branch director for COVID surveillance.

According to the CDC, people who are infected can shed the virus in their feces.

Campo said the tests on wastewater dont come back as positive or negative, like a regular test, but are meant to find how much of the virus is present in sewage.

So of course, if we see a (higher) viral count in the sewage, that means theres probably a lot going on in the community, Campo said.

A pilot wastewater surveillance program was launched last fall, through a partnership with the Guam Waterworks Authority and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency. Samples were collected at GWAs wastewater facilities and then sent off island for processing, which could take about a week.

Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bob Leon Guerrero on Thursday said that the pilot program had shown evidence of last years delta surge before it started.

Higher levels of the virus were present in sewage before they began showing up as new cases in the community, Campo said.

We would see more viral counts, and then two to three days later, you see a high spike in cases. So it kind of correlates the same way, so its a really good predictor.

High viral count in the sewage could also tell Public Health if more people in the community had COVID but werent getting tested, or if there were large numbers of asymptomatic cases walking around.

The original pilot project was funded through a national grant, but Public Health is procuring a machine for Guam that can provide same-day test results from wastewater.

According to Campo, GWA will collect and run the samples and then send them to Public Health to make estimations and predictions.

Public Health Spokesperson Janela Carrera said that the machine itself was on Guam and supplies needed to operate it were on the way. Campo said supply issues had held up the procurement.

Once Public Health was able to regularly collect and report wastewater data, it will begin releasing it for the community to view.

After getting all the parts in place, the next hurdle was to maintain the costs for the wastewater machine, Campo said.

It is going to be an expensive machine, as you can imagine.
The Pacific Elders Voice is an independent group of Pacific people who have been leaders in the region. Their membership includes Hilde Heine, former president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Thomas Tommy Remengesau, former president of Palau; Anote Tong, former president of the Republic of Kiribati; Enele Sopoaga, former prime minister of Tuvalu; Dame Meg Taylor, former secretary general of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat; Robert underwood, Guams former delegate to the U.S. Congress; Kaliopate Tavola, ambassador and former minister, Republic of Fiji; and Konai Helu Thaman, former professor, University of the South Pacific.
Robert Underwood is the former president of the University of Guam and Guams former delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
After Andrew Cuomos Brooklyn and Bronx church speeches blaming cancel culture for his resignation, theres growing speculation that he might seek his old job again. A poll putting him four points behind Gov. Hochul is adding fuel to the fire.

We say: Let him try. Theres very little harm in giving Democratic voters a choice.

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Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a New York Hispanic Clergy Organization meeting, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in New York. (Seth Wenig/AP)

If Cuomo were to run  hed have to get cracking right quick to collect the necessary petition signatures to get on the ballot  hed no doubt continue to pound the table about what he sees as a hit job by Joon Kim and Anne Clark, the lawyers tapped by Attorney General Tish James to investigate allegations of sexual harassment. Here, he has some valid points. The report did include frivolous allegations as well as serious ones, and it sidestepped important questions that might have thrown some of the claims into doubt, such as that one accuser threatened a witness (I cant wait to destroy your life) before he changed his story.

In Opinion: A Rutgers professor writes, Cuomos baaaack, and he can win: Heres why

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But hed also have to answer more satisfactorily than he has thus far direct questions about why, as well documented in that report, he repeatedly engaged a young subordinate in intimate conversations, and a state trooper says he inappropriately touched her and made her feel uncomfortable. While its true that Cuomo is criminally innocent, that doesnt mean his hands are clean when judging his civil actions.

Meantime, Cuomo will also have to reckon with the fact that, after he gave the states ethics watchdog assurances that no government officials would work on his COVID memoir on taxpayer time, many did exactly that. And the fact that his administration obfuscated and played with numbers rather than disclosing COVID-19 nursing home death numbers in an honest and timely fashion.

Cuomo isnt a monster; hes a politician with significant strengths, major flaws and a mammoth ego. The people can decide for themselves if its worth reempowering.




Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #728





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Epidemiological situation:



Friday March 18, 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 466,638,012 cases (+2,098,587 in 24 hours ), the day before (+2,428,466)



Number of infected countries: 224



*Healings: 398,323,550 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+1,458,694 in 24 hours), the day before (+1,552,488)

*Deaths: 6,088,849 people died of Covid-19 worldwide (+6,733 in 24 hours), the day before (+7,513)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 62,225,613 cases (+633,160 in 24 hours), the day before (+868,465)



Average cure rate in the world: 85.36% (-)



Average mortality rate in the world: 1.30% (=)



World: Number of daily confirmed cases:





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 11.10 billion doses of vaccine injected (+30 million doses injected in 24 hours. Updated March 17, 2022 (latest data available).



HAITI:

Epidemiological situation:

Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after March 13, 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, +17 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of March 13, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 30,478 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 (+15 cases as of March 10, 2022).



Healings: 27,039 (+501)



Cure rate: 88.71% (+)



Deaths: 827 deaths (+0) ()



Death rate: 2.71% (=)



5th Wave (Omicron Dominant):

Total of the 5th wave (beginning of December 27, 2021) 4,483 confirmed cases and 61 deaths



Haiti: Active Cases Trend: (less recoveries and deaths)







Screening since the start of the pandemic: 183,635 tests (+1,268 in 3 days) since March 19, 2020, latest data available. Note that the very small number of people screened every day at the national level out of a population estimated at 11.6 million citizens, does not statistically allow us to make a representative estimate of the situation in Haiti, which translates into a < B>number of daily confirmed cases largely underestimated.



TOP 5 of the most affected municipalities in the West (2022):

Delmas: 737 (+1); Petion-ville 615 (+2); Port-au-Prince 405 (+0); Tabarre 286 (+0); Croix-des-Bouquets 235(+2)



Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020):

West: 2022: 2,533 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases)

North: 2022: 265 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases)

Center: 2022: 223 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases)

Artibonitis: 2022: 176 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases)

Northeast: 2022: 148 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases)

Southeast: 2022: 250 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases)

South: 2022: 213 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases)

North West: 2022: 249 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases)

Grand'Anse: 2022: 161 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases)

Nippes: 2022: 35 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

40-49 years: 78 deaths

50-59 years: 133 deaths

60-69 years: 186 deaths

70-79 years: 181 deaths

80 years and over: 137 deaths



Vaccination:

159,320 Haitians (1.37% of the population) +2,318 in 4 days have received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers and 108,450 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.93% of the population) +2.336 in 4 days. Update March 10, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP).



List of the 149 Vaccination Centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department:

(updated October 20, 2021, latest informations 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): 81,350,883 cases (+61,281 in 24 hours), the day before (+44,666)

*Healings: 56,822,580 healings (+191,463 in 24 hours), the day before (+174,667)

National Cure Rate: 69.84% (+)

*Deaths: 996,072 deaths (+1,333), the day before (+2,437)

National death rate: 1.22% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 23,532,231 (-131,515 in 24 hours), the day before (-132,438)



USA: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 557.96 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (+230,000 doses in 24 hours). Updated March 17, 2022 (latest data available).



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 576,904 cases (+116 in 24 hours) the day before (+90 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 572,092 healings (+64 in 24h), the day before (+22)

National Cure Rate: 99.16% (-)

Deaths: 4,375 deaths (+1), previous (+0)

Death rate: 0.75% (=)

Positive rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 1.45% (-)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 437 cases (+51 in 24 hours) the day before (+68)



Dominican Republic: Trend of active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



TOP 5 Provinces with the most new cases in the last 24 hours:

Santiago: +41 new cases in 24 hours (-)

Puerto Plata: +18 new cases ()

La Altagracia: +16 new cases in 24 hours (+)

Barahona: +10 new cases ()

Santo Domingo: +7 new cases in 24 hours (-)



Vaccination: 15.38 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 17, 2022 (latest data available).



QUEBEC:

Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 941,112 (+1,462 in 24 hours), previous (+1,380)

Healings: 913,642 people (+909 in 24 hours), previous (+843)

Cure rate: 97.08% (-)

Deaths: 14,232 deaths (+19 in 24 hours), previous (+11)

Death rate: 1.51% (=)

Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 13,238 cases (+534 in 24 hours), previous (+526)



Quebec: Trend of daily confirmed cases:





(average weekly trend)



Vaccination: 18,543,224 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+5,819 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of March 17, 2022)



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 23,860,194 cases (+101,747 cases in 24 hours), previous (+108,832)

*Healings: 22,452,380 healings (+58,022), previous (+66,559)

National Cure Rate: 94.25% (-)

Deaths: 140,729 (+116 in 24h), previous ()

Death rate: 0.58% (=)

Active Cases: 1,267,085 (), previous ()



France: Number of daily confirmed cases:





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 141.38 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+30,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 17, 2022 (latest data available)



Previous bulletin: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36200-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-727.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...





FLASH : Mandatory visa for Cuba

For any passenger of Haitian nationality wishing to travel to Cuba, it is now mandatory to obtain a visa at the Cuban Consulate in Haiti. The appointment must be requested by e-mail to citasconsuladoht@gmail.com



President Assassination : Where is the US investigation ?

US Congressional lawmakers seek to know the status of the US investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html , but they also want an assessment of Haiti's capacity to carry out this investigation and the assistance that the Biden administration has provided for Haiti's dysfunctional justice system.



Pierre Esperance accuses

Pierre Esperance, Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) accuses (without naming them) members of Ariel Henry's ministerial cabinet of having released under pressure members of the "400 mawozo" gang arrested in recent weeks .



Metropolitan area : 2.5 violent deaths per day

In its latest report, the Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission (CE-JILAP) recorded at least 188 violent deaths, the majority of them by gunfire, from January 1st to March 15 in the metropolitan area, mainly in the communes of Port-au-Prince. , Cite Soleil and Croix-des-Bouquets.



About 40 gang members arrested

Thursday, the Divisional Inspector, Garry Desrosiers, Spokesperson for the National Police of Haiti (PNH) has the results of police operations from February 1st to date, reveals that 233 individuals were arrested including about forty gang members operating in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets. 28 firearms and 255 ammunition were seized as well as 8 vehicles.



Discovery day at the Center dArt

The art center has a permanent collection of around 6,000 works. Through the "Discovery Day", organized as part of the Francophonie fortnight, the Art Center offers, in addition to the occasional exhibition of a selection of works from its permanent collection, a school visit with cultural mediation and a Conference followed by a talk on the history of art which will be led by Dr. Sterlin Ulysse. Friday March 18, Rue 22 Septembre Art Center from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/03/17

From relatively modest ratings of 6.5% in its first episode, "Business Proposal" has become a genuine hit. The SBS romance had ratings of 10.1% in its most recent episode, the sixth, and in response to the popularity, a special episode titled Business Proposal Story Y will air on March 19th. The recap of the first six episodes will also feature commentaries from the actors, discussing the filming process, the decisions behind various performance decisions, and other behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

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Because Business Proposal Story Y is an SBS television production and not a proper episode of the drama, it is unclear whether or not it will be translated and placed on Netflix where it can be seen by the show's international fans. Business Proposal Story Y will air at 22:00 PM Korean time on SBS. Regular episodes of "Business Proposal" air on Mondays and Tuesdays at the same time, and are uploaded with English subtitles to Netflix shortly thereafter.

Written by William Schwartz

___________

"Business Proposal" is directed by Park Seon-ho-I, written by Han Seol-hee, Hong Bo-hee, and features Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Sejeong, Kim Min-kyu, Seol In-ah, Lee Deok-hwa, Kim Hyun-sook. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2022/02/28~Now airing, Mon, Tue 22:00 on SBS.
Published on 2022/03/17 | Source

Exercising the sixth sense, Kim Ah-joong's criminal instincts dominate "Grid".

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Disney+ "Grid" (directed by Khan Lee and Park Chul-hwan, written by Lee Soo-yeon-I, produced by Arc Media, Ace Factory) Jeong Sae-byeok (Kim Ah-joong) finds the hiding place of killer Kim Man-ok (Kim Sung-kyun), released on the 16th. In the last episode, Jeong Sae-byeok was ordered to the provinces after warning from the administration not to intervene in the case and was excluded from Yoo Ryeong (Lee Si-young). However, Jeong Sae-byeok conducted an independent investigation into the arrest of the murderer without complying with the administration that disturbs public security. In the end, it was Jeong Sae-byeok who found Kim Ma-nok before the administration office.

Jeong Sae-byeok visited the subway station where he last appeared and disappeared to catch Kim Ma-nok. Jeong Sae-byeok, who spread out blueprints to look around the station, soon found Kim Ma-nok's hiding place, and the two faced off fiercely. For Jeong Sae-byeok, it was a great opportunity to wrap up the case and the moment she could achieve her goal of arresting Kim Ma-nok. Jeong Sae-byeok, a prepared detective, was not taken back by Kim Ma-nok's attack, but quickly overpowered him, heightening tension.

Jeong Sae-byeok, a detective in the violent crime department played by Kim Ah-joong, was even perfect in action. Her skillful and relaxed action to subdue a bad guy who had been bothering a subway station cleaner before finding Kim Ma-nok's hiding place, was impressive. Kim Ah-joong's action had already begun from the moment she entered the criminal's hiding place, creating extreme tension, and her aggressive skills and brilliant actions gave viewers catharsis.

Meanwhile, the drama "Grid", in which Kim Ah-joong is adding perfection to perfection, is released every Wednesday at 4 PM on Disney+.
Published on 2022/03/17 | Source

Actor Oh Yeon-soo showed off her chic charisma.

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On the 16th, Oh Yeon-soo posted several photos on her Instagram.

The released photos showed Oh Yeon-soo filming the tvN drama "Military Prosecutor Doberman". Oh Yeon-soo, who plays the role of division commander in the drama, is wearing goggles and practicing shooting. Leather jackets and leather gloves double her chicness. Oh Yeon-soo, who turned into a short cut hair style to play the role of a soldier, is writing a new lead by showing off her 'girl crush' charm, which is 180 degrees different from her previous innocent appearance.

Meanwhile, the drama "Military Prosecutor Doberman", starring Oh Yeon-soo, is a story about Do Bae-man (Ahn Bo-hyun), who became a military prosecutor for money, and Cha Woo-in (Jo Bo-ah), who became a military prosecutor for revenge, meeting to break down evil in the army.
The illogic of treating people as irredeemable

Brooklyn: In response to Voicer Tony Anastasio: As a social worker and a woman who was formerly incarcerated, I concur with Gov. Hochul allowing individuals who were once selling marijuana when it was illegal to obtain legal permits for doing so now that the laws have changed. It is a brilliant idea. Not only were their arrests and incarceration when it was illegal pointless and a waste of taxpayer dollars, but who would know the marijuana business better? Would you bring a jacket to be mended by a tailor who has not learned to sew yet?

As for your comments about formerly incarcerated people counseling and providing social-work services: We already do, and have been for quite a while. We are the people out there pounding the pavement to demand equal and generous services to the underserved to prevent the situations you mentioned. We are human beings who have been abused, beaten, dehumanized, sexually assaulted or raped  not by our incarcerated peers but by the corrections system and the officers and staff entrusted to correct us. We are people who were incarcerated due to failures in the judicial system and police departments or the absence of true domestic violence, mental health and drug counseling services.

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A new leaf. (Paul Chinn/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

We have been there and survived that. Who better to be the boots on the ground working to end these societal failures that are often the catalyst for justice system involvement? We are the individuals who I would prefer to live around because, truthfully, I and others feel safer around them. Stop judging anyone based on one mistake. Eileen M. Maher

Justice-minded jurist

Manhattan: I was excited to read the Daily News recent coverage of the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court (Full-court press to OK nominee, March 3). She is exactly who we need on the Supreme Court. She is a brilliant lawyer and jurist with nearly a decade of experience on the federal bench. Her lived experience as a Black woman in America and her experience as a professional defender give her a perspective that is missing from  and needed on  the highest court in our land. Susan Wald

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Her honor

Brooklyn: Ketanji Brown Jacksons credentials are outstanding. She is a Harvard Law School graduate, serving with distinction on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often called the second-highest court in the land. She previously served for more than eight years on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Jackson would bring a new understanding to the court that would broaden its grasp of a multitude of issues and bring it closer to the ideal of delivering equal justice for all, not just the wealthy and powerful. Emily Greenspan

Public servants

Flushing: To Mayor Adams: I dont think its a good idea to use the word my when referring to city employees  my police officers or my firefighters. Bernard Caine

Solidarity

Stamford, Conn.: So sad, all the news about Russias invasion of Ukraine. Daily News coverage has been well done. The speech by President Volodymyr Zelensky was so powerful and so was yesterdays Bramhall cartoon of angels in the fly zone. Great tribute to the valiant Ukrainians who have been killed. The Daily News should consider coloring the camera symbol on the front page to Ukraines blue and gold as a show of support. Today, the whole world is Ukrainian! God bless us all. Nelson Jimenez

Bugging out

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Brentwood, L.I.: I understand that Joe Biden has agreed to provide President Zelensky with the means to maintain a no-fly zone over Ukraine. He is sending him a case of Raid. W.J. Van Sickle

Revered leader

Manhattan: So, #45, a.k.a. The Red Turd, and his favorite counterpart, Vlad the Prick, have had their egos handed to them by a man they thought weak and a clown. The president of Ukraine has proven himself to be a noble man of honor and strength, and totally beloved by his fellow countrymen  people who are willing to fight to the death for their freedom. Neither the Red Turd nor the Russian mass murderer of innocents could ever conceive that President Zelensky would raise the banner of pride and integrity to such a degree; that he would or could inspire every free nation, NATO and the entire world except for the suppressors of the human spirit  China, North Korea, Russia and their like  to fight and unite under the flag for freedom. Oh how the enemies of goodness and humanity must envy the worlds adoration of a man they underestimated and thought a fool. Slava Ukraine! Marilyn Rodriguez

No-love guv

Toms River, N.J.: While I say that Andrew Cuomo has a huge pair for attempting to run for governor, Granma Carmella would simply say, Dizgradiada! Richard D. Vigneri

Office space

Staten Island: I have been reading your predictions that the return to offices is dead. I spent many years at a Fortune 100 company with the goal of reducing our real estate expenses and implementing work-from-home and desk-sharing. We saved millions on rent while creating a better work/life balance for our employees. We also learned that 100% remote is a failing strategy for many reasons. Sure, there are many transactional jobs that can be done that way but goals in sales, creating and innovating new product ideas and growth strategies cannot easily be achieved through Zoom, where the loudest voice controls the narrative. Onboarding of new employees was challenging, costing companies millions each year. Lastly, culture and employee camaraderie is critical to being a successful company, creating lasting friendships. Some of my closest friends I met at work. Could the Daily News truly exist effectively if your entire workforce was remote? I think not. Gina Ottrando

Free ride

Milford, Conn.: To all you crackerjack reporters out there who refuse to ask President Biden any hardball questions: How many of these illegal immigrants and criminals is he flying to his home state of Delaware? Afraid to ask him? And we, the taxpayers, are supporting this! I had to take money out of my 401(k) to pay medical bills and get hammered by taxes. I guess if I were an illegal immigrant, all these expenses and more would be covered by you, the taxpayer. Boy, did we get scammed! Peter Sulzicki

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Status quo defenders

Staten Island: In regards to Voicers Jimmy OGorman Jr. and Debra Giordano, who, in their respective critical comments about diversity on TV, stated that their views were not racist: Ive been reading the Daily News, including the Voice of the People, all my life and cannot remember reading either of their complaints regarding the lack of diversity on TV. This trend of diversity in ads is fairly recent and yet these two get bent out of shape believing that the old standard has been totally abolished. I wonder again: Where were your complaints on this page about the lack of diversity when all TV ever showed was the usual standard since its inception? Reg Amis

It was what it was

Lackawaxen, Pa.: To Voicer Charles Lavorerio: Paraphrasing former Mayor Ed Koch, I can explain it to you but I cant understand it for you. Neil Youngs lyrics to Ohio called out Richard Nixon by name for his part in the Kent State shootings; but two years later, Nixon was elected to a second term with more than 60% of the vote (despite 18-year-olds voting for the first time). Lavorerio may believe that polls can be manipulated but, if the song represented the sentiments of the public, the majority of them were no longer singing that tune when they entered the voting booths in 1972. Retrospective polling (including a couple of generations not alive in 1970) comes closer to what Lavorerio would like the facts to be, but a significant number of those who were adults in 1970 still express the view that the National Guard should have brought down a few more of the protesting students. John A. MacKinnon
Published on 2022/03/18 | Source

New poster added for the upcoming Korean movie "Yaksha: Ruthless Operations"

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"Yaksha: Ruthless Operations" (2022)

Directed by Nah Hyeon

With Sol Kyung-gu, Park Hae-soo, Yang Dong-geun, Lee El, Song Jae-rim, Jinyoung,...

Synopsis

"Yaksha: Ruthless Operations" is a story about the leader of a spy agency's secret operation team in Shenyang, China, and the prosecutor who was demoted to the spy agency as he searched for a missing high-ranking North Korean official.

Release date in Korea : 2022/04/08
Quincy, IL (62301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Quincy, IL (62301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Shelly Ward said she knew something had happened to her 30-year-old son Andrew Laud when the police knocked on her door at 1:30 a.m. last Saturday.

"I knew already it was my baby," she said. "I said, 'Please don't tell me it's Andrew.' "

Ward was then given the tragic news that Laud had been killed just a few hours earlier when his northbound vehicle was struck head-on by a driver travelling the wrong direction on U.S. 41 in Benton County without headlights on.

"We're devastated," said the former Cedar Lake resident, now living in Kentucky.

"Andrew was just the type of person who wanted to make sure everyone was OK," Ward said.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb directed flags in Lake County be flown at half-staff Saturday in honor of Laud, of Cedar Lake, who was in active duty at the time of his death with the U.S. Army and serving as a captain and company commander of HHC6-101st Aviation in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Ward said her son just returned from a month of training away and was driving to his brother's home in Cedar Lake to pick up his beloved rescue dog, Grayson, when the crash occurred at 9:15 p.m. March 11.

She is confident the last thing her son wanted was to let down his military unit, his family and his dog.

The family is hosting visitation from 2-7 p.m. Friday at the Burdan Funeral Home, 12901 Wicker Ave., in Cedar Lake, according to an obituary. Services will begin at 6 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church, 11000 W. 133rd Ave., Cedar Lake. Burial will follow at the German Methodist Cemetery in Cedar Lake.

Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Holcomb said. He directed his request to area businesses and residents.

Ward said her son was very humble and would not have wanted all the attention. But he shined brightly among those who knew him.

"He walked into a room and lit it up," she said.

Project honors Vietnam-era veterans

Laud had known while in high school he wanted to join the Army and Ward said she signed the paperwork when he was still 17. He joined the Army National Guard after graduating from Hanover Central High School in 2010, completed basic training and went on to earn a degree in criminal justice from Indiana University Northwest before joining the regular Army.

Laud followed in the footsteps of his paternal grandfather, who served in the military and was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked, Ward said.

"I think Andrew always had a strong sense of wanting to contribute and serve," she said.

Laud, who flew UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, served in Afghanistan from 2017 to 2018, Ward said.

Laud was a member of the Cedar Lake American Legion Post 261; the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Northern Indiana Chapter; and the Cedar Lake Knights of Columbus, Marian Council 3840, his obituary says.

"He will be missed by many friends, family and fellow soldiers," the obituary says. "Missed most by his beloved dog, Grayson."

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Northern Indiana Chapter in Laud's name.

A memorial fund has also been established and proceeds will be distributed to charities important to Laud, his family said. Donations can be made at any Peoples Bank location to the Captain Andrew Laud Memorial Fund.

"A heart-felt thanks to the Cedar Lake Fire and Police Departments, the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders, as well as countless others who lined the procession route from Fowler to Cedar Lake," the family posted with a video of the procession.

Ward offered thanks to everyone who loved her son and said the support is what is getting the family by during this difficult time.

"We hope his memory will stay alive," she said.

Gallery: 140-foot flagpole installed in roundabout at 109th Avenue and I-65
A draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that earlier this year a majority of them had thrown support behind overturning the 1973 case Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide. That's according to a report published Monday night in Politico. Its unclear if the draft represents the courts final word on the matter. The news outlet published what was labeled as a 1st Draft of the Opinion of the Court in a case challenging Mississippis ban on abortion after 15 weeks,. The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the draft, which if verified marks a shocking revelation of the high courts secretive deliberation process.
The outpouring of empathy and international support for Ukrainian refugees has been truly breathtaking. This should not be an anomaly but a blueprint. Just as we have opened our hearts, souls and borders to those in need in Ukraine, we should now do the same for the Iraqis, Yemenis, Afghans, Palestinians and Syrians who have been displaced for years.

Currently, European countries have received roughly 520,000 Ukrainian refugees in total  with more than 280,000 to Poland, 94,000 to Hungary, nearly 40,000 to Moldova, 34,000 to Romania, 30,000 to Slovakia, tens of thousands to other European countries, and a sizeable number to Russia. The UN refugee chief said, I have worked in refugee crises for almost 40 years and I have rarely seen such an incredibly fast exodus of people.

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FILE - Refugees fleeing war in neighboring Ukraine queue at the Medyka border crossing, Poland, March 10, 2022. (Daniel Cole/AP)

As they absorb these desperate people, mostly women and children, these countries have also received immense support from the European Union, the United Nations and its partners, as well as other international NGOs.

We must rightfully applaud these efforts. I founded the international humanitarian charity, Penny Appeal, over a decade ago, and we have dedicated millions to serving refugees and internally displaced people. However, we have often faced an uphill struggle in convincing Western governments to allocate adequate resources to those fleeing persecution.

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Europes response to Ukraine has definitively proved that Europe indeed does have space for more, that these nations have the resources and infrastructure to host tens of thousands of civilians. What they lacked before was simply the will. But what is the difference between refugees fleeing war in Ukraine and those fleeing war in the Middle East and Africa, except their skin color and religion? And perhaps Western countries being more responsible for the latters displacement? (One might ask a similar question regarding refugees fleeing other forms of unrest in South and Central America.)

Tellingly, there have been countless reports of non-European refugees being denied the right to seek refuge in neighboring countries, with rallying calls from politicians across Europe, like in Poland and Spain, explicitly stating Christian refugees are welcome but Muslims are not. Beyond the bigotry and racism at the heart of this sentiment, this is also a breach of international humanitarian law.

Internally displaced Syrians load their belongings onto a truck at a camp, before being transported to a new housing complex in the opposition-held area of Bizaah, east of the city of al-Bab in the northern Aleppo governorate, built with the support of Turkey's emergencies agency AFAD, on February 9, 2022. (BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images)

The Geneva Convention of 1951 (also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention) is based on the core principle of non-refoulement: a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. Furthermore, a refugee should be free from any discrimination under the principles of non-discrimination and non-penalization.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

One of the more disheartening statements laying bare the double standard, saying the quiet part out loud, was made by Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who told journalists These are not the refugees we are used tothese people are Europeans. He continued, These people are intelligent, they are educated peopleThis is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists.

Sadly, many media outlets seem to have no problem perpetuating this same racist narrative

Recently on BBC News, Ukraines former deputy general prosecutor commented that he was heartbroken by the killing of European people with blue eyes and blonde hair. Another CBS News correspondent said on Friday, This isnt a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan that has seen conflict raging for decades. This is a relatively civilized, relatively European city. An NBC News correspondent also faced criticism for her description of these refugees as Christian, white, and very similar [to us].

Following this kind of media reporting, non-Europeans  particularly Africans, have been sharing their traumatic experiences of racism at Ukraines border under the #AfricansinUkraine. There have been reports of Ukrainian officials preventing groups of Africans from boarding rescue trains to Poland, and even going as far as kicking them off the trains. A Nigerian woman shared a video detailing her long walk to the Polish border, only to be told Ukrainians only upon arrival.

The reporting of such discrimination has been amplified by journalists and activists of color across Europe. They are rightly asking what such discrimination says about societies that claim to have left behind racism, bigtory and discrimination, that laud freedom, democracy, equality and fair treatment for all.

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Our donors, like the donors to many other non-governmental organizations, have opened their hearts to Ukrainian refugees just as they have for those in Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen and so on. Our humanitarianism is rooted in the same four principles enshrined in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, and signed in 2007 by the Council of the EU, the European Parliament and the European Commission. These are humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. Can everyone say the same?

Younis is founder of the international charity, Penny Appeal.
Editor: Kelly Browns letter is so wrong on so many levels. Critical Race Theory w
Eight Box Elder School juniors and seniors will find themselves flying to Baja Mexico in two weeks to participate in a seven-day Marine Science Program where they will assist a pair of local biologist, an opportunity students and teachers are excited to participate in.

The trip was organized by Box Elder teachers Connie Reichelt and Kelsey Miller through the Ecology Project International, a field science and conservation organization that partners scientists with local and international students and educators in environments like the Galapagos, Costa Rica, Belize, Hawaii and Yellowstone, as well as Baja Mexico.

Reichelt said over the summer she had the opportunity to go to the Galapagos and in the past students were able to go to Costa Rica as part of a Spanish language program.

This year, however, it is sciences turn, and students say theyre excited to go.

Jonaye Doney said she was most looking forward to seeing the reef and animals they would be working with and other students said they were excited to see new ocean life.

However, others said they were interested in the opportunity just to see a new place.

Tianna Cochran said she was happy just to travel to a new country and see new people.

Others said seeing a new environment will be interesting as well.

Ive never even really been on a beach, said Kyla Momberg. So Im pretty excited.

Its kind of a once in a lifetime trip, added Kortney Wolfchild.

Reichelt, a science teacher, said being able to show students of a landlocked state such a new environment will be a great experience for them.

I feel the more people travel and see the world the more understanding those people are, she said.

She said shes not sure what specific kinds of research they will be helping with just yet, as it will depend on what scientesit are doing when they get there but it will probably involve working with the reefs and possibly local sea turtles as well.

A press release about the trip said students will work with local researchers to better understand the wildlife that shape the landscape.

Students will focus on self-directed research projects while immersed in the diverse ecology of the area, home to abundant terrestrial wildlife on Espiritu Santo Island and aquatic animals in the Sea of Cortez, the release says. Days spent in and around La Paz will include collecting baseline data on marine species abundance, contributing to ongoing research projects on the crown-of-thorns starfish, and whale shark observation.

Reichelt said this trip required a fair bit of fundraising, but the community, including Rocky Boys Indian Reservations tribal council, helped out a lot.

Miller, the trips other organizer, said the last trip of this kind they did saw student setting up a class blog where they shared photos of their trip every day so younger classes could see it, and they hope to do something similar this year, as shed like to see this experience shared with elementary-level students.
Chances are fair, some day soon you may be asked to sign an Open primaries, Final Four, Ranked Choice ballot initiative.

When my curiosity about electoral reform sent me to the Ranked Choice Voting Montana website a few days ago, I knew about the recent call for a top two open primary from former Governor Marc Racicot and former Secretary of State Bob Brown, but I didn't realize the full package of Montana electoral reform might be in play in the near future. Even the Ranked Choice Voting Montana homepage-entirely devoted to the benefits of that reform- didn't wise me up to the fact that somebody in Montana is campaigning for three major changes: replacing Montana's choose one party ballot primaries with a single ballot listing all candidates for an office; allowing up to four candidates to advance from primary to general election ballot; and asking voters to rank (first choice, second choice, third.) candidates in the general election.

It was only googling down the page from the Ranked Choice Voting entry that I stumbled on a League of Women Voters Zoom event where I learned that Ranked Choice Voters expect an answer by the end of March on their application to circulate a ballot initiative petition for all three reforms. If the state's attorney general says yes, proponents will get a chance to persuade 75,000 Montanans to endorse both an initiative for primary reform and one for ranked choice voting in the general election. That could be fun.

Seventy-five thousand is a lot of signatures to collect from the wilds of Montana, and while none of these reform ideas is new, the organized effort to sell Montanans on them is young. Montana's Ranked Choice chapter itself has only been around for a little more than a year. And, while it's not clear exactly when the group decided to push for final four open primaries, as of my visit, the homepage has not even caught up to that action.

The bigger challenge is likely to be that, while the idea of switching from Montana's present primary system, which gives allows a choice between voting in the Republican or the Democratic primary, to one that gives everybody one ballot with all choices sounds simple ( it helps when recognized Montana leaders like Racicot and Brown endorse it), and final four is just two more, ranked choice voting takes some explaining. That was evident when Helena Ranked Choice Voting volunteer Melinda Leas talked with about thirty people on that League of Women Voters Zoom call recently.

Most of the questions Leas got were about ranked choice voting. Okay, if I get a ranked choice ballot with four candidates for governor listed, I'm supposed to choose one as my first choice, another as my second choice, and so on. That's different from what most of us are used to doing, but really as easy asone two three four. But then what happens? The tricky part is understanding exactly both when and what it is the vote counter does with all those second, third and fourth place votes.

The answer is nothing if one of the candidates gets more than half of the first place votes; in that case, the winner is in. However, as Leas explained, with striking examples from recent Montana senatorial and gubernatorial elections, a lot of times nobody does get more than half of the votes. With ranked choice voting, that means it's time for whoever is counting votes to take two new steps: eliminate whoever got the fewest first place votes, and reassign the second place votes for that candidate appropriately. Appropriately means I don't know exactly how to explain it.

Even equipped with all the kinds of visual aids and charts I don't know how to make, and talking with the committed voters of the League , Leas ended up explaining that reassignment more than once. The trick is that the vote counter, which will usually mean the computer, recognizes that, while you and I both picked that loser Al as our first choice, you marked Betty as second choice, while I picked Cindy. So now Betty gets another first place vote (yours), and Cindy gets mine. The elimination and vote reassignment rounds continue until somebody has a majority of first place votes.

Leas didn't get a lot of challenges to the notion that these electoral reforms, especially combined, could give voters more choices, eliminate anxieties about votes for a third party spoiler (since second choices count) and encourage voter participation. But those challenges will be coming, particularly from people who have found their way into office through the existing system. Tennessee's governor signed off on banning ranked choice voting last month; Florida's legislature and governor are on course to do likewise, and other state legislatures are sure to follow.



Will Rawn is a retired Montana State University-Northern professor.
On 18 March is considered a black day by the people of Afrin. On this day four years ago thousands were deported they headed to Shahba Canton after a 58-day historical resistance in the face of the second largest NATO Ally supported by thousands of mercenaries too.

Ibrahim Sheikho, spokesperson for the Human Rights Organization Afrin Syria told ANHA: ''during the four years and in spite information emerge are sketchy 8280 civilians were abducted as most of them remain unaccounted for.

According to Sheikho this policy is adopted by the Turkish occupation to deepen the demographic change policy in the Afrin Canton.

Sheikho went on to reveal '' 720 citizens were killed by the Turkish occupation forces of whom 84 women and 70 sexual assaults against women in jails in Afrin and outside''.

''even nature was not spared in Afrin by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries. Since it was occupied more than 340, 000 olive and forestry trees were cut down and some 12, 000 were burned and a third of the arable lands burned''.

Regarding settlement Sheikho said: '' in a bid by the Turkish occupation state to continue the policy of the demographic change settlements were built since the Canton was occupied in compounds holding Islamic and humanitarian names such as the Ata' Bil Hidud and the Kuwaiti Charity Found and a Palestinian one'.

These foundations have a big role in building settlements such as Afraze Compound, Baflon Compound, and another one close to the village of Haj Hesne in the district of Jinderes in which families brought from areas handed over the occupation to Russia and Syrian government in line with Astana and Sochi''.

From his part, Salah Sino, Co-chair of the Antiques and Museums in Afrin revealed the outcome of violations against historical sites and religious sanctuaries after the Canton was occupied where 64 archaeological sites and hills destroyed and 30 sanctuaries destroyed in the whole of the Afrin Canton''.

Sino went on to say many of the places targeted are classified on the UNESCO list of heritage since 2011 and the most of these is Ain Dara Temple and site that were discovered in 1956 which was targeted on the second day of the aggression making damages by 60% to the temple''.

Sino went on to say other sites were targeted too such as the Nebi Huri site that was targeted by every evil weapons by the Turkish occupation army which after occupation was bulldozed''.

Sino said Turkish occupation forbid activists and locals to approach such sites to document it. On this the destruction is much higher than those documented''.

Sin made it clear that these violations and breaches threaten the Afrin cultural heritage to be removed from existence''.

Sino and Sheikho both called on the human concerned associations to bear their responsibilities regarding the crimes committed on the ground by Turkish forces and their mercenaries.

In turn Co-chair of the Lawyers' Union in Afrin Canton Gabriel Mustafa said:'' since Afrin was occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries appalling crimes are committed against humanity everywhere, and war crimes and war of genocidal acts according to international organizations and the United Nations International Inquiry on Syria tat confirmed crimes committed in Afrin amount to genocide''.

On the aims behind the policy adopted in Afrin by the Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries Gabriel said'' looking back at the history of the Ottoman State we find that what Turkish state does of crimes in Afrin is an extension to the policies of the Ottoman state against the Kurdish people in particular and against other peoples in general, and many massacres committed bear witness to that''.

Gabriel called on the United Nations and all human rights associations to bear their duties towards the people of Afrin and to hold Turkey and its mercenaries accountable for the crimes they commit and to work out to exit them from Afrin''.

L..A

ANHA
In a statement, the War Wounded Federation in North and East Syria condemned the Turkish occupation and mercenaries crimes in Afrin calling on international community to put an end to the occupation and pave the way for the return of IDPs.

''the barbaric attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation army that were green lighted by the great powers were met with a heroic resistance by the Syrian Democratic Forces that lasted for 58 days''.

''the resistance put up by the Afrin people and the Afrin Liberation Forces are to continue until Afrin liberated and occupation terminated and all cities occupied by Turkey''.

L..A

ANHA
Demonstrators support Ukraine, rip Cawthorn

About 20 people demonstrated in support of Ukraine and against U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn on Thursday within sight of the freshman congressman's new campaign headquarters on Asheville Highway.

Holding a Ukrainian flag and signs condemning Cawthorn's comments on the conflict, the protesters stood on the sidewalk in front of Fire Station 1 at Five Points as motorists passed, some honking their horns in support.

"How much time do you have? Bruce Mcdonald cracked when asked what he thinks of Cawthorn, who was caught on tape calling Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a thug and issued a statement after Zelenskyy spoke to Congress Wednesday warning of "neocons both on the left and in my party who clamor for war at every chance they get."

I think hes a disgrace," Mcdonald said of Cawthorn, who faces seven opponents in the May 17 Republican primary. "I think hes an embarrassment to the district, the worst thing I can imagine in a politician. Hes an outlier. If Lindsey Graham thinks hes bad that says it all.

Bruce Mcdonald holds a sign protesting U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn's comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.A Navy veteran who served from 1969 to 1972, Mcdonald knows something about Russia and its military might. He was as an anti-submarine officer on a destroyer that sailed to the Black Sea during the Cold War.

In recent actions in Congress, he said, Cawthorn has voted no on bills to improve health services for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service, to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to automatically enroll veterans in the VA health care system and to provide veterans contraceptive items at no contest.

Politicians generally use veterans as a prop, he added. "They all say they love veterans. I guess I can understand that. But he says it then he does nothing and works against us, which is even worse."

In the statement his office released Wednesday, Cawthorn warned that pro-Ukraine emotion must not steer the U.S. into war.

"The scenes coming from Ukraine are both jarring and heartbreaking," he said. "But lurching to war or involving American soldiers in this conflict could lead to identical jarring and heartbreaking scenes with American lives. It is possible to augment the efforts of the Ukrainian people in strategic ways, including harsh sanctions on Russia and Russian assets. But emotion should never guide our foreign policy. The United States must be extraordinarily careful to implement logical, rational foreign policy that tactfully strengthens the Ukrainian people while simultaneously putting America first."
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At a press conference Wednesday where Mayor Adams introduced his rebranded Anti-Crime Units, he was asked by a reporter about the publics right to film the police. He used his platform to issue a tone-deaf response that revealed his ignorance of the law, with old-school rhetoric that risks criminalizing the public for asserting their First Amendment right to document the police in action.

Theres a proper way to police and theres a proper way to document, Adams said. He went on: If your iPhone cant catch that picture with you being at a safe distance, then you need to upgrade your iPhone...Stop being on top of my police officers while theyre carrying out their jobs. That is not acceptable and it wont be tolerated.

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It is unwise and potentially unsafe to obstruct police in the performance of their duties. But when the mayor insinuates that he will not tolerate the filming of cops at close distances, the message many cops hear is that the public frequently has no good reason to document the police.

Documenting the police is a civic duty. The law does not state a measured distance that the public has to maintain from police, as long as they do not obstruct. Its important to understand that even when keeping their distance, the public can still have their rights violated by police trying to prevent public documentation of their activities.

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I am someone who in 2002 was violently assaulted, unlawfully arrested and charged by the NYPD for photographing a police interaction from 20 feet away. The police maced me while I was on a payphone with 911 reporting what I was witnessing in the subway. In their attempt to take the camera, I was handcuffed, slammed to the floor, kicked and punched, and my head was cracked open with a police radio.

The distance wasnt what infuriated the cops, it was the mere fact that I was photographing them.

Adams, a former cop himself, seems to think that the public are the risk to police officers, and not vice versa. He lectures that he knows best on how to do it, saying were going to teach the public how to properly document.

His response, and the patronizing idea that someone who represents the cops teaching those of us who monitor the police how to document, is another way of expressing what many cops have always felt: cameras are a nuisance, even if they are legal, and people who film are not proper nor acceptable. How are we supposed to accept that the mayor is going to teach us how to properly film the police when he doesnt demonstrate his knowledge of the law?

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

The NYPD Patrol Guide, Section 208-03 states that an observer to an arrest who is not obstructing, cannot be arrested for refusing to move, documenting what takes place, even while using crude and vulgar language. Weve been down this road before, with the department as recently as 2014 reminding its officers of these rights through an internal memo.

Indeed, were living in a world in which all police force in theory is supposed to be documented using body-worn cameras, though that is contingent on cops actually turning those cameras on. And even when they are properly activated, footage from NYPD body cameras and street cameras are not easily accessible to the public, even when Freedom of Information Law requests are submitted. It can take years for footage to be made public, if ever.

All of which is to say: What is proper copwatching according to the mayor is not correct according to the law. I fear Adams words will embolden cops to escalate encounters with the filming public because now the mayor is signaling that they are being unfairly vilified.

Myself and others have relied on documentation from the public to bring police brutality to light. Police are never ever happy with civilians filming them  and they are almost always looking for easy reasons to shut down such scrutiny. As such, they have developed increasingly sophisticated strategies for countering recorded events by blocking public visibility in their policing.

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For example, police often create a shield to encircle the person they are arresting, and they frequently repeat stop resisting out loud  a cookie-cutter, legally advised way to cover themselves.

Adams often says that public safety and social justice go hand in hand. What we continue to see from him, however, is the same rebranded rhetoric around public safety and community relations, and an absence of any bonafide social justice policies. His push is one-sided. This cannot be about what the mayor likes or prefers or deems proper for how the public should feel about his police department. Its the publics department, and the mayors job is to represent and defend all New York City residents.

Flores is an activist, documentary filmmaker and founder of El Grito, a grassroots community-based organization.
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
One of Lupita Nyongos passion projects is finally seeing the light of the day in America.

The Academy Award winner explores the real-life Dora Milaje in the documentary, Warrior Women, which will premiere on the Smithsonian Channel on March 28.

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"Warrior Women" with Lupita Nyong'o is finally coming to U.S. TVs. (Channel 4)

In the film, Nyongo journeys across Benin, West Africa to uncover the true story of the women who helped inspire the female fighting force prominently featured in Black Panther.

Known as the Agoji, the real-life all-female army engaged in battle for powerful West African Kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th through 19th centuries.

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According to the Smithsonian Channel description, the story of both the past and the present sheds light on the powerful and complicated history of the women Europeans labeled the Amazons.

In the 2018 Marvel blockbuster, Nyongo starred as Nakia  a formidable member of the Dora Milaje known for her masterful skill as a hand-to-hand combatant. That same year, the Kenyan-Mexican actress, author and producer set out on a mission to discover the incredible secrets of the warrior women.

Due to the success of the Ryan Coogler-helmed flick, a renewed interest was taken in the fearsome fighters  who after a bitter defeat in 1892 were disbanded forever, supposedly.

In the trailer for the film, the 12 Years a Slave star confesses that she was told that the last known woman warrior died in the 1970s and she did not expect to meet one.

Warrior Women with Lupita Nyongo aired on Channel 4 in the U.K. in 2019..

The Smithsonian Channel plans to air in Latin America later this year.
On Sunday, I went with a couple of my family members to a baseball game in Milwaukee between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. Everything was going well. I used my phone to get driving directions to the stadium from St. Joseph, and the Apple Maps app got us to the exact location on
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The King of Staten Island wont be invading space just yet.

Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson was slated to blast off with Jeff Bezos Blue Origin next Wednesday, but will no longer be able to make the flight due to the company bumping the date.

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Blue Origins 20th flight of New Shepard has shifted to Tuesday, March 29. Pete Davidson is no longer able to join the NS-20 crew on this mission, the company said in a tweet late Thursday. We will announce the sixth crew member in the coming days.

The 28-year-old comedian was set to fly to the edge of space alongside Party America CEO Marty Allen, SpaceKids Global founder Sharon Hagle, her real estate mogul husband, Mark Haglel, University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen, and Dr. George Nield, the president of Commercial Space Technologies and former manager of the Flight Integration Office for NASAs space shuttle program.

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Pete Davidson (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Davidson, who joined the SNL cast in 2014, was selected as an honorary guest for the flight, a Blue Origin spokesperson previously told the New York Times. The other passengers paid for their seats, though how much they each shelled out is unclear.

Davidson would not have been the first celebrity to travel out of this world. He wouldve followed in the footsteps of Good Morning America host Michael Strahan and 90-year-old Star Trek star William Shatner, who became the oldest person to reach space after his October flight.

Last year, Blue Origins space tourism rocket took off on its debut commercial flight with Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, a heroine within the space community, and a paying customer all as passengers.

The upcoming flight will mark the fourth human flight and 20th flight overall for the New Shepard program.
Netizens give thumbs up to anti-epidemic measures in rural China

Xinhua) 09:41, March 18, 2022

Liu Jia collects a sample for nucleic acid testing in Peijiazhuang Village, Lueyang County, Hanzhong City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Ren Zhengdong/Xinhua)

XI'AN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A series of photos showing a medical worker collecting nucleic acid samples in a village have recently gone viral on Chinese social platforms, winning praise from netizens.

One photo showed a medical worker wearing protective gear stooped to swab a farmer's throat in a field. Other photos also showed the medical worker collecting nucleic acid samples at farmers' homes.

Those photos were recently taken in Peijiazhuang Village, Lueyang County, Hanzhong City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, by Ren Zhengdong, a village official. The medical worker is Liu Jia, a doctor from a local hospital.

In early March, confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Lueyang County. To curb the spread of the epidemic in the rural areas, nucleic acid testings have been carried out across villages and towns in Lueyang.

Nearly 20 doctors in Liu's hospital have been dispatched to the villages to collect nucleic acid samples for rural residents.

"The elderly person in the photo is Zhang Fuye, who is 82 years old," recalled Ren, who worked with Liu to collect nucleic acid samples on March 11, adding that Zhang was not at home when they arrived.

"We found Zhang and his wife were digging potatoes in their field. Given their ages, we went to the field to do the test. Then, I pressed the shutter for Liu and Zhang," Ren said.

"Both the medical worker and the farmer are awesome. The medical worker even went to the farmland to do the test," a netizen named "Luoluo" wrote on Douyin, a popular short-video app in China.

"The medical worker did a great job and the farmer cooperated very well," another internet user named "past/past" wrote.

"The village is located deep in the mountains and villagers live in scattered places. Our medics need to tramp over hills and dales to collect nucleic acid samples one by one," said Liu, who is responsible for taking samples in Peijiazhuang Village.

Liu starts his work every morning at 8:00 am.

"It usually takes me 10 hours to collect more than 380 nucleic acid samples across the village," said Liu, adding that it takes more than 40 minutes to ride a motorcycle to the farthest villager's home.

"But it would take them about two hours to reach us. So we come to them to save their time," he added.

Liu said that villagers are busy with spring farming as the weather turns warm, medics and village officials try their best to do door-to-door nucleic acid tests.

"Many villagers are elderly. We must not make trouble for them. It is ok for us as we are very young," the 28-year-old man said.

"It shows China's determination to fight against the epidemic." "The dedication of the frontline medics deserve admiration. There are no blind spots in China's epidemic prevention and control," netizens wrote.

Liu Jia collects a sample for nucleic acid testing in Peijiazhuang Village, Lueyang County, Hanzhong City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Ren Zhengdong/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Ukrainians and supporters of the European nation gather at Orlando's Lake Eola park to protest the Russian invasion on Sunday, March 13. Organizers say they'll continue to stage protests weekly until the war is over. (Natalia Jaramillo/Natalia Jaramillo)

With the war in Ukraine in its fourth week, Ukrainians in Orlando vowed to keep protesting Russias invasion and pressure lawmakers to help bring an end to the war.

St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic church in Apopka has led large demonstrations every Sunday at Lake Eola where Ukrainians gather, hold flags, chant Glory to Ukraine and sing their national anthem around the crowded park.

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We will go on as long as it takes, said Vasyl Boichook, St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic church president. I think this is going to last months and we will be out here supporting our country every week.

Boichook sat down last week with Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, over Zoom to ask for more aid to Ukraine. Boichook said he wants to put pressure on legislators to send more help and establish a no-fly zone over the country, something the Biden administration has resisted.

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Soto in an interview said he supports a less direct approach to supporting Ukraines airforce: providing U.S. planes to Poland, which could give its own Cold War-era MiG aircraft to Ukraine.

I do not support a no-fly zone over Ukraine because that would cause us to have to have American planes shoot down Russian planes over the sky and that would be an act of war, causing a World War III between two nuclear powers, he said.

Soto noted the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys decision this month to grant temporary protective status to Ukrainians as an example of other ways in which the government is supporting the Ukrainian cause.

Informing our local Ukrainian communities about the humanitarian aid, training and arms we have sent is absolutely critical, Soto said. There are refugees that are coming to live, at least temporarily, with their families so we are really pleased to announce the TPS for Ukrainians.

Boichook, however, argues more aggressive steps are needed.

Theyre helping but in very small steps and people are dying every day, Boichook said of Soto and other U.S. lawmakers. I really wish NATO would move in and stop the war.

Echoing the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Boichook said World War III has already started because Russian President Vladamir Putin is not someone who will stop with Ukraine, especially because he sees that the West isnt directly getting involved.

Vitaliy Davydyuk, 37, who was at the Lake Eola protest last week and moved to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2013, said the main reason for these weekly protests is to ensure no one forgets whats happening on the other side of the world.

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Our mission now is to keep informing people and maybe, if more normal citizens put pressure on the administration, they will close the sky, Davydyuk said. I have family in Ukraine and its terrible what is happening. They are suffering so much.

Davydyuk said he believes the protests are working because the U.S. and other European nations banned several Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) after worldwide protests.

SWIFT is a messaging system that allows international transactions. The U.S., European Union, United Kingdom and Canada disconnected many Russian banks from SWIFT on Feb. 26.

President Joe Biden also signed a $13.6 billion spending bill into law Tuesday to provide military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

More action from the House came Thursday with the passage of H.R. 7108, which would suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.

Soto, who voted for the bill, said the U.S. needs an all-the-above economic sanction policy to bring Russias economy to a halt.

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We will continue to use every economic resource at our disposal to grind their economy to a halt to make it increasingly more difficult for them to wage an unlawful war against Ukraine, Soto said.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

The Ukrainian church in Apopka will also host daily prayers for Ukraine beginning Monday at 7 p.m., Rev. Roman Kuzminskyi said. The church is also collecting donations of medical supplies, non-perishable food and tactical gear that it will ship to Ukraine.

So far we have collected over 45 tons of aid and are so grateful to the Ukrainian community and the others who are helping us pack and donate things, Kuzminskyi said.

In an effort to keep Ukraine at the forefront of everyones mind, Boichook said he and some fellow Ukrainians traveled to Tallahassee last week to speak with lawmakers and placed small Ukrainian flags on the desk of each member of the Florida Legislature.

Keeping in Central Floridians minds the importance of this issue is very key to us helping fight and defend democracy in Europe and Ukraine, Soto said. I plan to join their protest one day this spring in Central Florida.

Boichook said he wants those with the power to influence policy to understand that the fate of Ukraine isnt all thats at stake.

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The West has to stop being scared of Russia, Davydyuk said. One day Russia could try to take Alaska and what are we going to do then?

njaramillo@orlandosentinel.com
The California-based search firm that recently placed presidents at Florida State University and the University of Central Florida and was involved in the presidential search at the University of South Florida has picked up a new client: the University of Florida.

The UF Board of Trustees voted during a meeting Friday to select SP&A Executive Search from among four search firms interviewed.

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UFs presidential search will be run by Alberto Pimentel, managing partner of the firm, who had run the searches at the other schools. He promised hed work exclusively on UFs presidential search during the duration of the contract.

At USF, SP&A charged $160,000 plus fees to help put together a pool of 18 candidates. Pimentels work with USF ended after interim President Rhea Law and Jeffrey Talley, who once led the U.S. Army Reserve, were named as two candidates moving forward.

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Some USF faculty expressed disappointment over the quality of the pool, with some questioning whether some candidates had withheld applying in hopes of instead getting the soon-to-be open president job at UF. USF is expected to select its president by Tuesday, subject to confirmation by the Board of Governors.

At FSU, where SP&A had a $90,000 plus fees contract, according to The Tallahasee Democrat, education commissioner Richard Corcoran emerged on a shortlist of nine of a pool of 22 candidates. FSU ultimately chose Richard McCullough, former vice provost for research at Harvard University, as president.

SP&A advertises itself as a boutique woman-and minority-owned executive search firm that has been involved in executive searches around the country, including at Penn State. Its website states it is also involved in searches for a vice president of research at FSU and a regional chancellor for the USF St. Petersburg campus.

FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2014 file photo, University of Florida President W. Kent Fuchs speaks during a press conference at Emerson Alumni Hall in Gainesville, Fla. The University of Florida President has announced that 2022 will be his final year in office and that he plans to return to the classroom. Fuchs made the announcement in a video address released Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Fuchs said he will stay on until a replacement is chosen, which he expects will take a year. (Doug Finger/The Gainesville Sun via AP, File) (Doug Finger/AP)

The UF board has yet to negotiate a contract with the firm. It will not retain the company until a search committee is named, the university said in a news release.

A proposal to the university stated that the firm usually charges one-third the cost of the presidents first-year compensation, including base salary and additional compensation. UF President Kent Fuchs earned $1.58 million in total compensation in 2020, the third-highest public university president in the country.

But given the firms strong desire to partner with the University of Florida on this important assignment, the firm wrote it would be willing to negotiate either a flat fee or a capped rate beforehand.

SP&A Executive stood out to the interviewing committee because of its recent familiarity with Florida, including its public records laws, said Tom Kuntz, a retired bank executive and member of UFs Board of Trustees. He said the fees asked for by each firm they interviewed were similar.

Its an interesting time because there are lots of presidential searches that are ongoing or about to begin across the country, Kuntz said Friday.

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UFs presidential search will be conducted less openly than other recent searches in the state following a new law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed this week that shields information about applicants from public records until they reach the finalist stage. The law took effect immediately.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw said in an email the governor believed the bill would improve the quality of the applicant pool.

Most qualified candidates for university president are already employed elsewhere, and it stands to reason that they might not want their current employer to be aware that they are considering a new professional opportunity, she wrote. Therefore, this reform will enable such candidates to apply for a significant job without fear of retribution from their current employer. Floridas world-class public university system will therefore have access to a broader pool of potential talent and leadership.

While many faculty unions have been critics of the bill, saying it is a way to fast track politicians to the job, UF Board chairperson Mori Hosseini assured the Board politics would play no part in the search.

Not one person political has asked me to be a candidate and not one person political has asked me to be on the committee, he said.

Hosseini said he would name the search committee by next week.

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We are going wide, he said. Were going after CEOs, were going after academia, were going after the most successful people in the country who can lead our university to the next level.

2022 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Fort Lauderdale  The gunman in the Fort Lauderdale bus shooting fired 21 bullets in the mid-afternoon assault Thursday that left two dead and two wounded, according to the police.

Video from inside the bus showed the suspect, Jamal Meyers, withdrawing a semiautomatic handgun from his right pocket and firing 12 shots at four people seated in the rear of the bus, according to a Fort Lauderdale Police report. He reloaded his pistol and fired another nine shots at them.

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The Broward County Transit driver forced the bus into oncoming traffic, striking two cars, to reach the Fort Lauderdale police station. During her desperate drive to the police department, as shots rang out aboard the bus, drivers called 911 to complain about a rogue public bus that was putting drivers in danger.

There was a bus driving the wrong way, one 911 caller said. We had to just stop and let it go.

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After the bus veered into the police station parking lot, Officer Daniel Hughes heard three shots and saw Meyers quickly leave the vehicle. Hughes pointed his gun at Meyers and ordered him to lie on the ground. Meyers complied and was arrested. The shooting lasted one minute and three seconds. His gun was found on the bus.

Jamal Meyers, 34, is the suspect in Thursday's deadly Fort Lauderdale shooting, according to Fort Lauderdale police. Meyers is charged with two counts of premeditated murder and two counts of attempted murder, among other charges. (Fort Lauderdale Main Jail)

The men who died are Gregory L. Campbell Jr., 32, of Lauderdale Lakes, and Danny Colon, 41, of Tamarac, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The two surviving victims have not been identified.

The bus driver has been called a hero for quick action that helped cut the incident short. After shooting started, the driver forced the bus into a turn lane and pulled into the Fort Lauderdale police station parking lot.

We applaud the heroic actions of our Broward County Transit bus operator whose quick thinking put the bus and its passengers in a safe zone where immediate help was available for victims of this tragic shooting, Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero said in a statement. Her immediate response resulted in the alleged shooter being arrested promptly by Fort Lauderdale Police.

The suspected shooter, Meyers, 34, faces two premeditated murder charges and two attempted murder charges, according to the court documents. He also faces charges of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and a probation violation.

Meyers is considered a serious habitual felon and has had numerous encounters with the legal system since 2003, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

His first encounter with the legal system was when he was 15 years old and charged with disrupting a school function. He also has strong-arm robbery and grand theft arrests in his teen years.

Meyers was last sent to prison on Aug. 9, 2021, after being found guilty of 10 crimes between 2017 and 2019. Half of those convictions were for burglary. Each conviction carried a three-year sentence, though he was able to serve them concurrently. In the end, he served only five months in state prison because he was given credit for spending over 800 days in jail while his criminal cases played out on court.

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On Jan. 8, he was released and placed on probation until 2025.

Fort Lauderdale police said the motive for Thursdays bus shooting remains unknown.

[ LEE EN ESPANOL: Conductora aclamada como heroina en tiroteo en autobus que mato a 2 e hirio a otros 2. Sospechoso identificado y camino a la corte ]

One shooting victim died on the bus and the other died at Broward Health Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said. Another victim is in critical condition at Broward Health Medical Center; the fourth shooting victim is expected to survive.

Three other people were injured and treated at the scene for minor injuries when the bus crashed into cars as it crossed the road in the drivers desperate attempt to get to the police station.

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[ IN OTHER NEWS: He loved life: Family and friends remember slain Shooters employee ]

The bus driver in this particular case, her quick actions I am sure saved lives, Acting Police Chief Luis Alvarez said. So kudos to her. She deserves to be applauded for her actions.

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That is a difficult thing to do. Not many people would have behaved the way this bus driver behaved and to get to the front of the police station  it pretty much saved lives, he said.

Two people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting on a Broward County Transit bus Thursday afternoon near the Fort Lauderdale police station on Broward Boulevard. (Michael Laughlin / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

No officers fired their weapons when capturing the suspect, Alvarez said.

The bus route travels along Broward Boulevard and extends from Broward Central Terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale to Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

[ IN OTHER NEWS: People are passing out: 911 call describes moment Spring Breakers overdosed on fentanyl-laced cocaine | Listen ]

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Sheraton Denver Downtown, Downtown Denver's largest hotel that recently unveiled an $80 million renovation, announced today the appointment of Keith Steigerwald as Director of Food & Beverage. Steigerwald has been with the Marriott brand for 14 years and brings over a decade of experience in overseeing hotel Food & Beverage operations.

As Director of Food & Beverage, Steigerwald is responsible for delivering a Colorado-focused food and beverage experience to hotel guests. Steigerwald and his team will focus on partnering with local producers such as Elevation Artisan Meats, Jumping Good Goat Creamery, and many distinguished local distilleries and breweries to provide guests with a taste of Colorado.

In this new role, Steigerwald will oversee all of Sheraton's dining experiences including in-room dining, 16thStreet Commons Coffee Bar Bar, Spritz Pool Bar, as well as Bezel Cocktail Lounge, Denver's swankiest new cocktail experience that opened in November 2021 on the 16th Street Mall. Steigerwald and his team ensure that all dining entities transition guests seamlessly from day to night with food and beverage options that are locally-sourced, easy to enjoy while working and customizable to accommodate all tastes and schedules.

Steigerwald began his hospitality career in 2013 serving as Director of Restaurants at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Prior to joining the Sheraton Denver Downtown team, Steigerwald spent six years in Northern California serving as Director of Operations at The Lodge Sonoma and as Director of Operations at W San Francisco. While there, he earned a degree in Winemaking and Viticulture from UC Davis.

By taking this role, Steigerwald is returning home to a familiar place as he was formally the Director of Food & Beverage at the Denver Marriott City Center from 2014-2016. He also graduated from Colorado State University in Ft. Collins with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. What excites him most about returning to Colorado is access to one of the hottest food scenes in the U.S.
Andrea Orru has been part of the team at Minor Hotels, Anantara's parent company, since 2013. To join the Thai hotel group, he put behind him 13 years at Starwood Hotels where he spent over a decade in F&B.

He went from head waiter at The Sheraton Park Tower to F&B supervisor at The Park Lane Hotel Sheraton, to F&B venues manager at The Westin Sydney. His final stint with Starwood lasted two years as director of F&B at Four Points by Sheraton Shenzhen.

He moved into Anantara through operations, becoming resort manager of Naladhu Maldives and Anantara Veli Resort from 2013 to 2015. Staying in operations ever since he became EAM of Anantara Koh Samui and then resident manager of the Anantara Lijiang.

Becoming a task force GM for the group, he went on to work across Busan, the Maldives, Koh Phangan in Thailand, and now Salalah as GM. In this new role, the hotel promised he would once again delve into his passion for F&B, planning to introduce food festivals and Michelin-starred chef appearances.
The Grand Millennium Business Bay hotel has brought in a new director of marketing and communications. Anu Van Der Sande joins the team from Media One Hotel in Dubai where she was head of marketing and communications.

Moving to Millennium also marks her first directorial role. Sande has worked in hospitality for just under a decade, starting out as a front office associate with Taj Hotels in Mumbai in August 2011. Centred around room operations and reservations, she later moved into PR and marketing through Marriott.

Joining Marriott in Dubai in 2014, she became complex PR and marketing associate. During this time she would develop and communicate various marketing campaigns, source advertising opportunities and support her DOSM in reporting and monitoring.

Working across the likes of Al Maha, Le Meridien Al Aqah and Four Points by Sheraton Downtown, she became complex PR and marketing executive in 2015. By 2017, she was complex PR and marketing manager for Marriott in Dubai.

After Marriott, she spent close to three years at Media One Hotel.
When it comes to sunsets, no place is more popular than Key West.

And in Key West, theres no better place to watch the sunset than Mallory Square, according to a not-at-all dubious study from mornings.co.uk.

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The website, which offers guides for mattresses, pillows and beds to promote better sleep, compiled a list of the best places to watch the day begin and end. Mallory Square, as it turns out, is the most popular place to watch sunset.

Gathering for sunset is one of the top tourist activities for Key West visitors. Hundreds gather every night at the square, which features performers, food stalls, arts and crafts vendors and  of course  the sun, at least for a short while.

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Tourists can actually see the sunset at Mallory Square, too: The cruise ships parked there head out to sea before the sunset celebration starts.

A crowd gathers for the daily sunset celebration at Mallory Square in Key West. A website says it's the most popular place to watch a sunset in the world. (Roger Simmons/Orlando Sentinel)

Other top sunset spots are Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates; Top of the Rock observation deck in New York City; Piazzale Michelangelo with its views of Florence, Italy; Uluwatu Temple in Bali, Indonesia; Mindil Beach in Australia; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; the Empire State Building in NYC; and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Angkor Wat in Cambodia was the best spot to watch sunrise, according to the study, followed by the Haleakala Crater in Maui, Hawaii; the Taj Mahal in Agra, India; Borobudur Temple in Java, Indonesia; the Grand Canyon in Arizona; Uluru in Australia; Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, India; Mount Batur in Bali; Sarangkot, Nepal; and Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine.

To come up with the rankings, the website analyzed Tripadvisor reviews to find the most mentions of the words sunrise and sunset. Research!

2022 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Business Travel Association (BTA) has today revealed that the second week of March saw the biggest drop in domestic and international business travel since the start of 2022.

Data from Travelogix shows that business travel trips departing this week fell by 49.64% compared to 2019. The first week of March, in comparison, was reduced by 42.44%

Clive Wratten, CEO of the BTA said: At a time of increased uncertainty across the world and rising fuel prices threatening our industry, it is disheartening to see a reduction in business travel. If this trend continues, we will be in the sad position of needing further Government support.

Data shows that there has been an overall 3.41bn GDP loss associated to domestic and international travel* compared to the same week in 2019. This is the biggest loss seen since the start of 2022.

The data shows that in the second week of March, the lower levels of business travel to:

Republic of Ireland have cost UK GDP 527 million

have cost Germany have cost UK GDP 487 million

have cost Singapore have cost UK GDP 465 million

have cost France have cost UK GDP 401 million , and

have cost , and USA have cost UK GDP 281 million this week.

The thirty fourth edition of the BTAs Business Travel Tracker can be found here.

* Data from leading travel data provider Travelogix shows this decrease in business travel trips across ten key international destinations has cost UK GDP 2.72 billion, and an additional 695.61million from domestic business travel, equalling a total of 3.41 billion loss to UK GDP in the second week of March 2022.

About Travelogix

Travelogix is a leader in the world of travel data, reporting and analytics. Founded in 2011 by Chris Lewis and Gary Jones, Travelogix empower TMCs across the globe with accurate, accessible, real-time data that drives success. Travelogix are the standard for data analysis within travel and continue to craft and innovate their solutions to meet the demands of the industry.

About the BTA

The BTA is the authority on business travel. Working collaboratively across the industry and with the government to promote the integral role of business travel and events to the wider economy.

Originally founded in 1967, the BTA has a diverse membership and roster of industry partners. It's TMC membership accounts for over 90% of UK expenditure on managed business travel, delivering value for money and great service to business travellers in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. The BTA focuses on delivering practical solutions to challenges and market changes, as well as supporting best practice, sustainability and the well-being of travellers.

For more information on BTA please visit: thebta.org.uk or call 020 3657 7010.

Victoria Naylor-Leyland

Pembroke and Rye

+44 (0) 7899 890 908

BTA (Business Travel Association)
SoftBank Group Corp-backed food service robot startup Bear Robotics has raised $81 million in a Series B funding round with investors that include Cleveland Avenue, a venture capital firm founded by a former McDonalds chief executive.

Other investors include South Korean private equity firm IMM and telco KT Corp, the startup's co-founder and chief operating officer Juan Higueros told Reuters, declining to disclose the firm's latest valuation.

Bear Robotics has shipped more than 5,000 of its Servi food service robots, which carry food and drink between kitchen and tables on layers of trays, and partnered with industry players such as Denny's, Chili's and Pepsi.

The California-based startup aims to expand beyond its home market and Japan and South Korea, where it has partnered with SoftBank and KT respectively, into Europe and Southeast Asia amid industry labour shortages.

SoftBank led the startup's Series A round and has shifted to reselling robots from third parties and formed a joint venture with household goods maker Iris Ohyama in Japan.

Bear Robotics charges a $999 monthly fee for Servi in the U.S., which gives the robot a running cost of around $2.75 per hour, Higueros said.

The startup plans to roll out two new robots this year, one that can detect air quality on the move and another that can carry deliveries from the lobby to upper floors of a building via the elevator.

Bear Robotics makes its products in South Korea, with the company relying on its head of manufacturing, who previously worked for Taiwan's Foxconn, to help navigate the "tough to manage" supply chain pressures, Higueros said.

Source: Reuters
Lausanne  The Board of Trustees of the EHL Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jonathan Stent-Torriani as EHLs new International Advisory Board President. After 10 years at the helm of EHL International Advisory Board, Mr. Emanuel Berger, has announced that he will be retiring from his position as Chairman by July 2022.

For two decades, Mr. Emanuel Berger - himself a graduate of EHL  served as member of the Board of EHL, and accepted the following 10 years to lead the International Advisory Board with great passion and commitment. Mr. Emanuel Berger has had a stellar career spanning more than 6 decades. This includes his leadership as CEO of the Victoria-Jungfrau Collection, as well as being Chairman of Swiss Deluxe Hotels.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Berger and wish him a most fulfilling retirement. His love and passion for the hospitality industry has inspired - and continues to do so - many young hoteliers from around the world. Today, we look back with great thankfulness and we look forward to welcoming our new president Mr. Jonathan Stent-Torriani," declares Dr. Carole Ackermann, President of the Board of Directors and EHL Board of Trustees.

About EHL Group

EHL Group encompasses a portfolio of specialized business units that deliver hospitality management education and innovation worldwide. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Group includes:

EHL Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne is an ambassador for traditional Swiss hospitality and has been a pioneer in hospitality education since 1893 with over 25,000 alumni worldwide and over 120 nationalities. EHL is the world's first hospitality management school that provides undergraduate and graduate programs at its campuses in Lausanne, Singapore and Chur-Passugg, as well as online learning solutions. The university of applied sciences is ranked n1 by QS World University Rankings by subject and CEOWorld Magazine, and its gastronomic restaurant is the world's only educational establishment to hold a Michelin Star for a third consecutive year.

EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality has been one of the leading hospitality management colleges for hotel specialists for over 50 years. The College delivers Swiss-accredited federal diplomas of vocational education and training and of higher education in its 19th century spa-hotel in Chur-Passugg, Graubunden, to Swiss and international students from 30 countries.

EHL Advisory Services is the largest Swiss hospitality advisory company specializing in service culture implementation, business consulting, as well as the development and quality assurance of learning centers. EHL Advisory Services has offices in Lausanne, Beijing, Shanghai and New Delhi and has delivered mandates in more than 60 countries over the past 40 years.

www.ehlgroup.com

Amelie SOZZI

Internal and Digital Communications Manager

+41 21 785 11 11

EHL

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Choice Hotels EMEA CEO Jonathan Mills highlights a significant increase of interest in franchising as a business format as more people look to franchising for the first time

Growing entrepreneurial spirit fuels a desire to take opportunities and shape the future

Choice Hotels EMEA has seen a marked increase in a new generation of energised entrepreneurs looking to upgrade their passion for hospitality and manage their own business through fran chising.

Commenting on the importance of the franchise industry, especially post-pandemic, and the changing face of the hospitality industry Jonathan Mills, CEO Choice Hotels EMEA said: Undoubtedly the pandemic has affected hospitality and whilst challenging and difficult, it has also afforded opportunity for the industry to review operations and change industry practices across many organisations."

Whilst the industry looks vastly different compared to 2019, and recovery trajectory predictions are at best hazy, we should continue to embrace the changing face of our industry."

The industry continues to evolve at pace, and one of the most significant things weve seen in recent months is increased interest in franchising as we witness a new generation of energised entrepreneurs looking to more deeply engage and upgrade their passion for hospitality and manage their own business."

Whilst franchising has been a successful business m odel for years, in recent months we have seen an increased interest in franchising as a business format as many people look to franchising for the first time. We believe this is, in part, driven by a desire in people to seize new opportunities and take more control and shape their own futures. Franchising clearly is now seen as an exciting and diverse industry, especially for the entrepreneurial opportunities it provides."

Here at Choice Hotels EMEA we are the only international hotel group that chooses to focus exclusively on franchisees and their success and we have no managed or owned properties to support in EMEA. We empower our owners to be in business for themselvesbut not by themselves."

We have recently taken a very purposeful deep dive and review to consider how our operating model should be future fit for our franchisees, and guests, across EMEA."

We know franchisees have their own vision for how they want to deliver a great hotel experience, whilst also driving investment performance. Our goal is for franchising of the future to be far more than an exercise in compliance with a long list of brand standards. It should be a valued and trusted partnership that enables easy access to knowledge exchange for small business entrepreneurs."

As much of the world reopens and the pent-up demand for travel breaks out, we anticipate operating models will continue to adapt and hoteliers of the future will operate in a rapidly changing and evolving environment.

View our full perspective on this here; http://media.choicehotels.com/international-press-releases?item=50.

For further information on Choice Hotels, please visit: https://www.choicehotels.com/en-uk.

About Choice Hotels EMEA

Choice Hotels EMEA is represented under the Ascend Hotel Collection, Clarion, Quality and Comfort brands, in France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. Choice Hotels International, Inc., the parent company of Choice Hotels EMEA, with more than 7,100 hotels representing over 600,000 rooms, in nearly 40 countries and territories is one of the largest hotel groups in the world (as of September 30, 2021).

Forward-Looking Statement

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of Choice Hotels International, Inc., any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.
Over the past two years, the pandemic has forced the hospitality industry to reflect and recognize how to make their businesses prosper in times of societal and economic hardship. Hospitality companies across the globe made furloughs to every part of their business - including Human Resources - leaving a skeleton team behind to look after more than hundreds of employees.

As the entire industry was brought to its knees, it's critical to recognize that while hospitality tends to be a wonderfully multicultural place to work, there is still so much room for improvement in terms of diversity within our teams and in our recruitment efforts.

All teams within the Red Carnation Hotel Collection believe unequivocally that luxury hospitality is a fantastic industry to join and work in with opportunities for all  the most inclusive, rewarding, and diverse there is  and it's important to see that with this diversity, there is opportunity.

Taking Strides for Diversity and Equality in Hospitality

In early 2020 before the first lockdown, Red Carnation Hotels took the opportunity to launch an initiative called Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality and Action (IDEA) with its parent company, The Travel Corporation (TTC). IDEA is based on building community, providing support, and contributing to personal and professional development in the work environment.

Though the global situation then changed drastically and was unprecedented - and many of the team not working - it felt like a good time to realign the company's values and ensure that they could come back stronger when the time came. Red Carnation wanted to make sure their workforce was fully represented and that they were recruiting and developing people from all underrepresented groups to reach their full potential.

RCH IDEA was created to work in tandem with its parent company's diversity initiative, TTC (The Travel Corporation) IDEA.  Photo by Red Carnation Hotels

With the Brexit backdrop, and many people returning home, Red Carnation's UK, Guernsey, and Ireland properties experienced many employees resigning their positions during lockdown and returning home. The landscape was certainly changing from a people perspective, and Red Carnation wanted to make sure that when business returned, their plans were in place and had become the normal way to do things, part of the culture throughout, and that they were attracting and recruiting, developing and growing from all underrepresented groups - not just students that had attended University (though of course they all still had a place in the company) and not just people who applied for jobs on caterer.com or Red Carnation's website directly.

Part of Red Carnation's Human Resources team (called People & Culture) that wasn't furloughed during the pandemic returned to work to commence full consultation meetings that would promote IDEA - not just within the UK and Ireland, but globally.

IDEA now has four co-chairs, a committee of around 50 people, and Identity Circles that regularly meet to discuss areas we can improve around underrepresented individuals and communities: LGBTQ+, Women, Single Parents, Disability, People of Colour, Religion and Culture and Neurodiversity. Our Leadership and Development team brought to life our goals with Diversity & Inclusion training and started the task of mass education on the subject. Red Carnation now has set goals and a 5-year strategy in place with The Travel Corporation (TTC), and most recently held an "IDEA Festival" in September 2021 on a global scale with guest speakers, panel discussions, interactive breakout groups and much more.

IDEA is an ongoing project with eight existing identity circles  including Women, Pride, Culture, Age, and Neurodiverse  that meet monthly, both separately and together, to discuss challenges in the workplace and bring forward actionable change.  Photo by Red Carnation Hotels

To ensure equality and best practice in the workforce, our new goals include many HR best practices which fully align with the United Nations Global Goals and the TreadRight Foundation's Corporate Social Responsibility goals, which includes increasing employee & market sentiment regarding diversity & inclusion. Our Founder and President's son, Brett Tollman, founded the TreadRight Foundation and is also CEO to our parent company, TTC.

Through these combined standards, Red Carnation is attracting those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds on their recruitment, training to educate their employees, mentoring and being allies to underrepresented employees and managers.

From these 5-year goals, Red Carnation has several actions or tactics that they are working towards. Their first step was to launch the topic and express globally to as many people as they could reach, what they wanted to do. From there they created (through conducting a survey) Identity Circles  to include many underrepresented groups  and chose Women, Single Parents, People of Color, Age, Neurodiversity, Body Positive and LGBTQ+ - as these were the areas many felt were underrepresented.

One area Red Carnation already succeeded quite well was their regard to women  with half the workforce made up of women as well as their senior managers being strongly represented (5 out of 7 senior executives are women; 6 out of Red Carnation's 20 hotels have female General Managers). Additionally, Red Carnation's Founder and President, Beatrice Tollman, and her two daughters who are now directly involved with the collection, are all female  but companies can always improve, even when they are doing well!

Embracing our Youth's Potential

At a time when the negativity around hospitality was growing, it was important to showcase the benefits of the industry to younger generations, who are the key to the future of travel. To inspire and motivate our youth to join the industry, Red Carnation created a "Masterclass" initiative, where People & Culture reached out to lecturers and students studying hospitality, leisure, tourism and hotel management in the UK and Ireland.

After circulating a questionnaire to University contacts on where we could help with online classes, Red Carnation then devised presentations. This was a mammoth task and involved staff of all levels, including General Managers, Executives, Red Carnation's Managing Director, and the People & Culture team, all of whom delivered lectures to students.

In total, Red Carnation reached 1,842 students in 40 lectures across 24 universities and colleges. Lectures covered subjects including Talent Management, Managing Change, International Human Resources, 5-Star Service, Mental Health in the Kitchen and Revenue Management. Red Carnation also delivered lectures on Sustainability, as this is an area high on the students' agenda that particularly resonates across the hotel collection. The feedback was extremely positive, and this led to high levels of engagement from students, many of whom have since been hired for Red Carnation's Management Program. An Oxford Brookes graduate who attended one of Red Carnation's Masterclasses was also hired to the People & Culture team, and 8 students from that Masterclass applied for this role.

Red Carnation's Management Program gives students the chance to develop their knowledge and skills, guided by a team of professionals who are committed to building confident team leaders within the hospitality industry.  Photo by Red Carnation Hotels

Recruitment onto the Management Program shows Red Carnation's standing within the industry still. The positive reputation Red Carnation Hotels has created over many years, through to the Masterclasses presented, highlights the company's determination to bring talent into the industry.

In addition to the Masterclasses, the People & Culture team saw opportunity with volunteer service. People & Culture participated with the National Citizen Service, designed especially for 16 and 17-year-olds, that gives students a clearer idea of what they want from their future. So far, Red Carnation has run 5 sessions across 5 different boroughs in the summer, reaching 60-80 students per session. The sessions involve a presentation on hospitality and industry benefits. It also includes a practical task whereby the students help Red Carnation create new strategies to entice younger people into the industry. In the first session, when asked for a show of hands, initially only 3 people expressed an interest in a career in hospitality, but by the end of the session, this number rose to over 20, with 9 getting in touch to enquire about work experience.

People & Culture also partnered with Women in Travel, a social enterprise dedicated to leveraging the industry and its suppliers to provide disadvantaged women with the opportunity to fulfil their economic and individual potential. The team hosted a careers day for 9 women, many of whom were finding it difficult to get back into work, interviewed them, and offered employment to two.

Keeping Optimism in times of Crisis

Keeping a positive outlook, understanding employees' needs, and maintaining a steady leadership in a time of crisis was a key factor in retaining employment. A key achievement for Red Carnation Hotels was making far fewer redundancies then previously planned  due in part to furlough extension but also by living out family values even in the face of adversity and hardship.

People & Culture kept employees engaged, motivated and continued training people throughout and tried to keep people healthy in mind, body and spirit with well-being, meaningful messages. By doing this, the company received positive feedback from employees, which made everything easier to bear and kept the People & Culture team going.

Red Carnation Hotel's workforce is made up of 51% women, with nearly 40% in top managerial roles, including six at General Manager level.  Photo by Red Carnation Hotels

Good communication became paramount, and all teams throughout the company worked hard to ensure that their messages to employees were informative, timely and truthful. Keeping employees engaged and developed, although they were at home, helped with their return to work. Following training, managers understood how COVID had affected employee's mental health and their home life, which has in turn enabled them to support their teams in a more informed and practical way.

Shortly after the pandemic began, Red Carnation began weekly meetings to help the global People & Culture teams and General Managers understand their relevant job retention schemes and look at ways to support their hotel teams. Help varied as the needs were differing and it was very time consuming and exhausting. Many times, staff were working more than 12-hour days to include all time zones.

Red Carnation also started a weekly well-being initiative  which included, 'Managing Anxiety,' 'Getting Active Your Way,' 'Financial Advice,' 'Lockdown Lessons,' 'Learning Opportunities from Home,' 'Connecting with your Team,' 'How to Stop Negative Thoughts from Spiralling,' and 'Reintegrating Back Into the World After Lockdown.'

Weekly calls to employees, attendance of tea parties and delivering training made the team visible and accessible, and through updating and re-launching the global People & Culture blog, 'Community Life' at Red Carnation, it ensured that employees could find easily accessible information about the company, learning and development, the handbook and the benefits.

Red Carnation's method of devising new online training courses and converting courses from a classroom format to online delivery also ensured that employees were engaged and continuously able to access training allowing employees to be prepared on their return to work. It's also important for companies to keep the fun aspect to work alive, and Red Carnation did this through posting positive messages on Instagram, hosting cooking events with the Executive Chefs and Pastry Chefs, wine tasting online, drawing classes for adults and children, fun quizzes, Escape Room events and even talent competitions.

Leaving the Door Open for All Employees

While making the difficult decision to furlough or let go employees, it's important for Human Resources teams to be well-prepared for their return and, if they don't return, to send a clear message that they are supported and valued in the industry.

During the pandemic, People & Culture held daily calls with General Managers, supporting them with employee queries. They also aided the Finance department by taking over the management of furlough payments and ensuring the relevant paperwork went out, switching from printing documents to sending communication electronically. They reviewed policies, contracts, offer letter templates, return to work documents, etc. to make sure that they matched the needs of the business, creating H&S blueprints for a safe return to work.

Additionally, People & Culture supported employees who were let go from the business and provided them with a wealth of useful information on employment advice, interviewing techniques, where to go to get financial help, how to access Universal credit and jobseekers allowance, and supplied helpful contacts and charities. The People & Culture team also kept the Employee Assistance Helpline open to all for a further year and held a post-employment online seminar to help people plan their futures. Some employees that had to be let go have since returned to the business proving the company supported them well throughout.

Understandably, the pandemic brought many things to light. One of the most encouraging observations to come out of this time has been a showcase of just how resilient, resourceful, and thoughtful Red Carnation's incredible team is, and how other hospitality companies can do the same.

Main Image: Red Carnation's career progression opportunities include exceptional training and development programs in place to help employees swiftly achieve their full potential.
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Some Houston-area families can breathe a little easier thanks to special bracelets that help law enforcement agencies quickly locate individuals with cognitive disabilities who wander off.

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Agents from Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office, Harris County Sheriffs Office and Katy ISD Police Department gathered at Fry Road Park in Katy on March 17 to learn how to operate receivers from nonprofit Project Lifesaver that chirp as they follow frequency signals to track the movements of a person with autism, dementia, traumatic brain injury or other cognitive disorder.

According to its website, Project Lifesaver has successfully rescued nearly 3,900 people, helping them avoid perils like busy highways, ditches and bodies of water. The program is used by agencies in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Its been a complete game-changer, said Deputy Ashley Schubert, the Project Lifesaver coordinator for Harris County Sheriffs Office. Its taken what should be an average of a 9-hour search into easily 30-minute searches.

She said using the receivers saves agencies money and time because although deploying at three receivers is optimal, even one receiver can locate a lost person and prevent deploying a larger search party.

Currently, HCSO has a waiting list of more than 50 families who hope to receive a bracelet. It also has more than 100 deputies now trained to use the receivers, but the Schubert said goal is to train every deputy.

The bracelets resemble a heavy-duty version of one a person might wear at a concert.

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Once law enforcement agents arrive on the scene, they first ask the missing persons last known location and how long ago they were seen. Then, they start walking and listening to receivers set specifically for the bracelets frequency. The chirps grow louder as the agents close in on the lost person.

Katy ISD Police Department Chief Henry Gaw said student safety is of upmost importance to the district, so he welcomes the program. The department is scheduled to get four receivers that will be ready to assist in finding a missing student.

For us to recover maybe just one child will be worth this weight. I mean, to us, its hard to put a price tag on the safe recovery of a student, Gaw said.

So far, the receivers and bracelets in the two counties have been primarily funded through donations and grants. Katy ISDs receivers were purchased through the districts general operating fund.

A student may live in Fort Bend County but go to school in Harris County, or a county resident may wander into a neighboring county. So, collaboration between different agencies is important.

In addition, when an individual travels to another part of the country, the home law enforcement agency can inform the destination agency that they will have someone in their jurisdiction who wears a Project Lifesaver bracelet.

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Michael Kahlenberg coordinates FBCSOs Project Lifesaver and You Are Not Alone programs. Volunteers for You Are Not Alone make daily calls to older adults to check in on them. Kahlenberg said Fort Bend County has 80,000 to 90,000 older adults, and 27 percent of them live alone. He said some have started to wander more frequently amid the COVID-19 pandemic as isolation and stress have taken their toll on health.

Fort Bend County had been working with Project Lifesaver until 2011. Searching for solutions to help the wandering adults, the county again partnered with the program in 2021.

Other tools FBCSO can deploy to find a missing person include helicopters and patrol units.

Kahlenberg said the bracelets cost the county $360 each. The receivers cost around $1,100. The goal, Kahlenberg said, is to provide a bracelet to everyone in the county who needs one. Families go through an application process to receive one.

So far, FBCSO has primarily been funding its program through donations. Project Lifesaver T-shirts can be purchased and let the community know what businesses, organizations and people have supported the launch. Some include MKT Distillery, Agas Restaurant, Sapore Detroit Pizzeria, Westland Baptist Church and the Rosenberg Lions Club.

Parents and caregivers of individuals with cognitive disabilities can face the challenge of needing to watch their other children or just managing life when the individual can disappear and begin moving. The bracelet can offer a little more peace of mind.

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Families can sign their loved one up for the program in Harris and Fort Bend counties. While there are waiting lists, Schubert said the Harris County program is growing as more deputies are trained to go out and service the bracelets every two months.

Last year in Fort Bend County, an 11-year-old child went missing for more than two hours. A couple saw him at the Grand Parkway at Fry Road, called 911 and got him into the safety of their vehicle until deputies arrived. He had traveled about two miles.

Imagine losing your child and not knowing where hes at or the school not knowing who to call or what, Kahlenberg said. So thats why this is so great. Its a way to be able to find them and bring them home faster.

Learn more about Project Lifesaver in Fort Bend County, purchase a T-shirt or donate at www.fortbendcountyyana.com. Visit https://tinyurl.com/2zn47knn to learn more about the Harris County program.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
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Should visitors circle through Shahzia Sikander: Extraordinary Realities in a particular order, the exhibition unfolds as a coming-of-age story. Opening Sunday at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the compilation of nearly 60 works gleaned from public and private collections traces the Pakistan-born artists first 15 years of work, including a two-year residency at MFAHs Glassell School of Art.

Hers is a tale of women of color, of immigrants in exile, and above all, cultural conversations within and surrounding diverse communities. Extraordinary Realities examines specific moments when Sikanders work reflected the American zeitgeist of the 1990s and 2000s through paintings, drawings, video installations and objects.

The exhibition is a tightly edited, C-shape maze that employs one of storytellings most effective devices. It begins at the end.

Inside the Audrey Jones Beck Building, Epistrophe (2021) is a natural starting point. The large-scale wall installation contains floor-to-ceiling layers of tracing-paper drawings, a counterpoint to Sikanders usual practice of smaller, more intricate compositions. She is best-known for pioneering modern Indo-Persian miniature painting and often credited for the art forms resurgence.

Moving clockwise, visitors arrive at what would be Chapter 1. The Scroll (1989-1990) is arguably the artists most recognizable work. The watercolor and gouache on tea-stained wasli paper, partially informed by Safavid painting, is a major time stamp  it marks the reconsideration of manuscript painting as a contemporary art practice. A then 20-year-old Sikander spent 10 to 14 hours each day in her room, depicting herself as a ghostlike figure moving through a series of living spaces inspired by her teenage home in Lahore. The finished piece was submitted as her National College of Arts thesis.

Its a departure from the traditional nature of manuscript paintings and explores the departure of my youth, Sikander says. It unfolds in segments. Even back then, I was thinking about film and was already cinematic.

Finding roots

The scenes offer commentary on feminine issues around domesticity and the military coups occupying Pakistan in the late 1980s, when the culture was becoming more conservative and dissent was discouraged. By The Scrolls end, Sikander notes, the protagonist is shown painting herself.

Its a moment of self-realization for the artist as a character in Extraordinary Realities. The piece has changed hands over the years. Im so excited to still have it. I let it go once or twice, but it always came back, she says.

After The Scroll II (1991), a follow-up series of vignettes on bark, the exhibitions remaining work was created entirely in the U.S.

Shahzia Sikander: Extraordinary Realities When:Wednesdays-Sundays, through June 5 Where:Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Details:Included with general admission; 713-639-7300, mfah.org See More Collapse

By 1995, Sikander had earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design and was dabbling with the idea of paper as skin. Her female characters  sometimes the artist, sometimes not  appeared as both self-rooted and buoyant. They are suspended in air, still tethered to their native country while orienting a new land. Those self-nourishing roots recur in Sikanders lexicon beginning with Self-Rooted (1994) through Uprooted Order 1, Uprooted Order 2 and Uprooted Order, Series 3, No. 1 (all 1997).

They beg the question of whos a foreigner and who isnt, she says. By then, Im playful and the female figures are stepping on or holding onto the roots.

Dena Woodall, MFAH curator of paintings and drawings, adds that Sikanders dialogue on gender roles and representation developed a certain wit during those years. The introduction of loose gestures and mythology cut through the tension of female erasure.

Theres this idea of the griffin, a mythical creature so quick you think, Did I imagine it? Sikander explains. In that sense, she continues, women are a sort of poltergeist  the ghostlike, unseen cause of various cultural disturbances and disruption.

From 1995 through 1997 she lived on campus across from MFAH as a Glassell School of Art core program fellow and taught at Project Row Houses, too. She observed the distinct race politics associated with the American South and contemplated overlapping levels of diaspora.

I thought about the differences between migrants and citizens. And the differences between those binaries, she says.

Female empowerment

That discord comes to a head in Pleasure Pillars (2001), an amalgamation of Sikanders self-portrait with rams horns uniting the Roman goddess Venus and South and Southeastern Asian celestial dancers  plus, two chilling winged creatures to destruct the females pleasure: a winged creature and fighter jets, which the artist added following the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Another large-scale installation, A Slight and Pleasing Dislocation (2001), is actually an unfinished panel originally intended to be a 50-foot mural.

It was commissioned for a (New York) law firm that expressed anxiety of the images post-9/11, Sikander recalls.

The acrylic on board shows a hovering female avatar holding weapons and a scale in two of her many hands. Those elements were misinterpreted as violence. It was about female empowerment  surpassing the glass ceiling. But they asked me to censor it, so I removed it.

The third act of Extraordinary Realities introduces video, a medium the artist began exploring as an international artist-in-residence with Artpace San Antonio in 2001. Two digital animations with sound, Nemesis (2003) and SpiNN (2003), capture the movement and change in her paintings as she worked.

I was captivated by the shifts. But this was all pre-high-def, Sikander says with a laugh.

By Parallax (2015), a trancelike destabilization of time, space, imagery and sound, she conquered the new frontier. The penultimate showcase Extraordinary Realities is a small viewing room streaming the 15-minute digital installation on loop. The immersive experience successfully constructs its desired effect  no single perspective dominates another.

The exhibition concludes as many stories do, with a flashback. The Pink Pavilion (2002), a series of 21 framed ink and watercolor works on clay-coated paper mimic flesh. The late 1990s were a time of female agency, Woodall says. Women were utilizing their own bodies within their work.

Dozens of bun-shaped hairdos styled from the female deity Radha and her female friends gopis tumble and fly throughout. And there are Sikanders self-rooted women as well, now floating with more slack than ever seen before.

amber.elliott@chron.com
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Rosharon couple David and Shannon Goran stay glued to their phones and social media these days.

David Goran, the pastor of a church in Pearland and one in Manvel, has been on alert for any news from friends in the city of Lviv ever since Russian president Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked war on Ukraine.

We are watching this war in real time, and watching it play out in our friends lives, said Goran, 39.

Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, had been relatively quiet compared to other cities in a country that has received heavy bombardment from Russian troops since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, and Ukrainians from other areas have poured into the city for sanctuary. But the danger to Lviv was emphasized on March 13 when Russian missiles fired at a nearby military base killed 35 people, and then on March 18 when missiles hit near a Lviv airport.

When (the invasion) first happened, we were reaching out to our friends, trying to find out where they were, what was going on and if they have plans, Goran said.

Within a week, he had heard from his friends, all of whom live in western Ukraine and have been taking in relatives fleeing embattled cities like Kyiv, Mariupol and Kharkiv.

Aid to Ukraine The United Methodist Ministry Committee on Relief is gathering funds for relief to residents in Ukraine and to those who have fled. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/35ZmdKQ See More Collapse

Lviv had basically become a humanitarian center for the whole country, Goran said.

Its been 10 years since Goran, lead pastor at First United Methodist Church in Pearland and Redeemer Church in Manvel, and his wife traveled to Lviv on a mission trip. They spent five years there and made a home at St. Johns United Methodist Church, where David Goran took over as lead pastor.

The people in this ministry we went to work with just absorbed us, said Shannon Goran, 43, who works as group director for the Pearland and Manvel churches that her husband pastors. They invited us to their homes for holidays, they had birthday parties. They are more than acquaintances.

The Ukrainian church where the Gorans worked has become part of the humanitarian effort by harboring refugees.

Theres a pastor there who took my place, and hes just running ragged right now, just trying to help whoever he can, David Goran said.

Residents in Lviv have been bracing for what might come next and what they should do.

My friends are making hard decisions  Do I stay, or do I leave? Most are choosing to stay, Goran said.

Feeling so helpless is the hard part

For his wife, watching from the other side of the world while friends are at risk has been a frustrating, emotional experience.

There are lots of tears, lots of pain knowing that were so far and can do so little. Its been very hard, she said. Feeling so helpless is the hard part.

The Gorans say they are willing to open their home to host any friends able to leave Ukraine, but red tape and other factors indicate that wont occur soon.

For a lot of these families, if the wife and kids leave, they say goodbye and they dont know if theyre going to see their husband again, David Goran said. I think some are choosing to stay because of that reality. They dont want to end it like that.

Goran said the last time he was able to talk to friends directly by phone was March 12, and reception was fuzzy. His Ukrainian friends asked for prayers for loved ones and echoed pleas by their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for more assistance from the Western world.

Theyre asking for support, to close the skies and to step up foreign military presence, he said.

At the same time, said Shannon Goran, their friends understand the implications and risks of U.S. involvement.

Their hearts are pure and big, and they understand the U.S. can only do so much, she said.

Prayers for friends protection

David Goran said hes never lived through the experience of having to worry about a loved one in harms way. He didnt have friends who served in the military in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Ive never felt this before, he said. You just ask for that special protection for their life. It makes me respect them deeply for their bravery and thankful for what the stability that we have.

The Gorans knew older Ukrainians who remembered life being under Soviet rule.

I do think Ukrainians are more in touch with those realities than we are in the U.S., and older Ukrainians know how fragile life is and how quickly you can lose control, he said.

But Shannon Goran is already seeing how those old habits die hard.

Russia is doing a great job with propaganda, she said.

One friend has in-laws in Ukraine who still dont believe there is a war.

They havent seen it, and they dont believe Putin would do anything to harm Ukrainians, she said. They actually live in Ukraine; so theyre not even being blocked (from the Internet and news sources), but they are of the older generation.

The Gorans left Ukraine following an accident during renovation project of an old, three-story building that housed their church. As David Goran and two friends worked, the ceiling fell in. All three were buried beneath rubble. Goran survived, but his friends, a Ukrainian student named IIya Onoprienko and an American named David Nevotti who had joined the mission work, died. After spending a brief time in a Ukrainian hospital and then at a German rehabilitation facility, Goran returned with his wife to Texas, where he continued to recover from a crushed pelvis and puncture wound in his leg.

The incident left David Goran with an understanding of how stability can be suddenly shaken.

We lost our lives there in a moment, he said. It was five years of work just gone. It wasnt a war, but I feel like I can relate to the fear, decenteredness and uncertainty of not knowing whats going to happen next.

Fighting for their childrens future

During their time in Lviv and at St. Johns, the Gorans worked mostly with younger Ukrainians in student ministry. There is room for some optimism, said David Goran.

These young people are generations removed from Soviet rule, just like a generation of Russian youths and adults have been more connected to a world that transcends limits of authoritarian rule.

The young students they worked with, Shannon Goran said, now have families. .

When I talk to them, they say that theyve been a free people and will continue to be a free people, and not be under Russian rule, she said. Most of all, theyre fighting for their childrens future.

David Goran recently spoke a close friend in Lviv about his plans as more men and women contribute to the resistance.

He has three small kids, and hes got a lot to lose, he said. Hes not a guy that looks for any kind of fight or the type that would ever want to fight, but he said hes staying to fight. They dont have a gun culture like we have in the U.S.; so I havent asked him if he has a gun, and because the heavy fighting has not reached Lviv yet, Im not sure if hes had to answer that question yet. Im praying for him all the time.

Shannon Goran said she is not normally a person who wears her emotions on her sleeve, but during these last few weeks, she said, she has been visibly impacted.

Her morning routine starts with faith, she said.

I get up in the morning, check the headlines, and that leads my prayer, she said.

In the evening, its the same.

I catch up with what Ive missed, and that leads my prayer, she said.

David Goran prays every day that his Ukrainian friends dont become bitter.

My greatest fear is that they wont be able to overcome the evil that is being done to them, and that they lose their hope in the sovereignty of God, he said.

yorozco@hcnonline.com
WASHINGTON  Black people who wear hairstyles like Afros, cornrows or tightly coiled twists should not face bias in society, school and the workplace, the U.S. House said Friday in voting to make it explicit that such discrimination is a violation of federal civil rights law.

There are folks in this society who think because your hair is kinky, it is braided, it is in knots or it is not straightened blonde and light brown, that you somehow are not worthy of access, Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, the lead sponsor of the bill, said during debate on the House floor. Well, thats discrimination.

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The House voted 235-to-189 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair texture and hairstyles. The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. President Joe Biden has already said he would sign the bill, known as the Crown Act, into law.

All but 14 Republicans voted against the measure, calling it unnecessary and a distraction. They said protections against hair discrimination already exist in several federal laws.

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This is what the Democrats are focused on, said Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan. Fourteen months of chaos and were doing a bill on hair.

But House Democrats noted that, in several instances, judges have dismissed civil rights cases on the basis that the law does not directly cover discrimination on the basis of hair. The House bill makes clear that hair is in fact included.

Deanna Cook, left, poses for a photograph with her mother Colleen at their home in Malden, Mass., March 15, 2022. (Craig F. Walker /AP)

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who is the first Somali-American lawmaker in Congress, called the opposition from her GOP colleagues quite disheartening.

These members, who are mostly male and white, who have never experienced this kind of discrimination, who dont have the ability to actually speak to it ... really should leave it up to the policymakers who have done the work and who have experienced this level of discrimination, the progressive lawmaker said in an interview Friday.

In addition to Afros, cornrows and twists, the bill mentions protections for other hairstyles and textures of styles that often draw prejudice against Black people.

Supporters pointed to a 2019 study by Dove that showed that one in five Black women working in office or sales settings have said they had to alter their natural hair. The study also found Black students are far more likely to be suspended for dress code or hair violations.

Coleman, a New Jersey Democrat, began to work on the proposal after two incidents of discrimination made national headlines. One involved Mya and Deanna Cook of Malden, Massachusetts.

In 2017, the twin sisters were told by their high school staff to remove their box braids. They refused, saying the policy was discriminatory and unevenly enforced. School administrators told them that the ban on hair extensions had been designed to foster a culture that emphasizes education rather than style, fashion or materialism.

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For refusing to comply, Deanna, a runner who had qualified for the state finals, was kicked off the school track team. Mya was removed from the softball team and told she couldnt attend the prom.

Its such a shock that it doesnt matter who you are, how old you are, what you are  when people have hatred towards a certain group, they dont care. They will treat you in that type of way, Deanna Cook told The Associated Press in an interview. Thats why we need the Crown Act because kids are being hurt from this so badly.

The Massachusetts attorney general eventually stepped in and ordered school officials to abandon the rule, which they did. But Mya and Deanna, now college students, said the traumatic experience stays with them.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

You expect the administration of your school to have your back, to be rooting for you and cheering you on, Mya Cook said. And for us, it was the total opposite  theyre trying to tear you down.

In a December 2018 incident in New Jersey, a high school student was forced to choose between forfeiting his wrestling game or cutting off his dreadlocks. Andrew Johnson, then 16, got his hair cut courtside and went on to win the match. But he appeared visibly distraught by what had happened.

Ill tell you watching that was heartbreaking, Coleman said. But the fact that he withstood that humiliation, that public humiliation, and immediately went and won that match says so much about that young mans character.

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More than a dozen states have already passed legislation aimed at banning race-based discrimination of hair in employment, housing, school, and in the military.

An Associated Press investigation documented how some Black female service members faced discrimination in the ranks, navigating a culture that often labeled them as aggressive or difficult and their natural hair as unkempt or unprofessional.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, the lead sponsor in the Senate, said passage of the bill will should ensure that all people can wear their hair proudly without fear or prejudice.

No one should be harassed, punished, or fired for their natural hairstyles that are true to themselves and their cultural heritage, Booker said.
Kim Shiflett

After more than 50 years, NASA is set to send humans to the moon as part of the Artemis program and people can watch the megarocket rollout live on Thursday.

The first mission will include the rollouts of the Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket and Orion spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. The rollout process will include the legendary crawler which weighs in at 6.6. million lbs. The four-mile stretch from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad carrying the SLS and Orion will take approximately 11 hours to the SPC launchpad, according to Space.com.
More than 100 years ago, there used to be a roadhouse called the Buffalo Inn. It was at Shepherd's Dam, located near where the present day Shepherd Drive crosses Buffalo Bayou.

The dam itself was the brainchild of Virginia native David P. Shepherd. He had big plans for that stretch of the bayou leading into central Houston, but by the early 1910s those plans had fallen short. (You can read a little more about Shepherd and his dam here.)

On this day in 1915, the good times were rolling at the Buffalo Inn, much to the consternation of nearby residents.

About 1 a.m., a woman called Harris County Sheriff Frank Hammond complaining of all the noise going on at the roadhouse.

"I judge there were 20 or 25 persons there when we arrived," he said, "but a number left by a rear exit. We could hear them going through the pines. Most of the persons we detained are young -- young men in business and young women employed about the city."

By the time this article came out the sheriff was still figuring out what the charge the 15 who were were detained, though it appears they were used as witnesses against the proprietor of the Buffalo Inn for liquor law violations. Six of the seven women detained were later described as "chorus girls."

By the end of the month, a judge ordered the Buffalo Inn to close.

I also wanted to point out the article about Jacob Henry Schiff's visit to Houston. Schiff was a banker and philanthropist who supported numerous Jewish causes.

Schiff got a tour of Houston with city leaders including Jesse H. Jones, Marcellus Foster of the Chronicle and Rice Institute President Edgar Odell Lovett.

"Is there the same rivalry between Galveston and Houston that there is between St. Paul and Minneapolis?" Schiff asked.

"There used to be some rivalry between Houston and Galveston, but I think it has about all subsided," Jones said. "We anticipate annexing Galveston to Houston when we again extend our city limits."
Houston police were involved in three separate crashes overnight, two which could have been caused by drivers under the influence, authorities said.

The first happened just after midnight on the South Loop near Kirby, where police say a man sideswiped a police vehicle working a separate incident. An officer was in the vehicle when it was struck. No injuries were reported.

The driver was possibly coming from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and was undergoing a DWI test, authorities said.

More on HoustonChronicle.com: Man, 26, charged with murder in Greenway Plaza shooting

A second incident happened around 1:40 a.m. on the northbound lanes of the West Loop near the Southwest Freeway, Houston police said.

An HPD cruiser blocking traffic for another crash was hit from behind by an Acura RDX. The officer inside the cruiser was injured and taken to a local hospital, police added. She is expected to survive.

Investigators believe the driver of the Acura was under the influence and were preparing to serve a blood draw warrant, according to HPD.

More from Joel Umanzor: 13-year-old fatally shot while driving on North Loop, authorities say

The third crash  which injured an officer and driver  occurred at the scene of a DWI investigation around 3:15 a.m. at Post Oak Road near Hidalgo Street, authorities said.

While the officer, two wrecker drivers and the suspected driver of the DWI were standing outside of their vehicles, a Honda Accord came off the southbound West Loop and hit all four people at the scene, police added.

The officer and driver were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.

The driver of the Honda Accord was examined and believed to not be under the influence, HPD said. He will likely receive citations for causing the crash.

Joel.Umanzor@chron.com
A person found what appeared to be human remains Friday morning alongside train tracks in northwest Houston, according to police.

The person called Houston police to report the incident around 10 a.m. at 6200 block of West Little York Road, HPD said.
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Alice Hinton, 81, was given a 10 percent chance to live when she was diagnosed six years ago with acute myeloid leukemia, a condition that required regular blood transfusions during her yearslong treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

This week, Hintons granddaughter, Darby Richard, a nurse, began work in the same leukemia unit where her grandmother received treatment. On Thursday, the 23-year old celebrated the milestone the best way she knew how: by donating blood.

It was Richards first time, but it likely wont be the last. She has seen firsthand the urgent need for blood donations like the ones that saved her grandmothers life at a time when hospitals are facing their most dire blood shortage in decades.

If it depended on your family member getting one single bag of blood whether they lived or died, wouldnt you want someone to do that for your family member? Richard said.

At MD Anderson - the largest cancer hospital in the country and site of more blood transfusions than any other facility - doctors have had to be strategic in how they administer blood supplies. The current shortage, which dates back to the earliest months of the pandemic, has worsened in recent days due to the spring break holiday. Like many hospitals, MD Anderson relies heavily on high school blood drives for donors.

High schoolers account for up to a quarter of all donors nationwide, according to the Red Cross. When students are on vacation, hospitals suffer. And with many elderly people, who make up another significant portion of donors, still hesitant to venture into hospitals amid a lingering pandemic, blood supplies have fallen to alarmingly low levels.

The shortage is especially grave for rare blood types, such as O-negative, the universal donor. In recent weeks the Red Cross has had less than a one-day supply nationally of critical blood types, the humanitarian organization reported.

A single donation becomes a life-saving infusion for as many as three people, said Dr. Kimberly Klein, an associate professor of Laboratory Medicine at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center.

During treatment, blood cancer patients are reliant on transfusions to support their red blood cells and platelets, Klein said. They require the most transfusions because they cannot make those cells themselves.

For Hinton, who traveled 140 miles to Houston from her home in Sulphur, Louisiana every few weeks for treatment, receiving the necessary blood transfusions at first was nerve-wracking. It soon became routine.

At the beginning, youre apprehensive because you dont know whose blood youre getting, Hinton said. But when youre so sick, you dont care.

Before her diagnosis, Hinton used to swim laps each morning, teach Sunday school and sing in her church choir. But the cancer that infected her bones robbed her stamina. Hospitalized for days at a time, she grew weak and lost 80 pounds.

Watching her grandmothers ordeal inspired Richard to study nursing. She was struck by how simple acts of care could be transformative.

I just remember how fragile (my grandmother) looked, Richard said. She would be pale and lethargic, but then she would get blood and it was like she was a new person. She would perk up.

After graduating from high school, Richard entered nursing school at University of Louisiana at Monroe, graduating in December. That month, after her pinning ceremony - a tradition that symbolizes a nurses entry into the profession - she told her family a secret shed been keeping from them: she had an interview for a job at MD Anderson, on the exact floor where they had spent so many years at Hintons bedside.

It was really emotional, Hinton said of her granddaughters surprise announcement.

Earlier this week, one of Richards patients asked her how she ended up working on the leukemia unit. She told the patient her familys story. The patient asked Richard for suggestions for surviving cancer, so she rattled off a list of hard-won advice.

Keep the faith - its a crazy battle full of ups and downs, she said, adding, When you get blood youll feel better.

To become a blood donor, visit https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/other-ways-to-help/give-blood.html

nora.mishanec@chron.com
On paper, fourth-year medical students Michael Reul and Andrea Hernandez appear nothing alike.

Reul grew up in Houston behind two generations of accomplished cardiac surgeons in the Texas Medical Center. Hernandez is a first-generation college student from Mission in the Rio Grande Valley, whose parents were unfamiliar with the complexities of medical school.

Despite their divergent backgrounds, the 26-year-olds are both working to honor their family histories as they move on to the next phase of their education. Reul, a Baylor College of Medicine student, and Hernandez, a student at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, joined hundreds of their peers Friday for the 70th annual Match Day, a rite of passage in which medical students nationwide learn their residency assignments.

And for the first time since the pandemic began, the students celebrated the occasion in person.

The last two years of studying, exams, clinical rotations, gallery walks  on top of freezes, floods and an ongoing pandemic  have prepared us way more than we could have ever imagined, said Justin Vincent, the Baylor class president, speaking to hundreds of students and family members gathered in the schools courtyard.

At 11 a.m., at their respective campuses, the students simultaneously tore open envelopes that contained where they will train for the next three to seven years. The event matches graduates to programs based on their rankings of preferred hospitals and hospital officials rankings of the graduates. Both sides agree in advance to accept the pairing, which is done by computer.

Many of the 227 fourth-year students at UTHealth and the 163 at Baylor will be strewn across the country. But some  62 percent at UTHealth and 38 percent at Baylor  will remain in Texas. The in-state matches meant good news for the medical schools, which aim to prepare a high percentage of students for Texas residencies.

When you look into the sea of students here, it really reflects the diversity of Texas, the diversity of Houston and the patient population we serve, said Dr. LaTanya Love, the dean of education at McGovern Medical School.

About 43 percent of the Baylor students and 45 percent of the UTHealth students will begin their residencies in primary care fields, which is sorely needed as the U.S. is projected to face a shortage of about 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034. Others, including Hernandez and Reul, chose specialties.

Reul is carrying on the family legacy in his pursuit to become a cardiac surgeon. He said his family never pushed him into the profession, even though his father, Dr. Ross Reul, currently works as a cardiac surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital and grandfather, Dr. George Reul, retired from a renowned career that spanned more than four decades.

The eldest Reul completed his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Baylor under legendary Drs. Michael E. DeBakey and Denton A. Cooley before their storied split. He ultimately became the associate chief of surgery and chief of vascular surgery at the Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Ross Reul later joined his father and Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute before moving across the street to Methodist.

Michael Reul said he never seriously considered following in their footsteps until, as a freshman at St. Thomas High School, he watched his father perform an open-heart surgery from inside the operating room.

For a long time my dad has been my hero and role model, but he never brought work home or tried to push me in any direction, he said. But seeing him in that environment, seeing him sit by the bedside and take a patients hand, and them giving him their trust, reminded me of him sitting by my bed when I was younger and telling me bedtime stories.

On Friday, Reul learned he had matched with one of his preferred options: a competitive six-year cardiac surgery residency program at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

His parents, girlfriend and brother all embraced him when he read the letter aloud.

Theres nothing that I could have ever said, while he was growing up, that could have pushed him into this, his father said. Hes always had his own pathway. But it really is an incredible thing, and Im so proud.

Across the street, at McGovern, Hernandez tore open her white envelope.

For her, the road there wasnt easy. Just before taking the MCAT entry exam, she lost her memory due to a brain injury from a car accident and had to relearn everything for the test. But some of the experience did contribute to Hernandezs desire to enter anesthesiology, a highly competitive field.

Throughout medical school, Hernandez said she never stopped thinking about where she came from. She advocates for Latinos in medicine, especially as the co-director for the Latino Medical Student Associations southwest region, overseeing six states. Eventually, she said she might return to the Rio Grande Valley to practice medicine.

Med school in general is not extremely friendly to low-income minority students, Hernandez said. Its a very difficult path, especially if youre the first one to go to college and have any exposure to higher education.

When she opened the envelope, she learned she had matched with her number one choice for a residency program: anesthesiology at UTHealth in Houston. She looked up and laughed with joy, nodding that yes, this is what she hoped for.

She embraced her husband, mother and father, who cried as he whispered in her ear, You sacrificed so much to be here.  Im glad you got what you deserved.

julian.gill@chron.com

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
Its been more than two weeks since Kateryna Gaido has spoken to her family in Ukraine.

The last time they talked, it was a heartbreaking conversation, said Kateryna, 31. Her cousin told her they had just run out of water and werent sure what to do next. Some people were getting so desperate they started draining their radiator pipes for water, or resorted to melting snow. Most of her family  including her father, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles  are stuck in Mariupol, a city in southeastern Ukraine that has become one of the most unsafe parts of the country since Russian forces invaded three weeks ago.

Russian troops have the city surrounded and have shut residents there off from the outside world. Cell towers have been shut down; water and electricity are cut off, Kateryna's relatives told her. The grocery stores have been reduced to rubble, and people still stuck there have quickly run out of the food they had left in their home, Kateryna said.

HOUSTON STRONG: Here are the Houston restaurants helping in the Ukraine humanitarian crisis

And at the same time, they are bombing the city 24/7, said Kateryna, soft-spoken, with tired eyes. She fears her family is among those who are victims of bombs or dehydration.

Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

On a sunny afternoon during spring break at Gaidos restaurant in Galveston, Katerynas piercing blue eyes drift to a nearby window as she speaks about her family. Shes exhausted and stricken with worry as she recounts how her life has been turned upside down as most of her family fights for their lives on the other side of the world. Her two children, James, 7, and Lily, 4, are bright-eyed as they prance around the table where shes sitting.

I feel like I have put my whole life on hold for now. Keeping up with all the news and trying to contact my family has taken my whole time so its been hard to even take care of my kids to be honest, she said. I dont shower, I barely eat and I barely sleep.

Some luck has been on her familys side, though. Her 51-year-old mother, Olena, and 13-year-old sister, Anna, have safely made their way to Lithuania after fleeing to Poland. They spent the first 12 days or so of the invasion hiding in their bathroom before moving to an underground parking lot. Every time Kateryna was unable to reach them by phone, her heart would start racing. Are they alive?

You always imagine the worst, Kateryna said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston's heartbroken Ukrainian community shows their pain over Russian invasion in downtown mural

Now that she knows they are safe, her new focus is to help them start their lives over. Shes trying to find an apartment and made sure to find Anna a ballet school where she can continue her passion for dance. Helping them get any semblance of the life they had before is worth the hours she spends on the phone, tracking down help and speaking with officials from the U.S. Embassy, she said.

Its really sad, as much as they are happy to be in a safe place, it is heartbreaking that you have to leave your whole life, your home, and just go somewhere and set up a new life, Kateryna said. And also, a lot of people just dont have any money to do that, because everything they had was just all destroyed and taken away.

A destined love story

Nick Gaido remembers the first time he laid eyes on his wife.

It was the summer of 2011, and Kateryna was sitting in a hospital bed at UTMB in Galveston in a neck brace after she was hit by a car while riding her bike. She had come to the island as part of a work-and-travel-abroad program to work at Gaidos, while Nick at the time was working at his familys other restaurant next door. She had no family with her, so Nick was asked to stop by and make sure she was OK. He comforted her and showed her a few photos of his dog, trying to distract her from the scary beeping noises of a hospital in a foreign country.

It was so bizarreI walked into the hospital and saw her and that was it, Nick said. Its corny to say thatbut it really was (love at first sight.) It was just like it was destiny.

Kateryna felt the same way.

It was like OK, thats my husband. It felt kind of weird and I felt silly those thoughts were going through my mind, but it really felt like that, Kateryna said. When he walked into that room it felt like my mom walked in.

When the summer ended, their romance continued as they maintained their relationship long-distance over Skype. She applied for a fiance visa, and 90 days after she returned to Galveston the two were married.

Ten years and two kids later, the pair had been keeping themselves busy running one of the islands mainstay restaurants and overseeing a major expansion and remodel of Nicks, the restaurant next door. Now they have shifted their efforts to helping Ukraine, the country that brought them together and has a stronghold on both of their hearts.

On HoustonChronicle.com: These Houston teachers left everything behind in Kyiv: 'I think we've lost it all'

This is a monumental event, and its difficult I think for people to grasp that because they dont have friends and family there, Nick said. Shes got people everywhere. Its heartbreaking for her. Theres no going on with life, we dont just go out to a restaurant, go celebrate, go on vacation -- our complete world right now has just stopped. All we are doing is focusing on Ukraine.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Donations pouring in

A fourth-generation Gaido, Nick, 35, has steered the restaurant through some of its most difficult days during the pandemic shutdowns and has now shifted his energy to helping his wifes native country. The pair decided to start raising funds to donate to humanitarian groups and have raised about $50,000 so far.

The phone has just been ringing off the hook, Nick said. To be honest, we were so busy with the activity with Ukraine, talking with her family and getting people help, that we just kind of kept our nose to the grindstone. We didnt even have time to celebrate.

Reminders of the couples efforts to help Ukraine are sprinkled throughout the restaurant, filled with spring breakers by mid-afternoon. Blue-and-yellow pins and T-shirts are being sold in the restaurants gift shop; markers with QR codes to their fundraiser website sit at every table; staff, some of whom are Ukrainian and Eastern European, are donning blue-and-yellow ribbons. The restaurants marquee sign outside reads: GLORY TO UKRAINE. GLORY TO THE HEROES. WE STAND WITH UKRAINE.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer LEFT: Jesse Sawyer, a server, talks with diners Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Gaidos in Galveston. RIGHT: A sign on a table encourages guests to donate to help Ukrainians on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Gaidos in Galveston. (Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) LEFT: Jesse Sawyer, a server, talks with diners Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Gaidos in Galveston. RIGHT: A sign on a table encourages guests to donate to help Ukrainians on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Gaidos in Galveston. (Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer)

Nick posts regular updates to social media letting contributors know where their donations have gone, which include the Ukrainian Red Cross, Unicef and Mission 823.

We keep close track of every single penny, Nick said.

If we just ease the pain for anyone in Ukraine, its a victory. If its a cup of soup we are able to get to someone, a pair of shoes, socks, anything that could help, Nick said. It not only eases the pain for Ukrainians, but it also eases the pain for us, for my wife. Its been extremely difficult for her, to say the least.

Katerynas next step is to arrange for her mother and sister to be able to come visit her in Galveston for a reprieve from the chaos. Until then, she has a flight booked for Lithuania this weekend and is eagerly standing by the phone in hopes she will hear from the rest of her family.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
An almost 40,000-acre fire in west Texas has turned Houston's skies smoky and area fire departments are joining in on the call to battle the blaze.

The fires started in Eastland, about 120 miles west of Dallas, and have burned homes and other structures, prompting evacuations.
LANSING, Mich.  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday proposed temporarily freezing Michigans 6% sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuel as a way to lower high pump prices and keep intact road and bridge funding.

The Democratic governors statement came a week after she signaled a veto of Republicans attempt to suspend for six months a different tax at the pump  the 27.2-cents-per-gallon gas and diesel levy.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a news conference on March 11, 2022, at the governor's office in Lansing, Mich. (David Eggert/AP)

A short-term pause is a fiscally-responsible action we can take that will provide drivers relief at the pump right now  not next year  while also protecting funding for road repairs and save tens of thousands of good-paying construction jobs, said Whitmer, who has also urged Congress to freeze the federal 18.4-cents-a-gallon gas tax and 24.4-cent diesel tax.

While I am open to negotiating on alternative proposals, I will not support legislation that jeopardizes road repairs, construction jobs or funding for local schools, the statement said.

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Leaders from both parties in the Republican-controlled Senate are open to eliminating or suspending the fuel sales tax. But House Republicans are not on board, saying motorists would save more if the per-gallon tax is halted, especially as prices fall.

Sales taxes collected at the pump primarily go to schools and municipalities. Whitmer indicated that school funding would be protected if a deal is reached.

The statewide average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas was about $4.18, down from a record high of $4.26 just over a week before. It was up from $3.37 a month ago.
The early results from the 2020 census seemed pretty good for Texas. The state got two new congressional seats and gained some 25.1 million people since the 2010 count. But more recent figures from the Census Bureau suggest many Texans were left out of the count.

According to the Bureaus own assessments, there were significant undercounts at the national level for multiple groups, especially Hispanics. The Bureau estimated it undercounted Hispanics by 4.99 percent  three times the rate of undercounting 10 years ago. American Indians living on reservations and Black residents were also undercounted by larger degrees than a decade ago, about 5.64 percent and 3.3 percent, though the Census notes those rates arent statistically significant from the previous count. Non-Hispanic whites and Asians? Both were overcounted to a much higher degree than in 2010.

These numbers are alarming, but hardly surprising. Many voices were raised throughout the run-up to the 2020 Census warning that the Bureau was investing too little in its efforts to count every American. The pandemic made doing so more difficult, those critics urged, but the response under the Trump administration was tepid at best and in many cases appeared to make the work of the Census more difficult.

Texas leaders could have helped mitigate these concerns, by leading a statewide effort to boost participation in the count. Unfortunately, they didnt. Estimates of how badly the national count overlooked Hispanics is bad news for Texas, where nearly all of our population was driven by people of color. Texas refusal to do more to ensure a more accurate count is deeply troubling, and will disadvantage the state for years to come.

In a place as diverse as Harris County, that means our entire county could be starved of critical funding for a decade, said County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who was part of an earlier lawsuit aimed at stopping the Trump administration from ending the count early.

Texas launched a last-minute public awareness campaign, but experts said the effort was too little and too late. Instead, the state, like many of its Republican-led peers, mostly left it to local communities to boost the count, and that wasnt enough, explained Margaret Wallace Brown, director of Houstons planning and development department. Had the state legislature approved, for example, the proposed $50 million in funding, we would have been in a better circumstance, said Wallace Brown, who was involved in the local Complete Count outreach effort that tried to fill the void of adequate federal and state support.

The fact that we are looking at one of the larger undercounts in the state of Texas is going to challenge us for 10 years at every level of public and private service. she said.

In reporting the undercount estimates this month, the Census Bureau stood behind its overall numbers, which showed Americas population had grown from 308.7 million to 331.4 million. And, of course, undercounts and overcounts are part of the Census every 10 years, given the magnitude of its task of surveying every household in the land.

But this years numbers are bigger than in years past, especially the estimate that 1 out of every 20 Hispanic residents was simply not counted. And they come after a sustained outcry throughout the months leading up to the 2020 count, in which advocates and officials warned that the Trump administration was not only underfunding the census but also playing politics with itsuddenly cutting the response deadline short and attempting to add a citizenship question that many worried would chill responses. Combined with a global pandemic that seriously hampered on-the-ground efforts, the challenges and threats to the census were many.

As early as July, 2019, this editorial board weighed in, too, arguing that Texas wasnt ready for the census.

The states refusal to step up and boost those efforts is a telling failure, especially given whats at stakefrom representation, to funding and moreand the states large shares of populations considered hardest to reach.

We didnt do our job, our homework, here in Texas, says Jeronimo Cortina, an associate professor of political science and the associate director of the Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies at the University of Houston. States have to be involved, states have to invest.

Census Bureau Director Robert Santos noted that before being appointed to lead the bureau, he had worried that the Trump administration was derailing the effectiveness of the count.

Many of you, including myself, voiced concerns. How could anyone not be concerned? These findings will put some of those concerns to rest and leave others for further exploration, Santos told reporters March 11.

Whatever the cause, much of the damage is now done. The 2020 numbers will stand for the purposes of drawing districts and apportioning congressional representation and Electoral College votes. And as Houston begins its city council redistricting process, it will likewise have to rely on the faulty 2020 count.

In 2010, Houston was able to challenge the census results thanks to some boundary errors. The effort paid off with an additional 812 residents and two more city council seats.

But there arent easy fixes now. The planning department already checked for any geographic discrepancies this time around and found none of note. Nationally, some advocacy groups, have threatened lawsuits because the Census count forms the basis of many federal funding allocations going forward, as well as local policy decisions on healthcare services, education and bilingual needs. The count also impacts the ability to do solid research and then theres underlying existential issues of trust in government entities.

For a sense of scale here: research shows that some $1.5 trillion flowed to state and local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and households across the nation using data derived from the 2010 census figures. What seems bureaucratic and technical is in fact part of our everyday lives.

Houston and other cities should step up again for their communities as we await state-level estimates, expected in May.

Many of the funding decisions over the next decade will be based on annual, smaller surveys conducted by the Census Bureau that build on the full count completed every decade. Bureau officials said this month that they are exploring ways that the information about the undercounts can be used to tweak those surveys and paint a more accurate picture of the nations population. Officials should support those efforts even as they push Texas leaders to invest more in future counts.

And for the rest of us, its time to reflect on the lack of state investment and ask ourselves whether the current state leaders actually care about every Texan.
Regarding EXPLAINER: Who's a war criminal, and who gets to decide?, (March 16): Plans must be made now for when the Russian war is over to implement reparations. Like at the end of World War II when plans were made to rebuild Europe. The Russian state must be prepared to pay for the rebuilding of Ukraine.

The upcoming NATO meeting would be a good place to start to discuss how this issue will be handled and enforced. The Russian people must begin to prepare for the consequences of the decisions made by their leaders, who must also face the International Criminal Court for war crimes. These plans and their implementation should be discussed now to help speed up the process in the future.

R.K. Entrekin, Houston

Regarding Putin puts international justice on trial - betting that the age of impunity will continue, (March 15): The International Criminal Court in The Hague seems like the proper forum to deal with the current misdeeds of Mr. Putin.

Conviction doesn't guarantee apprehension and punishment but would certainly restrict geographic use of his American Express travel card.

C.E. Sylvester, Houston

Government overreach

Regarding Harris County Attorney Menefee thinks state leaders have been pushing us around. He intends to push back, (March 13): I certainly appreciated Erica Grieders piece about our county attorneys fight against the governors usurpation of power.

The governor is not the CEO of government in the state. His powers are carefully limited, and he doesnt even have any authority to order actions from state-level officials, many of whom are themselves independently elected. He gets to appoint members to boards and commissions who do not directly answer to him.

School boards, mayors, district attorneys, sheriffs and other entirely independent officials are not subject to any orders he might issue to stroke his ego and inflame his supporters.

Such orders have no legal weight and are merely suggestions which those other officials can accept or reject as their judgment leads them. The Texas Constitution describes a weak governor with limited power.

Bruce Ellis, Houston

Regarding 'I wish this war would end': Ukrainian refugees reach 2.8M, (March 14): The world is getting a real-time lesson on the problem with autocracy and dictators. One man unrestrained by the will of others, decency or moral imperative can unilaterally inflict devastation on an entire nation just because he wants to do so. He can destroy his own country's credibility and economy just because he chooses. He can order others to kill children just because he says so. Millions of people torn from their homes, families, towns and country just because one man wants something (more power). I don't believe this is the will of the people of Russia. The evil being inflicted on Ukraine and the world is the working of a single murderous, criminal mind. No single person should ever have this much control and power.

Rise up good people of Russia. Rid yourself (and the rest of the world) of this cancerous blight on humanity. The fate of millions of Ukrainians  and I fear possibly many, many more  is in your hands. Those who have been celebrating and pining for strong, autocratic leadership pray pay attention.

Tanner Garth, Houston

Regarding Putin was clear about his plans for Ukraine. Xi has been just as clear about his plans for Taiwan. (March 16): Claiming that Ukraine is part of Russia and has no sovereign right to exist, Putin invaded, directing the fury of Russias war machine on civilian populations  his own people, in the twisted logic of his disordered mind. At home, he imprisons thousands of protesters and shuts down the media, criminalizing any dissent. Meanwhile, he holds NATO and the rest of the world hostage by threatening nuclear war and environmental catastrophe. Id like to remind everyone who has ever protested the tyranny" of mask mandates that this is what true totalitarianism looks like.

Robert Campbell, Katy
The Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shock waves of terror and uncertainty across the globe. The worlds response has been rightfully full of sympathy, humanitarian aid and support for the people of Ukraine, but as a Black woman Ive noticed evidence of something people of color have known all too well: White lives matter more.

The statement is unnerving, but consider this: As millions of refugees fled Ukraine, commentary around the world expressed disbelief that European people with blue eyes and blonde hair were being killed. Reporters asked how such fighting would occur in a civilized country like Ukraine, as opposed to Iraq or Afghanistan. How insulting.

This prejudiced thinking reflects the differentiated treatment of refugees fleeing Ukraine. Ive read reports about displaced members of African, South Asian and Middle Eastern descent being denied shelter or transport out of the country while their white counterparts fled on trains and buses.Many African refugees were turned away from neighboring borders; a Nigerian medical student who walked 11 hours was told she couldnt cross the border until the Ukrainians were evacuated. There are even multiple reports of displaced people of color being beaten by border security.

Polish government officials were quick to dismiss reports that it turned away non-white people at the border as disinformation from the Russians. It turns out that the offending parties were Ukrainian soldiers, not Polish border guards, but that distinction offered little consolation for those at the sharp end of such blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Reading the sparse coverage of the incidents confirmed for many of us the notion that society indeed values one group of people over another.

The 1951 United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees, and a widely adopted 1967 protocol, guarantee all individuals  including non-Ukrainians and sexual minorities  fleeing the attacks of Russia have the right under international law to seek asylum in neighboring countries.

In the weeks since the invasion of Ukraine began, world leaders and the United Nations have acknowledged the claims of mistreatment, while international human rights activists and attorneys have submitted an appeal to the U.N. calling for the Ukrainian and Polish state and local governments to guarantee the equal and humane treatment of people of African descent and other racial minorities. Joining the African Unions rebuke of discrimination, the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs also urged all countries to respect international law and show the same empathy and support to all people fleeing war notwithstanding their racial identity.

These are necessary steps, but the fact that they are necessary is heartbreaking. While this situation is not a direct example of racism in the United States, it does provide yet another example of how the experiences of those who are discriminated against can be downplayed, ignored or even aggressively refuted. It is a warning to those who ignore the current and potential effects of systemic racism. Like many ailments, racism can grow and fester if left alone. When disgraceful actions are treated with inaction, it sends a message that the behavior is not only acceptable but encouraged.

The collective outrage of Russias attacks has unified many nations in such a remarkable way. There have been major business boycotts, government sanctions and thousands of individuals volunteering to fight for Ukraine. The wave of support proves that human compassion is extraordinary indeed. Let us ensure that this compassion is extended to every soul afflicted by this terrible attack on a sovereign nation.

Suarez is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate student in social work. A Houstonian, she and her active-duty husband and three children are stationed in Germany.
If the past 10 years of Western history have featured an extended wrestling match between populism and liberalism, Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine has inspired many liberals to hopefully declare the contest over, their opponent pinned.

And with some reason. Putins war has struck two blows against populism, one direct and one indirect. First, there is the embarrassment involved for every populist leader, European or American, who has either offered kind words for Putin or at least held him up as an adversary whose statecraft runs circles around our own incompetent elites. Such flirtations have now largely ended in backpedaling and reversal, forcing populists to choose between self-marginalization or a shameless pivot. Which is to say: Dont be surprised if Donald Trump somehow evolves into the biggest Russia hawk youve ever seen come 2024.

The more damaging blow, though, is the indirect one, the way the Ukraine invasion has revealed how uncertain and at sea the populist instinct becomes when its confronted with an adversary that doesnt fit easily into its focus on internal Western corruption, its narratives of elite perfidy and folly.

This uncertainty isnt confined to right-populists alone; rather, you see it among anti-establishment voices of all stripes at the moment  the left-wing gadflies who didnt expect the Ukraine invasion because they did not expect Western intelligence to ever get something right, the critics of U.S. power who didnt expect Ukrainian resilience because they assumed that any regime backed by our foreign policy elites would be too hapless to survive, the media personalities casting about for narratives that fit populist preconceptions because the bigger picture of Putinist aggression and Western unity does not.

Amid all this flailing, the Republican Party, the main vehicle for populism, seems to be returning to its pre-Trump instincts. Throughout Trumps presidency there was a basic uncertainty about what populism stands for in foreign policy. Retrenchment and isolationism or a new Cold War with China? Leaving NATO entirely versus strengthening the alliance by forcing its members to pay up? Fighting fewer wars or taking the gloves off? Pat Buchanan or John Bolton?

Now, though, if you look at polls of Republican voters or listen to GOP politicians, what you see is mostly a reversion to straightforward hawkishness, to a view that the Biden White House probably isnt being confrontational enough  which is to say, to where the party stood before the Trump rebellion happened.

But in that reversion you can also see one of the difficulties with assuming that if populism is floundering, liberalism must be the beneficiary. After all, Bolton is hardly a champion of liberal internationalism, and the return of Republican hawkishness is mostly a revival of old-fashioned American nationalism  working against populism, this time, rather than the two forces pulling the same way.

And whats true within the GOP is true more generally. The Ukrainian fighters everyone so admires are clearly fighting more for nationalism than for liberalism, and some arent fighting for liberal ideals at all. The European country arguably doing the most to assist them is Poland, until yesterday the bete noire of Western liberalism for its nationalist and socially conservative government. The sudden sense of Western unity seems very, well, Western; its not a global coalition confronting Putin so much as a Euro-American one, infused with more than a little of the civilizational chauvinism that liberalism aspires to stand above.

In the American media, too, its centrist jingoism rather than liberal cosmopolitanism that seems ascendant at the moment  the wave of Russophobic cancellations; the sudden America: Love or leave it enthusiasms of daytime TV personalities; the zeal for military escalation, nuclear peril be damned, among supposedly responsible figures who once led the opposition to Trumpism.

None of this should be surprising: Its always been the case that a liberal society depends for unity and vigor on not entirely liberal forces  religious piety, nationalist pride, a sense of providential mission, a certain degree of ethnic solidarity and, of course, the fear of some external adversary. Liberalism at its best works to guide and channel these forces; liberalism at its worst veers between ignoring them and being overwhelmed by them.

Among the optimistic liberals of the current moment, you can see how that veering happens. A Russian defeat will make possible a new birth of freedom, Francis Fukuyama wrote last week, and get us out of our funk about the declining state of global democracy. The spirit of 1989 will live on. Following up in an interview with The Washington Posts Greg Sargent, Fukuyama framed the current moment as an opportunity for Westerners and Americans to choose liberalism anew, out of a recognition that the nationalist alternative is pretty awful.

But one of the key lessons of recent years is that the spirit of 1989 was itself as much a spirit of revived Eastern European nationalism as of liberalism alone. Which is one reason countries like Poland and Hungary have sorely disappointed liberals in their subsequent developmentup until now, of course, when Polish nationalism is suddenly a crucial bulwark for the liberal democratic West.

So liberals watching the floundering of populism need a balanced understanding of their own position, their dependence on nationalism and particularism and even chauvinism, their obligation to sift those forces so that the good (admiration for the patriotism of Ukrainians and the heroic masculinity of Volodymyr Zelenskyy) outweighs the bad (boycotts of a Russian piano prodigy, a rush toward nuclear war).

And they also need to avoid the delusion that Putins wicked and incompetent invasion means that all complaints about the Wests internal problems can safely be dismissed as empty, false, self-hating.

Last week, for instance, the Russia scholar Stephen Kotkin told The New Yorkers David Remnick that Putins invasion disproves all the nonsense about how the West is decadent, the West is over, the West is in decline, how its a multipolar world and the rise of China. With the West rallying to a resilient Ukraine, all of that turned out to be bunk.

What was bunk was the idea that Putins Russia represents some kind of efficient postliberal or traditionalist alternative to the problems of the West, and one whose military could simply steamroller Eastern Europe. But all those Western problems remain: American power is in relative decline, Chinas power has dramatically increased, and none of what I, as a self-appointed expert on the subject, would classify as the key problems of American decadence  demographic decline, economic disappointment and stagnation, a social fabric increasingly shadowed by drugs and depression and suicide  have somehow gone away just because Moscows military is failing outside Kyiv.

Since those problems are crucial to understanding where populism came from in the first place, its reckless for liberals to declare victory based on shifts in the international order while simply waving domestic discontents away. Populisms poor fit for this particular moment has given an opportunity to its enemies and critics. But they will squander the opportunity if they convince themselves that the external challenge has somehow made the internal crisis go away.

Ross Douthat is a columnist for The New York Times.
Twitter has flagged a post from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as hateful conduct after he misgendered Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine, although the post was left online.

Paxtons tweet came after Levine was named one of USA Todays Women of the Year; she is the countrys highest ranked openly transgender official. Levine also heads the Health Service Commissioned Corps, where she holds the rank of admiral.

The USA Today series highlights more than 60 women, including Vice President Kamala Harris, gymnast Simone Biles, philanthropist Melinda French Gates and Texas House Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, a Dallas Democrat.

Rachel Levine is a man, Paxton wrote Thursday, posting a screenshot of the USA Today article about Levine.

READ MORE: Texas CPS says it will treat hormone therapy for transgender kids as possible child abuse

Twitter put a warning ont he post, but kept it live. The link cant be re-shared or liked, and its removed from the recommendations of Twitters algorithms for users.

We limit exceptions to one critical type of public-interest contentTweets from elected and government officialsgiven the significant public interest in knowing and being able to discuss their actions and statements, Twitters policy states.

Paxton, a Republican in his second term, is fighting for his job in a runoff primary election against Land Commissioner George P. Bush. He has made increasing attacks on transgender people in recent weeks, including calling for investigations into parents who help their children transition.

Such medical care is recommended by doctors, and experts say it can prevent suicides and severe mental health problems for trans kids. National advocacy groups have sued to block the state from targeting families of transgender children.

Paxton fired back Friday, saying he was simply following the science.

Big Tech is not only anti-conservative and anti-Republican, it is now apparently anti-truth and anti-science, he said in a statement. I will continue to use all my power to hold them accountable.

edward.mckinley@chron.com
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WASHINGTON  In the year after he disclosed a federal investigation into his tax affairs in late 2020, President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, paid off a significant tax liability, even as a grand jury continued to gather evidence in a wide-ranging examination of his international business dealings, according to people familiar with the case.

Bidens failure to pay all his taxes has been a focus of the ongoing Justice Department investigation. While wiping out his liability does not preclude criminal charges against him, the payment could make it harder for prosecutors to win a conviction or a long sentence for tax-related offenses, according to tax law experts, since juries and judges tend to be more sympathetic to defendants who have paid their bills.

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But Bidens taxes are just one element of the broader investigation stemming from work he did around the world. Hunter Biden is a Yale-educated lawyer; his professional life has intersected with his fathers public service, including working as a registered lobbyist for domestic interests and, while his father was vice president, pursuing deals and clients in Asia and Europe.

As recently as last month, the federal grand jury heard testimony in Wilmington, Delaware, from two witnesses, one of whom was a former employee of Hunter Biden whose lawyer was later subpoenaed for financial records that reflected money Biden received from a Ukrainian energy company.

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The investigation, which began as a tax inquiry under the Obama administration, widened in 2018 to include possible criminal violations of tax laws, as well as foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, according to the people familiar with the inquiry.

Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen in Manhattan on Nov. 10, 2021. (Calla Kessler/The New York Times)

But prosecutors face a number of hurdles to bringing criminal charges, the people familiar with the investigation said, including proving that Biden intentionally violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, which requires disclosure to the Justice Department of lobbying or public relations assistance on behalf of foreign clients.

The Justice Department has given no public indication that it has made decisions about any element of the case, and Biden has not been charged with any crime.

When he disclosed the investigation after the 2020 election, Hunter Biden said that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.

Bidens lawyer, the Justice Department and the U.S. attorneys office in Delaware, which is overseeing the investigation, all declined to comment.

It is not clear whether the criminal probe is focused solely on Hunter Biden, or if he is among a group of individuals and companies being scrutinized. Prosecutors have also asked about potential FARA violations by a Washington consulting firm, Blue Star Strategies, that worked for the Ukrainian energy company in an arrangement that Biden helped broker, according to documents and the people familiar with the investigation.

For Joe Biden, the long-running case is both politically and personally fraught. Hunter Bidens work for Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company, became a flashpoint in his fathers race in 2020 against President Donald Trump and helped set off the events that led to Trumps first impeachment.

The elder Biden now oversees the Justice Department that is carrying out the investigation. And Hunter Biden, who in recent years has pursued a career as a painter, has acknowledged serious drug addiction and other problems during the period when he was seeking international business, while dealing with the illness and death of his brother Beau.

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The investigation is being overseen by David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware. He worked in the office during the Bush and Obama administrations, and was nominated to run it by Trump. Weiss has been permitted to remain in office until the Biden case is resolved.

Hunter Biden told associates in recent months that he paid the federal taxes that had been the subject of Justice Department scrutiny. He told one associate that the tax liability was more than $1 million, and that he had to take out a loan to pay it off.

Federal tax prosecutors generally fight to keep jurors from knowing whether defendants have paid their back tax bills, arguing that the crime happens when the return is falsely filed or not filed at all, said Jeffrey Neiman, a former Justice Department tax prosecutor and a partner at Marcus, Neiman, Rashbaum & Pineiro. Such knowledge could influence jurors, even if a judge asks them not to consider it.

Neiman said that defense lawyers encourage clients to pay their back taxes if they believe they could be indicted on federal tax crimes, as it often helps with sentencing.

Bidens extensive work with foreign businesses came under scrutiny from prosecutors looking into whether he should have registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent.

Investigators have examined Bidens relationships with interests in Kazakhstan, a Chinese energy conglomerate and Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company, according to people familiar with the investigation.

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They said prosecutors had investigated payments and gifts Biden or his associates had received from foreign interests, including a vehicle paid for using funds from a company associated with a Kazakh oligarch and a diamond from a Chinese energy tycoon. Prosecutors also sought documents related to corporate entities through which Biden and his associates conducted business with interests around the world.

But there has been debate within the Justice Department over whether the available evidence proves that Biden intended to violate FARA, which the government must prove in order to secure a criminal conviction. The prosecutors have discussed approaching potential FARA violations as a civil matter, which would require Biden to register retroactively as a foreign agent, but would avoid criminal charges, according to the people familiar with the case.

Such a resolution could complicate a potential money laundering case, since money laundering is typically charged in connection with another crime.

Over the last two years, federal prosecutors in Delaware have issued scores of subpoenas for documents related to Hunter Bidens foreign work and for bank accounts linked to him and his associates, including two formerly close business partners, Eric Schwerin and Devon Archer, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Last year, prosecutors interviewed Archer and subpoenaed him for documents and grand jury testimony, the people said. Archer, who was sentenced last month in an unrelated securities fraud case in which a decision to set aside his conviction was reversed, had served with Biden on Burismas board, starting in 2014.

People familiar with the investigation said prosecutors had examined emails between Biden, Archer and others about Burisma and other foreign business activity. Those emails were obtained by The New York Times from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Biden in a Delaware repair shop. The email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation.

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In some of the emails, Biden displayed a familiarity with FARA, and a desire to avoid triggering it.

In one email to Archer in April 2014, Biden outlined his vision for working with Burisma. In the email, Hunter Biden indicated that the forthcoming announcement of a trip to Ukraine by Vice President Biden  who is referred to in the email as my guy, but not by name  should be characterized as part of our advice and thinking  but what he will say and do is out of our hands.

The announcement could be a really good thing or it could end up creating too great an expectation. We need to temper expectations regarding that visit, Hunter Biden wrote.

The vice president traveled to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, about a week after the email.

In the same April 2014 email, Hunter Biden indicated that Burismas officials need to know in no uncertain terms that we will not and cannot intervene directly with domestic policymakers, and that we need to abide by FARA and any other U.S. laws in the strictest sense across the board.

He suggested enlisting the law firm where he worked at the time, Boies Schiller Flexner, to help Burisma through direct discussions at state, energy and NSC, referring to two Cabinet departments and the National Security Council at the White House.

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The firm can devise a media plan and arrange for legal protections and mitigate U.S. domestic negative press regarding the current leadership if need be, Hunter Biden wrote in the email.

Biden, Archer, Boies Schiller Flexner and Blue Star Strategies did not register under FARA on behalf of Burisma.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

In another set of emails examined by prosecutors, Hunter Biden and Archer discussed inviting foreign business associates, including a Burisma executive, to a dinner in April 2015 at a Washington restaurant where Joe Biden would stop by. It is not clear whether the Burisma executive attended the dinner, although the vice president did make an appearance, according to people familiar with the event.

Prosecutors also subpoenaed records related to a lawsuit brought by the former employee of Hunter Bidens, Lunden Alexis Roberts, in Arkansas state court, according to her lawyer.

Roberts sued Biden for child support and paternity in 2019, after one of his companies ceased paying her and providing her with health insurance, according to court records.

Biden and Roberts reached a settlement out of court in the paternity case in March 2020.

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Last year, prosecutors traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, and asked Roberts and her lawyer about Bidens finances, including which corporate entity he used to pay her, and whether that entity had received payments from Burisma, according to a person familiar with the questioning.

And last month, in response to another subpoena, Roberts testified before the grand jury in Delaware, according to her lawyer.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
The Retired Investor: Has China Just Yelled 'Uncle?'

Over the last year, the People's Republic of China has instituted several far-reaching policies that have roiled its economy and stock market. As a result, the Chinese stock market has lost some $2.1 trillion from its high. Are things about to change?

In a brief statement on March 15, 2022, China's top financial policy body seems to have relented somewhat, if not completely made a U-turn on policy The governing policy committee promised to ensure stability in capital markets, support overseas stock listings, resolve risks around property developers and complete the crackdown on technology companies. Both the central bank and the banking oversight committee would help implement these policy changes.

Some might say that China has been its own worst enemy. An increasing (but late) chorus of Wall Street pundits have deemed the Chinese stock market as "uninvestable." Some might ask where have they been over the last 10 months or so?

On July 8, 2021, I warned investors in my column "China's Red Hand of Regulation" https://tinyl.io/5uAP that "there are all the signs that these new regulatory risks are here to stay. In which case, we can expect more of them and as a result, a re-rating of Chinese securities (downward) would certainly be in order."

I believed that the efforts of the Chinese Communist Party faithful, led by President Xi Jinping, to clamp down and extend control of its largest companies in the name of "common prosperity" would not only be successful, but also devastating for both local and international investors. The result: a $2.1 trillion hit to China's financial markets. But is it now time to look forward?

Until this week, the red hand of this communist government had become even more intrusive and had moved into areas that were thought to be governed by the private capital markets in the name of national security.

There were also real concerns that another $1.1 trillion worth of U.S. listed Chinese stocks could be in jeopardy. The fear was that some large mega stocks like Yum China could be de-listed under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for failing to submit detailed audit documents that support their financial statements.

An ongoing auditing dispute between Chinese regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is still not resolved. This issue is also complicated by several other events which need to be resolved between both nations.

For example, in February 2022, China and Russia declared a new era in the global order, endorsing their respective territorial ambitions in Ukraine and Taiwan among other things. Since then, Russia invaded Ukraine, leading many to believe China was fully aware of Putin's plans. China refused to condemn the move, nor agree to the economic sanctions levied against Russia by most of the West.

Relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated further since then as China now appears to be helping Russia circumvent the sanctions. This issue goes away with a cease fire between Ukraine and China.

And while all of this is going on in the international front, China's economy has taken a massive hit last year due to its over-leveraged real estate market. But the latest economic figures for January through February 2022 were well above expectations, with industrial output rising 7.5 percent versus last year, fixed investment grew by 12.2 percent and retail sales up by 6.7 percent. These were double the estimates of most economists. Growth this year is estimated to fall to 5.5 percent, which is still a healthy rate, but down from last year's 6 percent.

Unfortunately, over the last week, the Chinese have suddenly been forced to begin shutting down some areas of their economy thanks to a resurgence in the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. This may call into question whether the country can sustain its expected growth rate.

China's zero-COVID strategy, which was introduced early in the pandemic involves large-scale lockdowns, mass testing, and international travel bans. Tens of millions of people country-wide are facing restrictions. Shenzhen Province, home to 12.5 million people, has been locked down. It is the nation's technology hub and a critical supplier to major auto companies and many semiconductor suppliers.

Jilin Province has also been shut down, with residents banned from moving around. This is the first time China has locked down entire provinces since the Wuhan and Hebei lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. More lockdowns are expected in the next few days. However, if the global experience with Omicron is any guide, the surge in cases may be short-lived.

In my opinion, if you are willing to take a higher-than-normal level of risk, it is time to once again dip your toes into the Chinese stock market.
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Executive Director Amber Besaw explains how cases for the Northern Berkshire Hub are tracked anonymously. The Hub brings together a wide range of organizations to support people considered at high risk of danger.

North Berkshire 'Hub' Seeks to Help Those at High Risk

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Three dozen people representing numerous agencies and organizations sit down every Tuesday morning to determine if there is a crisis they can avert.

They bring forward anonymous stories about families or individuals and the situations they may be in and determine together if there is a need for immediate intervention. If they decide there is an "acute elevated risk," a team forms to find those individuals the help they may need.

"It's built around who's going to interact with somebody in this acute elevated risk," said Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Executive Director Amber Besaw in a recent interview. "It's got to be somebody who is getting brought forward that is in danger of being harmed or harming themselves or harming someone else."

The Northern Berkshire Hub began meeting this past January and has identified eight individuals who meet the risk assessment; so far, six have accepted help. One refused and another could not be found.

"We had more people say yes to the help than we had people tell us to take a walk, which I think we were surprised at. A lot of us thought we'd have a lot of people right up front saying like mind your own business, get out of my life, why are you talking about me," she said. "That hasn't happened. Most people have been very receptive to the help."

The situations have ranged from children as young as 6 and adults as old as 76. They can involve chronic substance abuse, mental health and behavioral issues, homelessness, incarceration, and other factors.

"We've had 60-65 year old white male, veteran, homeless or at risk of homelessness due to substance use, and some of those issues," Besaw told a breakfast gathering for NBCC on Wednesday. "We've had issues with extreme aggressive behavior for children between the age of like 7 and 10. I mean, it's kind of all over."

The Hub grew out of conversations from a community justice forum the coalition held several years ago.

"We know that overdose has been a concern in our community, and that traditional systems, while available, somehow weren't connecting and these people might be 'falling through the cracks,'" Besaw said. "And so how do we have this like community case management or community awareness?"

Marisa Hebble, a manager with the state Trial Courts' Massachusetts Community Justice Project, had been facilitating some of the workshops and connected the coalition with Dan Cortez, a community specialist with the Chelsea Police Department-led hub that is considered a model for the state.

The Chelsea program, in turn, is fashioned on Public Safety Canada's Centre of Responsibility (Hub and COR) designed to identify systemic issues, improve community safety, work collaboratively, and interpret findings for communities and decision makers and first inspired by a similar program in Glasgow, Scotland.

That effort is being replicated in North County with NBCC as the facilitator and the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office as the backbone. Besaw said she had approached Sheriff Thomas Bowler about interest in the project and he was able to use a substance disorder and addiction earmark in the state budget to pay for training late last year. Pittsfield was also working on developing a hub and became a co-planner of the training, with the sheriff's office the connector for the two tables.

"We've included all of our North Berkshire communities and additionally, we've wrapped in Lanesborough," Besaw said, noting the town sends its students to Mount Greylock Regional in Williamstown (which has also brought in Hancock and New Ashford.) "In fact, they've already brought three situations forward in the time that they've been with us."

The members of the North County "table" include a wide range of organizations  from schools to housing authorities to councils on aging to state agencies to emergency medical services.

Local police and the sheriff's office have been a particularly good resources, she said. There had been concerns that the some of the folks they were looking to help would want to avoid police but instead officers have engendered a lot of trust in the community.

"These folks were incarcerated, they're living in the jail. But they've built such strong connections with our local sheriff's department ... that they're actually the best people really to go out [and reach people]," Besaw said. "Even with our local police department, we've found that our local officers have said like, well, we know that person. We see them all the time, we interact with them. They trust us. ... I don't think that's the prevailing message that we get."

Confidentially is paramount when the case is first brought forward. No names are used and individuals are described in general terms of age ranges, their current situation, and why the presenter believes they may be in danger or a danger to themselves or others. A unanimous consensus must be reached by the table that this person is at an "acute elevated risk" before their identity is revealed.

Once the determination is made to go forward, a smaller team is formed of those who may know the person and the appropriate agency or organizations best likely to help.

"That team gets to decide who among us has the best relationship, knows this person maybe the best or has the most positive experience with this person," Besaw said. "So it may not be the police officer. It might be the crisis clinician who corresponds with our police officers. If it's a student at school, and I have Tom Simon from North Adams Public Schools and Stephanie Mirante, the school resource officer, they might not know who Tom is, but they know Stephanie because they see her in the hallways."

An unintended benefit to the table is that bringing together so many representatives offers a chance to network and to connect resources to those cases that don't rise to the acute level.

"People are networking and problem solving in an effort to keep people from coming to the table and having those experiences that put them at an elevated risk," Besaw said.

It also provides for the ability to catch up on "closed cases" in case any problems arise because the teams are right there.

"They have their own meeting and catch up and problem solve something and plan for what's gonna happen next," she said. "It's not elevated risk anymore. But because you're in the room, you'll have access to other people in the community instead of having to make six phone calls trying to track somebody down."

Cases are being tracked on a shared spreadsheet by number and are considered "closed" once the individual enters a program or services. This will allow the table to create such data as the types of situations, the services provided, and its success rate, and for participating agencies to use for grant applications.

Besaw said startup money is needed for training but continuing the work shouldn't cost communities anything because people are essentially doing what they already do.

"We don't have to look for grants. It's really relationship based, like do we have a good relationship? Are you willing to come to the table and then everything is also equally owned," she said. "So even though the coalition is sort of the facilitator, we don't own anything, this belongs to the entire table."

There are memorandums of understanding with each agency and each person is required to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Those agreeing to accept services also sign a waiver so their information can be shared with the appropriate organizations, but their identities are kept confidential outside that circle.

The case may be closed for the table but the work doesn't stop  it becomes part of the case management for the service providers involved.

"I think one of the things in communities is that those who experience chronic challenges often fall into the background right, they're not seen," Besaw said. "A lot of time people will say I know that person ...

"I'm like you don't know him. You've seen him but you don't know him. He's walked around this community for a very long time sort of unseen by most people or just noticed. This actually helps our community members who are struggling know the community says not only do we see you, but we want to help you because we don't want you to be living in our community feeling unsafe, living unsafe, or experiencing something that could cause you harm or someone else harm."
Letter: Proposed Zoning Changes in Williamstown

To the Editor:

I am concerned about the Williamstown Planning Board's approach with proposed zoning changes. I have lived in Williamstown for 30 years and I have attended town meeting for the majority of those years. I have followed the board's process this year, and I share their vision for a more inclusive and diverse Williamstown. In addition, I am working to support Williamstown's commitment to net-zero carbon emissions, and care for the planet.



I have observed that land-use changes that are successful at town meeting are developed and refined through a process of community education and engagement including active outreach, identification of community concerns, and response to those concerns. I have observed that proposals that are not successful are those that are complex, or where there is low community education and awareness. It is my belief that the board has not done its due diligence in studying the benefit of proposed zoning changes, educating the community on the arguments for why they will be helpful, and listening to and responding to concerns of community members about the changes.



I am concerned that the proposed changes in our rural residential zone, RR2, do not conform to basic principles of good planning to prevent sprawl, and I have no confidence that they will produce the stated intended benefit: more accessibility to housing in RR2 by low to moderate income individuals. Smart Growth principles are widely recognized as having many benefits. These principles include "Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas" and "Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities." In addition, large lot zoning in rural areas has been identified as an important and effective strategy for mitigating the harmful effects of residential development in previously undeveloped areas. They limit residential sprawl that may destroy or fragment existing wildlife habitat, preservation, and agricultural lands in rural areas. I'm alarmed to see some residents calling for the abolition of RR2 as part of what I see as a hurried and haphazard process.



If we as a community believe that creating low- to moderate-income housing in rural parts of Williamstown is a priority, that conversation should not be rushed. We should precisely study and research the best way to do this that will minimize environmental impact and increase the likelihood of success. We should recognize that the need for septic systems will increase development costs, and that distance from town will create impacts for residents who may have transportation challenges. We should look at our infrastructure, water supplies, and critical habitats and farmland, and make use of overlay districts to ensure housing is clustered in already developed areas.



Wendy Penner

Williamstown, Mass.
Central Berkshire Emergency Planning Committee Seeks New Members

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  The Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee is looking for new members.

"We need some new blood in here," Chairman Robert Czerwinski said at the committee's meeting on Wednesday.



About six first responders from different communities gathered at the Fire Department for CBREPC's first meeting of the year.

The committee's priority is to minimize the risk to public safety, health, and property damage. It aims to assist in responses to and the control and mitigation of hazardous materials incidents in member communities and work on hazardous materials response plans.



Pittsfield's Emergency Management Agency works with the committee to prepare for potential disasters. Other partnering communities are Becket, Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Washington, Williamstown and Windsor.

According to the city of Pittsfield's website, members can include first responders, elected and state officials, media, community groups, owners and operators of facilities with hazardous materials, and members of business and industry.



Czerwinski said that since the committee's establishment, it has branched out to assist in a variety of challenges that the city and towns face.



"The original purpose of this committee was for hazardous material challenges and things like that, we've branched out into all hazards, which isn't a bad thing by any means, but how many of our communities are coming to us looking for that help and expertise? How many people have gotten Tier 2 reports this past month and they look at you like, 'What are we supposed to do with these reports?'" the retired Pittsfield fire chief said, referencing an annual federal report that is mandatory for companies that store hazardous materials.



"So I think we had a need to refocus some of the stuff that we're doing and maybe we need to have some education sessions or whatever and try to bring in some new blood."



Czerwinski also wondered if there would be a greater turnout for meetings if they were in the evening.



Lt. Col. Thomas Grady of the Berkshire County Sheriffs Office pointed out that many first responders are wearing dual hats, which could contribute to them not being able to make meetings.
Child Pornography Investigation Leads To Arrest in Great Barrington

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  On Friday, March 18, Officers from the Great Barrington Police Department, United States Secret Service and Massachusetts State Police executed a search warrant at on James J. Keough in Great Barrington.

The warrant was obtained as a result of an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography from an apartment at that residence at 220 State Rd.

As a result of the investigation, Keough, 54, was arrested for the following charges:

1. Possession of Child Pornography

2. Distribution of material depicting a child in the nude

3. Distribution of material depicting a child in a sexual act

Further charges may be pending.

Keough was held at the Great Barrington Police Department in lieu of $50,000 bail, and will be arraigned on Monday, March 21, 2022 in the Southern Berkshire District Court.




iciHaiti - Cooperation : Switzerland supports the right to identity of returnees





In Belladere, the Charge d'Affaires, Fabrizio Poretti, met and discussed with the local authorities and partners on the protection of human rights and the right to identity within the framework of the project "protection of human rights in border municipalities" implemented by the Collective Defenders Plus.



During his visit to the municipality, Poretti stressed the importance of promoting a coordinated and appropriate reception of returnees and allowing them to have an identity in case of need.



The protection and defense of human rights is also a priority for the Embassy of Switzerland in Haiti, which works with the various actors working in the sector to support returnees and the communities concerned.



IH/ iciHaiti


















GENEVA  The U.N. migration agency said Friday that nearly 6.5 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine, on top of the 3.2 million who have already fled the country.

That means that around a quarter of Ukraines 44 million people have been forced from their homes.

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The estimates from the International Organization for Migration suggests Ukraine is fast on course in just three weeks toward the levels of displacement from Syrias devastating war, which has driven about 13 million people from their homes both in the country and abroad.

The findings come in a paper issued Friday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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The projections also found that over 12 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads, as well as lack of resources or information on where to find safety and accommodation.

The paper cited the IOM figures as a good representation of the scale of internal displacement in Ukraine  calculated to stand at 6.48 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine as of March 16.

A woman looks at residential buildings damaged by a bomb in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 18, 2022. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)

UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, has said fighting that has followed Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has sparked Europes gravest refugee crisis since World War II.

By these estimates, roughly half the country is either internally displaced, stranded in affected areas or unable to leave, or has already fled to neighboring countries, he said, alluding to Ukraines population of about 44 million before the war began.

The paper said that 9.56 million people have been displaced by the war so far, as of Wednesday, and another 2.2 million people were considering leaving. IOM estimates that more than 3 million people had fled abroad as of Wednesday.

UNHCR, in its latest figures released Friday, said more than 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine.




iciHaiti - Les Cayes : Training of refrigeration mechanics on new cold technologies





As part of the capacity building process for Haitian refrigeration technicians according to the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Elimination Management Plan (PGEH), the Ministry of the Environment via the National Ozone Office (BNO) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the city of Les Cayes, a 3-day training session for about thirty refrigeration technicians from the South department to bring them to experience good practices in air conditioning and refrigeration and the use of new cold technologies.



Ms. Marie Lourdes MAURA, Assistant Director of the National Ozone Office, thanked the UNDP for providing the Ministry with a consultant, Ms. Esther JOJITE, to facilitate these three days of training.



Let's recall that Haiti signed the Montreal Protocol in March 2000 and undertook to reduce its import of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) by 50% in 2005 and 85% in 2007 and to prohibit any import of ODS in 2010, establish the import license and set import quotas.



Learn more about the BNO :

In July 2003, the Ministry of the Environment created the National Ozone Office (BNO) with the mission, among other things, of managing activities relating to the application of the Montreal Protocol, also ensuring the recovery and recycling of ODS and training of technicians on refrigeration management and customs officers in order to combat the illegal trade of ODS.



IH/ iciHaiti


















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Every 10 years, elected leaders in Florida are tasked with redrawing jurisdictional boundaries for local, state, and federal elections to reflect the states population shifts. Unfortunately, history has shown that politicians sometimes manipulate redistricting to expand or protect their own power  often to the detriment of the minority political party, marginalized populations, and often, Black and brown communities.

The impact of drawing unfair maps  often referred to as gerrymandering  lasts an entire decade, because nearly all state and local decisions on health care, jobs, the environment and education are impacted by this process.

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Cecile M. Scoon is the president of the League of Women Voters of Florida and an owner and managing principal of Peters & Scoon Attorneys at Law. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo)

In Florida, thanks to an overwhelming vote in 2012, we have constitutional amendments which mandate Fair Districts for state legislative and congressional seats. These clearly outline that no political party or candidate be favored and that minorities be given every opportunity to select a representative of their choice if certain criteria are met. There is also a prohibition against decreasing minority representation in the redistricting process.

With these guardrails in place, many would assume that the state Legislatures 2022 redistricting process would have gone off without a hitch. Unfortunately, that did not prove to be true.

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As state legislators configured new congressional districts, Gov. Ron DeSantis chose to insert himself into the process. Floridas Constitution provides no official role for the governor in the redistricting process outside of the option to veto a congressional map, and this is the first time in memory that a Florida governor has inserted himself into the process.

The governors choice to try to influence the legislative process at a minimum created an appearance of partisan intent. And his proposals lessened Black congressional representation while clearly benefiting his own political party.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Before the governors actions, the Florida Senate and the House of Representatives somewhat attempted to comply with much of the governing law in the creation of their maps. On the other hand, the governors proposed maps appeared to be unconstitutional even at a glance.

In reaction to the governors recommendations, the Legislature created and passed a congressional map with a first-choice map and a backup map if the first choice is struck down by a court. This submission of two map choices attempted to account for both the governors and the Legislatures proposals. While the passed congressional maps constitutionality has yet to be determined, it is the League of Women Voters belief that the Legislature and governor could have done more to draw lines that provided additional opportunities for Black and Hispanic voters to elect representatives of their choice to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite the Legislatures efforts, the governor has vowed to veto the legislatively approved work product. This leaves districts, candidates, Supervisors of Elections and voters in limbo with no clear path towards a viable compromise or overall solution.

This move to unduly influence a fair redistricting process, matched with the recent passage of laws that make voting more difficult, contributes to what amounts to a chipping away of the democracy we all cherish and need.

The League of Women Voters of Florida continues to stand against any moves that limit the voices of all voters, including minorities. Floridas voters must familiarize themselves with those who represent their communities in elected office to better hold them accountable. It is crucial to stay up to date on new candidates, campaigns and election dates. This can be done by engaging with organizations centered around voter education like the League of Women Voters or the office of your local Supervisor of Elections.

Regardless of how this redistricting process turns out, it is more important than ever that voters let their voices be heard at the ballot box, despite the repeated attempts to stifle them.

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Cecile M. Scoon is the president of the League of Women Voters of Florida and an owner and managing principal of Peters & Scoon Attorneys at Law.
How Important is it to you personally that a Black woman becomes a Supreme Court Justice?

Apparently, not important at all. At least not important to more than half of the American public. An AP/NORC poll revealed an apathy regarding the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson that is disappointing, but not surprising.

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The poll indicated that although 63% of Black Americans say its extremely or very important to them personally that a Black woman becomes a Supreme Court Justice (with an overwhelming 70% of Black women responding as such), nearly half of the American public do not consider it important at all. That includes more than 50 percent of white men who are indifferent to the monumental fact that Brown Jacksons nomination is the first time in the 233-year history of the U.S. Supreme Court that the nominee for a seat on the high court is a Black woman.

Nicky Boothe, a Florida A&M law professor, is currently a visiting professor of law at Boston University.

And not just any Black woman. A Black woman with unimpeachable qualifications and an extraordinary character; a broad legal background; a Black woman who has already been confirmed by the Senate three times, twice unanimously; and has more jurist experience than four of the current sitting Justices combined. Her service as a public defender with the District of Columbias Federal Defender service and as the Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission further supports the importance of her nomination. Everyone should care.

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As a young law student, April Cherry was the first black law professor I had ever seen in person. Meeting her impacted me in immeasurable ways and directed the trajectory of my legal career. The adage is true: representation matters. Brown Jacksons confirmation to the Supreme Court will certainly inspire little Black girls and women all over the world, but it will also all inspire a generation who will witness the reward of hard work and a steadfast commitment to justice and equality.

But Brown Jacksons confirmation is not just important for the inspiration and hope it will breed. It is important because diversity of thoughts and experiences is crucially vital to a fair and equitable administration of justice in this country.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Last month, the American Bar Associations policymaking body, the House of Delegates, overwhelmingly adopted changes to its accreditation standards for law schools to include a mandate that law schools provide training in bias and cross-cultural competency. These changes were fueled by an acknowledgment that the skill of cultural competency is necessary for lawyers to fulfill their obligation to ensure justice for an increasingly diverse public.

As a law professor with years of courtroom and practice experience, I know firsthand how important it is to the administration of justice for officers of the legal system to have the capacity to acknowledge and respect differences; and develop the ability to constructively engage with each other.

Without formal training and room to reflect on this skill, lawyers, judges (and Justices) rely on past behavior and their own lived experiences in making legal determinations, and, in the case of the Supreme Court Justices, decisions that impact the very way of life of the American people.

As the highest tribunal in the nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States, the Supreme Court serves as a guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. The Justices are the last resort for those seeking justice in Constitutional interpretations and their decisions are guided in part by their lived experiences.

Brown Jackson will not only bring her brilliance and impressive credentials to the Supreme Court. She will bring a diversity of thought, a cache of lived experiences, and a perspective that has been lacking from the Supreme Court for over two centuries. As a Black woman she possesses a level of cultural competency different from that of her white counterparts. Her stellar academic and professional credentials underscore the importance of Judge Brown Jacksons confirmation to the Supreme Court. Her record evidences that she is a fair, impartial judge who is committed to equal justice, and her lived experiences provide needed fodder for critical analysis of difficult Constitutional questions.

Every American who values the Constitution and its interpretation should realize the importance of having this Black woman as a Supreme Court justice.

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Nicky Boothe, a Florida A&M law professor, is currently a visiting professor of law at Boston University.
This is a contributed article by Lindsay Suddon, Chief Strategy Officer at Proagrica.

Agriculture remains the largest employer in the world, with around a billion people working in the sector. Like other industries, the number is falling as technology automates many of the more gruelling and repetitive jobs. The figures speak for themselves; staffing figures in ag have dropped by almost 20% over the past 30 years.

While this is to be expected as the influence of tech grows, the bigger question is how the sector attracts the right talent? Legacy perceptions of unsocial hours and agriculture being tied up in family-run businesses have - arguably - made ag a less appealing career option to those looking in from outside of the industry.

Its easy to forget that farming has been at the forefront of technology from the plough onwards. Tools like AI, GPS and IoT are now helping to diversify the types of roles in agriculture as the sectors digital transformation moves at pace. Tech has the power to both future proof the industry and make it a more interesting option for a broader range of professionals.

Take the horse to water

Thats not to say everyone is quite ready to embrace this brave new world - the sector has been built on trust that is earned over time through old-fashioned human relationships rather than algorithms. While some might bemoan the move away from traditional practices, its the culture that many more would be sorry to see go.

However, the future of the sector lies in greater collaboration as provisioned through data  while the channel may be different, trust remains the key.

We cannot ignore the fact that theres also a price tag attached to bringing technology into ag, and thats going to be a problem for many - especially for smaller independent businesses and for those outside of the most developed markets.

However, costs are falling as new data-led services are provisioned through standard consumer technologies, notably smartphones. Elsewhere, the outlay in commonly used tools like smart soil sensors and automated crop irrigation can be quickly recouped simply by reducing manual staffing costs and freeing up the growers time to be reinvested into planning.

The bigger picture is how the data generated and provisioned through these technologies can improve each fields output by enabling trusted agronomic advisors to help optimise the efficacy of inputs such as fertilizer and crop protection decisions.

Moreover, this data can be used to manage risk. Growers and their advisors can create real-time digital replicas of a field and use predictive modelling to forecast yield in line with particular input variables and assumed external factors, from pesticide shortages to droughts. As such, digital twins can mitigate real world wastage.

Smarter farming for smarter consumers

As data gives growers greater insight into production processes, so too do consumers demand more transparency. A series of scandals have put the sector under significant pressure to demonstrate compliance and best practice. Were hearing growing calls for higher standards and visibility on how crops are nurtured, the health of livestock, and even the logistics of how produce is transported.

Reassuring end users that all stakeholders are meeting their green commitments and that bad actors are more easily identified and removed from the food chain requires all stakeholders to share relevant portions of the datasets that they generate. Meeting consumer demands on issues like provenance and food miles places a commercial impetus on the industry to invest in collaboration technology.

The ethical case for tech

However, market forces should not be the only driver for technology-led change. Agtech may be making significant advancements in the developed world, but the benefits arent yet being seen in every market. A report from the World Bank found two-thirds of the global population that live in extreme poverty earn their livelihood from farming, and in Sub-Saharan Africa just three percent of smallholder farmers are covered by insurance.

If digital tools are shared globally, technology and data will go beyond boosting profit margins. It will improve productivity and help ensure the most vulnerable become better equipped to deal with climate change and other disruption.

Automation can only go so far

This industry has always needed the brightest minds and the social, economic and climate landscape of the twenty-first century means attracting the best tech talent has never been more important. Yes, automation and data are already having a major impact on agriculture in the most advanced markets. However, making the most of what these technologies can offer and extending them to those markets where they will have the most transformational impact will need new skills and fresh thinking.

Every segment of the sector is investing in upskilling staff but it needs to work equally hard to attract a new generation of tech-savvy and ambitious young people. That will mean changing attitudes to agriculture by demonstrating the hugely important role the industry has to play in securing a greener and more sustainable future.

Data-led agriculture is a win-win for stakeholders across the value chain. As research shows 80% of Gen-Zs want to work with cutting-edge technology, the closer integration of it will make the sector more attractive to the next generation - and Silicon Valley dovetails with agriculture.

However, whats equally significant is the growing importance of a sense of purpose. A growing number of younger peoples career motivations are guided by the aspiration to do something worthwhile over just financial reward. And as motivations go, helping to feed the world has to be one of the better ones!

Lindsay Suddon is Chief Strategy Officer for Proagrica. As one of the original architects of Proagrica, Suddons focus continues to be on strengthening Proagricas ability to provide a wide range of data-centred solutions to a variety of industry segments across the supply chain, unlocking value for all.
Eight journalists and the Executive Director of Alternative Digitalk, an online television network were arrested during the polices raid at their premises in Makindye, Kampala, Ugandas capital on 10 March as part of the investigation into alleged offensive communication. Seven were later released without charge.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) in condemning this heavy handed behaviour which stifles freedom of expression and media freedom.

Alternative Digital Executive Director Norman Tumuhimbise was supposed to launch a book Liars and Complices on 30 March which many people say is critical of President Yoweri Museveni.

Ugandan Police spokesman, Fred Enanga, said that the police received a complaint that the group was involved in offensive communication and promoting hate speech.

Those journalists arrested included, Mukose Arnold (Programs Director), Faridah Bikobere (TV Host), Jeremiah Mukiibi (Producer), Tumusiime Kato (Production), Tulyahabwe Roger (Production),Nabukeera Teddy Teangle (Presenter), Lillian Luwedde (presenter) and Wabyona Jeje Jacob (an intern student from Uganda Christian University).

The group was reportedly bundled into a van by armed security personnel while police confiscated their laptops, phones, recorders and cameras.

While seven of the journalists were released on Thursday, 17 March without charge, Norman Tumuhimbise and Tv host Faridah Bikobere were charged with cyber-stalking the country's president. "Both were tortured like the other journalists with whom they were arrested, " their lawyer said to AFP.

The President of the UJU, Lucy Anyango Ekadu, condemned the raid and arrest of the journalists. These are acts aimed at intimidating the media and stifling critical news reporting.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said that the arrest was a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and a clear attempt to instill fear and silence the media. The Government of Uganda must accept dissenting opinions and allow the media to operate without any form of harassment and intimidation. We are very concerned about the current communication legislation in place in the country, which is extremely threatening for the media, in particular those covering internet use. We demand the immediate release of our colleagues.
For the longest time, one of the best "features" of Netflix was that it took a very laid-back approach to people who shared passwords on their accounts. For example, a college student might continue using their parents' account even after they've moved out, or a former roommate might be using a friend's account even though they no longer live with that person.

It turned out that was a great move, from a business perspective--one that every entrepreneur could learn from. Netflix grew into the largest streaming service because it had a great content library, but also because it was the default. Everyone used Netflix (even if some of them weren't paying for it).

While the practice wasn't explicitly allowed, Netflix never really seemed to mind, with its CEO, Reed Hastings, once saying that the company might "test many things, but we would never roll something out that feels like turning the screws." That came in response to a notification that appeared on some accounts when they tried to log in from outside of the subscriber's home.

"If you don't live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching," the prompt would tell you. Netflix would then require a two-factor authentication text message sent to the account owner in order to continue watching.

Now, however, Netflix is testing a new feature that will prompt account owners who share their password to pay $2.99 for an "additional user." If you don't want to pay up, you'll be given the option to transfer the user to their own account.

The announcement comes from Netflix's "Product Innovation" team. I'm not so sure most people would see this as any kind of innovation. I get that Netflix is looking for what I'm sure it thinks are innovative ways to generate more revenue as subscriber growth slows, but if you're making the experience worse, it's not innovation. Especially, since the move comes not that long after Netflix said it would again raise prices.

Here's the thing--almost everyone already uses Netflix. They've either subscribed on their own, or they're using someone else's account. That means there's no one left to sign up for new accounts unless the company can find ways to get password sharers to pay for an account of their own. The company said as much in its announcement of the test:

We've always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account, with features like separate profiles and multiple streams in our Standard and Premium plans. While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared. As a result, accounts are being shared between households--impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.

It seems that the company has finally decided that, if it's going to find more people to subscribe, it's going to have to make them very uncomfortable about sharing passwords. Look, it's entirely within Netflix's right to require people who use its services to pay for them. It's a business, after all. It didn't become the most dominant streaming service in the world by giving away its content for free.

Except, it kinda did.

By turning a blind eye for so long to a practice it knew its customers were using, it gave it an implicit endorsement. It should come as no surprise that people might be a bit upset that the company has now decided to take a hard line. You might even say it feels a bit like Netflix is "turning the screws."

Currently, Netflix is running the test in three countries (Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru), and there's no guarantee that it will become permanent. Even so, that hasn't stopped people from getting upset.

Sure, it's true that the people who are most likely to be upset here are people who aren't actually paying for Netflix, or people who are sharing their password with people who aren't paying for Netflix. Still, those people are still Netflix's customers, and they're doing exactly what Netflix has allowed them to do for almost 15 years.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
China-style diplomacy "better than" West's, says Ugandan president

Xinhua) 10:59, March 18, 2022

TOKYO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has praised China's style of diplomacy, saying it is "much better" than the "double standards" held by the West.

Museveni said in an interview with Nikkei that he sees "double standards" in the Western response to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, and China's approach of not interfering in others' domestic affairs is "much better," the news outlet reported on Thursday.

He rejected allegations that "Beijing expands its influence by drawing smaller economies into 'debt traps'."

"Africa has been having problems for the last 600 years due to the slave trade, colonialism, neocolonialism -- and none of it was from China," he said.

Museveni said China supported Africans' fight against colonialism before starting economic activity on the continent. "They do not impose their offers if you do not want them," the president added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Disney employees should be thankful for jobs

During the year 2020, Disneyland in California closed for 412 days because of coronavirus restrictions. The Magic Kingdom here in Florida remained closed only 117 days. What made the difference? In part, the state government in California has a majority of Democrats while the state government in Florida has a majority of Republicans. Democrats like big government, hence big-government taxes and restrictions on businesses.

Republicans oppose big government, hence they are better for business and opened Florida up (including Walt Disney World) for business while California remained closed. Disney World here in Florida was open, making millions of dollars while Disneyland in California was losing money.

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Marissa Flint, in the Sentinel article Disney feels heat over silence about the Dont Say Gay bill, said of Disney, I felt like I had a place of employment that could help foster my sense of well-being.

I wish to respectfully say to all who work for Disney that every time they cash their paychecks from Disney their well-being is enhanced. How could Disney have paid you if they remained closed?

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Dale Davies Casselberry

Some congressmen still follow Trump playbook

Only eight U.S. House members voted no to suspending normal trade with Russia  the country currently killing men, women and children in what most of the world is calling a act of terror against Ukraine.

And to nobodys surprise, all eight are considered Donald Trump sycophants who have betrayed both American democracy and American decency. This all echoes Trump, who called Vladimir Putins attack genius.

Alan J. Beam Orlando

Time for U.S. to take hard line on Putin

The West has a vested interest in seeing Vladimir Putin taken down, hoisted on his own petard. Anything short of an embarrassing collapse will only be an incentive to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is reportedly contemplating doing to Taiwan what Putin has tried to do to Ukraine.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

And there is resistance in the West: from Germany in particular, but also from ostensibly neutral countries like Switzerland and Denmark, neither NATO countries. Putin has now employed 75% of his entire military. Hes losing right now and he knows it.

U.S. President Joe Biden, whose leadership to date has proven to be timid, cowardly and pathetic in the words of Newt Gingrich, has an opportunity to step up.

Yes, of course, he will have to provide support in ways that do not cause Putin to go nuclear. To that end, he ought to remind Putin that the United States has nuclear weapons, too. That mutually assured destruction doctrine kept the world safe for 75 years. And achieving both ends (avoiding nuclear war, but supporting a Ukrainian victory) will require immensely subtle skills  which I am not entirely sure Biden or his team actually possess.

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Vladimir Putin must be defeated, destroyed and ruined. We do not know who will replace him, but its hard to imagine the next guy being worse.

Ron Berti Orlando

Dont gaslight Dont Say Gay bill

You can gaslight the Dont Say Gay bill, which never mentions the word gay, all you want. More than 50 percent of Americans agree with Ron DeSantis that we dont need to teach 8-year-olds about transgenderism or critical race theory, according to a recent Politico poll. Whats wrong with teaching kids the three Rs?

Art Hudson Orlando


remaining of

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Seven months after they took power in Afghanistan by force, the Taliban is still kept at an arm's length by most countries around the world.

This has not stopped the hardline Islamists from trying to reach out to countries around the world and even making statements on international issues.

One of the countries the Taliban wants to come back to Afghanistan at the earliest is, India.

AP

Taliban leaders have repeatedly made this clear and have thanked New Delhi for its humanitarian assistance in the form of wheat and other essentials.

Taliban's UN ambassador-designate Suhail Shaheen told The Times of India that the government in Kabul was ready to provide a "secure environment" for the Indian embassy in Kabul and that diplomatic presence was essential for boosting bilateral relations.

Indian embassy in Kabul

What he said

"We want all those countries including India who had their embassies in Kabul to reopen their embassies and start functioning as normal. We are committed to providing them a secure environment for their functioning. Diplomatic presence is important for boosting bilateral relations," said Shaheen.

The comments came on the day the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to secure a formal presence in Afghanistan.

The resolutionwhich avoids using the word Talibanwill allow the UN to continue its crucial work in Afghanistan..

AFP

The vote was 14 in favor, with one abstention, by Russia.

The United Nations has not yet recognized the Talibans pick of envoy to the body, and the resolution does not give the new government international recognition.

Resolution 2626 decides that UNAMA and the UN Secretary-General's special representative will continue to carry out their mandate in support of the people of Afghanistan, in close consultations with all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, including relevant authorities as needed, obviously in reference to the Taliban.

Norwegian UN ambassador Mona Juul, whose country tabled the draft, explained after the vote that the resolution authorizes UNAMA to engage with all relevant actors on all aspects of its mandate, including the Taliban.

AFP

But she emphasized that the resolution "in no way" implies UN recognition of the Taliban.

The resolution also stresses the critical importance of a continued presence of UNAMA and other UN agencies, funds and programs across Afghanistan.

It calls on all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders and international actors to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of UN and associated personnel throughout the country.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Legendary bodybuilder, Hollywood actor, and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has claimed that Russians are being lied to about the war in Ukraine.

In a video posted on social media, Austrian-born Schwarzenegger aid Russian soldiers were told they'd be fighting Nazis in Ukraine, or to protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine or that were going on military exercises, and that they'd be greeted like heroes. He said many of the troops now know those claims were false.

Screengrab

"This is an illegal war,'' Schwarzenegger said, looking straight into the camera while seated at a desk in a study. "Your lives, your limbs, your futures are being sacrificed for a senseless war condemned by the entire world.''

He even went on to invoke his father and spoke about how he was influenced by Nazi propaganda.

According to Schwarzenegger, his father was lied to as he fought with Adolf Hitler's forces during World War II, and how he returned to Austria a broken man, physically and emotionally after being wounded at Leningrad.

What he said

"When my father arrived in Leningrad, he was all pumped up on the lies of his government. When he left Leningrad, he was broken  physically and mentally. He lived the rest of his life in pain  pain from a broken back, pain from the shrapnel that always reminded him of those terrible years and pain from the guilt that he felt. To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast: You already know much of the truth that Im speaking. Youve seen it in your own eyes. I dont want you to be broken like my father.

Wikipedia

Schwarzenegger who is hugely popular in Russia, and is one of the 22 accounts followed by the President of Russia's Twitter account also addressed Vladimir Putin directly.

"To those in power in the Kremlin, let me just ask you: Why would you sacrifice these young men for your own ambition?  To President Putin, I say: You started this war. You are leading this war. You can stop this war.' he said.

AFP

Schwarzenegger also had a message to Russians who have been protesting against the war in Ukraine.

I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share. pic.twitter.com/6gyVRhgpFV  Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 17, 2022

The world has seen your bravery, he said. We know that youve suffered the consequences of your courage. You have been arrested, youve been jailed, and youve been beaten. You are my new heroes. You have the strength of Yuri Petrovich Vlasov. You have the true heart of Russia, he said.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian journalist and Editor of the state-run Channel One who caused international embarrassment by protesting on live TV against the ongoing war in Ukraine has resigned from her job.

She told France 24 news channel that she had "handed in all the documents" for her resignation from Channel One. "It's a legal procedure," she said.

AFP

Ovsyannikova, who has two young children, said she had "broken the life of our family with this gesture," with her son in particular showing anxiety.

"But we need to put an end to this fratricidal war so this madness does not turn into nuclear war. I hope when my son is older he will understand why I did this," she said.

Offered asylum in France

Following Ovsyannikova's dramatic protest on TV which led to her detention, she was offered asylum by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Ovsyannikova however, told German publication Der Spiegel that she would not take up his offer and would stay in Russia.

AFP

"I don't want to leave our country. I am a patriot, my son is even more so. We don't want to leave in any way, we don't want to go anywhere," she said.

After Ovsyannikova's protest, there were reports that many more journalists have resigned from the state-run news channel that has been telling a different story of the war in Ukraine to the Russian public.

"Most people who work for state television understand very well what is going on. They know only too well that they are doing something wrong," she said.

According to her some of her colleagues were unable to resign even if they wished.

"I am happy that people handed in their notice but the economic situation is very hard and people find it very hard to stop their work," she said.

Screengrab

Ovsyannikova on Monday, interrupted a live news bulletin holding up a sign behind the studio presenter and shouting slogans denouncing the war in Ukraine.

"NO WAR. Stop the war. Don't believe propaganda. They are lying to you here." Another phrase, which looked like "Russians against war" the poster in her hand, written in both English and Russian read.

Later a video surfaced online showing Ovsyannikov who described herself as a Channel One employee and said she was ashamed to have worked for years spreading Kremlin propaganda. She said her father was Ukrainian, and her mother was Russian.

Reuters

Following the protest, Ovsyannikov was detained and a Moscow court rapidly fined her 30,000 rubles (260 euros). But despite being freed she could face further prosecution, risking years in prison under draconian new laws.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
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Disney CEO Bob Chapek (right) ticked off Gov. Ron DeSantis when Chapek finally spoke up against Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill. But that isnt the only culture war that has these two feuding. The Florida Legislature also passed DeSantis Stop WOKE act that is designed stop companies like Disney from holding diversity and inclusion workshops in their current form. GOP lawmakers say the sessions might be causing some employees to feel guilt or distress. (Orlando Sentinel)

For decades, Disney and Florida politicians have had a symbiotic relationship  kind of like dung beetles and skunk cabbage.

Much like the beetles pollinate the foul-smelling plants, Disney would fertilize the politicians campaign accounts with cash  top it off with free hotel rooms and park passes  and then the politicians would do whatever Disney wanted.

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Disney got tax breaks, incentives, taxpayer-funded advertising, even a law guaranteeing companies would never have to offer employees paid sick time if they didnt want to.

Basically, the two sides were political cronies who swapped favors for cash.

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But now the wheels have come off  over culture wars.

You probably know about the fight over Dont Say Gay. (After pressure from its employees, Disney stood up for LGBTQ families. Gov. Ron DeSantis and his team responded with talk of communists, pedophiles and tweets about how Disney should leave Florida  the standard way Team DeSantis handles policy criticism.)

But did you know that before Disneys support for gay families infuriated Florida Republicans, the companys employee-diversity initiatives did, too?

Earlier this year, Republican legislators unveiled a new law aimed at stopping Disney from running its diversity and inclusion program in its current form.

It was part of legislators whitewash-history agenda. First, they didnt want school teachers giving history lessons that might cause anyone discomfort. But then they thought: Why stop there? Lets stop private companies from talking about the realities of racism and sexism in ways we dont like as well.

So they passed the so-called Stop WOKE Act with the House Republican sponsor citing Disneys program  which hed heard mentioned systemic racism  as one that needed to be outlawed.

In case you read over that last sentence too quickly, let me recap it for you:

A private company was holding private discussions with its own employees. Yet because a politician didnt like some of the things hed heard they were talking about, he wanted to outlaw the speech he found objectionable.

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Welcome to The Peoples Republic of Florida.

The laws language says Disney and other Florida companies cant say anything to make employees feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress.

So now we have an interesting standoff.

Disney, after all, is slated to move 2,000 jobs from California (as part of one of those incentive deals mentioned above) to Florida  a state that just accused the company of siding with pedophiles and told Disney it cant train its employees in the way it wants.

So what will Disney do?

Probably roll over and take it. All of it. The political abuse and the tax and incentive favors.

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Disney has always valued profits over principles, as evidenced by the fact that the company made campaign donations to every single sponsor of this years Dont Say Gay bill while touting its commitment to LGBTQ families.

And though the politicians are beating up on Disneys (alleged) corporate values, theyre still doing the company legislative favors. Just last year, legislators exempted any company that owns or operates a theme park from their crackdown on social media platforms.

So I just assume Disney will happily play the role of culture-war stooge and adjust their employee training to suit the fancies of GOP legislators as long as the financial favors kept coming.

Still, I decided to inquire, sending a note to Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Orlandos Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle. Neither responded.

But assuming Disney is still trying to decide how to save face, allow me to offer a suggestion:

Challenge the Stop WOKE law in court. The bill will almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional  just like the Legislatures previous attempts to squelch free speech were. But instead of letting the ACLU or some other civil-rights group lead the legal war, Disney should do so itself.

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Legislators should not interfere with a student or employees right to receive an inclusive education just because... Posted by ACLU of Florida on Friday, March 4, 2022

Mickey, Bob and Jeff should do something the company rarely does: Put on their big-boy pants and take a stand.

This isnt even hard. Every business in Florida should object to this heavy-handed government overreach  politicians trying to stop companies from saying things the politicians dislike.

When House bill sponsor Bryan Avila was railing against Disney for talking to employees about systemic racism  claiming I think we should all agree should not be taking place in our great nation  he also railed against other Florida companies like Lockheed Martin.

Avila had heard that Lockheed asked male executives to deconstruct their white male privilege, and Avila wanted that to stop.

There was a day when true conservatives who actually believe in free markets, limited government and the U.S. Constitution would be outraged by the idea of government trying to stop a business from having private conversations it believes makes the company run better.

But those days seem long gone. Were now in the age of snowflakes with people who want to silence ideas, thoughts and history lessons that make them uncomfortable.

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Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

People who dont want to admit that there is still institutional racism in this country.

People who look like me and dont want to admit they maybe got a leg up in their professional or educational pursuits. Or that they dont get stopped by police officers as often as people of color.

People who have no interest in hearing uncomfortable truths  and sure dont want their kids to hear them either.

If Disney wants to talk to its security force about why guests of color might be more skeptical when approached by someone with a badge or a uniform, why should it face legal constraints just because it triggers some snowflake politician?

Disney has a chance to stand up for its own rights  and the U.S. Constitution  by challenging this latest case of government overreach in Florida.

Or it can do nothing. And after it finishes its self-imposed pause on political donations in Florida, it can go right back to cutting checks to the same politicians who have demonized and criticized the company  in exchange for more tax breaks and incentive deals.

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smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
This graphic, shown at the March 15, 2022, meeting of the Board of Supervisors' Land Use Policy Committee, depicts the current parking situation at Fair Oaks Mall (left) as well as how the mall's acres of surface parking could be converted for more intensive development (right).
The Census population count determines how many representatives each state has in Congress for the next decade.
Church and civic leaders this month launched a political action committee to hold politicians and agency functionaries accountable. Lights On is a political action entity, with a 501(c) (4) IRS status. That means it is not a C3, for which contributions would be tax deductible. Rather, the tax category allows it to lobby and support issues that are important to us. People can contribute at its website, www.lightsonnow.org. Alfred Babington Johnson, church and civic leaders associated with His Works United and The Stairstep Foundation, explored challenges and opportunities at hand for mobilizing Black voters around Black interests in an inaugural Lights On launch meeting at Shiloh Temple International Ministries, in North Minneapolis. The time has come for better informed, more intentional strategic action by African American people. Lights On is an instrument to achieve effective community engagement in a su stainable manner, Babington said. Ownership makes a difference. Were the ones weve been waiting for. The broader issue is empowerment. The broader issue is how do we get to be aware? How do we mobilize? How do we energize? We have a target of opportunity that gives us a chance to make the point we are really trying to make. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, former State Senator Myron Orfi eld and Build Wealth MN CEO made presentations exploring how Black have been and continue to be Redlined by the 91% white affordable housing industry. They highlighted the need for a church centered political action strategy. Presented here are exerpts of remarks by Keith Ellision and Myron Orfi eld, who is a law professor at University of Minnesota
Japanese American citizens at an internment camp in the Pacific Northwest during World War II
New York expanded workplace harassment protection for all public employees and banned the release of anyones employment records in retaliation for speaking up about alleged abuse, part of a package of new laws signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday.

State law had previously excluded personal staff of elected officials and judges from anti-discrimination protection under New Yorks Human Rights Law. Another bill launches a statewide, confidential hotline to report sexual harassment in both the pubic and private sector.

Democratic lawmakers proposed the laws after an investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by the state attorney generals office. It found Cuomo, a Democrat, sexually harassed at least 11 women in violation of state and federal civil rights law. The report said Cuomos aides leaked internal memorandums to undermine the first person to publicly accuse him of sexual harassment, former senior aide Lindsey Boylan.

We saw what happened to Lindsey Boylan when she spoke up, said bill sponsor Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, a Queens Democrat, who called the release of Boylans employment records a tool of retaliation.

Employees can now file complaints of retaliation with the attorney general, who could launch a proceeding in state court against employers who violate the law.

Independent investigators also found Cuomos office failed to investigate sexual harassment complaints.

Hochul, whos gearing for a June Democratic primary, said Wednesday her administration has overhauled how it handles harassment complaints to ensure theyre taken seriously.

We created a human resources department, a real one, so actual real complaints can be heard by real people, who will take action, Hochul said. We actually have an outside law firm available for people to complain to, so theres no sense that anybody within my administration can cover up or sweep something under the rug.

Cuomo says the civil sexual harassment probe was part of a political witch hunt, and said investigators didnt include every piece of evidence that cast him in a positive light.

Cuomo resigned in August to avoid a likely impeachment trial led by Democrats, which could have prevented him from running for office again. But he raised speculation about his political ambitions after railing against cancel culture at a Brooklyn church earlier this month. He also plans to speak at a Bronx church Thursday.

Hochul spoke Wednesday at New York Citys Javits Center alongside members of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, whose leaders have long pushed for anti-harassment reforms and spoken about personal experiences facing harassment as legislative employees.

To the advocates who made this happen, and their champions in the legislature: Im proud to sign bills that will address sexual harassment in the workplace and say that once and for all, my administration has cleaned house, Hochul said. This is a new day in New York.

Last summer, investigators questioned whether Cuomo and his inner circle were trying to silence Boylan by questioning her political and personal motives soon after she took to Twitter in December 2020 to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment.

State law and governors office policy prohibits retaliating against current and former employees who raise harassment complaints. Examples of retaliation can include releasing an unwarranted negative reference.

Cuomo said he helped draft a letter attacking Boylans credibility that his circle distributed among supporters, though never published. His administration  with the help of former Cuomo aides  also released internal memos showing Boylan had, herself, been the subject of complaints about toxic workplace behavior.

You can be a perpetrator of sexual harassment and be a victim of sexual harassment, Cuomo acknowledged at one part of his deposition.

But Cuomo and aides like Melissa DeRosa argued the administration acted within its rights to defend the governor against Boylan.

Cuomo has denied he ever touched anyone inappropriately or meant to offend any of the 11 women in the harassment probe.

Several prosecutors around New York have said they found the women credible but lacked enough evidence to press criminal charges against Cuomo for forcible touching.

A female state trooper on Cuomos security detail filed a lawsuit against the former governor seeking civil damages for sexual harassment.

Cuomo has attributed his penchant for hugs and kisses to being an older Italian American, and said some of his past remarks were misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.

New Yorks definition of sexual harassment includes unwelcome touching, unwanted flirtation or sexual jokes.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance New York
Maine farmers and the states agriculture commissioner have testified in favor of a proposal that would create a $100 million fund to help pay for problems caused by long-lasting chemicals.

The Maine Legislature is considering creating the fund to do things like help farmers pay for water and soil tests and cover crop and animal losses related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl contamination. The main concern from some who testified on the bill on Wednesday was that $100 million wouldnt be enough, the Portland Press Herald reported.

Maine Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal said in testimony that the work to address the impacts of PFAS contamination will require robust and continuing financial support.

The proposal will be subject to votes in committee in the future.

Maines congressional delegation also recently called on the federal government to help farmers in the state cope with the problem of managing contamination by the long-lasting chemicals. Exposure to high levels of the chemicals have been linked to increased risks of cancer and other chronic health problems.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness Maine
New Jerseys Supreme Court has ruled the public has a right to see the internal affairs report from the case of the city of Elizabeths former police director, who resigned after an investigation found he used racist and sexist language to refer to department personnel.

James Cosgrove, the civilian head of the department for two decades, stepped down in 2019, months after an attorney filed a complaint on behalf of employees. The Union County prosecutors office conducted a two-month investigation that concluded he had used derogatory terms, including racist and misogynistic slurs, to describe his staff. Gurbir Grewal, New Jerseys attorney general at the time, urged Cosgrove to step down.

A state appeals court later denied access to the internal affairs records, writing that disclosure would discourage future witnesses from reporting misconduct and frustrate the investigative process.

In reversing that ruling Monday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote, In a matter like this, the public interest in disclosure is great. Racist and sexist conduct by the civilian head of a police department violates the publics trust in law enforcement. It undermines confidence in law enforcement generally, including the thousands of professionals who serve the public honorably.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in support of disclosing the report from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union New Jersey, The Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The city of Elizabeth and the Union County prosecutors office argued against disclosure.

The state attorney generals office argued internal affairs records are normally exempt from disclosure under state open-records laws, but acknowledged that in this case, the publics interest in transparency made releasing the records appropriate.

In its ruling Monday, the Supreme Court ordered a lower court to review the report and release it with the names and identifying information for witnesses, informants or cooperators redacted.

Messages seeking comment were left Monday with the Union County prosecutors office and the state attorney generals office.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement New Jersey
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, Chinas economic tsar, urged the roll-out of market-friendly policies to support the economy and caution in introducing measures that risked hurting markets, boosting battered shares in China and Hong Kong on Wednesday [March 16].

The outlook for the worlds second-largest economy has wobbled amid fears of a blowback on China from its dealings with sanctions-hit Russia, uncertainty in global demand and, in recent days, a spike in domestic COVID-19 cases that threatens to disrupt economic activity.

Lius call for policies from government bodies to support the economy and markets came a day after Chinese stocks slumped to 21-month lows and mainland firms listed in Hong Kong plumbed 2008 lows. On the heels of his comments [on Wednesday], Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index surged 9.1% and Chinas blue chip index CSI300 jumped 4.3%.

All policies that have a significant impact on capital markets should be coordinated with financial management departments in advance to maintain the stability and consistency of policy expectations, Liu said, adding officials would be held accountable.

Citis Asia-Pacific trading strategist in Hong Kong, Mohammed Apabhai, likened the moment to the Federal Reserves market backstop in 2020 or then-European Central Bank chief Mario Draghis whatever it takes speech that staunched the euro zone crisis in 2012.

Its not quite of that order of magnitude, but its not that far away either, he said.

Chinas stock markets have been the worst-performing outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began last month.

On financial market stability in Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong regulators would strengthen coordination, Liu said.

Acting as a weight on markets are also continued regulatory crackdowns, including the risk of more mainland firms being delisted by U.S. exchanges.

Tech shares in particular have been the target of panic-selling as investors fret over Beijings regulations and Sino-U.S. decoupling risks.

China would strive to promote healthy development of the internet platform economy, and complete the rectification of big platform firms as soon as possible, Xinhua news agency cited Liu as telling a meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Committee, a regulatory body under the State Council, which is Chinas Cabinet.

China would also strive to invigorate its economy and defuse risks in the property sector, he said.

The real estate sector, a key economic growth driver, has slumped for months as Beijings campaign to reduce high debt levels triggered a liquidity crisis at some major property developers, resulting in bond defaults and projects being shelved or left unfinished.

Later on Wednesday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported China was putting a planned property tax trial this year on ice, citing the finance ministry.

Progress

Liu on Wednesday said talks between Chinese and U.S. regulators on Chinese companies listed in the United States have made positive progress and regulators were working on specific cooperation plans.

The government would continue to support local firms that seek to list overseas, he said.

Chinas securities regulator said on Wednesday it would continue to communicate with U.S. regulators and strive to reach an agreement on China-U.S. audit supervision cooperation as soon as possible.

Liu also urged financial institutions to support the real economy, and encouraged long-term institutional investors to increase stock holdings.

Answering Lius calls, Guo Shuqing, head of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, urged banks to increase funding supply and keep appropriate growth in new loans.

Guo vowed to vigorously support direct financing, encouraging insurers and wealth management companies to allocate more funds to equities.

In a separate meeting, central bank governor Yi Gang pledged to take initiatives in monetary policy, increase new lending and adamantly support the economy.

(Reporting by Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo and Beijing newsroom; additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in Singapore; editing by Edwina Gibbs, Jason Neely and Alex Richardson)

Photograph: A Chinese tourist peeks inside a red door of the Palace Museum inside the Forbidden City, which was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, on May 18, 2011 in Beijing, China. (Photo credit: Feng Li/Getty Images)

Topics China
TALLAHASSEE  Two major pieces of legislation pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved by the Florida Legislature have put public school teachers in the crosshairs of the Republican-waged culture wars and created confusion over just what they can teach in class, critics say.

Passed mostly along party lines by the GOP-controlled Legislature, the bills have not yet been sent to the governors office as of Friday. If signed into law as expected, they would restrict what teachers can say about sexual orientation, gender identity, racism and white privilege, as well as give parents more say on banning what they consider to be objectionable learning material.

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But education leaders worry that the rhetoric around the measures makes teachers and school administrators out to be villains in an imaginary war for the hearts and minds of schoolchildren, even as sponsors describe them as focusing on parental freedom and educational transparency.

As the parents of three kids aged 5 and under, thank you for letting my wife and I send our kids to kindergarten without them being sexualized, DeSantis said at the ceremonial close of session Monday.

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DeSantis, who is up for re-election and is frequently mentioned as a contender for the presidency in 2024, touted both bills as a commitment to transparency and equality, a commitment to education, not indoctrination.

He failed to mention that his one school-age child attends a private school, which would not be subject to the laws.

Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers union, said DeSantis is promoting a falsehood that echoes decades-old fears and bigotry about gay teachers converting children at an early age.

It implies something nefarious is going on in our public schools, Spar said. And it could compound the states teacher shortage, which could hit 9,000 vacancies statewide by the end of the school year, he said.

The image of teachers luring children into the dark corners of human sexuality is further fueled by the bills sponsors that they dont want children sexualized or taught about homosexuality.

And it was underscored by Christina Pushaw, the governors press secretary, who went as far as to characterize the bill as anti-grooming, using a term reserved for pedophiles that recalled a bygone era when homosexuals were accused of converting children.

But his political future rides on this idea, creating chaos, deriding public schools and attacking teachers, Spar said of DeSantis. This was the bill he wanted. This fits into his political momentum.

Sexuality isnt taught

At the heart of the controversy is the section in HB 1557 that prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in other grades.

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Weve never taught sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, Spar said.

Lost in all the raw emotionalism surrounding the dont say gay bill is the procedure laid out not just for resolving disputes between the parents and schools over what their students are being taught, but also what they are being counseled.

Counselors or teachers would be required to tell parents about any changes in their childs mental or emotional well-being, or changes in the services they are being provided unless a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment or neglect.

Respecting a students privacy and confidentiality are considered keys to building an effective relationship with counselors in providing an atmosphere of trust and confidence, especially to protect the safety of the child when abuse or neglect is suspected.

A school counselor, who is in a counseling relationship with a student, has an ethical and legal obligation to keep information contained within that relationship, according to the American School Counselor Association.

But they also recognize the rights of the parent or guardian in being the guiding force in that students life, the association said.

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If parents dont feel the district is being forthcoming about their childs education or mental health, they can contact school officials and try to resolve them in seven days. The district would have 30 days to resolve the problem or explain to the parents why it cant be resolved, at which point the parents can ask for an administrative hearing or take the school district to court to seek a declaratory judgment,

Ron Meyer, a longtime First Amendment attorney who has represented the FEA for decades, said he was particularly concerned about the language pertaining to lawsuits.

If you file a lawsuit asking for declaratory judgment, you will get one  whether you like it or not, Meyer said.

A court could issue a declaratory judgment that goes against the parent, and under this bill, the school district would still have to pay legal fees and damages regardless of the outcome, he said.

Its just going to create needless litigation and expenses, Meyer said.

Chilling effect

Most concerning to Spar and other educators is the chilling effect these new laws will have on teachers and their ability to provide a safe and secure learning environment for them.

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It puts teachers in a position where a high school child confides in him or encourages him to see a school counselor for support, Spar said. Whats the counselor to do?

The bills are so vague, Meyer said, who knows what you can or cannot say under any of these bills? Who knows what a parent or administrator might find offensive?

The bills also dont specify what amounts to instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, raising questions about whether teachers would be allowed to teach about the AIDS crisis or court cases involving same-sex marriage.

That vagueness could pose a serious First Amendment court challenge, Meyer said.

Until the state and school districts come up with those standards and procedures, its hard to gauge the true impact it will have on public school teachers, Spar said.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

The same is true for HB 7, the so-called Individual Freedom Act, which requires teachers to adhere to a strict curriculum and just the facts when teaching about race and not make students feel ashamed or responsible because of their race or gender for the sins of the past.

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There are certainly a lot of unknowns and questions, Spar said. That will be telling when we see what those district policies are going to be and what the discipline will be.

But the bills sponsor, Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, said as long as teachers stick to the state-approved curriculum and dont offer their own opinions or interpretations of history, they wont be subject to any repercussions.

Avila also said his bill in no way would prevent teaching the facts about slavery, the civil rights movement, voter suppression and other stains on Americas history as long as students arent made to feel ashamed or to blame for those moments.

Currently, parents who dont want their kids in an activity or exposed to certain material have the right to request to have them excused and given an alternative lesson, Spar said.

The same questions are raised with the book banning provisions in HB 7, which gives parents more control over what materials can and cannot be used in schools.

What social, emotional and mental stain does that put on a child if a child sees themselves in that book, and its banned? What impact does that have on that child? Spar asked. The intent is to have a chilling effect and make people who work in our schools second guess their discussions with their students.
Miller, the London-based independent specialist re/insurance broker, announced the launch of its online Private Clients platform, providing digital solutions for clients in the high-net-worth space.

The online system is the first broker offering of its type in the market and will initially focus on buildings and contents insurance, Miller explained in a statement. This launch provides a foundation for further rollout, with plans to offer additional products on the platform throughout the year.

Developed by Millers Private Client experts in close collaboration with the in-house innovation team, the platform provides clients with the efficiency and speed of online delivery, with clients able to access cover within minutes of entering their requirements. The technology is supported by Millers specialist team to ensure that the ease of online delivery is matched by the bespoke expertise and advice needed around more complex requirements.

As a key growth area for Miller, the launch of our online portal in the private client market is a significant milestone. We have seen that clients are increasingly looking for the quickest and most efficient ways of securing coverage, and the combination of our new automated proposition alongside our teams many years of expertise in the sector will provide us with a critical competitive edge and differentiator, commented Katie Small, head of Private Clients.

This rollout is just the beginning, with further products set to be included on the platform later this year to ensure we continue to provide comprehensive and market-leading services to our clients.
Mosaic Insurance is building a cyber-security underwriting unit in Bermuda, to align its global business strategy around the fast-growing risk.

The specialty insurer has transferred its cyber team underwriter George Cole from London to the companys Bermuda corporate headquarters, following his temporary secondment to the island late last year.

The move adds another cyber underwriting hub to Mosaics expanding network. The company currently has cyber underwriters in London, New York, and Chicago, with plans to add more in Toronto and Frankfurt later this year.

Cole will underwrite cyber opportunities coming through the Bermuda marketplace, focused on securing high-excess layers of coverage for Mosaics global clients. Mosaic intends to provide cyber solutions and thought leadership in major insurance hubs across the globe, with Bermuda playing an important part in that distribution strategy.

Im excited to progress our cyber strategy in Bermuda and build out a well-balanced cyber portfolio, said Cole. The opportunity we have in Bermudato gain visibility into the global market, understand our customers changing cyber-risk requirements, and offer commensurate risk-transfer solutionsis unlike that of any other marketplace in the world.

Read more: Artful Mosaic Insurance Creates Global Agility for Specialty Startup

With cyber underwriters now in place in the UK, US, and Bermuda markets, Mosaic can provide coverage across major insurance placement hubs. The company will be looking to further build out its Bermuda presence in this line, with the hiring of an additional cyber underwriter there this year.

Mosaic said it is developing market-leading aggregation studies, risk-assessment, loss-prevention, and response capabilities to ensure its cyber underwriting product is informed by advanced data analysis.

Insurance traditionally has a look-back perspective across all lines, commented Yosha DeLong, Mosaics global head of Cyber.

Cyber is forcing us, as an industry, to look forward, anticipate change to threats and prevention, focus on recovery from events, and work with insureds to improve their overall security posture and culture, she added.

Cyber is a peril, not just an insurance productand cyber events affect all insurance lines of business, said DeLong. Theres an opportunity for innovative cyber insurance solutions, as well as an obligation for cyber insurance carriers to influence and implement overall cybersecurity improvements and minimum expectations across the globe.

Last month, Mosaic began activating $20 million in cyber-security capacity in the U.S. market through its syndicated capital program. Under the initiative, a core part of Mosaics model, capital from participating carriers is deployed through a partnership with hybrid fronting carrier Transverse Insurance Group.

Source: Mosaic

Related:

Topics Cyber Underwriting
Swiss Re announced that Ivan Gonzalez has been appointed CEO Reinsurance China and China country president with effect from July 1, 2022. He will relocate from New York to Beijing.

Katie McGrath will succeed Ivan as regional CEO for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in North America. She will be based in New York. Both appointments are subject to regulatory approvals.

Gonzalez will have composite responsibilities for all reinsurance operations in China and serve as Swiss Res president in the country. He was most recently the CEO North America for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, a role he held since 2016, offering innovative, high-quality insurance capacity and customised risk transfer solutions to corporations in the United States and Canada.

Gonzalez began his career in 2001 as a financial analyst with Swiss Re Capital Partners in New York and assisted in several corporate development initiatives, including the acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions. In 2006, he moved to Swiss Re Group Strategy in Zurich and was subsequently appointed as CEO Latin America for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2011 out of Sao Paulo.

McGrath has more than 25 years of experience across multiple roles in commercial insurance. Since joining Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2019, she has been responsible for its Accident & Health portfolio in North America. A seasoned leader with expertise in underwriting, revenue and profit growth, integration and change management, product development and strategy, McGrath has also been an integral member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions management team in North America. Prior to joining Swiss Re, she has worked in several senior roles in AIG in New York.

Ivan has been instrumental in the repositioning of Swiss Re as a specialised risk partner for corporations in the Americas and we wish him great success in China. We are proud to have Katie succeed him, reflecting the strength of our talent pool and the stability of our management team, commented Andreas Berger, chief executive officer Corporate Solutions.

Source: Swiss Re

Topics Reinsurance China Swiss Re
A missile that was accidentally launched out of India last week fired into the flight path of dozens of commercial jets flying in the region at the same time.

Several planes passed through the direct trajectory of the missile that day, which flew from the Indian garrison town of Ambala and ended up in Mian Channu in Eastern Pakistan. They included a Flydubai jet heading to Dubai from Sialkot, an IndiGo plane going from Srinagar to Mumbai and an Airblue Ltd. flight from Lahore to Riyadh. All crossed the missiles trajectory within an hour of its accidental launch, data from flight-tracking application Flightradar24 show.

Other international flights in the vicinity of the missiles trajectory  and within its range  included a Kuwait Airways Co. jet heading to Guangzhou, China from Kuwait City, a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight to Riyadh from New Delhi, and a Qatar Airways service from Kathmandu to Doha, the data show. No advisory to pilots operating in the vicinity  known as a notice to airmen or NOTAM  was issued.

A time-lapse video of the airspace  prepared by Flightradar24 by request of Bloomberg News  showed busy activity in the skies within an hour and half of both sides of 7 p.m. local time on March 9, which India said was the approximate time of the accidental launch. Indias robust missiles handling procedures are being reviewed and will be strengthened further, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told lawmakers earlier this week.

Very unfortunate. It could have led to a disaster, what if it hit a Pakistan International aircraft? said Mark Martin, founder of Dubai-based Martin Consulting. The bigger concern is what if it was taken as a hostile action by Pakistan? We cant brush it under the carpet, those accountable must be held accountable. This could have escalated into a full-blown conflict.

The averted disaster is reminiscent of the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, when a missile owned by a Russia-based military unit hit the plane over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. In 2020, Iran unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet it mistook for a cruise missile, killing 176.

The Indian mishap last week had the potential of turning deadly, with Pakistan preparing to launch a similar missile to strike India, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week. The nuclear-armed Indian neighbor eventually held fire after an initial assessment indicated something was amiss.

The flight path of the missile  which Pakistan continuously monitored from near the point of its origin in Sirsa in India  endangered many international and domestic passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace and could have resulted in a major aviation disaster, Pakistans military spokesman Babar Iftikhar told reporters in the northern city of Rawalpindi on March 10. The missile flew at an altitude of 40,000 feet and an ultimate speed of mach 3 (2,300 miles) an hour, Tariq Zia, a spokesman for the Pakistan Air Force said in the same briefing.

Modern commercial jets tend to cruise below and around that altitude.

A top official at Indias Directorate General of Civil Aviation didnt respond to a request for comment. Pakistans Civil Aviation Authority and Indias defense ministry also didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

With assistance from Faseeh Mangi and Sudhi Ranjan Sen.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics India
Bills intended to fix a Michigan law that slashed auto insurance payments for crash survivors post-acute care are dead for the term, a key lawmaker said.

House Speaker Jason Wentworth, a Farwell Republican and backer of the 2019 law, said Wednesday that he spent a year looking at proposals.

They all either move us backward toward the old status quo or put the savings and refund checks for Michigan drivers at risk, he said in a statement. At this point, its time to move on.

Legislators from both parties in the GOP-controlled Legislature have introduced measures to change the law, which last July curbed or cut what hospitals, residential care facilities and home providers can charge car insurers for care.

Reimbursements for post-acute services that do not have a Medicare code were reduced by 45%. Affected services include care in adult foster homes, attendant care in homes and transportation.

The law, which also made it optional to buy unlimited personal injury protection benefits starting in mid-2020, is a major reason why $400 per-vehicle refunds are being issued to all insured drivers. But critics say people seriously injured in crashes are losing care and access because their caretakers cannot withstand the 45% cut.

Tom Judd, president of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council, said Wentworth caved to the insurance industry without holding a hearing on the issue.

What Speaker Wentworth is doing is akin to walking away from the scene of an accident with smoke smoldering and crash victims writhing in need of help, he said, vowing to redouble efforts to end what he called a crisis for providers and crash victims.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat up for reelection, last year urged lawmakers to make changes before the reimbursement reductions took effect but has also touted the refunds and pushed for them to come earlier.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto Michigan
Fox News on Thursday appealed a judges decision to let voting systems company Smartmatic pursue a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit alleging that the network falsely accused it of rigging the 2020 U.S. presidential election against incumbent Donald Trump.

The network, part of Rupert Murdochs Fox Corp., also countersued Smartmatic to recoup legal costs, saying the lawsuit was designed to stifle its constitutionally protected right to inform viewers about newsworthy events.

Thursdays filing came nine days after Justice David Cohen of the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan found a substantial basis to suggest that the network turned a blind eye to a litany of outrageous claims about Smartmatic, evincing a reckless disregard for the truth. Read full story

It is ironic that Fox claims that Smartmatics lawsuit is without basis after that decision, Smartmatics lawyer J. Erik Connolly said in an email. He said courts around the country reviewing similar claims are saying something very different.

Smartmatic accused Fox News and several on-air personalities in its February 2021 lawsuit of decimating its business with a bogus narrative that its election software helped Democrat Joe Biden steal the 2020 election from Trump, a Republican.

The Florida-based company said Fox News did this to cater to Trump supporters, boost ratings and keep viewers from defecting to the smaller right-wing networks Newsmax and One America News.

In Thursdays filings, Fox News called the $2.7 billion damages claim pure fiction.

It cited a report by University of Chicago law professor Daniel Fischel that Smartmatic had been a failing enterprise with $82.8 million of losses over five years and four straight years of declining revenue.

Fox News also said Smartmatics claims violated New Yorks November 2020 anti-SLAPP law, short for strategic lawsuits against public participation and meant to protect journalists from frivolous lawsuits designed to harass critics.

New Yorks anti-SLAPP statute was made for lawsuits like this one, Fox News said. The best way to deter baseless attacks on the freedoms of speech and efforts to chill the press is to provide robust protection for speech on matters of public concern.

In a separate case, a federal judge on March 11 rejected Trumps bid to invoke the anti-SLAPP law against E. Jean Carroll, a writer who said Trump defamed her in 2019 by denying he raped her in the mid-1990s. Read full story

Cohen also let Smartmatic sue anchor Maria Bartiromo and former anchor Lou Dobbs and pursue some claims against former Trump lawyer and on-air guest Rudy Giuliani.

In December, a Delaware judge rejected Fox News attempt to dismiss a similar $1.6 billion lawsuit by another voting technology company, Dominion Voting Systems. Read full story

The case is Smartmatic USA Corp et al v Fox Corp et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 151136/2021.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Topics Claims
A group of ransomware hackers used a variety of techniques to try breaching hundreds of companies last year, exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.s Windows and using artificial intelligence technology to create fake LinkedIn profiles, Alphabet Inc.s Google found.

The group, which Google refers to as Exotic Lily in research published Thursday, is known as an initial access broker. Such groups specialize at breaking into corporate computer networks, and then providing that access to other cybercriminal syndicates that deploy malware that locks computers and demands a ransom.

The findings help illuminate the ransomware-as-a-service model, a cybercriminal business strategy in which different hacking groups pool their resources to extort victims, then split the proceeds.

The Exotic Lily group sent over 5,000 malicious emails a day, Google observed, to as many as 650 organizations around the world, often leveraging a flaw in MSHTML, a proprietary browser engine for Windows. Microsoft issued a security fix for the Windows vulnerability in late 2021. Google did not identify victims by name.

Up until November 2021, the group seemed to be targeting specific industries such as IT, cybersecurity and health care, but as of late we have seen them attacking a wide variety of organizations and industries, with less specific focus, Google said in a blog post.

Google also observed that Exotic Lily is associated with notorious Russian-speaking ransomware group Conti. That group, accused of using digital extortion to reap $200 million in 2021, is currently in turmoil after a suspected insider leaked a trove of internal chat logs, revealing hackers tactics to the public.

What makes Exotic Lily unique, according to Google, is the level of human interaction behind each of its attacks. Creating fake LinkedIn profiles to add legitimacy to the groups malicious emails requires an extra level of effort.

One of the fake LinkedIn profiles cited by Google was a fictitious Amazon.com Inc. employee who appeared to be located in the U.K. The hackers sometimes used a publicly available service to generate a fake profile picture using artificial intelligence.

A breakdown of the actors communication activity shows the operators are working a fairly typical 9-to-5 job, with very little activity during the weekends, Google said in its blog post. Distribution of the actors working hours suggest they might be working from a Central or an Eastern Europe timezone.

Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber InsurTech Data Driven
A group of New Orleans residents whose homes were built on a toxic landfill decades ago have won a $75 million court judgement against the city and others, the Housing Authority of New Orleans and the local school board.

Issued earlier this week, Judge Nicole Sheppards ruling said 5,000 residents are entitled to $75 million for emotional distress and property damage, according to The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.

Her ruling says the housing authority and school board are liable for building two residential communities _ Gordon Plaza and Press Park _ and Moton Elementary School on top of the Agriculture Street landfill, which was later named a federal Superfund site.

The city said it was reviewing the ruling.

This is a big deal for the residents of Agriculture Street, said Suzette Bagneris, a lead attorney representing residents.

Its good news that will hopefully get some of us off this nasty landfill, said Perkins, a member of Residents of Gordon Plaza Inc., a nonprofit representing the subdivisions residents. But he was skeptical about how much residents will benefit.

As of late November, the city had more than 560 outstanding judgments and settlements in state and federal courts, with some dating back 25 years, according to a Times-Picayune  New Orleans Advocate analysis of city law department records.

Also, in the past, some residents have complained that Bagneris and other legal representatives have gained wealth off the hardships of some Gordon Plaza residents. The newspaper reported roughly half of an earlier $14 million settlement between residents and the housing authoritys insurance companies went to Bagneris, four other lawyers and a court-appointed administrator.

Bagneris said the $75 million will be fairly apportioned based on various factors including the number of years each resident lived in the area. Perkins questioned whether the final number will be enough to help residents relocate.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
Legal malpractice claims usually arent filed until after somebody loses a lawsuit. But what happens when the underlying dispute hasnt been resolved, but a litigant has to hire new counsel to clean up mistakes that were made during discovery?

A panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals last week that under Arkansas law, Gerber Products Co. may pursue a malpractice suit to recover what it paid for corrective attorney fees. One justice said damages in the case may exceed $500,000.

The panel, in a 2-1 decision, reversed a decision by the US District Court to grant summary judgment in favor of the Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard law firm in Little Rock.

The majority said most of the Arkansas court decisions it reviewed involved disputes that emerged after a lawsuit was resolved, creating a case within the malpractice case. But that doesnt mean a party can never file a malpractice suit until the first lawsuit is resolved.

It makes sense that proving a case-within-a-case is not a hard-and-fast requirement because an attorneys negligence can result in injuries other than a loss in court, the opinion says.

Gerber hired the Mitchell Williams firm in 2012 after it was sued by a contractor that had participated in a construction project at its plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas. During discovery, the plaintiff requested copies of emails related to the project and other documents, including the personnel files of two employees. Gerber produced 2,700 pages of documents on diskettes and did not object to releasing records that were protected by attorney-client privilege.

Not long after, Mitchell Williams received notice from the plaintiffs counsel that documents subject to attorney-client privilege had been included in the batch of documents. The law firm was able to get those documents back and promised to create a privilege log, which is a list containing short descriptions of documents that are not being released and the reason they were withheld.

The mistakes compounded from there. The plaintiff filed more motions to compel and Gerber released 96,000 pages of records, but no privilege log. The plaintiff persisted and Gerber produced thousands of pages more, but this time with a privilege log.



Gerber hired new counsel, who filed a lawsuit seeking to recover privileged documents that had been inadvertently released. The Sebastian County Circuit Court Court ruled against that request, finding that Gerber had waived attorney-client privilege by releasing the documents. The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in 2017.

Gerber filed a malpractice suit in federal court against Mitchell Williams and attorney Byron Freeland, of counsel for the firm.

The US District Court for Eastern Arkansas ruled that Gerber could not proceed with a malpractice claim because the state court case had not yet gone to trial.

The Circuit Court majority found that the decision to dismiss the suit was an error. In order to win the malpractice suit, Gerber must show that the law firms actions were the proximate cause of its loss. The majority opinion says Gerber can prove proximate cause by showing that it would not have incurred the legal fees in the absence of Mitchell Williams negligence. The underlying case does not have to be decided.

If the injury has nothing to do with an underlying judgment, in other words, the plaintiff can establish proximate cause without proving the results of a trial, the majority opinion says.

Justice Ericksen dissented, in part, to the ruling. He said in a separate opinion that federal courts can only predict how the Arkansas Supreme Court would ultimately rule on the question if the lawsuit were in state court.

Before I would expose a law firm to this previously uncharted type of malpractice claim with potential damages exceeding $500,000, I would take the rare step of certifying the question to the Arkansas Supreme Court, even though neither party made such a request, Ericksen said.

Mitchell Williams general counsel, Megan D. Hargraves, declined to comment on the case.

Topics Lawsuits Medical Professional Liability Arkansas
The U.S. government has agreed to pay almost $128 million to the families of the victims killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida, ending lawsuits that charged that the FBI was warned of the imminent attack but failed to act.

The Parkland, Florida, shooting left 17 people dead and 17 wounded. Some 40 lawsuits were filed on behalf of families of the 16 victims. The U.S. Justice Department announced the settlement this week but did not say how the funds would be distributed.

Although no resolution could ever restore what the Parkland families lost, this settlement marks an important step toward justice, the families lead attorney, Kristina Infante, told the Associated Press.

Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school, pleaded guilty in October to 17 charges of murder and attempted murder. But weeks before the shooting, a tipster reportedly told the FBI that Cruz was going to explode, and that he was going to slip into a school and start shooting the place up, according to news reports.

The bureau also was told that Cruz had stockpiled weapons, but agents failed to intervene, the lawsuits charged.

This settlement resolves all of the cases but it does not amount to an admission of fault by the United States, the DOJ said in the statement.

Top photo: A commemoration event of the 2018 shooting, held on the fourth anniversary last month in Parkland. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)
Democratic state Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil is running for state Senate this year, with the goal of unseating Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur.

Goff-Marcil, 53, of Maitland, revealed Friday she will file to run in the new Senate District 10, which includes Maitland and Winter Park as well as all of Seminole County.

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Brodeur, R-Sanford, also has filed to run in the new seat, which resembles much of his current district.

A former Maitland city councilwoman and vice mayor, Goff-Marcil had been representing a state House district that included her hometown as well as parts of southern Seminole County since 2018.

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But the new House map approved in the redistricting process combined Maitland with a new seat that included much of Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamanis current district. Eskamani filed to run in that district this week, telling the Orlando Sentinel that everything will work out in a positive and exciting way for her colleague.

Unlike federal offices such as Congress, state legislators are required by law to live in their district.

I was drawn into Rep. Eskamanis district, and I would not run against someone whos doing a really good job, Goff-Marcil said. That doesnt make sense. And this newly drawn Senate district is actually what I consider my [current] district, but they just added more of Seminole County, and I love Seminole County.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Both the new District 10 and Brodeurs current seat include all of Seminole County. But the new lines include Winter Park and Maitland instead of southern Volusia County.

The two Orange County cities have been trending Democratic, voting for President Biden in 2020, while the parts of Volusia no longer in the district voted for former President Trump.

Goff-Marcil said she decided to make the jump to the state Senate to continue fighting for clean water and small businesses, expanding Medicaid, public education.  And the seat opened up where I can continue doing what Ive been doing. Four years, to me, its really just gone by very quickly and theres still a lot to do.

Brodeur defeated attorney Patricia Sigman in 2020 with 50.3% of the vote to Sigmans 47.6%, a 7,644-vote margin. But 5,787 votes went to independent candidate Jestine Iannotti, one of the ghost candidates backed by Republican strategists that affected three key races statewide.

Iannotti, a white woman who was planning to move to Sweden, was boosted as a left-leaning independent on mailers featuring a stock photo of a Black woman. The dark money that financed the ad campaign was controlled by consultants working closely with utility giant Florida Power & Light, the Orlando Sentinel has reported.

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The musical chairs caused by the new maps have led to some other odd quirks while candidates sort themselves out.

As of Thursday, Republican state Reps. Blaise Ingoglia of Hernando County and Ralph Massullo of Citrus County remained listed as having filed for Senate District 10 despite the new map rearranging that district away from the Gulf Coast. The two would be expected to refile for the new District 11.
The operator of a drawbridge where a woman fell to her death last month was arrested Thursday, five weeks after the incident, according to South Florida news reports.

Artissua Lafay Paulk, 43, of Greenacres, was charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. She had told authorities that she checked for pedestrians four times before raising the Royal Park Bridge in West Palm Beach on Feb. 6, according to a Florida Department of Transportation report on the incident that was released earlier Thursday.

The bridge is operated under contract by Florida Drawbridges.

It was not clear from the FDOT report whether the bridgetender had followed proper procedures, the Palm Beach Post reported. No procedures were outlined in the report and a redacted operating manual for the bridge does not show the procedures a tender must go through.

West Palm Beach resident Carol Wright, 79, was walking her bike across the bridge about 1 p.m. that day when it began to open. Witnesses said she tried to hang on but could not, and fell more than 50 feet to the base of the bridge, according to news reports.

The FDOT report noted that Paulk had told investigators that she had checked for people on the bridge and waited until a runner had safely passed before turning on warning lights and raising the bridge for a boat to pass beneath. Authorities gave her a drug test and sent her home after the fatal mishap. The prosecutors office also had requested a warrant to seize the womans cell phone records, the Post reported.

A lawyer for Wrights family said the family had been waiting for the results of a police investigation before deciding whether to file suit.

Neither my clients nor myself took a position as to whether an arrest should or should not be made, attorney Lance Ivey said Thursday in an interview with the Sun Sentinel. But the fact that an arrest was made today seems to cast doubt on the veracity of the bridge tenders post-incident statement that she did everything by the book.

Wright was a retired journalist who was the business editor of the Palm Beach Daily News at one time. Later, she was a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Property Appraisers Office.

Photo: The Royal Park Bridge connecting Palm Beach to West Palm Beach, after the woman fell to her death Feb. 6. (Meghan McCarthy/The Palm Beach Post via AP)

Topics Florida
The Georgia insurance commissioner has joined his California counterpart in calling on insurers to divest their Russian business interests in the midst of the bloody Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The fact that the premiums paid by citizens and entities in Georgia to insurers could be used as capital support by the Russian regime is shameful, Georgia Commissioner John King wrote in an editorial in Now Habersham, a news outlet in the state. Therefore, insurance companies who do business in Georgia should begin the process of eliminating any financial support, via investments or business operations, for the Russian regime.

He called on insurers to review their financial holdings in the former Soviet country and divest assets, and even offered to assist in the process.

Should companies be concerned about how this will affect their statutory and regulatory financial obligations, my office stands ready to assist those companies in making divestments in ways that wont violate regulations or harm consumers, said King, who was appointed commissioner in 2019 and faces a primary vote in May.

Kings call came a few days after California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a notice to insurance companies in that state to review their holdings and take steps to divest their assets and property in Russia. Legislative leaders joined Lara in calling on insurance companies to take immediate action.

Insurance companies have so far not responded to the commissioners requests. A spokesman for Chubb, one of the largest international insurers, said Friday that company officials had no comment.

Top photo: A residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 18, that was damaged by missile strikes. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Topics Carriers Russia Georgia
A jury has awarded $85 million in the death of a man who was restrained by San Diego County sheriffs deputies in 2015.

The federal jury on Tuesday found for the family in a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit against the county for the death of Lucky Phounsy, 32, after a confrontation with deputies, including one who later served jail time for assaulting women while on duty.

We think that the jury verdict did deliver both truth and justice, said Tim Scott, an attorney for the family.

The lawsuit said that Phounsy called 911 on April 13, 2015, after he began experiencing symptoms of a mental health crisis, including delusions that someone was going to harm him, his wife and their two young children.

The deputies who arrived were unnecessarily confrontational, aggressive, and profane, increasing Phounsys paranoia and escalating the situation, the lawsuit said.

As Phounsy became more agitated, the deputies repeatedly shocked him with a stun gun and punched him and hit him with a baton before he was hog-tied and taken away in an ambulance, the suit argued.

During the trip, Deputy Richard Fischer held him down, the suit said.

Phounsys heart stopped on the way to the hospital and while he was resuscitated, Phounsy died several days later.

The coroner ruled that the death was accidental and due to a brain injury caused by his heart stopping following his confrontation and restraint, but it didnt appear injuries from those actions caused the heart attack. The autopsy also found that Phounsy had a stimulant drug-related psychotic state.

In 2017, the countys Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board found the deputies had used necessary force on the struggling Phounsy, and argued that he was suffering paranoid delusions from illicit drug use.

In court documents, the county argued that Phounsy attacked deputies who tried to handcuff him and that he clawed, bit and punched them.

The familys attorneys said there were no illegal drugs in Phounsys system and contended that he was delusional because he was suffering from severe insomnia and had gone 72 hours without sleep.

Fischer no longer works for the department. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to assault and battery involving 16 women. The women said Fischer groped, hugged or tried to kiss them after they encountered him on the job. He was released from jail after serving about five months of a 44-month sentence.

In a statement, the Sheriffs Department said it will meet with attorneys to evaluate the verdict.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California
News

New graphene is proposed for high-performance sodium batteries will affect the price of nanoparticule de graphene

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have proposed that a new type of graphene could be used as a special effect material for the production of high-performance electrodes for sodium batteries.

In an article published in the journal Science Advances, the scientists explain that the modified graphene can not only store sodium ions, but also increase the battery's capacity, making it comparable to today's lithium-ion batteries. In this paper, the research team shows that, unlike lithium, sodium is very abundant and cheap, and exists in seawater and table salt. While such abundant resources make sodium-ion batteries an interesting and sustainable alternative, they face several challenges when it comes to energy storage capacity.

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Lithium iron phosphate material price increase will affect the price of nanoparticule de graphene

Polaris Energy Storage Network News: "At present, the comprehensive cost of lithium iron phosphate batteries has risen by about 50% compared with last year, while the cost of ternary batteries has risen slightly over the same period, and the cost advantage of lithium iron phosphate batteries over ternary batteries is shrinking." Recently, an industry insider analyzed to Battery China.com that due to the continuous rise in raw material prices since the second half of last year, the cost advantage of lithium iron phosphate compared to ternary is less than 20%, and the cost economy is not as good as before.

A domestic battery company told Battery China.com, "Everything (used) remains the same, and the rise in raw material prices has increased the cost of lithium iron phosphate batteries by more than 10 cents per watt-hour, and the cost gap with ternary batteries is widening. close."

According to battery China.com, in March this year, the price trend of domestic lithium battery raw materials has begun to differentiate, and the prices of cobalt, nickel and other metals used in ternary battery materials have risen and fallen, which in turn has driven downstream ternary precursors and ternary positive electrodes. Material prices have declined; while lithium carbonate, electrolyte and other materials have maintained an upward trend since March due to tight supply, and the prices of lithium iron phosphate materials continue to rise, and will continue for a period of time.

The market trend of the nanoparticule de graphene

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Services were suspended and a series of demonstrations were expected to take place against P&Os appalling decision to sack 800 seafarers.

Unions and politicians condemned the mass dismissal, blamed by the company on losses of 100 million following the slump in travel because of the pandemic.

The firm said early on Friday it would not be able to operate services for the next few days from Dover to Calais, Hull to Rotterdam, Liverpool to Dublin, and Cairnryan, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland.

It advised those already at Dover and Calais to make their way to the check-in booths for Danish firm DFDS, but there were no such instructions for those at Hull, Rotterdam, Liverpool, Dublin, Cairnryan or Larne.

The Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East called on the Government to force P&O to come up with a different plan.

Karl Turner told the BBC: What I say to the Government is youve got to get P&O into a position where theyre prepared to negotiate with the trade union members.

And theyve got to come up with a different plan. They cant just summarily dismiss people without any consultation or notice. Its 800 jobs across the country.

Earlier, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said it was seeking legal advice to challenge the sackings.

It said the UK has seen one of the most vicious examples of despotic employer behaviour and one of the most shameful episodes in its recent industrial history.

Announcing the decision on Thursday, the ferry operator, bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, insisted the decision to cut jobs was very difficult but necessary as it was not a viable business in its current state.

The 800 workers were sacked immediately, with no notice, so they can be replaced by cheaper labour.

Security guards boarded ships with handcuffs to remove fired crew, it was alleged.

The union called for mass trade union and wider public support for demonstrations in Dover, Liverpool and Hull on Friday.

In a message to RMT members, general secretary Mick Lynch said: It was with deep shock that I learned the news of the wholesale job cuts taking place at P&O Ferries, but I am sure that my shock was nothing as compared to the devastation this news brought to you and your colleagues.

He added: This appalling situation has arisen as a result of DP World wishing to maximise their profits and the failure of the Government to intervene and protect the jobs of you and your colleagues.

Conservative MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee, said P&O had shown contempt for its staff.

Tory MP Huw Merriman delivered a warning to P&Os parent company (Victoria Jones/PA)

If they do not reverse immediately and reinstate the employees and follow proper process, its hard to see a way back for them commercially, he said.

The parent DP World needs to understand that the British public will not do business with companies who treat their employees with such contempt.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: This is not a corporate restructure. Its not the way we go about business in this country.

It is beneath contempt; the action of thugs.

P&O Ferries said in a statement: We have made a 100 million loss year-on-year, which has been covered by our parent, DP World. This is not sustainable.

Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.
In a career spanning many decades, Colm Toibin has built a reputation as one of Irelands greatest living writers.

Now he is going back to the beginning, breaking new ground as he publishes his first poetry collection.

Its a development which gives him great amusement; Chatting on Zoom from New York, where he lectures at Columbia University, he chuckles at the thought of being described as an emerging poet.

It is absolutely marvellous. I will be 67 at the end of May  I am expecting loads of sympathy and people thinking, well, isnt he wonderful?.

Toibins debut collection, Vinegar Hill, takes its title from the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the 1798 Irish rebellion against British rule, which overlooks his hometown of Enniscorthy.

It was as an adolescent in the Wexford town that he began to write poetry.

I wrote poetry regularly and seriously between the ages of 12 and 20.

Then I just stopped, it was sad but it was no great loss to humankind. There were enough poets really.

Toibin returned to writing poetry after he had finished his acclaimed novel The Master, based on the life of Henry James, and slowly and steadily began to accumulate more pieces.

That was in 2004, at that stage I was nearly 50. I got out one or two a year. I was like a Japanese poet, writing four lines every year or something.

A turn of adverse events, in the shape of a cancer diagnosis and the pandemic, gave him more time to concentrate on writing poetry.

When he was undergoing treatment for cancer in 2018, he found it was all that he was able to write.

I was on steroids and I would get about an hour of pure clarity in the day, and in that period of clarity, I got two more poems.

After those poems were published in Poetry Ireland Review, Toibin was contacted by poet John McAuliffe, an editor at Carcanet Press, who expressed an interest in seeing more of his work.

He was very encouraging, which no-one had ever been before. We talked about the possibility of writing some more."

Then the pandemic began and I was in Los Angeles. Normal life just stopped, we were afraid to even go to the supermarket.

"Out of the blue, every evening, around 7pm, something would occur to me, some memory, some thought, and it would come in lines, I would see it.

"I would write it down. Whatever way it was going, I would follow it.

Toibins position in Irish literature is well-cemented yet there is trepidation about how his poetry will be received in a country with such a strong and established tradition in the art form. He recalls the awe in which poets were held in his youth.

Yes, I am nervous. I have been devouring [poet] Thomas McCarthys journals. The book is filled with the names of poets, the readings they were giving, and that whole culture.

"If you got 20 people at a reading in Ireland, that was good, unless you were Seamus Heaney  Tom is very good on all of that. Im adding my name to that list of Irish poets.

"I am going to do a few readings. When I was growing up, a poet would come to do a reading, they would roll their own cigarettes and wear leather jackets.

"I remember Eilean Ni Chuilleanain reading, and Eavan Boland, they were so glamorous and different to us.

Toibin's teenage compositions

Toibin was recently reminded of his own teenage compositions and how his secret scribblings were rumbled.

There was a magazine called Eirigh run by the Capuchin Order and it had a section in the middle for poetry.

"I started to send them poems and they took a few. They even sent me a small postal order. No-one at home knew anything about it and I didnt tell anybody.

"Unfortunately, there was a club in Enniscorthy called the Athenaeum where people would go in and read the newspapers and play billiards.

"My uncle was in there one day, and he found Eirigh and saw my name and poem. He brought it up and everyone gathered around and read it.

"The funny thing is I got a letter a while ago from the Capuchins to say they had the entire archive of poems sent to Eirigh, including all of mine.

"Somewhere in the Capuchin archive are all these terrible efforts made by this teenager, he laughs.

Some of the poems featured in Vinegar Hill are poignant excavations of childhood memories. A painting of the landmark by his late mother Brid features on the books cover.

The cover of Vinegar Hill features a painting of the landmark by Colm Toibin's late mother, Brid.

She didnt paint for long and she didnt paint much but I always thought that painting was very good. She had been working away at doing Vinegar Hill and it is that extraordinary idea that one day you get it right.

"I think she would be very surprised and delighted that one of the paintings she made would be on the cover of a book.

Earlier this year, Toibin was appointed laureate for Irish fiction, his theme for which is the Art of Reading.

In this vein, he will select a book for discussion each month; he began with Claire Keegans Small Things Like These, set in his home county of Wexford.

It begins as an honour and then you start to think, well Ive got to do something. So I thought that what I mainly do is read and Im always going on about books."

I thought I would do something every month in partnership with the libraries and the Arts Council and we would select a book.

"People want to talk about books they are reading. No one wants to be the only person who reads a book.

"The next one is going to be a novel which I love but a lot of people havent read, Esther Waters by George Moore. It was published in the 1890s.

Toibin is also making a foray into opera, writing a libretto for his novel The Master with Italian composer Alberto Caruso, which will be performed at Wexford Festival Opera later this year.

He is also working on a sequel to his hugely successful novel, Brooklyn, which was made into an award-winning film directed by Corkman John Crowley, starring Saoirse Ronan.

There is a pressure on. It had better be good. There is no reason to write a sequel if the sequel is not necessary.

"It has to have its own rhythms, its own impetus, rather than just being a sequel.

"And so I got an idea. It is a sequel with all the same characters but something else. I had better finish it, stop talking about it, he says.

As for another film, he is less than certain that the same alchemy can be achieved twice.

Colm Toibin is also working on a sequel to his hugely successful novel, Brooklyn, which was made into an award-winning film directed by Corkman John Crowley, above, starring Domhnall Gleeson and Saoirse Ronan.

We were so lucky the first time around. You would want to be careful with that.

"It would be unlikely you would get that luck a second time, an actress like that, a director like that, a producer like that, everything coming right, and indeed, Nick Hornby doing the screenplay. Everything came right, which is unusual.

Given his debut poetry collection, the libretto, his work as laureate, and another book in the offing, as well as lecturing, it strikes me as strange that Toibin has previously described himself as lazy.

He laughs. I often think I should be up earlier in the morning. A lot of people have to go to work, they get up at six or seven, well I dont do that and I think maybe I should.

Does he think it is good old Catholic guilt at work? I do. I am usually up by 8.30 or 9. People here [in New York] are in the gym at 6am and in work at 7.30am.

"I remember Leo Varadkar talking about people who get up early in the morning and I wanted to write to him and say, Leo, what about people who get up and go back to bed? Do you represent me as well?.
The HSE has spent 1.1m renting and cleaning a Co Cork mental health facility while waiting 18 months for a replacement centre to become operational.

Since April 2020, the executive has spent 43,000 per month renting and cleaning a facility at Garnish House in Cork city while hosting patients intended to be accommodated there at a newly purchased centre at Glenwood House in Carrigaline.

New documents released under freedom of information show the HSE had initially planned to vacate Garnish House at the end of January 2021 in order to move its residents to the new facility at Glenwood.

In September of 2020, the documents show that a HSE assistant national director of estates expressed a desire to acquire Glenwood House in order to end the health services dependency on Garnish House, which, he said, isnt economically sustainable.

Correspondence between HSE South estate managers showed that a contract for the purchase of Glenwood needed to be signed as a matter of urgency in November 2020.

As of this month, Glenwood, which the HSE acquired in January of 2021 and which has cost the State 1.25m to date in purchase and upgrade fees, has received no planning permission for conversion to use as a mental health facility and remains vacant.

The HSE has said it expects to open the property by the end of June 2022 at the earliest.

Green Party councillor, Liam Quaide, said the new information regarding the money spent on Glenwood and Garnish House is staggering.

It is all the more remarkable when you consider that after spending 1.1m on Garnish House, the HSE will not retain it as an asset.

"And Glenwood has yet to receive planning permission as a mental health facility," Mr Quaide said.

The purchase of the Carrigaline property was subject to a potential conflict of interest  it was bought from the immediate family of a senior HSE manager  something the HSE said it had been aware of at a very early point.

The 2.3m spent on Glenwood and Garnish over the past two years contrasts with a 145,000 tender for the refurbishment of the State-owned Owenacurra mental health residential facility in Midleton in 2020, which was never actioned.

Owenacurra has been set for closure since last September due to it being regrettably no longer fit for purpose, according to HSE chief Paul Reid, despite the strenuous objections of residents  many of whom have been living there for decades  and their families.

When it closes it will leave east Cork, a catchment population of 94,000 people, with no dedicated 24-hour mental health facility of its own.

Nine of Owenacurras remaining residents have been offered accommodation at Glenwood House, 30 kilometres away, when it opens.

Glenwood has a capacity of 14 rooms. It is unclear how many residents from Garnish House are proposed to move to Glenwood, which was originally purchased to accommodate those patients solely.
The Irish Red Cross will be making contact with families who have pledged vacant accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland early next week.

Almost 20,000 pledges of accommodation for refugees have been received.

Three new hubs are being opened here to support Ukrainian families who have fled the Russian invasion.

The centres, in Dublin, Cork and Limerick cities, will help them obtain PPS numbers, access income supports and other State services.

The Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross Liam O'Dwyer said the government's response so far has been robust.

Mr O'Dwyer said the hub that has been opened at Dublin Airport has been working extremely well and ensures that the people arriving are received properly.

"I think the government are conscious that the other two airports and the two ports require more," he said.

Ukrainian refugee Elena, left, hugs her five-year old granddaughter Christina, as they wait the train to Warsaw, at the Przemysl train station, southeastern Poland. Picture: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris

The former Cuisle Accessible Holiday and Respite Care Resort in Donamon on the Galway/Roscommon border is preparing to take in as many as 30 Ukrainian families over the next few days.

As many as 100 people may be arriving there in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

The resort, which used to be a centre for many organisations including the Irish Wheelchair Association, was closed in 2019 and has not been used since.

However, the work of the local community in both Galway and Roscommon with support from Roscommon County Council and the Lions Club has made the centre ready with more volunteers working throughout today to finish preparations.

Co-ordinator Adrian Leddy was speaking to Galway Bay FM and says they expect the families tonight.

Mr Leddy said they will arrive at Dublin Airport late tonight but it will be the early hours by the time the coach arrives.

He said that the team are working hard today to ensure everything is ready for the arrival of the families.
The clock is ticking on Irelands hopes of hosting the 2024 Americas Cup race with just 13 days left for the Government to decide if the country should bid for it.

Race organisers are due to announce their preferred venue on March 31, with Jeddah and Malaga already locked into the bidding process.

The Department of Tourism, which has been conducting due diligence for several months on a possible Irish bid focused on Cork Harbour, remains tightlipped on the process.

Minister Catherine Martins department did not answer a list of specific questions from the Irish Examiner about what work or reports it has commissioned or received as part of the due diligence process, and about whether it will have made a recommendation to government about a possible Irish bid before the March 31 deadline.

Members of the New Zealand team celebrating a previous win hoisting 'the Auld Mug', the America's Cup trophy, in Auckland, New Zealand. Picture: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty

It instead issued a two-line statement, stating: The department has been engaged in an assessment aimed at evaluating the potential of this event and whether or not Ireland should move forward in the host venue bid process. This process will inform any possible decision on whether or not to recommend the hosting of this event to government.

Government sources said the minister is acutely aware of the timeline but they refused to be drawn further.

But the fact that a decision has come down to the wire has fuelled concern in Cork that the opportunity of hosting one of the worlds biggest sporting events could be lost.

An EY report last year suggested the event could be worth an estimated 500m to the economy, could attract a staggering 2.5m visitors to the country, generate at least 2,000 and possibly up to 4,000 jobs, and lead to a raft of long-lasting legacy benefits.

But there were concerns about the then 150m staging costs for what's seen by some as an elite sporting event.

Cork Chamber president, Paula Cogan, said they have requested an update by next week:

The Government has had a huge amount on its plate in recent weeks and we certainly dont want to interfere in the due diligence process, but the deadline for this is looming.

At this particular moment in time, it is difficult for government to be seen to be putting substantial investment into an international sporting event.

But in 18 months' time, when this event is due to take place, we could, and hopefully will be in a different economic and cultural space.

She said a coalition of the willing  various stakeholders from all over the Munster region  has been identified and stands ready and willing to row in behind any formal bid.

The Irish Examiner broke the story last summer that Ireland was considering a bid for the event, focused on Cork Harbour.

Cork was understood to be the front runner but just as race organisers were poised to announce the preferred venue, the Government requested six months to analyse the costs.

Race organisers announced an extension to the bidding process and, by Christmas, a new race set-up option for Cork had emerged, which could save the state up to 80m in staging costs, by using publicly-owned land for race teams and on-shore events.
A political consultant who was recently identified as a target of Miami prosecutors investigating Floridas ghost candidate scandal was also involved in a major ad campaign to oust then-Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh in 2020.

Longtime Democratic fundraiser Dan Newman is being investigated for possible violations of Florida elections laws and campaign finance laws, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office.

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The South Florida investigation concerns a trio of independent candidates who filed to run in 2020 Florida Senate races and were promoted by a flood of ads paid for by Grow United, a dark-money nonprofit into which Newman raised nearly $1 million that year.

During the same election cycle, Newman used another dark money nonprofit, A Better Miami-Dade, to raise funds into other groups. That organization reported directing more than $970,000 to a group called South Florida Anti-Corruption Task Force, which paid for attack ads against Singh.

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A political committee called Florida Public Corruption Task Force, which received all of its funding prior to the 2020 election from the South Florida Anti-Corruption Task Force, spent nearly $600,000 on mailers, TV advertising time and text messages in July and August 2020.

Singh went on to lose his election in a landslide to Amy Mercado.

Though the ads in the Orange property appraiser race differed from those that promoted the ghost candidates, both blitzes were fueled by dark money groups linked to a network of operatives who an ongoing Sentinel investigation has shown influenced elections large and small across Florida in recent years.

Newman and Rick Yabor, a Miami attorney who is the registered agent for the South Florida Anti-Corruption Task Force, didnt respond to emailed questions from the Sentinel about the funding for the anti-Singh ads. Yabor also didnt respond to a request for a copy of the nonprofits 2020 990 form, a public document that would detail contributions and contracts awarded to other groups. He told a South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter who visited his office last November he didnt have a copy of the document.

Yabor also serves as the chairman for the Florida Public Corruption Task Force, according to state election records.

Many of the ads in the Orange race highlighted findings from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation that recommended Singh be charged with 10 counts of official misconduct after investigators concluded Singh knowingly and intentionally ordered employees to alter documents.

After the FDLEs investigation into Singh, prosecutors declined to press charges, saying they couldnt prove he ordered employees to alter the documents and questioned the credibility of his accusers. Those former employees also filed a whistle-blower lawsuit that alleged Singh manipulated appraisals for friends and spent taxpayer money on personal travel and his campaign.

The ads also championed Mercado, a former Florida House member, as a results-oriented legislator who has managed budgets, led teams and worked in public policy.

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Reached this week, Mercado said she didnt know who provided the money for the ads.

I do not have any information regarding any of those entities, Mercado wrote in an email.

Singh referred questions about the ads to his attorney, Tucker Byrd, who said he and his client have wondered who paid for the ads and dont believe it was someone acting out of civic interests.

We never believed it was somebody acting out of their civic duties or political beliefs, Byrd said this week. The suspicion has been there has been some economic driver behind it all.

Singh filed a lawsuit in November 2020 against the Florida Public Corruption Task Force alleging the ads contained vitriolic, false, and maliciously defamatory statements about him. A judge dismissed the suit last year, saying he had failed to meet the higher legal burden public figures face when making defamation claims. Singh is appealing the decision.

During the 2020 campaign, Singhs campaign blamed the ad blitz on big business and special interest groups that he had legal fights with over the years, with the candidate specifically accusing Disney of being behind the attacks on him.

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Singh had a contentious relationship with Disney, one of the states largest political contributors, which repeatedly challenged the Orange County Property Appraisers assessments during his eight-year tenure.

After Singh lost the 2020 election to Mercado, the property appraisers office settled a 2015 legal dispute over the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and a dozen other theme park properties with The Walt Disney Co., agreeing to pay millions of dollars in refunds to the company.

Yabor at the time said neither Disney nor any other tourism interests had funded his groups ad campaign, though he wouldnt say who did. Disney did not respond this week when asked if it paid for the ads.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Newman in December was one of three operatives who received prior to letters from the Miami-Dade State Attorneys office, which indicated they were the subject of a probe that emerged from a criminal investigation into former state Sen. Frank Artiles, who is accused of bribing his friend Alex Rodriguez to run as an independent candidate in a South Florida Senate race in 2020.

Newman has acknowledged directing contributions to Grow United, which provided all of the funding for two political committees that sent ads promoting Rodriguez and independent candidates in two other competitive Florida Senate races in 2020 with language that appeared designed to appeal to progressive voters.

Richard Alexander, the chairman for Grow United, also received a prior to letter, as did Lets Preserve the American Dream, a dark-money group with close ties to the big-business lobbying firm Associated Industries of Florida, which counts Disney, Florida Power & Light and other heavyweights among its biggest contributors.

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Alex Alvarado, who commissioned the ghost candidate ads using a pair of committees addressed at AIFs Tallahassee headquarters, also was informed by Miami prosecutors that he is a target.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said the scheme was designed to swing the Miami-area race in favor of Republican Ileana Garcia, who ultimately defeated Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez by 32 votes. Though he did no campaigning, Alex Rodriguez received more than 6,000 votes.

Rodriguez has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Artiles. No one else has been charged in the spoiler candidate scandal.

anmartin@orlandosentinel.com
Ireland must accelerate its drive towards energy independence to avoid "the real price" of doing business with governments guilty of human rights abuses, the finance minister has said.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner in London, Paschal Donohoe said the war in Ukraine served as a reminder that Ireland and Europe must be responsible for their own energy security.

Mr Donohoe was asked if Ireland could continue to justify importing fuel from countries such as Saudi Arabia  which executed 81 people last weekend and is engaged in a long war in Yemen  while Russia is under sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

"We have to keep on making the case for human rights. We have to keep on condemning the horrendous executions that took place in Saudi Arabia," he said.

"At the same time, we need to radically accelerate our energy independence in Ireland and in Europe. You know, when we're in a position that we have to source our energy from other parts of the world, we are now learning what can be the real price of that. And that is why it's so critical for me that we have to accelerate where we are now with offshore wind.

We have to accelerate the journey towards more green energy in Europe, so that when we are getting our energy in the future, we're not paying a price for that that's more than just money.

Mr Donohoe said, however, that Ireland and the EU have to find an "intermediary step" between independence and isolationism. He said it is likely that Europe will be able to achieve the goal bloc-wide, because Ireland will need forms of fuel that are not readily available.

"The path to our self-sufficiency is not one that will happen overnight. And while we are making that journey, we will need to get gas and oil from other parts of the world.

"That then cannot be a recipe for isolationism," Mr Donohoe said.

For me, energy independence is not about retreating from the world. It's about being able to engage with the rest of the world in a stronger way.

"And I think one consequence of the horror that's unfolding in Ukraine and two questions the provenance now of human rights issues such as you're raising with me, it's meant that this is another reason why the drive to renewable energy is so important."
Russian forces struck Ukrainian cities from a distance again on Friday, hitting sites in the capital Kyiv and the countrys west as their ground offensive inched forward under fierce Ukrainian resistance.

The war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin ground into its fourth week as his troops have failed to take Kyiv  a major objective in their hopes of forcing a settlement or dictating the countrys future political alignments.

Missiles and shelling struck the edges of Kyiv as well as Lviv, close to Ukraines western border with NATO countries such as Poland.

Late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nighttime video address to the nation that he is thankful to US President Joe Biden for additional military aid but will not say specifically what the new package includes because he does not want to tip off Russia.

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies meanwhile said in a joint statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin is conducting an unprovoked and shameful war.

The fighting has led more than 3 million people to flee Ukraine, the UN estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.

Here are some key things to know about the conflict:

WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND?

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

The Ukrainian air forces western command said that six missiles were launched at Lviv from the Black Sea, but that two of them were shot down.

The citys mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, said the missiles hit a facility for repairing military aircraft near Lvivs international airport, also damaging a bus repair facility.

No casualties were immediately reported. The facility had suspended work ahead of the attack, the mayor said on the Telegram messaging app.

Early morning barrages also hit a residential building in the Podil neighborhood of Kyiv, killing at least one person, according to emergency services, who said 98 people were evacuated from the building.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 19 were wounded in the shelling, just north of downtown Kyiv.

Two other people were killed when strikes hit residential and administrative buildings in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Civilian casualties have been mounting. The United Nations says that so far it has recorded 780 killed and 1,252 injured, although it estimates actual casualties are much higher.

It says that most of the civilian casualties were due to explosive weapons with a wide impact area, such as heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems as well as missile and air strikes.

Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been killed.

A police officer walks past the bodies of people killed by shelling as they lay covered outside of hospital number 3 in Mariupol, Ukraine. Picture: AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

The World Health Organization has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the United Nations Security Council in a virtual briefing Thursday.

The besieged southern city of Mariupol has borne much of the bombardment. There, rescuers continue to search for survivors of a Russian airstrike on a theater where hundreds of people were sheltering, local officials said.

With communications disrupted across the city and movement difficult because of shelling and other fighting, there were conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.

Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayors office, said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes.

Russias military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Britains Defense Ministry said Thursday that Russias invasion has largely stalled on all fronts amid stiff Ukrainian resistance.

It said Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days, and are suffering heavy losses.

Ukrainian forces are using inexpensive Turkish-made drones to carry out lethal attacks on the Russian invaders.

WHAT HAS THE AP DIRECTLY WITNESSED OR CONFIRMED?

A resident stands at the entrance of his building, damaged after bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18. Picture: AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Smoke could be seen rising from the western part of the capital Kyiv after an early morning barrage Friday.

Outside Lviv, black smoke billowed for hours after the early morning strike by several missiles.

A day earlier, AP journalists relayed images of destruction, distress, and defiance from across Ukraine.

A soldier standing guard near the site of the strike in Lviv said he heard three blasts in quick succession around 6am.

He said he had not heard of any casualties. A nearby resident described his building vibrating from the explosions and people panicking. Smoke continued to rise from the site almost three hours later.

The attacks in Mariupol knocked out the windows of apartment buildings and sent smoke rising above the skyline.

Cars, some with the Z symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighborhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

In Kharkiv, doctors are struggling to treat Covid-19 patients as the bombs fall outside.

Several times a day, air raid sirens wail at a local hospital, sending virus patients  some connected to ventilators and struggling to breathe  into bomb shelters.

HOW IS THE WORLD RESPONDING TO THE WAR?

A person walks past a pop up Ukraine Flag in Dublin with the words Budmo (Cheers) Let us Be . Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

The US and its allies have put a slew of sanctions in place aimed at crippling the Russian economy.

Hundreds of international companies have announced that they are curtailing operations in Russia, and those who remain are under pressure to pull out.

On Friday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock indicated that her country should consider imposing an oil embargo on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

She said it was important to take a stance and not remain silent due to economic or energy dependency.

Film icon Arnold Schwarzenegger told Russians in a video posted on social media Thursday theyre being lied to about the war in Ukraine.

He also accused Putin of sacrificing Russian soldiers lives for his own ambitions.

I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share. pic.twitter.com/6gyVRhgpFV  Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 17, 2022

Schwarzenegger posted his video on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

While some of those services are blocked in Russia, he also posted it on the Telegram messaging app  which is not  where it got more than a half-million views. It was subtitled in Russian.

US President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping are scheduled to speak by phone on Friday.

Biden also plans to travel to Europe next week for talks with European leaders about the Russian invasion, and will attend an extraordinary NATO summit in Brussels.

NATO has been bolstering its eastern flank with troops and equipment to deter Russia from invading any of its members.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American officials are evaluating and documenting potential war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

Blinken said the intentional targeting of civilians is a war crime, for which there will be massive consequences.
Ukraine's food supply system is falling apart under Russia's invasion, with infrastructure destroyed and shops and warehouses growing empty, the United Nations said on Friday.

With Moscow trying to regain the initiative in a stalled campaign, Russia fired missiles at an airport near Lviv, a city where hundreds of thousands found refuge far from Ukraine's battlefields.

More than three weeks since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion to subdue what he calls an artificial state undeserving of nationhood, Ukraine's elected government is still standing and Russian forces have not captured a single big city.

Russian troops have taken heavy losses while blasting residential areas to rubble, sending more than 3 million refugees fleeing.

Moscow denies it is targeting civilians in what it calls a "special operation" to disarm its neighbour.

"Russian forces have made minimal progress this week," Britain's defence ministry said in a daily military intelligence update.

"Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the cities."

A family crossing the border point from Ukraine into Medyka, Poland.

At least three blasts were heard near Lviv's airport on Friday morning. The mayor, Andriy Sadovy, said several missiles had struck an aircraft maintenance facility, destroying buildings but causing no casualties.

The city, near the Polish border, is hundreds of miles from Russia's advance and has been one of the main destinations for Ukrainians forced to flee battle zones.

Jakob Kern, emergency coordinator for the crisis at the U.N. World Food Programme, said Ukraine's "food supply chain is falling apart. Movements of goods have slowed down due to insecurity and the reluctance of drivers".

WFP, which feeds people in global crisis zones, also buys nearly half of its wheat from Ukraine. Kern said the war has already driven global food prices to all time highs, and could cause "collateral hunger" in poor countries worldwide.

INTENSE SHELLING

The ruins of a theater ripped apart by Russian airstrikes in the besieged city of Mariupol. Picture: Azov Battalion via AP

Russia has been intensively shelling eastern Ukrainian cities, especially Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol.

Among those killed in Chernihiv was Jimmy Hill, 68, an American working in Ukraine as a university lecturer, trapped in the besieged city looking after his Ukrainian partner who was hospitalised with illness.

He was gunned down by Russian snipers while waiting in a bread line, and his body was found in the street, his family said.

Russia denied blame for the deaths.

In his last Facebook post, he wrote that his partner was in intensive care.

Intense bombing! still alive. Limited food. Room very cold."

Kyiv has so far been spared a major assault, with long columns of troops bearing down from the northwest and east halted at the gates in heavy fighting. But residents in the capital have endured nightly deadly missile attacks.

Debris from a missile blew a large crater in the ground in the middle of a residential block where a school was also located in northern Kyiv on Friday, shattering hundreds of windows and leaving debris scattered around the complex.

At least one person was killed, emergency services said. Kyiv mayor said 19 people were injured including four children.

"This is a war crime by Putin," said Lyudmila Nikolaenko, visiting her son, who lived in one of the apartments hit.

"They say they aren't hitting regular people, they say we are firing at ourselves."

In Mariupol, Ukraine said it had so far rescued 130 people from the basement of a theatre used as a bomb shelter when it was flattened by Russian strikes two days ago.

Kyiv said it feared as many as 1,000 could still be trapped inside.

It has given no information yet about dead or wounded. Russia denies hitting the theatre.
Burma ASEAN and Cambodia Embrace Myanmar Juntas Bloody Generals

Chief of the General Staff Gen. Maung Maung Aye (front) and the Myanmar military delegation at the 19th ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Meeting in Cambodia on Thursday. / Myawady

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the current holder of its rotating chair, Cambodia, have welcomed some of the generals responsible for the Myanmar regimes atrocities against its own people, who reject military rule.

Myanmars Chief of Military Security Affairs Lieutenant General Ye Win Oo attended the 19th ASEAN Military Intelligence Meeting (AMIM-19) in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, according to junta-run media. The meeting discussed the exchange of visits between ASEAN intelligence officers and the establishment of the ASEAN Military Intelligence Community.

On Thursday, the regimes armed forces Chief of the General Staff General Maung Maung Aye, Chief of Staff (Army) Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun and Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo joined the 19th ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Meeting (ACDFM-19), the junta media said.

Myanmar has been in political and social turmoil since February last year when the military staged a coup against the countrys democratically elected National League for Democracy government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. More than one year on, the takeover has been seriously resisted by the majority of the countrys people.

The regime has stopped at nothing to crush the opposition. It has sent battalions to bombard the resistances stronghold areas. Fighter jets have been called in to rain down bombs on civilian neighborhoods accused of harboring resistance fighters. Villages have been raided and torched, their residents shot down or killed regardless of their age. So far, the regime has killed at least 1,500 people, mostly for their anti-junta activism.

While regime chief Min Aung Hlaing bears ultimate responsibility for the atrocities, the three generals who appeared at the ASEAN meetings this week have also played a role in the raids, torching and killings mentioned above. As the Chief of the General Staff of Army, Air and Navy, Gen. Maung Maung Aye shares in the guilt for the crimes that ground troops and air force personnel have committed. So does Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, the Chief of Staff of Army. Chief of Military Security Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo is no exception. His notorious military security affairs unit is the regimes main apparatus for tracing resistance members by any means, including brutal raids on homes. Those who are detained undergo hellish and often deadly interrogations.

Since last year, ASEAN has tried to cool the situation in Myanmar, but its Five Point Consensus, which includes a call for the immediate cessation of violence in the country, has been largely ignored by the coup leader. In response, the regional bloc banned Min Aung Hlaing from attending its summits.

But while Min Aung Hlaing has been sidelined, his juniors are still allowed to join some meetings like the ones on Tuesday and Thursday, leading to criticism that ASEANs approach to the junta lacks consistency.

Cambodia is not helping in this regard. Its Prime Minister Hun Sen became the first national leader to personally meet Min Aung Hlaing after the coup, while others have shunned him. He dreamed of brokering a thaw in relations between the junta and ASEAN, but later admitted Myanmars regime had made no progress in resolving the crisis and said a solution was unlikely during the remainder of his year as chair.

However, Cambodia said early this month that the countrys foreign minister will go to Myanmar on Sunday as the ASEAN special envoy.

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Burma ASEAN Envoy to Myanmar Cancels Meeting with Ethnic Armed Organizations

ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar Prak Sokhonn.

The planned meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy to Myanmar and the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), a group of ten ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), has been cancelled.

The PPST was formed in 2016 to negotiate with the ousted National League for Democracy government. It comprises ten EAOs who signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

ASEANs special envoy to Myanmar, Cambodias foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, is set to arrive in Myanmar on Sunday to hold talks with the junta leadership in his first official trip as ASEANs emissary.

Prak Sokhonn was originally due to meet the PPST on Monday in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw, but the meeting has been cancelled due to a tight schedule, said Colonel Khun Okkar, the patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, a PPST member.

The secretary of the military regimes National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee, Lieutenant General Min Naung, sent a letter to the PPST on Monday informing them that the meeting would not be going ahead.

Naypyitaw has informed us that the meeting has been cancelled. They said that the envoy has no time to meet us. He will arrive in Naypyitaw and meet the military chief [Senior General Min Aung Hlaing]. He will also meet political parties, and then return to Cambodia on March 23. They said that they are sorry that we EAOs cant meet him, said Col. Khun Okkar.

The PPST has now requested to meet the special envoy outside Myanmar. We have told him that we can have a separate meeting outside the country either in Thailand or Phnom Penh. We have told him that he may appoint the time and place and we are ready to come. But he hasnt replied yet, said Col. Khun Okkar.

The colonel said that it is a priority of the PPST to protect and provide aid to displaced people in Myanmar, as clashes in the country are escalating and the number of refugees is increasing. The PPST therefore wants to discuss the supply of aid with the special envoy, he added.

Yohei Sasakawa, Japans special envoy to Myanmar and an advisor to the ASEAN special envoy, met with some EAOs, as well as the PPST, on March 10 in Chiang Mai in Thailand. At the meeting, the Japanese government promised to provide 50,000 sacks of rice to displaced people in territories held by EAOs.

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Burma Prisoners Held in Solitary Confinement After Raising Three Fingers to Myanmar Junta

Dawei Prison.

Political prisoners held in Dawei, Tanintharyi Region, who raised three-finger salutes against military rule before their court hearings, have been placed in solitary confinement for nearly a month, prison sources told The Irrawaddy.

At least nine prisoners have been isolated after they allegedly incited other prisoners to display the gesture from the Hunger Games movies as they were taken to the court inside Dawei Prison in southern Myanmar last month.

They had been handed two- to eight-year jail terms for alleged incitement and illegal possession of arms and under the Counterterrorism Law. They still face other charges.

Family members said they are concerned for some of the older prisoners and some who were badly injured when they were being detained.

A member of Dawei Political Prisoners Network said: They are oppressed in various ways. They were beaten when they were detained. They are denied medical treatment and freedom of speech. The regime must stop doing this to innocent people.

Ousted Tanintharyi Region chief minister U Myint Maung has been held in solitary confinement since he was detained in February last year.

He was placed under house arrest after Feb. 1 and detained again on Feb. 9 and prosecuted. In November, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison two years each for alleged violation of COVID-19 regulations and incitement, and seven years for violation of financial regulations regarding the use of regional development funds.

Political prisoners in Dawei joined a hunger strike last month. In Tanintharyi Region more than 200 political prisoners have been given lengthy jail terms while over 800 inmates are still on trial, according to the Dawei Political Prisoners Network.

Students are reportedly undergoing interrogation again or being placed under solitary confinement in Yangons Insein Prison. Four students, including central executive committee members of Yangon University Students Union, are believed to be in solitary confinement, the students union announced on Monday.

The Kale Prison authorities in Sagaing Region shot dead seven people and injured 12 on Tuesday when around 50 inmates took three prison officers hostage and tried to escape, according to the regime. No independent reports are available.

SEO: solitary confinement, three-finger salute, Hunger Games, prisons, Insein, Yangon, Tanintharyi Region, Dawei Prison, peoples war, political prisoners, Peoples Defense Force, PDF, junta, National Unity Government, civilian deaths, crackdown, military regime, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, coup, military in politics, rule of law, Tatmadaw, National League for Democracy, human rights, democracy, November 8 general election, Min Aung Hlaing, State Administrative Council, civil disobedience movement
Guest Column ASEANs Strategy in Myanmar

Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn speaks during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat press conference in Phnom Penh on February 17, 2022. / AFP

Before Cambodias Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn was endorsed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers as ASEANs special envoy to Myanmar, he and his superior, Prime Minister Hun Sen, embarked on their first attempt to engage with Myanmar.

Just seven days after Cambodia took the chair of ASEAN for 2022, a 16-member team arrived in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw on January 7. It was headed by Hun Sen and also included his two sons, his anointed successor Lieutenant General Hun Manet and Hun Mani. Also in the delegation was Kao Kim Hourn, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister, who is tipped to be the next ASEAN Secretary General.

Prime Minister Hun Sen viewed the visit as an ice-breaking mission. Cambodia briefed senior ASEAN officials about the planned visit at a January 5 meeting. Foreign minister Prak Sokhonn told them that as the conflict in Myanmar enters a second year, it is important to re-engage with Naypyitaw to implement ASEANs five-point consensus and that requires building mutual trust and confidence. Prak Sokhonn described Hun Sens visit as an effort to plant a tree for peace and reconciliation. As such, time, patience and pragmatism are needed before anyone can harvest the fruit.

Now Prak Sokhonn is the ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar. His earlier plan of leaving for Naypyitaw on 16 and 17 March was delayed due to glitches on the side of the military regimes governing body, the State Administration Council (SAC), which is engaged in intense fighting in Sagaing Region, an area that will be the main focus of humanitarian assistance in the near future. Now that the SAC has agreed to welcome the ASEAN special envoy team to Naypyitaw for a three-day mission on 20-23 March, both sides have agreed on their agendas to show their good faith.

Kao Kim Hourn stated that the special envoys trip would focus on ASEAN solidarity and bringing Myanmar back into the fold, so that ASEAN would become a 10-member bloc again. On March 11, Kao Kim Hourn told a webinar organized by the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace that Prak Sokhonn has two key objectives: first to meet and consult with multiple stakeholders inside Myanmar and, second, to find ways to speed up the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the conflict-torn country.

The SAC has made it clear that the special envoy must not engage in any attempt to meet with the civilian parallel National Unity Government (NUG), which it has labelled a terrorist group. Naypyitaw has consistently reminded ASEAN of the one-Myanmar policy since last October, when ASEAN decided to invite only senior non-officials to attend ASEAN-related meetings. The SAC decided voluntarily to skip some of those meetings. An ASEAN diplomat based in Yangon expressed hopes that the regime leader Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing could attend future ASEAN meetings if sufficient progress has been made as outlined in the five-point consensus agreed by ASEAN last year.

At the moment, it is likely that Prak Sokhonn will be able to meet with some senior National League for Democracy (NLD) officials. However, ousted State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint are in detention. Without Daw Aung San Suu Kyis consent, no senior NLD leaders will dare to represent the NLD. Over 800 NLD members including senior leaders and chief ministers have been arrested since the coup, and over 600 remain in detention.

There have been rumors circulating among Yangon-based diplomats that these NLD officials will include Vice President Henry Van Thio, Pyithu Hluttaw president, T Khun Myat, former President U Htin Kyaw and his wife Daw Su Su Lwin.

However, President Htin Kyaw and Daw Su Su Lwin are loyal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the party and it will be surprising to see them compromise their political integrity.

In addition, political activists including Ko Ko Gyi will be meeting with Prak Sokhonn. But a planned meeting with ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) who have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement has been cancelled. And Ko Ko Gyi, a former political prisoner and student leader in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, is today seen as a turncoat and has little support from Myanmar citizens.

Prak Sokhonn was originally due to meet the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), a group of ten EAOs, on Monday in Naypyitaw, but the meeting has been cancelled due to a tight schedule, said Colonel Khun Okkar, the patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, a PPST member.

There are also EAOs representatives who would like to meet up with Prak Sokhonn without going through the SAC. In the future, when the time is right, Prak Sokhonn must also meet with representatives of the NUG. It will take some time before he will be able to achieve the so-called inclusive dialogue with all the stakeholders as stated in the five-point consensus.

ASEANs special envoy hopes that his upcoming visit will be able to gradually lay the groundwork to facilitate mediation of the dialogue between the parties directly concerned.

According to ASEAN diplomatic sources, Prak Sokhonn aims to convince the SAC to allow sustained and significant humanitarian aid to needy areas, especially in the north, northwest and southeast of the country. The sources admitted it would not be an easy task as humanitarian corridors must be agreed upon, including the logistical practicalities and the safety of concerned agencies. So far, though, the regime has bombed civilians, houses, religious buildings, refugee camps and schools and has blocked humanitarian assistance.

The diplomatic sources said that ASEANs envoy would suggest the setting up of coordinating groups on both sides to help ASEANs Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management. At this point, Prak Sokhonn will not raise the role of United Nations (UN)-related agencies, knowing the sensitivity of the issue. At the ASEAN ministerial retreat on 17 February, Thailand recommended that both ASEAN and the UNs special envoys work together and synergize their programs, which was reflected in the joint statement.

Whether Prak Sokhonns first visit will achieve sufficient progress to move forward depends on the SACs political calculus. But given the toughness some ASEAN member states, like Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia, display towards the Myanmar junta, its not an easy job for Cambodia.

According to Kao Kim Hourn, there will be more visits by the special envoy to Myanmar during Cambodias time as the ASEAN chair. Give Cambodia a chance, said Kao Kim Hourn.

Later on, the special envoy also has plans to engage with the special envoys from the UN, Japan and the European Union, which are key partners of ASEAN.

Prime Minister Hun Sen would like to leave a positive legacy from his time as ASEAN chair. Thanks to UN efforts in the 1990s, Hun Sen has been able to make economic progress for the people of Cambodia for nearly four decades. He has also pursued the path of permanent neutrality espoused by Cambodias late King Sihanouk.

But Cambodia is regarded as pro-China and will be closely watched by all the dialogue partners to see how Hun Sen navigates ASEANs relations with great powers at this pivotal juncture. But Cambodia co-sponsored and voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution condemning the aggression against Ukraine. This latest move may demonstrate a new diplomatic pragmatism on the part of Cambodia.

It remains to be seen if Hun Sen will succeed in his endeavors to bring Myanmar back into the ASEAN family, and also to strengthen the blocs importance amid the current disruptive international environment.

Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.

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Superintendent Margo Martin and the board of education reviewed the proposed 20222023 district budget on March 14. The board will vote on the budget either later this month or early April.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches on a mission to put 48 Starlink satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (SpaceX)

The growing constellation of Starlink satellites could become even brighter Friday night after another SpaceX launch in Cape Canaveral.

Liftoff is scheduled at 11:24 p.m. for a Falcon 9 rocket carrying its eighth batch of satellites out of launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and into low-Earth orbit. The launch window will be open until 12:43 a.m.

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The forecast is mostly clear, giving the launch a 70% chance of blasting off. SpaceX will live stream the launch 15 minutes before liftoff and can be viewed here. Falcon 9s payload is carrying 53 cubic, 570-pound satellites.

Friday nights launch will mark the 12th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster  setting a new record for the companys reputation in reusability. Among other missions, the boosters resume of launches includes Dragons first crew demonstration mission, according to SpaceX.

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With the 12th flight, SpaceX will aim to mark the rockets 12th landing by bringing it down on the droneship Just Read The Instructions, stationed in the Atlantic.

If SpaceX succeeds in its 42nd Starlink mission, the space-faring company will have well over 2,200 satellites active around the globe as part of its project to bring internet access to the far reaches of Earth.

Go For Launch - Space News Weekly Fix your telescope on all space-related news, from rocket launches to space-industry advancements. >

On March 9, SpaceX launched a batch of 48 satellites.

The company has approval to place 4,408 Starlinks into service, each of which orbit at around 341 miles altitude. SpaceX seeks Federal Communications Commission approval to increase its Starlink presence to about 30,000 with launches on board its in-the-works Starship rocket.

SpaceX aims for 50 launches this year, after a record 31 last year. The company has had 148 successful launches, has reflown the boosters on those flights 87 times, and has achieved 110 landings.

In February, SpaceX used the Starlink constellation to provide internet access to Ukraine after its vice prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, tagged Elon Musk in a tweet, asking for help.

While you try to colonize Mars  Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space  Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand, Fedorov said.

Starlink access quickly became available to Ukraine residents, and even more terminals were planned to orbit over the war-torn country, Musk said.

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French cloud provider OVHcloud and two other European companies have filed an anti-trust complaint against Microsoft in Europe.

The three companies claim the licences the American software giant issues for its cloud-based products like the Office productivity suite favour its own Azure cloud product over those of others.

The complaint was filed with the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, last summer.

In some ways, the complaint is similar to that made by companies against Microsoft's Windows in its early years, with the claims being that applications from the same stable worked much better with the operating system than with products from third parties.

In a statement, OVHcloud said: "We confirm that several companies, including OVHcloud, are taking action to ensure a level playing field among cloud services providers operating in the European Digital Single Market, by filing a complaint with DG Competition of the European Commission against Microsoft.

"According to the plaintiffs, through abusing its dominant position, Microsoft undermines fair competition and limits consumer choice in the cloud computing services market."

Earlier this month, a survey by the software and IT asset management firm Flexera found several instances where the use of Azure exceeded that of AWS, the cloud platform owned by Amazon. When private cloud use was considered, Azure beat out VMware vSphere.

In the late 1990s, Microsoft was convicted of monopolistic trade practices and was ordered to split up into two entities. But the company managed to settle the case by agreeing to make it easier for its rivals' software to work better with Windows, because the judge in the case was accused of unethical conduct.

Microsoft has not made any public statement about the OVHcloud complaint.
Trojans and banking malware continue to dominate the threat landscape in Australia with trojans accounting for 32.4% of threats targeting Windows and macOS devices while 42.7% of banking malware threats targeting Android devices, according to Avast.

Avast shares a list of the top ten most prevalent malware.

"Trojans have long been one of the most common threats that Australians encounter, often spreading via email, file-sharing sites or illegal software, explains Avast threat intelligence director Michal Salat.

Desktop users also encountered adware, spamming the user with unwanted ads and often capable of stealing information (19%) and file infectors, copying malicious code into files in order to damage them or further spread through the system (9.3%). On the mobile side, trojans (23%) and adware (19.7%) were among the most common threats to Android.

Globally, trojans were also the malware type desktop users encountered the most last year (28.9%), followed by file infectors (17.4%), a that attacks files with the aim of rewriting their code to permanently damage them or further spread within the system and network.

The third most prevalent type of desktop malware worldwide is adware (12.7%), which spams users with large amounts of unsolicited advertising and, in some cases, can collect personal information, track the browsing history or even record keystrokes.

On Android devices, the most prevalent threats globally are adware (49.5%), trojans (25.9%), and droppers (10.5%), which are malicious programs designed to install a virus on the target system. Moreover, these programs are very difficult to detect.

The top ten desktop threat types users encountered in 2021 also include trojans, adware, file infectors, droppers, password stealers, exploits, remote access trojans (RATs), and worms (graph below).

The top ten types of Android malware Australian mobile users came across in 2021 include banking malware, adware, trojans, spyware, droppers and others (graph below).
The Australian consumer watchdog has taken Facebook parent Meta to the Federal Court, accusing the company of placing false, misleading or deceptive ads for cryptocurrencies featuring Australian celebrities.

In a statement, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said on Friday that the acts breached Australian Consumer Law or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act.

Additionally, Meta is also alleged to have knowingly been involved in false or misleading conduct and representations by the advertisers.

The ads, it is claimed, attempted to boost investment in cryptocurrency or money-making schemes, with people like businessman Dick Smith, TV presented David Koch and former NSW premier Mike Baird featured in them.

"The essence of our case is that Meta is responsible for these ads that it publishes on its platform, ACCC chair Rod Sims said.

It is a key part of Metas business to enable advertisers to target users who are most likely to click on the link in an ad to visit the ads landing page, using Facebook algorithms. Those visits to landing pages from ads generate substantial revenue for Facebook.

The ACCC alleged that Meta was aware of the ads being displayed on Facebook but did not take sufficient steps to get rid of them.

We allege that the technology of Meta enabled these ads to be targeted to users most likely to engage with the ads, that Meta assured its users it would detect and prevent spam and promote safety on Facebook, but it failed to prevent the publication of other similar celebrity endorsement cryptocurrency scam ads on its pages or warn users, Sims said.

Meta should have been doing more to detect and then remove false or misleading ads on Facebook, to prevent consumers from falling victim to ruthless scammers.

The watchdog is seeking declarations, injunctions, penalties, costs and other orders.
Aussie Broadbands Managing Director Phillip Britt has warned the telco industry is holding its breath waiting for the new NBN Special Access Undertaking (SAU).

The SAU is a key part of the regulatory framework that governs the price and non-price terms and conditions NBN can impose on the services it supplies to Retail Service Providers (RSP).

The consultation process began in April 2021 and was initially expected to be completed within 12 months. However, this has now been delayed with no end in sight, Britt advised.

Phil said that theres no certainty for RSPs and the process continues to drag on with NBN playing a cat and mouse game with the ACCC and industry.

NBN provided temporary CVC relief due to COVID in 2020, but in effect this didnt continue in 2021 - even though lockdowns continued throughout most of the year, Britt said. Additional punitive measures, such as CVC breach charges, were re-introduced in 2021, which added insult to injury.

Despite NBNs commitments to ensure fair and sustainable pricing for RSPs and consumers, our CVC costs have increased by 70% from June 2021 to Dec 2021, Britt said.

Presenting at an event in Melbourne, Britt said the recently released pricing update from NBN had some positive changes including:

the move to AVC-only pricing for 100/20 tiers and above

changing the basis of billing to utilised CVC, rather than provisioned CVC

making 25Mbps plans the entry level tier

However, Britt noted that concerns remained, such as proposed price increases for many products, with a mechanism for continued annual price rises.

We support NBNs overall direction, but wed like to see some changes to create a win-win-win for NBN, RSPs and consumers, he said.

Keeping a variable component in the low-speed tiers allows RSPs to tailor their products for different consumers.

AVC-only pricing on the high-speed tiers protects RSPs from CVC overage. Dropping the prices would further stimulate demand.

During his presentation, Britt proposed some alternative pricing including:

Leaving 50/20 bundle at $45, but increasing current inclusions

Dropping 100/20 and 100/40 bundles to $50 and $55 respectively, both above target ARPU

Dropping 250/25 and 1000/50 to $60 and $65 respectively to accelerate uptake

We have seen the success of long-term price changes - not temporary discounts - in changing the take-up of plans. For example, the Focus on 50 program increased the uptake of the 50/20 (and higher) tier from around 16% to 70%, and the launch of high-speed tiers in May 2020 has almost doubled the take-up of these services.

NBNs Fibre Connect Program will mean that 75% of premises will be eligible for 1Gbps speeds by the end of 2023, compared to 42% today.

Ultimately, Aussies are reliant upon high-speed internet more than ever before. Its time we started to rise up in the global rankings, Britt concluded.

Editor thoughts

As I have speculated in the past, NBN's first imperative is to continue to be able to forecast sufficient revenue to avoid declaring an asset impairment, an imperative likely imposed by their stakeholder, the Morrison Government. NBN's annual price increase ask in the SAU likely allows them to maintain that position.

However, the ACCC's chairman Rod Sims is on record as saying, "Obviously the NBN was built by the government, and now that its built, I think its appropriate to treat its costs as sunk, what matters for Australia is getting the best use out of the NBN. This may lead us to think that the ACCC's decisions on the SAU may be more favourable to RSPs.

The Government is probably not averse to applying subtle pressure to the ACCC to assist in their NBN imperative. If the ACCC in their deliberations considers the billions as sunk, then I expect the Government would want the SAU outcome delayed until after the Federal Election, as it would provide considerable political leverage to Labor. Better to manage the fall-out post-election than pre-election.

I continue to wonder why Michelle Rowlands isn't capitalising more on this situation.
Australian politicians who have expressed support for WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange need to act fast to prevent him from being extradited from the UK to the US, following the Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal to hear his case this week.

Politicians like Andrew Wilkie, George Christensen and Senator Rex Patrick have taken up his cause, it is true, while National Party leader Barnaby Joyce has also spoken out about the Australian hacker who has been jailed in a maximum-security prison in the UK since April 2019. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has also backed Assange.

But these occasional statements will do nothing to help prevent the US from pushing on aggressively with its campaign to extradite Assange and put him on trial. He faces up to 175 years in jail if convicted  which means he will die in prison for doing what most journalists do as a matter of routine: receive data from a known or unknown source and publish articles based on that.

Assange faces criminal charges in the US for publishing classified information that was leaked to WikiLeaks by an American soldier, then known as Bradley Manning, but now, after gender reassignment surgery, known as Chelsea Manning.

The extradition decision is now in the hands of British Home Secretary Priti Patel and there is little doubt that she will not go up against the Americans to oppose Assange's extradition.

Every time the Assange issue has been raised with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, his stock response has been that whatever process is in train in the UK has to be gone through and he cannot interfere with it. True, but what prevents him from having a word with Prime Minister Boris Johnson if he really thinks a robust media sector is necessary for a functioning democracy? How about showing a little Christian charity?

As has been reported, former US president Barack Obama's administration considered whether it could bring criminal charges against Assange and WikiLeaks for publishing classified information.

As American journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote: "It ultimately decided it would not do so, and could not do so, consistent with the press freedom guarantee of the First Amendment.

"After all, the Obama DoJ concluded, such a prosecution would pose a severe threat to press freedom because there would be no way to prosecute Assange for publishing classified documents without also prosecuting The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and others for doing exactly the same thing."

But despite current US President Joe Biden being Obama's vice-president and very much a part of that decision, he has done nothing to prevent the extradition being pursued.

It will take an effort outside the normal process to save Assange. One cannot hope that appeals to this or that authority will succeed. The entire saga must be taking a terrible toll on a man who has done no wrong to merit it. When he will break is only a matter of time.
COMPANY NEWS: Loyalty and rewards program provider, Loyalty Now, and social enterprise, Doing Good Rewards, have announced a new partnership offering a world-first card-linking approach to charity that lets consumers automate donations to their charity of choice at the point of sale with any connected Visa, MasterCard or EFTPOS card.

The partnership combines the frictionless, payment card-linked technology of Loyalty Now with an existing ecosystem of in-store merchants that offer charitable donations on the Doing Good Rewards platform. Through this partnership, loyalty and rewards members can link their debit and credit cards with their favourite retailers and charities. This lets them simultaneously save money at the checkout and donate part of those savings to the client or merchant identified charity of choice.

Brad Langdon, chief executive officer, Doing Good Rewards, said, Conscious consumerism is growing in Australia, and its important that brands recognise the value of giving back to the community. Doing Good Rewards wanted to make charitable contributions as simple as possible, to help make donating to charity part of everyday life. This approach means consumers dont need to find dedicated funds to help support vulnerable members of society; they can simply automatically donate as part of their everyday transactions without conscious effort.

Despite the retail sectors continued boom, loyalty programs remain underutilised. Merchants invest time and money into countless offers for members, only for these discounts to be too difficult to access or forgotten about in a busy point of the sale transaction.

The partnership between Loyalty Now and Doing Good Rewards aims to address the current pain points loyalty systems face. It simplifies loyalty and rewards programs for merchants and consumers alike, while also automating the donation process to create a positive, high-quality user experience.

Brad Langdon said, Charities must charge administration fees to run effectively, and up to 60 per cent of fees are spent on donor retention and hosting events to encourage more donations and community engagement. Through its partnership with Loyalty Now, Doing Good Rewards is leveraging automation and frictionless transactions to help reduce this amount to zero, leaving more money available for charities to focus on providing support to those in need.

Christopher Carroll, executive chairman, Loyalty Now, said, This partnership not only provides store merchants with the opportunity to automate their loyalty programs, but it also creates a more positive giving experience for busy Australians who might otherwise opt-out of a time-consuming process at the checkout. This partnership truly provides the best outcome for merchants, charities, and customers alike.

Brad Langdon said, The card-linking technology that Loyalty Now provides is the silver bullet for current members, and for the entire loyalty industry. Local charities will also feel the impacts of consumer giving, with 100 per cent of donations made through the partnership going back into charity organisations to further their good work.

Doing Good Rewards chose Loyalty Now as the ideal technology partner to help augment its solution and bring automated giving to life.

Brad Langdon said, Loyalty Now is at the forefront of card-linking technologies across ANZ and worldwide. Doing Good Rewards saw an opportunity for its shop, save, give model to both complement and add greater value to Loyalty Nows services, helping its program operators, merchants, and consumers to give back to their local communities while also capitalising on savings and rewards. Doing Good Rewards looks forward to its continued expansion with the help of Loyalty Now.

Loyalty Now views the partnership as a groundbreaking step forward in changing the way consumers donate. It creates an ideal opportunity for merchants and program operators across ANZ and globally to commit to giving back to their communities through seamless corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs with the support of their customers.

Christopher Carroll said, The partnership between Loyalty Now and Doing Good Rewards offers an exciting opportunity to make a broader impact for shoppers, businesses, and charity organisations everywhere. Loyalty Nows card-linked, frictionless technology will provide greater exposure for charities in popular retail settings and let merchants create more impactful loyalty programs for their customers.

The partnership is set to expand along the east coast hubs of Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane in February 2022.

About Loyalty Now

Loyalty Now is a proven technology loyalty rewards platform that has established commercial relationships with trusted brands such as Visa, Mastercard, and Eftpos. It has established a unique loyalty rewards platform that is frictionless and eliminates the barriers for members and merchants to participate. The robust, resilient and scalable platform ensures ease of implementation, use, operation and expansion. Having employed the contemporary use of tools, technologies and standards, Loyalty Now promises to safeguard relevance, maintain currency and ensure the security of the platform. www.loyaltynow.com

About Doing Good Rewards

Doing Good Rewards is the worlds first loyalty program to combine discount shopping and charitable giving in the same transaction. With a mission to make giving simple, Doing Good Rewards allows members to continue shopping with a growing list of online and retail merchants, not only enjoying great discounts, but automatically contributing a small part of their savings to their favourite charities. www.doinggoodrewards.com
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The rating agency, Fitch Ratings, downgraded, on Friday 18 March, 2022, Tunisia's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from 'B' with negative outlook to CCC, following the delays in reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on Thursday denounced an attack against information, which will be prejudicial to Malians and all journalists and media operating in the country, after the Malian government decided to suspend the French media RFI and France24
The Left Over Biscuits will return to the Carter Family Fold on Saturday.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, has commended the Libyan Presidential Council and the international community for their support for her initiative to establish a consensual constitutional basis for general elections
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely - heavy rainfall is possible, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely - heavy rainfall is possible, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, has urged the relevant authorities in Libya to quickly resume civilian flights within the country, particularly air links between Tripoli and Benghazi in the east of the country, after a two-week interruption
ODC case filings confirmed that a federal and state criminal investigation is taking place regarding Pleasants County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Carr and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Marteney and their involvement with the Slow Down for the Holidays program.
Feature: Cuba celebrates 175th anniversary of Chinese arrival

Xinhua) 11:01, March 18, 2022

HAVANA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Lion dances and martial arts livened up the city's Chinatown with an air of joy on Wednesday, with hundreds of Havana residents joining to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Chinese arrival in Cuba.

In 1847, some Chinese immigrants first stepped on the Cuban soil, starting their integration into local society. After 175 years, the Chinese community has become an inseparable part of this Latin American country.

In his speech at the celebration, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui said that China and Cuba have built solid historical and cultural ties throughout history.

"Chinese descendants have played a significant role in Cuban culture," Ma said. "We will continue to be good friends, partners, and comrades."

Students from the Cuban School of Wushu honored the legacy of Chinese culture with a large-scale demonstration of martial arts, with children, adolescents and senior citizens taking part.

Roberto Vargas Lee, director and founder of the school, believed China and Cuba share a common value of solidarity in the construction of their social systems.

Thanking the Chinese embassy for donating a lion dance costume and other items to the school, he said, "We very much appreciate the support given by the Chinese government to the development of martial arts on the island."

The House of Chinese Arts and Traditions opened an art exhibition as part of the festivities, and planned to host an international seminar on the Chinese diaspora's influence later in June.

Chinese migrants and their descendants contributed to the shaping of the Cuban national identity, Teresa Maria Li, director of the cultural center, told Xinhua.

"This (exhibition) is just the beginning of a very important celebration that will gather many people interested in expanding their knowledge of Chinese culture, customs and traditions," Li said.

During Cuba's War of Independence, Chinese fighters played a significant role in defending the Caribbean nation.

For more than a century, the two countries grew intertwined in various aspects, including trade, farming, culture and cuisine.

China has also become one of Cuba's main economic partners as bilateral cooperation deepens.

Chinese-Cuban Sara Chao, 80, told Xinhua she is happy to have inherited her parent's hardworking ethos.

"I have never visited China, but China is very deep in my heart in so many ways," she said. "This celebration will continue unifying the Chinese community in Cuba."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Russian missiles struck near Lvivs airport in the far west of Ukraine Friday, extending the war to a region left relatively unscathed, as China came under US pressure to restrain its Kremlin allies.

Ambulance and police vehicles raced to the scene of the early-morning strike on an aircraft repair plant near the border of NATO member Poland  which said it has seen more than two million refugees cross over from Ukraine.

Motorists were turned away at checkpoints and a thick pall of smoke billowed over the airport, an AFP reporter saw. Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi said the maintenance plant had been destroyed.

Located 70 kilometres (45 miles) from the border, Lviv had until now largely escaped military strikes from Russian forces, and earlier in the war had become a staging post for foreign diplomats fleeing Kyiv.

There have been air raid alarms here every morning, but now the strikes are actually landing, Valentin Vovchenko, 82, told AFP.

We fled Kyiv because of the attacks but now theyve started to hit here, he said.

As President Vladimir Putins three-week-old ground offensive has stalled under fierce Ukrainian resistance, Moscow has increasingly turned to indiscriminate air and long-range strikes.

In the besieged southern city of Mariupol, rescue workers have been searching desperately for any survivors buried beneath the rubble of a bombed-out theatre, amid fears that hundreds may be trapped.

Russia said Friday its troops and their separatist allies were fighting in the centre of the strategic port city.

Before dawn broke, air raid alarms had rung in cities across Ukraine.

Authorities in Kyiv said one person was killed early Friday when a downed Russian rocket struck a residential building in the capitals northern suburbs. They said a school and playground were also hit.

 Russians lack basic essentials 

In the hard-pressed eastern city of Kharkiv, Russian strikes demolished the six-storey building of a higher-education institution, killing one person and leaving another trapped in the wreckage, officials said.

In an update on the devastating invasion, Britains defence ministry said Russia was struggling to resupply its forward troops with even basic essentials such as food and fuel.

Incessant Ukrainian counterattacks are forcing Russia to divert large number of troops to defend their own supply lines. This is severely limiting Russias offensive potential, it said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraines resistance had killed thousands of invading troops, as he addressed Russian mothers in his latest video message.

We didnt want this war. We only want peace, he said. And we want you to love your children more than you fear your authorities.

In a call later Friday, US President Joe Biden will warn his counterpart Xi Jinping that China will face costs for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

After accusing Putin of being a war criminal, Biden hopes China will use whatever leverage they have to compel Moscow to end this war, the top US diplomat said.

Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime, Blinken added in the wake of the Mariupol theatre attack.

More than 24 hours after the once-gleaming whitewashed Drama Theatre was hollowed out by a Russian strike, the number of dead, injured or trapped remained unclear.

 It is hell 

Ukraines ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said a bomb shelter in the building had survived the impact, and some adults and children had emerged alive.

The attack on a civilian building marked with the words DETI, or children in Russian, sparked a wave of international revulsion and heaped pressure on Russias few remaining allies  notably China.

But Beijing has refused to oppose Russia at the United Nations, nor even to use word the invasion three weeks after Russian troops went into Ukraine, while stressing its opposition to punishing sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow.

Russia has routinely denied that it is targeting civilians, claiming for instance without evidence that hardline Ukrainian nationalists blew up the theatre in Mariupol.

Local officials say more than 2,000 people have died so far in indiscriminate shelling of the city, and 80 percent of its housing has been destroyed.

In the streets, there are the bodies of many dead civilians, Tamara Kavunenko, 58, told AFP after fleeing the city.

Its not Mariupol anymore, she said. It is hell.

Outgunned and outnumbered, Zelensky has beseeched allies to provide more military assistance  even as an arsenal of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles floods into the country.

Slovakia confirmed it is willing to provide powerful Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine, but only on the condition that it receive a substitute from NATO allies.

On Thursday Zelensky told German lawmakers that Russia was throwing up another Berlin Wall, a dividing line between freedom and bondage in Europe.

 Odessa holding on 

And this wall is growing bigger with every bomb, he added.

That dividing line is currently drawn around 15 kilometres from Kyiv, where Russian troops are still trying to surround the capital in a slow-moving offensive.

For many Ukrainians, Russias actions on the ground and from the air make a mockery of stop-start peace talks that have been proceeding this week.

Russia wants Ukraine to disarm and disavow all Western alliances  steps that Kyiv says would return it to a vassal state of Moscow.

In a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin on Friday accused Ukrainian authorities of trying in every possible way to stall negotiations, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals.

Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue to search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches, he said, according to the Kremlin.

Western governments have ridiculed Putins approach to peace and in Odessa, on the Black Sea, civilians are braced for attack, with tanks deployed at intersections and monuments covered in sandbags.

Our beautiful Odessa, said Lyudmila, an elegant elderly woman wearing bright lipstick, as she looked forlornly at her citys empty, barricaded streets.

But thank God we are holding on! Everyone is holding on!

burs-jit/phz/jm
Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Friday announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats over Moscows invasion of Ukraine, following in the steps of Bulgaria.

#Latvia expels three Russian Embassy employees in connection with activities that are contrary to their diplomatic status and taking into account ongoing Russian aggression in #Ukraine, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted.

The decision has been coordinated with #Lithuania and #Estonia, he added.

Estonias foreign ministry said it had declared three Russian diplomats persona non grata for breaching international conventions on diplomatic ties.

All three have directly and actively undermined Estonias security and spread propaganda justifying Russias military action, it said in a statement.

Lithuania meanwhile announced that it had expelled four Russian diplomats.

Russias military attacks on civilians, civilian objects, hospitals, schools, maternity wards, and cultural objects are war crimes and crimes against humanity, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

Russian special services are actively involved in organising these crimes against the peaceful population of Ukraine, so we do not want the representatives of these structures to walk on our land and pose a threat to Lithuanias national security.

Earlier Friday, fellow EU member Bulgarias foreign ministry announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats.

It said they had breached international conventions on diplomatic ties, a formulation often used by the ministry to designate espionage.

Sofia had already expelled two Russian diplomats earlier this month for similar reasons.
Members of South Sudans government committed human rights violations amounting to war crimes in the countrys southwest, the UN said Friday, urging investigations against dozens of individuals, including for abuses against children.

The worlds newest nation has suffered from chronic instability since independence in 2011, with the UN warning last month that it risked a return to war as interethnic violence and political infighting threaten an already fragile peace process.

At least 440 civilians were killed in brutal fighting between rival militias in the countrys southwest between June and September last year, a joint report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office said earlier this month.

That report blamed forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rival troops under Vice President Riek Machar, as well as their respective affiliated militias, for the violence.

On Friday, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan released a new report, saying it had reasonable grounds to believe that members of the Government of South Sudan have engaged in acts amounting to war crimes in the southwestern districts of Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria.

The commission has drawn up a list of 142 individuals who warrant investigation for a range of crimes under national and international law, its chair Yasmin Sooka told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in a statement.

The report described grave rights abuses, ranging from mass rapes and sexual slavery of women to the deliberate killing of scores of children, including at least one infant who was beaten to death by soldiers in front of his mother.

The notion that the localised violence is not linked to the State or to national-level conflicts, as suggested by the Government and South Sudanese military elites, is a fallacy, Sooka said.

These localised killings, massacres, torture, abductions, detentions, looting, burning of villages and forced displacement as well as the rape, and sexual violence are a reflection of the intense political contestation for power at a national level.

South Sudan has struggled to draw a line under years of violence after a civil war between forces loyal to Kiir and Machar that cost almost 400,000 lives ended with a peace deal in 2018.

The two men formed a unity government two years ago, but the peace process has been hamstrung by political bickering, with key provisions yet to be implemented.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Kyiv of war crimes in a call with his French counterpart, saying that Moscow was doing everything possible to avoid civilian deaths in Ukraine.

Attention was drawn to the numerous war crimes committed daily by the Ukrainian security forces, the Kremlin said of the call between Putin and Emmanuel Macron.

In particular massive rocket and artillery attacks on the cities of Donbas, the Kremlin added, referring to Ukraines Russian-speaking east, part of which is controlled by pro-Moscow separatists.

Putin told Macron the Russian army was doing everything possible to safeguard the lives of peaceful civilians, including by organising humanitarian corridors for their safe evacuation, the Kremlin said.

Both leaders also discussed ongoing talks between Moscow and Kyiv to end the conflict in Ukraine in the telephone call, which was a French initiative, it said.
Rights groups in Guinea on Friday demanded a reconciliation process as a condition for participating in a national conference planned by the military junta, which seized power six months ago.

Coup leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya  who was sworn in as president in the West African state last October  has promised to restore civilian rule after a transitional period.

But he has so far resisted international pressure to commit to a date.

The head of Doumbouyas interim government, Mohamed Beavogui, last week announced that a national conference aimed at finding a path forward for the country would be held from March 22.

He stressed the need to forgive and move forward in the nation of 13 million people, which has a history of authoritarian rule and political violence.

But on Friday, 12 leading Guinean rights groups said in a joint statement that they would skip the conference unless the junta clarified what they termed undefined and imprecise aims for the talks.

They also demanded that the junta set up a reconciliation commission after the conference, as a condition for their participation.

Several African countries have set up such panels to shed light on atrocities committed during periods of repression or war, with South Africas post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission being the most notable example.

Guineas strongman Doumbouya deposed elected president Alpha Conde in a putsch on September 5, defying broad diplomatic condemnation of the coup.

Conde, 84, had drawn fierce opposition after he pushed through a new constitution in 2020 that allowed him to run for a third presidential term.

Dozens of protesters were killed in nationwide unrest ahead of the September coup, and dozens of opposition activists were also arrested.

Among the signatories to Fridays statement were groups representing victims of massacres committed under other former Guinean leaders.

One group represents the victims of a notorious incident in 2009, for example, when soldiers loyal to then military leader Moussa Dadis Camara killed 150 people during an opposition rally in a stadium in the capital Conakry.
Lee Min Ho shared his thoughts and experience filming Apple TV+'s "Pachinko."

The cast members graced the press conference to introduce and talk about the upcoming drama series ahead of the much-awaited release.

'Pachinko' Press Conference: Lee Min Ho 'Proud' to Star in Apple TV+ Series

The South Korean heartthrob looked dapper in a matchy pinstriped suit paired with a blue button-down shirt.

Greeting the press with his warm presence, the actor said, "It is the most exciting and enjoyable thing in my life to always greet you with work."

To recall, this is Lee Min Ho's first OTT project and his comeback to the small screen after the blockbuster K-drama "The King: Eternal Monarch" with Kim Go Eun.

Held in Los Angeles, the U.S.A, he is joined by his co-stars Oscar winner Youn Yuh Jung, Anna Sawai, Kim Min Ha, Jin Ha, with "Pachinko" director Kogonada, executive producers Michael Ellenberg and Teresa Kang.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Lee Min Ho Remains the Undefeated Most 'Favorite Korean Star'

At the media conference, the Hallyu star spoke about his role and Hansu, which he described as "a yakuza who lives between Korea and the United States."

In the upcoming series, his character is a wealthy and influential merchant who is involved in organized crimes. Lee Min Ho's charms and overall visuals perfectly portray Hansu.

Following the confirmation of the drama series and cast lineup, "Pachinko" has been gaining positive response from foreign media since it boasts a roster of talented stars and promising actors.

With the overwhelming feedback both from critics and fans, Lee Min Ho says that "the public's evaluation remains, but as an actor, I feel proud of it."

In addition, the actor also praised the styling, which gave more depth and emotion to the series.

The "City Hunter" star shared that costume styling "was like a weapon" that made Hansoo's character, showing the era of the story. Lee Min Ho also hints that his character shows his "feelings through his clothes."

'Pachinko' Release Date and Everything We Need to Know

The upcoming Apple TV+ series is based on the best-selling historical fiction novel written by Min Jin Lee.

It follows the story of a Korean family who migrated to Japan. "Pachinko" also uncovers a forbidden love and heartbreak at the height of the war between two nations.

Set to premiere in Apple TV+ on March 25, the upcoming drama show is said to be the first-ever major trilingual American series to hit the small screen and will be released in Korean, Japanese, and English.

At the "Pachinko" press conference, director Kogonada gave a shout-out to executive producer Sue Hue saying that he joined the team due to the perfectly written script.

Apart from generating huge buzz from critics, did you know that the novel was among the highly recommended books of former U.S President Barack Obama?

As cited in Min Jin Lee's website, the former politician shared that "Pachinko" "takes us through four generations and each character's search for identity and success."

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
SBS announced that "A Business Proposal" stars will come together for the drama's special commentary to be released this month!

'A Business Proposal' Lead Stars to Reunite for Special Commentary

Daum News confirmed that a special broadcast of the ongoing romance-comedy series "A Business Proposal" is set to premiere this coming March 19, at 10 p.m. (KST) Saturday on SBS. The Monday-Tuesday drama that keeps on making a buzz also set a new rating record and surpassed double digit ratings with its episode 6.

The double romance story and humor of its characters make the drama more irresistible.

Furthermore, the special commentary will feature all the famous scenes of the lead stars. To make it more engaging, Ahn Hyo Seop, Kim Sejeong, Seol In Ah, and Kim Min Gyu will host the program.

An official from the production crew shared it will be a perfect time for the cast to reunite and review their iconic scenes from episode 1 to 6.

In addition, surprise commentaries from Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Sejeong are expected to be shown.

Second lead couple, Seol In Ah and Kim Min Gyu, who are showing hot romance are also drawing attention. The actors plan to share those memorable filming scenes and episodes, as well as the things to anticipate in the second half of the drama.

Attention is focused on what stories the actors will share during the special commentary. The video will be broadcast for 70 minutes.

'A Business Proposal' Episode 6 Recap

Kang Tae Mu (Ahn Hyo Seop) started to show interest in Shin Ah Ri (Kim Sejeong). From fake to real relationship, the young CEO asked Shin Ah Ri to go on a business trip outside Seoul. It was his way of spending time and getting to know Ah Ri.

Meanwhile, Secretary Cha Sung Hoon (Kim Min Gyu) and Jin Young Seo (Seol In Ah) had their first kiss. It was after Young Seo got drunk and became honest of her feelings towards Sung Hoon.

She crossed the line and gave him a kiss. When she's about to walk away, Sung Hoon grabbed her and kissed her back, passionately.

Catch the regular broadcast of "A Business Proposal" every Monday and Tuesday on SBS and Netflix at 10:30 p.m. (KST).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'A Business Proposal' Stars Kim Sejeong, Seol In Ah Did THIS After Drama Achieves Double Digit Ratings

What are you excited about "A Business Proposal" commentary? Share your comments with us!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With Valentine's Day coming up, do you think the ECU community and the City of Greenville is doing all they can to make people feel loved and supported?

Survey
Hopkinsville, KY (42240)

Today

Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 56F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 56F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- While lawmakers in some states are considering and passing legislation meant to restrict access to abortions and other reproductive health services, Oregon lawmakers are expanding access.

State lawmakers passed the Reproductive Health Equity Fund during the 2022 legislative session. It allocates $15 million from Oregon's General Fund to Seeding Justice, a nonprofit that will then distribute the funds.

"The funds could be administered to health care providers who are looking to increase their supports and infrastructure, buy more equipment, expand their workforce, and workforce development," said An Do, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. "But it also could go places like the Northwest Abortion Access Fund, which is a fund that has a hotline, and patients can call into this hotline, and this nonprofit basically connects them with the travel funds or the procedure funds that they need."

The funding is also expected to be used to pay for expenses incurred by people traveling to Oregon from states with stricter abortion laws. In Idaho, lawmakers passed a ban on abortions after six weeks. The legislation is now headed to Gov. Brad Little's desk. If it's signed, it could go into effect as soon as next month.

"It would be able to serve both Oregonians looking to be able to get the care that they need as well as potentially serve folks who have been forced out of their states in order to get the care they need," Do said.

According to reproductive rights advocates, the closest facility for many Eastern Oregonians to receive reproductive health care is in Boise, Idaho. Funding from the Reproductive Health Equity Fund will likely be used to pay for travels to clinics in Oregon if Idaho's restrictive abortion law takes effect.

Advocates are also concerned about the possibly the Supreme Court will soon overturn the decision that solidified the right to an abortion.

"We have a Supreme Court with six members who seem very bent on repealing the federal protections of Roe v. Wade," said Christel Allen, the executive director of Pro-Choice Oregon.

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of allowing a 15-week ban to go into effect, the pro-choice organization Guttmacher Institute estimates a potential 234% increase in people traveling to Oregon for abortion care.
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!
A man who set up one of the most sophisticated grow houses for cannabis that a garda had ever seen has been given a suspended prison sentence by Kilkenny Circuit Court.



Jurica Nikic, 13 St Johns Terrace, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, was convicted of cultivating cannabis.

Charges of being in possession of cannabis and having drugs for sale or supply were taken into consideration by Judge Orla Crowe.



The court heard that on September 25, 2019, gardai obtained a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act and searched a premises at St Johns Terrace, Kilkenny.

Gardai met Mr Nikic at the house and asked him if he had anything he shouldnt have. He produced a jar containing certain drugs and indicated other items.



Gardai found 31 cannabis plants in the house and a very small amount of MDMA powder.

The estimated value of the cannabis plants was 13,543. The MDMA was worth 50.



Judge Crowe said the property was effectively a cannabis grow house.

A garda told the court that it was one of the most sophisticated grow houses he had seen in his career. A lot of effort had been put into it.



Mr Nikic was cooperative with gardai and said he supplied his friends if they came looking.

Gardai did not find a tick list at the house and they were of the view the defendant did not show signs of an excessive lifestyle. There was no evidence Mr Nikic had been selling the cannabis.

There were no previous convictions recorded against Mr Nikic.



Judge Crowe was told the defendant had an addiction and was smoking a considerable amount of cannabis.



After his arrest Mr Nikic was in custody for 21 days. He was released on bail and has since abided by his bail conditions.



The court heard the defendant started smoking cannabis after his cousin died and he suffered from depression. He started growing cannabis to feed his own habit. He developed a serious addiction despite the fact he was industrious and was working two jobs at the time.



Mr Nikic is 41 and has no previous convictions. He has not come to garda attention since. He found himself before the court on what Judge Crowe described as a really serious matter.

It had come as a shock to his family.



Judge Crowe said a Probation Report prepared for the court said Mr Nikic is at low risk of offending and ongoing supervision was not recommended.



The judge said the effects of drugs on society are plain for all to see.

This man, having developed a cannabis habit, ended up in court. She described this as self-inflicted and that Mr Nikic is his own primary victim.



He was caught red handed, Judge Crowe said, adding that Mr Nikic is a man of talent who used his talents to create a sophisticated growhouse.

Judge Crowe noted that gardai had put a value of 13,543 on the cannabis plants and this was at the lower end of the scale as they couldnt be sure how mature the plants were. A top value for mature plants would have been in excess of 34,000.



The court is mindful it has to mark the seriousness of this matter. This is behaviour that is not acceptable to society, Judge Crowe said. These are illegal drugs that cause misery.

In light of Mr Nikics guilty plea, his cooperation with gardai and his efforts to deal with his addiction Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of 18 months imprisonment on the charge of cultivating cannabis plants.

To incentivise his rehabilitation, Judge Crowe suspended the sentence in full on condition Mr Nikic enter a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for four years.

A destruction order was issued for the seized drugs.
There was great excitement in Castlecomer Community School on with the visit of entrepreneur Denis O Brien to the school. Denis O Brien has gone from being a bell boy in the Central Hotel in Dublin at the age of 14 to a billionaire businessman and a great Irish success story. Denis was inspired by his father who operated an equine products business not just in Ireland but worldwide.

From a young age Denis learned that the market was a lot more than just Ireland. Denis founded media company Communicorp in the 1980s which owned radio stations such as Newstalk, Spin South West and Today Fm. In 1991, he made his start in the telecommunications sector by forming Esat Telecom. For the next nine years, he served as Esats Chairman and CEO.

Today Denis O Brien is the Chairman and founder of Digicel. He formed the company in 2001 with the goal of bringing modern telecommunications technology to untapped markets in the Caribbean, starting in Jamaica.

Denis visited the school to give a talk to sixth year students about resilience and following your dream. He was welcomed to the school by Principal Mr. Pat Murphy and Deputy Principal Mr. Peter O Donovan. Sixth year students Shane Coogan and Mark Gunner both members of the Kilkenny U20 hurling panel also greeted Denis as he arrived to the school. He was particularly impressed to hear from Shane about how he earns money at the weekends valeting cars and took time to question him on his pricing strategy and how he markets this service. Mr. Murphy took Denis on a tour of the school and he was very impressed with the facilities available to the students.

Mr. O Brien was very generous with his time and made a real connection with the students. He grabbed the attention of the students from the start with a general knowledge quiz. Some of the prizes given out included a signed Usain Bolt jersey, an Ireland jersey signed by Robbie Keane and a Kilkenny jersey signed by a recent All Ireland winning team. Mr O Brien had some very important messages during the talk for the students.

As an employer he pointed out that when he looks at a CV, he wants to see what jobs a person took on while at school and in college, he wants to employ people who are able to communicate effectively with others. He highlighted that he failed his Leaving Cert Maths twice and could never get to grips with the Maths course. However, he pointed out that as a result he had to work harder at things he was good at to make up for this weakness. A discussion took place about social media and the importance of not posting images or comments that may impact on future employment opportunities. Mr O Brien encouraged the students to take every opportunity in life to travel and enjoy themselves especially after the two difficult years due to Covid. Denis also spoke about his companies inspiring work in building schools in Haiti and the investments taking place in healthcare, teacher training and community development projects.

It was a memorable morning for students and staff and the visit created a great buzz in the school. A presentation was made to Denis to acknowledge his visit. Oran Byrne presented a personalised chocolate hamper sponsored by sweet living Kilkenny; Conor Duggan presented a hurley with the inscription Castlecomer Community School 4 March 2022 as a memento of this special occasion. To finish a great morning Denis presented all sixth year students with a gift voucher, this kind gesture was appreciated by all students.
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Smoke rises from a factory building near Lviv airport, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Lviv, Ukraine, on March 18.
Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, in this Feb. 23 photo. Yonhap





The U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights has repeated his call for the international community to send enough COVID-19 vaccines to the reclusive country, a report showed Friday.







Tomas Ojea Quintana described it as a "new way" to engage with the North in his report on its human rights situation to be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council next week, with his six-year term ending in August.







"A new way of thinking needs to take hold," the report read. "This can begin with an offer of 60 million vaccines to tackle COVID-19 as the gateway to broader conversations on capacity development, including on food production, healthcare, and water and sanitation to improve the capacity of the state to fulfill its human rights obligations."







He visited Seoul last month to gather information for the annual report. The North, which has a population of over 25 million, has yet to begin an anti-coronavirus inoculation program.







The report also noted "further deterioration" of the human rights situation in the North over the past six years, adding Pyongyang has failed to make "meaningful reform." It called on the nation to urgently invest available resources to ensure basic needs are met and to gradually open its borders. (Yonhap)


A medical worker collects a sample from a visitor at a COVID-19 screening center near Seoul Station, Friday. Yonhap









By Lee Hyo-jin







The government is reviewing whether to lower the infectious disease level of COVID-19, two years after the coronavirus was designated at "Level 1," the highest level in its four-tier system, public health authorities said Friday.







While the health authorities say downgrading the level would enable the more effective use of medical resources, medical experts view the move as premature, given that the country is currently at its worst point yet in the pandemic.







The number of daily new COVID-19 infections for Thursday stood at 407,017, with 301 deaths and 1,049 patients in critical condition, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).







The country has added more than 1.4 million new cases in just the last three days, the highest ever here in such a short span of time.







According to World Health Organization data, as of March 16, the aggregate number of infections in Korea over the last seven days has soared to 2,100,171  the highest in the world  followed by 1,670,627 in Vietnam and 1,350,362 in Germany.










Press briefing on the working conditions created in the cotton sector of Uzbekistan is held with the participation of members of the delegation of the Cotton Campaign in Tashkent city, March 10, 2022. Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan to Korea





By Gulrux Niyazmetova and Farrux Goibnazarov







Global human and labor rights group Cotton Campaign announced that it has ended its call for a global boycott of Uzbek cotton.







The results achieved by Uzbekistan in recent years specifically regarding the country's significant progress in eliminating forced labor in the cotton fields and the solution of long-standing problems in the industry have been the main factors that prompted the lifting of the boycott.







Since 2011, the Cotton Campaign has boycotted Uzbek cotton products of more than 300 groups of textile and trade companies because of the use of child and forced labor in the annual cotton harvest.







As a result, for more than 11 years, local enterprises of the Uzbek textile industry have faced obstacles in establishing cooperation with major foreign companies and brands to supply products to the markets of the United States, the European Union and other countries.







At the 72nd session of the U.N. General Assembly on Sep. 19, 2017, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan noted that effective measures are being taken in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to eliminate child and forced labor in Uzbekistan.







Due to the strong political will of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a completely new system of ensuring human rights and freedom has been created in Uzbekistan, based on large-scale reforms to promote human dignity.







At the same time, the work carried out in the country to improve national legislation has brought the Central Asian nation into line with international standards. Specifically, reforms to the agricultural sector, widely applying market principles, implementing the mechanization of the industry, and providing decent wages have been key factors in preventing child and forced labor.







As a result of the efforts made, child labor was eliminated. The practice of using forced labor for agricultural work and landscaping has also been curtailed.







For the time being, 19 conventions and 1 protocol of the ILO have been ratified in order to implement international norms in our national legislation. Uzbekistan became the first Central Asian state to ratify the 29th protocol of the Convention Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labor.







Over the past three years, concrete steps have been taken in the fight against forced labor in order to systematize activities in these areas and eliminate the existing problems. In particular, national legislation has been improved in line with the recommendations of the ILO and the World Bank. As a result, administrative liability for forced labor was strengthened, criminal liability for child labor was introduced, and cotton quotas were abolished.







In order to continue monitoring the cotton season by independent observers in 2021, the ILO's Third Party Monitoring and the National Monitoring of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Uzbekistan were conducted with the participation of human rights activists, representatives of civil society institutions and bloggers.







Parliamentary control was established by the chairman of the National Commission on combatting human trafficking and forced labor to prevent forced labor during the cotton harvest and to create decent working conditions for cotton pickers.







In particular, working groups consisting of senators, deputies, journalists and bloggers were formed, and during the cotton season, research was conducted in clusters, farms, "mahallas," (neighborhoods), enterprises and organizations in all districts of the country.







The State Labor Inspectors have also started to investigate complaints about forced labor.







As a result, mass forced labor has been completely eliminated in the country over the past five years. According to a third-party report by the International Labor Organization on the monitoring of the 2021 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan, based on interviews with pickers. Those involved in the 2021 cotton harvest did so voluntarily in all provinces and districts and cases of forced labor were rare or non-existent.







In short, this historic achievement is the result of many years of joint work by Uzbek civil society activists, international human rights defenders and international brands, as well as the determination of the government of Uzbekistan to end forced labor.







Gulrux Niyazmetova is deputy head of the State Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Farrux Goibnazarov is head of the representative office of the Agency of external labor migration under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea.






South Korean embassy officials began withdrawing from their temporary mission in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, Friday, as Russia stepped up bombing in the region, a foreign ministry official in Seoul said.







They were evacuating to Hungary along with three South Korean nationals as the outskirts of the city of came under missile strikes and shelling by Russian forces earlier in the day.







"The members of the temporary mission in Lviv departed with South Korean nationals in the morning (local time) and are moving to an area of greater safety," the official said.







The Korean embassy was relocated from the capital Kyiv to three separate places, including Lviv, to support any remaining Korean nationals in the war-ravaged country. The two others are in Ukraine's Chernivtsi, and Romania.







There were five Korean nationals in the city and three of them joined the evacuation by vehicle, the official said, adding the foreign ministry will stay in touch with the other two, who reportedly decided to stay.







No injuries were reported among South Koreans from the attacks in Lviv, the official added. (Yonhap)


Six lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea hold a press conference in front of the defense ministry in Seoul, Friday, urging President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol to scrap his plan to relocate the presidential office to the ministry compound. Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



With the defense ministry compound emerging as the most likely site for the new presidential office and residence, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's office relocation plan is facing a strong backlash, due to concerns that the move would compromise national security and waste taxpayers' money.



During his election campaign, Yoon vowed to open the "new Gwanghwamun era" by working out of the Seoul Government Complex so as to depart from the country's legacy of imperial presidencies and thereby communicate better with the people and press. However, his transition team has since had second thoughts, citing the lack space for required security personnel in the complex  and has been considering the foreign ministry building and the defense ministry compound, with the latter seen as offering certain advantages in terms of security.



The foreign ministry building, located next to the Government Complex in Jongno District, is occupied solely by the ministry, while the defense ministry sits next to U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan.



"The presidential relocation to the defense ministry could cost over 1 trillion won ($825 billion), but the transition team does not seem to have figured that out," Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said during a radio interview, Friday. Kim is a retired four-star Army general who served as a deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.



The government estimates that relocating the presidential office and residence to the defense ministry compound would cost 50 billion won ($41 million), while relocating it to the foreign ministry building would cost double that, 100 billion won.



"The government estimate might be the costs covering mainly the remodeling of his office. There are 10 military units, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), inside the compound. Constructing a new building for the JCS could cost up to 300 billion won, as it also needs to set up advanced security facilities, such as an underground bunker. The relocation of the defense ministry is also estimated to require over 100 billion won in funds. In addition, if the military units are relocated, their housing and welfare facilities will need to be set up again as well," Kim said.



"The President-elect said he wants to move out of Cheong Wa Dae for better communication, but moving into a military fortress means deepening the lack of communication," he said.



Six DPK lawmakers who belong to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee held a press conference in front of the defense ministry later in the day, urging Yoon to withdraw his relocation plan.



"The chain of relocations of the defense ministry and the JCS, caused by the commander-in-chief, could hurt military readiness. In addition, the possible security vacuum will trouble him throughout his entire presidency," they said.









The relocation plan comes as North Korea is expected to test an intercontinental ballistic missile on the occasion of its founder Kim Il-sung's 110th birthday on April 15, prompting fears that the South Korean military may not be able to deal with Pyongyang's provocation properly because the defense ministry and the JCS will be preoccupied with moving out.



In addition, the South Korean and U.S. militaries are scheduled to hold an annual combined exercise next month, so the relocation to the defense ministry is feared to disrupt the exercise, which the President-elect has stressed the importance of in terms of strengthening deterrence against Pyongyang's growing nuclear threat.



"There are obvious reasons that military facilities have been concentrated in the ministry compound. It is unpredictable what fallout could take place after the facilities are scattered," a ministry official said.



Lee Jae-oh, a standing adviser of Yoon's People Power Party, said, also on Friday, that the abrupt emergence of Yongsan as the most likely site for the relocation may be based on geomancy, a set of ancient theories guiding the auspicious placement of buildings based on topography, known as "pungsu-jiri" in Korean.





Presidential transition committee members inspect the foreign ministry building in Seoul, Friday, as it is being considered as one of the candidate sites for hosting the new presidential office. Yonhap
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 46F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
A Northwest Indiana lawmaker has been recognized for his civility at the Statehouse by an organization whose members know better than anyone just how hard that sometimes can be.

The Association of Retired Members of the Indiana General Assembly recently presented state Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, with its 2022 Civility in Government Award.

The award recognizes the lawmaker who best shows courtesy and respect to other legislators and the public, exhibits politeness and appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of others, communicates to develop trust and find common ground, maintains emotional control and demeanor and holds the belief the Legislature is a valuable institution and it's a privilege to serve.

Harris said "it is truly an honor" to be selected among House Democrats for this year's award. State Rep. Tom Saunders, R-Lewisville, was the House Republican civility award winner.

"Every session, I come to the Statehouse with the goal of working collaboratively to achieve positive results for Hoosiers," Harris said. "This session was no different, and I am proud of the relationships Ive built on the other side of the aisle."

Harris credited his relationships with Republicans for helping to advance to the governor's desk this year three measures he co-sponsored, including House Enrolled Act 1242, expanding state contracting opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned businesses, as well as nonprofit agencies for individuals with disabilities.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb already has signed into law the two other Harris proposals: Senate Enrolled Act 294, updating the policies, training programs and best practices for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Training Board; and Senate Enrolled Act 251, joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to enable some medical professionals licensed in other states to also practice in Indiana.

"Making these strides in reforming policing, expanding provider options and supporting minority-owned businesses would not have been possible without the relationships Ive built while serving the great people of Northwest Indiana," Harris said.

He said all legislators should strive to forge relationships built upon mutual respect and understanding to move Indiana forward.

"It is my duty as a legislator to listen, find common ground and work together whenever and wherever possible. Hoosiers deserve that from their elected officials and should expect nothing less," Harris said.

Harris was first elected to the Indiana House in 2016. He's currently running unopposed for a fourth two-year term.

He succeeded his mother, former state Rep. Donna Harris, D-East Chicago, who was appointed in 2015 to fill the House District 2 seat of her husband, state Rep. Earl Harris Sr., D-East Chicago, following his death at age 73 after representing East Chicago for 33 years in the House.
HAMMOND  Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. no longer is seeking immediate judicial action on his claim that he's entitled to ink contracts relating to the county jail without having to obtain consent from the county commissioners.

Court documents filed Friday show Martinez has withdrawn his request for a preliminary injunction directing the county auditor to pay bills submitted in connection with jail contracts signed solely by the sheriff.

Martinez said the injunction is no longer needed because Correctional Health Indiana Inc. (CHI) has agreed to continue providing medical care at the Lake County Jail through at least August 1, at the 2021 rate approved by the commissioners, even though the sheriff authorized a 5% increase for CHI to $6.1 million a year.

Instead, Martinez now is asking Lake Superior Judge Stephen Scheele to promptly rule on the central legal question of whether the sheriff possesses contracting authority independent of the county commissioners.

"The need of all parties to have the critical underlying issue of whether the sheriff has the authority to enter into contracts that relate to the operation of the Lake County Jail and/or the care of the inmates within the jail and to expend funds from the sheriffs budget remains paramount," Martinez said.

"A speedy resolution of this issue is not only necessary for the parties to be able to move forward with identifying and contracting with inmate medical care providers for 2023 and beyond, but will save judicial resources and promote judicial economy and potentially provide an opportunity for the parties to resolve this dispute."

The commissioners said in court documents there's no question Indiana law expressly grants the authority to negotiate contracts for the county solely to the commissioners, and the sheriff's attempts to assume that power for himself are unsupported by both state statute and court precedent.

To that end, the commissioners on Tuesday requested Scheele bar the sheriff from signing any additional contracts on his own "to eliminate the cloud of confusion with the countys contracting partners  such as Correctional Health Indiana, Inc.  created by the sheriffs attempt to usurp the board's exclusive executive power."

"The sheriffs attempt to exercise unilateral authority to enter into a contract with CHI is unlawful and constitutes per se irreparable harm. Therefore, this court should enter a preliminary injunction enjoining the sheriff from purporting to exercise such authority," the commissioners said.

The commissioners repeatedly have declared they have no issues with CHI's services. But they believe that the company's costs have increased exponentially over the past 10 years and that an audit by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) is needed to assess the services the county is receiving for the amount of money taxpayers are spending.

Martinez, however, repeatedly has declined to allow NCCHC to inspect the jail, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next hearing in the case tentatively is scheduled for April 18 at the Hammond courthouse.
One of the sons of Evan Bayh, the Democratic former Indiana governor and U.S. senator, is among the American military personnel recently deployed to Europe in response to Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

Beau Bayh, 27, is a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He and his twin brother, Nick Bayh, an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army Reserve, both joined the military in 2018 after graduating from Harvard University.

Evan Bayh tweeted Thursday morning that Beau Bayh was sent to Europe with the Marines "three weeks ago," or immediately after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

An estimated 12,000 U.S.-based troops have deployed to Europe since the Russian invasion, on top of the 80,000 American service members already stationed on the continent, to deter Russia from considering any expansion of its war to NATO member nations.

Evan Bayh said of Beau's deployment: "We are proud of him and all members of our armed forces for defending freedom and opposing tyranny."

"May God be with them," he said.

Beau Bayh campaigned in Gary in 2020 on behalf of unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Woody Myers, fueling speculation he might seek to follow his father and his grandfather, former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., in Hoosier politics.

Records show, in addition to his military service, Beau Bayh currently is working to earn a Harvard law degree.
Korean YouTuber accused Stray Kids member Felix of sending raunchy messages to fans through Bubble.

Keep on reading for all the details.

Stray Kids Felix Allegedly Sends Inappropriate Message to STAYs

Controversial South Korean YouTuber Sojang has accused Stray Kids member Felix of sending inappropriate messages to fans through the Bubble application.

On March 6, Felix took to Bubble to catch up and update fans. He informed STAYs that he had bought a silk blanket. He says the blanket is very comfortable, not too hot, and not too cool.

Then, he sends a message that shocks many.

"If you want to try out a silk blanket, there's a good spot next to me in my bed. You can sleep with me."

He continued to send "raunchy" messages, telling fans on Buble:

"Ah, it's hot. I guess I imagined too much that I was with you."

He then tells STAYs that they are glad they cannot read his mind.

Felix then asks STAYs on the platform.

"What do you think I was thinking?"

The male idol then messages fans that he will do whatever they want and that the fans have a leather strap around his neck.

After, he sent a voice message to fans on Bubble. The voice message includes Felix making kissing and moaning sounds.

Check out Sojan's video here:

How Did People React to Stray Kids Felix's Messages?

Many were shocked at Felix's messages. People said it was inappropriate.

People were disappointed in Felix's behavior but noted that this was not the first time the idol sent messages with problematic undertones.

One internet user commented, "He sent a Bubble message before where he asked 'What's for dinner? You.'"

People claimed that Felix's action is sexual harassment. He was sending sexual remarks to fans without getting proper consent. Others agreed, saying that they could potentially be minors who are using Bubble to communicate with their favorite idols.

Others attempted to defend Felix, saying that he was born and raised in Australia and they are more loose in self-expression. However, many contradicted.

It was noted that even abroad, sexual harassment is a big deal. Foreigners do not go around saying such inappropriate words.

ALSO READ: THIS is What Stray Kids Hyunjin Does Everytime He Refuses to Leave His Bedroom

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below.

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this artcle.

Written by Alexa Lewis
Espanola, NM (87532)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 36F. NNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 36F. NNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
LAME DEER, Mont. - A formal complaint has been filed against acting President and current Vice President Serena Wetherelt.

The complaint claims Wetherelt violated former Chief of Staff tribal employee, Shawna Coopers Bill of Rights by not providing her due process.

According to Coopers complaint, Wetherelt violated her Bill of Rights by not providing her due process in allegations leading to her termination.

Serena Wetherelt has violated our constitution with her blatant disregard for the Constitution and Bylaws she took an oath to uphold upon acceptance of the Vice President position, Cooper stated.

Vice President Wetherelt was named acting President in February after an 8 to 2 vote by the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council to remove then President, Dona Fisher from office.

At that time, a complaint had been filed by Wetherelt, who stated Fisher mishandled a tribal employees use of a tribal credit card.
Press release from the City of Billings:

BILLINGS Representatives with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have arrived in Billings to give an update on the Billings PCE Superfund Site and ask property owners in the affected area to sign up for sampling.

The Superfund Site consists of shallow groundwater contamination and extends from Central Avenue approximately three miles, east-northeast through several neighborhoods and into downtown Billings.

The Montana DEQ and EPA will give their update and review the sampling process during Monday nights city council work session on Mar. 21, 2022.

Property owners and tenants living within or near the superfund boundary can contact Roger Hoogerheideat(406)422-9725or athoogerheide.roger@epa.gov, or they can contact Bridget Williams at (406)457-5013or atwilliams.bridget@epa.govto ask questions or schedule a sampling.

Those interested can search for their property in relation to the boundary by clicking here. (https://arcg.is/0KyfvL1)

Sample results will reveal what properties qualify for mitigation efforts.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in council chambers on the second floor of city hall.

Click here to view the March 21 agenda and learn how to watch or attend virtually. (https://destinyhosted.com/agenda_publish.cfm?id=24568&mt=CC,SPC,CCWS)

Background on the project can be found by clicking here. (https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.Cleanup&id=0801303#bkground)
Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com.
Brittney Griner with the Phoenix Mercury at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN., on July 14, 2019.
The Northern New England Red Cross is installing smoke detectors this weekend. Do you have a fire evacuation plan for your home? How about when you are traveling?
Interview: Turkish specialist praises China's anti-pandemic measures

Xinhua) 11:18, March 18, 2022

ISTANBUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A leading Turkish specialist on infectious diseases and clinical microbiology praised China's COVID-19 prevention and control measures that prioritize public health.

China has been successfully integrating the coronavirus restrictions that regulate social life with its vaccination efforts, always putting public health in the first place, Bulent Ertugrul, an expert from Reyap Hospital in Istanbul, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"The vaccination campaign is at the heart of China's struggle against the coronavirus, and it is the country that has administered the most vaccines in the world," Ertugrul said.

"But, instead of being satisfied with this high vaccination rate, China is still one of the rare countries which apply restrictions, take measures...to prevent the pandemic from spreading faster," he added.

Facing a new spike in daily COVID-19 cases, China has recently re-boosted its control measures, imposing strict travel restrictions in some parts of the country.

According to Ertugrul, the increase in the number of cases is actually not something unique to China as there are similar case booms in many other European countries affected particularly by the Omicron variant.

"There will be periodic increases in the number of cases, some will be hospitalized...we will lose some of them, unfortunately," Ertugrul said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
By SA Commercial Prop News

Spear REIT CEO, Quintin Rossi attributes Cape Towns property recovery largely to semigration, as an increase in buyer activity noted in the residential property sector with people moving from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to the Western Cape.



Western Cape province could be the likely outperformer in 2022. Pundits base this expectation on the belief that the provinces ability to attract semigrant skills and purchasing power, crucial for economic growth, has recently been enhanced.

Earlier this year Lighthouse Properties reported that 43% of homeowners who sell their properties in Gauteng, buy another property in a different province, and of this percentile, 36% are buying in Cape Town and the Western Cape.

This semigration is believed to be underpinning Cape Towns resilient property market as skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and big corporates migrate in favour of the metropole to find work, set up businesses, and relocate their offices.

With the outlook for tourism on the up and positive data released by Western Cape promotion and investment agency, WESGRO, Cape Town will lead the recovery of the property sector across all assets. Thats according to Quintin Rossi, CEO of JSE listed property group Spear REIT. Rossi attributes this recovery largely to semigration, as an increase in buyer activity has been noted by the residential property sector as people move from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to the Western Cape.



Rossi says although the national and more recently, the Russia-Ukraine war, global economic outlook remains difficult to navigate, the citys property sector is fast-tracking its recovery. He pointed out that Cape Towns office, retail and industrial occupation rates are showing a healthy bounce-back as the return-to-work trend continues and companies begin to focus on growth and recovery.

Spear which has 32 properties within its regionally specialised R 4,6 billion portfolio, showed a close on 94% occupation rate during the time of March 2021 to end February 2022, with a portfolio comprised 100% in the Western Cape.

Apart from the obvious lure of the Mother City, semigrants are said to be in search of safety and security, lower pollution and a better quality of life, and South Africa has some unique factors that support the trend;



Unrest

Recent comment from First National Bank property strategist, John Loos attributed the unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and other regions of South Africa in July last year as another important factor for businesses to relocate. Many people who were sitting on the fence, have now accelerated their plans.



Municipal Management

The Western Cape and Cape Towns municipal districts have earned a reputation of being well-run and effectively administrated. Maintaining current infrastructure and rolling out future projects, such as current efforts of reducing reliance on Eskom, make a great investment case for the region. The Western Cape governments policy is to ensure that the city and province have the necessary infrastructure and technology to support business and investment to the region.



International Investment

Top international companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and Reuters have set up facilities in Cape Town. Following suit, US retail giant, Amazon will be the anchor tenant at the Cape Town-based R4.5 billion residential and commercial property development expected to create 5 239 jobs in the construction phase alone. Western Cape - based South African tech companies have continued to attract international investment with Fintech firm Clickatell announcing an additional R 1,3bn capital raise via the international investor market to further boost its growth ambitions on the African Continent.



The Western Cape has established itself not only as a top international tourism destination but as an economically viable investment case for tech firms, green energy companies as well as South African and foreign families seeking to re-establish themselves. The result brings benefits across the residential, retail, commercial and industrial real estate sectors of the Province.
Osage Beach, MO (65065)

Today

Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
This weeks podcast is the Steve Groff episode. Not only do we talk to cover crop pioneer Steve Groff from Cedar Meadow Farm in Holtwood, Lancaster County, where hes growing hemp and launching a brand of CBD products for people and pets, but we also check back in with Dr. Steve Groff from Groff North America and Windridge Farm in York County.
Ravyn Bashore, Pennsylvania FFA state sentinel, reflects on the lessons she has learned over the last few challenging years and why agriculture is so important.
New Delhi [India], March 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday suggested the media houses to amplify the efforts of highlighting lesser-known events of the freedom struggle and unsung freedom fighters and places associated with the struggle.

While speaking at the inauguration of the centenary year celebrations of Mathrubhumi, via video conferencing, the Prime Minister paid tribute to all the leading personalities in the journey of the newspaper.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Woman Accuses Husband of Selling Her to His Friends to Recover Poll Money.

"Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, Mathrubhumi was born to strengthen India's freedom struggle," said PM Modi.

He placed the publication in the glorious tradition of newspapers and periodicals founded all across India to unify the people of our nation against colonial rule.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Hails Medias Role in Popularising Yoga, Fitness, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign.

The Prime Minister gave examples of Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Shyamji Krishna Varma and others who used newspapers for their work during India's freedom struggle.

"Media can amplify the efforts of highlighting lesser-known events of the freedom struggle and unsung freedom fighters and places associated with the struggle. Similarly, newspapers can be a great way to give a platform for upcoming writers from non-media backgrounds and promote regional languages in areas where they are not spoken," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that while we did not have the opportunity to sacrifice our lives during the freedom struggle for Swarajya, however, this Amrit Kaal gives us the opportunity to work towards a strong, developed and inclusive India," the Prime Minister said.

He elaborated on the positive impact of the media on the campaigns of New India. He gave the example of the Swachh Bharat Mission where every media house took up this mission with great sincerity.

"Likewise, the media has played a very encouraging role in popularising Yoga, fitness and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. These are subjects beyond the domain of politics and political parties. They are about making a better nation in the coming years," he added.

Speaking about the world's expectations from India in today's day and age, the Prime Minister said that India defied the initial speculation of inability to handle the pandemic. "For two years, 80 crore people got access to free ration. 80 crore doses of vaccines have been administered.""Powered by India's talented youth, our nation is moving towards Aatmanirbharta or self-reliance. At the core of this principle is to make India an economic powerhouse that caters to domestic and global needs," the Prime Minister said.

He said that unprecedented reforms were brought in, which will boost economic progress.

"Production Linked Incentive Schemes were introduced in different sectors to encourage local enterprise. India's start-up eco-system has never been more vibrant, he added. "In just the past 4 years, the number of UPI transactions have increased over 70 times. Rs 110 lakh crore are being spent on a National Infrastructure Pipeline."

He further said that PM Gati Shakti is going to make infra creation and governance more seamless.

"We are actively working to ensure every village of India has high-speed internet connectivity. The guiding principle of our efforts is to ensure the future generations lead a better lifestyle than the present ones," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar, Mar 18 (PTI) The National Conference on Friday broke its silence on 'The Kashmir Files' saying while the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a "stain on Kashmiriyat", the movie was far from the truth as the film makers have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy.

Vice President of the party and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if 'The Kashmir Files' was a commercial movie, no one has an issue, but if the film makers claim that it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way round.

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"When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the chief minister. Jagmohan was the governor. It was V P Singh's government at the Centre which was supported by the BJP from outside," Abdullah told reporters in Damal Hanji Pora of Kulgam district of South Kashmir.

Abdullah wondered why this fact was kept away from the movie.

Also Read | Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Meets Sonia Gandhi, Says 'Nobody Asked Her To Quit'.

"Don't manipulate the truth. It's not the right thing.

"If Kashmiri Pandits have fallen victims to terrorism, we have utmost regret about that, but let us not forget the sacrifices of Muslims and Sikhs who were also targeted by the same gun," he said.

Abdullah said that some of those from the majority community were yet to return.

"Today, there is a need to create an atmosphere where we could bring back all those who had left their homes and not create a communal divide," he said.

The former chief minister said an atmosphere would be created for the return of Kashmiri Pandits.

"But I do not think that those people who have made this movie, want them (Kashmiri Pandits) to return. Through this picture, they want Pandits to remain outside always," he said.

Abdullah later took to Twitter and said, "The pain and suffering of 1990 and after can not be undone. The way Kashmiri Pandits had their sense of security snatched from them and had to leave the valley is a stain on our culture of Kashmiriyat. We have to find ways to heal divides and not add to them."

While replying to one of the tweets by a Kashmiri Pandit about the reasons for a long silence, Abdullah reminded him saying "...I've been saying it for years now, both as CM and out of office. Perhaps you weren't paying attention to what I was saying then. I've been a long time advocate of a Truth and Reconciliation commission to look in all that happened from 1990 onwards."

During his tenure as the chief minister, Abdullah had advocated setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to go into the events unfolding since the onset of militancy.

Earlier, in his address, Abdullah said attempts were being made to defame a community across the world.

"A common Kashmiri is not happy with what happened 32 years ago, that people were made to leave the Valley. Today, an impression is being created that all Kashmiris are communal, that all Kashmiris do not bear the people from other religions. What will be achieved by this? Will it make the road easier for their return?

"I am afraid that the hatred which is being created against Kashmiri Muslims today, God forbid, our children studying outside the state, should not bear its brunt," he said, adding, it is the duty of the governments across the country to ensure the security of Kashmiris, including the students staying in other states and union territories.

On the prevalent political situation, Abdullah said there was no truth in what was being projected by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir and across the country.

We were of the opinion that the ground situation will witness a marked improvement with time. But the situation is worsening with each passing day. We haven't come across any effort to bridge the gaps of mistrust. On the contrary, we unfortunately see how an entire community is being denigrated, he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks Dil aur Dilli ki Doori made during the all-party meeting last year, the NC leader said instead of reducing the doori' (gap), There is an attempt to defame the entire nation of Kashmir across the country.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 18 (ANI): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday celebrated Holi with school children and Secretariat staff at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas, the Vice President's Secretariat said.

Children from four Delhi schools, including those run by MCD, visited the Vice President's residence and greeted him on the occasion of Holi, the release said.

Also Read | Hyderabad: Doctors at Yashoda Hospital Remove Large Hairball From Stomach of 11-Year-Old Omani Girl.

The Vice President was delighted when the enthusiastic children recited patriotic poems.

In reply to a question from a student whether he ever gets demotivated, Naidu said, "No, I don't get demotivated, but sometimes, I get disillusioned when some parliamentarians do not behave upto standards in the House."

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Missing Man's Body Found, Partially Eaten by Animals in Kanpur.

He also said that Sardar Patel is the source of inspiration for his strong will power.

To another question on how the Vice President balances his official duties and family responsibilities, the vice president said, "During my active political career, I could not do justice to the family but after becoming the Vice President, now I do try to spend time with my family."

He further added that "As the Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, I have constitutional duties and obligations to perform, but I always make it a point to talk to my granddaughter and grandson."

The Vice President advised the youngsters to always love and respect their mother, motherland and mother-tongue. "Live and work for the protection of unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country," he told them.

Highlighting our age-old civilizational values of 'share and care', Naidu urged the students to develop a compassionate attitude.

Earlier in the day, the President, Ram Nath Kovind and the Vice President exchanged Holi greetings over the phone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wrote to the Vice President conveying his good wishes and greetings on the auspicious occasion of Holi, the release added further. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kabul [Afghanistan], March 18 (ANI): The Taliban has officially banned the broadcast of all foreign TV series in Afghanistan, Sputnik reported citing a person familiar with the situation.

"The Taliban clearly said to stop showing any foreign TV series translated into Dari or Pashto [official languages of Afghanistan]," a participant of the meeting of Afghan broadcasters, held on Thursday, said, according to the Russian News Agency.

Also Read | Micheal Martin, Irish Prime Minister, Tests Positive For COVID-19.

A participant stated that the new authorities said they would not accept any excuses for violating the ban.

"There is no film industry in Afghanistan, and there are no shows or movies that can replace the foreign ones. This restriction means people have to turn off the TV sets," the source said, Sputnik reported.

Also Read | Pakistans Missile Fails to Reach Target, Crashes in Sindh.

The situation of human rights in Afghanistan has worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power in August last year. Although the fighting in the country has ended, serious human rights violations continue unabated.

The Taliban have committed and continue to commit human rights violations including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, a massive rollback of the rights of women and girls, censorship of and attacks against the media.

Moreover, people in Afghanistan are also facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis which is being driven by decisions and positions taken by the international community, especially the US, that have blocked Afghanistan from aid funding and access to the global financial system. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Johannesburg, Mar 19 (PTI) The family of Anni Dewani, the Indian-origin bride who was brutally murdered in Cape Town during her honeymoon in 2010, has decried the parole granted to her killer by the South African authorities.

The Department of Correctional Services said Zola Tongo, who had helped arrange Anni Dewani's murder, allegedly at the behest of her husband Shrien Dewani, had served the prescribed minimum sentence, making him eligible to be released.

Also Read | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Says War Against Ukraine Will Set Russia Back by Decades.

Anni, a Swedish citizen, was found dead in a taxi near a Cape Town township barely days after her marriage to the British businessman.

The Parole Board said Tongo had met all the prescribed rehabilitation requirements after serving 11 years of his 18-year sentence.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Europeans Hoard Food in Panic Amid Russo-Ukrainian Conflict.

During the trial that caused global outrage, Tongo initially denied any involvement, but later told the court that Shrien Dewani had paid him R15,000 to arrange his wife's murder and make it look like a botched hijacking. He then hired hijackers Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni to carry out the murder.

Qwabe was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment after pleading guilty, while Mngeni was sentenced to life in prison.

Shrien Dewani, who was extradited from Britain, was later acquitted by the Cape Town high court due to insufficient evidence.

Anni's family has described the parole decision as a grave mistake, which they said will allow another criminal back into society.

The parole body is sending a very strong message that people must go ahead and commit crimes. I don't think this is the right way to reduce the crime rate in South Africa. On the contrary, it is actually encouraging people to commit the crimes, Anni's uncle Ashok Hindocha told radio station 702 by telephone.

Hindocha said their family felt betrayed by the South African justice system and were disappointed as they continued their path to find closure in the matter.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Canberra [Australia], March 18 (ANI/Sputnik): Australia has imposed sanctions on 11 Russian banks and many governmental entities, including those responsible for managing the Russian sovereign debt, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The sanctions have been introduced over the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Latest Updates: 21 Killed, 25 Injured in Shelling of Merefa in Kharkiv Blast; ESA Suspends Russian-European Mars Mission Over Ukraine Invasion.

"The Australian Government has placed sanctions on 11 additional Russian banks and government entities, with the majority of the country's banking assets now covered by our sanctions along with all of the entities that handle Russia's sovereign debt," the ministry said in a statement.

"Today's listing includes the Russian National Wealth Fund and the Russian Ministry of Finance. With our recent inclusion of the Central Bank of Russia, Australia has now targeted all Russian Government entities responsible for issuing and managing Russia's sovereign debt," the statement added. (ANI/Sputnik)

Also Read | CJI NV Ramana Discusses Expats' Issues in First Visit to UAE.

(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 18 (ANI): US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "murderous dictator" and a "pure thug" while speaking at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on St. Patrick's Day at Capitol Hill.

"(Putin is) a murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine," Biden was quoted as saying by CNN.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Latest Updates: 21 Killed, 25 Injured in Shelling of Merefa in Kharkiv Blast; ESA Suspends Russian-European Mars Mission Over Ukraine Invasion.

Earlier on the same day, in a meeting with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, he said that "Putin's brutality and what he's doing and his troops are doing in Ukraine is just inhumane."

The strong remarks come just a day after Biden called Putin a "war criminal" during a press briefing.

Also Read | CJI NV Ramana Discusses Expats' Issues in First Visit to UAE.

"I think he is a war criminal," Biden had said.

Biden had initially said "no" when asked whether Putin was a war criminal but returned to a group of reporters immediately to clarify what had been asked. When asked again whether Putin was a war criminal, he answered in the affirmative, reported Sputnik.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that US President Joe Biden's remarks on Russian President Vladimir Putin speak for themselves when asked to comment on the remarks.

Kremlin had taken serious objection to Biden's "war criminal" remark with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying, "We consider such rhetoric of the head of state, whose bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, unacceptable and inexcusable."

The recent rhetoric from Biden is a significant escalation in his condemnation of Putin's actions in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday Biden's comments were "absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable," CNN reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
A team of scientists from the University of Western Australia and Curtin University has examined charcoal from ancient rock shelters to learn about the earliest uses of firewood in Australia.

University of Western Australia researcher Chae Byrne and her colleagues found evidence for wattle and other acacias in charcoal from ancient campfires at Karnatukul (Serpents Glen) in Katjarra (Carnarvon Ranges), the land of the Martu, the Australian Western Desert.

Wattle was critical to the lives of the Martu and essential to the habitability of the arid landscape of the sandplains and rocky ridges of the Western Desert  and it still is, Byrne said.

Then and now, wattle has been used as firewood, to make tools, as food and as medicine.

The researchers confirmed that early Indigenous explorers settled in this arid part of Australia, even during changes in climate which saw widespread drought and desertification as sea levels dropped when the polar ice sheets grew.

They also found that wattle and other acacias have been a constant, dependable resources, crucial to the habitability of an otherwise arid and harsh environment.

They worked closely with Traditional Owners of the region, who shared their knowledge about the many uses for wattle and other plants.

I have walked in Country with Traditional Owners who have been kind enough to share their knowledge surrounding the many uses for the vegetation which surround us, Byrne said.

They have taught me that there is a purpose and significance for every type of tree and bush; an ancient grocer and pharmacy which has provided and prospered for tens of thousands of years.

The scientists also sampled trees growing in the region today, which could then be compared to ancient charcoal fragments.

Looking at plant remains is particularly useful in studying Australian Indigenous heritage, given the persistent importance of natural resources like trees and the rarity of other cultural remains in the deep time record, Byrne said.

Theres so much we can learn from charcoal, not just about the people that produced it but also in environmental science and climate change.

A paper on the findings was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

_____

Chae Byrne et al. 2021. The dependable deep time Acacia: Anthracological analysis from Australias oldest Western Desert site. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 40, part A: 103187; doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103187
Islamabad [Pakistan], March 18 (ANI): Pakistan government decided to approach the Supreme Court to seek a ruling on whether disgruntled lawmakers from Prime Minister Imran Khan's party could lose their seats ahead of a no-confidence vote against him.

According to state-media Geo tv, Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that the federal government has decided to approach the country's top court for interpretation of Article 63-A.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Europeans Hoard Food in Panic Amid Russo-Ukrainian Conflict.

"... we will seek the Supreme Court's interpretation as to what will be the standing of a party member's vote who is found in violation of the party's policy and is involved in horsetrading," the federal minister said.

According to Article 63 (A) of the Pakistan Constitution, a parliamentarian can be disqualified on grounds of defection if he "votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by the parliamentary party to which he belongs, in relation to election of the prime minister or chief minister; or a vote of confidence or a vote of no-confidence; or a money bill or a Constitution (amendment) bill", Dawn reported.

Also Read | Arnold Schwarzenegger Appeals to Russian President Vladimir Putin to Stop War in Ukraine.

The information minister said the government would seek the apex court's guidance on whether a person, who shifts loyalty for monetary benefit, should be ineligible for a lifetime for becoming a lawmaker or whether they could contest polls again and be elected to parliament.

"The Supreme Court will be requested to hear the case on a daily basis," he said.

This comes during a consultative meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's political committee held today with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.

The meeting was convened to discuss the legal options available to act against the disgruntled lawmakers and counter the Opposition's move to dislodge the government of Imran Khan, Geo tv reported.

It is reported that 24 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sought refuge in Sindh House ahead of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister.

MNAs said that if PM Khan assures them no action will be taken against them, they are ready to go back to Parliament Lodges, reported Geo News.

PTI's disgruntled member of the National Assembly Raja Riaz said that many other ministers are ready to come here, however, "Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) is unable to accommodate all the members."

However, those lawmakers reportedly shifted from Sindh House to unknown locations.

Meanwhile, PTI party workers staged a violent protest in Islamabad today and barged into the Parliamentary lodges to throw the lawmakers out. The party workers chanted slogans against the disgruntled lawmakers. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kabul, Mar 18 (AP) An official with the UN food agency warned on Friday that with Russia's war in Ukraine taking an increasing toll on the global economy, the ripples of that conflict will further increase food and fuel prices in the desperately poor Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban takeover in mid-August, Afghanistan has been sinking deeper into poverty and economic crisis.

Also Read | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Says War Against Ukraine Will Set Russia Back by Decades.

As many as 95 per cent of the country's 38 million people don't have enough to eat or money to buy the food.

Shelley Thakral, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program, said that food prices in Afghanistan rose nearly 40 per cent over the last eight months.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Europeans Hoard Food in Panic Amid Russo-Ukrainian Conflict.

The WFP has spent USD 1 billion feeding millions of Afghans this year but needs another USD 1.6 billion, Thakral added.

The worrying thing, I think and this includes Afghanistan as well as all the other hunger spots across the world, is the rise in food and fuel prices, said Thakral.

So far, donor countries have not sidelined Afghanistan but she said they have to dig deeper" as Europe deals with the shockwaves after more than 3 million refugees fled Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion February 24.

Thakral's remarks echoed those of UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi, who warned during a visit to Kabul on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine war could siphon off money from humanitarian crisis elsewhere, including in Afghanistan, and that soaring food prices could cripple humanitarian efforts.

While most of Afghanistan's wheat supplies come from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Thakral said the increasing food and fuel cost as a result of the war could add up to 20 per cent to the costs of providing humanitarian assistance.

When the Taliban swept to power, international donor money, which paid more than 80 per cent percent of Afghanistan's bills, dried up and the country's economy went into free fall.

There was food on Kabul markets on Friday but Masihullah, standing by his small grocery stall, said no one has money. Most people don't have jobs, Masihullah said. Like many Afghan men, he uses only one name.

A sack of flour costs nearly USD 28 and most Afghans are now below the poverty line, which means they earn USD 1.90 a day or less.

Thakral said 80 per cent of Afghans are in debt because they have had to borrow to pay for food or medicines and even working Afghans look to the WFP for food aid because they don't make enough to be able to afford the food on the market.

A Human Rights Watch report released Thursday said that since January, about 13,000 newborns have died from malnutrition and hunger-related diseases in Afghanistan and 3.5 million children need nutritional support.

If the countries we import food from face a challenge, we face a challenge, said Masihullah. There is war between Russia and Ukraine, so we are affected ... there is a high increase in prices of oil and wheat.

A UK pledging summit to be held later this month expects to raise USD 4.4 billion to stave off a worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, said Thakral.

"Right now in Afghanistan, what we need to sustain is the attention on the people here, 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)
Washington [US], March 18 (ANI): Congressmen Ro Khanna and Joe Wilson held talks with the Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu urging India to "speak out against Putin's targeting of civilians in Ukraine".

"Appreciated the opportunity to join @RepJoeWilson in a bipartisan call with Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS, urging India to speak out against Putin's targeting of civilians in Ukraine. On both sides of the aisle, friends of India are urging India to use its influence for peace," Ro Khanna of the Democratic party said in a tweet.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Latest Updates: 21 Killed, 25 Injured in Shelling of Merefa in Kharkiv Blast; ESA Suspends Russian-European Mars Mission Over Ukraine Invasion.

"Grateful to join my colleague in a bipartisan call with the Ambassador of India to the U.S. It is critical that world leaders condemn the atrocities being committed by Putin in Ukraine," Joe Wilson of the Republican Party said quoting Ro Khanna's tweet.

The development comes amidst an escalation in rhetoric by the US administration against the Russian actions in Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" on Wednesday, and further calling him a "murderous dictator" and a "pure thug" on Thursday.

Also Read | CJI NV Ramana Discusses Expats' Issues in First Visit to UAE.

"Engaging discussion with Congressmen @RepSteveChabot @RepJoeWilson and @RepRoKhanna on India US strategic relations. Also explained India's position on current global developments," Ambassador Sandhu said in a tweet.

Earlier today, India had reiterated its earlier calls for a complete cessation of hostilities in Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"We reiterate our call for the immediate cessation of hostilities across Ukraine. Our Prime Minister has reiterated this on several occasions and called for immediate ceasefire and emphasized that there is no option but the path of dialogue and diplomacy," India's Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti 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)
Shab-e-Barat 2022 Mubarak! The festival of Shab-e-Barat will be celebrated in the country on the intervening night of March 18 and 19. On this occasion, crores of Muslims pray throughout the night in their homes and mosques. Shab-e-Barat can also be called a festival of worship. On the night of Shab-e-Barat, the tombs of their ancestors who leave this world are illuminated and prayers are sought for them. At the same time, they also repent from their sins. Many Muslims also fast for two days on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat. According to the Islamic calendar, Shab-e-Barat will be celebrated on Friday, 18 March, and will end on the evening of Saturday, 19 March Sha'ban. Shab-e-Barat Mubarak Images & Mid Shaban HD Wallpapers for Free Download Online: Wish Happy Shab-e-Barat 2022 With WhatsApp Status and Greetings on Mid-Sha'ban.

According to the Hijri calendar, the night of Shab-e-Barat begins once every year on the 14th of the month of Sha'ban after sunset. Shab-e-Barat can be translated in Shab meaning night and Baraat means acquittal. On this day, those who sincerely ask for forgiveness from God for their sins receive the open doors of paradise. On Shab-e-Barat, people of Muslim society go to mosques and cemeteries and offer prayers to God for themselves and their ancestors. Shab e-Barat 2022 in India: Date, Rituals, Significance And Everything You Need to Know About The Night of Fortune And Forgiveness.

The houses are decorated and dishes like Halwa, Biryani, Korma, etc. are prepared in homes. After worship, it is distributed among the poor. Special decorations are done in mosques and graveyards during Shab-e-Barat. Prayers of Magfirat are sought for them by lighting lamps on the graves. In Islam, it is considered one of the four Muqaddas nights, the first being the night of Ashura, the second Shab-e-Meraj, the third Shab-e-Barat, and the fourth being Shab-e-Qadr. Shab-e-Barat is known by several names such as 'The Night of Forgiveness', the 'Day of Atonement' and 'the Night of Fortune'. Here we bring you a collection of Shab-e-Barat Mubarak 2022 images, Happy Shab-e-Barat HD wallpapers, Shab-e-Barat 2022 greetings, and images.

Shab e-Barat 2022 HD Images

Shab e-Barat 2022 Messages (File Image)

WhatsApp SMS Reads: On The Night Of Fortune And Forgiveness, Focus on Prayers and Remember to Be Thankful to Allah. Have A Blessed Shab e-Barat 2022.

Shab e-Barat Mubarak Quotes

Shab e-Barat 2022 SMS (File Image)

HD Picture Reads: If You Can Forgive Yourself, Then You can Forgive Everyone. Happy Shab e-Barat To You And Your Family

Happy Shab e-Barat 2022 Wishes

Shab e-Barat 2022 Greetings (File Image)

Facebook Status Reads: May Allah Provide You With Solace, Bundles Of Happiness, Good Health And Wealth Through Out The Year. Shab e-Barat Mubarak.

Shab e-Barat 2022 Greetings

Shab e-Barat 2022 Quotes (File Image)

Telegram Photo Reads: Tonight It is The Night of the Highest, Remember Me in Your Prayers. Shab e- Barat Mubarak!

Shab e-Barat 2022 HD Wallpapers

Shab e-Barat 2022 Messages (File Image)

HD Wallpaper Reads: On this Night of Fortune And Forgiveness, Remember Mistakes are Forgiven, Only if You Get the Courage to Admit Them. Shab e-Barat 2022 Mubarak

People can also offer prayers in their homes and celebrate. Along with this, there is also a special tradition of eating pudding on the day, it is believed that on this day one of Muhammad's teeth was broken in the battle of Uhud due to which he had eaten pudding on this day. This is the reason why people must eat pudding on this day because eating halwa on this day is considered a Sunnah.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 18, 2022 07:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mexico could see a huge number of people traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border as former U.S. President Donald Trump policy and COVID-19 protocols at the southern border are about to end.

U.S. President Joe Biden administration officials are preparing for a huge wave of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border that could reach 170,000 people once Title 42 is revoked, according to a Business Insider report.

Title 42 is a Trump-era policy that started in May 2020. It has allowed the U.S. government to cite public health concerns due to the pandemic, effectively halting the processing of entry of migrants seeking asylum.

Border officials have also used Title 42 more than one million times to quickly expel migrants at the southern border without any asylum claims hearing.

Department of Homeland Security intelligence noted that around 25,000 migrants are already waiting in Mexican shelters for Title 42 to end.

DHS Deputy Secretary John Tien asked employees to "consider stepping forward" to help the DHS Volunteer force with the large number of migrants at the southwest border.

READ NEXT: Former Pres. Donald Trump Could Spend Three Years in Prison for the Violation of Hatch Act - Legal Experts

U.S.-Mexico Border Migrant Influx

White House spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement that the administration is doing their "due diligence" to prepare for the possible changes at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Patel added that the Biden administration is working every day to provide relief to immigrants and restore order, fairness, and humanity to the immigration system.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures showed that there are 164,973 migrant apprehensions last month, as compared to January detentions, which is at 153,941, according to a CBS News report.

CBP officials processed 13,887 migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua at 13,295, and El Salvador at 7,116.

Meanwhile, officials noted that the increase in arrivals from some nations had been offset by the drop in the number of Venezuelans entering the U.S.-Mexico border.

In January, immigration officials processed 22,779 and 24,805 in December, which was considered to be an all-time monthly high.

In February, the number dropped to 3,072. The drop in Venezuelan migrants came after the Mexican government imposed visa requirements on Venezuelans at the request of the United States.

Mexico also ended visa-free travel for citizens of Ecuador and Brazil last year.

Trump Policy Title 42

Title 42 is rarely used over the past few decades, with the Trump administration using it to issue a public health order due to concerns over the spread of the virus.

Olga Byrne, the immigration director at the International Rescue Committee, noted that Title 42 is the most efficient tool at the government's disposal for quick expulsions to quickly get people out of the U.S. without any due process, according to an ABC News report.

Immigration lawyers in San Diego argued that the policy is no longer needed and only contributes to the inhumane treatment happening at the border.

Immigration Lawyer Jacob Sapochnick noted that Title 42 is an "inhumane policy," with many people calling for its cancellation.

Sapochnick said that it is not safe for families who are fleeing their country and are trying to look for peace, according to a CBS8 News report.

The immigration lawyer has been helping Ukrainian polices flee the invasion by seeking asylum at the border.

READ MORE: Border Patrol 'Robot Dogs' Soon to Be Deployed Along U.S.-Mexico Border

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Biden Administration Extends Title 42 - from NowThis News






Hunter Biden's laptop was confirmed to be really existing as revealed by a comprehensive report about the ongoing federal probe into the U.S. president's son.

U.S. President Joe Biden's son's laptop contains a hard drive holding a trove of emails, text messages, photos, and financial documents between Hunter Biden, his family, and business associates, according to a New York Post report.

The contents of Hunter's laptop detailed how he used his political leverage, being the president's son, over his overseas business dealings.

People have criticized correspondence between Hunter and Devon Archer, who was with the first son on the board of Ukraine energy company, Burisma.

Archer was sentenced last month in an unrelated fraud case. He has also "cooperated completely" with the federal probe against Hunter.

People familiar with the emails and investigation confirmed the authenticity of those to The New York Times.

READ NEXT: Hunter Biden Jokes With Therapist About How Father Pres. Joe Biden Has Dementia in 2019, New Book Claims

Hunter Biden's Laptop Existence Confirmed

Hunter's failure to pay all his taxes has been the main focus of the ongoing Justice Department probe. The federal grand jury heard testimony from two witnesses, one of whom was a former employee of Hunter.

The investigation eventually developed into possible criminal violations of tax laws. It started as a tax inquiry under former President Barack Obama's administration, according to The New York Times report.

Other possible charges are foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, according to people familiar with the investigation.

One email showed that Hunter outlined his vision for working with Burisma, dated April 2014. He then implied that the upcoming trip to Ukraine by his father, who was a vice president at the time, should be "characterized as part of our advice and thinking."

Hunter then said that what his father will say and do is "out of our hands."

About a week after the email, the senior Biden traveled to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

Hunter and Archer discussed inviting foreign business associates, including a Burisma executive, to a dinner in April 2015 at a Washington restaurant where Joe Biden would stop by.

White House on Hunter Biden's Laptop Issue

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has dodged questions about new developments regarding Hunter's laptop.

She directed the queries to the Justice Department after reports have confirmed the authenticity of emails appearing to be from his computer's hard drive, according to a Daily Mail report. Psaki added that Hunter does not work in the government.

The president's son had slammed reports of the laptop as "a bunch of garbage," saying that there are 50 former national intelligence officials accusing him of being a Russian plant.

Hunter was referencing a letter from 50 top former intelligence officials, saying that the laptop stories had all the "classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."

Hunter's laptop also revealed that he paid off a tax liability of over $1 million, which was a year after he announced that he was under investigation for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service.

READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden, a 'Direct Beneficiary' of His Son Hunter Biden's Foreign Deals, Says Head of Government Accountability Institute

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Jesse Watters: The laptop is real - from Fox News






Cuba's government has sentenced more than 100 Cuban protesters who took part in an anti-government protest in Cuba in July.

Out of 129 defendants, only one was acquitted. The remaining were found guilty of sedition and theft, according to a BBC News report. Two were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Thousands of Cubans participated in the demonstrations across Cuba, clamoring for "freedom."

In Cuba, unauthorized public gatherings are illegal. More than 1,000 people were arrested during the demonstrations.

The protest came during a severe economic crisis, with protesters voicing their anger on price increases, food shortages, and medicine. Many of the participants were also critical of the Cuban's government handling of the COVID pandemic.

READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden Signs $768 Billion Defense Bill, but Complains It Won't Let Him Close Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

Cuban Protesters

The court did not release the ages of those convicted. It stated that the protesters overturned vehicles and threw stones, bottles, and Molotov cocktails at police and Interior Ministry agents, according to a Voice of America News report.

The response of security forces left one dead, with dozens injured and more than 1,300 people detained.

Authorities admitted that more than 700 people had been charged and 172 already convicted over the protests in late January.

On March 10, 12 of the protesters were sentenced to between five and 16 years in prison for sabotage, public disorder, and theft. One defendant received four years of correctional work without internment. Those charged are allowed to appeal their sentences.

Maimi-based NGO Cubalex has scrutinized the long sentences imposed on protesters. The NGO claims they have been denied their right to a fair trial.

Cuba Rallies

Cubans posted videos of arrests on social media. Activists who dared to go out were driven away in police cars, while others were gathered into vans, according to The Guardian report.

One television actor arrested in July protests, Edel Perez, was prevented from leaving his house by two plain-clothed security agents. Perez said that he felt impotent and angry at the time, adding that the agents were violating his constitutional rights.

One protester named Alejandro said that there is no food and medicine in Cuba. He added that there is also "no freedom," according to another BBC News report.

Meanwhile, the island's president called for his supporters to "fight" the protesters.

One unnamed protester said they are not afraid, adding that they want to change and do not want any more dictatorship.

Images on social media showed what seemed to be security forces beating and pepper-spraying some of the protesters.

In addition, there were reports of internet blackouts across the island. A photographer with Associated Press was also injured after a confrontation with security forces.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel addressed the nation in light of the unrest. He pinned the blame on the United States for the turmoil.

Diaz-Canel said that its tight sanctions in Cuba have been in place in different forms since 1962, describing it as a "policy of economic suffocation."

READ MORE: Kamala Harris Says 'Democracy' Is the Biggest National Security Threat Facing the U.S.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Inside The Anti-Government Protests in Cuba - from NBC News






An older brother of two Chicago drug lords associated with Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera has admitted that he hid millions of cash of their drug proceeds under his porch in Texas.

His brothers, Pedro Flores and Margarito Flores, who were once the biggest narcotics traffickers in Chicago, surrendered to authorities more than a decade ago in a case linked to El Chapo, Chicago Sun-Times reported.

On Thursday, Armando Flores pleaded guilty to participating in a money-laundering conspiracy in Chicago federal court. According to assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Erskine, Armando lived with the Flores twins in Mexico when they surrendered in 2008 and agreed to cooperate with authorities.

Erskine said the three Flores brothers and their families left Mexico for the U.S. in December 2008. The prosecutor noted that the 53-year-old brother of the Flores twins hid about $300,000 in a trailer he took across the border.

Erskine said Armando collected another $760,000 in drug cash from associates of the Flores twins in Los Angeles in early 2009.

The prosecutor noted that the older brother of the Flores twins hid most of the drug proceeds by burying the cash under the porch on the back of his home near Austin. Erskine said most of that money ended up being spent.

READ NEXT: El Chapo Case: Wives of Chicago Twins Who Helped Convict the Sinaloa Cartel Boss Used Drug Money on Lavish Trips, J.Lo Show

Brother of Chicago's Flores Twins Buried More Drug Cash Under His Porch in Texas

Andrew Erskine said Armando Flores eventually arranged to collect debts from the Flores twins' customers. He said Armando has managed to pick up some $4.8 million in two transactions.

In one of these transactions, Armando picked up $1.9 million with Valerie Gaytan, wife of Margarito Flores, and the money was hidden in a car parked in a garage.

Erskine said Gaytan visited Armando's home in 2010 when a U-Haul truck carrying secondhand furniture with some $2.3 million hidden inside it arrived. He noted that the Flores twins' older brother again buried the money under his porch.

Erskine said Armando regularly mailed cash to Gaytan and her family, which usually amounted to $9,000 per delivery. Armando was working as a Lyft driver before he was arrested 10 months ago. Since then, he has been in federal custody. His sentencing date has yet to be set.

According to court records, the Flores twins' older brother also pleaded guilty to federal narcotics trafficking charges in 1999 in Chicago and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Flores Twins Became Informants in Case Against Sinaloa Cartel Boss' El Chapo

The Flores brothers, known to the Sinaloa Cartel as "the Twins," admitted smuggling at least 1,500 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. every month between 2005 and 2008.

Their plea agreements further noted that they sent more than $930 million in "bulk cash" back to the Mexican drug cartel. The Flores twin brothers became key informants in the case against El Chapo after they surrendered to authorities.

During their 2015 sentencing, a federal judge told the Flores twins that they would always have to worry about being hunted down by Sinaloa Cartel hitmen after their decisions to cooperate with prosecutors to apprehend El Chapo.

At the time, the judge said the Flores brothers and their families would always have to look over their shoulders. The judge added that they will always wonder anytime they start their cars if they would start or explode.

But the Flores twins still agreed to cooperate, and the prosecutors, in return, asked for an even lighter sentence for them.

The Sinaloa Cartel is considered to be one of the most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world. The Mexican drug cartel has been known to carry out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf.

The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo. Under El Chapo's leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel earned its reputation through violence and outfought several rival groups.

El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Wife Emma Coronel Could Dismantle Sinaloa Cartel by Cutting Deal With U.S.: Report

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: KING KATO, El CHAPO, & the FLORES Twins | American Dope Chicago | Al Profit Documentary - From Al Profit






A police operation in Mexico's state of Quintana Roo has led to the arrest of one of the leaders of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera's infamous Sinaloa Cartel.

According to Borderland Beat, law enforcement officers have arrested Dani, the Sinaloa Cartel leader in charge of distributing drugs in Tulum, following a drug bust in the town.

Local officials said the military, elements of the National Guard, and the state police arrested a network of narcos from the Sinaloa Cartel in two simultaneous operations. Among them were two female cartel members.

Because of this, authorities said Dani's entire network of accomplices was already dismantled. The Daily Star reported that the State Attorney General's Office confirmed the arrests of Juan "E," alias Dani, Jarlinson "G," Jeymmi "C," Luis "S," Brandon "N," Regina "Y," and Maria "J."

Local officials said that packages of cocaine, crystal meth, methamphetamine, marijuana, an armored vehicle, and firearms were also seized.

READ NEXT: Amid Mexico's Cartel Wars, Body Found Inside Plastic Drum While Another Left in Middle of Road

Mexican Drug Cartel Wars in Mexico's Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo, a state on the Yucatan Peninsula, has some of Mexico's best-known tourist destinations. The state's town of Tulum offers seaside Mayan ruins, sandy beaches, and undersea caverns. Its resort city of Cancun is known for its long beaches with coral reefs.

But recently, the state has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons: Mexican drug cartel wars have killed tourists and provoked a military deployment.

Quintana Roo has lost its status as a safe vacation spot following recent high-profile acts of violence, according to Global Risk Insights.

Last January, a lone gunman killed two Canadian visitors and injured another in the resort town of Playa del Carmen, an attack that security officials described as targeted and involving individuals with criminal records.

Two weeks prior, a California Instagram influencer and a German tourist were killed when caught in the crossfire of a drug gang shootout in Tulum.

In July, a Texas firefighter on vacation with his wife to celebrate their 10th anniversary was kidnapped and murdered at a resort in Cancun. In May, a U.S. tourist was wounded in a shooting attack that killed two men at a beach in Cancun.

In response to the violence, the Mexican government deployed almost 1,500 National Guard troops to Quintana Roo's Cancun city and surrounding beaches to provide security to the entire tourist area late last year.

However, many believe that the violence in the state is likely to worsen since military presence will do little to solve the root causes of the violence because it will only push the Mexican drug cartels' shootouts away from resorts.

Turf War Between El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel in Mexico's Quintana Roo

Cancun and the surrounding areas, also known as the Riviera Maya, have been traditionally viewed as safe havens from the violence that has ravaged much of Mexico in recent years. However, the recent string of violence in the state has vastly changed it.

There were reportedly three factors at play: COVID-19, the state's strategic position for drug trafficking, and the drug cartels fighting for control of territory.

The COVID-19 that shut down the rest of the world while Riviera Maya's cities remain open to international tourists increased the demand for illegal drugs in the state from desperate drug users and partygoers.

Quintana Roo has also been a stopover site for drug flights before heading to the U.S. or Europe. For this reason, Mexican drug cartels have been battling for control of the state.

The Sinaloa Cartel was fighting with the remnants of the Los Zetas Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and Jalisco cartel that appears to currently have more power in the state.

The Jalisco cartel or the Jalisco Cartel New Generation is currently the Sinaloa Cartel's main rival. The Jalisco cartel is being led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known by his alias "El Mencho," according to an InsightCrime report.

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and El Chapo's four sons, known as "Los Chapitos," were reportedly left in command of the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo was arrested and extradited in the U.S.

The Jalisco cartel came out from the Sinaloa Cartel in 2010 after the death of former Sinaloa Cartel capo Ignacio Coronel, known as "Nacho," who was killed by Mexican security forces. Nacho's death resulted in the split into two factions - "La Resistencia" and "Torcidos" - of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The "Torcidos" became what is now the Jalisco cartel, which has since expanded rapidly in Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) involves itself in many criminal activities, including international drug trafficking.

READ MORE: El Chapo Son's Turf Is Being Invaded by El Mayo's Hitmen as They Battle for Control of Sinaloa Cartel

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Adrianna Grant
In a study involving 29,618 patients, prescription lithium use was associated with a lower risk of receiving a diagnosis of dementia and its subtypes, including Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia.

Dementia is the leading cause of death and disability in elderly Western populations: approximately 47 million people had dementia worldwide in 2015, and this number is projected to triple by 2050.

Preventative interventions that could delay dementia onset even modestly would provide a major public health impact.

It has been estimated that delaying onset by 5 years would reduce the prevalence and economic impact of dementia by 40%.

Lithium, a mood stabilizer usually prescribed for conditions such as bipolar affective disorder and depression, has been proposed as a potential therapy.

It has positive effects in cell and animal models of dementia, and there is evidence for its neuroprotective effects from experimental research and clinical studies using brain imaging.

The number of people with dementia continues to grow, which puts huge pressure on healthcare systems, said lead authors Dr. Shanquan Chen, a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge.

In their study, Dr. Chen and his colleagues analyzed data from patients who accessed mental health services from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust between 2005 and 2019.

Patients were all over 50 years of age, received at least a one-year follow-up appointment, and had not been previously diagnosed with either mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Of the 29,618 patients in the study cohort, 548 patients had been treated with lithium.

Their mean age was 73.9 years; a total of 40.2% were male, 33.3% were married or in a civil partnership, and 71% were of white ethnicity.

Lithium-exposed patients were more likely to be married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership, to be a current/former smoker, to have used antipsychotics, and to have comorbid depression, mania/bipolar affective disorder, hypertension, central vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, or hyperlipidemias.

For the group that had received lithium, 53 patients (9.7%) were diagnosed with dementia. For the group that had not received lithium, 3,244 patients (11.2%) were diagnosed with dementia.

After controlling for factors such as smoking, other medications, and other physical and mental illnesses, lithium use was associated with a lower risk of dementia, both for short and long-term users.

However, since the overall number of patients receiving lithium was small and this was an observational study, larger clinical trials would be needed to establish lithium as a potential treatment for dementia.

Another limitation of the study was the number of patients who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is normally associated with an increased risk of dementia.

We expected to find that patients with bipolar disorder were more likely to develop dementia, since that is the most common reason to be prescribed lithium, but our analysis suggested the opposite, Dr. Chen said.

Its far too early to say for sure, but its possible that lithium might reduce the risk of dementia in people with bipolar disorder.

The study was published online in the journal PLoS Medicine.

_____

S. Chen et al. 2022. Association between lithium use and the incidence of dementia and its subtypes: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS Med 19 (3): e1003941; doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003941
Barristers will gather at the entrances to Portlaoise courthouse and other courts around Ireland to protest what they claim are the unacceptably low level of criminal legal aid fees paid to practitioners at District Court level.

A statement issued by Darren Lalor, Barrister at Law, explains the reason behind the demonstrations planned for April which will see them standing on the steps of their local courthouses in Laois and other counties.

"No professional fee of 25.20 can be compliant with Rule of Law requirements in any properly funded criminal legal aid system in a European Union member state.

"Rates paid to barristers under the criminal legal aid scheme at District Court level are uneconomic and unsustainable, and accordingly many are driven from the profession or abandoning practice in criminal law. Damaging not only to the legal profession but to the administration of justice in Ireland.

"Action is necessitated by the poor rates of fees paid to barristers for work done in the District Court and to highlight how and why many members of the Bar of Ireland are struggling in a profession where the State does not fund them directly or recognise them at that level.

"The following rates are currently paid to barristers: - 25.20 for a remand, 50.40 for a plea in mitigation and 67.50 for a full hearing. These fees are pitiful. No other profession would accept such low rates for such critical work in the administration of criminal justice," said the statement.

The legal professionals say the protests will further their campaign by sending a strong message on 4th April from 10:30am until 10:50am.

This event will commence at 10:30am and will conclude at 10:50am.
A man who was remanded on bail must prove himself, Portlaoise District Court heard recently.

Patrick McGinley, 43, or 8 Barrow Way, Spa Street, Portarlington was charged with intoxication and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Spa Street on January 14 this year; intoxication at SuperValu Portarlington on January 26, 2020 and intoxication at Spa Street on February 26, 2020.

Sgt JJ Kirby told the court that on January 26, 2020 Mr McGinley was highly intoxicated at SuperValu, Portarlington. He had to be arrested for his own safety. He was not aggressive and had cooperated. A fixed charge penalty notice had not been paid.

On February 26, 2020 at 12.05am at Spa Street, Portarlington Mr McGinley was intoxicated. He was arrested for his own safety. A fixed charge penalty notice went unpaid.

On January 14 this year at 8.15pm at Spa Street he was highly intoxicated. He was also abusive and used some choice words to the Gardai.

He was arrested.

The court heard he had a number of previous convictions.

Appearing for Mr McGinley solicitor Philip Meagher said he was a family man with six children. He was not working at the moment.

He had medical difficulties and had chronic difficulties with alcohol for many years. This had manifested itself in various behaviours.

In recent times he had been dealing with it. There was a letter from Coolmine.

Mr Meagher said that Mr McGinley had some recent slips. He had graduated from Coolmine recently. He had resolved to deal with his ongoing difficulties and it seemed he was committed to it.

Judge John King asked if his lapse occurred during treatment. Mr Meagher replied it had. Mr McGinley did not deal well with pressure, and there had been some trigger points in his life. He found the assistance of Coolmine very helpful.

Judge King said he wanted to see if Mr McGinley was behaving himself.

He remanded him on continuing bail to September 8 this year and told him to stay out of trouble.

Judge King said that if he offends or comes to garda attention in the meantime there would be a custodial sentence.

Let him prove himself, the Judge said.
A Mountmellick relief road is unlikely any time soon due to funding and a Transport Minister who isn't keen on road building, a meeting of Laois Joint Policing Committee has heard.

The meeting heard a bypass was first proposed for the town in the 1980s. Now with the advent of Brexit, trucks travelling from the West of Ireland are using the N80 as the main route to Rosslare Port.

The JPC wrote to Transport Infrastructure Ireland(TII) seeking an update on the matter. They outlined the increased level of traffic and Heavy Goods Vehicles travelling through the town since Brexit.

In response, TII said the route wasn't included in the latest round of National Development Plan road projects which had received funding.

Brian Stanley TD said "it isn't included in funding between now and 2028." He said "there is a preferred route there but what it needs is hard cash." The funding would have to from the Department of Transport, which is led by Minister Eamon Ryan. "Construction of new roads isn't exactly flavour of the month with him," Deputy Stanley pointed out.

"Whether we like it or not, Transport Infrastructure Ireland are say, where is the cash?" he said.
The community of Errill and Rathdowney have responded rapidly and constructively to the war in Ukraine.

Marion and Kieran ODea called a meeting in Rays Bar in Errill on last week to gather people together to see what we as a community could do to help the Ukrainian people. A number of people attended and offered help and assistance.

"We were delighted to have Ludmila McGrath who is Ukrainian and living in Errill, join us at the meeting," they said.

A number of initiatives were put in place to help: businesses allowed their premises to be used as drop -off points; trolley collections were set-up in local supermarket; and lists of useful items were distributed to guide people how best to help.

"The response was both swift and enormously generous and we thank the people of Errill and Rathdowney and the adjoining hinterland for their response," said the organisers.

A substantial contribution to the Red Cross has also been made.

"Less than seven days into this appeal the first two vanloads of goods will join the truck convoy leaving Portlaoise this week for the Polish border. Heartfelt thanks to all for your generosity," said the organisers.

Errill/Rathdowney Ukrainian Support Group.
Excerpts from Bashar al-Assad's speech on Teacher's Day

by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

Syrias president Bashar al-Assad gave a speech today before a group of teachers and staff of the educational sector in commemoration of Teachers Day. I feature some translated excerpts from it because there are some notable remarks about the goals of education, the teaching of history, the West and the ongoing war in Ukraine. For instance, al-Assad suggests the need for the teaching in history about the Islamist insurgency of the 1980s as part of a strategy of raising the national awareness of future generations. He also claims the war in Ukraine is a turning point that has exposed the West and removed its remaining masks.









Original video here.

There is another factor no less important than this factor or component: they are the Syrians who loved their country but did not possess the sufficient awareness in the beginning of the war to know what was happening, so they accidentally sent erroneous messages to the outside, so they encouraged the outside, encouraged the terrorists, when they showed that what was happening in Syria was not natural political differences or natural political differences as people have different opinions, but what they showed was rather the national division, and when there is national division, meaning when the foundations of the homeland are not correct, this gives a message to the foreigner to look for the appropriate and golden opportunity to intervene in Syria. They confused freedom of opinion and chaos of opinions, for with regards to them, the talk about subjects or talking in language of partition- whether sectarian, ethnic or others besides these things- is a part of freedom of opinion, and not part of destroying the homeland. They justified the chaos with response, they justified the destruction as reform: they said when the person revolted, he revolted for the sake of reform of corruption and various mistakes present. They confused between government and state; instead of opposing the government, they went in the direction of destroying the state. They did not appreciate what foreign intervention means, the entry and coming down of foreign ambassadors to the field in Syria in order to support the destruction. They realised subsequently but when they reached the stage of awareness, the years had passed, and in that time the train of destruction had set out in Syria.

All these examples express a deep and very terrifying lack of awareness among a part of the sons of the society, even if this part is small and not big, and I say terrifying because the security and stability of the homeland depends on awareness. The most important component is awareness, and national awareness in the first degree. All the other components for stability are important, but in the absence of the component of awareness, there is no value to them. And of course education is the most important component of the components of forming this awareness."
The organiser of Daffodil Day collections in Naas next week said that funds are needed more than ever as the event has not been held for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kay Callaghan is seeking volunteers to help out on the streets of Naas on Friday, March 25.

Members of the public are asked to buy and wear a daffodil emblem as a sign of solidarity in the Irish Cancer Society fundraiser.

Kay told the Leader: Because there was no Daffodil Day in 2020 or 2021, the funds are needed more than ever this year.

Anybody who can help out on the day is very welcome and its a fantastic cause.

Kay, whose late husband, Cllr Willie Callaghan passed away from cancer in 2014, said: There isnt a family in Kildare that hasnt been touched by cancer.

The funding goes towards Night Nurses who provide palliative care which is so important for patients and their families.

Kay will be receiving support for Daffodil Day this year from St Marys College and Pipers Hill College who will have Transition Year students collecting on the streets of Naas.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kay Callaghan at kaycallaghan@gmail.com or phone 086 382 7979.

Support

Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said: We are so excited to be able to get out on the streets again to see the amazing support the people of Ireland show to anyone affected by cancer.

Daffodil Day is such a special and hopeful day for our entire community.

Throughout the pandemic weve been so lucky that people have found innovative ways to support us but we are looking forward to seeing Ireland turn yellow once again on March 25.

The pandemic showed us how we can achieve incredible things when we come together with a purpose.

Now we must focus this effort on making sure we dont go backwards on the progress made in saving lives from cancer.

Daffodil Day is our most important fundraising event of the year and the money raised goes directly to funding crucial supports including our Support Line, free counselling, our Night Nurses to provide end of life care, and financial support for families of children affected by cancer.

Along with these services, the money raised on Daffodil Day allows us to support life-changing cancer research.

People are being asked to take part and take back from cancer in any way they can this Daffodil Day. online shop and take part in a steps challenge.

Visit: www.Cancer.ie/DaffodilDay


President Joe Biden rounded off the St Patricks Day celebrations in Washington with an emphatic warning that the Good Friday Agreement cannot change.

Appearing at the traditional shamrock ceremony in the White House, Mr Biden made an impassioned plea that the Good Friday Agreement be protected amid the ongoing back-and-forth between the UK and the EU over post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

US President Joe Biden, speaking while Taoiseach Micheal Martin appeared virtually due to a Covid-positive test, directly addressed the ongoing negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol and the political instability in the region.

Speaking about the relationship between Ireland and the US, he said: Our nations both are deeply committed to protecting the hard-won gains of peace in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement has been the foundation of peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland for nearly 25 years.

It cannot change.

Amid resounding applause, he said he had made that point to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whom he described as a friend.

Mr Biden said all sides must continue to resolve challenges over the implementation of (the) Northern Ireland Protocol.

The United States stands ready to work with all the communities of Northern Ireland to ensure its extraordinary economic potential and ensure that its realised, and we look forward to supporting the next Northern Ireland Executive after the upcoming Assembly elections, which are on their way.

Those elections will be held in May, at a time of considerable uncertainty about the future direction of politics in Northern Ireland.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Paul Givan resigned earlier this year as part of the DUP protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, a move which also removed deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill from the joint office.

History has proven that with the people of Northern Ireland, our leaders can accomplish when they work together, Mr Biden told the audience at the ceremony.

Earlier, Mr Martin spoke of his disappointment at being unable to meet face-to-face with Mr Biden on St Patricks Day after contracting Covid.

Mr Martin was speaking as it emerged he may have to stay in the US for up to 10 days, although he insisted he will keep working while in Washington.

Speaking to the media virtually from self-isolation, Mr Martin said: I feel good. Of course, Im disappointed personally but its not the end of the world.

I have to keep things in perspective  that is important in the context of what is happening across the world today.

I dont believe the meeting was in any way impaired as a result of this. It was a very warm meeting and it went on longer than anticipated by officials on both sides.

During the virtual meeting earlier in the day, Mr Biden hailed Irish leadership for its handling of the Ukrainian crisis.

Mr Biden also reaffirmed the US administrations unequivocal support for the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden, who identifies deeply with his own Irish heritage, was seated beside a traditional bowl of shamrock during the bilateral meeting.

He quoted Irish poet WB Yeats as he described the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on the world.

All changed, changed utterly  a terrible beauty has been born, he said.

Mr Biden said Irish leadership on the issue has been noticeable and impressive.

Both leaders condemned the invasion, with the Irish leader speaking about the need for a unity of purpose.

The leaders bilateral meeting lasted just over an hour.

The pair discussed the economy, Brexit and the Good Friday Agreement, the war in Ukraine and the undocumented Irish in the US.

Mr Martin reiterated the invitation for the President to come to Ireland, with Mr Biden saying he would love to visit Ireland again.

Mr Biden praised Irelands willingness to take in refugees, adding: What Ireland is doing now, what you are doing, taking in Ukrainian refugees, speak so loudly about your principles.

And its amazing and I want to publicly compliment you for it.

I think youve already brought in over 7,000 or so refugees from Ukraine, and youre prepared to do more, so thank you.

The Taoiseach, who appeared virtually from Blair House where he is staying, also thanked Mr Biden for the USs backing of the Good Friday Agreement.

He praised the steadfast support, referencing how important the Good Friday Agreement is in respect of stability and peace on the island of Ireland.

He said: Over the last number of days, as Ive been here, weve also witnessed  once again  that two way, very robust economic relationship between the United States and Ireland.

Mr Martin, appearing virtually for the second year in a row due to a positive Covid-19 test, said it was unfortunate he and Mr Biden could not meet face to face.

This year, were meeting virtually across the road, so were getting closer, he joked.

Mr Biden is profoundly proud of his Irish ancestry and has never been shy about his passion for the country, its history and its literature.

References to Irish poets pepper many of his speeches, with Mr Biden choosing to namecheck the late Eavan Boland during a speech at the Ireland Funds Gala dinner in Washington on Wednesday evening.

It was at the same event that the Taoiseach was notified of the positive Covid-19 result just as he was due to speak.





Mr Martin appeared in good spirits during his appearance on-screen.

An Irish Government spokesperson said earlier on Thursday that the Taoiseach was feeling well.

He said Mr Martin received a negative Covid test result on Wednesday afternoon, but a further test was carried out when one of his delegation tested positive.

This resulted in a positive test for the Taoiseach.

Speaking later on Thursday, Mr Martin confirmed he will remain in Washington and continue working while he recovers from Covid.

A source said he will follow US Covid-19 guidelines which could result in no international travel for 10 days.

This means he would be unable to attend a Covid commemoration event in Dublin on Sunday.

He said: We had our cabinet meeting which I chaired from the embassy at the commencement of the week. Little did I think that I would have another cabinet meeting from here next week, but that is the way it is.

I will continue to work, we will manage this and I will be in daily contact with my colleagues and officials, particularly in respect of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

I will keep working, I feel good and we will take it day by day and step by step.

Earlier on Thursday, the speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said Mr Martin was not wearing a mask during part of their interaction at the Ireland Funds Gala event.

She sat next to the Taoiseach moments before he was told he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Ms Pelosi was about to make an award to Mr Martin, but Irish ambassador Dan Mulhall accepted the award instead, and confirmed to guests that Mr Martin had tested positive.

The Taoiseach had a mask on when he sat down but then when he started to eat, he took off the mask and then they called him aside, Ms Pelosi said on Thursday.

I didnt know why. But some time later when it was my turn to speak, they told me how we would proceed and that he would not be speaking.

I wasnt measuring it in minutes, but part of it was masked, some of it while he was eating but it was during the appetiser that they took him away.

She said she is tested for Covid almost every day and before any time she sees Mr Biden.

Meanwhile, Irish President Michael D Higgins sent his good wishes to Mr Martin.

I was so very sorry to learn of this news breaking while the Taoiseach was busy representing Ireland in the United States leading up to our National Day, Mr Higgins said in a statement.

I know that this work is continuing as he takes the necessary steps following his positive test.

I wish the Taoiseach a speedy recovery and also wish him further success with the continuation of his programme in Washington, and in overcoming the necessary constraints involved.

Sabina joins me in sending our good wishes to the Taoiseach and to his wife, Mary.

Go raibh biseach air go luath. (Get well soon).
A man in his 30s has died after a tragic road crash over night.

Gardai are investigating the fatal crash that occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, March 18, at Killeheen, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.

At approximately 2.50am, a crash occurred between an articulated truck and a car. The driver of the truck, a man in his early 30s, was killed.

His body has been removed from the scene to University Hospital Limerick where a post mortem will take place in due course.

The driver of the car, a man in his early 50s, was injured during the collision and removed to University Hospital Limerick with non-life-threatening injuries.

The road is currently closed and the services of Forensic Collision Investigators have been requested. Local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who were travelling in the area at the time and may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to Gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda Station on (069) 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
GARDAI have confirmed that files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions following the arrest of two men in connection with allegations of fraud at the University of Limerick.

The arrests, first reported at the weekend, were made earlier this month.

On the morning of Wednesday, March 9, 2022, Detectives from the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Unit at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau arrested two males as part of an investigation into alleged corrupt practices at a public body in Munster,  a garda spokesperson told the Limerick Leader.

Following their arrest, the men were detained and questioned at Henry Street garda station under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

They were subsequently released without charge.

While not commenting specifically on last weeks arrests, a spokesperson for UL said: University of Limerick will co-operate fully with any investigation undertaken by An Garda Siochana. UL cannot comment on investigations.

The Limerick Leader understands the investigation relates to alleged offences which occurred nearly a decade ago and is not connected to any governance issues which have come to public attention in more recent times.
A LIMERICK photographer and aid worker based in Ukraine has been documenting the harrowing stories of refugees as they scramble towards safer border countries.

Kieran McConville from the North Circular Road in Limerick city, forms part of a Concern assessment team that has been delivering humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Europe.

It's likely that the number of people that have left Ukraine since the start of the conflict will soon reach three million, the former RTE journalist told the Limerick Leader over the phone from Lviv, in Western Ukraine.

What we are seeing now is that more and more people are moving west from the conflict zones who do not have many reserves and do not have a specific place to go, he added.

While working as a cameraman and journalist in 2010, Kieran made a documentary about Limerick man Aengus Finucane, who was one of the founders of Irelands aid agency Concern Worldwide.

Kieran travelled with the Ennis Road Roman Catholic missionary to Haiti at the time of the earth-shattering earthquake that killed up to 220,000 people. He has been working with Concern ever since.

His work with the aid agency has seen him capture images across some of the worlds major events in Africa, Asia and across the Middle East, such as typhoons in the Philippines and famines in Sudan.

Having moved into the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine on Saturday, Kieran forms part of a four-person assessment team that talks to refugees and partner organisations, to set up a response.

This is something that is going to be going on for quite some time, he stated, explaining that so far, the team has assisted refugees coming into Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Poland.

I met a woman in Slovakia, who had her two children in the car. Her husband had returned to Ukraine to sign up. They dont know if they will ever see him again, he said.

He encountered another woman, in her thirties, who was forced to leave Kyiv after saving her entire life for an apartment on a 32nd floor, following intense shelling from Russian forces.

Since moving into Lviv, Kieran has captured images of tens of thousands of displaced Ukrainians looking to depart through the citys railway station.

Many of these are of mothers and children, following mandatory conscription being put in place for men aged between 18 and 60, who are forced to stay and enlist in Ukraines military.

The area around Lviv was seen as something of a safe haven until now, but the missile attack that happened nearby on Saturday night has made people really nervous, he stressed.

He admitted that the most recent refugees are those without family or friends in Europe.

These latest evacuees will be more reliant on humanitarian aid, he stressed, adding that post-assessment, Concern will deliver humanitarian assistance through cash grants and material support.

This includes hygiene kits, food packages, warm clothing, bedding and fuel. Concern is also helping displaced people with rent.

Technical and emergency staff are being deployed to help target the most vulnerable people.

Kieran, along with his colleagues, are urging the people of Limerick to send cash to the people of Ukraine, as opposed to fixed goods.

Kieran stated that it has been amazing to see the generosity of people back home in Limerick.

I have spoken to many people who have suffered extreme trauma and who are facing deep uncertainty. It makes a huge difference for them to know that people in other countries care and are willing to support them, he concluded.

Support the people of Ukraine, by visiting concern.net/donate.
A WOMAN will be sentenced in the summer after she admitted growing cannabis plants in pots on the window sills of her rural home in County Limerick.

Mary Hanley, aged 53, who has an address at Ballinacaheragh, Askeaton pleaded guilty at Newcastle West Court, to cultivating more than two dozen plants which, according to gardai, had a potential street value of 20,000.

Inspector Sandra Heelan told Judge Carol Anne Coolican the defendants home was searched on July 1, 2020 after a small amount of cannabis was discovered in Ms Hanleys car when she was stopped at a routine garda checkpoint.

She said it (the cannabis) was home-grown, the inspector explained.

She added that when gardai arrived at the defendants home, having being granted a search warrant, they found 25 cannabis plants in pots on the window sills.

Solicitor Michael ODonnell said the plants were not at a mature stage of growth and he asked the court to note the value is based on the potential yield and not the value on the day they were found.

They were at an early stage of growth, confirmed Insp Heelan who agreed the valuation put forward was based on the maximum potential yield had the plants been left to grow.

Mr ODonnell further submitted that it was not being suggested that his client was operating a sophisticated grow house.

He said there was no paraphernalia such as heaters of lights or watering systems and that Ms Hanley would have needed a lot of sunlight coming in the window for the plants to have grown.

The solicitor said his client, who suffers from depression and stress, has completed a number of courses since the detection and he informed the court that her partner also suffers from poor health.

Noting Ms Hanleys guilty plea, her cooperation with gardai, and the nature of the find, Judge Coolican said she was willing to accept jurisdiction of the case.

If they (the plants) were fully grown and half the number, I would not be accepting jurisdiction, she commented.

Given the circumstances of the case and accepting that Ms Hanley has never been on the garda radar in the past, the judge adjourned sentencing to June, to facilitate the preparation of a probation report.
Multiplex operators hope that the long Holi weekend will draw audiences back to theatres, although the pickings are slim for viewers looking for a fun outing.

Akshay Kumars action-comedy Bachchhan Paandey is the sole major release in Hindi. There is James, a Kannada film starring the late Puneeth Rajkumar for southern moviegoers that could draw viewers because of the popular actors untimely demise. Hollywood film Ambulance is also releasing on Friday.

With state governments lifting most pandemic-related curbs across the country, cinemas are hoping for a big Holi weekend, traditionally a holiday that generates good revenue in north India.

Akshay Kumars film could attract urban and small-town audiences, said film trade experts. However, the film faces stiff competition from sleeper hit The Kashmir Files, which is doing especially well in the Hindi heartland.

Bachchhan Paandey will be an out-and-out mass entertainer, taking groups of families and friends through a roller coaster ride of emotions and laughter. We expect the film to do well across the country, with a higher affinity from the northern regions and a near equal interest from both metros and towns keeping in mind Akshay Kumars consecutive successes at the box office," said Ashish Saksena, chief operating officer, cinemas at ticketing site BookMyShow.

Kumar has been at the forefront of driving box office revenue for the Holi weekend in the past, with his war epic Kesari making close to 55 crore over its opening weekend in 2019. In 2017, Karan Johars Badrinath Ki Dulhania made 41 crore over the festive weekend and 114 crore in lifetime box office earnings. Kumar has seen a spate of successes lately. His Diwali release, Sooryavanshi, crossed the 195-crore mark at the box office and pre-covid releases like Good Newwz, Housefull 4 and Mission Mangal had all set the cash registers ringing.

Challenges for Holi arise from the fact that it is close to the examination period for students in schools and colleges, Saksena said. Another trend on Holi is that morning shows are usually cancelled at cinemas, unlike other festivals. However, business in the second half of the day is typically phenomenal as families come out in great numbers," Saksena pointed out.

Holi is lucrative for the film business, especially in tier-II cities and towns where people step out in large numbers, film producer and trade expert Girish Johar said. Over the past seven to eight years, the holiday has brought around 20% jump in business," he added.

In south India, the Holi weekend isnt big traditionally. This year, the entire focus is on the release of S.S. Rajamoulis RRR next week, according to independent trade analyst Sreedhar Pillai, which will decide the future of Indias pandemic-ravaged exhibition business. However, media consulting firm Ormax estimates that James, starring late superstar Puneeth Rajkumar, could make 15.7 crore in gross box office collections on its first day alone.

Bihar-based independent exhibitor Vishek Chauhan agreed Bachchhan Paandey fits the vibrant, fun vibe of Holi where people want to watch commercial entertainers. But political drama The Kashmir Files has found unexpected acceptance and draw, Chauhan said. Bachchhan Paandey may bear the brunt of that, and the only way out for it is to be an extraordinary film and have great word-of-mouth going for it," Chauhan said.
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As the war in Russia continues to rage on, Ukraine and Russia have agreed on nine humanitarian corridors. These corridors are Ukraine's Mariupol, Sumy, Trostyanets, Lebedyn, Konotop, the settlements of Krasnopillya, and Velyka Pysarivka. War-torn Ukraine also plans to deliver humanitarian aid to Balakleya and Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast, reported The Kyiv Independent.

Russia's war against Ukraine does not seem to end, with around 24 days of non-stop bombardment across all crucial establishments of Ukraine. Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba is conducting talks with the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrel on the implementation of the 5th round of sanctions against Vladimir Putin-led nation.

Also read: Russian President Putin might have to stop his botox treatment. Here's why

The two leaders have also discussed providing aid to the Ukrainians who are fleeing the war-torn country and are seeking refuge in European nations.

"Spoke to @JosepBorrellF. We discussed the preparation of the 5th EU sanctions package on Russia. Pressure will keep mounting as long as it is needed to stop Russian barbarism. We also discussed protection and help for Ukrainians who fled from Russian bombs to the EU," said Kuleba.

Meanwhile, the war continues to escalate in Ukraine. In a recent update, Kramatorsk area in Donetsk Oblast has been bombarded by Russians, killing at least two and injuring six. A missile hit a residential building and an administrative building, Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, told The Kyiv Independent.

Russia, on the other hand, has said it downed six Ukrainian drones during an overnight aerial bombardment. Russia is facing stiff sanctions imposed by the West, crippling its economy. The war has also created a refugee crisis in Europe, with over 1.5 million people fleeing the country. A majority of the countries across the world have criticised Russia's actions and called for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine.

With PTI inputs
Russian President, in a chilling video, has issued a strong warning against "scum" and "traitors" who he said are conspiring with the US and its allies against Russia. The sulking Russian President, who's reportedly frustrated over the fact that Russian forces are not able to make big headway in the capital city of Kyiv, has vowed to cleanse such people from Russian land.

Putin was lashing out at domestic critics in a televised video. He said Western countries are trying to destroy Russia, which is facing one of the toughest sanctions against any country in the world that has sunken its economy.

Here's a video put out by WSJ reporter in Moscow, Matthew Luxmoore, on Twitter.

Ominous words from Putin about a natural and necessary cleansing of the nation to spit out like flies all representatives of a fifth column and traitors who do not back the Kremlin line. No wonder thousands are leaving the country in fear. pic.twitter.com/66LGpo12p3  Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) March 16, 2022

Any people, and particularly the Russian people, will always be able to tell apart the patriots from the scum and traitors and spit them out like a midge that accidentally flew into their mouths," Putin said.

He went further: I am convinced that this natural and necessary self-cleansing of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to meet any challenge."

Also read: The aggression of Russias Putin and our risk of a third world war

Putin's remarks came two days after a producer at Channel One, Russia's state-run media channel, interrupted the news abruptly to lodge a protest against the war in Ukraine. "They are lying to you," read the sign the protesting woman, Marina Ovsyannikova, held when she stood behind the news anchor.

Russia has repeatedly said it's an ongoing war with Russia is not aggression but a "special military operation" to protect breakaway Ukrainian regions. Putin has said the Ukrainian government is being run by neo-nazi thugs and drug addicts who want to destroy Russia.

Despite all these claims, Russian forces have attacked residential buildings and cities, causing a huge number of civilian casualties in Ukraine and forcing over 1.5 million to flee the country.

Biden calls Putin 'a war criminal':-

President Joe Biden called Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" over his bloody invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. "I think he is a war criminal," Biden told reporters. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden was "speaking from his heart" after seeing images on television of "barbaric actions by a brutal dictator through his invasion of a foreign country."

With Bloomberg and AFP inputs
On Wednesday, Indian government officials said that state-controlled Indian Oil Corp. had reached a deal to buy 3 million barrels of oil from Russias Rosneft Oil Co. at a 20% discount to global prices. This is a drop in the ocean of Indias oil needs, which stood at 4.5 million barrels a day in January. Still, if a payment system in rupees is worked out that insulates the transaction from sanctions placed on Russia, much more could follow.

The United States isnt happy. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said India should worry about how it will feature in the history books when the story of the Ukraine invasion is written. If this one deal leads to more, you should expect questions about whether the West has reposed too much faith in India.

Yet India has equal cause to wonder if its placed too much faith in the West. Even as Europe and the U.S. congratulate themselves on the speed and effectiveness of their sanctions against Russia, they seem blind to the impact of these sanctions on the rest of the world.

To India and many other developing countries, Western powers and the institutions they dominate appear to have different standards for conflicts close to home. While the World Bank has been slow to address the concerns of other war-torn nations, it has put together a $700 million package for Ukraine in record time. Some economists say the International Monetary Fund may be skirting its norms to send $1.4 billion in emergency funding to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, those same Western nations are proving themselves poor stewards of the global commons. Take the cutoff of several Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system. We have grown accustomed to thinking of interbank communications as a global utility; theyve now been turned into a tool of Western foreign policy.

This was a unilateral decision by the countries that control SWIFT which, besides the U.S. and Japan, are all European. Little thought was given to how countries such as India, which rely on SWIFT to pay for oil and fertilizers from Russia, would manage the fallout. It should come as no surprise that Indias reaction has been to look for a way around the sanctions by settling trade with Russia in rupees and rubles.

Criticizing India for continuing to buy oil from Russia is especially galling, given that European nations have yet to wean themselves off Russian energy supplies either. And, unlike them, India can hardly afford such bills. If oil remains above $70 a barrel for months, the rupee will collapse, the government will run out of spending money, inflation will skyrocket and the country will have to start worrying about a balance of payments crisis.

We have lived through this sort of disruption at least twice before, in 1991 and 2012. Yet our supposed partners in the West do not seem to recognize that avoiding another one is a major national priority.

Nor do they appreciate how hypocritical their talk of sanctions can appear. The U.S. spent most of the last decade trying to convince India not to buy Iranian oil, only to try to get Iranian shipments back on the market as soon as the focus shifted to Russia. While the U.S. and Europe expect other countries to bear the costs of sanctions, theyre too timid even to send Polish fighter jets to Ukraine.

Moreover, in the long-term, Indians fear that sanctions will push Russia ever closer to China and expand Beijings control over the global economy. If some in the West worry that India is not lining up on their side, just as many Indians worry that the Wests notion of their side" does not include India.

Both are being short-sighted. Whether the guardians of muscular Indian nationalism like it or not, India benefits from Western patience right now as it struggles through social turmoil and economic underperformance. It needs European capital, Japanese investment and U.S. technology to modernize its economy  not to mention weapons and diplomatic support in order to stand up to rival China. Its media and ruling establishment should also remember that Russia caused this crisis with an unprovoked invasion of a smaller neighbor  and India can hardly be on the side of the aggressor.

For its part, the West needs to learn, yet again, that its actions have consequences. Countries such India, struggling to manage deficits, or Kenya, facing a mounting grain import bill, may not be suffering as much as Ukraine is, but they are victims nonetheless. The international system needs to make space for these unexpected challenges through bailouts, central bank liquidity swaps and other extraordinary measures.

This is a test case. The world can only build effective mechanisms to deter aggressors  whether Russia or China  if countries such as India have a voice in them. Otherwise, as with SWIFT, they will ignore and undermine those systems in their own national interests.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi and head of its Economy and Growth Programme. He is the author of 'Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy,' and co-editor of 'What the Economy Needs Now.'

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
She wrote the world's first computer program  in 1837.

She discovered ancient sea monsters buried in her backyard.

She cancelled the chemical tearing our ozone layer apart.

You might not know their names or faces, but these pioneering women changed the way we live in and think about the world. From geometry to paleontology, medicine to marine biology, they advanced their fields while facing tremendous odds. Join us now as we celebrate their stories. Here are 20 amazing (and unsung) women who changed math and science forever.

Mary Anning (1799-1847)

(Image credit: Getty)

Mary Anning was a self-taught fossil hunter. She was born and raised near the cliffs of Lyme Regis in southwestern England; the rocky outcrops near her home were teeming with Jurassic fossils.

She taught herself to recognize, excavate and prepare these relics when the field of paleontology was in its infancy  and closed to women. Anning provided London paleontologists with their first glimpse of an ichthyosaur, a large marine reptile that lived alongside dinosaurs, in fossils that she discovered when she was no more than 12 years old, the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) in Berkeley, California, reported. She also found the first fossil of a plesiosaur (another extinct marine reptile). To honor Anning, scientists named a new species of ichthyosaur (Ichthyosaurus anningae) after her in 2015.

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717)

(Image credit: Photo 12/Universal Images Group/Getty)

Entomologist, botanist, naturalist and artist Maria Sibylla Merian created extraordinarily detailed and highly accurate drawings of insects and plants. By working with live specimens, Merian noted and revealed aspects of biology that were previously unknown to science.

Prior to Merian's investigations of insect life and her discovery that insects hatched from eggs, it was widely thought that the creatures generated spontaneously from mud. She became the first scientist to observe and document not only insect life cycles but also how the creatures interacted with their habitats, The New York Times reported in 2017.

Merian's best-known work is the 1705 book "Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium," a compilation of her field research on the insects of Suriname, according to the Royal Collection Trust in the U.K.

Sylvia Earle (born 1935)

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Marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Earle takes an immersive approach to ocean science; she is affectionately known as "Her Deepness," from the title of a 1989 profile in The New Yorker . In nearly 70 years of diving, beginning when she was 16 years old, Earle has cumulatively spent about a year underwater, she told The Telegraph in 2017.

Earle began her ocean research in the late 1960s, when few women worked in the field. In 1968, she was the first woman scientist to descend in a submersible to a depth of 100 feet (31 meters) in the Bahamas, and she did so while she was four months pregnant, The Telegraph reported.

Related: In Images: Sylvia Earle's 'Searching for Wisdom' Expedition

Two years later, Earle led a team of five women "aquanauts" on a two-week mission exploring the seafloor, in the underwater laboratory Tektite II. Since then, Earle has led more than 100 expeditions in oceans around the world, and in 1990, she became the first woman to serve as chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Mae Jemison (born 1956)

(Image credit: NASA)

In 1992, when the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to reach space. But astronaut is just one of her many titles. Jemison is also a physician, a Peace Corps volunteer, a teacher, and a founder and president of two technology companies, according to Space.com , a Live Science sister site.

Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, on Oct. 17, 1956. When she was 3 years old, she moved with her family to Chicago, where her love for science took off. At age 16, the aspiring scientist attended Stanford University, where she earned degrees in chemical engineering and African and African American studies. She got her doctorate in medicine from Cornell University in New York state in 1981. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Jemison spent time in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

After training with NASA, Jemison and six other astronauts orbited Earth 126 times on the Endeavour. During her 190 hours in space, Jemison helped carry out two experiments on bone cells.

Jemison is also a polyglot, speaking English, Russian , Japanese and Swahili, and she even has a Lego minifigure made in her honor .

Maria Goeppert Mayer (1906-1972)

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In 1963, theoretical physicist Maria Goeppert Mayer became the second woman to win a Nobel Prize in physics , 60 years after Marie Curie won the award.

Goeppert Mayer was born on June 28, 1906, in Kattowitz, Germany (now Katowice, Poland). Although women from her generation rarely attended university, Goeppert Mayer went to the University at Gottingen in Germany, where she plunged into the relatively new and exciting field of quantum mechanics .

By 1930, at age 24, she had earned her doctorate in theoretical physics. She married the American Joseph Edward Mayer and moved with him so he could work at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The university wouldn't employ her, given that it was the Depression, but she continued working on physics anyway.

When the couple moved to Columbia University in New York, she worked on the separation of uranium isotopes for the atomic bomb project, according to Britannica. Her later research at the University of Chicago on the architecture of nuclei  how different orbital levels held different components of the nucleus in atoms  won her a Nobel Prize that she shared with two other scientists.

Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012)

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Rita Levi-Montalcini's father discouraged her from pursuing a higher education, because he held Victorian notions and thought that women should embrace the full-time job of being a wife and mother. But Levi-Montalcini pushed back, and eventually, her work on nerve growth factor would earn her the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine .

The road to success was not easy. Born in Italy in 1909 , Levi-Montalcini made it to medical school, where she graduated summa cum laude in medicine and surgery in 1936. Then, she began to study neurology and psychiatry, but her research was interrupted by World War II. Undeterred, she set up a research lab in her home, where she studied development in chick embryos until she had to abandon her work and go into hiding in Florence, Italy.

After the war, she accepted a position at Washington University in St. Louis, where she and her colleagues found that a substance from a mouse tumor spurred nerve growth when it was put into chick embryos. Her lab colleague Stanley Cohen was able to isolate the substance, which the two researchers called nerve growth factor . He shared the Nobel Prize with Levi-Montalcini in 1986.

Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017)

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Maryam Mirzakhani was a mathematician known for solving hard, abstract problems in the geometry of curved spaces. She was born in Tehran, Iran, and did her most important work as a professor at Stanford University, between 2009 and 2014.

Her work helped explain the nature of geodesics, straight lines across curved surfaces. It had practical applications for understanding the behavior of earthquakes and turned up answers to long-standing mysteries in the field.

In 2014, she became the first  and still only  woman to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious prize in mathematics . Each year, the Fields Medal is awarded to a handful of mathematicians under the age of 40 at the International Mathematical Union's International Congress of Mathematicians.

Mirzakhani received her medal one year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer , in 2013. She died from cancer on July 14, 2017, at age 40. Mirzakhani continues to influence her field, even after her death; in 2019, her colleague Alex Eskin won the $3 million Breakthrough Prize in mathematics for revolutionary work he did with Mirzakhani on the " magic wand theorem ." Later that year, the Breakthrough Prize endowed a new award in Mirzakhani's honor that would go to promising young female mathematicians.

Emmy Noether (1882-1935)

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Emmy Noether was one of the great mathematicians of the early 20th century, and her research helped lay the groundwork for both modern physics and two key fields of mathematics.

Noether, a Jewish woman, did her most important work as a researcher at the University of Gottingen in Germany between the late 1910s and early 1930s.

Her most famous work is called Noether's theorem, which has to do with symmetry; it laid the groundwork for further work that became necessary for modern physics and quantum mechanics.

Later, she helped build the foundations of abstract algebra  the work for which she is most highly regarded among mathematicians  and made foundational contributions to a number of other fields.

In April 1933, Adolf Hitler expelled Jews from the universities. For a time, Noether saw students in her home, before following other Jewish German scientists, like Albert Einstein , to the United States. She worked at both Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and Princeton University before dying in April 1935.

Susan Solomon (born 1956)

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Susan Solomon is an atmospheric chemist, author and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who for decades worked at NOAA. During her time at NOAA, she was the first to propose, with input from her colleagues, that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were responsible for the Antarctic hole in the ozone layer.

She led a team in 1986 and 1987 to McMurdo Sound on the southern continent, where the researchers gathered evidence that the chemicals, released by aerosols and other consumer products, interacted with ultraviolet light to remove ozone from the atmosphere.

This led to the U.N. Montreal Protocol, which went into effect in 1989, banning CFCs worldwide. It is considered one of the most successful environmental projects in history, and the hole in the ozone layer has shrunk considerably since the protocol's adoption.

Virginia Apgar (1909-1974)

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Dr. Virginia Apgar was a pioneer in the medical fields of anesthesiology and obstetrics, best known for her invention of the Apgar score, a simple and quick method to assess the health of newborns.

Apgar received her medical degree in 1933 and planned to become a surgeon. But there were limited career opportunities for women in surgery at the time, so she switched to the emerging field of anesthesiology. She would go on to become a leader in the field and the first woman to be named a full professor at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, according to the National Institutes of Health .

One of Apgar's areas of research investigated the effects of anesthesia used during childbirth. In 1952, she developed the Apgar scoring system, which assesses the vital signs of newborns in the first minutes of life. The score is based on measures of the newborn's heart rate , breathing effort, muscle tone, reflexes and color, with lower scores indicating that the baby needs immediate medical attention. The system reduced infant mortality and helped give rise to the field of neonatology, and it is still used today.

Brenda Milner (born 1918)

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Sometimes called the "founder of neuropsychology," Brenda Milner has made groundbreaking discoveries about the human brain , memory and learning.

Milner is best known for her work with "Patient H.M.," a man who lost the ability to form new memories after undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy. Through repeated studies in the 1950s, Milner found that Patient H.M. could learn new tasks, even if he had no memory of doing it. This led to the discovery that there are multiple types of memory systems in the brain, according to the Canadian Association for Neuroscience . Milner's work played a major role in the scientific understanding of the functions of different areas of the brain, such as the role of the hippocampus and frontal lobes in memory and how the two brain hemispheres interact.

Her work continues to this day. At age 103, Milner is still a professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University in Montreal, according to the Montreal Gazette .

Karen Uhlenbeck (born 1942)

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In 2019, American mathematician Karen Uhlenbeck became the first woman to receive the Abel Prize, one of the most prestigious math awards. Uhlenbeck won for her groundbreaking contributions to mathematical physics, analysis and geometry.

She is considered one of the pioneers in the field of geometric analysis, which is the study of shapes using partial differential equations (the derivatives, or rates of change, of multiple different variables, often labeled x, y and z). And the methods and tools that she developed are being used widely throughout the field.

Related: The 11 Most Beautiful Mathematical Equations

Uhlenbeck made major contributions to gauge theories, a set of quantum physics equations that define how subatomic particles should behave. She also figured out the shapes that soap films can take in higher-dimensional curved spaces.

About the Abel Prize, her longtime friend Penny Smith, a mathematician at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, said, "I can't think of anyone who deserves it more. ... She really is not just brilliant but creatively brilliant, amazingly creatively brilliant."

Jane Goodall (born 1934)

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Jane Goodall is a legendary primatologist whose work with wild chimpanzees changed the way we see these animals and their relationship with humans.

In 1960, Goodall began her study of chimpanzees in the Gombe forest of Tanzania. Immersing herself with the animals, she made several revolutionary discoveries, including that chimpanzees make and use tools  a trait that was previously thought to be uniquely human, according to National Geographic. She also found that the animals displayed complex social behaviors, such as altruism and ritualized behaviors, as well as gestures of affection.

In 1965, Goodall earned a doctorate in ethology from the University of Cambridge, becoming one of only a handful of people ever allowed to study at the university at the graduate level without first receiving an undergraduate degree. In 1977, Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support research and protection of chimpanzees.

Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)

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Ada Lovelace was a 19th century self-taught mathematician and is thought of by some as the "world's first computer programmer."

Lovelace grew up fascinated by math and machinery. At age 17, she met English mathematician Charles Babbage at an event where he was demonstrating a prototype for a precursor to his "analytical engine," the world's first computer. Fascinated, Lovelace decided to learn everything she could about the machine.

In 1837, Lovelace translated a paper written about the analytical engine from French. Alongside her translation, she published her own detailed notes about the machine. The notes, which were longer than the translation itself, included a formula she created for calculating Bernoulli numbers. Some say that this formula can be thought of as the first computer program ever written, according to a previous Live Science report .

Lovelace is now a major symbol for women in science and engineering. Her day is celebrated on the second Tuesday of every October.

Dorothy Hodgkin (1910-1994)

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Dorothy Hodgkin, an English chemist, won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1964 for figuring out the molecular structures of peni c illin and vitamin B12.

She became very interested in crystals and chemistry at age 10, and as an undergraduate at the University of Oxford, she became one of the first to study the structure of organic compounds using a method called X-ray crystallography. In her graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, she extended the work of British physicist John Desmond Bernal on biological molecules and helped to make the first X-ray diffraction study of the stomach enzyme pepsin, according to Britannica .

When she was offered a temporary research fellowship in 1934, she returned to Oxford, staying there until she retired. She established an X-ray lab at Oxford's Museum of Natural History, where she began her research on the structure of insulin .

In 1945, Hodgkin successfully described the arrangement of the atoms in penicillin's structure, and in the mid-1950s, she discovered the structure of vitamin B12. In 1969, nearly four decades after her first attempt, she determined the chemical structure of insulin.

Caroline Herschel (1750-1848)

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Caroline Herschel, born in Hannover, Germany, in 1750, might owe her reputation as the world's first professional female astronomer to a bad case of typhus. At 10 years old, Caroline's growth was permanently stunted by the illness  her height peaked at 4 feet, 3 inches (130 centimeters), according to Britannica  as were her marriage prospects. Doomed to be an old maid, as far as her parents were concerned, Herschel's education was abandoned for housework, until her brother, William Herschel, spirited her away to Bath, England, in 1772.

William Herschel was a musician and astronomer, and he tutored his sister in both vocations. Eventually, Caroline Herschel graduated from grinding and polishing her brother's telescope mirrors to honing his equations and making celestial discoveries all her own. While assisting her brother in his role as court astronomer to King George III in 1783, Caroline Herschel detected three previously undiscovered nebulas; three years later, she became the first woman to discover a comet .

In 1787, the king awarded Caroline Herschel an annual pension of 50 pounds, making her the first professional female astronomer in history. She cataloged more than 2,500 nebulas before her death, in 1848, and was awarded gold medals from both the Royal Astronomical Society and the King of Prussia for her research.

Sophie Germain (1776-1831)

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Sophie Germain was a French mathematician best known for her discovery of a special case in Fermat's last theorem that is now called Germain's theorem and for her pioneering work in the theory of elasticity.

Germain's fascination with math began when she was only 13 years old. As a young woman in the early 1800s, Germain's interest in science and mathematics was not well received by her parents, and she was not allowed to receive a formal education in the subject.

So Germain studied behind her parents' back at first and used a male student's name to submit her work to the math instructors she admired. The instructors were impressed, even when they found out that Germain was a woman, and they took her under their wing as much as they could at the time, according to Louis L. Bucciarelli and Nancy Dworsky's book " Sophie Germain: An Essay in the History of the Theory of Elasticity " (Springer Netherlands, 1980).

In 1816, Germain won a contest to come up with a mathematical explanation for a set of unusual images created by German physicist Ernst Chladni. It was Germain's third try to solve the puzzle, which she did by correcting her previous errors. Although her third solution still contained minor discrepancies, the judges were impressed and deemed it worthy of a prize.

Around 1820, Germain wrote to her mentors, Carl Friedrich Gauss and Joseph-Louis Lagrange, about how she was working to prove Fernat's last theorem, according to Agnes Scott College in Georgia. Germain's efforts eventually led to what is now known as Sophie Germain's theorem.

Patricia Bath (1942-2019)

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Dr. Patricia Bath was an American ophthalmologist and laser scientist. Bath became the first female ophthalmologist to be appointed to the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine Jules Stein Eye Institute, in 1974; the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the United States, in 1983; and the first female African American physician to receive a patent for a medical invention, in 1986.

Bath was inspired at a young age to pursue a career in medicine after learning of Dr. Albert Schweitzer's service to the people of what is now Gabon, in Africa, in the early 1900s, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine .

While completing her medical training in New York City in 1969, Bath noticed that there were far more blind or visually impaired patients at the eye clinic in Harlem compared with the eye clinic at Columbia University. So she conducted a study and found that the prevalence of blindness in Harlem was a result of the lack of access to eye care. To solve the problem, Bath proposed a new discipline, community ophthalmology, which trains volunteers to offer primary eye care to underserved populations. The concept is now employed worldwide and has saved the sight of thousands who would have otherwise gone undiagnosed and untreated.

As a new female and Black faculty member at UCLA, Bath experienced numerous instances of sexism and racism. In 1977, she co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, an organization whose mission is to protect, preserve and restore sight.

Bath's research on cataracts led to her invention of a new method and device to remove cataracts, called the laserphaco probe. She earned a patent for the technology in 1986. Today, the device is used worldwide.

Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

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Rachel Carson was an American biologist, conservationist and science writer. She is best known for her book "Silent Spring" (Houghton Mifflin, 1962), which describes the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment. The book eventually led to the nationwide ban of DDT and other harmful pesticides, according to the National Women's History Museum .

Carson studied at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts and received her master's degree in zoology from Johns Hopkins University in 1932. In 1936, Carson became the second woman hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (which later became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), where she worked as an aquatic biologist, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . Her research allowed her to visit many waterways around the Chesapeake Bay region, where she first began to document the effects of pesticides on fish and wildlife .

Carson was a talented science writer, and the Fish and Wildlife Service eventually made her the editor in chief of all its publications. After the success of her first two books on marine life, "Under the Sea Wind" (Simon and Schuster, 1941) and "The Sea Around Us" (Oxford, 1951), Carson resigned from the Fish and Wildlife Service to focus more on writing.

With the help of two other former employees from the Fish and Wildlife Service, Carson spent years studying the effects of pesticides on the environment across the United States and Europe. She summarized her findings in her fourth book, "Silent Spring," which spurred enormous controversy. The pesticide industry tried to discredit Carson, but the U.S. government ordered a complete review of its pesticide policy, and as a result, banned DDT. Carson has since been credited with inspiring Americans to consider the environment.

Ingrid Daubechies (born 1954)

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The honors and scientific citations Ingrid Daubechies would make a CVS receipt look small: Daubechies, born in 1954 in Brussels, where she earned both her bachelor's and doctorate degrees in physics, was drawn to math from an early age. In addition to having an interest in how things worked, she also loved figuring out "why certain mathematical things were true (like the fact that a number is divisible by 9 if, when you add all its digits together, you get another number divisible by 9," she once said, according to a short bio on the website of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She also loved sewing doll clothes  because, of course, of math. "It was fascinating to me that by putting together flat pieces of fabric one could make something that was not flat at all, but followed curved surfaces." And she recalls falling asleep while computing powers of 2 in her head, according to the St Andrews bio.

Perhaps the most important number to her would be 1987. That was not just the year she got married but also when she made a major mathematical breakthrough in the field of wavelets; these are akin to "miniwaves," because rather than going on forever (think about sine and cosine), they quickly fade, with the wave heights starting at zero, rising and then quickly dropping back to zero.

She discovered so-called orthogonal wavelets (now called Daubechies wavelets), which are used in JPEG 2000 image compression and even in some models used for search engines.

Currently, she is a professor of mathematics and electrical and computer engineering at Duke University, where she studies wavelet theory, machine learning and other fields at the intersection of physics, math and engineering.

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

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Marie Curie broke ground not only for becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize but also for being a remarkable scientist whose impact on the world was profound and long-lasting. She is remembered chiefly for her discovery of radium and polonium , and her contributions to the study of radioactivity.

But Curie is also known for a string of other achievements, according to the Nobel Prize website and Britannica . In 1903, for example, Curie became the first woman in France to earn a doctorate in physics. She was the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris and teach classes at the Sorbonne. She pioneered the use of radium in treating cancer tumors. In 1911, she received a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, in recognition of her work in radioactivity. She was also responsible for establishing the use of X-ray machines in World War I, and for creating two important medical institutes  one in Poland and one in France.

Born Marie Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867, she moved to Paris in 1891, where she met and married Pierre Curie, a French physicist with whom she shared (along with physicist Henri Becquerel) her first Nobel Prize. She studied at the University of Paris, earning her doctorate there in 1903. Despite working in relative obscurity during her early years, her work on radioactive substances gradually drew her national and international attention; by the end of her life, she was famed throughout the world and honored for her many achievements.

She died in 1934 because of illnesses brought on by her long exposure to radiation and was buried at the famous Pantheon in Paris.

Barbara McClintock (1902-1992)

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Barbara McClintock was an American scientist whose trailblazing studies in cytogenetics  the study of chromosomes and their genetic expression  garnered her the 1983 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. Today, her theories, especially about "jumping genes," are fundamental to a precise understanding of genetics.

But McClintock almost missed out on pursuing a career as a scientist. Although she wanted to attend Cornell University, her mother was reluctant to send her there, fearing that the move would ruin her marriage prospects, according to the Nobel Prize website . McClintock's father, a physician, came to her rescue and allowed her to attend.

At Cornell, McClintock studied genetics , which, at the time, was a relatively new field of study and one that very few women pursued. She followed this area of study as she continued in her graduate and postgraduate years. She taught at the University of Missouri for a while before finding a permanent position as a researcher for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a New York research facility funded by the Carnegie Institution.

McClintock's studies in genetics remain her greatest legacy. Her primary area of focus was looking at how genes controlled the color patterns of maize kernels. She discovered the ability of a DNA sequence to change position on a genome, causing traits to be "switched" on or off, according to a 2012 article in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . This idea came to be known as genetic transposition, or "jumping genes." The finding transformed ideas about genes, which, at the time, were considered unchangeable, stable entities that could only be passed along from generation to generation. But by the 1960s, the larger scientific community had validated her findings and observations.

Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997)

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Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese American physicist famous for her work on weak subatomic interactions  the interactions responsible for radioactive decay. She was involved in the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II, the American-led effort to develop the atomic bomb.

Wu was born in Liuhe, China, to parents who encouraged her scientific aspirations, according to the National Park Service . She excelled in math and science and attended National Central University, earning a degree in physics. She continued her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, finishing her doctorate in 1940. Rather than returning to China, Wu remained in the United States, taking teaching posts at Smith College and later at Princeton University, where she became the first female faculty member hired by the university.

With the advent of World War II, however, Wu received a position at Columbia University, which involved work on the Manhattan Project. Her research focused on producing bomb-grade uranium by identifying a process using gaseous infusion to separate uranium metal, according to the National Women's History Museum in Virginia. This was a crucial step toward transforming a bomb into an atomic bomb.

After the war, Wu remained at Columbia, eventually becoming the first woman to hold a tenured faculty position in the university's physics department. She retired in 1981 and died in New York City in 1997. In 2021, the U.S. Postal Service honored Wu by putting her on a postage stamp.

Originally published on March 8, 2020. Updated on March 18, 2022 by Tom Garlinghouse.

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Britannica.com, "Marie Curie: Polish-born French Physicist." https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Curie

The Nobel Prize, "Barbara McClintock, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1983." Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1983

Sandeep Ravindran, PNAS, "Barbara McClintock and the discovery of jumping genes," December 10, 2012. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1219372109
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As Oscar voting opens, the guild awards could prove a guide  or bellwether  to who will take home trophies March 27.

Last weeks Costume Designers Guild handed out prizes to Cruella (period film), Dune (fantasy/sci-fi) and Coming 2 America (contemporary).

The CDG has matched Oscar 11 times since 1999 (when the guild first handed out awards) for best costume design with one of their winners. Ma Raineys Black Bottom in 2021 was the most recent, and in 2019 it was Black Panther. So theres a good chance that the categorys frontrunners, Cruella and Dune, will take home the win.

The Makeup and Hairstylist Guild Awards kicked off crafts season in February, awarding Coming 2 America three trophies, while Cruella took home best period hairstyling. America got a boost, as the guild favored the regal styles of the films fictional Zamunda over the transformations of Stellan Skarsgard in Dune, Jared Leto in House of Gucci and Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

On March 5, the 72nd ACE Eddies awards recognized King Richards editor Pamela Martin over perceived frontrunner Joe Walker for Dune. Whether Oscar matches here remains to be seen  its record for predicting the five nomination slots is strong; its winning film has matched Oscar 22 of the last 31 times.

Dune prevailed at the Visual Effects Society awards, going home with four gongs, topping fellow nominees Free Guy and Spider-Man: No Way Home, which will also compete in the Oscar race.

Dunes win in the outstanding visual effects in a photoreal feature category  the one closely mirroring Oscar  is significant: those winners have gone on to Oscar glory 10 times in the past 18 years. The last film to do so was The Jungle Book in 2017.

Dune also got another boost at the Art Directors Guild Awards, where it won in its fantasy category.

Fellow Oscar nominee Nightmare Alley is its closest competitor; Tamara Deverell nabbed the ADG prize for period feature, topping West Side Story and The Tragedy of Macbeth, both with Oscar noms. Its worth noting that female production designers are still highly underrepresented in the industry with even fewer winning an Oscar.

To that point, the Academy has yet to recognize a female cinematographer. In 2022s race, The Power of the Dogs Ari Wegner faces stiff competition from Greig Fraser, who worked alongside Denis Villeneuve on Dune. Should Wegner win, she would become the first woman to land an Oscar in this category. But The Batman is earning Fraser high praise and could tip him to victory as he is more top of mind with voters. The American Society of Cinematographers awards are March 20  with Wegner and Fraser among those nominees  so could add some clarity on the Oscar race.

This year marks the second year of the Academy combining sound editing and sound mixing into one category. In 2021, The Sound of Metal took the inaugural trophy. While Dune is a front-runner, look to the Motion Picture Sound Editors guild and Cinema Audio Society winners for guidance, but with a caveat: last year, Sound of Metal won CAS but was shut out at MPSE.

As for song, while Billie Eilish won at the Society of Composers and Lyricists and took home the Grammy last year for her No Time to Die from the film of the same title, its hard to say whether the Academy will bestow her with top honors here, or if Lin-Manuel Miranda will complete his EGOT? Who can compete against Encantos viral hit We Dont Talk About Bruno? Although Disney put forward Dos Orugitas from Encanto in the Oscar race, perhaps the blockbuster success of Bruno will rub off on Miranda.

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Turning Red, Pixars latest animated coming-of-age film about a Chinese-Canadian middle school girl who unexpectedly inherits the ability to turn into a giant red panda, has gone viral in the short time since it dropped on Disney+  but not for the reasons you might expect.

The film is set in the early 2000s, and centers around Mei, a 13-year-old Toronto teen with a loyal group of girlfriends who struggles with her new panda powers that activate when she feels any intense emotions. Turning Red is directed by Oscar-winner Domee Shi in her feature debut, who also directed the Pixar animated short Bao. The story been praised by critics not only for its depictions of puberty and teenage girlhood, but also for its representation of Chinese culture, and Pixars first full-length picture to have an Asian main character.

But just like growing up, it hasnt always been the smoothest ride: the film sparked a fair amount of controversy leading up to, and after, its official release from everyone from film critics, to parents, and animation buffs on Twitter. Even the biggest fans of the movie were concerned about Disneys decision to release the film exclusively on Disney+, making it the third Pixar film since 2020 to be denied a theatrical release.

Want to watch the film online? Heres what you need to know about all the attention (and controversy) the movies received, and where to steam it.

Turning Red Reviews and Controversy

Even before the Turning Reds release, a tense debate erupted on Twitter after a tweet went viral mocking the films unique art style. Some chimed in to agree with the original tweet, claiming that Pixars animation and character design quality had somehow diminished over the years, with others firing back that this production was trying something new and inspired (with some users pointing out how rough Pixars early CGI initially looked, such as in films like the first Toy Story).

Meanwhile, since its release on Disney+, Turning Red currently holds 95 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, yet the audience score is 72 percent as of the publish date. The film (which has a PG rating), received several criticisms and comments from parents who were concerned about the progressive ideas presented in the film. This was in response to the films normalized take on aspects of puberty like periods (including a scene where Meis mother shows up to her school with a box of pads), budding sexuality, and changing bodies.

But the most public debate came out of a hotly-contested CinemaBlend review of the film by critic and managing director Sean OConnell, which has since been deleted. It received significant backlash from readers and press across the web, calling it racist and sexist commentary.

I recognized the humor in the film, but connected with none of it. By rooting Turning Red very specifically in the Asian community of Toronto, the film legitimately feels like it was made for [director] Domee Shis friends and immediate family members, OConnell wrote in the now-deleted review. Which is fine  but also, a tad limiting in its scope.

What didnt help was a follow-up tweet (now deleted) from OConnell, which attempted to clarify his position, but only seemed as if he was doubling down. Some Pixar films are made for universal audiences, OConnell wrote. Turning Red is not. The target audience for this one feels very specific and very narrow. If you are in it, this might work very well for you. I am not in it. This was exhausting.

CinemaBlends Editor-In-Chief issued a statement shortly after stating they failed to properly edit this review, with OConnell releasing his own apology on Twitter. Since then, several cast members have spoken up in response, including Rosalie Chiang, who voices Mei in the film.

How to Watch Turning Red Online

To watch Turning Red online right now, youll need a Disney+ subscription. Pricing for Disney+ starts at just $7.99 a month and will include instant access to watch Turning Red online, as well as all of Disney+ slate of original shows, movies and exclusive offerings.

Buy: Disney+ Subscription at $7.99

Want a better offer? Right now, you can get the Disney Bundle Deal, which gets you Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for just $13.99 a month. Use it to stream Turning Red online and get access to the entire Hulu and ESPN+ library of shows as well.

Both Disney+ offers let you watch Turning Red on your computer, tablet, or phone. You can also watch Turning Red on TV by casting it onto your screen through the Disney+ app on Roku, Fire TV Stick 4K, Apple TV and other similar streaming devices.

The Disney+ Bundle is a great deal if you want to watch Turning Red on Disney+, as well as other Pixar releases that premiered on the platform like Luca and Soul, which are all streaming on Disney+.

How to Watch Turning Red Online Free

While Disney+ doesnt offer a free trial on its own, there are a couple ways to watch Turning Red online free.

If you are a Verizon subscriber, you may be eligible for their Disney+ On Us deal, which gets you six months of Disney+ for free. Sign-up for the offer or register for the free streaming deal with your Verizon plan here. You can then use it to stream Turning Red on Disney+ for free.

Buy: Disney+ on Us Deal at Verizon

Turning Red Rating, Runtime, Cast, and Description

The runtime for Turning Red is 1 hour and 40 minutes, and the film has a PG rating. The film features the voices of many prominent Asian actors, as well as a few newcomers including Rosalie Chiang as Meilin Mei Lee. The cast also includes Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho, Tristan Allerick Chen, and James Hong.

In Turning Red, Meilin Mei Lee is a confident, adorkable 13-year-old who struggles between being a dutiful daughter, maintaining her relationship with her mother, and coming into her own as a teenager. One morning, she wakes up transformed into a giant red panda, and learns of a family blessing (or curse) that causes her to become the panda whenever she gets too excited. As she waits for a ceremony that can break the curse, Mei and her loyal friend group set their sights on using the panda to prepare for an upcoming concert of her favorite boy group, 4*TOWN.

You can currently watch Turning Red online, streaming on Disney+.

Buy: Disney+ Subscription at $7.99
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Korean superstar Lee Minho sent camera flashbulbs into a frenzy on Wednesday night at the premiere of his new Apple TV Plus series Pachinko at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.

Based on the bestselling book by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko chronicles a Korean immigrant family across four generations, with its story centered around matriarch Sunja, played by newcomers Yu-na Jeon and Minha Kim, as well as Oscar-winner Yuh-Jung Youn. Lee plays Hansu, whose romance with Sunja changes the course of both their lives.

Despite his lengthy resume, and his worldwide celebrity, Lee Minho actively pursued the producers behind the show and auditioned for the role. On the red carpet, the actor explained why he simply had to be part of the show.

First of all, the story was powerful. I loved it, he told Variety. I could really relate to the strength and resilience of the people who had to live those desperate and difficult times. And my character Hansu has his own way of survival, which is quite heartbreaking.

Lee noted that the character is much darker than his previous roles: Everyone has some kind of good and evil inside them, but Hansu is a character that goes from good to kind of bad or evil. Its challenging, but it was different and good.

Executive producer Michael Ellenberg sang the actors praises, noting that Lee gave the character a depth and a texture that we didnt know we could have, especially in a dramatic episode where audiences learn about Hansus origins.

Hes such an incredible star and such incredible actor, and he really saw this opportunity to show sides of himself that audiences hadnt seen before. So he chased us; he fought hard for it  he was so brave in putting himself out there.

Kogonada, who both served as an executive producer and split directing duties with Justin Chon, also weighed in on the Lee Minho factor.

I mean, hes an orbit, right? Kogonada mused. But what was so lovely about him is how committed he was to this particular role, and how undistracted he was because there was always fans from afar screaming his name.

Yet, the filmmaker explained, [Lee] cared so deeply about this role and about this project, he was so focused on the details of every scene. Its always remarkable when someone is a universe in and of themselves, but they are also highly focused on the task at hand.

But while Lee was up for the drama, he wasnt as eager to groove to the music in the series opening credits sequence, which features the cast dancing in a pachinko parlor to Lets Live for Today, by The Grass Roots.

I wouldnt really call it a dance, Lee said, shyly, of his performance. It was kind of like movement. My fans know that Im a bad dancer.

Writer, showrunner, creator and executive producer Soo Hugh confirmed his account of things.

He refused to dance, yes. No matter what songs we played, no matter how we tried to get him up, she said with a smile, adding that she was widely impressed by the dance talents of many in the cast, like Jin Ha (who just wrapped a run on Broadway as Aaron Burr in Hamilton; the actor plays Solomon, Sunjas grandson), Soji Arai (Mozasu, Sunjas son and Solomons father) and Minha Kim.

The cast is rounded out by Anna Sawai (Naomi), Eunchae Jung (Young Kyunghee), Inji Jeong (Yangjin), Kaho Minami (Etsuko), Steve Sanghyun Noh (Isak), Junwoo Han (Yoseb), Jimmi Simpson (Tom Andrews) and Yu-na Jeon (young Sunja).

Where much of the ensemble is made up of industry veterans, the epic series marks Minha Kims first major role. She was drawn to the part of teenage Sunja because of the characters complex dynamics.

[Sunja] has a lot of strengths in herself and is sometimes fragile, but she knows how to survive and she has all kinds of wisdom, Kim observed. I felt like I had to do this because it represents all the women around the world.

Kim also reflected on sharing a character with Youn, whose iconic career spans 50 years, most recently celebrated by her historic best supporting actress win last year for Minari.

I was so honored by having the opportunity to play the same role with her and to connect with her, so it was amazing, she added.

Kogonada emphasized just how crucial it is to bring a perspective like Sunjas to a wider audience.

Sunja is constantly knocked down. She makes choices that have really incredible consequences, and you expect for her to shrivel, he began, explaining the importance of showing those turning point moments and the aftermath of them throughout the show.

He continued: Women are the backbone of families and history often overlooks these mothers, and grandmothers, and daughters, that we all know in our families that there are these sort of epic stories of these women who could not give up, who were just constantly persevering and resilient. Bringing that to life was a real pleasure and joy.

Guests at the event included executive producers Theresa Kang-Lowe and Lindsey Springer, as well as industry notables like Zoe Chao, Greta Lee, Ashley Park, Ally Maki, Damon Lindelof and Natalie Portman.

The first three episodes of Pachinko debut March 25 on Apple TV Plus, with the remaining five episodes launching weekly thereafter.

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Looks like Pete Davidson wont be heading to space after all.

Just three days after revealing the SNL comedian would be joining their next flight, the Jeff Bezos-founded company announced on Thursday night that the date of the flight had moved and Davidson would no longer be part of the excursion.

Blue Origins 20th flight of New Shepard has shifted to Tuesday, March 29. Pete Davidson is no longer able to join the NS-20 crew on this mission, the tweet reads. We will announce the sixth crew member in the coming days.

Blue Origin's 20th flight of New Shepard has shifted to Tuesday, March 29. Pete Davidson is no longer able to join the NS-20 crew on this mission. We will announce the sixth crew member in the coming days.  Blue Origin (@blueorigin) March 18, 2022

The reason for Davidsons departure from the flight is not immediately clear. Representatives for Davidson did not immediately respond to Varietys request for comment.

The flight was originally set for March 23. The rest of the crew includes Party America CEO Marty Allen; philanthropist and real estate mogul Marc Hagle and his wife, Sharon Hagle; University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen; and Dr. George Nield, president of Commercial Space Technologies. The excursion will mark the fourth human flight launched by the private aerospace company, and its 20th in total.

Since Blue Origins first successful human flight in July 2021, the company has brought in a slew of celebrities aboard its missions. Star Trek actor William Shatner, who is 90, broke the record for the oldest person to travel to space when he boarded Blue Origins second flight. Most recently, Good Morning America host Michael Strahan braved the trip.

Davidson has been in the news recently for his relationship with Kim Kardashian, and the drama that has ensued with her former husband, Kanye West. As for his work, Davidson continues to appear on SNL and is the star of an upcoming romantic comedy, Meet Cute, alongside Kaley Cuoco.

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UPDATE: The Russian establishment has responded to U.K. media regulator Ofcom revoking the Russian-backed RT channels licence to broadcast in the country.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: This is a continuation of the madness which is going on in America and Europe  it is anti-Russian madness. This is yet another step that crudely limits freedom of speech.

RTs deputy editor-in-chief Anna Belkina said: Ofcom has shown the U.K. public, and the regulatory community internationally, that, despite a well-constructed facade of independence, it is nothing more than a tool of government, bending to its media-suppressing will.

By ignoring RTs completely clean record of four consecutive years and stating purely political reasons tied directly to the situation in Ukraine and yet completely unassociated to RTs operations, structure, management or editorial output, Ofcom has falsely judged RT to not be fit and proper and in doing so robbed the U.K. public of access to information, Belkina added.

Earlier, U.K media regulator Ofcom had on Friday revoked the RT channels licence to broadcast in the country with immediate effect.

We have done so on the basis that we do not consider RTs licensee, ANO TV Novosti, fit and proper to hold a UK broadcast licence, Ofcom had said in a statement.

The decision arrives during 29 ongoing investigations by Ofcom into the due impartiality of RTs news and current affairs coverage of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

We consider the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concern  especially given RTs compliance history, which has seen the channel fined 200,000 [$263,000] for previous due impartiality breaches, Ofcom said.

In this context, Ofcom launched a separate investigation to determine whether ANO TV Novosti is fit and proper to retain its licence to broadcast and took into account several factors including that RT is is funded by the Russian state and new laws in Russia which criminalize any independent journalism that departs from the Russian states own news narrative, in particular in relation to the invasion of Ukraine.

We consider that given these constraints it appears impossible for RT to comply with the due impartiality rules of our Broadcasting Code in the circumstances, Ofcom stated.

RT is currently off air in the U.K. thanks to sanctions imposed by the European Union since the Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced. The EU banned the Russia Today and Sputnik channels in February.

Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes said: Freedom of expression is something we guard fiercely in this country, and the bar for action on broadcasters is rightly set very high. Following an independent regulatory process, we have today found that RT is not fit and proper to hold a licence in the U.K. As a result we have revoked RTs U.K. broadcasting licence.

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Director Graham Moore was adamant about wanting to nail down the authenticity of what a tailoring shop looked like and what a cutter does in the process of making clothes for his new film The Outfit. He recruited fashion designer Zac Posen to take audiences inside the world of tailoring. Says Posen, He was interested in close-ups of the texture of clothing material, the dust when you cut, or how threads rapidly fly up.

Mark Rylance stars as Leonard, a master ex-Savile Row tailor, who winds up in post-WW II Chicago where he stitches together suits, while the local mob uses his store as a front.

To build Leonards costumes, the filmmakers found the perfect collaborator in Savile Row tailor Huntsman & Son who custom-made the shirts and suits in the film.

During that process, the pandemic threw a wrench in the works leaving Posen to hire a co-costume designer. We wanted someone to share in the process, somebody that had experience in London because I wasnt there to implement things, he said. Sophie ONeill proved to be an ideal collaborator, working to age the costumes to show wear and tear.

With ONeill on board, Posen had another idea, What if Mark could job-shadow at Hunstman? Hes such a thorough actor and researcher. Bridges was soon in the tailoring room with the suitmakers, working alongside head cutter Campbell Carey while Posen watched over Zoom. He [Mark], took part in making his costume. He was totally game for that as he learned how to hold the scissors and watch the perfection of Hunstman in these tailoring appointments, says Posen.

While white shirts were prominent, Posen discussed color and how to make it pop through this dark setting of the tailors store and the traditional dark suits. I had early conversations about Minnelli Yellow (inspired by Vincente Minnellis An American in Paris) and using colors that would pop on film, explains Posen. He found ways to incorporate blues and greens through Zoey Deutchs character, Mable. Adds Posen, What I saw and heard from Grahams original vision to what ends up on screen is a real testament to the producers, the production and the team that he put together here.

With three costume designer credits to his name, the fashion designer says he is excited to work on more films and explore more work onscreen. Im really excited to work on costumes in the future and different genres of costume. Maybe using more of my fantasy sensibility, Posen suggests.

And as the Oscars approach, who is Posen rooting for? My very good friend Andrew Garfield. He gave an impeccable performance in Tick, Tick Boom! I watched his preparation for that and it was incredible, raves Posen.

It is also the first time in 20 years that Posen, who has dressed Andra Day, Gwyneth Paltrow and Viola Davis, will not be flying out to L.A., despite getting daily requests. Theres always next year, he promises.

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On March 16, The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, an agency to improve traffic conditions in Bexar County, agreed to begin discussions with Elon Musks The Boring Company for a transportation project connecting downtown San Antonio with the San Antonio International Airport. Here are five things to know about the project.

What is The Boring Company?

The Boring Company was founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2016. The company produces tunnels for high-speed and hyperloop travel.

The company built a loop underneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, which has three stations and is 1.7 miles long, in April 2021. The company is also working on a much larger project in Las Vegas that will include 29 miles of stations and 51 stations.

What will the project do?

The transportation project would generally [connect] the San Antonio Airport area to downtown San Antonio, a press release from ARMA said. The goal of the project is to reduce traffic congestion on roadways.

The project would use Tesla vehicles in a rideshare system to travel through a tunnel 30 feet below the ground, San Antonio Report reported.

What is the cost?

A rough estimate of the cost is between $247 million to $289 million, according to ARMA. The cost depends on utilities, real estate and other potential and variable costs, the ARMA said.

How will it be paid for?

The project would be paid for by bonds backed by the projects revenue, which could include ride fares and advertising, according to San Antonio Report. The Boring Company estimated the revenue could be $25 million a year.

How long will it take to construct?

The Boring Company said it could start the project in a year and complete it in 36 months, according to San Antonio Report. It took the company about one year to complete the Las Vegas Convention Center loop, its website says.

The next step is for the ARMA to determine the feasibility of the project and enter into a development agreement with The Boring Company. No timeline was given for this process, according to San Antonio Report.

ARMA staff will be meeting with The Boring Company in the coming weeks, the ARMA release said.
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Laredo College will hold a special Board of Trustees meeting next week to discuss the status of the search for its next president.

LC stated the meeting will take place Tuesday, March 22. It will feature talks of scheduling interviews with finalists and discussing potential terms of employment.

Laredo College has been searching for a new president since the resignation of Dr. Ricardo Solis during the summer of 2021.

The announcement of his departure was made on May 2021 as he became president at the Rio Grande Valleys South Texas College. His resignation letter was then accepted by LC during July 2021.

This makes almost a year since Laredo College has been in the process of filling its presidential position, however, it is something it states that it was already prepared for.

Last year, it was reported that with planning and preparations, the process for the presidential search could take between six months to a year.

Comparing it to the last presidential search for Solis, the Board began the process of finding of new president in October of 2015 before officially hiring him in July the following year, board member Jackie Ramos said.

Last year, Ramos stated that this process would be done as transparently as possible to inform stakeholders in hopes to share the progress of the upcoming search.
If you woke to the smell of smoke hovering over the Houston area this morning, don't be alarmed. Winds from the northwest are blowing smoke and haze to the Bayou City from wildfires currently raging in Central Texas.

The Texas A&M Forest Service Thursday reported that multiple small fires combined to form a massive blaze now burning in Eastland County, which is just east of Abilene. As of Friday morning, the fire has consumed 39,883 acres and is still only 2 percent contained, the forest service reported.

The combination of Thursday night's cold front and gusty winds, some as high as 20 to 30 mph, pushed the smoke from the wildfire across the state to the Houston area, according to Space City Weather. The wind gusts are expected to die down through the weekend, though Friday will be another elevated fire weather day.

The National Weather Service shared a gif depicting how the smoke traveled to the area. Although the smell will dissipate through the afternoon, it may return later Friday evening, they said.

Fox Weather meteorologist Aaron Barker says the worst of the Eastland Complex fire smoke will arrive in the Houston area around 7 a.m. Saturday. "If you're sensitive to that kind of stuff, it'll be best to keep your windows closed tonight," Barker tweeted.

Confused and concerned, residents took to social media to report the scent of smoke as it hit the area. Some as far south as Pearland reported smelling the fumes as they stepped outside Friday morning.

Despite the strong odors, air quality readings in Houston were moderate as of 9 a.m., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, Houston's office of emergency management said the quality could potentially worsen throughout the day.

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena advised those with chronic respiratory conditions, like asthma, allergies or COPD, to stay indoors if possible. "CALL YOUR Dr. IMMEDIATELY if the smoke is causing adverse reactions," Pena tweeted.

Some local firefighters are assisting with putting out the wildfires. The Spring Fire Department Friday morning shared a clip of Captain Tim Weiman and firefighter Jason Adams helping protect structures in the Abilene region.

On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the state's emergency management division to activate more resources to combat "escalated fire weather conditions." He urged residents across the state to "remain weather-aware and practice wildfire safety diligently through the rest of the week to keep their communities safe."

This is a developing story.
43-year-old Travis Heath King and 60-year-old Bobby Jack Northcutt from Tracy City have been charged in two separate cases.
This image made available by Azov Battalion, shows the drama theater, damaged after shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday March 17, 2022. Rescuers are searching for survivors in the ruins of a theater ripped apart by Russian airstrikes in the besieged city of Mariupol, while ferocious Russian bombardment killed dozens in a northern city over the past day, according to the local governor. Debris is seen after a theater was damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine on March 17. (Azov Battalion/AP)
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.
Nomad Theatre Network and Livin Dred Theatre present a re-imagined production of the well-loved Irish play, Tarry Flynn, touring to venues around the country this spring.

Set in 1930s Cavan, Tarry Flynn tells the hilarious story of the farmer, poet and lover-from-afar, and his quest for big fields, young women and the meaning of life.

Tarrys adventures uncover the beauty in every aspect of nature and farm life, while he seeks to keep up his desperate campaign to woo the local girls. Or at least have a roll in the hay!

One of Irelands most-loved poets, Patrick Kavanaghs novel Tarry Flynn is hugely popular with Irish audiences, with its themes of sexual politics, isolation, poetry, farming, and our relationship with the land.

With a large-scale cast, Kavanaghs seminal work, adapted for stage by Conall Morrison, is given dynamic new life under the direction of award-winning Aaron Monaghan, in an ambitious, imaginative and highly-physicalised staging, with actors playing a multitude of characters  and animals - throughout.

The hilarious and energetic new production of Tarry Flynn promises to be one of the theatrical highlights of the year.

This production continues the close-knit relationship which NOMAD and Livin Dred have cultivated over the years, capitalising on a highly successful and fruitful partnership.

NOMAD Theatre Network has produced a host of high quality theatre productions including The Dead School by Pat McCabe directed by Padraic McIntyre/Livin Dred and The Far Off Hills by Lennox Robinson directed by Mikel Murfi.

It collaborated with Teac Damsa in 2018 to bring their seminal work Swan Lake: Lock na hEala on tour nationally also.

Over the past seventeen years Livin Dred Theatre has established itself as one of the most important and well-known independent theatre companies in Ireland.

Tarry Flynn follows up on the companys recent smash-hit successes, which include a highly-acclaimed run of Danti-Dan by Gina Moxley, and a sell-out tour of Trad by Mark Doherty which was seen by over 3600 people nationally.

Aaron Monaghans work to date as both an actor and director has garnered him huge respect with audiences throughout the country.

Aaron says that Tarry Flynn is the book that he picks up and reads a few chapters of most often.

Maybe its because Im from Cavan and its set there, but I feel deeply connected to the book, he said.

Kavanagh makes you laugh your face off in one paragraph and punches you in the stomach with the tragedy of the next one. The great un-heroic Irish hero.

At once heart-breaking and hilarious, dont miss this joyful, earthy, imaginative, energetic and beautiful production which has been described as a love-letter to life in rural Ireland.

Its wonderful after such a long time to be back in the theatre with a full cast and crew, said Niamh McGrath who plays the mother.

Aaron Monaghan has truly found so much humour from every corner of the play and theres a wonderful pace to the show - we all play numerous characters which adds to the dynamism of the piece.

The play is touring to the Nomad network of regional venues, and we are hugely excited to be performing in front of audiences across Ireland.

Tarry Flynnwill be staged at Backstage Theatre on March 22 and 23. Tickets available via backstage.ie.

This production has been funded by the Arts Council with support from Cavan County Council.
The levels of drink-driving checks in Ireland are among the lowest in Europe, according to a new study.

The European Transport Safety Council completed the study which finds that the number of fines per head of population for a variety of motoring offences has been declining over the past decade.

Alcohol checks were described in the study as relatively infrequent in Ireland compared with most other European countries.

Ireland has the lowest rate of motorists checked for drink-driving among 12 countries that provided data, the study adds.

Only 64 Irish drivers per 1,000 population had to take a breath test while driving in 2019 compared with the average of 232 among the 12 countries. The highest rate was in Estonia, which was 696 per 1,000.

In 2019, Ireland had the lowest proportions of tested drivers found to be over the legal limit at 0.5%.

Ireland also had the fourth lowest rate of speeding fines per capita among 26 European countries. Only 28 per 1,000 Irish motorists received a speeding ticket in 2019.

The rate was 671 in Austria and 395 in the Netherlands.

The report showed the overwhelming majority of speeding tickets issued in countries with high rates of enforcement were due to the use of speed cameras.

The report notes the success of such cameras.

A time-over-distance camera system has been in operation within the Dublin Tunnel since mid - 2017. It has proved hugely successful in improving driver behaviour as regards speeding, with the number of drivers complying with the 80km/h speed limit increasing from 45% to just under 90%.

This beneficial effect of time-over-distance cameras is also evident at a newly installed system on the M7 motorway

(currently in pre-enforcement mode), according to the report, where there has been an immediate and sustained improvement in measured compliance from 68% to approximately 90%.
Sports & Recreation, Business & Finance

By Ls Cohen Published: March 18 2022

Flight will take off for Louisville, KY on Thursday, May 5 and return to MacArthur Airport on Sunday, May 8.

Want to catch the Kentucky Derby but dont know how to get there? A new airline has the answer for Long Islanders. Breeze Airlines started service out of MacArthur airport this February promoting itself as providing non-stop service on routes other airlines dont fly. The airline recently announced that it will be flying to Louisville, KY on Thursday, May 5 from Long Island returning to MacArthur airport on Sunday, May 8 to catch the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The race is set for Saturday, May 7.

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most well- known Grade 1 Thoroughbred stakes races in the world. First run in 1875, this 1 1/4-mile (10 furlongs) race kicks-off the American Triple Crown of horse racing.

If youre a fan of horseracing, what better way to experience the first leg of the Triple Crown than in person at the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
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!)
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

----------

Polymetal International PLC - Jersey-registered precious metals miner in Russia and Khazakhstan - Appoints four new non-executive directors to replace the six that resigned last week amid Western sanctions against Russia. Janat Berdalina, Steven Dashevsky, Evgueni Konovalenko and Paul Ostling all joined the board on Thursday. Berdalina is managing partner of accountants KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Dashevsky is chief executive officer of UK-based investment manager D&P Advisors LLP. Konovalenko is managing director and head of International Equities & FICC Sales at Renaissance Capital, an emerging and frontier markets investment bank with offices in Moscow and elsewhere. Ostling spent 30 years at accountants E&Y, including helping to launch the E&Y business in Russia from 1991. The four new directors bolster the board back to seven members, including five who are independent. Last week, Chair Ian Cockerill, together with five other non-executive directors, all stepped down. Polymetal, currently a FTSE 100 constituent, is set to be removed from all FTSE Russell indices from Monday next week, due to insufficient trading liquidity following the imposition of sanctions against Russia. Polymetal shares were up 2.1% on Friday but are down 89% so far in 2022.

----------

Xeros Technology Group PLC - Rotherham, South Yorkshire-based laundry technology that reduces water use - CEO Mark Nichols plans to leave Xeros to move to a "portfolio career" at the end of 2022, having served six and half years. Nichols will remain until September 30 and handover to his successor. The search for a new CEO has begun.

----------

Harland & Wolff Group Holdings PLC - Belfast-based ship repair, conversion and offshore construction - Confirms Malcolm Groat as chair, having been interim chair since September. The board currently has four members - Groat plus a second non-executive director and two executive directors. Harland & Wolff is searching for an additional non-executive director.

----------

Asiamet Resources Ltd - developing copper-gold deposits in Indonesia, including BKZ deposit in Central Kelimantan - Hires Darryn McClelland as CEO, noting he brings 25 years of mine development experience in Australia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Eritrea and Ghana. McClelland currently is chief operating officer of PT Agincourt Resources, which is developing the Martabe gold mine in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

----------

By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were little changed in early trade on Friday as investors continued to monitor any developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

At 0830 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 7,378.47.

Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Equity markets remain highly sensitive to the repercussions of the conflict and as fighting enters the fourth week, there still seems a gulf separating Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.

"Russian aggression is expected to be discussed on a difficult call between the US President and China's premier later which is causing nervousness given it comes at a sensitive diplomatic time between Russia and the US. Reports that Joe Biden will tell Xi Jinping that Beijing will pay a price if it supports Russia, has done little to calm worries about the potential escalation of the geopolitical situation.

"With the corporate world having built up a solid fortress to isolate Russia from the global economy, the US clearly wants to ensure Russia can't find an escape route to avoid the effectiveness of sanctions."

In equity markets, pub chain JD Wetherspoon nudged lower despite saying it halved interim pre-tax losses as Covid restrictions eased and that trading in the last three weeks was now 2.6% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

Investec lost ground even as it lifted full-year profit guidance, driven by the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Vodafone rose following a Reuters report that global infrastructure funds have approached the company to invest in its $16bn mast company Vantage Towers.

Vital components manufacturer Essentra gained as it hailed a "strong" full-year trading performance, driven by accelerated growth in the final quarter of the year.

Power generation company ContourGlobal was also among the risers as it reported a record full-year financial performance and said trading in the current financial year was ahead of the board's expectations.

Drinks maker C&C fizzed higher after an upgrade to 'buy' at Shore Capital, while Softcat was lifted by an upgrade to 'buy' at Berenberg.

Outside the FTSE 350, Ted Baker surged after US private equity firm Sycamore Partners confirmed it was in the early stages of considering a possible cash offer for the fashion retailer.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,378.47 -0.09%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,005.90 0.14%

techMARK (TASX) 4,336.96 0.00%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Polymetal International (POLY) 146.00p 4.21%

Prudential (PRU) 1,089.00p 1.68%

Anglo American (AAL) 3,711.50p 1.57%

Vodafone Group (VOD) 127.54p 1.25%

Ashtead Group (AHT) 5,552.00p 1.24%

Ferguson (FERG) 11,090.00p 1.23%

Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) 996.60p 1.18%

Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 13,010.00p 1.09%

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 48.50p 1.05%

Royal Mail (RMG) 367.30p 1.02%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Pearson (PSON) 786.20p -2.96%

Airtel Africa (AAF) 143.90p -1.84%

Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,236.50p -1.67%

ITV (ITV) 84.56p -1.49%

BP (BP.) 363.20p -1.32%

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,033.00p -1.07%

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 93.18p -1.06%

Abrdn (ABDN) 207.10p -1.05%

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 140.76p -1.00%

WPP (WPP) 1,050.50p -0.94%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) (BPT) 290.00p 3.57%

C&C Group (CDI) (CCR) 220.00p 3.19%

Apax Global Alpha Limited (APAX) 212.00p 2.91%

Softcat (SCT) 1,673.00p 2.70%

Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) 231.50p 2.43%

Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) 262.50p 2.34%

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 167.10p 2.20%

BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 716.00p 2.14%

OSB Group (OSB) 555.50p 2.02%

Currys (CURY) 89.40p 2.00%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Mitie Group (MTO) 56.00p -3.45%

Workspace Group (WKP) 650.00p -3.06%

Helios Towers (HTWS) 116.80p -2.67%

Greencore Group (CDI) (GNC) 128.30p -2.58%

Investec (INVP) 448.40p -2.42%

Sirius Real Estate Ltd. (SRE) 126.40p -2.17%

SSP Group (SSPG) 249.40p -2.12%

Ashmore Group (ASHM) 245.60p -2.00%

Darktrace (DARK) 443.80p -1.38%

Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 1,418.00p -1.32%
(Alliance News) - Anglo American PLC on Friday said it has partnered with EDF Renewables to secure 100% renewable energy supply for its South Africa operations.

The project follows rolling blackouts in SA as public utility Eskom Holdings SOC Holdings Ltd struggles to keep the lights on, hurting the energy-heavy mining industry.

EDF Renewables is the SA subsidiary of French utility EDF Group.

Together, the two will develop a "a regional renewable energy ecosystem".

The project is expected to be designed to meet Anglo American's operational electricity requirements in SA through the supply of 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

It will focus on developing on-site and off-site solar and wind farms, and will include between 3 gigawatts and 5 GW of renewable electricity and storage over the next decade.

"We are targeting carbon neutrality across our operations by 2040 and we are making good progress. Today's announcement is a further major step towards addressing our on-site energy requirements - the largest source of our operational emissions," said Anglo Chief Executive Mark Cutifani.

Anglo American shares were up 2.3% to ZAR727.55 each in Johannesburg on Friday morning. In London, the stock was up 1.3% to 3,701.50 pence each.

Last year June, SA President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the go-ahead to raise the threshold of embedded generation licence cap for private companies from 1 megawatt to 100 MW.

With embedded generation, the government will allow private companies to produce energy for their own use in their own plants and potentially to supply excess capacity to the national grid.

Loadshedding implemented by Eskom has continued into 2022, with the most recent bout ending last Friday.

The embattled state-owned power utility faces a slew of challenges due to its ageing coal-fired power plants that keep breaking down. Two new power stations - Kusile and Medupe - are fraught with massive defects.

In a separate release, Anglo American announced the commissioning of the Benguela Gem diamond recovery vessel in Namibia. This was completed ahead of schedule and below budget.

The Benguela Gem will add an additional 500,000 carats of diamonds to annual marine production, an increase of around 45%, following an investment of about USD420 million as part of a 50:50 joint venture between Anglo American diamond subsidiary De Beers Group and the Namibian government.

Anglo American paid around USD210 million towards the vessel.

The vessel will form part of Debmarine Namibia's fleet. Debmarine Namibia is a subsidiary of Namdeb Holdings, a 50:50 joint venture between De Beers Group and the Namibian government. They operate off the off the south west coast of Namibia in the Atlantic 1 licence area.

The vessel deploys advanced subsea crawling  a technique for recovering diamonds from the seabed.

De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver said: "The Benguela Gem is the first of its kind and represents an outstanding feat of engineering design, technology innovation and sustainability performance. The investment in this vessel will support a long term, sustainable future for Namibia's diamond sector, which is home to some of the most sought-after diamonds in the world."

In 2021, Debmarine Namibia recovered around 1.1 million carats of rough diamonds of total Namdeb Holdings production of around 1.5 million carats.

De Beers rough diamond production came in at 32.3 million carats, up 29% from 25.1 million in 2020.

By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

----------

JPMorgan Russian Securities PLC - Russia-focused investor - Net asset value per share ends Thursday at 40.3 pence. "Due to the continued closure of the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the company considers that there has been a material change to the market value of its investments and it is in the best interests of the shareholders to apply an alternative valuation method," it adds. Continues: "While the company has applied a fair value against these investments, there is no certainty that any value will be achievable from them over the short, medium or even long term due to the factors arising following the imposition of additional sanctions against Russia."

----------

Duke Royalty Ltd - Guernsey-based royalty finance provider - Makes follow-on investment of CAD10.3 million, about GBP6.2 million, into its existing royalty partner Creo-Tech Industrial Group Inc. Creo-Tech is a Canadian holding company that acquires businesses within the engineering, procurement and construction sector in both commercial and industrial settings.

----------

Impact Healthcare REIT PLC - London-based real estate investment trust focused on healthcare properties - Invests in two care homes which were owned and operated by Woodleigh Care whose owners are retiring from the care home business. "Both homes will be operated by an existing group tenant, Welford Healthcare, and are in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, offering 107 high quality predominantly en-suite beds, located within established residential areas," company says. Will pay GBP11.1 million for the investment, made initially by way of a loan to Welford Healthcare, which will allow it to complete the acquisition of Woodleigh Care immediately. Company adds: "The structure creates several benefits for all stakeholders, including enabling Welford Healthcare to take immediate operational control of the homes, thereby avoiding a potentially lengthy transition period while regulatory approvals are sought to register the operation of the homes in new legal entities, as well as other financial and operational efficiencies." Initial rent under the new leases is set at GBP713,750, reflecting a gross initial yield of 6.4%. Based on the homes' current trading performance, rent cover is expected to be greater than 2.0 times.

----------

Elixirr International PLC - London-based management consultancy - Acquires entire issued share capital of technology and data firm iOLAP Inc for a maximum total consideration of USD40.0 million. "The acquisition brings specialist data and analytics capabilities, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, into Elixirr where there is existing demand for these services. This will enable Elixirr to form even stronger and longer-term relationships with its existing clients as they work together on their toughest business challenges," company says. Deal consists of initial cash consideration of USD25.2 million, plus earn out payments of up to USD14.8 million. Also updates its annual outlook due to acquisition. Now guides for financial 2022 revenue in the range of GBP70 million to GBP75 million, up sharply from GBP30.3 million a year prior.

----------

CentralNic Group PLC - London-based online marketing services - Raises gross proceeds of GBP3.0 million from open offer. Issues 795,925 shares in open offer, and will now have 288.7 million shares in issue. Chief Executive Ben Crawford says: "We are grateful for the outstanding support from our institutional and retail shareholders during these challenging times. We are convinced that the proven resilience of CentralNic's businesses, built on recurring revenue models and supported by strong long term fundamental trends, will continue to drive increased shareholder value moving forward."

----------

Airea PLC - West Yorkshire-based floor coverings manufacturer - Says Chief Executive Neil Rylance will be taking a leave of absence with immediate effect due to ill health. Group Finance Director Ryan Thomas will assume the CEO role while Rylance steps aside.

----------

Genedrive PLC - Manchester-based molecular diagnostics company - Sees first six installations of the its MT-RNR1 Antibiotic Induced Hearing Loss system deployed to Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, with four installations for Saint Mary's Hospital and two at Wythenshawe Hospital. The MT-RNR1 system screens infants in an urgent care setting for a genetic mutation that will cause lifelong hearing loss.

----------

MP Evans Group PLC - producer of palm oil in Indonesia - Notes Indonesian government increases its palm-oil export levy following the recent record-high prices. Export levy now USD200 per tonne. "The Indonesian government had recently introduced a domestic market obligation to subsidise local palm-oil supplies, but this is being withdrawn and replaced with the revised levy," company says. Also says it continues to receive strong pricing for its crude palm oil. Sees USD1,080 per tonne achieved for a tender on Friday, similar to pricing achieved just before the levy's introduction and significantly higher than the 2021 average of USD810 per tonne.

----------

MetalNRG PLC - London-based investor in natural resources and energy - Defendants in civil proceedings in English High Court requests further extension for the filing of defences. "MNRG remains focused on receipt of the defences in this case and has accordingly consented to the Defendants making the application for a further extension," company explains. Extension agreed to March 22. In January, company said it served civil legal proceedings in the English High Court against defendants - Brit ENERGY Holdings LLP, Pierpaolo Rocco and BritNRG Ltd - for a declaration and the recovery of monies paid to the LLP in 2021.

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W Resources PLC - London-based tin and gold mining company with projects focused in Spain and Portugal - Production at the La Parrilla mine in Spain has now restarted after maintenance shutdown on February 15. There was no production in February other than small quantities of work in progress that were reprocessed during early February. Company says: "The initial maintenance shutdown was scheduled for two weeks, and in that period further improvements were identified, delaying the restart in addition to the company evaluating options regarding the liquefied natural gas supply, following the 425% price increase announced last month."

----------

Lekoil Ltd - London-based oil and gas exploration and production company with projects focused in Nigeria and West Africa - Notes Lekoil Nigeria has suspended its decision to buy shares in Lekoil Ltd. The decision was made after Grand Court of the Cayman Islands to discharge the injunction it had previously granted against Lekoil Ltd following an application brought by Lekoil Nigeria's CEO Olalekan Akinyanmi. On December 15, Lekoil Nigeria - in which Lekoil Ltd holds a 40% interest - proposed to acquire all shares in Lekoil Ltd for 1.9 pence per share, a 100% premium to the company's trading price before its suspension on October 1.

----------

Bushveld Minerals Ltd - vanadium producer in South Africa - Agrees to a further extension with London-listed Mustang Energy PLC for the notice date to exercise the backstop on the USD8.0 million convertible loan notes owed. Date is now next Wednesday. Mustang will now have until then to extend the maturity date of the convertible loan notes.

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By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Louisiana... Mississippi River At Red River Landing affecting West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes. For the Lower Mississippi River...including Red River Landing, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, Reserve, New Orleans...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/lix. Click on the Rivers and Lakes menu for forecasts and observations. The next statement will be issued when updates are needed. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY SATURDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River At Red River Landing. * WHEN...Until early Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...At 51.0 feet, All river islands along the reach from Red River Landing to Baton Rouge will be inundated. Recreational camps and river bottom farm land will be under water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 PM CDT Wednesday the stage was 49.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage Friday evening and continue falling Wednesday, June 01. - Flood stage is 48.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 48.8 feet on 04/22/2014. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
The Manistee Veterans of Foreign Wars Walsh Post No. 4499 honored Robert Bobby Stamp as the recipient of its 51st Annual Outstanding Citizens Award. Stamp is well known in Manistee and is a tireless volunteer and unofficial goodwill ambassador to the River Street area.

40 YEARS AGO

Joint meeting

Yesterdays meeting of the Manistee Downtown Development Authority brought together members of the citys planning commission and DDA members in an effort to facilitate communication between the two groups whose focus is on the future of Manistee.

Gas prices

The average cost of gasoline across Michigan fell from 2.1 to 3.6 cents per gallon, the largest one-week decline ever recorded, the Auto Club of Michigan reported yesterday. The price of full-service unleaded gasoline averaged $1.39 per gallon, down 2.2 cents from last week, the auto club said in its weekly survey of 300 stations.

80 YEARS AGO

City unconcerned with site

The Manistee City Commission is not concerned with the construction of a new grade school building here as proposed by the board of education; it is not attempting to dictate the location of the school; it has not gone on record regarding the plan of the school board to erect a building on the so-called Peters property, nor does it intend to. That was the essence of the opinion ordered placed on the commissions minutes of last nights regular meeting after it was brought to the attention of members that some Manistee residents were attributing to the city the current negotiations for acquisition of the land between Fourth and Fifth streets, at Oak and Pine for use as a new school site.
The draw for the quarter-final and semi-final stage in the Champions League and the Europa League is now over, which means that the teams can begin to plot their way towards the final in Paris and Seville respectively.

Champions League and Europa League quarter-final draw

This is the start of our live blog for the Champions League and Europa League quarter-final draw. There are no obstacles when it comes to who can play who at this stage of the competition, so any of the eight teams can face each other.

13:05 GMT: Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draw

The Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draw has now taken place, with some fascinating ties to excite supporters. Follow the link to find out all the information you need.

12:46 GMT: Second semi-final

West Ham/Lyon vs Eintracht Frankfurt/Barcelona.

12:45 GMT: First semi-final

RB Leipzig/Atalanta vs Braga/Rangers

12:44 GMT: Europa League semi-final draw

The draw for the semi-finals will now take place.

12:43 GMT: Braga vs Rangers

In the final quarter-final of this draw, Braga will come up against Rangers.

12:42 GMT: West Ham vs Lyon

West Ham will take on Lyon in the third quarter-final. There are two teams remaining.

12:41 GMT: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Barcelona

Eintracht Frankfurt, the only club left in the competition to have won the Europa League, have been drawn against tournament favourites Barcelona.

12:40 GMT: RB Leipzig vs Atalanta

RB Leipzig are the first name to be drawn, and they are followed by Atalanta. Another German test for La Dea.

12:35 GMT: Andres Palop to draw the teams

Former Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop has been chosen to draw the teams in the quarter-final draw.

12:30 GMT: The Europa League draw

The draw for the Europa League quarter-final and semi-final ties is set to get underway.

11:40 GMT: UCL quarter-final and semi-final draw

The Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draw has now taken place, with some fascinating ties to excite supporters. Follow the link to find out all the information you need.

11:18 GMT: UCL semi-final ties

We now know that the semi-finals are: Benfica/Liverpool vs Villarreal/Bayern Munich and Manchester City/Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea/Real Madrid.

11:17 GMT: Second semi-final

The winner of Benfica vs Liverpool will face the winner of Villarreal vs Bayern Munich.

11:16 GMT: First semi-final

The winner of Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid will take on the winner of Chelsea vs Real Madrid.

11:15 GMT: Semi-final draw

Now, the draw for the semi-final draw will take place.

11:14 GMT: Benfica vs Liverpool

Benfica will take on Liverpool in the final quarter-final tie.

11:13 GMT: Villarreal vs Bayern

Villarreal are the first name to be drawn in this third quarter-final, with Bayern Munich following soon after.

11:12 GMT: Man City vs Atletico

Manchester City have been drawn against Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone's side are returning to Manchester after knocking out Manchester United in the last round.

11:11 GMT: Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Chelsea will take on Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, which is a repeat of last year's semi-final.

11:05 GMT: The process for the draw

UEFA's deputy general secretary, Giorgio Marchetti, is here to explain the process for the quarter-final and semi-final draw.

11:00 GMT: Watch the Champions League draw if you are in the UK

You can follow the Champions League quarter-final draw through the BT Sport live stream, which is below.

10:30 GMT: Who are the favourites to win the Champions League?

Manchester City are currently the favourites to go on and lift the Champions League for the first time in their history, while Liverpool and Bayern Munich are just behind in second and third place respectively, according to Sky Bet's odds. Real Madrid were widely seen as the fifth favourites, but they have now jumped ahead of Chelsea.

10:00 GMT: Chelsea may have to play behind closed doors

As a result of the current sanctions imposed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, the Blues might have to play the home leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie behind closed doors, much to the disappointment of Thomas Tuchel.

09:30 GMT: Can Atleti cause any problems?

Atletico Madrid secured their place in the last eight of the Champions League after knocking out Manchester United, and Diego Simeone will no doubt be hoping he can conjure up the spirit of 2014 and 2016, which is when they went as far as the final.

09:00 GMT: Villarreal and Benfica's test

Villarreal and Benfica are the two teams that the remaining six will be looking to draw in today's quarter-final draw, but they will be far from straightforward to play against. The Yellow Submarine have experience of going all the way to the Europa League final - and winning - from last year, while the Portuguese giants have beaten both Barcelona and Ajax this season.

08:30 GMT: When are the Champions League quarter-finals?

The first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals will take place on April 5 and 6, with the return fixtures a week later on April 12 and 13.

There will be two matches on each night, taking place at the same time.

08:00 GMT: Which teams are in the Champions League quarter-finals?

Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid have booked a spot in the quarter-finals already, having won their ties last week. This week, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Villarreal and Chelsea secured their place in the last eight.

There are no rules regarding teams from the same country playing each other in the quarter-finals, or sides that were in the same group, so the draw is open and any team can face each other.

Liverpool

Bayern Munich

Manchester City

Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid

Benfica

Villarreal

Chelsea

07:30 GMT: When is the Champions League quarter-final draw?

The Champions League quarter-final draw will take place at 11:00 GMT, which is 12:00 CET, on Friday, March 18 from UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

At the same time the semi-final draw will also happen, so the eight remaining sides can plot out their potential route to the final in Paris.

07:00 GMT: When is the Europa League quarter-final draw?

The Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draws will follow the Champions League draw on Friday at 12:30 GMT (13:30 CET).

06:30 GMT: When is the Europa Conference League draw?

The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Europa Conference League will start on Friday at 14:00 GMT (15:00 CET).
Trevor Noah made some comments on The Daily Show regarding the whole situation between Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. To sum it up, he basically said that even though he does not condone the way Davidson has been answering the rapper, Kanye's actions are borderline harassment on his ex-wife. "Ye" did not take this lightly and exploded against the talk show host using an old racial slur that got him banned for 24-hours from Instagram. The word in question is "Koon."

But what does this word mean and why is it so offensive?

What does "Koon" even mean and why does it offend people?

According to a popular site that explains slang called Urban Dictionary, the word "Koon" is a derogatory term used to define a black individual who is anti-black and often acts against the black community. The site also refers to the word as a "disparaging term" used to refer to a black individual or any person of African descent.

West used the offensive word to describe Noah while highlighting his South African descent in a screenshot taken from a Google overview. The caption accompanying the image was a play on the traditional church song "Kumbaya, My Lord" substituting the word "Kumbaya" with the slur.

So basically, West is once again using his ethnicity to play the victim and gain the sympathy of people, when at the end of the day Trevor Noah just pointed out his toxic behavior. Instagram thought this was offensive too, earning him a 24-hour ban from the social media platform.

Trevor Noah responds to Kanye West attack

The Daily Show's host took the time to make a full response to what Kanye said to him. The post and the response have been taken down, but if you want to read the full answer, TMZ was able to get a screenshot. READ IT HERE.

"I thought differently about how I spent my money because of you, I learned to protect my child-like creativity from grown thoughts because of you, s-t I still smile every time I put on a seatbelt because of you," the Comedy Central personality shared.

Noah goes on to say it "breaks my heart to see you like this," referring to West's latest social media antics. "I don't care if you support Trump and I don't care if you roast Pete. I do however care when I see you on a path that's dangerously close to peril and pain."

Noah went on to say to the rapper to learn the difference between fighting for his family and not against them. "I've woken up too many times and read headlines that about men who've killed their exes, their kids and then themselves. I never want to read that headline about you" said the comedian addressing the comments he made on his talk show.

"Don't ever forget, the biggest trick racists ever played on black people was teaching us to strip each other of our blackness whenever we disagree," added Noah.

West hasn't responded anything yet, but it should be noted that his TikTok account has also disappeared. Hopefully "Ye" will drop this and move on to keep working on his art soon, because he is undeniably talented, but his focus is clearly off right now given his personal and mental issues.
English fighter Paddy Pimblett is ready to fight his second UFC bout, but before that he took time to shoot mercilessly against Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook and Instagram, all because his account of the latter social media was deleted twice.

Mark Zuckerberg's the biggest bully on the planet Paddy Pimblett on Mark Zuckerberg

Pimblett's anger against Zuckerberg

The former Cage Warriors champion is a sensation on social media, especially after his UFC debut, plus he is an active character with his followers, so this Instagram measure was not well seen by the Liverpool-born.

"The hypocritical nature of Instagram and Facebook is just disgusting, and what they get away with," Pimblett said at UFC Fight Night press conference.

"It kills me. Mark Zuckerberg's a lizard. I've got to be a lot smarter on my social media, because as you know, I've had two accounts took off me now, and the second account had 120,000 followers. I've lost out on so much money and sponsorships over the past two weeks, three weeks.

"I have a pain on my shoulders, thinking, I can't message them back today, are they still going to be here? If they're not, it's Instagram's fault, because I'd still be speaking to them every day, but I can't, and then obviously they're messing with my livelihood. I'm losing out on thousands and thousands of pounds. It's just one of those things, though. They can do whatever they want. Mark Zuckerberg's the biggest bully on the planet," Pimblett said.

Pimblett, ready to face Kazula Vargas

Pimblett, after making his UFC debut in 2021 with a knockout victory, will face Mexican fighter Kazula Vargas in his second fight as part of the UFC Fight Night main card at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday, March 19.
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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...Main-stem river flooding is expected in several locations. Extensive low land flooding will be likely in some areas, especially where the heavier rain has already occurred. Many low-water crossings will likely become flooded. Area creeks and streams are already running high and will likely flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Additional rounds of thunderstorms with very heavy rain are expected this evening through the overnight hours. 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 the latest forecast and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action quickly should flooding develop. Be especially cautious while driving at night. Do not drive through water of unknown depth. &&
The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee convenes a meeting on COVID-19 situation and better and more stringent epidemic prevention and control

People's Daily Online) 13:49, March 18, 2022

The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee convened a meeting on March 17 to analyze the new development of COVID-19 and arrange for better and more stringent epidemic control. General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.

Xi pointed out that China has maintained the policy of "preventing imported cases and domestic resurgences" since routine prevention and control measures were adopted. Xi said that differentiated and targeted prevention and control approach has been improved in accordance with situations in different regions and the levels of sporadic resurgence, and as a result, clusters of infections in certain regions have been swiftly brought under control and people's health and safety have been protected to the utmost. He said that China has done better than most countries in both economic development and COVID-19 containment, which has demonstrated the country's solid strength and capacity in the prevention and control of the epidemic and the advantages of the leadership of the Communist Party of China and of China's socialist system.

Victory comes from perseverance, Xi stressed. All local authorities and government departments must be fully aware of the complex, arduous and enduring nature of COVID-19 control both at home and abroad, further social mobilization, build consensus, proceed with greater confidence and perseverance, and carry out all the epidemic control work in a more solid and meticulous manner. He urged them to always put people and their lives first, adhere to the dynamic zero-COVID approach with science-based and targeted measures, and contain the spread of the virus as soon as possible. Efforts must be taken to make epidemic response more science-based and targeted, keep optimizing our response measures, and step up the research and development of vaccines, rapid testing reagents, and medicines, so that the epidemic control work will be more targeted. Xi also called for maintaining strategic focus, pursuing progress while ensuring stability, coordinating COVID-19 response with economic and social development, adopting more effective measures, striving to achieve the best results in epidemic control with minimum costs, and minimizing the epidemic's impact on the economic and social development.

The Standing Committee pointed out at the meeting that the country has recently seen cluster infections spreading widely and occurring frequently in multiple regions. It required that the local governments, epidemic control authorities, all organizations and individuals must fully take on their responsibilities, comply with the principle of "early detection, early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment" and conduct prevention and control work strictly and earnestly. Guidance for epidemic prevention and control in key regions must also be strengthened to bring local outbreaks under control as soon as possible.

The Standing Committee stressed that we need to keep people's normal work and life stable and orderly, guarantee the production and supply of daily necessities, and meet people's needs for medical treatment. We need to accelerate reforms on the disease control and prevention system, expand monitoring coverage of key groups, and improve the mechanism for monitoring and issuing early warnings through multiple channels so as to comprehensively boost epidemic monitoring, early warning and emergency response capabilities. We will see that port-of-entry areas fulfill their responsibilities for COVID-19 control, increase the resources at their disposal, improve the mechanism for routine epidemic control, and shore up weak links. With all these efforts, we will reinforce the line of defense against imported cases.

We need to strengthen routine epidemic control in schools and other key places. We will see that these key places shoulder their primary responsibilities and keep epidemic containment measures and contingency plans effective and meticulous. We need to work to get our officials and people fully understand the importance of epidemic control and grasp the knowledge about COVID-19 response, so that they can take the initiative in following epidemic prevention rules, strengthen self-protection and work together with the Party and the government to deliver good outcomes in their work. We will increase publicity to raise vaccination awareness, step up booster vaccination efforts and further raise the overall vaccination rates. With all these efforts, we will reinforce the line of defense featuring society-wide prevention and control. We need to take coordinated efforts to better our information publishing and communication work so as to keep the public informed in a timely manner on the latest epidemic situation and progress in COVID-19 response, and actively respond to public concerns.

The Standing Committee requested that all localities and all departments align their thinking and action with the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, both Party committees and governments assume responsibility, all sectors work together, and everyone holds the ground and meets one's responsibility, so as to bolster our epidemic prevention capability. While strengthening organization and leadership, we must not drop our guard, lose drive, take chances or slacken efforts, and we must seize every moment to carry out all epidemic control work in a solid and meticulous manner. Wherever the epidemic situation is serious, the principal leaders of the Party and the government as well as officials at all levels must give top priority to epidemic response and put in their utmost effort to secure the final victory. Party organizations at all levels and all their members and officials should fully play their role, go to the frontline of epidemic control, communicate with the general public, and take active measures to help resolve problems and difficulties for our people. Accountability inspections will be strengthened. Anyone who fails to perform their duties and responsibilities and thus leads to a drastic escalation will be investigated and held to account right away in accordance with discipline and regulations.

Other matters were also discussed at the meeting.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Amateur radio payload for the Tiangong space station

The IARU satellite frequency coordination panel report an application has been submitted for an amateur radio payload to be hosted on the Tiangong space station



The coordination request says:



CSSARC is the amateur radio payload for Chinese Space Station, proposed by Chinese Radio Amateurs Club (CRAC), Aerospace System Engineering Research Institute of Shanghai (ASES) and Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT).



The first phase of the payload is capable of providing the following functions utilizing the VHF/UHF amateur radio band:

1. V/V or U/U crew voice;

2. V/U or U/V FM repeater;

3. V/V or U/U 1k2 AFSK digipeater;

4. V/V or U/U SSTV or digital image.



The payload will provide resources for radio amateurs worldwide to make contacts with onboard astronauts, or communicate with each other. It will also play a rule to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and to encourage more people to get interested in amateur radio.



Planning a launch from Wenchang in Q3 2022 to the Chinese Space Station.



Source IARU satellite frequency coordination

http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/



Artist's impression of the Tiangong Space Station in October 2021




Gloria Brown Bruister, 81, passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., with her loving daughters by her side. Born on July 21, 1940, to Jay Lavell and Mattie Noblin Brown, Gloria graduated from Meridian High School in 1958. Married soon after to Hubert L. Bruist
This unique festival is also known to be the festival of love. The immortal divine love between Krishna and Radha is exemplified in this festival of Holi in certain Hindu scriptures. Krishna was asking his mother Yashoda whether beautiful Radha likes his dark colour.

by Pradip Kumar Dutta

Like every year,the joyous Festival of Colours has returned. Its just knocking at the door. This is a Hindu religious festival which also has a cultural fervour and is widely celebrated in the South Asian countries India,Bangladesh,Nepal,Pakistan and countries having population of Subcontinental origin like Fiji, Mauritius,Suriname,Gayana, Trinidad &Tobago,Thailand. We find the festival being celebrated in other countries of the world with South Asian diaspora.









There are many aspects of this great festival. Let's discuss what is this festival about. Firstly, festival of colours is celebrated to usher in the great season of Spring after the winter days. It is observed on the Poornima(Full moon day)of Falgun(the beginning month of spring per Indian calender/Panjika). It has been observed in the Indian subcontinent since ancient times. We get reference of Holi in ancient Hindu scriptures such as Bhagabad Purana. On this day,to express happiness and to exemplify solidarity amongst people,rich or poor,young or old,male or female,strong or weak and going beyond the boundaries of social barriers; people put powdered colours of different hue on each other. Specially the faces become multicoloured,a treat to watch. They also drench each other with coloured water,so the dresses are not spared either. So,one takes care not to wear expensive dresses of choice on that day,so as not to spoil it. Rather a less expensive variant of dress is chosen which may be saved as a souvenir of the day. People put colours (at the feet of elders as a mark of respect and on the face and cheek of equals and youngers)on their family members at home first. Then they come out to the streets and its a free for all affair. Some enthusiastic people even come out in groups and processions with drums,other percussion instruments,flutes and whistles and everyone in the streets join the merry making. You hear drums beating, whistles blowing and slogans

" Bura na maano,Holi hai( Take no offense,it is Holi today)". This slogan gives them license,so to say,to be a little wild in their celebrations which include,playing loud music on the streets, singing and dancing, throwing colours (powdered and liquid) at each other and enjoying themselves. As if, it is a carnival of some sorts,though not well organised ones as in the Rio streets during Brazilian Carnival. In the ancient days the colours used were all natural,like neem,haldi(turmeric),neel(indigo),etc.which had some healing effects. With the advent of time,chemical colours of different choice is available,some of which are harmful. So, Government authorities in many countries,mainly India,puts restrictions on the dyes,noise pollution and restricts too much crowd on the streets to prevent untoward incidents. Nevertheless,the equality amongst people in the above-mentioned style of celebration is unique and it is carried forward through ages unabeted.

These celebrations go on till late mid-day. Then people get back home for cleaning themselves of the accumulation of colours on their faces,hair and exposed parts of the body,have a refreshing shower and assemble around dining tables for a good meal. In the second half of the day they wear new dresses,visit relatives and friends and offer sweets and good food to each other. Of course,evenings are meant for great parties. On this day many people shake hands with others with whom they had differences/problems earlier, to mend fences and to start a friendship anew. One can not but agree that mother Nature offers her colours of different flowers to encourage people to indulge in their celebrations of happiness during this spring festival.

Holi is also regarded as a festival of the triumph of good over evil. In Hindu scriptures we come across the story of Hiranyakashipu,the demon king and his son Prahlad,the righteous, pious youth,a stern Vishnu devotee. Hiranyakashipu was a powerful demon king who by his devotion,penance and meditation achieved several boons. No man or woman could kill him. He may not be killed during the day or night. He could not be killed indoors or outdoors.He would not be killed by any weapon. With these boons,he had such immense power that he became the virtual ruler of the whole universe. He thought himself to be invincible. As such,he grew to be a tyrant giant of a ruler and started equating himself to God. He ordered everyone to pray in his name and forget the God. All his subjects,unwilling though were subdued but not his son Prahlad. The young boy had unflinching faith in Lord Vishnu and always chanted Narayana's name. Infuriated, Hiranyakashipu sent his evil sister Holika to kill Prahlad. A big pyre was arranged. Holika,as if,to comfort her nephew, took him on her lap and sat on the pyre. She was wearing a fire proof dress whereas poor Prahlad knew nothing. Holika signalled her men to put the fire on. As the fire engulfed the pyre, suddenly Lord Vishnu sent Pavan Deva(God of winds).A gust of wind took off the fire proof dress of Holika and wrapped the same around Prahlad. Holika was burned alive and Prahlad escaped unharmed. Later Hiranyakashipu was killed by Lord Vishnu in his Avatar form of Narasimha Narayana(half man and half lion),who killed Hiranyakashipu with the lion claws(not a regular weapon),during sunset(neither day nor night),on a doorstep(neither indoors nor outdoors).

To immortalise this religious aspect of Holi in most of the places Holika Dahan is an integral part of the festivities. A stuffed huge Holika is made of combustible materials and a pyre is set with firewood and all rubbish in the evening prior to the Holi day. With much enthusiasm the youth of the locality burn the effigy of Holika amidst victorious mood. This Holika Dahan is the preparatory phase of Holi.All rubbish is put into the fire which indicates cleaning the area around as a sign of awareness to improved environment. It is also taken as a sign of getting rid of all vices and impurities in mind.

This unique festival is also known to be the festival of love. The immortal divine love between Krishna and Radha is exemplified in this festival of Holi in certain Hindu scriptures. Krishna was asking his mother Yashoda whether beautiful Radha likes his dark colour. On His mother's advice,Sri Krishna went to meet Sri Radha with different colours,so that she can put any colour she likes on Kishanji's face. Accordingly,Sri Krishna went to meet Radhaji, who put colours of her choice on Sri Krishna. Her friends,the Gopikas were there and all of them participated in the fun which is celebrated as Doljatra by followers of Vaishnavism till date,mostly in Braja areas of Mathura/Vrindavan,Bengal,Assam,Manipur and Tripura.

Besides, we find another version of Holi story,that Shaiva(followers of Lord Shiva) believe in. That too depicts Holi as a festival of love. The story involves Lord Shiva, Devi Parvati the Lord's consort,Kamdeva and his consort Rati.

In some areas the festival coincides with the harvest of Rabi crop. This is a short term crop sown in the winter and harvested in spring.

Though a predominantly Hindu festival,it is celebrated by the Jains,Sikhs and some Buddhists as well. With it's vibration, uniqueness,riot of colours,music and dance,diversity of food, enjoyment,it has become a universal occassion by now.

Happy Holi to all the readers!

May this day bring victory of goodness over evil!

May Happiness,Love and Justice prevail everywhere.

May good senses prevail over the world leaders and Wars everywhere including in Ukraine come to an end.

Pradip Kumar Dutta is a Masters in Engineering. He writes regularly in different Bangladesh Newspapers on History,heritage,culture, traveling,nature,people's rights, progressive ideas and environmental issues.
When Veronica Kaemerer enrolled at Kentucky Wesleyan College four years ago, she intended to earn a bachelors degree in history and criminal justice and eventually move on to law school.

The 21-year-olds life went in a different direction about a year ago when she stepped into the WKWC 90.3 FM radio studio to record a promo for an event at KWC. By the time she left, she had a job there.

Since then, college radio has deeply impacted Kaemerer and changed her perspective on life.

She now has aspirations to pursue a career in radio, and she received an award of excellence at the Broadcast Education Associations Festival of Media Arts.

I wanted to join the station because it seemed like something fun to do to occupy my time, and I wanted to get involved in something on campus outside of classes, said the Muhlenberg County native, whose air shift is from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Now its kind of my life.

Kaemerers award of excellence came in the On-Air Personality category. She is one of two Kentucky college students to earn an award in this years Festival of Media Arts competition.

There were more than 300 schools and more than 1,450 entries in the international digital media and broadcast competition, according to the BEA.

Celebrations for winners will be held at the end of April.

Kaemerer said she was shocked and honored to have won an award in the prestigious competition. She hopes to eventually incorporate her degrees in history and criminal justice into radio, and she plans to pursue a job in political talk radio or with a podcast.

She will be doing a summer apprenticeship at the station to learn a little more about the technical and programming aspects of radio, which she hopes will help her be more marketable for a job.

Derik Hancock, WKWC manager and a KWC communications instructor, said to be recognized by the BEA is an amazing accomplishment. Entrants into the BEA Festival of Media Arts competition include faculty members and students.

Im proud of (Veronica) and all the students who submitted in this years competition, Hancock said. We believe in them and appreciate their hard work.

Andrew Bolin, program coordinator and assistant professor of communication arts at KWC, said he is also proud of the work students are doing at the colleges radio station. The radio station is a training ground for students to get real-world experience in digital media.

It is exciting to showcase what our students are doing here in Owensboro and on a national stage and be recognized for their efforts, Bolin said.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
The Owensboro Utility Commission has approved a new general manager to lead Owensboro Municipal Utilities.

On Thursday morning, utility commission members appointed Tim Lyons, who has been with the agency since 2007, as general manager. Lyons will replace Kevin Frizzell, who announced his retirement last year.

Lyons was chosen after a candidate search that included both internal and external candidates, said Sonya Dixon, OMUs public relations and communications manager.

Dixon said the officials received 30 resumes for the position and conducted interviews before narrowing the field to four finalists. Three of the four were internal candidates, Dixon said.

Im honored and excited by this opportunity, Lyons said after the meeting.

Lyons worked for Kentucky Utilities for several years before joining OMU as transmission and distribution engineering manager.

Lyons said priorities going forward include completing a new integrated resource plan, which will address future needs. Part of the plan will look at where OMU purchases power. OMU currently has a contract to purchase power from Big Rivers Electric Corp.

That will be going on for the next eight months, Lyons said.

Other goals include expanding the utilitys internet service in the city and trying to maintain our overall customer satisfaction rates by providing affordable rates, Lyons said.

Frizzell will retire on July 1. In the meantime, he and Lyons will work on the transition.

It has been an honor to lead for the past three years, Frizzell told board members. The employees here are the best. It has been a pleasure to lead.

Lyons told board members, I think the future looks bright for OMU.

In other business Thursday, commissioners provisionally approved giving OMU workers a 5% raise. That increase would raise the utilitys base payroll by $685,100 annually.

Frizzell said officials looked at factors such as the current Consumer Price Index and businesses OMU would compete with for workers to determine the recommended increase.

The increase doesnt put any pressure on our budget and wont affect customer rates, Frizzell said. The adjustment will keep our wages competitive.

The increase is only provisional for now and could be adjusted in the final budget the utility commission approves later this year, Frizzell said.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
What will make Ukraine surrender?

by Victor Cherubim

Fear, hunger, thirst, cold, sickness, death and indiscriminate destruction is without a doubt, devastating the Ukrainian psyche. There is much support for President Putin in Russia, perhaps, from Syria, and now we are told that Chechens leader, Ramzan Kadyrov says he is in Ukraine.

How was he persuaded to go from fighting against Russia to fighting for and what role will Chechen fighters play in Ukraine?

As we approach the end of the third week, fierce battles continue. Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered huge human and financial losses since start of the war, which was labelled as a special operation.

Commentators on the war from around the world are of opinion, that getting into this mess took decades, getting out of it will not happen overnight?

Russias tactics are shifting all the time. From a convoy of armoured vehicles, rocket launchers creeping toward a 40 kilometre of Kyiv, over weeks instead days, for their own reasons.

The Ukrainians may have been outnumbered in armoury, both on land and in the air, we hear that one small drone which the Ukrainian army bought from Turkey, is doing the trick to checkmate Russian fighter jets dropping bombs and all forms of incendiary devices on innocent children, hospitals and fleeing civilians

Today we learn that US is in the act of sending 100 kamikaze, Switch Blade drones which can hit Russian tanks at a range of 25 miles.

What will make Ukraine surrender?

We will never surrender, said Daniel Bilak, a Ukrainian Lawyer, a defender of Kyiv. While the Ukrainian military spokesman maintains that Russia is struggling to achieve its military objectives due largely to a combination of poor tactics, logistical problems. Estimates of between 14,000 and 21,000 injured have been stated according to US Officials, while the Kremlin say its loss is around 498 soldiers.

The reports coming out of Moscow state, Russian soldiers in Ukraine are heroes and that Russias offensive is an act of self-defence; if it had not intervened now, in three years time Ukraine would have been in NATO with a nuclear bomb.

What is the UN doing to help control this war?

A hurricane of hunger and a meltdown of food supplies in Ukraine are the words of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

In a Tweet, he further states, more than 3 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their country. The people of Ukraine desperately need peace to respond to the humanitarian needs which are multiplying by the hour.

But he is constrained by the Veto power of Russia in the Security Council, though not in The General Assembly. But as we see over the days, it is up to the two warring nations to come to an agreement on Ceasefire.

A Fifteen Point Plan as talks get under way

A Fifteen Point Plan has been drawn during talks, by representatives of both Russia and Ukraine, while the war drags on. Behind the scenes, we are told, talks on talks are assisted by the Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett and at a distance by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While talks are going on, observers feel Russia is buying time. Ukraine has already accepted that it can come to terms with some neutrality, perhaps accepting being a non-member of NATO, in return for guarantees by independent nations, a status, similar to that of Austria, and/or Sweden, in return for return to an earlier state of affairs, not specifying the annexation of Crimea in 2014?

What niggles President Putin more than anything now?

Of course, he is worried that Ukraine has won the war on information. But, he is more concerned of the integrity of Big Russia?

President Putin of Russia is angry, and perhaps, rightly so. He has lashed out on TV against the so called Russian Oligarchs living a lifestyle overseas, in the West. He calls them, the fifth column of Russia, who are filthy rich and have a mentality of the West, loathe to Russia.

He considers these as the scum, the traitors, and the persons who will sell their mother. He considers them of a higher race, a higher caste and he has taken his wrath on their approach and attitude to this war, perhaps, to dance to the tune of their masters in the countries where they live now. Selling ones birth rite, is undoubtedly treahery. It can corrupt.

What the people of the world want now?

Besides, talks to go on for a Ceasefire, the people around the world demand a lasting Peace now, perhaps, to save the world?
With COVID-19 cases declining regionally, schools are reporting that student attendance rates are slowly returning to normal  or pre-pandemic  levels.

During a typical year, Owensboro Public Schools and Daviess County Public Schools average about a 95-96% attendance rate for the year. The lowest attendance rate since the pandemic began has been 88% and 92%, respectively, and that was in January, when virus cases were peaking locally.

OPS has seen a dramatic decrease in absences in the past few weeks, with its current attendance rate sitting around 92-93%, according to George Powell, OPS director of student services.

Charles Broughton, DCPS director of student services, said the districts attendance rate so far this month is almost 94%.

Keith Osborne, Owensboro Catholic Schools chief administrative officer, agreed that overall, attendance rates are on the rise for the school system.

Attendance is strong, he said. A few cases of the flu, but zero COVID issues currently.

He said the school system has less than 1% of students currently out sick.

Traditionally, the state bases Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding, the formula used by the state to allocate funds to public school districts, on a school districts average daily attendance rate. The state made the decision to use attendance rates for the 2018-19 school year for SEEK funding beginning last year, and that will continue through the 2022-23 school year.

Students missing due to the pandemic isnt going to have a negative impact, as far as funding is concerned, Powell said.

Districts have been functioning under what is considered pre-COVID-19 attendance measures, meaning that students who arent impacted by the virus and miss school must show an excused absence, and unexcused absences are marked.

For the most part, districts have been able to track down students who arent showing up for school throughout the pandemic and are able to discern if the absence is related to COVID or not. Rarely do school systems have to resort to severe punishments or charges.

Chronically-absent students and their families are still held accountable, district officials say, though a lot of measures are put into place before the district resorts to a punishment.

School leadership and staff prefer to work with students and families to find the root cause of chronic absenteeism, address the barriers/causes, with the expectation of improvement for the students benefit to attend school on a consistent basis, Broughton said.

If a situation doesnt improve, the district will involve law enforcement. Truancy or educational neglect charges are filed, typically as a last resort, Powell said.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2022

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Announces Approval of Multiple Projects Creating Over 390 Good-Paying Jobs and Economic Opportunities

LANSING, Mich.?- Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today in announcing Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a wide range of projects, including support for Ford's transformational Michigan Central Innovation District, an initiative aimed at increasing high-speed internet access across Michigan, business expansions including a new joint venture between Magna and LAN Manufacturing that will bring 390 jobs to Detroit, and other actions that will continue strengthening Michigan's economy.

"Today's Michigan Strategic Fund approvals will help us continue to drive economic growth in Michigan by expanding on our leadership in the future of mobility and electric vehicles, investing in our communities, creating hundreds of jobs for our residents, and furthering initiatives that will ensure long-term economic opportunity throughout the state," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "These actions demonstrate our ongoing laser focus on growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs, and putting Michiganders first."

Support for Michigan Central Innovation District positions Michigan as hub for global technology, future mobility

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) today approved $7.5 million in funding to Ford Motor Co. to support new programs that accelerate economic development, new technology activation, workforce training, and community engagement in the 30-acre Michigan Central Innovation District in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The grant will have a three-year term and the ability to allocate additional funds in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 if agreed-upon grant milestones are met, including a requirement that it create at least 2,500 non-Ford jobs within the district.

Anchored at the Michigan Central Train Station, which Ford originally announced support for in 2018, the district will be a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a globally-recognized hub for talent, mobility innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, affordable housing, small business opportunities and community engagement.

Earlier this month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Google Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to announce a new partnership to activate the Michigan Central Innovation District in an effort to attract and retain highly skilled talent and high-growth companies while supporting the development of neighboring neighborhoods.?

Today's MSF grant will support initiatives that help to activate the district by creating the right conditions for high-skill, high-wage job creation, workforce development, startup growth, and next-generation mobility and electrification leadership.

With today's MSF grant, the district will be bolstered by a comprehensive cross-departmental collaboration that includes aligning more than $126 million in state resources and support, including the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the MEDC, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Google is also joining Ford as a Founding Member of the district, where it will leverage the assets of the district to collaborate on new products and services that will define the future of mobility. As founding members, Google and Ford will also help mentor entrepreneurs and local businesses, as well as develop the workforce in Detroit.

Since 2018, Ford has been in the process of investing $740 million in the 1.2-million-square-foot campus, which is expected to hold 5,000 Ford and non-Ford workers.

Funding for broadband project will help increase access to high-speed internet for all Michiganders

The Michigan Strategic Fund today approved up to $5.2 million from federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) funds to Connected Nation Michigan for the Broadband Infrastructure Audit and Validation project.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed that access to high-speed internet connectivity is lacking in many parts of the state - especially for Michigan's most vulnerable populations, who need access to telework opportunities, telehealth services, and online education opportunities now more than ever.

This project is expected to allow state and community leaders, along with internet service providers, to make informed decisions regarding efficient expansion of high-speed internet service throughout the state and better target its grant funding in a way that will result in productive high-speed internet expansion across Michigan.

More details on this initiative will be provided later this week.

Three business expansion projects will bring growth, job opportunities to Southeast Michigan

LM Manufacturing is a joint venture between auto supplier Magna and LAN Manufacturing Group, LLC. The company will provide manufacturing, assembly, sequencing, supply chain and logistics management for complete seat assemblies and other modular assemblies for the auto and related industries.

LM Manufacturing plans to begin manufacturing seating assemblies for Ford and will locate the manufacturing, assembly, sequencing, supply chain and logistics management in an existing facility in Detroit. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $18.1 million and create 390 jobs, supported by a $2 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in other locations.

The project contributes to the MEDC's ongoing efforts to strengthen Michigan's leadership in automotive manufacturing. The project will bring good jobs to area residents and has the potential to lead to future growth and investment in Michigan.?

"We are excited about this opportunity with LM Manufacturing as we continue supporting Ford on some of their high-volume vehicle programs," said Magna Seating President John Wyskiel. "We expect the joint venture to complement the seating capabilities and footprint we already have in the state."

The city of Detroit anticipates approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project. Individuals interested in careers with LM Manufacturing should visit http://www.lm-mfg.com/.

"The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation is pleased to support a project that will bring nearly 400 well-paying jobs to Detroiters and reactivate a large format industrial campus in Southwest Detroit," said Kenyetta Bridges, Executive Vice President, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. "This project further demonstrates the City's strengths and advantages to support manufacturing, and we are thrilled that LM Manufacturing - a joint venture between an international automotive supplier and a Detroit-based minority supplier - chose Detroit as its home base. DEGC looks forward to our continued work with LM Manufacturing as this project comes to fruition."

Real estate developer Bedrock today announced its support for LM Manufacturing's project by leasing space in its former Sakthi Industrial Campus to develop the plant. In doing so, Bedrock is providing 296,000 square feet of manufacturing space in the Delray neighborhood, just five miles west of Detroit's city center.

"Bedrock is best known for our transformational investments in the heart of the city, but we are committed to connecting and amplifying economic development efforts across all of Detroit - and in this case, by placing permanent and well-paying job opportunities where they are needed most," said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock. "Partnering with LM Manufacturing is a game changer for the Delray area and a chance to transform the once vacant site into a beacon of opportunity and sustainability."

Dana Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dana Incorporated headquartered in Maumee, OH. The company is a global supplier of fully integrated drivetrain and electrified propulsion systems for all passenger vehicles, serving primarily automotive OEMs that manufacture light vehicles, off-highway vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Dana continues to experience significant growth in electrification and plans to establish a new Electric Vehicle technology center in the city of Novi, where it will house electrification R&D and engineering. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $9 million and create up to 150 high-wage jobs, supported by a $1.5 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in North America and Europe.

By securing this project in Novi, Michigan continues to underscore its position as the global leader in the future of mobility and vehicle electrification. This project will solidify Dana's presence and future investment in the state, and puts Michigan in a strong position for future growth opportunities in the ever-evolving transportation industry.

Individuals interested in careers with Dana should visit https://www.dana.com/careers/.

"Dana Incorporated has a long history of driving innovation in the Detroit Region and continues to be a globally recognized leader in vehicle electrification," said Maureen Donohue Krauss, CEO and president of the Detroit Regional Partnership. "We are excited about this latest investment and expansion as it reinforces a simple fact - to be on the cutting-edge of next-generation mobility, companies must have a presence in the Detroit Region."

The Michigan International Technology Center Redevelopment Authority (MITC) plans to support the construction of a new, 65,952-square-foot commercial flex space development in the townships of Plymouth and Northville at the site of the former Detroit House of Corrections. The building will be constructed by Hillside Ridge Road Holdings East, LLC while the MITC is overseeing infrastructure improvements as part of a larger development area. Significant infrastructure improvements are being undertaken, including a stormwater detention pond, sidewalks, curbs, paving and landscaping, that will support this project and attract future investment. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $38.7 million, and when the facility is fully leased, it is expected to have the potential to support efforts that could employ up to 300 full-time equivalent office and R&D jobs.

The MITC today received MSF approval of $15.6 million in state tax capture for the alleviation of brownfield conditions at the site, making it suitable for redevelopment. Local support for the project includes approval of the local portion of the brownfield work plan valued at $13.8 million and potentially a future Industrial Facilities Tax abatement. Both the townships of Plymouth and Northville are engaged with MEDC's Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

The project will transform an underutilized property into functional, available space critical for ongoing business attraction and expansion efforts in the region. Completion of the project will also bring additional investment, increased worker traffic, and tax revenue to the neighborhood, city, and local businesses. Market analysis has repeatedly shown that large move-in ready sites are in high demand in metro Detroit.?Supporting this type of property remains critical to retaining existing companies in the state as they grow and offers opportunities to attract new companies here to Michigan.

The Michigan Strategic Fund supports the acceleration of high-tech innovation in the state

The MSF Board also approved various amendments and funding allocations to support the continued growth and impact of Michigan's entrepreneurial university programs, including:

SPARK MI STEM internship program - Originally approved in March 2021 , the program is a partnership between MEDC and Ann Arbor SPARK aimed at retaining Michigan's STEM college graduates in the state to address the unmet need for tech talent. The program helps to place STEM students currently attending Michigan colleges annually into STEM-focused internships throughout Michigan. In less than 12 months, t he program has already placed 159 interns into positions with high-tech companies across the state . The MSF today approved an additional $1 million in funding to continue building on the success and impact of the program .

Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Ag Bio Innovation Hub - The MSF today allocated $328,975 from the MTRAC program in additional funding for the Michigan State University MTRAC Ag Bio Innovation Hub , which focuses on commercializing technologies related to food, fuel and fiber, including bio-derived and bio-based materials, natural resources and animal health . Between January 2017 and September 2021, the MTRAC Ag Bio Innovation Hub has helped form six startups and funded 67 projects leading to more than $91 million in follow-on funding.

Business Incubator Program/Gateway Representative - Since 2009, the Michigan Strategic Fund has provided funding to business incubators in Michigan to stimulate the creation and continued growth of technology-based businesses and jobs. The Business Incubator Grant is designed to support the SmartZones across Michigan , by dedicating individual Gateway Representative s at each organization that are responsible for managing all client services at each SmartZone . Today, the MSF approved a total of $1.9 million in additional funding to support these Gateway Representatives at Michigan's 19 SmartZone organizations .

Community vitality project to bring needed housing to village of Merrill

The 235 W. Saginaw Street Redevelopment Project will redevelop the vacant, former Merrill High School building in the village of Merrill into a multifamily housing development. When completed, the development will consist of 17 market-rate residential rental units, 11 of which will be ADA compliant, and a parking garage.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4 million and will revitalize an obsolete building into much-needed housing, while also adding vibrancy, density and walkability to downtown Merrill, which hasn't seen significant investment in many years. The project is also expected to serve as a catalyst for future revitalization in the community.

The Michigan Strategic Fund today approved a Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based loan participation of $1.9 million. In addition, the Saginaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority received MSF approval of state tax capture valued at $130,060 to reimburse for brownfield remediation activities.

The village of Merrill has approved a nine-year Commercial Rehabilitation Act property tax abatement valued at $338,902 in support of the project, as well as the local portion of the tax capture valued at $47,566. The village of Merrill is engaged with MEDC's?Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

"The projects approved today are proof of Team Michigan's commitment to taking a people-first approach to economic development in the state. From building on our leadership in EV and mobility innovation resulting in more good jobs in Southeast Michigan, to supporting affordable housing, entrepreneurial opportunities and increasing access to high-speed internet across Michigan - we remain laser-focused on ensuring every Michigander feels the impact of economic opportunity in their daily lives," said Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO and Michigan Strategic Fund President and Chair Quentin Messer Jr. "Today's MSF actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring we are creating upward economic mobility for our 10 million plus friends and neighbors across our great state."

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy.?For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit?www.MichiganBusiness.org.?For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at?www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on:?Facebook,?Instagram,?LinkedIn, and?Twitter.

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Thousands of Tamil scholars and savants in Tamil Nadu have brought great glory to Tamil culture and language in the past and there is nothing that the Tamil Nadu chief minister can do more than what has been already achieved so far by the Tamil scholars, to promote Tamil language and culture.

by N.S.Venkataraman

Tamil Nadu chief minister has declared that DMK government would protect Tamils wherever they are. This statement has received wide publicity in print and visual media published from Tamil Nadu, without questioning the need for such statement. Some loyal media has also applauded this statement.

During the last ten months, there have been several other non issues frequently mentioned about which Tamil Nadu government seem to be more concerned than the real issues.

Tamil language and Tamil culture vibrant :

During the last ten months after DMK was voted to power in Tamil Nadu, chief minister has been repeatedly talking about his commitment to the cause of Tamil language and Tamil culture and protecting and fostering them not only in Tamil Nadu but all over the world.

Per se, there is nothing objectionable in expressing such desires . Anyone who loves Tamil language and Tamil culture may express such desire and thousands of Tamilians already do so.

However, the fact is that Tamil language and Tamil culture are already well respected all over India and they do not need any special protection now, more than what they have received during the last several decades. Prime Minister Modi himself has several times applauded the Tamil poets Thiruvalluvar, Subramania Bharathiar and so many others. Certainly, Tamil language and Tamil culture is not challenged anywhere , to need some protection from the Tamil Nadu chief minister now.

Thousands of Tamil scholars and savants in Tamil Nadu have brought great glory to Tamil culture and language in the past and there is nothing that the Tamil Nadu chief minister can do more than what has been already achieved so far by the Tamil scholars, to promote Tamil language and culture.

the case of Indian students stranded due to Russian Ukrainian war, Modi government took all possible steps to bring back around 22500 students to India and succeeded. While bringing back the students, Modi government made no distinction between Indian students and students from other countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan

At the same time, Tamil Nadu chief minister stated that he would send his ministers and bureaucrats to safely bring back the Tamil students from Ukraine, which caused considerable surprise and even amusement all over India. This was a case of drama enacted by Tamil Nadu chief minister to create an impression about his commitment to the Tamil cause and to impress the gullible Tamil Nadu population.

In this scenario, many people suspect that Tami Nadu chief minister may be frequently talking about glory of Tamil language to divert attention of the people from other grim issues faced in Tamil Nadu, which the government is finding it difficult to tackle with the urgency that they need.

Hate campaign against Hindi

Even as Tamil Nadu chief minister is making loud announcement about his commitment to Tamil cause, at the same time ,he is deprecating Hindi language unnecessarily, particularly when there is no imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu and whoever learn Hindi or talk Hindi language do so voluntarily. Navodaya schools are not being permitted to function in Tami Nadu , as they adopt three language formula. In government schools in Tamil Nadu, Hindi language is not taught to the students , which would put them in disadvantage in the long run, when they may seek jobs in other states.

By this strategy , it appears that the Tamil Nadu government is trying to sustain the so called issue of Tamil versus Hindi ,which has been the fulcrum and anchor policy so far to sustain the DMK party. Opposition to Hindi has gained huge importance in chief ministers priorities ,which helps in diverting peoples attention away from several pressing issues in their day today life.

Confrontation with central government :

Another strategy of Tamil Nadu chief minister to divert public attention is his consistent anti central government stance with regard to every policy and every decision of Modi government; whether it is non selecting Tamil Nadus Republic Day tableau by central government for the Republic Day parade , opposition to NEET examination, demanding that education should be a state subject and several other matter,

It seems that Tamil Nadu government is trying to divert the attention of the people by creating an image , as if Tamil Nadus progress is being blocked by central government and the Modi government is responsible for the inability of Tamil Nadu government to tackle several socio economic issues in the state.

Divisive policy? :

By describing the central government as  Ondriya arasu , Tamil Nadu government seems to be creating an impression that India is not a unified country but it is only a blend of states / regions.

The new term is being repeatedly used by the chief minister himself, ministers in the cabinet and DMK partymen in public forums and media supporting DMK

This practice is causing concern amongst well meaning people in Tamil Nadu, who cherish the values of seeing India as one integrated nation.

Committees and awards :

During the last ten months, almost every week, new announcements are made and new committees are formed and new awards are announced and given, under one pretext or the other. They are carefully and cleverly announced to catch media headlines, with nobody knowing what is the implementation stage of such announcements and what are the achievements of these committees.

Grim issues :

Today, the ground reality is that Tamil Nadus financial conditions have become extremely critical. TANGEDCO is having a debt of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore and it is still borrowing. State government has overall debt of more than Rs. 6 lakh crore and it is still borrowing . In the case of Transport Corporation the situation is no better.

It appears that while taking more and more loans , there is no concern about the repaying capability , as even the interest burden has become a very big sum and requiring substantial segment of revenue to be used for the interest payment.

While several poll promises have not been kept such as closure of tasmac shops, grant of Rs. 1000 to every woman in the state , waiver of gold loan etc. , several vital and important projects remain stranded. Such projects include neutrino project , Kerala Tamil Nadu gas pipeline project and so many others with the chief minister rejecting number of such projects probably because they are floated by central government, though the chief minister tries to justify rejection by raising some vague environmental concern. It appears that the chief minister is carried away by the persistent campaign of some activists and has not adequately got himself informed by seeking the views of the experts and technologists, who are available in Tamil Nadu in good number.

Even as the state is debt ridden, unnecessary expenses are being incurred in constructing memorials , opening parks etc. which are avoidable considering the Tamil Nadus finances at present and which can be postponed

Tax evasion due to corruption in administrative machinery are very high now. There are charges of corruption in government purchases such as in the case of buying Pongal gifts for distribution to poor people. There are also charges with regard to tender decisions just as in the case of thermal power stations.

Farmers in delta region are suffering as the government officials are said to be demanding bribe to complete the procurement process for paddy. Several other grave allegations are repeatedly published in the media such as the corrupt dealings in tasmac shops , in promotion and transfer of government officials etc. Media also frequently refers to the interference of DMK partymen in administration.

While the non issues are being discussed in high decibel , there is no indication that Tamil Nadu government is taking effective measures to tone up the administration,

What need to be done ?

Urgent steps are required to improve governments revenue income, by increasing tax collection in whatever way possible by adopting stick and carrot policy.

Further, spending of governments resources in unproductive schemes have to be stopped and the temptation to announce populist schemes,should be given up forthwith.

Some meaningful measures should be introduced to improve the productivity of the government departments.

The above measures can be implemented only by a competent and determined government keeping the long term social and economic needs in view.

After the formation the government ten months back, Tamil Nadu chief minister appointed a committee of internationally known economic experts with much fanfare to advise him on the measures needed to save Tail Nadu from the prevailing economic crisis. However, people do not know whether this committee still exists and what advice the experts have given. Has this committee ended as one more committee ?

Cosmetic announcements and focusing on non issues and populist stance are no substitute for efficient and competent governance.

There is still time

Tamil Nadu government has more than four years left before the next election. It is now not too late to see the writing on the wall and initiate corrective measures.

Tamil Nadu chief minister certainly enjoys popular support and he must use this opportunity and strive to achieve high quality governance, so that he
Contributed Photo / Middletown Police Department / Contributed Photo

MIDDLETOWN  Police found a Middletown man with a loaded gun Wednesday after he fled from patrol officers, according to the Middletown Police Department.

Patrol officers stopped a car driving the wrong way on Ferry Street on Wednesday. During the stop, someone in the car, later identified as 20-year-old Middletown resident Shavar Bennett, fled from the vehicle, the police department said.
In January, Sgt. Zachary Calagui was found dead by a neighbor in his Fairbanks, Alaska, apartment. No foul play was suspected. His death was one data point in a massive jump in suicides among troops in Alaska in recent years.

Last year, at least 11 soldiers died by suicide in Alaska. Another six deaths are still under investigation. That grim number has sounded the alarm across the Army as it looks to recruit volunteers to bolster its arctic forces amid a newly revamped focus on training for frigid climates after the post-9/11 wars.

The number of troops dying by suicide in Alaska has seen a significant spike in recent years. In 2020, seven soldiers took their own lives; eight in 2019; and three in 2018.

Read Next: 'It's Lethal Here': Army Aims to Master the Arctic, Where the Environment Is the Enemy

It's a problem with no single solution as senior leaders in Alaska lobby the Pentagon for more mental health resources and desperately try even the smallest solutions, including offering free vitamin D supplements to help combat depression. Major upgrades to gyms and barracks, along with early release for soldiers on Fridays -- typically around 3 p.m., are all part of the push to fight the rising numbers.

Military.com interviewed numerous Alaska-based soldiers ranging from privates to senior leaders and found no evidence of systemic poor or abusive leadership. Instead, soldiers pointed to the isolated region, far from home with time zone differences and travel expenses making it hard to keep in contact with loved ones. Nearly all the soldiers who spoke to Military.com requested anonymity to speak freely on the subject and avoid retaliation.

Alaska has for years been the state with the highest suicide rate among the general population.

Army officials hope that mandating that all soldiers see a mental health counselor will help. But Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of U.S. Army Alaska, told Military.com he is struggling to recruit mental health providers to move to the state.

Bassett Army Community Hospital at Fort Wainwright has been given more resources, including boosted salaries and other retention incentives, to try to lure counselors up north to help. But that labor shortage on Alaskan bases is seen everywhere, including recreation facilities for soldiers.

"It's remote; it's isolated here," Eifler told Military.com. "Across the whole Army, I don't think we have enough behavioral health personnel. But we have a shortage of labor on everything here, including clinicians. We're asking the Army for help to fill that void to get more up here."

That labor shortage and the mandated appointments have triggered major backlogs for soldiers seeking help, some interviewed said. Others said that there's still a stigma against seeking help, despite the increased suicide rate.

Two noncommissioned officers said that some soldiers see behavioral health as a punishment, because troops who get in trouble for things such as for drinking and driving are forced into that same counseling. Another NCO who spoke to Military.com noted that it's important for troops to have hobbies, but a lot of Alaska-specific recreation, such as snowboarding, is expensive and new soldiers are often priced out.

To try to fight the stigma against seeking mental health care, and despite a shortage of counselors, Eifler is hoping to get every soldier an appointment within six months. Those mandated meetings, he said, have caught some early red flags, and several troops were connected to therapy and other resources.

"Everyone goes, me included. I went," he said. "We're catching people who should've went but were afraid to raise their hand, and we're getting them help."

Catching those red flags early has become a key initiative in the force. The bulk of Army suicides are not related to combat trauma. In fact, most soldiers who die by suicide have never been deployed abroad. Since the post-9/11 wars wound down, investigators have found that troops who died by suicide faced personal crises, including rocky romantic relationships or financial troubles.

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston told reporters in October that the focus of the service's suicide prevention efforts is on noncommissioned officers knowing their soldiers and identifying troubling behavior early on, addressing problems before they snowball into a crisis.

"We've placed a stronger focus on our younger leaders," Sgt. Maj. Alex Kupratty, the command sergeant major for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, told Military.com. "The rank of sergeant is where the rubber meets the road, and we're teaching them to deal with those issues they might encounter with dealing with new soldiers. That includes listening skills, coping skills and understanding the resources available."

If you are a service member or veteran who needs help, it is available 24/7 at the Veterans and Military Crisis Line, 800-273-8255 (press 1), by texting 838255, or through the online chat function at www.veteranscrisisline.net.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Army Hopes Identifying Suicide 'Red Flags' Earlier Will Finally Ease Crisis
The 36-year-old Afghanistan war veteran can't be left alone with his kids because his hallucinations and outbursts make him a danger to himself and others. He must be handed his medications, or he'll forget to take them. He doesn't drive or work. Or manage his finances, having once spent thousands of dollars in a wild shopping spree while experiencing mania.

Still, the former Army sergeant has not been hospitalized for mental health issues in nearly five years -- an achievement he and his wife attribute to her providing around-the-clock care for him, supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs' Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.

In addition to providing health care coverage and community support, the program pays the veteran a stipend that allows the wife to care for him instead of hiring a home health aide.

Read Next: VA Wants to Make Telephone Appointments for Mental Health Care Permanent

But in the past month, the couple, who live in South Carolina and requested anonymity so they could speak freely about their situation due to concerns about retaliation from their VA caseworkers, learned they no longer qualify for the benefit.

They are not alone. With the VA conducting reviews to ensure that participants meet new eligibility requirements introduced last year, as many as 6,000 people may find out this month they no longer will receive the caretaker support some have relied upon for years as they manage the residual wounds of war that continue to shape their lives.

VA officials say the new eligibility rules were introduced to comply with a 2018 law that expanded the program to severely injured veterans of previous wars whose loved ones have cared for them for years without any compensation. By changing the eligibility requirements while expanding the groups of veterans who could apply, the idea was that veterans from past conflicts could get the help they needed without radically increasing the cost of the program.

They said the program now provides consistency and will be fair and equitable for all.

Cost played a role, as well. During a hearing on the issue in 2018, then-VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin said expansion under the existing rules would add 180,000 caregivers and require $2.8 billion over the first five years -- a change he said he could not support.

Shulkin said he favored expanding the program to only the most severely injured or incapacitated veterans -- a move that would add roughly 40,000 caregivers and ultimately was approved.

But current enrollees and advocates believe it is unfair that legacy participants must meet the new criteria. And, they say, the review process has been inconsistent and fraught with error.

They charge that the reviewers have largely ignored the needs of those with traumatic brain injuries and mental health issues -- the "invisible wounds" of war.

"The person who did our assessment completely skipped the section regarding supervision, protection and instruction," said the wife, referring to an eligibility requirement that participating veterans must have an impairment that affects their ability to maintain their personal safety. "It is really hard for me to think it was not done on purpose."

This photo taken Aug. 30, 2013 shows a veteran holding onto his wife as she lifts him into his wheel chair at their home in Anna, Ill. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee)

That suspicion is common among the families being told they are no longer eligible.

"I feel like there was no consideration of my son's situation," said a mother who has served as her son's caregiver for eight years.

The mom, who requested anonymity to protect her son, learned she was dismissed from the program just weeks after her son was hospitalized for psychosis.

"I told him I plan to appeal, but he tells me not to because 'so many other veterans are more hurt than me,'" she said.

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, also referred to as the Family Caregiver Program, was introduced in 2011 for post-9/11 veterans seriously injured in the line of duty, beginning with 200 caregivers who received health care, mental health services, community support and a monthly $1,600 stipend.

It has grown to roughly 33,000 participants who now receive $1,750- $3,000 per month, depending on geographic location and the extent of care required.

The program was greatly expanded under the 2018 VA Mission Act, which required that eligible combat veterans from previous wars be allowed to apply. By law, World War II through Vietnam War veterans became eligible on Oct. 1, 2020, while combat veterans who served between May 1975 and Sept. 11, 2001, are set to become eligible this October.

With the program's expansion, the VA introduced new eligibility rules that focus on a veteran's need for assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, grooming and mobility, as well as their personal safety.

While the previous eligibility rules were similar, the VA used a different evaluation scoring system and based stipends on the amount of time required to provide care, with those in the lowest tier needing 10 hours of care a week. Those in the highest tier -- at least 40 hours of care a week -- receive the largest amount.

VA officials have said the eligibility rules were introduced as a result of the Mission Act and announced in October that the department would review the cases of 19,700 "legacy" participants to determine whether they met the criteria.

From the outset, VA officials estimated that most of the participants in the lowest tier would lose eligibility, as would some in the middle tier, or roughly 6,000 veterans.

As a result of the outcry from caregivers, advocacy groups and members of Congress over the reviews, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in March that the department is conducting a "deep dive" into the evaluation process to see what changes need to be made.

"We are constantly reviewing this. ... Experience dictates that we get smarter at this over time and so we can plow the lessons learned back into it," McDonough said. "We'll be looking at specific improvements in the program."

VA officials stressed that those being dropped from the program will receive their current level of benefits and stipends through March 2023.

"We are trying to get these [reviews] all done by the end of this month so that all veterans and caregivers know that decision and we have at least a year" for veterans to plan while still receiving their stipends, Caregiver Support Program Executive Director Colleen Richardson said in a call with reporters March 3.

"The program has really changed a lot. ... Battlefield medicine has changed significantly for those that have deployed and so has rehab, so what we're finding is that there are a lot of veterans who are no longer eligible under the current criteria," Richardson said.

Advocates argue, however, that the VA did not need to change the eligibility requirements for existing veterans in the program. Caregivers and groups have sued, calling the new rules "arbitrary and capricious," according to Veteran Warriors Inc. and National Veterans Legal Services Program Inc., the groups representing several caregivers.

"The only thing VA was authorized to do was to expand the program, but they restricted it," said Holly Ferrell, Veteran Warriors executive director, during an interview with Military.com. "We shouldn't be [pitting] veterans and caregivers of one era against another."

Since expanding the program to older veterans, the VA has received roughly 135,000 new applications and doubled the number of participants, according to the department.

The law clearly states that the VA is to take into account the caregiver's assessment of a veteran's needs and limitations and the extent to which a veteran can function safely and independently.

But it also stipulates that the veteran must have a "need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which the ability of the veteran to function in daily life would be seriously impaired."

The Mission Act received overwhelming support in Congress, with just 74 "no" votes in both the House and Senate. The tightening of the rules it contained made a culling of the veterans eligible inevitable, although lawmakers have begun to discuss countering the more restrictive guidelines.

McDonough said the department is looking to determine whether it has flexibility under the statute to make changes.

Democrat Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has questioned the VA's emphasis on the activities of daily living and a requirement that veterans have a 70% disability rating to be eligible.

And Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has raised concerns regarding the manner in which the veterans have been notified of their denials, with no explanation for why they were dropped.

"Seeing general statements such as the veteran 'no longer meets the program criteria' is not helpful to the veteran or their families in understanding why they have been denied," Rubio wrote in a letter to McDonough in January. "This blanket denial also does little in helping them to prepare the appropriate documentation and materials in pursuing an appeal."

The VA has not released data for how many legacy participants have been dropped from the program, but Ferrell said that more than 900 have reached out to her organization seeking help with filing appeals.

Ferrell said the group is seeing numerous errors and omissions in assessments, adding that obvious mistakes can help veterans win appeals when presented with medical records and other documentation.

"You have assessors who are not documenting anything close to what the medical records state," Ferrell said. "A record will say 'veteran cannot be left alone,' but the assessment will say they don't require assistance with supervision. It's crazy."

She added that, based on what she has seen, the reviewers face even more difficulty assessing veterans with neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injury, migraines, neuropathy and mental health conditions.

"VA has misinterpreted the need for supervision, protection and instruction, and we are now questioning whether they even know what the term 'neurological impairment' means," Ferrell said.

The new rules say that to be eligible, veterans must need assistance with activities of daily living or require supervision, protection or instruction for their personal safety. To meet the requirement, they must have "trouble maintaining in a home environment," according to Timothy Jobin, deputy director of VA's Caregiver Support Programs.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough speaks during an event to honor children in military and veteran caregiving families in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 10, 2021. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders)

Jobin didn't elaborate on what constitutes "maintaining," but nodded to examples such as a veteran with a traumatic brain injury or dementia who leaves the stove on or wanders from the home.

Other symptoms such as anger -- a common symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder -- likely wouldn't meet the criteria, he said.

"We have people come to us and say, 'I need to be around in case that individual gets angry. We want to take that very seriously, but we have different therapies that individuals can engage in to assist with that. It doesn't quite meet the threshold for supervision, protection, instruction," Jobin said.

The VA is aiming for the reviews to be completed by the end of this month. Those being dismissed from the program should receive a phone call, followed by a letter confirming they are no longer eligible but have a right to appeal and even reapply in the future, VA officials said.

"They may not meet the eligibility criteria today, but if in three months from now, they need our assistance or they feel like they meet the eligibility criteria, we really want them to reapply," said Richardson, the director of the Caregiver Support Program.

The South Carolina veteran and his wife hope their appeal is successful but also are making plans if it is not. The wife said she will find a remote work job that allows her to continue caregiving or the couple will sell their house.

"Financially, we are going to be hurting, but that's not going to change the fact that I'm still going to be here for him. I don't want to go back to where we were," she said.

They said they plan to appeal, based on misinformation in the assessment and will even reapply if necessary, especially if the vet's symptoms worsen with age.

But, the wife said, she still doesn't understand why the VA would take away this benefit when, if she wasn't her husband's caregiver, he would hire someone to ensure that he takes his prescriptions, maintains nutrition and makes it to medical appointments.

"We worked really hard to at least be stable enough to function in this house, in a protected space," the wife said. "I had to give up on my career. But at least I am proud, because he always says that I pretty much have kept him alive."

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: VA Will Keep Paying Caregiver Benefits During Review That Could Cut Off One-Third of Enrolled 9/11 Vets
The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military honor, presented by the president of the United States in the name of Congress. It was first introduced during the first year of the Civil War as a Navy award for distinguished service by enlisted men. In 1862, a Medal of Honor was introduced for the Army's enlisted corps.

By 1863, the Medal of Honor became permanent and was made available to officers as well. It has undergone a number of design changes over the years, including separate versions for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

It has also become more exclusive in that time, recognizing only the most heroic acts of valor on the battlefield. In honor of March 25 being National Medal of Honor Day, here are a few more reasons this medal is so significant.

1. The Medal of Honor almost never happened.

When the Civil War first broke out, a battlefield medal was considered by the Army but rejected by Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, commander of the U.S. Army. He considered battlefield decorations a European tradition and refused to accept the idea.

Almost as soon as he retired in 1861 and could no longer hold up the idea, the Navy adopted its Medal of Honor. The Army followed suit within a year. The first Medals of Honor were awarded in 1863.

2. Most Medals of Honor were awarded during the Civil War.

According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, 1,523 Medals of Honor were awarded during the Civil War, 43% of all 3,530 medals ever awarded. The conflict with the second-highest number of Medals of Honor was World War II, with 472, just more than 13%. As the only battlefield decoration at the time, the bar for receiving one wasn't as high.

Congress and the War Department began to get more and more strict about presenting the award. Although some were awarded for peacetime bravery and to civilians, Congress made permanent changes in 1918. The Medal of Honor would be awarded to an American who would "distinguish himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" and "in action involving actual conflict with an enemy."

3. Medals of Honor have been rescinded.

With those new criteria in mind, Congress struck 911 medals from the Medal of Honor list. A commission of five retired Army generals reviewed the 2,625 Medals of Honor that had been awarded up until that time.

That commission found 864 Medals of Honor had been mistakenly presented to the 27th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1863. One recipient received his by asking for it. Others got one for just doing their job. One, Dr. Mary E. Walker, a contract surgeon for the Union Army, received one after the war, but Congress tried to rescind it because she was a woman.

Read: Why the United States Revoked Hundreds of Medals of Honor

4. Many recipients die during their Medal of Honor actions.

Of the 3,530 Medal of Honor recipients, 618 lost their lives in action, a death rate of more than 17%. When counting only the Medals of Honor received after the 1918 congressionally enforced standards, that number balloons to more than 49%.

Although some Medals of Honor were awarded until 1945 for actions outside of combat, the number isn't large enough to greatly affect the fact that receiving a Medal of Honor typically reflects actions taken in incredibly dangerous situations that often result in the death of an American hero. Those who do survive are often still wounded or suffer from psychological trauma.

5. The Medal of Honor comes with special benefits.

Receiving the nation's highest honor from the leader of the free world is a pretty great perk in and of itself, but there are a number of other special benefits Medal of Honor recipients get when they're approved for the award.

It comes with a monthly pension, special retirement pay, uniform allowances, travel benefits, invitations to presidential inaugural balls and appointments to military academies for their descendents, just to name a few.

Read: 8 Special Benefits Medal of Honor Recipients Get for Their Exceptional Service

President Barack Obama presents retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins is awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a battle at Camp A Shau, South Vietnam, March 9-12, 1966, during a ceremony held at the White House in Washington, Sept. 15, 2014. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Courtney Ropp)

6. It's not required to salute the Medal of Honor, but we do anyway.

The Medal of Honor is at the heart of a rare occurrence, one of the few times a person of higher rank salutes a lower rank. There's nothing in law or regulations (except for the Air Force) that states a military member has to salute someone who has earned the Medal of Honor, but uniformed personnel do it as an act of respect.

Moreover, the uniformed service member will salute a recipient of the Medal of Honor, whether or not that person is in uniform. It's just that respected among U.S. military members.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Fort Madison, IA (52627)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The decades-old Festival Flea Market in Pompano Beach, which for years has offered bargains to retail shoppers and a venue for entrepreneurs to sell just about anything, eventually may give way to a warehouse.

Under a new proposal, the flea market would be demolished and a warehouse would be built that could cover up to 773,000 square feet.

Advertisement

But owner Yoram Izhuk of Miami, who has a contract to is sell the property at 2900 Sample Road to an Atlanta developer, said Thursday that hes promised his 200 vendor-tenants that theyll have time to plan their life.

We made an agreement with [the developer] that we wont give them the property before 2 years, he said in a phone interview. We want to make sure our employees and tenants wont get hurt.

Advertisement

Izhuk said his company, IMC Management Co., owns a number of other properties around South Florida, including the Lauderhill Mall. One of them could become the site of a new flea market.

We live in South Florida and we are very sensitive to the incomes of people, he said. Most of the people will have spaces in our other properties, and we are thinking of opening another flea market.

Facing changes

IDI Logistics, an Atlanta-based industrial investment and development firm, has asked the city to change the zoning from commercial to industrial so it can eventually demolish the existing building and build the warehouse.

Pompano Beachs development review committee undertook an initial look at the proposed changes during a meeting Wednesday.

The next stop is the citys planning and zoning board, a city spokeswoman said. After that, the City Commission and the Broward County Commission will consider the changes. The timeframe remains uncertain.

[ RELATED: Missing the Festival | Opinion ]

Built in 1986, the market was featured on VisitFloridas website as a place for tourists to spend some time and money.

Visitors from all over the world have discovered the shopping delights of the Festival Flea Market Mall, a 400,000 square foot, air-conditioned, bargain-hunters paradise, the market says in a blurb on the site. Festival combines the low prices of a marketplace with the comforts and amenities of a mall.

Over the years, the market was also the scene for non-retailing activities such as casting calls for ABCs The Bachelor reality show series, as well as testing for COVID-19 infections.

Advertisement

Would-be contestants for the hit ABC reality show "The Bachelor" smile for the camera at a 2019 casting call at Festival Flea Market Mall in Pompano Beach. The market appears headed for closure as a developer wants to build a warehouse on the site. (ABC)

A less brisk marketplace

But these days, the market has been less robust, namely because of online shopping and COVID-19, according to a zoning change application filed with the city by IDI Logistics.

The trends in the retail sector have changed dramatically due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the application filed with the city. Prior to COVID-19, consumers were shifting to online shopping and that trend was magnified due to COVID-19.

The impacts of COVID-19 will likely impact the way people shop well into the future, which will continue to reduce the need for brick and mortar stores as people continue to do much of their shopping online.

But the land is ideal for a warehouse, the application says. The site, which is located at 2900 Sample Road, provides access to Floridas Turnpike, I-95 and the Sawgrass Expressway.

This access will increase the efficiency and speed of delivery of goods to customers and also provides efficiency in delivery of goods to businesses located in the industrial warehouse space, according to the IDI application.
DR Congo's most notorious armed group is moving inland from the border with Uganda after Ugandan and Congolese troops attacked its strongholds there, experts say.

Billed by the so-called Islamic State as its local affiliate, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been accused of killing thousands of civilians in DR Congo's troubled east.

After the ADF carried out a wave of bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala last year, Ugandan forces last November crossed the border in a joint crackdown with the hard-pressed Congolese army.

The operation has combined with a "state of siege" imposed last May in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, giving special powers to army and police officers.

But the big effort has so far failed to stem ADF attacks -- and some observers say the group has merely been displaced.

At least seventy-nine civilians were killed in attacks from last Friday to Monday in the Beni and Irumu areas alone, local sources say.

Analysts following the security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say the ADF has pulled out of strongholds near the border and headed farther inland.

Over the past three months, "there has been a movement of ADF rebels from east to the west," crossing a line roughly marked by National Highway 4 linking Beni and Kisangani, said Reagan Miviri of the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected monitor.

"The ADF threat has moved away from Uganda," said lawyer Omar Kavota, coordinator for the Congolese Study Centre for the Promotion of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, known by its French acronym CEPADHO.

Long-standing threat

The ADF was historically a Ugandan rebel coalition whose biggest group comprised Muslims opposed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

But it established itself in eastern DRC in 1995, becoming the deadliest of scores of outlawed forces in the troubled region.

The Islamic State presents the ADF as its regional branch -- the Islamic State Central Africa Province, or ISCAP.

ADF activity in the runup to the joint offensive. By Cla PCULIER AFP

In March last year, the United States placed the ADF on its list of "terrorist groups" affiliated with IS jihadists.

The DRC's Catholic Church says the ADF has killed around 6,000 civilians since 2013 while the KST has blamed it for more than 1,200 deaths in North Kivu's Beni area alone since 2017.

Legislator Jean-Baptiste Muhindo Kasekwa, an MP for North Kivu's provincial capital Goma, this week challenged the government to explain "the real causes of the stalemate in the security situation."

Since the start of the "state of siege," 2,068 civilians have died, while the tally since the start of the offensive is 383 dead, he told AFP.

Muhindo Kasekwa said he feared that the joint offensive had served only to "steer the ADF away from the Ugandan border and push them further into the DRC."

Displaced rebels

The same thing happened in 2009, he said.

A crackdown against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) -- an ethnic Rwandan Hutu group active in eastern DRC -- simply caused the rebels to move away from the Rwandan border, he said.

A Ugandan soldier in Beni last December. Uganda joined the crackdown after a string of bombings in Kampala blamed on the Congo-based ADF. By Sbastien KITSA MUSAYI AFP

Miviri said it was unclear whether the ADF's move away from its normal strongholds was temporary or permanent.

"But everything suggests that if the Ugandan offensives increase, the ADF will go further towards the regions of Mambasa and Epulu," he said.

The military authorities in North Kivu and Ituri are constantly calling on local people to work with and trust the armed forces.

But "if we continue at this rate, the number of dead will be higher" than before, with the risk that the public loses faith, Miviri warned.
The terrorist survivor of the Paris attacks Salah Abdeslam resumed his evidence late on Wednesday, after the court had heard and dismissed claims of prejudice from some of the defence lawyers. It was as if Tuesday's mass walk-out by the entire defence contingent had never taken place.

Salah Abdeslam won't name names. Even when the people named are dead.

Abdeslam's testimony

On Tuesday, he admitted making two trips to eastern Europe, to collect "my brothers in Islam, because they were in a war zone, attacked by Bachar Al-Assad, Putin, the Kurds. I couldn't leave my brothers. I knew they were there. I don't regret it."

But Abdeslam won't say who he helped transfer. He claims not to have known his passengers were on a terrorist mission.

The investigation has revealed that Abdeslam's passengers on the first trip, from Budapest to Belgium, were his current co-accused Osama Krayem and Sofien Ayari, along with Ahmad Alkaid, suspected of having made the suicide vests used in the Paris attacks.

The other journey which Abdeslam admits having made, from the German city of Ulm, was to transfer Najim Laachraoui and Mohamed Belkaid, both since dead, Laachraoui in the 2016 Brussels terrorist attacks, Belkaid in a failed effort by Belgian police to arrest Salah Abdeslam in the wake of the Paris killings.

The presiding judge, Jean-Louis Peries, reminded the witness that thousands of others had followed the refugee route across Europe, "but they weren't offered transport in a BMW". The witness made no answer.

During Tuesday's questioning, Salah Abdeslam reacted angrily to the suggestion that he denied having driven three other groups of returnees from Syria, precisely because they were the nine men who died in the attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015.

Calmer, less provocative

On Wednesday's resumption of questioning, Abdeslam was calmer, somewhat less provocative.

He admitted that the two long road trips had been financed with money provided by Islamic State. In cash.

Salah Abdeslam told the court that, just because he was the sole survivor of the attacks did not mean he knew everything, had all the answers. "A lot is expected of me. But you are asking questions to which I do not have the answers."

And then it was the turn of Mohammed Amri, one of the accused who admits that he rented vehicles in his own name for Salah Abdeslam, but claims he had no idea the cars would be used to transport potential terrorists.

Amri explained that he had acted on behalf of Abdeslam in the car rental agency simply because his friend had previously had an altercation with the manager of the agency.

His faced cracked by a tragic smile, Amri added: "If I hadn't rented that car, I wouldn't be here."

He risks 20 years in jail if found guilty of aiding and abetting a terrorist enterprise.

The trial continues.
The Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has announced that government has commenced engagements through embassies in Ghana with global broadcasting regulators to host Ghanaian TV channels.

In a tweet on Thursday March 17, 2022, he said the new move would promote Ghanas economic and investment potential on the international media space.

The sector minister added that the future success of the engagements would provide an avenue for Ghana to export its multimedia content and the growth of the global market share of local television networks.

See his tweet here.
Some New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the Kwadaso Constituency of the Ashanti Region have obtained an injunction at the Kumasi High Court to retrain the party from holding any elections in the constituency.

The two plaintiffs, Abu Mahama and Kofi Abrefa, are also seeking the court to nullify the recently held polling station elections and allow for fresh polls.

They are claiming that the polling station elections were fraught with breaches of the party's constitution.

One of the plaintiffs, Abu Mahama spoke to Citi News, after a bailiff served the constituency executives with the writ.

As somebody who believes in the law and knows that the courts are there to settle issues that cannot be settled within the party, I have taken legal action against the party so the party will go for us to talk and find out how best we can solve it, Mr. Mahama said.

I am doing this because I want the party to follow the constitution of the party. If we dont follow it and one day the devil becomes the leader of the party, we are doomed, he added.

About 60 NPP members from Kwadaso constituency recently picketed at the party's headquarters in Accra on March 10.

They petitioned their national leaders over issues they had with the recent polling station executive elections.

The protesters alleged that the Chairperson for the constituency's polling station elections, Gifty Ohene Konadu, breached the party's constitution in the conduct of the polling station executive elections in the area.

---Citinewsroom
A youth group called itself Kusaug Youth Movement has accused the military deployed to maintain peace in Bawku of attacking and killing persons from the Kusasi tribe living in Buabula and Zoogo.

At a press conference held at the Kusaug Traditional Council, the youth group said they were dismayed at what they described as brutish and unprofessional behaviour and conduct of the Military detachment in Bawku on March 16, when another shooting incident was recorded.

Unfortunately, what happened yesterday in Bawku cannot be described as peacekeeping effort by any stretch of imagination, as the military besieged Buabula and Zoogo, suburbs of Bawku inhabited mainly by Kusasis, and under the guise of maintaining peace, shot at unarmed men, women, children and livestock and burnt houses into ashes.

We have never, for the history of the numerous ethnic conflicts in Bawku, witnessed this gross unprofessional conduct before, and therefore we have reason to suspect that the conduct of the Military yesterday has portrayed themselves as losing their impartiality for taking side against the Kusaasi, hence their unprofessional conduct leaves much to be desired, President of Kusaug Youth Movement, Abugri A Haruna told the press.

Insisting that the people of Kusaug are now living in a state of fear since they can no longer distinguish between their enemies and the military, the youth group is demanding the immediate removal of DCOP Dr. Saibu Pabi Gariba the Regional Police Commander for carrying through with his treats, Captain Ekor Sagoe, Commanding Officer for the Military in Bawku and the Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Amadu Hamza for their open display of bias and gross disregard for human rights.

While demanding an apology from the security to the Pusiga Naba and the Zugran for causing fear and panic among the people of Pusiga who are not residents of Bawku, the Kusaug Youth Movement adds that it expects that future deployment of security personnel to Bawku must be done taking into consideration the ethnic backgrounds and affiliations of personnel.

Meanwhile, in a press release from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), it has stressed that its cordon and search operations have been carefully planned in accordance with the rules of engagement in order to rid the Bawku Municipality of the armed assailants engaged in the sporadic shootings.

GAF insists that all the allegations being circulated on social media that its personnel are on the rampage killing people and animals are false and diversionary and must accordingly be ignored.

Below is the statement read at the press conference:

PRESS CONFERENCE ON MILITARY

BRUTALITIES AND ATROCITIES IN BAWKU

ON 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH MARCH 2022 BY

KUSAUG YOUTH MOVEMENT

Ladies and gentlemen of the press we have invited you to the Kusaug Traditional Council here to express our deep concerns about the security situation in Bawku on the 15th,16th and 17th March, 2022. First of all, we wish to express our gratitude to the security agencies in Bawku for their tireless efforts in maintaining peace in Bawku over the years and in recent times for this needless conflict in Bawku.

By extension, we thank the Government, and the President, HE Nana Addo-Danquah Akuffo Addo in particular, for his concern and commitment to maintaining peace in Bawku. However, on the 16th March, 2022, we were dismayed about the brutish and unprofessional behaviour and conduct of the Military detachment in Bawku who are there to maintain peace among the people due to the ethnic conflict.

Unfortunately, what happened yesterday in Bawku cannot be described as peacekeeping effort by any stretch of imagination, as the military besieged Buabula and Zoogo, suburbs of Bawku inhabited mainly by Kusasis, and under the guise of maintaining peace, shot at unarmed men, women, children and livestock and burnt houses into ashes.

We have never, for the history of the numerous ethnic conflicts in Bawku, witnessed this gross unprofessional conduct before, and therefore we have reason to suspect that the conduct of the Military yesterday has portrayed themselves as losing their impartiality for taking side against the Kusaasi, hence their unprofessional conduct leaves much to be desired.

Context of the military brutality

In 2008, women and children were slaughtered in cold blood in the Buabula community of Bawku when the Mamprusis disguised themselves in military uniforms and besieged the community and committed those murders. The men took cover and the Mamprusis cowardly carried out these heinous and barbaric crimes, which have not been investigated till date. We are informed that the military repeated this history by besieging the place in the wee-hours of yesterday, without any vehicle. The men mistaking them for Mamprusis sought to defend themselves this time around, and three soldiers were injured in the process and airlifted by Military helicopter for medical attention in Accra. The soldiers then went on rampage since the dawn of yesterday, shooting everyone on sight. An unarmed man (Issahaku) was chased into his room and shot and his lifeless body was left in the room since no family member could go near the house for fear of been met with the same act of murder as meted to their brother. A 13-year-old boy who was running after his father who was taking cover was shot dead. A young lady who was trying to run away was also shot and left in a critical condition. Others were maimed and some are in critical conditions as well.

Effect of the military raid on the community in Buabula on Wednesday

Deep fear has gripped the community and people have abandoned the community at the time of this press release, for the simple reason that they can no longer trust the military to protect them. Those who have been shot and are critically ill in hospital needing blood transfusion and other forms of medical care from their relatives cannot find their relatives since they have virtually left the community,

The basis of our believe in the partiality and unprofessionalism of the military operation yesterday

Ladies and gentlemen of the media we have a number of reasons to believe that the military in Bawku are not even-handed in their operations. Some of our believes are backed by evidence and others are inferred:

Social media sources associated with

Mamprusis are awash with praises for Mr. Satiim Yiremia (the son of Mr. Sule Yiremia, a member of Council of State) who is a Mamprusi for ensuring that the right miliary personnel have been sent to Bawku to cause harm to the Kusaasis. The said social media post reads as thanks Satiim Yirimiah for sending proper military to handle those pigs the bandacut military who only obey Abugrago are gone.

We would have dismissed these as unsubstantiated social media posts, but the influence of social media messages by Mamprusi sources, culminating in the ethnic conflict in Bawku since December last year, have taught us not to dismiss any social media message from their sources. We therefore believe that what happened yesterday is a confirmation of the social media message by the Mamprusi congratulating one Mr. Yirimea for influencing the selection of military of their (Mamprusi) preference to Bawku. Not surprisingly, we have seen in social media a Mamprusi military officer alleged to have been among the military who besieged Buabula yesterday. What kind of professionalism is this, if not that they are executing an agenda!

The Regional Police Commander is on record to have openly said in Pusiga at the Chief Palace that, the Kusaasis have crossed the red line he drew for them hence he is going to deal drastically with Kusaasis. This has been manifested yesterday and today when the joint military and police detachment under the command of this same Regional Police Commander Stormed Highways and brutalized, vandalized, stole and destroyed properties of women, traders and commuters including their vehicles. Videos and picture evidence of these brutalities and violation of the rights of these innocent citizens who are far from the epicentre of the conflict are there for all to see.

The Militarys high-handedness in handling the renew violence was at full display yesterday March 16, 2022 at about 10:00 GMT when they stormed Buabula, a surburb of Bawku in Rambo style killing men, women, children, animals and burning houses in gross violation of Statutory Convention and practices on Peacekeeping.

Our suspicion is further accentuated by the observation by Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, the renowned peace building icon who has contributed immensely in the peace-building efforts of the Bawku conflict. His social media post reads as follows:

These stories coming out of Bawku where our Armed Forces is contributing to atrocities by shooting and killing civilians is utterly disturbing. Our Military is trained to uphold international standards of Peacekeeping with Human Rights approaches at the core. They understand very well that in any Peacekeeping mandate, the primary of their interventions integral to their mandates, is the protection of Civilian lives. They cannot adhere to these Peacekeeping principles elsewhere in other countries and do the opposite at home in Ghana. The Military high command may want to consider personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, likewise the IGP to deploy to Bawku, only serving personnel with the requisite training and neutral background. Again, it must be emphasised that for those exploiting ethnic cleveages in the inter-communal violence in Bawku, Peacekeeping must understand at first hand. the nature and dynamics of the violence. When Peacekeeping does not protect all the people but instead contributes to Military killing civilians, it could create the grounds for radicalisation and violent extremism. This is further exacerbated by Bawku sharing borders with two countries where terrorism continues to come too close to the shores of Ghana.

Yesterday, 16th March, 2022, at about 11:00 GMT the military and Police led by the Regional Police Commander-Upper East Region stormed the revered Pusiga Nabas Palace in Pusiga District without any show of respect for traditional protocol, fired warning shots and searched the palace for arms and ammunition. Pusiga is not in Bawku, but the unprofessional military was probably relying on misinformation from the Mamprusis who have been warning the Pusiga Naba and threatening his life openly on social media, which the military paid deaf ears to these threats, but rather subjected the chief

to this embarrassment. This level of disrespect to traditional authority based on misinformation without any shred of evidence cannot happen anywhere in Ghana. The military must know that disrespect for any traditional ruler in Kusaug amounts to disrespect for the Zugraan, the Bawku Naba, Abugrago Azoka II.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we conclude as follows:

The people of Kusaag are now living in a state of fear since they can no longer distinguish between their enemies and the military. We demand the immediate removal of DCOP Dr.

Saibu Pabi Gariba the Regional Police Commander for carrying through with his treats Captain Ekor Sagoe, Commanding Officer for the Military in Bawku and the Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Amadu Hamza for their open display of biase and gross disregard for human rights.

We further demand the immediate removal and prosecution of:

Yambor Raymond ABF - ID  213505,

Suayam Emmanuel 6BN  ID  213481, and III. Jibril Nabil 6BN  ID  212165

IV. Staff Sergeant Baba Zibrilla, a station mechanic (LAD) at Bazua Camp

for killing and maiming of innocent civilians including women and children and the burning of houses at Buabula on March 16, 2022

This is the second time this dastardly act of murdering women and children in Buabula community has been perpetuated. The people did not yet come to terms with the un-

investigated 2008 atrocities, when a similar thing befell them yesterday again. The state must not treat this as a light matter or one of those occurrences during conflict time but must offer material and psychological assistance to the community members. The family of the murdered child and the unarmed adults killed by the military must be compensated by the state, and the medical bills of those critically ill and maimed should be borne by the State and not swept under the carpet.

We also expect that future deployment of Security personnel to Bawku must be done taking into consideration their ethnic backgrounds and affiliations.

We demand an apology from the Security to the Pusiga Naba and the Zugran for causing fear and panic to the Pusiga Naba and his people who are not residence of Bawku.

We want to reiterate, to the understanding of the whole world that there is no chieftaincy issue in Bawku. The Bawku Naba is the gazetted paramount chief recognized by the state. The military and peacekeeping agencies should not make the mistake of treating Kusasis and Mamprusis like two ethnic groups clamouring for the paramountcy.

Even though we appreciate the efforts of the State in keeping peace in Bawku through the security personnel for which we are grateful, let it be known that we Implore the military not to take our people for granted on their God given land. The Mamprusis must understand that forever, they can no longer become chiefs in Kusaasi and ( KUSAUG) no matter the number of tales they churn out.

To the military and police command hierarchy we admonish you to use your professional wisdom in dealing with the Bawku situation. Do not allow yourselves to be influenced by any inducements against your conscience to do what will displease God. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power. (Shakespeare).

Long Live Kusaag! Long Live Zug-Ran !! Long Live Kusaug Youth Movement!!!

Thank you for coming.

ABUGRI A HARUNA

(0243855080) PRESIDENT.

AYAABA APUNEN ADAMS

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

(0242620947) Cc:

The Minister for Defence Accra.

National Security Coordinator

Accra

National Peace Council

Accra./Northern Chapter

NIB-Accra

RESEC-UE/R

MUSEC-Kusaug Traditional Council, Bawku.

All Media Houses.
The Africa Cyber Experts (ACE) Community has gathered in Ghanas capital  specifically Alisa Hotel, located at North Ridge in Accra for a three-day meeting on Cybersecurity related matters aimed at enhancing and improving security capacity building in the African continent.

The program which is benefitting about 31 countries with 65 participants also aims at finding sustainable ways to lead efforts towards a digital Africa among other needed topics.

The countries are Mauritania, Benin, Spain, Serbia, Kenya, Nigeria, AU, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Republic of Congo, Namibia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, among others.

It is being hosted by the Cyber Security Authority under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, in collaboration with African Union (AU), Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) and Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).

Education

Acting Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr. Albert Antwi Boasiako in his welcome address said fighting cybercrime would require a multi-stakeholder approach, with the collaboration of all relevant parties.

The Republic of Ghana joined the GFCE last year to promote and strengthen capacity building through international collaboration and ultimately to improve our national cyber response and resilience. Hosting this event, therefore, means a lot to us, as it forms part of our national strategy to work with our peers on the continent to improve our collective capacity to mitigate cybercrimes and other cybersecurity challenges.

As a national institution responsible for cybersecurity matters, I wish to express CSAs support and commitment to developing this community of Africa Cyber Experts to be able to support our respective governments to address the current state of cyber insecurity being experienced on the continent.

He added, I am of the opinion that, the ACE Community meeting will meet its expectations by identifying the capacity building needs of the continent. I believe experts gathered here will also come out with innovative ways of deploying capacity building initiatives, taking into consideration our specific developmental needs and the cyber context of our respective countries. I also wish to recommend the inclusion of African private sector cybersecurity actors in our gatherings to promote public-private sector development of continental capacity building programmes. Capacity building on the continent should be homegrown, developed, and owned by Africans and I believe this group has been established to lead us to achieve these goals.

Assessment

The head of Economic Integration AUDA-NEPAD, Towela Nyirenda-Jere on her part revealed her outfit has undertaken assessments in 10 countries using a cybersecurity assessment framework with the support of partners and member states adding that the assessment report detailing key and providing recommendations will take the process to a better stage in cyber-capacity and cybersecurity matters in the continent.
The Ministry of Education is ignoring calls for a review or scraping of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

The ministry's Public Relations Officer, Kwasi Kwarteng, told Citi News that the overall cost of not implementing the programme far outweighs the cost of implementing it.

According to him, the country risks having hundreds of thousands of its young people staying without secondary education if the flagship programme is suspended.

The cost in not implementing Free SHS in the long term has very dire consequences on us as a nation because it means that every year we will be having about 100,000 students that will not have access to education up to the secondary level and that will be dangerous for our socio-economic transformation that we seek to achieve. As compared to the current cost that we incur as a people, we should have the conversation within the proper context, he said.

Kwasi Kwarteng's comment comes on the back of pressure mounting on the Akufo government to review the policy with the latest coming from the quarters of the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Prof. Stephen Adei.

Prof. Stephen Adei explains that the GH7.6 billion expenditure on the programme over the past five years is taking a toll on Ghana's economy.

Other civil society organizations have also called for a review of the programme including suggestions that the programme be limited to persons who are genuinely poor and unable to fund their secondary education.

---citinewsroom
France and Algeria's signing of the Evian Accords on 18 March 1962 marked the end of nearly eight years of bloody conflict and paved the war for Algerian independence from France.

The peace agreement was signed in Evian-les-Bains, 60 years ago today, between representatives of the French government and the government-in-exile of the National Liberation Front (FLN).

The settlement called for an immediate ceasefire and ended the eight year bloody battle for Algerian independence, at least on paper.

Tough negotiations had been going on in secret for months.

They focused on four main areas: guarantees for the pied-noir settler population which wanted to remain in Algeria; sovereignty over the Sahara and its oil deposits; the status of France's military bases and rights to nuclear testing on Algerian soil, and the framework governing future associations between France and an independent Algeria.

France managed to hold on to its oil extraction rights and nuclear testing sites, but the French remained deeply divided over handing over Algeria after 132 years of colonial rule.

The final agreement provoked controversy on both sides: hardliners on the French mainland thought too much had been handed to Algeria, while more radical factions of the FLN in Algeria thought they had obtained too little.

Nonetheless, for General Charles de Gaulle it was a victory.

The measures have been adopted so that people can control their own destiny,  he announced in a televised address.

A ceasefire was signed the following day.

And a few months later, in July, Algeria became independent following a referendum.

Half a million dead, or more

No precise figures are available for how many people were killed during the 1954-1962 conflict, but historians estimate some half a million civilians and combatants died, the vast majority Algerian.

Algerian authorities insist the figure is three times higher.

It took France nearly 40 years to officially acknowledge that the events in North Africa actually constituted a war.

And while France has made tentative attempts to heal the wounds, it still refuses to apologise or repent for 132 years of often brutal colonial rule.

Exodus

In the space of a few months of independence, one million pieds-noirs, settlers of European extraction, fled to France.

They often ended up living alongside Algerian immigrants. Many would later become the backbone of the French far right.

Some Algerians who fought for the French, known as Harkis, were executed or tortured in Algeria, but their numbers are highly contested.

Another 60,000 ended up in squalid internment camps in France.

Presidents' takes on France's recent past

Valery Giscard d'Estaing was the first French president to visit independent Algeria in April 1975.

His successor Francois Mitterrand said France and Algeria are capable of getting over the trauma of the past during a visit in November 1981.

Nicolas Sarkozy admitted the colonial system was profoundly unjust.

Francois Hollande called it brutal and in 2016 became the first president to mark the end of the war  causing outrage among his opponents.

Emmanuel Macron, the first French president born after the war, infuriated the right by calling the colonisation of Algeria a crime against humanity during his election campaign in 2017.

He said it was time France looked our past in the face.

'Symbolic gestures'

Once president, Macron apologised to the widow of a young French supporter of Algerian independence, a communist who had been tortured to death by the French army in 1957.

Macron also admitted Algerian lawyer Ali Boumendjel was tortured and killed the same year, a murder French authorities had long denied.

After the January 2021 publication of a state-commissioned report on colonisation by Algerian-born French historian Benjamin Stora, Macron said symbolic gestures could help reconcile the two countries.

He also begged forgiveness from Harkis who had been abandoned by France.

History 'rewritten'

But Macron has rejected calls for France to apologise or repent for its time in Algeria.

He sparked a major rift in late 2021 after he accused Algeria's post-independence political-military system (of) totally rewriting the country's history.

Two weeks later he described the 1961 massacre of scores of Algerian protesters in Paris by French police as an inexcusable crime.

In January 2022 he also recognised two 1962 massacres of pieds-noirs who opposed Algerian independence by French forces, as well as the deaths of anti-war protesters killed by Paris police the same year.

(with AFP)
The University of Cambridge has said its students and staff remain deeply concerned about the wellbeing of Oliver Barker-Vormawor, one of the schools PhD students, who was arrested on 11 February and subsequently charged with treason felony.

Mr Barker-Vormawor was recently granted bail after having been detained for more than a month in connection with a coup threat on social media.

A statement issued by the university said: Olivers legal team in Ghana have warned that there have been breaches of due process in his treatment, adding: This has been confirmed by other independent sources.

The university said its Vice-Chancellor has written to the Ghanaian authorities to express his concern for Olivers welfare, requesting that the rule of law be applied and that Oliver be granted access to a fair trial.

The university said it is closely monitoring developments.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Fort Lauderdale  Angel Candelaria showed up at Shooters Waterfront just two minutes after Jordan Siddiq arrived for his shift Tuesday afternoon.

He was there to confront Siddiq, and Candelaria waited at the outdoor bar until he found him. About 4 p.m., 15 minutes after Siddiq arrived at work, Candelaria began arguing with him, a probable cause affidavit says.

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A few minutes later, Candelaria pulled out a handgun and shot Siddiq once. Candelaria turned to walk away, but turned back, walked over to Siddiq and shot him a second time, the affidavit says.

[ RELATED: He loved life: Family and friends remember slain Shooters employee ]

On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Candelaria, 33, on a charge of first-degree murder, court records show. He is held in the Broward Main Jail without the possibility of bond.

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The affidavit says Candelaria walked out of the restaurant after the shooting. An employee who saw what happened identified Candelaria to homicide detectives and said Candelaria was an ex-employee who shot Siddiq for no reason.

Nearly two hours after the shooting, Fort Lauderdale Police SWAT officers found Candelaria riding a bicycle and arrested him on the fifth floor of a parking garage at 2400 East Commercial Blvd., the affidavit says.

Candelaria was carrying a Smith and Wesson M&P 380 Shield handgun. After officers put him in the back of a police car, Candelaria called a man and an ex-girlfriend from his Apple Watch, records say.

[ Shooters Waterfront employee shot to death; ex-employee facing murder charge ]

What happened, bro? the man said.

Im going to jail, bro, Candelaria responded.

What happened to you?

Candelarias additional answers are redacted from the report, aside from him saying, Im sittin in a cop car right now, and that he was calling from his watch, which officers did not take.

Booking mug for Angel Candelaria, 33, who is being held without bond in the Broward County jail on a charge of first-degree murder. (Broward County Sheriff's Office)

Body camera video recorded the second call Candelaria made to an ex-girlfriend, the affidavit says. She asked who was calling.

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Candelarias conversation with the ex-girlfriend is also redacted. But he ended the call with, I love you to death.

Several friends of Siddiq said the argument with Candelaria may have been about a woman.

Candelarias ex-fiancee, who lives in New Jersey, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that she received a call from him later on the night he was arrested.

He just tells me, I killed someone. I shot someone, she said.

She said Candelaria, who is from New Jersey, had a pattern of being volatile and unpredictable in their relationship, she said. She had to get a restraining order against him.

Candelaria had been arrested multiple times during their relationship, she said, including an arrest for escaping prison in New Jersey after he failed to return to a halfway house once he was released.

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Broward County court records show a woman who lived with Candelaria in 2020 filed for a protection order against him after he threatened that he would kill her if he went to jail. A judge granted her the protection order for a year.

The woman wrote that Candelaria threatens me and tries to bully me and that she was afraid that he will continue to go on rages.

Im afraid that he will cause bodily harm to me since Im asking him to leave, the woman wrote.

The woman wrote in the records that Candelaria had pushed her, causing her to hit her head and that he had yelled and became aggressive with her multiple times. She wrote she had video recordings of him yelling that the police wont do anything.

Editors note: This story was originally published on March 17 and has since been updated to include previous arrests.
Niger is pressing ahead with an initiative to talk to jihadists whose attacks have shaken the country's southwest, amid fears that a new wave of bloodshed lies ahead.

The impoverished Sahel nation has been fearing a new onslaught in its Tillaberi region since France last month announced its troops would quit neighbouring Mali.

A source in his office said President Mohamed Bazoum first reached out to the jihadists "three months ago," offering "an extended hand" to youngsters who had been recruited to an Islamic State-linked group.

Last month, Bazoum announced he had begun "discussions" with jihadists as part of "the search for peace."

He said he had released several militants and received them at the presidential palace.

He said he had also dispatched envoys to meet nine "terrorist chiefs."

A presidential aide said the emissaries were local officials, traditional and religious leaders, and relatives of the jihadist chiefs.

Tillaberi is located in the flashpoint "three borders" zone of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) operate.

The ISGS controls large areas near Burkina and Mali, and its fighters have already come within 100 kilometres (62 miles) of the capital Niamey.

A relative lull lasting several weeks abruptly ended on Thursday when suspected jihadists killed 21 people in an assault on a truck and bus.

Positive voices

The Sahel region of West Africa has been struggling with a jihadist revolt that sprang up in northern Mali a decade ago and spread to Niger and Burkina Faso three years later.

Thousands of civilians have died, more than 2.5 million have fled their homes and 10.5 million are facing crisis levels of hunger, according to the United Nations.

Niger, the world's poorest country according to the benchmark of the UN's Human Development Index, has been brutally affected.

In addition to the strikes in Tillaberi in the southwest, it is also being hit in the southeast by jihadists from neighbouring Nigeria.

Mali's relations with France became fraught when its government signalled a willingness to talk to the jihadists, something that Paris has always fiercely opposed.

Map of Niger locating Tillaberi region. By Tupac POINTU AFP

In Niger, some voices also oppose Bazoum's overtures.

Souley Oumarou, of a campaign group called the Forum for Responsible Citizenship (FCR), said the release of "terrorists" was a "monumental error."

But others are positive.

"We have always said that we should talk to compatriots who are in ISGS or Al-Qaeda, to see those who we can get back" from their ranks, said Boubacar Diallo, president of an association of cattle herders in north Tillaberi.

Bazoum's approach "is a path aimed at genuinely resolving the problem of terrorism, which can't be resolved by military means," said Bakary Sambe, regional director of Timbuktu Institute think tank.

He and others say that recruitment to jihadist groups often has underlying causes, such as extreme poverty or youth unemployment.

"You have to promote the return of the state in areas that have been abandoned," said General Mahamadou Abou Tarka, head of a government panel called the High Authority for Consolidating Peace, or HACP.

Public support crucial

Bazoum has long defended the idea of reaching out to armed Islamists.

In 2016, when he was interior minister, he succeeded in getting dozens of Boko Haram jihadists in southeast Niger to join a programme combining deradicalisation and job training.

"It's not mission impossible, provided you persuade the public to endorse dialogue and accept they will have to live alongside their former persecutors," said Bello Adamou Mahamadou, a Nigerien expert at the West African Laboratory for Social Sciences (LASDL).

At the same time, Bazoum has been active in boosting Niger's poorly equipped armed forces.

Army numbers have risen from 11,000 to 30,000 since 2011.

Of these, around 12,000 are deployed in anti-jihadist operations, nearly half of them along the 1,400-kilometre (850-mile) border with Mali and Burkina Faso, Bazoum has said.

A military source said that "in the coming months" the army would receive drones, military planes and armoured vehicles ordered from Turkey.
The Minority in Parliament has filed a private members motion demanding a bipartisan probe into the killing of some suspected police officers during the investigation of the bullion van robberies.

The Ghana Police Service in an official statement earlier this month confirmed that two of six personnel suspected to have been involved in the robberies had been shot dead during an operation to arrest the gang at their hideout.

Unclear with some of the information given out by the Police, the Minority in Parliament is pushing for an inquiry into the matter.

Speaking to the media in Parliament on Thursday, March 17, 2022, James Agalga who is Ranking Member for the Committee on Defense and interior stressed that it appears we have allowed our security agencies have been infiltrated by rogue elements.

He said the circumstances that resulted in the exchanges between the police and the robbers leading to the killing of the two officers must be investigated.

Officers implicated, some of who are now there are themselves, Police officers, these are what makes an enquire very, very compelling. We are saddled with the situation where those who are supposed to protect us are themselves engaging in the commission of crime, James Agalga told the press.

The Minority MP in explaining why the Police cannot be allowed to investigate this matter argued that you cannot all the time expect the Police administration to investigate themselves when matters of this nature happen. The Asewase shooting is a classical example when seven souls were lost in the cause of the operation.
18.03.2022 LISTEN

The head of department for communication studies (GIJ) Dr. Ebo Afful, said the 1992 constitution of Ghana is helpless without press freedom.

Speaking at a Ghana institute of journalism (GIJ) organized Forum on the theme Re-examining Freedom of Expression, Ethics and Threats to the Safety of Journalists, on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Dr. Afful said, The 1992 Constitution of Ghana is helpless without press freedom."

He highlighted the reason why there is the need to ensure the press are operating independently and in maximum freedom.

The attitude of our heads of states does not show respect to our press when they believed they have been defamed instead of going to the National Media Commission for regress, always they allow the security of this country to pick up the alleged offenders, molest them, harass them, intimidate them and even prosecute them," he stated.

He continued, "if radio and television houses are only allowed to operate on license then it will be a limitation on the right of the press because they are considered the fourth-estate of the realm."

According to him, the law must be reviewed to stop the National Communications Authority from issuing licenses for the establishment of television and radio stations because the media is supposed to be an arm of government that must operate without any form of hindrance.

He indicated that the NCA being an arm of the Executive would not exhibit fairness in the discharge of this function.

The responsibility should be given to the National Media Commission and what this means is that the National Media Commission should always be made up of members who have the commitment to ensure a high standard of media practice in the country, he stressed.

The Forum was chaired by Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah (Dep. Rector GIJ) moderated by Joy News' Evans Mensah.

In attendance was Mr. George Sarpong, (Executive Secretary for the National Media Commission), Lawyer Nana Kwaku Kumi (CHRAJ) and Dr Ebo Afful (HOD Communications Department, GIJ).

By Isaac Donkor, student of Ghana Institute of journalism.
The peaceful Nigerian fishing village of Manga sits not far from Cameroon's border, but its residents know all about the separatist war raging inside their West African neighbour.

Cameroon's five-year conflict is spilling over into Nigeria, where the armed forces are struggling to secure the border as they battle jihadists, bandit gangs and separatists of their own elsewhere.

Cameroonian security forces and separatist gunmen care little for territorial integrity of their neighbour where they have carried out cross-border raids, attacks on villages and made illegal arrests.

Manga lived though the bloody experience at the end of last year.

On November 17 around 50 armed separatists crossed over from Cameroon, attacking the village and killing five people including Manga's 70-year-old chief, residents say.

Relatives of the late chief of Manga Village show their sorrow over the deadly attack months ago.. By Kola Sulaimon AFP

Dozens of bullet holes still mark the earthen walls of the chief's house and its upper part is charred by fire.

"I had never heard gunshots like that," said Abubakar Manga, the chief's brother, who managed to escape on a canoe from where he watched the attack.

"We still don't understand," he told AFP.

Two days before, about 30 Cameroonians had found refuge in Manga, after the attack on their village in Cameroon.

"In my village, the separatists confronted the army, but did not attack us," said one of these refugees.

"But suddenly they changed and started destroying our houses," said the man who spoke on condition of anonymity for his security.

Terrible revenge

Cameroon's war has killed more than 6,000 people and forced one million Cameroonians to flee their homes as they are caught between the army and the rebels.

Manga residents work along a river on the Nigeria-Cameroon border. By Kola Sulaimon AFP

The war broke out in October 2017 when militants declared an independent state in the Northwest region and Southwest region, home to most of the anglophone minority in a country that is 80 percent French-speaking.

Since then, more than 250 villages have been destroyed, in terrible revenge by either the separatists or soldiers against populations accused of supporting the opposing camp.

"We fled to Manga to take shelter," the refugee said, explaining how they believed they would be safe in Nigeria and not suffer violence for a second time.

But the separatist fighters are not the only ones who have expanded their fight to the other side of the Nigerian border.

In October, around 60 Cameroonian soldiers invaded the villages of Mairogo and Tosso, harassing and intimidating their inhabitants, according to the UN and local authorities.

"They were looking for armed separatists who had fled to Nigeria," local elected official Joseph Ammamzalla told AFP.

Cameroonian authorities suspect that separatists are hiding among the 70,000 Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria.

Nigerian officers and local vigilantes walk near Manga village amid heightened security concerns. By Kola Sulaimon AFP

For Cameroon officials, eastern Nigeria is also one of the sources of arms supply for the separatists.

In January and February 2022, Cameroonian soldiers again invaded Mairogo, according to the local official.

"They severely beat several residents, and arrested and took with them four young people, and we have had no further news," he said.

To keep the refugees away from the border, the Taraba State authorities and the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are in discussions to create a refugee camp.

In neighbouring states of Benue and Cross River, four camps have been established.

"Here I am no longer afraid," said Zacharia Okana, 59, a Cameroonian refugee who lives in one of the Cross River camps.

An opponent of the regime of President Paul Biya, in power since 1982, Okana fled Cameroon in 2017 for fear of arrest. He said he was suspected of financially supporting the separatists, which he denies.

But in September 2020, he says he was illegally arrested in Ikom, a Nigerian town near the border, and taken back to Cameroon, where he spent three months in prison.

'Abuja laissez-faire'

Since 2018, Nigerian media have reported the incursion of several villages in Cross River by Cameroonian soldiers.

Contacted by AFP, the Cameroonian defence ministry said it was "not aware of these incidents" while Nigeria's armed forces had no comment.

One Nigerian military official, however, said, on condition of anonymity, that the army continued to work to "secure the border".

Nigerian officers disembark from a boat at Manga, a village that borders Nigeria and Cameroon. By Kola Sulaimon AFP

But this is not "the priority" for Abuja, said Ikemesit Effiong, an analyst with the Nigerian risk consultancy SMB Intelligence.

The army is already engaged "on several other fronts", he said, in the northeast, where it has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for twelve years and the northwest where criminal gangs are terrorising local populations.

Yaounde and Abuja "have no desire to publicise these incidents", Effiong said.

There is a laissez-faire from Abuja, he said, as government has no interest in seeing "a successful separatist rebellion in its neighbour" when it is also facing separatist agitation of its own.

The Nigerian army has been trying for years to crush the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist group, which is fighting to create a republic for the Igbo people in the southeast of the country.

"Because of their geographical proximity, the authorities are afraid to see the creation of a common front," Effiong said.

That concern was reinforced in 2021 when IPOB and one of the separatist groups in Cameroon sought to enter into an alliance. But the accord did not materialise.

In 2018, Abuja did arrest several Cameroon separatist leaders seeking asylum in Nigeria and transferred them to Yaounde, where they were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The extradition was later deemed illegal by the Nigerian high court, and denounced by the UN and civil society, but the men are still in prison in Cameroon.
The Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) has expanded specialist services in a bid to provide quality health care to patients at the facility instead of referring them to other teaching hospitals in the country for such services.

The hospital has also taken steps to improve the period at which emergency operations are done by stationing a surgeon at its emergency room to promptly attend to surgical cases at the Emergency Ward.

Dr Adam Atiku, Director of Medical Affairs at TTH, announced this during the hospitals annual performance review in Tamale on the theme: Re-engineering TTHs Health Care Landscape for Quality Tertiary Service Provision and Medical Tourism.

Dr Atiku said We are expanding our specialist services. We have sickle cell specialists clinic in the Maternity Unit, cardiology clinic and neurology clinic at the Medical Department, which were not here in previous years. We have specialists in these areas that will cater for patients with these conditions. If you have these conditions, you will not be referred to Korle-bu.

He added that In the past, we used to have patients, who came with emergency conditions needing immediate surgery and they would be lying there for days but now all emergency operations are done within two days. We have a surgeon, who is stationed at the emergency room to attend to surgical cases at the Emergency Ward.

He spoke about efforts made to ensure all laboratory tests were done at the facility saying We used to send most of our patients outside to do laboratory tests but now our laboratory services have been expanded. We can now do more than 95 per cent of our laboratory needs in all areas except PCR.

He said the hospital had received accreditation to expand training of health officers in the areas We used not to have. We can now train doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery and neurology. One of the students, who was fully trained here, went for an exam in Accra and passed.

Dr Atiku said the hospital faced a lot of challenges even as efforts were being made to improve services appealing to members of the public to support it to solve most of the challenges.

Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, called on the TTH to deepen collaboration with its stakeholders to further improve its operations.

He commended Management and staff of the hospital for their dedication to duty despite the challenges assuring that government would continue to support the hospital to deliver quality health care to the people.

Dr John Eleeza, Northern Regional Director of Health, who was represented at the event, expressed need for TTH to work together with the Regional Health Directorate to properly capture statistics of health incidents recorded in the region.
A total of 30 Community Disaster Preparedness and Response Teams (CDPRTs) have undergone training to provide them with basic skills to respond to their communities immediate needs before and in the aftermath of a disaster when outside help is not immediately available.

They communities included Gbima, Soo Namoo, Bugyinga, Aaba, Kusobi, Zanloo, Mishio, Binbini, Salugu, Chama, Gimam, Gunguni, Kpetibo, Kalegu, Nkanchina No.2, Kitare, Bladjai, Kumdi, Wiae Charbob, Bombare, Bankamba, Kabeso. Sakabu, Tongnoli, Lamagdo, Bugyili, Kpumi. Ditani, Kambosiya, and Luligu drawn from the West Mamprusi, Mamprugu-Moagduri, Kpandai, Karaga, Mion, Nanumba North and South Districts in the Northern and North East Regions.

The trainings were also to enable the CDPRTs to understand the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and apply them, work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish fire, apply techniques for opening airways, controlling excessive bleeding, and treating for shock, understand evacuation procedures and simulate on them amongst others.

Topics treated during the trainings, which were held separately in the communities included Disaster Preparedness and Response, Fire Safety and Utility Controls, Disaster Medical Operations, Search and Rescue Operations, Evacuation in Emergencies, Public Health in Emergencies, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction amongst others.

The trainings were facilitated by officers from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service, Forestry Commission, Ghana Police Service and Ghana Health Service.

CDPRTs are formed by members of a community, who want to be better prepared for the hazards that threaten their communities, and they are critical in the effort to engage everyone in the communities in making their communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient when incidents occur.

The trainings were organised by the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) as part of its Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation/Institutional Preparedness (DRR/CCA/IP) project, being implemented in partnership with NADMO and funded by the Swiss Red Cross.

The DRR/CCA/IP seeks to amongst others ensure that disaster management systems and structures are established in communities to ensure resilience against disasters.

Mr Abdul-Rahamani Yussif, Northern Regional Manager of GRCS, who gave details of the trainings, said 10 other communities in the Savannah Region would undergo the training before the end of the second quarter of the year to enhance their resilience to disaster and disaster management.

Mr Yussif said the training covered basic skills that were important to know in a disaster when emergency services were not available telling the CDPRTs that With training and practice, and by working as a team, a lot of good can be done for the greatest number of people especially the most vulnerable before and after a disaster.

He said Regional and District Teams of GRCS and NADMO Directors would monitoring the work of the CDPRTs emphasising need for CDPRTs to always adhere to the SOPs when attending to incidents to ensure efficiency and better results.
Stakeholders engaged in youth development have been urged to prioritise the wellbeing of adolescents to enhance their holistic growth and development.

Mrs Clara Lamisi Weobong, Field Programmes Officer, Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA), Field Office, Tamale, who made the call, also expressed the need for stakeholders to adopt strategic policies and programmes to champion the interest of adolescents and advocate for their inclusion in decision-making processes in the country.

She said adolescents formed a substantial part of the country's population hence the need to provide the needed platform for them to learn, explore and make right choices.

She was speaking at an adolescent-led youth summit in Tamale organised as part of the HCA project on the theme: Prioritising Adolescents Health and Wellbeing in Cities.

It was to stimulate local and national action towards issues affecting adolescents development in the country with special reference to their sexual and reproductive health, and participants included representatives from the National Youth Authority, youth groups, adolescent clubs, some Junior and Senior High School students from the Tamale Metropolis and the Ashiaman Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.

Despite the existence of several policies to promote the development of young people, several gaps in policy implementation continue to impede the realisation of key objectives hence the call.

The HCA project is being implemented by the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA), and the Ashaiman Municipality with support from the Botnar Fondation.

It amongst others seeks to build a multi-stakeholder consortium with capacity to use evidence-based information for strategic programming that promotes adolescent health and general wellbeing towards realising the Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor Ayaga Agula Bawah, Acting Director of RIPS called for more investment into the development of adolescents to properly usher them into adulthood emphasising that "In order to harness the prospects of adolescents, adequate budgetary allocation and investments should be enhanced.

Mr Sule Salifu, Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tamale, whose speech was read on his behalf, expressed governments commitment towards the wellbeing of adolescents citing the Adolescent Health Service Policy and Strategy as well as the Free Senior High School initiative as some of the initiatives aimed at promoting the welfare of adolescents in the country.

Mrs Jemima Akoto, Girl-Child Officer of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly advised adolescents to do away with negative practices that would thwart the efforts of government and other stakeholders in ensuring their safety.

Ms Alhassan Murijanatu, a Student of Tamale Girls' Senior High School lauded the event saying it offered them the platform to share their challenges to elicit the necessary interventions from the various stakeholders.
The US is a superpower that wants to rule the world because they can, due to its military strength. Any country or a leader can simply become Americas enemy if you are not democratic or if they simply hate you for various reasons.

However, due to the US governments crime against humanity with impunity since 1945, China, North Korea, and Russia have created a strong defense capable of fighting the US and probably defeating them.

Since the war started between Russia and Ukraine, many are not only accusing the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, a war criminal but also wish America could bring him before the International Criminal Court or kill him.

The latter is what I will call wishful thinking because despite Cuba being a communist and not all that powerful, the US failed every assassination attempts on Fidel Castro and to topple his government, thus; killing Putin is just a fantasy, the US cant succeed.

It was in 1961, the CIA attempted to overthrow the Cuban government, which wasnt democratically elected; it was created after local freedom fighters ousted the puppet government run by America.

Fidel Castro, the former Cuban leader survived 638 assassination attempts in his life.

Cuba can be poor but the love they had for Castro is beyond expression. The CIA initiated a special operation Mongoose, the purpose of which was to change power in Cuba and every attempt to kill Castro failed.

About the late Fidel Castro, nobody knows the kind of man he was. He never consciously tried to run away from death, and perhaps that is why fate has been kind to him. In his entire life before his natural death at 90, Castro survived 638 assassination attempts on his life.

This can tell you what kind of government the US is the reason today, they have created demonic countries out of their demons because hostile countries don't want America to bully and tell them what to do.

If it is very easy to stop or kill Putin like what they did to Muammar Khadafy of Libya, the US government and NATO, wouldnt be sitting in Limbo watching Russia destroy Ukraine. There is nothing America has for a war that Russia hasnt.

The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin knows his enemies, therefore, he is always alert to protect his country and the people. Photo credit: Alexey Nikolsky/RIA Novosti

Why is the US government worried about Putin using biological or chemical weapons in Ukraine? Because America has done that many times, therefore, they know Russia can also do it.

When the US government under George Bush and Tony Blair invaded Iraq with the false accusation of Saddam Hussein harboring weapons of mass destruction, Putin showed concern over the use of biological or chemical weapons on the Iraqis.

The US government said no, we wont, however, the aftermath of the war, the deformities of babies forced the US government to admit they used a chemical weapon.

Since the Post-World War II era, the US has used biological and chemical weapons eight times. Today, America deals lightly with countries that they know cant intimidate, one of them is Russia.

Why would the US even think about killing Putin when they know the consequences? The response will be a costly war that would also affect Europe.

They say God helps those who helped themselves, Putin knows that it is Americas dream to kill him; therefore, the man protects himself.

Putin is a no-nonsense man who knows that he may be in danger when he travels, especially; to countries that are an ally of the United States of America, therefore, he hardly travels.

Getting through to Putin, is it difficult or possible?

It is possible to get through to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but technically it is very difficult.

According to sources, the Russian president doesnt use a personal mobile phone and most of the complaints and problems are sent to him through the administrative office.

Residents of Moscow can also make an appointment with the assistants of the head of state to tell them about their problems directly. And also, the most popular way to do this is through a hotline or a letter to his administration.

It is interesting to know since in power, Putin has survived 13 assassination attempts on his life.
A sensitisation workshop on the legal framework on epidemic preparedness and response (EPR) financing has been held with a call on assemblies to prepare EPR plans to help fight epidemics within their jurisdictions.

The workshop held that the EPR plans were crucial in detailing how much funds would be required to fight epidemics, and how such funds could be raised to ensure that the assemblies would be in position to fight epidemics.

The days workshop, held in Tamale, was organised by SEND GHANA, a civil society organisation, as part of activities under the project dubbed: Advocacy for Epidemic Preparedness Financing, which is funded by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

The workshop, attended by selected partners from the Northern Region including representatives of assemblies, Ghana Health Service and citizen groups, sought to equip them with information on the legal provisions, which gave them the basis to make the right demands for EPR financing at both national and district levels.

The Advocacy for Epidemic Preparedness Financing project seeks to contribute towards epidemic preparedness in the country by holding the government accountable for the commitment it has made to prioritise and increase budgetary allocation and disbursement to EPR activities by strengthening health infrastructure, equipment, and human resources.

Mr Mumuni Mohammed, Northern Regional Programme Manager of SEND-GHANA, speaking during the workshop, said the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the response to the pandemic and its impact on society should be enough grounds for the country to establish a fund in preparedness for future epidemics.

Mr Mohammed told the assemblies that it is not enough to have EPR plans but such plans should be backed with reliable and adequate funds to strengthen their preparedness towards effective response to epidemics.

Mr Stephen Atasige, Country Coordinator of GHAI emphasised need for participants to contribute to efforts to advance the advocacy towards achieving financing for quick response to epidemics.

Mr Iddrisu Mohammed Kamil, Senior Development Planning Officer, Yendi Municipal Assembly said currently, Yendi Municipal Assembly did not have an EPR plan in place, which was not the best in terms of readiness to fight epidemics.

He, therefore, lauded the workshop saying the Assembly, as part of the 2022  2025 Medium Term Development Framework, would draw on the emergency preparedness response section, to incorporate the EPR plan, which would be prepared in collaboration with the Municipal Health Directorate amongst other stakeholders.

Madam Elizabeth Tindan, Tamale Metropolitan Public Health Nurse said she would mobilise members of the District Health Management Team to work together to plan very well for effective response to epidemics.
Backbone of good governance is demanding President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo apologises to Ghanaians for failing woefully in managing the economy and plunging the country into unprecedented hardships.

In a press release from the group, it says the president is being deceived by the people shielding him from feeling and seeing the reality of what Ghanaians were going through as a result of the bad policies of his government.

We are therefore calling on President Akuffo Addo as matter of urgency apologise to Ghanaians that they have failed woefully in managing the economy and the E-levy is the last resort to revive the economy and save it from collapse.

We are appealing to you; the damage done to this country is great. The level of unemployment, rising cost of fuel, high cost of living is intolerable. The youth are angry, parts of the groups press release reads.

The press release signed by Executive Secretary Edem Anansah notes that should the President apologise to Ghanaians, he might earn the forgiveness of Ghanaians who have been disappointed with his government.

Meanwhile, the Backbone of Good Governance is asking the President to change his governments techniques, methodology, reduce nepotism, and address the issues Ghanaians are complaining bitterly about as part of efforts to make things better in the country.

The group further urges the President to take sweeping actions that would set the country on the pedestal of Unity, Peace, Sustainable growth, and development.

Read the press release from Backbone of good governance below:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESIDENT AKUFFO ADDO MUST APPOLOGISE TO GHANAIANS FOR FAILING WOEFULLY IN MANAGING THE ECONOMY AND PLUNGING THEM INTO UNPRECEDENTED HARDSHIP

Backbone of good governance has asked President Akuffo Addo to be humble enough to apologise to Ghanaians for failing woefully in managing the economy and plunging the people into unprecedented hardship due to bad policies.

The president is being deceived by the people shielding him from feeling and seeing the reality of what Ghanaians were going through as a result of the bad policies of his government.

If the President had apologise, I think Ghanaians will be a bit more sympathetic to forgive him.

President Akuffo Addo came to power when the economy was doing well. They just spent five years in office doing nothing but propaganda. Instead doing any meaningful thing. It is now that the reality has dawned on them. But what Ghanaians would have expected is for him to be frank now and say to Ghanaians, fellow Ghanaians, we thought things would have been better, we did what we felt was right but what we did was not enough, and please Ghanaians we are begging you to forgive us for the inadequacies but we are promising to do something better.

Back bone of good governance is asking the President to change the techniques, change the methodology, reduce the nepotism, and check those issues Ghanaians are complaining badly about. Take sweeping actions that would set the country on the pedestal of Unity, Peace, Sustainable growth and development.

The President should come out clear to appologise to Ghanaians for the inadequacies of his government that propelled the bad policies of his administration.

We are therefore saying that it is those policies implemented that has brought this economic woes and has plunged Ghanaians into poverty and unprecedented hardship.

.

The economy is ruined under his watch. The prices of everything has quadrupled, yet the salaries of workers have not improved, Unemployment rate high, rising cost of fuel, illegal small-scale mining affecting water supplies, poor road infrastructure and insecurity in the country. Everything bad.

President Akuffo Addo came in at a time when Cedi exchanged 4.5 to a dollar. Today it is 8.3 in the open market

In Ghana's economic hub, it's virtually impossible to find anyone who has a word of praise for President Akuffo Addos economic policies.

You are claiming to have appointed the most competent people for the job, if they are the most competent, why are we in this terrible situation?

What kind of government is this when people are complaining about nepotism?

If the so-called appointments he claimed is based on performance which is nepotistic are not performing, he should change his attitude and bring in better hands to help in his government.

Back Bone of Good Governance express worry about the depressing general state of the economy, adding that the nation cannot progress when the fundamentals are poor and abysmal.

We are therefore calling on President Akuffo Addo as matter of urgency appologise to Ghanaians that they have failed woefully in managing the economy and the E-levy is the last resort to revive the economy and save it from collapse.

We are appealing to you; the damage done to this country is great. The level of unemployment, rising cost of fuel, high cost of living is intolerable. The youth are angry.

EDEM ANANSAH,

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Fort Lauderdale  The gunman in the Fort Lauderdale bus shooting fired 21 bullets in the mid-afternoon assault Thursday that left two dead and two wounded, according to the police.

Video from inside the bus showed the suspect, Jamal Meyers, withdrawing a semiautomatic handgun from his right pocket and firing 12 shots at four people seated in the rear of the bus, according to a Fort Lauderdale Police report. He reloaded his pistol and fired another nine shots at them.

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The Broward County Transit driver forced the bus into oncoming traffic, striking two cars, to reach the Fort Lauderdale police station. During her desperate drive to the police department, as shots rang out aboard the bus, drivers called 911 to complain about a rogue public bus that was putting drivers in danger.

There was a bus driving the wrong way, one 911 caller said. We had to just stop and let it go.

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After the bus veered into the police station parking lot, Officer Daniel Hughes heard three shots and saw Meyers quickly leave the vehicle. Hughes pointed his gun at Meyers and ordered him to lie on the ground. Meyers complied and was arrested. The shooting lasted one minute and three seconds. His gun was found on the bus.

Jamal Meyers, 34, is the suspect in Thursday's deadly Fort Lauderdale shooting, according to Fort Lauderdale police. Meyers is charged with two counts of premeditated murder and two counts of attempted murder, among other charges. (Fort Lauderdale Main Jail)

The men who died are Gregory L. Campbell Jr., 32, of Lauderdale Lakes, and Danny Colon, 41, of Tamarac, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The two surviving victims have not been identified.

The bus driver has been called a hero for quick action that helped cut the incident short. After shooting started, the driver forced the bus into a turn lane and pulled into the Fort Lauderdale police station parking lot.

We applaud the heroic actions of our Broward County Transit bus operator whose quick thinking put the bus and its passengers in a safe zone where immediate help was available for victims of this tragic shooting, Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero said in a statement. Her immediate response resulted in the alleged shooter being arrested promptly by Fort Lauderdale Police.

The suspected shooter, Meyers, 34, faces two premeditated murder charges and two attempted murder charges, according to the court documents. He also faces charges of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and a probation violation.

Meyers is considered a serious habitual felon and has had numerous encounters with the legal system since 2003, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

His first encounter with the legal system was when he was 15 years old and charged with disrupting a school function. He also has strong-arm robbery and grand theft arrests in his teen years.

Meyers was last sent to prison on Aug. 9, 2021, after being found guilty of 10 crimes between 2017 and 2019. Half of those convictions were for burglary. Each conviction carried a three-year sentence, though he was able to serve them concurrently. In the end, he served only five months in state prison because he was given credit for spending over 800 days in jail while his criminal cases played out on court.

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On Jan. 8, he was released and placed on probation until 2025.

Fort Lauderdale police said the motive for Thursdays bus shooting remains unknown.

[ LEE EN ESPANOL: Conductora aclamada como heroina en tiroteo en autobus que mato a 2 e hirio a otros 2. Sospechoso identificado y camino a la corte ]

One shooting victim died on the bus and the other died at Broward Health Medical Center, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said. Another victim is in critical condition at Broward Health Medical Center; the fourth shooting victim is expected to survive.

Three other people were injured and treated at the scene for minor injuries when the bus crashed into cars as it crossed the road in the drivers desperate attempt to get to the police station.

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[ IN OTHER NEWS: He loved life: Family and friends remember slain Shooters employee ]

The bus driver in this particular case, her quick actions I am sure saved lives, Acting Police Chief Luis Alvarez said. So kudos to her. She deserves to be applauded for her actions.

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That is a difficult thing to do. Not many people would have behaved the way this bus driver behaved and to get to the front of the police station  it pretty much saved lives, he said.

Two people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting on a Broward County Transit bus Thursday afternoon near the Fort Lauderdale police station on Broward Boulevard. (Michael Laughlin / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

No officers fired their weapons when capturing the suspect, Alvarez said.

The bus route travels along Broward Boulevard and extends from Broward Central Terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale to Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise.

[ IN OTHER NEWS: People are passing out: 911 call describes moment Spring Breakers overdosed on fentanyl-laced cocaine | Listen ]

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18.03.2022 LISTEN

Two-thirds of the income of Russia comes from selling its oil. Russia highly depends on imports of most daily needed items by private households and industry. Chocolate comes from Germany or the UK, not from Ghana or Ivory Coast.

Eighty percent of the Nigerian state budget is generated by selling oil. Oil can and will be replaced by other sources which is only a matter of time time. Ghana is importing products like rice and sugar besides tomato paste and noodles. The pressure on the Cedi is on and will not go away unless the setup of the economy and government system changes.

China is a net exporter of goods and services buying small and medium-sized manufacturers around the world preferable in Germany for the transfer of know-how. Natural African resources are turned in China into products sold back to the Africans at the cheap quality and price breaking down constantly to spin the wheel of continuous consumption by the simple-minded peoples for long.

Germany is depending on brains bread in Germany or around the world to be export champion of various industrial products that help the country to sustain its high living standard and support other economies and countries like Greece, Portugal, Africa among welcoming refugees in their Millions, still going strong. Germany in the time of war in Ukraine has realised its dependency on Russian oil and gas making a much-needed u-turn with might. The new strategy is clear: get self-reliant on most commodities, especially system relevant ones like energy and food production this environmentally friendly.

Germany has over the generations of hundreds of years never been blessed by significant sources of income by having or selling natural resources but depends on the brains and characters of its people.

Switzerland is a small mountainous country with small valleys of no excess to the ocean. To farm at the deep slopes of mountains is hard work with small gains. During harsh winter times with high snow, farmers turned for a few months into clockmakers or carving wood products. For a German to get a residence permit in the very rich country of Switzerland is close to being impossible, only for the very rich or qualified workers to serve the country. Based on their specific location they had decided to stay politically neutral and have friends from around the world based on just that.

Ghana is trying constantly to be relevant in the region, Africa and around the world by singing the song of the slave trade, sitting on golden stools among the vast lands with cocoa trees poisoned by mercury in the course of galamsey. Pockets of the elite sharing the same values are filled not only with gold but Cedis, Yen, $ and .

When, oh Lord, when will you fill the brains of the leaders and the ordinary men on the streets with the wisdom of money for all times?
18.03.2022 LISTEN

In Ghana, political activism appears to have bestowed on people the right to threaten the peace of the country with impunity. Sadly however, those threatening the peace of the country, if they did not have their way, often get the support of some easily-misled people.

When certain people for their parochial selfish interests and beliefs are pursuing a hidden agenda, they make it appear as though they are doing so in the greater national interest just to get a large following.

In Ghana today, many a cunning individual hides behind the obviously polarised politics in practice in the country to make utterances that have the potential to destabilise the nation if care was not taken.

When such people make their audacious but clearly preposterous public statements and are called to account for their irresponsible behaviours, they begin to invoke abuse of their human rights as their defence.

They often get less-informed Ghanaians and populist politicians or political parties to rally in support for them.

How on earth could a Ghanaian studying at the prestigious Cambridge University in the United Kingdom for his PhD, Oliver Baker Mawuse Vormawor, threaten to cause a coup d'etat in Ghana were the electronic transaction levy (e-levy) be approved by Ghana parliament and expect to get away with it?

How populist, partisan and stupid could he be?

Can he ever dare threaten the peace and government of the United Kingdom with such nonsense because new levies are about to be introduced or prices of goods and services have gone up and expect to get away with it in the name of human rights?

Can he even get on any public transport, thus, train, bus or aeroplane and shout to be carrying explosives in his rucksack or holdall bag that he will detonate if the government did not rescind her decision to implement an intended policy and hope to get away with it?

He will be lucky if any armed police officer around at the time does not gun him down even though he may be joking and does not mean his threats.

The police will not have time to investigate to ascertain the veracity or falsity of his claim but to take him out in the interest and safety of the public.

Therefore, all those always rallying in support of crafty individuals pursuing their selfish political and parochial agenda had better be careful and wise up.

Why should you threaten to cause military usurpation of power because a government has decided to raise revenue by a method you disagree with?

The fact that you slyly seek the chance for the political party you support to come to power does not mean you should threaten the government in power and the country with coup d'etat.

I wonder how some people, especially those in the NDC, think they are born to be heads but not tails hence must always embark on subversive actions to regain power whenever they find themselves in opposition?

A member of parliament, a baby with sharp teeth of course, courtesy to the late and former President J. J. Rawlings, has been able to stupidly make many Ghanaians believe that President Nana Akufo-Addo bathes and eases himself in air. This is the reason for him patronising an expensive private jet with such facilities as toilet, bath and bed whenever he travels abroad.

By such continuous feed of lies to the Ghanaian public, dishonourable Okudjeto Ablakwa, MP for Tongu North Constituency or whatever, has been able to turn some Ghanaians against the president and his NPP government.

On another occasion, journalist Mensah Thompson lied about a friend or family member of President Nana Akufo-Addo flying the presidential aircraft to London for Christmas shopping in 2021.

The military came out to inform the public that Mensah Thompson's claims were totally false since the aircraft had not been airborne for a long time.

The military subsequently requested for his arrest by the police to come out to submit proofs to his assertions.

When he got arrested, he told the public he was simply lying to them all for the attainment of his political objectives.

Why should such rogues not be arrested and put before the courts, could any rational being please tell me?

Ghana politics indeed sucks with such daily lies fed to the public amid display of sheer acts of malevolence.

From the malicious way democracy is being practised in Ghana, one step forward but two backwards and overwhelmingly overflowing with populism, blatant lies and propaganda and corruption, Ghana will never develop to any appreciable level to acquire us respect in the eyes of our contemporary whites.

More fire to come from Rockson, the proud and fearless son of Kumawu/Asiampa, once his laptop gets powered.

Nobody can build Ghana better for us than ourselves so l shall not subscribe to the peddling of lies by political idiots for their idiotic motives that will eventually cause the collapse of Ghana, my country of birth.

Rockson Adofo

Friday, 18 March 2022
The United Kingdom's response to the ongoing refugee crisis in Ukraine has been widely criticized. On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering a horrific humanitarian crisis that analysts think could be the worst since World War II. Since then, Britain has been a vocal supporter of the invaded country.

As a show of solidarity with Ukraine, the UK imposed several sanctions on Russia. It has also donated and pledged hundreds of millions of pounds in aid. Nevertheless, it has been highly criticized for its treatment of migrants escaping the conflict.

In late February, the UK home office launched new temporary visa concessions for Ukraine residents. Before then, the government was widely called-out for not providing substantial support for Ukrainian refugees. The visa which allows Ukrainians to reside in the UK as visitors, seasonal workers, skilled workers, students, HGV drivers, or pork butchers was only available to immediate relatives of British nationals.

This includes a spouse or civil partner, a child under the age of 18, parent; if the Ukrainian resident is under 18, an unmarried partner whose relationship is at least 2 years and living together. Also, the visa allows adult family members providing care for who they live with due to medical reasons.

The visa was later expanded to include other family members - siblings, parents, grandparents, adult children, and their immediate relatives. This came into effect on March 1 after a call by Labor.

According to Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the application procedure for the scheme has been "shockingly low and horribly slow." Some media sources claimed that only about 50 visas were issued from the scheme in the first weekend after it was launched, despite thousands of applications. The government later denied this, saying it had issued up to 300 visas.

There have been complaints from some applicants about the application website crashing, which makes it difficult to complete their appointments. According to reports, 4,000 visas have been issued out of over 17,000 applications as of March 15.

Among other European countries, the UK has welcomed some of the least number of Ukrainian refugees. Many European countries have welcomed more Ukrainian refugees than the United Kingdom, including Austria, France, Belgium, Estonia, and Italy. Unlike the UK, these countries allow visa-free travel to fleeing refugees.

Some UK citizens who wish to bring their Ukrainian relatives also complain of the lengthy visa process, as their family members are stuck in other countries. The UK government has fallen short of the humanity, common decency and urgent action that ordinary working people in Britain expect - this was stated in a letter by the TUC general secretary France OGrady to the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson.

About 3 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion, according to United Nations data. Within the country, there are about two million internally displaced persons, and it's been described as the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since WWII.

Most of the fleeing refugees are heading to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. There are about 1.7 million Ukrainian refugees in Poland alone, according to the Poland Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau. It is clear from the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the UK's immigration policy is not so welcoming to refugees. This is not the first time Britain would be criticized for its poor treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. In February, following the deaths of some refugees drowned in the English Channel, French President Macron accused Britain of "hypocrisy" in its immigration policy.

An investigation by the Guardian in 2015 found that of the five major European countries, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, the UK's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers was the worst. From the analysis, Britain accepted fewer refugees, provided less financial assistance, supplied accommodation that was sometimes poor, denied asylum seekers the opportunity to work, and drove many into homelessness and poverty owing to bureaucratic delays.

Last year, according to a Guardian study titled Performative Cruelty: UK Treatment of Refugees Worst Ever, the treatment got worse. Its recent body language may indicate the UK administration does not care as much about refugees as other major European nations. The UK hasn't relaxed entry restrictions, which explains why the procedure has been so slow.

There have also been accusations that the UK government is exaggerating its assistance to fleeing migrants. One of such is the speculation that a visa application centre had been set up in Calais for Ukrainians. However, hundreds of the fleeing refugees were reportedly turned away at the Calais border. After pledging a surge team to help Ukrainian migrants in Calais, the administration then declared there was no visa application centre in the city and told them to go elsewhere. However, there is hope that things will improve in the coming days, as the UK government just recently launched a new Homes For Ukraine scheme. This new scheme will allow the British public to welcome as many refugees as they can. Individuals and public organisations are welcome to register interest in the scheme, and so far, more than 100,000 have registered.

Furthermore, Immigration Advice Service (IAS), a UK-based immigration law firm, is offering free legal advice to Ukrainian nationals and residents in the UK or attempting to migrate following the Russian invasion. IAS launched the free advice scheme in response to the Home Office helpdesk giving erroneous and misleading advice to Ukrainians.

According to IAS Immigration Casework Supervisor Natalie Pashley, a group of attorneys at IAS have volunteered to assist clients who have received erroneous, misleading, and often harmful advice from the Home Office's helpline. A statement on the IAS website reads: We are offering free advice sessions to help you [Ukrainians and their family members] navigate this difficult time.

Olusegun Akinfenwa writes for Total Law Immigration Lawyers, a law firm offering global immigration services and legal representation for refugees and asylum seekers.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said the Presidents cabinet retreat will not just solve the current economic hardships.

He noted that the same people who brought the country to its knees cannot be the same ones trusted to restore it.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Friday, March 18, 2022 he said the President must realise that the current situation demands fresh ideas and bold steps.

His comment follows the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah's announcement that the President has been in cabinet meetings in preparation to announce the easing of border restrictions and tackle the escalating fuel prices.

According to Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, it is the same cabinet ministers who brought the economy to its knees. He indicated that having those same people putting their heads together will amount to nothing.

This much touted cabinet retreat, the same cabinet since 2017 which has brought us to this point the same cabinet is going to meet and it's being splashed all over the newspapers that it should give us some hope.

I heard the information minister say we should have high expectations it's likely we have reopening of the borders and we will have easing of the economic challenges, its a major cabinet retreat. I mean this same cabinet?

Isnt it obvious to the president that he needs fresh ideas? He needs a fresh crop of people. I mean the same people? Who have brought us to this point? The same people are going to meet and suddenly it's being presented to the Ghanaian people as some panacea has come upon us, he intimated.

He indicated that there are a lot of prominent Ghanaians who are well versed in economics and have availed themselves to help in providing solutions, some of whom are even NPP stalwarts, but were not welcomed.

Look, the list of prominent Ghanaian economists who have said that they are available, including their own members, people like Kwame Pianim, the venerable and respected Kwame Pianim, a stalwart of the NPP, a statesman, he cant even have access. He says he calls the Finance Minister and he doesnt even pick up.

They need fresh ideas and Kwame Pianim cant even have access. His own party people and they dont want to meet him. Citizen Kofi, has told the media he is available, he has sympathy for the NPP they should just give him a listening ear to also share his two cents, he is advertising publicly, they wont mind him.

Meanwhile, there is an ongoing cabinet meeting on the country's economic situation at Peduase Lodge.
18.03.2022 LISTEN

The Akwanor Royal family of Ashalaja in the Ga West Municipal Assembly of the Greater Accra Region are demanding justice for the murder of Nii Oshipie Joshua Lartey.

The Oshipie (Youth Chief) of Ashalaja is alleged to have been murdered in his car by an unknown assailants on Sunday, March 6 at Akyiaman, near Amasaman.

The death of the chief has brought discomfort to the residents in the community as they continue to live in fear and panic.

Even though the Accra Regional Police Command has since arrested six suspects, the people continue to live in distress due to the activities of landguards.

Principal elder of the bereaved Akwanor Royal family in Ashalaja Emmanuel Nii Awule Ackaah, addressing the media in Accra on Tuesday, March 15, lauded the police for acting swiftly in arresting the suspects.

The said suspects, who are in the custody of the police, were remanded by the District Magistrate Court Adjabeng on Thursday, March 10.

They are to reappear in court on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

Nii Awule Ackaah is praying to the District Magistrate Court not to grant the suspect's bill any time soon so that a proper investigation could be conducted.

He has alleged that members of the Akwanor Royal family have been receiving several threats from the suspects even though they are still in the police custody.

The family, he said, is gathering evidence of the messages for onward submission to the police for further investigation.

The suspects are in the police cells yet they are making calls and sending us threat messages; this means that they have no remorse.

So we are appealing to the court not to release these suspects to put the life of the Akwanor Royal family in danger, he reiterated.

He entreated the family members to remain calm as the Police conduct their investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, a Fire Service Officer, AOF Abdul Rauf Amidu, who lives in Ashalaga, has called for a police post in the community to help beef up security in the area.

3news.com
Four Chinese illegal miners operating at Bamianko in Nzema East in the Western Region have been arrested together with one Ghanaian accomplice.

The five people were arrested after a successful operation led by the Nzema East MCE Dorcas Amoah and other members of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC).

To carry on with the illegal mining, the arrested persons per reports had cleared large tracts of arable cocoa farmlands in a forest at Bamianko close to the 42 community.

Their activities have also left the Ankobra River heavily polluted.

Speaking to the media, Nzema East MCE Dorcas Amoah vowed not to rest. She said she will stay vigilant and ensure illegal mining is clamped down in her jurisdiction.

How is it possible that despite the number of caution and announcements, people still have the effrontery to be engaging in illegal mining? What worries me the most is how our own people find it convenient to collaborate with foreigners on this destruction spree. It is very sad. But I make a solemn promise that we will not rest. If it means going after them every day, then that is exactly what we will do, the MCE said.

Dorcas Amoah added, The talk is over. Now there will be non-stop action. We will pursue them wherever they are till the last one leaves.

The five people arrested include, Li Hung Zhi, Bao Lin, Qianxi Uuana, Zhang Xia [all Chinese], and Kweku Zack [the Ghanaian accomplice].

At the time of the arrest, four excavators, 2 pump action guns, 1 locally manufactured rifle, a cache of live ammunition, 1 Changfan, and other items, were confiscated.

While the four Chinese and the Ghanaian accomplice are in Police custody, the seized items have also been sent to the Axim Divisional Police Command.
The Chief of Takyikrom in the Achiase district of the Eastern Region, Nana Nyarko has given a worrying account of how expectant mothers in the area are often carried on broken doors to access healthcare at the nearby Aprade community.

According to the Chief, the Aprade community is about one mile from Takyikrom and pregnant women have to be carried on the shoulders of young men to access healthcare because of the lack of hospital facilities in the area as well as the state of bad roads in the area.

He noted that anytime pregnant women are due, their husbands have to organize some young men for the door of a building to be collapsed for use as a platform to carry the expectant mother to the nearby town.

He added that this has been the norm in the area because the health centre put up by the community had two nurses who do not live in the area. So when there are such issues in the night carrying the expectant mothers is the only way out, he said.

Nana Nyarko speaking on the plight of his people in an interview with Kwame Obeng Sarkodie on the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM, Thursday, March 16, 2022 explained that the community with about 500 residents have no CHPS or healthcare facility.

He said the existing dilapidated healthcare centre is not fit for purpose and was put up by the community through communal labour.

A land that has been made available to the Assembly for the construction of a CHP centre is lying fallow, he bemoaned.

He noted that the concerns of the people have been tabled with the Assembly but there has not been any proper response.

The Assemblyman for Aprade Electoral Area (Railways Station), Anaman Wilberforce corroborated the Chiefs claims adding that steps are being taken for the needs of the area to be addressed by the Assembly.

For his part, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Achiase District Assembly, Richard Amponsah noted that steps are being taken to address the problems of the area.

It is in view of this that nurses are posted every week to the existing health centre even although it is not in the best of shape, he admitted.

According to him, the Assembly is barely two years old adding that steps are being taken to have some of these challenges in such areas addressed.

He advised expectant mothers in the area not to wait till they are due before heading to the nearby health centre to seek assistance.

He called on the Chief and Assemblyman to desist from petty politicking and support the Assembly to deliver on its mandate to the people of the district.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) is working hard to reinforce a brand as a technical university that stimulates the entrepreneurial attitude and mindset of its students to foster economic growth and cut down on youth unemployment.

On Tuesday 14th March 2022, the leadership of the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) and representatives of SME GrowAfrica (SMEGA) signed an MOU to forge a partnership to promote entrepreneurial spirit among students and also used the occasion to launch the University's Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation Hub through SMEGA's Incubate2Enterprise project.

Rt. Rev. Ing. Prof. Joshua Danso Owusu-Sekyere the Vice-Chancellor of the University in his role as the chairman of the occasion said, one of his core visions and mandate of CCTU, is to champion entrepreneurial mindedness among the students of the technical university which will go a long way to empower them to become agents of business change.

The VC used the occasion to ask students and the business faculty to take advantage of the partnership and the incubation hub to turn the fortunes of the school around. He was full of appreciation to SME GrowAfrica for choosing CCTU as its first partner and venue among the many universities in Ghana on their project dubbed Incubate2Enterprise.

Mr. Kwasi Ofori Jnr, the CEO of SME GrowAfrica on his part expressed his profound gratitude to the VC and the entire university management and students, especially the School of Business and Management faculty for entering into this entrepreneurship incubation partnership with their organisation. He said SME GrowAfrica through the Incubate2Enterprise project will go all out to ensure CCTU becomes the hub for successful Start-ups and innovation. He further mentioned this partnership would make CCTU the reference point to duplicate similar hubs in some Universities across the continent.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of SMEGA, Dr Joe Tackie a renowned SME and Entrepreneurship expert told the students to become agents of change through innovation and entrepreneurship. He said the future of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship for Africa is rooted in the philosophy of SMEGA in enhancing the productivity of SMEs through creativity and innovation for national development.

The university leadership and students at the MOU signing and the incubation hub launch were taken through a short presentation by the Incubate2Enterprise project Director, Mr. Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah.

He started his presentation with the introductory quote "Our most valuable resource to break the cycle of unemployment in Africa is the youth, and their most significant asset to anchor Ghana and Africa's development is their imagination. Incubate2Enterprise will serve as the stimulator of opportunities, training, and innovation environment for our youth through the collective entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship philosophy I call "Ubuntupreneurship."

He further explained that Incubate2Enterprise is one of the flagship projects of SME GrowAfrica dedicated to young people to evoke the drive for Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship through incubation, acceleration, partnership, and start-up to enterprise development.

He buttresses their resolve to empower entrepreneurship through business incubation from the problem statement that "According to the United Nations population, Africa is estimated to be 1.4 billion people with a 19.7years median age and 60% youthful. Mo Ibrahim Foundation stipulates that in 2020, 35 years and below forms close to a billion with the following breakdown, 0-14 years old is around 540.8 million, and 15-34 years old is about 454.5 million). This estimate is 22.7% of the world's total youth population and the second largest after Asia".

These are the facts underpinning and inspiring the Incubate2Enterprise project driven by Ubuntupreneurship spirit and concept.

In responding to a question from a student present at the ceremony, Mr. Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah said that SMEGA has got partners across the globe such as Crescent Innovation & Incubation Council (CIIC) and AISECT all of India to make this entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship project a turn-key to unlock business potentials of the youth a reality. Ms. Saalai Manikem a board member of SMEGA, reiterated that these Institutions of her country of origin India are of higher track records in the area of incubation and Start-ups in India and other parts of the world in making them strategic partners for the Incubate2Enterprise project.

A lot of questions on funding was raised. A response from the Director of Incubate2Enterprise as well as CEO of SME GrowAfrica was that, with the track record of the organisation as well as the strategic partnership with CCTU, funding is not the challenge but ideation and the personal development of "incubatees" in the area of ethical leadership, teamwork, financial management, marketing, pitching, ubuntu mindset etc are the fundamental traits needed to start-up their businesses. It was said that these areas are the focus during the incubation period so that start-ups that will pass the procedural test can compete in the global market.

The Head of the Department of the Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness Mr Solomon T. Yeboah and Mr Eugene Owusu-Acheapong the Acting Dean of the School of Business and Management Studies who are the lead representatives on the side of CCTU were charged by the Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof S. K. Ansah to go all out to make this dream a reality to reinforce the university's brand out there as an entrepreneurship and business hub.

The rest of the team from SME GrowAfrica that graced the MOU signing and the business centre launch were Mr Stephen Opoku-Dankwa, the Deputy Director of Incubate2Enterprise and Ms Alice Darko the Director of Sustainability and Partnership for SMEGA.

SME GrowAfrica operates other five business focus projects aside from Incubate2Enterprise namely Business Clinic, Kwahu Dwaso Trade Fair, Women for Growth (W4G) and SME Awards Ghana.
18.03.2022 LISTEN

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency has said the Finance Minister needs to be shown the exit for bringing the economy on its knees.

He said the only solution now was for the President to work with competent people who are well versed ready to provide better solutions to the ailing economy.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on March 18, he stated that the managers of the economy have failed to alleviate the sufferings of Ghanaians.

He stated that the Vice President who led the economic management team had now moved has suddenly turned himself into an 'IT guru.'

According to him, in some jurisdictions, the Vice President would have resigned by now.

The only solution and I agree with Professor Gyampo, I agree with IMANI and many Ghanaians is that it is time for the President to ask people to go home beginning with the Finance Minister. He has been a disaster. In many other jurisdictions, the Vice President would be the first to resign having failed and having now transmogrified into an ICT expert, he stated.

He stressed that the Vice President seemed to have lost grip of the economy and has become the digital army of the country leaving the Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in the shadows.

He added that the Vice President had totally eclipsed her and you dont know who is in charge of communications anymore.

His comment follows the Presidents ongoing cabinet retreat which Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says will tackle the fuel price hikes to provide some relief to Ghanaians.
The TIAST Group has partnered with Stanbic Bank and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) to provide support for women into cassava farming to boost production and processing for export.

The partnership was outdoored at a conference organised by TIAST Group for Women in Agriculture on the theme; Empowering Women in Agriculture through Financial and Technical Support for Agro Processing.

Speaking at the conference held on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the Canwin Hotel, Miss Irene Sackey who is the International Business Manager for TIAST Group indicated that the event was specially organised in the month the International Womens Day to celebrate the efforts of women in farming in Ghana.

She stressed that the goal of her outfit is to help farmers who want to produce at a very large scale and not just for consumption but for export.

According to her, the demand for starch across the world is very high, and Ghanaian farmers, especially women must take advantage to provide for the large international market.

Through the partnership between TIAST, GEPA, and Stanbic Bank, women in cassava farming will receive both financial and technical support to set up factories that will process the cultivated yields for export.

TIAST has a lot of experience in the Timber processing industry and thats why we have come to help these farmers who want to set up factories. When the factories are set up, we wont just leave them. We will help them with maintainable and factory support. Everything that will be processed through the factory too we will sell it for them to any parts of the world, Miss Irene Sackey told journalists on the sidelines of the conference.

The TIAST Group International Business Manager added, We will also help the farmers with financial support because we know they need money to go into this kind of venture. We are working with banks such as Stanbic which will help with 80% of the money needed to set up the factory.

On her part, the Head of Agribusiness at Stanbic Bank Ghana Miss Lilian Bazaale stressed that her outfit is pleased to be part of a programme to focus on adding value to cassava for export.

She disclosed that her outfit is making available funding to set up factories to ensure cassava farmers can process their products for the global market.

From Stanbic Bank, we are extremely interested in supporting agribusiness. We have signed a partnership with TIAST. We are interested in supporting and developing the cassava value chain for export.

We are financing equipment, we are financing important and installation of factories that are processing cassava into starch, Miss Lilian Bazaale noted.

In an interview, the Chief Executive Officer for GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare assured that the government is ready to do all it can to cushion farmers to add value to produce knowing the importance of export.

She said she is confident that with focus, the partnership between her outfit, the TIAST Group, and Stanbic Bank will see success for the benefit of not just the farmers but Ghana as a whole.

The government knows that it is very important for us to export our products and not just export them in the raw form but to add value and its doing everything it can to support all these exporters, manufacturers, and farmers everywhere

This is a process that we have begun and we believe that if we focus on it, it should yield good results for us. We should all trust the process, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare told journalists.

TIAST Group amongst the many incentives it is ready to give to women cultivating cassava has set aside the WomanUp Operational Premium incentive to give out a million dollars to three lucky farmers looking to set up their own starch factory.

Stanbic Bank is also ready to support 70-80% of the total cost of factory setup. They will give farmers two to five years to pay back with proceeds from produce that will be processed and exported.

Any cassava farmer or group of farmers with the desire to benefit from the partnership is urged to contact TIAST Group at their office at Trade Fair or contact the outfit via their social media handles.
Interview: China's development experience inspires other developing nations: Thai scholar

Xinhua) 13:57, March 18, 2022

BANGKOK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China's development experience in poverty reduction and technological progress in particular inspires other developing countries, said a Thai scholar.

Aksornsri Phanishsarn, associate professor of the Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University, said China, by implementing targeted poverty reduction measures, instead of one-size-fits-all approach, has improved the livelihood and incomes of its poor population and achieved the goal of eradicating extreme poverty.

In an interview with Xinhua, Aksornsri summarized China's keys in such success as wise leadership and detailed directions, data-based governance system, as well as financial input and coordinated allocation of resources nationwide.

China's targeted poverty reduction measures will be helpful to other developing countries, she said, adding that Thailand values China's development experience and hopes that the targeted poverty-reduction policies would help Thailand support those living under the poverty line and address the widening gap between the rich and poor.

Aksornsri said China has increased financial input in scientific and technological sectors, and yielded substantial results in innovation-driven development and technological progress, especially in the fields of 5G, artificial intelligence as well as aerospace science and technology, among other frontier fields.

China's spending on research and development (R&D) hit a new high of 2.44 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, up 0.03 percentage points from the previous year, China's official data showed.

China's total expenditure on R&D amounted to about 2.79 trillion yuan (about 441.13 billion U.S. dollars) last year, up 14.2 percent year on year, a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics said.

"We are happy to see that Thailand and China are expanding cooperation in the scientific and technological sectors," she said.

She praised China's role in helping address complex challenges facing the world, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, saying that China's efforts in urging relevant parties to resolve conflicts through negotiation and cooperation are admirable.

She expected China to continue to play a constructive role in pushing forward the building of an international community with a shared future and closer cooperation for common development.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A bridge tender was arrested Thursday in the death of a 79-year-old woman who fell from a West Palm Beach drawbridge Feb. 6 after it opened up while she was walking her bike across it.

Artissua Lafay Paulk, 43, of Greenacres, was charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence, according to a news release from the West Palm Beach Police.

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The victim, Carol Wright, was walking her bike across the bridge connecting West Palm Beach to the Town of Palm Beach when it opened. She grabbed a railing and held on as long as she could, then fell 60 feet to the pavement.

[ RELATED: 79-year-old bicyclist often crossed drawbridge to Palm Beach. She fell to her death when it opened beneath her. ]

Bridge tenders are required to make an established set of visual inspections before opening the bridge.

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The bridge tender claimed to have checked for pedestrians before raising the span, according to a report by the Florida Department of Transportation obtained by WPTV-Ch. 5.

I walked out on [the] balcony to see [the] roadway for people walking. I went back in [to] turn my lights to red. I then walked back out on [the] balcony to see that all cars had stopped, and no one was on [the] bridge, the bridge tender said, according to the news station.

She waited for a man who was running across the bridge to get to safety before lowering the gates, she said.

[ RELATED: Family demands answers in death of woman who plunged from West Palm Beach drawbridge ]

Lance Ivey, attorney for the family of Carol Wright, said the arrest called into question the bridge tenders statements that she carefully checked for pedestrians before raising the bridge.

Neither my clients nor myself took a position as to whether an arrest should or should not be made, he said Thursday in an interview with the Sun Sentinel. But the fact that an arrest was made today seems to cast doubt on the veracity of the bridge tenders post-incident statement that she did everything by the book.

West Palm Beach Police, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, took Paulk into custody. She was taken to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office Main Detention Center.
Brazzaville/Lilongwe, 18 March 2022  Malawi will on Sunday launch the first round of vaccination campaigns against wild poliovirus type 1. More than 80 million doses will be administered to more than 23 million children under 5 years in the four-round vaccination drive in five southern African countries after Malawi declared an outbreak on 17 Februarythe first such case in the country in 30 years, and the first in Africa since the region was certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2020.

The first phase of the campaigns targets 9.4 million children in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. Three subsequent roundsin which Zimbabwe will also take partare set for April, June and July and aim to reach over 23 million children with more than 80 million doses of the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for wild poliovirus (type 1).

Mass vaccinations, or supplementary vaccinations, aim to interrupt the circulation of poliovirus by immunizing every child under 5 years with oral polio vaccine regardless of previous immunization status. The objective is to reach children who are either not immunized, or only partially protected, and to boost immunity in those who have been immunized. Supplementary immunization is intended to complementnot replaceroutine immunization.

Polio is a highly infectious and an untreatable disease that can result in permanent paralysis. In support of Malawi and it neighbours, we are acting fast to halt this outbreak and extinguish the threat through effective vaccinations, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. The African region has already defeated wild poliovirus due to a monumental effort by countries. We have the know-how and are tirelessly working to ensure that every child lives and thrives in a continent free of polio.

The African region was declared and certified as free of indigenous wild polio in August 2020 after eliminating all forms of wild poliovirus. The regions certification as wild polio-free remains unchanged. Laboratory analysis linked the strain detected in Malawi to the one circulating in Pakistans Sindh Province in 2019.

WHO has been supporting the country to reinforce response measures including disease surveillance, risk assessment and preparations for the vaccination campaigns. A surge team from WHO is working with country-based counterparts, partner organizations and the government to end the outbreak. The WHO team is part of a broader multi-partner Global Polio Eradication Initiative support to the country.

The country has also now set up environmental surveillance for polioviruses in 11 sites across four cities. The sites are in Lilongwe District that encompasses the capital Lilongwe where the initial, and so far, only case, was detected. Other sites are in Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba cities. Teams are collecting samples from the environment and sending them for analysis to laboratories while active surveillance is also underway in health facilities and in communities.

In preparation for the vaccination drives, trained surge teams of national officers have been deployed at district level to facilitate the campaign and ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated. Maintenance and repair of cold chain facilities are also ongoing.

Polio is a viral disease with no cure. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours, particularly among children under 5 years. The virus is transmitted from person to person mainly through contamination by faecal matter or, less frequently, through contaminated water or food, and multiplies in the intestine. While there is no cure for polio, the disease can be prevented through administration of a safe, simple and effective vaccine.
The youths of Ghana will be marching to the office of the president of Ghana to demand for their freedom, and plead with him to step down. The presidents attitude towards governance is as someone without a conscience who operates based on probabilities.

If you happen to have your president sleep in the presidential seat which is supposed to be the seat of wisdom, you have to expect worst governance. The hardships in the country has become unbearable. Economically, the hardships are too much, and Bawumia-who has self acclaimed to himself the tittle of being one of the finest economists in the world now has his head in a pot: he no longer has the balls in his scrotum to give him the energy he had and used to speak in 2016. Nana Addo should be prepared to expand prisons.

Stakeholders are quiet about what is happening in the country. The Christian Council which was so loud during the previous government has now put on headsets- they hear nothing. Perhaps, their church offerings are intact. Tithes continue to flow despite the hardships on their church members. Perhaps, for them, the overly hardships in the country go to constrain their church members to be submissive to God and to them. Or may be they actually have taken bribes and may be committing themselves should they break the silence.

The heat in the county is killing everyone. As a result of the hardships this government has brought into Ghana, some animals have even fled the country to seek refuge elsewhere. Why did some Ghanaians choose to stay in Ukraine when government wanted to bring them home? Perhaps, after weighing the hardships in Ghana which they were to face, choosing to stay in Ukraine and die became the best option for them.

The hardships in the country today is such that individuals and babies being born today in Ghana would prefer their mothers killing them than to come to this part of the world. The heat in the country is hot!

In just some few days coming, the youths of Ghana will rise up to demand for their freedom. It has come to the notice of every wise Ghanaian and citizen, the hardships your government has brought upon them and they will march to your office at Jubilee House and demand for freedom and justice.

Mr president, the scene will be very awful and you will be forced to save your image-(even that I doubt you have one now), thus, arresting all of them. This is why I call on you to expand prisons across the country. You have consciously decided to silence Ghanaians by your move to arrest anyone who stands up to straighten some paths you take. Today in the Ghana you have created, by the mention of the word coup you feel threatened and arrest those people. You forget about your bad governance which has brought the hardships on them. Having made the country like a heated oven, which outlet do you expect people to take? Remember that coup is a word in the dictionary and as you like to use fellow Ghanaians, so some prefer to use coup.

The rise of the people and their demand for your resignation will happen right before your eyes. You are lucky perhaps to have one of the most confused parliament in the world which does not feel the hardships their people feel and then impeach you: theyre perhaps in parliament to help push for the hardship decisions you deliberately bring upon the people. Mr President, Ghanaians no longer eat good English language constructions, neither are they going to eat promises: but they desire to have their freedom from the suicide some of your bad policies are forcing them to commit.

You will love to be reminded to expand prisons in the country, Mr President. The youths will rise up and demand for their inalienable rights and freedoms and the justice you have sacrificed for the sake of your party and personal agenda. It is obvious your presidency is arresting all Ghanaians- if so, then you will consider my advice to expand prisons as a good one.

Good luck Mr President.

Sincerely yours, Emmanuel Graham Nyameke.
A driver identified as Kwame Owusu has been convicted for dangerous, careless, and inconsiderate driving on the Accra- Kumasi highway (N6) at Suhum inter-change approach.

The convict was arrested on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, after failing to comply with road traffic regulations.

The accused who was driving a white Volvo truck with registration Number GN 851-18 after his arrest, has now been convicted of a fine of GHS1,200.

The convict was arrested on Tuesday, 15th March 2022, for dangerous, careless and inconsiderate driving, failing to comply with road traffic sign to wit road markings, and was arrested, charged and put before the court yesterday, Thursday, 17th March 2022.

The accused, Kwame Owusu, who is a driver of a white Volvo truck with registration Number GN 851-18 in the attached video, has been fined with an amount of One Thousand Two Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH1,200.00), a Police statement announced on Friday afternoon.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the Ghana Police Service has adviced "all motorists to comply with the rules of the road, particularly, safe selection of lanes, maintenance of appropriate following distances, indication of traffic indicator light in advance, at least, 30 meters at all times before turnings, and avoid excessive speeding on our roads."
The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to dissolve the economic management team led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its chairman.

Speaking to the media, the Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor has accused the economic management team of failing woefully.

Insisting that the committee has run out of ideas, Mr. Jinapor further blasts Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia while calling for his head together with the economic management team he has been put in charge of.

The economic management team has failed woefully. Indeed, they have run out of ideas. The Vice President has gone into comatose, he is nowhere to be found. This is the time he is to demonstrate leadership. This is the time government must show that it cares for the people and petroleum consumers in difficult moments like this, John Jinapor shared.

He continued, This government has been a monumental failure. We call on President Akufo-Addo to dissolve the economic management team because they have not lived up to expectation.

John Jinapor who is also Yapei-Kusawgu constituency MP further blames the government for the constant hikes in the prices of fuel at the domestic pumps.

He said instead of the excuses, the government should be up and doing to ensure the cedi performs better.

Instead of this government sitting up and thinking out of the box, all what we hear is that they do not control world markets prices. The petrol we buy today is largely on account of the depreciation of the cedi, John Jinapor said.

Prices of fuel in the country hit the GHS10 per litre mark on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Experts project that the latest increase will bring additional hardships to Ghanaians.
Abuja, March 16, 2022  Nigerian authorities should investigate the recent attack and brief abduction of journalists Fredrick Nnaji and Chigozie Nwafor, hold those responsible to account, and ensure all journalists can cover the local elections safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.

On February 23, four unidentified men attacked and briefly abducted Nnaji, a news producer and presenter with the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS), and Nwafor, an ESBS reporter, as they were driving to cover local elections in Enugu state in southeast Nigeria, according to media reports, as well as Nnaji and a source familiar with the case who requested anonymity for security reasons, who both spoke to CPJ by phone.

Nnaji, who is also the ESBS representative within the Nigeria Union of Journalists, a local press organization, told CPJ that the men beat him with their guns and struck he and Nwafor with the blunt side of their machetes, injuring Nwafors left wrist. Nnaji said the men ordered he and Nwafor into their vehicle where they were briefly held captive.

Authorities in Nigeria must swiftly identify and prosecute all those responsible for the attacks on journalists Fredrick Nnaji and Chigozie Nwafor, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, from New York. This reprehensible attack speaks volumes about the grave danger that awaits journalists during Nigerias forthcoming general electionsa danger that Nigerian authorities have a duty to prevent.

On February 23, Nnaji, Nwafor, and two other journalists were driving in an ESBS-branded car toward Amechi, a community in the southern area of Enugu state, to cover the local council elections, when they saw two jeeps and two Toyota Sienna vans driving toward them, according to Nnaji and the media report.

The journalists told the driver that they were suspicious of the vehicles when they were overtaken and the armed men in those vehicles began shooting into the air, Nnaji and the source familiar with the case told CPJ. The other two journalists ran out of the vehicle and managed to escape on foot.

The attackers searched Nnaji, Nwafor, and their driver, Ebuka Ogbozor, and seized their phones, Nnaji told CPJ, adding that the armed men singled him out as the leader of the group after noticing his official ESBS ID card, his Nigeria Union of Journalists ID card, and a press pass given to him by the Enugu state electoral commission to cover the elections.

Nnaji told CPJ that the attackers asked the journalists why they were covering an election in a region that had no business holding one; describing the region as Biafra land, a term used to describe territory that separatists have sought to declare independent from Nigeria. Then, the attackers asked them to leave their vehicle and get into one of their vans.

Inside the vehicle, the attackers hit Nnaji several times on his head and left leg with their gun, causing him to bleed, Nnaji told CPJ. The attackers then drove the journalists and their driver to a nearby polling station in the Obeagu Awkunanaw community in the Enugu South local council and asked them to exit the vehicle and lie on the ground. They shot at several people at the polling station, killing three, according to the media reports, Nnaji, and the source familiar with the case.

Nnaji said he was terrified, so he stood up and ran through a construction site and into the bushes. The attackers shot at Nnaji as he ran, but the bullets missed, the journalist told CPJ.

Nnaji told CPJ he took off his undershirt, boxers, and jeans, which were drenched in his blood, put his jeans back on to cover himself, and waited in the bush as flies hovered around him for several hours until 6 p.m., when he was sure the attackers had left the area. He then exited the bush and was helped by villagers who took him to the ESBS office in Independent Lay Out, a district in northern Enugu state.

The attackers drove Nwafor and Ogbozor to Amodu, a community within the same council, where they were freed without further injury, according to the source familiar with the case.

Later that day, Nnaji was briefly admitted to the hospital and has returned at least four times for medication and checkups, he told CPJ, adding that doctors advised he not work until at least March 17. Nwafor received stitches to her wrist after the incident, Nnaji told CPJ.

The Enugu State Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe told CPJ on March 10 that investigations were ongoing to identify those responsible for all attacks during the elections, including the ones involving the journalists.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a lawyer for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist group, told CPJ by phone that the people who attacked the journalists should be considered criminals and investigated by authorities.

Ejiofor said IPOB was a nonviolent movement for self-determination and not part of the people obstructing the election. Anybody that wished to cover the election in Nigeria should of course go ahead and do what they want to do, he said.
Anthony Agee-kum

18.03.2022 LISTEN

It is in the interest of the NDC MPs and for that matter, Ghanaians, to fight the e-levy the way we did. No regrets and let's keep opposing it till it fails.

It's sad that we have been pushed to a point, as a sovereign nation, where we are compelled to choose between walking two barefooted on fire (e-levy) and walking with one barefoot on fire (IMF).

The bitter truth is, none of the option gives absolute convenience, but it appears we have reached the crossroads.

However, Ghanaians prefer IMF to e-levy and our reasons are straightforward.

The e-levy is very draconian nature, which transfers the sins of the political elites to the poor. It could, as well, serve as a toxic cocktail for government to perpetuate their irresponsible use of our limited resources.

At least, we are now aware the e-levy would be used as a collateral to secure loans, as the government is claimed to have reached saturation point in borrowing.

This is definitely not the way to go. Why? Because, already, the government is unable to pinpoint to their successes of the excessive borrowing so far.

It has also failed in the fight against corruption, and not demonstrated enough in curbing waste and mismanagement of public revenue.

Expecting Ghanaians support to the e-levy would then imply "being the sponsors of government's corruption and extravagance".

But for IMF, Ghanaians are conscious, at least, there would be some form of monitoring and oversight roles, undertaken by the IMF, which would instill some form of discipline in the management of the economy.

Yes! Going to IMF would, somehow, injure our credibility as a sovereign nation, but it is a better pill Ghanaians would prefer to swallow than opting to pamper an unremorseful and unrepentant government.

If IMF would cure what the e-levy is hoping to, then that is definitely better, and hence, block further opportunity in using the e-levy for mortgages, which to me only a devilish window of opportunity for corruption and mismanagement to reign.

To play the devil's advocate, we are aware this being the NPP's last regime in political power, where we all know breaking the 8th is near impossibility, may have psychologically positioned most political office holders to start amassing wealth for opposition beyond 2024.

Simply put, "they know they would lose", hence, would depart from responsible governance, because "there is nothing to prove"

This would potentially aggravate the already ailing economy already in the ICU needing some oxygen supply to resuscitate.

The ultimate implication is that the succeeding government would need some divine intervention to heal the big wounds that would have been left behind, by an "I don't care government", that has nothing to lose by the way.

They know they would be back one day.

This should send enough signal to the opposition NDC to know their fight against e-levy is to inherit a healthy economy.

Ghanaians are happy you frustrate the passage of the e-levy and any obnoxious loan facility that steps foot into parliament.

If not for anything at all, now, we know the answer to the long sought-after question of "who watches the watchman?" is IMF.

_My ultimate inspiration to write is to strive for social change_

Anthony Agee-kum

(Kostodian)

[email protected]
"Use your own property in such a way that you do not injure that of another". This maxim[1], regarding a limitation to states' sovereignty, incorporates a cardinal principle enshrined in both the Civil and Common Law systems, and more broadly, in the customary international law. This limitation, also called the principle of good neighbourliness in international environmental law, applies to activities within a state territory that may harm other states. The principle places on states two types of erga omnes obligations: the first is the positive obligation of due diligence (behaving as a bonus paterfamilias in Roman law), the second is a negative obligation not to cause environmental harm, or as John Stuart Mill would call it: the "harm principle". A liability ex delicto would arise as a legal consequence in the case of transboundary environmental harm, such as climate change. We could ask then to what extent individuals and institutions must be held responsible for climate change and its consequences, among them migration. A reasonable approach would be to the extent they causally contributed to the problem. However, the backwards-looking responsibility sometimes excuses agents' actions that were not entirely voluntary, as Aristotle already argued in his  [2].

Publics awareness of human activity as a driver of climate change, with the last being the major contributing factor to the environmental change in lato sensu, dates back to the 1980s. In 1988 the NASA scientist James Hansen gave testimony to Congress, alerting the danger of global warming. As a result, the media and the public started paying closer attention to the causes and effects of climate change. The year after (1989), the United Nations established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). From these moments on, we could consider some actors ascribed of forward-looking responsibility for climate migration, especially the more developed countries (MDCs). This is because their greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, for the most part attributable to past and present industrialization, are altering the climate system's energy balance, leading to a variety of natural disasters occurring for the majority of the time in less developed countries (LDCs). To the occurrence of these natural disasters, climate-induced migration as adaptation strategy is predicted to be inevitable.

With global warming increasing the planets temperature, so does the probability that European countries will face a massive wave of climate migrants. According to recent World Bank estimates (Groundswell, 2021), climate change could cause 216 million climate migrants by 2050 if no further action is taken. However, the report also states that climate-driven migration could be reduced by almost 60-80% if governments as soon as possible cut their greenhouse emissions and create resilient and inclusive development plans for each phase of the climate migration to ensure positive adaptation. Despite these predictions and the spread awareness that climate change significantly impacts migration patterns, climate migrants do not fulfil the legal definition of refugee provided by the 1951 Refugee Convention (UNHCR 1951) and its 1967 Protocol, and thus are not entitled to receive international protection.

Europe is the third largest emitter of GHGs. If we want to undertake a fitness check of the European legal migration acquis, some complementary mechanisms from the current EU policy instruments could be applied to address the challenges posed by environmentally induced migration. With the Tampere EU Council in 1999, the belief that a successful immigration policy required the action of both an internal and external policy dimensions spread. As a result, the EU started developing the so-called external dimension of cooperation on immigration and asylum in order to manage migration through cooperation with the third origin or transit countries and an internal set of law ("internal dimension") for third-countries nationals.

The EU external migration and asylum policy are laid down in the overarching framework of the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM), launched by the Commission in 2011. However, according to this framing, the issue is delegated at the local level of affected countries through mostly development cooperation measures and humanitarian assistance, which can be considered palliative in nature as they do not address the roots of climate migration. The most important external measures that could be applied to climate-induced migration are Mobility Partnership, Regional Development and Protection Programme, and the EU development and humanitarian aid policy.

With regard to the internal dimension, we find in the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) the subsidiary and temporary protection contained respectively in the Qualification Directive and the Temporary Protection Directive. Other measures that could be applied are provided in the Return Directive, the work immigration rules, and in some Member States (MSs) legislation.

The Qualification Directive (2004/83/EC) regarding Subsidiary Protection, ensures that the Member States apply the same criteria when identifying third-country nationals (TCNs) or stateless persons as refugees or as persons in need of international protection. There is a possibility that Art.15 (b) of the Directive could include the case of subsidiary protection for climate migrants as it states that the people eligible for protection are also those experiencing inhuman or degrading treatment. Among the obstacles to the application of Article 15(b) Qualification Directive, there is the fact that it applies only to people already present in the EU MSs, at their borders or in their territorial waters. Thus, it is very likely that climate migrants will have to resort to irregular means to access or stay in EU territories. In addition, persons who obtained subsidiary protection after an environmental disaster could potentially lose it in the case the situation eased in the country of origin.

The Temporary Protection Directive (Directive 2001/55/EC) was established to provide a concrete and urgent response to the mass influxes of displaced people following conflicts in former Yugoslavia and Kosovo during the second half of the 1990s, as the Modern Diplomacy (among others) was extensively reporting in the past. While the Qualification Directive grants protection only to the cases cited in an exhaustive list, Temporary Protections stipulation of Art.2 (c) ii may be interpreted more broadly to include environmentally displaced individuals, as it applies also to persons at serious risk of, or who have been victims of, systematic or generalized violations of their human rights. Nevertheless, this Directive has some limitations too. According to its Art.1, the protection is applicable only in the case of mass influx, and the Directive does not provide a well-delineated mechanism of protection but leaves broad discretion to the MSs; it is only stated that they should offer residence permits for the entire duration of the protection and reduce formalities to the minimum because of the urgent situation (Art.8(3)). In addition, until the Council has to establish whether or not a mass influx of displaced persons exists by a qualified majority after a Commission proposal (Art.5), the adoption of the mechanism will be hardly used, as the case of failed attempts of invoking the application to individuals coming en masse from Libya (2011), Tunisia (2011), Ukraine (2014 & 2022) and Syria (from 2011), Afghanistan (2021) already showed us  claims one of the most prominent experts in the field dr. Djawed Sangdel. He further predicts that the lack of activation of this mechanism even in the context of the Arab Spring and other conflicts in the larger Middle East, its lengthy, and the strenuous political process needed, renders even more very unlikely its application with regard to environmental displaced people.

In the case of absent international protection, Art 2 or 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) could still prompt the non-refoulment provision enshrined in the Return Directive (EU RD 2008/115/EC). This Directive defines common standards and procedures that MSs must apply for the return of illegal immigrants. According to Article 5, when implementing the Directive, MSs shall respect the principle of non-refoulement, and according to Article 9(1), they shall postpone removal in the case it violates the principle. If a natural disaster hits a country, MSs could then apply the non-refoulment principle.

Some climate migrants could also levy labour migration to reduce displacement. However, the Blue Card Directive of 2009 only covers highly qualified employees with a relevant salary threshold. On the other hand, the Seasonal Migrant Workers Directive adopted in 2014 could be used as an adaptation strategy, but still, it lacks the sufficient human rights guarantees needed. Furthermore, primary law (TFEU) leaves MSs the right to control the number of workers admittable to their labour markets. Thus, whether a climate migrant can make use of labour migration as an adaptation mechanism to escape the environmental degradation in the origin country is highly dependent on each EU national government.

At the Member States level, only Italy, Sweden and for certain aspects Finland, went beyond the obligations required by EU and International law. They were provided with a specific protection status related to climate change and natural disasters reasons for third-country nationals who cannot qualify for refugee status or subsidiary protection status. However, the provisions in Finland and Sweden were eventually temporary repealed after the huge migration flows in 2015-16.

So far, the European Union policy approach to the phenomenon of climate migration appeared to be more reactive rather than proactive. After reviewing the current European legal framework status quo, we can affirm that it is characterized by a legal impasse in protecting climate migrants.

Currently, in the European acquis, there is no specific instrument applicable to the facti species of climate migration. Climate justice consideration is also missing. One possible reason could be that the external dimension of the EU migration policy in the form of development cooperation, and humanitarian aid has been prioritized. Since it is implausible that climate migrants will be granted protection under the Geneva Convention at the international level, the EU should start acting autonomously. It could initially create a more coherent complementary protection regime and use those already developed by its Member States (especially Italy, Sweden and Finland) as a sample. In addition, the Lisbon Treaty gives the necessary grounds for revising the asylum and immigration policy, and this could include an ad hoc regulation for environmentally dispersed people.

Anna Lia Maria Soddu of the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), US. She was formally attached to the Bocconi University of Italy as a Research Data Analyst. Her portfolio includes European Economic Policy, EU Foreign Policy, Climate Change, Immigration, Transatlantic Economy: EU-US, Diplomacy, and Political Behavior.

References

Clement, Viviane; Rigaud, Kanta Kumari; de Sherbinin, Alex; Jones, Bryan; Adamo, Susana; Schewe, Jacob; Sadiq, Nian; Shabahat, Elham. 2021. Groundswell Part 2: Acting on Internal Climate Migration. World Bank, Washington, DC.  World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36248 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted .

Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences.

Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals.

[1] Bracton, Volume 3, Page 163.

[2] Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book III. The Internet Classics Archive, translated by W.D. Ross http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html.
Residents of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital (APH) staff quarters have been asked to vacate the accommodation by June this year.

A letter to the staff, signed by the Director of the Hospital, Dr Pinaman Appau, said the decision was to pave way for the redevelopment of the Hospital under Agenda 111 project.

The letter, dated January 14, 2022, said: As discussed at the meeting with you on November 5, 2021, we wish to inform you that the planned reconstruction of the Hospital will take off in June 2022.

When the Ghana News Agency visited the Hospital Thursday morning, it observed that it's Outpatient Department (OPD) was busy.

A staff, who spoke to the GNA on anonymity, alleged that the authorities had since last year asked them (staff) to seek transfer to other health facilities.

A transfer book has been opened and people are panicking, he said.

She told the GNA that more than half of the nurses at the Hospital had left for other health facilities.

There are media reports that the APH had been sold to a private developer but the Health Minister, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a Facebook post dismissed the reports.

The APH is to be redeveloped into a 220-bed psychiatric hospital under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EDC) contract as part of Agenda 111, he said.

The government under the Agenda 111 seeks to redevelop the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, construct, equip and commission two additional psychiatric hospitals, one in Kumasi and another at Tamale.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select committee on Health, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, after an interaction with the Management of the Hospital, told the media that the facility was not for sale, however, portions of the land would be commercialised under the Agenda 111 project.

He said the part of the land to be commercialised would be opened to Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in due time to minimise the financial burden on the Hospital.

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital, formally the Lunatic Asylum, was constructed in 1904 for the treatment, welfare, training, and rehabilitation of persons with mental illness.

GNA
New York, March 18, 2022  Malian authorities should reverse the suspension of French broadcasters Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24, and swiftly implement accreditation processes that ensure journalists are not barred from working in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

On Wednesday, March 16, Malis Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization began a procedure to suspend the ability of RFI and France 24 to broadcast content in the country, according to a copy of the suspension order posted on the ministrys Facebook page and reports by RFI and France 24. Both outlets are subsidiaries of the French government-owned France Medias Monde parent company, which stated it deplored the decision, according to those reports.

The suspension order cited the publication of false allegations of abuses by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) made earlier this month by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Human Rights Watch, and RFI as the reason for the suspensions. The order said the suspensions were justified under Malis laws and regulations but did not specify which laws were violated and barred all local outlets from distributing content made by RFI and France 24.

Authorities in Mali should halt their efforts to control journalism in the country and reverse the suspension of RFI and France 24, as well as the ban on all local media distributing those outlets content, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. These suspensions, which follow the suspension of the media accreditation processes earlier this year, paint a grim picture for press freedom in Mali.

RFI and France 24 broadcasts have been shut off since 1 p.m. local time on March 17, according to a journalist with knowledge of the situation who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Sambi Toure, the director of the Malian governments information center, acknowledged CPJs requests for comment sent via messaging app, but did not directly answer the questions sent to him about the suspensions. CPJ also called Harouna Mamadou Toureh, Malis minister of communication, digital economy, and administration modernization. One of the calls sounded like it connected, but no audible words could be heard, and other calls and questions sent via messaging app and text message went unanswered.

In February, Malian authorities suspended the accreditation processes for journalists and expelled Jeune Afrique reporter Benjamin Roger, a French national, hours after he arrived in the county saying he did not have the required accreditation, as CPJ documented at the time. Accredited journalists already inside Mali could continue working, Harbert Traore, a technical adviser for the Ministry of Communication, told CPJ at the time.

Since that time, certain journalists accreditations have expired and there is currently no avenue to be reaccredited, a journalist with knowledge of the situation told CPJ. In response to CPJs request for an update on accreditation processes in Mali, Traore told CPJ via messaging app that the Ministry of Communication did not make these decisions without elaborating further.

In a video published on March 14, Olivier Dubois, a journalist kidnapped in Mali, said he was abducted by jihadists in April 2021 and thanked his family for messages he heard over the radio, which RFI has been broadcasting. CPJ called for his immediate release.
DAVIE  Dayonte Resiles, whose bold escape from a crowded courtroom stunned South Florida and led to a five-day manhunt, was found guilty Friday morning of first-degree murder in the 2014 stabbing death of Jill Halliburton Su.

Now the same jury is being asked to come back to decide whether he deserves the ultimate punishment  execution.

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The verdict came at the start of the fourth day of deliberations, after the sequestered jury put an early end to talks on Thursday afternoon. Family members and supporters of the defendant, who packed the courtroom and the hallways during and after deliberations, sat in silence when the decision was read.

[ RELATED: How Resiles went from a smart young man to a notorious fugitive ]

Attorneys for Resiles, 27, used the closing arguments Tuesday to cast suspicion on the victims husband, a respected scientist who works for the University of Florida.

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Defense lawyer Allari Dominguez accused Davie police of missing the opportunity to consider whether Nan Yao Su, the last person to see his wife alive, was responsible for the murder.

Throughout the trial, the defense raised suspicion about another member of the victims family, her son, who was an early suspect because of his inconsistent and false initial statements to police about where he was while the crime was bring committed.

Dayonte Resiles looks back at supporters after being found guilty of first-degree murder at the Broward County Courthouse on Friday. Resiles was convicted in the 2014 stabbing death of Jill Halliburton Su in her Davie home. After his initial arrest, Resiles escaped custody and led investigators on a six-day manhunt. A mistrial due to a hung jury was declared in his first murder trial in December 2021. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Investigators ultimately learned that Justin Su, then 20, was at Broward Community College in the early afternoon of Sept. 8, 2014. His vehicle was recorded leaving a campus parking lot. Detectives also learned that whoever struggled with the victim before she was bound, placed in a bathtub and stabbed between 20 and 27 times, left traces of DNA in three conspicuous places  a belt used to bind the victim, a knife used to strike her, and the broken sliding glass doorway that was the likely point of entry.

The DNA matched Resiles.

[ RELATED: 'Operation Rico Suave' lands Resiles in more trouble with the law ]

Prosecutors believe Resiles was burglarizing the Su home when he was interrupted by the victim, who had been sleeping. The struggle began inside the home, Assistant State Attorney Maria Schneider suggested, and continued outside the home. According to Schneider, the victim was dragged back into the house, possibly in an unconscious state, then murdered.

Dayonte Resiles speaks with defense attorney Allari Dominguez after being found guilty of first-degree murder at the Broward County Courthouse on Friday. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

This was Resiles second trial. The first, late last year, ended in a hung jury that deadlocked over whether to convict him of first-degree murder or manslaughter. Jurors interviewed after the end of the first trial said they were convinced Resiles participated in the murder but believed he was not alone, a possibility that was only hinted at during instructions.

For the retrial, Schneider openly addressed the possibility of an accomplice and explained how, under Florida law, Resiles would still be guilty of murder even if the accomplice did the stabbing. She also explained how Resiles could have acted alone.

[ RELATED: What happened to the people who helped Dayonte Resiles escape? ]

Resiles is also facing dozens of charges in two related cases. In 2016, he recruited friends to help him escape from the Broward courthouse, claiming later he wanted to search for evidence to prove his innocence. Though the jury in the murder trial never heard it, investigators say Resiles phone records show he searched for pornographic websites.

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The following year, Resiles was charged with multiple conspiracy counts for recruiting more friends to help him concoct an alibi placing him in Georgia on the day of the murder. Records show he was in Georgia in early September 2014, but he had returned before the Su murder.

The victims husband and son were not in court Friday for the verdict. Both are expected to testify at the trials penalty phase. Broward Circuit Judge John J. Murphy said it would be at least 30 days, possibly more, before the jury would be asked to return to court.

Under Florida law, all 12 jurors must agree to the death penalty in order to send Resiles to death row. Murphy would be allowed to reject a jurys recommendation of the death penalty. If he were to do that, or if the vote were to be split, the law requires a sentence of life in prison.

Rafael Olmeda my be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Twitter @rolmeda.
Benefis Health System broke ground Thursday on what will be its largest expansion into the Helena area.

The $44 million, 64,000 square-foot Helena Specialty Center is being built on 3.25 acres where the Capital Hill Mall used to stand on Prospect Avenue. According to Kaci Husted, vice president of business development and communications, the center will have 34 exam rooms and a 16-chair infusion suite. Husted said there will be eight physicians based in the center at the start, but there will also be accommodations for caregivers who do not live in Helena, but work within the Benefis system.

This center will mostly focus on providing primary and specialty care services. According to Benefis officials, the site was chosen primarily due to its convenient location and size. It is expected to open in late 2023.

Benefis is expanding services to an area traditionally served by St. Peter's Health and PureView Health Center.

A 2021 study on The Economic Impact of Montanas Hospitals by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana and released by the Montana Hospital Association showed that 65.9% of Benefis patients live in Cascade County and 3.8% live in Lewis and Clark County.

It also showed that 76.1% of St. Peters patients live in Lewis and Clark County and 1.9% live in Cascade County.

The Great Falls-based health care provider has expanded around its home area, but Helena marks the first real expansion outside, Benefis officials said. Husted said there may be times when physicians from Great Falls need to travel to the Helena area to provide treatment or services and this facility will have space for them.

"We have a lot of people who would come to Great Falls for treatment," Husted said. "This will make things easier for them."

John Goodnow, chief executive officer of Benefis, made similar comments the night before and expressed enthusiasm for the project at an invitation-only gathering Wednesday at the Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel.

He said that "Benefis loves Helena," and added the health care provider has been serving people from Helena for a long time who have come to Great Falls, oftentimes for services not available in Helena.

"This will be way more convenient, to be able to do it here in your own community," Goodnow said. "I think we have a great site and I think it will be good for the Helena economy too. We are just tickled to be here and can't wait to get the new big facility built ... and to be part of Helena."

Amy Linder, division operations director for Benefis Health System, they have physicians here and community partners.

She said the employees are part of the community and have already found ways to get involved.

Linder said they have joined with Carroll College to address the states nursing shortage.

Weve seen some of those students coming out and we are excited they are taking care of us, she said. Linder said Benefis has always worked with local providers.

She said the urgent care facility on Washington Street, known as Benefis Northeast, is seeing 25-35 patients daily and expects the number to increase. The facility will remain open after the specialty center opens.

Dr. Gregory Tierney, Benefis' chief medical officer, said the center will offer access to cancer care, cardiac care and surgical procedures such as outpatient joint replacements, podiatry, urology, general surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery and gastroenterology. He said the center is designed with facilities for physicians visiting from Great Falls. He said they will also recruit physicians who will live in Helena.

He said Montana is a big state and people are used to driving long distances.

"But when you are not feeling well, when you're battling a disease or have limited mobility, traveling isn't something you are eager to do," he said. "The old model of requiring patients to travel to us is being flipped. We are bringing services to you."

The center was designed by LPW Architects and Benefis has partnered with Sletten Construction for building. Benefis said the facility will create 207 jobs in the Helena area by 2030.

Husted characterized this project as the "first big expansion outside Great Falls." Though it technically marks the fourth facility Benefis will operate in Helena. In July 2021, Benefis opened a 4,800 square-foot urgent care facility in an old IHOP building on Washington Street. Last October, the company purchased Helena Imaging, which provided two more outpatient radiology locations in town. Those facilities now operate under the name Benefis Helena Imaging.

Paul Fulbright, manager of radiology, said Benefis plans to spend $2.5 million to upgrade those offices.

Husted said they have opened facilities in small towns like Havre, which is closer to Great Falls, but nothing within the scope of this new center.

Staff Writer Phil Drake contributed to this story.
Temperatures across the state of Montana ranged from the mid-40s to mid-50s on this St. Patrick's Day.

Sustained winds are ranging from 5 to 15 mph.

Temperatures will drop back to the 30s and 40s through the evening.

Increasing clouds west with rain and snow across Washington.

That will move into western Montana late tonight and tomorrow.

High pressure brought a nice day to Montana on this Thursday.

A surge of Pacific moisture will bring increasing clouds tonight with a chance of rain and snow showers late tonight and tomorrow, mainly west of the divide and across southwest Montana.

Warmer Saturday and dry.

It will be a good day to be outside.

A stronger storm system and cold front will move across the region Saturday night and Sunday.

It will bring areas of snow to western and southwest Montana.

Several inches in the mountains with Bozeman having the best chance of some accumulating snow for the lower elevations.

Colder Sunday and then turning warmer next week.

Spring arrives Sunday at 9:33 am! Lows tonight in the mid-20s to mid-30s.

Highs Friday in the 50s, except 40s across southwest Montana.

Highs in the 50s Saturday, dropping to the 30s and 40s Sunday with blustery conditions.

Highs will warm back to the 50s next week, with 60s east of the divide by mid-week.
March 18, 2022 Ukraine Open Thread 2022-30 Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ... Posted by b on March 18, 2022 at 16:17 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
A group of 16 Cuban migrants, including two children, arrived in the Lower Florida Keys on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

The children were accompanied by adults, Agent Adam Hoffner, Miami division chief of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said in an email. The group arrived on Summerland Key, about 17 miles north of Key West, in a small commercial fishing vessel called the Anna Celia, Hoffner said.

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Thursdays landing came two days after the Coast Guard returned 21 Cubans who the agency stopped at sea about 46 miles south of Key West on Friday.

Both incidents are part of an ongoing surge in maritime migration to South Florida and the Keys, which also includes Haitians fleeing their homeland.

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Go to Herald.com for the full report.
Renewable and green energy are all the rage. This article in Enterprising Investor presents us with a reality check in the midst of all the hype. Below is an extract.

FACT: Any type of energy comes with some cost to the environment.

One MW of solar electricity requires 5 to 10 acres of land to generate. If New York City consumes around 53,500,000 MW of electricity, then 5,350,000 acres of solar panels might be needed to power the city. Thats an area about the size of the state of New Jersey.

A single 3-MW wind turbine may contain 335 tons of steel, 4.7 tons of copper, three tons of aluminium, and 700-plus pounds of rare-earth materials. This doesnt include the aluminium and copper wires or the related towers and electrical infrastructure that deliver the power to the consumer.

As for the operational environment, most wind turbine blades are made of nonrecyclable composites. So, when theyre retired, they are cut up and sent to landfills.

The rare-earth metals required for solar and wind energy are supply constrained. Neodymium, dysprosium, indium, selenium, etc., are only available in a handful of countries. Rare earths harbour a dark secret: To mine and refine them is an energy-intensive process and creates considerable pollution, among other environmental and social costs.

FACT: There will be supply constraints with respect to Lithium.

Lithium is the key ingredient in the rechargeable batteries that power Teslas and other electric vehicles (EVs). Global lithium metal production stood at about 82,000 metric tons (MT) in 2020. As the U.K. and particular U.S. jurisdictions begin phasing out the sale of traditional gas-powered autos in 2025, their demand for lithium will increase seven-fold, from 200,000 MT to over 1,400,000 MT by 2030. And lithium demand will grow elsewhere as well, whether for EV batteries, for batteries for tools, computers, and homes, or for lubricants and glassmaking.

There wont be enough lithium to meet the demand now or in the future. Lithium will be in short supply for at least a decade.

FACT: Coal energy wont be phased out anytime soon.

According to this article in TIME, the world generated more power from coal in 2021 than ever before. The increase is driven by China, India, the U.S. and the E.U.

As Keisuke Sadamori, the IEAs director of energy markets and security, observed, The pledges to reach net zero emissions made by many countries . . . should have very strong implications for coal  but these are not yet visible in our near-term forecast, reflecting the major gap between ambitions and action. Do read the report by the Internationals Energy Agency.

The U.S. and the EU have their own domestic production issues. Copper is an essential metal for green and renewable energy. While a significant source of copper, the U.S. is still a net importer. Copper mines in Arizona and a copper-nickel mine in Minnesota have run into difficulties as the Biden administration has exerted its influence in the permitting process. The administration also momentarily paused the sale of new oil and gas leases. Such choices will make the U.S. more sensitive to supply shocks.

Likewise, the EUs decision to shut down coal plants, reduce the use of nuclear energy, and rely on green and renewable energy comes amid greater potential for disruptions. In late August and early September 2021, Europe endured a heat wave. The surge in energy demand coupled with a lack of wind caused natural gas prices to spike by 325% over the prior year. The drive for carbon neutrality by 2050 has rendered domestic power unreliable and increased European dependence on Russian natural gas.

FACT: The EV supply chain is hardly a paradigm of ESG considerations.

Think illegal mines and child labour on top of mining-related environmental degradation. Such excesses are hard to square with the Electric Vehicle sectors supposed ESG bona fides.

Another problem: The electrical infrastructure is not capable of handling the power requirements of a rapidly expanding fleet of EVs. Power grid failures in Europe, California, and Texas demonstrate the systems fragility. When Californias grid buckled amid peak demand this summer, the states EV drivers were asked not to charge their vehicles.

What if the lithium battery technology is not yet ready for automobiles? Much smaller lithium batteries have earned bad reputations. Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 phones were so notorious for exploding, they were banned from aircraft, and e-cigarettes and other lithium batteries from checked luggage. The Chevy Bolt EV has been recalled, creating a billion-dollar hit to GMs balance sheet, and even Boeing had problems with its 787 lithium batteries.

Lithium battery fires burn at over 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. They cannot be put out with water. Lithium battery fires are so hot they split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, creating a flammable hydrogen gas cloud. Their heat can damage or destroy the tendons that give prestressed concrete slabs their strength. These slabs are found in parking garages and apartments and on bridges. Where will EVs park if they arent safe in parking garages?

The above has been taken from Green and Renewable Energy: Not So Fast?

More on ESG
The public wonders why US producers arent increasing production to lower prices and replace Russian oil that is being boycotted amid the Ukrainian invasion.

What I tell people is US producing is growing  we put it at 800,000 to 900,000 barrels a day of growth in US shales, and a large part of that is from the Permian Basin, said Ryan Lance, chairman and chief executive officer, during a visit to Midland for a Midland Wildcat Committee reception.
For the third time in a week, migrants arrived on the shores of the Florida Keys, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

The landing happened shortly before 1 p.m. Friday near Long Key in the Upper Keys, just south of the Village of Islamorada, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office calls for service log. The migrants nationalities were not immediately available.

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South Florida is experiencing a surge in maritime migration from both Cuba and Haiti that seems to be picking up pace.

On Thursday, 16 Cubans, including two accompanied children, arrived in a small commercial fishing boat off Summerland Key, about 17 miles north of Key West in the Lower Keys.

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Go to Herald.com for the full report.
James Durbin

Pioneer Natural Resources announced Friday that it would give $20 million in humanitarian aid to relief organizations operating in Ukraine and the surrounding region.

Chief Executive Officer Scott D. Sheffield stated, The death and destruction along with the displacement of millions of Ukrainians caused by Russias unprovoked invasion requires assistance from both governments across the world and the global business community. Pioneer and our employees are proud to support our friends in Ukraine. We sincerely hope to see the conflict end as quickly as possible, and our thoughts are with all those impacted.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Mathew Whelan TAMFS Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Midland Fire Department/Facebook Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Midland Fire Department/Facebook Show More Show Less 5 of 5









Firefighters with the Midland Fire Department are joining other agencies across Texas as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) to assist with the fires in and around Eastland.

Firefighters Cody Quintana and Michael Meiner are representing MFD, according to the department's Facebook page.
TRA Transfers Hall to Build New Sydney Office

New Zealand-based insights agency TRA Group (The Research Agency) has opened an office in Sydney, Australia, and is transferring Terri Hall to it in the role of Managing Partner. She takes up the post on 1st April, and reports to MD and founder Andrew Lewis.



Auckland-based TRA, which opened its first Australian office in Melbourne last year, offers a range of services including research, strategy, behavioural science, cultural analysis, data and analytics, design and new venture development. Hall (pictured) joined as a Business Director in New Zealand in 2018, and more recently served as Head of Client Services. Before this she spent more than six years at Kantar TNS in Sydney, latterly as Client Service Director.



In her new role, Hall's remit will be to build the Sydney business, and appoint a team of research and insight specialists to service cross-category brands. Lewis comments: 'Expanding our Australian operations and opening an office in Sydney will allow us to deliver our proven capability that has resonated so well in New Zealand and Melbourne. Appointing Terri to lead Sydney and grow the team was an easy decision. She is passionate about insights and partnerships, with a change and growth mindset that's central to our clients' success, and our own'.



Web site: www.theresearchagency.com .




As the nations historically Black colleges remain on edge after receiving dozens of bomb threats in recent weeks, federal law enforcement officials said they have identified six suspects who they believe are responsible for most of the racially motivated crimes.

More than a third of Americas 101 historically Black colleges and universities have been targeted by calls or emails threatening to set off bombs on their campuses since early January, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month in February. The threats are being investigated as hate crimes.

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At a congressional hearing Thursday, federal law enforcement agencies said they are working aggressively to make arrests in the 59 cases, calling the case their highest priority. All six suspects are juveniles, according to the FBI.

Ryan Young, executive assistant director of the FBI intelligence branch, said investigators have identified one person and a small group, although some of the threats may have been copycat crimes.

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Our intention is to bring these individuals to justice, Young told the House Oversight Committee.

The Biden administration this week announced a series of actions in response to the threats. The Education Department on Wednesday issued guidance to help colleges navigate threats and get help from federal agencies. Vice President Kamala Harris, the nations first Black vice president and an alumna of Howard University, a historically Black institution in Washington, also notified colleges they are eligible for grants meant to help schools recover from violence.

No explosives have been found in connection with the threats, but students say the prospect of violence has loomed over their lives. The threats have prompted lockdowns and evacuations, sometimes late at night, leaving students anxious and uneasy.

Emmanuel Ukot, president of the student government at Xavier University of Louisiana, said tensions have been high in the wake of two threats at the school of more than 3,000 students. Some students have been afraid to return to classes, he said, and some have sought mental health services.

The triple impact of COVID-19, the ongoing racial reckoning in the country and the bomb threats on HBCU campuses is having a real and lasting impact on our students, he told lawmakers.

Howard University has received at least four threats since Jan. 4. After the second one, officials gave students a day off for their mental health.

The added stress and in some cases paranoia that students, faculty and staff have subsequently experienced cannot be overstated, said Kylie Burke, president of Howards student government.

The threats began in early January but picked up on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month, when 18 colleges were threatened on the same day. Some have come as recently as Monday, when Morehouse College in Atlanta locked down its campus in response to a bomb threat.

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The vast majority of the threats have been made by phone, with a small number coming in emails or other online messages, said Young, of the FBI. Investigators have had trouble tracing some threats that were made using encryption technology, he added.

Young declined to provide further details on the six juveniles, but he said they know they are under the scope of an investigation.

The investigation is spread across 31 FBI field offices along with other units including its cyber crimes division.

The threats evoke a history of bombings and other acts of violence against Black Americans.

Lawmakers on the Oversight Committee recalled the 1963 bombing of an Alabama church that killed four young Black girls. Others noted a 1999 bombing at Florida A&M University, a historically Black school. Two pipe bombs exploded in that case, although no one was injured.

These reprehensible threats against Black institutions echo the tactics employed by the Ku Klux Klan and others decades ago as they tried to instill terror in the Black community, said Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chair of the committee.

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Lawmakers from both parties urged authorities to hasten the investigation and expressed frustration that no arrests have been made, prolonging the turmoil for students and faculty.

This committee is looking for guarantees from the FBI that theres going to be arrests made, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana said. There should be no systemic fear at our colleges and universities in America.

FBI and Homeland Security officials said they are continuing to investigate, and they have been providing training to help HBCUs respond to threats.

Michelle Asha Cooper, an acting assistant education secretary, told lawmakers that HBCUs will need help recovering from the threats, which have diverted emergency resources and placed an increased burden on campus mental health systems.

Campus leaders do not have all the resources at their disposal to respond appropriately to the ongoing threats, and are not fully aware of the resources available from the federal government, she said.

The House last week passed a resolution condemning the threats and affirming support for the schools. But Democrats said Congress must do more, with some calling for legislation that would increase HBCU funding for security, infrastructure and other costs.

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Students testifying at the hearing echoed the call for further support. Burke said that while Howard benefits from being located in the nations capital, with access to its security resources, many HBCUs dont have that kind of privilege.

When you support historically Black colleges and universities, what youre really supporting is the next generation of Black lawyers, filmmakers, engineers, artists, doctors and even politicians, she said.
Muskogee, OK (74401)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 63F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 63F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
The Cabras Power plant in Piti is seen on Feb. 4, 2022. The Guam Power Authority's cost of fuel has increased with the rising prices of oil.
WASHINGTON  In the year after he disclosed a federal investigation into his tax affairs in late 2020, President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, paid off a significant tax liability, even as a grand jury continued to gather evidence in a wide-ranging examination of his international business dealings, according to people familiar with the case.

Bidens failure to pay all his taxes has been a focus of the ongoing Justice Department investigation. While wiping out his liability does not preclude criminal charges against him, the payment could make it harder for prosecutors to win a conviction or a long sentence for tax-related offenses, according to tax law experts, since juries and judges tend to be more sympathetic to defendants who have paid their bills.

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But Bidens taxes are just one element of the broader investigation stemming from work he did around the world. Hunter Biden is a Yale-educated lawyer; his professional life has intersected with his fathers public service, including working as a registered lobbyist for domestic interests and, while his father was vice president, pursuing deals and clients in Asia and Europe.

As recently as last month, the federal grand jury heard testimony in Wilmington, Delaware, from two witnesses, one of whom was a former employee of Hunter Biden whose lawyer was later subpoenaed for financial records that reflected money Biden received from a Ukrainian energy company.

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The investigation, which began as a tax inquiry under the Obama administration, widened in 2018 to include possible criminal violations of tax laws, as well as foreign lobbying and money laundering rules, according to the people familiar with the inquiry.

Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen in Manhattan on Nov. 10, 2021. (Calla Kessler/The New York Times)

But prosecutors face a number of hurdles to bringing criminal charges, the people familiar with the investigation said, including proving that Biden intentionally violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, which requires disclosure to the Justice Department of lobbying or public relations assistance on behalf of foreign clients.

The Justice Department has given no public indication that it has made decisions about any element of the case, and Biden has not been charged with any crime.

When he disclosed the investigation after the 2020 election, Hunter Biden said that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately.

Bidens lawyer, the Justice Department and the U.S. attorneys office in Delaware, which is overseeing the investigation, all declined to comment.

It is not clear whether the criminal probe is focused solely on Hunter Biden, or if he is among a group of individuals and companies being scrutinized. Prosecutors have also asked about potential FARA violations by a Washington consulting firm, Blue Star Strategies, that worked for the Ukrainian energy company in an arrangement that Biden helped broker, according to documents and the people familiar with the investigation.

For Joe Biden, the long-running case is both politically and personally fraught. Hunter Bidens work for Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company, became a flashpoint in his fathers race in 2020 against President Donald Trump and helped set off the events that led to Trumps first impeachment.

The elder Biden now oversees the Justice Department that is carrying out the investigation. And Hunter Biden, who in recent years has pursued a career as a painter, has acknowledged serious drug addiction and other problems during the period when he was seeking international business, while dealing with the illness and death of his brother Beau.

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The investigation is being overseen by David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware. He worked in the office during the Bush and Obama administrations, and was nominated to run it by Trump. Weiss has been permitted to remain in office until the Biden case is resolved.

Hunter Biden told associates in recent months that he paid the federal taxes that had been the subject of Justice Department scrutiny. He told one associate that the tax liability was more than $1 million, and that he had to take out a loan to pay it off.

Federal tax prosecutors generally fight to keep jurors from knowing whether defendants have paid their back tax bills, arguing that the crime happens when the return is falsely filed or not filed at all, said Jeffrey Neiman, a former Justice Department tax prosecutor and a partner at Marcus, Neiman, Rashbaum & Pineiro. Such knowledge could influence jurors, even if a judge asks them not to consider it.

Neiman said that defense lawyers encourage clients to pay their back taxes if they believe they could be indicted on federal tax crimes, as it often helps with sentencing.

Bidens extensive work with foreign businesses came under scrutiny from prosecutors looking into whether he should have registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent.

Investigators have examined Bidens relationships with interests in Kazakhstan, a Chinese energy conglomerate and Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company, according to people familiar with the investigation.

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They said prosecutors had investigated payments and gifts Biden or his associates had received from foreign interests, including a vehicle paid for using funds from a company associated with a Kazakh oligarch and a diamond from a Chinese energy tycoon. Prosecutors also sought documents related to corporate entities through which Biden and his associates conducted business with interests around the world.

But there has been debate within the Justice Department over whether the available evidence proves that Biden intended to violate FARA, which the government must prove in order to secure a criminal conviction. The prosecutors have discussed approaching potential FARA violations as a civil matter, which would require Biden to register retroactively as a foreign agent, but would avoid criminal charges, according to the people familiar with the case.

Such a resolution could complicate a potential money laundering case, since money laundering is typically charged in connection with another crime.

Over the last two years, federal prosecutors in Delaware have issued scores of subpoenas for documents related to Hunter Bidens foreign work and for bank accounts linked to him and his associates, including two formerly close business partners, Eric Schwerin and Devon Archer, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Last year, prosecutors interviewed Archer and subpoenaed him for documents and grand jury testimony, the people said. Archer, who was sentenced last month in an unrelated securities fraud case in which a decision to set aside his conviction was reversed, had served with Biden on Burismas board, starting in 2014.

People familiar with the investigation said prosecutors had examined emails between Biden, Archer and others about Burisma and other foreign business activity. Those emails were obtained by The New York Times from a cache of files that appears to have come from a laptop abandoned by Biden in a Delaware repair shop. The email and others in the cache were authenticated by people familiar with them and with the investigation.

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In some of the emails, Biden displayed a familiarity with FARA, and a desire to avoid triggering it.

In one email to Archer in April 2014, Biden outlined his vision for working with Burisma. In the email, Hunter Biden indicated that the forthcoming announcement of a trip to Ukraine by Vice President Biden  who is referred to in the email as my guy, but not by name  should be characterized as part of our advice and thinking  but what he will say and do is out of our hands.

The announcement could be a really good thing or it could end up creating too great an expectation. We need to temper expectations regarding that visit, Hunter Biden wrote.

The vice president traveled to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, about a week after the email.

In the same April 2014 email, Hunter Biden indicated that Burismas officials need to know in no uncertain terms that we will not and cannot intervene directly with domestic policymakers, and that we need to abide by FARA and any other U.S. laws in the strictest sense across the board.

He suggested enlisting the law firm where he worked at the time, Boies Schiller Flexner, to help Burisma through direct discussions at state, energy and NSC, referring to two Cabinet departments and the National Security Council at the White House.

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The firm can devise a media plan and arrange for legal protections and mitigate U.S. domestic negative press regarding the current leadership if need be, Hunter Biden wrote in the email.

Biden, Archer, Boies Schiller Flexner and Blue Star Strategies did not register under FARA on behalf of Burisma.

In another set of emails examined by prosecutors, Hunter Biden and Archer discussed inviting foreign business associates, including a Burisma executive, to a dinner in April 2015 at a Washington restaurant where Joe Biden would stop by. It is not clear whether the Burisma executive attended the dinner, although the vice president did make an appearance, according to people familiar with the event.

Prosecutors also subpoenaed records related to a lawsuit brought by the former employee of Hunter Bidens, Lunden Alexis Roberts, in Arkansas state court, according to her lawyer.

Roberts sued Biden for child support and paternity in 2019, after one of his companies ceased paying her and providing her with health insurance, according to court records.

Biden and Roberts reached a settlement out of court in the paternity case in March 2020.

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Last year, prosecutors traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, and asked Roberts and her lawyer about Bidens finances, including which corporate entity he used to pay her, and whether that entity had received payments from Burisma, according to a person familiar with the questioning.

And last month, in response to another subpoena, Roberts testified before the grand jury in Delaware, according to her lawyer.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
Just as Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court a seventh time, Republican lawmakers want immediate changes within the agency.

Smith was once again held in contempt for failing to place a child appropriately. In this case, the subject of the order is a 16-year-old boy who has spent more than 375 days in a shelter that does not have the resources to support his needs given his intellectual and cognitive disabilities, the Public Guardians office said.

During a news conference Thursday, state Rep. Steven Reick, R-Woodstock, said Democrats are getting in the way of making changes at DCFS.

We have filed legislation to try to fix this mess, Reick said. What have they done? They havent done a thing. The only thing theyve done is jammed us up to try to get this thing fixed.

In January, lawmakers held a virtual hearing on the DCFS, with some even suggesting overhauling the agency if Smith cant right the ship.

State Rep. Tom Weber, R-Fox Lake, delivered an emotional plea on the House floor last week saying there have been too many tragedies.

The stories that we hear and the failures at all levels, there continues to be resistance to change, Weber said. No state agency is above reproach or oversight, especially not an agency that is tasked with taking care of our children.

Two children died in February after DCFS received allegations that they were abused.

An audit found that DCFS did not make timely determinations of whether reports of child abuse and neglect were credible. Under the law, DCFS has 60 days to make those findings.

The deaths of two DCFS case workers prompted legislation to allow employers to carry pepper spray while on visits.

Deidre Silas was stabbed to death Jan. 4 when she responded to a call of possible endangerment of children in Thayer. Silas death was the second time in less than five years the department has dealt with a tragedy. Pamela Knight, 59, died after a brutal beating while attempting to remove a child from a home in Carroll County in 2017.
This month, the Senate passed the Postal Service Reform Act, joining the House of Representatives, which cleared the bill in February. And while there is a lot of talk about bipartisan cooperation in getting the measure passed and hype about what it means to the U.S. Postal Service, the bill has skirted the toughest and most important issues in postal reform.

The chief feature of the act is to wipe away $57 billion in defaulted debt that the postal service has failed to pay for its Retiree Health Benefits Fund since 2011. Unlike a state or local government, business or individual, the service faced no consequences for the default.

In hindsight the assessments, once widely agreed upon as part of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, were far too high. But they were based on a basic principle: the postal service should set aside and invest some funds to meet large, looming retirement health care obligations. The service is now free of that requirement. Future postal retirees, however, will have to sign up for Medicare coverage to ensure retiree health benefits, and will incur higher costs.



By the way, despite the defaults, the USPS is not in danger of running out of cash any time soon. It had $24.2 billion in cash as of Feb. 28, a staggering amount for an organization with $72 billion in annual revenues.



The services balance sheet and its quarterly financial performance will be marginally improved by the Postal Service Reform Act and the health care retirement benefits provisions. And act does have other beneficial features, including setting up a real-time dashboard so Americans can quickly identify mail delivery problems. It will also improve the budgetary process and slightly strengthen the services two key regulators  its Office of Inspector General and the Postal Regulatory Commission.



But these are not the reforms the American people need.



On Oct.1, the service implemented slower delivery standards for 40% of first-class mail. This follows another major service slowdown in 2014. As a result, it now takes longer for Americans to get the mail than in the 1970s. This bill does nothing to solve that. In fact, it takes the pressure off the service to improve as some of its debt is wiped out  or more accurately transferred to taxpayers  at no cost to the postal service.



The reform act also does nothing to spur the service to better understand its costs so it can cut them where appropriate and charge customers more accurately for the actual cost of the product or service being used. The services antiquated accounting and financial management systems and practices will stay in place.



Furthermore, this situation could get worse. Section 202 of the reform act requires the service to have an integrated delivery network. This is a solution in search of a problem as the Postal Service has had an integrated delivery network for decades and no one wants that to change. The aim of large retail special interests that have been pushing this provision is to eviscerate attempts to price mail products based on mail costs and package products based on package costs.



The reform act also punts on other basic issues. It does not define the mission, or Universal Service Obligation of the Postal Service. It fails to strengthen significantly the services regulators and it does not address other defaults the service has made on its pensions.



Furthermore, the process surrounding this bill in the Senate is disturbing. There were no committee hearings on the reform act, and the full Senate took up the measure along with a bevy of amendments at the height of the Ukraine crisis.



While the reform act is likely to be enacted, it is not true reform and there is still much harder work Congress needs to do to strengthen and overhaul the postal service.
Arnold Schwarzenegger carried the weight of the world Thursday by making a video he hopes will reach the people of Russia.

Im sending this message to various different channels to reach my dear Russian friends and the Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine, he began. There are things going on in the world that have been kept from you  terrible things you should know about.

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Before talking about Russian President Vladimir Putins ongoing and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the hulking action star recalled being inspired by weightlifter Yuri Petrovich Vlasov as a child. Schwarzenegger said his father, who fought on the side of the Nazis in World War II, told him to find a German role model rather than Vlasov, who was Russian.

He didnt like Russians, the Red Heat star said.

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I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share. pic.twitter.com/6gyVRhgpFV  Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 17, 2022

When he was 14, Schwarzenegger, who is Austrian-American, got to meet his idol. He recalled Vlasov being kind and said he will never forget that day. He began sleeping with a photo of Vlasov above his bed and lifting weights himself. Even now, Schwarzenegger says he drinks his coffee from a mug Vlasov gave him later in life when they met again in Russia.

Ive had nothing but affections and respect for the people of Russia, he said.

[ Fox News celebrates a quarter-century of ... whatever it is theyre doing over there ]

And thats why, according to the 74-year-old actor, he hopes Russians who hear his message believe him when he says Putins assault on Ukraine is unjust. He compared that aggression to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, where Donald Trump supporters, whod been lied to by their former president, tried to stop the certification of the 2020 election.

Schwarzenegger first took issue at Putins claim that his armys goal was to de-Nazify Ukraine  where the president is Jewish.

De-Nazify Ukraine? he scoffed. This is not true.

Schwarzenegger emphasized that it was Putin, not Ukraine, who started the war.

This is not the Russian peoples war, he added.

The former California governor  dubbed The Governator because of his hit film The Terminator  then rolled video showing civilian targets that have been devastated by Russian artillery. Schwarzenegger also told viewers that it wasnt just Ukrainians being killed in Eastern Europe.

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[ President Trump takes more shots at 'Apprentice' successor Arnold Schwarzenegger, rips 'FAKE NEWS media' ]

I regret to tell you that thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed, he said.

He also told Russians that their country has been isolated from the rest of the world because of its leaders actions.

So I urge the Russian people and the Russian soldiers in Ukraine to understand the propaganda and disinformation youre being told, Schwarzenegger said. I ask you to help me spread the truth.

He signed off asking Putin to end the war and told protesters in Russia that they were his new heroes, much the way strongman Vlasov had been.
If you already subscribe to our print edition, sign up for FREE access to our online edition. Thanks for reading The Henderson News.
Ken Branca

San Antonio's first responders had a busy St. Patrick's Day as firefighters and police headed to several scenes overnight.

The San Antonio Fire Department rescued a male and female in their 30s along with their 5-month-old baby from their vehicle after it was hit by a Sedan turning onto Ingram Road. The collision caused their vehicle to roll over onto a sidewalk around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 17.
By day, Dmytro Kovalskyy, an organizer from nonprofit Ukrainian San Antonio, works and partners with local businesses to raise funds that will help send over urgent care medical supplies to Ukraine. Around midnight, Kovalskyy makes calls to create connections with people in Ukraine who need supplies and can transport their packages.

"There are no pleasant evenings anymore," Kovalskyy told MySA. "This is how our life is now."

In 2015, Ukrainian San Antonio started its nonprofit to preserve Ukrainian culture and provide charitable assistance to Ukraine. When Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February, Kovalskyy said peace ended for them and the group. They started brainstorming on the fastest way they could provide aid.

Since they began, the group has secured over $250,000 in donations. With the funds, the organization has purchased many of its medical kits and supplies from B&E Medical Supply and Equipment. The female-owned company specializes in trauma care supplies such as bleeding control kits, tourniquets, trauma packs, eyewash, and bandages.

Ternell Washington

While Ukrainian San Antonio has purchased the supplies through donations, B&E Medical Supply and Equipment owner Belinda Hernandez told MySA they also donated birthing kits and sanitization products to the order after Russia bombed a children's hospital and maternity ward in Ukraine.

"We are thankful they contacted us and that we are able to provide everything they had on their list in large volume," co-owner Ernest Hernandez said. "We've also had private citizens come to us, asking for kits and how they can help. It's been amazing to see."

Ukrainian San Antonio is sending the supplies via trucks as Ukrainian officials have called to enact a no-fly zone over their country. The measure aims to prevent Russian planes from providing material support for their forces and discontinue the bombings of civilian areas, according to Fox News.

Ternell Washington

Kovalskyy said a member drives to New Jersey where they have freight companies that deliver their supplies to Poland. The packages are then delivered to the Ukrainian doctors and hospitals Kovalskyy has spoken with prior. He said it takes about a week to get everything there.

"Our goal is to provide safety to civilians one way or another," Kovalskyy said. "For us, the final goal is for people to remain alive."

Kovalskyy said he wants to help in any way he can, but the Russian invasion hits home for him as his twin brother decided to stay in Kyiv and defend his homeland. Kovalskyy, who came to the United States in 2011, said his brother's wife and four kids fled Ukraine to Poland for refuge. Since the war started, Poland has welcomed over 1.8 million refugees, according to CNBC.

Ternell Washington

Along with his brother's family, Kovalskyy said his mother-and-law and many other family members have fled to Poland. He said it's been extremely challenging trying to bring his family over to the United States. One of the other main things they are trying to accomplish is to bring awareness of how this war affects all of us.

"It's not a remote war. It's a war against all of us," Kovalskyy said. "I don't feel secure and you shouldn't feel secure anymore. This is a full-scale war. We have to help bring in full-scale support from international communities and regular businesses. We are really happy to see the response so far. It shows we are not alone, but we will keep sending as much as we can."

If you want to donate and help, Kovalskyy said you donate through their Facebook page or click here.
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

A federal jury has awarded a University of Texas at Austin engineering professor $3 million after finding the school discriminated against her based on her sex and the fact she was pregnant prior to being considered for tenure.

Evdokia Nikolova, who still works at the university as an assistant professor in the electrical and computer engineering department, was awarded $1 million for past pain and suffering and $2 million in future damages, plus $50,000 in back pay and benefits last week by a federal jury in Austin. The judge in the case must still approve the verdict.

Nikolova applied for tenure during the 2018-2019 academic year after working nearly five years at UT-Austin and two years at Texas A&M University. In her lawsuit, she stated she had been told that her teaching experience at Texas A&M could be counted toward her total time as a professor, which is not UT-Austin policy.

Despite Nikolova being unanimously approved for tenure by the Cockrell School of Engineering, Sharon Wood  the current UT-Austin provost and former dean of the engineering school  denied the tenure request arguing that Nikolova did not have requisite years of teaching to be considered for it.

Tenure requests typically occur after a professor has taught for seven years. Wood pointed out that Nikolova had taken a probationary extension and modified instructional duty for pregnancy and childbirth during the 2015-2016 year and therefore was making the request too early.

Probationary extensions allow male and female assistant professors who have a new child an additional year during tenure review period. Professors who have a new child or adopt a child can take modified instructional duty, which allows them to not teach for a semester.

[I]f this were an up-or-out case, I would likely agree with the recommendation of the Promotion and Tenure committee. However, Dr. Nikolova is being considered for promotion at UT Austin two years early.

An up-and-out policy, with specifics that can vary by institution, is when a person is required to be considered for tenure and it is either awarded the distinction or the professor is removed.

Nikolova filed the suit against UT-Austin in 2019.

Bob Schmidt, a lawyer for Nikolova, said he is pleased the jury sided with his client.

Discrimination against women and mothers is still real in our society in general, Schmidt said. If discrimination goes unchecked, if it's just allowed to be looked over at UT-Austin  which is one of our state's most powerful, big institutions and universities  then it can happen anywhere.

UT-Austin did not respond to The Texas Tribunes request for comment.

In a statement to the publication Inside Higher Ed, the university said it will continue to examine ways to improve our processes and will implement any required steps to comply with the verdict. In court documents, the university denied it treated Nikolova unfairly.

It is not clear if UT-Austin will appeal the decision.

Nikolovas suit pointed out that in the period since she first interviewed at the university, nine male professors had received tenure while both women, including her, who went up for tenure in the same time period were denied.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Correction, March 16, 2022: In a previous version of this story, the UT-Austin Cockrell School of Engineering was misspelled
Dear patient readers,

Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war  both real fog and stage fog  in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked.

And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request. We have written site Policies and those who comment have accepted those terms. To prevent having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting comments down entirely until more sanity prevails, as we did during the 2015 Greek bailout negotiations and shortly after the 2020 election, we are going to be ruthless about moderating and blacklisting offenders.

Yves

P.S. Also, before further stressing our already stressed moderators, read our site policies:

Please do not write us to ask why a comment has not appeared. We do not have the bandwidth to investigate and reply. Using the comments section to complain about moderation decisions/tripwires earns that commenter troll points. Please dont do it. Those comments will also be removed if we encounter them.

* * *

Cats on Glass Tables Reddit has the internet purring NY Post (NL).

The King of Block Trades Is Entangled in a U.S. Probe of Morgan Stanley Bloomberg

John Podhoretz, You Suck Matt Taibbi, TK News

Climate

#COVID

Meet the hard-core maskers who never leave home without an N95 Boston Globe (KLG25). The propaganda campaign against masking  whose whole point is to protect the air, a commons used by all, from contamination by a lethal pathogen  is so unspeakably vile. (I also dont know where this face covering locution came in. It sounds technical  or rather, bureaucratic  but its wrong. Eyes, last I checked, were part of the face. Masks dont cover the eyes. The stupid, it b-u-r-r-r-n-n-n-n-s-s-s-s!!!!!) With mask mandates easing, experts say choosing to wear one may be seen as making a statement CTV

China?

Vietnam and the Russian ties that bind them Globe_

India

UK/EU

New Not-So-Cold War

Biden Administration

Democrats en Deshabille

Supply Chain

Health Care

Massive digital health system for veterans plagued by patient safety risks, watchdog finds WaPo. A digital system? Surely not.

Police State Watch

Gunz

The Second Tragedy of Sandy Hook Slate

Imperial Collapse Watch

Anglican Church Abuse Investigation: Some Alleged Victims Support Bishop The Roys Report. These episodes keep happening. And in institutions that are, to many, deeply meaningful, even spiritually nourishing.

Everyday Magic in the Middle Ages Medievalists

Zeitgeist Watch

How Bones Communicate With the Rest of the Body Smithsonian

A List of Foods with the Highest GABA LiveStrong.com (dk).

Determining Exactly Which Word Is Musically Stressed In the First Line of the James Brown Song I Feel Good Laughing Squid. Holy moley, the dance moves:

Its Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Antidote du jour (via):

The image comes from Chris Arnade in Lima, Peru. (He seems to be talking walking tours of cities around the world.) I like Arnades photography a lot. He has a real eye for the median. Which isnt all that normal.

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here
MATSAPHA  Its worse than they thought!

This is what is happening to the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) workers regarding the non-remittance of their deducted monies to financial institutions and other organisations like medical aid schemes, pension funds and life insurance policies. The National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI) President, Samuel Shongwe, informed their members that the UNESWA Pension Fund Board of Trustees had given them a report that by March 31, 2021, the fund was operating with a deficit of E192 million. This transpired during the workers meeting held at the entrance/exit door of the UNESWA administration block at Kwaluseni Campus, where they discussed the matter of marching to the university Chancellor, His Majesty King Mswati III. The president added that since these figures were in a report of the 2020/21 financial year, which ended on March 31, 2021, the deficit could be higher now.

Benefits

On top of that, Shongwe said the fund was no longer able to pay terminal benefits and other packages of members who resign from work, retire or die. He said the Board informed them that in order to be able to pay the packages, they had to disinvest from some of the funds investments. This publication reliably gathered that the fund has investments in the Kingdom of Eswatini and in South Africa and that over the past two years, it had disinvested about E50 million to pay packages of members who resigned from work, retired or passed on. It was also reliably gathered that this affected about 955 members, which include approximately 680 active members and 275 pensioners.

When the president was addressing the workers, he said they needed to fight this matter tooth and nail because if they failed to do so, they might go home empty-handed when they retired, resigned or their beneficiaries could get nothing if they died. He said this was because the fund was having a deficit of E192 million and was disinvesting, which meant that sooner or later, there could be no investment to disinvest from.

Thereafter, the workers said they want the university to sanction the bursars office because the stop order letter they submitted to it was clear that it should deduct so much and remit it to which organisation. However, the bursars office decides to deduct the money and use it to pay operational costs of the university, to like utility bills, among other things, the workers said. On the same note, an impeccable source within the fund said even though the non-remittance of monies to the fund by the university contributed immensely to the deficit, there could be other factors which could be contributors.

The insider also highlighted that following the challenges, the Board of the fund met with the pensioners and active members separately. UNESWA Pension Fund Acting Principal Officer (PO) Ntokozo Mazibuko confirmed the latest developments. He mentioned that indeed things were not going well in the fund. However, he said for the past eight months or so, the university had been trying to pay monthly contributions for its workers to the fund. But, I should state that still, the institution is behind with many months as the contributions received by the fund last month (February 2022), were for November 2020, the acting PO said.

Pensioners

He said while this was happening, the fund was also expected to increase monthly pay for the about 275 current pensioners. It is worth noting that the workers, through their union, NAWUSHI, have petitioned the university several times about the matter of non-remittance of monies deducted from their salaries, but there had been no positive feedback. As such, in November 2020, they reported the matter, among others to Parliament, through a petition.

Due to the non-remittance of their deducted monies to financial institutions, the workers said this prevented them from getting loans and they were being charged interest on arrears.

Again, they said such a situation had resulted in huge financial and emotional stress for the workers. They also said they were further denied their basic human right of accessing health facilities by the non-remittance of stop orders to medical aid schemes. They added that what they were told was that the university was failing to remit the monies because it had cash flow challenges and government usually gave it a subvention of E350 million, yet its budget was around E900 million. As such, they said they asked Parliament to increase the budget allocation for the university to meet its obligations.
Yves here. On the one hand, we think its important that as many people as possible pile on to criticize the sorry record of Jeffrey Zients as Covid czar. However, the czar post in American politics is usually a poisoned chalice, even before getting to the fact that term will like be retired because Russia.

While this site has attempted to be on the forefront of Covid reporting on the actual science (versus the science) and policy fronts, we never pretended to have policy influence. By contrast, one has to wonder where these vocal Zients critics have been all this time.

Lambert confirms that (with all due respect to Justice is Global) there has only the most muted and indirect criticism of Zients while in office, and even then not by anyone with clout.

And we are only going from bad to worse, with the downtrade to Browns Dr. Ashish K. Jha no doubt reflecting the official Administration posture that Covid is over. As IM Doc said by e-mail:

We have now replaced a lying corrupt Bond villain with a moronic cipher. I cannot remember a single thing this man has been correct about. And I will always remember the glee with which he pounced on the unvaxxed. This is really bad news.

And KLG:

Indeed. He has struck me as a bag of wind since the beginning. Glad to know I was correct.

By Brett Wilkins. Originally published at Common Dreams

Progressives on Thursday welcomed the announcement that Jeffrey Zients will step down as White House Covid-19 czar, with the head of a leading consumer advocacy group accusing him of failing the world by refusing to challenge Big Pharmas monopoly control over lifesaving vaccines.

The New York Times reports Zients, a former corporate executive and director of the National Economic Council, will be replaced next month as White House coronavirus coordinator by Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and a practicing internist.

Zients has been the target of numerous protests by activists, some of whom called for his termination over his lack of scientific and medical experience, his record as a private equity executive, and his failure to take on Big Pharma during the pandemic.

Jeff Zients failed and the world paid the price, Robert Weissman, president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said in a statement Thursday.

WIN! After months of campaigning, thousands of petition signatures and two vigils at US COVID Coordinators Zients house. https://t.co/1GN8RKo58q  Justice Is Global (@justiceisglobal) March 17, 2022



Johanna Kichton of Peoples Actionwhose Justice is Global project staged multiple demonstrations against Zientssaid that he:

Dissuaded governors from issuing mask mandates during the current Covid-19 surge;

Killed the White Houses own [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] regulation that would have provided paid quarantine and isolation for most U.S. workers;

Failed to address massive shortages of affordable rapid tests and KN95 [masks]; and

Led the White Houses insufficient approach towards addressing inequitable vaccine access globally by prioritizing corporate handouts and donations.

All of these policies directly led to the current omicron surge and hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths and infections, in the U.S. and around the world, said Kichton.

Zients promoted a vision of the US govt that looks the other way while the vulnerable are swamped by Covid, doing one thing (vaccines) more or less right for 65% of Americans. The white and rich, as always, served first and most carefully. Let's hope @ashishkjha does better. https://t.co/4e4BSUvC0w  Zackary Berger (@DrZackaryBerger) March 17, 2022



Public Citizens Weissman said that despite promises that the U.S. would be a vaccine arsenal for the world, the United States and rich countries refused to share vaccine technology with developing countries and failed to deliver sufficient vaccines.

The vaccination rate among low-income countries is 14%about one-sixth the rate in rich nations, he added. And even those data disguise the extent to which people in poorer countries are receiving less efficacious vaccines.

Weissman continued:

Zients refused to pay appropriate attention to global solutions to the global pandemic, because of political concerns or otherwise. And the Zients-led Covid response refused to challenge Big Pharmas monopoly control, in the U.S. and globally, over technologies that relied crucially on public support. As a result, the United States and other rich countries failed to expand vaccine supply sufficient to meet global need.

Responsibility for this failure is widely shared among nations, but the United States has a singular leadership role in global health; it has unique capacities and thus responsibilities, and a special duty to lead the worlds response, he added. Under the leadership of Covid coordinator Jeff Zients, the United States failed.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Thursday called Jha an excellent choice and a highly qualified public health advocate who will lead with reason and compassion.

Weissman said that Jha will face major challenges as he takes the helm of the U.S. Covid response, including a misguided perception that the pandemic is behind us.'

As a seasoned public health expert and advocate, we look to Dr. Jha to lead the White House effort to fight the worldwide pandemic with far more vision and ambition than his predecessor, he added.
My Nashville Post role has evolved since 2000 when I joined the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister publication in 2008 (when I began doing some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have been managing editor of the Post since late 2011.

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(Natural News) In a recent episode of The Ben Armstrong Show, host Ben Armstrong discussed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that points to an alarming 84 percent increase in deaths recorded in millennials after the vaccine mandate was enforced in the United States.

The data, which was examined by former BlackRock portfolio manager-turned whistleblower Ed Dowd, showed the all-cause mortality rates among millennials who were vaccinated against Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Armstrong warned that if the vaccines were safe, death rates in 2021 would have gone down or stayed the same on average after people got vaccinated.

This suggests that coronavirus vaccines are linked to the recorded deaths among millennials vaccinated during the pandemic. Even natural disasters dont come close to the catastrophic  number of deaths among millennials, said Armstrong. Wars are the only thing that could produce this amount of fatalities, he added. (Related: CDC sued for hiding COVID vaccine safety data.)

An alarming report on millennial excess mortality

Dowd, whose Twitter account was recently suspended for seven days, revealed that he worked with an insurance industry expert to analyze the CDC excess deaths data.

But while Dowd and the expert were looking for something else, they stumbled upon something shocking. The expert first broke down the data by age, then he created baselines for each age group to determine excess mortality.

According to Chart 4, the millennial age group (adults aged 25 to 44) experienced a whopping 84 percent increase in excess mortality into the fall. Dowd noted that this was potentially the worst-ever excess mortality in history.

The data showed that millennials saw the highest increase in excess deaths of any other age group, particularly because of the vaccine mandates imposed upon them so they could keep their jobs. Excess deaths among millennials was seven times higher than the Silent Generation, or adults aged 85 and above.

Chart 4 detailed when the mandates were enforced and people were told to get COVID-19 boosters. The vaccinations accelerated into fall, then it re-accelerated into the end of the year.

Basically, you see that millennials experienced 84 percent excess death in the fall and winter of 2021. So excess deaths accelerated when mandates and boosters hit, Dowd said.

And this age group is important because theyre healthy. And you cant say that they, you know, miss their cancer screenings. This is ages 25 to 44. So this is just devastating evidence that the vaccines are causing this age group to die at an accelerating rate.

Based on the data, starting in the summer and going into the fall, which was when the mandates and the boosters were given, there were at least 61,000 excess millennial deaths.

According to Dowd, the millennials experienced a Vietnam War in the second half of 2021. At least 58,000 people and U.S. troops died in the Vietnam War over the course of 10 years, and this generation just experienced something similar to the Vietnam War within the last six months, he said.

Dowd issued a warning to the public: be wary of democide, which means death by government.

Amid the pandemic, the government has killed countless people by enforcing draconian rules and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Visit Vaccines.news for more news related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below to learn about vaccine effects in autopsies of the vaccinated.

This video is from the Red Pill channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

British MP: Scale of COVID vaccine damage a NIGHTMARE.

Pfizers COVID vaccine causes miscarriages, stillbirths.

Dr. Peter McCullough: One COVID vaccine death is too many.

Florida surgeon general: COVID vaccine risks OUTWEIGH benefits for healthy children.

CHD says Pfizer and FDA dropped data bombshell on COVID vaccine consumers.

Sources include:

TheNewAmerican.com

LewRockwell.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Veteran war correspondent Michael Yon has warned that there will be famines around the world.

The food crisis hasnt hit us yet. But it will. I mean, at this point, the conditions are set. There will be famines. I dont know exactly where, I dont know how big, I dont know how long theyre gonna last or the impacts now, Yon told host Ann Vandersteel during the March 14 episode of Steel Truth on Brighteon.TV.

But I am saying with high confidence that theres going to be famines. More famines than normal, certainly starting in places like Africa. Large famines also create pandemics and wars create mass migrations. And so in addition to fertilizer and other inputs being cut, and prices skyrocketing from fuel, were gonna see supply chains cut. The fact is, the music is about to stop, and theres not going to be enough calories to go around. And so some people are just going to starve to death. And I think its going to be beyond a mere food crisis. It is going to be actual famines.

Famine is a severe and prolonged hunger in a large portion of the population of a region or country, which results in widespread and acute malnutrition and death by starvation and disease. (Related: As current events continue to devastate our food supply chain, biblical warnings of famine, starvation, food production and food storage apply heavily to us all today)

Famines are a result of human intervention, acts of God

The writer-photographer and former Green Beret said that famines are usually the result of clear human intervention like wars and the normal acts of God that are going to occur like droughts, hurricanes, wildfires or earthquakes.

And Yon believes that America is on the precipice of a famine by around Christmas time this year.

In a previous interview, Yon told Vandersteel that by the end of 2022 or 2023 a lot of people on the planet will starve to death.

So within a year and a half, say two years, its fitting all the compass needles are pointing to famines. I dont know where theyll be. I dont know how theyll play out. But famines then lead to more pandemic and famines lead to more war. So all these things feed into each other. And thats whats happening now, Yon said at the time.

Vandersteel took note that people really need to start stocking up. She added that the American government is still exporting food while other governments are now hoarding food, including China, which has been hoarding for two years. The Brighteon.TV host said that this catastrophe is going to happen and prepping is key.

American truckers want freedom of choice

Yon also talked with the Steel Truth host about the American Truck Convoy that started in Barstow, California and ended in Washington DC.

The war correspondent said that he joined the convoy to look at the supply chain issues, as well as the production issues, which he said are a huge deal especially with the conflict going on in Ukraine.

He said the truckers have done an incredible job from California and all the way to Maryland and Washington DC. He noted that the truckers obviously want freedom of choice and they dont want to be forced into taking the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines which he said are clearly killing huge numbers of people.

Yon mentioned that the over 61,000 excess deaths among millennials last year are connected to the fake vaccines, and that Thailand is already issuing money from the government for people damaged by the vaccines. The photographer-writer added that he had warned his office personnel in Thailand about taking the vaccine.

Follow Starvation.news for more news related to the coming global food crisis.

Watch the full March 14 episode of Steel Truth below. You can catch new episodes of the program every weekday at 9:30-10:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Soaring fertilizer prices to spark global famines unseen in modern history.

Russia-Ukraine conflict hits global fertilizer supply, threatens food security for billions of people.

Years ago, Russia gave up on supporting a domestic seed supply and food security policy now a catastrophic famine is all but inevitable.

World Alternative Media: Global food shortage is part of Great Reset agenda.

Russia-Ukraine war will further worsen global food shortage as poor nations face starvation, unrest.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Britannica.com

MichaelYon.com
(Natural News) Dr. Francis Boyle, a human rights lawyer and professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law, says NATO is using Ukraine to surround Russia with biological laboratories and biological weapons to use against them. In an interview with Owen Shroyer on Infowars, Dr. Francis Boyle said the United States government and the Pentagon have put policies in place over several years to preposition biological weapons at Russias doorstep. In the interview, Dr. Boyle accuses Dr. Tony Fauci, Francis Collins and CDC director Rochelle Walensky of war crimes.

Biden regime desperately trying to protect Nazi death cult of bioweapons engineers

The Biden administration has denied that these biological activities are taking place at all, and the official US embassy website removed several facts sheets about the construction and funding of the US Department of Defense biolabs across Ukraine. The administrations ministry of propaganda (the corporate media and Big Tech) now claim that any mention of biolabs in Ukraine is conspiracy theory. However, the Obama-Biden administration spoke openly about biological activities in Ukraine at a previous Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Symposium. Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs testified at a US Senate hearing that the biolabs do exist, and she is worried the contents of the lab will fall into the hands of the Russians. The Interim Central Reference Laboratory, a level three bio-safety lab, opened in June 2010 in Odessa, Ukraine.

Russias Ambassador to the United Nations brought forth evidence at a UN Security Council, alleging that the US is operating at least thirty different biolabs in Ukraine, which contain enhancements on highly infectious bacteria strains, coronavirus, plague, anthrax and use bats and fleas as vectors of disease spread.

Dr. Boyle says we must resist medical tyranny and hold death cult scientists accountable

Dr. Boyle did not mince words in the interview, when he labeled Drs. Fauci and Collins international-transnational Nazi biowarfare death scientists. We have an international-transnational cult of Nazi-biowarfare death scientists like Tony Fauci who has been up to his eyeballs in this [since] or Reagan. When I got involved in this around 1983 or 84, Reagan put Fauci in charge of our offensive biological warfare weapons program, and that is how long he has been there, said Dr. Boyle.

He said that Fauci and Francis Collins (former head of the NIH) funded the research that led to covid-19, that offensive biological warfare, weapon, with gain-of-function properties. Dr. Boyle said Collins and Fauci are part of a network of Nazis who operate around the world. Yes, its a cult of these people, including over there in China as well  that Wuhan bat queen. She was trained at the Galveston BSL-4 down there in Texas, which is again, part of the offensive US biological warfare industry. The British are a part of this, the French, the Israelis. So, we have a network and a cult of Nazi biowarfare death scientists.

Dr. Boyle said these death scientists profit from the lockdowns, coercion, suppression of treatments and from the so-called cures  the forced vaccines and harmful protocol. We have to resist this Nazi medical tyranny by these death scientists like Fauci, Walenskywe can go through a whole list of these people. They take patents on this technology beforehand, every step of the way, so they can benefit on both sides of the bargain, where they can benefit and make profits off the biological warfare weapon itself and then on the alleged vaccines or therapeutic. So, they got us coming and going and making a killing off of us as they go to the bank.

If Russia intends to shut these biolabs down, Dr. Boyle said Russian troops cant just blow the labs up. Russian biological warfare experts must secure these sites, because they are extremely dangerous to the world. In the early 1990s, the US military contaminated their own troops with Gulf War sickness after ordering their troops to blow up labs in Iraq. Today, the vilified Russians are in a unique position to hold transnational bio-terrorists accountable.

Watch the full interview:

This video is from the Info Wars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A recent report revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been training the Ukrainian military since 2015. The program sought to prepare the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a potential conflict with Russia, its bigger eastern neighbor.

An unnamed former senior CIA official confirmed the training program to Yahoo News, which was launched after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted. A select group of CIA paramilitary personnel were deployed to the Donbas region in 2015 for a two-fold purpose. Their first mission was to determine how the intelligence agency could best help train Ukrainian soldiers to fight against the Russians and their allies in the separatist region.

The second mission was to test the Ukrainians backbone  and the CIA personnel said that their counterparts in the eastern European country were indeed ready for battle. The former CIA official said: The question was, Are they going to get rolled, or are [they] going to stand up and fight?'

According to the former intelligence official, the CIA paramilitary members taught their Ukrainian counterparts several key skills for irregular warfare. These include sniper techniques, operating U.S.-supplied equipment such as Javelin anti-tank missiles, evading digital tracking used by the Russians, using covert communications tools and remaining undetected in the battlefield. The Ukrainians were also taught how to draw out Russian forces and their separatist allies from their positions.

We tried to really focus on operational planning, then really hard military skills like long-range marksmanship. Not just the capacity to do it, but to know how to do it on a battlefield  [so] to really deplete the leadership on the other side, said the former official.

U.S. officials previously denied that the CIA training programs in Ukraine were offensive in nature. The purpose of the training, and the training that was delivered, was to assist in the collection of intelligence, a second official said back in January. However, the first intelligence officials revelation of the skills taught to Ukrainian military members were exactly aligned with offensive maneuvers. (Related: Ben Swann outlines 3 REASONS why US involvement led to the war in Ukraine.)

CIA aware its presence in Ukraine could escalate tensions

The CIA believed that its presence in Ukraine was a powder keg that could trigger a major conflict with Russia. The first senior official explained: Everything we did in Ukraine had a chance to be misinterpreted, and escalate the tensions. One miscalculation, one overzealous paramilitary guy, and weve got ourselves a problem.

The agencys paramilitary staffers were clearly instructed to advise and train, but do not take part in combat yourself. According to the first intelligence official, the Ukrainians already have very effective special operations and the CIA personnel were only there to make them more effective.

A third former national security official, however, mentioned that the Trump administration was walking a fine line over the presence of CIA paramilitary members in Ukraine back in 2017. While they were prohibited from engaging in combat as per instruction, the parameters of their mission  first ordered under the Obama administration  were ambiguous. The third official mentioned that the White House was worried over the repercussions of both American paramilitary agents killing Russians and Russians capturing CIA operatives.

The third official said: We worried that the authorities might be too far-ranging. How far can you go with existing covert action authorities? If, God forbid, theyve shot some Russians, is that a problem? Do you need special authorities for that?

The CIA paramilitary training program for Ukrainians operated for years, but immediately came to a halt. The Biden administration pulled all CIA personnel out of the country as the threat of a large-scale Russian invasion loomed. Paramilitary personnel responsible for training Ukrainian soldiers in unconventional warfare were among those recalled.

Find more related stories when you visit DeepState.news.

Watch the video explaining the extent of the CIAs involvement in Ukraine below.

This video is from the Truthchannel channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Deep state neocon admits that Ukraine has biological research facilities, sets stage for false flag to be blamed on Russia.

CIA front group hides records showing tens of millions paid out to Ukrainian puppet government.

Perhaps the US should shut the f**k up about respecting other countries sovereignty.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

News.Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The biggest fascist gang in the world, the United Nations, have voted in favor of forced hatred for Russia. Countries and nations that deny their hatred of Russia will be denied vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), so they can all supposedly die of infectious disease for having dissenting opinions.

One such country that will suffer the consequences of not hating everything Russian is the South Asian country of Bangladesh, which is just east of India and happens to be the most densely populated nation on Earth.

The Bangladesh populace will now lose nearly half-a-million doses of COVID-19 vaccines that cause blood clots, myocarditis, new cancers, and the suppression of anti-tumor genes. Take that, says the UN. Lithuania has since held up the shipment of blood-clotting, gene-mutating injections that were about to be transported to Bangladeshs population of over 160 million.

The worst part is that Bangladesh did not even vote against the UN resolution to hate everything Russian, they simply abstained from voting either way, so their silence is being punished. The UN needs to burn a scarecrow to try to frighten any other nation that dare deny that the Russians are the most evil force ever and are ready to try to help Trump steal another election, kill millions of innocent children in a peaceful neighboring nation, or something like that.

Hate Russia, or DIE from lab-made biological warfare disease, says the UN

Welcome to the show. Its Blame Russia Part II, in case you havent seen any news in the past month. First, we were all supposed to believe that Trump and Putin got together and fixed the 2016 election for Trump, while ruining Hillarys chances by exposing all of the insane Clinton corruption.

Now were all supposed to HATE Russia again, after the US bombed, invaded and occupied Iraq and Afghanistan, wars that lasted 10 and 20 years, with nothing to show for them but death, destruction and trillions of wasted dollars laundered by the politicians, who went to war over false pretenses. The Iraq war was to steal their oil, and the Afghanistan war was to steal their heroin for Big Pharmas opioid painkiller apocalypse.

Oh, but now you should hate Russia for invading a small country thats adjacent to their own, forget about the USAs lies and deception about foreign wars we started, and if you dont, well then, NO VACCINES for you! This is really a gift in disguise, since the Coronavirus clot shots decimate the human vascular system by clogging it with sticky spike proteins and Microsoft-navigated nano-bots.

Ukraine is the ultimate HUB for all corrupt things Biden, and thats why the UN wants everyone to hate Russia so badly

The Ukraine is not just a breadbasket for sunflower, barley, corn and wheat, but also for Democrat corruption, including crack-head Hunters money-laundering deals, child trafficking, illegal weapons deals, and other political corruption. Plus, its also a hub for bioweapons labs that create novel infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2 and AIDS. In fact, the US and UN are currently in the process of destroying all evidence of these bioweapons labs right now. Thats really why fake news and the communists in Washington DC want you to hate Russia so much, right now.

United Nations General Assembly voted 149 out of 193 to condemn Russia for doing what the USA does repeatedly

The Global cabal of nations wants to bully Russia into not bullying Ukraine, while concealing the fact that the Ukraine is the ultimate hub for all things corrupt linked to the Biden Administration.

They are demanding immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, while the U.S. just left Afghanistan (a.k.a. the Heroin War) after flogging their natural resources at the cost of the lives and health of our own military. Now, if you dont agree with the UN, your nation could be next to be deprived of the Fauci Flu shots. Sounds like a good plan.

Tune your internet dial to Vaccines.news for updates on experimental scamdemic COVID vaccines and boosters that cause blood clots and other horrific side effects.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com 1

MSN.com

DailyExpose.uk 1

DailyExpose.uk 2

NaturalNews.com 2

Naturalnews.com 3
(Natural News) For years, the West has pushed green energy policies that seek to eliminate all reliance on fossil fuels. The problem is that wind, solar and other renewables are unsustainable, ironically enough, when it comes to meeting the needs of modern society.

The biggest problem is that electricity is an on-demand resource, meaning it has to be generated and used immediately, otherwise it disappears. This is problematic at times when there is no wind to spin the turbines, for instance, or no sunlight to hit the solar panels.

No amount of incremental wind and solar power can ever provide energy independence, explains the Watts Up With That? blog. Electricity gets consumed the instant it is generated. Electricity is consumed all the time, and therefore must be generated all the time.

Indeed, some of the peak times for electricity consumption occur on winter evenings, when the sun has set, temperatures are very cold, the wind is often completely calm, and the need for energy for light, heat, cooking and more are high. During such times, a combined wind and solar generation system produces zero power. It doesnt matter if you build a thousand wind turbines and solar panels, or a million, or a billion or a trillion. The output will still be zero.

The green push is a de-industrialization push that will end modern society as we currently know it

The Ukraine conflict is highlighting not only the need for fossil fuels, no matter how much leftists hate them, but also the need to utilize as many fossil fuels domestically as possible.

Reliance on foreign countries such as Russia to provide a steady flow of natural gas and oil is unsustainable in the event of a war, which is what much of the world now faces as politicians and the corporate-controlled media push for World War III against Vladimir Putin.

The United States and North America as a whole is fully capable of generating most, if not all, of its oil and natural gas needs domestically. The problem is that left-wing extremists, including those currently occupying the White House, will not allow it.

They shut down the Keystone XL pipeline project, which has increased Americas reliance on foreign fuels. That decision, coupled with the current crisis overseas, is driving up already inflated fuel and commodity prices.

Sure, the U.S. is pushing more solar and wind farms. But again, these are not reliable and will only cause long-term problems, should the country go the way of Germany in trying to eliminate all fossil fuel use in the future.

A fully wind / solar generation system, with seemingly plenty of capacity to meet peak electricity demand, will also regularly and dramatically underproduce at random critical times throughout a year: for example, on heavily overcast and cold winter days; or on calm and hot summer evenings, when the sun has just set and air conditioning demand is high, the Watts Up With That? blog adds.

And thus it is time for a roundup of recent calls for massive building of wind and solar facilities in order to achieve energy independence.

Since combined solar and wind generation facilities regularly produce no power at times when it is needed most, this conversion to renewable energy spells disaster for modern society. At best, these systems will always need to rely on fossil fuel backups systems, or some kind of storage system  or both.

If it is taken as given that the whole idea is to move away from fossil fuel backup, then everything comes down to storage. A fossil-fuel-free system based on wind and solar generation is completely useless without sufficient storage to cover all times of insufficient simultaneous generation.

To keep up with the latest news about energy, be sure to visit Electricity.news.

Sources for this article include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Dr. Peter McCullough talked about the dangerous long-term effects of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injections during the March 15 episode of Zeee Media podcast with host Maria Zeee.

Alarming statistics are coming out of the United States: Female infertility saw a 472 percent increase and pulmonary embolism, 468 percent. Recent findings from Senator Ron Johnsons Second Opinion conference also saw ovarian dysfunction rise 437 percent, while testicular cancer rose 369 percent.

In the January 24 conference, there were over a dozen leading clinical scientists who treat COVID-19 in attendance. There were also vaccine developers, nurses, patients and attorneys. What the conference showed was that data is consistent across the board regarding the increase of adverse effects following vaccine injections.

There was also a very disturbing finding recently that showed the use of vaccines may give rise to the concern of vaccine-derived DNA, which may be integrated into the host genome and affect the integrity of genomic DNA and can potentially see toxic side effects.

If the messenger RNA stays in the body too long, its possible that considerable amounts of it could actually have the base pairs of DNA begin to line up against the messenger RNA and make the reverse code, McCullough explained.

In a process called reverse transcription, a hepatic cell line calls for the DNA code of at least part of the spike protein found inside the human nucleus and changes it in as fast as six hours after the vaccine injection. (Related: Studies confirm spike protein mRNA in COVID vaccines alters human DNA within hours after injection.)

McCullough said scientific circles have looked at this process carefully, and they believe that the middle segment of the DNA strand was transcribed almost entirely for the spike protein, which was transferred into the human nucleus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is no way that these genetic vaccines could change the human genome, but that is not true. McCullough said he and a colleague already published what they believed was going to happen based on the configuration of messenger RNA.

Were hopeful that theres gene editing and gene splicing and other corrective, you know, natural processes that can get rid of this messenger RNA, McCullough said, so as not to cause too much damage on the human genome, and to get the spike protein out of the body.

There are also other repercussions of DNA interference, however, depending on whether the insertion occurs in the chromosomes.

Swedish research shows RNA can be integrated into human cell genome

McCullough quoted the Alden paper, authored by Markus Alden from Sweden, which showed reversible hepatic effects in animals that received the vaccine. The study showed that the COVID RNA can be reverse-transcribed and integrated into the genome of human cells.

They investigated the effects of the vaccine on the human liver cell line in vitro and performed a PCR test on the RNA extracted cells. The team was able to detect high levels of the vaccine in the cells and changes in gene expression of the long interspersed nuclear elements, which is a form of reverse transcriptase. The fast uptake of the vaccine can transcribe the RNA intracellularly into DNA in just six hours upon vaccine exposure. (Related: Bombshell study: Pfizers covid jab contents enter the liver, alter human chromosomes and rewrite DNA.)

People like McCullough have been warning people about the negative effects of the vaccines for so long, but people felt the pressure and felt that they couldnt work unless they got the injections. However, it seems that people are finding comfort in the fact that they have avoided some of the potential health problems.

Fact-checkers have never been able to say that theres misinformation given because I simply quote the data, McCullough said about their insistence on the dangers of the vaccine. We have multiple data sources suggesting that the vaccines are backfiring. Some of the best data sets are coming out, and they are showing increasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Follow Vaccines.news for news related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines from Dr. Peter McCullough.

This video is from the KristallKlar channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Attorney presents evidence to Congress that COVID-19 vaccines are one of the greatest frauds in history.

Fast-tracked covid-19 vaccine alters human DNA, turns people into genetically modified property.

Covid vaccine spike proteins destroy DNA repair pathways, paving the way for CANCER to grow and spread.

Moderna CEO FUMBLES when asked about the presence of patented DNA sequence in Covid pathogen.

GENETIC HARVESTING: Covid testing firm admits to selling covid swabs containing customer DNA to third parties.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

MDPI.com
MBABANE- Thank you for trusting me.

This was said by Bernard Masotja Vilakati after the announcement of his appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) yesterday.

In his brief remarks after the announcement of his appointment, Vilakati thanked cabinet and His Majesty King Mswati III for trusting and further approving his appointment as CEO of one of the multibillion investments organisations in the country. Vilakati promised to serve the organisation with respect and diligence. I hope members of the fund will be happy with my work. I hope the ministry and country as a whole will support us. I hope the board will guide us where necessary, he said briefly. The new CEO stated that he had not prepared a speech as he was not aware of the opportunity to say a word after his appointment.

Meanwhile, Dr Lawrence Nsibandze who was appointed Director of Finance thanked the King for trusting him. He pledged to devote himself as he assumed his new position. In vernacular, Nsibandze said: Ngitawufaka emandla ngihloniphe onkhe amalunga. The appointment of the duo was announced by Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko in a press conference held at the Public Service Pension Fund offices yesterday. The minister described the new CEO (Vilakati) as someone who was well versed in the operations of the fund as he was previously the Director Investments from 2016 to date. Maseko stated that Vilakati was then tasked with the position of acting CEO from October 2021. This, the minister said was after the sudden and unforeseen death of the Chief Executive Officer Langalakhe Dlamini who died in August last year.

Maseko further revealed that Vilakati was highly skilled and richly qualified in management and financial markets with various qualifications, which included an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. The minister stated that Vilakati also worked at the Central Bank of Eswatini as part of the executive management as General Manager Finance and Financial Markets. He said there was a need to fill the CEO position, as it was responsible for the strategic and corporate leadership and management of the fund to fulfill its mandate. Maseko stated that the position reported to the Board of Trustees.

Professionalism

We congratulate you on your appointment Mphephetse, wena Wengwedze and we wish you all the best in your work. We are confident that you will lead the organisation and steer it towards greater success with sincerity, integrity and professionalism, Maseko said. The minister also announced the appointment of Dr Lawrence Nsibandze to the vacant position of Director Finance. Maseko mentioned that Nsibandze stood out as the main candidate because he had, among his long list of qualifications, a doctorate in Business Administration from the Atlantic International University. Maseko shared that Nsibandze was a full Charted Accountant with strong experience in working in the financial, banking corporate and public enterprise sectors.

The minister said the position of the Director Finance was very important because he was tasked with the responsibility to effectively manage the financial health of the PSPF by managing the budget, monitoring the performance of the investments, developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies. He said the position reported to the Chief Executive Officer.

We congratulate you babe Goje, Mdlanyoka for this appointment and we wish you all the best in your duties, he said. Nsibandze replaced the funds long serving Director Finance Farlie Mabuza, who left the fund on retirement.

Maseko stated that Nsibandzes appointment followed a transparent and rigorous recruitment process. The appointment of the duo was witnessed by the PSPF Board members staff and Board of Trustees. The minister also announced the former Eswatini Bank Managing Director Zakhele Lukhele and Phetsile Masilela, as new Board members. He said he was hoping that Lukhele and Masilela would contribute a lot to the fund as they held leadership positions in their former companies.
(Natural News) A doctor and researcher who has worked with multiple Big Pharma companies, including Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, said the entire pharmaceutical industry knew that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was coming and warned that worse things are on the way.

Dr. Christina Rahm, a medical researcher and health and wellness expert, is the founder of a health and wellness consulting company among other ventures. Before this, she worked in the world of Big Pharma.

During her time in the pharmaceutical industry, Rahm also experienced working with other Big Pharma companies like BioNTech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Biogen Idec, Alexion Pharmaceuticals and UCB. She worked as a clinical trial researcher, a medical researcher and as sales and marketing person.

From her experiences in Big Pharma, Rahm concluded that Pfizer and several other companies knew that a global biological attack like the coronavirus was near. (Related: Leaked top-secret Pfizer document shows COVID-19 vaccine is FAR MORE DANGEROUS than the world knows.)

In Pfizer, Rahm was regularly brought in to work on different special projects. Through that, I was just told we have to prepare because theres going to be biological warfare, and there will be viruses released in the future, she said, during an interview with Stew Peters on his show. So were gonna work on different things, like monoclonal antibodies and different kinds of vaccines.

Leak of COVID-19 from Wuhan lab may not have been an accident

In her time with Big Pharma, Rahm said her bosses told her and her colleagues that they needed to be prepared to launch multiple biological attacks in collaboration with different countries.

It would not be nuclear war, we would have to have different things like viruses and bacteria and fungus that would be released. So we had to be prepared for it, she said.

While Rahm is certain that Pfizer and many other Big Pharma companies had intimate knowledge of the coming engineered pandemic, she is uncertain whether Pfizer itself was responsible for releasing the coronavirus into the wider public in Wuhan.

The current understanding of COVID-19s origin is that scientists in the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in the city of Wuhan in central China accidentally leaked it while they were doing experiments on the virus, possibly including making it deadlier, more transmissible and more difficult to treat.

Rahms revelation does not disprove the lab-leak theory. But it does suggest that the leak may have been deliberate rather than accidental.

We were preparing [so] that we would have solutions for it, she continued. So that when it was released, we would be able to treat it.

Rahm warns of more pathogens to come

During her time working with Big Pharma, Rahm worked alongside officials from the multinational corporation Procter & Gamble. These officials told her to help them with solutions for different kinds of viruses because they said there will be multiple viruses.

While she was doing this work, several Chinese colleagues with intimate knowledge of the proceedings at the WIV tipped her off to the coming release of the coronavirus, and that there would be four to five different things that they said would be released.

Both Rahm and Peters warned that these pathogens will be released soon and can vary as to what kind of pathogens they are. They could take the form of COVID-19 vaccine-acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or VAIDS, or a disease could come from nanobots implanted into people through these same vaccines.

The presence of nanobots in Pfizers mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has been confirmed by other researchers. Other harmful substances that have been found in the vaccines include graphene oxide and even living parasites.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Watch Dr. Christina Rahms full interview with Stew Peters on the Stew Peters Show.

This video can be found in the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Recently released Pfizer document shows mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can cause 1,291 different adverse events.

Whistleblower: Pfizer FORGED signatures of trial participants, falsified and fabricated trial data.

FDA wants to release Pfizer vaccine documents slowly while attention is focused away from pandemic.

Pfizer admits in confidential document that COVID-19 vaccine causes Vaccine-Associated Enhanced Disease (same thing as Antibody Dependent Enhancement).

Pfizer has effectively dominated the COVID-19 vaccine market in Europe, raking in billions of dollars in the process.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NYPost.com

Orwell.city
(Natural News) Canadas CBC News has retracted a story it published containing falsehoods about the donors to the Freedom Convoy. But what good does it do now that the misinformation has already spread, resulting in escalated government tyranny against free speech?

CBC had falsely reported that the convoy was heavily funded by foreign entities, the implication being that foreign enemies and terrorists were funding the protests. It turns out that this was completely made-up.

Justin Trudeaus regime, however, took the false information at face value (or perhaps planted it there in the first place?) and used it as an excuse to seize peoples bank accounts and criminalize the convoy supporters.

Trudeau also seized the opportunity to invoke the Emergencies Act, granting himself dictatorial powers over the Canadian people.

The national broadcasters retraction, which is dated March 7, reads as follows:

On Feb. 10, 2022, in a report about the protest convoy, CBC Radios The World This Hour incorrectly said GoFundMe ended a fundraiser for the protesters over questionable donations to the group. In fact, GoFundMe ruled the fundraiser was in violation of their terms of service, which prohibits the promotion of violence and harassment.

CBC was already blaming Russia for the Freedom Convoy before Putin even invaded Ukraine

It turns out that CBC published not one but two bogus news stories falsely linking the Freedom Convoy to what one Twitter user described as shadowy intl puppet-masters.

But these conspiracy theories did their job  giving the government the cover it needed to pretend there was a national emergency, this same person wrote.

It was late January when the first fake news piece from CBC was released via its flagship political show Power and Politics. Not surprising is the fact that Russian actors were blamed for influencing the convoy.

CBCs assertion that made-up Russian actors could be continuing to fuel things  perhaps even instigating it from the outside was proven to be 100 percent false.

Keep in mind that this all occurred before Russias invasion of Ukraine, illustrating once again that the mainstream media loves to blame Russia for everything it does not like.

A few weeks after blaming Russian actors for the Freedom Convoy, CBC poisoned the minds of its readers and listeners once again by claiming that thousands of suspicious foreign donations had been sent to the truckers, and that this number might have only been a fraction of the total foreign influence.

This immediately provided Trudeau the cover he needed to invoke the Emergencies Act, which he quickly retracted following massive public outcry. A non-partisan group in the Canadian Parliament is now reportedly investigating the situation.

Both GoFundMe and another similar platform called GiveSendGo have debunked and renounced CBCs false claims. GoFundMe CEO Juan Benitez even testified before Parliament that almost 90 percent of the funding that came through that platform originated in Canada, and that the majority of the donations were small and personal, proving that the movement was grassroots.

GiveSendGo testified similarly after auditing its platform.

The deputy director of Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) also testified much the same thing before the House of Commons finance committee.

Dr. Jordan Peterson followed up with a tweet pointing out that CBC is directly responsible for Trudeaus invocation of the Emergencies Act. The fake news it spread destroyed many lives, not to mention the international reputation of Canadian banks, Peterson highlighted.

This means that the entire story [Justin Trudeau] told to justify the emergency was an utter lie, Peterson added. [CBC News] this is far beyond your normal hapless incompetence and borders on both the traitorous and criminal. Canadians should demand your defunding now.

More related news can be found at Hoax.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Despite being almost entirely vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), the country of South Korea saw 400,741 new cases of the disease pop up in a single day.

Senior health official Sohn Young-rae said the case spike is the last biggest challenge for South Korea before reaching herd immunity that would supposedly allow the country to go back to normal.

If we overcome this crisis, we will step closer to returning to normalcy, Sohn announced in a statement.

South Korea previously had some of the strictest restrictions and protocols for dealing with the Fauci Flu, all of which turned out to be a failure in terms of case numbers. This caused many members of the public to sour on the governments policies.

The country does, however, still have an 11 p.m. curfew for businesses in place, as well as a gathering limit of six people per private area. South Korea was one of the first countries to treat Wuhan Flu patients with oxygen therapy.

According to the latest data, nearly 86 percent of South Koreans are fully vaccinated for the Fauci Flu. This is among the highest rates of compliance in the entire world.

This alone should have resulted in herd immunity, if the World Health Organization (WHO) and its metrics are to be believed. And yet the exact opposite seems to be occurring as South Korea suffers through another wave of infections.

Their submission to the vaccine regime has not prevented their population from being stricken with the China virus, reported Big League Politics Shane Trejo about the revelation.

COVID jabs clearly dont work to prevent infection

Another country with massively high cases despite widespread jab compliance is Israel, which recently shattered its national record for the highest COVID case totals.

In one day, Israel saw more than 11,000 new cases of the Chinese disease, of which 719 are considered serious. Officials there expect serious cases to increase even more in the coming weeks.

I expect that morbidity will rise further, but I hope it will not be a new outbreak, said Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash to local media.

Once again, the jabs are failing in a country that has widely accepted them. And yet government officials are still maintaining coercive restrictions that punish those who remain unvaccinated.

Under the incredibly Orwellian Coronavirus Traffic Light System, physical classes for schoolchildren in grades 7 through 12 will be cancelled until an over 70 percent compliance rate with the vaccine is reached, reports indicated.

It is becoming undeniably clear that the jabs are a total failure all around the world, but almost no government officials are willing to step forward in condemnation of them.

The reason, of course, is that many of them receive kickbacks from Big Pharma, which has profited to the tune of tens of billions of dollars throughout the plandemic.

The vaccine regime is clearly backfiring, but no government leaders want to blame Big Pharma for this public health disaster, Trejo reported. It will only get worse with hundreds of millions of people enraptured by the mass hysteria propaganda.

The vaccine regime is nothing short of criminal, and Big Pharma and their bought-off toadies need to be put behind bars for what they have inflicted upon the world.

Instead of the injections, South Korea, Israel and every other country that pushed them would have been better off recommending oxygen therapy instead, and perhaps a little ivermectin on top of that.

Oxygen therapy cures many ailments, wrote a Natural News reader. It is the concept behind hyperbaric oxygen in healing skin ulcers.

The latest plandemic news can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) An American mercenary who managed to escape Ukraine warned other foreign fighters not to go to the country and join the war. He claimed that doing so is a trap with no chance of escape.

The American fighter revealed the grim truth in footage that went viral on social media. He shared that the Ukrainian authorities are sending foreign fighters to the capital Kyiv on suicide missions. Theyre trying to send us to Kyiv with no weapons, no kit [and] no [bulletproof armor] plates. The people who are lucky enough to get weapons are only getting magazines with 10 rounds, the American mercenary said.

When they wanted to send us to Kyiv, we said no. Our whole group  a bunch of Americans, Canadians and [Britons]. So they told us [that] we had to get out of there or theyll shoot us in the back.

He then shared how he and two other companions  another American and a British national  managed to leave the besieged country. They hid in the back of an ambulance, where they were dropped off five kilometers away from the border. The three continued their journey on foot, but were met with a whole other mess when they reached the border.

According to the mercenary, Ukrainian military officers were forcibly conscripting any male who has a military kit or any other military paraphernalia. They are pulling you out of the line and theyre sending you to the front, he continued.

The mercenary and his companions managed to leave Ukraine with the help of a humanitarian group that had British Special Forces veterans as members. The three were advised: You need to dump your [kits]. Theyre pulling out people, cutting their passports [and] sending them back. The three followed the advice, replacing their kits with Red Cross vests and humanitarian passes provided by the veterans.

People need to stop coming here. Its a trap, and theyre not letting you leave. I have multiple people who can confirm this story for me, he concluded. (Related: Ukrainian president calls for international foreign legion of volunteers to help fight off Russian invasion; Putin raises nuclear weapons readiness.)

Foreign casualties counted as Ukrainian deaths

The American mercenary in the viral footage revealed that he had earlier survived a Russian attack on their base. Our base got fed up, the base right next to us got fed up. Americans, British, tons of [them] dead. [Ukrainian authorities are] not saying anything, [but] theyre counting our dead as their dead, he said.

On the other hand, Russia has warned Western governments exhorting their citizens to join the war in Kyiv will be responsible for their death. Major General Igor Konashenkov, the spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, reiterated this in a March 16 statement. He added that Russia will not show any mercy to foreign fighters enlisting under the Ukrainian banner.

All locations of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine are known to us. I want to warn you again  there will be no mercy for the mercenaries, no matter where they are on the territory of Ukraine. All further responsibility for the death of this category of foreign citizens in Ukraine rests solely with the leadership of these countries, said Konashenkov.

While the American mercenary dissuaded other foreign fighters heading to Ukraine, he also offered a tip for those intending to leave the country.

The best way to leave is [through] a vehicle. People who [leave] by vehicle have a better chance of hiding their kit in the back. But do not try to leave Ukraine by foot.

Read more stories like this at WWIII.news.

Watch the American fighters testimony about foreign mercenaries in Ukraine below.

This video is from the Survive the News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warns World War III is about to begin.

War propaganda about Ukraine becoming more militaristic, authoritarian, and reckless.

MintPress study: NY Times, Washington Post driving U.S. to war with Russia over Ukraine.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

StrangeSounds.org
(Natural News) The field of mathematics is informed by white supremacy, according to Chad Topaz, founder of the Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (QSIDE). And the only way to combat this is to identify all suspected white supremacist mathematicians in order to put them on enemies lists.

Topaz, a math professor at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., is a self-proclaimed expert in antiracist teaching. He recently wrote an essay explaining why he believes his non-woke colleagues need to be surveilled and essentially punished for not embracing his ideologies.

The surveillance lists that Topaz is putting together are supposedly intended to study the racist views of his colleagues. And many of these colleagues are really mad about it, he says.

As of this writing, QSIDEs surveillance lists has more than 4,000 names lumped into 26 different categories based on whether or not they signed certain letters that oppose Topazs agenda, or if they belong to certain professional organizations that he does not support.

One letter that raises concerns about attempts to intimidate a voice within our mathematical community has 680 signatures. That one calls on the American Mathematical Society (AMS) to make a clear statement that bullying and intimidation have no place in our community.

The bullying and intimidation mentioned in that letter refers to an incident from back in 2019 when Topaz tried to get University of California, Davis math professor Abigail Thompson fired for her opposition to mandatory diversity statements.

Topaz funds [QSIDE] in part by giving donors the gift of diversity statement help from his organization, says Jerry Coyne, an emeritus professor of biology at The University of Chicago.

Thus, by promoting requirements for diversity statements, Topaz is also plumping for donations to his own organization.

Why are the worst fascists in society those who claim to be anti-fascist?

Thompson herself wrote an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal that calls out mandatory diversity statements for too easily becom[ing] a test of political ideology and conformity, which appears to be Topazs goal.

Chris from the Karlstack Substack says he tried to contact all 680 signatories of Letter B, of which 125 responded. He says their reactions ranged from mild amusement, to complete indifference, to anger, shock and disgust.

Many said that the point of this list was for Topaz to damage the career prospects of his enemies, Chris adds.

Anti-math extremism has been on the rise for years now. Back in 2018, for instance, Cacey Wells, a teaching professor at The University of Oklahoma, called for all gifted math classes to be abolished because not enough minorities are performing well enough to qualify, which Wells says makes the classes racist.

Topaz is on a similar crusade, though instead of abolishing certain math classes he is trying to abolish math professors with whom he politically and ideologically disagrees.

This is the very definition of fascism, which leftists like Topaz claim to oppose. Ironically enough, leftists like Topaz are the epitome of what it means to be a fascist.

Topaz recently deleted his Twitter account in shame after being exposed for manipulating data, meaning he is both an agitator and a liar. Topaz now has a new Twitter account that contains no trace of what he was caught spreading previously.

This country has gone insane, wrote someone at the Karlstack Substack.

Its MATH for crying out loud!!! Numbers! How can you claim math is white? Who gets the highest scores in math based on research and testing scores? Hint  its not us white people! The USA doesnt even crack the top 5 countries. Theyre all Asian countries.

More related stories can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

KarlStack.substack.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Australian media outlets are trying to dissociate the cardiovascular injuries suffered by vaccinated people from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, linking them instead to genetic mutations.

One reporter, Gabriella Rogers of Nine News, tackled this issue in one of her stories. She featured the tale of Sydney resident Liza Stearn, who experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). The condition involves a small tearing in the coronary artery, which causes a blood clot to develop.

The 41-year-old Stearn suffered a heart attack in 2015, but managed to survive. She told Rogers that it required lots of CPR for apparently over 40 minutes and seven shocks of the defibrillator before she stabilized. While Stearn did not experience any chest pain, she experienced warning signs such as a fainting feeling and a cold sweat.

According to the Nine News health reporter, a study done in the U.S. identified genetic mutations that weaken the collagens that make up blood vessels. She added that while SCAD causes about 25 percent of heart attacks in women below the age of 50, men are also susceptible to the condition.

Dr. Robert Graham of the New South Wales-based Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCRI) shared a case of another SCAD patient he encountered. The SCAD patient from Melbourne who was just under 40 years old had suffered from a severe heart attack.

Weve got some very interesting families now where we think we absolutely nailed the gene thats causing [SCAD], said Graham. He also described the U.S. study that attributed SCAD to genetic mutations as still early and meant for a very small number of patients. Still, Graham said it needs to be replicated.

Rogers mentioned that the VCCRI is casting the net wider by taking gene samples from a list of 400 SCAD patients and using sophisticated techniques to determine other mutations responsible for the condition.

Experts say finding an underlying cause of the condition is crucial, as up to 30 percent of cases are likely to have another heart attack, she added.

Is SCAD the new name for damage caused by the spike protein vaccines?

The timing of the Nine News report about Stearn coincides with the emergence of reports about COVID-19 vaccine damage. The shots have been found to cause the formation of clots in the blood vessels, mainly attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein used in them. (Related: BIOWEAPON: New study reveals spike protein in coronavirus vaccines responsible for adverse reactions.)

Texas cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough pointed this out during his conversation with Del Bigtree of The HighWire. He said: Everyone understands these blood clots in the body are a bad thing. The spike protein is incontrovertible; it causes blood clotting. Every single study shows that the spike protein damages endothelial cells.

People have a hard time figuring out  is it the virus with the spike protein, or the spike protein alone? Can it damage things? Just the spike protein alone. Does it damage cells? Does it damage the heart? Does it cause blood clotting? The answer is yes.

McCullough mentioned how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the COVID-19 vaccine travels throughout the entire body, damaging different organs. The spike protein, after vaccination, is traveling in the body in whats called exosomes or small phospholipid packets. [They] move in the body independently.

The cardiologist also cited findings by long-haul COVID specialist Dr. Bruce Patterson, who guested in the formers program The McCullough Report. He told Bigtree: I asked Bruce what [he was] seeing, [and] he said: Im seeing the S1 and S2 [segments] in vaccinated people for as long as I can observe them  months.' According to Pattersons best estimate, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein would most likely stay for more than a year.

Visit VaccineDamage.news to read more stories like this.

Watch this video about SCAD and how COVID-19 vaccines play a role in the condition.

This video is from the Katy Odin channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

If the spike protein facilitates entry of a gain-of-function coronavirus into cells, then why are we coerced to submit to spike protein-generating vaccines?

UNZ.com: Research game-changer: Spike protein increases heart attacks and destroys the immune system.

Dr. David Martin: COVID-19 an intentional weaponization of the spike protein  Brighteon.TV.

South African doctor: Severe COVID an allergic reaction to SPIKE PROTEIN nanoparticles.

Vaccine researcher admits big mistake, says spike protein is dangerous toxin.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

ABC.net.au
(Natural News) Throughout the summer of 2020, tens of thousands of Michigan residents began protesting Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers enduring COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions as they struggled to earn a living while she and members of her government never lost one dime in salary and benefits.

Protesters  some of them armed  demonstrated all over the state, including at the capitol building in Lansing.

Since all of this was taking place amid the backdrop of the 2020 presidential race, the left-wing propagandists posing as journalists at the various mainstream media outlets blamed those protests (and others) on dangerous, racist white nationalists associated with President Donald Trump.

As that narrative spread for months, the FBI was secretly working behind the scenes to entrap right-wing Michigan militia members in a plot to kidnap Whitmer, summarily arresting 14 people in October of that year.

In playing her role, Democrat Whitmer said at the time that two militia groups were preparing to kidnap and possibly kill me. Her Democratic, partisan attorney general, Dana Nessel, chimed in as well, telling NPR that multiple white supremacy groups and militia groups have been acting in accordance with one another.

And naturally, both of these partisan lunatics blamed Trump. And again, so did the propaganda media.

The Nation published a story in the wake of the alleged kidnapping attempt headlined, Trump Keeps Inciting Domestic Terrorism.

Esquire, meanwhile, published a piece titled, Donald Trump Is Ramping Up as a Public Menace, in which writer Jack Holmes concluded the president is fueling a dangerous political environment.

And so on. Meanwhile, if you recall, it wasnt Trump supporters who were rioting, looting, burning and attacking police that summer: That was BLM and Antifa thugs.

In any event, within months, the FBIs claims began to fall apart: Not only was the so-called plot itself riddled with inconsistencies and hard-to-believe twists, but it was also obvious that the bureau had simply fabricated another crime with another entrapment operation, its modus operandi in the era of inventing domestic terrorism.

The suspects have since gone to trial, however, which began last week on a shocking revelation.

At the opening of the trial last week for four of the men charged, defense attorneys made a stunning claim: Not only did the FBI entrap the accused, but an FBI informant plied the suspects with drugs, the Western Journal reported this week.

Just the News noted further that FBI agents and sources used illicit drugs and parlor tricks to illegally entrap their clients.

The outlet continued:

The trial of Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft Jr., Adam Fox, and Daniel Harris began Wednesday as federal prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered opening statements in the domestic terrorism case.

The men are charged with plotting to kidnap the Democrat governor in 2020 over what they considered her overreaching COVID-19 restrictions.

And while two other suspects have already pleaded guilty to this bogus conspiracy, lawyers for the four remaining suspects are pointing fingers at the grotesquely dishonest FBI for inventing this plot out of thin air to entrap Americans who could then be used as political weapons against Trump.

An attorney for Croft, for example, argued the FBI had decided to pursue the case as a Terrorism Enterprise Investigation whether  they got the facts or not.

In addition, defense attorneys attempted to characterize their clients as simple braggarts who were never capable of carrying out the wild plot the FBI set up for them, especially kidnapping a sitting governor from one of the countrys most populous states and then blowing up a bridge near Whitmers home to prevent law enforcement from catching them.

Truly, this is the stuff of bad Hollywood movies. And lets face it, the FBI is nothing but a politicized entrapment agency these days. It should be disbanded.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

NPR.org

WesternJournal.com
(Natural News) Newly leaked documents show that Barack Hussein Obama (aka Barry Soetoro) led the charge during his White House occupation to seize control over Ukraines Soviet-era bioweapons facilities.

Obama reportedly converted these antiquated facilities into biological threat reduction laboratories, though many allege that they are actually biological weapons facilities.

The National Pulse got the scoop on the reports and documents, which show that Obama played a key role in outfitting the Ukraine-based biolabs to handle especially dangerous pathogens (more on that is available in our earlier report).

One of the now-deleted reports shows that one such biolab was opened in Odessa, Ukraine, under the Nunn-Lugar framework. Planning for this facility began back in 2005 when Obama was still an Illinois senator, and he reportedly worked with fellow Sen. Dick Lugar, a Republican, to usher the project through the build-out process.

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar applauded the opening of the Interim Central Reference Laboratory in Odessa, Ukraine, this week, announcing that it will be instrumental in researching dangerous pathogens used by bioterrorists, reported BioPrep watch in a now-deleted post.

The level-3 bio-safety lab, which is the first built under the expanded authority of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, will be used to study anthrax, tularemia and Q fever as well as other dangerous pathogens, the report added.

Lugar himself explained that the continuing cooperation of Nunn-Lugar partners throughout the process has improved safety for all people against weapons of mass destruction and potential terrorists, in addition to advances in the prevention of pandemics and public health consequences.

Has the U.S. government been surveilling the risk of biological attacks or planning them?

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency issued a Broad Agency Announcement in March 2015 that delves deeper into what supposedly went on as part of the U.S. governments Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (C-WMD) (that announcement was amended in January 2019).

A section about the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP), a component of the Department of Defenses (DoD) Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program, discusses the danger to U.S. and global health security posed by the risk of outbreaks of dangerous infectious diseases, whether natural or manmade.

Consistent with the national and departmental strategies, CBEP strives to address this risk by promoting best practices in biological safety and security, improving partner country capability to safely and rapidly detect and report dangerous diseases, and establish and enhance international research partnerships that focus on informing the disease surveillance network, that section further explains.

The document goes on to outline methods of disease surveillance, partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and other elements of disease creation and spread. The details presented sound a whole lot like what would happen later in 2019 with the advent of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

Russia says U.S. continues to build bioweapons in Ukraine

None of this would have been possible had Obama and Lugar not laid the groundwork for it in 2005 by entering into a partnership with Ukrainian officials to take over the laboratories where biological weapons are studied, and more than likely also created.

Lugar and Obama also helped coordinate efforts between the U.S and Ukrainian researchers that year in an effort to study and help prevent avian flu, one of the reports obtained by the Pulse explains.

The Nunn-Lugar Act, which established the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, was established in 1991, that same report adds.

Since that time, it has provided funding and assistance to help the former Soviet Union dismantle and safeguard large stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

The Pulse also cited a 2011 report from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Committee on Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High-Containment Biological Laboratories that explains how the Odessa-based laboratory specifically is responsible for identifying especially dangerous biological pathogens.

Obama and Lugar together traveled to Ukraine around that time as part of a Senate oversight delegation tasked with ensuring that this and other weapons sites were secured.

The two met in Kiev with President Victor Yushchenko, making the case that an existing Cooperative Threat Reduction Program covering the destruction of nuclear weapons should be expanded to include artillery, small arms, anti-aircraft weapons, and conventional ammunition of all kinds, a 2014 DailyMail Online (U.K.) report revealed.

After a stopover in London, the senators returned to Washington and declared that the U.S. should devote funds to speed up the destruction of more than 400,000 small arms, 1,000 anti-aircraft missiles, and more than 15,000 tons of ammunition.

Obama claimed at the time that the CTRP successfully disposed of thousands of weapons of mass destruction. He also received $48 million in federal funding to destroy thousands of tons of guns and ammunition, leaving Ukrainians defenseless against a Russian invasion.

Now, Russian authorities are claiming that the U.S. took over the Soviet-era bioweapons labs and started producing its own there.

The Pentagon built two biowarfare labs and they have been developing pathogens there in Kyiv and in Odessa, claims Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who compared the presence of these biolabs in Ukraine to the U.S. Weapons of Mass Destruction program allegations levied against Iraq in 2003 as a pretext to the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein.

The Russian Federation had good reasons for conducting a special military operation to demilitarize Ukraine, added Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma Committee on International Affairs and a member of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukraine.

More related news coverage can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

BeckerNews.com

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com

MsrdConsortium.org
(Natural News) In an interview with Naomi Wolf, of the Daily Clout, investment advisor Edward Dowd discussed why investors are dumping COVID-19 vaccine makers stocks.

(Article by David Marks republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org)

Dowd, a former managing director with BlackRock from 2002 to 2012, grew BlackRocks growth strategy from $2 billion-$14 billion over 10 years.

Wolf introduced Dowd:

Hes the extraordinarily kind of courageous, well-informed whistleblower who has come forward to explain to audiences why in his view, Pfizer has committed a fraud.

Dowd described how his initial caution about taking the experimental COVID vaccine led him to research data related to Pfizers clinical trials.

Dowd told Wolf:

I learned from a friend in the biotech industry that Pfizer had failed its all-cause mortality endpoint in the initial trial  All-cause mortality is the gold standard in any drug trial at the FDA. When you fail that endpoint, the drug is not approved.

When Big Pharma and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were unwilling to release vaccine safety data, Dowd grew even more skeptical about the vaccines, he said, and was compelled to speak out privately and publicly about what he believed was a major deception:

I got more loud about fraud when the FDA decided to hide the clinical data for 75 years. Im an investor, so let me just say how I think about the world. I dont wait for people to tell me what just happened. My job was to come up with an analysis, mosaic and investment thesis, and then over time Id be proven right.

So I dont wait for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal or The Washington Post to tell me anything. Because by the time that happens, the opportunity to make money is lost. So I started screaming fraud as soon as I saw that  because its unprecedented to hide data from the public.

It was a report from the CEO of a major life insurance company that confirmed Dowds doubts:

If this vaccine was as deadly and injurious as we thought, wed see the insurance companies and the funeral home results. These are databases that arent being hidden from us by the government. So, unfortunately, in early January, a signal was launched by One America.

The CEO didnt really know what he was saying or the implications of it  because he didnt think it was the vaccine, but he got on a Chamber of Commerce call in Indiana, and he said that in the second half of 2021, he was seeing a 40% increase in all-cause mortality  non-COVID. And to put some meat on those bones, a 10% increase he said would be a three-standard deviation [increase], which in math in my world is a big deal.

Dowd described the impact on the financial world and on his current work:

Wall Street is listening to me now because theyre nervous and a lot of them are jabbed as well. And if you look at the stocks of Moderna and Pfizer, Moderna is down 70% and Pfizer is down 20 plus percent.

So my goal has been to raise consciousness across the country and the globe, by pointing out that even though the mainstream media is not going to save us  and it doesnt seem like the politicians or the regulators are, because theyre in on it  we have to spread the word.

Wolf asked Dowd about the repercussions of his public position:

One of the things youve said, unequivocally, not mincing words  this is fraud. So if you are not right, thats actionable, I believe, and Pfizer and Moderna could come at you with a libel suit or a slander suit. But I believe that has not happened yet. Will you speak to that?

Dowd replied:

I dont have a medical license to take away. I dont have a bar license to take away. Im an investor. And throughout the history of Wall Street, investors have what we call a thesis. So I present this as a thesis  Im a hundred percent convinced its fraud. Ive laid out my case and its starting to appear, its coming to light that it is, but I can say this is freedom of speech. They can sue me if they want. I dont suspect they will.

Dowd said hes been waiting for a hit piece on me, but there havent been any yet. He said because what hes presenting is an investment thesis, hes protected under free speech laws.

Heres the problem, Dowd said. The proof of the fraud is showing up in real-life results. And that is becoming undeniable and impossible to hide.

Watch the full interview here:

Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org
(Natural News) Researchers have looked into the science behind the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and why the governments endorsed tests and mandates are flawed.

The standard PCR tests that were used to diagnose COVID-19 since 2020 have been controversial since its release. Some suggested that the swabs, which have been carried out millions of times, detect common colds and flu and think its COVID. Others think they were just picking up people who werent even infected.

A research charity called Collateral Global, as well as academics at the University of Oxford, concluded that as many as one-third of all positive COVID cases may not have been infectious. If they are right, this could be translated to roughly six million cases in the U.K. alone.

The Oxford scientists branded the U.K.s testing programs, which cost a staggering two billion pounds ($2.63 billion) a month, as chaotic and wasteful.

Today, testing will only be routinely offered to patients when they come into hospitals or other clinical settings, as well as the vulnerable population. PCRs will still be used to track the spread of the virus in the community, and if there is a resurgence, then the numbers will dictate policy.

The effectiveness of the test is complex and far from a consensus at this point. Collateral Globals figures have been disputed, and others say that while non-infectious positives did distort the numbers, it was by a minimal amount. Still, others dismiss the notion that testing played a vital part in fighting COVID.

How do PCR tests work?

PCR tests detect tiny fragments of COVID RNA in samples taken from the nose and throat. The swabs are treated and analyzed in labs to extract their genetic material.

With such tiny amounts of RNA on the swabs, it needs to be amplified in a machine before it can be detected. This is done by repeating a cycle of heating and cooling, which encourages the material to make copies of itself. The more times the cycle is performed, the more likely it is for the machine to detect the virus. (Related: Coronavirus RT-PCR tests are being used to mislead people amid the pandemic, says health expert.)

This technique has been used for non-COVID viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis. Sometimes, it is also used in crime scene forensics when looking for DNA. Essentially, the test is very good at working out whether a genetic code is in there or not.

However, this is not the same for COVID. The problem is that dead fragments of a virus could linger up to 90 days, increasing the chances of having false-positive results.

Experts believe those who tested positive for COVID-19 but were asymptomatic or barely affected are less likely to transmit the virus, but many governments around the world still ordered them to isolate.

Another concern is in how these tests were performed. With the government wanting to perform over 100,000 tests a day and farming out the work to newly established networks.

In 2021, with testing scaled up further and more of the tests were farmed out to the private sector, the tests were no longer standardized, with many saying testing has become a money-making exercise. (Related: High-cycle PCR tests do not properly diagnose covid-19, were weaponized to terrorize nations and deprive personal liberties.)

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates about COVID-19.

Watch the video below to know more about how COVID-19 has been propped up on faulty data and propaganda.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

PCR tests and the rise of disease panic.

The CDC admits: PCR tests cannot differentiate between CORONAVIRUSES.

EXPOSED: China stockpiled PCR tests many months before first covid case emerged.

CDC admits PCR tests are a fraud so what about the last two years, then?

SCIENCE FAIL: Portuguese court rules PCR tests are unreliable, unlawful evidence of alleged Covid-19 infections.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CollateralGlobal.org
Xinjiang Residents' stories tell of human rights progress

Xinhua) 13:58, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Residents from northwest China's Xinjiang have shared their life and career stories to show the all-round progress of human rights in the autonomous region.

On Thursday, representatives of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region attended a press conference held in Beijing via video link, in response to the groundless allegations on Xinjiang by some countries at the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

EXERCISE OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

Hornisa Qadir, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, has just returned from Beijing after attending the NPC's annual session. She is a senior agricultural technician in the city of Turpan, famous for the local grape industry.

After years of efforts of Hornisa Qadir and her colleagues, Turpan grape varieties have been improved, and the production process has been mechanized and standardized.

Nearly 40 percent of local farmers' income comes from grapes, raisins, wine, and other related industries. "The grape industry has become a pillar industry for farmers to increase their income," Hornisa Qadir said, adding that she will continue to perform her duty as a national lawmaker.

Ilzat Zada, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and deputy director of the Xinjiang regional health commission, said he prepared several suggestions, including one on improving health service at primary levels.

"I hope that governments at all levels will increase investment and train more qualified doctors at the township and village levels," Ilzat Zada said.

"Xinjiang has adhered to a people-centered development approach and practiced whole-process people's democracy," said Xu Guixiang, spokesperson for the regional government.

In Xinjiang, all ethnic groups enjoy equal status, participate in state affairs, manage local affairs and exercise democratic rights regardless of their population, history, development level and differences in customs, Xu said.

ANTI-TERROR AND DE-RADICALIZATION

Patigul Qasim is a graduate of Moyu County's former vocational education and training center. In 2010, she opened a dessert shop in the county. Due to the influence of the extremist ideas of some customers, she was distracted from managing her business and had to close the shop in the end.

She even often lost her temper and quarreled with her family members. "My mother worried about me and persuaded me to go to the center for training," she said.

In the former center, she realized that the extremist thoughts were wrong and harmful for herself and others. She learned new skills in dessert making.

After graduation, she again opened a dessert shop. Now she owns two stores with a total of ten workers.

"The education and training center pulled me out of the quagmire of extreme religious thoughts. It gave me a new life and changed my destiny," said Patigul Qasim, who wants to open a new branch in the city of Hotan.

In the face of the threat of terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang has carried out counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts under the law and effectively curbed the frequent occurrence of terrorist activities, said Xu.

No terrorist cases have been reported for the past five consecutive years in Xinjiang.

"A real happy life is the greatest human right. Respecting and safeguarding human rights is not a verbal commitment but a real action, not a blank check but real investment," said Xu.

"Xinjiang is tranquil and peaceful. Those small bunch of countries should not try to make troubles and creat chaos," he warned.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
MBABANE  Our children cannot even take wives because womens beauty is hidden behind these face masks.

This was said by Senator Chief Ngalokhulu yesterday during the sitting of the Ministry of Health Portfolio Committee debate of the ministrys annual performance report in Parliament.

Bantfwa betfu solo abatsatsi nekutsatsa abawaboni emantfombatane kungenca yalamamask, said the senator, which can be loosely translated to; Our sons have not been able to take wives as yet because they are hindered from seeing the beauty of females due to these face masks. The senator decried the lack of adjustment in the regulations pertaining to the use of face masks. Senator Prince Mphatfwa, in his submission, also questioned the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi, through the Chairperson of the committee Isaac Magagula, as to when the nation would be freed from the wearing of masks.

Isnt there a way the regulations on wearing masks can be reviewed? More especially for us who have vaccinated and have also proceeded to receive our booster shots? he asked.

He further said other countries such as Ireland, had recently removed the regulation of wearing masks and others were also contemplating on following suit and had already proposed plans to do so. The prince said it was worrying that the vaccination numbers were decreasing and the population which had vaccinated stood at 29 per cent. What is the ministry doing to counter the decrease in vaccination numbers? As we speak, some vaccines were destroyed because they had reached their expiry date, meaning less and less emaSwati are showing enthusiasm when it comes to vaccinating, he said.

Senator Prince Hlangabeza also questioned what the minister was doing to avoid having to destroy the vaccines by ensuring that more people were vaccinated. It should not be the ministrys responsibility only to motivate people to vaccinate, but this should be a collective effort along with the citizenry, said the senator. He also raised a concern on whether the country had enough machines for dialysis, as he mentioned that he had heard on radio that not all regions had this machinery. In response, the minister said the country was not ready to stop the wearing of masks because the worldwide set target had not yet been reached. She said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had set vaccination targets at 10 per cent in September 2021, 40 per cent in December of the same year and 70 per cent in June this year.

However, the country has not reached the set target of 80 per cent, which allows for the removal of the regulation of compulsory use of masks. Other countries which have removed this regulation, such as Ireland, have reached their target, hence they no longer require wearing masks, she said. The minister further said they had engaged neighbouring countries concerning the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test requirement for cross-border travelling and currently that was the only issue on the table. In these meetings the countries considered trial runs on the removal of the PCR test requirement to cross borders, where Botswana recommended to pursue this because they are way ahead in terms of vaccination. It is also worth noting that other countries such as China are back on lockdown after a rise in cases of COVID-19. Eswatini also eased its regulations recently where we allowed more movement, so the sure measure in place now is the compulsory wearing of masks to ensure less transmission among the population, she said.
(Natural News) Around the turn of the 20th century, Americans began switching from consuming animal fats to using processed vegetable oils, thanks to the machinery of the industrial revolution. Cottonseed oil was used to run agricultural machines before fossil fuels were discovered. Around that time, Procter and Gamble (P&G) figured out the hydrogenation process, a way to use the cotton seeds for food. Cottonseed oil also became a key ingredient for P&Gs formula for their soap industry, because it was cheaper than coconut oil and palm oil. The coagulated oil looked just like lard, so P&G marketed it as Crisco. It was said to be digestible. Who knew? Free cookbooks using Crisco as the base oil were handed out across the nation, and moms everywhere took the bait  hook, line and sinker.

Seed oils: Margarine and Crisco marked the beginning of the poly-unsaturated fat wave and the rise of heart disease in America

Today, most seed oils are GMO. That means they have weed-killer residue on them, also known as glyphosate. Glyphosate is a known carcinogen and has been linked to cancer and kidney failure in tested lab animals. These oils are cooked at high heat, which leads to oxidation. Oxidation damages vital molecules in human cells, including proteins and DNA. This leads to cell malfunction (cancer) and cell death.

The seed oils are then processed using deadly chemicals like hexane, a vapor constituent of gasoline and crude oil. More chemicals are used to eliminate rancid odors and to give them a clear color (deceptively healthy look).

Heart disease in the early 1900s was barely existent. Then came the popularity of these processed seed oils. By the mid-1900s, P&G literally paid the American Heart Association (AHA) $1.5 million to promote Crisco as a healthy alternative to animal fat, the same way that Big Tobacco paid the American Medical Association (AMA) to promote cigarettes as healthy for digestion (and recommended by thousands of doctors).

Degenerative heart disease caused by seed oils took decades to even scratch the surface of science and consumer awareness

Heavily processed industrial food stuff oils were marketed as healthy even into the late 1960s, when scientists and the AHA had already figured out they were horrible for the heart and blood. Low-quality, poly-unsaturated oils are found in almost every processed food item in America. Its no wonder obesity, dementia, heart disease, diabetes and cancer are so prominent here. Check your chips, cookies, bread, baked goods, salad dressings and mayonnaise, for starters. Its almost impossible to order food at a restaurant and avoid these deadly oils.

Fryers at restaurants get clogged up when seed oils cool and coagulate. Imagine whats happening inside your blood vessels. They become polymerized, like the drain pipes at restaurants. The FDA joined in the corruption, calling these oils generally recognized as safe (GRAF) for decades, all the way until about 10 years ago, meaning the FDA has recommended that Americans consume UNSAFE food stuff for decades.

Avoid corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil whenever possible

Choose olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil instead of the FDA-recommended death trap oils. Since olive, coconut and avocado oils dont need all that industrial processing and chemicals to process, they dont do the chronic damage to your system, like the others. Simply choose a saturated fat or animal fat for cooking food instead.

Americans who take the advice of our regulatory agencies are the sickest people in the world. These are folks who get heart disease in their 40s and 50s and need triple-bypass surgery just to continue living. People who get cancer tumors and polyps in their colon cant seem to figure out why, and their medical doctors blame their genetics and hereditary lineage. Its absurd.

Until medical doctors begin giving proper advice to their patients about avoiding processed seed oils like the plague, Americans will continue to suffer at the hands of the Big Food Oil industry. Canola oil is the absolute worst of them all. Canola oil is made from rapeseed oil and was used to kill bugs before it was made into food stuff. Canola oil is Canadas biggest export, and they barely eat it themselves!

Most of the advice coming from the AHA, AMA, CDC and FDA is based on corrupt science, buried science, warped science and outright lies. Sure, America is a great country because we have the freedom to choose what we speak, print and eat, so make wise choices, and read the labels on everything you eat, drink, put on your body and use to clean your home and/or office. Become the smartest consumer you know, and you can avoid all those preventable diseases suffered by two-thirds of our countrys consumers.

Tune your truth news internet connection to foodsupply.news for updates on skyrocketing prices for oils you shouldnt even be consuming anyway.

Sources for this article include:

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com

FoodSupply.news
(Natural News) Most sane people the world over reject neo-Nazism in all forms and certainly would not lift a finger to fight for a country that harbors and encourages neo-Nazism.

One such country that does permit the existence of neo-Nazism is Ukraine, oddly enough, which is partly why Russian President Vladimir Putin chose to invade rather than negotiate with Ukrainian leaders. Ukraine, of course, came under attack during World War II and was largely overrun by Nazi Germany, so it is alarming to see the country tolerate such a hateful ideology.

In any event, the global left claims to also oppose Nazi ideology. In fact, leftists frequently accuse (falsely) their right-leaning political opponents of being Nazis (though Hitler clearly was a left-wing, anti-liberty authoritarian). And yet, leftists have flocked to Ukraine to fight on behalf of that country.

But many are meeting an untimely demise, thanks in no small part to their stupidity, as Newspunch reports this week:

As if traveling to a warzone to engage in combat for an army riddled with Neo-Nazis wasnt foolish enough, the leftists proved themselves worthy of the 2022 Darwin Award by posting clout-chasing selfies on the internet for the whole world to see  including the Russian military.

Ukraine President Zelenskyy announced last week that 16,000 foreign fighters have been recruited to serve in Ukraines Foreign Legion, however, given recent events it appears the foreign fighters may represent a liability rather than an asset for Ukraine.

These foreign fighters are breaking a key operational security (OPSEC) rule that the U.S. military and most other professional militaries around the world follow: Dont post incriminating or revealing information on social media because the enemy is watching.

During World Wars I and II, there was a saying: Loose lips sink ships  the idea being that revealing too much information publicly about U.S. and Allied troop and force movements would be used by the Axis to attack and kill our personnel.

The same principle applies today to social media: Dont reveal anything about who and where you are.

Violating that rule may have caused nearly 200 foreign fighters to lose their lives in a recent attack by Russian forces on a Ukrainian training base where many of the foreign fighters were stationed.

According to a Reddit post titled, Tell the Ukrainian soldiers and foreign volunteers to stop posting their face all over the Internet:

The war might turn in an unfortunate direction where you have to walk by the occupiers on some days and fight them on other days.

You are a resistance movement. Stop showing your faces to the occupiers.

China employed mass facial recognition to crush the Xinjiang resistance movements. It would be trivial for Russia to deploy Chinese mass facial recognition tech in the cities they are occupying.

Please stop f**king posting your own faces. You should continue to post Russian losses for morale boosting the Ukrainian resistance. But please mask up yourselves or have someone blur your faces before posting that.

Indeed, Russia is targeting these left-wing foreign fighters because President Vladimir Putin has declared that everyone helping Ukraine is fair game.

The destruction of foreign mercenaries who arrived on the territory of Ukraine will continue, said Russian Defense Ministry representative Major General Igor Konashenkov.

On the morning of March 13, high-precision long-range weapons attacked the training centers of the Ukrainian armed forces in the village of Starichi and at the Yavorovsky military training ground, Konashenkov said in a briefing, according to RIA.

As a result of the strike, up to 180 foreign mercenaries and a large consignment of foreign weapons were destroyed, Konashenkov continued, Russian newswire Interfax reported.

At these facilities, the Kyiv regime deployed: A point for the training and combat coordination of foreign mercenaries before being sent to the areas of hostilities against Russian military personnel, as well as a storage base for weapons and military equipment coming from foreign countries.

Only a leftist would see this deadly conflict like a video game.

Sources include:

NewsPunch.com

NewsTarget.com
A major rainfall triggered flooding in Birmingham, the "seat" of Alabama's most populous county, in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama.

AccuWeather forecast shows that the large amount of rainfall descended in the city around 3-4 PM EDT hour, Wednesday. The surge of floodwaters in the afternoon hours lead to multiple road closures and serious travel issues throughout the area.

The hardest-hit areas of the intense rain were in the southwest sector of the city, namely the neighborhoods of Oxmoor and Huntington Park. AccuWeather meteorologist Danielle Knittle said that the downpour was a result of a low-pressure area gradually moving through the Southeast, which also previously caused local severe thunderstorms throughout parts of central Florida.

"However, closer to Birmingham, showers and thunderstorms blossomed right under the upper-level low and, with little wind aloft, these storms moved very slowly and trained over the same area," Knittle said. "Torrential downpours over this small area quickly led to radar estimated totals of 1.5 to 3 inches of rain in a very short period of time."

Road trouble ahead





Travellers are advised to stay away from the affected areas around that time and "avoid travel in downtown Birmingham," the National Weather Service (NWS) of Birmingham announced. The weather service warns for floating cars, impassable roads, and multiple water rescues as flooding reports persist in the area.

In addition, service departments of Birmingham Fire and Rescue and Birmingham Police already responded to "nearly half a dozen" water rescues, according to Birmingham ABC 33/40 News.

BFRS Captain Orlando Reynolds told CBS42 news channel about the response for over 20 water-related calls in Wednesday afternoon, eight of which were actual rescues. This includes the rescue of a 60-year-old man who is currently in a critical condition after being pulled from the water by bystanders near the Southtown area of the city.

Also read: Shooting Stars! What are They and How Rare is it to Spot Them?

Flooding in an area that "doesn't normally flood"

Floodings from the potent downpour even reached Birmingham's Crestwood, "an area that doesn't normally flood," according to Birmingham resident, Ben Blackerby. "Can't believe flash flood warnings haven't been issued yet. It's gotta be worse in other places," he added.

The campus of University of Alabama at Birmingham was also severely flooded as caught on local resident Andy Rains' phone. The university's emergency management division released a statement about flooding on the campus:

"Campus is experiencing flooding in some areas. Please remain weather aware and do not drive through standing water. Multiple Blazer Express routes are affected. Expect delays."

Other major flooding includes the intersection of Highway 79 and Springdale Road and Shades Creek in Homewood.

Accuweather estimates more rainfall coming to the central and northeast portions of the city at night, except the intensity should be manageable. "The heavy downpours have weakened and lingering showers in the area early this evening will taper off and slowly move off to the east," Knittle said.

The night sky is expected to "clear some through the first part tonight before some areas of low clouds and perhaps even some patchy fog form overnight," he noted.

Related article: Satellite Reveals Arctic Ice Melting at "Frightening Rate" Due to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A rainbow-colored species dwells on the twilight reefs of Maldives. They are found in extremely deep coastal areas and are magnificent variegated freshwater fish. Distinct variety on the fish was misdiagnosed as a highly allied type for generations, recently outlined by specialists.

Rainbow-Colored Fish

In a news report posted under Science Alert, the rose-veiled fairy wrasse also known to the term Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa is similar to the red velvet fairy fish (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis), which is distributed throughout the western Indian Pacific.

As per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, all these taxa dwell on moderately thick coastal areas, which extend far further than typical tropical coastal ecosystems, this is approximately 100 and 490 feet underneath the sea's crest.

Experts have initially gathered the C. finifenmaa in 1990, then a creature was also then discovered afterwards, and although its resemblance to C. rubrisquamis, the authorities did not identify the salmon as a different genus.

Following the discovery of this error, a further team of scientists obtained samples of C. Finifenmaa harvested from the Maldives' twilight corals. When the novel samples were examined to C. rubrisquamis, experts discovered that C. finifenmaas wrasses female were a tight contest to C. rubrisquamis.

Nevertheless, Male C. finifenmaas just weren't; their skin was much brighter orange and yellow in color. C. Finifenmaa was also discovered by the investigators to have fewer scales under specific anatomical sites as well as taller anteriorly protrusions than its close relative. The chromosomal differences between these different taxa were established by Genetic material research.

Furthermore, the analysis indicated that C. finifenmaa has a significantly larger geographical span than C. rubrisquamis, which will help environmental protection to save the life forms.

In a statement given by senior researcher Yi-Kai Tea, a phd candidate at Australia's University of Sydney, Yi-Kai Tea remarked that what exoerts heretofore assumed was one growing public aquatic organisms is actually two distinct genera, each with a conceivably far more constrained allocation.

This shows why native strain descriptions, and nomenclature in particular, are critical for preservation as well as wildlife administration. News stated that the investigators also gathered samples from eight other recently found taxa that have yet to be classified.

The genus term finifenmaa signifies rose in the Maldives' indigenous Dhivehi dialect, referring not just to the novel variety' lovely pink and red hues but also from the Maldives' official emblem.

Also read: Scientists to Resurrect Giant Long-Lost Rat That Went Extinct 120 Years Ago

New Found Species in Maldives' 'Twilight Reefs

According to investigations article co-author Ahmed Najeeb, a research scientist at the Maldives Ocean Scientific Institution, this is the first time a Maldivian investigator has picked the academic title of a native fish taxa, notwithstanding the archipelago being habitat to about 1,100 fish species.

Today, international researchers have just consistently classified fossils identified in the Maldives, with little input from indigenous experts.

This period is special, and it has been extremely wonderful to be a focus of something for the very first moment. The scientists suggest, nevertheless, that the Maldives' C. finifenmaa community may be on the decline.

Whilst neighborhood fishermen actively sought C. rubrisquamis wrasses to sell for the worldwide exotic pet market, which earns approximately $330 million each and every year, as per the United Nations Environment Program. Since the two-wrasse subspecies resemble each other so much, according to the report, such acts may also have an impact on C. finifenmaa.

"Although this genus is relatively common and hence not now at a high danger of rapid depletion," research co-author Luiz Rocha, an ichthyology specialist at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, said in a media.

Related article: Unidentified Species of 'Meat-eating' Animal Hunted in California 42 million Years Ago




While several countries have been slowly recovering from COVID-19 infection and getting back to their feet despite still having cases, some cities such as Hong Kong are currently struggling to contain new waves.

The Independent UK reported that Hong Kong has been in a "grip of spiraling outbreak" after having nearly half of its population get infected with coronavirus.

It's not something we haven't seen before, but the Chinese city and special administrative region had reached an "overwhelming" stage, with a fifth wave sweeping the city since December end last year.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are "swamped" with COVID-19 patients and morgues are "at a breaking point". University of Hong Kong researchers estimate that the total number of people to get infected with the infection as the wave ends in March will reach 4.5 million cases out of 7.4 million total population.

According to the researchers, over 5,000 people are expected to die from COVID-19 by 1 May.

China's Biggest Problem

Hong Kong has officially become China's biggest problem after keeping the virus mostly at bay for nearly two years, according to NBC News. "We have so much lead time and experience, but still we have to suffer from a health care system breakdown," said Calvin Kong, an emergency physician at a public hospital. "Health authorities have not learned a lesson after two years."

Hong Kong has so far recorded about 790,000 Covid infections and around 5,000 deaths in the past three weeks. Despite following the strict "zero-Covid" strategy of mainland China, deaths in the city had continued to spike.

According to local reports, 59% of the total deaths are unvaccinated elderly. Currently, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has not imposed immediate plans to further tighten Covid restrictions in the region.

Also read: After 40 Years, Cold Case Finally Solved After Identifying Human Remains Through DNA

"Revise, Review, and Adjust" Policy Measures

Regardless of having implemented the "most draconian" measures since the pandemic kickstarted 2020, the "stringent measures have not helped stop the increase in cases."

"Honestly, I think government policies keep changing all the time and it's hard for residents to follow," Alison Hui, a Hong Kong resident told AP News. "We don't know if an announcement is real or not. It really makes us feel very worried."

Lam, who has been holding daily news conferences on the outbreak, said Wednesday that the fifth wave seems to have peaked on March 3 and then leveled off since last Friday. The leader said that the situation was "unprecedented" and had definitely outgrown the capacity of the city government.

The city is advised to hold universal mass testing while the government focused on reducing death rates and severe infections. For most Hong Kongers, the fresh outbreak has been a major setback after months without any locally spread cases.

Francis Lun, an investment manager and a veteran market commentator said that things started to look up by the end of 2021 as they look forward to opening up with China, "but all of a sudden, the omicron hit, and it's completely out of control now. After two years, there's no end in sight," he said.

Related article: 50-Year-Old Man from India Who Suffered from a Stroke Develops a Black 'Hairy' Tongue
The US wildfires are becoming larger and more frequent in the last 20 years, and researchers are alarmed that climate change may have triggered extreme fire events, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder collected fire data from previous decades to discover it.

The research team collected fire data since the 1980s containing satellite images, showing that the occurrence, intensity, and coverage of wildfires have increased across the US, notably in the Great Plains, West Coast, and East Coast.

Other areas have also shown increased wildfire risks.

The University of Colorado Boulder study claimed that the increasing wildfire risks are challenging the efforts against the suppression of these fires.

Moreover, the threat posed by climate change and global warming indicates US wildfires will continue to increase and intensify in the next few years.

US Wildfires

The effects of global warming worldwide have led to more extreme fires. In the US, wildfires in some regions have quadrupled in size and tripled in frequency since 2000, according to the new study published in the journal Science Advances on Wednesday, March 16.

The University of Colorado Boulder researchers has observed that the most extreme cases of wildfires today are larger, more frequent, and overlap with other extreme wildfires across the US.

The research team is also alarmed that climate change is contributing to the worsening of wildfire conditions.

The team highlighted climate change and global warming are making some US regions more prone to wildfires due to critical fire weather conditions.

hFurther, the researchers have highlighted changes in climate, ignition, and fuel will further trigger wildfires in the future, especially during the wildfire season.

Fire weather is a meteorological gauge, such as certain climatical elements like humidity, wind speed, and soil moisture that determines conditions favorable to fire growth and smoke dispersal, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Weather Service (NWS).

Also Read: Western US May Experience Lesser Rainfall Due to Wildfire Smoke

Decades Worth of Fire Data

The researchers collected fire data containing approximately 28,000 cases of wildfires between 1984 and 2018 from the US multi-agency program Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS).

The data was only released in September 2020.

Due to the more frequent and worsening magnitude of US wildfires, millions of Americans are under threat; including their health, lives, and homes, according to Virginia Iglesias, one of the authors of the study from the University of Colorado Boulder, as cited by CBS News.

Wildfire Season

The attribution of climate change being linked to worsening natural phenomena, including storms, is not new.

In fact, climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions has evidently increased dry weather conditions, the wildfire season, and drought, as per the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES).

The University of Colorado Boulder study confirmed the effects of climate change on the more frequent and growing US wildfires. For this reason, it is plausible that wildfires in some US regions will continue to increase in size, frequency, and intensity in the next few years, notably during the wildfire season.

Related Article: US Witnessed Most Wildfires in June in 10 Years as it Heads to Peak Months
The COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates have been decreasing in the United States for many weeks as the omicron surge fades away.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a novel subvariant of omicron, BA.2, sometimes called as "stealth omicron," is spreading.

The BA.2 Omicron subvariant of the Covid-19 coronavirus has recently been identified as spreading and spreading and spreading.

Data shows that the BA.2 may now account for over 1/4 of all new Covid-19 cases in the United States.

The 'stealth variant' of COVID-19 omicron variant

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Covid Data Tracker, the BA.2 subvariant first appeared in sequenced data from patients in the United States in January 2022.

On polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the BA.2 subvariant might be difficult to differentiate from the Delta variant, unlike the BA.1 and BA.1.1.529 Omicron subvariants.

Back in January, when the Delta variation was still being discovered in patient samples, it was a probable case of mistaken identification.

According with American Medical Association, BA.2 is a subvariant of COVID-19's omicron variant.

Scientists have dubbed it "stealth" omicron because that contains genetic changes that may make it more difficult to differentiate from the delta variant utilizing PCR testing when compared to the previous form of omicron.

BA.2 was found in only around 1% among all severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specimens from patients across the nation that were subjected to genetic testing throughout the week ending February 5, as per Forbes.

Can BA.2 causes more severe disease?

According to abc Denver, there is contradictory research when Japanese researchers tested BA.2 on hamsters, they noticed that the subvariant caused more serious disease than omicron.

However, two different investigations from Denmark and South Africa found that BA.2 had comparable hospitalization risks as the initial omicron strain.

Also Read: Researchers From California Conduct a Wastewater Test for COVID-19

Another surge of COVID-19 cases?

Scientists are hopeful that the United States will be protected from another omicron surge.

They also expect that millions of Americans who have recently experienced omicron infections will be resistant to BA.2, and that antibody rates will continue to increase as more people seek vaccines and boosters.

However, COVID-19 is making a comeback in other nations, most notably China, which is experiencing its largest outbreak since the virus initially arose in Wuhan.

COVID-19 instances are also increasing in France, Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

However, things are not the same as things were in 2021.

A bigger proportion of people could have some level of immunity to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Granted, 65.3% of the US population has been fully vaccinated, and 44.4% has been boosted against Covid-19. However, in this case, higher is preferable.

Data show that vaccination with Covid-19 against by the BA.2 subvariant is as effective as immunization with the BA.1.

On March 10, for example, throughout the United Kingdom, three doses of Covid-19 immunization were around 69% effective against acute Covid-19 induced by the BA.1 at the 2-week mark following the last booster dose according to the UK Health Security Agency.

When the booster dose was administered over than 10 weeks ago, those rates fell to 49% and 46%, respectively, which is still another reason why keeping extra Covid-19 measures might be beneficial.

Related article: COVID-19: Moderna Vaccine Booster Also Effective Against Omicron Variant
According to a recent study, smoke from wildfires depletes the ozone layer.

Researchers warn that if catastrophic fires become even more common as a result of climate change, more harmful UV light from the sun would reach the earth.

Smoke from the Australian wildfires of 2019 and 2020 damaged atmospheric ozone in the Southern Hemisphere for months, according to atmospheric chemists at the University of Waterloo.

The ozone shield is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere's stratosphere that absorbs UV radiation from the sun.

Smoke of wildfires in Australia can cause ozone depletion

Towers of smoke that ascended up into the stratosphere amid Australia's "black summer" fires in 2019 and 2020 damaged portions of the Earth's protective ozone layer, according to a study published in the journal Science on March 18.

Chemist Peter Bernath of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and his colleagues examined data obtained in the lower atmosphere by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment satellite sensor in 2020.

It determines how different particles in the atmosphere absorb energy at distinct frequencies, as per Science News.

These absorption patterns function similarly to fingerprints in determining which chemicals are incorporated in the nanoparticles.

According to Bernath, the Australian fires shot acidic combustion byproducts into the stratosphere, altering the chlorine, hydrogen, and nitrogen chemistry that regulates ozone.

This is the first large-scale measurement of smoke, demonstrating that it is transforming ozone-regulating chemicals into more reactive molecules that deplete ozone.

This harm, like the holes above polar areas, is only temporary, and ozone levels restored to pre-wildfire levels after the smoke cleared the stratosphere.

However, if flames become more common, the devastation will become more frequent, as per ScienceDaily.

The smoke damage, like the holes above polar areas, is a transient impact, and ozone levels restored to pre-wildfire levels once the smoke cleared the stratosphere.

However, if wildfires become more common, the devastation will become more frequent.

A research published in 2020 discovered that the ozone layer was recovering and has the ability to fully regenerate.

A rare accomplishment in reversing environmental harm and demonstrating that coordinated global effort can make a difference.

Read more: Study Shows How Wildfire Triggers Major Forest Changes

Effects of greenhouse gas on the ozone depletion

The ozone layer is being depleted mostly as a result of increased emissions of chlorine- and bromine-containing chemicals such as CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, and methyl bromide.

Through atmospheric interaction, greenhouse gas emissions can contribute to ozone layer depletion, as per Union of Concerned Scientists.

Observations demonstrate that when greenhouse gases grow and cause warmth in the lower atmosphere (troposphere), the higher atmosphere cools (stratosphere).

Specifically, heat from the Earth's surface that would typically pass through the troposphere and stratospheric and finally escape to space is now trapped (or confined to the troposphere).

In all other words, high - temperature gases lead to the atmospheric cooling that leads to ozone layer depletion.

Greenhouse gases trap heat and warm the atmosphere at low altitudes, but they have the reverse effect at higher elevations because they block heat from ascending.

Ozone loss has a cooling effect in a colder stratosphere, resulting in more ozone depletion. When UV light combines with ozone, it emits heat into the stratosphere.

With less ozone, less heat is emitted, which amplifies cooling in the lower stratosphere and promotes the creation of ozone-depleting polar stratospheric clouds, particularly near the South Pole.

Related article: Wildfire 'Double-Hazard' Zones: Growing Communities in the US Western States Face Risks
Fog has reportedly led to "fatal chain-reaction crashes" along Interstate 57 (I-57) highway of the Mississippi County in Missouri, USA, during the morning rush hour on Thursday, March 17.

The multi-vehicular crashes involved dozens of vehicles and resulted in multiple casualties, including fatalities.

The crashes resulted in vehicle fires and smoke following the fatal chain-reaction collision.

In addition, the I-57 was temporarily closed to road traffic movement following the incident.

An investigation is underway on whether or not a thick fog triggered the incident on Thursday morning.

However, the initial investigation indicated that there was a thick fog in the area prior to the pile-up, which local authorities considered as an accident.

Although the occurrence of fog in the early morning hours is common, the incident of this magnitude in Missouri is significantly catastrophic.

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

According to CBS News, the multi-car crash on I-57 has involved approximately 70 vehicles, including 20 tractor trucks and trailer trucks.

The pile-up of vehicles has killed at least six people and injured several others.

Initial assessments indicated at least 50 vehicles were involved in the multi-vehicle crashes where 30 passenger vehicles were also involved.

The Mississippi County Sheriff's Office issued a warning to people to avoid the area, according to Fox 2 News.

Furthermore, the Missouri State Highway Patrol stated multiple tractor-trailer trucks crashed along the northbound and southbound lanes.

The occurrence of fire and smoke from vehicles was also seen on the I-57 crash site, as per Fox 2 News.

Also Read: Icy Weather Caused a Massive Pile Up of Over 40 Vehicles in Wisconsin

Morning Fog is to Blame?

AccuWeather meteorologists cited a statement from local authorities, saying there was a thick fog prior to the so-called fatal chain-reaction crashes on the highway before 8:00 a.m. on Thursday.

The crash site is located near the city of Charleston in Mississippi County located in southeastern Missouri.

The multi-vehicular crash incident is being considered by local authorities as an accident.

As a result, the investigation is determining if the fog contributed to the crashes, as per CBS News.

I-57 Closure

As cited by CNN, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced the closure of I-57 in both of its northbound and southbound directions following the multiple vehicular collision on Thursday morning.

Conflicting reports suggested that road traffic movement has gradually resumed along the highway, but the MoDOT has issued no estimation as to when the I-57 will reopen, as per CNN.

Local authorities asked motorists to avoid the I-57 and find an alternative route as investigation and recovery is underway.

Although road accidents do occur on I-57, multiple collisions of this severity rarely occur in one of the United States' major routes.

The highway is frequented by both private vehicles and commercial trucks alike when traveling between Missouri and Illinois.

Following the highway closure, nearby routes, including roads and highways, are expected to be under heavy traffic due to the diversion of travel away from I-57.

Related Article: 'Super Fog' Caused Dozens of Vehicle to Crash in Florida, Killing Three
Even in a state of sleep, you could still be at risk of health problems, even the young ones. To protect your health, close the blinds entirely and turn of all lights before bed, Northwestern physicians suggest so.

New study found that sleeping with even a small amount of light may be harmful for your health, CNN reported. Even with the dim light on may raise the blood sugar and heart rate of healthy young people.

Details of a sleep lab experiment presented in Northwestern Now show that even moderate light exposure during sleep harms heart health and increases insulin resistance.

Results of the study demonstrates that this setup "impairs glucose and cardiovascular regulation, which are risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome," said senior study author Dr. Phyllis Zee, chief of sleep medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician.

"It's important for people to avoid or minimize the amount of light exposure during sleep," she advised.

Lights on or lights off?

If you were used to sleeping with the lights on, here's why you should consider switching it off:

As our brain repairs and our bodies rejuvenate at night while we sleep, our heart rate typically drops and slows down, as it should. A previous study published in AHA Journals show that an increased heart rate during this period leads to future heart diseases and early death.

According to the new study, light increases heart rate, even dim lights from your TV set. Light exposure at daytime activates sympathetic nervous system, and consequently increases heart rate. This kickstarts our alertness to "meet the challenges of the day."

The study indicates that exposure to light at nighttime has similar effect, even in a moderately-lit room.

"Even though you are asleep, your autonomic nervous system is activated," said Dr. Daniela Grimaldi, a co-first author and research assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern. "That's bad. Usually, your heart rate together with other cardiovascular parameters are lower at night and higher during the day."

Moreover, exposure to light during sleep spikes insulin resistance, causing blood pressure to go up, and makes people overweight and obese.

Also read: 'High-Damaging' Toxic Fungus Could Contribute to Irritable Bowel Disease

How To Get Better Sleep

Based on the study, Zee advised to "clearly pay attention to the light in your bedroom."

"Make sure that you start dimming your lights at least an hour or two before you go to bed to prepare your environment for sleep," she said. This is something that may vary depending on the source of lighting in your room.

If you prefer a dim light, keep it at floor level "so that it's more reflected rather than right next to your eye or bed level," Zee suggested.

"These findings are important particularly for those living in modern societies where exposure to indoor and outdoor nighttime light is increasingly widespread," Zee said.

"If you're able to see things really well, it's probably too light."

Related article: Avian Flu Strikes in Many States, Killing 4 Wild Birds in North Carolina
NHLANGANO  Over 370 households of Ngololweni under Sandleni Inkhundla in the Shiselweni Region have welcomed a water project worth E12.5 million.

This is known as the Integrated Water Resource Development project.

These households were the ones that were already benefitting from the said project, which include a dam and other irrigation or water servicing systems. The water project was yesterday handed over to the residents by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (ESWADE). The project was handed over or launched together with the Chiefdom Development Plan (CDP) of that area. This activity was even more exciting because it coincided with the water month celebrated the world over.

Wetlands

The community has benefitted quite a lot from the project because ESWADE assisted in preserving wetlands and constructed the dam. It was learnt that women from the community were able to sell imphepho and lukhwane which is used to make grass mats. There are also many indigenous trees and plants that have been preserved on the wetlands. Also, the areas dipping tank is functioning efficiently because water is always available. It was further gathered that farmers have also formed a company called Siyalima Farmer Company which produces vegetables such as butternuts, green pepper, tomatoes and beetroot, and everything planted already has a market. The company consists of 23 members and boasts of sprinkler irrigation systems to produce conventional vegetables on 11 hectares of land.

Under Secretary (US) in the Ministry of Agriculture Gugu Shabangu, who was representing Minister Jabulani Mabuza, said in the month of March, they were focusing and diverting all their attention to the commemoration of the World Water Day, appreciating the value and importance of water and what it brought to peoples lives. Shabangu noted that the biggest challenge that had been affecting the Ngololweni constituency was the diminishing of water resources. She said after the drought experienced between 2015 and 2016, water scarcity became a reality and a constraint that resulted in irrigation farming being abandoned. She added that government was determined to eradicate poverty by providing a better life for all and improving the lives of the citizens of Eswatini. Therefore, this E12.5 million project has provided relief to the Ngololweni community by restoring water availability for multiple uses, said Shabangu. The US added that government continued to invest in infrastructure projects that focussed on harvesting and providing water to agricultural producers to help increase yields and reduce heavy reliance on direct rainfall.

Problematic

Shabangu pointed out that the erratic climate change patterns that were experienced in the country proved to be problematic because some communities were unable to cultivate all their fields due to the scarcity of rains. She said many fields, even at Ngololweni, had been lying idle due to the harsh weather conditions that destroyed all they were trying to cultivate.

With the completion of this dam, I am grateful to mention that this is now a thing of the past because as a community, we are going to restore what used to happen in the past, that is, cultivate our fields since we now have water throughout the year that is going to increase our agricultural production, said Shabangu.

She noted that ESWADE continued to carry out its mandate of providing continued support in lifting project beneficiaries from abject poverty, to running businesses that were both profitable and sustainable, including access to potable water and sanitation for the targeted communities. Shabangu added that the community of Ngololweni has been assisted to protect its wetland by fencing it off to ensure that the ecosystem was not disturbed by anthropogenic and livestock related activities. I am happy to note that limiting this activity has improved the population of previously threatened flora and fauna species and increased the species richness through secondary succession. I am quite happy to note that through such interventions, there are ecosystems benefits, said Shabangu.
225 animals were rescued by the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) from an unlicensed animal breeder in the state this week.

This is an addition to the previous rescue of dogs and hamsters in Iowa back in February, increasing the total number of rescued animals to more than 300 within a month.

Search Warrant and Arrest

Local authorities arrested two people at their property in Lee County, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 15.

The police charged the owners with animal neglect under the existing animal protection law and regulations of Iowa, as per KHQA news.

The arrest was made after an initial search warrant on the suspects' property was conducted on February 22, when detectives from the Lee County Criminal Investigation Division made their first search warrant of the property due to alleged reports of animal neglect.

The detectives at that time had only warned the two suspects named David Sams and Gina Sams to clean up and organize their property for the animals.

The second search warrant on Tuesday found that the property owners failed to do as they were instructed.

Also Read: Police Rescued 53 Dogs That Arrived at an Illegal Slaughterhouse in Indonesia

Animal Neglect

The latest rescue of the 225 animals consists of barn animals, dogs, reptiles, and other small animals, according to KCRG news.

The ARL stated that around 100 barn animals, such as chickens, donkeys, goats, geese, peacocks, turkeys, a pig, and a small horse were those among the rescued.

Meanwhile, the initial search of the same property in Lee County led to the rescue of 42 dogs and 41 hamsters.

The animal rescue organization stated the animals were living in dire conditions, including the lack of basic sustenance, such as food, water, and hygiene, as per KCRG.

Some of the dog breeds included Great Danes, Dachshunds, Corgis, and Weimaraner.

The animals were confined in a tight space which prevented them to move freely. Furthermore, some of them had to live with their waste inside their cages.

Following the rescue, the ARL treated the animals and had them vaccinated for potential health hazards, including fleas and potential diseases, caused by the poor sanitary conditions.

The organization is also asking for help for donations and for voluntary adoption of the rescued animals.

US Animal Welfare Act

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the Animal Welfare Act signed into law in 1966 is the sole and primary federal animal protection law in the United States.

However, the implementation and enaction of this law go down to the state level-where most animal protection legislation happens.

The ALDF also emphasized that some cities and counties in the US can pass their own ordinances consisting of status and regulations concerning the protection of animals.

While local laws for animal protection differ in some states, the main foundation and core values remain the same.

In Iowa, the animal protection law is almost the same as the federal animal protection law wherein all animals must be given food, water, and the necessary care.

In addition, cats and dogs must be provided with adequate shelter, according to the ARL.

Moreover, the ARL states that animal abuse and animal neglect are considered a violation of the state's law.

Acts such as injuring, killing, maiming, and mutilating an animal fall under animal abuse. Meanwhile, failing to provide animals with proper care and basic needs is classified as animal neglect.

Related Article: Over 300 Small Animals Rescued From Being Hoarded in Nashville
Washington is set to become an abortion haven state if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. Yakima is home to one of three clinics in Eastern Washington that offer abortions after 11 weeks of pregnancy.
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WOODBRIDGE  There wasnt a dry eye in the building Thursday as Mary the abused bulldog, dressed in a green skirt for St. Patricks Day, left Woodbridge Animal Control with her new family.

No one was happier or more choked up than longtime shelter volunteer Leigh Ann Russ of Woodbridge, one of the first to see Mary that rainy evening Oct. 25, 2021, after Mary was tossed out of a pick-up truck onto busy Racebrook Road, filthy and bleeding from a botched, makeshift C-section.

Russ friend, coincidentally, was the driver who stopped to pick up Mary from the side of the road. The friend drove to Russ house with Mary and, after assessing the bulldog, they called animal control.

I looked in the back of the SUV, Mary looked up and came right to me, Russ said. We had her in my garage, she was bleeding and she looked up at us and kissed us - I knew something bad had happened to her.

Russ arrived to volunteer at the shelter Thursday not knowing Mary was leaving for her new home with Hamden chiropractor Eileen Denny and her family.

But when she realized what was happening, It was so emotional, Russ said.

She looked so happy, Russ said of Mary. This family was beaming.

Mary, described as lovable, healed after surgery, antibiotics and lots of TLC. Shelter staff named her Mary because she lived only through the grace of God. If she didnt bleed to death she likely would have been hit by a car because she was tossed at dusk, right before dark, Animal Control Officer Karen Lombardi has said.

Denny said after some visits on the way home, Mary  a celebrity at this point  was adjusting well. The Dennys have a male bulldog, Winston, also rescued from the Woodbridge shelter four years ago. Winston had been starved and beaten and was suffering from mange when he was rescued, and today is the picture of health.

Mary ditched the green skirt pretty fast, Denny said, and when they left the shelter Thursday the family stopped for a visit at Sound School in New Haven where the Denny kids go to school so she could meet the teachers. Then, at the request of the kids friends, they did a few drive-bys with Mary, who got a lot of affection.

I dont think there was a dry eye in the house when Mary left, Denny said. Shes beautiful and relaxed.

Her new brother, Winston, was excited, Denny said.

She said getting Mary was the luck of the Irish, but it was a lot more than luck, as at least 15 people wanted to adopt her after reading of her plight in the Register.

Lombardi said Denny has a proven track record  as evidenced by Winstons thriving  and the mutual connection was immediate when the family met Mary. There were immediate puppy kisses and vigorous tail-wagging, the family reported.

Russ commended her friend for stopping in the rain to retrieve Mary from the roadside.

How many people would reach out and do that? Russ said.

She said the shelter was incredible in how they got Mary the best care and brought her back 100 percent.

Lombardi has said Mary probably was used as a cash cow for breeding and the C-section was done in relation to birthing.

Denny, who first read about Mary in the Register, said Marys situation hit her on many levels, including as a woman who has had four C-sections and who treats pregnant women at her practice, Denny Chiropractic and Acupuncture.

Denny said shes hoping to set up a fund to raise money for the shelters nonprofit, One Big Dog Animal Respite Fund, since they spent so much money to help Mary recover.

Between Marys medical care, all the other dogs at the shelter with needs, and the inability to fundraise because of the pandemic, Lombardi said the fund is low and in need of donations.

Any contributions are appreciated and checks can be made out to One Big Dog Animal Respite Fund, 135 Bradley Road, Woodbridge CT 06525. The fund was established in memory of late Register reporter Bridget Albert, who loved big dogs and worked tirelessly on behalf of animals.

Since the Register highlighted Marys case, animal advocacy group Desmonds Army has offered a $1,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the cruelty to and abandonment of Mary.
Nolan Balcitis, 12, sits with his dog, Callie, in front of his familys home in Crown Point, Ind., on March 4. Nolan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes six months after a mild case of COVID-19.
Newburyport, MA (01950)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
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Members of the local Shrine club accept the Hillbilly Days proclamation from Pike Judge-Executive Ray Jones and members of the court.
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Longview, TX (75601)

Today

A few clouds. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the pulmonary and nervous systems, but there is still much to learn about how they interact. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine recently explored this relationship in the context of a childhood lung disease, but their findings may also apply to COVID-19 symptoms.

In a study published March 17, 2022 in the journal Developmental Cell, scientists show that excessive neuropeptide secretion by neuroendocrine cells in the lungs can lead to fluid buildup and poor oxygenation; blocking the neuropeptides may be an effective treatment.

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) is a lung disease affecting infants in which lung size and structure appear normal but blood-oxygen levels are consistently low. There is no disease-specific treatment available for NEHI, and most children require supplemental oxygen for many years.

The defining feature of NEHI is an increase in the number of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs), a type of lung cell with many neuronal properties. These cells serve as a gateway between the nervous system and the lung, taking in signals about the air environment and directing the lung to respond. But until now, physicians did not know how these cells contribute to the disease, or if they merely proliferate in response.

In the new study, a team led by senior author Xin Sun, PhD, professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine, confirmed that a developmental increase in PNECs is what drives NEHI, and revealed how these neuron-like cells can disrupt lung function.

Using the first genetically engineered mouse model of NEHI, Sun's team found that the overabundance of PNECs leads to excess secretion of their neuropeptide products. This includes calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent vasodilator.

In healthy lungs, oxygen and carbon dioxide move between the lung epithelium and the blood vessel endothelium in a process known as gas exchange. In NEHI, increased CGRP signals trigger a molecular sequence that weakens the seal between endothelial cells, making the blood vessels more permeable. This allows fluid to leak out of the blood vessels and into the lung, covering cells under a layer of liquid. Gasses then have to pass through this additional fluid layer, which disrupts the gas exchange process and lowers blood oxygenation.

"We were surprised to find that neuropeptides can play such a major role in gas exchange," said Sun. "Researchers are just starting to appreciate the relationship between the nervous system and the lungs, but the more we understand it, the more we can modulate it to treat disease."

First author Jinhao Xu, a PhD student in the UC San Diego Department of Biological Sciences, showed that blocking CGRP signals with receptor antagonists could protect the endothelial barrier and improve oxygenation in NEHI mice. These findings suggest that neuropeptides may be a promising therapeutic target for conditions marked by excess lung fluid.

One such condition is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a lung condition with multiple causes, including SARS-CoV-2 infection. In patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS, excess fluid is the primary cause of death.

Through collaborations with other UC San Diego School of Medicine faculty, the researchers were able to obtain lung tissue samples from COVID-19 patients. They found the samples also had an increased proportion of CGRP-secreting PNECs, suggesting the same mechanism may contribute to the excess fluid in COVID-19 lungs.

Sun notes that several CGRP and CGRP-receptor antagonists have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of migraines, so future clinical trials could evaluate their potential to improve lung function.

This study was a community effort between many researchers and physicians at UC San Diego. Through these collaborations, we were able to take our work from the bedside to the bench. Our next steps are to help close this loop and bring our findings back to the patients." Xin Sun, PhD, professor of pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine
Hispanic/Latino youths with limited access to nutritionally adequate food  and especially those whose parents were foreign-born -- had worse cardiometabolic profiles than their "food secure" counterparts, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Until now, little was known about the role of food insecurity on youths' physical health.

Given the increase in food insecurity that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for Hispanic/Latino immigrant families, these findings may also foreshadow concerning trends for the health and well-being of Hispanic/Latino youth, noted the researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, University of Southern California, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Harvard University, San Diego State University, and Einstein College of Medicine.

Previous studies have shown that food insecurity in adults was associated with cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Food insecurity affects about 14 percent of households with youths, a disproportionate number of whom are Hispanic/Latino.

The researchers sought to determine whether food insecurity among Hispanic/Latino youth is associated with metabolic syndrome and other cardiometabolic markers, including waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose (FG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

They analyzed data from 1,325 Hispanic/Latino youths ages 8-16 years participating in the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth, which began with a baseline clinic visit between 2012 and 2014. Study participants were recruited from the Bronx, N.Y., Chicago, Miami and San Diego.

Household and child food insecurity were assessed using the U.S. Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module.

Results showed youths in the lowest household and child food security categories had significantly worse HDL-C levels than those with high food security. Low/very low child food security was also associated with greater FG, TGs and metabolic syndrome than high child food security.

In addition, findings were strongest among youth with foreign-born parents/caregivers and whose families did not receive any food assistance in the previous year.

"Nutrition policies are needed to improve Hispanic/Latino families' access to food assistance programs, and we call on health care providers to consider early screening for food insecurity to identify youths who may benefit from additional resources," observed the authors.

"As food prices continue to rise as a consequence of the pandemic and other world events, it will be important to develop interventions to more effectively address food insecurity. Our findings suggest that this will be especially important for households that may not qualify for federal aid." Sandra Albrecht, PhD, senior author, assistant professor of epidemiology, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health
Huddersfield researchers were among the first to demonstrate how the induction of brain inflammation accounts for neurological damage in COVID19 patients and now, their findings have been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The study, published in the journal Molecular Neurobiology led by the University of Huddersfield's Dr. Mayo Olajide, describes how the spike protein used by the coronavirus to enter human cells can have a similar effect on the brain's immune cells as it does with the rest of the body.

Dr Olajide, who's previous research discovered how the onset of Alzheimer's disease can be slowed and some of its symptoms curbed by a natural compound that is found in pomegranate, conducted the potential impact of the Spike Glycoprotein S1 using immune cell lines obtained from mice and is now applying for funding to develop the research further using brain cells from humans.

Following our hypothesis, we are now questioning when the coronavirus has affected the brain, could this pose a risk for neurodegenerative disorders further down the line, like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's?" Dr. Mayo Olajide, University of Huddersfield

How the coronavirus activate the brain's own immune response

According to Dr Olajide, whilst other research demonstrated the mechanism of why the virus was able to gain access into the brain through the nose, theirs was among the first to demonstrate how the coronavirus activated the brain's own immune response.

"It may not be multiplying in the brain, but when it gets into the brain, it can actually induce immune responses and this explains some of the trends people have reported when they have been infected such as continued brain fog and memory loss," he said.

Dr Olajide believes if adequate funding can be achieved the research could prove significant.

"The thing with COVID research is so many researchers speculate but less actually carry out the experiments needed to prove their research because it takes such a long time to complete."

Dr Olajide is a Reader within the University's Department of Pharmacy in the School of Applied Sciences. His academic career includes a post as a Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Drug Research at the University of Munich. His PhD was awarded from the University of Ibadan in his native Nigeria, after an investigation of the anti-inflammatory properties of natural products.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), which is the causal agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected over 464 million worldwide and caused almost 6.1 million deaths. In Iran, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 7.1 million people and caused almost 140,000 deaths.

In a new study under consideration at Scientific Reports and published on the Research Square* preprint server, scientists analyze the death proportion and risk of death among COVID-19 hospitalized patients over time and during different waves of the pandemic.

Study: Mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients during surges of SARS-CoV-2 alpha (B.1.1.7) and delta (B.1.617.2) variants. Image Credit: UfzBizPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection could lead to asymptomatic or mild cases, moderate or severe conditions, and even death. Predictors of severe outcomes include age, male sex, and the presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac disease.

Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, with the World Health Organization (WHO) defining these variants according to their increased transmissibility and virulence.

In the current study, researchers analyzed the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Delta (B.1.617.2) SARS-CoV-2 variants. The Alpha variant was first detected in England in November 2020, while the Delta variant was first reported in India in December 2020.

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant is more transmissible than previous SARS-CoV-2 strains, as it is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death. However, the trend of mortality due to the Delta variant around the world is quite varied and difficult to describe. This could be due to a number of factors, such as hospital load and the presence of underlying medical conditions of patients.

Studying the COVID-19 mortality rate could help healthcare workers quickly identify at-risk patients. To address this issue, scientists conducted a multicenter study in Tehran, Iran to assess the proportion of deaths and risk of death among COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

Study findings

The current observational study involving hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Tehran province was conducted between March 21, 2021, and October 3, 2021. During this period, researchers analyzed two peaks associated with the Alpha and Delta variants.

Patients during the second peak were more likely to be female and above 60 years of age. The death proportion of patients admitted to the ICU peaked in April and August of 2021. Scientists also observed that the mortality rate decreased with gender and age, whereas it increased with comorbidities.

The death proportion among patients infected with the Delta variant was lower than those infected with the Alpha variant. The second peak was associated with a higher risk of death. Taken together, these findings correlate with previous reports on death and hospitalization rates during both Alpha and Delta variant-driven surges.

A debatable issue is the reduction of the death proportion from the first to the second peak in this study and an increased risk of COVID-19 death. This could be due to the number of patients admitted during the second peak that increased rapidly, while deaths increased gradually. A second contributing factor could be the start of the vaccination program in Iran in May 2021. During this time, the death proportion in the younger age group decreased, despite the vaccination rate not being high in this group.

A higher death proportion and risk of COVID-19 death were observed among ICU patients during the Delta wave as compared to the Alpha wave. The mean number of comorbidities, mean age and fraction of males were lower in the Delta wave, which may be due to the higher severity and fatality rate associated with the Delta variant.

A significant difference was reported in the death proportion among ICU patients in different counties of Tehran. This difference could be driven by several factors, such as the nutritional status of the patient and the skill of the intensivist physician.

Additionally, during the Delta wave, ICU bed shortages were more common in some counties, thus causing patients to wait for several hours to several days before being admitted, ultimately contributing to more deaths.

Conclusions

In the current study, the death proportion was found to decline from March 2021 to October 2021; however, hospitalization and risk of COVID-19 death increased during this time period. Furthermore, the Delta wave led to a higher risk of death as compared to the Alpha wave.

Some of the factors associated with the high mortality rate in the Delta surge in Iran were identified to be burnout among healthcare workers, as well as hospital bed, ICU space, and medical supply shortages.

*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.
After the start of the SARS-C0V-2 pandemic, investigators from ResearchPath LLC and their collaborators at Rutgers University quickly dedicated resources to develop accurate and reliable COVID-19 testing. As variants emerged, they developed a PCR test that uses molecular beacons not only to diagnose COVID-19 infection, but also to identify the specific variant causing that infection. Their research appears in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier. Their methodology is openly available so that it can be replicated by any facility that can run a PCR test.

It is extraordinary to see that SARS-CoV-2 was not a monolithic infection with a predictable set of clinical features, but rather an ever-evolving disease for which the different strains produce unique clinical features that affect testing, symptoms, and even which organ systems can be attacked." Sanjay Tyagi, PhD, Lead Investigator, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA

Identifying specific strains reveals important information such as the length of incubation period, length of contagious period, transmissibility, pathogenicity, and even changes in the predominant symptoms.

Information on strain types is generally reported by the international community or a few states with large populations that perform genetic sequencing. The deep sequencing needed to identify SARS-CoV-2 strains is accurate and can identify each mutation present in a sample, but it is costly, slow and requires specialized equipment. Yet knowledge of the strain type provides important information for public health professionals, policymakers, and individuals.

"Knowing that a highly contagious and dangerous strain is emerging in a local community could inform policymakers to initiate safety measures to limit spread," said co-investigator Ashley Hill, MD, ResourcePath LLC, Sterling, VA, USA. "It can also serve as an early warning system for healthcare systems that need to plan for surges in ER visits and ICU care. Knowing which strain has infected a person can also help determine which treatments would be most beneficial."

Using real-time PCR probes designed by Rutgers University and already used around the world for many purposes, Rutgers designed the Rutgers-RP RT-PCR assay to detect mutations in SARS-CoV-2 that have been shown to increase immune escape, avoid neutralization, and increase transmissibility. They pioneered the use of molecular beacons to identify specific genetic mutations. Molecular beacons are hairpin-shaped molecules that can be designed to selectively bind to a specific mutant sequence, avoiding wild-type sequences that often differ by a single nucleotide.

Nine mutations were selected for testing, and the beacon for each has differently colored dyes. Every original variant of concern  alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron -- has a unique combination of these mutations. and when the beacon binds to its target molecule, its distinct color can be detected by the assay.

Each beacon was tested individually to confirm its specificity to the assigned mutation. Then, the beacons were combined into a multiplex assay and tested by RT-PCR on 26 SARS-CoV2positive patient samples that had previously been tested and identified with deep sequencing. Two samples were identified as the alpha variant, two as the epsilon variant, and eight as the delta variant. The multiplex assay was in full agreement with results from deep sequencing, with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%.

Researchers report that the test is also very adaptable. When omicron emerged, the investigators were able to design a beacon in less than a month to identify a mutation that is unique to omicron and is important for immune evasion. The investigators identified the omicron variant in 17 of 33 additional patient samples that had been previously tested, and the results were 100% in agreement.

"The tools we developed to track and identify new variants will be useful for this pandemic and for any unforeseen viruses or pathogens that may arise going forward," said lead author Ryan J. Dikdan, BS, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.

"The SARS-CoV-2 virus is not done with us yet. We desperately need a worldwide monitoring system for the inevitable emerging strains that could be even more contagious or deadly," the investigators said. "The Rutgers-RP RT-PCR variant assay could be widely deployed in laboratories around the world right now to monitor all the known variants of concern. The assay will be updated with new primer/probe sets for each new important variant that emerges."
As of March 17, 2022, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected over 464 million and caused almost 6.1 million deaths. Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers around the world races to develop safe vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, which led to the development of two messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines in December 2021, followed by several other vaccines based on other platforms.

In a new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers discuss the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in young people and children when the SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants were the dominant circulating strains.

Study: Vaccination Against SARS-Cov-2 In UK School-Aged Children and Young People Decreases Infection Rates and Reduces COVID-19 Symptoms. Image Credit: Studio Romantic / Shutterstock.com

Introduction

Earlier studies have explored the transmission of SARs-CoV-2 among children stratified by age, seroprevalence rates in this age group, as well as the clinical aspects of the infection among children. Vaccination studies were examined in other studies and included information on specific pediatric disease cohorts and the relationship between vaccination and disease severity.

The mRNA vaccines were tested in clinical trials in minors and found that most symptoms among the vaccinated were mild and transient. In the current study, multiple components of the United Kingdom vaccination campaign for children and young people (CYP) aged 12-17 years were evaluated based on a single dose of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine.

The current study used data from over 100,000 CYP who used the Covid Symptom Study (CSS) app to report their symptoms. The aim was to determine the risk of infection after vaccination with a single dose and the intensity of disease in those who experienced breakthrough infections.

Study findings

The first vaccine dose was found to protect CYP against both Delta and Omicron infection, with the effect being more robust in individuals with a history of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. The researchers also found that disease symptoms were milder in those infected after vaccination as compared to unvaccinated and infected CYP.

Infection risk reduction after single vaccination with BNT162b2 in 12- to17-year-old CYP during periods of Delta (left) and Omicron (right) variant predominance in UK. Bars represent risk reduction at 14-30 days, 1-2 months, and 2-3 months for post-vaccination infection, compared with unvaccinated CYP. The black lines show 95% CIs. Number of observations (i.e., tests) of CYP aged 12-17 years: for period of Delta variant predominance n (test) =15,308 (4,793 unvaccinated, 10,515 vaccinated); for period of Omicron variant predominance n (test)=8,203 (930 unvaccinated, 7,273 vaccinated).

During the study period between August 5, 2021, and February 14, 2022, approximately 26, 000 CYP were vaccinated with a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Over the next 14-30 days, the risk of infection dropped 80% for Delta and about 54% for Omicron variants. At two to three months after vaccination, the risk of infection further declined by about 62% and 64%, for the Delta and Omicron variants, respectively.

During the Delta-dominant period, the reduction in risk after vaccination was higher than that which was recorded during the Omicron period for at least the first three months in adolescents aged 16-17 years and at least two months post-vaccination in those aged 12-15 years. During the Delta-dominant period, the probability of being risk-free was over 90% for the first 11 weeks and fell just below 90% at 90 days.

Conversely, during the Omicron-dominant period, the chances of remaining free of infection were greater than 90% at 30 days, and greater than 80% at 40 days. The risk of infection was significantly lower among those with prior infection and was close to zero at 100 days and beyond.

Following vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Delta-dominant period was markedly milder as compared to those who were unvaccinated, though this was seen only in children aged 12-15 years during the Omicron-dominant period. This applied to respiratory, neurological, and systemic symptoms, except runny nose and sneezing. During the Omicron-dominant period, a persistent cough and hoarse voice were the only exceptions to the generally reduced prevalence of symptoms.

However, both for vaccinated and unvaccinated children who were infected with the Delta or Omicron variants, the median duration of symptoms was less than a day. Young people occasionally had skin lesions like blisters or weals, and soreness of the eyes, which lasted more than a day in most cases.

Less than 2% of CYP visited the hospital over the entire study period, vaccinated or unvaccinated. Post-vaccination symptoms were very mild, mostly local, and self-resolving in the majority of cases. Systemic side effects were rare and also resolved quickly.

Implications

The results of the current study demonstrate that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine in CYP is generally safe and well-tolerated. One vaccine dose reduced the risk of subsequent infection with SARS-CoV-2 in children aged 12-15 years beginning 14 days from the day of vaccination.

This protective benefit was found to be greater against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant as compared to the Omicron variant. In the case of vaccinated children who had a history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, the protection was over 90% against reinfection for 100 days or more. According to current models, more than 90% of children in the U.K. are considered to have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Using a risk-benefit analysis, the researchers conclude that there was quantitative evidence to support the rationale for immunization of this group. This supports earlier studies showing vaccine-mediated protection against reinfection with the SARS-CoV-2 wildtype, Alpha, and Delta variants, though to a lesser extent against the Omicron variant. Furthermore, a single vaccine dose was found to reduce disease severity in case of breakthrough infection.

Since the current study was carried out during the period when both the Omicron and Delta were circulating, its results may also be specific to these variants. COVID-19 in children is typically a mild, short-lived disease; therefore, the ability to discriminate between naturally mild disease and vaccine-mediated reduction in the severity of the disease is limited.

Even though most recommendations are for two-dose immunization of children, our data suggest some nuance may be appropriate regarding recommendations for second-dose vaccination, considered temporally (particularly with reference to prior infection) and to new variant emergence.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
The Covid-19 pandemic has been depressing, demoralizing, and stressful for people around the world. But is there any way to measure exactly how bad it has made everyone feel?

A new study led by MIT researchers attempts just that, through a massive examination of hundreds of millions social media posts in about 100 countries. The research, which analyzes the language terms used in social media, finds a pronounced drop in positive public sentiment after the pandemic set in during early 2020 -; with a subsequent, incremental, halting return to prepandemic status.

To put that downturn in perspective, consider a prepandemic fact that the same kind of analysis uncovered: Typically, people express the most upbeat emotions on social media on weekends, and the most negative ones on Monday. Worldwide, the onset of the pandemic induced a negative turn in sentiment 4.7 times as large as the traditional weekend-Monday gap. Thus the early pandemic months were like a really, really bad Monday, on aggregate, globally, for social media users.

The takeaway here is that the pandemic itself caused a huge emotional toll, four to five times the variation in sentiment observed in a normal week." Siqi Zheng, MIT professor and co-author of a new paper

The paper, "Global evidence of expressed sentiment alterations during the Covid-19 pandemic," appears in Nature Human Behaviour.

The authors are Jianghao Wang, an associate professor at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, in Beijing; Yichun Fan, a PhD candidate in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and the Sustainable Urbanization Lab (SUL); Juan Palacios, a postdoc at the MIT Center for Real Estate and SUL; Yuchen Chai, a researcher at DUSP and SUL; Nicolas Guetta-Jeanrenaud, a graduate student in the MIT Technology and Policy Program (TPP); Nick Obradovich, a senior research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in the Center for Humans and Machines; Chenghu Zhou; and Zheng, who is the Samuel Tak Lee Champion Professor of Urban and Real Estate Sustainability at MIT and faculty director of the MIT Center for Real Estate and SUL.

To conduct the study, the researchers examined 654 million location-identified social media posts from Twitter in about 100 countries. The posts appeared between Jan. 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020, an early phase of the global pandemic.

The researchers used natural-language processing software to evaluate the content of the social media, and examined the language of pandemic-period posts in relation to historical norms. Having previously studied the effects of pollution, extreme weather, and natural disasters on public sentiment, they found that the pandemic produced bigger changes in mood than those other circumstances.

"The reaction to the pandemic was also three to four times the change in response to extreme temperatures," Fan observes. "The pandemic shock is even larger than the days when there is a hurricane in a region."

The biggest drops in sentiment occurred in Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Colombia. The countries least affected by the pandemic in these terms were Bahrain, Botswana, Greece, Oman, and Tunisia.

The study also revealed a potentially surprising fact about temporary lockdown policies -; namely, that lockdowns did not appear to have much of an effect on the public mood.

"You can't expect lockdowns to have the same effect on every country, and the distribution of responses is quite wide," says Fan. "But we found the responses actually largely centered around a very small positive reaction [to lockdowns].  It's definitely not the overwhelmingly negative impact on people that might be expected."

As to why people might have reacted like this, Zheng says, "On the one hand, lockdown policies might make people feel secure, and not as scared. On the other hand, in a lockdown when you cannot have social activities, it's another emotional stress. The impact of lockdown policies perhaps runs in two directions."

Because many factors might concurrently affect public sentiment during a lockdown, the researchers compared the mood of countries during lockdowns to those with similar characteristics that simultaneously did not enact the same policies.

The scholars also evaluated patterns of sentiment recovery during the early 2020 period, finding that some countries took as long as 29 days to erase half of the dropoff in sentiment they experienced; 18 percent of countries did not recover to their prepandemic sentiment level.

The new paper is part of the Global Sentiment project in Zheng's Sustainable Urbanization Lab, which studies public sentiment as expressed through social media, rather than public-opinion polling.

"The traditional approach is to use surveys to measure well-being or happiness," Zheng observes. "But a survey has smaller sample size and low frequency. This a real-time measure of people's sentiment."

The MIT researchers were supported in part by the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness; support for the other researchers was in part provided by the National Science Foundation of China and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel have been more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than other segments of the Israeli population. A variety of reasons might be responsible for this. Professor Yossi David of the Department of Communication of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) is investigating, among other things, the role of digital media in the health and safety practices of these religious communities. As evidenced by the study now published, using new media can make a significant difference in improving compliance with government health guidelines. The study is based on a representative survey of 500 ultra-Orthodox Israeli adults conducted during the second COVID-19 wave in the fall of 2020, i.e., before vaccinations were available.

Study participants who accessed certain websites and social media were more likely to adhere to government health guidelines, such as wearing a mask. This suggests that in times of crisis digital media can promote safer behavior in authoritarian communities." Professor Yossi David

He conducted the survey together with Dr. Baruch Shomron, a postdoctoral fellow in his group at Mainz University. The research has now been published in New Media & Society.

Ultra-Orthodox communities contributed significantly to the incidence of infection in Israel

The high COVID-19 mortality in Israel in 2020 can be partially explained by the disproportionate number of ultra-Orthodox community members tested positive. The Ultra-Orthodox community members are about 13 percent of Israel's population, but they accounted for 28 to 37 percent of all COVID-19 cases. In the ultra-Orthodox population, the mortality due to COVID-19 was six times higher among the elderly generation (60 years of age and older) than among the same population in the rest of Israel during 2020. A variety of reasons have been proposed for explanation. It has been suggested that people in this group perhaps failed to comply with government COVID-19 regulations, such as the prohibition of attending weddings or funerals, while another suggestion points to cramped housing conditions and a lack of health information.

"With this in mind, we wanted to investigate how the danger posed by high COVID-19 case rates could be mitigated by information and communication technologies," explained Professor Yossi David. Modern technology is used far less frequently in ultra-Orthodox groups than in the rest of Israel. There are 1.2 million members of ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel leading a secluded life, following Jewish-Orthodox laws, and distancing themselves from Western influences. Rabbis oversee many aspects of daily life, including the adoption or use of new technologies. As cell phones became ever more ubiquitous in everyday life, rabbinical committees eventually approved so-called kosher devices, which allow people to make phone calls but not to access other functions such as text messaging or the Internet. The community's traditional media - print media and radio - are also supervised by rabbis and adhere to ultra-Orthodox rules, online news websites are prohibited.

Only 47 percent of participants in the study with Internet access at home

The study conducted by JGU Israel Professor Yossi David and Baruch Shomron was based on a survey of 500 Jewish ultra-Orthodox Israelis at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in November 2020. Half of the participants were men and half were women, with an average age of 40. The interviews were conducted by the Askaria polling company, which specializes in conducting surveys among the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel.

The findings reveal that women were more likely than men to follow government health regulations, such as wearing a face mask, observing social distancing rules, or complying with hygiene measures. In addition, acceptance of COVID-19 regulations increased with age, while no association was found with socioeconomic status or level of education. The use of digital media varied: Almost all respondents, 99 percent, owned a cell phone, but 419 people or 84 percent said they used only a 'kosher' device. Only 47 percent of respondents had Internet access at home - a finding consistent with data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. News websites were accessed by 20 percent, but only 8 percent read mainstream Israeli news websites. Thirteen percent use social media.

Investigating whether the use of digital media could reveal something about compliance with government health regulations, the following picture emerged: Ultra-Orthodox individuals who frequently used the Internet either for study purposes or for essential websites and apps - such as for e-banking - were more likely to comply with COVID-19 rules. In contrast, using the Internet for work, e-mail, online shopping, or other purposes has no such effect. In addition, the study found that individuals who used social media were more likely to follow COVID-19 rules than participants who did not. Finally, communications researchers David and Shomron found that reading mainstream Israeli online media contribute to the level of adhering to the government health guidelines, while ultra-Orthodox websites did not.

Health communication needs to be adapted to the needs of the population

"Health communication needs to be adapted to the needs of all segments of society, to their media habits and cultural beliefs," concluded Yossi David and Baruch Shomron. "In times of national and international emergencies, digital media could serve as an effective means of communicating with authoritarian and closed-off communities, including those that reject science and spread conspiracy theories, extreme right-wing groups, and conservative, insulated religious groups."

Since October 2018, communication researcher Yossi David has held the Israel Professorship at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, which was established at the Department of Communication. Before coming to Mainz as the first Israel Professor in Communication Science, David worked in the field of political communication and empirical methodologies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Daytime napping among older people is a normal part of aging  but it may also foreshadow Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. And once dementia or its usual precursor, mild cognitive impairment, are diagnosed, the frequency and/or duration of napping accelerates rapidly, according to a new study.

The study, led by UC San Francisco and Harvard Medical School together with Brigham and Women's Hospital, its teaching affiliate, departs from the theory that daytime napping in older people serves merely to compensate for poor nighttime sleep. Instead, it points to work by other UCSF researchers suggesting that dementia may affect the wake-promoting neurons in key areas of the brain, the researchers state in their paper publishing March 17, 2022, in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

We found the association between excessive daytime napping and dementia remained after adjusting for nighttime quantity and quality of sleep." Yue Leng, MD, PhD, co-senior author, UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

"This suggested that the role of daytime napping is important itself and is independent of nighttime sleep," said Leng, who partnered with Kun Hu, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, in senior-authoring the paper.

Watch-like devices, annual evaluations used to measure naps, cognition

In the study, the researchers tracked data from 1,401 seniors, who had been followed for up to 14 years by the Rush Memory and Aging Project at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago. The participants, whose average age was 81 and of whom approximately three-quarters were female, wore a watch-like device that tracked mobility. Each prolonged period of non-activity from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. was interpreted as a nap.

The device was worn every year continuously for up to 14 days, and once a year each participant underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests to evaluate cognition. At the start of the study 75.7% of participants had no cognitive impairment, while 19.5% had mild cognitive impairment and 4.1% had Alzheimer's disease.

For participants who did not develop cognitive impairment, daily daytime napping increased by an average 11 minutes per year. The rate of increase doubled after a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment to a total of 24 minutes and nearly tripled to a total of 68 minutes after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

When the researchers looked at the 24% of participants who had normal cognition at the start of the study but developed Alzheimer's six years later, and compared them with those whose cognition remained stable, they found differences in napping habits. Participants who napped more than an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who napped less than an hour a day; and participants who napped at least once a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who napped less than once a day.

The research confirms the results of a 2019 study, of which Leng was the first author, that found older men who napped two hours a day had higher odds of developing cognitive impairment that those who napped less than 30 minutes a day. The current study builds on these findings by evaluating both daytime napping and cognition each year, hence addressing directionality, Leng notes.

Loss of wake-promoting neurons may account for longer naps

According to the researchers, increase in napping may be explained by a further 2019 study, by other UCSF researchers, comparing the postmortem brains of people with Alzheimer's disease to those without cognitive impairment. Those with Alzheimer's disease were found to have fewer wake-promoting neurons in three brain regions. These neuronal changes appear to be linked to tau tangles  a hallmark of Alzheimer's, characterized by increased activity of enzymes causing the protein to misfold and clump.

"It is plausible that our observed associations of excessive daytime napping at baseline, and increased risk for Alzheimer's disease during follow-up, may reflect the effect of Alzheimer's disease pathology at preclinical stages," the authors noted.

The study shows for the first time that napping and Alzheimer's disease "seem to be driving each other's changes in a bi-directional way," said Leng, who is also affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. "I don't think we have enough evidence to draw conclusions about a causal relationship, that it's the napping itself that caused cognitive aging, but excessive daytime napping might be a signal of accelerated aging or cognitive aging process," she said.

"It would be very interesting for future studies to explore whether intervention of naps may help slow down age-related cognitive decline."
A recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server assessed the role of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, respiratory symptoms, and epithelial damage.

Various reports have highlighted the ability of respiratory viruses like influenza, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus in inducing anaerobic glycolysis via HIF-1-activation. This suggests a potential role of SARS-CoV-2 in manipulating this pathway.

About the study

The present study investigated the effect of the HIF signaling pathway on SARS-CoV-2 replication, epithelial damage, and the manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory symptoms.

The study involved golden Syrian hamsters aged between six and eight weeks who were randomly grouped and individually housed within a containment level 3 facility. Each group had an equal number of female and male animals. For the study, three groups with six hamsters each were formed. The oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor roxadustat (FG-4592) was administered twice daily.

The pre-infection treatment began 24 hours before drug administration while the post-infection treatment began 24 hours post-administration. The two treatment groups were monitored for four days after infection. The control group was treated as per the pre-infection group and treated with the vehicle only. SARS-CoV-2 was injected in all the groups via intranasal instillation.

Temperatures and weights of the animals were monitored daily while the visual inspection was performed twice daily, with symptoms like wasp-waist, ruffled hair, hunched back, or laborious breathing recorded. Nasal washes and throat swabs were collected on the first, second, and fourth days post-infection. The animals were euthanized on the fourth day and tissue samples were collected for virology and pathology assays. Direct intranasal challenge studies were also performed on groups of six hamsters.

Viral infectivity was assessed by a plaque assay using throat swabs, nasal washes, or lung homogenates. Furthermore, viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from throat swabs or nasal washes. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to quantify the extracted viral RNA. RNA was also extracted from the homogenized lung to perform polyadenylated RNA (polyA)-enriched transcriptome sequencing. The samples also underwent immunoblotting while the SARS-CoV-2 RNAs were visualized by northern blotting.

Results

The results showed a significant decrease in animal body temperature and weight in all the treatment groups while no marked differences were noted in the two values between the groups. The onset of laborious breathing was the first sign of disease as observed on day 2 after infection which increased in occurrences by day 4 in the control cohort. Also, a significant increase in the clinical score was found in FG-4592-treated animals, especially in the post-infection animal group.

Furthermore, labored breathing was observed in all the control group animals, in two out of the six pre-infection treatment group animals, and in none of the post-infection treatment group animals.

Terminal blood samples had a higher reticulocyte count as compared to the control group samples, indicating efficient drug treatment. Also, a reduction in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was observed in the lungs of the hamsters treated with the drug. The team also noted similar HIF activation in both the treated groups, indicating comparable responses from the animals. Overall, the study showed that the drug was well tolerated while also activating HIF responses and reducing SARS-CoV-2 symptoms.

The study detected high viral RNA levels and infectious SARS-CoV-2 in the throat swabs and nasal washes after day 1 in the post-infection treatment group, which reduced over time. Animals pre-treated with the drug had reduced infectious viral burden on the second day post-infection. Also, a reduced viral burden was observed in post-infection group animals after day 4. However, the viral RNA levels remained unchanged in the nasal or throat samples.

The levels of sub-genomic (sg) RNAs and SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) transcripts were reduced in the treatment groups. Furthermore, northern blotting showed that FG-4592 treatment reduced the levels of viral transcripts and inhibited expression of the N protein which provided evidence for the HIF antiviral activity. Also, viral sequences were retained in the genome in both treated and control tissues, indicating a lack of effect of the drug on SARS-CoV-2 sequences.

Sequencing the lung tissue obtained from treated and control animals showed that the drug caused significant changes in the form of up-regulated inflammation pathways and down-regulated genes involved in the assembly and organization of epithelial cilium. Also, the down-regulation of ciliated gene expression was less pronounced in the post-infection treatment group.

Conclusion

The study findings showed that treatment using FG-4592 before or after SARS-CoV-2 infection sufficiently reduced the SARS-CoV-2 viral burden and recovered the loss of epithelial cilia. This contributed to better clinical outcomes for COVID-19 infections. The researchers believed that this study highlighted HIF antiviral properties that may provide new therapeutic opportunities against SARS-CoV-2 infections.

*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.
The different "languages" used by viruses will be investigated by a new research project at the University of Exeter.

Recent research has shown that many phages (viruses that affect bacteria) use "molecular communication" to coordinate infections  deciding when to lie dormant and when to replicate in infected cells.

Professor Edze Westra will lead a team to investigate this further, supported by a new grant of two million euros from the European Research Council (ERC).

Phages are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, and phage therapy offers a promising alternative to antibiotics.

"I am absolutely delighted that my ERC Consolidator Grant proposal has been selected for funding," said Professor Westra, of the Environment and Sustainability Institute at Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

"This will enable me to work on one of the most exciting areas in virology for the next five years, to understand why and how viruses communicate with one another".

He added: "Different phages use different communication molecules to coordinate infections, effectively causing them to speak different languages.

"The discovery that viruses can communicate to make group decisions about their infection strategy raises many pressing questions.

"How widespread is the ability of viruses to communicate? Why do not all viruses communicate? What drives the diversification of viral communication systems?"

The team will combine theoretical, experimental and observational approaches to address these questions, making this the first research project to address the evolutionary ecology of viral communication systems.

The ERC has announced a total of 313 new Consolidator Grants, with funding of 632 million euros.

The grants will support mid-career researchers and will help them consolidate their teams and conduct pioneering research.

Part of the EU's Horizon Europe programme, this new round of grants will create an estimated 1,900 jobs for postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and other staff at 189 host institutions.
In a recent comment published in Nature Reviews Microbiology, researchers raised concern regarding the emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with unpredictable severity and immune evasion potential due to its ongoing fast-paced antigenic evolution.

Lower severity of Omicron could be a coincidence

The high transmissibility, availability of several animal host reservoirs, the phenomenon of waning immunity, and more importantly, antigenic evolution contribute to the continued persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. Accordingly, the researchers argued that SARS-CoV-2 is all set for continuous circulation in humans, and milder infectivity of its new variant of concern (VOC) Omicron could merely be a coincidence.

Predicting the virulence of a pathogen is complex, and typically evolutionary pressure does not select against it. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, although disease severity manifested late in infection, only after its transmission attained a peak, it does not suggest that the lower severity of Omicron is a good predictor for future variants.

Perhaps the prospect of future VOCs featuring the potentially devastating combination of the ability to re-infect due to immune escape along with high virulence is regrettably realistic. The notion that widespread vaccine or infection-induced immunity will eventually result in herd immunity and guarantee milder SARS-CoV-2 infections in the future also seems quite unrealistic from the standpoint of the antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2.

As the viral antigenic profile will adapt in response to host immune pressures resulting in immune escape, the immune system will not be able to prevent severe disease. On a population level, it would increase the rates of re-infection and disease severity. Omicron's rapid emergence remarkably demonstrated how SARS-CoV-2 is capable of considerable antigenic escape over a relatively short period.

Omicron, featuring at least 50 new amino acid mutations, is highly antigenically divergent from the original ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 strain and other VOCs of SARS-CoV-2. It has rapidly spread and evaded already waning immunity to cause breakthrough infections in vaccinated and previously-infected individuals alike. Omicron's genetic divergence and functional significance of this divergence were demonstrated by the increasing proportion of its BA.2 lineage.

Evolutionary evidence of antigenic divergence of yet to emerge SARS-CoV-2 variants

Three earlier SARS-CoV-2 VOCs - Beta, Gamma, and Delta - also featured immune escape mutations, and there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this evolution is coming to a halt anytime soon. As per the evolutionary theory, these VOCs are the tip of the evolutionary iceberg. Several SARS-CoV-2 lineages, highly divergent from each other and with increased immune evasion capabilities, are ready to emerge over time.

Another fascinating aspect of the antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is that it is increasingly optimizing its transmissibility (R t ) by refining its ability to re-infect immunized individuals and less via being infectious. Earlier SARS-CoV-2 VOCs were 50% more infectious than their predecessors, including the Alpha and Delta VOCs, as a fitter virus is the one that transmits to the maximum number of hosts, and this was possible only by becoming more infectious. However, it was unfeasible in a highly immune population.

Accordingly, as the human population transitioned to high levels of immunity, SARS-CoV-2 accelerated the rates of antigenic evolution, and Omicron, with its extraordinary ability to re-infect immune individuals, best exemplified this evolutionary strategy.

However, the emergence of a less virulent strain does not imply that the SARS-CoV-2-induced pandemic is approaching its end. Once Omicron infects the majority of individuals, another variant, highly antigenically divergent from Omicron, might emerge as immune escape needs to adapt to continually changing targets.

Although at present, it is impossible to predict the time of emergence or antigenic and viral properties of future SARS-CoV-2 variants, a more infectious VOC would most likely replace Omicron along with the features that contribute to its lower severity. Notably, Omicron preferentially infected the upper respiratory tract (not the lung tissue) and showed a reduced tendency to induce cell-cell fusion.

Intriguingly, molecular clock analysis had predicted the split of Omicron from its predecessors a year before its actual epidemic emergence. Thus, suggesting that other antigenically divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants have already arrived or are currently forming and will soon emerge.

Conclusions

There is an urgent need to dissect the mechanisms, circumstances, and factors contributing to the generation of antigenically divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. More specifically, it is crucial to examine patterns of antigenic evolution in immune-deficient individuals and animal species residing close to humans, which could be SARS-CoV-2 animal reservoirs. Such understanding will enable a more reliable evaluation of the future burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans and accordingly prepare mitigation and intervention strategies.
In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers tested the effectiveness of the Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected Syrian hamsters.

Background

The need to constantly review the currently available vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is critical from the viewpoint that its novel variants are capable of causing breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 may never be eradicated and continue to evolve with multiple lineages, so repetitive vaccination campaigns with increasingly effective vaccines will be required in the future, as is the case with the influenza virus.

Several past works have demonstrated the ability of the BCG vaccine to induce heterologous immunity. Accordingly, several human clinical trials launched in early 2020 evaluated the efficacy of the BCG vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

One such study reported that immunization with BCG reduced the risk of COVID-19 diagnoses by approximately 68% compared to unvaccinated controls. Further, BCG is a well-established vaccine adjuvant with the potential to boost the immunogenicity of protein subunit, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and viral vector-based vaccines in preclinical trials.

Overall, studies evaluating BCG as a COVID-19 vaccine alone or in combination with other licensed vaccines could fetch promising results and are most urgently warranted.

About the study

In the current study, researchers evaluated the impact of intravenous BCG vaccination in SARS-CoV-2-infected golden Syrian hamsters, particularly their lung viral titers and tissue pathology.

They made three groups with 13 hamsters for the study analysis. They immunized three animals with the BCG vaccine (group 1), group 2 had four SARS-CoV-2-infected animals (two infected on day four and two on day seven), and group 3 had six animals vaccinated with BCG and later challenged with SARS-CoV-2 (three on day four and three on day seven). They used a higher dose of BCG vaccine (5x106 colony-forming units (CFU)), a higher SARS-CoV-2 challenge dose (5x105 plaque-forming units (PFU)), and sacrificed the test animals on day four, at peak infection.

According to the authors, this is the first study to use droplet-based single-cell ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing (scRNAseq) to obtain a higher resolution of pulmonary immune responses linked to BCG immunization during SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lungs of the test animals. For analysis of cell populations, the research team used flow cytometry supplemented scRNAseq. The team performed scRNAseq on 194,536 cells, and after filtering out low-quality cells, including red blood cells, and doublets, they analyzed 112,928 cells.

They analyzed 11,249, 8,643, and 7,434 cells per test animal in BCG-vaccinated lungs, SARS-CoV-2-infected lungs, and BCG vaccinated + SARS-CoV-2-infected lungs, respectively. For experimental evaluations, they used histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT).

Study findings

The study analysis showed that the BCG vaccination prevented SARS-CoV-2 replication at the time of peak infection in test animals, as indicated by median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID 50 ) values of lung homogenates. Further, it reduced the probability of contracting bronchopneumonia on days four and seven.

The authors noted an association of BCG vaccination with the appearance of macrophages in the lungs of the test animals. Further, it diminished T cell lymphopenia in the lungs and decreased granulocyte lung infiltration.

The scRNAseq data revealed that BCG vaccination four weeks before the SARS-CoV-2 challenge shifted cell populations in lungs and associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) expression. Accordingly, BCG accelerated the induction of immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells in the lung and overall antibody production against SARS-CoV-2.

The authors also observed elevated CD4+ T cell levels, including T helper type 1 (Th1) and regulatory T cells (Treg). These cells express high levels of type I interferon (IFN)-associated genes in the lungs of vaccinated animals, suggesting BCG has immuno-tolerizing activity. BCG's ability to shift several cell types from expressing IFN-associated genes further demonstrates its immuno-tolerizing activity. Furthermore, BCG-vaccination led to decreased exhaustion scores in the gene expressions of some of these T lymphocytes.

Furthermore, scRNAseq revealed that the BCG vaccination recruited high levels of alveolar macrophages (AMs) to the lungs, cells associated with low inflammation potential, and pathogen clearance from the host body. However, upon the SARS-CoV-2 challenge, AM levels dropped in BCG-vaccinated animals.

A salutary immunologic effect of BCG prevented excess pro-inflammatory interstitial macrophage (IM) recruitment. Consequently, their populations were less in BCG-vaccinated animals. Further, they observed AM and IM that strongly expressed metabolic and repair genes in the lungs of BCG-vaccinated animals.

Conclusions

The study results suggested that BCG vaccination has a tolerizing effect on SARS-CoV-2-mediated lung inflammation and may overall accelerate antiviral antibody responses in mice. Using BCG vaccination with the existing COVID-19 vaccines could offer synergistic protection.

*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.
As SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve and outsmart existing treatments, scientists have not let up looking for ever-more effective tools to keep people safe and successfully recover from COVID-19, and to prepare for future outbreaks.

A long-time partnership between Texas Biomedical Research Institute Professor Luis Martinez-Sobrido and University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Professor James Kobie has resulted in the discovery of a promising treatment  one that the virus cannot so easily escape.

The collaborators found two antibodies that target different parts of the virus's spike protein and more importantly, block different steps required for viral infection.

"This cocktail has worked against all SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron, as well as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV  the two coronaviruses that caused past outbreaks," says Martinez-Sobrido. "Given that, we expect this antibody cocktail to also work against future coronavirus outbreaks as well."

The researchers recently shared a pre-print of their research paper describing the cocktail. The first antibody targets the top of the spike protein, which helps block the virus from entering a person's cells. It is similar to other antibody treatments, but continues to work against the latest variants, while others have not. The second antibody targets a lower section of the spike protein, which helps block the virus from fusing with the cell's membrane and releasing its genetic material into the cell.

This second antibody has the potential to be a game changer because it is targeting a much more stable section of coronaviruses that has been conserved, or remains the same, in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV through all the variants of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron. SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve throughout the pandemic, as is typical and expected of any virus. Some of those mutations have meant other antibodies can no longer latch on and neutralize the virus. But if SARS-CoV-2 mutates this stable lower section of the spike's stem, it will not be able to replicate inside its host, and would die out. "It is the Achilles' heel of the virus," says Tracey Baas, Innovations Manager at Texas Biomed and manager for the Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio.

The antibodies were found in the serum of recovered COVID-19 patients. The UAB team collected blood samples for research with patients' informed consent, and screened them for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. The UAB team then replicated the antibodies in large enough quantities so they could be used in multiple studies. Those antibodies were sent to Texas Biomed, where researchers tested them against the virus in biosafety laboratories, first in cells and then in small animal models, which were established or validated at Texas Biomed. The team was able to see the results in cells and animal models in real time using fluorescent viruses they developed.

"We have tested hundreds and hundreds of antibodies since the start of the pandemic," Martinez-Sobrido says. "But all that effort paid off by identifying these two novel antibodies that target different parts of the spike protein, making for an extremely effective, broad-spectrum treatment."

UAB and Texas Biomed teamed up with Aridis Pharmaceuticals to develop successful antibody candidates into an inhaled treatment, much like inhalers for asthma. This delivery system promises to be low cost and easy to distribute because it can be self-administered.

Our researchers used their decades of experience to step back and look for solutions to tough problems. But we are not in the business of manufacturing treatments; we partner with industry to quickly translate discoveries made in our labs into approved products to treat people." Cory Hallam, VP of Business Development, Texas Biomed

Texas Biomed is actively working with Aridis to identify potential manufacturing partners that can produce the treatments, so they can move into human clinical trials.

The antibodies have many promising applications, by treating those who fall ill around the world, and by providing antibodies to people who have trouble creating their own even though they have been vaccinated.

"Right now, we don't have a sterilizing vaccine for COVID-19 like we do for polio, so these antibodies help complete the package of prevention and treatment," Hallam says.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently awarded Aridis, in collaboration with Texas Biomed and UAB, nearly $2 million to develop low cost, inhaled antibody treatments for COVID-19, the flu and other infectious pathogens. Some of that funding will support continued research, development and testing at Texas Biomed, including studies to ensure the cocktail remains effective as new variants emerge.
The zine "MoodRing" features the artwork and writing from local teens. The launch party will be held at the Carnegie Center this Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m.
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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 574-583-5121 or email cgrace@thehj.com.
World Bank provides 750 mln USD to spur Kenya's post-pandemic growth

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(Newser)  A Northern California man who admitted to taking two bear cubs from their den and notified officials after he was unable to care for them pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited species, wildlife officials said. Cody Dylon Setzer, 29, and a co-worker who has not been identified and cooperated with authorities took the month-old bears from their den in a tree that had fallen across a forest road, said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, per the AP. Setzer contacted wildlife officers on March 9, 2019, and told them he had found the baby bears along Highway 263 north of Yreka in Siskiyou County. His story later unraveled.

The den site was located east of Salt Creek and Interstate 5 in Shasta County, about 90 miles south of where Setzer said he had found them. The cubs' mother was never located. The bear cubs were taken to CDFWs Wildlife Health Laboratory in Rancho Cordova and later turned over for rehabilitation to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, which said they were the youngest ever brought into its facility. The cubs were returned to their native habitat in Shasta County on April 28, 2020, after growing old enough to survive on their own, the department said.

Setzer pleaded guilty in Siskiyou Superior Court to possession of a prohibited species and obstructing a peace officer in the course of his duties. He was ordered to pay $2,290 in fines and fees and complete 200 hours of community service. Setzer was also placed on probation for 12 months with his hunting and fishing privileges suspended for the duration of his probation, and sentenced to 90 days in the county jail, which will be stayed if he successfully completes probation, the department said.

(Read more bears stories.)
(Newser)  Arnold Schwarzenegger is back with another heartfelt video message, this time to the people of Russiaa country where Schwarzenegger is hugely popular, per the New York Times. Russian President Vladimir Putin even follows Schwarzenegger on Twitter, one of just 22 accounts he follows. In a more than 9-minute-long video posted to multiple social media channels, the bodybuilder, actor, and former governor of California says he's loved Russia and Russians ever since meeting bodybuilder Yuri Petrovich Vlasov when Schwarzenegger was just 14. He goes on to tell the Russian people they're being lied to about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While some of the services Schwarzenegger posted to are blocked in Russia, Telegram is not, and the video, which is subtitled in Russian, had more than 500,000 views on that app so far, the AP reports.

Schwarzenegger says those putting themselves at risk to protest in Russia are his new heroes, and goes on to combat the disinformation Russia is spreading. "I know that your government has told you this is a war to de-Nazify Ukraine. This is not true. De-Nazify Ukraine? It is a country with a Jewish presidenta Jewish president, I might add, whose fathers three brothers were all murdered by the Nazis," Schwarzenegger says. "Ukraine did not start this war. Neither did nationalists or Nazis. Those in power in the Kremlin started this civil war; this is not the Russian peoples war." He runs down the UN vote that overwhelmingly found Russia to be the aggressor, the harsh sanctions placed on Russia, and the actions taken by Russia in Ukraine, including shelling a children's hospital and a maternity hospital.

"Youre also not being told the truth about the consequences of this war for Russia itself. I regret to tell you that thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed. Theyve been caught between Ukrainians fighting for their homeland and the Russian leadership fighting for conquest," Schwarzenegger says, adding that some Russian soldiers were told they would be fighting Nazis or protecting ethnic Russians in Ukraine; others were told they'd be greeted as heroes in Ukraine; and others weren't even told they were going to war, but rather to participate in military exercises. "None of this was true. Russian soldiers have faced fierce resistance from the Ukrainians who want to protect their families." The full text is here. Schwarzenegger's rep says the actor and his team wrote the statement and it was fact-checked by retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. (Read more Arnold Schwarzenegger stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden has said he expects to run for reelection, but much of the nation doesn't think he will. Certain Democratic governors and members of Congress aren't so sure, either, so they're starting to talk, out of earshot, about the 2024 presidential primaries, Politico reports. One possible candidate who's being mentioned favorably by people in Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders' orbitthe progressive wing of the partyis Rep. Ro Khanna. "It's crystal-clear that Ro Khanna is a part of the next generation of progressive leadership in America," said Joe Caiazzo, a Democratic consultant.

Jeff Weaver and Mark Longabaugh, former Sanders advisers, have encouraged Khanna to think about launching a campaign if Biden steps aside. One snag is that Khanna has said, "I'm not running in 2024." The California lawmaker said that he expects Biden to run and that he'll support him. If Biden drops out, Khanna said there are other Democrats who could win and whom he could back. But the son of Indian immigrants didn't rule out the election after that. "After the '24 cycle will be a time where America will start to look to the future," Khanna said. In addition to not wanting to appear to be elbowing Biden aside, Democrats hesitate to speak publicly about an open race to avoid offending Vice President Kamala Harris, though some of them doubt she could win.

"I think Ro would be a very effective candidate," Longabaugh said. "This guy has a message thats very powerful." Khanna, who represents a Silicon Valley district, says he's a "progressive capitalist." He wants to see high-paying technology jobs everywhere else in the nation, as well, per Politico, partly made possible by the jump in remote working. "Ro has a clear vision of both protecting America's status as a multiracial democracy and bringing economic opportunity from the coasts to every corner of the country," said Neil Makhija of the civic group Indian American Impact. Khanna's co-chair for Sanders' 2020 campaign likes the idea. "I think it would be great to have a President Ro," said Ben Cohen. "Hes just an honest, sincere guy." (Read more Ro Khanna stories.)
(Newser)  NATO officials have confirmed three Russian generals are among the estimated 7,000 Russian military members to die in Ukraine"a shocking number," former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul tells the New York Times. And Ukrainian officials reported the death of a fourth general on Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Oleg Mityaev was killed Tuesday near Mariupol, an advisor to Ukraine's Interior Ministry said. The advisor, Anton Gerashchenko, shared a photo of what he said was Mityaev's body, per Insider. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seemed to refer to it Tuesday, saying "one more general is among the killed invaders."

Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky was reportedly killed by a sniper on March 3, per the BBC; Maj. Gen. Vitaly Gerasimov was killed near Kharkiv on March 7; and Maj. Gen. Andrey Kolesnikov was killed on March 11. In one case, "the Ukrainians intercepted a general's call, geolocated it, and attacked his location, killing him and his staff," US military officials tell the Times, noting many generals are using unsecured phones and radios. Ukraine released audio purportedly of Russian soldiers discussing Gerasimov's death and complaining of problems with their secure communications network, the BBC reports.

Ukrainian military intelligence special operations forces are specifically hunting Russias officer class, per the Wall Street Journal, with what appears to be great success. There were thought to be 20 Russian generals in Ukraine, meaning 20% of them have reportedly been killed. "Losses like this affect morale and unit cohesion, especially since these soldiers don't understand why they're fighting," Evelyn Farkas, the top Pentagon official for Russia and Ukraine under President Obama, tells the Times. "Your overall situational awareness decreases." Russian President Vladimir Putin has only acknowledged the death of Sukhovetsky, but experts believe Russians will come to understand the true toll of the war as virtual private networks allow some to sidestep censorship efforts. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday and set out "precise demands" for a peace deal, according to an Erdogan spokesman. Ibrahim Kalin, the Turkish leader's chief adviser, told the BBC's John Simpson that the first four demands would be "not too difficult" for Ukraine to meet, including an agreement to become a neutral country and undergo a disarmament process. Kalin told Simpson, however, that a second set of demands would require face-to-face negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Simpson says Kalin, who was on the call with Putin, provided less detail about the second set of demands, but hinted that they would involve Ukraine giving up territory controlled by pro-Russia separatists in the east of the country and formally accepting that Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, is now Russian territory. Still, the demands scarcely seem worth the "violence, bloodshed and destruction which Russia has visited on Ukraine," Simpson says.

While both side have reported progress in talks this week, Zelensky said early Friday that he would not discuss Ukraine's negotiation tactics, the AP reports. "Working more in silence than on television, radio, or on Facebook, he said. I consider it the right way. Zelensky thanked President Biden for the additional military aid. He said that when Russia invaded on Feb. 24, it was expecting a victory as easy as in 2014, when it seized Crimea without a fight, but it "didnt know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow. Russia's assault on Ukrainian cities continued Friday, with shells hitting cities including Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, where missiles hit facilities near the airport. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  Update: The Russian journalist who protested the invasion of Ukraine in very public fashion has landed a new job but is staying in her native country. Marina Ovsyannikova has been hired by German media outlet Die Welt and will report from Russia and Ukraine, reports the BBC. The 43-year-old was fined for her earlier protest, and she faces the possibility of a more severe penalty, even prison, by defying the Kremlin's official talking points about the Ukraine war. Our earlier story from March 17 follows:

Marina Ovsyannikova initially protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the streets of Moscow, per France 24. Then her son hid her car keys over concerns she could be arrested, reports the Wall Street Journal. If the thought of that fate scared Ovsyannikova, it didn't show Monday as the TV producer at state-controlled Channel One took her protest to work. As the live evening news broadcast began, the mother of two got up from her desk, flashed her ID badge as she passed two security checkpoints and a guard at the studio door, then moved in front of the camera with a poster warning the millions of viewers that they were being fed propaganda about a wara crime imprisonable by up to 15 years under a new Russian law.

In doing so, Ovsyannikova "transformed herself from a self-described cog in Russian President Vladimir Putin's messaging machine into one of the most visible and daring dissidents opposed to his war," per the Journal. Met by executives outside the studio and subsequently handed over to police, she was fined for a video explaining her motivation. Police are still investigating the protest itself, for which the speaker of Russia's lower house of Parliament has proposed she be treated "with all severity." Meanwhile, Ovsyannikova is holed up in a secure location provided by her lawyers. She says she has no plans to leave Russia, though France has offered asylum and donors have provided enough funds for her entire family to flee.

"Anyone interested in the bright future of this country needs to be hereeven if for 15 years behind bars," says Ovsyannikova, who was born to a Ukrainian father and Russian mother in the Soviet Union, in what is now Ukraine. Ukrainians "chose their path, their direction toward Europe, to European values," she tells the Journal. "That's their choice. They are free people." Now, "we need to put an end to this fratricidal war so this madness does not turn into nuclear war," she adds, per France 24. "I hope when my son is older he will understand why I did this." She's certainly inspired others. At least four top journalists at state-run TV channels have resigned since her protest, per the Journal. Ovsyannikova has also resigned, per the Guardian. (Read more Russia stories.)
(Newser)  For almost a month, locals in Brazil's Amazonas state desperately scoured the rainforest in search of two young Indigenous brothers who'd vanished while trying to capture tiny birds. This week, a miracle: The BBC reports that a man from the village of Palmeira stumbled upon little Gleison Ferreira, 6, and his brother, 8-year-old Glauco, lying weak on the jungle floor, and their survival story is one for the books.

Per local media outlet Amazonia Real, emergency rescue workers gave up the search for the boys not even a week after they'd disappeared on Feb. 18right in the middle of rainy season in the Amazon, when it's difficult to move about the jungle. Residents didn't give up, however, and the search continuedbut it was a man cutting down trees who accidentally came across the boys on Tuesday after hearing their weak cries while working.

When he finally tracked them down, they were scratched up and starving, lying on the jungle floor. The brothers told their parents afterward they'd eaten nothing during their ordeal and survived by drinking rainwater. The boys, who were rushed to first one hospital, then another, will be treated for malnourishment, but both are expected to be OK. The BBC notes there have been similar stories of people lost in the Amazon rainforest before, including a pilot who survived 36 days after crashing. In 2008, a teen who'd gone missing while hunting was found alive after a staggering 50 days, but he died soon afterward. (Read more missing persons stories.)
(Newser)  Pope Francis has not failed to condemn the war in Ukrainehe denounced the "barbarianism of the killing of children" in an address last Sundaybut a lot of people, including some Catholic bishops, would like him to be a lot more specific in his condemnation. Francis has spoken out against "armed aggression" but he hasn't named Russia or its leader as the aggressor. That has some critics drawing parallels with Pope Pius XII, who denounced atrocities in general during World War II but did not speak out against the Nazis or Adolf Hitler, the New York Times reports.

Francis has also been urged to speak out against Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has described the invasion as "a very correct path," per the National Catholic Reporter, and referred to people being forced to participate in "gay parades." In 2016, Francis became the first pope to meet his Orthodox counterpart since the Great Schism a thousand years ago. The two religious leaders discussed the war in a video call Wednesday, but the two churches offered different accounts of the conversation, the AP reports. The Orthodox church said both men expressed hope for a "just peace," while the Vatican said Francis had rejected the idea of a "just war."

Historian David Kertzer tells the Times that the "current plight of the pope does recall the situation that Pius XII faced." Kertzer notes that Hitler and Mussolini claimed neutral language from the Vatican about a "just peace" justified their actions, and Francis "is, whether knowingly or not, at the moment lending himself to being used by the Russians to support their position." An editorial in Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano this week pushed back hard against critics, saying popes don't name aggressors, "not out of cowardice or an excess of diplomatic prudence, but in order not to close the door" and "leave open a crack" to the possibility of playing a role in peace talks. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  A theater company in Ukraine is expressing "irreparable grief" at the loss of one of the country's most respected actresses, who died in a rocket attack in or near the capital. The Young Theater announced the death of troupe member Oksana Shvets, believed to be 67, reports Variety. The Kyiv Post confirmed Shvets' death. "During the rocket shelling of a residential building in Kyiv, a well-deserving artist of Ukraine Oksana Shvets was killed," reads a statement from the theater. An India Today reporter notes it's not clear if Shvets died in the city of Kyiv, or on the outskirts, in the region known as the Kyiv Oblast.

Shvets, a well-known film and theater actor, was said to have belonged to the theater group for more than 40 years. She also enjoyed a long career on the silver screen. Born in 1955, Shvets studied at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater and the Kyiv State Institute of Theater Arts and went on to build up such an impressive resume that she was awarded the nation's Merited Artist of Ukraine award, which "is only bestowed upon those among the country's most accomplished performing artists," per Deadline.

CNN notes she's not the first entertainer to die in the Russian invasion: Movie star Pasha Lee also reportedly perished, after shelling in the city of Irpin, west of Kyiv. "Bright memory to the talented actress!" the Young Theater wrote in its statement posted to its Facebook page. "There is no forgiveness for the enemy that has come to our land!" (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  Jim Hill spent half of his time in the US and the other half in Ukraine, caring for his partner of more than a decade, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. It was his love for Ira that took him two hours north of Kyiv to Chernihiv, where he had found a doctor to administer medication brought from the US that would hopefully stabilize her condition, KARE reports. They were there as "indiscriminate bombing" started, as Hill informed friends on Facebook, per NPR. He noted Ira was in intensive care in a hospital with limited food and at times no heat. "We could try a break out tomorrow but Ira's mom doesnt want to," he wrote Monday. "Each day people are killed trying to escape. But bombs falling here at night." "Bombing has intensified noway out," he added Tuesday, in what would be his final post.

Hill, the second US citizen to die in Ukraine, "was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military (snipers)" on Thursday, sister Cheryl Hill Gordon wrote in a Facebook post, per NBC News. "His body was found in the street by the local police." Another sister, Katya Hill, tells KARE that the family received confirmation of the death though the US Embassy. She says the Minnesota native from Driggs, Idahowho lectured about forensic psychology at universities across Europewas going out daily to look for food for himself, Ira, and her mother, amid what he described as "a living nightmare." He was also trying to help a woman caring for four children near the hospital who provided him with internet.

"Jim's friends in Minnesota have described Jim as a dreamer and a helpera good person gone too soon," Sen. Amy Klobuchar says in a statement, per KARE. "I share in their heartbreak." Katya says it's hard not having a body to bury; the location of her brother's remains is unknown. "The hardest thing that we're going to have to go through is not having that kind of closure," she tells CNN. But "he was not going to leave Ira's side in her condition." As she tells KARE, "it's hard to find your soulmate, and that's how he referred to Ira." The family has been unable to reach Ira or her mother and presumes their phone has run out of battery. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
Commentary: Washington plays with fire by selling arms to Taiwan

Xinhua) 15:59, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Washington played with fire again recently by signing another arms deal worth 245 million U.S. dollars with Taiwan, a follow-up to its arms sale plan to the inalienable part of China's territory in December 2020.

Washington's flagrant move to advance arms sales to and military ties with the region is firmly opposed by China, as it seriously interferes in China's internal affairs, grossly violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and severely undermines China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The recent days have witnessed increasing instability and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait, the roots of which lie in Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities' growing military collusion with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence," and in Washington's continuous manipulation of the Taiwan question to suppress China.

Washington's repeated approvals of arms sales to Taiwan represent its habitual and dangerous provocation against China as well as its irresponsible and even hostile attitude towards regional peace and stability, and have sparked widespread concern among the international community.

"To avoid inflaming tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. needs to halt sales of weapons to Taiwan," Trevor Thrall, senior fellow for Washington-based think tank the Cato Institute, wrote in a commentary published on U.S. newspaper Defense News in August 2021, adding that U.S. arms sales are "sure to inflame tensions between Beijing and Washington, increasing the risk of conflict."

In 1982, China and the United States released the August 17 Communique concerning the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, in which Washington states that it "intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan." In the following joint communiques released in 2009 and 2011, Beijing and Washington reaffirmed their respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Washington states that it "abides by the principles of the three China-U.S. joint communiques."

Most recently, Washington has on multiple occasions reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy and pledged not to support Taiwan separatist forces in seeking so-called "independence."

However, it has brazenly reneged on its own words. Such inconsistency has seriously tarnished Washington's own political credit and harmed the international reputation of the United States.

Many ordinary people in Taiwan have become well aware of Washington's sinister intentions behind such arms sales: The U.S. politicians in the White House have long been ardent to sell weapons to Taiwan because they hope to use the old cheap trick to contain China's development while profiting hugely by playing the "Taiwan card."

In fact, Washington's arms sales to Taiwan are just one of the many living proofs of its scheme to make a wartime fortune by inciting confrontations. According to a report published Monday by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, against the backdrop of an overall decline in the global arms trade, U.S. weapons exports rose 14 percent in 2017-2021 compared to the previous five-year period.

The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations and concerns China's core interests. No provocation or threat would make China budge an inch.

It is high time that Washington recognized the sensitivity and peril of its arms sales to Taiwan, stopped playing the "Taiwan card," avoided sending more wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatists, and started to handle Taiwan-related issues prudently.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The COLIBRI Project, implemented by the WCO and funded by the European Union (EU), organized its first regional training event on the use of the Geoportal and the CENcomm for French-speaking beneficiary countries in West Africa. This train-the-trainer course took place in Dakar, Senegal, from 28 February to 4 March 2022.

The training course brought together the main authorities in charge of general aviation control from four different countries: Senegal, Cote dIvoire, Mauritania and Mali. Over the five days of the course, 26 participants from Customs, the Gendarmerie, Civil Aviation, the Air Force, Police and Airport Anti-Trafficking Units (CAAT) of the AIRCOP Project, as well as representatives of the WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) of West and Central Africa, built up knowledge and skills on the use of the Geoportal, the COLIBRI Projects geolocalization IT tool, and learned about its complementarity with the CENcomm, a key WCO tool for the secure exchange of messages in real time.

The workshop was introduced by Mr. Sylvain Raymond, WCO Drugs and Precursors Programme Manager, who emphasized the need to provide administrations with a tool to improve general aviation monitoring by mapping events such as controls and seizures.

The EU Delegation in Senegal was represented at the opening by the Regional Coordinator FPI 1 (Peace, Stability & Global Threats). Ms. Ilaria Mussetti, explained how general aviation has become an asset for criminal activities, representing a real risk for the security of the region. The EU representative also highlighted the essential role played by new technologies in enhancing surveillance in this sensitive aviation sector.

Mr. Birame Sidy Kane, Director of the RILO for West Africa, representing the Director General of Senegalese Customs, pointed out the importance of the Geoportal and, in particular, its resources, such as the library, which could be very useful for authorities responsible for aviation monitoring in order to reinforce their operational cooperation. The Director of the RILO for West Africa also commended the efforts of the WCO in providing secure operational IT tools to its Members, especially to the projects beneficiaries.

The first three days of the training course were devoted to the functionalities of the Geoportal. This IT tool allows users to map events such as seizures made and the occurrence of aircraft incidents and accidents, but also to take into account any clandestine infrastructures detected and any relevant information gathered during observations in the field. Participants learned how to use the COLIBRI mobile application to input data directly from the field during their daily monitoring activities. They were also able to familiarize themselves with all the features available in the Geoportal, such as the use of different filters and layers to analyse the nature of the soil or the physical features of the terrain in order to compile information about possible makeshift runways.

The final two days of the training course were devoted to the CENcomm. This WCO communication tool allows field officers from different agencies to exchange information with each other securely and in real time during operations. Participants explored its complementarity with the Geoportal, looking in particular at how its information regarding seizures and statistical breakdowns can be used to strengthen risk analysis in general aviation monitoring.

After the training event, participants are requested to organize the same course with a view to training their colleagues. Upon successfully completing this stage, participants will be awarded the WCO Train-the-Trainer Certificate.

The next regional training course on the use of the Geoportal, its features and the CENcomm will take place in Bogota, Colombia in May 2022. COLIBRI is planning a total of five regional training events, three in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and two in West and Central Africa (WCA).
(Newser)  On May 2, 1988, 2-year-old Mark Beyer was found wandering on his own in a San Diego-area apartment complex. His mother had been stabbed to death in their apartment. After 34 years, police have identified the killer, and Beyer, now 36, says he finally has closure"and closure is everything, even after so much time had passed." Authorities used forensic genealogy to identify Diane Dahn's killer as Warren Robertson, a tow truck driver who lived in the same complex, CBS reports. Robertson, who was never identified as a suspect in the initial investigation, died in a house fire in Indiana in 1999 at age 39.

Beyer said in a video statement said he was "blown away" by how investigators had managed to find the killer using DNA from a hair follicle found in his mother's hand. In a process crime intelligence analyst Jeffrey Vandersip describes as "extremely laborious," investigators found matches on genealogy websites and constructed nine family trees with nearly 1,300 people connected to Robertson. The sheriff's office says direct relatives helped the investigation by providing DNA samples. The motive is still unknown. Investigators say Dahn, 29, may have known Robertson from a shared interest in stock car races, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Dahn was not sexually assaulted and Robertson, who left his family soon after the murder, had a record of low-level crimes against property but no history of violent crimes. Beyer was adopted by a family friend and continued to see his grandparents and aunt, but he says he still often felt alone, NBC San Diego reports. "She was a good person. Everything Ive ever been told and heard about her is that she was a good person, and I like to think that those values have transferred off to me and I do my best to be a good person," he says. "The world could always use more good people." (Read more cold cases stories.)
(Newser)  The editorial board of the New York Times generated a lot of conversation on Friday with a lengthy piece under the headline "America Has a Free Speech Problem." The editorial criticizes both the left and the right for being in "a destructive loop of condemnation and recrimination around cancel culture." A key point:

"Many on the left refuse to acknowledge that cancel culture exists at all, believing that those who complain about it are offering cover for bigots to peddle hate speech. Many on the right, for all their braying about cancel culture, have embraced an even more extreme version of censoriousness as a bulwark against a rapidly changing society, with laws that would ban books, stifle teachers, and discourage open discussion in classrooms."

The essay, based on a poll done for the paper by the Siena College Research Institute, notes that the editorial board plans to explore the issue over several months and offer solutions. In the meantime, the piece itself is drawing lots of criticism from, yes, the left and right, notes the Hill. Examples:

On the left: "This is appalling," tweeted Jeff Jarvis, a professor at the City University of New York. "The both-sidesism of The New York Times comes out in full force from its editorial board as it equates the left criticizing hate and the right burning books. Pure moral panic."

"This is appalling," tweeted Jeff Jarvis, a professor at the City University of New York. "The both-sidesism of The New York Times comes out in full force from its editorial board as it equates the left criticizing hate and the right burning books. Pure moral panic." On the right: "This is rather rich coming from an outlet which has effectively promoted censorship of very legitimate views regarding the reaction to the pandemic," tweeted former radio host John Ziegler.

Some more reaction:
(Newser)  The search for survivors continued Friday in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, where Russian forces have been accused of targeting civilians by bombing a mosque, a maternity hospital, and, most recently, a theater. Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukraine's human rights chief, told the Washington Post that 130 people have been rescued from the rubble of the theaterwhich was being used as a shelter for localssince it was shelled on Wednesday. But Denisova also noted that those have been the only rescues of the 1,300 or so people who were believed to have been hunkering down in a shelter beneath the building, with the rest remaining unaccounted for.

"There are still hundreds of Mariupol residents under the rubble," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday in a video shared on the Telegram app. Still, "despite the shelling, despite all the difficulties, we will continue the rescue work." And many difficulties there are, as Mariupol has been among the hardest-hit cities during the Russian assault that started Feb. 24. A former head of the Donetsk regional administration says that rescue efforts are moving slowly, as people are afraid of being attacked themselves, and due to what CNN calls "a complete breakdown of social services" in Mariupol.

People are clearing away the rubble themselves," Sergiy Taruta told local broadcasters. "There is no rescue operation, because all the services that are supposed to rescue people, to treat them, to bury them, these services no longer exist." It's not clear if any fatalities have been recorded. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova continues to deny Russia had anything to do with the theater's destruction, calling accusations that it was responsible a "lie," per the Post. The BBC has the account of a mother and her teen son, who were sheltering at the theater but fled it the day before it was attacked. "We knew we had to run away because something terrible would happen soon," she says. More from her here. (Read more Mariupol stories.)
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Alaska Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, conduct an aerial site survey via a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Dec. 3, 2018, following a magnitude 7.0 earthquake seven miles from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Nov. 30 caused significant infrastructure damage in a number of areas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Balinda ONeal)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anastasia Maynich, right, with cousin Tetiana and 11-year-old Sofiia, March 10, 2022, in Bucharest, Romania. Tetiana and Sofiia fled their home in Odessa, Ukraine, for the safe haven of Romania where Maynich flew to meet them. (Courtesy photo)
Fritzi, a corgi, sits in a dog crate at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 29, 2020. Passengers wishing to travel with their pets must choose a kennel with ventilation on at least three sides and space up to three inches from the top of the kennel to the ears of the pet. (Airman 1st Class Taylor Slater)
The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command will host a Leader Professional Development webinar on Mar. 16 at 11 a.m. EDT. This webinar is part of the monthly LPD series featuring influential leaders, both Army and Civilian, to educate the workforce on various topics related to the Army Profession and encourage an open discussion between the speakers and their audience. Lt. Gen. Maria Gervais, TRADOC deputy commanding general, and guest Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, deputy chief of staff, G-1, Headquarters Department of Army, will share their experiences and discuss how the Army People Strategy can be used to create a more cohesive team. (Courtesy)
In coordination with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitations on-going initiative to support Malagasy Customs with the establishment of its Advance Ruling mechanism, the World Customs Organization delivered a capacity-building workshop on the Harmonized System and commodity classification from 7 to 11 March 2022 in Antananarivo. The workshop was sponsored by the EU-WCO Programme for Harmonized System in Africa (HS-Africa Programme).

The workshop benefited 25 senior and middle management level customs officers. The workshop aimed at creating a pool of specialists with a good understanding of all of the most essential theoretical and practical aspects of commodity classification. The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues related to the determination of tariff codes, the analysis of classification of specific products, as well as the detailed explanation of the General Interpretative Rules. During the practical exercises, the participants were asked to classify sample products and draft advance rulings using the standard notification form developed by Malagasy Customs to that effect. Tariff experts from Algeria, France and Mauritius, who co-facilitated the workshop, shared the experience of their administrations on the management of advance ruling systems.

Mr. Chopra, Team Leader of the GATF Advance Ruling Project in Madagascar, welcomed the WCOs assistance to Malagasy Customs in the area of HS and indicated that future synergies will continue to be sought with the WCO HS-Africa Programme under the GATF project to jointly support Madagascar with the operationalization of a modern advance ruling mechanism that will meet the requirements of the WTO TFA Article 3 as well as the expectations of the global trading community. He further indicated that the GATF is currently supporting Malagasy Customs with the digitization of its Advance Ruling mechanism for maximum impact, transparency and continuity of services and that in addition to an upcoming training in the area of Rules of Origins for Malagasy Customs, coaching and support to the private sector will be provided to facilitate both the request for and issuance of advance rulings.

On the margins of the workshop, a meeting with representatives of importers as well as Licensed Customs Brokers was held to discuss the benefits of the advance rulings for the private sector and the implementation of the HS 2022 in Madagascar and the challenges faced by the private sector in that respect. The representatives of the private sector highlighted the preeminent role that tariff classification was playing in determining the key aspects of the Customs clearance process for products moved across the border. They took note of the WCO tools developed to support HS users in the process of migration to the HS 2022, such as Correlation Tables and other instruments and also registered their appreciation of the effective and participative approach adopted by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitations in its support to their country for the establishment of the Advance Ruling mechanism

In his closing remarks at the end of the workshop, Director General of Madagascar Customs, Mr. Zafivanona Ernest Lainkana expressed his appreciation to the WCO, the European Union and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation for their joint efforts to support Madagascar in the implementation of an advance rulings system. He stressed that the assistance provided to his administration would enable it to finish all the preparatory work soon and start issuing advance rulings in the coming months.

This activity particularly highlighted the benefits and impact of donor coordination.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to double the distribution of social assistance allowances to Bahraini citizens who are entitled to social security and a disability pension during the holy month of Ramadan.

The decision was made to reduce living costs for low-income families during Ramadan. During yesterdays weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by HRH Prince Salman, it noted that the government amended social security distribution and financial support for low-income individuals in January 2022 by increasing financial support for low-income families and social security beneficiaries by 10%.

His Royal Highness also directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to monitor the supply of consumer goods to ensure there is ample availability of quality and affordable commodities as Ramadan approaches and in light of current global challenges. He also directed the Ministry to intensify inspection campaigns to monitor markets and ensure price stability.

Basic commodities

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism briefed the Cabinet on the Ministrys efforts to ensure the availability of basic commodities and the ability to respond to market needs.

The Cabinet affirmed that Bahraini citizens remain at the core of all public sector programmes and initiatives and that the government continues to develop plans to ensure the sustainability of projects and services provided to citizens.

It noted the importance of expanding efforts to achieve His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas vision that ensures Bahraini citizens are at the centre of development efforts. The Cabinet reiterated the governments commitment to enhancing the standard of living for citizens.

Cabinet hails HM Kings UAE visit

The Cabinet yesterday commended His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas visit to the UAE. During the trip, His Majesty met with the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, HH Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to review how the longstanding relationship between the two countries and ways to further enhance ties.

The Cabinet extended its congratulations to Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, for her inclusion in Unescos Contemporary and Historical Women Leadership Initiative that marks International Day of Women in Multilateralism 2022.

It noted that Her Royal Highnesses inclusion reflects the success of the policies and programmes implemented by the Supreme Council for Women under the leadership of Her Royal Highness.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

While Bahrain is scripting a huge success with regard to Covid-19 vaccines, the private hospitals here are facing a crisis over the acute shortage of tetanus vaccines.

A tetanus shot can protect individuals from getting tetanus, also called lockjaw. It is caused by bacteria called Clostridium Tetani.

Tetanus vaccine helps the body make antibodies (special proteins) that will help the immune system fight the toxin produced by the bacteria.

Clostridium Tetani is generally found in soil and manure.

Tetanus infections are common when an individual suffers from a wound that gives the bacteria a chance to enter the body.

Once inside the body, the bacteria release a toxin that causes muscles to tighten and lock shut the mouth, making it hard to swallow.

The muscle stiffness spreads and in some cases, it could cause death if not treated properly.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, a private hospital administration manager, who doesnt want to be named, said: All private hospitals are facing an acute shortage of Tetanus vaccine. Every day, we get calls from people enquiring about the availability of vaccines, but we dont have an answer as of now. He said it is the Health Ministry that supplies vaccines to private hospitals and the exact reasons behind the shortage is unknown. We get vaccine supplies from the Health Ministry. I hope the crisis will be solved soon. Tetanus jab is one of the most sought after vaccines in the Kingdom as small wounds and injuries are very common among people. We are advising people, who call us for tetanus jab, to approach health centres across the Kingdom. But I have come to know that the shortage even exists at health centres, where tetanus jabs are only given to pregnant women or individuals suffering from chronic illnesses who are at the risk of infection.

The Daily Tribune attempted to obtain comments from Health Ministry officials regarding the matter. However, the efforts did not succeed until Press time.

On the Covid-19 vaccination front, the authorities have reaped an unprecedented success; 12,27,305 have received a single dose of the vaccine while 11,97,343 received two doses; 950,713 have already received their booster doses.

Immunization programmes

According to the Health Ministry, other immunization programmes are also on track including the ones to prevent Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenza, Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

The Health Ministry has urged parents and caregivers of children to ensure the completion of routine vaccination of their children prior to their enrolment in school.

Patients with chronic diseases conditions and other high-risk categories are advised to ensure completion of the recommended vaccination and travellers are advised to visit their health centre enough time prior to their travel to complete the recommended vaccination according to their travel destination.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Shareholders of Ithmaar Holding, a Bahrain-based holding company, yesterday approved plans to sell some of the Companys key assets in Bahrain to Al Salam Bank.

The assets include Ithmaar Holdings ownership stake in both BBK and Solidarity Group Holding, one of the largest takaful groups globally and the parent of Solidarity Bahrain, as well as the consumer banking business of Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based Islamic bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Holding.

The plans were presented to Ithmaar Holding shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting held electronically through videoconferencing and chaired by the Chairman of the Ithmaar Holding Board of Directors, His Royal Highness Prince Amr Al Faisal.

Other participants in the EGM included representatives from the Central Bank of Bahrain, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the Bahrain Bourse, and the Companys statutory auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Focus on corporate banking

When the plans are implemented, Ithmaar Holding will retain a well-diversified portfolio of international and local financial and other assets, which include banking businesses in Bahrain and Pakistan.

Ithmaar Bank, which will remain a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Holding, will continue as an innovative Islamic bank that is licensed and regulated by the CBB and exclusively focused on corporate banking and related services, particularly the fast-growing SME sector.

The plans mark a key milestone in the transformation of the Groups operations, in line with the strategic decisions taken by the shareholders in 2016, said HRH Prince Amr. When implemented, the plans will have realised a key component in Ithmaar Holdings business model of investing, developing, nurturing, growing and then realising value for its shareholders, he said.

The EGM followed the Companys Annual General Meeting that was also held through videoconferencing the previous day and chaired by HRH Prince Amr.

During the AGM, Ithmaar Holding shareholders approved the Companys consolidated financial statements for 2021.

We are pleased to report that, despite challenging market conditions and the lingering negative effects of the pandemic on the global economy, Ithmaar Holding concluded 2021 on a positive note, recording significant profits and setting the stage for a new era of growth, said HRH Prince Amr. The total net profit attributable to equity holders for the year ended 31 December 2021 was US$38.60 million, a 193% increase compared to the net loss of US$41.72 million reported for 2020. The increase is mainly due to the growth in core income. As a result, Earnings Per Share (EPS) for the year ended 31 December 2021 was US Cents 1.33, compared to negative US Cents 1.43 for 2020, he said. Ithmaar Holdings total owners equity increased to US$37.76 million as of 31 December 2021, a 156% increase compared to US$14.76 million as of 31 December 2020, said HRH Prince Amr. The increase is mainly attributable to profits for the year, he said.
The 2025 Osaka World Expo looks to establish flying-taxi routes connecting to eight possible destinations, with roughly 20 flights per hour.

The flying cars would connect Yumeshima -- Osaka's artificial island and the site of the World Expo -- to airports and other locations in and around Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. Officials see the project as Japan's first flying-taxi network for transporting passengers.

The draft plan will be presented by government officials during a meeting with the private sector Friday. A working group led by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has been exploring the proposal since this fiscal year.

Manufacturers and other operators will be selected as soon as fiscal 2022. Contracts will be awarded to multiple candidates in vehicle development and operation.

The project will also select candidates who will manage takeoff and landing grounds. Routes and fares will be determined after talks between operators and the association.

Possible destinations in Osaka include the city; the Osaka Bay area; Osaka International Airport, or Itami Airport; and Kansai International Airport. Destinations in Kobe include the city and Kobe Airport.
Starbucks Coffee Japan on Thursday said it is ramping up its drive against disposable plastics in its product packaging and stores, part of the global chain's push to halve waste by 2030.

The move comes as businesses around the world face mounting pressure from environmental activists to cut plastic waste, while many investors are increasingly focusing on companies' green credentials.

The coffee seller is introducing reusable plastic cups for iced drinks consumed in 106 of the around 1,700 Starbucks stores in Japan from April 18. At another 113 outlets, it will offer dine-in iced drinks without lids, before rolling out that shift to the rest of the country in the summer.

The chain did not disclose the amount of iced beverages drunk in its shops, but a representative of its sustainability department noted, "it will increase for the hot season."

The company said take-away drinks and hot beverages will continue to be served with lids considering "the convenience of carrying and the risk of burns."

The chain said Japanese outlets already have a higher "usage rate" for mugs than its stores in Europe and the U.S.
The 28th Meeting of the Revised Kyoto Convention Management Committee (RKC/MC) was held from 7 to 11 March 2022. Over 180 Participants representing about 74 Contracting Parties to the RKC and 15 Observers joined the hybrid Meeting that was held both virtually via the KUDO platform and in-person at WCO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

In his opening remarks, the Director of the Compliance and Facilitation, Mr. Pranab Kumar Das welcomed and congratulated the Union of Comoros and the Republic of Guatemala as the 130th and 131st Contracting Parties to the RKC. He also provided a brief update on the work done and progress made on the comprehensive review of the RKC.

This RKC/MC meeting mainly focused on progressing the review of the RKC with the goal of discussing the draft revised work plan of the comprehensive review process and possible way forward on Step 4 of the Four-Step Framework.

At this Meeting, under Step 4 of the four-step framework, the RKC/MC discussed and determined the way forward with respect to the potential draft text of the five concepts related to the General Annex, including the input from the European Union (EU) that do not relate to any specific concept. The concepts included measures to ensure consistency in applying national legislation, coordinated border management, establishment and publication of average release times (TRS), and temporary admission.

The 28th RKC/MC meeting decided to continue discussions on the draft revised work plan and to discuss the potential draft text relating to the Specific Annexes at the 29th RKC/MC Meeting. Since the comprehensive review of the RKC has entered into a critical phase, the meeting urged all Members and Observers to provide their full commitment and to actively participate throughout the process.

The RKC/MC also had the opportunity to hear from the Union of Comoros and the Republic of Guatemala about their experiences as they undertook the process to accede to the RKC.

The next RKC/MC will hold its 29th Meeting from 30 May to 3 June 2022.
AstraZeneca has resolved a lingering liability following its takeover of Alexion with an agreement to pay $775 million to settle a patent dispute with Chugai Pharma, Roches Japanese subsidiary.

The long-running disagreement focuses on Ultomiris (ravulizumab), Alexions long-acting complement C5 inhibitor for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).

Chugai claimed that Ultomiris uses a delivery technology designed to reduce the dosing frequency of the drug that infringes on patents it holds, filing lawsuits in the US and Japan in 2018 in defence of its intellectual property.

In March 2020, the Supreme Court of Japan dismissed a Chugai appeal against an earlier ruling which held that one of the Chugai patents involved in the Japanese lawsuit was invalid. And last October, the Japanese Patent Office invalidated four Chugai patents, including those asserted in the Japanese court case  a decision which Chugai appealed.

Both parties have now agreed to withdraw their complaints as a result of the settlement, which includes no other payments  including royalties  other than the single lump sum to be paid in the second quarter.

AZ said the settlement would be recorded as a non-core charge in its second-quarter results, while Chugai said the impact on its financial results for the fiscal year ending December 2022 is currently under review.

The settlement will be a relief to AZ, as Ultomiris lies at the heart of AZs $39 billion takeover of Alexion last year.
afr.com - Apr 29

The governor of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa says Australian Defence Force personnel are not welcome on the 150 islands he administers, as fears grow that rising tensions between China and US allies will lead to conflict in the region.
MINSK, March 17./TASS/. Russia offers Ukraine an absolutely acceptable option for a treaty, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with Japanese TBS TV channel, cited in part by BelTA news agency.

"Russia offers Ukraine an absolutely acceptable version of a treaty, I know this for sure. And it is still possible now to see Ukraine and Russia agree and [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky sign this treaty with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," the Belarusian leader said.

"If Zelensky refused to do this, then, believe me, he will have to sign an act of capitulation in a short while," BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying in the interview.

Russia "will not lose this war," he believes. "And you are also 100% sure it wont. Japan knows better than I do how the war end in case one of the sides wins," he stressed. Lukashenko also said that he expected the special operation in Ukraine would end soon and peace would be achieved. "I am confident that this conflict - the operation of Russia - will end with peace shortly," the Belarusian president stressed. ...continue reading
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
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Danbury lawmakers are pushing to overcome a major obstacle and win approval for a new $80 million proton-therapy cancer treatment facility that a little-known but powerful state agency currently opposes.

The Office of Health Strategy recently turned down Danbury Protons plan to development a 16,000-square-foot treatment center on three acres near the airport, under the states Certificate of Need review program, in which the market, patient costs and potential partnerships are considered before a project can get a final green light.

But the consortium of doctors who want to build the facility have filed an appeal and the citys legislators are hoping that it can overturn the rejection.

Its really cutting edge, non-invasive treatment thats nowhere near as debilitating as chemo, using high-tech lasers, said state Rep. Bob Godfrey, a Democrat who is the senior member of the eight lawmakers in the citys General Assembly delegation.

Godfrey admits that he was puzzled by the Office of Health Strategys rejection of the proposal. It got bogged down in the pandemic bureaucracy, Godfrey said. There was not enough staff, then there were two or three extensions of time under the statute. It slowed down, then speeded up, and then OHS rejected them.

One puzzling strike against the project seems to be Danbury Protons independence. It is not aligned with a hospital. But it has received all the local siting and zoning approvals necessary to build, including the Federal Aviation Administration, because of its proximity to the Danbury Airport.

Godfrey, who on Wednesday led a news conference on the issue in the State Capitol, told a crowd including unionized electrical workers that the facility is important to the Danbury region, including nearby New York State.

Its really all about the physics, said Stephen Courtney, managing director of the company, explaining the technology as attacking tumors with energy. Many of the parts of the equipment are made in Connecticut, he said, stressing that the facility could open by the end of 2023 if the final state approval can be obtained soon.

Its treating your healthy tissue at the same time its treating your tumor, Courtney said. With proton beams, the energy is very low, and as it hits your tumor, it gets a spike of energy and then it stops. That results in about 60-percent less radiation to your health tissues. That has a huge impact on the patient in terms of side effects, both the short-term side effects and the long-term side effects.

That same day, David S. Hardy, a partner with the Hartford law firm of Carmody Torrance Sandek Hennessey, filed an appeal with Victoria Veltri, executive director of the Office of Health Strategy.

The proposed decision is premised on conclusions unsupported and contradicted by the record, implements misguided health care policy, and has been affected by substantive and procedural irregularities that require it to be set aside, Hardy wrote. In its place, OHS should issue a final decision granting Danbury Proton a Certificate of Need for its proposed proton therapy center. The approval of Danbury Proton's application presents no downside or risk to the State of Connecticut and its patients, and the proposed decision articulates none. To the contrary, our state and its cancer patients stand only to gain from the requested approval.

Tina Hyde, spokeswoman for the Office of Health Strategy, declined comment on the issue, because the case is still open.

State Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, who attended the Danbury Proton news conference, held in the Capitols historic Hall of the Flags, said that as co-chairman of the legislative Insurance and Real Estate Committee, he and the committee this year are looking into the Certificate of Need process. A related bill was the subject of a public hearing on Thursday.

Lesser admitted that the Certificate of Need process is super-complicated, but focused on controlling costs and providing access to patients.

There are two different groups: The one in Danbury and a joint venture between Hartford Hospital and Yale in Wallingford, Lesser said in a Friday phone interview. They both have gotten resistance from OHS, which is evaluating the certificates of need. Trying to evaluate that process is a conversation we have taken-on in the Insurance Committee. What we are able to address in Danbury is still a point of discussion.

The committees deadline is Thursday, March 24, at 5 p.m.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
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BROOKFIELD  From age 16 on, Robert Olindo Fish could be found helping on the scene of fires in the Danbury area.

Even after leaving active firefighter duty, he still returned, capturing the incidents on camera. Its a sign of how committed he was to the local fire service community, his peers say.

Fish, a longtime member of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Departments Candlewood Company died Sunday, three days shy of his 57th birthday.

He was a very big advocate for the fire service and was always looking out for people, said Danburys deputy fire chief, Bernie Meehan, who knew Fish for a long time and described him as an avid fire service supporter.

Fish came from a line of firefighters  his father served with the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department for 40 years, and his grandfather had also been a firefighter. Following in their footsteps, he joined the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Departments Candlewood Company in 1981.

He started as a probationary junior firefighter because he was 16, said Candlewood Company Chief Gary Gramling. He did his year and became a junior firefighter at 17, and then an active member, regular firefighter when he was 18.

During his three decades with Candlewood Company, Fish held various roles  including engineer, lieutenant, secretary and vice-president  and helped design some of Brookfields engines and rescue trucks as a member of the fire departments apparatus replacement committees.

He also earned State of Connecticut Firefighter II and Medical Response Technician certifications, and received the Roger Potter Engineer of the Year Award in 2003.

After stepping away from active firefighter duty due to health issues around 2013, Fish remained active in the fire service community as a photographer.

Meehan said Fish would show up to a lot of fires he was commanding in Danbury and ask if he could take photos.

He was always very polite and respectful, and most of the time Id let him under the barrier tape, Meehan said. He always got good pictures.

In 2018, Fish was inducted as a life member of Brookfields Candlewood Company  something Gramling said rarely happens.

We dont bestow that upon everybody who leaves, but he was a very active member, Gramling said, noting that Fish served in executive positions, line officer positions and participated in several fire department committees. He was a very involved and dedicated volunteer.

Fish was also an active participant in fire department parades and played in a firefighters softball league and on bowling teams during his time with Candlewood Company.

Rob loved the fire service and truly showed that love while in this fire company, according to a post on the Candlewood Companys Facebook page. Rob left us way too soon at the age of 56, but his memory will live on and the mark he left here at Candlewood Company will remain forever.

A memorial service with family and friends will be held Saturday at the Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home in Danbury, followed by a private interment service.
/ contributed photo

Sadie Chasse and Christian Navedo are pleased to announce their wedding on July 7, 2022 at Macedonia Brook State Park in Kent.

Francisco Santiago will be officiating for the couple, accompanied by their parents Katrina Carrier-Chasse, Lawrence Chasse, Gina Cotto and Angel Navedo.
The Net Zero Accelerator initiative is reaching out to the private sector for innovative projects in high-emitting sectors

OTTAWA, ON, March 18, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada's future is clean and green. To cut pollution, build a strong, sustainable economy and reach net zero by 2050, the government and the private sector must work together.

One of the key instruments in this collaboration is the Strategic Innovation Fund's Net Zero Accelerator (NZA) initiative. The Government of Canada has already earmarked $8 billion through the NZA to support the decarbonization of domestic high emitters, to drive the green transformation of Canadian industry, and to help develop clean technologies and a Canadian battery ecosystem.

Building on this, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, today announced a call to action to industry leaders, inviting them to put forward their most ambitious projects to help Canada meet its climate goals. Through this call to action, the government and private sector will work together to identify projects that will support the decarbonization of key sectors of Canada's economy.

The result of this initiative will demonstrate how the private and public sectors can collaborate to significantly reduce emissions and set a path to net zero by 2050. Ambitious and high-impact projects identified through this process will contribute to the future of Canada's sustainable economy.

Industry partners are encouraged to engage with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to explore possibilities through one of two strategic investment paths:

Path 1: High-emitting sectorsProposals that offer significant and short-term emission reductions within the next decade, helping Canada meet climate targets and likely contributing to broader economic, innovation, social or other types of benefits.

meet climate targets and likely contributing to broader economic, innovation, social or other types of benefits. Path 2: Transformational ideas pathwayProposals that may be in earlier stages of development but that have long-term potential to set high-emitting sectors on a transformative path to net zero by 2050 or sooner.

Quote

"Our government is calling for ambitious and innovative projects from companies in high-emitting sectors to help Canada scale up our clean-tech sector as we chart a path to net-zero. By supporting businesses that understand the economic benefit of lower emissions, we're prioritizing a strong and sustainable economy, Canadian jobs and ensuring a cleaner future for generations to come."

 The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Quick facts

In December 2020 , the Government of Canada announced a strengthened climate plan that includes investment in the Strategic Innovation Fund's Net Zero Accelerator (NZA) initiative.

, the Government of announced a strengthened climate plan that includes investment in the Strategic Innovation Fund's Net Zero Accelerator (NZA) initiative. The NZA is seeking additional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and incentivizing industry collaboration with established industries and clean technology suppliers to help Canada reach its climate targets.

reach its climate targets. Potential applicants are invited to attend an information session about this funding opportunity on April 5, 2022 , and find out about what they can do to help Canada meet its GHG emission reduction targets. For further information, please visit the information session sign-up page.

, and find out about what they can do to help meet its GHG emission reduction targets. For further information, please visit the information session sign-up page. The Government of Canada invites companies to request a Strategic Innovation Fund application package for Path 1: High-emitting sectors and submit proposals by June 30, 2022 .

invites companies to request a Strategic Innovation Fund application package for Path 1: High-emitting sectors and submit proposals by . Path 2: Transformational ideas pathway is now open, on an ongoing basis, to engage with companies as they move through the project development process, build partnerships and seek access to appropriate federal funding. Companies will meet with the new Industrial Decarbonization Teama dedicated team of specialized officials who will provide tailored guidance and advice on meeting the government's industrial decarbonization priorities. Interested proponents should contact the Industrial Decarbonization Team at [email protected] .

Associated links

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.

Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

For further information: Laurie Bouchard, Senior Manager, Communications, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]
Latest on Russia-Ukraine conflict:

The Russian side said talks made slow, difficult progress, while Turkey and Poland agreed to step up diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service 
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that Israeli spyware firm NSO Group had approached the state police four-five years ago to sell its surveillance software Pegasus. The NSO Group had come to our police department 4-5 years ago to sell their machine (Pegasus spyware) and demanded Rs 25 crore. I turned it down as it could have been used politically, against judges and officials, which is not acceptable, said Banerjee.

It is noteworthy that senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from West Bengal, Anirban Ganguly, last month had alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led state government has been using Pegasus since the beginning of its tenure in 2016. In July 2021, the Indian government was accused of running an illegal surveillance program to spy on opposition leaders and journalists using Pegasus. According to a news report, the names of these 40 personalities had appeared on a list of potential targets of snooping using Pegasus.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had responded to the opposition allegations in Parliament and said there is no substance behind the sensationalism. In a written reply, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt told Rajya Sabha that the Defense Ministry did not have any transaction with NSO Group Technologies.

The matter is subjudice in Supreme Court. The top court had earlier set up a technical expert committee to look into the allegations of snooping against the Centre.

The oppositions protests over the issue during the monsoon session of the Parliament had resulted in the suspension of business in both houses several times.
Ministry of External Affairs also took a dig at Pakistan over the issue and said OIC should refrain from allowing the vested interests to exploit its platform for comments on Indian internal affairs.

India on Thursday criticized the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for inviting Kashmiri separatist leader and chairman of All Party Hurriyat Conference for its council of foreign ministers meeting in Islamabad. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India takes such actions very seriously which are aimed directly at subverting Indias unity and violating our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also took a snide at Pakistan over the issue and said OIC should not allow vested interests to exploit the platform for challenging Indias integrity He said India does not accept OIC encouraging the actors and organisations engaged in terrorism and anti-India activities.

We have seen media reports in India regarding the invitation extended by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretariat general to the chairman of All-party Hurriyat conference to attend the forthcoming 48th session of the OIC Council of foreign ministers in Islamabad on March 22-23, said Bagchi at the weekly MEA media briefing.

He stated, The government of India take very seriously such actions which are aimed directly at subverting Indian unity and violating our sovereignty and territorial integrity. India calls upon the OIC to refrain from allowing the vested interest to exploit its platform for comments on Indian internal affairs.

Taking another veiled dig at Pakistan, Bagchi said it is highly unfortunate that OIC continues to be guided by the single members political agenda rather than focusing on other important developing activities.

He further said that India has called upon the OIC multiple times to refrain from letting vested interests comment on Indias internal affairs through its platform. We have repeatedly called upon the OIC to refrain from allowing vested interests to exploit its platform for comments on Indian internal affairs, said Bagchi.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that MNAs have been threatened with violence, arrest and dire consequences if they take part in the no-confidence process.

After several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Members of National Assembly (MNAs) announced their reluctance to follow the party line in the no-confidence motion against Imran Khans government, the opposition leaders of Pakistan urged Khan to step down from the post voluntarily saying that he has lost the majority in the National Assembly.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that lawmakers have been threatened with violence, arrest and dire consequences if they partake in the no-trust vote, as reported by The Express Tribune. Bilawal said PPP along with Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will ensure the safety of the MNAs from the fascist regime of Imran Khan. Bilawal Bhutto said in a tweet, Their lives, liberty and family are under threat. MNAs will take any and all means for their own protection against this fascist regime.

Meanwhile, disgruntled ruling party lawmaker Raja Riaz revealed that as many as 24 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs were staying in the Sindh House in Islamabad due to security concerns. Last week, police had stormed the Parliament lounge in Islamabad and a scuffle ensued between cops and opposition members. Arrested opposition figures and their supporters were released from custody within a day of their detention after opposition parties had called for a blockade of major roads in the capital city.

Bilawal also warned the federal government against provoking the opposition. He stated, We will not show all our cards now. IA (InshaaAllah) a few friends will respond to IKs (PM Imran) accusations. More to come in the coming days. Out of respect to the OIC conference, we dont want anarchy in Islamabad. The government must not provoke us.

Today, Imran Khan has lost the moral legitimacy to run the government and the country. Clearly, the Imran Khan has no majority in the House, said PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab chapter President Rana Sanaullah expressing similar views called upon PM Imran to resign after losing the support of the majority of lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, reported The Express Tribune. He said as of now only ruling dissident PTI MNAs have surfaced. Three ministers are also coming out now just dont panic.
Veteran Hollywood actor and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin through a video message to end the war in Ukraine. Schwarzenneger said in the video, Im sending this message to various different channels to reach my dear Russian friends and the Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine. He added, Im speaking to you today because there are things that are going on in the world that have been kept from you, terrible things that you should know about. Let me tell you the truth about the war in Ukraine.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Schwarzenneger spoke about how the fighting was instigated by Russia in February, explaining that the invasion has been declared illegal by 141 countries, that many civilian buildings (such as a maternity hospital) have been bombed, that theres now a massive refugee crisis and that thousands of Russian soldiers have died.

Schwarzenneger said to Russians through the video that the war is not to defend Russia as propagated by Kremlin. He stated, The world has turned against Russia because of its actions in Ukraine. The destruction that Russian bombs are raining down on innocent civilians has so outraged the world that the strongest global economic sanctions ever taken have been imposed on your country  This is not the war to defend Russia like your grandfather or your great grandfather fought. This is an illegal war.

Arnold also narrated his fathers history as a Nazi sergeant when tackling the Russian governments false claims that its troops are engaged in a denazification of Ukraine. (My father) was injured at Leningrad and the Nazi army he was part of did vicious harm to the great city and to its brave people, he said. When my father arrived in Leningrad, he was all pumped up on the lies of his government. When he left Leningrad, he was broken  physically and mentally. He lived the rest of his life in pain  pain from a broken back, pain from the shrapnel that always reminded him of those terrible years and pain from the guilt that he felt. To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast: You already know much of the truth that Im speaking. Youve seen it in your own eyes. I dont want you to be broken like my father, Arnold shared.

Schwarzenegger concluded the video with a message to Russian protesters braving jail time to protest against the war in Ukraine. The world has seen your bravery, he said. We know that youve suffered the consequences of your courage. You have been arrested, youve been jailed and youve been beaten. You are my new heroes. You have the strength of Yuri Petrovich Vlasov. You have the true heart of Russia, Arnold said. The video shared by Arnold has garnered over 21 million views on Twitter.
Hamden Fire Commissioner Lt. Samod Rankins is considering running for state Senate in the 17th District, according to a release.

Rankins said in the release that he has formed an exploratory committee to seek the Independent nomination to represent the 17th District, which includes Hamden, Ansonia, Derby, Bethany, Woodbridge, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls.

The reason why Im exploring this candidacy is because I care about our community and the best interest of every resident of our community; our youth, seniors, veterans and taxpayers. I believe if we all work together our community would be a much better place, Rankins said in a statement.

Rankins is a firefighter with the New Haven Fire Department and was critically injured in a May 2021 fire that killed colleague Ricardo Torres Jr. He was tapped for the Hamden Fire Commission this January, according to previous reports.

Now, with the new potential endeavor, Rankins said Theres always room for improvement and I think its very important that we strive to leave our community in better shape than how we found it.

Im dedicated to serving our community and will give my whole professional and personal life to helping others, he said in the statement. My goal is to create a community where all citizens feel safe, secure, and have an equal chance to thrive.

He said the state needs to do more to improve housing affordability, economic development, workforce development, public transportation, and the opioid crisis. I am setting out to learn, listen and develop common sense solutions with people in all political parties.

In the release, Independent Party State Chairman Mike Telesca said the party was supportive of Rankins potential candidacy.

The people of the 17th District and the people of Connecticut will be served well by his election and we are all excited to join him in this endeavor to make sure he is successful, Telesca said. We know he will garner enough support during this exploratory campaign and declare his candidacy and run and win.
JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Thursday a budget has been approved for building a laser-based air defense system against attacks by rockets and drones.

Gantz tweeted that "hundreds of millions" of shekels were allocated for the development of the so-called "Iron Beam" system.

"We are taking a dramatic step to change the battlefield and upgrade the security of Israeli citizens in the wake of threats from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria," Gantz said.

He said the system will be integrated into Israel's air defense array alongside the anti-rocket Iron Dome system.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement that the system will be developed by the state-owned defense company Rafael Advanced Weapons Systems and Israel-based defense company Elbit Systems, adding that the contract would be signed "in the next few days."

In February, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told the annual conference of the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli security think tank, that Israel was speeding up the development of the "Iron Beam" system.

The system will be first deployed in southern Israel and later in other parts of the country to provide "a wall of lasers" against missiles, rockets, drones and other threats, Bennett said. 
Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  City police have released the name of a man who died after being dropped off at a local hospital after being shot.

New Haven police Friday identified the man as 33-year-old city resident Brian Faulks. Police said the investigation into the deadly shooting is ongoing, and that detectives located a crime scene on Spring Street between Dewitt and Button streets.
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NEW HAVEN  While his colorful, cheerful designs brighten Yale Universitys campus, highlighting COVID-19 safety and ways Yale is moving toward a more sustainable environment, the mystery of Anton Sovetovs disappearance weighs heavily on his colleagues.

Sovetov, 44, a Russian national who has worked as a graphic designer at Yale since 2017, went missing Feb. 5. Yale and New Haven police have been investigating the case day and night ever since, but have offered no clues to what may have happened to Sovetov.

John Gambell, whose official title is university printer, heads the graphic design office and is Sovetovs supervisor. He called Sovetov a wonderful colleague, really collegial and collaborative.

Since they worked in a pretty heads-down, kind of quiet office, Gambell said he didnt know Sovetov well. However, we were in the process of working toward his becoming a permanent citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. and, in conjunction with that, I spent a lot of time speaking with him about his early education, his career prior to coming to coming to Yale and to our office.

Sovetovs only known relative is his mother, who lives in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Casey R. Pickett, director of Yales Planetary Solutions Project, said Sovetov created many of the presentations Pickett has given at Yale, to business leaders and globally, such as at the COP23 conference in Bonn, Germany, in 2017.

He was just really great to work with, Pickett said. He was opinionated in the best kind of way. His approach really clarified where things stood. Sovetov was focused on getting across ideas simply and directly, Pickett said.

I cant tell you how badly I hope were just in a really weird break, Pickett said. He said he feels really confused and distraught. I find myself being distracted from work and life just thinking about him pretty often. Its really hard to think of a story that makes this make sense.

Gambell said, I think Im just beginning to kind of emerge from the initial shock of it, and Im having to face the idea that I may never see Anton again. And I may know nothing more about whats happened than I do now. Its very, very disturbing.

He said the lack of information after Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins announced Sovetovs disappearance Feb. 17 concerns him. I honestly think if there were a lot of publicly useful information, they would have released it. I have a sense that extraordinary effort has been and still is going into finding Anton.

Higgins released a statement to the New Haven Register Wednesday, saying, This is an ongoing priority investigation and our heart[s] go out to Antons family and his friends. YPD Investigative Services Unit have been working on the investigation day and night since the incident was reported. Hundreds of hours have been devoted to the investigation. The New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Unit is assisting, along with other state authorities.

In his Feb. 17 message, Higgins said, Mr. Sovetov is a beloved member of Yales staff. News of his being missing is hard not only on his [communications office] colleagues, but also on other members of the Yale community. Yale encourages those most acutely affected to make use of the support services available to the university community.

Gambell said Sovetov worked in graphic design for a decade before he received any formal training. From the time he was about 20 till the time he was 30 he was just going from design studio to design studio, architectural studios, all kinds of different settings, doing graphic design work, Gambell said.

Sovetov then studied at the Royal Academy of Art in the Hague, Netherlands, for four years before coming to Yale for two years, graduating in 2016.

He really enjoyed hiking, Gambell said. We would fairly frequently talk about trips he planned or trips hed been on, and as an office of six people we got to know each other pretty well. Sovetov also liked to collect mushrooms. Hes just fascinated by the environment, nature. Gambell said, according to friends Sovetov had no trips planned at least until summer.

Sovetov originally was reported as having last been seen Feb. 4. But a video posted by On Scene Media New Haven County, a local Facebook page, showed a man wearing a COVID mask checking out groceries at Elm City Market Feb. 5. Higgins confirmed to the Register that the video shows Sovetov.

According to the Yale police missing-person bulletin, Sovetov is 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds and has blue eyes, short brown hair, a moustache and beard.

Anyone with information that could aid the investigation can call Yale police at 203-432-4400 or New Haven police at 203-946-6316, or send an anonymous text tip through the LiveSafe app.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
Religious sisters have been the backbone of the Catholic Church in our country. This is evident in the exhibit titled Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, produced by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and recently released on DVD. Here are some of the highlights.

The first sisters came to what is now the United States from France in 1727 and settled in Louisiana. Since then, some 220,000 religious women have ministered with great dedication, often with few resources, while having to learn such skills as construction, finances and fundraising.

In 1776, Teresa Carmody was the first sister to make her vows in our country.

Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase by Thomas Jefferson in 1803, several government officials decided to confiscate an orphanage belonging to the Ursuline Sisters in New Orleans. Mother Farjean boldly wrote to the president requesting his help. In his response he assured them that he would intervene in the name of religious freedom so that the sisters could continue their outstanding humanitarian work.

One of the great religious women of the early 19th century is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. An Anglican, widow and mother of five children, she converted to Catholicism and lost the support of family and friends. In 1809 she founded the Sisters of Charity and began the foundation for the Catholic school system in the United States. Later, her sisters built and staffed the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven.

They had to face a strong wave of anti-Catholicism because many of our citizens felt threatened by large numbers of immigrants and some even called the Irish a burden and a misery for our country. The Know Nothing party grew out of this bigotry. Its objective was to prohibit Catholics from owning property and running for political office. Connecticut had a Know Nothing governor in the mid 1800s. This thinking inspired a mob in Bostons Charlestown to sack and burn a convent owned by Ursuline sisters in 1833.

Black women were not admitted to traditional communities so they founded their own. Sister Elizabeth Clarice Langue, born a freewoman in the West Indies, founded the Sisters of Providence in Louisiana. Then, Henriette Delille, a descendant of slaves, established the Sisters of the Holy Family. They cared for orphans and created schools for Black children.

In 1861, Sister Mary Lucy Gache was the first to die in the Civil War while nursing the sick. In all, some 600 sisters from 21 communities staffed 28 hospitals and nursed the wounded and dying on battlefields. Sister Mary Anthony OConnell was called The Angel of the Battlefield because of her reputation of nursing and speaking words of comfort to the dying.

It would take too much time to elaborate on the work of Mother Joseph Pariseau, the first to establish schools, hospitals and orphanages in the Northwest.

One of the most famous to work with Native Americans and Black Americans was Saint Katharine Drexel, who used her personal fortune to build more than 60 schools and orphanages as well as Xavier University in New Orleans. Interestingly she was related through her stepmother to Jacqueline Kennedy.

In the late 1800s, the diminutive and dynamic Mother Francesca Cabrini came from Italy to work with Italian immigrants in New York City, many of whom lived in squalor. She is our first American citizen saint.

I close with the story of Mother Mary Alfred Moes. Responding to a tornado that devastated Rochester, Minn., in 1889, she decided to found a hospital and asked a doctor, William Mayo, if he along with his two physician sons would provide medical assistance. That hospital now is known as the Mayo Clinic.

And there is so much more. Catholics and the people of our country owe a debt of gratitude to these valiant, intelligent and creative women for their faith and their effective service of Jesus, whom they saw in the poor, the sick and the young.

The Most Rev. Peter A. Rosazza is auxiliary bishop emeritus, Archdiocese of Hartford.
Gov. Ned Lamonts recent proposal to allocate $90 million for upgrades to heating, ventilation and cooling systems in Connecticuts public schools is a necessary response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. What is often overlooked in discussions about indoor air quality, however, is another ongoing health crisis  asthma.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Connecticut has among the highest childhood asthma rates in the nation. In 2018, nearly one out of every 10 children in Connecticut had asthma. Children with asthma are three times more likely to be chronically absent from school than their peers without asthma.

Moreover, when they are present, children with asthma are less likely to fully participate in school activities because of concerns about asthma triggers. The burden of asthma across Connecticut is not shared equally. In 2021, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked New Haven the fifth most challenging place in the country to live with asthma. Connecticuts five largest cities  Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury  have the highest asthma rates in the state, disproportionately burdening Black and Latinx families.

As leaders with Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut, or CONECT, we have advocated over the last several years for greater support for students living with asthma in New Haven. While Gov. Lamonts proposal is an important step in the right direction, rather than requiring municipalities to provide matching grants to fund the project costs as proposed, the Legislature should consider a scaled matching program to avoid placing an undue burden on the school districts where asthma prevalence is highest and the municipal tax base may be lower.

An investment in indoor air quality is an investment in childrens futures. It indicates to families that their children  particularly their children with asthma  will be able to breathe safely at school. This reassurance is invaluable. As schools across Connecticut strive to recover learning loss and re-engage students, taking proactive measures to support families burdened by chronic health challenges including asthma is essential to improving attendance and lowering hospitalization rates.

In addition to improving indoor air quality, districts should be supported in pursuing creative solutions to health-based causes of absenteeism. Notably, New Haven Public Schools is taking the lead; in collaboration with Clifford Beers, the district has hired five school community care coordinators. whose responsibility will include empowering and supporting families of students experiencing health impediments to attendance, both mental and physical. This school-community approach will help educate families and students and the resources and practices that reduce health-related barriers to school attendance. Investments in indoor air quality, coupled with long-term investments in programs like this, are critical to achieving safe and supportive learning environments and healthy students.

As the COVID-19 pandemic peaks and subsides  and peaks and subsides, and peaks and subsides  lets prioritize the students and families who, before, during, and after the pandemic, express serious concerns about indoor air quality and its implications on their ability to breathe and learn. Additionally, many public school buildings across the state are in need of intentional upgrades. We praise Gov. Lamonts proposal to address air quality in schools and call on the Legislature to do so in an equitable manner to ensure that all our children can breathe, learn and thrive.

Veronica Douglas-Givan is an education advocate and member of CONECT; Charles A. Pillsbury is a professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law; Dr. Beverley Sheares is an associate professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine.
Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

BRANFORD  Police said they have obtained search warrants for two rooms and multiple vehicles that were involved in a deadly shooting earlier this week.

The incident was reported early Thursday, when officers were called to the Branford Motel on East Main Street for a report of a shooting. When police arrived, they located the alleged shooter at the scene, who said they were robbed at gunpoint while staying at the motel, according to police.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Showers early, then clearing overnight. Low near 40F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Showers early, then clearing overnight. Low near 40F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
A former House of Representatives member (2003-2007), Yemi Arokodare, on Friday drummed support for Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto Stat...

A former House of Representatives member (2003-2007), Yemi Arokodare, on Friday drummed support for Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State ahead of the 2023 general election, saying he would bring a positive paradigm shift in the leadership crisis that has dogged the country.





He also expressed optimism that Tambuwal would bring his experience to bear in ensuring a united Northern and Southern Nigeria.





Arokodare, a former chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, said if given the opportunity to serve the country, Tambuwal would ignite a paradigm shift for a better Nigeria.





He said these in a statement distributed to journalists in Abuja, saying the governor has the leadership courage, reach and resilience to reshape, redirect, reform and salvage the country.





According to him, as Nigerians ponder on a successor to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the Peoples Democratic Party should give Tambuwal a fair chance to be the candidate of the party in the 2023 Presidency.





Arokodare said, Governor Tambuwal led the House of Representatives with a distinction; he demonstrated fairness, equality and inclusive leadership; we should give him an opportunity to repair the broken trust between the North and the South.





If we can give Tambuwal a great opportunity to serve and lead this great but poorly governed country, our country should be assured that this man will assemble the best of the North and South to reform and transform Nigeria.





He once led a vibrant crop of lawmakers from every part of the country, and he showed a high degree of responsible and uncommon leadership, which had put him in good stead as someone who can govern Nigeria based on justice, fairness, and inclusion.





Nigeria needs a paradigm shift with a new set of tested and trusted leaders who can give the country a new direction for growth and prosperity, and Tambuwal is a man we can trust to do it.





Tamnuwal has led the PDP Governors Forum meritoriously; he has related with party leaders and members with profound respect; he is the kind of leader who can unite this country and break barriers.





His leadership can provide the healing balm to unite Nigerians, ensure social justice for all and bring a new and workable order to governance.





Tambuwal is a democrat per excellence who has served meritoriously in the three arms of government as a member of the body of benchers, a parliamentarian, and currently as a great manager of human and resources. He is well rounded to deliver good governance.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied the arrest of the wife of the former governor of Anambra State, Mrs Ebelech...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied the arrest of the wife of the former governor of Anambra State, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, as being speculated in some sections of the media.

Head of Media and Publicity of EFFC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

Reports had emerged on social media that Ebelechukwu was arrested alongside her husband at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State.

But Uwajaren denied the claims and added that the former governor had not been released.

The former governor is currently in our custody undergoing interrogation, and I cannot say exactly when he will be released.

I dont know how long the exercise will take.

All I can tell you now is that he is still in EFCCs custody in Abuja, he said.
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- "Be vigilant in times of peace." In many of his speeches, Chinese President Xi Jinping has quoted this proverb to remind Party cadres and government officials not to get lost in comfort.

The proverb appeared more than 2,000 years ago in the ancient Chinese classics Zuozhuan, or Zuo's Commentary. It has inspired generations of Chinese not to be blindsided at any time by tranquility or achievement and be always prepared for adversity.

Quoting the proverb during the sixth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee late last year, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reminded Party members not to let their guard down. He urged the entire Party to continue embracing self-reform, and see that it always serves as the strong leadership core in the course of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

The year 2021 was an exceptionally remarkable year for China. The CPC celebrated its centenary. Under its leadership, China successfully eradicated absolute poverty and completed the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

China saw its economy grow by 8.1 percent in 2021, an extraordinary figure amid sporadic epidemic resurgences and complicated external environment.

Yet with all the said achievements, the world's largest governing party remains clearheaded. Instead of resting cozily on its laurels, it stays ready to face new situations and address new problems.

When looking back on 2021 in his 2022 New Year Address, Xi again quoted the proverb to stress that realizing China's national rejuvenation will be no easy task like a walk in the park.

In Xi's words, to realize it, the entire nation "must always keep a long-term perspective, remain mindful of potential risks, maintain strategic focus and determination, and 'attain to the broad and great while addressing the delicate and minute'." 
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said, on Friday, that Moscow was ready to search for solutions amid negotiations with Ukraine. Putin ...





The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said, on Friday, that Moscow was ready to search for solutions amid negotiations with Ukraine.





Putin made this known as he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the telephone, the AFP reports.





He, however, accused Ukrainian authorities of stalling talks by putting forward unrealistic proposals.





It was noted that the Kyiv regime is trying in every possible way to stall negotiations, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals, the Kremlin said after the phone call.





Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue to search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches.
LIMA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Peru's Constitutional Court on Thursday approved a "habeas corpus" filed by the lawyers of former President Alberto Fujimori, with which he may be released from prison this week.

The appeal proposes restoring the humanitarian pardon granted to Fujimori on Dec. 24, 2017 by then President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and which was later annulled by the Supreme Court in October 2018 for lacking legal grounds.

The decision "restores" the December 2017 resolution "which granted the petitioner a humanitarian pardon, and orders his freedom," the court said in a statement.

Fujimori has been serving a 25-year sentence for human rights violations during his term in office from 1990 to 2000, including the massacres in Barrios Altos (1991) and La Cantuta (1992).

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo criticized the court's decision, tweeting that "the institutional crisis" he spoke of in a message to Congress on Tuesday is reflected in the latest decision from the court. 
From left, Caleyse Utley and Imani Love, both seventh graders, and fifth-grader Keiden Warren pose in the hallway at Lawnside Elementary School in Lawnside, New Jersey, in February. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
No. The money should go to something that would benefit all citizens of the county, not just Watertown.

Yes. The community would benefit from the indoor pools the project would provide.

Vote

View Results
Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui (1st R) delivers a speech during an event to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Chinese arrival in Cuba, in Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2022. (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

HAVANA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Lion dances and martial arts livened up the city's Chinatown with an air of joy on Wednesday, with hundreds of Havana residents joining to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Chinese arrival in Cuba.

In 1847, some Chinese immigrants first stepped on the Cuban soil, starting their integration into local society. After 175 years, the Chinese community has become an inseparable part of this Latin American country.

In his speech at the celebration, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui said that China and Cuba have built solid historical and cultural ties throughout history.

"Chinese descendants have played a significant role in Cuban culture," Ma said. "We will continue to be good friends, partners, and comrades."

Students from the Cuban School of Wushu honored the legacy of Chinese culture with a large-scale demonstration of martial arts, with children, adolescents and senior citizens taking part.

Roberto Vargas Lee, director and founder of the school, believed China and Cuba share a common value of solidarity in the construction of their social systems.

Thanking the Chinese embassy for donating a lion dance costume and other items to the school, he said, "We very much appreciate the support given by the Chinese government to the development of martial arts on the island."

The House of Chinese Arts and Traditions opened an art exhibition as part of the festivities, and planned to host an international seminar on the Chinese diaspora's influence later in June.

Chinese migrants and their descendants contributed to the shaping of the Cuban national identity, Teresa Maria Li, director of the cultural center, told Xinhua.

"This (exhibition) is just the beginning of a very important celebration that will gather many people interested in expanding their knowledge of Chinese culture, customs and traditions," Li said.

During Cuba's War of Independence, Chinese fighters played a significant role in defending the Caribbean nation.

For more than a century, the two countries grew intertwined in various aspects, including trade, farming, culture and cuisine.

China has also become one of Cuba's main economic partners as bilateral cooperation deepens.

Chinese-Cuban Sara Chao, 80, told Xinhua she is happy to have inherited her parent's hardworking ethos.

"I have never visited China, but China is very deep in my heart in so many ways," she said. "This celebration will continue unifying the Chinese community in Cuba." 

Students from the Cuban School of Wushu perform lion dance to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Chinese arrival in Cuba, in Havana, Cuba, March 16, 2022. (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)
Senior citizens can learn more about using tech at "DIGI LIT! Digital Literacy For Seniors," a Zoom series with topics such as navigating the internet, making online purchases, reconnecting with friends and loved ones, and more.

The African American Resource Collection of the Orleans Parish Library is teaming up with Black Girl Health to present the series. It kicks off Monday, March 28, with an hourlong webinar about digital planning apps.

The next day, attendees will learn five ways to protect information online, and Wednesdays session will focus on how to make cellphone and computer use more physically comfortable.

All three events start at 2 p.m. and will be hosted by Jakala Garba, a public health and community health educator.

The program was created by the Black Girl Health Foundation, a nonprofit creating pathways to improve the health of Black women and girls through education, engagement and empowerment.

Visit nolalibray.org/events for more information or to preregister for the event. Participants do not need to attend all three programs.

MANGA CLUB: Graphic novel-loving teens are invited to join the librarys monthly manga book club when it meets via Zoom at 4:30 p.m. March 24 to discuss the Sailor Moon series. Prizes will be given to attendees who come dressed in cosplay or bring a piece of fan art to show off.

Register at nolalibrary.org/events.

COASTAL CONVERSATION: Starting April 5, the library will host a four-part series of book discussions aimed at sparking conversations about the changing environment of our coastal communities.

Tune in to "Witness to Change: Conversations on Coastal Impacts" every other Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom.

The first session will focus on Mike Tidwell's book Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast, followed by:

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi on April 19

Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush on May 3

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward on May 17.

Led by Robin Vander, of Xavier University, this series offers participants a chance to learn more about issues arising from our changing relationship with water, climate change, hurricanes, flooding, displacement and community.

Free books will be provided while supplies last. Attendance will be capped at 20 participants. All sessions will be recorded and made available on the librarys City Archives YouTube channel.

The series is presented by the librarys City Archives & Special Collections department and sponsored by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.

Visit nolalibrary.org/events for details and registration.

Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library.
Arielle Hunter cant even begin to describe the challenges of being a high school science teacher.

This is one of the only jobs that you have to prepare for the workday. And then you leave that workday with work to grade, and then you have to prepare for the next day, said Hunter, the director of science curriculum at Livingston Collegiate Academy in east New Orleans and a former biology teacher.

Since conducting science labs means finding resources, testing them ahead of time and thinking through logistics, they quickly become a huge burden, Hunter said.

The local nonprofit STEM Library Lab, however, has come to her rescue.

It lets teachers check out everything from weather probes and anatomy models to magnets, compasses and telescopes geared for teaching students from kindergarten to 12th grade, all for free.

With the library lab, Hunter said, you can look at demos and get inspired (for lessons) in a space where you can immediately check out the equipment.

Although the library has been based in New Orleans since its 2018 launch, it recently moved to Jefferson Parish.

The STEM Ecosystem Hub in Metairie (3011 N. I-10 Service Road E.) opened with a ribbon-cutting celebration March 22. The new, 12,000 square-foot building was made possible through support from the Brown Foundation.

The hub houses thousands of science and nonscience resources, all available to participating schools and teachers across the area. It also includes a store equipped with standard teaching supplies, a teachers' lounge that serves as a coworking space, and a print center conducive to bulk-printing jobs.

The premise of this building is to connect teachers and nonprofits in the ecosystem, said Todd Wackerman, the founder and executive director of STEM Library Lab.

Some of the stuff is hard to find. It's not like you can just go to Walmart and buy whatever piece of equipment you need, said teacher Karen Marshall, who creates lessons for third through fifth grade science students. And then there's a budget. So the library has been a huge help, financially and logistically.

It began with an experiment

Wackerman, a former physics and math teacher, was in search of free or affordable resources for his students when he came up with the concept for the STEM Library Lab. He and his team began brainstorming in 2016, ran a pilot program in 2017 and eventually established the nonprofit in a single room.

We were creating a room full of science classroom equipment so that local teachers could access the physical stuff they needed to teach their classes effectively, he said. In the course of doing that, we have verified and validated that there is a need. Teachers need stuff to do their jobs effectively, no questions asked.

But Wackerman says teachers face a wide range of challenges when executing hands-on science experiments.

Over the past few years, we've been pivoting to say the STEM Library Lab is not about being a library of science equipment, he said. It's about figuring out what are the things stopping teachers from doing their jobs effectively, and finding solutions.

Wackermans team also offers professional development to teachers.

A teacher will walk in and say, I'm looking for resources about the solar system. And we're like, Well, we've got some resources about the solar system, but you should talk to the NASA Solar System Ambassadors Program, he said. Part of what we do is point teachers away from our services, and to whatever nonprofit or entity in the community can best suit their needs.

The STEM Ecosystem Hub also boasts a virtual space with a database where nonprofits, hospitals, museums, universities and businesses can upload opportunities for teachers and families  whether it be field trips, extracurricular activities or volunteer positions.

Lab services are free to all teachers throughout southeast Louisiana.

Although the library lab has supported teachers in at least 16 Jefferson Parish schools, the vast majority of its impact is felt in Orleans Parish, where it has helped more than 300 teachers from 64 schools. The goal with moving to Metairie is to retain all Orleans Parish schools and teachers, while offering them more space and materials.

The spot in Metairie is extremely central, said Wackerman, noting the facility sits near the corner of Causeway Boulevard and the I-10.

Teachers can sign up for services online at stemlibrarylab.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse, and begin borrowing supplies by visiting the facility on weekdays between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

More time for students

Before discovering the library, Marshall ordered materials from Amazon.com.

I would come to school on a Saturday  spread everything out on the floor, and spend six hours packing kits for each teacher, said Marshall, who works as an eighth grade science teacher at International School of Louisiana (ISL). That was not sustainable, especially because I was still teaching a full eighth grade load.

When she read about Wackermans STEM Library Lab, she thought, He's never going to be able to do what I need him to do.

The two met, however, and Wackerman told Marshall he could help. After discussing the collaboration with ISLs principal, they got down to business.

We've been working with him for approximately three years, Marshall said. We're getting into a rhythm  (Wackerman) knows what's happening at school, and he's always ready. He packs, drops off and picks up the kits.

This gives teachers time to focus on lessons and lectures.

It allows us to dig deep into science concepts, without spending time packing kits, Marshall said. Students can really experience science the way it was always meant to be experienced: through exploration, questioning, using their hands, using their senses and making observations.

Hunter said her attendance is highest on lab days  especially frog dissection days.

Kids would talk about it from the first day they came into class, and say, When are we doing this? Because they had heard about it from previous classes, she said. It's a big motivator for students when they know: not only do our teachers trust us to do these labs, they have the resources and time to do them.
The range of restaurants under the umbrella of local company Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts goes from old-line Creole (Broussards) to a shopping mall wine bar (Vine & Tap). One of its concepts, though, Boulevard American Bistro, has proven so successful that the parent company is building more.

The latest edition of Boulevard American Bistro is slated to open Friday (March 18) at 70340 Hwy. 21, part of a strip mall along a stretch of retail, office and medical complexes.

Its the third location, following the first in Metairie and the second in Elmwood, which opened during the early days of the pandemic. Its also the first restaurant for the company on the north shore, part of a move by the company to diversify its geographic base.

Boulevard first came about in 2015 after Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts took over the longtime home of Houstons in Metairie, after that popular restaurant closed. The new restaurant kept some of the touchstones of its predecessor, from an upscale/casual design, a wide-ranging menu to the large bar for dining or just drinks.

The Covington restaurant serves essentially the same menu as the other locations. Thats a contemporary American roster with dishes like prime rib, seared tuna salads, redfish with crabmeat, barbecue ribs and walnut apple cobbler. Crab cakes, spinach and artichoke dip and cedar plank salmon are some of the bestsellers.

Marv Ammari, CEO of the family-run company, envisions more locations for Boulevard around the metro area. While serving the same menu, each one is customized for its setting and works in lessons from its siblings.

The Covington address was previously a Japanese restaurant, Osaka 21. The company had a blank slate to redevelop here, and they went big at the bar.

A large dining bar has always been popular at the other restaurants. This new one is an even bigger part of the design, accounting for about a third of the dining room space.

Theres also a covered patio up front for outdoor dining.

Ammari said the versatility of the Boulevard American Bistro brand has been one key to its growth.

Its an all-American concept and, nothing against the national chains, but this is local, he said. We have many customers from the north shore that visit our other restaurants and asked us to come here. Its the right fit for here and for now.

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Another lesson of the pandemic folded in has been the enduring appeal of takeout. Takeout accounted for 1% of business at Boulevard for 2020. Now thats up to 20%, Ammari said.

Despite the widespread issues around restaffing in the hospitality industry, Ammari said hes been dazzled by the way teams at the first two Boulevard restaurants have stepped up to help with this new one.

Theyre bringing their passion for the business, thats why were able to keep doing this, he said.

Like the other locations, the Covington Boulevard continues a number of popular specials, including half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays and a $5 martini special on Thursdays.

Boulevard American Bistro

70340 Hwy. 21, Covington, (985) 326-2121

Also

5171 Citrus Blvd., Elmwood, (504) 410-5171

4241 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, (504) 889-2301

Lunch and dinner daily, from 11 a.m. (all locations)

+10 Ian McNulty: A pandemic kept us apart, but New Orleans restaurants still bring us together Ive walked past boarded-up bars and toasted them with a go-cup drink from home, hoping theyd return, though not knowing how or when they could.

+21 You can taste authentic Egyptian food during NOMA's next big show, thanks to these chefs Khaled Hegazzi has kept Egyptian heritage central in his life since immigrating two decades ago from Alexandria on the Nile delta to New Orlea
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A Jefferson Parish jury has convicted Long Nguyen, 46, of conspiring to ship more than 50 pounds of marijuana from California to Louisiana.

A Vietnamese speaker who required a translator in court, Nguyen had the marijuana shipped in vacuum-sealed bags, which were tucked inside foil bags and stored in plywood-lined cardboard boxes, the district attorney's office said. Law officers seized the marijuana and $8,000 cash from apartments, a storage unit and a UPS distribution center in the New Orleans area. A Terrytown couple who mistakenly received seven pounds of marijuana called 911 to report it, prosecutors said.

With the 50 pounds of marijuana displayed before them as evidence, jurors sat through a two-day trial and deliberated 20 minutes before finding Nguyen guilty Tuesday of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, money laundering and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer. Judge Frank Brindisi scheduled sentencing April 11.

Marijuana for recreational purposes is illegal in Louisiana, but medical marijuana laws were recently expanded to make smokable marijuana "flower" available for purchase in state dispensaries, alongside THC-infused liquids, topical applications, inhalers and gummies.

Nguyen's wife, Bich Nguyen, is already serving two three-year prison sentences for her role in the marijuana distribution. Two other men involved in the conspiracy, Man Danh, 54, of Gretna and Nghia Hoaung of Belle Chasse, pleaded guilty to drug charges and received five-year prison sentences.
A health worker prepares a dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Cornella, Spain, April 7, 2021.(Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

The EMA called non-vaccinated citizens to get jabbed as soon as possible, emphasizing that there are now five COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the EU using different technologies.

BRUSSELS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Cases of Omicron BA2, a COVID-19 subvariant, are rising across the European Union (EU), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday.

"While many EU countries are lifting restrictions, we notice that the infection rates are increasing again in some member states, partly because of the circulation of Omicron BA2, which seems to be more transmissible than other variants," Marco Cavalieri, head of the EMA's strategy on biological health threats and vaccines, told journalists here.

A woman wearing a face mask waits for a train in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Feb. 2, 2022. (Photo by Stefan Zeitz/Xinhua)

What matters the most, he said, is how this increase in cases will stress the healthcare systems.

The EMA called non-vaccinated citizens to get jabbed as soon as possible, emphasizing that there are now five COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the EU using different technologies.

"There is currently no evidence that immune response after vaccination is significantly different with Omicron BA2. Vaccines continue to offer high protection against hospitalization and death," he said.

The vaccines that have received conditional marketing authorization from the EMA are those produced by Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novavax.

Photo taken on Feb. 18, 2022 shows a COVID-19 test site at the Rembrandt Square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.(Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week kicks off March 21 celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Highlights will include free events, panel discussions, industry summits and parties.

Attendees can look forward to expanding their networks and learning more about New Orleans' diverse and emerging industries and more.

Guest speakers Sabrina Short of NOLAvate Black, Daryn Dodson of Illumen Capital and Jessica Norwood of RUNWAY will explore the theme Our Diversity is our Strength on Tuesday, March 22 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hotel Peter & Paul.

Tuesdays panels and sessions will collectively highlight the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion for businesses in every sector.

Entrepreneur Week runs from Monday to March 25 and is free and open to the public. Programming is spread between the Ace Hotel, Gallier Hall, Hotel Peter & Paul, and Hotel St. Vincent.

To register, visit: https://www.noew.org/sign-up
Marsha Thomas held her hands against her brothers side, pushing against the hot blood pouring from his gunshot wound. Youll be fine, she told him. Just breathe.

But minutes later, despite her efforts, 36-year-old Darnel Thomas died.

On Thursday, a jury convicted his cousin, Harrison Bethley, 32, of manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the Feb. 21, 2020 slaying, after deliberating almost five hours.

Judge Nandi Campbell of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court set sentencing for May 9. Bethley had been charged with second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. But the jury found him guilty of the lesser charge, which is punishable by a maximum of 40 years. Obstruction carries the same penalty.

The shooting

Prosecutors said Bethley shot Thomas at their grandmother's house in the 1800 block of Treasure Street, as retribution for a slight slung months before, when the cousins had a falling out. Several others, including Thomas four children and his sister, were in the house at the time of shooting, and testified Bethley was the aggressor in a fight that led to the killing.

But Bethley testified Wednesday that the shooting was an accident, saying he shot Thomas only after his cousin pulled a gun and shot him. At one point, Bethley pulled down his suit pants in front of the jury to show a scar on his right thigh, a healed wound that he said was the result of Thomas shooting him.

Later, Bethley wrapped his arms around his defense attorney, demonstrating how he said he held Thomas and tried to grab the gun. As I tried to take his hand off of it, it went off, Bethley told the jurors. The way the gun was, it didnt even look like it was aimed his way.

In his closing arguments, prosecutor Matthew Derbes said Bethley and defense attorney Stavros Panagoulopoulos had concocted a story they thought the jury would buy. And they did it with this performance, he said.

A broken family

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On the witness stand, Marsha Thomas described the fervent nature of the fight. She said she was begging for the men to stop when she heard the first gunshot.

The first thing that came to my mind is, Lets get the children out of the way, she testified.

She said she grabbed two of her brothers children and ran to the back of the house. Within seconds, she said, she heard a second gunshot and turned to see her brother at the end of the hallway, lying face down, having fallen near the familys TV stand.

Every time I go to that house, I replay that scene, she said. And I go there a lot.

As he cross-examined Bethley, Derbes asked whether the defendant was sorry.

Im more than sorry, man, Bethley said. You know, I lost my whole family to this. My whole family against me. Everyone I ever knew. I didnt just lose Darnel; I lost all my family members.

As Bethley testified, his mother sobbed on one side of the courtroom. On the other, Thomas mother hung her head, tears falling from her eyes to the floor.

You know this isnt about what you lost, right? Derbes asked.

I know that, Bethley said. Its about the children. Its about my auntie.
Jermaine Hudson served almost 22 years in prison after a non-unanimous jury convicted him of armed robbery based on the false testimony of an accuser who later recanted.

But on Thursday, an Orleans Parish judge formally ruled that Hudson, 43, was not guilty of a crime that never happened.

I forgive you, Hudson told his accuser at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court hearing, held to determine his guilt or innocence and how much the state will pay for his unjust incarceration. Its not in my heart to hold any hate against you. I pray from his day forward that you take nothing for granted, and that you take your life and move forward.

The accuser sobbed.

A false accusation

In 1999, an 18-year-old man told a lie to his father: He said he'd been robbed at gunpoint of his cash while riding his bicycle home from work.

When asked by police to identify his attacker from a photo lineup, he pointed toward a picture of Hudson.

A jury later voted 10-2 to convict Hudson, and he was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 decided that split juries are unconstitutional. But that ruling didn't reverse Hudsons conviction, because it applies to only to cases with pending appeals. By the time the court issued its ruling, Hudson had exhausted all his appeals.

However, when District Attorney Jason Williams took office last year, he decided to apply the ruling to a spate of cases, including Hudsons, where people were convicted by non-unanimous juries but couldn't benefit from the Supreme Court ruling.

The district attorneys office chose to vacate Hudsons conviction, agreeing to a new plea deal: Hudson would plead guilty to armed robbery, and he would be given a sentence of time served. But before the plea could be heard in court, the accuser came forward to recant. He told officials in the DA's office that he had never been robbed, and had in fact spent his money on drugs. He'd never even met Hudson.

Less than a day later, on March 26, 2021, the district attorneys office dismissed all charges against Hudson. He was ordered immediately released.

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Not guilty

Even after charges are dropped against a defendant, a judge must declare the defendant not guilty so that the person can be awarded compensation for their time spent in prison. Its a sometimes-fraught process with a high bar that can be difficult to clear.

Thats because when people are exonerated, theyve often won a judgment from a court over the opposition of the district attorney's office, said Colin Reingold, director of strategic litigation for advocacy group the Promise of Justice Initiative, who represented Hudson at Thursdays hearing.

In Hudsons case, he had the support of the district attorney's office, though he faced opposition from the Louisiana attorney general's office, which is the agency that prosecutes compensation hearings.

On Thursday, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas officially declared Hudson not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr. Hudson, to you sir, I apologize on behalf of the criminal justice system, she said, before awarding him $330,000  the maximum amount allowed by the state.

Moments before, Hudson's accuser had testified via Zoom that he had struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for years, which had prevented him from coming forward sooner.

If you havent gone through a drug addiction, I dont know if I can quite explain the fear that goes along with it, the accuser said. But Ive been afraid my whole life, and this has been the No. 1 thing that has been heavy on my heart for years. To this day, I still cannot say why [I did what I did]  other than the fear, and being young and not understanding the totality of what I had done. I got to a point in my life where I didnt want to die  with this on my conscious.

Though Hudson declined to comment after the hearing, Reingold said he is excited to put all this behind him and be able to move forward with his life. No amount of money is going to bring back all the years that Mr. Hudson lost. But it is certainly gratifying to see the court recognize that a real injustice was done here.

To date, the district attorney's office has vacated and dismissed nine convictions because of either state misconduct, new evidence of innocence or a combination of both, said Emily Maw, its civil rights division chief.

CORRECTION: Earlier verisons of this story incorrectly said the U.S. attorney's office prosecutes compensation hearings and opposed Hudson's case.
A 33-year-old man was stabbed multiple times and found early Friday on Bourbon Street, New Orleans police said.

The man was found at 4:20 a.m. in the 900 block of Bourbon Street, which is between Dumaine and St. Philip streets. It wasn't immediately clear if the stabbing happened on Bourbon Street or elsewhere.

His wounds were not considered to be life-threatening, police said. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where his condition was not immediately available.

No other details were released, including how the man was stabbed. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Check back for more details as they develop.
For the first time this academic year, students and staff at New Orleans public schools will be maskless when they show up on Monday.

NOLA Public Schools said Friday it is lifting its "universal masking recommendation" for K-12 students. The announcement had been expected, as COVID-19 cases across the city and region continue to fall.

The school system said it based the decision on federal, state, and local guidance. New Orleans public schools boast low levels of community spread and have remained low as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, school officials said.

I am excited for our students and staff to be able to interact with each other in a more natural way and return to a sense of normalcy, Orleans Parish schools Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. said in a news release.

NOLA Public Schools officials said the current COVID-19 testing programs for students would continue. Students and staff members who feel more comfortable wearing a mask are encouraged to continue wearing one, Lewis said.

Orleans Parish public schools were the last in the region to lift the mask requirement. When the city relaxed its indoor mask mandate earlier this month, the school district's requirement became a "recommendation," school officials said.

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School districts in neighboring parishes dropped mask requirements as soon as the state allowed it last October.

Orleans Parish is also the only public school district in the state with a vaccine reqiurement for students over the age of 5. That mandate took effect in February, and since then schools across the district have worked with families to get students vaccinated.

The school district's most recent numbers show 31 student COVID cases, five staff cases and 93 total quarantines -- a far cry from the height of the omicron wave when thousands of students and workers across the metro area were in quarantine. There was a 0.38% positivity rate on 17,745 reported tests, NOLA Public Schools data shows.

NOLA Public Schools said families should reach out to their schools with questions about the new policy.

Bob Warren contributed to this story.
A New Orleans City Council committee moved Thursday to freeze about $25 million for the public works, permitting, legal and planning departments, over the objections of Cantrell administration deputies who warned the measures would stifle much-needed hiring and hurt residents.

In endorsing the proposals, spearheaded by council member Joseph Giarrusso, Budget Committee members characterized them as last resort to force a failing administration to improve its transparency, communication and overall performance.

The votes followed three hours of outraged testimony from residents who sounded off on a litany of grievances against City Hall, many involving seemingly endless road construction projects that have upended neighborhoods.

There is roadwork in all four directions. We are just trying to get to work, get the kids to school, have the school buses come through," said Black Pearl resident Chelsea Sun. "We cant get out. We have to wait in lines to get out of our own street.

Council members Helena Moreno and JP Morrell joined Giarrusso, the committee chairman, in voting for the measures, which freeze parts of the Public Works, Law, Safety and Permits and Planning Commission budgets. It is scheduled for a full council vote April 7, but with two council members already opposed, it is unclear if it has enough support to pass and survive a veto from Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

The vote marked a new low in the relationship between the Cantrell administration and some members of the City Council, one that has deteriorated over the past two months since five new council members joined the dais.

This didnt just happen overnight for no reason, Moreno told administration officials. We are here because of what has just escalated and escalated and escalated to just complete lack of transparency and communication, not just with the public but also with the City Council.

Starting with council members' demands that Police Chief Shaun Ferguson address spiraling violent crime, and continuing more recently with Morrell loudly pushing a bill in the Louisiana Legislature to give the council more oversight of the Sewerage and Water Board, the new council has become increasingly confrontational.

But Giarrusso's move to freeze departmental funding might test the limits of how far the council is willing to go in unison. The measures produced a rare split committee vote, with council members Oliver Thomas and Eugene Green voting against it. Thomas and Green, who both joined the council in January, said freezing the budget was too risky and could hamstring the administration in hiring more staff to address the problems.

Thomas criticized both Giarrusso and administration officials for letting the relationship deteriorate to the point that departmental funding could be held up.

Yall supposed to be bound by the hip, Thomas said. We're rolling dice with the peoples money right now.

'The most inefficient way'

The legislation does not specify how the money could be unfrozen. Giarrusso, Moreno and Morrell suggested that department directors would need to argue for it in public hearings. In an interview, Giarrusso said he chose the four departments that he thinks are failing to perform and are stonewalling residents seeking important information.

For example, he said, Public Works construction projects seem to stop and start at random, without notification to residents. Safety and Permits has failed to follow through with a short-term rental enforcement office, he said.

"These things have been discussed a million times. This is not new ground. So now it's how do we make sure we physically, tangibly see them?" Giarrusso said.

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Cantrell's chief administrative officer, Gilbert Montano, acknowledged the administration needs to do more to communicate with residents and manage construction projects. But he said freezing the money would force him to stall hiring, which he said would be the antithesis of what council members aimed to accomplish.

In no way will this piece of legislation solve the issues that we've spent the last several hours addressing or hearing. In fact, it would only exacerbate them, Montano said.

As of last month, the departments combined for more than 120 full-time job vacancies, or more than 30% of budgeted positions, according to the administration. Giarrusso, Moreno and Morrell said the money could easily be unfrozen, but that department heads would need to attend council meetings to argue for it.

Montano said that would further hamper understaffed departments, which are already in a precarious situation to move forward with their work.

It would create probably the most inefficient way to ever get ourselves out of these problems, he said.

'Unconscionable'

Before the vote, speaker after speaker said contractors had turned their neighborhoods into mazes of obstructed throughways, abandoned equipment and debris-clogged drainage catch basins, and they accused the administration of enabling it with lackadaisical enforcement.

Catch basins around Hollygrove resident Reuben DeTieges home have become so stuffed with asphalt, steel reinforcing bar and other debris that a Sewerage and Water Board vacuum truck is needed to clean them. Even then, he said, the fix is usually temporary.

The stuff is deep in there, DeTiege said. The vacuum truck from the Sewerage and Water Board comes back in the neighborhood so much that if Im laying in bed, I can identify the whine of the engine.

A 2018 ordinance allows fines of as much as $5,000 for dumping into New Orleans' drainage system. But the public works director, Josh Hartley, said Thursday the department is not enforcing the law. Hartley said violations are instead referred to the S&WB.

Morrell called Hartleys explanation the most ridiculous and asinine thing I have ever heard.

We are going to have one dysfunctional department pass the buck to another dysfunctional department, Morrell said.

Morrell had similarly harsh words for Hartleys departments work on New Orleans East streetlights, some of which have been out for more than 400 days, according to data presented during the hearing.

To have streetlights out for over 400 days, that goes beyond a lack of urgency. Thats the realm of dont care, Morrell said. Thats unconscionable.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the total estimated amount of general funds that could be frozen by the City Council. It is $25 million.
Democracy sure can be messy.

Once a decade, we the people get to decide how we want to be represented after the Big Count gives us the latest demographic data. Or, so its supposed to be.

The Louisiana Legislature offers an example of saying one thing and meaning another. The New Orleans City Council offers an example of saying, Oh, we forgot how important this is.

The legislative committees leading the redistricting special session created a wonderful series of opportunities for public input, including an impressive website with all kinds of Census and other related data. Lawmakers also had redistricting roadshows so people could weigh in.

Yet the maps they adopted dont accurately reflect the Louisiana that I know, or that the Census revealed. I see a lot more Black people, and they're not all in Baton Rouge, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport. Also, though I've seen pockets of northern growth, I've seen more southern population explosions.

Im disappointed that the Legislature took so few of the public comments seriously enough to have any real impact on their decisions and their actions. As a result, the district maps they drew will face litigation that could last years.

Im disappointed that the New Orleans City Council didnt make it easier for citizens to weigh in on the district maps it approved on Wednesday. I wont get into the winners and losers here, but a quick summary is this: All of Treme is in the same district. Some of Broadmoor moved into another district. The Lower 9th Ward stays with New Orleans East, after one proposal had lumped it instead with Algiers and the French Quarter (Which of these areas don't belong together?) There was more, but you get the idea.

The final map didnt come together until the day the vote was required under the city's home rule charter. If the Council hadnt done its job, the city's university presidents or their designees would have had to step in to make the decisions our elected officials could not.

The boundaries weren't determined until minutes before a vote, so the public didnt really weigh in. Four final maps the Monday before the vote, then two more maps an hour before the vote, then a final, final map approved unanimously by council. Thats not cool, and I agree with Shawon Bernard, who leads the Lower 9th Ward Voters Coalition.

The map just got released, hot off the presses, she told council members as they prepared to vote. You are going to take a vote, but public comment is not truly a part of it.

New Orleans voters will cast ballots based on the new districts in the 2025 elections and the successful candidates will take office in January 2026.

Looking ahead to the next time we do this, Ive got some ideas.

Change the City Charter provisions addressing redistricting. The charter establishes a timetable for getting the work done, six months after getting final Census numbers. It also provides a hammer: If the council doesn't get it done by then, redistricting authority moves to university presidents, and council members lose their salaries until the work is done. The charter doesnt say that citizens play an important role. With a charter change, we can require more public input as a part of the official process.

Make incumbent City Council members more accountable. With or without a charter change and whether they are running for reelection or not, members should share their philosophy on which neighborhoods should be kept together, and why. The resulting districts may or may not have an impact on their political futures, but the priority should be on whats best for the citizens and not themselves.

Since the next U.S. Census count isnt until 2030, we dont have to rush to make these things happen this year. But we certainly should use our recent experiences as a good reason to start putting things in place, so that were prepared.
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.
How sleeves, breeze come to embody upright officials in China

Xinhua) 16:16, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- In traditional Chinese idioms, Liang Xiu Qing Feng or "two sleeves of cool breeze," is often used to describe clean and honest officials.

The expression became widely known because of the story of Yu Qian, an upright and honest official of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Yu was born in Qiantang, today's Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, and he entered officialdom at what was considered a tender age, 24.

He quickly gained a reputation of being an official who had great compassion for ordinary people. Recognized by the emperor, Yu was promoted to become governor of several provinces, but he kept a thrift lifestyle.

Back then, a eunuch called Wang Zhen became very powerful in the imperial court, and many local officials on trips to the capital would lavish the eunuch with precious presents such as jewelry and gold.

However, Yu never brought any gifts. Worried about Yu, one of his aides suggested he should bring some local specialties to the eunuch.

Back in ancient times, Chinese people, particularly officials, scholars and women, used to wear gowns and dresses with very long and hollow sleeves, where they can keep things such as presents.

Hearing the aide's advice, Yu laughed and wrote a poem making his attitude clear: "I don't have anything to bring to the capital but two sleeves of cool breeze."

After composing the poem, Yu left for the capital with his head held high. The poem later became widespread among the people.

Nowadays, the expression "Liang Xiu Qing Feng" has evolved to embody officials like Yu Qian, who has kept clean hands.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Aubervilliers, Seine Saint Denis, France, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua)

PARIS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron presented on Thursday his program for the presidential elections to be held in April.

At a press conference, Macron laid out his reform plans that cover a broad range of sectors: the economy, culture, agriculture, defense, education, the workplace, gender equality, welfare, households, seniors and the country's institutions.

"We must make France a more independent nation within a strong Europe," he said.

To achieve this goal, he said the government would have to invest 30 billion euros (33.3 billion U.S. dollars) in various high-growth sectors.

Macron's goal for the next five years is "to develop 100 percent French sectors" to wean the country off its dependence on imported energy and industrial goods.

He said that his aim would be to increase the share of renewable energy at the national grid level, build more nuclear reactors and promote investments by public institutions and private companies.

His government, he said, would aim to turn the country greener by ensuring broad access to affordable electric vehicles, including through leasing programs.

Over the next ten years, Macron plans to invest 25 billion euros in research.

His public administration reform plans aim to improve social and labor welfare, he said.

He said that pensions reform will be one of his government's priority projects if elected to a second term. He plans to raise the legal retirement age to 65 and to propose a minimum pension of 1,100 euros. 

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Aubervilliers, Seine Saint Denis, France, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua)

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Aubervilliers, Seine Saint Denis, France, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua)

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Aubervilliers, Seine Saint Denis, France, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua)

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Aubervilliers, Seine Saint Denis, France, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua)

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Aubervilliers, Seine Saint Denis, France, on March 17, 2022. (Xinhua)
Lewisburg, Pa -- Get a look at the inside world of law enforcement when the State Police hosts a Citizens' Police Academy beginning next month.

During this six-week program, many different professionals within the law enforcement community will educate the class in different concepts, responsibilities, and training regarding their specific job assignment.

It's a great opportunity for citizens to have open conversations with law enforcement officers to reveal areas of improvement in the partnership between law enforcement and the general public.

During the six Tuesday evening sessions, participants receive instruction and hands-on learning of multiple police procedures and techniques. The class will also discuss use of force, crash reconstruction, forensics, criminal investigation, and DUI enforcement with members of the Pennsylvania State Police, local departments, FBI, and the Union County District Attorney's office.

Sessions will be Tuesday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. starting April 12 through May 17 at the East Buffalo Township Building, 589 Fairground Road, Lewisburg. Participants must be able to attend at least five of the six sessions in order to graduate.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older and have a clean criminal record. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 28. Class size will be limited to 25 participants who are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Once the application is received, the Pennsylvania State Police conducts a brief criminal background investigation. The program is free to attend.

Applications are available at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Milton or by calling 717-461-5051.

For more information or questions, contact Trooper Andrea Pelachick at 717-461-5051 or apelachick@pa.gov.
Harrisburg, Pa.  Police said the state seizure of drugs and guns was "one of the largest in western Pa.," including $1.4 million dollars worth of fentanyl.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrest of Domonique Taylor in Braddock, Pa. on Thursday.

The Office of Attorney General coordinated with local law enforcement partners to execute search warrants at Taylors property which resulted in the seizure of multiple drugs, guns, vehicles, and $545,738 in cash, according to a news release.

This bust marks one of the largest fentanyl seizures by the Office of Attorney Generals Bureau of Narcotics Investigation under the Shapiro administration.

Today, thanks to strong collaboration with our local law enforcement partners, we shut down a major drug trafficking operation in Western Pennsylvania, said Shapiro.

Drug trafficking is a violent enterprise. This investigation is how we fight back against gun violence and those who push poisons onto our streets. Through cooperation and hard work, we can make sure Pennsylvania communities are safer, he continued.

In total, approximately 14 kilograms, or 700,000 individual doses of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, marijuana, six vehicles, six firearms, and $545,738 in cash were seized by law enforcement from Taylors home and garage. The street value of the fentanyl alone is $1.4 million. Taylor is a convicted felon, which means he is not legally allowed to possess firearms.

The heroin, fentanyl, and opioid crisis has been a top priority of the Office of Attorney General since 2017. The Attorney Generals Bureau of Narcotics Investigation arrested 1,624 drug dealers in 2021 and has taken four million doses of fentanyl off the streets of Pennsylvania since 2017.

The investigation into Taylor began in August 2021 and remains ongoing, according to authorities. The Monroeville, Penn Hills, Elizabeth Township, Munhall, and Wilkinsburg Police Departments worked alongside the Office of Attorney General over the course of this investigation.

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At the beginning of the pandemic, the previous president had a vision  one his scientific advisors urged him to abandon. Not only did Donald Trump want the economy back open, he said that by Easter Sunday of 2020, you will have packed churches all over the country. It never happened, at least not on the scale he envisioned.

Two years later, after millions of vaccines have been administered and the virus has receded from its peak, things look very different. A sign of the times: After two years, the White House plans to resume regular public tours. Doors are scheduled to open on Good Friday.

As Biden officials smile about the poetry of that rhyming calendar, the White House is dealing with a political paradox: How to secure more COVID aid from Congress as the administration pivots away from the pandemic. Its proving to be a hard sell.

The same morning the White House announced a return to business as usual for tourists, the administration raised the alarm about a virus they believe is on the run. Cases are down 95% since the peak of the omicron variant. Hospitalizations have similarly plunged by 85%. More than 215 million Americans are already fully vaccinated. Yet officials warned on a call with reporters Tuesday morning that their pandemic coffers could soon be empty.

For months, weve made clear to Congress, on a bipartisan basis, that the funding for tests, treatments, and vaccines was drying up and that additional funds would be needed, the official said.

How much money do they need? The number administration officials floated was $22.5 billion. And if they dont get it? White House budgeteers will make trims to the request. They warn, however, that the U.S. wont have enough boosters or variant-specific vaccines for all Americans, according to a fact sheet provided by the administration. They wont be able to buy monoclonal antibody treatments, either, and the current supply is expected to run out as soon as May. Without a cash infusion, they predict that the testing capacity will collapse.

Governors were warned late Tuesday morning that the administration would be reducing the number of monoclonal antibody treatments by 30% within a week.

Republicans say they arent necessarily opposed to more COVID spending. They just want to know where all the other COVID cash went first, as Sen. Richard Shelby explained to Politico. Theres a doubt that they need this money with a lot of us, explained the Alabama Republican. Ive said this for weeks, a real accounting of the money [already spent on COVID] that the American people deserve and then go from there. If theres no money left, and its not hidden somewhere, and if they show a need, then you got, maybe, a persuasive case.

Asked if the White House would negotiate for a lower number, a Biden official gave an emphatic no. And when then asked if they would accept using different funds for their COVID priorities, the official demurred, saying only that the money they provided over a year ago has been well spent, but we defer to Congress on the specific legislative approach.

It is a routine kind of squabble, albeit one that comes at the tail end of a once-in-a-century pandemic. The difficulty for Biden may be that the public is moving on after he pivoted away from the virus during his State of the Union address. Masks are increasingly uncommon these days. Dr. Anthony Fauci has receded from the cable news circuit. News of a land war in Europe now eclipses COVID coverage.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told RealClearPolitics that COVID funding was a necessity, despite the publics shifting attention. We're in a different stage and we have a range of tools in order to fight the pandemic, she explained, adding that in order to keep up that fight, We need money. A new subvariant of the virus, BA2 omicron, has already made it to American shores. It is apparently even more transmissible than the original Omicron strain, Psaki noted, but also treatable. We need to have masks, tests, boosters, treatments for [the] immunocompromised in order to continue to treat the American people during a pandemic, she said. So, it remains urgent.

That urgency was underscored by breaking news Tuesday evening. At least nine Democrats had already tested positive for the virus after those lawmakers attended a party retreat last week in Philadelphia. The president was also at the event, but he tested negative Sunday night, Psaki told reporters. Then, Kamala Harris husband Doug Emhoff tested positive.

The vice president had stood shoulder to shoulder with Biden earlier in the day at an indoor event, and she was expected to share the stage with the president at an event in the East Room of the White House to celebrate Equal Pay Day. The room was packed front to back, but Harris wasnt there.

Earlier today, the Second Gentleman tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, the Vice President will not participate in tonights event, the White House announced just moments before Biden entered the room. The Vice President tested negative for COVID-19 today and will continue to test. The president shrugged off the news like it was routine.

Welcome to the White House, Biden told the crowd that included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and numerous members of his cabinet. This is the biggest crowd weve had since we got here. Only later, after a gaffe where he mistakenly said that the first ladys husband contracted COVID, did Biden ask the mostly unmasked crowd to send to Harris our love.

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BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- In traditional Chinese idioms, Liang Xiu Qing Feng or "two sleeves of cool breeze," is often used to describe clean and honest officials.

The expression became widely known because of the story of Yu Qian, an upright and honest official of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Yu was born in Qiantang, today's Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, and he entered officialdom at what was considered a tender age, 24.

He quickly gained a reputation of being an official who had great compassion for ordinary people. Recognized by the emperor, Yu was promoted to become governor of several provinces, but he kept a thrift lifestyle.

Back then, a eunuch called Wang Zhen became very powerful in the imperial court, and many local officials on trips to the capital would lavish the eunuch with precious presents such as jewelry and gold.

However, Yu never brought any gifts. Worried about Yu, one of his aides suggested he should bring some local specialties to the eunuch.

Back in ancient times, Chinese people, particularly officials, scholars and women, used to wear gowns and dresses with very long and hollow sleeves, where they can keep things such as presents.

Hearing the aide's advice, Yu laughed and wrote a poem making his attitude clear: "I don't have anything to bring to the capital but two sleeves of cool breeze."

After composing the poem, Yu left for the capital with his head held high. The poem later became widespread among the people.

Nowadays, the expression "Liang Xiu Qing Feng" has evolved to embody officials like Yu Qian, who has kept clean hands. 
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BAGHDAD, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Four Katyusha rockets on Thursday struck the Balad Air Base, Iraq's largest military air base in north of the capital Baghdad, a local security source said.

The rockets landed at the Balad Air Base in Salahudin province, some 90 km north of Baghdad, causing no human casualties, Col. Mohammed al-Bazi from the provincial police told Xinhua.

Three of the rockets hit a building inside the base, leaving minor damages, while the fourth landed in an empty area, al-Bazi said, adding that the rockets were fired from the neighboring province of Diyala.

Balad Air Base houses Iraq's F-16 fighters. The U.S. technical team has already withdrawn from the base amid rocket attacks by unidentified militias.

On Dec. 29, 2021, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi confirmed the end of the U.S.-led coalition forces' combat mission in Iraq. 
Leonard Pitts Jr. is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com.
Signal Knob Middle School students Jocelyn Pope, left, and Ashante Davis, right, both 13, use their Chromebooks as they access a stock market game that their new Future Business Leaders of America club plays. Jocelyn serves as vice president and Ashante as president in the new club.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also is heading to Israel shortly after Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch returns next week from her trade mission to the Jewish state.

The Republican chief executive announced Friday he first is traveling to Slovakia on March 27 and then will visit Israel, returning to Indiana on April 2.

Holcomb will be joined on his journey to the central European and the Middle Eastern nations by Adjutant General R. Dale Lyles of the Indiana National Guard, Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers, and Janet Holcomb, the state's first lady.

In Slovakia, the Hoosiers are planning to meet with nongovernmental and civil society organizations to voice Indiana's support for Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees following Russia's unlawful Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

They're also due to meet with Slovakian government leadership in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, to promote Indiana as a top destination for global innovation in economy of the future industries, including sustainable energy and Industry 4.0.

"Secretary Chambers and I are energized to strengthen relationships with global leaders and job creators while forging new partnerships to advance economic growth and further diversify our dynamic economy," Holcomb said.

"This visit also provides an opportunity to do whats right and offer Hoosier support through humanitarian efforts to the Ukrainians who have found refuge in Slovakia and the greater region."

The Indiana delegation similarly will speak with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv about agbioscience, electric vehicle mobility, innovation, and start-up/scale-up businesses, particularly in the green economy space.

It also will host meetings with prospective businesses to grow agtech accelerators and pursue other opportunities for future economic cooperation.

Indiana has longstanding business ties with both Slovakia and Israel.

In 2021, Israel-based renewable energy developer Doral broke ground in Northwest Indiana on one of the largest solar farms in the United States, with phase one of the development set to generate at least 1.3 gigawatts of clean energy on some 13,000 acres in Starke and Pulaski counties.

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Community Healthcare System has added four doctors to its physician network.

The physicians practice varied specialties like allergy and immunology; ear, nose and throat; interventional cardiology and neurosurgery. They are affiliated with Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart and Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center in Crown Point.

Shadi Al Halabi is a specialist in endovascular and interventional cardiology. A graduate of Damascus University Medical School, he completed his residencies at Cleveland Clinic, Loyola University Medical Center and University of Chicago/Advocate Christ Medical Center for interventional cardiology.

He joined the staff of Community Hospital in Munster and St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and is accepting new patients at his office at 9104 Columbia Ave. in Munster.

To make an appointment, call 219-836-4473.

Ear, nose and throat specialist Michael Gluth joined the staff of Community Hospital in Munster.

He got his medical degree from the University of Texas and served his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Gluth specializes in otology and neurotology.

He is accepting appointments at his at 1545 W. U.S. 30 in Schererville.

For an appointment, call 219-703-2447.

Amee Patel, a specialist in allergy and immunology, also joined the staff of Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. She did her fellowship at McGaw Medical Center-Northwestern University and her residency in internal medicine at Loyola University Medical Center.

A graduate of Rush University Medical College, she is accepting pediatric and adult patients at her office at 6375 U.S. 6, Suite C in Portage.

Call 219-947-6129 to make an appointment.

Neurosurgeon Kim Williams Jr. joined the staff of Community Hospital in Munster. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago  College of Medicine and completed his fellowship in spinal surgery and his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

He is now accepting new patients at his office in the Medical Office Building at 801 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 405 in Munster. Call 219-836-5167 to make an appointment.

For more information visit COMHS.org/physicians or call 866-836-3477.

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Zhang Jun (C, front), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 17, 2022. Zhang Jun on Thursday called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale.

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China supports the work by the relevant parties in maintaining communication, ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian corridors, and further facilitating personnel evacuation and humanitarian assistance, he told a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue.

The number of refugees and displaced persons caused by the conflict is still on the rise, bringing a huge impact on Ukraine and the surrounding countries. China supports relevant UN agencies in actively conducting operations and mobilizing the international community to assist all those in need, he said.

In the recent past, some people of African or Middle Eastern descent encountered difficulties during evacuation. This should be taken seriously and addressed properly. All refugees, regardless of color, race or religion, shall be accorded the necessary protection under international refugee law, said Zhang.

China pays high attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and has put forward a six-point proposal. The Red Cross Society of China has provided Ukraine with three batches of humanitarian supplies, with the third batch containing milk powder and quilts for children, he said.

"We welcome any initiative or measure from any party that contributes to alleviating and resolving the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and should therefore play a positive role in easing the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. China hopes that the Security Council can stay united on the humanitarian issue and demonstrate a constructive attitude."

The international community has the common wish for a cease-fire at an early date to alleviate the situation on the ground and prevent civilian casualties. China shares this wish, said Zhang.

To date, Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of negotiations. Keeping the negotiations going means there is a chance for cease-fire, and that there is a chance for a peaceful future, he noted. "China remains committed to promoting peace through negotiations. We support the United Nations and the parties concerned in vigorously carrying out good offices. We also hope that all parties will do more to facilitate peace talks, and not to add fuel to fire."

Facts have proved that the wanton use of sanctions will not solve any problem, but will instead create new problems. Given the sluggish recovery in the global economy, ever-escalating sanctions are undermining the stability of the international industrial chain and supply chain, thus exacerbating food and energy crises, damaging people's livelihood in all countries, developing countries in particular, and triggering new humanitarian consequences. This is also an issue that the Security Council shall pay attention to when addressing the humanitarian issue of Ukraine, said Zhang. 
A half-century of clean water laws has benefited Indiana lakes and streams, but still left them the most polluted of any in the United States.

That is the finding of the Washington-based Environmental Integrity Project, which is advocating for stricter enforcement of the Clean Water Act on the 50th anniversary of its passage by Congress.

Tom Pelton, a spokesman for the group, said the Indiana Department of Environmental Managements most recent test of the states streams and rivers find that 73 percent of them  more than 24,395 miles  are impaired by agricultural runoff.

That is the most miles of impaired waterways of any state. The next highest are Oregon with 17,619 miles, South Carolina with 16,766 and Michigan with 15,708, according to the groups compilation of state-based statistics.

Dr. Indra Frank, water policy director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, said the statewide totals include Northwest Indiana waterways, which also have been dumps for the areas steel-processing and related industrial factories.

She said a review of Indianas clean-water efforts show a mixture of improvement and deficiencies in policy that allow the states farmers and industries to make Indiana waters unsafe for swimming, drinking and other recreational uses.

There is reason to celebrate progress. There is now less sewage and industrial waste than 50 years ago, but there are still loopholes that exempt strict enforcement of pollution caused by cattle manure, chemical fertilizers and coal ash, she said.

She pointed to the Northern Indiana Public Service Companys coal ash stockpile near Porter Countys Town of Pines is just one example.

Another example is the more than 100 cyanide and ammonia spills into Lake Michigan since 2015 by the steel mill at Burns Harbor that killed hundreds of fish. ArcelorMittal owned the mill through 2020; it is now under the ownership of Cleveland-Cliffs.

NIPSCO pledged $11.8 million earlier this month to continue the cleanup of contaminated soil and drinking water in Pines. And Cleveland Cliffs and the Hoosier Environmental Council are in the process of agreeing upon new measures to reduce if not eliminate future spills.

Federal authorities announced last month the commitment of of $1 billion over the next eight years to complete the cleanup of heavy metal-polluted sediments in the 16-mile-long Grand Calumet River, flowing through Gary, Hammond, East Chicago and south suburban Chicago.

Frank said another loophole that needs to be closed is the continued destruction of wetlands, primarily by suburban sprawl of new residential and commercial development into rural Hoosier areas.

The Environmental Integrity Project is recommending the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tighten industry pollution standards, reduce the amount of spills permitted by industry and use more modern technology to detect and eliminate violations.

Another goal: Boost state and federal funding of environmental regulators to make a reality of the Clean Water Acts unachieved goal of 100 percent fishable, swimmable waters within the next decade.

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LOWELL  Two people suffered life-threatening injuries after a car crashed into a semitrailer on U.S. 41 Thursday, police said.

Around 10:30 a.m. the Lake County Sheriffs Department Traffic Unit was called to a crash on U.S. 41 at Belshaw Road on the outskirts of Lowell, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said.

Officers arrived to find a wreck involving a semitrailer and car.

A 2005 Nissan Altima was traveling north on U.S. 41 when it struck a semi that was waiting to turn left onto Belshaw Road. Police said that preliminary investigations also suggests the speed of the Nissan was a factor in the crash.

Two people inside the car suffered life-threatening injuries.

The driver was taken to Franciscan Health Crown Point and was then airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The passenger was airlifted from the crash to Advocate Christ as well. Their current conditions are unknown.

The identities of the individuals have not been released, but they were described as a man in his early 20s and a female in her late teens to early 20s, both from Chicago.

The investigation is ongoing.

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VALPARAISO  A jury deliberated 6 1/2 hours before returning Thursday night to find a 47-year-old LaPorte man guilty on all three counts of repeatedly molesting an underage developmentally delayed girl in Valparaiso beginning 17 years ago, according to the court.

Brian Eskridge was convicted on three A felony counts of child molesting, each of which carries a potential sentence of 20 to 50 years behind bars, the court said.

Sentencing is set for April 6 before Porter County Superior Court Judge Mike Fish, according to Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Harris Peterson, who tried the case.

Defense attorney Russell Brown Jr. appeared caught off guard Tuesday morning when the mother of the young girl revealed to jurors she had been made aware of the abuse allegations years earlier than reported.

The woman testified her daughter had an emotional outburst during the early fall of 2010 or 2011 that the mother did not pursue thoroughly.

She said she questioned Eskridge, whom she and the girl knew, but dropped the matter when he denied doing anything wrong.

Eskridge was accused of repeatedly molesting the girl between Jan. 1, 2005, and Aug. 14, 2010.

The girl reportedly told investigators about various sex acts carried out on her by Eskridge. After each act, the girl told police, "he prayed for forgiveness from God," according to court records.

The alleged victim's mother initially testified Tuesday she first heard of the accusations in March 2015.

After being questioned by Brown about waiting 22 hours before reporting the claims, the woman said, "It was devastating."

She said she first spoke to a counselor about the life-changing news.

"I had a part in letting her down by not taking her serious the first time," the woman said of her daughter.

The case against Eskridge was filed in June 2015 and had repeatedly been continued, including one day before jury selection was to begin in 2018, according to court records.

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CROWN POINT  A defense attorney asked a judge Wednesday to reschedule a murder trial set for next week because he needs more time to review newly discovered letters during a raid last week.

David C. Cotto, 27, of Gary, has pleaded not guilty in connection with the shooting death of 28-year-old Andrew Lukacek on Sept. 11 outside the Tavern of the Oaks bar in the 6200 block of West 25th Avenue in Gary.

His co-defendant, Felicia A. Nelson, 32, of Gary, had been romantically involved with Cotto and Lukacek before Lukacek's homicide, according to Lake Criminal Court records.

Nelson was charged last year with assisting a criminal, a level 5 felony, in connection with allegations she helped Cotto hide from police after Lukacek's homicide.

Earlier this month, Nelson was charged with bribery, a level 5 felony, in connection with allegations she offered to pay a juvenile witness in Cotto's murder case $1,000 to recant his statements to police.

Nelson, who has pleaded not guilty in both cases, had been scheduled to appear Thursday on a petition to revoke her bond. However, her hearing was canceled after the Lake County prosecutor's office withdrew its petition.

Defense attorney John Cantrell told Judge Natalie Bokota police seized about 30 letters in a raid last week.

"I don't want to speed into trial without reading them," he said.

However, Cantrell said Cotto wanted him to ask Bokota to attribute any delay to the state because Cotto thought prosecutors should have turned over copies of the letters to the defense earlier.

Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie said his office turned over the letters to Cantrell as fast as possible.

"The letters shouldn't be a surprise. They came from him," Brandewie said. "Any delay shouldn't be attributable to us. We're ready for trial. If the defendant wants to continue the trial and review the letters that would be on their time."

If the delay were attributable to the state, Indiana Criminal Rule 4 would require that Cotto be released from custody next week pending trial, Cantrell said.

Criminal Rule 4 requires the state to bring defendants to trial within a certain time frame while holding them in custody, but the law also includes exceptions for delays caused by a congested court docket or the defense.

Following a discussion about how time should be attributed in Cotto's case, Cantrell said he told his client he wanted 60 days to review how the letters were obtained. That review could lead him to file a motion, he said.

Bokota granted Cantrell's request for a continuance and scheduled Cotto's jury trial for the week of May 16.

Nelson's next court date was set for May 3.

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CROWN POINT  A judge granted the state's motions Thursday to dismiss charges against two men accused of killing an off-duty Hammond police officer in 1980, ending another chapter in what has become a 40-year legal saga.

James Hill, 59, and Pierre L. Catlett, 67, each were released from custody on their own recognizance last year after Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez set aside Hill's murder conviction because prosecutors did not turn over evidence to Hill's defense before his trial in 2018.

Though Hill's conviction was set aside, Lake County prosecutors said in May they still intended to bring both men to trial on charges linked to the Nov. 14, 1980, shooting death of off-duty Hammond police Officer Lawrence J. "Larry" Pucalik during a robbery at the Holiday Inn-Southeast, formerly at the intersection of Cline Avenue and Interstate 80/94.

In his motions to dismiss, Lake County First Assistant Deputy Prosecutor Peter Villarreal wrote, "After a thorough and exhaustive review of the currently existing evidence from this incident that occurred in 1980, there is insufficient credible evidence to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt."

Vasquez granted Villarreal's motions Thursday afternoon.

Hill's attorney, Scott King, said it's tragic when anyone  including a police officer  dies, but no one should have to go through what Hill has experienced over the last 40 years.

Hill was a teenager when his legal battle began, King said.

In their "zeal" to charge someone in Pucalik's slaying, Hammond police engaged in "absolutely egregious" behavior, the defense attorney said.

He said he applauded the Lake County prosecutor's office for its decision to dismiss the charges.

Catlett was represented by attorneys Casey McCloskey and Joseph Curosh III on behalf of the Lake County public defender's office.

Their work was instrumental in Thursday's dismissals, King said.

Marce Gonzalez, Lake County's chief public defender, said his office was elated for Catlett and his family.

"This ends a 40-year ordeal with the correct result," he said. "Our office will be issuing a detailed statement next week."

When Vasquez set aside Hill's murder conviction last year, King said defense attorneys had discovered five state's witnesses had given recorded statements in 2011 that conflicted with their testimony at Hill's trial.

Those videotaped statements were not turned over to the defense, in violation of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Additionally, DNA analysis of a towel found in an alleged "getaway car" in 1980 showed DNA from female witnesses and two unidentified male sources was present. However, Hill, Catlett and their former co-defendant Larry Mayes were eliminated as contributors, King said.

Mayes was declared medically incompetent to stand trial in March 2014 and murder charges against him were subsequently dismissed.

The murder case wasn't the first time Hill has had a conviction overturned.

Hill served a 16-year prison sentence after he was convicted in 1982 of rape, robbery and unlawful deviate conduct in a 1980 case that involved some of the same evidence in the murder case.

Mayes also was convicted in the rape case and exonerated in 2001, after serving 21 years in prison. He later reached a $4.5 million settlement with Hammond for his wrongful conviction.

Hill had been out of prison for more than 10 years when Lake Criminal Court Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan recommended in 2009 that his petition for post-conviction relief be granted and his convictions in the rape case be set aside.

Hill said DNA evidence excluded him as a participant in the rape, and the magistrate found the state withheld exculpatory evidence, including that the rape victim had been hypnotized before identifying Hill in a photo lineup.

In 2010, Hill filed a wrongful conviction lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Hammond, retired police Detective Capt. Michael Solan Jr. and other officers.

King said Hill deserves to be compensated for what he's been put through and plans to move forward with his lawsuit.

"What was done, in part, by Hammond police in this entire saga is going to be the subject of proceedings in federal court," he said.

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HAMMOND  A man charged in a Wisconsin shooting was tracked down at a Horseshoe Casino and arrested by a regional task force.

On March 7 the Great Lakes Regional Task Force arrested 39-year-old Toyan T. Jackson, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Hammond.

Jackson was wanted for first-degree reckless injury and possession of a firearm by an out-of-state felon, according to the Great Lakes Regional Task Force.

Jackson had allegedly shot a victim in Milwaukee, and the bullet pierced the victim's arm and chest, police said.

Task force members were informed that Jackson was inside Horseshoe Casino at 777 Casino Center Drive. Once it was confirmed the wanted man was in the building, task force members safely approached him and arrested him without incident.

The casino chips Jackson was using to gamble with were seized by Gaming Commission Agents.

Jackson was taken to Lake County Jail. According to his wanted poster Jackson's birthplace was in Illinois and he went by an alias "Willie Winter."

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CALUMET TOWNSHIP  Multiple students are facing criminal charges following a large brawl late Thursday morning at Calumet New Tech High School at 3900 Calhoun St., Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said.

Around 11 a.m. a school resource officer from the Lake County Sheriff's Department called for police assistance for three males fighting in the school cafeteria.

Lake County Sheriff's officers and surrounding agencies responded and arrested three men and a male juvenile who were allegedly involved.

Two of the men will each face charges of disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement. The third man and the juvenile will face a charge of disorderly conduct, police said. The identities of those involved have not yet been released.

"Lake Ridge Schools administration is working with the school resource officer to investigate the incident," Martinez said. "Students were able to resume their regular schedule for the remainder of the day without further incident."

It was the second lunchtime incident this week leading to police involvement, according to social media posts by the school.

The first came Tuesday when police were called in to investigate fireworks being set off in the cafeteria.

School officials confirmed in a social media post Thursday afternoon that the fights broke out among students during the lunch period and police were called.

Staff and police officers responded immediately and the school's resource officer continues working with administrators to "address those involved," the school said.

Officers from several area departments, who had rushed to the school in the wake of the report of the fight, had cleared the scene by around noon, Martinez said.

County police remained on scene with school administrators and were sorting through students involved in the brawl and subsequent activities, according to the sheriff.

No one from the administrative offices of the Lake Ridge Schools returned a call Thursday from The Times seeking comment.

In the wake of Tuesday's fireworks incident, the school said on social media, "While we are thankful that no one was injured, the incident caused a significant disruption in our building. Anyone found to be responsible for setting off the fireworks will face disciplinary action, per district policy."

Staff Writer Anna Ortiz contributed to this report.

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Verify information with venues as hours may change and class sizes may be limited due to COVID-19. Advance registration or online scheduling may be necessary and some opportunities may be limited to members only.

St. Patricks Day 5K Color Run/Walk

MARCH 19, 8 a.m., Notre Dame Catholic School, 1000 Moore Rd., Michigan City. runsignup.com. This 2nd annual race will have some festive fun at the race site  the Rohrs Notre Dame Food Truck from the University of Notre Dame restaurant and the Mayer School of Irish Dance and the McKee/Wall Irish Band with live Irish music and bagpipes.

False Spring Trail Runs

MARCH 19, 8 a.m. Soldiers Memorial Park, 250 Pine Lake, LaPorte. trailblazerrunning.co. This inaugural race features a beautiful woodsy single-track with well-established dirt trails for a 10K course and a 20K double loop. Its a challenging course that is a scenic hidden gem. There will be a post race meal and beer available at the finish line area for a $10 cash contribution.

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle

MARCH 20, 7 a.m. Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., Chicago. shamrockshuffle.com. This race has been a windy city tradition for four decades, bringing runners out of hibernation for a festive run to kick off the spring racing season. The event includes a live 8K race, virtual 8K and 2-mile walk.

Yoga Flow

ONGOING, 10:30 a.m., Mondays. Franciscan Health Fitness Centers, 810 Michael Drive, Chesterton. 219.983.9832. franciscanhealthfitnesscenters.org. Yoga Flow links hatha yoga poses together to create an active, flowing style. This class will help improve strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. Modifications and principles of alignment are given to allow participants to stay safe, yet to feel challenged. All levels welcome.

Born to Move

ONGOING, 3:45-4:15 p.m., Thursday. Griffith Family YMCA, 201 N. Griffith Blvd., Griffith. 219.750.1082. crymca.org. This class is aimed at youths and teens to learn foundation movement skills, improve fitness and build their confidence in self-expression.

Tone & Balance

ONGOING, 10:15-11:05 a.m., Thursday. Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave., Munster. 219.924.5348. fitnesspointe.org. This class will feature a variety of exercises designed to increase strength, range of movement, balance, posture and core stability. Barre work may be incorporated.

Ripped

ONGOING, 9:15-10:15 a.m, Wednesdays. Hammond Family YMCA, 7322 Southeastern Avenue, Hammond. 219.845.1507. crymca.org. The RIP program uses exercises from traditional strength training & matches movement to music to create a simple, fun, and effective way to strength train. Work a different muscle group with each song.

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Shelly Ward said she knew something had happened to her 30-year-old son Andrew Laud when the police knocked on her door at 1:30 a.m. last Saturday.

"I knew already it was my baby," she said. "I said, 'Please don't tell me it's Andrew.' "

Ward was then given the tragic news that Laud had been killed just a few hours earlier when his northbound vehicle was struck head-on by a driver travelling the wrong direction on U.S. 41 in Benton County without headlights on.

"We're devastated," said the former Cedar Lake resident, now living in Kentucky.

"Andrew was just the type of person who wanted to make sure everyone was OK," Ward said.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb directed flags in Lake County be flown at half-staff Saturday in honor of Laud, of Cedar Lake, who was in active duty at the time of his death with the U.S. Army and serving as a captain and company commander of HHC6-101st Aviation in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Ward said her son just returned from a month of training away and was driving to his brother's home in Cedar Lake to pick up his beloved rescue dog, Grayson, when the crash occurred at 9:15 p.m. March 11.

She is confident the last thing her son wanted was to let down his military unit, his family and his dog.

The family is hosting visitation from 2-7 p.m. Friday at the Burdan Funeral Home, 12901 Wicker Ave., in Cedar Lake, according to an obituary. Services will begin at 6 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church, 11000 W. 133rd Ave., Cedar Lake. Burial will follow at the German Methodist Cemetery in Cedar Lake.

Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Holcomb said. He directed his request to area businesses and residents.

Ward said her son was very humble and would not have wanted all the attention. But he shined brightly among those who knew him.

"He walked into a room and lit it up," she said.

Laud had known while in high school he wanted to join the Army and Ward said she signed the paperwork when he was still 17. He joined the Army National Guard after graduating from Hanover Central High School in 2010, completed basic training and went on to earn a degree in criminal justice from Indiana University Northwest before joining the regular Army.

Laud followed in the footsteps of his paternal grandfather, who served in the military and was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked, Ward said.

"I think Andrew always had a strong sense of wanting to contribute and serve," she said.

Laud, who flew UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, served in Afghanistan from 2017 to 2018, Ward said.

Laud was a member of the Cedar Lake American Legion Post 261; the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Northern Indiana Chapter; and the Cedar Lake Knights of Columbus, Marian Council 3840, his obituary says.

"He will be missed by many friends, family and fellow soldiers," the obituary says. "Missed most by his beloved dog, Grayson."

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Northern Indiana Chapter in Laud's name.

A memorial fund has also been established and proceeds will be distributed to charities important to Laud, his family said. Donations can be made at any Peoples Bank location to the Captain Andrew Laud Memorial Fund.

"A heart-felt thanks to the Cedar Lake Fire and Police Departments, the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders, as well as countless others who lined the procession route from Fowler to Cedar Lake," the family posted with a video of the procession.

Ward offered thanks to everyone who loved her son and said the support is what is getting the family by during this difficult time.

"We hope his memory will stay alive," she said.

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JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A cargo plane with 17 tons of equipment to build a field hospital in western Ukraine departed from Israel's coastal city Tel Aviv on Thursday, Israeli officials said.

The destination of the Israeli flag carrier El Al's cargo is Poland, where the equipment will be transported to the Ukrainian city of Mostyska to construct a hospital, the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement.

Israeli medical teams will depart next week, the ministry said.

"The hospital will provide care to the many war refugees and will include a delivery room, and wards for adult and pediatric. The medical assistance will include also laboratory and imaging capabilities (X-ray), and will use remote technologies connected with the Sheba Hospital in Israel," the statement read.

The Israeli cabinet allocated on Monday about 21 million new shekels (about 6.4 million U.S. dollars) to build the hospital, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office. 
But in Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania, Mekas returns to his rural hometown Semeniskiai after nearly 30 years, and the immersive installation makes you feel as if youre there with him, drinking beer with Adolfas and their elderly mother. In This Side of Paradise, he teaches Jackie Kennedys children how to use a camera at Warhols house in Montauk, Long Island, and in As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty, you sink into his gauzy love for his wife, Hollis, and their children, Oona and Sebastian. The multiple screens work especially well for Requiem, which Mekas was working on almost till the very moment of his death, at age 96, in 2019. In it, shots of trees and flowers in bloom, along with glimpses of TV news disaster footage, are set to the grand choral tones of Verdis Requiem Mass to seriously unnerving effect.

The challenge Mekas presents to a critic is that his overall project, as a founder of arts organizations, writer and fund-raiser as well as compiler of cinematic diaries, was really just to live as an artist. This was a familiar strategy in the postwar avant-garde among whom he found his community, one that comes out of the conviction that art isnt about making objects or definitive statements so much as it is about approaching the world in a certain spirit. But it must also have been, as Taxter points out, a response to his feelings of dislocation, a way for a war refugee to construct a new identity for himself. And who can argue with wanting an identity?

Thats not to say no ones tried. The historian Michael Casper has recently raised questions about Mekass conduct during World War II, and the way he may or may not have shaded his reminiscences of the period. (The fact that Mekas worked for a newspaper which, under Nazi occupation, published antisemitic propaganda, even as he retyped BBC news reports at the risk of his life, is included in the catalogs chronology.) And Mekas himself makes many references to his own unreliability as a narrator and the inadequacy of any attempt to record or make sense of his life. In Self Portrait, he discusses this explicitly, and the diary films are full of ironic acknowledgments of their own artifice.

In the end, though, its Mekass refusal to impose any single narrative on his work that gives it its truth. What could be more honest than filming the world as it passes by and presenting the fragments exactly as they are?

Jonas Mekas: The Camera Was Always Running

Through June 5. The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan; 212.423.3200; thejewishmuseum.org. Timed tickets are required and all visitors must wear face coverings. All visitors 5 and older must show proof of vaccination.
Ultimately, judges have the discretion to decide these matters on a case-by-case basis. Experts say it is common for defendants to serve their entire sentence of incarceration before their appeal is resolved, something that critics often condemn as particularly unfair if the appellate court ends up overturning the trial courts decision.

The Smollett case has already stretched on for more than three years, starting in January 2019, when Mr. Smollett reported to the police that two men had attacked him, hurled the slurs at him and placed a rope around his neck like a noose.

Two brothers, Abimbola Osundairo and Olabinjo Osundairo, testified during the trial last year that Mr. Smollett had asked them to carry out the attack and instructed them in detail on how to do it. The defense argued that the brothers were lying and seeking to protect themselves from prosecution.

Judge Linn said at the sentencing hearing that Mr. Smolletts decision to maintain his innocence on the stand was an aggravating factor that led him to hand down a sentence that included jail time, more than two years of probation, a $25,000 fine and more than $120,000 of restitution for the Chicago Police Departments investigatory efforts. The defense argued that Mr. Smollett should not be incarcerated because his offense was the kind of low-level, nonviolent felony that often results in sentences of probation or community service.

The defenses appeal will draw from many stages of the cases long life, from its objection to the second indictment of Mr. Smollett after the states attorneys office dropped the charges against him in 2019 to the way Judge Linn handled jury selection.

Two key arguments the defense is expected to make are that the appointment of a special prosecutor to reassess the case was never valid and that Mr. Smollett was subjected to double jeopardy because he surrendered his $10,000 bond and performed some community service in 2019.
One professor is going to unusual lengths to identify the students who he believes cheated in his class: He is suing them in federal court.

The professor, David Berkovitz, who teaches business law at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., filed a lawsuit against an unnamed group of his students  identified only as Does  after he discovered in January that the midterm and final exams he had given in the spring of 2021 had been uploaded to a popular website that students use to share lecture notes, sample quizzes, syllabuses and other documents.

In filing the suit, which accuses the students of copyright infringement, Professor Berkovitz hopes to force the website, Course Hero, to identify those who uploaded the exams along with sample answers that were also on the website, his lawyer, Marc E. Hankin, said on Thursday.

If successful, Professor Berkovitz plans to turn over the names to Chapmans honor board, Mr. Hankin said. Because Chapmans business school requires grading on a curve, Professor Berkovitz is worried that students who cheated may have unfairly caused their classmates who played by the rules to receive grades lower down on the curve.
Two years ago, Edward Bronstein was pulled over in Burbank, Calif., by California Highway Patrol officers who believed he was driving under the influence of a narcotic.

They brought him to the parking lot of a patrol station near Pasadena to take his blood, according to the police and autopsy reports. When he asked why they needed a sample, they threw him face down on a mat and one officer knelt on Mr. Bronsteins back as he yelled, I cant breathe, video footage of the March 31, 2020, encounter shows.

Mr. Bronstein, who was 38, appears to lose consciousness after being pinned for several minutes. He was pronounced dead by paramedics later that morning, according to an autopsy report.

The video showing Mr. Bronsteins encounter with the police, which a lawyer for his family said showed his last moments, was not made public until this week. A federal judge approved its release over the objections of lawyers for the California attorney generals office who are representing the officers in a federal lawsuit that Mr. Bronsteins family has filed against the highway patrol.
A chain-reaction crash on an interstate in southeastern Missouri on Thursday morning left six people dead and resulted in a pileup of an estimated 135 vehicles, closing the highway in both directions for hours, the authorities said.

Heavy fog obscured visibility on Interstate 57 at the time of the crash, which included several tractor-trailers and set multiple vehicles ablaze, said Sgt. Jeff Kinder of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

It appears a vehicle stopped in front of someone and caused a chain-reaction crash, Sergeant Kinder said.

The initial crash occurred about 8 a.m. near Charleston, Mo., on southbound I-57. The collisions that followed migrated across the grass median into oncoming northbound traffic, shutting the interstate down and ultimately creating a crash scene that extended probably a half a mile long, Sergeant Kinder added.
But it comes at a moment when Washingtons biggest concern is that Mr. Putin will escalate the war  and reach for weapons of mass destruction.

Just hours before Mr. Bidens declaration, his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told Nikolai P. Patrushev, Mr. Putins main national security adviser, that any possible Russian decision to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine would result in an even harsher Western response. Several of Mr. Bidens aides have been concerned that if the Russian leader feels cornered or believes the United States is trying to foment opposition, the chances that he will reach for such weapons could be heightened.

Russia-Ukraine War: Key Developments Card 1 of 4 Fears of an expanded war rise. With the Russian military still struggling, Western officials are looking with increased alarm to Russias Victory Day holiday on May 9. Anxiety is growing that President Vladimir V. Putin will exploit the celebration of the Soviet triumph over the Nazis to intensify attacks and formally declare war. Russian oil embargo. The European Union unveiled a plan to halt imports of Russian crude oil in the next six months and refined oil products by the end of the year. If approved as expected, it would be the blocs biggest and costliest step yet toward ending its own dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Support for Moldova. The E.U. promised to provide additional military support for Moldova, the increasingly pressured neighbor of Ukraine. Security fears have grown there during the invasion, swelling after a series of explosions rocked Transnistria, the countrys own breakaway region, where Russia has maintained soldiers since 1992. On the ground. Moscow continued to demonstrate its destructive power. In the western city of Lviv, strikes on three power substations knocked out electricity in many areas. In the eastern region of Donetsk, 21 people died on May 3, the highest number of casualties in a day since last month.







So the debate underway in Washington now is what, exactly, might trigger Mr. Putin. Some believe he could lash out if dissent in Russia, already visible in street demonstrations, poses a real threat. Others believe that his trigger point might be a more direct entry into the war by NATO countries. They are already providing antitank and antiaircraft weapons that have contributed to what the Pentagon now estimates is a Russian death toll of at least 7,000 troops.

One former intelligence official noted that it was Hillary Clintons support for anti-Putin street demonstrations in Russia that prompted him to order the hacking of the Democratic National Committee when Mrs. Clinton was running for president in 2016. Mr. Putin is a believer, the official said, in retribution.

Mr. Putin would have good reason to think the Biden administration is looking forward to his exit, though American officials choose their words carefully to avoid the implication that Washingtons policy is to speed the process. Mr. Blinken, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said that when all is said and done, an independent Ukraine will be there, and at some point Vladimir Putin will not.

The last time an American president went head-to-head with a Russian or Soviet leader with so much at stake was 60 years ago, during the Cuban missile crisis, widely regarded as the closest the world came to Armageddon. And yet at that moment, in October 1962, President John F. Kennedys instinct was to avoid personalizing the conflict  and to help his Soviet counterpart, Nikita S. Khrushchev, find a way out of direct confrontation.

I think it is the most natural comparison to this moment, said Fredrik Logevall, a Harvard historian and Kennedy biographer.
Other Democrats, notably Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, have proposed a tax on energy companies windfall profits. According to Garins polling, the idea is popular even with Republicans, 73 percent of whom said they supported it.

Asked about the concept, a White House official was noncommittal, but said, Were not going to sit back on our haunches and do nothing.

The hunt for climate voters

Environmental groups have grown increasingly sophisticated in how they engage in politics in recent years, constantly fine-tuning their strategies as they pressure Washington.

Theres the inside game at the Capitol  nudging lawmakers to act on their priorities. This is a tough one for the environmental movement. By one estimate, various groups spent more than $2 billion on lobbying over climate-related issues between 2000 and 2016, with the energy industry leading the way. Back then, the environmental community was largely playing an inside game but lacked political power, Podesta said.

Without engaging more forcefully in the public debate, you get outgunned, he said.

Then theres the outside game  building a coalition of voters who are motivated by environmental concerns, chiefly climate. And here, green groups are no longer simply preaching to the proverbial choir. Activists say that 2019 was the first year climate showed up on surveys as a top-tier voting issue, and they expect that trend to continue.

Democrats view climate voters as an increasingly critical element of their governing coalition, but they worry about whether many of them will turn out in 2022  especially if Biden is unable to deliver on the rest of his climate agenda. Thats the task many left-leaning groups are turning to now.

During the last election cycle, the League of Conservation Voters affiliated super PAC, the LCV Victory Fund, studied what it calls environmental swing voters in an effort to find new pools of support.
The other thing I know to be crucial is cultivating community in times like these. Because of Omicron, I was extremely limited in terms of visitors: For the most part, I saw only my parents, my brother and Jon. But, still, theres vibrant community to be found within a hospital  it makes the long stay not just bearable but also fun and nourishing. It was bittersweet to leave behind Christina, the nurse who came to my room and played a superfast version of Scrabble with me on her breaks, or Chandra, who was on the cleaning crew and who by the end of my stay would take half an hour to clean the floors so we could share stories.

When I was finally discharged, they all gathered and gave me the most amazing send-off. I was wheeled from my room into a hallway full of people, all cheering and clapping  a kind of celebratory gauntlet for patients whove made it through a pretty harrowing ordeal. They had strung a green ribbon across the end of the hall, which they had me cut with some shiny gold scissors and drape around my neck. Im not one for public displays of emotion, but I couldnt help but weep openly. I felt so supported, so comforted, so loved.

T.P.P.: I was sad to read that your beloved dog, Oscar, died while you were in the hospital. What should we know about him?

S.J.: Oh, Oscar. He was my badly behaved, rescue-mutt ride-or-die for 10 years. I got him when I was recovering from my first bone marrow transplant, and, in a way, we grew up together.

Oscar got me through so much  through heartbreak and through the unexpectedly difficult period after I finished treatment. During my recovery, I embarked on a 15,000-mile solo road trip with him as my co-pilot, and he was truly one of a kind. He was incorrigible. When I adopted him, I was told hed already been returned to the animal shelter twice.

In a strange twist of fate, around the time I relapsed, Oscar was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer, and there was no treatment for it. One of my friends, the incredible author Elizabeth Gilbert, took over his care when I became sick and wrote a really beautiful tribute to him in my Isolation Journals newsletter.Oscar died while I was in the bone marrow transplant unit. As gutting as the timing was, he was my companion and protector until the end.

T.P.P.: Can you tell me more about why you started The Isolation Journals two years ago?

S.J.: When Covid hit, I was quarantining at my parents house in upstate New York with Jon, my brother Adam and my dear friend Carmen, and I was struck by the similarities of what the world was going through and my own experience of medical isolation. On top of a new, hyper awareness of germs, mask-wearing and hand-sanitizing, there was the fact that people were not able to go out or see friends or go to work, and there was so much fear and uncertainty. As I was watching all this unfold, I thought about what had gotten me through my own long period of isolation. For me, that was journaling and a 100-day project, in which my family and friends and I all did one creative act a day.

I decided to reprise both, and I invited some of the most inspiring authors, musicians, community leaders and unsung heroes I know to write a short essay and a journaling prompt. On April 1, 2020, I began sending it out as a free newsletter.Within a month, 100,000 people had joined us from all over the world. Our youngest participant that we know of is 6, our oldest 95.
JINAN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Qiuyao has worked for more than 10 hours a day at a nucleic acid testing site since the latest wave of COVID-19 battered east China's Shandong Province in early March.

"The busiest time is when the mass testing was carried out. At a community of 2,700 residents, I have to lift my arms back and forth tens of thousands of times a day as a result of repeating sampling procedures," said Zhao, a volunteer and nurse from a local dental hospital in the city of Jiaozhou, Shandong Province.

Despite the hard work, Zhao said it is her responsibility to do something for her hometown at this critical moment. The 26-year old volunteer always arrives one or two hours in advance, counting and checking anti-pandemic materials, and more importantly, testing electronic devices to prevent any trouble in nucleic acid tests.

A total of 2,300 volunteers including Zhao from different medical facilities have joined the fight against the coronavirus in Jiaozhou, forming 1,237 teams to guarantee nucleic acid testing there runs smoothly.

Shandong Province reported 61 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the National Health Commission said on Friday.

The dynamic zero-COVID approach has been greatly supported by people from all walks of life -- from frontline medical staff and local residents to college students and community volunteers.

Since the resurgence, 60-year-old resident Luan Ling, from Shandong's Laixi City, has been working in the kitchen. Along with other volunteers, she makes a large number of steamed buns and bread for medical staff every day.

"It comforted me a lot that our friends could have warm meals when they are fighting on the frontlines," Luan said.

Zheng Kaiwen and Cui Lujun are doing similar things in the city of Laiyang. They drive around various checkpoints from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. to bring dumplings to the policemen on duty.

"It's a tough time, and we also want to do something. We made a total of 5,000 dumplings with the support of our families. However, the policemen hardly have any time to eat," Cui said.

"As we have to wear protective suits, it's not quite convenient to communicate with people who came here to greet us or bring food and drinks here. But we are indeed grateful for their kindness," said Zhang Zhidong with the local police department. 
KYIV, Ukraine  A day after a Russian strike reduced to rubble a theater in southern Ukraine where hundreds of people had been huddling for shelter, rescuers wading through the debris  even as Russian shells kept falling  began pulling out survivors one by one.

Adults and children are emerging from there alive, Ukraines human rights ombudsman, Lyudmila Denisova, reported early Thursday as the rescue effort continued at the Drama Theater in Mariupol, a southern port city under siege by Russian forces.

But information was scarce from the desperate city, which has been squarely in Moscows cross hairs since the invasion began three weeks ago. With as many as a thousand people, many of them children, reported to have taken shelter at the theater and still unaccounted for, fears remained that whatever hope emerged from the rescue scene Thursday would eventually be eclipsed by despair.

Our hearts are broken by what Russia is doing to our people, to our Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said in an overnight public address.
Many believe that Mr. Putins stated determination to denazify Ukraine is code for his aim to topple the government and repress pro-Western activists and groups. It is an echo of how he has used Russian remembrance of the nations suffering and victory in World War II to militarize Russian society and justify domestic crackdowns and foreign aggression.

Ukrainians have closed ranks behind Mr. Zelensky, however, causing Mr. Putin to escalate the brutality of his war. Mr. Putins denazification mission increasingly means that he is determined to destroy all Ukrainians, the countrys information minister, Oleksandr Tkachenko, wrote on Facebook, in Russian, last week.

This is worse than Nazism, Mr. Tkachenko wrote.

It may seem hard to fathom that regular Russians could accept Mr. Putins comparison of neighboring Ukraine  where millions of Russians have relatives and friends  to Nazi Germany, the country that invaded the Soviet Union at the cost of some 27 million Soviet lives.

Like many lies, Mr. Putins claim about a Nazi-controlled Ukraine has a hall-of-mirrors connection to reality. Jewish groups and others have, in fact, criticized Ukraine since its pro-Western revolution in 2014 for allowing Ukrainian independence fighters who at one point sided with Nazi Germany to be venerated as national heroes.

Some fringe nationalist groups, who have no representation in Parliament, use racist rhetoric and symbolism associated with Nazi Germany.

Eduard Dolinsky, director general of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, a group representing Ukrainian Jews, said that some in the country do derisively refer to those far-right groups as Naziki  little Nazis  as Mr. Putin does. On social media, Mr. Dolinsky in recent years has frequently called attention to things like the renaming of a major stadium in western Ukraine for Roman Shukhevych, a Ukrainian nationalist leader. He commanded troops that were implicated in mass killings of Jews and Poles during World War II.
LOS ANGELES  On a visit last month to Kaari Upsons studio here, it looked like she just left to grab a cup of coffee or maybe one of the garbage burritos she loved so much. Her art was everywhere: new paintings and drawings covering the walls, with recent sculptures of tree trunks  made to look like knobby-kneed legs  hanging from the ceiling. Outside, on the back patio, was a used mattress  one of her favorite objects for casting in silicone because of its associations with trash, sex and sickbeds. Her pickup truck, a gray Toyota Tundra, was still parked in back. The whiteboard on the wall still had to-do notes in her handwriting.

The artist, known for making smart, darkly obsessive sculptures, videos and drawings that capture the stubborn pathologies of family trauma and American hedonism, had last stepped foot in the space in June 2021 before flying to New York to see her doctor at Sloan Kettering. There she discovered that her breast cancer, already metastatic, had advanced. In August, after a nine-year battle with cancer, she died in the hospital at age 51, leaving behind a teenage daughter, Esme Rudell.

She also left behind a surprising amount of new work, created during the pandemic when, for health reasons, she didnt have studio assistants coming and going. Five series were at various stages of completion, from dozens of lumpy, slogan-bearing ceramic cups, made from a mold of a furball from her cat Bandit, to a set of brilliantly colored, elusively rendered resin-based portraits that will debut at the Venice Biennale in April as part of Cecilia Alemanis group show, The Milk of Dreams. The gallery representing her estate, Spruth Magers, is also planning to show a selection of new work in its Los Angeles branch from Aug. 6 to Oct. 8.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.

New War, Who Dis?

President Biden referred this week to Vladimir Putin, Russias leader, as a war criminal, and a Kremlin spokesman responded by saying the statement was unfair and hypocritical, citing the United States bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

Trevor Noah criticized Russia for coming with that old [expletive].

Seriously, Russia, youre gonna bring up something America did in the 40s? Noah said. America has committed plenty of war crimes since then. Keep up with the times, yo!
We climbed up many flights of stairs to the upper level and emerged into the white globe. As we clambered onto wire mesh netting that recalls a giant spider web, we forgot how to walk. The ground had a slight give to it, like a trampoline. Slowly, we spread out across the web and settled onto it, positioning ourselves near the white cylindrical shakers that would emit frequencies of spiders playing their webs.

The giant white ball of light at the top of the dome slowly faded to black. A light mist emerged through the netting and the performance began. For eight minutes, I shut off my sight and focused on my sense of touch. The mesh beneath me vibrated and shook with sound waves. I felt, in essence, like a spider in its web.

Afterward, I talked to Alexandra Mount-Campbell, a teacher, and Andrea Morales, an actor, who live in New Jersey and came into the city on a Saturday morning to see what Free the Air was all about. Mount-Campbell had sent her friend a TikTok about the exhibition. It was just this eerie white glow, Morales said approvingly.

Mount-Campbell looked up the difference between the levels and selected the upper one. She knew phones werent permitted on the upper level but had read that visitors had gotten more of a sensory environment on the top.

I didnt really care about putting it on social media myself, Mount-Campbell said, adding that she wanted to focus on the experience.

Yeah, Im cool with putting my phone away, Morales replied.

Last summer, they saw the Arcadia Earth pop-up exhibition in NoHo. Theyve also been to the Van Gogh immersive experience near Battery Park.
ONeil and Jacquet encourage readers to try to think more deeply not just about what shame is but what it might be for. If its for sheer punishment  for banishing someone out of the circle of concern forever  then theres no need for forbearance or mercy. But this can also sound like a nonviolent (and still extremely painful) form of sadism. Both books suggest that shame can help teach us how to live among one another, inculcate shared values and achieve mutual respect. ONeil gives the example of Hopi shame clowns, who poke fun at transgressors in a ritual that offers ridicule and then redemption. The purpose of the ritual is reintegration, not ostracism: The people they mock remain members of the community.

This seems far removed from how many people experience shame nowadays, whether as a participant or a spectator, looking on with amusement or horror as some nonpublic person gets a very public comeuppance in a social-media pile-on. ONeil inevitably touches on these kinds of scenarios in a book whose subtitle refers to the new age of humiliation.

A book that really delves into the digital morass is Jon Ronsons So Youve Been Publicly Shamed, published in 2015. Ronson chronicles what he calls a great renaissance of public shaming that is coercive, borderless and increasing in speed and influence. He talks to people who did things that were stupid and, in some instances, indisputably wrong  though not necessarily, in the grand scheme of things, especially harmful. Online notoriety led to real-life punishments. He recounts his own experiences as both a shamer and a shamee. Sometimes public exposure is wholly righteous, he says; videos of police officers brutalizing Black people shouldnt be kept secret. But uploading such videos is a world away from, say, jeering at a woman who had been in a train crash and calling her a privileged bitch because she worried about her violin.

One act was powerful and important  using social media to create a new civil rights battlefield, Ronson writes in the afterword to the paperback edition. The other was a pointless and nasty cathartic alternative. Given that we are the ones with the power, it is incumbent upon us to recognize the difference.

But are we truly the ones with power? It can sometimes seem as if the entire discourse around shame reflects a dispute about this: Who has power and who doesnt; whether a shaming campaign amounts to a bullying onslaught or a principled unmasking of some entitled jerk. ONeil herself allows that a person with plenty of status and influence in real life can feel victimized when shamed by a crowd of nobodies online, but she says that any attempt to lash out and turn the tables will just amount to punching down; such elite shamees are ignoring their own power and privilege and need to get a grip.

Yet the beauty and terror of social media is its scrambling of traditional hierarchies. What fuels online engagement is the capacity of digital platforms to make everyone feel both enormously powerful and utterly powerless. Recently I was in a crowded subway car when a couple of men standing in front of me started talking loudly about a woman they knew, discussing in detail her looks and her bra size, with one of them telling the other exactly what he needed to do to get her to sleep with him. It was the dumbest kind of bravado, and I had to hope that this woman would see right through these bozos. But it also struck me that probably everyone on the train had a device in their pocket that could record this foolishness and potentially blow up a strangers life. The prospect was giddying and frightening.

Aim higher, ONeil writes about the temptation to expose some random persons lousy behavior. A simple rejoinder to our digital phantasmagoria, and not a bad piece of advice.
Thousands of civilian lives lost in Ukraine

A day after a Russian strike reduced to rubble a theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, where hundreds of people had been huddling for shelter, rescuers began pulling out survivors one by one. The southern city, under siege by Russian forces, has been squarely in Moscows cross hairs since the invasion began three weeks ago. Follow the latest updates.

With as many as a thousand people reported to have taken shelter at the theater and still unaccounted for, fears remained that whatever hope emerged from the rescue scene would eventually be eclipsed by despair. Our hearts are broken by what Russia is doing to our people, to our Mariupol, said Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.

Ukraine has suffered thousands of civilian casualties from the war. Taking heavy losses on the battlefield, Russian forces have increasingly been aiming bombs and missiles at towns and cities. Unable to capture urban centers, they are leveling them instead, and the toll on civilians is worsening.

Kyiv: Russian forces are stalled outside the capital, where they have taken heavy casualties and  perhaps most surprising  have failed to achieve dominance in the air. Western officials said they were no longer confident that Russia was planning a ground assault on Kyiv, a major objective.
The Commerce Department said on Friday that it had identified 100 commercial and private aircraft that violated U.S. export controls by flying into Russia and that their owners, operators and servicers were at risk of substantial jail time, fines, loss of export privileges or other restrictions.

The announcement said it was putting the world on notice not to repair or refuel the planes, highlighting the scope of the new limitations.

Since March 2, the department identified a number of commercial and private flights to Russia that most likely violated the restrictions, including on aircraft owned or operated by Aeroflot, AirBridgeCargo, Aviastar-TU, Azur Air, Nordwind, Utair and Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire with ties to President Vladimir V. Putin, according to the announcement. Most of the planes were made by Boeing.

On Feb. 24, the department imposed broad restrictions on technology that could be exported to Russia, part of an effort to cripple the countrys military and strategic industries. In addition to semiconductors, telecommunications equipment and sensors, the restrictions bar aircraft and some aircraft parts that are made in the United States from being sent to Russia.
Keeping millions of customers in Ukraine supplied with electric power amid the Russian invasion is, to say the least, challenging. Especially when the electrical grid itself becomes a target.

What we see now is that they attack transmission lines, substations, power generating stations, said Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, a large private Ukrainian energy company. In the early days of the war, he said, the Russian military seemed to be wary of wrecking critical civilian infrastructure.

Now, he said, they are not selective anymore.

In a video call from an undisclosed location in western Ukraine, Mr. Timchenko described how DTEK, which supplies about 20 percent of Ukraines electricity, and other Ukrainian utilities were scrambling to keep the lights on during the Russian onslaught.

Amid the urgency, Ukraine, which is not a member of the European Union, has also managed to achieve something in a matter of weeks that it had worked on for years: a linkup to the power grids of neighboring E.U. countries, including, according to Mr. Timchenko, Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.




LANZHOU, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 baby golden snub-nosed monkeys have been captured by a camera at Yuhe National Natural Reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province.

The golden snub-nosed monkey is under first-class state protection in the country. The Chinese name of the golden snub-nosed monkey translates to (Sichuan) golden hair monkey. In China, golden snub-nosed monkeys' habitats are mainly in Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Hubei.

Located in the southern part of Gansu Province, the Yuhe National Natural Reserve has stepped up efforts to protect wildlife. Data show the reserve now boasts 13 groups of the rare species, with about 1,100 monkeys in total.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




The prospect of prolonged geopolitical tensions is likely to accelerate attempts by the United States and Europe to develop domestic supplies of commodities that often come from Russia. There are nickel deposits, for example, in Canada, Greenland and even Minnesota.

Nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, even copper  we already realized we need those metals for the green transition, for mitigating climate change, said Bo Stensgaard, chief executive of Bluejay Mining, which is working on extracting nickel from a site in western Greenland in a venture with KoBold Metals, whose backers include Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. When you see the geopolitical developments with Ukraine and Russia, its even more obvious that there are supply risks with these metals.

But establishing new mining operations is likely to take years, even decades, because of the time needed to acquire permits and financing. In the meantime, companies using nickel  a group that also includes steel makers  will need to contend with higher prices, which will eventually be felt by consumers.

An average electric-car battery contains about 80 pounds of nickel. The surge in prices in March would more than double the cost of that nickel to $1,750 a car, according to estimates by the trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

Russia accounts for a relatively small proportion of world nickel production, and most of it is used to make stainless steel, not car batteries. But Russia plays an outsize role in nickel markets. Norilsk Nickel, also known as Nornickel, is the worlds largest nickel producer, with vast operations in Siberia. Its owner, Vladimir Potanin, is one of Russias wealthiest people. Norilsk is among a limited number of companies authorized to sell a specialized form of nickel on the London Metal Exchange, which handles all nickel trading.
Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner, both a merchant and a diplomat for Estee Lauder, who popularized the brands high-end lipsticks and perfumes among the women of the Soviet Union and China during the rising globalization and free trade of the 1980s and 90s, died on Feb. 26 in Manhattan. She was 92.

The death was confirmed by her niece, Nicole Vartanian.

Mrs. Wagner was president of Estee Lauders international operations from 1986 to 1998, a period when the division was transformed from a small and relatively unprofitable arm of the New York-based company to one that accounted for roughly half of its multibillion dollar business.

We were partners in the creation of Estee Lauder International, Leonard Lauder, the companys chief executive in those years, said in a phone interview. We worked together hand in glove and we understood each other absolutely.

With the Soviet Unions economy partly opening under its leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Estee Lauder launched its first Russian location roughly a week after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, beating out McDonalds by two months. The Moscow branch was steps away from the Kremlin and the Red Square.
One way to fill the cups, investigators were reminded at weekly meetings, was to focus on claims from inner city neighborhoods that were at high risk for fraud, making them easier to deny, Ms. Campbell-Jackson said in her testimony. A list of such neighborhoods was often circulated. Once, Ms. Campbell-Jackson suggested that there might not be fraud in a particular neighborhood on the list. She said her boss had replied: Oh, yes, there is fraud in those areas.

In 2016, unit leaders announced that the unit had denied almost $136 million in claims the previous year, which they attributed to the success of the program.

Fill the cups was simply a means of denying payment of millions of dollars to African American and other minority policyholders, Ms. Campbell-Jackson said.

On Saturday, State Farm submitted sworn testimony in the case from a former manager on the investigations units analytics team who claimed that the goal of the program  which he called fill the cup  was not to increase the number of claims sent to S.I.U. by encouraging frontline claim representatives to submit claims. Rather, it was focused on changing the way claims that had already been flagged for fraud were allocated within the unit.

State Farm also said in its filing that Ms. Campbell-Jackson had a personal ax to grind against the company.

Ms. Campbell-Jackson said she had begun to worry that she was recruited to the S.I.U. to lend its operations legitimacy because she was a Black woman who was active in the N.A.A.C.P., according to her testimony. Calls from Black customers complaining about their denied claims were directed to her by her managers, Ms. Campbell-Jackson said. She suspected that State Farm officials wanted to be able to tell the customers that a Black employee had checked the investigators work and concluded that they were right to deny each claim.

Ms. Campbell-Jackson told State Farm officials about what she believed were discriminatory practices, according to her lawsuit. The officials she contacted were initially interested in hearing more details, so she emailed them a list of cases she thought had been unfairly denied.
If youve read the work of brave journalists in Mariupol this week, you know that the people of that city are trying to survive not just shelling by Russian forces. They are also trying to survive without water.

This is, unfortunately, a recurrent feature of war.

We witnessed it in Syria in 2016, for instance, when the residents of Aleppo, the northern city besieged by government forces, were deprived of running water. We saw it again the following year, when residents of the capital, Damascus, had their taps run dry as both sides in the war accused each other of damaging water infrastructure.

In 2018, clashes between rival groups destroyed water tanks at a hospital near the city of Hodeidah, in Yemen. In 2019, Al Shabab, an extremist group, blew up a water tank in Somalia.

These are documented in a logbook of human cruelty, published this week by an Oakland-based research group called the Pacific Institute. Its called the Water Conflict Chronology, and it enumerates episodes throughout human history where access to water has triggered unrest or become a weapon of war. Sometimes water resources become what the report calls a casualty of conflict: Tankers are blown up, wells are poisoned.
The war in Ukraine is setting into motion the first global energy crisis of its kind, and nations around the world should respond by reducing their use of oil and gas, the leader of a key international organization warned on Friday.

The International Energy Agency, which was formed in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis to ensure a stable worldwide energy market, said that the repercussions of Russias invasion of Ukraine were likely to intensify over the next several months as summer driving season got underway with inventories at historic lows.

Reducing demand is a way of addressing the situation without just pumping more oil, said Fatih Birol, the agencys executive director.

Its a message that has largely been absent from the conversation in the United States, the worlds largest oil producer, where fossil fuel companies are earning healthy profits and the response to elevated gasoline prices has been calls for more production.
When Dr. Arnold Monto, a public health researcher at the University of Michigan, lectures about influenza, he starts by saying: Flu is bad.

You dont have to start a lecture about hypertension by saying, Hypertension is bad, he noted. Its self-evident.

But he has to convince his audiences that flu is, in fact, bad.

In good years, it kills Americans in the low tens of thousands and sickens many times more. Yet even in the time of Covid, flu, the other respiratory killer caused by a virus, is underestimated. Almost half of American adults dont bother to get vaccinated against it. Despite the ongoing Covid experience, researchers and historians dont expect Americans attitudes toward flu to change much.

Statistics on flu have been given to the public; the public has been beaten to death with them for decades, said Dr. David Morens, a flu researcher and senior adviser to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. And they just dont care.
She noticed something odd: In many cases, patients were responding well to antidepressant medications, but their grief, as measured by a standard inventory of questions, was unaffected, remaining stubbornly high. When she pointed this out to psychiatrists on the team, they showed little interest.

Grief is normal, she recalls being told. Were psychiatrists, and we dont worry about grief. We worry about depression and anxiety. Her response was, Well, how do you know thats not a problem?

Dr. Prigerson set about gathering data. Many symptoms of intense grief, like yearning and pining and craving, were distinct from depression, she concluded, and predicted bad outcomes like high blood pressure and suicidal ideation.

Her research showed that for most people, symptoms of grief peaked in the six months after the death. A group of outliers  she estimates it at 4 percent of bereaved individuals  remained stuck and miserable, she said, and would continue to struggle with mood, functioning and sleep over the long term.

Youre not getting another soul mate and youre kind of eking out your days, she said.

In 2010, when the American Psychiatric Association proposed expanding the definition of depression to include grieving people, it provoked a backlash, feeding into a broader critique that mental health professionals were overdiagnosing and overmedicating patients.

Youve got to understand that clinicians want diagnoses so they can categorize people coming through the door and get reimbursement, said Jerome C. Wakefield, a professor of social work at New York University. That is a huge pressure on the D.S.M.

Still, researchers kept working on grief, increasingly viewing it as distinct from depression and more closely related to stress disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder. Among them was Dr. M. Katherine Shear, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University, who developed a 16-week program of psychotherapy that draws heavily on exposure techniques used for victims of trauma.
Expired

Rent or buy on most major platforms.

The Australian director Ivan Sen has been on the radar of genre aficionados since Mystery Road (2013) and Goldstone (2016), two successful hybrids of procedural and western revolving around the charismatic figure of a taciturn Indigenous detective. For his latest, Sen mixed science fiction and noir, with a dollop of romance thrown in.

A disheveled Ryan Kwanten (who has matured in interesting ways as an actor since True Blood) stars as Jack, a hit man plying his trade in a futuristic metropolis. Just as he falls for April (Jillian Nguyen), whom he saw singing in a peepshow-like club, Jack starts getting weaker, afflicted by a mysterious disease. Hugo Weaving, abundantly bearded, turns up as a mysterious life-extension specialist who may or may not be able to help, at least with the health part.

Dont pay too close attention to the story, though, because Expired (titled Loveland in Australia) is more reverie than tightly plotted actioner. In turn maddening and hypnotic, serene and irritating, the movie is an art-house fugue disguised as a genre flick. Yes, it does get a little portentous at times, but you have to admire Sens stubborn avoidance of the default irony and cynicism of so much action fare, and his quest for a serious mood.
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, one of the greatest Talmudic interpreters of his generation and one of the most revered figures among the worlds ultra-Orthodox Jews, who considered him the leading authority on fine points of Jewish law, died on Friday in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv. He was 94.

His death was announced by Agudath Israel of America, the umbrella organization of ultra-Orthodox groups, which did not specify a cause.

Rabbi Kanievsky, a soft-spoken man whose furrowed face was framed by a broad but unruly snow-white beard, was particularly venerated by the non-Hasidic branch of Orthodox Judaism that traces its roots to the towering sages and yeshivas of Lithuania in the 18th century if not earlier. Rabbi Kanievsky himself was regarded as such a wise man.

In March 2020, as the coronavirus sickened large numbers of people in Israels teeming Orthodox neighborhoods, where communal prayer and Torah study are ironclad traditions, his followers asked him for his guidance on government measures like the closing of schools.
The Biden administration is keenly aware of the risks. Mr. Biden said on March 11: We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine. Direct conflict between NATO and Russia is World War III, something we must strive to prevent. The administration has rightly ruled out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine for now, sending them instead to NATO states, which the administration has vowed to defend. And Mr. Biden has wisely refused to consider anything that might provoke direct conflict with Russia, not only rejecting a no-fly zone but also resisting a Polish offer to provide Soviet-era MIG fighter jets to Ukraine.

But as the humanitarian toll in Ukraine increases, so, too, will the pressure to do more. For many here in the United States, it will be deeply frustrating that the threat of nuclear war limits what we do. President Vladimir Putin of Russia warned that anyone who tries to interfere with us will suffer consequences you have never faced in your history. He is, in effect, using his nuclear arsenal as a terrorist weapon to hold Ukraine hostage and keep other nations out. Is he bluffing? Maybe. But given the potential consequences, we cant afford to be wrong.

What can we do? First, we must stay the course and end this brutal war. The sanctions that have already been imposed on Russia and the weapons that the Pentagon is sending to Ukraine are meant to raise the cost of the conflict to Mr. Putin, so that he will eventually see the wisdom of a political settlement. Both of those efforts must go on while the White House continues to avoid direct conflict between NATO and Russian troops. The longer the war lasts, the more painful it will become for both sides. As difficult as it may be to watch as Ukraine suffers, escalating the war could make it much worse.

Next, we must change our attitude toward nuclear weapons, understanding that the old ways of thinking are not only outdated but also dangerous. The U.S. nuclear arsenal does nothing for us in this conflict. It did not keep Mr. Putin out of Ukraine. Because he is willing to use the threat of nuclear war to deter intervention in Ukraine, the existence of nuclear weapons, if anything, helped enable him. He is the only one suggesting a willingness to use nukes as a cover to brutalize weaker states. We must continue to stigmatize and limit nuclear weapons to reduce the chances that Russia will do this again.

The Biden administration can help by changing its nuclear policies accordingly. Mr. Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons first in this conflict. The Biden administration should rule out first use and seek to build an international consensus around the idea that the sole purpose for nuclear weapons is to deter their use by others. Mr. Biden has supported this position for years. In addition, the United States should start now to build international support for the deep reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons so they cannot be used by strongmen and autocrats to enable their atrocities.
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The newly-revised COVID-19 diagnostic and treatment program does not mean prevention and control will ease in China, said a health official Friday.

The revised program should achieve maximum effect with minimum costs through more science-based and accurate measures, said Jiao Yahui, a senior official with the National Health Commission, at a press conference.

According to the program, asymptomatic cases and those with mild symptoms, for instance, will go to designated quarantine facilities instead of hospitals, she said.

"This does not mean they will be left uncared. There will be medical staff at the facilities," she said.

Jiao urged local health departments to enforce prevention and control measures as attentively as before. 
Still, there were holdups and muggings.

One Saturday afternoon, right before closing, Mom swept the front sidewalk. Part of the metal gate was already down. Two armed men wearing army jackets cornered her. They pushed her back into the shop. One detained my father in the back while the other forced my mother to hand over their hard-earned singles, fives and 20s. They stole all the gold and silver chains, which my parents had paid for with borrowed money. After the robbers rushed out with the loot, the police showed up. The men were never caught. My parents started all over again to cover their deep losses.

When I was in high school, I went to the store with Dad one Saturday to help out. We opened up, and even before we had the chance to fetch our coffee, three masked and gloved gunmen came and robbed us. If I close my eyes, I can still see that gun. I told myself not to be afraid. Everything would be OK if we gave it all away, and Dad handed over the three display trays of gold and all the cash in the register, leaving only the coins. We filed a police report, but nothing ever came of it. Dad stopped selling gold and switched to cheaper metals in an attempt to make armed robbery less tempting.

Years later, on another Saturday, when I was helping out, we closed the store at 3 p.m. Dad and I walked west on 31st Street to the parking garage. A short man came up from behind and snatched Dads leather satchel, where he kept the store safe key and cash. Dad bolted after him, shouting: Stop! Stop! He has my bag! Id never seen him run so fast, and he kept pace with the thief.

Right in front of Engine 1 Ladder 24, a few blocks from Herald Square, an off-duty firefighter jumped off his motorcycle and nabbed the man. Firefighters spilled out from the station and held him down. The police arrived, and an officer placed his foot on the mans head while another emptied his pockets: a condom, gum wrappers and a knife. The officers black leather boot pressed down hard on the young mans bare head. I looked at the thiefs face and saw that he was only a boy. Later, we were told that he was 16, about my age then.

In the 80s, my sisters and I took the subway to our respective high schools. Our round-trip train rides took at least four hours. One afternoon, on a packed E train, my older sister was suddenly surrounded by a group of teenagers. One put his hand in her jacket and stole her wallet. She demanded it back, and they denied taking it. Laughing at her face, they called her a Chink. No one in the crowd helped her. At the next stop, they took off. They removed her cash and subway pass, then tossed the wallet and ID card on the ground. A stranger, noticing this, picked the wallet up and mailed it back to us.

From 1986 to 1990, I went to Yale. New Haven, Conn., felt familiar, like my hometown, but I had to keep my wits about me. Once in a while, Id walk down Chapel Street to get a coffee at Atticus Bookstore Cafe. Panhandling veterans dressed in grubby fatigues would walk up and grab me  sometimes in the front or the back. Theyd say, I like Chinese girls. Id do my best to tell them off and walk away briskly. Bystanders never helped me. Panhandlers who were usually peaceful and friendly werent that way with me.

Raised in a conservative Christian family, Id learned to dress modestly. I believe strongly that you should wear whatever you want, wherever you want. Yet even dressed almost mannishly, I would be noticed. I did not cover my face. I could not leave my race at home.
Theres a crisis around the freedom of speech now because many people dont understand it, they werent taught what it means and why it matters, said Suzanne Nossel, the chief executive of PEN America, a free speech organization. Safeguards for free speech have been essential to almost all social progress in the country, from the civil rights movement to womens suffrage to the current fights over racial justice and the police.

Times Opinion commissioned the poll to provide more data and insight that can inform a debate mired in extremes. This editorial board plans to identify a wide range of threats to freedom of speech in the coming months and to offer possible solutions. Freedom of speech requires not just a commitment to openness and tolerance in the abstract. It demands conscientiousness about both the power of speech and its potential harms. We believe it isnt enough for Americans to just believe in the rights of others to speak freely; they should also find ways to actively support and protect those rights.

We are under no illusion that this is easy. Our era, especially, is not made for this; social media is awash in speech of the point-scoring, picking-apart, piling-on, put-down variety. A deluge of misinformation and disinformation online has heightened this tension. Making the internet a more gracious place does not seem high on anyones agenda, and certainly not for most of the tech companies that control it.

But the old lesson of think before you speak has given way to the new lesson of speak at your peril. You cant consider yourself a supporter of free speech and be policing and punishing speech more than protecting it. Free speech demands a greater willingness to engage with ideas we dislike and greater self-restraint in the face of words that challenge and even unsettle us.

It is worth noting here the important distinction between what the First Amendment protects (freedom from government restrictions on expression) and the popular conception of free speech (the affirmative right to speak your mind in public, on which the law is silent). The world is witnessing, in Vladimir Putins Russia, the strangling of free speech through government censorship and imprisonment. That is not the kind of threat to freedom of expression that Americans face. Yet something has been lost; the poll clearly shows a dissatisfaction with free speech as it is experienced and understood by Americans today.
Once again, though, the origin of the leak remains unclear. The material could have been procured from a Russian whistle-blower or taken through a network breach. Leaked files  in contrast to hacked machines  rarely contain clues for attribution. Some of the most consequential computer network breaches may stay covert for years, even decades. Cyberwar is here, but we dont always know who is launching the shots.

Second, cyberoperations in wartime are not as useful as bombs and missiles when it comes to inflicting the maximum amount of physical and psychological damage on the enemy. An explosive charge is more likely to create long-term harm than malicious software.

A similar logic applies to the coverage of hostilities and the psychological toll that media reporting can have on the public. Theres no bigger story than the violent effects of war: victims of missile attacks, families sheltering underground, residential buildings and bridges reduced to piles of smoking rubble. In comparison, the sensationalist appeal of cyberattacks is significantly lower. Largely invisible, they will struggle to break into the news cycle, their immediate effect greatly diminished.

We saw these dynamics play out in the Russian destructive malware wiper attacks of Feb. 23 and 24. Just hours before the invasion started, two cyberattacks hit Ukrainian targets: HermeticWizard, which affected several organizations, and IsaacWiper, which breached a Ukrainian government network. A third destructive malware attack was discovered on March 14, CaddyWiper, again targeting only some systems in a few unidentified Ukrainian organizations. It is unclear if these wiping attacks had any meaningful tactical effect against the victims, and the incidents never broke into the news cycle, especially when compared to the physical invasion of Ukraine by tanks and artillery.

Finally, without deeper integration within a broader military campaign, the tactical effects of cyberattacks remain rather limited. Thus far, we have no information on Russian computer network operators integrating and combining their efforts in direct support of traditional operations. Russias muted showing in the digital arena most likely reflects its subpar planning and performance on the ground and in the air. Close observers have been baffled by the Russian Armys insufficient preparation and training, its lack of effective combined arms operations, its poor logistics and maintenance and its failure to properly encrypt communications.

Cyberwar has been playing a trick on us for decades  and especially in the past weeks. It keeps arriving for the first time, again and again, and simultaneously slipping away into the future. Weve been stuck in a loop, doomed to repeat the same hackneyed debate, chasing sci-fi ghosts.

To harden our defenses, we must first recognize cyberoperations for what they have been, are and will be: an integral part of 21st-century statecraft. The United States has a unique competitive advantage through its vibrant tech and cybersecurity industry. No other country comes even close to matching the U.S. public-private partnership in attributing and countering adversarial intelligence operations. These collaborative efforts must continue.
Although Omicron caused sharp surges in cases across the globe, Hong Kong stands out grimly for its Covid-19 death rate. The citys Covid death toll is among the highest recorded at any one time during the pandemic. Emergency rooms are overflowing, hospitals are overwhelmed, and nursing homes are facing devastating outbreaks. As a doctor who has worked in Hong Kong for more than a decade, I found this devastating to witness. How did one of the worlds richest cities end up here, more than two years into the pandemic?

The most important factor behind the gruesome death toll is low vaccination uptake among Hong Kongs elderly population. Since early 2021, Hong Kong residents were offered a choice between two vaccines: an mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty, made by BioNTech and Fosun Pharma) and an inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac, made by the Chinese company Sinovac). Almost immediately after the campaign began, a steady drumbeat of vaccine misinformation began on social media. A small number of deaths that occurred within 14 days of vaccine administration (ruled unrelated to vaccines by investigations) were breathlessly brandished as evidence that the new vaccines were unsafe, especially for elderly people with medical conditions, who, ironically, needed them the most.

Moreover, because theres been a zero-Covid policy, until this year, there had been very few cases in the community. This has likely contributed to further vaccine hesitancy, as Covid-19 was simply not perceived as a credible threat. The public vaccination campaign did not succeed in correcting this distorted risk perception, and incentives for the vaccinated came too late. A vaccine passport for restaurants and indoor activities was rolled out only in February 2022. As a result, vaccine uptake for people 70 and older at the beginning of this year was less than 50 percent. Most Hong Kongers did not contract this coronavirus previously, meaning that vaccinations were effectively the only way to build a wall of protection against severe Covid-19. All this made Hong Kong a ticking time bomb that is now exploding in slow motion.

The Hong Kong story isnt about mRNA vaccines versus inactivated vaccines. Although three doses of the mRNA version are more effective against Omicron, both types confer some degree of protection against severe disease. Even if Hong Kongs elderly had all chosen the inactivated vaccine, the situation would not be as bad as it is now. The numbers speak for themselves: About 90 percent of the deceased in Hong Kongs fifth wave had not received two doses of a vaccine. For an unvaccinated person above the age of 80, the case fatality rate in Hong Kong is a whopping 12 percent. This shrinks to 3 percent for those who received two doses of any Covid-19 vaccine.

There were other contributing factors in this debacle. Hong Kongs highly affordable publicly subsidized health care infrastructure has suffered chronic shortages of space and staffing for a long time, leaving hospitals vulnerable when demand surged. Omicron brutally exposed these cracks. A more transmissible virus afflicting a massively undervaccinated older population led to crowds of patients thronging emergency rooms. Temporary triage stations had to be erected outside hospitals, where people often had to wait long periods in cold weather for admission to inpatient facilities, which in turn were quickly overwhelmed. Many health care workers were required to isolate themselves because they got infected, exacerbating the problem.
The Power of Smell

One of the resonant ripple effects of Covid-19, a disease whose symptoms include anosmia (the partial or full loss of smell), may be a deeper appreciation for the olfactory neurons that are connected to our brains.

Human beings have 400 types of scent receptors. We can distinguish between molecules that are different by a single carbon atom.

Yet theres been this philosophical idea that scent is a primitive sense, and thats been systematically dismantled as well in the last couple of years, Ms. Wilson-Brown said. When we found out the coronavirus affected smell, it became a big conversation for people, which is interesting because I also thought Covid was for sure the thing that would put us under.

Instead, the institute flourished. Demand and virtual capacity soared for Zoom lectures and studio courses (for which students bought scent materials in advance). People joined from all over the world, across all time zones, to connect to their senses, said Ashley Kessler, a perfumer and the I.A.O.s director of education. All this grounding life-affirmingness that just sitting and smelling can bring to you  it was fundamentally like therapy for all of us.

The I.A.O. has accomplished something extraordinary, said Andreas Keller, 49, who opened Olfactory Art Keller, a commercial gallery dedicated to contemporary aromatic art, last year in Lower Manhattan. Saskia brought together a community, and she has done so beautifully. If it hadnt been for Covid, this might have remained very local. It has an international presence.
Online dating felt like a foreign concept to Holly Van Groll when she returned from a more than two year term with the Peace Corps in Zambia, where she lived without electricity and the nearest internet connection was a four-hour bus ride away.

But in August 2016, as she was settling into a new home and role with the organization in Houston, Texas, Ms. Van Groll decided to try it anyway. She ambivalently created a profile on Coffee Meets Bagel, a dating app she appreciated because its list of preferences included her identity of nonreligious.

When she saw Gregg Bennetts profile, Ms. Van Groll, 32, immediately thought she recognized him from Harker Heights High School in Harker Heights, Texas.

It had been nine years since she had last seen him, though, so she sent a screenshot to a friend, who confirmed that Mr. Bennett, also 32, was the person Ms. Van Groll thought he was: the best friend of her prom date, and a member of her larger friend group back then.
[Click here to binge read this weeks featured couples.]

Four days after meeting on the dating app J-Swipe in October 2020, Sharon Leona Poczter and Rabbi Michael Geoffrey Cohen told their parents that they were going to get married.

They had not yet met in person, as there were hundreds of miles between them.

Dr. Poczter, 42, an associate professor at Yeshiva University and the chair of its strategy and entrepreneurship department, was living in Brooklyn. Rabbi Cohen, 37, was a chaplain in the U.S. Army stationed in Savannah, Ga.

My parents, to some extent, were shocked, said Dr. Poczter, who holds a Ph.D. in business economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and bachelors and masters degrees from Cornell University. But they were also happy for me, and totally trusted my judgment.

Dr. Poczter, who had dated a lot by then, added that after days of talking on FaceTime and the phone with Rabbi Cohen nonstop, something about him gave her a sense of safety.
A judge on Tuesday threw out motions by the attorney general of the District of Columbia to name Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, as a defendant in a privacy lawsuit.

Judge Maurice A. Ross of Superior Court of the District of Columbia said in a hearing that Washingtons attorney general, Karl Racine, had waited too long to try to amend the lawsuit to name Mr. Zuckerberg as a defendant, a move that sought to hold him personally accountable.

The problem I have with this is you wait three years, Judge Ross said, referring to the addition of Mr. Zuckerberg to the case, which was filed in the court in December 2018. What value does it add to name him? Theres no more relief for the consumers of the district.

Judge Ross also opposed a demand by Mr. Racine to depose Mr. Zuckerberg for the lawsuit.

Mr. Racines lawsuit accused Facebook, which renamed itself Meta last year, of misleading consumers about privacy on the platform by allowing Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, to obtain sensitive data from more than 87 million users, including more than half the districts residents.
Schools would be required to notify parents when children receive mental, emotional or physical health services, unless educators believe there is a risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

Lines 67-78: In accordance with the rights of parents  adopt procedures for notifying a students parent if there is a change in the students services or monitoring related to the students mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the schools ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children by requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of the issue with the parent.

This parental-notification requirement appears to apply to any student, regardless of age or circumstances  the student could be seeking health services for gender issues, sexuality, depression, substance use, a parental divorce or any other challenge.

Still, this bill was written in large part because activists are worried about how schools respond to students who question their gender identity. They argue that schools should not affirm children who say they are transgender if it means contradicting their parents.

It is unclear how strictly schools would follow the directive to inform parents of every change in a students health services. For example, if a child casually reaches out to a counselor to discuss stress about grades, and in conversation also brings up another mental health concern, would parents be contacted?

A section of the bill allows school staff to skip informing parents if there is risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Counselors often wrestle with how to balance students desire for confidentiality with the need to keep families informed about their childrens well-being. But they argue that a blanket requirement for parental disclosure in all but the most extreme circumstances could lead students to approach counselors less frequently, degrading relationships that can be some of the most trusting in students lives.

Parents would have the right to opt their children out of counseling and health services.

Lines 106-109; 114-118: At the beginning of the school year, each school district shall notify parents of each healthcare service offered at their students school and the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service.  Before administering a student well-being questionnaire or health screening form to a student in kindergarten through grade 3, the school district must provide the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and obtain the permission of the parent.

This provision requires schools to create an opt-out procedure for mental and physical health care services, which could include individual counseling or support groups. It takes particular aim at the growing practice of using mental health or social-emotional screening questionnaires, which are intended to determine what students might need. They may ask students how often they experience emotions like worry or sadness, and to what extent they enjoy school or have trouble paying attention.

Understand Floridas Dont Say Gay Bill Card 1 of 5 A contentious issue. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill into law that aims to constrain the states public schools from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity. Here is what to know: Diverging perspectives. The proposal, which supporters call the Parental Rights in Education bill, but that opponents refer to as the Dont Say Gay bill, has become a national lightning rod since the Florida legislature passed the bill on March 8. What the bill says. The bill would ban classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. In other grades, lessons on those topics must be age appropriate or developmentally appropriate. The bill also has a parental notification requirement when children seek counseling. What the bills supporters say. Those in favor of the bill say that it is limited in scope, and affirms parents rights to direct the upbringing of their children. What the bills critics say. Opponents say that the bill could have a chilling effect on teaching and counseling. As he faced growing criticism over his silence, Disneys chief executive said the company was opposed to the legislation, and President Biden called the legislation hateful.









Some parents may opt out exactly because their child is dealing with a sensitive issue that produces shame or embarrassment, but educators say that may be the moment the child most needs support.
The rejection rate in the states most populous counties was roughly 15 percent. By comparison, during the 2020 general election, nearly one million absentee ballots were cast statewide and just under 9,000 were thrown out, a rejection rate of roughly 1 percent.

The numbers in Harris County, which has over 4.7 million residents, also appeared to substantiate Democratic warnings that Black voters would face the brunt of the new regulations.

The Texas law was part of a wave of similar voting measures passed by Republicans last year. The early effects in Texas could foreshadow future elections in the 18 other states, including major battlegrounds like Georgia, that tightened their balloting rules after the 2020 election.

We have concrete evidence of the impact that it is having on primarily people of color, Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, the second Black mayor in the citys history and a Democrat, said in an interview. Peoples right to vote is being taken away. Its almost like the 21st-century version of the poll tax, so to speak, when they were asked, How many bubbles are in this bar of soap?

The number of Texas voters who cast mail ballots is relatively small, because only those over 65 or with a verified excuse may vote as absentees. But if high rates of rejected ballots carry over to future general elections, which have much larger turnout, the overall effect on voting could be far greater.
People visit a paleolithic relics site in Yangyuan County, north China's Hebei Province on June 11, 2017. (Photo by Wu Diansen/Xinhua)

SHIJIAZHUANG, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Evidence of early use of pigments by humans has been found at the Xiamabei relics site in north China's Hebei Province.

Xiamabei is a Late Paleolithic site located in Yangyuan County's Nihewan Basin, which is one of the best-preserved areas in East Asia in terms of paleolithic remains and cultural sequences.

"The earliest known evidence of ochre-processing of prehistoric humans in China and even in East Asia was recently discovered in Xiamabei, depicting a vibrant living scene of East Asian dwellers 40,000 years ago," said Wang Fagang, associate researcher from the Hebei provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology.

The remnants of ochre, stone tools, bone tools and the fragments of animal fossils scattered around the fire pits of the site date back 41,000 to 39,000 years, Wang noted.

Based on technical analysis, an ochre-rich staining zone was identified, large grinding discs and balls, as well as broken ochres, were found, and abrasion marks were discovered on the surface of some ochres, indicating that it was an ochre pigment processing site.

Most of the blade-like stone tools at Xiamabei had been downsized. Some stone tools show clear evidence of being hafted to a handle, and they were presumably used for hide scraping, whittling plant material and cutting animal tissue.

"When combined with records of relic distribution found during field excavations, we can vividly imagine an archaic human community 40,000 years ago -- relaxing around a fire, grinding stones for color, hafting stones for blades, and sharing food," Wang said.

"Forty-thousand years ago, it was a crucial point in the formation, diffusion and behavioral modernization of the Late Paleolithic revolution and early modern humans," said Yang Shixia, associate researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"This analysis of human behavioral information obtained from the Xiamabei relics site provides us with evidence to understand behavioral changes of early modern humans in north China and even East Asia," Yang said. 
Some sister city partnerships are standing firm.

In a March 7 letter to the mayor of Tallahassee, Fla., Mayor Lauren Poe of Gainesville, Fla., emphasized his commitment to maintaining a sister city relationship with the city of Novorossiysk in Russia, and urged the city of Tallahassee, in the strongest terms possible, to do the same with its sister city of Krasnodar.

We must not hold the families of our sister cities responsible for the actions of a nationalist tyrant, Mr. Poe wrote. Rather, we need to strengthen our resolve to build on person-to-person leadership and celebrate citizen diplomacy. The City Council of Tallahassee voted unanimously two days later to sever its ties with Krasnodar.

Gainesvilles ties to Novorossiysk date to 1982, when Gainesville became among the first cities to launch a sister city relationship with a city in the Soviet Union. Nearly every Gainesville mayor has visited at least once during the leaders term ever since.

I kind of liken it to getting married, said Steve Kalishman, executive director for the Sister City Program of Gainesville, of the commitment made by the two cities. And he would know: He met his wife in Novorossiysk in 1976 while working on a commercial ship transporting grain to the Soviet Union. After getting married and moving to Gainesville, the couple pushed the city to pass a resolution making Novorossiysk its sister city. The two hand-delivered the resolution to the city government in Novorossiysk along with a symbolic large golden skeleton key.

Russia-Ukraine War: Key Developments Card 1 of 4 Fears of an expanded war rise. With the Russian military still struggling, Western officials are looking with increased alarm to Russias Victory Day holiday on May 9. Anxiety is growing that President Vladimir V. Putin will exploit the celebration of the Soviet triumph over the Nazis to intensify attacks and formally declare war. Russian oil embargo. The European Union unveiled a plan to halt imports of Russian crude oil in the next six months and refined oil products by the end of the year. If approved as expected, it would be the blocs biggest and costliest step yet toward ending its own dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Support for Moldova. The E.U. promised to provide additional military support for Moldova, the increasingly pressured neighbor of Ukraine. Security fears have grown there during the invasion, swelling after a series of explosions rocked Transnistria, the countrys own breakaway region, where Russia has maintained soldiers since 1992. On the ground. Moscow continued to demonstrate its destructive power. In the western city of Lviv, strikes on three power substations knocked out electricity in many areas. In the eastern region of Donetsk, 21 people died on May 3, the highest number of casualties in a day since last month.







The relationship became one of the few channels of communication between the Soviet Union and the United States at the time.

Ordinary American and Soviet people could not communicate with each other  you had to book a phone call 24 hours in advance and sit by the phone until it rang, Mr. Kalishman said. As the threat of nuclear war loomed, he founded an organization called Citizen Diplomacy Initiatives and began fielding calls from city officials across the United States hoping to create channels for communication between the two nations.
In video after video taken in Ukraine, a puff of smoke and a brief flash of light signal that another clutch of Russian troops are about to die.

Sometimes it is only a split second before that light streaks to a tank or armored vehicle that suddenly erupts in smoke and flame, often bursting from within as ammunition inside explodes.

Rewinding these videos a bit often shows Ukrainian soldiers before the attack, patrolling to an ambush point with large green tubes carried on their backs  each one a gift from Britain. In perhaps 15 seconds, and sometimes even faster than that, the soldiers can unsling the weapon, unfold its aiming sight, release a safety catch and wait for their prey to appear.

The green tubes are called NLAWs, for Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons. They are the result of decades of weapons research dedicated to building small lightweight guided missiles that may have evened the balance of power in combat between the fearsome tank and the soldier.
When Hu Wei, a politically well-connected scholar in Shanghai, warned that China risked becoming a pariah if it didnt denounce Russias invasion of Ukraine, he ignited a war of words on Chinas internet.

Some readers praised Mr. Hus article, which spread online last week, seeing its gloomy prognosis about China becoming isolated behind a new Iron Curtain of hostility from Western countries as a welcome challenge to official Chinese soft-pedaling of President Vladimir V. Putins aggression. Many others denounced him as a stooge of Washington, unduly critical of Russias war aims and prospects. Chinese authorities blocked the website of U.S.-China Perception Monitor, where his article first appeared, and tried to censor it on social media.

Inside China, the war in Ukraine has ignited enormous disagreements, setting supporters and opponents at polar extremes, Mr. Hu wrote. His own stance was clear: China should not be yoked to Putin and must sever itself from him as soon as it can.

Mr. Hus article has been the most striking instance of rising opposition to Russias assault on an independent neighbor, and rebukes of Beijing for its reluctance to criticize Moscow.
With so much going wrong in the world, should we now also worry about a nine-tailed fox demoness that may be loose in a forest in Japan?

The answer depends partly on your reading of ancient Japanese mythology.

This month, a volcanic rock split in two in Nikko National Park, about 100 miles north of Tokyo. Intact, the rock was about six feet tall and 26 feet in circumference, according to a guide at the park. It had long been associated with a Japanese legend in which an evil fox spirit haunts a killing stone, or Sessho-seki in Japanese, making it deadly to humans. Some people have speculated that the fracture set the fox loose to cause further harm.

Others have focused on a variation of the legend that ends on a happier note. In that telling, after a Zen monk splits the rock into several pieces and coaxes out the fox, she promises never to harm humans again.
U.S. and European officials see Chinas role in the conflict as critical, and decisions by Mr. Xi could push the war in different directions  perhaps toward a cease-fire or more robust diplomatic talks, or toward renewed momentum by the Russian forces in their deadly offensive. Mr. Xi, who has built a bond with Mr. Putin over years, gave no indication he would help seek a diplomatic solution, according to an official Chinese readout of the call.

That summary emphasized the friction between China and the United States over Taiwan before addressing Ukraine. It said Mr. Xi pointed out that the situation in Ukraine has developed to this point, which China does not want to see. He reiterated standard talking points that China would provide humanitarian aid and that Russia and Ukraine should hold peace talks. Mr. Xi did not suggest any role China could play in ending the war, and instead said the United States and NATO should talk to Russia to resolve the crisis.

Mr. Xi also used a phrase he and other Chinese officials have previously employed when blaming troubles on the United States: Let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off.

Tensions between the United States and China have grown since the invasion because of Beijings persistent alignment with Moscow, even as the Russian military kills thousands of Ukrainian civilians.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivered his strongest public warning yet to China, saying the United States will not hesitate to impose costs if China gives military aid or other support to Russia. He and other officials say Chinas strategy is to keep up a pretense of neutrality while siding with Russia.

Jake Sullivan, Mr. Bidens national security adviser, gave similar warnings to Yang Jiechi, a top Chinese foreign affairs official, when the two met in Rome on Monday. U.S. officials told reporters a day before those talks that Russia had asked China for military and economic aid after it began its war, and a Pentagon official said there were indications China was leaning toward obliging Russia on military support.

China could be held responsible for violating international law if it gives military aid to Russia, according to two prominent law professors, Oona A. Hathaway of Yale and Ryan Goodman of New York University.
One man, Vitaliy Kalman, was standing beside his suitcase hoping for a lull in the fighting. He said he had tried to go back into the district to retrieve some clothes from his apartment but came under mortar fire just beyond the ruined bridge that marks the entrance into Irpin. The bridge was destroyed by Ukrainian troops to forestall advancement by Russian troops in the first days of the war.

They are very close, he said of the Russians. I saw the shell explode just near my house, and I ran back here with the evacuation team.

A volunteer member of the Territorial Defense Forces described the street fighting in Irpin as an all-out guerrilla war. On the attacking side are the Russian troops, which Western military analysts say are likely elite airborne Special Forces units.

Defending against them are local volunteers, many of whom had just been handed rifles a few days before the Russians arrived in their town, alongside veteran militia fighters and uniformed troops.

Street fighting had been raging for days, according to soldiers interviewed on the edge of the town on Saturday. As of then, Russians controlled one of the three main thoroughfares, one was contested and the third was under tenuous Ukrainian control.

The locals have been slipping out at night and shooting at Russian positions, said the volunteer, who asked only to be identified by his nickname, Spotter, for security reasons. Its understood that they will be taking no prisoners, he said of the firefights. These are people who have weapons and know the local area perfectly.

A doctor at a nearby hospital said it had received 25 wounded soldiers on Wednesday on the first day of the counterattack.
As Russian artillery and rockets land on Ukrainian hospitals and apartment blocks, devastating residential districts with no military value, the world is watching with horror what is, for Russia, an increasingly standard practice.

Its forces conducted similar attacks in Syria, bombing hospitals and other civilian structures as part of Russias intervention to prop up that countrys government.

Moscow went even further in Chechnya, a border region that had sought independence in the Soviet Unions 1991 breakup. During two formative wars there, Russias artillery and air forces turned city blocks to rubble and its ground troops massacred civilians in what was widely seen as a deliberate campaign to terrorize the population into submission.

Now, Vladimir V. Putin, whose rise to Russias presidency paralleled and was in some ways cemented by the Chechen wars, appears to be deploying a similar playbook in Ukraine, albeit so far only by increments.
Even as a missile strike on Friday hit the outskirts of Lviv, a Ukrainian city that had been spared much of the Russian assault, the latest intelligence assessments indicate that Russian forces are still struggling to capture more territory as they try to push across Ukraine.

The British defense intelligence service said on Friday that Russian forces had made minimal progress this week, and that Ukrainian forces around the capital, Kyiv, had continued to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the city.

Still, Russia was continuing to bombard the capital. A large explosion from what appeared to be a cruise missile strike or aerial bombardment blew a crater into the courtyard of a residential building in Kyiv on Friday, in one of the larger strikes to hit a civilian area in the city, and left at least one dead.

Russias recent territorial gains have been mostly in the south and east of the country, including in the areas around Mariupol, according to assessments by Western governments and independent analysts. Russian forces have advanced from the southern city of Kherson, which they have captured, toward Kryvyi Rih, closer to the center of Ukraine.
BRUSSELS  Ukraine and Russia are engaged in intermittent negotiations to end a brutal war now in its third week. But despite signs of progress, Western officials have little optimism that the talks have reached a serious stage or even confronted the most difficult issues.

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has raised hopes with recent statements that seem to accept that his country will not be a part of NATO, despite the alliances promise in 2008 to accept it one day and even though the Ukrainian constitution was amended three years ago to make membership in both NATO and the European Union national goals.

A form of neutrality for Ukraine without NATO membership would seem to satisfy a key Russian demand, though only one of them. And any form of neutrality must come with security guarantees against further Russian aggression, the Ukrainians say. But who would provide such guarantees, and, if some guarantors are NATO members, how that would be fundamentally different from actual membership in the alliance, are only some of the fundamental questions outstanding.

On Wednesday, Mr. Zelensky said neutrality must include reliable guarantees that protect Ukraine from future threats. We can and must defend our state, our life, our Ukrainian life, he said. We can and must negotiate a just but fair peace for Ukraine, real security guarantees that will work. Patience is needed.
LVIV, Ukraine  At 83, no longer a young poet, Ihor Kalynets knows something of life under Russias thumb.

Having spent nine years in the Soviet Gulag, including hard labor cutting stone, he secretly wrote on cigarette papers what are regarded as some of his best verses. They were crumpled into tiny balls and smuggled out of prison.

For 30 years of his professional life  during Soviet times  he was only able to publish abroad, infuriating the authorities, or through samizdat, the underground self-publishing network.

Today he lives on a leafy street in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine inundated with Ukrainians displaced by Russias invasion of their country. His daughter and son-in-law live up the street, and he has opened his art-filled home to a family of refugees.
Fire fighters work at the fire site in Flushing of New York, the United States, March 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

No civilian injuries or missing civilians were reported and the fire is under investigation by local fire marshals.

NEW YORK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A commercial building in Flushing Chinatown of New York City suffered serious damage from a 5-alarm fire on Thursday morning.

Fire broke out within an interior mall at 40-10 Main Street around 6 a.m. and then engulfed the building, according to the New York City (NYC) Fire Department.

The roof of the commercial building partially caved in and firefighters had to let the fire burn through the debris before they can extinguish it, according to media reports.

No civilian injuries or missing civilians were reported and the fire is under investigation by local fire marshals, said a release by Richard Blatus, acting chief of operations with the NYC Fire Department.

Fire fighters work to extinguish the fire at a commercial building in Flushing of New York, the United States, March 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

It's reported that there are approximately 30 kiosks inside the one-story commercial building.

The commercial building is located in the core area of Flushing in Queens borough where a lot of Asian Americans live. 
In the weeks after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv, the capital, became a city transformed. Much of its population evacuated. New defense units gathered and took up arms. Impromptu social support  field kitchens, aid stations, bomb shelters, evacuation convoys  sprouted into functional shapes. The city endured intermittent bombardment throughout. This altered streetscape became the uneasy milieu of Alexander Chekmenev, a Ukrainian documentary and portrait photographer who since the 1990s has visually chronicled his countrys post-Soviet life. Read More

Like many of his fellow citizens, Chekmenev, who is 52, took care of his family early on, ensuring that his teenage daughter reached safety in Slovakia. He himself opted to remain. In a climate of indiscriminate attacks, a circumstance in which anyone might be randomly harmed at any time, he felt an imperative to work, venturing out on assignment for The New York Times Magazine to find those who stayed put. Carrying a medium-format Pentax camera, equipment more commonly used in advertising or fashion photography than in the coverage of war, he met some people by appointment and approached others as they walked the streets, labored in their new roles or huddled in shelters. Chekmenev brought a professional ideology as well  his belief that ordinary people are worthy of personal dignity and artistic attention, whatever the geopolitical tide. For me, the first place has always been the human, he said, explaining his focus away from those conventionally regarded as important, including Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whose telegenic resolve has earned him international admiration. The country is made up of people, and I want to elevate and respect each.

Alexander Chekmenev at the Good Bread From Good People bakery in Kyiv. Photograph by Stanislav Krupar

As a civilian, Chekmenev was bound by the same conditions and restrictions as anyone else. Kyiv was on a wartime footing. A state curfew forbade almost all movements at night. Newly erected checkpoints and antitank barricades blocked some routes. Subways no longer crossed the Dnieper River, further separating the citys Left and Right Banks. Lines formed for medicines and food. Danger loomed. In a place at once anxious, ominous and curtailed, Chekmenevs pursuit of his project required routine. In the morning, when residents were allowed out again, he roamed Kyiv. At night, he was back in his studio, uploading fresh portraits, communicating with friends and editors and preparing for the forays of the next day.

Each day brought what it brought. To those who remained, sometimes the invaders felt just beyond sight, a foreign army grinding through cold mud outside the city, pressing forward but at any given hour held at bay. Other times, the Russian assaults, launched from afar, came close. These moments assumed modern wars familiar but ever-startling forms: a rocket screaming down toward homes; a child dead on arrival at a polyclinic, too late for a waiting surgeons hands.

By the third week of war, as the Russian Army continued its shelling and creeping advance, Chekmenev had made a record of the ordinary people in the invaders way. He photographed a preservationist who guards the artifacts of a sacred 11th-century cathedral, an accountant who runs an open-air kitchen, an actor who repacks medical supplies into first-aid kits, a railway employee who helps fleeing civilians. His subjects expressions blended perplexity and anger, defiance and determination, weariness and fear. Assembled like a gallery, the portraiture forms a catalog of personal, street-level resistance in a community molded by existential threat.

Chekmenev rejected any description of himself as a journalist, even while conveying stories almost in real time, just as journalism can do. And as he focused on individuals, one meaning in his body of new work could not be missed. Putin, organizer of violence bent on breaking Ukrainian will, purveyor of the ahistoric idea that Ukraine was a result of little more than a Bolshevik mapping mistake, had thus far achieved the opposite of what he planned. In its reaction, Ukraine proved that it was not some wayward Russian territory waiting to be led back to the Kremlins nostalgic notion of its place. It was itself, and it would fight. Whats happened now, Chekmenev said, is that in an instant  a single instant  the Russian fascists have turned us into a single nation.

In interviews, Chekmenevs subjects spoke of adaptation in the face of approaching menace. Choosing where to sleep  at home? in a neighborhood more distant from the fighting? below ground?  was a consequential gamble. Every day could demand reconsideration. Choosing how to participate was a gamble too, and a matter of balancing the options of resistance with individual skills and personal choice. Some residents blended Molotov cocktails. Others steeped tea. One man, Maksym Skubenko, who had no previous martial experience, signed on as an armed reservist and was rushed into combat the first night. We have an instructor who taught us how to use weapons, he said. We have guns and some bullets and warm clothes, and we are trying to live like that. What might a frightened citizen tell the world? Anna Abramenok, a film and theater actor, once appeared in a Kyiv production of Nikolai Erdmans masterpiece, The Suicide, a Russian comedy of terrors banned for decades in the Soviet Union. Chekmenev found her assembling trauma kits from donated supplies. She urged Russias people to find their voices and call their soldiers home. Bring your sons back, she said. Dont go to fight. Dont go to your death. Dont go to kill. Stop your men.

Ukrainian history is replete with outrages, sorrows and mass suffering. Its past century, much of it experienced as a Moscow vassal, was especially harsh, including the ordeals of Kremlin-directed repression and famine, Nazi invasion and occupation and the seismic confusions and corruptions that accompanied independence and privatization. Its existence alongside Putins Russia brought fraud and aggression, too. While millions of Ukrainians lived in near penury, part of its political and business elite amassed shadowy fortunes exploiting resources, enterprises and infrastructure formerly owned by the state. One of Ukraines presidents was poisoned during his run for office. Mass demonstrations at times were met with crackdowns. Russia forcibly annexed Crimea in 2014, the same year it supported separatist uprisings in the countrys east  preludes to this years escalated war, initiated from Moscow to extinguish Ukrainian independence for good.

The past, be it days or decades ago, can at least be described. The future, kaleidoscopic and dark, offers neither stability nor clarity. No one could say how or where any of Chekmenevs subjects might be by nightfall, much less tomorrow or in a week. The collective interrogation of what might happen next was both relentless and in vain. Who would fight for Ukraine? Who would secure its nuclear-power plants? Would there be a cease-fire? What powerful weapons might Russias military try next? Would NATO close the sky? On the streets of the capital, no one knew. What existed was the present, which fit Chekmenevs urge to photograph Ukrainians where and as they were.
Traditional foreign aid Military supplies $6.9 billion $3.5 billion U.S. military deployments and intelligence $3 billion Enforcing sanctions and other aid $176 million Traditional foreign aid Military supplies $6.9 billion $3.5 billion U.S. military deployments and intelligence $3 billion Enforcing sanctions and other aid $176 million Traditional foreign aid Military supplies $6.9 billion $3.5 billion U.S. military deployments and intelligence $3 billion Enforcing sanctions and other aid $176 million

Congress approved $13.6 billion in emergency spending last week related to Ukraines fight against Russias invasion.

The money includes weapons, military supplies and one of the largest infusions of U.S. foreign aid in the last decade. But it also covers the deployment of U.S. troops to Europe and money for domestic agencies to enforce sanctions.

Here is a breakdown of where the money will go:

Counter disinformation and Russian propaganda $120 mil. Food assistance, health care and other aid $2,650 million U.S.A.I.D. operating expenses $25 mil. Migration and refugee assistance $1,400 mil. Grants and loans for military supplies $650 mil. Grants for food donations $100 mil. Economic Support Fund $647 mil. Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia $1,120 mil. Diplomatic programs $125 mil. Other $60 mil. Counter disinfo. $120 mil. Food assistance, health care and other aid $2,650 million U.S.A.I.D. expenses $25 mil. Migration and refugee assistance $1,400 mil. Grants and loans for military supplies $650 mil. Grants for food donations $100 mil. Economic Support Fund $647 mil. Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia $1,120 mil. Diplomatic programs $125 mil. Other $60 mil.

The bill allocates $6.9 billion through traditional foreign aid channels. That includes money to strengthen the security and economy of Ukraine, and to provide food, health care and urgent support to both Ukrainians living in the country and those who fled. It also includes financial support for weapons purchases.

That is more than the amount given to Ukraine in any year since 1994, when the U.S. Agency for International Development began tracking such figures. The $6.9 billion may include some funding that wouldnt be counted in the agencys data, which is calculated differently. Nonetheless, it is 10 times greater than the amount given to Ukraine in fiscal year 2020, the period of the latest published data.

U.S. Foreign Aid to Ukraine The $6.9 billion in traditional foreign aid Congress allocated for Ukraine last week is 10 times more than the assistance the country was given in the 2020 fiscal year. Source: ForeignAssistance.gov The new bill may include some funding not covered in the historical data, which is adjusted to 2020 dollars. Data not available for fiscal year 2021.

In the 2020 fiscal year, Ukraine received 6 percent of total U.S. foreign assistance tracked in the agencys data, making it the 17th-largest recipient. It received almost 60 times as much as its neighbor Belarus, but only a sixth of the money that went to Afghanistan, the highest recipient of American aid that year.

This portion of the newly authorized package will cover a wide variety of programs, including:

$2.65 billion to provide food assistance and health care to Ukrainians and neighboring countries affected by the war. $1.4 billion for humanitarian support and resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. Around 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. $1.12 billion to support Ukraine's government, provide economic assistance and help neighboring countries through the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia program. $650 million for a financing program to provide additional military support for Ukraine and other countries affected by the war. The program largely provides loans and grants to purchase U.S. weapons, equipment and training. $647 million to the Economic Support Fund that provides direct financial support and other economic assistance to Ukraine and other countries affected by the invasion. $125 million for diplomatic programs to help maintain U.S. citizen services in the area; invest in cybersecurity; enhance the State Departments capacity to identify the assets of Russian and other oligarchs; and coordinate with the Treasury Department in seizing or freezing those assets. $120 million to counter disinformation and Russian propaganda, and to support independent media and activists. $100 million for Food for Peace grants to support commodity donations of food assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. $30 million to continue integrating Ukraine's electricity grid into Europes. In late February, Ukraine started a 72-hour test to unhook its power grid from those of Belarus and Russia. During the trial, Russia invaded. Ukraines electric grid had been operating in isolation until Wednesday, when the European Commission for Energy announced that technical experts had successfully connected it to Europes. $30 million to fight international narcotics trafficking and human trafficking in Ukraine. $25 million for operations at U.S.A.I.D., the agency leading the U.S. humanitarian response in Ukraine.

Replace supplies from Feb. $350 mil. Money for additional shipments $2,950 million Replace supplies from March $200 mil. Replace supplies from Feb. $350 mil. Money for additional shipments $2,950 million Replace supplies from March $200 mil.

Another $3.5 billion will be used to replace military supplies the Biden administration already sent to Ukraine this year, and to keep dispatching additional shipments.

In times of unforeseen emergency, the president can authorize the transfer of U.S.-owned weapons, ammunition and defense supplies without congressional approval.

The $3.5 billion includes $550 million to replace supplies President Biden authorized sending in February and the first week of March. Those so-called drawdown packages included Javelins and other anti-armor systems, small arms, various calibers of ammunition, and other essential nonlethal equipment, according to a Congressional Research Service report published this week.

The bill also allows Mr. Biden to keep sending more supplies. On Wednesday, shortly after Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, delivered a virtual address to Congress, Mr. Biden announced a third package, worth $800 million, that will be replaced using funds approved in this bill.

Army $1,244 million Air Force $727 mil. Capital funds $409 mil. Defense Department-wide $378 mil. Marine Corps $25 mil. Navy $246 mil. Space Force $0.8 mil. Army $1,244 million Air Force $727 mil. Capital funds $409 mil. Defense Dept.-wide $378 mil. Marine Corps $25 mil. Navy $246 mil. Space Force $0.8 mil.

The U.S. also allocated $3 billion to help pay for the deployment of its own military units to allied countries in Europe.

The funding will be used to transport personnel and equipment, pay deployed troops and provide medical and intelligence support in the region.

Finally, Congress allocated more than $175.5 million to enforce the sanctions and export control measures imposed by the U.S. to isolate Russias economy from the international financial system.

The newly authorized package will fund the following programs:
Stillwater, OK (74078)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
The Areia Preta beach in the Brazilian city of Guarapari is famous for its black sand which has external radiation levels of almost 400 times the normal background radiation recorded in the US.

Brazil has hundreds of miles of beaches, but none are quite like Praia Da Areia Preta, in Guarapari. The sand in this region, particularly the black sand, contains moderate quantities of monazite, a phosphate mineral rich in several rare-earth elements, including uranium and thorium. Research has shown that background radiation on Areia Preta can reach 175 mSv per year, or 20 Sv/h, while some spots, particularly those with lost of black sand, have radiation levels of up to 55 Sv/h. To put that into perspective, the average radiation exposure level across the United States is about 0.34 Sv/h, while an X-ray gives people a one-time exposure to about 100 Sv.

Photo: Marcelo Moryan/MTur

Guaraparis monazite-rich black sand was first noticed in 1880, by Austrian scientist Carl Auer von Welsbach. He was looking for thorium for his newly invented incandescent mantles, and monazite sand proved to be the perfect source. Brazilian monazite mines dominated the industry of rare-earth elements up until World War 2, but it wasnt until the late 20th century that monazite sand beaches became a health tourism attraction.

In 1972, the radioactivity of monazite sand was already known for almost a century, but that year physician Silva Mello started promoting a radioactive sand therapy that she claimed could treat a variety of health problems, including rheumatism. To this day, thousands of tourists try to cure diseases by lying on or even covering themselves with this radioactive sand, ignoring the danger of prolonged exposure to radiation.

50 years after Silva Mellos publication on the benefits of monazite sand, many in Brazil still believe that exposure to the sand is actually good for their health. The tourism industry of Guarapari has definitely benefited from this narrative, and the city wears its nickname The Healthy Town with pride, despite the controversy surrounding the effects of exposure to the sand.

Interestingly, most parts of Guarapari have relatively low levels of background radiation  0.6 Sv/h on average  which doesnt pose any real health risk. The beaches, like Areia Preta, are a different matter entirely. Sea waves continuously pound coastal mountains rich in monazite, and some of the radioactive compounds wash up on the shore in the form of black sand.

Over the years, research has shown that gamma radiation alone on Areia Preta poses a serious danger to tourists. One 2002 study found that gamma radiation doses on Areia Preta beach were comparable to those in the immediate vicinity (l km) of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The authors point out that while the radionuclide composition in the two locations is undoubtedly different, the gamma radiation on Areia Preta requires protective equipment.

Radiation absorbed through the skin can reportedly increase the risk of skin cancer, while inhaled radioactive compounds can cause lung cancer. It is for these reasons that the Brazilian Nuclear Agency does not recommend spending too much time on radioactive beaches like Areia Preta.



At one point, it was proposed that monozites be removed from the sand and then sold as valuable ore rich in rare-earth elements. This way, the iconic black sand of Guarapari could be preserved for its tourism value, without exposing people to harmful radiation.
Karla Wagner,

Adam Robles

Fenton Communications appoints Karla Wagner as its first chief people officer and Adam Robles as SVP of corporate social good. Wagner comes to the agency from Finsbury Glover Hering, where she was head of people and culture. She previously served as senior vice president of human resources at Grayling. In her new post, Wagners duties will include developing a strategic growth plan, sourcing top talent, and making investments in the existing team. Robles joins Fenton from Hyundai Motor America, where he helped lead the development and execution of the companys corporate social responsibility strategy for both the Hyundai and Genesis brands. He was previously an associate vice president at Finn Partners. At Fenton, Robles will help lead the corporate social good team, supporting its key accounts and staff.

Zakiya Larry

Constellation, a group of agencies within Stagwell that includes 72andSunny, Instrument and Brand Citizens, names Zakiya Larry global chief communications officer. Prior to joining Constellation, Larry founded and led Quest Media Training, a boutique strategic communications firm. She was previously director of media relations for T.D. Jakes Ministries. In her new post, Larrys responsibilities will include oversight of media relations, corporate responsibility, social media, crisis, business and executive communications, and live event productions. Constellation chair John Boiler said that Larry brings the expert skills and passion to unleash our story and amplify our impact on the industry."

Quinn O'Brien

Carnegie Learning, which provides artificial intelligence solutions for K-12 education and formative assessment, names Quinn OBrien chief marketing officer. OBrien was most recently vp of global marketing at Lenovo, the parent company of ThinkPad, Motorola, YOGA and Legion. He was previously a managing director at Ogilvy & Mather, and co-founded Craft Worldwide, a design and production agency. In his new role, OBrien will work to expand the reach and impact of Carnegie Learnings K-12 math, literacy, world languages, computer science, and professional learning offerings. Quinn brings an unmatched skill set and passion that will be indispensable as we continue to grow as an organization, said Carnegie Learning CEO Barry Malkin.
Andrew Cuomo

Early April Fools Day from CNBC Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former governor of New York, is thinking about running for his old job, reported CNBC on March 16.

Cmon, CNBC. Thats not funny.

Handy Andy, who resigned last year due to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, is apparently buoyed by polls that found him in a tight race with his successor, Kathy Hochul, in a Democratic primary that is slated for June.

The Hill reported March 10 that Cuomo trails Hochul, his former lieutenant governor, by a 37 percent to 33 percent margin.

Cuomo certainly has the financial warchest needed to mount a run against Hochul.

His campaign has $16M in the bank compared to $20M for the current governor.

Cuomo has embarked on a reputational rehab tour, speaking at a Black church in Brooklyn and before the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. He also has blanketed New York with television ads that tout his accomplishments in office.

The truth of the matter: New Yorkers were tired of their three-and-a-half term control-freak governor well before the allegations against him surfaced.

A primary contest against Hochul would turn out to be one of the nastiest campaigns of recent memory.

You can rest assured that Hochul would not have to twist many of the arms of the women who levied charges against Cuomo, to campaign for her.

Cuomo may run to gain a measure of revenge against Hochul, who called his alleged behavior repulsive.

He probably feels that Hochul, who had zero visibility since becoming the Empire States lieutenant governor in 2014, rose to national prominence only due to his resignation. I made you, thinks Andy.

Cuomo told the Brooklyn congregation: I am blessed, I have many options in life and I am open to all of them, but on the question if I am at peace, No I am not.

The people of the Empire State are at peace. We do not miss the political theater and backstabbing that characterized Cuomos time in Albany.

If he wants peace, Cuomo should book a pilgrimage to India to visit the Dalai Lama.

That would be a hoot.

With God on their side, PR doesnt have a chance... The British media are howling over the shocking firing of 800 P&O Ferries workers who were canned without notice on March 17.

Dubais DP World, owner of P&O, claims the ships that connect Liverpool, Hull and Dover to France, Holland and Ireland lost $132M during the past year, a deficit that is not sustainable.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin have weighed in on the labor squabble.

Ill-treating workers is not just business. In Gods eyes it is sin, they wrote in a joint letter.

Noting that DP World recorded record profits in 2021, the holy duo feel the sackings are cynically timed for a moment when world attention is on Ukraine. Done without warning or consultation, it is inhumane, treats human beings as a commodity of no basic value and is completely unethical.

They want the British government to intervene and make urgent and forceful representations to the Government of Dubai, a historic and close ally of the UK.

Who speaks for P&O Ferries? Its website lists New Century Media, a top crisis and issues management shop based in London as PR contact.

David Burnside, former PA director of British Airways from 1984 to 1993, chairs New Century Media.

He is a former member of parliament from Northern Ireland who claims to have played a key role in the process leading up to the Good Friday Agreement that ended the political violence in Northern Ireland.

Hell have to muster up his best negotiating skills to make peace with Welby and Hudson-Wilkin.

Occidental Petroleum fails to muzzle shareholders The energy company, which touts its plan to Zero in on global carbon solutions, wanted the Securities and Exchange Commission to reject an annual meeting proposal calling for shareholders to vote on emissions goals consistent with the Paris global warming agreement.

The activist group Follow This maintained that Oxy Petes emissions goals are vague and fall short of the Paris mark.

The SEC ruled in favor of the shareholder vote, according to a letter reviewed by the Financial Times.

While Oxy fought the shareholder resolution, similar proposals have been submitted at Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips without being contested.

Thats not a good PR look for Occidental.

In a desperate bid to stave off sanctions on Sovcombank, former US Senator and Mercury Partner David Vitter said the Russian bank was staffed by executives who used to work for US companies, many of them women.

GE Money, MetLife and Liberty Mutual transferred clients and staffers to Sovcombank when they decided to exit Russia, according to a memo from Vitter.

Those fluent English speakers have formed a unique community in Russia and have a strong adherence to international corporate values.

Its not clear if that community is the third column that Vladimir Putin has threatened to wipe from the face of the Earth.

He said Russians can distinguish between true patriots from the scum and the traitors, and just spit them out like a midge that accidentally flew into their mouths.

It might be wise for Vitters fluent English speakers who are bullish on global corporate values to lay low as the isolated and paranoid Putin threatens to fill the jails with those who adhere to western values.
IRISH members of the European Parliament differed sharply on Russia's invasion of Ukraine at a briefing in Strasbourg.

European Parliament Left group members Mick Wallace and Clare Daly again defended their decision to vote against a parliament resolution condemning the invasion while Fianna Fail MEPs Billy Kelleher and Barry Kilroy backed a debate on neutrality in Ireland.

The press briefing took place shortly before Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas addressed the parliament and warned that Russia does not keep to international agreements it enters into.

Mr Wallace and Ms Daly said they voted against the resolution because of its references to military aid and Nato.

Mr Wallace, a former TD for Wexford, told Irish media: There won't be peace in the region until there's an acceptance that Russia does have genuine security concerns about the idea of Ukraine going into Nato, the same as the Americans had in '61 in Cuba.

The Ireland South MEP added: If the Canadians or the Mexicans done a deal today with Russia or China and said we're free to join any alliance we want, do you think the Americans would settle for it? They would in their nuts. And they'd be right. It'd be too close to them.

He was accompanied at the briefing by Dublin MEP Clare Daly who said additional military aid for Ukraine would be counterproductive.

Ms Daly said: In our experience and in the experience of every war, piling in more weaponry just prolongs it... Is Ireland so suckered into European groupthink that we have to go along with the pack?

The two MEPs both said it was nonsense of FG MEP Sean Kelly to suggest that the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania should fear a Russian invasion.

A separate briefing later the same morning was attended by Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher, who along with his Fianna Fail colleague Senator Billy Dooley, had been in Ukraine a couple of days earlier.

When Mr Kelleher was asked about Ireland taking in tens of thousands of refugees when housing is already in short supply, he replied: It's essential, I believe, and the right thing from a moral point of view as well that we show solidarity with people who are fleeing from war and oppression.

On Ireland's neutrality, he remarked: What we have to do is respond to the new realities as circumstances change. He said the country needed calm and rational debate on the issue.

Mr Andrews joined the briefing remotely and agreed with Taoiseach Micheal Martin's suggestion that a Citizens' Assembly could examine neutrality.

The Dublin MEP said: If Estonia is attacked would we come to their aid? Or if we're attacked, would we expect other EU member states to come to our aid? I frankly think the answers to those questions is yes.

Mr Andrews said the commission report on the Irish defence forces states we're defenceless and marrying that with the new threats means the time for a debate on [Irish neutrality and EU common defence] is quite urgent. Mr Andrews and Mr Kelleher are both members of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament.

A total of 637 MEPs voted in favour of the resolution condemning Russian aggression, 13 voted against and 26 abstained.

Speaking in the parliament, Ms Kallas said disarmament and limiting defence by agreement with Russia will not work because Russia breaks agreements.

The Estonia Prime Minister said: It actually means we are making ourselves weaker because the other side is not going to follow those agreements. And we should not do that.

Ms Kallas said Nato expanding and gaining new members was not provoking Russia. Every country has the right to decide which union it is more allied with, if it wants to be.

She added: It's not up to any other country to say that 'you can't be that'. I remind you, Nato is a defence alliance, it's not attacking anybody, it's meant to be there for defending the countries that are in this alliance.

The Estonia Prime Minister said proceeds of Russian assets seized as a result of sanctions should be used to build up Ukraine again.

For every bullet that they fire, for every building that they destroy, they're going to pay for this, they're going to build this from their own money, it's coming from their pockets.
THIS was the week when we were supposed to mark  even celebrate  our emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic. Inevitably that would be somewhat muted anyhow as we remember those we lost to the virus over the past two years and, indeed, those we couldnt say a proper goodbye to because of restrictions.

It was why this St Patricks Day events were extended to two back-to-back public holidays on March 17 and 18 of this week which, inevitably, will be extended to include Saturday and Sunday next. As the first St Patricks Day we could mark appropriately since 2019, all seemed set for a major fest.

That was the intent. That was why March 18 was designated as a public holiday for this year and this year only, primarily as a thank you to our heroic health care workers. Next year the public holiday will be on the first Monday in February.

But it is hard to celebrate against the background of ongoing murderous slaughter in Ukraine.

Yet, here at home, there is much to celebrate. We owe a major thank you to our medical, public health, and  yes  political leadership too which saw to it that Ireland has recorded one of the lowest rates of excess deaths in the world in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Excess deaths in the context refers to the difference between the number of recorded deaths from all causes and the number expected based on usual trends. The new study provides the first checked estimates of excess deaths due to the pandemic in 191 countries.

In Europe only Iceland and Norway performed better than Ireland for excess deaths due to the virus. Such has been the finding of this first global estimate of excess deaths due to Covid and published in The Lancet medical journal.

Between January 1s 2020 and December 31 last, Ireland lost 5,910 people to Covid. (As of March 11  last Friday  that figure was 6, 611, of 1.34 million Irish people who contracted the virus).

Irelands estimated excess mortality rate over that period was 12.5 per 100,000 people, a fraction of the 131.8 recorded in Northern Ireland and 125.8 in England.

The survey also found that the global death toll in the pandemic may have been over three times higher than official records.

That official world-wide Covid-19 death toll was 5.9 million for the period between January 1, 2020 and December 31 last. The global study estimates however that the real figure was 18.2 million excess deaths over the same period.

So hats off to all who made it possible for Ireland have had such a comparatively 'good' pandemic, but in particular to the Irish people themselves who, despite our well-earned reputation for doing our own thing, buckled down when it mattered and behaved in the better interest of all.

And, yes, we are not clear to the virus yet as infection rates are on the rise again. However, despite this, the severity this time appears much less with ICU rates in particular continuing to drop. It was inevitable that after restrictions were lifted there would be a spike in infection rates, something that is also likely to follow this weeks events too.

It is hardly fair that as we emerge from this life-shaking pandemic which will have long-term consequences for the health of some and the work practices of many, that we should be confronted so soon with another crisis of enormous proportions. I refer, of course, to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Lest we wallow in the unfairness of this  timing wise, particularly  we might reflect how catastrophic it is for the people of that benighted country, which is also dealing with the pandemic. About 36% of its people are fully vaccinated.

Irelands response to Ukraines calamity has been as generous as it is typical, and we should be proud of that. In particular it was heartening and impressive to hear Taoiseach Micheal Martins response in a BBC interview last Sunday, when asked if security checks have been conducted on Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland.

This was in a context where, by last Sunday, Britain had issued just 1,000 visas to Ukrainian refugees.

Explaining that Ireland had so far accepted 5,500 people fleeing Ukraine, the Taoiseach said our primary impulse is to assist those fleeing war. Ireland's priority was a humanitarian response to what he termed the worst displacement of people since World War II.

The Irish people were very seized by the series of atrocities that are going on, what we are witnessing on our screens is really shocking people and theres huge human empathy there, he said.

Last week, and to no ones great surprise in Ireland, it was confirmed that Britains Home Secretary Priti Patel had contacted the Dublin Government to raise security concerns about the number of people Ireland was accepting from Ukraine and the risk that they could enter Northern Ireland.

She, it was said, was concerned the refugees might include Russians who would be a risk to Britains security.

As we know, Ms Patel has form when it comes to immigration issues generally. She also has form when it comes to Ireland, having suggested in 2019 during Brexit debates that Britain should threaten Ireland with food shortages if Dublin did not drop demands for a backstop. Been there, youve done that, we could have responded.

This appalling womans parents were themselves immigrants from Uganda, who arrived in Britain during the 1960s.

We dont have to care about her or her Government on this issue, thankfully. Our response to the invasion of Ukraine is in line with that of our EU partners.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told a Dail Committee last week let me be very clear, in relation to whats happening in Ukraine, we are not neutral. In fact we are actively funding and supplying equipment to the Ukrainian military to help them defend themselves and the civilians in their country. We have chosen to take sides in that regard because we believe that Russian aggression is not only illegal and inconsistent with the UN charter but is also something that Ireland needs to morally take a stand on.

Ireland had contributed 11 million to the European peace facility for Ukrainian defence, he said, and were also looking to see what actual gear we can provide as well, he said. There was some military defence equipment that might be useful, he said, and well get it to Ukraine as quickly as we can.

As regards Ukraines EU membership, he said Ireland is a strong supporter of fast tracking that process and getting Ukraine formally designated as an applicant country.

He also told the Dail Foreign Affairs Committee that this year Ireland will mark this St Patricks Day with solidarity rather than celebration and we express our Irish identity by rededicating ourselves to democratic and humanitarian values.

He continued that in fact one of the tangible things we are doing this year is to look at using our greening programme to actually project the Ukrainian colours in parts of the world where we think that solidarity would be respected and appreciated instead of projecting green onto major symbols and buildings around the world.

So, instead of being bathed in green this year, some of the worlds most recognisable buildings/symbols will be bathed in the blue and gold of Ukraine, at Irelands request.
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South Africa: KZN partnership to prepare over 100 000 youth for job market

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has cemented a strategic partnership with the private sector that will result in the creation of job market and entrepreneurship opportunities for over 100 000 young people in the province.

The provincial government launched its partnership with the eLan Foundations Shift Africa Project, which will see a massive training and skills development project that will serve as a gateway to occupationally directed skills development for the identified youth.

The economic spinoffs and job opportunities are a result of the eLan Property Groups R16 billion Blythedale Coastal Estate Resort development.

Speaking during the partnership launch this week, KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, said the Shift Africa Project is strategic because it talks to economic growth, redistribution and creation of jobs.

We are launching this project, Shift Africa, where the eLan Foundation and eLan Group, which is a property investment group, have partnered with government, especially the Department of Social Development, to train young people and ensure that they are employed in the property development of the project, which will be implemented in the Ilembe District.

One of these projects is the Blythedale Coastal Estate Resort, which is a mega catalytic project that will attract international investors. It will be the biggest resort in Southern Africa and result in the employment of more than 100 000 people during the construction phase, and yield more business opportunities for SMMEs [small, medium and micro enterprises], Zikalala said.

He called on the business sector to continue working with government to implement high impact projects that will see the reduction of unemployment and ensure skills development.

This project will help us reduce unemployment and provide skills training for youth and women. The eLan Group has been given a database of young people that have been trained by the Department of Social Development, and some of these trainees are ex-offenders.

No one must be condemned, and there is a need to rehabilitate ex-offenders. It is important to give them a second chance in life. The ex-offenders, who have been trained, will also be given an opportunity to work in the Blythedale Project and make a meaningful contribution to the growth of our economy, Zikalala said.

The partnership with eLan Group will, among other objectives, lead to:

The development of entry level programmes, which will serve as a gateway to occupationally directed skills development for the identified youth.

Short-term employment and procurement expenditure during construction.

20 000 trained personnel will be placed in permanent jobs.

Incubation of 4 000 SMEs, with guaranteed contracts as per their services.

Develop sustainable income streams for co-operatives and beneficiaries thus reducing poverty. Guaranteed contracts will lead to the sustainability of the co-operatives.

Green Economy programmes and the development of social enterprises will provide business spin-offs.

The KZN Department of Social Development has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the eLan Group, in its capacity as property developers.

The MOU will result in the implementation of development programmes that will respond to socio- economic difficulties facing young people in the province.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.




BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- "The U.S. should reflect upon the role it has played in the Ukraine crisis, earnestly assume responsibilities, take concrete actions to ease tension and resolve the conflict instead of adding oil to the fire, and shifting the blame onto others," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
The US will stop importing oil and natural gas from Russia, US President Joe Biden has said as the West escalates sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine invasion.
The two men had their life sentences reduced to 22 and 24 years. They have argued that the pair of plainclothes officers they grappled with in a Rome nightlife area did not identify themselves as police.
The US and EU strongly criticized attacks by Russia on civilians. Meanwhile, Mariupol authorities are searching for survivors from a bombed out theater. DW has the latest.
A transport union has called on P&O Ferries staff to protest against the company's decision to sack 800 staff members in an "appalling" move to replace them with cheaper agency staff.
TomoNews US 30 Mar 2022

HOSTOMEL, UKRAINE  After Russia attacked and took the airport at Hostomel  also known as Antonov Airport  on the first day..
The city close to Ukraine's border with Poland has been spared the worst of the fighting and has been a relatively safe haven for Ukrainians and diplomats. Follow DW for the latest.
The German chancellor also pressed the Russian leader to make progress in talks with Ukraine. Meanwhile, more than 2 million refugees have crossed into Poland since the invasion began. Follow DW for the latest.
TOKYO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has praised China's style of diplomacy, saying it is "much better" than the "double standards" held by the West.

Museveni said in an interview with Nikkei that he sees "double standards" in the Western response to Russia's military operation in Ukraine, and China's approach of not interfering in others' domestic affairs is "much better," the news outlet reported on Thursday.

He rejected allegations that "Beijing expands its influence by drawing smaller economies into 'debt traps'."

"Africa has been having problems for the last 600 years due to the slave trade, colonialism, neocolonialism -- and none of it was from China," he said.

Museveni said China supported Africans' fight against colonialism before starting economic activity on the continent. "They do not impose their offers if you do not want them," the president added. 
Bosnia is one of the few remaining countries in Europe that has not introduced any sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the country's "special operation" in Ukraine at a rally marking the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.
Hull Daily Mail 24 Mar 2022

The Prime Minister has hit the paramilitary Wagner Group as he called on the rest of the world to increase its support for Ukraine
The leaders of Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece called on Friday for a common EU strategy to ensure the bloc's energy security after the Ukraine conflict sent prices soaring.
Newsy 27 Mar 2022

Watch VideoU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday tried to soothe the fears of Israel and its Gulf Arab allies ahead of..
President Putin delivered a speech during a rally in Moscow to mark the eight-year anniversary since Russia's annexation of Crimea. The broadcast was cut off, but the Kremlin says it was due to a technical glitch.
As the Russian invasion continues to ravage Ukraine, many students who fled the country are trying to get on with their lives and their education. More than 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine since the war started, according to the UN. About half of them are children. (March 18)


Jacob Rees-Mogg has dismissed the row over parties held during lockdown in Downing Street and across Whitehall as trivial "fluff".
The citizens of the country on Ukraine's western border are concerned that the Russian advance on Odesa might mean trouble with Moldova's own breakaway territory of Transnistria.
During a nearly two-hour call, the US president called on his Chinese counterpart to rule out military and economic support to Moscow, to ensure Western sanctions are effective.
TIANJIN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Li Wei, the former vice chairperson of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was sentenced to nine years in prison Friday for taking bribes.

Li was found to have taken bribes worth over 32.96 million yuan (about 5.18 million U.S. dollars), according to a statement by the Second Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin.

Li was also fined 1 million yuan and his illegal gains will be turned over to the state treasury, the court statement said.

The court found that Li took advantage of his various former positions in Beijing to benefit others in real-estate development and coal transactions between July 2001 and October 2019.

The court granted Li a lenient sentence according to the law as he had confessed to his crimes, showed repentance, informed the investigators of serious crimes committed by others, and all his illegal gains have been recovered, according to the statement. 
Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo said that there were some positive developments in talks between Russia-Ukraine, but they have not led to ceasefire.
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Media coverage of Griner's arrest on alleged drug charges in Russia has remained somewhat muted. Some say it's because of her skin color, but others say it's part of a bigger strategy to get her home.
Wibbitz Top Stories 06 Apr 2022

Dominant COVID-19 Strain BA.2 , Not Showing Signs of Causing Surge in US.

CNN reports that BA.2, the now dominant strain of..
The Russian president's references to "cleansing" of "scum and traitors" evoked terrifying memories of the mass arrests of the Stalin era, when repression was justified for "cleansing" Soviet society.
The court in Rome handed down sentences of 24 years to Finnegan Lee Elder and 22 years to Gabriel Natale-Hjorth.


Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a chilling warning on Wednesday during his speech where he said that the country's citizens can distinguish between "patriots" and "scums." The incident comes as the invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth week.
In talks between Russia and Ukraine toward a possible ceasefire after three weeks of intense fighting, negotiators are exploring prospects of possible "neutrality" for Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that has been moving closer...
A heartbreaking display has been set up in the city square of Lviv, Ukraine: more than 100 strollers and car seats lined up in rows..

Mediaite 18 Mar 2022
ADDIS ABABA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Thursday praised China for its "multifaceted support" to Ethiopia across a range of cooperation areas.

The remark was made by Dina Mufti, a spokesperson for Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when addressing journalists in his periodic briefing Thursday.

Mufti emphasized Ethiopia's ever-growing cooperation with China with closer high-level exchanges, stronger political mutual trust and improved bilateral relations. The spokesperson, in particular, recalled recent high-level exchanges as a manifestation of the two countries' deepening ties.

Mufti said Ethiopia appreciated China's commitments in supporting Ethiopia and fellow African countries' development. He further called for the realization of the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in late November 2021.

He underscored China's support to the East African country across multilateral platforms that helped Ethiopia thwart threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mufti said that the two countries recently held the second Ethiopia-China Political Consultation via video link, in which the two sides exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues of common concern, further pledging to strengthen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. He also noted communications between Ethiopian and Chinese high-level officials, including the visit of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Addis Ababa in early December 2021.

According to Mufti, the deepening bilateral ties among the two sides is presently evident across a range of areas including the construction, operation and maintenance of the 752-km Addis Ababa-Djibouti standard gauge railway, which is Africa's first electrified cross-border railway.

According to Mufti, Ethiopia's state minister of foreign affairs Redwan Hussien addressing the recently held Ethiopia-China Political Consultation commended China's plan to revitalize African economies as it was announced during the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC.

During the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC, China said it will work closely with African countries to implement nine programs, which are the medical and health program, the poverty reduction and agricultural development program, the trade promotion program, the investment promotion program, the digital innovation program, the green development program, the capacity building program, the cultural and people-to-people exchange program, and the peace and security program. 
"This is a terrible price of war that Ukraine is paying today," Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said as his city paid tribute to the youngest victims of violence.
A fourth day of peace negotiations ended with no breakthrough. Ukraine's president said workers continued rescue efforts at the Mariupol theater where scores of civilians were sheltering.
A former Arkansas deputy has been found guilty of negligent homicide but acquitted of the more serious offence of manslaughter in..

Belfast Telegraph 18 Mar 2022
Opalesque Geneva:

The ongoing tragedy in Ukraine has resulted in extreme volatility and, at the same time, record trading volume on global markets, Rostin Behnam, the chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) told the International Futures Industry Conference in Florida on March 16th. Markets are currently operating well. However, he added, there remain unknows, especially in the derivatives space.

CFTC staff are using every tool the agency has to ensure that commodity markets continue to fairly and transparently serve the intended price discovery and risk management function, he said.

"For CFTC regulated markets, surveillance staff are surgically focused on their analysis of trading for any manipulative, inappropriate or disruptive conduct. Commission staff are actively monitoring compliance by exchanges, self-regulatory organizations, and intermediaries for trade processing, execution, and clearing."

"We must hold fast to our regulatory structures and resist the urge to make ad hoc decisions to avoid the natural outcomes of market forces," he added.

In the wake of the layering of sanctions these last few weeks, the CFTC has been engaging with the Treasury Department, and reaching out to market participants to make sure that general licenses issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control are available and ready to be used to manage and address ex......................

To view our full article Click here
The Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin says in an interview: We are falling back into the past instead of daring to take steps towards a different future, a future of peaceful coexistence. Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that we have not been able to build, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Holy See, he repeats, is available for any kind of mediation.

War is madness, it must be stopped. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin spoke to Vatican Media about the escalation of war in the heart of Europe. We would have to possess a heart of stone in order to remain impassive and allow this havoc to continue, as rivers of blood and tears continue to flow.

Your Eminence, first of all, can you summarize the position of the Holy See on the current conflict?

The position of the Holy See is what the Pope has repeated several times: a strong no to war; war is madness, it must be stopped. Appealing to the consciences of all, we ask, that the fighting cease immediately. We have before our eyes the terrible images coming from Ukraine. The victims among the civilians, women, elderly people, and defenceless children who have paid with their lives for the folly of war. The anguish grows as we see cities with gutted houses, no electricity, sub-zero temperatures, lack of food and medicine, as well as millions of refugees, mostly women and children, fleeing the bombs. Over the last few days, I have come across a group of them, who arrived in Italy from various parts of Ukraine: blank stares, faces without smiles, endless sadness... What is the fault of those young mothers, what is the fault of their children? We would have to possess a heart of stone in order to remain impassive and allow this havoc to continue, as rivers of blood and tears continue to flow. War is a barbarity! It is significant that at the Angelus on Sunday, 27 February, the Holy Father referred to Article 11 of the Italian Constitution which states: Italy repudiates war as an instrument of aggression against the freedom of other peoples and as a means for the settlement of international disputes. Those who wage war rely on the diabolical logic of weapons and forget humanity: how many examples do we have of the truth of these words! We often forget them, sometimes because they concern wars that we consider to be far away, but which in reality, in our interconnected world, are never really far away.

Why did the Pope, in an unprecedented gesture, visit the Russian Embassy the day after the start of the attack by Moscows army in Ukraine?

You are right to call that gesture of Pope Francis an unprecedented one. The Holy Father wanted to express to the authorities in Moscow all his concern about the escalation of the war that had just begun, and he decided to take a personal step in this direction, going to the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation to the Holy See.

In recent days, you had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. What did you say to each other?

I repeated the Popes appeal for an immediate ceasefire. I asked for an end to the fighting and for paths that may lead to a negotiated solution to the conflict. I insisted on respect for the civilian population and on humanitarian corridors. I also reiterated, as the Pope had already done last Sunday at the Angelus, the Holy Sees complete availability for any kind of mediation that could facilitate peace in Ukraine.

Despite appeals for weapons to be silenced, we are facing an escalation that shows no sign of abating. Why?

War is like a cancer that grows, expands and feeds on itself. It is an adventure with no return, to use the prophetic words of Saint John Paul II. Unfortunately, we have to recognize it: we have fallen into a vortex that can have incalculable and ill-fated consequences for everyone. When a conflict is underway, when the number of defenceless victims grows, it is always difficult to turn back, even though, it is not impossible, when there is a real will to do so. It is difficult to make every effort to pursue negotiations, to follow every possible path towards a solution, to be tenacious in undertaking peace initiatives. We must not give in to the logic of violence and hatred. Nor must we give in to the logic of war and be resigned to it, extinguishing any glimmer of hope. We must all cry out together to God and to mankind to silence the weapons and restore peace, as the Pope is doing.

The world has changed completely in the span of a few days: now there is a lot of talk of rearmament, of new military spending, of the need to return to coal-fired power stations, stifling the ecological transition...

Yes, in just a few days, the world, our world, already sorely tried by the pandemic, seems to have changed. Let us recall the courageous words spoken by the Holy Father in Hiroshima in November 2019. He said: It is my humble desire to be the voice of the voiceless, who witness with concern and anguish the growing tensions of our own time: the unacceptable inequalities and injustices that threaten human coexistence, the grave inability to care for our common home, and the constant outbreak of armed conflict, as if these could guarantee a future of peace. He added: With deep conviction I wish once more to declare that the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is today, more than ever, a crime not only against the dignity of human beings but against any possible future for our common home. The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral. Today we see that in the face of what is happening in Ukraine, many people are talking about rearmament: new and huge sums of money are being allocated to armaments, the logic of war seems to prevail, the distance between nations is increasing. Unfortunately, we seem to have forgotten the lessons of history, of our recent history. I once again quote Saint John Paul ii, when he pleaded not to go to war with Iraq: we see the conditions of that country even today, almost 20 years after that conflict. We have evidence upon evidence before our eyes of the devastation and instability that war produces.

What path can be followed that does not only involve the elimination of the other?

The Social Doctrine of the Church has always recognized the legitimacy of armed resistance in the face of aggression. However, I believe that faced with what is happening, it is essential to ask ourselves: are we doing everything possible to reach a truce? Is armed resistance the only way forward? I understand that these words, in the face of the killing of women and children, in the face of millions of displaced persons, in the face of a country being destroyed, may sound utopian. But peace is not a utopia, there are so many human lives in danger that need to be saved immediately! This is why there is a need for wide-ranging political-diplomatic initiatives to achieve a ceasefire and the start of negotiations to find a non-violent solution. The Holy See is willing to do everything possible in this regard.

The Pope has explicitly said that what is happening in Ukraine is a war and not a military operation. Why?

Words are important, and to define what is happening in Ukraine as a military operation is to fail to recognize the reality of the facts. We are facing a war, which unfortunately claims many civilian victims, as all wars do.

In your opinion, has Europe and the West in general done everything necessary to prevent this escalation of war?

I do not like to make this kind of speculations. The question certainly provides interesting food for thought. We remember the existing conflict situation in Donbass, the insufficient implementation of the Minsk agreements and what happened with Crimea. But no crying over spilt milk! Rather, a new determination is needed to ensure that these crises are resolved with everyones help.

What role does politics play? And what role does diplomacy play at the moment?

When I said there was a need for political and diplomatic initiatives, I was referring precisely to this need for politics and diplomacy. We are falling back into the past instead of daring to take steps towards a different future, a future of peaceful coexistence. Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we were unable to build a new system of coexistence between nations that goes beyond military alliances or economic convenience. The current war in Ukraine makes this defeat clear. But I would also like to say that it is never too late, it is never too late to make peace, it is never too late to retrace ones steps and find an agreement.

What is the role of the Churches?

In the face of looming threats, the role of Christians is first and foremost to convert. Yesterday  I was told  in the presence of Cardinal Krajewski, the Popes special envoy to Ukraine, an ecumenical prayer was held in which first of all forgiveness was asked of the Lord for the hardness in our hearts, for our sins that feed the evil that is in the world. And then to pray that God may grant peace, enlighten the minds of those who wage war and spare the suffering of the innocent. The Churches are giving a great witness of solidarity in helping refugees. I believe it is also very important that they insist on asking for an end to the fighting: there can be no justification for war, hatred and violence.

By Andrea Tornielli
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, has expressed hopes that the sun will rise once again in Ukraine. Speaking by telephone as he was leaving Ukraine, he spoke about his mission of Gospel charity, a journey made of sharing and hope, despite the sound of air raid sirens and the tried faces of so many women fleeing with children in their arms.

Your Eminence, you are about to conclude your journey. How would you sum up your mission?

I went to Ukraine to support our brothers and sisters, to bring the Holy Fathers blessing, to be close to them, to pray with them. So with the various religious leaders, we met, we spent time together... And then [I went to Ukraine] also to thank the people of good will who are offering their homes to refugees, the many volunteers in Ukraine and also the many donors because truly, large trucks filled with aid supplies are constantly heading towards Kyiv, stopping more or less 100 kilometres away. It has been a journey of faith, a Gospel journey, an entirely religious missionary journey.

You also said it was a journey expressing concrete closeness to the people, and let us remember that Pope Francis made a contribution to the trucks bringing aid to Kyiv...

Yes, there were many donations, wherever we went there were people who contributed, even in a small way. Of course, the trip was a very practical support, but above all, it was important to be with them, with the people. The mayors and prefects of the area also came with us, despite the air raid sirens warning them to take cover. We prayed and talked about the near future. There is great hope for the future but the weapons must be stopped and the sun must finally rise over Ukraine as well.

Is there an image that particularly moved you during this trip, perhaps a person or an encounter?

The images in my mind ... It is always the women; even today I saw many women with children going towards the border. You can see that people are very tired, the people are very tried from so many days of travel. But on the other hand, you experience this incredible welcome and the help. So I have to say that besides the suffering, there is also great hope and love.

Is there a word or phrase that could characterize this journey? You spoke of the weapons of faith and mentioned several times the need to silence the real weapons in order to make those of peace, prayer and unity resound. Was this the spirit?

Of course! I brought many rosary beads that I was also able to give to the soldiers, to the people who were leaving the country, who were going towards the Polish border. We also prayed a lot. We put ourselves in prayer, anywhere. Then I would always see tears when people would say, Here, these rosaries are from the Holy Father who is near and prays for you.

What will be the first thing you will tell Pope Francis?

I dont know yet. I have to say that each day has been very different; today, we also woke up with sirens warning us to seek shelter immediately. So on the one hand, perhaps the joy of these encounters prevails; on the other, the sadness of the people who live in constant fear. I am leaving this country greatly and personally inspired, because I have met people with great faith, belonging to all faiths. This too offers hope, hope for unity.

By Benedetta Capelli
In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre, Pope Francis said at the end of the Angelus on Sunday, 13 March, once again launching an appeal for peace in the Ukraine. Earlier, the Holy Father had reflected on the Gospel of Lukes account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The following is a translation of the Popes reflection, shared with the faithful gathered in Saint Peters Square.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Buongiorno!

The Gospel of the Liturgy of this second Sunday of Lent narrates the Transfiguration of Jesus (cf. Lk 9: 28-36). While praying on a high mountain, he changes in appearance, his robe becomes bright and radiant, and in the light of his glory, Moses and Elijah appear, who speak with him about the Passover that awaits him in Jerusalem, namely, his Passion, Death and Resurrection.

The witnesses to this extraordinary event are the apostles Peter, John and James, who went up the mountain with Jesus. We can imagine them with their eyes wide open before that unique sight. And, certainly, it must have been so. But the evangelist Luke notes that Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and that when they wakened they saw the glory of Jesus (cf. v. 32). The drowsiness of the three disciples appears to be a discordant note. The same apostles then fall asleep in Gethsemane too, during the anguished prayer of Jesus, who had asked them to keep watch (cf. Mk 14:37-41). This sleepiness in such important moments is surprising.

However, if we read carefully, we see that Peter, John and James fall asleep precisely before the Transfiguration begins, that is, while Jesus is in prayer. The same would happen in Gethsemane. This is evidently a prayer that continued for some time, in silence and reflection. We may think that, at the beginning, they too were praying, until tiredness prevailed, until sleep prevailed.

Brothers, sisters, does this ill-timed slumber perhaps resemble many of our own that come in moments we know to be important? Perhaps in the evening, when we would like to pray, to spend some time with Jesus after a day of rushing around and being busy. Or when it is time to exchange a few words with the family and we no longer have the strength. We would like to be more awake, attentive, participatory, not to miss precious opportunities, but we are unable to, or we manage it somehow, but poorly.

The powerful time of Lent is an opportunity in this regard. It is a period in which God wants to awaken us from our inner lethargy, from this sleepiness that does not let the Spirit express itself. Because  let us bear this in mind  keeping the heart awake does not depend on us alone: it is a grace and must be requested. The three disciples of the Gospel show us this: they were good, they had followed Jesus onto the mountain, but by their own strength they could not stay awake. This happens to us too. However, they awoke precisely during the Transfiguration. We might think that it was the light of Jesus that reawakened them. Like them, we too are in need of Gods light, that makes us see things in a different way: it attracts us, it reawakens us, it reignites our desire and strength to pray, to look within ourselves, and to dedicate time to others. We can overcome the tiredness of the body with the strength of the Spirit of God. And when we are unable to overcome this, we must say to the Holy Spirit: Help us, come, come, Holy Spirit. Help me: I want to encounter Jesus, I want to be attentive, awake. Asking the Holy Spirit to bring us out of this slumber that prevents us from praying.

In this Lenten time, after the labours of each day, it will do us good not to switch off the light in the room without placing ourselves in the light of God. To pray a little before sleeping. Lets give the Lord the chance to surprise us and to reawaken our hearts. We can do this, for instance, by opening the Gospel and letting ourselves be amazed by the Word of God, because the Scripture enlightens our steps and inflames the heart. Or we can look at the crucified Jesus and wonder at the boundless love of God, who never tires of us and has the power to transfigure our days, to give them a new meaning, a new, unexpected light.

May the Virgin May help us to keep our heart awake, to welcome this time of grace that God offers to us.

After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:

Brothers and sisters, we have just prayed to the Virgin Mary. This week, the city that bears her name, Mariupol, has become a city martyred by the heartbreaking war that is devastating Ukraine. Faced with the barbarity of the killing of children, and of innocent and defenceless citizens, there are no strategic reasons that hold up: the only thing to be done is to cease the unacceptable armed aggression before the city is reduced to a cemetery. With an aching heart I add my voice to that of the common people, who implore the end of the war. In the name of God, let the cries of those who suffer be heard and let the bombings and attacks cease! Let there be a real and decisive focus on negotiation, and let the humanitarian corridors be effective and safe. In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre!

I would like once again to urge the welcoming of the many refugees, in whom Christ is present, and to give thanks for the great network of solidarity that has formed. I ask all diocesan and religious communities to increase their moments of prayer for peace. God is only the God of peace, he is not the God of war, and those who support violence profane his name. Now let us pray in silence for those who suffer, and that God may convert hearts to a steadfast will for peace.

I greet all of you, people of Rome and pilgrims who have come from Italy and from various countries. In particular, I greet the faithful of the Dioceses of Naples, Fuorigrotta, Pianura, Florence and Carmignano, as well as the delegation of the Non-violent Movement.

I wish everyone a happy Sunday, and please do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Arrivederci!
On Saturday, 12 March, Holy Mass was celebrated in Romes Church of the Most Blessed Name of Jesus, to mark the fourth centenary of the canonization of Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Theresa of the Child Jesus, Philip Neri and Isidore the Farmer. Presided by Fr Arturo Sosa Abascal, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the celebration was concelebrated by Pope Francis. The following is the English text of the Holy Fathers words at the homily.

Todays Gospel of the Transfiguration presents us with four actions of Jesus. We would do well to dwell on them, in order to discover in these gestures clear directions for our own journey as his disciples.

The first verb, the first of these actions of Jesus, is to take with him. Luke tells us that Jesus took with him Peter, James and John (9:28). Jesus takes the disciples, and ourselves as well, to be with him. Christ loved us, chose us and called us. Everything begins with the mystery of a grace, a choice, an election. The first decision was not ours; rather, Jesus called us, apart from any merit on our part. Before becoming men who make their lives a gift, we are persons who received a gift freely given: the free gift of Gods love. Our journey, brothers and sisters, needs to start anew each day from this initial grace. As he did with Peter, James and John, Jesus has called us by name and taken us with him. He took us by the hand. Where? To his holy mountain, where even now he sees us with himself forever, transfigured by his love. Grace, this first grace, leads us there. So, when we feel bitterness or disappointment, when we feel belittled or misunderstood, let us not wander off into complaints or nostalgia for bygone times. These are temptations that block our progress, that lead us nowhere. Instead, let us take our lives into our hands, starting anew with grace, in fidelity to our calling. Let us accept the gift of seeing each day as a step along the way towards our ultimate goal.

Jesus took with him Peter, James and John. The Lord takes the disciples together; he takes them as a community. Our vocation is grounded in communion. To start anew each day, we need to experience once more the mystery of our election and the grace of living in the Church, our hierarchical Mother, and for the Church, our spouse. We belong to Jesus, and we belong to him as a Society. Let us never tire of asking for the strength to form and foster communion, to be a leaven of fraternity for the Church and for the world. We are not soloists in search of an audience, but brothers arranged as a choir. Let us think with the Church and reject the temptation to be concerned about our own personal success or attainments. Let us not allow ourselves to be sucked into a clericalism that leads to rigidity or an ideology that leads to divisiveness. The saints we commemorate today were pillars of communion. They remind us that, for all our differences of character and viewpoint, we have been called to be together. If we will be forever united in heaven, why not begin here? Let us cherish the beauty of having been taken, brought together, called together, by Jesus. This is the first verb: take.

A second verb is go up. Jesus went up the mountain (v. 28). Jesus path is one of ascent, not descent. The light of the transfiguration is not seen on the plain, but only after a strenuous ascent. In following Jesus, we too need to leave the plains of mediocrity and the foothills of convenience; we need to abandon our reassuring routines and set out on an exodus. Jesus, after going up the mountain, speaks to Moses and Elijah precisely about the exodus, which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem (v. 31). Moses and Elijah had gone up to Sinai or Horeb after two exodus experiences in the desert (cf. Ex 19; 1 Kings 19); now they speak with Jesus about the definitive exodus, that of his Pasch. Brothers and sisters, only the ascent of the cross leads to the goal of glory. This is the way: from the cross to glory. The worldly temptation is to seek glory in bypassing the cross. We would prefer paths that are familiar, direct and smooth, but to encounter the light of Jesus we must continually leave ourselves behind and follow him upwards. The Lord who, as we heard, first brought Abraham outside (Gen 15:5), also invites us to move outwards and upwards.

For us Jesuits, this journey of moving outwards and upwards follows a specific path, nicely symbolized by the mountain. In Scripture, mountain peaks represent the extremity, the heights, the border between heaven and earth. We are called to go precisely there, to the border between heaven and earth where men and women confront God with their difficulties, so that we in turn can accompany them in their restless seeking and their religious doubt. That is where we need to be, and to do so, we have to go outwards and upwards. The enemy of human nature would persuade us to keep to the path of empty but comfortable routines and familiar landscapes, whereas the Spirit impels us to openness and to a peace that never leaves us in peace. He sends disciples to the utmost limits. We need think only of Francis Xavier.

In this journey, in following this path, I think of the need to struggle. Think of poor old Abraham, there with his sacrifice, fighting off the birds of prey that would devour it (cf. Gen 15:7-11). With his staff, he chases them away. Poor old man. Let us think about this: struggling to defend this path, this journey, this, our consecration to the Lord.

In every age, Christs disciples find themselves before this crossroads. We can act like Peter, who responds to Jesus prediction of his exodus by saying, It is good to be here (v. 33). This is the risk of a static faith, a neatly parked faith. I dread this kind of parked faith. We risk considering ourselves respectable disciples, but are not in fact following Jesus; instead, we passively stay put, and, without realizing it, doze off like the disciples in the Gospel. In Gethsemane too, the same disciples would fall asleep. Let us think, brothers and sisters, that for the followers of Jesus, now is not a time for sleeping, for letting our souls be sedated, anesthetized by todays consumerist and individualistic culture, by the attitude of life is good as long as its good for me. In that way, we can continue to speak and theorize, while losing sight of the flesh of our brothers and sisters, and the concreteness of the Gospel. One of the great tragedies of our time is the refusal to open our eyes to reality and instead to look the other way. Saint Teresa helps us to move beyond ourselves, to go up the mountain with the Lord, to realize that Jesus also reveals himself through the wounds of our brothers and sisters, the struggles of humanity, and the signs of the times. Do not be afraid to touch those wounds: they are the wounds of the Lord.

The Gospel tells us that Jesus went up the mountain to pray (v. 28). This is the third verb: to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white (v. 29). The Transfiguration was born of prayer. Let us ask ourselves, even after many years of ministry, what does it mean today for us, for me, to pray? Perhaps force of habit or a certain daily ritual has led us to think that prayer does not change individuals or history. Yet to pray is to change reality. Prayer is an active mission, a constant intercession. It is not distant from the world, but changes the world. To pray is to bring the beating heart of current affairs into Gods presence, so that his gaze will shine out upon history. What does it mean for us to pray?

We would do well today to ask ourselves if prayer immerses us in this change. Does it shed new light upon others and transfigure their situations? For if prayer is living, it unhinges us from within, reignites the fire of mission, rekindles our joy, and continually prompts us to allow ourselves to be troubled by the plea of all those who suffer in our world. Let us also ask: how we are bringing the present war to our prayers? We can look to the prayer of Saint Philip Neri, which expanded his heart and made him open his doors to the street children of the Rome of his time. Or to that of Saint Isidore, who prayed in the fields and brought his farm work to his prayer.

Taking up each day anew our individual calling and our community history; then going up towards the heights that God points out to us; and praying in order to change this world in which we are immersed.

Yet there is also a fourth verb, which appears in the last verse of todays Gospel: Jesus remained alone (v. 36). He remained, while everything else passed away except for the echo of the Fathers testimony: Listen to him (v. 35). The Gospel concludes by leading us back to what is essential. We are often tempted, in the Church and in the world, in our spirituality and in our society, to give primary importance to many secondary needs. It is a daily temptation to make any number of secondary needs primary. In a word, we risk focusing on customs, habits and traditions that set our hearts on passing things and make us forget what remains. How important it is for us to work on our hearts, so that they can distinguish between the things of God that remain, and worldly things that pass away!

Dear brothers and sisters, may our holy father Ignatius help us to preserve discernment, our precious legacy, as an ever timely treasure to be poured out on the Church and on the world. For discernment enables us to see anew all things in Christ. Indeed, discernment is essential, so that, as Saint Peter Faber wrote, the good that can be achieved, thought or organized, may be done with a good, not a malign, spirit (cf. Memorial, Paris, 1959, n. 51). Amen.
KIGALI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Temperature screening at public place entrances in Rwanda is no longer required, and is not considered as one of the ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

The directive came as infection rate continues to fall.

"The ministry directs heads of public and private institutions and organizers of public events to stop temperature screening at entrances," the statement said.

The ministry appealed to the public to continue to embrace vaccination against COVID-19, including getting booster doses. It also appealed to the public to ensure proper wearing of facemask and hand hygiene.

Rwanda experienced its main coronavirus peak in July and August 2021, where nearly 2,000 new cases could be recorded in a single day and another, much smaller peak last December attributed to the omicron variant, but case numbers have since dropped significantly.

In the last seven days, 46 confirmed cases were recorded with an infection rate of 0.1 percent with no admission case, according to the Ministry of Health daily updates.

A country of roughly 12 million people, Rwanda imposed tough anti-virus curbs that restricted its cases to 129, 610 and 1,459 fatalities as of Wednesday.

More than 7.9 million Rwandans, equivalent to 61 percent of the country's population, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of March 10, according to data from the Ministry of Health. 
In a statement released on Wednesday, 16 march, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Mr Matteo Bruni, confirmed that a conversation took place in the early afternoon between Pope Francis and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Head of the External Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, also attended the meeting.

The conversation focused on the war in Ukraine and on the role of Christians and their pastors in doing everything to ensure that peace prevails.

Pope Francis thanked the Patriarch for the meeting, motivated by the desire to point out, as shepherds of their people, a path to peace, to pray for the gift of peace and for a ceasefire.

The Pope said, in agreement with the Patriarch, that the Church must not use the language of politics, but the language of Jesus.

Pope Francis added that we are shepherds of the same Holy People who believe in God, in the Holy Trinity, in the Holy Mother of God: that is why we must unite in the effort to aid peace, to help those who suffer, to seek ways of peace, and to stop the fire.

Both  the Pope and the Patriarch  stressed the exceptional importance of the ongoing negotiation process, because, according to the Pope, those who pay the price for war are the people; it is Russian soldiers and common people who are bombed and die.

As pastors  the Pope continued  we have the duty to be close to and help all people who are suffering from the war. There was a time, even in our Churches, when people spoke of a holy war or a just war. Today we cannot speak in this manner. A Christian awareness of the importance of peace has developed.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill agreed that the Churches are called to contribute to strengthening peace and justice.

Pope Francis concluded the video by saying: Wars are always unjust, since it is the People of God who pay. Our hearts cannot but weep before the children and women killed, along with all the victims of war. War is never the way. The Spirit that unites us asks us as shepherds to help the peoples who suffer from war.
Ottumwa, IA (52501)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Collin Periatt.

Wednesday, March 16

9:19 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Homer Township business regarding an assault. The deputy made contact with a 58-year-old Lee Township man who advised he had been assaulted by a 38-year-old Midland man. The suspect fled before the deputy's arrival.

8:19 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township mobile home park regarding a 66-year-old man who was reportedly knocking on doors and wandering around the neighborhood. The deputy spoke with the man and he was issued a trespass warning by the office manager. The man agreed to stay off of the property.

7:22 p.m.  A deputy took a report of a failure to pay at a Warren Township gas station. Suspects drove off without paying $66 in fuel.

4:03 p.m.  Officers investigated a hit-and-run crash on private property near Joe Mann Boulevard.

3 p.m.  An animal control deputy picked up two dogs that were in a vehicle from which the two occupants were arrested. Animals were surrendered to the Humane Society.

11:27 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a possible suicidal female. Deputies contacted the 35-year-old man and 29-year-old woman. The woman denied being suicidal and stated they just had an argument. The man also agreed that they were arguing. The woman was arrested on an unrelated warrant out of Saginaw County for failing to appear in court. She was transported to Thomas Township PD and released into their custody.

1:43 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a dispute between a 40-year-old man and his 32-year-old girlfriend. The man advised he was assaulted by the woman, but she denied the accusation. There were no injuries and the parties were separated for the night.

Tuesday, March 15

11:28 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township location for reports of two trucks driving recklessly in the roadway. Deputies patrolled the area, but were unable to locate the vehicles.

11:06 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to MyMichigan Medical Center regarding a 41-year-old Lee Township man who was bitten by a dog in Larkin Township. The deputies made contact with the 45 year-old Larkin Township dog owner, who was issued an isolation notice.

10:18 p.m.  Homer Township deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence to assist MSP with a civil complaint. A 30-year-old Midland woman was attempting to obtain her belongings from a roommate's apartment. MSP advised the woman to arrange a civil standby to obtain her possessions the following morning.

7:14 p.m.  Officers investigated a case of assault on Bay City Road.

2:59 p.m.  Officers investigated a crash leading to property damage near West Wackerly Street and Jefferson Avenue.

11:46 a.m.  A 26-year-old Mount Pleasant man was cited for driving with a suspended license and no insurance after a traffic stop in Geneva Township.

11:42 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Greendale Township residence to check the well-being of a 16-year-old Midland boy. Deputies made contact with the boy and confirmed that he was OK. The boy ended up going back home with his mom.

1:57 a.m.  A 29-year-old woman was arrested for carrying a controlled substance and a concealed weapon after a traffic stop in Larkin Township. The woman was transported and lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident. A 36-year-old Midland man was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and on an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. The man was transported and lodged at the MCJ without incident.

1:33 a.m.  A deputy responded to a City of Coleman gas station for a report of a pickup truck that backed into a fuel pump and drove off. The damage is valued at $6,000. The incident is under investigation.
MANISTEE  The Hillcrest Village, the apartment complex on Ford Street between Third Avenue and Short Street, is nearing completion.

Twenty-four of the 45-unit apartment complex are already occupied, according to Sally Haynes, property manager for the apartment complex.

Haynes noted that each of the apartments have a washer and dryer and that the 21 apartments that are still available cater to people who have incomes at 80% of the area median income for Manistee County  $36,150 for one person and $51,600 for four individuals or a family of four.

The interior, including a gym and a community room, as well as the apartment units have been constructed. The complex is made up of four individual buildings  all of which are three-stories high  and make up the 45 units of the complex. The complex has one, two and three bedroom apartments. It also has what are called "stacked flats," which are more colloquially known as townhouses.

Only furniture and amenities like a television need to moved in to the community room. A community manager  Emily Obney  has been hired and is on site.

Obney's role is to manage the daily operations of the apartments. That will usually include responding to requests for maintenance and residents' concerns, creating marketing materials and also managing rental contracts.

All that is left is landscaping and the installation of a playground, which is weather dependent, according to Jason Muniz, vice president of Hollander Development and project manager for the Hillcrest Apartments. Ground was broken on the apartment complex in October 2020.

"The short answer (is it will be built) as soon as possible," Muniz said.

Muniz noted that Haynes  the property manager  works for KMG Prestige, which is a third-party property management company that Hollander Development uses for 60% of its properties. Muniz said that KMG Prestige manages about 30,000 properties throughout the state of Michigan.

Muniz said that the apartment complex was built with the help of the Little River Holdings LLC  the development arm of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

He also said that Hollander worked with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to get Low-Income Tax Credits for certain units in the apartment complex.

According to the Hollander Development website, "Hillcrest Village was awarded an allocation of 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority in their April 2019 funding round. The project includes a partnership between Hollander Development and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and will be the first in MSHDAs history to include a development partnership between a LIHTC developer and a Native American tribe."

Because of the partnership with MSHDA, many of the units fell below 50% of the area median income. There are four income levels that are eligible to apply for Hillcrest apartments. Those income levels are 30% and 40% of the area median income for those with lower income and is 70% and 80% of the area median income for those who have higher incomes.

Screenshot/Fannie Mae AMI lookup tool

The 21 available units are all targeted toward those who have 80% of the area median income, those units range from $1,000 to $1,200 a month for rent. All of the units are what is considered low-income for Manistee County. What is considered very low and low income in Manistee County ranges from 30% to 80% of the area median income.

An individual who makes $36,150 would be at the 80% threshold of area median income under guidelines from MSHDA. The household median income for four individuals or a family of four is $64,500. The 80% threshold for MSHDA housing for four people would be $51,600.

According to MSHDA guidelines, people below 51% to 30% of the area median income would have very low income, and those with below 30% of the area median income would have extremely low income. Those with 90% to 120% of the area median income would be considered moderate incomes.

Muniz noted that it was not surprising that the units that catered to the income levels that were below 80% of the area median income were the quickest to be occupied.

"We usually see that the most affordable units are the first to sell out," he said.

People can apply for housing at the Hillcrest Village by calling 231- 299-2278 or by picking up a paper application at the Horizon Pointe apartment complex.
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Midland County added 21 cases and one death from March 12-18, according to the state's website on Friday.

COVID-19 numbers from March 12-18

Midland County added 21 cases and one death from March 12-18. Overall, Midland County has 17,319 cases, 1,666 probable cases, 207 deaths and 15 probable deaths.

Bay County added 48 cases and two deaths. Overall, Bay County has 24,263 cases, 2,689 probable cases, 541 deaths and 31 probable deaths.

Gladwin County added two cases. Overall, Gladwin County has 4,737 cases, 819 probable cases, 108 deaths and four probable deaths.

Isabella County added 23 cases and four deaths. Overall, Isabella County has 13,128 cases, 2,357 probable cases, 185 deaths and 18 probable deaths.

Saginaw County added 32 cases and five deaths. Overall, Saginaw County has 45,090 cases, 3,977 probable cases, 881 deaths and 47 probable deaths.

From March 12-18, the state added 2,905 cases and 142 deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 2,068,817 cases and 32,561 deaths.

MyMichigan Health statistics

As of March 18, MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having a 87% bed occupancy with eight COVID patients and zero in the ICU. MyMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having a 19% bed occupancy with no COVID patients.

Both medical centers reported having at least 15-30 days worth of personal protection equipment (N95 masks, surgical masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection) on hand.

As of March 17, the MyMichigan Health system reported a total of 19 patients hospitalized due to the virus, 6 of whom were vaccinated, 13 unvaccinated. There were also two patients across the system in the ICU; both patients are unvaccinated.

Schools

Bullock Creek School District reported on Friday that no staff members or students had current positive cases.

Midland Public Schools announced on March 11 it will no longer post daily COVID numbers in light of Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services rescinding an order for all schools in the state to publicly share school-associated cases of COVID.

"Going forward, families affected by COVID will be notified individually by school administrators," MPS said last week on its website.

Recovered

According to the Midland County Health Department website, 12,925 Midland County individuals have recovered from COVID. This data was last updated on March 7.

Testing

Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate between March 10-16 was listed at 4.1% and Gladwin Countys was listed at 2.2%. Midland and Gladwin counties each have moderate community transmission.

Our 12-county region was listed at 3.9% and Michigan was at 3.4%.

Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests for free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. To place an order for at-home COVID tests, visit covidtests.gov.

Midland County vaccinations

The Midland County Department of Public Health is hosting a one-stop-shot clinic from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 and on March 29 at the County Services Building, which is located at 220 W. Ellsworth St. in Midland.

Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available at clinics administered by the health department at the Midland County Services building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland. The health department will vaccinate anyone who needs a first or second dose; those who need their second dose must bring their vaccination card.

Following FDA approval, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all eligible Michiganders to get a Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their primary COVID-19 vaccines.

Following CDC approval, MDHHS is urging all eligible Michiganders 12 and up to get the Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their two primary COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, Pfizer is the only authorized vaccine for under age 18.

Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type they originally received and others may prefer to get a different type of booster vaccine. CDCs recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. Consult your healthcare provider if there is a question which vaccine is appropriate for you.

Michiganders should bring their COVID-19 vaccine card or immunization record with them when getting their booster dose, which is available at any vaccine provider. Downloadable immunization records are accessible free at the Michigan Immunization Portal. To obtain their record, Michiganders must create a MILogin account at Michigan.gov/MiImmsportal and upload a valid government issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID or passport. If you do not have records in the portal, contact your healthcare provider or local health department.

Future COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Midland County are listed at www.co.midland.mi.us/HealthDepartment/COVIDVaccineInformation.aspx. Those with questions may call 989-832-6380 or email MCDPH@co.midland.mi.us.
BRAZZAVILLE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- More than 80 million doses will be administered to over 23 million children under five years in a mass vaccination campaign against wild poliovirus type 1 in Malawi and four other southern African countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Friday.

The vaccination campaign will involve four rounds in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the WHO regional office for Africa said in a statement.

The first round of the campaign, scheduled in March, targets 9.4 million children in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. Malawi declared an outbreak on Feb. 17, the first such case in the country in 30 years, and the first in Africa since the region was certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2020.

Three subsequent rounds, in which Zimbabwe will also take part, are set for April, June and July, aiming to reach over 23 million children with more than 80 million doses of the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine recommended by the WHO for wild poliovirus type 1.

"Polio is a highly infectious and an untreatable disease that can result in permanent paralysis. In support of Malawi and it neighbors, we are acting fast to halt this outbreak and extinguish the threat through effective vaccinations," said WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti.

"The African region has already defeated wild poliovirus due to a monumental effort by countries. We have the know-how and are tirelessly working to ensure that every child lives and thrives in a continent free of polio," she said in the statement.

The African region was declared and certified as free of indigenous wild polio in August 2020 after eliminating all forms of wild poliovirus. The region's certification as wild polio-free remains unchanged. 
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Summer Storms is grateful to have the opportunity to be the first member of her family to attend college. She's done it thanks to a longstanding partnership between Meridian Early College High School and Delta College.

Storms, a fifth-year Meridian student, is enrolled full-time at Delta. She is well on her way to becoming certified to work as a travel nurse.

"I come from a family that wasn't financially able to put me through college. So it was a really great opportunity for me," Storms said.

Meridian became an early middle college high school in 2012 and is one of 19 early middle schools in Michigan. It is also the only full-school early middle college program in the state of Michigan, according to Meridian Dean of Student Services Amy Boxey, who helps connect Meridian 11th- and 12th-graders with postsecondary opportunities.

Since then, Midland County's other three public school districts have all adopted early middle college options for students. Bullock Creek High School has offered early college classes since 2015, and Coleman High School since 2016.

Midland Public Schools announced in February that its two high schools - H.H. Dow High School and Midland High School - will offer early middle college starting at the beginning of next school year.

What is early middle college?

According to the Michigan Department of Education website, "an early middle college (EMC) is a Michigan Department of Education approved five-year program of study. EMCs work closely with postsecondary partners to provide students with an opportunity earn a high school diploma and one or more of the following:

60 transferable college credits

An associate degree

A professional certification

The Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA) technical certificate

Participation in a registered apprenticeship

Michigan has 114 EMC programs, including Bullock Creek and Coleman, and 41 EMC consortia, which are programs that include more than one school district.

How Meridian's early college program works

As an early college high school, Meridian is unique among Midland County schools in that every student in the school will do some form of postsecondary learning before graduating.

"Our goal is to find the right pathway for all our students, to make sure they are ready for any postsecondary training they need," Boxey explained.

For some students, that means enrolling in Delta College classes full-time in their fifth and final year at Meridian, like Storms, who is one of 44 Meridian students doing that this year. Eight of those 44 students will earn an associate's degree at the end of this semester, and most of the rest of them will have earned at least 20 credits by that point.

For other students, it means learning a specific career at Bay Arenac Career Center, the Greater Michigan Construction Academy, or through career and technical education (CTE) programs in any of the Midland County districts.

"It's about finding the best fit for every student and making sure theyre ready for their next step," Boxey said.

Toward that end, Meridian has a full-time early college advisor, Lisa Tomsich, who was previously the high school counselor.

Tomsich meets frequently with fifth-year Meridian students at the Delta main campus in Bay County, the Delta Downtown Midland Center, or even at their homes, to make sure they are getting the support they need as they transition into college mode.

"The two biggest keys to having success in the program are making sure students are ready before they start (college classes) - academic, emotional and social readiness - and having parent engagement and parent support. The parents here (at Meridian) are really great," Tomsich said.

"Having a dedicated person, like my position, that provides the support and resources and is the go-to person for students in the program (is key), because when theyre not on campus every day at the high school, it's hard to make sure their needs are being met," Tomsich added.

For her part, Storms, who is taking 13 credit hours between the Midland Center and the main campus and also has a job, appreciates the support she has gotten from Meridian as a first-year, full-time college student.

"They were there to help me fill out the applications, (financial aid forms), making sure that I have everything that I need," Storms said. "Theyre extremely supportive."

Another Meridian fifth-year student, Jenna Emerson, said having the opportunity to explore nursing through Bay Arenac as an 11th-grader two years ago made her realize it wasn't the right fit. Now, Emerson is enrolled in a sonography program at Delta to become an ultrasound technician.

"(The classes at Bay Arenac were) free, so I didn't waste my money (while figuring out what I wanted to do)," Emerson said. "I still wanted to work with people and help them, but I wanted to be in more of a hospital setting than a nursing home setting."

Emerson will continue studying at Delta after this semester to finish her associate's degree.

About half of Meridian students opt to stay enrolled for a fifth year and take Delta classes full-time. Those students receive their high school diploma at the end of their fifth year, although they already have gone through commencement at the end of 12th grade.

"The school pays the entire cost of tuition, fees and books for their fifth year," Tomsich said. "We also pay for the same components in their junior and senior year if they (are partially enrolled at Delta). So thats a huge benefit."

Early middle college program at Bullock Creek

Bullock Creek High School also partners with Delta College. Unlike Meridian, Bullock Creek students are not automatically early middle college students. They can apply for the program at the end of their 10th-grade year.

Bullock Creek Superintendent Shawn Hale said as many as 20 students in a given graduating class have enrolled in the early college option, which puts them on a five-year high school path. In most years, it's closer to 10 students.

"We know that not every student is interested in going to college," Hale said. "So we really want to keep it as more of an application process and interview process for students who are ready for that experience, as opposed to pushing all students to enter."

Bullock Creek High School counselor Jennifer Brown, who serves a similar role to what Tomsich does at Meridian, said she is "very, very proud" of the school's early middle college program.

"I wanted to provide opportunities for our students," Brown said of starting up the program. "Having a partnership with Delta so close, we could provide an opportunity for students to get a jump-start on college and have that extra mentorship piece in there. I provide mentorship to the students. It's an extra safety net for them.

"Some are first-generation college students. For many, its an extra boost to realize they can be a college student."

MPS launches early middle college program

Midland Public Schools Curriculum Specialist for Auxiliary Education Steve Poole told the Daily News that the district recently got approval from the state Department of Education to initiate an early middle college program in the 2022-23 school year.

So far, 11 families have reached out to school counselors at the high schools to express interest in the program.

MPS will partner with both Delta College and Davenport University for the early middle college program, which will be a three-year commitment. Current 10th-graders can apply to join the early middle college program next August. The program gives students the opportunity to earn an associate's degree or 60 credit hours toward a bachelor's degree. Tuition will be paid by MPS.

In order to apply for the early middle college program, students must have a 3.0 GPA, get two recommendations from teachers, and have good school attendance.

Tenth-grade students at Midland or Dow high schools can apply for the early middle college program through their school counselor.
Photo provided/Saginaw Valley State University

Saginaw Valley State University will host its Spring University-Wide Employment and Networking Fair 12-3 p.m. on Friday, March 25 in its Curtiss Hall banquet room. This is the universitys largest employment fair of the academic year, and the event is free and open to the public.

According to James Dwyer, SVSUs executive director of Career Services, more than 150 employers will attend the fair to seek part-time and full-time employees as well as students to fill co-op and internship positions. SVSU students of all majors can benefit from attending the career fair.
LANSING  A former assistant prosecuting attorney for Mecosta County has been appointed as a district court judge in Lansing.

On Wednesday, March 16, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Tony Flores to the 54A District Court in Lansing, along with the appointments of Christopher P. Yates to the Court of Appeals-District 3, and Robert K. Gaecke, Jr. to the 12th District Court of Jackson County.

Judge Yates, Mr. Flores, and Mr. Geacke will bring decades of legal experience to the bench and ensure that the rule of law is upheld across Michigan, Whitmer said in a news release. As governor, I am honored to have the opportunity to appoint these three highly qualified Michiganders to the bench, where they will serve the people on the Michigan Court of Appeals, District Court of Lansing, and District Court of Jackson.

Flores currently is a full-time professor at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School where he teaches criminal procedure and evidence. According to his bio on the university's website, he began his career in 1992 as an assistant prosecuting attorney in district, circuit and family courts for the Mecosta County Prosecutors Office. He joined the Ingham County Prosecutors Office in 1994, where he has served in a variety of roles, including the unit chief for child abuse cases.

According to the news release, Flores earned his Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Colorado. He is the vice chair of Faculty Governance at Cooley Law School and the chair of the Litigation Concentration. He is a long-time resident of Lansing where he lives with his wife, Karen. Their two daughters, Mary Beth and Hope Ann, graduated from Michigan State University and currently work and reside in Southern California.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the City of Lansing as a district court judge, Flores said in the release. I am proud to be a part of the Lansing community that has been my home for almost 30 years."

According to the news release, Flores will fill a partial term from April 18 to Jan. 1, following the retirement of Judge Louise Alderson. He may run for reelection to a full six-year term in November 2022, if he desires.
Few people would rank the process of coordinating health care benefits as simple.

Even for the most educated, intelligent Michigan resident, it takes a great deal of effort to navigate the health care system, especially the point where physical and mental health benefits converge.

For someone like myself, who lives with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, it takes a lot of work to manage coordination of the myriad health benefits I receive that enable me to live an independent life.

To the detriment of vulnerable Michigan residents like myself, Senate Bills 597 and 598 create a more complicated, tiered system of mental and behavioral health benefits through full privatization of Michigans behavioral health system. These bills create specialty integrated plans that will make the system more challenging to navigate, by putting private health insurers in charge of administration, instead of the current system where state funding goes directly to counties and local community programs.

For those in need of simple and easily accessible services and supports where they live, these measures move in the wrong direction. I worry about what will happen if those who understand my needs and work hard to help meet them are taken away from my care, and management of my health benefits is given to a stranger where I am just a number on an account.

Access to care often depends on where a person lives, their insurer and the severity of their mental illness. What it should depend on is this: the needs of the individual and how their community can best suit them.

For me, the support I receive enables me to live a happy, healthy, independent life. Im understood by people in my community who recognize my challenges and help me meet and overcome them. I dont know that I could expect someone on the other end of a 1-800 number through a private insurer to be able to understand my daily needs and give me the same level of personalized care and support.

People who are differently abled already deal with a mountain of obstacles and challenges. We rise to meet them. Oftentimes, we overcome them. But adding more obstacles to our path is at best, unfair, and at worst, cruel.

New layers of complexity will create a nearly unmanageable burden for Michigans 300,000 residents who receive support from community mental and behavioral health programs. Please help us retain the community support and coordination of benefits we have by opposing Senate Bills 597 and 598.

Michael Hitchcock, is a Midland resident, and a member of the Michigan Behavioral Health Coalition.
CANBERRA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Australian state of South Australia has reported its first death from the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).

Health authorities in the state said on Friday that four new cases of the virus were reported, taking the total number in the state in the current nationwide outbreak to eight.

Of the cases, five remain in hospital while two have been discharged.

South Australia Health wellbeing director Chris Lease said an investigation showed that a person contracting the virus died earlier in March. It is the third confirmed JEV death in Australia in 2022.

"We can confirm that one of the additional cases includes the person who we previously reported had sadly passed away earlier this month," he told reporters, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"It is crucial that we all continue to take extra precautions against mosquitoes and continue to 'fight the bite'."

Most JEV infections are mild with symptoms such as fever and headache or without apparent symptoms, but approximately 1 in 250 infections results in severe clinical illness, according to the World Health Organization.

The virus has been detected at more than 20 piggeries across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland since February and has been declared a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance by the federal government.

A national working group of communicable disease, vaccine and arbovirus experts has been established, which will support Australia's response to the JEV situation, including mosquito surveillance and control measures, identification of those at direct risk, and the rollout of vaccines.

Lease urged South Australians, particularly young children, to take precautions against mosquito bites.

"Cover up with long, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing such as jeans or leggings," he said.

Also on Friday, Australia reported more than 40,000 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths. 
Ann Brown, age 67, of Palestine, Texas, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 in Palestine, Texas. Funeral service will be held at 10AM on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Evangelistic Temple. Burial will follow at Tennessee Colony Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6PM to 8PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022 a
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Maison de la presse du Mali (Press House) on Friday urged national and foreign media to be "responsible" and work to support the Malian armed and security forces in the fight against terrorism
DHL has ordered digital outdoor parcel lockers from the mailing equipment company Quadient to roll out across Sweden in 2022.

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The lockers have been designed to withstand the Nordic climate. Their software is based on an open network solution, which will enable several carriers, delivery companies and retailers to deliver into the same parcel locker.

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The partners have predicted that the order will create more sustainable delivery services for business customers and consumers. Furthermore, the companies expect the digital parcel lockers to provide customers with more flexibility regarding when and where they pick up their parcels, thereby reducing the shipping cost for carrier and customer.

Jonas Lindell, managing director of DHL E-commerce Solutions, said, The partnership with Quadient is completely in line with DHL offering greater flexibility for both customers and e-retailers. With a wider range of parcel lockers, we get closer to our customers and can in a simpler way be proactive in building up our delivery network. Quadients solution also meets the high demands we have on user-friendliness and simplicity in our customer interfaces.

Niklas Lunden, vice president of Nordic sales and operations at Quadient, said, This agreement further strengthens Quadients investment in the Nordic region with the goal of becoming the largest supplier of smart parcel lockers to carriers and retailers.
National postal operator Croatian Post has joined The Climate Pledge initiative  a collection of companies and organizations founded by Amazon and the environmental services company Global Optimism in 2019  which has committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2040.

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This commitment comes as part of its Posta2022 development strategy, which is implementing the digital transformation of its operations to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions. In April 2021, the sustainability management strategy Growing Green and Sustainable was adopted, which includes green operations, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance.

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In addition, Croatian Post has set up charging stations for electric vehicles in Velika Gorica, Zadar and Osijek in Croatia, to lay the foundations for further expansion of its electric vehicle fleet. Currently, it has around 200 electric vehicles in its fleet, which includes 40 electric four-wheelers and almost 30 electric mopeds.

In 2021, a parcel locker network was opened as an alternative delivery channel to reduce emissions. The company pointed out that parcel lockers increase the percentage of deliveries made on the first try, meaning delivery vehicles need to visit fewer locations and produce fewer emissions.

Currently, The Climate Pledge has approximately 300 signatories in 29 countries and includes 51 different sectors such as transportation, aviation, energy, real estate as well as information and communication technologies. Collectively, the signatories of the initiative have been calculated to generate more than HK$24tn (US$3.5tn) in global annual revenue and have 8,000,000 employees.

The signatories of The Climate Pledge initiative agree to regularly measure and report on greenhouse gas emissions. They will implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through business changes, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions and other carbon emission elimination strategies.

The signatories have also committed to neutralizing any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, permanent and socially beneficial offsets to achieve net-zero annual carbon emissions by 2040. Finally, all signatories are to take high-impact science-based actions to combat climate change, through supply chain efficiency, sustainable transportation, circular economy and clean energy.
Photo: (Photo : LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)

A Ukrainian mother and her four-month-old baby who fled from Kyiv because of the Russian invasion were unable to board a flight bound for San Francisco International Airport because the young child did not have a travel visa and passport.

Olha Korol and her baby boy, Severyn Korotniuk, left Ukraine after the Russian forces invaded their country. However, Korol's husband and father stayed behind in the capital city of Kyiv as men of fighting age were barred from leaving the country.

Korol narrated her plight to KRON4, saying she and her son took a lengthy 20-hour bus ride before reaching the German city of Frankfurt, where they are both currently stranded. The two of them had already secured plane tickets to fly from Frankfurt to San Francisco in the United States on March 7 with the mother and child hoping to connect with family members living in San Jose, California.

Korol emotional after her baby was denied flight to San Francisco

Korol was emotional when recalling their difficulties, saying, "I went to the Ukrainian consulate in Frankfurt. They put a photo of my baby in my passport. They put stamps showing it's official and legal. They said it should be enough." Korol then said that her son is an infant who is small and doesn't have anything, but when they were about to board their plane, the airlines did not grant them entry because the baby did not have a passport.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, the war has caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, forcing more than 3 million civilians to flee the war-torn country. The UN high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, is worried about the ongoing mass exodus, telling CBS News that this is the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War.

Read Also: Human Trafficking Problem Surfaces in War-torn Ukraine After Chinese Pair Caught Smuggling Babies

Number of Ukrainian refugees rising as fighting intensifies

Most of the Ukrainian refugees displaced by the Russian conflict are crossing to neighboring countries to the west, such as Moldova, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. As of March 15, UN figures show Poland taking in 1,857,045 refugees, making it the most popular destination for civilians fleeing Ukraine.

Romania has taken in 467,703 refugees from Ukraine, while 344,454 refugees crossed over to the Republic of Moldova. Hungary and Slovakia have also taken in a fair share of refugees from Ukraine. At least 272,943 refugees went to Hungary, while 220,977 displaced people from Ukraine crossed the Slovakian border.

According to the UNHCR, some Ukrainian refugees have also fled to Russia and Belarus, the countries that are currently waging war against them. At least 155,841 people crossed the Russian border from Ukraine, while 1,816 refugees traveled to Belarus.

Korol may be in a bind now with the uncertain status of her baby, but that is nothing compared to the hardships her husband and father are facing back in Ukraine. According to Korol, she feels guilty that she can breathe when going outside in Germany. That is a luxury that her husband and father can't afford right now, with the two of them staying in bomb shelters because of the Russian attacks.

Related Article: Six-year-Old Ukrainian Girl Dies Alone at Home in Mariupol Due to Dehydration
Photo: (Photo : Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

A couple of middle school students from Maine have been hailed as heroes as they attempted to save their bus driver, who had a medical event while driving.

Brothers Connor and Shamus Collins were with 12 other kids from the Mt. Ararat Middle and High School when their 77-year-old bus driver, Arthur McDougall, experienced a heart attack on the way to their school. The brothers got up and stepped on the brakes with quick thinking when they noticed McDougall.

Connor, the older brother who had a driver's permit, told Shamus to phone 911 immediately, and then he grabbed the steering wheel to take the bus away from traffic. He was also thinking about the ditch by the highway that could kill them all if they crashed.

Shamus recalled that many of the kids were freaking out and screaming in panic, per New York Daily News. Fortunately, Connor was able to stop the bus in a safe place, and then someone else rushed to McDougall to try and revive him. The rest of the kids got out of the bus to hail for help from the other vehicles.

Read Also: Bus Driver Offers Students Money for COVID-19 Swabs on the Cheeks

Saving Mr. McDougall

Soon after, the emergency first responders were on the scene for Mr. McDougall, who was then taken to the Maine Medical Center. Despite their best efforts, the bus driver who had a medical event while driving died at the hospital later that day.

However, his wife Diane McDougall extended her gratitude to the kids for responding to the emergency and attempting to save her husband, per People. Superintendent Bob Lucy of the Interim Maine School Administrative District 75 posted an announcement that the bus driver passed away on social media.

The Topsham Police Department said that McDougall appeared to have been left incapacitated because of a heart attack. One of the students said that he noticed the bus driver looking unwell that morning, but no one could have predicted what would happen.

The bus driver leaves behind three children who adored him. Meanwhile, the Collins brothers, who averted a catastrophe, said that their bus driver was a good person who was also kind and professional.

What to Do During a Medical Event While Driving

During a medical event, while driving, the best thing to do is to pull over to safety and then call 911 just as the students did. Per Banner Health, emergency driving should only be attempted by professionals because ambulances can help the patient get to the hospital faster, and then the hospital can also prepare ahead for the incoming patient.

Being driven by someone with a heart attack has its risk because the driver is likely not equipped to mentally handle the situation and thus will be distracted. This will then lead to an accident.

As heart attacks can strike anytime and anywhere, those at risk, especially people of a certain age, must take preventive measures and regularly evaluate their health to lower their chances of having a medical event while driving.

Related Article: Bus Driver Shortage Prods Schools To Pay Parents $700 to $4,000 To Drive the Kids
Photo: (Photo : ABDULAZIZ KETAZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Lawmakers in Florida have voted to give parents whose children died of brain injuries $150,000 stipends after they were dropped from the state program called Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association or NICA.

For months, ProPublica ran a series of stories involving the families in Florida's NICA Program who were unable to receive the help they expected. While many NICA children got their stipends, several families were also left out because their kids passed away.

The parents whose children died of brain injuries said that they still deserved the stipends because they spent a lot of money to keep their children alive. Worse, the parents also complained that the NICA stipends were either "delayed, denied or deficient."

Read Also: 1Voice Academy: America's First School for Kids With Cancer Opens in Florida

What is the NICA?

Following an obstetrics malpractice crisis in Florida in the 1980s, the state created the NICA Program in the late 1980s. This initiative was aimed at promoting better health services for expectant mothers. It was also established to enable children with injuries at birth to receive medical care that will not be a financial burden on the adults that care for them.

NICA is considered a statutory organization that relies on state funds for the care of these kids with neurological injuries. Obstetricians who take part in the NICA program also pay up to $5,000 a year which grants them immunity from malpractice lawsuits. Hospitals in Florida also contribute to the program for every live birth.

As a result of its operation, NICA attained over $1.7 billion in assets. The program was initially planned for lifetime support and care but changes were undertaken in recent years that removed the benefit for some families.

However, the expose published in the papers ushered reforms awaiting the signature of Gov. Ron DeSantis, which was proposed in 2021. Apart from the $150,000 stipends parents whose children died of brain injuries could also receive a $40,000 death benefit.

Families whose kids remain in mental health care will also see a $10,000 increase in its yearly stipend. The beneficiaries may also receive additional subsidies for home and vehicle modifications to accommodate the special needs of the children, according to Miami Herald.

The Law is Long Overdue

Mom Ruth Jacques from Orlando said that this latest action from the lawmakers has been long overdue. Jacques lost her son in 2018 and wasn't able to benefit from the NICA program. Yet she has actively advocated for the reforms to give hope for many families whose lives are rife with stress, trauma, fear and desperation. However, given the recent developments, she has hope for other families and future children who might need this type of benefit.

Meanwhile, a supplement to these reforms is another bill outlining how the Florida's Health Department has also can complement NICA's funding process from doctors, given that more than $14.4 million have gone delinquent since 2016. The proposal has passed in the House and Senate and is also awaiting approval from Florida's governor.

Related Article: New Florida Bill to Require High School Students Financial Literacy Credits to Graduate
SYDNEY, March 18 (Xinhua) -- As a surge of COVID-19 cases sweep across Australia's states and territories, health authorities have urged the public to receive their booster shot of the vaccine.

The more contagious Omicron BA.2 sub-variant is fast becoming Australia's dominant strain of the virus. Early reports suggest that it may be 30 to 40 percent more transmissible than Omicron BA.1, making it by far the fastest variant to date.

On Friday the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) reported 20,050 daily cases, in line with 20,087 recorded the day before, more than double the numbers seen just one week ago.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has flagged growing complacency in the community despite the virus' rapid uptick.

"People need to understand that while the community has gone to sleep on the virus, the virus hasn't gone to sleep on the community," said Hazzard.

"The virus is still out there and it can wreak havoc if we don't go and get our boosters fast."

According to NSW health, just 57.8 percent of vaccine-eligible citizens in the state have had their third booster dose of the vaccines, despite 94.5 percent having received their first two doses.

The story is similar in the Australian state of Victoria. Over the last several weeks daily cases have doubled from an average around 5,000 to 9,036 reported on Friday.

In Victoria, 63.4 percent of the population have received a booster dose of the vaccine.

Experts have warned that two doses of the vaccines is fast becoming inadequate in protecting against the virus, especially as immunity wanes in older and immunocompromised Australians.

"The way forward is that people who have not been boosted need to get their booster shot because it makes a real difference to protection against Omicron, whether it's BA.1 or BA.2," infectious diseases paediatrician from the University of Sydney Robert Booy told Xinhua.

"There are things that people have learned in the last few years that they should continue to act upon (mask wearing, social distancing), particularly if they're an older person or a person with immunosuppression for whatever reason." 
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

Anna Hershberger, a mom of six from Massachusetts, said that the police had called her three times as they have been getting calls on her parenting decisions.

The stay-at-home economist mom had to look up Massachusetts' Neglect Law to check if she had infractions to ensure that her six kids could continue their adventures in their neighborhood without police calls.

The series of unfortunate incidences led the mom to hope that revisions on the "Reasonable Childhood Independence" law should be revised to narrow down what the "neglect" of children means.

The first police call

The mom told Reason that a cop knocked on their door last week after someone reported that two of their children, aged five and seven, were walking a few blocks from her home in Reading, a Boston suburb, and were picking up litter.

The kids told their mom that a garbage truck had gone by, inspiring the kids to contribute to the cleanliness of the neighborhood. They asked for a trash bag where they could throw the litter and walked a few blocks from home picking up garbage along the way. So the mom said the two kids were walking down the road with a trash bag on hand and were picking up litter.

Since the boys are homeschooled, the kids were picking up garbage during class hours. The mom thought that must have been the reason for the call.

She said that the cops were not amused. The cop told her that somebody could be texting and not paying attention. He also said that there might also be "creeps" out.

The mom thought that if a texting driver careened on the sidewalk, and she was with the kids, the driver might also even plow them, herself included. The mom also said she grew up in Russia. Hence she understands what dangerous is, Hindustan Times reported.

She said she did not make a scene.

Read Also: Couple With Cancer Moves Wedding Earlier, Wants to go Through Treatment Together

The playground incident

In Summer, Hershberger took her kids to a playground. She remembered seeing only a few families there, but she was surprised that someone called to report her seven-seater van, which had a booster seat in the passenger seat, indicating that a youngish child might sometimes be sitting there.

Someone then called a cop. The mom explained that she has six kids, and the family is on a waiting list for a 12-passenger van. Her oldest, aged eight, had to sit up from.

The cop thought that the whole thing was ridiculous.

The third police encounter

According to Gemmsite, Hershberger was parked in front of Bagel World in town to pick up a coffee. She said she could see the kids through the store's window. However, a nearby businessman also saw them.

When she got home, a cop showed up at her door. The cop said that somebody reported that she left the kids alone in the parking lot of Bagel World. She clarified that she indeed left them to get her cup of coffee. She said that the short wait was not even illegal in Massachusetts. She invited the cop to come into their home and observe how she raised the kids. The cops declined and said everything seemed fine.

Hershberger said that she was getting sick of people second-guessing her parenting.

To avoid the unfortunate incidences, she hopes that more states should narrow their respect law. She hopes there should be a revision to the "Reasonable Childhood Independence"Law defining that neglect only occurs when a parent puts her child in grave danger, not just anytime the kids are unsupervised.

Related Article: Fertility Benefits Now Being Offered as Perks by a Growing Number of Companies
Photo: (Photo : CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

American senators have unanimously voted to adopt daylight saving time permanently to allow more economic activity, to give school children more time outdoors, or to let kids go home from school while the sun is still out.

According to Reuters, many states apparently support ending the bi-yearly time shifts by permanently springing time forward by March 2023. Apparently, it's taking a toll on many people when the time is adjusted one hour ahead in the spring before going back to standard time every November.

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't say if the measure, called the Sunshine Protection Act, has strong support among the representatives. The White House also hasn't made any comments on whether or not Pres. Joe Biden will agree to the permanent daylight saving time changes. He could veto the Senate bill.

Read Also: New Drunk Driving Law in Tennessee Could Penalize Drivers Who Kill a Parent

Benefits of Daylight Saving Time

Sen. Mark Rubio, who is one of the co-sponsors for the Sunshine Protection Act, said that studies have highlighted the fact that crimes are lower with permanent daylight saving time in place. Studies have also revealed a "decrease in seasonal depression" compared to the standard time.

Today we passed out of the Senate my bill to make Daylight Savings Time permanent



Now its up to the House to help us #LockTheClock



pic.twitter.com/NneP6loZ5Q  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 15, 2022

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse also gave his support for making daylight saving time permanent. He believes that allowing more sunlight for people to work or do their physical activities can lessen the risks of stroke and heart problems. According to Dallas News, the senator lives in New England in Rhode Island where the afternoons are a lot darker than other states in November.

"We have sunset in Rhode Island at 4:15 - 4:15!" Whitehouse remarked. "It does darken our lives in a very literal sense."

Proponents of the bill also pointed out that people prefer to go to parks, gas and retail stores during the daytime. Thus, industries providing these essential services may help boost the economy.

Disadvantages of Daylight Saving Time

Meanwhile, sleep experts have never been in favor of daylight saving time for decades. Since the 1970s, when the bi-yearly time shift was approved as a law by Pres. Richard Nixon, sleep scientists have voiced their opposition for the measure.

Horacio de la Iglesia of the University of Washington professor who has done heaps of sleep studies said that daylight saving time actually triggers more seasonal depression in young children who have to start their school day in the dark. Iglesia told NBC King 5 News that springing time forward is an artificial time setting of the solar day, where the bodies are in tune with the energies of the sun. Thus, he doesn't see any sense in making daylight saving time permanent.

Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell, another sleep specialist, said that this time-shift feels like jetlag. It will be harder for the body to adjust its circadian rhythm, which dictates not just sleep hours but also waking hours and digestion.

Joseph Takahashi, a neuroscientist, also gave this proposal a thumbs down because a permanent shift will leave the body "out of sync with the natural environment."

Related Article: New Stimulus Payments: Democrats Propose Quarterly Checks Rollout Amid Gas Price Increase
Photo: (Photo : CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images)

A one-year-old Ukrainian baby has finally reunited with his London-based parents after spending three weeks in the war-torn country. According to the Daily Mail, Baby Misha was staying with his paternal family in Ukraine when Russian forces started invading the country on February 24.

Misha's parents Vasyl Kucherka and Tatiana Zavyalova were emotional in the much awaited reunion, bursting into tears upon seeing their young child, who they once imagined could be lost forever after hearing the news that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his soldiers to begin their invasion of Ukraine.

Misha had never met his Ukrainian family before as he was born during the lockdown, which was brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. When their baby boy celebrated his first birthday, the 24-year-old Kucherka and 39-year-old Zavyalova thought 2022 would be a good time for Misha to finally meet his grandmother, uncle, cousin, and aunts in Ukraine.

Parents send son to Ukraine for him to meet his extended family

The Russian-Ukrainian couple reside in northwest London, an area where lockdown restrictions had begun to ease in the early part of this year. With restrictions now easing in England, Kucherka and Zavyalova decided to send their son to Ukraine to meet his extended family. They were made to rue that decision as the tension between Russia and Ukraine intensified.

These are my dear friends Tatiana & Vasily. So happy for them. London couple reunited with baby son after Ukraine evacuation https://t.co/xvYvKGdxPA  Cheryll Simpson (@Cheryllasimpson) March 16, 2022

The parents were left worrying for weeks about the situation in Ukraine, a place where their son was now trapped. Zavyalova, who runs a property development business in London with her partner Kucherka, said that the last couple of weeks were horrible in terms of waiting, travelling and going through the borders.

Zavyalova finally heaved a huge sigh of relief with her son now safe, saying "It's been dramatic, very dramatic. But finally, we're all here and we're very happy." I news reported that the reunion did not take place in England, though, as the parents did not want to waste more time in seeing their son once again.

Read Also: From Womb to War Zones: American Couple Brings Home Baby Born via Surrogate in Ukraine

Family travels 1,500 miles across Ukraine to reach Polish border

They decided to travel to Poland to meet their son and extended family, who they hoped could escape the war zone in Ukraine. That they did but the journey to get there was definitely not easy with the Ukrainian family traveling nearly 1,500 miles to reach the Polish border. They had to drive and walk through Ukraine to escape the fighting, with each family member carrying just a small amount of clothes in a backpack.

They had to wait 10 more hours at the border before crossing over to Poland, where the reunion finally took place. The world was a totally different place the last time they saw each other, as that transpired before the COVID-19 outbreak and the Russian invasion.

Kucherka's 48-year-old mother Olha Kucherka broke down in tears upon seeing her son at the visa center. Kucherka had not told his family that he was also coming to Poland to meet them, much to their surprise. He said it was amazing to see his son and his family again. According to the UNHCR, more than 1.85 million civilians have fled to Poland from Ukraine since the conflict started.

Related Article: Ukrainian Pediatrician Refugee Helps Sick Kids in Kyiv Through Phone
Photo: (Photo : Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

A pregnant wife has bought a $650,000 Lamborghini as a reward for her husband because he will have sleepless nights after she gives birth. The soon-to-be-mom believes that her husband deserves the luxury car as he will make sacrifices to take care of her and the new baby.

Anes Ayuni Osman, 19, who manages a cosmetics business and has founded Vitamilk in Malaysia, is due to have her baby end of March. After the birth, Osman will have to observe a downtime and confinement for at least one to three months, so caring for the newborn will be up to her husband, Weldan Zulkefli, 20.

According to Daily Mail, it's customary in Malaysia for moms who have just given birth to confine themselves to lessen the risk of complications and rebalance their hormones as their body recovers. The postpartum confinement also discourages visits and encourages a lot of bed rest.

Read Also: Stephanie Beatriz Didn't Tell Disney She Was Having Labor Contractions While Recording 'Encanto'

Osman received social media mileage after sharing her surprise for Zulkefli on TikTok, which has earned more than 1.5 million views. The young woman bought her husband, a sky blue Lamborghini Huracan Evo.

Praises for Her Husband

Osman said that once the baby is born, she will be relying on Zulkefli's help, especially in the evening. The wife said that her husband is used to staying up all night since that's when he's mostly doing his business brainstorming. The Malaysian cosmetic boss lady also noted that Zulkefli is used to cleaning up poop and pee "all the time" because they share a cat.

She believes that she will not be able to match her husband's willingness and kindness with the Lamborghini. However, the young dad was quite emotional after he saw his gift.

Osman blindfolded her husband when they visited the car dealership for his reward to sweeten the moment. Mothership reported that Zulkefli won't likely be able to drive his luxury car around town just yet since Osman said she wants her husband to be by her side during her confinement.

"There's a huge possibility I will be having a Cesarean birth," the pregnant wife said. "Mums out there will know how painful a C-section is, so I want more attention from my husband."

It's not unusual for the couple to splurge on gifts for each other. When Osman was in the early stages of her pregnancy, she "craved" a Lamborghini Aventador SV, valued at $975,000. Because of her delicate state, her husband fulfilled her wish and gifted her with the car.

Investing in a Minivan

Some TikTok followers did notice that the pregnant mom was driving her yellow Lamborghini Aventador SV on the way to the car dealership for her husband's luxury car. One of the commenters suggested that they should have invested in a minivan or a family car since their family is expanding and a sportscar will not cut it, per Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Osman and Zulkefli will be staying at his parents' home during the new mom's confinement. The couple got married in February 2021 and has been filled with so many blessings.

Related Article: North Carolina Family Enraged as Newborn Vaccinated Without Consent for Hepatitis B
Photo: (Photo : GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Some Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion in their country are being allowed entry to the United States through its southern border crossing with Mexico, despite an American policy to turn away most asylum seekers.

Some Ukrainians are banking on the U.S. to let them in during these challenging times. According to Jesus Ruiz Uribe, the Mexican government's delegate for Baja California state, at least 310 Ukrainian refugees have reached Tijuana by air this month, with most if not all of them hoping to enter the U.S. soon.

The U.S.-Mexico border, however, has been closed to most asylum seekers since a pandemic-era policy known as Title 42 was implemented. There is good news, though, for Ukrainian refugees. CBS News has obtained a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo instructing U.S. authorities along the Mexican border to consider exempting Ukrainian refugees from a pandemic-related restriction to enter the United States to seek asylum.

Read Also: One-Year-Old Ukrainian Baby Reunited with U.K-based Parents After Being Trapped in War-torn Ukraine

Dasha Krasiuk, 14, spoke to Al Jazeera's John Holman in the Mexican border town of Tijuana about her family's attempt to enter the United States. The teenager is traveling alongside her father and mother with the family seeking safety after Russian troops attacked the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv.

It was a long and arduous journey for Krasiuk and her parents as they first traveled through Moldova, then went to Romania before boarding a plane bound for Mexico. Mexico has been a popular destination for Ukrainian refugees nowadays as they do not need a visa to enter that country.

Number of Ukrainian refugees rising as Putin's war continues

Krasiuk recalled the difficulties of their journey, saying, "It was hot. We were in the car for three nights because we were in the queue to leave Ukraine." Krasiuk's family was eventually allowed entry into the United States, where they are planning to join a relative, her grandfather, who currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

The number of Ukrainian refugees continues to rise, with the war in their country showing no signs of stopping. According to the United Nations refugee agency, more than 3.16 million civilians have now fled the war-torn country since the military invasion started.

The latest numbers show majority of the Ukrainian refugees have sought refuge in neighboring countries in Europe. As of March 16, Poland has taken in 1,916,545 refugees, making it the most popular destination for Ukrainian civilians fleeing the war.

At least 491,409 Ukrainian refugees have crossed over to Romania, while the Republic of Moldova has taken in 350,886 refugees from Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia have also taken in their fair share of Ukrainian refugees. Some 282,611 displaced people have gone to Hungary, while 228,844 Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border to Slovakia.

Filipo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, has called this the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War 2. With the number of Ukrainian refugees expected to soar even further in the coming weeks, it is paramount for other countries outside the European bloc to do their share and take in people as well from the troubled nation.

Related Article: From Womb to War Zones: American Couple Brings Home Baby Born via Surrogate in Ukraine
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In a new analytical report published today, it revealed that PC shipments (excluding tablets) in China grew 9% to reach 16.5 million units in Q4 2021. This finished another year of strong growth for the Chinese market, which saw shipments rise 10% in 2021 to a record 57 million units. Notebook shipments grew 12% year on year to 10.8 million in Q4, and 8% to 36.5 million for full-year 2021. Desktops also grew in the final quarter, with shipments up 2.5% at 5.6 million units, leading to a full-year total of 20.4 million units, 15% higher than in 2020.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Emma Xu, Canalys Analyst: "Chinas PC market is undergoing upheaval due to public sector interventions, but the strong growth seen in 2021 emphasizes how big an opportunity there still is. Security concerns about government procurement are growing, and there is a preference for local vendors, which puts additional competitive pressure on US-based vendors."

The report further noted that in the consumer market, "exciting innovations are coming from the upstream component side, notably in the battle between CPU vendors. Beyond Intel and AMD, Apple has announced further development of its M1 chipsets, while Qualcomm has also signaled an increased focus on PCs, with both companies targeting the premium market.

Improvements in display size and functionality as well as form factor innovations, such as foldable PCs, have been major themes at CES and MWC this year, and Chinas role as a keen adopter of new technology will see vendors focus their efforts there."

Yet despite Apple leading the smartphone market in China in Q4 2021, they're still unable to crack the top 5 PC vendors list, according to Canalys latest statistics presented below for 2021.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Though it should be noted that Canalys reported on Worldwide PC shipments for Q4 2021 in early February with a PC device mix that included notebooks, desktops and tablets. In that PC device mix, as presented in Canalys chart below, Apple landed in second place, just a hair below leading Lenovo.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

The official reason why Canalys decided to leave out tablets in their Mainland China report for Q4 2021 as opposed to their global report is unknown. Though it would seem to be a marketing or political decision on their part for locking Apple out.

To have been consistent and fair, Canalys should have included tablets in their latest report for Mainland China that would have catapulted Apple to at least the second position.
Executive producers Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto attend Apples WeCrashed premiere at the Academy Museum. WeCrashed premieres globally Friday, March 18th, 2022 on Apple TV+.

Yesterday at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, Apple TV+ held the world premiere event for "WeCrashed," the highly anticipated limited series inspired by actual events.

Based on the hit Wondery podcast "WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork," the series hails from Lee Eisenberg and Drew Crevello, stars Academy Award and SAG Award winners Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway, and is inspired by actual events  and the love story at the center of it all. WeWork grew from a single coworking space into a global brand worth $47 billion in under a decade. Then, in less than a year, its valuation dropped $40 billion. What happened? The series also stars Kyle Marvin, alongside America Ferrera and O-T Fagbenle.

The series premiere globally on Apple TV+ starts today, March 18, 2022, with the first three episodes, followed by one new episode weekly each Friday during its eight-episode season through April 22, 2022.

(Click on image to Greatly Enlarge)

Peter Jacobson, showrunner/creator/writer/executive producer Drew Crevello, Kyle Marvin, executive producer Anne Hathaway, executive producer Jared Leto, O-T Fagbenle and showrunner/creator/writer/executive producer Lee Eisenberg attend Apples WeCrashed premiere screening at the Academy Museum. WeCrashed premieres globally Friday, March 18th, 2022 on Apple TV+.

WeCrashed is created by Emmy-nominated Eisenberg (Spirit Award-nominated Little America, Good Boys) and Crevello (The Long Dark), who also serve as co-writers, executive producers and co-showrunners, and is directed by Requa and Ficarra (This is Us, Crazy, Stupid, Love). Requa and Ficarra executive produce alongside Gogolak, Hathaway and Sandy. Leto and Ludbrook executive produce through their Paradox production company and Hernan Lopez, Lewy and Hart executive produce from Wondery.

Pinecone & Pony

Yesterday released the trailer for "Pinecone & Pony," an all-new kids series from DreamWorks Animation, First Generation Films and bestselling author Kate Beaton, and unveiled the trailer ahead of the series premiere on Friday, April 8 on Apple TV+.

Based on the book The Princess and the Pony by New York Times bestselling author Beaton, and hailing from DreamWorks Animation and First Generation Films, Pinecone & Pony is an eight-episode animated comedy for kids and families about a young girl named Pinecone who, with the help of her best friend Pony, is learning that theres more than one way to be a warrior. Together theyll show their world how to challenge expectations, and that life can be a fun-filled adventure if you let it.

Archive: Apple TV News
COLOMBO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has informed the Energy Ministry to prioritize the tourism sector when distributing gas and fuel as the country faced a shortage in both commodities due to a foreign exchange crisis, an official said on Friday.

An official from the Tourism Ministry told Xinhua that Minister Ranatunga held discussions with the energy minister this week so that the tourism sector could continue operations without any setbacks.

According to official figures, nearly 235,000 tourists have arrived in the country so far this year and nearly 50,000 tourists were currently in the country.

During discussions, Ranatunga pointed out that it was in the national interest to provide assistance to the tourism industry as the sector was one of the largest foreign exchange earners.

Sri Lanka has in recent months been facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has led to a fuel, gas and power crisis.

In a televised speech delivered on Wednesday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged people to remain patient while the government was in discussions with friendly nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to come out of this shortage. 
Higher oil prices are set to lead to a 10% increase in airfares, according to the boss of one of the world's biggest airlines.



Delta Air Lines head Ed Bastian told the BBC the final impact "really depends on where fuel prices settle".



Oil prices have reached 14-year highs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.



Emirates, Japan Airlines and AirAsia are among the big carriers to introduce surcharges on their tickets recently to cover the higher cost of jet fuel.



Before the pandemic, in 2019, 200 million customers flew on Delta, making it the world's second-biggest airline by passenger numbers.



Mr Bastian said that on a domestic US flight the rise in fuel prices "is probably about $25 on a ticket, that could be anywhere between 5% to 10% at these high levels of oil... and international [flights] will be a bit higher than that".



Delta is planning to introduce fuel surcharges on the international flights which account for about 35% of its business, and increase US ticket prices.



Jet fuel is one of the biggest costs for airlines. Michael O'Leary, the boss of Europe's biggest carrier Ryanair, said recently that the surge in oil prices would lead to "materially higher" airfares this summer.



Many airlines try to protect themselves from these changes by buying fuel in advance. Easyjet and British Airways both said recently that they had done so for 60% of their fuel needs this year.



This year has seen big fluctuations. At the start of January, Brent crude - the international benchmark for oil - was under $80 a barrel, but it recently reached as high as almost $130 as the US and UK said they would end their use of oil from the world's biggest exporter, Russia.



More price swings are likely in the short-term according to the executive director of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol. He told the BBC: "I think the $100 [oil] we are experiencing today may not be the highest level of prices we'll be seeing in the next weeks".



He warns that will be felt across all areas of the global economy because as well as higher transport costs it will lead to more expensive heating and electricity. That would exacerbate the cost of living crisis many countries are facing.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine and said he would resist calls to condemn Russia, in comments that cast doubt over whether he would be accepted by Ukraine or the West as a mediator.



"The war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from amongst its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less, instability in the region," Ramaphosa said in response to questions in parliament.



But he added that South Africa "cannot condone the use of force and violation of international law" - an apparent reference to Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.



President Vladimir Putin has characterised Russia's actions as a "special operation" to disarm and "denazify" Ukraine and counter what he calls NATO aggression.



Kyiv and its Western allies believe Russia launched the unprovoked war to subjugate a neighbour Putin calls an artificial state.



Ramaphosa also revealed that Putin had assured him personally that negotiations were making progress. The South African leader said he had not yet talked with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but that he wanted to.



On Friday, Ramaphosa said South Africa had been asked to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He did not say who had asked him to intervene.



"There are those who are insisting that we should take a very adversarial stance against Russia. The approach we are going to take (instead) is ... insisting that there should be dialogue," Ramaphosa added. "Screaming and shouting is not going to bring an end to this conflict."



Ramaphosa's African National Congress party, which has governed South Africa since white minority rule ended in 1994, had strong ties to the former Soviet Union, which trained and supported anti-apartheid activists during the Cold War.



For that reason, South Africa is sometimes eyed with suspicion among Russia's rivals in the West, although it has still enjoyed a high level of diplomatic clout relative to its economic size since its peaceful transition to democracy.



South Africa's historic refusal to take sides meant "some are even approaching us on a role that we can play (mediating)," Ramaphosa said on Thursday.



"We never want to pretend we have a great influence that other countries have, but we are being approached. (To) condemn one (side) ... forecloses the role we could play," he added.

Source: REUTERS









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ms. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to the African Union, says African leaders must constantly engage citizens on the state of their countries in the governance process.



The lack of such engagement, she said, had resulted in the spate of coup detats in some African countries as the lack of trust in governance presented less confidence of citizens in the actions of a government to do what was right and perceived fair.



She said trust in government was one of the most important foundations upon which the legitimacy and sustainability of political systems were built.



She noted that, in Africa, the way democratic and governance processes were characterized was almost as though people elected democratic leaders to think and act for them and that it was important to appreciate that constant communication and continuous interaction with the citizens was key.



Ms. Tetteh said trust, through effective engagement, was essential for social cohesion and well-being as it affected governments ability to govern and enabled the citizens to act without having to resort to coercion.



The UN Special Envoy to the AU, sharing her thoughts during a panel discussion at the African Union Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Change of Government in Africa held in Accra, explained that to examine what influenced trust in government, the preferences of the citizens needed to be compared to their perceptions of the functioning of government.



Leadership elected should govern with the people not to think for them and assume that they knew what they wanted to have at a particular point, she said.



She stressed that, we need to start looking at the process of governance as a continuance of constant engagement with the citizens  the very people who put leadership in power in the first place and that the assumption of a top-down approach would be absolved because there was unceasing conversation and engagement.



Ms. Tetteh, also the Head of the UN Office to the AU said considering the state of governance in Africa continuous engagement was important because it was the fractures in the State governance that had led to the situation of the seeming spike of coup detats currently being witnessed in Africa.



Why is it that when there were these coup detats in the past in West Africa, they were welcomed by especially young and frustrated people who were unemployed and probably thought that having a military leadership was going to offer something different for them, she wondered.



Ms. Tetteh said it was because when there were imminent challenges in the body politics and challenges with civilian or military governments, there was no sufficient engagement with the people to enable them to understand the difficulties to proffer alternative solutions.



Therefore, she said, with the current state of governance, ensuring that inclusion was not mere rhetoric was key and suggested that refining the governance system for continuous engagement to become the norm in ways that respect democratic principles and tenets.



Again, she said respecting the opposition was significant, explaining that governance must not be about the party in government neither a party in opposition without thinking about the people who elected both parties otherwise it became an elite power play.



It has become a question of who is able to get the better sound bite, who is able to make the better argument and who is able to bring people along with their way of thinking at a point in time, she said.



That, she added, was the reason African leaders must move away from thinking of politics as an elite interaction and zero sum game that does not reflect the people who were the majority of any society and ensuring that it was done in ways that respond to the needs of the people.



Ms. Tetteh, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, said a system that was inclusive and democracies that were not responsive to African values simply meant that effective engagements were not being effective as those were fundamentals in the governance process.



She suggested that the solutions to nipping the phenomenon of the increasing coups in the bud, was not about new norms and principles, but it is about ensuring that the structures, including civil society, public service, political leadership among others, and the citizenry worked more effectively.

Source: GNA









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An attempt by security personnel to move traders plying their business along the main Bawku-Bolgatanga highway on Thursday morning turned chaotic and resulted in injuries to some people.



The traders reportedly opposed the move and ended up exchanging words with the security personnel.



A reporter from the Bawku-based Sunshine FM who reportedly rushed to the scene to report on the development was allegedly assaulted by the security personnel, reports Gilbert Mawuli Agbey, Graphic Online's reporter in the Upper East Region.



The Sunshine FM reporter, identified as Robert Atiiga was reportedly beaten by the security personnel when he was seen at the scene of the incident.



Due to the volatile security situation in Bawku, the traders moved out of the main market premises to the roadside to ply their trade along the highway.



At about 7:30am Thursday, a combined team of security personnel made up of police and military reportedly stormed the area and ordered the traders to move back to the market.



It resulted in exchanges between the security officers and the traders.



In the process, some food items and foodstuffs were destroyed, allegedly by the security officers.



On the alleged assault of the Sunshine FM reporter, the manager of the radio station, Madinatu Ahmed told Graphic Online that it took her intervention to get Atiiga released by the security personnel.



She said she went to the scene when she was informed that Atiiga had been detained even though he had his identity card with him and was wearing a jacket with Sunshine FM embossed on it.



She alleged that when she got to the scene and asked why the reporter had been assaulted and detained: "I was surprised that one of the personnel said if I don't leave the scene, I should be stripped naked or gunned down."



She said after a while Atiiga was released and he has since lodged a formal complaint with the police and has been issued with a medical form for medical attention.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The payment of royalties from quarry and limestone mining activities have gone up by 105 per cent and 125 per cent respectively in the past two years since the setting up of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

Consequently, the fund is expecting royalty payments due the government from all non-gold minerals to increase in similar fashion due to a collaborative framework between the MIIF and some partners.



The framework is part of a strategy MIIF has put together to enhance the collection of royalties, expand the royalties net and streamline communication on royalties payments from non-gold mining activities such as manganese, salt, and limestone and quarrying.



The collaboration, which was initiated in December 2021, has improved the efficiency in collections by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which is responsible for the collection of royalties on behalf of MIIF, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) which assesses standards and accurate production measurements of minerals and the Minerals Commission (MINCOM), the regulator of the mining sector.



Since the initiative, MIIF for the first time in its two-year history has started receiving royalties from sand winners, with royalties from quarries and limestone activities surging 105 per cent and 125 per cent respectively, year to date.



Prior to the inter-agency framework, operators in quarries, limestone mines, salt and sand winning activities either did not honour payments or underpaid their royalties.



Mineral Royalties are payments made by all mining companies to the government through MIIF for the right to continuous production from a particular mine.



Royalties are typically agreed as a percentage of gross or net production of every mineral including salt, limestone, and sand winning and quarrying activities.



Increase in royalties



During an interaction with journalists in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, expressed the confidence that royalties from non-gold producers would see an upturn by the end of the year.



He also said the gold sector, which constituted about 92 per cent of the mineral royalties, was also expected to see production increase with new mines coming on board.



That, Mr Koranteng stated, was supported by a rise in gold price on the back of global economic uncertainty, a seeming weaker United States dollar and increased geopolitical tensions highlighted by the Russia-Ukraine war.



We expect new manganese mines to be announced soon as well as additional discoveries of Barite and Lithium. My optimism is, however, premised on the measures we have taken with this inter-agency collaboration which include an inter-agency task force for non-gold minerals which could see royalties from activities such as quarrying, limestone and sand winning going up by over 100 per cent, for each stream in 2022, he added.



Mr Koranteng also expressed gratitude to the Chief Executives of the Minerals Commission and GSA, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, and Professor Alex Dodoo respectively, as well as the Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, for agreeing to collaborate with the MIIF on the initiative.



He, therefore, stated that since the initiative started in December 2021, MIIF for the first time in its two-year history had started receiving royalties from sand winners with royalties from quarries and limestone activities surging 105 per cent and 125 per cent respectively, year to date.



Mr Koranteng, however, noted that there was still a huge gap between the actual and the with regards to royalties from the above stated minerals adding he intends to intensify efforts under the initiative.



Mr Koranteng further stated that the quarry sector, for example, should be giving the country at least GH50 million a year, but only brought in about GH3.8 million in 2020.



Objectives of MIIF



For Mr Koranteng, the objectives of MIIF in the strategic collaboration is to actualise the Presidents vision of guaranteeing the future wealth of Ghanaians through MIIF.



That, he said, would be done by investing Ghanas mineral wealth in profitable asset classes that would yield dividends for future generations.









Source: graphiconline.com









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NEW DELHI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Four laborers were killed and one went missing Friday after a mudslide hit them in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said.

Two laborers have been rescued from the spot and hospitalized immediately.

The mudslide buried the laborers at a construction site in Kalamassery near Kochi of Ernakulam district, about 217 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala.

The victims were identified as migrant workers from the eastern Indian state of West Bengal.

"Four migrant laborers were killed and two rescued in injured condition in a mudslide that took place at a construction site at Electronics City in Kalamassery-Kochi," Ernakulam district collector, Jafar Malik told media. "One worker is still trapped under the debris."

Authorities are using heavy machinery and earthmovers to trace the missing.

According to police, sniffer dogs have also been brought to the spot to help with the rescue work.

Authorities have ordered a probe into the accident to ascertain the reason that led to the killing of four workers. 
The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has given a two-week ultimatum to squatters on the premises of the Tema General Hospital to vacate or face forceful eviction.

Although the hospital is walled, some private individuals and squatters have managed to move into the facility, encroached undeveloped lands and constructed makeshift places of residence.



The Chief Executive of the TMA, Yohane Amarh Ashitey, issued the ultimatum when he went on a tour of the facility last Tuesday.



It followed appeals from staff of the hospital who complained that the makeshift structures within the facility posed a threat to their safety.



The staff said the situation had compromised security at the hospital, especially at the quarters where health personnel resided.



Indeed, some of the squatters have found home on the hospitals premises as a solution to their accommodation problems.



Others, who were employed as casual workers of the hospital, over time put up structures which they now call home on the blind side of the hospital management.



One of the squatters, who gave his name as Paul, said he was initially engaged as a casual employee by the hospital and had his contract renewed on each expiry, but his service was eventually terminated after more than 10 years without any benefits paid to him.



He said he had already put up a structure for his family there so they decided to stay on.



Other squatters also explained that they were having challenges securing accommodation in town so they moved in to join friends and relations who already had makeshift structures around the undeveloped lands within the hospital premises.



Illegal structures



During his tour, Mr Ashitey expressed regret about the level of encroachment within the facility and indicated that the TMA would enforce every available regulation to remove the unauthorised structures.



He indicated that apart from ejecting the squatters from the Tema General Hospital, the TMA would go ahead with its planned demolition exercise of illegal structures dotted along the highway spanning the Tema Harbour roundabout to the Tema Motorway intersection, expected to affect over 500 structures.



He said the assembly would also move into the various communities to demolish illegal structures at unapproved places.



Mr Ashitey later told the Daily Graphic that the TMA would not countenance illegality and would ensure that the rule of law prevailed in the metropolis at all times.



If we are to make Tema shine again, then we must make sure discipline and rule of law prevails and is working to help us change the face of the metropolis, he said.



Traders



In a related development, the TMA has asked traders operating on the Twedaase Junior High School park at Tema Community One  created to cater for the exigences brought on by COVID-19  to relocate to the main Community One Market within two weeks.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Minister of Trade and Industry, John Alan KwadwoKyerematen, has disclosed that government, since the implementation of its flagship programme, One District, One Factory, has released GH273,055,513 to 15 Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) between 2017 and 2021.



The amount is for the payment of interest subsidies to de-risk loans granted to beneficiary companies by the PFIs.



The institutions are Ghana Commercial Bank, GH50.1 million, Ecobank, GH32 million, Phoenix, GH25.4 million, Universal Merchant Bank, GH20 million, Agricultural Development Bank, GH3.7 million, Prudential Bank, GH80.3 million, and Consolidated Bank Ghana, GH23.1 million,



The rest are Cal Bank, GH6.7 million, Standard Chartered Bank, GH6.5 million, ABSA, GH7 million, Stanbic Bank, GH1.2, Republic Bank, GH1.5 million, Ghana Exim, GH14.4 million, SG-SSB, GH638, 729, and Fidelity Bank, GH90,000.



Mr Speaker, as at December 2021, a total amount of GH156,915,494 out of the GH273,055,513 has been disbursed by the PFIs (to 77) beneficiary companies, MrKyerematen said in an answer to a Parliamentary question asked by Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Member for Ellembele.



Additionally, Mr Kyerematen said an amount of GH14.4 million disbursed to the EXIM Bank was used to support 60 other companies.



Mr Speaker, the remaining balance of GH101,732, 211 which is held by 13 PFIs will be drawn down as and when interest payments associated with the repayments of the loan facility.



The companies are into the manufacturing of food and beverages, textiles and agro-processing amongst others.



Mr Kyerematen meanwhile told the House in a related question that the government had to a large extent ensured the timely release of the funds as interest subsidies to de-risk loans provided by the PFIs.



Mr Speaker, any delays that have occurred in the payment of interest subsidies could be attributed to either delays in the release of funds from the Ministry of Finance or delays in the processing of loan applications of 1D1F companies by PFIs.



He recommitted the government to the programme which has seen to the establishment of 106 private led companies.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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A fight between a group of women in West Palm Beach, Florida, ended with one woman dead and it was all livestreamed on Instagram.



Palm Beach Police have arrested the woman named Jasmine Nelson, who allegedly shot and killed her opponent during what police are calling a fistfight turned deadly.



The fight broke out on Monday, March 14.



In the livestreamed video, which has now been viewed by millions of people, a group of girls are seen jumping the victim.



Then, a woman resembling Jasmine is seen rushing towards the victim waving a gun.



The woman in the video appears to swing the gun at the victim, as if to pistol whip her. Unfortunately, the gun went off and hit the victim, and she collapsed.



When police arrived, they found the victim, whose name has not been released, lying on the pavement in the parking lot of the park. She was pronounced dead by West Palm Beach Fire Rescue.



Police say that Jasmine, 32, is the woman in the video who took out a handgun during the brawl and shot a 26-year-old woman, who died at the scene.



Jasmine is now facing one count of second-degree murder remains in the Palm Beach County Jail.

One dead after shooting in West Palm Beach pic.twitter.com/ro7xQY9kQB  ipoppingvideos (@ipoppingvideos) March 16, 2022















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Ghana is set to host the external court session of the Community Court of Justice, (CCJ) ECOWAS, for the first time since its introduction in March 2007 in Mali.



Sixty pending cases have been listed for the session, and they are scheduled to take place at the Law Court Complex in Accra over 11 days, from Monday March 21, 2022, as per the Cause List released by the Court.



Judgments are scheduled for delivery in 25 of the cases listed for the external sitting in Accra while the remaining 35 are for hearing.



The external court session which is a key element of the ECOWAS Courts annual work programme is being hosted by Ghana this year, in response to several requests.



The essence of the program is to bring justice to the common man at the Communitys grassroots, especially the indigent citizens who could otherwise not afford the cost and logistics of travelling to the seat of the Court in Abuja to access justice, the President of the Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante said.



Furthermore, the President said the session avails the Court of the opportunity for judicial dialogue with national courts of Member States and exposes lawyers and Community citizens to the Practice and Procedure of a regional international court.



It also enables the Court to engage with high political authorities of the host member state and serves as a citizen

outreach opportunity for the Court on its competence, mandate as well as practice and procedure of the Court.



Citing Article 26 (2) of the 1991 Protocol on the Court, Justice Asante said the protocol allows the Court to undertake such sessions in the territory of member state outside the Headquarters of the Court where circumstances or facts of the case so demand and based on an order of the Court convened by its President.



The order for the Accra session was dated 29th October 2021 and signed by Justice Asante.



Justice Asante said that since its introduction, similar sessions have been held in Niamey, Ouagadougou, Porto-Novo, Ibadan (Nigeria), Lome, Guinea Bissau, Abidjan (twice) and Bamako.



Despite the importance of the session, the President said it could not be held in 2019 and 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic which compelled the Court to integrate remote hearings for cases, including the external court session.



The session is expected to be declared open on Monday, March 21, 2022 by the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is also the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

Source: 3news.com









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The CEO of Ghana Digital Centres Ltd (GDCL), Hon. Kwadwo Baah Agyeman along with his management team held talks with Crossword Cybersecurity Plc based in the UK on Monday, 14th March 2022.



Crossword Cybersecurity Plc is a technology commercialisation, cyber security consulting and SOC monitoring & threat intelligence company with vast experience across multiple continents.



The maiden meeting held in their London office at the invitation of the company was a very fruitful one with a proposed partnership aimed at achieving the following strategic objectives:



1. Create an enabling environment for Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO)

2. Facilitate digital transformation underpinned by cyber security

3. Create jobs and employment avenues for the youth in Ghana.



In his opening remarks, the Division Managing Director - Jon OBrien indicated his company's excitement at the initiative and praised Ghanas efforts at prioritising cyber security in our digital transformation agenda.



He also affirmed their preparedness to work with GDCL in particular and Ghana as a whole by availing their immense expertise and resources to help achieve GDCLs objectives.



In his closing statement, the CEO of GDCL thanked the team and affirmed his commitment as well as that of his sector Minister, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, in ensuring that the Ghanaian youth are equipped with the needed skills in cyber security and the desired jobs.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Social commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has lambasted the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin and the Minority members in Parliament over their remarks regarding the Supreme Court's verdict on Deputy Speakers' right to take part in decision-making in Parliament.



On Wednesday, March 9, the Supreme Court 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".



Following the court decision, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin described the verdict as a ''reckless incursion''.



The Speaker, issuing a statement on the ruling, said; ''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 Speaker also encouraged the applicant to go for a review arguing that ''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''.



Making his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Allotey Jacobs expressed his intense dislike for the comments made by the Speaker and the turn of events in the August House of Parliament.



He believed all the happenings that have characterized the Legislative House is a mere struggle for power by the NDC Minority.



According to him, the aim of the Minority is to make the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo unpopular to Ghanaians, so they vote against the party in the next general elections.



"It's a struggle for power. That this is the strategy, let's go ahead and do it so that, by 2024, Ghanaians will be fed up with the NPP and the NPP is also making little [little] mistakes which they can't manage. So, it emboldens the opposition but, strictly speaking, the government is doing its best," he stated.



Allotey Jacobs called on Ghanaians not to be deceived by the political struggle but rather to unite behind a common goal.



"This is now time for us, as Ghanaians, to come together as one and make sure this nation survives," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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U.S. President, Joe Biden has signed legislative action to provide new $800m additional security aid and support to Ukraine following his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelensky's impassioned call for help and leadership delivered to Congress on Wednesday, March 16.



"The world is united in our support for Ukraine and our determination to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin pay a very heavy price," Biden said before signing a presidential memorandum at the White House to deliver the military assistance.



"America is leading this effort, together with our allies and partners, providing an enormous level of security and humanitarian assistance that we're adding to today and we're going to continue to do more in the days and weeks ahead."



During Zelensky's address to US members of Congress, he made more calls for more assistance as his homeland continues to battle Russian military's invasion.



"You are the leader of your grand nation," Zelensky told Biden. "I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace."



Biden, in his remarks on Wednesday, said



"I want to be honest with you. This could be a long and difficult battle. But the American people will be steadfast in our support of the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin's immoral, unethical attacks on civilian population."



According to the White House, the $800 million in security assistance will provide Ukraine with: 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 100 drones, "over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds," 25,000 sets of body armor, 25,000 helmets, 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, 400 shotguns, as well as "2,000 Javelin, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems."



The US will also provide Switchblade drones to Ukraine. The small, portable, so-called kamikaze drones carry warheads and detonate on impact.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The mayor of Ukraine's southern city of Melitopol has been released, days after Kyiv said he was abducted by invading Russian forces.



In a phone call shared by the Ukrainian government, Ivan Fedorov thanked the president for not 'abandoning' him and said he will be ready to serve again after 'one or two days to recover'.



Before his release, Fedorov was seen in chilling CCTV footage with a plastic bag placed over his head as he was escorted out of a building and across Melitopol's Victory Square by 10 armed men on last Friday.



Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky called for help from Germany and France to secure Fedorov's release and the kidnap was also condemned by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a post on Twitter.



According to the Ukrainian president and parliament, mayor Ivan Fedorov was abducted because he 'refused to cooperate with the enemy'.



On Wednesday a video posted on Telegram showed President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to him on the phone and telling him he was 'happy to hear the voice of a man alive'.



President Volodymyr Zelensky phones freed mayor of Melitopol.



Fedorov replies he is 'much better'.



'Thank you for not abandoning me. I will need one or two days to recover and then I will be at your disposal to contribute to our victory,' he says.



In response, President Zelensky reportedly said: 'We don't abandon our own.'



Dasha Zarivna, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian presidency, said on Ukrainian television late Wednesday that Federov was swapped for nine captured Russian soldiers, aged 20 and 21.



'These are basically children, conscripts, who according to the Russian defence ministry are not present in Ukraine,' Zarivna said.



'But the whole world sees again that they are there.'



The parliament said the mayor was seized while at the city's crisis centre dealing with supply issues.









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The All Peoples Congress (APC) has blamed the pace of socio-economic development on the monetisation of politics in the country.



It alleged that the monetisation of politics had always been an issue for discussion, especially because after the elections members of the winning party who find themselves in government, had to find a way of reimbursing their benefactors.



While some have blamed the phenomenon on the demands by the electorates during elections, others think political parties should adopt different strategies to generate funds, the party stated.



Hassan Ayariga, founder and leader of APC, noted that leaders of the country must prioritise investing into the economy rather than pursuing their personal agenda due to huge amount of money spent on campaign to win the elections which can result in wastage in the system so our leaders need to be practical and pragmatic.



I think we spend more money campaigning to be president than investing in changing the economy of our country because there is so much wastage and that is why we need to get practical and pragmatic leaders that can transform the economy andnot political platform leaders pursuing their personal agenda after winning the elections, he decried.



Mr Ayariga cited shelter, food, health, education, infrastructure as the basic necessities of life leadership need to take care of to overcome problems and challenges after 65 years and lamented over deplorable road network across the country, adding that Ghana was currently bankrupt due to mismanagement of the economy.



He explained that the downgrade of the economy and its attendant debt crisis must be an issue of interest to policy makers because he had done better for himself than the leaders had achieved for the country after 65 years of independence.



According to him, he was not even 50 years old but had achieved better than the nation had and attributed the situation to excessive borrowing to the extent where she could no longer borrow again hence the downgrading to C which meant she could not pay debts.



Mr Ayariga insisted that the country was not broke but bankrupt and useless to the extent that financial institutions were no longer willing to lend her money and further alleged the country had been mortgaged for the next generation, MrAyarigaqueried.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Xi stresses joint China-U.S. efforts for world peace, tranquility

Xinhua) 22:51, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi made the remarks in a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden at the latter's request.

Noting the international landscape has experienced new major developments since their first virtual meeting last November, Xi said the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges, and the world is neither tranquil nor stable.

"The Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see," Xi said.

The events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone's interest, and peace and security are what the international community should treasure the most, he added.

"As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's two leading economies, we must not only guide the China-U.S. relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility," Xi said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji)
NEW DELHI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- India's Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said Thursday the country's merchandise export is likely to cross 400 billion U.S. dollars.

"India's merchandise exports have reached almost 390 billion dollars as of March 14 and will certainly cross 400 billion dollars in the current fiscal," Goyal said while addressing the seventh technology summit 2022 in New Delhi.

Goyal said India's auto components industry had, for the first time, recorded a trade surplus of 600 million dollars.

"It may be noted that India's automotive industry is worth more than 100 billion U.S. dollars and contributes 8 percent of country's total export and accounts for 2.3 percent of India's GDP and is set to become the third-largest in the world by 2025," he said.

Goyal cautioned automakers that the cost of not investing in innovation would be inevitable obsolescence.

The minister appreciated the resilient auto industry players, and asked the automotive industry to work on improving the e-mobility ecosystem, including fuel cell vehicles with hydrogen storage, higher Lithium-Ion battery capacity at a low price and better charging infrastructure. 
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, has allegedly sent a request for more cash to cover his medical bills in Dubai.



Mr. Bagbin, who claims he travelled with four people on his recent trip, in less than a week after jetting out of the country, is said to have asked for an additional $50,000, having claimed $120,000 already, sources indicated.



With the latest request, Mr. Bagbin would have blown $170,000 on this current trip.



Information gleaned from the corridors of Parliament indicates that this is not the first time the Speaker is making such a request for extra money. According to a source, in July last year, when the Speaker made his first official trip to Dubai for his medical care, he went with a spending money of $150,000, after which he demanded an additional $100,000, but Parliament was able to raise $90,000, bringing the total to $240,000.



Mr. Bagbins trips to Dubai are making him the most expensive Speaker in the Fourth Republic, using the first 14 months of previous Speakers tenure as a yardstick.



The sources alleged that the Speaker stays in a four-bed suite in a hotel reserved for Presidents in Dubai.



The Speaker, who is on his fifth trip, where he spends an average of $200,000, has already spent $1.1million.



Alban Bagbin recently stirred the hornets nest with his unverified statement that he is the least travelled Speaker in the Fourth Republic.



He may have not travelled to several countries, but his constant trips to Dubai for medical care and number of days spent appear to surpass previous Speakers expenditure list.



The Speaker on March 7, 2022, in the course of defending his Dubai medical trips, claimed that he is the least travelled, and asked his critics to turn their attention to other leaders of the House.

Source: Vincent Kubi/Daily Guide









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The US government has dismissed as fake the reports that the detained Nigerian influencer Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, executed a $400,000 (304,000) internet fraud from prison.



Hushpuppi, 37, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates in 2020 for crimes that cost victims almost $24m, and is currently in a US jail awaiting sentencing having pleaded guilty to money laundering.



On Thursday, a document emerged on social media claiming that the FBI filed new evidence against Hushpuppi on Wednesday for defrauding Americans using prison internet facilities.



It is not clear where the document originated from yet it has gone viral on Twitter and been reported by many news organisations.



However an official of the US Department of Justice told the BBC that the US Attorneys Office in Los Angeles, which filed the case against Hushpuppi, has not filed any such document.



"The document appears to have been fabricated... We have checked with the FBI who supposedly authored the document, and they confirm it is a fake," an official said.



Hushpuppi is known for posting photos of his lavish lifestyle on Instagram, where he has 2.5m followers. In one scheme, Hushpuppi attempted to steal more than $1.1m from someone who wanted to fund a new children's school in Qatar, court documents said.

Source: BBC









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......Urges Gender Activists To Speak Up For Men!





A former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honorable Rachel Appoh, has slammed Abena Korkor accusing the mental health advocate of taking advantage of her medical condition to soil the image of high profiled men in the country.

The former Gomoa Central MP has therefore urged Ghanaian female activists to change into gender activists and speak on behalf of men because some females use that as an opportunity to disgrace men.



Abena Korkors expose of married and high profile personalities who have slept with her, though blamed on her bi-polar disorder, appears to be a given. Earlier this week, the socialite trended like crazy after she published names of some top celebrities she has allegedly slept with.



But it seems some women are unenthused about her exploits, especially the former NDC MP.



In a viral video, Rachel Appoh said; Fellow Ghanaians, I think its high time we female activists turn to gender activists and speak on behalf of our men. We always speak on behalf of females and following that, some women take this advantage to disgrace men.



She further threw shades went hard on controversial former TV3 presenter, telling her that speaking good grammar is not a sign of smartness and intelligence.



Abena Korkor, people build up their career and you just get up one day to pull down their reputation. Give birth to a man, bring him up, let someone disgrace him and see how painful it is. Speaking good grammar does not make you intelligent. Speaking good grammar doesnt make you smart. Be smart and intelligent, she fumed.



Rachel didnt end it there but went ahead to draw her attention on the disruption she is administering on the wives of the men she claims to have slept with.



She said; You always claim you sleep with men. Have you realized how much you torture their wives? Female activists are not speaking for you because we have realized you are not sick. You are just eager to become famous. Have you realized the state of the wives of Abeiku Santana, Stonebwoy and Sammy Awuku? What prove have you got? Provide your proof. Provide videos and pictures so we will know someone came to your house. After you take a picture with someone, you claim to sleep with him. You are a disgrace to women. Will you shut up for once?

Source: Peacefmonline.com/GHANA









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Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that the Governemnt of Ghana has commenced engagements with international TV platforms to host more Ghanaian TV channels on their global platforms.



The move is aimed at increasing Ghanaian medias access to international markets and broadcast Ghanaian contents globally.





According to the Minister, this forms part of government plans to increase international viewership of locally produced television content and acquire a larger global audience for Ghanaian TV stations.



The Ministry of Information is commencing engagements with global broadcasting regulators through embassies in Ghana to facilitate the hosting of Ghanaian TV channels, which promote Ghanas economic and investment potential on international transmitting channels. We believe this will assist Ghanas investment and tourist potential and opportunities in global marketing.



It will also aid in the export of Ghanas multimedia content into the foreign market and the growth of the global market share of local television networks; eventually, this should increase export income accruing to the Ghanaian economy. Already, we have received a request from some Ghanaian TV networks and bouquet providers, and we will do all that is within our power to assist them in entering global markets, he said.



The Minister made the disclosure during the release party of CNBC Africas Greatest Star Documentary Film on Ghana on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.



He said there are hosts of advantages Ghana stands to benefit should Ghanaian media content make it to the global scene.



Outlining some of the advantages, the Minister said it will help Ghana build a global presence for TV content and establish an international voice for Ghana.



This Mr. Oppong Nkrumah reiterated the call, especially to production and media houses of Ghanaian origin, to also develop content that markets Ghanas opportunities and potential to local and international audiences.



He said this will be a good contribution to growing the Ghanaian economy.







Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Cannabis company Hexo Corp. reported a net loss of $690.3 million in its latest quarter as it recorded $616 million in one-time impairment charges. A Hexo Corp. employee examines cannabis plants in one of the company's greenhouses, seen during a tour of the facility, Thursday, October 11, 2018 in Masson Angers, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Folk duo The Small Glories will be coming to Petersburg next week to perform at the Wright Auditorium, bringing with them a Canadian flavor of Americana music.

Members JD Edwards and Cara Luft first met at the West End Cultural Centre's 25th anniversary celebration in Winnipeg when they were paired up to perform at the event along with other artists from across the province.

Both were raised by the charm of folk music-Luft's parents were folk musicians and Edwards listened to a Bob Dylan record in his father's collection at age 14 and never looked back-so when they got on stage for the firs...
by Guo Shuang and Martina Fuchs

LONDON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Former British Business Secretary Vince Cable has urged the West to accept that the center of gravity of the world's economy has moved to Asia.

"We have to accept that this is a new reality, and the mentality has to change. The center of gravity of the world's economy has moved to Asia," said Cable, who served as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from 2010 to 2015.

Cable, currently a professor in practice at the London School of Economics and Political Science, mentioned "Davos China" in his book "The Chinese Conundrum: Engagement or Conflict" published last year.

"This is a China that wants to engage globally, through trade and investment, participating in multilateral institutions and contributing to dealing with collective problems," he wrote in the book.

Commenting on China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said, "If we can make that happen, and that is desirable, clearly."

In a recent speech, Cable told a joke when talking about the U.S. outrageous demands on China.

"If the Chinese were to say 'Ok, we are not going to sit down with you in the United States, and talk about trade unless you repeal Section II of the American Constitution (referring to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution) that gives people the right to carry guns. We in China are very upset at seeing people being killed in America in shooting incidents.'"

Cable said he referred to the rights of Americans to own guns because many would see the right to own guns "a terrible abuse of human rights."

"But at the moment, the Chinese are not saying you must get rid of your constitutional rights so that we can trade with you, and that would be considered a joke," Cable told Xinhua.

"There is what's called one-way traffic that people in the West are saying you must change your system because we don't like human rights abuses or whatever," he continued. "There has to be a level playing field on these arguments."

"Human rights are not just a Western concept," Cable said. "I think the West needs to accept that in China, there is an additional dimension to human rights that we perhaps don't appreciate. One of which is the need to emphasize the movement out of poverty, which has been a big achievement in China."

Cable hopes that there is a recognition in the world that disengagement is a bad process. "It's fuelling suspicion, and it's becoming a vicious circle. We have to live together, work together, and have a shared economy," he said.

Cable stressed that hostile rhetoric only leads to stereotypes and mistrust and negatively impacts the global economy.

But "a lot of investment is still happening despite the rhetoric. There are a lot of Chinese companies investing abroad and foreign companies going to China, particularly in the finance sector," he said, noting that the British welcomes Chinese investments. 
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Bowling Green, MO (63334)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
MOSCOW/BERLIN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that Moscow is ready to search for solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during negotiations with the Ukrainian side.

Putin criticized Kiev for "trying to delay the negotiation process in every way possible, putting forward more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said.

Putin said the solutions the Russian side was searching for would be in line with its "principled approaches."

During the conversation, Scholz called for a ceasefire, improvement in the humanitarian situation, and a diplomatic solution to the conflict as soon as possible, according to a statement issued by the German government.

Putin also mentioned Russia's humanitarian work in Mariupol, and efforts carried out by Russian armed forces to save the lives of civilians by opening humanitarian corridors and evacuating people.

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Thursday that it would take between a few days and a week and a half for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held several rounds of negotiations in a bid to broker a solution to the conflict between the two countries. 
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COLUMBIA  Columbia police arrested Kejuan Boyce in relation to what they called "a running gun battle" that killed one and wounded four during a party held at a Columbia apartment that caters to college students.

Boyce, 23, of Columbia, faces charges of murder and possession of a firearm. Boyce was out on a $500 bond after an arrest on an unlawful weapons possession charge in Spartanburg County a year ago, according to court records.

"There are going to be more arrests in this case," Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook promised.

Officers responded to the incident, which involved multiple shooters, shortly before 2 a.m. March 13 at the Greene Crossing Apartments, located at 810 Pulaski St. near Colonial Life Arena. People were running and driving away when officers arrived.

An argument inside one of the apartments instigated the gunfire.

Jamaica Dowling, a 20-year-old of Blythewood, died. Four others were wounded  men ranging in age from 16 to 22.

"She was a victim of this gunfire that was perpetrated by people with no respect for human life, in complete disregard for the consequences," Holbrook told reporters March 17.

Holbrook described the shooters as "brazen" as security footage showed multiple people carrying handguns and assault-style weapons into the party, which had been advertised on social media.

"This could have been a mass casualty incident," Holbrook said.

Despite the apartment complex's proximity to campus, the University of South Carolina said none of the victims were students at the school.

Police did not know how many were in attendance at the party, but on just a short video clip, more than a dozen people can be seen fleeing through hallways.

Holbrook said his officers have broken up parties at Greene Crossing in the past, but he said the complex has not historically had what he would consider a large volume of calls.

Police have received very few tips to date. A review of video footage, responding officers detaining people as they fled taking down vehicle information of cars before they pulled away is what led to the first arrest.

"I don't know what it's going to take to shock the conscience of our community," Holbrook said, encouraging more people to come forward.

Those with information can call Crimestoppers at (888) CRIME-SC (274-6372) or online at www.midlandscrimestoppers.com.
COLUMBIA  A postal employee was robbed of their mail keys at gunpoint in Columbia's Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood March 17, police said.

Postal workers who deliver mail often carry master keys, also called arrow keys, that can open numerous mailboxes, such as post office boxes in apartment complexes and bins where outgoing mail is dropped.

They have become an increasing target for theft, according to numerous national news reports.

At about 2:45 p.m. in the 1600 block of Hollywood Drive, two men confronted a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier and demanded keys, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said. At least one of the men was armed and pointed a gun at the employee, who then handed over the keys, police said.

Police are in contact with the U.S. Postal Service and reviewing surveillance video, Timmons said.

Timmons referred specifics about the stolen keys and concern over possible stolen mail to the Postal Service. Investigators are aware of similar crimes around the country, she said.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service declined comment about the case. As a safety precaution, the service suggested picking up mail soon after delivery, making sure to not leave mail in boxes overnight and calling issuers of checks or goods if they do not arrive as planned.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
Rep. Jerry Govan Jr. announced his bid for S.C. education superintendent during a press conference at the Statehouse on March 18.

The Orangeburg Democrat is one of the newest additions to the already crowded race. The other recently announced candidates include Republicans Travis Bedson, a businessman, and Sheri Few, president of US Parents Involved in Education.

Govan is running shortly after announcing his retirement from the Legislature rather than run against a fellow Democrat. This year's decennial shifting of voting lines to account for population changes put him in the same district as Rep. Russell Ott of St. Matthews.

At his Statehouse press conference, where he was flanked by his family and Ott, he said that redistricting caused a stir in his community.

"House District 95 has existed for some 40 years, it was one of the original districts that was court- ordered to ensure that we would have minority representation, the first since Reconstruction in the South Carolina General Assembly," he said.

He added that dismantling and reassignment of the district caused dismay and concern in Orangeburg County.

The district is still in Orangeburg County, though not entirely anymore. Its expanded lines put Govan's home in a different district. An adjoining Orangeburg County district was moved to Tega Cay, where population exploded in the last decade.

Superintendent races across the country are being thrust into the national spotlight as education issues have become increasingly polarized. Educators now make decisions about controversial topics like mask mandates, banned books and critical race theory, the academic framework typically taught in law school, which explores how racism has shaped public policy and legal institutions in the United States.

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Five candidates have already declared their intention to run for Superintendent Molly Spearman's soon-to-be vacant seat. They include Democrat Gary Burgess, spokesman for the Florence County School District Four's board of trustees, who previously ran for the position as a Republican in 2010 and 2014.

They also consist of Republicans Cindy Bohn Coats, a three-term board member of Charleston County School District; Kizzi Gibson, a visual arts teacher at Carolina Springs Elementary School; Kathy Maness, the head of the Palmetto State Teachers Association; and Ellen Weaver, executive director of the conservative think tank Palmetto Promise Institute.

Govan is passionate about increasing the pay for teachers across the state, something that has been suggested by numerous education authorities as a way to fix the teacher shortage crisis plaguing the state. The floor for first-year teachers in the House's budget proposal approved March 14 is $40,000, but Govan wants to raise it to $60,000.

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"Money alone, ladies and gentleman, will not solve our education dilemma, but it is an important piece of it," he said.

Govan added that the state needs to look at teacher education, teacher quality, and the facilities and infrastructure in schools.

Govan has a bachelor's and master's degree in education from South Carolina State University, according to his website. He used to work as the Orangeburg County attendance supervisor.

He has spent nearly 30 years in the Statehouse representing parts of Orangeburg County. He currently sits on the House Education & Public Works Committee.

In 2017, Govan turned himself in to the police on accusations he assaulted a fellow female legislator in the Statehouse. According to the arrest warrant, he allegedly grabbed Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter's wrist and twisted it, making the fellow Orangeburg County Democrat fall backward in a conference room on May 11, 2017.

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He was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor for which someone can receive a $500 fine and be punished with up to 30 days in jail.

He was found not guilty of the charges in 2018 by a jury consisting of five men and one woman. The jury heard two days of testimony and deliberated for 15 minutes.

Govan ran for the superintendent seat in 2014 as a Democrat but failed to win the Democratic primary. Govan, who placed third in that four-way contest, believes he has more of a chance this time because in 2014 he entered the race late after Rep. Mike Anthony dropped out.

This year's primaries will be held in June.
KIAWAH ISLAND  Bottlenose dolphins strand-feed for nearly 12 hours a day off Captain Sams Spit at the southern end of this island, a phenomenon that's thought to be unique to this part of the country.

But environmentalists who watch the water here say the behavior is now being threatened by onlookers, boaters and kayakers who navigate the Kiawah River, which runs along the spit.

The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network is pushing for extra protections near Captain Sams Inlet, where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean. But the state Department of Natural Resources has denied a no-wake zone request twice for the area.

The inlet runs between the spit at the end of Kiawah and Seabrook islands, and is a critical habitat for strand-feeding bottlenose dolphins who crowd fish onto the beach when they hunt. This rare behavior can attract hundreds of visitors a day but halts when a boat travels above idle speed through the area, disrupting both fish and feeding attempts.

Boaters often cannot see dolphins when going at full speed and ride over them, risking the chance of harming them, said Lauren Rust, executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network.

I understand there are criteria for creating a no-wake zone, but this area needs to be managed more than just another waterway, Rust wrote in an email to Robert Boyes Jr., DNRs director.

Earlier this month, the agency denied the dolphin protection group's most recent request to establish a no-wake zone in the inlet.

When contemplating these requests, DNR said it considers boater safety and how a proposed no-wake zone would affect navigation in congested areas. If approved, buoys or some other marking would be installed and boats must travel at idle speeds within 50 feet of an anchored vessel, wharf, dock, bulkhead, pier or a person in the water.

The request for a no-wake zone at Captain Sams Inlet was denied because there is not a boating-safety issue in that area, said Maj. Gary Sullivan, of DNRs law enforcement division.

In a news release issued on March 18, the agency highlighted that bottlenose dolphins are protected under a federal law that makes it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal. Violators could be punished by a fine up to $50,000 and one year in prison, according to DNR.

"Those are federal laws ... that goes above the DNR," Rust said. But she added the state agency still had its own part to play in protecting the dolphins.

Last year, Rust's network recorded more than 800 strand-feeding events, a fraction of what likely happens when volunteers arent monitoring the waterway. Volunteers spend several hours a week watching the dolphins in the area and educating onlookers about their behaviors and the importance of giving them space during feeding attempts.

On the East Coast, strand feeding likely only occurs in South Carolina and Georgia. With this type of hunting, a group of dolphins will herd fish together, form a line, then accelerate to create a wave that forces the fish onto the shore. Then, the massive mammals leap out of the water to devour them.

When the dolphins are interrupted by humans or boats, theyll often dive, abandon feeds or leave the inlet altogether, Rust said.

People travel from around the world to Captain Sams Inlet to see the dolphins and their feeding behaviors. Rust said strand feeding peaks in the summer, and so do kayakers who come in droves to witness it. She said sometimes, kayakers circle the dolphins after spotting them, which can be dangerous.

If a human behavior makes dolphins change what theyre doing, thats harassment, according to Chris Crolley, owner of Coastal Expeditions. The company leads kayak tours to Captain Sams Inlet specifically to see the dolphins strand feed.

They often partner with the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network when they lead the tours, to ensure kayakers land and stand in areas that would not disturb the animals. Crolley said he likes to be upfront with clients who take the tours.

We tell people before we get on the water that we hope to see a pod of dolphins, Crolley said. If we do see a pod of dolphins, we need to tighten our group, stay with the leader and receive instruction from the leader on how not to interfere with their activities.

Coastal Expeditions' guides instruct clients not to chase dolphins in kayaks. And if the animals route brings them closer to the kayakers, they should take their paddles out of the water, and float until they get by.

Crolley said he would back a request for a no-wake zone at Captain Sams Inlet without hesitation. He said it would limit harassment of the dolphins and contribute to environmental education.

Slow down, Crolley said. Something special, something unique on Earth is happening here. And you can learn from it, or you can blow by it.

In an email, DNR spokeswoman Erin Weeks said promoting safe human and wildlife interactions is a high priority for the agency, and the staff is looking into additional signage and education efforts to bolster the outreach already conducted by the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network.

Rust and other volunteers with the network regularly place signs at the inlet encouraging people to protect the wild dolphins. The signs recommend people on land view the animals from 45 feet away and those in vessels, from 150 feet away. Visitors are also asked to avoid approaching, swimming with, chasing, feeding or touching the dolphins.

Approaching, pursuing, feeding (and) watering or harassing marine mammals is not only illegal, it's dangerous, Weeks said in the email. Dolphins and manatees who become accustomed to approaching humans and docks are at much greater risk of being struck by a boat.

The agency is asking visitors to let wildlife be wild so that the coast remains a home to dolphins, sea turtles and manatees for generations to come. But for now, it won't be enforcing a no-wake zone to do it.
GEORGETOWN  The boutique hotel planned for the waterfront site of the former Georgetown Times office on Front Street will open in 2023 and will have a restaurant, the project's developer told city councilmembers on March 17.

Joe Keenan of Winyah Hospitality LLC is serving as the developer of the project, titled the George Hotel. Winyah Hospitality purchased 615 Front St., which the Georgetown Times had owned since 1981, for $1.17 million last year.

The hotel will include 56 rooms, meeting space for private events, an outdoor bar and a full-service restaurant operated by Charleston-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group, something Keenan said will give the project "a tremendous boost." Indigo Road operates 27 restaurants in Charleston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville and Washington. D.C., including the Oak Steakhouse and O-Ku.

"We have had to go through many iterations of this deal," Keenan said. "It started a little bit larger and then we scaled it back, and we finally, I think, landed on what our group would call the sweet spot and, quite frankly, a hotel and project that all of Georgetown, we think, would be very proud of."

Keenan told the Georgetown City Council that the project has been four years in the making already.

"The City of Georgetown has been a wonderful partner," Keenan said. "City councilmembers have been great, very patient, and I can tell you the development game is an arduous process. It's not always easy, and you have a lot of obstacles."

Keenan said asbestos removal has been underway on the property since March 7 and is expected to continue through the next week, tentatively placing the building's demolition start date around March 28.

"We've got buildings on either side of us, one building in particular in very close proximity to our property," Keenan said. He added that demolition should take 45 to 60 days, an extended period due to the proximity of neighboring properties.

Project contractor CPI places the hotel's opening date in September 2023, Keenan said, allowing for 15 to 16 months for construction.

"Who knows how what's going on in the world, how that'll affect this deal," Keenan said. "But right now that's what we're targeting. Again, it's a lovely building, we think it fits in very well with Front Street."

Councilmember Jim Clements asked Keenan to look into working with local companies for the project.

"Anything would be a great contribution," Clements said, adding that the council is "really enthusiastic" about the project.

Keenan said his company is already speaking with local painters.
GEORGETOWN  Two areas in Georgetown and Horry counties have received a total of $2.6 million in federal funding to examine what can be done to fix historical flooding issues.

Sandy Island in Georgetown County and the Buck Creek Watershed in Horry County were part of 106 other infrastructure projects across the country that recently received more than $166.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the federal infrastructure bill.

The two counties were selected because they were identified as two of the most critical and highest priority projects for improving the nations land and water resources, said Michael Mascari, a spokesman with the USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Only accessible by boat, Sandy Island is bordered on the east by the Waccamaw River and the west by the Great Pee Dee River. The entire island encompasses 12,000 acres with the majority owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.

Recent flooding has threatened infrastructure, notably homes, businesses and transportation routes, a release announcing the funding said.

Georgetown County Director of Public Services Ray Funnye said the 50-plus residents who live on the island have been affected by an increase of erosion on the shore banks from flooding.

He said they identified several flood-prone locations, one of which is a low area between the fire station and New Bethel Baptist Church, founded in 1880 and the only church on the island.

When it rains, they (residents) have a difficult time getting from their residences to the boat landing, Funnye said. We asked whether this would be grant worthy so we can help them get out when the weather is not good.

In Horry County, the Buck Creek borders S.C. Highway 9 starting near the state line and spills into the Waccamaw River near the Aberdeen Country Club in Longs. The Loris/Longs area has seen hundreds of homes in the past several years sprout up in one of the countys fastest-growing regions.

Changes within the primarily agricultural watershed are a concern regarding recent flood events, a news release said. A watershed plan will provide guidance for reducing flood damages.

Mascari said that watershed projects like Sandy Island and Buck Creek typically take 18 months for planning, 24 months for the design and two to five years for construction.

He said they anticipate more projects from South Carolina in the next round of funding to be announced on March 31.
A Republican primary will be held March 22 in a special election to fill the District 18 South Carolina House seat that former Rep. Tommy Stringer vacated in January.

The winner of the primary will be placed on the ballot for the special election on May 24. No Democratic Party or third party candidates filed for election.

Four candidates are actively running for the seat that covers the east side of Greenville County, including Taylors and Greer. Stringer resigned just before the current session, citing health and family reasons. The winner of the special election will fulfill the remainder of Stringers 2022 term. The seat is up for election again in November.

The four Republican candidates are Dakota Fitzgerald, Keith Jones, Wyatt Miller and Alan Morgan, all of Greer.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. A number of polling sites have been shifted for the primary, according to Conway Belangia, Greenville Countys director of voter registration and elections.

Stone Valley precinct will vote at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 911 St. Mark Road.

Granite Creek precinct will vote at Praise Cathedral, 3390 Brushy Creek Road.

Trade precinct has moved to Tryon Recreation Center, 226 Oakland Ave.

Skyland precinct has moved to Washington Baptist Church, 3500 N. Highway 14.

Tyger River precinct has moved to Northwood Baptist Church, 888 Ansel School Road.

Riverside precinct has moved to Riverside Baptist Church, 1249 S. Suber Road.

Clear Creek, Gowensville, Laurel Ridge, Maple Creek, Suber Mill, Taylors, Castle Rock, Fox Chase, Frohawk, Locust Hill and Oneal precincts are all voting at their normal polling places.

If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will go to a run-off election on April 5.

Registration to vote in the primary has already closed. To vote in the special election on May 24, residents must be registered by April 24. Mail-in voter registration forms will be accepted if postmarked by April 25.
KIEV, March 18 (Xinhua) -- President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer has urged all related parties to take steps to alleviate sufferings in Ukraine, said the ICRC press service Thursday.

"We know that we need, together with the Ukrainian Red Cross, to scale, speed and adapt our humanitarian assistance response to all those who are suffering now in Ukraine, in the east and north and south in particular on the front lines," Maurer said during his visit to Ukraine.

He called for efforts to address the issues regarding prisoners of war, detained civilians, and those who died and went missing.

According to media reports, Maurer arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday for a five-day visit. 
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

A few passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
COLUMBIA  A Beaufort attorney accused of conspiring with Alex Murdaugh to steal a multimillion-dollar insurance settlement has been released from jail on a $100,000 surety bond.

Judge Alison Lee set bail at a hearing March 17 for Cory Fleming, who faces charges of criminal conspiracy and various fraud-related offenses on allegations he helped his longtime friend siphon settlement money intended for the family of Murdaugh's deceased housekeeper.

Lee said Fleming, a longtime Beaufort resident with a wife and two college-age children, was not a flight risk. She determined the $100,000 amount was appropriate based on the seriousness of the charges. Fleming could post 10 percent, or $10,000, to be released from jail, the judge said.

Fleming appeared at the March 17 virtual court hearing wearing a light-blue jail uniform. His attorney, Deborah Barbier, said her client surrendered to authorities that morning.

Fleming was jailed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, the same Richland County facility where Murdaugh remains held on fraud charges.

Fleming posted bail Thursday afternoon, a jail staff person confirmed.

Barbier was joined on a video call by Fleming's family, including his wife, a Lowcountry public defender, she said.

The family declined to speak at the hearing.

Fleming, 53, is the first co-defendant to be ensnared in the tangled web of fraud claims surrounding Murdaugh, who faces 75 charges on allegations he hoodwinked former clients and colleagues out of nearly $8.5 million while serving as a prominent and well-connected Hampton County attorney.

An indictment unsealed March 16 alleges Fleming conspired with Murdaugh to steal almost $3.5 million from the family of Gloria Satterfield, who was the Murdaugh family's housekeeper until she died from a slip-and-fall at the Murdaugh home in 2018.

Murdaugh encouraged Satterfield's sons to sue him after their mother's death, according to the indictment, and recommended Fleming for the job.

Fleming secured settlements from Murdaugh's insurance carriers in the case, but the sons said they never saw a dime.

Authorities say almost $3.5 million was siphoned into a fraudulent bank account Murdaugh controlled. Murdaugh spent some of the money paying off debts  utility payments, personal loans and a six-figure credit card bill, the indictment states.

The Beaufort attorney transferred the wealth into Murdaugh's bank account, authorities allege, and knew about the fraud.

Creighton Waters, a prosecutor for the Attorney General's Office, said at the hearing Fleming had his staff write out three checks from the settlement fund to pay for bogus legal expenses.

Fleming instead used the money to pay off personal bills, Waters said.

Fleming also secretly paid Murdaugh half his legal fee, an "improper" and "corrupt" finders fee.

"People entrusted with power to act in any system can abuse it," Waters said. "And that's allegedly what we have here  a corruption of the system."

Attorney Eric Bland, an attorney for the Satterfield family, said at the bond hearing that they wanted to make sure all the attorneys involved in the alleged fraud were held accountable  not just Murdaugh.

Bland acknowledged Fleming paid restitution to the Satterfield family last fall, after Bland and fellow attorney Ronnie Richter filed a lawsuit over the missing money.

But Fleming was a "personal embarrassment" to the legal profession, Bland said.

Barbier said Fleming practiced law for approximately 28 years before his license was suspended in October. That included a two-year stint in the Beaufort County Solicitor's office, Barbier said.

Fleming was a devoted father of two children with no criminal history, Barbier said.

Fleming, a skilled carpenter and cabinet maker, has done renovation work on a family rental property since losing his license, Barbier said.

Barbier declined to comment after the hearing.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
SPARTANBURG  The Rev. Benjamin Snoddy, who has served as Mount Moriah Baptist Church's senior pastor for 46 years, will retire May 1.

The church has evolved through the years, adding new ministries and programs under Snoddy's leadership. He announced in late 2021 he would retire but remain in the ministry by preaching at revival meetings, serving as an interim pastor where needed and conducting training workshops.

Snoddy's accomplishments were recognized by City Council on March 14 when a resolution was approved creating an honorary street name on Marion Avenue from South Church Street to Hudson Barksdale Boulevard. Snoddy was joined by family and friends during the ceremony.

Snoddy, 75, told The Post and Courier he has experienced anxiety about what life will be like in retirement, but is satisfied to leave Mount Moriah debt free and poised for future growth.

"My joy comes from what God has been able to with me and this congregation over the past 46 years," Snoddy said. "I can stop and look back and see what God has done in this congregation since I have been here. That means a lot and brings a lot of joy. I have really enjoyed my tenure here. We have had some serious challenges of course but that is OK. It goes with the territory."

Snoddy first preached revival services at the church in September 1975. Two weeks later, the church called Snoddy and asked him to become its new pastor. Snoddy accepted the offer, leaving his job as chaplain with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. When he arrived, Mount Moriah was on South Liberty Street and moved to 445 S. Church St. in 1977. The church was founded in 1863 and serve residents of the city's Southside neighborhoods.

In 1964, Snoddy graduated from Florence Chapel High School. He later attended Claflin University in Orangeburg and studied physical education and health. At 18, Snoddy started preaching. He became pastor at 21 at Bushy Pond Baptist Church in Norway, S.C.

"It's been a journey and I feel anxiety because I have never retired before," Snoddy said. "The anxiety comes from not knowing what it is going to be like not doing something you have done all these years.

Snoddy remains in good health and is excited about new opportunities in retirement.

During COVID-19, the church restricted in-person worship but reopened the sanctuary in June 2021. In April, the church's office hours will be extended to every day and Sunday School classes will resume. About 80 people have been attending Sunday morning services, Snoddy said. The church's Family Life Center, which opened in 2002, will reopen in April.

"COVID-19 wore me out," Snoddy said. "We had to constantly figure out what to do next (with our services) because we had never experienced it before and wanted to do the right thing. Things changed so drastically with churches sharing different ideas on what to do."

Snoddy said he notified the church's congregation in December about his plans to retire. Cheryl Berry, of Mauldin, has attended Mount Moriah for the past 38 years. Berry was a student at Wofford College when she first met Snoddy.

"He is an awesome man of God," Berry said. "I think behind his success at Mount Moriah all these years was his ability to sustain teaching and the Bible studies made sure people had the knowledge of the Bible and helped them to mature and grow."

James Lucas, a Mount Moriah deacon, has been a member of the church for the past 24 years. He wasn't surprised by Snoddy's retirement announcement.

"It was known he would plant a seed and soon retire but we didn't exactly know when." Lucas said. "He has been at the church for a long time and has served as an inspirational leader. (Snoddy) is a person who will sit there and talk with you about anything."

Lucas said the church is searching for a new pastor who will reach out to the youth and build a younger audience.

The church has had a number of guest speakers through the years, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson who spoke at Mount Moriah on Feb. 1, 1986.

Mount Moriah Baptist Church (MMBC) has planned several events to celebrate Snoddy's retirement.

Musical tribute, April 29, 6 p.m., MMBC Sanctuary

Roast and toast, April 30, 4 p.m., MMBC Family Life Center

Final sermons, May 1, 8-11 a.m., MMBC Sanctuary

Community-wide retirement reception, May 1, 1-3 p.m., MMBC Family Life Center
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero asked key congressional leaders to include Guam and other U.S. territories in a proposal to amend a 100-year-old law in order to help lower gas prices by allowing international shipping companies to send U.S. oil to Hawaii, in light of the American ban on Russian oil and energy imports.

That century-old law is the Jones Act of 1920, which mandates that all cargo shipping between U.S. ports occur only on U.S.-flagged vessels, and not foreign vessels.

The Jones Act is widely credited with artificially inflating the cost of shipping goods to Guam, other U.S. territories and the state of Hawaii.

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The governor specifically is asking for the inclusion of Guam and the other territories in Hawaii Rep. Ed Case's H.R. 6974, which seeks a Jones Act waiver specifically for oil shipments to Hawaii.

Case's bill would not allow Russian or Russian-flagged vessels to come to Hawaii.

His H.R. 6974 is now under review by the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

"I ask that an amendment to be made to the bill to include Guam and other U.S. territories as eligible ports exempted from certain Jones Act provisions for the transportation of oil and fossil fuels, to offset the rising costs of fuel," Leon Guerrero said in separate March 18 letters to Case, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Ranking Member Sam Graves of Missouri.

This amendment would benefit thousands of Guam residents who continue to carry the financial burden brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor wrote.

The governor recently opened the application process for a $300 gas voucher to thousands of eligible families, as prices of gas and other consumer goods have increased.

"Our island is struggling to rebuild its economy after the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is imperative that our people can get to work. The rising cost of fuel undermines our efforts, disempowers our people, and crushes our spirit," the governor said in her letter to Congress members.

The governor had yet to receive a response as of press time Friday.

Leon Guerrero said Guam does not have crude oil reserves, petroleum product facilities or refineries, and is highly dependent on maritime shipping to receive most goods, including oil imported from Asia.

Shipping to noncontiguous territories, including Hawaii, is expensive and competition is limited, the governor said.

As a result, the high costs of shipping are passed on directly to consumers in the price of everyday goods, including fuel, the governor said.

Regular gas prices on Guam hit $5.99 a gallon recently, before dropping by 20 cents a gallon six days later.

Guam delegate

The governor also wrote to Del. Michael San Nicolas, Guam's nonvoting delegate to Congress, seeking an update about his earlier announced efforts to reengage the Federal Trade Commission to include Guam in its review of oil and gas activities in the U.S.

"You subsequently shared that, as a result of your efforts, FTC Chair Lina Khan proposed a meeting between your offices. I am writing to ask if you have made progress on this federal inquiry, and to request updated information on any other efforts you have made to help mitigate further increases to local fuel prices," Leon Guerrero wrote to San Nicolas.

San Nicolas said a "very detailed" response to the governor will be transmitted, "including latest updates from Washington, D.C., that we will be firming up when the time zone is live."

Leon Guerrero is seeking reelection, while San Nicolas earlier said he's considering a gubernatorial run.
WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- One individual reportedly died and three others were injured in Fort Lauderdale, the southeastern U.S. state of Florida, after a shooting inside a transit bus on Thursday.

Four people were transported to the hospital "as a result of the shooting that occurred on a bus," the Fort Lauderdale Police Department tweeted Thursday afternoon.

One of the hospitalized died from the shooting, according to local media reports. The three wounded include two in critical condition and one with non-life-threatening injuries.

The bus came to a stop in the parking lot of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department but the shooting is not police involved.

"The suspected shooter is in custody at this time," the police continued. "We do not believe there to be any further threat to the public."

The police added that a car crash also occurred due to the incident, injuring three additional people "who were treated on scene."

Fort Lauderdale is a city on Florida's southeastern coast. 
Vladimir Putin is willing to destroy Ukraine to express his love of the Russian people. He spoke on Wednesday at a Meeting on socioeconomic support for regions via videoconference, on socioeconomic support for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. He spoke for some 37 minutes and took up a variety of issues bearing on his war on Ukraine. At the moment video of the full speech with inadequate translation is posted on YouTube here. At the moment the official English text of the speech is posted here on the Russian Presidents site. I say that these are accessible at the moment because I have no confidence they will remain accessible. They arent easy to find.

Michael Elgort links to English text of the full speech in PDF format here. Elgort provides the disclaimer that it is quite long, full of lies and quite deranged. He adds that the original clip on Rossiya24 had 2 minutes with the last 10 seconds removed, so he used the RBC channel to find the clip and to add these 10 seconds. I went off in search of the video and text of the speech after watching the video clip with translation provided by Elgort on Twitter (below).

Make of the speech what you will. It seems to me loathsomely redolent of tyrannical madness.
Ammo Grrrll remains on THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD, A Political History, Part 4: Inside the Cult. She writes:

Richard Henry Dana, a Harvard student, wrote Two Years Before The Mast in 1840 about his stint as a common sailor on a ship sailing around Cape Horn. I could write a considerably longer broadside than just this column called Six Years Inside a Leftist Cult, but its really been done by several other people, including David Horowitz, cited frequently last week, and whose work I could scarcely improve upon. I can only scratch the surface in one column.

Whether you call it a Cause or a Cult, an entity that seeks to take all your time, all your money, and control where you live, what you do for a living, and, in extreme cases, even who you marry, is a Hydra from which it is difficult to escape.

We are all familiar with the Moonies and with various Eastern religious cults. Of course, their adherents vehemently deny that their sect is any more cultish than the mainstream religions. It seems to me that a couple of questions would settle the issue: Does your cause/cult/religion try to keep you from family and friends? and Are you free to leave?

Devotion to a cause or an idea is not all bad. I think that we as a species are hard-wired to serve a cause higher than ourselves. Some causes are healthy, some less so. Heck, its not just our species  we have a friend whose Bernese Mountain Dog was bred to pull a little wagon and is happiest when doing that. Other breeds spend their lives merrily herding sheep and we met a charming dog in Mesa who had flunked out of service-dog school because she was too easily distracted from her singular task.

Sadly, MANY institutions and causes inculcate an extreme us vs. them tribalism. Again, I think we may have a tendency to tribalism in our DNA as a holdover from very primitive times when the Outside was existentially dangerous to our little bands of humans.

When my mother was in her 90s, she loved a series of books about an Amish-like group whose heroines were sometimes on the outs and were shunned as a form of social control. (She would often pray for the characters in these books and, amazingly, things often turned out for the best!) Shunning  whether from Beltway cocktail parties, faculty lounges, or apostates from a race or religion, is a POWERFUL form of compelling conformity.

But back again to 1969: within our political sect, we called each other comrades (no, really) and some others contacts (someone who could potentially be recruited). All the rest were either non-entities or mortal enemies. The worst hatred and scorn was saved, not for the much-maligned ruling class, but for other socialist sects competing for the same small pool of lost or misguided souls.

The cult assigned you not only to a city, but also to an area of work. I was in the antiwar fraction until the war ended, first in Minneapolis and later in San Francisco. I learned a great deal and proved to be a pretty good organizer of dang near anything. One of the groups mottos was picnic or strike, we do it right.

The group practiced what was called democratic centralism. This allegedly meant that free-flowing democratic discussion could take place WITHIN the Party. But once a decision was reached, a vote taken, then the members were bound to defend that position to all and sundry outside the movement. That was where the centralist part came in.

It sounded pretty good on paper, but it was a bald-faced lie. A small national leadership decided everything and put enormous pressure on the rank-and-file to agree. If serious disagreements arose, the national leadership would move people around until the leaderships cadre had a majority within a branch, very similar to packing the Court.

Most of us who didnt work for the Movement directly at poverty-level wages were told which industries and jobs to infiltrate. Much later when the Party made The Turn to the working class, some long-time adherents from balmy Santa Cruz made the good decision to quit rather than go into mining in Northern Minnesota. But in 1969 you either worked for The Movement or tried to get a skilled job in order to give the maximum amount of dues to the Party. I had few discernible skills and so worked for The Movement.

While in the antiwar fraction, in 1970 I was sent for six weeks to New York City to help out with the antiwar office there. It was truly a thankless job, working the phones with lists of previous donors and potential donors. You worked 12 hours a day for $65/a week calling people who were every bit as thrilled to hear from us as you are to get inquiries about your car warranty at dinnertime. It was mind-numbing, depressing work. But thank the Lord, there was not yet Caller I.D. Most people at least picked up the phone.

The highlight of my six weeks was calling Dustin Hoffman  still listed in the New York phone book  and getting his answering machine. I talked to the outgoing message for several seconds before the beep, not realizing it was a tape-recorded message. Then I had all the other people in the office call and listen to this new-fangled instrument. Im sorry, Dustin.

I was supposed to stay with a comrade who lived in a squalid 2-room apartment with the bathtub in the kitchen. It was 1970 and junkies and the homeless mentally deranged roamed the streets, subways, and urine-filled apartment hallways. Everything from mailboxes to security doors was broken. I was a nervous wreck and soon found my own housing with a former high school friend of Joes who lived in a decent apartment in a safe neighborhood.

It was over the Christmas holiday. Dan, my blessed host, went home to Chicago. I was certain that the New York comrades would organize a gathering so the out-of-town helpers would not be alone. Ha! That was the first time I realized that whereas the groups members might love Humanity in the abstract, their concern for actual people was severely limited.

After waiting all week for an invitation, on Christmas Eve day  we were still making cold calls  I threw courtesy to the winds and came right out and asked the harridan in charge, So, what are you guys doing tonight and tomorrow? (Hint, hint). And I will quote you exactly what was said to me because I remember it clearly some 52 years later: Well, a bunch of us are going to exchange small gifts and have a potluck. Somebody got chestnuts to roast and we have a lot of wine. Me, losing the last shred of dignity: Gee, Ill be all alone and that sounds fun! And the woman  may all her teeth fall out but one, and that should ache her  said, Yeah, it will be! But you better get back to work now. Were knocking off at 4:00. Apparently, she had never seen a production of A Christmas Carol.

I spent Christmas Eve alone in Dans apartment watching sad Christmas movies on a small television, one after another, missing my family, missing Joe, and crying. I had just turned 24.

The New York stint came to a bad end when the Head Harridan and I butted heads. Feminism had just started to reach its tentacles into every area of life. As we made these phone calls, hour after hour, day after day, the one break we got besides cigarettes (I didnt smokebut considered starting) was a little transistor radio that sat on a shelf near the fund-phoners.

One day, near the end of the six week assignment, Bob Dylans Lay, Lady, Lay came on the radio. I loved that song and still do. And from the other side of the large open boiler room, like a bat out of Hell, lumbered the Sensitivity Monitor to turn it off! She stormed back to her lair muttering about sexism and objectifying womyn and I turned it back on again. The office went deadly silent.

Who did that? she screamed. I did. I like that song. Please do not turn it off again.

She came over to do that and I stepped in front of her and said very softly, If you turn it off again, I am going to throw you down the stairs. At that time I was still over five feet tall, but she had six inches and eighty pounds on me. But, we have all seen someone snap and know when to let it go. The radio stayed on. But she reported me. Of course she did. If shes still alive, shes undoubtedly the head of an HOA somewhere.

My assignment ended with a black mark on my record for threatening a comrade which I was counseled for when I got back to the Twin Cities. I wish I had been prescient enough to channel the future George Costanza who, when queried about making whoopie with the night office cleaner on a desk, said: I gotta plead ignorance here  was that wrong? I could have added: Nobody told me when I joined a group whose avowed purpose was a violent Communist overthrow of the country, that you couldnt even threaten to kill someone But I had raised more money than anyone else, so I was not expelled.

However, already cracks were appearing in the foundation of our confidence in this movement. The decisive blow would come a couple of years later when  ecstatic!  I got pregnant and it looked like I would carry to term successfully after a couple of heartbreaking miscarriages. Even though a tiny handful of the comrades had had children before joining the movement, it was as though some alien being had landed among the Party leadership. It was a fad among several of the young women to get sterilized so that their revolutionary activities werent interrupted by the dreadful inconvenience of having to raise children. Now here was this crazy baby-loving woman, big as a house, and they did not know what to do with me.

Next week: Part 5, Leaving the Cult, Not With a Bang but a Whimper
There is a strange pattern among liberals: over and over again they seem compelled for some reason to embellish their personal stories with exaggerations and falsehoods, apparently in an effort to make themselves seem more authentic. Like Hillary Clinton claiming she had been named for British mountaineer Edmund Hillary after his conquest of Mt. Everest, even though that event occurred after Hillary was born. Or claiming that she landed under fire in Bosnia. Or Bill Clinton claiming first-hand recollections of fires at black churches when he was growing up in Arkansas, when a check of the historical record finds there were none during the time period he claimed. Or NBCs Brian Williams. About Al Gores serial exaggerations an entire book could be written, and Joe Bidens falsehoods would require several volumes, with a separate appendix for his plagiarisms.

The latest such example is President Bidens nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Turns out shes a fan of Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project, and I certainly hope she is asked in detail about these views in her confirmation hearings.

Never mind the issues of her views on CRT for the moment. Two years ago she gave a lecture embracing CRT at the University of Michigan Law School, which includes a curious detail in this passage:

Dr. Janet Bells late husband, Professor Derrick Bell, who was a civil rights lawyer and the first tenured African-American professor at Harvard Law School, wrote a book in the early 1990s about the persistence of racism in American life that he entitled Faces At the Bottom of the Well. My parents had this book on their coffee table for many years, and I remember staring at the image on the cover when I was growing up; I found it difficult to reconcile the image of the person, who seemed to be smiling, with the depressing message that the title and subtitle conveyed. I thought about this book cover again for the first time in forty years when I started preparing for this speech, because, before the civil rights gains of the 1960s, black women were the quintessential faces at the bottom of the well of American society, given their existence at the intersection of race and gender  both of which were highly disfavored characteristics.

The boldfaced passages are the odd part. Bells Faces at the Bottom of the Well was published in 1992, when Judge Jackson was 22, when she was working at Time magazine. It is impossible that her parents had the book on their coffee table when I was growing up, unless she was still growing up at age 22. It is also impossible that she thought about this book cover again for the first time in forty years when the book is only 30 years old today. Judge Jackson is 51 years old; the math doesnt add up here. Judge Jackson even notes the book was written in the early 1990s, yet somehow this basic chronology doesnt interfere with her subsequent claims in the same paragraph.

Perhaps she simply mis-remembers, in the same way that Joe Biden mis-remembered that he was not, in fact, descended from coal miners, or mis-remembered that Robert Kennedy had said the same things Biden did 20 years later. Funny how these kind of mis-rememberings among liberals all skew the same directiontoward aggrandizing their personal narratives.

Or maybe people who embrace the creed that truth is relative, and that the world can be bent endlessly to our own good will and idealism, who think the most important thing is the narrative, dont think its a big deal to make stuff up in service of their cause. The point is, Judge Jackson appears to be another phony.
The Nigerian Senate recently passed a bill that would empower an association of real estate companies to not only regulate its members but also regulate its competitors and others in the industry.

The bill has now generated so much controversy with a lawmaker describing it as the most selfish bill she has seen passed by any of Nigerias houses of parliament.

Sponsored by Sokoto senator, Aliyu Wamakko, the Real Estate Regulations and Development Bill essentially turns the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) into a quasi-regulator. REDANs powers, as granted by the bill if it becomes law, is so much that the Nigerian president cannot appoint the head for the new regulatory body without REDANs recommendation. Perhaps coincidentally, REDAN is currently headed by Senator Wamakkos brother, Aliyu Wamakko.

Its like a group of old generation banks forming an association and then asking the government to empower the association to regulate all other Nigerian banks, a real estate developer told PREMIUM TIMES. What we want is an independent regulator, a government regulator, not a REDAN regulator.

The Bill

The proposed law will not only regulate the real estate sector in the country but will also stop unscrupulous developers from defrauding intending homeowners who pay and never get the houses. This is what the sponsor of the bill and its backers told Nigerians to expect if the legislation is passed and eventually signed into law.

Senator Wamakko said the bill will protect the interest and investment of participants and investors in the sector as well as ensure that transactions are done in a transparent manner, which will boost confidence in the sector.

During the lead debate at the Senate plenary of June 22, 2021, he told his colleagues that the legislation will also engender speedy development in the sector, as investors will not have to entertain fears of lack of legislation regulating the sector and the multiplier effect thereof.

The real estate has been largely unrelated with absence of professionalism, leaving customers at the mercy of fraudsters, Mr Wamakko told other lawmakers.

It would, therefore, guarantee legitimate transactions in lands and landed properties and completely discourage the involvement of charlatans in the real estate dealings. To that end, the Act mandates the appropriate government (Federal, State and Local Government) to establish the Real Estate Regulatory Authority in existing land registry to enforce the proposed Act, with a view to protect the interest of customers in the sector and provide a mechanism for ensuring compliance, he said.

Five months later, in November, the upper chamber passed the bill.

It was passed after the Senate considered the report of its committee on Establishment and Public Service  which was mandated to conduct a public hearing and other legislative work on the bill.

The legislation was announced as passed by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who presided over the plenary on November 17, 2021. It was thereafter sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Mr Wamakkos claims about the need for a regulator for the real estate industry are true. Many Nigerians have complained about being scammed or poorly treated by real estate companies, especially in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how estate developers take advantage of Nigerians who patronise them. The report highlighted the experiences of Nigerians who subscribed to real estate plans by different developers but after making full payment, the developers failed to deliver what was agreed.

The complaints prompted the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to constitute an ad hoc committee chaired by Blessing Onuh (APC, Benue) to investigate the real estate sector in Abuja.

The Controversy

While Mr Wamakkos claims about the need for a regulatory bill is true, regulating the real estate sector and stopping scammers from defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians are only part of the entire prescriptions of the bill.

On the day he spoke, Mr Wamakko did not tell his colleagues about the power the bill gives to REDAN which describes itself as the principal agency and umbrella body of the organised private sector (public and private) responsible for housing development in Nigeria.

Although the bill seeks to establish a Real Estate Regulatory Council, it says such will be done in consultation with REDAN.

Some controversial provisions of the bill:

** The Council is empowered to renew the license of real estate developers annually, upon payment of the prescribed fees and fulfilment of all requirements as recommended by REDAN.

** The Council shall register, maintain and update the register of all real estate development projects ratified by REDAN to have met set standards of Industry practices.

** The Council shall work through REDAN to monitor, investigate and sanction registered and licensed real estate _ developers that violate the provisions of the bill. It shall also work through REDAN to investigate and penalise unlicensed real estate developers that violate the laws.

** The Council will also prescribe fees, fines, and charges to be paid  as recommended by REDAN.

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** The Council shall have a chairman, appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of REDAN. And a Secretary of the Council; who shall be appointed by the Council on the recommendation REDAN.

** The Minister may remove the chairman of the council from office on the recommendation of the Council and or REDAN, if the Minister is of the option that it is not in the interest of the Council for the chairman to continue in office.

** A total of 10 per cent of the annual revenue of REDAN is to be paid to the Councils fund.

The Opposition

Mr Wamakko, the senator, did not respond to calls and messages seeking to know his stance on the controversial sections of the bill. PREMIUM TIMES also reached out to over 50 senators on the matter. Only a few of them responded to our enquiry but even they said they would not speak on the topic. Another, who spoke but asked not to be named, said he has not read the bill.

However, the bill now faces stiff opposition from an unlikely quarter: the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee led by Ms Onuh, after meetings with key stakeholders, described the bill as selfish, saying it should be jettisoned.

Although the bill has scaled first reading at the House, the committee insists that there is no clear regulatory legal framework for estate developers in the bill, hence the proliferation of incompetent, inefficient and fraudulent developers with the tendency to mislead the public.

I am not against the regulation of the industry, Ms Onuh told PREMIUM TIMES. The way it is, it needs complete overhauling. We need to sanitise that sector. People are being defrauded every day because of some unscrupulous developers.

Notwithstanding, this bill is not it. Almost all the clauses are selfish. It is lopsided. If you are making a bill, do something that will favour the people, all the stakeholders and all the parties involved, the lawmaker, a member of Nigerias ruling party, said.

She wondered why REDAN, as an association, will seek to push for legislation that will favour the group alone.

She also explained that the committee has, to no avail, tried to change some provisions of the bill.

We even thought of expunging some clauses but in almost all the clauses, you will see the mention of REDAN. There are other associations there. You cant just give power to one to do almost everything.

You say you want to create a council but in all the clauses, you will see that you have to liaise with REDAN or have REDAN recommend. They have the power to fine and charge fees and all, and you say it is in the interest of Nigerians.

We had a meeting with FCTA including the minister and we all agreed it is not a fair bill, she said.

PREMIUM TIMES saw a communique co-signed by Ms Onuh as chairman of the House ad hoc committee on real estate and Shehu Hadi, the executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority.

The communique, produced in February 2022, was the final outcome of a series of public meetings the House committee had with the Abuja authorities, real estate companies, homeowners and other key players in the Nigerian capital.

That the proposed REDAN bill is unrealistic and should be jettisoned, the communique stated.

Prior to the House committees opposition to the bill, a group, known as Rainbow Push Coalition Nigeria, petitioned the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila  through their counsel, West Idahosa, a former lawmaker.

The group cited over 10 clauses which it tagged offensive.

From the analysis of the clauses and submissions made above, it is clear that the whole idea of passing the bill was to concentrate the functional regulation of real estate business in Nigeria as a means of production in the hands of a few individuals under the registered acronym of REDAN.

The practical effect of the REDAN clauses is to reduce competitors like our clients to on-lookers in the real estate business. How can the multitude of stakeholders in the estate development industry, including individuals, corporate bodies, mortgage companies, financial institutions be at the mercy of a few persons who merely incorporated a trustee years ago?

The group said all references to REDAN should be removed from the bill.

Many other Nigerians have taken to social media to accuse the Senate of turning a blind eye to the provisions of the bill and nurturing a secret plan, promoted by a group of real estate developers, to rubbish democratic good governance in the country.

A defiant REDAN

Mr Wamakko, the REDAN president, did not respond to calls and messages by PREMIUM TIMES.

But his association has restated its support for the bill.

The association claims that wicked lawmakers with ulterior motives are the ones opposing the bill in the House.

In a press release published in the Leadership newspaper, REDAN noted that the lawmakers concern was the power given to it.

It asked that the legislation should not be discarded on that ground and also called for a robust public hearing.

Indeed, no matter the demerits of the bill, in our view, the baby should not be thrown away with the bathwater. There is a need for the sector to be regulated within the stipulated law of the land to properly position it to attract foreign and diaspora investors into the sector.

Without proper regulation, the sector might not be that attractive for investors given the activities of some unscrupulous elements in the industry.

Consequently, we call for a robust public hearing on the bill in the House of Representatives so that they can be properly guided in their deliberations, REDAN stated.

For Ms Onuh, however, the selfish nature of the bill and the overwhelming power it gives to REDAN means it is better to have a different law to properly regulate the real estate sector.

She told PREMIUM TIMES that a separate bill has been introduced in the House.

The bill she co-sponsored with nine other lawmakers, proposes the establishment of an agency that will regulate the Abuja real estate sector  an agency solely controlled by the government.

The government should be the regulator of the real estate industry, not REDAN or any private association, she said.

We are proposing an agency to be regulated by the government  a central body, just like what Lagos State has done, she said.
The Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) has transferred the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, from its Lagos zonal office to its headquarters in Abuja, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

According to sources at the anti-graft agency, the former governor was taken from his Lagos office to the agencys headquarters in Abuja Friday morning.

He has been moved this morning (Friday) from our Lagos zonal office to our headquarters in Abuja for proper interrogation, the source said.

The former governor, the sources said, would be interrogated on issues involving allegations of corruption, details of which cannot yet be independently ascertained by PREMIUM TIMES.

The exact time he was flown into Abuja could also not be ascertained yet.

EFCCs spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his known phone number.

Mr Obiano was apprehended at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos at about 8.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Sources at the commission, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the press on the matter, said Mr Obiano was arrested at Lagos airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, United States.

The arrest came barely hours after Mr Obiano completed his second term as governor and handed over to Charles Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who was sworn in as the sixth governor of the state on Thursday.

Although details of the arrest are still sketchy, this newspaper learnt that Mr Obiano, who had been on the commissions watchlist since last year, was said to have been moved from the EFCCs Lagos zonal command to its Abuja headquarters.

It will be recalled that the commission had since last year placed the former governor on its watch list.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in November last year that the EFCC had in a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) dated November 15, 2021, requested the Service to place the governor on a watchlist and inform it anytime he is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Kubwa, Abuja, on Friday lifted an interlocutory injunction earlier issued to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention from holding.

The judge, Bello Kawu, vacated the interlocutory order earlier made on November 18, 2021, following an application by APCs legal team.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Kawu vacated the order relying on a recent Supreme Court decision which held that a party member does not have the right to take the party to court.

An APC member, Salisu Umoru, had sued the Chairman Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking an order to stop the planned convention of the party.

The judge had granted an interlocutory injunction sought by the applicant. Shuaibu Aruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria had applied for an order setting aside the order.

Mr Aruwa urged the court to grant his clients prayer, set aside the interlocutory order and strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction in the interest of justice.

The defence counsel added that the claimants counsel, Mike Enaharo-Ebah, did not file any process to counter his application.

In response, Mr Enaharo-Ebah said Mr Aruwa served him on March 11 and his seven days had not lapsed, adding that his right to respond in line with the rules of the court had been curtailed.

He, however, asked the court to adjourn for him to file a counter-affidavit.

Mr Aruwa, in response, said he served the claimant since March 9 through the former claimants counsel, F.O. Ekpa, adding that the seven days elapsed on March 16.

The judge granted the prayer by setting aside its earlier order stopping the APC convention. He, thereafter, adjourned the case until March 30 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

Other issues

Earlier, Mr Enaharo-Ebah moved a motion dated March 10 pursuant to order 43 rule 1 of the rules of the court, seeking an order of the court setting aside the hearing notices of parties of this suit seeking abridgement of time of March 15 against March 30, for hearing.

The second prayer is an order of the court setting aside every step taken by the APC and Buni for the fixing of March 26 for its convention.

Third is setting aside every committee inaugurated by the APC and the report of such committees including any notice of purported notice of INEC.

The application is supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and one exhibit attached, which is the order of the court made on November 18, 2021 restraining APC from proceeding with its convention pending the determination of the suit, he said.

In response, Mr Aruwa said he filed a five-paragraph counter-affidavit and relied on all the paragraphs and the attached letter written by APC and Mr Buni, to the partys former lawyer and himself.

He said they agreed that their application would be taken either on March 14 or March 15 and was endorsed by the former counsel.

The application for review of date is not strange it was agreed between me and the former counsel, Mr Aruwa said.

The counsel to INEC, Alhassan Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, supported Mr Aruwas submission and referred the court to order 43 rule 8 of the rules of the court. He added that the change of date was based on terms agreed by parties.

NAN reports that the convention is scheduled to hold on March 26, 2022.

(NAN)
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Ming in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Ming in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang congratulated Zhang Ming on his assumption of office and spoke highly of the SCO's achievements since its establishment.

In the face of the impact of the Ukraine crisis, the SCO should play a more active role in maintaining regional and even global security and stability, Wang said, calling for the "Shanghai Spirit" to be vigorously carried forward, along with a deepening of the solidarity and cooperation of member states, and the active practice of the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

Wang also called for resolute opposition to a return to the Cold War mentality, creating camp confrontation and illegal unilateral sanctions, adding that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be respected to safeguard international fairness and justice.

As the host country, China will as always support the work of the secretary-general and the SCO secretariat, Wang said.

Pledging to make due contributions to the development of the SCO, Zhang said the organization is paying close attention to the situation in Ukraine and hopes for restoring peace and shared security as soon as possible and achieving lasting peace and stability in the world. 
The Federal Government is set to speedily enforce a court judgement which on Friday struck down the new section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has indicated.

In what appears to have foreclosed the possibility of an appeal being filed against the judgement, Mr Malami explained that the verdict would be enforced by gazetting the Electoral Act with the offensive provision deleted from it.

Mr Malamis reaction contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, came just hours after the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, struck down the new provision on Friday.

The new statutory provision had prohibited political appointees from voting as delegates in party conventions or congresses for the election or nomination of candidates.

A lawyer and top member of Action Alliance (AA), one of Nigerias fringe political parties, Nduka Edede, had filed a suit at the court to challenge the constitutionality of the provision, with the Attorney-General of the Federation sued as the defendant.

Delivering her judgement on the suit on Friday, Evelyn Ayandike agreed with the plaintiff that the provision conflicted with Nigerian citizens rights guaranteed by the constitution.

She noted that the Nigerian constitution already has a provision that mandates appointees of government seeking to contest elections to resign at least 30 days to the date of the election.

Therefore, the judge ruled, any other law mandating such appointees to resign or leave office at any time before that is unconstitutional, invalid, illegal null and void, to the extent of its inconsistency to the clear provisions of the Constitution.

She ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation, to forthwith, delete the said section 84(12) from the body of the Electoral Act, 2022.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the decision aligns with the recent protest by President Muhammadu Buhari against the provision.

The judgement offers a big relief to Mr Buhari, whose request for the removal of the provision from the newly amended Electoral Act was rejected by the Senate earlier in the month.

It also came as a respite to members of the Presidents cabinet, including Mr Malami, speculated to have seen the contested provision of the Electoral as a threat to their political ambitions ahead of the 2023 general elections.

How judgement will be enforced  Malami

Mr Malami hailed the judgement on Friday.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will accordingly give effect to the court judgment in line with the dictates of the law and the spirit of the judgment, the statement by the ministers spokesperson stated.

It added that with the judgement, section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is no longer part of Nigerian law.

The judgment of the court will be recognised by the government printers in printing the Electoral Act.

The Act will be gazetted factoring the effect of the judgment into consideration and deleting the constitutionally offensive provision accordingly.

The provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is not part of our law and will be so treated accordingly, the statement also stated.

The speed with which Mr Malami promised to enforce the judgement runs in sharp contrast with the Buhari administrations reputation for scant regard for court decisions.

But Mr Malami justified the move being made to enforce the Fridays judgement citing constitutional provisions as a backing.

This is in line with the dictates of chapter 7, Part 4, Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) on enforcement of decisions that makes it a point of duty and obligation on all authorities and persons to have the judgment of the Federal High Court, among others, to be enforced, the statement stated.

With both the plaintiff who instituted in the suit, and Mr Malami, who appears to be the sole defendant sued in the case, being in agreement with the judgement, it may well be taken that there would be no appeal against the verdict.

A third party not involved in the case at the trial court and suddenly shows interest in pursuing an appeal against the verdict will have to surmount a legal obstacle obtaining the courts leave to file such appeal.

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Buharis protest, AA party members suit

Mr Buhari had, after signing the bill into the law, written the National Assembly requesting that the provision be expunged from the Electoral Act.

He argued in the request that the provision constituted a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at conventions or congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election, in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the national election.

Mr Edede of the AA had subsequently filed his suit at the Federal High Court in Umuahia to seek proper interpretation of Section 84(12) of the New Electoral Act.

Mr Edede, through his lawyer, urged the court to determine whether Section 84(12), when read together with Sections 66(1)(f) 107(1)(f)(137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution, was not inconsistent.

His case was upheld by the court on Friday.

But the Fridays judgement came less than two weeks after another judge of the Abuja division of the same court, Inyang Ekwo, barred President Buhari, the AGF, and the National Assembly from tampering with the newly amended Electoral Act 2022.

Mr Ekwo, ruling on an ex-parte application by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held that the Electoral Act having become a valid law could not be altered without following the due process of law.
The Nigeria Navy, NNS Jubilee, in Ikot Abasi, has said it would not allow the construction of a storey building opposite its Base main gate, for security reasons.

The Base Operation Officer, Morgan Etuk said this on Thursday, while speaking with reporters on a complaint by a church of incessant harassments and disruptions of the churchs project work opposite the Base.

Mr Etuk, a navy commander, said every military establishment must have a buffer zone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that a medical doctor and member of the church, Inemesit Ekanem, alleged in a statement to reporters that the disruption and harassment by NNS Jubilee had impeded the progress of the churchs work.

Mr Etuk said when the church workers came to the site on March 12, one of the officers of the Base told them of the need for a roundtable discussion, which they had always ignored.

He said the Base had a dialogue with the Church leadership about four times on the need to relocate the structure from opposite the Bases entrance.

According to him, this is a military establishment and every military establishment all over the world must have a buffer zone, a safety zone and this military establishment is not an exception.

He said that when the workers came on March 12, one of their officers told them not to continue with the work.

Mr Etuk said that was not the first time they were told to stop work.

He added that they had also told them of the need to come for a roundtable discussion because the church, if erected, would become a security threat to the base.

If you check our security architecture you will see drums and sentries stationed all over the place. These are some of the things we use to protect this place.

Coming to erect that structure, which they said is even a storey building, somebody can go there and use it as an observation post to monitor what is happening inside the base.

As a pastor, you will not tell me categorically hundred per cent that the members dont have any criminal tendencies or intentions.

You heard about how criminals go about attacking military zones, killing personnel and carting away weapons, so we have to secure our base.

We cant just sit down and allow a structure erected in front of us which, we know fully well, that it might become a security threat to us, Mr Etuk said.

Mr Etuk denied the allegations that the church workers were beaten, saying that naval officers are law-abiding citizens and not animals that would start beating people up.

He said the Base had no power to give any approvals or authorisation for anyone to erect a structure, except the Office of the National Security Adviser.

He said that for now the approval had not been given, adding that the base would not allow such construction knowing fully well that it would be a security threat.

(NAN)
Former President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Anambra State, Chris Elunmuno, has called on the former governor of the state, Willie Obiano, not to allow his wife to go into politics to avoid shameful outings that may damage his legacies.

Mr Elunmuno gave the advice in an interview with a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who sampled the opinion of the residents on the scuffle on Thursday in Awka during Charles Soludos inauguration as the sixth elected governor of Anambra State.

We saw the video clip all over the social media. It was a loss of dignity, and this behaviour needs to be checked before she gets offhand outside Nigerias shores, he said.

Mr Elunmuno said the fight that erupted between Obianos wife, Ebelechukwu, and the wife of the late Biafra leader, Odimegwu Ojukwu, was a bad end to Mr Obianos eight years in office as governor.

Our outgone governors wife lost her temper on the day of her glory and spoiled the mood of her husband and the entire Anambra people by confronting a guest in a state event as huge as the inauguration.

How can she walk up to the wife of the supreme leader of the party that gave her limelight to fight his widow? It will be difficult to clean up the memory from the peoples minds. Instead of celebrating her husband, it is her fight that is the talk of the world, he said.

He said since her temperament is too short, it is not wise to allow her to go into politics to avoid further damage to the personality of Mr Obiano, his family and the entire Anambra.

She has shown interest to contest for a senatorial seat of Anambra North in next general election. We cannot afford to be disgraced in the red chambers of Abuja, please stop her thirst for the seat now for your good image, he said.

Others speak on the incident

A resident of Anambra, Felix Akaso described the incident as bad, saying a public personality should learn how to control his or her temper either at home or in public as maturity should be applied at all times.

He called for peace among all aggrieved members of the party so that lasting peace will return to the party.

Another resident, Rose Mbachi, who is a school proprietress, described the incident as a wrong display of character, as young adults will see it as normal. She urged women to always display maturity even when provoked.

Ms Mbachi said the ceremony was supposed to have been held in a friendly environment where aggrieved persons could amend any broken relationship.

Patty Anagor, an Anambra resident, described the incident as a bad lamp to young girls and advised that adults should be mindful of their actions so as not to mislead young minds.

Mr Soludo had apologised over the incident, which has been described as a breach of protocol.

The breach was caused by improper communication which itself arose from personal issues between the two parties involved in the breach, said a statement issued by the head of Mr Soludos media team.

Steps are being taken to resolve the misunderstanding and restore the parties to their previous relationship.

Anambra, over the years, has been known for a huge stock of social harmony and the stock will increase substantially in the years ahead as part of the concerted effort to accelerate development in the state.

God bless Anambra, the Light of the nation, the statement added.

(NAN)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has barred two immigration officials permanently from the nations airports after they extorted a passenger.

FAAN said the unnamed officials collected N8,000 from a 13-year-old girl travelling on Lufthansa Airline, prompting her mother to complain on Twitter.

The incident took place on February 19 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

An investigation confirmed the officials took money from the passenger and they were made to refund the amount, FAAN spokesperson, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, said in a statement Friday.

The probe, which included a review of security cameras at the airport, was carried out with the support of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the offending personnels duty cards were permanently withdrawn.

Extortion is common at Nigerian airports and passport offices where officials frequently ask passengers and applicants for tips or inflate the cost of their services. Airport officials sometimes try to compel passengers to pay under the pretext they did something wrong.

The government has failed to address the problem despite repeated promises. In October 2021, the acting comptroller general of the NIS, Isah Jere, disguised as a passport applicant and caught two officers who charged extra fees for passport.

In February, FAAN said it arrested 90 airport personnel and outsiders at the Lagos and Abuja airports for extortion and other offences.

We would like to commend the mother of the child, who has confirmed receipt of the money, for deeming it fit to escalate the case, and assisting us tremendously in the course of our investigation.. Also, we would like to express our appreciation to the Comptroller of Immigration, FAAN said in its statement.

The Authority will continue to identify and sanction any airport official (inchiding FAAN officials) found to be extorting passengers or perpetuating any act of illegality at our airports.
The family members of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who was kidnapped on February 26 in a Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus and later found dead days later, have said they rejected the autopsy date because of the short notice given to them by the police.

Pelumi Ayanwola, a member of the family, disclosed this on Friday while speaking with journalists at Right House, Adeniji Jones Street in Ikeja, Lagos State.

He said the family rejected the invitation because of the short notice.

We received an invitation on Wednesday from the police to come and witness Bamises autopsy on Thursday.

We rejected it because we felt that such time was not enough for us to gather the family members to witness it and we also deserve to invite our own pathologist because we want fairness.

He said that Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke with his father on phone but that his presence in the house would have calmed all nerves.

I trust him but he will not be the one to conduct the autopsy, his people will give him the report, he trusted them but we dont.

He said without autopsy, the evidence was clear regarding what led to the untimely death of his sister.

Mr Ayanwola added: Bamise boarded a BRT bus. She was supposed to alight at Oshodi, the driver of the bus did not drop her, it was even the police that took her body to the morgue.

The following day when we started looking for her, we went to several stations, but they were hostile to us.

They saw the evidence, listen to the video but they were still helpless. Nobody seems to believe the police any longer as they are not doing their jobs as expected.

It is not even the police that got him arrested, they are incapacitated.

According to him, the security of Nigerians is not important anymore.

Why is the security of Nigeria not so important any more? With Bamises death, it is obvious that the places of safety are no longer safe, we have many wars to win.

It is a neglect of duty to allow BRT buses to operate and be transporting passengers without security features installed in them; no Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed inside them to record happenings while in transit.

He said the deceased was in possession of some materials which could not be found after she had been allegedly murdered.

Where is Bamises bag that contained her phone, my wife and sons cloths and other materials.

Where are the cloths she was wearing on that fateful day.

Even without the autopsy, all the culprits can easily be apprehended.

He said that somebody who introduced himself as an official of the state government called his mother and was asking her when Bamise would be buried.

Why is the state so in a haste to bury the remains of my sister, that is immature.

How can we bury her when justice has not been served.

There is no security provided for our parents, we dont know who is who, different people kept calling but God is on our side, he said.

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Mr Ayanwola said the family is calling for justice for their daughter so as to save others from such incident.

The family lawyer, Ayo Ademiluyi, said they rejected the autopsy because it would be conducted by pathologists that would be appointed by the Lagos State Government.

We received an invitation from police that we should come for autopsy a day before it would be performed.

We rejected it because it will only be conducted by the appointed officials of Lagos State Government alone.

Lagos State is a party in this case, they cannot be a judge in their own case, they can only be witnesses or observers.

It is better for them to invite pathologists that are neutral in this case,  he said.

Mr Ademiluyi urged the police and the state government to give them two weeks for them to assembly their own team.

However, the Police Command Public Relations Officer(PPRO) in Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he could not comment on the issue because he had just been transferred to Lagos and he needed to update himself on it.

Apart from the prime suspect who had been arrested and arraigned in court, I cannot say if any other suspect has been arrested.

I also do not know why the family of Bamise was given a short notice regarding their witnessing the autopsy that was to be carried out on the body of the deceased.

As I said, I still need to update myself on the case as the new PPRO of the Police Command in Lagos State, he said. (NAN)
A professor of agriculture and former deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Adebayo Bamire, has been announced as the institutions 12th substantive vice-chancellor-elect.

Mr Bamire was said to have ranked first ahead of a professor of Art and former deputy vice-chancellor at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Razaq Kalilu, and Kayode Ijadunola, a professor of public health and community medicine and former provost of the OAUs college of health sciences, who ranked second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, a handful of protesters on Thursday afternoon blocked the universitys main gate shortly after the announcement, saying an indigene of the host community- Ile-Ife, should have been appointed.

As earlier hinted by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday afternoon, the announcement was made by the universitys governing council led by a business mogul and founder of Superior Motors, Oscar Udoji.

The announcement ended a selection process which had kicked off in December, and which saw a total of 20 applicants taking part in the process.

In a statement issued by the university and signed by Mr Udoji, the VC-elect will assume office on June 7, when the tenure of the incumbent, Eyitope Ogunbodede, is expected to end.

Mr Udojis statement read in part: In line with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act as amended, the report of the Selection Board was considered by the Council which, after a careful and dispassionate review of the report, decided to appoint Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, a professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Vice-Chancellor of the University with effect from June 7, 2022.

The decision of the Council shall be communicated to the Visitor to the University, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari through the Hon. Minister of Education.

Protest

According to sources, some individuals, who are said to be indigenes of Ile-Ife, had assembled at the universitys main gate on Thursday afternoon, accusing the governing council of deliberately scheming out an indigene from being appointed.

An applicant, Rufus Adedoyin, a professor of Physiotherapy, had been backed by a group of elders and youth of Ile-Ife community under the umbrella of Town and Gown.

They cited examples of the Universities of Ilorin, Jos and lately, Ibadan, who have been administered at different times by indigenes of their host communities.

The protesters have, however, threatened to shut down the university completely on Friday, saying there shall be no peace until the decision is reversed.

In a short video obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the protesters also threatened to go traditional and fetish in fighting their battle.

So we are telling you that tomorrow, from Ipetu, Modakeke, Ifetedo, Origbo, and anywhere in Ife land, there shall be no movement. We will come with masqurades, demons and sacrifices, an unidentified youth who addressed a crowd of protesters, said.

The universitys public relations officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, however, neither picked his call nor replied to a message sent to his phone requesting the universitys reaction to the protest.

Who is Bamire?

Born on January 18, 1959, Mr Bamire hails from Oyan in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.

He was said to have attended St. Clares Nursery and Primary School, Osogbo, for his primary school education and had his secondary education at St. Charles Grammar School, also in Osogbo.

He studied Agricultural Economics at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) and bagged his Bachelor of Agriculture in 1985; M.Phil., in 1992, and Ph.D. in 1999.

Mr Bamires PhD thesis was said to have won the National Universities Postgraduate Thesis Award in 2001.

During the tenure of the universitys 10th vice-chancellor, Bamitale Omole, Mr Bamire had reportedly won the deanship election of the faculty of agriculture by a lone vote.

As the dean, Mr Bamire reportedly had a frosty relationship with the then vice-chancellor, Mr Omole, who was eventually chased out of the campus one month to the end of his tenure in 2016 by protesting workers over allegations of corruption and compromised selection processes of his successor at the time.

The crisis, which led to the balkanisation of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the campus, eventually led to the appointment of an acting vice-chancellor- Anthony Elujoba.

However, since the appointment of the outgoing vice-chancellor, Ogunbodede, Mr Omole, a professor of History and International Relations, has had it tough on the campus.

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He reportedly voluntarily retired earlier this year at the age of 68, instead of waiting to attain the 70-year-retirement age permitted by the law governing the university system in Nigeria.

Backstory

This newspaper had earlier reported how the selection process of a new vice-chancellor had culminated into the interview of 16 shortlisted candidates which started on Monday, March 14 and ended on Wednesday, 16.

The process has been described by many members of the university community as fair, balanced and just, saying the fairness had made it less rancorous unlike what was experienced in 2016.
Nigeria has raised $1.25 billion through the issuance of a seven-year Eurobonds.

The director-general of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Patience Oniha, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

Mrs Oniha said that with this feat, Nigeria has become the first African country to access the international capital market in 2022.

According to her, the countrys ability to access the Eurobonds at this time was a confirmation of Nigerias established presence with the ICM and engagement with investors on a continuous basis.

She said the proceeds of the bonds would be used to finance the budget and bridge infrastructural deficits.

The offer was launched at an initial price of 8.75 per cent per annum and on the back of strong investor demand, Nigeria was able to reverse the price guidance to 8.5 per cent per annum. The order book continued to grow, reaching a peak of four billion dollars, she said.

She said the order book included many quality investors in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

With this strong investor interest the price was tightened at 8.37 per cent per annum, the order book still remained high at 3.67 billion dollars and still retained quality investors, she said.

She said that Nigerian investors also participated in the offer with a total subscription of $60 million dollars.

She added that the Eurobonds would also strengthen economic recovery and contribute directly and in full to the level of Nigerias External Reserves.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DMO had earlier on Thursday revealed that Nigerias total debt stock as at December 2021 was N39.55 trillion.

Borrowings for capital expenditure, human capital development  DMO

The DMO said the countrys increasing debt profile is mainly used to finance capital projects and human capital development.

Mrs Oniha said the various social challenges in the country, as well as global occurrences had also increased the countrys debt.

Borrowings are essentially for Capital Expenditure and Human Capital Development as specified in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

Having witnessed two economic recessions, we have had to spend our ways out of recession, which contributed significantly to the growth in the public debt.

It is unlikely that our recovery from each of the two recessions would have been as fast without the sustained government expenditure funded partly by debt, she said.

According to her, the insecurity situation has also resulted in increased borrowings.

To compound matters, the country has technically been at war with the pervasive security challenges across the nation.

This has necessitated massive expenditures on security equipment and operations, contributing to the fiscal deficit. Defence and security sector accounts for 22 per cent of the 2021 budget, she said.

Mrs Oniha said the most viable solution to the countrys fiscal challenge was to grow sources of revenue and plug all leakages.

We must, however, continue to rationalise our expenditure as we cannot afford waste.

In reality, our largest expenditure items are currently personnel cost, debt service and capital expenditure, which between them account for 85 per cent of the 2022 budget.

There is very little scope for cut in any of these over the medium term, she said.

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According to her, revenue generation remains the major fiscal constraint of the federal government.

Systemic resource mobilisation problem was also compounded by the recent economic recessions.

Several measures are being instituted under governments Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives to improve revenue and entrench fiscal prudence with emphasis on achieving value for money, she said. (NAN)
An editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was controversially suspended from office has been invited by the police over a stolen laptop.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Collins Yakubu-Hammer was suspended after he used his position as a union leader to challenge illegality by the NAN management.

He said his ordeal began on September 23, when he, alongside officials of three labour unions, challenged an illegality they observed in the promotion examination the federal government-run agency organised for staff on August 26, 2021.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer, who has been suspended by the NAN management, is the chairman of the NUJ, NAN chapel.

He is also the acting chairman and secretary of NAN Joint Union, Abuja, and a member of the FCT Executive Council of the NUJ.

Stolen laptop, a new twist

On Tuesday, about a week after the report was published, Mr Yakubu-Hammer told PREMIUM TIMES he was accosted at an event he attended at Ritz Continental, Abuja, by a man who he said claimed he was a military official attached to the Shehu YarAdua Centre.

The unnamed man said he (Yakubu-Hammer) looked like a suspect on their watchlist who had allegedly stolen a laptop at an event held between March 2 and 4 at the Shehu YarAdua Centre.

He forcefully marched Mr Yakubu-Hammer to the chief security officers office of the hotel around noon where he, in the company of an unnamed hotel staffer, pulled out a laptop and showed the editor footage of the suspect who allegedly stole the laptop.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer said after over an hour of being grilled and everyone agreeing that he and the suspect did not bear any semblance, it was agreed that he would be taken to his house for a search.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer, who said he was never at the event where the said laptop was reportedly stolen, said his phone was seized during the process of interrogation at Ritz.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer was first taken to the police station at the police headquarters in Wuse Zone 3 where his phones were again seized and he was detained for over 5 hours.

He said he was later interrogated by one Inspector Ashaka who again levelled the same allegations the unnamed official had done.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer said he was later driven to his home by the military officer where his property was ransacked but nothing incriminating was found there.

On the way, the journalist said the officer branched into the Army Resource Centre where he picked up another officer who went along with them.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer claims that while he was being driven, the officer was spiritedly speaking into the phone in Yoruba, a language the journalist does not understand. But he said he was able to pick one word out of the conversation; scapegoat.

The two men later left him but only after telling him that he should meet them at the NAN headquarters by 10 a.m. the next day to ascertain if he indeed worked there.

They took his number, he added but did not leave theirs. It was then his phone was released to him, he said, adding that he immediately contacted the NUJ President, Emmanuel Ogbeche.

Mr Yakubu-Hammer said he has not been called by anyone since then.

He said since the incident, he fears for his safety as it happened at a time he is demanding his reinstatement at his workplace.

I dont cover aviation. I cover humanitarian affairs ministry, National Boundary Commission, National Press Council, etc. There is no way I could have gone for an event I dont cover. The picture I was shown was also not clearly me. So the whole incident is still strange and inexplicable for me. I think someone is trying to frame me, he said.

Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, did not respond to SMS requests for comments when contacted on Thursday. She also did not pick up her calls.

More clarity

Amaka Nwamkpa, the director, Public Policy Initiative, Shehu Musa YarAdua Foundation, however, shed more light on the incident when PREMIUM TIMES called him on Thursday.

He confirmed that the event in which the laptop was reportedly stolen was held on March 2.

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He, however, said the military officer was actually a security consultant who gave a talk during the event organised by the aviation ministry.

Mr Nwamkpa, who spoke on behalf of the chief operating officer of the centre, said the man had gone to deliver his lecture and on return to his seat discovered his laptop was gone.

He was sitting at the front row during the event. Apparently, the moment he went to the podium to deliver his lecture, someone behind him picked the bag and left

Mr Nwamkpa, who said he did not have specific details of the man, said the victim later liaised with the organisers of the event who provided him with the footage and pictures of those who sat behind him. He said clients who use the centre usually provide their own video coverage services.

These were apparently the footage and pictures Mr Yakubu-Hammer was shown when he was detained.

The aviation ministry also reportedly introduced the security expert to the commissioner of police and some high ranking security officers to aid him in recovering his stolen laptop.

Mr Nwamkpa said he was informed on Wednesday that a suspect (apparently Mr Yakubu-Hammer) had been arrested but was not given further details.

He said the centre always advises clients who make use of the event halls to approach the police for extra security cover to augment the one provided by the centre.

We dont provide additional security here. There is also a disclaimer we issue to our customers here that your property is at your risk so you should take care of all your property and whatever valuables you bring to the centre

NUJ speaks

Meanwhile, the NUJ FCT Council chairman, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said the union is closely monitoring events concerning the travails of Mr Yakubu-Hammer and would do everything legally possible to protect his interests.

He also said he had been contacted on the missing laptop matter and Mr Yakubu-Hammers invitation by the police and had sent the councils secretary to get more information on the matter to know the next line of action.

Mr Ogbeche also told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that since the NAN management has refused dialogue options to resolve the matter, the union is mulling legal and protest options to ensure Mr Yakubu-Hammer is reinstated.

We are going to escalate the matter soon. We have two options on the table. We are going to explore the legal route. Secondly, we are planning a protest. We are going to shut down the place
The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, on Friday struck down a new innovation captured in section 84(12) of the recently amended Electoral Act.

The novel statutory provision had prohibited political appointees from voting as delegates in party conventions or congresses for the election or nomination of candidates.

Delivering judgement on the suit challenging the constitutionality of the provision, the judge, Evelyn Anyadike, held that the section was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

Adjudging the provision to be in conflict with the Nigerian constitution, the judge held that it ought to be struck down as it cannot stand when it is in violation of the clear provisions of the Constitution.

Mrs Anyadike ordered the Attorney General of the Federation to forthwith delete the said Subsection 12 of Section 84 from the body of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The decision upholding the case of the plaintiff on Friday aligns with the recent protest by President Muhammadu Buhari against the provision.

A lawyer and top member of Action Alliance (AA), Nduka Edede, had filed the suit to challenge the constitutionality of the provision, with the Attorney General of the Federation sued as the defendant.

The contested section 84(12) of the Electoral Act reads: No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

Buharis protest

Mr Buhari had, after signing the bill into the law, written the National Assembly requesting that the provision be expunged from the Electoral Act.

He argued in the request that the provision constituted a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at conventions or congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election, in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the national election.

The Senate rejected the bill seeking the deletion of the provision earlier this month.

How law conflicts with Constitution

But in agreement with the concerns expressed against the provision, the Federal High Court in Umuahia struck down the provision on Friday.

Mrs Anyadike held that the Nigerian constitution stipulated that appointees of government seeking to contest elections must resign at least 30 days to the date of the election.

Thus any other law mandating such appointees to resign or leave office at any time before that is unconstitutional, invalid, illegal null and void, to the extent of its inconsistency to the clear provisions of the Constitution.

The judge, in the judgement on the suit marked, FHC/UM/CS/26/2022, agreed with the submissions of the plaintiffs that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act was inconsistent with the rights of Nigerian citizens.

The court tordered the Attorney General of the Federation, to forthwith delete the said Subsection 12 of Section 84 from the body of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The judgement came less two weeks after another judge of the Abuja division of the same court, Inyang Ekwo, barred President Buhari, the AGF, and the National Assembly from tampering with the newly amended Electoral Act 2022.

Mr Ekwo, ruling on an ex-parte application by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held that the Electoral Act having become a valid law could not be altered without following the due process of law.

Suit

The plaintiff, Mr Edede of the AA party, had approached the court o the court to seek proper interpretation of Section 84(12) of the New Electoral Act.

Mr Edede, through his lawyer, urged the court to determine whether Section 84(12), when read together with Sections 66(1)(f) 107(1)(f)(137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution, was not inconsistent.

Mr Ededes lawyer, Emeka Ozoani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told journalists after the courts judgement was delivered on Friday that the National Assembly no longer had to proceed with the amendment of the legislation.

He said by this judgment, the National Assembly is not required to further make any amendments to the section as the import of this judgment is that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act is no longer in existence or part of the Electoral Act.
Cellphone photo taken on March 17, 2022 shows medical staff cleaning up and disinfecting a room at a community isolation facility in Hong Kong, south China.(Xinhua)

Editor's note: China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been fighting its worst wave of COVID-19 infections since the outbreak of the pandemic. A mainland-aided community isolation facility located in Tsing Yi started admitting its first batch of COVID-19 patients in Hong Kong on March 3. The facility, completed within just one week, is capable of accommodating about 3,900 asymptomatic or mildly ill patients.

A resident in Hong Kong hospitalized at the facility presents the first-person experience of how he, along with his new neighbors, feels about the facility and the epidemic.

HONG KONG, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Because my self-test result still showed positive traces the day before yesterday, the staff at Tsing Yi said I had to wait until the test is completely negative. To be responsible for myself and others, I'll stay here for a few more days.

My former neighbors have basically all left. I've been texting with the family of three next door from time to time, and learned that the little boy is already taking online classes, while his father has returned to work. The lady across the lane also gave me lots of snacks and cup noodles when she left yesterday.

They all came here in compliance with the HKSAR government's arrangements. I saw in them Hong Kong people's compliance with the law, spirit of contract, and the traditional Chinese virtue of loving people with kindness.

This pandemic has been around for more than two years, and it recently has led me to think about two issues related to rights and responsibilities: vaccines and freedom.

I am not a doctor or an expert, but I believe that the end of this pandemic will depend on vaccines and immunity. Vaccination is both a self-serving and altruistic act. However, as of March 16, the percentage of the population in Hong Kong who have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is 81 percent.

This percentage does not seem too low compared to other countries and regions, but it is still not good enough for a city like Hong Kong, which is one of the most densely populated places in the world.

I recall that when Hong Kong launched its COVID-19 vaccination program last year, many people were hesitant because they were worried about the side effects of the vaccine. This concern is certainly understandable: individual wellbeing and public health may sometimes be in conflict. But between the possibility of side effects and the possibility of serious illness after infection, I would rather choose the former.

There have been numerous domestic and international studies proving that vaccination can greatly reduce the likelihood of severe and critical illness after infection. The HKSAR government does not mandate vaccination, and it is an individual's right to choose not to be vaccinated, but choosing to be vaccinated is a responsibility we have to the overall interest of Hong Kong society.

And I would like to share some of my thoughts on freedom. Hong Kong has been the world's freest economy for many years and has been attracting global talent and capital with its famed freedom. COVID-19 has greatly affected the freedom of people to enter and leave Hong Kong, and many service industries have ground to a halt due to the surging fifth wave of infections.

Hong Kong must have a lot of conclusions to draw in the future about the pandemic. In my opinion, how to balance the freedom of individuals and groups in a public emergency with the overall cost to society is probably the most important lesson to learn, both for the residents and the HKSAR government.

Looking back to 2021, the vast majority of Hong Kong residents were able to comply with the COVID-19 control policies and measures introduced by the HKSAR government. But this fifth wave, compounded by the high transmissibility of the Omicron strain, began as precisely the result of individuals' non-compliance with the ordinance, costing more people irreparably in freedom and lives.

The HKSAR government should learn. It needs to continuously improve the mechanism for amending and enforcing laws and regulations during emergencies. The Hong Kong community should understand the situation correctly, be more flexible, and regain individual freedom at a smaller cost to society.

May this epidemic prompt all sectors of Hong Kong to reflect so as to do better. 

Cellphone photo taken on March 17, 2022 shows medical staff delivering food for people under quarantine at a community isolation facility in Hong Kong, south China.(Xinhua)
Ukraines deputy ambassador to Nigeria, Bohdan Soltys, Tuesday said Russia attacked Ukraine because it wants to restore the Soviet Union.

This act of war was is in no way provoked by Ukraine. Russia just wants to restore the Soviet Union, he said.

Mr Soltys said this while speaking with PREMIUM TIMES at the CommonWealth Day event organised by the British High Commission in Nigeria.

Ukraine is a peaceful nation who was attacked by an aggressor, Russia is the aggressor, he said.

He said Russia is using terrorist methods in Ukraine by shelling the civilian population and killing women and children. He cited the bombing of a maternity hospital.

If the world does not join to stop Russia today, who will be next? Other nations will also suffer. You know such aggressors, their appetite only tends to increase until they are stopped, Mr Soltys added.

When asked if he was in talks with his Russian counterpart in Nigeria, he said, the highest levels are already discussing, I see no point discussing it with my Russian counterpart here in Nigeria.

There are now conversations about a so-called peace negotiation between the delegation of Ukraine and Russia. Russia is violating international law. While they are negotiating peace, Russia keeps shelling and bombing Ukraine; this is totally unacceptable, against international law and simply humanity, he said.

Appreciating Commonwealth member states and other countries, Mr Soltys said it was nice to be among representatives of other nations who know what is going on and who are very supportive.

Commonwealth Day in Abuja

The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, on Tuesday, marked the 2022 Commonwealth Day with a series of events in Abuja and Lagos.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, in her welcome speech, reiterated the United Kingdoms position on Russias invasion of Ukraine and its support for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ms Laing noted that it has been clear all along that the Russian government was never serious about engaging in diplomacy and was only focused on deceit and furthering their territorial ambitions.

She acknowledged the presence of Mr Soltys, saying the Commonwealth is in solidarity with Ukraine and the amazing bravery of its citizens.

Ms Laing noted that the Commonwealth charter is very important as it documents the values and aspirations of member states which is what unites the Commonwealth.

It expresses the commitment of the member states to free, democratic societies and the promotion of peace, she said, adding that whether or not countries represented at the gathering are in the Commonwealth, I think all of us here tonight will be in solidarity with these values.

Abdullahi Omaki, special assistant to the Nigerian president on foreign affairs, in his remarks noted that nations could have their differences but the survival of humanity takes precedence.

He said he believes the Commonwealth symbolises an institutional platform where the preservation of international peace should be discussed.

The world is going through tremendous changes and very interesting times. We do not know where we are going but wherever we are headed, we pray that good reason prevails, he added.

Ms Laing presented the 214th Commonwealth Points of Light award to Uloma Ogba and Hauwa Balami, founders of a Nigerian NGO, Give Girls A Chance, for their voluntary work in their local community.

The NGO received the award for the work it does to help girls between 10 and 19, from low-income families, identify and benefit from opportunities that will help them forge successful careers. Over 2000 girls have directly benefited from the programme since it started in 2016.

Queen Elizabeth, as head of the Commonwealth, launched the award as part of the legacy of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. The award recognises inspirational volunteers from across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond them.

A Platinum Pudding competition was also featured as part of the event which was won by the South African embassy in Nigeria.

The event brought together Commonwealth member states in Abuja as well as friends.

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In Lagos, the Deputy High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, hosted a Commonwealth Day reception on March 14 in Lagos.

The UK took over the leadership of the Commonwealth in 2018 and was due to hand over to Rwanda in 2020 but was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, later this year, Rwanda will be taking over leadership.

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth. It encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to take pride in the Commonwealth identity and promote the shared values and principles of peace, democracy, and equality, and celebrate the rich diversity of the Commonwealths 54 member countries.

Commonwealth Day has been observed every year since the 1970s. This year marks 45 years since Commonwealth Day became a global celebration marked on the second Monday in March. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commonwealth Day was held virtually for the first time.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and sovereign states with a combined population of 2.5 billion. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. About 32 of its members are small states, including island nations.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says former Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State is currently in its custody in Abuja undergoing interrogation after his arrest on Thursday.

Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

He said Mr Obiano, who was arrested on Thursday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, was brought to Abuja on Friday morning.

The EFCC spokesman said that the former governor had not been released, as being speculated in some sections of the media.

The former governor is currently in our custody undergoing interrogation, and I cannot say exactly when he will be released. I dont know how long the exercise will take.

All I can tell you now is that he is still in EFCCs custody in Abuja, he said.

Mr Uwujaren, however, said that he was not aware of the arrest of the wife of the former governor, Ebelechukwu Obiano, as being speculated in some sections of the media.

Mr Obiano was arrested by EFCC on Thursday night, hours after handing over to the new Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Obiano was moved to from Lagos to Abuja Friday morning.

The former governor, the sources said, would be interrogated on issues involving allegations of corruption, details of which cannot yet be independently ascertained by PREMIUM TIMES.

It will be recalled that the commission had since last year placed the former governor on its watch list.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in November last year that the EFCC had in a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) dated November 15, 2021, requested the Service to place the governor on a watchlist and inform it anytime he is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit.
An All Progressives Congress (APC) senator and former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, may be on his way back to the Peoples Democrstic Party (PDP) as he hosted his successor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike at his residence in Abuja on Thursday.

The media aide to Mr Dankwambo, Dahiru Kera, told PREMIUM TIMES that the PDP chieftains visited Mr Goje to persuade him to return to the PDP, the party he left in January 2014.

Mr Goje was governor under the PDP from 2003 to 2011 and was succeeded by Mr Dankwambo.

Mr Goje was elected senator under the APC in 2015 to represent Gombe Central district, the seat he still holds.

However, he has been at loggerheads with current Gombe governor, Inuwa Yahaya, over the affairs of the APC in their state. The dispute has led to physical violence between their sets of supporters.

Meeting with Wike and others

Other PDP leaders at the meeting with Mr Goje were the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Philip Aduda, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, and others.

The meeting took place at the Asokoro residence of Mr Goje.

Mr Kera said the meeting was to perfect the plans to welcome Mr Goje back to the PDP.

Mr Kera said the relationship between Mr Goje and Governor Yahaya remains sour despite the intervention of the national leadership of the APC.

He said a media aide to Mr Goje was arrested in the state and detained for over a month, citing it as a case of repression of supporters of the senator.

It is not clear how the recent sack of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and 15 members of the state House of Assembly will affect the plan by Mr Goje to defect to the PDP.

The Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the governor and lawmakers for defecting from the PDP, the party on whose platform they were elected, to the APC.

In the judgment, the court said votes cast at elections belong to the parties and not to the candidates, and therefore any elected official who abandons his party must give up their seat too.

Interestingly, the suit against them was filed by the PDP, which is pursuing similar cases against the governors and lawmakers in Cross River and Zamfara States who dumped the party for the APC.
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned from London after a routine medical check-up.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian leader departed Abuja for the routine medical check-up in London on March 6.

The president had earlier wanted to embark on the medical trip from Nairobi, Kenya, after attending the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) at 50 in that country, on March 5, but returned to Nigeria on March 4.

The presidents spokesman, Femi Adesina, had on March 1, in a statement, said that from Kenya, the president would proceed to London for routine medical checks that will last for a maximum of two weeks.

However, the president returned to Abuja on Friday at about 1.p.m. before embarking on the London trip on March 6.

While in London, the president was believed to have met with the Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC), Mala Buni.

The president, at the end of the London meeting with Mr Buni, called on governors of the All progressives Congress (APC) to stop further utterances that lead to disunity ahead of the National Convention.

A statement by the presidents spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the president made the call via a letter he personally signed, and addressed to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

Mr Bagudu is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum.

NAN reports that the presidential aircraft carrying the president landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 7.09 p.m. (NAN)
With the world saturated with missiles and nuclear arms, it is not impossible that any can be fired due to technical or human errors; in other words, humans can simply sleepwalk into a universal disaster. I often hear an exclamation like: The Devil is a liar; but in reality, the Devil is a realist; the best way to avoid a nuclear disaster is to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Africans say, you do not go about sniffing what you forbid; if we do not want a biological or nuclear war, why do we go about producing them?

The siamese twins, India and Pakistan, have virtually been at each others throats since the 1947 surgical operation by quack British doctors that separated them.

Their last dogfight in the skies was in 2019. However, on March 9, Pakistan, with 165 nuclear warheads, and India, with 156, were almost at war. What nearly resulted in conflict was not their fierce differences over Kashmir or any difference for that matter.

What happened was that India fired a BrahMos Medium-range Missile into Pakistans Punjab Province, damaging property. But luckily, no aircraft was flying around and there was no casualty.

The baffled Pakistanis, who traced the missile launch, were not sure what to make of it as it was an unarmed supersonic missile. They waited for the direct hotline between the two military chiefs to ring and get an explanation.

But it remained silent. As the Pakistanis prepared for a possible conflict, they made a complaint to India. That was when, two days later, the explanation came with profuse apologies; the Indian Air Force was checking its systems when, due to a technical malfunction, the missile went off.

Pakistans National Security Adviser, Moeed Yusuf said: This missile travelled close to the path of international and domestic commercial airlines and threatened the safety of civiliansIt is also highly irresponsible of Indian authorities not to have informed Pakistan immediately that an inadvertent launch of a cruise missile had taken place.

My concerns are not whether or not the Ukrainian laboratory experiments are for defensive purposes -whatever that means  but that, as it happened in the Indian missile case, there can be accidental discharge or leakage, and before you know it, the world might be battling new pandemics.

With the world saturated with missiles and nuclear arms, it is not impossible that any can be fired due to technical or human errors; in other words, humans can simply sleepwalk into a universal disaster. I often hear an exclamation like: The Devil is a liar; but in reality, the Devil is a realist; the best way to avoid a nuclear disaster is to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Africans say, you do not go about sniffing what you forbid; if we do not want a biological or nuclear war, why do we go about producing them?

The United Nations, in Article I of its Convention on the Prohibition of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons, states that: Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities But the issue of the production of biological weapons is the basis of the current claims and counterclaims in the ongoing Ukrainian war, in which Russia, on March 6, announced that it had uncovered and captured a number of laboratories where Ukraine, with the aid of the United States, was engaged in the development of biological weapons.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova announced they had discovered that: Components of biological weapons were being developed in Ukrainian laboratories in direct proximity to Russian territoryDuring the special military operation in Ukraine, the Kyiv regime was found to have been concealing traces of a military biological programme implemented with funding from the United States Department of Defence. She also claimed that Russia found messages directing Ukrainian bio-laboratory staff to eradicate hazardous pathogens of plague, anthrax, rabbit-fever, cholera and other lethal diseases (from) stored reserves of highly hazardous pathogens.

The U.S., which vehemently denied the accusations before the United Nations, however did not accuse the Russians of planting the laboratories nor that the American instructions to the Ukrainians to eradicate the hazardous pathogens rather than let them fall into Russian hands were fake.

The American position was made more problematic when its embassy in Ukraine issued a statement titled: Biological Threat Reduction Program. In reference to the Russian discoveries, the U.S. Embassy said America, collaborates with partner countries to counter the threat of outbreaks (deliberate, accidental, or natural) of the worlds most dangerous infectious diseases. The American statement went on to state that: The Biological Threat Reduction Programs priorities in Ukraine are to consolidate and secure pathogens and toxins of security concern

When the matter came up in the American Senate, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, admitted that: Ukraine has biological-research facilities, which, in fact, we are 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.

Despite threats, I am not sure that nuclear-proliferating countries can stop others from joining the race; as such, there is a balance of terror. Yet, humanity and nuclear weapons cannot co-exist; one will have to give way to the other. The way out is decommissioning all nuclear weapons; but will the powerful agree to give up their lethal weapons? I doubt it.

My concerns are not whether or not the Ukrainian laboratory experiments are for defensive purposes -whatever that means  but that, as it happened in the Indian missile case, there can be accidental discharge or leakage, and before you know it, the world might be battling new pandemics.

This is also my concern on whether the war in Ukraine might involve the eventual use of nuclear weapons by either Russia or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). It may not be deliberate, but human errors like that which happened in the case of Indians can occur. Famous scientist, Albert Einstein, who initially thought the atomic bomb was a good idea, changed his mind, famously saying: Mankind invented the atomic bomb, but no mouse would ever construct a mousetrap. His conclusion was that: To have security against atomic bombs and against the other biological weapons, we have to prevent war, for if we cannot prevent war every nation will use every means that is at their disposal; and in spite of all promises they make, they will do it.

After the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, humanity swore it must never be repeated. That was in 1945. But nuclear weapons increased to 3,000 in 1955 and to over 37,000 by 1965 (U.S., 31,000 and the Soviet Union, 6,000). At that point, there were demands that nuclear weapons should first be drastically reduced, then eliminated.

That was one of the hopes in the negotiations of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) I signed in 1972. But rather than reduce, there was further proliferation to the extent that these weapons rose to 47,000 by 1975 (U.S., 27,000 and Soviet Union, 20,000) then to 70,300 active weapons in 1986.

The figures have reduced significantly, but remain very high, with Russia in 2022 having 6,255 nuclear warheads; the US, 5,550; China with 350; France, 290 and United Kingdom, 225 nuclear warheads. Other known nuclear countries are Israel and North Korea. There are others in the queue.

Despite threats, I am not sure that nuclear-proliferating countries can stop others from joining the race; as such, there is a balance of terror. Yet, humanity and nuclear weapons cannot co-exist; one will have to give way to the other. The way out is decommissioning all nuclear weapons; but will the powerful agree to give up their lethal weapons? I doubt it.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.
The British Government has assured Gombe State of partnership and support in areas of climate change mitigation, industrial development and tracking delivery in the implementation of its 10-Year development plan.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, gave this indication when she hosted Governor Inuwa Yahaya at her official residence in Abuja.

The governor and the envoy discussed a variety of topics, including governance, investment, peace and security, education and environment among others.

The British envoy particularly noted that Gombe State is relatively secure and peaceful, commending the governor for his visionary leadership and ensuring excellent inter-communal relations with Muslims and Christians working positively together in his state.

I feel very impressed with His Excellencys vision and his commitment to delivering for his people and I think this is the area where UK and Gombe State Government will collaborate.

The British High Commissioner also commended Mr Inuwa for aligning his 10-Year development plan with the sustainable development goals, and assured that the UK government will assist his efforts in tracking delivery and monitoring of progress through sharing of experience and other mechanisms of support.

The establishment of an industrial park linked directly to hydro electricity to take care of agricultural processing on local crops is a laudable and positive step. We hope to hear more about it so that we can connect some British investors to take advantage of it.

 On the issue of climate change, I think you got very interesting initiative. So we are going to connect His Excellencys team with our relevant departments dealing with different sources of climate finance.

Mrs Laing indicated the willingness of her country to take part in the upcoming Gombe State Investment Summit.

Earlier, Mr Yahaya informed his host that Gombe has developed its 10-Year Development Plan, christened Development Agenda for Gombe(DEVAGOM)) along with a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (2021-2030) which sets the path to achieve rapid physical, social, and economic growth in the state in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The document identifies five development pillars upon which DEVAGOM revolves; a strategic linkage of socio-economic and administrative anchorage that is also built on the model of the UNs SDGs as a global trend.

The pillars are those of Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Social Development, Sustainable Development and Governance, Administrative and Institutional Development pillars.

Each of the pillars has a wide range of underlying activities that border on the greater good of the people as government performs its duties within some basic institutional framework detailing the policy thrust, policy target and policy objectives and overall betterment of the people.

He therefore requested for the UK Governments support in the effective implementation of the plan and tracking progress towards achieving the set goals.

Gombe State is currently setting up a Coordinating Research & Economic Intelligence Unit (CR/EIU) with the mandate to track our performance and progress towards achieving the goals of the DEVAGOM which will serve as guide for decision making by the Government, Stakeholders, Policy Makers, and the Public. We are therefore requesting the support of Her Majestys Government in building the data capacity for the unit to enable this tracking and as well as to strengthen technology driven governance.

The governor also solicited support and partnership with the UK to catalyse the efforts of his administration to manage the impact of climate change and towards coming up with climate mitigation strategy for Gombe State with a focus on community adaptation, infrastructure, low-cost climate appropriate technologies and regenerative agriculture.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has hinted that he is going to reshuffle his cabinet soon.

Mr Emmanuel said he has already forwarded the names of five commissioner-nominees to the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly for confirmation.

The State Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong said the governor disclosed this Thursday, during the State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Uyo.

Mr Ememobong, who posted on Facebook an excerpt of the meeting did not mention the names of the nominees that the governor sent to the assembly for confirmation.

The Chairman-in-Council (Mr Emmanuel) announced that the executive council will be reshuffled and that five Commissioners will be eased out. Consequently, names have been forwarded to the House of Assembly for screening and clearance, Mr Ememobong said.

Mr Ememobong did not mention the names of the commissioners that will be eased out by the governor.

Before Thursdays executive council meeting, two commissioners, Akan Okon, former Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, and Sunny Ibuot of Labour and Manpower Development, resigned their appointments within the week.

Commissioners who may go

Some serving commissioners have declared interest to contest for different political offices and have been going about their political consultations. They are expected to resign their current appointment in line with the law.

The Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Umo Eno, whom Mr Emmanuel picked as his preferred successor in the 2023 governorship election is among those who are likely to exit Mr Emmanuels cabinet.

Glory Edet, the Commissioner for Agriculture, is an aspirant for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency.

Okpolum Etteh, who is the Commissioner for Special Duties, is contesting for Eket Federal Constituency, while the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Prince Akpabio, is aspiring for Essien Udim State Constituency.

The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Eno Ibanga, is said to be aspiring to represent Akwa Ibom South District in the Senate.

Mr Ibanga, a professor and immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University may be contesting against his predecessor, Ephraim Inyangeyen, who was recently sacked as Chief of Staff by the governor.
The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has approved the cut-off marks for the 2021/2022 Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) for its National Diploma programme.

The Deputy Registrar of the college, Joe Ejiofor, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Mr Ejiofor said that the admission cut-off marks were released by the admission committee after its meeting on Thursday.

He said that about 9,000 candidates took part in the Post-UTME held online in February.

The Admission Committee had a meeting and the outcome is the release of the cut-off marks for those who sat for the Post-UTME in February for ND programme in the college.

According to him, the cut-off marks have been uploaded to the college portal.

Mr Ejiofor explained that the cut-off marks superseded the different cut-off marks which had been circulating online purported to be those of the college.

He, therefore, advised candidates who sat for the Post-UTME to visit the college portal to check their scores.

He said that ND Science Laboratory Technology had the highest score of 62.62 followed by Computer Science with 60.87.

He also listed some of the departments and their cut-off marks as; Electrical Electronics Engineering, 60.67, Public Administration 60.65 and Accountancy 60.62, among others.

(NAN)
People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said a Chinese envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale.

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China supports the work by the relevant parties in maintaining communication, ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian corridors, and further facilitating personnel evacuation and humanitarian assistance, he told a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue.

The number of refugees and displaced persons caused by the conflict is still on the rise, bringing a huge impact on Ukraine and the surrounding countries. China supports relevant UN agencies in actively conducting operations and mobilizing the international community to assist all those in need, he said.

People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

In the recent past, some people of African or Middle Eastern descent encountered difficulties during evacuation. This should be taken seriously and addressed properly. All refugees, regardless of color, race or religion, shall be accorded the necessary protection under international refugee law, said Zhang.

China pays high attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and has put forward a six-point proposal. The Red Cross Society of China has provided Ukraine with three batches of humanitarian supplies, with the third batch containing milk powder and quilts for children, he said.

"We welcome any initiative or measure from any party that contributes to alleviating and resolving the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and should therefore play a positive role in easing the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. China hopes that the Security Council can stay united on the humanitarian issue and demonstrate a constructive attitude."

The international community has the common wish for a cease-fire at an early date to alleviate the situation on the ground and prevent civilian casualties. China shares this wish, said Zhang.

Humanitarian aid supplies sent by the Red Cross Society of China to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society are transported in Warsaw, Poland, March 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Chen)

To date, Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of negotiations. Keeping the negotiations going means there is a chance for cease-fire, and that there is a chance for a peaceful future, he noted. "China remains committed to promoting peace through negotiations. We support the United Nations and the parties concerned in vigorously carrying out good offices. We also hope that all parties will do more to facilitate peace talks, and not to add fuel to fire."

Facts have proved that the wanton use of sanctions will not solve any problem, but will instead create new problems. Given the sluggish recovery in the global economy, ever-escalating sanctions are undermining the stability of the international industrial chain and supply chain, thus exacerbating food and energy crises, damaging people's livelihood in all countries, developing countries in particular, and triggering new humanitarian consequences. This is also an issue that the Security Council shall pay attention to when addressing the humanitarian issue of Ukraine, said Zhang. 
St. Patrick is certainly an official saint of the Church, Msgr. Dennis J. Duprey said. Hes just what they call a Pre-Congregation Saint before they set up the Congregation of Saints.
SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene" SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for cancer, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2021 and provided corporate updates on key events and achievements since the start of 2021.

"The last 15 months have been a time of significant achievements for Antengene," said Dr. Jay Mei, Antengene's Founder, Chairman and CEO. "The company was founded to develop innovative cancer medicines to treat patients beyond borders, worldwide. We have delivered on our vision this year and significantly de-risked the Company. We accomplished this by securing our first regulatory approvals for our lead first-in-class/only-in-class product, XPOVIO (selinexor), across China and 3 Asia-Pacific countries, and making the transition to a commercial organization, and by significantly advancing our portfolio with potential first-in class/best-in-class clinical programs in China, Australia and the US."

Dr. Mei continued, "We also delivered on our mission of building a research-driven biopharmaceutical company that is developing transformational, best-in-class/first-in-class medicines for cancer, focusing on resistant or relapsing diseases with high unmet medical needs. Today, we have 8 programs in 18 clinical studies, including 5 registrational trials, utilizing our internal capabilities and platform and clinical development partnerships. We have built a team of over 350 employees across China, the US and APAC regions, and have built core capabilities in drug discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization."

"Looking ahead," said Dr. Mei, "2022 is the fifth anniversary of Antengene's founding and we believe it will be a landmark year for the Company. We expect to have regulatory approvals for selinexor in all 6 markets in Greater China and Asia Pacific markets where we have submitted new drug applications (NDAs). We are optimistic about the first launch of selinexor in Q2:22 in China, based on strong participation in the Named Patient Program (NPP) as well as the inclusion of selinexor in several important practice treatment guidelines. In addition, we expect to report data on at least 5 clinical programs and file 2 new investigational new drug (INDs), from in-house development programs."

In conclusion, Dr. Mei said "Looking forward, we believe our strong cash, bank balances and cash management products of RMB 2.370 billion, and revenue growth will continue to fund advancement of our programs and continue to deliver additional value for investors. Since cancer are diseases that knows no borders, we are devoted and passionate in advancing our programs to treat cancer patients beyond borders, worldwide. Antengene is optimistic about this year and the future based on the excellent work of our team and collaborators, all around the world, and we look forward to updating you on our progress as the year unfolds."

Overview of Antengene's Products and Clinical Pipeline:

XPOVIO (selinexor) Commercial Approvals, Bridging Studies and Inclusion in Practice Treatment Guidelines: Antengene is strategically investing in XPOVIO (selinexor) and positioning the product for a successful commercial launch across the Asia-Pacific region based on solid registrational data and a growing body of studies to support product adoption and label expansions. In addition, Antengene has implemented a well-supported Named Patient Program, and built a highly experienced, well respected commercial team to position for market launch and revenue growth.

XPOVIO  (selinexor) Approvals : We secured approvals for XPOVIO  (selinexor), a first-in-class, oral selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE), in mainland China , Australia , South Korea and Singapore for hematological cancer indications including relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma ( R/R MM ), refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ( R/R DLBCL ) for use as monotherapy and as part of established multi-drug regimen.

: We secured approvals for XPOVIO (selinexor), a first-in-class, oral selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE), in mainland , , and for hematological cancer indications including relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma ( ), refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ( ) for use as monotherapy and as part of established multi-drug regimen. Further S elinexor Approvals in 2022: We expect further approvals in Hong Kong and Taiwan markets in 2022.

We expect further approvals in and markets in 2022. Named Patient Program: We provided selinexor to patients in mainland China and Hong Kong under the Named Patient Program which generated revenue of RMB28.5 million in 2021. This program provided Antengene with the opportunity to connect with key opinion leaders on selinexor, which will pave the way for an effective commercial launch of selinexor in China , planned to begin in Q2:22.

We provided selinexor to patients in mainland and under the Named Patient Program which generated revenue of in 2021. This program provided Antengene with the opportunity to connect with key opinion leaders on selinexor, which will pave the way for an effective commercial launch of selinexor in , planned to begin in Q2:22. S elinexor Inclusion in Practice Treatment Guidelines: Use of selinexor was included in the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) 2021 Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (CSCO Guidelines). This follows prior inclusion of multiple selinexor regimen into practice guidelines by major oncology networks, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in the U.S. and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in the EU.

Use of selinexor was included in the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) 2021 Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (CSCO Guidelines). This follows prior inclusion of multiple selinexor regimen into practice guidelines by major oncology networks, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in the U.S. and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in the EU. Pivotal Selinexor Studies Presented at Major Medical Meetings : Positive results of the pivotal MARCH bridging study were reported at international medical meetings including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Meeting in 2021. Results from the MARCH trial have confirmed the efficacy and manageable safety profile to be consistent with that observed in the STORM trial which supported selinexor's accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

: Positive results of the pivotal MARCH bridging study were reported at international medical meetings including the American Society Oncology (ASCO) Results from the MARCH trial have confirmed the efficacy and manageable safety profile to be consistent with that observed in the STORM trial which supported selinexor's accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pivotal Bridging Studies, BENCH and SEARCH are registrational trials in China : The BENCH study, which evaluates selinexor in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, for patients with R/R MM, will serve as the confirmatory trial to support selinexor's conditional approval. The SEARCH study evaluates selinexor as monotherapy in patients with R/R DLBCL who have received at least 2 but no more than 5 prior treatment regimens. We expect to file sNDA for SEARCH and complete patient enrollment for the BENCH study in 2022.

The BENCH study, which evaluates selinexor in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, for patients with R/R MM, will serve as the confirmatory trial to support selinexor's conditional approval. The SEARCH study evaluates selinexor as monotherapy in patients with R/R DLBCL who have received at least 2 but no more than 5 prior treatment regimens. We expect to file sNDA for SEARCH and complete patient enrollment for the BENCH study in 2022. Well-Prepared for Commercialization across China and Asia-Pacific Countries: Antengene has carefully invested in a commercial team of 170 with a proven track record of commercial success in China and APAC for a successful launch of XPOVIO (selinexor).

Business Development: focused on partnerships to facilitate clinical collaborations, in-license novel programs or enable access to novel platform/drug development technologies to complement and enrich our in-house capabilities.

ATG-037 (CD73 small molecule inhibitor) : In May 2021 , we entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Calithera Biosciences, Inc. for the development and commercialization of CB-708 (ATG-037), Calithera Biosciences, Inc.'s small molecule inhibitor of CD73. The Phase 1 STAMINA trial has secured HREC approval in Australia and is planned to begin enrollment in H1:22.

: LegoChem Deal for New ADCs: In October 2021 , we entered into a Research Collaboration and License Option Agreement with LegoChem Biosciences, Inc. ("LCB", KOSDAQ: 141080) for new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Under this agreement, the two parties will jointly generate and evaluate ADC candidates using Antengene's antibodies and LCB's next generation ADC technology platform.

In , we entered into a Research Collaboration and License Option Agreement with LegoChem Biosciences, Inc. ("LCB", KOSDAQ: 141080) for new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Under this agreement, the two parties will jointly generate and evaluate ADC candidates using Antengene's antibodies and LCB's next generation ADC technology platform. Bristol Myers Squibb Clinical Collaboration for ATG-017 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) and Opdivo (nivolumab): In December 2021 , we entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of ATG-017 in an open-label, Phase 1/2 combination trial with Bristol Myers Squibb's anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo (nivolumab) for patients with advanced solid tumors.

Clinical Program Poised to Deliver Multiple Data Readouts in 2022 and 2023 (originated in-house/through partners): The Antengene pipeline has been developed with a special focus on key mechanisms linked to relapsing/resistant disease including metabolic changes, genetic alterations, the tumor microenvironment and immune suppression/down-regulation. With a robust R&D portfolio, Antengene is well-positioned to evaluate proprietary combinations, further differentiating its programs.

Mid to Late-Stage Programs: (Antengene has certain Asia-Pacific rights): Antengene is exploring two members of the novel XPO1 family plus a novel mTOR cell growth inhibitor.

Selinexor (ATG-010, first-in-class XPO1 inhibitor): Antengene has developed a robust program to maximize the clinical utility for selinexor and the XPO1 class. The drug is being evaluated for new cancer indications, including maintenance treatment of endometrial cancer, and in combination with standard therapy for MM and DLBCL. The objective of these programs is to potentially improve response rates, maintain disease control, and expand the clinical utility of the drug.

Phase 2 MF-035 Myelofibrosis Trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of selinexor in the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis in China (Global study).

designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of selinexor in the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis in (Global study). Phase 2/3 XPORT-DLBCL-030 Trial designed to evaluate selinexor in combination with rituximab, gemcitabine, dexamethasone and platinum (SR-GDP) for patients with rr-DLBCL in China (Global study).

designed to evaluate selinexor in combination with rituximab, gemcitabine, dexamethasone and platinum (SR-GDP) for patients with rr-DLBCL in (Global study). Phase 1b MATCH Trial designed to evaluate selinexor in combination with ATG-008 (onatasertib) for the treatment of R/R DLBCL (sponsored by Antengene).

designed to evaluate selinexor in combination with ATG-008 (onatasertib) for the treatment of R/R DLBCL (sponsored by Antengene). Phase 1/2 SWATCH Trial designed to evaluate selinexor in combination with lenalidomide plus rituximab ("S-R2") for the treatment of relapsed/refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma ("rriNHL") (sponsored by Antengene).

Selinexor Data Presentations:

Phase 1b TOUCH Results: At the 2021 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting (ASH 2021), we published positive results from the open-label Phase 1b TOUCH trial of selinexor plus gemcitabine-oxaliplatin ("GemOx") for the treatment of Chinese patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) T and NK-Cell lymphoma. The combination demonstrated an Overall Response Rate (ORR) of 46.2%, a Complete Response Rate (CRR) of 26.9% and a Duration of Response (DOR) of 3.1 months. ORR for peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) subgroups reached 53.8% and 57.1%, CRR of 30.8% and 28.6%, and median Progression-Free Survival (PFS) of 4.4 months and 4.7 months, respectively (sponsored by Antengene).

Eltanexor (ATG-016, second generation XPO1 inhibitor): An expansive program to evaluate ATG-016 monotherapy in:

Phase 1/2 HATCH Trial in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome ( MDS ). Enrollment in China is underway (sponsored by Antengene).

in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome ( ). Enrollment in is underway (sponsored by Antengene). Phase 1/2 REACH in patients with solid tumors. Enrollment in China is underway (sponsored by Antengene).

in patients with solid tumors. Enrollment in is underway (sponsored by Antengene). Phase 2 segment of the Solid Tumor/Hematologic Cancer trial. Enrollment in patients with high-risk MDS in China is underway (Global Study).

Eltanexor Data Presentations:

Phase 1/2 MDS Results: At the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting (ASH 2021), Karyopharm published Phase 1/2 data with eltanexor in patients with MDS showing that single agent eltanexor was active in patients with high-risk, refractory disease. Of the 15 patients evaluable for efficacy, Karyopharm reported that 47% of patients achieved a bone marrow complete response and 33% had stable disease (SD) for a total disease control rate (DCR) of 80%.

Onatasertib (ATG-008, dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor) targets multiple key mTOR cell growth pathways. Data from the TORCH-2 Phase 1/2 solid-tumor dose-finding study in combination with PD-1 antibody was reviewed at Antengene's 2021 R&D Day in November 2021. This promising signal warrants further exploration and Antengene will move rapidly to expand the study whilst exploring a potential accelerated regulatory path (sponsored by Antengene).

Early-Stage Clinical Programs (Antengene has global rights)

ATG-017 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) has potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors and KRAS inhibitors. The Phase 1 ERASER dose escalation for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies is well advanced in Australia (sponsored by Antengene). Antengene will also be collaborating clinically with Bristol Myers Squibb in the ERASER study to evaluate ATG-017 in combination with Opdivo  (nivolumab) in advanced solid tumors.

has potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors and KRAS inhibitors. The Phase 1 ERASER dose escalation for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies is well advanced in (sponsored by Antengene). Antengene will also be collaborating clinically with Bristol Myers Squibb in the ERASER study to evaluate ATG-017 in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) in advanced solid tumors. ATG-101 (PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody) designed to block the binding of immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 and activate immune effectors via 4-1BB co-stimulation. In preclinical studies, ATG-101 demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in animal models of resistant tumors as well as those that progressed on anti-PD-1/L1 treatment. Furthermore, ATG-101 has also showed an excellent safety profile in GLP toxicology studies. The Phase 1 PROBE multicenter, dose-escalation clinical trial, in patients metastatic/advanced solid tumors and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), is ongoing in the US and Australia and the Investigative New Drug (IND) application has been approved in China .

designed to block the binding of immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 and activate immune effectors via 4-1BB co-stimulation. In preclinical studies, ATG-101 demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in animal models of resistant tumors as well as those that progressed on anti-PD-1/L1 treatment. Furthermore, ATG-101 has also showed an excellent safety profile in GLP toxicology studies. The Phase 1 PROBE multicenter, dose-escalation clinical trial, in patients metastatic/advanced solid tumors and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), is ongoing in the US and and the Investigative New Drug (IND) application has been approved in . ATG-037 (CD73 small molecule inhibitor) has the potential to reverse immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Enrollment in the Phase 1 STAMINA trial, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors, is planned to begin in Australia in H1: 22 (sponsored by Antengene).

Planning 2 INDs per Year (Antengene has global rights): Antengene has developed a vibrant, productive R&D team.

2022 IND Candidates : Antengene plans to submit an IND application for ATG-018 (ATR inhibitor) in H1:22. In addition, preclinical studies are also underway to support IND/CTA applications of ATG-022 (Claudin 18.2 antibody-drug conjugate) in 2022 .

: Antengene plans to submit an IND application for in H1:22. In addition, preclinical studies are also underway to support IND/CTA applications of in 2022 2023 Potential IND/CTA Filings: ATG-031 (CD24 antibody) and ATG-027 (B7H3/PD-L1 bispecific antibody)

Early Stage, IND Track Programs: ATG-032 (LILRB antibody) and ATG-041 (Axl-Mer inhibitor)

Corporate Updates: Corporate milestones related to development of critical research and development and manufacturing infrastructure to support biological and small molecule programs highlight Antengene's transition to a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company are exemplified by opening and development of two major manufacturing and R&D centers. These resources help Antengene stand out in the industry.

Antengene's selection as a constituent stock in highlights the Company's significant progress since its November, 2020 IPO.

Manufacturing Center in Shaoxing: In May 2021 , the Company hosted an inauguration ceremony for our manufacturing center at the Binhai Life Science and Healthcare Industrial Zone in Shaoxing. Completion of the manufacturing center prepares for future production of oral medicines and provides Antengene with integrated capabilities in discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Antengene plans to initiate the manufacturing of selinexor at this site.

In , the Company hosted an inauguration ceremony for our manufacturing center at the Binhai Life Science and Healthcare Industrial Zone in Shaoxing. Completion of the manufacturing center prepares for future production of oral medicines and provides Antengene with integrated capabilities in discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Antengene plans to initiate the manufacturing of selinexor at this site. Agreement with Hangzhou Qiantang New Area Administrative Committee : In May 2021 , we entered into a framework agreement with the Hangzhou Qiantang New Area Administrative Committee to build a drug discovery and manufacturing center for antibody biologics.

: In , we entered into a framework agreement with the Hangzhou Qiantang New Area Administrative Committee to build a drug discovery and manufacturing center for antibody biologics. Selection in Major Stock Indexes: Antengene was selected as a constituent stock in three major, well-respected family market indexes, the Hang Seng Index Family, the FTSE Russell Index Family, and the MSCI Global Small Cap Indexes.

Financial Results

Cash, bank balances and cash management products: Cash, bank balances and cash management products at December 31, 2021 were RMB2,370.5 million as compared to RMB3,109.8 million at December 31, 2020.

Research and development costs: Research and development costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 were RMB405.0 million as compared to RMB347.7 million for the comparable period in 2020.

The increase relates to increased drug development expenses and expansion of R&D personnel.

Selling and distribution expenses: Selling and distribution expenses for 2021 were RMB67.9 million compared to RMB0.5 million for 2020.

The increase is primarily attributable to increased employee head count and professional fees related to preparations for the planned launch of our lead product, XPOVIO (selinexor) in 2022.

Administrative expenses: Administrative expenses for 2021 were RMB169.5 million compared to RMB154.2 million for 2020.

The increase is attributable to increased professional fees and headcount related to costs of operating as a public company and in support of commercial operations.

About Antengene

Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK) is a leading commercial-stage R&D-driven global biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative first-in-class/best-in-class therapeutic medicines for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Driven by its vision of "Treating Patients Beyond Borders", Antengene aims to provide the most advanced anti-cancer drugs to patients in the Asia Pacific Region and around the world. Since initiating operations in 2017, Antengene has obtained 22 investigational new drug (IND) approvals in the US and in Asia, submitted 6 new drug applications (NDAs) in multiple Asia Pacific markets, with the NDA for selinexor/ATG-010/XPOVIO in China, South Korea, Singapore and Australia approved. Leveraging partnerships as well as in-house drug discovery, Antengene has built a broad and expanding pipeline of 15 clinical and pre-clinical assets. Antengene has global rights on 10 programs and Asia Pacific rights, including the Greater China region, on 5 programs.

Forward Looking Statement

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, see the section titled "Risk Factors" in our periodic reports filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual Report for year-end December 31, 2020, and subsequent filings with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Contacts:

Donald Lung

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: +86 18420672158

PR Contacts:

Peter Qian

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: +86 13062747000

SOURCE Antengene Corporation Limited
WESTLAKE, Ohio, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, U.S. Term Limits announces that Ohio businessman, Bernie Moreno has agreed to be the Ohio State Chair for U.S. Term Limits. Moreno brings a depth of both private and public service to this role. He has seen first-hand the need for term limits at the federal level and will work tirelessly in his role as Ohio State Chair to see that Ohio adopts a resolution for term limits.

Bernie Moreno (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Term Limits)

"I am very honored to be serving as the Ohio State Chair for U.S. Term Limits," said Bernie Moreno. "Now more than ever before, the need for term limits is crystal clear. Polls show that the one issue all Ohioans regardless of political affiliation are united about is the need for congressional term limits.

"Serving in Congress has become for many, a lucrative lifelong job rather than a public service," concluded Moreno. "Term limits will help end career politicians and make Congress work better for all Americans."

"We are honored to have Bernie leading our efforts in Ohio to pass term limits on Congress," said Philip Blumel, President of U.S. Term Limits. "Under his guidance, I am confident we will get our term limits resolution passed in Ohio."

Bernie Moreno encapsulates the American Dream. Starting his career as an intern at General Motors in 1987. Less than 20 years later, Bernie was offered the opportunity to purchase the most underperforming Mercedes-Benz dealership in the country. Bernie sold everything he owned, borrowed the college tuition for his nieces & nephews from his sister, and his mother mortgaged her house. Bernie purchased that dealership and in the first year, turned it around. Over 10 years, the Bernie Moreno Companies expanded to 15 buildings, 30 brands, four states, and hired nearly one thousand Ohioans making it one of the nation's largest and most successful. Then, Moreno sold most of his car dealerships in 2019. That year, he launched a technology start-up called Ownum, with the mission to digitize paper processes like car titles, in turn improving government efficiency.

Bernie Moreno currently serves on the Foundation Board of Cuyahoga County Community College. Previously, he served as the Chairman of Board at Cleveland State University, board member of MetroHealth, Lake Ridge Academy, and other meaningful organizations in Ohio. He is focused on institutions and individuals that inspire hard work, risk taking, helping the community. All staples of the American Dream.

He has been married to his wife Bridget for 32 years. Together they have four children and one grandchild.

U.S. Term Limits is the largest grassroots term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits at all levels of government, particularly on the U.S. Congress. Find out more at termlimits.org.

Media Contact: David Johnson, Strategic Vision PR Group

Ph: (404) 380-1079

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Term Limits
BeyondTrucks Launches Next Gen Growth Portal for Small Carriers at MATS; Announces Raffle to Win $5,000 Cash for Fuel Tweet this

An all-in-one portal with cutting-edge workflow automation and financial capabilities, BeyondTrucks is the only way for a small carrier to run their business in just one place: from accessing loads, handling dispatch, over managing driver paperwork, to processing invoices and settlements, and even handling payments with the BeyondTrucks factoring and card products. Unlike a traditional TMS, BeyondTrucks is designed with an easy-to-use, intuitive desktop app, requiring less than 45 min for set up and training. Once implemented, carriers have found their business to be not only easier to manage, but also improve their competitiveness in front of their customers due to the overall operational efficiency BeyondTrucks provides, including shippers and brokers.

"In our fleet, we were flying blind most of the time. It was really obvious and scary whenever we were handling money. No accessorial charge, no lumper payment, no fuel transaction ever was logged in a way that it tied back to our business. We started to understand the reason why shippers and brokers have large accounting departments and freight audit teams off-shore was to make up for poor carrier paperwork." says Paul Xie, COO and Founder at BeyondTrucks.

Carriers like to be in control of their information and data, but also want to find ways to differentiate their service in front of their customers. With BeyondTrucks, they can selectively offer visibility to customers, and define the rules to automate invoicing and payments with their customers.

"With our early carrier customers, we learned that brokers, 3PLs and shippers really loved how BeyondTrucks helped carriers. A broker who deals with a carrier using BeyondTrucks makes 10x fewer check calls and spends 15x less administrative effort on invoice reviews and A/P processing. Not only do our carriers using BeyondTrucks look great in front of their customers, but engaging with them creates real value in the broker's or shipper's operations." says Xie.

With the advent of digital brokers, ELDs and visibility service providers, the trucking industry has become more digital, but often creates more work for small trucking companies, which make up the lion's share of the US trucking market. Creating value for small trucking companies, BeyondTrucks is improving the efficiency of trucking and logistics by attacking challenges at their root cause.

"We love working for small trucking companies, because we can help them grow and be financially successful, but also make a massive impact on the competitiveness of US brokers and 3PLs in front of their customers." concludes Hans Galland, "BeyondTrucks is a no-brainer: a simple win-win for everyone involved."

For media enquiries, please contact [email protected] .

For broker & shipper partners, contact [email protected] .

For interested carriers, sign up for a free demo at www.beyondtrucks.com, email [email protected] or call 844-702-0774.

About BeyondTrucks

BeyondTrucks is an all-in-one portal for small fleet owners to manage all trucking finances and operations including dispatching, invoicing, expensing, factoring, consolidating loadboards, and more. Founded in 2019 by Harvard and Stanford Business School graduates turned small fleet owners, BeyondTrucks is growing to be the #1 SMB solution for small fleets. For more information, contact [email protected] .

55 Third Ave

San Mateo, CA 94401

SOURCE BeyondTrucks
PPM Consultancy Procurement report explains key category management objectives that should form the base for sourcing strategy, including:

Top-line growth

Scalability of inputs

Green initiatives

Category innovations

Supply base rationalization

Demand forecasting and governance

Minimalization of ad hoc purchases

Adherence to regulatory nuances

Cost savings

Customer retention

Reduction of TCO

Supply assurance

Sign Up for a Sample PPM Consultancy Procurement Market Report: www.spendedge.com/report/ppm-consultancy--procurement-market-intelligence-report

This report evaluates suppliers based on provision for applicable insurance policy, real-time analysis, pipeline software solutions, and conduct pipeline surveys. In addition, suppliers are also shortlisted based on business needs, technical specifications, operational requirements, security compliance, regulatory mandates, legal requirements, quality control, change management procedures, pricing models, penalty clauses, SLA nuances, acceptance criteria, and evaluation criteria.

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

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SpendEdge

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SOURCE SpendEdge
Successor to Mary Bilbrey who leaves JLL after 6 years for new opportunity

CHICAGO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL (NYSE:JLL) today announced that Laura Adams will be promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and become a member of its Global Executive Board (GEB) effective July 1. This follows Mary Bilbrey's announcement that she has decided to leave JLL after six years in senior leadership roles to move to her next opportunity.

Laura Adams

Bilbrey has served as JLL's CHRO and a member of the GEB since February 2019, prior to which she spent three years as CHRO for the Americas region. She joined JLL in 2016 having previously held several different HR leadership positions for HSBC based at various times in the U.S. and in Europe.

Adams, presently Global HR Lead for JLL's Markets Advisory, Capital Markets and Work Dynamics segments, joined the company in 2005 following senior HR roles with Washington Mutual Bank and Diamond Technology Partners. She has extensive experience in aligning people programs to business strategy and driving large-scale complex change, and is a passionate advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion. She is based in Chicago.

JLL CEO Christian Ulbrich said: "Mary has played a pivotal role in guiding the strategic transformation of our business and has successfully led the modernization and upskilling of our world-class HR organization. Laura is the ideal successor as Chief HR Officer and a great fit as a member of our Global Executive Board. She combines deep understanding of our business and strategy with excellent leadership skills and experience."

Effective July 1, JLL's Global Executive Board will comprise Christian Ulbrich, Laura Adams, Richard Bloxam, Karen Brennan, Yishai Lerner, Neil Murray, Greg O'Brien and Mihir Shah.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $19.4 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 98,000 as of December 31, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit ir.jll.com.

Connect with us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll

https://www.facebook.com/jll

https://twitter.com/jll

Contact: Gayle Kantro

Phone: +1 312 228 2795

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL-IR
The lawsuit alleges that Instant Brands, Inc., the manufacturer of the Instant Pot pressure cookers, has misrepresented the safety of its pressure cookers.

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 18, 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 this Complaint on behalf of Ms. Rosalina Drayton, a resident of California, alleging that Instant Brands, Inc., the manufacturer of the Instant Pot pressure cooker, misrepresented the safety of their pressure cookers.

Ms. Drayton's pressure cooker exploded while under pressure. As a result of the explosion, Ms. Drayton sustained severe thermal burns. According to the Complaint, the Instant Pot is marketed as having "safety mechanisms" 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 the pressure is released. However, Ms. Drayton alleges that the Instant Pot pressure cookers 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.

This suit is filed by Michael K. Johnson, 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 of your potential Instant Pot lawsuit, 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
NEW YORK, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " mHealth Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Service (Remote Monitoring, Diagnosis, Treatment, Health Support, Fitness & Wellness, and Other Services), Devices (Insulin Pump, BP Monitor, Glucose Monitor, Personal Pulse Oximeter, and Other Devices), and End User (Mobile Operators, Devices Vendors, Health Providers, and Others), and Geography", the global mHealth market is expected to grow from $70.83 billion in 2021 to $410.39 billion by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 28.5% during 2021-2028.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of mHealth Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100000821/

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 70.83 Billion in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 410.39 Billion by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 28.5% from 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 157 No. Tables 93 No. of Charts & Figures 165 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Service, Devices, End User, and Geography Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

mHealth Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Companies operating in the mHealth market have implemented various inorganic strategies, such as acquisitions and partnerships that have led to dynamic improvements in the market so far. These strategies help them strengthen their customer base, expand their product portfolio, and enhance their geographic presence. Similarly, several companies are implementing organic strategies, such as products launch and expansions.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPHE100000821/

In February 2022, Highmark Health launched Dubbed Well360 Diabetes Management, a virtual care program for adults with Type 2 diabetes, which includes personalized care management, remote patient monitoring, and telehealth.

In February 2020, DexCom signed a commercialization agreement with Insulet Corporation, a medical device company. Under this agreement, the companies aim to offer the Omnipod Horizon System for automated insulin delivery by combining the current and future continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) of Dexcom with the trusted tubeless insulin delivery Pods of Insulet.

mHealth Market: Key Insights  Future Trend

Connected devices are shaping the modern world, providing scope for enhanced mobility and agility, increasing efficiency and productivity of tasks, and allowing users to receive and process various types of data for obtaining valuable insights. A survey conducted in 2020 by the Pew Research Center states that 21% of Americans (~70 million people) claim to have embraced wearable technologies. Hence, the flourishing trend of the Internet of Things (IoT) eventually has paved its way to healthcare where it is known as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Gradually, mHealth apps and IoMT devices, such as wearables, are complementing each other. For instance, Apple watches were initially launched for the prime purpose of fitness tracking in 2015, while today, Apple's "Movement Disorder API" feature allows monitoring symptoms of Parkinson's disease and gathering new insights into the disease. Nearly all IoMT devices require integration with an mHealth app that provides useful data that ensures better health management.

Speak to Research Analyst: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPHE100000821

mHealth Market: Segmental Overview

Based on service, the mHealth market is segmented into remote monitoring, diagnosis, treatment, health support, fitness & wellness, and other services. In 2021, the remote monitoring services segment held the largest share of the market. However, the diagnosis services segment is estimated to register a significant CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

mHealth solutions are capable of providing detailed information about the intake of drugs to patients. They serve as an aid for individuals to manage their health and wellness by promoting healthy living and providing adequate access to useful information when and where needed. For instance, University of Illinois researchers have developed a camera that could improve the mHealth diagnostic capabilities of a smartphone. When incorporated in a smartphone, the technology could enable users to conduct a myriad of medical tests that previously have been limited to the clinics or laboratories, which include identifying biomarkers for nutrition, checking for cardiac health and sepsis, diagnosing cancer, detecting pregnancy, pharmaceutical drugs, testing hormones, and diagnosing infectious diseases. When linked to a smartphone app and the cloud, the user could communicate in real-time with clinicians and specialists. A smartphone could be used to conduct tests for diseases such as hepatitis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, Zika, and Ebola in remote locations, followed by beginning the suitable treatments without any delay. It could help consumers determine if they or their children have the flu before heading out to work or school. Through a mHealth collection platform, smartphones could also help clinicians identify and treat patients who can't get to the clinic or hospital.

Buy Premium Copy of mHealth Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2021-2028 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPHE100000821/

Browse Adjoining Reports:

mhealth Solutions Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Connected Devices (Glucose and Blood Pressure Monitor, Peak Flow Meter, Pulse Oximeter, Neurological Monitors, Other Connected Medical Devices); Application (Weight Loss, Women Health, Diabetes Management, Mental Health, Chronic Disease Management Apps, Diagnostic Apps, Others); Services (Remote Monitoring, Consultation, Diagnosis Services, Treatment Services, Fitness and Wellness Services, Prevention Services.) and Geography

eHealth Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product & Services (Solutions and Services); End User (Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Payers & Others) and Geography

Mobile Health (mHealth) App Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By App Type (Women's Health, Weight Loss, Personal Health Record, Others); Service (Wellness and Fitness, Remote Monitoring , Consultation , Diagnosis, Others); Connected Medical Device (Heart Rate Meters, Wearable Fitness Sensor Device, Blood Pressure Monitors, Pulse Oximeters, Others)

Telehealth Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Product (Integrated and Standalone), Type (Hardware, Services, and Software), Mode of Delivery (On-Premise, Web-Based, and Cloud-Based); and End User (Patients, Payers, and Healthcare Providers)

Telehealth Technology Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component (Services, Hardware, Software); Mode of Delivery (Web/App-Based, Cloud-Based, On-Premise); Application (Teleradiology, Tele-ICU, Tele-consultation, Tele-stroke, Tele-psychiatry, Tele-dermatology, Other Applications); Modality (Store-and-forward (Asynchronous), Real-time (Synchronous), Remote Patient Monitoring); End-User (Providers, Payers, Patients, Others), and Geography

Digital Patient Monitoring Devices Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - By Type (Wireless Sensor Technology, mHealth, Telehealth, Wearable Devices, Remote Patient Monitoring); Product (Diagnostic Monitoring Devices, Therapeutic Monitoring Devices) and Geography

Womens Digital Health Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type (Mobile Apps, Wearable Devices, Diagnostic Tools, and Others); End Use (Reproductive Health, Pregnancy and Nursing Care, Pelvic Care, General Healthcare and Wellness), and Geography

Veterinary Telehealth Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Animal Type (Feline, Canine, Bovine, Swine, Equine, and Others); Service Type (Telemedicine, Teleconsulting, Telemonitoring, and Others), and Geography

Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Products and Services (Mobile Devices, Mobile Applications, and Enterprise Mobility Platforms), Application (Enterprise Solutions and mHealth Applications), and End User (Healthcare Payers, Healthcare Providers, and Patients), and Geography

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person: Sameer Joshi

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Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/mhealth-market

SOURCE The Insight Partners
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

This article first appeared in The Conversation

When an aging Abe Osheroff recalled why, as a 21-year-old kid from Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood, he had volunteered to join the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War in 1936, he framed it as a personal, ethical decision.

"Some of my friends were already going over. Some of them had been killed and wounded.  Then I began to see pictures of what was going on.  Bombardments, civilians getting plastered all over the place.  I knew that if I didn't go, I'd be ashamed all my life."

Today, his words seem to echo those of individuals from around the world who are willing to risk their lives to help Ukraine in its desperate struggle against the Russian invasion.

"Sitting by and doing nothing? I had to do that when Afghanistan fell apart, and it weighed heavily on me. I had to act," a U.S. veteran confessed to a New York Times reporter before he headed east.

Encouraged by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, volunteers are signing up  according to some reports, by the thousands  to join the ranks of what The Guardian has called "the most significant international brigade since the Spanish civil war."

The Guardian is not the first to draw an analogy between 1930s Spain and today's Ukraine. But tempting as it is to compare the two, doing so does more to obscure than to explain either of the conflicts.

In some instances, I see the analogy relying on distorted frames inherited from the Cold War; in others, it seems to be driven by blatant opportunism.

Surface-level similarities

The Spanish Civil War broke out in the summer of 1936 after an attempted military coup, led by Gen. Francisco Franco, failed to overthrow the government of the Popular Front, a liberal-progressive coalition that had been democratically elected to lead the Second Spanish Republic. But while the Republican government managed to hold on to Spain's largest cities and about half of the national territory, the right-wing rebels took control of the other half. They proceeded to wage a bloody war.

Republican forces faced a well-equipped rebel army that Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy had supplied with soldiers, planes, weapons and tanks. By contrast, other democracies left the republic to fend for itself, with more than two dozen countries signing a nonintervention pact. The republic was also shut out of the international arms market, leaving only the Soviet Union and Mexico as sources of military support. After the republic's defeat in 1939, a repressive military dictatorship headed by Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years.

Osheroff was one of roughly 2,800 U.S. volunteers  and more than 35,000 from around the world  who flocked to Spain to help fight fascism. These foreign fighters were largely recruited through communist organizations, although many were not communists. What they had in common was their staunch opposition to everything fascism stood for. Upon arriving in Spain, the volunteers became fully integrated members of the Spanish Republican Army, where most of them served in one of five International Brigades.

As a scholar of the Spanish Civil War and its legacy, I can see why many people would be tempted to read the war in Ukraine through a Spanish lens.

Much as in civil war Spain, Ukrainian cities are being bombarded and civilians are dying, while those attacked are putting up an unexpectedly persistent defense against a much stronger enemy. As in Spain, the war is producing seemingly unending streams of refugees. And, as in Spain, the war seems to reflect an unusual degree of moral clarity  "It's a conflict that has a clear good and bad side," one U.S. veteran told The New York Times  while the fate of the world seems to hang in the balance.

Motivated by class solidarity

Yet historical analogies are never perfect, rarely useful and often misleading. For one thing, the geopolitics of today has little connection to the 1930s. In 1936 there was no NATO, only a weak and ineffectual League of Nations, and no threat of nuclear war.

Furthermore, the volunteers who joined the International Brigades in 1936 from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia have little in common with the combat veterans and Ukrainian nationalists who are signing up today, and whose politics, as NPR has reported, are vague and may skew to the right or far right. While the Russian invasion clearly violates Ukrainian sovereignty, those defending Ukraine represent ideologies that cover the entire political spectrum.

By contrast, very few of the volunteers in Spain had military training or experience. And if Osheroff knew that the Spanish war was also his to fight, it was, as he explained, because he'd grown up steeped in progressive politics.

He and his fellow brigaders were driven by the internationalist solidarity that's the bedrock of the labor movement, but they also knew they had a personal stake in the struggle. Many of them were Jews and immigrants; they belonged to a generation that, as the historian Helen Graham has written, was resisting "attempts, by fascism, either alone or in coalition, violently to impose ethnic and class hierarchies both old and new across the whole continent."

The analogy falters in other ways as well. The half-million Spanish refugees who fled Spain in the last months of the war were not welcomed with open arms. The French government put them in concentration camps, while most countries around the world closed their borders, with some notable exceptions, such as Mexico. During Germany's occupation of France, as many as 15,000 of the Spanish Republicans interned in France were deported to Nazi camps, where some 5,000 died.

And yet in 1945, as Europe was liberated from fascism, the Allies decided to leave Franco alone and let him retain his grip on Spain. By the 1950s, Franco had become a U.S. ally in the Cold War.

Distorting history

That same Cold War reshaped how the story of the Spanish Civil War was told. In the U.S., it became common to paint the anti-fascist volunteers as communist dupes. In 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously said the Americans in Spain had joined the wrong side.

Prompted by the Ukraine war, some of these Cold War cliches are slipping back into mainstream journalism. The New York Times reporter covering Zelenskyy's international fighters, for instance, wrote that the adventure of the Americans in Spain, "often romanticized as a valiant prelude to the fight against the Nazis," had "ended badly." In reality, many of those who fought fascism in Spain went on to join the Allied armies in World War II. Others formed the backbone of the resistance movements in Nazi- and fascist-occupied territories.

Invoking the Spanish Civil War to frame the invasion of Ukraine as a clash between fascism and anti-fascism, moreover, plays into the Kremlin's narrative, which seeks to portray the "special military operation" as an effort to "denazify" its western neighbor.

Ironically, one of the most opportunistic invocations of the historical analogy occurred in Spain itself. In early March 2022, when Spain's progressive governing coalition decided to send arms to the Zelenskyy government, the country's largest newspaper, El Pais, ran a supportive editorial stating: "Today, the weapons to defend Ukraine are the weapons that the Second Spanish Republic did not have 80 years ago." In fact, the controversial decision to provide arms was dividing the governing coalition; the paper's heartstrings-tugging invocation of the embattled Spanish Republic was an obvious attempt to end the debate.

If there is one way in which the Ukrainian analogy with Spain applies, it is the tragic way the country is being used as a proxy in a battle between the world's great powers.

In July 1937, Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens, journalist Martha Gellhorn and novelist Ernest Hemingway visited the White House to screen "The Spanish Earth," Ivens' documentary about the war. After seeing the film, Gellhorn recalled in a 1938 letter that President Franklin D. Roosevelt remarked, "Spain is a vicarious sacrifice for us all."

The same terrible fate seems to be reserved for Ukraine and its people.

Sebastiaan Faber is Professor of Hispanic Studies, Oberlin College and Conservatory

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
NEW YORK, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lanny J. Davis, attorney for Freedom Holding, Inc. ("Freedom"), and Elite World Group ("EWG"), the wholly owned subsidiary of Freedom owned by Silvio Scaglia, is announcing that two new attorneys have been added to the legal team in cases involving Julia Haart.

The first team addition is Benjamin Brafman, the well-known N.Y. criminal attorney, and his firm. Mr. Brafman is specifically tasked to conduct a thorough investigation of Ms. Haart as to whether she has violated any federal, state, or local criminal laws, considering Mr. Brafman's extensive experience with the criminal justice system.

If Mr. Brafman finds substantial evidence that Ms. Haart has violated criminal laws, then he will make formal referral(s) for further investigation to the offices of the federal Manhattan (Southern District of New York) U.S. Attorney, the New York Attorney General and the New York County District Attorney, upon client approval.

Also joining the Freedom-EWG legal team is Peter Bicks, a nationally renowned trial lawyer and senior partner from the global law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Mr. Bicks will join the litigation team opposing Ms. Haart's case filed in Delaware. Additionally, Mr. Bicks will replace the prior attorney in the New York State Supreme Court case filed several weeks ago by Mr. Scaglia and EWG against Ms. Haart for illegal misappropriation of company funds for her personal purposes.

"We are pleased to have Benjamin Brafman and Peter Bicks join the litigation team," Mr. Davis said. "Freedom, EWG and Mr. Scaglia are well-represented to recover misappropriated funds, protect Mr. Scaglia's ownership of Freedom and EWG, and defend Mr. Scaglia's reputation from false and misleading public statements made by Ms. Haart and her PR representatives."

Media Contact:

Lanny Davis, Attorney

(202) 557-5559

SOURCE Lanny Davis
CONAKRY, Guinea, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nimba Development Company, "NDC", a modern mining company focused on resource development in West Africa, is pleased to announce that it has been transferred control of Societe de Developpement Nimba ("SDN"), formerly Zali Mining S.A. and prior to that West African Exploration S.A. ("WAE"), the owner of the Nimba Iron Ore Project. Alongside NDC, which has an 85% shareholding, the Government of Guinea holds the remaining 15% in SDN.

NDC and the Government of Guinea have agreed to work together to advance the development of the Nimba Iron Ore Project and associated transport infrastructure so as to encourage responsible economic development in the Nimba region of Guinea.

NDC is a UK registered company with an international, mining experienced management team and Guinean and International shareholders. SDN is a Guinean registered company with rights to develop the iron ore assets adjacent to, but not intruding into, the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve. It is a priority of SDN and its shareholders to ensure that the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve and its flora and fauna are protected. All mining development will be subject to stringent international environmental protection standards with adherence monitored by UNESCO to ensure there is no negative impact.

In addition to the development of the mine, and in order to ensure that the iron ore accesses global seaborne markets, a rail extension will be developed to connect the Nimba region to the existing railroad in Tokadeh and the port of Buchanan on the Liberian coast. It is intended that this transport infrastructure will also be made available to other users in order to encourage increased investment in South-Eastern Guinea as well as to increase connectivity for individuals across Guinea and Liberia.

The executive management of NDC is led by Chief Executive Officer, Steven Din, and includes, Paul Wilson (Chief Financial Officer), Alexander Pouget (Chief Marketing Officer) and Gert Buelens (Chief Legal Counsel).

Steven Din, Chief Executive Officer of Nimba Development Company, commented:

"On behalf of everyone at the Nimba Development Company, I would like to express how honoured we are to be working alongside the Guinean Government and representatives of the community in the Nimba region. Together, we have an opportunity to accelerate economic development in South-Eastern Guinea and develop an iron ore facility that will, for the first time from this region, export iron ores from Guinea through Liberia to the coast.

"We are excited about developing a modern, 21st century mining company that holds the environment and local communities at the core of its identity. The executive management team at NDC is world class, bringing skills and experience from across the industry to be combined with local talent to ensure timely delivery of our maiden project.

"The next step in our journey is to work with our development and infrastructure partners to finalise the necessary feasibility studies and agree detailed, future plans. I look forward to implementing NDC's long-term strategy and helping catalyse the creation in West Africa of a third, global iron ore province. Alongside Western Australia and Brazil, West Africa can be a globally important iron ore producer, delivering long-overdue economic development for Guinea and Liberia."

Enquiries:

Yellow Jersey (PR advisor)

Tom Randell

Henry Wilkinson

Annabelle Wills



[email protected]

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 9512

Notes to Editors

Nimba Development Company ("NDC") is a modern mining company focused on resource development in West Africa.

Further information on Nimba Development Company can be found on the Company's website: www.nimbadevelopment.com.

SOURCE Nimba Development Company
"We were completely knocked out by the response we received," said Scaglione. "I've never seen our collectors so enthusiastic and engaged about an auction. Everyone was incredibly passionate about helping the Ukrainians during this dark time."

The online art auctions featured a wide variety of classic and contemporary artists, many of whom had personal ties to Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

The auctions unveiled works from two acclaimed artists from Romaniathe former child prodigy Alexandra Nechita and the late abstract artist Andras Markos. The online collector response to Nechita was incredible, and her works fetched over $150,000 for the Ukrainian Red Cross, the highest total of the auction. Markos was similarly embraced by the collectors, bringing in over $60,000.

The two artists who received possibly the next warmest receptions from the Park West collectors were Anatole Krasnyansky and the late Igor Medvedevboth artists originally came from Ukraine. Krasnyansky was born in Kyiv, and his painting titled "Kyiv Red Sunset" and more than 100 works from an edition of hand-signed giclees of the painting were sold, bringing in more than $50,000 for the Ukrainian Red Cross. Medvedev, who was born Kharkov, sold more than 100 works, also bringing in more than $50,000 for the Ukrainian Red Cross.

Art superstar Mark Kostabiwho comes from Estonian roots and was a contemporary Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiatwas also extremely popular with the online collectors. His published painting "The Eternal Now" and a limited graphic edition of "The Eternal Now" with hand-signed drawings brought in over $60,000 for the Ukrainian Red Cross.

Also notable were select works from the Park West Museum collection, which included etchings from the great Rembrandt van Rijn. "We had originally only planned on offering one Rembrandt etching for the charity auction," said Scaglione. "But there was such an overwhelming demand from our collectors that we ended up making eight Rembrandt works available, which brought in more than $40,000."

Among the other artists featured, more than 25 works from Israeli icon Yaacov Agam were sold for over $40,000, and works by American artists James Coleman and Autumn de Forest brought in a combined total of over $50,000.

By the time the final gavel dropped on Sunday, March 13, Park West had sold over 470 works in support of the Ukrainian Red Cross, raising more than $500,000an amount that surprised and delighted everyone in attendance.

"I knew that our collectors had big hearts, but I was truly humbled by how warmly they embraced this cause," said Scaglione. "We have a long history of working with Ukrainian artists and we have several Ukrainian employees too, several of whom are currently in their home country in a very unfortunate situation. So, we have some skin in this game, and it was important to us to step up and show what the art community can do in this time of crisis."

You can find more information about the Ukrainian Red Cross and their mission along with links to donate directly to their efforts here: https://donate.redcrossredcrescent.org/ua/donate/~my-donation

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Park West Gallery
In the presence of the chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers, and hospitality managers whose establishments have been selected by the inspectors, the 2022 Star Ceremony will also be the opportunity to celebrate all the trades that form part of gastronomy today.

"We are extremely happy to rediscover the hospitality and products of the New Aquitaine region in order to highlight the chefs and their teams and thus recognize the commitment of everyone in the profession during this particularly difficult period. Bringing the MICHELIN Guide teams to Charente is a way of reminding gourmets the world over of the abundance of talent ready to have them experience memorable moments, and this across the whole of France. Chefs established in France are more motivated than ever and this new edition of the MICHELIN Guide will showcase their pugnacity, their inventiveness and a sense of customer care that is unique in the world," declared Gwendal Poullennec, MICHELIN Guide International Director.

Michelin's ambition is to sustainably improve its customers' mobility. The leader in the mobility sector, Michelin designs, manufactures, and distributes the tires best suited to their requirements and uses as well as services and solutions to improve transport efficacy. Michelin also puts forward offers that allow its customers to enjoy unique moments when traveling. Michelin also develops high-technology equipment intended for multiple fields. Based in Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin is present in 170 countries, employs 123,600 people and operates 71 tire factories that, together, produced approximately 170 million tires in 2020. (www.michelin.com).

MICHELIN GROUP PRESS DEPARTMENT

+33 (0) 1 45 66 22 22

www.michelin.com @MichelinPress

27 Cours de l'Ile Seguin, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt

SOURCE MICHELIN Guide
Insurtech trailblazer ennabl announces two prominent insurance industry leaders have joined their board of directors. Tweet this

"I believe that ennabl has the potential to radically change how insurance brokers work, allowing them to combine their years of expertise serving clients with the power of a data-centric platform that will give them insight into their business. I am thrilled to see that ennabl is arming the brokerage community for the ongoing fight with the online-only brokers," said Hackbarth.

Jack Butcher, ennabl's other new board member, currently serves as President at Hagerty, an American automotive lifestyle and membership company and the world's largest provider of specialty insurance for classic vehicles. In his current role, Jack is responsible for maximizing stakeholder value and growing Hagerty's global insurance business, particularly outside the U.S.

Prior to his role at Hagerty, Jack served as the national business leader of Commercial Lines and Business Development for Marsh & McLennan Agency as well as other client service, sales, and business leadership roles with other MMC companies. Butcher began his insurance career with Chubb Insurance as a property and casualty underwriter.

About ennabl, Butcher remarked, "I've seen a lot of different technologies and approaches in the Insurtech space, and I think that Kabir and the team have an opportunity to build something unique; A technology company focused solely on maximizing the effectiveness of insurance producers."

With their platform, ennabl provides producers, agents, and brokers with the technology and tools they need to gather customer and industry data and streamline the client acquisition and servicing processes. By getting agents out of the data entry process, producers can spend more time servicing clients and building their business.

About ennabl

ennabl was created by Kabir Syed, founder, and former CEO of RiskMatch, and former managing director at Marsh. Syed brought together a world-class team of engineers, data experts, interface designers, and industry veterans to build a platform that will totally transform the way insurance brokers conduct business. With this tool, brokers will spend less time keeping data current and more time focusing on their clients' experiences, improving their bottom line.

SOURCE ennabl
Vendor Insights

The vegetable Seeds Market in Mexico is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

The growing competition in the market is compelling vendors to adopt various growth strategies such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Some vendors are also adopting inorganic growth strategies such as M&As to remain competitive in the market.

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

BASF SE

Bayer AG

Bejo Zaden B V

East-West Seed International

Enza Zaden Beheer B.V

Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV

Sakata Seed Corp.

Syngenta AG

Takii and Co. Ltd.

Vilmorin and Cie

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Read Free Sample Report .

Key Segment Analysis

During the projected period, the open-pollinated variants segment of the vegetable seed market in Mexico would rise significantly. Seeds that are open-pollinated are created by the natural pollination process in plants, which is carried out by insects, birds, and other animals. In Mexico, open-pollinated seeds are best suited for peas, beans, and legumes, as well as winter vegetables like tomatoes and melons. Open-pollinated seeds also provide excellent yields in leafy plants like lettuce, kale, and mustard. As a result of its high-yielding nature and consistent output over the agricultural seasons, demand for open-pollinated seeds will rise in Mexico.

View FREE Sample: to know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years.

Key Market Drivers & Challenges:

Increased investments in agriculture research are one of the primary drivers driving growth in the Mexican vegetable seed market. Increased investments in agricultural research have been critical, with large worldwide private corporations focusing on agriculture-related developments. Many private corporations have been encouraged to participate in agricultural research by the introduction of biotechnology and other scientific advancements, the growing strength of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over discoveries, and a massive expansion of the global agricultural inputs market. Due to the multiple productivity benefits that genetically modified seeds provide to cultivars, commercial sales of genetically modified seeds have expanded dramatically.

However, the declining availability of arable land will be a major challenge for the vegetable seeds market in Mexico during the forecast period.

Download a free sample for highlights on market Drivers & Challenges affecting the Vegetable Seeds Market in Mexico.

Vegetable Seeds Market in Mexico 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist vegetable seeds market in Mexico growth during the next five years

growth during the next five years Estimation of the vegetable seeds market in Mexico size and its contribution to the parent market

size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the vegetable seeds market in Mexico

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of the vegetable seeds market in Mexico vendors

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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.

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Related Reports:

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Floriculture Market in Malaysia by Type and Sales Type - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Vegetable Seeds Market Scope in Mexico Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.33% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 134.09 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 4.67 Regional analysis Mexico Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled BASF SE, Bayer AG, Bejo Zaden B V, East West Seed International, Enza Zaden Beheer B.V, Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV, Sakata Seed Corp., Syngenta AG, Takii and Co. Ltd., and Vilmorin and Cie Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 01: Parent market

2.2: Market Characteristics

2.3: Value chain analysis

Exhibit 08: Value chain analysis: Agricultural Products

2.2.1 Introduction

2.2.2 Pre-production

2.2.3 Harvest production

2.2.4 Post-harvesting

2.2.5 Outbound logistics

2.2.6 Marketing and sales

2.2.7 Service

2.2.8 End-customers

2.2.9 Industry innovation

3. Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 05: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

3.4.1 Estimating growth rates for emerging and high-growth markets

3.4.2 Estimating growth rates for mature markets

Exhibit 11: Global - Market size and forecast 2021 - 2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 12: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2021 - 2026 (%)

4. Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five Forces Summary

Exhibit 08: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 19: Market condition - Five forces 2021

5 Market Segmentation by Seed type

5.1 Market segments

The segments covered in this chapter are:

Open pollinated varieties

Hybrid

Exhibit 20: Seed type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Seed type

Exhibit 21: Comparison by Seed type

5.3 Open pollinated varieties - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 22: Open pollinated varieties - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 23: Open pollinated varieties - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Hybrid - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 24: Hybrid - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 25: Hybrid - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Seed type

Exhibit 26: Market opportunity by Seed type

6 Market Segmentation by Crop Type

6.1 Market segments

The segments covered in this chapter are:

Onion

Hot pepper

Tomato

Cucumber

Others

Exhibit 27: Crop Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Crop Type

Exhibit 28: Comparison by Crop Type

6.3 Onion - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 29: Onion - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 30: Onion - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 Hot pepper - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 31: Hot pepper - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 32: Hot pepper - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 Tomato - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 33: Tomato - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 34: Tomato - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.6 Cucumber - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 35: Cucumber - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 36: Cucumber - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 37: Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 38: Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.8 Market opportunity by Crop Type

Exhibit 39: Market opportunity by Crop Type

7 Customer landscape

7.1 Overview

Exhibit 40: Customer landscape

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.1.1 Increasing investments in agriculture research

8.1.2 Focus on high-yielding varieties of vegetable seeds

8.1.3 Increase in export of vegetables from Mexico

8.2 Market challenges

8.2.1 Declining availability of arable land

8.2.2 Restrictions over genetically modified seeds in Mexico

8.2.3 Challenges from low yielding vegetable seed varieties

Exhibit 41: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

8.3.1 Increasing adoption of Hybrid Seeds

8.3.2 Increasing demand for heirloom vegetable seeds

8.3.3 Rise in demand for tomato export from Mexico

9. Vendor Landscape

9.1 Competitive scenario

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 40: Vendor Landscape

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 41: Landscape disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 42: Industry risks

10. Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 43: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 46: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 BASF SE

Exhibit 47: BASF SE - Overview

Exhibit 48: BASF SE - Business segments

Exhibit 49: BASF SE - Key offerings

Exhibit 50: BASF SE - Segment focus

10.4 Bayer AG

Exhibit 51: Bayer AG - Overview

Exhibit 52: Bayer AG - Business segments

Exhibit 53: Bayer AG - Key offerings

Exhibit 54: Bayer AG - Segment focus

10.5 Bejo Zaden B V

Exhibit 55: Bejo Zaden B V - Overview

Exhibit 56: Bejo Zaden B V - Product and service

Exhibit 57: Bejo Zaden B V - Key offerings

10.6 East West Seed International

Exhibit 58: East West Seed International - Overview

Exhibit 59: East West Seed International - Product and service

Exhibit 60: East West Seed International - Key offerings

10.7 Enza Zaden Beheer B.V

Exhibit 61: Enza Zaden Beheer B.V - Overview

Exhibit 62: Enza Zaden Beheer B.V - Product and service

Exhibit 63: Enza Zaden Beheer B.V - Key offerings

10.8 Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV

Exhibit 64: Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV - Overview

Exhibit 65: Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV - Product and service

Exhibit 66: Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV - Key offerings

10.9 Sakata Seed Corp.

Exhibit 67: Sakata Seed Corp. - Overview

Exhibit 68: Sakata Seed Corp. - Product and service

Exhibit 69: Sakata Seed Corp. - Key offerings

10.10 Syngenta AG

Exhibit 70: Syngenta AG - Overview

Exhibit 71: Syngenta AG - Business segments

Exhibit 72: Syngenta AG - Key offerings

Exhibit 73: Syngenta AG - Segment focus

10.11 Takii and Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 74: Takii and Co. Ltd. - Overview

Exhibit 75: Takii and Co. Ltd. - Product and service

Exhibit 76: Takii and Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.12 Vilmorin and Cie

Exhibit 77: Vilmorin and Cie - Overview

Exhibit 78: Vilmorin and Cie - Product and service

Exhibit 79: Vilmorin and Cie - Key offerings

11. Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.1.1 Market definition

11.1.2 Objectives

11.1.3 Notes and caveats

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 82: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research Methodology

Exhibit 83: Research Methodology

Exhibit 84: Validation techniques employed for market sizing

Exhibit 85: Information sources

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MCLEAN, Va., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xcelerate Solutions (Xcelerate) is proud to announce that it was recently awarded a spot on the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) Data Readiness Artificial Intelligence Development (DRAID) Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). The JAIC DRAID is a five-year BOA that will enable the DoD to utilize its data resources for use with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This will help provide an easily accessible path to access cutting-edge services needed to meet the complex technical challenges involved in preparing data for AI. Examples of tasks include but are not limited to Extract Transform Load (ETL) and Data Engineering Development, Database Design and Development, Data Science Development, and Data Analysis.

About Xcelerate Solutions

Xcelerate Solutions exists to create innovative solutions that deliver results, manage risk from individuals to systems, and accelerate time to value. Across our three service areas  Enterprise Security, Strategic Consulting, and Digital Transformation  we optimize efficiency and effectiveness and enhance the security and resilience of America's personnel, physical and cyber infrastructure.

https://www.xceleratesolutions.com/

About the DoD Joint Artificial Intelligence Center

The Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) was established in 2018 to be the focal point of the DoD Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy to accelerate scaling AI and its impact across the Department. Working closely with the Services, Combatant Commands, and other Components, JAIC identifies appropriate use cases for AI across DoD, rapidly pilots solutions, and scales impact across its enterprise.

The mission of the JAIC, as specified in the DoD AI Strategy, is "to accelerate the delivery of AI-enabled capabilities, scale the Department-wide impact of AI, and synchronize DoD AI activities to expand Joint Force advantages."

https://www.ai.mil/

SOURCE Xcelerate Solutions
LONDON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Most Russians support the "special military operation" in Ukraine and have a favourable view of Vladimir Putin, but those aged 18-24 oppose the invasion and are more sceptical towards the Kremlin line, according to a new survey from Lord Ashcroft Polls.

The poll of 1,007 Russians, conducted by telephone from a neighbouring state between 11 and 13 March, also finds that Russians most blame the US and NATO for the conflict, and believe Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk should be part of Russia. However, most say they are feeling the effect of sanctions, and nearly half say Russia's reputation has been damaged in recent years. The findings include:

76% said they supported the special military operation, with 57% doing so strongly. However, most (53%) said Ukraine seems to be resisting more strongly than they would have expected.

seems to be resisting more strongly than they would have expected. 91% said Crimea should be part of Russia ; 68% said the same of both Donetsk and Luhansk.

; 68% said the same of both Donetsk and Luhansk. 79% said NATO expansion was a threat to Russian security and sovereignty, and 81% said the invasion was necessary to protect Russia . 67% said it was necessary to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" Ukraine .

. 67% said it was necessary to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" . More than half (55%) said sanctions had "started to affect me or people I know". Nearly one third said they thought life for ordinary Russians had got worse over the last 20 years, and 45% said they thought Russia's international reputation had been damaged in recent years.

international reputation had been damaged in recent years. 85% had a positive view of Vladimir Putin, and 88% of the Russian military. 85% also said they trust Russia's current leadership to make the right decisions for the country, and 78% said they thought Putin had ordinary Russians' interests at heart.

current leadership to make the right decisions for the country, and 78% said they thought Putin had ordinary Russians' interests at heart. 82% had a favourable view of China , compared to 12% for the US and 8% for NATO. 80% said the US had some or a great deal of responsibility for the war, and NATO 77%; 38% said the same of Russia .

, compared to 12% for the US and 8% for NATO. 80% said the US had some or a great deal of responsibility for the war, and NATO 77%; 38% said the same of . Those aged 18-24 were the only group more likely to say they opposed the invasion (46%) than supported it (40%). They were much more likely than Russians in general to reject the argument that the invasion was needed to protect Russia or to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine. A quarter said they had an unfavourable view of Putin (compared to 11% overall) and they were the only group more likely than not to see President Zalensky as Ukraine's legitimate leader. More than half (54%) said they favoured withdrawing Russian forces from the country.

In his commentary on the poll results, Lord Ashcroft writes:

"A poll from Russia comes with two obvious caveats. First, the Putin regime effectively controls what Russians see and hear about the 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Second, with protests crushed and prison terms for spreading of 'fake news' about the war, many might be cautious in talking about their views to a stranger. We also know, however, that a crisis can often prompt a surge of national loyalty. However, the survey suggests that Putin has managed to shape Russian opinion strongly in his favour  at least for the time being."

The full poll results are available at LordAshcroftPolls.com.

LORD ASHCROFT KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. He is a former treasurer and deputy chairman of the UK Conservative Party, and honorary chairman and a former treasurer of the International Democratic Union. Lord Ashcroft has been polling since 2005, both in the UK and internationally, winning a reputation for objective and impartial research and analysis.

LordAshcroftPolls.com // LordAshcroft.com // Twitter/Facebook: @LordAshcroft

SOURCE Lord Ashcroft Polls
GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its journey toward the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Adventist HealthCare's leadership system has earned a Malcolm Baldrige Category Best Practice Recognition, one of the nation's highest honors for performance excellence. Adventist HealthCare is the first multi-hospital health system in the Washington, D.C., region to earn this honor for outstanding leadership practices that create organizational success. The recognition establishes Adventist HealthCare as a world-class organization that can serve as a model for other businesses on how to consistently improve safety, ensure a positive patient experience, and optimize health outcomes  all while reducing costs.

"The past two years have been extremely difficult for healthcare systems," said Terry Forde, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. "This honor is a concrete recognition that every team member across our system is united in our mission to extend physical, mental and spiritual healing through compassionate, high-quality care  even when facing the many challenges of COVID-19."

Adventist HealthCare earned the recognition based on its application and a site visit in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program. The program, created by an act of Congress, is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and provides a rigorous evaluation of quality practices and performance. Examiners spend a minimum of 300 hours reviewing each application. Strong applicants are awarded a site visit with more than 700 hours of interviews and analyses. Adventist HealthCare was the only healthcare system to receive a site visit in 2021.

"Healthcare is a team sport," explained John Sackett, Chief Operating Officer for Adventist HealthCare. "In order to achieve this recognition, every team member needed do their part to deploy our leadership system. When each employee puts their shoulder to the wheel, we can fully realize our vision of providing a world-class patient experience to every patient, every time."

As community members seek care in a competitive market, the recognition acts as an independent assessment of Adventist HealthCare's comprehensive health and well-being services. Emily Miller, Adventist HealthCare's Director of Performance and Operational Excellence, emphasized, "Following our processes not only guided us through overcoming the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 but also empowered us to continue moving forward even stronger."

"We are so pleased to be recognized with this Baldrige best practice award," said Forde. "And, as we share our story, we are honored to serve as an example to other organizations in bringing hope and healing to the community."

Adventist HealthCare offers a full range of health and wellness services to the community including acute hospital care, rehabilitation, mental and behavioral health services, home care, health education, a physician network and wellness services for businesses. Based in Gaithersburg, Adventist HealthCare is one of the largest employers in Maryland, with approximately 5,500 employees. Our mission is to extend God's care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing

Contact: For media inquiries,

please call 301-315-3330

SOURCE Adventist HealthCare
White was kidnapped after being lured to Iran by a classic "honeypot" run by Iranian intelligence, in July 2018. He was subjected to a sham criminal trial without legal representation or other due process, convicted of espionage and insulting Iran's Supreme Leader, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released in 2020 following extensive diplomacy.

Iran engages in hostage-taking in order to influence and extract concessions from Western governments. The U.S. State Department designated Iran a State Sponsors of terrorism in 1984. The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in April 2019. The lawsuit, filed yesterday, proceeds under federal legislation that waives foreign sovereign immunity for certain states that have engaged in terrorism or provided material support or resources to terrorist organizations.

SOURCE Meridian 361 International Law Group, PLLC
" " Revelers smeared in colored powder celebrate the Hindu spring festival of Holi (Festival of Colors) in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India on March 18, 2022. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Mentions of Holi, or at least a celebration very much like it, go back at least as far as the seventh century, and today's festival may look a lot like it did back then. A playwright from that time describes a day of throwing of colors and an overall sense of elation [source: BBC].

In more recent times, the rebirth and hope of spring have become only part of the holiday's equation. Somewhere along the way, legends were attached the day. One ties Holi to the moment when Lord Shiva, a Hindu deity, first opened his third eye. Another says Lord Krishna, an incarnation of the Hindu religion's main god Vishnu was in love with the deity Radha but didn't think she would love him as she was fair-skinned and he was dark. His mother Yashoda suggested he smear Radha's face with colored powder so they could look the same. He did and they became a couple. Since then, people have playfully smeared colored powder on the faces of their loved ones[source: India.com].

Advertisement

But mostly, Holi has come to be associated with a particular tale of Lord Vishnu's greatness, a popular legend among his followers: the against-all-odds salvation of Prahlad.

It's a classic tale of good over evil: The pious son of a blasphemous king, Prahlad was forced to choose between his father and his god. The father, King Hiranyakashipu, had come to believe he was more powerful than Lord Vishnu, and demanded that his subjects, and his son, worship him above all others. Prahlad, deeply religious, steadfastly refused, and the father ultimately decided the son must die.

The king enlisted the help of his sister, Holika. Holika was immune to the effects of fire, and at the king's command she dragged her nephew into a burning pyre. Prahlad, amidst the flames, prayed.

Instead of burning, Prahlad walked from the fire alive. His aunt, on the other hand, burned to death, made suddenly vulnerable to the flames by Vishnu, who answered his follower's prayers  proof that the good of Vishnu was more powerful than the evil of the king [source: BBC].

This  the death of Holika  more than any other, is the story told at Holi, and in many parts of India, the festival incorporates a ritual re-enactment, one that typically begins the night before the day of color.
HILO, Hawaii, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrzej Kudelka MD, FACP, FACE, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Legacy Member with a Lifetime Achievement in Oncology for his professional excellence in the medical field and his unwavering dedication as a traveling doctor for Hilo Medical Center.

Dr. Andrzej Kudelka, a board-certified oncologist, has retired after a medical career spanning four decades, specializing in gynecology, melanoma, sarcoma, advanced thyroid, cancer, and breast medicine, to name a few. He recently moved to Hawaii and joined the Hilo Medical Center team as an attending and traveling doctor. He gained valuable experience as a vital member of the Melanoma Management Team at Stony Brook Cancer Center, which he joined in 2006. Dr. Kudelka was a faculty member within the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. An expert in his field, Dr. Kudelka researched the areas of gynecology and breast cancer.

In light of his academic achievements, Dr. Kudelka graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from City College of CUNY in 1974. He was also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Furthering his studies, Dr. Kudelka attended Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, where he studied Applied Mathematics, followed by Columbia University, where he studied Biology. Dr. Kudelka's medical career began after obtaining his medical degree in 1982 at the Medical Academy of Gdansk in Poland. In the same year, he was elected as a member of the Electoral College of the Medical Academy of Gdansk for the Academy's President, Vice President, and Deans' first free elections.

With a commitment to excellence, Dr. Kudelka is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology & hospice, and palliative medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dedicated to his medical training, Dr. Kudelka's completed an internal medicine residency at Coney Island Hospital and the Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Lastly, he completed a hematology/oncology fellowship at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Throughout his extensive career, Dr. Kudelka excelled in the academic sector. He served as an Associate Professor and Associate Internist at The University of Texas / M. D. Anderson Cancer Center within the following: Department of Gynecologic Medical Oncology, the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, the Department of Clinical Investigation, the Department of Medical Oncology, and the Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy. Furthermore, he served on various medical committees, including the Stony Brook Cancer Center Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and the Quality and Patient Safety Committee at Stony Brook University.

Remaining abreast of the latest advancements in his field, Dr. Kudelka maintained active memberships with several professional organizations, including the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, The Society for Melanoma Research, the Connective Tissue Oncology Society, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. Additionally, he is a distinguished Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Endocrinology.

As a testament to his professional excellence, Dr. Kudelka receives many awards and accolades. He was named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and a Top Doctor by Newsday. After many years of professional success, Dr. Kudelka retired in 2021.

To learn more, please visit https://www.hilomedicalcenter.org/.

You can learn more about Dr. Kudelka's research at:

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C33&q=+Andrzej+Kudelka&btnG=.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
The MOU signing ceremony has the honorary attendance of Mr. Do Thanh Nhan  Chairman & other senior representatives of Angimex and President Julius Maada Bio & the high-level delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone. According to the content of the MOU between the two parties, Angimex will export 3 million tons of rice to Sierra Leone under a three-year rice export contract. This kind of international rice export contract exerts a substantial influence, helping Angimex access new markets and customer groups in the future.

The continuous application of new agricultural technology in farming enables Vietnam's leading rice enterprise to ensure rice grain quality and meet strict standards of big countries. With the "endorsement" of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Angimex has high expectations for this 3-year contract as the foundation for upcoming larger purchases from West Africa since Angimex has already proved its scale and potential with neighboring countries of the Republic of Sierra Leone. This boasts a comprehensive cooperation not only between Angimex and the presidential delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, but also between Vietnam and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Do Thanh Nhan, Chairman of An Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company shared: "Thanks to the strict quality control system, Angimex has been and will be able to provide the highest quality rice products to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of the market. The enterprise's professional services will surely satisfy the diverse needs of customers. With the goodwill for the sake of mutual development, Angimex strongly believes in the good and long-term success in the cooperation between Angimex and our partners in the upcoming time. We look forward to accompanying our partners to create the best and sustainable values".

Within the scope of cooperation, Angimex will transfer the sample rice field to the enterprises of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The sample rice field is Angimex's first successful factor to ensure high-quality rice input. The expansion of the large sample rice field is one of the solutions to increase the value of rice for export, according to the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

When farming on the large sample rice field, farmers will simultaneously sow each high-yield and high-quality rice variety in the same field. Therefore, this combination of high-quality rice production and rice field expansion brings practical benefits to farmers, including changing production mindset and improving economic efficiency. Aiming at improving the quality of rice seeds in the future, the agricultural services of Angimex give an emphasis on providing farmers with in-depth knowledge and cost-saving methods during varietal selection, cultivation, and harvest. Also, Angimex's experts with rich experience in the field of agriculture will train farmers to master cultivation techniques and answer the farmers' questions during the farming process.

Regarding the business plan in 2022, Angimex sets a targeted revenue of over VND 8,004 billion; pre-tax profit of VND 70 billion - a more than double and 22 percent increase respectively against the previous year. In the long-term development strategy, Angimex aims to become the biggest rice exporter and also the market leader in the domestic rice market. With the orientation of "restoring the status of An Giang rice king", Louis Holdings has been putting all its efforts into Angimex in the present and expecting to reap the results in the future.

About Angimex

An Giang Import  Export JSC company (Angimex)  a member of Louis Holdings is one of the leading enterprises in Vietnam in the field of food, agricultural materials, trade and service with the main product in rice. Angimex focuses on developing core sectors including agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and value-added agricultural products in order to develop An Giang homeland. Angimex was the first enterprise to be licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade under Decree 109 of the Government on consideration of eligibility for rice export business in 2011. During more than 45 years of operation and development, Angimex's rice products have been exported to over 50 countries around the world. In 2020, Angimex was certified as a reputable Exporter by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. In 2021, Angimex entered the top 3 largest rice exporters in Vietnam. In 2022, Angimex aims to achieve the maximum capacity of processing plants with total output up to 1,000,000 tons/year.

To meet the accelerating demand, Angimex has been constantly expanding its distribution network both domestically and internationally, managing and operating large-scale rice processing plants in the Mekong Delta. At the same time, the enterprise has always improved product quality, established a quality management system in line with international food standards. Angimex rice products have been well qualified with international certifications such as: HALAL, ISO 22000:2005, HACCP, Food Safety and meet export standards of European countries, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Africa, etc.

For press inquiry, please contact:

(Ms) Pham Thuy Thanh Thanh

Marketing Director

Email: [email protected]

Phone/Zalo: 090 671 6496

(Mr) Truong Van Tan

Head of Communication Department

Email: [email protected]

Phone/Zalo: 0903101587

SOURCE Angimex
TUCSON, Ariz., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) filed its amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the lawsuit against United Airlines over its Covid vaccine mandate. United placed pilots and flight attendants who obtained religious exemptions from the Covid vaccine on unpaid leave, and employees sued in Sambrano v. United Airlines.

United lost its appeal, and on March 10 filed an unusual motion to vacate the panel opinion against it. On the same day United abruptly announced that it will allow the employees who have religious exemptions to return to work, saying that moots this lawsuit.

AAPS requested that the Fifth Circuit fully publish its opinion on the side of employees, instead of dropping it down the memory hole.

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is a national organization representing physicians in all specialties since 1943. Its motto is omnia pro aegroto (everything for the patient).

SOURCE Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)
ATLANTA, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Troy and Karen Burns, partners of Metro Productions, LLC, watched in tears as the spire of Notre Dame de Paris fell into the flames on April 15, 2019. They remembered their image Spire Over the Seine which had just appeared in Donald Glover's Atlanta on FX. The couple sought a way to sell or donate their print to the restoration efforts. On January 1, 2022, they minted the world's first Real Fungible Token (RFT).

Spire Over the Seine RFT EXODUS RFT

A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is a unique digital asset that can't be subdivided or replaced by another like item. The ownership in the blockchain is the token providing ownership, rights of resale, and licensing. Another NFT characteristic is a 10% artist's royalty on the resale of the NFT.

If there is an NFT, there must also be an RFT.

Photography is a unique art form due to Title 17 US Copyright Law which grants copyright protection to an image the moment the image is recorded onto film or a digital sensor. An image created by a digital camera can be an NFT. An image created on film is tangible, it is real.



When a photographer prints an image and sells it, they are selling the right to enjoy the print or to sell the print. No other rights are granted. The photographer can make an identical print with the negative making the print a fungible work of art.



When a photographer bundles the print created from a negative with the negative, rights of reproduction, licensing, resale of the print, or resale of the negative with a 10% artists royalty they have minted an RFT. The negative is the token that conveys the rights of the RFT and the creator maintains copyright in perpetuity.



Karen Burns is the majority owner of Metro Productions, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia, working with C- suite executives in marketing, PR, and corporate communications. Before they could organize the journey to sell the world's first RFT, Russia invaded Ukraine bringing everything to a halt.



The couple then remembered an infrared image of a field of sunflowers they photographed in 2014, and minted a second RFT to benefit Ukrainian refugees with an emphasis on children. A week later the couple minted an image of Jerry Garcia from the Atlanta Spring Tour in 1995 to fund a charitable foundation to allow the first two RFT's to fully benefit the causes they were minted to support.



The couple has a long history of volunteering for social causes. Karen has been the photographer for Camp Horizon, a charter camp of Camp Twin Lakes that works with children in the Georgia DFCS system for 23 years. They participated in street feedings and organized Thanksgiving Dinner on the Street in Atlanta for three years serving dinner under the stars a block away from Atlanta's busiest heroin corner. The couples' foundation seeks to provide scholarships to foster children, implement after-school programs for kids, and organize parent- child sporting competitions.

For more info, please visit https://www.setartatl.com or email [email protected]

Media Contact

Troy Burns

4044368406

[email protected]

SOURCE Metro Productions, LLC
27% year-over-year revenue growth, 6% sequential quarter-over-quarter revenue growth - Positive operational cashflow - Management to host earnings call March 18th

LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, BC, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state US cannabis operator, is pleased to report its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2022.

Q2 FY2022 Financial Summary (results expressed in USD$ unless otherwise indicated):

Reported Q2 FY2022 revenue of $8.05 million a 27% increase over Q2 FY2021 revenue of $6.32 million and a 6% increase over Q1 FY2022 revenue of $7.57 million ;

a 27% increase over Q2 FY2021 revenue of and a 6% increase over Q1 FY2022 revenue of ; Q2 FY2022 Gross profit of $3.02 million , a 10% increase over Q2 FY2021 Gross profit of $2.75 million ;

, a 10% increase over Q2 FY2021 Gross profit of ; Q2 FY2022 Net Operating Loss of $0.97 million ;

; Q2 FY2022 Net Loss of $2.72 million ;

; Basic and Diluted loss per share of $0.02 ;

; Adjusted EBITDA loss of 0.04 million*;

Inventory of $4.07 million as of January 31, 2022 ;

as of ; At January 31, 2022 , BaM had $4.62 million in cash and a working capital surplus of $4.07 million ;

, BaM had in cash and a working capital surplus of ; Total Assets were $55.93 million , Total Current Liabilities were $8.42 million and Total Liabilities were $21.20 million at January 31, 2022 ;

, Total Current Liabilities were and Total Liabilities were at ; 113,349,464 shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2022 (113,349,464 as of March 17, 2022 ).

Operational Milestones for Q2 FY2022:

California:

Definitive agreement entered for acquisition of Seaside, California dispensary;

dispensary; The Company took over management of Seaside dispensary operations effective December 1, 2021 ;

dispensary operations effective ; Local and State approval of change in ownership of the Seaside dispensary license received;

dispensary license received; Consolidation of financials from Seaside dispensary for December 2021 and January 2022 ;

dispensary for and ; Rebranded the Long Beach ShowGrow dispensary to become a Body and Mind branded dispensary;

Manufacturing and Distribution facility in development stage with local approvals in process.

Nevada:

Completion of electrical power upgrade and distillation capacity project for Production facility to provide 10X increase in distillation capacity;

Ohio:

Increased production from the new Ohio production facility;

production facility; Body and Mind branded extracted products on dispensary shelves with an expanded product line in progress;

Secured high quality biomass for extracted products including shatter and live resin offerings.

Arkansas:

Cultivation operations produced first flower for wholesale and sales in Body and Mind dispensary;

Finalized phenotyping of Body and Mind strains and perpetual harvest operations established.

Michigan:

Continued vertical market expansion into Michigan ;

; Opened Muskegon, Michigan dispensary in February 2022 ;

dispensary in ; Commenced construction to advance a Phase 1 cultivation and production facility with approximately 22,500 square feet of indoor cultivation and 7,500 square feet of production/manufacturing;

Confirmed initial power requirements are complete to the cultivation facility and pre-ordered long lead items;

Completed demolition within the existing structure, underground plumbing and concrete work for flooring and footings is underway.

Illinois

The Company has management agreements with two entities that have been identified in the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) results of the Social Equity Justice Lottery as recipients of Conditional Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Licenses (Conditional Licenses) in the greater Chicago -area zone;

-area zone; Final license awards by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) delayed due to litigation by other parties;

Identified and advanced strong real estate opportunities for dispensary locations.

"The Body and Mind team continued our growth strategy by funding the acquisition and consolidating the new Seaside, California dispensary as well as funding and opening our social equity license dispensary in Michigan. Our positive cash flow from operations reflects our commitment to lean, focused advances as we continue to grow our revenues with new operations in strong markets," stated Michael Mills, CEO of BaM. "Our operations team has been working closely with the new Reef dispensary as the Company assumed operations in December and we have realized synergies across our California operations. The new Michigan Body and Mind branded dispensary opened in February and continues to ramp-up revenues. The Michigan cultivation and production facility is advancing well and has received all construction approvals with demolition complete, underground plumbing in place, and concrete pours for floors and footings progressing. We have expanded the Body and Mind brand through new product offerings in Ohio and Arkansas and will continue to develop our product lines in these limited license states."

*Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP metric used by management that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management defines the Adjusted EBITDA as the income (loss) from operations, as reported, before interest, taxes, and adjusted for removing other non-cash items, including the stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and further adjustments to remove acquisition related costs or gains. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance on a cash adjusted basis before the impact of non-cash items and acquisition activities. The most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP is net income (loss) from operations, which was presented above prior to the Adjusted EBITDA figure.

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the quarter ended January 31, 2022 are available on SEDAR and EDGAR and should be read in connection with this news release.

The Company will be hosting a conference call to discuss its financial results on Friday, March 18th, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Conference call details:

Canada: 1-416-764-8659

North America toll-free: 1-888-664-6392

Confirmation No.: 37292270

A replay of the call will be available until March 25, 2022. The replay can be accessed as follows.

Encore replay -- Canada: 1-416-764-8677

Encore replay -- North America toll-free: 1-888-390-0541

Encore replay entry code: 292270 #

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is an operations focused US multi-state cannabis operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail.

BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas, Ohio and Michigan and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

Instagram:@bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

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.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

SOURCE Body and Mind Inc.
DUBAI, UAE, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China.org.cn.

The Changsha Day was officially launched at Expo 2020 Dubai on Tuesday, highlighting the central Chinese city's competitive industries including intelligent manufacturing, engineering machinery, and cultural innovation.

Since its first show at Expo 2005 Aichi, Changsha, capital city of Hunan province, has achieved leapfrog development. With a population of more than 10 million, it has been listed among the 10 happiest cities in China for 14 consecutive years, and its gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 1.33 trillion yuan in 2021.

Despite the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the city saw significant consumption growth last year, with its total retail sales of consumer goods ranking fourth among all Chinese capital cities.

The Changsha Day event showcases an open and inclusive city to the world and aims to enhance business cooperation and cultural exchanges worldwide, said Qiu Jixing, vice mayor of Changsha.

Mohamed B. Khaarrub, development advisor to the UAE Ministry of Economy, spoke highly of the investment of Changsha enterprises at the Ajman China Mall, adding that the UAE will explore more cooperation opportunities with the Hunan Free Trade Zone in trade mechanism, reform, and innovation.

Six famous Changsha-based enterprises including Sany Heavy Industry, Broad Group, and Truking exhibited their core products at the event.

Gong Yuxiang, director of the European division of Sansure Biotech, said his company has been expanding into the international market since 2012, and is now providing health solutions to customers from over 160 countries and regions. Based on the Changsha Day event, the company will step up going global and contribute more public health products to the world, he said.

During Expo 2020 Dubai, an online exhibition will be held from March 16-31 to introduce Hunan commodities to the Middle East. More than 120 enterprises from Changsha will use online meetings and livestreaming demonstrations to promote over 1,000 products in various categories, ranging from intelligent manufacturing to tourism and healthcare.

Changsha Day launched at Expo 2020 Dubai

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2022-03/18/content_78116623.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
The Government of Ireland and student exchange provider USIT Ireland will co-sponsor the 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows in honor of the meeting between 27-year-old abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the great Irish reformer Daniel O'Connell in Dublin in 1845. While in Ireland, the Fellows will explore the life stories, leadership styles, and legacies of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O'Connell as they engage in a comparative study of peace and conflict resolution through the lens of Ireland, the Middle East, and South Africa.

The following high-achieving students were selected for this prestigious award:

Audrey McNeal  Barnard College

 Luiza Vilanova  Columbia University

 Lauren Baker  Grand Canyon University

 Ryan Doan-Nguyen  Harvard University

 Nicolas Dominguez Carrero  Harvard University

 Tyler Smith  Howard University

 Shira Nash  Northwestern University

 Justin Babu  Providence College

 Jamal Sayid  Rice University

 Jahaad Shairi  Rochester Institute of Technology

Masaki (Mark) Okuda  Soka University of America

 Kamayah Scruggs  Spelman College

Disha Ganjegunte  Texas Tech University

Brennan Connell  The New School

 Nicole Mora  UNC Chapel Hill

 Jhohanna Perez  University of Pennsylvania

You can hear from all 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows in this video.

"The 2022 cohort of Frederick Douglass Global Fellows is an extraordinary group of students, representing a rich diversity of backgrounds, universities, academic majors, and personal stories," said James P. Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE. "These leaders of tomorrow will be transformed through their experience in Ireland, as was Frederick Douglass in 1845, returning home with a global perspective on how to agitate peacefully for positive change in their communities and in our world."

"Ireland was so special to Frederick Douglass," said Nettie Washington Douglass, chairwoman and co-founder of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, and the great-great-granddaughter of Frederick Douglass and great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington. "The welcome and respect with which Frederick was greeted across his tour of Ireland affected him profoundly. I can think of no better place for these exceptional young people to hone their leadership skills and prepare to be agents of change."

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship was launched in 2017 as part of CIEE's commitment to increasing access to study abroad by students in underrepresented groups. In addition to funding the 16 Fellows, CIEE will provide all 700+ students who applied for this year's fellowship a $1,500 Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant towards any CIEE study abroad program within the next year, committing more than one million dollars in grant funds to help diverse students study abroad.

The CIEE Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant has been matched by more than thirty college presidents who are champions of international education, reducing the cost of studying abroad even further for their students. CIEE is proud to partner with these global leaders to open doors for all students from all backgrounds and significantly increase diversity abroad.

To learn more about the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, visit ciee.org/FDGF.

About CIEE

CIEE builds bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures. We help young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that bring the world together. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org.

Media contact: Leslie Taylor, (207) 553-4274.

SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
MAOF's previous President and CEO, Martin Castro, recently retired after 21 years in the role . His leadership helped transform MAOF, making it one of the most responsive and best-performing organizations serving California's diverse communities. Castro is committed to working with MAOF leadership to ensure a smooth transition for his successor.

Pinedo begins his new role at MAOF on April 18, 2022. A respected executive and educator with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit, government, academic, business, and religious organizations, advocating and serving under-resourced communities, Pinedo was most recently the CEO of the Children's Fund, which served children experiencing poverty, abuse, and neglect. He previously served as the President of the Hope Through Housing Foundation, the COO of the National Community Renaissance, and Associate Superintendent of Business Services and Economic Development for Chaffey Community College.

"MAOF's programs uplift the whole family, serving everyone from infants to seniors. We are thrilled to have Cid Pinedo at the helm, not only for the breadth of experience and perspective he brings, but also because he embodies the values, heritage, and history of MAOF," said Board Chair, Anita Quinonez Gabrielian. "On behalf of the Board and the 875 dedicated employees of MAOF, we are grateful for the incredible legacy that Martin Castro has left and look forward to welcoming Cid as our new CEO."

The organization's leadership also acknowledges the strength, dedication and commitment of the senior team throughout this leadership transition and extends a special thanks to newly promoted Chief Operating Officer, Vicky Santos and Orlando Sayson, Chief Financial Officer.

Pinedo is an active and well-known volunteer and advocate for the community. He currently serves on the boards of the Los Angeles County Fair Association Corporation, the Riverside Art Museum - Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and History, and the Luminarias Mental Health Services Institute. He is also a Commissioner for the San Bernardino County Housing Authority and a member of the Funders Alliance of San Bernardino.

"As the son of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, I feel it is my personal obligation to provide access and support to anyone who lacks the resources to actualize their future story," Pinedo said. "As CEO of MAOF, I am very honored to work with the board, staff and all levels of the community to effectuate transformational change for families in California."

Pinedo holds a BA in Philosophy from St. John's Seminary College in Camarillo, a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne and was bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Union Institute & University.

The appointment of Pinedo follows a thorough recruitment process overseen by MAOF in partnership with Envision Consultinga nonprofit consulting firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York, specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration and executive leadership transitions.

About the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation:

The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) is a non-profit, state-wide community-based organization that was established in 1963 by Founder Dionicio Morales to serve disadvantaged individuals and families in the Los Angeles area. MAOF is one of the largest family services organizations in the United States and has achieved this status by providing high quality social services and programs to diverse communities where the need is the greatest. It currently operates in seven California counties with over 60 service locations and 875 employees. The annual budget exceeds $160,000,000. MAOF Website; http://www.maof.org/

SOURCE Mexican American Opportunity Foundation
GLENVIEW, Ill., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Envoy Solutions announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire ATRA Janitorial Supply Company, based in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. This highly valued business provides innovative janitorial supplies to a wide range of customers, including healthcare, retail, and educational institutes throughout New Jersey. In recent years, the COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted the need for ATRA's best-in-class products, such as disinfectants and other cleaning supplies. ATRA is the third New Jersey-based company to join Envoy Solutions' rapidly growing national platform this year and the 11th acquisition since August 2021. The new partnership will advance Envoy Solutions' vision of making buildings cleaner and more sustainable, people safer, and operations more productive.

"Highly-valued companies like ATRA are helping us realize our true potential as a leading distributor across the country," said Mark M. Fisher, CEO of Envoy Solutions. "I am excited about the new partnership with Tony Jr., Jason Crisafulli, and the rest of their team. By joining together, we are building on our progress in the Northeast, a key market to introduce our best-in-class products and services to new customers."

ATRA, founded in 1983, spans two generations in the Crisafulli family. The company has seen significant growth under the current leadership of brothers, Tony Jr. and Jason Crisafulli. In 2015, ATRA opened a second location to expand its customer base. Throughout the years, the company has built a strong foundation with top-level service, high-quality products, and a customer-first approach.

"This is a special opportunity for our family, our company, and for all our team members," said Tony Crisafulli Jr., President of ATRA Janitorial Supply. "By joining Envoy Solutions, we will benefit from increased resources and an expanded geographic footprint while partnering with a company that values the rich traditions of family-founded businesses."

"I'm proud to be joining Envoy Solutions, a company that has become a driving force in our industry," said Jason Crisafulli, Vice President of ATRA Janitorial Supply. "As we look toward the future, I have complete confidence this decision will lead to future growth and prosperity for both our companies."

About Envoy Solutions:

Envoy Solutions, the nation's premier diversified distribution company, is helping businesses thrive by leveraging the resources and expertise of regional partnerships to make buildings cleaner and people safer.

The industry-leading distributor provides a wide array of essential products, including sanitary supply, packaging solutions, and foodservice disposables, that are improving the quality of life at schools, hospitals, offices, and other institutions.

Based in Glenview, Ill., Envoy Solutions is the parent company of North American Corporation, WAXIE Sanitary Supply, Southeastern Paper Group, Daycon, North Woods, PJP, Johnston, Next-Gen, Swish White River, Valley Janitor Supply Company, Weiss Bros., General Chemical & Supply, Bio-Shine, and NVISION. For more information, please visit www.envoysolutions.com.

About ATRA Janitorial Supply Company:

ATRA Janitorial Supply Company, based in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, is a solutions-driven distributor that provides top-quality cleaning and maintenance supplies to customers throughout the Garden State. The company's goal is to solve problems for its customers in the Jan-San industry through service excellence and continued custodial training. For more information, please visit www.atrajanitorialsupply.com.

SOURCE Envoy Solutions
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, two-thirds of medical debts are the result of a one-time or short-term medical expense arising from an acute medical need. After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and a detailed review of the prevalence of medical collection debt on credit reports, the NCRAs are making changes to help people to focus on their personal wellbeing and recovery.

Effective July 1, 2022, paid medical collection debt will no longer be included on consumer credit reports. In addition, the time period before unpaid medical collection debt would appear on a consumer's report will be increased from 6 months to one year, giving consumers more time to work with insurance and/or healthcare providers to address their debt before it is reported on their credit file. In the first half of 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will also no longer include medical collection debt under at least $500 on credit reports.

The companies' CEOs provided a joint statement on the decision to change medical collection debt reporting:

"Medical collection debt often arises from unforeseen medical circumstances. These changes are another step we're taking together to help people across the United States focus on their financial and personal wellbeing," said Mark W. Begor, CEO Equifax; Brian Cassin, CEO Experian; and Chris Cartwright, CEO TransUnion. "As an industry we remain committed to helping drive fair and affordable access to credit for all consumers."

For more information, please visit: Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion.

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.

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car to sending a child to college to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 20,000 people operating across 44 countries, and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people, and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group.

About TransUnion

TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing an actionable picture of each person so they can be reliably represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.

A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences, and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.

Media Contacts:

FTI Consulting

[email protected]

Kate Walker

Equifax

[email protected]

Scott Anderson

Experian

[email protected]

David Blumberg

TransUnion

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.
China vows adherence to dynamic zero-COVID approach

Xinhua) 22:53, March 18, 2022

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China will stick to the dynamic zero-COVID approach as the line of defense against the epidemic at the moment, a Chinese health official said Friday.

It represents a perfect example of how China honors its commitment to putting the people and human life above all else and the biggest contribution made to the global COVID-19 fight, said Wang Hesheng, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC).

The goal of this approach is to bring the epidemic under control in the shortest possible time with a minimum cost to society. The essence of the approach is swift response and targeted prevention and control, he told a press conference.

"According to analyses and assessments by experts, this wave of global COVID-19 outbreak is still at a high level and will not end soon," Wang said.

China will continue to face a situation where Omicron-dominated infections may occur in multiple locations simultaneously. It means epidemic control will be even more serious and complex, added Wang, citing analyses.

In response to recent cluster infections in multiple regions of China, Wang said the NHC and the national administration of disease prevention and control, in conjunction with relevant authorities, have strengthened guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control for major affected regions.

In compliance with the principle of "early detection, early reporting, early quarantine, and early treatment," prevention and control work is conducted strictly and earnestly, with measures to be more efficient and targeted, he said.

"We want to bring local outbreaks under control as soon as possible and create a favorable environment for people's lives and economic and social development," he said.

Jiao Yahui, a senior NHC official, told the same press conference that the newly-revised COVID-19 diagnostic and treatment program does not mean prevention and control will ease in China.

The revised program should achieve maximum effect with minimum costs through more science-based and accurate measures, Jiao said.

According to the program, asymptomatic cases and those with mild symptoms, for instance, will go to designated quarantine facilities instead of hospitals.

"This does not mean they will be left uncared. There will be medical staff at the facilities," she said.

Jiao urged local health departments to enforce prevention and control measures as attentively as before.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji)
Partnership provides long term financing to The Lakehouse to provide executive catering, wedding and business events to their target customers from the Government and Corporate America to Fortune 500 executives and international clients.

SAN DIEGO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ETHOS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC USA , announced a new long-term financing partnership with The Lakehouse LLC, located on an exquisite estate set on over 8 acres with 600 feet of lake shore frontage. The 8,241 square foot property is impressively positioned on a peninsula that is adjoined by a 130-acre nature preserve in Standish Maine.

Carlos Santos, President and CEO of Ethos stated:

The Lake House

"We are delighted to announce this very special deal in the high-end leisure and executive events sector in North America. The executive catering and wedding planning business is highly competitive, but we believe that under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Chris Hargrove, VP, there is no other place in Maine that has carved a place for high-quality events and leisure, combined with exceptional local seafood and cuisine. Hargrove III Events is a full-service Event Design and Management Production Company. Their team delivers masterful event concept, design, planning, and production. They have produced exclusive, one-of-a kind events in hundreds of premier, five-star venues throughout the world and the United States, including museums, private homes and estates, magnificent resorts and hotels, corporate headquarters, historical monuments and exotic islands. Their experience includes producing unforgettable events and experiences, both indoor and outdoor. We are proud to be partnering with Mr. Hargrove and The Lakehouse for the long term as we continue to invest in the US."

Chris Hargrove, VP of The Lakehouse LLC said:

"Sebago Lake is the true definition of lake living and one of Maine's most beautiful natural resources. The Lake House itself offers many indoor and outdoor spaces providing endless options for creative event design and memorable experiences. The privacy, combined with the spectacular and serene natural waterfront surroundings, The Lake House offers it the perfect setting for weddings, milestone celebrations, corporate retreats, and vacations alike. Sebago Lake offers guests the opportunity for explorations and outdoor activities all year long. The Lake House at Sebago Lake is located just a short drive from the Portland International Jet Port."

About Ethos Asset Management:

Ethos Asset Management (Ethos) is an independent US-based company with a global reach in resource mobilization and project financing.

For more information, please visit https://www.ethosasset.com/ .

About The Lakehouse:

"Our knowledge in venue design and management, in combination with our experience and attention to detail, allows us to deliver flawless, extraordinary events. Hargrove III Events will ensure that The Lake House at Sebago becomes one of the premier destinations of the Northeastern United States."

For more information, please visit http://www.hargroveiiievents.com/

Contacts:

The Lakehouse:

Chris Hargrove, VP, The Lakehouse LLC

[email protected]

Ethos Asset Management INC:

Press Office

[email protected]

+18585354814

SOURCE Ethos Asset Management Inc
Sanctuary Wealth acquires minority stake in Indianapolis-based independent firm with almost $400 million in AUM

INDIANAPOLIS, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanctuary Wealth, home to the next generation of elite advisors, proudly announces that EverNest Financial Advisors, an independent firm based in Indianapolis, has chosen to partner with Sanctuary, which has acquired a minority position in the firm. The two-person team is composed of Managing Partners Frank Esposito, CFA, and Niki Woodworth, CFP, who with Sanctuary as a partner, plan to grow their firm both organically and through the acquisition of other advisory practices.

"Sanctuary's initial growth came from advisors breaking from the wirehouse model, and they remain an important constituency for us, but going forward we're also committed to being a major player in the M&A space, as our investment in EverNest Financial Advisors and some of our other recent initiatives demonstrate," said Jim Dickson, CEO and Founder of Sanctuary Wealth. "EverNest is somewhat different from our usual partners in that they had been functioning independently for seven years. The fact that they chose to affiliate with Sanctuary rather than continue to try and do it all on their own speaks volumes about what the Sanctuary platform has to offer independent advisors who want to take advantage of our scale and extensive resources."

With more than $390 million in assets under management, EverNest Financial Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to a sophisticated audience of high-net-worth individuals and families as well as non-profits with unique circumstances and aspirations. Among the team's specialties are helping business owners and corporate executives diversify their assets and prepare for a transition.

"We joined Sanctuary because of their demonstrated commitment to allowing independent firms like ours serve our clients in unique ways and also due to the considerable scale and expertise Sanctuary brings in terms of operational support, compliance, technology, and investment research," explained Frank Esposito, Managing Partner, EverNest Financial Advisors. "We also saw the opportunity to further enhance the services we are providing our clients with Sanctuary's resources."

Frank Esposito is in his 30th year in financial services, having started as an intern with Merrill Lynch in 1992 before spending a decade working with institutional investors at Goldman Sachs and Strong Capital Management. After leading investment teams at both JP Morgan Private Bank and UBS Financial Services, he concluded he could best serve clients as an independent registered investment advisor. In 2015, Esposito merged his practice with Windsor Wealth Management, which led to the creation of EverNest Financial Advisors. He earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2001 and is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA society of Indianapolis.

Managing Director Niki Woodworth began her financial services career when she joined Windsor Wealth Management in 2017, where her roles included Client Service Manager and Director of Client Service. Since earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credential, she has been working with clients regarding retirement and estate planning, college funding, and debt and tax management. She was awarded a BS in Economics and Spanish and graduated with Cum Laude honors from the Andre B. Lacy School of Business at Butler University.

"Our platform and all that Sanctuary has to offer was the genesis of Frank and Niki's attraction to Sanctuary, but it was our commitment to their firm's M&A growth that really sealed the deal," said Michael Longley, Chief Growth Officer, Sanctuary Wealth. "We're tremendously excited to have them join Sanctuary as true partners and look forward to providing the resources and support that will help grow EverNest Financial Advisors into the substantial enterprise they envision."

About Sanctuary Wealth

Sanctuary Wealth (sanctuarywealth.com/) is the advanced platform for the next generation of elite advisors, who have the entrepreneurial spirit to build and own their own practices and desire the freedom to deliver the tailored service their clients deserve. Sanctuary's ecosystem of partnered independence provides a complete technology and operations platform, as well as support from a community of like-minded advisors and the resources of invaluable affiliated businesses. Currently, the Sanctuary Wealth network includes partner firms across 23 states with over $20.0 billion in assets under advisement. The Sanctuary Wealth Group includes the fully owned subsidiaries Sanctuary Advisors, a registered investment adviser, and the broker-dealer Sanctuary Securities, as well as Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, and Sanctuary Global Tax and Family Office.

CONTACT: Michaela Morales

JConnelly

973 224 7152

[email protected]

SOURCE Sanctuary Wealth
TORONTO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Franco-Nevada Corporation announced that its Annual Information Form, Consolidated Annual Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Franco-Nevada has also filed its Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these documents may be obtained via www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov (for the Form 40-F).

Shareholders may also receive a copy of these documents without charge upon request to Franco-Nevada's Investor Relations Department, 199 Bay Street, Suite 2000, P.O. Box 285, Commerce Court Postal Station, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5L 1G9 or to [email protected].

Details for Virtual Investor Day

Franco-Nevada's management team will host a Virtual Investor Day webcast, April 14, 2022 from 10:00 am ET to 12:00 pm ET to review its assets and to announce the release of the 2022 Asset Handbook and 2022 Environment, Social and Governance Report (ESG Report). Interested investors and analysts are invited to participate as follows:







Virtual Investor Day Webcast: April 14th at 10:00 am ET to 12:00 pm ET



Dialin Numbers: North American Toll Free: 18883900546 Local and International: 4167648688



Webcast URL: www.franconevada.com



Replay (available until April 21st): North American Toll Free: 18883900541 Local and International: 4167648677 Pass code: 836179 #









Corporate Summary

Franco-Nevada Corporation is the leading gold-focused royalty and streaming company with the largest and most diversified portfolio of cash-flow producing assets. Its business model provides investors with gold price and exploration optionality while limiting exposure to cost inflation. Franco-Nevada is debt-free and uses its free cash flow to expand its portfolio and pay dividends. It trades under the symbol FNV on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Franco-Nevada is the gold investment that works.

SOURCE Franco-Nevada Corporation
The answer comes from Fujian, China's only province with the Chinese character "Fu" in its name.

Fujian has long been known as a place that nurtures an abundance of cultures, such as Zhuzi Culture from Mount Wuyi, Mindu Culture from Fuzhou, Minnan Culture from Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, Hakka Culture from Longyan, Mazu Culture from Putian, and Overseas Chinese Culture.

Fujian has been bolstering its efforts to protect, inherit, develop and interpret the fu culture in various forms.

For example, Mount Wuyi, which is included on both the world cultural heritage list and the world natural heritage list, was rated as a national park. UNESCO placed Quanzhou on its World Heritage List for its role as an "emporium of the world in Song-Yuan China" during the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee.

The province also released 13 cultural identifiers in 2021, including the Gutian Meeting of 1929, Lin Zexu (1785-1850), Zheng Chenggong (1624-1662), Mazu belief, Min tea, and Dehua white porcelain, which all feature and highlight Fujian's cultural characteristics.

Fu culture has evolved over time to reflect not only good wishes and expectations, but also a practical application in everyday life and a thorough realization of socio-economic and cultural development.

According to statistics, Fujian's GDP in 2021 was 4.88 trillion yuan ($770.42 billion), up 8 percent from that in 2020, and the province's GDP per capita was more than $18,000. Fujian was also the only province in China to maintain exceptional water, air, and ecological environments, and it ranked first in the country's ecological civilization index.

As a province boasting fu culture, Fujian shoulders the important task of promoting fu culture to the world.

Fujian province and representatives of its rich cultures, such as the Fujian Exhibition Hall, Shoushan stone seals, Quanzhou Nanyin  one of China's oldest existing types of music, lacquer thread sculptures, Dehua white porcelain, Fuzhou oil-paper umbrella, Fuzhou Jasmine Tea, Anxi Tieguanyin, and Wuyi rock tea, were showcased live to audiences all over the world during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Since Feb 1, Fujian's Year of the Tiger greeting video has been playing at global landmarks, such as New York's Times Square.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
New research initiative begins in Los Angeles with Climate Resolve and Global Cool Cities Alliance

PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GAF North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer today announced the launch of the GAF Cool Community Project, an initiative designed to assess and help mitigate the impact of urban heat on a community. GAF has partnered with Climate Resolve, the Global Cool Cities Alliance, local community organizations and municipal government partners to conduct a multi-phased research project to understand the impacts of urban heat and cooling solutions have on the livability of the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima.

"Extreme heat can have incredibly negative impacts on a community's quality of life and this research is an important first step to learn how we can help curb urban heat in not only Pacoima but also communities across the country," said Ashish Kulkarni, Chief Innovation Officer at GAF. "At GAF, we believe resilience is the foundation of thriving, sustainable communities, and as leaders in the industry we will continue to invest in opportunities to drive change through innovation and make a positive social impact."

The initiative will benchmark and monitor the surface and ambient air temperatures in the community as well as evaluate qualitative measures, such as awareness of the impact of extreme heat, outdoor community engagement and play opportunities. After gathering initial data, GAF will implement cooling strategies, starting with installing StreetBond reflective pavement coatings, in a 10-square block area of Pacoima to better understand how such solutions can help improve the livability of the neighborhood and provide community members opportunities to connect and play all year round.

"The Los Angeles community knows firsthand the impacts of extreme heat and Pacoima is one of the hottest areas in Los Angeles having warmed nearly two degrees since 1955," said Jonathan Parfrey, Executive Director of Climate Resolve. "This is a community in great need of relief and this project will make a great difference for this neighborhood and the larger LA community as we work to build a just and resilient future with GAF, the City of Los Angeles and the Global Cool Cities Alliance."

GAF has previously worked with the City of Los Angeles' Cool Streets Project and the LA Unified School District to improve 65 playgrounds at schools as well as many streets throughout the area with cool, reflective pavement coatings. The company was recently recognized for its work in the area at Climate Resolve's Coolest in LA awards gala.

An estimated 85% of Americans, around 280 million people, live in metropolitan areas and as the climate continues to change, many urban areas are experiencing extreme heat or "heat island effect." In some cases, daytime temperatures can be 17F higher than temperatures in outlying areas and nighttime temperatures about 25F higher.

"Our focus is on advancing policies and programs that promote efficient and comfortable buildings, healthy and resilient cities, and mitigate the warming effects of climate change," said Maria Koetter, Executive Director, Global Cool Cities Alliance. "We are excited to partner on this research and further accelerate a worldwide transition to cooler, healthier cities. This work will potentially influence how we address urban heat at a state, national and even a global level going forward."

GAF and its partners hope to take the learnings from this research and model this project in other communities, implementing cooling strategies and continuing to build awareness of the negative impacts of extreme heat on not only the environment but also the livelihoods of a community.

About GAF

GAF is North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer and a part of Standard Industries, a global company focused on building materials. GAF's products include a comprehensive portfolio of roofing and waterproofing solutions for residential and commercial properties as well as for civil engineering applications. The full GAF offering is supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors. GAF continues to be a leader in quality and offers comprehensive warranty protection on its products and systems. The company's success is driven by a commitment to empowering its people to deliver advanced quality and purposeful innovation. Learn more at www.GAF.com.

GAF Contacts:

Adrienne Teofrio, +1 (973) 872-4441

[email protected]

Joe Perri, +1 (973) 570-1834

[email protected]

SOURCE GAF
NEW YORK, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Construction Professional Services Sourcing and Intelligence Report provides key information about the market. For instance, the Construction Professional Services Market will grow at a CAGR of 5.18% during 2022-2026.

Key Players in the Construction Professional Services Sourcing and Procurement Market Include: Worley, John Wood Group, and SNC-Lavalin Group
Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying growth strategies such as price, government licensing, service portfolio, quality, brand, and safety measures to compete in the market.

Accor SA, Bastion Hotelgroep B.V., Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties BV, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group, Louvre Hotels Group, Marriott International Inc., Minor International PCL, Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd., and Van der Valk, among others, are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by type:

Restaurants:



The restaurants segment will contribute largely to the overall market growth during the forecast period.





The rising preference for cheese, frozen foods, beef, fruits, pork, wine, and tree nut products by travelers is driving the growth of the restaurants sector.



Quick service



Accommodations



Drinks sector

Segmentation by tourist type:

International :

:

In terms of tourist type, the international segment generated maximum revenue in the market.





Tourism in the Netherlands is well developed, maintaining a strong tourist industry focused on the country's coast, culture, and history. Amsterdam and Rotterdam are the major destinations for foreign tourists traveling in Europe . In recent years, the number of tourists visiting this country has increased.

is well developed, maintaining a strong tourist industry focused on the country's coast, culture, and history. and are the major destinations for foreign tourists traveling in . In recent years, the number of tourists visiting this country has increased.

Domestic

Request a FREE Sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments.

Latest Trends and Drivers in the Hospitality Market in the Netherlands

Market Driver:

Shifting preference for local and authentic experiences:

The shifting preference for local and authentic experiences is driving the hospitality market growth in the Netherlands. Tourists are focusing more on exploring local communities and their cultures, which are considered to be one of the most important aspects of the hospitality market in the Netherlands.

Market Trend:

Increase in internet access and online testimonials:

Technological advances with respect to internet access and smartphones have disrupted the overall travel and tourism industry, which is expected to optimize the entire traveling process by making it more convenient for travelers to plan their vacations or trips.

Find additional information about various other market drivers & trends mentioned in our FREE sample report.

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Sustainable Tourism Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Travel Market by Sector and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Hospitality Market Scope in the Netherlands Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.68% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 5.30 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 8.25 Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Accor SA, Bastion Hotelgroep B.V., Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties BV, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group, Louvre Hotels Group, Marriott International Inc., Minor International PCL, Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd., and Van der Valk Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Key Finding 1

Exhibit 02: Key Finding 2

Exhibit 03: Key Finding 6

Exhibit 04: Key Finding 7

2. Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

2.1.1 Parent Market

Exhibit 05 Parent market

Exhibit 06: Market characteristics

2.2 Value Chain Analysis

Exhibit 07: Value Chain Analysis: Hotels, resorts, and leisure

2.2.1 Input

2.2.2 Inbound logistics

2.2.3 Operations

2.2.4 Services

2.2.5 Marketing and sales

2.2.6 Support activities

2.2.7 Innovations

3. Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 08: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 09: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026

Estimating growth rates for emerging and high-growth markets

Estimating growth rates for mature markets

Exhibit 10: Global - Market size and forecast 2021 - 2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 11: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2021 - 2026 (%)

4. Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five Forces Summary

Exhibit 12: Five forces analysis 2021 - 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 13: Bargaining power of the buyer

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 14: Bargaining power of the supplier

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 15: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 16: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 17: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 18: Market condition - Five forces 2021

5. Market Segmentation by Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 19: Type Market share 2021 - 2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 20: Comparison by Type

5.3 Restaurants - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 21: Restaurants - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 22: Restaurants - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Quick service - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 23: Quick service - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 24: Quick service - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Accommodations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 25: Accommodations- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 26: Accommodations- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Drinks sector - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 27: Drinks secto - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 28: Drinks secto- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 29: Market opportunity by Type

6 Market Segmentation by Tourist type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Tourist type- Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Tourist type

Exhibit 31: Comparison by Tourist type

6.3 International - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: International - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 33: International - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 Domestic - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 34: Domestic - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 35: Domestic - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Tourist type

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Tourist type

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

7.1 Overview

Exhibit 37: Customer landscape

8. Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.1.1 Shifting preference for local and authentic experiences

8.1.2 Implementation of sustainable tourism practices by hospitality companies

8.1.3 Tier-II cities of Netherlands to attract more investors

8.2 Market challenges

8.2.1 Difficulties in implementing tourism policies

8.2.2 Inadequate infrastructure for travelers

8.2.3 Increased threat of terrorism

Exhibit 38: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

8.3.1 Increase in Internet access and online testimonials

8.3.2 Crowded Amsterdam to open up the opportunities for other cities of the Netherlands for development

8.3.3 Increasing investments in the hospitality industry

9. Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

Exhibit 39: Vendor landscape

9.2 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 40: Landscape disruption

Exhibit 41: Industry Risk

9.3 Competitive Scenario

10. Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 42: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 43: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 Accor SA

Exhibit 44: Accor SA - Overview

Exhibit 45: Accor SA - Business segments

Exhibit 46: Accor SA - Key offerings

Exhibit 47: Accor SA - Segment focus

10.4 Bastion Hotelgroep B.V.

Exhibit 48: Bastion Hotelgroep B.V. - Overview

Exhibit 49: Bastion Hotelgroep B.V. - Product and service

Exhibit 50: Bastion Hotelgroep B.V. - Key offerings

10.5 Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties BV

Exhibit 51: Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties BV - Overview

Exhibit 52: Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties BV - Product and service

Exhibit 53: Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties BV - Key offerings

10.6 Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 54: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 55: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. - Business segments

Exhibit 56: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. - Key offerings

Exhibit 57: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. - Segment focus

10.7 InterContinental Hotels Group

Exhibit 58: InterContinental Hotels Group - Overview

Exhibit 59: InterContinental Hotels Group - Business segments

Exhibit 60: InterContinental Hotels Group - Key offerings

10.8 Louvre Hotels Group

Exhibit 61: Louvre Hotels Group - Overview

Exhibit 62: Louvre Hotels Group - Product and service

Exhibit 63: Louvre Hotels Group - Key offerings

10.9 Marriott International Inc.

Exhibit 64: Marriott International Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 65: Marriott International Inc. - Business segments

Exhibit 66: Marriott International Inc. - Key offerings

Exhibit 67: Marriott International Inc. - Segment focus

10.10 Minor International PCL

Exhibit 68: Minor International PCL - Overview

Exhibit 69: Minor International PCL - Business segments

Exhibit 70: Minor International PCL - Key offerings

Exhibit 71: Minor International PCL - Segment focus

10.11 Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 72: Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd. - Overview

Exhibit 73: Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd. - Business segments

Exhibit 74: Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

Exhibit 75: Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

10.12 Van der Valk

Exhibit 76: Van der Valk - Overview

Exhibit 77: Van der Valk - Product and service

Exhibit 78: Van der Valk - Key offerings

11. Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.1.1 Market definition

11.1.2 Objectives

11.1.3 Notes and caveats

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 79: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research Methodology

Exhibit 80: Research Methodology

Exhibit 81: Validation techniques employed for market sizing

Exhibit 82: Information sources

11.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 83: 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
McLean & Company maintains that there is no one-size-fits-all HR structure, as no two HR functions are the same. The firm recommends that HR operations be structured in a way that enables the function to operate efficiently and effectively. Designing an HR structure is complicated and often doesn't produce the desired results. A poorly structured HR function impacts the larger organization, as it can result in bottlenecks and delays in meeting client needs or misalignment between priority HR capabilities and HR resource allocation.

A well-designed HR structure enables organizational performance. McLean & Company's 2022 Trends database suggests that only 37% of non-HR professionals feel that their HR team is a partner in planning and executing organizational strategy. When organizational goals change, it is necessary to revisit the HR structure to align with the new strategies and needs to ensure the structure design is up to date and future proofing. McLean & Company's research also notes that 63% of HR professionals have revisited the structure of the HR department as a reaction to changes from 2020 to 2021.

In the newly released blueprint, McLean & Company's framework models a three-step process that aligns HR structure and HR functional capabilities with organizational and line-of-business strategic objectives. The blueprint is intended for HR leaders to align HR structure with strategy, define delivery characteristics, and create an effective overall structure. This type of approach will allow HR leaders to:

Invest time in identifying how the HR function enables unique organizational strategy.

Optimize HR to ensure resources are allocated where they will have the biggest impact and create no conflict between subfunctions.

Prepare for iteration. Designing an HR function is an iterative process that requires re-evaluating previous design decisions to ensure they are still appropriate.

To learn more about McLean & Company and to download all the latest research, visit hr.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 complimentary program provides unrestricted, on-demand access to HR, IT, and software industry content and the ability to speak with subject matter experts from a group of more than 200 research analysts and thought leaders. To register for access, contact [email protected].

Supporting Resources

Download the full Redesign Your HR Structure 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
DALLAS, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ironside Human Resources was named as Placeholder No. 71 on this year's Inc. Regionals, Southwest Division list of fastest growing companies! The announcement was made public on March 15, 2022, through various virtual platforms by Inc. Magazine. This annual regional list provides a unique perspective at the most successful private companies within the Southwestern region of the United States' economy, making it one of the most coveted lists for small businesses nationwide.

Ironside Human Resources was founded in July of 2011 established on a unique business model that provided cost-efficient metrics that served to meet the needs of a diversity of clientele within the healthcare field. Ironside is proud to be a selected partner for hundreds of healthcare organizations across the United States, working as a third-party extension of their HR and Executive teams in providing staffing solutions. Working with both small and large facilities alike, Ironside also has a special interest in addressing the unique needs of talent acquisition in the rural parts of the country. From beginning to end, Ironside Human Resources continuously strives to provide a personalized healthcare recruitment experience to address both the permanent and travel/contract recruitment needs for each of their client's unique facilities.

Ironside Human Resource's CEO and Co-Founder, Doug Carter provided the following statement, "It is an honor for our team to not only be featured for our second year in a row on the Inc. Regional list, but to see that we have also moved up a couple placements from where we were ranked last year. Ironside HR is growing, and we are growing quickly, we are continuously hiring and have welcomed several new team members in just this first quarter. It truly is an exciting time here at Ironside and as always, we are grateful to our clients, candidates, and partners that continue to make all our achievements and celebrations possible, in addition to our outstanding staff."

The list features companies across all industries in the Southwestern region of the country, ranging from Human Resources to Real Estate. All 141 companies that made the list exhibited impressive rates of growth, with Ironside Human Resources showing 154% growth. Collectively, these outstanding private businesses have contributed employment to over 10,000 people and added more than $10 billion to the Southwestern economy.

The full, comprehensive list can be found on Inc. Magazine's website which includes data on other listed winning companies from other regions of the United States.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12909507

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Ironside Human Resources
MORRISTOWN, N.J., March. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ISS Group, a premier IT Software Developer of Business Process and Internal Control solutions for QAD ERP, has announced their attendance as a Silver Sponsor of the Spring 2022 QAD MWUG Conference, March 20-22, 2022, at the Hilton Oakbrook Hills Resort, in Oak Brook, Illinois.

MWUG 2022 Conference

Andrew Weinstein, CEO of ISS Group has said, "The team at ISS Group has been attending and sponsoring bi-annual MWUG events for 20+ years. For this conference we're looking forward to our presentation on Monday, March 21 at 2-3pm CST , where we will showcase a client case study session: Simplifying the Management of QAD MRP Action Messages and Planned Orders."

If your company is using the QAD MRP functionality then your Buyers know all too well the challenge in managing the Action Messages and Planned Orders created by MRP.

Join us along with Lori Braun presenting for Modular Assembly Innovations to learn how your peers are using the ISS Group QAD MRP Action Center to simplify the management of the MRP Action Messages, significantly reducing the time/cost to create Purchase Orders from Planned Orders as well as streamlining the updating of Purchase Orders requiring expediting or revision."

A demonstration of the QAD MRP Action Center will also be provided.

ISS Group has also announced that in collaboration with the teams from Strategic, Phocas, Avalara, and DocLib, the group will be hosting a complimentary dinner, drinks, and bowling event at Pinstripes on Monday, March 21st at 6:00 PM. For details and to attend the event, reservations are available on the ISS Group website.

From Purchasing to Sales to Finance to Production, ISS Group's configurable Data-Driven Approval Routing and Workflow technology with out-of-the-box integration with 'all versions of QAD ERP, including Adaptive QAD ERP simplifies the way QAD users implement variable approval routings to improve QAD integrated Processes (Business Processes using QAD datapoints).

To learn more about ISS Group visit the website here: https://issgroup.com/

CONTACT:

Andrew Weinstein

ISS Group

55 Madison Ave, Suite 400

Morristown, NJ 07960

888-547-7476

[email protected]

https://issgroup.com/

SOURCE ISS Group
Companies Agree to Extend Private Label Credit Card Offering and Explore New Opportunities Together

MCLEAN, Va., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) and Capital One, National Association, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF), today announced a multi-year extension of their credit card program agreement. This is the second contract extension, with the most recent one occurring in 2014, and will allow the companies to continue to build on their relationship and provide industry-leading experiences and highly compelling products to Kohl's millions of customers.

The contract extension with Kohl's enables consumers to have expanded buying power and further solidifies an already strong partnership. Kohl's high product standards and the company's focus on customer service extends through its private label credit card program, Kohl's Card, which offers cardholders access to exclusive offers, guaranteed savings and online payment services. The two companies have also agreed to a co-branded card product piloted as early as 2023.

"The Kohl's credit program is an invaluable piece of our loyalty program and we are pleased to continue this important partnership with Capital One to bring the best value to our customers," said Greg Revelle, Kohl's chief marketing officer. "For many years, Capital One has been a strong partner and we look forward to building upon our work together to innovate and drive excellence in the customer experience."

Kohl's loyalty offerings include Kohl's Card, Kohl's Rewards and the Company's iconic Kohl's Cash coupons. The Company recently announced plans to roll out enhanced rewards for Kohl's Card cardholders this spring. Kohl's Rewards members will earn 7.5% when they use their Kohl's Card  delivering 50% more in rewards for Kohl's Card members who are also Rewards members.

"From the start of our partnership with Kohl's in 2011, our shared focus on innovation and growth has allowed our organizations to strategically invest to deliver exceptional value to customers," said Buck Stinson, SVP of Card Partnerships at Capital One. "This extension is a testament to our commitment to building long-standing, mutually beneficial partnerships and demonstrates how we build relationships and deliver results over the long-term."

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements include information concerning the Board's review of expressions of interest and the Company's business strategies, plans, and objectives. The Company intends forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," "plans," or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. You should understand that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of strategic action, performance, or results. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks described more fully in Item 1A in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements relate to the date initially made, and Kohl's undertakes no obligation to update them.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., and Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., had $311.0 billion in deposits and $432.4 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2021. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. Capital One, N.A. has branches located primarily in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.

About Kohl's

Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer. With more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and the online convenience of Kohls.com and the Kohl's App, Kohl's offers amazing national and exclusive brands at incredible savings for families nationwide. Kohl's is uniquely positioned to deliver against its strategy and its vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohl's is committed to progress in its diversity and inclusion pledges, and the company's environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) stewardship. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohl's impact in the community or how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com or follow @KohlsNews on Twitter.

SOURCE Capital One; Kohl's
LA GINEBROSA, Spain, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- La Ginebrosa is delighted to share its 2022 LA GINEBROSA Events Calendar and invite all guests to its hybrid events & fairs.

March 25th, 26th 2022

La Ginebrosa - Mountain Village La Ginebrosa Town - Spain

WOOA (Wine, Olive Oil & Almonds Exhibition)

July 1-3, 2022

Latino Festival

September 16 -18, 2022

Food Festival

October 28th, 29th 2022

Health & Safety Expo

November 11th, 2022

Sustainability Expo

Participants are invited to celebrate with their family & friends at these upcoming events.

Unlimited reasons await travelers to explore La Ginebrosa. Whether one is looking to disconnect or have fun with friends, they are welcome to learn more about this wonderful mountain destination experience.

Through the hybrid events, all are invited to learn and enjoy this beautiful destination.

Choose the WOOA event to learn about local producers and a variety of exclusive products to whet the appetite. Register now! FREE tickets available - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wooa-2022-online-free-tickets-wineolive-oil-almonds-exhibition-tickets-271963769957

Celebrate culture and music with La Ginebrosa's Latino Festival, where festival goers can enjoy mariachi music concert of 'Puro Relajo,' taste Latino gastronomy and buy handcrafted gifts.

Taste and have fun with the Food Trucks and food street at Food Festival during the MotoGP season near MotorLand Alcaniz. Support the Sustainable Expo event or get fit with the Health & Safety Expo. La Ginebrosa is waiting to welcome visitors either for leisure, work from home office or business & investment in this natural 80km2 area of promised land.

Don't forget to shop online and get selected products by the staff.

Ask the team for a Zoom Video Call and learn more or get ready for shared video experiences such as Cooking Class, Bird Watching, etc.

La Ginebrosa offers free activities for friends and family, including one of the largest pumptrack in Spain located out of the city. Request one of their original experiences for couples, ecotourism, mountain bike routes, discover best travel experiences with their adventure tours, falling stars, sinkholes tour, trekking, private events, film commission, business opportunities, and much more.

Come to La Ginebrosa and find reasons to celebrate with family and friends!

Official Web: https://laginebrosa.com/

About Us: https://laginebrosa.com/about-lgcva

Download Our FREE 2022 Visitor Information Guide: https://laginebrosa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LG-2022-Magazine-1.pdf

More web/s:

WOOA - wooa.es

Latino Festival - latinofestival.es

Food Festival - foodfestival.es

Health & Safety Expo - healthsafetyexpo.es

Sustainability Expo - sustainabilityexpo.es

Media Contact:

Fernando C.T.

[email protected]

+34/978892546

SOURCE La Ginebrosa Convention & Visitor Authority
Companies Featured on the 2022 Inc. 5000 Regionals Pacific list had an average growth rate of 195%

VENICE, Calif., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Venice based startup MagicLinks ( www.magiclinks.com ), the B Corp Certified global leader in social commerce for video influencers and the world's leading brands, has ranked No. 21 on Inc. Magazine's annual "5000 Regionals: Pacific" list for a second year in a row, with a two-year revenue growth of 571%. A part of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies based in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington represents a unique look at the most successful private companies within the Pacific region economy generating sustainable growth and jobs.

"Our employees are pros at keeping their fingers on the pulse of what new trends are emerging each and every day. This has allowed MagicLinks to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to all things social commerce, as well as predicting, building and innovating the next big thing," said Brian Nickerson, CEO and Co-founder of MagicLinks. "I'm extremely grateful for all the hard work and future-thinking that has allowed us to help brands invest intelligently in the creator economy with scaleable results. We are incredibly excited for what's ahead."

Since launching in 2015, the company has been focused on growth, innovation and culture. MagicLinks continues to be honored for its culture, most recently in Los Angeles Business Journal's 2021 list of "Best Workplaces" and Built in LA's 2021 list of "Best Places to Work." Their technology enables their network of 20K+ content creators to earn steady income by sharing the products they love with their fans, while providing their network of over 5K brands and retailers with creator investment data and tools to propel creator success across all social video platforms. Most recently they've led successful campaigns for the likes of Walmart, Best Buy, L'Oreal, lululemon, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Everlane, Sephora and more.

The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Pacific, having an average growth rate of 195% percent and, in 2020 alone, they added 10,252 jobs and $5.1 billion to the Pacific region's economy. Companies based in California, specifically in the areas of Irvine, Santa Monica, and MagicLinks' headquarters of Venice, had the highest growth rate overall.

"This year's Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America's off-the-charts growth companies. They're disrupters and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you'll be hearing about for years to come," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals Pacific, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/pacific

About MagicLinks

MagicLinks is an award winning Certified B Corporation that powers social commerce through an exclusive marketplace for video influencers and the worlds' leading brands. Their technology enables creators to earn steady income by sharing the products they love with their fans. They provide brands with creator data and tools to propel influencer marketing success across all social video platforms.

MagicLinks was featured on the annual Inc 5000 list of the "Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America" in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, they were featured on the Los Angeles Business Journal's lists of "Best Workplaces" and "Fastest-Growing Private Companies in Los Angeles."

To learn more about MagicLinks, please visit www.magiclinks.com

Media Contact:

Mike Fatone

[email protected]

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals

Methodology

The 2022 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2018 and 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.

The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

SOURCE MagicLinks
TORONTO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Magna Gold Corp. (TSXV: MGR) (OTCQB: MGLQF) ("Magna" or the "Company"), announces that, further to its news release dated June 30, 2020, its subsidiary Molimentales del Noroeste S.A. de C.V. ("Molimentales") has entered into an amending agreement with PEAL de Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("PEAL"). In conjunction with the acquisition of the San Francisco mine on May 6, 2020, the Company successfully negotiated a settlement agreement with PEAL which settled amounts owing from contract mining activities owed by the predecessor owners of the San Francisco mine (the "Settlement Agreement").

On February 22, 2022, the Company amended the Settlement Agreement to settle outstanding amounts owing in exchange for the issuance of common shares of the Company with a value of US$1,000,000, which reduced the Company's amount owing by US$1,000,000 from US$4,054,351 to US$3,054,351. The issuance of the shares remains subject to the approval of the TSXV. Any shares issued will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and a day following issuance.

President and CEO Arturo Bonillas stated: "Since the Company's inception, PEAL has been a strategic stakeholder and like all of our shareholders, a valued partner. Their request to amend the terms is a testament to their ongoing commitment and validation of our strategic focus in Mexico."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Arturo Bonillas

President and CEO

Neither the 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.

Cautionary Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plans". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the Company's objectives, goals or future expectations (including, with respect to the use of the proceeds of the New Loan), (ii) the approval by the Exchange of the Bonus Warrants, and the issuance thereof, (iii) completion of the transactions contemplated herein (including, the approval of the Exchange of the said transactions), and (iv) the anticipated future payment obligations of the Company and/or its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Note, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, risks related to the effects of COVID-19 on the Company; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

SOURCE Magna Gold Corp.
Stepping Down March 31 after Four-Decade Banking Career in Northern Virginia

FAIRFAX, Va., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles (Chris) Brockett, who helped steer MainStreet Bancshares Inc., a $1.7 billion bank holding company, through five years of exceptional growth, announced he is retiring as the bank holding company's president effective March 31.

Brockett will remain a member of the board of directors of MainStreet Bancshares, which he joined as president in January 2017. He also previously served for three years as president of its key operating subsidiary, MainStreet Bank.

"We are pleased that Chris will continue to exercise strategic oversight and guidance as a member of the board of directors while also taking more time to enjoy his family," said Jeff W. Dick, Chairman and CEO of MainStreet Bank and MainStreet Bancshares Inc. "As an accomplished career banker, Chris has insights and experience that will continue to help light our path as we innovate and meet the credit needs of the communities we serve."

Brockett has been a fixture in the Northern Virginia banking community for more than 40 years. Before joining MainStreet Bank and MainStreet Bancshares, he held senior executive positions at EagleBank, Virginia Heritage Bank (co-founder), and First Commercial Bank. Brockett's other managerial roles were wide-ranging, encompassing every aspect of community banking, including chief operating officer and chief financial officer. He stepped down as president of MainStreet Bank in July 2020 and was succeeded by Abdul Hersiburane.

His legacy includes helping to expand the banking company's investor base and establishing its new community development subsidiary, MainStreet Community Capital. The subsidiary is opening its doors in 2022 to invigorate distressed, low-income communities in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area by providing capital and other financial services.

"Working alongside Jeff and being part of MainStreet Bank's growth has been an exciting journey," Brockett said. "We have grown more than threefold during my tenure with the bank, and I could not be prouder of our outstanding team. As I step back from a managerial role, I look forward to remaining involved in as many ways as my role as a director and investor permits."

ABOUT MAINSTREET BANK: MainStreet Bank will launch its proprietary Fintech Banking as a Service (BaaS) solution called Avenu later this year to provide a comprehensive solution for the Fintech community. Go to Avenu.bank for more information and to join the queue.

MainStreet operates six branches in Herndon, Fairfax, McLean, Leesburg, Clarendon, and Washington D.C. MainStreet Bank has 55,000 free ATMs and a fully integrated online and mobile banking solution. The Bank is not restricted by a conventional branching system, as it can offer business customers the ability to Put Our Bank in Your Office. With robust and easy-to-use online business banking technology, MainStreet has "put our bank" in thousands of businesses in the metropolitan area.

MainStreet Bank has a robust line of business and professional lending products, including government contracting lines of credit, commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, and commercial real estate. MainStreet also works with the SBA to offer 7A and 504 lending solutions. From sophisticated cash management to enhanced mobile banking and instant-issue Debit Cards, MainStreet Bank is always looking for ways to improve our customer's experience.

MainStreet Bank was the first community bank in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to offer a full online business banking solution. MainStreet Bank was also the first bank headquartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer CDARS  a solution that provides multi-million-dollar FDIC insurance. Further information on the Bank can be obtained by visiting its website at MainStreet.bank.

This release may contain forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, future impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. We caution readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and we may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance.

Contact: Jeff W. Dick, Chairman & CEO

(703) 481-4567

SOURCE MainStreet Bancshares, Inc.
The free virtual event will offer community members information on affordable housing.

CHICAGO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridian of Illinois, a leading provider of government-sponsored managed care services in Illinois, is partnering with the Chicago Urban League and the Chicago Housing Authority for a free webinar on affordable housing, rent, and homeownership.

Meridian, a managed care organization that partners with HealthChoice Illinois, is hosting the virtual event to provide the community with helpful information on renting, buying a home, preparing to move, and available options for anyone who might be behind on their rent or mortgage. Also, there will be a Q&A to answer attendees' questions during the live webinar.

"Housing is one of many social determinants of health that affect our overall quality of life. When families spend most of their income on where they live, this can leave them with less to spend on healthy food or healthcare, which can lead to increased stress and risk for disease," said Mayank K. Shah, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Meridian of Illinois. "With the help of our partners, the webinar will provide information and much-needed resources to address some of the issues that impact the health and well-being of those in the communities we serve."

Meridian is hosting the webinar as part of an ongoing series called "Meridian Mondays" to provide helpful information from experts on various topics, free of charge. In February, they hosted an event on "What You Need to Know About Your Taxes in 2022," which shared best practices and education on filing an income tax return.

The event will take place on Zoom on Monday, March 21 from 6 to 7 p.m. To attend, community members can register at http://bit.ly/meridianmondayhousing.

For more information about Meridian, visit ILmeridian.com.

About Meridian of Illinois

Meridian of Illinois offers three managed care plans: the Meridian Medicaid Plan, the Meridian Medicare-Medicaid Plan, and the Meridian Managed Long Term Services & Supports Plan. We connect members to care and offer comprehensive services to support lifelong health and wellness. Learn more at ILMeridian.com.

About the Chicago Urban League

Established in 1916, the Chicago Urban League works to achieve equity for Black families and communities through social and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.ChiUL.org.

About the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA)

The CHA's vision is to foster strong, vibrant communities throughout Chicago by increasing affordable housing choices for low-income families. The CHA is also the largest rental housing owner in the City of Chicago. It serves more than 133,000 people in 63,000 households across the city through our Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Project-Based Voucher programs. For more information, visit www.thecha.org.

SOURCE Meridian of Illinois
VANCOUVER, BC, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Montage Gold Corp. ("Montage" or the "Company") (TSXV: MAU) (OTCPK: MAUTF) is pleased to announce that the Definitive Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Kone Gold Project in Cote d'Ivoire (the "Technical Report") has been filed on SEDAR. The Technical Report, which is dated March 14, 2022, has an effective date of February 14, 2022 and is entitled "Kone Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire Definitive Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report". The results of the Definitive Feasibility Study were previously disclosed in summary form in the Company's news release dated February 14, 2022, "Montage Announces Kone Gold Project DFS with After-Tax NPV of $746M and 35% IRR."

The Technical Report was prepared in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.montagegoldcorp.com. There are no material differences between the mineral reserve and the mineral resource estimates announced in the February 14, 2022 news release from those contained in the Report.

ABOUT MONTAGE GOLD CORP.

Montage is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration and development company focused on opportunities in Cote d'Ivoire. The Company's flagship property is the Kone Gold Project, located in northwest Cote d'Ivoire, which currently hosts a Probable Mineral Reserve of 161.1Mt grading 0.66g/t for 3.42M ounces of gold. The Company released the results of a definitive feasibility study (the "DFS") on the Kone Gold Project on February 14, 2022, outlining a 15-year gold project estimated to produce 3.06M ounces of gold at AISC (non-GAAP) of $933 per ounce over life of the mine, with average annual production of 207koz, and peak production of 320koz. Montage has a management team and Board with significant experience in discovering and developing gold deposits in Africa.

TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE

The mineral reserve estimate for the Project was carried out by Ms. Joeline McGrath of Carci Mining Consultants Ltd. who is considered to be independent of Montage. Ms. McGrath is a member in good standing of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the work which she is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43101. The DFS was prepared by Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd. and incorporates the work of Lycopodium and Specialist Consultants, under the supervision of Sandy Hunter, MAusIMM(CP), of Lycopodium, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101 who is independent of Montage.

For further details of the data verification undertaken, exploration undertaken and associated QA/QC programs, and the interpretation thereof, and the assumptions, parameters and methods used to develop the mineral reserve estimate for the Project, please see the NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "Kone Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire Definitive Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report" and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are encouraged to read the Technical Report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the details summarized in this news release. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

The technical disclosure contained in this press release have been approved by Hugh Stuart, BSc, MSc, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101. Mr. Stuart is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, a Chartered Geologist and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. Mr. Stuart is not independent of Montage as he is an officer, director and shareholder of Montage.

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 press release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "Forward-looking Statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute Forward-looking Statements. Words such as "will", "intends", "proposed" and "expects" or similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-looking Statements. Forward looking Statements in this press release include statements that imply the Company will obtain sufficient or any project financing to permit the Project to be developed as expected, and also includes those related to the Company's mineral reserve and resource estimates; the timing and amount of future production from the Kone Gold Project; expectations with respect to the IRR, NPV, payback and costs of the Kone Gold Project; anticipated mining and processing methods of the Kone Gold Project; anticipated mine life of the Kone Gold Project; expected recoveries and grades of the Kone Gold Project; timing for the DFS; and timing for permits and concessions. Forward-looking Statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral reserve and resource estimates and definitive feasibility studies such as the mineral reserve and resource estimates and the DFS, including but not limited to, assumptions underlying the production estimates not being realized, incorrect cost assumptions, unexpected variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, unexpected changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, unexpected failures of plant, equipment or processes, unexpected changes to availability of power or the power rates, failure to maintain permits and licenses, higher than expected interest or tax rates, adverse changes in project parameters, unanticipated delays and costs of consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks inherent in the Cote d'Ivoire, title risks, including failure to renew concessions, unanticipated commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other risk factors set forth in the Company's annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors". The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Montage to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any Forward-looking Statement. Any Forward-looking Statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), including "all-in sustaining costs" or AISC. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The Company discloses "all-in sustaining costs" because it understands that certain investors use this information to determine the Company's ability to generate earnings and cash flows for use in investing and other activities. The Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS do not fully illustrate the ability of mines to generate cash flows. The measures, as determined under IFRS, are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operating activities. AISC is considered to be key indicators of a project's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not necessarily indicative of operating costs, operating profit or cash flows presented under IFRS. Readers should also refer to our management's discussion and analysis, available under our corporate profile at www.sedar.com for a more detailed discussion of how we calculate such measures.

SOURCE Montage Gold Corp
Asian-inspired custom wall coverings with modern twist soon available to interior designers

KOBE, Japan, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Top Japanese interior designer and businesswoman, Yasue Ishikawa, and her daughter, Risa Ishikawa, a product development specialist, are partnering to bring their new brand of luxury wall coverings to North American interior design professionals later this spring. Referencing the delectable bites or sweet morsels found in their homeland, they opted to name the new wall covering brand, Ocashi.

Best known for their RisaBraire brand, the mother-daughter team found design inspiration in the nearly lost ancient Japanese chinoiserie designs. Basing their company in Kobe, a center of creativity and expert artisan culture, the pair wanted their new designs to explore the connection between traditional Japanese homes, art, nature and artistry. Their research uncovered a trove of beautiful Japanese art that helped to inspire the worldwide movement ultimately known as chinoiserie, an element of their country's rich design legacy that has often been overlooked or re-assigned to other cultures. From that basis, the two women infused modern artistry onto original styles; created stunning textural substrates; and, worked tirelessly to home in on color palettes sought after by the modern luxury markets in North America.

"The goal for our new Ocashi brand is to bring modern and ancient Japanese aesthetics together into completely fresh wall coverings that tell timeless stories," stated Yasue. The patterns are artfully constructed so that a single panel can be used as a feature or up to six panels can be grouped to complete a full wall mural. Interior design professionals can select which section or sections of a scene they want to use for their projects. Further, color, size, substrate material and pattern can be customized to suit the needs of the designer and their luxury clientele.

Ocashi plans to launch with four distinct patterns in two collections via a new website and e-commerce portal later this spring. It is expected that orders will ship within 6-10 days of receipt.

Ocashi can be found online at OcashiDesigns.com and on Instagram and Facebook @ocashidesigns.

Contact:

Cathy Lloyd

The Media Matters, Inc.

336.956.2488

[email protected]

SOURCE Ocashi Designs
Declining COVID Cases Allow Modified Travel Requirements for Domestic Travelers and Relaxed Masking Mandates

SAINT THOMAS, Virgin Islands, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Virgin Islands continue to see a decline in COVID-19 cases allowing Governor Bryan to announce an ease in requirements for domestic travelers. Effective as of March 7, travelers who are fully vaccinated in the United States and USVI can submit proof of vaccination and are no longer required to provide a negative COVID test for entry.

Fully vaccinated travelers include those who have received the following vaccines and have waited at least 14 days following their required dosage before the first day of travel to the USVI.

Approved vaccinations include-

Johnson and Johnson (minimum one shot)

Moderna (minimum two shots)

Pfizer/BionTech (minimum two shots)

AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine (minimum two shots)

Sinopharm (minimum two shots)

Sinovac (minimum two shots)

COVAXIN (minimum two shots)

Covovax (minimum two shots)

Nuvaxovid (minimum two shots)

As of March 9, there were only .84% of positive cases reported in the U.S. Virgin Islands in a seven-day period.

"Safety has always been and continues to be our first concern for both residents and visitors of the USVI. As we closely monitor the COVID-19 cases within the Territory, we continue to see a trend of declining positive cases which gives us an optimistic outlook on the future of tourism in the destination and the confidence to loosen the restrictions on visitation from the U.S." says Commissioner Joseph B. Boschulte of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Department of Tourism. "We are hopeful that these new requirements through our user-friendly portal will give travelers the confidence that their health is our top priority."

All visitors arriving from the U.S. mainland and USVI are required to provide either proof of vaccination or acceptable negative COVID-19 test within five days of travel through the USVI Travel Screening Portal for travel clearance. Approved visitors will receive a green QR confirmation code via email for entry.

Partially or unvaccinated domestic travelers, and those who received COVID-19 vaccination(s) outside of the U.S. are still required to submit a negative COVID-19 test for travel clearance and entry into the Territory. International travelers, inclusive of the BVI ages 18 and older arriving in the USVI must provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test regardless of vaccination status and citizenship.

Finally, testing is not required for inbound travel from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland.

Within the Territory, as of March 14, Governor Bryan has drooped indoor masking mandates. Face coverings are no longer required indoors with a few notable exceptions including indoor and outdoor areas at ports of entry, indoor and outdoor areas at public, private and parochial schools and at all hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare facilities. Business-owners can determine whether they want to require customers and staff to wear masks at their discretion.

For more information on COVID-19 protocols and the latest tourism updates visit, https://www.visitusvi.com/ and https://usviupdate.com/.

About the U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands are an official U.S. territory in the Caribbean that consist of three individual islands  St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. Perfect for leisure or business travel, the U.S. Virgin Islands are rich with culture, history, surrounded by breathtaking beaches. When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens can enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel as no passport is required for U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the United States. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are equivalent to entering the United States from any international country. Upon departure, a passport is required for non U.S. citizens. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI).

SOURCE U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
BOSTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network created a new whistleblower program that will pay more than $5 million to any whistleblower with original information that helps them seize assets of Russian elites seeking to evade U.S. sanctions. It's called the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program, and it's aimed at seizing stolen assets by elites and their associates and the proceeds of their corruption. The Treasury Secretary can authorize greater amounts than $5 million if the case merits it. "This program can be used by any person, in any part of the world, who provides original information that aids in the recovery of stolen Russian assets," said Jeffrey Newman, a partner in the firm of Newman & Shapiro which represents whistleblowers worldwide. "It gives incentives to bank employees, financial insiders, real estate brokers, and anyone else who to renders primary and original information about items of value. It is expected that this tool will help the U.S. government enforce its sanctions and, hopefully, help Ukraine."
WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Jen Judson, President of the National Press Club and Gil Klein, President of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the murder Tuesday of Mexican journalist Armando Linares Lopez outside his home in Zitacuaro.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Armando Linares Lopez, who was shot and killed Tuesday. He ran a news website called Monitor Michoacan. Linares was outspoken about violence toward journalists, especially about the murder of his colleague Roberto Toledo in Zitacuaro on January 31. On Tuesday Linares himself was killed -- reportedly shot eight times.

"This is the eighth murder of a Mexican journalist this year. Last year there were nine journalists murdered for the entire year. We call on the government to end its rhetoric against journalists, which may be signaling that violence will not be prosecuted with vigor and thus encouraging more violence."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
"PenFed believes the best way to serve Puerto Rico is to help the next generation realize its financial goals," said PenFed Executive Vice President of Operations Jamie Gayton. "We remain committed to investing in the development of Puerto Rico's young future leaders and are grateful for the support of EVERFI and Saint John's School as we promote financial literacy and encourage students to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities."

PenFed and EVERFI have had a strategic partnership for the past three years to bring critical financial education technology at no cost to over 2,200 public and private K-12 school students in 23 schools across Puerto Rico. PenFed provides access to EVERFI's proven curriculum teaching them how to make smart financial decisions and achieve success in life. The curriculum teaches students about savings and checking, building and maintaining healthy credit, planning for major purchases, investing and retirement and funding higher education.

Community volunteers, including PenFed financial center managers, participated in a "speed networking" activity with 70 students who recently completed the EVERFI financial education curriculum. During the activity, students had the opportunity to ask PenFed and community volunteers questions as part of small group conversations tying back to the critical skills taught in the curriculum.

The students were joined by Puerto Rico Department of Education Chief Academic Officer Dr. Guillermo Lopez. Junior Achievement of Puerto Rico Chairman of the Board Cristian Hernandez and Executive Director Kaysa Ramos were also in attendance.

Following these activities, PenFed announced two students were awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1,250 in recognition of their work throughout the Tu Dinero, Tu Sueno program. Volunteer advisors also met with the St. John's School Investment Club students to participate in a series of financial puzzles.

"It was an honor to learn from and recognize the incredibly talented students and teachers at the Saint John's School. These students will leave high school better prepared to understand the realities of managing their finances and on track for true financial capability," said Ray Martinez, president and co-founder, EVERFI. "PenFed Credit Union and its employees are committed to supporting financial responsibility in all of their communities. Today's event is a perfect example of how our strategic partnership is building greater financial capability with young learners, helping them establish savings accounts, and providing access to college scholarships. Congratulations to the Saint John's School and PenFed Credit Union for helping to change the trajectory of a student's life."

PenFed currently serves members in Puerto Rico with financial centers in San Juan, Hatillo, Ponce and on the United States Army Garrison Fort Buchanan. PenFed has had a presence on the island for over 15 years and plans to open a Bilingual Service Center in Guaynabo this year.

Since the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, PenFed has invested more than $8 million to open new facilities in Puerto Rico and rebuild the local economy.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.7 million members worldwide with $32.5 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

About EVERFI, Inc.

EVERFI, a Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) company, is an international technology company driving social impact through education to address the most challenging issues affecting society ranging from financial wellness to mental health to workplace conduct and other critical topics. Founded in 2008, EVERFI's Impact-as-a-ServiceTM solution and digital educational content have reached more than 45 million learners globally. In 2020, the company was recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and was featured on Fortune Magazine's Impact 20 List. The company was also named to the 2021 GSV EdTech 150, a list of the most transformative growth companies in digital learning. Blackbaud, the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, acquired EVERFI in December of 2021. To learn more about EVERFI please visit everfi.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter @EVERFI.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union
March 18 spotlights natural gas employees' role in serving more than 77 million customers nationwide with safe, reliable natural gas.

Natural gas technicians play vital role in modernizing natural gas delivery system for growing communities, and meeting company's net-zero methane emissions goals.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Natural Gas celebrates the seventh annual Natural Gas Utility Workers' Day on March 18, 2022. The annual celebration spotlights natural gas workers' role in serving more than 77 million customers across the nation in providing safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service every day.

About 2,500 Piedmont Natural Gas and contract workers are responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of Piedmont's more than 26,000 miles of natural gas infrastructure in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Technicians are often first responders, on the front lines when natural gas emergencies occur. And, their work expanding and modernizing the natural gas delivery system will help meet the service needs of the company's customers and growing communities, while also providing the infrastructure needed to replace higher-carbon fuels.

"I couldn't be more proud of our workers' enthusiasm and commitment to Piedmont's customers and to doing their jobs safely," said Brian Weisker, senior vice president and chief operations officer at Piedmont Natural Gas.

"For many of these men and women, helping our customers is more than just a job; it's a calling," Weisker said. "Whether it's working into the evening to ensure someone has heat on a cold night or volunteering in the community where they live and work, Piedmont's employees continually go above and beyond to serve others and help keep communities safe."

One of those workers is Lee Bedell, a Piedmont crew leader from Wentworth, N.C. In addition to serving customers as a natural gas utility worker, Bedell serves as Wentworth's fire chief. Bedell's devotion to public service stands as just one example of the commitment to customers and communities shown by natural gas utility workers at Piedmont and nationwide. Read more about Lee Bedell here.

Natural Gas Utility Workers' Day, established by the American Public Gas Association in 2015, is intended to build public awareness about the hard work done by the employees of natural gas utilities and educate residents on the environmental, safety and cost benefits of using clean, reliable and affordable natural gas. It is celebrated March 18 to commemorate the date of a 1937 incident in New London, Texas, that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety.

For more information on Piedmont Natural Gas and its employees, follow @PiedmontNG on Twitter and visit facebook.com/PiedmontNG.

As the trusted natural gas provider for more than 1 million homes and businesses across North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, Piedmont's top priority is the safety of its natural gas pipeline delivery system, customers, communities and employees. More information on natural gas safety can be found at piedmontng.com/safety.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company also supplies natural gas to power plants. Piedmont is routinely recognized by J.D. Power for excellent customer satisfaction, and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S.

Media contact: Jason Wheatley

Piedmont Natural Gas media line: 877.348.3612

[email protected]

SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas
Expanding national lender offers a comprehensive suite of home loans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Home Lending, LLC has hired Branch Manager, Vince Caicedo (NMLS#390038), to lead a new Jacksonville team that includes Emily Valdes (NMLS#1887351) as assistant branch manager, Mortgage Loan Originators David Mumbauer (NMLS#1684225) and Caleb Davis (NMLS#2149478,) and Loan Origination Assistant, Vanessa Oliveras.

Branch Manager Vince Caicedo

"Planet Home Lending is a full-service mortgage company and true partner for Florida borrowers looking to buy a home or refinance their existing one," Caicedo said. "Our bilingual* team has the experience to ensure you know your options and feel at ease and empowered throughout the process."

The Jacksonville team focuses on first-time homebuyer, conventional, VA and FHA loans. Planet Home Lending also offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. It serves borrowers who are outside the standard credit box, as well, including those who are self-employed, business owners, retirees, or real estate investors.

Caicedo is also the host of the popular radio show Let's Talk Real Estate with Vince Caicedo(Hablemos a Real Estate con Vince Caicedo) heard on 92.1FM on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Along with local expertise, Planet Home Lending offers a personal digital mortgage assistant, which consumers can use to apply for a home loan via their mobile device from anywhere. Borrowers and real estate agents (with the borrowers' permission) can track loan progress 24/7, reach out to ask their loan officer questions, and submit paperwork electronically to reduce reliance on paper.

Another way Planet Home Lending supports a healthy environment is through a tree-planting partnership with the National Forest Foundation. In 2021, the company sponsored the planting of up to 100,000 trees to help restore national forests.

About Planet Home Lending, LLC

Planet Home Lending, LLC, NMLS#17022, is a national mortgage lender and servicer delivering exceptional customer experiences to American homeowners and homebuyers. Offering affordable home loans backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, FHA, USDA and private funders, it fulfills homeownership dreams for people in 47 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Planet Home Lending is an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about Planet Home Lending, LLC, please visit Planet Home Lending.

Press Contacts:

Dona DeZube Charlyne H. McWilliams

Vice President, Communications Media Contact

Planet Home Lending, LLC for Planet Home Lending, LLC

[email protected] [email protected]

(443) 263-2832 (301) 933-5567

*Languages other than English may be utilized as a courtesy or to enhance the customer experience. Planet Home Lending, LLC, transactions, including the negotiation of terms, are only conducted in English and documentation used and issued by Planet Home Lending, LLC, will be printed in English. Planet Home Lending, LLC, will not act as a translator. If you have difficulty understanding information presented in English, you may need to contact a translator.

SOURCE Planet Home Lending, LLC
Some of the Key Topics Covered in the Report Include:

Premium Denim Jeans Market Driver

One of the key factors driving growth in the premium denim jeans market is the innovative product designs. Vendors of jeans are constantly innovating to combat the fierce competition from counterfeit apparel manufacturers. They are attracting customers by producing more comfortable jeans by making the products more flexible to compressions and stretches. The new jeans are comfortable to use because they are made of soft knitted denim. This also provides them with traditional sportswear functionalities such as thermoregulation, moisture management, UV protection, and anti-rip features. This innovative approach has also helped the vendors to sustain the hike in the prices of cotton. Manufacturers of jeans are setting the trend of offering a new generation of fabric by delimiting the boundaries through hybrid blending techniques.

Download Free sample Report for insights on the latest drivers that will help companies evaluate and develop growth strategies for 2021-2025

Premium Denim Jeans Market Segmentation Analysis

The market is segmented by End-user (men, women, and children) and Distribution channel (offline and online).

The premium denim jeans market share growth by the men segment will be significant during the forecast period. The men's segment is witnessing a growing momentum in the sales of jeans due to the proliferation of denim jeans as a business casual attire in the corporate world. The increasing preference for premium organic denim jeans among health-conscious customers across the globe is expected to drive the segment in the forthcoming years.

Request for a FREE sample to gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments

Premium Denim Jeans Market Regional Analysis

The market is segmented by Geography into the following regions: North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA.

31% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The US is the key market for premium denim jeans in North America. However, the market growth rate in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in the European, APAC, and MEA regions.

The high purchasing power and enhanced living standards, along with the presence of many popular brands will facilitate the premium denim jeans market growth in North America over the forecast period.

Request for a FREE sample now! for more insights on the market share of various regions

Vendor Landscape

The premium denim jeans market report offers information on several market vendors, including-

34 Heritage

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

BESTSELLER AS

Capri Holdings Ltd.

Giorgio Armani Spa

Kontoor Brands Inc.

Levi Strauss and Co.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

PVH Corp.

The Gap Inc.

The market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying pricing and marketing strategies to compete in the market.

Request Free Sample Research Report for more vendor insights with product offerings & news

Related Reports:

Denim Jeans Market by Distribution Channel and Geography - Forecast and Analysis: The denim jeans market has the potential to grow by USD 14.38 million and the market's growth momentum will accelerate throughout the forecast period because of the steady increase in year-over-year growth. To get more exclusive research insights: Download Our FREE Sample Report The denim jeans market has the potential to grow byand the market's growth momentum will accelerate throughout the forecast period because of the steady increase in year-over-year growth. To get more exclusive research insights:

Yoga Clothing Market by Product, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The yoga clothing market share is expected to increase by USD 13.81 billion from 2021 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.78%. To get more exclusive research insights: Download Our FREE Sample Report The yoga clothing market share is expected to increase byfrom 2021 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.78%. To get more exclusive research insights:

Premium Denim Jeans Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.64% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 9.06 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.60 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 31% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 34 Heritage, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., BESTSELLER AS, Capri Holdings Ltd., Giorgio Armani Spa, Kontoor Brands Inc., Levi Strauss and Co., LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, PVH Corp., and The Gap Inc. 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 preview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 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

Men - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Women - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Children - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by End-user

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

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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

34 Heritage

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

BESTSELLER AS

Capri Holdings Ltd.

Giorgio Armani Spa

Kontoor Brands Inc.

Levi Strauss and Co.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

PVH Corp.

The Gap Inc.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
KYIV, Ukraine and WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The HALO Trust today announced that Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, spoke with two staff members of The HALO Trust based in Ukraine, who are leading efforts to educate Ukrainians on how to recognise and avoid explosive devices they may come across as the conflict in Ukraine evolves. Prince Harry, who has continued his mother's legacy of involvement with HALO, thanked them for 'saving lives everyday.' Additionally, The HALO Trust was grateful to receive a contribution from Archewell Foundation, co-founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to HALO's education efforts in the Ukraine.

Prince Harry met virtually with Olesia and Maryna, two women who are full-time employees of The HALO Trust in Ukraine, along with 430 other Ukrainian men and women. Despite the war forcing them both to flee their homes, they have been able to continue their work to keep people safe from explosives through a major digital media campaign that has been seen by over 17 million Ukrainians. Both women have helped drive the campaign over Instagram and TikTok, ensuring that young people, who are most at risk through their natural curiosity, are aware of the lethal hazards of unexploded ordnances.

To download segments of the video for broadcast, please go to: https://vimeo.com/688538470/e97d22e11d (This video is not for publication in its entirety)

If you'd like to embed a video in your digital coverage, please use this: https://vimeo.com/688116547/a70288b721

Olesia is 23 years old and from Kharkiv, but was forced to flee her home with her family in early March. She is HALO Ukraine's Communications Manager and has found temporary refuge in a hotel with her parents and sister in the southwest of Ukraine.

Maryna is 25 years old and HALO's Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. Maryna supported her colleagues at HALO's Ukraine headquarters to assist refugees and casualties in the city. Many HALO staff are specially trained to be first responders to the type of injuries most commonly seen in Ukraine, such as blast and fragmentation injuries, which can result in internal bleeding, open wounds, broken bones, amputations and eye injuries. HALO staff are using ambulances equipped with trauma kits and medical supplies to support the needs of the civilian population. This assistance extends into hospitals and shelters, and to training others.

During the call, The Duke praised the work of The HALO Trust and its ability to share life-saving messages during the conflict, now entering its fourth week. 'You guys are saving lives every single day. I mean, you're part of HALO, so that's exactly what you signed up to do.' He added: 'I know that you're going to continue doing the work that is so desperately needed for HALO, for your families and your country.'

The HALO Trust was founded in Afghanistan in 1988 and now employs 10,000 men and women in 28 countries and territories either at war or recovering from conflict. HALO has cleared over 1.9 million landmines, 1.5 million pieces of unexploded ordnance and 10 million bullets in the last three decades. It has conducted life-saving mine clearance operations in eastern Ukraine since 2016.

The HALO Trust is currently setting up an urgent crisis hub in Western Ukraine, where Ukrainian staff will be able to continue their work in safety, delivering urgent risk messaging to communities and planning how it can map and survey the different types of weapons being used in the conflict, their location and their quantities. This is the essential before the safe delivery of aid and the start of clearance operations.

The United States is the world's largest donor for programs that remove landmines, unexploded hazards, and other dangerous weapons left by war. The American people have contributed more than $250 million per year for this cause, becoming HALO's largest supporter.

Notes to editors:

For B-roll of Prince Harry and Princess Diana in Angola along with historic footage of our teams in Ukraine in action please go to: https://vimeo.com/thehalotrust/download/687986442/c60a08b9e1 Please see halotrust.org for information on HALO's urgent fundraising appeal for our Ukrainian response. The HALO Trust has offices in Scotland , England and Washington DC and has operations in: Afghanistan , Angola , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Cambodia , Colombia , Georgia , Guinea Bissau , Guatemala , Honduras , Iraq , Laos , Libya , Myanmar , Malawi , Somalia , Somaliland, Sri Lanka , Syria , Ukraine , West Bank , Yemen and Zimbabwe .

SOURCE The Halo Trust
TORONTO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF) announces that it will now release its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, on Monday, March 21, 2022, instead of Tuesday March 22, 2022. Bret Kidd, President and CEO, and Steve Thompson, Interim CFO, will host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET on March 21, 2022.

Webcast Information

The live audio webcast will be available at:

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1528257&tp_key=1d

Dial-in Information

To access the call from Canada and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6392 (Toll Free)

and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6392 (Toll Free) To access the call from other locations, dial 1.416.764.8659 (International)

Replay Information

Webcast replay will be available for 365 days at:

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1528257&tp_key=1d

Telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on March 21, 2022, until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 28, 2022, at: 1.888.390.0541 (Toll Free North America) or 1.416.764.8677.

Conference ID: 31380252 and Replay Passcode: 380252

About Quarterhill

Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry, as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics, Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com

SOURCE Quarterhill Inc.
NAPLES, Fla., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Five Security, a leading provider of security and management consulting services for high-net-worth families and corporations , is teaming up with Element Technologies, a premier IT and cybersecurity firm, to discuss the importance of building a better security mindset in lieu of what is happening with Russia based on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.

Red Five Security

Industry leaders, Kris Coleman of Red Five Security and Craig Sixta of Element, will be sharing practical, effective ways you can strengthen your privacy and resiliency during a time where Russia is actively disrupting the digital landscape.

"During this time of increased global crisis, it's imperative that families and business leaders are making decisions based on reality, and not on disinformation or rumor. The global impacts of the Russian invasion, both economically and geopolitically place us in uncharted territory," said Kris Coleman, Owner, and Founder. "More than ever, we need a holistic view of risk - taking into account both digital and physical threats, and ensuring we have both proactive mitigations in place along with contingency plans."

According to Craig Sixta, Chief Technology Officer at Element, now is the time to educate the community. "The events in Ukraine and Russia have given us a glimpse into the future of cyber warfare. We've seen a shift away from modern attack vectors such as ransomware and a dramatic increase in old-school destructive/kinetic attacks. These attackers are not financially motivated - their goal is to disrupt communications, finance, and critical infrastructure. In the US, we are still in the calm before the storm  now is the time to plan and prepare so that we can identify attacks, minimize our threat footprint, and be ready to respond to potential compromises."

Registration for Privacy and Resiliency During Times of Conflict is complementary and on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cocktail hour will take place on March 4th between the hours of 4PM and 7PM EST at the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort in Naples, FL.

About Red Five

Red Five is a security and management consulting company composed of former CIA, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Military security professionals, and experienced system designers. It has an exceptional performance record in providing expert consulting and protection services to corporate executives, U.S. government officials, diplomats, and other high net-worth individuals and families. Red Five is committed to providing holistic, proactive, and cost-effective solutions to critical security challenges and performing targeted assessments with discretion and high ethical standards. The company supports projects in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean from offices in Washington D.C., Naples, FL, and Palo Alto, CA. For more information about Red Five, visit Red5Security.com .

About Element Technologies

With offices in Minneapolis, Naples, and Chicago, Element is a premier IT and cybersecurity firm serving businesses for over 25 years. Their highly skilled staff of experts, utilizing industry-leading tools can properly assess, manage, monitor, secure, and support technology systems of all sizes. They love what they do and have a passion for customer service which reflects in their people and defines who they are. Element is all about keeping their clients running, responding quickly to problems, and providing solutions in a meaningful yet easy-to-understand and cost-effective way. For more information about Element, visit www.ele-ment.com



Media Contact

Red Five

Derek Showerman, CMO

978-604-0270

[email protected]

SOURCE Red Five Security
TOKYO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tokyo-based Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) has announced that it will host an online symposium on March 23 together with the London-based Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) to discuss "new capitalism" and other topics.

The Japanese government aims to realize new capitalism based on the concepts of a "Virtuous Circle of Growth and Distribution" and "Pioneering a New Post-Corona Society." In the new capitalism, the issues to be addressed include the decline in productivity and international competitiveness of the Japanese economy, as well as climate change and the intensifying international competition over technology.

At the symposium, European and Japanese experts will discuss the new capitalism, "Climate Change and Economic Dynamism" and "Global Value Chains (GVC) Resilience in the Face of Geoeconomics Shocks," exploring ways to solve both global and Japanese problems.

- Time / Date: 5:00pm-6:30pm (JST) / 9:00am-10:30am (CET), Wednesday, March 23, 2022

- Language: English

- Admission: Free

- Memo: Online (Live Stream)

- Hosts: Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) / Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

More information: https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/events/22032301/info.html

Entry: https://rieti.smktg.jp/public/application/add/6874?lang=en

*To participate, fill in the registration form from the above link.

Program



Keynote Speech: Agenda for the New Capitalism

YANO Makoto; Chairman, RIETI / Project Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University / Professor by Special Appointment, Sophia University

Panel Discussion 1: Climate Change and Economic Dynamism -- Innovation for economic and planetary security

- Panelists

Rick VAN DER PLOEG; Research Fellow, CEPR / Professor of Economics and Research Director, Oxford Centre for the Analysis of Resource Rich Economies (OxCarre), University of Oxford

ONO Yuki; Representative, Hachidori Denryoku, Borderless Japan, Inc.

-Moderator

Richard BALDWIN; Professor of International Economics, Graduate Institute, Geneva

Panel Discussion 2: GVC Resilience in the Face of Geoeconomics Shocks

- Panelists

Richard BALDWIN

TODO Yasuyuki; Faculty Fellow, RIETI / Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University

- Moderator

WATANABE Tetsuya; Vice President, RIETI

Summary and Concluding Reflection

- Moderator

Richard BALDWIN

SOURCE Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)
WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A coalition of more than 500 anti-trafficking organizations, corporations, advocates, and survivor leaders, organized by Safe House Project, delivered a letter to members of the House and Senate today urging them to pass the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Co-sponsored by Representatives Smith (NJ) and Bass (CA), passage of this bill will authorize approximately $1 billion over five years to strengthen both the domestic and international response to the second largest criminal enterprise in the world  human trafficking.

Kristi Wells, Safe House Project CEO delivers address at the United States Capitol building in January of 2020

This bill will reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) - the landmark legislation first authored by Representative Chris Smith (NJ) in 2000. Smith says the new legislation is "both comprehensive and bipartisan. It also prioritizes prevention of child trafficking and empowerment of survivors in addition to reauthorizing and enhancing programs established by the historic Trafficking Victims Protection Act to combat modern-day slavery."

"The TVPA, which requires reauthorization every five years, expired September 30, 2021. The TVPRA coalition of anti-trafficking organizations and survivor leaders is urgently calling on Congress to pass this bill. It is essential to continue the work done around the world to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute traffickers," said Kristi Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Safe House Project, the convening agency for the coalition. "There are hundreds of NGOs and state agencies combating this evil every day with the help of Government financial support. If that funding is not maintained, the critical work that is done to combat trafficking stands to become immobilized."

Bill Woolf, former Director of Human Trafficking Programs for the U.S. Department of Justice noted, "This bill is critical in supporting U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking both domestically and abroad. The United States has been a true champion protecting the rights and freedoms of those targeted by traffickers. Passage of the Frederick Douglass Victims Prevention and Protection Act will ensure that survivors are afforded the restorative care that they deserve, while giving frontline professionals the tools they need to prevent human trafficking and prosecute offenders."

The letter of support has been signed by national and local anti-trafficking organizations, state agencies, corporations, survivor leaders and political leaders, who understand the importance of this bill to continue necessary anti-trafficking initiatives. With $1 billion of federal funding over the next 5 years in jeopardy, the coalition seeks to see this bill passed to continue currently enacted programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State to combat human trafficking and support victims.

Safe House Project is a national leader in the fight against domestic child sex trafficking. As registered 501(c)3, the organization focuses on increasing victim identification above one percent through survivor-informed training, supporting victims in their escape, and increasing the number of restorative care opportunities for child trafficking victims. Since 2018, the organization has provided training to tens of thousands of individuals, leading to marked increase in victim identification, provided escape and emergency services to more than 165 victims, and increased restorative care opportunities by more than 174%. To learn more about Safe House Project visit www.safehouseproject.org .

Media Contact:

Kristi Wells

202-596-2073

[email protected]

SOURCE Safe House Project
Vibrant new name pays homage to 70-year history of personal connections in communities around the country and the brand's iconic yellow delivery vehicles.

MARSHALL, Minn., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Schwan's Home Delivery, a pioneering food-delivery company in the United States, is continuing its commitment to reinvention by announcing its boldest move yet  a new name.

Say hello to Yelloh!

Yelloh Vehicle Rendering

Starting today, the Schwan's Home Delivery name and brand identity will begin its transition to Yelloh. The new name and brand identity captures the company's optimistic spirit and unabashed enjoyment of delivering delicious frozen food to millions of customers spanning three generations as a family-owned business. Yelloh will continue to operate under the ownership of the Schwan family and remain headquartered in Minnesota as it has for 70 years.

"Schwan's Home Delivery was started in 1952 as a new business model for selling my family dairy's ice cream," said Paul Schwan, executive chairman of Yelloh. "Since the beginning, our can-do attitude coupled with a desire to meet people where they're at is what has made our company so special. As Yelloh, we will continue to operate as the same solutions-focused food delivery service that keeps our customers' freezers stocked and their families happily fed."

"Bold, courageous change is in our company's DNA, and evolving from Schwan's Home Delivery to Yelloh is another exciting step in our journey," said Joe Kirby, president and chief executive officer of Yelloh. "In addition to evoking our iconic yellow delivery vehicles, Yelloh is a greeting commonly used in place of 'hello' between people who are familiar with one another, and it felt right as we continue to evolve our company to meet the needs of our customers. Embracing personal connections that form between our people and the communities we serve has set us apart for seven decades and is our biggest advantage in the highly competitive food delivery marketplace."

The transition to Yelloh will begin immediately and is expected to be fully implemented by the beginning of 2023. Current Schwan's Home Delivery operations will proceed uninterrupted while the transition to Yelloh is applied to food packaging, delivery vehicles, uniforms, signage, print materials, digital and social media properties, and more. Current customers will continue to receive delivery from the brand's friendly and trustworthy local team members in the company's iconic yellow vehicles.

About Schwan's Home Delivery & Yelloh

Schwan's Home Delivery is a direct-to-consumer frozen food delivery company that provides customers with exceptionally delicious frozen foods for every mealtime occasion, including ice cream, pizza, premium meats and seafood, breakfast items, desserts and more. Based in Minnesota, the family-owned company has almost 4,000 dedicated employees and more than 300 local neighborhood centers nationwide delivering in their iconic yellow trucks to millions of customers each year. For additional information or to shop, visit Schwans.com. To learn more about the transition to Yelloh, visit Yelloh.com.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Schwans Home Delivery
COLUMBIA, Md., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, landed at the Santiago International Airport on March 18, 2022. Like other deployments to the Southern Hemisphere, SOFIA is a partnership between NASA and German Aerospace Agency (DLR) and temporarily changing its base of operations from Palmdale, California, to Santiago, Chile, to observe celestial objects that can only be seen from Southern Hemisphere latitudes.

This is SOFIA's first visit to South America, and its first short-term deployment that will last two weeks. The team will operate from the Santiago International Airport to accomplish eight science flights. SOFIA will primarily observe the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds during the deployment, which are two close neighboring galaxies to our Milky Way. Both are gravitationally bound to each other and are passing by our galaxy for the first time in a hyperbolic orbit.

"Scientific collaboration, particularly in astronomy, has been a cornerstone of the U.S.-Chile relationship dating back to the establishment of the Observatorio de Cerro Santa Lucia in Santiago more than 170 years ago," said Richard Glenn, the U.S. Embassy Chile Charge d'Affaires. "NASA's SOFIA deployment to Chile is the next exciting milestone in that relationship, bringing us closer to the stars than ever before."

This is called a short deployment because of the shorter stay in Chile compared to SOFIA's long deployments, where more than 25 flights are typically planned using multiple instruments. The SOFIA team is taking a single instrument for this deployment, the Far Infrared Field Imaging Line Spectrometer, or FIFI-LS, and will observe several critical Southern Hemisphere celestial targets.

"We are thrilled to deploy to Chile so we can provide more access to the Southern Hemisphere skies for our scientific community," said Naseem Rangwala, SOFIA's project scientist. "We are increasing our deployment tempo with a focus on efficiency and prioritized targets, and we are grateful for the opportunity to do that from Santiago."

Since the Large Magellanic Cloud, or LMC, is so close to our galaxy, SOFIA can observe it in great detail, on relatively small astronomical scales, to help scientists better understand how stars formed in the early universe. Having the context of the physical areas in which stars form is why these LMC observations are so powerful. Scientists cannot see detailed physical structures in distant, ancient galaxies, so, instead, galaxies like the LMC are observed as local stand-ins. The planned observations are to create the first SOFIA map of ionized carbon in the LMC. These observations pair well with NASA's upcoming Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory, or GUSTO a high altitude balloon-based mission, and they extend the legacy of the Herschel Space Observatory.

In addition to the observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud, SOFIA will observe supernova remnants to investigate how certain types of supernovas might have contributed to the abundance of dust in the early universe. SOFIA will also attempt its first observation to measure the primordial abundance of lithium by looking into the halo of our galaxy where clouds of neutral hydrogen can be found. These clouds have been relatively undisturbed and thus directly probe the properties of pristine gas that existed in the early universe. A successful observation of lithium could have implications for our understanding of fundamental physics and the early universe because there is a significant discrepancy in lithium abundance between the big-bang theory of the evolution of the universe and the observed abundance from astronomical measurements. These observations obtained by SOFIA during this Southern Hemisphere are in line with some of the scientific questions and priorities identified in recently published Astro2020 Decadal Survey.

About SOFIA

SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR. DLR provides the telescope, scheduled aircraft maintenance, and other support for the mission. NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley manages the SOFIA program, science, and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute at the University of Stuttgart. The aircraft is maintained and operated by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703, in Palmdale, California.

About USRA

Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu.

PR Contact:

Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D.

[email protected]

443-812-6945 (cell)

SOURCE Universities Space Research Association
"The fundamentals of the business remain solid. We are gaining customers, gaining market share and expanding our presence for the company's continued expansion", says Stone CEO Thiago Piau.

With the price revision, the take rate in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises increased from 1.71% in Q421 to 2.02% in January  surpassing the 1.68% rate (ex-credit) in Q420. MSME TPV growth has already increased by more than 80% in January and February, pointing to a balance between growth and margin.

With investments in products and operations, the expectation is that total revenue will be close to R$ 1.9 billion in the first quarter, up 119%; and the TPV of MSMEs could reach R$ 60 billion, with an up to 83% increase. Adjusted earnings before taxes are expected to exceed R$ 140 million in Q122.

The last quarter of 2021 also saw growth in banking, which closed the year with 491,500 active customers and more than R$ 2 billion in deposits.

In Software, revenue rose by 16% over the last quarter of 2020, and revenue from core POS and ERP solutions increased by 26%. Linx reached 109,300 establishments with POS/ERP solutions, in an 11.7% increase in the quarter.

To provide greater focus on executing its strategies, Stone reorganized the company into two segments: Financial Services and Software. Each unit will have a dedicated COO, who will look for cross-selling and integration opportunities.

The company will continue to expand its customer base and is focused on relaunching the credit product, which is key to its mission of supporting Brazilian entrepreneurs.

SOURCE Stone
The family-operated storage company, headquartered in Columbia, MO, adds another self storage facility in San Antonio to its Texas portfolio.

SAN ANTONIO, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- StorageMart continues its growth in the San Antonio area with the acquisition of Highland Mini Storage. This purchase includes 43,000 total net rentable square feet including 410 storage units and 80 parking spaces, with plans to expand the property. This facility will transition to operate under StorageMart management and branding in the coming days.

The newly acquired property will be updated to meet StorageMart security standards  including new cameras around the property and an OpenTech Gate. The site will also receive general renovations, with plans to add an additional 263 new units and a new office building.

"Just a few years ago, the Texas self storage market was oversupplied. Today though, we believe it's as strong as it's ever been, and that's why we felt confident in our continued investment in San Antonio." Cris Burnam, Chief Executive Officer.

Together with five other self storage facilities around San Antonio, StorageMart looks forward to serving new customers in this market.

About StorageMart: Dedicated to supplying clean, well-lit storage units and friendly customer service, StorageMart is the largest family-operated self storage company in the world, and is led by the Burnam family, which has been in the storage industry for four generations. Through the "Store it Forward'' charitable giving program, StorageMart gives back to the many communities it calls home. In recent years, the company donated more than half a million dollars to charities, in addition to donating storage space to charitable organizations throughout the US, UK, and Canada. Find out more at https://www.storage-mart.com.

Contact: Sarah Little

573.449.0091

[email protected]

SOURCE StorageMart
"We are pleased to award these scholarships as a core part of our mission to make quality college education accessible to adult learners through online, flexible degree programs," UAGC President Paul Pastorek said.

The winners were honored at a ceremony held at the University of Arizona Global Campus headquarters in Chandler, AZ. Recipients shared their essays at the ceremony, each recipient's essay telling a unique story  of first-generation college students, overcoming obstacles, the pursuit of higher education and ambitions for the future. The six winners are:

Michael Ander , Rio Salado graduate, working as a police officer and pursuing a BA in Social and Criminal Justice;

, graduate, working as a police officer and pursuing a BA in Social and Criminal Justice; Cristopher Camacho , Rio Salado graduate, working in the technology field and pursuing a BS in Computer Software Technology;

, graduate, working in the technology field and pursuing a BS in Computer Software Technology; Dyna Odylere Krigbaum , Rio Salado graduate, working in commercial real estate and pursuing a BA in Project Management;

, graduate, working in commercial real estate and pursuing a BA in Project Management; Ryan Quintana , Rio Salado graduate, working in human resources and pursuing a BA in Human Resources Management;

, graduate, working in human resources and pursuing a BA in Human Resources Management; Julie Tiene , Rio Salado full-time staff, working in business services and pursuing an MBA;

, full-time staff, working in business services and pursuing an MBA; Heather Tyler , Rio Salado full-time staff, working in academic affairs and pursuing a PhD. In Education

"We share our heart-felt thanks to UAGC for this scholarship program and the community outreach extended to scholars at Rio Salado, the Maricopa Community Colleges, and other educational institutions across the country," Rio Salado President Kate Smith said. "We truly appreciate our partnership with UAGC and are so proud to be a part of the journey of these amazing scholars."

The transfer partnership between UAGC and Rio Salado began in September 2020. Scholarship recipients can pursue degrees in more than 50 programs UAGC offers, including these seamless transfer pathways from Rio Salado College to UAGC, which give students an opportunity to earn up to 90-credit hours in transfer.

About University of Arizona Global Campus

The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is an independent university that is operated in affiliation with the University of Arizona. UAGC is designed to provide flexible opportunities for working students from diverse backgrounds who seek to gain knowledge and skills that will help them to achieve their life and career goals. UAGC is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is one of the nation's most innovative online universities with approximately 30,000 students. UAGC offers more than 50 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. For more information visit uagc.edu.

About Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College is one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving nearly 40,000 students annually with more than 23,000 online in 50 states and internationally. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado offers 600+ online classes, 135+ degree and certificate programs and general education courses. The college also provides support for dual enrollment, military and incarcerated students and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona.

SOURCE University of Arizona Global Campus
ALBANY, N.Y., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global turmeric oleoresin market is estimated to value over US$ 68.1 Mn in 2022. The global market is anticipated to develop at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period, from 2022 to 2032. It is expected to surpass the valuation of US$ 165.7 Mn by 2032. The demand for turmeric oleoresin is high due to the growing inclination toward eating natural and nutritious foods. Oleoresins, which are generated from spices, offer a wide range of healing properties. Oleoresins are becoming increasingly popular among consumers as a result of their antioxidant characteristics, as well as their potential to lower cholesterol levels, treat aches and pains, and offer various health benefits.

Turmeric oleoresin aids in the preservation of food products. The global turmeric oleoresin market is expanding due to the growing use of turmeric oleoresins in various food products. Turmeric oleoresin is becoming increasingly popular due to its extended shelf life and potential to be used as a cost-effective alternative to ground spices. In the forthcoming years, this factor is likely to bolster the growth of the global turmeric oleoresin market. With developments in easy storage and shipping facilities as well as better government taxation systems and incentives, the global turmeric oleoresins market is likely to observe considerable growth during the forecast period.

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South Asia is likely to account for more than 60% of the global market's revenue. The market in the region is expected to be worth US$ 46.3 Mn in 2022 and reach US$ 109.7 Mn by 2032.

Key Findings of Market Report





Use of oleoresin in dry mixes and margarine is likely to emerge as a significant driver for the global turmeric oleoresin market. Turmeric oleoresin in the form of dry powder is simpler to blend than regular oleoresins; therefore, it is becoming more popular in instant mix food products, such as beverages, soups, and ready - to - eat meals.





The potential of turmeric oleoresin to increase stability and allow usage in food items is expected to drive global market in the years to come. Turmeric oleoresin is also projected to witness growth in demand in the future, owing to its extended shelf life and potential to function as a cost-effective alternative to ground spices.

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Turmeric oleoresins are increasingly being used in the preparation of soaps and body lotions. Growth and development of the cosmetics and personal care segments are likely to drive the demand for oleoresin in the near future. Besides, oleoresins are increasingly being utilized in healthcare products to treat different ailments.





Use of antioxidants in food items is growing with rising customer demand. The demand for turmeric oleoresin is being fueled by the global trend of eating healthy and natural food products

Global Turmeric Oleoresin Market: Growth Drivers

Due to the growing popularity of ethnic cuisines such as Mexican, Thai, and Indian throughout the world, oleoresins are likely to remain in high demand. Turmeric oleoresins are inexpensive, and commonly utilized in instant-mix food products such as ready-to-eat meals, drinks, and soups.

Consumers are more likely to purchase items through online channels as a result of digitalization and secure online payment options. In the future years, this factor is likely to boost the global turmeric oleoresin market. Strong presence of various product manufacturers across eCommerce platforms is likely to assist in market develop rapidly.

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Global Turmeric Oleoresin Market: Key Players

Some of the key market players are

Naturite Agro Products Ltd.

Kancor Ingredients Limited

Synthite Industries Ltd

Asian Oleoresin Company

DDW The Color House

Ungerer & Company

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Global Turmeric Oleoresin Market: Segmentation

Nature

Organic

Conventional

Extraction Method

Solvent Extraction

SCFE

End Use

Food & Beverage Industry

Pharmaceutical

Nutraceuticals

Retail/Household

Distribution Channel

Business to Business [B2B]

Business to Consumer [B2C]

Food & Beverages Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Food & Beverages:

Packaged Turmeric-Based Beverage Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/packaged-turmericbased-beverage-market.html

Organic Turmeric Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/organic-turmeric-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
Plant Power Fast Food opens flagship Los Angeles restaurant in the heart of iconic Hollywood, CA

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant Power Fast Food, the country's fastest growing 100% plant-based fast food restaurant chain has announced the opening of its new Los Angeles location in the heart of Hollywood, California.

Plant Power Hollywood 1 Plant Power Hollywood Night

Located near the intersection of Vine Street and Melrose Avenue and around the block from Paramount Studios, this location features indoor and outdoor dining, plentiful parking, traditional counter service, a self-order kiosk, mobile order and pick-up, and local third-party delivery. This is the eleventh Plant Power location and a company spokesperson shared that four additional units are slated to open by the end of the year.

Plant Power Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Harris said, "We're absolutely thrilled to finally land in L.A. and we're especially excited to be in the heart of this creative community. In the short time since opening this location, we've received a warm welcome from local residents as well as the many musicians, actors and studio professionals who commute into Hollywood for work."

Plant Power Fast Food is a 100% vegan version of traditional fast food brands and features a menu ranging from burgers, fries, shakes and 'chicken' nuggets to salads, fresh juices, a children's menu and full breakfast selection. Keeping to its sustainable ethic, tables, booths and furnishings at the new location are constructed from renewable bamboo and chairs are made from recycled plastic. Disposable cutlery is all plant-based and compostable as is the majority of takeout packaging.

Plant Power Co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer Zach Vouga shared that the majority of Plant Power customers are neither vegan nor vegetarian. "Most of our guests are omnivores who are exploring new choices. Over the past few years, most everyone has become aware of the negative impact of animal agriculture on the environment and its role as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. They also know that eating plant-based is much better for their health. So, imagine chomping down on a delicious 'bacon' 'cheese' burger with zero cholesterol and no artificial ingredients and then realizing that this is actually better for the planet too. This really is groundbreaking."

The company has garnered attention in recent months for a number of top industry hires from large international restaurant brands such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Del Taco, Yum Brands, Starbucks, and others. According to Harris, this is all part of the company's plan to accelerate its lead in this rapidly evolving market segment. "The opportunity for a 100% plant-based fast food brand like ours is huge. In addition to our emphasis on the development of a transformational team culture and an extraordinary guest experience, we're laser focused on fusing passionate, mission aligned industry talent with strategic capital partners to execute on a growth strategy powerful enough to meet the moment and deliver healthier, sustainable plant-based food to an increasingly larger audience."

VIEW LOCATIONS

ABOUT PLANT POWER FAST FOOD

Headquartered in San Diego, California, The Plant Power Restaurant Group, LLC ("Plant Power", "the Company") is a privately held company founded by Mitch Wallis, Jeffrey Harris and Zach Vouga. The Company is on the cutting edge of plant-based fast food with a goal of driving a convenient, healthier option without sacrificing taste and satisfaction. To learn more, see menu options and learn about the food truck, visit plantpowerfastfood.com

Media Contact:

Jim Amos

[email protected]

(818) 216-9122

SOURCE The Plant Power Restaurant Group
Prior to joining Venus Medtech, Shakeel Osman served as General Manager UK & Vice President Sales Middle East Asia and Africa at Occlutech Medical Devices, a Germany-based global leading provider of minimally invasive cardiac devices. As a 20-year veteran in the global marketing of medical devices, Shakeel Osman has been heavily engaged in the European and Middle East markets, boasting extensive experience in marketing and distributor management in the cardiovascular field.

Shakeel Osman said, "It is a great honor to join Venus Medtech's commercialization team in Europe. As a leading company in structural heart disease, Venus Medtech possesses internationally competitive innovative pipelines. I'm excited to leverage my experience and work closely with the team to lay a solid foundation for the commercialization of VenusP-Valve across Europe and contribute to the company's global presence."

VenusP-Valve is the only self-expanding TPVR system undergoing CE certification at the present time. It is expected to be Venus Medtech's second innovative medical device marketed in Europe following TriGUARD3 cerebral embolic protection device. In March 2021, VenusP-Valve received a special use authorization from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Eric Zi, Founder, Executive Director and General Manager of Venus Medtech, warmly welcomed Shakeel Osman to the company. "We are delighted to have another professional medical device marketing veteran joining Venus Medtech. The expertise and experience of Shakeel will be a tremendous addition to the commercialization of VenusP-Valve in Europe, which is expected to give important weight to the clinical progress of future innovative devices in the market."

Following the launch of TriGUARD3 in Europe in 2020, Venus Medtech has been committed to enhancing its international commercialization endeavors to lay the foundations for global innovation and facilitate overseas clinical trials for more structural heart products. Furthermore, Venus Medtech appointed David Breant as Vice President of Sales Europe, responsible for the adult structural heart disease business, as well as direct sales in Germany, France and other markets; and Joyce Heo as Director of Sales, responsible for sales in emerging markets.

SOURCE Venus Medtech (Hangzhou) Inc.
Led Union's Fiscal Revival for the Past Decade

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After a decade in office, Ken Hall, General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, is retiring upon the completion of his term next Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Hall will continue to serve as President of Local 175 in West Virginia.

Under Hall's stewardship, net assets of the union rose from $126.1 million when he took office in 2012 to more than $500 million today. The union's Strike and Defense Fund stands at more than $300 million.

"I am extraordinarily proud of the work we have accomplished over the past 10 years," Hall said. "We've been able to achieve financial stability to ensure our members resources are protected for decades to come. Every member has the security of a strong strike fund should they need to use it."

Hall took his job as a labor leader seriously and never forgot where he came from. First and foremost, he put the members first. Although best known for serving as the union's lead negotiator for the largest collective bargaining agreement in the nation with UPS in 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2013, he was called upon by numerous divisions and local unions to assist with negotiations large and small. Hall's negotiating efforts at UPS resulted in billions of dollars in wages, health care and retirement benefits for Teamsters at UPS, as well as tens of thousands of new full-time jobs.

Hall also used the union's leverage to take on the "big three" wholesale drug distributors  McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health  for their role in flooding communities with an oversupply of prescription pain pills.

"West Virginia suffered the highest opioid overdose death rate in the country," Hall said. "I'm proud of having played a role in the fight to reduce access to opioids and hold corporations accountable for their unsavory and illegal business practices."

Though retiring from the International Union, Hall remains committed to fighting for all workers.

"I'm excited to focus on the members of Teamsters Local 175 to ensure that we continue to improve the living standards for workers in West Virginia," Hall added.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
"Woman's is a unique specialty hospital in a complex healthcare market, and the Board was intentional in its search for a candidate with the right experience and knowledge to lead Woman's through these unprecedented times," said Terrie Thomas, MD, an OB-GYN and Chair of the Board at Woman's Hospital. "We found an excellent candidate right here in our region who is already familiar with this community and the needs of our patients to lead us into the future. Rene is familiar with this community, the culture of excellence that distinguishes Woman's Hospital, and the importance of balancing the needs of multiple audiences in this complex realm of healthcare. While he has tremendous knowledge of the business side of the industry, Rene also has a profound appreciation for the importance of meeting the needs of women during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives."

In addition to leading operations for Our Lady of the Angels Hospital, he also oversees Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital in Slidell and Our Lady of the Lake Pontchartrain Surgery Center in Mandeville, and provides oversight to a network of more than 60 primary care and specialty physicians in the Northshore region. He also provided direct executive leadership for the implementation of the Epic electronic health record system in his market.

Ragas, who also has a deeply personal connection to Woman's, will assume the role of CEO in May.

"All three of my children were born here at Woman's, and to have the opportunity to serve the organization where I became a father is a privilege and an honor," said Ragas. "While this is a challenging time for everyone in healthcare, I see many opportunities for Woman's to grow and continue the great work being done by the exceptional team already in place. I am thrilled to be joining the rich tradition of Woman's and becoming part of its future successes."

Ragas first joined the FMOL Health System in 1998 as the Managed Care Operations Coordinator. He has since held positions in business development, payor relations, acute care operations, and strategic projects prior to his appointment as Northshore Market President in June 2017.

A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Ragas earned a degree in biology from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1996 prior to completing a master's degree in healthcare administration at Tulane University in 2000.

Ragas is a member of the Louisiana Hospital Association Board of Directors, Vizient Southern States, Northshore Business Council, and the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Leadership Louisiana and actively volunteers with the Louisiana Special Olympics. He also has served as adjunct faculty at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge.

Ragas will take the reins from Paul Cleckner, who has served as interim CEO since the fall when Dr. Barbara Griffith returned home to begin her tenure as CEO of Duke Raleigh Hospital.

Woman's is a specialty hospital for women and infants with an expertise in caring for pregnant women, critically ill infants and women with cancer. It is currently the only freestanding, private, non-profit specialty hospital for women and infants in the United States and is internationally recognized for excellence in providing women's healthcare.

SOURCE Woman's Hospital
ORLANDO, Fla., March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: XHR) ("Xenia" or the "Company") today announced that its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The Company's Board of Directors has established March 31, 2022, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the 2022 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

About Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a self-advised and self-administered REIT that invests in uniquely positioned luxury and upper upscale hotels and resorts with a focus on the top 25 lodging markets as well as key leisure destinations in the United States. The Company owns 33 hotels and resorts comprising 9,468 rooms across 13 states. Xenia's hotels are in the luxury and upper upscale segments, and are operated and/or licensed by industry leaders such as Marriott, Hyatt, Kimpton, Fairmont, Loews, Hilton, and The Kessler Collection. For more information on Xenia's business, refer to the Company website at www.xeniareit.com.

For additional information or to receive press releases via email, please visit our website at www.xeniareit.com

SOURCE Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Polymetal International PLC (LSE:POLY), the Russia-focused miner, announced four appointments of independent non-executive directors to its board after six directors resigned last week.

Janat Berdalina, Steven Dashevsky, Evgueni Konovalenko and Paul J Ostling have joined the board with effect from 17 March 2022, the company said in a statement.

Following the appointments, Polymetals board will consist of seven members, of which five are independent non-executive directors.

Berdalina is an audit, reporting, tax and management consulting professional, with experience from KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, as well as the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, KazTransGas, Kazpost.

Dashevsky is an investment professional with more than 20 years of experience in financial markets. He works as the CEO of D&P Advisors LLP, a UK-based, FCA-regulated investment management company.

Konovalenko has extensive experience in investment banking and since 2005 has held various executive positions in Renaissance Capital, including current role of managing director, head of international equities and FICC Sales.

Ostling is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience in Russia and Eastern Europe with E&Y.

Last week the company said it continued to be unaffected by ongoing international sanctions, was complying "rigorously" with all relevant legislation and implementing measures to observe all applicable sanctions, with the board believing that targeted sanctions on the company were "unlikely, but [...] not impossible".

It said its operations in Russia and Kazakhstan were undisrupted and that it had continued to sell bullion and concentrate from Kazakhstan "as usual", while regarding sales from Russia to Kazakhstan, China and East Asia Company it "received assurances from off-takers that all existing contracts continue in good standing".

Shares in the company fell more than 90% in the days following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but have been climbing higher in recent days.
If Europe bans Russian oil and gas imports immediately, the UK will suffer an economic hit of 70bn and enter a recession, Rishi Sunak has told colleagues.

The UK chancellor said a total EU ban would be a disaster for economies across Europe, including the UK, in a cabinet meeting last week, as reported by the Financial Times.

Some 40% of the bloc's gas and 25% of its crude oil comes from Moscow and though the UK imports only 8% of its total oil from Russia it would feel the impact of a severe EU downturn.

The European Central Bank has said that just a 10% reduction in gas supplies would cause 0.7% of GDP to be lost in the eurozone.

Sunak's warning follows a recent call from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ban the import of Russian hydrocarbons by western allies, with the EU announcing plans to reduce Russian gas imports by two-thirds within a year.

Last week Downing Street said it planned to phase out all Russian oil over the coming months, with US president Joe Biden also announcing the imposition of sanctions prohibiting imports of Russian oil and gas.

Boris Johnson is expected to unveil a new energy strategy for the UK next week but was warned by the Institute for Government that the country needs a long-term plan to protect households and businesses from high energy costs by reducing energy demand and securing other energy supplies away from Russia.
Vodafone Group PLC (LSE:VOD) has been approached by global infrastructure funds, which have offered US$16bn for a majority stake in its mobile mast company, Vantage Towers, according to reports.

Sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters that the telecoms giant prefers an industry merger, however.

Vantage Towers is Vodafones tower infrastructure company with over 68,000 towers across nine markets.

Reuters said the bidders, which includes investment firms Brookfield and Global Infrastructure Partners, have submitted unsolicited proposals of roughly US$16.57bn, a slight premium to its current market valuation of US$14.15bn.

According to Reuters, the offers are for a majority stake in the company that was listed in Frankfurt last year.

FTSE 100 Vodafone is rumoured to be keen on an industry merger, with the newswire noting that sources said it is seeking a deal with Deutsche Telekoms DFMG tower unit or Oranges Totem.

Vodafone has an 81% stake in the company but has been under intense pressure from activist investor Cevian Capital to simplify its portfolio and focus on its key markets.

The telecoms company also recently turned down an US$11bn offer for its Italian business from Iliad, a private French telecoms business.
Gratomic also highlighted that graphite prices have been steadily increasing, with price appreciations between 15% and 29% in the last six months

Gratomic Inc has updated on the operational readiness (OR) of its Aukam processing plant in Namibia, revealing that the 'entire front end' of the plant has now been commissioned.

"The rod mill is mechanically completed and ready for next steps. The work continues on the remaining plant components in preparation for the company's goal of product in bag, (PIB)," the firm added in the statement.

Notably, at the plant, the crushing and screen circuit was initially designed to accommodate 12 tonnes per hour (tph) but trials have shown that it will easily accommodate up to 30 tph of graphite mineral throughput at 75-millimeter (mm) feed size, the company also told investors.

In addition, outdoor lighting has been installed giving Aukam 24-hour capability, upon achieving operational status at 51% of total output capacity on the initial 20,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

The lab, offices, cloakrooms, and residences are also anticipated to be completed in coming weeks.

Armando Farhate, COO and head of graphite marketing and sales, and Karl Trudeau, head of operations, Namibia, will travel to Aukam to oversee the finalization process of the OR plan, said Gratomic.

The run of mine (ROM) pad has been completed next to the grizzly (grate for ore) and the historical stockpiles have been moved there.

Airborne geophysics surveys are currently underway to identify additional drill targets beyond the current mining license on existing exploration prospecting license (EPL).

Gratomic also highlighted that graphite prices have been steadily increasing, with price appreciations between 15% and 29% in the last six months.

"Based on that, the company has decided to base all its negotiations for future supply on a spot basis," it told investors.

Gratomic is focused on becoming a leading global graphite supplier and aims to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain. It has projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada.

Contact the writer at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
Aldoro Resources Ltd (ASX:ARN) has confirmed the VC1 anomaly of the Narndee Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Element Project in Western Australia is prospective for nickel and copper after striking mineralisation in two diamond drill holes.

Wet chemistry intercept assays have been returned for the two holes - NDD0009 and NDD0019) - with results as follows:

 0.55 metres at 0.87% nickel, 0.14% copper and 0.06% cobalt from 109.45 metres; and

 1.5 metres at 0.76% nickel, 0.29% copper and 0.06% cobalt from 150.05 metres

VTEM and HPFLTEM update

Aldoro has also completed a versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey over the Kiabye Greenstone Belt (KGB) along the western margin of the Narndee Igneous Complex (NIC), and a large loop, high power fixed loop electromagnetic (HPFLTEM) survey is ongoing over the VC1, VC3, and VC11 target areas.

The KGB has been interpreted to be a possible feeder or basal unit for the NIC, representing a high-priority exploration target for nickel-copper sulphide deposits.

The HPFLTEM survey is designed to detect large, highly conductive, and possibly deeper metallic bodies that would have been difficult for the VTEM system to detect.

The results of both surveys will be reported in detail once final data sets are received and quality checked.

Following delivery of the VTEM survey and HPFLEM results, any conductors generated will be ground-truthed, mapped, and sampled by surface geochemistry. Aldoro will then follow up with target ranking, further surface EM work, and drilling.

About Aldoro Resources

Aldoro Resources is a mineral exploration and development company with a collection of nickel/copper/platinum group metal (PGM) focused exploration projects and advanced rubidium exploration projects all located in Western Australia.

The companys flagship nickel/copper/PGM project is the Narndee Project, where initial drilling of the first of over a dozen targets has successfully intersected nickel sulphides.

Aldoro is also currently exploring the Niobe rubidium/lithium/tantalum project, where the company is encouraged by the very high grades of rubidium and an at-surface deposit that extends over multiple kilometres.

The companys other projects include the Cathedrals Belt Nickel Project (nickel-copper-PGM), with a significant tenement holding surrounding St George Minings Mt Alexander Project, the Leinster Nickel Project, and Windimurra Igneous Complex (nickel-copper-PGM, lithium).
Imperium3 New York Inc (iM3NY) which is 60% owned by Australian listed company Magnis Energy Technologies Ltd (ASX:MNS, OTCQX:MNSEF) is set to begin production of its lithium-ion battery cells in June this year. Importantly, the batteries produced will not contain cobalt or nickel, two battery metals which have experienced extraordinary price increases in the last weeks due to significant geopolitical risks.



Nickel prices have risen from $20,000 per tonne to over $100,000 per tonne in the last month while Cobalt prices are now approaching $85,000 per tonne. Such price increases to both these battery metals will translate in to a price hike of over $1,000 per electric vehicle.



As sanctions between the West and Russia intensify, along with the need to reduce dependency on China in the battery supply chain, the non-China supply chain built over the last seven years could be the most significant piece in iM3NYs production.



When asked about interest in his batteries, iM3NY Chairman Dr Shailesh Upreti commented: We are constantly having groups reaching out to us for supply of our batteries - these groups include some of the biggest EV manufacturers globally. They are realising the importance of a non-China supply chain along with a nickel and cobalt free battery.





iM3NY plans to scale up to 38GWh capacity in the coming years and has been receiving high praise for its Made in America batteries with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand making positive comments on the project following her recent visit to Binghamton University.



When asked about conversations with various electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla, Upreti wouldnt comment specifically but said demand for our batteries has never been stronger.
American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR) has kicked off a nine-hole, 825-metre-long diamond core drilling campaign at its Halleck Creek Rare Earth project site in the US state of Wyoming.

The company estimates that it is looking at a 308-385 million-tonne exploration target, following field sampling and surveying. Samples were collected in 2018 and 2021 which showed high-grade rare earth element (REE) mineralisation.

Low penalty elements  thorium and uranium

The maiden diamond core drilling will determine the regional extent of mineralised depth, with five holes at Overton Mountain and four at Red Mountain.

"This is another exciting time for the team at American Rare Earths with the maiden drilling at Halleck Creek, managing director Chris Gibbs said.

Surface samples collected in 2018 and 2021 show high-grade rare-earth element (REE) mineralisation which is rich in neodymium and praseodymium, with low penalty elements of thorium and uranium.

The Halleck Creek targets will complement the company's La Paz Rare Earth project deposits, targeting praseodymium with ultra-low penalty elements of thorium and uranium in Arizona."

Exploration deep drilling will uncover initial mineralisation, lithology and fresh rock material for additional analysis.

The drill program is expected to wind up in late April 2022, with assay results expected in June.

Exploration thus far

The greater Halleck Creek project, in Albany County, Wyoming, consists of 68 unpatented lode claims, covering 1,265 acres. The company controls six Wyoming State mineral leases in the surrounding area.

Initial surface sampling of the Overton Mountain area was conducted in 2018 by Zenith Minerals, an Australian Mining Company, revealing average total rare earth oxide (TREO) values of 3,297 parts per million (ppm), average heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) values of 244 ppm, and average magnetic rare earth oxide (MREO) values of 816 ppm.

In June and July of 2021, a follow-up surface sampling program was conducted, with the total of 197 samples collected.

The results showed that the Red Mountain Pluton is light rare earth oxide (LREO) dominant, with an average of 2,836 ppm.

Additional geologic mapping was performed across Overton Mountain in October 2021. ARR collected an extra 121 surface samples across Overton Mountain and Red Mountain.

The company is understandably keen to receive the results of these samples to provide further insight and direction for drilling at Halleck Creek.
The feasibility study process has begun with contractors engaged to complete the scoping phase. The next step is a drill campaign that will assist with the geotechnical studies.

Bezant Resources PLC (AIM:BZT) said authorities in the Philippines have renewed the mineral production sharing agreement for the Mankayan Project for a further 25 years, calling it a "catalyst" for the development of the copper-gold property.

Crescent Mining is developing the porphyry-hosted deposit. It has begun the feasibility study process and has engaged contractors to complete the scoping phase. The next step is a drill campaign that will assist with the geotechnical studies.

Bezant, which has an interest in Mankayan via a 27.5% holding in Australian company IDM, said it was "very pleased" the production sharing agreement had been renewed.

Chairman Colin Bird pointed out it occurred after the lifting of a Philippines moratorium on new mining projects using open-pit methods of extracting mineral resources.

We are very confident that management in the Philippines supported by IDM has the experience and expertise to take the project forward through the next stages of evaluation and development which will significantly enhance the value of the project, Bird added.

Some 240km north of Manila, on Luzon Island, Mankayan is potentially a world-class asset.

A 2020 mineral resource statement prepared by Derisk Geomining Consultants estimated Mankayan was host to 2.8mln tonnes of copper, 9.6mln ounces of gold and 20mln ounces of silver.
Ofcom said it revoked Russia Today (RTs) licence to broadcast in the UK with immediate effect.

The British communications regulator said in a statement it doesnt consider the licensee, ANO TV Novosti, fit and proper to hold a UK broadcast licence.

It said it is currently involved in 29 investigations over the impartiality of RTs news and current affairs coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Ofcom adds it considers the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concern.

Given this, the regulator said it launched a separate investigation to determine whether the licensee should retain its licence.

It considered several factors, such as its relationship with the Russian Federation, which funds the broadcaster.

New laws in Russia over the last few weeks also effectively criminalise and independent journalism that goes against the views of Russian state news.

Ofcom added that these constraints make it impossible for RT to adhere to impartiality rules in its broadcasting code.

It also notes the importance of broadcasters rights to freedom of expression, and the audiences right to receive information.

However, this cant come at the cost of public confidence in the countrys broadcasting regulatory regime.

Following an independent regulatory process, we have today found that RT is not fit and proper to hold a licence in the UK. As a result we have revoked RTs UK broadcasting licence, said chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes.

RT has previous history with compliance, having been fined 200,000 due to impartiality breaches.
Trees noted that Dea has been instrumental in helping several companies grow from the development stage to large-scale commercial operations

Trees Corporation (NEO:TREE.AQN) has announced that veteran finance and accounting executive Lisa Dea has been appointed to its board of directors with immediate effect.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lisa to the Board as an independent director, said Jeffrey Holmgren, president and CFO of Trees, in a statement.

Lisa's financial and operational background, coupled with her many years of executive experience serving Canadian public companies, will be an invaluable addition to Trees as we work towards the achievement of our growth plans."

Dea, a CPA and CA, has 25 years of experience in the finance, securities, and accounting fields, the company said.

Dea has held the position of CFO at several listed companies in Canada where she was responsible for corporate strategy, all aspects of finance and legal, debt and capital market activities, managing banking relationships with US, Canadian and International banks, internal and external public reporting, financial controls, processes, and corporate governance.

Trees noted that she has been instrumental in helping several companies grow from the development stage to large-scale commercial operations.

Previous to her time in the industry, Dea spent 11 years at Deloitte & Touche LLP, achieving the position of senior manager.

Trees Corp is an independent retail cannabis operator that is deeply rooted in the cannabis community and has been a respected voice of advocacy that has helped usher in legalization across Canada. Through its trusted reputation, history and passion for the 'plant', the company delivers a differentiated and authentic consumer experience unlike any other.

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
More broadly, Bristow said Barrick was expanding into new prospective areas in its continued hunt for high-quality assets

Gold mining giant Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX, NYSE:GOLD) told investors it was working on a "well-defined strategy" to grow its business in Canada where the company believes it is under-invested.

"A significant exploration portfolio has been secured in the countrys Uchi Belt and the team is also looking at other opportunities in the country," CEO Mark Bristow said in the group's 2021 annual report, which was published on March 18.

More broadly, Bristow said Barrick was expanding globally into new prospective areas in its continued hunt for high-quality assets.

"A specialist Asia-Pacific team, set up to look at opportunities in that region, has acquired exploration permits in Japan and are hunting for additional opportunities in that region. We are also investigating projects across the Nubian and Arabian Shields in North Africa and the Middle East," he revealed.

"We have put a particularly strong focus on exploration in Latin America, where our teams are testing a portfolio of targets on the El Indio belt along the border between Argentina and Chile. We have also added ground in Peru and started fieldwork on new projects in Guyana and Suriname."

Elsewhere, Bristow said the group was "advancing on a clear road to achievable greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and its long-standing commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles".

As part of the annual report, Barrick noted that in September 2018, when the Randgold merger was announced, the company had net debt of over US$4 billion. Since then, it says it has moved to a net cash position and returned US$2.5 billion of cash to shareholders, including US$1.4 billion last year. The board has also approved a US$1 billion share buyback plan.

Contact the writer at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
P&O Ferries continues to attract condemnation for its abrupt and brutal sacking yesterday of 800 seafarers.

Transport minister Robert Courts described the decision to jettison workers and replace them with contract staff as insensitive although he stopped short of calling it illegal.

However, a spokesperson for prime minister Boris Johnson said the government is already looking very closely at the actions to see whether P&O Ferries followed the rules.

BREAKING: The MPs who voted against banning fire and rehire would like you to know they are outraged that P & O has fired and rehired x  Laura Kuenssberg Translator (@BBCLauraKT) March 18, 2022

Some legal professionals have suggested that the company could face numerous claims for unfair dismissal given it gave no notice of the redundancies.

Two unions representing crew members, Nautilus International and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, are preparing legal action against the company.

This is clearly illegal, Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson said. Its a dark day in the shipping industry, the Associated Press reported.

The news agency added that unions are set to protest at the abrupt sackings at Dover, Hull and Liverpool ports today.

Unions are set to protest at British ports after P&O Ferries fired 800 U.K. crew members to replace them with cheaper contract staff. The British government has expressed outrage at the mass firings, but says it can do little to reverse them. https://t.co/ox2xv5YbrC  AP Europe (@AP_Europe) March 18, 2022

Dickinson said yesterdays events, which included security agents wearing balaclavas removing workers from ships they were servig on, was a new low for a shipping company.

This is a moment in history that people wont forget and I hope the directors of P&O and DP World never forget this day, Dickinson said.

P&O Ferries have just made over 800 employees including myself and my Brother redundant and did it with a teams video call. We have protested today outside our RMT office and will be at the port of Dover doing it again. Show us some support. #savelocaljobs #rmt  Bruce Morton (Thing/It/don't care about gender) (@BruceMo21861201) March 17, 2022

DP World, the Dubai-based owner of P&O Ferries, said the decision to switch from company employees to cheaper contract staff was necessary to secure the future viability of the company.

P&O statement confirming what was in videos sent to us about the immediate firings without these changes there is no future for p&o ferries follow @KatyAustinNews for more pic.twitter.com/lpS8vqcL8h  Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) March 17, 2022

'The Dubai company that owns P&O made 1 billion profit - at the same time they're making 800 workers redundant. It's an absolute scandal, it's an outrage and it cannot be allowed to stand'



Labour's Jim McMahon condemns P&O Ferries owners DP World https://t.co/LMkNGe2WHB pic.twitter.com/zGIB1bmh6t  ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) March 18, 2022

This view received support from Peter Aylott, the director of policy at the UK Chamber of Shipping, which represents shipping companies.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Aylott said the company had no option but to do something and suggested that 2,200 jobs  the size of P&O Ferries workforce following the redundancies - might have been saved as a result of the move.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey chipped in with his two pennorth, saying that P&O Ferries ought to return the 10mln in furlough cash it had received from the government.
The investment consists of a C$750,000 equity purchase plus C$250,000 for a royalty option on its projects in Sweden

Gungnir Resources Inc. (TSX-V:GUG, OTC:ASWRF) has announced an agreement under which Altius Minerals Corporation (TSX:ALS) will acquire 6,250,000 Gungnir units, at a price of $0.12 per unit, for total gross proceeds of C$750,000.

Each unit of the equity offering will consist of one Gungnir common share plus one common share purchase warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one company common share at a price of $0.18 per share for a period of 24 months from the closing.

Altius' investment forms part of a larger non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to C$1.4 million through the issuance of up to 11,666,667 company units.

Gungnir said net proceeds of the offering will be used to continue the exploration program, inclusive of drilling, at its 100% owned projects in Sweden, concentrating on the company's nickel resources, as well as for general corporate purposes.

All securities issued under the offering are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the closing date.

Altius has also agreed to pay Gungnir C$250,000 for a royalty option with respect to licences at the company's Lappvattnet, Rormyrberget, and Knaften projects.

Under the option agreement, Altius may exercise its Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget option by paying Gungnir C$8 million, at which time the company and Altius will enter into a royalty agreement for a 2.0% gross sales royalty in perpetuity, and Altius may exercise its Knaften option by paying the Gungnir C$2 million, at which time the company and Altius will enter into a royalty agreement for a 1.0% gross sales royalty in perpetuity.

Gungnir Resources is a Canadian-based TSX-V listed mineral exploration company with gold and base metal projects in northern Sweden. Its assets include two nickel-copper-cobalt deposits, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, both with updated nickel resources, and the Knaften project which hosts a developing intrusion-hosted gold system, and VMS (zinc-copper) and copper-nickel targets, all of which are open for expansion and further discovery.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Lion Copper and Gold Corp (TSX-V:LEO, OTCQB:LCGMF) said it has completed its previously-announced option agreement with Houston Minerals Ltd to acquire a 100% interest in the Chaco Bear and Ashton properties in British Columbia.

The company noted that it issued eight million Lion Copper and Gold common shares and has funded an initial work program of C$200,000 on the properties in consideration for the grant of the option.

It added that it may exercise the option for a period of up to 10 years to acquire the Chaco Bear property by paying C$1.5 million to Houston Minerals, in cash or in Lion Copper and Gold common shares at the company's option; and/or the Ashton property by paying C$1 million to Houston in cash or shares also at the company's option.

Lion Copper and Gold said the cash payments are subject to a discount of between 5% and 15% based on the timing of exercise and cumulative exploration expenditures incurred as at the time of exercise.

Houston Minerals will retain a 2.5% net smelter returns (NSR) royalty on either property after the option has been exercised.

Chaco Bear is hosted in similar rock formations as the Eskay Creek deposit that was in production from 1994 to 2008, according to the company, while Ashton is located in an area that is highly prospective for epithermal style gold mineralization.

Lion Copper and Gold is advancing the MacArthur copper project in Nevada, and exploring the Chaco Bear and Ashton properties in British Columbia.

The company's MacArthur asset sits in Mason Valley, a large, historic copper camp within a land package spanning 51 square miles. The project is a large-scale, low-cost, heap leach operation with potential for near-term production of pure copper cathode.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Washington, March 18 : US House of Representatives has voted to suspend normal trade relations with Russia, paving the way for the US government to impose higher tariffs on Russian goods.

The lower chamber on Thursday approved the measure by vote of 424-8, with a few Republicans voting against, sending the legislation to the Senate, Xinhua news agency reported.

The House vote came just a few days after US President Joe Biden announced that the administration would revoke Russia's most-favored nation trade status amid the Ukraine crisis, along with Group of Seven (G7) countries and the European Union.

Biden also signed an executive order banning Russian seafood imports, as well as alcohol and certain diamonds. In addition, it bans the sale of US luxury goods to Russia, including high-end vehicles, luxury watches and top-shelf jewelry.

The US also recently banned oil and gas imports from Russia, although they accounted for less than 10 per cent of US energy imports.

Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and senior United Nations advisor, recently told Xinhua that sanctions, which cause considerable damage, are "unlikely" to succeed in their political aims.

"The US and EU are very energetic in the imposition of sanctions, trade barriers, technology barriers, and financial barriers towards Russia... I do not agree with this," Sachs said.

Negotiation and compromise would be "much wiser", he said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Kiev, March 18 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss France's support for Ukraine.

"Discussed the support for Ukrainians in the fight against Russian aggression, especially in the defense sphere," Zelensky tweeted.

According to him, during the talks, a special emphasis was put on the continuation of peaceful dialogue aimed at ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We must strengthen the anti-war coalition," Zelensky said.
Kiev, March 18 : Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak has said that it would take between a few days and a week and a half for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement, the Ukrainian online media outlet Liga.net reported.

Kiev wants to fix in detail a specific plan for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine in the peace deal, said Podolyak on Thursday, who is also a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the peace talks with Russia.

If the agreement is inked, it would allow Ukraine and Russia to end the acute phase of the conflict, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

On Wednesday, Podolyak said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the coming days.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, March 18 : A US State Department spokesperson said that an American citizen has been killed in Ukraine's Chernihiv due to "heavy artillery attack" from Russian forces, the media reported.

"We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Ukraine on March 17," the BBC quoted the spokesperson as saying in a statement late Thursday.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment." The victim has been identified as James Whitney Hill, who was killed by heavy artillery attacks on unarmed civilians in the city, the BBC quoted a New York Times report as saying.

According to The New York Times, Hill travelled to Ukraine last December with his Ukrainian partner so she could be treated at a local hospital for multiple sclerosis.

In recent weeks, Hill had been writing about the deteriorating situation.

"Each day people are killed trying to escape. But bombs falling here at night. Risk either way," he wrote on Facebook.

"I only have wifi a few hours a day. We have enough food for a few days."
New Delhi, March 18 : With an aim to prevent arms transportation in the Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to import vehicle scanning machines from the US, officials said.

The Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS) is an advanced version of the scanning system which is not based on X-Ray and it can monitor all vehicles entering in the union territory.

The MMPDS is a safe, effective and reliable automated scanning system that quickly detects, locates and identifies explosives, weapons, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, humans, other contraband, as well as unshielded to heavily shielded radiological and nuclear threats.

The officials also said that this is a Muons-based static scanner technology for 'Full Body Scanning of vehicles' for concealed (or otherwise) contraband goods, all types of firearms (including un-assembled ones), ammunition, explosives, components used in fabrication of improvised explosive devices, gun silencers, various telescopic sights, night vision devices, radio equipments, fake currency, precious metals etc.

"At present after correspondence, presentations, and technical discussions with M/S SSBI Ltd and OEM, the dates for demonstration of MMPDS system at OEM's R&D facility and Onsite installation at the US has been sought and awaited from the firm," CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh said.

He also said that many other manufactures of vehicle scanning systems made presentations to the Force's officials but they did not meet the requirements.

"Once the initial presentation is made before us, a team of CRPF officials will visit the manufacturer in the US to evaluate the actual performance of the system." Muons-based technology can help detect dangerous nuclear material and see into damaged nuclear power plants.

Scientists use muons for archeological purposes to peer inside large, dense objects such as the Pyramids in Egypt.

It is pertinent to note that arms are being transported in the Kashmir Valley in big vehicles, especially in trucks which ferry goods to the union territory from other parts of the valley or from the International Border with Pakistan.

There were instances where in the goods-laden trucks have been used to ferry even terrorists from one place to other in the valley, the officials said.

Once these vehicle scanners are installed in Jammu and Kashmir's important intersections including highways, this will help the security forces to gaze at what is being brought in the trucks and other vehicles.

A senior CRPF official said that this technology is better than what is installed at Petrapol Integrated checkpost on the India- Bangladesh International Border in West Bengal.
New Delhi, March 18 : Days after its offline classes started, the Department of Dairy Science & Food Technology, Institute of Agriculture Sciences (IAS) at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) organised a seminar that discussed application of Sattvik Certification in modern industries.

The Department organised a seminar on 'Sattva' - The Ultimate Pure: The Applications of Sattvik Certifications in association with the Sattvik Council of India (SCI).

A non-profit organization, SCI is the world's first vegetarian food and lifestyle standard development organisation established with the objective to promote the certification of vegetarian food. It is an indigenous certification that has been developed and designed in India with an aim to regulate the vegetarian food and lifestyle chain.

At the first part of the series of 'Sattva' - the Ultimate Pure Applications of Sattvik Certifications seminar held recently, Professor Dinesh Chandra Rai, Head of the Department, BHU, explained the importance of the Sattvik food certification.

Pratishtha Awasthi, Senior Research Analyst-Head India Division, spoke about the application of Sattvik Certification in modern industries.

Explaining why a 'Vegetarian Assurance Certification' is the need of the hour in the current day, especially due to the huge shift towards the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, she spoke about how consumers still face the dilemma for the assurance.

She also detailed the requirement of such certification in six major industries, including food, hospitality, and textile.

Months after its launch, the SCI has expanded its operations to South Africa, New York, and Canada and soon, certification will be available in several other countries, said a statement from SCI.

Research Analyst, Training and Education at the SCI, Sukanya S. Nair elaborated on the training and education portion, about SCI's various courses and their benefits.

Earlier, SCI conducted a Skill Enhancement and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in collaboration with IRCTC, in which a student can have an all-encompassing understanding of the Indian Railways and its mechanisms.

The Sattvik Council of India will create job opportunities for young talents and how to upskill today's youth will turn them into industry-ready professionals, the statement said.
Dharamsala, March 18 : The Chinese government "systematically impeded" travel to Tibetan areas by US diplomats, journalists and tourists in 2021, the State Department said in a new report mandated by a law that pushes for American access to Tibet.

"This report shows how far China is going to hide the truth about its horrific human rights violations in Tibet," said Franz Matzner, government relations director of the International Campaign for Tibet, on Friday.

"Facts are stubborn things, though, and the global community must not let the People's Republic of China conceal its cruelty and agenda of domination against the Tibetan people." The State Department submitted the report to Congress on March 16. It is the fourth annual report on access to Tibet under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, a law that Congress passed in 2018 to confront China's unfair policy of denying Americans entry to Tibet even though Chinese citizens are free to travel throughout the US.

As a result of the law's implementation, the State Department has denied entry to the US by the Chinese officials responsible for keeping Americans out of Tibet.

The new report says China maintained strong restrictions on access last year, sometimes using Covid-19 as a pretext.

"The PRC authorities systematically impeded travel to the TAR and to many Tibetan areas outside the TAR for US diplomats and officials, journalists, and tourists in 2021," the report says, referring to the Tibet Autonomous Region, which spans about half of Tibet.

The TAR is the only area under Chinese rule that foreign citizens must receive special permission to enter, although such permission is rarely granted.

The report arrives just weeks after the watchdog group Freedom House declared Tibet the least-free country on the earth in a tie with South Sudan and Syria.

The Chinese government has illegally occupied Tibet for over 60 years.

"The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act was designed to end China's practice of restricting access to the 'Land of Snows'," Matzner added.

"If China remains unwilling to let the world see what it's doing in Tibet, the State Department should consider naming names in future reports so that everyone can see who is responsible for these policies." Among the findings in this report are: Access to the Tibetan population by diplomats and other officials did not improve in 2021 compared to 2020.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the US Embassy in Beijing estimates the number of US citizens who visited the TAR decreased substantially in 2021.

In 2021, the TAR continued to be the only area of China that authorities required foreign diplomats and officials to request permission to visit.

In Tibetan areas outside the TAR, Chinese authorities routinely denied requests for meetings with government, religious and civil society leaders.

Security forces used conspicuous monitoring to intimidate US diplomats and officials, including while on personal travel to Tibetan areas, followed them, prevented them from meeting or speaking with local contacts, harassed them and restricted their movement.
Chennai, March 18 : It is not possible to reduce the speed of trains plying between Palakkad and Podanur to under 45 kmph to prevent hitting elephants, the Southern Railway has informed the Madras High Court.

The Railways also told the court that it is not possible to divert some of the trains in the Palakkad-Pollachi-Coimbatore route to prevent hitting elephants.

Recently, three elephants, including a calf, were killed after a speeding train hit them in the Walayar sector between Palakkad and Podanur. The railway officials and forest officials of Tamil Nadu were on a confrontation path following the incident.

Several elephants had lost their lives in the track during earlier days also after being hit by trains and hence the Tamil Nadu government had moved the Madras High Court to direct Railways to reduce the speed of trains at night under 45 kmph.

The counsel for the Railways, P.T Ramkumar appeared before a division bench of the court comprising Justices V. Bharathidasan and N. Sathish Kumar on Thursday and informed that at present trains in Palakkad-Podanur route is travelling at a speed of 45 kmph and it is not possible to further reduce the speed due to a gradient.

He informed the court that reducing the speed of trains below the least permissible limit may endanger the safety of passengers who are travelling, especially at night hours.

Ramkumar also said that it was not feasible or possible to divert the trains during night hours and added that there were two lines between Palakkad and Podanur via the Walayar Ghats. The 'A' line was 48.26 km long and the 'B' line was 52.56 km and both were electrified.

He said that if the trains are diverted through the alternate route from Palakkad to Podanur via Pollachi was 97.68 km long and also a single line. The Counsel for Railways said that it would take 143 more minutes of running time.

The counsel, however, told the court that the Southern Railway has established hanging solar fences and solar lights to prevent elephant deaths due to train hits.

He also said that vegetation for about 10 to 15 metres on both sides of the railway tracks was cleared for ensuring free visibility to the loco pilots.

Railway counsel also said that the railways were in consultation with private software companies for implementing the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence Early warning systems to detect elephant movement through cameras installed at multiple locations and send real-time data to a centrally monitored control room.

He added that the forest department was yet to begin construction of watchtowers at accident-prone locations.
Puducherry, March 18 : The local body elections in the Union Territory of Puducherry are likely to be held in the last week of April.

Elections have not been held during the past eleven years after the term of the elected bodies expired in 2011.

Puducherry State Election Commissioner Roy P. Thomas told IANS that there are no legal barriers to conducting elections and that almost all political parties in the Union Territory have expressed the desire to conduct elections at the earliest.

The State Election Commission, according to sources, is likely to hold the polls in the last week of April 2022 as the school annual public examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 students will be held in May. Polling stations will be set up in schools and teachers will be deputed as polling officers.

Notably, in Puducherry there is no reservation of seats for Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes. However, a case filed by R. Siva, DMK leader, for reservation to these categories is under consideration by the Supreme Court.

The DMK had requested the State Election Commission to conduct the polls by reserving seats for STs and BCs after the verdict of the Supreme Court comes. The hearings were already conducted and the verdict is expected any time soon.

A meeting of electoral officials and political party representatives was held by the State Election Commission on Thursday to prepare for the local body elections.

The four regions of the Union Territory of Puducherry including, Puducherry, Yanam, Karaikkal and Mahe, will be going to the polls in a single phase, according to sources in the State Election Commission.
Hyderabad, March 18 : Stating that 40 lakh people are facing hardships due to unemployment problem in Telangana, the opposition Congress party has demanded an unemployment emergency in the state.

AICC spokesperson Dasoju Sravan Kumar said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao should consider concrete interventions to address and resolve the unemployment problem.

He also urged the Chief Minister to set up a high-level task force with various national-level industrialists, academicians, intellectuals, strategists, policy makers to formulate a strategy with specific task policies to deal with the unemployment which is plaguing the Telangana society. He recalled that such a task force was set up by the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

"Since, this is a social issue, an emergency all-party meeting should be held with all political parties," the Congress leader said and demanded that each unemployed youth should be provided with an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,016 a month by as promised in 2018 assembly elections by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

"Skill Development Centres should be set up in each mandal centre in collaboration with the Central Government and job fairs should be organised in collaboration with private sector companies to provide employment to the youth, employment opportunities and training," Stating that there are lakhs of applications pending in SC, ST, BC, Minority and MBC corporations, he demanded for immediate disbursement of self-employment loans so that they can stand on their feet.

The Congress also demanded to bring a statutory Act to ensure that 95 per cent of jobs reserved for locals in the private sector too. He also made several other demands, including ex-gratia of Rs one crore to the 70 field assistants who died after being dictatorially terminated from the service causing serious distress and also suggested releasing the full salary to them for two years.

Sravan Kumar said the Telangana government failed to create new jobs and instead the existing jobs were blown away. The government laid off a total of 52,515 employees, including 7651 field assistants. He said 21,200 employees in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, 1640 Nurses, 709 in Mission Bhagiratha, 315 in Horticulture, 16,400 Education Volunteers, 2000 Junior Panchayat Secretaries, Social Welfare and Education and 2,640 employees of Road Transport Corporation (RTC) were sacked.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, he found fault with the chief minister for his announcement made in the Assembly that 90,000 jobs would be filled while the Bishwal Committee said that there were 1.91 lakh job vacancies in the government departments.

He also offered to help the government as a former professor of HRD, and also having worked in large companies, in various capacities in human resource development departments, in solving the unemployment problem.
New Delhi, March 18 : With an eye on young voters of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh where the Assembly polls are expected to be held by the end of this year, the BJP is set launch the 'one booth-20 youth' campaign.

The BJP's youth wing, Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has planned to connect with 20 youths, who are not politically associated with any party, in each polling booth of the two states. BJYM is also deploying its workers from other states for the campaign.

A well-placed source in the BJYM told IANS that a campaign will be started soon to reach out to the young voters at each polling booth in the poll bound states.

"Nowadays, youngsters play an important role in deciding the fate of any political party and incumbent government. We have decided to launch the 'one booth-20 youth' campaign soon in these two states. Our workers will reach out to 20 youths who are not associated with any party and explain to them about BJP's ideology and agenda for youth and country, and motivate them to volunteer for us," he said.

After convincing the youths, the BJYM will take their help to spread words and information about the party and its government in both the states.

"We will make WhatsApp groups of these youth to share contents which will be further spread by them to different social media platforms including Whatsapp," another BJYM leader said.

In the recently-concluded Assembly polls, the BJYM had successfully executed the 'one booth-20 youth' in Uttar Pradesh, where it has formed 5,000 WhatsApp groups of youth who were not politically affiliated to any party.

"We have started this campaign to connect more and more youth at polling booths and it was successfully done in Uttar Pradesh and other states during recent polls," he said.

To effectively execute the campaign on ground, the BJYM is deploying its volunteers in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh from April to oversee the drive.

"Shortlisting of workers have been started and they will be spending 15 days in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh from April. After three moths duration of their stay will be extended as the poll approaches," the BJYM worker said.

It was further learnt that BJYM workers from Maharashtra and neighbouring states will be deployed in Gujarat and workers from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh will be deployed in Himachal Pradesh.
Kiev, March 18 : Ukrainian Armed Forces have said that Russian troops cannot resume the attack on Kiev in the near future due to their losses, and instead they are focusing on the separatist Donbas region.

The military said Russian forces did not conduct active offensive operations in the Polissya region.

"The aggressors' main efforts were focused on maintaining the previously occupied borders and carrying out preparatory measures for a possible attack on Kiev," Ukrayinska Pravda reported citing the Armed Forces as saying.

The low moral and psychological condition of private soldiers and sergeants of the occupying forces, as well as the lack of experienced commanders of tactical units after the losses inflicted by Ukrainian defenders, rule out resuming offensive operations in the near future, a briefing said.

Russian have concentrated their main efforts on preparing for the attack on Severodonetsk and the encirclement of Mariupol (Luhansk and Donetsk directions).

They did not carry out offensive operations in Volyn and continued to strengthen the protection of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border by units of Belarusian Armed Forces, the military said.

The probability of provocations by Russian special services is high, it added.

The Armed Forces went on to say that the Russian forces are trying to maintain certain borders, restore the combat capability of units and replenish supplies (Sivershchyna direction).

"The invaders continue to partially blockade the city of Chernihiv and carry out artillery shelling of the city."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 18 : As India celebrates the festival of colours with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm, police in the national capital are on their toes to prevent any untoward incident and have raised a high alert in the city.

"During Holi, the footfall is high in the markets, temples, and commercial places. On such occasions, Delhi Police raises its alert. We increase our visibility, presence to counter any threat," a top official told IANS.

Also known as the festival of colours, Holi is widely celebrated signifying the triumph of good over evil. The eve of the festival is known as 'Holika Dahan (burning of demon holika)' or Chhoti Holi.

According to the police official, community policing like 'Eyes and Ears' have been activated so that locals inform the police personnel about any anti-social element in their area.

Strict security arrangements are in place in view the ongoing celebrations. "The safety of the people is our topmost priority. The police personnel have been deployed on roads & streets to intensify patrolling & checking at pickets for area dominance," the official said.

Police personnel will be seen, throughout the day and night, patrolling in all areas of the city. "Threat or no threat, we have to be always ready," another official told IANS.

Heavy presence of police could be seen in the sensitive areas of the capital to prevent any kind of hooliganism that is often done by the miscreants under the garb of the celebration.

"Safety of the women is our topmost priority," said the official.

Meanwhile, Delhi Traffic Police had earlier said that it has made adequate security arrangements for the festival to keep a tab on hooligans and drunken driving.

Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Vivek Kishore said the traffic police personnel will be deployed at all major roads and intersections. "We request you all to follow traffic rules during the Holi celebrations. Do not indulge in drunken driving and triple riding on two wheelers and riding without a helmet," he said in a video message.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Washington, March 18 : India's refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and efforts to protect trade mean one of Washington's most valued strategic partners is actively undercutting its efforts to isolate Moscow, Axios reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion has become a stress test for America's global partnerships. America's treaty allies are all onside, including those outside NATO such as Japan and South Korea. India, for reasons of history and geopolitical pragmatism, is very much not, the report said.

India abstained on a series of UN votes condemning the invasion.

One such resolution was backed by 141 countries, though a Russian diplomat contended that with China and India both abstaining, the critics represented less than half of the global population.

While the US and EU have led a global push to isolate Russia economically, India has been buying up more Russian energy at a discount, Axios reported.

As per the Financial Times, India's central bank is discussing a rupee-ruble trade plan with Moscow to ensure it can continue to buy Russian goods, potentially weakening the effects of Western sanctions, the report said.

US officials say they understand India's delicate position vis-a-vis Russia, though White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called on India's leaders to "think about where you want to stand when history books are written".

The British Trade Secretary said Thursday that the UK is "very disappointed" by India's position and hopes it will change. That's not looking likely, Axios reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Paris, March 18 : The ExoMars rover mission, built in partnership with Russia, has been suspended by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the wake of Moscow's ongoing war on Ukraine.

ExoMars rover was slated for launch in September 2022.

The decision to suspend the mission comes after ESA's ruling Council meeting, held in Paris on March 16-17, with representatives of the agency's 22 member states.

The meeting "acknowledged the present impossibility of carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos on the ExoMars rover mission with a launch in 2022", according to the ESA statement.

The council also "mandated the ESA Director General to take appropriate steps to suspend the cooperation activities accordingly".

"Over the past two days, our Member States discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on ESA's space programmes," ESA director general Joseph Aschbacher said on Twitter.

"Together, we took a tough - but necessary - decision to suspend the launch of ExoMars foreseen for September with Roscosmos, and to study options for a way forward." All the member states have imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its Ukraine invasion. In late February, Germany, which is the largest contributor to the ESA budget, suspended all science cooperation with Russia.

The ESA has also condemned Russian invasion.

"We deeply deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the aggression towards Ukraine. While recognising the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States," the ESA statement said.

The ESA Council meet has authorised the ESA Director General to study better "available options for a way forward to implement the ExoMars rover mission", as it won't be launched by Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency.

The decision on ExoMars is a blow for the beleaguered mission, which has been delayed since 2018 due to parachute issues. It was most recently scheduled to launch on a Russian Proton rocket in September, Space.com reported.

The ExoMars rover, named Rosalind Franklin after the British chemist whose work was fundamental for decoding the structure of the DNA, is the second of two missions forming the ExoMars programme.

It has been designed to search for traces of life in the atmosphere of Mars.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, March 18 : The Opposition in the Kerala Assembly on Friday announced to lead the on-going protests against the Rs 63,940 crore K-Rail project, the ambitious scheme of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

If completed, it will see a 529.45 km corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod with high speed trains covering the distance in around four hours. As per NITI Aayog, it might cost Rs 1.24 lakh crore when it nears completion in 2025.

On Friday, the last day of the current Assembly session, the entire opposition right from the start of the Question Hour, was up in arms against the ruling CPI-M raising slogans against K-Rail and Vijayan for "destroying" peace in the state and insisting on meaningless and a foolish project.

As the sloganeering continued unabated, a visibly angry Vijayan accused the opposition of creating confusion and is in the forefront of a "slander" campaign against the project.

With Speaker M.B.Rajesh's instructions falling on deaf ears, he had to stop the proceedings briefly. But when it resumed, chaos prevailed and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan slammed Vijayan for his autocratic style of functioning. He vowed to see to it Vijayan being forced to announce the calling of the proposed dream project of his.

"We will now lead the protest of the people and will force you to shelve it. Our state wide protests programme has been announced and will be taken to its logical conclusion," said Satheesan.

The protests at Changnacherry in Kottayam district on Thursday turned for the worse when the police clashed with the protesters of the locality through which the K-Rail project is proposed to pass through.

Protests took a violent turn when women and children were dragged by the police and arrests were also made.

On Friday, the locality continues to be tense with more people joining the protests and Satheesan announced to head to Changnacherry to join the protesters, along with the top leaders of the opposition.

In the past few days, the number of protests across the state has increased hugely and on Friday, Metroman E.Sreedharan led the BJP protesters at Trissur and blamed Vijayan for the present unrest that has spread across the state.

"It's the arrogance of Vijayan which is root cause of the protests and what happened at Changnacherry on Thursday when women and children were roughed up does not augur well at all," said Sreedharan.

Now with the Assembly session over and the Covid protocols also being eased, both the Congress and the BJP have announced massive protests against the project.
Chennai, March 18 : Tamil Nadu will encourage transit oriented development (TOD) by increasing the Floor Space Index (FSI) in certain corridors, said Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Friday.

Presenting the state budget for 2022-23, Rajan said: "In order to encourage TOD in certain corridors such as metro rail, suburban rail, national highways and bypass roads, the Government has decided to raise the existing Floor Space Index (FSI) in adjoining areas." Along with this, the necessary infrastructural facilities will also be developed for these corridors, he said.

The 50-metre wide stretch of land adjoining the eastern side of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) from Minjur to Vandalur with a length of 62 kms will be developed as a Development Corridor.

A comprehensive exercise is underway to plan the establishment of large-scale residential complexes, SIPCOT industrial parks, recreational spots, warehouses, horticulture parks, organic food processing zones, and plug-and-play facilities for industrial development along this corridor.

To ensure accelerated development, FSI will be increased in this corridor, he said.

According to him, the state government will release 'Redevelopment Policy' this year to redevelop old and dilapidated residential tenements constructed by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board.

So far, 60 such schemes have been identified and preliminary activities have been initiated. The project will envisage achieving maximum FSI in partnership with private enterprises.

Rajan said to expedite the issue of planning permissions and approvals for construction of buildings, a single-window system will be implemented by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Greater Chennai Corporation, Local Planning Authorities and other local bodies during this year.
United Nations, March 18 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for calm in libya amid the political strife during a phone call with Fathi Bashagha, one of the two competing Prime Ministers in the country.

The House of Representatives withdrew confidence from Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah's Government of National Unity in September 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

On March 1, the House of Representatives held a vote of confidence on a new government led by Bashagha and swore in the new government two days later.

Dbeibah has rejected the legitimacy of the March 1 vote and said he will only transfer power to an elected government.

Guterres on March 2 voiced concern over reports that the vote fell short of the expected standards of transparency and procedures and included acts of intimidation prior to the session.

In the phone call, the Secretary-general and Bashagha discussed the latest developments in Libya, said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman.

Guterres expressed deep concern at the ongoing political polarization in Libya, which carries significant risks for Libya's hard-won stability.

"The Secretary-General stressed the need for all actors to preserve calm and stability on the ground, while reiterating the UN's firm rejection for the use of violence, intimidation and hate speech," said Dujarric.

Guterres added that the current stalemate required urgent dialogue to find a consensual way forward and reiterated his full support to mediation efforts carried out by his special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said the spokesman.

Guterres held a phone call with Dbeibah on March 5. Guterres initiated both calls, said Dujarric.

But the spokesman said Thursday's call does not mean the Secretary-General is recognizing Bashagha's premiership.

"We are not in the business of recognizing other countries. What the secretary-general recognizes is that there is a situation in Libya, with competing claims to the authority, with a great risk of things going backward. So he is supporting Stephanie Williams. Our effort is to ensure that Libya does not go back," said Dujarric.

"What we have said is that Williams has offered her good offices, is trying to bring the parties together, so that the solution is one that is supported by the Libyan people where political decisions on leadership are agreed upon through transparent and accountable processes. But it's not about the secretary-general choosing favourites, far from it," he said.
New Delhi, March 18 : After the poll loss, Congress general secretary in charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has met the party leaders for three days in a row to devise strategy to revive the party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress could manage only over 2 per cent votes and two seats in the Uttar Pradesh polls and the task ahead is tough so Priyanka Gandhi has tried to prepare a blue print for it, sources said.

UP has 80, the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in which Congress has only one MP from the state, while the BJP and it allies have around 64 MPs.

As per the sources, after Ajay Kumar Lallu's resignation, the party is shortlisting names for the state president too and Gandhi met veterans like Pramod Tiwari and two newly elected MLAs individually, besides other leaders.

The Congress has faced a massive loss in all the five states though Priyanka tried hard to make the party relevant but failed to garner enough support.

The Congress workers from across Uttar Pradesh are upset with the style of the party functionaries and want surgery in the state. "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.

"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 recent Assembly election results of five states are a cause of serious concern for the Indian National Congress. The party accepts that due to shortcomings in our strategy, we could not effectively expose the misrule of the BJP state governments in four states and overcome the anti-incumbency in the state of Punjab in the short time after effecting a change of leadership," said the CWC resolution.

It said that the Congress "represents the hopes of millions of Indians against political authoritarianism prevailing in the country today and the party is fully conscious of its immense responsibility."
Chennai, March 18 : One of Tamil cinema's most admired directors, the multiple award-winning Vetri Maaran, described his assistant director and nephew, Mathi Maaran, who turns director with his upcoming campus action thriller 'Selfie', as a man with a lot of self-respect.

Participating in an event to release the audio and trailer of the film at the Prasad lab in Chennai on Thursday, Vetri Maaran disclosed that his former assistant director was actually a relative.

"Mathi Maaran is my nephew and his dad was the one who gave me the name Vetri Maaran. His dad, my uncle, likes the name Maaran. So, he called me Vetri Maran and named his son Mathi Maaran," the director reminisced.

He added: "Mathi Maaran is a man with a lot of self-respect. He is someone who does not believe in short-cuts. I say this because when he announced his decision to join films, his family told him to first complete all the arrear papers he had in college before moving on to films. He had a lot of pending papers, but he cleared all of them in one stroke.

"He did not use the fact that he was my nephew to ask me for an opportunity to join my team as assistant director. Instead, he worked with another director and then went on to make a short film. He showed me the short film. I found it to be good and chose him to join my team of assistant directors." Vetri Maaran disclosed.

Stating that he had already seen the film 'Selfie', which features G.V. Prakash and director Gautham Vasudev Menon in the lead, Vetri Maaran said it had raw energy and he liked it.

The director also recalled Mathi Maaran's contribution as assistant director during the making of 'Aadukalam', which won six National Film Awards. The post-production work of that film was a tedious, difficult and long-drawn process, which went on for almost nine months. Mathi Maaran's contribution to the process was immense.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Jammu, March 18 : Four persons were arrested on Friday for duping people in the name of providing helicopter tickets to pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine through fake websites.

Police sources said: "Jammu Cyber Police with the assistance of Rajasthan police arrested four persons for duping people in the name of providing helicopter tickets to pilgrims for Mata Vaishno Devi shrine through fake websites".

The gang of fraudsters was offering fake online to and fro helicopter tickets to pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine through fake websites. The gang members, along with the kingpin, have been arrested, they added.
Agra, March 18 : A journalist, arrested on charges of misbehaving with police officers outside a vote counting centre in Agra, has now accused the police of torturing him in custody.

Gaurav Bansal, 39, was arrested on March 15. Police said he was booked after he reached a counting centre on March 8 and alleged EVMs were being replaced.

He also allegedly misbehaved with policemen.

Bansal's lawyer Adhar Sharma said: "He was given third degree torture and humiliated by police officers. They beat him up mercilessly all night." Etmadaula Station House Officer (SHO) Satya Dev Sharma denied the allegations and said: "Bansal was creating nuisance days before counting. He already has multiple cases against him."
Ice shelves in Antarctica, such as the Getz Ice Shelf seen here, are sensitive to warming ocean temperatures. Ocean and atmospheric conditions are some of the drivers of ice sheet loss that scientists considered in a new study estimating additional g Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 18 : With a significant stake in the Arctic region, India is one of the 13 nations holding Observer status in the Arctic Council, a high-level inter-governmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic government and the indigenous people of the region.

On Thursday, the Centre released its Arctic policy titled 'India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development'.

The policy document lays down six pillars: Strengthening India's scientific research and cooperation; climate and environmental protection; economic and human development; transportation and connectivity; governance and international cooperation, and national capacity building in the Arctic region.

The policy aims to promote the following agenda: 1. Strengthening national capabilities and competencies in science and exploration, climate and environmental protection, maritime and economic cooperation with the Arctic region.

2. Inter-ministerial coordination in pursuit of India's interests in the Arctic.

3. Enhancing understanding of the impact of climate change in the Arctic region on India's climate, economic, and energy security.

4. Contributing better analysis, prediction, and coordinated policymaking on the implications of ice melting in the Arctic on India's economic, military and strategic interests related to global shipping routes, energy security, and exploitation of mineral wealth.

5. Studying linkages between polar regions and the Himalayas.

6. Deepen cooperation between India and countries of the Arctic region under various Arctic forums, drawing expertise from scientific and traditional knowledge.

7. Increase India's participation in the Arctic Council and improve understanding of the complex governance structures in the Arctic, relevant international laws, and geopolitics of the region.

A release by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said: "Implementing India's Arctic Policy shall define timelines, prioritise activities and allocate requisite resources. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the nodal institution for India's Polar research programme, which includes Arctic studies." The policy document is available on the website of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Chennai, March 18 : Tamil Nadu government will buy 500 new electric buses and 2,213 diesel powered buses next fiscal with KfW assistance, said Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Friday.

Presenting the state budget for 2022-23 in the Assembly, he said: "Under the 'Climate-Friendly Modernisation of Buses in Major Cities of Tamil Nadu' Project being implemented with KfW assistance, 2,213 BS-VI new diesel buses and 500 new electric buses will be procured." He said owing to the free bus service for women in the state, the share of women passengers has increased from 40 per cent to 61 per cent.

"The scheme has had a huge impact on the socio-economic status of women. In the budget, Rs 1,520 crore will be provided as subsidies towards free bus travel for women, Rs 928 crore as subsidy for student concession in bus fare and Rs 1,300 crore as diesel subsidy, Rajan said.
Chennai, March 18 : The school education department received the highest allocation in the Tamil Nadu budget for the financial year 2022-23 presented by Finance Minister P.T.R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan in the state Assembly on Friday.

The Finance minister allocated an amount of Rs 36,895.89 crore which is the highest amount allocated in the budget. The state school education department received Rs 34,181 crore for the financial year 2021-22.

While presenting the budget, he said that in the next five years all government schools will be modernised with all the necessary infrastructure.

Thiaga Rajan said that 18,000 new classrooms will be built and smart classrooms equipped with essential technologies will come up. The minister said that for the development of smart classrooms with essential technologies an amount of Rs 7,000 crore will be spent in the next five years.

Book fairs would be held across all districts of the state and that a high-level committee has been constituted for reviving libraries across the state, he stated.
Gandhinagar, March 18 : With the aim of introducing Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in government schools, values and principles of Bhagwad Gita will be included in the curriculum from June 2022, Gujarat Education Minister Jitu Vaghani has said.

While speaking in the state Assembly on Tursday, minister Vaghani said that school students should "have an understanding of Gita and its shlokas".

According to the Government Resolution (GR), the students from Class 6 to 12 will be introduced to values and principles of the Bhagwad Gita from the academic session 2022-23.

"In the first phase, values and principles of Bhagwad Gita will be incorporated in state government schools from Class 6 to 12 in such a manner that they are able to understand as well as generate interest for these," states the GR.

The introduction of Bhagwat Gita will be made in the form of story telling and recitation. The GR also states that this would be evaluated.

For Classes 9 to 12, the core of Bhagwad Gita like humanitarianism, equality, concept of karma yoga, concepts of selfless service as well as the management concepts and leadership lessons in Gita will form a part of Gujarati subject textbooks.

School assembly will also have Bhagwad Gita in the form of story telling and recitation. Additionally, extracurricular activities such as debates, essay writing, plays, drawing and quiz competition on the shlokas will be introduced in government primary and secondary schools.

Vaghani said that Gita based shlok gan, shlok purti, elocution, essay, play, painting and quiz will also be introduced through competitions.

It will be included in prayer session of schools also.
Mumbai, March 18 : Israel has urged the Maharashtra government to revive the master plan for the ambitious water-grid project for the parched Marathwada region which was delayed due to the Covid-18 pandemic, an official said here on Friday.

A high-level delegation led by Israel's Deputy Director-General for Asia and Pacific Rafael Harpaz called on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday and sought the state government's support to resurrect the project.

In February 2018, Israel's national water company Mekorot had chosen Maharashtra's Marathwada region to conduct a comprehensive water resources survey and then help develop a water grid to solve the woes of the people here.

As per the agreement, Mekorot would bring in the technology, knowhow and systems for the survey, prepare a water supply master plan to eliminate the water problems plaguing the region spread over 65,000 sq. kms.

The agreement for the Rs 10,000 crore project was signed between Israel and Maharashtra during the visit of the then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, intended to ease the water shortages afflicting the three crore population of Marathwada.

Marathwada is sprawled across 8 districts - Aurangabad, Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Jalna, Nanded and Hingoli with nearly 13,000 villages which need thousands of tankers every summer to provide drinking water.

The Mekorot master plan envisages inter-linking of at least 11 dams in Marathwada to create a water-grid and ensure uninterrupted water supply for the region, but the proposal got bogged down due to the Covid-19 pandemic which ranged across the state in 2020-2021.

Koshyari expressed his gratitude to the Israeli delegation and said that its help in the water management of Marathwada will prove to be a boon to the people for the region.

Israel Consul-General in Mumbai Kobbi Shoshani also informed the Governor that his country had recently gifted a state-of-the-art cancer treatment device to the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.

The success of treatment of cancer through the ICE Cure Cryoablation Device has been found to be 98 per cent and said that early detection of the disease helps in its effective treatment.
Chennai, March 18 : Tamil Nadu government has decided to set up a committee to recommend reform measures in its human resource hiring and training modes, said Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Friday.

Presenting the state budget for 2022-23 in the Assembly, Rajan said: "The Government will constitute a Human Resources Reforms Committee, which will be tasked with proposing a comprehensive roadmap for reforms in human resource management within a six-month period." He said the state is in a difficult situation where the expenditure on salaries and pensions is large even while the vacancy rate is high.

"The current model for recruitment and training needs urgent reform. The Pandemic has further exacerbated the situation. This year we started the process by amending some rules for both recruitment and training," he said.

According to him, the government will introduce a new asset management system and integrated with the Integrated Financial and Human Resources Management System (IFHRMS) next fiscal to account for all movable and immovable assets of the Government and to monitor their utilisation.

A high-level committee, headed by a retired officer from the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, has been set up to review the audit departments and make necessary recommendations for reforms. This committee will submit its report to the Government in four months, Rajan said.

The other reform measure is making electronic procurement mandatory for the government and its undertakings from 1.4.2022 onwards.

"The Government will bring necessary amendments to the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules for this purpose," Rajan said.

He also said the government has strengthened the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) infrastructure - officer, vehicles and personnel- and also by employing experts.

"In the coming year, we will continue to strengthen of the DVAC to hitherto unseen levels," he said.

With DVAC raids on several former Ministers of the AIADMK party, Rajan quipped that party members would have staged a walk out on hearing this had they been in the House.

The AIADMK members had earlier walked out of the House.
New Delhi, March 18 : Google is reportedly working on a foldable smartphone 'Pixel Notepad' and now a report has claimed that the search engine giant will begin production of the upcoming foldable smartphone in Q3, 2022.

According to a NoteBookCheck report, the device will debut after the launch of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold4 which will likely launch around August, creating a cheaper alternative in the foldable device.

As per report, Google remains committed to targeting the $1,399 price point which is hard to fight against for Samsung as their current-gen Galaxy Z Fold3 devices go for $1,799.

The foldable is expected to come with a 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor on the back. The foldable is reportedly called "pipit" internally and it is expected to ship with Android 12L.

Google Notepad is expected to come powered by the company's own Tensor (GS101) chipset, coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.

In addition, the device will also feature a 12MP ultrawide sensor on the rear and can get two 8MP front camera sensors on each the other display and the inner display.
Hyderabad, March 18 : Well-known seer Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy's alleged remarks on Tribal deities Sammakka and Sarakka have angered the tribals across Telangana.

Various tribal and Dalit organisations and leaders have lodged complaints with the police seeking action against him. They also demanded that he tender an apology. Some have even called for expelling him from Telangana.

A controversy erupted after a video of the Chinna Jeeyar in which he allegedly mocked tribal goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka went viral on social media two days ago.

Chinna Jeeyar, who is considered spiritual guru of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, allegedly questioned the origin and relevance of Sammakka and Sarakka saying they did not descend from heaven like other Brahminical gods.

Tribals worship Sammakka and Sarakka as goddesses and once in every two years they gather at Medaram in Mulugu district to celebrate the valour of legendary warriors.

The seer's controversial remarks have come to light a month after Sammakka Sarakka jatra, said to be Asia's largest tribal fair. Over a crore devotees participated in the four-day fair, celebrated as Telangana's official festival.

Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka died while fighting against the Kakatiya empire. The legend has it that they opposed levy of taxes on tribals during drought conditions by the then Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century and died while fighting against their Army.

In the video widely circulated on social media, the seer remarked that Sammakka and Sarakka are mere forest and village deities. "Who are Sarakka and Sammakka? Are they gods who descended from Brahma Lokam? What is their history? They are merely forest and village deities. Let the people who live there worship them," he said.

The spiritual leader, however, noted that even educated people and big industrialists are worshipping them and have even named banks after them. "This has become a business," remarked Chinna Jeyer.

The remarks have sparked protests in Mulugu, Warangal, Mahabubabad and other districts in the state. Condemning the seer's remarks, the protestors took out rallies and lodged complaints with the police.

The Telangana Tribal Association lodged a complaint against the seer at the Chikkadpally police station in Hyderabad. Police officials assured association's state general secretary R. Sriram Nayak that they will look into the video and seek legal opinion.

Tribal rights organisation, Tudumdebba demanded that Chinna Jeeyar be booked under SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. It condemned the seer's remarks saying it hurt their sentiments and Sammakka and Sarakka symbolise self-respect of the aboriginal tribals.

The organisation demanded an unconditional apology to the tribals and warned that if he failed to apologise they would launch an agitation.

Tudumdebba leaders alleged that the seer encroached thousands of acres of government land and that he had no right to comment on the deities.

Bahujan Samaj Party's Telangana state coordinator R.S. Praveen Kumar also condemned Chinna Jeeyar's remarks and alleged that he has been crossing the line. "Did Ramanujacharya teach you to speak in such a derogatory manner? You have been constantly making disparaging remarks against Bahujan-Adivasi gods and food habits," said Praveen Kumar.

The seer had earlier landed in a controversy with his remarks ridiculing people who eat meat. He had said that people who eat pork would think like pigs, and people who eat mutton would follow the herd.

Mulugu MLA Danasari Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, slammed Chinna Jeeyar for his derogatory remarks about tribal deities. The Congress leader visited Medaram along with tribal priests and demanded that the seer take back his remarks and apologise to tribals.

Seethakka said a seer from Andhra has made arrogant remarks against Sammakka and Sarakka who symbolise the statehood struggle of Telangana.

"In the name of the Statue of Equality, you have been doing business and collecting a fee of Rs 150 from the visitors to serve your own interests. There is no fee to enter the temple of Sammakka and Sarakka," tweeted Seethakka. She was referring to the 216-feet statue of Ramanujacharya installed by Chinna Jeeyar at his ashram in Hyderabad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last month unveiled the statue commemorating the 11th-century Saint Ramanujacharya. President Ramnath Kovind had also unveiled a 120-kg gold statue of Ramanujachrya at the same venue.

Condemning Chinna Jeeyar's remarks, state Girijana Shakti leader Sharat Nayak led a protest at Arts College on the campus of Osmania University. He demanded that the seer be expelled from Telangana.
Colombo, March 18 : Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has informed the Energy Ministry to prioritise the tourism sector when distributing gas and fuel as the country faced a shortage in both commodities due to a foreign exchange crisis, an official said on Friday.

An official from the Tourism Ministry told Xinhua news agency that Ranatunga held discussions with the Energy Minister this week so that the tourism sector could continue operations without any setbacks.

According to official figures, nearly 235,000 tourists have arrived in the country so far this year and nearly 50,000 tourists were currently in the country.

During discussions, Ranatunga pointed out that it was in the national interest to provide assistance to the tourism industry as the sector was one of the largest foreign exchange earners.

Sri Lanka has in recent months been facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has led to a fuel, gas and power crisis.

In a televised speech on Wednesday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged people to remain patient while the government was in discussions with friendly nations and the International Monetary Fund to come out of this shortage.
London, March 18 : Ukraine is "humiliating" Russia on the battlefield and "wiping the floor with them in terms of world opinion", the BBC quoted a UK military expert as saying.

Professor Michael Clarke, former director of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, says: "The Russians are making almost every tactical mistake it is possible to make." Speaking on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he explains: "They (Russian troops) look like forces that were completely unprepared, that hadn't thought through what a major campaign might look like.

"The Ukrainians are stalling the Russian advance in all areas and even operating now quite effective counter attacks. The Russians are losing a lot of equipment and troops." Clarke says Ukraine has a "NATO standard" battlefield command and control system, built with help from Nato countries since 2014.

The attack on a plane maintenance plant in Lviv on Friday morning makes it "clear the Russians are going for the infrastructure that is keeping Ukrainian aircraft in the air", he says.

Striking the western city just 70 km from the Polish border is also "an attempt to frighten the West out of helping Ukrainians as much as they have been", Clarke added.
New Delhi, March 18 : A 27-year-old man who was involved in a stabbing incident in the national capital was arrested by the Delhi Police from Dehradun in Uttarakhand, an official said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Vinay alias Lala, a resident of Sultan Puri, Delhi was also found previously involved in 18 criminal cases.

According to the official, a case under section 365, 307, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and section 25, 27 of the Arms act was registered at Sultan Puri on October 30, last year, in which the complainant alleged that four persons namely Kunal, Robin, Lala and one unknown person forcibly dragged him inside their car and started demanding money for accused Kunal's birthday celebration.

When the complainant refused to give them money, the accused took him to D-2 block and stabbed him with a knife, the official said. During the course of investigation, the police arrested two accused persons namely Kunal & Robin while the remaining two co-accused were absconding.

"The police team which was investigating the case received a tip-off about the presence of Vinay alias Lala in Dehradun following which they went there and apprehended him," the official said.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing four other crimes recently which have been verified through various police stations. Further investigation of the case is in progress, the official added.
New Delhi, March 18 : Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday celebrated Holi with schoolchildren and secretariat staff at the 'Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas'.

Children from four schools in the national capital, including those run by Municipal Corporation, visited the Vice-President's residence and greeted him on the occasion.

The Vice-President was delighted when the enthusiastic children recited patriotic poems. In reply to a question from a student whether he ever gets demotivated, Naidu said, "No, I don't get demotivated, but sometimes, I get disillusioned when some parliamentarians do not behave upto standards in the House." He also said that Sardar Patel is the source of inspiration for his strong will power.

To another question on how the Vice-President balances his official duties and family responsibilities, Naidu said: "During my active political career, I could not do justice to the family but after becoming the Vice-President, now I do try to spend time with my family." "As the Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, I have constitutional duties and obligations to perform, but I always make it a point to talk to my granddaughter and grandson," he said.

He advised the youngsters to always love and respect their mother, motherland and mother-tongue.

He told the students to live and work for the protection of unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.

Highlighting the age-old civilisational values of ashare and care', Naidu urged the students to develop a compassionate attitude.

Earlier in the day, President Ram Nath Kovind and the Vice-President exchanged Holi greetings over phone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wrote to the Vice-President conveying his good wishes and greetings on the occasion of Holi.
New Delhi, Mar1 March 18 : The benchmark three-month nickel contract on London Metal Exchange declined 12 per cent on Friday morning to hit a lower circuit, CNBC reported. The price of nickel hit $36,915 a tonne as it opened for trade.

Heavy selling in international metal markets weighed on the contracts.

Nickel is widely used in stainless steel and electric-vehicle batteries.

On March 8, nickel contracts on the London-based exchanges surged as much as 111 per cent to breach $100,000 per tonne.

Following the unprecedented increase in its price, the exchange had suspended the trading in the most-active three-month contract for the rest of the session.

Then, on Wednesday, March 16, the exchange resumed the trade in nickel, however, soon it had to be suspended as some "system error" surfaced on the pricing front.
Islamabad, March 18 : If political stability remains intact, the Chinese commitment of $20 to $30 billion investments for establishing a petrochemical complex and relocation of refineries at Gwadar could be materialised, Special Assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister (SAPM) on CPEC, Khalid Mansoor, said, The News reported.

"If we ensure political stability, Chinese companies are going to make huge investments ranging from $20 to $30 billion for establishing the petrochemical complex and relocation of two refineries at Gwadar over the next years. We used to talk more and work less but now things are in place to make it a reality," Khalid Mansoor confirmed to The News after addressing the Pakistan Petrochemical Symposium organised by the Corporate Pakistan Group in collaboration with the OICCI and other partners.

Earlier, in his address, he said that on the way forward, there is a need to formulate a policy framework for the Thar Coal gasification. The Thar Chemical Industrial Zone might be established with Special Economic Zone (SEZ) incentives, development and implementation of infrastructure projects in Thar.
Moscow, March 18 : US President Joe Biden's words to Russian President Vladimir Putin are a personal insult, said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian President.

"We really hear and see statements that are actually already personal insults against President Putin," Peskov said, RT reported.

According to him, Biden allows himself such statements almost daily. He added that the Kremlin would not give sharp assessments, so as not to cause more aggressiveness.

Biden, speaking at a Friends of Ireland dinner, called Putin a "bloody dictator" and a "thug." Earlier, Moscow considered "inadmissible and unforgivable" the words of Biden, who called Putin a "war criminal", Peskov said.

The press secretary of the President of Russia recalled that hundreds of thousands of people around the world were killed by US bombs.

The words of Biden, who called Putin a "war criminal", are "absolutely inadmissible, unacceptable, unforgivable," Peskov said, RT reported.

"Our President is a very wise, far-sighted and cultured international figure and the head of the Russian Federation," said Peskov, answering a question as to why the head of state does not answer the American leader.
Hyderabad, March 18 : In one of the recent promotional videos of 'RRR', whose release is a week away, S.S. Rajamouli, the film's director, Ram Charan and Jr NTR are seen having a casual chat, where the two stars admit that they were upset by the helmsman's lack of empathy while on the sets.

The actors complained that they had to deal with the tough demands of Rajamouli, who is known to be a no-nonsense man, on the sets of the movie.

"Rajamouli does not show any empathy while on the sets. Even if Charan or I had small issues, he would make us join the shoot, and complete the task," NTR complained.

In response, Rajamouli said: "I have to control myself not to show empathy. If I start showing empathy and stop the show even for one day, it will cause a huge damage to the production house." Ram Charan, on his part, admitted that there was a time when he got irked by Rajamouli's behaviour.

"I was not feeling well and Rajamouli still wanted me to come down and start shooting. He said that a thousand people have come down to work on the sets, so it will be a waste of money if I didn't show up," Ram Charan recalled.
Moscow, March 18 : Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a telephone conversation during which the Russian leader announced the desire of the Kiev regime to drag out peace talks.

The Kremlin said: "It was noted that the Kiev regime is trying in every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals. Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue the search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches." Putin also added that the Russian armed forces are doing everything possible to save the lives of civilians, including by organising safe corridors for the population to leave cities in the war zone, RT reported.

Putin also discussed with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council the progress of the special operation in Ukraine. This was announced by the press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov.

"At the meeting, the current international situation was discussed, the exchange of views continued on the ongoing special operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine," Peskov was quoted by TASS.

According to him, the President informed the meeting participants in detail about his numerous international telephone contacts.
Los Angeles, March 18 : Revered Ukrainian actress Oksana Shvets has been killed in a Russian rocket attack on a residential building in Kiev, according to the Young Theatre, where she was part of the troupe. She was reportedly 67.

Basing its report on 'Kyiv Post', the English-language daily published from the Ukrainian capital, 'Deadline' said that Shvets worked in theatre and film for decades and her efforts garnered one of Ukraine's highest honours, the title of which roughly translates as 'Honoured Artiste of Ukraine'.

The honour is only bestowed upon those among the country's most accomplished performing artistes. In its announcement, the Young Theatre expressed "irreparable grief" at Shvets's passing, before describing how the actress died.

Shvets was born on February 10, 1955. She graduated from the theatre studio at the Ivan Franko Theatre and the Kiev State Institute of Theatre Arts. In addition to her time with the Young Theatre, Shvets had worked at the Ternopil Music and Drama Theatre and the Kiev Theatre of Satire.
Geneva, March 18 : Thirty-five companies, from 12 countries including India, have signed an agreement to manufacture the generic version of Pfizer's oral Covid-19 pill, the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has said.

Pfizer's Covid pill Paxlovid consists of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use. Nirmatrelvir, in combination with a low dose of ritonavir, can be supplied in 95 low- and middle-income countries.

As part of the agreement, "generic manufacturers will produce the raw ingredients for nirmatrelvir and/or the finished drug itself co-packaged with ritonavir", the MPP said in a statement.

"Six companies will focus on producing the drug substance, nine companies will produce the drug product and the remainder will do both," it added.

The companies span 12 countries: India, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Serbia, South Korea, and Vietnam. In India, Hyderabad-based pharma major Aurobindo Pharma has signed the agreement. The company will market the product in the 95 low- and middle-income countries as well as in India.

"Nirmatrelvir is a new product and requires substantial manufacturing capabilities to produce, and we have been very impressed with the quality of manufacturing demonstrated by these companies," said Charles Gore, MPP Executive Director, in the statement.

"Furthermore, 15 companies are signing their first licence with MPP, and we warmly welcome our new generic manufacturing partners," he added.

A licence has also been offered to a company in Ukraine, and the offer will remain available to them as they are not able to sign due to the current conflict.

Paxlovid is administered as three tablets (two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir) taken together orally twice daily for five days, for a total of 30 tablets.

It consists of nirmatrelvir, which inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein to stop the virus from replicating, and ritonavir, which slows down nirmatrelvir's breakdown to help it remain in the body for a longer period at higher concentrations.
Chennai, March 18 : Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan has allocated Rs 10 crore for early flood warning systems in the budget for 2022-23 presented in the legislative assembly on Friday.

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to establish an advanced early warning system with supercomputers, a system of weather balloons, two weather radars, 100 automatic weather stations, 400 automatic rain gauges and 11 automatic water level instruments.

Thiagarajan in his speech said, "The sudden floods which happened in Chennai recently has underscored the need to upgrade the Disaster Early Warning systems to predict the weather accurately." The state government has also formed an advisory committee to make recommendations to prevent the damage caused by floods in Chennai.
New Delhi, March 18 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the District Magistrate of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura to take action and submit a detailed report as per the recommendation of an NGT-assigned joint committee which found some unauthorised activities on the floodplain of the Yamuna river.

The bench of Chairman, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (retd), was dealing the plea in which it was alleged that the Yamuna floodplain is being encroached under the garb of preservation and clean river and undertaking plantation drive by the Yamuna mission.

The applicant has filed photographs showing construction on the ghats and copies of complaints made to the authorities.

As per the report of the joint committee, which inspected the site on January 12 and 13, it is clear that there are some unauthorised activities on the floodplain of the river, and suggested demarcation of boundaries of the riverbank and identifying responsible authorities for the protection of the floodplains, the NGT order said.

"We do not find any reason not to accept the report. The report is also backed by photographs which are annexed. Accordingly, the report is accepted," it read.

It further said there can be no two views that plantation and developing biodiversity parks in flood plain zone are permitted activities but even such activities can be done as per law, including the Notification of National Mission for Clean Ganga.

Functional Process Zone (FPZ) should not be encroached. Filling up the soil, laying earthen walkways, roads, or installation of other facilities and structures have to be as per requisite sanctions. Diversion of sewage drains has also to be done properly and not in the manner found to have been done in the present case, it added.
Chennai, March 18 : The Tiruvallur Mahila court has sentenced a 102-year-old retired headmaster of a government school in Tamil Nadu, Parasuraman, to 15 years in prison and a fine of Rs 5000 for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. The incident occurred in 2018 when Parasuraman was 99 years old. The accused has five daughters and two sons.

He had constructed five houses at Sennerkuppam and rented them out. A family had taken one house on rent which was next to his residence and they had a ten-year-old daughter.

On July 6, 2018 when the parents returned home, the girl complained of stomach ache and when her mother questioned whether she had eaten something that had caused the stomach ache, she revealed that the old man had sexually assaulted her.

Sub Inspector Latha of the Tiruvallur police station told IANS, "I was the investigating officer of the case and on receiving a complaint from the parents, we interrogated Parasuraman and he admitted to the crime. He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody." After three and a half years the trial is now over and Parasurman has been convicted and sentenced to 15 years in jail and a fine of Rs 5000 has been imposed on him.

Of the 15-year jail term, 10 years is rigorous imprisonment and five years is simple imprisonment.

He has been sent to Puzhal central prison in Chennai.
Putin, Scholz hold phone talks over Ukraine situation

Xinhua) 23:14, March 18, 2022

MOSCOW/BERLIN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that Moscow is ready to search for solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during negotiations with the Ukrainian side.

Putin criticized Kiev for "trying to delay the negotiation process in every way possible, putting forward more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said.

Putin said the solutions the Russian side was searching for would be in line with its "principled approaches."

During the conversation, Scholz called for a ceasefire, improvement in the humanitarian situation, and a diplomatic solution to the conflict as soon as possible, according to a statement issued by the German government.

Putin also mentioned Russia's humanitarian work in Mariupol, and efforts carried out by Russian armed forces to save the lives of civilians by opening humanitarian corridors and evacuating people.

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Thursday that it would take between a few days and a week and a half for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held several rounds of negotiations in a bid to broker a solution to the conflict between the two countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji)
Chennai, March 18 : Mixed views were voiced by politicians, economists and others on the 2022-23 budget for Tamil Nadu that was presented by Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan in the Assembly on Friday.

This was Thiagarajan's second budget and also the second paperless budget for the state.

Reacting to the budget proposals, former Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O. Panneerselvam said the budget lacks foresight and will not help the common man to improve his life.

Panneerselvam said the budget does not have provisions for fulfilling various poll promises made by the DMK party like increasing old age pension, financial assistance to the women heads of families, increasing the revenue from mining and other sources.

Panneerselvam who had handled the finance portfolio when the AIADMK was in power said the budget does not have anything on increasing the state's revenues or cutting down costs.

"Social safety net, data driven governance, environmental sustainability and inter-generational equity, were among the key focus areas of this year's budget. Although the impact of the pandemic posed serious challenges to the economic growth of Tamil Nadu, the situation has been improving in the past months," Economist Gowri Ramachandran told IANS.

"So, reform measures to boost the state's revenue by plugging leakages, to tap the revenue collection from key departments like commercial taxes, mining, sale of liquor/excise to the fullest possible extent, guidelines for toning up the functioning of State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and steps to reduce the debt burden are among the big expectations for this budget and all these were addressed," she said.

Lauding the minister for bringing down the revenue deficit by about Rs 7,000 cr and fiscal deficit well within the approved line of four percentage Ramachandran said the priority will be for revenue resources and exploring possible measures to improve it.

The government has allocated Rs 50 crore for emerging sector seed funds in the budget. Additionally, Rs 30 crore have been allocated towards TANSIM (Tamil Nadu Start up and Innovation Mission) for promoting start-ups in Tamil Nadu which in turn would encourage talented startups, Ramachandran said.

President of Manitheneya Makkal Katchi, M.H. Jawahirullah said the budget is growth oriented and inclusive.

He said while new tax announcements were expected, the Finance Minister has presented a tax free growth oriented budget.

PMK Founder S.Ramadoss welcomed some of the budget proposals and said there are no special schemes to take the state on the forward path.

He said the increasing debt burden-expected to be about Rs 6.53 lakh crore by March 31, 2023 is a worrying factor.

The President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, K. Annamalai said the state government has announced schemes by naming the central government schemes and the budget is silent on the DMK party's poll promises.

In a tweet Annamalai said the budget lacks long term vision and is a daydreamer's budget.

Tamil Nadu's budget for 2022-23 is a disappointment for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) as it is similar to that of the Union Budget supporting 'doing well' industries, said K.E.Raghunathan, Convenor, Consortium of Indian Associations.

"The budget is not addressing the core needs of MSMEs today. Sorry Finance Minister. We expected more from you for uplifting the suffocating MSMEs. But our pain continues and the struggle goes on," Raghunathan said.
London, March 18 : Russian oil exports to India have quadrupled this month in a sign of the vast reshaping of global energy flows since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Financial Times reported.

India, the world's third-largest energy consuming country, has snapped up multiple cargoes of Russian oil from traders as buyers in Europe shunned the country's vast commodities market following western sanctions on Moscow.

Russia has exported 360,000 barrels a day of oil to India in March so far, nearly four times the 2021 average. The country is on track to hit 203,000 b/d for the whole month based on current shipment schedules, according to Kpler, a commodities data and analytics firm. Export data represent cargoes that have been loaded on to tankers and are enroute India, Financial Times reported.

Alex Booth, head of research at Kpler, said India typically buys CPC, a blend of predominantly Kazakh and Russian crude, but the big increase in March was for Russia's flagship Urals crude, suggesting Indian buyers weighed up significant discounts against public opinion.

"Already committed oil cargoes from Russia that can't find buyers in Europe are being bought by India. Exports to India surged in March before any official announcement by New Delhi," he said, FT reported.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki warned that India would be on the wrong side of history if it bought Russian oil, although she acknowledged the purchases would not violate US sanctions. Historically, Russian crude oil has constituted below 5 percent of India's total imports, which were 4.2mn b/d last year.

"Indian companies weren't sourcing much from Russia given high shipping costs," said Vivekanand Subbaraman, research analyst at Ambit Capital. "This appears to be changing now." Lars Barstad, chief executive of Frontline, a New York-listed tanker company, said that the discount on Russian Urals was about $25-30 a barrel, whereas freight rates would only add $3-4 per barrel, making the trade economic, FT reported.

Frontline and other tanker companies have been avoiding trading Russian oil because of the complexity of complying with sanctions, but many oil majors and traders are legally bound under contracts to keep lifting Russian barrels.

Speaking to Indian lawmakers this week, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri stressed that energy prices in India have not soared as much as they have in Europe and the US, rising only 5 per cent.

India would act in the interest of local consumers within "the margin of persuasion", he added.

Russia's deputy prime minister Alexander Novak and Puri spoke over phone last week.

"We are interested in further attracting Indian investment to the Russian oil and gas sector and expanding Russian companies' sales networks in India," Novak said.

Indian officials have said that the central bank and government are looking at establishing a rupee-rouble trading mechanism, which would facilitate trade after western restrictions on international payments to and from Russia, Financial Times reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Bengaluru, March 18 : The Karnataka government has decided to take an all party delegation to New Delhi to meet the Union Minister for Water Resources for demanding speedy implementation of the controversial Mekedatu project.

Speaking to reporters Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday made this announcement after chairing an all party meeting on the Mekedatu project in the Vidhan Soudha.

Bommai stated that very important matters were discussed at the all party meeting. "We have written a letter to the central government to discuss the clearance issue at the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) immediately," he said.

The CWMA should give clearance for the DPAR of Mekedatu in the next meeting. Environment clearance should also be given. The government would talk to the Union Water Resources Ministry to conduct a meeting in this regard. "Our Water Resources Minister Govind Karajol will go to New Delhi and convey our concerns," he stated.

"After the session I will go to New Delhi and coney our concerns on the Upper Krishna project as well as the Mekedatu project. After all these exercises, an all party delegation will be taken to New Delhi," Bommai stated. He declined to answer a question on whether he is planning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah stated that they have told Bommai that there is no dispute with regard to the Mekedatu project. "We have asked the government to obtain the environment clearance at the earliest," he said. Tamil Nadu does not have any right to object to the Mekedatu project, he said.
Bengaluru, March 18 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the body of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar will arrive at the Bengaluru international airport from Ukraine on Sunday.

Naveen, a student from Karnataka's Haveri district, who was studying medicine in Ukraine, was killed during Russian shelling in the war-torn Kharkiv city on March 1.

Bommai said that his body will arrive at 3 a.m. The state government has given financial aid of Rs 25 lakh to the deceased's family.

Naveen's father, Shekarappa, who was comforted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his son's demise, had requested the Prime Minister to safely bring back students stuck in Ukraine at the earliest, as they are assets to the country.

He had also raised concerns about the expensive medical education in India and the inability of meritorious students to secure medical seats within the country.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress and JD(S) have demanded to scrap the NEET entrance test alleging that it encourages tuition mafia in the country.
Hyderabad, March 18 : The SUV, which ran over street vendors, killing a two-month-old child, in Hyderabad on Thursday night belonged to a relative of a legislator.

Amir Shakil, a member of Legislative Assembly of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), on Friday admitted that the car belonged to his cousin and sometimes, he also uses it.

The MLA from Bodhan stated in a video message that after the accident, he spoke to his cousin and asked him to pay compensation to the family of the deceased. Terming the incident unfortunate, he said the police should take action as per law after investigation and scanning CCTV footage.

Shakil denied reports that his son was driving the vehicle. The MLA said the son of his cousin was at the wheels at the time of the accident and he escaped as some people present there had started beating him up.

A child was killed and four others injured as the speeding SUV hit street vendors in posh Jubilee Hills area on Thursday night.

The vehicle, which had temporary registration number, rammed a group of women selling balloons on Jubilee Hills Road Number 45 near the Cable Bridge. An MLA sticker was found pasted on Mahindra Thar.

After knocking down the vendors, the person driving the SUV escaped from the scene. The police on Friday arrested him. He was identified as Meraj.

According to police, after crossing the Cable Bridge, the SUV coming from Madhapur side hit the footpath vendors. Two infants who were in the laps of their mothers fell down. Later, one of them was declared dead at a nearby hospital.

Three women and a one-year-old child were taken to Apollo Hospital and later shifted to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). The victims were all migrants from Maharashtra who were living on the streets by selling balloons and begging. They said the speeding vehicle knocked them down when they were standing on the footpath and demanded justice.

However, in a curious turn on Friday, one of the women, Kajal left NIMS. Her relatives enquired with the hospital staff but did not get a convincing reply. Later, other injured women and their relatives also went untraced.
New Delhi, March 18 : A rape accused was released on bail by a Delhi court after it came to know that the woman was married but had hidden this fact from him and there were money transactions between them for a long time.

The court asked accused Kaushal Sanklecha to file a bail bond of Rs 10,000 with a surety of like amount and released him on bail.

Advocate Sanjeev Malik, who was appearing for Sanklecha, claimed that the woman had extorted around Rs 52 lakh from his client and was attempting to extort more money.

Arguing that it was a case of consensual sex, he also claimed that accused was given extortion threats by complainant and her husband. He further argued that accused did not know from day one that complainant is married.

"So, it was the accused who was cheated by the complainant. Besides that, accused has transferred Rs 52 lakh to the complainant on different occasions as demanded by her. In these circumstances, the accused deserves bail. He will abide by all the terms and conditions of bail, if granted and prayed for bail of accused," he said.

The court noted that relationship between them started from January 1, 2021 while the FIR was registered on February 27, 2022 with the Greater Kailash Police Station and the accused was held on March 1.

"Considering the aforesaid peculiar circumstances, accused Kushal Sanklecha is granted bail on his furnishing sound surety bond in the sum of Rs 10,000," the court noted while telling him not to threaten the complainant and other prosecution witnesses or tamper with evidence collected by police.
New Delhi, March 18 : A 72-year-old man was arrested for allegedly molesting and attempting to kidnap an 11-year-old girl in the national capital, an official said on Friday.

The accused has been identified as Raghu Nath, a resident of Geeta Colony, Delhi.

Furnishing details, DCP Amrutha Guguloth said a complaint was received on Friday at 6.30 p.m. in which the complement informed that his 11-year-old daughter was missing since 4 p.m. from the Bengali Market in the city.

The DCP said that after receiving the complaint, the police registered an FIR under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code at the Barakhamba police station.

"Several police teams were constituted which analysed the CCTV footage of the relevant location," the DCP said, adding that they soon tracked the child's movements and found that the victim had boarded an auto rickshaw.

Later, the police managed to find and apprehend the accused near Pacific Mall in East Delhi as he was trying to escape with the girl to Haridwar, the officer said.

On interrogation, the accused revealed to the police that the girl had boarded his auto rickshaw to visit and see new places.

The accused took advantage of the child's innocence and molested her. Having evil intentions, he then planned to take the child to Haridwar, the officer added.
Amaravati, March 18 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday demanded a probe into West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation that the previous TDP government in the state had purchased spyware from Pegasus.

YSRCP spokesman and MLA Ambati Rambabu said the true colours of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were exposed after Banerjee spilled the beans on Pegasus software. He demanded the Central and state governments probe the matter.

Banerjee categorically stated that Chandrababu Naidu-led government was in possession of the software, Rambabu told the media here on Friday.

He said the West Bengal Chief Minister revealed in the Assembly that the Andhra government had Pegasus software during Naidu's regime. Rambabu pointed out that she was neither a friend to the YSRCP nor an enemy to Naidu and in fact, they both were together as the Grand Alliance in 2019 elections.

The MLA said though the YSRCP didn't make any allegations on the TDP with regard to Pegasus software, the TDP was scared and reacted aggressively, raising doubts.

He said Naidu should condemn the statement of Mamata Banerjee and file defamation suit against her. "If he doesn't file the suit, this will amount to confessing that the TDP government purchased Pegasus software," he said.

The MLA expressed doubt that Naidu might have bought spyware software through private entities rather than government institutions and alleged that he always indulged in unethical politics managing the institutions. He said the YSRCP had been saying that the TDP was tapping phones when it was in power and its proof has now come to light.

TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh had said on Thursday that the TDP government had rejected the offer of Pegasus to sell its spyware to the state.

Lokesh, who was Minister for Information Technology in the TDP cabinet headed by his father Naidu, clarified that the TDP government did not purchase any spyware.

"Yes, Pegasus offered to sell its spyware to the AP government as well but we rejected it," he had told reporters.

He was reacting to Banerjee's purported claim that the Naidu government purchased the Pegasus spyware. "She was misinformed. If we had resorted to such things, Jagan Mohan Reddy would not have come to power in 2019," he said.
Kiev, March 18 : Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has predicted that the war against Ukraine will set Russia back by decades - "to the disasters of the 90s".

"I am confident that by attacking us, they will destroy everything that the Russian society has achieved over the past 25 years. And they will return to where they once began to rise -- as they say -- to the 'disaster of the 90s'," Zelensky said, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

"Only without freedom, without the creative desire of millions of people to work for the development of their state. This will be the price of war against Ukraine for Russia. It will be a fall for them, a painful fall. And they will feel it - even in spite of 'opium of the people' from the television propagandists," he said in a video address.

Earlier, Ukraine's armed forces said Russian troops have used almost their entire stockpile of missiles and some types of ammunition.

As a result, a number of companies working in the Russian arms industry have been switched to round-the-clock mode, according to the armed forces of Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

Due to the consumption of almost all missile ammunition and some types of ammunition, the military-political leadership has decided to transfer all companies working in the Russian arms industry and producing 'Calibre' cruise missiles and ammunition for the 'Tornado' multiple launch rocket systems to round-the-clock mode.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Moscow, March 18 : Russia and Ukraine brought their positions closer on such points as the neutral status of Ukraine and its non-entry into NATO, said the head of the Russian delegation, and the President's assistant Vladimir Medinsky.

At the same time, according to him, in the issue of demilitarisation of Ukraine, Moscow and Kyiv are "somewhere halfway." He also added that it would be possible to talk about a possible meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky only after the approval of the text of the agreement between the two countries, RT reported.

Medinsky said that the position on Donbass was clearly formulated and Russia would not back down from it.

"The fact is that our position is very clear, it has been formed repeatedly by the President, supported by our entire country. And we have no way to retreat from it," he said.

Medinsky also said that the issue of managing Donbass is a key one in the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

"The Ukrainian side believes that the issue of governance of the territories should be decided centrally in Kyiv, and we believe that the issue of governance should be decided by the people of Donbass," he said.

According to Medinsky, the people of Donbass spoke out on this issue eight years ago and since then "have been forced to wage war, defending their own decision".

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, March 18 : The Indian Embassy in Ukraine, which has been temporarily relocated from Kiev to Warsaw due to the fighting, on Friday said that it has been functioning round the clock for Indian nationals in Ukraine who are trying to seek assistance and they can contact it through email and help line numbers.

In an advisory, it also circulated the email: cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in and the official numbers- +3809333559958,+919205290802,+917428022564.

Soon after the war broke out between Ukraine and Russia on February 24, the majority of the Indian diplomats had moved from the Ukrainian capital to Lviv which is close to the Ukraine-Poland border. But the Indian Embassy in Kiev was kept functional, with a few officials stationed there to coordinate with the Ukrainian authorities on the evacuation of Indians from the country.

The External Affairs Ministry recently decided to temporarily shift the embassy in Warsaw after the Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian city increased as by that time, the evacuation of the Indian nationals was almost done.

In a statement on March 13, the MEA said: "In view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, including attacks in the western parts of the country, it has been decided that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine will be temporarily relocated in Poland." The situation will be reassessed in the light of further developments, it added.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
United Nations, March 18 : India said on Friday that it is important that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) is implemented effectively, but did not take a direct stand on Russia's allegations that biological warfare research was carried out in Ukraine.

"It is important to ensure full and effective implementation of the BTWC in letter and spirit," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, R. Ravindra, said at the Security Council meeting convened at the request of Russia.

"India attaches high importance to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention as a key global and non-discriminatory disarmament convention, prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," he said.

It was a repeat of a session called last Friday by Russia to air its allegations that biowarfare research was carried out in Ukraine labs in conjunction with the US.

While Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia reiterated the allegations citing what he said were documents seized during the invasion of Ukraine, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said the UN "is not aware of any such biological weapons programme".

She said that 2,032 civilian casualties have been reported in Ukraine till Wednesday, including 58 children.

Nakamitsu said that most of the casualties were caused by "explosive weapons with wide area impact", including cruise and ballistic missiles, and air strikes, which are prohibited by international humanitarian law for use against civilians.

US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield dismissed the Russian allegations as "Malarkey", a word she said President Joe Biden uses for untrue allegations.

She countered that "Russia that has long maintained a biological weapons program in violation of international law. It is Russia that has a well-documented history of using chemical weapons".

Albania's Permanent Represntative Ferit Hoxa alleged that Russia was setting the stage for its own use of chemical or biological weapons by making the claims of a US-backed biowarfare programme in Ukraine.

To investigate its claims, Russia should agree to a ceasefire and set up 40 km zone free of fighting around the labs Russia claims were used for biowarfare research to enable the UN to investigate, he said.

Only China gave some credence to the Russian allegations in the 15-member Council.

China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun said that the "party concerned" should "respond to questions and offer timely and comprehensive clarifications" to "newly discovered the relevant documents" cited by Russia.

Nebenzia said that the documents Russia had found "direct funding and supervision of the Pentagon, Defense Threat Reduction Agency" to labs in Ukraine for what he claimed were "military and biological projects".

Thomas-Greenfield said, "We aren't going to dignify Russia's disinformation or conspiracy theories. But we will continue to sound the alarm and tell the world where we think Russia is heading. And we will remind the world that Russia has repeatedly, repeatedly, lied to this Council over recent weeks".

But she also stated categorically, "There are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories - not near Russia's border, not anywhere." She added, "There are only public health facilities, proudly -- and I say proudly -- supported and recognised by the US government, the World Health Organization, and other governments and international institutions." Ravindra endorsed Nakamitsu's statement that any concerns about biological weapons should be resolved under the BTWC.

"We also believe that any matter relating to obligations under the BTWC should be addressed as per the provisions of the Convention and through consultations and cooperation between the parties concerned," Ravindra said.

Article 5 of the 1972 BTWC Convention says, "Parties to this convention undertake to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problem which may arise in relation to the objective of objective of or in the application of the provisions of this convention." Ravindra said that "India remains deeply concerned at the progressively deteriorating situation in Ukraine" and that it welcomed "the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine".

"We need to undertake this engagement keeping in mind the need to respect the principles of the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of states", he said while calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, March 18 : Yogi Adityanath is likely to be sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on November 25 for a second term.

An office-bearer of Uttar Pradesh BJP said that the swearing-in ceremony of Adityanath as the next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is likely to be held on March 25 evening.

"Earlier, there was a plan to hold the swearing-in ceremony on March 21 but the date has been changed. Preparation for the grand swearing-in ceremony for the second term of Yogi Adityanath is in full swing at Ekana stadium in the state capital on March 25," he said.

Sources claimed that a meeting of Uttar Pradesh BJP legislatures is likely to be held soon to elect Adityanath as leader of the legislative party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and others, along with chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and some prominent leaders, including from the opposition, will be invited on the occasion.

"About 45,000 people will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Adityanath government. Arrangements are also being made for around 200 VVIPs at the stadium, including Prime Minister Modi, several Union ministers, chief ministers of different states and other prominent personalities. Invites are also being sent to the opposition leaders for the swearing-in ceremony," a party insider said.

The BJP is also preparing a list of 'labharti' (beneficiaries) of various government schemes, who played a crucial role in voting the BJP to a historic victory in Uttar Pradesh.
Haveri, : , March 18 (IANS) The family of Karnataka student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, who died in war-torn Ukraine, has decided to donate his body to a medical college in the state.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced that the body of Naveen would reach Bengaluru International airport early on Monday.

Shekarappa, the killed student's father, on Friday said that he was saddened as the process of bringing back the body of his son was delayed. "Now, the sadness has gone away after learning that we will be able to see his body for the last time," he said.

The body is reaching the Chalageri village on Monday, he said. After performing the final rites, the family has decided to donate the body to the S.S. Medical College of Davanagere, he added.

The decision has been taken to enable the medical college students with their studies, he said.

He also thanked everyone for bringing back his son's body after 21 days.

Naveen's mother Vijayalakshmi has also thanked authorities for bringing back the body of her son, saying this has bought some solace.

Naveen was killed in Kharkiv city on March 1 when he had come out of bunker in search of food. The state government has paid over Rs 25 lakh compensation to his family.
New Delhi, March 19 : The government, as per sources, has said that India's "legitimate" energy transactions should not be politicised and those countries who have oil self-sufficiency or even those who are importing from Russia cannot advocate restrictive trading.

According to the sources, the government's response came in the backdrop of western countries, led by the US, imposing sanctions on Russia and "indirectly imposing pressure" on New Delhi to restrict trade with Moscow to condemn its military actions on Ukraine.

This comes after the government run Indian Oil Corporation purchased three million barrels of Russian crude oil last week, which was offered at a steep discount to the prevailing international rates. The US has stated that India would not be violating US sanctions by purchasing discounted Russian oil, however "such a move would be equal to supporting Moscow's aggression in Ukraine".

The government sources said that India has not supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine and asked all stakeholders to resolve differences through dialogue in this regard.

The sources also said that a steep increase in crude oil price after the Russia -Ukraine war has posed challenges before the government, however, there is no government to government arrangement for import from Russia.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, March 19 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Jammu on Friday handed over 'appointment orders on compassionate grounds' to the next of kin of four security personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police who were martyred in terrorist incidents in the Union Territory.

The Home Minister, who is on a two day visit to the Union Territory, also interacted with the next of kin of the martyred security personnel. Interacting with them he said that "the entire nation is proud of the courage and commitment shown by these brave security personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police".

The appointment orders were handed over to Pooja Devi as Panchayat Secretary in Jammu District who is wife of late Sergeant Rohit Kumar.

Kumar remained associated with counter insurgency operations from the beginning of his career and remained in the forefront in the anti-militancy grid. He was promoted out of turn on July 7, 2017 as Sergeant from the rank of Constable for his gallant action.

On January 12, a police party from Kulgam district along with the Army, on specific information about presence of terrorists in village Sehpora Pariwan, Kulgam laid siege and started search operations. While civilians were being evacuated, militants fired on the Police party, resulting in injuries to three army Jawans and Sergeant Rohit Kumar, who later succumbed to his injuries.

Under this Ifra Yaqoob has been appointed as "Orderly cum Chowkidar" in the Industries and Commerce Department. He is son of late Head Constable Mohammad Yaqoob Shah.

On August 13, 2014 after performing his duties, Shah was on way to his company headquarter Bijbehara, Anantnag alongwith others in a Police Gypsy which was attacked by terrorists at Galander Pampore, Pulwama wherein he made the supreme sacrifice for the nation leaving behind his aged parents, wife, minor son and daughter.

Similarly, Aabid Bashir is appointed as follower in Jammu and Kashmir Police. He is the son of Late Constable Bashir Ahmad Sheik. Sheik was appointed as Constable in J&K Executive Police in July 1991 and remained posted in District Srinagar till his death. During the intervening night of 29/30 of January 2000, terrorists attacked a Police party at Rabitar Bridge, Ganderbal in which Constable Bashir Ahmad Sheik laid down his life leaving behind his wife, minor son and daughter.

The last appointee is Mohsin Mushtaq as Follower in Jammu and Kashmir Police who is also son of late Follower Mushtaq Ahmad. Ahmad had joined J&K Police in May 1990 and Awas martyred during a crossfire between police and terrorists on May 9, 1993. The deceased left behind his aged parents and a son, who was only four months at that time.

Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh and the DGP of Jammu & Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh were also present on the occasion.

It is pertinent to mention that the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah during his last visit to Jammu & Kashmir in October 2021 visited the house of Martyr Inspector Pervaiz Ahmad Dar in Srinagar and in 2019 and handed over an appointment letter to the wife of martyr Inspector Arshad Khan.

The Union Home Minister has also lauded the role of Jammu and Kashmir Police in restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir on numerous occasions and in number of fora.
The California Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court decision in the murder conviction of Alvin Larry Davis, ruling that DNA evidence produced through the use of STRmix forensic software is generally accepted as reliable by the relevant scientific community. (C089567; Super.Ct.No.STK-CR-FE-2016-0004780)

STRmix  sophisticated forensic software capable of resolving mixed DNA profiles that previously were regarded as too complex or degraded to interpret  was used in the case to link Davis to a bloodstained shoelace found next to the body of the victim, 84-year-old Hazel Dingman.

Davis was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole after being found guilty of first degree murder and other offenses by the lower court. On appeal, defense argued that evidence generated by STRmix and expert testimony that relied on STRmix to interpret DNA evidence should have been excluded under the test for the admission of new scientific evidence established by the California Supreme Court in People v. Kelly (1976 17Cal.3d24).

The Court of Appeals, however, rejected the defendants argument, noting that establishing reliability is the overriding factor when a party seeks to admit evidence based on a new scientific technique. Citing People v. Leahy (1994, 8 Cal.4th587, 612), the Court ruled that general acceptance means a consensus drawn from a typical cross-section of the relevant, qualified scientific community. Unanimous acceptance is not required; rather, the test is met if use of the technique is supported by a clear majority of the members of that community.

The Court of Appeals opinion went on to state that there was nothing in the record to suggest that the expert testimony provided during the lower court trial did not fairly and impartially assess the position of the relevant scientific community with regard to the general acceptance of the STRmix method.

The Court also rejected the defendants contention that the black box proprietary nature of STRmix prohibits the broader scientific community from fully assessing the softwares reliability. Affirming that a defendant in a criminal matter may obtain access to the STRmix source code under a non-disclosure agreement, the Court declared,  a scientific technique or method need not be subject to testing and/or assessment by the scientific community at large to satisfy the requirement of general acceptance.

Acknowledging that STRmix has been used for DNA analysis since 2012 and is widely used by forensic laboratories across the world, the decision pointed out that testimony presented at the hearing established that the STRmix method has been subjected to extensive empirical testing and found to be accurate and reliable by the FBI and numerous forensic laboratories.

STRmix is currently being used by 69 local, state, federal, and private forensic laboratories throughout the U.S., as well as all nine state and territory forensic laboratories in Australia and New Zealand, and 14 labs in other countries including the U.K., Ireland, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, and Denmark. In the decade since it was introduced, STRmix has been used to interpret DNA evidence in more than 300,000 cases worldwide.

STRmix works by assessing how closely multitudes of proposed DNA profiles resemble or can explain an observed DNA mixture. Relying on proven methodologies routinely used in computational biology, physics, engineering, and weather prediction, STRmix calculates the probability of observed DNA evidence by assuming the DNA originated from either a person of interest or an unknown donor. These two probabilities are then presented as a likelihood ratio (LR), inferring the value of the findings and level of support for one proposition over the other.

The success STRmix has enjoyed to date led the team behind its development to introduce two related products which when used in combination with STRmix complete the full workflow from analysis to interpretation and database matching:



FaSTR DNA, expert forensic software which rapidly analyzes raw DNA data generated by genetic analyzers and standard profiling kits and assigns a number of contributors (NoC) estimate; and

DBLR, an application which when used with STRmix allows forensic laboratories to calculate millions of LRs in seconds, visualize the value of their DNA mixture evidence, and carry out mixture-to-mixture matches, now allowing kinship analysis.

For more information, visit http://www.strmix.com.
The Tattoo Industry Continues to Grow Rapidly Gone are the days of the starving artist, shares Paul-Anthony, if that artist decides to become a tattoo artist.

Body Art & Soul Tattoos recently opened its fifth tattoo studio and tattoo apprenticeship program in Tampa, Florida. This opening provides a unique opportunity for aspiring tattoo artists to make a career change. We know what its like to be an artist, stuck in a job that crushes your soul because youre only doing it to pay the bills, shares Paul-Anthony Surdi. Weve been doing this for over a decade, and all of our artists always say the same thing when they enter the apprenticeship, Why didnt I do this sooner?

Understanding that people have limited time to get the information they need, Body Art & Soul Tattoo School created a video, Why You Should Make A Career Change in 2022 to highlight all the reasons why right now, is the best time to become a professional tattoo artist.

Sighting the research conducted by IBIS World, the team at Body Art & Soul Tattoo School asserts that aspiring tattoo artists need to know these facts about the tattoo industry:



The size of the Tattoo industry is $1.4bn

The size of the Tattoo industry is expected to increase 5.4% in 2022.

The Tattoo industry in the US has grown 8.4% every year on average since 2017

The size of the Tattoo industry in the US has grown faster than the economy overall.

The primary positive factors affecting the Tattoo industry are a growing industry life cycle stage and a medium-low growth risk score.

Currently, 47% of millennials have tattoos, and acceptance of tattoos in the workplace is increasing. Were finding that the old stigmas around tattoos are nearly gone, shares Paul-Anthony. Our artists are creating full sleeves for doctors, lawyers, accountants; even for grandma and grandpa, and most people get more than one tattoo, creating a great long-term opportunity for tattoo artists.

The process of changing careers and becoming a tattoo artist at Body Art & Soul Tattoos goes like this:

These are the steps:



Interview to gain approval to enter the Apprentice program

Advance through the program until completion

Receive a Guaranteed Job Offer

This leads artists away from a job they hate and towards a life where they:

Create Art & Tattoos for a Living

Experience Flexible Hours

Become Their Own Boss

Control Their Own Income

Live the Life They Deserve

Making a living from your art does not have to be impossible. Gone are the days of the starving artist, shares Paul-Anthony, if that artist decides to become a tattoo artist.

About Body Art & Soul Tattoos: Body Art & Soul Tattoos is a tattoo studio that offers tattoo apprenticeships with a focus on ongoing professional development, real work experience, and with a goal of helping aspiring tattoo artists make a living from their art. Their mission is to Ink Different by ensuring equal opportunity in the tattoo industry. As a result, they have one of the most open and diverse artistic communities in the tattoo industry.
(Clockwise from top left) Andy Cash, David Krugler, Alwyn Fredericks, Laura Voght, Phil Henry, Shane Bartlett

Six attorneys from Atlanta law firm Cash Krugler Fredericks were again recognized in the 2022 edition of Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters publication. Andy Cash, David Krugler, Alwyn Fredericks, Shane Bartlett, Phil Henry, and Laura Vought were chosen as Super Lawyers, an honor reserved for only 5% of the practicing Bar. In addition, Cash and Fredericks were again named to the Top 100 List!

The Super Lawyers honor provides a window into who the legal industry believes are its most accomplished members. Selection is determined via a patented multi-part process, including nominations by other members of the Georgia Bar, independent research conducted by the Thomson Reuters editorial team, and a blue ribbon review by peers who rank high in the first two selection components.

About Cash Krugler Fredericks: The Georgia injury attorneys at Cash Krugler Fredericks bring over 150 years of combined experience to each clients case. The firm has obtained significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of injury victims and their families, and continues to be regarded as one of the top law firms in the U.S. The firm focuses on representing those who have suffered catastrophic injuries and/or wrongful death as a result of defective products, medical malpractice, elevator and escalator accidents, and serious car and trucking accidents.
Anthill named the 2022 SXSW Pitch winner in the Future of Work category We started this company for the 2.5 billion workers who lack access to employer support because they don't work at computers, said Muriel Clauson, Co-founder and CEO of Anthill. It was exciting to see the judges and audience resonating with the importance of building for this population.

Anthill, a text messaging-based platform supporting deskless workers, has been named the 2022 winner of the Future of Work category at the 14th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas. One of just 9 category winners, and 45 finalists to present the most innovative tech from around the world, Anthill made its pitch on March 12 to a live audience which included a panel of expert judges.

It was an amazing experience to represent and win in our category at SXSW, said Muriel Clauson, Co-founder and CEO of Anthill. It was an honor to present our tech among the worlds best innovators. Hearing their pitches was inspiring and will only encourage us to continue to challenge how we develop tech for deskless workers.

According to SXSW Pitch event producer Chris Valentine, Anthill represents one of the 50% of company startups in the tech sector this year with at least one female founder. The Anthill SXSW pitch team included Clauson, CTO Young-Jae Kim, and Marketing & People Ops Leader Jennifer Harris-Kroll.

We started this company for the 2.5 billion workers who lack access to employer support because they don't work at computers, said Clauson. It was exciting to see the judges and audience resonating with the importance of building for this population.

Anthill co-founders Clauson and Kim met while pursuing their Ph.D.s in industrial-organizational psychology. They both had experience helping large companies strategize for the future of work. A common complaint among these companies was that the employees couldnt fully engage with or develop their deskless employees. These employees are vital to many organizations, but employers often struggle with capturing the sentiments of these employees or training them for new tasks. As a result, employers can often see high turnover among these roles. For that reason, in addition to Anthills two-way texting platform, the company offers product lines to grow and retain employees.

About Anthill (Anthill AI, Inc.):

Anthill builds employee experience solutions for the 80% of global employees that dont sit at a desk. These employees typically do not have a company email address or computer and are unable to communicate with their organization or take advantage of many HR programs. Anthill allows them to do that via SMS-texting. Simple to use, Anthills technology allows organizations to increase usage of systems they already have, create Voice of the Employee programs and become proactive in their retention and succession strategies. To learn more, please visit http://www.anthill.co.
De Soi Founders Morgan McLachlan and Katy Perry. Partnering with the sparkling nonalcoholic aperitif brand gave us the opportunity to explore a different style of design and eCommerce user-experience.

Avex published a case study to its website explaining how the agency built, designed, and developed De Sois eCommerce website. The page shares unique insights about the process of launching De Soi from start to finish.

Pop star Katy Perry and entrepreneur Morgan McLachlan formed this line of sparkling nonalcoholic aperitifs to provide customers with a drink that provides soothing qualities without the alcohol and sugar. After creating the brand, their next step was to inquire Avex to build a comprehensive eCommerce experience.

After a discovery call with the De Soi team, Avex dove head first into the project. Designers, developers, project and program managers collaborated on various parts of the site, all while staying on a strict schedule. Avexs email marketing team was then included to conceive email flows ready for to send for the site launch and beyond.

With the help of a few important tech partners, De Soi launched their site without a hitch on January 4th, 2022. Orders immediately began streaming in.

It was an honor to work with the team at De Soi to support the launch of the new eCommerce website on Shopify Plus, says John Surdakowski, Founder and CEO at Avex. Avex loves diving into new industries and product categories. Partnering with the sparkling nonalcoholic aperitif brand gave us the opportunity to explore a different style of design and eCommerce user-experience.

Browse site designs, email marketing flows, and the in-depth story of Avexs project with De Soi at https://avexdesigns.com/work/de-soi.

About Avex Designs

Avex is a Shopify Plus Partner Agency and eCommerce development agency. The company leverages the power of the Shopify platform to design, develop, and optimize beautiful eCommerce websites for fashion & lifestyle brands. Avex partners with merchants to help them scale through data-backed ecommerce development & UX design services, conversion rate optimization, and Klaviyo email marketing services. To learn more, visit http://avexdesigns.com.

About De Soi

Inspired by the French ethos of pleasure and restraint, De Soi is a range of non-alcoholic aperitifs made with natural adaptogens. The drinks have natural botanicals like passion flower and cacao and use those as a way to relax without any spirits. The brand has been featured in Variety, Bloomberg, and more. Visit drinkdesoi.com for more information.
BayMark is focused on providing proven treatment services in the areas of highest need, and we are proud to be delivering these essential services to the residents of Mahoning and surrounding counties.

BayMark Health Services announced the opening of their newest MedMark Treatment Centers clinic, located close to the Ohio/Pennsylvania border at 900 Sahara Trail in Boardman near Youngstown. MedMark Youngstown provides proven treatment for adults struggling with opioid addiction including medication, counseling and supportive recovery services. MedMark is now accepting new and transferring patients.

Recent updates from the Ohio Attorney Generals Opioid Task Force indicate that more Ohioans died of an opioid overdose during a three-month period in 2020 than at any time since the Opioid Epidemic began, shared David K. White, Ph.D., CEO of BayMark Health Services. The death rate per 100,000 in Mahoning County, where our new facility is located, was 15.49 in 2020, among the 10 highest county death rates across the state. BayMark is focused on providing proven treatment services in the areas of highest need, and we are proud to be delivering these essential services to the residents of Mahoning and surrounding counties.

MedMark Treatment Centers are known across the country as providers of comprehensive, individualized treatment for opioid use disorder. Through medication management and counseling, MAT reduces the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings, paving the way for patients to focus on addressing the causes and consequences of their addiction and developing new tools and resources to regain stability in their lives. Additionally, MedMark Marietta will provide addiction education, relapse prevention, lab testing, coordinated care for pregnant patients and linkages to community resources in a brand new facility following all current CDC guidelines for health and safety.

For more information on MedMark and our services visit: http://www.MedMark.com.

To inquire about admission or make a referral, contact Beth Layman, Treatment Center Director, at 330-267-9020.

About BayMark Health Services:

BayMark Health Services provides Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health treatment services to 73,000+ individuals actively participating in treatment each and every day across 399 recovery programs in 36 states and 3 Canadian provinces. The largest provider of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) services in North America and the leader in comprehensive behavioral health services for SUDs and Behavioral Disorders, BayMarks continuum of care includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT), withdrawal management, PHP, IOP, counseling and other innovative and effective therapies in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings.


BIKE.co seeks partnerships with local bike shops across the United States. Because our partnerships are structured with mutual benefit in mind at a compelling price point, we expect local bike shop partnership demand to be high.

Online bike company BIKE.co is seeking local bike shop partnerships from bike shops small and large across all 50 states, covering more than 1,000 cities across the country. The companys bike shop partnership program aims to target local bike shops, providing a mutual benefit to both the local shop and BIKE.co directly.

The bike company is uniquely positioned to source niche leads for bike rental, sales and service clients thanks to its high profile domain name and expert team of SEO experts who are working to drive traffic to the website.

In addition, the launch of the BIKE.co website included the simultaneous release of some 1,100 state and city-specific landing pages, targeting the top 1,000 most populated cities across the United States. This unique approach to long tail marketing for local-based bike shops has proven itself effective for driving local leads for everything from custom bike builds to the need for bike rental deliveries.

Since our launch just over six months ago, we have seen a dramatic uptick in leads and opportunities for bike rentals, sales and service on a local level from interested customers in various cities across the United States, says company owner Nate Nead. In fact, we are seeing dozens of daily leads from clients and potential clients looking to engage a local bike shop for their mountain and road bike rental and service needs, he says. This partnership initiative is borne as much out necessity as it is from opportunity.

BIKE.co partnerships are offered in several tiers, depending on the level of engagement the local bike shop wishes to have with clients and BIKE.co. The website offers Silver (free), Gold and Platinum partnerships, providing both exclusive and non-exclusive access to various local markets. Exclusivity for marketing, website co-branding, email and blog writing access is available for a nominal monthly fee and reasonable split of bike client revenues.

Because our partnerships are structured with mutual benefit in mind at a compelling price point, we expect local bike shop partnership demand to be high, based on our initial market feedback. Nead, says. With the revenue share, traffic and co-branding opportunities, we also anticipate BIKE.co partners will extract much more value than the cost to engage. We are in an exciting point in our growth and we hope to share that with successful shops across the country that we will soon refer to as BIKE.co Partners.

About BIKE.co

Founded in 2021, BIKE.co is a Bentonville, Arkansas (deemed the Mountain Bike Capital of the World) based bike rental, sales and service company. Initially the company was founded with an aim to bring a mobile delivery and service offering to bike enthusiasts, but has expanded to include gear, apparel and is now working with multiple bike shops in various locales across the country. More information is available at https://bike.co/partners/


Hillary has been instrumental in the success of her office and she will build on BluSkys exceptional customer experience. ~Jeff Thornsbury, BluSky Chief Human Resources Officer

BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC, a leading national property restoration company in the U.S., today announced the promotion of Hillary Serwatka to vice president of the firms Charlotte, NC, office.

Were always thrilled when we have the opportunity to promote leaders from within the BluSky ranks, said Jeff Thornsbury, the firms chief human resources officer. Hillary has been instrumental in the success of her office and she will build on BluSkys exceptional customer experience.

Serwatka joined BluSkys Charlotte office in 2020 as a project estimator. She began her career nearly 25 years ago as an insurance adjuster before transitioning to the contracting and restoration side of the industry in 2011. She brings extensive experience in residential and commercial insurance restoration including project management and estimating. Serwatka is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelors degree in English.

Serwatka will lead her teams in operations, business development, customer relationships, and project management. She reports to Kelley Brown, regional vice president of the firms southeast region, which oversees offices in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida.

About BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC

Denver, Colorado-based BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC is a full-service national restoration, renovation, environmental and roofing provider for properties damaged by water, fire, storms and other disasters across the nation. For more information about BluSky Restoration Contractors, please visit GoBluSky.com or call (800) 266-5677.
Caspio today announced that it is offering its no-code application development platform free of charge for anyone to build apps to help Ukraine and the Ukrainian refugee crisis. The Caspio platform is ideally suited for rapidly building applications to support crisis management and first-responders, such as:



Missing person directories that provide safe communications between parties

Matching housing and other needed items or services with those who can provide them

Medical asset management with real-time inventory reporting

Lost and found databases with the ability to upload photos and videos

Community incident reporting with the ability to alert authorities

Employment postings and management

Volunteer recruitment, skills categorization, scheduling and task management

Interested parties are invited to start by signing up for a free Caspio trial account at http://www.caspio.com and reply to their sales representative to request this offer.

Since the start of the Ukraine invasion, Caspio has been providing humanitarian aid to its Dnipro-based employees and their families. Caspio founder and CEO Frank Zamani has been on the ground for two weeks, traveling between Krakow and Przemysl Poland, personally helping Ukrainian Caspio employees and their families find safe housing, food, shelter and supplies.

Zamani said, I was a refugee 36 years ago when I fled the tyrannous rulers of Iran to escape religious persecution against Bahais. Today, as the CEO of Caspio, with 300 team members worldwide including 70 from Ukraine, I now find myself in a similar situation, this time on the other side. I am with our team in Poland, supporting them in helping our Ukrainian brothers and sisters flee yet another tyrannous government regime. Caspio is committed to helping address this crisis in every way possible, including offering our platform for free to build apps to support Ukraine.

The following statement was recently published on the company website: https://www.caspio.com/caspio-stands-with-ukraine/

Caspio began operating in Ukraine 18 years ago. Dnipro hosted our first-ever Software Development Center outside of the United States. Our Ukraine office houses more than 70 Caspians from engineering, development, sales and support teams. But Ukraine is more than just an international office  its home to our dear friends, colleagues and family.

To everyone in Ukraine, you inspire us with your courage and resolve amid this adversity. To everyone else, we encourage you to act and express your support for the people of Ukraine in this time of great humanitarian need. We decry the attacks launched by the Russian government and stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

To learn more, visit https://www.caspio.com/caspio-stands-with-ukraine.

About Caspio

Caspio was founded on the simple idea of empowering anyone to build custom web applications without writing a single line of code or procuring any IT infrastructure. The Caspio platform provides unlimited app builders, unlimited app users, an integrated cloud database built on Microsoft SQL Server and seamless app deployment on any web property  all included as standard features in every plan. Caspio powers business applications for 15,000 customers in 150 countries, ranging from global corporations and government agencies to universities, nonprots and small businesses. To learn more about Caspios leading no-code platform, visit caspio.com.
Semsettin Sam Kilic, Founder of Flagstone Real Estate My approach has long been one of honesty, integrity, and understanding

Flagstone Real Estate today announced its partnership with Side, the only real estate technology company that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to transform them into market-leading boutique brands and businesses. The alliance will ensure that Flagstone Real Estate, a company devoted to providing thoughtful, carefully tailored real estate advice to Southern California clients, is powered by the industrys most advanced platform.

Flagstone Real Estate was founded by Semsettin Sam Kilic, who has been helping clients sell their property for top dollar or find their dream home since 2007. In that time, he has established a sizable business, developed extensive links within the local community, and accumulated street-by-street knowledge of the region  from the Pacific coastline to the Mojave Desert.

Always focused on its clients needs, the Flagstone Real Estate team brings a secure sense of calm to the often-stressful process of buying and selling real estate, ensuring the must-haves are met and the would-likes are considered. The result is precise advice perfectly tailored to the client.

Partnering with Side will ensure Flagstone Real Estate remains on the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while continuing to deliver premium services to its clients. Side works behind the scenes, supporting Flagstone Real Estate with a one-of-a-kind brokerage platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, branding and marketing services, public relations, legal support, lead generation, vendor management, infrastructure solutions, and more. Additionally, Flagstone Real Estate will join an exclusive group of Side partners, tapping into an expansive network from coast to coast.

Im extremely pleased to be partnering with Side, said Kilic. My approach has long been one of honesty, integrity, and understanding, and with Sides resources, Flagstone will have access to the world-class technology and innovation we need to grow into the No. 1 real estate team in Southern California.

About Flagstone Real Estate

Flagstone Real Estate combines extensive knowledge with a straightforward and realistic approach to the industry. Not every house is suitable for every buyer, and the Flagstone team of professionals aims to get each person the property they need. With a sincere passion for creating social ties and delivering great experiences, Flagstone Real Estate ensures every client receives the care they deserve  and, ultimately, gets where they want to be. For more information, visit http://www.flagstoneca.com.

About Side

Side is a behind-the-scenes brokerage platform that exclusively partners with top-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to create and grow their own boutique brands without the cost, time, or risk of operating a brokerage. Sides proprietary technology platform and premier support solutions empower its agent partners to be more productive, grow their business, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com.
This years forum was a huge success. It was an honor to be able to listen to and learn from some of the regions most notable economic experts and reflect on our achievements during the pandemic." - Ramon Looby, President and CEO of Maryland Bankers Association

On Friday, Mar. 18, the Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) hosted its 15th annual First Friday Economic Outlook Forum at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, MD. Hundreds of distinguished economic experts and business leaders came together to discuss current events and the future of the region's economy.

Marylands banking community, along with key economic movers and business leaders, attended the event to network with top minds in the industry while gaining valuable insight from experts into how COVID-19 has impacted global, national, and regional economies.

Presenting at this years forum were distinguished experts such as the Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group and MBA Chief Economist, Anirban Basu, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Thomas I. Barkin, and the Lt. Governor of Maryland, Boyd K. Rutherford.

The speakers highlighted long-term structural shifts impacting key economic segments, detailed several sources of future economic risk, and characterized the anticipated pace of economic recovery in 2022 and beyond.

Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford emphasized the impact that Maryland Banks and the MBA had on the states economy and consumer wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was an honor to address Marylands bankers and business leaders, said Lt. Governor Rutherford. With critical help from the MBA, at the height of the pandemic Maryland banks were effective and efficient in getting the resources local businesses needed to survive. It was my pleasure to acknowledge their actions at First Friday.

Chairman Anirban Basu provided a regional and local economic update and moderated a panel of distinguished economic experts.

My hope is that Marylands bankers and business leaders were able to come out of First Friday motivated by what they learned to take on the states most pressing economic issues in 2022, said Basu.

MBA President and CEO Ramon Looby remarked on the event: This years forum was a huge success. It was an honor to be able to listen to and learn from some of the regions most notable economic experts and reflect on our achievements during the pandemic. Im excited to see how the MBA and Maryland bankers and businesses move forward in 2022.

The 15th annual First Friday Economic Outlook Forum is held in participation with the Maryland Association of CPAs, Maryland Realtors, Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and Maryland Retailers Association.

About First Friday

The First Friday Economic Outlook showcases economic experts who share valuable information about both current events and the future of the regions economy. This event attracts influential leaders in the business community. Please contact Ann DeVilbiss at adevilbiss@mdbankers.com for more information.

About the Maryland Bankers Association

Founded in 1896, the Maryland Bankers Association (MBA) is the only Maryland-based trade group representing banks in the state. MBAs member banks employ 28,266 banking professionals in nearly 1,490 branch offices across the state. To find out more information, please visit https://www.mdbankers.com/.
Logo for Junior Achievement & JA Inspire

Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina is hosting their first ever JA Inspire program until May 31, 2022. This virtual career fair is being hosted through the vFairs platform, and has been designed specifically for students in middle and high school to explore career and education opportunities. It is a free Junior Achievement program and is open to students in Eastern NC.

This powerful program offers middle and high school students the opportunity to gain insight into career clusters that interest them, find the connection between high school programming choices and careers, collect information about the education required to be successful in a job, and practice soft skills, all within an immersive and interactive virtual environment. Students and parents can access the portal at any time to browse exhibit booths and webinars, or download career information to reference in the future.

The event has already garnered excellent results. Over 15,000 students have registered to attend the event, which features 45 virtual booths showcasing businesses, career clusters and over 100 virtual career presentations/webinars.

Bebee Lee, President JA of Eastern NC said, We are thrilled to bring JA Inspire to middle and high school students in Eastern NC. Our JA Inspire curriculum helps youth to explore options for their future.

We are happy to be able to provide the technology where students in Eastern North Carolina can discover what meaningful employment might mean to them in the future, and plan their education around around their goals, said Muhammad Younas, CEO of vFairs.

To learn more about the JA Inspire program or to register your students, please contact the JA of Eastern North Carolina office at 919.821.2100.

About JA of Eastern North Carolina

The mission of Junior Achievement (JA) is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy and empower them to own their economic success. JAs proven programs use hands-on experiences and volunteer role models that provide students with critically important curriculum centered around three major pillars: workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. These real-life relevant programs provide positive reinforcement of career aspirations so that young people not only understand their opportunities in life but can also take advantage of those opportunities. To learn more about Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, please visit our website http://www.juniorachievementnc.com or call 919.821.2100.

About vFairs

vFairs strives to deliver top-class virtual events for all audiences, with an intuitive platform that recreates physical events through an immersive online experience. With a range of powerful features and dedicated support for users around the world, vFairs removes the hassle from organizing, exhibiting at, and attending events such as conferences, trade shows, and career fairs. vFairs is a 2021 Mid-Market Leader in the Virtual Event Platforms Category by G2.
How to Handle False Accusations: What to Do When Someone Spreads False Rumors About You!: a heartfelt exploration of how false accusations can affect one. How to Handle False Accusations: What to Do When Someone Spreads False Rumors About You! is the creation of published author Octavius K. Reynolds, who carries a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science, and an Associate of Science in Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology.

Reynolds shares, How should people handle rumors and accusations? When people wrong others, do those wronged find themselves wondering if anybody cares? When faced with trials of this particular kind, this book will help guide Christians through the process. Ecclesiastes tells us believers that there is a time for everything. When another Christian wrongs us, the first step is to acknowledge it and allow ourselves to feel the pain. Each chapter is equipped with a set of questions to help the reader work through their issues and to invoke some dialogue if the book is being used in a small-group Bible study setting. After we have felt our pain, we should bring it to the attention of those who wronged us. Let them know we have forgiven them by releasing our pain, anger, and/or bitterness and giving it to God so that we can truly be free to live the life God intended for us to live.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Octavius K. Reynoldss new book is useful on a personal level as well as being tailored for group discussion.

Reynolds shares personal stories and thoughtful insights in hopes of aiding others to live a life of peace.

Consumers can purchase How to Handle False Accusations: What to Do When Someone Spreads False Rumors About You! at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about How to Handle False Accusations: What to Do When Someone Spreads False Rumors About You!, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Three Barn Cats Meet the Barn: a lighthearted adventure for young readers. Three Barn Cats Meet the Barn is the creation of published author Reta Corum Wallace, a loving wife and seventh-grade language arts teacher who resides on a small farm in Tennessee.

Wallace shares, Momma and Poppa have arrived back at their small farm with their three adopted kittens. Momma is worried right away about them roaming around by themselves. And sure enough, it isnt long before Becky has disappeared. Where could she be? Will Momma and Poppa be able to find her before it gets dark?

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Reta Corum Wallaces new book will delight and entertain as young readers race to find out what Becky has gotten herself into.

Wallace shares a fun and entertaining story for the pure enjoyment of young imaginations.

Consumers can purchase Three Barn Cats Meet the Barn at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Three Barn Cats Meet the Barn, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Rob Dalton of Waikoloa Vacation Rentals on the Big Island of Hawaii said, "I had to fly relatives in from the mainland just so my business could operate last summer. At this point until we find works we do not need any more business!"

In January 2020 Hawaii saw some record breaking tourism statistics only to see that trend drop to 0 when COVID19 began and the islands closed tourism. While many suspected tourism would just be closed for a few months, it was closed longer than that and it has proven to be difficult for tourism to return to what it was in late 2019 and early 2020. With the traveler data out for the beginning of 2022, there are three ways Hawaii can begin to see tourism further move in a positive direction.

International Travel

While tourism was only down roughly 10% from the record setting months in 2019 and 2020 for United States travelers, it was down roughly 25% from international travelers. This has had a significant impact on the hotel industry as that is where most international travelers will stay. This statistic is directly correlated to COVID19 policies throughout the world. Canadian travelers are the largest segment of international travelers to Hawaii and they still have to undergo testing to return to Canada. Many other countries have similar policies or more strict ones. Until these change globally Hawaii will continue to see a decrease in international travelers.

Stop the Hawaii Safe Travels Program

The end of the Hawaii Safe Travels Program is in sight as it ends in late March. This will help increase travel to Hawaii. While the intention of the program was good and did serve its purpose for a season, many people found it too difficult or too risky to travel to Hawaii. With the limitations on COVID19 testing that Hawaii gave and there being no guarantee that you would get your test back on time, many families found it difficult to get tested prior to travel. Courtney Pyle of Austin, Texas recently traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii. She stated, "To get all four of my kids tested and then to hope that they were negative just a day before vacation was stressful. Also what you had to fill out online was a lot more difficult than it should have been." With the Hawaii Safe Travels program coming to an end in March Hawaii is sure to see an increase in tourism.

The Hawaii Employment Problem

While Hawaii can do everything in its power to increase tourism to Hawaii the looming problem is businesses in the tourism industry in Hawaii finding employees to accommodate the increase in tourists. If you go anywhere in Hawaii you are sure to see signs that say "New Worker Bonus" or "All Positions Needed". Many large businesses are short employees in every aspect of their business. Some hotels and vacation rental companies do not even have the staffing to get the rooms ready in time for the next guest to arrive. Rob Dalton of Waikoloa Vacation Rentals on the Big Island of Hawaii said, "I had to fly relatives in from the mainland just so my business could operate last summer. At this point until we find works we do not need any more business!"

The question remains, where did all the employees go? When tourism was shut down in 2020 due to COVID19 many people left Hawaii to move to another State where they could work. On the Big Island of Hawaii the farmers market industry grew drastically. It was a way people could make money without government involvement. Lastly, many people just have not returned to work. Until Hawaii gets this problem under control they will have a hard time getting tourism back to what it was in 2019 and still give the tourists the great experience that they desire!

Hawaii has always been one of the top vacation destinations in Hawaii, but until Hawaii handles the employment problem and international travel restrictions change it will have a hard time reaching the numbers it saw in 2019.
JoynD Pledges Ukrainian Support "Have You JoynD" Helping people affected by the war in Ukraine "To further aid relief efforts, JoynD, Inc will committ revenue donations to this campaign." Leon Draper JoynD, Inc. CO-Founder - CFO & Board of Directors

JoynD Pledges Ukrainian Support "Have You JoynD" Helping people affected by the war in Ukraine

"We have been particularly moved by the heroic efforts of small businesses across Ukraine to help defend their country, such as the distilleries who now mass-produce molotov cocktails, bodegas that now serve as supply dumps, and machine shops that now spend every day welding together hedgehog tank traps."

JoyD works every day to help small businesses connect to their customers and we hope and pray for a quick end to this conflict, so that the people and businesses of Ukraine can go back to living and working in peace.

Until that time, we here at JoynD will contribute to the Ukrainian cause, both committing revenue as well as support to the Ukrainian people, with donating 20% of all Revenue sales to the International Red Cross to aid those affected by the war in Ukraine.

"To further aid relief efforts, JoynD, Inc will committ revenue donations to this campaign." -- JoynD, Inc. Leon Draper Co-Founder - CFO & Board of Directors

JoynD mobile App is completely free for customer use as soon as you download.

JoynD gives direct access to your customers. Adding special holiday hours? Holding a special sale or hosting live music? Push that information out directly to everyone who has liked your business on JoynD. There is no limit on advertising as long as the business is subscribed.

Please visit the JoynD website at joyndapp.com or download JoynD directly from the Apple Store or Google Play Store

For any questions or interview requests, please contact JoynD, Inc.

Founder - CEO & Board of Directors Lacey Arevalo

Co-Founder CFO & Board of Directors Leon Draper

"Bringing Businesses and People Together" Leon Draper

Contacts:

Investor Relations Contact

Leon Draper

draper@joyndapp.com

https://www.joyndapp.com/img/JoynD-Pitch-Deck2.0.pdf

Press Contact

Lacey Arevalo

Lacey@joyndapp.com

https://joyndapp.com
Brad Fogel consulting with client Our talented team works hard to create successful online marketing campaigns that help increase clientele's online visibility, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed less foot traffic to stores.

Inc. Magazine today revealed that marketing agency Operation Technology is No. 51 on its third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals Midwest list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies based in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Midwest region economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

Operation Technology is a full-service digital marketing and SEO agency that provides a wide range of services to clients across all industries. Through the use of search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, paid advertisement management, and comprehensive digital marketing strategies, Operation Technology works to increase leads and revenue for both B2B and B2C companies. Upon receiving the honor of being recognized as one of the regions fastest-growing private companies, Brad Fogel, CEO of Operation Technology, responded by thanking both his dedicated team and loyal clientele:

Everyone at Operation Technology is humbled and honored to be recognized on Inc. 5000 Regionals Midwest list of fastest growing companies. It reminds us that our dedication and hard work doesnt go unnoticed. Im proud to have such a strong, talented team thats dedicated to increasing our clients online visibility through successful marketing campaigns. We wouldnt be here without our clients and partners, so I want to thank them for all their help in achieving this award. We will continue to focus on growth and marketing innovation to pave the way for new opportunities within the ever-growing digital marketing industry.

The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Midwest region. Between 2018 and 2020, these 144 private companies had an average growth rate of 147% percent and, in 2020 alone, they added 19,821 jobs and nearly $11.7 billion to the Midwest regions economy. Companies based in the Chicago, Illinois, Noblesville, Indiana, and Overland Park, Kansas, areas had the highest growth rate overall.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals Midwest, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/Midwest starting March 15, 2022.

This years Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of Americas off-the-charts growth companies. Theyre disrupters and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies youll be hearing about for years to come, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc.

About Operation Technology

Operation Technology is a Chicago-based digital marketing agency that was founded in 2009. Since its inception, the agency has continually provided high-quality, award-winning SEO, web design services, and digital marketing consulting. Although headquartered in downtown Chicago, Operation Technology serves businesses in all industries across all corners of the United States. The team works hand-in-hand with clients to deliver personalized experiences tailored to their unique needs. They provide an array of digital marketing services to help their clients get more traffic, qualified leads, and business from their website. Operation Technology understands that communication is essential to helping their clients achieve their goals, which is why they prioritize client relationships.

To learn more about Operation Technology, visit http://www.operationtechnology.com or contact Brad Fogel, 773-789-8636, Support@operationtechnology.com for further questions.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals

Methodology

The 2022 Inc. 5000 Regional are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2018 and 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs

the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.

The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.
Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com
Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has always dreamed of being a unicorn rider, one of the elite who compete each year in the Chaos Cup. Its weeks away from his Hatchery examwhich might offer him the chance to do just thatwhen, at the Cup, a mysterious figure called The Weaver kidnaps New-Age Frost, the unicorn who, along with his rider, is favored to win. This shocking turn of events sets in motion the story of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the page-turning debut novel by Annabel Steadman (writing as A.F. Steadman) due out May 3 from Simon & Schuster. Its the first in a planned five-book middle grade fantasy series thats already drawn comparisons to some of the biggest franchises in the category, from Harry Potter to Percy Jackson.

In Skandars world, a unicorn is a wild and fearsome creature with bloodshot eyes and an unbearable stench, unless it bonds with a human after hatching from its egg. Due to a long history of attacks on humans, untamed unicorns must be contained in a barren wasteland on the Island, forbidden to come to the Mainland where Skandar lives with his father and older sister Kenna. Its only through a human-unicorn bond that unicorns can be ridden and their elemental powers brought under control. And its only at the Hatchery where students can train to do just that. Despite a number of obstacles, Skandar finds himself there, learning not only about unicorn riding and magic, but how to trust a new group of friends who must keep his dangerous secret and aid him in an important quest.

Skandars character first bounded into Steadmans imagination eight years ago during a long commute. At the time, she was studying law in the U.K. with little time to read the fantasy books that she had loved as a child. But letting her mind wander one day, she saw the figure of a boy flying atop a creature. It wasnt until sometime later that she decided it was a unicorn, but not the type were used to. To pass the time on her train rides, she came up with unicorn names, which she filed away until using them in Skandar: Arctic Swansong, Desert Firebird, and Skandars beloved Scoundrels Luck, for example.

After practicing law for several years, Steadman came to the conclusion that the profession was not for her. She enrolled in an MFA program at Cambridge and that unicorn-riding boy shed imagined years before bubbled back into her consciousness. During a summer break, the first draft of Skandar took shape in just a few months.

Steadman has drawn widespread advance praise for the books world-building. I was part of that Eragon generation, she said, citing Christopher Paolinis Inheritance Cycle as inspiration, along with Ursula K. Le Guins Earthsea Chronicles, Tamora Pierces Alanna quartet, and Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials books. The idea of a recognizable world with a deep mythology was always appealing to her, and her paradigm-shifting portrayal of unicorns ended up being a central part of that. Ive never really liked the fluffy unicorn thing, she said. Instead, these creatures are strong, mystical, and somewhat unpredictable. Equally important to the world-building was the character journey of Skandar and his group of close friends. Ive always liked the idea of destiny; that there is something waiting for you, no matter who you are, Steadman said.

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief made quite a splash in 2020 when it was acquired by Ali Dougal at Simon & Schuster UK and Kendra Levin at S&S U.S. in a multi-house auction. According to the Telegragh, the seven-figure deal (which covers the first three books in the anticipated five-book series) is believed to be the largest ever for a childrens book debut. At the time Dougal said the acquisition had created instant excitement in-house at S&S. The book has now sold in 23 languages in 36 territories, as of mid-March; Simon & Schuster has announced an initial U.S. print run of 250,000.

The in-house regard for the book also translated to the publishers U.S. counterparts. The grand scope of this world and of this series is remarkable, said Deeba Zargarpur, who is editing the books for Simon & Schuster U.S. But the appeal of the series isnt limited to the fantasy elements, Zargarpur believes. Each character is unique and emotionally compelling, she said, adding that the book has received company-wide attention that stretches beyond the childrens book division. That kind of enthusiasm is echoed outside of the publisher as well. Barnes & Noble is offering a special edition of Skandar, with a foil-stamped unicorn, stained gold edges, and bonus content, including an annotated chapter by the author. According to Deadline, Sony Pictures acquired the film rights in a seven-figure deal in September 2020. In fall 2021, the company announced that British screenwriter Jon Croker had been signed to adapt the book. Coker was a writer on both Paddington films and wrote the screenplay for High in the Clouds, an animated adaptation of Paul McCartneys 2005 novel, expected to be released by Netflix later this year. Steadman has finished writing the second book in the series and is already at work on the third.

While Skandar has received praise for its world-building, Steadman said that the series is about a lot more than that. Its about family, grief, mental health, finding friends who support you, and finding your place in the world, even if its not what you expected, she said. I hope kids can take something from that and feel hopeful about friendship and people accepting you for who you are.

The plan is to release the series in a book-a-year schedule, Zargarpur said. Steadman hopes that readers will grow up along with the characters, experiencing those tween and teen years with Skandar and his friends as they progress through their five-year training at the Hatchery.

In Skandar, Zargarpur said, Steadman has hit upon something universal, with globe-spanning, generation-bridging appeal.
Author Kelly Yang (Front Desk) understands the meaning of positive reinforcement, especially when it comes to encouraging emerging writers to find their own voices. In this vein, she recently launched an essay writing contest, inviting kids to share their personal experiences during the pandemic. Yangs contest has yielded hundreds of submissions in a little more than one month, empowering readers to become storytellers in their own right.

The idea for the contest came about on February 2, World Read Aloud Day, following her appearance on YouTube Live where she read the first chapter of her latest novel, New from Here. Almost immediately, kids started emailing me and telling me what the last two years have been like for them, Yang said. Thats when I realized we all have a pandemic storyNew from Here is mine, but I want to hear theirs.

With the help of Simon & Schuster, New from Heres publisher, Yang started the Whats Your Pandemic Story? Student Writing Publishing Opportunity, announcing the ongoing contest on her website and social media accounts. Simon & Schuster also promoted the initiative through its school and library marketing department. Entries must be 200 words or less and include a signed parent consent form for publication on Yangs website. Participants must be under 18 years old and are encouraged to submit their essays through their teacher or, if they are homeschooled, their parent. For classroom entries, teachers may submit up to five stories, either voted on by students or hand selected.

Of the 380 stories published so far, Yang has noticed the prevailing theme of hanging on to hope in dark times. Sometimes, that hope appears in the most unlikely of places, whether its scooting down a once-busy San Francisco street or finally finding that coveted roll of toilet paper, she said. Drawing a parallel between her own familys experience and those of her readers, Yang recalled how that feeling of being separated from loved ones, and wondering when they would be reunited, required them to stay strong and rely on each other. As the stories show, no matter what these kids went through, family and friends were the glue keeping the hope alive, she said.

A Time Capsule of Stories

With such a strong reception to the contest, Yang decided to extend the essay writing deadline to March 25. Submissions can be made here. In addition to publishing the submissions on her website, 10 classrooms will be awarded a copy of New from Here each week, with upcoming raffle dates scheduled for March 18 and March 25.

Yang believes that this writing initiative has generated an overwhelming response because of kids desire to be heard. They are ready to share and processand connect and heal, she said. This is the first time in recent history that all kids in the world have gone through the same thing; theres community in that. And Im so happy and proud that Im able to offer my platform for kids to express themselves.

For Yang, the most meaningful takeaway from this experience is that despite our differences, everyone essentially wants the same thing. As Knox says in New from Here, All I want to see is the clear blue sky again without a mask. And for my family to be safe and sound, together. Doesnt matter where we are,  she said.

While there are no current plans to formally publish the student stories as a collection, Yang will keep them posted on her website as a reminder of kids pandemic journeys. I hope that when classrooms in the future teach this extraordinary time, kids can read the stories from real kids writing about their real experiences during this time, she mused. Wouldnt that be something?
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The National Book Critics Circles annual gala awards ceremony was a virtual affair once again this year. The event honoring the best books published in 2021 began early Thursday evening with readings by the finalists in each of seven categories, followed by the actual awards ceremony.

Anthony Veasna So, who died in December 2020 of an accidental drug overdose at age 28, posthumously received the John Leonard Prize for a first book for his short story collection Afterparties (Ecco), which was published eight months after his death. While the NBCC fiction prize was awarded posthumously to Roberto Bolano in 2010 and the criticism prize to Ellen Willis in 2014, this is the first time that the John Leonard prize has been awarded posthumously.

As previously announced, the recipient of the $1,000 Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing was Merve Emre, a contributing writer at the New Yorker and associate professor at Oxford University. Percival Everett received the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, and the inaugural Toni Morrison Achievement Award, established by the NBCC in 2021 to honor institutions that have made lasting and meaningful contributions to book culture, was given to the Cave Canem Foundation, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

David Varno, NBCC board president (and PW reviews editor) kicked off the proceedings with a recitation of the steps the NBCC has taken this past year to make the organization more inclusive for its members. Weve accomplished so much this year, Varno said, Weve developed two new awards, including the annual Toni Morrison achievement award. Also this year, weve amended our bylaws to more center the voices of more marginalized critics, including critics of color, and LGBTQ, and those with disabilities. Other initiatives include developing a budget to compensate presenters at events and producing programming on DEI issues.

The Past Informs the Present

Judging from the audience chat, the ceremony was a roller coaster of emotions as speakers emphasized the importance of human connections and the impact of the past upon the present, especially within marginalized communities, beginning with the evenings presentation of the John Leonard Prize, the only NBCC award to be determined by the organizations membership, rather than the board. In her acceptance of So's award for Afterparties, Samantha So Lamb thanked his publisher for wrapping around her family, adding, "My brother is a super star and our team made sure of it. I'm grateful that my brother shared his voice and uplifted the Cambodian-American and the LGBTQ community before he passed."

The next award recipient, Emre, who won the Nona Balakian Citation, admitted that she had been distracted from writing a speech focused upon the role and responsibilities of book critics by two events: strikes by U.K. educators protesting cuts to their pensions, and layoffs of book critics working for U.S. publicationsincluding Jo Livingstone, last years Balakian Citation recipient, laid off from their job at the New Republic.

This is only the most recent example of the ongoing push to replace staff writers with freelancers to drive down the costs incurred by struggling magazines, she said, In my mind, these two events are deeply related. Both speak to the devaluation of the kinds of intellectual work that scholars and critics perform. This devaluation has been particularly acute in mainstream literary and cultural criticism, in literary studies, and in the humanities more broadly.

Thus, Emre said, she was donating 50% of her $1,000 prize to sponsor membership dues for the freelance journalists union, and the other 50% to the fighting fund maintained by the U.K.s university and college union, adding, I would urge all critics and editors with secure jobs and with prominent perches from which to speak to do what they can to support or to continue to support precarious laborers in our industries.

Other award recipients made the connection between their work and the current cultural and political climate, some subtly, some explicitly. When we write about ourselves, Jeremy Atherton Lin said during his acceptance speech for Gay Bar, which explores the impact of gay bars and hangouts upon LGBTQ culture, were writing about what we think came before us. Were a part of the stuff that came before. Constructive and attentive criticism is such an important thing for the way that we see one another and see the future generations.

Rebecca Donner, who'd written a biography of her great-aunt, Mildred Harnack, a member of the German resistance movement during World War II, noted that a few years after Harnack moved to Germany from Wisconsin, she witnessed Germany "swiftly progress from democracy to fascist dictatorship. She and others resisted the Nazis, Donner said, The story of their audacious courage serves as an inspiration to us all during this fraught time in the world."

Clint Smith, the penultimate award recipient of the evening, helped conclude the proceedings on an inspiring note that underscored the impact of books upon both the present and future generations of readers. He wrote How the Word is Passed, he explained, because he wanted to write the sort of book I needed when I was 16 and sitting in my American history class. A book that would help me understand why my city, my state, my country looked the way that it did today. All I wanted growing up was the language and the toolkit and the history to make sense of the world around me. And I hope this book can play one small role in giving other people the language they need in helping people remember what happened.

Little, Brown was a major winner last night, with three of its authors scooping up awards. Graywolf Press also scored big. Not only did Graywolf author Diane Seuss snap up the poetry award, but Percival Everett paid tribute to the Minneapolis indie during his acceptance of a lifetime achievement award, praising publisher Fiona McCrae and her colleagues for the respect accorded to their authors.

"She understands my work," Everett said of McCrae, his publisher for the past 27 years, "The press understands me. I've never had a marketing meeting in my life. And they have allowed me to write the kinds of books that I do. That is to say, the books that don't sell very many."

I couldn't be more delighted by last night's stirring celebration of book criticism and literature," Varno told PW, "from Merve Emres call to action in support of fellow critics, journalists, and academics to the moving speeches from our wonderful winners. Toni Morrison once called the NBCC a 'wild faculty,' and Im grateful to be part of this group of critics that landed on such a fierce and wide-ranging body of winners, including Melissa Feboss mixed-genre meditation on a queer girlhood, Jeremy Atherton Lins autobiography of gay bars, Clint Smiths study of plantations and monuments shaped by the legacy of white supremacy and slavery, Honoree Fanonne Jefferss monumental work of Black feminism, Diane Seusss once-in-a-decade collection of poetry, Rebecca Donners page-turner biography, and of course Anthony Veasna Sos crushingly promising debut story collection."

The 2021 NBCC winners are as follows:

Autobiography: Gay Bar: Why We Went Out by Jeremy Atherton Lin (Little, Brown)

Biography: All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days: The True Story of the American Woman at the Heart of the German Resistance to Hitler by Rebecca Donner (Little, Brown)

Criticism: Girlhood by Melissa Febos (Bloomsbury)

Fiction: The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (Harper)

Nonfiction: How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith (Little, Brown)

Poetry: frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss (Graywolf)
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Celebrity couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds will host the 2022 Met Gala with Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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The annual event will take place May 2 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Lively, Reynolds, King and Miranda join fashion designer Tom Ford, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who will return as honorary co-chairs.

This year's theme will be Part Two of "In America." Harper's Bazaar said to expect looks inspired by "Gilded Glamour."

The 2022 Met Gala coincides with the opening of the "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5.

Part One took place in September and was inspired by the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" exhibit.

Lively did not attend the 2021 event. The actress is known for playing Serena van der Woodsen on the series Gossip Girl and will star in an upcoming adaptation of Lady Killer.
Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway said they hope audiences draw their own conclusions about their characters in WeCrashed, premiering Friday on Apple TV+.

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Leto and Hathaway play WeWork founders Adam and Rebekah Neumann.

"These are people who had very sincere intentions," Hathaway said on a recent Television Critics Association Zoom panel. "I really think they wanted to make the world a better place. How they executed that is a lot more complicated."

The hour-long drama series, WeCrashed, depicts how Adam developed the idea for WeWork shared work spaces, raised billions of dollars from investors and ultimately resigned when he was unable to launch an initial public offering of stock. The series was preceded by Hulu's 2021 documentary, WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn.

Leto said creators Lee Eisenberg and Drew Crevello's approach appealed to him because it was not "a takedown piece."

"Adam set out to build something that he was proud of, something that he believed in," Leto said. "And I think that he set his sights on a pretty impossible goal and achieved something pretty remarkable."

WeCrashed shows Adam claiming he had interest from more investors than he really did. In the show, Adam convinces Rebekah to invest a wedding gift of $1 million her father gave her in the company.

The show flashes back and forth between the company's failed IPO and the development of WeWork. The company faced a lawsuit in 2021 for defaulting on a Manhattan lease, according to NBC News.

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Some WeWork locations are still in use since Neumann's departure. Leto said the show can only attempt to depict what made Adam charismatic enough to attract such high-profile investors as SoftBank.

"This is a painting," Leto said. "It's not a photograph. It's not a documentary. So it's impressionistic."

In the show, Adam persuades employees to join WeWork for shares of stock instead of salaries. Those shares become worthless when the company fails to launch an IPO.

"One of his superpowers is his ability to use words," Leto said. "I related to that quite a bit, as any artist probably would."

Leto said he had visited WeWorks. Hathaway said she was unfamiliar with the company before playing Rebekah.

Hathaway said Adam and Rebekah's love story attracted her to WeCrashed. In the first episode, Rebekah is not impressed when Adam asks her out.

Adam ultimately endears himself to Rebekah when he stands up to her boss at a yoga studio and demands that he pay her more. In addition to investing her $1 million wedding gift, WeCrashed shows Rebekah reassuring Adam when potential investors criticize his plans.

"Just because people do things that we might disagree with doesn't automatically make them bad," Hathaway said. "At the end of the day, I'm just playing a human being."

Crevello said he and Eisenberg did not want to reduce the Neumanns to caricatures. Crevello said he hopes WeCrashed provokes viewers to debate the WeWork founders.

"Were these idealistic visionaries or was there a cynicism there, an opportunism? Or both?" Crevello asked.

In their individual portrayals of Adam and Rebekah, Leto and Hathaway tackled their speaking voices. Adam was born in Israel and moved to the United States with his mother after his parents divorced.

Leto said he surrounded himself with Israelis to learn the accent. However, Leto said studying video of Adam taught him idiosyncrasies unique to his character.

"It's a series of habits," Leto said. "It's the way your mouth makes shapes, and everyone learns them differently."

Rebekah was an aspiring actor when she met Adam. On WeCrashed, Rebekah does a poor Russian accent in a performance of Chekhov's Three Sisters.

"I realize there's a difference between an accent and a voice," Hathaway said.

While Hathaway also studied speeches that Rebekah gave over the history of WeWork, Hathaway followed Leto's lead in creating her character.

"He had found a voice and, all of a sudden, I opened my mouth and Rebekah's voice came out," Hathaway said. "In that moment, we found each other on some acting level and as the characters."

New episodes of WeCrashed premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/18/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Clayton Echard and Susie Evans have revealed additional details about how they reconciled and got back together after filming Season 26.Susie and Clayton fought and broke up during their Fantasy Suite date in Iceland over Clayton's decisions earlier in the week, namely that he had sex and professed his love to both Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey But Clayton ultimately determined Susie is a "once-in-a-lifetime" woman and they had a special love, and so once he dumped Rachel and Gabby simultaneously and then threw "the biggest Hail Mary that Bachelor Nation has ever seen," according to host Jesse Palmer.Clayton tried to win Susie back and wrote her a heartfelt letter, but she dumped him at the Final Rose Ceremony and said she didn't love him or think he's her "person."The pair therefore finished the show and left Iceland single and alone -- until Susie reached out to Clayton post-filming by DMing him on Instagram "I didn't reach out with the intentions of restarting a relationship or knowing where that conversation was going to go," Susie said during an appearance on the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast this week, according to Us Weekly."But I think we both had been through a lot. And we both loved each other a lot. And I just wanted to reach out and ask for one more conversation with him."Susie elaborated on her bold direct message to Clayton after filming wrapped in a separate interview on "The Viall Files" hosted by Nick Viall "When I reached out to him, I was just, like, 'Hey, we haven't really had the capacity, the time, the environment to really put things out there and for you to be able to tell me what happened that night -- was that normal? Is that what it's like if we fight or if you're to have a fight with somebody?'" Susie reportedly recalled."But we were able to really, like, get to the bottom of that."Once the pair reconnected, they began FaceTiming each other and having frequent conversations. Clayton and Susie recalled talking for hours until they'd both fall asleep at night.Once Susie found herself smitten with Clayton again, she was reportedly the one who asked him to officially be her boyfriend.Susie said she wanted to put a title on her relationship with Clayton once season began airing in early January.And as the weeks progressed, the couple apparently only grew closer and were able to talk everything out."We sat down with our journals one day when we were just like, 'Let's compare notes, like, where's your head at here?' And there were no surprises, like, we really talked about everything," Susie shared with Us about watching the show back.Susie explained on finale on Tuesday night how leaving Iceland without Clayton was the best decision she could have made because she was allowed time to explore her own feelings and figure out in what capacity she'd like Clayton to be in her life.And even though the pair spent time apart after filming wrapped, Clayton told People that he never moved on from his feelings for Susie."I never took a step back," Clayton revealed. "I was still very much in love with Susie and when the door opened back up, I was fully back in."And Susie added, "I wanted answers for how he treated me on the initial day of our breakup. But we've learned so much about each other. And those feelings of love came back."Susie needed answers about her first breakup with Clayton during their Fantasy Suite date. Clayton claimed Susie had "invalidated" their entire relationship by trying to leave, and he accused her of not wanting to fight for their love.Clayton, worrying in the back of his mind Susie was just gunning to become the next ette star, also told the wedding videographer that he didn't know who he was looking at anymore.But once Susie received the closure she needed from that tense and emotional argument -- for which Clayton was accused of gaslighting in the press -- Susie said she was able to give Clayton her heart."I was telling her that I loved her, and I said, 'You don't have to [say it]... Just tell me when you're ready to say it, but I'm going to tell you because I never fell out of love with you,'" Clayton told People."She actually slipped up on the phone for the first time. She was waiting to tell me in person, and she said it on the phone."Clayton and Susie also disclosed how their families were "shocked" once they heard about the reconciliation but they've all been talking virtually since then and now everyone is "pumped" for them.Susie told Jesse on the live finale Tuesday night that she expects to receive some backlash from Bachelor Nation due to Clayton's season being so controversial but she hopes people will be happy for them and root for them as a couple."It's not Team Clayton and it's not Team Susie. We are together," Susie said, adding that they both have the best of intentions.Clayton noted how his tumultuous journey was "1,000 percent" worth it now that he's with Susie and he "couldn't be happier.""I've spent the last four months with her, and she just impresses me more and more every day," Clayton gushed."She continues to give me reason after reason why following my heart was the best decision I ever could have made, and I could not be more in love with this woman."Clayton then gave Susie his final rose, which she accepted with a full heart, and announced how he had quit his job, sold his condo, and is moving to Virginia to give their romance his best effort.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Shannon Stevenson, a graduate student studying international policy at the University of Georgia, holds a sign that says "Glory to Heroes" in Ukranian in front of the Ukrainian flag on March 2, 2022 behind the UGA arch in Athens, Georgia. Stevenson is one of about 15 UGA students who gathered at the arch Tuesday for a rally showing support for Ukraine during the war Russia is waging on Ukraine. (Photo/Julia Walkup, @julia_walkup_photo)
Nancy Lukasiewicz, co-founder of the Lyndon House Arts Center, died on Feb. 1 at the age of 71. She launched Athens first government-sponsored community arts program. Lyndon House is hosting a memorial service in honor of Lukasiewicz on May 15. The memorial is open to the public.
On Thursday, the University of Georgia Students for Socialism hosted an event remembering the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings. The event, which focused on combating anti-Asian racism and China-bashing, featured remarks from a UGA student and from Sheila Xiao, an organizer from Los Angeles.

On March 16, 2021, eight people, six of whom were Asian women, lost their lives because of a mans claimed sex addiction, which drove him to fire shots at three spas in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Delaina Yaun, 33, Paul Michels, 54, Xiaojie Emily Tan, 49, Daoyou Feng, 44, Soon Chung Park, 74, Suncha Kim, 69, Yong Ae Yue, 63, and Hyun Jung Grant, 51 were killed.

Trey Holloman, a junior economics major and member of Students for Socialism, opened the discussion by explaining the model minority myth and its relationship to Asian Americans as well as Black Americans.

The model minority myth is an idea that states Asian Americans have succeeded despite hardships through hard work and innate ability. It is rooted in stereotypes and often used to put down other racial minorities and immigrant groups.

Holloman said not only does the model minority myth reduce [Asian] identity to a single attribute, but it also paints the idea that Black Americans are ignorant and lazy by suggesting they are incapable of doing the same.

Holloman then noted the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was passed in 1882 and prohibited Chinese people from immigrating to the United States, and Japanese Internment Camps, which incarcerated many Japanese and Japanese American citizens in camps during World War II.

He also cited examples of Asian American involvement in the Black Panther Party, calling on Richard Aoki and Yuri Kochiyama. He made the conclusion that Afro-Asian solidarity creates a powerful weapon against white supremacy and is critical to the achievement of liberation.

And when a racist, sexist, anti-Asian massacre took place in Atlanta, and it took [the] lives of eight of our working class citizens, it wasn't just Asians in the street. Crowds, standing shoulder to shoulder with each other in our face of anti-Asian hate, were multinational. Tonight, we want to carry forward that spirit of Afro-Asian solidarity, Holloman said.

Sheila Xiao was the guest speaker for the event.

She opened by saying March 16 marks another anniversary. On March 16, 1968, American soldiers killed more thans 500 unarmed civilians in Vietnam, an event that later became known as the My Lai massacre. She said the U.S. military agenda plays a role in fomenting hatred.

She then drew attention to the fact that violence has not lessened even with the awareness towards anti-Asian racism over the past year.

According to a preliminary report by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism, reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased from 342% from 2020 to 2021.

Xiao said she believes anti-Asian racism is not just the fault of former President Donald Trumps verbiage and anti-China sentiment. She traces it back to the Obama administration.

It started in 2011 under the Obama administration's pivot to Asia. The pivot to Asia basically set out to reorient U.S. military and foreign policy, such that China is now the major enemy, the major competitor and major adversary of the United States, Xiao said.

China then becomes viewed as evil, deceitful and oppressive and the discussion or debate about China exists in a narrow space, Xiao said.

If we actually intend to meaningfully fight racism and end anti-Asian racism, we have no choice but to demand that the U.S. government stop its aggression on China. The absolute biggest hate crime against Asians is U.S. war drive and the U.S. war agenda that creates fear and animosity against China and therefore Chinese and Asian people here at home, Xiao said.

From her experience in the Chinese community in San Francisco, shes learned there is an understanding of how China is demonized, even if they are apolitical. However, many are afraid to go against popular opinion.

Thats why Xiao calls on people to force an open space for discussion and have solidarity so that people of the Asian community can speak up and out. When she sees videos of Asian people being attacked, especially the elderly and women, she cant help but see her mom, dad, uncles, aunts, grandma and all the victims.

This system is ready to dispose of anyone if it is convenient for it to do so thats why there's no other choice but to fight against racism and white supremacy, Xiao said. That's why there's no choice but to fight against patriarchy, and there's no choice but to fight for peace and fight against war. To me, this is what it truly means to fight for justice of the victims of the Atlanta shootings and all victims of anti-Asian violence.

Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified Trey Holloman. The Red & Black regrets this error and it has since been corrected.
People gathered in Harmony Parking lot in Brattleboro on Friday, April 22nd for a street festival and parade in celebration of Earth Day. According to Nancy Braus of 350 Brattleboro, the goal was to celebrate the ways in which the community is working towards climate justice and to empower 
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Several projects involving the Rockingham Meeting House were among the 48 projects that have been submitted so far to Rockingham, Bellows Falls and Saxtons River officials, seeking partial funding from ARPA money for their projects.
Richard Faesy is the Secretary of the Building Performance Professionals Association. He can be contacted at rfaesy@energyfuturesgroup.com and 802-355-9153. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
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Lindsay Kurrle is secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Miranda Gray is the deputy commissioner of the Child Development Division within the Vermont Department of Children and Families. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Sen. Chris Murphy began his day Friday standing outside his home in Hartford for a live MSNBC appearance on Ukraine that first detoured to a Republican colleagues colorful complaints of his tribal hackery and Twitter self-pleasuring.

That was how U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, speaking Thursday on the Senate floor, angrily described Murphys take on Twitter that Sasse and others who were demanding that Joe Biden do more for Ukraine had voted recently against aid to that country.

I think it speaks to how sensitive Republicans are about being called to task on saying the right things about Ukraine and not being willing to put their vote where their mouth is, said Murphy, a Democrat.

Sasse was one of a dozen Republican senators who demanded Biden be more aggressive in opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prompting Murphy to accurately Tweet that nine of the 12 had voted against $800 million in military aid.

The Republican, who serves with Murphy on the Foreign Relations Committee, said that Murphy was disingenuous by failing to mention that aid to Ukraine was less than 1% of a $1.5 trillion spending bill that passed with bipartisan support.

Do you think a single person that your Twitter self-pleasuring was for, do you think that a single person that voted against it, voted against it because they were against Ukrainian aid? Sasse asked.

Absolutely not, Murphy replied.

So then whats the point of the Tweet?

The point is this. Its that the only way this place passes legislation is compromise, is voting on pieces of legislation that have in it -

Where are the pieces, dude? Sasse interrupted. Its $1.5 trillion.

The exchange was unusual given that Murphy and Sasse generally are on cordial terms, something Sasse hinted at in his floor speech, noting the two senators talk off line.

We have a good and generally friendly relationship, Murphy said. We do spend time talking about whats going on in his party, and the way we talk about the way Democrats and Republicans talk about each other in public.

On Friday, Murphy talked to MSNBC and then to reporters in Hartford outside the state Capitol about the risks of a wider war with Russia should America follow the advice of Senate hawks.

It is important to understand the context of this moment. Never before has the United States been this close to conflict with Russia, Murphy said, noting that U.S. aid to the Afghan mujahideen rebel forces was covert during the Soviet-Afghan war of 1979 to 1989.

This is the first time that the United States has overtly funded an opposition force that is directly fighting the Russians. That comes with risks, Murphy said. We think the risks are required in order to meet this moment.

In a video appeal to Congress on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed thanks for the U.S. military aid but reiterated his call for the U.S. and NATO to block Russian planes from attacking civilians in Ukraine.

Murphy said he supported Bidens position of stopping short of direct military action.

He was accompanied in Hartford by Alexander B. Kuzma of the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, who politely suggested the U.S. consider at least an airlift of food into the Ukraine.

Kuzma did not criticize Bidens position but suggested it may need to evolve.

As conditions change on the ground, there may come a time where the calculus changes, and the U.S. government and NATO might have to change their views, Kuzma said.

Murphy said Biden was now acting within his presidential authority and did not need congressional war-powers authorization.

As a legal matter, we have always had an active debate about what kind of activity triggers the need for congressional authorization. Theres not a clear line. But my conclusion is military support and intelligence-sharing alone is not enough to require a declaration of war, Murphy said.

But there are actions you can take short of putting hundreds of thousands of American troops on the ground in a foreign country that would require a declaration of war. We arent near that moment yet.
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STAMFORD  A 27-year-old city man is facing multiple felony gun charges and is being investigated for possible ties to two shootings that happened earlier this week, according to police.

John Spencer was arrested following an early morning raid on his Perry Street apartment early Thursday, according to Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin.

Spencer faces two counts of criminal possession of a firearm and single counts of altering the serial number on a firearm, criminal possession of ammunition, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of narcotics and violation of a protective order.

Conklin said the arrest is the culmination of a weeks-long investigation into Spencer by the Stamford Police Departments Narcotics and Organized Crime (NOC) squad.

Officers in Stamfords NOC squad, along with heavily armed members of the Special Response Team, raided Spencers home around 5:30 a.m. Thursday during the execution of a search warrant.

Conklin said investigators recovered two guns  a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun with its serial number shaved off and a .22-caliber revolver. Police also found an illegal high-capacity magazine and 2.5 grams of crack cocaine, Conklin said.

Spencer, who has felony convictions for forgery, carrying a pistol without a permit and possessing a weapon in a motor vehicle, is barred from possessing any weapons, Conklin said.

Conklin said police are also now investigating Spencer for a possible connection to two shootings that happened just around the block from his apartment on Monday.

Conklin said an investigation revealed that at least one of those Monday shootings  one of which happened around 3 p.m. in the area of Richmond Hill Avenue and Ann Street, the other around 7:45 pm. in the area of Rose Park Avenue near the intersection of West Main Street  involved a 9 mm gun.

We will certainly have the gun forensically compared to evidence from those shootings to see if they played a role in them, Conklin said Thursday.

Each shooting involved at least one injury. Neither victim suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Conklin said the investigation into the two shootings remains active and open.

Spencer is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday. He is being held in lieu of $200,000 bond.
TORRINGTON  Mayor Elinor Carbone is deep in the budget development process for 2022-23, a task shes undertaken for the last eight years; its her ninth budget, and its full of challenges that are likely to show a tax increase, she said.

At the city level, were looking right now at a 10 percent increase over last year, Carbone said.

The 2021-22 approved municipal budget totaled $58.716 million; the 2022-23 proposed budget, which includes proposals from every department head, totals $65,072 million, an increase of $6.356 million, or 10.82 percent.

This means an increase to the mill rate, Carbone said. Our process starts with requests from department heads, and the boards of finance and the council look at the impact of those requests and ask for cuts. Were meeting with department heads now; last week, we met with the police department; next week, were meeting with the fire department, and so on.

At the same time, the school district is crafting its own spending proposals for the new year. Superintendent of Schools Susan Lubomski presented her proposed budget for 2022-23 in late February for $79.1 million, with an increase of 2.81 percent over the 2021-22 budget of $76.9 million, or $2.16 million. The Board of Education is now reviewing the spending proposal during public meetings and discussing the spending requests with department heads.

Along with spending increases for the municipal and school budgets, Torrington taxpayers will soon begin paying for the new middle-high school building project, which is expected to have shovels in the ground by summertime, the mayor said.

My thoughts on this budget cycle, first of all, is that voters approved a school project, so we have to hold the line on spending, she said. But can we hold back the mill rate? Its going to be very difficult. We may be looking at an increase. Were getting ready to borrow a large amount of money, but were also very mindful of what taxpayers can afford.

There are some bright spots in the budgets data: Torringtons grand list is reflecting growth, from $2,084,631,732 in 2020, to $2,153,769,007, an increase of 3.32 percent. The grand list includes real estate, which grew from $1.641 billion in 2020 to $1,643 billion in 2021; personal property, which increased from $207.02 million in 2020 to $213.95 million in 2021; and motor vehicles, which increased from $225.94 million in 2020 to $296.36 million in 2021. These increases mean Torrington can collect more taxes, which will offset future spending.

The mayor said residents seem to want to know more details about the city and school districts proposed spending and that she wants to provide that information. The pages of the budget document provide more detail, instead of a few lines showing the previous year and this years proposal. In every case, Carbone said, the budget offers more information for people, to help them understand what the spending is actually for.

For each department, the budget document provides a line item list, followed by a breakdown by employees, supplies and other spending. It also provides a list of employees for each department, as well as their salaries and benefits.

When I did the budget this year, I had in mind that these numbers are people, Carbone said. Those are peoples names, attached to those numbers; they have homes, and families. So when people look at that, they have a better understanding of how were spending taxpayer money.

She follows the approach of a Board of Finance member when looking over the proposals.

Laurene Pesce is always questions the impact of a cut or a change, she said. She says, What wont I get if I cut this? So thats what I try to keep in mind.

Some notable proposed increases to the city budget are from the police department, whose budget has increased from $5.975 million in 2021 to a request for $10.271 million for 2022-23, or 6.81 percent; the city hall budget, from $187,332 to $343,944; and public works, streets and parks, from $5.86 million in 2021 to $6.74 million, or 15.1 percent.

Carbone said she also must consider the taxpayers and their ability to carry the weight of the spending.

We want to hold the line, but we also need things, she said. Were repaying debt. Its a challenge.

Torrington is receiving $10 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, but it must be used for very specific, COVID-19-related recovery projects, with guidelines dictated by the Treasury Department. All ARPA spending must be documented and reviewed.

Since the pandemic began in 2020, a recovery committee has been tasked specifically with handling all proposals for pandemic-related funding and narrowing it down to a priority list, categorized with a focus on health care and social work, infrastructure and building improvements, a city grant administrator, a workforce coordinator, police and fire department building improvements, a business grant program and technology improvements for City Hall. The city recently issued an online survey, asking for public input on that spending.

ARPA funds cant be used to supplement a municipal or school budget, but Carbone said the committee is working the spending into various needs.

We want to invest in new radio equipment for police, fire and public safety, and that is allowed, she said. We can spend money on air quality and HVAC systems, which would normally be under capital improvements, which allows us to use capital money on other things. So when were looking at the ARPA money, we have to be true to the intent of the Treasury Departments process.

Carbone will continue meeting weekly with department heads. After that process is completed, the City Council will begin its own review and public presentations of the city budget will begin, likely in April. All available information on the municipal budget is posted online at torringtonct.org.
HKSAR chief executive has full confidence in mainland medical staff

Xinhua) 23:19, March 18, 2022

HONG KONG, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Friday that she has full confidence in the professionalism of the mainland medical staff coming to assist in Hong Kong's fight against COVID-19.

At the daily press conference on anti-epidemic efforts held on Friday morning, Lam said that the Hong Kong society should be grateful to the mainland medical staff who laid aside their jobs, left their families, traveled a long way to come and serve the Hong Kong people.

Lam said that both the mainland and local medical staff are dedicated to serving COVID-19 patients. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority and the mainland team have agreed to adopt a collaborative model in work with the division of labor approved by both sides.

She said she believes that the mainland medical staff can provide good treatment for Hong Kong's COVID-19 patients, reducing severe cases and deaths.

More than 300 mainland medical staff have arrived in Hong Kong in batches since Monday to support the local fight against COVID-19. They include doctors, nurses, radiographers and administrative staff from public hospitals in the neighboring Guangdong Province.

Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said on Friday that the mainland medical staff have started working at the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo. The medical staff from Hong Kong and the mainland working together there have reached a consensus on clinical nursing tasks and related arrangements.

Meanwhile, various sectors in Hong Kong have continued to make contributions to the anti-epidemic fight. Federation of HK Jiangsu Community Organizations raised 4 million HK dollars (about 511,400 U.S. dollars) worth of supplies on Thursday, which are being distributed to elderly care centers and families in need.

New World Development Company Limited launched on Thursday an online platform named "Share for Good" for faster and better distribution and use of donated anti-epidemic supplies.

Under the guidance and support of Bauhinia Culture Group, Knowledge Magazine jointly launched a charity campaign with a number of quality mainland education platforms so that Hong Kong students can have a variety of online classes at home amid the epidemic.

On Friday, Hong Kong registered 7,966 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 12,116 additional positive cases through self-reported rapid antigen tests, official data showed. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.82 HK dollars)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji)
Members of an upstart opposition party have been intimidated, harassed, even arrested.

Cambodias Ministry of Interior Friday accepted a small opposition partys request to try to prevent political intimidation ahead of Junes local elections, the party said in a statement.

The Candlelight Party, formerly known as the Sam Rainsy Party and the Khmer Nation party, was founded in 1995, and merged with other opposition forces to form the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in 2012.

But in November 2017, Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in a move that allowed Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in Parliament in a July 2018 election.

The Candlelight Party has been growing quickly over the past year and some believe may present a challenge to the CPP.

During Fridays meeting between Candlelight Party Vice President Thach Setha and Ministry of Interior Secretary of State Sak Setha, the ministry accepted the partys request to take effective measures to prevent intimidation of its members to preserve the integrity of upcoming elections, the party statement said.

The ministry will also look into the recent arrests of two party activists.

The party also requested the creation of a joint committee  to be made up of the parties registered to participate in elections, the National Election Commission (NEC), and representatives of the government  to resolve election-related disputes.

The ministry refused but said it would ask the NEC to work on election issues more effectively.

As a result of this meeting, I can see we have similar intentions to prevent intimidation before the election, Thach Setha told RFAs Khmer Service. I wanted to have direct talks to resolve this issue to prevent it from getting worse.

The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel) welcomed Fridays meeting. Kang Savang, a Comfrel monitor, told RFA that local authorities have failed to perform their duties with neutrality.

Some local authorities abuse their power and are not neutral so there must be measures against them, he said.

At least three Candlelight Party activists have been arrested, and many more have been prevented from registering to compete as candidates in the upcoming election. To date, the party has registered 1,652 candidates across the country for the June election but has not decided on whether it will participate in the election.

RFA was unable to reach Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak for comment. But he told the local newspaper the Khmer Times that the ministry is gathering evidence connecting the Candlelight Party with exiled CNRP leader Sam Rainsy.

Sam Rainsy, 72, has lived in France since 2015 and was sentenced in absentia last year to 25 years for what supporters say was a politically motivated charge of attempting to overthrow the government.

The ministry spokesman said political party laws prevent convicted criminals from establishing or being involved with parties.

You can do whatever you want, but dont break the law. Be careful the party might be dissolved, he said.

In a Feb. 23 interview with RFA, Sam Rainsy said it was unnecessary for him to call for people to support Candlelight.

We dont want them to find any excuse to cause us trouble. We dont need to talk lot about it, he said.

Candlelights Vice President Thach Setha has also denied that Sam Rainsy is behind the party. He said that its members are competent enough to run the party without him.

Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The warning follows reports that Moscow had asked Beijing for assistance, including supplies.

US President Joe Biden meets with China's President Xi Jinping during a virtual summit from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, Nov. 15, 2021.

UPDATED at 9:17 P.M. ET on 2022-03-18

U.S. President Joe Biden warned Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday that Beijing will face serious consequences if it offers support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to White House officials.

During a two-hour video call, Xi told Biden that China has no interest in a crisis in Ukraine and said talks should take place between NATO countries and Moscow to address the concerns of all stakeholders, according to Chinese state media reports. No mention was made by the Chinese leader of Russia's role in sparking the conflict.

But senior Biden administration officials later described the call as more "direct," and told reporters that the two leaders "spent the preponderance of their time discussing Russias unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The officials said Biden made clear to Xi that Beijing's support for Moscow in the conflict would have consequences for U.S.-China relations and the "international order," without providing details.

Earlier, China's official Xinhua news agency reported that Xi told Biden Beijing does not want a war in Ukraine and that as the leaders of permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world's two largest economies, they must work together to ensure global security.

"The Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

"We must not only guide the China-U.S. relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility."

A statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry said that Xi called on all stakeholders to "jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace."

He also urged the U.S. and other NATO countries to hold a dialogue with Russia "to address the crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine."

In the meantime, Xi said China will continue to provide aid to Ukraine to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

Russian request for aid

Biden had been expected to urge Xi not to aid Russia in its war in Ukraine during the phone call, according to Foreign Policy magazine, following a number of news reports citing U.S. officials as saying that Moscow had asked Beijing for assistance, including supplies of military food rations.

"[The conversation] will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.

On Thursday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian defended China's stance on Ukraine as "upright, fair and objective, and beyond reproach."

"The countries that should really be feeling uncomfortable are those that think they have won the Cold War and can dominate the rest of the world ... those countries that continued to promote NATO's eastward expansion despite concerns of other countries ... those countries that start wars everywhere but call other countries warmongers," he told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Zhao, a proponent of China's more outspoken brand of "wolf warrior" diplomacy, went on to ridicule international sanctions against Russia.

"I heard that Russian cats, Russian dogs, and Russian trees will be sanctioned," he said. "I also heard that Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake has been banned. Tchaikovsky ... has been dead for more than 100 years. What can he be guilty of?"

Ahead of the call Xinhua said that Xi would "exchange views with U.S. President Joe Biden on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual concern" on Friday evening Beijing time.

'Expert' views on China's position

Xinhua meanwhile cited "experts" from France, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Iran, Namibia, Egypt and Pakistan as supporting China's position on the Ukraine war.

China has declined to refer to the war as an invasion, says it supports peace talks and a diplomatic solution, and rejects media reports suggesting it may assist the Russians.

The Xinhua article quoted Liazid Benhami, vice-chairman of the Paris-France-China Friendship Association  which is under the aegis of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s United Front Work Department  as saying that CCP leader Xi Jinping has demonstrated China's responsible role as a major power, and believes that China will play an active role alongside the international community on the situation in Ukraine.

Sun Kai, a former reporter with a Beijing-based newspaper, said he had never heard of any of the "experts" cited by Xinhua.

"These people are not particularly famous," Sun told RFA. "They will always look for people who are pro-China, and if they can't find any, they sometimes make up institutions and names that nobody has ever heard of before."

"It's fake," he said.

Stance remains ambiguous

State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to speculate on China's response to U.S. concerns during a press briefing on March 16, but said Washington remained keen to keep open the channels of communication with Beijing.

"This is probably the most consequential bilateral relationship on the face of the Earth," Price said. "It is incumbent upon us as a responsible country to see to it that the competition that characterizes our relationship doesnt veer into the realm of conflict."

But he said Beijing had been notably absent from the international chorus of condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"We've yet to see ... that sort of unambiguous statement from [China]," Price said, warning that any effort to compensate Russia for financial losses under international sanctions would "cost" China.

Hours ahead of the presidential call, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's defense ministry said on Friday.

Taiwan has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), nor formed part of the People's Republic of China, but Beijing hasn't ruled out invading the democratic country by force to achieve what it terms "unification."

The carrier appeared around 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Taiwan's Kinmen Island at around 10:30 a.m. and was photographed by a passenger on a Taiwanese civilian flight, the defense ministry said.

Taiwan defense spokesman Shih Shun-wen confirmed the report, adding that the island's military had a full grasp on the activities of Chinese aircraft and vessels in the Taiwan Strait and would safeguard national security.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
UPDATED at 11:20 A.M. EDT on 2022-03-19

Yaxue Cao, editor-in-chief of the U.S.-based website China Change, has been tracking human rights issues in China for years. With the help of human rights attorneys in China, dissident artist Ai Weiwei, professor and film-maker Ai Xiaoming and overseas-based rights activist, she recently released an hour-long film about the crucial role played by Chinese lawyers in defending people's basic rights. The documentary, titled "The Defenders -- 20 Years of Human Rights Lawyers in China," offers rarely-seen footage of top rights attorneys including Li Heping, Jiang Tianyong and Pu Zhiqiang to an overseas audience. Cao spoke to RFA's Mandarin Service about the project:



RFA: How long did the film take to make?



Yaxue Cao: There were only two of us [making the documentary]. I wrote the script and collected and selected the material, while video editor cut it all together and added subtitles. Production started last year, and it took us three months in all.



RFA: This documentary spans a long period of time. How did you find all of the footage and the interviewees?



Yaxue Cao: The main point about this film is that it is based on existing footage. Half of the footage we use comes from interviews carried out for China Change, while we also collected a lot of footage, still photos and audio from news organizations and other films, including [two] made by Ai Xiaoming and Ai Weiwei's long interview with lawyers Li Heping and Jiang Tianyong in 2011. There were also some images of lawyer Pu Zhiqiang in [another] documentary. The fact that they were willing to share this material with us was a huge help.



RFA: According to my calculations, at least 33 lawyers appear in this film in some form. What kind of people are they?



Yaxue Cao: Well first of all, there should be more than 300,000 lawyers in China, but even at the peak [of legal representation], when human rights lawyers were most active, there were only about 300 of them. But people have quit or stopped speaking out under successive rounds of repression, while others do the work but don't want to be referred to as a human rights attorney. For example, more than 20 lawyers defended [pro-democracy agribusiness mogul] Sun Dawu, but none of them were in contact with us, or with the China Human Rights Lawyers Group. Nonetheless, to me, they were still human rights lawyers.



The main thing that makes human rights lawyers special is their bravery. They make up just one in every thousand lawyers [in China], maybe not even that much nowadays. These one-in-a-thousand lawyers dare to take on these cases and go to court to uphold justice according to the law, yet they are risking their livelihoods and putting themselves in personal danger, through arrest or being beaten up, to do so.



The other thing is that some people criticize them, saying they are unskilled lawyers, which is a term commonly used by the authorities. But I think they're the most skilled lawyers of all. A lawyer who can defend their client in a country that lacks rule of law, with a number of other things against them as well, has reached a very high level, both morally and legally.



'Chilling effect'



RFA: How has the situation of Chinese human rights lawyers changed in the past 20 years?



Yaxue Cao: The suppression started as soon as they started working. For example, at the beginning of my film, I mentioned the disappearance of Gao Zhisheng, who has been "disappeared" for three out of the last five years. We don't know whether he is alive or dead. Then we have Li Heping, who was kidnapped and beaten up, then the [jailing of] Xu Zhiyong of the New Citizens Movement. He's not a practicing lawyer, but he played an important role in the development of human rights lawyers [as a profession].



In 2008, a group of human rights lawyers who had defended Tibetans, defended families in Sichuan, or fought for direct elections to the Beijing Lawyers' Association had their licenses revoked back in 2009 and 2010.



Kidnapping, torture, detention, and revocation of licenses has been used against human rights lawyers all along, but the turning point was the mass arrests of July 2015. Before that, it was more a question of focused and individual attacks. But in the years since the 2015 crackdown, they have been wiping out the entire community of human rights lawyers.



This group consists both of the lawyers who were arrested during the July 2015 crackdown, and the lawyers who defended them. In all, more than 40 lawyers have had their licenses suspended or removed since 2017. The authorities want to eliminate them altogether.



There are other things that also create a chilling effect, like banning media interviews, forcing people to switch their lawyer in favor of a government attorney, and the use of non-disclosure agreements. So a lot of lawyers, while they may be working human rights cases, daren't talk about them. There are far fewer new human rights lawyers joining their ranks now, which is the result of continual suppression ever since July 2015.



RFA: That makes records like this film all the more important.



Yaxue Cao: Yes, it does. During the production process, as the person who wrote the screenplay, I felt somewhat numb and dull about the whole thing, but just imagine how someone who isn't really familiar with the topic, with what human rights lawyers in China do, who they are, would feel. I think it would be quite shocking.



There were many layers to this film while I was writing the script. Some lawyers liked to talk about defending clients in court; others talked more about their ideas. Jiang Tianyong talked about suffering extreme abuse in detention, and the despair he felt then. But he also said the situation was totally unacceptable. And the way to break that pattern is to make sure more people know about it.



That's why we made this film ... so more people will get to know these lawyers, to hear about what they said or did, and want to support them, at least morally.

CORRECTION: Amending the original translation which said "They have been wiping out the whole profession" to They have been wiping out the entire community of human rights lawyers.





Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Journalists in Hong Kong have hit out at criticism of a colleague in the pro-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) press after she asked a question about complaints procedures following a medical accident involving staff from mainland China.



The NowTV reporter asked the question about how the public can complain about medical malpractice by healthcare workers from mainland China at a news conference on , prompting the pro-CCP Ta Kung Pao newspaper to denounce her as "spreading hatred," claiming "public outrage" at her question.



"The Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) deeply regrets this criticism of journalists who are just doing their job, and expresses concern about the phenomenon," the HKJA said in a statement on its website on .



It linked the incident to an increasingly harsh climate for press freedom after the CCP imposed a draconian national security law from , 2020 banning public criticism of the government.



"In the post-national security era, the Hong Kong media is in crisis -- even when it comes to asking questions of officials," the organization said. "The HKJA would like to remind all sectors of the community not to ... speculate on journalists' motives or political stances without evidence."



It said the point of journalists' questions is to enable officials to better explain their policies to the public, and noted that the Hospital Authority had addressed the question not just once but twice i their replies.



"[Their] answers were clear and direct, affirming the value of the question," it said. "The ability of journalists to ask questions on issues of social concern without fear is an important basis upon which the media plays the role of the fourth estate."



It said the apology by NowTV had muddied the waters, and "regretted" that it had been issued.



NowTV's statement said the station was "deeply sorry" for any unhappiness caused by its reporter's question, which had also been asked by members of the city's Legislative Council on the same day.



"We are very grateful for the selfless support of the central government ... as the pandemic enters its fifth wave," it said. "We will continue to humbly accept monitoring and criticism from the public."



Ronson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, standing outside his office in Hong Kong, Jan. 7, 2022. Credit: AFP The opposite of journalism

HKJA chairman Ronson Chan said NowTV's apology had complicated matters.



"Hong Kong has changed," he said. "It's not what it used to be."



"I can't speculate whether the TV station was put under huge pressure to make that statement ... or whether it genuine thought it was supporting medical assistance from mainland China, and really did believe its reporter behaved inappropriately."



"If the latter is true, that it's the opposite of what we think journalism should be," Chan said.



NowTV's apology came days after Hong Kong national security police threaten Hong Kong Watch, a London-based rights group, with prosecution for calling for sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, and tried to order it to take down its website.



The police said in a letter to Benedict Rogers that he should "immediately cease engaging in any acts and activities in contravention of the national security law or any other laws of Hong Kong."



The group has been highly critical of the CCP's rights record in Hong Kong, particularly following a city-wide crackdown on pro-democracy activists, opposition politicians and journalists under the national security law.



In , security chief Chris Tang said the law would clamp down on media outlets deemed to have played an "inflammatory" role, citing the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, which is now subject to an investigation under the national security law, with several of its top journalists and founder Jimmy Lai awaiting trial for "collusion with a foreign power."



Tang said the paper's closure had made Hong Kong "more democratic," accusing it of fomenting a "color revolution" during the protest movement of 2019, which began as a mass popular protest against plans to allow extradition to mainland China, and broadened into demands for fully democratic elections and greater official accountability.



Tang and other officials have claimed that the protests meant that "targeted measures" are now needed to combat "fake news."



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Officials are worried they could get in trouble for using up food, medicine and other supplies during the pandemic.

This picture taken on March 20, 2020 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 21 shows an artillery fire competition between large combined units of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

North Korea is performing supply checks to ensure the military is ready to fight a war with South Korea, an order one source said is an attempt to distract the country from ongoing economic turmoil.

The military arm of the Central Committee of the ruling Korean Workers Party ordered each unit and Civil Defense Departments in each province, city and county to make a check of strategic supplies to prepare for the changing international situation.

The inspection of strategic supplies is unplanned, a resident of the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFAs Korean Service on March 13.

It is to prepare a full-scale combat readiness posture that can quickly respond to any situation, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. The move is aimed at strengthening the national defense power in response to the increasingly deteriorating international situation and the sharp military confrontation between the two Koreas.

Military units are required to take a tally of stored ammunition, uniforms and foodstuffs in each unit, as well as the emergency supplies of food, medicine and tires stored by Civil Defense Departments in each region, according to the source.

Residents think that the sudden inspection, although under the pretext of tensions, is actually aimed at creating an atmosphere of war to distract them from economic hardship, he said.

Officials in the propaganda and agitation sector are arguing that the situation will be tense because the new president elected in the South Korean presidential election is a bad president who wants to confront us, he said, referring to South Koreas conservative President-elect, Yoon Suk-yeol.

Inspections of supplies in nearby South Hamgyong province took government officials by surprise, one of the officials told RFA.

The officials are stunned  because some of the storage areas they will inspect are empty. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a significant amount of reserve materials have already been consumed, said the second source, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

The Civil Defense Department officials are angry that the party is trying to use international tensions to justify their inspection. Military units are well equipped  but the Civil Defense storage is not properly stocked because supplies were used for national construction projects too, the second source said.

The second source pointed out that the government cannot keep track of its own propaganda messages.

They promote that we are one of the worlds leading military powers. Then there should be no reason to be nervous about the election of a new president in South Korea, the source said.

Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Locals and activists say the projects will have several negative cultural and environmental impacts.

The Luang Prabang Dam in Laos is shown in a preconstruction phase in a December 2021 photo.

Laos is set to sign agreements with Thailand to sell electricity from three dams being built on the Mekong River, despite opposition to the projects construction voiced by villagers and NGOs, according to Lao and Thai sources.

The agreements between the two countries name the Luang Prabang Dam, Pak Beng Dam and Pak Lay Dam, all in northern Laos, as the power sources, sources say.

All of these projects are moving forward, an official of the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines told RFA on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. The dam developers are ready to begin construction of those dams as soon as the power purchase agreements are signed.

The agreements between Laos and Thailand are scheduled to be signed in May this year, according to a March 15 report in the Bangkok Post.

Developers of the Pak Beng Dam are now making changes to the dams design, however, and the Lao government has not yet finished a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) required for the Luang Prabang Dam by UNESCO, RFAs ministry source said.

Developers will provide missing or incomplete documents if work on any project is delayed, the official said. And the Thai side will then decide when and which dam will enter their market.

Speaking to RFA this week, Lao villagers and NGO representatives in Thailand reiterated their opposition to the proposed dams, pointing to negative effects on the regions ecosystem and the planned displacement of thousands of villagers living downstream.

People here are opposed to the dams, especially the large dams, said one villager living in Oudomxay provinces Pak Beng district near the site of the planned Pak Beng Dam. They dont want the dams because they are the ones who will be affected.

However, here in Laos they just discuss their opposition among themselves and not with the authorities, the villager said, speaking like RFAs other sources in Laos on condition of anonymity.

There will be too many damaging impacts, agreed a villager living near the Luang Prabang Dam site in Luang Prabang provinces Chomphet district. Most villagers here dont want this dam to be built, because the Mekong River is the main source of food for their families. If this dam is built, all our fish will disappear.

Hannarong Yaowalerd, chairman of the Foundation for Sustainable Water Management in Thailand, said that Thailand should wait for more studies to be completed before signing deals allowing the proposed dams to begin operations.

The Pak Beng Dam needs to be technically improved, he said. And as for the Luang Prabang Dam, the most concerning issue now is the impact it may have on Luang Prabang Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We dont need to sign the agreements now.

The Thai government is now pushing for the agreements to be signed because it wants to satisfy the interests of the dams developers, Yaowalerd said.

'Not listening to concerns'

A representative of the Love Chiang Khong Group, a Thai NGO in Chiang Rai province bordering Laos, meanwhile said the Thai government is refusing to listen to the concerns of Thai people likely to be affected by the dams.

They dont care about cultural, historical or heritage sites. They also wont care about damage to the ecosystem, he said, also declining to be named. The Mekong River is common property. Everyone depends on it.

The governments Procedure for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) is only ceremonial and meaningless, he added.

According to the website of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), a multi-nation group monitoring water flows and other conditions on the river, the Luang Prabang Dam built in Luang Prabangs Chomphet district by Thailands Xayaburi Power Company and PetroVietnam Power will cost $3 billion and displace 2,285 villagers.

Construction of ports, a workers camp, power lines and water supply for the project are now complete, and all heavy equipment has been brought in and an access road now 80 percent finished, a Chomphet district official told RFA on Friday.

The Pak Beng Dam, built by China Datang Overseas Investment, will cost $2.4 billion and affect 5,726 villagers, according to the MRC. An access road to the dams work site is now also in place, an official of Pak Beng district in Oudomxay province said.

And the Pak Lay Dam, built in Xayaburi province by Gulf Energy Development and a Chinese state enterprise, Power China Resources Ltd., will cost $2.13 billion and affect 4,800 villagers in the province. A road, power line, water supply and workers camp are now 80 percent complete, and some heavy equipment is now in place, a district official said.

Laos has staked its future on power generation in a controversial bid to become the Battery of Southeast Asia, exporting electricity from more than 50 large and small-scale dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries.

Though the Lao government sees power generation as a way to boost the countrys economy, the projects have faced criticism because of their environmental impact, displacement of villagers and questionable arrangements.

Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney.
An analyst says the military could be trying to root out resistance or enrich its leaders.

Hundreds of people are homeless in Myanmar as the ruling junta razes city slums in a campaign it says is designed to strengthen the rule of law but an analyst said is likely a pretext to root out members of the armed resistance or secure lucrative land development deals for military officers.

Since early December 2021, authorities have destroyed 1,392 structures in the slums of urban centers that include Yangons East Dagon township, Mandalays Myit-nge township, Bago regions Taungoo township, and the Rakhine state capital of Sittwe, residents told RFAs Myanmar Service.

They said 87 residential buildings were torn down in East Dagons Dawei Chaung ward in December, while since the beginning of March, demolition crews have knocked down around 1,000 buildings including a train station and shops  in Myit-nge, 200 shops in Taungoo, and 105 buildings in Sittwe.

Nearly 500 people have been left homeless by the demolitions over the past three months, sources said.

Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political analyst, said that the military is evicting squatters and destroying illegal settlements in the countrys slums based on an assumption that anti-junta elements operate there.

They might believe it is necessary to remove these people because they find it politically difficult to administer the area, he said. However, another reason could be for their own benefit. It is possible that investors and the juntas cronies are taking the opportunity to clear the land at a time when the political situation is unstable.

A resident who witnessed the destruction in Taungoo told RFA that soldiers, police and municipal workers used heavy machines on March 12 and 13 to flatten shops and houses in parts of the township they said were encroaching on municipal land.

The shops were bulldozed overnight. Some of them were built with reinforced concrete, but they were all cleared up within a few hours, the resident said. They also demolished everything along Kan Road, Market Road and the Yangon-Mandalay Highway. They were using five forklifts and a backhoe while soldiers and police monitored the demolition.

A resident of Myit-nge, where the townships residents are mostly railways department employees, said nearly all the houses in town had been demolished. They said that those who did not leave the area are now living in makeshift tents near the site of their former homes.

Almost the entire town is gone  its all been demolished, the resident said, adding that the military had blocked off the area on March 5 and sent construction vehicles there three days later. We saw buildings torn down by backhoes. The armed soldiers stood by and watched.

Most of the wells in the area have also been demolished, leaving some people without access to clean drinking water. Residents told RFA that people had been donating meal packets and drinking water to the displaced and providing free transportation.

When asked by RFA about the demolitions, junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the military regime is now focusing on the rule of law after previous governments ignored illegal settlements.

When it comes to rule of law, there are some areas that are worrisome. We need to clear them up as the rule of law is at stake in those areas, he said. Some squatters have been cleared and plans are afoot to relocate them.

However, a man whose home was destroyed on Dec. 4 by authorities in East Dagon said that he and others had yet to be resettled.

We lost everything, including our rights, after the Dec. 4 eviction. We applied, hoping to get back the land at government rates, in accordance with the law, he said. After a week or so, they replied to us that none of the evicted people would be relocated anywhere or get any help.

Among the buildings demolished in East Dagon were eight monasteries, he said. An appeal made to the juntas Ministry of Religious Affairs for the return of the land was ignored.

Some whose homes were destroyed in Yangon said they had been forced to rent apartments in the citys suburbs, leaving them with no money for emergency medical treatment if they fell ill.

People interviewed by RFA said that junta officials in urban areas are continuing to remove people they consider illegal squatters on state land by issuing eviction notices and using force when they encounter resistance.

Authorities have killed at least 1,679 civilians and arrested 9,745 since the military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup, mostly during peaceful anti-junta protests, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
UPDATED at 12:52 P.M. ET on 2022-03-18

The harassment by Chinese students of a New Zealand Uyghur Fulbright scholar who spoke about her brothers detention in China during an event at Cornell University is the latest in a series of alleged incidents involving efforts to intimidate critics of Chinese policies on American campuses.

On March 10, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and Cornell alumna, gave a virtual address to graduate public administration students about her career in public service. During the talk, Rizwangul NurMuhammad asked the congresswoman why the U.S. and other countries have sought to punish Russia for invading Ukraine but had not imposed similar sanctions on China for its genocide of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

NurMuhammad told Slotkin that her brother Mewlan had been arbitrarily arrested in 2017 amid mass detentions of Uyghurs and that she had since lost contact with him, according to a report published by Axios.

While she was speaking, Chinese students heckled her, and then about 40 of them walked out of the lecture hall in protest, the report said.

RFA could not reach NurMuhammad for further comment on the incident. But a series of tweets after the incident indicated that the harassment had continued after Slotkins talk.

What I am experiencing at @CornellBPP since last Thursday only gives me more courage to speak up. I feel unjust, and unsupported for the truth that I am standing for, for my brother and for Uyghurs at large, she tweeted.

What happened at @Cornell is only the tip of a massive iceberg. Universities and beyond must have policies and measures in place to deal with such incidents  the Chinese censorship, the chronic but lethal threat to democracy  all over the world, she added.

Slotkin posted a tweet thread of her own on Tuesday about the incident, saying that the Chinese students left in an apparent coordinated protest in response to the criticism of their government.

The congresswoman said she took no issue with the Chinese people or students in the class, but that she would not dance around the human rights abuses of the Chinese Communist Party.

In the final tweet, Slotkin said: Since then, the young woman who asked me the question has become the victim of bullying & intimidation by some fellow students. There's no excuse for that behavior, and I expect Cornell to ensure that all students can express themselves free of intimidation or threats.

A day after the incident, graduate student William Wang, who is president of the Cornell Public Affairs Society, sent a letter signed by more than 80 Chinese students to public policy Professor Matthew Hall that said the Chinese students walked out of the event because they felt the atmosphere was hostile toward them, The Cornell Daily Sun reported.

On Sunday, Hall, who is director of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, and Colleen Barry, the dean of public policy school, issued a letter to students, the report said.

These events have spurred divisive discourse and engaged us in serious conversation related to how best to speak up in the face of genocide and human rights atrocities against the Uyghur people, they wrote. At the same time, they remind us how harmful it is when conversation devolves into derogatory anti-Asian expression.

The statement also said that the school had reached out to the students directly involved to offer assistance.

Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, praised NurMuhammad for speaking out at the event. The former Trump administration official had urged the international community to sanction China for its human-rights abuses during her tenure at the U.N.

My heart goes out to Rizwangul, Haley was quoted as saying by The Washington Free Beacon on Thursday. She was using the power of her voice to speak truth about Communist China's genocide against the Uyghur people.

Cornell should be ashamed for not having her back, Haley said. I hope she'll continue to tell the world about what is happening.

Rights lawyer harassed

In another recent incident, Chinese students allegedly harassed Uyghur human rights lawyer Rayhan Asat, who was invited to speak at Boston College Law School.

Asat has campaigned for the release of her brother Ekpar Asat who has been held in an internment camp in Xinjiang since 2016, and on behalf of other Uyghurs and ethnic minorities in China.

Asat went through with the visit even though Chinese students asked the university not to host the event.

On March 15, Asat tweeted about the experience, saying: I wanted our attention on Ukraine, so I kept this for weeks. My message to the Chinese gov, I would appreciate it if it does not support Chinese students to threaten my safety or security. Their behavior only provoked justice-oriented law students to show up!

Asat also wrote that she demanded the Chinese government free innocent people held in imprisonment camps.

Last year, Purdue University President Mitch Daniels wrote a letter to students warning disciplinary actions against anyone who was found to have harassed a Chinese student who praised protestors at Tiananmen Square during the 1989 massacre. The letter was in response to a ProPublica article that included allegations that the student received harsh pushback from other Chinese students on campus.

Uyghurs who live in exile in Europe also have reported being harassed by Chinese authorities back home, cajoling and threatening them not to engage in activist activities or to return home.

Just after the latest incidents emerged, the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday indicted five people for attempting to suppress criticism of the Chinese government on American soil, including by trying to thwart the election campaign of a candidate for Congress who is a former Chinese dissident.

U.S. government prosecutors allege several plots to undercut criticism of China in three separate cases, including physically assaulting a congressional candidate, attempting to bribe U.S. tax officials in exchange for information about an advocate for democratic reform in China, and spying on members of the U.S.-based Chinese dissident community.

Transnational repression schemes pose an increasing threat against U.S. residents who choose to speak out against the Peoples Republic of China and other regimes, said assistant director-in-charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBIs New York Field Office in a Justice Department news release.



The FBI is committed to protecting the free speech of all U.S. residents, and we simply will not tolerate the attempts of foreign governments to violate our laws and restrict our freedom, he said.

Nury Turkel, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, said it is encouraging to see U.S. law enforcement going after individuals and entities engaging in transnational repression, particularly the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The CCPs ongoing threats against American citizens, and Uyghurs in particular, must be investigated and stopped as mandated under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act enacted in June 2020, he said, referring to a federal law requiring various U.S. government bodies to report on human rights abuses by the CCP and the Chinese government against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Foreign governments and their agents engaging in these types of brazen and illegal acts should compel U.S. law enforcement to specifically focus on those threatening Uyghur-Americans, Turkel told RFA.

By holding those individuals who inflict harm in this manner to account, the United States will also send a powerful message to China that the United States wont tolerate transnational repression on American soil, he said.

Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

CLARIFICATION: The article was updated to include comments from Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
The event was to raise money for people whose lives have been upturned by Russias invasion.

Ukrainians hold a charity bazaar to raise funds and awareness about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the Ukrainian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 5, 2022.

Vietnamese police have prevented Ukrainians in Hanoi from holding a fundraiser on Saturday to help those affected by Russias attacks on the Eastern European nation, organizers said.

Event organizers planned to sell food and souvernirs and hold an art auction to raise money to send to Ukrainians affected by the war. They also arranged a musical performance to entertain visitors.

But authorities informed them on Friday that the event to be held at the Chula Fashion House in Nhat Tan ward, Tay Ho district, was cancelled because of police intervention, they said, providing no other details. The district is known for hosting small fashion shows and art exhibitions.

A Ukrainian who gave her name as Julia told RFA via text message that many people in her community are disappointed by the abrupt cancellation.

We are very sad now as we have spent time and effort to prepare for the event, she said. It was expected to be a one-day event that many have been waiting for to learn more about our culture. We had prepared an exhibition, music, foods, as well as souvenirs. We did all these things in order to raise funds for people in need in our home country.

Nguyen Duc Thi Hien, chief of staff of Nhat Tan Ward Peoples Committee, said she did not know about the event and its cancellation, and referred RFA to higher-level people.

RFA could not reach Nhat Tan Police Chief Do Hong Quang for comment.

We understand that we are not living in our own country, Julia said. Vietnam has its own laws and its own view on the situation in Ukraine. We cannot do anything to change this fact. We only hope that we will receive more support from local people and expatriates living here.

Prior to the event cancellation, Human Rights Watch condemned Hanoi police and security forces for detaining many local residents to stop them from participating in a charity bazaar held by the Ukrainian Embassy on March 5.

Unlike many other nations, Vietnam has adhered to Moscows line of calling the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine a special military operation.

On Friday, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that there have been at least 2,149 civilian casualties in Ukraine, with 816 killed and 1,333 injured. OHCHR said it believes the actual figures are considerably higher because information from some locations where hostilities are intense have been delayed, and many reports are pending corroboration.

Vietnam is among 35 countries that on March 2 abstained from voting on a U.N. General Assemblys resolution demanding that Russia immediately end its invasion and unconditionally withdraw its military forces. The measure passed 141-35 with a dozen member states not voting.

On Thursday, Bui Thanh Son, Vietnams minister of Foreign Affairs, told his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, that the country supported international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine. He also said that Vietnam would

resume exchanges and cooperation with Ukraine after peace and stability had been restored, according to Vietnamese media reports.

Son said Vietnam believes international disputes and disagreements should be resolved through peaceful measures in compliance with U.N. policies and international law, especially with regard to respect for the independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of states.

Son also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday to urge the parties involved in the armed conflict to exercise restraint and work to find a long-term solution that takes into account the interests of both sides, other Vietnamese media reports said.

The Vietnamese foreign minister suggested that Moscow continue to organize humanitarian corridors and take measures to ensure the safety of civilians, including Vietnamese who live in Ukraine, as they evacuate war zones.

About 7,000 Vietnamese citizens live in Ukraine, according to Vietnams Foreign Ministry.

The former Soviet Union served as benefactor and ally to communist Vietnam after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. But when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, it no longer subsidized poor developing countries like Vietnam, which had racked up billions of dollars in outstanding debt to Soviet Russia.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The European Union has unveiled a proposal to ban Russian oil imports by the end of the year, impose more banking sanctions against Moscow, and cut off some Russian broadcasters in Europe saying that the Kremlin has to pay dearly for its aggression Ukraine.

With Russia intensifying its attacks on eastern Ukraine on May 4, the EU said that its sixth round of sanctions against Moscow will comprise phasing out the importation of Russian crude and refined oil products by the end of the year despite pushback from some of the bloc's members, including Slovakia and Hungary.

"We will phase out Russian supply of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year," the head of the bloc's executive European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

"This will be a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined," she said, adding that "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin must pay a high price for his brutal aggression."

Von der Leyen, however, conceded that getting unanimity on oil sanctions will not be easy.

The commission chief, however, conceded that getting unanimity on oil sanctions will not be easy.

The measures require approval from all 27 EU countries to take effect and soon after von der Leyen's announcement, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria announced that they would seek exemptions from the embargo voicing concerns about energy security. Hungary and Slovakia are heavily dependent on Russian energy imports.

The Czech Republic, meanwhile, said it would seek a temporary exemption period of two or three years in order for pipeline capacities to be increased.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said EU countries blocking an oil embargo would be "complicit" in Russia's crimes in Ukraine.

Whatever their arguments are, if they oppose (the) oil embargo, it means one thing: they play on the Russian side. They share responsibility for everything Russia does in Ukraine, full stop, Kuleba said in a video posted on Twitter.

Von der Leyen also proposed that Sberbank, Russias largest bank, and two other major banks be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking payment system.



The EU will also ban three Russian state-owned broadcasters, she said, without naming the channels directly.



"They will not be allowed to distribute their content anymore in the European Union, in whatever shape or form, be it on cable, via satellite, on the Internet or via smartphone apps," von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.

According to a document seen by RFE/RL, the package also contains a list of 58 individuals sanctioned over Russia's military action in Ukraine that includes the Patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church, a close ally of Putin's.



Von der Leyen also proposed launching a recovery package for Ukraine to help it rebuild after the war.



"This package should bring massive investment to meet the needs and the necessary reforms," von der Leyen said. "Eventually, it will pave the way for Ukraine's future inside the European Union."

The European Union accounts for nearly a half of Russia's crude and refined oil products. But the Kremlin, in a first reaction to Brussels' announcement, put on a brave face, warning that the embargo is a "double-edged sword" and that EU consumers will pay the price.

"The cost of these sanctions to the citizens of Europe will grow by the day," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 4.

Peskov said the Kremlin was looking at "various options" for its response to the new sanctions.

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden said he was "open" to imposing more sanctions on Russia and would be discussing measures with allies from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations in the coming days.

On the battlefront, Moscow deployed 22 battalions near Izyum, an eastern city, in a bid to push into the Donbas region, the British Defense Ministry said in its daily bulletin on May 4, adding that Russia's apparent goal is capturing the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk in the east, "despite struggling to break through Ukrainian defenses." A Russian battalion usually consists of 700-800 soldiers.



According to the British intelligence bulletin, capturing the two cities "would consolidate Russian military control" of northeastern Ukraine.

In neighboring Belarus, the armed forces began "surprise" large-scale drills on May 4 to test their combat readiness, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said there was "heavy fighting" at the Azovstal plant on May 4 and said city officials had lost contact with Ukrainian forces inside.

Boychenko told Ukrainian television that Russian forces were attacking with heavy artillery, tanks, and warplanes, and said warships off the coast were also involved.

Russian troops are on the territory of the plant, according to David Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation that has held now-stalled peace talks with Russia.

"Attempts to storm the plant continue for the second day. Russian troops are already on the territory of Azovstal," Arakhamia said, citing the commander of the Azov Regiment, which is defending the plant with other Ukrainian troops. He contradicted Boychenko, saying Ukrainian authorities have contact with the defenders at the plant.

The commander announced the storming of the plant by Russian troops the day before and called again for the evacuation of civilians.

Boychenko said on May 3 that more than 200 civilians were still holed up with fighters in the sprawling plant.

In his video address, Kuleba denied that Azovstal was under Russian control.

On May 4, Peskov denied Ukrainian reports that Russian troops had stormed the Avozstal steel plant soon after the latest group of civilians made it out of the sprawling complex.

"There is no storming," Peskov told reporters, contradicting claims by Ukrainian soldiers inside the steelworks.

"The order was publicly given by the supreme commander-in-chief to cancel the assault," Peskov said, referring to a statement Putin made on April 21 that called off a direct assault on Azovstal because it would result in too many Russian casualties. Instead, forces should seal off Azovstal so tightly that "even a fly can't get out," Putin said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak, Reuters, AP, and AFP
There's no room in the morgue at Mazyr. It's filled with the bodies of Russian soldiers.

At one hospital in this Belarusian city about 60 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, the hallways and wards are filled with the sounds of soldiers moaning from their battlefield wounds.

At the main train station, Russian soldiers have been recorded on video ferrying stretchers -- apparently holding wounded servicemen -- from a military ambulance to a waiting train operated by Russia's state railway company.

And in Naroulya, a town still closer to the Ukrainian border, residents report that a Russian field hospital has been set up in a former motor depot, and wounded Russian soldiers are being flown in from Ukraine, treated briefly, then shipped on to Mazyr and the regional capital, Homel.

Now in its fourth week, Russia's war in Ukraine continues to extract a horrific toll on Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides. Some of the deadliest attacks and fighting have happened near the Belarusian border close to Homel; near the Russian border in Kharkiv and Sumy in the east; and around southern port cities such as Mariupol and Kherson.

Full and reliable casualty counts have been hard to come by. Among civilians, the United Nations has recorded 780 killed and more than 1,250 wounded -- but it estimates that the actual figures are much higher, and Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been killed.

The toll among combatants has also proved elusive, with experts saying each side seeks to exaggerate the losses of the enemy and minimize its own.

In Russia, coming up with an accurate tally is even harder, due to government regulations that have clamped down on independent reporting--and even made uttering the words "war" and "invasion" a potentially criminal offense.

But in the Belarusian regions bordering Ukraine, residents and medical workers have reported a rising tide of corpses and maimed servicemen being shipped out of Ukraine and then sent elsewhere for further treatment -- or burial.

More than 2,500 soldiers' corpses had already been shipped from the Homel region back to Russia by trains or by plane as of March 13, according to one employee of the Homel regional clinical hospital.

Like all the people who spoke with RFE/RL, this individual asked not to be named out of fear of retribution or prosecution by Belarusian or Russian security agencies.

The figure could not be independently verified.

'It Was Unbelievable How Many Corpses There Were'

Ukraine's military claims that more than 14,000 Russians have been killed since Russia launched the invasion on February 24 --a number that is much higher than most independent estimates. The military has not released formal casualty figures, saying it is a state secret, but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that about 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed.

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claims that more than 2,870 Ukrainians soldiers and paramilitary fighters have been killed, and around 3,700 wounded. Its only official tally of Russian casualties came on March 2, when the ministry said that 498 soldiers had been killed and 1,597 wounded.

Earlier this week, U.S. intelligence put the Russian military death toll at more than 7,000 -- and said that is a conservative estimate.

One place to look for evidence of Russian military deaths is the Homel region: Wedged into southeastern Belarus, it borders Russia to the east and Ukraine to the south. The city of Homel is Belarus's largest after Minsk, and a major hub for trade and transport.

Under strongman leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Belarus has increasingly become a vassal state of Russia, according to experts. Lukashenka has voiced strong backing for Russia's war, allowed deployment of major Russian military units in the country, and threatened to send Belarusian forces into Ukraine.

Before the invasion, tens of thousands of Russian troops were positioned close to the Ukrainian border. An unknown number of them crossed from the Homel region and pushed south toward Kyiv, but they have advanced slowly and suffered substantial losses.

WATCH: Russian forces are meeting fierce resistance and taking casualties as they try to move towards the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. On March 18, a Ukrainian special search group collected the dead bodies of Russian soldiers in the hope they could be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

In Mazyr, whose population is around 100,000, the city's only morgue was overflowing with corpses as of March 3, according to eyewitnesses. "It was unbelievable how many corpses there were," said one Mazyr resident who frequently drives through the city and nearby areas for business.

He said he had seen many "black sacks" being loaded from military ambulances onto Russian railway cars. "Passengers at the Mazyr train station were shocked by the number of corpses being loaded on the train," he said. "After people started shooting video, the military caught them and ordered them to remove it."

In Homel, the regional capital, a laboratory for the city's main hospital was refitted earlier this month, with existing equipment being moved out and beds and other medical equipment being brought in, residents said.

Homel residents told RFE/RL that wounded Russian soldiers were being brought to three separate medical facilities in the city, including one specializing in cancer treatment.

A doctor at Mazyr's main city hospital told RFE/RL that the facility was now under guard by police and security agencies, and that doctors had been threatened with firing if they spoke about conditions. The doctor said that all physicians on staff, even those from more specialized professions, had been tasked with treating wounded Russians.

"There are not enough surgeons. Earlier, the corpses were transported by ambulances and loaded on Russian trains," the doctor said. "After someone made a video about it and it went on the Internet, the bodies were loaded at night so as not to attract attention."

At Hospital No. 4 in Homel, officials began to discharge current patients on March 1 in order to make room for wounded Russians, according to multiple residents whom RFE/RL spoke to. "There are so many wounded Russians there -- it's just a horror. Terribly disfigured. It is impossible to listen to their moans throughout the whole hospital," said one resident who was treated in the Homel hospital.

Another Homel doctor said there was growing concern among city residents that there could be shortage of everyday medications for the general population. "People are panicking, but so far there is [medical] help and there is enough medicine. What will happen next is still unknown," the doctor said. "It's likely there will be problems with anti-tetanus drugs."

Tetanus is a common ailment afflicting soldiers suffering from shrapnel and bullet wounds.

At Homel's Center for Radiation Medicine, about 400 Russian troops are currently being treated, according to employees. The influx of troops has also prompted at least one hospital employee to call for donations -- of diapers, wet wipes, soap, shampoo, water, cookies, and clothes to help the soldiers.

Hanna Krasulina, a spokeswoman for exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told Ukrainian television on March 2 that morgues in Mazyr were crowded with dead Russian servicemen, some of them from Chechnya.

"We must inform both the Chechens and the Russians that the Belarusian morgues in the south of Belarus are already being filled with the corpses of their soldiers," she said. "This is important to let them know. We will not allow Russian propaganda to hide it."

Written by Mike Eckel based on reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service
U.S. President Joe Biden has outlined to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the "consequences" of any support for Russia in its war against neighboring Ukraine, the White House said.

Biden and Xi held a nearly two-hour phone call that touched on Ukraine, Taiwan, and the the bilateral relationship.

"He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians," the White House said in a statement.

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.

Biden also "underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis," the statement said.

Separately, a senior U.S. official briefing reporters said that Biden told Xi that China would face consequences not just from the United States but from the wider world if Beijing offered material support to Russia.

The official said the conversation between the two leaders "was direct, it was substantive, and it was detailed."



The Chinese state media reported that Xi told Biden that Beijing and Washington should work together for peace.

"The crisis in Ukraine is something we don't want to see," Xi told Biden, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

China has repeatedly refused to condemn Russia, and Washington fears Beijing could now deliver financial and military support for Moscow.

On Taiwan, Biden told Xi that "U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that the United States continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo."

Biden and Xi also "agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, to manage the competition between our two countries," the White House said.

Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said there had been "erroneous" signals from the U.S. side on the state of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China that must be taken back, by force if necessary.

"Mishandling of the Taiwan question will have a disruptive impact on bilateral ties. China hopes that the US will give due attention to this issue," the ministry said in its English-language readout of the meeting.

The call was scheduled after an intense meeting in Rome on March 14 between White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi.

During the meeting, Sullivan raised concerns about China's alignment with Russia. A senior Biden administration official said Sullivan was direct with Yang about "the potential implications and consequences" for China if it provided support to Russia.

China and Russia have intensified their bilateral relations in recent years, and China has failed to explicitly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, raising concerns in Washington.

U.S. officials have warned that China has amplified disinformation that Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons. There are also reports that Russia has reached out to China for aid, which Russia denies.

During his meeting with Yang, Sullivan wanted more transparency on Beijing's posture regarding Russia and repeated that any attempts by China to help Russia avoid sanctions would be costly for Xi's government.

Though the war in Ukraine has dominated Biden's focus lately, White House officials say they haven't lost sight of China -- and are watching to see how Xi decides to play his hand.
Video provided exclusively to RFE/RL's Radio Farda by the Edalat-e Ali (Ali's Justice) hacktivist group is said to show extreme overcrowding at Tehran's notorious Evin prison. The video contains images of open cells equipped with beds for about 30 inmates filled with up to 50 prisoners. It is unclear when the video was taken, but Iran has consistently come under criticism from rights watchdogs for overcrowding and unsanitary conditions at its prisons.
Some experts are dismissing the Kazakh presidents proposal to limit the powers of his office as a populist move designed to appease the public following bloody riots in the oil-rich country in January.

In an address to the nation on March 16, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev proposed a package of reforms that include a gradual transition from a super-presidential form of government to a presidential republic with a strong parliament.

Toqaev said it is not right that the president of the country is "at the center of everything.

He suggested that the constitution be amended to remove some presidential powers, give more authority to parliament, and allow more independence to regional governments and legislative bodies.

Many experts, however, say Toqaev is actually not abandoning any real presidential powers.

For example, Toqaev said he wants to abolish the presidential right to cancel or suspend decrees and decisions made by regional governors.

But he wants to maintain the powerful right to appoint and dismiss regional governors, despite long-standing debates and calls from the public that governors be chosen in local elections.

He did, however, say he would give up the presidential right to dismiss village and district heads.

In a more noteworthy change, Toqaev proposed that close relatives of the president be barred from holding high-ranking government posts and executive positions in the quasi-public sector.

The president also said he would resign as the head of the ruling Amanat party to prevent the concentration of too much political power in a single persons hands.

He also proposed reducing the number of Senate members appointed by the president from 15 to 10.

'Cosmetic Changes'

Almaty-based political analyst Shalqar Nurseit says Toqaevs proposals are mere cosmetic changes and will not alter the nature of the authoritarian regime.

Nurseit says Toqaev doesnt want to lose the right to appoint and dismiss regional heads because he fears such a step might lead to losing crucial political support from the governors.

Its the regional governors who ensure the presidents victory in elections. Governors follow the instructions from the presidents administration to make sure the election process and the vote count dont spiral out of control, Nurseit says.

Similar statements about ending Kazakhstan's super-presidency and empowering parliament have been made numerous times in the past both by Toqaev and his authoritarian predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev, who resigned in 2019 after running the country for nearly 30 years.

Those pledges of democratization, however, never brought tangible results.

Lip Service To Democracy

Toqaevs proposed reforms also include allowing for 30 percent of parliament members to be elected in single-mandate districts.

To make it easier for new parties to register, he proposed lowering the number of members required to set up a political party from 20,000 to 5,000.

But experts say that, as long as the authorities continue to stifle political opposition and target activists, the mere creation of new parties or conducting elections won't necessarily bring democracy to the country.

What is the point of empowering the legislature if it remains a rubber stamp? says Alex Melikishvili, principal research analyst for S&P Global Market Intelligence. For meaningful political reforms to take hold, Toqaev must first start by allowing the genuine political opposition to form real opposition parties so that they can then take part in truly competitive parliamentary elections.

Melikishvili said Toqaevs proposals are aimed at placating the public anger following the nationwide riots that killed at least 238 people in January.

The unrest was sparked by a protest over a fuel price hike. But soon protesters began to call for political reforms and the end to Nazarbaev and his cronies continued influence in the countrys politics and economy.

Melikishvili says the unrest should have been a wake-up call for Toqaev and Kazakhstans ruling elite writ large to undertake real reforms and address peoples social and political grievances.

Unfortunately, judging by the content of Toqaevs speech, this has not been the case, the expert adds.

Targeting Nazarbaev Relatives

Toqaevs proposal to ban the presidents close relatives from holding high-ranking positions outside the private sector comes as authorities have mounted pressure on Nazarbaevs extended family in the wake of the January events.

On January 15, Nazarbaev's two sons-in-law, Qairat Sharipbaev and Dimash Dosanov, were pushed out of top jobs at two major state companies, QazaqGaz and KazTransOil, respectively.

Another son-in-law, billionaire Timur Kulibaev, resigned as head of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs (Atameken) on January 17.

On the same day, Toqaev dismissed Nazarbaev's nephew Samat Abish from the post of deputy chairman of the Committee for National Security.

Kairat Satybaldyuly, another influential nephew of Nazarbaev, was detained on charges of embezzlement and abuse of power on March 13.

Three days later, Satybaldyulys wife, Gulmira Satubaldy, was detained on suspicion of "unlawful seizure of a business," authorities said.

Darigha Nazarbaeva, the eldest daughter of Nazarbaev who was once seen as an heir apparent for her father, resigned from parliament in February.

Many Kazakhs have voiced support for the campaign against Nazarbaevs relatives and demanded that their stolen money be returned to people.

One Almaty resident took to social media to say that the ban on relatives getting high jobs was perhaps the only popular move among Toqaevs otherwise empty package of reforms.

RFE/RL Kazakh Service correspondents Ayan Kalmurat and Mukhtar Senggirbay contributed to this report.
A Russian Orthodox priest has been fined the equivalent of $330 by a regional court that found him guilty under war-related legislation rushed through parliament. Police first interviewed Father Ioann Burdin after he wrote an article on a parish website in which he used the word "war," which is illegal, and called bloodshed unacceptable, especially between people of the same faith. He appears to be the first person fined under the law for "discrediting" Russia's armed forces. Burdin, who was born in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, says the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 left him wondering "how to carry on living."
Ivan Fyodorov, the mayor of Melitopol in southern Ukraine, was taken prisoner by invading Russian forces on March 11 and held in captivity in a facility "fully controlled by the Russian military." Several days later, the Ukrainian government managed to secure his release in exchange for six Russian prisoners of war. In an interview with Current Time on March 17 from Kyiv, Fyodorov discusses the ordeal, psychological pressure, and attempts to force the town's administrations to continue working under the Russian flag. Despite defiant protests by residents, Melitopol is currently under control of Russian forces.
Some 130 people have been rescued so far from a theater in the besieged city of Mariupol that was hit by a Russian air strike, but "hundreds" more are still trapped under the rubble, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as Mariupol's mayor said that fighting for the strategic Black Sea port has reached the city center.

Some 350,000 people remain trapped inside the city in horrific conditions, aid workers say.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have pressed ahead with their relentless and indiscriminate bombardment Ukrainian cities despite international calls for an immediate cease-fire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite an appeal by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to halt the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, made a defiant appearance before a huge crowd at a state-organized concert in a Moscow stadium, using the venue to justify the invasion of Ukraine. Reports say many public-sector workers were coerced into attending the event.

U.S. President Joe Biden outlined to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping the "consequences" of any support for Russia in its war against neighboring Ukraine, the White House said on March 18.

China has repeatedly refused to condemn Russia, and Washington fears Beijing could now deliver financial and military support for Moscow.

Zelenskiy said in a video posted on Facebook on March 18 that rescue operations at the site of the Mariupol theater would continue even though Russian forces continue to shell the besieged port city. "Hundreds of Mariupol residents are still beneath the rubble," he said.

The theater was being used as a shelter for hundreds of residents trapped inside the city when Russian shells destroyed it on March 16.

Officials have yet to say how many people, if any, died in the attack. They have said that most were under the theater inside a bomb shelter, which survived the blasts intact.

The attack on a civilian building marked with the words "children" in Russian, which was clearly visible from the air, has sparked a wave of international revulsion and heaped pressure on Russia's few remaining allies -- most notably China -- to condemn Moscow's deliberate targeting of nonmilitary sites during the war, which began on February 24.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko told the BBC that fighting for the strategic Black Sea port had reached the city center.

WATCH: A hospital in Ukraine's besieged southeastern port city of Mariupol is overflowing with patients. With Russian forces having destroyed all the other medical facilities in the city, it serves as an emergency department, a maternity ward, and a morgue.

In a phone call on March 18, French President Emmanuel Macron told Putin, that he was "extremely concerned" about the situation in Mariupol, the French presidential office said on March 18. The call lasted just over one hour, it added.

The Kremlin said that during the call Putin accused Kyiv of "war crimes," saying that Moscow was doing "everything possible" to avoid civilian deaths in Ukraine, despite overwhelming evidence documented by Western journalists of Russian forces' indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets.

"Attention was drawn to the numerous war crimes committed daily by the Ukrainian security forces, in particular massive rocket and artillery attacks on the cities of the Donbas [under the control of Moscow-backed separatists]," the Kremlin said of the call.

Putin told Macron the Russian Army was "doing everything possible to safeguard the lives of peaceful civilians, including by organizing humanitarian corridors for their safe evacuation," the Kremlin added.

Earlier, Germany's Scholz and Putin spoke for almost an hour on the "ongoing war in Ukraine and efforts to end it," Scholz's office said in a statement on March 18.

It gave no further details, but the Kremlin said in a separate statement that "the Russian side is ready to continue the search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches."

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.

Moscow's unprovoked attack on Ukraine has seen more than 187,000 people flee to Germany, according to the Interior Ministry, though experts say the number is probably much higher as many of the 2 million who have entered Poland likely continued on to Germany.

On the ground, missiles struck a maintenance facility near Lviv's international airport, while the Polish Border Guard service reported that more than 2 million refugees had entered Poland since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine more than three weeks ago.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell discussed protection and help for Ukrainians who have fled.

Kuleba said on Twitter that he and Borrell also discussed a fifth set of EU sanctions against Russia over its unprovoked invasion.

The mayor of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv said earlier on March 18 that Russian rockets struck an airport maintenance plant near the city's airport on March 18 as Japan and Australia slapped fresh sanctions on Russian entities and U.S. President Joe Biden prepared to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping over Beijing's position on Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy said on March 18 that several missiles hit the facility for repairing military aircraft, sending a plume of smoke into the air. The strike also damaged a bus repair facility. No casualties were immediately reported.

Russian forces pressed their assault on other Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, where shelling was reported in the suburbs. Early morning barrages hit a residential building in the Podil neighborhood, killing at least one person, according to emergency services.

There are also reports of mass casualties following a missile attack on a Ukrainian Army barracks in the southern city of Mykolayiv, with one account saying at least 45 people have died.

The missiles that hit Lviv were launched from the Black Sea, the Ukrainian Air Force's western command said on Facebook, adding that two of the six missiles launched were shot down.

Across Ukraine, hospitals, schools, residential areas, and buildings in which people have sought safety have been attacked, prompting world leaders to push for an investigation.

The UN said at least 816 civilians had been killed and 1,333 wounded in Ukraine through to March 17.

Most of the casualties were from explosive weapons such as shelling from heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes, according to the UN human rights office.

The actual toll is likely a lot higher, it said, since it has been unable to collect information from some of the worst-hit cities, including Mariupol.

Earlier on March 18, Japan and Australia announced separate measures sanctioning Russian individuals and organizations as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine.

Japan will impose sanctions against 15 Russian individuals and nine organizations, including defense officials and state-owned arms exporter Rosoboroneksport, while Australia will target two Russian billionaires -- Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg -- with links to its mining industry.

Also on March 18, Pope Francis called the war in Ukraine a "perverse abuse of power" that has condemned defenseless people to violence.

"The tragedy of the war taking place in the heart of Europe has left us stunned," he said.

The pope has not named Russia in any of his condemnations but he has used phrases such as "unacceptable armed aggression."

His latest condemnation came in a message to a Catholic Church conference in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, which has opened its doors to refugees.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AP, Reuters, and AFP
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A railway car is filled with bodies in Russian uniforms, a local resident recalls confronting Russian troops who entered his front yard during the Russian assault on the area. Voznesensk was attacked by Russian forces but is still in Ukrainian hands.
Ukraine's Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, has been hard-hit by Russian shelling and missiles. Dozens died as civilian areas were hit, and residents regularly need to scramble for shelter. RFE/RL correspondent Yaroslav Krechko went to the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr on March 16, which is home to 260,000 people.
President Vladimir Putin sought to justify Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlins intense crackdown at home in an alarming, falsehood-filled address as civilian casualties mounted. A maverick protester on Russian state TV said Putin bore sole responsibility for the fratricidal conflict, and U.S. President Joe Biden called him a war criminal.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

Terror And 'Traitors'

A picture is said to be worth a thousand words, and Russian President Putin used more than 4,000 words -- many of them outlandish, unfounded, or simply false -- in an address that analyst and author Mark Galeotti described as truly as ominous as it was bizarre.

The remarks on March 16 came in the latest in a series of aggressive monologues Putin has used in an effort to justify the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine -- first in advance and then after he launched it on February 24, wreaking death and destruction on an independent country that those same speeches suggest is an object of obsession for him.

Putin repeated baseless suggestions that the United States has a bioweapons program in Ukraine and a false claim that the government in Kyiv has been committing genocide in the countrys Donbas region, where a war fomented by Moscow had killed more than 13,200 people between April 2014 and the new Russian invasion.

One of the more striking falsehoods was Putins assertion that Russia forces are doing everything in their power to avoid casualties among the civilian population of Ukraines cities  a claim that is exposed as untrue by photographs, footage, and accounts from several cities  Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and many more.

In besieged Mariupol, where officials say more than 2,500 people have been killed, fears that the toll could climb higher surged on March 16, after authorities said a Russian air strike hit a theater where hundreds of people had been sheltering. Satellite photos showed the word children written in massive letters in Russian on the ground on two sides of the building, visible from above.

On March 18, the Russian military said that its forces and separatist fighters were "tightening the encirclement" around Mariupol and that there was fighting in the streets.

With the war in its fourth week and casualties increasing as Russia bombards cities and towns while its own forces on the ground sustain severe losses and make little progress, Biden said on March 16 that he thinks Putin is a war criminal.

A Chilling Message

In his remarks the same day, Putin spoke of both Ukraine and Russia, which has been plunged into uncertainty by the war. Western sanctions have hit, and tens of thousands of people have fled the country for various reasons  fear of a spiraling clampdown, shame and anger over their governments actions, and concern that Russias increasing isolation will leave them jobless, penniless, or both.

For those who have gone West, in body or in spirit, Putin essentially said, Good riddance. He delivered a chilling message to those who stay behind, whether by choice or by circumstance.

Any nation, in particular the Russian nation, will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and will simply spit them out like a fly that has accidentally flown into their mouths, Putin said in the remarks, which some observers said smacked of fascism.

He also spoke of cleansing or purification, language that among other things evokes the purges of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, saying: I am convinced that a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion, and readiness to answer any challenges."

It was a message also aimed obviously if not overtly at the oligarchs, with Putin saying that hes not judging those who have a villa in Miami or the French Riviera. The problem, he asserted, is that many of these people, by their very nature, are mentally located precisely there, and not here, not with our people, not with Russia.

In the past, Putin left the tycoons and their fortunes more or less intact as they stayed out of politics, and this unwritten law was more important to Putin's system of rule than many of the written ones. Now he is going further, demanding not just their acquiescence but their active loyalty, Galeotti wrote in a March 17 article in The Spectator.

'They Are Lying To You Here'

Whether he will get it and for how long is unclear, one of the questions whose answers will shape the situation in Russia -- which is suddenly changing fairly fast and could potentially change faster -- in the coming weeks, months, and years.

Another pillar of Putins power structure is the state media, particularly the two main channels that reach tens of millions of Russians. So, another crucial question is whether an unprecedented protest by Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova on March 14 will end up being an anomaly or the start of something.

During a prime-time news broadcast, Ovsyannnikova appeared beyond the anchor holding an anti-war sign that said: Dont believe the propaganda. They are lying to you here. Before the protest, she recorded a video in which she said that Russia must immediately stop this fratricidal war and that Putin alone is responsible for the bloodshed.

After being questioned for 14 hours without a lawyer present, she was fined for an unauthorized demonstration, and she could still face criminal prosecution under a law against spreading "deliberately false information" about the use of the armed forces. It carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

In a less prominent protest the following day, Moscow law student Anastasia Parshkova stood before the countrys main Russian Orthodox church, Christ the Savior Cathedral, holding a sign that read, Sixth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

She was arrested -- one of about 15,000 people detained for protesting the war since Russia launched the new invasion of Ukraine.
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Mountain Province Diamonds reports total proceeds of US$66.7 million in the first quarter of 2022 Mountain Province Diamonds, which is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kue diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories, announced strong financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Petra rakes in $86.1mln from fifth tender cycle Petra Diamonds sold 635,806 carats of diamonds for $86.1 million at the fifth tender of the fiscal year 2022 from four of its mines in South Africa and Tanzania. It said the fifth tender cycle included one exceptional stone from the Cullinan mine, a...

Yakutsk hosts Gokhran exhibition On April 27, 2022, Yakutsk, the capital of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) opened a visiting exhibition of valuables launched by Russias State Fund of Precious Metals and Precious Stones under the title National Treasures of Russia. Moscow...

Christies Presents The Light of Africa Diamond at New York Magnificent Jewels Christies announces The Light of Africa Diamond (estimate: $11,000,000-18,000,000), which will lead the New York Magnificent Jewels sale on 8 June, as part of Christies Luxury Week.
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Five Things to Do This Wekeend in San Diego: March 17-20
Case in Brief

Anderson v. Alberta

The Supreme Court rules that an Alberta First Nation could qualify to have its legal fees paid in advance by the government despite having funds of its own.

The question in this case is whether an Alberta First Nation qualifies for advance costs. Advance costs means a partys legal fees are paid in advance by the government in order to allow the case to continue when it is a matter of public interest.

This case involves the Beaver Lake Cree Nation (Beaver Lake) of northeastern Alberta whose members are beneficiaries of Treaty No. 6, which means they have the right to hunt and fish on their traditional lands. More than a decade ago, Beaver Lake sued the governments of Canada and Alberta for damages due to industrial development on those lands, including oil and gas wells. Since then, there have been many preliminary court proceedings, and the case has yet to go to trial. But Beaver Lake has already paid $3 million in legal fees and says it cannot afford to pay more. As a result, it asked the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta to award it advance costs.

The Court of Queens Bench accepted the request and ordered Canada and Alberta to each contribute $300,000 annually to Beaver Lakes legal costs until the trial is over. This was the same amount as Beaver Lake would also contribute annually. The Court of Appeal of Alberta reversed that order because Beaver Lake had not proven it could not afford the ongoing litigation. Beaver Lake then appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Beaver Lake could qualify for advance costs should it not be able to pay its legal fees.

A First Nation could qualify for advance costs despite having funds of its own, if it cannot afford to pay its legal fees nonetheless.

Writing for a unanimous Court, Justices Karakatsanis and Brown explained that advance costs are rarely awarded. However, a party that has funds of its own could still qualify for advance costs if it satisfies the test for impecuniosity. Impecuniosity means not having enough money to pay. It is one of the three requirements for advance costs set out by the Supreme Court in 2003 in British Columbia (Minister of Forests) v. Okanagan Indian Band. The other two requirements are not disputed by the parties in this case.

The Supreme Court said the test for impecuniosity is not easily met. An applicant must demonstrate that it cannot afford to pay its legal fees given its other pressing needs and that the case would therefore not continue. A courts analysis must be based on the evidence. The court must be able to: (1) identify the applicants pressing needs; (2) determine what resources are required to meet those needs; (3) assess the applicants financial resources; and (4) identify the estimated costs of the litigation. The Supreme Court said that in cases such as this one, pressing needs must be understood in the spirit of reconciliation and from the perspective of a First Nation, because it would have its own spending priorities.

The case has been sent back to the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta for a new hearing.

The judges of the Supreme Court concluded there was not enough evidence on the record before the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta to decide Beaver Lakes application for advance costs. As such, the judges decided to send the case back to that court for a new hearing. This will enable the Court of Queens Bench to consider all relevant evidence, including Beaver Lakes current financial situation.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle 2021

Five people were taken into custody Thursday after a driver failed to yield for a traffic stop, drove away from authorities onto the Bay Bridge, and struck another vehicle and fled from the scene, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Highway patrol officers tried to initiate a traffic stop on a driver in a vehicle without any license plates at 2:43 p.m. near the Fourth Street off-ramp just prior to the Bay Bridge, but the driver did not stop for authorities, CHP San Francisco spokesperson Off. Mark Andrews told The Chronicle.
A mother who acknowledged using drugs before she gave birth to a stillborn child was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Kings County judge in 2018 after pleading no contest to manslaughter to avoid a murder charge. Now another judge, with support from Attorney General Rob Bonta, has overturned the conviction and prison sentence, saying the crime she admitted committing is not recognized by law.

There is no crime in California of manslaughter of a fetus, Superior Court Judge Valerie Chrissakis said Wednesday. She ordered Adora Perez released from prison, where she has been held for nearly four years, and returned to Kings County Jail for a new hearing before her original judge on whether she should be tried for murder, which under state law can include the intentional or reckless killing of a fetus. But Bonta and womens-rights advocates dispute that charge as well.

No woman should be penalized for the loss of her pregnancy, Bonta said in a statement Thursday. The remaining murder charge is unlawful, and we will continue to support Ms. Perez in her fight to challenge that charge.

Perezs prosecution, and a similar case against another woman in 2019, reflect a policy by Kings County District Attorney Keith Fagundes, alone among county prosecutors in California, to bring homicide charges against women who use drugs and then have stillbirths.

The state law allowing murder charges for fetal deaths was passed in 1970 after the state Supreme Court dismissed murder charges against a man who beat his ex-wife in order to kill the fetus she was carrying. Bonta and his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, who also opposed Fagundes prosecutions, have argued that the law was aimed at perpetrators of domestic abuse, not pregnant women.

But the states high court refused to block Fagundes murder prosecution of Chelsea Becker, who was 8  months pregnant at the time of her stillbirth in September 2019. Police said that methamphetamine was found in the fetus and that Becker admitted using the drug as recently as three days before the delivery.

Becker was held on $2 million bail and spent 16 months in jail before Superior Court Judge Robert Burns reconsidered her case and released her without bail last March. Burns then dismissed the murder charge in May, saying prosecutors lacked evidence that Becker, when she used methamphetamine, either knew or consciously disregarded the possibility that it could end her pregnancy.

Burns also presided over Perezs case in 2018, accepted her no-contest plea to manslaughter and imposed the maximum 11-year sentence allowed by state law. She sought to withdraw her plea several days later, saying her court-appointed lawyer had failed to advise her of her rights, but the judge refused, and appellate courts left the conviction intact.

But new lawyers brought her case before a different judge, Chrissakis, who said Wednesday that manslaughter  defined as the unlawful killing of a human being regardless of intention  does not apply to the death of a fetus. She cited a state appeals court ruling overturning a guilty plea for sex trafficking of a minor, who turned out to have been 26  establishing, Chrissakis said, that one cannot plead guilty to a crime that was impossible to commit.

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.

She returned the case to Burns for a hearing April 22 on whether Perez should face the murder charge that he had dismissed in 2018. Attorney Mary McNamara said she would seek her clients immediate release on bail and would argue that California law does not authorize the murder charge.

Whether methamphetamines or any other drug can cause fetal death is scientifically questionable, McNamara said, and there is no evidence that Ms. Perez knew that drug taking could result in death of her fetus. Fetal harm is not enough.

Fagundes office did not respond to a request for comment.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
As other states move to limit or ban abortion, a Bay Area lawmaker proposed Thursday to establish a state fund to assist women traveling to California to obtain abortions.

The legislation, SB1142, sends a clear message to the rest of the nation, said state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. We are fully committed to ensuring that California women and those who may seek refuge here have access to all reproductive services, including abortion.

The measure, co-authored by Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, would create a fund financed by the state, in amounts not yet specified, and private contributions. It would help women who were denied abortions in other states pay costs of travel, housing, meals, child care and other services while seeking reproductive care in California.

The fund would also cover services increasing access to abortion for low-income California women, whose medical costs are now covered by Medi-Cal but who may have related expenses that are not currently funded.

SB1142 would also establish a state website with links to information about abortion providers and related services.

It is one of several bills introduced in Sacramento as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule in a Mississippi case that could overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 ruling that declared a womans constitutional right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability, 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy.

California legislators have written Roe vs. Wade into state law, which would not be affected by the courts decision. But at least half the states have passed laws that would ban or severely restrict abortion if the 1973 ruling is overturned. The Supreme Court has already allowed Texas to enforce a ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. And Missouri legislators are considering a similar proposal that would also make it illegal to help a woman travel to another state to obtain an abortion.

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.

One California bill would allow experienced nurse practitioners to perform first-trimester abortions without a doctors supervision. Other measures would increase funding for abortion clinics and for aid to Californians who lack insurance coverage, would restrict disclosure of patients records, and would grant legal protection to individuals and clinics who aid abortion patients from other states.

On Thursday, the state Assembly approved SB245 by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, which would require health insurance and disability plans to cover abortions without copayments or deductibles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has not endorsed any specific measures. But in a statement Thursday, his office said, At a time when reproductive rights and womens health care are under attack in this country, California is stepping up to meet the moment - the governor is proud that California has enacted some of the strongest reproductive freedom measures in the nation.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Wheres the best place to live in the Bay Area? It depends what you are looking for, of course. But while no single method could definitively crown one city as having the best quality of life, The Chronicle made our best effort to rank the regions 25 largest cities.

We based our rankings on 11 qualities for which there is widely available data. These measures include: bars, bike score, racial and ethnic diversity, distance to the nearest airport, number of food retailers, libraries, movie theaters, percentage of residents within a half-mile of a park or open space, percentage of residents with less than a 30 minute commute to work, transit stops and walk score.

While we would have liked to include many other measures, such as air quality and pet-friendliness, data wasnt always available. Still, we believe these 11 measures give a good sense of what its like to live in these cities.

To get an overall ranking of the regions top city, we ranked cities 1 to 25 for each measure and then calculated an average ranking across all 11 measures. There are many ways we could have achieved an overall ranking, but we thought this simple measurement did the trick.

Based on our index, Alameda is the top-ranking city in the Bay Area. But the citys top-tier status comes with a caveat: It doesnt take affordability into account, an important measure for most people, particularly in the pricey Bay Area.

So how do these cities rankings match up to their affordability? The chart below shows their overall ranking in comparison with their median home price, according to Zillow data. The data shows Oakland may give you the best quality of life for your money, while San Ramon will charge you top dollar despite being on the lower end of The Chronicles 11 measures.

Below are the rankings for each of the 11 measures, listed in alphabetical order.

Bars

Researchers at Oxford University found that people who lived near a neighborhood bar (pub in British speak) were significantly happier than those who did not. The Chronicle gathered data from the Alcoholic Beverage Control of California. We filtered the data to show only general on-sale liquor licenses per city, meaning establishments that can serve a full suite of beer, wine and liquor.

Biking

The Chronicle obtained bike score data from WalkScore.com. It scores residents ability to accomplish daily errands with a bicycle by measuring bike infrastructure (meaning the availability of bike trails and lanes), hills, destinations and road connectivity, along with calculating the number of bike commuters. Higher scores are given for separated bike paths, while fewer points are given for bike lanes. Shared lanes get the lowest number of points.

Commute time

No one likes a long commute to work. Long work commutes are associated with lower job satisfaction as well as increased risk of mental health issues. Shorter commutes had opposite effects, with higher rates of job satisfaction and decreased risk of mental health issues. The Chronicle obtained data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The data includes 5-minute time intervals of commute times for a citys residents. We summed the number of commuters within the ranges of 5 or fewer minutes to 29 minutes per city.

Distance from nearest airport

The Chronicle also analyzed driving miles to the nearest airport for each city. To do this, we wrote a program that used Google Maps to calculate the driving mileage from each of the 25 cities to their nearest major airport out of San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport and San Jose International Airport.

Diversity

To assess the cities racial diversity,The Chronicle obtained diversity index data from the U.S. Census. The diversity index measures the probability that two people chosen at random will be from different racial and ethnic groups. This is then shown as a percentage, to indicate the likelihood that two randomly chosen people from (in this case) a city will be of different races or ethnicities.

Food retailers

To measure cities food access, The Chronicle analyzed food retailer data from the California Department of Health and Human Services. This Modified Retail Food Environment Index includes the total number of healthy and unhealthy food retailers in any given city.

Libraries

Libraries are important community hubs that provide various kinds of information, resources and support to residents. The Chronicle obtained data from the California Public Library Branch Directory to find the number of libraries in each city.

Movie theaters

The Chronicle obtained movie theater figures from data company SafeGraph, which specializes in point-of-interest data, or, in other words, pinpointing specific physical locations. This data includes movie theaters by city, with each data point being a different theater (but it excludes drive-in theaters).

Parks

Living near a park provides numerous health, well-being and societal benefits. It encourages physical activity, which can contribute to a healthy community with lower levels of cardiovascular, respiratory and other health issues. Parks also confer environmental benefits. The Chronicle looked at data from the California Department of Health and Human Services to calculate the percentage of a citys residents that live within a  mile of a park, open access, or coastline.

Transit

Having a wide array of transit options is important to a communitys mobility. It also has positive effects on traffic congestion, workforce expansion and air quality. The Chronicle analyzed transit stop data from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to score cities mobility. The kinds of transit stops in this data set include ferries, buses, trains, light rail and subways.

Walkability

Walkable cities also tend to score higher on economic, environmental and health measures. The Chronicle analyzed walk score data from WalkScore.com. It scores cities based on the ability to do daily errands on foot. It analyzes hundreds of walking routes to nearby amenities per city. Amenities within a 5-minute walk are given the maximum amount of points. As the walk time increases, the points allocated to a citys walk score decrease, with the cap being set at a 30-minute walk time.
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San Francisco teachers union members and school district officials reached an agreement Thursday after union members led a four-day sit-in at the San Francisco Unified School District office to protest problems with the district new payroll system, union representatives said.

Union members were packing up their sleeping bags and heading home from the third floor of the district office in San Francisco on Thursday afternoon after union representatives reached a deal with school district officials that ensures: impacted educators will receive checks by Friday, educators will be paid within three days in the event of future payroll errors, and educators can use a COVID-19 code in the payroll system to pay educators for days they were out sick, representatives with the United Educators of San Francisco said in a statement.

The school district will also pay interest 15% interest for each day owed and pay late-fee costs for educators who were penalized for non-payment on credit cards or mortgages, including any bank overdraft fees due to late payments, school district officials said in a statement.

Issues with the school districts new paycheck system, which caused some employees to receive partial paychecks or no pay at all, prompted the multi-night protest in the school district office. Other educators also reported that their medical insurance was canceled. The new agreement will restore insurance retroactively, union officials said.

School district officials said Thursday that the new system for payroll, time and attendance, and other human resources functions replaced a number of workflows and processes that have been in place for 17 years. School district officials said they have received 1,003 reports of underpayment between January 3 and March 15 and have investigated each case, adding that 25 are still being investigated and have yet to be resolved.

I want to again extend my deepest apologies to every employee who has been impacted in any way as a result of our transition to a new payroll system, Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews said in a statement Thursday.

We remain committed to ensuring every staff member receives all of the pay they are owed, Matthews said.

Cassondra Curiel, the UESF union president, said the union members efforts the past several days have paid off.

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.

And while we would have preferred to sleep in our own beds the last few nights, we can rest easy tonight at home knowing that we have an agreement that fixes past payroll errors and provides a clear timeline for any future mistakes, Curiel said.

Union representatives have scheduled a celebratory rally for 5 p.m. Friday located at the school district parking lot in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the tentative Memorandum of Understanding between the district and union during its next regular meeting on Tuesday, school district officials said.

Lauren Hernandez (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Three people were charged with the November shooting death of security guard Kevin Nishita, a retired veteran cop who was trying to prevent the theft of a television reporters camera, law enforcement officials announced Thursday.

Two of the suspects were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting  which authorities linked to an unnamed San Francisco gang  and were in custody. One suspect remained at large, officials said.

In a Zoom news conference, Oakland Police Chief LeRonne L. Armstrong, acting U.S. Marshal Mark Kolc and Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Michael Nieto identified the three suspects as Laron Gilbert, Hershel Hale and Shadihia Mitchell.

Hale and Mitchell were arrested but Gilbert has not been apprehended. All three were charged with murder, attempted second-degree robbery and assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Mitchell was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Oakland police and the U.S. Marshals Office are trying to locate Gilbert, who was released several months ago after being jailed for an unrelated charge of violating probation, law enforcement officials said.

Mitchell was scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning in Alameda County Superior Court in Dublin. Hales arraignment has not been scheduled, Nieto said.

Law enforcement officials offered few details about how they identified the suspects but credited the public for providing vital tips that led them to the suspects.

I give an incredible amount of credit to the community, Armstrong said. Tips from the community led investigators to the car police had connected to the murder, he said, and unspecified surveillance video also played a role in identifying the car and the suspects.

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.

Nishita had been assigned as a security guard on Nov. 24 to protect a KRON-TV journalist reporting on the recent burglary of a clothing store on 14th Street. He was shot in the abdomen while he and a reporter were standing outside the store when a group of men tried to steal his television camera. He was taken to Highland Hospital with critical injuries, and died three days later.

Television crews began hiring former cops as armed security guards in recent years after a number of robberies in which men made off with expensive camera gear, making it difficult for journalists to safely report stories in Oakland.

Armstrong said police do not believe any other individuals were involved in the shooting.

Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
After 16 years of serving bottarga-dusted spaghetti and spicy octopus stew in Noe Valley, beloved Sardinian institution La Ciccia is changing hands.

Owners Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan have sold the cozy restaurant at 291 30th St. to a South Bay restaurant group. The couples last day running La Ciccia will be Saturday, April 16. The sale was prompted by years of burnout, exacerbated by the pandemic, Conti said.

When you dedicate all your time to other people for 16 years and the pandemic hits, you realize you only have one life and you should take very good care of it. We kind of forgot about ourselves for the last 16 years, he said.

Degan has put off a foot surgery since 2019 because it required her to be out for two to three months, time they didnt feel like they could take off from the business. Now, they also plan to travel to Sardinia, where Conti is from.

The biggest question on La Ciccias fans minds: Will the restaurant change under the new owner? Conti declined to name the restaurant group but said part of the sale was dependent on keeping on the La Ciccia staff and preserving the menu. He plans to train a new chef before he leaves.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle 2017

Conti and Degan opened La Ciccia, their love letter to Sardinia, to both neighborhood success and critical acclaim. The restaurant was a regular on former Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauers Top 100 restaurants list, and critic Soleil Ho named La Ciccia among the Bay Areas top Italian restaurants and the citys best overall restaurants. Food writer Mark Bittman highlighted the Sardinian spot in The New York Times in 2011, writing, I intend to keep going until I get sick of it, which hasnt happened yet.

Chronicle senior wine critic Esther Mobley also hailed the restaurants Sardinian wine selection as esoteric, but not self-conscious; specialized, but not dogmatic; challenging, but not intimidating. It has a voice. A voice you want to listen to.

The couples pizzeria around the corner, La Nebbia, closed in 2017.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Reservations at La Ciccia may be hard to come by in the coming weeks. Conti said theyve been flooded with bookings since Tablehopper broke the news of the sale. He may resurrect some early La Ciccia dishes that have been off the menu for years, like a lamb stew and Sardinian ravioli, but otherwise will keep making the same food people have been coming in for for over a decade.

He didnt rule out the possibility of returning at some point to open a new restaurant in San Francisco. But for now, they plan to rest and take care of themselves.

We decided its time to take a little break and see if we can recuperate a little bit of the health we lost all these years, Conti said.

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
Jamille Cabacungans shift as charge nurse in UCSFs medical-surgical unit began with bad news: Just seven of her nine nurses showed up. When a patients oxygen fell dangerously low, Cabacungan dropped her paperwork to stabilize the person. When two patients needed security monitoring but no safety attendants were available, she borrowed two nursing assistants and left just one to help 31 patients with toileting, meals and hygiene. When she begged bed-control not to send in another patient, she was refused because the ER was backed up.

Thats when, on a chilly day in February, Cabacungan broke down in tears.

I just remember feeling ultimate defeat. There was no help! she said. Her colleagues wrapped their arms around her. It makes you question what you signed up for as a nurse. I still want to take care of people, but in that moment I just wanted to quit.

Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

She isnt alone. Understaffing at Bay Area hospitals predates the pandemic, but two years of COVID-19 have made it worse. All told, hospitals in California are short the equivalent of more than 40,000 full-time nurses, a UCSF study reported in August. Thats almost 14% fewer than needed, a shortage the researchers expect to last until 2026 when enough nursing students graduate to match pre-COVID levels.

Older nurses are leaving the profession faster than new ones can begin, and many in mid-career say they cant wait to leave, the study found. The researchers dont say exactly why so many nurses are pulling back, but many around the Bay Area offered one surprising explanation: frustration with hospitals.

They are choosing not to work in hospitals, said Chuleenan Svetvilas, a Bay Area spokeswoman for National Nurses United, the nations largest nursing union.

Svetvilas described a vicious cycle, where nurses like Cabacungan feel they dont have enough help  and others describe some structural sexism  all leading to greater dissatisfaction, then to more nurses leaving, then to feeling stretched even thinner.

Stories abound about such tensions: A nurse who had to lie on top of a patient  for seven minutes  because no one was around to help her stop him from trying to pull out his breathing tube. An emergency department that routinely turns away ambulances because there arent enough nurses to staff the beds. A nurse denied workers compensation for a damaged shoulder after a decade of lifting patients, while other professions with largely male first-responders qualify for the benefit.

Bay Area hospitals have seen a rise in complaints about such working conditions during the pandemic  including staffing levels so low that nurses believe patients are endangered.

Cabacungan filed one about the day that brought her to tears.

Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

In theory, dangerous shortages shouldnt happen in California, which limits the number of patients a nurse is supposed to be responsible for on any shift. The maximum is five, with fewer in departments with more seriously ill people.

Unsafe staffing complaints up Nurses who believe the staffing level is too low for patient safety on a given day, or that it creates other problematic working conditions, can file a complaint with their union and employer called an "assignment despite objection." Hospitals say they don't track these "ADOs." But unions keep a close eye on them. UCSF 2020: 1,216 complaints 2021: 1,764 complaints Increase: 45% Stanford Health Care 2020: 46 complaints 2021 190 complaints Increase: about 400% Lucile Packard Children's Hospital 2020: 86 complaints 2021 105 complaints Increase: 22% Sources: California Nurses Association, RN Professional Practice Committee at UCSF, and the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement See More Collapse

Bay Area hospitals say they comply with those requirements.

UCSF prides itself on meeting or exceeding those state-mandated ratios, a spokeswoman emailed, noting that staff retention rates there are also good. UCSF hospital officials declined to be interviewed.

Stanford Health also declined an interview request but wrote: Our nurse-patient staffing has at all times exceeded the minimum standards set by California law, and in most cases exceeds our own staffing plans, throughout the pandemic. Stanfords nursing staff has grown by 36% in three years, while Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital, also at Stanford, increased its nurses by more than 24%. In all, the hospitals have 1,163 more nurses than in 2019.

Leah McFadden, a nurse in Stanford Healths surgical trauma unit, agrees that nurse-to-patient ratios have held steady. But she said that has been achieved through constant overtime requests and being badgered to fill in for absent colleagues at the last minute.

I get text messages almost daily for the ICU, for day and night shifts, because theyre short, McFadden said. Its not sustainable.

At Stanford, more than 1,300 nurses say they may quit within five years. Thats 41% of the 3,255 nurses who responded to a survey from their union, the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement.

Statewide, the UCSF study found that hospital nurses worked nearly four hours less per week in 2020 than in 2018, dropping from an average of 37 hours to 33. And the percentage of nurses working in any setting  including nursing homes, home health care and doctors offices  fell from 60% to 53% in the same time.

Employers need to redouble their efforts to retain registered nurses, the researchers concluded.

Nurses in labor negotiations with San Francisco General Hospital, Sutter Health, Stanford Health and Lucile Packard Childrens say they couldnt agree more.

Nanette Asimov/The Chronicle

Hundreds of nurses waved signs outside Stanford Health last week, demanding more part-time options and better working conditions, while Sutter nurses have rallied throughout the Bay Area. Dozens also gathered recently in front of San Francisco General, calling out their dissatisfaction with staffing levels.

Dana Pullman, an ICU nurse at the city-run hospital, described a recent ordeal with a patient who awoke agitated from sedation and tried to pull out his breathing tube.

I had to physically hold this man down, she said. I was yelling out for help  but no one was around.

Seven minutes passed before someone was able to help her. By then, the man had pulled out the IV tubes delivering his medication. It was an unsafe situation, Pullman said.

Another sign of understaffing is how often a hospital has to turn away ambulances headed for the ER because there are too few nurses to staff the beds. Its a canary in the coal mine for dysfunction, says a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst.

San Francisco hospitals typically turn away 12% of ambulances. But San Francisco General turns away 60%, the worst rate in the city, according to the San Francisco Emergency Medical Response database. The next highest rate, 18%, is at UCSF.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health said San Francisco General was significantly impacted by the pandemic, although the hospital has had the worst rate since at least 2011.

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.

Health officials said they often send ambulances to other hospitals to maintain the necessary nurse-to-patient ratios. But as the citys only hospital with a full range of care for trauma victims, they still accept every trauma patient and those with a heart attack, stroke or serious burns.

Nanette Asimov/The Chronicle

Nurses say they are also ticked off that if they get injured on the job, state law doesnt assume they qualify for workers compensation, as it does for firefighters and police, most of whom are men.

Its ridiculous that theyve just been given that, and we have to now fight for it, said UCSF nurse Christine Thomas, who woke up with excruciating shoulder pain one morning in 2020.

Im an orthopedic nurse, and my shoulders are a body part I use frequently, she said. Were lifting, reaching, ambulating patients, you name it.

Lance Yamamoto/Special to The Chronicle

But when she requested workers compensation for her shoulder, which needed surgery, she was told that because the injury wasnt tied to a specific incident, it was just wear and tear  and that Im just getting old, said Thomas, who was then 37.

An exception for health care workers who get COVID-19 expires this year. State Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, wants to eliminate the expiration and expand the range of health care workers injuries and illnesses presumed to be job-related. His bill, SB213, is making its way through the Legislature.

Opposing the bill is the University of California Office of the President, which oversees UCSF and five other UC hospitals.

Im not blind to whats happening in the industry, said Alicia Minutoli, a nursing student at City College of San Francisco.

Ive had people ask me, are you sure you want to be a nurse? What about the burnout? Have you heard about how nurses are treated at work? What about COVID!

She credits her instructor Joyce Coffey, a veteran nurse at Sutter Health, with sharing a passion for nursing  but never sugar-coating the problems.

Yet Minutoli, who is studying pediatric oncology, hasnt wavered.

When Im in the hospital setting, I feel that Im right where I need to be, she said. Nursing is, without a doubt, a calling for me.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
China's top economic planner has unveiled major tasks in promoting new urbanization and integrated urban-rural development in 2022, vowing to deepen reform of the household registration system and help migrant workers better integrate into cities.

In deepening reform of the household registration system, cities with a permanent resident population under 3 million should remove all limits on household registration, according to the plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The renovation of old urban communities will be accelerated, as the country aims to improve the basic living conditions of 8.4 million households in 2022, according to the plan.

The supply of government-subsidized housing will be increased, with a focus on addressing the concerns of new arrivals and young people in big cities, the plan says.

China's urbanization rate of permanent residence hit 64.72 percent in 2021, said the NDRC. The country aims to raise its urbanization rate to 65 percent during the 2021-2025 period, according to the 14th Five-Year Plan.




During his State of the Union address earlier this month, President Biden said we have reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19 and emphasized that most of the country, according the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions new metrics, can safely unmask.

Many school districts around the country, including large ones like New York City and Philadelphia, followed suit by ending their mandatory masking policies. However, there are some holdouts. In addition to Hawaii, the only state to not yet lift its indoor mask mandate for K-12 schools, some school districts in California, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois and Maryland said they are not planning to drop mask mandates for students even though their state and county health officials say they can.

Why the varying policies? Look no further than the CDCs muddled school guidance.

The CDC released its new COVID-19 contact tracing and isolation guidance on March 3. Although school-specific guidance wasnt yet updated, it included much language about K-12 school policies. But, in practice the guidance offered looks more like a Rorschach test, where districts can find ample justification for heading in whatever direction they want. The current guidance also links to the old definition of a close contact in which an unmasked exposure is defined as no closer than 6 feet away instead of 3 feet  thus ensuring that, if any district followed it, an overwhelming number of students would be quarantined.

Unclear communication from the CDC isnt the only factor contributing to divergence in how districts treat mask mandates. Many of the holdout districts have educators unions that negotiated contracts in fall 2021 stipulating masks would remain in all school year. While there are a few smaller and wealthier districts holding on to mask mandates, such as Cambridge and Northampton in Massachusetts, many are majority-minority and serve a lower-income population, such as Los Angeles, Oakland, Newark, N.J., and Boston.

That students from lower income homes do not have the same choice to mask or not as children in higher income districts is a problem. The CDC already quietly recognized that masks create educational hurdles when they advised the use of clear masks for teaching children that are learning to read, English-language learners or for children with speech and hearing challenges. After two years of banging the drum about how masks keep schools safe and open, despite a lack of strong evidence to support these claims, the current waffly language in the new guidance will not succeed in rolling back the fear and over reliance on masking that have dominated school COVID policies in deep-blue districts and given teachers unions cover to keep requiring them. And kids, many from minority and from lower income families, may suffer.

The best way out of this school masking quagmire is through bolder leadership from the CDC.

When the CDC finally updates the school-specific guidance, it should forthrightly acknowledge that school is safe and that harms of prolonged masking of children outweigh any benefit for students residing in low and medium risk areas.

However, even if it doesnt, there is another path forward. State and county health departments can stop mirroring the CDCs obfuscatory guidance and remove language that strongly recommends masking from their own directives even while lifting mandates. In places where union contracts have stipulated masks be worn all year, such a move would provide district administrators with a strong case that, absent the health guidance recommending masks, these contracts requiring certain mitigations no longer apply. Chicago Public Schools relied on this strategy when it ditched the mask mandate this week, even though its union had negotiated masks in their contract. Although the Chicago Teachers Union said it will file a labor dispute, a school district spokesperson said the changes to rules allowing students mask choice were justified since the CTU agreement was reached at the height of the omicron surge ... since that time, every local, state and federal public health agency has recommended that masking become optional.

Our nations top health officials must undo the fear they helped create and reassure families and educators that normal pre-pandemic school is safe, by plainly stating so, without adding caveats that undermine that very prescription. This reassurance will also help squash panic and pressure to remask every time there is a new bump in cases or a subvariant such as BA.2, which so far is not causing a spike in cases even though it now accounts for a quarter of the coronavirus cases in the U.S. The reason the CDC switched masking guidance to a combination of cases and hospitalization rates was to avoid this precise scenario.

Whether or not the CDC can rise to this occasion, state and local health departments can, and should. Families and educators in every district should have the ability to choose whether to wear a mask at school. The CDC and local health leaders must step up and let them know this is a safe choice.

Jeanne Noble is an emergency-medicine doctor at UCSF. Leslie Bienen is a veterinarian and faculty member at the Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health. Margery Smelkinson is an infectious-disease scientist whose research has focused on influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Applications to San Francisco schools for fall enrollment remained relatively stagnant, indicating the citys public schools are unlikely to rebound next year from the loss of thousands of students amid the pandemic.

More than 14,000 families requested a placement at one of the districts 123 schools in the first round of applications, with more than 57% getting their first choice and 88% getting one of their first three picks, district officials said. How many will ultimately attend a district school wont be clear until after the official count in October.

The district currently has just over 50,000 students.

The vast majority of applications were for transitional grades, including kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade. Placement letters to families went out through the mail Friday, with assignments also visible on the online ParentVue portal Monday.

We are excited that over 14,000 families have submitted applications for next year, Superintendent Vincent Matthews, said in a statement. There is a school for every child in San Francisco and we are excited to welcome new families.

District officials and parent advocates hope all those families will choose to attend San Francisco Unified as it emerges from a controversial recall, which saw three board members removed from office and three mayoral appointees taking their place. The new board members, Ann Hsu, Lainie Motamedi and Lisa Weissman-Ward, will take their seats for their first regular board meeting Tuesday, with leadership hoping to restore confidence in the district and lure families back to the public schools.

Its worrisome because we need to see a boost in enrollment if were going to get our budget stabilized and avoid the hard cuts that the district is talking about, said Meredith Dodson, executive director of the San Francisco Parent Coalition. I do think there is new hope out there. Weve turned a point with the pandemic, weve turned a point with the disastrous school board now replaced with competent, strong leaders, and I think the feeling out there is really one of optimism that the district will get back on track.

The board and district need to rebuild trust, she added.

Were still recovering from a year of negative national and international headlines, but I think well get there, she said.

The district, like many across California, saw enrollment declines during the pandemic, adding to losses in previous years. Since 2014, San Francisco public schools have lost about 9,000 students, exacerbating budget shortfalls.

The district is currently grappling with a $125 million shortfall, with more than $10,000 in state funding attached to each student enrolled.

The fact is, we have nearly a decade of declining enrollment  we cannot blame the pandemic entirely, said school board President Jenny Lam. We need to increase enrollment across all grades. ... We are going to be working hard to rebuild trust with families in many facets of their childs education.

More Information How to apply to SFUSD for the second round Families can still apply to a district school in the second application round, with a deadline of May 2. For more information, contact placement staff at enrollinschool@sfusd.edu, 415-241-6085, or in-person at 555 Franklin St. or 1520 Oakdale Ave. See More Collapse

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 current enrollment process allows families to submit a list of preferences for school assignment, with a modified lottery system making placements if there are more requests than seats. Siblings, however, have top priority, followed by those living in low-performing census tracks and then in the attendance area. If there are seats left after that, the selection is random.

The district is expected to revamp the school assignment process in the next two years, with families generally assigned to a school within a residential zone.

Overall this year, the district received 210 more applications for fall 2022 compared to last year, but the increase was related to changes in state law that increased the number of 4-year-olds eligible for transitional kindergarten. This year, an additional 228 families applied for TK, meaning the district saw fewer applications this year in other grades.

San Francisco Unified officials did significant outreach this year to help families apply to schools, including opening an enrollment office in the Bayview neighborhood, and conducted workshops in multiple languages. They also held virtual enrollment fairs, placed ads in newspapers, on television, radio and social media platforms and handed out fliers.

SFUSD staff worked very hard to reach families so they know when, where, and how to apply, Lauren Koehler, executive director of the Educational Placement Center, stated in the statement.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
San Francisco health officials issued a dire warning Thursday following what they said was a recent spike in fentanyl overdoses, specifically among people who ingested the powerful opioid when they thought they were using cocaine.

Over the past two weeks, the citys health department said it was alerted to three fatal fentanyl overdoses in San Francisco among people who intended to use only cocaine but were unintentionally exposed to fentanyl.

The health department also reported nine similar, nonfatal overdoses in two groups of people. There were an estimated 474 deaths from fentanyl in 2021, the health department said.

Ninety percent opioid deaths in San Francisco are now due to fentanyl, so it is the most common street drug, said Dr. Phillip Coffin, director of substance use research with the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

It can look a lot like other drugs, or even be stamped as a pill, and every year we see people die from fentanyl who meant to use a drug like cocaine or methamphetamine, he said.

The citys health department said the mixture of fentanyl and stimulants like cocaine may lead to unintentional use of fentanyl among people who use stimulants and have little or no tolerance to opioids.

Fentanyl can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin. It is sold on the street usually as a white or lavender powder that resembles cocaine.

Across the Bay Area, an increasing number of businesses, including bars, restaurants, art galleries and tattoo parlors are making fentanyl test strips available, reflecting one part of the regions response to a growing overdose crisis. The strips help determine whether a given drug or other substance contains fentanyl.

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 health department asked all San Francisco clinicians to prescribe naloxone, a drug that combats the effects of fentanyl, and that all patients who use nonprescription drugs be trained in administering naloxone.

The drug is available free of charge at the BHS Pharmacy at 1380 Howard St., the health department said. Users of nonprescription drugs at risk of being tainted with fentanyl were advised to keep naloxone with them at all times and to know how to use it.

Seeing so many events in a short period of time is concerning and an important opportunity to remind people of basic safety precautions, Coffin said in a statement to The Chronicle.

Don't use drugs without somebody around who can help in an emergency, stagger use so that somebody is ready to help, test your drugs for fentanyl if you can, seek treatment if you have a problem with your drug use, and have naloxone on hand  even if you don't mean to use opioids.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @samwhitingsf
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When Frank Zamani first arrived in Poland, the frigid temperatures of the Eastern European winter were a far cry from the sunny skies over his home in Cupertino.

But Zamani, CEO of Sunnyvale software company Caspio, felt he had to come. Caspio creates software that lets companies build apps without much coding. To do that more cost effectively, many of his employees have long been based in Ukraine or Poland where coders are less expensive than those stateside, he said.

Hiring technical or other help in Eastern Europe is relatively common for Silicon Valley companies, especially with the rise of remote work. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, companies like Caspio have been scrambling to support their Ukranian workforces, and their families, as millions are displaced or flee the country.

But civilians have not been spared by the violence of the invasion. Tatiana Perebeinis, 43, was the chief accountant for Palo Alto startup SE Ranking. Russian mortars killed her and daughter Alise, 9, and son Nikita, 18, recently as they tried to flee the town of Irpin outside Kyiv, their deaths depicted in outlets around the world.

Once the invasion began, many of Zamanis Ukrainian employees began fleeing the violence, braving the frigid temperatures and leaving their lives behind to cross into Poland as refugees.

Its really heart-wrenching to see what these people are going through, Zamani said, speaking from Krakow on Zoom.

Beata Zawrzel/Special to The Chronicle

The need to go to Poland was personal for Zamani. He is a refugee himself, having fled Iran in the 1980s because of his Bahai faith, after the revolution that brought a Muslim theocracy to power.

I had to pay smugglers to take me out of Iran to Pakistan, he said. After traveling at night and skirting border checkpoints, he stayed in Pakistan for two years before coming to the U.S.

Caspios administrative manager, Tetiana Kobylka, is from Ukraine, lives in Poland, and set up the companys first office there. She and Zamani are married, and her fluency in Ukrainian, Polish and English has been critical in not only helping employees get housing, but to also set up Polish bank accounts, access health care, and perform the myriad administrative tasks that come with uprooting ones life.

Kobylka described visiting a bank with one new arrival from Ukraine, helping with translation so the person could open an account where the Polish government can deposit funds for refugees. Once other Ukrainians heard her speaking both languages, they began to crowd around and ask for help.

I could just stay in a bank all day, she said.

Beata Zawrzel/Special to The Chronicle

Since arriving in Poland, Zamani and Kobylka have been finding and paying for temporary housing for the companys Ukrainian employees and their families who have fled the fighting  about 11 employees so far, although with family and children in tow the total number of people is closer to 50.

More than 3 million people have fled Ukraine, a country of more than 40 million, since Russia invaded the country in February, many of them to neighboring Poland, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. That number could swell to 4 million, the agency says.

For the Caspio employees still in the country, Zamani said they set a status on Microsoft Teams each day saying they are either OK and working or just OK. If the company doesnt hear from an employee, they try to contact the person or a relative. Some days employees in Kharkiv or the capital Kyiv have been temporarily unreachable during the violence, but none has been injured.

Anastasiya Yezhova is one of Caspios employees who made the perilous journey across much of Ukraine to escape to safety, and an uncertain future.

Despite warnings dating back to last year that the Russian military was massing on the border, Yezhova said she never thought they would actually invade, and when they did, I said that I would never move anywhere and I should stay. But that changed when the reality of war set in.

Beata Zawrzel/Special to The Chronicle

Sitting with her two daughters in her lap while speaking on Zoom, Yezhova spoke of the worry she felt earlier this month when she heard that Russian forces had shelled her home city of Dnipro as they stepped up attacks in cities further from the eastern front.

Its very difficult for me, Yezhova said, speaking haltingly as she held back tears. When you wake up the first thing you do is you look through the news for word of fresh attacks, she said.

The first time Yezhova tried to flee Ukraine was in the early days of the invasion. The Russian military had begun shelling the nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia, not far from where she lived in Dnipro with her husband and 5-year-old twin daughters, Mariia and Vicktoria.

She went with her family to the train station but found a chaotic scene and gave up on trying to board, instead attempting the more than 900 mile drive to the Polish border. But after covering only about half the distance in two days, the family decided to turn back after they heard reports, later verified by news outlets, that the airport along their route in the city of Vinnytsia had been damaged by missiles.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Arriving back in Dnipro she again made her way to the railway station with her two young daughters and her aunt, who were able to board a train bound for the Polish border. Her husband stayed behind to care for his elderly parents.

The train was overcrowded, but all the people were very kind to each other,  Yezhova said, speaking from a room Zamani rented for her in Krakow, Poland. She said the trip took two days, with much of the time spent waiting to cross the Polish border in freezing temperatures to catch a train to Krakow.

Yezhova doesnt know when she will see her husband again. In the meantime Caspio is paying for her and other Ukrainians to stay in Poland, with a focus on securing short-term emergency housing.

Beata Zawrzel/Special to The Chronicle

Our plan is that some of these people are going elsewhere, Zamani said, noting some refugees are choosing to stay in Poland only temporarily before continuing on to stay with relatives or friends elsewhere in western Europe.

A U.S. nonprofit, Planting Peace, has also secured short-term apartments and hotels for Ukrainians such as Yezhova. Zamani said even temporary housing in Krakow has become increasingly difficult to come by, as more refugees pour across the border with Poland.

Zamani said his Polish employees have been opening their homes to Ukrainian refugees as well. After the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014, he hired more people in Poland in case the situation further spiraled out of control.

Continuing on to other parts of Europe, or even the U.S. where Yezhova has family, is also a wrenching decision.

For now I prefer to stay here, Yezhova said, even though she feels helpless to keep her family and friends safe back home. Somehow, psychologically, its easier to be closer to Ukraine than to go further away, Yezhova said. I dont want to be so far from home.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice
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TIJUANA, MEXICO  As the sun rose over the San Ysidro Port of Entry Thursday, Mikhail lay curled over his wife, donated blankets covering them and their makeshift cot. An arms length from where the Russian couple slept, coils of barbed wire hung low, a reminder that they are not currently welcome on the U.S. side of the border.

Mikhail left Russia in a hurry, two days after the country of his fathers birth invaded the country of his mothers. He had been living on borrowed time since 2014, when he ripped up his conscription notice refusing to participate in the invasion of Crimea. If he was ever caught, he said, it would mean a 15-year prison term.

I will never fight a war where I can kill innocent people, people who might be my cousins, my aunts, Mikhail said in Russian. Its all just wrong.

Mikhail and his wife Natasha are part of a group of Russians, 19 adults and five children, camped out at the San Ysidro border gate, hoping to be allowed into the United States to stake claims of asylum.

Thousands more Russians traveled to this part of the border before the invasion, an exodus that began after the imprisonment of a popular opposition leader last year. They are able to fly into Mexico without visas, making this leg of the journey simpler than it is for most migrants who arrive here seeking asylum in the U.S. But once here, they join a migrant crisis that has only grown more complex since former President Trump closed the border at the start of the pandemic.

The Chronicle is identifying migrants by their first names, as all expressed fears of retaliation if they were returned to Russia.

Carlos Moreno/Special to The Chronicle

Mikhail has a cousin in Cupertino. His goal is to make it to her home, and from there rebuild the life he suddenly abandoned in Russia. Yet Mikhails Russian passport is as big a problem as Title 42, a Trump-era policy the Biden administration continues to enforce, which cites the COVID-19 pandemic as a basis for the rapid expulsion of migrants and effectively shut the border.

On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters that Border Patrol agents were reminded they have some leeway with regard to enforcing Title 42 when it comes to particularly vulnerable migrants, BuzzFeed News reported.

This follows a March 11 Department of Homeland Security memo informing U.S. Customs and Border Protection that the agency can, on a case-by-case basis, let those with valid Ukrainian documents bypass Title 42 restrictions that would otherwise keep them from crossing the border because of the unjustified war of aggression in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis its caused.

But in a statement to The Chronicle, DHS didnt answer questions about whether this discretionary guidance can be applied to Russian dissidents who oppose their governments war and fear repercussions if sent back.

Before their countries went to war, both Russians and Ukrainians fared quite well in their attempts to cross through the border. From October 2021 through February 2022, nearly 7,200 Russians and 1,300 Ukrainians arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border, CBP statistics show. Only 22 Russians and four Ukrainians were expelled under Title 42 in those five months, said Jessica Bolter, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

The reasons are complicated and have to do as much with Mexicos immigration policies as they do the U.S. governments implementation of Title 42 and historically preferential treatment of migrants fleeing communist regimes, Bolter contended, but the bottom line is the southwest path into the U.S. may be getting easier for one group and not the other.

The rates of expulsion have been extremely low for Ukrainians and for Russians the entire time that Title 42 has been in effect, Bolter said. What the guidance does seem to have changed is that CBP is now actively allowing Ukrainians to enter ports of entry and request asylum, rather than trying to turn them back at the border line like they still do for most other asylum seekers.

When Russias latest incursion began, Mikhail, a photographer and designer, shuttered his familys printing press in the lakeside town of Pereslavl-Zalessky and joined thousands of others who reportedly fled.

As it is for many, the war is personal for Mikhail. While he grew up in Russia, he feels equally Ukrainian, having spent his life visiting his mothers siblings and their children there. Now his little cousins are refugees in Poland, their fathers still at home, part of the Ukrainian resistance.

As Mikhail began what has become his morning ritual  folding his blankets and neatly stacking them on a picnic chair, followed by some calisthenics  a handful of Ukrainian families presented their blue passports to border officials and walked into San Diego.

The 35-year-old said he didnt begrudge border authorities decision to let them cross but wondered if he and his wife will get the same chance. Despite being a son of both nations, he and Natasha have only Russian passports.

Tell me what should I/we do? Mikhail asked in a translated text to The Chronicle Wednesday evening. What should the people who came here and they are against the war, they are against Putin and his regime, (do)?

Some residents of Tijuana who walked across the border headed to work or school in San Diego, eyed the group of white migrants, remarking in Spanish that they were being treated better than the darker-skinned migrants they usually encounter here.

Its a reality not lost on Julia, a 26-year-old Russian IT worker who left her St. Petersburg home the day Russian President Vladimir Putin began waging war. Thursday was her fourth day at the border gate.

She said she realized other migrants before her have been cleared out from the small patch of concrete that she and her fellow Russians currently occupy. Maybe its because were Europeans, Julia said. Thats not fair, I think.

Yet here she stays, sleeping on nothing more than a couple of blankets, hoping to start a new life in the Bay Area.

Carlos Moreno/Special to The Chronicle

Julia and her husband, Anton, 27, an American literature Ph.D. candidate and English teacher, were active protesters last year when Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was imprisoned. Police cracked down hard. The couple escaped arrest, but others were not so lucky.

I feel this guilt because I couldnt do anything, and they were beating the people who were protesting with us, Julia said.

The day before Russia invaded Ukraine was a normal one for the couple. Julia attended a yoga class and stopped by the bakery. When she arrived at the apartment, Anton said he believed that their president was about to attack Ukraine. They left Russia the next morning.

Julia feared Anton would get conscripted to serve. I dont want him to participate in this (war) because its a crime, she said.

So they wait at the U.S.-Mexico border, passing time below the spirals of barbed wire. The only English-speakers of the group, they keep busy translating for their fellow Russians. Anton speaks fluent Spanish as well, so he translates when Mexican officials or volunteers come by with food and offers of shelter.

Julia said the group shes with has refused shelter because of their homegrown distrust of government. Interacting with the authorities in Russia (during) your life (leaves) the most insecure feeling, so here (the Russian migrants) are just afraid, she said. If they leave the border gate, she suggested, maybe they wont be allowed back.

Anton said he thinks often of family and friends he left behind. They connect by WhatsApp constantly. He hopes the Biden administration will begin to recognize dissident Russians like him and his wife, stalled at the fourth-busiest land border in the world, as refugees in need of a home.

Of the home he left, he said, I think the most common sentiment in Russia is just fear.

Deepa Fernandes is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: deepa.fernandes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @deepafern
In 1915, the most popular amusement ride at San Franciscos Panama-Pacific International Exposition was called the Aeroscope. The Aeroscope was essentially a counterweighted, swinging bridge with a passenger car attached to its movable arm. It was designed by an engineer named Joseph Strauss, whose company specialized in such raisable bridges, known as bascule bridges.

The exposition was held to celebrate two monumental achievements: the opening of the Panama Canal, and San Franciscos recovery from the 1906 catastrophe. As it got under way, San Francisco City Engineer Michael OShaughnessy, an all-powerful figure who had led much of that recovery, was pondering how to pull off a feat that would match the building of the Panama Canal, and would be the crowning glory of the reborn San Francisco: a bridge across the Golden Gate.

OShaughnessy had begun conferring with experts in bridge-building, and the Aeroscope drew his attention to Strauss. He awarded Strauss company a contract to build a (still existing) bascule bridge on Fourth Street at China Basin, and more important, he added Strauss to his list of expert bridge-builders to consult. As noted in the previous Portals, Strauss was a complex and contradictory man with the drive of Napoleon and an ego to match. He had been waiting all his life for such an opportunity, and embraced the project with such fervor that he took it over completely, leaving OShaughnessy a bystander.

The two men worked together initially. In 1921 Strauss and OShaughnessy released an illustrated 15-page prospectus proposing a 1.6-mile-long bridge, with two cantilever sections at each end and a suspension section in the center. The bridge, Strauss gushed, would be a crowning achievement of American endeavor a product of the Great Golden West.

It would also have been a world-class eyesore. As John van der Zee writes in Gate: The True Story of the Design and Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, With its immense, spidery framework and thick, crosshatched girder towers, Strausss original design suggests an enormous railroad bridge, a soulless mechanism to be traversed by other mechanisms. Critics compared it to an upside-down rat trap.

But design concerns were secondary as Strauss began promoting his bridge with messianic fervor, tirelessly touring the cow counties of Northern California and touting the economic and development benefits a bridge would bring them. His promotional efforts bore fruit in 1923, when the California Legislature approved the creation of an unprecedented public entity to pay for the bridge, a multi-county Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District.

But the battle over the bridge had just begun. Critics claimed it would be unsafe, and ruinously expensive, would harm the logging industry, would not be tall enough to accommodate warships, and would profane its majestic site. The powerful Southern Pacific Railroad, which owned the ferries, opposed it. Strauss and his allies eventually prevailed, but in 1932, when no buyers stepped forward to purchase the $6 million in bonds needed to start construction, the project faced disaster. It was rescued by Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini, who said simply, Well take the bonds. We need the bridge. When he asked Strauss how long the bridge would last, Strauss replied, Forever.

Meanwhile, Strauss original ungainly design for the bridge had been abandoned. To his credit, Strauss had assembled a team of world-class engineers and architects, who had come up with a new design for a soaring, ethereal suspension bridge, whose main span from tower to tower was a jaw-dropping 4,200 feet. As Kevin Starr writes in Golden Gate: The Life and Times of Americas Greatest Bridge, this caterpillar-to-butterfly-like transformation highlighted Strauss strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, Strauss was able to lay aside his design when objections surfaced and recruit a top team of superior talents. On the other hand, as time would tell, Strauss would refuse to give credit where credit was due and would deliberately erase the contribution of the engineer critically responsible for the design of the suspension system.

The engineer whom Strauss was to deliberately erase was a quiet, unassuming professor from Maine named Charles Alton Ellis. A classicist who read Greek literature in the original, Ellis was a brilliant engineer whose genius lay in his ability to perform complex mathematical analyses of challenging structures. The Golden Gate Bridge, longer than any suspension bridge ever built, the first bridge ever built across the mouth of a harbor, which would have to withstand powerful winds, support enormous weights, and would expand and contract in heat and cold, was as challenging as any structure in the world.

To meet this challenge, Ellis worked closely with the worlds leading expert on suspension bridge design, Leon Moisseiff. The two men  Ellis in Chicago, Moisseiff in New York  worked out their calculations independently, frequently checking in with each other. When Ellis was stuck, he would occasionally wire Moisseiff for help. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE DEFLECTION SIDE SPAN? began one telegram, followed by specifics. Moisseiff wired back, DEFLECTION SIDE SPAN SIX THOUSAND LOAD HIGH TEMPERATURE SHOULD NOT EXCEED SEVEN AND A HALF FEET. Ellis took on equation after equation, incorporating an extraordinary 30 to 38 variables with each one. As Van der Zee writes, (B)oth men were pushing at the limits of the technology of their time. It was work that, in a later era, would seem far too complicated for men to do without computers. Almost 100 years has passed, but this forgotten chapter in the bridges history  two brilliant minds facing complex problems, and coming up with solutions that allowed one of mankinds lasting creations to soar into the sky, and remain there  still inspires.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

Strauss was ignorant of the advanced engineering challenges that Ellis and Moisseiff were addressing. But he was determined to go down in history as the man who built the Golden Gate Bridge, and he lacked the integrity to admit that while he was the bridges indispensable producer and publicist, he was not its creative genius. In 1931, Strauss abruptly fired Ellis, claiming that he was working too slowly. For the rest of his life, Strauss posed as the designer of the bridge, refusing to acknowledge that the true designer was Ellis.

The professorial, self-effacing Ellis did not make a stir about his firing, or seek out recognition for what he had done. He may never even have visited the Golden Gate Bridge before he died in 1949. While a 7-foot statue of Joseph Strauss stands near the Visitor Center, not until 2012 did bridge authorities finally put up a plaque on the South Tower, acknowledging that Charles Alton Ellis deserved major credit for designing the bridge.

No single individual can claim to have built the Golden Gate Bridge. But as van derZee writes, The bridge was, and is, more (Elliss) than anybody elses.

With the decadelong political and financial battle over the project finally over, it was time to build the great bridge. That epic story will be the subject of the next Portals.

Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco. His most recent book is Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals .
Koch Industries, an industrial conglomerate run by billionaire Charles Koch, has said it will continue to operate factories in Russia as other companies pull out after Russias attack on Ukraine.

Dave Robertson, president and chief operating officer, said in a statement dated Wednesday that the aggression in Ukraine was an affront to humanity but that Koch would not stop operating two Russian glass factories in its Guardian Industries unit.
With some exceptions, most major U.S.- and European-based businesses have cut ties with Russia since it invaded neighboring Ukraine on February 24. For publicly traded corporations like Apple, it's a shrewd maneuver, regardless of ethical calculations. But whatever the motivation, cutting off access to familiar technology, retail and other creature comforts and necessities has fomented considerable agitation among Russia's residents, not all of whom support President Vladimir Putin's unprovoked attack on Ukraine's sovereignty. And those who oppose the war hope that unrest becomes one more means of pressuring Putin toward compromise.

Along with tech giants and big-name manufacturers, notable franchises have followed suit and indefinitely ceased operations inside Russia. And as the brutal assaults on innocent Ukrainians persist and outrage from global consumers swells, more will likely be added to the list.

Related: Where Apple, Twitter and Other Major U.S. Companies Stand With Russia

Here is a brief roll call of select, high-profile franchises that have closed their doors or otherwise halted commerce in Russia over the past several weeks, along with links to their public statements. We will update the list if/when additional high-profile companies make similar announcements.

McDonald's

On March 8, the Golden Arches formally announced temporary closure of all locations in Russia. Although this has demonstrably anguished customers, CEO Chris Kempczinski assured the public that, "We understand the impact this will have on our Russian colleagues and partners, which is why we are prepared to support all three legs of the stool in Ukraine and Russia. This includes salary continuation for all McDonalds employees in Russia."

Meanwhile, Russia has an apparent plan B. A trademark was recently filed for an alternative fast-food hub dubbed Uncle Vanya's. Does the logo look familiar?

Burger King

This one comes with a caveat. Burger King's parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), announced on March 7 that, "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." But because all BK locations in Russia are run by a "local master franchisee," RBI does not have the authority to close those restaurants. It has, however, committed to "redirecting any profits from franchised operations to humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees" and working to distribute vouchers for free Whopper meals to Ukrainian refugees across Europe.

Starbucks

On March 4, the Seattle-based coffee behemoth fully paused both retail operations and importation of products to Russia. In a statement, then-CEO Kevin Johnson (Johnson separately announced his imminent retirement this week) said, "Through this dynamic situation, we will continue to make decisions that are true to our mission and values and communicate with transparency." (Franchising a Starbucks location is not an option in the U.S. or Canada, but is overseas.)

Like McDonald's, Starbucks pledges to financially support the "nearly 2,000 partners in Russia who depend on Starbucks for their livelihood" amid its temporary break in business.

Related: What You Can Do to Help Ukraine: A List of Top-Rated Relief Organizations and Additional Resources

Shell

After getting heat for purchasing a large shipment of Russian crude oil early in the invasion of Ukraine, Shell issued a public apology, stating, We are acutely aware that our decision ... was not the right one and we are sorry." The company has since avowed to stop buying Russian crude amid the conflict and shut all service stations across the country, among other measures. Said CEO Ben van Beurden, These societal challenges highlight the dilemma between putting pressure on the Russian government over its atrocities in Ukraine and ensuring stable, secure energy supplies across Europe."

Crocs

The Colorado-based casual-footwear giant shared on March 9 that it "made a decision to pause its direct-to-consumer business, inclusive of ecommerce and retail operations in Russia," along with temporarily ceasing importation of its products. Crocs will continue compensating both corporate and retail staff in Russia and has touted its charitable contributions to UNICEF to support those impacted by the war.

IKEA

The Swedish-founded home-goods chain was quick to cut ties, releasing an announcement on March 3 that read, in part, "The war has had 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." (Ceasing of imports and exports extends to Belarus as well.)

Like the other franchises on this list, IKEA intends to acknowledge the everyday Russian employees this will affect in the immediate, adding, "These decisions 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."

Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
This article was first published on NerdWallet.com.

Taking care of an older parent, a child with disabilities or a loved one with a chronic disease can affect your emotional, mental and financial health. And this type of informal caregiving is a daily reality for about 48 million people in the U.S., according to AARP.

Many caregivers say theyve had to make sacrifices, including having to reduce their retirement contributions.

To keep your retirement savings on track while also caring for a loved one, financial professionals suggest some strategies.

Recognize the financial weight of caregiving

About half of those surveyed about caregiving in the U.S. said they have had financial setbacks, including cutting back on their retirement, according to a 2020 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP.

Cynthia Haddad, a certified financial planner at Special Needs Financial Planning, based in Burlington, Massachusetts, can relate to feeling behind on retirement savings. Haddad is part of the sandwich generation  adults who care for their aging parents and children at the same time. She cares for her father, a brother with developmental disabilities and teenage children.

I've been fortunate enough to be in the financial planning field, which is where we're self-employed. I'm trying to save for retirement [but] I didn't have anybody contributing to my retirement account other than myself and my husband, so that's always been a struggle, she says.

Caregiving affects Americans from all walks of life, but people of color especially feel the brunt. Latino and African American adults spend more of their income than white adults on caregiving, the study found.

Latino Americans reported spending an average of $7,167 annually, and African Americans spent an average of $6,746. Women also feel the financial pinch because they can spend more of their time caregiving and traditionally earn less than men.

If you are feeling like youre behind on retirement savings, how do you move forward?

To start, its important to get clear about where you are with your retirement savings so you have objective data to work with, versus just feeling like youre behind, says Ed Coambs, a CFP and board member of the Financial Therapy Association based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Do your own financial analysis, he says, or consider working with a financial advisor.

Lighten the load with professional help

If you want a little extra help, you can use a financial institution to assess your finances, says Laurore Jean-Pierre, an attorney, financial advisor and founder of JP Law and Wealth Advisors based in Orlando, Florida.

Many banks, for example, Chase and Charles Schwab, offer a financial review free of charge for clients, Jean-Pierre says. The advisors on staff can help you assess your financial situation and retirement goals.

Haddad said she uses a certified financial planner and thinks every caregiver should have one.

A caregiver can't really pay attention to their own financial needs, as well as take care of all of the financial needs of the person that they're caring for, she says.

A financial advisor can also help caregivers consolidate their finances, Haddad says. For instance, if a caregiver has IRAs and 401(k)s in different places, they may want to combine them.

She also recommends working with a planner who has experience working with caregivers. To find a CFP with that background, ask for referrals or learn more about their experience during a consultation.

Reduce out-of-pocket care expenses

Experts recommend saving 10% to 15% of your pretax income annually for retirement. If you're struggling to meet that goal because of how much you're spending on caregiving, consider seeking government assistance.

Make sure the person you're caring for will have sufficient financial resources, be it public benefits or their own private resources to pay for the cost of their care, Haddad says. Think tax deductions, Medicaid/Medicare and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, she says. Find out what assistance your loved one might qualify for, and consider applying.

Theres assistance available for you, too. There are tax breaks for parents of children with functional needs, including the medical expense deduction and the child and dependent care credit. And in 2021, the Credit for Caring Act made it possible for caregivers to get a tax credit of up to $5,000 to cover the costs of long-term care over $2,000 for that year.

Haddad also recommends using a health savings account to pay for care tax-free and investing any money you have left over. Some HSAs can be used as an investment vehicle, depending on the provider. This means you can use your leftover balance to invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds and enjoy tax-deferred growth.

Bulk up retirement accounts

Haddad says for some couples who have children with disabilities, families may have to sacrifice other work opportunities and get by on one income. As a result, there's only one person contributing to a retirement plan as opposed to two.

If you have at least one workplace retirement plan, such as a 401(k), Haddad recommends contributing enough to get at least the minimum employer match. If youre self-employed, she says, consider a simplified employee pension, or SEP, IRA because its tax-efficient  retirement contributions you make for yourself and your employees are deductible within limits.

Funding a Roth IRA is also an option. You get tax-free withdrawals in retirement, theres no required minimum distribution at 72, and your heirs could enjoy a tax-free inheritance. Since youve already paid taxes on the money used to fund the Roth, in most cases, your heirs can take tax-free distributions as long as theyre designated beneficiaries.

Elizabeth Ayoola writes for NerdWallet. Email: eayoola@nerdwallet.com.

The article 4 Retirement Savings Strategies for Family Caregivers originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Robert Alexander/Getty Images

Ah, the tech bro vest  a garment so ubiquitous and divisive that even Patagonia, arguably the defining manufacturer for this layering article, vowed in 2019 to limit which companies it would make branded vests for.

Someone in San Francisco is so displeased with them, and what they seemingly stand for, that theyve taken to posting flyers around the city to call out these particular residents. Transgressions listed on the flyer include living and bar-hopping in the Marina, commuting to work by car in the second best city in the U.S. for public transportation (even for Tesla and EV owners) and talking about how bad crime and homelessness is in SF.
Dozens of JetBlue passengers spent time sitting on an idle plane on the tarmac at a Massachusetts airport Monday night after staff left for the night.

A Massachusetts woman traveled to New York City on business this weekend and said she experienced several issues with her JetBlue flights both to and from Worcester.

She said the problems appeared to stem from a lack of airline staffing.

Flight records obtained via Flightaware show JetBlue Flight 676 left New York's JFK Airport about 35 minutes later than normal for the short 150-mile journey to Worcester Regional Airport.

The flight records show the plane landed at the small airport outside the city of Worcester around 12:15 a.m. but did not actually park at the gate until after 1 a.m.

"It was silence, then the pilot said, 'I have something embarrassing to tell you guys  there is nobody to get you off the flight,'" Sabrina Ruelle told sister station WCVB on Tuesday. "They had no staff available to get us off the airplane!"

Police showed up to help assist with the situation.

"The state police were there and they were going to have to evacuate us, but then they got a hold of a JetBlue manager and had to have him drive from his house to the airport to let us off the airplane," Ruelle said.

Ruelle said she was trying to get home to her 6-month-old son and felt particularly bad for the families on the plane with young children.

"I saw this one woman who was feeding her baby before we got on the flight," Ruelle said. "You could tell they were already exhausted, and they were stuck on that flight the whole time and the baby was crying."

JetBlue officials said it is working to understand what happened.

"We are working with our business partner who operates our ground team in Worcester to determine why a crew member was not in place at the jet bridge to ensure this remains an isolated incident," a spokesperson for JetBlue said in a statement Monday.

"Our records show customers on JetBlue flight 676 Monday were required to wait 45 minutes to deplane after landing. While we comply with all DOT regulations in the event of a tarmac delay, we know any delay is a frustrating situation and apologize for the wait."

Ruelle said she was also delayed five hours on her JetBlue flight from Worcester to New York City on Sunday morning because the airline didn't have a flight attendant available.

Flight records show the Sunday morning flight was scheduled to leave Worcester just after 7 a.m. but didn't get off the ground until just before noon for what was a 32-minute flight to New York.

The JetBlue spokesperson told WCVB that Sunday's delay was partially weather-related, a result of Saturday's winter storm that canceled flights and interrupted the placement of crew members.
McDonald's is now closed in Russia, part of a wave of companies exiting the country after its invasion of Ukraine sparked sanctions from the West. But a local alternative, Uncle Vanya, appears to be gearing up to take a bite of the Russian burger business - with a strangely familiar logo.

In a March 12 trademark filing, Uncle Vanya's yellow and red logo looks almost identical to the iconic Golden Arches of McDonald's, but tilted 90 degrees to the right. They form part of the letter "B" in the Cyrillic alphabet, which corresponds to the "V" in "Vanya."

Though none of these new restaurants have opened yet, the plan could apparently be to take over the existing shuttered McDonald's restaurants. The restaurant takes its name from the 19th-century play "Uncle Vanya" by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.

Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house in parliament, said last week that Russian brands should take over McDonald's locations. "They announced they are closing. Well, OK, close. But tomorrow in those locations we should have not McDonald's, but Uncle Vanya's," he said. "Jobs must be preserved and prices reduced."

Officials have also said Russia can ignore patents owned by entities from countries that Moscow sees as hostile while Russian President Vladimir Putin last week also endorsed a plan to nationalize foreign-owned businesses that have left the country. He said Russia must "introduce external management" on departing companies "and then transfer these enterprises to those who want to work."

The moves pave the way for Uncle Vanya to fill McDonald's void in Russia.

McDonald's 1990 arrival in the Soviet Union drew crowds as well as headlines, becoming a symbol of the West's triumph over communism at the end of the Cold War. The Soviet Union collapsed in the following year. Since then, the American chain has gained popularity in both Russia and Ukraine, both former members of the Soviet Union.

Nine percent of McDonald's $23.2 billion in revenue last year came from the two countries.

The Chicago-headquartered company has said it will keep paying full salaries for employees in Ukraine, where McDonald's had 108 stores before the war, as well as in Russia, where the company had nearly 850 stores and 62,000 workers.

When McDonald's opened its doors in Moscow 32 years ago, McDonald's managers expressed confidence they would stay in Soviet Russia, come what may, The Washington Post reported.

This time, McDonald's managers are less upbeat.

Chris Kempczinski, the chief executive of McDonald's, told employees that it was impossible to predict when the company can reopen in Russia. "We are experiencing disruptions to our supply chain along with other operational impacts," he said in an email to employees that was disclosed earlier this month.
If you revel in the rustic and go ballistic over barn-style anything, then barndominium living may be for you.

So what is a barndominium? It's an oversized building that's either a retrofitted barn-to-home conversion or an open-concept steel building constructed from the ground up. It is usually built on a plot of land in rural areas where land is abundant, but this type of structure has also started popping up in exurban locations.

Barndominiums as a design concept are booming, says Oliver J. Bell, CEO of Our Barndominium Life.

Compared with traditional wood-framed houses, barndominiums are faster and more affordable to build, are more durable, and require less maintenance.

But before you jump on the bandwagon and begin constructionwhether it's on an existing barn or a brand-new kityou want to do your research. Here are the most important things to know about building a barndominium.

1. Obtain a permit for your project

Anyone taking on a building project or remodel is required to obtain the proper permits to make sure everything is up to code. When building a barndominium, it's important to budget for permits, which can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000 depending on where you reside.

Your local department of building and safety will often have size and style requirements for your build, as well as requirements for septic tank installation, electrical wiring, and plumbing.

And if youre buying a property that has a preexisting barn, never assume that it was built to code or with the necessary permits. Get in touch with the local planning office to find out what you can and cannot do to retrofit your barn.

2. Test the paint

When refurbishing an older barn, its important to determine what type of coatings were originally used.

Matt Kunz, president of Five Star Painting, says older barns that predate 1978 may have lead paint on the exterior and interior spaces, windows, walls, trim, and siding.

These areas may be disturbed during refurbishment and need to be tested prior to the work beginning. If the test is positive, Kunz says the cost to fix the issue can be considerable and depends on the barn's size.

3. Prepare for surprise costs

Building or retrofitting a barn to live in costs considerably less than a traditional house, but that doesn't mean unexpected costs won't pop up during the construction.

Don't underestimate the cost to clear the terrain and prepare the site for construction. You also might need to lay a new foundation, which can cost from $5,000 to $30,000 depending on your location and the type of foundation.

You're turning a typically uninhabited structure into a livable space, so you'll need to budget for modern conveniences that'll make it feel like home. This can include HVAC, tile or hardwood flooring, and washer and dryer hookups.

4. Plan for electrical work

For a basic barn, electricity is not something that needs to be considered. But a barndominium can't go without electricity, so it's important to consider the electrical requirementsand to consider them early.

Hire a licensed and skilled electrical company and have it review the power specifications for all the appliances and lighting that will be installed throughout the home. The company should also make sure all the wires are in the precise location you need them to be.

"Once the Sheetrock or walls are in place, it takes much more labor to rework things," says Sean Dion, owner of Mr. Electric of Queensbury, NY.

Choosing your lighting (both the type of lighting and the fixtures) can be overwhelming, but make your selections early to assure they'll be available when it's time for installation. You may also want to include smart thermostats, doorbells, security lighting or devices, and smart switches in your renovation.

Any changes to a project after the contract is signed can be costly.

5. Choose your windows and doors wisely

High energy costs are often attributed to drafty windows and doors. So, to make sure your energy bill won't spike in your barndominium, choose double- or triple-pane windows and a fiberglass or insulated steel front door.

To bring more natural light into the home and embrace indoor-outdoor living, Brad Roberson, president of Glass Doctor, suggests incorporating a sliding glass door into your design.

When shopping for a sliding glass door, look for composite gaskets, double-pane glass, and other features designed for energy efficiency, says Roberson.

6. Add insulationit's important

Since barndominiums are constructed with steel frames and metal walls, they are not good at holding a steady temperature and can accumulate heat during warm weather and lose heat in the winter.

To remedy this issue, experts recommend using batting for insulation, or using foam boards, insulated panels, and spray foam insulation to give more heat resistance.

The post 6 Things You Should Know About Building a Barndominium appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Chairman of the HCMC Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai (R) receives newly-accredited Indonesian Consul General in HCMC Agustaviano Sofjan. (Photo: SGGP)

At the meeting, the City Chairman highly appreciated the traditional friendly relationship in various fields between Vietnam and Indonesia, especially the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries in 2013.



He expressed his sincere thanks for the sharing and support taken by Indonesia in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in HCMC and affirmed that the municipal government will always create favorable conditions for the communities of foreign enterprises in the city, including Indonesia companies to do business conveniently.

He hoped that with the support of the Consulate General of Indonesia in HCMC, the city will have chances to cooperate with the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta in the sectors of digital transformation and urban management.

In addition, the southern economic hub will also be ready to coordinate with the Consulate General of Indonesia to strengthen the cooperation of economy, trade and tourism between Indonesia and HCMC, towards the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries in 2023.

It aims at pushing bilateral turnovers of trade, investment and tourism between HCMC and Indonesia to 50 percent of the whole country. The bilateral trade turnover between the city and Indonesia accounts for US$1.4 billion of the total number of US$11 billion between the two countries. HCMC has attracted US$40 million among US$600 million that Indonesia has spent to invest in Vietnam; and 100,000 among 200,000 Indonesian tourists visiting Vietnam.

Mr. Phan Van Mai stressed that the city will always support and create advantages for the newly-accredited Indonesian Consul General to complete good his task, contributing to the good relation between the two countries.

For his part, Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan pledged to cooperate with the citys leaders to further develop relations of economy, trade and tourism and strengthen exchanges between the people of the two countries. He hoped that Indonesian and Vietnamese businesses, including HCMCs enterprises will enhance the connection and air routes linking localities of the two nations to be resumed as soon as possible.

By Thuy Vu  Translated by Kim Khanh
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Page Content

While many multinational companies have halted or suspended operations in Russia, some are choosing to continue business there. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.



Koch Industries Defends Decision to Stay

Koch Industries said it would not exit its Russian operations because doing so would put its "employees there at greater risk and do more harm than good." Dave Robertson, the company's president and chief operating officer, said, "The horrific and abhorrent aggression against Ukraine is an affront to humanity. Principles always matter, and they matter most when they are under pressure." He noted that Koch "will not walk away from our employees there or hand over these manufacturing facilities to the Russian government so it can operate and benefit from them." The company is complying with sanctions, he said, and will continue to provide financial assistance to employees and their families from Ukraine along with humanitarian aid to those affected in neighboring countries.



(The Washington Post)



Subway Stays Open

Subway isn't closing any of its locations in Russia. The company explained it has no corporate operations in the country and its approximately 450 restaurants are all independently owned and operated by local franchisees. Subway said it would "redirect any profits from operations in Russia to humanitarian efforts supporting Ukrainians who have been affected by the war." Subway also is working with its franchisees across Europe to provide meals to those fleeing the war.

(Fox8)



Burger King Says Franchisee Refused to Close Restaurants



Burger King's parent company, Restaurant Brands International Inc., said it hasn't been able to close its 800 restaurants in Russia because its independent operator there refused to do so.



(Reuters)



Nationalization of Businesses That Leave Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed a plan to nationalize foreign-owned businesses that leave the country over its invasion of Ukraine. During a meeting with government officials, Putin said Russia must "introduce external management" on departing companies "and then transfer these enterprises to those who want to work." He endorsed a legislative proposal that would create a pathway for the government to take over and eventually sell businesses that exit the country.



(The Washington Post)



Pressure on Companies to Make a Definitive Choice

Companies that have paused operations or announced limited pullouts are coming under pressure to make a more definitive break: all or nothing, in or out. This has led some to revise their plans, raising questions about the long-term implications. Some corporate withdrawals, such as Procter & Gamble's, are partial. Other companies that initially said they would remain in Russia, including Deutsche Bank and the retailer Uniqlo, have backtracked.

(The New York Times)

Companies' Suspensions or Exits

Companies reducing, suspending or exiting their operations in Russia include Adidas, Airbus, American Express, Apple, BP, Boeing, Canada Goose, Coca-Cola, Cogent, Dell Technologies, Deloitte, DHL, Ericsson, Exxon Mobil, EY, FedEx, Ford, H&M, IBM, Ikea, KPMG, Mastercard, McDonald's, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, PepsiCo, PwC, Shell, Sony, Starbucks, TJX, Unilever, UPS, Visa, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Co. and Yum Brands. Yum Brands is closing 70 company-owned KFC restaurants and all 50 franchise-owned Pizza Hut restaurants.

(SHRM Online)



Four Categories of Companies



The Yale School of Management has drafted a list of companies that have withdrawn from Russia, or have suspended, scaled back or are continuing operations in Russia. It notes that since the invasion of Ukraine began, more than 400 companies have announced their withdrawal from Russia.



(Yale School of Management)


San Jose State University is the host of the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Innovators in Santa Clara County now have access to high level resources to assist them as they grow their businesses and change the world. The Silicon Valley SBDC is yet another important milestone in creating a comprehensive program, through the SJSU Research Foundation and the Office of Innovation, to support startup companies and growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Advising is FREE with the additional support of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the California Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz).
You want a wetsuit and youre going to buy it mail order. Using me as a gauge, Im 62 and 170lb (more or less). I go to the size chart, find a suit that fits somebody 511 to 63 and 165lb to 180lb, and order it. Is it that simple?



Seems like it used to be that simple but, today, not so much. Wetsuits are quite divergent in their sizing schemes and themes, and Ill tell you how I navigate this. It might be helpful now that youll likely buy your wetsuit without first trying it on.



In the image below are a half dozen wetsuits, all of which fit me. Theyre supposed to fit according to the size charts these companies publish. But as you can see, theres an obvious difference in the lengths of these suits. In some cases the length differences are in the torso, and in other cases its the legs. Lets go through some of these wetsuits and well see if theres a discernable theme to how the suits these brands make fit.

In all cases I ordered wetsuits from each brand that fit someone 62 and 180lb. In point of fact Im closer to 170lb, but what Ive discovered is that I fit in a suit at least 1 size larger than I wouldve fit into when I was younger.





Age Alters the Size Chart

Well, agealter the size chart, but it doesnt. Meaning, youll look in vain for a wetsuit brand that talks about age. But lets discuss this, because age matters even if I wish it didnt.Im 65 years old now (which is hard for me to write, but, there it is). Im pretty similar to the weight I was when I was 35 (Im between 5 and 10 pounds more now than I was then). I used to swim in what was then  in my own wetsuits I made  a size Medium Small. Now I would fit in a size Medium Large (which means I would skip right over our size-Medium). Im 2 sizes larger in my old wetsuit brands sizing scheme. Why?Its a combination of the way my weight is carried, and the strength of my diaphragm. George Clooney has Armani, and when I was 25 or 30 years old I had Levi Strauss. My go-to were 501 Shrink-to-Fit Levi Jeans, size 33x36 and those shrunk to, say, 32x34. Im still a 32x34. Hooray! But its not that simple. Im 32x34 in Levi 550 Jeans, with a tag inside that says Relaxed Fit. Doesnt seem hardly fair, but thats the way it is, and that explains in part why my wetsuit needs to go up a size or two even if Im the same height and weight.

Im also just not able to overcome the compression of a tighter size anymore. My diaphragm isnt as strong.



When youre 30 or 40 and youre in charge of a wetsuit brand you just arent aware of what I wrote above, so you dont consider it. But thats my story, which is instructive perhaps to some of you (but not most of you, whore much younger than I). It should be a data point to wetsuit brand managers. It isnt, but it should be.



Sailfish sent me a Medium Long, and I could have been 1 of 2 sizes in that brand: that Medium Long or a Medium Large. Here are the parameters per the Sailfish size chart:



Medium Long (ML): 6'1"-6'5" and 176-198lb.

Medium Large (ML+): 59 -63 and 188-209lb.



Im clearly better in the ML, because Im square in the height range. While my weight is just below the weight range, remember, I need to go up a size because Im an oldster. The Sailfish fits me nicely.

If you look at the three Sailfish wetsuits hanging in the image there is one wetsuit that's a little longer, and that's the ROKA Maverick. But it's only longer in the leg, which we'll discuss further below. The way ROKAs size chart works is you pick a height, and then you get a weight range for that height. The size Medium Tall (MT), for someone 62, has a weight range of from 170lb to 194lb. Im near the low end of that weight range, so, that size works for me.



ROKAs Medium Tall and Sailfishs Medium Long are different ways of expressing suits that are almost same size.





Measuring A Wetsuits Torso Length

Lets add a new metric to the discussion and if youve never measured a wetsuits torso panel youre not alone. Neither has anybody at any of these wetsuit brands. But they should. Lets talk about this, and about how this metric affects me. It's the length of the torso panel and it's measured per the image above.

If you compare the ROKA and the Sailfish, the torso of each wetsuit is almost exactly the same.



The second shortest suit in the lineup of 6 wetsuits in the image higher up is the Quintana Roo HydroSix2, and its a size LG. If you look at the size chart (QR's Unisex size chart is just below), this is the one that fits me.

I found the QR wetsuit short, however, not just in the leg but in the torso (and thats where short matters most, in the torso). When you hold a ROKA and a QR suit up and compare them, you can see that the legs are not that different in length. The differences in the torso pattern pieces have a much more profound effect on fit and performance.



If you measure the QR HydroSix2, in a size LG from one seam to another  where the collar attaches to the torso panel down to where that torso panel terminates in the crotch area, that distance is 21.5. If you measure the ROKA Maverick in size MT, its 24. The torso panel in the Sailfish models, in size Medium Long, also all measure 24 in the torso panel. So, is the QR just made badly? Lets investigate, and maybe this will help you when you buy a wetsuit online.



QR makes a size called a Large Thin. See it on the size chart above? I have never been a size Large in a wetsuit in my life. However, the torso panel in that size measures about 23.5, which is right up my alley. The weight range for that size is 170lb to 210lb. Remember, that ROKA in Medium Tall has a weight range of 170lb to 194lb, so, pretty similar. Those two sizes, the ROKA in Medium Tall, and the QR in Large Thin, are for me pretty similar sizes, and one way I know this is by measuring the length of the torso pattern piece.



 Heres a thought: The stated sizes on the size chart often do not reflect the size thats right for you.



For me, measuring that torso panel in a wetsuit is a common-sense metric. That torso pattern piece, for my 62 height, needs to be between 23.5 and 24.5, and when that piece measures taller or shorter the wetsuit is going to either be baggy in the stomach, with a roll of rubber there, or its going to be hard to get up over the shoulders, with a lot of pressure on my shoulders. The size LG in QR is a fine size, just, its not my size.

The shortest wetsuit in that lineup above is the Zone3 Aspire, and the Zone3 folks faced the same conundrum with me as did the QR folks. What you see here is a size ML in the Zone3 Aspire. Yes, per the size chart I can fit in it. But at 62 Im at the very top of the height range for a size ML. The MT is a slightly taller suit, but its for a more trim body than I have. The size L is perfect for me height-wise, but my weight is in the low 170s and that suit fits a man between 180lb and 198lb. However, remember, I tend to buy one size larger these days. So, on balance, Id probably be better in a size L than any other of the Zone3 sizes proximate to me.

But that size fits somebody well. Above is my next door neighbor and training partner, Mark Montgomery, who tested the Zone3 Aspire in my stead. He stands about 510 and weighs 168lb (or so), so the ML shouldve fit him perfectly. In fact, it was a little smallish on him. Zone3 makes excellent wetsuits (review upcoming), but I question the ultimate accuracy of the size chart simply based on the suit in my possession.



But I couldve known that the wetsuit Zone3 sent me was the wrong size, because that torso panel measures 21.5, exactly the same as that panel in the QR in size LG.



There are (of course) both front and back to wetsuits. What about the back panel? There are no reliable landmarks for this. Wetsuit companies vary widely in how they handle the pattern pieces in the backs of their suits. Only that front chest panel has proved reasonably reliable for judging a wetsuits torso length.



 Heres another thought: Wetsuits are not quite garments. Theyre half garments, half equipment, like a bicycle. Just as bicycles have geometry charts, maybe wetsuits should have something like a geometry chart, and well start with that torso panels length.





Leg Length

Unisex Sizing

Weve been measuring that torso panel in wetsuits, from the jugular notch to the crotch. From that crotch seam to the bottom of the leg of the wetsuit, in my 62 size  which as we see could be a size Medium Tall, Medium Long, Large Thin  that leg measure is (for me, in these sizes) between 28 and 29. This is a less precise measure. Why?Some wetsuit makers let the rubber flow down to the bottom of the ankle, reasoning that the more rubber, the more float, and the more float (below the knee) the faster you go. Other wetsuit brands reason that the suit should terminate a little higher so that you can get the wetsuit off in transition. ROKA just thinks let the rubber flow down to the ankle. Sailfish cuts the leg a bit higher. But that 28 to 29 length is generally the length that works for me.QR has also done something unprecedented by making its patterns unisex. This makes sense on the one hand, and not on the other. Men are, typically, wider in the chest and shoulders, narrower in the hips. By making a unisex size run youre accommodating women who are a little broader of shoulder and chest; and men who are less broad in the chest. Erin Baker  the legendary every-distance champion from New Zealand  was a better fit in our Mens XS than in a Womens M. Those two sizes were very close to each other  same length  but had those pattern differences specific to men and women. We also had one champion man of a smaller stature  weighing in the mid-130s pounds  who fit better in a womens M. Todays QR sizing scheme would probably work for both these athletes.

Where this theme works less well is when an athlete is farther away from that place where male and female morphologies meet. A man whos got broad shoulders and narrow hips may not find this suit an optimal fit.





Difficult Fits

For those who find wetsuits a rough go, fit-wise, consider the T1 by De Soto. This is a 2-piece wetsuit. The older I got, the less mobility I had in my shoulders, and the less interested I was in fighting with my wetsuit. The more this describes you, the more you should include this brand in your thinking. Its not simply that you can mix and match top and bottom sizes; the top is very easy to get on and off. This is not a suit only for oldsters and non-standard body shapes. This is a fast, performance wetsuit. But if youre an oldster, or have shoulder mobility issues, or any other fit niggles, this is a suit to consider.

Industry Lessons

Theres very little I can tell a manufacturer these days about making anything, because manufacturing has come so far along since I was making our stuff back in the 1980s and 1990s. But I do think I have a unique insight into wetsuits, because mine was one of the only brands that owned its own factory, and whose executives worked at that factory. We didnt hire outside pattern makers; we were our own pattern makers. I built, from scratch, our cutting and gluing tables. Not, Ibuilt. I built them myself. I set up the factory myself. I hired and fired every cutter, gluer, sewer, pattern maker. There is no wetsuit made today that fit better than the QR wetsuits made in the mid-1990s. ButWe were constantly tweaking our patterns. We didnt just tinker with our patterns; if we found our size chart didnt match our experiences with customers. I dont get the sense that a lot of brands these days do that. We were always learning, always adapting, and nothing was ever, really, put to bed. Its like when I started Slowtwitch, I thought coding was a thing you did every few years. No. Coding is a thing you do constantly. Likewise patterns. The minute you change anything in a wetsuit  the thickness of rubber in a panel, the jersey on the inside of a smoothskin rubber sheet  the whole fit of the wetsuit changes.

Every brands line of wetsuits is an organism, breathing in, breathing out, in constant need of care. For us, there was no model year. My entire 12 years spent making wetsuits was a series of running changes, every week or every day. Sometimes we investigated products or themes or ideas that just didnt work, and we had to capitulate, and follow another stream until we got what we wanted out of what we made. When a wetsuit brand approaches the product like this, thats a wetsuit worth buying and using.





Variability

When I was 12 years old I hitchhiked to another city to see a girl I liked. She didnt carry the same torch and tried to salve the wound by telling me by, for every old sock theres an old shoe. (I was the old sock, and just needed to keep searching for my old shoe, I guess.) Todays divergent wetsuit fit paradigms just means there are a lot more old shoes out there for you, and I would not simply choose a wetsuit based on specs or price. It is March (as of this writing), and most of you have time before your races take place. Notwithstanding these brief notes on sizing schemes, if youre buying your wetsuit through the mail you may have to abort and reverse a transaction or two three if the wetsuit doesnt fit. The enterprising old sock begins his or her wetsuit hunt sooner than later.
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A parliamentary inquiry has warned of the threat to competition from the increasing concentration in ownership of Australias sharemarket, highlighting the growing clout of index funds and superannuation giants.

The House of Representatives economics committee on Friday said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) should be required to monitor the stakes that giant institutional investors hold in rival listed businesses, and take these holdings into account when assessing mergers.

Ownership of the Australian sharemarket has become increasingly dominated by institutional investors.

The inquiry said Australias sharemarket had become increasingly owned by institutional investors, citing figures that found households only owned 11 per cent of Australian listed equities directly.

In particular, it highlighted the growth in foreign index funds Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street, which owned about 14 per cent of the ASX 200 between them in 2019. Regulated super funds also own about a fifth of the entire local stockmarket, the report said. It also explored the issue of common ownership  where investors own shares in competing listed firms.
High Street Armadale, with its mix of upmarket fashion and general retail, drinking, dining and services, is flying according to market analysts, with a shop vacancy rate of about 10 per cent, according to the Plan1 property consultancy, compared with 22 per cent in the CBD. The commercial hub has benefited from large numbers of professionals working from home and within a short distance and the High Street traders group puts the vacancy rate closer to 6 per cent. Fashion retailer Lisa Barron says High Street Armadales loyal following and quality shops, dining and drinking options are the key to its enduring appeal. Credit:Eddie Jim The street is performing well, the associations Steve Williams told The Age. Fashion retailer Lisa Barron said the key to the streets success lies in its mix of businesses.

I think of High Street as an experiential street, she said. Its made up of great stores and cafes and those kinds of places and to spend the money, you have to experience something as well, Ms Barron said. Its all about mutual support; a great fashion store needs a great cafe or wine bar to look after their clients while theyre in this vicinity and High Street certainly has a great array of that. Its developed a very loyal following and when a place has built a reputation, it kind of sticks. But in Werribee, 44 kilometres to the west, and where the median weekly household income is less than two-thirds that of Armadale, local councillor Josh Gilligan says the shopping and dining experience is very different.

The former Labor mayor of Wyndham told The Age that for local professionals working from home, there was no option of a quick walk or drive to the local shop or cafe. Its not a case of not wanting to go out and buy a coffee from a local cafe, Cr Gilligan said. Its the ability to access a local cafe without having to drive. It takes eight minutes to drive from my home Tarneit to Tarneit Central and then Ive got to park the car and walk to the shops and then drive home again. So the $8 a day Im not spending on myki could be used to buy two coffees a day, but Im not doing that because there is no cafe within walking distance of my home, so theres no incentive to do so. Thats really the urban planning problem weve got here in the outer suburbs and that will resonate with everyone. Cr Gilligan said residents were becoming more concerned about the quality, variety and accessibility of the local commercial infrastructure.

Im hearing more and more complaints from residents about the fact that there are limited options, he said. That was never ever a conversation pre-COVID because people were preoccupied with making sure they got a car park at a train station, and how do they get to and from work. All those infrastructure issues have turned into a conversation about choice, and the lack thereof and the failure of urban design to actually create choices in the place where you live. Pacific Werribee is the areas largest shopping centre. Its general manager Ryan Ling did not disclose vacancy rates, but said the centre was close to full occupancy. Customer traffic is returning to pre-COVID numbers, and very pleasingly, sales are strengthening  upward trends we anticipate will only continue, Mr Ling said.

Interestingly, while traffic continues to recover, the promising sales results suggests a trend emerging of customers, perhaps visiting less frequently, but spending more. A trend, we believe, is consistent across other similar retail destinations. Property consultant Richard Jenkins, from Plan1, has been studying the fortunes of some of Melbournes long-established shopping strips over the past 20 years and says some, such as High Street in Armadale, Church Street in Brighton and Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds have thrived despite the pandemic. But other strips familiar to generations of Melbourne shoppers and diners, such as Bridge Road in Richmond and Acland Street in St Kilda, were struggling with vacancy rates higher than those in the CBD. Mr Jenkins said the key to survival for suburban shopping strips was the ability to adapt to changing demands and offer customers a variety of experience in one location.
Only Birds Above

Portland Jones

Fremantle Press, $29.99

Its hard to write evocatively about a subject as ugly as war  the challenge lies in depicting the horror of unimaginable atrocities while painting a scene using the right words to make the reader keep reading.

Portland Jones Only Birds Above succeeds to a fair degree. Following the lives of two generations within a family, describing the way their lives have been altered by World War I, and then World War II, we get the sense, very early in the book, that trauma has a way of lingering within the gaps in our most intimate relationships.

Portland Jones brings the experiences of her own grandfather into her novel about the impact of war on two generations. Credit:

A man named Arthur returns from Egypts Sinai Peninsula in 1918, silent, changed, his shoulders bunched like river stones beneath his shirt. His altered state is observed by his son and daughter  two vicarious witnesses of inexplicable tragedies who adopt their fathers unprocessed grief.
Warne was never a fan of the magazines. He would regularly make his disdain known publicly. The Womans Day exclusive with Liz Hurley in 2012. In 2018 he tweeted: Womans Day you are a disgrace. Im not sure what possess you to continue this attack & making up lies about me, my family or my private life. What is the media watchdog doing about this constant harassment & continual lies about made up stories with no substance whatsoever? He was responding to an article in Womans Day claiming ex-wife Simone was horrified he was luring their son Jackson into high-stakes gambling. Both Warne and Callahan blasted the story. But it was Womans Day which six years earlier  along with British glossie Hello! magazine, struck a deal with Warne and his then fiancee Hurley. The couple pocketed $1 million for selling the rights of their gushing love story.

At the time Connolly was editor-in-chief of Womans Day and couldnt be happier with Warne, saying: Womans Day loves Warnie. Hes one of our favourite Aussies and weve enjoyed countless stories with him, his ex-wife, his girlfriends and one-night stands for 20 years at least. His colourful personal life has entertained our readers no end. A decade later and her sentiment remains unchanged: Our business is to write colourful stories about colourful lives, all the ups and downs, and there was no one more colourful in that regard than Shane Warne ... We will absolutely miss him. At the time I approached Warne to ask why he was happy to take money from Womans Day if the magazine had harassed him. Warne was adamant it only ever happened once and at the time, he knew nothing about the deal with Womans Day. Elizabeths people did the deal. I had no idea about it all. Not being vague or dodging your point, just was unaware. As for the million-dollar fee, Warne told me: It sounds like I got ripped off if that was the case.

Out of the box Still in its original hatbox bearing the Qantas airline stickers that documented its journey from Paris to Double Bay nearly 40 years ago, the black tulle confection is certainly a showstopper. The hat is one of several about to go on sale from the vast wardrobe of the late Lady (Mary) Fairfax, Sydneys undisputed social grand dame of the 20th century. Client and gallery manager Azura Nichols wearing a Saint Laurent necklace and holding the Balenciaga pavlova hat. They are part of the late Lady Mary Fairfax collection. Credit:Louise Kennerley One imagines the hat looking like a singed pavlova atop the diminutive head of the matriarch of the once all-powerful Fairfax media dynasty, but in its day it would arguably have been one of the most avant-garde chapeaux in Sydney when it popped up at high tea among the pillboxes and whimsies favoured by the gloved genteel ladies about town. Mary loved a good hat, of which there are three that auction house Bonhams will have on display in its Woollahra gallery next week, along with about 100 items from the fabled social fixtures wardrobe. All had been carefully stored in catalogued cartons stacked to the ceiling in a warehouse since her death in 2017, aged 95.

Among the gowns to be sold are those worn during Marys many meetings with heads of state, royalty and celebrities, including the jaunty Bob Mackie knee-length cocktail frock she wore when dining with Bill and Hillary Clinton. A lover of hats: Lady (Mary) Fairfaxs wardrobe is going under the hammer. Then theres the Pierre Balmain peacock ballgown, replete in feathers and metres of tulle. She wore it in the late 1950s to a ball at Sydney Town Hall. That evening she was voted best dressed. There are also vivid patterned pieces from the late Emilio Pucci, a designer Mary hosted at her home Fairwater in the early 1970s when he visited the far off antipodes. She was so enamoured with his collection she bought the lot, including the capes and evening-gowns now up for sale. Zandra Rhodes, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Chanel, Halston, Pierre Cardin: Marys sartorial taste was evidently top-shelf, though the Fairfax family has hung on to the serious jewels she collected, including a diamond-encrusted tiara she would wear on special occasions but has not been seen in public for decades.

Bonhams director Merryn Schriever adjusting the Pierre Balmain peacock dress which is part of the late Lady Mary Fairfaxs collection. Credit:Louise Kennerley A large collection of costume jewellery has been included in the sale, which also features a vintage wicker shopping trolley Mary bought from Gucci more than half a century ago. Prices are expected to range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The online auction ends on March 25. Fresh serve on the menu Former Russian refugee turned Sydney multimillionaire Leon Kamenev tells PS construction at his mega mansion in Vaucluse, set to become the most expensive home in Australia, is nearing completion. While thats good news for the Menulog founder, who sold the start-up in 2015 and pocketed almost half a billion dollars in the process, his former right-hand man in the online food delivery business, Peter Jury, isnt quite so pleased for his old mate. Jury says he pounded the pavements and gave my blood signing up restaurants to Menulog to get the business started, but unlike his former friend was not entitled to a share of the sale proceeds.

Jury says he was given $15,000 by Kamenev in 2017 after bringing up the issue, but feels he deserves much more. Kamenev doesnt agree, telling PS: Peter does not have any legal or moral right to any of the proceeds and I believe Peter was adequately compensated for his services. Whos with who and where Its been seven years since PS revealed Sydney moneybags Mark Carnegie had been spending quality time with Lady Catherine Percy, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland of Alnwick Castle. However the relationship has run its course and the couple quietly parted company several months ago. Now this column hears of another leading lady in Carnegies life: the glamorous Ilse OReilly, former wife of one-time Irish media scion Cameron OReilly.

These days Carnegie lives in Singapore, while mother-of-four OReilly was a popular fixture in the Southern Highlands where she has long divided her time between her home in London. Hair today? Melissa Caddick with her husband Anthony Koletti. Credit:Facebook I couldnt possibly comment, former Sydney social fixture and lawyer Judy Swan informed PS when asked if it was true her latest client, Anthony Koletti, was also her hairdresser. Swans name has popped up on court documents as Koletti attempts to thwart liquidators plans to sell the multimillion-dollar home his missing fraudster wife Melissa Caddick bought for $6.2 million, the property secured by a deposit from money she stole from the victims of her Ponzi scheme.
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Efforts to protect threatened species will be undermined and it will be easier to log native forests if proposed changes to Victorias forestry laws are approved, environment groups have warned.

The state government says the legal changes will make the regulations clearer, and provide guidance for the logging industry.

A coalition of more than a dozen environment groups, including the Victorian Forest Alliance, have written to Minister for Environment Lily DAmbrosio, expressing grave concern over proposed changes to forestry codes of practice, and amendments to the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act.

Environment groups have expressed concern about changes to logging regulations.

They say the amendments to the act tabled in parliament in late February would give the minister unchecked power to determine the lawfulness of the logging activity of state-owned logging agency, VicForests.
Fashion designer Alex Perry is best known for his red carpet gowns. The 59-year-old discusses his upbringing, career, marriage, and the women who have influenced him along the way.

Alex Perry: If my wife wasnt the rock, my business wouldnt have got off the ground. Credit:Nic Walker

My maternal grandmother, Vasiliki, loved to watch Bette Davis movies. She was always beautifully dressed and had fashion coats and dresses custom-made. She always talked about Greece and would tell tall stories about how she swam from her tiny island to Turkey.

Ill never forget seeing my dads best friends wife, Jenny, turn up to our Sydney suburban backyard looking like Raquel Welch. She used to wear pencil skirts, black suede stilettos and angora jumpers; her hair was always done. It was the first time I recall noticing fashion. I was seven.

My mum, Poppy, was born in Australia of Greek heritage and passed away last year. She was pragmatic and honest; I get my work ethic from my parents. She wasnt the type of mother to blow sunshine up you. If she saw me sketching something she didnt like, she would tell me. She was my best critic.
Clare Smyth opened Oncore by Clare Smyth last November, after lengthy negotiations and planning with Crown Resorts. Mark Holmes, one of Crowns senior executives in Sydney, describes her Michelin background and the particular warmth she gives her restaurants as a unique offering.

For the next 15 minutes, as we accidentally plunge our knives through flesh and hack along backbones and leave ragged chunks of white meat hanging off skeletons, Smyth stays calm. Occasionally, when all hope seems lost, she steps in to help. She is tall, and she leans slightly forward as she works. Her hands are deft, nails short and unvarnished. At one point, I watch her turn the fish belonging to a debonair French brand director. She makes three cuts with a long silver knife, clearing scraps away with one hand. Et voila! says the brand director, contemplating his suddenly beautiful fillet. Glancing up, Smyth catches my eye and winks.

Smyth, who is dressed in crisp chefs whites with her blonde hair in a short ponytail, one hairpin behind each ear (the three times I see her, no detail of this outfit changes), speaks calmly about the process. We listen, each contemplating our enormous fish with varying degrees of anxiety. These are Murray cod, says Smyth in her quiet voice, her neutral English accent holding no trace of her Northern Irish roots. Theyre a beautiful fish, very clean and pure, and were going to take the fillets off them for lunch.

Instead she is here, in her immaculate Oncore kitchen on the 26th floor of the Crown complex at Barangaroo, surrounded by Mauviel copper and Staub cast iron and kitchen incompetence as far as the eye can see. There are eight people at this masterclass: an unexpected collection of journalists, influencers and celebrities. Some may be beautiful cooks  Ian Thorpe has already asked a complex question about brining temperature  but I can tell you one thing for certain. None of us can bone a fish.

Whatever Clare Smyth imagined herself doing on a Friday morning, it probably wasnt this. At only 43 years old, as the first and only British female chef to hold three Michelin stars, and one of only seven women on earth to do so, she could be cooking anywhere, for anyone. She could be roasting chicken for Harry and Meghan, as she did for their wedding in 2018, or preparing venison for Boris Johnson and Bill Gates, as she did at Number 10 last year. She could be drinking coffee with Alain Ducasse or having dinner with Gordon Ramsay, both good friends. Here in her new Sydney restaurant Oncore, she could be chatting with some of Australias best chefs: Peter Gilmore or Josh Niland, who both ate here one recent Saturday, or Guillaume Brahimi, who is standing in the bar at this moment with his hands clasped, looking thrilled.

Clare Smyth grew up on the cliff-bound green coastline of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Her family owned a mixed farm, and Clare and her older brother and sister rode horses and weeded carrots and harvested potatoes from fields on the edge of the sea. Like most children, she was a reluctant kitchen helper, but her family ate well, and in the Irish tradition  as a young chef, she ate a buttered boiled potato before every service.

I love humble ingredients, says Clare Smyth, pictured in the Oncore kitchen. I love the challenge of someone saying, Well, thats just an onion, and then making something spectacular from that onion. Credit:Anson Smart

Which makes it even more surprising that almost nobody in Australia knows who she is.

But by any marker, gendered or not, Smyth is a superstar. Both Core, and the restaurant she headed previously  Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Londons Chelsea  have topped every ranking system of note in the UK: 10/10 in the UKs Good Food Guide, five AA rosettes, and three Michelin stars. She was awarded an MBE in 2013; shes been a judge on MasterChef Australia; shes a brand friend for Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot. She is, effectively, the Roger Federer  or Serena Williams  of the cooking world.

Of course, this designation is problematic: when she was voted the worlds best female chef at the 50 Best Restaurants Awards in 2018, many people called the recognition sexist, outdated and bizarre, though Smyth herself quietly suggested that we all know that we dont see enough women represented at the top of our industry  [and] things wont change if we do nothing.

Dining at [her first restaurant Core by Clare Smyth, in Londons Notting Hill], I felt like I was having dinner in Clares living room, he says. It has a genuine sense of personal hospitality. Getting her to extend this hospitality across the globe  via a deal about which neither Crown nor Smyth will give details  was a coup, because she is undoubtedly one of the most successful female chefs on the planet.

As proof of this philosophy, consider Smyths Insta-famous potato, on the menu at Oncore. On the one hand, its just a small brown potato in a big white bowl. Its not even peeled: you can see the dots and dimples freckling its skin. But its also something Cartier might have created for Wallis Simpson to wear on her lapel: bejewelled with trout and herring roe, sprinkled with lacy seaweed and tiny flowers, studded with miniature fermented chips. It simultaneously recalls every delicious potato youve eaten, buttery and starchy and salty, while also being better  the briny burst of roe, the rich umami of seaweed, the vinegary crunch of chips  than any potato youve ever tasted.

I want people to feel warm and comfortable, as if theyre eating something they recognise, she says, seated in a quiet bar on Sydney Harbour during the break between Oncores lunch and dinner service. And I love humble ingredients: I love the challenge of someone saying, Well, thats just an onion, and then making something spectacular from that onion; extracting the maximum amount of flavour. You dont have to work hard to get a lobster to taste amazing.

Clare Smyths dishes are still delicious. And oddly, given the 30-odd years between the untrained teenager and the Michelin-starred chef, they are not so terribly far apart. The roots of Smyths culinary genius are in her earliest food experiences  the caramelised, fat-bathed carrot you scrape off the bottom of the roasting tin; the thyme stuffing and intensely flavoured skin of the supermarket roast chook; the butter-laden mashed potato you eat in front of the telly in your track pants. She has taken our most intense comfort food devotions, and elevated them to high art.

Nobody but the chefs  but they seem not to have minded, either. Of course, a 15-year-old was hardly going to steal their jobs, but maybe they warmed to her. Years later, one told her, You were just this kid, and youd make things, and Id think, Wow. Thats delicious. 

At 14, she began washing dishes at a local restaurant  Hillcrest Country House  for pocket money. Occasionally shed be asked to help in the kitchen. Almost immediately, something clicked. Theyd often be short-staffed, she explains, and I was the one who remembered how to make the dessert. So Id do it, and it would be done well. Soon she was standing in for the chef  boning out pork loins, filleting salmon, making sauces. The owners didnt mind, because nobody complained. Nobody knew! Smyth laughs. Nobody knew a 15-year-old was cooking their steak au poivre.

Smyth herself seems conscious of the barrier such prices create. She can still remember looking in the window of Paul Bocuses legendary Lyon restaurant as a young chef, unable to afford a table, and the extraordinary thrill of being invited inside for a glass of champagne and a gougere.

She is worshipped by other chefs. A lot of chefs get swept away by that level of fame, but shes still just really straightforward.

Experiencing this talent first-hand, alas, doesnt come cheap: at Oncore  which Smyth plans to visit personally from her London base every two months, or send members of her team  the seven-course degustation menu costs $300. Thats about as expensive as anything in Australia right now, says Terry Durack, chief restaurant critic for The Sydney Morning Herald and the SMH Good Food Guide.

She is worshipped by other chefs  including me. I admired her from a distance for a long time: when we met, I was like a total fan boy. A lot of chefs get swept away by that level of fame, but shes still just really straightforward. He describes Smyths food as a mix of earthiness and solidity, and then the flourish. Like her  the solid country roots, and then this amazing talent on top.

Trust me, she is lauded everywhere she goes, says Mark Best, one of Australias most innovative chefs and a friend of Smyths.

All these details  the potato, the seaweed, the salt and vinegar  come from Smyths own food psyche, united into the Platonic potato ideal thanks to three decades of training and experience.

Prophetically, Bibendum is housed in a heritage building that was once the UK base of the Michelin tyre company. And the Michelin tyre company, of course, founded the most famous restaurant ranking system in the world  the ultimate arbiter of the fine-dining dream. The Michelin Guide.

Her parents thought shed gone for a holiday: two weeks later, having secured a spot as a cookery student at Highbury College in Portsmouth and an apprenticeship with board at Grayshott Hall in Surrey, she rang them to announce she wasnt coming home. She finished college at 18, and the very next day moved to London, where shed organised a job at Bibendum, Terence Conrans famously beautiful restaurant in Chelsea.

Unusually for teenage dreams, this one actually suited the dreamer. As a mildly dyslexic kid who hated school, Smyth had two strengths: art and sport. Cooking used both her creative abilities and her physical competence and stamina. It also suited her fundamental personality traits: great organisational skills, quiet competitiveness and enormous determination. She left school at 16, and the next day  literally the very next day  I moved to England.

Smyth bought her first cookbook , Anton Mossimans herald of 1980s food fashion Cuisine a la Carte, while she was working at Hillcrest. It was love at first sight: I still remember the black cover with the white hexagon bowl. Thats what I wanted from then on: not just cooking, but fine dining. I loved everything about it: the ingredients, the skill, the attention to detail. It became my dream.

Today, every diner to Smyths restaurants gets their own delicious pastry ball in homage to Bocuse, and in gratitude for their visit. I know people have waited for months to get a booking, maybe saved up, and I want them to know were glad theyve come, she says. People make a huge effort. And especially after the past two years, its like, Thank god youre here! 

What do you do if you are the 19th-century owners of a French company which depends, for its revenue, on consumers ruining  and replacing  the tyres on the strange, newfangled form of transportation known as the automobile? You entice them into long country drives, of course: especially down potholed roads with lots of tyre-shredding bumps and stones. The kinds of roads, indeed, that  especially in France  often lead to excellent restaurants.

The Michelin Guide was first produced in 1900, its famous one-, two- and three-star system in 1933. Today Michelin stars, though occasionally challenged by claims of corporate deal-making or favouritism, retain an extraordinary power. Chefs have sued Michelin for losing  and gaining  them, and the system has been blamed for depression, renunciation (of stars, restaurants, entire careers), even suicide.

Nevertheless, three Michelin stars was exactly what Clare Smyth wanted.

This girl wants to win, said famous chef (and current holder of the most Michelin stars  14  of anyone living) Alain Ducasse in 2021. Its not by chance. From the beginning, I think she dreamt of three stars. I think its 25 years of graft work, passion, energy.

In 2002, aged 24, Clare Smyth joined Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. At the time, it was Londons hottest restaurant, headed by a young chef made notorious by a television documentary called, suitably enough, Boiling Point. Ramsay was famously gifted, famously profane  and famously difficult to work for.

He adored Smyth immediately. Clare had an undeniable presence and

determination, which was immediately obvious when I met her, he writes

from London. You can be a talented chef, but those traits are rare  when I see that combination in a young chef its incredibly exciting.

Gordon was so supportive of me, all through my career, says Smyth, smiling. He told me once: You know, youre incredibly talented, thats beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now we need to teach you to be a leader. Youre a young woman, but so was Margaret Thatcher. And if they could teach her how to run a country, we can teach you to run a kitchen.  She laughs. He loves that reference to me and Margaret Thatcher  Im not sure its that complimentary! But thats what he instilled: Youre a young woman, youre quiet, but youre great. 

Her power is that she has mental strength. A strong desire, a strong passion, a strong will and obstinacy.

She spent three years with Ramsay before heading to France to work at Alain Ducasses three-Michelin-starred Le Louis XV in Monaco. Ducasse also recognised her talent. Her power is that she has mental strength, he says. A strong desire, a strong passion, a strong will and obstinacy. And honestly, I knew from the beginning that she wanted to get to the top.

After a year in Monaco, Ducasse wanted Smyth to keep working for him. But back in London, Ramsay offered her the head chef role at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. So it was the seduction of French haute cuisine (which is like nothing else on earth, admits Smyth) versus the top job at Ramseys three-Michelin-starred restaurant. The outcome was never in doubt. By all accounts, Ducasse was furious to lose her.

When Smyth became head chef of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in 2007, she was the first woman in Britain to head a three-Michelin-star restaurant, at the grand old age of 29. And as a boss for the first time, she did what most people would do: copied her own previous bosses. At the time, in a testosterone-driven, male-dominated industry, this meant she did a lot of shouting. In an early interview after her appointment, she said bluntly: I can be very aggressive. I dont think twice about grabbing hold of a guy and screaming in his face if he gets it wrong.

Sitting opposite Smyth now, its impossible to imagine such a thing  and in recent years shes seemed rueful about this attitude. If people cant do something, theres no point screaming at them, she says. Youve got to train them and equip them and give them confidence. Nobody can do their best if theyre terrified.

The year after she returned to Ramsay, she retained his three Michelin stars in her own right, and confronted the female chef narrative for the first time  one she remains reluctant to adopt.

When I started out, kitchens were phenomenally tough places. But I didnt have any particular problems of being picked on and bullied as a woman. I think we were all just picked on and bullied in general. She pauses. But I was the first woman to head a three-star restaurant in England. And that made me think: What if Im the first woman to lose the third star? Maybe people will think women arent strong enough. I put a lot of pressure on myself about that.

I didnt have any particular problems of being picked on and bullied as a woman. I think we were all just picked on and bullied in general.

These days, her feeling is that weve got to improve things for everyone: men as well as women. That work-life balance, for instance  it still doesnt exist in kitchens. For anyone.

Certainly not for Smyth, who works an 80-hour week, and likes to eyeball every single main-course dish in every single service. Though shes talked about having children in the past, she admits that its hard to see her life changing. Its just kind of happened this way, she says. This is my life, and Im really happy with that. And my husbands really supportive  he knows its what I want to do, and what I love.

She married Grant Heath, a financial analyst, in 2015. On their first date he took her to the local Thai; afterwards, she told him shed choose the restaurant next time. (He hasnt, apparently, picked one since.) He asked her to marry him on safari in South Africa, just as a hippo sprayed poo everywhere. She imagines her ideal meal (caviar, iberico ham, black truffle linguine, cote de boeuf and chips, rum baba) taking place in the wilderness with him. Grant keeps everything at home organised, she says. Hes actually the one who does the washing.

Smyth was awarded an MBE in 2013. Credit:Courtesy of Clare Smyth

By 2016, Smyth had retained three stars at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay for eight years, and Ramsay himself could sense her restlessness. He had made her a partner at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and offered her the chance to rename it if she wanted to; he gave her the high-status role of opening new venues in his group and running those with Michelin stars. He kept saying, Why would you leave?  she recalls.  Youve got everything here!  But eventually she told him what he already knew: I have to do this, to test myself. I have to open my own place.

Even though I left him [Gordon Ramsay], he helped me. He loaned me money personally, then he took me to breakfast with his bank manager.

At the level Smyth occupies, virtually nobody opens their own restaurants with their own money  hospitality companies and financial backers step in, chequebooks poised. But Smyth wrote her own business plan, and went to her own bank. Well, actually, Ramsays bank. No one really knows that, she grins. Even though I left him, he helped me. He loaned me money personally, then he took me to breakfast with his bank manager, because he knew if he told the bank he was lending me money, the bank would match it. So I had my money, and Gordons money, and the banks money!

Smyth called her new project Core  meaning heart, centre. And it really was Smyths own heart, exposed and beating on Kensington Park Road. There were construction delays (the floor collapsed, the plumbing failed, we were in the shit, literally), and money was extremely tight. She designed and controlled everything, right down to her own thumbprint embossed onto the Royal Crown Derby china and her own wine in the restaurant cellar. Id been collecting wine since quite early in my career. I had quite a nice collection. I put it all on the list. Thats how much Core meant to her.

She knew her reputation was on the line if she failed. What she hadnt considered was success beyond her wildest dreams. Core was full every day from its opening service in August 2017. Within a year, shed paid back Ramsays loan, scored 10/10 with the UK Good Food Guide, earned five AA rosettes, and been awarded two Michelin stars.

Smyth was awarded three Michelin stars for her London restaurant last year. Credit:AFP

It can take years  if it happens at all  to make the leap from two to three stars. Smyth being Smyth, however, she immediately sat down with her head chef at Core. I told him we had to throw the kitchen sink at getting three stars. I was not prepared to waste any time. I needed to achieve it for myself.

A crucial difference between a two- and three-star restaurant is consistency. For the next year, Smyth or her chef ate two dishes off the menu every single day, just to make sure they were on point. That meant we ate the entire menu every week. Its a discipline; its boring. But its like a world-class sprinter: to improve by one-hundredth of a second takes incredible effort.

In January 2021, Smyth was awarded three Michelin stars for her own restaurant, founded by her, funded by her, designed by her, its meals cooked by her. There may be no other woman on earth who can say the same.

The view from Oncore. Inside a multimillion-dollar development owned and run by others means its a very different proposition from building your own place, on your own dime, in fulfilment of your own dream. Credit:Courtesy of Crown Sydney

Clare Smyth was not in Sydney to open Oncore. She was stuck in pandemic-riven London, cooking meals for NHS staff, pivoting Core to home-cooking kits (delivered by uniformed staff armed with tweezers and temperature probes) and sending food packages to her dad (her mother passed away in 2020). He doesnt know what any of it is, necessarily, she told a London journalist, but he seems to love it.

She watched Oncore open last November remotely  an experience she describes as really annoying and upsetting  but also quite useful, since one of her main long-distance jobs is to help her team maintain perspective. Her young head chef here, New Zealander Alan Stuart, has wonderful experience, hes a great cook, but when things go wrong its like the end of the world for him. I can tell him to let it go.

Do things go wrong at this level? Oh, god yes. Something being too salty, undercooked, overdone  leaving a piece of cling film on a ballotine. When I started, things like that would ruin my whole weekend, it just mattered so much. But every time it happens, you learn from it, and you put in another system to stop that mistake from happening again.

The systems seem to be working. In December, The Sydney Morning Heralds critic Terry Durack gave Oncore an immediate 18/20, last achieved by the now-defunct Est back in 2003. I didnt think Id love it, he admits. But I was just so knocked out by how delicious it was. Everything was in its place. The flavours, the texture, the way each element was positioned on the plate itself.

There were some rumblings within the Oncore kitchen, wondering why theyd lost two points  understandable, perhaps, given Cores perfect scores (though Oncore is not Core, of course), but Smyth rolls her eyes, smiling.

Theyre young, she says of her team: We know theres plenty of room for improvement. During her first fortnight in Sydney, shes overseen every service, examined every supplier (and changed a few), and taken the opportunity to give everyone a good kick up the backside.

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Only time will tell how good Oncore can be. There is the geographical challenge of Smyths presence; and theres the fact that heading a restaurant in a multimillion-dollar development owned and run by others, in which youve been contracted to come on board, is a very different proposition from building your own place, on your own dime, in fulfilment of your own dream.

That being said, Smyth seems  at least from the outside, and at this early point  to have creative control and freedom at Oncore, just as she does at Core. So could her Sydney creation become the first 20/20 restaurant in Australian history? I cant see it myself, says Durack, only because that would mean absolutely everything would have to be absolutely perfect, and how could any restaurant achieve that? But if you look at Clares background: shes worked under extremely good chefs, who work their people extremely hard. She has the ability to really roll her sleeves up. In future, Oncore could well score higher.

Is Smyth herself interested in 20/20? Well, what do you think? If we keep our heads down, and be humble, and focus on giving people a really happy experience, those other things will come.

Oncores seven-course degustation menu will set a diner back $300. A fellow chef says Smyths food reflects Smyth herself: the solid country roots, and then this amazing talent on top. Credit:Courtesy of Crown Sydney

Since its opening, one of the few criticisms of Oncore has been about identity. Food has always had great power to express individual, familial, national identity: so what cultural relevance does an extremely expensive, fundamentally British restaurant have in Australia at this moment in our history?

I guess I dont really understand what a restaurant like Oncore adds to our conversation, says Myffy Rigby, a former editor of the Good Food Guide and current editor of Swill magazine. I think its a sensitive time in this country, and I wonder why we want to bring more people from overseas, doing stuff with food that isnt [necessarily] endemic. We live in a wild country, with dangerous places and risky flavours, and I dont feel as if [Oncore] reflects that at all.

Smyth spent six months here as a young chef  including her 21st birthday, the turn of the Millennium and the Sydney Olympics  but though she clearly enjoys the country, she makes no claim to be saying anything quintessentially Australian through her menu or her restaurant. Indeed, the Oncore menu is virtually identical to that at Core.

I dont really understand what Oncore adds to our conversation. We live in a wild country, with dangerous places and risky flavours, and I dont feel as if [Oncore] reflects that at all.

Its not born of this place, agrees Rigby: in fact, its a facsimile of another place. She laughs. But look, maybe Im just a curmudgeon: I havent even eaten there! Not that I can say Im dying to. I want people to put themselves out there with food; I want to see a risk.

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Smyth herself is clear about her aims: her food is personal, and it always will be. And just as Australians might read a great European novel, or watch a great American band, Oncore offers them a meal conceived and created by a great British chef. I want to give people an equivalent experience [to what they would get in London at Core], but with Australian ingredients, she says. Her view, perhaps, is that great food should transcend national boundaries, even erase them.

Beyond the future of Oncore, what are Smyths plans? Maybe, once she has her second restaurant exactly where she wants it, she will do it all again, chasing her version of culinary perfection in some other part of the globe. Or maybe shell dream a different dream. A rustic-country-inn-down-a-potholed-road dream, even, where we could all afford to eat. Id be up for that.

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.

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Sixty extra drumlines and trials of long-range drone technology will occur on the states beaches in the coming months, as part of a $4.4 million immediate funding package for shark surveillance in NSW.

Last month, diving instructor Simon Nellist died in Sydneys first fatal shark attack since 1963.

Drumlines off Manly Beach, in Sydney.

The 35-year-old died at Little Bay, in Sydneys east, where he was a regular swimmer. Authorities believe the shark involved was a great white at least three metres long.

After the incident, it emerged Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time (SMART) drumlines  which allow authorities to safely catch, tag and release sharks  promised to Sydney councils had not yet been delivered.
At first Amanda*, 14, didnt like Ben, a new kid at her Sydney high school. He sent her a message calling her a tall bitch. But then he apologised, saying he insulted her because he fancied her.

They began dating, which alarmed Amandas mother. She saw red flags in the boys behaviour - his threats to self-harm if her daughter broke up with him, and his inappropriate, sexualised behaviour towards other students.

The mother of a girl whose classmate choked her said the school did not support her well enough. Credit:iStock

A few months later, the teens were at Amandas house. Something she did angered Ben, so he put his hands around her neck so forcefully that she fell back against the wall. He squeezed her throat; she struggled to breathe.

That was last May. He was found guilty in the Childrens Court this month.
A national legislator has urged the government to explore more channels to use sludge from sewage disposal as a resource, because the output of such waste is increasing each year. The daily sewage disposal capacity in China's urban areas has reached 220 million metric tons, with over 60 million tons of sludge with a moisture content of 80 percent generated during the disposal process each year, said Cheng Hanfei, a National People's Congress deputy from Anhui province who is also chief engineer of an environmental protection company affiliated with State-owned China Minmetals Corporation. Considering that the proportion of waste water that is collected for disposal will continue to rise and because there is also a need to clear sludge from sewage pipe networks, Cheng said he expects China's annual sludge output will exceed 100 million tons by 2025. Due to the limited capacity to dispose of such waste, a lot of the sludge is not handled in a timely manner, and the increasing amount is likely to exacerbate the problem, he said. In 2020, a team with the high-profile central environmental inspection found that a sewage treatment plant in Beijing's Pinggu district had not disposed of sludge as required for an extended period of time. Some sludge from the plant was buried illegally, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The ministry said the district's slow progress in building sludge treatment facilities was to blame for the violations. A large amount of sludge is now sent to landfill sites across the country, while some is sent to cement plants or coal-fired power stations for incineration. The sludge, especially that from toilet wastewater, is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which are primary nutrients in fertilizers. They can not only be used for composting, but also have potential in the restoration of mine areas and urban landscaping, Cheng said. "In some developed countries, sludge is defined as a resource rather than waste," he said. "With efforts in technology development and encouraging policy support, they have strengthened the utilization of sludge as a resource." Cheng said, however, that some factors are hindering similar utilization of sludge in China. Compared with developed nations, sludge in China contains more sand, he said, while some urban sewage treatment plants designed for domestic sewage also have to accept industrial wastewater, which results in sludge with higher levels of heavy metals. While the Ministry of Ecology and Environment encourages the use of sludge as a resource, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has safety concerns, Cheng said. The construction and operation of sewage treatment plants falls under the jurisdiction of another government body, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Cheng called for concerted efforts from different government bodies to address the factors hindering the use of sludge. Once sources of sand and heavy metals are traced, the government could take measures to address those problems, he said. One viable solution to prevent heavy metals from entering sewage treatment plants is to ask source companies to conduct pretreatment before discharging their waste water into the sewage pipe network. While emphasizing the importance of safe utilization, the government should hammer out preferential policies to encourage the use of sludge for more purposes, he said.


Justin Stein plans to plead not guilty to murdering Charlise Mutten, his lawyer says, as police continue to hunt for the alleged murder weapon.

Charlise Mutten Credit:

Police say that Mr Stein fatally shot the Tweed Heads Public student on January 11 or 12, while she was visiting her mother, Mr Steins partner, for the school holidays.

Mr Stein will be defending the charges, his lawyer said outside court.

Its very early days; theres still no clear motive, Peter Katsoolis said.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size They called it Granite Town, and it was arguably the first purpose-built multi-ethnic settlement in Australia. Long before the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme revolutionised non-Anglican migration to Australia in the 1940s and 1950s, another gigantic engineering feat had pioneered the way  the Dr John Bradfield-inspired Sydney Harbour Bridge which celebrates its 90th anniversary this weekend. There were 250 employees in Granite Town from 13 nationalities, says Dr Sophie Loy-Wilson, senior lecturer in Australian history at the University of Sydney. A group of Granite Town workers and residents in 1926. There were 250 employees from 13 nationalities in this now ghost town. Credit:Sydney University Library Many were Italians and Australians, but the Scots were in charge and set the tone with a Presbyterian service in the school hall every Sunday. Search for Granite Town today and youll find it a ghost town  three kilometres to the east of Moruya on the north bank of the Moruya river, between Eden and Batemans Bay. A small riverside park with a few information boards is all that marks the sites rich heritage. Yet for seven years from 1924-1931, these quarrymen (with their families supporting them) toiled under harsh Australian conditions with one mission.

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They carved out each numbered granite block  with Lego-like precision  that could be transported via tramlines to the Moruya wharf. There, they were loaded onto barges carrying them 400 kilometres up the coast to build the four granite towers the world witnesses every New Years Eve. This was a company town, Loy-Wilson explains. Moruya was already known for its superb granite. (In Sydney, Captain Cooks statue and the Anzac Memorial, both in Hyde Park, are carved from Moruya granite.) After winning the construction contract to build the bridge, the British engineers Dorman Long knew who to call once granite was mentioned. Aberdeen is known as the granite capital of Scotland, its streetscapes as grey and uninviting as the North Sea. Scot John Gilmore was appointed as quarrymaster, arriving by ship in Sydney with his wife, Mary, and nine children before setting sail again for Moruya. Stonemasons quarried each block at Granite Town to the precise dimensions needed to build the four pillars of the bridge, first at the rock face, then in the shaping shed, before a specially built tramway took the cargo to Moruya wharf. Credit:Sydney University Library

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The weather was so bad they had to stay in Batemans Bay for a while, Loy-Wilson says. They must have wondered what they had committed their family to. But somehow, they helped build a community to be proud of. One of the first big problems they faced in Granite Town was the lack of a schoolteacher, Loy-Wilson says. By 1927, they had one, a Mrs McIlroy, described by the Moruya Examiner as the popular mistress at the Granite Town public school. On September 23, Mrs McIlroy directed her pupils in a Kinderspiel, Dan the Newsboy to celebrate the opening of the schools new hall, followed by a dance. The previous Sunday, a Mr Allison had conducted the first Presbyterian service in the new hall, with the Examiner reporting that 70 children attend the Sunday School and they all seem anxious for good things. By then the community also boasted the Granite Town Progressive Association, a recently formed music class, a boys club with dancing lessons which reflects great credit on instructor Mr A Gerrard, fortnightly whist drives and a co-op that reports satisfactory dealing despite numerous prophecies of a premature downfall. Just as importantly, the stonemasons had built themselves a swimming pool. In January 1927, the Examiner reported the pool was practically completed and our friends from chilly Scotland frequently take advantage of the pool, to gain respite from the Australian sun. On hot afternoons the pool is taxed to its utmost capacity, old and young alike reveling in its coolness.

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A worker splits the granite block with a plug and feather, a three-piece tool set. Credit:Sydney University Library In contrast to much of rural Australia, Granite Town was booming. At its peak, it consisted of 72 cottages, a bachelors quarters, the school and hall, the co-op and a post office. Most people date the Great Depression from the Wall Street stock market crash in October 1929. But Loy-Wilson points out that unemployment in Australia rose rapidly from 1927, when chief exports wool, wheat and refrigerated meat drastically dipped in price. The stonemasons in Granite Town, though, had a secure stream of income. They quarried each block to the precise dimensions needed to build the four pillars of the bridge  first at the rock face, then in the shaping shed, before a tramway took the precious cargo to Moruya wharf. Their endeavours, virtually unseen for 90 years, are readily available now. All 596 photos taken by Henri Mallard of the coathangers construction have been digitised and can be viewed online. Australias oldest university has an extensive Bradfield collection (he gained his doctorate while designing the bridge and his son left Bradfields personal archives to the university).

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Boom town to ghost town: at its peak Granite Town consisted of 72 cottages, bachelors quarters, a school, hall, a co-op and post office. Credit:Sydney University Library But the university purchased his four albums of Mallards photographs only this century. Less than 30 document Granite Towns contribution to one of the greatest engineering feats of the early 20th century. Loading Moruya was already a multi-ethnic town before Granite Town, explains Chinese-Australian Loy-Wilson, author of 2017s Australians in Shanghai, which follows how Australians helped pioneer the China trade from Shanghai and Hong Kong to Sydney and Melbourne. Many Chinese miners who rushed to Australias goldfields became fishermen in Moruya, Loy-Wilson continues. She does not know where the founders and children of Granite Town ended up once the last granite stone was sent to Sydney and Granite Town was shut down in 1931. Dorman Long had committed to paying return shipping fares for anyone who came out from the UK, Loy-Wilson says.

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Governments and planning authorities learned a good lesson from the 2011 floods, but experts say the 2022 flood has exposed how limited that solution was. After the 2011 floods in south-east Queensland, devices were installed at key locations to keep the Brisbane River at bay should it rise to a similar level again. Those backflow prevention devices were installed at various points along the length of the river to stop river water flowing back up stormwater drains and inundating homes. And they worked - initial assessments indicate all 66 devices across 16 locations performed as intended. Experts believe much of the water that inundated suburbs such as Chelmer was stormwater runoff, rather than water coming up from the Brisbane River, which was held at bay by backflow prevention devices. Credit:Zach Hope However, that is small comfort to residents near the river who saw the water rise anyway, bubbling up through storm drains to flood houses in a very similar way to 2011. One of those people was Warren Darragh, who lives at Chelmer, a low-lying and flood-prone suburb nestled on the southern side of the river opposite Indooroopilly.

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Darragh moved into the area last year with his eyes open to the flood risk, being well aware of how badly the area had been affected in 2011. He says he had been told the backflow devices would stop the bulk of the water rising up from the river. I did a bit of research before we bought in the area, and were in no small part relying on the fact that the backflow devices had been installed in that area, so we werent expecting such a huge amount of water, he says. I was watching the water bubble up through the stormwater system, it was very clear that it was stormwater, not river water, that was causing the problem. Nearly a metre of water rose through the bottom floor of the home on Wharf Street, where the 50-year-old lives with his wife and one of their children. Weeks later, they are still working to recover from the damage.

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What happened at Chelmer and other locations across the city was the result of the massive rain event itself, a scenario predicted by modellers after 2011. An atmospheric river parked itself over the city and the broader region, dumping a years worth of water in a few days. In 2011 the rain happened mostly to the west of Brisbane, resulting in the Brisbane River flooding over several days. In 2022, the rain came down out west and over the city itself, meaning as the river was rising, huge amounts of surface runoff was hitting stormwater drains and finding nowhere to go as rising river water plugged the outflows. The councils own website detailing its backflow prevention devices includes a diagram of just such a scenario, where there would still be flooding in areas with blackflow devices because of the stormwater rather than the river water. Brisbane City Council scenario modelling of heavy rain situation. Credit:Brisbane City Council The councils environment and planning chair Tracy Davis says they were proud of how the backflow devices had performed while acknowledging the flooding came from a number of different sources in 2011.

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It is critical to remember that this rain event was massive and included a combination of river, creek and overland flooding, she said in a statement. We will continue to install these devices where they will be effective. Max Winders is an environmental engineer whose firm did much of the initial modelling after the 2011 floods to find out where the water had come up and what to do about it. At the time, he strongly recommended backflow prevention devices, which were taken up with enthusiasm by Brisbane City Council, but he says they were only ever a solution for one problem. Loading Weve been doing a lot of planning for floods, which is good, but what we havent been doing is planning for extreme rain, he says. The drains couldnt cope with it [in this event] because the river was up too. Depending on the height of the river it will block the [stormwater] drain.

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Town planners will say, well, you just stop people building [in flood-prone areas] and for places theyve already built they say to build more resilient buildings, but they havent improved the drainage. Winders says he believes targeted approaches need to be put in place to manage stormwater runoff in events such as that seen in 2022, which could become more common in the coming years as the effects of climate change are more pronounced. He says for areas such as Brisbanes CBD, individual buildings should look at installing flood barriers and pump systems with independent power supplies to stop their basement levels flooding. As an example of flood planning done right, he points to the measures put in place for the Cross River Rail project, which has extensive flood mitigation plans including a system of pumps as well as large flood barriers to protect low-lying entrances to the tunnel system, especially around the proposed Albert Street stop in the CBD, an area where water rises during flood events. Loading They do this in cities around the world already, in Japan, in New York, there are systems in place which have been there for many years which do this, he says. Brisbane needs to start looking at it too, because these events can always happen again.

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Stabbings arent just gang-related any more. As a result of these gangs carrying knives, everyone feels like they need to be armed up, the officer said. Everyones carrying knives now and everyone is getting stabbed as a result. Ten years ago, stabbings werent a thing. Now every second job is an assault where a stabbing is involved. The Alfred hospital, which houses the largest trauma centre in Australia, treats the states sickest and most severely injured patients, including about 2000 major trauma cases each year. Data from The Alfred reflects an escalation in violence over the past 15 months, with a 50 per cent rise in people being treated for life-threatening stab wounds across December, January and February compared to the previous summer.

There were 21 patients treated for severe stab injuries each month, totalling 63 people. Those injured were mostly men aged 25 to 40. Surgeon Meei Yeung, who is deputy director of trauma at The Alfred, said she believed the severity of penetrating wounds was getting worse. These arent just superficial wounds, she said. Dr Yeung, whos been a part of the trauma unit since 2007, fears many in the community may not fully understand the dangers a stab wound can cause. She said while a tiny puncture wound of a few millimetres might be all thats visible from the outside, underneath there could be extreme havoc. It can be very deceptive. The wound itself does not equate to the damage its caused, she said. It appears knife crime is increasing and the severity is increasing as well. The scene on the corner of Horton and Elizabeth streets, North Coburg, where Declan Cutler, 16, was killed early on Sunday. Credit:Penny Stephens

Two young people  Declan Cutler, 16, and Alier Riak, 23  were killed at Coburg North and the Docklands respectively during a spate of extreme violence on Melbourne streets last weekend. A 15-year-old was also stabbed at Flinders Street Station, an 18-year-old critically injured during a knife attack at Federation Square and an Uber driver attacked with a knife at Fitzroy. Youth Activating Youth co-founder Ahmed Hassan, who was last year recognised as Victorias Young Australian of the Year for his work with young people, said he was still reeling from the impacts of the weekends violent crimes. Alier Riak and Declan Cutler were both killed during separate attacks on Sunday. Credit: His organisation forecast the surge in knife crime, raising the alarm in December as data showed knife attacks requiring hospitalisation had risen more than 60 per cent since 2015.

At the time, The Age revealed data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit showed nearly a third of injuries in 2020 were inflicted by people not known to their victim, including nearly 50 from gang attacks. Victorias coroner reported 29 people were killed using knives and pointed weapons in 2020 alone. Mr Hassans organisation is preparing to launch an awareness campaign in May after securing funding for a UK-style Drop the Knife, Save a Life project. He said the project would involve victims of knife crime sharing their experiences with youths as part of workshops to be offered to schools, mental health services and community centres in Melton, Hume, Wyndham, the City of Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Brimbank. The knife found near the crime scene in Coburg North. Credit:Nine News Theyre not the only ones looking to make improvements. An incident at Brunswick supermarket in October prompted Woolworths to pull knives and scissors from shelves across the country. This week, the supermarket chain said some knives had been permanently removed from sale.

Mr Hassan said the only way to curb the rise in knife crime was through early intervention. We need to get into schools and sporting clubs and community centres to spread the message, he said. Nothing hurts more than seeing a young life lost that could have been prevented. Young people are carrying knives in their pockets, fearing they might not know when theyre going to be approached. We dont want to see this escalate further. Loading Last weekends stabbing deaths follow several major knife attacks in Melbourne this year.

In January, a 32-year-old Fitzroy man was hospitalised with serious stab injuries after being attacked by four men during the day on Clarendon Street in South Melbourne. On January 13, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed and another teenager assaulted at the Manor Lakes Shopping Centre, in Melbournes west. Nine males, aged between 15 and 18, were later charged. On January 18, Joshua Tovey, 29, was stabbed to death at a home in Hastings. His brother has been charged. Victorian Crime Statistics Agency data, released this week, showed an overall crime rate drop of 12.6 per cent in the year to December 2021. In a year dominated by COVID-19 lockdowns, prohibited and controlled weapons offences  which include the carrying and possession of weapons but not use on a person  also dropped 17.8 per cent with 99,203 offences.

But other violent crimes did rise. Threats to inflict serious injury increased 9.3 per cent with 1084 reports, and unlawful assault 20.4 per cent with 394 reports. Aggravated home invasion with a weapon rose 32.7 per cent with 65 offences. Data from the Australian Institute of Criminology also showed that across the country, knives or other sharp instruments were the leading cause of homicide in 2019-20, accounting for 37 per cent of all killings. When asked this week about what Victoria Police was doing to combat knife crime, the force declined to comment.

But on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said police were totally committed to disrupting and dismantling gangs; 512 gang members were charged over 5361 offences in the year to December 2021. Loading He said of those arrested, 290 people had been remanded in custody and five known gangs dismantled. Mr Nugent said while some gang members would inevitably spend long periods of time in the justice system, a focus had to be placed on helping those who were attracted to a gang lifestyle but had never been in trouble with the law. [These crimes] inflict  a lifetime of pain and suffering for families, he said.
To clear any doubt, Morrison told The Australian Financial Review Business Summit: A relatively open and free trade and financial order is not a naturally occurring phenomenon. It never has been. He said strategic security is now an overriding imperative for  economic policy in liberal democracies. Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Matt Jelonek/Getty Images This is a watershed. Three easy decades of apparently limitless market-led globalisation is over. Thomas Friedmans 2005 book, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, was flat wrong. Where he foresaw the smoothing out of all government obstacles to corporate-led globalisation, the opposite is now the reality. One of the most dramatic illustrations of this was the way that Canada, the US and European Union in the past two weeks announced bans on Russian oil and gas. The EU was the most dependent on Russia. Its so dependent, it could not afford to ban Russia, ran the conventional wisdom, and meant that Russia could intimidate the EU. When Putins missiles slammed into Ukraines capital on the first day of the invasion, the conventional wisdom was upended in a moment. Europes outrage at Moscow, remorse at its own complicity, fear for its own future and new resolve crystallised in a new EU energy plan. The sentiment was best captured by a Latvian member of the European Parliament, Sandra Kalniete, who helped draft the plan: We, with our euros, have effectively built and financed Putins war machine, which is now being used to slaughter innocent Ukrainians.

In announcing that Europes presidents and prime ministers had agreed on a new plan to cut imports of Russian gas by two-thirds within a year and entirely by 2030, the EUs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said: The heads of states and government agreed to phase out our dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal imports as soon as possible. It is not possible for us to continue to feed Vladimir Putins war machine through our energy imports. Loading The most dramatic change is possible when security is at risk. The US foreign policy scholar Joe Nye once said: Security is like oxygen. You tend not to notice it until you begin to lose it, but once that occurs there is nothing else that you will think about. Ukraine has just demonstrated the truth of this. Australias default complacency shows that it has yet to start thinking seriously about its oxygen supply. Between Labor and Liberal, Australia has frittered away 13 years fumbling around, pretending to equip itself with new submarines. Its been 13 years since the 2009 Defence White Paper proposed building 12 new submarines to replace the six ageing Collins-class subs. Its been 13 years for the Collins class to grow older while China built the worlds biggest submarine fleet.

Chinas shipyards built an average of two new conventional submarines a year throughout, and in 2017 opened its Bohai Shipyard which can produce three nuclear-powered submarines a year. Loading Waking with a start, the Morrison governments 2020 Defence Strategic Update said: Previous Defence planning has assumed a 10-year strategic warning time for a major conventional attack against Australia. This is no longer an appropriate basis for defence planning  Australia can no longer rely on a timely warning ahead of conflict occurring. So thank goodness the government is making all these big announcements about national security, right? Not if it takes its own Defence Strategic Update seriously. We dont have 10 years, according to the update, but Morrisons announcement of nuclear-powered subs says the first one wont be in the water for perhaps another 20. His announcement of an extra 18000 Defence Force personnel doesnt take full effect till 2040. And so on.

The announcements are coming thick and fast. The actual capability remains nothing more than pieces of paper. Loading Liberal senator Jim Molan, a former army major general, wrote last year that the Australian Defence Force (ADF), even after the $270 billion [promised by Morrison to roll out over 10 years] is put into it, is unlikely to last even a few days in a high-end conflict with China because it demonstrably lacks lethality, sustainability and mass. But Beijing need not bother with destroying the ADF. It could bring Australia to its knees with a simple blockade on, say, oil imports. Australia depends on imports for 90 per cent of its crude oil supply. And its strategic stockpile, uselessly held in America, amounts to all of 1.5 days worth of consumption. And the Albanese oppositions defence policy is to agree wholeheartedly with everything the government proposes, and otherwise avoid the subject because it judges it to be Coalition territory. So long as Labor avoids talking about it, it will remain so, no matter how poor the governments performance.

Rather than confront the uncertain future of our national oxygen supply, our pre-election preoccupations are with trivia. Loading So many unthinkables have become realities in the past three years that we really should be thinking about the next wave of unthinkables for the three to come. My list would include these four. One. In the past three weeks, pacifist Germany has announced a near-doubling of its defence budget over two years and is now debating the reintroduction of compulsory national service for all young people; almost half the country is in favour, according to opinion polls. Sweden reintroduced limited conscription in 2017. For Australia, this is unthinkable and for our political leaders unspeakable, but this is a debate we are likely to have to have. The national service need not be military. It could, however, take up non-military tasks that the ADF is doing today, as retired admiral Chris Barrie has suggested. Such as working on emergency relief and staffing aged care homes. The ADF would be relieved to concentrate on war-fighting.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has urged China to intervene in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, even as he warned the countrys military build-up could ignite a war in the Asia-Pacific region.

And, ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrisons virtual meeting with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi next week, Mr Dutton said Australia was reluctant to share intelligence with the worlds largest democracy, given its longstanding friendship with Russia.

Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced closer ties between their nations last month, before the invasion. Credit:AP

Speaking at an American Chamber of Commerce business lunch in Brisbane on Friday, Mr Dutton said Chinese President Xi Jinping was uniquely placed to end Russian President Vladimir Putins bloody invasion of Ukraine.

But the Australian Defence Minister did not hold out much hope.
London: The President of Kazakhstan, the oil-rich former Soviet state nestled between authoritarian China and Russia, has vowed to strip himself of many of his powers and transfer them to parliament amid the fallout from Januarys violent riots and attempted coup.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who became president in 2019 after he was hand-picked by the countrys father of independence, dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev, has promised to make it easier for new political parties to register, overhaul the voting system to make the nations parliament more reflective of public sentiment and dilute the overwhelming powers of the presidents office.

Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russias Vladimir Putin shake hands after talks in the Kremlin in February. Tokayev requested help from Russian troops to quell the January protests. Credit:Kremlin/AP

About 230 people died, including 19 police officers, and more than 4000 were injured when violent protests against a New Year fuel price hike broke out in western Kazakhstan and snowballed into a nationwide movement demanding action against the government and Nazarbayev, a former president who still wields influence. Protesters set fire to the city hall and the presidential residence amid clashes with security forces.

Tokayev told parliament this week that the events were an attempted coup and a conspiracy by high-ranking security officials to overthrow the government with help of foreign-trained militants. It has not provided evidence of foreign interference.
Four Russian generals have been killed since the invasion began, as senior officers are forced to go to the frontline to confront the low morale among their troops, US and UK military intelligence sources said. Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Credit:AP Fighting remains intense in the settlements to the west and east of Kyiv, but neither side has made significant gains for days. Russia has suffered heavy casualties around the capital, while thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been evacuated from these settlements. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age visited an evacuation site near Irpin, just west of the capital where some of the deadliest fighting has occurred. Some residents said almost nobody was left in Irpin and it was now just an urban battlefield contested by Ukrainian and Russian forces. Ukrainian soldiers on the ground still insist that they can continue holding off the Russian invasion for months, but also concede that they need more help from the West.

The loss of the four Russian generals since the invasion began on February 24 has led to questions over why senior members of the Russian military are operating so close to the frontline. According to Western intelligence, the generals are having to lead, scout and physically put themselves in the line of fire because of low morale. There hasnt been independent verification of Ukraines claim that 7000 Russian soldiers have been killed, but British and American intelligence believe that number to be plausible and that Russia is trying to stand up more troops. Along with hitting Mariupol, Russia is also believed to be planning to launch an amphibious assault on the coastal city of Odesa as it continues its quest to cut Ukraine off from the ocean. But some analysts say this could be a bogus attack to distract the Ukrainian army so that it can launch a renewed offensive in the east of the country.

In city after city, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety from the bombardment have been attacked. On Friday rescue workers searched for survivors in the ruins of the Mariupol theatre that served as a shelter when it was blown apart by a Russian air strike on Thursday. Ukraines human rights ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova announced on Friday that 130 people had been rescued so far from the rubble of a theatre. Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed. We are trying to survive somehow, said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. My child is hungry. I dont know what to give him to eat. Civilian casualties are mounting. The UN human rights office said on Friday that it has recorded a total of 816 civilians killed and 1333 injured since the fighting began on February 24, though it only reports counts that it can verify and believes the figures vastly understate the actual toll. Ukrainian officials say thousands have been killed.

In Merefa, near the north-east city of Kharkiv, at least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community centre, a local official said. In the northern city of Chernihiv, dozens of bodies were brought to the morgue in just one day, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV. Ukraines emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including three-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000. Ukrainian officials said 10 people were killed the day before while waiting to buy bread in Chernihiv. An American man was among them, his sister said on Facebook. The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction, Chaus said.

The United Nations political chief, Under Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the UN Security Council that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians. The Mariupol Drama Theatre in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Monday, with the word children painted on the ground at the front and back of the building. Credit:Maxar Technologies/AP She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities are reportedly indiscriminate and involve the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area. DiCarlo said the devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks. Cars, some with the Z symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighbourhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Loading
Washington: US President Joe Bidens high-stakes meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had a pressing goal: assess where Beijing stands on the Ukraine crisis and warn that there would be consequences if it assisted with Russias attack.

Three weeks into the carnage, the absence of clear condemnation by China has heightened the White Houses suspicions that the country is considering giving Vladimir Putin military aid to continue with his onslaught, while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter of Russias war.

President Joe Biden meets virtually from the Situation Room at the White House with Chinas Xi Jinping. Credit:The White House

During a direct, substantive and detailed conversation on Friday (Saturday AEDT) lasting almost two hours, Biden walked Xi through the crisis as the President saw it, highlighted the unity and response of America and its allies, and made it clear that the US policy on Taiwan (which acknowledges Taiwan is a part of China, but doesnt support Chinas claim of sovereignty) had not changed.

According to the White House, he also described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians. The administration is yet to explain what exactly those consequences would be, but it is widely expected to include punishing sanctions.
Jean Marc Vermot de Boisrolin is that young St. Martiner who distinguished himself in August 2005 by initiating a conference on the development of St. Martin and the future of our youth. Organized at the Maison des Entreprises in Concordia, the conference aroused a lot of enthusiasm, particularly among the population and elected officials. But how have those same elected officials responded to all that enthusiasm, anticipation, and advice over the past 17 years? Where is St. Martin today? Our young graduate is now 42 years old. With his international experience in the finance and wealth management sector within his numerous companies in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, and South Africa, this international CEO has just returned from Asia and takes stock of the situation.

As an optimist by nature, I had hoped to start this article about our beautiful island on a positive note, but that would be a disguise to the truth and betray the trust of those who read me.

In my first public speech, in August 2005, I drew the attention of our elected representatives to the economic difficulties that our island would inevitably encounter in its transition from a commune to a collectivity. I especially highlighted our perilous lack of training, guidance, and support for young people to meet the challenges that confronted us.

Since then, despite the distance, I have followed closely the evolution of the island, intervening occasionally and hoping for a rebound. But today, alas, the extent of the situation far exceeds my most pessimistic projections. From one strike to the next, I have the impression that my St. Martin family no longer recognizes itself in its institutions, and fundamentally fails to comprehend the rationale for the huge budgets wasted on external consultancies which do not provide any tangible solutions.

Is it my role as a citizen to blame? To forget that there was IRMA, the global health crisis, and now the war in Ukraine, and their economic consequences that we are still paying for? To blame the State and its representative? Should I only attack the current administration and its President? Should I add my voice to the growing number who speak of authoritarian overreach, blind arrogance, and the primacy of ego?

I don't think so. Criticism though hindsight is always easy and scapegoating is often to exploit cynically realities that are far more complex than they might at first appear. Looking at the past as if we could change it does not add much to public debate. Stoking the fires of ideological conflict has never helped any nation to rise up and achieve the singular goals of self-improvement and unity of purpose.

But on the eve of elections, restraining the desire to point fingers directly does not prevent us from making observations. Observation is at least a starting point for progress without pointing out the individual failures of those responsible, without questioning the goodwill of all. We must focus on the methods, on the functioning of the institutions, the bodies, and their relationship with the field and the inhabitants. We must also take into account the context because our situation is not specific to our island, it also reflects the situation of France in all its complexity and also that of the world and the crises it is experiencing.

What is this observation that I want to talk to you about?

Our economy, has not been able to adapt to its administrative transition, to the challenges of IRMA, to the health crisis, or simply to the island's particularity. What a disaster!

My experience, my businesses, my travels around the world have shown me how rocks become a thriving country, how deserts become world-famous attractions, how islands far surpass large countries in the well-being of their citizens.

Today, many destroyed businesses are still closed and no exceptional policies have been put in place to facilitate the restart of our economy, which despite some sporadic aid, remains on its knees. On the contrary, our administrations, like the State, have persisted in using old methods to face new challenges. Businesses are drowning in administrative imbroglio; investors are discouraged by the rigidity of the management of public affairs, which is mechanical, almost robotic; promoters of creative projects are astonished to see that there is no room for adaptability or innovation to make our economy flourish.

Worse, local authorities and the State are at odds over something as vital as the reconstruction of our island. Businesses are refused, building permits are canceled or blocked, and the PPRN looks more and more like a Plan about Parisian Reflexion for all Nation, far from our economic, social, and environmental reality. This does not prevent us, of course, from welcoming the State representative Vincent Berton and thanking his predecessor, Mr. Serge Gouteyron, for his services to the island.

Purchasing power, in free fall, to the point of putting the elderly in difficulty and extreme poverty. According to Pole Emploi figures published by the prefecture, twice as many senior citizens over 50 years old are now looking for a job as at the beginning of 2012. Where is our dignity if we do not take care of our elderly if we leave them in misery as if we owed them nothing? The fall in purchasing power affects not only the poor but also the middle classes, while our island has all the capacities for its population to live comfortably.

Unemployment, now endemic, which, despite a recent contraction, has continued to grow over the last ten years and has reached record levels in 2021. Is it conceivable that entire neighborhoods have up to 70% unemployment? We are talking about our island, which is supposed to be in a developed country!

Poverty, is gaining more and more ground, bringing entire families to their knees and offering the world a spectacle of misery and desolation. Can we speak of solidarity, of fraternity when half of our island is poor?

Insecurity, constantly increasing, endangering our fellow citizens and tourism, which is a vital income for our island. The lack of firmness, a moribund and sclerotic judicial process, our young people plunged into mass unemployment, are some of the ingredients that fuel thefts, aggressions, the consumption and sale of drugs... If we do not hurry up to offer a future to our young people, we can only expect a calamitous future.

Education, with almost 50% of our population without any diploma. How are we going to develop our island without the necessary and indispensable skills? Are we eternally going to call on the outside world to manage our administrations? Our companies? Our schools? Our security? Our institutions? All external skills are welcome, but we must also participate ourselves at the highest levels of responsibility. I was already denouncing our shortcomings in 2005 and they are cruelly felt today. We have to admit that we have let our young people down.

Living together: I am one of those who believe that all people should be treated equally, regardless of their origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. It is the deeply hospitable nature of the people of St. Martin that has made our island an attractive place to live, "The Friendly Island". I can of course understand, among some people and in all communities, a certain withdrawal into oneself, as our population has grown from 8,000 to over 35,000 in just four decades. But the rejection of the other is deadly. It only fuels rancour and hatred at all levels, including the political. At the moment, it is even fertile ground for some populists who claim to have access to the highest offices of the State. The repulsive face of a fractured community is not ours. St. Martin was built on the values of fraternity and openness to the world handed down by our elders. It is up to us, today's St. Martiners, to reaffirm this identity, to display it proudly, to cultivate it with force, and above all to share it with fervor.

Sustainable development: This is so clearly lagging behind, whereas we could make our island an example by giving nature its rightful place with all that it has to offer: clean energy, quality of life, beauty, rich and prosperous land that we must all protect for future generations. Billions of Euros are being invested by the State and Europe in this area, and our island must receive its full share.

This is what I want to talk to you about today. I admit that my observations are harsh. Its tough love. For I love our island, with unconditional love, anchored in the depths of my being. To leave in order to come back better has always been my motto. There is no way I could stay far away, in comfort, as an indifferent and selfish spectator of this visible, slow decay.

A civilization that proves incapable of solving the problems that arise from its functioning is a decadent civilization. A civilization that chooses to turn a blind eye to its most crucial problems is a damaged civilization. A civilization that plays tricks with its principles is a moribund civilization", said Aime Cesaire.

I want to end on a note of hope: I say it with conviction, with certainty, I believe in the resilience of our island, in our residents, in our open-mindedness, in our capacity to face the worst and to adapt to any situation, in our nerves of steel that no storm, no crisis, no institution will be able to constrain.

It is time to lift up Saint Martin and everyone must do their part in the common effort. I will do mine. I will stand with the stakeholders, the politicians, and those who are open to it. I will share my thoughts on all levels, economic, social, political, and environmental... I will take part in the debate and in the reconstruction without any ideological a priori because I have only one doctrine, one interest, one party: Saint Martin.

Unemployment source:

https://guadeloupe.deets.gouv.fr/sites/guadeloupe.deets.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/defm_saint-martin_2021_t4.pdf
PHILIPSBURG:--- As of today, the final line-up of the St. Maarten Innovations, Initiatives & Industries Link-Up Event (SMILE) is available on the event website Smilesintmaarten.com.

Ever since its November digital kickoff event with the Aruban Tourism Authority as keynote, various speakers, workshops, and new parts of the event have been announced; with many additions over time, a full schedule is available. The events speakers will, like the two preceding editions of SMILE, be centered around the key topics of innovation and sustainability, as well as business and networking opportunities for the St. Maarten business and NGO  sector. The event aims to highlight local initiatives on these topics as well as those from abroad.

Organizing parties are the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and foundation 360* of Innovation, with ongoing support from the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the University of St. Martin (USM). For its third edition, support by the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports, Grant Thornton, Atlas Risk Solutions, and local manufacturers Topper's Rhum and SXM Beer has also been essential.

On the topic of innovation, organizers are elated to receive Estonian innovation expert Mr. Ragnar Siil as a keynote speaker. He was closely involved in the development of Estonia as a global digital and creative hub and continued his work at the European Union.

From a sustainability aspect, a St. Maarten related revelation will be done by acclaimed nature movie maker Mr. Ignas van Schaick. He will share with the audience how his movies especially The New Wilderness conquered European cinemas, obtaining a Golden Calf and Golden Rembrandt award in the process. He will also have a sit down with aspiring and experienced St. Maarten movie professionals to share his experiences on how to make impactful nature movies. Any St. Maarten creative that would like to join this session can take up contact with the SHTA office.

Dynaf and SOL Energy will present their ideas for a more sustainable St. Maarten pertaining to energy resources. Curacao Doughnut Economy Expert JC Goilo will share how his island of birth is exploring an economic model on a social and ecological equilibrium. Aruban speaker Paul Simon of Henceforth Green will share his expertise in sustainable building design and neighborhood development.

As always, the event where possible makes use of recyclables donated to SMILEs cause by PDG Supplies.

Also for St. Maarten creatives is the intellectual property strategy workshop by the Bureau of Intellectual Property, and Growth Hacking by St. Maarten marketing expert Jennifer de Robles. St. Maarten  Dutch creative John Sandiford will provide a masterclass on how to deal with Web 3.0, the next generation of web applications. In addition, a St. Maarten Art Fair provides the opportunity to display (and purchase) island-made art at SMILE.

Pertaining to tourism, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau will share updates and strategies for the upcoming year. Curacao / St. Maarten digital tourism specialized company ShowMeCaribbean will share the future of digital marketing tools like augmented reality and 3d digital experiences.

For businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will provide an update on doing business in St. Maarten. Grant Thornton will share trends for small, medium, and large enterprises and how to protect business value. A Made Here Market will display manufacturing companies on the island to highlight diversification efforts within the economy  oftentimes already export products of Country St. Maarten.

The National Recovery Project Bureau (NRPB) will do an onevent clinic for those small companies interested in obtaining a loan or grant from the World Bank Enterprise Support Fund (ESP). An amended fund by scholar Fund NWO for perusal by business associations and scholars on the Caribbean islands, will be announced by former Bonaire governor and University of Aruba rector, now Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Glenn Thode.

Aruban entrepreneur Edgar Nunes will share his experience on enterprise risk management. Digital strategy workshops will be provided by Cherryl Williams of Inspire Focus. An open door walk-in for companies looking to connect to counterparts in the other three countries in the kingdom will be made available by the Kingdom Enterprise Agency; also showcasing available support tools for Kingdom entrepreneurs to trade abroad  starting with the French side.

For any NGO or company, various experts provide masterclasses for SMEs, larger companies, and NGOs present how to improve their organization. Juliet Hassell and Rachael Geerlings of SHCA will provide a masterclass on how to cherish your talent as an organization. St. Maarten PhD Lysanne Charles provides an update on Islanders at the Helm, a USM centered international scholar project researching societal resilience. A Labor laws update masterclass will be provided by Suhendra Leon of BZSE Law.

For all attendees, a free on-event steelpan masterclass of the Mighty Dow is available to honor this musical heritage of the island.

The full line-up of keynote speakers and workshop program of March 26th is now available at Smilesintmaarten.com with the ability to register and be part of the SMILEsintmaarten app. Tickets are still available via the website, +1721 5420108 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We welcome all communication.
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
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Roosevelt 'Iditaroo' pulls through for another year

Roosevelt Elementary third-graders recognize the Iditarod in a very special way.

(Below) Sleds sit near the rest station at Roosevelt Elementary School. Prior to the Thursday event, students decorated boxes they put in their sleds. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

Thursday afternoon third grade students and staff held the 15th annual Iditaroo, the Roosevelt third-grade version of the Iditarod.

Students worked together as a team to persevere and honor the tradition of the Iditarod, which celebrates the history of The Great Serum Run, where sled dog teams were called upon to bring lifesaving medicine 700 miles across Alaska during the diphtheria outbreak in 1925.

Roosevelt third graders make their way up the hill towards one of six checkpoints scattered across the grassy area south of the school building. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

Roosevelts third grade teacher Heather Stanga said the Iditroo is always the culminating event for the standards-based cross-curricular unit about Balto and the Iditarod.

The unit incorporated studies in social studies, writing, math and reading. They also practiced AVID strategies like habits of discussion, working as a team, following instructions and rules, being accountable to peers and acting responsibly. Stanga said the third grade teachers are very proud of the work that Roosevelt students put into this unit each year.

It is always a memorable experience for students and staff alike, Stanga said.

Students leave sled-tracks behind in the dirt of Roosevelts ball field. The lack of snow this year didnt deter third grade students from enjoying the Iditaroo to the fullest extent. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

Students and staff assembled on the sidewalk of the playground side of the building for a group photo prior to the race. Race teams then moved with their assigned adult to their race starting point.

A sign welcomes dogs and mushers to Kaltag, Alaska. In the Iditaroo, Kaltag was the rest station for temperature and heart rate checks and a quick snack. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

Depending on their team location, Stanga said students pulled sleds on either a northern or southern race route with a staggered start. Checkpoints were set up as part of the race route with teacher-led themed activities.

Fifth graders Amileth Galindo and Jeremiah Hansen, along with fourth grader Marcela Garcia volunteered their time at the only checkpoint without an activity: the rest station.

From left, fifth grader Jeremiah Hansen, fourth grader Marcela Garcia and fifth grader Amileth Galindo checked temperatures and handed out Vaseline at the Iditaroo rest stop. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

The rest station represented the 24-hour break participants get in the Iditarod. Jeremiah checked the temperatures of the dogs and mushers (students) as they came in. Amileth and Marcela passed out cotton swab with Vaseline for students lips, which represented putting ointment on the dogs paw pads to prevent cracking.

Fourth grader Marcela Garcia hands a student a cotton swap with Vaseline to put on their lips. The Vaseline represented ointment that veterinarians put on dogs paw pads to prevent cracks. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)

Other volunteers checked the heart rates of students and handed out snacks and waters to give them energy to finish the race.

Each team was given a 6-minute break, which is later deducted off their final time. Times are recorded for each team to determine the winning teams. The awards announcement takes place on Friday.

The Iditaroo is something many older Roosevelt students also remember fondly.

Shanda Cunniff, a substitute teacher and volunteer at Roosevelt, was one of two adult volunteers at the rest station. Her children, who are now in high school and college, still remember the annual activity.

Cunniff remembers one year when show was nearly waist deep. Other years the snow was already melted. The lack of snow didnt hinder this years event. Organizers said they were thankful it was not nearly as muddy and wet as it has been in some previous years.

A team of third grade students makes a mad dash to their next station. Instead of having a central starting point like in years past, it was a round-robin competition this year. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)
Brussels, 14 March 2022 (SPS) - The European Commission has reaffirmed its support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutteres, to achieve "a just and lasting political solution in Western Sahara, based on the right to self-determination in accordance with the resolutions and principles of the UN Charter.



In a written reply (dated March 11) to a question from a member of the European People's Party group, MEP Massimiliano Salini, the Commission assured that the EU's position on Western Sahara is dictated by UN Security Council resolutions, underlining its status as a non-autonomous territory.



"The EU reiterates its support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will ensure the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara within the framework of respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter," the Commission said.



Recalling that an appeal was filed on December 14, 2021 following the decision of the Court of the European Union, on September 29 of the same year, to annul the trade agreements concluded between the EU and Morocco and including occupied Western Sahara, the Commission said that the implementation of these agreements will depend in the future on the final judgment of the Court of Justice.



"The member states are also aware of this and have informed their respective operators of the planned procedure immediately after the court decision," it added.



062/T
MILFORD  The Ukraine invasion has sparked a massive corporate withdrawal from Russia in the past three weeks. But Subway is among the few companies that have not announced any such changes despite mounting pressure to do so.

While several hundred major companies have curtailed their business in Russia since the invasion began on Feb. 24, Milford-based Subway has not reported any scale-down in the country where it has approximately 450 restaurants. The company has cited those establishments independent ownership and management, but that explanation has not quelled a growing outcry that includes calls on social media for customers to boycott the sandwich shop.

I hope that they will exert pressure on their franchisees. Even if they have no direct control, they certainly have a good deal of persuasive power and even possible financial influence, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who last week visited the Polish border with Ukraine, said in an interview Friday. Id like to learn more, and Id like to see them do more.

In explaining why its restaurants remain open in Russia, Subway has issued statements citing its business model. It said that all of its restaurants in the country are independently owned and operated by local franchisees and managed by an independent master franchisee.

We dont directly control these independent franchisees and their restaurants and have limited insight into their day-to-day operations, Subway said this week in a statement, which also noted that the company has no corporate operations in Russia.

Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and we are committed to supporting those impacted by the tragic events in the region, the statement added. While we do not control or manage the operations of independent franchisees in Russia, we will redirect any profits from operations in Russia to humanitarian efforts supporting Ukrainians who have been affected by the war. We are also working with our franchisees across Europe to provide meals to refugees.

Critics are unconvinced by the companys explanation. Many people have vented on social media, with the hashtag #BoycottSubway trending Friday on Twitter.

Consumers are expecting companies like Subway to act, Robert Bird, a professor of business law at the University of Connecticut, said in an interview. The longer this war goes on and the longer the American people are focused on this issue, the more its going to hurt Subway. Theyre in a difficult position. I dont think their current statement is going to satisfy many people. Its not clear enough, its not complete enough.

Some dining industry experts said, however, that they understood Subways position.

Franchisers have no jurisdiction or power to close franchisees restaurants in situations such as this, Mark Moeller, a national restaurant consultant and owner of the Westport-based The Recipe of Success, said in an email. They are doing the ethical and moral thing in donating their (company) profits to the ongoing humanitarian efforts and working with their European franchisees to help feed those in need.

Hundreds of other companies pull back

Subway is part of a fast-dwindling group of companies that do not appear to have curtailed their presence in Russia, which ranks as the ninth-most populous country with about 142 million people.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, Subway was one of fewer than 30 firms that were digging in  defying demands for exit or reduction of activities in Russia, according to an online tracker maintained by Yale School of Management. More than 400 companies have announced their withdrawal from the country since the start of the invasion, Yale SOM officials said.

The companies that remain (in Russia) have a problem with board governance. They are still looking for harmonious win-win solutions that are an obsolete and naive way to think right now, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean of leadership programs and the Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management for Yale School of Management, said last week. Some of those companies will say, Well, how about the well-being of those employees? Putting them out of work and on the streets is a lot better than having them bombed. The whole idea of these sanctions and business blockades is a last step before war.

In a virtual address to Congress on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on lawmakers to pressure U.S. businesses still operating in Russia to leave.

Make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy our people in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said.

Among other fast-food giants, Restaurant Brands International, the company that owns Burger King, said Thursday that it had begun exiting its 15 percent stake in a joint venture that operates about 800 Burger King restaurants in Russia. Burger King said it contacted the Russian operator of its restaurants and demanded that he suspend operations, but he refused. In the meantime, Burger King said it had suspended corporate support for the Russian market.

McDonalds announced last week that it would temporarily close its approximately 850 stores in Russia  84 percent of which are owned by the company. It said it would continue paying its approximately 62,000 employees in Russia. At the same time, McDonalds has temporarily closed 108 restaurants it owns in Ukraine, while continuing to pay those employees.

Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut, said last week that it planned to temporarily close 70 company-owned KFC restaurants in Russia. It also announced that it was in talks with a franchisee to close all 50 Pizza Hut restaurants in Russia. In addition, it has suspended new restaurant development in the country.

Blumenthal said he was heartened by the number of companies that had pulled back in Russia. The list includes a number of Connecticut-headquartered multinationals such as Philip Morris International, Stanley Black & Decker, Booking Holdings, Otis Worldwide and WWE.

It was harrowing and heartbreaking, Blumenthal said of his trip, during which he met with Ukrainian refugees. It brought home the urgency of exerting as much pressure, as quickly as possible, to stop Putin from slaughtering and destroying this country.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; Twitter: @paulschott
NEWINGTON  State police said an internal investigation has concluded that a trooper trainee violated the agencys code of conduct when he walked out of a local gun shop with a handgun magazine without paying for it.

Surveillance footage from the Newington Gun Exchange shows Trooper Trainee Romello Lumpkin left the store on Sept. 11, 2021 with a 10-round magazine without paying in addition to a 12-round magazine he had purchased, according to the state police internal affairs report released Friday.

The extra magazine had been removed from a display gun, and an employee later placed it in the packaging for the 12-round magazine that Lumpkin purchased, according to the report. The business reported the missing magazine was valued at $54.

The owner of the gun store decided not to press charges against Lumpkin, according to the report. But the stores owner requested Newington police to add Lumpkin to its list of individuals banned from the premises, meaning he could be charged with trespassing if he returns to the property, the report stated.

State police determined there was enough evidence to show Lumpkin committed misdemeanor larceny, claiming his actions revealed he intended to take the magazine, despite denying the accusation, the report stated.

It is not as though he went in with 10 items and came out with 11, a mistake which could more reasonably be understood in the confusion of the presence of many items, state police wrote in the internal affairs report.

Following the investigation, Lumpkin was suspended for violating the code of conduct, according to the report. The report does not indicate how long Lumpkin was suspended or if he was paid while on leave.

Lumpkin told investigators he entered the store without a magazine in his personal handgun, a Sig Sauer P365, but he assumed the 10-round magazine from the display gun belonged to him, the report stated. He told investigators he carried the 12-round magazine he purchased out of the store in the magazine well of his firearm.

The magazine well was empty when he entered and full when he left, something that should have been noticed by any responsible gun owner, and certainly by a well-trained state trooper with above-average experience handling firearms, the report stated. Additionally, Trooper Trainee Lumpkin never drew his weapon in the store, making the likelihood of confusion about who the 10-round magazine belonged to less likely.

Surveillance footage from the store also allegedly showed Lumpkins body language change after he placed the magazine in his gun, capturing him walking around the store, looking around in a manner described as looking at the security cameras, as well as touching and manipulating the area of his waist where he had concealed the magazine, the report stated.

Store employees noticed the 10-round magazine missing from the display gun at the end of the day, and then reviewed the security footage to determine what happened, the report stated.

Lumpkin was identified by the gun store through the registers receipts, according to the report. He also had to show the employee his state police identification to prove he was eligible to buy the 12-round magazine, which is considered a high-capacity clip in Connecticut.

Store personnel contacted Lumpkin and asked him to return the missing magazine, the report stated. Lumpkin told the employee he would return it, according to the report, but didnt do so for several days, claiming he had to work late and he had forgotten the key to the safe where he kept the magazine at his fathers home.

In an interview with internal affairs investigators last October, Lumpkin claimed that if he had intended to steal the extra magazine, he would not have used his personal credit card or shown his ID, but admitted that he left the store with a magazine he didnt pay for, according to the report.

Lumpkin claimed he didnt return the magazine sooner because he wasnt feeling well, and when he tried to return it earlier, he forgot the key to the safe where it was stored, the report stated. He indicated to investigators that he feels terrible about how the incident has reflected on him and on the agency, the report stated.

The investigation concluded that Lumpkins conduct reflected negatively on the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the agency that includes the state police, and constituted conduct unbecoming, the report stated.

Even if Lumpkin had not intentionally taken the extra magazine, the unreasonable delay of five days in returning the magazine would support this charge, the report stated.

As a result of trooper trainee's conduct, the reputations of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Connecticut State Police have been harmed, narrowly with respect to the owner and staff of Newington Gun Exchange and the Newington Police Department who have been directly involved in this matter, but also with the general public as evidenced by media reporting on the case, the report stated.

The report noted the trespass order barring Lumpkin from the gun shop, which is within his assigned troop area, supports the charge that his conduct reflects negatively on the department.
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STRATFORD  Mayor Laura Hoydick sent a letter this week to state and Bridgeport officials asking them to hold off on selling Sikorsky Memorial Airport to the Connecticut Airport Authority to give Stratford a chance to buy it.

The letter was sent to Gov. Ned Lamont, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, Bridgeport City Council President Aidee Nieves and the Sikorsky Airport Commission. Though owned by Bridgeport, Sikorsky is located over the border in Stratfords Lordship neighborhood. Hoydick is the only non-Bridgeport representative on the commission.

We strongly object to a state takeover of our local, independently operated airport; moreover, any change in ownership and management should occur following a fair and transparent competitive bidding process, the mayor said in her letter. Stratford has a proud history in the aviation industry, and we firmly believe Sikorsky Memorial Airport is a regional asset that should remain under local control and not be managed by bureaucrats 70 miles away in Windsor Locks.

The town has been interested in the airport for four years and the situation has come to a head, said Hoydick, a Republican. Hoydick also issued a press release about her interest in acquiring the airport just hours before a Sikorsky Airport Commission meeting Friday evening.

At that meeting the panel discussed the terms of a sale of the airport to the Connecticut Airport Authority. Any sale of the airport would need backing from the commission and the Bridgeport City Council.

The commission went into an hour-plus long closed executive session before tabling a vote on the CAA term sheet or framework for a potential sale contract. Hoydicks letter was not discussed since it was not named as a reason to enter executive session, according to Nieves.

I read the letter, Nieves said. I havent had a moment to really have the conversation with Mayor Ganim about it.

Nieves has previously stated that she is in favor of leasing the airport to CAA, but not selling it to them.

Sikorsky will need major upgrades to get back to servicing commercial airlines and is currently operating solely private, business and charter planes. The airport does not currently have an operational passenger terminal.

The authority has said it is willing to spend up to $10 million for the airport. Hoydick said Stratford plans to pay for the acquisition through bonding, which will be paid for through collected tax revenue.

If the City of Bridgeport is interested in selling the airport, then it is the time for the Town of Stratford to take ownership of the Sikorsky Memorial Airport. We will ensure capable management commensurate with the concerns of the region and surrounding community, and the sensitive environmental assets located there, Hoydick said in a release Friday. The future of Stratford and the future of the airport are intertwined, and Stratford would like the fair and proper opportunity to direct this shared destiny.

The intention of the town is to purchase the airport and lease it out to a professional operator, Hoydick said.

Daniel Roach is an aide to Ganim, a Democrat, who has for the past few years been assigned to work on expanding passenger service at Sikorsky and has been negotiating the takeover by the state authority.

Roach said Hoydicks interest will be discussed at the airport commission meeting. But, he noted, Bridgeport is not legally obligated to consider it.

Theres no obligation to bid this out, Roach said, noting the state authoritys massive investment would go well beyond the potential $10 million purchase price and involve tens of millions in additional future investment at the site.

Roach recalled Hoydick broaching Stratford purchasing Sikorsky four to five years ago, briefly, but then nothing since.

We werent expecting this, he said.

Hoydicks chief of staff Michael Downes rebuffed that statement. He said the town has been in constant contact with Roach and has held a number of meetings with him on this topic. He also said the mayor has spoken to Bridgeport City Council members about this all the way along the process.

Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said he was surprised to see Hoydicks letter on Friday.

It is quite late in the game, he said.

Dillon said the CAA wants to see the property developed, no matter who the owner of it is  whether thats CAA, Bridgeport or Stratford. He noted in addition to the sale price it would take tens of millions of dollars to bring that airport up to standards for air service operations.

He also said that CAA has an opportunity to work with an airline carrier that has expressed interest in the property should CAA become the operator there. Should this opportunity disappear due to delays in process, CAA will no longer be interested in the airport, he said.

While Dillon declined to identify this carrier, Hearst Connecticut Media has previously reported that Breeze Airways is interested in doing so. Breeze is a Utah-based airline company focused on new nonstop flights and lower fairs at smaller cities such as Bridgeport (and) routes ignored by other larger airlines, Eric Fletcher, Breezes director of legal and community affairs said in May 2021.

Put your offer on the table, demonstrate how you have the expertise to run it and lets get on with the development of the airport, Dillon said. Our interest is to make sure we have a viable airport system here in the state. We have an asset that has wallowed for years. Its time to get on with the development of that facility. Either Bridgeport needs to do it, Stratford needs to do it or the CAA needs to do it.

Should the town buy Sikorsky, it intends to model itself after how Tweed Airports revitalization has been run in New Haven.

When I first came into office in 2017, Stratford having the opportunity to own the airport has been important to us and paramount, and so we have been doing our due diligence and becoming educated about this process, Hoydick said. Which is why we met with the FAA in Washington, we went to Boston and met with them as well, so we would understand exactly what the responsibilities would be if the town owned the airport. So, I'm saying, this was not done lightly and it was not done quickly.

Currently the town receives property taxes on the hangars from Sikorsky, but it is unknown if that would continue should the town acquire it.

Stratford must have a fair opportunity to acquire the airport in a transparent and open process, State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, said in the towns release. The airport must not fall subject to a no bid state takeover. Local control is vital to ensure proper management of the airport with respect for the local community and environmental protection concerns.

The Stratford Town Council would have final say over whether the town enters into a purchase agreement, Hoydick said. State Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, suggested the town should put it up to a referendum should they enter into an agreement. Hoydick said this would not be necessary.

If the Town of Stratford is interested in purchasing the airport I think it would merit getting a feeling from its residents as to whether or not they want to be owners of an airport, Gresko said.

Gresko, a part-time Ganim environmental sustainability staffer, declined to comment on whether he supports Stratford buying the airport.

State Rep. Phil Young, D-Stratford, also said he would support putting this purchase to a referendum.

I would be in favor of it but I would like to see how this is actually going to work, where the money is going to come from, Young said. And what the upside of this is other than just saying that we're going to buy an airport.

mike.mavredakis@hearstmediact.com
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Ukrainian citizens that are in Romania will benefit from a temporary protection, based on a decision adopted during the Executive session on Friday.

"Foreign citizens and stateless persons will benefit from temporary protection in Romania, that had their legal residence in Ukraine and who cannot safely return to their country of origin, for people that arrived in Romania following February 24, as well as Ukrainian citizens that have been in Romania since before the launch of the armed conflict. Furthermore, stateless persons and nationals of tertiary countries, other than Ukraine, will benefit from protection," according to the press release sent by the Government, Agerpres.ro informs.

These people will be issued a residence permit in Romania by The General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) and a social security number will be attributed to them, similar to the one allocated for asylum seekers. Granting temporary protection si done automatically, it does not need to be requested, the Government explained.

The normative act establishes conditions under which temporary protection of all persons is ensured, for people who had to leave Ukraine because of the armed conflict that began on February 24, as well as the financing source for necessary expenses.

"Romania transposes the recent EU decision no. 382/2022 of identifying the existence of a massive influx of persons who were displaced from Ukraine and introducing a temporary protection for these citizens," the press release mentions.
Ana is a psychologist and is coming from Ukraine, more specifically Odessa, and the events that took place in the recent period in her country changed her life. Some time ago she was a refugee as so many other Ukrainians that had to leave their homes and country in a hurry. She wanted to run to Germany, to be sure that at least she and her daughter will escape the war, Agerpres reports.

Once she crossed the border of Romania she made a different decision. She stayed in Iasi. From here she commutes daily, helped by volunteers, to the refugee camp in Sculeni. Now she is one of the volunteers that greets refugees with a warm smile, a kind word, a cup of tea or coffee, food. Unlike the other Romanian or Moldovan volunteers, she is the only one that is going through her own suffering trying to comfort the suffering of other refugees in transit through Iasi, through Romania, towards other destinations in Europe."I have the intention of staying here. I have decided to wait in Romania until the end of the war in Ukraine. I don't want to go further, even though the plan was to reach Germany, because my relatives had left there 3 days before us. When I got here and I saw the warmth with which I was greeted, but that other Ukrainians needs help, I decided to remain. I feel safe and I want to help the others," said Ana.

She is sorry she hasn't learned English until now. The language barrier seems to disappear with technology. Before leaving Ukraine, her son, 19 years old, downloaded an app on her phone so she can understand what others are saying anywhere she is.



One thing is clear: "Regardless how long this war lasts and when it ends, we are going to return to Ukraine, even if the house is bombarded in the meantime. But it Ukraine is going to be part of Russia I have nothing to return to," said the woman, while tears stream down her face.



She has already been coming for a few days in the camp organized close to the Sculeni Border Crossing Point. Several hundred Ukrainians seeking shelter from the war enter daily. She talks about her fellow countrymen crossing the border.



"I was in Moscow and saw that there is a fight between the people who want to be free, who want to work as free men, to take on responsibilities, to change mentality There are also people who don't want to assume responsibility. They believe in a czar, a ruler to tell them where the papers are, what is to be done. (...) They believe that's how you should live and that others should live just like in Russia, that they should shut up and do what the higher-ups say. This psychology has remained," says Ana.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Thursday that peace talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine could not be carried out under the threat of arms while the war was going on, Agerpres reports.

"There must be a time when these hostilities stop, because even if there are efforts to negotiate a peace, in order to negotiate a solution to this conflict, these cannot be carried out while the war continues and, moreover, as all analysts say and the information shows, it is intensifying. You cannot negotiate when you are under threat of arms. There must be a time to stop hostilities, sit down at the negotiating table and conduct these negotiations in good faith," Aurescu told Digi24.He added that the sanctions adopted by the European Union and other democratic states are beginning to take effect and can be seen in the daily reality of the Russian Federation."We cannot say now what the results of these negotiations are. We notice that there are positions that are expressed indirectly, through the international media, by the one side and by the other. At the first glance the positions seem quite distant, the only element on which there would be a kind of agreement, a kind of willingness to reach an agreement is that of a possible neutrality of Ukraine, but these are matters which need to be expressed and confirmed by the negotiating parties. They are not certain now," the minister said.
The Border Police informs that, on Thursday, through the border crossing points, 59,642 people entered Romania, out of whom 13,000 Ukrainian citizens (decreasing by 14.9pct compared to the previous day), Agerpres reports.

According to an IGPF press release, on Thursday, within 24 hours, 6,448 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania through the border with Ukraine (down 11.7pct), and on the one with the Republic of Moldova 5,094 Ukrainian citizens entered (decrease by 20.6pct).Since the beginning of this crisis, until Thursday, at 12.00 am, 469,284 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania.At present, the border control at the entrance to Romania through the border crossing points is carried out efficiently, according to the provisions of the national and community legislation, the control arteries being covered with Romanian border policemen up to the maximum capacity.Similar measures to strengthen control and increase surveillance have been put in place at the land border, with additional crews carrying out missions in areas of responsibility. Control is done in an integrated system with the other institutions in charge with this field, with a view to an operative exchange of data and information, as well as to the joint adoption of the necessary measures for the management of the cases that might appear.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has stated that he has not accepted the bill on crisis situations, as there is a draft law in the defense package aimed at managing such situations, Agerpres reports.

"That was a draft law that has been abandoned when it came under analysis in the Government. I personally did not accept it, because I knew that in this package of laws for defense there is also a draft law aimed at managing crisis situations. (...) These were other legal provisions that interfered between the laws that are already in the draft law at the moment and those that were provided in the ordinance," Ciuca said in a statement given to the press.Asked if the future package contains the provision according to which the Romanian army troops could pass under NATO command, Ciuca replied that in certain situations these troops are under the operational command of the Alliance.
Romania can become a hub to provide security in the area, as long as "we remain smart enough, fast enough and we take action", but a formula will have to be found to eliminate some of "the fears generated by the distrust in the state, in politicians, in institutions", declared, on Friday, the Minister of National Defense, Vasile Dincu.

"Our strategic relevance has increased recently. After Crimea, the Romanian state's continued demands on the [eastern - ed.n] flank and its strengthening were not taken into account from the beginning, but, slowly, slowly, Romania can become a hub for security in the area, we need to be smart enough, quick enough and take action. We will have to find a formula for the internal debate, in order to eliminate some of the fears generated by distrust in the state, in politicians, in the institutions, because we are very fragile, and what all our data from NATO say these days, is that Russia has a rather strong project. (...) Let's try to work with data, ambitions and actions," Dincu told an online conference titled "Romania's Strategic Dynamics in the New Geopolitical Context", organized by the Sphere XXI Foundation in partnership with Pentagon Marketing & Research.

Vasile Dincu also referred to the role that diplomacy should play in the current geo-political context, stating that diplomacy should try to anticipate more, to prevent these inevitable crises and that we must continuously invest in peace, Agerpres.ro informs.

"It is true that Putin's move has changed his plans as well, because he has not guessed correctly either, because he also believed, for example, (...) that the European world and NATO are a divided world, a world with a slow response and that it is about sluggishness, hesitations and fears," the minister underlined.

He also spoke about the importance of "enlarging" military alliances, recalling that he had recently had a meeting with "a delegation from Mexico, the ambassador and a delegation of military who were interested in working with Romania, of thinking together about military training, conducting exercises on the Mircea brig".
The first pharmacy with social enterprise status in Romania, which is functioning in Sangeorgiu de Mures, announced on Friday that it has succeeded in sending three transports of drugs and medicines to the hospitals in Cernauti, Kyiv and Mariupol, the total value of the items being over 200,000 RON, but draws attention that financial resources are still needed to support the humanitarian action.

"There is still need for resources, of which the most efficient are money donations, because they can be easily converted into medicine or maximum necessity food. The companies receive and pay a bill for products on the maximum emergency list. The products remain in custody and leave with the first transport to the hospital in Ukraine. We have managed up to now to send medicine directly to the hospitals in Ukraine worth over 200,000 RON through three transports. In just 48 hours since receiving the urgent medicine list, they have reached Cernauti and then Kyiv and Mariupol. On 15.03.2022 we sent shipment, in which beside a generator and urgent medicine we also delivered a ton of flour and yeast. You should know that the Angelia Hospital in Cernauti, which we are in contact with, is treating wounds, diseases but also hunger. Each day this hospital transports to Kyiv over 1,000 kilograms of bread and returns daily to Cernauti with refugees," said the manager of the Social Pharmacy, Marius Dumitrescu, Agerpres.ro informs.

According to Dumitrescu, people only need to fill out a form on the website of the Social Pharmacy and to write in the sum they're donating, after which they receive the bill by e-mail.

The Social Pharmacy is an independent unit that does not receive subsidies or European funds from any institution, has obtained the social enterprise certificate issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection for respecting the criteria of social economy, allotting minimum 90% of its profit to the social purpose and statutory reserve.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Thursday that there is no reason for the Romanian citizens not to feel safe amid the developments in Ukraine, Agerpres reports.

"The feeling of security in our country must be high, because Romania is an ally nation; as a NATO member we have all the security guarantees we can have, the strongest security guarantees in our entire history. The NATO alliance is the strongest political and military alliance in history. We are on the right track in terms of consistently consolidating the eastern flank. Our calls are considered and put into practice. I asked, for example, at the NATO ministerial meeting on March 4, to rethink the composition of NATO's deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank, and things are already moving in that direction," Aurescu told Digi24 private broadcaster.He added that a NATO summit would be held in Brussels next week to discuss both the security developments in Ukraine, further support for Ukraine, and a consistent reinforcement of the eastern flank."There are all the prerequisites for the Romanian citizens to feel safe. We make every effort to ensure that this consistent consolidation of the eastern flank is seen by everyone in its real parameters, which are those of defence, so strictly defensive, without any intention of antagonising the Russian Federation. But given the developments that are taking place as a result of military aggression, it is only natural that we should take the necessary precautions. There is no reason for Romanian citizens not to feel secure," Aurescu said.
The government approved on Friday the Emergency Ordinance capping electricity and gas prices for one year, for both household and industrial consumers, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu wrote on Facebook.

"One more year of government support for the Romanians' energy bills! The new measures coming in force on April 1 benefit 8 million households for electricity, and all households connected to the grid for natural gas, regardless of consumption. Together with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and my government colleagues we approved the Emergency Ordinance on the measures applicable to end electricity and gas customers between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023," Popescu said.

Final electricity bills for vulnerable households or for those affected by energy poverty will be capped on two tiers, based on their average monthly consumption in 2021 and the final gas prices, Agerpres.ro informs.

For electricity, the price will be a maximum of 0.68 RON/kWh, VAT included, for households whose average monthly consumption in 2021 is less than or equal to 100 KWh; and a maximum 0.8 RON/kWh, VAT included, for households whose average monthly consumption in 2021 is between 100 kWh and 300 KWh inclusive.

For gas, the price will be capped at a maximum of 0.31 RON/kWh, VAT included.

For non-household consumers, the price for electricity will be 1 RON/kWh at the most, VAT included, and for gas it will be a maximum of 0.37 RON/ kWh, VAT included, for an annual gas consumption in 2021 of 50,000 MWh at the most; the same applies for producers of heating energy intended for other consumers.

Heat and power plants will buy natural gas for a regulated price of 250 RON/MWh, Minister Popescu specified.

The draft regulatory act posted on Thursday evening on the website of the Energy Ministry also provided for a price of 150 RON per MWh for domestically produced gas. The Minister does not specify whether this proposal has been approved or not.
The 'Lower Danube' University of Galati, through the Faculty of Letters, is organizing together with the National News Agency AGERPRES the photo exhibition 'Galati of Yesteryear', featuring images of the city's landmarks from the agency's photographic archive, representatives of the higher education institution informed on Friday.

This is one of a string of events organized on the occasion of the University Days, as March 20 marks the 74th anniversary of the first use of the title "University" in an official act (the State Council's Decree of March 20, 1974) sanctioning the union of the city's Polytechnic Institute with the Pedagogical Institute.

The venue of the exhibition is the lobby of the University, where meanwhile digitized photos of the city taken between 1947-1998 by AGERPRES photojournalists will be put on display, Agerpres.ro informs.

The opening will take place on March 21 at 13:00 p.m. in the presence of AGERPRES managing director Claudia Victoria Nicolae.

Rector of the 'Lower Danube' University, Professor Puiu Lucian Georgescu (EngD), the two vice-rectors of the university, Professor Silvius Stanciu (EngD) and Professor Alexandru Nechifor (MD-PhD), as well as Professor Simona Antofi (D.Litt.) and Associate Professor Catalin Negoita (D.Litt.) from the Faculty of Letters will also attend.

The exhibition is part of a traveling series staged by AGERPRES on the occasion of its 133rd anniversary and will remain open to the public for a month, until April 21.
A number of 942 Ukrainian refugees, of whom about half are children, have so far been housed in the centers of Bucharest City Hall, PMB reports on its Facebook page.

The eight centers currently house 177 people. A total of 88 pets were accommodated with the refugee families. At the center of the Romexpo exhibition complex, in an area of 15,000 square meters, 2,000 campaign beds, 200 tables and 1,500 chairs have been prepared.

At the same time, approximately 11,500 refugees were counseled and assisted at the 24-hour Information and Coordination Point at Bucharest North railway station, Agerpres.ro informs.

Over 12,400 sandwiches and about 10,000 portions of hot food were distributed by the DGASMB (General Directorate of Social Assistance of the Municipality of Bucharest) at the North railway Station, at Otopeni Airport, in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in Romania. In all places, refugees from Ukraine have access to water, coffee, tea, sweets, formula, bottles, pacifiers, winter hats, gloves, scarves.

A total of 177 tonnes of products were donated by Bucharest residents to the center opened by Proedus at the National Arena and to the two DGASMB centers.

To date, 70 children from the area of armed conflict have accessed the services of the two day centers opened by the Capital City Hall, through DGASMB, in collaboration with the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation. Here children can take lessons with refugee teachers from Odessa.
Oradea State Theatre Regina Maria is the only theatre in Romania to participate in the 9th edition of the International Balkan Countries Theater Festival Balkan Breeze held in Bursa, Turkey, with the show Tartuffe, by Moliere, which will be presented on March 23 and 24 by the theatre's Iosif Vulcan Troupe.

"This year is Moliere's year. 400 years since his birth, that will lead this year to many performances on the texts of the great playwright. The fact that we represent Romania is an honor and a plus for the theatre's ability to mobilize to honor this invitation in a not very favourable period. This means that the theatre cares about its value, its troupe, its special performances, and that it has mad special efforts to go to this festival," Victoria Balint, head of the Iosif Vulcan Troupe told a press conference, Agerpres.ro informs.

According to literary secretary Florina Dometi, who took care of all the preparations for the participation and visit to Turkey, the festival organizers were so excited about the show in northwestern Oradea that they scheduled two performances, on March 23 and 24, from 20:00 at the Ahmet Vefik Pasa Theatre, and they decided for it to be the production that will conclude the festival. Representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Turkey will also be present at the first performance, Victoria Balint said.

"It's our first outing this year, and after the years of restrictions, the one we really want, both to reconnect with friends and to strengthen relations with theatres in Turkey and to create new connections with guest theatres, something that will open up more opportunities for us in the future," said Florina Dometi.

According to the director of the Regina Maria Theatre, actress Ioana Dragos-Gajdo, the presence of the Romanian theater troupe from Oradea at the Bursa festival contributes to the increase of the Oradea theatre and the Romanian theatre's notoriety on an international level.

The performance Tartuffe, adapted and directed by Vlad Trifas premiered at the Regina Maria Theatre on September 19, 2021. Keeping the subject, the main themes and the comic nature, the play was adapted by director Vlad Trifas at the current speed of information transfer, emphasizing new meanings and nuancing the dramatic aspect. Since its premiere, this production has come to the attention of festival selectors.

The International Balkan Countries Theater Festival Balkan Breeze, in Bursa, aims to bring the Balkan countries closer through the theater in a spirit of "borderless" solidarity and freedom. Without a specific theme, ten theatre troupes from Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Uzbekistan and Romania are participating this year.
On Friday, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca sent condolences to the family of a soldier who lost his life at the Smardan training ground during a tank training activity, Agerpres reports.

"I am with the family of the soldier who lost his life at Smardan, during a training activity with the tanks. Unfortunately, a routine training activity turned into a tragedy. A young man, 36, lost his life on duty. I want to send my condolences to the grieving family! Rest in peace!," Ciuca wrote on Friday in a post on the Romanian government Facebook page.
Sanctions unanimously imposed have reached "unimaginable levels," designed to underline "Russia's exit from international rules," Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Friday, Agerpres reports.

"The level of unanimous, coherent and unreserved sanctions has reached unimaginable heights, which are meant to underscore Russia's exit from international rules and the fact that it has to pay for its war of aggression. Could anyone have imagined Germany granting lethal defensive military aid to Ukraine or blocking Nord Stream 2 indefinitely or announcing a cut in dependence on Russian oil and gas and a future disengagement from the Russian supplier? The same thing happened in Europe, across the ocean with the countries that share the same values and think the same," Ciuca told a debate under the aegis of Team Romania organised by the Aspen Institute.He added that in the UN General Assembly, 141 countries voted for a resolution condemning the Russian aggression, while only five countries voted against: Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea. According to the prime minister, this is an "overwhelming vote" that shows global mobilisation and cohesion "in the face of this enormity of a conventional war of destruction" in the 21st century."At the political level, we have seen resilience and quasi-unanimous mobilisation of the international community, the adaptability - unexpected, perhaps, for some - of frontline states, including Romania, to receive waves of refugees and support Ukraine. The Security Council vote on the UN resolution on Ukraine meant 11 votes for, three abstentions and one against - of course, Russia's," Ciuca said.According to the prime minister, Romania has also taken steps to strengthen its political and military resilience."Romania has joined all these efforts and built up its political and military resilience on the basis of its own efforts, as well as by creating a battlegroup, based on the first activation of the NRF, NATO Response Force, the growth of the US and NATO presence in the country, by increasing public defence spending to 2.5% [of the Gross Domestic Product] and by numerous adequate training measures in response to developments on the eastern and northern borders of our country as well as of those in the Black Sea," he said.Ciuca also mentioned "diligent search" for alternative energy resources for European countries."Diplomatic action with Bulgaria and Greece over the vertical corridor and the Bulgaria-Greece interconnector, talks with Turkey on gas transit, the attempt to contract liquefied natural gas to be introduced at the Alexandropolis terminal are all part of the same growth efforts of resilience, as an action at the level of the European Union to finance the offsetting of this excessive increase in prices for energy products through European solutions, as well as the need for loans, resource injections to adapt to a Europe without oil and gas taken from Russian companies," said Ciuca.He added that all these efforts represent "unique action" carried out extremely fast, highlighting that Romania has demonstrated "resilience and adaptability.""We are not saying it will be easy. It is unique action carried out overnight practically, extremely fast, an adaptation necessary to contain the effects of the war, stop the fighting and discourage Russia from continuing its aggression on Ukraine and the free world. As far as refugees are concerned, the major waves and difficult to manage have not yet arrived. But Romania has shown resilience and adaptability, including by this combination of efforts at all levels," he said.
The State Jewish Theatre (TES) on Thursday evening presented an extraordinary show dedicated to the celebration of Purim, in the year 5782, according to the Jewish calendar, to a large audience, Agerpres reports.

Actress Maia Morgenstern, together with the troupe of the State Jewish Theatre and the orchestra of this cultural institution, offered the special show "A Letter of Purim" to a crowded hall, which accompanied the actors with applause and laughter throughout the show.The president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, Deputy Silviu Vexler, took the stage at the end, together with the actors, to bring a message of hope for the future, which is, in fact, the essence of the Purim holiday celebrating the liberation of the Jewish people from the ancient Persian-Babylonian Empire."In recent weeks we have been talking about everything we should do tonight, because the situation around Romania is what it is - a war that inevitably brings immense suffering. I talked many times with director Maia Morgenstern wondering if we should do a show tonight or not, and I realized that, as Purim evenings always start here, it's Purim again. The story of this celebration itself fits very well, in fact, with what happens today, because it's a celebration of hope, of trust and of the fact that, sooner or later everything will be ok. Which is why everything that you've seen in this show tonight, every one of you smiles and laughs are dedicated to all the people who suffered and are suffering, to all those whom we could help and whose story we discovered, to all those who need help," stated the president of the Federation of the Jewish Communities in Romania - the Mosaic Cult.According to him, in such moments, we realize that what seemed to work is not so. "And, the same as in the Purim story, it is necessary for someone to do something for those around them," added MP Silviu Vexler.The director of the Jewish Theatre, Maia Morgenstern, underscored that the Purim show represents "the expression, the desire, the need to continue.""It's Purim, it's a Purim show. We want to keep the tradition of Purim shows. And I will let the specialists to tell better than me, more clearly, more deeply, the implications, the meanings of the Purim holiday. What it means etymologically - dice, fate. Queen Esther - a woman - had the courage to step forward and save her people, she had the courage to step forward and expose the wicked. We know that stories, legends, have a happy ending, but it doesn't seem and it's not that easy in the heat of events (...). Unmasking those who hold the power in your time, who hold not only the power but "the absolute truth" as well, as they claim, by telling them: "This is not true, this is not the truth," while risking not to be trusted, risking to be mocked, to be ridiculed - this is the legend, this is the Purim story. The show tonight was the expression, the will, the need to continue," Maia Morgenstern told AGERPRES.The actress remembered that, in her childhood and adolescence, "it was a great big event" to be invited to participate in the Purim show.Purim means joy, love, being together, and the show wanted to convey this message, said Bogdan Lifsin, conductor of the TES Orchestra.Among those present at the cultural event were Victor Opaschi, Secretary of State for Cults, Tova Ben Nun Cherbis, the head of the Lauder-Reut Educational Complex in Bucharest, Ovidiu Banescu, Vice President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FCER - CM), representatives of the Jewish community in Romania, Silvian Horn - Vice President of FCER.The event was organized under the auspices of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, in partnership with TES, the World Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Community of Bucharest (CEB).
Dr. Asya Agulnik of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital doesnt remember if the first request was by text or phone. It felt like shed had constant conversation with frantic partners in Ukraine as the Russian invasion began.

But the plea was clear and urgent: Could St. Jude help?

St. Jude and ALSAC, its fundraising and awareness organization, had never undertaken such a massive, logistical operation  coordination of a complicated evacuation of critically ill children with cancer during a war.

The answer was yes. But it couldnt do it alone.

In the three weeks since, St. Jude has leaned on long-established global partners in the region and sought help from dozens of advanced pediatric treatment centers throughout Europe and North America. Known as SAFER Ukraine, the humanitarian effort launched following the Russian invasion to provide safe passage for childhood cancer patients and their families out of Ukraine.

More than 600 children are known to have been evacuated or to be in the process of being evacuated through the SAFER Ukraine effort so far  some kids and their families may arrive at St. Jude within days - and the orchestrated convoys continue, bringing more sick children out of Ukraine, into Poland, then to an ever-expanding network of hospitals.

Dr. Asya Agulnik (left) of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Photo credit Victoria Burnside Clapp.

Within hours of that initial plea for help, a virtual command center at St. Jude and ALSAC headquarters was established to manage information and coordinate with partners on the ground in Ukraine and beyond. It became the operational bridge for both hospital and foundation partners trying to save children halfway across the world and get them to safety, and treatment, wherever possible.

What began as a single Zoom call that was open 24 hours a day quickly evolved into a large team that worked in shifts with breakout rooms and staff rotating in and out. Doctors, administrators, translators, shift leads, executive leaders, foundation partners and experts. Anyone with a question:

How were children getting out of the country? Who would house them? Care for them? And who would pay?

St. Jude is the only World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer and has 182 partners in 61 countries, including Ukraine and Poland. It is aggressively pursuing several programs simultaneously to improve survival rates across the developing world  from 20 percent currently to a goal of 60 percent by then end of the decade for six of the most common forms of childhood cancer. U.S. survival rates top 80 percent.

To meet that global survival goal, St. Jude, in partnership with WHO, recently announced the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, which will provide a consistent, quality supply of chemotherapy and other medicines in dozens of countries during a pilot phase  all without charge to the participating countries. Its a $200 million investment paid by St. Jude donors expected to help an estimated 120,000 kids in its first five years.

But those programs are aimed at improving care locally so more of the estimated 400,000 kids around the world with cancer each year, the vast majority in the developing world, nearly half never diagnosed, can be treated in their home countries while receiving U.S. equivalent care.

That model changed literally overnight in Ukraine because of the constant bombardment by Russian troops. The global network transformed into an evacuation effort in a country the size of Texas with a population as big as California.

It might not have happened without St. Jude and ALSACs existing relationships with hundreds of doctors, nurses, clinics, hospitals and foundation partners across the region.

A lot of these stakeholders  theyre putting trust in us to do whats right for these patients and make smart and wise decisions in a coordinated way, said Dr. Agulnik, director of the Eurasia regional and global critical care programs within the St. Jude Global initiative who is on the ground at the Unicorn Center in Poland. And without those preexisting relationships, in a time of war, I think that wouldnt have happened so quickly. Maybe it wouldnt have happened at all.

In just three weeks, partners in Ukraine and Poland have arranged buses, trains, cars and ambulances on both sides of the border to transport children and their families to safety throughout Europe and Canada  and soon to the United States.

Partners in Poland, the Herosi Foundation, arranged the use of a former 190-room hotel that has been converted to a triage center called Unicorn Marian Wilemski Clinic in Poland. The young patients are medically evaluated, fed, provided rooms to rest and recover from their harrowing trip through Ukraine and across the Polish border, before theyre sent elsewhere for treatment. The Polish Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology provides the center licensed practioners.

Building on decades of global work through its international outreach program, in 2018, St. Jude Global was formed to target the 20 percent global childhood cancer survival rates mirroring those in the U.S. when St. Jude opened in 1962. The collaboration has partnerships with regional programs and individual clinics, hospitals and foundation across seven global regions, including Eurasia.

Triage room at the Unicorn Center in Poland. Photo credit Victoria Burnside Clapp.

Clinicians in the program have worked on six priorities across the region, including education, patient care, health systems, research, nursing, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment strategies.

They worked to create regional training opportunities, build capacity for pediatric palliative care, map pediatric hematology-oncology services and the development of early diagnosis strategies, and implement pediatric cancer registries across the region.

In 2020, St. Jude invited Ukraine to participate with Mongolia and Sri Lanka in the rollout of a tool called C5: the Country Collaboration for Childhood Cancer Control.

It brought people of different perspectives together to facilitate national strategic planning to improve the care and cure of children with cancer. The idea was to see how partners could prioritize childhood cancer needs while still recognizing the broader needs for children with chronic diseases  and anything else that might be on the governments plate.

Its important to understand how and where the decisions are being made or updated for, say, which medicines are considered essential or which diagnostics would be covered by the government or to recognize how children may be referred or transferred between different regions, said Dr. Catherine Lam, director of the St. Jude Global Asia Pacific Regional program and Global Health Systems Unit who created the C5 tool.

Ultimately, the Ukrainian team settled on programs in three areas  workforce, service delivery and information systems  that they thought would have the most impact on the survival of children with cancer in their country.

But when Russian bombs fell on Ukrainian cities three weeks ago, all work on those projects stopped. The focus shifted solely to evacuating children because it was impossible for care to continue inside the war zone. Hospitalized children were moved to basements and bomb shelters until they could be moved to safety.

Ukrainian evacuee Taras looks out a window at theUnicorn Center in Poland. Photo credit Victoria Burnside Clapp.

When that time came , the relationships forged with St. Jude during all those years of research, collaboration and vigorous debate, made it easy for the Ukrainians to ask for help.

We know their families. Weve met them. Weve spent time with them. Weve strategized with them. Weve done research projects together, said Dr. Agulnik And its that individual connection over and over and over again among all of the key stakeholders that, I think, allows in this very critical, stressful time for them to feel comfortable relying on us.

In addition to clinical collaborations, ALSAC, the largest healthcare charity in the world, taught its global counterparts how to raise awareness of their cause and their own money according to local customs and culture and provide sustainable resources to the pediatric oncology patients it supports. ALSAC provides everything from leadership training and technology, business and marketing infrastructure insights to training in basic fundraising to peer counseling on larger events and campaigns such as galas and radiothons.

It was on that foundation, the urgent work to evacuate sick children, and their families, began, said Natalia Wobst, ALSAC senior regional lead, Eurasia.

Over three weeks, we have come to see those initial humanitarian plans materialize, families housed and fed, patients transferred and placed in clinics where they can continue their care, even as the situation on the ground becomes more acute. All along the way, we have checked in to make sure operationally they had what they need to execute plans that were far beyond their original means, Wobst said.

Yuliya Nogovitsyna, program director for Tabletochki Foundation, is confident the evacuated children her organization serves will get the best care.

We would not be able to do this on our own for, sure. So many people, so much infrastructure is involved, both from St. Jude and ALSAC.

That starts from the moment a family or hospital calls the foundation with a request to evacuate a child. The foundation obtains medical records, and St. Jude with the help of volunteers translates them. Tabletochki staff arrange safe transport to the western city of Lviv, where St. Jude clinic partners evaluate the patients and then organizes them in convoys to cross the Polish border.

Once there, the children are triaged at the Unicorn Center and sent to hospitals with the best pediatric oncology programs in Europe  Poland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and soon to the United States  all facilitated by St. Jude.

The biggest thing is the trust they are placing in us to literally pass their patients over into this system and then trust that they would be well taken care of, as if they were our patients, Dr. Agulnik said. I think thats a big thing. Its a big step to say, We can no longer take care of these patients locally, and to ask for help, especially in a time of crisis like this.

Its impossible to know how long the evacuation efforts will last.

While we have a sense of the total number of patients, we dont know how many of them have safely crossed the border without our help or maybe even crossed into Russia where we have no information and then how many are not able to leave because of some social issues or safety concerns, Dr. Agulnik said from Poland. And so, thats where its really hard to know where the end goal is or when the stream of patients will stop.

But we are available, and we have capacity to take as many patients as come.



We know our partners, patients and their families appreciate your care and concern during this very difficult time. We continue to work around the clock to ensure our partner foundations have the resources to help affected families receive lifesaving treatment and care.

For more information about the Tabletochki Foundation, visit https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/war-in-ukraine-help-children-with-cancer

For more information about the Herosi Foundation of Poland, visit http://herosi.eu/sposoby-pomocy/#4. ** Given the wartime situation, the Herosi Foundation also directs donors to Paypal.
EXPANDING

The plant-based food company rootberry expanded its headquarters to the former Weber Grill restaurant at 1147 St. Louis Galleria Street in Richmond Heights.

Allied Appliance, a nationwide wholesaler to the hospitality, multifamily and assisted living markets, relocated its air conditioning, appliance and laundry products warehouse to 6076 Aviator Drive in Hazelwood, increasing warehouse space threefold.

HELPING OUT

Juliette Douglas, retired deputy director of the Six Mile Regional Library District, was named chair of United Way of Greater St. Louis Regional Investment Committee.

Hospital Sisters Health Systems Illinois Division announced a scholarship for students pursuing careers in nursing. The HSHS Scholars program will provide up to $20,000 of funding for qualifying students attending an accredited nursing program. In addition to financial help, recipients will have a job in an HSHS Illinois Division hospital upon graduating and passing boards. Interested students can apply at hshs.org/ILnursingscholarship.

Through its giveback program, St. Louis Closet Co. donated more than $3,300 to the Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis.

Midland States Bank donated a total of $145,000 to five local organizations: Harris-Stowe State University, Christian Hospital Foundation, The Wesley House, Maryville University of St. Louis and Tabernacle Community Development Corp.

PROJECTS

Bass Pro Shops received approval from the city of Sunset Hills to begin demolition and construction on the old Toys R Us location near the intersection of Watson Road and Lindbergh Boulevard. Construction of the new Bass Pro Shops is expected to be completed in November 2022.
It can feel harder than ever to keep grocery spending under control. But budgeting and cooking experts say there are strategies you can use to
Netflix is giving its U.S. subscribers what they want  and apparently that's more of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

After popular demand, the streaming giant announced Wednesday that it will bring Zelenskyy's 2015 comedy TV series, "Servant of the People," back to its service.

"You asked and it's back!" Netflix said in a tweet. "Servant of the People is once again available on Netflix in The US."

The satirical series was originally available in the Netflix library from 2017 to 2021. It stars Zelenskyy, who was a comedian before he entered politics, as a Ukrainian high school teacher who unexpectedly is elected to the presidency after a video of him complaining about corruption goes viral.

Of course, life imitated art, and Zelenskyy was elected to Ukraine's highest office in 2019. He named his real political party Servant of the People.

The Russian-language series, whose 23-episode first season began streaming Wednesday, is available to U.S. audiences with English subtitles. It also starred Natalya Sumskaya, Viktor Saraykin, Stanislav Boklan and Ekaterina Kisten.

It's unclear when or if Netflix will stream the subsequent seasons and the film adaptation it spawned in 2016. A representative for the company did not respond to the Los Angeles Times' request for comment.

All seasons of the series are also available on YouTube.

Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has renewed interest in Zelenskyy's background as an entertainer (he also voiced Paddington bear in the Ukrainian version of the live-action animated film). His grit as a leader and his social media savvy have fascinated broadcasters and allies alike  rallying many behind Ukraine and simultaneously fueling demand for "Servant of the People."

The three-season show (and its subsequent film) is being licensed by Swedish television group Eccho Rights, according to the Hollywood Reporter, with buyers including Netflix in the U.S., the U.K.'s Channel 4, MBC in the Middle East, ANT 1 in Greece and PRO TV.

"The series is a comedy but also an important document of where Zelenskyy comes from," said Eccho managing partner Nicola Soderlund. "His fictional president is a normal man who grows into his role as a heroic and adored leader. While the real-world scenario facing Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people is far more grim and appalling than the comedy of the series, there are obvious parallels with the real-world situation, and 'Servant of the People' is a fascinating, important and historic piece of television."

The series was broadcast in the U.K. for the first time on Sunday, with 100,000 people tuning in, according to the BBC.
ST. LOUIS  Though regional COVID-19 rates continue to recede toward some of the lowest levels seen during the pandemic, health experts here are cautiously monitoring a resurgence in virus cases in Europe.

Local COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations dont show any troubling signs now. Hospitalizations are nearing levels seen last summer, after vaccines became widely available, and before the delta variant prompted a new surge. Case rates in St. Louis and St. Louis County are declining. St. Louis, St. Louis County and Illinois have all rolled back mask mandates.

Just Thursday, Missouri officials announced that the states home COVID-19 test program will end this month.

But the recent upswing in cases in Western Europe and Asia has some experts casting a wary eye toward the future. Some spikes in COVID-19 cases in Europe have preceded increases in the U.S.

It seems likely the U.S. will see an uptick in cases, Dr. Faisal Khan, acting director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, said Thursday.

How severe it is, how extensive it is, we simply dont know, Khan said. Right now watchfulness and vigilance is all we can do from a public health perspective, and to keep a close eye on the numbers.

As of Thursday, the number of COVID-19 patients in area hospitals was 123  down from a peak of 1,444 in January, according to data from the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. By comparison, patient counts fell as low as 93 in June 2021.

The task force reported a seven-day average of 24 new COVID-19 admissions at hospitals in the area, down from 219 in mid-January. The lowest level seen during the pandemic was 14, in June 2020. The data lags two days, and includes area BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM Health, St. Lukes Hospital, and U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Dr. Mano Patri, a private practice physician who treats COVID-19 patients at SSM Health hospitals in the St. Louis area, similarly said it is too soon to tell whether the U.S. will see cases rise now.

I think its a reasonable suspicion, she said. The world is so small. Were not in a bubble.

The United Kingdoms seven-day average of new cases, for example, rose from 27,000 to 73,000 over the past few weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Just 56% of Missouris population is fully vaccinated, according to state data. Previous infections may also afford some additional immune response, Patri noted, but protection gained from a previous infection is relatively short-lived. Patri urged people who have not yet been vaccinated to do so.

Khan said he worries that there is a growing sense of complacency around COVID-19 in the U.S., and a shifting of resources and funding away from public health when cases fall.

The word endemic is being used rather liberally. Endemic does not equal good, Khan said. HIV and tuberculosis are endemic.

Missouri officials announced Thursday that the states home COVID-19 test program will conclude at the end of March. Residents can order a free test kit online through March 31.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services said the kits typically arrive in the mail within two days. Unlike other home test kits on the market, people must collect the sample and mail it back to a laboratory in a free FedEx shipping envelope. Results are usually received within 72 hours, DHSS said. The kits expire after six months.

Residents can still order tests through the federal home test kit program. And kits are also in stock at pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens.

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Self-taught artist and figurative painter Maxine Long, better known as Maxine Thirteen, came onto the art scene in St. Louis three years ago with a splash Esther Williams would have envied.

Film goddesses like Williams, known as the million-dollar mermaid, and leading men of the golden age of Hollywood are often the subjects of Longs paintings. She also paints movie monsters  stitched together in a lab, deep in lagoons, men invisible to the eye.

Ive always made art of some sort growing up, but in 2018, I taught myself to paint in oils, she says. That year she showed up frequently at art events, connecting with artists and galleries, and planned to eventually make her living as an artist.

In 2019, she took a job as the art director at the nascent 31art gallery in south city and became a resident artist there. She nearly met a personal goal to exhibit every month of 2019. She landed showings in 11 of the 12 months at multiple venues, including the Angard Arts Hotel, the Koken Art Factory, the Soulard Art Gallery and at Let Them Eat Art in Maplewood.

Glamour is what I sell, its my stock in trade.  Long grew up watching a plethora of vintage movies, thanks to her parents. Their huge VHS collection has a lot to do with my love of movie stars, plus we would check out even more at the library, she says.

I loved the dialogue in old films, the fashions and the lighting in these black-and-white films, she says. Her paintings include dramatic lighting and over-the-top glamour. She portrays her subjects in expressive colors, capturing big personalities in vibrant tones that demand attention.

Want to buy some illusions?  She also paints the glamour girls of the era. I love the old pinup art, she says, but beauty standards have changed. The pinups were mostly portrayed through the male gaze. Women attained those glamour standards at a price that was often detrimental to their well-being, she says.

She drew on movies again for touches of the macabre  the skeletal visage beneath the makeup, the leg dripping blood.

Lets go backward  Although the pandemic affected Longs ability to show her paintings and connect in person with fellow artists, she used the time to paint.

I put together the Inside the Box series. It started with a self-portrait I created to mark my 25th birthday in March of 2020. I wanted to come up with a concept where I could do a self-portrait but would not fully reveal myself to the public, she says.

She painted her portrait in glimpses, 2-inch square canvasses arranged on a background: brows raised, eyes wide apart, a mouth whose smile is only imagined, hair rendered as frame, a portrait of the artist, fragmented.

When I started painting I used those small canvasses to experiment before I moved on to larger forms. During the pandemic I used them to process my feelings as I went through it for two years, she says.

Everything was canceled. There were no shows, no places to exhibit work. Growing up I just appreciated the process of making art. I was able to get back into that space during the pandemic.

I wasnt fixated on exhibitions, or whether anyone would buy it. I changed my mindset. I am happiest when I am creating art, she says.

Shall we dance?  She also realizes the pandemic offered opportunities. Her husband, Colin, began working from home. She had overtaken the dining room in their one-bedroom apartment as her studio.

After a year of close quarters, they purchased a duplex. One side is office and studio space, and we live in the other. Im creating more work, and Im not precariously stacking paintings on top of one another, Long says.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Id looked at my world from a perspective of negativity  what Id lost, all the things I couldnt do any more, she says. Inside the Box includes a painting, Decade, that meshes a mans face with a womans face.

That painting is about my husband and me. I finished it in January 2022 to mark the decade weve been together. I actually got to hang out more with my husband these past two years, which I appreciated, she says.

A show of Maxine Thirteens paintings is currently at Buder Library until March 30.

The Inside the Box show will be on display at 31art gallery until the end of April.

Maxine Thirteen

Artist  Maxine Long, who paints under the name Maxine Thirteen

Age  26

Family  Husband, Colin Long

Home  South St. Louis

What she does  Maxines artworks sometimes explore the past, often in portraiture of iconic movie figures of Hollywoods star system. Some of her work includes macabre elements as social commentary in a nod to vintage horror and sci-fi. She paints mostly in oils on canvas but does use different substrates and media as she sees fit. She also makes prints and limited-edition prints of her work. She is currently a resident artist and the art director at 31art gallery.

Where to buy  Her work is available at 31art gallery, 3520 Hampton Avenue, and Artisans in the Loop. She also sells through her Etsy store, etsy.com/shop/MaxineThirteen

How much  Prints of her work range from $15 to $45; original paintings range from $200 to $800. She also accepts commissions, which are priced individually.
The downtown parade is set for March 12, along with parades in Belleville and Cottleville. The parade in Dogtown is set for March 17.
Howard Mechanic and Nina Gilden Seavey  STL's most famous Vietnam-era fugitive and the filmmaker who documented his flight  will be in St. Louis next month.

On May 21, Mechanic and Seavey will take part in one of the three seminars being presented under the banner of "Our Movements of 1970.
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

Justine Blue waved her hand in a sweeping motion toward the PowerPoint presentation projected on the white board in the first-floor classroom at St. Louis Universitys Tegeler Hall.

It was a map of Kinloch, the first city in Missouri to be incorporated by African Americans. The map was broken down by individual lot, most of them now empty, many owned by the city of St. Louis.

These were all homes, she said, talking about the city where she grew up and still lives. Blue is the city manager for Kinloch. People all lived there.

Not so much anymore. For a variety of reasons, the biggest of which was the purchase of homes and property in the 1980s by St. Louis Lambert International Airport for noise abatement, Kinloch is a shadow of its former self.

In the past few years, due in large part to the advocacy of state Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, Kinloch fire Chief Kevin Stewart, Blue and others, regional leaders have started to rally around the idea of cleaning up the historic city in north St. Louis County, and finding a way to make it viable again.

It starts with ending the illegal dumping that has plagued the area for years.

What comes next is why Blue was visiting with students at her alma mater. She was meeting with the Urban Studies Symposium, a class taught by professors Doug Williams and Robert Lewis, to a mix of law students and urban planning students. Each year, the symposium tackles a problem in the St. Louis region that could use professional expertise, to give the students some real-world experience.

The challenges in Kinloch  specifically to bring back any level of residential growth  are substantial. The lots are small and divided among many owners. The zoning isnt up to date. The restrictive deeds placed on the properties by the airport make serious development nearly impossible without some sort of legal action.

But the students have ideas. Theyve been meeting with residents, developers, professors and attorneys. The law students have developed a legal strategy or two to remove the restrictive deeds. The planning students have various proposals to create zoning districts that will allow industrial and commercial development in some areas, housing in others.

The students have been talking with Great Rivers Greenway about expanding a planned trail in the area along Maline Creek to make sure it connects with Kinloch Park. They want to create a historic district that celebrates the citys unique Black history.

Blue listens carefully to every idea and proposal. She takes notes. She tells the students that she will take all their ideas back to the Project Kinloch team. That group of civic leaders includes Proudie; Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City; St. Louis County Council Chairperson Rita Days and others. The group is meeting regularly to plot a future for Kinloch, which has been neglected for too long.

Jas Cannon, one of the SLU students, explains the students are preparing a community survey to get Kinloch residents thoughts. They plan to distribute it door-to-door this month. Blue, who knows her residents well, says devising a plan that can get their support is both a key, and a challenge.

Going back to the airport buyouts, the residents of Kinloch dont have a lot of trust for the various city and county civic leaders who will have to work together to develop a workable plan.

What we dont have enough of, historically, are allies, Blue says. There is some progress in that regard. Earlier this year, the countys parks department applied for a $500,000 grant, which combined with other county funding could be used to refurbish Kinloch Park. Its a start.

For any progress to be lasting, suggests law student Patrick Ganninger, the city, county and Kinloch all must be on the same page.

Blue agrees, and that starts with asking the citys remaining residents, what they want to see happen.

The people of Kinloch want development, Blue tells the students. What they want most is some promises to be kept. Were open to anything and everything that people want to throw out. We realize we can never be what we were. We just want to move forward, the best we can.

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.
VENICE  A 25-year-old man was shot and killed early Thursday at an apartment complex here.

Illinois State Police said they were called around 1:45 a.m. to the 1300 block of Klein Avenue to help Venice police investigate a homicide.

Police said the man was struck while inside a home and was transported to a local hospital where he died.

An investigation continues. Witnesses or people with any knowledge about the shooting can contact CrimeStoppers, 314-725-8477.
ST. LOUIS  The former FBI agent chosen by St. Louis top prosecutor to investigate a Missouri governor in 2018 says all but one felony charge against him should be thrown out.

William Don Tisabys lawyers this week filed a motion to dismiss five of six perjury charges and one evidence tampering charge against him ahead of his trial March 28 in St. Louis Circuit Court.

Tisaby, 69, was indicted in 2019 on six charges of perjuring himself during a deposition into the invasion of privacy investigation of then-Gov. Eric Greitens, and one count of evidence tampering.

In his motion to dismiss, Tisaby argues only one of the six perjury charges mattered to the Greitens case because it dealt with Tisabys testimony about his efforts to find a compromising photo that Greitens was accused of taking of a woman.

Although Mr. Tisaby maintains he is innocent, the alleged photograph was critical to the underlying charges against Eric Greitens, Tisabys lawyers Jermaine Wooten and Daniel Dailey wrote in their motion. A jury must decide whether Mr. Tisaby perjured himself on the only critical fact in the State v. Greitens saga  the photograph.

Tisabys motion had been filed under seal Monday but St. Louis Circuit Judge Bryan Hettenbach unsealed it Thursday after a request from the Post-Dispatch.

Tisabys lawyers said the other five perjury counts are based on testimony that couldnt have changed the outcome of the case against Greitens. They argued that the charges accusing Tisaby of lying about whether he reviewed documents related to the Greitens case or took notes during his interview with Greitens accuser are irrelevant to her credibility and thus wholly immaterial to Greitens defense.

Tisabys lawyers also said the evidence tampering charge, accusing him of concealing documents from Greitens defense team, should be dismissed because he testified to having sent them to the Circuit Attorneys Office, which was responsible for producing them.

Obviously, if Mr. Tisaby had conspired to conceal these documents he would not have testified regarding their existence and location, Tisabys lawyers said. The CAO did not produce these documents, likely because it regarded those documents as privileged.

The Post-Dispatch recently published excerpts of Tisabys eight-hour deposition, which includes several tense exchanges between Tisaby and Jim Martin, one of Greitens defense lawyers.

The videos show how Greitens lawyers sought to attack Tisabys credibility by eliciting inconsistent and incorrect testimony about Tisabys investigation. It also reveals Tisaby stumbling over basic questions and struggling to explain key evidence and witness statements.

A hearing in Tisabys case is set for Friday.

Tisabys trial will offer a glimpse into key details of a disciplinary hearing for Gardner set for April 11. That hearing could decide the fate of her law license and political future. Gardner has denied the misconduct charges against her.

Tisabys lawyers have sought to depose Circuit Judge Rex Burlison in the case because he presided over multiple pretrial hearings in the Greitens case. A lawyer for Burlison has filed a motion to quash the subpoena.

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ST. LOUIS  A man was stabbed to death Wednesday evening in the 1300 block of North Newstead Avenue.

Officers responded to a call around 9:30 p.m. and found Dawayne McDaniel-Reid, 28, in a vehicle and suffering from "puncture wounds," police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police released McDaniel-Reid's identity on Friday.

There are no known suspects at this time.

Homicide detectives are investigating and ask anyone with information to call 314-444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri attorney generals office on Friday announced a settlement with the city of Moscow Mills in a lawsuit accusing the Lincoln County municipality of an illegal traffic ticket quota scheme.

The lawsuit, filed in November in Lincoln County Circuit Court, accused the city and police Chief Terry Foster of encouraging officers to write a minimum number of tickets every month and said Foster fired one police officer who spoke out against the alleged scheme to Moscow Mills Mayor Patrick Flannigan.

The 10-page consent judgment, released Friday by the attorney generals office, said Moscow Mills agreed to eliminate the traffic enforcement officer position the state mentioned in its lawsuit, which is currently vacant.

The city didnt admit guilt in the case, denying it had violated state laws against traffic ticket quotas.

The City of Moscow Mills denies such alleged wrongdoing and/or knowledge of any wrongdoing by its employee(s), the consent judgment says.

The City of Moscow Mills agrees and admits that having any policy as alleged in the States Petition requiring or encouraging employees to issue a certain number of citations for traffic violations would be in violation of Missouri law, the judgment says.

As part of the judgment, the city will also have to establish policies to ensure compliance with state law, which forbids traffic ticket quotas, and will submit to a review by the attorney generals office in one year.

Ive worked vigorously to ensure that municipalities are not using overzealous ticketing practices to fill municipal coffers, and my office has been successful in curbing those practices in this case and in previous cases, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, said in a statement.

The brave men and women of law enforcement sacrifice to protect our communities, not write endless traffic tickets, Schmitt said.

In a news release, which was provided to the Post-Dispatch on Friday by Foster, the city of Moscow Mills said its Board of Aldermen felt a quick resolution to the lawsuit served residents best interests.

The lawsuit had no merit, Cindy Davenport, city attorney, said in the release. However, the terms requested by the Attorney General will be implemented by the city, as agreed, and we will move forward.

The attorney generals lawsuit said Moscow Mills in 2013 created a volunteer traffic enforcement officer position that was later added as a part-time job under the assumption that it would pay for its own salary with ticket citation revenue.

Foster, the lawsuit said, instructed the officer to issue 10 citations per day. Other officers were told to write at least five tickets each month.

The lawsuit says Foster told the traffic enforcement officer to write 160 tickets per month, except in December and January, in order to secure $160,000 in court citation revenue per year.

The lawsuit said Foster warned of layoffs and lost jobs if the city didnt raise enough money through tickets.

It also accused Foster of attempting to silence a whistleblower.

When one officer met with the mayor to discuss concerns about the traffic ticket quota scheme, Foster found out and said one way or another, (this officer) is (expletive) gone, the lawsuit said.

Foster fired the officer two weeks later, the lawsuit said.

The citys news release Friday said Foster had been police chief for more than 14 years and that he would continue in the role with the full faith and confidence of the city of Moscow Mills.

Because there are ongoing legal issues regarding other police personnel, Ms. Davenport (the city attorney) has instructed Chief Foster to withhold public comment until those legal issues are resolved, the release said.

Originally posted at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 18.

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ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis judge Friday rejected a former FBI agent's move to dismiss a perjury case against him stemming from a 2018 invasion of privacy investigation of then-Gov. Eric Greitens.

Circuit Judge Bryan Hettenbach said the seven-count indictment against William Don Tisaby, 69, is "legally sufficient." Tisaby's lawyers argued all but one perjury count against Tisaby should be dismissed because they centered on testimony they said was immaterial to the Greitens case.

Tisaby was hired by Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner to investigate a claim Greitens took a semi-nude iPhone photo of a woman without her consent in 2015.

Forty-two St. Louisans have been summoned to appear for jury selection Thursday. Opening statements are set for March 28. Jurors will be asked to decide whether Tisaby's lied during an eight-hour deposition in 2018 and concealed evidence in his investigation.

The judge took under submission Tisaby's motion to dismiss the evidence tampering charge against him.

Gardner has been subpoenaed as a witness for the prosecution. Next month, Gardner will have a disciplinary hearing that could decide the fate of her law license and political future.

Gardner has denied the misconduct charges against her.

Circuit Judge Rex Burlison, who presided over multiple pretrial hearings in the Greitens case, was scheduled to be deposed Friday afternoon by Tisaby's lawyers.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Friday dismissed his challenge to masking rules in the city of St. Louis, and his office also announced an end to dozens of lawsuits he filed against Missouri school districts this year.

Chris Nuelle, spokesman for Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, said the attorney general dropped the St. Louis lawsuit because there is no mask mandate in the city. Indoor masking rules in St. Louis were last in effect March 5.

While Eric Schmitt wastes taxpayer dollars in an attempt to lift his Senate campaign, the city of St. Louis will continue to follow the guidance of health and hospital experts, Nick Dunne, spokesman for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, said in a statement Friday.

He said the masking rules were allowed to expire as key COVID-19 metrics  hospitalizations, case counts, case positivity rates  move in the right direction.

Nuelle said the attorney generals office stood ready to file another lawsuit if the city reinstated masking requirements.

Earlier Friday, Nuelle confirmed Schmitt was dropping lawsuits against school districts that no longer had masking rules in place.

Schmitt in January announced he was suing more than 40 school districts across the state with masking requirements in place to control the spread of COVID-19.

Because of that successful litigation and the fact that many school districts have dropped their mask mandates, we are dismissing lawsuits in districts where masking is no longer required, Nuelle said in a statement. However, make no mistake, the Attorney Generals Office stands ready, willing, and able to file more lawsuits if school districts cruelly decide to again force masking of children in school all day.

He said lawsuits would continue in five school districts that still have masking requirements: University City, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Clayton, Normandy and Center, in the Kansas City area.

He said lawsuits against the Columbia and St. Charles districts, which no longer have mask rules, are also continuing.

They (the lawsuits) have been a distraction for our school districts, said Christine McDonald, spokeswoman for EducationPlus, which represents St. Louis-area school districts.

Nuelle said the lawsuits led to districts dropping the rules, but McDonald rejected the assertion, saying the lawsuits didnt play a role in the changes in policies.

These lawsuits really hadnt progressed very far, McDonald said. All of the school districts decisions to drop or change their mask policy have been based on data that weve had around in our communities, consultation with doctors and a decision made by their board.

The rolling average of COVID-19 cases in Missouri peaked at 15,130 on Jan. 6 and has since plummeted  to an average of 470 cases on Friday, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis.

We still stand by the fact that elected school boards can and have the ability to make these decisions, McDonald said. And they are ultimately the ones who made the decision to change the status.

Schmitt in December fired off cease-and-desist letters to districts telling them to immediately end quarantine and masking rules after a Cole County judge issued a ruling striking state health regulations.

Educators said they had the authority under Missouri law to take such measures in response to the pandemic.

A letter then by the Missouri School Boards Association said school districts authority and obligation to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in schools has not been impacted.

It cited five Missouri statutes that give the local school board authority to make health and safety rules, including one law that gives boards of education general control of the property and affairs of any school district and another saying it is unlawful for a child to go to school while sick with any contagious or infectious disease, or while liable to transmit such disease after having been exposed to it.

But parents and students opposed to mandatory masking presented Schmitts cease-and-desist letter to administrators in protest.

Schmitt asked parents to email information on mandatory masks and quarantines to a tip line his office set up called illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov.

In January, his office followed up with dozens of lawsuits seeking to end mandatory masking policies at schools. Many of the tipsters were listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuits.

Originally posted at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18.

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ST. LOUIS  Cora Faith Walker, a former state lawmaker and high-profile St. Louis County government leader, was remembered Friday at a memorial service not only for her wit and policy expertise but also her relentless energy, bright smile and unrivaled fashion sense.

Walker, the countys chief policy officer and a fierce health care and reproductive rights advocate, died on the morning of March 11. She was 37. A cause of death has not been announced.

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and County Executive Sam Page were but two local elected officials and other dignitaries who packed Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Churchs Youth Worship Center in north St. Louis to celebrate and honor Walkers life and legacy with her husband, Tim, their families and friends.

Mayor Jones, a close personal friend, said Walker was the embodiment of her middle name  Faith  through her advocacy for those in need and her fierce support for her friends and family.

You saw the good in everyone even when they couldnt see it in themselves, Jones said, reading a personal letter to Walker. You were fiercely loyal to your friends, even if they werent loyal to you.

The two met in 2015 at a bipartisan womens working group in which they were the only Black women in the room, and formed a close friendship. Jones recalled their trips across the U.S., morning Peloton rides and policy discussions that included a healthy dose of constructive criticism for one another. The night before Walker died, she was with Jones at the mayors 50th birthday party.

I never thought in a million years that I would be celebrating a milestone birthday with you one day and grieving your transition the next, Jones said.

Over the years, Jones served as a mentor for Walker, calling her her junior. Walker called Jones senior.

Your smile could light a room, Jones said. You were feisty and constantly fought for what was right, just and true. You were my junior, and there will never be another one like you.

Page said Walker served as a voice for families, health care officials and people in need in every conference room she was in and in every conversation.

At times, Walker could be impatient. But it came from the heart, Page said.

She demanded people around her recognize the urgency of the tasks in front of them, he said.

Walker made all of St. Louis her office, putting her in touch with nonprofits, schools, health care workers, activists and municipal leaders.

Those friendships inform the policies that Cora brought to me, Page said. She made us all better.

Alisha Sonnier, a St. Louis Public Schools board member, said Walker had served as her mentor. She encouraged her friends and loved ones to continue Walkers work.

Today ... you can be sad, but tomorrow, we complete the mission, Sonnier said. Cora would want us to center her work, center her legacy and to continue the fight for social justice and equity.

Earlier Friday, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, remembered Walker on the floor of the House of Representatives.

No matter the role she was called to serve in Cora was unwavering in her commitment to uplifting those around her, Bush said. Above all else, she always stood for what is right, for herself, for her loved ones, for her neighbors, for St. Louis and for Missouri. She has left an indelible mark on me, and on our district.

Among other commemorations, members of both the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and the St. Louis County Council are expected to adopt resolutions honoring Walker when they reconvene. And in the Missouri Legislature, Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, and Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, both sponsored letters honoring Walker.

Gov. Mike Parson said in a tweet Friday that Walker will be remembered for her passionate advocacy for the St. Louis region and Missouris most vulnerable.

Walker, an attorney who specialized in health care policy, was elected to the Missouri House in November 2016 to represent parts of north St. Louis County including Ferguson. She was reelected in 2018.

Her focus in the Legislature was to promote access to health care and social support for women and families, fighting particularly to expand Medicaid across the state.

In 2019, she resigned from the Legislature to lead policy direction for Pages administration and was, at the time, one of three top county staffers reporting directly to Page.

In that role, she helped guide the countys response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the distribution of $173.5 million in federal aid for critical efforts including free meals, housing assistance and small business support.

Walker was also an outspoken defender of womens reproductive rights, earning ringing endorsements from groups including NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Walker was pronounced dead March 11 at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, after emergency medical responders transported her there from Loews Hotel in downtown St. Louis.

The St. Louis Medical Examiner found no signs of trauma or injury. A full report awaits the results of lab tests.

In Walkers memory, her family has asked for donations to charities and organizations she supported: Nurses for Newborns, Jamaa Birth Village, Pro Choice Missouri, and the Veterans Community Project-St. Louis.

Originally posted at 5:15 p.m. Friday, March 18.

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CLAYTON  Prominent local developer Larry Chapman came up with the $40 million cost estimate for a proposed north St. Louis County recreation center that its champion, County Council Chair Rita Days, has declined to discuss publicly, according to recently obtained emails.

Chapman, president and CEO of both Seneca Commercial Real Estate and Chapman Ventures, figured the estimate in partnership with Clayco and sent it to Days in an email dated Feb. 22. The cost estimates include projections for an indoor track, meeting space, and a fitness center that appeared to be based on a suggestion for a collegiate-level indoor track facility of the type suggested by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission.

Others who received copies of the email were Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis branch of the NAACP, and Rodney Crim, president and CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

Chapman, who has developed other projects in north St. Louis County in Days district, said Thursday that he had volunteered to provide a cost estimate, but had no other plans for the project.

I just simply put together a very preliminary order of magnitude budget for her to see, so that when she put a RFP together she could do it in a realm of reality, he said.

Days did not respond to requests for comment.

The emails, obtained through a Sunshine Law request, shed light on a project that would use public funding but about which Days has revealed few details.

The idea of a new recreation center in North County has had public support from the County Council, County Executive Sam Page, the CVC, the Partnership and Pruitt.

The project aims to benefit youths in a majority-Black part of the county that has seen less economic and public investment compared to other areas of the county.

But Days has pushed for public funding for the facility without detailing what it would look like, where it would be located, and who was providing cost estimates for the proposed facility.

Under a bill up for a final vote as early as Tuesday, the county would issue $40 million in special obligation bonds for a rec center, tacking the cost onto a $105 million bond issue to expand Americas Center in downtown St. Louis.

The move, approved by the council on March 8, came after Days delayed for months action on the convention center bonds, insisting that the rec center matter be addressed to her satisfaction.

The council would have to vote again on the rec center bonds after the financing is arranged, and would have to approve any future contracts.

At the March 8 meeting, Days said volunteers had estimated the cost for the project, which she claimed faced opposition because it would benefit a majority-Black area. But she declined to provide more details about the plans or those opposing it.

I have been reluctant to say a lot about what is happening with this because I know that there are several people that do not want this to happen, she said at the time. A lot of people have been volunteering their time and their efforts to me, and theyre not willing to come forward at this time and say, I am involved in this.

Chapmans email to Day included a Clayco preliminary budget, dated Feb. 16, for an UMSL  Indoor Track Facility that estimated roughly $30.4 million in site work and construction costs.

Chapman added $9 million for entry and building enhancements, a recreation and meeting space, and furniture fixtures. The $9 million also included $3 million for a 10% contingency fee and $1 million for startup costs and first-year operations.

If you have questions, please feel free to give me a call. ... Please note, I havent sent it to everybody at this point in time, but I am happy to do it if that is what you would like me to do, Chapman said in the email. I really would not like to get information like this published at this point.

Days, in a response sent March 2, said that the information, should be kept with the team at this point.

So if you got this, you are not to forward to anyone else, Days said.

In an email March 4, Chapman asked for a little direction on how to produce more detailed designs for the recreation center that could be used for an RFP. He also asked for $100,000 to study the UMSL site identified as the likely location for the facility.

I also keep remembering that there will need to be a RFP process at some point in time and all the materials generated by this effort will be needed to do the RFP anyway, so I will make sure the information collected is in a format to use for the future RFP process, Chapman said.

I continue to think about the facility, and I just want to tell you that if I was given the opportunity to respond to the RFP, the $40 million overall estimate that I put together is plenty to get the job done and create a fabulous facility everybody would be super proud of. If one of you could give me a little direction on what I should do to get something like this done, I would appreciate it.

Asked why he had written that he wanted to keep the information from being publicized, Chapman said Thursday it was because the talks were preliminary.

There are no plans, he said. People get information like this, and they want to drill down on details. There are so many things that have to happen between now and then, and all that represents is a number that should be adequate to develop the project and complete it. Period.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Partnership said the entity is one of many organizations who are trying to help find a regional solution.

Page spokesman Doug Moore said Page wasnt involved in those conversations outlined in the emails. But Page knew from Crim that the Partnership was talking to Days about the project, he said.

The Partnership, Moore said, is finding partners in the community that have a proven track record and can provide sound cost estimates for what something would cost.

Its going to be a long time before any funds are available for that project but the process is underway to at least begin identifying the cost, he said.

UMSL location

The emails also showed Days moving forward with an agreement to house the recreation center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The university previously confirmed that it was in talks to house the center on its campus at a spot near the north MetroLink station.

A March 7 email from Charles Saulsberry, a partner at Saulsberry and Associates LLC, included a draft of an outline for an agreement with UMSTL.

Once you approve this draft, I will then share it with the University for their comments, Saulsberry said. The email copied Pruitt.

UMSL spokesman Steve Walentik said Thursday in a statement that the university had not signed any agreements. He said he did not know more.

In a statement, he said: The University of MissouriSt. Louis will continue to engage in conversations as a part of the regional solution for building a facility that can benefit the campus and the region.

Originally posted at 7:41 p.m. Thursday, March 17.

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ST. LOUIS  Outcry over defund the police has built what seems like one roadblock after another around a champion of the slogan. Naturally, shes yelling back at the encroaching lines, unwilling to disperse.

I am the activist, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, said in a recent interview. I am going to do what needs to be done to help bring the awareness.

Her message  part of her platform as a first-term congresswoman from St. Louis  was born out of the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson and the months of protests that followed. While the incident fueled a national movement challenging lethal use of force, it also shed light on municipalities unfairly bolstering budgets through traffic tickets, fines and fees levied on the poor.

New laws and policies cracked down on disparities. Yet many view defund the police, and Bush for that matter, as enemies of law and order. They say less police means more lawlessness. St. Louis is Exhibit A. Another viewpoint says the criticism is reminiscent of sensationalizing the Black Power movement to scare away votes in the 1960s and 70s.

Conservatives regularly use defund the police to further drive a wedge between Democrats and Republicans. Moderate and progressive Democrats have also distanced themselves. Nervous about midterm elections, some suggest rebranding the slogan to better fit its intended purpose, which is to serve minorities trapped in concentrated poverty with something more effective than police geared up for war.

In February, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said: Community safety, to protect and defend in every way, is our oath of office but that defund the police is not the position of the Democratic Party. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, hammered the message home during his State of the Union address with a full-throated endorsement for funding police.

Bush reiterated to the Post-Dispatch that she wants to keep defund the police in the forefront. Yes, its made people angry and uncomfortable, yet more motivated to act.

This is the thing, people have been saying: Well, we need to reinvest. We need to move money, she said. We need to do all that for a while. It hasnt happened. But when we started saying defund the police, and that started to get a lot of momentum, then people started to move.

She said people gaslight her by suggesting the slogan should be rebranded.

You are more worried about the slogan than you are about getting it done, she said. So dont even say the slogan. Just do the work. Reallocate. Do whatever you want to do. Do that. And dont worry about the slogan.

The political implications?

They will use anything, she said. Right now, its defund the police. The next thing it will be school choice or it will be abortion. This is just the one that they can use because they are talking about the activist from the movement that they werent a part of.

Teaching history

Lawyer. Educator. Business owner. Farmer. Auctioneer. These are some of the backgrounds of people in Congress.

St. Louis, in Missouris 1st Congressional District, tends to draw activists.

William L. Clay was a leader of the Jefferson Bank & Trust Co. protests, the signature event of the civil rights movement in St. Louis. He was an alderman who went on to co-found the Congressional Black Caucus, serving in Washington from 1969 to 2001. His son, William Lacy Clay, carried the baton until 2020, when Bush defeated him in the Democratic primary.

Brandon Bosley, alderman of Ward 3, said activism is needed in St. Louis because there is so much to advocate for in the Black community. He said those neighborhoods, like his around Hyde Park, have been hit much harder by disinvestment, population decline, lead poisoning, industrial pollution and disparities in health care than white neighborhoods.

Folks tend to act like history isnt important, he said. Theres a reason why you teach it in school.

He said defund the police sends a different message than the intended purpose.

We know it starts with redirecting dollars, he said. No matter how many officers we get on the street, we still have a social and cultural problem that hasnt allowed us to bridge the gap between community, police and what we consider the system.

He said there are still people vividly aware of the Jim Crow era, people who still remember the Fairground Park race riots in 1949 that stemmed from desegregating the pool.

Imagine the first 10 or 12 years of your life, you are told that you cant go north of Grand. You are told to ride in the back of the street car. You are told that you cant buy a house in a certain area, Bosley said. And if you know you cant go to a swimming pool, then you know you cant go to a good school. All of those things happened. They enforced it utilizing the police.

We still see some of those things taking place, he added, referring to video of a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, killing the Black man in 2020. You cant make this up.

Bush takes the lesson to a broader audience.

St. Louis and I rise today because if Americas students are not taught the truth in school, we can at least make the floor of the House of Representatives their classroom, she said from the floor.

There was a large picture behind her of a crowd gawking at two lynched Black people.

What we must remember is that for every Black person they hung from a tree, dozens of white people came to celebrate, she said, adding: This is the truth about our country that too many racist lawmakers want to prevent our students from learning.

In an interview, Bush said she drew inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.s fierce urgency of now.

The people of St. Louis elected me to speak plain and to speak truth in the face of anyone, she said. Thats what I have to do in D.C.

So far, she doesnt face a high-profile opponent in the next election.

Good strategy

Andre Smith, a political scientist, said its been compelling to watch Bushs trajectory from street activist to lawmaker. He said she caused an earthquake by unseating Clay because it ended a north city political machine.

These younger voters, they dont know the Clay name, he said. Cori Bush was able to parlay her time on the street during the Ferguson protest to those younger voters. Shes throwing these flames at the institution. And they really like that. They feel like the older African American leadership was too institutionalized.

He said her position challenges the broader Democratic Party.

If Cori Bushs primary goal is reelection, its a very good strategy. She has a very rational strategy. One that we shouldnt discount. It speaks to her constituency, Smith said. Shes kind of a maverick that she is basically saying to her party that I dont care about your macro issues.

Even though defund the police sounds good to someone who had a bad experience with an officer, he said it only goes so far, for instance, in areas of concentrated poverty where residents are more likely to be victimized by crime.

He was also speaking from his own experience. Smith grew up in the Peabody public housing project in south St. Louis. He was a police officer in St. Louis for 20 years, mainly in north city. He earned a doctorate in political science while on the force. His last stint was as a sex crimes detective.

Those people need the police more than anybody, he said of abuse victims. But the problem is this: There are no other institutions in those communities. They just dont exist.

Smith, who now teaches at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, said the doctors offices, dentists, grocery stores and gyms are gone from north St. Louis.

What happens is the police is the only institution that this community deals with on a regular basis, he said.

For their part, he said, the police have failed to build effective communication networks in north St. Louis. Places like the 6300 block of Sherry Avenue. He said that area, right on the city line with Jennings, has had outsized drug activity for decades.

We werent able to communicate with elderly homeowners on that block, he said.

View from Sherry

A 73-year-old woman with a cross dangling from her neck answered one of the front doors on Sherry last week. She said shed lived there 35 years, raised three children.

She said she didnt want to be named out of fear of being targeted. She said she and her neighbors look out for each other. She said there was a recent fatal hit-and-run at the intersection of Goodfellow Boulevard. She recalled a fatal police shooting at a nearby gas station in 2018.

She said she didnt understand what defund the police means. She said shes not against the police, but some officers need to be better trained. Her main complaint was all the concrete barricades on Sherry and other nearby streets.

She said the replacement value of her home, compared to other areas, is one large obstacle to uprooting.

LaShonda Jamison, 45, waited at a nearby bus stop, on her way to work. Originally from Vinita Park, she said she moved to the area three years ago, seeking more affordable housing after losing her job as a manager of a clothing store in Brentwood. She hears a lot of gunshots at night and looks out for high-speed cars and chases.

I dont think they should defund the police, she said, catching the bus to her new job at a discount store. We need as many police as possible around here because of the violence.

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ST. LOUIS  Hassan Alwaeli pulled his red convertible Ford Mustang into a gas station off Jefferson Avenue to fill up. He rolled his eyes twice. The potholes this year, he grumbled. Hes had too many close calls.

And these are not small potholes, said Alwaeli, 21.

Over the last decade, residents have submitted tens of thousands of pothole complaints to the city. But this time of year is the worst. Between February and April  after the snow falls, the plows hit the road, and the frozen asphalt crumbles  complaints can come in at double or triple the normal volume. Its hard for drivers, who lose tires, and even lives. It taxes state transportation workers, forced to dodge highway traffic as they repair the craters. And it swamps St. Louis understaffed streets department.

Potholes have been a major issue for the St. Louis area for years, said former Democratic state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, who hit a pothole this week and ended up with a $438 repair shop bill on her Mercedes.

The pits have long plagued Midwestern states, thanks to their frequent freeze-thaw cycles.

In winter, water and chemicals used to treat roads seep into cracks in the pavement, explained Bob Becker, district maintenance engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation St. Louis district. There, the mixture freezes and expands, widening the crack, then thaws and contracts, until eventually the pavement deteriorates enough that one good bump from a tire opens up the gouge for good, and a pothole is born.

St. Louis Streets Commissioner Kent Flake said repairing the ruts makes up a sizeable chunk of his crews work right now. He has just shy of 100 employees, with 157 positions open, and more than 60 of those open jobs are in street maintenance  the people who fill potholes.

Flake said asphalt can cost three to four times more per ton now than it did more than a decade ago. Back then, every major road in St. Louis got repaved consistently every eight years. Now, potholes that cause property damage shoot to the top of the citys priority list, he said.

Flake said as of this week, the city had 1,800 open requests for pothole repair. A number of people may complain about one pothole, so the number of complaints doesnt necessarily reflect the number of potholes in the city.

Residents complained the most about the Central West End, followed by Lindenwood Park, then Dutchtown, Midtown and Jeff-Vander-Lou.

But potholes plague neighborhoods throughout the city, according to complaint data.

My biggest issue is that potholes are our welcome sign, said Travis Sheridan, an Old North resident. With all the challenges the neighborhood faces, and other North City neighborhoods face, fighting the perception of this being a rough neighborhood is difficult when the roads are literally rough.

The city fields 200 to 300 complaints in a typical month. But between February and April, that figure triples.

St. Louis County and the state department of transportation could not quickly provide comparable numbers. But state officials described similar problems.

Theyre no joke. Three state highway workers were injured this week filling potholes on Interstate 44. Last summer, Robin E. Foster, 49, of St. Louis, was on the interstate at close to 1:30 a.m. when she hit a pothole and veered into a tractor-trailer traveling next to her. Foster died in the accident.

Im dodging them every day, Im telling you, said Darryl Williams, 42, who bent a wheel on a pothole a couple of years ago. The dodge-and-weave driving, plus the extra costs, get old.

Remey Whittington, 57, was at Spirit One Automotive on Arsenal Street in Benton Park West this week to get a quote on a new muffler and some front bumper damage, neither of which were caused by a pothole. But hes frustrated all the same.

You pay your taxes, and its like, what are they doing with the money? Whittington asked.

Andrew Tolch was on his way home on Sunday when he watched a car hit a hole on Watson Road in south St. Louis County. The tire blew out, the rim went flying, hit a small car, which then ran over the rim and flattened its tire, too.

Its like whack-a-mole, Tolch said in a Twitter message. But you and your vehicle are the moles.

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Culture and tourism watchdogs in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui released more than 50 tasks for 2022 at a recent meeting, calling for joint efforts to promote the development of culture and tourism in the Yangtze River Delta region.

The region, consisting of the municipality of Shanghai and Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, will set up three alliances this year to protect large archaeological sites and archaeological site parks, standardize public libraries, and give regional art tests, respectively.

Meanwhile, the municipality and the provinces will launch ten art events, such as a painting and photography exhibition, a Chinese instrumental music composition contest, and a pop music competition.

Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui will also work together to protect cultural relics. They will hold the 2022 China Grand Canal Tourism Conference, the 3rd Yangtze River Delta Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition, and the 2nd Lingjiatan Cultural Forum during the year.

They will cooperate in developing tourist attractions. In addition, tourism expos and meetings will be held.




WASHINGTON  Massive price spikes for food and energy sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine will push over 40 million people into extreme poverty, the Center for Global Development (CGDEV) said on Friday, warning against export curbs and sanctions on Russian food production.

In an analysis blog, the Washington-based think tank said food commodity prices since the start of the conflict have risen above levels experienced in price spikes in 2007 and 2010. It cited World Bank Research showing that the 2007 spike may have pushed as many as 155 million people into extreme poverty, and separate research showing the 2010 episode pushed 44 million into extreme poverty.

"Price increases seen to date are already of a similar magnitude to the 2010 increases, and our analysis suggests at least 40 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty by the 2022 price spike," CGDEV researchers wrote.

The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 a day.

The researchers said the most immediate concern was for direct wheat customers of Ukraine and Russia, which together account for more than a quarter of world wheat exports. These include Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey, but prices will rise worldwide as importers compete for alternative supplies.

Households in low-income countries allocate nearly half of their budgets to food, and higher prices will force "hard choices between food and other necessities."

The CGDEV blog urged development agencies and international finance institutions to move quickly to respond to a clear increase in humanitarian needs around the world, while wealthy governments should provide supplemental funding to the institutions well in advance of the coming food crisis.
Another day, another craven political stunt from Missouris top legal official. State Attorney General Eric Schmitt and his counterparts from five other red states sent a letter last week to DirecTV to strongly recommend that it continue carrying One America News Network. Leave it to Schmitt to side with a top right-wing disinformation organ in his continuing quest to demagogue his way into a U.S. Senate seat.

OAN is a rightist propaganda machine masquerading as a news network, catering to hyper-conservatives who find Fox News to be too mainstream. It promotes disinformation about supposed voter fraud in 2020, the supposed false-flag attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and supposed deaths linked to coronavirus vaccines  all lies, and dangerous ones, often in groveling service to former President Donald Trump. The network is currently facing two massive lawsuits from election-technology companies that it has smeared with its disinformation.

DirecTV announced in January it was dropping the network from its service, following a routine internal review. The company didnt give a specific explanation and wasnt obligated to. This is a free-enterprise business decision (a concept Republicans used to respect), but its not difficult to deduce that the bad publicity over hosting toxic lies was finally deemed to be bad for the balance sheet.

Yet rather than just keeping governments nose out of it and letting the market decide  once the mantra of good Republicans everywhere  Schmitt jumped on the bandwagon of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, signing onto a letter to DirecTVs chief executive and board of directors along with other attorneys general from Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana and South Carolina.

The letter called the decision to drop the network highly troubling and disappointing, alleged without evidence that it was capitulation to powerful left-wing voices, and ominously recommended the company reconsider your present course and renew your contract with OAN.

The letter does pay lip-service to the market, warning fancifully that failure to keep OAN will not only cause you to lose millions of dollars in business, but also drive many millions of Americans to simply cancel your services. But its hard to miss the intimidating undertone of a letter like this from a half-dozen of the most powerful legal officials in America.

Schmitt is supposed to be Missouris lawyer in court. Instead, he has used his post to bully school districts over their mask policies and curriculum, to grandstand in defense of parents who disrupt school board meetings, to file a ridiculous lawsuit against China and to generally throw whatever chunks of red meat he thinks might convince Missouris Republican base to nominate him to the Senate. The fact that he thinks carrying water for professional liars might fit that bill says much about him  and about the base.
Missouris junior senator, Josh Hawley, is vying for a starring role in the upcoming Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Hawley is joining other Republicans in asserting that, in her days as a public defender, she was pro-murderer, pro-pedophile and pro-terrorist. These are the cheapest of cheap shots, of course. But then, Missourians and the entire nation have come to expect nothing less of a senator who is doing all he can to raise campaign money off his calculatedly obnoxious public spectacles, including his supporting role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

As a lawyer and legal scholar, Hawley knows fully well that the job of any attorney is to represent the client to the best of her or his ability, regardless of how the attorney might personally feel about the defendant. Jackson had the unpopular role representing murderers and a terrorism suspect held at Guantanamo Bay. Jackson did her job as a federal public defender from 2005 to 2007 and, no doubt, will defend herself when these questions come up in the confirmation hearings. For now, however, the stage belongs to Hawley.

Republicans would counter that below-the-belt attacks should be expected, given the grilling then-nominee Brett Kavanaugh faced in 2018 regarding a witness accusation that he had sexually assaulted her in high school. The difference, however, is between Democrats efforts to determine whether Kavanaugh had violated the law as a youth and whether his beer-drinking escapades might reveal deeper attitudes regarding womens rights.

For Republicans, its payback time, and the dirty job falls to a very willing Hawley and his Texas Republican colleague, Sen. Ted Cruz, to drag Jacksons name through the mud as best they can. Jackson and Hawley met on March 9 as she embarked on preliminary meetings with Senate Judiciary Committee members. At the time, the two were all smiles and warmth.

On Wednesday, Hawley went for the jugular, tweeting that Jackson as a judge had been soft on child porn defendants, adding about her opinions, articles, interviews and speeches: Ive noticed an alarming pattern when it comes to Judge Jacksons treatment of sex offenders, especially those preying on children. ... This is a disturbing record for any judge, but especially one nominated to the highest court in the land. Protecting the most vulnerable shouldnt be up for debate. Sending child predators to jail shouldnt be controversial.

Hawley sent out 18 tweets in all, many containing snippets of court transcripts clearly taken out of context so the senator could draw the most explosive conclusions possible. Chances are slim that his antics will be effective in blocking Jacksons confirmation. More likely, Republican senators mindful of the pre-midterm optics  low-blow attacks by white men against the first Black woman ever nominated to the Supreme Court  will smartly choose to get as far away from Hawley as they can.
Regarding the editorial "As Ukrainians die, Cori Bush worries about the suffering of Russia's people" (March 12): The editorial said that the rationale for sanctions was to make life difficult for Russians so they will demand Russian President Vladimir Putin halt his invasion. This practice of indiscriminate economic warfare on civilians based on the actions of their government is a dangerous one that has been applied callously in many countries.

The war in Yemen could result in millions starving, on top of the nearly 400,000 dead ("Harrowing figures: Yemen report says 161,000 to face famine," March 14). This would not be possible without the overwhelming sale of U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia. Are other countries justified in applying indiscriminate sanctions for crimes that would not be possible without the support of our government?

Indeed, as the Brown University Costs of War Project estimates, a minimum of 38 million people are displaced because of our U.S. government and its decades-long war on terrorism. Why not focus spending on those living below the poverty line in our own country?

Joe Ponzillo  St. Louis
One of the great mysteries of the Russian military failure in Ukraine was revealed in 2021 when Russian state-controlled media gave details of the experience Russian pilots and ground forces officers gained in Syria. Russia believed time spent in the Syrian combat zone would prove to be invaluable in any future war as 90 percent of Russian military pilots now have combat experience. Since 2015 many pilots have flown over a hundred combat sorties in Syria and a few of them over 400. This would account for so many Russian aircraft types showing up in Syria, sometimes in small numbers for short periods. Russia had earlier revealed that they combat tested a lot of new equipment and weapons in Syria, enabling the new gear to use a sales inducement of combat tested.

Russian aircraft flew over 40,000 sorties in Syria so far, so there was plenty of work for Russian pilots to get some combat experience. There was one catch, most of the sorties did not involve engaging the enemy. In Syria that meant lots of reconnaissance sorties and combat sorties where there was no combat, as in nothing to bomb or weather that prevented such attacks. The combat experience of the pilots wasnt all that dangerous because there were no enemy aircraft while the Islamic terrorists and irregulars below only had short range anti-aircraft weapons like heavy machine-guns and some portable heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles that were out of date compared to the missile defenses in Russian helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Many of the targets in Syria were rebels Russia was trying to force out of Syria. Most of the combat experience came in the form of finding designated targets and bombing them, often with unguided bombs that had to be dropped from low altitudes.

As of late 2021, nearly 70,000 Russian troops had served in Syria, many more than once. Both pilots and ground troops served in Syria for short periods, like three to six months at a time. Since Russia had been in Syria for six years, a growing number of Russian pilots and ground forces officers have served more than one tour.

Russia also confirmed that promising ground forces officers were also sent to Syria for some combat experience and currently most of the commanders and chiefs of staff of units from battalion size up to the divisions, armies and military districts have had some experience in Syria. For the ground force officers the experience often meant going into action as advisors to Syrian officers. This was often in the form of Russian officers leading by example because most Syrian officers had become reluctant to lead their troops into combat due to heavy casualties the Syrian army has suffered since 2011. Russia special operations officers got the most combat experience because they led Russia spetsnaz commandos on combat missions and took a few casualties.

By late 2021 Russia had over 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border and in Crimea with more units arriving every week. Ukrainian intelligence analysts estimated there would be 150,000 Russian troops in position to attack Ukraine in late February or early March.

Ukrainian intel officials were already explaining why and how Russia was serious about completing their takeover of Ukraine. The initial 2014 effort was partially successful but has been stalled since late 2014 in Donbas. Ukrainians have long warned that the Russians were not giving up on their plans to reincorporate Ukraine into Russia and rebuild the Russian empire that communist misrule destroyed in 1991. Russia spins their rebuilding of the Russian empire as necessary for peace in the region because the current official Russian version of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was that this event was a tragedy that must be fixed.

As the Ukrainians saw it the new Russia offensive would use a collection of older tactics to create a plan, and a force currently gathered on the Ukrainian borders, to destroy Ukrainian independence. The offensive, if it happened, would take place in early 2022. Ukraine deduced from Russian media and past experience that Russia believed it has persuaded enough NATO, especially German, politicians that Ukraine was not worth going to war over, and that the Americans would not be reliable allies in any efforts to prevent or assist Ukraine against a Russian invasion.

The key to the Russian strategy was demoralization and multiple armed incursions that would overwhelm Ukrainian ability to handle the situation and further demoralize Ukrainians. Russia currently had enough troops deployed on the Ukraine borders to form and carry out fifty or more simultaneous attacks using their BTGs (Battalion Task Groups), advancing into Ukraine from different locations along the northern border as well as from the larger garrison now stationed in Russian occupied Crimea. Each BTG had about 800 troops and the ones advancing into Ukraine were composed of volunteer troops. Most of the 170 Russian BTGs in the Russian ground forces have some conscripts, which by law there are not allowed to be used in a combat zone except in defense of Russia.

Reformers in the Russian military had proposed the use of BTGs as far back as World War II and experimented with the concept frequently since then. This included implementing a form of the BTG to lead an advance of their forces into western Europe. The Cold War version was called a ROD or Route Opening Detachment and could be as large as a battalion. The ROD was used during training but never in action.

BTGs were used with some success in Afghanistan during the 1980s, especially if the BTG contained a lot of veteran or elite (airborne or special operations) troops. Some BTGs were used during the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia in the Caucasus. The BTGs proved more effective than larger units and a series of reforms for the Russian military after 2008 included forming many BTGs. Russia did not use many regular combat units to take over Crimea and Donbas in 2014. Despite that, dozens of BTGs were available in case they were needed. Russia expanded their available BTGs from 96 in 2014 to 125 by 2018 and 170 by 2021. By late 2021 Ukraine estimated that there were 56 BTGs on their borders, all of them combat ready, meaning no conscripts and led by officers with experience in Syria.

The mass use of BTGs in Ukraine failed, and not just because the Ukrainians were well aware of BTGs, but because the Russians had not taken into account Ukrainian preparations to deal with an offensive composed of those. Ukraine reported that 15 days after the invasion (March 10th) they had destroyed or rendered useless for combat 31 BTGs. The remaining BTGs were outnumbered by Ukrainian defenders using tactics designed to destroy or neutralize BTGs.

Captured Russian plans indicated the Russian expected the war to be over after 15 days with Kyiv captured and a new, Russian controlled government installed. That plan was based on the assumption that most Ukrainians would not actively oppose the Russians and that many would welcome the Russians as liberators. This was a major failure of Russian military intelligence, especially the FSB (successor to the KGB) which had an active network of informants and operatives inside Ukraine even before 2014. This was reported on by the Ukrainians, usually when announcing the arrest and identification of another Russian agent. Such matters were denied by Russia but the FSB was encouraged by Russian leaders to put a positive spin on what was going on inside Ukraine between 2014 and 2022. By early March the reality of the situation was obvious and two senior FSB officials were put under house arrest while their degree of guilt was determined. The guilt probably belongs to senior officials who received the FSB intel and made adjustments to make sure Putin saw what he expected.

The Russians also underestimated the NATO response to the invasion. NATO nations sent in thousands of highly effective ant-tank and anti-aircraft weapons that played a major role in neutralizing or destroying most of the BTGs used for the invasion and crippling Russian efforts to keep their BTGs supplied. Russia knew about the American Javelin ATGM (anti-tank guided missiles) which had been regularly destroying the most modern Russian armored vehicles for over a decade, especially in Syria and Iraq. The Russians apparently assumed that the American Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile had not changed much since it was first used to cripple Russian helicopter operations in Afghanistan during the 1980s. By 2022 Russian helicopters and transport aircraft were equipped to defeat the 1980s Stinger, but not the 2022 version which, because of many upgrades, was able to destroy Russian helicopters and aircraft used in Ukraine. Russia had about 500 attack and transport helicopters available for the Ukraine invasion but, when Ukrainian forces began taking down these helicopters, Russia used them much less. So far about 20 percent of these 500 Russian helicopters have been destroyed and small teams of Ukrainians using Javelins and Stingers are operating closer to the Russian border to halt resupply operations. Russia has now reverted to more traditional methods and ordered their troops to forage (loot) to survive and kill any Ukrainian civilians who resist. The war is no longer considered a liberation but a conquest of hostile territory.

The original Russian plan depended on demoralization of Ukrainian forces and economic collapse from a Russian blockade of the coastline and most of the land borders. NATO aid was not expected to be a major factor and, when that turned out to be wrong the Putins response was a threat of nuclear war. This caused Putin to lose a lot more support within his own military and security services, as well as the general public. Ukrainians believe that the Russian obsession with preventing Ukraine from joining NATO has been the root cause of all this aggression against an independent Ukraine. Russia wants to make it clear that Ukrainians would be safer from this violence if they were part of Russia, and not an annoying neighbor.

This Ukrainian intel assessment proved far more accurate than the Russian one when it came to describing capabilities of troops and weapons. It was no secret that Ukraine had reorganized its ground forces since 2014 and by 2021 had 250,000 troops on active duty with most (80 percent) in the ground forces. Conscription was halted in 2013, but revived in 2014 because of the continued Russian invasion threat. Ukraine has several hundred thousand men with military experience who can be called up, armed, and organized into units to deal with a major emergency. The ground forces also include about 10,000 special operations and airborne/airmobile troops. Russia has many agents inside Ukraine, knew of the growing reserve and paramilitary forces and the enthusiasm of Ukrainians to obtain military training to defend their independence. Russia has a lot of reluctant conscripts which means a large portion of their ground forces are untrained or poorly trained for offensive or special operations. Russia is putting most of its few effective units into the new Ukrainian offensive.

President Putin later made matters worse by reinterpreting the agreements that dissolved the Soviet Union in 1991 and the use of Western assistance to deal with Soviet nuclear weapons outside of Russia. Putin now insists these new nations owe Russia large debts because Russia paid off all the Soviet foreign debts when the Soviet Union dissolved and that was part of the deal to avoid civil war, where it was assumed NATO and others would back many of the potential Russian Civil War factions. This has always been the justification for Russian claims on Ukraine but now are being applied to the Baltic States, three small nations that got free of the Soviet Union and joined NATO. Putin is threatening NATO members, who have a mutual defense agreement. If Russia attacks a NATO member, all NATO members are obliged to join a defensive effort. Putin has always wanted to rebuild the Russian Empire, which the monarchy (czars) had created and completed during the 1800s.

Putin refused to face the fact that when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, it was because half the population willingly went to the 14 new countries and most of those people were quite enthusiastic about ending the Soviet Union and their domination by that empire. The Soviet Union was basically the Russian Empire cobbled together by the old czarist monarchy over more than two centuries of conquest and expansion. Thus, half the Soviet Union population felt like conquered people, not part of any union. The Soviet Union dissolved quickly in 1990-91 because over half the population really wanted it to happen and had wanted it for a long time.

Another issue Putin ignored was that many ethnic Russians were tired of supporting a lot of the less affluent conquered people and were fed up with the economic failures of communism. The former Soviet Union citizens who regret the breakup tend to be older people who were disillusioned at how corruption and bad leadership made post-Soviet life less wonderful than was expected. Many younger Russians are more realistic, never having lived as adults in the Soviet Union and intimately familiar with the fact that freedom isnt free and democracy is difficult to maintain. Putin gained some support for his new empire by using his control of Russian mass media to push the idea that any economic problems inside Russia were not the fault of Russians but evil foreigners, especially the United States. That worked until the Ukraine misadventure when these younger fans noted that none of the other former portions of the Soviet Union answered Putins call to send troops to share the glory in Ukraine. Even Belarus, considered the most pro-Russia of the 14 new nations formed by the half of the Soviet population that were free of Russia since 1991. These former Soviet provinces were more pragmatic and accurate in assessing Russian performance in Syria and Libya as well Vladimir Putins imperial ambitions.

For younger Russians there are more economic opportunities than under communism. While Russia lost half its population in 1991, it retained most of the valuable natural resources, like oil and natural gas, and that meant more prosperity for post-Soviet Union Russians. In Soviet times there was little legal economic opportunity for anyone and most everyone was equally poor. The Putin solution is a police state with a relatively free market. In the 20h century this became known as fascism and that describes most of the foes the Soviet Union and its western allies faced and defeated during World War II. Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the communist party that won power in Russia after World War I, was experimenting with this idea in the early 1920s, but then he died. His successor, Josef Stalin, was opposed by many communist leaders who agreed with the Lenin idea of more economic freedom to produce a more productive economy. Stalin was concerned about power, not prosperity and used that to depict his many real or suspected political opponents as traitors to the communist cause and killed or exiled most of them before World War II.

Stalin died eight years after World War II ended and his successors agreed on purging (often killing) all the officials considered true believers in Stalins brutal methods. The successors ignored or were not aware of how inefficient the pure communist command (state controlled) economy was. That made it worse and by the 1980s it was obvious to Russian leaders that they were going bankrupt and unable to sustain the Soviet state much longer. The Russian people were suffering a lot more than their corrupt leaders and by 1990 refusing to go along with the communist leadership. This is a common pattern in dictatorships, including monarchies and the Soviet leaders, like the Tsar that was overthrown in 1917, did not realize how bad their situation was until it was too late. Putin turned the post-Soviet democracy into a police state pretending to be a democracy with him as the leader-for-life. His failures with the economy, democracy and now Ukraine leave Putin with more enemies than allies at all levels of Russian society, including the government and security forces. Putin still retains the power to order the use of nuclear weapons, but no fading dictator ever tried to use these weapons to retain power and the Russian nukes cannot literally be used by one person. There are bureaucracies, procedures and safeguards that must be followed to make the nukes work. As was demonstrated during the 1980s, there are Russians in that bureaucracy that will not automatically carry out orders to use nukes. Russians at all levels are talking about this, most of them openly. Those closer to Putin must be discreet to survive. They want to survive and most Russians agree with that and Putin has become one of the obstacles to Russian security rather than a trusted guardian of that security.
March 18, 2022: President Duterte said the Philippines would allow the United States to use Filipino bases if the Ukraine crisis spread to Asia. The Philippines has an MDT ( mutual defense treaty) with the United States but it is not always adequate to deal with Chinese tactics. American government priorities can change radically every four years because of presidential elections. The current U.S. president is seen as less steadfast in dealing with China and Russia. The Americans did join NATO efforts against the Russians and the Philippines hopes that extends to increased aggression from China in the South China Sea.

The Russians are no longer communist but the Chinese are and both nations have become aggressively expanding. The Philippines appears to get most of the unwanted Chinese attention in the South China Sea because the Philippines has the most to lose. The 7,600 islands that comprise the Philippines amount to only 300,000 square kilometers (120,000 square miles) of land area. Compare this to China, with 9.6 million square kilometers of land. According to international law, the Philippines controls (via its EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone) water areas covering 2.26 million square kilometers. By the same standards the Chinese EEZ waters comprises 877,000 square kilometers. The Philippines is also the weakest (in military terms) nation China is seizing territory from and their mutual defense treaty with the United States is not always adequate to deal with Chinese tactics.

The Chinese strategy is to make it difficult for other nations to fish or search for oil and gas in the disputed waters. China will then offer to negotiate, and share the economic benefits. The other nations will probably be offered some fishing rights in waters of the EEZ of each nation neighboring the South China Sea, but China will keep all the oil and gas outside each nations territorial waters (22 kilometers from the coast). China is assuming that no nation, including the United States, will confront China with military force in these matters. China itself will use military force sparingly. "Illegal" oil exploration or fishing, for example, will encounter Chinese civilian ships, and a few small military ships, that "accidentally" destroy fishing nets or disrupt oil exploration activities. This will, as it has in the past, involve "accidental" collisions with the offending ships. Any use of force against the offending Chinese civilian ships will be met with force by Chinese warplanes and warships.

An example of this has been the Philippine efforts since 2005 to conduct oil and gas exploration in the Reed Bank area. Reed Bank is considered part of the Spratly Islands and is 230 kilometers off the coast of the Philippines's Palawan Island, which is well within the internationally recognized EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) that extends 380 kilometers from the coast. China considers itself the owner of the Spratly Islands and has been increasingly aggressive in enforcing that claim. China has made it clear that any oil exploration or drilling activity in waters claimed by China will be at risk of interference by Chinese ships and aircraft. This alone is enough to scare off most oil companies. Filipino drilling was supposed to start in 2012 but China has blocked all Filipino attempts to exercise those drilling rights. The Chinese are very capitalistic communists and want all they can steal.

Local Communists

The NPA (New Peoples Army) continues its decline, with several senior leaders killed or captured last year, some of them with over fifty years NPA experience. Many were found because of tips from local civilians. Most of the political violence in the Philippines since World War II has come from communists, who were present but not very active before World War II. The communists became a major part of the armed opposition fighting the brutal 1942-45 Japanese occupation. After independence in 1946 leftist rebels continued fighting, trying to establish a communist dictatorship. That proved difficult to do. A major reorganization took place in the 1960s, resulting in the creation of the NPA in 1969. The new communist rebel organization adopted the Chinese Maoist long term strategy. That was not very successful despite lots of economic and social problems they could promise to fix if they were in charge. Enthusiasm for a "communist solution" went sharply downhill after the collapse of the Soviet Union and its East European communist allies between 1989 and 1991. That massive failure of communist states left the NPA much weaker ideologically and vulnerable to subsequent amnesty programs. A decade ago, NPA leaders admitted that they had only a small fraction of their peak (in the 1980s) strength of 26,000 armed members. There were some serious attempts to reverse the decline in popularity. NPA gunmen were instructed to behave better around civilians and the NPA were found giving some civilians, especially health or aid workers, cash compensation of a few hundred dollars each for wounds received during NPA attacks on soldiers or police. The government increased its efforts to provide medical care for such victims of NPA violence, the NPA tried to compete and found they couldnt afford it. Many NPA members arrested recently were wanted for banditry and similar crimes.

Information on the location of NPA camps, weapons storage sites or covert supporters is increasingly obtained from local civilians or NPA members that surrendered. Because of that more NPA camps are being attacked, weapons storage sites seized and key supporters arrested or killed, even in traditional strongholds like Bukidnon province.

March 12, 2022: During the last two weeks China has been trying to convince the Philippines and the world that a three day stay visit (ending February 1st) by one of their Type 815 (Dongdiao class) AGI (intelligence collection) ships was not a violation of maritime law. China claimed the right to innocent passage through the Sulu Sea near the Filipino coast. That would be true if the AGI simply moved through the area, something that normally takes a few hours at the slowest speed. AGI ships are designed to linger and collect electronic and other information. Dongdiao translates as East Investigation and the 6,000-ton ship carries 250 people, most of them sensor maintenance and monitoring technicians who also analyze some of the data and transmit it back to China or other aircraft or warships. The Chinese AGI was approached by a Filipino frigate and told to move on. The Chinese captain ignored those commands until the frigate appeared to be preparing to open fire. This is what Filipino neighbor and ally Indonesia has done several times when they find Chinese ships operating where they are not allowed to. China is believed interested in the Sulu Sea because it is part of an alternate sea route if the Malacca Strait is closed to China.

At the same time China has delivered two batches of military engineering and transport vehicles (trucks and buses) worth over $11 million since January. For a few years China tried to buy cooperation from the Philippines. This did not work but the military vehicles are dual-use and good quality. Filipino officials thank the Chinese for these gifts, which have no visible strings attached.

March 9, 2022: In the south (Davao Oriental province) police arrested a wanted NPA bomb maker and two of his accomplices. Also seized were two bombs plus an assault rifle and a pistol.

In the north (at an airbase outside Manila) the air force received the first of six T-129 Turkish helicopter gunships. The air force was going to buy transport and attack helicopters from Russia but this deal was canceled in 2018 because of sanctions with the United States providing sixteen UH-60s transports and Turkey the six gunships.

March 6, 2022: In the far north (Cagayan province) troops found a cache of NPA weapons and ammunition with the help of two former NPA members. The troops recovered five rifles, two pistols and ammunition for the weapons along with some NPA documents. Local villagers aided in the search since the two former NPA men did not know the exact location of the hidden weapons. The NPA often hides weapons so members can travel about unarmed as ordinary citizens.

March 5, 2022: In the south (Sulu province) police with a search warrant found bomb making components in a house occupied by the wife of a wanted Abu Sayyaf bomb builder. The woman, suspected of other Abu Sayyaf activity, was also arrested.

March 3, 2022: Filipino army officials believe the new head of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in Southeast Asia is Filipino Abu Zacharia, the leader of the Filipino branch of ISIL. The larger ISSA (IS Southeast Asia) includes Filipino members as well as smaller factions in Malaysia and Indonesia.

March 2, 2022: In the south ( Lanao del Sur province) soldiers had several encounters with an Islamic terrorist faction associated with ISIL. Over the last two days this resulted in eight Islamic terrorists killed. One soldier was killed and four wounded. The Islamic terrorist dead were identified as members of the Maute Group, which now prefers to be called DITG (Dawlah Islamiyah Torayfie Group). Members of this group tend to fight to the death if trapped, rather than even consider surrender. Remnants of several ISIL factions have been trying to survive in this area since 2017. DITG has few personnel left and there have been a few DITG bombings since 2019, usually against military convoys or camps. In mid-2021 one the last known DITG bomb-builders was killed and the army found evidence that there were more armed DITG members around than previously believed. On the plus side all or most of them had coalesced into one group led by Abu Zacharia, a veteran DITG leader. This faction was first identified and encountered in 2021 and several times since then. The troops are trying to force the Islamic terrorists into a fight, or a surrender. DITG survived four years of constant army patrols and civilians who phone in tips as well as those who provide just terrorists have been here messages. While there is cell phone coverage in 95 percent of the populated areas there are still many rural areas where people own cell phones but have to travel to a town or city to use them. Desperate Islamic terrorists will destroy existing cell towers in areas where they are being pursued. What has hurt the Islamic terrorists most is that more rural Moslems openly provide information and the security forces have lists of towns and villages where there are informants. The names of informants are often not provided but local soldiers and police know that just asking local leaders or merchants will get them to someone who has timely information to share. DITG has been trying to regroup, rebuild and move forward with more devastating attacks. Their attacks since 2019 caused little damage and few casualties. DITG was never officially acknowledged by ISIL and is composed of the survivors of the Maute Group, which was largely wiped out in 2017 when they tried to take over the nearby city of Marawi. That failed in a spectacular fashion, which is one reason ISIL does not want to be associated with this group.

February 24, 2022: In the south (Davao de Oro province) troops encountered five NPA members, some of them armed and ordered them to surrender. That was refused and after a fifteen-minute pursuit and gun battle all five were dead. Two of the dead were known NPA members and two were not. The fifth man was a local school teacher known to be a communist and pro-NPA.

February 22, 2022: In the south (Misamis Oriental province) two NPA members were killed during a confrontation with troops. Other NPA members escaped.

February 21, 2022: In the north (Kalinga province) soldiers and police arrested a local NPA member accused of murder. Local civilians aided in finding the wanted man.
TAG Enables New Data Driven Insights to Improve Media Operations and Quality of Service

TAG Enables New Data Driven Insights to Improve Media Operations and Quality of Service

Tel Aviv, Israel( )

TAG Enables New Data Driven Insights to Improve Media Operations and Quality of Service

Realtime insights using open sources tools to further enable media operations performance. Demonstrations to be conducted at NAB 2022 in Booth #W3517.

Tel Aviv, Israel  March 15, 2022  Visitors to NAB will be amongst the first to get a glimpse of TAG Video Systems new game-changing Media Control System (MCS) in action. TAG, the leader in realtime media performance, software-based deep monitoring of linear video workflows, will be demonstrating the MCS in Booth # W3517 and showing attendees how the system is matchless in its ability to provide insights based on the open-source tools broadcasters need to extract REALTIME information and use it to enable improved operational performance.

The MCS is the newest layer of TAGs realtime media performance platform. It enables clients to capture the data provided by over 400 distinct error detectors to be aggregated and correlated across the entire media supply chain (From live Production  Playout  OTT & Delivery). Media companies can now manage the entire monitoring stack, end-to-end within one system, that in turn will provide invaluable inisights for optimum workflow performance.

Using an open-source paradigm, the MCS serves as an aggregation engine capable of exposing the data collected by the MCM to standard third party analytic and visualization applications such as Elasticsearch, Kibana, Grafana and Prometheus. This solution will enable companies to adapt to the rapid pace of change in technology and enable overall better business operations.

Sitting at the foundation of the platform is TAGs Multi-Channel Monitoring (MCM), software-based IP end-to-end monitoring, deep probing, logging, and real time visualization solution that monitors every type of signal from live production through OTT delivery and supports hundreds of sources including all the latest formats and transport methods. The MCM helps simplify the workflolw complexity by providing an end-to-end view.

Said Kevin Joyce, TAG Video Systems Zer0 Friction Officer, Like so many of our innovations the MCS is another example of TAG being pushed by our clients. For years NAB was an essential ingredient in that customer engagement, and we are excited to once again live and in person to share with the market where we are taking the RMP to next. The MCS gives new meaning to the phrase Use it or lose it. It truly is the only solution like it in the entire industry that empowers broadcasters and media companies with the tools they need to use their data for informed and intelligent decisions."

Joyce continued, The MCS is the very embodiment of TAGs Zer0 Friction philosophy that maximizes asset utilization, minimizes complexity and manages the pace of change, while competitively enabling business operations. Raw data is turned into a positive consumer experience with better curation, programming and integrity resulting in improved promotion, increased consumption and more customers.

TAG will also be demonstrating its support for compressed and uncompressed formats, including MPEG TS, JPEG- XS, CDI, NDI, JPEG2000, SMPTE 2110, SMPTE 2022-6/7, MPEG-DASH, HLS, SCTE and more.

Journalists, please click to schedule a visit to TAG.

# # #

About TAG V ideo S ystems

TAG Video Systems is the world leader in 100% software based integrated IP Multiviewing, Probing and Monitoring solutions. Introducing its first IP solution in 2008, today TAG supports over 100,000 probing/monitoring points across the four primary broadcasting applications - Live Production, Playout/Master Control, Distribution and OTT. TAGs Zer0 Friction philosophy allows Broadcasters and Content Distributors to minimize complexity, manage the pace of change, while competitively enabling business operations. The 100% software platform supports both compressed and uncompressed formats, including MPEG TS, JPEG- XS, CDI, NDI, JPEG2000, SMPTE 2110, SMPTE 2022-6/7, MPEG-DASH and HLS. TAG's solutions run on standard Commercial Off-The-Shelf hardware (COTS) and cloud, providing state-of-the-art IP monitoring and analysis tools combined with highest quality UHD Multiviewer available on standard and mobile device displays.

For more information: www.tagvs.com

TAG Video Systems contact:

Danna Mann

Europe: +33 1 86 26 94 00

US : +1 315 646 8400

mailto:danna@tagvs.com

Press contact:

Desert Moon Communications

Harriet Diener

+1  845-512-8283

harriet@desertmoon.tv
Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2022) - Further to its news releases of February 18 and March 7, 2022, Val-d'Or Mining Corporation (TSXV: VZZ) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $1,396,472.64.

The Company issued 8,727,954 Units under the Offering at a per Unit price of $0.16, each Unit comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant, each whole warrant (a "Warrant") exercisable for the purchase of one common share of the Company at a per share price of $0.20 until March 18, 2024.

An administration fee of $8,000 was paid by the Company to one of the subscribers under the Offering.

Eight insiders participated in the Offering for aggregate cash consideration to the Company of $602,016.96, which constitutes a Related Party Transaction under TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9. The Company availed itself of the exemptions contained in section 5.5(c) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the securities to be distributed in the transaction, and the consideration to be received by the Company for those securities, insofar as the transaction involves interested parties did not exceed $2,500,000.

The net proceeds raised from the Offering will be used by the Company for general corporate purposes. All securities issued under the Offering, including common shares underlying the Warrants, are subject to a hold period until July 19, 2022, in accordance with applicable securities legislation and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Val-d'Or Mining Corporation

Val-d'Or Mining Corporation is a junior natural resource issuer involved in the process of acquiring and exploring its diverse mineral property assets, most of which are situated in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of NE Ontario and NW Qubec. To complement its current property interests, the Company regularly evaluates new opportunities for staking and/or acquisitions. Outside of its principal regional focus in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, the Company holds several other properties in Northern Quebec (Nunavik) covering different geological environments and commodities (Ni-Cu-PGE's).

The Company has an expertise in the identification and generation of new projects, and in early-stage exploration. The mineral commodities of interest are broad, and range from gold, copper-zinc-silver, nickel-copper-PGE to industrial and energy minerals. After the initial value creation in the 100%-owned, or majority-owned properties, the Company seeks option/joint venture partners with the technical expertise and financial capacity to conduct more advanced exploration projects.

For additional information, please contact:

Glenn J. Mullan

2864 chemin Sullivan

Val-d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9

Tel.: 819-824-2808, x 204

Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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 news release.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AGENCIES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/117334
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin in Moscow, Russia March 2, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a phone call on Friday that Kyiv was attempting to stall peace talks with Russia but that Moscow was still keen to continue negotiations.

"It was noted that the Kyiv regime is attempting in every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.

"Nonetheless the Russian side is ready to continue searching for a solution in line with its well-known principled approaches."

Western officials said on Thursday that Ukraine and Russia were taking peace talks seriously but that a big gap remained between the two sides.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Putin's call with Scholz had been harsh but business-like, told reporters on a conference call that the Russian delegation was "demonstrating its readiness to work much faster than is being done now".

"Unfortunately the Ukrainian delegation is not ready to step up the pace of negotiations. But the (negotiation) process continues nonetheless."

Moscow has previously said it was close to agreeing a formula that would keep Ukraine neutral, one of its key demands.

Ukraine has said it is willing to negotiate but will not surrender or accept Russian ultimatums. It is sticking to its position that it retains sovereignty over areas seized by Russia and Russian-backed forces since 2014.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbours military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Nick Macfie)
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio paid a visit to the rice factory of An Giang Import - Export Joint Stock Company (Angimex)

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding with Sierra Leone is the premise for An Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Angimex) to firmly maintain its leading position in ensuring transcontinental food security.

LONG XUYEN, Vietnam, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --An Giang Import - Export Joint Stock Company (Angimex - HOSE: AGM), a member of Louis Holdings Group - the leading enterprise in the field of agricultural food production & trading business in Vietnam was honored to welcome the President and the high-level delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone to visit the rice factory in Long Xuyen City, An Giang province. Here, the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a 3-year rice export contract to the West African country was also solemnly held under the witness of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio. This visit with the largest purchase so far in 2022 will be the premise for Angimex to firmly maintain its leading position in ensuring transcontinental food security.

The MOU signing ceremony has the honorary attendance of Mr. Do Thanh Nhan  Chairman & other senior representatives of Angimex and President Julius Maada Bio & the high-level delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone. According to the content of the MOU between the two parties, Angimex will export 3 million tons of rice to Sierra Leone under a three-year rice export contract. This kind of international rice export contract exerts a substantial influence, helping Angimex access new markets and customer groups in the future.

The continuous application of new agricultural technology in farming enables Vietnam's leading rice enterprise to ensure rice grain quality and meet strict standards of big countries. With the "endorsement" of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Angimex has high expectations for this 3-year contract as the foundation for upcoming larger purchases from West Africa since Angimex has already proved its scale and potential with neighboring countries of the Republic of Sierra Leone. This boasts a comprehensive cooperation not only between Angimex and the presidential delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, but also between Vietnam and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Do Thanh Nhan, Chairman of An Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company shared: "Thanks to the strict quality control system, Angimex has been and will be able to provide the highest quality rice products to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of the market. The enterprise's professional services will surely satisfy the diverse needs of customers. With the goodwill for the sake of mutual development, Angimex strongly believes in the good and long-term success in the cooperation between Angimex and our partners in the upcoming time. We look forward to accompanying our partners to create the best and sustainable values".

Within the scope of cooperation, Angimex will transfer the sample rice field to the enterprises of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The sample rice field is Angimex's first successful factor to ensure high-quality rice input. The expansion of the large sample rice field is one of the solutions to increase the value of rice for export, according to the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

When farming on the large sample rice field, farmers will simultaneously sow each high-yield and high-quality rice variety in the same field. Therefore, this combination of high-quality rice production and rice field expansion brings practical benefits to farmers, including changing production mindset and improving economic efficiency. Aiming at improving the quality of rice seeds in the future, the agricultural services of Angimex give an emphasis on providing farmers with in-depth knowledge and cost-saving methods during varietal selection, cultivation, and harvest. Also, Angimex's experts with rich experience in the field of agriculture will train farmers to master cultivation techniques and answer the farmers' questions during the farming process.

Regarding the business plan in 2022, Angimex sets a targeted revenue of over VND 8,004 billion; pre-tax profit of VND 70 billion - a more than double and 22 percent increase respectively against the previous year. In the long-term development strategy, Angimex aims to become the biggest rice exporter and also the market leader in the domestic rice market. With the orientation of "restoring the status of An Giang rice king", Louis Holdings has been putting all its efforts into Angimex in the present and expecting to reap the results in the future.

About Angimex

An Giang Import  Export JSC company (Angimex)  a member of Louis Holdings is one of the leading enterprises in Vietnam in the field of food, agricultural materials, trade and service with the main product in rice. Angimex focuses on developing core sectors including agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and value-added agricultural products in order to develop An Giang homeland. Angimex was the first enterprise to be licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade under Decree 109 of the Government on consideration of eligibility for rice export business in 2011. During more than 45 years of operation and development, Angimex's rice products have been exported to over 50 countries around the world. In 2020, Angimex was certified as a reputable Exporter by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. In 2021, Angimex entered the top 3 largest rice exporters in Vietnam. In 2022, Angimex aims to achieve the maximum capacity of processing plants with total output up to 1,000,000 tons/year.

To meet the accelerating demand, Angimex has been constantly expanding its distribution network both domestically and internationally, managing and operating large-scale rice processing plants in the Mekong Delta. At the same time, the enterprise has always improved product quality, established a quality management system in line with international food standards. Angimex rice products have been well qualified with international certifications such as: HALAL, ISO 22000:2005, HACCP, Food Safety and meet export standards of European countries, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Africa, etc.

For press inquiry, please contact:

(Ms) Pham Thuy Thanh Thanh Marketing Director Email: [email protected] Phone/Zalo: 090 671 6496

(Mr) Truong Van Tan Head of Communication Department Email: [email protected] Phone/Zalo: 0903101587

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/angimex-signs-billion-dollar-rice-export-contract-with-the-republic-of-sierra-leone-301505649.html

SOURCE Angimex
CORK, Ireland, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2022 World's Most Ethical Companies.

This is the 15th time Johnson Controls has been recognized for its ethical business practices and the quality of its global compliance program. In 2022, Ethisphere recognized 136 honorees spanning 22 countries and 45 industries.

"Respect, integrity, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability are at the core of our culture and behind our company values. Our commitment to always do the right thing is what fuels employee engagement and productivity to drive business performance," said George Oliver, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls. "It is an honor to receive this award again from Ethisphere in recognition of the strong character of our worldwide team and our collective commitment to ethical business practices."

Johnson Controls' core values include Integrity First and Purpose Led, which guide its global team members in achieving the best outcomes for its customers and the communities in which it operates.

"At Johnson Controls, we continue to collaborate through our One Team approach to drive a culture of compliance that allows for us to continue to create healthy, sustainable solutions that drive our world forward," said Larry Leverett, vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer at Johnson Controls. "This recognition remains meaningful now, and in the future, as we continue to lead the way in conducting ethical and inclusive business for all."

"Today, business leaders face their greatest mandate yet to be ethical, accountable, and trusted to drive positive change," said Ethisphere CEO, Timothy Erblich. "We continue to be inspired by the World's Most Ethical Companies honorees and their dedication to integrity, sustainability, governance, and community. Congratulations to Johnson Controls for earning the World's Most Ethical Companies designation."

Methodology & ScoringGrounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, the World's Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and initiatives to support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe.

Honorees The full list of the 2022 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

About Johnson Controls:At Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.

With a history of more than 135 years of innovation, Johnson Controls delivers the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through its comprehensive digital offering OpenBlue. With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world's largest portfolio of building technology, software as well as service solutions with some of the most trusted names in the industry. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrolson Twitter.

About Ethisphere Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA). More information about Ethisphere can be found at: https://ethisphere.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ethisphere-announces-johnson-controls-as-one-of-the-worlds-most-ethical-companies-for-the-15th-time-301505127.html

SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc
(Reuters) - U.S-listed shares of major Chinese companies including Didi Global and Alibaba surged on Friday, set to wrap a week that was marked by China's top policymaker laying out plans to support the country's capital markets.

Shares of the Chinese companies jumped on Friday, with ride-hailing firm Didi Global leading the gains with a 54% surge. Bilibili was trading up 21%, JD.com up 9%, Alibaba gaining 10% and Baidu up 6.3%.

The iShares MSCI China exchange-traded fund was up 5%.

On Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He urged the roll-out of market-friendly policies to support the economy and caution in introducing measures that risked hurting markets.

He said talks between Chinese and U.S. regulators on Chinese companies listed in the United States have made positive progress and regulators are working on specific cooperation plans.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday spoke on a two-hour video call about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Chinese media said Xi underlined that such conflicts are in no-one's interests.

China's securities regulator said on Wednesday it would continue to communicate with U.S. regulators and strive to reach an agreement on China-U.S. audit supervision cooperation as soon as possible.

Didi, which debuted on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2021, has been the target of a probe by Chinese authorities who have asked it to take down its app from mobile app stores while its handling of customer data was under investigation.

Commenting on Didi's stock price surge on Friday, Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK said, "This is a bit of a repricing of Didi because it really didn't move in the first couple of days of the rebound that we saw earlier this week."

S3 Partners analyst Ihor Dusaniwsky said Didi had reduced its short exposure over the last month, while its shares were shorted when its price weakened recently.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu and Bansari Mayur Kamdar in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Akash Sriram; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
Roughly 8,000 soldiers are training in sub-zero temperatures in Alaska in what the Army says is major progress in implementing its year-old Arctic strategy.

Regaining Arctic Dominance, a report issued by the Army in March last year, laid out how the service planned to train, organize and equip cold-weather forces so they could successfully partner with Arctic allies and maintain regional stability  all with a watchful eye on Russia.

The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise, which kicked off March 9 and runs through March 24, is the first in which the Army employs its newly conceived home-station combat training center to Alaska.

In this case it is being used to evaluate the combat capabilities of the Fort Wainwright-based 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team during battle scenarios at the Donnelly and Yukon training areas in southcentral Alaska.

For past combat assessments, Alaskan units have rotated either to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., or the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

This is only the second time the Army has used the home-station concept after its initial trial in Hawaii last year.

This months training took the Arctic strategy and put it into action, Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, told reporters during a conference call Wednesday from Wainwright.

The implementation plan of that strategy is what's being manifested today here in Alaska with a combat training center rotation in Alaska using the unique and extraordinary capabilities that are up here in the Yukon and Donnelly training areas in Alaska, said Flynn, who was joined by Gen. Michael Garrett, head of U.S. Army Forces Command.

These forces stationed up here are uniquely positioned to learn how to live and operate in this environment so that we can learn how to fight in these kinds of conditions and in this environment, Flynn said.

The advantages of a home-station rotation in Alaska are significant, the exercises support group commander told Stars and Stripes in a phone interview Wednesday.

A big part of this is just the availability and the timing of moving equipment, said Col. Jody Shouse, who is also commander of 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Equipment and vehicles from Wainwright in Fairbanks can be moved to Donnelly in a matter of days, he said.

If we were to go to [training centers in Louisiana or California], we would have to put that stuff on boats, and then it would go from boats at some location to a rail line and go from a rail line to one of the two locations, Shouse said.

We would lose our equipment for about two months prior to the exercise even starting, if not longer, and then it would take two months on the backside to get it back, he said. Here, we can start the flow of equipment right at the end of the exercise, and we can have it back at our home base within a matter of days versus months.

From an Army readiness perspective, a home-station rotation is a good-sense idea that is overdue, Garrett said.

The reason we hadn't done this before is because the whole Army was on this Global War on Terrorism and this Middle East rotation, he said. It didnt matter where you were  Hawaii, Alaska  at some point you were going to Iraq or Afghanistan.

The home-station concept is more attuned to how and where a unit is likely to be deployed in the new era of competition with Russia and China.

Sending a brigade out of Alaska to a training center in a mild clime during winter is counterproductive to Arctic strategy objectives, Shouse said.

But by doing it here, we're doing it in extreme temperatures and meeting that objective, he said, noting that temperature lows at the training site last weekend were near minus 30.

You can't replicate that at the National Training Center, Shouse said. You cant replicate that at the Joint Readiness Training Center. It gets cold, but it doesn't get that cold.

Up here, you make one mistake, you have frostbite. You make one mistake, you have hypothermia. The goal is not to have any of those mistakes, and that's part of the benefit of doing it here because it continues to hone our skills and continues to reinforce how important the Arctic really is across the global landscape.
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.

WASHINGTON  The Army has issued its first three separations for soldiers who refused to get their mandatory coronavirus vaccinations, the service announced Friday.

The Army is the last of the service branches to begin kicking out troops who do not get the shots. Technically, the three soldiers were separated for refusing a lawful order to receive the vaccine, according to the Army.

The announcement comes more than three months after the Armys deadline to receive the vaccine, and about six weeks after Army Secretary Christine Wormuth ordered service commanders on Jan. 31 to begin the process of involuntarily separating vaccine refusers as expeditiously as possible.

While the Army had not separated any soldiers until this week, the Army relieved six service leaders from command  including two battalion commanders  and issued 3,251 general officer written reprimands to soldiers for refusing the vaccination order.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered all service members to receive the vaccine in August, but allowed each service to determine their own timelines.

Last week, the Army approved its first permanent religious waiver for the vaccine order. The service has granted one more as of Friday, according to an Army statement released Friday.

About 702 active-duty soldiers have been denied a religious exemption, while another 3,943 are awaiting decisions on their religious waiver requests.

The Army also has approved seven permanent medical exemptions to the vaccine, as of Friday. The service has denied 658 permanent waiver requests and another 692 are awaiting decisions.

Those denied exemptions to the Armys vaccine mandate have seven days to start the vaccination process or file an appeal of their denial before commanders are to begin the process of kicking them out, according to Wormuths January order.

Some 96% of the Armys about 486,000 active-duty soldiers have been fully vaccinated and another 1% were partially inoculated, the service said Friday. Those percentages remain unchanged from the previous week.
If I were a voting member of the motion picture academy (and don't worry, I'm not), the following represents how I'd cast my ballot in 11 key Oscar races. I hasten to add that while these choices represent my personal favorites among the nominees, only a few of them represent my actual favorites of last year.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to thwart the movie industry in 2021, it was a nonetheless a superb, resurgent year for movies. As such, its riches are only fitfully represented by an organization that despite its welcome and ongoing steps toward broadening and deepening its global membership, remains strikingly indifferent (or wholly oblivious) to some of the strongest movies being made, especially by American independent filmmakers and those the world over.

There was one glorious exception: a brilliant, boundary-shattering movie that, in a different year, might have stayed under the radar. Happily, it received its partial due from the academy this year with four Oscar nominations, including best picture, which it thoroughly deserves to win. And so, without further ado 

Best Picture

"Belfast"

"CODA"

"Don't Look Up"

"Drive My Car"

"Dune"

"King Richard"

"Licorice Pizza"

"Nightmare Alley"

"The Power of the Dog"

"West Side Story"

"The Power of the Dog" has been in the fast lane all season, although some observers have suggested that "CODA," with its surprise Screen Actors Guild ensemble win, might be flooring it in the final stretch. I'm not usually this prone to vehicular metaphors, but they feel like a fitting segue to my point, which is that "Drive My Car," Ryusuke Hamaguchi's magnificent and moving Haruki Murakami adaptation, is the best of this year's nominees by a mile. Its presence in this category will surely be seen as reward enough, but it isn't, not even close; it deserves to win. After "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Green Book," isn't it time the academy honored a legitimately great movie about people unexpectedly bonding during car rides?

Should win: "Drive My Car"

Should've been nominated: "The Souvenir Part II"

Director

Paul Thomas Anderson, "Licorice Pizza"

Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"

Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

Ryusuke Hamaguchi, "Drive My Car"

Steven Spielberg, "West Side Story"

Ask me another day and I might say Hamaguchi, one of the most exciting talents to emerge in recent years, but today my vote goes to a great, endlessly influential filmmaker operating at the peak of her powers. Even without the juicy prospect of seeing Campion beat Spielberg almost three decades after their initial go-round (the year of "Schindler's List" versus "The Piano"), it would be enormously satisfying to see her finally get her due for a movie that balances superior acting with technical rigor, that feels both meticulously constructed and intensely, wildly alive.

Should win: Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

Should've been nominated: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, "Memoria"

Actress

Jessica Chastain, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

Olivia Colman, "The Lost Daughter"

Penelope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"

Nicole Kidman, "Being the Ricardos"

Kristen Stewart, "Spencer"

The hardest acting race to predict or judge, though I could easily build a case for Colman, who remains clearly incapable of an unnuanced moment, and also for Stewart, doing the rare virtuoso celebrity impersonation that reveals the hollowness of most celebrity impersonations. But it's the quiet sublimity of Cruz's work in "Parallel Mothers" that I keep returning to; Pedro Almodovar has always pushed her to new heights, and what she manages here is fully equal to what Antonio Banderas achieved in "Pain and Glory": acting that feels like a pure, effortless state of being. She's never been better. It's hard to think of many who have.

Should win: Penelope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"

Should've been nominated: Tessa Thompson, "Passing"

Actor

Javier Bardem, "Being the Ricardos"

Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Power of the Dog"

Andrew Garfield, "Tick, Tick  Boom!"

Will Smith, "King Richard"

Denzel Washington, "The Tragedy of Macbeth"

The brilliance of Cumberbatch's performance isn't just that he's a great actor; he's a great actor playing a great actor, a man of thwarted, anguished desires who's persuaded himself to don the chaps of a Montana cowboy and play the role as if his life depended on it. It's those interlocking layers of deceit that make Phil Burbank such a terrifying, ultimately tragic figure and "The Power of the Dog" such an incisive dismantling of performative masculinity. Smith has considerable momentum for his justly celebrated (and SAG-winning) turn as Richard Williams, who's domineering and manipulative in his own ways but utterly guileless by comparison. They're both great, gale-force performances  but I know which one I'm still turning over in my head months later.

Should win: Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Power of the Dog"

Should've been nominated: Hidetoshi Nishijima, "Drive My Car"

Supporting actress

Jessie Buckley, "The Lost Daughter"

Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"

Judi Dench, "Belfast"

Kirsten Dunst, "The Power of the Dog"

Aunjanue Ellis, "King Richard"

DeBose put a spectacular song-and-dance stamp on a beloved (and past Oscar-winning) role; Buckley managed the near-impossible feat of keeping emotional pace with Colman; and Ellis held the moral center of "King Richard" with warmth and ferocity. But speaking of moral centers: Amid the turbulent male waters of "The Power of the Dog," it's Dunst's frontier widow-turned-bride who most acutely registers the human toll of this movie's brutal emotional warfare. To watch her face twist into a mask of silent agony is to be reminded of her great performances in films like "Melancholia" and "The Beguiled"  and to be startled anew that this is somehow only her first nomination.

Should win: Kirsten Dunst, "The Power of the Dog"

Should've been nominated: Ruth Negga, "Passing"

Supporting actor

Ciaran Hinds, "Belfast"

Troy Kotsur, "CODA"

Jesse Plemons, "The Power of the Dog"

J.K. Simmons, "Being the Ricardos"

Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"

I like to spread the wealth, honest, and I was as moved as anyone by Kotsur, who's likely to make history as the first Deaf man to win an acting Oscar. But the three central performances in "The Power of the Dog" are vivid, layered and inextricable from each other in ways that finally overwhelm their competition (and make abundantly clear why Campion should be unbeatable in the directing race). As a calculating young medical student who plays it extremely close to the vest while rocking his white shoes, Smit-McPhee dissects his own role with aptly surgical precision  and meets Cumberbatch fearlessly head-on in the year's most riveting psychological duet.

Should win: Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"

Should've been nominated: Vincent Lindon, "Titane"

Original screenplay

Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"

Adam McKay and David Sirota, "Don't Look Up"

Zach Baylin, "King Richard"

Paul Thomas Anderson, "Licorice Pizza"

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, "The Worst Person in the World"

The two strongest nominees, "Licorice Pizza" and "The Worst Person in the World," both happen to be portraits of marvelously restless young women zigzagging their way toward uncertain romantic, creative and professional futures. It's practically a toss-up, though I'd cast my vote for Vogt and Trier, whose multi-chaptered script is so achingly perceptive about the undeniablity of what the heart wants  and the inconvenience of when it wants it.

Should win: Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, "The Worst Person in the World"

Should've been nominated: Radu Jude, "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn"

Adapted screenplay

Sian Heder, "CODA"

Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, "Drive My Car"

Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth, "Dune"

Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Lost Daughter"

Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

The three standouts are all marvels of psychological interiority; Campion preserved the roiling desires at play in Thomas Savage's novel, while Gyllenhaal wrung nonstop tension from Elena Ferrante's tale of maternal ambivalence. But it was Hamaguchi and Oe who did the most inventive and expansive work, elaborating at length on a Murakami short story, weaving in perfectly judged swaths of Chekhov and emerging with a script that understands the power of words and silences equally. Call it the year's most original adapted screenplay.

Should win: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, "Drive My Car"

Should've been nominated: Tony Kushner, "West Side Story"

International feature

"Drive My Car"

"Flee"

"The Hand of God"

"Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom"

"The Worst Person in the World"

Since I've said my fill about how much "Drive My Car" rules, I'll rattle off just a few of the official submissions that would have made worthy nominees this year: "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn" (Romania), "Compartment No. 6" (submitted by Finland), "Great Freedom" (Austria), "Lingui, the Sacred Bonds" (Chad), "Playground" (Belgium), "Titane" (France), "A Hero" (Iran) and  the very best of the lot  "Memoria" (Colombia). Best picture gets 10 slots; why not this race, too?

Should win: "Drive My Car"

Should've been nominated: "Memoria"

Documentary feature

"Ascension"

"Attica"

"Flee"

"Summer of Soul (  or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)"

"Writing With Fire"

Happily, there is nothing as wretched as last year's winner, "My Octopus Teacher," in this year's lineup. Every one of these nominees has something to recommend it: the piercing intimacy of "Flee"; the startling observational rigor of "Ascension"; the inspiring shoe-leather grit of "Writing With Fire"; the through-the-rafters exuberance of "Summer of Soul." My vote would go to "Attica," Stanley Nelson's methodical and monumental reconstruction of a 1971 prison uprising and the senseless, horrific display of state brutality that followed. It's a searing work from one of the most vital and under-heralded of American nonfiction filmmakers.

Should win: "Attica"

Should've been nominated: "Procession"

Animated feature

"Encanto"

"Flee"

"Luca"

"The Mitchells vs. the Machines"

"Raya and the Last Dragon"

"Flee" is the first film to receive nominations for international feature, documentary feature and animated feature. This is the race in which I'd like to see it prevail, and not just because the animated category is overdue for a winner that isn't a big-budget computer-animated mainstream offering. It's also because Jonas Poher Rasmussen's quietly heartrending refugee saga feels both singular and stirringly emblematic of this strong field of nominees, each of which is rooted to some extent in the imperfections of family and the longing for something like home.

Should win: "Flee"

Should've been nominated: "Belle"
Dad, are your military friends in crisis mode because of the war in Ukraine? our 24-year-old daughter Anna asked. She was home from her fashion job in New York City for the weekend, and was sewing a vest in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. She planned to auction the vest online, and donate the proceeds to a Ukrainian relief fund.

Obviously, war was on her mind.

What do you mean? said my husband, Francis, who retired from the Navy five years ago.

Anna clarified her question. Arent military people getting briefed on the war, making preparations, flying overseas, marching around, deploying, or whatever?

Well, not necessarily, Francis said. It depends upon their area of responsibility. Every military person is assigned to a command that covers a specific area of the world. Only those commands assigned to the areas affected by the Ukraine War would be involved. Make sense?

Annas brown eyes darted as scenes played out in her head. She seemed stressed, emotional, trying to contemplate that which is incomprehensible.

It occurred to me, our kids have no concept of modern war. There hasnt exactly been worldwide peace since 9/11, but Putins invasion of Ukraine has been the first highly visible war in decades.

It also occurred to me that we, as parents, may not be equipped to help our young adult children understand it all. I wondered, are they seeing images of bloody conflict and worrying that it might happen in the U.S.? Do they read about biological weapons and nuclear bombs and fear that were on the brink of a World War?

I searched for advice on how parents should talk to children about war in Ukraine, hoping to find wisdom that could guide discussions with our young adult children. The suggestions in the articles I read made sense: Limit childrens exposure to potentially frightening media. Ask children to share what theyve heard and seen. Give facts and context. Offer a safe space to share their feelings. Talk about bad decisions, but not bad people. Read positive stories about people helping. Reassure them that it is your job to protect them.

However, one guide stated that, depending on the childs age, there may be no need bring the topic of war up, unless they have a family member in the military.

Ah, theres the catch.

Talking about war is different for military kids, because they know certain things about military life. They know that, when fights happen in far away places, sometimes military parents are called upon to help. They know parents might have to go away for months at a time. They know parents military jobs might put them in danger. Theyve heard stories about military parents who never came home.

When searching for advice specifically geared toward military children, I found "Talking to Children About Armed Conflict" (2015) by Family Science Specialist, Sean Brotherson, Ph.D., stating that addressing military childrens reactions to news of war is particularly important because these issues directly relate to their military family life. I contacted Professor Brotherson to pick his brain.

Children in military families grow up in a unique context that makes their experiences different from other peers, he told me, because acts of violence create a compounded sense of uncertainty, fear and insecurity in children with military parents. In times of war or conflict, taking the extra time needed to listen to one's children and allow them to share their feelings can do much to reassure them. Also, connecting with other military families who have kids that understand can help them feel reassured  Finally, try to find small ways that your children might get involved in helping those affected by war, whether sending cards or gathering items needed for humanitarian assistance. Being proactive and reassuring in small ways can help children feel more in control when things around them seem out of control.

Anna might be 24, but having grown up in the military, she is understandably anxious about this new war, and is seeking ways to cope. Shes back in New York, determined to finish her Ukrainian flag vest, and do what she can to help.

Read more at themeatandpotatoesoflife.com, and in Lisas book, The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com. Email: meatandpotatoesoflife@gmail.com.
While the world is watching in horror as the Russian imperial predator is devouring Ukraine, there are other events and places in the former Soviet space that deserve Washingtons attention.

More than a month has passed since protests swept across Kazakhstan, the second-largest post-Soviet state and strategic heart of Central Asia. As demonstrations erupted, many observers called the rioters either freedom fighters or Islamic terrorists, yet the police and domestic security forces did little to maintain order. Today, the overall picture of the unrest, as well as countrys new direction, are clearer.

After 30 years of independence and significant socioeconomic achievements, Kazakhstans economic gap between rich and poor is widening. In 2019, discontent over income inequality was complicated by the onset of a dual presidency, as first President Nursultan Nazarbayev shared power with his hand-picked successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev while remaining a constitutional leader of the nation and head of the Security Council. January events, while fueled by economic causes, immediately turned into a political clash.

Facing the security forces ineffective response, Tokayev dismissed the Cabinet, accusing the group of his opponents -- led by National Security Service chief Karim Massimov -- of treason. He and several ex-senior security officials were arrested.

Many extremists and gangsters who for several days terrorized and vandalized the old capital and the business hub, Almaty, were reportedly part of criminal networks. Kazakhstans domestic security forces initially failed to quell the uprisings.

The unrest was eventually suppressed due to two factors: on the one hand, ex-president Nazarbayev kept a low profile and later publicly supported Tokayev ; on the other hand, on Jan. 7 the president invited Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization forces, that were deployed to strategic spots throughout the country. As government forces re-established control within a week, peacekeepers swiftly returned to their homelands.

Thus the main result of the January unrest was President Tokayev quelling instability, leading Kazakhstan to pass its most serious stress test in three decades. Both in his speeches in the lower house of the Parliament and at the summit with the countrys business community he argued for the elimination of monopolies, breaking the ties between bureaucrats and entrepreneurs, reestablishing fair competition, and opting for more economic and social justice. The state-owned investment fund, Samruk-Kazyna and the Kazakhstan Development Bank were put under independent audit.

The government is expected to deliver a new road map for reforms in one month, and the president already reached out to the expert community, encouraging it to participate in elaborating on the countrys new economic course. All Tokayevs speeches are reminiscent of the initiatives he voiced immediately after being elected president back in 2019 at the Astana Economic Forum. These policies should guide Kazakhstan into the future.

Clearly, the events of January 2022 proved that profound reforms are needed for allowing the country to go forward. Kazakhstan is not only a global gas station, as some use to disparage oil producing nations, but is home to many innovative businesses. One visible success was the IPO of nations most advanced bank, Kaspi, that was valued at $6.5 billion at the London Stock E xchange amid the pandemic in late 2020.

Today Kazakhstans developmental trajectory is reminiscent of classical East Asian experience -- of modernizations in South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia. All of these modernizations started under strong centralized regimes, and their first steps were marked by excessive concentration of wealth and a visible gap in living standards.

The progress toward a liberal and democratic order went through violent clashes associated with economic hardships and power change. More than 200 people were killed in May 1980 during the Gwangju protests that led to partial liberalization in South Korea during the Park Chung-hee to Chun Doo-hwan transition.

In Indonesia, close to 1,200 perished in May of 1998 as nationwide riots led to the fall of President Suharto and his replacement by B.J. Habibies government. In both cases, the changes accelerated economic growth, and finally paved the way to a democratization that arrived to South Korea in 1987, and to Indonesia in 2004.

The average timespan between radical protests and transition to democracy in these countries ranged from six to eight years, which happens to match that of Tokayevs tenure (he has already promised to obey the Constitution and serve not more than two terms).

Western nations should welcome and support Kazakhstans current transition. Tokayev needs to be seen not as Russias (or Chinas) puppet but as a leader who will foster the reforms initiated under Nazarbayev and would lead his country into the future with working markets and elected institutions.

The Western world has a vital need for a friend and ally in the region that borders both Russia and China. Some policymakers in the United States seem to understand this better than others. In the bipartisan America COMPETES Act which passed the House on Feb. 4, Central Asia is specifically mentioned as a strategically critical region that should be courted as a buffer to China and Russia. Lawmakers called on the Biden administration to come up with a new Central Asian regional strategy.

Central Asia is also surrounded by nuclear states India and Pakistan, and the nuclear aspirant Iran. Kazakhstan -- one shouldnt forget -- also faces the challenges of militant Islam, including in Afghanistan, that poses formidable threat for both Europes and Americas security.

The West possesses a huge transformative power in the region -- not only because of its multi-billion investment into Kazakhstans economy, but also since the region is seen as a necessary counterbalance to both neighboring superpowers. Today, western companies and governments engagement in Kazakhstan could be considered a priceless asset shaping the future of this emerging nation -- and the West should not miss a historic chance for securing and protecting its foothold in the most dynamic and geopolitically crucial part of the post-Soviet realm.

Vladislav Inozemtsev is special adviser to MEMRIs Russian Media Studies Project in Washington and director of the Center for Post-Industrial Studies in Moscow.
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  A gallon of premium gas rose above $5 on Saturday at U.S. military bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam, according to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.

At the two AAFES stations at Yokota, the U.S. airlift hub in western Tokyo, premium costs $5.09, or 24 cents more per gallon, according to an AAFES gas price update on Thursday. Diesel is $5.31 a gallon, up from $4.91.

The same hike applies at other U.S. bases throughout Japan, including Camp Zama southwest of Tokyo, the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan, Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan and installations on Okinawa, according to AAFES.

Premium at U.S. bases in South Korea rose even higher, to $5.11 per gallon, with regular going to $4.38, hikes of 24 cents and 21 cents, respectively, according to the AAFES price guide. Guam drivers now pay $5.10 for premium and $4.38 for regular.

A spokeswoman for Navy Exchange Service Command, Courtney Williams, told Stars and Stripes in an email Friday she was seeking information about NEX fuel prices.

At Yokota, Air Force Staff Sgt. Kaylee Allen, 24, topped off her Toyota Ractis on Friday, ahead of the price hike. She blamed the rise in the cost of gas on Russian President Vladimir Putins now three-week-old invasion of Ukraine.

If this is what it has to be then Im going to pay the gas prices until I have to ride a bike, she said. Im going to do what I need to get to work.

In the U.S., consumers passed the $5 mark ahead of service members and their families overseas, according to AAFES. Drivers stateside paid an average $5.04 for premium and $4.31 for regular as of March 14.

Gasoline prices at U.S. bases in Japan have about doubled in two years. In March 2020, just as the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus pandemic, a gallon of regular cost about $2.30.

Its ridiculous, said civilian aircraft maintainer Christopher Bash, 54, as he gassed up at Yokota on Friday morning.

Service members deserve relief at the pump, he said.

They sacrifice a lot and most of them overseas have a car because they want to learn about the country they are in, Bash said. They shouldnt be gouged out for gas.

Air Force spouse Miquisha Dauenbaugh, 27, filling up her Nissan Cube at Yokota, wasnt too concerned about the high prices.

I hear a lot of people talking about it, she said. I dont drive very much.
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CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  South Korea decided Friday to loosen restrictions on private gatherings, despite reporting a record-high of 621,328 new COVID-19 cases and 429 deaths the previous day.

The Health and Welfare Ministry raised the limit on private gatherings from six to eight people effective Monday but extended the existing 11 p.m. curfew on businesses until April 3.

One of South Koreas leading experts on COVID-19 said he couldnt understand the governments policy changes amid a record-breaking case count.

As an infectious disease expert, it is an insane action because already a lot of patients are in the intensive-care unit at the hospital and there are many deaths, Dr. Kim Woo Joo, a professor of infectious diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, told Stars and Stripes by phone on Friday. The hospitals are already strained, and health care workers are infected.

Many of his colleagues share his concern, Kim said. He said political considerations, such as protests from business owners, could have played a role in changing group limits.

It could aggravate the situation more by increasing the number of laboratory-confirmed cases every day, Kim said.

Health and Welfare Minister Kwon Deok Cheol at a meeting Friday seemed to acknowledge the risk to public health but said the decision to ease gathering limits was overdue.

It is high time that we should newly adjust our social distancing for the last two weeks, Kwon said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. "But it is a situation of great public concern about significant relaxation of social distancing, considering uncertainties in predicting the peak of the pandemic, a huge epidemic of the omicron variant and burdens on our medical response system.

Health and government officials had heated discussions prior to Fridays policy change and ultimately decided to slightly adjust gathering limits in consideration of everyday inconveniences  and the ease of the suffering of the self-employed and small business owners.

South Korea counted 621,328 cases Thursday, according to the daily COVID-19 update by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The KDCA also reported 429 deaths, another one-day record that brought the nations pandemic death toll to 11,481.

Those counts dropped Friday to 407,017 and 301, respectively, the KDCA reported.

Meanwhile, the occupancy rate in the nations hospitals is rising rapidly, Kwon said. He said 65% of hospital beds are occupied and some regional hospitals are reporting 90%.

Nonetheless, South Korea has suffered fewer deaths from COVID-19 than the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Vietnam and Japan, according to data from the World Health Organization.

South Korea, however, had the highest seven-day average case count, 2.7 million, on Friday, according to the WHO update. It ranked fifth in average deaths during the same period, behind the U.S., Russia, Brazil and China.

The U.S. military command in South Korea reported 302 new cases between March 8 and 14, nearly double its 157 infections the previous week.

U.S. Forces Korea maintains a very aggressive approach against COVID-19, command spokesman Wesley Hayes told Stars and Stripes by email on Friday. He did not comment on whether USFK plans to adjust its existing pandemic restrictions.

USFK, responsible for around 28,500 troops, will balance readiness with the health and well-being of our affiliated community, and continue to monitor and assess the current COVID-19 situation  on a daily basis, Hayes said.

Service members, family members, contractors and South Korean employees are prohibited from trips to Seoul except for official business or to visit the Dragon Hill Lodge at Yongsan Garrison. All personnel are required to abide by South Korean guidelines, which require masks when out in public.

Unit commanders may impose tighter restrictions for service members, including curfews and reduced privileges off-base.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
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TOKYO  Japans capital city, which will drop most of its three-month-old pandemic restrictions next week, reported another 7,825 COVID-19 infections Friday, according to public broadcaster NHK.

New case numbers in Japan, although they fluctuate day to day, continue to decline from one week to the next.

Tokyo on Thursday averaged 8,159 new cases per day during the previous seven days, according to the most recent metropolitan government data available. The seven-day moving average was 9,402 cases on March 10.

At the omicron variants peak on Feb. 8, the citys seven-day average reached 18,575 new cases per day.

Japan confirmed 53,478 new cases Thursday and 171 deaths related to COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The nations seven-day average was 48,589 on Thursday, down from 53,939 on March 10, according to Johns Hopkins. The peak seven-day average came Feb. 6 at 94,491.

U.S. Forces Japan, which did away with most of its COVID-19 mask requirements on Monday, reported 52 new cases Friday, 98 new cases Thursday and 102 Wednesday, according to updates this week.

Fridays new case count is the lowest since USFJ began posting updates in January.

The command ended the working week with an average 83.6 new cases per day.

Yokosuka Naval Base, the 7th Fleets homeport south of Tokyo, reported 12 new cases Friday. It was the only U.S. base with more than 10, according to USFJ.

USFJ reported one person hospitalized Wednesday, but no serious cases of the coronavirus respiratory disease. Yokosuka that day accounted for 23 new cases, the Marine Corps base Camp Foster on Okinawa had 18 and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni had 15, according to USFJ.

Three installations reported 17 new cases Thursday: Yokosuka, Kadena Air Base on Okinawa and Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan. MCAS Iwakuni followed with 12, according to USFJ.

Kadena, one of the few U.S. installations still self-reporting case totals, had 108 cases as of Wednesday, according to its website.

Okinawa prefecture, home to tens of thousands of U.S. troops and their families, on Friday reported another 618 had contracted the respiratory disease, along with 15 new cases in the U.S. military population, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care.

Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
Ukrainian officials said Friday that Russian missiles struck an aircraft repair facility near an airport in Lviv - a western city near Poland that has been a relatively safe haven so far for foreign diplomats and a transit point for Ukrainians fleeing war-battered areas elsewhere in the country.

Other Russian strikes on airfields or military facilities in western Ukraine in recent weeks have led the Pentagon to conclude that Russia is broadening its targets, raising concerns over how long the region can remain a safe refuge. On Thursday, South Korea announced it would move its diplomats out of Lviv, citing heightened military threats around the city.

In the absence of major territorial advances, Russia - which has launched more than 1,000 missiles so far - is increasingly relying on sieges and unguided dumb bombs to wear cities and civilians down. The United Nations has confirmed 1,900 civilian casualties, including the deaths of 52 children, but its human rights agency and humanitarian groups have said the real tolls are far higher. The United Nations estimates that 55 children have fled Ukraine every minute.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy said Friday morning that the Russian missiles struck an aircraft repair plant next to the citys airport but that the airport itself was not hit.

Sadovy wrote on his Telegram channel that no casualties were immediately reported and that work had been suspended at the facility before the attack. Local authorities were at the scene, he added, and at a nearby bus repair facility that was also damaged.

A large cloud of smoke was seen in the airports vicinity, according to images shared by news agencies and on social media. Lviv, a western Ukrainian city near Poland, has been a relatively safe haven for Ukrainians and foreign diplomats. But it has faced a growing number of Russian projectile attacks in recent days as Moscows invasion stalls.

The aircraft repair plant was targeted by six winged missiles that were launched from the Black Sea, the Ukrainian air forces western command said Friday in a Facebook post. It added that two of the six missiles were shot down and that the threat was now over.

Lvivs regional governor, Maksym Kozytskyi, told reporters Friday that the countrys air defense systems had worked, and he confirmed that two of the missiles were shot down. He said that while no fatalities were reported, one person was wounded, although not critically.

This is an attack on the city of Lviv, on a humanitarian hub where there are currently at least 200,000 displaced people, Kozytskyi said in a video. The attack on the city of Lviv once again confirms that they [the Russians] are not fighting the Ukrainian army - they are fighting the population, children, women, displaced people.

Also Friday, a Ukrainian official said 130 people have been rescued alive from a bombed theater in Mariupol - although the fate of an estimated 1,300 others who had been sheltering there remained unknown Friday.

The figures, which were could not be independently verified, are the first concrete details about the number of survivors rescued from the theater, which Ukrainian officials say was devastated by a Russian airstrike Wednesday.

Ukraines human rights ombudswoman, Lyudmyla Denisova, told Ukrainian television that, according to her data, more than 1,300 people who were taking cover in a bomb shelter below the theater remained unaccounted for. Zelensky said hundreds of Mariupol residents were still under the theaters ruins.

Well continue the rescue work in spite of all difficulties, he said Friday in a video shared on Telegram.

Information has been scarce because of the siege conditions in Mariupol, a strategic southeastern port city that has faced intense Russian attacks and has been largely cut off from the outside world for weeks. Satellite images from before the attack showed the word children written in Russian in large white letters on the ground on both sides of the theater.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denied Thursday that Moscow had bombed the theater, calling it a lie.

In other developments:

- President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are set to speak at 9 a.m. Eastern time as concerns mount that Beijing will offer military equipment and aid to Moscow. The leaders of the worlds two largest economies have a lot to discuss, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday, adding: This is an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands.

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address early Friday local time, pledged to fight for all Ukrainian cities under attack and appealed to Russian citizens to challenge the Kremlin. We want you to love your children more than you fear your authorities, he said.

- The United States denounced Russias decision to seek an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council on Friday to discuss what Moscow claims are American biological labs in Ukraine. Washington called the session a means for Moscow to promote disinformation.

- Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated from embattled Ukrainian cities on Thursday, officials said, continuing the halting and sporadic effort to rescue civilians from the countrys most war-torn regions.

- A U.S. citizen was killed amid Russian shelling in the besieged city of Chernihiv on Thursday. James Whitney Hill, 68, died while trying to obtain food for himself, his partner and other very ill patients at the local hospital, his sister told The Washington Post in an interview.

- In Kharkiv , where a Post reporter witnessed evidence of cluster bombs being used in civilian areas, body bags and coffins are in short supply.

The Washington Posts Amar Nadhir contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Three current and former members of the Tennessee National Guard, who a Russian media outlet falsely claimed were mercenaries killed in Ukraine, are alive and safe, the National Guard said.

The Russian website Pravda.ru claimed Thursday that the three men died after a battle with Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, a self-proclaimed breakaway state in eastern Ukraine.

The National Guard refuted the story, which was published only on the English-language version of the website and its social media accounts. Pravda.ru publishes in four languages and is not affiliated with the Communist Party-led Pravda newspaper, whose website is gazeta-pravda.ru.

The reporting by Pravda is patently false, the National Guard said in a statement issued late Thursday. They are accounted for, safe and not, as the article headline erroneously states, U.S. mercenaries killed in Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Pravda.ru identified the Guard members by name and rank and wrote they were found with grenade launchers, a mortar radar device and other weaponry. The outlet posted photos of the men's supposed belongings, including a Tennessee state flag, on its Facebook page and claimed U.S. fighters began arriving in the region to kill civilians in 2018.

National Guard officials said they believe the men were targeted by Pravda.ru due to online stories published by the Defense Department in 2018 showing members of the Tennessee National Guards 278th Armored Calvary Regiment training Ukrainian troops.

All members of the Tennessee National Guard returned safely to their home state in 2019 after a successful mission, the National Guard said.

More than 200 American soldiers worked with the Ukrainian armed forces at the Yavoriv military base near the Polish border that year. Russian launched a missile attack on the base last week, killing 35 and injuring 134 others.

The U.S. pulled all its troops out of Ukraine prior to Russias invasion of the country on Feb. 24. In November, 160 Florida National Guard soldiers assigned to the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed to Ukraine to train local forces as Russia began massing thousands of troops along its eastern border with Ukraine.
The mounting death toll in Ukraine has forced President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider concessions to Russia in order bring an end to the devastating conflict, but the specific elements of any peace deal his government may be discussing with Moscow remain a mystery to Western leaders, said U.S. and European officials.

The secretive rounds of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators could hold the key to ending the conflict but also carry broader implications for European security depending on how the warring parties settle their differences. If Russian President Vladimir Putin can use military force to compel political change in Ukraine, he could use the same tactic elsewhere, U.S. and European officials fear.

The prospects of a near-term deal look bleak, diplomats say, but mixed signals from Zelenskyy about how close he is to striking an agreement have only heightened anxiety about the trajectory of the negotiations.

Russia has sought to pummel Ukraine into submission through artillery barrages, cruise missile strikes and a severing of supply routes that have prompted a humanitarian disaster and forced more than 3 million people to flee the country.

Zelenskyy, however, has remained defiant, saying his country wants peace  but not at any cost.

Im ready for dialogue; were not ready for capitulation, Zelenskyy told ABC News earlier this week, while vowing to continue fighting Russia for as long as necessary.

Zelenskyy reiterated that message in even stronger terms on Tuesday when the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia traveled to Kyiv to meet him in a risky wartime visit. He showed very little interest in a negotiated settlement and said Ukraine needed to keep fighting until Putin altered his demands, said a diplomat familiar with the discussions, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive meetings.

At the same time, Zelenskyys top negotiator, Mykhailo Podolyak, has hailed progress in negotiations with Russia and suggested a quick end to the fighting. Their position has softened significantly, Podolyak told PBS this week in reference to Russia. We have much confidence that we will have a cease-fire in the coming days.

The conflicting forecasts have led to some confusion among Western leaders who see limited movement toward reconciling Russias demands with what Ukraine would find acceptable. Moscow has called for the full demilitarization of Ukraine and for Kyiv to recognize the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, as Russian territory and the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent countries. Moscow has also called for the de-Nazification of Ukraine, a Kremlin term believed to mean the dissolution of the Zelenskyy government. Ukrainian officials have said all four demands are non-starters but have been open to discussing the issue of neutrality and the countrys relationship to NATO.

Theres no indication on our end that the Ukrainians are suing for peace. They want to fight, said a senior U.S. official.

When asked to account for some of Ukraines optimistic messaging about a deal, the official said weve been puzzling over this too. Weve been getting mixed messages.

A second U.S. administration official said Ukraines statements suggest that Zelenskyy and his top aides havent come to a firm conclusion on what the Ukrainian people are willing to concede in exchange for a cease-fire and withdrawal of Russian troops.

They just havent come up with a decision yet, added a senior European official.

Others close to Zelenskyy say he is under extraordinary pressure to convey progress in negotiations with Russia even if the reality is less sanguine.

Many Ukrainians are now suffering enormously. That puts our delegation under pressure to show some kind of progress in the talks, said Yuri Vitrenko, the CEO of Naftogaz, the countrys largest state-owned oil and gas company.

There are people in Ukraine who say we dont want to hear about talks, we want to fight until the end. But others are saying at least try to negotiate. Thats why for the negotiating team, its important to be constructive, he said.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

Speculation about an emerging peace deal surged on Wednesday following a report in the Financial Times that Ukrainian and Russian negotiators discussed a 15-point draft on Monday that would see Kyiv renouncing its ambitions to join NATO and swear off hosting foreign military bases or weaponry in exchange for security guarantees from countries such as Britain, the United States or Turkey.

That same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Ukraines neutral status is now being seriously discussed and said the two sides are close to agreeing. A day earlier, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians must admit that the West has indicated Ukraine wont be a member of NATO  remarks that seemed designed to prepare the Ukrainian people for concessions.

But officials from Russia and Ukraine later denied that the 15-point plan represented a possible solution, and Ukrainian officials said most of the reported document was merely a restatement of Russian positions.

Zelenskyy will have to sell any peace deal to his own people  a tricky task if he is forced to concede too much. He has been a wildly popular wartime president, but he was an unpopular peacetime one. And Ukraines westward ambitions have only been strengthened by Russias assault. Before February, many residents of cities like Kharkiv were sympathetic to Russia. Now much of the city has been reduced to rubble, and pro-Russian voices have turned into fiercely pro-Kyiv ones.

Any potential deal will also require buy-in from the West, which will need to lift sanctions on Moscow in exchange for its withdrawal of Russian forces.

But Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a simple withdrawal of troops may not meet a U.S. standard for sanctions relief. The United States will want to make sure that anything thats done is, in effect, irreversible, that this cant happen again, that Russia wont pick up and do exactly what its doing in a year or two years or three years.

Some eastern flank NATO members also oppose a peace agreement that concedes too much to Putin for fear of the message it would send about violations of sovereignty and international law.

If at the end of this, Putin comes away with anything but a clearly defined loss for him, that would destabilize European and international security unlike anything weve seen since the days of the Second World War, said Jonatan Vseviov, the secretary general of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But the desire to have Putin feel defeated could also make a middle-ground compromise impossible, officials acknowledged, spurring the Russian leader to keep fighting. European countries would be unlikely to roll back sanctions at the first sign of a peace deal but would wait until there are concrete signs it is actually being implemented and respected, a senior European diplomat said.

A middle path could be possible, involving Ukraine setting aside its ambitions to join NATO in exchange for the integration of the separatist eastern Ukrainian territories back into Kyiv-controlled Ukraine.

The question is if Putin is capable of agreeing on what many will see as defeat, said a European diplomat.

Even if Zelenskyy manages to strike a deal, implementing it could be difficult. Ukraines NATO aspirations were baked into its constitution in a 2019 amendment, and changing it again would require a lengthy process that culminates in a supermajority vote of parliament. Not all political forces in the country are ready to do that, and a supermajority isnt a sure bet, said Alex Riabchyn, a former lawmaker who voted in favor of the 2019 change.

The other challenge, Riabchyn said, is that Zelenskyy has proved so powerful a wartime communicator that Ukrainians are united behind him, with high morale and a willingness to keep fighting. A deal that seems like a defeat might not be acceptable to Ukrainian society.

Ukrainians believe we are winning this war, so they might not accept painful compromises, said Riabchyn, who now advises the government. They might feel this is a betrayal. Zelenskyy raised the aspiration lines very high.

For now, U.S. and European officials say they do not see signs that Russia is stopping its attack. One key measure, officials said, was whether Russian troops were digging defensive lines to solidify control of the territory they have captured. That hasnt started yet, signifying a likely intent to keep pushing forward, two defense officials said.

Russias public optimism about a deal is a source of interest for diplomats. Officials familiar with the negotiations attribute it to one of two strategies. One is that Moscow is serious because the Kremlin wants to roll back existing sanctions. The other is that Russia wants to create the impression of seriousness in a bid to head off even more sanctions.

Vitrenko, the Naftogaz executive, subscribes to the latter.

Russians are now making this impression that there is progress with negotiations for a very obvious reason: they dont want the West to impose tougher sanctions.

Ultimately, what Ukraine will agree to, lies with Zelenskyy because of the way he has emerged as a figure of unity.

Its Zelenskyy who decides, he said. Its about the spirit of a nation. Thousands of Ukrainians are dying. Hes a wartime leader, and its a huge responsibility.

The Washington Posts Greg Jaffe contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  President Joe Biden and Chinas President Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours by phone Friday as the White House sought to persuade Beijing not to send military aid to support Russias war in Ukraine.

According to a White House readout of the call, Biden described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians and underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The two sides agreed to stay in touch and that additional conversations between top aides would occur soon, the White House said.

The call, the first contact between the leaders in four months, followed a lengthy and tense meeting between the countries national security officials earlier this week in Rome. The potentially difficult call on Friday could mark a pivotal moment in Russias war against Ukraine and Washingtons long-term relations with Beijing.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said Thursday that Biden would make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression.

Beijings official summary of the call described the conversation as candid and in-depth and did not condemn Russias invasion. It called for direct dialogue to ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine and stated that China stands for peace and opposes war.

All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace, the Chinese government stated.

That statement of at least outward neutrality is notable coming just a month after Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared their countries enjoyed a friendship without limits.

The call began at 6:03 a.m. Pacific and ended an hour and 50 minutes later, the White House said.

As the West has rallied around Ukraines cause, imposing severe economic sanctions against Russia, Putin has become increasingly isolated and desperate. Russian forces, somewhat surprisingly, have been hammered by fierce Ukrainian resistance and failed to make deep incursions into the country after more than three weeks of fighting.

Given the way the war has gone, China offers Russia one of its last economic and military lifelines.

And while there is no question that Xi and Putin have been aligned on many issues, Beijing must balance its allegiance to a weakened autocrat against its relationships with major trading partners and the long-term risks of escalating a major conflict with the U.S. and Europe.

Biden on Wednesday authorized an additional $800 million in defense aid for Ukraine, a package that includes anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, heavy munitions and drones. That came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an impassioned address to a joint session of Congress in which he asked Biden and the U.S. to do more to help defend his country.

Although Russia and Ukraine have engaged in peace talks, there has been little evidence that Putin is serious about negotiating an end to the conflict, even after losing an estimated 7,000 to 9,000 fighters and amid difficulties with maintaining supply lines and finding reinforcements. With Russias ground assault struggling to make progress, Putin has increasingly turned the fight into one of attrition, indiscriminately bombing Ukrainian cities with little regard for civilians.

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Visit at latimes.com .

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Tribune News Service)  Ohio elections officials wont mail primary election ballots to overseas military voters on Friday, missing the first major voting deadline on this years election calendar, in the aftermath of a Wednesday ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court that rejected Republicans latest proposed map for state legislative districts.

Late Thursday, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, ordered county elections officials to not mail any ballots despite a Friday deadline in state law, and a Saturday deadline in federal law that sets when ballots must be mailed to military members and other overseas voters. He said his office is finalizing a deal with federal officials that would temporarily extend the deadlines to early April, per a law change state lawmakers rushed through last week.

State officials previously had said counties could mail out the ballots if they were ready, with elections boards having the later deadline as a backstop.

But in an interview, LaRose said he wants to prevent elections boards from mailing out a ballot that turns out to be inaccurate, in light of the Wednesday court ruling.

He said its possible an ongoing federal lawsuit from Republican activists could end up restoring the map, overriding the state court. Its also possible the state legislature or a court could end up moving the primary date, including possibly splitting off state legislative and congressional races for a later election.

I dont want a board of elections sending out ballots that include a race that shouldnt be on it. And I dont want them to send out ballots with a race removed that should be on it, LaRose said. So thankfully, we have a little bit of time to get that done, and thats why Ive asked them to pause.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruling, which rejected the map as an illegal pro- GOP gerrymander, leaves the state without valid state legislative maps for the primary election, which is supposed to happen on May 3. The development further underscores the chaos stemming from the ongoing failure for the Republican-dominated Ohio Redistricting Commission, a panel of top state elected officials, including LaRose, to produce court-approved maps in time for the May 3 election.

The path forward is unclear, but could involve state lawmakers voting to change the election date to buy more time for the redistricting process, or a federal court going over state officials heads to break the gridlock. State and federal law require new maps to be drawn for the election so that they reflect population shifts over the past decade.

In rejecting the maps this week, court said the maps significant number of competitive Democratic districts, without offsetting competitive Republican ones, was evidence that the maps illegally benefitted Republicans. They also faulted Republicans for drawing a map without Democratic input. They cited the anti-gerrymandering rules approved by voters in 2015 which direct mapmakers to not benefit either party when drawing state legislative maps, and to design districts that favor each party to win a share of seats in proportion to statewide voting results.

The redistricting commission is scheduled to meet 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Statehouse in Columbus to take up the process of drawing new state maps, commission members announced on Friday. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who is on the redistricting commission, said this week he hopes to see closer collaboration between Republican and Democratic mapmakers.

The court gave the Ohio Redistricting Commission until March 28 to pass a new state legislative map, submitting it for the court for approval. The timeline is unfeasible for the primary to be held in May, in part because early voting is scheduled to begin on April 5.

The Ohio Supreme Court also is reviewing a proposed congressional map, which is also supposed to be ready for the May 3 election, after rejecting a previous version in January. The latest rejection of the state legislative map seems to increase the odds that the congressional map will be rejected, too.

There is an ongoing federal lawsuit, filed by state Republican activists, that seeks to impose the state legislative map plan that the Ohio Supreme Court rejected as illegal earlier this week. The first step in that legal process would be to appoint a three-judge panel to consider whether to grant the request. A federal judge overseeing the case this week said he wanted to let the state process play out more before deciding whether to step in.

Legal analysts have expressed skepticism that the federal court would impose the rejected maps, but Republican state officials could argue that doing so is the only way to preserve the May 3 election and avoid the voter confusion that result from moving it, citing a prominent court precedent that says courts should avoid ordering last-minute elections changes when possible. The court conceivably also could end up moving the election date or start a process to draw or approve a different map plan.

In a court filing Friday, LaRose said the office doesnt oppose assembling the three-judge panel. Doing so, he said in a legal filing, at a minimum would allow the courts processes to run in parallel with the work of the Ohio Redistricting Commission.

In an interview, LaRose said he hopes the court will grant the activists request to impose the map that was rejected this week. He said doing so would help keep the elections process predictable, which he said is good for the states civic health.

My hope would be that the court would authorize us to conduct the May 3 election with the maps that were passed by the redistricting commission in late February, LaRose said. Well see what the courts will is on that.

Republicans who dominate the state legislature could just move the primary election, but have been reluctant to do so citing the effect it would have on elections that are unaffected by redistricting, like statewide and local elections. Moving the election also would undermine Republicans legal defense of a congressional map plan, since theyve argued the imminent election is among the reasons the Ohio Supreme Court should accept the map.

2022 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit cleveland.com .
(Tribune News Service)  Decatur resident Robert Bells U.S. Army service included the rare accomplishment of rising to master sergeant at age 20 during combat in the Korean War, but his favorite part of the military was parachuting out of planes and getting an extra $50 a month for doing it.

Back in those days, if you were on jump status, you had to jump once a month to maintain currency and receive jump pay, said retired Col. Bob Bell of Huntsville, Roberts son. One of the big deals, in the early days, is you got $50 extra a month for jumping out of an airplane, well, a perfectly good airplane.

Fifty bucks in the 1950s and 1960s was a lot of money. So, he liked to jump.

The elder Bell, now 88, was honored Tuesday for his military service, which also included time in the Army Reserves. During a ceremony at Decatur Country Club, Bell received the Order of Saint Maurice Medallion for serving in the infantry with distinction and for demonstrating a significant conspicuous contribution.

He was nominated for the award by his friend Barry Simpson, a member of the National Infantry Association.

Its about honoring these veterans who truly deserve it through what they did for the country, Simpson said.

Bell graduated from Decatur High School in 1951 and went to the University of Alabama. At age 19, he decided to enlist in the Army rather than take a college deferment, according to his son.

(Robert) ended up in combat in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division, Bob said, and started out as a machine gunner.

As a private, (Robert) rose to the highest rank of the enlisted ranks, which in the 1950s was a master sergeant, or an E-7, Bob said.

Robert was only 20 years old, but it usually takes 15 to 20 years to reach that rank, according to Bob.

Robert served as platoon sergeant for the heavy weapons platoon, which included machine guns, 105 recoilless rifles and mortars. He supervised 40 soldiers and non-commissioned officers.

After an 18-month combat tour, Robert returned to the United States and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he became a company first sergeant at 21 years of age, overseeing 100 soldiers.

One of Roberts duties was to be the primary adviser to the company commander, Bob said. Robert also supervised platoon sergeants. There are usually three platoon sergeants because three platoons make up a company, according to Bob.

After active duty, Robert joined the special forces reserves in Decatur at the Fort Quarles-Flowers Armory as an operations and intelligence sergeant for five years.

Roberts unit never deployed but often conducted training exercises that included rappelling, survival exercises and parachuting. He also like going on patrol, Bob said, and doing survival exercises. Robert did a lot of training in the Florida swamps.

Robert relished the fact that he could take his special forces detachment and pretty much accomplish whatever it was he wanted to do, Bob said.

Robert used to tell Bob stories about how his group was asked on several occasions to assess the fences around Redstone Arsenal.

They penetrated them so many times that the Garrison commander finally told them to stop, Bob said.

In 1962, Robert was badly injured during a training exercise when he slipped and fell 30 feet after rappelling from a cliff, Bob said. He was subsequently placed on temporary disability and formally medically retired May 1968, Bob said.

Simpson said Robert Bell was a veteran he looked up to while he was growing up.

They were honorable, they did what had to be done. It was these types of veterans that made me want to be in the Army.

The medal was established in 1994 as a joint venture between the U.S. Army Infantry Branch and the National Infantry Association. It recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the promotion of the infantry as recognized by the individuals seniors, subordinates and peers.

The individual must represent the highest standards of integrity, moral character, professional competence and dedication.

Robert said he felt honored and surprised to have received the medal.

erica.smith@decaturdaily.com

(c)2022 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit at www.decaturdaily.com
Stillwater, OK (74074)

Today

Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 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.
With World Water Day approaching on March 22, Tauranga City Council says its a perfect time to reflect on our own water use.

This year's WWD theme is groundwater  making the invisible visible.

Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock.

Taurangas water supply is sourced from streams that are primarily fed from groundwater.

Heading into summer the streams that supply Taurangas water were at the lowest levels seen and as a result, the new Water Watchers plan was introduced in early November to provide our community with a clear, year-round approach for sustainably managing the citys water use.

A new online water dashboard provides an up-to-date source of data to help monitor Taurangas source water streamflow levels, average water usage, and total water production.

The waters dashboard is a terrific tool for Tauranga to keep an eye on stream levels and stay focused on the need for ongoing water conservation. 

Water services manager Peter Bahrs says the community has achieved great results so far, but the work must continue if were to sustainably manage our water throughout the year.

We want to thank the community for your water-saving efforts over summer.

Our dashboard data shows us the Water Watchers plan has made a positive impact to water use by creating a more stable demand over the summer months.

Weve had less high-use peaks than in previous summers which is a great start, but despite recent rain stream flows remain low so its important that we keep up the good work and continue to follow the plan year-round.

Peter says as we enter autumn and the mornings are getting cooler and darker, we can all continue to play our part by following some simple guidance around outdoor water use like watering gardens and lawns, and washing cars.

From April, sprinklers and irrigation systems can be used again but use is limited to one hour between 4pm and 7pm.

For the Water Watchers plan please visit https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/water-services/water-watchers.


The fiance of a popular Mount Maunganui man who recently suffered a serious medical emergency after a bout of Covid-19, says support from the local community has left her in tears and feeling less alone.

Ross Te Paa, who runs the Voodoo Lounge bar on Maunganui Road, suffered a clot on the brain and subsequent brain bleed on the evening of Monday, February 28.

Since then, support from the Mount Maunganui community has been overwhelming for his partner, Jackie McCaughan.

Jackie, who first met Ross in 2011, says it was whilst the 43-year-old was giving their one-year-old, Jackson, a bath that the first sign of a problem emerged.

He suddenly yelled out to me because his right arm was completely dead, Jackie explains.

It was just hanging off him.

Jackie and the couples two children, Jackson and three-year-old Tristan, were Covid-19 positive at the time. Ross had recently concluded his 10-day isolation period for a previous Covid positive test result which Jackie says left him bed-ridden for a day.

Jackie, therefore, called the Covid-19 helpline first, informing them her husbands symptoms had worsened. They passed her on to Healthline, whilst other warning signs started to emerge.

He said it felt like pins and needles and like he had a ball rolling around in the back of his head and neck, she says.

He had some movements and he could smile and stuff. But he walked into the table, fridge and door all on his right side, when he came into the kitchen. I said to him, its like the right side of your body is not connected to your brain.

After a 20-minute wait to talk to Healthline, the seriousness of the situation began to dawn on Jackie.

The woman from Healthline was asking him his details, like his name and date of birth and he wasnt really sure, says Jackie.

He was starting to get confused.

At this point, an ambulance was called. On arrival, paramedics had to clear the room due to the other Covid-19 cases in the household. At that point, Jackie called Rosss brother, Shaun, who immediately raced over to his Papamoa home to be with his sibling.

Shaun went with Ross to hospital with Jackie having to stay behind with the kids in isolation but, unfortunately, the worst was yet to come.

You kind of think when the ambulance comes that he is all good, right? says Jackie.

He is in medical hands so you kind of relax a little bit but it just got worse.

Rosss condition deteriorated at Tauranga Hospital and he was eventually airlifted to Waikato Hospital. He would eventually undergo three surgeries.

It all happened on the Monday night and by Tuesday he was on life support at Waikato Hospital, says Jackie, of the speed of Rosss decline.

Jackie would not see him again until the Saturday, March 5, after her isolation period ended.

Ross has however exceeded expectations in his recovery.

He was moved to the neurology department in Hamilton on Friday, March 11, Jackie visiting in Hamilton whilst staying at an AirBnb with the kids. His condition improving, Ross returned to Tauranga Hospital on Wednesday, March 16, where he continues to undergo treatment.

His recovery has been amazing so far, says Jackie.

They said he might not be able to speak but he is speaking. He is only making some sense regarding his speech.

But he is speaking and, with his age, that is really encouraging for his recovery. He has a big journey ahead in his rehabilitation.

As for a cause, Rosss bout of Covid just before his medical emergency is not being ruled out. Doctors, she says, inform her that Rosss blood had become sticky, causing the clot that made him gravely ill.

They first thought it was an aneurysm, something that was already in his brain, but that was not the case, says Jackie.

From what the doctors say it does sound like Covid can cause strokes, especially in younger people.

The fact Covid may have been the cause for Rosss illness has left Jackie feeling a tinge of remorse.

I was actually quite glad when we got Covid as I thought we all had to get it at some point anyway and it was pretty mild, she admits.

But this, obviously, is a far worse outcome so I regret that feeling.

Rosss popularity through the hospitality and nightlife scene in Mount Maunganui has seen a deluge of tributes flooding in on social media and directly to Jackie.

The bar, which shut for four days after the incident, is now set to turn their weekly Sunday Hospo Night, across various Mount locations, in to Rosspo Night this weekend, with tickets up for sale and the evening dedicated to supporting Ross and his whanau.

I have to give a huge shout out to the Voodoo staff, says Jackie.

They have helped me big time to try to keep the bar running as best we can without Ross.

And also the other hospitality joints in the Mount that are taking part on Sunday.

A Givealittle page set up by Miriam McFarlane, a fellow member of the Bay of Plenty Symphonia in which Jackie plays violin and viola, has already reached over $23,000 in donations.

The whole experience has been immensely moving for Jackie, who is also thankful for her parents and Rosss family for their support.

The amount of messages I have been getting from people I do not even know but know him through hospitality it is amazing, she says.

The outpouring of support has just been phenomenal. It has bought tears to my eyes.

It has all been way too much, but in a good way. I suddenly didnt feel that alone anymore.

Tickets for this weekends Rosspo Night are available here and the Givealittle page set up for Ross and Jackie can be seen at this link.
Putting New Zealand's own history of the centre of the country's schooling is is the sign of a mature society and will help address inequities, educators say.

The government has published the final version of the subject curriculum for Aotearoa New Zealand's histories and Te Takanga o Te Wa, which will be compulsory in every school up to year 10.

Launching the curriculum yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it gave New Zealanders a "better understanding of one another, through learning more about Maori, about the migrant history of Pasifika, our Asian communities."

It has stirred up debate in Parliament, where ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden says it focuses too much on colonisation and dividing people into villains and victims.

The curriculum ignored scientific and technological advances and the women's movement, things that New Zealand could be proud of, she says.

"Instead this history curriculum is all about colonisations and two sets of people, Maori and Pakeha, it doesn't actually talk about the beauty of New Zealand history and the fact that we are a multi ethnic society.

"We need to make sure that we are raising our children to make sure that they are empowered to live in a society where everybody is learning about all aspects of New Zealand's history curriculum."

Photo: RNZ / Nick Munro.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw told MPs it's vital to acknowledge New Zealand was built on notions of imperialism and xenophobia.

"One of the ways that you empower people is by being honest about the past ... and that is actually how you start to be able to think about the future," Shaw says.

"If Brooke wants to talk about other ethnicities, let's talk about the first waves of Chinese settlers who were absolutely the targets of xenophobia and were treated appallingly by Pakeha settlers, in fact only got an apology for that in the last 20 years.

"It was not a pleasant history and I think it is very important that we are honest about it and just say look this is what happened, what this is what took place, and there are consequences that we feel today for that, particularly for Maori."

'Sleepwalking'

Victoria University history professor Charlotte Macdonald says it's a sign of a mature society to "put our own history to the centre of our schooling".

"It's kind of like sleepwalking if we don't know our histories whether it's as individuals, as communities, families, communities or as a national society, then we are walking blind, both in the present and into the future.

Rather than a "victims and villains" view of history there were broad-ranging themes - as well as a lot of scope for schools to explore how history played out in their local area, she says.

"It might might be who signed the women's suffrage petition in 1893 in Hokitika or in South Dunedin or in Dargaville ... all of those events can be explored."

Te Akatea, the Maori Principals Association, says the curriculum had the potential to transform education and society.

"It's about understanding an accurate historical narrative of how we all got here here in Aotearoa, and that if we knew the accurate narrative of how we all got here, then we'd be more likely to think, speak, and teach in decolonising and honourable ways, and I say honourable ways in terms of Te Tiriti as a foundation," says association president Bruce Jepsen.

"I think we always find space for things that we value. If we're talking about transforming New Zealand education to address those inequities that have been generated by the previous curriculum, this is our opportunity.

"If we do this job properly then we're going to end up with a fantastic society here in New Zealand."

Jepsen says his school has been forming relationships with local iwi and integrating localised history into the curriculum.

The new curriculum was officially announced last February, following up on a pledge in September 2019 that history would be compulsory in all New Zealand schools.

The government finished consultation over the curriculum in June, with teachers saying it would help close "woeful" knowledge gaps on the country's past.

That was after criticism by an expert panel which found the draft curriculum failed to include topics like women, labour and economics, and the 600 years of pre-colonial Maori life.

The changes are part of the government's attempt to make it clearer what children will be expected to know in each subject, with reworks of the English, maths and science curriculums expected to follow over the next four years.

-RNZ.
Tauranga City voters are now left pondering who they want to work for them in Wellington following Simon Bridges decision to retire from politics in coming weeks.

The 45-year-old says he is set to explore some commercial opportunities and enjoy having more time for his young family after serving as Taurangas MP for the past 14 years.

I feel like theres never a good time for these things, but its as good as it gets for National, were on the upswing, weve got momentum, Im 45, Im keen to explore some other opportunities, says Bridges, who announced the news without his National leadership team by his side at Parliament on Tuesday.

Its been a privilege to be MP for Tauranga since 2008, a senior Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Ive enjoyed every minute of it, but its time.

I will formally hand in my resignation to the Speaker in the coming weeks.

Bridges will also sell his home in Tauranga, where he has lived for 22 years. But he said it was certainly not a goodbye to the area, with his wife still owning a business here and his mum also residing in the area. I certainly intend to continue having a home in Tauranga because I love the city, I love the beaches.

Bridges held several Cabinet portfolios under John Key and then Bill English including Labour, Energy and Resources, Transport, Economic Development, Communications, and Associate Climate and Finance. He was Leader of the National Party and Opposition from February 2018 to May 2020.

National MP Nicola Willis will take over Bridges Finance portfolio and Covid-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop moves to number three on the party list, picking up the Infrastructure role. The process to select a candidate to stand for National in the Tauranga by-election will begin soon.

Electoral Commission national manager of voting services Graeme Astle says 50,925 people are on the General Roll in Tauranga, with 87 per cent of the eligible population enrolled.

He says the cost of a by-election depends on the electorates location and size but on average, they cost about $1 million.

There could be some additional costs to meet Covid-19 public health requirements.

The last General Election in 2020 saw 44,148 votes counted. Simon Bridges narrowly won the Tauranga seat for National with 18,721 votes  a majority lead of 1856 votes over Labour candidate Jan Tinettis 16,865 votes.
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Re: Honda CB500X prices slashed by INR 1.1 lakh Quote: swiftnfurious Originally Posted by Hello - hope both you have had some long rides on the bike. I was looking at some reviews and those mentioned the seats get uncomfortable after an hour or two of riding. Would like to know from both of you on this apsect.



Doesn't seem to be as much of a bother as even the Interceptor's or Himalayan's touring seats weren't too firm to begin with for me, and I was touring long distances even with those.



Quote: You had the Versys 650 for sometime - any quick comparo between both ?



- The Versys is more top heavy and needs more careful, respectful riding especially on broken patches and tight traffic gaps. The Honda feels more commuter-ish light and flickable even in traffic



- The Versys runs hotter than the CB500X and the heat is perceptible in the city traffic. The CB500X feels like an air cooled commuter bike and there is no perceptible heat even in the worst of traffic jams. Doesn't feel any different from your regular Pulsar or Hornet for eg.



- No prizes for guessing which one has more road presence and gets

attention - Versys wins hands down. The CB500X is more of a sleeper and can pass off as any other commuter bike if it doesn't have too many visible accessories sticking out. A friend who also got this bike jokingly refers to it as a Honda Unicorn on steroids .



- Versys 650 low end power delivery is a bit jumpy and not the smoothest transition in the city. However on open roads it compensates with a never-ending pull at highway speeds, those extra 21 horses show up nicely at the slightest twist of the throttle. The CB500X is more tractable and pulls cleanly even at lower speeds and higher gears without feeling like it is lugging, no jumpy power delivery. Acceleration in the zones beyond 3 digits is obviously a bit lesser than the V650, but both can comfortably do 110-120 all day long and still have some juice left for quick overtakes, the Versys even more effortlessly so.



- The posture is a bit more upright on the Versys and the legs feel less rear-set than on the CB, seat height is also a tad bit higher if I remember correctly.



- Versys 650 instrumentation does miss a few critical items like gear indicator, temperature gauge and FE stats, etc while the CB cluster has tons of information. I am told the current Versys added a few things later but the console is still dated (I rode CrAzY_dRiVeR's V650 which is a 2016 model).



- The Versys is more road-biased than the CB500X, the tyre setup also says and does the same thing (19" front vs 17" front).



I won't get into the service or spares battle because both are bulletproof Japs with the Versys body panels and parts costing more than those on the CB. That said, while both products feel well built, the Versys panels feel more solidly built like a tank through and through. Needless to say, this will translate to costlier spares if there is some unfortunate incident.



All in all, get the Versys if you want a big bike feel and more power thrills for the open stretches and you don't care much about offroad stretches. There is hardly anything wrong with the Versys except that it is outdated and long overdue for a generation change.



Get the CB500X if you are aware of (or have been part of) the pitfalls of the big bike world and want an economical (easy to maintain and run) allrounder in a wonderful A2 package which ticks many boxes and is way more usable in a wider range of scenarios (from shopping for groceries in your neighbourhood to office commutes to weekend rides to heading out to Spiti). The compromise will be the reduced power output compared to Versys. As bhpian neil.jericho put it rightly, the CB500X is a big small bike while the Versys will be a small big bike. I didn't feel anything uncomfortable about the seats even after 3 hours of riding in a single stretch, which is probably the max I have done at a stretch so far (just short rides for now since for my better half and me, our proper touring season begins in May or June every year when the monsoons set in). I'll update here after I do some more long rides.Doesn't seem to be as much of a bother as even the Interceptor's or Himalayan's touring seats weren't too firm to begin with for me, and I was touring long distances even with those.The Versys 650 is a bigger, heavier and more powerful bike so I wouldn't want to directly compare the CB500X against the Versys 650. But for the sake of this question,- The Versys is more top heavy and needs more careful, respectful riding especially on broken patches and tight traffic gaps. The Honda feels more commuter-ish light and flickable even in traffic- The Versys runs hotter than the CB500X and the heat is perceptible in the city traffic. The CB500X feels like an air cooled commuter bike and there is no perceptible heat even in the worst of traffic jams. Doesn't feel any different from your regular Pulsar or Hornet for eg.- No prizes for guessing which one has more road presence and getsattention - Versys wins hands down. The CB500X is more of a sleeper and can pass off as any other commuter bike if it doesn't have too many visible accessories sticking out. A friend who also got this bike jokingly refers to it as a Honda Unicorn on steroids- Versys 650 low end power delivery is a bit jumpy and not the smoothest transition in the city. However on open roads it compensates with a never-ending pull at highway speeds, those extra 21 horses show up nicely at the slightest twist of the throttle. The CB500X is more tractable and pulls cleanly even at lower speeds and higher gears without feeling like it is lugging, no jumpy power delivery. Acceleration in the zones beyond 3 digits is obviously a bit lesser than the V650, but both can comfortably do 110-120 all day long and still have some juice left for quick overtakes, the Versys even more effortlessly so.- The posture is a bit more upright on the Versys and the legs feel less rear-set than on the CB, seat height is also a tad bit higher if I remember correctly.- Versys 650 instrumentation does miss a few critical items like gear indicator, temperature gauge and FE stats, etc while the CB cluster has tons of information. I am told the current Versys added a few things later but the console is still dated (I rode CrAzY_dRiVeR's V650 which is a 2016 model).- The Versys is more road-biased than the CB500X, the tyre setup also says and does the same thing (19" front vs 17" front).I won't get into the service or spares battle because both are bulletproof Japs with the Versys body panels and parts costing more than those on the CB. That said, while both products feel well built, the Versys panels feel more solidly built like a tank through and through. Needless to say, this will translate to costlier spares if there is some unfortunate incident.All in all, get the Versys if you want a big bike feel and more power thrills for the open stretches and you don't care much about offroad stretches. There is hardly anything wrong with the Versys except that it is outdated and long overdue for a generation change.Get the CB500X if you are aware of (or have been part of) the pitfalls of the big bike world and want an economical (easy to maintain and run) allrounder in a wonderful A2 package which ticks many boxes and is way more usable in a wider range of scenarios (from shopping for groceries in your neighbourhood to office commutes to weekend rides to heading out to Spiti). The compromise will be the reduced power output compared to Versys. As bhpianput it rightly, the CB500X is a big small bike while the Versys will be a small big bike. Last edited by KarthikK : 16th March 2022 at 14:34 .
venkyhere Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: hump city Posts: 1,043 Thanked: 4,175 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)

Re: Mahindra XUV700 Review Majority of the feedback I hear about the 700's ADAS is more about it being a hindrance, rather than help - partially because it's a 1st gen thing for Mahindra and bugs and unreliability are to be expected, but mostly because it's simply impractical for non-lane-marked-divided-tolled-highway roads. In other words, very impractical for daily driving situations in cities/towns, 'regular' undivided highways, the sheer variety in the type of vehicles and obstances encountered in our country etc. I'm sure Mahindra spent a huge amount of time & money on this, just to differentiate themselves from the competition, but it sort of backfires like this, when it isn't working properly simply because it has limited scope in India. How is the feedback on the Gloster's ADAS equivalent ? I'm guessing it's of similar limited scope purely because this is India.



I wish Mahindra had spent their time and energy on reliability improvement (hearing of strange evap system problems with petrol models and a few other 'first-batch' issues) , because the product definition is brilliant, the mech engineering is a huge step forward and it's a darling of the masses.



There is a saying in malayalam, which translated to english, reads like this - "searching for the snake that was wrapped around a fence, and then laying it in one's own lap". That snake is "ADAS-for-india".
Poitive Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: 3rdRockFmTheSun Posts: 1,087 Thanked: 1,939 Times

Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war Quote: dragracer567 Originally Posted by NATO expansion is made out to more than it actually is. We have to remember that Russia also invaded Georgia back in 2008 and sent troops in to Belarus and Kazakhstan to crush local popular rebellions. This war is about Russia's inherent insecurity where post 1991, they lost what was according to them part of their empire though these have historically been independent territories with their own cultures, languages etc.



While Russia/USSR might not be the threat to the US it once was, it is still amongst the two biggest threats to the US. That can't be ignored in the context of this conflict.



Most (all?) nations who can, try to protect themselves within their means. Some by might, some by playing two big adversaries against each other to extract some return for their allegiance. This is an age old practice, and one based on it's usability.



It is also within the nature of the bigger adversaries to try and have favourable people as decision makers in the smaller state of interest.



Once again, I am not trying to see this against an emotional or moral prism, but with the harsh reality that exists in the world with such matters.



[Edit: I hope as a fallout of this conflict the " ...historically been independent territories with their own cultures, languages etc" argument isn't used in India; ever. Different things can bind or separate regions]



Regarding Georgia and also Ukraine joining NATO:



I believe territorial disputes make it very difficult for a country to enter NATO.



Quote: A new country has to be unanimously approved by Nato members and factors taken into account will include, among others, unresolved external territorial disputes.

---

Quote: As NATO Secretary General Willy Claes noted, .... that on-going territorial disputes could be an issue for whether a country was invited.

---



My limited understanding is that Russia worked on making the entry of Georgia to the NATO difficult by making border disputes at South Ossetia and Abkhazia. That seems to be the purpose of the 2008 war.



Ukraine too, this seems to be a part of the plan.



~~~~~~

The interesting case of Georgia being "European"



Quote: thanixravindran Originally Posted by Regarding NATO, I don't know which other European country is left to join NATO apart from Georgia and Ukraine that has borders with Russia (Not counting Belarus with their current affinity).



Though Georgia is across even the Eastern and Asian part of Turkey, why would it even be considered amongst a list of European Nations? Technically it is a transcontinental country. Most of the country is in Asia; almost all. It has the Caucasus mountains in the North, and across the watershed line of those is a tiny part of it's territory (a lot of which too now falls under the disputed region of South Ossetia) which is technically Europe.



Interestingly, the region is often talked about as European, and it could well be to give it NATO and EU aspirations.



Why would anyone care? IMO:

a) Another place to have arms on Russian borders.

(Incidentally they too had a 'revolution' in 2003 - one which got them closer to the West . Revolutions are interesting)

b) BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline which is an important crude oil link between the land-locked oil rich Caspian Sea and the rest of the seas via the Mediterranean sea. The geographically tiny countries Georgia and Azerbaijan naturally become countries of interest. Mate, that is one way to look at things. Instead of seeing it as insecurity, one could also see it as a country trying to make itself secure with whatever means it has at it's disposal against an adversary (USA) who sees it (Russia) as a threat and would do whatever it takes to crush a potential threat (Russia). Is the US trying to make bases around Russia to do so? Check the maps in an earlier post ( link) . The quoted post in that link too has a relevant video about this.While Russia/USSR might not be the threat to the US it once was, it is still amongst the two biggest threats to the US. That can't be ignored in the context of this conflict.Most (all?) nations who can, try to protect themselves within their means. Some by might, some by playing two big adversaries against each other to extract some return for their allegiance. This is an age old practice, and one based on it's usability.It is also within the nature of the bigger adversaries to try and have favourable people as decision makers in the smaller state of interest.Once again, I am not trying to see this against an emotional or moral prism, but with the harsh reality that exists in the world with such matters.[Edit: I hope as a fallout of this conflict the " ...historically been independent territories with their own cultures, languages etc" argument isn't used in India; ever. Different things can bind or separate regions]I believe territorial disputes make it very difficult for a country to enter NATO.Source: https://inews.co.uk/news/world/ukrai...lained-1480074 ---Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlargement_of_NATO ---My limited understanding is that Russia worked on making the entry of Georgia to the NATO difficult by making border disputes at South Ossetia and Abkhazia. That seems to be the purpose of the 2008 war.Ukraine too, this seems to be a part of the plan.~~~~~~Adding a point about this, mate:Though Georgia is across even the Eastern and Asian part of Turkey, why would it even beamongst a list of European Nations? Technically it is a transcontinental country. Most of the country is in Asia; almost all. It has the Caucasus mountains in the North, and across the watershed line of those is a tiny part of it's territory (a lot of which too now falls under the disputed region of South Ossetia) which is technically Europe.Interestingly, the region is often talked about as European, and it could well be to give it NATO and EU aspirations.Why would anyone care? IMO:a) Another place to have arms on Russian borders.(Incidentally they too had a 'revolution' in 2003 - one which got them closer to the West. Revolutions are interesting)b) BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline which is an important crude oil link between the land-locked oil rich Caspian Sea and the rest of the seas via the Mediterranean sea. The geographically tiny countries Georgia and Azerbaijan naturally become countries of interest. Last edited by Poitive : 17th March 2022 at 03:53 . Reason: Added map sentence, link, refinement
Bottom line: Big accelerator Memory (BaM) is a newly developed architecture from Nvidia, made in collaboration with IBM and several US universities. The technology aims to improve data center performance by giving GPU-accelerated applications direct access to large amounts of SSD storage, bypassing the need for a general-purpose CPU.

The research team behind BaM notes the increased use of GPUs inside modern data centers for their high memory bandwidth and compute capabilities. However, they argue that the traditional model of executing applications and workloads has involved a CPU-centric approach, which can lead to excessive overhead and I/O bottlenecks between components.

With BaM, GPU-accelerated applications such as analytics and AI workloads like machine learning and neural networks training could see a significant performance benefit in terms of data transfers by taking the CPU out of the equation and enabling the GPU to directly read and write small amounts of data to NVMe SSDs on-demand.

As The Register reports, the BaM architecture is made up of two main parts. The first is a software-managed cache of GPU memory and the second is a software library for the GPU that lets it directly talk to NVMe storage and request data by utilizing a custom Linux kernel driver, RDMA and PCIe interfaces.

The researchers also demonstrated BaM's viability with a prototype powered by Linux and off-the-shelf GPUs and NVMe SSDs. Some of the advantages seen at this point include better synchronization and efficient use of I/O bandwidth, alongside parallelized storage access.

Although targeted at enterprise/businesses, the BaM API could also benefit consumer-grade SSDs, according to the researchers, delivering competitive performance against much more expensive DRAM-only solutions. While the underlying technology and use cases are different, BaM seems like a similar GPU/SSD implementation as Microsoft's recently released DirectStorage for PCs.
WTF?! Not for the first time, a heist has taken place in which the target wasn't art, diamonds, or gold, but something just as valuable these days: graphics cards. Twenty RTX 3070 Ti cards, to be exact, but while the trio of thieves did manage to escape with the GPUs, they were later apprehended by police, and the stolen items (however many were left) confiscated.

Mash (via VideoCardz) writes that the heist was carried out by two employees working at a warehouse owned by Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries. The video, complete with pounding Beastie Boys soundtrack, shows the two men wheeling unmarked cardboard boxes around the facility and leaving them hidden in a stairwell; it seems they stole the goods from a safe after pretending to collect an online order.

We then see the men removing Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics cards from the boxes, taking the GPUs upstairs, and dropping them out of the window to a third personthere are conflicting reports over whether they also worked for the companywho was waiting below. He strolls off, presumably to the getaway vehicle.

While the robbery itself appeared to go off without a hitch, it was when the thieves tried to unload the goods that their plan came undone. They sold one of the cards to a pawnshop for 60,000 rubles, or around $572, but the establishment owner was suspicious and decided to inform the police.

Authorities tracked down the men, detained them, and confiscated the stolen cards, though it's unclear how many of the original 20 were still left by this time. If the thieves had managed to sell all the RTX 3070 Ti GPUs for the same 60,000-ruble price, it would have totaled the equivalent of around $11,440. Split that three ways, and it comes to $3,813, which doesn't seem worth the prison time.

Russia is currently being hit with sanctions from countries and companies around the world, meaning that overpriced, hard-to-find graphics cards are going to become even rarer and more expensive within its borders.

This isn't the first graphics card robbery we've seen. In November, thousands of EVGA RTX 3000 cards were stolen in a truck heistthey later turned up in Vietnamand $7,000 worth of GPUs were solen from an internet cafe in June.

Main image credit: LightField Studios via Shutterstock
Microsoft's latest security report explained why the notorious TrickBot malware commonly targets MikroTik routers.

TrickBot is a trojan computer virus that currently breaches Microsoft windows and other operating systems.

The hacking group behind this malware uses it to conduct bank account thefts by stealing sensitive user credentials. Now, the TrickBot malware is expanding its scope, targeting WiFi routers as well.

Microsoft: Why TrickBot Targets MikroTik Routers?

According to Ars Technica's latest report, MikroTik routers are among the devices commonly targeted by TrickBot hackers.

Also Read: UK Anti-Scam Program Joined by Facebook, WhatsApp! Here's How These Apps Can Help 'Stop Scams UK' Movement

When the malware started focusing on MikroTik, security experts couldn't identify the reason for the sudden shift. But, thanks to Microsoft's efforts, you can now know why these routers are now the common victims of TrickBot.

"The purpose of Trickbot for using MikroTik devices is to create a line of communication between the Trickbot-affected device and the C2 server," said the software giant via its official security blog post.

The company added that this allows TrickBot hackers to breach the network without the standard defense systems detecting them.

Microsoft further explained that MikroTik also has a unique Linux-based RouterOS, making it an ideal proxy for TrickBot hackers.

Microsoft Launches New Anti-Malware Tool

Microsoft decided to launch a new forensic tool to protect MikroTik router owners against the notorious trojan computer virus.

This new anti-malware system can detect TrickBot-related breaches on your WiFi device. To give you more idea, here are the things that Microsoft's new forensic tool can do:

Looks for suspicious traffic redirection rules (NAT and other rules)

Looks for default port changes

Gets the version of the device and maps it to any Looks for DNS cache poisoning

unpatched vulnerabilities

Looks for non-default users

Checks for scheduled tasks

Aside from the new tool, Microsoft also suggested that MikroTik users should make it a habit to turn off their routers.

They need to make sure that experienced users only use the internet gadget. The search engine giant added that ensuring unique passwords for remote and local admin access is also important to prevent TrickBot.

In other news, two Apple features are now being used by scammers to breach Apple App Store's vetting system. Meanwhile, Nvidia hackers are now using the breached data as a malware disguise.

For more news updates about malware and other security threats, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: BazarBackdoor Malware is Hitting Website Contact Forms to Evade AV Detection

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Snapchat has completely banned its anonymous messaging features for third-party apps, which allows users of the latter to chat with folks using the social media platform.

It comes months after the social media firm Snap previously suspended anonymous messaging for two third-party apps, namely LMK and Yolo.

Snapchat Bans Anonymous Messages on Third-Party Apps

As per a news story by The Verge, Snap has blocked anonymous messaging that allows third-party apps users to hook up with Snapchat folks due to concerns like harassment and bullying.

The tech giant said in a blog post that "these anonymous integrations" are being used by Snapchat users in "fun, engaging, and entirely appropriate ways."

However, Snap added that it also believes that some "users might be more prone to engage in harmful behavior - such as bullying or harassment - if they have the shroud of anonymity."

That said, Snapchat would no longer run its third-party messaging integration, which allowed its users to become completely anonymous while engaging other users in the platform.

Instead, according to a recent report by Engadget, Snap is now requiring those who will connect to the social media platform via third-party apps to have a registered account.

Thus, those who are using the third-party app integration on Snapchat could no longer hide their usernames, as well as their identities.

On top of that, Snap further announced that it is now requiring both meetup and friend-finding apps to restrict the integration to folks who are at least 18 years old in hopes to safeguard its younger users.

Read Also: Snapchat Selfie Drone To Arrive Based on Leaked Beta Data: Will Zero Zero Robotics Be the App's Partner?

Snapchat and Harmful Anonymous Messages

As mentioned earlier, Snapchat has previously blocked two third-party apps from its anonymous messaging integration to take a look at the standards and policies of Snap Kit.

The bold move of Snap to temporarily suspend the third-party apps is a result of a lawsuit filed wherein a teenage user of Yolo and LMK has died after being bullied.

The Verge noted that Snap Kit allows other apps to integrate with Snapchat, including the anonymous messaging feature.

The integration feature of Snapchat requires developers of third-party apps to apply to the project, wherein they will be under the policies of Snap once they are accepted.

That said, Snap still has the power to take action if ever there are incidents that violate the policies of the social media giant, which includes harassment, bullying, and hate speech.

Related Article: Snapchat Users Can Now Change Their Username, a Feature Users Have Been Waiting For

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Elon Musk shared his human Mars landing year prediction on his Twitter account, pushing it back to a much later date than his previous pronouncements.

Elon Musk's Human Mars Landing Year Prediction

Humans have yet to step foot on the rocky red surface of Mars, but billionaire CEO and founder of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk, already has his estimates when the monumental event is happening.

As per a news story by CNET, the SpaceX exec previously predicted way back in 2016 that the first crewed mission to the Red Planet is transpiring sometime in 2024.

In the same year, the billionaire also shared his plans to build a city on the Martian planet, wherein humankind could reside other than Earth.

However, CNET noted in the same report that the progress towards the plan to land the first-ever human on Mars is going slower than expected.

But, to be fair, there have been significant advancements in the development of the Starship mega-rocket of SpaceX, which is also used for various missions in the International Space Station, and later on, the crewed Moon mission.

But still, the latest Mars landing estimates of Musk say that the first Mars landing would be pushed back for a few more years from his earlier predictions.

It is worth noting that Musk previously delayed his predictions of Mars landing way back in Dec. 2020, saying that the goal to land humans on the neighboring planet of Earth has been moved to 2026.

Read Also: Elon Musk Confirms Tesla Master Plan Part 3! Will This Bring a New EV Tech?





Elon Musk Delays Mars Landing Estimates

However, this time around, Musk is further delaying his target for the Mars landing mission yet again.

He hinted on his Twitter post that the crewed mission to the Red Planet could take place sometime in 2029 before this decade comes to its final curtain call.

According to a recent story by NPR, Musk made his latest Mars landing estimates as a response to another tweet.

The tweet that Musk replied to posted a photo, which collaged an image of the moon landing way back in 1969 and a render of a supposed Mars landing.

The photo collage comes with a caption that reads: "What's your guess," asking the estimated year for the first-ever human landing on Mars.

The SpaceX exec went on to tweet his response, merely saying "2029."

2029  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 16, 2022

Related Article: Elon Musk SpaceX Mars Project Don't Generate Income? Grimes Says Billionaire CEO is Not Living a Billionaire Life

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PayPal has expanded its service in Ukraine, and the company now allows inbound transfers in the country, with residents and registered individuals allowed to receive money in the region. Previously, the money sharing application only allows Ukrainians to send money via its outbound transfers to others, but it changes the policy now.

PayPal Ukraine: Users Can Now Receive Money in Country

PayPal announced in its new blog post that the app is opening its gates to money coming into Ukraine, allowing transfers from the global community that sympathize with its current situation. The feature is now available after a long wait and it comes at a time when Ukrainians need it most, especially with several features unavailable in the country.

Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted about this new feature from PayPal's release, showing the country's gratitude for the service that came to the country. Deputy PM Fedorov requested this feature to be available in the country, and PayPal gave it what it needs, despite previously not allowing the service to take place.

Read Also: TrickBot Malware Now Targets Amazon, Microsoft, PayPal Users Among Other Tech Giants | Over 140K Infected?

PayPal Only Allowed Outbound Transfers Before

Before this availability, PayPal only allowed Ukrainians to use the app and its features to send money to people outside the country. No inbound transfers are available in Ukraine for PayPal's app, only the outbound transfers to other charities, family, or friends that are outside the country's bonds.

All these changes now, and it will open opportunities for them.

PayPal and its Features

One of the main features of PayPal now is its ability to receive cryptocurrency in the application and it brings the digital currency for users to manage at their preferences. However, it is a different case for the United Kingdom as it focuses on the ability to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency in the app itself, bringing the feature better for user integration.

A lot of people prefer the use of PayPal compared to other financial tech applications, particularly as it is a long-running service that focused on bringing online integration for everyone. Its features focus on seamless money management for the public, making different transfers and crowdfunding needs available to many.

Now, it changed its policies in Ukraine and it aims to assist the country with its needs, focusing on allowing external transfers to come into the country and give to the rightful recipients. The feature will help in opening the gates to the many transfers coming into the country that aims to extend their help to the current situation they experience.

Related Article: PayPal is Becoming a Bank, Latest Updates Roll In New Features, Wallets, and MORE

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Conti ransomware group might actually be helping Russia during the ongoing conflict between it and Ukraine. This detail was claimed after thousands of chat messages and files were leaked.

These files were acquired, thanks to the efforts made by an anonymous Ukrainian cybersecurity expert. This tech expert was able to breach the system of Conti, allowing him to gather the alarming chat messages and files.

Right now, various hacking groups are still linked to Russia, such as REvil. Conti is another ransomware gang that is believed to be working with the Russian government.

Conti Ransomware Group Helping Russia?

According to The Wired's latest report, the Ukrainian security expert was able to acquire a cached of around 60,000 files and chat messages.

Also Read: REvil Hacker Arrested: Ukrainian National Among Those Behind Kaseya Attack to Receive 100 Yr Sentence

He leaked the documents online at the end of February, allowing other cybersecurity researchers to study the acquired files.

They found out that the chat messages and files show how the ransomware group operates on a daily basis and how it achieves its cryptocurrency ambitions.

"You can see from the chats that they were closing some stuff and switching to private chats. But it was really business as usual," said MalwareBytes' Threat Intelligence Director Jerome Segura.

Now, various cybersecurity experts claim that the Conti ransomware gang is connected to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.

Are the Leaked Conti Files Legit?

CPO Magazine reported that the leaked Conti documents published between Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 were already checked by independent cybersecurity experts.

They confirmed that the acquired chat messages and other files are authentic. Those who reviewed the Conti documents said that the files contain explicit information about the ransomware gang's BTC addresses and private URLs.

In other news, the state-sponsored Iranian hackers recently deployed the Log4j security flaw. Meanwhile, the Kronos ransomware gang was able to steal thousands of social security numbers from Puma.

For more news updates about the Conti ransomware group and other hacking gangs, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Microsoft Defender Alert Mistakens Office Update as Ransomware

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techUK will join UK-US Dialogue on the Future of Atlantic Trade in Baltimore, Maryland

On 16 March, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced joint UK-U.S. Dialogues on the Future of Atlantic Trade in Baltimore, Maryland taking place on March 21 and 22, 2022 and in the UK later this Spring.

techUK will join the UK delegation to Baltimore and support the government as they prepare to host the second leg of the dialogue in the UK. The transatlantic relationship is a key one for the UK tech sector, with the USA often being the first market of choice when companies look to scale up internationally.

Following on from President Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnsons announcement last year of a new Atlantic Charter, the UK-US Dialogues on the Future of Atlantic Trade will explore how the United States and United Kingdom can collaborate to advance mutual international trade priorities rooted in our shared values, while promoting innovation and inclusive economic growth for workers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

The trade ministers will use these events to further deepen the important U.S-UK bilateral trade relationship and address shared challenges and opportunities through discussions over the following months.

The Dialogues on the Future of Atlantic Trade will also feature a diverse group of national and local stakeholders to advance these important talks on how to use trade policy to build a more modern, fair and responsible global economy.

Should members have any questions about the Dialogues and techUKs participation, please reach out to [email protected]
On Friday, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation indicated the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars by the EU.

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of the Russian Federation, appointed on Friday, as the Russian government and individuals continue to be sanctioned with severe measures, the European Union faces a potential loss of at least 554 billion dollars.

Hotheads urge EU countries to sever any economic cooperation with Russia, stated the President of the CCI, Sergey Katyrin, explaining that losses will be directly proportional to the elimination of trade and the mutual withdrawal of investments.

Vice President of the CCI, Vladimir Padalko, disclosed that by 2021, the value of trade between Russia and the EU rose by 47 percent in comparison to 2020, which represents approximately 282 billion dollars.

Russian authorities have approved a package of economic and financial measures in previous days, intended to deal with the sanctions implemented against the Federation since the beginning of the military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

6/7

While the supply of Russian fertilisers abroad has been stopped by the Russian government.



The #EU countries may lose at least 500 billion Euros. This opinion was voiced by (https://t.co/sGv7srIHev) Sergey Katyrin, head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. pic.twitter.com/kwOlQLWM2J   (@aleksandrov_76) March 18, 2022

Since last February 24, the U.S., the EU, UK, Canada, Japan have imposed more than 2 800 sanctions on Moscow, which have been affecting key sectors such as trade, finance, energy, exports, aviation, and space.

Disconnecting partially Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system, closing airspace to Russian planes, freezing the Central Banks foreign exchange reserves, and banning oil purchases, are among the measures taken against Russia.
The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery added 7.94 U.S. dollars, or 8.4 percent, to settle at 102.98 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for May delivery increased 8.62 dollars, or 8.8 percent, to close at 106.64 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.



"The rise in oil prices today could be related to the IEA's latest forecasts for the oil market, which the IEA now expects to be noticeably tighter than it did before. This is due to a sharp fall in oil production in Russia," Carsten Fritsch, energy analyst at Commerzbank Research, said Thursday in a note.



In its monthly report released on Wednesday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said "the prospect of large-scale disruptions to Russian oil production is threatening to create a global oil supply shock."



It estimated that three million barrels per day of Russian oil output could be shut in from April "as sanctions take hold and buyers shun exports."



The IEA also revised its oil demand forecast from the second quarter noticeably down to take account of lower global economic growth caused by the high commodities prices and sanctions against Russia.
Taiwan has signed the contract with the US to purchase a Field Information Communications System worth USD 245 million. China firmly opposes US arms sales to Chinas Taiwan region and any form of official exchanges and military ties with Chinas Taiwan. The US move seriously interfered in Chinas internal affairs, violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US Joint Communiques, and undermined China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. What the US did is like playing with fire while holding the firewood.

Recently, we have seen increased military collusion between the US and the Taiwan region. The current tension between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is severe, and the risk of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is rising. The root cause is that the DPP authority has colluded with external forces to continuously make provocations seeking independence, and the US has frequently manipulated Taiwan-related issues for the purpose of using the Taiwan question to contain China. The US continues to conduct arms sales and fuel the fire in a tense and severe situation. It is extremely irresponsible behavior for regional peace and stability, which has caused widespread concern in the international community.

The continuous arms sales to Taiwan highlight the US contradiction between its words and deeds, and its political credibility is at stake. China and the US issued a joint communique on the issue on August 17, 1982. In the communique, the US government promised to gradually reduce and eventually stop arms sales to Taiwan region. The China-US joint statements issued in 2009 and 2011 reaffirmed that the fundamental principle of respect for each others sovereignty and territorial integrity is at the core of the three China-US joint communiques which guide China-US relations, and the US abides bythe principles of the three China-US joint communiques. Senior US government officials have recently reiterated that they adhere to the one-China policy and do not support Taiwans so-called independence. Facts have shown that the US side says one thing and does another, blatantly breaking its promise without any psychological burdens. It ultimately hurts the political credibility of the US government and its international reputation.

As the saying goes, benefits are tempting an early bird. The US is so keen on arms sales to Taiwan because it is a big deal. Through the arms sales to Taiwan, while playing the Taiwan card to use the Taiwan question to contain China, the US continues to prey on Taiwan and make a good fortune from it. Internet usersNetizens on the island are clear-sighted and said that the arms sales are purchasing garbage that the US does not want as treasures, cheating money out of people in Taiwan", and stepping up to empty Taiwan. In fact, arms sales to Taiwan are just the epitome of how the US prospers through instigating confrontation. According to a report on global arms sales trends released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden, the global arms trade volume between 2017 and 2021 fell compared to that of the previous five years, but US overseas arms sales rose sharply during the same period.

The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations as it bears on Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. On this major issue of principle, it is absolutely impossible for China to compromise and concede. No force should take any chances on this. The US side must recognize the high sensitivity and serious harm of arms sales to Taiwan. It must not be obsessed with playing the Taiwan card. The US must handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly, stop arms sales to and the military ties with Taiwan region, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatist forces.
Global solidarity and support for refugees must be extended to Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Sudan, who have generously welcomed South Sudanese refugees.

On Friday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appealed for US$1.2 billion to deliver humanitarian assistance to 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.

"Funding is urgently needed to help these host countries to provide food, shelter, and access to essential services such as education and health care," the UNHCR said, adding that South Sudan continues to grapple with sporadic violence, chronic food insecurity and the devastating impact of major flooding after nearly a decade of conflict.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also strained people's resources, significantly reducing their ability to sustainably meet their needs. Asylum countries are facing similar challenges from the climate crisis and the pandemic but have continued to keep their doors open for refugees.

The UN agency said governments in the five countries of asylum will be supported in their efforts to integrate South Sudanese refugees in national systems for social service delivery.

Asylum seekers from the Middle East & Africa haven't been met with the same enthusiasm as . This photograph taken at #Calaisjungle by #brunoserralongue in 2016 reveals egregious conditions to which some refugees are still subjected today pic.twitter.com/AvH5TcUq7Y  The Art Pledge (@theartpledge) March 14, 2022

"Refugees and local communities will receive help to boost their resilience by identifying and diversifying opportunities to earn a living. This is vital against a backdrop of chronic underfunding for food provision, which continues to result in regular ration cuts," the UNHCR said.

The refugee agency said it's increasing the use of clean energy and making other green investments to better protect the environment and to minimize the impacts of the climate crisis. The South Sudan refugee crisis, which remains the largest on the African continent, was also one of the least funded in 2021, at only 21 percent.

Global solidarity and support for refugees must be extended to Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Sudan, who have generously welcomed South Sudanese refugees.
Interview with the Chief Planner of the Ministry of Transport: How to look at the current situation and do a good job in ensuring the smooth flow of logistics?
TMS students at the Civil Rights Memorial Center, designed by Maya Lin, at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala. (Courtesy photo)
Houses in the shadow of the State Capital building in Baton Rouge's Spanish Town neighborhood as seen on Feb. 15, 2019. Some residents of the historic neighborhood have concerns about Airbnb's operating with no on-site management or attachment to the community.
Barely a month ago the powerful Louisiana Sheriffs' Association was lining up behind a bill to ban toy guns from public schools.

Now the legislation is dead, a victim of Republican infighting and the politically potent National Rifle Association.

"It just did not sit well," said Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton and sponsor of the measure.

The prefiled proposal, House Bill 43, was aimed at helping law enforcement combat what officials call a growing problem  students bringing toy guns to public schools that look identical to the real thing.

Banning the guns, Horton said, would help prevent police from having to make a split-second call, and injure or kill a student wielding a lookalike pistol.

The prohibition included toy guns, water guns, air guns and others "substantially similar" in color and appearance to a genuine firearm.

First-time violators faced fines of up to $250 and six months in jail, though Horton said she planned to change the penalties amid complaints about elementary students being jailed.

Horton took up the cause at the request of Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington, a self-described "gun guy" who called the fake guns "so real it is scary."

However, the Louisiana Legislature is considered one of the most gun-friendly bodies in the nation.

La. Supreme Court upholds gun restrictions The Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a state law that forbids felons from possessin

Any legislation that even hints at gun control, toys or otherwise, can spark arguments.

And Horton, who described herself as a Second Amendment enthusiast who has a gun permit, said all along she planned to check with NRA officials before finalizing plans.

The group's response? Not good.

"I worked with them for about a week and a half," she said.

The lawmaker, herself a member of the NRA, said officials of the organization thought her bill was an "overreach."

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Horton said NRA officials would not even agree to remain neutral in the debate.

Asked if the group's stance played a key role in her decision to dump the bill Horton said, "I am not going to go against something I am a part of."

NRA officials in the Washington, D. C. area did not respond to requests for comment.

Sheriff's Association Executive Director Michael Ranatza did not return calls over two days.

A spokesman for Whittington said Friday the sheriff hoped that an ordinance in Bossier Parish, where he is sheriff, would serve as a statewide model to curb imitation guns.

Horton said she was taken aback by the hostile reaction to the bill from unnamed fellow Republicans, whether they had read the bill or not. "Just started to attack," she said of the GOP reaction.

The overall party response, she said, "seemed to be just totally out of control."

"This is imitation guns we are talking about," Horton said.

Larry Carter, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, praised the bill last month.

Carter said that, while the legislation needed some penalty and other tweaks, it could help prevent a tragedy. "There wasn't support like she thought for that kind of bill," he said Friday.

The measure was likely headed to the rural-dominated House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, where it would have faced an uphill battle.

Horton's short-lived proposal sparked widespread attention for the low-profile lawmaker, including a YouTube presentation on the merits of her plan.

Most measures that die in the Legislature simply languish in committees, or get quietly shelved with little debate.

Horton took the unusual step of making it disappear forever.

Those who try to read House Bill 43 see this message on the state House website: "Withdrawn from the files of the House prior to introduction."
House Republicans on Friday accused a New Orleans Democratic senator of verbally assaulting a House member in the final chaotic moments of the regular legislative session and said the senator should be censured.

The criticism is aimed at state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans and chair of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, a post that House GOP members said she should lose.

In a statement, the group said as the House was finishing on Thursday evening that state Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, asked a group of senators who were gathered on the House floor to quiet down so she could hear the debate.

The Republicans said Peterson responded by telling Horton to "shut the f*#k up" and that her comment was heard by several House members.

"This type of behavior is utterly outrageous and inexcusable," said Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria and chairman of the House GOP caucus. "To verbally assault one of our members is unbecoming; to verbally assault one of our members on the House floor completely disrespects the legislative process and the people who sent us here."

"Not only should Sen. Peterson publicly apologize to our members and the public for her outrageous remark, she should be censured and should lose her leadership position," he said.

The group said Peterson should be censured by Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego.

In a tweet on Friday Peterson said she has addressed the issue. "Sincere apology extended shortly thereafter directly to Rep. Horton, apology accepted ... onward! Back to work," the tweet says.

Horton, who said she was appalled by the comment, said she got a text apology from Peterson about 30 minutes after the incident and plans to accept it when she sees the senator. "I know that is what God would want me to do," she said.

Peterson did not respond to a telephone call or email.

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The House was jammed just before 6 p.m. on Thursday as leaders tried to finish action on the state's $29 billion operating budget. That effort failed and the Legislature is in a 10-day special session to craft a spending plan that starts July 1.

The exchange is the second time in recent days that GOP lawmakers blasted a state official.

A total of 19 House Republicans, including Harris, criticized a tweet by Shawn Wilson, secretary of the state Department of Transportation and Development, after a gas tax hike of up to 17 cents per gallon died in the House. The group said Wilson appeared to be threatening retaliation against House members who opposed the bill.

Wilson said his tweet was misinterpreted.

The 61-member House Republican delegation also said Peterson recently co-authored a resolution that calls for civility in public discourse.

Peterson, who chairs the state Democratic Party, is something of a firebrand in the Legislature, and usually at odds with GOP positions.

Roger Villere, chairman of the state Republican Party, issued a statement Friday that says Peterson should resign as party leader.

"No state party chair should behave this way in public," Villere said. "It is embarrassing to our state."

Peterson's committee was in the news recently when the panel killed a high-profile, House-passed bill that would have required local officials to hold referendums before removing Confederate and other military monuments owned by the local government.
Vice President Kamala Harris administers the ceremonial swearing-in of Shalanda Young as Office of Management and Budget's deputy director assisted by her mother Loyce Smith and accompanied by her father Ronald Smith in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Friday, March 26, 2021, in Washington. She was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the agency.
The Party: The Communist Party of Australia from Heyday to Reckoning

Stuart Macintyre

Allen & Unwin, $49.99

In late 1941, after the Soviet Union entered World War II, a symphony concert audience in Sydney heard something remarkable. The orchestra began with the customary God Save the King. Then, the conductor suddenly switched to that anthem of the communist movement The Internationale.

This represented a turning point. No longer was this song reproduced in scratchy recordings or sung in meagre choruses in half-empty halls. The Communist Party was still illegal but its respectability and popularity began to soar. Three years later 23,000 had joined the party. This was the heyday of Australian communism with access to the wartime government and control of the countrys key trade unions.

Stuart Macintyre in 2015 and, inset, the cover of The Party. Credit:Penny Stephens

In the post-war years, many so-called Red Army communists melted away. In The Party, the sequel to The Reds (1998), Stuart Macintyre demonstrates how blind devotion to the Soviet Union created irreconcilable problems for the party as the Cold War deepened.
Loading To deploy nationally positioned forces around the country and mobilise them with the equipment ... and the supplying and the provisioning  that, you cant just turn that off and on. Youre never going to have an ADF base sitting around the corner in every single town. Ricketts agrees but believes that successive governments have betrayed Australians by not properly planning for the disasters they knew were coming, while not acknowledging climate change. This flood didnt just pip over the records we had since the beginning of white settlement, this flood exceeded it by two-and-a-half metres in a single bound, he says.

This is the climate catastrophe. Its in our faces. This is what they have been warning us about. Ricketts says that to deny the role of climate change in catastrophes facing communities like his goes beyond political reluctance to reduce emissions. It prevents communities from preparing to save their own lives. Ricketts is not the only person with that view. A decade ago, Australia was at the forefront of international efforts to prepare communities for the impact of climate change. The work was informed by bodies including the Climate Change Adaptation Flagship at the CSIRO, the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility at Griffith University and the Climate Commission, an independent body created by the federal government in 2011.

All were defunded or scrapped after Tony Abbott won office in 2013. Ecologist and author Tim Flannery, who headed the Climate Commission, recalls taking a call from then environment minister Greg Hunt hours after the new coalition government was sworn in letting him know the commission had been sacked. The research it had posted on its website was soon removed from the public domain. Shortly afterwards, the CSIROs adaptation flagship was abolished too. One member of its advisory council, Professor Barbara Norman says it was made clear to its members that it, too, had fallen foul of a government that did not want to discuss climate change, let alone fund research on it.

Indeed, she recalls one meeting in which it was suggested the body might survive longer if it removed the word climate from its title. Another former member of the flagships advisory council says that her frustration over the bodys destruction over the past year had only grown as she has watched the fires and floods wreak havoc across the nation. While the Climate Commissions role was public education, the flagships role was to engage with communities to help them prepare for the sort of disasters that have been occurring with increased frequency in the years since it was defunded. Its devastating, she says. Weve continued to put people in harms way, to allow people to stay in harms way, despite the fact that we had a national leadership program looking at how communities could engage with the science and fact-basis of climate change and start to prepare for, and adapt to, their changing situation. The former NSW fire chief Greg Mullins says that the politicisation of climate change and the curtailment of federally managed research and preparedness has left state-based agencies vulnerable.

They are organised and resourced to fight the hazards of the last century, not this one, he says. Loading He believes that agencies like Victorias CFA, the NSW RFS and SES remain equipped to protect their communities from many hazards, but not the catastrophes we can now expect to happen more often. Emergency services acknowledge they are being stretched due to the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. In the 2019-20 bushfire season, they faced fatigue from battling blazes that raged for months while juggling work demands, prompting questions over the capacity of volunteer organisations.

Former deputy director-general of the NSW SES and flood expert Chas Keys said volunteering was an important aspect of Australian life. [Emergency services] are a lot better than they were 30 years ago  but everything can be better, he says. Keys added that Australias emergency management system wa good compared to other countries despite its reliance on volunteers. And emergency services are updating their practices as weather extremes hit. NSW RFS deputy commissioner of field operations Peter McKechnie says since the 2019-20 bushfires, the groups risk management processes had improved to include more scientific input from a new partnership with Melbourne University as well as community input. He said the RFS had received more support since the 2019-20 bushfires, including a large air tanker and 100 additional personnel dedicated to mitigation and preparation for fire seasons.

Every event, we learn something else and other ways of doing things. We are focused on preparing to fight fires as bad or worse as 2019-20 and we are ready to do a better job next time. Weve been well-equipped to take that challenge on, McKechnie says. But he added there was a shared responsibility between community members, government and agencies to invest in mitigation and preparations. Fire and Rescue attempt to hold the Gospers Mountain fire from crossing the Bells Line of Road in December 2019. Credit:Nick Moir The federal government rejects the criticism that it remains unprepared for climate impacts. Using uncharacteristically blunt language earlier this month Morrison said: We are dealing with a different climate to the one we are dealing with before ... I think it is just an obvious fact that Australia is getting harder to live in because of these disasters.

In October last year Environment Minister Sussan Ley announced the creation of the National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy and a National Adaptation Office to co-ordinate work on climate resilience and adaptation across governments. Loading It has invested $38 million into a new Climate Systems hub to inform climate adaptation solutions. (Early estimates suggest the national cost of the recent floods could exceed $2 billion). A spokesman for Leys office notes funding goes to other programs, too, including the Future Drought Fund, programs for the Great Barrier Reef, and the Preparing Australia Program to deliver long-term disaster risk reduction and resilience. Mullins has joined the Climate Council, which with private funding grew out of the remains of the Climate Commission. He confesses to feeling jaundiced by the federal governments climate stance.

He dismisses these efforts as government by press release, and says it does not make up for the lack of national leadership in co-ordinating all levels of government to prepare for a new climate reality, nor for the scrapping of the bodies that were already in place. Taking away critical disaster research and planning capabilities may have already cost lives, and will almost certainly contribute to more deaths in future, Mullins says. Flannery says that even if the new bodies succeed, a crucial decade has already been needlessly lost. Back in the disaster zone, Ricketts says that in the days since the flood receded, there has been an odd beauty about the community response. I call it the free state of Lismore. Money doesnt change hands for anything in the first weeks after a flood. People share food, they share labour. They bring sandwiches to your door, he says.
Bill Murray bowled up for last years Cannes Film Festival looking gleefully unhinged. Ignoring the standard suit and tie, the actor rocked a psychedelic short-sleeved shirt, baby-blue shorts and a panama hat. But the most subversive part of Murrays get-up was his wristwear. On his right wrist he wore an inexpensive Timex, on his left a Cartier Tank. This was notable because  unlike socks, cufflinks or nipple tassels  watches dont tend to operate in pairs.

Billie Eilish, Bill Murray and Fidel Castro are just some of the famous faces who wear two watches at once. Credit:Getty Images

Yet Murray is not the only famous face to wear two watches at once. Fidel Castro, Diego Maradona and Hunter S. Thompson all did it, while more recent dabblers include Billie Eilish, Chris Pratt and Drake.

Whats behind all this double action? One explanation is that voiced by Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf during the 1991 Gulf War. The US general explained that, in order to keep track of two time zones, he wore a Rolex Day-Date set to Saudi Arabian time on his left wrist and a Seiko dive watch set to the time in Washington, DC on his right. Now this may sound reasonable. After all, you dont want to forget to factor in daylight savings while synchronising a ground invasion of ones enemy. Then again, GMT watches have existed since the 1950s and were purpose-built to deliver two time zones on a single dial.

Yet this most literal form of two-timing is having a resurgence due to the popularity of smart watches. Last year, when Deloitte surveyed almost 5600 consumers on their watch-wearing habits, 23 per cent said they wore both smart and conventional devices. Admittedly, there was no mention of whether they were paired together. But having multiple options inevitably means decisions

must be made.
Pushing Emmanuel Macrons fabulously misguided Zelensky makeover out of the headlines was always going to take something big. The French presidents hacker luxe photoshoot  kitted out in black special forces hoodie and stubble, pinching the bridge of his nose in wartime despair  was next level.

But then along came an old hand at pulling focus, Prince William.

The Duke of Cambridge took down Macrons hold on the lifestyle columns of the day with one masterful move. Emerging from the Commonwealth Day service in London this week, he held an umbrella over wife Kates head.

That was it, people. And boom, reaction was swift. Man holds brolly saw the world lose its mind, even if just for a hot minute. William was heaped with praise as everything from Prince Charming to (these are direct quotes) super sweet, adorable and so romantic.
Its not often a bloke changes his last name. But the decision by Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to add his mothers name to his made me smile this week. Im really proud of my familys name, Hamilton, he said. Actually, none of you might know that my mums name is Larbalestier, and Im just about to put that in my name because I dont really fully understand the whole idea when people get married then the woman loses her name. And my mum, I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name.

Champion Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton cant get his head around why women change their names when they marry. Credit:

When I was 19, full of earnest ferment and a desire to right wrongs, I went to the registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages with a friend one bright sunny day. She was changing her middle name to Indigo, as she adored the colour, and I changed mine to Woodlands, my mothers maiden name. I had always thought it suited my mother, a quiet woman with a poetic imagination who took me looking for fairies in the woods when I was a little girl, and read me otherworldly stories of elves, goblins and nymphs in far-off lands.

My father, bless him, is about as extreme an extrovert as you could find. He was loud and known, while my mother was an introvert, wry and strong, a force field of grace.

This meant that people asked me often about my father, but rarely my mother.
Repeatedly they have been challenged on whether they have imagined, lied about or made up the scenes theyve described. What made Person 24s outburst striking was how starkly it laid bare his conflicting emotions. On the one hand, he told the judge: I still dont agree with the fact that BRS is here  hes under an extreme amount of duress for killing bad dudes who we went over there to kill. Barrister Arthur Moses, SC, has been cross examining military witnesses, some for days at a time. Credit:Rhett Wyman He added that it was extremely unfair the way this has panned out for BRS and that he had severed some of his own friendships over attitudes to speaking with the media. Yet despite his avowed aversion to the proceedings, Person 24 has delivered some of the most damning and unequivocal eyewitness evidence yet to be produced in the case. He swore that he saw Roberts-Smith execute an unarmed prisoner, in cold blood, outside an Afghan compound known as Whiskey 108 on Easter Sunday, 2009, by machine-gunning the man in the back.

So overt was the action, Person 24 told the court, that it seemed an exhibition execution, one which Roberts-Smith wanted people to see. Person 24s evidence was very similar to that given by another soldier, Person 41, the first military witness in the case in early February. Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith in the field in Afghanistan. Person 41 too described seeing Roberts-Smith frog-marching a prisoner outside the compound, throwing him to the ground and firing machine gun rounds into his back, before turning to person 41 and asking: Are we all cool? A third soldier, Person 14, who was on guard duty outside the compound with Person 24, has a less precise recollection but says he saw a black object  similar to a human thrown to the ground and machine-gunned during the mission, though he was initially unsure which of three soldiers were responsible.

Person 24s angst has not just been for himself. Good soldiers have been adversely affected not only by someone elses actions on the ground, but also in this courtroom, he said on Tuesday. He said Person 14 had told him that Moses had come at him like a rabid dog. He made clear his particular concerns for a soldier code-named Person 4, a man hed mentored into the SAS, and who was kept under questioning for close to five days earlier this month. Person 4 is on a range of medications for psychological injury as a result of his service in Afghanistan and these were raked over extensively during cross-examination. This man, whose right leg is prosthetic, was among Afghans killed in 2009 in incident that involved an alleged war crime. We have chosen to blur the image. I know he was struggling with his family, Person 24 said. And I saw in the papers that, as you [Moses] are doing to me, suggesting that because he is on some form of medication that hes not fit to be a witness. To see how [Person 4s] life has been turned upside down  I find heartbreaking, Mr Moses.

Person 4 has significance in the case as a key witness to Roberts-Smith allegedly kicking a bound prisoner off a cliff outside the village of Darwan in 2012. The court has also heard evidence that Person 4 allegedly executed a detainee himself, at Whiskey 108, on the orders of Roberts-Smith, though for legal reasons he has been shielded from giving evidence on this point in the defamation proceedings. The primary defence tactic adopted by Roberts-Smiths legal team has been to depict their client as the victim of a rumour-mongering campaign by soldiers jealous of his Victoria Cross and other military decorations. Some military witnesses have agreed that they either harboured doubts about the awarding of the VC, or heard of others in the unit who questioned whether it was deserved. But all of those called thus far have denied this shaped or motivated their evidence. The most direct attack on the awarding of the VC has come from Person 7, a senior SAS non-commissioned officer who said this week he believed the citation on which the award was based had contained lies and embellishment.

However his most damaging testimony against Roberts-Smith was on other fronts. He claimed to have seen Roberts-Smith assaulting Afghan prisoners on two separate missions. He said Roberts-Smith had once told him of wanting to strangle a man with his bare hands and watch the life drain out of his eyes. He gave evidence about what he alleged was Roberts-Smiths years-long bullying of another soldier, Person 1. And he was instrumental as a confidant to Person 4, taking that soldiers account of events at Darwan to more senior officers. Under questioning, Person 7 revealed hed been a key source for Nines investigative journalists, Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie, and he admitted to being one of two SAS soldiers whod appeared (their identities disguised) on a 60 Minutes program in late 2019. He accepted that while his first ever meeting with Masters had been green-lit by Defence for the purposes of helping Masters research a book on the special forces, subsequent contacts with the journalists had been unauthorised.

He conceded that some of what hed conveyed about Roberts-Smith during an initial 6-hour dinner with Masters amounted to petty gossip, in addition to the more serious allegations. Loading But he denied any intention to assassinate the character of Roberts-Smith. His 60 Minutes appearance, he said, was designed to head off what he saw as attempts by Roberts-Smith to silence, dissuade or intimidate soldiers against cooperating with a Defence force probe into war crimes allegations. Not all of Person 7s SAS colleagues will have agreed with that decision. Yet without the courage of insiders such as Person 7, it is questionable how much of the grave allegations of wrongdoing by a small group of SAS soldiers in Afghanistan would ever have come to the attention of the public. If you are a current or former ADF member, or a relative, and need counselling or support, contact the Defence All-Hours Support Line on 1800 628 036 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.
For five years the stately, century-old mansion once occupied by the Ivanhoe RSL has been a fenced off ruin.

The heritage-listed Queen Anne-style building on Studley Road, known as Clairvue, was gutted by fire a few days before Anzac Day, 2017. It has remained untouched since, without repair or restoration.

The Ivanhoe RSL, pictured this week, still in ruins after a 2017 fire. Credit:Eddie Jim

As the building languishes, so does the club that occupied it for more than 60 years. The Ivanhoe RSL sub-branch has been plagued by a dysfunctional committee with high turnover and now, The Age can reveal, a police investigation.

An RSL member who is not authorised to speak to the media said the situation at the club was terrible. Another said, its an absolute mess.
It was a Monday in April 1856 when a group of stonemasons working on the Melbourne University law faculty buildings dropped tools and marched to Parliament House. Victoria had only been separated from NSW for five years, and its first premier, William Haines, was just a few months into his term.

Their demands were simple. They wanted an eight-hour workday, a reduction of two hours, and not a cent less in pay. It was an audacious ask, as Sydney workers had recently won the cut in hours but had their pay slashed. The enormous wealth being generated by Victorias gold rush at the time was probably a factor in the stonemasons eventually winning out.

Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled the Sick Pay Guarantee scheme on Monday. Credit:Paul Jeffers

The move earned the state a reputation for being progressive in granting workers more rights. There is little doubt that Premier Daniel Andrews was tapping into this historic legacy when he announced on Labour Day last Monday  the public holiday celebrating the eight-hour campaign  a $245 million scheme to provide casual workers with carers payments and up to five days sick leave a year. The two-year pilot program will offer sick and carers leave, paid at the rate of the national minimum wage of about $20 an hour, or $750 a week, to about 150,000 casual and contract workers in hospitality, retail, aged and disability care, cleaning and security. For the duration of the pilot, the government will foot the bill.

It met with mixed reactions. The usual suspects criticised it. Victorian deputy Liberal leader David Southwick said the governments announcement was another tax on ailing small businesses, while federal Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash described it as a tax on jobs and a handbrake on our economy. The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra declared now was not the time to impose additional financial burdens on taxpayers.
Fireworks planned for this weekends AFL matches at the MCG are likely to be cancelled, with concerns remaining about the fire safety of cladding used on the stadium.

A spokeswoman for the Melbourne Cricket Club, which operates the stadium, said fireworks had been planned for this weekends Geelong v Essendon and Hawthorn v North Melbourne matches but they would now probably be cancelled.

Fireworks over the G. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones

A half-time firework display for Wednesday nights season opener between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs was cancelled at the last minute after Fire Services Victoria raised concerns about 3500 square metres of flammable cladding that covers part of the stadiums Northern Stand.

It is unlikely fireworks will be held again at the MCG until the Building Appeals Board makes a determination in April as to whether the flammable cladding needs to be removed from the stadium or mitigation devices put in place such as an additional water pump.
A sexist barb a senior West Australian Labor Minister copped in Parliament this week shows male and female politicians operate on different playing fields, says the boss of Australias leading political gender diversity organisation.

WA Liberal leader David Honey, while criticising Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson over her governments running of the Department of Communities, said she worried more about fashion than her job.

WA Liberal leader David Honey. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

Ms Sanderson had just interjected during Mr Honeys speech on Wednesday evening.

Good on you, minister! Who am I patronising? parliamentary Hansard recorded him retorting.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The blaring of a lifeguards whistle pierces the air at Maya Bay, an hours speedboat ride across the Andaman Sea from Phuket. His attention is fixed on several over-enthusiastic Instagrammers who have strayed too far into the azure water to pose for a memento of their visit. There is no swimming allowed these days at the iconic cove, made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach and recently opened by Thai authorities for the first time since 2018. Nor is it permitted to venture in further than ankle-deep. Tourists return to Maya Bay after a four-year absence. Credit:Reuters These selfie regulations are among a range of new measures designed to protect the marine ecosystem of one of Thailands most well-known tourist attractions, which for years was trashed, forcing its eventual closure. Flanked by high cliffs on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Le, the inlet was once lined with long-tail boats which leaked oil and chopped up the coral with their propellers as they ferried more than 5000 people a day directly onto the white sand. Now, as the crowds return, the boats are gone, instead dropping off and picking up tourists at a newly built pier on the other side of the island.

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New coral has been planted and as the marine life improves, a shiver of small reef sharks has made Maya Bay its home. Its beautiful to see something like this, says Kathrine Noergaard, a 21-year-old traveller from Denmark. Danish tourists Daniel Gade and Kathrine Noergaard at Maya Bay. Credit:Chris Barrett Europeans dominate the boatloads of visitors turning up each hour, during which no more than 350 people are allowed. But Thai tourists, capitalising on lower prices and government subsidies on their hotel stays, are also coming. Normally we travel overseas, never in Thailand, says 32-year-old Noppadon Robbonjerd from Phitsanulok in lower northern Thailand. We just started doing that after COVID. The destinations reopening comes as Thailand bids to revive a tourism industry decimated by the pandemic. Prior to the global health crisis, the South-east Asian nation reported nearly 40 million international arrivals a year, representing nearly 18 per cent of GDP. Roughly 800,000 Australians visited annually, according to the Australian government. Last year, even as Thailand led the region in trying to reboot the industry while the virus raged, there were only 427,000 foreigners who touched down in the Land of Smiles.

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The toll has been significant. Suthiphong Pheunphiphop, the president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, reports that more than 50 per cent of tourism-related businesses collapsed because of COVID-19. Three million jobs in tourism were lost, the Tourism Council of Thailand said last September. There are signs of life six weeks after the countrys full reopening of borders resumed on February 1, fears of the Omicron variant having delayed a planned January 1 reboot. Tour operators, for instance, report that about 3000 revellers turned up for the first full moon party of the year on Ko Pha Ngan and in February there were 203,970 arrivals from abroad, according to official government data. However, boarded-up businesses in tourism hubs from Phuket to Bangkok offer a picture of the long recovery ahead. Backpacker strip feels pinch Leaning on his tuk-tuk at the south-east end of Bangkoks Khaosan Road on a Friday afternoon, Mitchai Lapoontan says he has made only 40 Thai baht ($2.10) since he started working at 9am. Tuk-tuk driver Mitchai Lapoontan is eager to see Khaosan Road return to life. Credit:Chris Barrett Before the pandemic, he says he would earn anywhere between 700 and 1000 baht on an average Friday.

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Asked if he is worried about the situation, the 53-year-old from north-eastern Sirin province replies yes. I think it will take a long while. A little further down the street Thaunaut, who did not give her surname, says she has not sold a single item all day at the clothing and accessories stall she has reopened just that week. Tourists are beginning to trickle back to the celebrated backpackers hub and party strip, which was also immortalised in Alex Garlands novel The Beach and its movie adaptation. Construction sites along Khaosan Road also promise a fresh beginning. Wayupha Eungcharoen, a staff member at a soon-to-open new hostel called Slumber Party, run by South-east Asias largest hostel company, says the owners are expecting it to be busy. They want guests to come to stay here and party, she says. But Khaosan Road is a far sight from its bustling former self. Dozens of hostels, guest houses, bars and clubs are shuttered along the street and the alleyways and side streets that surround it. A bar worker tries to attract customers on Khaosan Road. Credit:Bloomberg

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The area is also popular with locals but Thai government rules imposed in the interests of public health havent aided the recuperation of its nightlife. Venues on the street and elsewhere can only open until 11pm and must also serve food. Some have found a way around the restrictions. I think after a certain time it flies out the window, says Fraser James, a 24-year-old British backpacker. I didnt see many police out and about last night, so I dont know if they just leave it alone. I think the bars have to close at 11pm, but we were taken upstairs into a room and then carried on, basically. Every now and then [the bar staff] would look out and go everybody, quiet, quiet, the police, but then when we came out about half [past] two in the morning there were people spilled out in the streets outside the venues, buckets going on, drinking. English tourist Fraser James, left, with backpacking friends on Khaosan Road. Credit:Chris Barrett Accommodation providers and venues that rely on the after-dark traffic in the district are sweating on those rules being relaxed, just as the private sector has called for a nights quarantine to be scrapped for new arrivals so as not to discourage travellers.

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A young unit commander pokes his rifle out of a hole in an old farmhouse in eastern Ukraine, trying to observe movements of the enemy just a few hundred metres away. We have reached the timber house  the very front of the front line of Ukraines war with Russia and Moscow-backed separatists  via a 150-metre-long trench just as a snow storm intensifies. A phone line runs along the trench, allowing soldiers at a distant observation point to report what theyre seeing to their comrades on the frontline. Its a World War I movie playing out in the 21st century. A Ukrainian soldier with the 30th Brigade stands in the trenches on the front line in the Donbas region. Credit:Kate Geraghty The weapons of choice here are machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades or anti-tank rocket launchers. A day ago the unit spotted some movement from separatists of the self-declared Donetsk Peoples Republic, so they fired a pre-emptive mortar strike across the forested no-mans land, killing some of their enemies.

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Minutes after leaving the front line, a mortar is fired in our direction by either separatists or Russians. We cant tell, nor do we stick around to find out. It is too dangerous to linger. Ukraines 30th Brigade in the trench at an observation post on the battleground in Donbas. Credit:Kate Geraghty This stretch of woodland is just one battlefront in an eight-year war between Ukraine and the separatists, but it is also a key position the soldiers know they must hold if their country is to fend off Russias invasion. With Ukraines army now stretched thin, units in the Donbas face unprecedented firepower. But so far, they are holding their positions. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden announced $US800 million ($1 billion) in new military aid for Ukraine, including 800 additional Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 9000 anti-tank weapons, 100 tactical drones and a range of small arms, including machine guns and grenade launchers. Commander Maksym, 23, holds a NLAW (Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) on the front line. Credit:Kate Geraghty While Ukraines plea for a no-fly zone over its territory have dominated the headlines, its forces on the ground have made good use of nimble, portable, high-tech weaponry to exploit weaknesses in Russian defences. The unit we are embedded with is part of the 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Mechanised Brigade, which has fought many battles during the eight-year Donbas war. In this latest conflict, it has been instrumental in taking out Russian tanks.

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Soldiers in Ukraines 30th Brigade discuss their weaponry in a trench in the Donbas region. Credit:Kate Geraghty Prince Konstanty Ostrogski, whose name was bestowed on the brigade, was a Ruthenian noble who led successful campaigns against the Grand Duchy of Moscow and saw off the Crimean Tatars at the Battle of Wisniowiec in 1512. The units 23-year-old commander, Maksym, says he and his soldiers are still inspired by their patron. Commander Maksym says the fighting in Donbas has changed markedly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last month. Credit:Kate Geraghty History is repeating, he says. It inspires not only me, but also my unit and our brigade. Maksym says the eastern front has changed markedly since Russia invaded on February 24. The intensity of shelling and mortar strikes has increased, drones now skim above the trees searching for them and trying to take them out. The enemy is more often using artillery and high-calibre machine guns. They are shelling during most of the day with just a two or three-hour break, he says. They are shelling the front-line positions and also the positions to our rear, and the shelling is often quite chaotic.

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Maksym insists his unit is holding its position, and even suggests it could move on the separatists if ordered to do so. Maksym in the trenches on the Donbas front line. Credit:Kate Geraghty We are ready to stay until the end and are ready to go and attack our enemies, but we are only waiting for the order of our high commander, he says. The young commander, who has friends from the military academy fighting near the countrys two biggest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, says he believes his comrades will continue to resist the Russian onslaught. We believe in them, he says. We are supporting our friends on other fronts in Ukraine and are ready to avenge every killed Ukrainian soldier. English teacher Vyacheslav, 49, has only been on the front line for two weeks.

From a small town in the Zhytomyr region, in Ukraines north-west, He says he felt compelled to take up arms when the Russians invaded. While he served for a year in the Donbas in 2015, this is his first experience on the front line. His wife, his two children and all of his students understand his decision, Vyacheslav says.

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English teacher Vyacheslav, 49, has left the classroom and his family in north-western Ukraine to fight with the 30th Brigade. Credit:Kate Geraghty Of course they are very scared about me  my children, my wife, my parents  they worry about me, the secondary school teacher says. If my wife didnt understand me, there would be no agreement, no love. We have to defend our motherland. We have to have freedom and peace. This is my duty. Vyacheslav says he doesnt understand Russian President Vladimir Putins rationale for invading Ukraine  that he needs to de-Nazify the country. I am not a fascist, I am not a Nazi. Im a school teacher, he says. Vyacheslav says his job on the front line is to watch the positions of the enemy for any sign of movement by tanks or other vehicles. Sometimes they try to shoot us, bomb us, and then we try to hide ... and run fast, he says.

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It is one of the great ironies of theatergoing in 2022 that while the front of house has thrown its full weight behind masking and vaccines  the theater trusts the science  the stage itself increasingly plays host to tales of superstition and witchcraft. This was true before the pandemic, with Alexis Scheer's Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, but the trend seems to have intensified this season with Clare Barron's Shhh and now, John J. Caswell Jr.'s Man Cave, a kind of indie horror movie now being staged by Page 73 at the Connelly Theater.

It's about a makeshift coven of Mexican American women summoning the dead to do their bidding from the basement lair of an Arizona congressman (it is never specified whether he is a Republican or a Democrat). Imaculada (Annie Henk) is the housekeeper, left alone to keep the house while the congressman is in Washington. On one such occasion, Rosemary (Jacqueline Guillen) shows up with her lover, Lupita (Claudia Acosta), seeking shelter after her cop boyfriend (with whom she cohabits) beats her up.

Annie Henk plays Imaculada in John J. Caswell Jr.'s Man Cave, directed by Taylor Reynolds, for Page 73 at the Connelly Theater.

( Daniel J. Vasquez)

In an illustration of Charles Ludlam's adage "You are a living mockery of your own ideals," Rosemary is aggressively woke and disdainful of this refuge. When Imaculada remarks that the congressman is merely serving the will of his constituents, Rosemary redundantly retorts, "Yeah, bent over the lectern taking all two inches of white supremacy's cheesy smegma-covered cock."

Even in the face of such hostility, Imaculada allows them to sleep in the man cave for just one night. But Rosemary has other plans that involve human toenails, goat blood, and a request that the spirits murder her boyfriend. She only becomes more determined when she learns that the congressman's house has been built on top of a mass grave of indigenous people.

Claudia Acosta plays Lupita, and Jacqueline Guillen plays Rosemary in John J. Caswell Jr.'s Man Cave, directed by Taylor Reynolds, for Page 73 at the Connelly Theater.

( Daniel J. Vasquez)

Questions swirl: Why does Rosemary sit for hours covered in her own dried blood when there's a perfectly good bathroom just steps away? Why, when we are told there are security cameras everywhere, does Imaculada think they can stay unnoticed? And why doesn't she even bat an eye when Rosemary, already quite inebriated, goes straight for the bottle of Lagavulin hiding behind the bar? The events of the first act strain credulity, making it much harder to accept the magic in the second.

That doesn't mean that it's not impressively rendered. Man Cave has been given a top-notch production under the direction of Taylor Reynolds, whose mastery of surprise has viewers involuntarily flinching in their seats. Inanimate objects seem to move on their own on Adam Rigg's shifty set, while Lucrecia Briceno's lighting maintains a level of dimness that allows us to see the performers while still wondering what's hiding behind the washing machine. Michael Costagliola's 360-degree sound design seems to invade our personal space, making us anxious that someone (or something) could come up behind us at any moment.

The entire cast goes the extra mile to sell these effects and paper over the holes in the script. Guillen works hard to add dimensions to a character that is essentially a living, breathing Twitter feed. And Socorro Santiago (who arrives later as Rosemary's mother) brings a witchy energy to the stage that is still grounded in the mundane.

Rosemary (Jacqueline Guillen), Consuelo (Socorro Santiago), and Imaculada (Annie Henk) prepare to drink a potion in Man Cave.

( Daniel J. Vasquez)

Much of it is unsettling in a manner reminiscent of the collaboration of Adam Bock and director Anne Kauffman on plays like The Thugs and A Life. Of course, both of those scripts deftly dance the burlesque of horror, the playwright understanding that few things are more terrifying than the unseen and unexplained. Man Cave, on the other hand, is unfailingly superficial.

And for some people (especially fans of The Exorcist and the Amityville Horror franchise) that will do the trick: I witnessed one member of the audience begin to hyperventilate before being escorted to the lobby, perhaps overwhelmed with terror. Personally, I found most of it pretty cheesy  not as much, though, as the aforementioned phallus.

Caswell raises urgently important topics: domestic violence, the abuse of police authority, the ever-expanding Department of Homeland Security, and the cynical way that politicians profit from it. But anyone who cares about these issues should be dismayed by the not-very-helpful solution the theater is increasingly offering in responsemagic.
We cannot change the past, but what if we could change the way we remember it? This question tantalizingly, menacingly lingers over the stage in Sam Chanse's what you are now (purposefully styled in all lowercase, the humblebrag of naming conventions). This slow-burn, fizzle-out family drama is now making its world premiere in a co-production by the Civilians and Ensemble Studio Theatre.

It's about Pia (Pisay Pao), a neuroscience researcher investigating the mechanics of memory and fear. "If a memory is essentially re-made, re-built each and every time it's recalled," she addresses us like grad students in a lecture, "then it might be possible for this memory to be modified. Overwritten."

Robert Lee Leng and Emma Kikue appear Sam Chanse's What You Are Now, directed by Steve Cosson, for the Civilians at Ensemble Studio Theatre.

( Jeremy Daniel)

Her colleague/boyfriend Evan (an authentically awkward Curran Connor) suspects she has personal reasons for her academic interest: Her mother, Chantrea (Sonnie Brown), is a survivor of the Cambodian genocide who fled to Lowell, Massachusetts, when she was still pregnant. She never speaks of her life there, or the mysterious scar on the side of her neck. Pia's older brother, Darany (Robert Lee Leng), was born in Cambodia, but has no memories of the country or much of a connection to its culture  Mom made sure of that. But everything begins to change when he starts hanging out with Siobhan (Emma Kikue), a half-Irish, half-Cambodian-American who gives him a CD of 1970s Cambodian rock.

There's a lot going on for 100 minutes of play: With Pia, Chanse seems to be telling the story of a budding mad scientist hubristically seeking to use her knowledge to radically alter humanity (I'm convinced we'll see a lot more of these in response to trust the science evangelism). Through Chantrea, we have the story of a historical atrocity and its lingering psychic consequences. In the testy exchanges between Pia and Siobhan, Chanse reveals the class divisions that exist within immigrant diasporas (and in Evan, the blissful cluelessness of white Americans when it comes to all of this). And (*spoiler*) in Darany, we get the story of a surprise undocumented immigrant, those who we now call "dreamers." On top of that, Chanse delves into the role of psychedelic rock in the Phnom Penh music scene of the 1970s, something that will unfortunately relegate this play to the shadow cast by Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band, a more focused drama with a far more memorable title.

Emma Kikue plays Siobhan, and Pisay Pao plays Pia in What You Are Now at Ensemble Studio Theatre.

( Jeremy Daniel)

It doesn't help that the galaxy of What You Are Now seems to be centered on the black hole that is Pia. Chanse makes it clear that Pia is a prickly character, suspicious of outsiders and prone to take offense when none is meant. That can make for a compelling protagonist, especially as we get to understand them better. But the task is nearly impossible when the barriers never come down, even for the audience. Add to that a somewhat wooden performance by Pao, and you have a recipe for wandering minds.

Elements of the production draw us back in, especially Brown, whose performance is haunting, hilarious, and surprising until the very end. Leng also delivers a charming portrayal of a fundamentally decent man who has spent a life being swept up by circumstances over which he has little control. His joyful dance to Siobhan's CD is a highlight of the production.

Pisay Pao, Sonnie Brown, and Robert Lee Leng appear in Sam Chanse's What You Are Now, directed by Steve Cosson, for the Civilians at Ensemble Studio Theatre.

( Jeremy Daniel)

Director Steve Cosson delivers a competent staging, but is unable to inject any adrenaline into a sleepy script. Riw Rakkulchon's all-white set, in which photos have been painted over and the hands on the clock have been removed, works on multiple levels: It tells the story of a totalitarian regime attempting to create "year zero" by obliterating all memory of the past, but also a mother who purposefully obscures a family's history to protect her children. It could also represent Pia's utopian dream of removing painful memories. But this is theater and not installation art. A set can only be expected to do so much. A late transition in which a streak of color is added to the upstage wall a la Pleasantville fails to add any dramatic momentum to this story. Leah Gelpe's sound design is more successful on that front, as Siobhan looks warily toward the window through which the sound of Pia and Darany's rough neighborhood can be heard.

What You Are Now is a play with a lot of potential, but as with Chanse's monologue, "Disturbance Specialist," recently featured in Out of Time, it is mostly squandered. The easiest way to obliterate a memory remains making the event so unremarkable that it never makes the leap to your long-term storage at all.
New USDA Study Confirms That Ethanol Is Much Cleaner Than Gasoline - SO THERE!







Big Oil Gets Another Well-Deserved Beat Down

By Marc J. Rauch

Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher

THE AUTO CHANNEL







The recent spate of oil industry sponsored news stories and editorials are again trying to claim that ethanol contributes more harmful emissions to the atmosphere than gasoline. On the face of it alone, the claim should be dismissed as casually as one might dismiss any assertion that the moon is made of green cheese. It's just as preposterous. But maybe the sheer silliness of the claim is so simple that its simplicity makes it easy for nitwits and Big Oil shills to glom onto - that's the only way I can explain why they think they can get away with it.

In just the past three weeks, I responded to three published articles (written by people who really should know better) and one public EPA Hearing in which numerous oil industry lackeys reiterated this myth and other anti-ethanol lies.



In any event, on Tuesday morning, April 2, 2019; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new study that confirms greenhouse gas emissions from corn-based ethanol are about 39 percent lower than gasoline. The study also states that when ethanol is refined at natural gas-powered refineries, the greenhouse gas emissions are even lower, around 43 percent below gasoline. The complete study can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

This study follows other government related studies made public over the years that also conclude that ethanol produces far fewer harmful emissions, including the following reports:

What I especially like about this new study is that they specifically address the 2008 study presented by Tim Searchinger and his associates, which added in extraneous items and conditions to conclude negative emissions results for ethanol. In my opinion, this is similar to how David Pimentel and Tad Patzek created their discredited studies against ethanol.

Mr. Searchinger went back to attack ethanol in 2011, with an article in the Washington Post, when he tried to resurrect the food vs. fuel hysteria that API instigated three or four years earlier because of an erroneous report from The World Bank. I published a rebuttal to this on TheAutoChannel.com titled:

"An Open Letter to Tim Searchinger and all the other Gasoline Whores.".

Then, in 2015, Tim Searchinger teamed with Ralph Heimlich to write a new anti-ethanol paper for World Resources Institute. This paper was rebuked by the Renewable Fuels Association with their report "Debunking Searchingers Doomsday TheoriesAgain.".

At the beginning of this article I wrote that the claim stating that ethanol fuel related emissions are as bad or worse than gasoline related emission should be dismissed without further thought. Certainly the studies and papers I offer above should make this obvious to anyone who does not have an oil industry ulterior motive. But, to me, the best and easiest way to refute damaging emissions claims made against ethanol is a video like the one below. Unless and until an internal combustion engine can be designed that burns gasoline as efficiently as ethanol, and a catalytic converter is able to eliminate all traces of greenhouse gases and particulates, ethanol will always be a cleaner fuel than gasoline.

SO THERE!
Conway, AR (72032)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low 63F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low 63F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Searcy, AR (72143)

Today

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
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Oneonta, NY (13820)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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HONORED  Wendell Schwab of Venus has been named grand marshal of the 2022 Mayfest parade. Schwab was born in 1930 and has lived his entire life on the family farm in Venus. A graduate of Shippenville High School, he served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean War. He and his wife Dottie ar
China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said a Chinese envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all parties to the Ukraine conflict to exercise restraint so as to prevent a humanitarian crisis of an even larger scale.

China is deeply worried about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and saddened by the reported increase in civilian casualties and refugees. The pressing task now is to call for maximum restraint from all parties so as to prevent the occurrence of a larger scale humanitarian crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China supports the work by the relevant parties in maintaining communication, ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian corridors, and further facilitating personnel evacuation and humanitarian assistance, he told a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine refugee issue.

The number of refugees and displaced persons caused by the conflict is still on the rise, bringing a huge impact on Ukraine and the surrounding countries. China supports relevant UN agencies in actively conducting operations and mobilizing the international community to assist all those in need, he said.

People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

In the recent past, some people of African or Middle Eastern descent encountered difficulties during evacuation. This should be taken seriously and addressed properly. All refugees, regardless of color, race or religion, shall be accorded the necessary protection under international refugee law, said Zhang.

China pays high attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and has put forward a six-point proposal. The Red Cross Society of China has provided Ukraine with three batches of humanitarian supplies, with the third batch containing milk powder and quilts for children, he said.

"We welcome any initiative or measure from any party that contributes to alleviating and resolving the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and should therefore play a positive role in easing the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. China hopes that the Security Council can stay united on the humanitarian issue and demonstrate a constructive attitude."

The international community has the common wish for a cease-fire at an early date to alleviate the situation on the ground and prevent civilian casualties. China shares this wish, said Zhang.

Humanitarian aid supplies sent by the Red Cross Society of China to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society are transported in Warsaw, Poland, March 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Chen)

To date, Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of negotiations. Keeping the negotiations going means there is a chance for cease-fire, and that there is a chance for a peaceful future, he noted. "China remains committed to promoting peace through negotiations. We support the United Nations and the parties concerned in vigorously carrying out good offices. We also hope that all parties will do more to facilitate peace talks, and not to add fuel to fire."

Facts have proved that the wanton use of sanctions will not solve any problem, but will instead create new problems. Given the sluggish recovery in the global economy, ever-escalating sanctions are undermining the stability of the international industrial chain and supply chain, thus exacerbating food and energy crises, damaging people's livelihood in all countries, developing countries in particular, and triggering new humanitarian consequences. This is also an issue that the Security Council shall pay attention to when addressing the humanitarian issue of Ukraine, said Zhang.
And worse still, what if you're the one in danger of being axed after years of getting a free ride on someone else's subscription?

According to Netflix, they're planning to start cracking down on password sharing outside of a user's household because they say it's "impacting their ability to invest in great TV and films".

"We've always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account, with features like separate profiles and multiple streams in our Standard and Premium plans," a statement from Netflix said.

While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared.

Yeahconfusionthat's what it was.

Anyway, we don't have to panic just yet, because the new feature that will enable users to share their password by paying a fee is only being trailed in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru right now.

The cost being charged in those places is the equivalent of between NZD $3 - $4.50 per extra member.

If your mates or your parents don't want to cough up the cash to continue to enable your binge-watching habits, they'll also have the option to transfer you to a new account.

You'll have to pay for that yourself, but it will at least keep all your viewing history and personalised recommendations intact. Small wins, eh?
This general view shows the skyline over the central business district at sunset in Beijing, China on Feb. 16, 2022. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

2030: The Year China Runs the World?

Commentary

In 2030: How Todays Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything, the author Mauro F. Guillen argues that breakthroughs occur not when someone works within the established paradigm but when assumptions are abandoned, rules are ignored, and creativity runs amok.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), not known for working within established paradigms, and more known for ignoring basic rules, is busy making breakthroughs of its own. By 2030, as I will show in this short piece, the CCP may very well run the world.

A terrifying thought. If some authors are to be believed, the United States and China are destined for war. Rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, China could have at least 700 nuclear warheads by 2027; by 2030, more than 1,000. The United States, however, has many more.

But the wars of tomorrow will have less to do with traditional nuclear warheads, and much more to do with newer forms of technology. This is where China has the advantage, and this is why the regime is such a threat.

Chinas Quantum Leap

Quantum computers, were told, will win the next world war. Thats good news for China. Quantum computers process information in a fundamentally different way to classical computers. They are many times faster.

In fact, Googles quantum computer (Sycamore) processes information 100 million times faster than any classical computer. Rather impressive, right? But not as impressive as Chinas quantum computers.

As the author Dave Makichuk wrote last year, Chinas quantum computers have the ability to handle calculations that are 100 times more complex than what Googles Sycamore can handle. China now holds a quantum computational advantage over the United States. In other words, China is winning the quantum race.

Tensions between the United States and China are at an all-time high. Discussing the importance of quantum computing, including the weaponization of powerful technology, has never been more necessary. The encryption used to keep our data safe, including our bank account details and private emails, is no match for quantum technology.

U.S. federal agencies like the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Pentagon are already easy targets for hackers. Imagine the damage that will be caused by hackers armed with quantum technology.

The aforementioned agencies suffer from what experts call poor cyber hygiene. This means that practices and precautions used to keep data safe and secure from attackers are, at best, insufficient. This explains why CCP-backed hackers have already stolen the data of at least 206 million Americans.

Remember, this data was stolen with normal computers. Quantum computing is set to change the landscape of data security, and the United States is woefully unprepared for the attacks of tomorrow.

The threat posed by foreign actors, especially those backed by the CCP, cannot be emphasized enough. The U.S. electric gridthe very thing that connects the countrys homes, schools, businesses, and citiesis particularly vulnerable.

In January 2014, unable to withstand freezing temperatures, Texas power grid buckled. As The Texas Tribune reported, generators failed more than a dozen times in 12 hours, helping to bring the states electric grid to the brink of collapse. Dozens of people died, including an 11-year-old boy.

Seven years later, yet again, the Texan power grid buckled, and the state suffered another power outage. On this occasion, in Houston alone, 50 residents died, according to The Washington Post.

People take shelter at Gallery Furniture store after winter weather caused electricity blackouts in Houston, Texas, on Feb.18, 2021. (Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

Which brings us back to quantum computers, the weaponization of powerful tech, and the potential threats facing the American people. The U.S. power grid is protected through encryption, which, as I have already mentioned, can easily be undone by quantum technology.

A shutdown of the U.S. power grid is entirely possible. Worse still, its highly likely. Such an attack, as Forbes noted earlier last year, could be the most catastrophic disaster our country has ever experiencedmany times worse than 9/11, arguably the worst day in the United States history.

Theoretically, quantum technology could shut down numerous power grids across the country, from New York to California, Maine to Mississippi. As Chinas cyber capabilities grow, protecting the U.S. power grid should be a national priority. The crisis in Ukraine should not distract officials at home from being proactive. Time is very much of the essence.

By 2030, through the creation of an established quantum communication network, Chinas quantum prowess looks likely to reach new heights. To add, less than a decade from now, the most dangerous country could have its own quantum internet, which will be unhackable and far more potent than the current iteration of the internet. This will make Chinas cyber operatives a far more formidable threat.

Quantum computing is just one area where China is outmuscling the United States. In other areas, like artificial intelligence (AI) and biotech, for example, China is also moving ahead. By 2030, China will, according to people very much in the know, lead the world in AI. According to researchers at Brookings, by 2030, whoever leads the world in AI will essentially rule the world.

The threat posed by communist China comes in many forms. Although its military is highly impressive, its technological advancements are many times more impressiveand many times more concerning.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Justice Department's Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Matthew Olsen speaks at a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington on March 16, 2022, in a still from video. (Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Agents Working for CCP Were Paid Millions to Spy on, Harass Dissidents in US: Criminal Complaint

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) apparently wasnt happy that a sculpture criticizing its leader Xi Jinping was on display in the United States, so the regimes agents went to work. They hired a private investigator in New York and a former correctional officer in Florida in a conspiracy to try to shame and discredit the sculptures artist.

Thats according to federal prosecutors who unveiled the alleged scheme earlier this week, describing the efforts as part of the communist regimes wider campaign to spy on, harass, and intimidate Chinese dissidents abroad.

Two of the three charged in the plot, Liu Fan, a president of a purported New York-based media company, and the correctional officer, Matthew Ziburis, were arrested in New York on March 15, according to the Justice Department (DOJ). They worked under the direction of Sun Qiang, a China-based individual who allegedly acted as an intermediary for the CCP and remains at large, prosecutors said.

The DOJ didnt reveal the name of the artist but provided descriptions of the sculpture that the defendants wanted to destroya work depicting Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a coronavirus molecule that was destroyed in the spring of last year.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Chen Weiming, a Chinese-born New Zealander now living in California, confirmed that he was their target.

The CCP agents thought they could commit crimes in this free country and nobody would care. But the net of justice is closing in on them, Chen said.

Chen said his agent in New York was contacted by Ziburis, who portrayed himself as someone who admired Chens work.

Ziburis expressed an interest in having all of his artwork displayed in a New York exhibition, according to Chen. Subsequently, Ziburis paid a down payment of $20,000 for one of Chens art pieces, a sculpture named CCP Virus, Chen said.

The CCP Virus was a bust statue more than 20 feet tall featuring a face resembling Xi. The face was split in halfthe right side appeared human while the left side was a skull. The distinctive spike proteins of the virus molecule made up its hair.

The statue was originally located at Liberty Sculpture Park in Yermo, California. However, in July last year, less than a month after Chen unveiled his work to the public, the sculpture was destroyed by arsonists.

CCP Virus, a sculpture by Chen Weiming, is seen destroyed at Liberty Square Park in Yermo, California, in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Chen Weiming)

Chen said he didnt suspect Ziburiss intentions because he was a Westerner. Ziburis also showed him photos of his alleged financial backer and some Democratic politicians, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), which had convinced Chen of Ziburiss credentials.

After the sculpture was destroyed, Chen said Ziburis stopped mentioning the exhibition. Chen had thought that Ziburiss change of mind was due to him being either threatened or bribed by the Chinese regime.

Ziburis eventually broke the contract he signed with Chen, who then hired Li Jinjin as a lawyer to file a civil lawsuit. Earlier this week, Li, a Chinese dissident who was once jailed in China for taking part in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement, was stabbed to death by a woman at his law offices in New York City.

The Alleged Plot

According to a criminal complaint unsealed on March 16, Liu, president of a purported media company called Congress Web TV Station in New York City, began plotting against Chen in January 2021. His goal was to obtain Chens federal tax returns, believing Chen had evaded taxes, a crime he could make public to discredit the artist.

Liu first hired a private investigator, whose name wasnt released by the DOJ, asking if he had any contacts with the FBI or CIA to obtain Chens tax returns. The investigator, who was concerned that the requests were from the Chinese regime, contacted the FBI, according to the complaint.

Under the direction of the FBI, the investigator told Liu he had a contact at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and a bribe of $1,500 would get him Chens tax returns. According to the complaint, Liu made the payment through his company and subsequently obtained copies of the tax returns in March 2021.

In California, Ziburis installed surveillance equipment on Chens vehicle and his studio, the complaint said, while Sun had access to video footage and location data from the devices.

During one communication, Sun encouraged Liu to have Zibris destroy the sculpture, saying: Destroy all sculptures and things that are not good to our leaders, according to the complaint.

The court file quoted another communication in which Liu suggested to Sun that destroying Chens artwork should be videotaped.

Contact a couple of hundred media outlets in the United States and China to report the news and harshly criticize their disgusting act, Liu wrote to Sun, explaining how the videos could be used.

Chen said he now suspects that these same individuals orchestrated the arson attack.

The complaint didnt say Liu and Ziburis were suspects behind the arson. It noted that the two were in New York City at the same time the sculpture was destroyed in California.

Others Allegedly Targeted

Aside from Chen, Liu, Ziburis, and Sun also targeted two other dissidents, one living in Indiana, and the other in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the complaint.

One of those targets was Arthur Liu, the father of U.S. Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu.

The defendants sought to discredit the two dissidents by using their own comments, the DOJ said. The idea was to set up mock media sessions using Lius purported media company, and have the interviewees respond to questions designed by Sun intended to elicit answers that could humiliate or discredit the dissidents. Their responses would then be used in Chinese propaganda to smear the targets.

Ziburis was paid more than $100,000 for his services, wire transfers showed, according to the complaint. Meanwhile, Liu and his wife received payments of more than $3 million from Hong Kong-based accounts.

If convicted, Liu and Ziburis face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to commit interstate harassment, and up to 15 years in prison for criminal use of a means of identification, according to the DOJ. Liu also faces another five years for conspiring to bribe a federal official.

The case should serve as a lesson to the communist regime, Chen said.

The CCP should never think about undermining the free society [of America], he said.

Xu Manyuan contributed to this report.
Air Force Veteran Forced to Choose Between Dying and Getting Vaccine

Chad Carswell was barely 18 when insurgents in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom took aim at his KC-135 refueling aircraftessentially, a giant gas tank with wingswith him and other Air Force crewmen aboard.

He described a chaotic scene in an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, and the moment he realized the only way to thwart a deadly and fiery explosion was to try to access guns that were locked up in a vehicle 10 feet away.

It was a pretty intense moment, Carswell said, as he recounted the days he served at the border of Qatar during U.S. airstrikes on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the U.S. response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Carswell admittedly didnt expect to find himself in combat just weeks into boot camp. Others newly enlisted left before finishing training, but Carswell said humanitarian work with refugees made him realize how blessed he wasand so he stayed to help.

Sadly, some Americans havent shown Carswell the same compassion.

When the 39-year-old Air Force veteran went public recently about being turned away by a North Carolina hospital for a desperately needed kidney transplant because he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine, he was attacked on social mediawith some even expressing their hope that he would die.

The good news is that many people posted their support for Carswell, enough for the coordinator at the Medical City Fort Worth Transplant Institute in Texas to learn about Carswells plight, and she offered to place him on her facilitys candidate list for a transplant.

The hospital is seeking a donor match for Carswell, whose kidneys have slipped to just 4 percent functionality as hes searched for a hospital that would accept him without a COVID vaccination.

The Texas transplant facilitys support is a far cry from the unwavering stance taken by the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina: that it wouldnt consider Carswell for a transplant until he was vaccinated against COVID-19.

They told me either take the vaccine or youre going to die, Carswell told The Epoch Times.

Other hospitals have made similar decisions.

In January, Brigham and Womens Hospital rejected 31-year-old David Ferguson of Boston for a heart transplant because he remained unvaccinated. In October, Colorado-based UCHealth removed 56-year-old Colorado Springs resident Leilani Lutali from the waiting list for a kidney transplant because she wasnt vaccinated.

Each of the hospitals said the reason for requiring the COVID-19 vaccine was because of the high risk to already immune-compromised transplant patients of contracting the disease.

They also said they were following standard protocols set by national transplant organizations, specifically naming the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS). Both organizations list vaccine manufacturing giant Sanofi, which partnered with both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson to produce the COVID-19 vaccine.

ASTs corporate sponsors also include vaccine giant Merck; CSL Behring, which partnered with AstraZeneca to produce its COVID-19 vaccine; and Novartis, which like Sanofi, partnered with Pfizer to produce its COVID-19 vaccine.

In 2019, AST also provided Brigham and Womens Hospital, which denied Ferguson his heart transplant, an unrestricted grant.

In a joint statement with The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) and American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), AST stated it strongly recommended that all eligible children and adult transplant candidates and recipients be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine that is approved or authorized in their jurisdiction.

It recommends a total of three shots for all organ transplant recipients.

UNOS also released a statement to The Epoch Times emphasizing that transplant hospitals are free to adopt their own policies regarding the vaccine status of patients.

Patients have the right to seek transplant at an alternate center. However, the requirements may be the same, Anne Paschke, a UNOS spokesperson, said in the statement.

UNOS receives 10 percent of its funding from federal tax dollars.

The practice of hospitals denying patients life-saving transplants over their vaccine status has become so rampant that last month, U.S. Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.) introduced a proposal called the SAVE (Stop Arduous Vaccine Enforcement) Act, that would bar transplant facilities from denying an individual from receiving or donating an organ solely because of being unvaccinated.

Carswells attorney, Adam Draper, of the Draper & Wagner law firm, told The Epoch Times that whats so remarkable about Carswell is that his primary concern isnt about saving his own life, but preventing hospitals from doing this to someone else.

Hes a good, good man. He doesnt deserve scurrilous attacks, Draper told The Epoch Times.
A furniture store was raided by police officers for illegal gambling operations in Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 11, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Anaheims Rebuild Beach Project to Revamp Crime-Ridden Boulevard

ANAHEIM, Calif.Looking through the slightly tinted window glass of what was labeled as a hydroponics store, shards of drywall littered the floor of the almost empty interior of the showroom floor.

Just hours before, on an early weekday morning, the Anaheim Police Department had raided the location and put a stop to an illegal gambling operation that resulted in several arrests and confiscation of gambling machines.

On the 1.5-mile stretch of Beach Boulevard that runs through Anaheim, the citys police officers respond to over 2,000 calls a yeara growing number with drug decriminalization, early prison release and other statewide trends in recent years, according to the Winter 2022 issue of Anaheim Magazine, a community publication by the city administration.

Officers have been prioritizing their work on the boulevard because they know that theres a higher likelihood that theyll be able to interact directly with active criminals in that area, and they have a higher opportunity of reducing crime, Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Shane Carringer told The Epoch Times.

Now with Anaheims newly launched Rebuild Beach program, the police department sees the potential in reviving this areawhere worn-down businesses and hotels often set the stage for human trafficking, prostitution, illegal gambling, drug dealing, and homelessnessand creating a win for law enforcement.

Anaheim Police Department in Anaheim, Calif., on September 10, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Because of the types of crimes and types of criminal activity that happens within this relatively small corridor, any sort of economic revitalization of that area will hopefully lead to a positive change and reduce the amount of police resources needed in that area right now, Carringer said.

Labeled as Highway 39 on local maps, the boulevard is a state route overlooked by the California Department of Transportation.

Over the next few years, Anaheim will start managing and redeveloping its section of Beach Boulevard, from Lincoln Avenue to Ball Road, which will make it easier for businesses and developers to improve infrastructure in the area, Mike Lyster, Anaheims Chief Communications Officer, told The Epoch Times.

Rebuild Beach [program] is focused on both near- and long-term steps to create an inviting, walkable street with new residents, shops, and restaurants, with improvements and actions taking place today to improve public safety, Lyster said.

The long-term redevelopment of blighted areas might stretch into the next few decades, he said.

An apartment building under construction in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

As a part of the project, the city is also stepping up on code enforcement where city staff will be visiting hotels and businesses along the stretch of Beach Boulevard to enlist the help of the public and make people aware of issues that could potentially exist.

Businesses enabling criminal activities will also be followed up by the city and Anaheim Police Department officers.

Besides patrol, Lyster said the police department has installed cameras along the street for real-time visibility, which not only helps officers identify areas that require enforcement but also deters potential criminal activities.

Though redevelopment can take at least several years or longer, Anaheim has gained momentum in the project with the completion of 65 new townhomes on the northeast side of Beach Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard, with more homes set to open in the near future.

A technician adjusts a traffic camera on Beach Boulevard in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Suzy Cash and Angel Huerta attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, New York, on March 17, 2022. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORKI started crying in the first five minutes because I was just so moved by the movement and the music and I just felt something come alive within me, said Suzy Cash, an architect.

When Shen Yun Performing Arts played in the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center in New York on Thursday, two audience members, Suzy Cash and Angel Huerta felt an immediate connection.

[Shen Yun] really touches on your spirituality because the music itself, the live orchestra, helps to soften you and connect you with what is being performed and displayed on the stage. So, its a very spiritual experience, said Huerta, an interior designer.

Shen Yun is reviving Chinas traditional culture which was virtually lost when the communist regime came to power. Chinese classical and folk dancing display the beauty and the wisdom of five millennia of a society that was once known as the celestial empire.

The Shen Yun orchestra, which combines traditional Eastern and classical Western instruments, produces melodies that are unique in the world of music.

When a brochure for Shen Yun appeared in his mailbox that same morning, Huerta immediately bought tickets.

What I loved about the [performance]  its a unique combination of cinematic digital displays, and then live performing in front of it. So, its a combination of going to the movies and seeing a live show at the same time, said Huerta. The storytelling, theatre, and costumes were beautifully integrated, he added.

Cash was impressed by the dedication that went into the performance.

I love the meticulous dancing  and just the way its so manicured. So much love goes into their movements. You can tell that they really love what they do and its just effortless. [The dancers] literally float, she said.

They are like angels. Its so beautiful.

Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Companys curtain call at The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, on March 17, 2022. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Shen Yun was a top-notch performance, said Huerta.

This is a [performance] that I will definitely recommend to people above any other shows Ive seen because its just so unique, but [it] also has a powerful message, he said. The message was relevant at this very time and people needed to hear it. There are a lot of people in China who desire freedom but who are up against a communist regime, he said.

A lot of the people are having to find that peace inside of themselves because theyre facing such an [controlling] environment, Huerta said. He added that there were people in China who were being murdered and taken advantage of.

Huerta is referring to Shen Yuns mini-dramas depicting the current persecution of the traditional Chinese spiritual practice known as Falun Dafa. Falun Dafas beliefs are based on the universal values of truth, compassion, and tolerance.

Cash was in total agreement.

I think also just the message  where we come from and our past and our culture, is really beautiful, and we should be able to identify with that if we choose to, said Cash. She admired the fact that Shen Yun was bringing back Chinas traditional culture while depicting present-day events as well.

Cash opined that the spirituality in Shen Yun came through strongly, especially in the song To Heaven in this Lifetime, sung by its baritone. The lyrics speak of mans spiritual journey through the many planes of heaven over a period of millions of years.

And I think that just showed theres danger in the communist movement thats not allowing that spirituality to [flow] freely, she said.

I think the government is afraid of people being free because it kind of disarms government because people find their own governance within themselves when they become spiritual. And if they find that within themselves, they dont rely on someone like the government to guide them, Huerta concluded.

Reporting by Weiyong Zhu and Diane Cordemans.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
The logo of AstraZeneca is seen on medication packages in a pharmacy in London on April 28, 2014. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)

AstraZeneca Pays $775 Million to Settle Drug Dispute With Japans Chugai

Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Thursday it would pay $775 million to settle a patent dispute with Japans Chugai Pharmaceutical involving lucrative rare disease treatment Ultomiris.

Both AstraZeneca and Chugai will withdraw patent infringement cases filed in the United States and Japan dating back to 2018 as part of the settlement, the London-listed company said in a statement.

AstraZeneca will book the settlement payment as a charge in its first-quarter results. The payment wont affect its annual financial forecasts.

Ultomiris, which fetched nearly $700 million in 2021 sales, is developed by AstraZenecas rare disease division Alexion, a U.S. drugmaker acquired by the British firm last year for $39 billion.

The drug was initially developed as a treatment for the neurological disorder ALS, but Alexion halted these efforts last year after lack of efficacy in a late-stage trial.

Ultomiris is currently approved in some markets as a treatment for two rare diseasesatypical-HUS, a condition that affects kidney function, and PNH, a serious blood disorder.
A general view of JBR from the Bluewaters Island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Satish Kumar/Reuters)

Australia Hoping to Lock-In First Free Trade Deal With Middle Eastern Nation

Australia is pursuing its first Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a Middle Eastern nation as it looks to bed down an FTA with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Trade ministers from both countries have released a joint statement outlining an intent to lock-in the FTA. Current two-way trade between Australia and the UAE is worth AU$6.8 billion (US$5 billion) and two-way investment at AU$16 billion (US$11.8 billion).

The UAE is Australias gateway to the Middle East and presents an opportunity for greater trade diversification, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said in a statement.

Australia has more than 300 key businesses operating in the UAE, including in building, construction, financial services, agricultural supplies, and training services and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would create more opportunities for Australian businesses and workers.

Current Australian exports to the UAE include aluminium oxide, meat (beef, sheep, and lamb), vehicle parts and accessories, and telecom equipment and parts.

The minister said an agreement could be a building block for future trade deals with other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.

The Australian government is also progressing ambitious new trade deals with the European Union and India in a bid to speed up diversification of its trade channels, especially in light of ongoing tensions with China.

FTAs with the EU or India is expected to take time, with Indias trade negotiations already entering its 11th year.

Justin Brown, a former official at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said a trade deal with India would be a huge win for the current governments trade diversification agenda due to its large population base (1.3 billion people).

Brown noted a challenge was to develop a package that is commercially meaningful for India.

Agriculture market access is Australias highest priority in the negotiations, but India has been unwilling to make concessions that could result in disruptions of a sector which accounts for about 40 percent of the countrys employment, he wrote in The Interpreter on Sep. 21, 2021.

Meanwhile, trade negotiations with the EU (450 million people) stalled last year after French displeasure with Australia entering the AUKUS agreement with the United States and United Kingdom.

AUKUS saw the Australian government drop an existingand troubledcontract with French defence contractor Naval Group.
U.S. and Australian special operations forces (SOF) conduct a high-altitude low-opening (HALO) parachute jump from a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-27J Spartan of the 35 Squadron during Talisman Sabre in Queensland, Australia, July 17, 2019. Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise that tests the two forces combat training, readiness and interoperability. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Nicole Rogge)

Australia Needs Its Own Marine Corps to Combat China Threat: Defence Analyst

Australia should begin setting up a marine corps to tackle any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific where amphibious warfare could take centre stage, according to a defence industry expert.

Lincoln Parker, chair of the Liberal Partys Defence and National Security Policy Branch, said Australia could learn from Japan and the United States in setting up the fourth branch of its armed forces.

The next conflicts for Australia are not going to be in the Middle East on vast deserts and flat lands, or in Europe like World War II. Its going to be more like our campaigns in the Pacific in World War II, Parker, who has 20 years experience in defence research and technology, told The Epoch Times.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF), which consists of an army, air force, and navy, was not very effective for the oceans and islands of the Indo-Pacific, he added.

A marine corps is an amphibious operational unit that can operate across the maritime environment and project force effectively, he said. If you look at our region of the world, theyre full of Pacific islands, all the way around Australia and up through the South China Sea, and thats whereif Chinas aggression continues on its current trajectorywe will need to operate.

Parker said the U.S. Marine Corps had completely changed its doctrine to adjust to fighting in the region and to contend with ongoing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

They got rid of all their tanks, their capital equipment, and focused on asymmetric warfare, with small fighting units with short and medium-range missiles that can be deployed across islands, he said. And thats what we need to do.

U.S. marines already carry out regular rotations in Australias northern base around Darwina resource that could be used to help instruct and train a marine force, Parker said.

The military expansion has been a major policy focus for the Morrison government over the past few years amid increasing tensions in the region.

On March 9, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the largest expansion to the ADF in 40 years, aiming to expand the current force from 59,095 to 80,000 by 2040with support staff total numbers will reach 101,000.

Other announcements include a new AU$10 billion (US$7.3 billion) east coast base for the incoming nuclear-powered submarine fleet under AUKUS, as well as acquisitions of Tomahawk missiles, armoured vehicles, assault aircraft, and expanding existing military bases.

The acquisition of 127 new tanks and armoured vehicles, including 75 M1A2 SEPv3 Abram tanks, was contentious.

If push came to shove and we could free up a lot of money by not having tanksor not as many tanksthen thats the route I would go, Parker said.

Concerns have also been raised over the delivery of Australias new frigates and submarines (slated 1015-year delivery times) and capability gapsthe gap between the introduction of new hardware, and when old hardware is retired.

In the 2009 Defence White Paper, the (Kevin) Rudd government outlined the need to change the force structure of the ADF to enhance our nations naval capabilities, opposition leader Anthony Albanese told the Lowy Institute on March 10. Yet here we are, nearly a decade after the Liberal Party was elected and still no actual progress.

After a production line of six defence ministers in this governmentand two goes at landing on a (submarine) modelwe now have no contract for any submarine, and a looming submarine-shaped capability gap, he said.

Parker expressed similar concerns saying the government needed to do everything to ensure Australia was not vulnerable.

We need submarines. Are there possibilities for us to lease or buy off-the-shelf? he said. There are a bunch of Los Angeles-class submarines (in the U.S. Navy) due to be retired or refitted.

Could we do a deal with the Americans whereby we lease one of their submarinesthey crew half of it, and we crew the other half so we can get trained up? Then we have one or two LA-class submarines operating out of Australia, he added.

I think it would provide us with capability in a much shorter amount of time and at least have our adversaries thinking twice.
Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 7, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Australian Budget Reveals Targeted Cost of Living Relief: Treasurer

A little more than week ahead of handing down his 2022 budget, Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the federal government would provide targeted cost-of-living relief for Australians while working towards stabilising and reducing debt.

In the budget  there will be further measures to support families to meet the cost of living pressures, in a targeted and proportionate way, Frydenberg wrote in an op-ed for News Corps The Australian on March 17.

In the second phase of our fiscal strategy, we will target a budget position that allows us to stabilise and then reduce debt as a share of the economy. This years budget will confirm that this is the trajectory we are now on.

It will show a substantial improvement to the budget bottom linethe product of more Australians in work and fewer Australians on welfare, he said.

The budget, which will be delivered in the lead up to this years federal elections, is expected to reveal a projection where debt compared to the size of the economy will peak lower than earlier thought.

Frydenberg said that during the pandemic the ruling Coalition government had driven down electricity prices by eight percent, provided $10 billion in childcare support, and around $30 billion in tax relief for low and middle income earners.

People eat breakfast at a cafe in Sydney, Australia, on May 15, 2020. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

This comes as the unemployment rate fell to levels lower than before the pandemic, at four percentthe equal lowest in 48 years. Treasury had predicted it would not fall lower than six percent until the end of 2023 at the earliest.

But the Labor oppositions shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government cannot be trusted on what it says about the economy.

Chalmers said the March 29 budget, on the eve on an election, is showing all the signs of another budget full of secret slush funds before the election and secret cuts after.

This coalition government has barely anything to show for the record debt they had already multiplied even before the pandemic, he said.

After a decade of marketing and mismanagement, the dividend for Australians is skyrocketing costs of living, falling real wages, and families falling further behind.

Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese reacts as Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Frydenberg warned that the Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese had failed in his prediction that only the federal governments JobKeeper economic support program was keeping the economic roof from crashing down.

A false prophecy. Three months after JobKeeper ended, 120,000 more Australians were in work, Frydenberg said.

He also pointed out that 373,000 new jobs were created only one month after Labors Shadow Finance Minister Katy Gallagher opposed ending pandemic disaster payments, and that despite refusing the state Labor governments request for more broad-based economic support, that a month later the unemployment rate fell to a 13-year low.

Frydenberg warned that Labor may make bad economic decisions in government, citing the left-leaning partys $80 billion worth of additional spending commitments during the pandemic.

Once Labor starts spending, they never know how to stop. Crisis level economic support must not become entrenched, he said
A pedestrian walks in front of the new 'Meta' logo in front of Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Australian Consumer Watchdog Sues Meta for Cryptocurrency Scam Ads

Australias consumer watchdog has filed a lawsuit against Facebooks parent company Meta over cryptocurrency scam ads, which conned AU$100 million (US$73.83 million) from Australians last year.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has filed the legal action in the Federal Court of Australia, alleging the tech giant knew scam ads were running on Facebook but did little about it.

It is a key part of Metas business to enable advertisers to target users who are most likely to click on the link in an ad to visit the ads landing page, using Facebook algorithms, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement. Those visits to landing pages from ads generate substantial revenue for Facebook.

The ACCC alleges that the ads, which promoted investment in cryptocurrency or money-making schemes, were likely to mislead Facebook users into believing the advertised schemes were associated with well-known people featured in the ads, he said.

Notable local public figures included TV presenter David Koch, former New South Wales Premier Mike Baird, and businessmen Dick Smith and Andrew Forrest were featured in the ads despite never endorsing or approving crypto schemes.

Mining billionaire Forrest has filed a separate criminal proceeding against Meta in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia and in the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo.

The ads contained links that would direct Facebook users to a fake media article that included quotes attributed to the public figures.

Users were then invited to sign-up and would be contacted by scammers, who applied high-pressure sales tacticsincluding repeat phone callsto get them to invest in fake schemes.

The ACCC alleges Meta was aware of the scam but did not take sufficient steps to deal with the issue, even after several complaints were made.

Meta should have been doing more to detect and then remove false or misleading ads on Facebook, to prevent consumers from falling victim to ruthless scammers, Sims said.

Apart from resulting in untold losses to consumers, these ads also damage the reputation of the public figures falsely associated with the ads, he added. Meta failed to take sufficient steps to stop fake ads featuring public figures, even after those public figures reported to Meta that their name and image were being featured in celebrity endorsement cryptocurrency scam ads.

Sims said that in one shocking instance, an individual lost more than AU$650,000 (US$479,000) to the scam.

This is disgraceful, he said.

The watchdog will be seeking declarations, injunctions, penalties, and costs against Meta.

According to the ACCCs Scamwatch, consumers lost $99 million (US$73 million) to cryptocurrency investment scams in 2021, while Meta generated over US$115 billion of advertising mainly via Facebook and Instagram.

The ACCC and other digital authorities have continued tightening regulation and scrutiny of the activities of Big Tech firms like Google and Meta.

A few days earlier, Meta announced it would not be fact-checking politicians in the lead-up to the next federal electionwhich is due before the end of Mayfollowing pressure from United Australia Party MP Craig Kelly, whose Facebook and Instagram pages were removed after he posted content on using ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19.

However, the tech giant also pledged to devote more resources into its fact-checking mechanisms to limit the spread of misinformation and bolster election integrity, including additional funding, more partner organisations, as well as launching a Dont be a Misinfluencer campaign.
President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping held a lengthy talk on Ukraine, the White House was asked about a laptop owned by Bidens son, Hunter, and Democrats on the Hill have proposed a bill that would increase taxes on large oil companies.
President Joe Biden meets virtually from the Situation Room at the White House with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on March 18, 2022. (The White House via AP)

Biden Warns Xi of Consequences If China Provides Support to Russia in First Meeting Since November

President Joe Biden held a two-hour video call with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping on March 18, following allegations from the U.S. administration that China was considering giving military assistance to Russia for the ongoing war in Ukraine.

President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion [of Ukraine], including by imposing costs on Russia, said a White House readout of the call.

He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians, the statement continued.

The President underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. The two leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, to manage the competition between our two countries.

Biden also expressed that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed and opposed unilateral changes to the status quo. Biden and Xi ultimately tasked their administrations to follow up on the call during the coming days and weeks.

Xi refused to refer to the war in Ukraine as a war during the call, and referred to it instead as a crisis, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua, which released several talking points immediately after the end of the call.

The Chinese leader also said that the United States and China would need to work together to shoulder our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, while noting that the world was neither tranquil nor stable, Xinhua reported.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a Friday press briefing that Biden did not receive any specific assurances from Xi that China would act one way or another.

She also said that the United States and its allies had not agreed on any specifics regarding what consequences would be issued by the United States, or whether there would be any difference in response based on whether China gave economic or military support to Russia.

Were not in a place at this point to outline the specifics, Psaki said. Were still discussing [with G7 allies], Psaki said. We have a range of tools that could be considered and sanctions are certainly one tool in the toolbox.

When asked why the administration was not giving Americans any details about the Biden-Xi discussion, Psaki said that was the most constructive way to have a dialogue.

China-Russia Ties

The virtual meeting was the first between Biden and Xi since November, when the two leaders held a three-hour-long video conference. That meeting ended with an agreement that the two leaders would pursue future talks oriented toward maintaining strategic stability.

Conversely, Fridays meeting was largely characterized as an opportunity for Biden to assess where Xi stands on the issue of the Ukraine war, and relations with Russia generally.

This is a conversation about where President Xi stands, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki ahead of the meeting.

Its up to the Chinese to decide where they want to stand, where they want to be as the history books are written.

Psaki said that the meeting was a result of the heated seven-hour talks carried out in Rome earlier this week between national security advisor Jake Sullivan and the Chinese regimes top diplomat, Yang Jiechi.

Those talks followed the State Departments reported issuance of a diplomatic cable that accused the CCP of expressing a willingness to provide military support to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. European Union leadership has since reportedly affirmed it has seen very reliable evidence that the CCP was considering sending military support to Russia.

Xi and Russian President Vladamir Putin declared a no limits partnership in early February, less than three weeks before Moscows invasion. Since then, U.S. intelligence leaders have warned that cooperation between China and Russia would continue to grow in the coming decade, as the two nations seek to undermine the United States preeminence throughout the world.

One former U.S. official has said that the United States and China were locked in a new Cold War. Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the United States force in the Indo-Pacific, meanwhile, recently said that China sought to undermine the liberal international order itself.

The Peoples Republic of China is the most consequential strategic competitor that the United States has faced, Admiral John Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said on March 9, referring to the regimes official name.

They are executing a dedicated campaign that utilizes all forms of national power in an attempt to uproot the rules-based international order to the benefit of themselves and at the expense of all others.

U.S. officials suggested that the Friday meeting between Biden and Xi would be an opportunity to put pressure on the CCP to influence Putin and prevent further death and destruction in Ukraine, where Russia is accused of carrying out numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.

We believe China in particular has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Thursday press conference.

Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter, and were concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine.

To that end, Blinken said that China would be made to bear the consequences for any support of Russias war, though he did not elaborate on what specific measures would be taken if Xi did not comply with American demands.

China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, Blinken said, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.

There have been no explicit answers from the administration as to what those proposed costs would be.

When asked during a press call on Friday as to whether there was any specific red line that Beijing could not cross or specific sanctions that might be leveraged against China, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said that there were no specifics to give.

Weve encouraged our allies and partners to band together to condemn this senseless war, Porter said.
Jessica Luckett, dressed in a Women with Guns and Attitudes club T-shirt, sits on her living room couch with her gun in hand in Chicago, IL on Feb. 23, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Black Firearm Owners: Gun Control Hurts Our Communities

Jessica Luckett got her first gun at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and it opened her eyes to the various laws and policies governing legal firearms ownership.

She works remotely for a nonprofit and lives alone in a West Pullman townhouse on the southern tip of Chicago. She often visits family and friends in Englewood, a high-crime neighborhood on the South Side where she grew up.

For Illinois residents to own a gun, they must get a firearm owners identification card, which is a months-long process.

Then, to carry the gun outside the home for self-defense, a concealed carry license is needed, which Luckett acquired.

Yet, through friends at a womens gun club, she learned that other states observe very different gun laws. Most dont ask for a firearm owners identification card and some dont even ask for a concealed carry license.

Why do we have an amendment that says right to bear arms, yet all states are so different? she asked. The amendment is for the entire United States, it is not for one state or another.

Jessica Luckett holds training ammunition at her home in Chicago, on Feb. 23, 2022. She uses them to practice at local gun ranges. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

She also questions the push for various gun control measures at the federal, state, and local levels, often by lawmakers from her party, the Democrats.

It is taking away our Second Amendment right to bear arms, and I believe we should be able to protect ourselves, she said.

Like Luckett, many first-time black gun owners are on a similar discovery journey, looking more closely at the narratives and policies affecting their newly embraced Second Amendment rights, according to Philip Smith, president of the National African American Gun Association.

During the pandemic-era gun sales boom, 21 million sales-related background checks were conducted in 2020, according to an estimate by Firearm Industry and Trade Association.

African Americans and first-time gun buyers were the groups that registered the biggest jumps.

People line up to buy guns and ammunition at the Ready Gunner gun store in Orem, Utah, on Jan. 10, 2021. (George Frey/AFP)

The wave of new gun ownership slowed in 2021 but still appeared to be stronger than pre-pandemic levels. The rising tide is felt at Smiths organization, which adds about 800 new members every month, he said.

The total membership stands at around 45,000.

Millions of black folks who never bought a gun now have a gun, and they start to question the narratives about guns they heard previously, Smith said.

Philip Smith (Courtesy of Phillip Smith)

When they go have a conversation with their local officialseven if they are voting Democraticif that official says something negative about guns, they will say, Hold on, hold on, I am a gun owner, too, and I am not a bad person. So, what do you mean by that? he said.

His group has opened the door to black gun owners of all party affiliations, whether Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or independent.

What I care about is that you are a black person and that you want to get trained and protect yourself, your family, and your community. Thats all I care about, he said.

Quite a few politicians sought his endorsements, but he flatly refused. The association stays away from politics and focuses only on policies affecting Second Amendment rights, Smith said.

One such example is red flag laws, which Smith opposes. He said, in theory, the proposal sounds great: taking guns out of the hands of dangerous people. But in practice it has the potential to cast a wide net and deprive law-abiding citizens of the right to bear arms, he said.

Historically, strict gun laws in major cities such as Chicago hindered black people from owning firearms for self-defense, according to David Hayes, vice president of the Chicago-based 761st Gun Club.

As a boy, Hayes spent years in Mississippi, where almost every household owned guns. At 18, he moved to Chicagos South Side and was shocked to find that the only people who had guns were criminals or police officers.

A woman holds a small flag depicting bloody bullet holes during an anti-gun-violence march on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Later, he read to find out why. He found that the city had tightened gun control during the tumultuous 1960s under Mayor Richard Daley and went further during the crime wave in the 1980s under Mayor Jane Byrne, who steered through an ordinance to ban handguns, including the affordable .38 special revolver.

While the handgun ban was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court and eliminated in 2010, its former existence had drilled into the minds of many inner-city blacks that it was illegal to own a gun, Hayes said.

That includes Hayes mother-in-law, who lived in Chicago and had long thought it was illegal to own a gun, a mindset she carried with her even after moving out of the city and passed that down to her daughter, Cierra Hayes.

Cierra Hayes holds her first gun on her living room couch in Richton Park, Ill., on March 13, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Growing up in a middle-class suburb, Cierra Hayes never wanted to have anything to do with a gun. Aside from her mothers influence, she said she also was influenced by the constant association of guns with black criminals in the media and on television.

Subconsciously, I long had this notion that a black person with a gun was a criminal, and a white person with a gun was a patriot, Cierra said.

It took years of rational conversations between Ciera and David Hayes for her to break from that mentality, she said. In 2020, she bought her first gun.

Now, the Hayeses teach their three children about the Second Amendment and gun safety. Ciera Hayes also brought her family, including her mother, to a shooting event.

David Hayes teaches his 6-year-old son how to safely hold a training gun in their living room in Richton Park, Ill., on March 13, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Hayes often travels from his suburban home to the South Side to host free community classes on gun safety and responsible gun ownership.

Today, politicians in Chicago continue to use gang violence as a cloak to push for more and more gun control. A lot of times, black people dont compare the laws to the actual crimes and they dont see that most of the guns used in gang violence are illegally acquired, Hayes said.

These policies will not stop the gang violence, they only hurt the legal gun owners.
Capitol Report (March 17): U.S. Olympian and Father Targeted by CCP

Gas prices arent falling fast enough to evade pressure from the Biden administration and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. We look at their plan of action to deal with these elevated prices at the pump.

The House passed a bill on Thursday to end normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.

The pandemic is showing signs of a surge in China and parts of Europe. The United States is still heavily reliant on the Chinese Communist Party for protective gear and pharmaceutical drugs, but is anything being done about it?

And while the country is focused on Ukraine, some are urging attention on Americans who are facing sentencing for entering the Capitol on Jan. 6. We bring you the story of one of them.

What will be said when the leaders of China and the United States speak Friday? Well ask Congressman Steve Chabot his thoughts on the upcoming meeting.

The Chinese regime was conducting surveillance on an American Olympic figure skater and her family.

Follow CapitolReport on social media:

Twitter https://twitter.com/capitolreport

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Gettr https://gettr.com/user/capitolreport
A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2014. (Tami Chappell/Reuters)

CDC Removes 24 Percent of Child COVID-19 Deaths, Thousands of Others

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed tens of thousands of deaths linked to COVID-19, including nearly a quarter of deaths it had listed in those under 18 years old.

The health agency quietly made the change on its data tracker website on March 15.

Data on deaths were adjusted after resolving a coding logic error. This resulted in decreased death counts across all demographic categories, the CDC says on the site.

The CDC relies on states and other jurisdictions to report COVID-19 deaths and acknowledges on its website that the data is not complete.

But the statistics are often cited by doctors and others when pushing for COVID-19 vaccination, including figures who believe virtually all children should be vaccinated. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDCs director, cited the trackers death total in November 2021 while pushing for an expert panel to advise her agency to recommend vaccination for all children 5 to 11 years old.

Before the change, the CDC listed 1,755 children as having died from COVID-19 along with approximately 851,000 others, according to Kelley Krohnert, a Georgia resident who has been tracking the updates.

The update saw the CDC cut 416 deaths among children and over 71,000 elsewhere, arriving at a total of just under 780,000.

The agency declined to provide a comment by press time; it later provided some more details on the changes.

The CDC previously adjusted its death count in August 2021 after the identification of a data discrepancy.

The update is an improvement, but its at least the third correction to this data, and still does not solve the issue. It just highlights that people have been using a flawed source of data when discussing kids and COVID, Krohnert told The Epoch Times in an email.

Some journalists and doctors have been citing the tracker data, while others use a tally that is managed by the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which has been described by the agency as more reliable.

The NCHS tally, which is compiled from death certificates, currently lists 921 deaths involving COVID-19 among children and some 966,000 deaths involving COVID-19 among other age groups.

The deaths in the tally include people who died with COVID-19 and people who died from COVID-19, a CDC spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email in January. COVID-19 was listed as the underlying cause, or the primary death cause, on about 90 percent of death certificates at the time.

An electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round gold objects), which causes COVID-19, emerging from cultured cells. (NIAID)

Some of the deaths listed by the CDC appear unrelated to COVID-19. For instance, several deaths have drowning as a cause of death; several others were listed as being from a gun discharge, according to an Epoch Times review of the death codes.

For now, the update on the tracker was described as great news by Dr. Alasdair Munro, a clinical research fellow for pediatric infectious diseases at University Hospital Southampton, given that nearly a quarter of the pediatric COVID-19 deaths had vanished.

But Munro, writing on social media, called it slightly worrying that this data was being used widely in the US to guide or advocate for policy.

Some people called for the CDC to issue a public apology or at least announce such updates, similar to how some lower-level agencies have made it clear when they lower their death counts.

Its outrageous to quietly footnote such a consequential error, Jessica Adams, a former regulatory review officer at the Food and Drug Administration, said on Twitter.

A former CDC spokesperson, though, noted that the CDC website says the data are estimated and subject to change.

There is much complexity involved in all systems that are trying to track and summarize illness and death data, including differences in how data are collected and reported, completeness and accuracy of data, how timely data is entered into data collection systems and reported to CDC, and in the assumptions made, and procedures used to determine whether COVID-19 was the primary cause of death, a contributing cause of death, or not likely a contributing factor in someones death, Glen Nowak, the former spokesperson, who is now an associate dean for research and graduate studies at the University of Georgia, told The Epoch Times in an email.

It is thus not surprising that adjustments or revisions happen, including as a result of coding-related issues (e.g., recognizing, as more cases and information are provided, that a better way to enter, analyze, and/or interpret the data existed).

Nowak said he wasnt surprised the CDC didnt announce the adjustment, given the disclaimers, asserting that announcements by federal agencies are best reserved for events or developments that have or could have significant impact on government recommendations or policies.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) and Premier Li Keqiang arrive for the opening ceremony of the rubber-stamp legislatures congress in Beijing on March 5, 2016. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

China Downgrades Common Prosperity

News Analysis

A few months ago, Chinese leader Xi Jinping touted common prosperity. But in recent weeks, Beijing has barely mentioned it and instead began referring to a modified version of the policy, called third distribution.

Common prosperity is broadly believed to be a method of killing the rich to help the poor, which means the rich are forced to share their wealth with the poor.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began talking about third distribution after the common prosperity policy caused major concern among private business owners, who fear they might lose all their wealth.

Chinese entrepreneurs faced a similar challenge years ago, when the regime promoted its Guo Jin Min Tui policy, which means state-owned enterprises are to lead the economy and private industries are to retreat. This was eventually replaced by common prosperity.

During the CCPs most important annual meeting, which was held from March 4 to March 11, Xi mentioned common prosperity once. Its noteworthy that it coincided with when he met with the delegation from Inner Mongolia on March 5.

During the Two Sessions, Chinas rubber-stamp legislature (the National Peoples Congress) and the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference discuss the countrys economic situation from the previous year, and set policies and growth targets for the coming year.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang mentioned common prosperity once in this years Government Work Report. The CCP translated the original Chinese phrase as prosperity for all in its official English version of the report, which was released on March 12.

It seems the CCP recently downgraded the importance of common prosperity.

By comparison, an article published by state-run media Xinhua on Aug. 17, 2021, mentioned common prosperity 17 times when it reported on the regimes Central Financial and Economic Commissions meeting, which was hosted by Xi in Beijing. Common prosperity was even part of the headline.

A vegetable vendor waits for customers at a market in Beijing, on Jan. 17, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

On Jan. 17, Xi spoke briefly at the World Economic Forums annual meeting, in which he claimed that common prosperity wasnt egalitarianism, but it offered a way for the rich to lift the poor out of poverty. However, Chinese economists disagree.

Killing the rich might not help the poor. Itll end in common poverty, Chinese economist Liu Shijin told state-run China News during the Two Sessions on March 9.

Xi proposed common prosperity after he took office in 2012, heavily promoted the policy since 2020, and ordered the regime in August 2021 to find solutions to eradicate poverty by 2050, thus achieving common prosperity.

The policy has been criticized by overseas China observers, who believe that its merely a political slogan to hide the CCPs real intention: to seize the assets of wealthy individuals and fill the coffers of the regime.

Kill the rich started a while ago [in China], such as when Beijing fined big private companies and movie stars, U.S.-based freelance writer Zhuge Mingyang told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on Aug. 21, 2021.

The reality is that the regime kills the rich, but it doesnt use their wealth to help the poor. The Chinese Communist Party confiscates private properties and occupies them as Party properties.

Since the third quarter of 2021, Chinas land market has cooled, demand has fallen, and local land sales revenue has plummeted. Some provinces and cities in China have reportedly cut civil servants salaries. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

Wealth Inequality

China has an unbalanced wealth distribution. Overall, some provinces are richer than others, while some cities own more wealth than others. People in urban areas have higher disposable incomes than those living in rural areas.

Chinas National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced in January that the countrys average annual disposable income was 35,128 yuan (about $5,500) per capita in 2021, with Shanghai residents earning the highest at 78,027 yuan (about $12,250), while Gansu residents earning the lowest at 22,066 yuan (about $3,460).

Around the same time, official data show a clear distinction between urban residents who earned 47,412 yuan ($7,440) and rural residents who earned 18,931 yuan ($2,970), according to the South China Morning Post.

The NBS only provided data on the provincial level, which is an inaccurate depiction of inequality across the country.

This photo taken on Sept. 20, 2015 shows Chinese farmers picking cotton in the fields during the harvest season in Hami, in northwest Chinas Xinjiang region. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Li revealed in May 2020 that roughly 600 million Chinese citizens earn only 1,000 yuan ($157) a month, which isnt enough to pay for monthly rent on a one-bedroom apartment in a mid-sized Chinese city. To help these people make ends meet, Li suggested they take up flexible employment, including setting up street stalls.

At the same time, Hurun Report released its annual list of Chinas 100 richest individuals on Sept. 15, 2021. All these people are billionaires, with Zhong Shanshan as Chinas richest man, worth 390 billion yuan (about $61.2 billion).

Common Prosperity

Chinese economist Li Yining wrote in his book, which was published in 1994, that the income distribution under a market economy has three levels. The first level is market orientation, the second is government intervention, and the third is social welfare (more specifically, the rich donate to the poor out of compassion and sympathy).

Its unclear whether the CCPs common prosperity policy can actually help the poor. But under the third distribution policy, entrepreneurs have to donate their wealth to society in order to survive.

In eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province, business owner Tom Li told the South China Morning Post this month that local officials encouraged him to make donations and pay higher salariesthe two key pillars of the regimes wealth redistribution.

In China, ordinary citizens must follow the officials encouragement.

I donated four million yuan ($628,000) last month for a charitable cause to respond to the local governments call that entrepreneurs should show support for the partys common prosperity initiative, Li told the Post.

In addition, Im now paying more in wages to employees and contributing more to their pension and medical packages.

Employees working on a battery production line at a factory in Huaibei in Chinas Anhui Province, on March 30, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Starting two years ago, Chinese magnates suddenly made donations popular. In 2020, the following company heads donated their wealth: Alibabas Jack Ma, Evergrandes Hui Ka Yan, Tencents Pony Ma, Xiaomis Lei Jun, Pinduoduos Colin Huang, and ByteDances Zhang Yiming.

They donated at the same time, which is like they were paying the protection fees, Chen Honda, senior researcher at Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) in July 2021.

Yen Chien-Fa, a professor at Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology, told RFA in the same report: I believe that they were forced to donate.  The entrepreneurs have to donate their wealth to save their lives.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Soybeans imported from Ukraine are unloaded at the port in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China on May 10, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Fears Food Shortages Due to Russia-Ukraine War

News Analysis

China is concerned about its food supplies as the Russia-Ukraine war threatens various supply chains. Chinese authorities are calling on farmers to increase food production.

Russia and Ukraine are important grain exporters, supplying nearly 30 percent of wheat and nearly 20 percent of corn in the global market. The impact on Russias natural gas exports also affects the production and supply of global fertilizers. If the war between the two countries doesnt end shortly, it will inevitably affect global food production and supply next year.

China is a big importer of grains. According to data released by Chinese customs on Jan. 14, China imported a total of 164 million tons of grain with an import value of $74.8 billion in 2021. Compared with 2020, the volume increased by 18 percent, and the value increased by almost 50 percent.

At the Political Consultative Conference on March 6, Chinese leader Xi Jinping addressed food supply problems caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Xi said China must take care of its own food supply, and must ensure a controllable self-sufficiency quantity and self-sufficiency rate.

With grain in your hands theres no panic in your heart, Xi said.

Xi also remarked that some people have said that the international supply of goods is sufficient, and its better to buy than to grow. But if we dont grow soybeans, corn, or cotton in China right now, once the international market is bad, it will be too late to think about planting it ourselves.

A week prior to that, Xi made a similar statement, saying, The Chinese peoples rice bowls must be filled with Chinese grains.

According to official statistics released by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Chinas total grain output in 2021 was 682 million tons, and Chinas import volume was 164 million tons, showing an external dependence of close to 20 percent.

China Imports 85 Percent of Its Soybeans

Mike Sun, an investment consultant and China issues expert based in the United States, recently told The Epoch Times that Chinese authorities have only one goalwhether its green energy or grain productionto reduce Chinas dependence on the outside world. In particular, Chinas grain production, which relies heavily on imports, is a key issue that the CCP is anxious to change.

In China, crops are divided into three types: cereal grains, soybeans, and potatoes. Cereal grains are mainly rice, wheat, and corn.

Sun said that Chinas wheat supply is not a big problem at present. The biggest concern is the supply of soybeans, which is heavily dependent on imports.

Soybeans are mainly used for oil extraction, soybean products, and soybean meal. Data from Chinese customs shows that in 2021, Chinas soybean imports were 96.52 million tons, while the total domestic output was only 16.4 million tons, making the external dependence as high as 85 percent. In 2020, Chinas soybean imports exceeded 100 million tons.

According to Sun, 70 to 80 percent of Chinas soybean imports come from the United States and Brazil, and a small amount from Russia. Especially since the beginning of this year, most soybeans have been imported from the United States. From January to early February of this year, China imported more than 6 million tons of soybeans from the United States, more than double the amount it imported from Brazil.

As of the end of February, China imported 13.39 million tons of soybeans, with an import value of US$6.28 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4 percent in volume and 33 percent in value.

Sun said that in the past, three northeastern provinces were Chinas main soybean producing areas. However, the price of genetically modified soybeans in the United States is low and the oil content is high. Conversely, the selling price of Chinas domestic soybeans is very low, so many farmers have given up planting soybeans. Many of the oil mills in Chinas coastal areas use imported soybeans for production.

CCP Orders Increase of Soybean Production

In February, Tang Renjian, Chinas Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, called on farmers to expand soybean and other oilseed crops, saying the Chinese oil bottle must be filled with Chinese oil.

Commenting on Tangs call, Mike Sun said if the CCP wants to increase domestic soybean production, soybean cultivation in the three northeastern provinces will become a political task that must be complied with. With an order from Beijing, farmers in the Northeast must immediately switch to soybeans or else the local governments will be held accountable.

According to official documents, authorities have plans to carry out a number of soybean cultivation projects, including crop rotation between grain and soybeans in the Northeastern region; a pilot program in Heilongjiang Province to convert rice fields in areas with groundwater depletion into soybean fields; compound cropping of corn and soybeans in Huang Huai Hai, Chinas Northwest and Southwest regions; and experimentation of soybean cultivation on salty land.

On Feb. 14, the Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region announced that they will expand soybean cultivation by 4.3 million mu in 2022. One mu is equivalent to about 2.47 acres. Earlier, Heilongjiang Province, Chinas largest soybean producing area, also announced plans to increase its soybean cultivation by 10 million mu this year.

Chinas Dependence on Soybean Imports Remains High

But according to Sun, despite these efforts, China wont be able to significantly reduce its foreign dependence on soybeans.

Compared with the United States, Chinas current agricultural production level has a big gap between investment and output ratio, Sun said. In the United States, the degree of mechanization in soybean cultivation is high, and the production cost is much lower than it is in China. Also, American soybeans are high in oil content. In terms of output, an acre of land in the United States can produce $600 to $700 worth of soybean oil, while an acre of land in China can produce only about 400-500 RMB (about $64 to $80) worth. Its therefore difficult for China to completely change its dependence on soybean imports in the short term.

China has a huge population and a scarcity of arable land and water.

Tang Renjian, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, also said that the country needed to secure 1.8 billion mu of arable land this year. In an interview on March 5, Tang said that Chinas population of 1.4 billion consumes 700,000 tons of grain, 98,000 tons of oil, 1.92 million tons of vegetables, and 230,000 tons of meat every day. The arable land of 1.8 billion mu is the bottom line to meet the demand.

A research report released by the CCPs International Economic Exchange Center on Jan. 27 said that since 2004, China has turned from a net exporter of agricultural products to a net importer. Especially after 2009, the trade deficit grew to nearly $95 billion by 2020.

The report also calculated changes in Chinas food self-sufficiency. It found that from 2000 to 2019, Chinas food self-sufficiency dropped from nearly 100 percent to 76 percent, an average annual decline of one percent. The report also predicted that by 2035, the self-sufficiency rate will further fall to 65 percent, while the corn and soybean shortfall will continue to increase.
Storage tanks are seen at Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic and imported crude oil into California Air Resources Board (CARB), gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products, in Carson, California, on March 11, 2022. (Bing Guan/Reuters)

China, Russian Oil, and the Iran Nuclear Deal

News Analysis

In violation of U.S. sanctions, China has been purchasing Iranian oil. Now, the United States may lift the sanctions on Iran to replace oil lost from Russia, in which case China will have cheap oil from Russia.

The United States is leading a collaborative effort among its allies to cut off Russias gas exports. This means that America must find a replacement for the 8 percent of its fuel imported from Russia, while Europe must find a replacement for roughly 30 percent of its energy imports. Consequently, the Biden administration is attempting to obtain oil from either Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, or Iran.

Venezuela is unlikely to comply with the U.S. request, as President Nicolas Maduro is Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in the Americas. Additionally, the United States does not officially recognize Maduro as the president of Venezuela.

On March 6, the Biden administration dispatched U.S. senior officials to Caracas to discuss renewing oil imports. The delegation included Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs; Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Councils senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs; and Jimmy Story, the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela.

The fact that President Joe Biden did not send the secretary of state or the secretaries of trade, commerce, or energy was a bit of an insult for the Venezuelan regime. Biden also said that Venezuela would have to meet certain conditions for sanctions to be lifted, but he never said what they were.

So far, Saudi Arabia has also been unwilling to help. The royal family feels that Biden has snubbed them by refusing to talk to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Instead, Biden has only had limited conversations with his father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Saudi Arabia is now meeting with China to discuss the possibility of settling oil sales in yuan, rather than dollars.

Currently, China purchases 25 percent of all of Saudi Arabian oil exports. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has helped Saudi Arabia manufacture ballistic missiles, as well as consulted on its nuclear program.

If yuan-denominated oil contracts are adopted, exports to China would increase dramatically, shifting Saudi Arabia deeper into the CCPs orbit. U.S.-Saudi relations are already threatened. Before Biden became president, he called the Kingdom a pariah for its alleged involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudis are also opposed to the Biden administrations consideration of removing sanctions from Iran, as Saudi Arabia would feel threatened by a nuclear-armed Tehran.

Irans oil sales could be restored if the Iran nuclear deal is concluded successfully and sanctions are lifted. China, however, has already been buying oil from Iran.

In December, Beijing circumvented U.S. sanctions, purchasing 286,944 tons of Iranian crude oil, according to Chinas General Administration of Customs. It is estimated that China purchased more than 500,000 barrels per day on average between August and October. In order to thwart sanctions, the oil was labeled as coming from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.

At the time, Iranian oil was roughly $6-$7 per barrel cheaper than other Middle Eastern suppliers. And China was willing to risk sanctions in order to save money on oil. The shipments are now valued at $1.3 billion a month (the bulk of which go to China), accounting for 6 percent of Chinas imports, according to Reuters. This income is crucial to Tehran, which suffers under isolating sanctions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif (R), pose for a picture after signing an agreement in Tehran, Iran, on March 27, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

In January, China imported more than 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Iran, which was higher than the 623,000 bpd peak in 2017 before then-President Donald Trump renewed the sanctions in 2018. The sales were able to take place because the Biden administration has failed to enforce the sanctions.

With the Iran nuclear deal back on the table, it is possible that much of the oil currently being sent to China will be sold to other buyers, at market price. Iran has millions of barrels of oil stored offshore, which could flood into Europe and Asia if sanctions are lifted.

This would allow Iran to be able to sell oil on the world market, at the higher market price. Not only would this benefit Iran, but the increased supply would drive down global oil prices. Crude dropped below $100 a barrel on March 14, on expectations that a resolution could be reached.

At one point, it looked like the talks would be completely derailed by Russian demands that future business between Russia and Iran be exempted from EU and U.S. sanctions. Western powers refused to meet this requirement, and Russia did not withdraw it. Therefore, the deal looked like it could be dead, with the sanctions remaining in place.

Another obstacle was that several of the European signatories said that the deal could not be signed until two British citizens were released from prison in Iran. Then on March 16, Iran freed the two Brits, sparking hopes that the talks were making progress.

After the prisoners were released, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price seemed optimistic and said, We do think that we would be in a position to close those gaps, to close that remaining distance if there are decisions made in capitals, including in Tehran.

If an agreement can be reached, Iranian oil could be used to reduce the deficit in the U.S. and European demand, eliminating their dependence on Russia. This would put the EU a step closer to halting the purchase of Russian energy, a sanction that would strike at the core of the Russian economy.

China will make up some of the lost revenue to Russia by increasing its energy purchases, but most likely at below market prices, as it did with Iran. And while Iran would be able to sell oil to Europe and the United States, it would presumably remain faithful to China, which supported the Iranian economy during its economic isolation.

Another benefit to the Iran nuclear deal, apart from lifting sanctions and using Iranian oil to fill the gap of Russian oil, is that the United States would be in a better position to prevent Russia from flouting U.S. sanctions by funneling cash and assets through Iran.

A potential sticking point, however, is that Iran has insisted that the United States remove the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. The question remains whether this single issue is more important to Tehran than restoring the countrys economy.

And finally, while the talks were in progress, Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on the U.S. consulate in the Iraqi city of Erbil, underscoring the danger of allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons. U.S. Republican lawmakers have sworn to oppose any lessening of sanctions against Iran, as they want to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

If the United States finds a replacement for Russian oil, then China, as nearly the only buyer, can obtain cheap energy from Russia. If the United States does not find a replacement and the European Union does not block Russian oil exports, then China can continue to get cheap oil from Iran.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during the Tsinghua University ceremony in Beijing, China, on April 26, 2019. (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Pool/Getty Images)

China Is Main Beneficiary of Sanctions Against Russia

Commentary

With the United States and many European Union countries imposing trade sanctions on Russia and banning the import of Russian oil, its timely to see who the losers and winners are of these actions.

As I have previously written, trade sanctions rarely hurt the country that they are imposed on as they can find alternative buyers for their valuable products and commodities. In the case of Russian oil, more money is likely to be made compared to before the onset of sanctions.

Let me show you how.

Russia currently produces about 11.3 million barrels of oil daily and exports 7.1 million barrels. Countries that import 4.8 million barrels have imposed sanctions, while countries that import the remaining 2.3 million have continued business as usual.

The price of crude oil rose to its highest levels since 2008 as U.S. and European allies considered banning Russian oil imports.

In fact, at their peak, global oil prices spiked about 60 percent since the start of the year, and we are all feeling it at the gas pump. Since then, the prices have receded, but are yet to translate to significant relief on our wallets.

The Losers

Demand for oil remains strong mainly due to the three Esthese groups are the main losers of sanctions:

Economy: Economic production requires oil, and people need to travel to work.

Education: People need to travel to educational institutions.

Elderly: The elderly need to travel to medical appointments.

The Winners

Can that 4.8-million-barrel gap be closed by other sources? The short answer is no.

Not only did we reportedly reach peak oil production in 2006, countries that can produce more wont do so.

Take Saudi Arabia, the second-largest producer at 10.1 million barrels a day, also known as the central bank of oil. The Saudis can produce another 2 to 2.5 million barrels a day because of their spare capacity but they have declined to do so.

They wont because it would hurt their profitability and upset their OPEC cartel partner Russia. Thats why Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined to take a phone call from U.S. President Joe Biden.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Russias attack on Ukraine, in the East Room of the White House, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Another potential source is Iran, the fourth-largest producer at 4.5 million barrels a day. Iran also has extra capacity, but, as with the Saudis, it would hurt profits by producing more.

Not only that, Iran would require the United States and the EU to drop all of their sanctions, including its ability to acquire nuclear weapons. Thats something the U.S. and EU both will resist at all costs.

Oil can only be transported via pipeline or tanker (land or sea). Of the 19 countries that share either a land or sea border with Russia, only China has the capability and capacity to move the additional 4.8 million barrels.

China already imports 1.6 million barrels a day from Russia, and tripling its import capacity can be done in a matter of months under the regimes Belt and Road Initiative.

The Saudis have been spooked by the prospect of losing their number one China oil supplier status to Russia or that one day China may not need their oil. So much so that Saudis petroleum arm, Saudi Aramco, recently offered to build China a new refinery facility in China with a capacity of 300,000 barrels a day, so long as it was supplied with Saudi oil.

While U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned China that it will absolutely face consequences if it helps Moscow evade sweeping sanctions over the war in Ukraine, that has fallen on deaf ears. China is happy to buy Russian oil at a discount and profit by selling it or using it for its global manufacturing ambitions.

After all, Chinese leader Xi Jinping himself is well-versed in oil smuggling, since he presided over the worst episode of oil smuggling in Chinas history while he was the governor of the Fujian province in 1999.

The $10 billion Xiamen scandal came to light after then-Premier Zhu Rongji found it surprising that Chinas fuel excise receipts werent increasing in line with the explosive GDP growth that China experienced in the late 90s.

Zhu immediately opened an investigation and vowed that any foreign petroleum company that engaged in illegal imports and hadnt paid excise duties would be permanently banned from any dealings with China.

A maze of crude oil pipes and valves is pictured during a tour by the Department of Energy at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas, on June 9, 2016. (Richard Carson/Reuters)

To Zhus surprise, the perpetrator of this excise rip-off was local entrepreneur Lai Changxing. Zhu famously commented that executing him three times would not be enough.

This was because hundreds of Chinese government officials, including customs and law enforcement, aided in his efforts. The scandal resulted in 14 death sentences, 11 people jailed for life, and 58 others getting lesser jail sentences.

The most outrageous revelation was that the receiving oil terminal was built by engineers from the Peoples Liberation Army.

Although then-Gov. Xi didnt face any punishment, he has the power to exonerate all those guilty smugglers in his effort to move Russian oil.

While all oil producers benefit from Russian sanctions, the main beneficiary here is China.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Sailors stand near fighter jets on the deck of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning as it participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong Province on April 23, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Transits Taiwan Strait Hours Before Biden-Xi Call

A Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait mere hours before a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping was to take place.

The CCP claims that the island of Taiwan is a breakaway territory that needs to be united with mainland China. For more than two years, the Chinese military has waged a campaign of intimidation and coercion against the island, frequently flying military aircraft through Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone.

Taiwan has been self-governed since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. The island has never been controlled by the CCP.

The Shandong aircraft carrier, one of two under CCP control, sailed near the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, according to a report by Reuters.

Warships from Taiwan and a U.S. missile destroyer reportedly shadowed the carrier for part of the journey.

The passage of the Shandong occurred roughly 12 hours before Biden and Xi were scheduled to hold a phone conference.

The meeting is thought to be a contentious one as U.S. officials recently reportedly released statements to allied partners that China was considering granting military support to Russia for the latters invasion of Ukraine. But Russia and China have denied the claim.

Beijing has refused to denounce Russias actions or acknowledge Russias war on Ukraine as an invasion, and censors those in the mainland who refer to it as such. The CCP has also refused to join sanctions leveraged by the international community against Russia and has said the trade with Moscow would continue as normal, providing critical relief to the beleaguered Russian economy and undermining Western economic pressure.

Washington has repeatedly called on CCP leadership to take a stand against Russia over the war and has framed the meeting between Biden and Xi as an attempt to get China on the right side of history.

This is a conversation about where President Xi stands, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki during a March 17 press conference. Its up to the Chinese to decide where they want to stand, where they want to be as the history books are written.

Biden officials have also warned Beijing that Washington would impose consequences if it chooses to help Russia evade Western sanctions.

Taiwan is currently on a heightened state of alert because of the war in Ukraine, and has been closely monitoring the mainland for any signals of preparation for an attack.

International leaders fear that Xi will attempt to seize Taiwan by force if he succeeds in gaining a third term at the CCPs National Congress later this year. American military leadership previously expressed that they expected an attempted invasion of Taiwan by the CCP by 2027.

Taiwan is the worlds leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductors, used in technologies ranging from personal vehicles to missiles. While the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is the islands most important economic partner and arms supplier.

Since the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the United States maintains a legal obligation to provide the island with the equipment necessary to ensure its self-defense.

The Epoch Times has requested comment from the U.S. Navy.
The power to wipe out a countrys communications, without even stepping foot on its soilthats what the Chinese regime could do to America through Huawei.

Telecoms act as the central nervous system for all critical infrastructure.

In this special report, we look at how Huawei quietly claimed such a strong foothold into America; how despite new laws, Huawei still poses a threat; and what can be done.

And joining us in this special episode to help shed light on whats happening is Jon Pelson, author of Wireless Wars: Chinas Dangerous Domination of 5G and How Were Fighting Back and John Lenkart, co-founder of Cyber Team Six and former FBI counter intelligence executive focusing on Huawei.

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.
Residents line up for COVID-19 screening during the lockdown in Changchun, in northeastern China's Jilin Province, on March 12, 2022. (Chinatopix Via AP)

COVID-19 Outbreak Spikes in Northeast China, Medical Supplies and Mobile Hospitals Urgently Needed

The rate of COVID-19 infections continues to climb in Chinas northeastern Jilin Province, with over 10,000 cases reported since the start of March. Locals revealed that there is an acute shortage of medical supplies and personnel. And laborers are needed to build more mobile cabin hospitals.

Around 24 million residents in Jilin have been under lockdown since March 14. The number of infected people in the province continues to increase, with 1,157 cases reported on March 16.

Due to the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) covering up the real situation of the pandemic, the official figures have been questioned by the outside world as being seriously underreported. According to Chinas disease control experts, the number of new infections is expected to continue to increase in the future.

Currently, Jilin City (the former capital and second-largest city in the province) has put into use five mobile cabin hospitals with about 10,000 beds, and vacated seven medical institutions to prepare to take in new COVID patients. According to the Jilin Municipal Health Commission, there are three additional mobile cabin hospitals being quickly built or expanded, which will add another 7,000 beds.

As COVID rapidly spreads in Jilin, there is a shortage of medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical staff to carry out testing.

Recruitment posts have been popping up on Chinese social media for construction workers, who are needed to build more mobile cabin hospitals. Hospital staff have also posted on social media, asking for help with getting PPE.

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)

On March 15, Su Ping (pseudonym), a medical volunteer from a community in Jiutai District, told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times that the COVID outbreak in the local area is serious. People are no longer allowed to go outside to take a nucleic acid test, due to the potential risks for cross-infection. Testing is done at home and volunteers go door-to-door to collect the samples.

Su mentioned that volunteers work very hard. They work late into the night and have no time to eat a full meal. Some got infected, resulting in a shortage of volunteers.

No one is willing to do this kind of front-line work. Everyone is afraid, Su said.

Su added that it takes a lot of PPE to do the door-to-door testing, and medical staff need almost three sets of protective clothing every day, due to wear and tear. At present, there is a shortage of protective clothing, N95 masks, gloves, shoe covers, and basic food supplies.

We are all trying to find ways by ourselves to get supply donations from the private sector now. The government supplies are provided to medical staff, not to us volunteers, Su said.

A volunteer disinfects the area as it snows during the COVID-19 lockdown in Changchun in northeast Chinas Jilin province on March 12, 2022. (Chinatopix Via AP)

Since March 12, Jilin Provincial Hepato-Biliary Diseases Hospital has officially been designated for COVID patients.

Liu Yun (pseudonym), a nurse in the hospital, told the publication on March 15, Except for some special circumstances, such as pregnancy and illness, healthy medical staff are all on the front-line.

Our (hospital) is already very full. The two buildings were fully occupied, with about 500 or 600 COVID patients.

Liu said that due to the sudden spike in cases, protective gears ran out. And due to traffic control, supplies could not be brought in on time. At present, there is a huge shortage of supplies in the local area such as protective clothing and masks. Medical staff are not allowed to go home and must stay at nearby hotels after their work shift.

Liu said, We need PPE when we leave the hotel for the hospital. The masks I wear now are surgical masks, as there are very few N95 masks. I only have three or four masks left. If the hospital cannot provide the supplies, there will be none. We cant buy anything here, and Changchun city has been closed, and the express delivery has stopped.

Gu Qinger, Hong Ning, and Gu Xiaohua contributed to this report.
People take part in a demonstration against the communist regime of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana on July 11, 2021. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Cuban Authorities Sentence Teenagers to 10 Years and More for Protesting Last July

By Nora Gamez Torres

From Miami Herald

Cuban authorities continued their crackdown on domestic opposition, handing down sentences of up to 30 years to 128 anti-government protesters, including two underage teenagers.

Thirty-one people were sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, and the majority will spend more than 10 in prison, the Cuban Supreme Court said in a statement Wednesday. They had been charged with committing serious disturbances and acts of vandalism, with the purpose of destabilizing public order, collective security, and citizen tranquility.

Giuseppe Belaunzaran Guada and Brayan Piloto Pupo, both 16, were sentenced to 10 years. The government claims they are not minors because the Cuban penal code allows the prosecution of those 16 and older. But other laws set the legal age at 18.

Youths aged 17 and 18 were also given long sentences. Kendry Miranda Cardenas, 17, charged with sedition, was sentenced to 19 years. Rowland Jesus Castillo Castro and Lazaro Noel Urgelles Fajardo both turned 18 while in detention. Castillo will spend 18 years in prison, and Urgelles 14.

According to the Supreme Courts statement, the sentences announced Wednesday correspond to protesters tried between December and February for participating in confrontations with the police in the Diez de Octubre and La Guinera neighborhoods in Havana on July 11 and 12 of last year.

On July 11, thousands of Cubans took to the streets all over the island to protest against the government, calling for the end of the dictatorship. The protests were primarily peaceful, but some protesters turned over police cars and stoned food stores and police stations. Videos of that day show that some protesters were throwing stones at police and soldiers shooting at the crowd.

Cuban authorities later tracked and arrested at least 1,442 protesters, including teenagers and children as young as 12, according to Justicia 11J and Cubalex, two organizations that have compiled a public list about the arrests provided by the families of the protesters.

Parents pleas on social media did not sway authorities, and some of the sentences were made longer, apparently in retaliation for the families vocal criticism, activists believe. The sentence for Brandon David Becerra Curbelo went up from five years of limited freedomroughly equivalent to house arrestto 13 years in prison, his mother said.

This is catastrophic, said Becerras mother, Yanaisy Curbelo. Government prosecutors first accused him of causing a public disorder and propagating an epidemic, charges that carry a lesser sentence. But then, three months after he was first detained on July 16, Cuban prosecutors accused him of sedition, a serious crime that entails severe punishment.

But after facing widespread criticism, including inquiries by UNICEF, Cuban prosecutors softened some of the penalties sought for minors under 18. Becerra was 17 when he was arrested, so he was sentenced to five years of house arrest after a February trial. Curbelo said that would allow the teenager, who is the father of a baby, to go to work or study and return home every day. She said that was the sentence communicated verbally after the trial.

She was crushed when she learned of the 13-year sentence.

This has never been seen before; you cant change a sentence, she said. But since everything works differently here. They are in control; they have the power.

Curbelo said she was on her way to pick up her son from prison when his lawyer called.

When the lawyer tells me that everything changed and that all the sentences went up, I collapsed and my son even more so. This is unbelievable, she said.

After several months of denials, Cuban authorities admitted in January that they had prosecuted 55 youths between ages 16 and 18. Another 25 minors under 16 faced penalties like internment in reeducation centers handled by the Ministry of the Interior.

We thought that the minors were going to be treated differently; that is what they said in the trial. It is a total lie, said Salome Garcia Bacallao, an activist and founder of the Justicia 11J group.

According to the Supreme Court statement, judges acquitted only one minor. Another was ordered to do community work without prison time. Others were supposed to receive a similar treatment, she said.

It seems that they backtracked, Garcia Bacallao said, and almost all minors have been sentenced to 10 or more years.

2022 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Travelers wait in line at Delta Airlines check-in at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 24, 2021. (David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images)

Delta Airlines CEO Warns Domestic Fare Prices to Increase up to 10 Percent as Oil Prices Soar

Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian has warned that airfares for domestic flights in the United States could increase by 5 percent to 10 percent amid a spike in oil prices.

Oil pricesalready soaring in the United Stateshave been further exacerbated following Russias invasion of Ukraine and are now at 14-year highs.

Bastian told the BBC in an interview published on March 17 that the impact of higher fuel prices on domestic flights is probably about $25 on a ticket, that could be anywhere between 5 percent to 10 percent at these high levels of oil and international [flights] will be a bit higher than that.

In addition to higher airfare costs, Delta is also planning to implement fuel surcharges on international flights in an effort to combat the rising cost of oil.

Jet fuel prices ended last week about 80 percent higher than a year ago, according to the International Air Transport Association.

In response, other airlines including AirAsia, Emirates, and Japan Airlines have taken similar steps in adding fuel surcharges to offset the rising fuel prices.

President Joe Biden announced a ban on all Russian oil imports last week as part of the administrations latest efforts to isolate Russias economy in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

According to the United States Energy Information Administration, Russia is the third-largest producer of oil globally after the United States and China.

In 2021, the United States imported an average of 209,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and 500,000 bpd of other petroleum products from Russia, according to data by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) trade association.

Western nations have already imposed a string of sanctions on Russian financial systems and individuals with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This is a move that has strong bipartisan support in Congress and I believe in the country, said Biden in announcing the move. Americans have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and made it clear that we will not be part of subsidizing Putins war.

Biden acknowledged that the ban on Russian oil imports would undoubtedly impact Americans who are already battling with record-high gas prices in the United States.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average gas price for regular fuel in the United States on Thursday was $4.289, up from $2.884 a year ago.

Russias aggression is costing us all, and its no time for profiteering or price gouging Biden said.

Bastians announcement regarding increased airfares comes after bosses for some of the biggest carriers, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, on March 15 warned that the cost of airfares could soar this spring and summer, citing a growing demand for air travel and rising fuel expenses.

Airline bosses warned investors that the average price for a gallon of jet fuel is expected to rise between 17 percent and 33 percent in the current quarter compared to the final three months of 2021, and between 47 percent and 72 percent compared to what they paid a year ago, CNN reported.

In response to the rising cost of fuel, U.S. airlines plan to utilize the unprecedented air travel demand to pass the higher costs onto consumers.

Were seeing an increase in demand that is really unprecedented, said Delta President Glen Hauenstein. I have never seen  demand turn on so quickly as it has after Omicron.

The Delta president added that the airline needs to recapture somewhere between $15 and $20 each way on an average ticket value of about $200, which is equivalent to a price hike of 7.5 percent to 10 percent, Financial Times reported.

Hauenstein said he felt confident that customers would be willing to pay the higher ticket costs.

Its really been the strong demand and better pricing environment  [that has] allowed us to more than offset the fuel cost, Hauenstein said.
Former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo's ex wife Rosa Elena Bonilla is escorted after being found guilty of the misappropriation of public funds destined to social programs during Lobo's term (2010-2014) by a court in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Aug. 20, 2019. (Orlando Sierra/AFP via Getty Images)

Ex-Honduras First Lady Rosa Bonilla Convicted of Corruption

TEGUCIGALPA, HondurasA court in Honduras convicted former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla of corruption Thursday for the second time.

Bonilla was sentenced to 58 years in prison in September 2019 for embezzling about $600,000 in government money between 2010 and 2014, when her husband Porfirio Lobo was president.

But the Supreme Court of Justice overturned her conviction six months later, citing procedural problems and ordering a new trial.

On Thursday, that second trial resulted in a conviction too.

Honduras court system wrote on Twitter Thursday that the court had unanimously convicted Bonilla of embezzlement.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a briefing in Washington on Dec. 1, 2021. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

Fauci Says Hes Considering Stepping Down

Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a new interview that he is considering stepping away from the position hed held since 1984.

Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), was asked during a podcast released March 18 whether he was mulling retirement or transitioning to a less-demanding job.

I certainly am because Ive got to do it sometime, Fauci, 81, said.

I cant stay at this job forever, unless my staff is going to find me slumped over my desk one day. Id rather not do that, he added.

Fauci was appointed to his position in 1984 during the Reagan administration.

Faucis comments came after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) failed in his effort to get support for a measure that would eliminate the NIAID and create three new institutes in its stead.

Paul, who has clashed with Fauci during multiple congressional hearings, said Fauci has become has become a dictator-in-chief.

No one person should have unilateral authority to make decisions for millions of Americans, Paul, a doctor, said.

Fauci and his agency had not responded to requests for comment on the measure.

Paul and other Fauci critics have taken issue with how the doctor misled the public on his agencys funding for the Chinese lab located near the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded, his support for harsh measures during the pandemic, and his admission that he lied about the effectiveness of masks because of worries there wouldnt be enough for health care workers.

Fauci, who has also been preparing for investigations Republicans have pledged into the COVID-19 response, has called Paul a partisan whose accusations arent rooted in facts.

Without mentioning Paul, the podcast host asked Fauci in the new interview whether he would leave his post soon, noting that besides Dr. Francis Collins, who exited from his position as director of the National Institutes of Health in late 2021, Jeffrey Zients was stepping down as the White House COVID-19 response coordinator.

I have said that I would stay in what Im doing until we get out of the pandemic phase, and I think we might be there already, Fauci said. If we can stay in this, then were at a point where I feel that weve done well by this. But I dont have any plans right now to go anywhere, but you never know.

The doctor also said he doesnt have many interests outside of health.

I unfortunately am somewhat of a unidimensional physician-scientist-public health person. When I do decide Im going to step downwhenever that isIm going to have to figure out what Im going to do, he said. Id love to spend more time with my wife and family. That would be nice.
The Treasury Building is seen in Washington on May 4, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

Federal Taxes for Some Corporations Quietly Hiked, Study Says

The Biden administration has recently bypassed Congress in raising taxes on multinational corporations, according to a Washington-based think tank.

The tax increase came recently through action by the U.S. Treasury and the IRS in establishing new foreign tax credit (FTC) rules, according to the Tax Foundation. A paper published by the think tank, A Regulatory Tax Hike on U.S. Multinationals, explains the changes in tax credits for multinational companies that reduce deductions and credits.

The foreign tax credit regulations released at the beginning of the year represent a tax hike for many U.S. companies that earn profits from customers abroad, the paper reads. While the initial motivation for revising FTC rules was the adoption of digital services taxes (DST) in foreign jurisdictions, the final rules have impacts well beyond the DSTs.

The new rules will lead to double taxation of U.S. companies and put them at a competitive disadvantage in some foreign markets.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury didnt respond by press time to questions from The Epoch Times about the rules as published in the Federal Register in January.

In a 2021 speech, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen argued for changes in international corporate tax rates.

Competitiveness is about more than how U.S.-headquartered companies fare against other companies in global merger and acquisition bids, Yellen said. It is about making sure that governments have stable tax systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods and respond to crises and that all citizens fairly share the burden of financing government.

She said the United States must raise the U.S. minimum corporate tax rate, recognizing that it is important to work with other countries to end the pressures of tax competition and corporate tax base erosion.

However, in a February letter, a U.S. industry group writing to the Treasury warned of the consequences of the new foreign tax credit rules.

The Alliance for Competitive Taxation (ACT) stated that the new rules introduce enormous uncertainty in one of the most significant areas of tax law for globally engaged U.S. companies and one which, until now, has been among the most stable. The Final Regulations include numerous novel concepts and ambiguous terminology that will inevitably result in increased compliance costs, significant uncertainty, and protracted litigation with the Internal Revenue Service, according to the ACT letter (pdf).

The ACT represents multinational corporations that include Coca-Cola Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., and Alphabet Inc.

Taxpayers will need to analyze the intent of every deduction disallowance under foreign law to determine consistency with U.S. tax principles, the letter reads. Notably, neither this uncertainty nor any of these added compliance burdens will be faced by the foreign competitors of U.S. companies, with the result that U.S. companies and their workers will be less able to compete and grow in markets around the world.

An analyst said the new foreign tax credit rules are a major policy change.

This represents billions of dollars in revenue. This is something that should have been done through the House Ways and Committee or the Senate Finance Committee, Daniel Bunn, Tax Foundations vice president for global projects and the author of the think tanks paper, told The Epoch Times.

A former chairman of the Ways and Means Committeethe primary tax-writing committee of Congresssaid hes disturbed by the new rules, noting that they seem to ignore Congress.

Congress sought to protect Americans from double taxation by providing a credit for foreign income taxes paid, and Treasury must remain focused on countering discriminatory taxes, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), told The Epoch Times through a spokesman.

Brady, now the ranking Republican member of the committee, said he is deeply concerned that Treasurys new rules may not be sufficiently detailed and that they present major challenges to taxpayers already harmed by historic backlogs and delays from the IRS.

The Biden administration should work with Congress to ensure that it is implementing the law as Congress intended, he said.

Bunn said that this is also putting our companies at a competitive disadvantage with those countries where we dont have a tax treaty.

The new rule (pdf) reads in part: I. Disallowance of Foreign Tax Credit or Deduction for Foreign Income Taxes under Section 245A(d).

Proposed 1.245A(d)-1(a) generally provided that neither a credit under section 901 nor a deduction is allowed for foreign income taxes (as defined in 1.901-2(a)) paid or accrued by a domestic or foreign corporation that are attributable to specified distribution or specified earnings and profits of a foreign corporation.

Bunn said the rules increase the difficulty for U.S. companies in seeking business in some African and South American countries. They affect many corporations that have or are aiming to conduct business with developing nations. Thats because the United States only has tax treaties with some 66 countries, most of them being in Europe, although there are a few in South America or Africa, according to the Tax Foundation.

The new rules essentially penalize businesses that are doing business in a non-treaty country, the paper reads. The costs of doing business will rise because they will no longer be able to claim FTCs for taxes that do not substantially conform to the U.S. tax code. They will be taxed twice, once under a foreign withholding tax and again under IRS rules.

Those U.S. companies affected are often construction or energy companies trying to obtain business in developing countries, the Tax Foundation wrote. These countries usually dont have tax treaties with the United States.
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the omicron variant, in Ottawa on Jan. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Federal Vaccine Mandates Under Review, Says Chief Public Health Officer

The federal government is moving more slowly than the provinces to repeal COVID-19 public health restrictions, but it is nonetheless shifting its thinking from requirements to recommendations, notably with vaccine mandates under review, says Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

As youve seen across the country right now, the public health strategy is moving away from mandates to recommendations, and to use all manner of other means to increase coverage for the boosters, Tam said during a virtual COVID-19 update on March 18.

The latest government relaxing of restrictions occurred on March 17 when it was announced that fully vaccinated travellers coming to Canada will no longer be subjected to pre-entry COVID-19 testing beginning on April 1. No word was given on when the vaccine mandate for air, train, and ship travel would be lifted.

Tam was asked what advice she is providing the government on vaccine mandates when it comes to travel and the federal workforce.

I think our role is simply to provide the scientific information about the effectiveness of vaccines, for example, and so it is up to the employer and Treasury Board to make those decisions. So I think the advice from our perspective is a technical one, she said.

I know that those policies are under evaluation or review, including for example the federal mandates for the federal workers.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Treasury Board to find out more about the review of the mandate but didnt hear back before publication time.

Tam was asked about what the science tells her about vaccine mandates and how useful they are at this point, given that some people who were triple vaccinated still contracted COVID.

I think everyone appreciates the knowledge about vaccinations evolves over time, she replied, noting that Omicron was a game changer due to its ability to evade vaccines, and that the protection from the vaccines wanes over time.

So all of that should be taken into account, as the employer or the federal government looks at the policies going forward, she said.

Regarding other federal policies such as masking on government premises, Tam said the federal government has taken a very precautionary approach, very thoughtful approach, and is looking at a phased approach and removing some of these policies.

I think therell be a lot of discussions between the employer and the unions and others as well on this matter, but I know that these policies are being reviewed and re-examined as we speak.

On the issue of eventually changing the definition of someone being fully vaccinated, which currently involves vaccination with a primary series (one or two doses depending on the brand), Tam said the issue is highly complicated due to many factors.

It becomes a very complicated algorithm, if you like, to work out, she said, adding that for now the definition wont change, but a shift away from requirements is happening.



This is a very important juncture where were shifting the emphasis from requirements to recommendations, and so even this policy [definition of fully-vaccinated] has to be examined in that light.

As things stand, the approach also wont be to use mandates to impose a third dose in the event of another wave.

I dont think that the general trend is to use vaccine mandates to incentivize that third dose. We want Canadians to want to get it because it makes sense from a protection from serious outcome perspective, Tam said.

As for a possible new wave, she noted that cases are rising in Asia and Europe. It may well happen to us, but to keep it manageable, get vaccinated.

Tams deputy Dr. Howard Njoo was asked if continuing to provide booster doses was a viable long-term strategy.

Njoo said its a complex issue involving different factors, including the likely emergence of new variants. He also said that the intervals between doses needs to be weighed when judging the validity and efficacy of future booster doses.

Experts are looking at this closely to see whether as well we need to develop new vaccines in the future, he said.
Top of the morning to you!

Some things never change. I wrote the following story one April quite a few years ago. I re-read it recently and was impressed with how true it still is.

In fact, gut health science, knowledge and research has exploded in the last decade. Every place you turn today, some doctor is expounding on the importance of a diverse gut microbiome and how its intrinsically linked to our immunity, our resilience and even our psychology.

Apparently this farmer was a bit ahead of his time 10 years ago.

Maybe Farmers over Pharmacies is not such a new thing!

Enjoy this a bit of nostalgia. I did.

Hello folks, my apologies for the length of this personal story. But it is a true one, and I shortened it as much as I could. I hope my experience helps your family as much as it did ours.

The similarities between diverse ecologies never cease to amaze me. One area of life may seem to be totally unrelated to the next, but upon reflection, we notice that an extremely simple truth connects the two. Observing and understanding the simple and visible helps us grasp of the complex and obscure.

Enter: Fence Rows and Gut Health.

I recall with some chagrin, my days as a young farmer in the early 90s. Dawn and I took over the farm from my parents immediately upon returning from our wedding trip in August 1990.

As a still-wet-behind-the-ears 20 yr old, I naturally looked to those older and more educated for answers. Agricultural university experts, extension agents, and the always helpful Monsanto reps seemed like trustworthy sources of information and advice. Since they all agreed, there seemed to be no need to look further.

And in relation to fence row management, they did all agree. It was all about achieving the most perfect kill. Monsantos patented glyphosate herbicide Round Up was the most effective killing agent to be had. No grass or weeds were too tough.

Round Up would kill everything, which was great, because vegetation, especially thistles growing on the fence line, was the enemy. They were pathogenic plants. They must be eradicated. This was progress! We were defeating the enemy through anti-vegetation technology. And the fence rows were vegetation free zones just as we wanted them.

At least at first they were just as we wanted them till we began to notice a disturbing trend.

Where we used to have an occasional thistle on the fence row threatening to overgrow the fence and shorting out the current, we now had a major problem. All around the farm, thistles were becoming more problematic as the years went by. There were some sections of fence line where thistles had pretty much taken over. We would spray them and they would dutifully die, but in a few months, the fence row would be full of thistles again and it was time for another go-around.

Here is what was happening. The Round Up was doing its job. It was killing everything. A few weeks after a dose of spray, there would be a two-foot wide swath of vegetation-free soil directly under the fence. And this bare, competition-free ground is exactly what thistles need to really take over.

Thistles do not compete well with other plants. They are opportunistic plants and thrive in the absence of beneficial plants like grass, dandelion, and clover. They love bare ground. If you have ever noticed how vacant lots and construction zones so often erupt into a rip-roaring thistle bloom, you know what I mean.

While we meant it well, (who can fault thistle killers?) we were inadvertently preparing the perfect seedbed for a real thistle patch. What a tragedy that we were misguided to miss such an observable truth for so long. Thistle seeds floating on the warm summer air were delighted to find a welcome mat of bare, competition-free soil already prepared for them. Im sure they were laughing up their leaves.

I wish I could say we woke up suddenly one morning and saw the futility of this management-by-killing paradigm. Instead the wake up came much slower and in a roundabout way.

As our family became increasingly frustrated with this and other aspects of our then high-intensity industrial farming, we knew there had to be a better way. We decided to step out in faith and convert the farm to an organic farm.

Even while doing this, one of our biggest fears was how was to control the thistles on the fence rows without the aid of herbicides. We were sure they would be a major problem. We mentally prepared ourselves for weeks of string trimmer work on the fence rows.

Here is what actually happened. When we stopped spraying, the grass and other native vegetation, including thistles, filled in the bare ground along the fence. No surprises there. The first year we did do a lot of string trimming, but as the second and third years rolled around and the grass, clover and other beneficial plants began to grow with a renewed lushness, the thistle population, almost as if by magic, began to die off.

It was amazing! The more we encouraged and supported the beneficial plants, the less problematic the pathogenic plants. And it was not because thistles seeds had gotten any less in the environment.

The realization came out of the blue. Thistles just cannot survive in any great number where the beneficial plants are healthy and strong! It was like a light bulb came on in my mind. (I might have said Eureka!)

Its exactly like a healthy gut! Thistles are like pathogenic bacteria. The opportunistic, pathogenic microbes just do not have a chance to proliferate when your gut is populated with beneficial probiotic microflora!

Right over this time I was studying a lot about the amazing, almost bullet-proof immunity-building power of raw milk and kefir. Especially of interest to me was the concept of competitive exclusion. I realized with a smile and renewed understanding that I had observed, in my humble fence row, the amazing process of competitive exclusion that happens invisibly in our gut when we make sure it is populated naturally with powerful probiotics.

But I am sympathetic.

Because of my fence row learning experience, I can see how easy it is for worried moms and dads to fall into the Monsanto-like pharmaceutical mindset of killing bacteria as the perfect solution to illness.

It seems to make so much sense. Who can fault bacteria killers?

Many well-meaning people have concluded that bacteria are the enemy and so have set out to kill set out to sterilize themselves and their environment. Kill all the bacteria! Fight BAC! Buy Purell put a dispenser in every room. Get antibacterial soap. Antibiotics for every sniffle. Outlaw unpasteurized cider. Pasteurize the nuts and almonds, too. Outlaw raw milk and raw milk cheeses. These foods may contain pathogens!

There is only one problem with these bacteriophobic actions and reactions. In spite of their best attempts, in spite of living in constant fear of the microbe and in spite of increased food safety regulation, they will someday find that a stray bacterium has penetrated their sterile bubble and their artificially protected, flabby immune systems will have no defense against it.

Its already happening. Just do a search on food-borne illness. People are falling ill from pathogenic illness in ever alarming numbers and from increasingly unheard of sources. Here is just a sampling from the last 30 days.

DeFuscos Bakery  78 sick, 2 dead, Salmonella, Rhode Island

Hazelnuts  7 sick from Ecoli O157:H7

Walnuts -12 sick from Ecoli O157:H7

Pancakes  8 sick, Thurmont, MD

Pet frogs  217 sick, salmonella

Folks, this is NOT normal!

I dont know how to say it strongly enough!

This is a powerful wake-up-call of immune suppression in America. This is a symptom of a gut that is the bare-ground seed bed under the fence line just waiting for the ever present thistle seeds. This is a symptom of a food safety program and a health care program that are focused on killing all bacteriapasteurizing, sterilizing and irradiating the food supply rather than feeding and seeding probiotic bacteria in the gut.

We will never eliminate all pathogens or thistle seeds from our environment. To even attempt it is a delusion and an exercise in futility.

But we can work to make sure that when the thistle seed lands in our fence rows or the pathogen in our gut that they find a protective blanket of healthy, thriving, bio-diverse flora and microflora which make it impossible for them to proliferate.

Think about it!

And best of health to all,

Your Family Farmer grows Chemical-Free, Antibiotic-Free, GMO-Free, and Soy-Free foods that are Truly Pastured and Humanely Raised. Your Family Farmer delivers raw Jersey Cow milk, 100% grass-fed beef, pastured chicken, woodland pork and more to pickup locations across PA and ships most foods to the 48 Continental States through UPS Home Delivery.
Protesters demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions sit atop a truck in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 5, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times)

Freezing of Accounts Under Emergencies Act Caused Panic Withdrawals: Credit Union Association

The directive on how to apply the federal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act after it ordered financial institutions to freeze Freedom Convoy supporters accounts was ill-defined and left credit unions scrambling, a Commons committee heard on March 17.

On a few occasions, customers also withdrew millions to avoid the punitive measure.

Martha Durdin, president and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA), testified before the Standing Committee on Finance as part of its inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act that suppressed the Freedom Convoy protest movement.

We were scrambling when the act was announced to find out if we were part of it, if it applied to credit unions, and it took us a little while to be able to get that information from the government, said Durdin, who noted that the big six Canadian banks were given a heads up but credit unions were not.

With credit unions representing almost half of the market in some provinces, Durdin said they should be on equal footing with the federally regulated banks, especially in times of crisis.

On March 14, representatives of cryptocurrency platforms also told the committee on that they experienced a similar situation as credit unions in dealing with uncertainty surrounding the financial applications of the act.

With the lack of clarity initially as to who would be targeted, there was some degree of panic among supporters who donated small amounts to the convoy and feared their accounts would be frozen, said Durdin.

This led to withdrawals amounting to hundreds of thousands and on a few occasions even millions of dollars, she said.

And while these withdrawals did not cause liquidity issues at all for credit unions, staff had to manage many very unhappy members.

Durdin quoted a credit union leader as saying the measure generated a large sense of mistrust toward the government among a large number of credit union members who were very seriously concerned regarding the governments ability to seize accounts.

The government also granted a significant level of discretion to financial institutions regarding those whose accounts to freeze. This further contributed to confusion, and to possibly an uneven application of the financial components of the measures, she said.

The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) revealed during its testimony before the committee on March 7 that its members froze an unspecified small number of accounts outside of the list provided by the RCMP by using a risk-based approach.

Durdin said in her understanding credit unions closely followed the RCMPs list of whose accounts should be frozen, resulting in the freezing of 10 accounts in total with a value of less than half a million dollars.

Testifying before the committee on March 7, the RCMP said they provided financial institutions with a list of 57 entities whose accounts should be frozen, but those entities only included protesters in Ottawa and not donors to the movement at large.

Based on that list, the CBA said it froze 180 accounts.

On the issue of large withdrawals to avoid freezing, the CBA told the committee it had only noticed anecdotal stories.

There isnt anything of significance, but due in part to misinformation, people thought that if their account was with a bank as opposed to a credit union it would somehow make a difference, said the CBAs general counsel and vice-president Angelina Mason.

The Freedom Convoy was a trucker-led movement that evolved into cross-country protests and blockades demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. It came to an end after the government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadas history on Feb. 14. The act was revoked on Feb. 23 after it was used to remove the only remaining protest in Ottawa.
George Washington Was Pioneering Entrepreneur: Historian John Berlau

John Berlau, historian and author of the book George Washington, Entrepreneur says that American founding father and first U.S. President George Washington was an inspiration for his moral integrity and entrepreneurial spirit.

George Washington was very much a pioneering entrepreneur, Berlau said on NTDs Capitol Report during a recent interview.

Berlau said Washington engaged his creative, entrepreneurial mind starting out as a freelance surveyor, then becoming a pioneer in crop rotation, flour milling, breeding mules, and after his presidency, opening a whiskey distillery.

Washington encouraged our culture of both entrepreneurship and innovation and invention, said Berlau. He made some inventions himself, like different types of plows, but he also, both as president and private citizen, encouraged the early American inventors such as James Rumsey.

In a 1786 letter encouraging Rumsey to complete his steamboat, Washington wrote, If you have no cause to change your opinion respecting your mechanical Boat, & reasons unknown to me do not exist to delay the exhibition of it, I would advise you to give it to the public as soon as it can be prepared, conveniently.

Before he became president, he visited Rumsey in what is now West Virginia, Berlau said. Rumsey showed him this mechanical boat and the towns folk had dismissed Ramsey as a crackpot, but Washington was fascinated by this invention and what it could do as far transportation across rivers, which was the big challenge, and he wrote a letter of endorsement that helped Rumsey get state patents in Maryland and Virginia.

During his presidency in January 1790, he called on Congress to establish a patent system and after four months, Congress passed the Patent Act of 1790 and Washington signed it into law.

What made Washington a great leader, besides his great moral integrity, is that he would read a lot, and listen a lot, said Berlau, adding that Washington basically created the presidents cabinet.

Washington was the one who decided to have meetings where officials who disagreed, like Hamilton and Jefferson, would sort of hash it out. And then Washington would just sit there and listen.

Engraving from 1881 commemorating the first presidential cabinet: (L-R) Henry Knox, Thomas Jefferson, Edmond Randolph, Alexander Hamilton, and President George Washington. (DigitalVision Vectors/Getty)

His cabinet originally consisted of four members, including Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.

Washington was born into a system of slavery, not just in America, but around the world, but he ended up seeing the wrongness of it, said Berlau. He spoke out against the slave trade in 1774 and then at the end of his life, in a very public statement, in his will, freed all of the slaves, all 124, in his possession.

His Mount Vernon plantation had over 300 slaves, but the ones on the Custis estate were not under Washingtons legal authority, so were not freed according to his will.

George Washington (1732  1799), the 1st President of the United States at Mount Vernon farm on the Potomac where he grew up, farmed and finally died. Washington As A Farmer at Mount Vernon by Junius Brutus Stearns, from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts dated 1851. (Three Lions/Getty Images)

As a historian, Berlau believes that it is important for younger generations to learn about Washingtons greatness and his flaws.

He certainly had his ups and downs, he made mistakes, and he wasnt perfect, said Berlau. Its important because everyone can learn from George Washington, just as everyone can learn from Aristotle, even though neither were perfect men, said Berlau.

You are shortchanging the younger generations if you dont teach them about both the humanity and the greatness of Washington and Americas Founding Fathers.

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.
Georgia Senate Kills School-Choice Bill

The Georgia Senate has killed a bill that would have allowed Georgians to put taxpayer money toward the cost of private school tuition.

Senate Bill 601, the Georgia Educational Freedom Act, would have created state-funded Promise Scholarships of up to $6,000 a year. Families of the roughly 1.7 million K-12 students in Georgia could use the money for private school tuition and other education expenses, such as tutoring and homeschool curriculum.

The measure failed Tuesday by a 2920 vote. Seven senators did not cast ballots.

This is a vote for parents and a vote for children, Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, said during remarks on the Senate floor. This is a vote that in your district it may not be applicable, it may not be a problem, but in other districts, it is a problem.

Democrats criticized the lack of public input allowed on the bill. They also said the $6,000 is not enough to cover the cost of private school tuition, and it would only drain resources for public schools.

This bill doesnt allow every family in Georgia to say, Im not happy with my public school for whatever reason, so I will now be able to choose whatever school I want, state Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, said during remarks on the Senate floor.

It simply doesnt do that, Parent said. Instead, its going to be used a lot more by individuals that already have the means and are already paying private school tuition.  Thats a really a critical point with this bill because it makes a lot of the arguments for it completely fall apart, or at least it exposes them.

Buzz Brockway, vice president of the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO), called the defeat of the bill a sad day for kids in Georgia.

Its disappointing that the best interests of Georgias schoolchildren have once again fallen prey to politics and special-interest groups, Brockway said in a statement. While lawmakers will soon return to their relatively safe districts and jobs, tens of thousands of Georgia kids will be leftonce againwithout access to the options that would let them flourish.

Simply put, a vote against S.B. 601 was a vote against the many Georgia families who desperately need help, Brockway said. Particularly as our state emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic where so many students are left behind, its unconscionable that we would deny this lifeline to families.

By T.A. DeFeo
A nurse administers the Pfizer vaccine to a client at the St Vincent's Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic in Sydney, Australia on July 01, 2021 (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Global Collaboration: Victorian Government in Agreement with Pfizer

The Victorian state government has announced an agreement with the biopharmaceutical company Pfizer to increase global collaboration opportunities with Victorian researchers and industry on Mar. 18.

Victorias minister for innovation and medical research, Jaala Pulford said that this agreement with one of the worlds leading biopharmaceutical companies is a strong endorsement of the strength of Victorias research and development community and recognises our status as one of the world leaders in this field.

According to the Victorian government, experts from Pfizers Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) and RNA Accelerator will be working with mRNA Victoriaa government-funded mRNA organisationto advance critical skills and connections with Victorian researchers and industry.

This initiative between mRNA Victoria and Pfizer will also deliver significant job opportunities for our state as leading biotech research and commercialisation is ramped up, Pulford said on March 18.

Established in 2010, Pfizers CTI is a joint drug discovery model focused on collaborating globally with academic institutions to translate scientific research into treatment products.

No information has currently been revealed on Pfizers RNA Accelerator, but the Victorian Government said that the Accelerator builds on the success of the CTI model for external innovation and expand the companys leadership in RNA therapeutics.

The two programs will be collaborating with mRNA Victoria, Victorias mRNA government agency committed to establishing a world-class mRNA and RNA industry in Victoria by identifying opportunities, gaps and engaging with researchers as well as investment and partnership opportunities with companies.

The organisation is currently funding Australias first local mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate, an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine produced in Victoria in just five months.

The vaccine is currently going through its Phase 1 clinical trials with preliminary results expected to be made available in the first half of 2022.

The trials were due to start in late 2021 or January 2022 and serve as a collaboration between the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Doherty Institute, both from Victorias leading universities.

The Andrews Government said that the first initiative between the state and Pfizer will be a conference to present high-impact Australian mRNA and RNA research, paving the way for greater collaborations with Pfizers CTI and RNA Accelerator.

Prior to the announcement on the collaboration, the Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley previously spoke out against Pfizers chief executive for claiming that a fourth dose is necessary for most people saying that Pfizer was discussing from the perspective of Pfizer.

The new announcement was made during the self-quarantine period for Foley.

As of Mar. 18, there are 9,036 new cases in Victoria with 63.4 percent of Victorians who have received their third dose.
The Google logo is displayed at the entrance hall of Google France in Paris on Nov. 18, 2019. (Michel Euler/AP Photo)

Google Shares Findings on Ransomware Hacker Group

Alphabet Inc.s Google detected a group of ransomware hackers trying to breach companies in 2021, exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.s Windows.

The group sent over 5,000 malicious emails a day to up to 650 global organizations, often leveraging a flaw in MSHTML. Microsoft issued a security fix for the Windows vulnerability in late 2021.

Lately, the group has attacked various organizations and industries with a less specific focus.

The group referred to by Google as Exotic Lily used artificial intelligence technology to create fake LinkedIn profiles.

The group functions as an initial access broker, which breaks into corporate computer networks and passes that access to other cybercriminal syndicates.

Exotic Lily is associated with the notorious Russian-speaking ransomware group, Conti.

The operators worked a fairly typical 9-to-5 job, with very little activity during the weekends, and could be working from a Central or an Eastern Europe timezone.

By Anusuya Lahiri

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Heres What Travellers Need to Know as Canada Cancels Pre-Entry Tests

The federal government has scrapped the pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirement for all fully vaccinated travellers coming into Canada, taking another major step back to normalcy.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a virtual press conference on Thursday that the country is entering into a transition phase of this pandemic, as he announced the removal of pre-entry COVID-19 testing effective on April 1, at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Here is what you need to know if you are planning a trip to Canada after that day.

Fully Vaccinated Travellers

Starting April 1, fully vaccinated travellers coming into Canada by air, land, or water will no longer be required to take a PCR molecular test or an antigen test prior to departure.

Travellers are considered fully vaccinated if they have received one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine or at least two doses of the following approved COVID-19 vaccines (including a mix of two accepted vaccines):

AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)

Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)

Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273) including for children aged 6 to 11 years

Novavax (NVX-COV2373, Nuvaxovid, Covovax)

Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2) including for children aged 5 to 11 years

Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV)

Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, one must have received the second vaccine dose at least 14 calendar days before entering Canada.

All travellers are still required to submit their mandatory information through the ArriveCAN mobile app or on the Canadian government website before their arrival.

Travellers will be asked to answer a series of questions about their vaccination status and travel history. Those who fail to complete their ArriveCAN submissions may be subjected to testing upon arrival and must quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status, according to a news release issued on March 17.

Partially Vaccinated Travellers

Pre-entry testing requirements have not changed for partially or unvaccinated travellers who are currently allowed to come to Canada. Unless otherwise exempt, all travellers aged 5 years and older who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must continue to provide the following accepted types of pre-entry COVID-19 test results:

A valid negative antigen test, administered or observed by an accredited testing provider, taken no more than one day before their scheduled flight departure time, or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry.

A valid, negative molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight departure time, or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry.

A previous positive molecular test taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before their scheduled flight departure time, or their arrival at the land border or marine port of entry.

It is noted that positive antigen test results will not be accepted for boarding a flight or entry to Canada.

Unless otherwise exempt, all travellers to Canada who do not qualify as fully vaccinated will continue to be tested on arrival and on day 8 of their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Travelling to Canada Between Now and April 1

Currently, travellers can come to Canada by land, air, or water regardless of their vaccination status if they are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, a person registered under the Indian Act, or a protected person such as a refugee.

However, travellers who are symptomatic with COVID-19 and want to come to Canada by air, will have to present a valid pre-entry test result or a medical certificate to show that their symptoms are not related to COVID-19 before boarding a public flight.

Those travelling by land or water wont be turned away at the land border, but may be fined $5,000 per person (plus surcharges). To avoid this fine, they will have to wait until at least 10 calendar days have passed after receiving a positive test result before entering Canada. The 10-day period starts the day following the day of testing.

If you are a foreign national who is not qualified as fully vaccinated, you may now only come to Canada under limited circumstances, such as being approved for entry for compassionate reasons (attending funerals, caring for or visiting critically ill person who is a Canadian resident, or other accepted statuses).

A Ukrainian national fleeing the Russian invasion but who is not fully vaccinated may now come to Canada through the temporary residence program, the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.

Click here for more information on entering Canada at this time.

Random Testing on Arrival Continues After April 1

On Feb. 28, the government removed the on-arrival mandatory testing for fully vaccinated travellers, meaning that fully vaccinated travellers may be randomly selected for a COVID-19 molecular test upon arrival.

This has not changed with the further removal of the pre-entry testing on April 1.

Travellers selected for this on-arrival random testing are not required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.

Duclos noted that while the government has dropped these testing requirements, they could be brought back later if the COVID-19 situation deteriorates again.

Todays announcement is encouraging, but let us remember that all measures are subject to review. We will continue to adjust them as the epidemiological situation evolves, he said.
Hong Kong Watch and Co-Founder Threatened by Hong Kong Police

Commentary

Just over a week ago, the Hong Kong Police and National Security Bureau threatened a foreign national living outside Hong Kong and a London-based, foreign-registered charity with a fine of $13,000 and up to life imprisonment if they didnt take down their websiterun out of the United Kingdomwithin 72 hours of receipt of their notification letters.

In addition to it being shocking that Hong Kong authorities, clearly acting on the instructions of their puppet-masters in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), should try to silence a British organization and a British activist, the charges and the threat are patently laughable.

As one distinguished former UK politician said in reaction to hearing about this, Oh, they are such idiots.

The Chinese regime isnt always an idiotsometimes it can be dangerously clever, and I dont underestimate it. But in this instance, it is, for two specific reasons.

First, the individual and organization concerned are accused of the crime of collusion with foreign political forces, even though they are foreign-based and might themselves constitute a foreign force.Are they colluding with themselves? With their own democratically elected representatives?

Second, because the individual targeted was already denied entry to Hong Kong in October 2017 and therefore effectively banned from the city and China.

How can I be so sure? Because the individual concerned is me, and the organization targeted is Hong Kong Watch, which I co-founded in December 2017.

Benedict Rogers, co-founder of the UK-based Hong Kong Watch, speaks at Tightening grip: The rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong at Citizen Power Initiatives for China, in Washington, on Nov. 1, 2018. (Jennifer Zeng/The Epoch Times)

In October 2017, I believe that I became the first Westerner to be refused entry, rather publicly, to Hong Kong on the direct orders of Beijing. The incident caused a media and diplomatic storm, and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Beijings puppet-extraordinaire, accused me of being a serious threat to Chinas national security.

Four and a half years later, I have become the first foreign national to be targeted under the draconian National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong two years ago, and Hong Kong Watch, the advocacy group I lead, is the first such foreign organization to be targeted.

There are several implications one can deduce from this.

First, the CCP and its quislings in Hong Kong are suffering a truly major insecurity complex. They need serious psychiatric counseling. They want the world to believe that China is the worlds new superpower, yet theyre terrified of one activist working with limited resources from his home in a suburb in London, and an organization that relies on the dedication of its team even more than the donations in its bank account.

Second, we in Hong Kong Watch take it, with all humility, as a badge of honor. While the organization has expanded rapidly in four yearsfrom one part-time employee to a team of eight staff, a wide range of very eminent patrons, distinguished advisers and trustees in London, Washington, Ottawa, and with growing impact on policymakers across the European Union, the United Nations, Australia, New Zealand, and beyondand while we have achieved some very significant policy breakthroughs, we are a tiny and young group simply chiseling away at our mission, to ensure that the world stands up, speaks out, and acts to help Hong Kong.

But we are like David against Goliath. And yet in the back of our minds is always the memory that although Goliath was big, David showed that if you aim carefully, just one shot from a slingshot can change the world. The bullies and butchers in Beijing know that, and thats why theyre trying to shut us down.

Third, in practice, there is little the Chinese or Hong Kong authorities can do to act on their ludicrous charges against me or Hong Kong Watch in the United Kingdom. They can send harassing and intimidating letters and messages to me, my neighbors, my mother, my employers, and my associates, but they have been doing that for the past four years, so were kind of getting used to it.

We shouldnt have to experience that while living in a free society, but thats the nature of the fight for freedom. So we must not and will not be silenced. Now more than ever, we must use our voices to speak out for those in Hong Kong who can no longer speak out.

Fourth, although the dangers to us are minimal, and we will not be scared into silence, we must not be naive. What the CCP and its Hong Kong henchmen have done to me and my team at Hong Kong Watch, they could do now to anyone.

The regime never just picks off one activist or one organization. As we can see from Hong Kong over the past two years, it has dismantled civil society, independent media, pro-democracy opposition, trade unions, academic freedom, freedom of protest, freedom of expression, and is now poised to attack religious freedom.

Police officers conduct a raid at the Apple Daily office in Hong Kong on June 17, 2021. (Apple Daily via Getty Images)

In the same way, if the free worldthrough our apathy, naivety, materialism, greed, or stupiditylets it, the CCP will go after others. The attack on me and Hong Kong Watch is just a test case.

If our governments are limp in their response, then other foreign civil society groups, media organizations, websites, politicians, and critics will become targets. And of course, several Western legislators have already been sanctioned, exiled dissidents threatened, and activists harassed, so the trajectory is clear.

Unless we stand up to these threats, Xi Jinping will accelerate his steamroller throughout the free world. While Vladimir Putins guns, tanks, and bombs may have stalled in their impact in Ukrainedespite huge human carnage and tragedyXis quiet thuggery may break through if we dont wake up and stand up to it.

So then, what do we do?

We need to completely recalibrate our China policy. In the past few years, across the world, there has been to varying degrees, a reawakening and the beginnings of a rethink, and that is welcome. But we need the free, democratic world to come togetheras we have done, at the eleventh hour, in response to Putins invasion of Ukraineto respond to the challenge from Beijing.

Let me take you through a few key steps.

In specific response to the case my colleagues and I face, we want the free world to speak out and act as one. We hugely welcome the statement by the UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and deeply appreciate the initiative of the Canadian High Commission in London to convene a briefing for diplomats from several missionsand their desire to publicize their support. We have received many expressions of support from politicians around the world, which we truly treasure.

But there are two things those governments that support us could do.

First, the Commonwealth nations that have judges still sitting in a sadly, deeply compromised judicial system in Hong Kong should withdraw. That means all British, Australian, and Canadian judges currently sitting as non-permanent judges in Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal.

After all, how can British judges sit in a foreign court that could potentially haul a British citizen from his home to London to a court almost 6,000 miles away on spurious charges under a dubious draconian law imposed on the city without any transparency or due process?

Lawyers march in defense of judicial independence in Hong Kong on June 27, 2014. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

Second, although many countries rightly have suspended their extradition agreements with Hong Kong upon the imposition of the National Security Law, there are still countrieseven in Europethat either have agreements with Hong Kong or even worse, with China.

Even if its unlikely that France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, and Italy, among others, would extradite a British citizen to Beijingeven despite Brexitit isnt unrealistic to be concerned that these, and a few other European countries, might hold me up, detain me, inconvenience me at the airport if Hong Kong has abused the Interpol system with a red notice.

As Bill Browder, Putins No. 1 worldwide critic, has experienced, this seemingly far-fetched idea isnt beyond the realm of possibility. Having already been deported twice from Burma (Myanmar) and once from Hong Kong, I really do not want to be detained when I go on holiday to Italy or Greece, or for advocacy meetings in Brussels, Paris, Berlin, or Geneva.

So, to cut to the chase, no democracy in the world, if it values freedom, human rights, the rule of law, or human dignity, should have an extradition agreement with either China or Hong Kong, and all should pressure Interpol to reform its system. And it isnt just about me or Hong Kong Watch. Far more importantly, this relates to many Hong Kong, Uyghur, Tibetan, and Uyghur activists in exile.

Third, the world should be helping Hongkongers get out of Hong Kong, if they wish to. Britain has taken a lead and Hong Kong Watch has pioneered this cause. Canada, Australia, and the United States have taken some steps, which we welcome. But they must do more, and othersespecially the European Unionmust follow. Lets help coordinate a worldwide lifeboat scheme that helps Hongkongers who need to leave Hong Kong to land in a safe space and build a secure future.

Finally, Beijing must face consequences for what it has done. That means sanctionsas tough as possible, as coordinated as possible, as targeted as possible. I know that in advocating sanctions, I am yet again breaching the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

But I also know that is one of the most ludicrous, stupid, dangerous, draconian, and idiotic laws I have ever seen, and a statute for which I have no respect at all. While I have respect for the rule of law, I do not respect rule BY law, especially when its mad law, and thats what this is.

You have three choices: Either you stay silent, pretend that this isnt your issue, or hope it goes away.

My answer to that is simple. If you believe in freedom, justice, truth, human rights, and the rule of law, then it is your issue, whether or not youre interested in Hong Kong and China. Its your issue because its coming here. Its your issue because I and the organization I founded in London are being targeted. If you dont believe in those values, maybe it isnt your issue.

Second, you stay neutral. But as the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Neutrality is comfortable, convenient, uncomplicated, but it isnt uncostly. Remember that.

Third, do you have a conscience? And does yours, like mine, very annoyingly keep you awake at night? Mine is deeply irritating because it constantly interrupts me when I am doing much happier and more relaxing activities. Its a nuisance. But I try to listen to mine.

I hope you listen to yours.

I doubt I will ever go to jail or be fined, and thats not what this is about. Its about a point of principle. Are we determined to defend our freedoms or not? Will we speak out despite the costs? Or will we leave it to others? And will we support others when they do? How much do we treasure our freedoms, for ourselves and for others?

On these questions, our entire future hangs.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) talks to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) prior to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivering a video address to U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2022. (Sarah Silbiger-Pool/Getty Images)

House Passes Bill to Revoke Normal Trade Relations With Russia, Belarus

The House on Thursday passed a bill that will end permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia and Belarus in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

Lawmakers voted 424-8 to back the legislation which, if made law, will allow the Biden administration to impose new higher tariffs on products from Russia and Belarus until Jan. 1, 2024.

The legislation would also require the U.S. Trade Representative to use the voice and influence of the United States to seek suspension of Russias participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to halt Belarus WTO accession and accession-related work.

It would also give Biden the authority to restore normal trade relations with both countries if they were to stop their actions in Ukraine and if a number of other conditions are met.

Republican lawmakers Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Dan Bishop (N.C.-09.) Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Matt Gaetz, (R-Fla.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) Glenn Grothman (Wis.-06.) Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) voted against the bill.

The bill was introduced by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and now heads to the Senate, where it already has broad support.

Biden announced on March 11 that he will sign the bipartisan legislation to end normal trade relations with Russia, noting that the move was done in coordination with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the legislation an intense action to further isolate Russia and decimate its economy on the House floor on Thursday.

The Congress today will take another step in lockstep with many of our allies, as is the Biden administration, to tighten our stranglehold on the Russian economy, she said.

But GOP lawmaker Biggs said he voted against the bill because it gives the Biden administration increased authority and allows him to define what human-rights abuses are.

It actually allows our president to go to almost anybody in the world, and if they have a visa, he can take away their visa, Biggs said in a video explaining his vote.

He can freeze their assets regardless of whether they have anything to do with Russia whatsoever. He gets to define what a human-rights abuse is.  It could be used even on people who are pro-life advocates elsewhere in the world if Biden thinks that pro-abortion is a human right, he added.

Passage of the bill came just one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys virtual address to Congress, which was rife with high emotions and he urged the United States to provide further assistance to aid Ukraine as Russian forces continue to attack the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a virtual address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 16, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

He also doubled down again on his request for the United States to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine, something that the Biden administration has declined to do due to concerns that it may become embroiled directly in the war with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that he would view any country that declares a no-fly zone over Ukraine as a participant in the armed conflict.

President Zelenskyys powerful remarks to Congress yesterday only strengthened our resolve to further isolate and weaken Putin. This legislation builds on last weeks energy import ban to inflict even greater economic pain on the Russian regime and its enablers, Neal and Brady said in a statement on Thursday.

We must do all we can to hold Putin accountable for senselessly attacking the Ukrainian people and undermining global stability, they continued. The suspension of normal trade relations is an essential part of our effort to restore peace, save lives, and defend democracy.
An Indian Oil Refinery of Essar Oil is seen at Vadinar village, near Jamnagar, India, on Oct. 4, 2016. (Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images)

India Defies Western and US Sanctions With the Purchase of Russian Oil and Gas

Indian Oil Corp. Indias state-owned oil company, purchased 3 million barrels of crude oil from Russia earlier this week, defying Western pressure to avoid buying oil from Moscow.

New Delhi has not imposed sanctions against buying oil and gas from Russia nor has any plans to do so.

It has so far abstained on votes at the U.N. condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine.

It appears that India will continue its purchases despite sanctions against Russia by the United States and other Western countries.

According to Indian media reports, Russia is offering a discount on oil purchases of 20 percent below global benchmark prices.

India is the worlds third-largest energy consuming nation and it has acquired multiple cargoes of Russian oil from traders that would have otherwise have gone to Europe before western sanctions on Moscow.

Russian oil exports to India have quadrupled in March, or 360,000 barrels a day, nearly four times the 2021 average, as global energy flows have been reshaped since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The country is on track to hit 203,000 b/d for the whole month based on current shipment schedules, according to Kpler, a commodities data and analytics service.

Oil prices have surged in recent weeks, becoming a burden to oil-importing countries such as India, which receives 85 percent of its oil consumption from foreign sources.

Hardeep Singh Puri, the Indian oil minister, said to the Indian Parliament this week, that energy prices in India are more stable compared to Europe and the United States, which have risen only 5 percent, and that the government would act in the interest of local consumers within the margin of persuasion.

Indian demand for oil is projected to jump 8.2 percent this year to 5.15 million barrels per day (bpd), as its economy recovers from the devastation caused by the pandemic.

Iraq is Indias top supplier of oil at 27 percent of imports, followed by Saudi Arabia at around 17 percent, the United Arab Emirates with 13 percent, and the United States at 9 percent.

Russian crude oil normally constitutes about 5 percent of Indias total fuel imports, which were at 4.2 million bpd in 2021.

India imports most of its oil requirements. We are exploring all possibilities in the global energy market. I dont think Russia has been a major oil supplier to India, said Arindam Bagchi, the spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry, in response to Western criticism of Indian purchases of Russian oil.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, said earlier this week that Indian purchases of Russian oil do not violate U.S. sanctions, but strongly urged India to think about where you want to stand when history books are written.

India and Russia have had a longstanding partnership going back to after Indian independence, with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, visiting India last December for his second overseas trip since the pandemic.

The two countries also have several joint military, trade, and energy deals, such as Russias Rosneft 49 percent stake in Nayara Energy, the operator of Indias second-largest refinery.

Indias central bank and government is looking at establishing a rupee-ruble trading mechanism, which would facilitate trade after international payments to and from Russia were halted by western sanctions.

Last week, Russias Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak and Singh Puri had a conference by phone to negotiate further trade between the two nations.

We are interested in further attracting Indian investment to the Russian oil and gas sector and expanding Russian companies sales networks in India, said Novak.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference on the coronavirus (COVID-19) measures, in Tokyo, Japan, on Feb. 17, 2022. (David Mareuil/Pool via Reuters)

Japan Imposes More Sanctions After Revoking Russias Most Favored Nation Status

Japan announced Friday that it will impose sanctions on 15 Russian individuals and nine organizations over Russias invasion of Ukraine, after the government announced the revocation of Russias most favored nation status.

Japan has now put sanctions on 76 individuals, seven Russian banks, and 12 Russia-based organizations, according to its finance ministry.

This round of sanctions includes the freezing assets of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, chief of GRU military intelligence service, and Russias deputy defense ministers. The sanctions also target several military equipment manufacturers, including United Aircraft Corp and state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday that the government will revoke Russias most favored nation status, a clause that forbids members of a trade agreement to discriminate between trading partners.

The status removal would result in higher taxes on Russian goods. Kishida said the move is in line with a statement issued by the United States and its allies to escalate their economic pressure on Russia.

Japans Defense Ministry also claimed to have detected four Russian amphibious warfare ships sailing through the Tsuruga Strait, between Japans main island of Honshu and Hokkaido prefecture, on Wednesday.

The military said Thursday that the Russian vessels, which can carry dozens of military vehicles and hundreds of troops, were possibly heading to Ukraine.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force first spotted the Russian vessels on Tuesday and monitored them as they passed West from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan through the Tsuruga Strait.

Japans military also detected 10 Russian navy ships passing through the Tsugaru Strait on March 11, Jiji Press reported.

It is concerning that the Russian military is stepping up operations around Japan while Russias invasion of Ukraine continues, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters. We will keep a close watch with a sense of tension.

Japan has strongly condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine and imposed several sanctions in a bid to pressure Moscow. It banned Russian banks from the SWIFT global interbank network, blocked the assets of several Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, and prohibited exports to 49 Russian entities.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is a historic atrocity, Kishida told a news conference on Wednesday. Were taking necessary steps including sanctions to apply further pressure on Russia.

To support Ukraine, Kishida said on March 4 that Japan will supply Ukraine with defense equipment, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, and pledged to accept Ukrainian refugees even if they have no relatives in Japan.

Japan also sanctioned Belarus for allowing Russian forces to use its territory to launch its invasion of Ukraine.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Japan to Lift COVID Restrictions by Next Week Amid Declining Cases

Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that remaining COVID-19 quasi-emergency measures in Tokyo and 17 prefectures will be lifted March 21, following a decrease in the number of new infections in the country.

The government declared a quasi-state of emergency in 36 of Japans 47 prefectures in January due to the spread of Omicron, with Tokyo and 17 of the prefectures seeing the measures extended twice beyond the deadlines.

Under a quasi-state of emergency, governors are allowed to shorten business hours and limit the serving of alcohol in the prefectures.

Kishida said that the end of the sixth wave of infections has clearly come into sight, as the countrys infection rate continues to decline. Tokyo recorded 10,221 new cases on Wednesday, down 13.6 percent from a week earlier.

From now on, for the time being, it will be a period in which we bring back ordinary lives as much as possible while maintaining the maximum caution and ensuring safety and security, he told reporters.

Professor Hitoshi Oshitani of Tohoku University, who is also a lead adviser on the governments pandemic response, said that while the current Omicron wave is not over in Japan, the COVID-19 measures may no longer be effective at controlling public behavior.

We need to have a different strategy to suppress the transmission at this stage, Oshitani said. Its still premature to discuss a kind of exit strategy from this virus.

Local media reported Tuesday that the government was considering further relaxing border controls and increasing the daily limit of overseas arrivals from the current 7,000 to 10,000 by April, but Kishida made no mention of this during the press conference.

Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Feb. 28 that the government will gradually increase international traffic by reviewing infection situations in Japan and abroad, as well as the demand of Japanese nationals returning.

The Japanese government has been suspending new arrivals of foreign visitors since Nov. 30, 2021, to contain the spread of the Omicron variant, adopting the strictest border control measures among the Group of Seven developed economies nations.

The countrys vaccine booster program has also accelerated, with about 71 percent of its vulnerable elderly population having received the third dose. The government is reportedly considering offering a fourth vaccine dose for those who want to receive it as early as this summer.

A government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the government intends to use COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna if the plan to roll out the fourth dose is confirmed, Yomiuri Shimbun reported last week.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media about the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, on Feb. 22, 2022. (STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)

Japanese PM Visiting India to Discuss Indian Stance on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

NEW DELHIJapanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit India on March 19 amid fears of Indias divergent position on Russia.

Kishida is expected to discuss the Russia-Ukraine crisis with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as how the event impacts the security environment in the Indo-Pacific as the region faces mounting threats from the Chinese regime, according to experts.

India is one of the few major countries that has not condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, taking a neutral diplomatic stance on the conflict. Analysts say this posture is due in part to New Dehlis need to maintain ties with its major arms supplier Moscow, especially amid rising tensions with Beijing.

Kishida wants to persuade all countries in the Indo-Pacific to integrate their voice to deter such aggressions like Chinas invasion against Taiwan. That is why he is trying to persuade India to criticize Russias aggression in Ukraine, Satoru Nagao, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute told The Epoch Times in an email.

India can share the same feeling because China can invade India, he believes, said Tokyo-based Nagao.

India is a part of an informal partnership known as a QUAD along with the United States, Australia, and Japan. It is the only country in that grouping that hasnt denounced Russias actions, though it did call for peaceful negotiations and for the Ukrainian peoples human rights to be protected.

Harsh V. Pant, head of the Strategic Studies Programme at New Dehli-based Observer Research Foundation, said that India is not in a position to publicly criticize Russia.

India has a longstanding historical relationship with Russia but more important is the defense relationship, Pant told The Epoch Times.

Almost 70 percent of Indias defense arsenal is of Russian origin, though the country is reducing this by diversifying with imports from the United States, Israel, France, and Italy. India has also started indigenous production.

Indian soldiers need to use Russias high-end, sensitive machines in tough conditions, according to Nagao, and the countrys military also needs to have continued access to repair parts from Russia.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on December 06, 2021. (Picture courtesy Press Bureau of India)

Pant said the sensitivity of Indias defense dependence on Russia should be understood from the fact that while Russia is invading Ukraine, India is facing Chinese military build-up on its disputed border.

Antagonizing Russia is something that India cant afford. India needs both Russia and the West ironically to meet the China challenge and this is something that India has tried to convey to its partners in the QUAD, said Pant, adding eventually a framework should develop within QUAD to address Indias concerns and realities.

Aparna Pande, director of the Hudson Institutes Future of India and South Asia Initiative said that Japan and India have often differed on issues before.

For example when India tested nuclear weaponsbut that difference has not impacted their relationship as each side understands the others point of view, Pande told The Epoch Times in an email.

PM Kishida will most likely put forth Japans point of view and ask for Indias support. PM Modi will most likely put forth Indias point of view and ask for Japans understanding, said Pande.

The QUAD partnership remains strong and so does the Indo-pacific strategy, according to Pande.

The United States too understands Indias predicament though, like Tokyo, Washington too would like India to move away from dependence on Russia and become more closely aligned to Japan and the U.S. even in the realm of defense, said Pande.

Kishidas visit will allow India and Japan to further talk about the Russia-Ukraine crisis and look at how the Ukraine crisis is impacting the debate on the Indo-pacific and the challenges there, said Pant.

Thats something that both Modi and Kashida would be interested in sharing with each other.

A monitor displaying a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden (top L), Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison (bottom L), Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (top R), and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen during the virtual Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) meeting, at Sugas official residence in Tokyo on March 12, 2021. (Kiyoshi Ota / POOL / AFP)

Differing Concerns

While India and Japan share warm ties, their differing stances towards Russia may prove a point of contention.

Nagao said that Japans opposition to Russias aggression is related to its concern about Chinas territorial ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Moscows invasion could encourage Beijing to make moves against Taiwan and India.

Tokyo is also concerned that the war is diverting U.S. attention and resources away from the Indo-Pacific.

[I]f Russia wins the war against Ukraine, the US will need to prioritize Russian deterrence in Europe. The US could not withdraw its military forces from Europe and redeploy them to the Indo-Pacific to deter China. Japan is aware that it would face a serious situation if it had to deter Russia and China at the same time, said Nagao.

Japan also shares a maritime border with Russia and the two countries have fought a war in the past.

Russia has repeatedly provoked Japan in recent years. Russian military planes tried to enter Japans territorial airspace 258 times in 2020 alone, according to Nagao.

In 2021, five Chinese warships and five Russian warships jointly circled Japan. These incursions are evidence that Russia is a threat to Japan, he said, adding that the United States and Australia share the same concerns about Russia.

Japan on March 18 announced additional measures against Russia, slapping sanctions on 15 Russian individuals including defense officials and nine Russian organizations including state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport. In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, Japan imposed sanctions on 76 Russian individuals, seven banks, and 12 organizations.

Indias realities, meanwhile, are different. India not only shares a strategic relationship with Russia but Moscow also supports Indias fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Nagao noted.

There is a possibility that the international community will ask India to stop its military operation in Pakistan, but Russia will vote in the United Nations Security Council in favor of India. In addition, because India depended on the Soviet Union during the Cold War, their human-to-human connection is still deep and influential, said Nagao.

While Indias break with QUAD members on the Russia issue poses a threat to the partnerships cohesion, Nagao doesnt believe that it will severely impact the groups cooperation going forward.

In recent years, India has imported more arms from the United States, UK, Israel, and France than from Russia, and Washington has started to support New Dehli in its efforts to counter Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

When India attacked terrorist camps in Pakistan in 2016 and 2019, joint statements of India-US, India-Japan, and the QUAD offered support for Indias effort to deal with terrorism, said Nagao.

That both India and Japan share growing challenges in Indo-Pacific should bring the two countries together, regardless of differences of opinion with respect to Russia and the Ukraine war, according to Pant.

Both countries should work together for the stability of the Indo-Pacific and ensure that no single country like China can dominate the region, he said.

Both India and Japan are the key pillars in the new emerging security architecture [in the Indo-Pacific] where the idea is not only to challenge China but also to provide solutions to regional problemsbe it health, trade, technology, infrastructure, connectivity which are very important but theres a paucity of leadership, Pant added.
Kremlin Influence Operations on US Energy Policy Need Further Probing: Rep. Johnson

Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) is urging the U.S. House committees, with jurisdiction over U.S. energy policies, to investigate evidence that Russia has made a concerted effort to have western nations, including the United States, become dependent on Russian fossil fuels, by funding a social media campaign and activist groups.

So, theres also evidence in that report that the Russians have done the same thing here in America, funding activist organizations that have tried to impact and influence American energy policy, Johnson told host of NTD Capitol Report, Steve Lance, during a March 9 interview.

Ive sent a letter to the committee chairman, on Energy and Commerce and other committees of jurisdiction, asking them to reopen that investigation, and lets find out what the real Russian interference story is all about.

Johnson is referring to an investigation led by Republicans and initiated in 2017 during the Trump presidency, after which House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology issued a 2018 report titled Russian Attempts to Influence U.S. Domestic Energy Markets by Exploiting Social Media.

As the threat of American energy continues to grow, so does the Kremlins incentive to influence energy operations in Europe and the United States. Moreover, as they have demonstrated, the Kremlin will use any and all tools at their disposal to preserve Russias dominant energy status and to maintain its stranglehold over Eastern and Central Europe, the 2018 Report states.

Trump had increased U.S. fossil fuel production, which the investigation by the House committee showed Russia did not want.

The report states that Russia has a significant interest in disrupting U.S. energy markets and influencing domestic energy policy. American energy is booming. Americas emergence as a global energy exporter presents a significant threat to Russian energy interests.

Johnson said there was evidence that Russia ran a similar anti-fossil fuel campaign in Europe which caused many EU nations to become more reliant on Russian energy sources.

Russians had begun channeling money to activist groups throughout Europe, to force getting away from fossil fuels. For example, France banned hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in 2011, Bulgaria did the same thing in 2012, the Netherlands in 2015, Germany did it in 2015. And the U.K. did it in 2019, all the while becoming more and more dependent on the Russians for their energy resources, natural gas.

A sign reading Nord Stream 2 Committed. Reliable. Safe. hangs above a painted map of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany at the natural gas receiving station in the Lubmin industrial estate in Lubmin, Germany, on Nov. 16, 2021. (Stefan Sauer/DPA via AP)

So, theres also evidence in that report that the Russians have done the same thing here in America funding activist organizations that have tried to impact and influence American energy policy, said Johnson.

Well, it is big, how big the Russian influence is, that remains to be seen. And thats exactly what we need to find out. The evidence that Ive seen, says that Russia spent, the equivalent of $90 million, funding those activist groups in Europe to accomplish what they did there.

Johnson was raised on a farm and said he believes in protecting the land, air, and water that we use to raise our food on but restricting U.S. fossil fuels and getting those fossil fuels from countries like Russia is wrong because they pollute the globe more than U.S. energy producers.

Fossil fuels have raised more people out of poverty across the globe than any other energy source on the planet, and America has done more to reduce carbon emissions and to address climate change than any other nation on the planet. And to ruin our economy and allow Russians to interfere with our energy policy is appalling to me, and we need to get to the bottom of it, he said.

You know, we were energy independent just a few short months ago, under the under the previous administration, we were producing 13 million barrels of oil per day.

Johnson said it is crucial that we go back to being energy independent so adversaries like Russia cannot manipulate us and other western countries.

[Russia] are going to arbitrarily inflate the price of their oil because theyre using it as a hammer over our friends and allies in Europe, he said.

 Congress has a moral obligation to investigate whether Russia has been interfering in American oil & gas policy and markets not only from 2011-2017, but also in recent years, and in the present day, Johnson said in a March 8 press statement.

Steve Lance Follow Steve Lance is the host of Capitol Report, a political news show based in Washington aimed at providing a direct channel to the voices and people who shape policy in America. Capitol Report features all of the political news of the day with expert interviews and analysis.
LA Countys Tax Relief for Landlords a Drop in the Bucket: Apartment Association

A decision by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week to forgive property tax penalties for landlords affected by the countys eviction moratorium was welcomed by the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles but it might not be enough.

The apartment association was extremely supportive of the decision and any other support that the county can provide after two years of challenging rent collections and financial stress, Executive Director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles Dan Yukelson told The Epoch Times in an email.

It is a shame it took the county more than two years to just realize that when revenue collection is nonexistent or restricted that property owners just might be challenged to pay property taxes, mortgages and a multitude of other necessary expenses, Yukelson said.

A motion unanimously passed by the countys Board of Supervisors March 15 cancels property tax penalties, interest, costs, and fees for property owners who did not receive rent as a result of the countys COVID-era eviction moratorium.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who co-sponsored the action with Supervisor Janice Hahn, applauded the boards approval on Twitter.

#COVID19 relief shouldnt be their burden to bear, Barger wrote on Twitter on March 15.

After hearing repeatedly from many property owners about the financial toll of the pandemic, Barger said in a statement the county could not in good conscience balance COVID-19 relief on the backs of property owners.

Hahn also said on Twitter the eviction moratorium has prevented people from losing housing but landlords have borne the brunt.

While it is not within our authority to waive peoples property taxes, we can waive their late fees, Hahn wrote on Twitter on March 15.

The motion was filed in response to the boards approval in January of an extension of an eviction moratorium and tenant protections through 2023.

Next, the county will reach out to property owners and share information about how to request relief.

For some property owners, it might be too late, said Yukelson, the apartment associations executive director.

While finally eliminating penalties is helpful to many housing providers, this is merely a drop in the bucket for those who have lost thousands of dollars or in a worse case have lost their property, Yukelson said.

More than two years into the pandemic, some property owners have lost thousands of dollars and some have lost their properties, according to Yukelson.

What the county should have done to really help would have been to give owners a tax holiday just like the rent holiday it shoved down the throats of its rental property owners, Yukelson said.
Firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department extinguish the flames of a car fire started in a homeless encampment in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 6, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Leak Reported at Chemical Company in Atwater Village Area in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELESA chemical leak at a business in the Atwater Village area prompted a hazardous-materials response and an evacuation on March 17, but no injuries were reported.

The problem was reported about 8:40 a.m. at Huntsman Chemical in the 4500 block of West Electronics Place, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

This incident was initially received as an automatic fire alarm and the first responding fire company upgraded it to a hazardous materials response with additional requested resources en route, Stewart said in a statement.

The building was evacuated as a precaution, Stewart said.

A metal vessel was being prepared for packaging/distribution and a small valve broke, expelling gas into the air creating a small cloud which rapidly dissipated, Stewart said. There was no fire, no explosion, no injuries and no medical complaints.

Stewart added on late Thursday morning that Hazardous materials firefighters made entry with specialized gas meters and determined there is no current threat  there were no readings of concern on the meters.

Residents in the area detecting an unusual odor have been recommended to shelter in place, closing doors and windows, Stewart said. If they wish to leave the area, the recommended direction of travel is south of the incident.

Stewart said the product was RenInfusion 8610, a one-component epoxy system that was being processed for transport.

Residents in areas affected by the dissipating cloud who experienced any medical distress are recommended to seek medical advice through their health care provider, Stewart said.

The products corrosive hazards are with direct contact when its in a liquid state, Stewart said. No workers on scene exhibited any medical complaints.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on March 10, 2022. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)

Legal Organization Suing BC Government in Effort to End Vaccine Mandates for Health-Care Workers

A legal organization is suing the B.C. government in an effort to end its COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health-care workers.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced Thursday it has filed a petition in the B.C. Supreme Court, demanding that the government rescind its mandates, which require certain health-care professionals to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several B.C. health-care workers who lost their jobs because of the mandates.

On March 7, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued an order that requires regulatory health colleges to give personal information about their registrants to the Ministry of Health in order for the ministry to verify the registrants vaccination status.

The order covers 18 categories of health-care professionals, from doctors and nurses to massage therapists, pharmacists, dentists, naturopaths, and traditional medicine practitioners.

If a members vaccination records are missing, the order requires that person to release those details to their college by March 31 and, if requested by the ministry, colleges would then have to disclose the members vaccination status.

The new order differs from last months announcement when Henry said all regulated health professionals vaccinated with one dose before March 24 could continue to work only if they received a second dose within 35 days.

The February mandate was an update to the October 2021 order, which required all health care professionals and staff who work in or for the provinces health authorities, care facilities, or other designated facilities to show proof of receiving all doses of approved COVID-19 vaccine, or have their jobs lost, the Justice Centre noted.

The organization said between August 2021 and February this year, Henry issued a series of orders that allowed employers, operators, and contractors to obtain personal information from health care practitioners and staff, as well as their COVID-19 vaccination status.

These Orders compelled health care practitioners and staff to provide their legal names, dates of birth, and personal health numbers, as well as their COVID-19 vaccination status, to their employers, upon request, the Justice Centre said in a press release on March 17.

The orders also forced employers and contractors to report the health care practitioners and staff members personal information and vaccination status to the BC Government.

The Justice Centre said their legal challenge to the B.C. government focuses on the violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including the right to life, liberty, and security of the person, freedom of religion and conscience, and equality rights. The challenge also includes the violation of the right to informed consent, and violations of the privacy of health-care workers.

Justice Centre staff lawyer Charlene Le Beau argued that Henrys orders should not be of higher authority than the charter.

The Charter is the highest law in the land, and no Order or legislation outranks and outweighs the Charters protection of fundamental freedoms such as freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, she said in a statement on March 17.

The legal team also noted that the available exemptions to the provinces vaccine mandates are very limited medical reasons as determined by the governmental authorities instead of the patients doctor.

Under the current public health Orders, a health care worker would have to have taken one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and experienced a serious adverse reaction, or been diagnosed with myocarditis or pericarditis, to have a deferral request even considered by Dr. Henry, the organization said.

There are no exemptions to the vaccine mandate set out by these public health Orders on grounds of religious belief or conscience.

Le Beau said given that the COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent infection or transmission, it is an unjustifiable act of discrimination and a violation of the Charter to ostracize those health care professionals who choose to make their personal medical choices.

We depended on these hard-working health care workers throughout the first year of COVID and there were no vaccines available, she said.

To fire them from their jobs now because they exercise bodily autonomy or have objections to the vaccines based on their beliefs, is an act of two-faced hypocrisy and a betrayal of those workers who have sacrificed so much for Canadians.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
An official checks a voter's photo identification at an early voting polling site in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 26, 2014. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

Litigation Concerns Knock Voter ID Initiative off Californias 2022 Ballot

The certainty of protracted litigation has prompted sponsors of a California Voter ID initiative to push their prospective 2022 ballot measure to 2024.

Reform California filed its prospective ballot measure, the Voter Identification and Registration Requirements Initiative, in September and received clearance shortly after to begin collecting the 997,139 signatures necessary by the April 26 deadline to get the proposal on the states June 30 ballot.

However, even if it could meet the tight deadlines in securing the needed signatures, Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio said its evident that state officials and the Democratic-controlled State Assembly were intent on keeping the Voter ID measure off the ballot.

DeMaio said California Attorney General Rob Bonta and legislative analysts have told the group they think our initiative is illegal, DeMaio said.

That gave us pause to try to find out what exactly they would do to stop this initiative.

Rather than plunge ahead with a costly, labor-intensive petition drive, Reform California will recalibrate its effort for 2024 while installing as many safeguards as possible to survive inevitable legal challenges, he said.

We need to anticipate which ways it can be overturned or nullified after the vote because that is what the Democrats have done in California, DeMaio said. Theyll try to overturn the election afterward if they cant defeat it at the polls.

The measure, he said, would pass because tightening Voter ID requirements is widely supported, even in deep-blue California.

If we get a fair vote on this, we will overwhelmingly win this election, DeMaio said.

Reform California would require voters to present a valid and current drivers license or government-issued identification card to vote in person. To vote by mail, voters would be required to provide a valid and current drivers license or government-issued identification card number and have their signature match the signature on file with their voter registration.

The prospective ballot measure would require residents to provide their social security number in order to register to vote. It would also require counties to evaluate wait-times for voting in person after each election and address unreasonably long wait times identified in any polling location or voting center.

Under the proposal, a citizen may seek judicial review of the states or countys performance in complying with the ballot measure itself.

One of the things they put on the table is they thought they could challenge it under federal law because it requires a Social Security number to register to vote, DeMaio said.

We disagree with this.  Their goal is to keep this from being on the ballot or invalidate it after the fact, he said.

At this point, DeMaio said, the group has opted not to spend time and money gathering signatures when the attorney general can just say, Im not putting this on the ballot. Wed have to sue, and then it would be a protracted fight that would knock it off the 2022 ballot anyway.

The goal now is to see if we can reset and get it on the 2024 ballot, he said.

The prospective California Voter ID ballot initiative was one of six vying for the 2022 ballot across the country. The only one guaranteed to go before voters in November is in Arizona.

The Arizona Legislature on Feb. 28 essentially adopted Arizonans for Voter IDs proposed Voter Identification Requirements for Mail-In Ballots and In-Person Voting Measure in a resolution and placed it on the ballot, saving the group from needing to collect 237,645 valid voter signatures necessary by July 7 to get the proposal before voters.

Sponsors of similar citizen-initiated proposed voter ID statutes and constitutional amendments are collecting signatures now in four statesMichigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nevadabut face encroaching deadlines, progressive counter ballot measures, and legal challenges.

Nevadas initiative has drawn lawsuits from the Elias Law Group, the Washington, D.C., law firm of Marc Elias, a prominent elections law attorney who works with Democrats, but sponsors have stopped collecting signatures while defending their measure in court.

DeMaio, who hosts a daily radio show, The DeMaio Report on KOGO in San Diego, is a former San Diego city councilman who founded Reform California in 2003. The group is the largest center-right organization in the state, he said.

Reform California has sponsored recall elections and ballot initiatives, including 2018s Proposition Six, which asked voters to repeal the 2017 Road Repair and Accountability Act, which raised the states sales taxes on gasoline by 12 cents per gallon, on diesel by 20 cents per gallon, and raised annual vehicle registration fees by $25 to $175.

The campaign was widely supported when the petition read Repeal the Gas Car Tax but when the ballot measure title and summary language was published, support dramatically declined; it garnered just 43 percent of the vote.

California law allows elected officials to craft ballot measure titles and summaries. In most states, sponsors provide the language, which is reviewed by legislative analysts and/or the courts, including state Supreme Courts, such as in Florida.

DeMaio said Reform Californias Repeal the Gas Car Tax petition drive was given the title Eliminate road repair and transportation projects, which is a lie.

The ballot language issue has been debated for years but, he said, with Democrats firmly in control of the state, theres no incentive for the dominant party to change the law.

The prospective Voter ID ballot measure title and summary were not without bias but they werent as biased, false, and misleading as the wording in Proposition Six, DeMaio said.

In the meantime, what we are doing is trying to educate voters on things we can do to police elections and fight for election integrity across the state and at the county-by-county level, he said, citing a March 15 report by the Transparency Foundation following its audit of the states 2021 gubernatorial recall election.

The audit analyzed a sample of 7.1 percent of voters currently listed as eligible voters on Californias rolls.

The study found that there were 83,725 high-risk ballots mailed to voters who had not voted since at least 2016; Comparing U.S. Postal Services National Change of Address database against county voter rolls uncovered 910 confirmed erroneous ballots mailed to old addresses; 17,715 questionable votes cast by voters who registered years ago, never voted in subsequent elections, but suddenly returned a ballot during the 2021 Recall Election.

The Transparency Foundation is a San Diego-based nonprofit that includes the Center for Civic Engagement, the Open Government Institute, the Center for Public Finance Transparency, and Conflict Watch, which lobbies for strong disclosure rules to combat self-dealing and conflicts of interest in public institutions.

DeMaio is the foundations president and CEO. It does not do political activity or support candidates, but it can do public policy research, do audits, he said.

If a comparison of registered voter rolls with post office change-of-address data can raise such questions without fostering remedies, DeMaio said, it further weakens trust in elections.

The Democrats will say an all-mail-in election without voter ID is not a problem. You should have to prove [a problem] before anything is done, he said.

Reform California disagrees. Why would you want to take the risk? Were talking about billions of ballots [nationwide] sent to the wrong address, hundreds of thousands sent to people who cannot vote. Any other enterprise would be shut down for incompetence.

Yet California Democrats have created a template that Democrats nationally want to use in every state. Every Democrat in the country would love to have Californias failed elections system in their state. You cant have a healthy democracy when 30 to 35 percent of the population dont trust elections. Its a terminal illness for a democracy.
Let Alaska Double Oil Production, Gov. Dunleavy Urges Biden

Oil production in Alaska has shrunk to its lowest level since the late 1970s, and gasoline prices are soaring, prompting Gov. Mike Dunleavy to urge the Biden administration to reverse its energy policies and permit Alaska to produce more oil.

Alaska produced about 448,000 barrels per day of oil in 2020, less than a quarter of the approximately 2 million barrels per day produced during the states oil peak in 1988, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

What were interested in is more production, not higher prices, per se, Dunleavy told Paul Greaney, host of NTD Business, in a March 16 interview. We produce, right now, about 500,000 barrels of oil a day. If we were to double that, which will be tough  we think we can get a couple to several hundred thousand more barrels, if allowed to.

The governor emphasized that President Joe Bidens energy policies have hurt U.S. energy-producing states and made the United States energy dependent, which is unnecessary because America has an abundance of oil and gas, he said.

And so, its just not impacting Alaska, but its impacting oil-producing states across the country.  Were not running out of oil or gas. We still have billions of barrels of oil up here in Alaska, we have tremendous amounts of gas, continued Dunleavy.

But the Biden administration has not allowed enough drilling permits in Alaska for the increase in oil and gas production, added the governor.

What weve seen coming out of Washington here in Alaska, especially since President Biden has become president, is a real reluctance and, in many cases, almost an antagonistic approach to oil and gas here in the state of Alaska.

He said that past policies from the administration are stifling energy production in the United States, particularly in Alaska, because drilling leases on the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) were revoked.

This undated photo shows the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The federal government has assembled an interagency task force to develop an ecomanagement plan for the Alaskan Arctic region. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Getty Images)

We opened up ANWR and we sold leases, but theyre slow boating the execution of those leases. The interesting thing about the ANWR lease sale is that was embedded in the law that was passed by Congress in 2018, Dunleavy said.

In accordance with Bidens climate agenda, the Department of the Interior suspended all activities related to the execution of the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program in ANWR in June 2021, until a comprehensive analysis of the National Environmental Policy Act is completed.

The governor wants Biden to restrict energy from adversarial countries that pollute, not the United States. What weve said to them is, you know, dont sanction us. Sanction some of the other countries that are bad actors. Allow us to produce oil and gas.

If we do so, we could help ensure our national security, lower the price of energy for Alaskans, and help our neighbors, especially our neighbors in the Far East, Dunleavy said, adding that Washington has to make more U.S.-centered energy decisions. Were not running out of oil or gas. Were running out of good policy out of Washington.

Alaska has filed suit against the federal government for canceling those leases.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has roiled the international energy market in recent weeks, and revived debate about whether the United States should be depending on other countries for oil and gas.

Dunleavy said this isnt the first time a geopolitical conflict has impacted commodity prices and it wont be the last. He said this should alert the administration to the dangers of relying on foreign countries for fossil fuels.

Hopefully, this is a wake-up call. We produce as much energy as possible, and then we dont have to worry about foreign actors and relying upon them, Dunleavy said. I hope the Biden ministration has gotten the message.
Men fish in the Sea of Azov in the southwestern Russian port city of Taganrog, 50 km from the Ukrainian border and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

RussiaUkraine (March 18): Ukraine Temporarily Loses Access to Sea of Azov: Defense Ministry

The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, March 18. Click here for updates from March 17.

Ukraine Temporarily Loses Access to Sea of Azov: Defense Ministry

Ukraines defense ministry said late on Friday it lost access to the Sea of Azov temporarily as invading Russian forces were tightening their grip around the Seas major port of Mariupol.

The occupiers have partially succeeded in the Donetsk operational district, temporarily depriving Ukraine of access to the Sea of Azov, Ukraines defense ministry said in a statement.

The ministry did not specify in its statement whether Ukraines forces have regained access to the Sea.

Russia said on Friday its forces were tightening the noose around Mariupol, where an estimated 80 percent of the citys homes had been damaged. Some 1,000 people may still be trapped in makeshift bomb shelters beneath a destroyed theater.

Mariupol, with its strategic location on the coast of the Sea of Azov, has been a target since the start of the war on Feb. 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a special military operation.

The city lies on the route between the Russian-annexed peninsula of Crimea to the west, and the Donetsk region to the east, which is partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Russia claimed as early as March 1 that its forces had cut off the Ukrainian military from the Sea of Azov.

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NASA Chief Bill Nelson Dismisses Concerns About US-Russian Space Cooperation

Brushing off concerns that U.S.-Russian geopolitical tensions could affect joint collaboration in space, NASA chief Bill Nelson said Friday (March 18) he was excited about the recently unveiled new moon rocket, the Artemis 1, that he hopes will usher in a new era of space exploration, including setting up a moon base and eventually sending people to Mars.

Well, its true that we have our problems with President Putin on terra firma. And its also true that the free world has really come together like you havent seen in the last couple of decades, NATO with the United States in solidarity. But thats terra firma. Once you get into space, the civilian space program, its as professional as it can be between the cosmonauts and the astronauts and I expect that to continue, Nelson said.

The durability of longstanding U.S.-Russian collaboration in space is being tested by heightened antagonism between the two former Cold War adversaries over Russias invasion last month of Ukraine.

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Top Russian Negotiator Says Moscow, Kyiv Get Closer on Ukraines Neutral Status

The head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukrainian officials says the parties have come closer to an agreement on a neutral status for Ukraine.

Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian negotiators in several rounds of talks with Ukraine, including this week, said Friday that the sides have narrowed their differences on the issue of Ukraine dropping its bid to join NATO and adopting a neutral status.

The issue of neutral status and no NATO membership for Ukraine is one of the key issues in talks, and that is the issue where the parties have made their positions maximally close, Medinsky said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies.

He added that the sides are now half-way on issues regarding the demilitarization of Ukraine. Medinsky noted that while Kyiv insists that Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraines east must be brought back into the fold, Russia believes that people of the regions must be allowed to determine their fate themselves.

Medinsky noted that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is possible after the negotiators finalize a draft treaty to end the hostilities and it receives a preliminary approval by the countries governments.

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Biden, Xi Hold 2-Hour Call Amid Tension Over Ukraine War

President Joe Biden held a two-hour video call with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping on March 18, following allegations from the U.S. administration that China was considering giving military assistance to Russia for the ongoing war in Ukraine.

President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion [of Ukraine], including by imposing costs on Russia, said a White House readout of the call.

He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians, the statement continued.

The President underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. The two leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, to manage the competition between our two countries.

Xi refused to refer to the war in Ukraine as a war during the call, and referred to it instead as a crisis, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua, which released several talking points immediately after the end of the call.

The Chinese leader also said that the United States and China would need to work together to shoulder our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, while noting that the world was neither tranquil nor stable, Xinhua reported.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a Friday press briefing that Biden did not receive any specific assurances from Xi that China would act one way or another.

Read the full article here

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Putin Praises Troops at Huge Rally in Moscow

President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge patriotic rally Friday at a Moscow stadium on the eighth anniversary of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.

Putin, speaking to a crowd of tens of thousands of people waving Russian flags at the Luzhniki Stadium, praised the Russian military for its actions in Ukraine.

Shoulder to shoulder, they help and support each other, Putin said in a rare public appearance. We have not had unity like this for a long time, he added to cheers from the crowd.

Before Putin spoke, bands played patriotic Soviet songs about national identity and speakers praised Putin as fighting Nazism in Ukraine.

Some people, including presenters at the event, wore T-shirts or jackets with a Za symbol seen on Russian tanks and military vehicles in Ukraine and embraced by supporters of the war.

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Kremlin Refrains From Harsh Judgement on Biden

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that U.S. President Joe Bidens labeling of his Russian counterpart as a war criminal, was considered a personal insult to Vladimir Putin by the Kremlin.

Considering the irritability of Mr. Biden, his fatigability, sometimes forgetfulness, fatigue leading to aggressive statements, we would probably not make any harsh judgments so as not to elicit even more aggression, Peskov told reporters during his daily briefing via phone call.

Peskov added that the Ukrainian delegation isnt demonstrating willingness to speed up negotiations with Russia on its ongoing military operation in Ukraine.

The Russian delegation is ready to work much quicker, Peskov told reporters.

Unfortunately, the Ukrainian delegation doesnt demonstrate the willingness to speed up negotiations with Russia.

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130 People Rescued From Ruins of a Theater: Ukrainian Official

Officials say 130 people have been rescued from the ruins of a theater that served as a shelter when it was blasted by a Russian airstrike Wednesday in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

Ludmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian parliaments human rights commissioner, said Friday that 130 people had survived the theater bombing.

As of now, we know that 130 people have been evacuated, but according to our data, there are still more than 1,300 people in these basements, in this bomb shelter, Denisova told Ukrainian television. We pray that they will all be alive, but so far there is no information about them.

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Russia Vows to Block Transfer of S-300 Missile System to Ukraine

Russia has reiterated its threat to target arms shipments to Ukraine, with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov saying Friday that any cargo believed to be carrying weapons are fair game while vowing to block the transfer of Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems to Kyiv.

Any cargo moving into Ukrainian territory which we would believe is carrying weapons would be fair game, Lavrov said in an interview with Russia Today.

Slovakia has said that it is ready to send its S-300 system to Ukraine immediately provided that it receives a replacement to protect its own airspace.

Read the full article here

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Three Baltic Countries Order Expulsion of Russian Embassy Staff Members

Three Baltic countries have ordered the expulsion of Russian embassy staff members in a coordinated action taken in solidarity with Ukraine.

Lithuanias foreign ministry said on Friday that four Russian embassy staff are no longer welcome in the country, while in neighboring Latvia, three Russian staff were declared persona non grata.

Russias ambassador to Lithuania, Aleksei Isakov, was informed that their activities were incompatible with the status of a diplomat, according to the official statement of the Lithuanian foreign ministry.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said that the expulsion of the embassy staff was a coordinated action of the Baltic States, which include former Soviet republics Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

Estonia also announced on Friday that it was ordering three staff of the Russian Embassy in the capital Tallinn to leave the country.

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Zelensky Says He Expects Progress on EU Membership Bid Within Months

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Friday and Ukraine expects progress to be made on its application to join the European Union in the coming months.

Had substantial conversation with E.C. President, Zelensky said on Twitter. E.C. opinion on UA (Ukraine) application for #EU membership will be prepared within few months. UA Government and E.C. are instructed. Moving to our strategic goal together.

However, the leaders of all 27 European Union (EU) nations, who voiced their support of Ukraines pursuit of E.U. membership, rejected to put it on the fast track earlier in March.

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Russian Broadcaster RTs UK License Revoked With Immediate Effect

Britains broadcast regulator Ofcom has revoked the UK license of Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT with immediate effect.

Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said: Freedom of expression is something we guard fiercely in this country, and the bar for action on broadcasters is rightly set very high.

Following an independent regulatory process, we have today found that RT is not fit and proper to hold a licence in the UK. As a result, we have revoked RTs UK broadcasting licence.

Read the full article here

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Poland to Propose Ukraine Peacekeeping Mission at NATO Summit, Says PM

Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says that Poland will formally submit a proposal for a peacekeeping and humanitarian mission on Ukraines territory at next weeks extraordinary NATO summit.

Morawiecki stressed Friday that Poland had already made the proposal during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Wednesday. Denmark has expressed readiness to join such a mission.

The idea for a NATO or wider international peacekeeping mission under military protection was launched by Polands Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski during a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday by the leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

NATO leaders have been opposed to the alliances presence in Ukraine over concerns it could escalate the conflict.

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Bulgaria to Expel 10 Russian Diplomats

Bulgaria says it has declared 10 Russian diplomats persona non grata and demanded their expulsion.

In a statement on Friday, Bulgarias foreign ministry said that Bulgarias Prime Minister Kiril Petkov had been consulted on the expulsions.

An official note was handed to Russias ambassador in the capital Sofia requiring that the diplomats leave Bulgaria within 72 hours over their alleged involvement in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, the statement said.

European Union and NATO member Bulgaria, which was one of Moscows closest allies in the Soviet bloc, has condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine. It has expelled 10 other Russian diplomats suspected of espionage since October 2019.

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Putin Tells Scholz That Kyiv Is Stalling Peace Talks With Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a phone call on Friday that Kyiv was attempting to stall peace talks with Russia but that Moscow was still keen to continue negotiations.

It was noted that the Kyiv regime is attempting in every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals, the Kremlin said in a readout of the call. Nonetheless the Russian side is ready to continue searching for a solution in line with its well-known principled approaches.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a ceasefire in Ukraine during his phone call with Putin, a German government spokesperson said.

In their nearly hour-long conversation, Scholz also stressed that the humanitarian situation needed to be improved and progress needed to be made in finding a diplomatic solution as soon as possible.

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Burger King Owner Claims Russian Operator Is Refusing to Shut Restaurants

The owner of fast food restaurant Burger King has claimed that its independent operator in Russia is refusing to allow it to close its restaurants within the country.

Burger King, which is owned by Restaurant Brands International (RBI) and has around 800 fully franchised outlets in Russia, announced on March 10 that it had decided to suspend all corporate support within the country in the wake of Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

However, RBI President David Shear said in an open letter to employees that the operator of its stores in Russia is refusing to allow it to do so.

We suspended all corporate support for the Russian market, including operations, marketing, and supply chain support in addition to refusing approvals for new investment and expansion, Shear said.

Read the full article here

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Russias Illusions About the West Are Over, Lavrov Says

Russia has lost all illusions about relying on the West and Moscow will never accept a view of the world dominated by a United States that wants to act like a global sheriff, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

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Russian Missiles Strike Lviv: Mayor

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Friday on Telegram that several missiles hit a facility used to repair military aircraft and damaged a bus repair facility, though no casualties were immediately reported.

The plant had suspended work ahead of the attack, the mayor said.

The missiles that hit Lviv were launched from the Black Sea, but two of the six that were launched were shot down, Ukrainian air forces western command claimed on Facebook.

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Russia and Canada in Twitter Spat Over Kindergarten-Level UN Letter Post

Russia accused Canada on Thursday of childishly annotating a letter it sent at the United Nations seeking support for its draft resolution on providing aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, which Ottawa reacted to with pointed comments.

In a spat on Twitter, Canadas UN mission added multiple remarks to the March 16 missive from Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia.

The U.N. Security Council will no longer vote on Friday on the draft resolution.

Diplomats said it would have failed with most of the 15-member council likely to abstain from a vote on it because it did not address accountability or acknowledge Russias invasion of Ukraine or push for an end to the fighting or a withdrawal of Russian troops.

In the spat on Twitter, Canadas UN mission annotated one part of the Russian letter that read: Like other members of the international community, we are gravely concerned about its deterioration.

Canadas UN mission crossed out the first few words and changed the rest to read: We are not gravely concerned about its deterioration, and inserted at the end because we are the primary cause.

In a later section, Canada asked: Do you think the UN membership actually believes this? On the final page Canada suggested part of an alternative end: We want you to know just how little we care about the human life we have destroyed.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, hit back on Thursday:

Thank you @CanadaONU for this kindergarten-level Russophobic libel! he wrote on Twitter.

It only shows that your diplomatic skills and good manners are at lowest ebb and gives an idea why your countrys bid for a non-permanent seat in #SecurityCouncil was voted down twice in 20yrs by UN membership, Polyanskiy said, adding a thumbs-down emoji.

Relations between Russia and several Western nations continue to plummet to new lows since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine.

____

Russia Will Not Ask UN Council Vote on Its Ukraine Resolution

Russias U.N. ambassador says he is not asking for a vote Friday on its resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, which has been sharply criticized by Western countries for making no mention of Russias responsibility for the war against its neighbor.

Vassily Nebenzia told the U.N. Security Council Thursday that Russia decided at this stage not to seek a vote because of pressure from the United States and Albania on U.N. members to oppose it, but he stressed that Moscow is not withdrawing the resolution.

___

Norway Prime Minister Calls for Increased Military Budget

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre wants an extra allocation of 3.5 billion kroner ($400 million) for 2022 to strengthen NATO member Norways Armed Forces and civil preparedness.

Gahr Stre told Norways parliament that the money will be used to strengthen our ability to prevent, deter and deal with digital attacks.

In a speech to the Scandinavian countrys parliament about Ukraine, Gahr Stre said Norway was gearing up to handle an extraordinary situation with up to 100,000 refugees.

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US House Backs Removal of Most-Favored Trade Status for Russia, Belarus

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly backed legislation on Thursday to remove most favored nation trade status for Russia and Belarus over the invasion of Ukraine, paving the way for higher tariffs on imports from the countries.

The Democratic-controlled House voted 4248 in favor of removing Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, the latest congressional effort to put economic pressure on Moscow.

To become law, the measure must also pass the Senate. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said it would move through the Senate quickly, after approval by the House.

The move to revoke Russias status at the World Trade Organization is being coordinated with similar efforts by other G7 democracies. It would automatically raise U.S. tariffs to non-WTO rates for imports from Russia and it authorizes U.S. President Joe Biden to proclaim higher tariff rates on products from both Russia and Belarus.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry Official Meets With Russias Ambassador to China

A Chinese foreign ministry official met with Russias ambassador to China on March 17 to exchange views on bilateral relations, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Cheng Guoping, Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs at Chinas foreign ministry, met with Andrey Denisov of Russia and exchanged views on bilateral counter-terrorism and security cooperation, according to the statement.

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Australia Sanctions Russian Billionaires With Mining Industry Links

Australia imposed sanctions on Friday on two Russian oligarchs with links to its mining industry, one of them a billionaire with an investment connection to Rio Tintos Gladstone alumina refinery joint venture.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was working in close cooperation with international partners to increase sanctions pressure on oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine.

Australia has now added two billionaires with links to business interests in Australia, Oleg Deripaska, and Viktor Vekselberg, Payne said in a statement.

The measures are in addition to curbs on 41 oligarchs and immediate family members who already face targeted financial sanctions and travel bans, she said.

Payne said the government welcomed Australian companies taking a principled stand with moves to cut ties with Russia in protest of Moscows illegal, indefensible war against Ukraine.

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Japan Slaps New Sanctions on Russian Defence Officials, Arms Exporter

Japan said on Friday it will impose sanctions against 15 Russian individuals and nine organizations, including defense officials and state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

The sanctions, which include asset freezing, are the latest in a series of measures by Japan following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Japan has now slapped sanctions on 76 individuals, seven banks, and 12 other organizations in Russia, according to the finance ministry.

The government on Friday designated Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and several military equipment makers including United Aircraft Corp, which manufactures fighter jets.

Andrew Thornebrooke, Katabella Roberts, Tom Ozimek, Alexander Zhang, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to the report.
Los Angeles to Remove Encampment, Fence Off Toriumi Plaza in Little Tokyo

LOS ANGELESThe City of Los Angeles began removing an encampment on March 17 from a Little Tokyo plaza before closing and fencing it off to the publicdrawing protests from local homeless advocacy groups, but also an impassioned defense from City Councilman Kevin de Leon.

De Leon, who represents the plaza area, said Toriumi Plaza, located at First and Judge John Aiso streets, is being closed for maintenance, electrical repairs, landscaping, permanent fencing, and other ancillary work. A timeline for when the plaza will reopen was not available.

Since Feb. 16, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has conducted outreach and brought 86 homeless people from the plaza into shelters, including 25 on March 17. About seven remained in the plaza as of the afternoon of March 17, according to de Leons office. Four of them are being evaluated by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

As of March 16, LAHSA had provided 185 people in the area with referrals for substance abuse programs, housing and shelter options, mental health services, survival resources, and coronavirus-related services, according to de Leons office.

The people brought indoors have been placed in several facilities, including A Bridge Home temporary shelter, the Hilda L. Solis Care First Village interim housing, and permanent placements within the Project Roomkey program at the Cecil Hotel, which is now operated by the Skid Row Housing Trust, according to de Leons office.

However, the plan to remove people living in the plaza has been protested by J-Town Action and Solidarity, a grassroots community organization in Little Tokyo that has been collaborating with We The Unhoused to provide hot meals, water, and supplies to people living in the plaza every Saturday over the last year.

J-Town, along with We The Unhoused and Ktown for All, protested with dozens of people on March 13, and a smaller protest was held on March 17 in opposition to the citys removal of the unhoused residents, as well as to the shelter options that it has offered. Protesters allege the Project Roomkey program, which provides hotel rooms to unhoused people, includes prison-like conditions and restrictive policies.

Some Project Roomkey residents, including a group that organized last year under the name Unhoused Tenants Against Carceral Housing, have alleged that they are subjected to debilitating curfews that restrict their employment options, as well as to supply confiscations, harassment from security, a lack of privacy and other rules as a condition of the placement.

A woman who asked to be identified under the pseudonym Amy told City News Service she has lived on the sidewalk outside the plaza for the last three years, arriving before the plaza became home to dozens of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she believes the city is not offering adequate solutions for the plazas residents, which she said is largely a community captured by the crystal meth addiction.

They need drug treatment, or mental health or alcohol [treatment] or combinations  thats an investment which this does not make. It only puts you in a hotel, even a nice hotel, but that becomes a prison because then you have to deal with the medical staff coming and going, you cant leave before a certain time, you have to be back at a certain time, they serve meals at a certain time, the security of the hotel, the personnel of the hotel, the medical staff that checks you coming and going  and many of these people look down on you. Youre the homeless, Amy said.

J-Town demanded that the city cancel its plans to close Toriumi Plaza and instead provide the people living there with permanent housing and wrap-around services. It also wants the city to use the approximately $1.76 billion it invests in the police each year for permanent housing and services for all of the citys unhoused residents.

Sending in lethally armed police to tear down tents and destroy peoples belongings does not make housing any more accessible, and the housing he [de Leon] does offer is temporary and akin to prisons, Gianna Furumoto, an organizer with J-Town Action and Solidarity, told City News Service on March 15.

We know many residents at Toriumi Plaza who accepted Project Roomkey and are already back at the plazanot by choice, but because they were kicked out of [Project Roomkey] to make room for newly swept people.

The temporary fence erected around the plaza on March 17 was lined with signs that said KDL [Kevin de Leon] hates the poor and Housekeys not handcuffs.

Several protesters directed their anger toward De Leons staff, including berating his communications director, Pete Brown.

Regarding the animosity directed at de Leon and his office, the councilman told City News Service on March 17:

We want to provide housing and get folks off the street and get them into an environment thats safe for them. And to date, weve been extremely successful, with a vast majorityI would say 9 out of 10 unhoused neighborsreadily accept housing. These so-called activists seem to have a different political agenda where they want our unhoused neighbors to continue to live on the streets, confusing them, for those who are severely mentally ill, and with the bull horns, screaming, shouting and confusing them. That is not humane. Its not progressive to let people live or die on the streets.

De Leon added that, despite protesters claiming that his office is criminalizing homelessness, nothing has happened like that at all, whatsoever, not one single instance.  Theyre perpetuating a narrative that is deadly for our unhoused neighbors.

Ive never encountered anything like this in my life. In which universe is it better to live on a cold cement with no bathrooms, no running water, no heat than a hotel room with your own shower, with your own toilet, with your own mirror, with air conditioning and heating and more importantly, your own locked door, so you can lock it for your own safety? de Leon added. Its just mind-boggling. Its confounding. They have co-opted their misery.

According to de Leons office, community members and nearby businesses have complained about the encampments presence in the plaza, and there have been multiple overdoses, at least one sexual assault, drug deals, vandalism, assaults, and fires at the location reported to the police department.

Candy Kisswani, who owns Mikes Deli across the street from the plaza, told City News Service the business has taken a big hit since the encampment developed across the street and that she has been complaining to the councilmans office for the last two years.

She said she and her staff have experienced incidents with people breaking their windows, becoming violent, relieving themselves on the sidewalk in front of the deli, using drugs, and leaving behind needles in front of the delis door.

It has got to get cleaned up. Its really not safe, Kisswani said.

Dora Hanamure, who works at and is married to the owner of Mitsuru Sushi & Grill, told City News Service on March 16 that they havent experienced many problems with the neighboring encampment, but that customers have complained about not feeling safe in Little Tokyo.

Furumoto said J-Town Action and Solidarity (JAS) has communicated with nearby businesses about their concerns.

Our position at JAS is, if you dont want to see these people doing drugs, the only thing is to provide permanent housing for them. People who are housed also do drugs, they just have the privilege of doing it in their own space, Furumoto said. What we need to provide is services to the unhoused community rather than bringing them more violence and displacement, which really just aggravates everything that these business owners are complaining about.
Sen. Rubio Warns Florida Colleges of CCP Espionage: Keep Those Concerns in Mind

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Thursday wrote to the presidents of 26 research colleges and universities in his state, warning them to guard against espionage efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

I write to bring your attention to a thorny issue that threatens to compromise our nations security as well as the integrity of the research and development enterprise in Florida, Rubio said in the letter, noting that the Chinese regime is taking advantage of research collaboration and educational exchange to covertly advance a malign agenda.

According to Rubio, much of the technology and knowledge the CCP tries to obtain from American research institutions is unclassified, but being unclassified doesnt mean it is unimportant.

The CCP quietly seeks to acquire cutting-edge U.S. technology and the knowledge that will give birth to the technology of the future, the senator explained. The CCP believes that access to such knowledge will accelerate the buildup of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the CCPs armed wing, and propel Chinas state-directed economy ahead of the United States and into the technological frontier where leadership of the global economy of the 21st century will be contested.

For this reason, we cannot approach academic exchange with institutions or individuals from the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) with stars in our eyes, he wrote.

Rubio then pointed to several cases of the CCP successfully penetrating Floridas research institutions that have been uncovered in recent years. In 2017, the University of Central Florida (UCF) fired an electrical engineering professor who was simultaneously employed by a PLA-affiliated university in Chengdu, China, where he set up a lab similar to his own in Florida. In 2018, a 19-year veteran professor at UCF fled the United States when university officials sought to ask him about his simultaneous employment at a Chinese school.

In a more recent case, the U.S Justice Department in February 2021 indicted former University of Florida professor Yang Lin for defrauding the federal government of $1.75 million in grant funding. A Chinese national, Yang was accused of fraudulently obtaining the federal grant money to develop an imaging informatics technology while concealing a company he founded in China to profit from that research, as well as his participation in the Chinese regimes talent recruitment initiative through a PLA-affiliated Chinese university.

While acknowledging that China itself is not the problem, Rubio emphasized that Chinese nationals face enormous political pressure to advance the CCPs goals through their professional activities with international partners, and as a result, academic exchange with entities and individuals from China deserves much greater scrutiny than collaboration with those of other countries.

I respectfully urge you to carefully review and monitor existing research relationships with the PRC under your purview, and to keep these concerns in mind as you consider any future collaboration and the national security implications thereof, he wrote in conclusion.

Rubios warning is in line with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss campaign to protect state secrets from Beijings espionage. In July 2021, the Republican governor signed into law two bills, with one increasing penalties for stealing a trade secret to benefit a foreign government, and the other requiring universities and colleges in his state to disclose large amount of foreign donations and implement extra screening of foreign applicants for research positions.

All we are doing today is saying enough is enough, DeSantis said last year. We have to start fighting back. Florida is doing that.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 13, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

McCarthy Condemns Cawthorn Comment Calling Zelensky A Thug

During a weekly press conference, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) condemned Rep. Madison Cawthorns (R-N.C.) comments calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a thug.

Remember that Zelensky is a thug, Cawthorn was seen saying. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and it is incredibly evil and it has been pushing woke ideologies. It really is the new woke world empire.

The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting, Cawthorn said on Twitter on March 10, the same day the footage was released. But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America.

I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, Cawthorn added. Pray also we are not drawn into conflict based on foreign leaders pushing misinformation.

At his weekly press conference, McCarthy was asked for his reaction to the comments.

Madison is wrong, McCarthy quickly responded, adding, If theres any thug in this world its Putin.

McCarthy said that in recent days, Russian forces have intentionally targeted a maternity ward and a building housing several children.

This is atrocious. This is wrong, McCarthy said. This [Putin] is the aggressor. This is the one that needs to end this war. This is the one everyone should unite against.

Asked whether he would support Cawthorns re-election despite his disagreement with Cawthorn over the issue, McCarthy said yes.

Many other prominent Republicans have also denounced Cawthorns comments.

Like 90 percent of the country is with Ukrainians and is opposed to Putin, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who recently came under fire for calling for a Russian Brutus to assassinate Putin. So when you see a member of Congress say things like this, the one thing I want you to know: theyre outliers.

To my colleague in the House, I would push back and say its not Ukraine that is invading Russia, responded Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). It is Russia invading Ukraine.

In a statement to a news outlet, a spokesman for Cawthorn explained his position further, making clear that while he supported the Ukrainian people, he did not want the United States to be drawn into the conflict.

Cawthorn supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian Presidents efforts to defend their country against Russian aggression, but does not want America drawn into another conflict through emotional manipulation, the spokesman said.

Following an address given to the U.S. Congress by Zelenskyduring which he asked that the U.S. impose a no-fly zone and increase its military and financial supportCawthorn warned against giving the emotional speech too much credence in deciding how to respond to the ongoing conflict.

Emotion should never guide our foreign policy. The United States must be extraordinarily careful to implement logical, rational foreign policy that tactfully strengthens the Ukrainian people while simultaneously putting America first, Cawthorn told another news outlet after the speech.

Despite a largely negative reaction from other Republicans, a few have defended Cawthorns comments.

Joe Kent, a Trump-backed candidate running to replace Rep. Jaime Herrera Butler (R-Wash.), said on Twitter that Cawthorns comments nailed it.

Zelenskyy was installed via a U.S. backed color revaluation (sic), his goal is to move his county (sic) west so he virtue signals in woke ideology while using nazi battalions to crush his enemies, Kent said. He was also smart enough to cut our elite in on the graft.

The proper U.S. response to the Russian invasion has divided the old guard of the GOPincluding figures like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Graham who have called for heavy U.S. involvement in the conflictfrom more populist-leaning newcomers like Cawthorn, Senate candidate J.D. Vance, and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who have demanded that the United States stay out of the conflict.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shares Cawthorns sentiments on the conflict and has demanded that the United States remain out of the Eastern European nation.

Greene, like Cawthorn, voted against a $13.6 billion military and financial aid package to Ukraine that was signed by President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
Missouri Poultry Industry Scrambles to Contain Avian Flu

Consumers have no health risk of getting avian flu if they eat poultry, but producers are anxious about the virus killing flocks and causing shortages and price increases.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Missouri is one of 13 states with commercial and backyard poultry flocks reporting infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI). The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) reported cases of HPAI in Stoddard, Bates, Jasper and Lawrence counties between March 39. Taiwan is temporarily banning imported poultry and beef products from Missouri and 11 other states, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Missouri is sixth in the nation in annual turkey production (16 million) and ninth in broiler chickens (291 million), according to MDA. A 2016 report by MDA found poultry and egg producers account for $1.4 billion or 30 percent of the states livestock market.

Migratory waterfowl traveling the North American flyways can intermingle with infected birds from Europe and Asia. Waterfowl can be infected and show no signs of illness. The disease can spread to domesticated poultry through contact with waterfowl, including water and food sources and fecal matter. The virus can be spread to poultry producers of all sizes by contaminated equipment or clothing.

I actually expect it will get worse as we get to planting season, especially in the Midwest, because its probably in a lot of fields and once the dust starts rolling, it will spread a lot quicker, Dustin Stanton, who operates a 1,400-acre farm producing 42,000 free-range eggs a week in Centralia, Missouri, said in an interview with The Center Square.

MDA is encouraging all poultry producers to increase biosecuritypreventing viruses, bacteria, funguses, parasites and other microorganisms causing diseases through improved operational practices and facilities.

This virus spreads easily and quickly, said Christi Miller, director of communications for MDA and a backyard poultry farmer. You dont see it until its already there.

Symptoms of HPAI are a decrease in the flocks water and food consumption, quietness, a drop in egg production and sudden increases in deaths.

John Bryan, director of Missouri operations for the Poultry Federation, said all producers should increase vigilance.

Its like kids getting the flu on the playground, Bryan said. Once one of them gets it, most of them get it. Our growers have protocols, but every now and then a goose will land outside and somehow its droppings get tracked in by boots or a rodent.

A memo on March 4 from MDAs state veterinarian, Steve Strubberg, to the states free-range poultry producers recommended all poultry be moved into biosecure housing immediately. However, if housing free-range flocks compromise their welfare, Strubberg stated co-mingling with migratory birds or waterfowl isnt allowed, along with restricting access to any water source available to those birds.

Stanton, whose farm is approximately 100 miles away from the Mississippi River and its flyway, hopes the distance protects his flock.

Were like every farmer in that we want the best for our animals, Stanton said. They have to be healthy to keep laying eggs, so thats important to us.

By Joe Mueller
Moderna Seeks FDA Emergency Authorization for 4th COVID-19 Vaccine Shot

Moderna has requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for all adults aged 18 and above.

The request is broader than that of rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which requested earlier this week for the regulator to approve a booster shot for all adults aged 65 and above.

In a release on Thursday, Moderna said that it asked the FDA to include all adults to provide flexibility for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and healthcare providers to determine the appropriate use of an additional booster dose  including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities.

The request was based in part on recently published data generated in the United States and Israel following the emergence of Omicron, the drugmaker said, without further elaborating. It also has not commented on the effectiveness of a fourth shot.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Moderna for comment.

For the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends a primary series of two doses spaced 48 weeks apart, followed by a booster dose at least 5 months after the last dose.

Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have both been testing a booster shot specific toward the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

Moderna President Stephen Hoge said on March 14 that certain groups are likely to benefit from a fourth dose.

For those who are immune-compromised, those who are older adults, over the age of 50 or at least 65, we want to strongly recommend and encourage [a fourth shot], the same way we do with flu vaccines, Hoge told Business Insider.

He said the rest of the public will find a benefit if they get the shot. Is it necessary? I think thats a strong word. I think it will provide a benefit to anyone who gets it, he said.

The White House has said that Congress needs to approve more funding to enable the government to provide Americans with lifesaving tools: vaccines, booster shots, treatments, tests, and high-quality masks. The Biden administration told Congress it needs $22.5 billion in immediate emergency funding for COVID-19 testing, vaccine, and treatment efforts.

COVID-19 vaccines from both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 have been linked to rare cases of heart inflammation, particularly in young men. Several studies have suggested that Modernas vaccine is likely to cause heart inflammation of the heart muscle at a higher rate than Pfizers, Reuters reported.

Vaccine providers are required to report any serious adverse effects or vaccination administration errors to VAERS, hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The federal government has a countermeasures program that can compensate eligible persons who suffer serious injury from approved vaccines. But the burden of proof has proven a challenging process.

Vaccine manufacturers are immune from liability for any adverse reactions unless theres willful misconduct involved.

Isabel van Brugen contributed to this report.
Mom Charged in 5-Year-Old Sons Death Enters No-Contest Plea

NASHVILLE, Tenn.A Tennessee woman charged in the disappearance and death of her 5-year-son entered a no-contest plea as jurors were being selected for her trial.

The plea on Wednesday means Krystal Daniels accepted a conviction without admitting guilt on charges of aggravated child abuse, conspiracy to commit aggravated child abuse, filing a false report, and tampering with evidence, news outlets reported. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

She and her husband, Joseph Daniels, were charged in connection to the April 2018 disappearance of their 5-year-old son, Joe Clyde Daniels, whose body has not been found. Joseph Daniels was convicted by a jury last year of murder and sentenced to 51 years in prison.

During the hearing, prosecuting District Attorney Ray Crouch said the state would attempt to show Krystal Daniels witnessed her husband beating the boy and conspired with him to tell police he had gone missing.
Los Angeles police officers and city employees protest against the city's vaccine mandate at the Los Angeles City Hall on March 17, 2022. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times)

Nearly 100 City Employees Sue Los Angeles Over Vaccine Mandate

RollCall4Freedom, LLC. (RC4F), a group composed of 98 Los Angeles police officers and city employees, filed a lawsuit on March 15 in the district court for the Central District of California, arguing that the citys vaccine mandate violates the U.S. Constitution, the group said in a press conference held in front of the City Hall on March 17.

The attorneys of the Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, on behalf of their clients RC4F, challenged the religious exemption and testing protocols within Ordinance No. 187134 that requires all Los Angeles city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Mandatory Vaccine Order

On Aug. 8, 2021, the city of Los Angeles approved a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination ordinance that requires all current and future city employees to be fully vaccinated and report their vaccination status. Exceptions are made for medical or religious exemptions, which must be submitted by Sept. 7, 2021.

Under current law, the city of Los Angeles is required to provide accommodations for employees with disabilities or religious beliefs, and to refrain from harassing or retaliating against such employees.

Angelica Anselm, a co-founder of RC4F, said the citys current regulations also mandate weekly testing for those who are already exempted from getting the COVID vaccine or in the process of approval.

Currently, the religious vaccine exemption forms required by the city are intrusive and discriminatory and are being reviewed by low-level bureaucrats who have no business determining the strength of these employees [requests], she said.

These employees believe they have a right to opt out of the long term side of a trial, she added. The goal with this complaint is to send the city back to the bargaining table to evaluate, evaluate their vaccination exemption. Establish an opt-out option for those who wish to not participate in experimental vaccine trials.

Police Face Firing for Refusing Vaccine Mandate

Some police officers risk being terminated for refusing to participate in the citys mandatory vaccination program for employees.

I am one of just a handful of officers that are currently going through the termination process, said Michael McMahon, a 14-year sworn-in officer and one of the founders of RC4F.

Police officers were naturally investigators. So in doing my own research, determining the evidence that I saw in hand, I made my own decision that the vaccine was not going to be for me  it was my personal choice as an individual and as Americans were afforded rights by God, he said.

The city has initiated the process of terminating his employment, bringing financial troubles to his family. He also mentioned that the city government requires all unvaccinated employees to take eight tests every month, costing $65 each time, at their own expense.

We have to recognize that most of the population of the United States has natural immunity, he stressed. But the vaccinated who we all know can still carry and can still transmit the virus itself.

Another 18-year veteran public servant in the city government said: I have gone to work daily now for approximately 6 months with the mental pain and stress of not knowing if my job and livelihood will be taken away from me because of LA citys unreasonable mandate for vaccination.

The city government did not respond to The Epoch Times request to comment by press time.
Students walk through Sproul Plaza on the University of CaliforniaBerkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif., on April 23, 2012. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Newsom Lifts Freeze on UC Berkeley Enrollment

LOS ANGELESCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this week overturned a recent Supreme Court ruling that would have required the University of California (UC)Berkeley to deny admission to about 3,000 students after they had already received acceptance letters.

Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 118 into law on March 14a bill that passed unanimously both in the Assembly and Senateoverturning a March 3 Supreme Court ruling to freeze enrollment for the upcoming fall term.

The state Supreme Court upheld a lower courts August 2021 ruling in favor of a residents group called Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods to freeze UC Berkeleys fall enrollment to the 20202021 levelreducing over 3,000 new students for the upcoming school year.

The group sued the university for increasing student enrollment without addressing the impacts on housing, homelessness, traffic, and noisethereby violating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an environmental review process that spells out the potential adverse impacts of a proposed development.

SB 118 ensures that university leaders have 18 months to address CEQA-related issues before issuing a decision that would impact enrollment growth. However, the bill would still require university developments to be comprehensively reviewed for environmental impacts, according to the governors office.

But a campus would not have to do a CEQA review solely because of a student enrollment number.

Im grateful to the Legislature for moving quickly on this critical issueit sends a clear signal that California wont let lawsuits get in the way of the education and dreams of thousands of studentsour future leaders and innovators, Newsom said in a statement.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his State of the State address in Sacramento on March 8, 2022. (Screenshot via YouTube/California Governor Gavin Newsom)

This year, the school will send out more than 15,000 admission offers to first-year students and 4,500 to transfer students, according to UC Berkeleys spokesman Dan Mogulof.

UC Berkeley leaders praised the legislation and expressed their gratitude to the policymakers for pushing the bill forward.

I want to thank Californias legislators for their quick and effective response. At Berkeley we are, and will remain, committed to continuing our efforts to address a student housing crisis through new construction of below market housing, said UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ.

However, Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods, the group that sued the university over its plans to expand, said the passage of the bill can only worsen student homelessness.

UC Berkeley does not have the capacity to handle more students, Phil Bokovoy, president of Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods, said in a statement. We dont want new students to have to live in cars, campers and hotel rooms like they are in Santa Barbara.

This misguided bill gives the UC a unique free pass to avoid analyzing impacts associated with its own enrollment decisions directly impacting population density on campus and in the surrounding communities.
NIH Calls for Volunteers for Study of Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines

Interested people warned to reconsider

A U.S. health agency is looking for volunteers for a study of allergic reactions to the two COVID-19 vaccines built on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, though several people who experienced reactions say interested people should not enroll.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an office within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), started the trial last year but is having trouble enrolling enough people.

According to the trials official record, investigators started recruiting in July 2021 and the first patient received a vaccine on Sept. 8, 2021.

Participants must have experienced mild or moderate allergic reaction to the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, both of which are based on the mRNA platform. During the study, each person will get a dose and be monitored for another reaction.

Only 13 people have volunteered so far, Dr. Pamela Guerrerio, the studys principal investigator, told The Epoch Times in an email. All 13 have been vaccinated.

Guerrerio and Dr. Anthony Fauci, NIAIDs director, said in statements released by the agency that the study was aimed at better understanding allergic reactions to the vaccines and whether people who experience them could safely finish their two-shot primary regimen.

Our study aims to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for systemic allergic reactions such as hives, swelling, trouble breathing and light-headedness or passing out, Guerrerio said.

All participants are admitted for at least four days to an intensive care unit run by the government in Bethesda, Maryland. Officials say experienced medical staff will be on hand, along with equipment and medicine to treat severe allergic reactions.

Participants will randomly receive Pfizers vaccine or a placebo on one day. The following day, they will receive whichever one they had not received the previous day.

Investigators will test the breathing and blood of the volunteers and complete questionnaires prior to, at the time of, and in the months following vaccination. Participants are expected to return to Maryland one month and five months after vaccination. If participants experience no reaction or a mild reaction, theyll be offered a booster shot during the latter visit.

The study is designed to enroll up to 100 patients but investigators anticipate that they can fulfill their research objectives with fewer than 30 participants, an NIAID spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.

Investigators declined an interview request.

The NIAID is also running a study assessing whether people with a history of allergic reactions or mast cell disorder are at increased risk of an immediate allergic reaction to the Pfizer or Moderna shots. The study was expected to be completed by the end of March, but it is not finished yet, according to the agency.

About five cases of severe allergic reaction occur per million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, according to federal data.

Dr. Elizabeth Phillips, director of the Center for Drug Safety and Immunology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who studies immune responses to drugs, said the new study would be important to sort out the safety of individuals who have had an immediate systemic allergic reaction to dose #1 of an mRNA vaccine.

Data so far indicate that people who had a reaction after receiving a dose of a vaccine can eventually get another dose safely, Phillips, who is not involved in the research, told The Epoch Times via email, adding, Understanding mechanisms and pathways of these reactions will help us personalize care and make sure that each individual can be vaccinated as safely as possible.

Several people who had a suspected or confirmed reaction, though, said they would not participate in the study.

Its a pretty risky trial for somebody, especially with no way to be refunded for any type of medical bills or any issues following the trial, Skylar Bush, 35, told The Epoch Times.

Bush, an Oregon resident, was diagnosed with a severe allergic reaction to Modernas vaccine after receiving the jab in April 2021, according to medical records reviewed by The Epoch Times.

Participants in National Institutes of Health studies are typically paid, sometimes thousands of dollars. It wasnt clear what the payment would be for participating in the allergic reaction trial. NIAID did not respond when asked if participants would be paid and if medical bills related to any reactions they experience during the trial would be covered.

I would be super cautious. Anyone going into that trial, I would try to deter them from doing that, Bush said. I love that theyre trying to like investigate clinical trials and do science. Im pro-science. But theyre doing it with the cart before the horse of the ability to protect these people signing up for the trials because everyone during the trials is going to sign a liability to not be able to sue or get proper reimbursement for future issues.

Matthew Matlock, 38, of California, who experienced a suspected allergic reaction after getting vaccinated, says he doesnt trust the government enough to enroll, pointing to how the NIH has not released information from its study of people with confirmed and suspected neurologic reactions to the vaccines.

I havent seen anything really super encouraging from some of these organizations, like the NIH and the CDC, to do things that are unbiased and arent trying to necessarily prove the theory that not only are the vaccines effective, but theyre safe, and that seems to be the agenda across the board, Matlock, of California, told The Epoch Times.

Until I feel like were at a point where we can actually as a society admit that maybe this wasnt as safe as we thought and until I start to see some evidence that were not trying to cover up some of the data that happened in the initial trials, I dont want somebody using me as as a lab rat or a statistic to further push a narrative, he added.
Then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows talks to reporters at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 21, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

North Carolina Investigating Former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Over Voter Fraud Allegations

Authorities in North Carolina have launched an investigation into possible voter fraud by Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows over allegations that he registered to vote at an address where he does not live.

Nazneen Ahmed, a spokeswoman for Josh Stein, the state attorney general, confirmed to The New York Times that the North Carolina Department of Justice has asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into whether or not Meadows broke the law when he registered to vote, and voted from, the address where he allegedly did not live.

We have asked the S.B.I. to investigate and at the conclusion of the investigation, well review their findings, Ahmed said.

The investigation was sparked by a March 6 report by The New Yorker which stated that Meadows registered to vote at an addressa mobile home in Scaly Mountain, N.C., for the 2020 electionwhere he has never lived.

Meadows also does not own the property, according to The New Yorker, who cited the former owner of the property, who was not named.

Meadows filed his paperwork on Sept. 19th, roughly three weeks before North Carolinas voter-registration deadline for the general election, according to The New Yorker.

On a line that asked for his residential addresswhere you physically live, the form instructsMeadows wrote down the address of a fourteen-by-sixty-two-foot mobile home in Scaly Mountain. He listed his move-in date for this address as the following day, September 20th, the news outlet stated.

Meadows did not respond to The New Yorkers request for comment

Under North Carolina voter registration requirements, an individual must have been a resident of the county for at least 30 days before the election day in which they are voting. Intentionally lying on a voter registration form is a felony and voters can only have one official address linked to their voter registration.

Meadows and his wife, Debbie, both voted in the 2020 elections by absentee ballot, which they had mailed to their home in Washington, D.C, WRAL News, a local NBC affiliate, reports, citing North Carolina State Board of Elections records and Macon County Board of Elections Director Melanie D. Thibault.

The Epoch Times has contacted Meadows for comment.

Macon County District Attorney Ashley Welch wrote a letter to the attorney generals office on March 14 in which she stated that until being contacted by the media, I was unaware of any allegations of voter fraud surrounding Mark Meadows.

Welch asked that the attorney generals office handle both the advisement of law enforcement agencies as to any criminal investigation as well as any potential prosecution of Mark Meadows.

It is in the best interest of justice and the best interest of the people of North Carolina that the Attorney Generals office handles the prosecution of this case, Welch said.

Meadows, a Republican, served as a House representative for North Carolina from 2013 to 2020, when he resigned to join then-President Donald Trumps administration as White House chief of staff.

He was an ally of Trump and urged lawmakers to investigate claims of alleged widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, however, election officials and Attorney general William Barr have concluded there was none.
Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine about a month ago, Ukrainian communities throughout the United States have showed strong support. The Ohio Ukrainian Summit was held at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma on March 17. (Photo MIchael Sakal/The Epoch Times)

Ohio Preparing to Welcome Ukrainian Refugees Fleeing War

Ohio and its large Ukrainian community near Cleveland are ready to welcome refugees while numerous agencies on all levels of governmentlocal, state, and federalare preparing to help assimilate them into the American way of life.

Wearing a small blue-and-yellow ribbonthe colors of the Ukrainian flagpinned on his suit jacket, Gov. Mike DeWine led the Ohio Ukrainian Summit, a forum for resettlement, housing, and job services groups on March 17.

DeWine was greeted by St. Vladimirs Ukrainian Orthodox Churchs two orthodox priests Rev. John Nakonachny and Rev. Michael Hontaruk, whose brother-in-law is fighting against the Russians in Ukraine.

Gov. Mike DeWine led the Ohio Ukrainian Summit at St. Vladimir Unkrainian Orthodoxs Grand Hall in Parma on March 17. About 200 people attended the event. (Michael Sakal/The Epoch Times)

The event was attended by about 200 people at the churchs Grand Hall in the Ukrainian Village section of Parma, Ohio, west of Cleveland.

Sponsored by Ohio Job and Family Services, the summit included about 10 other speakers. It was somewhat of a welcoming launch and a unified showing of Ohioans continued support of Ukraine and forthcoming refugees who already are quietly arriving in northeast Ohio.

The purpose of the summit was to provide an opportunity for resettlement and social services groups such as Cleveland Catholic Charities, the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, and Global Cleveland to have a comprehensive forum.

Many directors and managers from those agencies explained their roles in how they can best help refugees adjust to their new life through housing, helping them find work, and seeking education options for their children.

Admitting that he only knows whats happening in Ukraine from watching television news, DeWine said from the podium, I dont know when, and if well get refugees, but it seems like we need to get ready. I think this is an appropriate time and place.

The Rev. Michael Hontaruk of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Parma, Ohios Ukrainian Village. Hontaruks brother-in-law is fighting against the Russians in Ukraine. (Michael Sakal/The Epoch Times)

Currently, theres been about 20 Ukrainian refugees arriving around northeast Ohio, including a woman and her 10-year-old child who arrived in the west Cleveland suburb of Brook Park on March 17, according to Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland.

Global Cleveland is a nonprofit economic development group focused on assisting immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to the city who are fleeing dangerous countries or persecution.

Thousands of Ukrainians are continuing to leave their homeland in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Those who spoke during the summit called for the federal government to provide unrestricted visas to the refugees so they could stay as long as they need.

Once the refugees arrive in the United States, they would automatically become legal residents, but the types of visas they would be granted currently are uncertain.

Under legal resident status, they would be eligible for the same government assistance and benefits for up to eight months. However, the goal of the agencies is to make refugees self-sufficient as soon as possible.

This is just the start, Hontaruk told The Epoch Times. Well have to see how the U.S. handles visas for refugees. They are going to need to find living arrangements for their families and schooling for their children. Coming here is a big step.

Alenka Jerak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia which has an office in Cleveland, was in attendance at the Ohio Ukrainian Summit in Parma on March 17. (Michael Sakal/The Epoch Times)

According to the United Nations, at least 1,900 civilian casualties have been reported, including 726 killed, though the UN says that actual numbers are likely much higher. Nearly 5 million people have been forcibly displaced. At least 3 million Ukrainians have fled to nearby countries,

Ukrainians are painting the words zhinky (women) and deety (children) on the rooftops of various buildings throughout parts of the country indicating women and children are inside, but the Russian military keeps bombing them anyway.

Putin is waging a barbaric, brutal, and unjustified war, DeWine told the audience.

This is a tragedy  It is just so horrible and barbaric, it breaks our heart.

We all can join together to urge our president to send all the military support we can including fighter jets so the people of Ukraine can fight back, DeWine added.

Alenka Jerak, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenias Office in Cleveland, also was in attendance.

Jerak told The Epoch Times that the prime ministers of Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Poland recently visited with Zelensky in Ukraine.

President Zelensky is doing all right, Jerak said. Everybody is proceeding with caution against Russia because they are afraid another stage of this will start World War III. In the meantime, Russia is proceeding with killing more people.

First and foremost, DeWine said that Ohio will welcome the arrival of Ukrainian refugees.

Lets make this clear, Ukrainian refugees are welcome here in Ohio, DeWine said. Ohio stands with Ukraine as the world does. We are a nation of immigrants. Ohios success was built by Eastern European immigrants.

Cimpermans sentiments echoed DeWines.

In a unified show of support: Many Ukrainian businesses along State Road in the Ukrainian Village section of Parma, Ohio, have signs in the window. (Michael Sakal/The Epoch Times)

Cleveland is a hub of Eastern European immigrants, Cimperman said. Let them come here. Weve brought refugees here before, and we can do it again. Lets provide them unrestricted visas and not have to make them jump through the hoops to stay here.

Everybody wants to go back home, said Cimperman, whose Slovenian mother left Yugoslavia under its Communistic government. Right now, Ukrainians arent sure whether theyll have a home to go back to. It would be good to make it as nice as we can for them while theyre here.

Ukrainian Village is home to five churches, numerous delis, and businesses buzzing with the native language, and is one of the largest Ukrainian communities in the United States.

Overall, there are about 4,000 people of Ukrainian descent living in Parma, and thousands throughout northeast Ohio, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

In late August, the local community hosts an Independence Day parade along State Road in Parma.

Although Parmas Mayor Tim Degeeter was not one of the speakers, he also was in attendance at the forum. He has been a strong advocate for the Ukrainian community.

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter said during the summit on March 17 that Parma is a good fit for refugees from Ukraine. (Michael Sakal/The Epoch Times)

This hits home for us because Parma is Ukraine, DeGeter told The Epoch Times. We think Parma is a natural for Ukrainian refugees. Its embedded here. Since Putins illegal invasion, we stand with Ukraine. Its great that Ohio has banned all Russian liquor and products from being sold here.

The Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services Refugee Services Program works with local resettlement agencies to determine the capacity of a given area to handle an influx of refugees. In addition to the initial processing and screening of refugees, the federal government provides funding to states, which is then administered by agencies on the local level.

More recently, northeast Ohio has taken in about 400 Afghanis since October, about two months after the fall of Afghanistan. Overall, theres been about 80,000 Afghani refugees come to the United States with the help of a $6 billion aid package from the Biden administration, Darren T. Hamm, director of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants told The Epoch Times.

I dont think anyone envisioned what we could be facing six weeks after the fall of Afghanistan, Hamm said. Sometimes with all the processing of paperwork, we did more work in a week than we sometimes did in a year.

Compare the numbers of Ukrainians leaving their country to Afghanistans, Hamm added. We need to keep every avenue opened and accept kindness when its granted.
A Ukrainian serviceman looks on as he stands in front of a burning warehouse after a shelling in Kyiv on March 17, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin: Russia Has No Plans to Occupy Ukraine, Real Genocide Happening in Donbas Region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that his country does not want to occupy Ukraine as Moscows invasion entered the fourth week with no end to conflict in sight.

The appearance of Russian troops near Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine is not connected with the intention to occupy this country. We do not have such a goal, and I also directly stated this in my address on February 24, Putin said in a televised government meeting on March 16. Instead, Russia was forced with no other option for self-defense, he said.

Characterizing the government of Kyiv as pro-Nazi, Putin pointed to the real genocide of people in Ukraines Donbas region who were, for almost eight years, subjected to the most barbaric methods. The Ukrainian government-imposed blockades and large-scale punitive actions as well as carried out constant artillery shelling and terrorist attacks on Donbas, according to Putin.

And for what? Only because they sought elementary human rightsto live according to the laws and traditions of their ancestors, to speak their native language, to raise their children the way they want.

Kyiv also planned to join NATO while authorities made statements about developing nuclear weapons, things Putin said were a real threat.

In the future, the pro-Nazi regime could get its hands on weapons of mass destruction, whose target would be Russia. The president also accused Ukraine of having a network of dozens of laboratories funded by the U.S. Pentagon that was conducting military biological programs.

Despite repeated warnings that these actions posed a direct threat to Russias security, Ukraine, the United States, and NATO dismissed such concerns with ostentatious and cynical disdain, Putin said.

Therefore, Moscow was left with no options to peacefully solve problems and was forced to launch a special military operation.

The Russian president also criticized Western sanctions imposed on the country, saying that sanctions and restrictions against Russia would have been imposed in any eventuality. Moscows military action against Ukraine only provided the West with a pretext for new sanctions.

Putin also claimed Russian citizens in many Western nations face discrimination and are refused medical care, jobs, the right to celebrate their culture, etc. just because they are from Russia.

Trying to cancel Russia, the West tore off all the masks of decency, began to act boorishly, demonstrated its true nature, he added. It just begs a direct analogy with the anti-Semitic pogroms that the Nazis staged in Germany in the 30s of the last century, and then their henchmen from many European countries who joined Hitlers aggression against our country during the Great Patriotic War.

Putins characterization of Kyiv as a pro-Nazi regime has been denounced by multiple scholars in a statement published in the Jewish Journal on Feb. 27. Russian propaganda constantly presents the elected leaders of Kyiv as Nazis that oppress the local Russian population, it said.

We strongly reject the Russian governments cynical abuse of the term genocide, the memory of World War II and the Holocaust, and the equation of the Ukrainian state with the Nazi regime to justify its unprovoked aggression.

This rhetoric is factually wrong, morally repugnant, and deeply offensive to the memory of millions of victims of Nazism and those who courageously fought against it, including Russian and Ukrainian soldiers of the Red Army.

Though the scholars admitted that Ukraine, like any other country, has its share of violent xenophobic and right-wing extremists, they made it clear that it does not justify Russian aggression and the gross mischaracterization of the country.

With the RussiaUkraine war entering its fourth week, Moscow is continuing to shell Ukrainian cities. Since the invasion, there have been 780 confirmed civilian deaths and 3.2 million refugees, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Both countries are negotiating for a resolution but are yet to come to an agreement. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said that he will request a U.N. peacekeeping mission to Ukraine at the next NATO summit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Russian government via teleconference in Moscow on March 10, 2022. (SputnikAFP/Getty Images/Mikhail Klimentyev)

Putin Tells Germanys Scholz That Kyiv Is Stalling Peace Talks With Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call on Friday that Kyiv was trying to stall peace talks but that Moscow is ready to continue negotiations.

Putin claimed that Ukrainian negotiators were trying every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals, according to a Kremlin-issued readout of the call.

Nonetheless the Russian side is ready to continue searching for a solution in line with its well-known principled approaches, the readout says.

During the call, Scholz called for a ceasefire in Ukraine, a German government spokesperson said. Scholz also stressed the need for improvement of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and called for finding a diplomatic resolution to the war, which Moscow calls a special military operation.

Russian demands include Ukraines surrender, a pledge never to join NATO, recognition of the independence of breakaway pro-Russia separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and acknowledgment of Russia-annexed Crimea as belonging to Moscow.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed willingness to make concessions on NATO membership and is open to discussing the status of the contested territories, while insisting Ukraine would not capitulate.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Zelensky and member of Kyivs negotiating delegation, told Polish media outlet Wirtualna Polska in an interview on Thursday that agreement on controversial points of the peace treaty could take as long as one and a half weeks.

So far, both the Russian and Ukrainian delegations remain at their positions. Coordination of controversial points can take from several days to one and a half weeks. During this time, we should get closer to drawing up a peace agreement, Podolyak said.

Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak speaks to media after talks between delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Belarus on Feb. 28, 2022. (Sergei Kholodilin/AFP via Getty Images)

Podolyak said an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territories are a key demand of the peace agreement.

Otherwise, nothing, he said, adding that Ukraine is also seeking security guarantees.

Western officials said on Thursday that Ukraine and Russia were taking peace talks seriously but that there remained major differences to bridge.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that the Russian delegation was demonstrating its readiness to work much faster than is being done now.

Unfortunately the Ukrainian delegation is not ready to step up the pace of negotiations. But the (negotiation) process continues nonetheless, Peskov added.

Moscow said previously it was close to agreeing on a formula that would keep Ukraine neutral, one of its key demands.

Ukraine has said it is willing to negotiate but will not surrender or accept Russian ultimatums.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The New South Wales government is proposing a more explicit focus on writing skills in English and rote learning in Maths after decades of declining performances. (klimkin/Pixabay)

Renewed Focus on Writing, Grammar, Punctuation in Australian States New Curriculum

The New South Wales (NSW) education curriculum for Years 3 to 10 will be undergoing major changes as policymakers attempt to address the issue of deteriorating performance.

The draft curriculum, which was published on Friday for consultation, proposes the shift back towards rote learning in maths and places greater emphasis on writing skills.

This builds on the draft curriculum for K to 2, released in late-2021, that made the learning of phonics compulsory again.

The proposed curriculum will also make the teaching of writing the responsibility of English teachers.

At present, all teachers are expected to teach students how to write in the required style of their subjects. For example, science teachers teach students how to write science reports with minimal emotive and descriptive language.

However, as a result, Australian writing standards across the board have dramatically declined during the recent decades, with one-in-five Year 9 students failing to meet the writing standard in 2018, according to NAPLAN results.

Glenn Fahey, an expert in education policy, told The Epoch Times that Year 9 NAPLAN results for writing are the best prediction for how students perform after they finish school.

Fahey said the problem was that all students entering high school were assumed to already have good foundational writing skills and expected to simply pick up different styles for different subjects.

Of course, many students are not effective writers by the time they start school and even by the time they finish high school, he said.

Traditionally, English teachers would drill the fundamentals of writing, including grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation. However, English teachers today emphasise the study of literature and narrative over the development of writing.

In fact, there is already some resistance on the basis that some English teachers dont feel that they should be required to teach writing in a range of genres, Fahey said. They say its beyond the remit of the English subject to do them.

The English Teachers Association told Sydney Morning Herald that the changes would hand them an unnecessary burden because of the different literacy skills between subjects.

Returning sentence structure and all of that kind of stuff purely to English I think is unfortunate, ETA Executive Officer Eva Gold said.

Living books bring the subject to life. (Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock)

Due to decades of declining writing standards, many present day English teachers themselves lack the confidence to teach writing fundamentals.

A survey of over 4,000 teachers in NSW across all subjects revealed that half self-identified as being underprepared for the task of teaching writing (pdf).

Caroline Di Russo, a consultant at CX Law, said she has had to explain punctuation to law graduates before.

I do not know how you  wind up as a graduate in a top tier law firm and you dont know how to use a possessive apostrophe, Di Russo told Sky News Australia.

In the maths curriculum, there is also a shift back to focusing on more traditional, instructional learning approaches, involving the rote learning of basic maths fundamentals.

Fahey said a greater emphasis on memorisation would be welcomed because, by international standards, Australian educators dont emphasise the practice enough.

One reason why rote memorisation and routine problems are important [in maths] is because it develops the automaticity of students, he said. Without having routinely applied certain algorithms and certain arithmetic, students have to try and solve the problem each and every time they encounter it.

The national curriculum is also currently going through its final review before concluding in April. The NSW curriculum will likely move in lockstep and follow the direction of the national one.

The NSW Education Standards Authority is welcoming public feedback on the proposed curriculum until May 2.
Republican Senators Introduce Bill Banning Imports of Russian Uranium

Four U.S. Republican Senators on March 17 introduced a bill to ban imports of Russian uranium into the country as the United States moves to further isolate Moscow in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

The bill was introduced by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and would go into effect 45 days after it is enacted if it is passed by the Senate and House of Representatives.

The United States, with 93 operating nuclear reactors, has more than any other country and is heavily reliant on imported uranium.

While President Joe Biden has so far levied a string of sanctions against Russia including restricting oil, natural gas, and coal imports, it is yet to ban imports of Russian uranium, which made up 16 percent of U.S. purchases in 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Russias uranium production is controlled by Rosatom, a state-run company formed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007.

While banning imports of Russian oil, gas, and coal is an important step, it cannot be the last. Banning Russian uranium imports will further defund Russias war machine, help revive American uranium production, and increase our national security, Barrasso said in a statement.

Barrasso represents the state of Wyoming which is the leader in uranium production, having produced an estimated 173,000 lbs in 2019, and accounting for nearly all U.S. production.

The time is now to permanently remove all Russian energy from the American marketplace, Barrasso, who is the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, added. We know Vladimir Putin uses this money to help fund his brutal and unprovoked war in Ukraine.

Kathryn Huff, who was nominated by President Joe Biden to be an assistant secretary for nuclear energy, told Barrasso in her nomination hearing on Thursday that she believes the United States needs to build out capacity for a Western alternative to the Russian component of the uranium market, including conversion and enrichment capacity.

I do believe that a solution to not only the current fleets needs for uranium as well as high-assay low-enriched uranium for our advanced reactor fleet can be solved with sufficient support from appropriations and direction from the Department of Energy, Huff, who is now a senior official in the Department, said.

Russia also supplies the United States with high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) which is enriched between 5 percent and 20 percent and is needed for most U.S. advanced reactors to allow them to achieve longer operating cycles, require refueling less often, and generally improve their performance.

Current reactor fuel is enriched up to 5 percent.

HALEU could be used in both existing reactors and new advanced reactors that are expected to be developed later this decade or in the 2030s amid a push for carbon-free electricity.

Given the lack of commercial-scale availability of HALEU from domestic suppliers, the United States would likely need to act fast to boost supply at home if a ban is enacted.

A spokesperson for the Nuclear Energy Institute, the industrys main trade group, said in a statement that it supports the development of domestic uranium in the United States, adding that it is assessing the bill and the potential impacts of fuel disruption on the U.S. nuclear fleet.

However, some environmental groups have opposed the development of a U.S. uranium industry.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The area near National University after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 2, 2022. (Ukrainian State Emergency Service via Reuters)

Russia Resorts to War of Attrition After Failing to Meet Initial Objectives: UK Intelligence Chief

Russia has embarked on a deadly war of attrition after failing to meet its initial objectives in Ukraine, Britains chief of defence intelligence has warned.

Lieutenant General Sir Jim Hockenhull said the reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower by Russian forces would inevitably lead to more civilian casualties.

The Kremlin has so far failed to achieve its original objectives. It has been surprised by the scale and ferocity of Ukrainian resistance and has been bedevilled by problems of its own making, he said in a statement.

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian operations have changed. Russia is now pursuing a strategy of attrition. This will involve the reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower.

This will result in increased civilian casualties, disruption of Ukrainian infrastructure, and intensify the humanitarian crisis.

At the same time, Hockenhull said that President Vladimir Putin is tightening his control over Russias domestic media in an attempt to hide the problems he is facing in his military campaign.

The Kremlin is attempting to control the narrative, hide operational problems, and obscure high Russian casualty numbers from the Russian people, he said.

In its latest update on the war in Ukraine, the UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that Russian forces have made minimal progress this week.

Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the cities. The cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Mariupol remain encircled and subject to heavy Russian shelling.

I spoke to President @ZelenskyyUa and praised the steadfast resistance of the Ukrainian people in the face of aggression. The UK stands with Ukraine  we will send further defensive aid and they have our full backing in the negotiations.  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 18, 2022

On Friday morning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke for about 20 minutes to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the latest situation.

Johnson wrote on Twitter that he praised the steadfast resistance of the Ukrainian people in the face of aggression.

The UK stands with Ukrainewe will send further defensive aid and they have our full backing in the negotiations.

Earlier, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Russia is not making real progress on the ground.

He told BBC Breakfast: The reality is that, on the big map, the picture looks exactly the same as it has done for the last week. Russia is making no real progress.

He said the UK is now in the process of training up Ukrainians to use Starstreak anti-aircraft missile system that Britain is supplying and which will arrive in the country imminently.

PA Media contributed to this report.
The interior of a business jet is seen at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) exhibition in Las Vegas, on Oct. 21, 2019. (David Becker/Reuters)

Russia Sanctions Pierce Luxury Jet Worlds Ultra-Private Bubble

The gleaming, late-model European jet for sale was a rarity in the hot market for second-hand corporate aircraft.

It was only after aviation lawyer Amanda Applegates client did some additional digging that they discovered the aircraft, while not registered in Russia, was in fact Russian-owned.

For that buyer, it was a deal-breaker, said Applegate, a partner at U.S.-based Soar Aviation Law, as the West imposes sweeping sanctions in the aftermath of Russias invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The private jet world is on high alert to avoid doing business with Russia at a time when a Twitter account run by a Florida teenager, @RUOligarchJets, has focused popular attention on the fugitive luxury fleets of the ultra-rich.

When I look at compliance, its like a taco, wrapped in a burrito, wrapped in a chalupa, said an executive at a business jet manufacturer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to European data research and consulting company WINGX, there are only about 100 business jets on the Russia Register. Yet about 400 corporate aircraft flew frequently from the country last year, raising questions over the true extent of Russian control of the fleet.

We think that a good proportion of the 400 are owned by Russia-based individuals or entities, said WINGX managing director Richard Koe.

Worried planemakers are handing out questionnaires and doing extra vetting to make sure parts shipped to repair centers outside Russia arent inadvertently sustaining jets covered by sanctions, the manufacturing executive said.

Thats far from easy in the ultra-private world of corporate aviation.

Most Russian-owned business jets are registered outside the country and ownership is camouflaged behind layers of shell companies and trusts.

Some 5% of European business jets are registered in Russia, according to Jefferies analysts. But those actually owned by Russians could be up to triple that amount, analysts say.

Vetting Exports

One of the worlds largest maintenance firms, Germanys Lufthansa Technik, has set up a task force and created an export approval process to avoid violating sanctions that ban technical support as well as shipments of parts to Russia.

This means more complexity for our global supply chain processes, a spokesperson said.

Planemakers must be sure that a part shipped to a maintenance center wont later end up on an aircraft owned by a sanctioned person or entity.

Thats not such a problem when orders come in for parts for a specific aircraft, identified by its serial number. But in some cases the order could come from a maintenance center without mentioning a specific jet.

I expect that the (manufacturers) and other suppliers will start to ask more questions so that they can vet the end-users for parts exports to certain countries, said aviation lawyer Jonathan Epstein, partner at U.S.-based Holland & Knight.

Canadas Bombardier and General Dynamics Corps Gulfstream are among the biggest suppliers of jets with Russian owners, according to analysts and brokers.

Bombardier, which has cut ties in Russia, said it is strengthening company procedures.

It has suspended the accounts of some customers even though they are not directly covered by sanctions, and wont provide parts or technical support to anyone located anywhere if they use the aircraft in Russia, the Canadian planemaker said in a customer bulletin seen by Reuters.

Gulfstream did not respond to a request for comment.

It is equally a headache for buyers. Like Applegates client, many are avoiding all Russian-owned planes, not just those belonging to sanctioned owners.

William Quinn, president of U.S. consulting firm Aviation Management Systems, said he expects to see more deals for European business jets come under scrutiny.

He recently represented a lender on a deal for a year-old Pilatus jet registered in Guernsey. That deal, too, fell through when the client discovered it was Russian-owned, Quinn said.

One broker has advised clients to run, dont walk from deals with any Russian for fear that more names will end up on blacklists, or that deals would worry lenders. The Kremlin has warned against anti-Russian feelings in the West.

There is real concern the list isnt yet refined and will continue to grow, said the broker on condition of anonymity. Much more risk of getting caught up in it than simply going in another direction.

By Allison Lampert
Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky speaks to media after talks between delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Belarus' Gomel region, on Feb. 28, 2022. (Sergei Kholodilin/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia, Ukraine Getting Closer in Negotiations: Top Russian Official

Russian and Ukraine negotiators are getting closer in their discussions, the head of the Russian delegation said on March 18.

Vladimir Medinsky described the talks as halfway to reaching a deal, according to state media outlets.

The topic of neutral status and non-accession of Ukraine to NATO is one of the key issues of the negotiations. This is the issue on which the parties have brought their positions as close as possible, Medinsky said. Then details begin relating to what security guarantees Ukraine receives in addition to those already existing in case of its refusal to join the NATO bloc.

Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but has in the past expressed hope that it would be allowed to join the alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though, said recently that his country must accept that it cannot join.

Russian and Ukrainian officials have been negotiating for peace since several days after Russia on Feb. 24 invaded its neighbor.

No ceasefire has been reached during the negotiations. Fighting has primarily taken place in or near Kyiv and in eastern Ukraine, where Russian speaking people for years have clashed with Ukrainian forces and others.

Just before the war started, Russia recognized parts of Ukraines east as independent.

Mikhailo Podolyak, a top Ukrainian negotiator, wrote on Twitter after talks held by video this week that Ukraine wants the total withdrawal of Russian troops in addition to security promises from various countries and a ceasefire.

Ukraine has increasingly pushed for direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a prospect to which the Russians have been reluctant to commit.

My priorities during the negotiations are absolutely clear: the end of the war, guarantees of security, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country, real protection for our country, Zelensky told Ukrainians in a recent address.

Podolyak in an update Friday said Russian statements are only their requesting positions, adding: All statements are intended, inter alia, to provoke tension in the media. Our positions are unchanged. Ceasefire, withdrawal of troops & strong security guarantees with concrete formulas.

Putin, meanwhile, told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Friday that Ukraine was trying to stall peace talks and portrayed his government as prepared to continue negotiations to find a solution in line with [our] well-known principled approaches.

Speaking to a rally in Moscow after the call, Putin said the invasion was done to end the suffering of people in eastern Ukraine, reiterating his description of what was happening there as a genocide. We have not had unity like this for a long time, he added.
File photo showing Ukrainian soldiers rushing to the Soviet-made S-300 anti-missile defense system during training, in Crimea, Ukraine, on July 2, 1995. (Valery Solovjev/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia Vows to Block Transfer of S-300 Missile System to Ukraine, Says Targeting Arms Shipments Fair Game

Russia has reiterated its threat to target arms shipments to Ukraine, with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov saying Friday that any cargo believed to be carrying weapons are fair game while vowing to block the transfer of Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems to Kyiv.

Any cargo moving into Ukrainian territory which we would believe is carrying weapons would be fair game, Lavrov said in an interview with Russia Today.

Slovakia has said that it is ready to send its S-300 system to Ukraine immediately provided that it receives a replacement to protect its own airspace.

An S-300 air defense system launches during military exercises near Chania, on the island of Crete, Greece, on Dec. 13, 2013. (Costas Metaxakis/AFP via Getty Images)

Were willing to do so immediately when we have a proper replacement, said Jaroslav Nad, Slovakias minister of defense, at a joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on March 17.

The S-300 is Slovakias only strategic air defense system, he said, adding that handing it over to Ukraine would create a security gap in NATO.

Lavrov said that Moscow will not allow the S-300 system to be given to Ukraine, calling the transfer of the Soviet-era system illegal. He cited intergovernmental agreements and user certificates precluding the transfer of Soviet or Russian-made systems to third countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Moscow on March 16, 2022. (Maxim Shemetov/AFP via Getty Images)

Tomasz Smura, Director of the Research Office at the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, a foreign policy and security think-tank in Warsaw, told The Epoch Times in a phone interview that there often are contractual restrictions regarding the re-export of arms of the type Lavrov mentioned.

But given that Russias invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of international law, he said, Lavrovs attempt to paint the transfer of the S-300 system as breaking an agreement on arms exports is simply ridiculous.

Smura called Lavrovs remarks a scare tactic meant to instill fear in neighboring countries looking to surge more military aid. Russias putting its nuclear arsenal on high alert several days after the outbreak of hostilities was a similar move, he said.

Even before the war, Russia had repeatedly tried to scare its neighbors, either with short-range ballistic missiles or by threatening to use nuclear weapons, so this is nothing new.

Smura added that Russian setbacks in its military campaign in Ukraine are behind Lavrovs threats to target arms convoys and other attempts to limit military aid.

British intelligence has said Russian forces are mostly bogged down on all fronts amid what it described as a staunch and well-coordinated Ukrainian resistance.

Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea, or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses, UK intelligence said in a March 17 update.

Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the cities. The cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Mariupol remain encircled and subject to heavy Russian shelling, British intelligence said in a March 18 update, which recapped Russian efforts over the entire week as having made minimal progress.

Russia on Friday again shelled areas in western Ukraine close to the Polish border, with missiles hitting an aircraft repair plant near Ukraines Lviv airport in the morning.

Little progress has been made in RussiaUkraine peace talks.

The conflict has driven 3.3 million people from their homes, according to the United Nations.
Vehicles of Russian state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today (RT) are seen near the Red Square in central Moscow on June 15, 2018. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Russian Broadcaster RTs UK Licence Revoked With Immediate Effect

Britains broadcast regulator Ofcom has revoked the UK licence of Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT with immediate effect.

Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said: Freedom of expression is something we guard fiercely in this country, and the bar for action on broadcasters is rightly set very high.

Following an independent regulatory process, we have today found that RT is not fit and proper to hold a licence in the UK. As a result we have revoked RTs UK broadcasting licence.

We have revoked RTs licence to broadcast in the UK with immediate effect. We do not consider RT to be fit and proper to hold a UK licence and cannot be satisfied that it can be a responsible broadcaster. Read about our decision https://t.co/LWKtMxaCQm pic.twitter.com/2BBTyqrHXo  Ofcom (@Ofcom) March 18, 2022

RT, formerly Russia Today, is already off air in the UK due to the sanctions imposed on Russia following the countrys invasion of Ukraine.

Ofcom said it is conducting 29 investigations into the due impartiality of RTs news and current affairs coverage of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It said: We consider the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concernespecially given RTs compliance history, which has seen the channel fined 200,000 ($262,000) for previous due impartiality breaches.

Ofcom said it noted new laws in Russia that effectively criminalise any independent journalism that departs from the Russian states own news narrative, particularly in relation to the war in Ukraine.

It added: We consider that, given these constraints, it appears impossible for RT to comply with the due impartiality rules of our broadcasting code in the circumstances.

We have concluded that we cannot be satisfied that RT can be a responsible broadcaster in the current circumstances. Ofcom is therefore revoking RTs licence to broadcast with immediate effect.

UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries welcomed Ofcoms decision.

UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, Nadine Dorries, in an undated file photo. (James Manning/PA)

In a statement on Twitter, she said: I welcome @Ofcoms decision and its right that our independent regulator has taken action against RT.

The outlets lies and propaganda, where victims are cast as the aggressors and the brutality of Russias actions are concealed, have absolutely no place on our screens.

The main opposition Labour Party also welcomed the move, but said it should have come sooner.

RTs deputy editor, Anna Belkina, said Ofcoms decision to suspend the broadcasters UK licence has robbed the British public of access to information.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Smoke billows out from the Lviv Airport after an early morning air strike hit an aircraft repair plant, in Lviv, Ukraine, on March 18, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Missiles Hit Area Near Ukraines Lviv Airport

LVIV, UkraineMissiles have hit near Ukraines Lviv airport on the morning of March 18.

In a statement, the citys Mayor Andriy Sadovyi attributed the missiles to Russians.

Some Russian rockets hit on the aircraft repair plant, he said. The building was destroyed because of the hits. Active work on the plant was previously stopped, so there are no casualties.

The Ukraine Air Defense West said in a statement, According to preliminary data, 6 winged missiles, probably X-555, were launched from the Black Sea aquarium. Two of the missiles were intercepted. The missiles hit in the area of Lviv airport.

An adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Vadym Denysenko, said that explosions were seen in Lviv at about 6:30 local time, stating that there was smoke on the outskirts of Lviv and that fire is visible.

Officials had arrived at the scene to assess the situation, Denysenko added.

The Epoch Timess reporters on the ground in Lviv said it appeared as though some Russian rockets had hit on the aircraft repair plant, adding that the building was destroyed because of the hits.

Smoke billows out from the Lviv Airport after an early morning air strike hit an aircraft repair plant, in Lviv, Ukraine, on March 18, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Area near Lviv airport on March 18, 2022. (The Epoch Times)

However, officials warned people to be careful as further airstrikes might occur, noting that when missiles strike, the concrete flies very far.

Video footage shows dark clouds of smoke rising from an area near the airport.

Local television station Ukraine 24 had earlier said at least three explosions had been heard in the city.

Russian troops previously attacked a military training facility in Yavoriv a city in the Lviv region, on March 13.

The countrys Defense Ministry on March 13 said that up to 180 foreign mercenaries and a large consignment of foreign weapons were destroyed in the attack at the Yavoriv International Center for Peacekeeping and Security.

However, Ukrainian officials said Russias claims were pure Russian propaganda.

The missile strike comes after the U.S. House on Thursday passed a bill that will end permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia and Belarus in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

Lawmakers voted 4248 to back the legislation, which now heads to the Senate.

If made law, it would grant the Biden administration the power to impose new higher tariffs on products from Russia and Belarus until Jan. 1, 2024, and also require the U.S. Trade Representative to use the voice and influence of the United States to seek suspension of Russias participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to halt Belarus WTO accession and accession-related work.

It would also give President Joe Biden the authority to restore normal trade relations with both countries if they were to stop their actions in Ukraine and if a number of other conditions are met.

Biden announced on March 11 that he will sign the bipartisan legislation to end normal trade relations with Russia, noting that the move was done in coordination with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.

Katabella Roberts Follow Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She covers news and business for The Epoch Times, focusing primarily on the United States.
More civilian casualties in Ukraine, in both the capital and in the separatist region. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of stalling peace talks.

Ukrainian refugees are pouring into Germany and Sweden. Germanys Chancellor says the upcoming influx will pose a major challenge to the country.

Some Democrat party activists in Wisconsin are suing three of the states Republican lawmakers. The lawsuit seeks to bar them from serving in Congress, in light of their response to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.
Packages of Juul mint flavored e-cigarettes are displayed at San Rafael Smokeshop in San Rafael, Calif., on Nov. 07, 2019. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Santa Ana Bans Sale of Flavored Tobacco

SANTA ANA, Calif.The ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in Santa Ana is finalized and is expected to go into effect next month, after the City Council voted unanimously for the ban on March 15.

The ban applies to flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, vapes, hookah, cigars, and pipe tobacco.

The councils decision followed a series of discussions regarding the ban of the flavored products that tend to fall into the hands of youth.

Were here to protect the public and we need to ensure  that we enforce this ordinance sooner rather than later, Councilwoman Nelida Mendoza said during the council meeting.

The seven city council members contemplated the issue of many small business owners in the area having to dispose of their supplies if they do not sell them before the enforcement date on April 14.

Councilwoman Thai Viet Phan argued that April 14 is not enough time for business owners to sell off their flavored tobacco products.

She further proposed the council grant a six-month period to allow retailers to sell bulk products outside of the city to other retailers.

Mendoza urged the council to move forward and vote on a ban but suggested a three-month period for businesses to rid of their products rather than six.

However, Councilman Phil Bacerra argued against the proposed change to the ordinance stating the council would be taking a step backward from its original agreement to move forward with the ban.

Either were gonna ban it or were not, he said. This council voted to ban it and now were backpedaling. Its very disappointing.

Meanwhile, Mayor Vicente Sarmiento further argued that retailers had enough time to consider selling out the rest of their stock since conversations of a potential ban circulated among the council at the end of 2021.

Theres been a sufficient notice, Sarmiento said. I feel comfortable that there has been sufficient time  as a good businessperson, you navigate these changes.

The ordinance will enforce weekly business compliance checks to ensure that flavored tobacco products are not being sold. Businesses that continue to sell the illicit products past the enforcement date are at risk of losing their retail licenses.
Members of the Chinese diplomatic delegation leave the Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria hotel, where U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Chinese Communist Party diplomat Yang Jiechi, in Rome, on March 14, 2022. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images)

CCP Exploiting Ukraine War to Achieve Its Strategic Ambitions: Analyst

News Analysis

The Chinese regime claims it supports peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, it repeats Moscows words, criticizes the United States without verifying the facts, and hasnt prompted Russia to stop the war.

Chinas position on opposing sanctions [on Russia] is clear, Chinas Foreign Affairs Ministrys (MFA) spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a March 16 press conference. If the U.S. insists on going its own way, China will definitely take strong countermeasures.

By press time, the Chinese regime still hadnt announced or made a statement that it recognized Russias invasion of Ukraine. The regime even refused to admit theres a war between Russia and Ukraine, and insisted on calling it a crisis.

The Chinese Communist Party regime is enjoying the current chaos. Its happy to see that the United States and Europe are busy protecting the Ukrainian people and trying to cease the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Then, the CCP can have more strategic space, U.S.-based China affairs commentator Wang He told The Epoch Times on March 16.

Smoke from an explosion in Kyiv on March 16, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Wang doesnt think the Chinese regime will try to stop Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Russias invasion is in Beijings interest, Wang said. He says that Beijing tried to team up with European countries when it faced conflicts with the United States. Now, almost all European countries are working with the United States to oppose Russia. China wants to use this chance to tighten its relationship with Russia and force the Kremlin to fully support it in global affairs, he said.

Neutral

When the CCPs highest-ranking diplomat, Politburo member Yang Jiechi, met with U.S. President Bidens National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Rome, Italy on March 14, he repeated the regimes neutral stance claims.

China is committed to facilitating dialogue for peace, and believes that the international community should jointly support the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine for early substantive outcomes, so as to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry quoted Yangs words in the meetings summary.

Before the Yang-Sullivan meeting in Rome, several media outlets quoted U.S. officials and reported that Russia asked Beijing for military equipment to support its invasion of Ukraine.

The Chinese regime denied the allegation, and started a new wave of attacking the United States on its internet.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian takes a question at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Disinformation

On March 16, the MFA spokesperson said that the United States operates dozens of military biological laboratories in Ukraine. This allegation was first spread by Russian officials on March 10 and was quickly clarified as a rumor by the U.S. government.

The question was raised by a reporter of the regimes mouthpiece CCTV. Beijing is well-known for arranging for state-run media reporters to ask the questions that they want asked at press conferences, and for the officials to reply with their prepared answers.

Since March 10, the Chinese regime has promoted the fabrication that the U.S. has military biological laboratories in Ukraine by using its propaganda system.

Chinas state-run media outlets, including CCP mouthpiece Peoples Daily and CCTV, are reporting that the United States is developing biological weapons in Ukraine, and these laboratories have transferred over 140 containers of bat ectoparasites and human serum samples to other countries.

Those media outlets havent done any fact checking or mentioned the U.S. clarification statement. They simply translate the Russian reports into Chinese and broadcast them to Chinese people via television, newspapers, radio, and internet.

At the same time, the regimes 50-cent trolls started posting on Chinas social media platforms that the U.S. military labs in Ukraine were real, they were developing bio-weapons, and that they had leaked the CCP virus to the world.

These topics were listed among the most popular ones in China for a while, and topped the list again on March 15.

Liu Lipeng, who worked as an online censor in China for a decade, posted on Twitter on March 10: The three major central regime-run media co-led the propaganda, and caused the story [of U.S. military labs in Ukraine] to be read 270 million times in one day (Mar. 10) [in China] . Almost all popular patriots are involved in the hot discussions on social media.

Ukraine servicemen stand guard at a military check point in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 15, 2022. (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)

On March 16, Liu told Voice of America that the most popular topics on Chinas social media platforms arent counted based on the real number of views or comments, but are assigned and published according to the regimes requests. It needs an order from the central government to make this happen, Liu said.

On the same Chinese social media platforms, the U.S. Embassy in Chinas posts negating the rumor were censored. The embassy posted screenshots of its posts being banned on Twitter on March 11, to express its anger.

Not only the U.S. Embassy but also Chinese organizations and individuals are subjected to censorship.

Currently, nobody in China can successfully post content, photos, or videos showing Russias invasion or Russian troops killing civilians. The regime even organized the 50-cent trolls to bully the Chinese nationals in Ukraine who post information and images about the real situation on uncensored social media platforms.

If you guys are really capable, you should come here to kill me rather than threaten me [on social media platform], a Chinese citizen in Odesa, Ukraine replied to the 50-cent trolls on YouTube on March 1.

Five renowned historians from five top Chinese universities havent published anything after they publicly called for Russias invasion to stop on Feb. 26 and were censored by the regime.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Senator Penny Wong reacts during the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Budget Estimates 202122 at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 2, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Senior Female Labor Senators Deny Bullying the Late Sen. Kitching

Australian senators Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally, and Katy Gallagher, all from the left-leaning Australian Labor Party (ALP), have denied allegations they bullied their colleague, the late Sen. Kimberly Kitching, up until she died on March 10.

Amid intense scrutiny and criticism, and after dodging questions along with other ALP colleagues, Wong, Keneally, and Gallagher released a joint statement on March 18, just days before Kitchings funeral.

The senior female senators, who Kitching allegedly referred to as the mean girls, said it had been a difficult time for the Labor family after their Senate colleagues tragic death.

Our priority at this time has been Senator Kitchings husband, Andrew, her family, and her loved ones. Their grief is profound, their loss immeasurable.

Out of respect for them, and for Senator Kitching, we have not responded to allegations that have been made, despite them not being true, they said in a joint statement.

Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching at a party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Nov. 29, 2016. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

The senators said that while they wanted to maintain some dignity for Kitchings family by not responding to the allegations, the nature of them meant they felt it was necessary to respond.

The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate, they said.

The senators noted that politics was a challenging profession full of robust contests and difficult interactions.

All of its participants at times act or speak in ways that can impact others negatively. We have and do reflect on this, as individuals and as leaders, they said.

Australian Labor Party members Senator Penny Wong, Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese, Federal Members of Parliament Tanya Plibersek and Kristina Keneally celebrate International Womens Day at Parliament House on February 24, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Despite denying the allegations of bullying, Wong confirmed that one reported allegation, that she made an insensitive comment to Kitching about not having children.

Wongs comments were first reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2018, without naming Wong as the culprit.

After these matters were publicly reported more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with Senator Kitching and apologised. Senator Wong understood that apology was accepted.

The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wongs views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets the pain these reports have caused, they said.

News Corps The Australian reported that it was a dear wish of Kitchings to have children.

Friends and colleagues have spoken both anonymously and on the record about how Kitching was facing increased isolation by the party, given her more conservative leanings on many issues.

Kitching was a member of the Labor Right faction and played a pivotal role in Australias implementation of the Magnitsky Act, which gives the government the power to sanction overseas human rights violators. It has been alleged that Wong stole credit for Kitchings work on the Magnitsky Act.

Kitching reportedly fell out of favour with some in the ALP over her views on climate change and China. She was a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China and The Wolverines, an influence group of politicians, mostly from the conservative LNP, critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

A month before she died from a suspected heart attack, Kitching named a Chinese billionaire as the puppeteer behind a foiled plot by the CCP to install Manchurian ALP candidates into parliament.

Kitching had been driving before she was forced to pull over by the side of the road during the medical episode during which she was able to call her husband Andrew Landeryou.

Landeryou and emergency services were unable to treat Kitching who died at the scene.

Wong, Keneally, and Gallagher will attend Kitchings funeral on Monday, with the familys blessing, they said.
MULHEIM AN DER RUHR, GermanyWladislawa Wiesner, data protection coordinator from Cologne, admired the technique of Shen Yun Performing Arts dancers as she watched the performance at Stadthalle Mulheim an der RuhrTheatersaal.

It was very colorful and you could see that the artists really mastered the technique. It looked like it was really easy, but when you look at it closely, you realize that its really hard. They were jumping so high, she said after attending the March 11 performance.

The artists of New York-based Shen Yun are trained in classical Chinese dance. The art form has thousands of years of history and is actually the root of many other art forms that we know today, such as gymnastics and acrobatics.

Ms. Wiesner, who came with her husband, appreciated the ethnic dances presented by Shen Yun too, I think traditional dances are very important for todays society. I also think its very good that different provinces in China are represented, the dances that come from those provinces. I think thats important because Chinese society is also very diverse, she said.

Given the recent restrictions due to the pandemic, Ms.Wiesner was grateful to experience Shen Yun, saying, I think it brings back good humor and hope, and a little more feeling of life and also the value of life, which one has lost a little bit in the last somewhat dreadful timeone feels much more alive.

Shen Yun A Great Journey

Sonja Schottler at Shen Yun Performing Arts at Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany, on March 11, 2022. (NTD)

Sonja Schottler, an accountant and tax consultant, enjoyed the journey that Shen Yun took her on and the culture it presented. I was taken away to another culture and it was quite a great journey, she said.

Chinas rich history has been under attack by the communist regime, which has systematically destroyed, distorted, and supplanted the traditional culture with its owna reality that many in the West are not aware of.

Ms. Schottler said Chinas 5,000 years of history that was presented on stage was really impressive and included many things that I was not even aware of. It was nevertheless very educational too.

This deep-rooted religion, I was not aware of that history. Just to see that again, to hear that, those were the things that I became aware of, she said.

She said after experiencing Shen Yun for herself, she will tell her friends that Shen Yun is well worth seeing, an experience and I can only advise everyone to experience it once.

I found it so ingenious

Angela Montenegro at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Muhlheim, Germany, on March 12, 2022. (NTD)

Angela Montenegro, a specialist in neurology and psychiatry focusing on acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, said that Shen Yun touched her heart.

Ingenious, ingenious! That was what touched the heart and in this way  it is what I have always wished for, Ms. Montenegro said after attending the March 12 performance.

Both Ms. Montenegro and her husband felt a connection to Shen Yuns presentation of traditional Chinese culture.

This appealed to me so much, also my husband who feels the same as I do, and it was brilliant. It was so awesome and I plan to come back next year, she said.

It is the summation of dance and music, one feels the inside of the performers, that they live what they dance. What they live by and the music are vibrations that touch the soul, and it was exactly the wavelength that touched meI found it so ingenious.

The classical Chinese dance companys mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture by presenting China before communism and its divinely inspired culture.

I think to feel thisthe connection with the above, to the divine, to the Daois so important, and I find it great to feel this here in this performance. That is what is being lived here, Ms. Montenegro said.

Many of the Shen Yun artists practice Falun Dafa, a peaceful spiritual discipline that teaches the three universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The practice is under attack in present-day China by the communist regime which promotes materialism.

I thought it was great that this was expressed, what Falun Dafa actually is, the connection to the old values that I think have also been lost in our Western society, Ms. Montenegro said.

I only hope that as many people as possible feel the same way as I do, and that these vibrations that Falun Dafa conveys, the compassion and all these principles, humanity above all, are felt, and that the people who see this performance simply leave with a different feeling, she added.

Shen Yun, A complete work of art

Jurgen Block and his wife at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Muhlheim, Germany on March 12, 2022. (NTD)

It is an excellent complete work of art that conveys values and charmingly guides people, said Jurgen Block, a visual artist who attended Shen Yuns performance in Muhlheim on March 12.

I think the artistic performance is excellent, the movements, the gestures of the artists, this harmony with the music  We have the technique of combining all the visual impressions [of the stage design] with the art, with the aesthetics, and with the dance. So I think its an incredibly great combinationa complete work of art.

Each Shen Yun dance piece displays the essence of traditional Chinese cultures core values, through stories from ancient times to the present day.

There are many messages in it: what are basic human values, about aesthetics, about education, about culture, helping one another. And the combination of all that with each other and among each other, that comes across very well, Mr. Jurgen said.

With Shen Yuns mission to revive traditional Chinese culture and share it with the world, Mr. Jurgen applauded the companys endeavors.

That [Shen Yun] is a great story. One should take this depicted thought and internalize it, within oneself, spread it further, and align ones own life according to that, he said.

Reporting by NTD and the German Epoch Staff.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
Soaring Fertiliser Costs Add to Pressure on UK Food Prices

British Farmers are dealing with a perfect storm of historic high prices of fuel and fertiliser leading to fears of increased food prices and potential shortages.

Potato farmer and independent agronomist from Lincolnshire, Mike Neaverson told The Epoch Times by email that he was covered for fertiliser this season but many are not.

In the future though, like many farmers, he will have to contend with skyrocketing prices for the material which supplies the nutrients essential for plant growth in agriculture.

The farming sector was already grappling with rising gas prices, but the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict has significantly worsened the situation. On top of that, Russia, the worlds biggest exporter of fertiliser announced recently that it would suspend exports in a move that would remove a large chunk from the global supply.

Price Increase

The National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), Britains largest farming union, told The Epoch Times by email that it has seen markets on high alert due to the sharp increase in energy prices which has led to a 200 percent increase in the price of fertiliser.

Anecdotally, prices are up from 265 per tonne [($348)] to 650 per tonne [($853)], a spokesperson said, though those prices are set to increase, even daily.

This surge in fertiliser prices is adding to pressure on farmers already hit by rising labour, fuel, and feed costs. Higher fertiliser prices equals greater risks for farmers because it would mean more investment in the face of other potential threats to the growing season, such as poor weather or a drop in demand without a guaranteed price for crops, said Neaverson.

Even so, whatever we use now we will have to replace for next season at what is currently some incredible prices. So for the first time in my career, we are reducing nitrogen fertiliser rates to a level which we know will significantly reduce yield as the economically optimum rate is no longer similar to the yield optimum, he said.

Others who specialize in marketing grain will be better placed to answer this than me, but my thoughts are that if Ukraine and/or large areas of Russia do not get planted this spring, then we are one global weather event (e.g. something like a drought in South America, late frost in Canada, etc.) from severe volatility that *could* limit supply, added Neaverson.

This would obviously hurt the poorest in the world first, but even in Western countries, this could make the already struggling pig and poultry sectors unviable as they are reliant on global commodities for their animal feed. My thoughts are that it is unlikely, but not impossible, that it would result in widespread human famine, but it could well result in a major realignment of what western consumers expect in terms of range, quality, and especially price, he added.

Completely Forgotten

Authorities have stepped in some cases. CF Fertilisers, one of the UKs premier fertiliser manufacturers halted production at its factories in Ince and Teesside back in September, citing the high price of natural gas. The closures sparked fears for the UKs supply of carbon dioxide, which is made as a by-product during the fertilization process. However, the site was given a last-minute reprieve by the government to keep the supply moving, reported The Northern Echo.

Furthermore, last month farming and environment minister George Eustice suggested greener alternatives to fertiliser such as Fabaceae. Though for farmers like Neaverson, he believes that DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production) has long not done enough for British food production.

Fundamentally my outlook on life is for a free market and I wouldnt necessarily call for government intervention in fertiliser pricing for example. However over the past decade, DEFRA has completely forgotten about the need for homegrown food production and has instead off-shored lower standards of production abroad under the false assumption that trade will always be easy, and food will always be cheap. That needs to be discussed, said Neaverson.

Catastrophic Damage

Dr. John Constable, Director of Energy at Net Zero Watch, criticized the governments commitment to a net-zero emission strategy during such an energy crisis.

He argued that a push to renewable energy has made Europe and UK critically dependent on gas in their electricity systems, which has increased the fragility of the underlying conventional systems that are keeping everything going.

What renewables, low energy resources, have caused is a fuel diversity crisis, so they produce the illusion of fuel diversity because you have wind and solar etc. And its because of that that gas is the superior fuel which is guaranteeing the entire system, he said.

That is relevant to the fertiliser issue as many are derived from methane, a natural gas. And consequently, there is a competition in them being introduced, said Constable.

He said that the UK needs natural gas for its electricity systems, but consequently, because prices have risen very high, some uses are being pushed to the edge and fertiliser is one of them.

At some point, Western economies are going to have to have to correct this error. The question is sooner to avoid real catastrophic damage to their overall economies, he said.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his opening remarks at the Department of International Relations and Cooperations (DIRCO) OR Tambo Building in Pretoria on March 10, 2022. (Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africas President Blames Russian Invasion on NATO: It Could Have Been Avoided

The president of South Africa said on Thursday that he believes the war in Ukraine could have been avoided, blaming NATOs decision to continually expand military troops eastward, ultimately leading to the current war, which Moscow calls a special military operation.

The war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from amongst its own leaders and officials over the years, that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less instability in the region, Cyril Ramaphosa said, expressing a view similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking in parliament, Ramaphosa defended South Africas approach of not picking sides in the conflict. The country enjoys cordial bilateral relations with Russia, Ukraine, and the West.

Our position is very clear. And I did say that there are those who are insisting that we should take a very adversarial stance and position against, say Russia. And the approach that we have chosen to take, which is appreciated by many is that we are insisting  that there should be dialogue, the president said.

What is happening out there is undesirable, it is not what should be happening between nationswar, violence never really solves any problems. It is for this reason that we say, we would prefer and we insist that there should be mediation, there should be dialogue and there should be negotiation, he added.

Ramaphosa also said that he has been in direct contact with Putin, who assured that peace talks are ongoing and making progress. The South African leader said he had not yet talked with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Now, for us, this is an important development, whilst other people scream and shout, we want to focus on the outcomethe positive outcome of those negotiations and that mediation process, that is what is important, he told parliament.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz looks on as he addresses the media with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (not seen) during a statement prior to a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 17, 2022. (Michael Sohn/Pool via Reuters)

On Friday, Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call that Kyiv was trying to stall peace talks but that Moscow is ready to continue negotiations.

Putin said that Ukrainian negotiators were trying every possible way to delay the negotiation process, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals, according to a Kremlin-issued readout of the call.

During the call, Scholz called for a ceasefire in Ukraine, a German government spokesperson said. Scholz also stressed the need for improvement of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and called for finding a diplomatic resolution to the war.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Zelensky and member of Kyivs negotiating delegation, told Polish media outlet Wirtualna Polska in an interview on Thursday that agreement on controversial points of the peace treaty could take up to one and a half weeks.

So far, both the Russian and Ukrainian delegations remain at their positions. Coordination of controversial points can take from several days to one and a half weeks. During this time, we should get closer to drawing up a peace agreement, Podolyak said.

Podolyak said an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territories are a key demand of the peace agreement.

Tom Ozimek and Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Suppression of Hunter Biden Laptop Stories Definitely Impacted 2020 Election: Barr

The widespread action against stories on emails and other material from a laptop believed to be owned by President Joe Bidens son impacted the 2020 election, former Attorney General William Barr said on March 17.

After the New York Post reported on the materials, Twitter blocked the circulation of the story and other news outlets cast doubt on the veracity or refused to report on the developments, outlining claims including that the release was part of a Russian disinformation effort or did not matter.

That definitely made an impact on the election, the suppressing that news, Barr, who served during the Trump and George H. W. Bush administrations, said on Fox News.

And its not a question of whether it was criminal or not, right. Just the facts alone were shameful. And most Americans would immediately see what was going on and how repulsive it was, and it would have had an effect. The issue of criminality is a different issue.

A survey done in the wake of the election found 17 percent of Biden voters would not have voted for him if they were aware of the Hunter Biden story or others like it that were downplayed or ignored by legacy media outlets and Big Tech.

Twitter executives later said they made a mistake in labeling the Post story as being based on hacked materials and shouldnt have halted its circulation. Some news outlets are drastically changing their reporting on the laptop materials; the New York Times, one of the outlets to push the Russian disinformation angle, reported this week that it had authenticated the materials.

The Post said it obtained a copy of the laptops hard drive from former President Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani and provided materials showing the FBI seized the computer. Hunter Biden has avoided answering direct questions about the laptop and White House press secretary Jen Psaki, which claimed in 2020 that Russians appeared to be involved, declined on Thursday to address the new reporting.

Hunter Biden attends his father Joe Bidens inauguration as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters)

Psaki was among those pushing a letter offered by a group of former intelligence officials, including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, that said the timing of the release and other factors pointed to a Russian effort to influence the 2020 election. The first report was published about two months before voters went to polls.

John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence (DNI) at the time, said the intelligence community had obtained no intelligence that supported the Russian disinformation notion and the FBI said it had nothing to add to Ratcliffes statement.

As soon as this letter came out from these so-called intelligence specialists, the DNI, John Radcliffe at the time, and the FBI, which worked for me, both came out and said this was not the result of disinformation, Russian disinformation, Barr said on Thursday. The media ignored that completely, just kept on going with the disinformation line.

Nick Shapiro, who once worked as a top aide to John Brennan when Brennan headed the CIA, and who provided the letter in question to news outlets, did not respond to a request for comment.

Richard Grenell, the acting DNI under Trump at one time, said that in light of recent developments, Republicans need to hold hearings with all the officials who signed the letter if the party flips control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.

They all said Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation. And they didnt have a single piece of intel to suggest it, he wrote on Twitter. Hold people accountable for manipulating intelligence for political gain!
The People of China Deserve Better

Congressman Chris Smiths long war against human rights violations

The Chinese communists game the system, Rep. Chris Smith said. People are afraid to stand up to them.

In this episode of American Thought Leaders, host Jan Jekielek discusses human rights and China with Smith, a representative of New Jerseys 4th district. For the past four decades, Smith has been one of Congresss most vocal critics of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as the U.S. policies that have enabled the regimes abusesfrom forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners to genocide of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Jan Jekielek: I want to talk to you about how we got to this place where the Chinese regime has hosted the 2022 Olympics and is kind of laughing at the world about the egregious genocides and human rights violations there. It wasnt always like that.

Rep. Chris Smith: Youre absolutely right. There was always an understanding of the human rights abuses, for example, by the Soviet Union. But with China, theres a double standard, this inability to understand that the Party is vicious and cruel. It uses torture to make people compliant, to punish and kill them.

They use it against the Falun Gong, Christians, Buddhists, Uyghursany political dissidents.

And weve enabled them. On May 26, 1994, Bill Clinton de-linked human rights from trade. Thats when the Chinese Communist Party said, These guys are bluffers. Theyre fake.

Mr. Jekielek: Thats an important date you mentioned. Since 1994, the United States and others have helped build the worlds greatest dictatorship.

Rep. Smith: Absolutely. There was forced abortion on countless numbers of Chinese women, and now all the other human rights abusesthe crackdown on the Falun Gong, for example, and the organ harvesting.

In 2014, I introduced the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and all the big know-it-alls said, Dont do that. [Xi Jinping will] never go after the UKSino treaty. He wont undermine the special nature of Hong Kong. I said, Yes, he will. You dont understand Xi Jinping. Hes a dictator with few equals in the world.

And sure enough, theyve crushed Hong Kong. Its no longer a bastion of freedom.

The Chinese communists game the system. People are afraid to stand up to them.

Mr. Jekielek: You often hear that these are cultural differences, right?

Rep. Smith: In a meeting between Barrack Obama and the premier of China, Hu Jintao pretended to have some problems understanding a question about human rights. So Obama weighs in and says, Oh, they have a different culture and different political system. He was giving them cover for their horrific abuse. He enabled them. All too often, American politicians, particularly Obama, Clinton, and now Joe Biden, come across as weak and feckless.

I am the chief Republican sponsor of a bill that I hope the Biden administration implements. It says any products coming out of Xinjiang, the presumption will be they were made in concentration camps unless proven otherwise.

We should do that with the rest of China. Im going to introduce more legislation soon. It will support serious and sustained progress in the area of human rights and will apply to all goods coming out of China. We have leverage. Theyre an export economy. Without that, the economy grinds to a halt. And if thats what it takes to protect people from slave-like conditions, then we have to do it.

Mr. Jekielek: But with the investments of wealthy Americans, corporations, and banks in China, can such legislation have teeth?

Rep. Smith: For a while, you could say people were naive believing China would evolve, but the profit motive also elbowed out any concern about human rights.

And we just keep misperceiving the Partys true intent, which is always to consolidate and expand its power. Look at the Confucius Institutes in our country. The Chinese give money to a college and handpick the Chinese teachers for these institutes. Its all about soft power.

Years ago, Steven Mosher was a doctoral student at Stanford University who broke this story about the use of forced abortion to implement Chinas one-child policy. What did Stanford do? They cashiered Mosher out of the program because they wanted to keep their access to China.

A lot of people always have a good word for the Chinese dictatorship. Let me be clear. I stand with the Chinese people who are being oppressed, not with the oppressor. The Chinese people deserve democracy. They deserve everything thats embedded in the universal declaration of human rights.

Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned the regimes hatred for Falun Gong. Why is that?

Rep. Smith: They saw that if a group like Falun Gong can organize, that group needs to be crushed. They want to crush independent thought as well.

So there was a hatred toward the Falun Gong, demonstrated by the Partys use of torture and murder. And of course, organ harvesting became not just a means of repression, but also a way of making huge amounts of money by selling their organs.

Mr. Jekielek: Were definitely going to talk about organ harvesting because you have a bill up about that. But briefly lets talk about the Olympics. We just finished the 2022 Olympics. In 2008, everyone said, This is Chinas opportunity to show its going to be good on human rights and join the world community. And of course, that didnt happen. Here we are again in 2022. How do you see that?

Rep. Smith: In 2014, the International Olympic Committee chose China for this years Winter Olympics. Xi Jinpings government made some promises about human rights which they not only didnt keep, but they were simultaneously planning the genocide against the Uyghurs.

In 2018, Marco Rubio and I were co-chairs of the China Commission. We wrote to the IOC, saying, Dont go to China. Find a different venue. You cant do this in a country that horrifically oppresses its own people and is committing genocide.

I mean, thats the worst crime on the face of the earth, and theyre doing it. Theres Xi Jinping smiling for the cameras at the opening ceremonies while butchering people.

One more thing: We had some corporate sponsors of the Olympics appear before our China commission. These people couldnt say, Yes, theyre committing genocide, and this has to stop. They want to keep their market share. They want to make money. Im a capitalist and believe in making money, but with conditions. You shouldnt make money on the backs of repressed people.

Mr. Jekielek: Lets talk about forced organ harvesting.

Rep. Smith: In the mid-1990s, Harry Wu made me aware of the killing of prisoners to take their organs. We actually got a Chinese policeman who defected to testify. He brought credible documentation that included pictures of how they would shoot, but not kill, immediately take out organs, and then finish the job and even make the families pay for the executioners bullets.

They were focused on prisoners in general, political prisoners mostly. And then the Party started going after the Falun Gong, and some others too, to take their organs.

Its very lucrative. Lots of money is made. And they just take their organs while the victims are still alive. They dont execute them and then take them. They take them so that theyre as fresh as humanly possible. Then they sell them.

People come from abroad and get these organs. Its a nightmarish abuse. So I have a bill, and Sen. Tom Cotton [R-Ark.] has the companion bill. Were working hand-in-glove together. We want to hold to account all those who are part of this process.

Mr. Jekielek: What happens now?

Rep. Smith: We need to redouble our efforts to expose human rights abuse in China. We must also stand in solidarity with Taiwan. Hong Kong has fallen. Is Taiwan next? Taiwan is a wonderful country where democracy is flourishing.

Taiwan has its flaws. So do we. But its not a dictatorship, and thats what the Party wants to impose on it.

So we need to employ a robust diplomacy. Unfortunately, our horrific exodus out of Afghanistan sent precisely the wrong message to every dictatorship in the world, from North Korea to Iran, to Putin, to Xi Jinping.

But if we were to reconnect human rights with trade and say, Were not kidding. Stop abusing your people. There needs to be serious efforts to protect the rights of your people, I think some Chinese moderates might emerge. But right now, the direction is all wrong.

Trade is our most potent means to get them to change.

Mr. Jekielek: Any final thoughts?

Rep. Smith: We need to pray for the people of China. They have suffered so much for so many decades.

We also need to be wiser as policymakers and play more chess and less checkers. We should think about what the next moves of this dictatorship might be and not enable it or ignore it. The people of China deserve better.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Jan Jekielek Senior Editor Follow Jan Jekielek is a senior editor with The Epoch Times and host of the show, "American Thought Leaders." Jans career has spanned academia, media, and international human rights work. In 2009 he joined The Epoch Times full time and has served in a variety of roles, including as website chief editor. He is the producer of the award-winning Holocaust documentary film "Finding Manny."
Mask mandates and social distancing have proved highly ineffective in containing COVID-19 but other measures are still being overlooked. (Tatyana Blinova/Shutterstock)

The Road to SerfdomWere Almost There

Commentary

We are learning something that apparently slipped under the radar for a few days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly made some changes to its data tracker website on March 15, removing tens of thousands of deaths from COVID-19, nearly a quarter of which were those for young people under 18.

They tell us this occurred because of a coding logic error.

I wonder how many they would have had to remove if they included those who were registered by hospitalsfor profit or otherwiseas having died from the virus when they had multiple other of what we have learned to call comorbidities. (If theres one thing we can say for the pandemic, it built our vocabularies.)

In other words, they didnt necessarily die of COVID-19, but the hospitals said they did, a different kind of coding error, I guess.

The number would likely be staggering.

This supposed coding logic errorwhatever that may be; the CDC doesnt precisely tell uscould indeed be symbolic of, or even actually encompass, the entire pandemic.

From this, we can make the assumption, if we havent already, the pandemic was, and is, extraordinarily overblown, an event that figuratively and literally threw us back to the Middle Ages with people locked down, masked, force vaccinated, businesses shut, schools closed, and science turned inside out, leaving the entire globe in chaos.

And yet, to adopt the title of Neil Sheehans book about the Vietnam War, the whole thing was A Bright Shining Lie.

Of course, people died, but they do for myriad reasons under varying circumstances. Thats been the condition on planet Earth from time immemorial. More died in this instance because simple and immediate treatments were abjured in favor of far more expensive ones dangerous in themselves.

But thats only one of the reasons the pandemic became as pervasive as it did, taking over all our lives. How did it come to pass that what could have been an unpleasant, even severe, but containable health problem evolved into a civilization-destroying pandemic?

Even now, at this early stage, we must ask the age-old question, cui bonowho benefits?

The answer lies in a statement with which we have recently become all too familiar:

You will own nothing, and you will be happy.

Happy that COVID is over? Oh, no. Not really. They didnt mean that.

Many now recognize that sentence for what it isthe marching mantra of the Great Reset.

For those who might still be confused, in a well-wrought article for The Epoch Times, Australians Gabriel Moens and Augusto Zimmerman clarify:

The Great Reset may be described as a radical internationalsocialist plan designed to reset the world economy. The goal is to install a highly centralized, heavily regulated, totalitarian system akin to that of Chinas Social Credit System.

Ground Zero of this reset is the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that glorious alpine redoubt cum airport for private jets miraculously powered by solar energy.

The leading progenitor of the reset is Klaus Schwabco-author of the 2020 tome COVID-19: The Great Reset. He is joined by various tech billionaires, captains of industry, state leaders, and royals, all of whom, needless to say, have the interest of the common man at heartat least they say they do. (Remember: You will be happy.)

Those who espouse the Great Reset didnt create COVID-19. For the moment, we can assume that came from human error at the Wuhan virology lab. I hope we can anyway, since the deliberate release of the pathogen would be too horrifying to contemplate.

But theythe Great Resettersseized upon the virus as an unprecedented opportunity to hasten their goals of global control. The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) became, in essence, their agents with U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases head Dr. Anthony Fauci as their spokesperson. The rest is the dark history we have all been living through.

Despite some insisting otherwise, this devotion to, or more precisely exploitation of, COVID-19 is not stopping.

Only March 17, The New York Times reported the following from one of our major vaccine producers:

Moderna said late Thursday that it asked the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization of a second booster of its coronavirus vaccine for all adults, a significantly broader request than Pfizer and BioNTech filed for their shot this week.

The request is likely to intensify the latest round of an ongoing scientific debate over how long protection from the two most-used vaccines in the United States lasts in the face of new variants.

Ah, yet more shots as the Great Reset takes us on what Friedrich Hayek famously and presciently called The Road to Serfdom.

Hold on. Were almost there.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Vindication of D.A. Henderson

Commentary

We were going to invent pandemic planning.

Those were the words of Dr. Rajeev Venkayya in 2005 when he headed the White House bioterrorism study group under George W. Bush. We want to use all instruments of national power to confront this threat, Venkayya told colleagues in the administration, as reported by Michael Lewis in his book The Premonition.

That was the birth of the idea of national lockdown for pathogenic threat. To mainstream epidemiologists, the idea seemed crazy and potentially ruinous at the time, a fact that only emboldened its creators. Venkayyas colleague computer scientist Robert Glass told Lewis:

I asked myself, Why didnt these epidemiologists figure it out? They didnt figure it out because they didnt have tools that were focused on the problem. They had tools to understand the movement of infectious diseases without the purpose of trying to stop them.

Another convert to the idea, Dr. Carter Mecher, a man who was highly instrumental in provoking school shutdowns March 17, 2020, summed up the idea:

If you got everyone and locked each of them in their own room and didnt let them talk to anyone, you would not have any disease.

Now theres an idea: universal solitary confinement!

One can only marvel at the hubris that contradicted a century or more of public-health practice. But somehow the idea caught on and spread. I had offered a critique of all of this in 2005 but hardly anyone was seriously interested at the time. The advocates of lockdowns had to wait 15 years for their moment but finally it arrived in 2020. Panic was in the air and everyone was crying out for a solution. This was their day, their experiment, their wild ride into the unknown.

Like a virus, the practice of lockdown began in China, spread to Italy, came to the United States, and eventually snagged every country in the world but a few holdouts that tried to maintain life as normal. It happened to the cheers of national media and Big Tech, while most scientists, public health officials, and medical doctors remained silent. The brave few who spoke out against what was happening were shot down as heretics, while suffering smears and attacks that continue to this day.

In my own conversations with Venkayya early in the pandemic in 2020, I kept asking the same question again and again: what happens to the virus? He had two answers. First, bringing down infections below the transmission rate of 1-to-1 eventually eradicates it. Based on my reading, I was skeptical. In response, he pointed out that there will eventually be vaccines. I simply could not imagine in those days that lockdown could last that long.

What I hadnt known at the timebut which was predicted by many who understand this type of virus and also could be intuited from reading the EUAwas that the vaccine in fact would not be capable of sterilizing the virus or stopping the spread. It would be a different kind of vaccine, one that mitigated against hospitalization and deaths so long as the duration of effectiveness lasts.

The entire lockdown ideology reminded me of Edgar Allan Poes short story, Masque of the Red Death. The prince and the aristocracy hid in a castle during the pandemic and planned a big party once the pathogen was gone. But the pathogen found them eventually. You can get the rest.

One country that followed the lockdown/vaccine playbook in every respect, seeking fully to eradicate the virus, was Hong Kong. Its been praised for two years for its track-and-trace, its universal masking, its travel restrictions, and its high vaccination rate. Covid did seem to be kept at bay, for a long time.

Now at the seeming end of the pandemic, right as the rest of the world has come around to the view that we must live with Covid, Hong Kong has experienced its worst outbreak. Its death rate per million has set new records.

Whatever the explanation for this astonishing spike, this much we know: the experience represents the total failure of lockdown ideology. Something very similar is happening anywhere in the world where zero-Covid was practiced.

Of course its not just Hong Kong. Many empirical studies, even from the summer of 2020, have demonstrated no systematic long-term relationship between policy stringency and virus mitigation. There is no eradication through social and economic controls.

Venkayya and his friends might have invented pandemic planning of this sort but it did not work. Instead it created mass suffering, demoralization, confusion, and public anger, not to mention having vastly expanded government power over the entire world. It is not an accident that censorship, ill-health, illiteracy, and now war are left in the wake of this fiasco. The lockdowns shattered what was called civilization, rooted in the rights and freedoms that pandemic planning reduced to nothingness.

We should remember the man who called out this crazed ideology back in 2006. He is Donald A. Henderson, the worlds most important epidemiologist at the time. He had worked with the World Health Organization and is given primary credit for the eradication of smallpox. His book on the topic is a tour de force and a model of how a genuine public health official goes about his work.

His 2006 article provided a comprehensive critique of lockdown ideology. The title is Disease Mitigation Measures in the Control of Pandemic Influenza. He notes the new interest in a range of disease mitigation measures. Possible measures that have been proposed include: isolation of sick people in hospital or at home, use of antiviral medications, hand-washing and respiratory etiquette, large-scale or home quarantine of people believed to have been exposed, travel restrictions, prohibition of social gatherings, school closures, maintaining personal distance, and the use of masks.

We must ask, he writes, whether any or all of the proposed measures are epidemiologically sound, logistically feasible, and politically viable. It is also critically important to consider possible secondary social and economic impacts of various mitigation measures. Coming under special scrutiny here was the neologism social distancing. He points out that it has been deployed to describe everything from simple actions to avoid exposure to covering full-scale closures and stay-at-home orders.

He approves of course of hand-washing and using tissues but points out that while these practices have individual value, there is no evidence that making the practices widespread will somehow end a pandemic or even stop the spread of a virus. As for the other measurestravel restrictions, closures, stay-at-home orders, prohibition of gatherings, maskinghe shoots them down one by one using logic, experience, and citations from literature. While it is good to be prepared for a pandemic, we must remember that they do come and go. Wrecking society and rights achieves nothing.

He saves the best as the final flourish. Read it and see his prophecy in action:

Experience has shown that communities faced with epidemics or other adverse events respond best and with the least anxiety when the normal social functioning of the community is least disrupted. Strong political and public health leadership to provide reassurance and to ensure that needed medical care services are provided are critical elements. If either is seen to be less than optimal, a manageable epidemic could move toward catastrophe.

Dr. Henderson died in 2016. Four years later, precisely what he warned against became policy the world over. And yet after two years of hell, and now that the fear has subsided and the political and bureaucratic class is acquiescing to the dramatic change in public opinion, the pandemic is becoming endemic in exactly the way it always has in the past, precisely as he said it would.

Fortunately, we have this textual evidence of Henderson warning, so no one can say: we could not have known.

What are the lessons here? When someone with power proclaims to have a new theory and practice to eradicate something undesirable, and it only requires the temporary suspension of all rights and liberties, look out. If they get their way and the damage is done, they will very likely not be found anywhere to accept responsibility. And the rest of us will be left with the carnage, plus living under a planning machinery looking for another mission to distract the public from its failures.

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.
A bridge is decorated with the logo of a Bayer AG, a German pharmaceutical and chemical maker in Wuppertal, Germany, on Aug. 9, 2019. Bayer will continue supplying medications in Russia. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

To Leave or Not to Leave? Western Companies, Banks in Russia Face Substantial Challenges

Western businesses and banks with operations in Russiawhether they intend to exit the country or stay in business thereare facing massive difficulties as they attempt to balance international pressure to divest and potential retaliation from Moscow.

Over 400 Western companies have exited Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, leaving behind billions of dollars in assets. About 80 firms are still operating, though they have suspended new investments. Most of these companies are pharmaceutical and consumer businesses that claim pulling out from Russia will needlessly harm the Russian people.

A few are also worried their employees could face legal retaliation from the Kremlin.

Companies believe they cant easily abandon small Russian businesses and consumers that rely on them, said Bruce Haynes, global co-chair of crisis communications at public relations firm SVC+FGH, according to Reuters.

SVC+FGH has been advising businesses about Russian withdrawal.

Companies such as Procter & Gamble Co., PepsiCo Inc., and Nestle have announced they will continue doing business in Russia, primarily focusing on essential nutrition and personal hygiene products such as milk and diapers.

Pharmaceutical corporations Bayer AG and Pfizer Inc. will cease nonessential operations but will continue supplying medications for illnesses such as cancer and diabetes.

The Kremlin has threatened departing foreign companies that the government could seize their assets. State prosecutors have warned businesses that if they shut down the production of essential goods, the employees could be arrested.

Meanwhile, Western banks are struggling to liquidate assets. The Moscow Exchange has been closed since Feb. 25. Big asset management firms are relying on banks to minimize losses once trading restarts in Russia. But this might require securing necessary permits, and its doubtful whether they would find buyers.

In the United States, selling assets to sanctioned entities requires special licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The time needed to obtain such licenses is not clear.

In the European Union, settlement systems have been blocked from carrying out transactions on bonds, stocks, and derivatives in rubles, the only currency that Russian businesses can pay with right now.

Banks only have a few weeks to close any outstanding contracts with Russian clients subject to Western sanctions, and the banks must also ensure that transactions with their remaining Russian clients dont violate those sanctions.

Banks will likely be dealing with an increased risk of legal and regulatory trouble related to Russia for decades, Pushan Dutt, INSEAD Professor of Economics, said to Reuters. Absent a regime change, Russia will remain cut off from the international banking system.

Italian banking group UniCredit could end up writing off 7.4 billion euros ($8.19 billion) in its exit from Russia, and French investment bank Societe Generale has warned that Russia might confiscate its assets in the country, Reuters reported.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a ceremony marking the opening of the new court term in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 22, 2021. (Manaure Quintero/Reuters)

U.S. Judge Denies Motion for CIA Records About Venezuela Coup Plots

A U.S. judge has denied a motion from indicted former Venezuelan Gen. Cliver Antonio Alcala Cordones to have the U.S. government produce records about his connections to the CIA.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Cordones conspired with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, other top regime officials, and members of Colombias Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) to ship cocaine to the United States.

But Cordones surprised observers in January when he not only denied involvement with any narco-terrorism scheme; he said he actually tried to overthrow Maduros socialist governmentwith the blessing of the CIA.

Who is telling the truth in the matter is not clear, as U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied Cordoness motion for the CIA to produce records in his March 17 order. A pretrial conference is set for May 3.

The details of Cordoness alleged anti-Maduro activities read like a spy novel.

According to the motion, Cordones left Venezuelas military after Maduro replaced Hugo Chavez in 2013.

General Alcala Cordoness opposition to Maduro soon escalated, and by 2017, with the knowledge of the United States government, General Alcala Cordones began actively planning his first attempt to remove Maduro and his cronies from office through military intervention, the motion states. These were not theoretical debates about democratic change, these were plans for armed insurrection against a regime and its leadership.

The first such attempt was planned for March 2018, but the Venezuelan government learned of the plan and crushed it. Cordones fled to Colombia, where he would continue to participate in anti-Maduro activities, according to his filing.

On the eve of a second coup attempt in 2020which failedCordones said he was contacted in person by a U.S. law enforcement official, who informed him about the narco-terrorist indictment.

The agent informed General Alcala Cordones that he could either board a private jet bound for New York, or be held in a Colombian jail, where he would no doubt be targeted by the Venezuelan intelligence services for assassination, the motion states. Left with little choice, General Alcala Cordones agreed to accompany the agent back to the United States.

Cordones said he has requested records since November 2021 regarding the U.S. governments knowledge that he participated in two coup attempts against Maduro. Cordones has received no such records, which is why he said he is seeking a court order for production.

The DOJ opposed Cordoness motion in a Feb. 8 filing, asking Hellerstein for a protective order that would keep any U.S. government documents about Cordones under wraps. The reason the government wants to keep this information secret is not clear, as the DOJs arguments were filed under seal.

Nevertheless, the judge granted DOJs request a day later.

The head of the departments that have control of the classified information described in [governments motion], after actual personal consideration, have lodged the state secrets privilege with respect to that classified information, Hellerstein said on Feb. 9.

Cordoness defense attorneys protested the judges order, saying they never had the chance to respond to the DOJs request. Hellerstein agreed with the defense attorneys that they should be allowed to respond and vacated his order.

Cordones responded on Feb. 25, urging the judge to schedule a hearing to review the CIAs records on the former general behind closed doors.

In an in camera and ex parte conference, the defense would present to the Court detailed information about General Alcala Cordoness interactions with the United States government, including with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other intelligence agencies, that is relevant to the allegations in the indictment, the defense stated.

But despite the defense getting a chance to lodge its argument, Judge Hellersteins decision remained unchanged in his March 17 order.

The government states that it already has made substantial productions of information and has committed to making substantial productions of classified materials, Hellerstein said yesterday. I hold that no order compelling additional discovery is warranted at this time.

Hellerstein also denied Cordoness sovereign immunity defense because, along with other reasons, the former general wasnt acting in his capacity as a state official when he allegedly participated in the narco-terrorism scheme.

The DOJ and DEA declined to comment on Cordoness allegations, while the CIA and Treasury Department have not responded to media inquiries.
Unite claimed that the mainly black, Asian, and ethnic minority staff are paid up to 15 percent less than directly employed NHS workers. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

UK Hospital Denied Having Male in Female Ward After Patient Allegedly Raped by Transgender Person

A hospital in the UK has allegedly told the police that there was no male in its female ward after a woman was allegedly raped by a transgender person, it was revealed on Thursday.

Debating on single-sex wards during the detailed scrutiny of the Health and Care Bill in the early hours on Thursday, Emma Harriet Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, told the House of Lords that the incident happened about a year ago.

There is only one definition of rape in Britain and that is male on female. You cannot rape if you do not have the structure of a male, Nicholson told the Peers.

Nicholson said the woman, whom she did not identify, reported her alleged rape to the police. But officers were informed by the hospital that there was no male in the hospital, therefore the rape could not have happened.

They forgot that there was CCTV, nurses, and observers. Nonetheless, it has taken nearly a year for the hospital to agree that there was a male on the ward and, yes, this rape happened, she added.

It is on recordI know where the case happened, who the police are, and where the hospital is. I know everything about it because she gave me the full case to make sure I knew that what she was saying was true.

Nicholson argued that the incident was a result of annex B of an NHS guidance published in 2019 (pdf) that told staff to accommodate people according to their presentation at the time or their expressed preference.

The result of annex B is that hospital trusts inform ward sisters and nurses that if there is a male, as a trans person, in a female ward, and a female patient or anyone complains, they must be told that it is not truethere is no male there, she said.
Travellers exit through the International Arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport in London, England, on Aug. 7, 2021. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

UK Scraps All Remaining CCP Virus Travel Restrictions

All remaining CCP virus travel restrictions for people arriving in the UK have been removed, in a move hailed by tourism companies as the final game-changer for the industry.

From March 18, passengers arriving in the UK are no longer required to fill in a passenger locator form, and adults who are not fully vaccinated no longer need to take a pre-departure test and a day two post-arrival test.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: I said we wouldnt keep travel measures in place for any longer than necessary, which were delivering on todayproviding more welcome news and greater freedom for travellers ahead of the Easter holidays.

Aviation minister Robert Courts said: Everything we have worked forevery jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the whole countrymeans that finally, nearly two years on, we can all travel without bureaucratic restrictions.

He said that he hopes to never see a day where the COVID-19 travel curbs were reintroduced.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the final restrictions could now be lifted due to the success of the vaccination programme, but the government will continue to monitor potential new variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said a range of contingency measures would be kept in reserve so ministers could take swift and proportionate action in the face of potential new variants.

The tourism and airline industries have welcomed the move as they see a sharp rise in demand for foreign holidays.

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, a tourism company, said bookings had surged in recent months for destinations including the Maldives, Mauritius, the Caribbean, and continental Europe.

The removal of all travel restrictions is the final game-changerpeople can now go on holiday or visit family and friends overseas without all of the stress that comes with testing before they return home, he said.

Travel has been in turmoil for two years but now its back.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of industry group Airlines UK, said the time to return to the skies is now as travellers prepare for Easter and summer.

People want to go away, and there is a real air of positivity within the sector now, he said.

Heathrow, the UKs largest airport, dropped the requirement for passengers to wear masks on March 16.

Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also announced they are ditching mask requirements on some routes.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a family photo during the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian Province on Sept. 4, 2017. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine War Brings Economic Opportunities for CCP in Complex Balance of Power With Russia: Expert

As the economy deteriorates ever further under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, the Russia-Ukraine war presents trade and investment opportunities that may just allow Chinas ruling elite to keep one step ahead of gathering social unrest and extend its rule.

Thats according to Gregory Copley, president of the International Strategic Studies Association in Washington, who spoke to EpochTVs Forbidden News program on March 17.

The analyst said that while much of the rest of the world pulls business and cuts ties from Russia, Moscow may suddenly be willing to do business with China at prices highly favorable to the latter. But in the intricate balance of power, Russias territorial ambitions in Asia are by no means aligned with Chinese interests.

The Chinese economy has been gradually imploding, and perhaps at an accelerating rate over the past eight years or so. So, whats really significant about the war in Ukraine is that, in essence, it has saved the Communist Party of China and the Peoples Republic of China [PRC] to a large extent, because it has driven Moscow back into the arms of Beijing, Copley, also a contributor to The Epoch Times, said.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who spoke by phone earlier today with U.S. President Joe Biden about the Russia-Ukraine war and its ramifications for the U.S.-Chinese relationship, among other issues, stands out as one of the few world leaders not to condemn the Ukraine invasion unequivocally.

As the sanctions levied by other countries deal crippling blows to Russias economy, Moscow is likely to look to Beijing, which can now buy products badly needed by the Chinese public at significantly lower rates.

Copley noted that China is the largest energy importer in the world, as well as the largest importer of food. Demographics are the primary reason, he said. With about 20 percent of the worlds population and only seven percent of the worlds water, much of it polluted, food production in China is in poor shape, Copley said.

Hence China has imported food from the United States on a massive scale. This has not only been expensive but has put China in a dependent position with regard to America.

China is the currently top destination of Russian exports. Russia is Chinas second-biggest oil supplier behind Saudi Arabia, accounting for 15.5 percent of Chinas total imports in 2021. Russia is also a major supplier of gas and coal to China.

Since the onset of Russias invasion, Beijing has refused to denounce Russias actions or join Western sanctions. Instead, the regime has touted the Sino-Russian relationship as rock solid and pledged to continue normal trade relations with the beleaguered state.

Dependency

In Copleys analysis, this dependence has placed limits on Chinas territorial ambitions and may even explain why Beijing has not yet launched an invasion of Taiwan. The regime considers the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has vowed to unite Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary.

The PRC could not undertake any major military exercise, such as the invasion of Taiwan, because if it did, the United States would just cut off that food supply and youd have China on mass starvation within weeks, Copley said.

The reality is that the Ukraine war means that Russia now cannot sell a lot of its agricultural output, its food products and surpluses, to the outside world. So that food will be available to the PRC at a lower price, perhaps, than theyre paying for U.S. grain imports and soybean imports, he said.

Russia is also likely to divert to China energy products that it can no longer sell to Western markets, Copley said.

The availability of these badly needed products may help Xi finally bring to fruition a plan to wean China off U.S. dependence and bring about, if not the reality of total self-sufficiency, an economic model more in line with CCP preferences.

What Beijing was thinking of doing under Xis plan was to cut China off from much of its foreign dependence and build an economy around internal circulation, Copley said. Its an unrealistic view, and it didnt work for Mao Zedong. You saw the massive starvation of the 1950s. To a degree, Russia can save the PRC from doing that, Copley said.

An economic model involving heavy imports from Russia may not qualify as an example of internal circulation, but at least alleviates Chinas dependence on the United States and, potentially, frees its hand to take action against Taiwan.

Were seeing this potential, for those who would like for Beijing to get more autonomy from the Western world and dependence on Western food, and still get a large amount of food from Russia. So youve got this new economic bloc being forged between Russia and the PRC, and Iran and other nations, Copley said.

Copley drew a contrast between the China of today, which he called 66 percent urbanized, and the China of the early years of the 20th century, which was only about 5 percent urbanized. The mass unrest that worsening social conditions and endemic starvation might cause would bring about the demise of the CCP within the next decade, he said. The shift to expanded trade with Russia and a few other nations has given the CCP a lifeline.

Foreign Policy Interests at Odds

The possibility of expanded trade with Russia does not mean that the two countries broader interests are in any way aligned, particularly in the realm of foreign policy. Russia has acted boldly where China has faltered, in Copleys view.

What we saw in the period immediately after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in August last year was that China stumbled and failed really to be able to exploit the loss of American strategic presence in Central Asia, he said. They hoped to gain credibility with the Taliban and to build a pipeline across Afghanistan to Iran to get energy, but it proved to be a bit of a pipe dream.

Meanwhile, Russia moved in with an offer of security to the five states of Central Asia, which included among its stipulations the use of Russian as their first language, and took a leading role in attempting to stabilize Kazakhstan after the attempted coup there in January. Copley sees Russias moves as an attempt to reestablish control of Central Asia and deny significant influence to Beijing.

Russia is reluctant to let Beijing back into Central Asia. It put troops in Tajikistan, for example, not to stop the flow of Afghan refugees, but to stop the PRC from putting more troops into Tajikistan, Copley said. Right now, Russia does not want to give any ground to Beijing.

In Copleys view, longstanding territorial disputes between Russia and China, some extending all the way back to the 19th century, have not gone away but have grown even more pronounced. They are likely to continue as the economic balance of power between Russia and China shifts and trade with Russia provides a lifeline to the CCP.

Michael Washburn China Reporter Follow Michael Washburn is a New York-based reporter who covers China-related topics. He has a background in legal and financial journalism, and also writes about arts and culture. Additionally, he is the host of the weekly podcast Reading the Globe. His books include The Uprooted and Other Stories, When We're Grownups, and Stranger, Stranger.
US and Chinese Fighter Jets Had Close Encounter Over East China Sea: US General

Advanced fighter jets from the United States and China came face to face recently, according to the commander of the U.S. air presence in the Indo-Pacific.

We recently had, I wouldnt call it an engagement, but we got relatively close to the J-20s with our F-35s in the East China Sea and were relatively impressed with the command and control that was associated with the J-20s, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces, said during a March 14 interview with the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The F-35 and J-20 are the most advanced fighters in the U.S. and Chinese arsenals, respectively. The incident marks one of the first publicly disclosed direct encounters between the two countries, and Wilsbach noted that the Chinese military was proving to be capable with the technology.

What were noticing is they are flying it pretty well, Wilsbach said of the Chinese pilots performance during the encounter. He didnt provide exact details about the time of the encounter.

Wilsbach said there were other Chinese aircraft in the region that also demonstrated a good amount of skill in command and control.

Relatively little is known of the J-20, popularly referred to as the Mighty Dragon. It entered service in 2017, and its a stealth fighter, like the F-35, but its unclear whether the Chinese military will seek to use the aircraft as an all-purpose, multi-mission aircraft or if it will specialize in one particular domain, such as air superiority.

Its a bit early to tell exactly what they want to do with the J-20, Wilsbach said. All weve really seen it do is air superiority.

Were seeing relatively professional flying. Its still too early to tell exactly what they intend to do with it.

The F-35 fulfills all types of roles, but the United States also uses other aircraft for more specific types of missions. For example, Wilsbach noted that the F-22 was specifically tailored for air superiority missions, but also had the capability to engage in limited air-to-ground attacks.

The encounter comes amid a low point in SinoAmerican relations. U.S. officials have accused the Chinese communist regime of considering providing military support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, as well preparing for an invasion of Taiwan in the coming years.

To that end, Wilsbach noted that understanding the Chinese militarys aerial capabilities was vital to ensuring adequate preparedness among the U.S. and allied forces.

He said large segments of the Chinese militarys capability to engage in long-range fires were dependent upon its airpower and particularly its ability to defend early warning aircraft such as the KJ-500.

As such, the U.S. ability to meet with and effectively engage Chinese aircraft in the sky would be a deciding factor in any future conflict.

Being able to interrupt that kill chain is something that interests me greatly, Wilsbach said.
House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) questions former Special Counsel Robert Mueller as he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee about his report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, on July 24, 2019. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

US Cannot Trust China Amid Ukraine Crisis: Rep. Steve Chabot

Russias reported request to China for support in its invasion of Ukraine is a sign that Russia is in trouble, Putin is having a hard time, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) told Epoch Times affiliate NTD in an interview on March 17.

It is not surprising that the Russian leader would turn to China for military and economic aid, he said, but Russian President Vladamir Putins move necessitates heightened caution on the part of the United States.

We should be very, very vigilant, watchful, and make sure that were on top of things, Chabot said, just a day before President Joe Bidens widely anticipated video call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The lawmaker said he hoped that Biden would tell Xi to back off, and not to work with Putin, because I think its not in Chinas best interest.

During the two-hour video call on Friday, Biden told Xi that there would be consequences if China chose to materially support Russia, the White House said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki later said that Biden did not receive any specific assurances that China would act one way or another. She also refused to outline specifics on what the consequences would entail, saying that Washington was still discussing this with Group of Seven allies.

While the sanctions imposed on Russia are some of the toughest on record, Chabot said that he and many of his colleagues would have been in favor of applying much stiffer sanctions on Russia even before the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Such a step might have made Putin think twice before proceeding with the attack.

But, for the time being, the powers arrayed against Russia need to watch and see what effect the sanctions have on the course of the conflict and Putins willingness to pursue it, the lawmaker believed.

It is a mistake to expect transparency from the Chinese regime regarding its intentions or its actions in the Ukraine crisis, the congressman said. Such deceptiveness is of a piece with Beijings conduct in other crises.

Clearly, China is going to deny everything, as they always do, Chabot said.

We know that China did cover up the first [COVID-19] outbreak that they had, to the detriment of the rest of the world. I dont think we would have seen nearly the number of deaths had they actually opened up with the rest of the world, but they covered it up. And we should expect them, in this case, to do something similar. You really just cant trust the PRC [Peoples Republic of China], he added.

If Xi is contemplating action against Taiwan, Chabot said he hopes that Xi will look at the difficulty that Putin has experienced in the Ukraine invasion and understand that an invasion of the island would be even harder to pursue given the United States strong ties to democratic Taiwan.

Its a critical ally of ours in a critical region, and we need to stand with Taiwan, Chabot said.

The Chinese regime views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to unite it with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Chabot believes that if U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, such as Australia and Japan, take strong stances against Beijing, the regime is less likely to attempt an invasion of Taiwan. But, all the same, the United States must be fully prepared for such a development, he said.

Michael Washburn China Reporter Follow Michael Washburn is a New York-based reporter who covers China-related topics. He has a background in legal and financial journalism, and also writes about arts and culture. Additionally, he is the host of the weekly podcast Reading the Globe. His books include The Uprooted and Other Stories, When We're Grownups, and Stranger, Stranger.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press about the war in Ukraine, at the State Department in Washington on March 17, 2022. (Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Blinken Warns China of Costs Should It Take Actions to Support Russia

Although China maintains that it plays a mediator role amid the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Washington would impose consequences if Beijing provided direct support to Moscow economically and militarily.

The remarks came a day before President Joe Bidens phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss urgent issues, including Chinas stance on Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to the White House.

The president will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, Blinken said during a March 17 press briefing. And we will not hesitate to impose costs, he said, without specifying the type of costs that will be used.

Blinken said Beijing ought to defend the international laws, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, that it pledges to support, and call off the Russian invasion as a close partner with President Vladimir Putin.

Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiterand were concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine, he said.

The civilian death toll climbed in Ukraine as intensified Russian attacks entered the third week. Yet, as most of the world is acting in unison to denounce Russian aggression, China has been continuously distancing itself from the conflict between Russia and the West, despite a request by Kyiv and world leaders for it to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.

In the latest move, the Chinese regime aligned with Moscow on March 16 and voted against a decision by the highest legal body of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, to order Russia to immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine.

While the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine voiced support and praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people at war, the Communist regime refused to call the Russian attack an invasion or condemn the aggression, thereby promoting Moscows justifications for war. In China, censors also clamped down on anti-war web posts and comments but allowed pro-Russian voices to prevail online.

As Russias top trade partner over the past decade, China, on the first day of Russias invasion, lifted all import restrictions on its wheat, which could undermine Western sanctions against the worlds largest producer of wheat. After developing close ties in recent years to align against the United States and its allies, China and Russia announced earlier last month a no-limits partnership and no forbidden areas of cooperation.

Russia was reported to have asked China for military assistance amid its military operation in Ukraine, an allegation denied by officials on both sides.

China will never attack Ukraine, Ambassador Fan Xianrong told Ukrainian governor Maksym Kozytskyi on Monday.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent gestures toward a Ukrainian family seeking for a humanitarian visa at the San Ysidro Port of Entry of the US-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico, on March 15, 2022. (Jorge Duenes/Reuters)

US Lets Ukrainians Fleeing War Into United States From Mexico

TIJUANA, MexicoAt the U.S. border with Mexico, American officials are allowing Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland to enter the United States and stay without fear of deportation for a year, according to people crossing.

Several Ukrainians told Reuters they passed through a checkpoint in the northern Mexican city of Tijuana this week and were granted permission to remain in the country until 2023.

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official briefed on the matter said that U.S. authorities were granting one-year temporary humanitarian parole to Ukrainians.

CBP and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the border agency, did not reply to requests for comment. DHS has said in the past that all parole decisions at the border are made on a case-by-case basis.

The Ukrainians reported traveling through a string of countries to get to the United States, where they hope to find refuge, stay with relatives or rebuild their lives.

Alex Mak, a 24-year-old Ukrainian who declined to give his full name for fear of reprisals, said officials put a stamp in his passport authorizing him a years stay.

Its a crazy situation. Your life just stops, he told Reuters as he waited in the sun for over an hour in Tijuana to cross the border on Tuesday. You cant plan for work because of the war, and you dont have work, you cant work.

Alex described how he had been due to return to Kyiv on Feb. 25 from a trip to Uganda, but was advised not to by friends when Russia invaded a day earlier. Russia has characterized its attacks on Ukrainian cities a special military operation.

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled the fighting, according to the United Nations, with the majority finding refuge in neighboring countries. At least 310 have reached Tijuana by air this month, said Jesus Ruiz Uribe, the Mexican governments delegate for Baja California state.

The U.S.-Mexico border has been closed to most asylum seekers under a pandemic-era policy known as Title 42, but Ukrainians described moving to the front of a line of migrants waiting to make their claims to border officials.

Reuters saw more than two dozen Ukrainians enter the United States on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I want temporary protection, Alex said, until the war stops. I know I dont want to be a refugee.

A group of Democratic lawmakers urged President Joe Biden this month to increase refugee admissions, and allow Ukrainians with family members in the United States to enter faster with humanitarian parole.

A Miracle

Vira Krasiuk, who fled the besieged southern city of Mykolaiv with her family, said some Russians at the Tijuana border crossing told her that Ukrainians would be given priority to go into the United States if they showed their passports.

After questioning by U.S. immigration officials, the family was let into the United States. A DHS stamp in her passport said PAROLED with a handwritten date stipulating she could remain in the United States for a year.

Krasiuk recalled how an official took her family through to the San Ysidro, Californian side of the border, returned their passports and wished them well, saying: All the best.

Mexico has also registered an increase in Russian migrants fleeing their homeland amid growing tensions. Aside from Russians, Reuters witnesses saw Mexicans and Colombians at the border seeking asylum who were turned away.

Maryna Sokolovska, a U.S. citizen who left Ukraine with her cousin and the latters child, got her family into the United States after an odyssey that led them through Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Amsterdam, and Mexico City and then Tijuana.

It felt like a miracle that after four hours, we, including a baby, were let in, said Sokolovska, 35, who is acting as a sponsor for her relatives in the United States.

The mother and child were given leave to stay for a year under humanitarian parole, said Sokolovska, a trained dentist who runs a video production company from Beverly Hills.

Sokolovska said she traveled to Lviv in western Ukraine to fetch her relatives when her cousins husband went to fight and the area she lived in outside Kyiv came under attack from Russian forces.

By Daina Beth Solomon and Dasha Afanasieva
New Mexico Congresswoman Yvette Herrell interviews with NTD's Capitol Report, on March 17, 2022. (NTD/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

US Must Stop Relying on Adversaries for Critical Goods and Energy: New Mexico Congresswoman

Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) said the pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine have exposed why the United States needs to produce energy and the most essential medicines here at home.

We need to create and substantiate our energy independence, which we had just a few short months ago, Herrell told host of NTDs Capitol Report Steve Lance during a recent interview, so we are not reliant on Russia or other foreign countries for oil.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, New Mexico had record-high production of crude oil and natural gas in March 2021, averaging 1.16 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil and 6.19 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas.

Herrell introduced the American Energy Security and Transparency Act, legislation that would help the United States achieve energy independence in the wake of recent sanctions that had to be imposed on Russian oil.

She also urged President Joe Biden to bring back the Keystone XL Pipeline project that would have transported much-needed oil from Canada to the United States, adding that the United States produces oil with less pollution than other countries.

The Keystone Steele City pumping station in Nebraska, into which the planned Keystone XL pipeline would connect. (The Associated Press)

Biden canceled the Keystone pipeline in 2021 through executive order (EO), which in 2017, President Trump had resumed, also through executive action.

According to a 2017 State Department report, construction would contribute $3.4 billion to the nations output. Thats about 0.02 percent of the $18 trillion U.S. economy. They also estimated that Keystone XL would generate $70 million in new state and local taxes along the route during construction and $55.6 million in property taxes once oil started flowing.

The pipeline would have transported over 800,000 barrels of oil per day.

Since taking office, the Biden Administration has yet to hold an onshore oil and gas lease sale, in direct violation of the federal law, Herrell said in a press statement. The Department of the Interior (DOI) is also stalling hundreds of permits for energy operations on federal lands, which is artificially limiting our energy supply.

Biden, along with Keystone, in the same EO halted all drilling on federal land until analysis could be completed, which some states have sued the administration for, claiming the EO was unlawful.

Herrell also warned against relying on another adversary, Chinas Communist Party.

I think as a nation, we need to be looking at the bigger picture and ensure that history doesnt repeat itself, as in China, looking at Taiwan, looking back now to see what Russia has done with Ukraine.

But one of the things I think we have to and must do is ensure that we are not reliant on our adversaries for medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, which we are right now with China. So, lets bring that manufacturing home, lets ensure that we are putting all of our assets in America, investing in Americans, and utilizing the resources and the bright minds we have here.

China is the dominant supplier of thousands of medicines found in U.S. homes and hospitals, from antibiotics to chemotherapies, from HIV/AIDS drugs to antidepressants and painkillers.

Herrell introduced The Protecting American Lives Act, which requires the Food and Drug Administration to assess which regulations prevent the United States from producing essential medication here at home.

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.
US Navy Veteran Held Hostage in Iran for 2 Years Sues Regime for $1 Billion

A U.S. Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for nearly two years sued the Islamic regime for $1 billion on Thursday, alleging he was held hostage and tortured in the country.

Michael White of Imperial Beach, California, alleged that he endured physical and psychological torture and was deprived of food and drink during his prolonged captivity in Iran from July 2018 to June 2020, according to a criminal complaint filed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

White endured this trauma for nearly two years, never knowing if or when he would be released and reunited with his family, repeatedly promised that his conditions would improve soon, only to be crushed psychologically when they did not, the lawsuit states.

The complaint traces Whites travel to Iran, saying he was lured there in the summer of 2018 by a woman he considered his girlfriend so that he could be kidnapped by Iranian government agents and put in prison. He was charged with insulting Irans Supreme Leader and cooperating with the U.S. government against Irancharges the lawsuit says were fabricatedand sentenced without trial to 10 years in prison.

The veteran was first held hostage at Evin Prison in Tehran, a jail that often houses dual nationals and foreign prisoners, for at least 10 days before being moved to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad for at least 18 months.

Vakilabad Prisons were responsible for certain gross violations of human rights, officials said. This includes prior incidence of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary detentions, and denials of the right to liberty.

Whites imprisonment was also an effort by the Islamic regime to extract concessions from the Trump administration and to manufacture additional leverage for diplomacy in the aftermath of Irans withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal with the United States in 2018, according to the filing.

The U.S. State Department announced his release to the Swiss Embassy in June 2020. During the Republican National Convention that year, he made a videotaped appearance in a segment with President Donald Trump and other hostages and detainees freed during the Trump administration.

The Trump administration touted his release at the time as part of its efforts to secure the release of Americans held hostage or imprisoned abroad.

I want to let everyone know that recovering Americans held captive and imprisoned abroad continues to be a top priority for my administration, Trump said.

It was not immediately clear if Iran planned to formally respond to the complaint, or if it had a lawyer to represent it in the case. If Iran does not respond to the allegations, a judge could enter a default judgment on Whites behalf, enabling White to collect damages from a fund set up for victims of acts of state-sponsored terrorism.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Victorias Premier Warns Residents of a Potentially Difficult Winter Period Ahead

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned the states residents that they may face an upcoming challenging winter with a combination of flu and COVID-19 on the horizon.

Speaking in front of reporters on March 17, the premier did not provide a specific timeline for the state government to lift the remaining pandemic measures for the public, such as mask mandate for hospitality and retail workers and some primary school students.

At this stage, Ive got no advice that well be able to take off those mask rules, he said.

We are open, and things are closer to normal than they have been for a long time.

Nevertheless, the Victorian government is trying to get more residents to take the third dose of COVID vaccine before winter comes with the establishment of 120 pop up vaccination hubs, as the state has witnessed the more contagious BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant quickly become widespread and dominant.

Winter will be challenging. It always is whether youve got a pandemic or not, flu for instance, always knocks our health system around every single winter, Andrews said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 11, 2022. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that there has been no evidence of the new sub-variant of the Omicron strain being more virulent than the older BA.1 variant, and experts have advised state governments against imposing further restrictions on their jurisdictions.

Regarding the premiers comments, opposition Leader Matthew Guy pointed out that the state should remove the mask mandate completely and put the pandemic behind it.

Hows it fair that theres 60,000 people at the MCG, sanctioned by the state government, but kids in primary school in grades four, five and six are wearing a mask? Thats ridiculous, Guy told reporters.

Meanwhile, Victorias public transport minister Ben Carroll confirmed on March 17 that he was infected with the coronavirus following his daughter returning a positive COVID-19 testing result on March 12.

Carroll said he was keeping his symptoms in check while his daughter was in good condition.

Just wanted to let you all know that having been in isolation since Saturday when my daughter tested positive, I have now tested positive for COVID as well. Fortunately, my daughter is doing well & Im managing my symptoms. Shout out to friends who have been dropping things off!  Ben Carroll (@BenCarrollMP) March 17, 2022

His situation comes right after Health Minister Martin Foley entered self-quarantine on March 16 after a family member got the virus.

According to Victorias Department of Health, the state reported 9,752 new cases of infection and seven deaths on March 17.

The people passing away were in their 70s, 80s and 90s, with one case of death occurring in the week commencing March 7, five in February and one in January.

In addition, 197 people in the state are currently hospitalised because of the virus, with 23 staying in the intensive care unit and four on ventilators.

The booster vaccination rate for Victorians who are 18 years old and above has reached 63.1 percent, and 94.2 per cent of people aged 12 and over in the state have had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Kendall Heiman stands with the loner car she has driven for the past two months in Lawrence, Kan., on March 9, 2022. (Charlie Riedel/AP Photo)

Volkswagen Recalls Over 246,000 SUVs Due to Unexpected Braking

DETROITVolkswagen is recalling more than 246,000 SUVs in the United States and Canada because faulty wiring harnesses can make them brake unexpectedly, sometimes while in traffic.

The recall comes three days after The Associated Press reported that 47 people had complained to U.S. safety regulators about the problem, some reporting nearly being rear-ended by other vehicles. Many reported that warning lights and alarms would go off, the drivers side windows would roll down, and the SUVs would suddenly brake while in traffic.

Volkswagen says in documents posted Friday by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the recall covers certain Atlas SUVs from the 2019 through 2023 model years, as well as the 2020 through 2023 Atlas Cross Sport.

The documents say the electrical contacts on a wiring harness in either of the front doors can corrode, interrupting electrical connections. The problem can cause the side air bags to deploy late in a crash, and the parking brake can come on unexpectedly. Volkswagen says in documents that the SUVs can brake at speeds below 1.8 miles per hour.

But many of those who complained to NHTSA said the unwanted braking happened while they were driving on city streets, putting them in danger. A driver from Mansfield, Ohio, wrote in a complaint that the braking happened multiple times at speeds of 25 to 70 miles per hour.

Kendall Heiman stands with the loner car she has driven for the past two months in Lawrence, Kan., on March 9, 2022. (Charlie Riedel/AP Photo)

Kendall Heiman, a Lawrence, Kansas, clinical social worker, said her 2021 Atlas Cross Sport tried to stop multiple times while she was driving on roads, often while it was decelerating. Heiman said she was nearly rear-ended by another SUV while heading into a roundabout. It also braked while she was exiting a highway, she said.

She and others complained that Volkswagen had no parts available to fix their vehicles, which sat at dealerships for more than two months. Heiman was given loaner cars, but some of those who complained to NHTSA said they were told by dealers that Volkswagen would not provide loaners.

The dashboard of Kendall Heimans Volkswagen SUV. (Kendall Heiman via AP)

Documents filed with the government by Volkswagen show the company started getting complaints in 2020. An analysis was started, but Volkswagen initially handled the problem as a regular quality issue. In 2021 the company began analyzing parts taken from vehicles, and it found the corrosion problem in a lab.

In February of 2022, NHTSA asked for a meeting after seeing consumer complaints, and a meeting was scheduled for March 10. VW decided to do a recall on March 4, out of an abundance of caution, the documents said.

The documents say a repair is being developed. Owners will get letters telling them of the safety risk starting May 10, and a second one will be sent when the remedy is available.

Volkswagen said in an email that owners who have concerns should contact Volkswagen Customer Care at (800) 822-8987.

Complaints started to come in to NHTSA in the fall of 2020. Many owners, including Heiman, said alarms would beep, dashboard warning lights would come on, the drivers side windows would roll down and the mystery braking would happen. A review of the complaints found no reports of crashes.

Heimans SUV received a replacement wiring harness last week, shortly after a reporter contacted her dealership. Wiring harnesses are bundles of wires that handle multiple electrical connections in vehicles.

By Tom Krisher
Director of Mercy Works Debbie Lascelles, prepares on March 17, to fly to Poland March 18 with the first group of volunteers seeking to aid refugees coming across the border. There are about 200 people lining up to volunteer with us, she told The Epoch Times. This team of volunteers will be there for two weeks, then we will send other teams, anywhere and everywhere. (Patrick Butler/Epoch Times)

Volunteers Lining Up for Ukraine at Mercy Works in Texas

LINDALE, TexasLeaving for Poland today, March 18, to aid Ukrainian refugees is the first group of 200 people who have expressed a desire to travel to the stricken area with Mercy Works of Texas. If this group of volunteers is typical of small, faith-based non-profits in America, much of what they do, where they go, how much they spend, and how they distribute the food and medicines they buy, may go unnoticed.

Largely, only the recipients and volunteers coordinating relief workand their supporters at homewill ever know the full amount of effort that goes into helping those in need.

But if Mercy Works of Texas is any indication, a significant amount of cash and volunteers will be funneled into Ukraine and surrounding countries that are trying to meet the crush of humanitymore than 3 million people by official estimates on March 17fleeing the Russian military advance into Ukraine.

Mercy Works is a tiny 501(3) (C) non-profit in East Texas, with only six full-time, unpaid, staff and a handful of part-time volunteers. The staff are vetting volunteers, funneling multiple thousands of donated dollars to orphanages in Poland, Romania, and Moldova, and coordinating the evacuation by bus of orphans from Ukraine to safe harbor in neighboring countries.

This is all accomplished by phone and social media apps, utilizing a network of volunteers who have years of experience working with orphans.

The hard work of pulling off the coordination is a familiar process for the full-time staff of Mercy Works, some whom have worked there for years.

I have no doubt I will eventually be going to Ukraine, said Registered Nurse Karen Youngblood, who has volunteered with Mercy Works for 16 years. She recently returned from northern Iraq, where she has been working with the Kurds.

Registered Nurse Karen Youngblood, a 16-year veteran of Mercy Works, said she fully expects to be sent to the Ukraine area to aid refugees. This situation will last for years, from what Ive seen, she said. (Patrick Butler/The Epoch Times)

From what Ive seen, the effects of this war on the people are going to last for years, she said.

Starting in 1996, Mercy Works has rallied short-term volunteers and relief supplies to crisis points around the worldincluding Bangladesh, Haiti, and Japan.

They were there when the Twin Towers fell in New York City, and on the Louisiana coast when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. They chartered one of the worlds largest cargo planes to fly relief supplies into South Sudan in 2002, sending volunteer medical teams into harms way during the second civil war.

Registered Nurse Debbie Lascelles, the director of Mercy Works, is also a veteran of relief efforts in Sudan, Albania, and New Yorks Twin Towers, among other war and disaster zones.

She will arrive in Poland with a small group of volunteers, primarily to work with orphans, Lascelles told The Epoch Times.

There were 100,000 orphans in Ukraine before the war began, she said, and who knows how many more now? Generous donations are pouring in to help these forgotten children who, now, dont even have an orphanage to live in. I cant imagine what thats like for them.

Mercy Works are sending their donated dollars to needy areas in and out of Ukraine, she said.

For the past few days Ive been sending $5,000 amounts to orphanages we know need the funds to evacuate, feed, and clothe these kids. Weve also been guiding a woman whocompletely on her ownis taking 63 orphans out of Ukraine.

Even as The Epoch Times spoke with Lascelles, she was completing a bank transfer of $5,000 to an orphanage via her cell phone, while sitting at her desk. Looking weary, she clutched the phone afterwards and said she could not stop what she was doing.

Debbie Lascelles, was busy transferring $5.000 to an orphanage while The Epoch Times stood by. on March 17, 2022. She flew to Poland with the first group of Mercy Works volunteers, on March 18 (Patrick Butler/Epoch Times)

I dont get to rest right now, she said . With only six staff to do all the logistics, everyone is working overtime.

Seven vetted volunteers will fly with Lascelles to Warsaw, stay two weeks, and come home, she said. Then another group will go. Then another. And another.

We are headed with this first team to a stadium in Warsaw, where we are told about 25,000 refugees are staying. But our advance team has been on the ground assessing needs in Moldova, Romania, and Poland. Well send people and money there, too. Weve purchased a van in Poland with donated dollars, and well be using it to get our volunteers around. Theres going to be plenty of work for everyone to do, Lascelles said.

The minimum time to serve the refugees with Mercy Works is two weeks, but some are willing to stay for months. Mercy Works volunteers will be going anywhere and everywhere to aid the refugees of war-torn Ukraine, she said.

It takes time to gather the information where they are most needed, and to vet the volunteers, Lascelles said. But this crisis is not going to be over anytime soon. The volunteers will be needed for quite awhile.

The profile of a needed volunteer is three-fold, she said.

We need people with listening skills who will sit and listen, and help these needy people get settled, get around, and be comforted. We are hiring translators so our volunteers can accomplish that. If there are Ukrainian speaking volunteers that would be helpful, too. And we could use long-term volunteers as well.

Dangers of Volunteering

Retired Trauma Counselor Dr. MaryDale Salston told The Epoch Times there is reason to be cautious when volunteering with traumatized people.

Volunteers will be traumatized too, and definitely impacted by the brutality of the stories they hear, she said. They need to be prepared to manage their responses and remain calm, to be effective.

Those types of concerns while volunteering with Mercy Works are a constant reality, Lascelles said, if not from actual bombs and bullets, then from the scenes of trauma that play out before them.

Ive come home with PTSD from the war zones Ive worked in, she said. It can happen. Thats why we debrief our volunteers every evening, asking if they heard, saw or felt anything that troubled them during the day. When we get back home, if they still need to see a trauma counselor, we try to arrange that in the area they are from. I got over my PTSD by talking to friends, trauma counselors, and prayer.

As a Christian relief organization, Mercy Works gets requests for spiritual guidance materials, as well as money for food, medicines, and gas to get out of Ukraine.

There are a lot of Christians in Ukraine, and many of them couldnt take a Bible with them, Lascelles said, so were getting many requests for Ukrainian-language Bibles. We could use donations of those right now.

Money is the best way to donate, because of costly obstacles like shipping.

Its better to donate $20 to us to buy a blanket over there, than donate a blanket we have to ship, she said. People can donate at MercyWorks.org and we are very grateful for that, she said.
Brexit supporters gather in Parliament Square, the venue for the Leave Means Leave Brexit Celebration, in central London on Jan. 31, 2020, the day the UK formally left the European Union. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

What Canada Can Learn From Britains Escape From the European Union

Commentary

When the United Kingdom finally left the European Union following the Brexit vote in 2016, the greatest insult the EU mandarins could deploy was to call the British people retro-nationalists. The sentiment was intended to be shameful, as though the Brits were some uncouth failed social experiment that simply lacked the sophistication and poise to be truly enlightened.

This remonstration by Jean Claude Juncker to those cheeky Brits provided a revelation into the collective mind of post-nationalism because it isolated the end game and retroactively illuminated the real ideological creep that occurred in Europe when the very good idea of an alliance of trading nations that was the European Economic Community (EEC) migrated to be the bad idea of a post-national experiment.

This experiment enabled national identities to become obfuscated and prostrate to a centralized EU governance machine in Brussels. The glacial shifts onward from the 1970s moved this framework from the EEC to the EU, from a trading treaty to a new and invasive social contract for all Europeans.

It took the British 40 years to observe, identify, and then name the ideological creep that was hollowing out their national identity, their way of life, and their sense of self. Unlike the frustrated sculptor Pygmalion, with his marble statue of the perfect woman that he could never love, the Brits recognized the tepid limitations of the much-idealized collective state of the EU as the pinnacle of political evolution.

They chose instead the sometimes-blemished beauty of democracy, national sovereignty, and the salty proximity between the elected and the individual voter that ensures the state does not overreach itself. The vote to leave was the visceral reply to the EU; it was deeply resented by globalist ideologues around the world.

This ideological creep experienced by Britain has profound lessons for Canada in 2022.

In 2015, the New York Times quoted Justin Trudeau as saying that theres no core identity in Canada and he sees the country as the first post-national state. The real challenge with this for Canadians was that no one had any real framework to understand what post-nationhood actually meant in North America and that this statement would foreshadow the beginning of the erosion of the country so loved by its citizens. This sense of loss gave rise to the much-asked question these days: Where did my country go?

Conversations about the dilution of civil liberties, the blatant disregard for due process, and the troubling invocation of the Emergencies Act on the flimsiest of pretences, have begun. These raise helpful questions, but they are questions about the symptoms of what ails us as a nationnot the root causes of the disease.

Like pathologists, we must ask: What are the root causes that are creating the discomfort or dissatisfaction in anatomical function? In our case the patient is Canada and the cause-and-effect relationship is found in understanding these socio-political tremors more deeply.

This intellectual exercise highlights that our inalienable rights and the power of the individual citizen can be dimmed, extinguished, or even lost through good ideas like the economic alignment of nations or by the shared commitment of fighting a pandemic.

The problem is these well-intentioned ideas metastasize into new social contracts, removing the long-established protections for individual citizens that limit the encroachment of the state and enables the state to go on a joyride with new legislation further shattering the Canada that was. This is whats happening in Canada now.

The political tsunami beacons that Canada has relied on in the past have failed us.

The nation has been put on legal notice of a reset with a new social contract and that autocracy is admired because it can get things done. The cause-and-effect relationship between intent and action is so logically obvious, yet the implications of what this means for Canada does not seem to have permeated the national psyche.

The Freedom Convoy taught us that parking tickets in Ottawa take priority over our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The national banks have been co-opted to enforce laws retroactively locking personal accounts while prison, with very slow bail, awaits those daring to lawfully stand against the prevailing political ethos. All of this is bad, but it gets worse.

The governments efforts to regulate online content are quite shocking. Bill C-11, formerly Bill C-10, seeks to regulate social media websites but in the process would censor free speech. And a new version of Bill C-36 is soon to be reintroduced. If it is anything like its predecessor, you can be hauled before a provincial court judge if someone even thinks you might say or do something to them that is deemed to be offensive, all in the name of combating online hate.

Imagine the unfortunate person who simply had an eye-twitch at the wrong moment, or that looked too assertive, or ethnic, or anything else, being investigated criminally for their involuntary peculiarities. Every dictator must fantasize about the things they could do with a good thought crime law to neutralize those people who annoy or disturb.

The British didnt get the benefit of all these atrocious violations of law and liberty for them to clue in to the cunning plan that was making them into powerless serfs, losing their national sovereignty. All they needed was to be told that Brussels thought their lawnmowers were too loud, or that they werent allowed to trim their hedges at certain times of the year.

What is our problem in Canada? Are we too myopic, not seeing the forest for the trees? Or perhaps we lack the discipline to actually look and see how the causal dots are connected? Sure, this nastiness is camouflaged by disorienting wordplay that gaslights us and shrouds the deconstruction of our foundational values and lawsbut shouldnt we lift the veil and ask these pathological questions?

It is beyond time to have some adult conversations and engage this ideological cancer and return to our foundation stones upon which this nation was built.

After many years working internationally, I am pretty certain our friends and allies truly think we are myopic and that by not having strategic discussions about what post-nationalism means we are encouraging politically correct absurdities and every degeneracy possible, as recently stated by Indian columnist Ajit Datta.

Unless a line is drawn now, we will author the demise of our own nation.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
White House Dodges Questions About Hunter Bidens Laptop

The White House has avoided questions related to an ongoing Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden and the now infamous laptop belonging to Hunter uncovered by journalists in 2020.

The laptop containing emails detailing how Hunter used his fathers political power as leverage in overseas business dealings was first reported on by the New York Post during the heat of the 2020 presidential race.

In the wake of a New York Times report released this week claiming to authenticate the emails citing anonymous sources, White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday was asked if the president has changed his view that the Post story was a bunch of garbage and a Russian plant.

I would point you to the Department of Justice and also to Hunter Bidens representatives. He doesnt work in the government, responded Psaki.

When pressed on whether she stood by her assessment in October 2020 that the Post story was Russian disinfo, Psaki gave an identical answer.

I would point you to the Department of Justice and to Hunter Bidens representatives. Im a spokesperson for the United States. He doesnt work for the United States, she said.

Hunter Biden, left, and then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden cheer on stage during a rally in Wilmington, Del., on Nov. 7, 2020. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

The Post article, citing the emails, described how Hunter introduced his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, to a top executive at a Ukrainian energy firm less than a year before the elder Biden pressured the Ukrainian government into firing a prosecutor who was investigating the company, Burisma Holdings.

The younger Bidens previous work with Burisma has raised conflict of interest concerns and was the point of contention raised by former President Donald Trump on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that set off events leading to Trumps first impeachment.

Psaki and several other top members of the Biden campaign, citing a letter signed by dozens of former intelligence officials, dismissed the Post story as Russian disinfo when it came out weeks before the November 2020 election. Twitter and Facebook banned links to the Post article before reversing course days later under pressure from Republicans who accused the tech companies of biased political censorship.

The New York Times, which initially referred to the Post story as unsubstantiated, published a report Wednesday about the ongoing federal probe into Hunters tax filings, claiming to have authenticated emails from Hunters laptop while citing anonymous sources. The Times story also details the communication between Hunter Biden and the Burisma executives setting up a meeting with then-Vice President Joe Biden.

Neither the Department of Justice (DOJ) nor legal representation for Hunter Biden responded to requests for comment on the publication of this story.
Zelensky, Ukrainian People Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former member of the Dutch Parliament, Karin Karlsbro, a member of the European Parliament, and nearly three dozen other former and current European lawmakers urged the Norwegian Nobel Committee to nominate Zelensky and the people of Ukraine due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The world is shocked by the images of war coming from Ukraine. Millions of families are now living in fear, their homes and livelihoods threatened by bombardments and an invasive army. We are witness to the courage of the people of Ukraine withstanding this war waged upon them by the Russian Federation, the letter, dated March 11 and released on March 17, states.

Brave Ukrainian men and women are fighting to preserve democracy and self-government. From the defiance democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the man with tears in his eyes saying goodbye to his family to fight for his country, people all over Ukraine are rising up to resist the forces of authoritarianism. Our words of sympathy and support can hardly do justice to the sacrifices they make for the principles of human rights and peace.

One way to support the people of Ukraine is for them to get the prize, the politicians argued.

They asked the committee to re-open the nominating procedure, which closed in January, until the end of March to allow for the nomination of Zelensky and other Ukrainians.

Although we are aware that this is a break with procedure, we do believe that this break is justified by the current unprecedented situation. It is our democratic duty to stand up to authoritarianism and to support a people fighting for democracy and their right to self-government. The veneer of civilization is paper-thin, we are its guardians and we can never rest, the group wrote.

The committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Before the deadline, the committee received 343 nominations, including 251 for individuals, an increase from 329 for the 2021 prize.

That prize was awarded jointly to Maria Ressa, a Filipino journalist who founded an outlet called Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper.

Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies, and war propaganda. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information help to ensure an informed public. These rights are crucial prerequisites for democracy and protect against war and conflict, the committee said at the time. The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov is intended to underscore the importance of protecting and defending these fundamental rights.
Getting accepted to the first and only college I applied to as a high school junior had me ecstatic. I was going to be part of something much 
Hong Kong: Help desks serve COVID-19 patients

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today called on the hotline centres set up at nursing schools which help the Hospital Authority handle COVID-19 patients enquiries.

During her visit to Polytechnic Universitys School of Nursing and Caritas Institute of Higher Educations School of Health Sciences, Prof Chan said, I am extremely grateful to the school staff and students of the nursing schools of tertiary institutions for setting up hotline centres within a short period of time to assist the authority in receiving and handling patients enquiries, joining different sectors of the community in the fight against the epidemic.

Yesterday, the health chief visited the patient support call centre at Tang Shiu Kin Hospital as well as the hotline centres at Kowloon Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital to inspect their daily operation and the implementation of the newly launched Isolation Care Monitoring System.

While at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, she also learnt how private doctors provide telemedicine support services, and how Chinese medicine practitioners offer consultation services via a hotline.

In thanking the medical practitioners, staff and students serving the public at various hotline centres, Prof Chan lauded them by saying: They have fully demonstrated the unity of the medical and health sectors in fighting the epidemic.

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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NORWALK  Maxim Motovylyak remembered a real calm the last time he visited his grandmothers home in Ukraine. There was no sense of negativity, only the blue skies above and a large cornfield nearby.

Its a really nice place, said Motovylyak, 13, an eighth grader at West Rocks Middle School. The view and all the people, for this to start happening is terrible.

Motovylyak, born in America to Ukrainian parents, wrote a poem about his familys homeland, the one he remembers before Russian forces invaded last month. It took him less than 10 minutes to complete the writing assignment for his language arts class.

The great people, the great souls, Motovylyak wrote, This is what it is all about.

The writing assignment coincided with an idea by West Rocks art teacher Melissa Fusarelli to sell buttons to raise funds for support efforts in Ukraine. Fusarelli led similar fundraisers after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

She and Motovylyak, as well as other West Rocks students helping to assemble the buttons, hope the small gift packet inspires unity, love and peace in the community. The button comes attached to Motovylyak poem.

I hope it shows that people have heart and care, said Motovylyak, who has attended many of the local vigils for the Ukraine over the past month.

The buttons have five different designs, each featuring a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, and the countrys colors, which are blue and gold. One says, I stand with Ukraine, and another has a blue butterfly to symbolize hope, according to Fusarelli.

Motovylyak didnt hesitate when Fusarelli asked him to promote the button fundraiser on the video announcements on Tuesday. She was proud to see him serve as a messenger for himself and his community.

Max was motivated he came up with this immediately, Fusarelli said about Motovylyaks poem. The passion he has and the way it deeply affected him and motivated him. I was super proud.

The buttons are available for $5 each. Those interested can reach out to West Rocks Middle School to inquire about donating.

Meanwhile, Brookside students and their families worked quickly last week to organize a toy drive, filling shoe boxes to send to young Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homes to find safety in Poland. Kindergarten teacher Christina Malizia heard about the idea from Instagram, where she saw the CEO of Realty One Group, Kuba Jewgieniew, promoting the toy drive at the companys more than 400 locations across the country.

An announcement for donations went out on a Friday and by Monday, the school had collected over 100 boxes full of small toys and handwritten notes from the students. Multilingual learning teacher Maria Duda and art teacher Annie Devito packed a car and delivered the boxes to the Realty One in Monroe, Connecticut.

The kids were really into it, Duda said. Many know something is going on. Rather than deal with the heavy part, we asked the kids if they had to leave home, what toys would they want. We also had many children put in their own personal toys, something they really like.

Boxes collected across the country were being set to Realty One Groups headquarters in Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Jewgieniew would send the donations to his family in Poland. His friends and family in Poland would then distribute the boxes to refugees.

As we know many of those families left with nothing, so to have that for the kids is great, Malizia said.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
Edwardsville has two types of short-term rental homes, A and B. Type A rental homes are owner-occupied while Type B ones are non-owner-occupied. To date, three short-term rentals out of a limit of 30 have been approved, all in residential areas adjacent to mixed-use or business zoning. Rex Whitehead hoped to be the fourth. However, the city council Tuesday denied his request for a Type B rental in a unanimous vote.

Whitehead now has three choices: he can live in the home, sell it or register it with the city's long-term housing program.

Whitehead, who bought a home in the Gerber Woods Subdivision a couple of years ago, decided to make extra money during the pandemic by renting it out as an Airbnb site. During this approximate two-year period, he rented the home without the city's knowledge or approval.

"I first bought this property about two years ago," he said. "When I bought it, it was on the market for about two years before I bought it. It was used as a rental property. The [former] owner lived in Colorado and he decided to sell it. He wanted to get over $300,000 for the property. It wouldn't sell."

According to Whitehead, the price kept dropping and he feels the house went unsold because it was used as a rental property with an absentee landlord.

"Since I bought the property, I think I knocked down about 20 trees, had the roof taken care of and made the outside look pretty nice," he said.

Whitehead claims when he came to city hall and told them his plans only to receive a "regular permit" and officials told him to let them know who was in the house whenever he rented it.

He rejected claims of his rental property lowering property values and being unsafe for the neighborhood children to go near. He said he didn't do one-day rentals; the minimum is three days. He said if someone rented the home for three to five days, the rental system automatically blocked out the house for 24 days before and after someone books. Before going through the city's licensing process, Whitehead estimated the house was rented 18 to 20 days out of every 30 days.

"I'm not going to let someone come to my house, a $300,000 house, and tear up my house and neighborhood," Whitehead said. "I have a koi pond in the backyard. I'm not out here to tear up anyone's neighborhood and no one's kids came up missing."

Once alerted to the situation, city officials made Whitehead go through the process of getting his rental licensed. In the meantime, his neighbors have come to city hall to ask aldermen to turn down his request, citing large gatherings of strangers with little to no oversight.

Joe Doyle was the first speaker during the public comment session Tuesday during city council, before the vote.

"Tonight, my wife and I are appearing to oppose a special-use permit application that if granted, would allow a property in Gerber Woods subdivision to be used for short-term rentals," he said. He said the surrounding area is all residential with single-family homes with no commercial or retail. They have lived in their home since 1999.

He noted that many people in the area remain here even after they become empty-nesters or retirees. The Doyle's home is next to the rental property.

"As such, we've already seen and heard rental activities taking place at the property," he said. They expressed their concerns with their Alderwoman Jennifer Warren.

"To allow a short-term rental operations at the property in question would be akin to green-lighting commercial use, in effect, allowing the property to operate as a mini-hotel with off-site management."

Neighbors brought up general safety and turnover issues.

Neighbor John Fischer also objected to the special-use permit.

"I object to placing a hotel-like business on my street," he said. "This property would function as a hotel, with no staff on-site and no one monitoring what occurs on the property while temporary guests are on-site. The city would not allow this type of behavior at any hotel in town so why [would] this [be] acceptable in a residential neighborhood?"

Fisher said during the time the home was rented as an Airbnb before applying for a special-use permit, there was a new occupant almost every day.

Aldermen discussed the request prior to voting.

Alderman William Krause said Whitehead complied with the city's permit process and followed the rules, albeit after he was told he had to be licensed.

"In some ways, the cat is out of the bag because of platforms like Airbnb," he said. "The technology is out there and it's forcing governments to ask how they will regulate this."

He again mentioned the single-family homes along Route 66 on the northeast side of town, many of which were rooming houses from the 1910s to the 1940s and today, some current residents would like to revive that practice. Krause said if the council chooses to re-examine the ordinance, not to change it so people like these would be prevented from renting their home as a way of making extra money.

The other city rental homes are not located within a subdivision: at 223 N. Kansas St., 303 S. Kansas St. and 200 S. Fillmore St. These are located near or within the city's downtown area yet the rules don't specify where they can or cannot be located in residential zoning.

Some of the other aldermen said the process needs to be revisited. If violations had accrued, City Planner Emily Calderon said the city could revoke the owner's license for the short-term rental.

"Once we grant it, we can't pull it back," Alderman Elizabeth Grant said.

Alderwoman Jennifer Warren, in whose ward this property is in, said she fielded numerous complaints about this property and that she believes a language revisit should be considered by the council.

"Not to restrict R-1 entirely but maybe have some language about proximity to hotels or businesses," she said.

For Alderman Chris Farrar, special-use permits are sometimes a necessary evil to get something desirable, like the drive-through for 119 S. Main St., for which the city gets to see an Art Deco building restored and used versus remaining vacant. For the three previously approved bed 'n breakfasts, the community benefit is the renters have easy access to the downtown core; spending money in the shops and the restaurants. He said he didn't see any community benefit to granting a special-use permit for a rental home within a subdivision.
From the Edwardsville Police Department Blotter for February:

On Feb. 2, Maria J. Vithayathil, 31, of Glen Carbon, was charged with the following offenses: aggravated DUI/third; driving on a suspended license; improper use of vehicle registration; and operating an uninsured vehicle. These occurred in the 1100 block of Route 157.

On Dec. 2, 2021, at approximately 7:07 p.m., officers met with the victim of an alleged battery that occurred on that date at 101 Credit Union Way. The victim reported that a friend of hers, Andrea I. Ostendorf, battered the victim while they were in the parking lot of the business. After an investigation it was determined that Ostendorf would be charged with aggravated battery. The victim was injured but did not require medical attention. The case was submitted to the States Attorney issued a warrant and on Feb. 4, Ostendorf turned herself in at the Edwardsville Police Department on the warrant. She posted a $25,000 bond and was released with a court date.

On Feb. 8, Savanah W. Conway, 25, of Granite City, was charged with one count of residential burglary (Class 1 felony) and one count of methamphetamine possession (Class 3 felony). Bond was set at $100,000 on the warrant and on Feb. 8, the Granite City Police Department came into contact with Conway and arrested her on the warrant. EPD responded to Granite City and took custody of Conway, who was unable to post bond and was transported to the Madison County Jail.

On Feb. 8, Andrew Garrett, 39, of Edwardsville, was charged with two counts of battery. His bond was set at $300.

On Feb. 8, Tracy A. Mitchelar, 25, of Alton, was charged with methamphetamine possession at Marine Road and East Schwarz Street.

On Feb. 9, Scott M. McKay, 39, of Mt. Olive, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, in the 300 block of South Buchanan Street. His bond was set at $20,000.

On Feb. 10, at 9:05 p.m., Kendrick L. West, 32, of St. Louis, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash and driving on a suspended license at Route 157 and Interstate 270. West was a driver for Republic Services. He received a notice to appear in court.

On Feb. 11, at approximately 11:07 p.m., officers responded to 3080 State Rt. 157, the Comfort Inn Hotel, in reference to a domestic disturbance in progress. The victim had called 9-1-1, reporting that her boyfriend, Dominic D. Lowe, from Kansas City, had punched her in the face. During the investigation, it was determined that Lowe was the aggressor and was placed under arrest for domestic battery. The victim did not require any medical assistance. Lowe was processed and housed at the Madison County Jail.

On Feb. 14, at approximately 9:54 a.m., officers responded to 126 S. Buchanan St. the CVS retail store and pharmacy in reference to a theft. Management reported that a suspect, Joesid C. Gresham, had entered the store and concealed a comb on his person. He was asked by a store employee if he planned on paying for the item and the suspect stated he did not and left the store on foot. The suspect was located nearby and identified as Gresham. Gresham, 39, of Granite City was arrested for theft and it was determined that he had multiple other theft convictions. Gresham was housed at the Madison County Jail and the case was reviewed by the States Attorney where a felony hold warrant was issued for theft 2nd subsequent.

On Feb. 16, Drew J. Hard, 19, of Edwardsville, was the driver of a vehicle stopped for expired registration at South Main and West Linden streets. Upon contact with Hard, there was an odor of cannabis and cannabis in plain view. During the search of the vehicle approximately 42 grams of cannabis was located. Hard was issued a citation for expired registration and possession of cannabis greater than 30 grams and less than 100 grams. Hard was provided a notice to appear in court.

On Feb. 18, at approximately 3:02 p.m., officers responded to the Edwardsville Crossing Drive, in reference to a possible domestic disturbance in progress. A witness reported seeing a female running from a car and the suspect grabbing the female and throwing her inside the vehicle before leaving the area. Officer began checking for the reported vehicle, which was described as a red passenger vehicle. Officers located a vehicle and occupants that matched their descriptions parked on another part of the parking lot of the complex, 6600 block of Edwardsville Crossing Drive. After speaking to all parties, it was determined that Carlos B. Foster II, 29, of Granite City, would be arrested for unlawful restraint and domestic battery. He was taken into custody without incident and eventually housed at the Madison County Jail. The victim had injuries but refused medical attention.

On Feb. 19, at approximately 10:56 p.m., officers responded to the 1000 block of Enclave for a reported battery that just occurred. The victim reported that he was battered by a friend and that he was unsure where the suspect went. The victim had a noticeable injury to the left side of his face and eye. The suspect, Mayor O. Akinpelu, 30, of Edwardsville, was located at his apartment in the 1000 block of Enclave and taken into custody without incident. He was processed and released on a notice to appear in court.

On Feb. 23, Douglas S. Ray, 42, of Troy, was charged with residential burglary and methamphetamine possession at the Granite City Police Department. The original incident was reported to police on Nov. 30, 2021. A resident reported that his home, in the 1300 block of Grand Avenue, was burglarized at some time while he was gone on Nov. 29, 2021. The victim provided information on his missing items and potential suspects. Mr. Ray was one of the potential suspects that had been at the victims residence doing some work. An officer was familiar with Ray, having made a traffic stop on the subject on Nov. 29, 2021, where he arrested Mr. Ray on an unrelated arrest warrant. After a follow up investigation, the officer was able to locate the majority of the victims property and obtain an arrest warrant for Ray for Residential Burglary  Class 1 Felony and Possession of Methamphetamine  Class 3 Felony. Bond was set at $100,000 on the warrant and on Feb. 23, the Granite City Police Department came into contact with Ray and arrested him on the warrant. EPD responded to Granite City and took custody of Ray, who was unable to post bond and was transported to the Madison County Jail. (see Feb. 8 and Savanah W. Conway entry)

On Feb. 24, Anthony Lavel Miller, 49, of Detroit, Michigan, was charged with criminal trespass to a building. At about 10:15 a.m., officers responded to 2120 Troy Road, at the Kohls retail store, in reference to a suspect inside the store that had previously trespassed. Management had previously trespassed Miller on Dec. 21, 2021, for causing a disturbance in the store and threatening employees. Miller was taken into custody without incident and later transferred to the Madison County Jail for holding.

On Feb. 25, Shelley J. Meyers, 38, of OFallon, was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer. At 9:13 a.m., officers responded to the area of Coventry Lane and St. Louis Street in reference to a possible domestic disturbance in progress. During the investigation, Meyers punched an officer in the chest then kicked him in the leg. Meyers was taken into custody at that point and taken directly to the Madison County Jail where she was placed on a felony hold. No medical attention was required for anyone involved.

All charges may not be reported.
On this weeks episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles weekly radio program exploring the lives and work of the people on campus and beyond, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD, interviews Kwaku Baryeh, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry.

This episode of Segue airs at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 20. Listeners can tune into WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound or siue.edu/wsie.

Baryeh earned a bachelors in biochemistry and biotechnology from Kwame Nkrumah' University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana in 2008, and a doctorate in analytical chemistry from North Dakota State University in 2019. He moved on to work as a postdoctoral research fellow at The University of Texas at San Antonio before joining SIUE in August 2020.

Baryehs research focuses on the development of point-of-care and in-field biosensors for the detection of clinically important biomarkers, and chemicals of food and environmental safety concerns. His overall research goal is to develop biosensors that will help improve patient care and management.

Growing up, I was very curious, and I would ask one thousand questions, Baryeh begins. In fact, we had an electrician that would work in our house from time to time, and he would call me the questioneer. At the time I didnt understand what it meant, but I was happy to be called that.

Was there something about chemistry that you thought was more fundamental or fascinating to you than other sciences? inquires Leonard.

Chemistry came naturally to me and, to some extent, biology too, so I gravitated toward those, Baryeh shares.

In Ghana, it is customary in high school to choose a specialization  sciences, general arts, business or art. Baryeh chose science, which required him to study physics, chemistry, biology and math.

I noticed that I had a natural inclination toward chemistry and biology, continues Baryeh. I watched these documentaries about DNA, RNA, fancy work that was being done with diagnostics, and it got me interested in that area. In high school, I decided I was going to study biochemistry in college.

Were there important individuals who encouraged and supported your pursuit of a career in chemistry? questions Leonard.

It started with my parents, Baryeh states. My dad was an engineer and an academician. He spent his whole life working in academia, so I grew up in that kind of setting. My mom was a kindergarten and elementary school teacher, so education was always encouraged and supported at home.

The conversation continues with topics such as life after college, when Baryeh worked in an animal research institute for four years before he and his wife decided to move to the United States so he could pursue graduate school, during which time he and his wife had four children.

Baryeh also discusses his transition from Ghana to North Dakota, and talks about his childhood travels around Africa, which prepared him for adjusting to new cultures.

Tune in at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 20 to WSIE 88.7 The Sound to hear the entire conversation.
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It was Chunua Achebe who once said that those whose kernels were cracked by benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. Being the wife of a (former) governor does not give one the privilege to insult people, especially the people who fought for the establishment of the party that gave ones husband the opportunity to be a two-time governor in the state . The same Mrs Obiano was once alleged to have verbally abused Senator Uche Ekwunife in faraway Poland , calling her prostitutes .It was the then first lady ,Mrs Patience Jonathan, that saved the day . The same uncultured attitude was again demonstrated on 16th November 2014 after the dedication of the child of the Anglican bishop of Akwa ,His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Ibezim at the cathedral of St. Faith, Awka. In this scenario it was between her and the wife of the deputy governor. After slapping the wife of the deputy governor , it took the intervention of the security men and Sir Victor Umeh to prevent the duo from physical fight. Many stories have surfaced online on how slaps have formed integral part of the welfare packages of Mrs Obianos domestic staff.

For those blaming Mrs Bianca Ojukwu for stooping to the level of Mrs Obiano during that ignominious outing at the venue of swearing-in ceremony of Prof Soludo, they should remember that our people say that oburu na agabaghi uzoro owerrri mgba onaghi echi, which when translated means If you do not go to war today then you will not be able to live tomorrow. As we are going to see in the course of this write-up, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, an astute lawyer, is fully aware that section 285 of the criminal code empowers her to use any reasonable force (which includes slaps ) to stop further insult to her personality.

Section 283 of the criminal code ,law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it is applicable in southern Nigeria , defines the term "provocation", used with reference to an offence of which an assault is an element, as any wrongful act or insult of such nature as to be likely, when done to an ordinary person, or in the presence of the ordinary person to another person who is under his immediate care, or to whom he stands in a conjugal, parental, filial, or fraternal relation, or in the relation of master or servant, to deprive him of the power of selfcontrol, and to induce him to assault the person by whom the act or insult is done or offered.

When such an act or insult is done or offered by one person to another, or in the presence of another to a person who is under the immediate care of that other, or to whom the latter stands in any such relation as aforesaid, the former is said to give to the latter provocation for an assault. A lawful act is not provocation to any person for an assault. An act which a person does in consequence of excitement given by another person in order to induce him to do the act, and thereby to furnish an excuse for committing an assault, is not provocation to that person for an assault. An arrest which is unlawful is not necessarily provocation for an assault, but it may be evidence of provocation to a person who knows of the illegality.

It is a known fact in law that provocation is a defence in Nigerias criminal law system. From the online video, it was Mrs Obiano that walked up to Mrs Ojukwu to insult her to the extent that Mrs Ojukwu was deprived of the power of self control hence Mrs Ojukwu is exonerated from mens rea (guilty mind). Although the act of slapping of Mrs Obiano by Mrs Ojukwu may be seen as actus reus (guilty act) by some people, sections 284 and 285 of the criminal code empower Mrs Ojukwu to act accordingly . Moreso, it is a known fact in law that unless the act and the mind of the person are both guilty, such a person cannot be said to be criminally responsible.

Section 284 of the criminal code expressly states that a person is not criminally responsible for an assault committed upon a person who gives him provocation for the assault, if he is in fact deprived by the provocation of the power of selfcontrol, and acts upon it on the sudden and before there is time for his passion to cool; provided that the force used is not disproportionate to the provocation, and is not intended, and is not such as is likely, to cause death or grievous harm. Whether any particular act or insult is such as to be likely to deprive an ordinary person of the power of selfcontrol and to induce him to assault the person by whom the act or insult is done or offered, and whether, in any particular case, the person provoked was actually deprived by the provocation of the power of selfcontrol, and whether any force used is or is not disproportionate to the provocation, are questions of fact.

Who is Mrs Obiano to walk up to Mrs Ojukwu to ask Mrs Ojukwu what she was doing in an event organized by a party that Late Ojukwu was part of the founders and also a presidential flag-bearer of the party? Where was Mrs Obiano in 2003 when APGA was formed as a party? Nothing else defines provocation than Mrs Obiano walking up to Mrs Bianca Ojukwu to insult her in a gathering organized by APGA-led government . As governor Wike will always ask ,who is her (Mrs Obianos) father?  . In case Mrs Obiano does not know, Bianca is a Nigerian politician, diplomat, lawyer, and businesswoman. She is a multiple international pageant titleholder, having won Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1988 and Miss Africa, and is best known as the first African to win Miss Intercontinental. It may interest Mrs Obiano that Mrs Ojukwu is the sixth child of the governor of the old Anambra state.

Section 285 of the criminal code empowers Mrs Ojukwu to use any reasonable force to stop further insult to her personality. This section clearly states that it is lawful for any person to use such force as is reasonably necessary to prevent the repetition of an act or insult of such a nature as to be provocation to him for an assault: Provided that the force used is not intended and is not such as is likely, to cause death or grievous harm.

This insulting attitude of Mrs Obiano towards the wife of Eze-Igbo-Gburugburu brings us to the concept of Igbo-ama-eze, which when translated means Igbo does not respect kingship. Are you telling me that the wife of a sitting governor or former governor could walk up and ask the widow of Ahmadu Bello what she was doing in an event in the north? Is it not a taboo for the wife of a South-western governor to insult the widow of renowned Yoruba leader in an occasion let alone calling her a prostitute ?

Everybody seems to be happy with the immediate justice that Mrs Ojukwu served Mrs Obiano, describing such an act as a good riddance to bad rubbish.

Dr Paul John ,08083658038,[email protected],Port Harcourt
No fewer than 100 suspected bandits have been killed by the Joint Security Task Force in an operation at Bangi village in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

This development was confirmed yesterday by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Kuryas, adding that 61 motorcycles were recovered from the bandits in the operation which took place on Wednesday.

He said; we appeal to the rural dwellers not to hesitate to report to the nearest security outfit any person or group of persons with gunshot wound for action. All we require from members of the public is vital information that can aid our men on ground to deal with any form of security threat.

In the words of Niger State Government through the Chairman of Joint Security Task Force and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umaru, he applauded the task force for its professionalism during the gun battle with the bandits, while assuring thus; We are really making progress in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal elements in the state.
It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.  Apache Wisdom

Analysts and public commentators have begun to focus their microscope on the political landscape to market, promote or downsize those who have indicated or are about to show interest in the race to Sir Kashim House ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state. Opinion, public perception matter in politics especially within the micropolitical environments. It said that Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.

I have perused an insightful and unbiased analysis by a Kaduna based academician that weighs the plus and minuses of the likely top contenders for the APC gubernatorial ticket in Kaduna State. The writer lists out the top five and premised their chances on what might likely knock them off and their pillar of advantages. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Muhammed Sani Abdullahi, Senator Uba Sani, Hafiz Bayero, Dayyabu Paki, Bashir Jamo, Balarabe Abbas, Dr. Muhammed Mahmud, Abdulmalik Durunguwa and Abdullahi Mukhtar features in the analysis.

Though, he successfully marshalled balanced comparative analysis. However, the criteria adopted in x-raying Barr Abdullahi Mukhtars chances evoke my antennae. Though, he attributed his analysis to what people are saying and that is why I posit earlier that opinion and perceptions matter in politics.

The erudite don highlighted Abdullahi Mukhtars advantages as being a former chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and also a former chairman of Kaduna State Pilgrims Board for 8 years. He described him as a complete gentleman and a successful administrator with great self-discipline.

Abdullahi Mukhtar is a complete gentleman and a successful administrator with great self-discipline to me is an added value because the basic qualities of a good leader are self-discipline, forthrightness, vision, firmness and ability to manage human and material resources for the benefit of the people. It is gratifying that he acknowledges that Barrister possesses those qualities. The Abdullahi Mukhtar I know is a quintessential formula for public service delivery. The day will come God's willing.

However, the university don echoes unknown voices when he said that He is said to be from Kubau Local Government. This is where the subject matters to this writer, He is said mean that someone actually says so but it might likely not be so. He added further another problem he might face is the question of origin. While he is bearing Kubau Local Government, many people are insinuating that he is not from there. Note the word: Many people are insinuating.

If my memory serves me right, the same verbal political projectile was thrown at Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in 2015 when he signalled his intention to contest for Sir Kashim House. First, they said he is not from Kaduna State and when that seems to have boosted his campaign as against the expected backlash, they accused him of belonging to the Shia sect. Others accused him of demolishing Mosques during his days in FCT.

However, nobody challenges El Rufais capacity to Govern Kaduna State because his record in FCT remains unmatched. Interestingly, the same Nasir El Rufai administration seems to be the priority enemy of the Shia sect today.

I am sure those who chorus this line in 2015 are regretting it and may even be ready to declare that Nasir El Rufai is their biological brother owing to his stellar performance. The law of capacity always emerges victorious.

These insinuators once questioned the state of origin of former Vice President Namadi Sambo when he emerge as PDP gubernatorial candidate. They scavenge an allegation that Namadi Sambo is not an indigene of Kaduna State and they even went ahead and concocted Nnamdi Samson as his real name. That does not deter or prevents Arch Namadi Sambo from winning the Governorship seat and even going ahead to become the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the dirty part of politics people talks about.

More importantly, Gov Nasir Ahmed El Rufai's achievements and reformations of the structure of governance have raised the stake for those who want to succeed him. The people of Kaduna state will not and cannot accept a benchmark lower than the standards set by this administration.

However, attempts will be made to lower the criteria for accessing the contestants or twist the political camera from zooming on the bigger picture. It is not whether they will, it is rather when. Deliberate political muckraking of aspirants geared towards creating hollow foundations for political missiles will spring up and the pretenders will battle the contenders.

Those who have declared their intention to govern Kaduna state should be subjected to priority analysis by using the top-bottom approach as opposed to the petty street like rumours like which ward does he hail from? Which Local government does his great grandfather comes from? Who is his father, what is the colour of her mothers teeth? Does he have any chieftaincy titles in their lineage or how long has he/she been in politics?

Unfortunately, the interpretative meaning of a good politician in the Nigerian context is someone who engages in artificial generosity, especially during the election year or public display of selective honesty to woo the unsuspecting populace.

https://thetargetnews.com.ng/2022/03/18/kaduna-2023-race-what-is-important-the-pot-or-the-soup/

Also, the belief that the son of the soil should be elected to water the soil holds so much power in the psyche of an average Nigerian. However, records abound where son or daughter of the soil elected because the concept of blood is thicker than water ends up destroying the soil.

For example, the then Brigadier Gen Buba Marwa is from Adamawa State when he was appointed Military administrator of Lagos State. He governed Lagos state with landmark achievements to the admiration and applause of all Lagosians. Today, the same Buba Marwa has turned the sleepy NDLEA into a hyperactive and no-nonsense anti-drug agency. Capacity reigns everywhere.

The current Vice President Yemi Osibanjo is an indigene of Ogun state but he served as Commissioner for Justice in Lagos state under Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It was his performance as Commissioner in Lagos state that makes the Tinubu political family nominate him as Vice President. Aregbesola has served as Commissioner in Lagos state and also a Governor in Osun State and now a Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If you are a resident of Kaduna state and you drive through the town, please pause whenever you reach the new Kawo Bridge and reflects. What is more important: The place of origin of the Engineers that designed and executes this Job or the qualities of the bridge?

It is self-defeating that while we are subjecting ourselves to primordial debate; at a time countries are wooing people through citizenship for investment offers. Today, the entire world is relying on the internet for communication, commercial activities and academic activities. However, nobody cares to ask about the local government or the state of origin of Albert Khanozy - -the Man who invented the internet?

Upon assumption of office, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has constantly stated that his administration recognises citizenship and residency, instead of the divisive indigene/settler dichotomy and went ahead to create Kaduna State Residents Registration Agency. The agency is saddled with the responsibility to create a reliable database of all residents in the state, to provide useful data for planning, security, social welfare, education, employment, financial services, housing, health and other services.

The pre-election mud throwing might have necessitated El Rufai to abolish the Indigene/Settler dichotomy in the state  a move that has been hailed by the good people of the state.

Moreso, Greece, Portugal Moldova, Grenada, Malta, Bulgaria and the even United Kingdom offer citizenship and residency for investment. They want you to come and invest and then allowed you to be a citizen and enjoy all the privileges of a citizen.

Louis Pullig De Gouy once said that soup is the song of the hearth and the home. So, my good people of Kaduna State, if you walk into a restaurant and eat a delicacy food to your satisfaction, will you ask them to tell you the type of pot that was used to cook the food or you finds out the chef behind the soup?

Finally, Abdullahi Mukhtar has not officially declared his intention to contest for the office of Governor of Kaduna State. Lets wait after his official declaration before we probe the status of his origin  whether he hails from another planet, may be from Mars or Jupiter.

Ibrahim Muhammed is a journalist and Public Affairs analyst [email protected]
Dept eyes Singapore-Phuket cruise plan

BANGKOK: The Department of Disease Control (DDC) will discuss with Singapore a new protocol allowing tourists to take cruises to Phuket from the island nation.

tourismmarineCOVID-19

By Bangkok Post

Friday 18 March 2022, 09:14AM

Kevin Cheok (left) is welcomed to the post of Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Thailand by Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in 2019. Photo: PRD / file

Tourists will need to show an ATK test taken within 24 hours before departure and be fully vaccinated. The numbers of tourists for each group would also be limited. However, the scheme needs to be considered by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) before it proceeds, reports the Bangkok Post.

Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the DDC, met with Kevin Cheok, ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Thailand, along with Alexander Lim, first secretary at the Singaporean embassy, to discuss the Vaccinated Travel Lane project to help boost the Thai economy.

Dr Opas said the pilot plan for the Singapore-Phuket cruise aims to launch in the third quarter.

According to the new protocol, tourists are not required to take an RT-PCR test after arrival but they must show evidence of COVID-19 vaccination and an ATK test result taken within 24 hours before their departure.

They would only be permitted to travel in Phuket, according to their pre-scheduled plans, and must strictly follow safety protocols including limited passenger numbers, social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing. Tour guides would also be required to take regular COVID tests and be fully vaccinated.

Singapore will propose the plan to related authorities before Thailand presents a finalised version to the CCSA.

Thailand and many other countries are preparing to recategorise COVID-19 from a pandemic to an endemic. We will aim to recover the economy. Singapore donated 122,400 doses of vaccines and ATK kits for Thailand and we also gave them RT-PCR kits. Our cooperation will secure medical credibility in the region, Dr Opas said.
Phuket pushes to pilot Digital Nomad visa

PHUKET: Rewat Areerob, President of Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) has submitted a formal request to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to create a Digital Nomad visa for international visitors travelling to Phuket.

economicstourismtechnology

By The Phuket News

Friday 18 March 2022, 04:25PM

The request was announced by the Phuket Info Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, earlier today.

The PPAO itself and Mr Rewat both have yet to announce that the request has been made.

In the notices posted by the Phuket Info Center, Mr Rewat asked for Phuket to pilot a new visa called Phuket X Community for Digital NOMADs Visa.

Under the proposed visa, applicants must live in Phuket for six months to one year. They will be issued a work permit automatically, be able to open a savings account and own up to three vehicles, and purchase health insurance while traveling in Thailand.

Digital NOMADs are foreign tourists working at the worlds leading companies in the fields of Digital, IT and Internet. They are a group of people who live, travel and work at the same time, using the Internet as the main tool for earning money, Mr Rewat explained in the notices.

They may have their own online business, freelance, or work on projects. of companies that can work online. For example, programmers, web designers, graphic designers, online marketers, etc, he added.

Most Digital NOMADs will spend a long time in a foreign country with high income and spending power, he pointed out.

If the Phuket X Community for Digital NOMADs Visa push is successful, we will develop a new source of income for Phuket and help to stimulate tourism and the creative economy.

It will create new business opportunities for Phuket such as co-working spaces, cafes, restaurants and various activities that NOMADs love, Mr Rewat added.

This would make a difference for Thailand in the Asean region, and create a form of income for Phuket that does not depend on seasonal tourists or be affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 anymore. These people will spend in the province throughout the year, Mr Rewat said.
Phuket readies for World Expo inspection visit

PHUKET: Local municipalities have been ordered to clean up their areas and prepare campaigns to promote Phukets bid to host Specialized Expo 2028 ahead of expected inspection visits by World Expo organiser, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

tourismeconomics

By The Phuket News

Friday 18 March 2022, 11:54AM

Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan chaired a meeting to deliver the message yesterday (Mar 17).

At the meeting Vice Governor Amnuay handed down the official guidelines for raising awareness among the public and implementing BIE readiness protocols under Awareness & BIE Process, Document & Receptions requirements, and the scheduled BIE Board readiness visits.

Local administrations were ordered to clean up and landscape their areas ahead of the inspection visits and to coordinate their public awareness campaigns within the guidelines.

He also ordered for arrangements to be made to provide appropriate accommodation to the visiting BIE Board members, and to coordinate the provision of helicopters to be used for surveying the area by air.

We ask all departments to integrate information with each other in order to operate smoothly in terms of public relations. Please put the format of the banners and public relations media that are in the same direction. Then there will be public relations media to be published in order to create unity in creating awareness of participation together among people from all sectors in Phuket, Vice Governor Amnuay said.

Five countries have submitted competing candidatures to hold a Specialised Expo in either 2027 or 2028: the United States of America (in Minnesota), Thailand (in Phuket), Serbia (in Belgrade), Spain (in Malaga), and Argentina (in San Carlos de Bariloche).

The United States candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Minnesota between May 15 and Augt 15, 2027 under the theme Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All.

Thailands candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Phuket between Mar 20 and June 17, 2028 under the theme Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.

Serbias candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Belgrade between May 15 and Aug 15, 2027 under the theme Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All.

Spains candidature is for a Specialised Expo in Malaga between June 5 and Sept 5, 2027 under the theme The Urban Era: towards the Sustainable City.

Argentinas candidature is for a Specialised Expo in San Carlos de Bariloche between Feb 1 and April 30, 2027 under the theme Nature + Technology = sustainable energy. A viable future for humanity.

The BIE welcomes these five candidatures to organise Specialised Expo 2027/28. The strong interest in organising Specialised Expos and the nature of the proposed themes attest to a strong appetite for global cooperation to address these shared challenges. We look forward to learning more about each project as the candidature process moves into the next stage, said BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes in confirming the five candidatures.

The project examination phase for Specialised Expo 2027/28 will take place over the next year and a half.

Each candidate will submit a detailed candidature dossier, and the BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions, assessing the feasibility and viability of each candidature project, he said.

The host country of Specialised Expo 2027/28 will then be elected by BIE Member States, gathered in a General Assembly set to take place in June 2023, on the principle of one country, one vote.

All candidature projects will be presented for the very first time to BIE Member States during the 170th General Assembly of the BIE due to take place in June 2022, and at all subsequent General Assemblies until the final vote, he added.

Phuket bidding to host the World Specialised Expo 2028 has the potential to change the face of the islands tourism industry, says Rangsiman Kingkaew, Vice President of Strategic Tourism at the Phuket Tourist Association.

If successful, the event is hoped to attract at least 4.9 million visitors, generate B40 billion for the economy and provide about 100,000 jobs during the runup and duration of the expo.

The most recent Specialised Expo, Expo 2017 Astana, took place in the Kazakhstan capital Nur-Sultan under the theme Future Energy, and welcomed almost 4 million visitors.

At the meeting yesterday it was finally confirmed that the expo site will be on 141 rai of state land at the northern tip of the island, which in separate government reports has identified as the site where Phukets B4.1bn International Medical Center will be built.

On Mar 1, the Cabinet approved a budget of B1.411bn for agencies to start to develop the international medical center to be built.
Pre-travel COVID tests for arrivals lifted from April 1

BANGKOK: The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration today (Mar 18) resolved to discontinue the requirement that visitors pass a pre-travel COVID-19 test, from Apr 1, but testing on arrival will continue.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthtourismVaccine

By Bangkok Post

Friday 18 March 2022, 02:42PM

Visitors undergo arrival procedures at Suvarnabhumi airport. Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb

The change in procedure was announced by CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin, reports the Bangkok Post.

He said the requirement for pre-travel tests would end for all visitors, whether arriving by Test & Go, Sandbox or quarantine channels.

People who enter the country through Test & Go or Sandbox programmes would be given an RT-PCR test on arrival, and be required to perform an antigen self-test on day 5 after arrival, monitored at their hotel.

Sandbox visitors would remain in their reception areas for five days. Visitors in the quarantine scheme, including people caught sneaking in, would be kept in isolation for five days and have an RT-PCR test on day 4 or 5 after arrival.

The CCSA would continue to require visitors to have COVID-19 insurance coverage of at least US$20,000 (B666,175) but was likely to reduce it later, Dr Taweesilp said.

Also, from Apr 1 people would be able to arrive by land through Satun province in the South, in addition to current Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Songkhla.

Arrivals by sea would be allowed through Surat Thani ports, in addition to the present Phuket and Chon Buri.

By air, the reopening would include Hat Yai airport in addition to the current Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Chiang Mai and U-tapao airports.

The CCSA hoped to expand the reopening by air to all airports, depending on their readiness, in May, Dr Taweesilp said.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
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From an office in the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse, the journalism majors of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism work alongside the best reporters in the state, digging into the behind-the-scenes stories of Indiana politics. We're a student newsroom, but our work doesn't sit on a professor's desk. We create daily content for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state.
The sober reality between the Jews and the Irish is that both groups have been persecuted throughout the ages, but on these holidays its all about having some fun and probably ending up not being so sober and hoisting a few.
Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com.
Abolitionist newspapers played a vital role in the crusade to end slavery in the United States. The articles carried in these newspapers educated readers about the evils of the so-called Peculiar Institution and helped to turn public opinion  at least, in the northern states  against slavery.

American history is replete with irony. Our nations first abolitionist newspaper was founded in the slave-holding state of Tennessee, which later joined the Confederacy. Elihu Embree founded The Emancipator in 1820. Embree stated that The Emancipators purpose was to advocate the abolition of slavery and to be a repository of tracts on that interesting and important subject.

According to Tara Mitchell Mielnik in her article about The Emancipator in the Tennessee Encyclopedia, In his newspaper, Embree celebrated slave owners who, like himself, had freed their slaves, and he recounted the pitiful conditions of many slaves in order to expose the institution and inhumane slave owners.

Unfortunately, The Emancipator was short-lived. Embree died in 1820 and the newspaper he had founded died with him. According to Mielnik, The Emancipator reached a circulation of about 2,000 during its brief existence and had readers in Boston and Philadelphia. Embree even mailed copies to all the governors of southern states. In a masterpiece of understatement, Mielnik wrote, but it was not well received. She also noted that just one copy of this landmark newspaper is known to exist today.

The Liberator, published in Boston by William Lloyd Garrison, was probably the most influential abolitionist newspaper. In production from 1831 to 1865,The Liberator utilized moral arguments to convince its readers of the inherent immorality of slavery. Its 1850 masthead read: "Our Country is the World, Our Countrymen are all Mankind." In addition to abolitionism, The Liberator also supported women's rights

One of Garrisons often-repeated slogans was No compromise with slavery! No union with slaveholders! Indeed, this fiery abolitionist infuriated conservatives and even many moderates by condemning the U.S Constitution as a covenant with death and an agreement with hell because it sanctioned slavery. He unhesitatingly advocated the dissolution of the United States in order to rid free states from any bond with slave-holding states.

Frederick Douglass, himself an escaped slave, founded The North Star in 1847. Published in Rochester, NY, The North Star had a circulation of 4,000 and even reached Europe and the West Indies. In addition to articles, The North Star also published poetry. Its Sept. 8, 1848 issue carried The North Star by George G. Abbott. An ode to the star that guided fugitive slaves to freedom, it runs in part: Freemen! in our great Endeavor/'Tis a signal hung on high/And will guide us on forever/Like a banner in the sky.

The North Star ceased publication in 1851 when it merged with the Liberty Party Paper, which was published by the abolitionist Gerrit Smith, to become Frederick Douglass Paper. In 2018, however, The North Star was reborn as an e-publication by Shaun King with the blessing of the family and estate of Fredrick Douglass. The reimagined North Stars web site describes this journal as continuing Douglass unapologetic fight for freedom and focused on politics, power, equity, race, policing, mass incarceration, organizing change and more.

The Emancipator is also enjoying a new life as an e-publication. A joint collaboration by Boston Universitys Center for Antiracist Research and the Boston Globe, The Emancipators stated goal is to hasten the reality of an antiracist society.

Personally, Id like to see yet another abolitionist newspaper reborn: the Alton Observer, which was founded and edited by Elijah Lovejoy. And it should definitely be based here in Alton, where Lovejoy was murdered in 1837 while defending the Observers latest printing press from a mob.

Like its noble predecessor, the new Alton Observer should surely be controversial. Its articles decrying racism and other contemporary injustices wouldn't sit well with everyone. Its editors would be denounced with considerable justification as trouble-makers.

But it would be what the late John Lewis so aptly described as good trouble.
Alton Main Street

ALTON  Entrepreneurs and small business owners will learn sources and criteria for commercial bank and Small Business Administration loans at "Access to Capital" planned 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, at Post Commons, 300 Alby St., Alton.

Presented by Alton Main Street, the program will help people prepare to apply for grants, pitch to angel investors and learn about government resources for veteran, woman, and people of color-owned businesses.
MORO  Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist Church will celebrate 75 years as a constituted church on Sunday, March 20.

We are thankful for the vision of Calvary Baptist, and those who have gone before us, and worked so hard to grow and establish what we have here today in Meadowbrook," said Pastor Kevin Auten. "We are excited to see what God is doing, and going to do, with our church in the future.

"We have been working diligently toward future growth both on our building and grounds, and on ourselves spiritually," he said. "Our motto as a church is, 'A Great Commitment to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.'"

For its diamond jubilee, the church is planning a reunion celebration Sunday with worship at 10:45 a.m., lunch at noon, and an afternoon service at 2 p.m. Pastor David Denton, who grew up in the church and now is at Bethesda Baptist in Granite City, will be preaching in the morning service. Pastor Jeff Hemken, who was the churchs Youth Minister in the 1970s is now pastor at Calvary Baptist in Hillsboro, will be preaching in the Sunday afternoon service. He will be joined by the Gospel quartet Fourgiven.

The church, at 105 Fairway Drive in Moro on Illinois 140 across from Caseys General Store, was begun as a mission church in 1945 by Calvary Baptist Church in Alton under Pastor Guy P. Hall.

A Feb. 6, 1945 meeting was held in the Meadowbrook School basement by the Calvary Church Brotherhood, with Claude Evans as leader, to see if there was enough interest to start a Baptist mission. On Feb. 11, 1945, the first prayer meeting was held in the school with Evans, his family and 24 people from the community attending.

During May 1945 a revival meeting was conducted by Pastor Guy P. Hall of Calvary Baptist Church. Sixteen professions of faith were made at that time.

Continued meetings were held in the school until a basement was built on the same grounds where the church now stands on Illinois 140. The congregation moved into the basement building on Sept. 8, 1946, with 44 in attendance for the first Sunday School. Most of the seats had been bought from an old theater. A second hand piano and a handmade pulpit were used. Using curtains, the one-room basement was divided into separate classrooms.

Evans, who had been acting as mission superintendent for Calvary Baptist, was ordained to the ministry on Jan. 12, 1947. On March 30, 1947 the church was officially organized and constituted into a self-supporting church, with 41 members. It continued to prosper and grow with fellowship, revivals, Sunday School, preaching services and Vacation Bible School. Evans resigned as pastor on Aug. 24, 1949.

The second building program began Sept. 1, 1949. On April 16, 1950 a new auditorium over the original basement was completed. Attendance in Sunday School then was 108.

In March 1961 a building program of extending the sanctuary and providing new educational space began. The work was done by members of the church, except for masonry and plastering. New pews were bought by individuals to match the old ones, and new altar furniture was purchased.

The entire remodeling project was completed and dedicated in March 1962.

In the spring of 1966, excavation started behind the church for a sanctuary. It was decided to build the basement and use it for educational space. By September 1980, the congregation worked to complete the sanctuary on top of the newer basement educational space. On Sept. 20, 1981 the churchs current auditorium was completed and dedicated.

In March 1985, Calvin Reynolds  pastor of the Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist Church, Director of Missions of the Alton Industrial Baptist Association and a consultant from the Baptist Sunday School Board  started a Bible Study in the Holiday Shores home of some church members. The group grew into what is now Holiday Shores Baptist Church.

Meadowbrook First Southern Baptist has had 12 pastors, as well as with several interim pastors. Current pastor Kevin Auten from Godfrey was ordained at Calvary Baptist in Alton; he is in his 12th year at the church.

The church also plans to host the Gospel quartet, The Wanda Mountain Boys, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.
GODFREY  The RiverBend Growth Association has welcomed three more area businesses into its membership.

1:16 Lawn Care in Jerseyville was founded in 2015 by Zach and Jessica Darr with a passion to serve its community and a mission to create satisfied customers by providing high-quality lawn service. Their website notes that they strive to continually be a company of remarkable integrity and professionalism.

The firm has a crew of landscapers providing an array of services from routine lawn mowing and trimming to larger projects such as landscape, patio pavers, concrete installation, landscape restoration and seasonal property clean-ups. They also offer to add a pop of color" to a home or create the an accent wall with interior home painting services.

Headquartered at 117 N. State St., Jerseyville, 1:16 Lawn Care hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It has customers throughout the Riverbend, including Alton, Godfrey, Bethalto, Brighton, Wood River and Edwardsville.

The name of the business it is rooted in Romans 1:16 which reads, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. The couples faith is central to who they are, and they bring their Christian faith to life through the care they give to their customers as well as to their team members.

We are joining the RBGA because we want to continue to grow and be more involved in the communities that we serve, said Chief Operating Officer Jessica Darr. We hope to build wonderful relationships and to be a resource within the community.

To learn more about 1:16 Lawn Care, visit 116lawncare.com or call 618-946-5538.

Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) joined Godfrey nearly one year ago when the purchase of four Illinois branches of the former Simmons Bank was complete. Headquartered in Peoria, other nearby Illinois branches are in Edwardsville, OFallon and Columbia.

The branch at 2810 Godfrey Road joined the RiverBend Growth Association with the goal of increasing visibility and awareness of its product and service offerings.

We are looking forward to networking with other local organizations, said Starla Laper, CEFCUs local member center manager. We plan to reach out to the local community as well, to educate them about CEFCU.

At CEFCU, we are committed to improving members financial well-being and helping members reach their financial goals," Laper said. "We do that by providing financial products and services, and quality member service. We believe in the philosophy of People Helping People. That means we focus on not only the financial success of our members but also giving back to organizations doing good in the communities where our members live and work.

Located near the corner of West Homer Adams Parkway and Godfrey Road, lobby hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays 9 a.m. until noon. Drive-up hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturdays 9 a.m. until noon.

To learn more, visit cefcu.com or call 618-466-0652.

Foxes Boxes at 611 E. Airline Drive in East Alton is a bakery that also serves as a farm-fresh floral provider. Tanya Fox is the owner.

From fresh floral bouquets grown on their local organic farm to French macarons also available at JL & Co on Broadway in Alton, they have a variety of sweet options. Baked goods include cakes, pies, flavored quick breads, cheesecakes, muffins, cupcakes, sheet cakes, cobblers, cream puffs, eclairs and scones. The treats can also be found at Post Commons on Alby Street in Alton. Custom orders are available.

To learn more about all the bakes and blooms available through Foxes Boxes, visit foxes-boxes.com or call 618-251-8081.

The RiverBend Growth Association is the Chamber of Commerce and economic development organization for the 11 communities known as the Riverbend. For more information visit www.growthassociation.com or call 618-467-2280.




WOOD RIVER  Unemployment rates in the Metro East bumped up between December and January, but remain about 2 percent lower than the previous year, according to the latest information from the Illinois Department of Employment Security and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Tony Fuhrman, director of Madison County Employment and Training, said most of the increase is probably because of seasonal employment, and is similar to previous years.

January figures were released Thursday. Because the figures are being recalculated, the monthly totals for the start of the year are delayed by about a month. State officials also warn that because figures are readjusted, direct comparisons may not be statistically valid.

According to the IDES the state unemployment rate for January was 5.3 percent, up from 4.7 percent in December. Locally, the St. Louis MSA, which includes Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties, increased to 4.7 percent from 3.5 percent in December.

I think what were seeing is seasonal employment still exists, Fuhrmann said Thursday.

Construction, landscaping and other outdoor workers probably make up most of the increase.

Theres probably some in the retail area, but thats not the main area, he said. In my mind its more construction or people who work outside.

He noted that February numbers will come out late next week or early the week after.

Well see what they did, he said, adding the March figures should be interesting.

State officials emphasized the decrease in unemployment from the previous year.

Todays data reflects Illinois increasingly strong economy, said Deputy Governor Andy Manar of Bunker Hill. Continued job growth across multiple regions and industries is a sign of more progress. We look forward to sustaining this work in the months ahead, by connecting employers and job seekers with more resources and opportunities.

Statewide, the unemployment rate dropped 2.5 percent from January 2021, when it was 7.8 percent. Locally it dropped 2 percent, from 6.7 percent.

It hit a high of 16.9 percent statewide and 15.1 percent in the Metro East in April 2020, when widespread shutdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic caused unemployment rates to quadruple in less than two months.

In the St. Louis MSA, the labor force decreased by 2,862, to 333,652 between January 2021 and January 2022, while the number of employed people increased by 4,079 to 318,123 in the same period.

Unemployment rates in the St. Louis MSA ranged from 5.5 percent in St. Clair County to 2.2 percent in Monroe County. Madison County was 4.4 percent, Jersey County 4.2 percent, Calhoun County 4.9 percent, Macoupin County 4.5 percent and Bond County 4.5 percent. Green County, which is outside the St. Louis MSA, stood at 4.7 percent.


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Investors are set to pay over 1billion more in tax from next month, as the Government cracks down on business owners and savers by hiking the dividend tax rate.

Last autumn the Treasury announced plans to raise the dividend tax rate, in a move which will be felt by limited company small business owners who pay themselves in dividends.

However, a side effect of successive Chancellors repeatedly cracking down on entrepreneurs paying lower rates than income tax has been to hit investors who have accumulated wealth outside of an Isa or pension pot - many of whom are retired and rely this for some of their income.

They will also see the tax rate on payouts they receive above the annual 2,000 dividend allowance rise to 8.75 per cent for basic rate taxpayers and 33.75 per cent for higher rate taxpayers.

Money maker: The dividend tax hike is set to bring in 1.34bn from investors from April

The tax hike of 1.25 percentage points is set to bring in 1.34billion for the Government in the next tax year.

It will see rates rise to 8.75 per cent for basic-rate taxpayers, 33.75 per cent for higher rate taxpayers and 39.35 per cent for additional rate payers.

Until it was slashed to 2,000 in 2018, the tax-free dividend allowance was 5,000 per year.

The Government's own estimates show that 40 per cent of people with dividend income outside an Isa will see a tax increase, and 70 per cent of that will be paid for by higher and additional-rate payers.

'The Government is cracking down on wealthier investors who have significant wealth outside of Isa and pensions, as well as company directors who pay themselves through dividends,' says AJ Bell's Laura Suter.

'The dividend tax regime has changed repeatedly over the past decade, and investors have been subject to more and more squeezes on their income that have left them with far higher tax bills.'

The tax hike is most likely to affect those investors who own shares outside an Isa or pension, or those that have historical wealth that they never got around to putting into an Isa.

HOW MUCH MORE INVESTORS WILL PAY Dividends received 2,000 5,000 10,000 20,000 30,000 50,000 Dividend tax 2021 0 225 600 1,350 2,100 3,600 Dividend tax 2022 0 263 700 1,575 2,450 4,200 Difference 0 -38 -100 -225 -350 -600 Source: AJ Bell

'While the Isa allowance now is a very generous 20,000 it hasn't always been that way  just over 10 years ago it was 7,200 and only in 2017 did it leap to the current high limit,' says Suter.

'This means it's very possible that people would have built up other investments and, coupled with investment growth, could now have a sizeable pot outside an Isa.'

How can investors beat the tax increase?

There are however some ways for investors to beat the tax hike, namely moving money into an Isa or pension.

'By using this year's Isa allowance, and immediately using next year's at the start of the new tax year in April, you can shelter 40,000 from the taxman before the dividend hike bites,' says Suter.

Jason Hollands, managing director of Bestinvest adds: 'If you haven't yet used your Isa allowance, there is still time to sell some of your unwrapped dividend generating shares  or funds  and then repurchase them within an Isa where future dividends (and capital gains) will be tax-free. This is known as a 'Bed and Isa' transaction.

'It will take a few days to complete because the process involves selling an investment, the funds clearing and then making an investment, so don't delay if you want to do this during the remaining weeks of the current tax year.

'In doing this, take care to try and avoid exceeding your annual capital gains tax exemption (12,300 of gains can be crystallised tax free before 5 April).

'Also, check that the timing of the sale won't disqualify you from receiving an upcoming dividend too. The bottom line is that Bed and Isa  or Bed and Pension  is a great way to migrate all of your taxable investments into a tax free environment, so it is well worth exploring.'

He also suggests transferring all of the shares of funds held in a taxable environment if you are married or in a civil partnership.

Tax take: HMRC will now tax dividends at 8.75 per cent for basic-rate taxpayers, 33.75 per cent for higher rate taxpayers and 39.35 per cent for additional rate payers

'This will enable you to make use of two sets of dividend allowance, or potentially utilise an additional Isa allowance to shelter the shares or funds from future tax.

'This is known as an 'interspousal transfer' and it is one of the most basic, but effective things a married couple can do to optimise the tax efficiency of their family finances.'

Another option for those who own large portfolios is to rebalance the holdings so that income generating stocks and funds are prioritised within an Isa while non-yielding growth funds or shares are held in tax-efficient accounts.

Hollands adds: 'For investors with a strong desire for income and portfolios that go well beyond Isas and pensions, another option could be to consider Venture Capital Trusts as part of the overall mix.

'Dividends on VCT shares are tax-free and tend to be high because most VCTs use dividends as a means of distributing the gains made on successful exits of companies they have backed to investors.

'However, it is important to flag that VCTs are high risk investments, focused on early-stage, illiquid companies and therefore these won't suit everyone and should only be considered as a modest part of an overall portfolio.'
SPARKS [mdash] Mrs. Mattie L. Clements Martin, 93, of Sparks, Georgia, passed away at her granddaughter's home on April 25, 2022. Mrs. Martin was born on January 17, 1929 in Colquitt County to the late Ivey Lane Hart and Ola Gay Hart. She lived most of her life in Cook County and was of the 
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Salt is in your pantry, on your dinner table and likely makes an appearance in almost every dish you eat. But where does it come from, and how is it made? We answer these questions and more about the seemingly simple crunchy condiment.
Happy Valley High School's Robotics Team (from left to right): Abigail Steele, Jackson Taylor, and Ryan Eggers demonstrate what their robot can do for the Carter County School Board. The board member shown on the far right of the picture, was credited with always making sure there were enough funds in the team's account to complete in the state tournament.
Students with special education needs and in career technical programs would mean more money annually for Kingsport and other school systems, Superintendent Jeff Moorhouse told the Kingsport school board Tuesday night in a work session.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy virtually addresses the U.S. Congress on March 16, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Congressional Auditorium, in Washington, D.C. (J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)
Russian missiles struck an area near the airport of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv early on Friday, the mayor said, while Japan and Australia imposed new sanctions on Russian entities as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine.

Western sources and Ukrainian officials said Russias assault has faltered since its troops invaded on Feb. 24, further dashing its expectations of a swift victory and the removal of President Volodymyr Zelenskiys government.

Russia has relied heavily on missiles and shelling to subdue Ukraines forces but has yet to secure any of its 10 largest cities.

At least three blasts were heard near Lvivs airport on Friday morning, with videos on social media showing large explosions and plumes of smoke rising.

Lvivs mayor, Andriy Sadovy, said several missiles had struck an aircraft maintenance facility, destroying buildings but causing no casualties.

The city has escaped significant fighting so far.

In the capital, Kyiv, one person was killed and four wounded when parts of a Russian missile fell on a residential building in the northern part of the city on Friday morning, emergency services officials said.

Despite battleground setbacks and punitive sanctions by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little sign of relenting.

His government says it is counting on China to help Russia withstand blows to its economy.

The United States, which this week announced $800 million in new military aid to Kyiv, is concerned China is considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

President Joe Biden, who described Putin as a murderous dictator, will make clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping in a call Friday that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russias aggression, Blinken told reporters.

The two heads of state are due to speak at 9 a.m. Eastern time (1300 GMT), the White House said.

China has declined to condemn Russias actions in Ukraine or call them an invasion. It says it recognises Ukraines sovereignty but that Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed.

A Chinese foreign ministry official met this week with Russias ambassador to China to exchange views on counter-terrorism and security cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.

SIDES FAR APART

Japan and Australia announced separate measures sanctioning Russian individuals and organisations, including two oligarchs with links to Australias mining industry, as well as Russias state-owned arms exporter, its finance ministry and central bank.

The U.N. human rights office in Geneva said it had recorded 2,032 civilian casualties in Ukraine  780 killed and 1,252 injured.

Some 3.2 million civilians have fled to neighbouring countries, the United Nations said.

Ukraine hopes to evacuate civilians on Friday through nine humanitarian corridors from cities and towns on the front line of the fighting, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

A fourth straight day of talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators took place on Thursday by videolink, but the Kremlin said an agreement had yet to be reached.

Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia launched the war to subjugate a neighbour Putin calls an artificial state. Russia says it is carrying out a special operation to disarm Ukraine.

DIGGING FOR SURVIVORS

Rescuers in Mariupol, a southern port city, dug survivors from the rubble of a theatre that officials said had been hit by an air strike on Wednesday as civilians took shelter there from bombardments. Russia denies striking the theatre.

Mariupol has suffered the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the war, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in basements with no food, water or power. City officials say they are not able to estimate the number of casualties from the theatre, which had the Russian word for children marked outside and visible on satellite images.

Russias foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the assertion that Russia had bombed the theatre was a lie.

Russias defence ministry said separatists in east Ukraine with help from Russias armed forces were tightening the noose around Mariupol and there was fighting in the city centre, Russias RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Northeastern and northwestern suburbs of Kyiv have suffered heavy damage but the capital itself has held firm, under occasional curfews and subjected to deadly rocket attacks nightly.

A building in Kyivs Darnytsky district was extensively damaged on Thursday. As residents cleared glass, a man knelt weeping by the body of a woman covered in a bloody sheet.

Viacheslav Chaus, governor of the region centred on the front-line northern city of Chernihiv, on Thursday said 53 civilians had been killed in 24 hours. The toll could not be independently verified.

One of those killed was a U.S. citizen, Jimmy Hill, who was gunned down while waiting in a bread line, his family said.

SOURCE: Reuters
Before the pandemic, the high cost of living on the coasts made tech workers question whether they wanted to stay. However, many of those states were also offering residents some of the highest-paying jobs. Everything seemed to balance out  at least until the pandemic started. Businesses such as Dropbox, Facebook and Twitter announced that they were going fully remote, and two-thirds of Bay Area workers decided they would relocate from Silicon Valley if they could continue to work from home.

Related: The Value of Flexible Management in the Age of Remote Work

Its easy to see why tech talent is exploring other parts of the country. While the Bay Area reigns supreme as the tech capital, Californias tax rates are also some of the highest in the country, and the average home price is about $684,000. Comparatively, the national median is about $293,000. Its equally expensive for companies, which is why 2020 saw businesses such as Oracle and Palantir leaving Silicon Valley.

As more companies commit to remote or hybrid workforces, employees in expensive coastal cities are moving to the Midwest and similar places where their salaries go further. According to research from Purpose Jobs, the Midwest is home to 7 out of the top 10 most affordable states in the U.S. These locations allow tech-sector workers to experience a better quality of life while earning the same.

Now that you know where workers in the tech sector are headed, you can start filling your pipeline with fresh talent. Heres how:

1. Talent might not come to you, so you need to go to them

Historically, tech workers lived where the jobs were. The pandemic upended many employment models and accelerated remote working trends. As tech workers relocate from densely populated urban areas with a high cost of living to achieve a better quality of life, you should consider following them.

To study migration patterns, check out the businesses helping them move. For example, U-Haul examines where one-way truck rentals begin and end. It can see where people are going and which places theyre leaving behind. In 2020, California was the most departed state by a wide margin. Comparatively, Midwestern states such as Ohio and Missouri ranked in the top 10 for growth.

Theres a tremendous amount of resistance to returning to offices. According to a study by Robert Half, 1 in 3 workers would quit if forced to return to the office every day. Employees want remote and hybrid jobs. If your company cant support fully remote positions, consider exploring satellite or relocation opportunities as hybrid-inclined tech workers move or return to the Midwest.

Related: What the World of Hybrid Work Will Look Like in the Future

2. Do your research before selecting a regional office location

Having an official office space might seem unnecessary, but youll still need to comply with federal and state legal laws when hiring remote employees. The requirements for businesses vary on a state-by-state basis. If youre establishing your company as a business in another state or country, it could also be beneficial to open a regional office so you can meet regulations and have a base for client meetings, corporate tasks, hybrid workers and more.

People often stick with what they know. When deciding where to look for talent, its easy for companies -- especially international ones -- to first think about major cities. But just because youve heard of a city doesnt mean its the best place to set up a regional office or new headquarters.

Instead, do your homework and look at everything a location has to offer. Contact state entities, economic development groups and other organizations that can provide information on what certain areas can offer your company in terms of a workforce. Our team meets with business leaders from across the globe. Typically, theyve never considered expanding into Missouri until we meet with them. Theyre unaware of our states business strengths and our existing tech companies such as World Wide Technology, Mastercards global operations center and Cerner, so we focus on building awareness first.

Related: 10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Location for Your Business

3. Check out state programs for talent and business opportunities

Dont just think about todays available talent; consider who might be there tomorrow. The hiring competition is fierce at top universities, so look for undervalued areas with strong training programs and talented graduates. For example, the Midwest as a whole produces 25% of the countrys computer science graduates.

Today, finding talent is one of a company's hardest challenges. When companies come to us, theyre often looking for training programs and talent attraction tools. We propose that they look at Missouris Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant, which enables adult learners in certain income brackets to pursue degrees or certificates in high-demand fields for little to no cost. This can be a powerful tool for companies to offer to prospective talent. And programs such as LaunchCode, created by Squares Jim McKelvey, can provide a talent pipeline of coders and tech workers beyond traditional avenues.

You can also shop around for opportunities to help fuel your companys success, such as the free startup counseling offered in Novi, Michigan, or Indianas $1 billion commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship through 2026. There are also economic advantages: the Midwest actually makes up the fourth-largest economy in the world, and more than 26% of 2020 Fortune 500 companies call the heart of America home. Its no mystery why companies are following tech talent away from the coasts.

By examining where top talent is moving and seeking out the programs that are training the next generation of skilled workers, you can ensure your company maintains its best asset: the people.

Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
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ALBANY  The path to the return of takeout alcohol sales from the states bars and restaurants became more difficult when both houses of the Legislature removed it from their respective budget bills, but proponents remain at least semi-optimistic that it will be legalized, given the governors continuing support and a groundswell of public opinion in favor.

"I don't think it's dead," said Scott Wexler, executive director since 1985 of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association. The lobbying group is among the organizations pushing for alcohol-to-go, saying it was a financial lifeline during the start of the pandemic, when dining rooms were closed or had limited seating, and would be an important future revenue stream for an industry that was one of the hardest hit and slowest to recover. Said Wexler, "It's a higher mountain to climb" if it's not in the budget that is passed.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive budget includes a provision to permanently bring back alcohol-to-go, which was allowed under emergency measures during the first 15 months of the pandemic before lapsing in June. Standalone legislation to legalize takeout alcohol failed to pass before the Legislature adjourned in June.

When the state Senate and Assembly released their respective 2022-23 budget bills earlier this week, neither included takeout alcohol.

The rationale, leaders said, was that changing the law to allow restaurants and bars to sell alcohol for takeout is a policy decision, and the budget is intended to be a spending document, not a way to change policy. The renewed emphasis on what belongs in the budget, the first under a new governor, is in part a reaction to years of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's habit of including policy changes in the budget, leaders said.

"Thats a policy item, so we took that out," Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said on Monday when asked about it by reporters.

Proponents counter that policy decisions remain in the budget.

"We make policy decisions all the time in the budget based on what we're saying it's important to spend money on," said Pat Fahy, a Democratic member of the Assembly whose district covers much of the city of Albany and some of its western and southern suburbs. She introduced one of two Assembly bills that would bring back takeout alcohol.

Further, Fahy said, industry projections estimate that allowing bars and restaurants to sell alcohol-to-go would return $15 million to the state in sales tax, making it a revenue decision that isn't out of place in the budget.

"There's $15 million at stake. That's not something to shake a stick at," Fahy said.

If the negotiation and reconciliation process among the three budgets  from Hochul, the Assembly and the Senate  does not return alcohol-to-go to the final budget, due by April 1, it would need to be considered on its own by the Legislature.

"The committee process is an easier process for a minority number of legislators in the majority party to block something that is otherwise popular," Wexler said.

Among those opponents is Phil Steck, a Colonie Democrat who chairs the Assembly's committee on alcoholism and drug abuse.

"There's no shortage of the ability to buy alcohol ... so I just don't see the necessity" for alcohol-to-go from restaurants, Steck said. "Maximizing the availability of alcohol does not seem the most ethical policy."

Opposition also comes from the liquor-store lobby, which believes permanently allowing restaurants and bars to sell takeout alcohol would hurt its members' retail stores.

Absolutely it would be our desire to stop it, Michael Correra, executive director of the Metropolitan Package Store Association, said during a recent online conversation about the subject with Wexler, arranged by the Times Union. The association represents liquor stores primarily in the New York City area.

In responding to Correra's contention that many restaurants would essentially turn a portion of their space into de-factor liquor stores if alcohol-to-go were allowed, Wexler said, citing publicly available figures, "You know, Michael, that 85 percent of all the liquor and wine sales in New York are sold through package stores. How can restaurants possibly compete with that?"

During a media event in Queens on Wednesday, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, D-Brooklyn, who introduced the other alcohol-to-go bill in his chamber, said, "It makes sense to enact legislation that will let the hospitality industry benefit permanently from a revenue stream that could make the difference between staying open and losing their livelihood forever.

Speaking at the same event, Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, said, "Alcohol-to-go is critical to the recovery of our $50 billion industry and has the support of 78 percent of New Yorkers. We know there is support in both houses, and we urge the state to include alcohol-to-go in the final enacted budget."

Hochul's office declined to answer specific questions about her view on the future of alcohol-to-go. It sent a general statement that does not mention the measure and said, in part, that her budget "includes bold initiatives to embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in our future."

During a brief conversation with reporters on Monday night, Hochul sounded an optimistic note when asked about takeout alcohol, saying, "I don't want to cut off that lifeline that our businesses are begging for. And I want to make sure that we get it through before the end of session," according to a transcript provided by her office.

"The arguments against it don't hold water," said John McDonald, a Cohoes Democrat who has long supported alcohol-to-go.

"This is not going to increase DWIs. This is not about restaurants turning into liquor stores," McDonald said. "This about someone wanting to take home a professionally made adult beverage with their meal."
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NORTH ELBA  State Police at Ray Brook are assisting state forest rangers with a missing hiker from Connecticut.

On March 11, Thomas A. Howard of Westport went hiking in on Mt. Colden in the town of North Elba. On March 16, he was reported missing after failing to return from his trip.

Howard is approximately 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, has gray hair, and was last known to be wearing a long red jacket, gray boots and snow shoes. His last known location was at the Marcy Dam lean-to.

State Police and forest rangers are asking anyone who may have seen Howard to contact Troop B at 518-891-2000, or the DEC in Ray Brook at 518-891-0235.
A form of bird flu has poultry farmers and New York State officials on high alert. The disease, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, has been found in three backyard flocks in the state, including two in the Hudson Valley.

Nationwide, the disease has been detected in wild birds in 14 states and in commercial or backyard flocks in 13 states. New Yorks first incidence of the disease was reported on February 19 in Suffolk County in a small, non-commercial flock that comprised eight birds.

Subsequently, the disease was detected in two small non-poultry flocks in the Hudson Valley, in backyard pet birds in Ulster County, and in a flock of upland game birds  non-water fowl like quail and pheasants  in Dutchess County.

According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the state suspects the birds were infected through exposure to wild birds or their droppings. Studies conducted by the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have shown that wild water fowl rarely show signs of the disease but do carry and spread it.

Infected poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, do show signs of the disease, which is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and death in high numbers.

Owners should be on the lookout for signs consistent with HPAI, including lethargy, decreased appetite, swollen heads, purplish discoloration of wattles, combs, and legs, drop in egg production, diarrhea, or neurologic signs such as twisted necks, circling, or paralysis, a Department of Agriculture and Markets spokesperson said in an email. Sudden death with no other signs is also very common.

A map published by APHIS shows that the bird flu has been detected in one wild bird in New York State so far, but appears in higher numbers in neighboring states  30 in Connecticut and 21 in New Jersey.

As a result, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is recommending that poultry owners take steps to prevent birds from coming into contact with wild birds or their droppings either directly or indirectly.

Those precautions include discouraging unnecessary visitors and using biosecurity signs to warn people not to enter buildings without permission, as well as monitoring visitor contact with any birds in the past five days, forbidding farm entry to employees and visitors who own any kind of fowl, requiring all visitors to cover and disinfect all footwear, and cleaning and disinfecting poultry transport coops and vehicles before they return to the farm if they leave for after-hours processing, among other precautions.

In addition, the state is asking poultry farmers to report anything unusual, especially sick or dead birds.

According to the state, afflicted birds and any birds from affected flocks have not entered and will not enter the food system.

Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter.

As of now it appears the biggest threat from the spread of HPAI is the potential for a large loss of poultry stock. No cases have been discovered in humans in the U.S., and if detected, it wouldnt be cause for immediate panic. According to the CDC, the virus, which is known as Asian H5N1, has been detected in limited numbers of humans since it was first found in a flock of geese in China in 1996. Human cases have since occurred in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as in Canada in 2014, but they have primarily been among people who work closely with birds.

In a March 7 news release the CDC, which continues to monitor the situation, said it believes that the risk to the general publics health from current H5N1 bird flu viruses is low.

The CDC added: if limited, non-sustained human-to-human spread with this virus were to occur, that also would raise the public health threat because it could mean the virus is adapting to spread better between people. Note that sustained human-to-human spread is needed for a pandemic to occur."

According to an archived page on the CDCs website regarding Asian H5N1, because it has caused a number of human infections in other countries, preparedness efforts for the potential for spread among humans has been extensive.

Asian H5N1 vaccine is being stockpiled for pandemic preparedness by the United States government, says the page. It could be used if an HPAI H5N1 virus begins transmitting easily and efficiently from person to person.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Markets, as of Monday, March 15, no additional detections have occurred in flocks in New York State. New alerts, if they occur, can be found on the departments poultry website.
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NEW YORK (AP)  Jillian Amodio went with the truth when her 10-year-old daughter had some pointed questions about the war in Ukraine.

When she asked what nuclear weapons were, I explained in simple terms that they're explosive devices used in warfare that are capable of releasing tremendous amounts of energy and causing widespread harm and damage, said the Annapolis, Maryland, founder of a support group called Moms for Mental Health.

But her daughter wasn't finished there.

She asked if we were in danger of being hit with nuclear weapons," said Amodio. "And I explained that leaders around the world are responsible for ensuring that nuclear warfare doesn't occur, and that we have learned from past instances just how devastating the effects of nuclear warfare can be.

She did what many parents and experts recommend: She led with the truth, though she chose her details based on what she knew her child could handle emotionally.

The day Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces placed on high alert late last month was a big one for some parents with inquisitive kids.

On social media, in classrooms and at the playground, children who hear about Russias invasion of Ukraine are wondering where the war could lead. Its a moment that can feel similar to growing up during the Cold War, when there was talk of nuclear winter, radiation and the atomic bomb.

Unlike in the past, however, todays kids have greater unchecked access to both accurate images, video and information but loads of disinformation, too. What some also have are loved ones with personal experiences of tense nuclear times.

With younger kids, speak simply and avoid discussing scary topics in detail. With adolescents, honesty is the best policy. Always be transparent," said Dr. Beth Oller, a family physician in Stockton, Kansas, and mom of four kids, ages 2 to 9. Speak to whats actionable to help put their minds at ease.

Fear of nuclear devastation can have a lifelong impact on children, said Nathaniel N. Ivers, an associate professor of counseling at Wake Forest University. During the Cold War, studies showed that vulnerable populations, including children and caregivers, experienced greater fear and anxiety over the nuclear threat than others, he said.

And parents who expressed more anxiety about a nuclear threat, he said, "tended to have children who were more anxious about nuclear bombs."

A threat of nuclear detonation  something like the Cuban Missile Crisis, for instance  may create in children a profound awareness of their mortality and vulnerability. Children know there is very little they can do to protect themselves if a nuclear bomb were to hit their area, which can create feelings of helplessness and hopelessness," Ivers said. It also can create a sense of nihilism, especially in older children and adolescents."

Henry Williams, a digital designer in Brooklyn, reached for film when his 11-year-old son came to him with questions about nuclear weapons and the war. Not the nuclear submarine spy thriller The Hunt for Red October. Not The Sum of All Fears, another thriller in the Jack Ryan series that tracks a sinister plot to draw the United States and Russia into World War III.

He chose the unflinching Threads, an apocalyptic war drama that follows a young couple in Sheffield, England, in the deadly and chaotic aftermath of a nuclear bombing. The film, filled with realistic horrors, was made for BBC television and first broadcast in 1984. Now, it has cult status.

Williams, who grew up near Sheffield, was home in the U.K. on vacation with his kids when the war in Ukraine broke out.

We had BBC news on all day long every day. That prompted questions, he said. It's a much more realistic movie. Like, this is what it's like on the ground."

His 11-year-old wasn't visibly shaken, Williams said. As for his younger son, who's 5 and didn't watch the film, the questions were far simpler: So, we'll just all be dead?

To which his father responded: Well, yes, but that's very unlikely. He had that notion in his head, that that could happen, which I thought was incredible. Even then, he wasn't freaked out by it. I said, we'll be there if it ever happens, and that comforted him, I think.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Dr. Jessica Griffin, a child psychologist and executive director of the Child Trauma Training Center at the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, said it's important to make sure children aren't consumed by their worries or what's on the news.

Children can be encouraged to ask questions but also encouraged to engage in their daily routines of schoolwork, play and bedtime, she said. Routines can send signals to the brain that children are safe, and are calming for children in anxiety-provoking situations.

After Putin ordered his forces on alert, Ricardo Groll took a straightforward approach with his two girls, ages 9 and 12.

I decided to explain what nuclear was and how it could hurt people in Europe, said Groll, in the southern Brazil city of Novo Hamburgo. From the 9-year-old, he said, came: Daddy, is that man bad? Is he going to hurt our family? How?"

As I always do with my kids, I told the truth," Groll said. "Now Im pretty sure if anybody asks Giovanna what a nuclear weapon is, she will say to them, Its a bomb that could destroy the world. She doesnt seem to be traumatized by my straight-to-the-point explanation, but I confess that Im not so sure she knows what destroying the world' is.

Things are different, of course, for children already touched by war or other traumas.

For children who have a prior history of trauma, seeing disturbing images may be even more distressing and triggering" and they might "require increased reassurance and support, Griffin said.

JR Guerrieri in Lavallette, New Jersey, has two girls, ages 8 and 13. As the founder of a digital communications platform, he does business in Ukraine, and has friends and colleagues there. His daughters have been asking questions about the war and the possibility of nuclear weapons being used.

He showed them photos of the devastation in Hiroshima after the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in 1945. They learned about it in school, he said, but without real depth.

Up until now, there was no reason to really talk about it, Guerrieri said. You want them to learn history, of course. But, you know, to instill that fright in a child is not really necessarily the best thing in the world.
AMSTERDAM  An eye doctor who sued the manager of a butcher shop after he was asked to wear a mask is being sued by the federal government for allegedly firing an employee after the worker complained the practice was ignoring COVID-19 protocols.

The Department of Labor said it sued Dr. David Kwiat's practice, Kwiat Eye and Laser Surgery in Amsterdam, after its Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated a whistleblower complaint and "found that the doctor and his practice retaliated against the employee for filing complaints with the New York state Department of Health."

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, labor officials said "the investigation revealed that Dr. Kwiat fired the employee the same day the health department contacted his office and he specifically cited the employee's contact with state officials as the reason for the termination."

The federal complaint alleges that between March and December 2020, the unnamed employee raised concerns to a supervisor about a lack of COVID-19 safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, at the Amsterdam-based practice.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Albany asks that the practice pay damages to the employee, rehire the employee, pay the employee for other expenses, including emotional distress, and prominently display a sign that says the office will not discriminate against any employees who engage in practices covered by federal occupational safety and health rules.

The Labor Department's action was previously reported by NewsChannel 13 and the Daily Gazette.

Kwiat could not be reached Friday. A voicemail message left with his practice was not returned and it was unclear if he had an attorney in this matter.

It is not the first time Kwiat has been in the spotlight over coronavirus rules. He sued Jason Houle, a store manager at Primal: Your Local Butcher in Wilton, after Houle said he asked Kwiat to wear a mask when Kwiat came into the store on Dec. 17. At the time, there was a state mandate requiring masks or proof of vaccination in public spaces.

Kwiat's lawsuit said Houle said he would not serve Kwiat, who wanted to buy a steak, until Kwiat put on a mask. Kwiat said the mask mandate was illegal, asked for Houles business card, and left. Houle was later served with legal papers.

Kwiat filed a 42-page lawsuit in federal court, most of which lays out arguments against masks and describes the pandemic as a fraud, with death rates "extremely low." It says he experienced "mask coercion" at Primal and that Houle was acting as an "agent of the state" in enforcing the state mask mandate.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Houle told the Times Union he initially thought the lawsuit was a prank and called the federal court clerk in Albany to check on its authenticity. The owner of Primal promised to cover Houle's legal costs. After filing the lawsuit over the mask request, Kwiat issued a two-sentence statement through his office manager.

"Forcing healthy people to wear masks is illegal, immoral, ignorant and criminal," Kwiat said in the statement. "This fight is for those that cant stick up for themselves and has nothing to do with money and everything to do with our God-given rights."

Kwiat filed a motion to withdraw the lawsuit on March 4, according to court records.
New York in recent years has doled out violations for drug use in horse racing at a lower rate than other states across the country, according to a Times Union analysis of horse racing violations in 14 states.

The findings reveal that from 2016 through 2020, New York issued the lowest rate of drug violations compared to the other states and far fewer than major racing hubs such as Kentucky, California and Florida.

New York also had by far the lowest rate of thoroughbred drug violations  the Times Union analyzed data for that breed in isolation and controlled for the amount of racing in each state.

Numerous industry insiders said the unprecedented analysis raises questions about the level of illicit drug use in New York horse racing and the ability  or willingness  of state regulators to identify and prosecute violators.

The New York Gaming Commission, which regulates horse racing, issued about five drug violations for every 10,000 starts by a race horse, the Times Union found during the 5-year period examined. (A start is when a horse leaves the starting gate in a race.)

All other states had more drug violations per 10,000 starts than New York did; most states issued drug violations between two and nearly 15 times New Yorks rate. Florida had the highest rate at 73 drug violations per 10,000 starts.

Industry experts and horse racing participants interviewed by the Times Union did not have a consensus opinion for why New Yorks drug violation figures are out of line with other states surveyed. But some offered theories for what could be at play, including stiffer penalties in New York as a deterrent to drug use. Others said small variations in drug regulations and laboratory procedures might be influencing the data.

Some sources said that many successful trainers with better horses race in New York, reducing sloppy medicating that can lead to a violation.

Scott Palmer, the New York Gaming Commissions equine medical director, said the state has performed similar analyses comparing New Yorks drug violations to some states in the mid-Atlantic region and also found New York had the lowest rate of violations.

Palmer said he believes New York issues drug violations at lower rates than other states because the state has unique rules that ban the use of certain drugs during specific windows of time before race day, something called "restricted administration times."

New York is the only state that uses those rules widely, said Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

About this series Horse Racing Unbridled The Times Union spent more than six months examining the horse racing industry in New York and beyond, conducting dozens of interviews with key stakeholders, from trainers, owners, scientists, investigators, track operators and lawmakers to advocates who believe the sport is cruel and should be shut down. The newspaper also sifted through court records and reviewed data sets on testing, injuries, equine deaths, taxpayer subsidies, enforcement and more.

In contrast, other states may forbid the use of the same drugs in certain quantities and issue advisories, including how long before race day trainers should stop using them. Palmer called those advisories "helpful but less definitive" than New Yorks rules that clearly stipulate that use of a substance in a certain time period could trigger a violation.

"The other states have been reluctant to give a bright line like that," Palmer said. "New York has gone above and beyond to protect people from getting positive tests."

Patrick Cummings, executive director of the Thoroughbred Ideas Foundation, suggested that objective is problematic.

"Our rules should be to help horses; not eliminate positives," Cummings said. "We should be protecting all of the participants, not trying to eliminate penalties or suspensions."

A patchwork of rules and enforcement

Although some horses and trainers race in multiple states, horse racing regulations differ by state. There are significant overlaps, but the variations include how many samples are collected for drug testing, the testing procedures used by drug laboratories and the penalties issued.

States dont always share information with one another about drug violations, so even when they want to apply reciprocity, it doesnt always happen, said Rick Arthur, former equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board and former head of the University of California, Daviss equine drug testing program. For the public, tracking data on drug violations is even harder.

Its also not fully known whether horse racing participants are using drugs to cheat at similar rates in different states. Regulators only know about what they can catch through drug testing and state investigations, both of which have shortcomings.

Arthur said in California they found horse racing participants in different areas of the state and across multiple types of racing have been cited for violations at varying rates and involving myriad substances. It makes sense to expect similar variations across the country, he said.

Cummings, who leads a thoroughbred nonprofit advocating for changes on behalf of owners and bettors, disagreed. He said bettors believe the frequency of drug use is similar across the country.

"I believe horse players (bettors) view it as all the same  that one circuit is not necessarily cleaner or has more violations than another," said Cummings. "No one stays in Saratoga all year. Horsemen bring their horses up to Saratoga and then they go back to Kentucky. ... Horses in the New York circuit race in Florida in the winter ... and the Florida figures are very different than the New York figures."

Skip Dickstein/Special to the Times Union

A new federal entity called the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority may eliminate the state-by-state differences when it gets off the ground in the next year or so.

Some in the industry have embraced the change.

"Because of the substandard regulatory scheme for racing in the United States it is difficult to assess the quality of one states regulation versus another," said Shannon Luce, a spokeswoman for the Jockey Club, the leading U.S. thoroughbred organization. "We concluded this long ago, which is why we supported a wholesale change of the oversight of anti-doping, medication control, and safety to one unified private organization operating under the authority of the U.S. government. That is HISA."

But others oppose HISA. The U.S. Trotting Association, the nations top standardbred group, and state racing commissions in Oklahoma and West Virginia, as well as other groups, have sued to block the implementation of HISA. Joe Faraldo, the chairman of the USTA, told the Times Union his organization supports national regulations for standardbred racing as long as theyre breed-specific and not "stupid."

A longtime racing participant and attorney who has defended trainers from drug violation charges, Faraldo said he believes New York's low rate of drug violations in recent years reflects how other states are listing positive results for low levels of therapeutic drugs that "couldnt affect a mouse or a fly."

"This lab in New York is not wasting time on irrelevant calls on therapeutic medications that have no pharmacological effect," Faraldo said. "These other jurisdictions in my opinion are not doing the right thing."

The Times Union's analysis showed all states generally reported more violations involving the use of therapeutic medications that are permitted in some contexts than infractions for illegal drugs or substances banned in racing. Arthur said most of the therapeutic medication violations hes seen are "mistakes" that occur when barns have new staff members dispensing medications or horses stalls are switched and their treatments are mixed up.

Thoroughbred drug violations

The newspaper's analysis also considered drug violations for the types of horse racing in each state, primarily thoroughbred, standardbred and quarter horse racing. The analysis used a metric of violations per start to measure the rate of infractions to control for differences in the amount of racing state by state.

The Times Union also specifically examined thoroughbred racing  considered by many the most elite form of horse racing and which draws millions of fans, including for the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness Stakes. When looking at thoroughbred racing alone, New York again was an outlier for its low rate of drug violations per start.

For the five-year period ending in 2020, New York issued about three drug violations for every 10,000 starts by a thoroughbred race horse, the Times Union found.

In contrast, Kentucky had about 20 drug violations for the same number of starts, while Florida had 45. The jurisdiction with the most violations per 10,000 starts was Oregon with 49. In fact, only New York had fewer than 12 drug violations per 10,000 thoroughbred starts.

In the five-year period examined by the newspaper, New York regulators identified 205 drug violations in standardbred and thoroughbred racing combined. There were 34 drug violations among thoroughbred race horses in that period.

Six of those 34 thoroughbred violations were not the result of findings made by New York authorities; they were violations issued to individuals after they were indicted in 2020 as part of a sweeping U.S. Justice Department investigation.

Among the remaining violations, just two drug infractions were issued at Saratoga Race Course from 2016 through 2020.

In August 2018, the New York Gaming Commission suspended trainer Randi Persuad for 20 days for possessing vials of injectable controlled substances at Saratoga Race Course. At the time, Persuad told an industry publication, Daily Racing Form, that the box of injectable medications was delivered to his barn by mistake.

Eighteen days later, trainer Joseph Lostritto was fined $1,000 by the commission for possession of hypodermic equipment and controlled substances at Saratoga, violation data shows. Both trainers had raced horses in claiming races at Saratoga that August prior to the violations being issued, according to Equibase.

At the other tracks operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Belmont Park had four violations during those years and Aqueduct Racetrack had eight. Meanwhile, Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack had 14.

NYRA declined to comment on the Times Unions findings regarding New Yorks low rate of drug violations compared to other states, referring the matter to the Gaming Commission. Patrick McKenna, the organization's spokesman, has said there is no place in horse racing for cheaters who use banned or illegal substances and that NYRA uses "every resource at our disposal to stop and expose those who attempt to break the rules."

Skip Dickstein/Special to the Times Union

Currently, there is no central repository of data accessible to the public that allows for horse racing drug enforcement to be compared state by state.

To perform its analysis, the Times Union requested data on equine drug violations from 35 state regulatory commissions, reflecting all states with recent horse racing.

Data on violations was collected from those requests and from public records posted by racing regulatory agencies in 19 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. Several other states shared data, but the information was not provided in a way that allowed for uniform comparison to other states data. A handful of states declined to provide any data.

Generally, each violation indicates a horse was found to have one drug or medication in its body in a quantity, or at a time, that was not permitted by state regulations.

State regulators issue penalties based on the violations identified. Penalties ranged from warnings to indefinite bans from racing, but typically included suspensions for a period of days or weeks, fines of a few hundred or thousands of dollars and the loss of race purses.

The patchwork regulation among states creates variation in the rules governing the use of drugs and medications across the country. Most states regulate the same list of drugs and share a common list of substances that are prohibited at all times. But they may have some variations in the quantity, called the threshold, that triggers a positive result, Martin said.

Various state labs may also have different screening limits  the point at which a lab will affirmatively say whether a drug was detected, Martin explained. Testing technology is so sensitive that screening limits, set by labs, distinguish between a minute trace of a substance that may have come from the environment and a definitive presence of a drug. The screening limits can also affect what is called a "drug positive" in various states.

The New York way

When asked about the Times Union's analysis, George Maylin, head of the New York Equine Drug Testing and Research Laboratory, alleged that some states are calling positives for drugs that he believes had no pharmacological effect or have been making "mistakes" with their testing.

"Talk is cheap, but we stand by what we do," Maylin said.

Will Waldron/Times Union

In another story that is part of an examination of horse racing that was published last month, the Times Union found that New Yorks drug lab, one the most advanced in the country, struggled to identify and test for some performance-enhancing drugs believed to be in use by the industry. A lack of funding by the state has also limited the lab's research and the amount of testing performed, Maylin said.

Palmer said New Yorks equine drug laboratory has one of the largest research budgets in the country, receiving $500,000 per year.

Rick Goodell, who was associate counsel to the New York Gaming Commission  and its predecessor, the Racing and Wagering Board  from 1999 to 2021, said New York drives down the number of violations because it applies tougher penalties on cheaters than other states.

The indefinite suspensions of the trainers and veterinarians indicted two years ago by federal authorities in Manhattan remain an anomaly. That criminal case involved more than two dozen defendants charged with offenses relating to systematic and covert use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in race horses competing across the United States and overseas.

The most significant penalty issued by New York during a five-year period beginning in 2016 was the 20-year suspension given to standardbred trainer Michael Temming after two of his horses tested positive for a blood doping agent called iOX2 in races at Yonkers Raceway, according to the data. Maylin's laboratory is believed to be the first to successfully screen for and confirm the presence of iOX2.

Goodell agreed with Palmer that New Yorks clear advisories to trainers on when to stop using a drug before race day to avoid a positive test makes a big difference in trainers ability to comply  and to avoid having horses test positive for drugs.

"This approach has only been possible in New York because our lab director has an equine pharmacology doctorate, and has conducted a large number of his own tests with horses to help him know exactly what to use as a laboratory threshold. It is unique to New York," Goodell said. "Other states have drug thresholds without reliable time-of-administration guidelines. Trainers are left to guess, or to go by guidelines that warn that relying on them might not prevent a positive."

Thoroughbred trainer Mark Casse said, in his experience, he does not believe that states drug "withdrawal time" advisories have affected the practices of trainers. He said drug use might be less in New York than other states because many New York races boast some of the largest purses in the sport and thus attract the best horses in the world  horses who dont need illicit drugs to perform at top levels.

"These are the biggest trainers in the world," Casse said. "They have reputations to keep and, for the most part, they play by the rules. They are careful about what they do, and they do play by the rules."

But Casse speculated that across the country, increasing drug testing in horse racing would result in more violations being detected.

New York is among 21 states that perform some out-of-competition testing on horse racing, said Martin, who joined the Association of Racing Commissioners International in 2005. Out-of-competition testing can result in a drug violation if regulators find that a race horse has been given a substance that is never allowed under state rules. Some industry sources said out-of-competition testing can help decrease the number of violations overall because the increased and random surveillance makes cheaters more cautious.

The Times Union found some states that perform out-of-competition testing, including California and Kentucky, still have far higher rates of drug violations per start than New York does, however.

Other states, including California, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Iowa and Indiana, also do condition testing of hair samples from quarter horses for entry into races, said Janet VanBebber, chief racing officer for the American Quarter Horse Association. New York does not have quarter horse racing.

Alice Allen, who trained standardbred and thoroughbred horses in New York for decades and has testified before the state Legislature about issues in the industry, alleges New York regulators have intentionally concealed positive tests or declined to issue violations in some cases, to the benefit of high-profile trainers. She has claimed some horse racing participants who reported issues surrounding drug use to racing authorities have been ignored or faced retribution.

"New York Gaming has failed to protect the public integrity of the sport of racing, and they knew it all the way to the second floor," she said, referring to the governors office at the state Capitol.

Brad Maione, the state gaming commissions spokesman, disputed the allegation of selective enforcement, saying, "The commission has a standard operating procedure to ensure all medication findings are treated alike."

He noted that the equine drug laboratory is not aware of the identity of the horse or the trainer for the samples they analyze; every positive is reported to the commission, which launches an investigation into the drug use and holds a hearing before rendering a decision on a violation, including any penalty.

Data barriers

Analyzing national or multi-state data on race horse drug violations remains exceedingly difficult for the public, despite efforts to improve transparency from within the industry. The Jockey Club maintains the data on thoroughbreds, but its website's design makes it virtually impossible to get a sense of broad trends concerning violations.

The website is also riddled with duplicate entries, missing information and errors. The Jockey Club declined requests to share its complete data sets.

"With regards to the thoroughbred rulings database, it is provided by The Jockey Club as a service to the industry," said Luce, the Jockey Club's spokeswoman. "The data included is what we receive from the different racing jurisdictions. If you have questions about accuracy or duplication, you would need to ask them of the specific jurisdiction."

The Association of Racing Commissioners International, the umbrella organization for state regulatory authorities, maintains a similar database that its members can access. ARCI makes some but not all of its data available to the public and declined a Times Union request for the complete records.

"The ARCI operates on limited resources to provide services for our members who maintain regulatory authority on drug testing, results management, adjudication, and penalties. While we do have the capacity to generate system wide reports and do so periodically, the individual members have not required of us the granular analysis the Times Union has requested," Martin said. "Unlike the 'opensecrets.org' website that aggregates publicly available data about money in politics into a one stop site, the various interest groups in racing have not funded a similar effort, and frankly the remaining racing media doesnt have the money to do it either."

HISA is expected to implement new national data collection standards on drug use and other issues in horse racing when it gets off the ground. A spokesperson for HISA declined to provide more specific details about those plans at this time.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  The police department will have to get by without an assistant chief so that the city can afford more sergeants and patrol officers who actually work on weekends, Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino said.

In a proposal that was unanimously accepted by the City Council Tuesday, he moved to reallocate the assistant chiefs salary. That meant newly promoted Assistant Chief Robert Jillson would be demoted to lieutenant, and a new lieutenant would be moved back to sergeant, both with a corresponding pay cut.

But demoting people would badly hurt morale, said former Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton, who made the promotions after losing reelection last year. At the time, Montagnino said he should be the one to decide the promotions since they involved vacancies that would occur after he took office. Dalton issued a statement criticizing Montagnino's proposal Wednesday.

The Saratoga Springs Police Benevolent Association made, and then took down, a Facebook post saying the demotions would hurt morale.

Montagnino said at Tuesdays council meeting that he wanted to use the citys money on the most-needed policing positions.

We have a remarkably safe city, he said. And the safety of this city depends in large part on the skill, the training and the number of uniformed police officers ... on the streets.

That number needs to be higher, particularly on weekend nights, he said. Yet 40 percent of the police force is contractually guaranteed to not work weekends, he said.

Weekends off

We have discovered, based in part on certain memorandums of agreement signed by the previous administration in December, that 40 percent of the sworn officers of the Saratoga Springs Police Department do not work weekends, he said, adding that they basically do not leave City Hall, that is to say they are not working on the street.

On Saturdays and Sundays, no one above the rank of sergeant is normally on duty, he added. The department has about 72 members.

Despite the fact that we are a weekend town, that most of the activity occurs on weekends, that much of the crime that occurs that involves visitors to the city occurs on weekends, he said.

Police Chief Shane Crooks did not respond to a request for comment.

The demotions would free up money for an additional patrol officer, and the demoted lieutenant would fill one of the three vacant sergeant positions available, Montagnino said. He said the chief and assistant chiefs job descriptions mirror each other and that the department didnt need the duplication.

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 change would get as many police officers on the street in the places and times they are most needed and decrease the amount of duplicative effort and amount of unnecessary bureaucracy that may currently exist, he said.

To highlight the importance of officers on patrol, he described an early morning arrest on March 5. A witness told a sergeant posted downtown that a man was coming to a downtown business to shoot the place up after a fight with a patron. The witness described the man and the car he was driving, which had Mississippi plates. The sergeant knew patrol officers had just pulled over a car with Mississippi plates for driving without headlights.

He notified them of the report and they searched the vehicle. They found a loaded handgun with an illegal clip with 13 rounds of ammunition, he said. A person riding in the mans car confirmed his intentions to shoot up a business, and he was arrested.

It was some of the most remarkable police work the city has seen, Montagnino said, adding, We anticipate and hope this will be the busiest summer season that the city has ever seen. And we need as many police officers as possible to be available to keep the city safe, to make people feel safe, to attract people to our city.

Mayor Ron Kim supported the proposal.

We do need officers on the street, we need the sergeants on the street, he said. I commend you for doing this. Its always a tough decision.

The change will be effective April 8.

Jillson did not have any immediate comment. He is out of the office until April 4, he said.
The latest review of the Cuomo administrations handling of nursing home deaths isnt just a rehash of the political missteps the public already knew about. Its a devastating analysis of failures that may have cost more lives in the COVID-19 pandemic.

To be clear, the audit by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapolis office doesnt draw a straight line between the manipulation of nursing home resident death data and the deaths of thousands more nursing home residents than the public was told about. But it does conclude that years of underfunding hampered the state Health Departments ability to collect data, analyze it, and use it to help nursing homes develop strategies against the spread of COVID-19.

In short, the budgeting in which former Gov. Andrew Cuomo took so much pride had starved the Health Department of resources it needed to manage a pandemic.

Thats another huge dent in the image Mr. Cuomo is trying to burnish seven months after he resigned in disgrace amid a host of scandals involving sexual harassment, misuse of taxpayer-funded staff for private business, and deceiving the Legislature and the public.

Similar to the findings of a 2021 report by Attorney General Letitia James, the audit concluded that the Health Department strayed from its sole duty  to promote public health  and instead, when it came to reporting COVID-19 information, conformed its presentation to the (governors) narrative, often presenting data in a manner that misled the public.

The result: The Health Department failed to account for approximately 4,100 lives lost due to COVID-19 through February 2021. Approximately, because to this day the exact number isnt known.

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Again, not all of that falls on the machinations of a governor determined to protect his image (and a $5.1 million memoir deal), and fend off legislative and federal investigations. Some of it falls on Mr. Cuomos other political agenda  to portray himself as a brilliant fiscal manager, to the detriment of the Health Departments mission. But theres a common thread here: Mr. Cuomo created a environment toxic to public health  in this case to thousands of elderly nursing home residents and the workers who cared for them.

For its part, the Health Department  typical of most state agencies on the receiving end of one of Mr. DiNapolis unvarnished reviews  says some of the findings are unfair, and tries to distance itself from the previous administration. But its vital that the agency, and the Legislature and governor who provide its funding, take the audit to heart and address the weaknesses it identified. The pandemic isnt over, and it certainly wont be the last public health crisis New York will face. It must be readier next time.

Finally, its worth noting that this audit comes amid Sunshine Week, a time for focusing on the value of open government. This report shows that the need for clear, complete and reliable information from government isnt some esoteric ideal, but an absolute necessity. When it came to managing a pandemic, it was a matter of life and death. The Cuomo administrations manipulation of data and its stonewalling of demands for its release are all the more reckless and reprehensible in the light.
The latest, terrifying United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes report on climate change (Panel warns of a harrowing future, March 1) comes amidst equally dreadful news of the invasion of Ukraine.



Of course, 44 million Ukrainians deserve all the attention and support we can give them, but doesnt the fate of the planet and all the people on it deserve commensurate attention?



Of the two cataclysms, the events in Ukraine are more visible  and more familiar  than of the irreversible damage being inflicted on the planet. That is why the crucial conclusions of 270 researchers from 67 countries end up on page 4.



On the same day that news of the IPCC report appeared, the TU printed a letter from Greg Lancette of New York State Pipe Trades, who argued that New Yorks path to a carbon-free future has been reckless.



I bet that some Ukrainians also warned their fellow citizens trying to fight back their invaders not to be reckless.



Moving as fast as we can toward renewables is prudent, not reckless, because we are creating sources of energy that will not destroy the planet.



Besides, every drop of gas or oil that we do not use affects the Russian economy, which is based on the sale of fossil fuels.



We need to reassure our legislators that now is no time for New York to back down from its commitments to sharply reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The latest IPCC report proves that what may appear reckless is actually necessary. Lancettes smart transition to renewables while keeping gas plants open would be too little, too late.



Karen D. Moore

Canaan
ALBANY  A dark money group is running a second television ad attacking Gov. Kathy Hochul  and again is using rhetoric mirroring that of U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi of Long Island, who is one her Democratic gubernatorial opponents.

The Times Union previously reported the Washington D.C.-based media consultant behind the ad blitz attacking Hochul  which is costing hundreds of thousands of dollars  is Martin Hamburger, who has regularly worked as a consultant for Suozzis past political campaigns for two decades.

In the new ad, Empire Results highlights Times Union reporting concerning Hochuls misuse of state aircraft.

"Kathy Hochul said shed be the most transparent governor in New York history," the new ad states. "Huh  she used state aircraft to travel to fundraisers."

In January, Suozzi had called for an investigation into Hochuls use of state aircraft for campaign purposes. In a 30-second video on the topic, released the same day, Suozzi's campaign led with a clip of Hochul touting a "new era of transparency" in Albany.

Earlier this week, following a new Times Union story about Hochuls use of state aircraft, Suozzi put out a statement calling for Hochul to release her full schedule, to "abide by her pledge that a 'new era of transparency will be one of the hallmarks of my administration.'"

Its not the first time an Empire Results ad has mimicked Suozzis rhetoric on a matter hes sought to raise as a major campaign issue. The first television ad run by Empire Results focused on Hochuls position on "bail reform," including citing a comment Hochul made about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg  a comment which Suozzi had previously criticized.

Its no secret that Tom Suozzi has been a vocal critic of Kathy Hochuls failure to make crime a priority, her use of state aircraft to attend fundraisers and her continued lack of transparency," Kim Devlin, a senior advisor for the Suozzi campaign, said in a statement on Friday. "An independent group, with no contact from our campaign, also believes these are issues that all New Yorkers should be concerned about."

Suozzis campaign had previously stated it was not coordinating its efforts with Empire Results, that Hamburger was not on the gubernatorial campaign team, and that Suozzis campaign had no "knowledge of the ads other than what we have read in the press."

Suozzi's campaign did not have a comment Friday about whether it knew the names of any donors supporting Empire Results. Suozzi's campaign also declined to say whether it would be willing to call on Empire Results to disclose those donors.

As of Mar. 6, Empire Results had bought $567,000 in ads attacking Hochul, and has since purchased significantly more airtime, according to Federal Communications Commission filings.

Hamburger did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Empire Results  which states on its website that it's focused on transparency and ethics  has refused to disclose any of its donors, or to provide any paperwork the group says served to create the issue-oriented 501(c)(4) nonprofit.

A spokeswoman for Empire Results has declined say whether Suozzi, his campaign or his supporters have any connection to Empire Results.

For two decades, Hamburger has been a political consultant to Suozzi, a Glen Cove Democrat. Suozzi first ran successfully in 2001 for Nassau County executive on Long Island, and according to the Empire Results spokeswoman, Hamburger worked on Suozzi's county executive campaigns. In 2006, a firm in which Hamburger was a partner was paid $68,000 to work on Suozzi's unsuccessful campaign for governor.

Suozzi was elected to a Long Island congressional district in 2016. A Hamburger company worked for Suozzi's successful congressional bids in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and was paid $393,000 for media consulting and production. Hamburger has not been paid by Suozzi's campaign for governor. Suozzi's campaign for Congress last paid Hamburger in November 2020.

New York election law prohibits certain coordination between outside spending groups, which can spend unlimited sums, and candidates. If a candidate were to coordinate their activities with an outside group, the collaboration could be an unfair advantage. One benchmark in state law for "coordination" is whether a candidate and outside group share the same consultant within a two-year period.

Empire Results, however, says the law does not apply because the group is not an "independent expenditure" committee as defined by state law.

The six-figure spending could help level the playing field between Suozzi and Hochul, who smashed records by raising $21 million in campaign funds during her first five months in office. In January, Suozzi reported that he had $5.2 million in available campaign cash. He and other candidates, including New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, have lagged far behind Hochul in public polling.
ALBANY  Two of Andrew M. Cuomo's top former aides are seeking to be removed as defendants in a lawsuit filed by a State Police investigator who accused the former governor of sexually harassing her, kissing her on the cheek and inappropriately touching her while she was assigned to his protective detail.

An attorney for former Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and Richard Azzopardi, who remains a spokesman for Cuomo, wrote a letter to U.S. District Court this week indicating he will file a motion to have the federal complaint against them dismissed. DeRosa is accused in the lawsuit of aiding and abetting Cuomo's alleged misconduct, and both are accused of retaliating against the female trooper.

It is the only lawsuit that Cuomo has faced in connection with his alleged misconduct with 11 women, including several former aides, that was outlined in a state attorney general's report released in August. Cuomo announced his resignation a week later, but has since disputed the allegations and, while acknowledging he did things that were not appropriate, contends he did not sexually harass anyone.

The accusations by the trooper  identified in the attorney general's report as "Trooper 1"  were among the most damaging leveled against Cuomo, who had urged a senior investigator on his protective detail to offer the now-31-year-old female investigator a job on the special unit that protects the governor. Two years ago, when pressed about the governor's role in getting the trooper on his detail after meeting her at an event in New York City, Cuomo denied having any role in her transfer.

The attorney general's report also confirmed information that the Times Union had asked Cuomo's office about in 2020: the State Police's minimum qualification rules had been changed in order to get the female trooper on the governor's protective detail. She alleged Cuomo later routinely engaged in inappropriate conduct, including touching her, kissing her on the cheek and asking her questions about clothing, personal life and marriage.

Paul Shechtman, an attorney for DeRosa and Azzopardi, contends that neither DeRosa nor Azzopardi retaliated against the trooper, whose identity is being withheld by the Times Union. He said they were "private citizens" at the time they separately made comments accusing the trooper or her attorneys of trying to "extort" money from the situation.

"They were the predictable response of a spokesman defending his principal," Schechtman said of Azzopardi's Feb. 17 tweet in response to the federal lawsuit, in which he accused the trooper's legal team of pursuing "cheap cash extortions."

The lawsuit also contends DeRosa "aided and abetted" the governor's alleged misconduct because she had dissuaded the Times Union from publishing a story about the trooper's transfer to the protective detail two years ago.

"The discrimination claims against Ms. DeRosa should be dismissed because nowhere is it alleged that she knew Gov. Cuomo was harassing Trooper 1," Shechtman wrote to the court. "Nor can it plausibly be inferred that Ms. DeRosa knew of Gov. Cuomos allegedly harassing conduct. ... If Gov. Cuomo was sexually harassing Trooper 1, it is unimaginable that he would have told anyone on his senior staff about his unlawful conduct. Indeed, the amended complaint alleges that he told Trooper 1 not to 'tell anyone about our conversations.'"

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, was filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn two months ago and lists allegations against Cuomo and his administration that largely mirror those outlined in the searing report issued by the state attorney generals office that concluded the former governor was a serial sexual harasser who cultivated a toxic work environment.

"The governor did not act alone. He was enabled by the machinery of the state," the federal civil complaint states. "Women who had the courage to complain were attacked by a cadre of the governors closest advisors."

Azzopardi said that while Cuomo apologized publicly to the female trooper, he could not recall kissing her on the cheek and has not conceded her other allegations.

Cuomo has in recent months returned to speaking at public events and waged an aggressive public relations campaign challenging the accounts of his 11 accusers. He recently indicated that he should have stayed in office and cleared his name, driving suspicions that he is eyeing a return to public office.

"If kissing someone on the cheek, patting someone on the back or stomach or waving hello at a public event on New Years Eve is actionable then we are all in trouble," Azzopardi said in February regarding the lawsuit. "Gov. Cuomo will fight every attempt at cheap cash extortions and is anxious to have the dirty politics stop  we look forward to justice in a court of law."

Schectman, on behalf of DeRosa, said in February, We are only aware of this case from Twitter, but according to the troopers own testimony Melissas only interaction with her was to say hello and goodbye. It is not a viable case anywhere in America and is beyond frivolous."

The Times Union reported last year the female trooper had moved up in the ranks of Cuomo's protective detail quickly, securing a position as the governors driver in a much shorter timeframe than is normal, according to former senior members of the detail who are familiar with its machinations.

The report issued by the attorney generals office confirmed Cuomo had asked for the female investigator  then a uniformed trooper  to be offered a spot on his protective detail in 2017, after he met her at an event at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City.

The trooper, who is from Long Island, did not meet the minimum qualifications to get a spot on the detail because she had been with the State Police for less than three years.

The attorney generals report noted that an unnamed high-ranking member of Cuomos Executive Chamber had informed a State Police senior investigator, who was a member of the protective detail and tasked with offering the trooper a job, that the rules were going to be changed so she could qualify for the assignment. Transcripts later released by the attorney general showed that official was Letizia Tagliafierro, a former top aide who later was named state inspector general by Cuomo.

The Times Union, which began investigating the troopers appointment to Cuomos detail in 2020, is not identifying her because she is an alleged victim of sexual harassment who has asked to remain anonymous. Her federal complaint, which claims she suffered harassment, retaliation and discrimination, was accompanied by a motion that requests the court allow her to remain anonymous in the case as "Trooper 1."

According to the former senior members of the detail, who spoke on condition of anonymity, other protocols were also not followed because they said the female trooper, after just 15 months on the protective detail staffing a fixed security post at Cuomo's former Westchester County residence, was moved to Cuomo's travel team and began working as his driver.

During his interview with the attorney general's investigators last year, when asked about his involvement in the female troopers transfer, "the governor recited several times that he 'was on constant alert to recruit more women, Blacks and Asians to the State Police detail.'"

He said that he had met two female troopers who were at the bridge ceremony and "encouraged the State Police to talk to both women about joining the (Protective Services Unit) to increase diversity." That account had been disputed by some of Cuomos top aides, however, who have said the governor had no role in offering the female trooper a job on the detail.

The senior investigator who was tasked with handling the governors request also contradicted part of Cuomos account  he said the governor had not pressed for the second female trooper to be offered a job.

Cuomos attorney, Rita Glavin, later acknowledged the governor had intervened in the hiring decisions of the State Police  something he has previously said should never occur  and that in the case of the female trooper, "he liked how she made eye contact ... how she was assertive in the conversation."

The attorney generals report said the trooper had described Cuomo as "creepy" and "flirtatious."

As attorney general, Cuomo had once asserted  following an investigation by his administration into alleged misconduct by Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the State Police  that governors should have no role in the hiring or promotional decisions of the law enforcement agency.
Irish woman Phyllis McDonagh is, according to an apron that hangs in her kitchen, the Worlds Greatest Hostess.

So when refugees began fleeing war-torn Ukraine, she was always going to help.

Sitting around the large wooden table in the 87-year-olds Dublin home are Viktoria Kasianenko, 39, who was driven with her four-year-old daughter Barbara Yevlakhova and step-daughter Anna Yevlakhova, 32, to join her husband Yury, 58, in Dublin.

The five-day journey, which saw them travel from badly-hit Kharkiv to Lviv and then onto Poland, has become all too familiar in recent weeks as more than 7,000 refugees from embattled Ukraine arrive in Ireland.

Viktoria, Barbara and Anna came to Dublin to join Yury, a watchmaker who has worked for Mrs McDonaghs son in the city centre since last September.

But, in doing so, family and friends  including Viktorias father  have been left behind.

From the first days, the bombs were falling and we heard the shooting, Viktoria said.

Like thousands of others, the trio were forced to hide in basements as soon as sirens blared to announce incoming Russian shelling.

We were like this for a few days, she said through a translator.

One morning, we woke up and we decided we were in the basement and we decided we cannot do it anymore.

The three went to a train station to escape but found it completely full.

Viktoria said: We didnt manage to get on the train, and then we decided were going to sleep on the train station and just to find any way to get out of there.

From Poland, a Scottish woman criss-crossing the continent to help Ukrainian refugees drove them all the way to Ireland.

While they are now safe, Viktoria and Anna struggle to describe the fear they have for their country.

First of all, of course, we are happy that they are now in a safe place. And we are very grateful to the family for hosting us now in Ireland. We can feel the support from everyone, from all the family members, Viktoria said.

We are sad and there are no words can explain how we feel because we left absolutely everything there.

Nobody knows what to expect and when we going be able to move back.

Of course, its the first and the main wish to go back to Ukraine and to see our family and friends and relatives. But nobody knows what to expect.

Barbara, who is not yet in school, is adjusting to her new surroundings.

She messed around with the keys of Mrs McDonaghs piano while her mother talked.

Viktoria thinks the youngster has become a decade older since the war began on February 24.

She understands everything and she watches the news. She understands what is going on and why we left, she said.

The family are grateful to Ireland for the help and say the Government is doing all it can.

While Anna and Viktoria say they want to work and somewhere to live, the next few weeks are full of uncertainty.

In the near future, we would like to be able to rent our own apartments so we will not be sitting on the neck of people, Viktoria says.

The plan is to create a normal life in Ireland  and to be ready to return to Ukraine whenever it is safe.

For Mrs McDonagh, she is in no rush to see her guests leave.

The family speak no English and Mrs McDonagh no Ukrainian, so they communicate using an app.

The Dubliner has six children, 17 grandchildren and in years gone by hosted French and Spanish students.

Born in 1935, she has now seen two wars in Europe.

But to her, there is nothing difficult about taking in a family  even at her age.

Its grand, she says.

The way I think of it, if my children were over there, wouldnt you love somebody to mind them?

Mrs McDonagh is proud to be Irish  and prouder still of the countrys response to the crisis.

I love our Taoiseach (Micheal Martin) and (Tanaiste) Leo Varadkar.

I think were a charitable country.

It is a great country. Best country in the world, Ireland.
Most Wi-Fi routers and network gateways used by home customers are profoundly not secure. Some are so vulnerable to attack that they should be thrown out, a security expert said at the HOPE X hacker conference in New York.

"If a router is sold at [a well-known retail electronics chain with a blue-and-yellow logo], you don't want to buy it," independent computer consultant Michael Horowitz told the audience.

"If your router is given to you by your internet service provider [ISP], you don't want to use it either, because they give away millions of them, and that makes them a prime target both for spy agencies and bad guys," he added

Horowitz recommended that security-conscious consumers instead upgrade to commercial routers intended for small businesses, or at least separate their modems and routers into two separate devices. (Many "gateway" units, often supplied by ISPs, can act as both.) Failing either of those options, Horowitz gave a list of precautions users could take.

Problems with consumer routers

Routers are the essential but unheralded workhorses of modern computer networking. Yet few home users realize routers are in fact full-fledged computers, with their own operating systems, software and vulnerabilities.

"A compromised router can spy on you," Horowitz said, explaining that a router under an attacker's control can stage a man-in-the-middle attack, alter unencrypted data or send the user to "evil twin" websites masquerading as often-used webmail or online-banking portals.

Many consumer-grade home-gateway devices fail to notify users if and when firmware updates become available, even though those updates are essential to patch security holes, Horowitz noted. Some other devices will not accept passwords longer than 16 characters  the minimum length for password safety today.

Universal Pwn and Play

Millions of routers throughout the world, even some of the best ones, have the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) networking protocol enabled on internet-facing ports, which exposes them to external attack.

"UPnP was designed for LANs [local area networks], and as such, it has no security. In and of itself, it's not such a big deal," Horowitz said.

But, he added, "UPnP on the internet is like going in for surgery and having the doctor work on the wrong leg."

Another problem is the Home Network Administration Protocol (HNAP), a management tool found on some older consumer-grade routers that transmits sensitive information about the router over the Web at http://[router IP address]/HNAP1/, and grants full control to remote users who provide administrative usernames and passwords (which many users never change from the factory defaults).

In 2014, a router worm called TheMoon used the HNAP protocol to identify vulnerable Linksys-brand routers to which it could spread itself. (Linksys quickly issued a firmware patch.)

"As soon as you get home, this is something you want to do with all your routers," Horowitz told the tech-savvy crowd. "Go to /HNAP1/, and, hopefully, you'll get no response back, if that's the only good thing. Frankly, if you get any response back, I would throw the router out."

The WPS threat

Worst of all is Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), an ease-of-use feature that lets users bypass the network password and connect devices to a Wi-Fi network simply by entering an eight-digit PIN printed on the router itself. Even if the network password or network name is changed, the PIN remains valid.

"This is a huge expletive-deleted security problem," Horowitz said. "That eight-digit number will get you into the [router] no matter what. So a plumber comes over to your house, turns the router over, takes a picture of the bottom of it, and he can now get on your network forever."

That eight-digit PIN isn't even really eight digits, Horowitz explained. It's actually seven digits plus a final checksum digit. The first four digits are validated as one sequence and the last three as another, resulting in only 11,000 possible codes instead of 10 million.

"If WPS is active, you can get into the router," Horowitz said. "You just need to make 11,000 guesses"  a trivial task for most modern computers and smartphones.

Then, there's networking port 32764, which French security researcher Eloi Vanderbeken in 2013 discovered had been quietly left open on gateway routers sold by several major brands.

Using port 32764, anyone on a local network  which includes a user's ISP  could take full administrative control of a router, and even perform a factory reset, without a password.

The port was closed on most affected devices following Vanderbeken's disclosures, but he later found that it could easily be reopened with a specially designed data packet that could be sent from an ISP.

"This is so obviously done by a spy agency, it's amazing," Horowitz said. "It was deliberate, no doubt about it."

How to lock down your home router

The first step toward home router security, Horowitz said, is to make sure the router and cable modem are not a single device. Many ISPs lease such dual-purpose devices to customers, but those customers will have little control over their own home networks. (If you need to get your own modem, check out our recommendations for the best cable modem.)

"If you were given a single box, which most people I think call a gateway," Horowitz said, "you should be able to contact the ISP and have them dumb down the box so that it acts as just a modem. Then you can add your own router to it."

Next, Horowitz recommended that customers buy a low-end commercial-grade Wi-Fi/Ethernet router, such as the Pepwave Surf SOHO, which retails for about $200 (though beware price gougers), rather than a consumer-friendly router that can cost as little as $40.

Commercial-grade routers are unlikely to have UPnP or WPS enabled. The Pepwave, Horowitz noted, offers additional features, such as firmware rollbacks in case a firmware update goes wrong. (Many top-end consumer routers, especially those aimed at gamers, offer this as well.)

Regardless of whether a router is commercial- or consumer-grade, there are several things, varying from easy to difficult, that home-network administrators can do to make sure their routers are more secure.

Easy fixes for your home wireless router

Change the administrative credentials from the default username and password. They're the first things an attacker will try. Your router's instruction manual should show you how to do this. If it doesn't, then Google it.

Make the password long, strong and unique, and don't make it anything resembling the regular password to access the Wi-Fi network.

Change the network name, or SSID, from "Netgear," "Linksys" or whatever the default is to something unique  but don't give it a name that identifies you.

"If you live in an apartment building in apartment 3G, don't call your SSID 'Apartment 3G,'" Horowitz quipped. "Call it 'Apartment 5F.'"

Turn on automatic firmware updates if they're available. Newer routers, including most mesh routers, will automatically update the router firmware.

Enable WPA2 wireless encryption so that only authorized users can hop on your network. If your router supports only the old WEP standard, it's time for a new router.

Enable the new WPA3 encryption standard if the router supports it. As of mid-2021, however, only the newest routers and client devices (PCs, mobile devices, smart-home devices) do.

Disable Wi-Fi Protected Setup, if your router lets you.

Set up a guest Wi-Fi network and offer its use to visitors, if your router has such a feature. If possible, set the guest network to turn itself off after a set period of time.

"You can turn on your guest network, and set a timer, and three hours later, it turns itself off," Horowitz said. "That's a really nice security feature."

If you have a lot of smart-home or Internet of Things devices, odds are many of them won't be terribly secure. Connect them your guest Wi-Fi network instead of your primary network to minimize the damage resulting from any potential compromise of an IoT device.

Do not use cloud-based router management if your router's manufacturer offers it. Instead, figure out if you can turn that feature off.

"This is a really bad idea," Horowitz said. "If your router offers that, I would not do it, because now you're trusting another person between you and your router."

Many "mesh router" systems, such as Nest Wifi and Eero, are entirely cloud-dependent and can interface with the user only through cloud-based smartphone apps.

While those models offer security improvements in other areas, such as with automatic firmware updates, it might be worth looking for a mesh-style router that permits local administrative access, such as the Netgear Orbi.

Moderately difficult home router fixes

Install new firmware when it becomes available. This is how router makers install security patches. Log into your router's administrative interface routinely to check  here's a guide with more information.

With some brands, you may have to check the manufacturer's website for firmware upgrades. But have a backup router on hand if something goes wrong. Some routers also let you back up the current firmware before installing an update.

Set your router to use the 5-GHz band for Wi-Fi instead of the more standard 2.4-GHz band, if possible  and if all your devices are compatible.

"The 5-GHz band does not travel as far as the 2.4-GHz band," Horowitz said. "So if there is some bad guy in your neighborhood a block or two away, he might see your 2.4-GHz network, but he might not see your 5-GHz network."

Disable remote administrative access, and disable administrative access over Wi-Fi. Administrators should connect to routers via wired Ethernet only. (Again, this won't be possible with many mesh routers.)

Advanced router security tips for tech-savvy users

Change the settings for the administrative Web interface, if your router permits it. Ideally, the interface should enforce a secure HTTPS connection over a non-standard port, so that the URL for administrative access would be something like, to use Horowitz's example, "https://192.168.1.1:82" instead of the more standard "http://192.168.1.1", which by default uses the internet-standard port 80.



Use a browser's incognito or private mode when accessing the administrative interface so that the new URL you set in the above step is not saved in the browser history.

Disable PING, Telnet, SSH, UPnP and HNAP, if possible. All of these are remote-access protocols. Instead of setting their relevant ports to "closed," set them to "stealth" so that no response is given to unsolicited external communications that may come from attackers probing your network.

"Every single router has an option not to respond to PING commands," Horowitz said. "It's absolutely something you want to turn on  a great security feature. It helps you hide. Of course, you're not going to hide from your ISP, but you're going to hide from some guy in Russia or China."

Change the router's Domain Name System (DNS) server from the ISP's own server to one maintained by OpenDNS (208.67.220.220, 208.67.222.222), Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1).

If you're using IPv6, the corresponding OpenDNS addresses are 2620:0:ccc::2 and 2620:0:ccd::2, the Google ones are 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844, and the Cloudflare ones are 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001.

Use a virtual private network (VPN) router to supplement or replace your existing router and encrypt all your network traffic.

"When I say VPN router, I mean a router that can be a VPN client," Horowitz said. "Then, you sign up with some VPN company, and everything that you send through that router goes through their network. This is a great way to hide what you're doing from your internet service provider."

Many home Wi-Fi routers can be "flashed" to run open-source firmware, such as the DD-WRT firmware, which in turn supports the OpenVPN protocol natively. Most of the best VPN services support OpenVPN as well and provide instructions on how to set open-source routers up to use them.

Finally, use Gibson Research Corp.'s Shields Up port-scanning service at https://www.grc.com/shieldsup. It will test your router for hundreds of common vulnerabilities, most of which can be mitigated by the router's administrator.

[This story was originally published in July 2014 and has been updated with new information ever since.]
To start today hottie Alexis inspires our early morning and this quick peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City Friday First Bite

Eat This Now: The Breakfast Burrito at Mattie's Foods The Breakfast Burrito. // Courtesy of Liz Goodwin Mattie's Foods, a haven for plant-based comfort food, is known for its simultaneously indulgent and healthy-ish creations. The breakfast burrito is a dish that lives up to the eatery's reputation. I am a self-proclaimed champion of tortilla-based entrees for breakfast, and this folded pocket of flavor meets the mark.

Courthouse Cash Counted

For Jackson County, getting COVID relief money came with early problems After high-profile debates and months of deliberations, Jackson County directed millions of dollars to local municipalities and public health causes. .

Another Plague To Consider

Lone star ticks carrying Heartland virus found in Kansas, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the weather gets warmer, there is new concern about a tick-borne illness and it's not Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports lone star ticks do not carry Lyme disease, but recent studies show it does carry a different illness called Heartland virus.

Hotness Looks For Refuge

Instagram star Alexis Ren says the dollar-based economy is 'collapsing' so she's going into crypto Model Alexis Ren believes "the way that we are utilizing the US dollar is really scary". Ren, who founded YourStage, a tech platform for learning, believes that the economy "is collapsing." She believes crypto offers a viable alternative and encouraged people to invest regularly.

Laptop Clap Back

Sure Seems Joe Biden Knowingly Lied about the Hunter Biden Laptop Story | National Review Next time President Biden speaks about . . . well, about anything really, remember that he knowingly lied to your face about the Hunter Biden laptop story - which the New York Times confirmed today, and which Joe Biden must have known was entirely true when it was first published in 2020 by the New York Post.

MAD VLAD SENDS MESSAGE!!!

Putin's chilling warning to Russian 'traitors' and 'scum' is a sign things aren't going to plan An incendiary Stalinesque speech marked a change in Vladimir Putin's tone. Observers saw it as a sign that the Russian leader would take a vengeful turn at home and crack down more forcefully than ever on any sign of dissent.

American Gunned Down In Ukraine

US citizen Jimmy Hill killed by Russian snipers while waiting in bread line: family A US citizen was killed in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv during what his sister said Thursday was an attack on civilians waiting in a bread line. James Whitney Hill, 67, was identified by sister Cheryl Hill Gordon in a post on Facebook. "My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine," Cheryl Gordon wrote.

COVID INCOMPLETE?!?

Another COVID Wave Is Looming About three weeks ago, COVID case rates in the United Kingdom made an abrupt about-face, spurred on by a more transmissible Omicron subvariant called BA.2. Case rates are rising, too, in Switzerland and Greece and Monaco and Italy and France.

Tragic End Game Suffered

Transgender porn star, 24, is found dead in her Las Vegas apartment Please - real name Francesca Elizabeth - was found after police in Vegas had gotten several calls saying she had not been heard from or seen in five days Police found no signs of foul play at Please's home.

Local Lady Knows Combat Zone

Olathe woman worked on Ukrainian military base bombed by Russian forces OLATHE, Kan. - As the Russian attacks unfold in Ukraine, here in the Kansas City area there are many in the community who still have family over there. "After 18 days, I'm still in disbelief," Nataliya Borth, who has family in Ukraine said.

Today's Lesson In Flavor

Kansas City, Kansas Public Library's Spice Club is a free way to try something new in your kitchen What began as a way to connect with adult patrons of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library (KCKPL) in late 2020 has developed into a hotly anticipated monthly event. "The Spice Club began as a way for our patrons to try new things without investing in a lot of spices, learn a little something along the way and promote our extensive cookbook collection," says Laura Loveless, KCKPL branch manager.

Forecast For Now . . .

Rain, possibly a brief wintry mix to start your Friday Hide Transcript Show Transcript THE AIRPORT. GUSTP U TO 37 MPH AND MOST OF US HAVE GUSTY WINDS AT LEAST 25. HIAWATHA, 26. EVEN STRONGER THAN THAT. COMING IN FROM THE COOLER WEATHER DIRECTION, LOGO FUTURESCAN THE NEXTEW F HOURS.

Cannons - Hurricane is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Another bloggy Tradition . . . Hottie Karissa inspires this last St. Paddy's Day roundup of pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

MIDTOWN IRISH COMEBACK!!!

Westport businesses happy to have St. Patrick's Day crowds back The return of the parade is not just something paradegoers are celebrating. Westport businesses are also happy to have the Kansas City tradition back."It's great to be back," said Stacey McBride, of the Westport Regional Business League.St. Patrick's Day in Kansas City has always been a celebration, but Thursday it felt like something bigger."You can just see it on people's faces.

Golden Ghetto Waiting Game

Traffic delays ahead for some drivers as crews replace I-435 bridge in Johnson County SHAWNEE, Kan. - A new project in Shawnee, Kansas may cause drivers to find alternate routes over the weekend. Northbound and southbound I-435 from K-10 to Shawnee Mission Parkway will be completely closed starting Friday, March 18 after the evening rush hour at 10 p.m.

South Side Saves The Planet

Marlborough to receive intersection improvements as part of Vision Zero The intersection of 82nd Terrace and Troost will soon undergo changes designed to calm traffic as part of Kansas City's Vision Zero, an initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries in KCMO by 2030. The city selected six intersections as pilot projects for improvement based on where fatalities have happened.

Green Screen Fun Fact Exposed

Why KMBC's Bryan Busby can't wear green on St. Patrick's Day Hide Transcript Show Transcript ORIGINAL COLOR OF SAINT PATRICK'S DAY WAS READ AND NOT GREEN AND PEOPLE ALWAYS WONDER SO WHY CAN'T I WEAR GREEN? WELL, HERE'S A POCKET SQUARE GREEN YOU ALL KNOW. YOU'V' HEARD THE GREEN SCREEN WHICH TO THE CAMERA IS INVISIBLE.

Hottie Regrets Playmate Life

Hugh Hefner's ex claims she aborted his child when she was 19 & he was 83 HUGH Hefner's ex Karissa Shannon claimed she secretly aborted his "devil child" when she was 19 and he was 83. The now 32-year-old made the shocking claims in a new eye-opening interview. The former Playboy bunny told the Mirror that she discovered she was pregnant on accident after undergoing a blood test before a planned breast enlargement- a procedure that Hugh allegedly paid for in 2009.

Tough Talk From White House

Biden calls Putin a 'murderous dictator' and 'pure thug' President Joe Biden on Thursday called Vladimir Putin a "pure thug" and "murderous dictator," his latest pointed attack against the Russian President as the war in Ukraine rages on.

BREAKING VLAD'S BANK!!!

House votes overwhelmingly to suspend normal trade relations with Russia, Belarus The House of Representatives on Thursday voted 424-8 to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus amid the invasion of Ukraine. The Senate will vote next on the suspension, which would enable President Biden to further weaken the Russian economy by levying higher tariffs on Russian goods such as steel, aluminum, plywood and other goods.

Irish At Arm's Length

Biden Confirms He Had Spent '7-and-a-Half' Minutes - Distanced - with COVID-Positive Irish Prime Minister President Joe Biden on Thursday confirmed that he met with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin "for seven-and-a-half minutes" at the Ireland Funds Gala at the National Building Museum on Wednesday, just prior to the announcement that Martin had tested positive for COVID-19.

Show-Me Tragic Crash Making National News

Missouri interstate crash involving 40-50 vehicles results in at least five dead: Report At least five people are dead after a crash involving 40-50 vehicles occurred on a Missouri interstate, according to reports. The crash involving 40-50 vehicles happened on Missouri's Interstate 57 near Charleston on Thursday morning, according to KFVS 12. Terry Parker, the Mississippi County coroner told the news outlet that five deaths have been confirmed.

Royal Pain Aftermath

Prince Andrew Has an 'Arrogance That Hasn't Served Him Well,' Says Insider Almost 40 years ago, Prince Andrew was being celebrated as a war hero by both his family and the public. Today, his reputation is in tatters. When he returned from the U.K.'s war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982, Andrew was third in line to the throne and had the world at his feet.

Cowtown Timing Considered

Permanent Daylight Saving Time: What would it mean for Kansas City? KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In a display of bipartisan cooperation, the Senate voted Tuesday to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act, which received overwhelming support, would ensure that we spring forward one last time in March 2024 and never "fall back" again.

Good Doggie Saves Lives

KCPD drug dog, Zeus, alerts officers to 9 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills on Greyhound Bus passenger KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A California man is facing federal charges of trafficking fentanyl-laced pills through Kansas City. While on patrol Wednesday morning at the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Kansas City, Missouri, a detective with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department spotted a suspicious passenger that had just got off a bus that started in Los Angeles.

Baller Hype Begins Again

WATCH: Justin Reid joins local KC media after signing with Chiefs The safety spoke to the media for about 20 minutes on Thursday.

Forecast For Tonight

Rain chances increase Thursday evening TOWARD BUTLER. HERE'S A LOOK AT FIRSTLER FUTURES SCAN GOING FROM THE PRESENT TIME TILL ABOUT CLOSING TIME. THAT'S THE WAY I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHOW IT FOR YOU AS YOU'LL NOTICE HERE, BUT DURING POSSIBLY RIGHT AFTER OUR SIX O'CLOCK NEWSCAST A COUPLE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITHIN THE 435 LOOP BECOMING MORE NUMEROUS BEEENTW AND NINE AND THEN YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE A LOT OF THAT MOISTURE SRTTAG TO MOVE IN FROM KANSAS.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Credit to TKC readers who feel like these headlines are worthy of consideration tonight.

Context . . .

Koch biz news is important because this corporation basically rules Midwest politics and has been one of the most active amongst Republican donors.



Here's an overview that sums up the sitch nicely . . .



Driving the news: Kochs Guardian Industries runs two manufacturing plants with roughly 600 employees. Ceasing operations would hand over these manufacturing facilities to the Russian government so it can operate and benefit from them, according to the statement from Dave Robertson.



The big picture: Since Russian President Vladmir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine last month, more than 400 companies have pulled out or scaled back their operations in the country, according to a running tally by Yale management professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his team.



But, but, but: Robertson said if Koch followed suit, it would put the company's employees at greater risk than continuing business.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Koch says it will continue operating in Russia Koch Industries will continue operating in Russia amid the country's invasion of Ukraine, the company's president and chief operating officer said in a statement Thursday. Driving the news: Koch's Guardian Industries runs two manufacturing plants with roughly 600 employees.

Koch Industries: Here's why we're staying in Russia Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by billionaire Charles Koch, is planning to stay in Russia even as hundreds of Western companies have scaled back operations there following the invasion of Ukraine.

It's Business as Usual for This American Billionaire's Russian Ops In response to Vladimir Putin's calamitous invasion of Ukraine, companies from Chanel to McDonald's to Netflix have shuttered, at least for now, their Russian operations. But there has been one particular holdout raising eyebrows, Judd Legum reports in his Popular Information newsletter: Koch Industries.

Koch to continue running 2 glass facilities in Russia Koch Industries is planning to continue running two glass manufacturing facilities in Russia, saying it doesn't want to hand over the plants to the Russian government. Koch's Guardian Industries operates the glass facilities in Russia. They employ approximately 600 workers.

Koch Industries stays in Russia, backs groups opposing U.S. sanctions As hundreds of major U.S. companies exit Russia over its invasion of , Koch Industries is staying put. The industrial conglomerate - the second-largest privately owned business in America, with $115 billion in annual revenue - is among those defying public pressure and continuing to operate manufacturing plants and sell products across Russia, while up until Wednesday remaining mum on that nation's relentless assault on Ukrainian cities.

Developing . . .
The Oshawa condo townhome at 155 Glovers Road has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It was listed for $529,000. - Realtor.ca
A 25-year-old Toronto man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a February homicide in North York.
The 781-site Whistlers Campground has undergone major upgrades. Plus, the Ottawa Jazz Festival marks its 40th, and Intrepid Travel launches new tours.
From left, Tudor Alexis, Consular General, Tiffany Fukuma, control attache, Marc Bovin, Consular Agent and Priscillia Leroy, communications and press attache, demonstrate the new method of greeting. The consular staff of the French mission in Toronto are now employing an elbow bump greeting versus the traditional kiss, all in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. - Rick Madonik/Toronto Star file photo
Prices for detached homes across the GTA have skyrockted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Graeme Frisque/Metroland
Moving Connections is a free community movement practice, conceived and developed by Karen Kaeja in 2018. During the pandemic, this practice has taken the form of online workshops. - Kaeja dDance graphic
Epidemiologist and professor of medicine who has spent most of the pandemic offering blunt advice to the provincial government is leaving for Oxford.
Meanwhile, two years into the pandemic, Canada's exhausted health-care workers say there is no moving on.
Six books for children and teens that feature Black history, culture and family

Latest reads for young readers include the story of a 17th-century female pirate, a West African mermaid and a look at the community activism of the Black Panther Party.
Pattaya, Thailand  The Royal Cliff Hotels Group has achieved another amazing milestone by recently being the only hotel in Thailand to be awarded The Best of SHA Awards 2021 for Hotel Accommodation.



(TRAVPR.COM) THAILAND - March 17th, 2022 - Pattaya, Thailand  The Royal Cliff Hotels Group has achieved another amazing milestone by recently being the only hotel in Thailand to be awarded The Best of SHA Awards 2021 for Hotel Accommodation. This further cements its place as a destination that has excellent safety and hygiene measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Royal Cliffs 5star Cliff Spa, has also received The Best of SHA - The Excellence Award for the Health and Beauty category.

The Best of SHA Awards 2021 is given to the best establishments that have received the most vote from a satisfaction questionnaire of tourists all over Thailand. The satisfaction questionnaire covers the safety and health standards (SHA Standard) and the White Tourism standards (convenient, clean, safe, fair, and nature-friendly). The awards ceremony was organized by TAT in acknowledgment of tourism businesses prioritizing compliance with Amazing Thailand SHA measures and was presided over by Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT Governor.

The Best of SHA Awards 2021 was launched in June, last year, to search for the best SHA-certified businesses in the 10 categories the certification covers, and celebrate their excellence, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT Governor, said. The initiative is to encourage business operators to continuously adhere to the SHA standard and maintain consistency in their safety and hygiene approaches.

The winners of The Best of SHA Awards 2021 are chosen from establishments that received an average voting score of 90-100% from tourists. As the sole winner of the hotel accommodation and homestay category, Royal Cliffs safety measures ensure guests that they will always have an extraordinary and safe stay in all its different hotels.

The Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) project is a collaboration between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Ministry of Public Health, the Department of Disease Control, the Department of Health as well as public and private sector partners. Being awarded the SHA certificate and the SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) means that Royal Cliff along with the Cliff Spa and all its MICE Meeting venues had undergone a strict inspection and passed the SHAs good standards of hygiene, health and cleanliness in accordance with the nationwide measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and have partnered with medical facilities for COVID-19-related testing and medical treatment.

Situated on a 64-acre private parkland estate overlooking the stunning Gulf of Thailand, the Royal Cliff Hotels Group operates four award-winning hotels providing guests from home and abroad with the ultimate experience. Book your stay directly and get the best price guaranteed along with value-added optional extras that will enhance your hotel experience by visiting www.royalcliff.com, contacting Reservations at (+66) 38 250 421 ext. 2732 or emailing: reservations@royalcliff.com.For more information on the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, please visit www.royalcliff.com

###
Johnstown Magazine is a positive and forward-thinking monthly publication for the people of our region. Focusing on lifestyle pieces, biographies, food and drink and more, we cover the Greater Johnstown area and the residents that make it unique. A publication of The Tribune-Democrat.

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Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Bedford is showcasing the works of American artists in two exhibitions. The works of Edward Glannon are on display in the Titelman Galleries, and "Highlights of the First 10 Years" is featured in the Regional Galleries.
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(BPT) - A significant majority of parents want to be home every night to tuck their children into bed (based on a OnePoll and Amazon Glow survey of 2,000 American parents*). Thats not always possible if you work long hours or are among the more than six million Americans who have a job that
It's been two weeks since the hike of fuel prices took effect , yesterday fishermen of the G
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that although the investigation is not finished, he agrees with President Joe Biden that Putin is a war criminal and that Russian military attacks on civilians in Ukraine are a war crime.

He said this at a press briefing in Washington on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Yesterday, President Biden said that in his opinion, war crimes have been committed in Ukraine. Personally, I agree. Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime. After all the destruction of the past few weeks, I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are doing otherwise," Blinken said.

He acknowledged reports on intentional attacks from the bombing of the Drama Theater in Mariupol housing children to opening fire at people waiting in line for bread

"These incidents join a long list of attacks on civilian non-military locations across Ukraine, including apartment buildings, public squares, and last week, a maternity hospital in Mariupol. I doubt that any of us who saw those images will ever forget," Blinken said.

Biden on Wednesday called Putin a "war criminal" for the first time. The U.S. State Department is currently in the process of investigating Russia's war crimes, which should establish official conclusions on Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine.
As of March 18, 2022, a total of 109 children died in Ukraine due to the Russian armed aggression.

The relevant statement was made by the Prosecutor Generals Office on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As a result of the Russian armed aggression, as of March 18, 2022, a total of 109 children were killed and more than 130 children were wounded. Most casualties were recorded in Kyiv Region (55), Kharkiv Region (34), Donetsk Region (26), Chernihiv Region (29), Mykolaiv Region (20), Zhytomyr Region (15), Sumy Region (14) and Kherson Region (14), the report states.

Due to Russian bombardments and shelling, more than 439 educational institutions were damaged, and 63 of them were destroyed completely. Most destructions were reported in Donetsk Region (126), Kharkiv Region (77), Mykolaiv Region (39), Sumy Region (32), Kyiv Region (41), Kherson Region (21) and the city of Kyiv (35).

The final data are yet to be reported, as it is impossible to inspect certain areas, where active hostilities are underway.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile strikes on residential areas in Ukrainian cities and villages, killing civilians.

Photo: AA

mk
Ukraines Armed Forces again attacked the airfield in Chornobayivka, Kherson region, which is used by Russian invaders to base command posts and aircraft.

"The airfield in Chornobayivka, Kherson region, which the Russians use to base their command posts and aircraft. The Armed Forces of Ukraine again made our day by hitting the airfield," Oleksiy Arestovych, non-staff adviser to Head of the President's Office, said at a briefing.

He added that according to preliminary data, the advanced command post of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation was destroyed.

The adviser noted that this command of the Russian army was responsible for "the creation and logistics of armed forces of the so-called LPR/ DPR which were in fact part of the military machine of the Russian Federation and are now dying in clashes with our military in eastern Ukraine."

As noted, according to preliminary data, the commander of this army was killed, perhaps not only he but also some generals, but the information is being clarified.

As reported, on March 15, at least three Russian helicopters were destroyed by artillery shelling at the airfield in Chornobayivka. Several military vehicles were also damaged near the airfield. The attack is believed to be the most devastating known blow inflicted by the Ukrainian military on Russian helicopters during this war.

In Kherson region, residents do not stop protests against Russian invaders.

On February 24, Russian president Putin announced the beginning of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine, and general mobilization was announced.

ol
For more than two days, the aggressor's troops have been holding Dmytro Vasylyev, secretary of the Nova Kakhovka Town Council, in the basement of the seized building of a local police station. Vasylyev is being subjected to torture.

"Dmytro Vasylyev, secretary of the Council of the Nova Kakhovka United Territorial Community, has been captured by Russian occupiers and held for more than two days in the basement of the Nova Kakhovka police station, which is used by the occupiers as so-called commandant's headquarters," Liudmyla Vasylyeva, Secretarys wife, posted on Facebook.

According to her, the occupiers demand that the secretary of the Nova Kakhovka Town Council change the sharply negative attitude towards Russia to a loyal one.

They use a standard set of physical and moral pressure, as well as elements of torture. However, Vasylyev holds on and does not change his stance," the wife added.

Her message was confirmed by Serhiy Khlan, a member of the Kherson Regional Council, who stressed that there was a version that Vasylyev was forced to accept an appeal to create the so-called "Kherson People's Republic".

"This is not the first case of abduction in Kherson region. Prior to that, journalist Oleh Baturin and activist Serhiy Tsyhipa were abducted. There is information about the abduction of entrepreneurs. They also tried to kidnap Halyna Zakharchenko, who organized pro-Ukrainian rallies in Kakhovka," the member added.

On February 24, Russian president Putin announced the beginning of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles.

The town of Nova Kakhovka in Kherson region was captured by invaders on February 26.

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The Russian Federation, trying to restore the combat capability of its units in the territory of Ukraine, plans to transfer to Ukraine some units from the 102-nd Russian military base in Armenia.

The twenty-third day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian military invasion continues. Continuing attempts to restore the combat capability of individual units involved in hostilities, the military leadership of the russian federation plans to transfer to Ukraine some units from the 102-nd Russian military base in Armenia, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

As noted, the refusal of some servicemen of the russian federation to take part in hostilities is confirmed, which is due to the low level of moral and psychological condition of the russian occupiers after the clashes with the Ukrainian defense forces. Thus, in particular, at the permanent deployment point of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th All-Military Army of the Southern Military District, about 130 servicemen refused to take part in hostilities. The enemy personnel was demoralized, suicides and self-mutilation became more frequent.

Due to the lack of positive results and inability to fulfill the set tasks, it is planned to remove Colonel Vadym Pankov, commander of the 45th special brigade of the special purpose air force of the russian Armed Forces. He is accused of failing to perform a combat mission at Hostomel airfield, reads the report.

Meanwhile, the pro-government russian media continue to spread false information about the armed aggression of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine. The creation and distribution of staged propaganda videos through all available information channels, including in the countries of the European Union and the United States, in order to discredit the activities of the military-political leadership and the Defense Forces of Ukraine continues.

In the city of Dzhankoi, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, training in local secondary schools has been suspended with their further use to accommodate servicemen of the armed forces of the russian federation arriving in the city.

In the Chernihiv region, russian occupiers are intimidating locals to quell civilian resistance.

The occupiers continue to defiantly violate the norms of international humanitarian law and destroy the infrastructure of cities, creating the preconditions for deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The Defense Forces of Ukraine continue step by step to liberate the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in all directions, the General Staff stressed.

As reported, the total combat losses of the enemy from February 24 to March 18 are about as follows: 14,200 people, 450 tanks, 1,448 armored combat vehicles, 205 artillery systems, 72 MLRS, 43 air defense units, 93 aircraft, 112 helicopters, 879 vehicles, 3 ships/boats, 60 fuel tanks, 12 UAVs of operational and tactical level, 11 units of special equipment. Data are being updated. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.

Photo: AA

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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine says the 5-7-9% loan program for entrepreneurs will be extended. During the wartime period, the rate will stand at 0%.

Thats according to Zelenskys video address to the nation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The 22nd day of our struggle, our defense against one of the world's largest armies is over. Which we make smaller every day. Every day. But it still has numbers, equipment and reserves.

We have information that the Russian military is recruiting mercenaries from other countries, trying to deceive as many young people as possible into military service.

We know that this will not help them.

So now I warn everyone who will try to join the occupiers on our Ukrainian land. This will be the worst decision of your life.

Long life is better than the money you are offered for a short one.

Our courageous defenders continue to hold all the key areas that the enemy is pressing. And respond to every attack. To every blow of the occupiers to our peaceful cities, to our people. New Russian conscripts have been taken prisoner.

Among them are those who refuse to return to Russia. And there are many who are not even mentioned in Russia. They don't even try to take them back.

Their death notifications have been sent to their families although they are in captivity and alive.

All Russians who can hear me now, speak about it. Tell it in Russia.

Every mother who knows that her son was sent to war against Ukraine must check where her son is. And especially those who cannot contact their children, who have been told that their children had been killed. And who didn't receive the bodies. There are phone numbers on the Internet that you can call and find out what is really happening to your children.

We did not plan to take thousands of prisoners. We do not need 13 or any number of thousands of dead Russian soldiers. We do not need it. We didn't want this war. We only want peace. And we want you to love your children more than you fear your authorities.

I addressed the parliament of Germany today. One of the most influential countries in the world. In Europe. One of the natural leaders of the European continent.

I spoke not just as President, but as a Ukrainian citizen. As a European. As someone who has felt for many years that the German state seems to have fenced itself off us with a wall. Invisible yet solid wall.

We have seen Germany fight for the economy for decades. For new Russian gas pipelines and old European dreams. Dreams of some kind of cooperation that Russia has not taken seriously for a long time.

We see that the views of the Germans are changing. And this is very important. We see Germany looking for a new path. We see how sincerely the majority of Germans stand in favor of revising the old policy.

We see that Chancellor Olaf Scholz has a great chance, a great mission - to give Germany a renewed leadership. Give Europe peace. Long-lasting and most importantly - fair. One that guarantees security to every state in Europe and Ukraine in the first place. And I sincerely wish Chancellor Scholz from all Ukrainians, from all Europeans that Germany and its partners succeed in carrying out this mission.

I will continue such speeches in the parliaments and squares of the partner states. Necessarily. As much as it takes to stop the war. To restore our territorial integrity. To return to all of us, Ukrainians and all Europeans, the long-awaited peace.

I feel that we are being increasingly understood. In Europe, in the world, in different countries. And it gives us more and more support. The one we have been asking for for so long.

I spoke with French President Macron. We are strengthening the defense of Ukraine. We coordinated our joint steps towards peace. Im grateful for that.

I am also grateful to President Biden for his new and effective support for our country. Please, understand: I can't reveal all the details of this support package and others to you. Because this is our tactic. Our defense. When the enemy does not know what to expect from us. Just as they did not know what would await them after February 24. Didn't know what we had for the defense and how we were preparing to face the attack.

The occupiers thought they were going to Ukraine, which they had seen before, in 2014-2015. Which they constantly corrupted and which they were not afraid of. But we are different.

And this allows us to defend ourselves against a full-scale strike for 22 days already. Everything we have done in a few years. For our defense. For our tactics. For defense tactics, which is not the time to reveal while the war is going on.

It is not the time to reveal our tactics of negotiations as well. Negotiations for peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity of our state, our freedom. Working more in silence than on television, radio or Facebook. I think this is right.

Today I visited the wonderful Vlasenko family from Vorzel, Kyiv region, at the hospital.

Escaping, they got under Russian shelling. The eldest daughter, Katya, who is only 16 years old, covered her brother Ihor, who is 8. The brother got out of the car and cursed the occupiers. Tetiana, mother, received shrapnel wounds. The father carried his daughter in his arms.

Thank God they all survived. Because they stayed together, as a family, and defended each other. I was really moved to talk to them. Probably the most during this war. I sincerely wish health and happiness to this family, the Vlasenko family. Like all other families. I wish you peace and work for it.

Also today, I awarded five employees of the State Emergency Service with the Order of Courage. Everyone is a hero. Everyone was awarded for selfless actions, for dedication with which they save all of us, save Ukrainians.

And some more news, very important and, of course, positive. About our economy. About how we bring our country back to life. Right now, wherever security allows. Wherever business can run.

Our government has already prepared a decision to expand the lending program for entrepreneurs on the basis of the program "5-7-9%" creating a new opportunity. Any business will be able to get a loan at 0%. For the time of martial law plus 1 month after the war.

Then there will be a minimum rate of 5%. And the total loan amount can be up to 60 million hryvnias. So that a wider range of businesses can take advantage of our program.

The second news is that the Cabinet of Ministers will vote tomorrow for a large-scale reduction of regulations.

There were more than 600 permits and licenses for business, and about 20 remain mandatory. Only those that simply cannot be revoked. For example, radioactive waste management.

So, for the vast majority of businesses in Ukraine, the declarative principle will work: you have announced the start of business and you work freely.

And the third news, which concerns millions of Ukrainians. This is a special task for the National Bank of Ukraine, for people's deputies and our government officials.

I instructed to find such a legislative opportunity for the state to guarantee 100% of deposits in Ukrainian banks. 100%. Not part, as now, as always, but 100%.

The whole deposit. In any bank of our state. So that people do not lose money and are not afraid of it under any circumstances.

So I'm waiting for specifics. Draft decision. And I hope that the Verkhovna Rada will not delay the support.

Because Ukrainians need it. Ukraine needs this.

And finally.

Our Mariupol, our Kharkiv, our Chernihiv, Kyiv region, Izyum and all our hero cities. Which are in a very difficult situation. Extremely difficult.

We are doing everything. All of us. Absolutely.

Our army, police, SES, humanitarian convoys, church... All our people.

We will not leave you. And we will not forgive them.

You will be free. Definitely. I know it. Like all of us on our land.

Glory to all our heroes!

Glory to Ukraine!

Photo from the Ukrainian Presidents Office
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has decided to declare three Russian embassy staff personae non grata.

Current activities of those persons under diplomatic cover are incompatible with their diplomatic status and are causing detriment to the Republic of Latvia, the countrys foreign ministry reported, according to Ukrinform.

The decision was taken in solidarity with Ukraine in its fight against the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression by Russia against Ukraine, with members of security services of the Russian Federation having played an important role in the planning and implementation of that aggression.

The decision was conveyed to Russian Ambassador to Latvia Mikhail Vanin. Expelled diplomats must leave the country by 23:59 on March 23.

Today, Russia's ambassador to Estonia was summoned to the country's foreign ministry, where he was handed a diplomatic note stating that three employees of the Russian embassy with diplomatic status had been declared non grata. They directly and actively undermined Estonias security and spread propaganda justifying Russias military action. All three must leave the country within 72 hours.

Russian Ambassador to Lithuania, Oleksiy Isakov, was summoned to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note declaring four employees of the Russian Embassy personae non grata for their activities incompatible with diplomatic status. The diplomats were instructed to leave Lithuania within five days. Lithuania also made such a decision in solidarity with Ukraine, which has been facing the unprecedented Russian military aggression.

The Baltic states strongly condemned Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and expressed all forms of support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine.
Since the launch of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anonymous have hacked more than 2,500 Russian and Belarusian official websites and announced further "unprecedented" attacks on Russian government-run platforms

This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to the group's Twitter account.

"Anonymous launching unprecedented attacks on the websites of Russian gov't. Increasing their capacity at peak times from 500 GB earlier, it is now up to 1 TB. That is, two to three times more powerful than the most serious incidents," the hackers said.

They added that they had already downed more than 2,500 sites in Russia and Belarus.

"Since declaring 'cyber war' on Kremlin's criminal regime, Anonymous has hacked over 2500 websites of Russian & Belarusian gov't, state media outlets, banks, hospitals, airports, companies & pro-russian 'hacking group' in support of Ukraine," the statement said.

As Ukrinform reported, earlier the international hacker group Anonymous, in response to the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear power plant by Russian invaders, hacked the website of Rosatom and its subsidiaries, gaining security data of the companies.
On March 18, Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, spoke with Dario Franceschini, Minister of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities of Italy.

Joining forces of our Ministries in Ukraine and Italy will rebuild the Mariupol Drama Theater immediately after Ukraine's victory over the russian occupiers, - mentioned Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

Dario Franceschini assured of Italys solidarity with Ukraine upon this issue. He also expressed support to our country and proposed collaboration for Ukraines theatrical groups casts for the time of war.

Also, both ministers discussed the opportunity of solicitation of Italian experience of cultural heritage preservation and registration of cultural values. It was also mentioned the sharing of experience of Italian Arma dei Carabinieri.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities of Italy approves of installment of the cultural curtain with Russia. Recently, Italy rejected the participation of russian artists in Venice art Biennale and Milan triennial. At the same time, Italy created additional possibilities of participation of Ukrainian artists in these forums. Ministers agreed to facilitate the tour of Ukrainian theatrical groups in Italy.

In addition, Oleksandr Tkachenko received an invitation to participate in the official on-line meeting of the ministers of culture and media, which will take place in late March.
A group of European politicians appealed to the Nobel Committee with an initiative to nominate Volodymyr Zelensky and the people of Ukraine for the Nobel Peace Prize.

This is stated in an open letter signed by dozens of European politicians, Ukrinform reports.

They believe that the Nobel Committee should extend the nomination procedure for the Nobel Peace Prize until March 31, 2022 to allow for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine. The nomination procedure expired on January 31.

We are witness to the courage of the people of Ukraine withstanding this war waged upon them by the Russian Federation. Brave Ukrainian men and women are fighting to preserve democracy and self-government People all over Ukraine are rising up to resist the forces of authoritarianismWe believe that now is the time to show the people of Ukraine that the world is on their side, reads the letter.

The letter was signed by 36 politicians from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia. The letter is open for signature by political leaders around the world until March 30.

According to experts, the request to violate the nomination procedure is an unprecedented case in the history of the Nobel Prize. However, Russia's war against Ukraine is also an unprecedented event since World War II.

So far, the Nobel Committee has not released an answer.

On February 24, Russian president Putin announced the beginning of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles.

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The Kremlin's narratives in Ukraine fail to survive as no one believes any Russian propaganda in Ukraine.

Thats according to Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko, Ukrinform reports citing his Telegram channel.

"Russian narratives have broken in Ukraine. Completely. Before completing the first stage of the war, the Kremlin, weak as it is, has moved on to the second one. Its capture and destruction. By logic, the propaganda component should have been launched had the Russian army captured the capital. So generals have nothing good to report. So, they started bombing TV towers  out of helplessness. But on the part of the state, we are trying to restore broadcasting as soon as possible wherever there is even the slightest possibility," the minister said.

According to Tkachenko, that is why Kremlin narratives do not survive in the country. Ukraine doesnt believe in any Russian propaganda. Attempts to throw in another lie or disinformation only provoke even more hatred for everything related to Russia.

"Russian propaganda has driven itself into a dead end, so it has completely switched to the Russians  to brainwash them. Roskomnadzor is trying to block all resources that might tell the truth to the Russians. But theyve lost control. And soon, the refrigerator at home will win over the TV at home for the Russians. Plus, there is a lack of resources on federal propaganda channels  more precisely, qualified liars are now running away like rats from a Russian ship that knows where its sailing," he said.

He noted that before the war he had written a lot about information security and critical thinking. "Now I see that I did it for a reason. Ukrainians have learned not to accept Russian narratives. They laugh at Russian fakes everywhere - in trenches, amid shelling, in basements, and in the temporarily occupied territories. So, I don't just believe  I know that we will win!" the minister concluded.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Culture Ministry set up an hourly broadcast of Ukrainian songs on European radio.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is assisting Syrian refugees in Lebanon with registration. This step ensures that they will face fewer challenges when accessing their rights, especially children who are more at risk.

Ward and Latifa were conscious of the importance of registration and ensured their whole family is registered with UNHCR.

They both once led a normal life in Syria. But like millions of people, they had to flee upon the outbreak of the crisis.

It was a bullet to her face that triggered Latifa and her familys exit in 2012. They realized they had no other choice but to leave their home in Homs. Ward would follow due to similar reasons, and the two would eventually meet in Lebanon and marry only a few years later. Now, they are the proud parents of two young children: Tasneem, 7, and their newborn, Elias.

Its difficult to leave your country when you feel unsafe, and its not an easy decision to leave without knowing what will happen to you, Ward said.

Elias is the newest addition to their small family. He is only a few months old but both Latifa and Ward wanted to ensure that he would be registered. The young couple fear that without UNHCR registration, their children might face challenges accessing their rights.

We are pleased that Elias has been added to the UNHCR file. It is critical that we register our children with UNHCR so that they can receive aid, particularly medical assistance, protection in the event of a crisis, or legal support. It can be quite difficult if you dont have any documents to prove your identification, to prove who you are, Latifa said.

Ward is a skilled sculptor. He has been acknowledged by the Lebanese Department of Archeology for his work in restoring artifacts. Latifa, is an artist too. She works as a professional painter, creating portraits for her clients. The familys major source of income in Lebanon has been selling their artwork, crafts and services. For the small family, their income once sufficed.

But Lebanons unprecedented economic crisis, described by the World Bank as one of the worlds worst national economic depressions, has hit families in need the hardest. Facing a currency devalued by over 85%, the economic situation for families like Ward and Latifa is worsening as time goes by, and many are resorting to harmful coping mechanisms like skipping meals. The crisis in Lebanon has sent the price of basic goods soaring and led to shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

Im now working fewer hours and making less of an income. My wife hasnt worked since Elias was born. We started cutting down our meals to be able to purchase other necessities even prior to the financial crisis. Things have only gotten worse, Ward explained.

The socio-economic crisis has had an impact on the lives of Lebanese, migrants, and refugees alike. According to the findings of the 2021 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian refugees in the country, nine out of ten refugees are currently living in extreme poverty, unable to fund the full cost of food, medicine, and other necessities.

As a result, food insecurity has increased, affecting half of all refugee households, and over half (57%) of Syrian refugee families are living in dangerous, substandard, or overcrowded shelters.

The situation has similarly had a disastrous impact on Lebanese.

Despite their hardships, the family is grateful for the UNHCRs cash assistance. Without this help, it would be really difficult for us; were using it to cover the needs of the kids, such as food or stationery for Tasneem to attend school, Ward added.

Registration with UNHCR is a step towards accessing aid for families like Ward and Latifa. While it is not the only way to access rights, registration with UNHCR is an important first step.

In 2021, UNHCR Lebanon verified and updated personal data for more than 300,000 refugees. UNHCR also added 11,533 newborn babies of registered Syrians to their parents files. In addition, close to 20,000 refugee families received legal counseling on registering the birth of their children.

Life-saving humanitarian funding from the European Union (EU) in 2021 has enabled UNHCR to provide registration services and multi-purpose cash assistance to refugees, ensuring those most in need are supported.

     
UNHCR staff distribute thermal blankets at the Shehyni border crossing point to displaced people from Ukraine waiting to cross into Poland.  UNHCR/Valerio Muscella

With more than 3.1 million refugees forced to flee Ukraine over the past three weeks, and millions internally displaced within the country, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning that humanitarian needs are increasing exponentially.

In addition to those who have had to flee, around 13 million people have been affected in the areas hardest hit by the war within Ukraine and are in need of humanitarian and protection assistance.

Many people remain trapped in areas of escalating conflict and, with essential services disrupted, are unable to meet their basic needs including food, water and medicines.

Humanitarian reports received from those areas are horrifying, and we continue to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and appeal to neighbouring countries to continue keeping their borders open to those fleeing in search of safety.

As UNHCR has warned from the outset, the pace and magnitude of the internal displacement and refugee exodus from Ukraine, as well as resulting humanitarian needs, will only increase if the situation deteriorates.

In Ukraine:

The humanitarian situation in cities such as Mariupol and Sumy is extremely dire, with residents facing critical and potentially fatal shortages of food, water and medicines. UNHCR is closely tracking negotiations for safe passage and already has humanitarian cargo pre-positioned. We are ready to send critical supplies into Sumy as soon as conditions allow.

In Odessa, authorities have appealed for support for general food assistance to cover the needs of some 450,000 people in the city, as well as medicines. As of 17 March, a permanent consultation point for protection, legal, and social matters is functioning at the Odesa railway station where 600 to 800 individuals transit daily on their way from Mykolaiv to the western oblasts of Ukraine.

The humanitarian needs in eastern Ukraine are becoming even more urgent. More than 200,000 people are now without access to water across several localities in Donetsk oblast while the constant shelling in Luhansk region has destroyed 80 percent of some localities, leaving 97,800 families without power.

Targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and lack of safe passage are increasing protection risks and posing serious threats to the lives of thousands of civilians. Vulnerable population groups  such as women and children, people with disabilities or with serious medical conditions, as well as older people and minority groups  are increasingly facing barriers in accessing critical services such as transportation, food, water, medicines, and emergency health care in impacted areas.

As part of the humanitarian response in Ukraine, and in close coordination with local authorities and other humanitarian agencies, we continue supporting the establishment of reception centres, delivering core relief items and emergency shelter and strengthening our support at border crossing points inside Ukraine. Protection services also remain of paramount importance, and we continue to facilitate access to legal aid, psychosocial support and other assistance to those most vulnerable.

UNHCR is launching a large-scale multi-purpose cash programme to help internally displaced people (IDPs), who fled their homes and left behind their belongings. This will help cover their basic needs like rent, food and hygiene items. Cash assistance allows people to make choices, prioritize their needs and boosts local providers. UNHCR started enrolling IDPs for its programme in Lviv on 17 March and will progressively expand to other cities and regions.

Outside Ukraine:

UNHCR staff on the ground undertake regular protection monitoring  at the main border crossing points, transit centers and reception centers and other locations where refugees pass or gather  to assess protection risks and assist the authorities in addressing them. As women and children constitute some 90 per cent of those who have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, UNHCR and other agencies have warned of increased risks of trafficking and exploitation. Given the very high protection risks, UNHCR and partners are disseminating key information and awareness raising messages to alert refugees of the risks of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

We deployed Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Coordinators, gender and child protection experts to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania and have set up protection coordination structures with other partners and national authorities to ensure an efficient and coherent approach.

In response to the Ukraine emergency, UNHCR and UNICEF have agreed to jointly roll out the Blue Dots in 6 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia). Other countries may be added as the situation evolves and depending on the needs on the ground. The Blue Dots are one-stop-shops, and safe spaces which provide a minimum set of protection services for children, families and others with specific needs, in support of existing services and government efforts.

They aim to improve accessibility and standardization of services provided by different partners, as well as predictability through a recognizable label  the Blue Dot. They have become a recognizable component of emergency assistance and a good example of inclusiveness in collaboration, where all service providers are welcomed to operate, provided the services meet relevant protection standards.

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UNHCR staff distribute thermal blankets at the Shehyni border crossing point to displaced people from Ukraine waiting to cross into Poland.  UNHCR/Valerio Muscella

With more than 3.1 million refugees forced to flee Ukraine over the past three weeks, and millions internally displaced within the country, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is warning that humanitarian needs are increasing exponentially.

In addition to those who have had to flee, around 13 million people have been affected in the areas hardest hit by the war within Ukraine and are in need of humanitarian and protection assistance.

Many people remain trapped in areas of escalating conflict and, with essential services disrupted, are unable to meet their basic needs including food, water and medicines.

Humanitarian reports received from those areas are horrifying, and we continue to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and appeal to neighbouring countries to continue keeping their borders open to those fleeing in search of safety.

As UNHCR has warned from the outset, the pace and magnitude of the internal displacement and refugee exodus from Ukraine, as well as resulting humanitarian needs, will only increase if the situation deteriorates.

In Ukraine:

The humanitarian situation in cities such as Mariupol and Sumy is extremely dire, with residents facing critical and potentially fatal shortages of food, water and medicines. UNHCR is closely tracking negotiations for safe passage and already has humanitarian cargo pre-positioned. We are ready to send critical supplies into Sumy as soon as conditions allow.

In Odesa, authorities have appealed for support for general food assistance to cover the needs of some 450,000 people in the city, as well as medicines. As of 17 March, a permanent consultation point for protection, legal, and social matters is functioning at the Odesa railway station where 600 to 800 individuals transit daily on their way from Mykolaiv to the western oblasts of Ukraine.

The humanitarian needs in eastern Ukraine are becoming even more urgent. More than 200,000 people are now without access to water across several localities in Donetsk oblast while the constant shelling in Luhansk region has destroyed 80 percent of some localities, leaving 97,800 families without power.

Targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and lack of safe passage are increasing protection risks and posing serious threats to the lives of thousands of civilians. Vulnerable population groups  such as women and children, people with disabilities or with serious medical conditions, as well as older people and minority groups  are increasingly facing barriers in accessing critical services such as transportation, food, water, medicines, and emergency health care in impacted areas.

As part of the humanitarian response in Ukraine, and in close coordination with local authorities and other humanitarian agencies, we continue supporting the establishment of reception centres, delivering core relief items and emergency shelter and strengthening our support at border crossing points inside Ukraine. Protection services also remain of paramount importance, and we continue to facilitate access to legal aid, psychosocial support and other assistance to those most vulnerable.

UNHCR is launching a large-scale multi-purpose cash programme to help internally displaced people (IDPs), who fled their homes and left behind their belongings. This will help cover their basic needs like rent, food and hygiene items. Cash assistance allows people to make choices, prioritize their needs and boosts local providers. UNHCR started enrolling IDPs for its programme in Lviv on 17 March and will progressively expand to other cities and regions.

Outside Ukraine:

UNHCR staff on the ground undertake regular protection monitoring  at the main border crossing points, transit centers and reception centers and other locations where refugees pass or gather  to assess protection risks and assist the authorities in addressing them.

As women and children constitute some 90 per cent of those who have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, UNHCR and other agencies have warned of increased risks of trafficking and exploitation. Given the very high protection risks, UNHCR and partners are disseminating key information and awareness raising messages to alert refugees of the risks of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

We deployed Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Coordinators, gender and child protection experts to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania and have set up protection coordination structures with other partners and national authorities to ensure an efficient and coherent approach.

In response to the Ukraine emergency, UNHCR and UNICEF have agreed to jointly roll out the Blue Dots in 6 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia). Other countries may be added as the situation evolves and depending on the needs on the ground.

The Blue Dots are one-stop-shops, and safe spaces which provide a minimum set of protection services for children, families and others with specific needs, in support of existing services and government efforts.

They aim to improve accessibility and standardization of services provided by different partners, as well as predictability through a recognizable label  the Blue Dot. They have become a recognizable component of emergency assistance and a good example of inclusiveness in collaboration, where all service providers are welcomed to operate, provided the services meet relevant protection standards.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Samuel (right), 9, a refugee from South Sudan, shares a textbook with Congolese refugee David, 11, at a school club in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp.  UNHCR/Pauline Omagwa

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with 102 humanitarian and development partners is appealing for US$1.2 billion to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance and protection to 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees and local communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.

After nearly a decade of conflict and despite efforts toward implementing the peace agreement, South Sudan continues to grapple with sporadic violence, chronic food insecurity and the devastating impact of major flooding. The COVID-19 pandemic has also strained peoples resources, significantly reducing their ability to sustainably meet their needs.

Asylum countries are facing similar challenges from the climate crisis and the pandemic but have continued to keep their doors open for refugees. Funding is urgently needed to help these host countries to provide food, shelter, and access to essential services such as education and health care.

Governments in the five countries of asylum will be supported in their efforts to integrate South Sudanese refugees in national systems for social service delivery. Refugees and local communities will receive help to boost their resilience by identifying and diversifying opportunities to earn a living. This is vital against a backdrop of chronic underfunding for food provision, which continues to result in regular ration cuts.

Support to prevent and respond to gender-based violence as well as provide mental health and psychosocial support will also be scaled up. This follows a worrying rise in reports of depression over the last year, especially among refugees in Kenya and Uganda.

It remains a childrens crisis, with two out of three South Sudanese refugees under the age of 18. Funding is required for child protection including to ensure proper birth registration and family reunification. Many children who were affected by school closures during the pandemic need additional support.

To better protect the environment and to minimize the impacts of the climate crisis, UNHCR is increasing the use of clean energy and making other green investments.

The South Sudan refugee crisis remains the largest on the African continent. It was also one of the least funded in 2021 at only 21 per cent. Global solidarity and support for refugees must be extended to Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Sudan, who have generously welcomed South Sudanese refugees.

The 2022 South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan complements the upcoming 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for South Sudan, scheduled to be released in the coming weeks.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Refugees from Ukraine enter Poland at the Medyka border crossing.  UNHCR/Valerio Muscella

WARSAW  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today acknowledged the enormous support of the Polish authorities and civil society for those who have been forced to flee Ukraine, after the number of arrivals passed the two million mark within three weeks.

This has been a tremendous effort from the people, local communities, municipalities and government of Poland in receiving and hosting new arrivals, said Christine Goyer, UNHCRs Representative in Poland. What is important now is that the international community steps up to help provide more durable support, while access to protection and asylum is ensured and maintained for all people seeking safety at Polands borders.

In Poland, UNHCR has been working with national authorities, local administrations, municipalities and civil society on refugee and asylum issues.

In response to the current Ukrainian refugee situation, UNHCR is managing the Poland chapter of the Regional Refugee Response Plan and is working to strengthen reception capacities.

This undertaking will deploy funds raised by UNHCR and partners globally to support the country in areas ranging from shelter to education, basic needs, water and sanitation, child protection and gender-based violence. Projects will be implemented through more than 50 NGO and humanitarian partners  largely national actors  in all parts of the country.

Together with partners and in close cooperation with the authorities, UNHCR is also rolling out a cash support programme in the country worth over US$190 million to help tide refugees over in meeting their basic needs until they are able to draw support from the state.

At the Ukraine border, UNHCR has been working with partners and adding staff to help support volunteers and reception centres with information provision, protection training and specialized interventions.

UNHCRs work in Poland has also focused on moving essential life-saving items to Ukraine.

We are fully aware of the strains that this huge welcome operation is creating in Poland, and thats why were ready to work hand in hand with the local authorities, municipalities and civil society as long as we are needed, said Goyer.

Polish authorities have been warning that many parts of the country are close to capacity in their ability to accommodate many more refugees. UNHCR welcomes the commitment by communes further from the border who are offering accommodation. UNHCR encourages refugees to make use of this and inquire about options further inside the country, and also outside big cities.

Among the two million people who have entered Poland from Ukraine, some have moved on to other countries in the EU, although the majority are believed to be still in Poland.

The overall number of refugees who have left Ukraine to neighbouring countries from 24 February onwards is estimated at over 3.2 million.

Media contact:

In Warsaw, Poland:

Rafa Kostrzynski, +48 788 224 010, [email protected]

Andreas KIRCHHOF, +48 732 714 322, [email protected]
 UNHCR

Dushanbe  Concluding a two-day visit to Tajikistan, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called on the international community to redouble its support for Afghan refugees in Tajikistan and throughout the region.

In Dushanbe, Grandi was received by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. They discussed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the international protection needs of asylum-seekers and refugees. Grandi commended the Government for its generosity in hosting refugees for almost three decades and called for expanded support for long staying and new Afghan refugees.

Despite the many crises in the world, it is critical that the international community not neglect the needs of Afghan refugees, including here in Tajikistan, he said.

The High Commissioner also met with the Ministers of Foreign and Internal Affairs. Grandi expressed his appreciation for their cooperation and underlined the important role Tajikistan plays in ensuring international protection for people forced to flee.

To this end, Grandi welcomed the resumption of the Governments comprehensive registration of asylum seekers in order to determine their refugee status, and pledged UNHCRs full support to the Government in this area.

In addition to the meetings with officials, Grandi visited the Balkhi refugee settlement, near the Tajik-Afghan border in Khatlon province, with the Chairman of the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense. The settlement was recently established by the Tajik authorities, with support of the international community, as part of its emergency preparedness measures, and is ready to receive any new asylum seekers from Afghanistan.

Grandi also met with the refugee community in Vahdat city, which hosts three quarters of refugees in the country. He learned about their experiences of living in Tajikistan, including the challenges that have emanated from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.

The Afghans I met today demonstrated the extraordinary potential of refugees. They were young, talented, and full of energy and drive. It is now up to the international community and the host Government to provide them with the space and the opportunity they need so that they can make the most of their potential, said Grandi.

There are nearly 14,000 refugees and asylum-seekers living in Tajikistan.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Germany offers Ukrainians a kindness not always seen with other refugees
I wish the 58% of Russians supporting Putin could have met my Russian-born mom
University of Chicago researcher Xiaoyang Wu shows items in the tissue culture lab at the U. of C. Gordon Center for Integrative Science on March 3, 2022. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS)


(Photo : Mitch Zelman)

As a high school senior, the future can seem like a daunting and scary place. There are so many unknowns and decisions to make, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. One of the most important things you can do during this time is to start thinking about how you're going to pay for college. Tuition rates are only going up, and unless you have wealthy parents or scholarships, it's likely that you'll need to take out loans to cover the cost.

Taking out loans to help pay for college is not always the best option, especially when there are scholarships available. Not only do scholarships save students money when they go to school, but they can also help them get one step closer to achieving their educational and professional dreams.

As high school seniors across the country begin to prepare for college, one of the most important decisions they will make is how to finance their education. While there are many ways to pay for school, scholarships are often the best option, and they should be a top priority for any student looking to reduce their tuition bill.

In this blog post, Mitch Zelman discusses the importance of scholarships and why they should be a top priority when looking to pay for school. So if you're a high school senior who's trying to figure out how to cut off tuition costs, continue reading to learn more about scholarships and how they can help you achieve your dreams of getting into the college of your choice!

Who Can Earn A Scholarship?

Before we go any further, it's important to discuss who can actually earn a scholarship. In other words, what types of students are typically eligible for scholarships?

School-related scholarships tend to focus on one general criterion: academic achievement. Therefore, if you are a high school senior who is interested in earning scholarship money to help pay for college, your main goal should be to work hard and get good grades!

On the other hand, if you're still wondering whether or not you can earn scholarship money despite your low GPA, it's important to know that there are plenty of scholarships out there for students with lower GPAs. In fact, some scholarship websites offer GPA-specific scholarships that can give students with a certain GPA or lower a chance to earn money for school.

In addition, Mitchel Zelman says that the people who create each scholarship also usually determine eligibility criteria. For example, if you want to earn a scholarship specifically for Hispanic students who plan on studying finance in college, the organization will likely ask applicants about their ethnicity and major. So keep this in mind while you're applying for scholarships and do your best to follow each application's guidelines!

Reduce the Amount of Student Loan Debt

Taking out loans to finance your education can be a risky move, especially if you're not sure how you will repay them. In fact, the average student loan debt in the United States is over $39,351! So if you're like most students and don't want to graduate college with a large amount of debt, it's important to start looking for scholarships as early as possible.

And remember, even if you don't have the best grades or aren't a perfect fit for every scholarship you apply to, it's important to keep applying. Scholarship money can be a lifesaver for high school seniors, so don't give up just because you don't think you're eligible!

Get Into the College of Your Choice

One of the best things about scholarships is that they can help you get into the college of your choice. In fact, many scholarships are specifically designed to help students pay for tuition at specific schools.

For example, if you're looking to attend a prestigious university like Harvard or Yale, there are plenty of scholarships available that can help you cover the cost of tuition. So if you have your heart set on a certain school, be sure to do some research on the scholarships that are available to students in your situation!

In addition, there are also scholarships available for students who want to transfer schools. For example, if you're a junior or senior in high school and you want to transfer to a different college, there are scholarships available that can help you pay for the move.

Better Focus on Education

When you don't have to worry about how you're going to pay for school, you can focus more on your education. A study found that students who received scholarship money had a higher GPA than those who didn't. However, this isn't to say that you should only focus on getting scholarships and forget about your other responsibilities.

Rather, receiving a scholarship should be seen as an incentive to work harder in school and get good grades. After all, the better you do in high school, the more scholarship money you will be eligible for!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to earn free money for school! Start your scholarship search early and apply to as many scholarships as you can. A good education is one of the most important investments you can make, so don't let the cost keep you from achieving your dreams.
Tokyo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2022 ) :Japanese actor Akira Takarada, who starred in the original 1954 "Godzilla" and several later films featuring the city-wrecking monster, has died in Tokyo aged 87.

Takarada, who appeared at the premiere of his latest film earlier this month, passed away in hospital having contracted pneumonia, Japanese media reported Friday.

"We are saddened to hear of the passing of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many Godzilla fans," said a tweet posted by the official account of the Godzilla franchise.

Takarada quickly rose to stardom after playing the lead role of a heroic ship's captain in the first "Godzilla", a movie that resonated in Japan as a walking, radiation-breathing analogy for nuclear disaster.

Just nine years earlier, the country had suffered the world's first, and still only, atomic bomb attacks at the hands of the United States in the closing days of World War II.

Takarada also played a small role in "The End of Summer", a 1961 film by cinematic master Yasujiro Ozu about a sake-brewing family in Kyoto.

The actor became popular in Asia around the same time, having appeared in joint Japan-Hong Kong productions with the actress Lucilla Yu Ming, and went on to star in many Japanese films and tv series.

Takarada was born in 1934 on the Korean peninsula and grew up in the Chinese province of Manchuria, then a Japanese colony. He was known for speaking some Mandarin.

Just after Japan's defeat in 1945, he was shot in the stomach by a Soviet soldier and severely wounded.

"I still remember the sound of (a doctor) cutting my body while I was half-fainting" to remove the bullet without anaesthesia, he told news agency Jiji Press.

He later became an anti-war advocate and said he believed "the greatest sin committed by man is war".

"We should no longer be losing lives in the name of war. There's no reason or intelligence in war. We create a world of madness," he told Jiji.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Lima, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2022 ) :Peru's constitutional court on Thursday ordered the release of disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity, a judicial source said.

The court reinstated a "humanitarian pardon" given to the 83-year-old in December 2017 that was subsequently revoked in October 2018, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The court's decisions cannot be appealed and the source said Fujimori should be released within a few days.

Fujimori, who was president from 1990 to 2000, is serving the 25-year sentence for two massacres committed by army death squads in 1991 and 1992, in which 25 people, including a child, were killed in supposed anti-terrorist operations.

Upon leaving office he fled into exile in Japan, where his parents were from.

But he was extradited back to Peru from Chile in 2007 and jailed, having been convicted in his absence.

The source said the vote on whether to release Fujimori was equally split three for and three against.

"The rules say that when it is a draw, the president's vote counts double," the source told AFP.

"It was a very open, very intense decision with two radically different positions" with regards whether to release Fujimori on health grounds, Eloy Espinosa, one of the six supreme court magistrates, told RPP radio station.

Espinosa said he voted against releasing the ex-leader.

The decision sparked outrage among many Peruvians.

Leftist President Pedro Castillo said the decision reflected Peru's "institutional crisis" and called on international courts to "safeguard the effective exercise of justice for the people.

" Carlos Rivera, a lawyer representing the families of the massacre victims, said he would petition the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to intervene "because Alberto Fujimori cannot benefit from a pardon." Former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori on Christmas Eve in 2017 for humanitarian reasons but that decision was overturned by the courts in October 2018 and three months later, Fujimori was sent back to prison.

"Returning to prison is a long and certain death sentence," Fujimori said at the time.

Fujimori has long suffered from ill health and on Monday returned to prison following 11 days in a clinic receiving treatment for an irregular heartbeat.

Kuczynski had resigned in March 2018 just days before he was expected to be impeached and has been held in pre-trial house arrest since April 2019, accused of corruption and money laundering.

Fujimori is the only inmate at the small Barbadillo jail at the barracks of the special operations police in eastern Lima.

There he grows flowers, paints and receives family visits.

His family has submitted several petitions to have him released on health grounds but those were all rejected.

His daughter, Keiko Fujimori, who has three times been defeated in a second round run-off for the presidency, said last year she would pardon her father if elected.

She was defeated in June by Castillo and now faces prosecution over accusations of illegal campaign funding in her failed 2011 and 2016 presidential bids.
(@FahadShabbir)

UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2022 ) :The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed the mandate of its mission in Afghanistan, which is ruled by the Taliban.

The one-year extension of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) received 14 votes from the 15-member body. Russia abstained.

In light of the rapidly evolving situation on the ground, the mission with now focus on coordinating the provision of humanitarian assistance, providing outreach and good offices for dialogue, and promoting good governance and the rule of law.

Other highlighted tasks included promoting human rights, supporting and promoting gender equality and monitoring, reporting and advocating with regard to the situation for civilians.

Through the text, members also called on Afghan political actors and stakeholders  including relevant authorities as needed  to coordinate with UNAMA in implementing its mandate and ensuring the safety, security and freedom of staff movements.

Following the adoption, Norway Ambassador Mona Juul, "penholder" of the resolution, said the text sends "a clear message" that the Council stands firmly behind the Afghan people at a time of unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.

She added the resolution asks UNAMA to engage with all Afghan actors, including the Taliban, on matters relevant to the country's people.

It also strengthens the Mission's activities in promoting women's rights and their participation in public life.

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the Council "spoke with one voice" in support of UNAMA and its crucial role.

However, raising concern over the actions of Afghanistan's de facto Taliban authorities, she cited reports of reprisals against former Government officials and attacks and intimidation against members of minority groups and civil society.

"The Taliban need to demonstrate that extremist groups are no longer able to flourish in the country," she said, expressing regret that one Council member decided to abstain in today's vote, just when the country's people most need support.

Explaining his country's position, Russian Ambassador Vassily A. Nebenzia said that he was compelled to abstain as attempts to secure consent from the host country for a UN presence were ignored.

Warning against continuing down the path of "stubborn ignorance" and the pursuit of irrelevant approaches, he stressed that more support from the de facto authorities would help UNAMA achieve its mandate and avoid turning it into a "UN mission impossible." Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said that since the events of last August, Afghanistan has entered a new phase of peaceful reconstruction.

He upheld economic recovery as the most urgent task facing the country now, stressing that it should be a top priority for UNAMA.

Moreover, the global community should adhere to Afghan-led and Afghan-owned principles, combat terrorism in all its forms and restore economic development.

"We still have many doubts as to whether the tasks laid out in this mandate are appropriate," he said, noting that the situation is still rapidly evolving and calling for the flexibility needed to make mandate changes at any time.
(@FahadShabbir)

The 5th Sindh Literature Festival (SLF) will have sessions in Sindhi and Urdu languages, is scheduled to be held on on March 18 at 4:30 pm, here at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP).

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2022 ) :The 5th Sindh Literature Festival (SLF) will have sessions in Sindhi and urdu languages, is scheduled to be held on on March 18 at 4:30 pm, here at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP).

This was announced in a joint press conference by President ACP Muhammad Ahmad Shah, Writer Noorul Huda Shah, Dr. Ayub Sheikh, Naseer Gopang and Zohaib Kaka at Hasina Moin Hall ACP here.

On the occasion, the opening ceremony of the three-day festival will be held at the ACP.

Ahmed Shah said that earlier this festival was held elsewhere and now it has come to our home and we are very happy that we are the partners of this festival.

While talking to the media, well-known writer Noor ul Huda Shah said it was started in difficult and unfavorable conditions.

It is going to be good work and it has to face criticism, she said.

This is the only way for evolution to run this country," Naseer Gopang, organizer of SLF said that SLF is working to bring people together, this year's theme is Moin Jo Daroo, Moin Jo Daroo is hundred years old, he said.

Dr. Ayub Sheikh said that there were many difficulties in organizing this festival but the Arts Council has opened its doors, Arts Council has become so big that now we are all doing programmes here, this is good news, Sindh Literature Festival is a five-year-old child, now all our institutions and programmes cannot be complete without young people, especially women.
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2022 ) :Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Nadeem Raza, who is on official visit to Germany and Switzerland called on Chief of the Defence Forces, Germany General Eberhard ZORN.

During the meeting, matters of bilateral professional interest including further strengthening of security and defence cooperation between the two countries was brought into discussion, said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release here received.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together for peace, security and stability in the region particularly in Afghanistan.

CJCSC during his visit of Germany also visited German Infantry school at Hammelburg and Center for Internal Leadership at Kolbenz where he was briefed about the mandate and curriculum of the institutes.

Earlier, upon arrival at German Ministry of Defence a smartly turned out contingent presented 'Guard of Honour' to the CJCSC.

Later, General Nadeem Raza visited Switzerland where he called on Chief of Swiss Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Thomas SUSSLI.

The CJCSC reviewed the full gamut of bilateral defence relations and exchanged views on global and regional security environment and enhanced military and defence cooperation between the two Armed Forces.

The CJCSC also visited Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP). GCSP is an international foundation that provides executive education and training in comprehensive international peace and security policy.

During the visit of the center, General Nadeem Raza highlighted the security perspective of Pakistan on geo-strategic situation of the region with emphasis on Afghanistan. The General emphasized upon the need for reconciliation within Afghanistan for regional peace and security.
(@FahadShabbir)

Pakistan Friday categorically rejected the unwarranted and gratuitous remarks made by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent event, questioning the partition and location of Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2022 ) :Pakistan Friday categorically rejected the unwarranted and gratuitous remarks made by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent event, questioning the partition and location of Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson, in a statement, said Pakistan also reiterated its serious concern over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership's increasing tendency of dragging Pakistan into its domestic affairs.

"It is deeply regrettable that distortion of historical facts has become the hallmark of the BJP government along with its ideological fountainhead RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). The resort to such delusional thinking by the Indian leadership has been strikingly frequent over the last couple of months in the wake of the elections in several states in India. Recently, the Indian prime minister also made similar remarks questioning well-established historical facts.

Clearly, such denial mentality or revisionism can neither change historical facts nor the established realities."It was also worth remembering that it was Pakistan which had brought to fruition the idea of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Corridor, while India kept dragging its feet, and completed the project in record time as a gift to the Sikh community in India and worldwide, he added.

The spokesperson said the Indian government would be best served if it shed obsession about Pakistan and not divert attention of the international community from the issues of rapid marginalization and stigmatization of minorities, especially the Muslims, and egregious human rights violations and brutal military siege of innocent Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIJOK).
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has said that overseas Pakistanis should be given representation in the National Assembly through reserved seats to acknowledge their contributions towards national economy

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2022 ) :Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has said that overseas Pakistanis should be given representation in the National Assembly through reserved seats to acknowledge their contributions towards national economy.

Addressing "Overseas Pakistanis Convention" at the Governor's House, he said the overseas Pakistanis send 30 billion rupees annually to the country and they are an asset for the country.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Makhdoom Tariq, Advisor to Governor Punjab on Overseas Affairs Farooq Arshad and a large number of overseas Pakistanis from all over the world including United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Saudi Arabia attended the convention, says a press release issued here on Thursday.

The Governor Punjab said the initiative of digital portal for the overseas Pakistanis is a testament of love from Pakistan Tareek-e-Insaf (PTI), adding that the Overseas Pakistanis have also become the part of democracy.

He said the PTI government is working towards eliminating political interference from all institutions. He said special judges are working in the subordinate judiciary along with the Lahore High Court (LHC) to solve the cases of overseas Pakistanis, adding that the cases of overseas Pakistanis are being decided in months, not years.

Sarwar said the PTI government is taking measures to provide maximum facilities to overseas Pakistanis and the government has also launched digital portal to facilitate overseas Pakistanis.

He said the acquiring Power of Attorney has been a big problem for Pakistanis abroad but PTI government has solved it, adding that online verification and issuance of Power of Attorney will benefit thousands of Pakistanis abroad. Overseas Pakistanis are hard working and the country is running on their remittances, he added.

Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said there is no doubt that Overseas Pakistanis value the country more and they want the country to develop. He said the overseas Pakistanis are the most patriotic.

He said in the past, instead of creating facilities for Pakistanis living abroad, difficulties were exacerbated but the PTI government has provided relief and facilities to the overseas Pakistanis due to which they are investing more in Pakistan. He said the present government is committed to provide all facilities to the overseas Pakistanis.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar further said for the first time in Pakistan, real work is being done to strengthen the institutions. He said all political and religious parties must play their positive role in tackling the challenges that Pakistan is facing.

He said the PTI government has fulfilled its promise to give the right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis, adding that in a democracy, the performance of a government can be tested through vote.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2022 ) :Speakers at a webinar hosted by Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) in collaboration with World Muslim Conference have expressed their grave concerns over the rising cases of reprisals against Kashmir based rights activist who have been directly or indirectly engaged with the UN and other international organizations on human rights issues.

The webinar titled "Reprisals against Rights Defenders" was held as a sideline event on the occasion of 39th session of the UNHCR, said a press release.

The event was attended and addressed by prominent human rights activists, international law experts, academicians from different parts of the world including Prof. Alfred DE Zayas former UN independent expert, Amb. Dr. Haissam Bou Said, Amb. Dr. M Shahid Amin, Amb. Dr. Tivlumun, prof. Dr. Mehmet Sukru, Duke Salman Khan, and Dr. Shugufta Ashraf. The webinar was moderated by the KIIR chairman Altaf Hussain Wani.

In his initial remarks the KIIR chairman said that Indian occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an alarming increase in the cases of intimidation and reprisals against journalists and members of civil society especially the rights activists who have played significant role in documenting human rights violations being committed by the Indian forces.

He said that apart from intimidation and police reprisals the rights defenders have been arrested on trumped up charges as part of the government's crackdown on the human rights and civil society groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting the woeful plight of Kashmiri human rights defenders, Wani said that rights defenders along with their families were living in a heightened fear of being killed, harassed and humiliated just for documenting brutalities and human rights violations committed by the Indian forces in Kashmir.

The panelists on the occasion pointed out that since 2019, the Kashmir valley has witnessed an uptick in the incidents of police reprisals and assaults on human rights activists. "They (rights activists) have faced police interrogation, raids, threats, physical assault, or fabricated criminal cases for defending human rights in the region", they said adding that the notorious investigation agency - the NIA has been assigned a special task by the Modi government to carry on its witch-hunt against rights defenders.

Referring to a massive crackdown against human rights activists, the speakers maintained that it was disturbing to see that the offices and residences of the valley based human rights activists who have been cooperating with international human rights watchdogs since 1990 were raided by the NIA.

These raids, they said, were part of the BJP government's official policy to enable complete silence on Kashmir by eliminating critical voices, who have time and again raised alarm over the stepped-up human rights violations, reckless violence and systematic genocide of Kashmir at the hands of Indian army.

While condemning the arrest of prominent Kashmiri human rights activist Mr. Khuram Parvez, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo under infamous Act- the UAPA, they said, instead of addressing the pressing human rights problems the Indian government were hell bent on crushing peaceful criticism and calls for accountability.

Terming Khuram Parvaiz and Ahsan Untoo as fearless defenders of human rights, the panelists said that the duo had played a vital role in documenting human rights in the region. "They are being victimized just for standing up for the rights of common Kashmiris and their only crime is speaking truth to the power", they said adding that the NIA raid on the office of the APDP Chairperson Perveena Ahanger was part of the government's policy to coerce her into submission.

They said that besides arresting rights defenders, the NIA had raided the office of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, offices of the JK Yateem Foundation and other media houses to crush dissent in the region.

They said that using authoritarian tactics against outspoken critics speak volumes of India's apartheid regime's crooked mindset and its belligerent policies towards Kashmiris. "These acts of harassment aimed at punishing and intimidating groups and individuals for their human rights activities, must stop", they said adding that using authoritarian tactics to silence rights defenders and creating hurdles in their work was a flagrant violation of international law.

Expressing their grave concerns about the safety and security of JKCCS chief Khuram Parvaiz and Mr. Untoo, the panelists while demanding their early release said that the duo were at the grave risk of being tortured in jail.

The panelists also appealed to the world human rights bodies urging them to influence the government of India to stop threats, harassment, intimidation and attacks against rights defenders working in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Researchers from Australia's James Cook University (JCU) have discovered that brightly colored fish communities are becoming increasingly rare as their coral reef habitats decline and lose their color

SYDNEY, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2022 ) :Researchers from Australia's James Cook University (JCU) have discovered that brightly colored fish communities are becoming increasingly rare as their coral reef habitats decline and lose their color.

The findings of the study, published in the Global Change Biology journal and released to the public on Thursday, came from a JCU research station based on Orpheus Island off the coast of far north Queensland.

Lead researcher Christopher Hemingson from JCU's Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, told Xinhua the study compared observations with 27 years of detailed data from the reef.

"I was able to take photographs of these fishes, and then pair it with this long-term data to track how the coloration of the reef has changed through time. " What he and his team found was that the color of the fish that inhabited each patch of the reef would decline as the reef did.

"What we found is that actually, the brightly colored fish species are actually just going away," said Hemingson.

"So, either they're dying off or they're not producing young for whatever reason, or they're not actually coming back and are actually being replaced by different species of reef fish.

" Hemingson added that this was likely due to colorful fish losing their competitive advantage when reefs lose their color.

"Brightly colored fishes against a really dull, gungy reef stand out a lot more and most likely will have a higher chance of being consumed by predators and things like that." He said that this relationship was particularly pronounced during times of rapid decline or coral bleaching -- he pointed to a major coral bleaching event in 1988 which prompted a massive decline in brightly colored fish in the following years.

Hemingson hoped the research would highlight the huge cultural and ecological value of both these brightly colored fish and the equally colorful coral that ensures their survival.

"I think it's sort of this first step that shows this is changing, we found evidence that it's changing, and it's probably worth looking into, because a lot of people value reefs for, for this really cool, colorful property."
An Italian appeals court on Thursday reduced the sentences given to two young US men convicted of killing a police officer in Rome in a case that shocked the country

Rome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Mar, 2022 ) :An Italian appeals court on Thursday reduced the sentences given to two young US men convicted of killing a police officer in Rome in a case that shocked the country.

Finnegan Elder and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth were sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2021, for killing policeman Mario Cerciello Rega in a drugs bust gone wrong two years earlier. They were aged 19 and 18 at the time.

Following an appeal, their sentences were reduced Thursday to 24 years behind bars for Elder, who wielded the weapon, and 22 years for Natale-Hjorth.

Their life sentences would have meant at least 26 years in jail.

"Scrapping the life sentences was the right thing to do, but it's not enough," Elder's lawyer Roberto Capra told AFP.

"We proved the defence's version of the facts to be flawed, and we'll appeal again." Elder admits to stabbing Cerciello with an 11-inch knife on a dark street in the Italian capital, but says he acted in self-defence after believing he was being attacked by dangerous drug dealers.

The prosecution says the officers were in plain clothes but identified themselves as police.

- 'Extreme cruelty' - Deputy Prosecutor Vincenzo Saveriano called in February for the appeals court to uphold the life sentence for Elder, describing the crime as an act "of extreme cruelty".

But he asked to lower the sentence of Natale-Hjorth, who hid the weapon after the attack but played no part in stabbing Cerciello.

At the moment the fatal stabbing took place, Natale-Hjorth had been tussling on the ground with Cerciello's partner Andrea Varriale -- the prosecution's star witness.

Elder's father was in court for the verdict, along with Natale-Hjorth's uncle.

The murder of Cerciello, who was newly married, scandalised Italy while also raising doubts about police conduct.

Lawyers for the Americans had sharply criticised the life sentences -- Italy's stiffest penalty -- saying they were harsher than many given for premeditated killings by mafia members.

- 'Expecting a drug dealer' - The evening of the attack began with a botched attempt by the Americans to buy drugs.

They later went to meet someone they expected to be a go-between on the failed deal -- but police showed up instead.

Varriale testified that the two teens set upon him and Cerciello immediately after the officers showed their badges, an account the defendants deny.

"We were expecting a drug dealer," Elder was quoted as saying in a statement by his lawyers this month.

"There was no way I could have known he was a police officer: in street clothes, unarmed and without a badge." The defence says the first instance court ignored substantial evidence that the then-teenagers' version of events was correct, and insists police protocol was repeatedly broken.

The court, Capra said last week, had refused to question the "credibility and behaviour of a law enforcement officer" -- despite inconsistencies in Varriale's story.

Elder stabbed Cerciello in an instinctive response to the "blocking technique" used by Cerciello, who "pinned him to the ground, exerting pressure on his neck and blocking his airway," Capra said.

The prosecution said Cerciello had been wounded 11 times in a frenzied 20 seconds.

Deputy Prosecutor Saveriano acknowledged Varriale had admitted lying following the attack, but said it was "a big leap" to then consider him an unreliable witness.
Refugees from Ukraine are seen as they arrive at the Polish-Slovakian border crossing in Kroscienko, Poland (AFP or licensors)

Pope Francis writes to the Archbishop of Vilnius and President of the CCEE to mark the opening of the European Catholic Social Days, and highlights the importance of protecting, accompanying and integrating as European countries accept so many vulnerable people fleeing war.

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis welcomed the opening of the European Catholic Social Days - being held in Bratislava, Slovakia, from 17 to 20 March - with a letter to Archbishop Gintaras Grusas of Vilnius, Presidedent of the Council of the Conference of European Bishops, (in latin Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae, CCEE).

The Pope noted that to mark the third event of its kind, which is organised by the CCEE together with the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Slovakian Bishops' Conference "I would like to address my cordial greetings to you, dear Brother, and to all the participants".

The tragedy of war

Pope Francis immediately turned his attention to "the tragedy of the war taking place in the heart of Europe", noting that it is not what we had hoped for after the difficult health emergency caused by the pandemic. Now, he continued, we are left "astonished", as we are reminded of scenes from the great wars of the last century, scenes that "we never thought we would see again".

As a community of believers, the Pope noted that "the heart-rending cry for help from our Ukrainian brothers and sisters urges us not only to reflect seriously, but to weep with them and to do something for them".

Once again humanity is threatened by a perverse abuse of power and vested interests, which condemns defenseless people to suffer all forms of brutal violence.

The Pope then thanked the country's bishops for their prompt response "in coming to the aid of that population, guaranteeing it material aid, shelter and hospitality".

The title

Pope Francis then turned his attention to the title chosen for the days being celebrated: Europe beyond the pandemic: a new beginning. He noted that it invites us to reflect on the transitioning taking place in European society. This time, still affected by the pandemic, has brought about significant social, economic, cultural and even ecclesial changes. "In this situation marked by suffering", noted the Pope, "fears have grown, poverty has increased and loneliness has multiplied; while many have lost their jobs and are living precariously, the way of relating to others has changed for everyone".

We cannot stand idly by, stressed the Pope. As Christians and as European citizens, we are called to courageously implement "the common good of our European homelands, of our homeland Europe". Yes, he continued, Europe and the nations that make it up are not opposed to each other, and building the future does not mean unifying, but uniting even more in respect for diversity".

The logo

Finally, Pope Francis turned to the logo that has been chosen for these days: that of St Martin of Tours cutting his cloak in two to give it to a poor man. "It reminds us that love is concrete proximity, sharing, care for others", said the Pope adding that "those who love overcome fear and mistrust towards those who come to our borders in search of a better life: if welcoming, protecting, accompanying and integrating so many brothers and sisters fleeing from conflict, famine and poverty is right and human, it is even more Christian".

Finally, the Pope noted that the walls which are still present in Europe, "should be transformed into gateways to its heritage of history, faith, art and culture; dialogue and social friendship should be promoted, so that human coexistence based on fraternity may grow".
As Vietnam transforms into a global manufacturing hub, it has emerged as an effective relocation destination also known as the China+1 strategy.

Upbeat growth projections are set for the countrys import-export business as the global economy resumes.

Vietnam Briefing highlights gives an overview of the industries primed for import and export activities.

With its rising costs, China is no longer the go-to destination for many businesses, and Vietnam has arisen as a serious competitor. Recent trends show that the number of orders shifting from China to Vietnam has seen a significant increase.

For example, Chinas Pearl River Delta, long known as one of the key factory centers for the worlds manufacturers (particularly those from Hong Kong) has now become too costly for many companies to stay in the region.

In the past few years, a growing number of businesses have relocated their operations from China to Vietnam in an attempt to escape rising costs and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Given the recent trade war between China and the US, alongside Vietnams recent free trade agreements such as the RCEP, the EVFTA, and the UKVFTA the country is steadily becoming more open to international trade and investment.

Located in a strategic position for foreign companies with operations throughout Southeast Asia, Vietnam is an ideal export hub to reach other ASEAN markets.

Compared with other developing markets in the region, Vietnam is emerging as the clear leader in low-cost manufacturing and sourcing, with the countrys manufacturing sector accounting for 25 percent of the countrys total GDP in 2021.

Currently, labor costs in Vietnam are approximately 50 percent of those in China at US$2.99 per hour compared to US$6.50 per hour respectively, and around 40 percent of those reported in Thailand and the Philippines. With the countrys workforce growing annually, Vietnamese workers are comparatively inexpensive, young, and, increasingly, highly skilled.

Another driving force behind Vietnams growing popularity is the countrys collection of free trade agreements.

The RCEP, which came into force on January 1, 2022, has also fostered the entry of goods exported in and out of Vietnam as it reduces cost, improves market access as well as offers streamlined customs procedures.

In terms of regulatory and financial incentives, Vietnam has become increasingly investor-friendly in recent years the government has taken such actions as reforming its financial sector, streamlining business regulations, and improving the quality of its workforce.

Since the mid-2000s, the Vietnamese government has offered extremely competitive financial incentives to businesses seeking to set up operations in the country, in addition to a zero percent withholding tax on dividends remitted overseas and a low corporate income tax (CIT) rate of 20 percent. These advantages have enabled Vietnam to become a premier sourcing economy in the eyes of many companies.

Current state of Vietnams economy

Vietnam is seeing strong growth on multiple fronts. Of particular interest to investors has been the continuing growth of Vietnams domestic consumer market, which has been developing by leaps and bounds.

This growth is expected to continue for some time to come  domestic consumption is predicted to increase at a rate of 20 percent per year. With a population of over 97 million and Southeast Asias fastest-growing middle class, Vietnam clearly represents an important market for foreign goods. Compared to 2017, the US has overtaken China for being the largest export market for Vietnam.

Export Markets Export Value (2021) US US$96.3 billion China US$56 billion South Korea US$22 billion Japan US$20.1 billion Hong Kong US$12 billion

Import Markets Import Value (2021) China US$109.9 billion South Korea US$56.2 billion Japan US$22.7 billion Taiwan US$20.8 billion US US$15.3 billion

Source: General Statistics Office

Industry Snapshots

While Vietnam is widely known for being a prime location for investors operating in the textile industry, there are many other business areas that are seeing significant growth in the country. Interestingly, Vietnam is well on its way to becoming a key location for high-technology manufacturing, with companies like Samsung, LG Electronics, Nokia, and Intel making multi-billion dollar investments into the country. Other business areas include information and communications technology, automotive, and medical devices.

Bilateral trade between Vietnam and the US hit a new record high in 2021, with a total of US$111.56 billion, up nearly US$21 billion year-on-year as per the General Department of Customs.

The US also had the second-highest import-export turnover with Vietnam at US$100 billion, followed by China.

Top Exports Export Value (2021) Phones US$57.5 billion Electronic goods/Computers US$50.8 billion Machinery US$38.3 billion Textiles US$32.8 billion Footwear US$17.8 billion

Top Imports Import Value (2021) Electronic goods/Computers US$75.4 billion Machinery US$46.3 billion Phones US$21.4 billion Fabrics US$14.3 billion Plastics (in primary form) US$11.7 billion



Textiles and Garments

Textiles consistently rank among Vietnams leading export industries, with over 6000 textiles and garments manufacturing companies, employing upwards of 2.5 million workers. The growth of the garment industry has been impressive and plays an important role in the economic growth of the country. In 2020, Vietnam surpassed Bangladesh to become the worlds second largest exporter of ready made garments (RMG). Further, the industry had an export market share of 7.05 percent in 2020, an increase from 5.54 percent of 2016.

China is the only nation that surpasses Vietnam in terms of net garment exports to the US. However, manufacturers and investors are pivoting towards Vietnam; the conditions for setting up shop are more economically convenient than doing so in China.

Within ASEAN, Vietnam is the strongest competitor for inheriting low value-added textiles and apparel manufacturing from China. In contrast to other leading textile exporters in the region (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia), the share of Vietnams textile exports against its total exports has grown in recent years.

Electronics

Vietnam has emerged as an important electronics exporter, with electrical and electronic products overtaking coffee, textiles, and rice to become the countrys top export item. Samsung is Vietnams largest exporter and has helped the country achieve a trade surplus for the first time in many years.

Exports of smartphones and computer parts now account for more in export earnings than oil and garments. Samsung has turned Vietnam into a global manufacturing base for its products, producing almost a third of the firms output. Samsung has invested over US$17.5 billion into the country as of 2021.

Samsung has also agreed to cooperate with the Vietnamese government in order to help develop the countrys domestic support industries. This represents a key business opportunity for foreign technology companies to set up operations in Vietnam and sell their components to companies like Samsung.

Pharmaceuticals

The future looks to be very interesting for the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam. Vietnams pharmaceutical market is projected to increase to US$7.7 billion in 2021 and US$16.1 billion in 2026. Driving this market growth is the Vietnamese governments goal of achieving universal health coverage, combined with a growing market of consumers who want accessible healthcare.

As per IQVIA (2021), as of 2020, the volume size for the industry was US$6.4 billion. Across the country, there are around 250 manufacturing factories, 200 import-export units, 4,300 wholesalers, and another 62,000 retailers catering to the pharmaceutical industry.

Automotive

Vietnam is becoming an important market for auto sales: the Vietnamese automobile market is expected to sell 1.7-1.85 million units by 2035. In the foreseeable future, an estimated 750,000-800,000 units are expected to be sold by 2025.

Although the nations rate of car ownership per capita is still much lower than other markets in Asia (only around 5.7 percent of Vietnamese households owned a car in 2020), Vietnam is still one of the countries with the fastest-growing purchasing power for personal cars over the past ten years. 9 percent of Vietnamese households are expected to own a car by 2025  equivalent to the current level of India and the Philippines. By 2030, car ownership will reach 30 percent. Tax reductions on imported cars and increased income are attributed to the growth.

Despite an increasingly competitive auto market throughout the ASEAN region, Vietnam has stated that it intends to work aggressively to build up its own domestic auto industry. Among the key reasons for this goal is that the auto industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs for locals and create a strong system of supporting industries.

Additionally, Vietnamese automakers, such as VinFast have also started launching some first automobile models to the foreign market, signaling a promising future of cars exported from Vietnam.

Coffee

Vietnam is currently, the worlds second-largest coffee exporter, behind only Brazil. In 2021, the export value for Vietnams coffee reached US$3.1 billion. The industry plays an important role in Vietnams agriculture economy and is an export oriented industry with more than 90 percent of production volume exported. To increase its value, the government has been promoting the shift from exporting beans to processed coffee.

Many experts believe that Vietnam has the potential to overtake Brazil due to its favorable climate conditions and lower-cost production.

E-commerce

Vietnam is quickly becoming a prime market for foreign investment in e-commerce activities. The countrys rapidly growing economy and middle class are, in turn, spawning a strong consumer culture and increasing levels of disposable income. The pandemic has accentuated the demand for electronic retail as delivery, ride-sharing, and e-wallets gradually become a norm for the Vietnamese, especially among the youth.

Vietnams e-commerce business increased by 18 percent to US$11.8 billion in 2020, making it the only country in Southeast Asia to observe double-digit growth during the pandemic. This opens a booming outlook for the countrys e-commerce growth.

Being a signatory to 13 FTAs, Vietnam also provides favorable conditions for investors to start a business in e-commerce with reduced or zero customs tariffs on commodities imported or exported from other countries.
Analysts say Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's priority for a planned meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, this weekend is finding new sources of funding, and repairing damaged ties with the West, as massive Chinese investments fade and the economic consequences of COVID-19 set in.

Cambodia is threatened by a potential debt trap because of Chinese development loans, according to Carl Shuster, visiting professor at Hawaii Pacific University, which, he said is forcing Hun Sen to reevaluate ties with the West, and Japan is a logical mediator.

Japan is beginning to assert itself, he said, adding, Good feelings towards Japan has, if you will, escalated because of China's behavior.

Hun Sen is awakened to the fact that China is not the safe partner that he thought it was, Schuster said, adding, I think he believes that if he can play Japanese investment off against China's, then that gives him the capacity to resist China's economic leverage.

Hun Sen is looking at it and he's looking at what I call 'the creeping advance of Chinese power' and I don't think he's reacting to right now. I think he's reacting to 10 years from now, he said, pointing to the benefits of decades of Japanese influence across the region.

Japan is Cambodia's top bilateral donor, accounting for 25% of outside aid over the last 10 years, totaling about $725 million. It has backed the Khmer Rouge tribunal, funded demining, built roads, bridges and ports and provided further assistance throughout the pandemic.

Hun Sen also wants backing for his year as Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair, including his push for negotiations with the junta in Myanmar, and he is sounding out support for his eldest son, Hun Manet, who is expected to replace him as prime minister after elections in July next year.

Schuster said a recent trip by Hun Manet to Japan had laid the groundwork for Kishida's visit and was an early indication of a reshaping in regional politics caused in part by the pandemic and a backlash over Chinese investments.

He doesn't want to be dominated by China, he said, referring to Hun Sen.

According to the Cambodian semiofficial news outlet Fresh News, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi praised Hun Manet as a visionary senior politician. The Japan Times, however, said he was told Japan wants next year's general election held in a democratic way.

Therein lies the rub.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party won every contested seat in 2018 elections after the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was barred from competing, upsetting pro-democracy groups that claimed the poll was rigged. Since then, hundreds of dissidents have been charged and jailed.

In response the European Union withdrew some trade benefits, and the United States has since imposed sanctions on Cambodian generals for corrupt practices involving Chinese mega projects.

Washington is also disturbed by Chinese developers who spent billions of dollars transforming Sihanoukville into a notorious a gambling metropolis while constructing a deep-water port.

Their operations have expanded north and 30 kilometers eastward with eight-lane highways encircling an international airport and the Ream Naval Base, which is also being upgraded by China. Nearby hills are being bulldozed and used as landfill for ocean reclamation along the coast.

In return for those investment dollars, Phnom Penh backed Beijing over issues such as the South China Sea and its model for a code of conduct, which has divided ASEAN.

Chinese developments have ground to halt with the pandemic, though. Sihanoukville is littered with closed casinos, half-built skyscrapers and empty apartment blocks, and there are no signs the Chinese will return, which analysts said had left Hun Sen out on a limb.

He's got a very good rapport with China, but Japan is very keen to go along with the U.S. and other Quad members to sap the influence of China and its Belt and Road Initiative, Bart Edes, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said.

I think it's just smart politics. I don't see it as a fundamental shift on his part, but why not curry relations with these two leading East Asian powers, Edes said, referring to Hun Sen.

Two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces ships docked at Ream Naval Base while Hun Sen has said the port at Sihanoukville will not become a Chinese debt trap like Sri Lanka, which could not pay for construction of the Hambantota port, and added Japan had brought shares and contributed financially to its $200 million construction.

That will matter to Kishida who will travel to India first and affirm with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific region as members -- along with Australia and the United States -- of the Quad, an alliance designed to curtail Chinese expansionism.

Kashida will then fly to Cambodia where Edes said, it's expected that he's going to press Hun Sen on support for the Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity but there'll also take up no doubt the economic and trade issues as well.

Cambodia, surprisingly given its Cold War ties with Moscow, has already answered that by cosponsoring this month's United Nations resolution condemning Russia's Ukraine invasion.

Analysts said that position is likely to remain and Kishida was expected to back continued negotiations between ASEAN and Myanmar.

Support for Hun Manet is not guaranteed and financial aid to counter waning Chinese interest is not a given, according to Schuster. Schuster said Cambodia has to improve its democratic record at home and decide how far it is prepared to back China abroad.

He added that Cambodia was considering a path already taken by the Philippines and Vietnam. Both, he said, began working more closely with Japan more than 20 years ago to counter China and their relationships now extend beyond economics and into security.

Now the way the Japanese work is just talking today doesn't mean it's going to happen tomorrow. It typically takes three to five years to get around to the decision, he said.
In the weeks before he ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to China for a meeting with President Xi Jinping in which they signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement aligning their countries in the ongoing struggle for global influence between Western democracies and rising authoritarian states.

Now, its not completely clear that China knew what it was getting into.

Three weeks after Xi put his name on the document declaring that friendship between Russia and China has no limits and no forbidden areas of cooperation, Putins invasion of Ukraine has turned Russia into an international pariah, facing devastating sanctions and condemnations from around the globe.

Diplomatic tightrope

For their part, Chinese diplomats have been attempting to walk a tightrope, making high-minded statements about the importance of peace and respect for other countries territorial integrity, while studiously avoiding any mention of the fact that it was Chinas close ally that launched the bloody war raging in Ukraine.

Writing in The Washington Post on Tuesday, Chinas ambassador to the U.S., Qin Gang, insisted that his country had been taken by surprise by the invasion. He sidestepped the question of whether Russia has requested weapons and other supplies from China, as a number of news outlets have reported.

Chinas position on Ukraine, he wrote, is that the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter must be fully observed; the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine, must be respected; 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.

Slight distancing

While China cant be said to have distanced itself from Russia over the invasion, the comments by its senior leaders have also fallen short of an endorsement of Putins actions. This may reflect a desire to maintain relations with Moscow without damaging Chinas reputation with the rest of the world, according to analysts.

This new partnership agreement that Putin and Xi signed on February 4 certainly raised the possibility as this war rages that China could be judged guilty by association, Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale Universitys Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, told VOA.

Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at the California-based RAND Corporation, told VOA in an email that a desire to maintain good relations with the West may affect Chinas willingness to provide assistance to Russia as the conflict continues.

I do not think China will change its pro-Russia stance any time soon, but it is likely to continue limiting how much help it provides Russia due to Beijings desire to maintain good relations with the West, which is far more important to Chinas economic development than Russia, he wrote.

Unexpected results

Experts say whether or not China knew what was coming in Ukraine, its leaders probably hoped Russias invasion would be over quickly.

Perhaps Beijing was hoping for a short, sharp action through which the Russian military would roll over Ukrainian forces and annex the eastern part of Ukraine in the same manner as it did in the Crimea in 2014, said Anthony Saich, a professor of international affairs and director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government.

In that scenario, Western outrage would have soon died down, and China would have continued undisturbed in its attempts to present a united front with Russia against a declining and divided West, he told VOA. The resistance of Ukrainian forces and its people has put an end to that illusion, and the Wests united and relatively strong response has changed the calculus.

Chinas leverage

Roach said China may have a better chance than any Western government at persuading Russia to change course.

China is in a unique position because of its partnership agreement with Russia to exercise leverage over Vladimir Putin, he said. That is considerably greater than the sanctions that have been imposed by the U.S. and the West.

Putin has not changed his military posture in response to unprecedented sanctions, and that's a source of enormous frustration in the West. But China has something that the West does not have, and that is the partnership and the support that comes from that partnership. Russia is a tiny economy, it cannot possibly support a massive conventional war against a country like Ukraine, and it doesn't have the wherewithal to do it.

Robert Ross, a professor of political science at Boston College and an associate of Harvards Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, said the United States could make the prospect of limiting support for Russia more attractive to China.

There needs to be some way for America to signal China that there will be some appreciation for Chinese restraint and that the Americans would take this into account as we go forward, because they (China) want to be sure that there is a value in cooperating with America, he said. This is the price Americans pay because now, we're asking for Chinas cooperation in the ongoing crisis.

VOA Mandarin Service reporters Si Yang and Lin Yang contributed to this story.
Several Russian missiles were targeted at a western Ukrainian area near Lvivs airport Friday.

The airport was not hit, according the Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy, but an aircraft repair facility was.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the attack near Lviv, which is about 80 kilometers from Ukraines border with Poland.

A large cloud of smoke could be seen in the area surrounding the airport.

Meanwhile, in Mariupol, survivors have begun to emerge from a theater in Mariupol that was hit by Russian missiles Wednesday.

Hundreds of people, including children, are believed to have taken refuge in The Drama Theater.

Satellite images of the site released by the Maxar space technology company showed the word "children" written in Russian on the pavement outside the theater as recently as Monday.

It is not yet clear how many people survived the attack.

Biden to speak with Xi

U.S. President Joe Biden has scheduled a rare telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday, a high-stakes conversation as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks the world for help fighting against a three-week Russian invasion.

China has played an increasingly important role in the conflict amid reports that Russia asked China for military assistance. The United States is providing the bulk of military assistance to Ukraine, with Biden announcing another $800 million defense package this week.

"We have made clear our deep concerns about China's alignment with Russia and the potential implications and consequences of that," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Friday's call, she said, "is an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands. There's been, of course, rhetorical support  or the absence of clear rhetoric and denunciation, or the absence of denunciation  by China of what Russia is doing. This flies in the face, of course, of everything China stands for, including the basic principles of the U.N. Charter, including the basic principles of respect for sovereignty of nations. And so the fact that China has not denounced what Russia is doing in and of itself speaks volumes."
Analysts say Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's priority for a planned meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, this weekend is finding new sources of funding, and repairing damaged ties with the West, as massive Chinese investments fade and the economic consequences of COVID-19 set in.

Cambodia is threatened by a potential debt trap because of Chinese development loans, according to Carl Shuster, visiting professor at Hawaii Pacific University, which, he said is forcing Hun Sen to reevaluate ties with the West, and Japan is a logical mediator.

"Japan is beginning to assert itself," he said, adding, "Good feelings towards Japan has, if you will, escalated because of China's behavior."

"Hun Sen is awakened to the fact that China is not the safe partner that he thought it was," Schuster said, adding, "I think he believes that if he can play Japanese investment off against China's, then that gives him the capacity to resist China's economic leverage.

"Hun Sen is looking at it and he's looking at what I call 'the creeping advance of Chinese power' and I don't think he's reacting to right now. I think he's reacting to 10 years from now," he said, pointing to the benefits of decades of Japanese influence across the region.

Japan is Cambodia's top bilateral donor, accounting for 25% of outside aid over the last 10 years, totaling about $725 million. It has backed the Khmer Rouge tribunal, funded demining, built roads, bridges and ports and provided further assistance throughout the pandemic.

Hun Sen also wants backing for his year as Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair, including for his push for negotiations with the junta in Myanmar, and he is sounding out support for his eldest son, Hun Manet, who is expected to replace him as prime minister after elections in July next year.

Schuster said a recent trip by Hun Manet to Japan had laid the groundwork for Kishida's visit and was an early indication of a reshaping in regional politics caused in part by the pandemic and a backlash over Chinese investments.

"He doesn't want to be dominated by China," he said, referring to Hun Sen.

According to the Cambodian semiofficial news outlet Fresh News, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi praised Hun Manet as a "visionary senior politician." The Japan Times, however, said he was told Japan wants next year's general election held in a democratic way.

Therein lies the rub.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party won every contested seat in 2018 elections after the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was barred from competing, upsetting pro-democracy groups that claimed the poll was rigged. Since then, hundreds of dissidents have been charged and jailed.

In response the European Union withdrew some trade benefits, and the United States has since imposed sanctions on Cambodian generals for corrupt practices involving Chinese mega projects.

Washington is also disturbed by Chinese developers who spent billions of dollars transforming Sihanoukville into a notorious a gambling metropolis while constructing a deep-water port.

Their operations have expanded north and 30 kilometers eastward with eight-lane highways encircling an international airport and the Ream Naval Base, which is also being upgraded by China. Nearby hills are being bulldozed and used as landfill for ocean reclamation along the coast.

In return for those investment dollars, Phnom Penh backed Beijing over issues such as the South China Sea and its model for a code of conduct, which has divided ASEAN.

Chinese developments have ground to halt with the pandemic, though. Sihanoukville is littered with closed casinos, half-built skyscrapers and empty apartment blocks, and there are no signs the Chinese will return, which analysts said had left Hun Sen out on a limb.

"He's got a very good rapport with China, but Japan is very keen to go along with the U.S. and other Quad members to sap the influence of China and its Belt and Road Initiative," Bart Edes, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said.

"I think it's just smart politics. I don't see it as a fundamental shift on his part, but why not curry relations with these two leading East Asian powers," Edes said, referring to Hun Sen.

Two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces ships docked at Ream Naval Base while Hun Sen has said the port at Sihanoukville will not become a Chinese debt trap "like Sri Lanka," which could not pay for construction of the Hambantota port, and added Japan had brought shares and contributed financially to its $200 million construction.

That will matter to Kishida who will travel to India first and affirm with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the pursuit of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region as members -- along with Australia and the United States -- of the Quad, an alliance designed to curtail Chinese expansionism.

Kashida will then fly to Cambodia where Edes said, "it's expected that he's going to press Hun Sen on support for the Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity but there'll also take up no doubt the economic and trade issues as well."

Cambodia, surprisingly given its Cold War ties with Moscow, has already answered that by cosponsoring this month's United Nations resolution condemning Russia's Ukraine invasion.

Analysts said that position is likely to remain and Kishida was expected to back continued negotiations between ASEAN and Myanmar.

Support for Hun Manet is not guaranteed and financial aid to counter waning Chinese interest is not a given, according to Schuster. Schuster said Cambodia has to improve its democratic record at home and decide how far it is prepared to back China abroad.

He added that Cambodia was considering a path already taken by the Philippines and Vietnam. Both, he said, began working more closely with Japan more than 20 years ago to counter China and their relationships now extend beyond economics and into security.

"Now the way the Japanese work is just talking today doesn't mean it's going to happen tomorrow. It typically takes three to five years to get around to the decision," he said.
In just three weeks, amid Russia's invasion, an estimated 3 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, including Poland where herculean efforts are underway to feed and care for the new arrivals. VOAs Myroslava Gongadze reports from Medyka, a Polish town along the border with Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Xi Jinping on Friday, warning the Chinese leader not to provide material support to Russias invasion of Ukraine, a day after Bidens top diplomat acknowledged that Washington believed Beijing is willing to provide such support.

The video call  the first conversation between the two leaders since the invasion  lasted almost two hours, according to the White House. In the call Biden detailed the potential implications and consequences should Beijing move to provide material support to Russia.

Administration officials refused to publicly detail what those consequences might be.

President Biden shared with President Xi a detailed review of how things have developed to this point, his assessment of the situation and President Biden underscored support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, a senior administration official told reporters in a briefing following the call.

The official declined to respond to VOAs question on whether Biden felt less or more optimistic about Beijings stance on Ukraine after his call with Xi.

The call was about making sure there is a direct, candid and detailed and very substantive conversation at the leader level, the official said.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed media reports from earlier this week that China may move to help Russia.

Were concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine, Blinken said in a briefing. He did not provide evidence of the allegation, which Moscow and Beijing have denied.

Meanwhile, according to a summary of the call released by Beijing, Xi assured Biden that his country didnt want a war in Ukraine.

President Xi pointed out that China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this, the statement said. All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue.

Beijing had previously said that claims alleging it is supporting Moscow are designed to shift blame.

Assertions that China knew about, acquiesced to or tacitly supported this war are purely disinformation, Qin Gang, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., stated in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post earlier this week.

Chinas official position on Moscows invasion has been to straddle both sides, neither fully supportive nor directly opposed. Beijing says it recognizes Ukraines sovereignty, while acknowledging that NATOs expansion has raised legitimate security concerns for Russia.

The White House would not confirm whether the U.S. is prepared to offer anything to entice Beijing to not assist Russia, including reduction of tariffs against Chinese goods that were placed by the Trump administration.

This is a conversation about where President Xi stands. Its up to the Chinese to decide where they want to stand, where they want to be as the history books are written, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told VOA.

What can China do?

Aside from providing military or economic support for Russias invasion, observers say China may become a backdoor to elude sanctions against Moscow or become a channel to smuggle goods to get around any Western export restrictions.

China is a big question mark here, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Heidi Crebo-Rediker told VOA.

If thats the case, Washington will likely move to punish Beijing. Officials have previously hinted that Beijing can be exposed to secondary sanctions. For example, the U.S. can prevent a Chinese semiconductor company from accessing American equipment and software if Washington discovered the company was violating U.S. export controls by selling chips to Russia.

However, any meaningful sanctions on China would also harm Western economic interests already under pressure from the current global supply chain crisis.

The administration would rather not have to take that step, said Stacie Goddard, Mildred Lane Kemper professor of Political Science at Wellesley College. They would rather convince China, if not to back off completely but at least to not aid Russia in any sort of significant way that allows Putin to escape the punch of the sanctions, Goddard told VOA.

China has criticized Western sanctions put in place by the U.S., the European Union, and other allies, saying it creates new problems and interferes with the political settlement of conflicts.

Eye on Taiwan

According to the Chinese readout of the call, Xi complained to Biden about a wrong signal sent by the U.S. to Taiwans independence forces.

In a show of force, hours before the Biden and Xi call, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, close to the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry as reported by Reuters.

The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier partly on its route, according to a Reuters source.

Last month, days after Putins invasion of Ukraine, the USS Ralph Johnson briefly crossed the straits median line. Beijing was irked by the move, which the U.S. 7th Fleet called a routine Taiwan Strait transit.

Chinese government media alleged that the U.S. move was designed to reassure Taiwanese separatists that Washington is committed to the islands security. Beijing considers the democratically governed island of Taiwan as a breakaway province.

Power moves aside, observers say Beijing has been surprised at the speed with which not only European allies, but also U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Japan, Australia and even Singapore have imposed sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

These countries in the region in many ways balance their interests between Washington and Beijing. Observers say that by sanctioning Moscow so quickly, these U.S. allies are sending a clear signal to Beijing that it should expect a unified and swift response to any Chinese incursion toward Taiwan or the South China Sea.

It might be one thing for China to expand its interest, but if it begins to show signs that it's not going to actually respect sovereign territoriality in the region, these states are going to very quickly act to band together to push back against China, Goddard said.

Global rivalry

Observers say that both the U.S. and China to varying degrees are looking at the Ukraine crisis in the framework of global rivalry between two superpowers in the long term.

China has viewed this entirely from the point of view of Cold War-style U.S.-China competition, said Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Woodrow Wilson Center. The United States is mostly concerned about Russia and Ukraine itself, but it has clearly been taking great pains to make sure that China is associated with Russia and tarred with the same brush, he told VOA.

Noting the current tensions between Washington and Beijing, observers are pessimistic the two powers can achieve an agreement on Ukraine. The two largest economies have failed to work together on global issues including combating COVID and climate change and alleviating the global supply chain crisis.

They are failing again and again and again, Daly said, underscoring that constant communication must be maintained for the two to understand where they can and cannot cooperate.

We are not going to be able to work out a manageable U.S.-China relationship if we only speak to each other when there are crises, he said.
Cameroon's government says calm is gradually returning to several towns in its English-speaking western regions after the military launched raids on separatist strongholds during the past month.

The military said troops carried out operations in many western towns and villages including Kumbo, Ndop, Wum, Bafut and Kom, with at least 20 separatist fighters were killed but no government troops were wounded.

General Valere Nka, the commander of Cameroonian troops fighting separatists in the English-speaking North-West region, said several hundred fighters escaped to villages along Cameroon's western border with Nigeria. He said troops have been deployed to stop fighters from stealing goods and money from merchants and cattle from ranchers in border localities.

"The president of the republic, President Paul Biya, commander in chief of the armed forces has sent the defense and security forces to protect you, not to kill you," Nka said during a visit to several border villages this week. "We need your total collaboration to better secure you."

The military did not say how many troops have been deployed or how long the troops are expected to stay along the border with Nigeria.

Nelson Bwei, a spokesperson for the Abba Village Development Committee, said a military post is needed in the village, which is on the border with Nigeria, to protect civilians from separatist fighters. He said hundreds of the fighters are hiding in the bush along the border, especially in Fungong district.

"Our children are facing harassment," he said. "Lower Fungong has no security post. The people there are exposed to insecurity. We plead to the general to create military units because we believe that if there is that military unit, it will beef up the security of the subdivision."

Bwei said the separatists have seized at least 90 cows from ranchers within three weeks. He said fighters have abducted at least 13 civilians for ransom, especially merchants doing business between Cameroon and Nigeria.

On social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, the separatists have denied the loss of 20 fighters. The separatists say their presence in border localities is a tactical withdrawal to prepare and face government troops. The fighters deny they are harassing civilians as the government claims and insist that they are out to protect English-speakers from Cameroon military brutality.

Cameroons military has always denied it abuses civilians rights.

Separatists have been fighting since 2017 to carve out an independent English-speaking state in majority French-speaking Cameroon. The crisis started when English-speaking teachers and lawyers protested the dominance of French in official government business and education. The government responded with a crackdown and separatists took up weapons.

The United Nations says at least 3,300 people have been killed with 750,000 internally displaced.
A Chinese navy ship stayed in the Sulu Sea southwest of the Philippines for three days, upsetting Manila. Experts say it is a part of Beijings effort to look after its interests in an ever-wider swath of the world's waterways.

A Peoples Liberation Army-Navy vessel worked the Sulu Sea from January 29 to February 1; according to a Monday statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, this was an illegal incursion.

The Electronic Reconnaissance Ship No. 792 entered Philippine waters without permission and stayed even after a Philippine navy ship challenged it, the statement says.

At a March 15 news conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the navy research vessel had carried out an exercise of the right of innocent passage pursuant to UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]. The Chinese passage was safe and standard, and consistent with international law and international practice.

The Chinese sides comment showed no immediate intent to do more in the Sulu Sea, said Herman Kraft, a political science professor at University of the Philippines Diliman.

Talking about innocent passage seems to be an excuse that recognizes Philippine jurisdiction over the area, Kraft told VOA.

Sulu Sea significance

Beijing is trying to expand the reach of its growing navy to protect its maritime interests and increase bargaining power in talks with other countries, analysts have told VOA. Chinese navy ships have been spotted from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific east of Taiwan and Japan.

A naval visit to the Sulu Sea could mean Beijing wants to establish a presence in waters closer to Indonesia and Australia while buffering its South China Sea claims, analysts suggest.

This could be China exploring a third access to Pacific, after Miyako and Bashi straits, said Yun Sun, co-director of the East Asia program at the Stimson Center in Washington. The two straits are near Taiwan. The U.S. apparently uses it often, so the Chinese might feel it could do the same, Sun said.

China has protested U.S. naval presence in Asia and has said that Washington is trying to check Chinese expansion.

The People's Liberation Army-Navy now has the ability to operate military assets as far off as Djibouti, said Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, in Hawaii. Like the United States, he said, China is free under international law to sail on the high seas, which are waters unclaimed by other nations.

The strategic perspective is that Chinese naval capability is growing, so China sooner or later will send out its warships to areas outside of the first island chain and even outside the second island chain, Vuving said. The first chain refers to the band from Russias Kirul Islands south to Borneo. The second includes Papua New Guinea, the Marianas and the Caroline Islands.

Chinas former President Hu Jintao called in 2012 for China to become a maritime power. President Xi Jinping, in 2018, said it was urgent that China build a powerful navy. A year later, the countrys defense white paper said China needed to carry out missions on the far seas.

Chinas navy is viewed as posing a major challenge to the U.S. Navys ability to achieve and maintain wartime control of blue-water ocean areas in the Western Pacific  the first such challenge the U.S. Navy has faced since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. Congressional Research Service said in a March 8 research note.

The Chinese military may be exploring the Sulu Sea as a detour in or out of the adjoining South China Sea in case of any conflict, Vuving said. Warships could use the Sulu Sea to launch vessels into the South China Sea or seal it off, he said.

Beijing claims most of the South China Sea. It has upset the Philippines and four other Asian governments that claim all or part of the same resource-rich, 3.5 million-square-kilometer waterway. China, backed by military and technological superiority, is building out once-uninhabited islets for hangars, radars and tiny outposts. U.S. warships periodically enter the sea as warnings to China.

As of 2012, the Chinese navy had 512 ships, according to Britains International Institute of Strategic Studies. It now has 777 assets, mainly seafaring vessels, the database Globalfirepower.com says.
A British-US-Iranian national whod been released from an Iranian prison just two days ago was back in jail Friday, his family said.

Morad Tahbaz was released on furlough on the same day two other British dual nationals, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, were released and allowed to travel back to Britain.

Details of the release deal are unclear but when Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ashoori were released, Iran state media reported that Britain had paid Iran a long overdue debt of $530 million to Tehran.

Tahbaz, an environmental activist, was detained along with seven others in January 2018 and accused of spying on Iranian strategic areas.

"We the family are distraught at this moment," his family said in a statement.

"We were confident and assured that the U.K. government had taken on responsibility to secure his release. ... After the euphoria of Nazanin and Anoosheh's homecoming, there's a worrying sense that the U.K. government hasn't pressed the Iranian authorities for Morad's freedom in the same way."

The U.S. State Department on Friday called for his immediate furlough and said a failure to do so was a violation of Iran's deal with Britain.

"We are not a party to this arrangement but would join the U.K. in considering anything short of Morads immediate furlough a violation of Irans commitment. We are urgently consulting with the U.K. on appropriate responses," a State Department spokesperson said.

Human rights groups have accused Tehran of taking dual-national hostages as bargaining chips, which Iran denies.
The U.N. refugee agency is warning that millions of Ukrainians inside and outside their country desperately need humanitarian and protection assistance as Russias invasion of Ukraine escalates and spreads to new areas of the country.

Over the past three weeks, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Friday, more than 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine in search of safety in neighboring countries. More than 2 million people are displaced inside Ukraine, and about 13 million are affected in the areas hardest hit by the war.

Those places include cities such as Mariupol and Sumy, where Russia has relentlessly bombed residential areas and destroyed civilian infrastructure, such as the theater in Mariupol.

On a video link from Rzesow, Poland, UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said many people remain trapped and without essential services in those and other areas of escalating conflict. He said they were short of food, water and medicines.



Humanitarian reports received from those areas are horrifying, and we continue to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and appeal to neighboring countries to continue keeping their borders open to those fleeing in search of safety, Saltmarsh said.

In its latest update, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 2,149 civilian casualties, including 816 killed. The agency said it thought the actual figures were considerably higher and certain to rise as Ukraine runs out of so-called safe havens.



Lviv in western Ukraine has come under attack. Threats against the major port city of Odesa are rising, and humanitarian needs are becoming more urgent even in the Russian-backed separatist Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.



Saltmarsh said refugees who have been arriving in Poland in the past five or six days have been more traumatized and in shock than those who had arrived in the first phase of the fast-moving exodus.



As women and children constitute 90 percent of those who have fled Ukraine for neighboring countries, UNHCR and other agencies have warned of increased risks of trafficking and exploitation," he said. "Given the very high protection risks, UNHCR and partners are disseminating key information and awareness-raising messages to alert refugees of the risks of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

Saltmarsh said the UNHCR is working with the U.N. childrens fund to expand protection services for children in six countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. He said the agencies are providing safe spaces and protection services for children, families, and others with specific needs.
Many western companies and brands have temporarily closed their locations in Russia or stopped selling products there. But officials for the some of the companies say they will continue to support their employees. Karina Bafradzhian has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by Artyom Kohkan.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EDT:

11:15 p.m.: "It's time to meet, time to talk," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Russia in a Saturday video message, CNN reports.

10:35 p.m.: The New York Times reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address Japanese lawmakers via video link at 6 p.m. Wednesday, local time.

10:02 p.m.: Al Jazeera reports that the thousands of people fleeing Russia since it invaded Ukraine include young men trying to avoid being forced into military service.

"Theyre afraid theyll all be grabbed and thrown into the meat-grinder," Elena Popova, coordinator of the Russia-based Movement of Conscientious Objectors, told Al Jazeera. "They feel their freedom is under immense pressure."

9:37 p.m.: CNN reports that Ukrainians with diabetes have a new worry -- how to get their insulin in a war zone. An insulin shortage has led to an increase in conditions related to uncontrolled diabetes.

9:07 p.m.: The U.S. State Department is demanding access to WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia for allegedly smuggling drugs, The Associated Press reports.

We are closely engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Brittney Griners legal team," the State Department said in a statement Friday. "We insist the Russian government provide consular access to all U.S. citizen detainees in Russia, including those in pre-trial detention, as Brittney Griner is.

We have repeatedly asked for consular access to these detainees and have consistently been denied access," it added.

Griner, 31, faces up to 10 years in prison.

8:32 p.m.: Ukrainian officials say they have yet to find any casualties in the ruins of a theater hit by a Russian airstrike this week in the southern city of Mariupol as Russian forces continue to fire on Ukrainian cities and negotiators from both countries seek to find common ground.

As of Friday, 130 people have been rescued from the theater's basement, Ukrainian officials said, as the search continues for the hundreds more who could be trapped in the makeshift bomb shelter that was hit Wednesday.

Mariupol's city council said on Telegram that "according to initial information, there are no dead. But there is information about one person gravely wounded."

8:13 p.m.: A Russian priest has been fined the equivalent of $330 for calling Russia's invasion of Ukraine a war, Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty reports.

8:10 p.m.: Yevhenia Nazarova of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service spoke to people in the city of Zaporizhzhya about how their lives have changed since the Russians invaded on Feb. 24.

8:03 p.m.: Lviv city hall placed 109 strollers, or prams, in the city's central square to mark the children killed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported. RFE/RL has video.

6:47 p.m.: Haliburton says it has suspended future business in Russia in line with U.S. sanctions. The oilfield service company said it had no active joint ventures and halted shipments of sanctioned parts weeks ago. It joins BP, Shell and Norways Equinor in suspending or abandoning their Russian operations, according to Reuters.

6:14 p.m.: Nearly 6.5 million people are displaced inside Ukraine, according to the International Organization for Migration, and that is in addition to the more than 3 million people who have left the country.

5:51 p.m.: Three Russian cosmonauts have arrived at the International Space Station.

Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveyev and Sergey Korsakov lifted off from Kazakhstan in their Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft and docked at the station about three hours later, joining two Russians, four Americans and a German.

5:25 p.m.: A family-owned gun company in Florida says it is sending 400 semi-automatic rifles to Ukraine. The guns, from KelTech, were originally from a $200,000 order by a longtime Ukrainian customer, but Adrian Kellgren told The Associated Press the customer has gone silent.

The American people want to do something, Kellgren, a former U.S. Navy pilot, said to the AP. We enjoy our freedoms, we cherish those things. And when we see a group of people out there getting hammered like this, its heartbreaking.

4:51 p.m.: U.S. Commerce Department watching flights to and from Russia.

We are publishing this list to put the world on noticewe will not allow Russian and Belarusian companies and oligarchs to travel with impunity in violation of our laws," says @SecRaimondo in a statement.

4:30 p.m.: The U.S. secretary of state and the foreign minister of Ukraine discuss ways to end the war.

3:49 p.m. : Ivan Fyodorov, the mayor of Melitopol in southern Ukraine, was taken prisoner by invading Russian forces on March 11 and held in captivity in a facility fully controlled by the Russian military, he said. Several days later, the Ukrainian government managed to secure his release in exchange for six Russian prisoners of war. Fyodorov spoke about his ordeal in an interview with Current Time, a co-production of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and VOA.

3:32 p.m.: A former Silicon Valley tech start-up executive has left San Francisco and returned to his hometown in Ukraine to help manage the effort resisting Russias invasion. Andrey Liscovich spoke with The Harvard Gazette about his efforts.

3:18 p.m.: The International Energy Agency says the world could quickly reduce global oil demand by 2.7 million barrels a day by cutting down on car and plane travel, helping ease the supply crunch caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine. The executive director of the Paris-based agency said on Twitter Friday that practical actions by government and citizens could have a significant impact.

3:00 p.m. : The White House on Friday released a readout of U.S. President Joe Bidens conversation with Chinas President Xi Jinping, focusing on Russias invasion of Ukraine. He described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia, the statement said, in part. VOAs White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widaksuwara has more.

2:57 p.m. : VOAs fact-checking website Polygraph.info examines Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs claims that Russia didnt attack Ukraine, and finds them to be false. Nik Yarst has this report.

2:41 p.m.: Since invading Ukraine in February, Moscow has blocked access to news websites inside Russia, forced independent media to close and passed a new law threatening up to 15 years in prison for false reporting on the conflict. Nevertheless, the truth will seep through, Russian journalists say. VOAs Danila Galperovich filed this report.

2:27 p.m.: As Ukraines western city of Lviv comes under attack from Russian missiles, locals are attempting to safeguard the citys public art treasures.

1:50 p.m.: Italy has drawn up plans to take in up to 175,000 Ukrainian refugees, a draft decree seen by Reuters said. The plan is expected to be approved by the cabinet later on Friday. Some 53,600 Ukrainians, including 27,000 women and 21,600 children, have come to Italy so far following Russia's invasion of their country on February 24, interior ministry data shows.

1:47 p.m.: The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is working with a variety of groups in Ukraine, saying animals are often the forgotten victims of conflict and war. On its website, IFAW said, many animal shelters, sanctuaries, and individual guardians refuse to evacuate because they do not want to leave their animals. IFAW reported that one shelter partner in Berdyansk, Ukraine, was damaged in an attack this week, and shared photos on Twitter of the aftermath.

1:24 p.m.: The U.N. migration agency said Friday that nearly 6.5 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine, on top of the 3.2 million who have already fled the country. The report from the International Organization for Migration also found that over 12 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, according to The Associated Press.

12:56 p.m.: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Friday played down recent comments by the head of Russias space agency that the United States would have to use broomsticks to fly to space, after Russia said it would stop supplying rocket engines to U.S. companies. Thats just Dmitry Rogozin. He spouts off now and then. But at the end of the day, hes worked with us, Nelson told The Associated Press. Nelson spoke hours before three Russian cosmonauts launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station, the first crew launch since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February.



12:34 p.m.: The Norwegian Refugee Council said Friday it is scaling up its efforts inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries. Over the past three weeks, NRC has deployed additional emergency teams to Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, and Romania. The situation for millions of people inside Ukraine is growing more desperate by the day. We are therefore organizing food, water, sanitation, shelters, and legal support said Jan Egeland, NRCs Secretary General.

12:13 p.m.: On February 28, the Swiss Federal Council announced Switzerland was joining a growing list of countries that included the European Union and the United States in imposing unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia. The Swiss decision caught the world's attention. VOAs Natalie Liu has this report.

12:00 p.m.: The U.N. Security Council met Friday at Russias request for a second time in one week to discuss its latest allegations that the United States was operating a secret biological weapons program in Ukraine  something the U.S. characterized as disinformation. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed Russian forces had uncovered new documents during their military offensive, and that Ukraine was playing only a secondary role in the alleged project. U.S. envoy to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters, Its disinformation of the desperate, thats how I would describe it. She expressed Washingtons continued concern that Moscow may be planting the seeds for an attack it would then blame on Ukraine, VOAs UN Correspondent Margaret Besheer reported.

11:45 a.m.: The UN High Representative for Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, said in the UN Security Council meeting Friday that Ukrainian operating staff and guards at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have not been able to rotate out since the Russian invasion began three weeks ago. She said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is still not receiving remote data transmissions from Chernobyl, though such data is being transferred from other nuclear power plants in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, eight of the countrys 15 reactors remain operating. Meanwhile, IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said Friday he is ready to deploy nuclear experts to Ukraine to ensure safety and security at the plants.

11:24 a.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on a video call on Friday about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported. Chinese media said Xi underlined that such conflicts are in no-one's interests. Biden had been expected to tell the Chinese leader that Beijing would pay a steep price if it supports the invasion, a warning that comes at a time of deepening acrimony between the two nations. The call lasted just under two hours, the White House said. VOAs White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara is following the story.

11:02 a.m.: Nigerian authorities said about 8,000 nationals were living in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began. About 5,600 of them were students. As VOAs Timothy Obiezu reports, many Nigerian medical students who fled Ukraine are now continuing their education online.

10:39 a.m.: Ukraines Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Mustapha Nayyem said Friday that more than 1000 villages and cities in Ukraine were without power, and that more than 50 hospitals have been destroyed. He added that a countless number of roads and bridges, as well as all of Ukraines harbors, had also been destroyed. Mr. Nayyem said damages totaled approximately $600 million to date. He spoke with Alhurra Friday in an interview conducted over Skype from Ukraines capital Kyiv.

10:13 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge flag-waving rally at a Moscow stadium and praised his countrys troops Friday. We have not had unity like this for a long time, Putin said in the rare public appearance, speaking to cheers from the crowd. Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around Luzhniki stadium for the celebration marking the eighth anniversary of Russias annexation of the Crimean peninsula, seized from Ukraine. Oleg Gazmanov sang Made in the U.S.S.R., with the opening lines Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, its all my country.

10:07 a.m.: Russian businessman Roman Abramovich transferred a company he controlled with tens of millions of dollars of investments to a director of English soccer club Chelsea on the day Russia invaded Ukraine, UK corporate filings showed. It was the second time Chelsea owner Abramovich moved assets to a close associate before Britain and the European Union imposed sanctions on him this month, Reuters reported. British lawmakers complained that the government had been slow to impose sanctions, giving oligarchs time to move their assets.

10:05 a.m.: The UN refugee agency warned Friday that humanitarian needs are rising exponentially inside Ukraine and neighboring countries. In addition to those who have had to flee, around 13 million people have been affected in the areas hardest hit inside Ukraine, it said. UNHCR is now launching a large-scale multi-purpose cash program to help internally displaced people in Lviv, with plans for later expansion. This will help cover their basic needs like rent, food and hygiene items, UNHCR said in a statement.

10:03 a.m.: With more than 3 million people fleeing their homes because of the fighting in Ukraine, many of whom are women and children, there have been increasing concerns that some of the refugees may fall victim to human trafficking. The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Siobhan Mullally, said it is critical to ensure that effective prevention and protection systems are in place in transit and destination countries and at all border crossings, VOAs Steve Miller reported Friday.

10:00 a.m.: A virtual UN briefing about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and neighboring countries was scheduled Friday morning for member states. The briefing moderator was listed as Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and other speakers included UN officials involved in the Ukraine response effort.

9:43 a.m.: Ukraines human rights ombudswoman said on Friday 130 people had been rescued so far from a bombed theatre in Ukraines southern port city of Mariupol but that there was still no information on more than 1,000 other people believed to be sheltering there when the attack occurred. Ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said rescue work was ongoing at the site, Reuters reported. Ukraine says the theater was hit by a powerful Russian air strike Wednesday, but Russia has denied bombing the theatre or targeting civilians.



9:20 a.m.: Ukrainian and Russian officials say they have made progress in negotiations toward a cease-fire in the 3-week-old war. Experts detect a shift in Russias demands as the war has gone on much longer than it planned. But U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he sees no evidence Russia is serious about diplomacy. VOAs senior diplomatic correspondent Cindy Saine reports.

9:18 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to deliver an online speech to Japan's parliament on March 23, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday.

9:15 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Friday and Ukraine expects progress to be made on its application to join the European Union in the coming months. "Had substantial conversation with EC President," Zelenskyy said on Twitter.

9:05 a.m.: The number of people crossing borders to flee the war in Ukraine has slowed in recent days but could rise again if the fighting spreads further west, a U.N. refugee agency official said on Friday. "We have seen a slowdown, a general slowdown," said Matthew Saltmarsh via videolink from Poland, Reuters reports. Daily crossings into Poland, the country that has received most arrivals, have fallen by around half from a peak of about 100,000 daily, he said. Overall, U.N. agencies say 3.27 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24 and an additional 2 million people have been displaced internally.

8:55 a.m.: The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, is in Ukraines capital Kyiv and he shared a video on Twitter Friday where he discussed some of his impressions of the war-damaged city and the plight of its civilian population.

8:42 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Moscow's conflict with Ukraine and its international repercussions with his security council on Friday, the Kremlin said on its website. Unlike some of the previous meetings with the council, Putin's video conference was not televised on Friday, Reuters reported. "The current international situation was discussed at the meeting and the exchange of views on the ongoing special operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine continued," the Kremlin said in a statement.

8:35 a.m.: The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and others warned Friday that the conflict in Ukraine will have an adverse economic impact on the global economy, according to Agence France-Presse.

8:14 a.m.: Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is saying that transporters of weapons to Ukraine may be declared military targets. "Any cargo moving into Ukrainian territory, which we would believe is carrying weapons would be a fair game. And this is clear because we are implementing the operation, the goal of which is to remove any threat to the Russian Federation coming from the Ukrainian soil," The Associated Press reports Lavrov as saying.

8:08 a.m.: A former Russian deputy prime minister who spoke out against the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine has quit as chair of a prestigious foundation after a lawmaker accused him of a "national betrayal" and demanded his dismissal, Reuters reported Friday. Arkady Dvorkovich, deputy prime minister from 2012 to 2018, became one of Russia's most senior establishment figures to question the war when he told U.S. media this week that his thoughts were with Ukrainian civilians. His comments prompted a senior ruling party lawmaker to demand that he be fired.

7:50 a.m.: Russias President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Friday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, The Associated Press reported. Scholz urged the Russian president to agree to an immediate cease-fire and called for an improvement to the humanitarian situation, a spokesman for Scholz said. In a statement about the call, the Kremlin said Putin told the German chancellor that Ukraine had unrealistic proposals and was dragging out negotiations.

7:45 a.m.: Ukraines Foreign Minister said on Twitter Friday that its not just Russias president that is responsible for the war in Ukraine, but that some of Russias people are too.

7:41 a.m.: Russia has lost any illusions about ever relying on the West and Moscow will never accept a world order dominated by the United States, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. "If there was any illusion that we could one day rely on our Western partners, this illusion is no longer there," Lavrov told Russian state-funded RT in English. Russia would look eastwards, he said. He added that many countries such as China, India and Brazil did not want to be ordered around by "Uncle Sam" acting like a sheriff, Reuters reported. "We will now have to rely only on ourselves and on our allies who stay with us," Lavrov said. "We are not closing the door on the West - they are doing so."

7:39 a.m.: Baltic countries on Friday expelled 10 Russian diplomats, according to Agence France-Presse.

7:29 a.m.: Pope Francis on Friday called the war in Ukraine a "perverse abuse of power" waged for partisan interests which has condemned defenseless people to violence, Reuters reported. "The tragedy of the war taking place in the heart of Europe has left us stunned," he said in a message to a Catholic Church conference in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, one of the countries bordering Ukraine that has opened its doors to refugees. "The blood and tears of children, the suffering of women and men who are defending their land or fleeing from bombardments shakes our conscience," he said.

7:01 a.m.: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that her country should consider imposing an oil embargo on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. In a security policy speech Friday, she said it was important to take a stance and not remain silent due to economic or energy dependency, The Associated Press reported. Germany receives about a third of its oil from Russia, and half of its coal and natural gas.

6:58 a.m.: VOAs National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin reports the U.S. is seeing no letup in Russias attempts at influence operations. According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, Moscows efforts to win over the world with its accounts of events in Ukraine are doing no better than Russia's military forces inside Ukraine. Outside of Russia, we have not seen their information operations really find purchase, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters in response to a question from VOA.

6:45 a.m.: The Associated Press reported Friday on Russias failed attempt to block FIFAs ban on its soccer team before World Cup qualifying playoffs.

6:42 a.m.: Russian forces struck Ukrainian cities from a distance again on Friday as their ground offensive inched forward under fierce Ukrainian resistance, The Associated Press reported. New missile strikes and shelling on the capital Kyiv killed one person and wounded 19 others when a residential building in the Podil neighborhood was hit, according to local authorities, who evacuated 98 people from the damaged building. An early morning barrage of missiles hit near the airport on the outskirts of the western city of Lviv. A facility for repairing military aircraft and a bus repair center were damaged, and one person was wounded in the assault, the regional governor said.



6:33 a.m.: Shares have opened lower in Europe after gains for most Asian benchmarks as oil prices hovered above $100 per barrel, The Associated Press reported Friday. Stocks rose in Tokyo and Shanghai but fell in Paris, Frankfurt, and London. U.S. futures were lower. The war in Ukraine and plans for U.S. President Joe Biden to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping later Friday were among the uncertainties overhanging markets.

6:14 a.m.: A United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) official said on Friday that food supply chains in Ukraine were collapsing, with a portion of infrastructure destroyed and many grocery stores and warehouses now empty, Reuters reports. Jakob Kern, WFP Emergency Coordinator for the Ukraine crisis, also expressed concern about the situation in "encircled cities" such as Mariupol, saying that supplies were running out and that its convoys had not yet been able to enter the city.

5:46 a.m.: Britains communications regulator on Friday revoked the license of the state-funded Russian broadcaster RT amid concern that its coverage of the war in Ukraine was biased, The Associated Press reports. RT had been fined for previous violations of impartiality standards. The move is largely symbolic, as the broadcaster is already off the air due to European Union sanctions. The Kremlin criticized the move, according to Reuters.

5:40 a.m.: The BBC reports that nearly 2 million people have fled from Ukraine to Poland since the war began. More than half a million have already left.

5:16 a.m.: Al Jazeera reports that famous Russian journalist Alexander Nevzorov has deemed Russia's attack on Mariupol "terrorism." He made the comments on his Telegram channel and noted that his words meant he would have to leave the country.

Officials in Mariupol say 50 to 100 bombs are being dropped on the city every day, The New York Times reports. The attacks, local authorities said, have damaged up to 80% of the city's houses.

5:06 a.m.: German Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Friday said Russian President Vladimir Putin's power must be reduced and ultimately destroyed, Reuters reported.

4:32 a.m.: The BBC reports that Russian shelling has hit a warehouse in Voznesensk, Ukraine, that was holding weapons.

3:54 a.m.: Ukrainian and Russian officials say they have made progress in negotiations toward a cease-fire in the 3-week war. Experts detect a shift in Russia's demands as the war has gone on much longer than it planned. But U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he sees no evidence Russia is serious about diplomacy, VOA's senior diplomatic correspondent Cindy Saine reports.

3:32 a.m.: The BBC reports that the city of Sumy, Ukraine, could see humanitarian corridors open Friday. The city's about 40 kilometers from the Russian border and has a population of 260,000.

3:01 a.m.: Japan has been on the front lines of a Western-led effort to pressure Russia using diplomatic and economic means, reports VOA's William Gallo.

Japan has imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs, frozen assets of Russian banks, and this week revoked Russias most favored nation trade status.

It has also sent $100 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Ukraine and smoothed the path to accept Ukrainians fleeing the fighting  a notable move in a country long reluctant to accept overseas refugees.



The moves not only underscore Japans broader shift toward a more assertive foreign policy, they also show Tokyo has become bolder in aligning with the West and standing up for principles that underpin the existing U.S.-led international order.

2:38 a.m.: Italy will help rebuild the Mariupol theater destroyed in a Russian strike Wednesday, The Washington Post reported. Italy's Culture Minister Dario Franceschini tweeted Thursday that his government had approved his proposal to rebuild the theater, which was sheltering hundreds of people when it was hit.

2:16 a.m.: The BBC, citing Lviv's mayor, reports that a building next to the city's airport, not the airport itself, was hit.

2:07 a.m.: Agence France-Presse reports that smoke is rising from the airport in Lviv, Ukraine.

2:01 a.m.: The Associated Press reports: As Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukraine, world leaders called anew for an investigation of the Kremlins repeat attacks on civilian targets, including airstrikes on schools, hospitals and residential areas that led one official to lament that his city had never seen such nightmarish, colossal losses.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that American officials were evaluating potential war crimes and that if the intentional targeting of civilians by Russia is confirmed, there will be massive consequences."

1:06 a.m.: CNN reports multiple explosions in Lviv, Ukraine.

12:45 a.m.: The BBC reports that air raid sirens are sounding in the Rivne, Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions of Ukraine.

12:36 a.m.: Reuters reports that Ukrainians in Poland will be allowed to convert their hryvnia bank notes into Polish zlotys. The program is designed to aid refugees who have had trouble exchanging money.

12:04 a.m.: Desperate Ukrainians in Kharkiv are braving Russian rockets to wait in line for nine or 10 hours, hoping to get free food, The Washington Post reports. Meanwhile, thousands are seeking safety underground and setting up camp in the city's subway stations.

12:01 a.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping will speak at 9 a.m. Friday. Ukraine is among the issues they'll discuss, The New York Times reports.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Authorities in Mali have taken Radio France Internationale and France 24 television off the air, accusing the media outlets of broadcasting false allegations against the Malian army.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says the suspension, which followed months of rising tensions between Mali and France, has serious implications for foreign and Malian journalists alike.

RFI and France 24 went off the air Thursday evening in Mali, on orders from Mails military government.

In a press release, the government said the outlets broadcast false allegations about the Malian army that were aimed at destabilizing the government.

Earlier this week, RFI aired a report on alleged executions of civilians and other alleged human rights abuses committed by Malis army.

VOA also reported on the accusations, speaking to a man in central Mali who witnessed several acquaintances taken away by the army and never seen again.

CPJ in February reported on the suspension of the accreditation process for foreign journalists in Mali, which has not been reinstated.

Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa Program director, speaking from New York, said that the suspension of RFI and France 24 is censorship, pure and simple.

What CPJ has asked and what we will call for, obviously, is that the Malian authorities should really halt their efforts to control journalism in the country, because thats what its all about. And that they should reverse the suspension of RFI and France 24 immediately, Quintal said.

Bandiougou Dante, president of Malis Maison de la Presse (Press House), spoke to journalists from his office in Bamako.

He referenced both the European Unions decision to suspend Russian media and the Malian governments suspension of French broadcasts in saying that there is a worldwide worrying turn away from democracy and free expression.

He said that in his view there was a possibility to find the ways and means by which to respond to certain criticisms or accusations in the media. Suspension, he thinks, is an extreme measure.

Corinne Dufka, Sahel director at Human Rights Watch, which published its own report this week on alleged abuses committed by Malis army, speaking from Washington, said the suspension of the French broadcasts sends a message about human rights reporting and investigating.

We are concerned that it will lead to self-censorship within the Malian press, as well as a dampening of the national human rights community to fulfil their important mandate of investigating abuses by all sides, Dufka said.

Dante says this is the first time to his knowledge that foreign media have been suspended in Mali.

France Medias Monde, the parent company of RFI and France 24, says the two media outlets are followed by a third of Malis population each week.
When Iraqi-born American entrepreneur Emad Ballack watched footage of war breaking out in Ukraine from his office in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, he decided he had to act.

As civilians started to pour out of the country, Ballack, who is an ethnic Kurd, began a four-day trip to Kyiv, a city he has called home for the last eight years.

"I was not scared but more worried about how I would manage to get into the country," he said.

During his journey by plane and train, the 45-year-old started to think about how he could use his businesses, including restaurants and an e-commerce company, to help Ukrainians under fire.

"Fighting is not only about holding a gun. Because of who I am, I am more useful getting support, finances," Ballack said. "Growing up during war times in Iraq gave me some sort of resilience. I grew up being able to adapt to tough situations."

After a childhood in Baghdad during the Iran-Iraq war, Ballack and his family fled to the Netherlands. He later settled in the United States before coming back to Iraqi Kurdistan in 2012.

A couple of years later he decided to start investing in Ukraine, just before Islamic State took over large swathes of Iraqi territory and dragged the Kurdistan region into a prolonged economic crisis.

Until Russia's invasion, Ballack considered Ukraine a safe and promising country to invest in.

Now, using his own ventures and political and business connections in Ukraine and abroad, he is mobilizing support to deliver food, basic necessities and clothing to civilians and security forces.

After arriving in Kyiv on March 8, the entrepreneur started preparing free meals for security forces and civilians in his restaurant, while raising donations mostly in the United States.

Using his e-commerce company Zibox as a tool to manage the relief support, Ballack is organizing the delivery of goods to the Polish border with Ukraine, where local authorities assist with logistics to deliver the aid to those in need.

Unsure what the future holds, Ballack said he might bring more of his businesses to Iraqi Kurdistan.

"I am nervous about everything coming to a halt now," he said. "But what I tell people to reassure them is that I myself am a war child. But look ... I managed to rebuild my life."
Audiences in South Sudan are keen to hear news about the peace agreement and reforms, but journalists say it can be tough getting information from government agencies.

Koang Pal Chang, chair of the National Editors Forum, said access to information can be a problem for journalists who want to dig deeper on public interest stories.

Moyiga Nduru, commissioner for access to information, denies the government is withholding information. He said those who have problems accessing public sector or government records can come to the commission and file a complaint.

We deal with records. If they [the government] dont want to, then you come and complain, fill a form and then we write to the government officials, Nduru said.

Media outlets say audiences are looking for more in-depth news on policy and security.

Like many in South Sudan, Panchol Yohana, 55, turns to radio for credible news and information. I listen to political programs. And I have liked to have a radio since I was a young boy in school, Yohana told VOA. When a piece of information is being circulated in the neighborhood and not coming from the radio, I dont consider it because the radio has not covered it.

Yohana said news on the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan is among the topics he regularly follows.

Other times, he listens to the radio to relieve stress.

When I dont listen to the radio, I dont feel happy mentally. But when the radio is beside me, I focus on the program and that cleanses my mind. I constantly listen to it until I forget the stress that was in my mind, Yohana said.

The peace deal and a unity government were formed to try to end violence and a civil war that lasted 5 years in South Sudan. The war is estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions from the region, according to the Council on Foreign Relations Global Conflict Tracker.

Jacob Alier, another radio listener in Juba, said he sometimes notices an information gap on vital national issues when listening to different radio stations.

We are missing of a lot of things. A lot of citizens in Jonglei state here, people are not aware, Alier said, referring to provisions in the peace agreement.

If people are allowed to play their role, they can give us a lot of information, he added.

Some media outlets said they exert significant effort to provide credible information to their audiences.

Pal Chang, who also is the program manager at Eye Radio, said his station tends to focus on items that he thinks listeners in Juba are interested in, but it can be hard to get the information.

We are not getting enough information regarding the reforms, for example, Pal Chang said. "What is happening when it comes to the reforms? Because the peace agreement talks about reforms. Reforms in [the] financial sector, in [the] economic sector, in governance. These things, nobody is talking about, and when you ask, nobody wants to give you information.

Japheth Ogila, the editor-in-chief of City Review, said he has noticed an increase in interest when the Juba-based newspaper covers security issues.

We realized that most readers in South Sudan buy papers when our headline talks about things to do with security or things to do with humanitarian issues like hunger or floods, Ogila said.

South Sudan ranks 139th out of 180 countries, where 1 is freest, on the global press freedom index.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said the countrys media outlets are blocked from covering issues related to conflict, and that harassment, arbitrary detention and intimidation also are problematic for journalists.

Police last month briefly detained eight journalists who were at Parliament for a press conference on claims of intimidation against media and opposition politicians, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Two of those detained journalists contribute to VOA.

Security services at the time said the briefing was illegal.

This story originated in VOAs English to Africa Service.
Pallets loaded onto the Japanese Self-Defense Force cargo aircraft this month contained bulletproof vests, helmets, and other nonlethal military equipment  much different from the shoulder-fired missiles, drones, and other weapons many Western countries have sent to Ukrainians fighting Russias invasion.

Japans decision to ship military equipment to Ukraine still marked a major step for Tokyo, whose pacifist constitution has for decades kept the country out of foreign military conflicts.

This kind of mission is the first case for us, but we will do our utmost to swiftly deliver [the equipment] to Ukraine, tweeted Japans Defense Ministry, referring to the March 9 shipment.

Although Japanese officials say they have no plans to send weapons to Ukraine, Japan has been on the front lines of a Western-led effort to pressure Russia using diplomatic and economic means.

Japan has imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs, frozen assets of Russian banks, and this week revoked Russias most favored nation trade status.

It has also sent $100 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Ukraine and smoothed the path to accept Ukrainians fleeing the fighting  a notable move in a country long reluctant to accept overseas refugees.

The moves not only underscore Japans broader shift toward a more assertive foreign policy, they also show Tokyo has become bolder in aligning with the West and standing up for principles that underpin the existing U.S.-led international order.

Support for Ukraine is quite natural, since Japan is one of the biggest beneficiaries of global peace and stability, said Matsumoto Koichiro, deputy Cabinet secretary for public affairs at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office.

We attach great importance to universal values such as democracy, rule of law, and human rights, including freedom of expression. We know from our experience that when people stop fighting for these values, we will be giving chances and spaces to authoritarian regimes, Matsumoto told VOA.

As the people in Ukraine are fighting for these values that shape our society, supporting them in any way we can is the only way, he added.

Public support

The Japanese public seems to agree. According to a recent poll by Japans Yomiuri Shimbun daily, 82% of the Japanese public supports economic sanctions against Russia. Polls have also shown strong support for accepting Ukrainian refugees.

That doesnt tend to be a thing that the Japanese public supports, said Corey Wallace, who teaches global security courses at Yokohamas Kanagawa University.

You look at the Afghanistan and Syria situations, they were pretty reluctant to take refugees [from] there, he said.

The public support has given Prime Minister Fumio Kishida more space to accelerate a shift away from the approach of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had tried to improve ties with Russia, Wallace said.

[Japan-Russia relations] were never particularly good, despite Abes commitment. So I think its really just returning to the status quo here, Wallace added.

Abe, who stepped down in 2020, continues to shape Japans policies. For instance, sending military aid to Ukraine was only possible because Abe in 2014 relaxed a ban on arms exports, allowing for such shipments if they contributed to global peace.

This was  nonlethal, almost humanitarian equipment. But for Japan to provide even non-lethal military equipment to a country in the middle of a conflict is remarkable, Wallace said.

Under Abe, Japan boosted military spending and reinterpreted the countrys pacifist constitution, in theory thus allowing Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War II.

Japanese conservatives argue that the country needs to be able to better defend itself, especially in response to Chinas growing military prowess and willingness to coerce its neighbors.

Such moves risk further upsetting Japans relations with China, South Korea, and North Korea, who fear Japan may revert to its old militarism.

Major risks

There are also considerable economic and strategic risks to Japans more assertive approach to Russia, in particular.

Japan, which imported about 9% of its natural gas and 4% of its oil from Russia in 2021, is likely to see higher energy costs. So far, the resource-poor country has not followed the U.S. lead in banning Russian oil imports.

While Japan will probably retain some essential trade with Russia, the economic relationship will be severely downgraded, according to Artyom Lukin, an associate professor at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia.

No doubt the relationship has been very badly affected. And the damage will be long-lasting, even if this war stops tomorrow, Lukin told VOA.

Russia will probably intensify its military exercises near Japan, including Russian naval ships that sail near the Japanese coast and Russian airplanes that fly close to Japanese airspace, Lukin added.

The situation could also further push Moscow into Beijings orbit, which could hinder Russia-Japan ties moving forward, warned Lukin.

For example, if Chinas relations with Japan get worse, Russia would follow suit just to express solidarity with China, he said.

Kishida has also shelved peace treaty talks with Russia that were aimed at resolving a decadeslong territorial dispute over four islands currently controlled by Russia. Such negotiations would be inappropriate, Kishida said, following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Matsumoto acknowledged such challenges but said the risk of inaction is far greater than the risk of action.

I think countries around the world are given a choice  whether you are going to fight for the universal values that shape the world today, or you deny them, or you pretend that you didnt see the events actually unfolding, he said. Japan chose the first option.

A previous version of this story misstated the number of islands that were the subject of peace talks and currently controlled by Russia.
A sixth-year medical student at Ternopil National Medical University in Ukraine, Dominic Oru, a Nigerian, was two months from completing his medical degree when Russian forces invaded the country on Feb. 24.

Oru woke up that day to news about explosions in many Ukrainian cities. And, like hundreds of other students in Ternopil, he fled to Romania. From there, he took a government-chartered flight to Nigeria in early March.

This week, however, Oru and his colleagues resumed their classes online. He says it's been more like a reunion.

"Our major conversation was about how we didn't get to have a proper goodbye to each other because we were thinking we still had time. There was going to be the graduation ceremony, where we'll have pictures and everything."

Oru says that amid the uncertainties, he is keeping his hopes high, even though he worries about his teacher in Ukraine, who is also doubling as a frontline responder.

"He looks really stressed. He looked like he had had very little . . . sleep. I could see the eye bags around his eyes.

Nigerian authorities said about 8,000 nationals were living in Ukraine when the invasion began. About 5,600 of them were students.

Sixteen-year-old freshman medical student Fatima Baffah also returned to Nigeria weeks ago and has started virtual learning as well. But for her, it's not the same. She said she misses seeing her friends and teachers, and longs to take class in person.

Baffah started her medical training in September. Now her mother, Sallah Baffah, says she must stay out of Ukraine and needs a place to study peacefully.

Dominic Oru and his colleagues were planning a big dinner party to celebrate their graduation. But now he fears he may never see some of his classmates again.
Peru's Constitutional Court on Thursday approved the release from prison of former President Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year sentence for murder and corruption charges.

The decision restored a humanitarian pardon granted to Fujimori on Christmas Eve in 2017 by then-President Pablo Kuczynski, a court official told The Associated Press. The official couldn't be quoted by name because the person was not authorized to speak on the matter.

The country's Supreme Court overturned the medical pardon in 2018 and ordered the former strongman returned to jail to serve out his sentence for human rights abuses, which was supposed to run until February 10, 2032.

Kuczynski had said he pardoned Fujimori because he suffered from a heart condition made worse by prison conditions, though the move was widely seen as an attempt to stave off impeachment by courting favor with Fujimori's allies in Congress. Kuczynski resigned three months after the pardon.

People gathered outside the prison hoping to see the 83-year-old Fujimori exit, though authorities gave no indication his release was imminent. Fujimori's lawyer, Cesar Nakazaki, said the former leader was not expected to leave prison until Monday or Tuesday after some legal procedures are completed.

President Pedro Castillo tweeted Thursday that "the international justice bodies to which Peru is attached must safeguard the effective exercise of justice for the people."

Prime Minister Anibal Torres said the ruling harms the country but will be followed. Torres told a local radio station that the court was being "a champion of impunity for major criminals."

The Constitutional Court typically livestreams its decisions but did not do so in this case. It also did not give an explanation for its ruling.

Fujimori, who governed from 1990 to 2000, remains a polarizing figure in the Andean country. Some Peruvians laud him for defeating the Maoist Shining Path guerrilla movement, while others loathe him for human rights violations carried out under his government.
Police in Mogadishu said four people were injured Thursday when a roadside bomb detonated as their vehicle traveled through the Taleh neighborhood.

A police officer who spoke to VOA from the scene confirmed that three Turkish nationals and their Somali driver were wounded. The officer said the Turkish nationals were in Mogadishu for private business.

According to the police, the businessmen may have been the target of the bombing.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack over Radio Andalus.

Thursday's bombing wasn't the first time Turkish nationals visiting Somalia had been attacked.

Turkey plays a major role in Somalia's recovery efforts, training the country's security forces and undertaking vast infrastructure projects. It also operates its biggest foreign military base in Mogadishu, where it trains Somali troops.

The latest attack came as the country has repeatedly delayed its elections, missing deadlines and creating an uncertainty that makes the country vulnerable to attacks by insurgents.

Militants have recently increased attacks to undermine the ongoing electoral process.
Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor has accused Googles YouTube of spreading threats against citizens of the Russian Federation in a statement released Friday.

"Earlier it became known that YouTube video hosting users are broadcasting commercials with calls to disable the railway communications of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, the statement added. The actions of the YouTube administration are of a terrorist nature and threaten the life and health of Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor did not identify the users broadcasting the alleged threats.

While the statement did not mention blocking YouTube in Russia, an unnamed official told Russian state media outlet Sputnik that YouTube could be blocked by the end of next week, or as early as Friday.

If YouTube is blocked, it will be the latest salvo in a battle between Russia and American tech platforms following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Google officials did not provide Reuters with a comment on the latest developments.

The Russian government has already blocked or limited access to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The country has a Facebook alternative, VKontakte, and domestic photo and video sharing sites are reportedly in the works.

American big tech firms have also taken measures to block or limit access to Russian state media on their platforms. For example, YouTube, which is owned Googles parent company Alphabet, blocked YouTube channels operated by RT and Sputnik.

Some information in this report comes from Reuters.
Hundreds of Nigerian students who safely fled Ukraine were close to graduating when Russia invaded the country. But despite being under fire, some Ukrainian teachers have continued their classes online, where they are exchanging stories of hope and survival. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja. Camera: Emeka Gibson
"I was thinking of a hashtag, 'Even Switzerland,'" Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud said half jokingly, noting that U.S. President Joe Biden had uttered this phrase in his State of the Union address as he highlighted the international reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On February 28, the Swiss Federal Council announced Switzerland was joining a growing list of countries that included the European Union and the United States in imposing unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia. The Swiss decision caught the world's attention.

"Every time when sanctions are decided upon by the EU or the U.S., they approach their friends and allies and ask them to participate. Sometimes we say no, sometimes we say yes," Bern's top representative in Washington said in an interview at the ambassador's residence. "This time we said yes."

Switzerland remains neutral

Nonetheless, "Switzerland remains neutral and will remain neutral for the foreseeable future," Pitteloud emphasized, brushing off global headlines that greeted the announcement from Bern with cries of "Switzerland ditches neutrality."

"We're still neutral. At the same time, we're putting additional emphasis on something else that is very important to small countries like Switzerland  the respect of international law," Pitteloud explained. "International law may not be that important for big countries, but for small countries, it is a matter of survival."

He described his nation's emphasis on international law as "another pillar" of Swiss foreign policy.

"We insist on international law because we know it is a matter of survival for us; so the moment we witnessed such a massive violation of international law, an aggression that we hadn't seen in Europe since the Second World War, this is why this time the Swiss government decided to go further in terms of adopting sanctions," Pitteloud said.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is "a direct attack against everything we hold dear" and poses a threat to countries far beyond Ukraine's borders, the ambassador said. "It's also important to our own security."

Switzerland's long-held position of neutrality had meant that the country often sat out conflicts and disputes in "the big, outer world," as Pitteloud put it. Other times it supported sanctions without directly participating, by making sure that sanctions were not undermined through the Swiss financial system, he said.

"Every time there was this leeway in the political interpretation in terms of how far we want to go or how restrictive we want to go in interpreting neutrality," Pitteloud said.

In this case, he explained, Switzerland has adopted a very restrictive interpretation, which stipulates that a neutral country will not participate in a military conflict unless it is attacked itself, and would not facilitate arms delivery to parties involved in a conflict.

Swiss sanctions now fully mirror EU

On Wednesday, Switzerland announced further sanctions against more than 200 Russian individuals and entities, fully matching the sanctions imposed by the European Union, of which Switzerland is not a member.

Pitteloud thinks the debate over EU membership could go on within his country for another few decades. "Ultimately, it's for the people to decide. In Switzerland, we vote on everything," he noted, with a sense of delight in his country's democratic system.

Asked about media reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin's domestic partner and their children are "hiding out in a Swiss chalet," Pitteloud replied that the world's rich and powerful often come to Switzerland for medical treatment.

"This has happened in the past, this might have happened with quite a few people, we're very discreet about that, because there's no reason to comment," he said.

"Personally I have no indication whatsoever of members of the Russian president's family or, let's say, close friends, being in Switzerland, even less so with a Swiss passport as was argued in one of the articles; I would not be aware of that."

Switzerland, an Alpine nation in the center of Europe, has been so determined to avoid international entanglements that it became a member of the United Nations only in 2002. Twenty years later, the country has put in a bid for a non-permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council for 2023-24.

"The matter of joining the U.N. Security Council prompted a very heated debate in Switzerland," Pitteloud said. "Because by being on the Security Council, it means you have to take even more positions than if you're just in the General Assembly."

But he said the bid is backed by both the Swiss government and parliament, and is seen in Bern as "an extraordinary opportunity to once again stress multilateralism, respect for international law, respect of procedures enshrined in the U.N. system. We think we can be an additional voice in stressing the importance of international values."
U.S. lawmakers warned this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to eliminate a free press to prevent Russian media from reporting on the war in Ukraine.

Since invading Ukraine in February, Moscow has blocked access to news websites inside Russia, forced independent media to close and passed a new law threatening up to 15 years in prison for false reporting on the conflict. Already, at least three bloggers have been accused of spreading false news about the military, the state-run RIA news agency reported.

In a statement on Tuesday, senators Bob Menendez and Jim Risch, chair and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Russias actions against the media.

Putin has brazenly focused on eliminating any last shred of free press and freedom of expression inside Russia, read the statement.

Russia has blocked outlets including the radio station Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd TV in a desperate effort to undermine objectivity and keep the truth about his illegal and unjustified war from the Russian people, the statement added.

Putin said in a speech Wednesday that an unprecedented information campaign has been unleashed involving social networks and Western media.

He added that the West would try to use traitors as a fifth column to destroy Russia.

"The collective West is trying to divide our society, speculating on military losses, on the socioeconomic consequences of sanctions, to provoke a civil confrontation in Russia, he said.

Alexei Venediktov, the editor-in-chief who led Ekho Moskvy for 24 years, believes authorities deliberately closed his news and talk show alongside some other media to prevent discussion on the war.

Total propaganda was being prepared in the country, Venediktov said. It was necessary (for them) to demolish traditional and established media that are respected.

Ekho Moskvy was listened to by people, decision-makers, Venediktov said. We introduced doubts, showing that there is no single point of view, there is no single correct answer to what is happening. Therefore, it was decided to demolish (us) quickly, immediately, ignoring all existing rules and laws. Just slap  and slap, he said.

The frequency that Ekho Moskvy used for its broadcasts has already been taken over by Sputnik, the state-run radio station. The U.S. State Department in January said Sputnik was a critical part of Russias disinformation and propaganda ecosystem.

But even at state-controlled media, some journalists are pushing back.

On Monday, an employee at state-run Channel One interrupted a live broadcast to protest the invasion. Marina Ovsyannikova was detained, questioned for 14 hours and released with a fine.

The BBC reported that at least three journalists at Russian state-run outlets have resigned since the invasion.

For some independent media, journalists are walking a fine line to stay in business.

The Novaya Gazeta, run by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, has said it would continue publishing, but made it clear that the media regulator and new law are preventing it from reporting on some issues.

The newspaper, which is known for its investigative reporting, said Wednesday that news kiosks have started to return copies of its editions. But it said no official order appears to have been passed down to the kiosk distributors telling them to send back copies. Novaya Gazeta has said readers can come to its offices in Moscow to buy a copy of the paper.

The field has been practically cleared, the sweep continues, and prestigious media are being closed, Venediktov said. But the truth begins to seep through anyway.

For instance, details still emerged of how an alleged order from Putin to not send conscripts to Ukraine was ignored. In that case, it was thanks to reporting by the Latvia-based Russian website Meduza.

Venediktov said that a member of Russias Security Council told him that if Ekho Moskvy had still been reporting, the Security Council would have known about it earlier.

Venediktov replied, You killed us. You shut us down. Now, you dont know whats going on there, how your orders are being carried out?

Simple choice

With its website blocked and the new media law enacted, the independent Dozhd TV was faced with a simple choice, said editor-in-chief Tikhon Dzyadko.

Either the outlets journalists become nothing more than a service to repeat the Ministry of Defense, Dzyadko said, or we continue to work as we have for these 12 years, and soon become defendants under this new so-called law on fake news on the military.

Access to Dozhd was blocked on March 1, the same day as Ekho Moskvy.

After that, we received information that the police were to come and search us, Dzyadko said. We understood that the situation was deteriorating  deteriorating very quickly, deteriorating critically.

Dzyadko left Moscow for Tbilisi in Georgia a few days later, saying on Telegram that staff members were receiving threats.

The reason Dozhd was targeted is very simple, Dzyadko said.

There are two wars waged by the Russian Federation: One is the war in Ukraine, the second is the war within Russia, he said. The purpose: to hide the truth.

One step ahead

Dzyadko believes Russia has been partly successful in censoring the media, but he said the digital age makes censorship difficult.

Technology is always one step ahead of the repressive actions of the state, and there will always be ways to deliver information, he said.

And as the death toll of Russian soldiers increase, families will start to ask questions, he said.

Attempts to block news websites, including VOAs Russian language website, have resulted in an increase in the use of circumvention tools such as VPNs.

Between February 24 and March 5, downloads for the top 10 VPNs in Russia surged by 4.3% from an average of 16,000 per day to more than 700,000 daily, the website Appfigures reported.

VOA and other major international broadcasters, including Deutsche Welle, are working closely with companies providing software that allows users in Russia to reach websites blocked by the government.

Dzyadko said it is too early to say whether Dozhd will resume broadcasting.

We have a huge audience base that has supported us all these years  we feel responsible to them, he said. Therefore, undoubtedly, we will do something somewhere.

This article originated in VOAs Russian Service.
While the United States and European Union are enforcing powerful financial and trade sanctions on Moscow and closing their airspace to Russian airplanes, Turkey strongly opposes such measures, arguing they are counterproductive.

As a result, concerns are growing that Turkey is helping Russians to circumvent the sanctions, said Timothy Ash, an emerging-markets analyst with London-based Bluebay Asset Management.

There [has] been some focus on reflagging of Russian aircraft as Turkish aircraft. There are strong trading, banking relationships between Russia and Turkey. [There has been] some media attention on a lot of Russians trying to set up new bank accounts in Turkey, presumably to try to get around some of the problems they are probably encountering. There has also been concern that Russian companies, entities trying to export or trade with Russia, are repackaging themselves as Turkish entities.

VOA reached out to Turkish government officials for comment but did not receive a response at the time of reporting.

Ankara insists it abides by its international legal responsibilities. But analyst Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners said it's not the first time Turkey has been suspected of international sanctions-busting.

A lot of people [hoped] that Turkey would become a proxy financial center or intermediary for Russia," Yesilada said. "I wouldn't put it past the current regime to try to repeat the Reza Zarrab incident - 40 billion dollars of money whitewashed to Iran.

Reza Zarrab is a Turkish-Iranian businessman who pleaded guilty in 2017 in a New York court to massive charges of violating sanctions against Iran. A senior executive of the Turkish state-owned Halkbank was also convicted. Halkbank itself is facing trial as part of the same investigation.

Turkish private and state banks are also likely to face scrutiny and severe penalties for violating Russian sanctions, said analyst Yesilada. He warned that sanctions-busting is highly risky, especially as any penalties could affect Turkey's ability to borrow from international markets.

The next 12 months, including the estimated current account deficit, Turkey will have to roll over $200 billion of debt, and any reason for these to seize up is going to cause massive pain not only to the banks but to the exchange rate market and inevitably to the Turkish economy, Yesilada said.

However, Ankara's strong military backing for Kyiv has generated international goodwill and recognition of the high economic price Turkey is paying, said Ash.

Its carrot and stick, right?" said Ash. The stick is the penalty for ignoring Western governments' request on sanctions against Russia, "but at the same time, I think there will be an effort to help the Turks and encourage them  perhaps financially with more assistance, perhaps to make sure they comply with the regime as is.

With many of Turkey's economic woes blamed on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unorthodox financial policies, some analysts warn any international assistance could well be tied to changes in policy.
Afghanistans Taliban said Friday they will allow all girls in grades seven and up to return to school next week, a move praised by the United Nations.

After the Islamist group seized power seven months ago, it only allowed boys to return to the classroom and barred girls across most Afghan provinces from doing so, citing financial constraints and a lack of arrangements needed to ensure gender-segregated education systems in line with Islamic Sharia.

The restrictions sparked fears the countrys new rulers would again ban women from education and work just like the Taliban did when they previously were in power from 1996 to 2001.

"I welcome the plan announced by the Taliban to reopen schools for girls & boys on 22 March, which must now be approved and implemented, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted Friday. All doors must be open for girls & boys to have an education and reach their full potential, he added.

The Talibans education ministry has said all schools will reopen starting next week when the winter break ends, saying no schools will be closed in the country this year.

As announced by the ministry of education, the schools will open, senior Taliban official Suhail Shaheen told VOA. Shaheen is the Talibans permanent ambassador-designate to the U.N.

Female students have hailed the decision.

"I feel very powerful. We can show not only [the Taliban] but also the world [that] we never stop, and Afghanistan won't return to previous decades," Farzana, a 17-year-old student, told Reuters news agency while talking about returning to school.

Our one educational year was wasted due to changes in Afghanistan, and we couldnt study. I hope to graduate from school and attend university, Shila, a 16-year-old student, told the local TOLO news channel.

Since taking control last August, the Taliban have assured the global community repeatedly they would govern Afghanistan differently this time around, and women would be given access to education as well as work.

Despite those pledges, the global community remains skeptical and critical of the male-only Taliban government in Kabul, saying it lacks inclusivity. The hardline group has also placed restrictions on Afghan women, drawing criticism from human rights groups.

Afghan women who attend universities are required to wear a hijab in class and are being taught separately from males. Taxi drivers are ordered to refuse a ride to female passengers not wearing hijabs, and women are not allowed to take long road trips unless accompanied by a close relative.

Human rights and terrorism-related concerns have kept foreign governments from recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Shaheen welcomed Thursdays U.N. Security Council resolution formally extending and enhancing the role of the world body in Afghanistan for another year.

The resolution makes human rights, especially those of women, girls and minorities, a top priority for what is known as the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan or UNAMA. It also highlights the importance of inclusive governance and the full, equal and meaningful participation of women.

There is no mention of the Taliban by name in the resolution, nor of the de facto authorities as they are often referred to.

UNAMA renewal is an appropriate decision by UNSC, Shaheen told VOA.

But recognition of the current government and handing over the Afghanistan seat to the current government is also essential because in that case, UNAMA will be dealing with a recognized government to facilitate humanitarian assistance and engage with, he said.

A chaotic military withdrawal of the United States and allied countries in late August after 20 years has worsened a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan stemming from war and persistent drought.

The Taliban takeover prompted Western countries to immediately halt non-humanitarian financial assistance to the aid-dependent country and impose banking restrictions, pushing an already fragile economy to the brink of collapse.

Nearly two-thirds of Afghanistans population  about 23 million people  need humanitarian assistance. Thats up 30% from one year ago. The World Food Program says 9 million Afghans are just one step away from famine.
The head of the World Health Organization said Thursday that "the lifesaving medicine" needed in Ukraine is peace.

"Prolonged conflict is in nobody's interests and will only prolong the suffering of the most vulnerable," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an emergency U.N. Security Council session on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, which has been under Russian airstrikes and shelling for the past three weeks.

Tedros reported that WHO has verified 43 attacks on health care facilities, which have killed a dozen people and injured 34 others.

Attacks on hospitals can rise to the level of war crimes.

Tedros said WHO is working with Ukraine's Ministry of Health and has so far sent about 100 metric tons of medical supplies to the country.

"We have now established supply lines from our warehouse in Lviv to many cities of Ukraine, but challenges with access remain," Tedros said. Lviv is in western Ukraine, which has remained relatively safe.

He said WHO has critical supplies ready to enter difficult areas on joint U.N. convoys but has so far not been able to get them in.

Besieged cities

"Today, for example, the U.N. convoy to Sumy that included a WHO truck carrying critical medical supplies was unable to enter," he said. Sumy, near the Russian border in the northeast, has come under heavy bombardment, making it difficult and dangerous for civilians to evacuate safely.

"Loads ready for Mariupol remain in staging areas and cannot proceed," Tedros said of the besieged southern city. "Access to these and other areas is now critical."

U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo said hundreds of residential buildings, as well as schools and hospitals, have been destroyed or damaged in three weeks of conflict.

Since Russia began its invasion on February 24, the U.N. has verified the killing of 726 civilians, including 52 children. More than 1,000 other civilians have been injured. The U.N. says the true numbers are likely much higher.

"It is the responsibility of all sides to fully abide by their obligations to protect the lives of all civilians everywhere," DiCarlo said.

She expressed particular concern for residents trapped in Mariupol, where a maternity hospital was bombed on March 9 and a theater, where hundreds of people were sheltering, was hit on Wednesday. The city has been cut off from food, water, electricity and medical care, and bodies lie in the streets uncollected.

"The devastation in Mariupol and Kharkiv raises grave fears about the fate of millions of residents in Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks," DiCarlo said.

The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, says the conflict has sent more than 3.1 million people fleeing to neighboring European countries and has displaced 2 million more inside Ukraine.

Impact beyond Ukraine

"Russia will be held accountable for its atrocities," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. "There is only one way to end this madness. President (Vladimir) Putin: Stop the killings. Withdraw your forces. Leave Ukraine once and for all."

Several council members echoed her outrage with Moscow's war and the suffering it has caused.

"The main news is that Ukraine is holding on, that Ukraine is resisting and Ukraine is winning and Russia is deep in the mud: on the ground, morally, legally and internationally," Albania's ambassador, Ferit Hoxha, said.

There were also concerns about the broader humanitarian implications of the conflict.

Russia and Ukraine account for nearly one-third of the world's wheat, and almost 50 nations are dependent on both countries for over 30% of their wheat import needs. War could disrupt food supplies to many countries already grappling with food insecurity.

"I find it a damning indictment that this council has to plead with the Russian Federation not to deprive civilian populations of food and water, not to deny them the basic infrastructure they need for daily existence, for survival," Ireland's envoy, Geraldine Byrne Nason, said.

China, which has not criticized Russia for its invasion, called for maximum restraint and the protection of civilians.

"The international community shares the common wish for a cease-fire at an early date to alleviate the situation on the ground and prevent civilian casualties," Ambassador Zhang Jun said. "This is also the expectation of China."

He said Beijing, which is not usually among the big international aid donors, has sent humanitarian supplies to Ukraine through its Red Cross Society, including milk powder and blankets for children.

Several council members also mentioned Wednesday's decision by the International Court of Justice, which ruled Russia must "immediately suspend its military operations" in Ukraine. The decision is legally binding, but Russia is unlikely to comply with it.

Russia doubles down

For its part, Russia's ambassador repeated the narrative of being the victim of a Western disinformation campaign about the offensive, saying it is "reaching new heights."

"We note with regret that Ukraine has always [been] a pawn in the geopolitical struggle against Russia and remains such a pawn still," Vassily Nebenzia told the council. "Western politicians could not care less about the suffering of the people in Donbas."

Donbas is the region in eastern Ukraine that comprises Luhansk and Donetsk, the two breakaway republics that President Putin recognized as independent days before he ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

On the humanitarian situation, Nebenzia said he was calling off his delegation's planned vote Friday morning on a draft resolution. It was drawn up to counter a text from Western council members deploring the humanitarian consequences of Russia's invasion and seeking a cease-fire for humanitarian access.

Moscow was certain to be isolated again in the council if it brought its doomed resolution to a vote. Council members repeatedly noted Thursday that Russia putting forward such a draft was cynical and hypocritical, and that if Moscow really wanted to solve the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, it could start by ending its war.

"But we are not withdrawing the draft resolution," Nebenzia insisted. "Instead, tomorrow morning we will ask for an emergency meeting to discuss again the issue of U.S. bio-laboratories in Ukraine, using the new documents we obtained in the course of the special military operation."

Last Friday, the Russians called for a meeting on the same subject. Nebenzia spoke for nearly 20 minutes, alleging without evidence that Ukraine, funded by the U.S. military, was developing biological weapons in at least 30 laboratories across the country.

United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu told council members that the U.N. "is not aware of any biological weapons programs."

The United States and Ukraine have both dismissed Moscow's accusations.

U.S. officials have expressed concerns that Moscow is making such accusations because it may be laying the groundwork for a false flag operation in Ukraine involving biological or chemical weapons.
A team of U.N. investigators said the Venezuelan government has failed to honor its pledge to reform its judicial system and end impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations.

The three-member Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela submitted its latest report to the U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday.

The report follows one presented to the U.N. council in September detailing Venezuelas shortcomings on human rights. Shortly after that, President Nicolas Maduros government signed a memorandum of understanding with the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, promising to take all necessary steps to bring Venezuelas administration of justice in line with international standards.



President of the International Fact-Finding Mission, Marta Valinas, welcomed the pledge. However, she said efforts to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of crimes have fallen short of the mark and that many victims have missed their opportunity to obtain justice.



Speaking through an interpreter, Valinas cited the cases of a Venezuelan intelligence operative and a detective who pled guilty to murder and other charges.

These officials were low in rank, were sentenced to five years and 10 months," Valinas said. "In February of this year, the Tenth Chamber of the Caracas Appeal Court cut their sentences to two years and eight months, and they were released.

The U.N. investigators expressed concern that only low-level officials are prosecuted, while senior officials go free. Valinas notes that victims of human rights violations and other crimes have the right to participate in judicial proceedings. However, she notes this right has not been upheld.



She said the daily lives of the Venezuelan people continue to be scarred by the lack of justice and security.

Venezuelans suffer the effects of deep economic, humanitarian-human rights crisis in their daily lives as well as the deterioration of state institutions," Valinas said. "This has all been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The clearest reflection of this is the six million people who felt the need to leave the country.

Venezuelas ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Hector Constant Rosales, called the fact-finding report a waste of time and money. He said the report is a fabrication and a compilation of fake news. He added the work has been carried out at a distance, contains no facts, and is selective in nature.



He accused the reports authors of trying to undermine the sovereignty and self-determination of Venezuelans, adding that Venezuelans enjoy all human rights and democratic freedoms.
Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch.

Situation Grim for Civilians in Ukraine

The U.N. Security Council heard Thursday from senior U.N. officials who reported more than 3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia began its invasion on February 24. At least 2 million more people are displaced inside the country. Food, water and medicine are scarce in many areas as Russian bombardments continue in several Ukrainian cities. The lifesaving medicine we need right now is peace, the head of the World Health Organization said.

UN: Ukraine's Humanitarian Situation Worsening Daily

OSCE Chair Briefs UN Security Council

Polands foreign minister briefed Security Council members on Monday in his capacity as the chairperson of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He condemned Russia's targeting of Ukrainian civilians, as well as schools and hospitals, as "state terrorism."

OSCE Chair: Russian Actions in Ukraine 'State Terrorism'

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Renewed With Robust Mandate

The Security Council voted Thursday to extend and enhance the role of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for another year, as the country faces severe humanitarian challenges. Its mandate includes promoting inclusive political dialogue, monitoring and reporting on human rights, and helping the country gain access to its externally frozen assets.

UN Extends Mission in Afghanistan With Long To-Do List

Libyas Dueling Governments Risk More Instability

Libyas latest political crisis could bring about two parallel governments in the country, the U.N.s political chief warned Wednesday. This could lead to instability and possibly unrest and deal a severe blow to the prospect of elections, Rosemary DiCarlo said.

UN: Dueling Governments in Libya Could Lead to More Instability

In brief

 The U.N. refugee agency and the U.N. childrens agency said Tuesday that every day for the past 20 days, 70,000 children in Ukraine have become refugees. That is equivalent to 55 children fleeing the country every minute  nearly one every second. In addition, access to education has affected about 5.7 million children and adolescents between 3 and 17 years old since the war started. As of Friday, nearly 3.3 million people have fled Ukraine.

 The Food and Agriculture Organization's chief economist said Wednesday that disruptions from the war in Ukraine could drastically affect global wheat and corn prices at a time when food prices are already rising. Maximo Torero told reporters that in a moderate scenario where wheat and corn exports from Ukraine and Russia drop by 10 million tons each, global wheat prices are projected to rise 8.7% and corn by 8.2%. In a severe shock scenario, which includes a reduction of 25 million tons in their combined wheat and corn exports, prices would soar 21.5% and 19.5%, respectively. Torero said this could result in between 7.6 million and 13.1 million people being undernourished worldwide.

 The U.N.s main judicial organ, the International Court of Justice, ruled in favor of Ukraine on Wednesday, ordering Russia to immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine. The Hague-based court ruled 13 to 2. The two judges who voted against halting the war are Russian and Chinese nationals. The court, however, did vote unanimously to tell both parties to refrain from any action that might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court.

 An international donors conference for Yemen on Wednesday raised nearly $1.3 billion of the almost $4.3 billion needed to assist more than 23 million Yemenis this year. After seven years of war, a collapsing economy and a continuing COVID-19 pandemic, 160,000 Yemenis are facing the prospect of famine conditions by June. Millions more are just a step behind them, in what the U.N. has said is a completely manmade humanitarian catastrophe.

Quote of note

We must fathom the breadth of the crisis we now have on our hands  18 million people affected; 12 million people in need of humanitarian assistance; over $1.1 billion to address their immediate needs  it has left us all lost for words. Our worst-case scenario is a reality. But we have scaled up at speed.

 Osnat Lubrani, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, in a virtual briefing for member states on Friday.

Next week

The U.N. General Assembly could vote on a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. France and Mexico said they would take their text there, as a Russian veto would likely doom the effort in the Security Council. A similar strategy saw 141 nations vote to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine in the assembly on March 2. Moscow would likely again be isolated.
According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, Moscows efforts to win over the world with its accounts of events in Ukraine are doing no better than Russia's military forces inside Ukraine.

More often than not, they are meeting with stiff resistance.

Outside of Russia, we have not seen their information operations really find purchase, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Thursday in response to a question from VOA.

We have seen a continuation of Russian attempts to blame stuff they're doing on the Ukrainians, to accuse Ukrainians of doing stuff that they (the Russians) haven't done yet, the official said, on condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence. But outside of Russia, there's little to no evidence that their information ops are working. In fact, we've seen quite the opposite.

Despite such assessments, Russian officials and Russian-affiliated media continued to try to seed social media and the airwaves in places their broadcasts have not been blocked, with allegations of wrongdoing by Ukraine and its backers.

One of Russias perhaps most successful recent tropes has been its allegation that the United States has been funding bioweapon research in Ukraine.

A survey by the Washington-based Alliance for Securing Democracy, a national security advocacy group that tracks disinformation efforts online, found that Russian officials and Russian state-backed media tweeted the word biological almost 600 times in the past week.

Russias Ministry of Defense sought to push those claims further Thursday, publishing new allegations on its English-language Telegram feed.

Russian specialists of nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops have studied original documents revealing details of the implementation of a secret project by the United States in Ukraine to study ways of transmitting diseases to humans through bats at a laboratory in Kharkov, one post said.

The Russian Telegram feed also began pushing claims that a theater in Mariupol where civilians had been sheltering was not hit by a Russian airstrike as claimed by the Mariupol city council, but blown up by the Azov Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian force that analysts say has embraced neo-Nazi views.

A refugee from Mariupol said that militants from the Azov nationalist battalion, while retreating, blew up the city drama theater where there were civilians, whom they used as a human shield, the Ministry of Defense said on Telegram.

Within hours, the allegations about the bioweapons and the theater were being echoed on official Russian government and media Twitter accounts and websites, in multiple languages.

The senior U.S. defense official declined Thursday to elaborate on the Russian accounts of how the theater in Mariupol was destroyed, saying only that none of the accounts could be confirmed at this time.

But U.S. officials have repeatedly denied Russias ongoing accusations about developing bioweapons in Ukraine.

It's a bunch of malarkey," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters last week. "We are not, not developing biological or chemical weapons inside Ukraine."

U.S. intelligence officials also denied the charges, instead saying Moscows insistence on repeating the allegations might indicate it is planning a chemical or biological attack.

This is something  that's very much a part of Russia's playbook," CIA Director William Burns told a Senate panel last week. "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."

Still, there are some concerns that even if Russia is failing to sway most people in the West, a small minority are repeating the Kremlins talking points on podcasts and even on some U.S. cable news networks.

U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio last week noted that the bioweapons allegations in particular have "got some people fired up."

Others are more optimistic.

The sharing of intelligence to shine a light on disinformation  Ive never seen it better in the 35 years Ive spent in uniform, the head of the U.S. National Security Agency, General Paul Nakasone, told lawmakers late Thursday.

Ukrainian officials have likewise said their efforts are paying off.

Ukraine is winning this information war and winning it massively" Heorhii Tykhy, an adviser to the spokesperson for Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a virtual forum last week.

"Defensive strategies are not enough.  What really helps fight the disinformation is proactive strategies," he added.

The senior U.S. defense official on Thursday was complimentary of Kyivs efforts, saying the impact is being felt far beyond Ukraine.

Ukrainians are doing a good job staying ahead of the information ops, the official said. They're doing a good job communicating  using social media to great effect.

So, we just haven't seen the Russians have much success.
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The Peoples Republic of Donestk announced that it killed three American instructors - Captain Michael Hawker, Lieutenant Logan Shrum and Lieutenant Cruz Toblin - during the battle of Marinka. Their identity could be established by searching their backpacks.

In December 2021, the Pentagon had sent instructors to Ukraine to teach non-traditional combat methods. Officially, they had been pulled out at the start of the conflict.
Plan a magical wedding day in Vermont, whether ablaze with fall color, capped with snow, or lush with the green of summer. If you're interested in learning more, click here.

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Lupita Nyongo and the late Chadwick Boseman. Photo: Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

Wakanda might be forever, but production for the Black Panther sequel is taking longer than expected. Black Panthers star-studded cast, including Lupita Nyongo, Angela Bassett, and Chadwick Boseman, started filming the sequel Wakanda Forever in June 2020, a year racked with COVID-19-induced tragedy. When Boseman passed away on August 28 from stage-four colon cancer, Marvel fans mourned the death of the actor, and the crew readjusted the script to account for the loss. After director Ryan Coogler decided not to recast TChalla or use a CGI rendition of his character in the sequel, many speculated that TChallas tech-genius sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, would assume the central role. However, obstacles ranging from stunt injuries that left Wright hospitalized to COVID-19 regulations delayed the films release multiple times. Somehow, Daniel Kaluuyas pseudo-spiritual leader Heir Holiness was the least of their worries. In a three-minute megatrailer distributed by Marvel last May, the studio claimed the film would be released summer 2022. Now, its slated for a November 11 premiere. Below, we break down the tragedies, vaccine rumors, and delays that drew out the films release.

August 2020

Chadwick Boseman died at 43 from colon cancer at his home in Los Angeles after filming Ma Raineys Black Bottom and Da 5 Bloods in between surgeries and chemotherapy. Boseman played the role of the titular Black Panther, imbuing the character with the same sense of quiet strength that he harbored in real life. On set, Boseman urged the cast to speak in South African accents and honed in on the films Afrofuturist narrative by conducting setwide discussions on African spirituality. Boseman was a fan of the Black Panther comics ever since his undergraduate years at Howard University. After his death, Coogler restructured the Black Panther 2 story line to memorialize the actor.

August 15, 2020

Chicago film critic Emmanuel Noisette launched an ongoing Change.org petition urging Marvel executives to #RecastTChalla. They iterated that although Boseman could not be replaced, If Marvel Studios removes TChalla, it would be at the expense of the audiences (especially Black men and boys) who saw themselves in him. Chadwicks brother Derrick Boseman told TMZ in December 2021 that he believes his sibling would have wanted to see TChalla live on, even if another actor took the mantle. Despite their urging, Coogler announced in December 2021 that TChalla would not be recast.

December 2020

Shuri actor Letitia Wright retweeted a now-deleted transphobic, anti-vaxx video from YouTube channel On the Table. Wright endorsed the video with a prayer-hands emoji before responding to the ensuing backlash. If you dont conform to popular opinions but ask questions and think for yourself  you get cancelled, she tweeted. On December 4, Wright wrote, My ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Wrights Marvel co-star Don Cheadle slammed the video online, calling it hot garbage. i would never defend anybody posting this. but i still wont throw her away over it, he added.

August 2021

On set for the sequel, Wright sustained minor injuries from a stunt rig that left her hospitalized in Boston. Sources said that the injuries would not impact scheduling.

October 2021

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Wright allegedly endorsed anti-vaccine perspectives on the set of Black Panther 2. THR also wrote that Disney would roll out a sticker system in October that would indicate which crew members received the vaccination. However, the sticker system would not affect Black Panther 2, as it was already in production. The actress denied these allegations a week later on Instagram. I honestly assert that this was completely untrue, she wrote, alongside a photo of a suit of armor and a Bible verse.

November 2021

Marvel shuts down Wakanda Forever production beginning the week of Thanksgiving. In the months following Wrights stunt-rig injuries, Coogler was said to have shot all of the scenes not involving Shuri. Although the studio stated in August that Wrights injuries would not affect the production schedule, the crew went on hiatus while waiting for her to recover. Letitia has been recovering in London since September from injuries sustained on the set of Black Panther 2 and is looking forward to returning to work early 2022, Wrights representative told THR.

January 7, 2022

Police handcuff Ryan Coogler at an Atlanta branch of Bank of America after a teller mistook him for a bank robber. The bank teller, who is also Black, reportedly told her manager that Coogler was a robber when he handed her a withdrawal slip for $10,000 with a note asking for discretion on the back. The police verified Cooglers identity before releasing him. This situation should never have happened, Coogler said in a March 9 statement, adding that Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.

January 14, 2022

Omicron surges on the Atlanta set led to yet another reported delay. Lupita Nyongo  who plays Wakanda spy Nakia  tested positive for the virus, as did several other cast and crew members. Thankfully, the delay only lasted a week. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and its elusive plot  with Michaela Coel in tow  will premiere in theaters on November 11, pending any other obstacles.
Americans look to collect guns, more to help Ukrainian fighters
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Zelensky thanks Italian culture minister for setting 'good example'.

The Italian government has offered to rebuild a theatre in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol which was destroyed in a bomb attack earlier this week, culture minister Dario Franceschini said on Thursday.

Writing on Twitter, Franceschini said the Italian cabinet of ministers had approved his proposal to "offer Ukraine the resources and means" to rebuild the theatre as soon as possible.

Italy is ready to rebuild the Theatre of #Mariupol. The cabinet of Ministers has approved my proposal to offer #Ukraine the resources and means to rebuild it as soon as possible. Theaters of all countries belong to the whole humanity #worldheritage pic.twitter.com/FPictnEloy  Dario Franceschini (@dariofrance) March 17, 2022

The Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the culture minister, replying on Twitter: "You set a good example to follow. Together we will rebuild the country to the last brick."

Ukraine says Russia was responsible for bombing the theatre in the besieged coastal city but Moscow denies any involvement.

There were reportedly up to 1,000 people, including children, taking shelter from bombardments in the theatre's basement when the building was hit in an air strike.

Dozens of survivors were reportedly pulled out alive from the rubble on Thursday.

Thanks @dariofrance. You set a good example to follow. Together we will rebuild the country to the last brick. https://t.co/ZPplHWVpAl    (@ZelenskyyUa) March 17, 2022

The neoclassical theatre, whose official name is the Donetsk Region Academic Theatre of Drama, was inaugurated in 1960, replacing a previous 19th-century building.

In recent years the theatre has hosted performances by Tolstoy, Pushkin, Moliere, Chekhov and Shakespeare, as well as more contemporary works, reports Italian state broadcaster RAI News.
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VW recalls SUVs over unexpected braking Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Volkswagen is recalling more than 246,000 SUVs in the United States and Canada because faulty wiring harnesses can make them brake unexpectedly, sometimes while in traffic. The recall comes three days after the Associated Press reported that 47 people had complained to U.S. safety regulators about the problem, some reporting nearly being rear-ended by other vehicles. Many reported that warning lights and alarms would go off, the drivers side window would roll down, and the SUVs would suddenly brake while in traffic.

Volkswagen says in documents posted Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the recall covers certain Atlas SUVs from the 2019 through 2023 model years, as well as the 2020 through 2023 Atlas Cross Sport.

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The documents say the electrical contacts on a wiring harness in either of the front doors can corrode, interrupting electrical connections. The problem can cause the side air bags to deploy late in a crash, and the parking brake can come on unexpectedly. Volkswagen says in documents that the SUVs can brake at speeds below 1.8 mph.

But many of those who complained to NHTSA said the unwanted braking happened while they were driving on city streets, putting them in danger. A driver from Mansfield, Ohio, wrote in a complaint that the braking happened multiple times at speeds of 25 to 70 mph.

 Associated Press

U.S. accuses gold refiner of illicit trade

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Belgian gold trader Alain Goetz and his African Gold Refinery, one of the continents biggest processors of the metal, for allegedly contributing to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Goetz and Uganda-based AGR are key players in Congos illicit gold trade, which is worth hundreds of millions of dollars each year and is the largest source of revenue for armed groups in the country, the Treasury said Thursday in an emailed statement. Goetz, AGR and eight other linked companies will have their U.S.-based assets blocked under the sanctions, it said.

Goetz was sanctioned under two executive orders signed during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations that target persons threatening the peace, security, or stability of the DRC and the surrounding region.

Goetz didnt immediately provide comment when reached by text message Friday. AGRs website no longer operates, and the companys phone was off when called for comment.

Conflict in mineral-rich eastern Congo began in the mid-1990s, when the civil war and genocide in neighboring Rwanda spread over the border, igniting a war that eventually enveloped more than a half-dozen African nations. Despite a 2003 peace agreement, fighting persists in eastern Congo. More than 100 armed groups are active in the region, which has almost 5 million displaced people, the largest number in Africa, according to the United Nations.

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 Bloomberg News

U.S. home sales fell by the most in a year in February as rising mortgage rates and a perennial shortage of houses priced out first-time buyers from the market. Existing-home sales dropped 7.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.02 million units last month, the largest decrease since February 2021, the National Association of Realtors said Friday.

FedEx posted lower-than-expected quarterly earnings Thursday, hit by ongoing labor woes and the omicron outbreak, and sees softer ground margins in the second half. E-commerce shipments fueled revenue at FedEx and United Parcel Service during the coronavirus pandemic, but FedEx has been less successful than its rival at turning that business into profit.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) on Friday announced a program to develop lithium batteries in the United States as part of a broader strategy to help Appalachia amid a transition away from coal. Lithium-based batteries are critical components of electric vehicles, grid storage and weapons, but the United States relies on international markets for the processing of most raw materials, according to the Energy Department. The department is promoting a plan to support a domestic battery supply chain.

 From news services

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Exchanges exist to be places where trades can happen. They sometimes halt trading or very occasionally cancel transactions when technology glitches or fat fingers cause one-off mistakes. But its rare for one to cancel whole sessions after the fact, or to take more than a day to allow trading to resume freely. But thats whats been happening on one of finances oldest institutions, the London Metal Exchange, known as the LME. The chain of extreme events -- and repeated blunders -- that began after Russias invasion of Ukraine has created an existential crisis for the exchange. The effects will be felt as well by the manufacturers who rely on metals whose prices are benchmarked to LME trading.

1. What is the LME?

The exchange sets global prices for bellwether commodities such as copper and aluminum and trades about $64 billion in futures contracts daily. The LMEs history dates back to the early 19th century, when metal traders drew a circle in the sawdust on the floor of the Jerusalem Coffee House in the City of London. Today, in addition to its electronic market, its one of the last exchanges with an open-outcry trading floor, known as the Ring, where brokers gather in person to yell orders at one another for part of the day. Its participants are a mix of the industrial metals companies, which tap the market to offset their price risks, and hedge funds, which use it to speculate. Still, contracts on the LME are backed by physical metal in a network of warehouses around the world, providing a direct link with the real-world metals industry.

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2. What went wrong?

Nickel prices on the LME spiked 250% in little more than 24 hours, leading the exchange to suspend trading on March 8 for the first time in three decades. The seeds of the crisis had been planted by a Chinese tycoon, Xiang Guangda and his closely-held enterprise Tsingshan Holding Group Co., a dominant force in the worlds nickel and stainless steel production. Tsingshan had been shorting nickel -- betting that prices would fall -- because Xiang expected that a rapid production increase in his Indonesian factories would weigh on global prices. Then came the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, a major nickel producer, which was followed by a raft of economic sanctions against Moscow. The expectation that the disruption would drive nickel prices higher fueled a short squeeze -- a term for what can happen to people who have bet on a price falling when it rises. Short sellers and their brokers have to buy back the securities they have sold in order to stop the losses, accelerating the increase.

3. What did the LME do?

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Along with suspending trading, it decided to cancel $3.9 billion in trades. Effectively, it rewound the market to the closing price on March 7 of $48,078 per metric ton, down from a high of over $100,000 in the early hours of March 8. The chief executive officer of the LME defended the decision as necessary to protect market stability, saying the prices were becoming disconnected from physical reality.

4. What happened in the reopening?

LME suspended trading in nickel for a week, to give market participants -- including Xiang -- time to get their financing in order. But its first three days of trading, from March 16 to March 18, produced short sessions hampered by technical glitches in which only a handful of trades were conducted before a limit for price swings was hit. When trading was allowed, there was a gulf between bids and offers, leading to highly illiquid trading conditions in the worlds benchmark pricing venue.

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5. What does it mean for the pricing of metals?

Not only is nickel a crucial element in the stainless steel used in everyday appliances, but its also important for the worlds transition away from fossil fuels. Higher prices for nickel means 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 grab the attention of regulators.

6. What does this mean for the LME?

The nickel crisis is threatening to engulf the LME -- already, some angry investors have said they will walk away from trading on the market, which is owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. In private, exhausted traders and brokers -- many of whom worked around the clock for several weeks -- expressed their exasperation with the glitches on the exchanges electronic platform. To make matters worse, many were stuck holding long positions they couldnt redeem because the market had barely traded. With prices falling by a daily limit on the electronic market, the floor hasnt played its usual role in setting some of the LMEs benchmark prices, and trading there has been similarly muted. The most active trading venue has been the LMEs telephone-based market, which is favored by banks, hedge funds and trading houses with large and complex orders to place. Long before this crisis, there were questions about the long-term viability of the LME, which saw its trading volume slide to the lowest in a decade in 2021 after closing the Ring temporarily during the pandemic and shifting toward electronic trading.

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7. Whats the alternative to the LME?

Currently, there isnt an easy one for most industrial metals -- meaning that, however much traders complain about the exchange, many of them have little choice but to stick with it. Some nickel traders have started persuading their clients to use alternative benchmarks, such as the one traded in Shanghai, to price the physical trade. But using Chinese prices has major challenges. Chinas markets are largely inaccessible to international participants. And the country is a net nickel importer. Moreover, unlike the structures in copper, steel and crude oil trading, refined nickel output from China makes up a relatively smaller proportion of global production.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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The bonanza, which has continued into this year, comes as traders face the most volatile market in several generations. The Bloomberg Commodity Spot index earlier this month posted a weekly jump of more than 13%  the largest one-week price increase in data going back more than 60 years ago.As in 2020 and 2021, volatility is a sure path to strong profits for commodity traders. At least, thats if they can survive long enough to collect their winnings. Right now, the industry is struggling. In a letter to governments and regulators, the lobby group for the European energy traders warned of intolerable cash-liquidity pressure across the sector. In some cases, trading houses have exhausted their credit lines. The solution, according to the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET), is a bailout. Or, in the more politically correct words of the lobby group, a time-limited emergency liquidity support from governments or central banks.

Cynics could be forgiven for having a case of deja vu, having experienced the rescue that Wall Street got after the banking collapse of 2008. Then, as critics liked to point out, the profits of the pre-crisis golden years were privatized and the losses that followed were socialized.The Oliver Wyman report shows the size of those privatized profits in the commodity sector: gross margin reached a cumulative $160 billion in the three years from 2019 to 2021. That sky-high gross margin made its way into record net profits, and then into eye-watering dividends. In an industry that remains largely privately owned, that means they went largely to the senior executives and the top traders. For example, Vitol, the worlds top oil trading house, paid a record $2.9 billion to its executives and staff through share buybacks in 2021. Trafigura paid its traders-cum-shareholders $1.1 billion last year. If traders need extra liquidity, as their lobby group suggested, chief financial officers should start by looking inward: Tap the very same executives who enjoyed the riches of recent years. I cant think of any other business that can organize an emergency equity raising in a shorter time frame than the commodities sector. Depending of their size, each company should be able to raise dozens, hundreds of millions  even a billion dollars  from within their own ranks. Theres a reason why some of their owners are ranked among the worlds billionaires. Among the publicly listed companies, the first call should be to their own shareholders and bondholders.The liquidity problem is real. EFET said in its letter that traders were receiving margin calls of $500 million a day, per company, due to volatility and high prices, up from $50 million in the past. Talking to industry executives in recent days, I have heard of even larger margin calls, running into the billions of dollars. But rather than central banks, the first stop to resolve the problem lies among the very same traders, as Caglar Sabanci, head of commodity finance at Erste Group Bank AG, has argued. To date, we have yet to see an emergency rights issues and equity dilution among the lobby groups members. Theres precedent: In 2015, Glencore raised $2.5 billion in fresh equity to avert a crisis. Ivan Glasenberg, at the time the companys chief executive officer, and his lieutenants provided nearly a quarter of that amount from their own pockets. Only if such an effort now fails should taxpayer money be sought  and any of that could very well come with strings attached. In other words, be careful what you wish for.
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Thanks to climate change, Arctic wildfires are a growing source of destruction and carbon emissions at the top of the world. Thanks to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Arctic Council, the worlds most important diplomatic forum for policy-making in the far north, Arctic communities may not have the ability to coordinate studies, preparations and responses this year.

Seven of the eight nations that make up the council condemned the Russian invasion two weeks ago and paused cooperation on most of their work. As collateral damage goes, international cooperation on Arctic wildfires might seem insignificant compared to the carnage in Ukraine.

But as the climate warms, the Arctics role in the health of the global environment and economy cant be overlooked. A warmer Arctic will alter weather, ocean currents and fisheries. Russia, with 53% of the Arctic coastline and 70% of its population, will have to play a key role in responding. For now, the other Arctic countries and communities must continue planning and responding to a hotter future.

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For most of history, there was no need for international governance in the Arctic. Indigenous groups were widely dispersed and didnt engage in the kinds of large-scale resource extraction that generate international friction. Bordering nation-states might aspire to exploit Arctic resources close to home, but the forbidding climate and conditions all but ensured that they wouldnt find themselves in conflict with Arctic neighbors.

That thinking began to shift in the 1970s as science and technology made the Arctic more accessible. Climate change and the toxic legacy of Soviet-era dumping emerged as top concerns.

Commercial interest developed in the business opportunities that a warmer Arctic might offer, from shipping to mining. In 1996, the eight Arctic states  Canada, Denmark (which includes Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and the Soviet Union  along with six indigenous groups, established the Arctic Council to address environmental protection and sustainable development.

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The council lacks the status of a formal international organization like the European Union or the World Trade Organization, meaning it acts by the informal consensus of its members. Quietly, its produced some remarkably useful agreements, including legally binding accords on search and rescue and oil-spill preparation and response.

A 2018 pact designed to enhance scientific cooperation across borders has proven particularly useful, spurring research efforts across the region ranging from a recently released inventory of Arctic biodiversity to long-term assessments of the impact of black carbon soot on public health. It also coordinates a rich and diverse array of climate research.

Its been less than three weeks since the councils work was paused, so the impact is unclear. But an extended pause would surely be problematic.

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Scientists fear that a range of research priorities, including the monitoring of wildfires, thawing permafrost and methane emissions could be disrupted by an extended interruption in data collection and sharing.

Some aspects of climate change, such as working on black carbon, could be badly impacted, said Evan T. Bloom, senior fellow at the Wilson Centers Polar Institute in Washington and a former director of the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs at the U.S. State Department. Its very hard to do that without Russia involved, especially if you want government action.

Not all Arctic research involves Russia. Collaboration between international researchers at facilities like the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, will continue. The Arctic states and indigenous communities should use the pause to reallocate resources and prioritize research that can be accomplished without Russia.

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But longer-term efforts to address the warming Arctic climate and related issues will require Russian participation. That wont resume unless Russia ceases its hostilities in Ukraine. At that point, Bloom predicted, Russia will be eager to regain its leading role in Arctic affairs.

Russia sees itself as a great Arctic nation, Bloom said. Its central to their thinking. They dont want to stand out in a negative way, perpetually. The Arctic Council should acknowledge this aspiration by not taking steps that would permanently exclude Russia from international dialogue and research in the north, or lead to the impression that Russias participation is not valued.

The war will eventually end, but climate change and its impact on the Arctic wont. To address them, the world will need to include the Arctics most important resident.

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More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Putins Arctic Plans Are a Climate Change Bet: Leonid Bershidsky

 As the Arctic Heats Up, How to Keep the Peace: Clara Ferreira Marques

 Avoiding a Cold War in the Arctic North: James Stavridis

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Adam Minter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade and Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Roughly half the U.S. population has little or no memory of the Cold War. Which is good; life ought to be lived without the existential dread of mushroom clouds. Yet for many of us growing up in the West, the Cold War period was actually better than any time our ancestors experienced. We enjoyed economic growth, access to high-quality health care and education and jet-powered trade and travel. Plus peace, even if predicated on mutually assured destruction. In the post-Cold War years, when roughly half of todays population was growing up, things turned positively fantastic. Economies boomed as trade barriers fell and Chinese manufacturing hit its stride. And there was the internet and on-demand everything. Plus peace, even if marked by occasional terrorist attacks and the odd faraway war. Nuclear weapons remained, of course, but came to seem like relics.

Russias attack on Ukraine marks the end of all that and the beginning of a new normal  or, rather, a shift back toward the old normality.

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What we think of as normal is actually the most distorted moment in human history, writes Peter Zeihan, a geopolitical analyst, in his forthcoming book, The End of the World Is Just the Beginning. As the title suggests, this is not a happy read.

Zeihans central premise is that the globalized world now ending was founded on a bribe. In the aftermath of World War II, the U.S. offered access to the only functioning industrialized market of any scale  its own  with free trade policed by the only navy still capable of doing so  its own  and security guarantees for key allies in Europe and Asia. In return for this opportunity to recover, the other countries had to set aside their historical squabbles and imperial ambitions and support the Americans strategic priority: containing the USSR.

There had been an earlier era of globalization, in the decades leading up World War I. But that one stemmed from technological advances in shipping and communication rather than a true embrace of multilateralism. Back then, trade was dominated by the competing empires that ultimately clashed in 1914.

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The decisive break from history at the end of World War II happened because its unequivocal victor, the U.S., declined to subjugate defeated enemies and broken allies. Instead, it used direct aid and economic access to rebuild them. And other countries, too. With free trade secured, otherwise economically marginal or previously insecure regions (except those aligned with Moscow) could develop, selling to and buying from a global marketplace. Without this peculiar order in place, it is hard to imagine a Singapore or even a Saudi Arabia  and definitely not a Ukraine  as sustained sovereign actors.

Weird as this was, its persistence after the USSR collapsed was even weirder. As the American bribe became harder to justify, the U.S. eventually ended up with a president who rejected free trade, openly denounced NATO allies as moochers and reveled in the old style of great-power politics.

Russian President Vladimir Putins attack on Ukraine, combined with a changed White House, has reinvigorated the U.S.-led alliance. Now, rather than wither, NATO may actually gain new members. Economic sanctions on Russia have been swift, harsh and surprisingly cohesive. And with the invasion clearly not going according to plan, it may seem as if the lifespan of our distorted moment could lengthen.

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Not so fast. Theres no ceasefire in Ukraine yet and, even if a settlement is reached soon, the world has changed.

For one thing, Russia, which spans 11 time zones and exports all types of vital commodities, is no longer part of the international system in the way it was just a few weeks ago. Sovereign debt default appears imminent. Putins pattern of behavior, his age and his apparent obsession with Ukraine make him more likely to double down than to back down. The oil majors that have withdrawn and the aircraft leasing firms that have had their planes, er, nationalized wont be coming back  even assuming they get an invitation. And however unrealistic it might seem for Western Europe to sever its energy umbilicus with Russia, keeping it intact is at least as unrealistic.

The dislocation and cost involved in isolating Russia means its too soon to declare that the U.S.-led order is completely revived. This war is barely three weeks old, and we have yet to see how unity will hold up over an extended period of potential energy shortages.

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One effect of postwar globalization was that it reduced the importance of location  which, in geopolitical terms, is about as distorted as things get. Dizzyingly complex, extended supply chains make it possible to lay your hands on gasoline or a smartphone or anything else pretty much anywhere. And security guarantees mean theres little need to worry about that giant, revanchist power across your border.

Now location matters again. Germany, with its capital about 750 miles from Kyiv and its reliance on Russia for half of its gas, is in a different place in several senses from neighboring France, whose capital lies almost 1,300 miles from the war zone and gets only a quarter of its gas from Siberia. Poland and the Baltic states, despite also being members of the EU and NATO, are in an entirely different space from both. The border with Russia is now like a geopolitical event horizon, and proximity to it will shape how countries respond  raising the potential for divisions, as seen already in continental Europes reluctance to follow the U.S. and U.K. in sanctioning Russian energy.

Even assuming this current crisis revives the U.S.-led order, it wouldnt look like the one we grew up with. Washingtons commitment has faded, as every U.S. ally is already aware. President Joe Biden is poles apart from his predecessor. But his recent State of the Union speech, while calling for the world to stand with Ukraine, also doubled down on protectionism and reshoring. There has to be a recognition among Americas allies that their physical security depends on the Americans  and that comes at a cost, says Zeihan.

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Germany is the most striking example of a major ally suddenly recognizing this, though well past time. The idea that a $4 trillion economy built on international trade and surrounded by former adversaries would have barely a navy to speak of and a military smaller than Moroccos is, in historical terms, ludicrous. This explains why, with Ukraine under attack, Berlin has decided to rearm with gusto  another apparition from the old normal.

Predicting the implications of this shift in the foundation is impossible; one cant be sure which parts of the structure will collapse and which will hold up (apart from Russias capital markets, which are clearly ruined already). Chinas unfolding reaction is crucial. There is a world of difference between Beijing doubling down on siding with Moscow and its accommodating the international order from which it has benefited enormously.

Yet the obvious potential change is accelerating fragmentation, something glimpsed already in rising protectionism and in the vaccine diplomacy (or lack of it) during the pandemic. In economic terms, decoupling and deglobalization is bullish in the first order but bearish in the second, says Kevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners, a Washington-based research firm. The alternative to outsourcing and division of labor is duplication of industries, which means doing and investing more in the near term but incurring the cost of inefficiencies over the longer term. And you thought inflation was bad already.

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Surging gasoline prices and long lead times for sofa-buyers are not, however, the worst potential outcomes here.

Book, for example, has assessed the effects from Russias oil and gas exports (4.5% of global consumption) being cut off. He estimates that they range from 100% of the world managing with 4.5% less energy to 4.5% of the world going without altogether. The first endpoint mostly entails higher prices, assuming a world that still coordinates relatively uninhibited energy flows. If the world reverts to the older normal of great-power competition, the outcome would tend more toward some states being cut off completely.

Zeihan, in the section of his book thats focused on agriculture, raises a similar, but more troubling, dimension:

The industrialized Order hasnt simply enabled us to increase the total calories grown by a factor of seven since 1945, it has enabled vast swathes of the planet to have large populations when geography alone wouldnt previously support them. Populations in North Africa and the Middle East in particular have expanded by a factor of seven since 1945. Bulk food shipments originating a continent (or more) away are now a commonality.

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Given the news and images from Ukraine, it may seem petty to sound the alarm on access to stuff. Except that access to sometimes vital stuff, at broadly affordable prices and without fear of interdiction, has been the making of not merely Western prosperity but, in other parts of the world, sheer viability. Book characterizes the worlds apparent slip back toward its longstanding historical condition of disconnection and friction as reversion to the mean. Mean being the operative word, one might add.

More from other writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 My Grandmother Was in the Winter War. It Was as Ugly as This One: Leonid Bershidsky

 A Losing and Desperate Putin Could Be Terrifying: Hal Brands

 Well Miss Globalization When Its Gone: Matthew Yglesias

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journals Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times Lex column. He was also an investment banker.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The Russian taste for bling is a byword in the luxury industry. The emblems are unmistakable: the oligarch yachts, the alligator skin handbags, the five-figure cashmere winter coats snatched up in Moscow and St. Petersburg by the super-rich and those on the verge of joining that privileged class. Still, the European Union authorities took about three weeks from the start of military action in Ukraine to decide they would include luxury goods on their sanctions to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.

The take is still impressive. On March 12, Italy said it had seized a 530 million euro ($585.5 million) superyacht owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. The boat is said to be the worlds biggest sailing yacht  with eight decks and a glass observation area. Melnichenko, founder of EuroChem, a maker of fertilizer and agricultural products, joined an ignominious list that includes Gennady Timchenko, whose yacht Lena was seized a few days earlier in the Italian coastal city of Sanremo and Lady M, the boat of Russian steel baron Alexey Mordashov. Across the Mediterranean in France, police stopped Rosneft PJSC chief Igor Sechins Amore Vero (True Love) from leaving the Cote DAzur.

Italian police have seized more than 700 million euros in Russian assets since sanctions began. Meanwhile, on the ground in Russia, Europes luxury boutique owners, first in drips, then in a rush, shuttered stores.

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Its not surprising that Italy and Europe hesitated before pouncing on luxury. The industry may like to look shiny and ephemeral, but its not. Luxury is one the few industries where Europe is unrivalled and where all that bling disguises muscle. Europes richest man  and third richest in the world after Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, according to Bloomberg Billionaires index  is Bernard Arnault, chief executive officer of LVMH Moet Hennessy  Louis Vuitton SE, which is also one of Europes biggest employers. Italy and France manufacture most of the worlds high end leather and apparel goods. Europe is also a top global destination for big spending tourists, in terms of luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, as well as shopping boutiques.

The reason to exempt luxury, according to insiders, was hitting Russian consumers with sanctions would have a limited effect and hurt European business more. Initially, the idea was that the sanctions were aimed at damaging the Russian economy  not the European economy, says Luca Solca, an analyst at Bernstein. If the Russians wanted to give the luxury industry money to buy products that are neither strategic nor useful for the war, so be it.

That line of thinking was, at best, naive. When media reports in late February said Italy was seeking to exempt luxury from sanctions, the office of Prime Minister Mario Draghi issued a sharp rebuttal: Italy has asked for no carve out on sanctions. Italys position is fully aligned with the rest of the EU.

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All opposition came apart once other sanctions were imposed  resulting in a halt in the flow of goods and funds between Russia and the rest of the world. Then it became almost impossible for foreign stores to operate in Russia. Buying into sanctions is as much commercial pragmatism as political solidarity with the pro-Ukraine alliance.

But theres another way the industry is looking at sacrificing its Russian market. Executives believe the impact of sanctions could well be limited. The high-end customers from that country account for only around 5% of the personal luxury segment  apparel, sunglasses, leather goods  and even less of total luxury  fast cars, real estate and yachts. Russian oligarchs have a propensity to splash out on six-figure super yachts on which they can party in privacy in Portofino or Sardinia. But those purchases have a 40 to 50-year lifecycle. As showy as those boats are, they cant rival what millions of consumers buy up annually in fashionable Dior, Valentino or Prada trinkets in the U.S., the worlds biggest luxury market.

War is still bad for business, especially when it is on your doorstep. Executives Ive spoken to say sales in the past month have plunged in Western Europe. Armando Branchini, a strategic adviser to EY in Milan and honorary executive director of Italian luxury lobby Altagamma, says sales in Europe have as much as halved in the past three weeks.

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Thats bracing for an industry thats had a rocky two years with lockdowns. But if the pandemic recovery is any indicator, its probably just a short term. Global luxury sales staged a V shaped recovery. After a plunge in 2020, they ended up 2021 slightly higher than in 2019.

So the industry is hoping that China is able to figure its way out of the zero-Covid isolation and the surge of infections in major cities and manufacturing centers that now threatens to slow down the countrys economy. The luxury market there has doubled in size since 2019 to more than 60 billion euros, according to consultancy Bain. China added an estimated 205 billionaires last year, more than any other country.

Whats more, many are in their 30s and 40s  youngsters compared with the 60somethings who make up Russias plutocrat class. Branchini says the privileged Chinese cohort has just entered the age of seduction, the period in life when the newly minted want to show off their wealth. A new handbag, watch or yacht helps with that. The spending could also help Europe recover from the war.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Will Western Banks Walk Away From Russia?: Marc Rubinstein

 Cant Find a Rolex or Patek Philippe? Blame the Reddit Crowd: Andrea Felsted

 Why China Wont Help Russia Around Sanctions: Shuli Ren

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Rachel Sanderson was Milan correspondent for the Financial Times from 2010 to 2020. She has also written about Italy for the Economist and reported for Reuters and Reuters TV from Rome, Paris and London.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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White House pandemic coordinator Jeff Zients is leaving and being replaced by Dr. Ashish Jha, a very public  and, as far as I can tell, very good  public health expert. In any other White House, Id be questioning the choice of Jha and whether his undoubted medical and policy expertise and formidable explanatory gifts give him the correct credentials for the job. But in this case, I suspect its a good selection.

To me, the quintessential story of President Joe Bidens fight against the coronavirus was the program to give every household free testing kits. It seemed to be a stellar example of implementation. The tests were easy to order and delivery was generally rapid. But the program didnt begin until mid-January, right about at the peak of the omicron wave and after the delta wave had done a lot of damage. At that point, manufacturers had cut back on testing and people couldnt find tests. That is, the administration had appeared to be taken by surprise by the progression of the Covid-19 pandemic, and not for the first time.

In other words, the management prowess that Zients brought to the job has been the administrations strength. People take the logistics of vaccine distribution for granted now, but the first few weeks of rolling it out featured numerous snafus and difficulties before Bidens team entered the White House. All of that disappeared rapidly after Chief of Staff Ron Klain and Zients took over, and it hasnt been a news story since. We havent heard much about interagency bickering, either. Carrying out policy has been about as smooth as anyone could hope.

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But the policy choices havent always received equally strong reviews from public health experts. And the communications side of policy implementation hasnt been as smooth as the logistics. Its not entirely the administrations fault that many people failed to get vaccinated (and even more failed to get the essential booster shot when that became necessary), but the message didnt get out as effectively as it could have.

To be sure: Drawing lines from policy to implementation to outcomes is difficult. Its easy to criticize a lot of Donald Trumps actions when he was president  he denied that the pandemic was a problem for crucial weeks early on, and seemed to give up on everything but the push for vaccines after a short period of taking it seriously  but its not really clear how much damage that did. (State policies are similarly difficult to assess. It is clear that states governed by Democrats have generally fared better than those governed by Republicans, but its a lot harder to be certain that their policies are what made the difference, and if so which specific policies).

Theres a good argument now that what the administration needs is better policy ideas and better communications, and that it has a good handle on logistics, coordination within the government, and coordination between the federal government and its private and public partners. Perhaps that means that the skills Zients brought to the administration arent as important as the subject-matter know-how that Jha seems best qualified to contribute. Especially given that Klain is still around, and the administration overall has been pretty stable.

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I agree with Paul Waldman and Greg Sargent of the Washington Post that theres a lot on the line here for the president  not to mention for the nation. Whats going to matter politically for the midterm elections and eventually for the 2024 presidential contest will be outcomes, and people will hold Biden and the Democrats responsible. Theyll do so regardless of what they think of Bidens policy choices, or whatever Republicans advocate.

That doesnt mean that Biden, Jha and the Democrats should ignore immediate voter preferences. That has to be part of the equation. But my guess is that what works to limit the spread of the pandemic is more important in the medium and long term than anyones immediate reaction to any particular measure. And that whats expressed as antagonism towards actions to control the virus, like mask and vaccine mandates, are really eruptions of frustration with a pandemic thats inflicted two years of disruption.

Not that managing a fast-spreading and deadly new disease is easy. A lot of the policy choices that have worked out poorly have been understandable, and both the virus and public opinion  and, really, human nature  have given both the Trump and Biden administrations tough choices to make and weighty tasks to accomplish. Analysts should take that into account when assessing how Biden, Klain and Zients have done. But voters wont. Theyll just care about outcomes.

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For weekend reading, here are some of the best items from political scientists this week:

 Julia Gray at the Monkey Cage on Ukraine and the European Union

 Seth Masket on censures and Republican radicalism.

 Julia Azari on Trump and 2024.

 Matt Glassman on the omnibus spending bill signed by Biden this week.

 Matthew Shugart on French elections and political honeymoons.

 Back at the Monkey Cage, Erica Chenoweth on worldwide protests and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 Henry J. Farrell and Abraham L. Newman on the U.S. and economic sanctions.

 And Dan Drezner on the U.S. foreign policy debate.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. He taught political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University and wrote A Plain Blog About Politics.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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President Joe Bidens ambitious plan for a new biomedical agency that will take on breakthrough biomedical research is finally coming to life. Congress this week authorized $1 billion over three years for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight But the fledgling agency still needs a leader and a home  two critical choices that will determine whether it succeeds in the long term or quickly fails.

In making these decisions, officials should mimic whats best about the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the operation that inspired ARPA-H. And DARPAs chief asset is its autonomy.

APRA-H is meant to be a space where intriguing, outside-of-the-box ideas for treating and curing cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers and other diseases can be tested and, if they dont work, quickly abandoned in favor of new ones. The agency is meant to support projects that might take too long and be too risky to attract venture capital, but are too goal-oriented to fall under the National Institutes of Healths basic-science mandate. Rather than explore hypotheses, ARPA-H projects are supposed to solve problems.

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Now that the agency has been funded, Xavier Becerra, the secretary of Health and Human Services, has 30 days to decide whether it should be housed inside the NIH or operate as a separate unit within HHS.

To give the agency a fighting chance to realize its ambitions, Becerra should place it outside the NIH and let it operate with autonomy.

Consider DARPAs track record in developing edgy new technologies for the military. Its work has led to, among other things, the internet, GPS navigation, self-driving cars and Modernas mRNA vaccines. This success is due largely to DARPAs independence (its an autonomous unit within the Defense Department), its lack of bureaucracy and its ability to take on projects that might fail. We had one person between us and the secretary of defense, says Brad Ringeiser, a former head of DARPAs Biological Technologies Office.

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ARPA-H needs that same freedom to experiment.

The NIH might seem like a natural home, because it stands at the center of Americas biomedical ecosystem, funding research that advances understanding of nearly all diseases. That work is essential to determining how diseases manifest and developing theories about how to treat them. In some cases, it even pushes into finding treatments or vaccines.

Its easy to imagine that some of ARPA-Hs work will overlap a bit with that of the NIH and its grantees. But NIH research isnt known for quickly pivoting when the scientific trail veers in new directions. Consider, for example, the meager support the agency has given over the years to Alzheimers research that didnt adhere to the popular hypothesis that the disease is caused by amyloid plaques in the brain.

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A key difference is that the NIH typically provides multi-year grants that provide needed latitude for scientific exploration. ARPA-H, in contrast, will likely give out contracts that come with accountability. If DARPA is the guide, those contracts can be ended if an experiment fails or hits a dead end, so that the funding can be quickly redirected to the next good idea.

ARPA-H needs to foster a culture in which its possible to quickly test ideas that fall outside the norm. It needs to cultivate wildly promising lines of thinking that might lead to a breakthrough  or not.

The agency will need a leader who can establish that culture, and this will be a tricky hire. Some people think the job should go to a government outsider  perhaps someone with experience in industry or venture capital. But to avoid conflicts of interest, an ARPA-H leader would need to shed any links to industry. The person would also need to be able to fully shift her thinking away from financial return on investment and toward societal benefits.

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The former NIH director Francis Collins, now a White House science adviser, has said the ARPA-H leader should have experience working in another government research agency. Perhaps somebody who was once a program manager at DARPA in their biomedical division, he suggested in an interview this week with Science.

The decision on where ARPA-H is located could affect the search for a leader. One bill in Congress specifies that the agency be located outside of the DC area. The implication is that it should be near one of the countrys biotech hubs. That could help attract top talent, but Congress should also consider the availability of affordable housing and lab space in places such as Boston and San Francisco.

Congress has so far given ARPA-H much less money than the $6.5 billion Biden had requested. But $1 billion is plenty for now, given that the agency needs time to gear up. Its probably a year or more away from funding projects.

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First, its essential to make sure that all its pieces fall into place in a way that maximizes its promise.

More from other writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Moderna to Uncle Sam: My Vaccine, Not Yours: Timothy L. OBrien

 Where Did $6 Trillion in Covid Funding Actually Go?: Editorial

 Medicare Must Test the New Alzheimers Drug: Bach and Redberg

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Lisa Jarvis, the former executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News, writes about biotech, drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry for Bloomberg Opinion.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Meadows investigated over voter registration Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight State investigators in North Carolina are probing Mark Meadows over his voter registration, after news organizations reported that the former White House chief of staff registered to vote in 2020 using the address of a mobile home he has never lived in. Anjanette Grube, public information director for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, confirmed to The Washington Post on Thursday that the matter is under investigation. News of the investigation was first reported by Raleigh-based TV station WRAL. The station reported that the North Carolina State Board of Elections is also investigating Meadows.

Meadows, 62, represented North Carolinas 11th Congressional District from 2013 to 2020. He was President Donald Trumps chief of staff from March 2020 until Trump left office in January 2021.

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Ben Williamson, a spokesman for Meadows, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to a report by the New Yorker this month, Meadows filed his voter registration in September 2020, three weeks before North Carolinas deadline for the general election, listing his residential address as a mobile home in Scaly Mountain, N.C.

Neither the home nor the property with that address have belonged to him, and he has never lived there, the magazine said. It is unclear whether Meadows has spent even one night at that address.

After the 2020 election, Meadows promoted Trumps false claims that widespread voter fraud cost him to lose the election to Democrat Joe Biden.

It is illegal to provide false information on a voter registration, and while Americans can have multiple residences, they can have only one official domicile, which is tied to their voter registration. To register to vote in North Carolina, a citizen must have lived in the county where they are registering and have resided there for at least 30 days before the date of the election, according to the states board of elections.

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2 killed, 2 wounded in Florida bus shooting: Two people were killed and two others were wounded Thursday during a shooting on a South Florida commuter bus, officials said. The shooting occurred on a Broward County Transit bus just outside the Fort Lauderdale police headquarters, but no officers were involved, police said. Three other people were injured when the bus crashed into their car, officials said. Police said the alleged shooter was in custody.

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Danny Hong shows where the water reached up to him during flooding in his basement apartment in the Queens borough of New York last September. (AP)

Researchers say individuals should respond to the hazard most pressing at the time and be prepared to move locations if necessary.
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If we talk about humans breathing in space, the topic of asthma might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But lung conditions are a key area where space research could deliver a breakthrough, both for astronauts and back on Earth.

Space medicine has the potential to lead to innovative treatments for neurological conditions, visual and other sensory problems, cancer and cardiovascular and lung conditions.

The moon and other places in space are dusty environments high in silica  which can cause a severe and deadly condition called silicosis. People in space may breathe in dust that lands on their suits or equipment. Its important to figure out how to prevent exposure, and these lessons can be applied to people exposed to nasty particles on Earth.

Space research has many applications. Credit:NASA

Most people will be familiar with the 2020 Australian bushfires up the eastern coasts of Australia, which caused a visible smog and increased asthma admissions to hospital by 30 per cent. If we learn how to protect our people in space in a microgravity environment, we can take those lessons about particle deposition throughout the lung and apply them to Earth.
Men think theyre brighter than they are and women underestimate their IQ. Why?

When asked to estimate their own intelligence, most people will say they are above average, even though this is a statistical improbability. This is a normal, healthy cognitive bias and extends to any socially desirable trait such as honesty, driving ability and so on. This pattern is so common that its known as the above-average effect.

In a recent study, my colleagues and I explored how consistently men and women estimated their own intelligence or IQ (intelligence quotient). We also assessed measures of general self-esteem and masculine and feminine personality traits.

Why men have more confidence than women when it comes to estimating their own IQ. Credit:Monique Westermann

We found the strongest predictors of overestimating IQ were biological sex and then psychological gender. Being born male and having strong masculine traits (both men and women) were associated with an inflated intellectual self-image.
Ive just spent a week in Radelaide. Thats not a typo. Its how poet Sara Mansour referred to the 2022 Adelaide Writers Week, and it was the perfect description.

Nobody marched in protest or stormed any barricades. But the mood was rebellious. Over and over again, audiences applauded speakers who didnt like where our leaders were taking us and wanted something completely different.

Grace Tame was the star of Adelaide Writers Week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The star of the show, often touted as an exemplary leader, hadnt written a book. A big crowd gathered for Grace Tame as she talked with passion about being groomed by the teacher who abused her, about an an ecosystem of abuse. She revealed that the person who called her when she became Australian of the Year and warned her not to diss the Prime Minister had threatened to cut off funding for her foundation.

I have found that certain people, certain groups are more concerned with maintaining power and control than running the country, she said. But after she stood up to her abuser my fear about upsetting the apple cart died that day and it sure as hell died publicly standing next to Scott Morrison.
Never mind the 45 years since they were in their raggedy prime; legendary Manchester punk icons Buzzcocks are still riffing and raging through all new, original music.

The band began as a ramshackle opening act for Sex Pistols in 1976. What they lacked in proficiency, they made up for with enthusiasm and unadulterated stage energy. Steve Diggle (guitar), Steve Garvey (bass guitar), John Maher (drums) and Pete Shelley (vocals) pioneered the UK punk scene alongside Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash and The Damned.

Pete Shelley [front, centre], singer, songwriter and founding member of the band, 1990.

We never planned anything, says Diggle, 66. It was in the moment; lets get the band together, say what weve gotta say and create some excitement. If we get one or two gigs, lets see where we go from there.

We opened up for Sex Pistols in Manchester and from there we got other gigs. Suddenly, the press reviewed us and put us in all the music pages. Punk was new then. Suddenly, everybody wanted us, know what I mean?
Recently, while checking my sons pencil case for supplies, I came across his pen licence, a mock version of a drivers licence, granted to him in Year 4, which permits him to write his schoolwork in pen. This licence, like other licences, was earned through hours of practice, rule-learning and a demonstration of competence in the relevant field.

Keeping your hand in? The art of handwriting is battle in the digital era. Credit:123rf.com

It is proof to himself and others that he has acquired enough skill to commit his thoughts to indelible ink over erasable pencil.

In a world where so much of our written life is conducted digitally, the art of good handwriting is becoming a rarity. I once had neat handwriting, often receiving backhanded compliments from people who would observe my awkwardly angled southpaw and remark: Your writing is so neat, for a left-hander.

Sadly, with each year I put behind me, the worse my handwriting becomes.
The 41-year-old Catholic and former boss of the right-wing shoppies union is the only opposition leader other than federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese to have kept his job since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. The footy-playing, Bob Hawke-admiring politician, whose chiselled six-pack received national attention last month, has invited business lobby groups to cabinet meetings if hes elected and uses creative communication methods to engage voters on social media. This photo of the SA Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas attracted national attention. Credit:Twitter Malinauskas says Marshalls claims of a prosperous economy are insulting to South Australians. He cites the states 4.8 per cent unemployment rate  the worst in Australia  and says the government has lost control of the states health system. Ambulance ramping is so bad that when people call triple-zero, theres a very good chance an ambulance wont be there on time, he tells The Age and the Herald.

Malinauskas says he has occasionally sought advice from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. If successful, he will be another Labor voice at the national cabinet table, where he would back Andrews recent call for a structural increase in federal government funding for hospitals. Tasmania and NSW would be the only remaining states with a Coalition government. SA Labor leader Peter Malinauskas. Credit:Brett Hartwig People who are able to lead oppositions into government are rare and Dan Andrews was able to do that against a first-term conservative government. We want to replicate that, he said. Like other opposition leaders, Malinauskas was starved of airtime during the pandemic. Unlike some alternative premiers, this was partly due to his approach. He and NSW Labor leader Chris Minns decided early in the pandemic they would support public health measures and refrain from criticism.

Malinauskas says the approach meant he was often absent from news bulletins, but it would help him maintain his trust with voters. Polls showed spikes in support for Marshall and his government hit peaks during the pandemic. His popularity has waned in recent months, however, and he now trails Malinauskas as preferred premier. Marshall has no substitute narrative post the pandemic Former South Australian Premier Mike Rann Malinauskas rise bears similarities to other political contests around the country. Albanese and Minns have been gaining ground in various polls and Matthew Guys Victorian Liberals speak of promising internal polling. It has political operatives in both major parties wondering if the nations incumbents are losing their halo. Former South Australian Premier Mike Rann, who led the state between 2002 and 2011, believes politics is normalising.

Were back to old territory and out of that [COVID-19] mindset. People are asking OK, well, what are you doing for us now and in the future?, he said. Marshall has no substitute narrative post the pandemic. If predictions of a victory for South Australian Labor prove to be correct, it will be another indication that the Victorian and NSW elections are going to be tight contests, one Labor operative said. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Bipartisanship on pandemic policies ended in SA when Marshall stuck to his plan to reopen the states border in late November, just before the threat of the infectious Omicron variant materialised. Malinauskas backed the reopening but said hospitals and testing infrastructure needed to be ready. Instead, testing sites couldnt cope with the demand, more people died than forecast, and many were left wondering why the reopening plan wasnt adjusted to deal with the new variant.

Malinauskas called the reopening a catastrophe, but the Premier regrets nothing. We opened up at the right time and Im happy to put our pandemic record alongside anyone elses, Marshall says. There was no option just to keep our borders closed. Rann argues Marshalls management of the Omicron wave caused his leadership to crumble. As one senior South Australian Liberal said: If this election was pre-Omicron, wed have shat it in. University of SA epidemiologist professor Adrian Esterman agreed the reopening plan was a big mistake. However, he gives the government credit for maintaining public health measures like mask-wearing and density limits throughout summer, and for longer into 2022 than other states, which he said limited the number of cases and deaths.

Martin Haese, chief executive of major industry group Business SA, backed the reopening plan: Omicron did throw SAs economic recovery a curveball, but we have rebounded a fair way since then. On a warm Wednesday at Adelaides Modbury Bowling Club, in the key marginal seat of Newland, former Prime Minister John Howard flanked Marshall, talking up his achievements as premier. He said SA had come out of the slow lane and was now humming. He [Marshall] has put SA back on the national map economically, the former prime minister said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was absent from the final weeks of the campaign. He was due to travel to the state around the time he contracted COVID-19, and his cancellation was met with quiet relief by South Australian Liberals, who believe his unpopularity is a discernible drag on the government. Victorian Liberals believe the federal government is causing a 2 to 3 per cent primary vote reduction for the state opposition. Just like Howard did in 2007, Marshall faces the risk of losing his own seat. A recent seat-specific poll, which are notoriously inaccurate, suggested his electorate of Dunstan was on the precipice of being lost to Labor. Ambulance ramping  where ambulances with patients are forced to wait outside emergency departments because of a lack of space inside  has soared under the Liberal government. Malinauskas and the states ambulance union have run a brutal campaign on the issue, and the problems were underscored during election week by the deaths of three people, including a 20-year-old who waited more than 45 minutes for lights and sirens. Before you vote please read this, Malinauskas tweeted in reference to the deaths. This cant keep happening night after night.

At a polling station where voters in Marshalls electorate cast early votes, a handful of voters spoken to by The Age and the Herald said ambulance ramping was the key election issue for them. But Danny Simons, a Liberal voter from Marshalls electorate, said the extent of the problem had been sensationalised a little bit. Katie Cooper, a 22-year-old Greens voter, said she believed strain on the health system would decide the election. Katie Cooper at the Glynde early polling centre. Its insane. You read about it on the news. Just the other day it was a 20-year-old, which is younger than me, and thats really scary to hear, she said of the ramping situation. Malinauskas ambulance delays mirrors the effective crusade on the same topic that allowed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to defeat the Coalition in 2014 and make it Victorias first one-term government.

The Marshall government has pursued a negative campaign against Malinauskas, who they claim slashed health services when he was health minister in 2017-18. The parallels with Victoria are striking. The Victorian Coalitions recent focus has been on the states health system and the role of Andrews, who has been health minister or premier for all but four years since 2007. Victorian Labor figures are closely watching whether a Liberal Party attack on the health credentials of a Labor Party  a rarity because health policy is a traditional Labor strength  can translate into electoral success. Loading Marshall is also facing blow back from voters in the outer suburbs over his governments decision to move the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar race. The event is loved by SAs revhead community, many of whom worked in the old Holden factory, but disliked by some in the inner-city whose transport routes are disrupted by the event. Marshall also angered some conservatives by supporting abortion and euthanasia reforms. Malinauskas has pledged to bring the race back to its original site and a South Australian political observer said Labors focus on the issue illustrates Marshalls inability to pitch to suburban voters. Many of the premiers major achievements  such as renewable energy investment, a $200 million Indigenous art centre and a city precinct for new tech, space and professional services firms  were not the types of practical policies that help win state elections.
In 2015, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was being labelled Orban the Awful and his country Fortress Hungary because of his anti-refugee policies. Lately, he has been opening his arms to Ukrainian refugees fleeing Putins invasion.

In the arc of this seven-year period, a lot can be learned about the global response to providing refuge to those in need. And most of it isnt heartening.

Refugees from Ukraine wait at a shelter in Krakow, Poland. Credit:Getty

First, we need to recognise there are clear logistical differences between Ukrainian refugees and, say, those from the Middle East or Africa.

Ukrainians are allowed to enter Europe freely on 90-day visas under existing European Union law. A further point is that a high proportion of asylum seekers tend to be male. Due to Ukraines law disallowing men aged 18 to 60 leaving the country  because they are needed to defend their country  most Ukrainian refugees are women and children.
Assurances about the Australian response to the war in Ukraine can offer the impression of action when the reality is very different inside the machinery that has to maximise pressure on Russia if the conflict is to end. The wheels are turning too slowly in a Western political system that is being forced to adjust to the brutality of Vladimir Putin after years of thinking, foolishly and complacently, that he could be contained.

And the daily fodder of domestic politics, like Scott Morrison chipping Anthony Albanese about his weight loss, is a poor distraction from an emergency that tests the federal governments ability to make hard decisions fast.

Illustration: Simon Letch Credit:

The results suggest the government is wholly unready to act on the Prime Ministers language this week about sanctions on China if it aids the Russian invasion  a step with enormous consequences for the Australian economy compared with the modest exposure to Russian business. Could the government really impose sanctions on people implicated in the Xi Jinping regime if their interests stretched from resources to property and finance? Perhaps. But it would be slow, complex and costly.

The fate of two Russian oligarchs, Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, proves the point. Three weeks into an invasion that alters every calculation about global power, with horrific war crimes that are almost certain to grow worse, the government has been scrambling to decide what to do about these two Russian billionaires with big stakes in Australia.
Research shows that risk from heat begins to increase above 25 degrees, and standards for healthy buildings recommend keeping below this temperature, Better Renting executive director Joel Dignam said. But our data shows these rental properties were above 25 degrees for hours every day, with temperatures above 30 degrees happening for about an hour a day on average, he added, noting this was despite the milder summer seen across much of the country. Indoor temperatures in rental properties routinely exceeded recommended levels over summer. Credit:Peter Rae In Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, temperatures were above 25 degrees more than 70 per cent of the time. Mr Dignam said tenants reported struggling to work from home or self-isolate during the pandemic due to the heat. Renters also reported concerning heat levels in properties both old and new, and even those who had an air conditioner said it did not guarantee them a healthy temperature in their home.

While all Australians were impacted by higher home temperatures, renters often faced greater affordability challenges in keeping their homes cool, the report found. They were also reliant on landlords to make improvements, and many tenants who participated in the project, including Mr Kreunen, flagged a reluctance to make such requests. Loading A lot of that is linked to the struggle in getting repairs, fears about rent increases  but there is also this awareness of how tight the rental market is in general, and this phenomenon weve seen before of not wanting to rock the boat [with your landlord], Mr Dignam said. With almost eight million renters across Australia, Mr Dignam said there was a large proportion of people who could not install ceiling insulation, put in a ceiling fan or set up air conditioning to make their home more liveable. No Australian jurisdiction has cooling standards for rental properties, and what we are seeing is the outcome of this neglect, he said.

Better Renting and Healthy Homes for Renters, a national collaboration of more than 100 organisations, has called for governments to implement minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties to enable tenants to stay cool and healthy, as heatwaves become more frequent and severe. Loading Improving energy efficiency standards for new buildings, improving the design of cities, and reducing climate emissions to mitigate climate impacts were also key responses, the report noted. Heatwaves were Australias most deadly natural disaster, said Dr Kate Wylie, Adelaide GP and chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners climate and environmental medicine group. Heat increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially in vulnerable populations, she said, noting she worried about her patients in the heat, particularly those who lived in housing that increased the risk.

Dr Wylie said there was a responsibility to ensure housing was equipped to deal with longer and more intense heatwaves expected in the future, adding that heat was a greater problem for those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Loading Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Dr Cassandra Goldie said renters should have a right to live in healthy homes that were affordable to cool, noting low-income earners in poor quality homes were getting sick, and in some cases dying, because they could not afford, or were unable to install, measures to keep their homes cool in summer. We urgently need all states and territories to commit to legally enforceable energy efficiency standards that require property investors to make rental properties habitable and safe, she said. Tenants Queensland chief executive Penny Carr said renters had been seeking assistance for heat issues over the summer, and that it would become a growing concern that needed to be addressed.
London: P&O Ferries, one of the largest ferry operators serving the United Kingdom, has fired 800 crew members with immediate effect, touching off protests and prompting some of the employees to lock themselves aboard vessels.

The announcement on Thursday came without notice, with the company saying its survival depended on swift and significant changes. Workers fired by Zoom message were told that P&O Ferries, which operate between the UK and France, Ireland and the Netherlands, would be run by a third-party crew provider.

The Pride of Hull Ferry remains moored at the P&O terminal in Hull. Credit:Ian Forsyth/Bloomberg

Clearly, the way that this was communicated to staff was not right, and we have made that clear, said Max Blain, the British Prime Ministers spokesman. Our sympathies are with these hard-working employees affected during this challenging time who have given years of service to P&O.

P&O Ferries is a British shipping company and not related to P&O Cruises in the UK. P&O Cruises Australia was once a sister company of P&O Cruises in the UK, but is now part of Carnival Corporation.
Putins appearance marked a change from his relative isolation of recent weeks, when he has been shown meeting with world leaders and his staff either at extraordinarily long tables or via videoconference. In the wake of the invasion, the Kremlin has clamped down harder on dissent and the flow of information, arresting thousands of antiwar protesters, banning sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and instituting tough prison sentences for what is deemed to be false reporting on the war, which Moscow refers to as a special military operation. The OVD-Info rights group that monitors political arrests reported that at least seven independent journalists had been detained ahead of or while covering the anniversary events in Moscow and St Petersburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to deliver his speech at the event. Credit:Kremlin via AP Standing on stage in a white turtleneck and a blue down jacket, Putin spoke for about five minutes. Some people, including presenters at the event, wore T-shirts or jackets with a Z  a symbol seen on Russian tanks and other military vehicles in Ukraine and embraced by supporters of the war.

Loading Peace talks The rally came as Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russian negotiators in several rounds of talks with Ukraine, said that the sides have moved closer to agreement on the issue of Ukraine dropping its bid to join NATO and adopting a neutral status. That is the issue where the parties have made their positions maximally close, Medinsky said in remarks carried by Russian media. He added that the sides are now halfway on issues regarding the demilitarisation of Ukraine. In a video address released in the early hours of Saturday, Ukraine time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had always offered solutions for peace and wanted meaningful and honest negotiations on peace and security.

I want everyone to hear me now, especially in Moscow. The time has come for a meeting, it is time to talk, he said. The time has come to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. Otherwise, Russias losses will be such that it will take you several generations to recover. Loading In other developments, US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours in a bid by the US to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russias invasion. Mariupol cut off from the sea as Russians roam city centre

Ukrainian officials said on Saturday AEDT that the besieged southern port city of Mariupol had lost its access to the Azov Sea, which is connected to the much larger Black Sea. The occupiers have partially succeeded in the Donetsk operational area - temporarily depriving Ukraine of access to the Sea of Azov, the Ukraine press release said. Russias defence ministry said its forces were tightening a noose around the city, with reports of fighting having reached streets in the centre. Mariupols mayor, Vadym Boichenko, told the BBC that there was fighting in the citys streets, even as rescuers tried to dig out those who had been trapped by the bombing of the Drama Theatre on Wednesday. Tanks and machine-gun battles continue, he told the BBC. Everybody is hiding in bunkers.

Ludmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliaments human rights commissioner, said at least 130 people had survived the theatre bombing. But according to our data, there are still more than 1300 people in these basements, in this bomb shelter, Denisova told Ukrainian television. We pray that they will all be alive, but so far there is no information about them. The Mariupol Drama Theatre damaged after shelling. Credit:AP On Friday, a barrage of missiles were launched against an aircraft repair installation at an airport outside the western city of Lviv, close to the border with Poland. One person was reported killed in the Lviv attack. Ukraine said it had shot down two of six missiles launched in the attack from the Black Sea. The early morning strike was the closest one yet to the centre of Lviv, which has become a crossroads for people fleeing from other parts of Ukraine and for others entering to deliver aid or join the fight.

Kyiv was subjected to even more shelling overnight. Credit:Getty Images Europe Early morning barrages hit a residential building in the Podil neighborhood of Kyiv, killing at least one person, according to emergency services. Kyivs mayor said 19 were wounded in the shelling, just north of downtown Kyiv. Two other people were killed when strikes hit residential and administrative buildings in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, according to the regional governor. The eastern cities of Mikolayiv and Kramatorsk also endured powerful air strikes, with unconfirmed reports of mass fatalities. Britains defence intelligence chief says Russia is shifting to a strategy of attrition after failing to take major cities. Lieutenant General Jim Hockenhull warned that the strategy will entail reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower that will worsen the humanitarian crisis.

The mayor of Lviv says missiles struck near the citys airport on Friday. Credit:AP Photo/Bernat Armangue Two others were killed when strikes hit residential and administrative buildings in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. Major General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, who is leading the defence of the region around Ukraines capital, said his forces are well-positioned to defend the city and vowed: We will never give up. We will fight until the end. To the last breath and to the last bullet. The fighting has led nearly 3.3 million people to flee Ukraine, while an additional 6.5 million have left their homes for other parts of the country, according to the UN. Loading
London: Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Germany over its policy towards Ukraine, saying the country is being used by Russia to finance the war which has led to mass death and destruction.

Zelensky accused German leaders of prioritising economic relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the security of Europe.

In an extraordinary speech to the German parliament via video link, the Ukrainian President invoked the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Holocaust in an attempt to persuade MPs to do everything possible to halt Russias invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the Bundestag via live video. Credit:Getty

He scolded Europes largest economy for having persisted with the recently suspended Nord Stream 2, a project designed to bring Russian gas directly to Europe under the Baltic Sea, and other business projects with Moscow, saying they were purely economic and not political.
Salisbury, MD (21801)

Today

A few clouds. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Kye Parsons is the editor of WBOC.com. He came to WBOC with several years experience as an award-winning journalist on Delmarva. Prior to entering the world of multimedia, he worked as a newspaper editor and reporter. E-mail him at kparsons@wboc.com .

Follow Kye Parsons 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
Louisville Metro Police officers responded to a crash between a vehicle and a TARC bus at Dixie Highway and Lee Street, near Algonquin Parkway and South 22nd Street, just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, 2022, according to LMPD spokesperson Alicia Smiley. (WDRB photo)
Louisville archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz speaks during a mass held at the Cathedral in downtown Louisville on March 18, 2022.
Louisville Metro Police on the scene of a shooting on Clara Avenue, near Churchill Downs, on Thursday, March 17, 2022. (WDRB photo)
Shepherdsville Police Chief Rick McCubbin said police and "other agencies" were involved in an incident Wednesday night "involving shots being fired." A suspect was hit, McCubbin said, but their condition is unknown. (WDRB photo)
Weatherford, TX (76086)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
WSU Honors Dixon Award Winners for Service to Students

March 18, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State University Distinguished Professor of History Susan Matt and public relations director Allison Barlow Hess are the 2022 recipients of Weber State University Alumni Associations H. Aldous Dixon Award. The two will be formally recognized during a short ceremony and reception on March 23 from 2-4 p.m. To register to attend in person or virtually, visit this link.

Each year since 1970, the Alumni Association has honored outstanding members of WSUs faculty and staff with an award bestowed in memory of President Dixon, who served as the schools chief administrator from 1919 to 1920, and from 1937 to 1953. Dixon Award recipients have demonstrated careers of excellence and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support students.

Susan Matt

Susan Matt began her career teaching history at Weber State in 1999. She has taught subjects ranging from U.S. history to the history of emotions to interdisciplinary courses co-taught with colleagues. She has also mentored hundreds of students through the history program and supervised their senior capstone projects. Matt believes students have the power to change the world and endeavors to make history relevant to each one by extending the study of the past to as many people as possible.

As a social historian, Matt focuses on the history of ordinary Americans  how they lived and experienced large-scale historical events, like revolution, war and economic depression. Her students examine the past through the eyes of immigrants, enslaved people, farmers, factory workers, soldiers, families and children.

When students understand that history is not merely about the actions of presidents and generals, but also about people like themselves, they come to see themselves as historical actors, with the ability to make changes in their lives and the larger society, she stated recently.

In addition to teaching WSU students, Matt has provided a range of educational opportunities to the community. She was part of the Venture program, which offered free college courses to adults with low incomes. After completing the program, many participants went on to become full-time students at Weber State.

In 2020, Matt harnessed the global pandemic as a springboard to a successful series of free, interdisciplinary classes on hot topics. More than 100 people signed up for the first course titled, Pandemics and People. Subsequent courses included The Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights and How Did We Get So Polarized?

Matt has held numerous administrative roles at the university including history department chair and interim associate dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. In July 2021, she was selected as director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Collaborations.

Since arriving at Weber State, she has written two books, co-authored a third, edited another two, and published dozens of scholarly articles, many of which appeared in highly respected media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, Slate, and the Wall Street Journal.

Allison Barlow Hess

Allison Hess has dedicated 30 years of her life to helping Weber State students achieve more than they first thought possible. She began her career at WSU in 1992 as an adjunct professor, having worked previously as a reporter for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City.

In 1997, the Department of Communication offered Hess a full-time faculty position. In addition to teaching print and electronic media, public relations, editing, and visual communication, she also advised students working at KWCR, the universitys radio station and the student newspaper, The Signpost. Under her watch, The Signpost earned top accolades from the National Society of Professional Journalists and the Utah Press Association.

Hess was a longtime board member of the Utah Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving two years as vice chair and two years as chair. For six years, she penned a monthly newspaper column for the Standard-Examiner and used the stipend she received to create an editorial scholarship for student writers at The Signpost.

In 2010, Hess switched gears to become the universitys public relations director. She is heavily involved in planning and securing media coverage for major university events, including two Dream 125 campaign celebrations, the Crystal Crest Awards and the inauguration of President Brad Mortensen. Amidst a global pandemic, she helped organize a successful socially distanced graduation event in Stewart Stadium.

Recently, Hess worked with University Archives to identify and honor 12 Women of Weber, alumnae or friends of the university who made an indelible impression on campus and the community and whose stories motivate current and future Wildcats. Hess helped shape the universitys Ever Upward campaign, which spotlights inspiring stories of students and alumni through news releases, videos and social media. As public relations director, Hess has advised interns in the Office of Marketing & Communications who have used their internships to build solid foundations for satisfying careers.

Hess teaching has been honored with a George and Beth Lowe Innovative Teaching Award, a Hemingway Vitality Award, and a Crystal Crest Master Teacher nomination. She also received a Weber State University Presidential Staff Award for exemplary service. She has announced plans to retire following graduation events on April 29.

To learn more about the legacy of H. Aldous Dixon, watch this video.

To see the names of past Dixon Award recipients, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
National Nurses Week is May 6 to May 12, an annual celebration that recognizes the critical role nurses perform in our hospitals and for our community. This year, we recognize our nurses for their continued commitment and unfailing dedication to our patients and their families, and for alway
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Exclusive: Kinky Boots will have its first UK revival in September.

Telling the story of a young shoe-factory owner making strides to escape his father's shadow (and finding release in unexpected ways), the show is based on Geoff Deane and Tim Firth's hit 2005 film of the same name and was first seen a decade ago at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre in 2012.

The same production, helmed by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde) ran on Broadway from 2013 to 2019, with a West End premiere in 2015 and a tour starting in September 2018.

The multi-award-winning musical is now to be directed by Tim Jackson (freshly appointed creative associate at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch), who will be staging the 2022 Olivier Awards Ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall and will choreograph Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Maria Friedman and starring Daniel Radcliffe, at New York Theatre Workshop later this year.

Jackson said today: "I'm thrilled to be directing the first UK revival of this fabulous musical. It's a show that's got it all: big laughs, a banging pop score and an uplifting story about community, identity and embracing ourselves and each other.

"Ten years since it took the world by storm, I'm relishing the opportunity to re-explore Kinky Boots in a brand-new production for a new generation. The piece remains as potent as ever, and I cannot wait to join audiences in celebrating our beautiful kaleidoscope of a world."

The show has a Tony-Award nominated book by Harvey Fierstein and Tony and Grammy award-winning music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Numbers in the show include"The History of the Wrong Guys", "Sex Is In the Heel", "Land of Lola" and "The Soul of a Man".

The production will open at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from 1 to 24 September and Queen's Theatre Hornchurch from 28 September to 22 October.

Cast and creative team for the show are to be revealed in due course. There will be BSL, audio described and captioned performances at both theatres.

Mathew Russell, executive director of Queen's Theatre Hornchurch said: "We're thrilled to be working with the New Wolsey Theatre again, after a string of brilliant co-productions, including our acclaimed actor musician versions of Made in Dagenham and Once, which we were able to tour together too.

"We're equally excited that QTH's new creative associate, Tim Jackson, will be directing, and know that he and the team will do a great job of making a fresh, warm hearted, sassy and gloriously working class take on this hit show, which we're sure audiences are going to adore."

Douglas Rintoul, incoming chief executive of New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich said: "I can't think of a better way to mark the start of my new role at the New Wolsey Theatre than with this very special regional premiere.

"Made by my favourite theatres, and directed by a supremely talented director, Kinky Boots is going to be a smart and gloriously uplifting night out."
Thank you for reading the Herald-Whig

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Senior Advisor for Design and Construction Management, Belgrade, Serbia

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Serbia

City: Belgrade

Office: UNDP Belgrade

Closing date: Sunday, 20 March 2022

2399 Senior advisor for Design and Construction Management

Location : Belgrade, SERBIA

Application Deadline : 20-Mar-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : English

Expected Duration of Assignment : March 2022 - 31 December 2022

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Purpose

To provide expert advice to the Office for IT and e-Government (ITE) related to technical documentation, permitting and construction works for the reconstruction of the old Railway Depo building - "Lozionica" in Belgrade.

Objective

The objective is to create enabling environment for creative industries and knowledge-based economy and contribute to the rise of competitiveness of Serbian economy.

Background Information

Digital transformation of the national economy and public administration are among the key priorities of Serbian Government. In addition to providing high-level political support and institutional sponsorship, the Government introduced a new institutional framework to manage this process and initiate internal changes. In August 2017, a new cabinet-level body - Office for IT and e Government - was created to consolidate governments ICT resources, develop common infrastructures and support transition from institution-centric to citizen-centric model of designing and providing e-services.

UNDP provided support to this broad digitalization agenda of the Serbian Government since its inception, through "Serbia at your Fingertips - Digital Transformation for Development" project. This project comprises five segments. The first three relate to development of the e-government system, the fourth includes support for implementation of activities from the ministerial councils agendas, while the fifth includes support for implementation of big infrastructural projects in e-Government.

Within the fourth component, the Office for IT and eGovernment (ITE) in cooperation with the Prime Ministers office is planning to establish the Creativity Hub in the old state building "Lozionica". The Creativity hub is meant as a multifunctional center for creative, IT and innovative contents focused on creative industries and knowledge-based economy. The primary objective of the Creativity hub "Lozionica" is to connect and provide affirmation to talented and innovative individuals while focusing on sustainable development. For this purpose, the UNDP is currently looking for senior advisor for technical documentation and permitting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultant will under direct supervision of the UNDP Portfolio Manager/ Competitive and Digital Governance in close cooperation with the ITE, provide technical expert services related to the permits and technical documentation during implementation of the Project. More specifically, the consultant will carry out the following activities:

Provide expert Advice to the ITE and monitoring and reporting on all activities with public utilities providers regarding issuance of conditions for connections to public communal infrastructure

Monitoring and reporting on all activities with local authorities regarding permitting procedures and regulatory framework in line with Serbian Planning and Construction Law

Provide expert Advice to the ITE and analyzing and reporting on Technical Documentation and other Consultants deliverables and their Budget and Implementation Timetable implications

Provide expert support to the ITE in effective project oversight by analysing and reporting on performance of all consultants, contractors and suppliers involved the facility design and construction

Facilitating regular coordination meetings with all relevant parties involved in facility construction (including consultants, contractors, suppliers, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.)

ITE and the Office of the Prime Minister will provide the Consultant with the existing data, information and documentation related to the aspects listed above.

Deliverables and Timelines

No.

Deliverable

Deadline

1

-Analysis of the performance of all technical consultants involved in the facility design;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility design(including consultants, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Permitting process review.

20th April 2022

2

Progress Report (Location Conditions phase - faza lokacijskih uslova), including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with design progress review

-Analysis of the performance of all technical consultants involved in the facility design;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility design(including consultants, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Permitting process review.

15th May 2022

3

Progress Report (PGD phase - faza projekta za gradjevinsku dozvolu), including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with design progress review

-Analysis of the performance of all technical consultants involved in the facility design;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility design(including consultants, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Permitting process review.

30th June 2022

4

Progress Report (PGD phase - faza gradevinske dozvole), including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with design progress review

-Analysis of the performance of all technical consultants involved in the facility design;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility design(including consultants, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Permitting process review

15th August 2022

5

Progress Report (preparatory works phase - faza pripremnih radova), including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with Implementation Timetable;

-Analysis of the performance of the consultants, contractors and suppliers involved in the facility construction;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility construction (including consultants, contractors, suppliers, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Project Time Schedule review;

-Permitting process review.

30th September 2022

6

Progress Report (preparatory works phase - faza pripremnih radova), including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with Implementation Timetable;

-Analysis of the performance of the consultants, contractors and suppliers involved in the facility construction;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility construction (including consultants, contractors, suppliers, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Project Time Schedule review;

-Permitting process review.

15th November 2022

7

Final Report, including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with Implementation Timetable;

-Analysis of the performance of the consultants, contractors and suppliers involved in the facility construction;;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility construction (including consultants, contractors, suppliers, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

-Project Time Schedule review;

-Permitting process review.

31st December 2022

All deliverables should be in Serbian language. All deliverables will have to be quality reviewed and approved or accepted by the Portfolio Manager - Competitiveness and Digital Governance in consultations with the Office for IT and e-Government.

Competencies

Good analytical, communication and writing skills;

Good time management skills;

Ability to work in a team;

Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural and gender diversity and equity in his/her daily work and personal behaviour;

Treats all people fairly without favouritism;

Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;

Full computer literacy, including MS Office and CAD tools.

Required Skills and Experience

The Consultant selected to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following minimal requirements: Education

Bachelors university degree in any of the principal disciplines of engineering (including civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical) or equivalent professional qualification;

Work Experience

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5 years experience related to permitting procedures and/or technical design or design management;

10 years experience on positions involving project management, planning and implementation of projects related to infrastructure, buildings or construction of factory facilities;

Member of National PRO list of Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia will be considered an advantage;

Management experience in international projects or Balkan region projects would be an asset;

Sound understanding of Serbian engineering codes, standards and norms;

Experience with conducting data analysis using spreadsheets, ability to create sophisticated graphs and charts to present complex data in a meaningful way;

Language

Fluency in Serbian and English;

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Application Procedure: Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section "Jobs" no later than 20th March 2022.

Application should include:

CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties).

Offerors Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx. The Offerors Letter shall include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs.

Cover Letter - explaining why you are the most suitable for the work should be included in the CV.

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail vacancy.rs@undp.org. The procuring UNDP entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will send response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

Financial Proposal:

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Evaluation

1. Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria

Weight

Max. Point

Technical-desk review

70%

70 points

Criteria A

Expertise in permitting procedures and/or working experience in technical design or design management in complex building projects. Relevant working experience must be clearly demonstrated through submitted CV.

25

Criteria B

Proven experience on positions involving at least one project of national importance or in complex building projects, involving project management, planning and implementation of projects related to infrastructure, buildings or construction works (to be demonstrated through CV)

25

Criteria C

Proven knowledge of FIDIC contractual modality (to be demonstrated through CV).

20

Financial

30%

30 points

Additional Information:

Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://rs.undp.org/content/dam/serbia/downloads/General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf

Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc

In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The no-objection letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on "leave-without-pay" status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable leave-without-pay confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States. As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(i) A "No-objection" letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and;

(ii) The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on "official leave without pay" for the duration of the IC.

The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.

UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of "on-leave-without-pay" is not required. Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a "No-objection" letter from the Government employing him/her. The "no objection" letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on "leave-without-pay" status and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1647087582901
Senior advisor for Budget and Contract Management, Belgrade, Serbia

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Serbia

City: Belgrade

Office: UNDP Belgrade

Closing date: Sunday, 20 March 2022

2398 Senior advisor for Budget and Contract Management

Location : Belgrade, SERBIA

Application Deadline : 20-Mar-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : English

Expected Duration of Assignment : March 2022 - 31 December 2022

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Purpose

To provide expert advice to the Office for IT and e-Government (ITE) related to implementation of the activities related to the design and construction works for reconstruction of the old Railway Depo building - "Lozionica" in Belgrade.

Objective

The objective is to create enabling environment for creative industries and knowledge-based economy and contribute to the rise of competitiveness of Serbian economy.

Background Information

Digital transformation of the national economy and public administration are among the key priorities of Serbian Government. In addition to providing high-level political support and institutional sponsorship, the Government introduced a new institutional framework to manage this process and initiate internal changes. In August 2017, a new cabinet-level body - Office for IT and e Government - was created to consolidate governments ICT resources, develop common infrastructures and support transition from institution-centric to citizen-centric model of designing and providing e-services.

UNDP provided support to this broad digitalization agenda of the Serbian Government since its inception, through "Serbia at your Fingertips - Digital Transformation for Development" project. This project comprises five segments. The first three relate to development of the e-government system, the fourth includes support for implementation of activities from the ministerial councils agendas, while the fifth includes support for implementation of big infrastructural projects in e-Government.

Within the fourth component, the Office for IT and eGovernment (ITE) in cooperation with the Prime Ministers office is planning to establish the Creativity Hub in the old state building "Lozionica". The Creativity hub is meant as a multifunctional center for creative, IT and innovative contents focused on creative industries and knowledge-based economy. The primary objective of the Creativity hub "Lozionica" is to connect and provide affirmation to talented and innovative individuals while focusing on sustainable development. For this purpose, the UNDP is currently looking for senior advisor for project and contract management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultant will under direct supervision of the UNDP Portfolio Manager/ Competitive and Digital Governance and in close cooperation with the ITE, Office of the Prime Minister, provide expert services related to implementation of the activities related to the design/reconstruction of the old Railway Depo building - "Lozionica" in Belgrade.

More specifically, the consultant will carry out the following activities:

Cost estimate analyses and revision for each phase of the implementation

Preparation of project implementation Timetable and revision for each phase of implementation

Preparation of the Terms of Reference and technical advising during evaluation of the tender for Technical Control (TC) of the technical documentation for the building permit, including technical requirements, bidders qualifications, proposed methodologies and security assurances (e.g. required amount of bank guaranties and insurance policy for the selected TC bidder)

Preparation of the Terms of Reference and technical advising during evaluation of the Contractor for the works, including technical requirements, bidders qualifications, proposed methodologies and providing technical advice related to guarantees and insurance policy for the selected bidders

Provide expert support to the ITE in effective project oversight by analysing and reporting on performance of all consultants, contractors and suppliers involved the facility design, investigative works and construction with respect to their contractual/financial obligations;

Participate in regular coordination meetings with all relevant parties involved in facility construction (including consultants, contractors, suppliers, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.), focusing on identifying obstacles and potential risks in relation to contractual/financial matters and advising ITE on mitigation measures.

ITE and the Office of the Prime Minister will provide the Consultant with the existing data, information and documentation related to the aspects listed above.

Deliverables and Timelines

No.

Deliverable

Deadline

20th April 2022

2

Report on the third-party deliverables/necessary soil and structural investigation activities

15th May 2022

3

Report on the tender for Technical Control (TC) of the technical documentation for the building permit

30th June 2022

4

Report on the tender documentation for Contractor for the preparatory works (or phase of the works), including draft contract, technical requirements, bidders qualifications and guarantees and insurance policy for the selected bidders.

15st August 2022

5

Report on the revision of the Project Budget in accordance with design documentation, and revision of Project Implementation Timetable according to implementation activities (PGD phase - faza projekta za gradevinsku dozvolu)

30th September 2022

6

Report on the tender documentation for Contractor for the main works (or phase of the works), including draft contract, technical requirements, bidders qualifications and guarantees and insurance policy for the selected bidders.

15th November 2022

7

The Final Budget and Contract implementation Report, including the following: -Overall project implementation summary with project Budget and Implementation Timetable;

-Analysis of the performance of the consultants, contractors and suppliers involved in the facility construction, with respect to their contractual/financial obligations;

-Summary of all coordination meetings between the parties involved in the facility construction (including consultants, contractors, suppliers, central and local authorities, public utility providers etc.);

-List of identified obstacles, potential risks and proposed mitigation measures;

31th December 2022

All deliverables should be in Serbian language. All deliverables will have to be quality reviewed and approved or accepted by the Portfolio Manager - Competitiveness and Digital Governance in consultations with the Office for IT and e-Government.

Competencies

Good analytical, communication and writing skills;

Good time management skills;

Ability to work in a team;

Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural and gender diversity and equity in his/her daily work and personal behavior;

Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;

Full computer literacy, including MS Office and CAD tools.

Required Skills and Experience

The Consultant selected to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following minimal requirements: Education

Bachelors university degree in any of the principal disciplines of engineering (including civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical) or high school combined with relevant professional qualifications (FIDIC or other certified trainings for Project and Contract management);

Work Experience

10 years experience on positions involving project management, planning and implementation of projects related to infrastructure, buildings or construction of factory facilities;

Member of National PRO list of Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia will be considered an advantage;

Management experience in international projects or Balkan region projects would be an asset;

Sound understanding of Serbian engineering codes, standards and norms;

Experience with conducting data analysis using spreadsheets, ability to create sophisticated graphs and charts to present complex data in a meaningful way;

Language

Fluency in Serbian and English;

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Application Procedure: Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section "Jobs" no later than 20th March 2022.

Application should include:

CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties).

Offerors Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx. The Offerors Letter shall include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs.

Cover Letter - explaining why you are the most suitable for the work should be included in the CV.

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail vacancy.rs@undp.org. The procuring UNDP entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will send response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

Financial Proposal:

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Evaluation

1. Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria

Weight

Max. Point

Technical-desk review

70%

70 points

Criteria A

Working experience in tendering, contract management and legal issues in construction. Relevant working experience must be clearly demonstrated through submitted CV.

25

Criteria B

Proven experience on positions involving at least one project of national importance or in complex building projects, involving project management, planning and implementation of projects related to infrastructure, buildings or construction works (to be demonstrated through CV)

25

Criteria C

Proven knowledge of FIDIC contractual modality (to be demonstrated through CV).

20

Financial

30%

30 points

Additional Information:

Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://rs.undp.org/content/dam/serbia/downloads/General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf

Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc

In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The no-objection letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on "leave-without-pay" status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable leave-without-pay confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States. As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(i) A "No-objection" letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and;

(ii) The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on "official leave without pay" for the duration of the IC.

The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.

UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of "on-leave-without-pay" is not required. Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a "No-objection" letter from the Government employing him/her. The "no objection" letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on "leave-without-pay" status and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1647087578863
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Matt Dunstone will compete in his home province during the 2022-23 curling season.

Matt Dunstone will compete in his home province during the 2022-23 curling season.

The former Winnipegger, who lives in B.C., had skipped a Saskatchewan-based team the last few years. But that changes in the fall when he aligns himself with Winnipeg's B.J. Neufeld, Colton Lott of Winnipeg Beach and Ryan Harnden of northern Ontario, according curling great and Sportsnet broadcaster Kevin Martin.

Neufeld became a free agent when the Kevin Koe team from Calgary split up, while Harden comes from the Brad Jacobs team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., that won Olympic gold in 2014.

Massive changes on many of Canada's premier teams were expected at the conclusion of the four-year Olympic cycle  and that has definitely been the case.

Kaitlyn Lawes will skip a new team out of Winnipeg that combines players from the Jennifer Jones and Tracy Fleury squads. She and Jocelyn Peterman, freed up when the Jones team split, join forces with Selena Njegovan and Kristin MacCuish from the Fleury team.
Conservationists in Connecticut are hoping a last-minute deal can be reached to protect a sprawling 252-acre camp owned by a regional council of Boy Scouts. They want to prevent the picturesque property that's been a summer destination for generations of families from being sold to a private developer.

Conservationists in Connecticut are hoping a last-minute deal can be reached to protect a sprawling 252-acre camp owned by a regional council of Boy Scouts. They want to prevent the picturesque property that's been a summer destination for generations of families from being sold to a private developer.

The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit land conservation organization, has offered the Connecticut Yankee Council of Boy Scouts $2.4 million, the assessed value of the Deer Lake Scout Reservation in Killingworth. But the group's bid is currently well below that of the developer, who has offered nearly twice that amount, according to advocacy groups.

The looming sale of the camp comes as the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware begins a trial this week to determine whether to confirm the reorganization plan for the Boy Scouts of America, which sought bankruptcy protection more than two years ago amid an onslaught of child sex allegations.

While the Connecticut Yankee Council of Boy Scouts set a March 31 deadline to accept superior offers to the one currently being pursued," they're being urged by residents and environmentalists, as well as Democratic U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, to keep working with the conservation group. A separate local organization is also raising money to protect the property.

Their whole mission is rooted in the outdoors and rooted in the protection of natural resources. And so for them to make decisions that basically are in complete opposition to that organizational value, I think is really hard to understand, said David Anderson, land campaigns manger for Save the Sound, of the Boy Scouts. He said keeping the property undeveloped is crucial to combatting climate change.

Blumenthal said he remains hopeful an agreement can be reached to protect the property from development. The Connecticut senator said he's working to find federal funds, possibly through the U.S. Department of Interior, but the private groups and advocates are taking the lead role in negotiating with the Boy Scouts.

Anybody who's visited knows that it is a really precious and in some ways irreplaceable resource for the entire state, not just that area, Blumenthal said. There are a lot of people whose first outdoor experiences - camping, hiking, fishing - were there at this really magic place and we will lose memories for future if future generations lack that opportunity.

A representative from The Trust for Public Land declined to comment on any negotiations.

The Boy Scouts of America reorganization plan before the federal bankruptcy court calls for the Boys Scouts and its roughly 250 local councils to contribute up to $786 million in cash and property to help pay for a fund to compensate abuse claimants.

The Connecticut Yankee Council has already turned over another camp property in Union, Connecticut, to the national organization, as well as cash from an endowment, to cover its share of the settlement fund. Proceeds from the sale of the Deer Lake Scout Reservation will be used to improve and expand the facilities, programs and infrastructure at two other camps owned by the Connecticut Yankee Council, according to a recent statement concerning the difficult decision" to sell Deer Lake.

This can be painful but is necessary, especially when looking at the situation we are in. Our Council is not exempt from the nationwide declines in membership organizations like the (Boys Scouts of America) have experienced. This, coupled with challenges over the past several years, means our Council needs to make major changes to survive, read the statement from the council president and CEO. Simply put, we own too many properties for the membership we have today.

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The councils CEO Mark Kraus declined to comment for this story.

Other Boy Scout Councils around the U.S. have put camps up for sale in order to contribute to the national compensation fund. Last July, the Boy Scouts' Greater Hudson Valley Council in Dutchess, Putnam and Rockland counties listed three camps totaling 2,000 acres for sale. In Rhode Island, the Narragansett Council announced last summer that it had no choice but to put two camps up for sale.

The only way Narragansett Council can meet its obligation is to sell real estate, the group said in an August 2021 letter. The council did enter into a long-term lease with the new owner of one camp, allowing the Boy Scouts to still offer camping to youths.

In Florida, the Gulf Stream Council sent a similar letter to families last year informing them that a 60-acre camp owned for decades by the Boy Scouts had to be sold to cover a $1.1 million contribution to the victim settlement fund.

Anderson said he's concerned about the ramifications of the Boy Scouts deciding to sell off large parcels of undeveloped land, such as the Deer Lake Scout Reservation in Connecticut, rather than take other steps to raise money.

I think this is unfortunately just one example of probably many nationwide that kind of illustrate a pretty big problem, he said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California lawmakers on Thursday voted to make abortions much cheaper for people on private health insurance plans, bringing California closer to becoming the fourth state in the country to ban insurance fees for the procedure.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California lawmakers on Thursday voted to make abortions much cheaper for people on private health insurance plans, bringing California closer to becoming the fourth state in the country to ban insurance fees for the procedure.

Thursday's vote is part of lawmakers' strategy to make reproductive care more accessible in preparation for a potential U.S. Supreme Court decision this summer that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that banned states from outlawing abortions.

California already requires private health insurance plans to cover abortion services. But insurers are allowed to charge people things like co-pays and deductibles, which adds an average of $543 to the cost of a medication abortion and $887 to the cost of a procedural abortion, according to an analysis by the California Health Benefits Review Program.

The Assembly approved a bill that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortions on private health plans. While the bill would reduce the cost of abortions, it would also slightly increase monthly premiums for patients and their employers. But the savings from eliminating out-of-pocket costs would be greater than the increase in monthly premiums.

Three other states ban these fees: Illinois, Oregon and New York, according to a legislative analysis of the proposal. The bill now heads for a procedural vote in the state Senate before heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for his review.

Protecting access to abortion is important now, more than ever, as our fundamental right to reproductive care is under attack in state houses across the country and in the chambers of our U.S. Supreme Court, said Assemblymember Akilah Weber, who is also an OB-GYN.

Jonathan Keller, president of the California Family Council, which opposes abortion, said eliminating out-of-pocket costs provides an extra incentive for patients to seek abortions beyond any other health care choice.

The real tragedy is in the state we now are really treating abortion like we treat no other health care services, he said. We do not see the Assembly today, for example, vote to make dialysis free. We did not see the Assembly vote to make insulin free.

The bill is the first of a number of pieces of legislation Democrats plan to pass this year to strengthen access to abortion in the nation's most populous states. Other liberal states are doing the same thing, including Washington, which enacted a law on Thursday to prohibit legal action against people seeking an abortion or those who aid them.

These types of laws and proposals are in direct response to states like Texas, which has banned abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, and Mississippi, which has banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

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The U.S. Supreme Court has let the Texas law remain in effect while it faces a legal challenge. The court heard arguments about Mississippi's law last year, where a majority of the conservative-dominated court indicated a willingness to either let the law stand or overturn Roe v. Wade.

To prepare for that possibility, on Thursday California lawmakers revealed a bill that would create a mechanism for taxpayers to pay for women in other states where abortion might be illegal to travel to California to receive care.

The bill would create the Abortion Practical Support Fund, which would give grants to nonprofit groups that help women get abortions. The groups could use the money to pay for things like airfare, lodging, ground transportation, gas money, meals, dependent child care, doula support, and translation services.

The fund, which state Sen. Nancy Skinner said would be the first of its kind in the country, would accept private donations, but state lawmakers could also choose to put taxpayer money in it. That would require an appropriation in the state budget.

We really wanted to double down on our effort to make sure that every Californian has access to the full range of reproductive services they need, including abortion, said Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley who is a co-author of the bill along with Democratic Sen. Anna Caballero. Of course, we have states around us where these restrictions may end up in place, and women who will feel like they have nowhere to turn but a state that is open to them."

The bill would also create a state-run website that would compile information about California's abortion providers and available supports in one place.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California's urban water users and farmers who rely on supplies from state reservoirs will get less than planned this year as fears of a third consecutive dry year become reality, state officials announced Friday.

FILE  In this Aug. 22, 2021, file photo, a family walks over cracked mud near Lake Oroville's shore as water levels remain low due to continuing drought conditions in Oroville, Calif. State water officials are preparing to tell major urban and agricultural water agencies on Friday, March 18, 2022, that they'll get even less water from state supplies than the small amount they were promised at the start of the year. Lake Oroville is currently 68% of its historical average supply.(AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California's urban water users and farmers who rely on supplies from state reservoirs will get less than planned this year as fears of a third consecutive dry year become reality, state officials announced Friday.

Water agencies that serve 27 million people and 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) of farmland, will get just 5% of what they've requested this year from state supplies beyond what's needed for critical activities such as drinking and bathing.

That's down from the 15% allocation state officials had announced in January, after a wet December fueled hopes of a lessening drought.

But a wet winter didn't materialize and unless several more inches of rain falls this month, the January-March period will be the driest start to a California year at least a century. That's when most of the state's rain and snow typically falls.

Mandatory restrictions on using water for outdoor activities like landscaping and other purposes may come from local water agencies as they continue to grapple with limited supplies, said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources.

Local water agencies that know their communities unique needs are better poised than state officials to set water use restrictions, Nemeth said.

I think with this reduced allocation we are going to see more urban areas in California move into some kind of mandatory water conservation, she said in an interview.

California Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot calls for water conservation during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. State water officials are preparing to tell major urban and agricultural water agencies on Friday, March 18, 2022, that they'll get even less water from state supplies than the small amount they were promised at the start of the year. Crowfoot said that local or regional governments might issue their own mandatory water restrictions. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

State officials will continue urging people to voluntarily cut water use by 15%, an amount designed to get Californians' collective water use back to what it was during the last drought, which lasted from 2012 to 2016, Nemeth said.

Statewide water use in January actually went up 2.6% compared to the same month in 2020, due to dry conditions and warm temperatures.

About a third of Southern California's water comes from state supplies, mostly routed through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves 19 million people. Abel Hagekhalil, the district's general manager, said in a statement Friday that the public needs to do more to save water.

We all need to take this drought more seriously and significantly step up our water-saving efforts to help preserve our dropping storage levels and ensure we have the water we need into the summer and fall," he said.

California is in its second acute drought in less than a decade, and scientists say the U.S. West is broadly experiencing the worst megadrought in 1,200 years, made more intense by climate change.

People adapted their water use during the state's last drought, in part by ripping up sprinkler-hungry lawns and replacing them with drought-resistant landscaping. Many of those water-saving habits stuck.

But the dry conditions that began anew in 2020 are demanding more conservation, as reservoirs such as Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake remain below historical levels and less water from melting snow is expected to trickle down the mountains this spring.

Current predictions estimate the state will have about 57% of its historical median runoff this April through July, said Alan Haynes, hydrologist in charge for the California Nevada River Forecast Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Melted snow traditionally provides about a third of the state's water supply.

A very wet December put water content in the snow at 160% of normal levels, but isnt resulting in as much water runoff as expected because warmer temperatures are causing some of that water to evaporate rather than flow into rivers and streams as it melts, said Nemeth, the Department of Water Resources director.

A persistent lack of water could produce a range of negative consequences for California, including farmers fallowing fields and endangered salmon and other fish dying.

The water providers that rely on state supplies have a certain amount they of water they can request from the state, and state officials make determinations through the winter on how much the providers will get based on supply.

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In December, before the major snowfall, state officials told water providers that they wouldn't get anything beyond what was needed for immediate health and safety, such as drinking and bathing. The state upped that to 15% of requested supplies in January.

Critics of California's water policy say the state promises more water each year than it has to give. That's led to a continued diminishment of supply in federally and state run reservoirs, said Doug Obegi, an attorney focused on water for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

We basically have a system that is all but bankrupt because we promised so much more water than can actually be delivered," he said.

Officials on Friday also announced a plan to seek a temporary exemption from water quality requirements in Northern California's Delta, the part of the states watershed where the freshwater rivers and salty ocean water mingle.

That would allow the state and federal water projects to release less water into the Delta from the Shasta, Folsom and Oroville reservoirs  which are the state's major water supply sources.

The water quality standards are designed, in part, to ensure the water doesnt get so salty it cant be used for farming, drinking and protecting the environment.
When Kelly Taylor told me wed be testing a 2022 Honda Civic, truth is I was actually excited to get behind the wheel of a small car again. The chance to save gas money for a week and maybe even have some fun after a long winter was indeed welcome.

When Kelly Taylor told me wed be testing a 2022 Honda Civic, truth is I was actually excited to get behind the wheel of a small car again. The chance to save gas money for a week and maybe even have some fun after a long winter was indeed welcome.

Then I looked at the forecast.

I picked up the Civic on the Monday evening before the big blizzard, the spiffy Aegean Blue Metallic paint was a nice contrast to the snow that was starting to blow. I was also pleasantly surprised to see a manual gear shift, normally I joke that shifting gears is only fun when wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle, but in a Civic its a breeze to flick through the gears and with a fresh set of winter tires the drive back to our home just east of Birds Hill Park, despite the emerging storm, was both enjoyable and uneventful.

By the next morning the shiny Civic was pretty much buried in the snow.

As a lifelong gearhead and longtime rural commuter I always pride myself on making it into work on snow days  and this one, despite being the longest lasting blizzard in these parts for more than a quarter century  didnt stop me. I simply waded through the knee-deep snow in front of my shop, brushed off the snow, turned the key and drove away  in my Chevrolet Silverado with the 4x4 engaged  because lets be honest here  that little Civic wasnt going anywhere!

The storm eventually subsided and the Civic was brushed off on Wednesday and dug out and actually performed admirably even through the mostly still snow-covered rural roads around our place and those dreaded ruts found all over city streets.

By Thursday things were pretty much cleared up and I finally got a chance to put my foot into that sweet little 1.5L turbocharged engine and wring out the 180 horsepower  and it didnt disappoint.

Normally Im a big fan of SUVs and trucks for the winter, and until January my daily driver was actually a Honda Pilot, but a nice man in a Mazda with three bald tires and the doughnut spare for the fourth ran a stop sign and T-boned me, sending my beloved Pilot to the big wrecking yard in the sky.

Normally I am fortunate enough to have two vehicles insured, a pickup truck to haul our garbage and tow my toys, and for the last couple of years the Pilot as well, so Ive been thinking about replacing the Pilot with a small car for my commute.

Presently, and Im certain you dont need me to tell you, gas is at $1.70 per litre and my Silverado burns about 17 litres per 100 kilometres of driving. Each day I drive about 100 km, so it costs me in the neighbourhood of $30 a day in fuel to drive back and forth to the Free Press.

The Civic, even with the potent and endlessly fun turbocharged engine, averaged 7.5 litres per 100 km, meaning it only cost me about $13 to make the same return trip.

Math was never my strong subject, at least not until my wallet became involved. Including weekends, driving a Civic instead of my Silverado would result in considerable fuel cost savings of about $450 a month  to drive the exact same distance.

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I can buy a Civic for about that in monthly payments, and after a week in the new version, it is now near the top of my list of cars Im seriously considering.

Kelly has covered all the bells and whistles on this model, and the new Civic is indeed a fine car, our fellow members in the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada liked it so much they crowned it Canadian Car of the Year for 2022 and it has been Canadas best-selling car for 24 consecutive years.

Civics are regarded for their reliability and fuel economy and even the stout turbo still gets great mileage, so it gets full marks from me and is fully capable of getting me where I need to go, and back, at least 364 days of the year.

Kelly summed it up best when I told him the Civic didnt make it out of my driveway on the morning of the storm so I had to drive my truck.

You probably should have just worked from home, he said with a laugh. Im sure he was grinning, but I couldnt tell, because he was working from home.

Willy@freepress.mb.ca
BEIJING (AP)  Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy.

Community workers outside a locked down community chat near a Communist Party flag and trash bags labelled as hazardous waste on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Beijing. Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit ramp from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

BEIJING (AP)  Even as authorities lock down cities in China's worst outbreak in two years, they are looking for an exit from what has been a successful but onerous COVID-19 prevention strategy.

A study, interviews with Chinese public health staff and recent public messaging by government-affiliated experts indicate that China is exploring ways of slowly easing its zero-tolerance approach  with the emphasis on slowly.

The latest sign came Monday in an essay published by Zhang Wenhong, an infectious disease specialist who is part of Shanghais COVID-19 response team and known as Chinas Dr. Fauci  after U.S. government expert Anthony Fauci  for his public health messaging during the pandemic.

Zhang wrote in the Chinese business news outlet Caixin that the public needs to know the virus is becoming less deadly if people are vaccinated and their health isn't already compromised. Dispelling the terror toward it is a step we must take, the essay said.

We should carve a very clear path and not spend all our time debating whether we should continue zero COVID or coexist (with the virus), Zhang wrote.

Change does not appear imminent, with more than 15,000 new cases this month in multiple outbreaks across the country, as well as an even larger one that has shaken Hong Kong. For now, the government is sticking with the tried-and-true policy of lockdowns, repeated mass testing of millions of people and a two-week or more quarantine for overseas arrivals.

When it does come, any change will all but certainly be gradual and cautious. Opening up carries risks, because the country's success in protecting people from COVID-19 means many dont have antibodies to fight the virus from previous infection. Moreover, China is using only domestically developed vaccines that are less effective than Pfizer's and other widely used ones.

Given the still relatively low infection rate, the lack of the natural immunity and also the ineffectiveness of the vaccines in preventing infections,  this is guaranteed to invite another wave of attack, said Yanzhong Huang, a public health expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in the U.S.

Chinese officials are paying close attention, though, as other countries relax mask mandates and other restrictions, and investigating just when and how to make the tricky transition.

On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged the toll of the stringent measures, saying China should seek maximum effect with minimum cost in controlling the virus, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

A first step could be allowing more international flights  which have been sharply curbed since the pandemic  and reducing the quarantine for arriving passengers to one week from as many as 21 days in cities such as Beijing.

A weekly bulletin of news and research from China's Center for Disease Control published a paper last week outlining potential ways to ease the zero-COVID policy.

The paper suggests reducing the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers to seven days, saying it would still screen out most cases as the virus can be detected more quickly now, and that Chinas health system is robust enough to handle any that slip through the cracks.

The authors make clear that eliminating all measures such as quarantines for all arrivals is not on the table. Their models show that a total easing of restrictions could lead to over 10 million cases in southeastern Guangdong province alone, though that's based on the delta variant, and not the more transmissible omicron that has become predominant.

A government researcher, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said that the evidence points to a suppression strategy as the next transition point. That means a seven-day quarantine, for example, rather than an unrestricted opening up.

Public health experts caution that the discussion of easing zero COVID has been sporadic and preliminary, and that no timeline has been set.

Its a concept paper, not really a detailed plan, said Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong. He added he had yet to hear of any coordinated government movement toward easing restrictions, just single experts from time to time raising the idea.

Huang at the Council on Foreign Relations said he had heard of discussions about pivoting away from zero COVID several months ago, but that the recent wave in Hong Kong has led policymakers to wait until the dust settles.

More than 5,000 people have died in Hong Kong this year in an outbreak that has overflowed hospitals and morgues and shuttered many stores and restaurants.

In mainland China, authorities have shut down travel out of and within the hardest-hit province, Jilin in the northeast. More than 1,800 cases were reported in Jilin on Friday, out of 2,388 nationwide. Restrictions were partially eased, however, in Shenzhen, a major tech and finance hub bordering Hong Kong that had been locked down since Sunday.

Since omicron spreads quickly, we need to take earlier, faster, stricter and more concrete measures, Chinese disease control official Lei Zhenglong told state television on Monday.

Many Chinese express support for zero COVID and pride that the government has managed to control a virus that has killed millions elsewhere, particularly in the West. China's official death toll stands at 4,636, the vast majority during the initial outbreak in early 2020.

But after two years of sporadic lockdowns, there are signs that some are tiring of the disruptions they bring.

Its affected me, said Li Jing, a tea seller in Beijing. If I work from home, I wont make as much money as if I go to my workplace.

Chinese officials worry about relatively low vaccination rates among the elderly, though they have not released recent figures. The elderly have accounted for the vast majority of the deaths in Hong Kong, and many of them were not fully vaccinated.

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Studies of Chinese vaccines suggest they offer significantly less protection against infection from omicron, even after three doses, than a booster shot from a Western vaccine using mRNA technology. A Chinese mRNA vaccine is still in trials.

One major reason China is not confident enough to lift zero COVID is because of the lower efficacy of its vaccines, a Chinese public health official said, declining to be named to speak candidly on a sensitive topic. The official added that authorities are monitoring what happens in Hong Kong for any lessons for the mainland.

Public health experts say nations can live with the virus, as long as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are protected.

Its not the same virus as two years ago in Wuhan and elsewhere," said Jin Dong-yan, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong. "Thats the main message that we need to pass on.

___

Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press video journalist Emily Wang contributed to this report.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday as it faces its first outbreak of COVID-19 after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive.

The Catholic Cathedral in Apia on the island of Upolu, Samoa, July 8, 2015. Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday, March 19, 2022 as it faces its first outbreak of the coronavirus after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive. (Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Samoa will go into lockdown from Saturday as it faces its first outbreak of COVID-19 after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive.

Although health authorities have so far found just a single case, it is the first time Samoa has found any unexplained cases in the community and likely points to an undetected outbreak that has been going on for days or even weeks.

A government report leaked online indicates the woman had visited church services, a hospital, stores, a library and a travel agency since first feeling ill last Saturday.

Samoa and several neighboring Pacific island nations were among the last places on earth to avoid virus outbreaks. But the more transmissible omicron variant has changed the equation, and one by one the island nations have been succumbing to COVID-19.

Since the start of the year, Kiribati, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands and American Samoa have all experienced their first big outbreaks.

John Fala, who runs a logistics company in Samoa, said it was inevitable that Samoa would eventually get the virus, a reality brought home for many when COVID-19 began spreading in nearby American Samoa.

We've had two years to prepare, Fala said. Now it's finally here. Of course, there is going to be a bit of scrambling.

From midnight Saturday, all schools will be closed, public gatherings will be banned, and all stores and other services will be shut down, except those considered essential. From midnight Friday, people were required to wear masks and use vaccination cards.

There were reports Friday of panic-buying ahead of the lockdown.

Fala, who is vaccinated, said his company is considered an essential service and he's frantically trying to navigate the new rules to keep it operating.

The lockdown is initially scheduled to last through midnight Tuesday although Fala expects it will be extended.

The father of three young children, Fala said his biggest concern is that unvaccinated children will catch the virus. He said the nation of 200,000 had good rates of inoculation among adults but had only just begun vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 in the past week or so.

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About 65% of all Samoans have had at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, according to Our World in Data.

Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa told people about the positive case in a special announcement to the nation late Thursday. She said the infected woman was in isolation and that her movements and contacts with people were being traced.

Mata'afa said officials wanted to do all they could to contain it from spreading rapidly.

Although our country continues to traverse through these difficult times, let us continue to trust in the Lord, Mata'afa said in her announcement.

Samoa has had previous virus scares and lockdowns after returning plane passengers tested positive while isolating, but had managed to avoid any community outbreaks until now.

Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Nauru are among the few remaining Pacific island nations to have avoided omicron outbreaks.
Ottawas latest funding announcement for Manitoba farmers comes with one eye on the future  and its potential for more extreme weather events  and another on the past, with last years drought in the rear-view mirror.

Ottawas latest funding announcement for Manitoba farmers comes with one eye on the future  and its potential for more extreme weather events  and another on the past, with last years drought in the rear-view mirror.

"Climate change is real," Terry Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South, said at a news conference Thursday. "(Last years) was the worst drought we had in many decades.

"The extreme nature of these events is related to climate change."

He took the podium in the University of Manitobas Agriculture Building to announce more than $66 million in federal government funding for sustainable farming practices in the Prairies.

The Manitoba Association of Watersheds will receive up to $40 million.

"The work thats being done on the land, its nothing short of inspiring," said Lynda Nicol, the associations executive director.

The association is hoping to increase rotational grazing, cover-cropping and nitrogen management with the funding. The money will give participating farmers tools and financial incentives, Nicol said.

"They are more than just farmers; theyre more than just business people," Nicol said. "Theyre on the leading edge of how to protect this land."

Curtis Rempel, vice-president of crop production and innovation at the Canola Council of Canada: Will the investment pay off?

Currently, the agriculture sector accounts for 10 per cent of Canadas greenhouse gas emissions.

Sequestering carbon in soil and reducing greenhouse gases will benefit farmers in the long run, Nicol said. But, sometimes financial backing is needed for change to happen.

"Our hope is there will not only be adoption, but long-standing implementation of new practices (when you have) the financial incentives alongside the educational information," Nicol said.

Details on how the money will be split and used is being worked out with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and local water districts, Nicol said.

The Canola Council of Canada will use its grant of up to $22 million for some experimenting, while also financially supporting farmers participating in 4R nutrient stewardship, according to Curtis Rempel, the councils vice-president of crop production and innovation.

The Rs stand for right rate, right place, right time, and right product. Its a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including nitrous oxide.

Science has proven different farming practices effective in reducing nitrous oxide, including splitting nitrogen applications when feeding soil and using more efficient fertilizers, Rempel said.

The question is whether adopting more environmentally friendly actions will produce worthwhile crops and profits, he said.

"The big piece right now is coming off a challenging drought year, the investment," Rempel said. "Will the investment pay off in terms of actually giving us the yields and also (reducing) our nitrous oxide emissions?"

photos by MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid took the podium in the University of Manitobas Agriculture Building to announce more than $66 million in federal government funding for sustainable farming practices in the Prairies.

The council will keep an eye on three zones across the Prairies  fields with brown, dark brown and black soil. All have different nitrogen management requirements.

Larger crop yields can sequester more carbon.

"It takes nitrogen to produce higher yielding crops," Rempel said. "If we want more carbon to be sequestered, we need more yield, which means potentially more nitrogen."

The goal is to find efficiencies in using fertilizer, decreasing nitrogen use.

"In working with a key set of producers, we can sort of see how all of that unfolds, keep fine-tuning and tweaking, and go for that continuous improvement," Rempel said.

The council will use its funding to work with roughly 10 million acres across the Prairies, Rempel said. More farmers will hop on the sustainability bandwagon if its proven theyll still make money, he added.

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Duguid announced another over $4.4 million for 10 Manitoba projects under the Agriculture Clean Technology Program. O Foods will power a new facility using biomass, and grain farmers are installing energy-efficient grain dryers through the program.

Ottawa will release its emissions reduction plan later this month, Duguid said. It will provide a road map to hitting net zero emissions by 2050, he said.

"Agriculture has a vital role to play to get us there," Duguid said. "They have the greatest stake in the fight against climate change."

Funding to the Manitoba Association of Watersheds and Canola Council of Canada comes through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, which was first announced in the federal governments 2021 budget.

Activities through the fund should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to two million tonnes by 2024, the federal government suggests.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
TORONTO - Restaurant Brands International wants to sell its ownership stake in Burger King Russia after the business' main operator refused to suspend operations in the country.

This Feb. 1, 2018, file photo shows a Burger King Whopper meal combo at a restaurant in the United States. Restaurant Brands International wants to sell its ownership stake in Burger King Russia after the business' main operator refused to suspend operations in the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Gene J. Puskar, File

TORONTO - Restaurant Brands International wants to sell its ownership stake in Burger King Russia after the business' main operator refused to suspend operations in the country.

David Shear, RBI's international president, said in an open letter to employeesreleased today that the company has started the process to dispose of the stake and would like to do so immediately, but it's taking time because of the joint venture agreement.

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He says his company wants to back out of the venture because of the "horrifying" attacks Russia is staging on Ukraine, but there are no legal clauses that allow RBI to unilaterally change the Burger King Russia contract or allow it to walk away or overturn the agreement.

RBI owns a 15 per cent stake in the joint venture. The other parties, who also hold minority stakes, are Investment Capital Ukraine, VTB Capital  one of Russia's largest banks  and Alexander Kolobov, who oversees the 800 restaurants in Russia.

Shear says any attempt to exit the business would require the support of Russian authorities and that "no serious investor" would agree to a long-term business relationship with flimsy termination clauses.

RBI, which also owns Tim Hortons and Popeyes, has been facing pressure to depart the country after Russia invaded Ukraine and other international brands such as KFC, McDonald's and Starbucks backed away from operating in Russia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:QSR)
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  In the oil fields of northern Montana, industry veteran Mac McDermott watched crude prices whipsaw from $75 a barrel in January to more than $120 as Russia pressed its war in Ukraine, then down again when coronavirus worries in China raised the specter of a global slowdown.

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, a Whiting Petroleum Co. pumpjack pulls crude oil from the Bakken region of the Northern Plains near Bainville, Mont. U.S. oil production has been bouncing back as the industry recovers from the pandemic but industry analysts say it will take months for significant further increases to materialize despite calls to pump more domestic crude. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  In the oil fields of northern Montana, industry veteran Mac McDermott watched crude prices whipsaw from $75 a barrel in January to more than $120 as Russia pressed its war in Ukraine, then down again when coronavirus worries in China raised the specter of a global slowdown.

McDermott said his family-owned company will modestly increase drilling if oil prices stabilize. But for the next few months, hes waiting on the sidelines and struggling to get enough workers to watch over roughly 100 oil wells the company operates. That includes some wells idled during the pandemic that he's been trying to bring online since last year.

President Joe Biden's move to ban Russian oil imports over its invasion of Ukraine was met with Republican demands to boost U.S. production to address high gasoline prices. The White House, too, called for more drilling and cited the war as it shelved Bidens campaign pledge to curb drilling on public lands because of climate change.

Yet political rhetoric about quickly ramping up U.S. crude output is at odds with the industrys reality: There's not enough workers to rapidly expand, scant money to invest in drilling and wariness that todays high prices wont last, according to industry representatives, analysts and state officials.

It would be great to produce more domestically, McDermott said. (But) its so volatile. ... We haven't had any access to capital for years. If we drilled, money would have to come from existing production. It's a risky business.

Republicans from energy states have brushed past the industry's logistical constraints to pin blame for slow U.S. oil growth on Democrats and Biden. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Montana Sen. Steve Daines have called for American energy to be unleashed" and more public lands opened to drilling. Daines accused Democrats of using the Russia oil ban to cover up a supposed scheme to ban all oil.

The U.S. doesn't import much Russian oil and Bidens administration has effectively halted new oil or natural gas lease sales from federal lands and waters. But its approved almost 4,000 new drilling permits on federal lands and companies have thousands more stockpiled. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said companies should use those permits to "go get more supply out of the ground.

Federal energy reserves account for about a quarter of U.S. oil, with the remainder coming from private, tribal and state land.

Pumping rates overall slowly increased during Biden's first year as the industry climbed out of the pandemic, when oil future prices briefly dipped below $0 a barrel.

Obstacles to more U.S. oil are surmountable, according to analysts, yet will take months to work through and it could be late this year or early next before a significant production increase materializes.

Its going to be a slower ramp up for fields like ours, McDermott said. Everybody in the industry would say if we have a consistent price, then you know what you would get for an extended period of time and its easy to make business decisions.

In the short term, the world's looking to other sources. The United Arab Emirates said last week it would urge OPEC to consider boosting oil output, which sent oil prices tumbling. Saudi Arabia alone has roughly 2 million barrels a day of additional capacity standing by, said Rice University energy researcher Jim Krane.

By comparison, total U.S. production last year was about 11 million barrels a day.

Even with favorable conditions  strong prices, political pressure and less-cautious shareholders  companies in the U.S. could see production rise by just over 1 million barrels daily by the end of the year, said Robert Johnston with Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy.

Some of the biggest U.S. reserves are offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. However, the massive platforms used in deep Gulf waters take years to finance, build and put into place.

A near-term crude boost would have to come from onshore oil resources already developed, such as the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas and the Bakken of North Dakota and Montana, said Andy McConn with Enverus, an energy analytics company whose data is used by industry and government agencies.

Even in those areas, there's no way to simply crank open the spigot immediately. The most easily accessible reserves already have been drilled, McConn said.

There's not a lot of low-hanging fruit, he said.

Some oil producing regions already were bouncing back as the industry shakes off its pandemic slowdown, particularly the Permian Basin  the nation's busiest oil patch with 45,000 wells drilled over the past decade, according to the Energy Information Administration. Other oil patches that could see expansions include Oklahoma's Midcontinent area and Colorado's D-J Basin, McConn said.

Operators in the Permian Basin described growth as steady since last spring. By January, they topped 5 million barrels a day.

Still, the mood this time around is different. Its not a drill baby drill type of mentality like there was before," said Stephen M. Robertson with the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

Multiple factors are tempering a production boom, he said, including volatile prices, labor issues and longer wait times for parts to be fabricated and supplies shipped. Even the custom cowboy boots favored by some workers have been hard to come by.

Its not just one factor that is telling the industry out here what it should do. Its not just high prices, Robertson said.

If the conflict in Ukraine drags on, prices stay high and the logistical hurdles are overcome, companies could move into relatively untapped fields, including Wyoming's Powder River Basin and Utah's Uinta Basin.

But it wont be anything like booms that swept through those regions over the past decade, drawing thousands of workers who overwhelmed housing and other services and transformed rural communities into centers of industry.

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Larry Scott, an engineer who has worked in the oil business for decades and now represents a portion of the Permian Basin as a Republican in the New Mexico Legislature, said oil and gas companies still have to conquer the labor challenge.

You cant ramp up if you cant find qualified people to do it, he said.

___

Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

__

Follow Matthew Brown: @MatthewBrownAP
OTTAWA - Canada saw a 37 per cent increase in hate crimes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, a statistic that advocates say shows the need for awareness of what racialized citizens face.

OTTAWA - Canada saw a 37 per cent increase in hate crimes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, a statistic that advocates say shows the need for awareness of what racialized citizens face.

Statistics Canada said 2,669 hate crimes were reported to police in 2020  the highest number since comparable data became available in 2009.

That's even as the report shows the overall rate of police-reported crimes, excluding traffic offences, dropped 10 per cent from 2019 to 2020.

Statistics Canada says police-reported hate crimes targeting race or ethnicity rose 80 per cent in 2020 compared with 2019 and accounted for the bulk of the national increase.

It says reported hate crimes targeting East or Southeast Asian people went up 301 per cent; those aimed at Black people went up 92 per cent; hate against Indigenous people was up 152 per cent; and those against South Asian people went up 47 per cent.

Queenie Choo, the chief executive officer of the United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society in B.C., said she's concerned about the rise in hate crimes across population groups.

"It's not the theme of this week or month. It's an ongoing issue," she said in an interview.

The report notes that the COVID-19 pandemic "brought to light" how Canadians of different races viewed their safety.

"We're all Canadians. There's no one less Canadian than anyone else. (Race) shouldn't be an issue in our country," Choo said.

The highest increases in police-reported hate crimes were in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, the report says.

Kasari Govender, B.C.'s human rights commissioner, said the report's findings are not surprising.

"It mirrors closely what community members across B.C. have been saying for nearly two years about not only hate crimes, but hate incidents more broadly," she said in a statement.

Govender's office launched a public inquiry in August 2021 into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she said "the pandemic has created a breeding ground for pre-existing hateful beliefs."

"We need to acknowledge the conditions under which hate flourishes in order to address it."

No rise was reported in Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or Northwest Territories, but the report notes the relatively small population counts and number of hate crimes in the territories usually make year-over-year comparisons less reliable.

Both violent and non-violent hate crimes increased compared with 2019 and contributed "fairly equally" to the overall rise in hate crimes in 2020, Statistics Canada says.

Hate crimes targeting religion declined for the third year in a row following a peak in 2017, the report says. But the 515 incidents reported in 2020 are still higher than what was recorded annually before 2017, it notes.

The Jewish and Muslim populations continue to be the most common targets of religion-based hate crimes, it says.

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Shimon Koffler Fogel, the president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said in a statement that the report should be a "call to action" for Canadians.

"This is deeply alarming when balancing the number of hate-motivated attacks against the relatively small Jewish population," he said. "We are grateful that police services across the country take these incidents seriously, but more needs to be done to prevent them and protect vulnerable communities."

There was a two per cent decrease in hate crimes targeting sexual orientation in 2020, but the 259 incidents reported are the second highest since comparable data became available in 2009, the agency says.

Statistics Canada says the increase in hate crimes in 2020 may still underestimate the number of incidents, given that not all such crimes reported to police.

- By Nick Wells in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2022.
In what is believed to be the longest sentence of its kind in Canada, a Winnipeg man convicted of sexually abusing two generations of children from the same family has been ordered to serve 30 years in prison.

In what is believed to be the longest sentence of its kind in Canada, a Winnipeg man convicted of sexually abusing two generations of children from the same family has been ordered to serve 30 years in prison.

"I see no principled reason to reduce the sentence below the 30 years sought by the Crown," provincial court Judge Cynthia Devine said Thursday.

"The enormity, seriousness and harm caused by the offender to children lives on in Canadian society as these victims try to heal and live different lives Reducing the sentence in these circumstances would seem arbitrary and untethered to the facts and circumstances of these offences, the offender and Canadian law."

Alan Aloya Samson, 48, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual interference involving nine children, six counts of making child pornography, and one count each of possessing child pornography and theft for offences committed between 1995 and 2020.

"These offences are staggering," Devine said. "It is clear that these children were subjected to hundreds, if not thousands, of individual sexual violations over several years during their childhoods."

These offences are staggering... It is clear that these children were subjected to hundreds, if not thousands, of individual sexual violations over several years during their childhoods.  Judge Cynthia Devine

The mother of two victims and sister of two more hugged Crown attorney Katie Dojack after Devine delivered Samsons sentence.

"Its been a long journey emotionally," the woman said outside court. "But Im actually very impressed with how all of the officials involved worked on things. We felt very supported and taken care of.

"If theres anyone else going through the same, Id like them to know there is help out there. It takes one step to make it happen."

The woman said she hopes Samsons sentence sets the bar for sentencing sex offenders in the future.

"I was prepared for something much lower, only because I didnt want to build myself up too high," she said. "I feel (the sentence) was very fair and I would like it to be a foundation for other cases like this."

DREAMSTIME / TNS Alan Aloya Samson pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual interference involving nine children, six counts of making child pornography, and one count each of possessing child pornography and theft for offences committed between 1995 and 2020.

The woman and her children now live out of province.

Court previously heard the womans daughter disclosed to her in July 2020 that Samson had sexually abused her years earlier, when they were living in Winnipeg. The woman said she then spoke to her teenage son, who confirmed he, too, had been sexually abused by Samson.

"That same day, I learned my brother and my two cousins came forward to reveal they had also been abused by Alan when they were just kids," the woman told court at a sentencing hearing earlier this year. "To learn about all of this only within a few hours of each other, I have never felt so inadequate as a mother, never so inadequate as a role model for my family."

I was prepared for something much lower, only because I didnt want to build myself up too high... I feel (the sentence) was very fair and I would like it to be a foundation for other cases like this.  Mother of victims

The womans daughter said she came forward thinking she and her brother were Samsons only victims.

Court heard Samson "normalized" sex acts with his young victims, grooming them with toys in exchange for sexual compliance.

One now-adult victim told court he turned to cocaine to escape the waking nightmare of the abuse he suffered.

Between 1997 and his arrest in September 2020, Samson worked for photography company Lifetouch Canada, processing student photos.

Following Samsons arrest, police executed a search warrant at his Winnipeg home, uncovering evidence of more victims, pornographic videos of four victims, and approximately 100 photos he stole from Lifetouch.

Court heard Samson used the elementary school photos to masturbate and also as grooming tools, showing them to his young victims and suggesting he was spending time with them, in order to make the children jealous.

Samson lived at his parents home in a basement suite where much of the abuse occurred.

"The basement was equipped with everything a young boy could dream of (Samson) lured the children with toys, unlimited video-game playing in his suite and other fun activities," Devine wrote in a 37-page decision. "He played them off each other, trying to instill jealousy and competitiveness in them to elicit their co-operation and guarantee their compliance."

The basement was equipped with everything a young boy could dream of (Samson) lured the children with toys, unlimited videogame playing in his suite and other fun activities."  Judge Cynthia Devine

Samson installed several hidden cameras in the suite, which he used to record himself abusing the children.

At an earlier hearing, Devine initially resisted the Crowns request she view the seized abuse videos, arguing to do so would only revictimize the victims. She later changed her position, agreeing the "shocking enormity" of the offences could not be "fully appreciated" without viewing the videos.

"In watching these offences on film, it becomes very clear that the acts the children described to police did not occur only once on each occasion they went to the offenders home," Devine said. "The offenders behaviour was incessant, repeated and obsessive.

"He treats the boys as small children treat their dolls and action figures with the exception that the purpose for which he positioned these children and removed their clothing was nefarious."

A 2020 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada known as R v Friesen "reset" how courts should deal with child sex offenders, with the high court ruling such sentences should increase as societys understanding of the great harm inflicted on children deepens.

"The court made it clear that sentences for child sexual offences were too low in the past," Devine said. "They must increase."

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca

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Three months after she was transferred to a hospital 350 kilometres from home without follow-up care, an 80-year-old Winnipegger is back in the city receiving geriatric rehab.

Three months after she was transferred to a hospital 350 kilometres from home without follow-up care, an 80-year-old Winnipegger is back in the city receiving geriatric rehab.

Joan Hodgsons return happened after the local community rallied around her and health-care leadership pledged to do better.

SUPPLIED Joan Hodgson, left, and Andrea Glasman during a video chat with Hodgsons daughter last week.

In late December, Hodgson went to Concordia Hospital for a broken leg. On Jan. 12, she was transferred to Russell Health Centre, as part of Manitobas inter-regional transfer protocol to free up space for COVID-19 patients.

Hodgson was one of more than 300 to be transferred. Then her son and primary caregiver died while she was in hospital and she had no visitors.

On March 12, she was airlifted to Deer Lodge Centre  but not before the kindness of strangers set her on a hopeful path.

"Those last few days in Russell, it was like she was a different person, because she suddenly had this community around going, Hey, we heard about you, were worried about you and were going to see if youre OK. These different ways of reaching out, it was really beautiful. It made a huge difference," said her daughter, Kate Hodgson, who lives in Vancouver.

Early this month, Kate spoke publicly in the Free Press about her concerns for her mother and other transferred patients, after Hodgsons scheduled follow-up appointments were repeatedly delayed, which in turn delayed her recovery and ability to go home to friends and loved ones.

Kate filed a complaint with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority over her mothers case, and soon after, Hodgson received a referral to Deer Lodges geriatric rehabilitation program.

Manitobans heard her story and reached out to the family, wrote letters to politicians, and sent Hodgson gifts. The news of her journey struck a chord with Andrea Glasman, a personal care home worker in Russell who went to visit Hodgson on her own time and helped her video chat with family, whom she hadnt seen in months.

"Sometimes, something hits you and it kind of pulls at your heart strings. Something was telling me, You have to reach out to (Hodgsons) daughter," Glasman said.

She did, via Facebook, and visited Hodgson twice before the 80-year-old was transferred back to Winnipeg.

"It was very nice," Glasman said. "I would just hope if I wasnt available for any of my family, you always hope that theres some good soul out there that will reach out to them no matter what age, right? In our world the way it is, you just want to show a little love out there instead of turmoil."

Glasman was reminded of her 100-year-old mother-in-laws recent experience moving to long-term care. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, her social visits dwindled and could only have contact with Glasman and her husband, her essential caregivers.

"I just know how hard that was on her to not have her people around," Glasman said, noting many people have similar experiences.

So far, 320 Manitoba patients have been transferred to health centres outside their home region via the provinces inter-regional transfer protocol, which was meant to free up city hospital beds for COVID-19 patients and is expected to continue post-pandemic.

According to Shared Health, as of Friday morning, 105 were actively receiving inpatient care.

"Care teams at originating sites review the needs of stable patients identified as candidates... and work to match them with receiving sites that can meet both their immediate and ongoing care needs," a statement from Shared Health said.

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"It is the responsibility of receiving sites to provide and co-ordinate appropriate services for patients once they have arrived and are in their care."

Thats part of the problem, Kate said. Shes urging Manitobans to hold leaders accountable for gaps in elder care. After she filed the complaint, Kate said she received an apology from the president of Concordia Hospital.

"The complaints processes helped," she said. "I think what was most heartening for us was having people say, This is not OK."

Kate wants to use her voice to support other families  around 40 others reached out with dozens of similar stories  and urged Manitobans to do the same.

"This was a huge amount of effort, just to get this happening for my mom, and its not OK that thats happening to other people."

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
A safety initiative meant to expedite the addition of eye-level lights at all of Winnipegs lighted pedestrian crosswalks will be delayed to determine how best to pay for it.

A safety initiative meant to expedite the addition of eye-level lights at all of Winnipegs lighted pedestrian crosswalks will be delayed to determine how best to pay for it.

City councils public works committee looks set to take a second look at how best to fund the lower-mounted safety lights, which a motion seeks to have installed as soon as possible. The referral back to public works still awaits a council vote.

On Wednesday, Coun. Matt Allard repeatedly told EPC members its essential to get the work done as quickly as possible to prevent future collisions. Allard stressed its also critical to achieve that without any reduction to the resources devoted to other road safety initiatives.

The city has known since 2013 that these low-mounted lights are a cost-effective way, an easy way to better pedestrian safety Im convinced theres capacity within the signals department to do the work that needs to be done, said Allard, who raise the motion that calls for the new safety initiative.

I feel like whats being proposed here its clear as mud in terms of what we are asking the public service.  Mayor Brian Bowman

The executive policy committee ultimately asked council to send the matter back to public works instead of giving it final approval, which Allard eventually agreed to.

Multiple EPC members argued the motion failed to pinpoint an appropriate funding source.

I feel like whats being proposed here its clear as mud in terms of what we are asking the public service, said Mayor Brian Bowman.

Red Light, Green Light, No Oversight MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A traffic light on the north median (facing southbound traffic) of Osborne Street and St. Mary Avenue in Winnipeg on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. For Ryan Thorpe story. Winnipeg Free Press 2022. Posted: 2:00 PM Feb. 23, 2022 Christian Sweryda has spent hundreds of hours cataloguing and tracking the changes to intersections in Winnipeg. His findings point to financial mismanagement in the public works department. That research is the basis of a Free Press investigative series by Ryan Thorpe: Red Light, Green Light, No Oversight. Read Full Story

Bowman and others stressed they didnt oppose the idea itself, which Allard raised after safety concerns at lighted crosswalks were raised in a recent Free Press series.

The series noted traffic safety activist Christian Sweryda has lobbied the city for more than a decade to add more of the eye-level lights, deeming these easier to spot than overhead lights for drivers whose vehicles are close to an intersection.

Sweryda links the lighting issue to six crashes at crosswalks with overhead lighting over a 19-month span from February 2018 to September 2019, which resulted in four deaths.

The city has already installed 25 low-mounted lights at crosswalks, while 158 locations still await funding.

Council approved $145,000 in the 2022 budget to covert 15 more. Allards motion proposes to raise that amount to $1.6 million to complete all installations instead.

The original motion had called for the public service to fund the work through councils so-called rainy day fund, the local and regional streets renewal budget, savings from an Archibald Street construction project and/or another source identified by the executive policy committee.

The head of councils finance committee said that sparked concern for the following reasons: the Archibald project involved a funding agreement with the provincial and federal governments, so its savings arent necessarily available for city use; the street renewal budget was already tapped to cover operating costs in the 2022 budget; the rainy day fund has dwindled to cover COVID-19 pandemic losses; and the call for another source of cash is too vague.

I would like to see those lights installed but, at this time, a legitimate funding source has not been identified, Coun. Scott Gillingham said Friday.

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Coun. Brian Mayes agreed: There is no new money identified to do this We all agreed this is a worthwhile initiative its just somethings got to give to fund it.

Allard could not be reached for an interview Friday. In an email, executive assistant Ryan Palmquist said additional funding options will be explored.

Were disappointed further eye-level beacons wont proceed immediately, in spite of several suggested funding sources being presented, including from the road renewal reserve, (a) city share of under-budget capital projects, and other options. When matters are a priority at city hall, obtaining new funding outside the annual budget process is not unusual, wrote Palmquist, noting eye-level lights have often been put up following fatal crashes.

He said additional funding proposals will be suggested.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
The Winnipeg Free Press has been nominated for four National Newspaper Awards, among Canadian journalisms top honours.

The Winnipeg Free Press has been nominated for four National Newspaper Awards, among Canadian journalisms top honours.

Reporter Ryan Thorpe is nominated in the investigation category for his weeks-long work detailing dangerous conditions inmates are forced to navigate inside 143-year-old Stony Mountain Correctional Institution, and in the long feature category for his close look at the first year of the pandemic in Manitoba.

Jen Zoratti is nominated in the arts category for her profile of Goota Ashoona, a third-generation Inuit artist.

Reporters Malak Abas, Dean Pritchard and Free Press Editor Paul Samyn are nominated together in the breaking news category for what the NNA judges called aggressive reporting in delivering the shocking story of a nurses stabbing at Seven Oaks Hospital and the doctor who jumped in to save her life by overpowering the attacker.

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These nominations speak to our commitment to excellence in journalism, Samyn said Friday.

Im delighted the Free Press has received these nominations that allow our growing audience to know this is truly one of the strongest newspapers in the country.

More than 860 entries were submitted for articles published in 2021; 66 are nominated as the best work in 22 categories.

The Free Press was tied with Canadian Press with four nominations. The Globe and Mail led the way with 21 nominations in 16 categories.

The 73rd annual awards will be handed out by webcast on May 6.

 Staff
Police officers in Manitoba could be subject to a blanket code of conduct and set of policing standards under new legislation proposed by the Progressive Conservative government.

Police officers in Manitoba could be subject to a blanket code of conduct and set of policing standards under new legislation proposed by the Progressive Conservative government.

Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said Bill 30 would establish policing standards for all law enforcement agencies in the province, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and give new authority to the Manitoba Police Commission to audit and inspect services for compliance.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said the proposed legislation is the first step towards enhancing police oversight and improving processes by which Manitobans file complaints related to police conduct.

The Police Services Amendment and Law Enforcement Review Agency Amendment Act would also establish a public provincial code of conduct for all police officers, except Mounties.

People dont really know what those standard codes of conduct are, theyre not public which probably results in complaints to LERA, Goertzen said after the bill was introduced Thursday.

If theres a clear code of conduct that is applicable across the province to all the different forces, not only do of course officers understand that which is important, but the public understands it as well.

Goertzen said the proposed legislation is the first step towards enhancing police oversight and improving processes by which Manitobans file complaints related to police conduct. The bill would extend the time for filing complaints to the Law Enforcement Review Agency to 180 days from 30 days.

The justice minister said additional changes to LERA  which investigates non-criminal complaints against municipal police officers  are coming and the future of the agency will be part of discussions surrounding the provincial code of conduct.

Clearly there needs to be some improvement when it comes to the ability to make concerns and complaints when citizens have them, Goertzen said.

He expressed concern the agencys mandate, as set out in legislation, does not meet the needs of the public and said the burden of proof for taking a complaint to a public hearing needs to be reviewed.

Im not sure that its always even the standard by which they have to meet, but are we finding the right place to be able to launch their complaints that dont reach a criminal standard? Goertzen mused. Im not sure that thats the case right now.

The agencys annual report says 32 per cent of the 106 complaints received in 2020 were dismissed by the commissioner as not supported by sufficient evidence, while 46 per cent were abandoned or withdrawn. Not one was forwarded to a public hearing. A request for updated statistics for 2021 was not returned.

Kevin Walby, University of Winnipeg associate professor of criminal justice, said the agency has been hounded for decades by criticism over its complaints and investigations processes.

By saying theyre going to address this thing, and then you see theres just one little change and none of the complaints that have been voiced over the years are addressed, thats going to push the legitimacy of the system lower, Walby said.

Establishing a provincial code of conduct and set of policing standards will not address the sub-cultures within law enforcement that do not follow existing codes of conduct, Walby said.

He argued a requirement in the proposed legislation for the police commission to perform compliance audits and compel police services to provide information about its officers, facilities, and equipment could also backfire.

Theres not a whole lot of incentive for them to comply if the real accountability and oversight mechanisms will have no bearing on them, Walby said. There needs to be much more independent, and community-led oversight of policing and these changes dont get us anywhere near that.

Goertzen said the public feedback will be considered in the development of the provincial code of conduct and policing standards alongside input from the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police.

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He noted one of the next steps for his office is to ensure breaches of codes of conduct are reported to the department and the police commission to track the frequency and type of breaches that occur in the province.

NDP justice critic Nahanni Fontaine said Manitobans were expecting an overhaul of the Law Enforcement Review Act and for years have asked for changes to make police accountable for their interactions with citizens.

We dont see that here, Fontaine said. You can put all the codes of conduct that you want but if theres no teeth to it, if theres no consequences, then whats the point? From this bill we see no consequences.

Bill 30 would also establish the Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre, which would work with police agencies and other law enforcement organizations to co-ordinate the sharing of criminal intelligence and analytics.

Goertzen said Manitobans can expect significant progress on a provincial code of conduct and policing standards to be made heading into 2023.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
A woman in a senior leadership position at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has accused Grand Chief Arlen Dumas  the most powerful Indigenous leader in the province  of sexual assault.

A woman in a senior leadership position at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has accused Grand Chief Arlen Dumas  the most powerful Indigenous leader in the province  of sexual assault.

A formal criminal complaint has been filed with the Winnipeg Police Service sex crimes unit and the assemblys executive council of chiefs was notified about the allegation Monday.

Police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon confirmed Thursday that a complaint had been received and an incident number was generated.

McKinnon said police could not reveal information about the accuser or accused, or the details of the allegation.

The Free Press requested comment from Dumas Thursday.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas.

In response, Natalie Ballentyne, chief of staff of the AMC, issued a short statement declining to comment.

"The grand chiefs office has not received any such information at this time and therefore cannot respond to this subject matter," Ballentyne said.

The accuser sent an email to AMCs executive council of chiefs, formally notifying the organization of the sexual assault allegation, on Monday.

The Free Press has obtained a copy of the email and isnt naming the accuser because it involves an alleged sexual assault.

I believe there should be urgency in this matter, as I suspect other women at AMC have or are experiencing the same thing.  Accuser's email to AMCs executive council of chiefs

The email claims the assembly has an "unhealthy" and "unsafe" work environment, with the accuser saying she had been subjected to "harassment, sexual harassment, and sexualized violence by Grand Chief Arlen Dumas."

"I believe there should be urgency in this matter, as I suspect other women at AMC have or are experiencing the same thing," the accuser wrote.

The woman said she had felt "harassed" by Dumas, "via phone, in person and virtually," since her "second day of employment."

"My personal experience of harassment and sexual misconduct has created an unsafe work environment where I have been subjected to gender-based violence," the accuser wrote.

My personal experience of harassment and sexual misconduct has created an unsafe work environment where I have been subjected to gender-based violence."  Accuser's email to AMCs executive council of chiefs

"I am unable to provide more details to this issue, as a formal complaint has been filed with the Winnipeg Police Service sex crimes unit, but I can confirm from my experience, I was sexually assaulted."

The accuser ended the email by saying she is willing to work with AMCs executive council of chiefs and human resources "in any required followup."

The Free Press also requested comment from the executive council of chiefs on Thursday.

The only response was the short, written statement from Ballentyne on behalf of the "grand chiefs office."

A source told the Free Press the assemblys executive council of chiefs will hold an emergency meeting Friday to respond to the sexual assault allegation.

This isnt the first time Dumas has been accused of misconduct, although it is the first time a woman has made allegations involving sexual violence.

In 2019, Bethany Maytwayashing accused Dumas of sending her inappropriate texts and social media messages that made her feel "really creeped out."

Maytwayashing was 22 at the time; Dumas was in his mid-40s.

Dumas denied sending inappropriate messages to Maytwayashing, claiming someone had impersonated him "for political or other purposes."

He did admit to being in contact with Maytwayashing to provide "advice and guidance on her path forward."

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Bethany Maytwayashing says Arlen Dumas, sent her creepy messages.

Other women then stepped forward with claims that Dumas had made comments that left them feeling uncomfortable; one woman reported a consensual sexual encounter that she believed was inappropriate of a top leader.

Dumas was elected grand chief in 2017.

Following Maytwayashings allegations, he took a two-week leave of absence to "heal," and apologized for an "open and informal communication style" that he feared had unintentionally made some women uncomfortable.

"I did not pursue a relationship of an intimate nature with this woman," Dumas wrote.

At the time, the assembly announced it would hire a third party to investigate the matter.

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But Maytwayashing told the Free Press in December 2021 that she believed the incident had been swept under the rug by AMC.

Dumas was re-elected to a second term as grand chief in July 2021.

AMC declined a past interview request from the Free Press seeking an update on the findings of the third-party probe  including whether Dumas had been sanctioned.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: rk_thorpe

 with files from Erik Pindera
Several dozen protesters pretended to burn face masks outside city hall Thursday, demanding an end to the civic administrations mandate requiring employees to continue wearing them.

Several dozen protesters pretended to burn face masks outside city hall Thursday, demanding an end to the civic administrations mandate requiring employees to continue wearing them.

Were concerned (employees) are being discriminated (against) by having to continually wear masks when the mandates in Manitoba have been dropped, said Karl Krebs, a member of Things That Matter, one of the two groups  along STANDING 4 UNITY  that organized the demonstration attended by about 50 people.

Protesters held signs bearing the messages Bowman against liberties and Mandate freedom while a Make Canada great again placard sat behind the speakers podium.

Krebs said its unfair to force city staff to wear masks now that the provincewide indoor mask mandate, along with all other public-health orders, expired Monday night.

Because a request for a fire permit to burn masks was denied, the group simulated the act, lining face coverings around the rim of a garbage can equipped with a fog machine.

One participant said he didnt believe any of the affected staff were at the event and claimed some told him theyre afraid to say anything.

People are afraid to speak out, theyre afraid of losing their jobs. This is why were here today, is to fight on their behalf, said Donald Bouchard.

Public health officials enforced mask mandates for months, deeming facial coverings an effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Two union leaders say theyve received some complaints about the mask requirement, but overall employees seem to be divided.

Some of our members want to continue with the mask mandate, some would rather have it as a voluntary thing, said Romeo Ignacio, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, which represents Winnipeg Transit drivers, mechanics and maintenance workers.

Ignacio said the union isnt calling for the mandate to end, particularly since some drivers would feel safer if it still applied to the public, as well. He is urging the city to relax some standards for staff, such as allowing bus drivers to choose whether to cover their faces while they are seated at the wheel, behind safety shields.

Three union members who were working on Transit equipment refused to wear masks Tuesday and opted to go home without pay. He said no further incidents have been reported.

Gord Delbridge, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500, said his members are also divided, and he raised the issue of inconsistency for people who work around others now free to go maskless.

When youve got to work around a bunch of people that are not wearing masks, that makes no sense. Theres no rationale behind what theyre doing. I think the city does need to pick a lane. Its raising a lot of concern amongst our members, said Delbridge.

Mayor Brian Bowman recently attempted to extend the mandate for elected officials but his motion was defeated.

Research during the pandemic has made clear that masks are a simple and effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

I know the rules have changed at the provincial level, Bowman said. I dont think COVID is done with us or cares what the rules are. Its a virus. So Im going to continue to wear a mask in indoor spaces and would encourage others to do the same.

The mayor said he doesnt have authority over the mandate for city staff, which falls to the chief administrative officer, but he supports the decision.

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And hes concerned lifting the provincewide mandate could spark disputes.

The lack of provincial public-health orders now has resulted in potential conflict provincewide for businesses and organizations that choose to require masks for, not only their staff, but also the public, he said.

In an email, city spokesperson Tamara Forlanski said mask use continues to be encouraged to combat the spread of COVID-19 and the requirement will be maintained for the foreseeable future.

Forlanski said the city would prefer to keep a mandatory mask requirement for the public as well, but that wouldnt be feasible to enforce. She said a very small number of employees have decided not to comply with the requirement, and the city is working with its unions to address the situation.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
A Winnipeg senior says Ottawa is leaving the most vulnerable at risk of financial ruin, due to a delay in providing tax forms.

A Winnipeg senior says Ottawa is leaving the most vulnerable at risk of financial ruin, due to a delay in providing tax forms.

This could really hurt people, argued Art Proulx. I am sure that many seniors need an early refund in this difficult time.

Weeks ago, Proulx started doing his taxes, and noticed the Canada Revenue Agency website section on Canada Pension Plan retirement payments had a notice explaining some tax slips that normally arrive in February would be delayed to mid-March.

Proulx argues it will mean some of the poorest seniors will have to delay applying for their tax returns as they await documentation.

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When asked what caused the delays, the Canada Revenue Agency referred questions to Employment and Social Development Canada, which provided an unrelated statement about labour strife at CP Rail.

Meanwhile, ESDC has reportedly hit a snag in issuing T4A forms, which are tax slips for retired people.

The issue stems from an August 2021 payment of $500 to people 75 years of age and older, which was mistakenly counted twice in some forms mailed to citizens, which have had to be reprinted.

ESDC told CTV News all 67,797 people who received an incorrect tax slip should get an updated one by this week, and the agency tried to phone everyone affected.

The agency, often called Service Canada, would not confirm this information to the Free Press on Thursday, instead pointing to the statement about the CP Rail labour dispute.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys whirlwind (virtual) tour of western legislative bodies this week amounted to a series of deftly localized but thematically similar entreaties for decisive action aimed at interrupting the Russian bombardment of his nation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys whirlwind (virtual) tour of western legislative bodies this week amounted to a series of deftly localized but thematically similar entreaties for decisive action aimed at interrupting the Russian bombardment of his nation.

Specifically, the plea involved the establishment of a NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine, and the wording amounted to a decidedly more eloquent expression of this: "Is it really too much to ask?"

In London, Ottawa and Washington, the reaction to Mr. Zelenskyys impassioned addresses was the same: a momentary abandonment of partisan divisions, a respectful and enraptured audience, and a shared understanding of  and deep sympathy for  the magnitude of the atrocities being endured by Ukraines people at the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putins invading forces.

Keep justice in history: Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeals to Congress to do more Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress via video on March 16, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Congressional Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Posted: 6:49 PM Mar. 16, 2022 As he had in his address to Canadas Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Americans to declare and enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Read Full Story

The universally expressed sadness, reverence and support from British, Canadian and American lawmakers did not, however, alter one immutable reality about the current military obscenity being unleashed by Mr. Putin:

A no-fly zone really is too much to ask.

From Mr. Zelenskyys perspective, understandably, this is portrayed as a reasonable request. To couch it in such terms, the Ukrainian president shaped his presentations to create maximum emotional impact  offering, while addressing Britains Parliament, not-so-faint echoes of Winston Churchills wartime speeches; conjuring, for those in Canadas House of Commons, images of Canadian children dying and Canadian landmarks being laid to waste by foreign missiles; and evoking, for assembled members of the U.S. Congress, memories of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.

No one who heard Mr. Zelenskyy speak was unmoved. And some elected officials stood before microphones after the address and called directly for the imposition of a partial or complete no-fly zone in response to the beleaguered but resolute presidents request.

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Cooler heads, however, recognized that such a measure  dispatching NATO weaponry to shoot down Russian missiles and aircraft in Ukrainian airspace  would create more risk than relief; that while it might offer some much-needed solace to the bomb-shocked Ukrainian populace, it would also necessarily and immediately elevate the crisis in Ukraine to a full-fledged war whose expanse could become global and whose arsenal of preferred employment might quickly escalate toward nuclear.

"Direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War Three," is how U.S. President Joe Biden succinctly described it last week.

House Television via AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress.

That does not mean the West cant respond favourably to Mr. Zelenskyys urgent assertion that more must be done. Even more expansive and punitive sanctions should be imposed immediately, and the pace and volume with which arms and materiel are transferred into Ukrainian hands must be stepped up significantly.

And it doesnt mean the point will not come when the limits of western indulgence of Mr. Putins depraved quest have been reached. As the shelling of Ukraine continues daily and the casualty counts rise, and as it becomes abundantly clear that the targeting of civilian structures such as apartment blocks, schools and maternity hospitals is not in error but in fact a perversely deliberate tactical choice, the moment might yet arrive when NATO nations and the rest of the western world are forced to say, "Enough."

The hard diplomacy of the moment continues to call for the cooler heads that exist on only one side of this equation to measure their response in a way that avoids a tragic turn toward global conflagration. And as heart-wrenching and stomach-turning as the necessary choice is, the answer when Mr. Zelenskyy asks if a no-fly zone is too much to ask must be that yes, it is.
LVIV, Ukraine - Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge flag-waving rally at a packed Moscow stadium Friday and lavished praise on his troops fighting in Ukraine, three weeks into the invasion that has led to heavier-than-expected Russian losses on the battlefield and increasingly authoritarian rule at home.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Mariupol Drama Theater in Mariupol, Ukraine on Monday, March 14, 2022. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces destroyed the theater in the city of Mariupol where hundreds of people were sheltering. There was no immediate word on deaths or injuries in what the Mariupol city council said was an airstrike on the theater Wednesday. The Maxar satellite imagery firm said images from Monday showed the word children had been written in large white letters in Russian in front of and behind the building. (Maxar Technologies via AP)

LVIV, Ukraine - Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge flag-waving rally at a packed Moscow stadium Friday and lavished praise on his troops fighting in Ukraine, three weeks into the invasion that has led to heavier-than-expected Russian losses on the battlefield and increasingly authoritarian rule at home.

Meanwhile, the leader of Russia's delegation in diplomatic talks with Ukraine said the sides have narrowed their differences. The Ukrainian side said its position remained unchanged.

The invasion has touched off a burst of antiwar protests inside Russia, and the Moscow rally was surrounded by suspicions it was a Kremlin-manufactured display of patriotism. Several Telegram channels critical of the Kremlin reported that students and employees of state institutions in a number of regions were ordered by their superiors to attend rallies and concerts marking the eighth anniversary of Moscows annexation of Crimea, which was seized from Ukraine. Those reports could not be independently verified.

Elsewhere, Russian troops continued to rain lethal fire on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and pounded an aircraft repair installation on the outskirts of Lviv, close to the Polish border. Ukrainian officials said late Friday that the besieged southern port city of Mariupol lost its access to the Azov Sea, and Russian forces were still trying to storm the city. It was unclear whether they had seized it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces are blockading the largest cities to create a humanitarian catastrophe with the goal of persuading Ukrainians to cooperate. He said the Russians are preventing supplies from reaching surrounded cities in central and southeastern Ukraine.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows burning buildings in a residential area in northeast Chernihiv, Ukraine on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Maxar Technologies via AP)

This is a totally deliberate tactic, Zelenskyy said in his nighttime video address to the nation, which was recorded outside in Kyiv, with the presidential office behind him.

In a rare public appearance by Putin since the start of the war, he praised Russian troops: Shoulder to shoulder, they help and support each other, he said. "We have not had unity like this for a long time, he added to cheers from the crowd.

Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around the Luzhniki stadium. The event included patriotic songs, including a performance of Made in the U.S.S.R., with the opening lines Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, its all my country.

A picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin hangs at a target practice range in Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth week on Thursday, with Russian forces largely bogged down outside major cities and shelling them from a distance, raining havoc on civilians. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Seeking to portray the war as just, Putin paraphrased the Bible to say of Russia's troops: "There is no greater love than giving up ones soul for ones friends.

Taking to the stage where a sign read For a world without Nazism, he railed against his foes in Ukraine with a baseless claim that they are neo-Nazis. Putin continued to insist his actions were necessary to prevent genocide"  an idea flatly rejected by leaders around the globe.

Video feeds of the event cut out at times but showed a loudly cheering crowd that broke into chants of Russia!

Ukrainian entrepreneur Yevhen Potoplyak, 42, reads a story to his sons Ostab and Denys via videoconference in Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Yevhen's two sons and his wife Maria left for Poland on Feb. 26. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Putins appearance marked a change from his relative isolation of recent weeks, when he has been shown meeting with world leaders and his staff either at extraordinarily long tables or via videoconference.

In the wake of the invasion, the Kremlin has clamped down harder on dissent and the flow of information, arresting thousands of antiwar protesters, banning sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and instituting tough prison sentences for what is deemed to be false reporting on the war, which Moscow refers to as a special military operation.

The OVD-Info rights group that monitors political arrests reported that at least seven independent journalists had been detained ahead of or while covering the anniversary events in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Russian forces destroyed a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of people were sheltering Wednesday and rained fire on other cities, Ukrainian authorities said, even as the two sides projected optimism over efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

High above the conflict, three Russian cosmonauts arrived Friday at the International Space Station wearing bright yellow flight suits with blue accents matching the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Video of one of the cosmonauts taken as the capsule prepared to dock with the space station showed him wearing a blue flight suit. It was unclear what, if any, message the yellow uniforms were intended to send.

When cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev was asked about the yellow suits, he said every crew chooses its own suits, and they had a lot of yellow material they needed to use so thats why we had to wear yellow.

Since the war started, many people have used the Ukrainian flag and its colors to show solidarity with the country.

People who fled the war in Ukraine wait at the train station in Przemysl, southeastern Poland, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Poland has admitted some 1.95 million refugees fleeing war and Russian aggression on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Back in Moscow, Putin stood on stage in a white turtleneck and a blue down jacket and spoke for about five minutes. Some people, including presenters at the event, wore T-shirts or jackets with a Z  a symbol seen on Russian tanks and other military vehicles in Ukraine and embraced by supporters of the war.

Putin's quoting of the Bible and an 18th-century Russian admiral reflected his increasing focus in recent years on history and religion as binding forces in Russias post-Soviet society. His branding of his enemies as Nazis evoked what many Russians consider their country's finest hour, the defense of the motherland from Germany during World War II.

The rally came as Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russian negotiators in several rounds of talks with Ukraine, said that the sides have moved closer to agreement on the issue of Ukraine dropping its bid to join NATO and adopting a neutral status.

A man removes a destroyed curtain inside a school damaged among other residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

That is the issue where the parties have made their positions maximally close, Medinsky said in remarks carried by Russian media. He added that the sides are now halfway on issues regarding the demilitarization of Ukraine.

Mikhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, characterized the Russian assessment as intended to provoke tension in the media. He tweeted: Our positions are unchanged. Ceasefire, withdrawal of troops & strong security guarantees with concrete formulas.

Zelenskyy again appealed to Putin to hold talks with him directly. Its time to meet, time to speak, he said. I want to be heard by everyone, especially in Moscow.

A woman looks at residential buildings damaged by a bomb in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In other developments, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours in a bid by the U.S. to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russias invasion.

Earlier Friday, one person was reported killed in the missile attack near Lviv. Satellite photos showed the strike destroyed a repair hangar and appeared to damage two other buildings. Ukraine said it had shot down two of six missiles in the volley, which came from the Black Sea.

The early morning attack was the closest strike yet to the center of Lviv, which has become a crossroads for people fleeing from other parts of Ukraine and for others entering to deliver aid or join the fight. The war has swelled the city's population by some 200,000.

A police officer walks at the site of a bombing that damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlins repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Zelenskyy boasted that Ukraines defenses have proved much stronger than expected, and Russia didnt know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.

But British Chief of Defense Intelligence Lt. Gen. Jim Hockenhull warned that after failing to take major Ukrainian cities, Russian forces are shifting to a strategy of attrition that will entail reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower, resulting in higher civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

In city after city around Ukraine, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety have been attacked. Rescue workers continued to search for survivors in the ruins of a theater that was being used a shelter when it was blasted by a Russian airstrike Wednesday in Mariupol.

Women walks inside a school damaged among other residential buildings following a bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Ludmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliaments human rights commissioner, said at least 130 people had survived the theater bombing.

But according to our data, there are still more than 1,300 people in these basements, in this bomb shelter, Denisova told Ukrainian television. We pray that they will all be alive, but so far there is no information about them.

Satellite images on Friday from Maxar Technologies showed a long line of cars leaving Mariupol as people tried to evacuate, as well as devastation to homes, apartment buildings and stores.

A man shouts anti Russian slogans at the site where a bombing damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Early morning barrages also hit a residential building in the Podil neighborhood of Kyiv, killing at least one person, according to emergency services, who said 98 people were evacuated from the building. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 19 were wounded in the shelling.

Ukrainian officials said a fireman was killed when Russian forces shelled an area where firefighters were trying to put out a blaze in the village of Nataevka, in the Zaporizhzhia region.

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Two others were killed when strikes hit residential and administrative buildings in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Policemen stand guard at the site where a bombing damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday, with new missile strikes and shelling on the edges of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders pushed for an investigation of the Kremlin's repeated attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals and residential areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Maj. Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk, who is leading the defense of the region around Ukraines capital, said his forces are well-positioned to defend the city and vowed: We will never give up. We will fight until the end. To the last breath and to the last bullet.

___

Associated Press writer Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and other AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Rescue workers searched for survivors Thursday in the ruins of a theater blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol, while scores of Ukrainians across the country were killed in ferocious urban attacks on a school, a hostel and other sites.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., introduces Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speak to the U.S. Congress by video at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Rescue workers searched for survivors Thursday in the ruins of a theater blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol, while scores of Ukrainians across the country were killed in ferocious urban attacks on a school, a hostel and other sites.

Hundreds of civilians had been taking shelter in the grand, columned theater in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the southern port city of 430,000.

More than a day after the airstrike, there were no reports of deaths. With communications disrupted across the city and movement difficult because of shelling and other fighting, there were conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

"We hope and we think that some people who stayed in the shelter under the theater could survive," Petro Andrushchenko, an official with the mayors office, told The Associated Press. He said the building had a relatively modern basement bomb shelter designed to withstand airstrikes. Video and photos provided by the Ukrainian military showed that the at least three-story building had been reduced to a roofless shell, with some exterior walls collapsed.

Other officials had said earlier that some people had gotten out. Ukraines ombudswoman, Ludmyla Denisova, said on the Telegram messaging app that the shelter had held up.

Ukrainian military servicemen prepare to fire salutes during the funeral of their comrades, Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk, in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Satellite imagery on Monday from Maxar Technologies showed huge white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the theater spelling out "CHILDREN" in Russian  "DETI"  to alert warplanes to those inside.

Across the city, snow flurries fell around the skeletons of burned, windowless and shrapnel-scarred apartment buildings as smoke rose above the skyline.

"We are trying to survive somehow," said one Mariupol resident, who gave only her first name, Elena. "My child is hungry. I dont know what to give him to eat."

A Ukrainian soldier looks through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

She had been trying to call her mother, who was in a town 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. "I cant tell her I am alive, you understand. There is no connection, just nothing," she said.

Cars, some with the "Z" symbol of the Russian invasion force in their windows, drove past stacks of ammunition boxes and artillery shells in a neighborhood controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Russia's military denied bombing the theater or anyplace else in Mariupol on Wednesday.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Mariupol Drama Theater in Mariupol, Ukraine on Monday, March 14, 2022. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces destroyed the theater in the city of Mariupol where hundreds of people were sheltering. There was no immediate word on deaths or injuries in what the Mariupol city council said was an airstrike on the theater Wednesday. The Maxar satellite imagery firm said images from Monday showed the word children had been written in large white letters in Russian in front of and behind the building. (Maxar Technologies via AP)

The strike against the theater was part of a furious bombardment of civilian sites in multiple cities over the past few days.

In the northern city of Chernihiv, at least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours, killed amid heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Ukraine's emergency services said a mother, father and three of their children, including 3-year-old twins, were killed when a Chernihiv hostel was shelled. Civilians were hiding in basements and shelters across the embattled city of 280,000.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows burning buildings in a residential area in northeast Chernihiv, Ukraine on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Maxar Technologies via AP)

"The city has never known such nightmarish, colossal losses and destruction," Chaus said.

Ukrainian officials said 10 people were killed Wednesday while waiting in a bread line in Chernihiv. An American man was among them, his sister said on Facebook.

At least 21 people were killed when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community center before dawn in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, according to Mayor Veniamin Sitov. The region has seen heavy bombardment in a bid by stalled Russian forces to advance.

A woman and children sheild from shelling in a school bomb shelter in Sartana village which is under the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic control, 17 km ( 11 miles) northeast of Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov)

In eastern Ukraine, a municipal pool complex where pregnant women and women with children were taking shelter was also hit Wednesday, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional administration. There was no word on casualties in that strike.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more help for his country in a video address to German lawmakers, saying thousands of people have been killed, including 108 children. He also referred to the dire situation in Mariupol, saying: "Everything is a target for them."

The address began with a delay because of a technical problem caused by an attack close to where Zelenskyy was speaking, Bundestag deputy speaker Katrin Goering-Eckardt said.

A picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin hangs at a target practice range in Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth week on Thursday, with Russian forces largely bogged down outside major cities and shelling them from a distance, raining havoc on civilians. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Zelenskyys office said Russian airstrikes hit the Kalynivka and Brovary suburbs of the capital, Kyiv. Emergency authorities in Kyiv said a fire broke out in a 16-story apartment building hit by remnants of a downed Russian rocket, and one person was killed.

Zelenskyy said he was thankful to U.S. President Joe Biden for additional military aid, but he would not get into specifics about the new package, saying he did not want Russia to know what to expect. He said when the invasion began on Feb. 24, Russia expected to find Ukraine much as it did in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea without a fight and backed separatists as they took control of the eastern Donbas region.

Instead, he said, Ukraine had much stronger defenses than expected, and Russia "didnt know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow."

Medical staff sit in a hospital basement, used as a bomb shelter, during an air raid alarm in Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

At a Thursday meeting of the U.N. Security Council, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO has verified 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured. Tedros said disruption to hospital services now poses an extreme risk to people with serious illnesses and "the lifesaving medicine we need right now is peace."

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading economies accused Putin of conducting an "unprovoked and shameful war," and called on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justices order to stop its attack and withdraw its forces.

Russian law enforcement, meanwhile, announced the first known criminal cases under a new law that allows for 15-year prison terms for posting what is deemed to be "false information" about the war. Among those charged was Veronika Belotserkovskaya, a Russian-language cookbook author and blogger living abroad.

A Ukrainian woman reacts as she sits at a refugee shelter in Nadarzyn, near Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Poland has admitted some 1.95 million refugees fleeing war and Russian aggression on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

One day after Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American officials were evaluating and documenting potential war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. Blinken said the intentional targeting of civilians would amount to a war crime and that there will be "massive consequences" for any such crimes that are confirmed.

Both Ukraine and Russia this week reported some progress in negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that some negotiators were breaking into working groups, "but there should be contacts today."

Zelenskyy said he would not reveal Ukraine's negotiating tactics.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the State Department in Washington. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)

"Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook," Zelenskyy said. "I consider it the right way."

While details of Thursday's talks were unknown, an official in Zelenskyys office told the AP that on Wednesday, the main subject discussed was whether Russian troops would remain in separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after the war and where the borders would be.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Ukraine was insisting on the inclusion of one or more Western nuclear powers in the negotiations and on legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine.

In exchange, the official said, Ukraine was ready to discuss a neutral military status.

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Russia has demanded that NATO pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

The fighting has led more than 3 million people to flee Ukraine, the U.N. estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though Ukraine has said thousands of civilians have died.

___

Associated Press writer Yuras Karmanau, in Lviv, Ukraine, and other AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Winona, MN (55987)

Today

Clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable.
In a roundtable discussion with Baraboo School District staff, a student and a local farmer Wednesday, state legislators advocated for others to join their coalition aimed at creating change in how quality food is supplied to students.

Rep. Kristina Shelton, D-Green Bay, said she introduced Assembly Bill 805 after measures meant to be temporary in the face of COVID-19 showed that supplying food to people for free was possible.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020, we saw something happen that we had been told for years couldnt happen, which was, we can just feed kids, Shelton said, sitting at a table with others at Baraboo High School. We can give food to hungry kids and hungry community members because we know that their survival depends on it. So we saw this incredible system come together, but we also saw the gaps that existed in what that system is going to look like going forward.

Shelton, Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, and Rep. Dave Considine, D-Baraboo, introduced the bill along with other state Assembly members on Jan. 4. It calls for any school district which participates in the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program and meets the federal nutritional requirements to be reimbursed for the total cost of all meals it serves. In other words, free meals for all students.

There is a more than 60-member coalition in favor of this measure, Hong said. It includes farmers and producers, churches, school districts, including rural, suburban and urban ones, restaurateurs and nonprofit organizations.

Feeding kids shouldnt be a partisan issue, Hong said. The coalition itself really speaks to how this issue is not just about the school meals in the schools.

The bill wont be passed this session, Hong said, because legislators likely wont vote on any measures for the remainder of the legislative session due to the election year. That will not stop the sponsors from introducing the bill every year until they are no longer able or it passes, she said.

For us, this bill is personal, but also it makes the most economic sense, Hong said.

Part of the measure that lawmakers have coined the Healthy School Meals for All Act, or Healthy Meals, Healthy Schools, would focus on keeping control locally.

Considine said he wants to see more of a connection between area farmers or producers and the school districts.

I dont think theres any problem getting schools on board and wanting to do it, Considine said. If we were funding them adequately, theyd do it right now.

Hong and Shelton echoed the sentiment, noting that school districts know whats best for students and that by allocating funding to them, staff members can better ensure students are successful.

BHS Principal Glenn Bildsten said one of the things he wished to see in the district is serving dinner for students at the school. He also said student athletes could use food after practices.

Junior Sylvie Stevens runs track. When Bildsten brought up the idea, she expressed excitement. She said she knows runners just like her are hungry after practice and would benefit from that type of offering.

The aim is not only to bolster student achievement, but to shorten the supply chain between provider and consumer, which supports the local economy, Hong said.

Investing in our children, investing in our kids and their health, is the biggest investment we can make for local economy, state economy; how we maximize our dollars is really the defense we have when people constantly ask, Well, how do you pay for it? Hong said. The money is there, it is the political will that is not.

While the bill calls for the state to pay for meals, Shelton said details over the funding are wonky because of federal waivers still in place. Part of the reason for the legislation, she said, was due to the federal programs set to end in June. When she saw other states deciding to take action to continue free meals, she felt Wisconsin needed to do so as well.

Its around $100 million every year to cover that gap, which seems like a big number to folks, but what I say is two things: No. 1, we have $3.8 billion in our state coffers right now, Shelton said. So when people tell me we cant do big things, Im like, You are wrong. We can. Were choosing not to. But we also know its worth the investment.

Shelton said schools would not only benefit, but so would farmers and growers that have become more endangered in the state.

Jane Stevens, who has operated an organic farm in North Freedom since 1989, advocated for eating seasonally to ensure a steady supply of produce throughout the school year. She said she agreed with the vision of food to help students learn better and graduate smarter because they were not distracted by empty stomachs.

Sadly, the three months the kids are off is the most productive, Stevens said. I just think its really important, how close it is to the earth too, because with highly processed foods you lose so much of the nutrients.

Shelton said despite the bill not getting much traction currently, it still has the potential to be multifaceted and is exciting to those looking to update food systems throughout the state.

This bill is not going to fix everything, but it is the North Star that sets our values; that we commit to feeding all kids and with that kickoff, we use that to think creatively about how we get into the meat of the issue, Shelton said. We dont have all the ideas, nor should we. We want to work with those of you in the system to help us work in the lane we can.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.

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Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg is advocating for a change in state law to increase the penalty of the charge faced by Karin Luttinen, a Milwaukee woman identified as the biological mother of Baby Theresa who was formally charged Friday for concealing the death of the infant in 2009.

The charge in this case is concealing the death of a child, specifically the issue of a woman, Klomberg said at a press conference Friday. The issue of the woman is a legal term that includes a child not born alive.

If convicted, that charge carries a possible prison sentence of up to 1 years followed by up to 2 years of an extended supervision.

If sufficient evidence existed that the child was born alive, a charge of hiding a corpse would be available, Klomberg said about the case. Based on the final review of the evidence that charge is not available.

Klomberg reached out to state Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and state Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, about the possibility of changing the penalty and they agreed to introduce a law.

That is why we are introducing legislation that will bring the consequence for this crime in line with the seriousness of it, the lawmakers said in a joint press release. The bill we are introducing will increase the penalty for concealing or not reporting the death of a child to a Class F Felony, which is the same penalty as hiding a corpse.

A Class F Felony carries a potential prison sentence of up to 7 years followed by up to 5 years of an extended supervision.

I hope this legislation can be passed and become a law in Wisconsin, Klomberg said. It will become known as Baby Theresas Law.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt and Dodge County Medical Examiner P.J. Schoebel also spoke during the press conference.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2009, the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and the Dodge County Medical Examiners Office responded to Lone Road in the town of Theresa and confirmed the death of a newborn baby found abandoned in a garbage bag, Schmidt said.

Investigators named her Baby Theresa to provide her with an identity, naming her after the community closest to where she was found, in the village of Theresa. A funeral and burial occurred in Lowell soon after putting the baby to rest.

Schoebel said the autopsy did not show that the child was murdered, but the pathologist indicated the child died of fetal demise, indicating that the child could have died prior to or shortly after birth.

For almost 13 years the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Dodge County Medical Examiners Office continued to investigate and advances in forensic science allowed us to identify a suspect in this incident, Schoebel said.

For the community this will be mixed emotions, Schmidt said. Anytime you are dealing with an infant which we are, this case it is very difficult. Children death cases are traumatic for the community but also our staff. It touches the heart of everyone involved.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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FALL RIVER  A Fall River police officer witnessed a fatal crash between a semi-truck and car in the intersection of Highway 16 and D on Thursday at 4:18 p.m.

According to a press release from the Fall River Police Department, 18-year-old Domanic Richter, from Cambria, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation showed the Toyota Camry pulled out from the stop sign on Highway D to enter Highway 16 and was struck by the semi. The driver of the Toyota Camry was Richter.

Fall River Police Department was assisted by Columbia County Sheriffs Department, Rio Police, Wisconsin State Patrol, Columbus Police, Fall River Fire, Life Star EMS, Columbia County Highway Department, Columbia County Medical Examiner, and Blystone Towing.
JUNEAU  Dodge County authorities will share developments Friday in a 2009 case where a dead infant was found wrapped inside a garbage bag in the woods near the town of Theresa.

The Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Dodge County Medical Examiners Office will discuss the death investigation of the newborn girl, who was dubbed by authorities as Baby Theresa because she was found near the Theresa March. Authorities were not able to locate the infants mother at the time of her death.

Baby Theresa was found on Lone Road less than a mile from Highway 175 and less than three miles from Highway 41, on April 29, 2009. The man who found the body was cutting wood on private property.

The press conference Friday is limited to members of the media. The Dodge County District Attorneys Office is also expected to join the conference, according to a release from the Sheriffs Office.

Relatedly, a hearing is scheduled in Dodge County Circuit Court on Friday stemming from charges filed in 2014 against an unknown woman believed to be involved in Baby Theresas death. The eight-year-old charges against a woman identified only as Jane Doe are for felony counts of hiding a corpse and concealing the death of a child.

According to the complaint, a now 61-year-old man found a white plastic garbage bag on his property. He opened the bag and saw a bloody towel and possible fetus or baby in the bag.

The baby was taken to Fond du Lac Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. According to the complaint, the female infant was consistent with full-term gestation. An umbilical cord and small portion of membranes were present. There was no placenta present and no traumatic injuries. The cause of death was fetal demise.

According to the complaint, a maxi pad was found in the bag, and a womans DNA profile was detected from the dried blood on the pad. A mixture of DNA from two or more people was detected from the wrapper of the maxi pad. Checking it against genetic markers of Baby Theresa, the analyst determined one of the DNA profiles was the biological mother of the infant.

In 2009, authorities said the infant, who was 8 lbs. and 20.5 inches, had died within 24 hours of the body being found. The medical examiner at the time said that Baby Theresa did not suffer trauma that would result in her death. In addition, a complete toxicology screen was performed for drugs and was negative.

The autopsy also indicated she was likely born within two days of her body being found.

Tips came into the Dodge County Sheriffs Office right after Baby Theresa was found but they dried up soon after.

The Wisconsin State Crime Lab in Madison analyzed evidence recovered from the scene and identified what is believed to be a DNA profile of the biological mother at the time. The DNA profile is run through a national database of convicted felons and sex offenders to look for a match.

Members of the community came forward to support Baby Theresa. The Lowell Cemetery Association provided a cemetery plot so Baby Theresa could be laid to rest. Cornerstone Funeral Home and community members donated money and items to make the burial possible.

About 50 people attended her funeral in May of 2009, which was presided over by the Rev. Timothy Bauer. Baby Theresa was buried in a 24-inch-long, white casket and dressed in a pink one-piece outfit and a white sweater.

Dodge County has four other cold cases listed on its website:

Jerrold D. Stege, 43 at the time, was reported missing on Oct. 11, 2002, by his father. He was last seen on Oct. 2, 2002, at his place of employment in Waupun. His apartment was unlocked and there was no signs of a disturbance.

Christine D. Stenulson, 38 at the time, was last seen in her home in Milwaukee, on Sept. 2, 1997. Her body was found in a cornfield in southeastern Dodge County on Sept. 14, 1997.

Laura A. Babe, then 39-years-old, was beaten to death while at her apartment on Washington Street in Horicon on Sept. 6, 2007. The apartment was then set on fire and damaged the apartment complex.

Lori Bogenschneider, 34 at the time, was last seen in Mayville between Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, 1993. Her skeletal remains were found along a county road between Iron Ridge and Mayville on Dec. 7, 1995.

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A Portage teen pleaded not guilty to four counts of felony take and drive vehicle without consent.

Zachery T. Otto, 19, was charged with the counts of take and drive vehicle without consent in Columbia County Circuit Court back in November. On Thursday, Otto was back in court where a number of cases were heard.

Online records show Otto is being held on $10,000 cash bond at Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Institution while he awaits a potential jury trial in the vehicle theft case.

In a Columbia County courtroom Thursday, Judge Todd Hepler addressed a number of cases Otto is involved in which include an obstructing an officer case and criminal escape.

Otto pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer.

The criminal complaint in that case states on July 22, 2020 two Portage Police officers went to Ottos home because of an open warrant he had linked to another case. Otto allegedly fled the scene after telling the officers he was not going back to jail.

Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Ross and Hepler said Thursday Otto has had difficulties following the conditions of his probation. Hepler said while on probation Otto has used methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

Hepler sentenced Otto to 90 days of jail on both counts of resisting an officer to run concurrently. He added if Otto is sentenced in the other cases, those sentences would run consecutively with the 90-day sentence.

In the auto theft case, there are four sets of victims that would be contacted by the court prior to any sentencing hearing, Hepler said.

According to the criminal complaint in that case filed in November, Portage Police received a report on May 26 an SUV stolen from a parking lot on Dunn Street. The vehicle was eventually found in Madison.

Then in October, Portage Police received a cell phone extraction sent from the digital forensic unit after a search warrant was granted on it. A Portage detective reviewed the contents of the phone.

The complaint states the phone allegedly had a video on it showing the stolen SUV with Otto driving in speeds over 110 mph. The detective found other similar videos on the phone. The extraction also had the GPS location of the cell phone and allegedly places Otto in the area when the vehicle was stolen.

On May 28, Portage Police dispatched to a business on East Oneida Street where a car was stolen. On June 18, the stolen vehicle was again recovered in Madison and transferred to a Madison Police impound lot.

Also on May 28, a vehicle was reported stolen from a residence on Cass Street in Portage and eventually found in Fitchburg. The complaint alleges similar video and GPS information was found on the cell phone establishing Otto at the time and place of both vehicle thefts.

A similar report was made earlier, on May 1, to Portage Police of a car reportedly stolen from a residence on Prospect Avenue. The car was later located in Sun Prairie.

There was a DNA sample recovered from the steering wheel of this car and was compared to Ottos DNA. Portage Police allege the DNA from the steering wheel and Otto matched. The victim said they did not give permission to anyone to take the car.

While in custody at the Columbia County Jail, Otto was able to leave the facility on Huber work release. In October he was charged with felony escape-criminal attest after Otto allegedly did not return to the jail on one occasion while being out on Huber work release.

On Thursday, Hepler said the cases would both be combined for a plea/sentencing hearing. Otto is scheduled to be back in court for the plea/sentencing hearing on April 18.

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The Portage Public Library has welcomed a new youth services librarian who will manage the childrens department of the library.

Ann Vickman started her career as a teacher in Texas. As she transitioned to a school librarian, Vickman knew she wanted to come back to her native Wisconsin where she grew up to be closer to her family.

I grew up in West Bend and my family is still in Wisconsin, Vickman said. I knew I always wanted to come back to Wisconsin.

She spent 25 years working in the Los Fresnos area in south Texas after graduating from UW-Green Bay.

I was a school teacher and then transitioned to school librarian, she said. It was a pretty easy transition as I enjoy working with kids and both positions allow me to do that.

Vickman explained in Texas a school librarian needs to be a teacher for at least three years.

It was not a big leap from teacher to librarian for me, she said. I really enjoy teaching and working with kids and I enjoy those experiences and I knew I wanted to keep doing that type of work.

After living in Texas she had made a plan to move back to Wisconsin for a potential librarian or teacher position. Her plans became reality when Vickman saw the open youth services librarian job in Portage.

I was planning on moving back up here after the school year ended but once I saw the Portage job I knew it was the right thing, Vickman said. I cant pass up this opportunity is what I thought. It all worked out

Vickman was named the new youth services librarian for the Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater Street, earlier this month. She steps into a role that was held by Dawn Foster for 27 years. Foster retired last summer and the library has been searching for a replacement since with numerous job postings.

In the time since Foster left and Vickman started, childrens library assistant Angie Tomlinson oversaw the department with the help of library director Debbie Bird.

Bird said she is excited to have Vickman on board at the library after months of searching.

Ann started last week and shes doing great so far, Bird said.

Vickman said the first weeks on the job have been great so far.

Its been an excellent start, she said. Everyone has been welcoming. Ive been meeting with local families with kids and their parents.

She is not new to Portage having spent summers at a cabin in Montello and during those summers spent a lot of time in Portage.

Vickman understands the importance of a strong library and its link to a strong community.

Libraries provide equal access to all community members to a variety of resources including computers, technology and of course books and other information, she said. When you have a strong library in the community you get informed citizens with these resources at your fingertips at no cost to them.

The library is getting ready for a number of spring and summer programs. Vickman is taking over the Tuesday/Wednesday toddler story time. Story time often features guests, including Portage Police Chief Keith Klafke and Portage Municipal Judge Karl Kindschi.

People can sign up for that on our website or by stopping by the library in-person or by giving us a call, Vickman said.

I look forward to meeting more people at the library and in the community, Vickman said. People can stop by the library and introduce themselves to me. I like meeting families and its always good to see children in the library section.

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JUNEAU  A 45-year-old Milwaukee woman made her initial appearance in court Friday almost 13 years after she allegedly left her infant daughters lifeless body in a garbage bag before abandoning the body in the woods in the town of Theresa.

Karin S. Luttinen is charged with a felony count of concealing the death of a child. She could face up to 1 years in prison and 2 years of an extended supervision if convicted of the offense.

She appeared before Dodge County Circuit Judge Martin De Vries for her initial appearance with her attorney Aneeq Ahmad. Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg appeared for the state.

Klomberg said the parties agreed on a $2,500 cash bond with the condition that Luttinen does not leave the state.

Ahmad described Luttinen as a person who has worked in sales and marketing for the last 10 years and is in a stable relationship with no past brush-ins with the law.

According to the criminal complaint:

The baby  dubbed Baby Theresa by authorities  was found by a man cutting wood on a private property on April 29, 2009. Her body was discovered on Lone Road less than a mile from Highway 175 and less than 3 miles from Highway 41.

An autopsy on Baby Theresa determined she had died of fetal demise, which indicates a child may have died prior to or shortly after birth.

Authorities found a maxi pad wrapper in the trash bag containing the infant. It was sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and came back with a DNA profile of Baby Theresas then-unidentified mother.

The case was initially charged using the name Jane Doe in 2014 to prevent the statute of limitations from expiring. However it wasnt until Jan. 29, 2021, that Luttinen was first approached about the case. A special agent for the Wisconsin Department of Justice went to speak to the father of the child and Luttinen following a potential match on the family tree DNA results.

According to the complaint, Luttinen initially denied ever being pregnant but submitted a DNA sample. DNA results showed on March 1, 2021, that Luttinen was a major component source for the maxi pad wrappings. DNA markers also showed that Luttinen was the biological mother of Baby Theresa.

DNA testing was done throughout the years, however it wasnt until 2018 when Dodge County Detective Vickie Brugger started speaking to Dodge County Medical Examiner PJ Schoebel about revisiting the investigation using forensic genealogy. Additional genetic analyst was completed and narrowed the search to a specific branch of the family.

Police spoke on the phone to the father of Baby Theresa on March 22, 2021, who is in a long-term relationship with Luttinen. The father was shocked and said that he had no idea how it could be. The father then asked Luttinen while he was on the phone with law enforcement, if she was the mother, and she said OK.

Luttinen was spoken to on the same day. According to the complaint, Luttinen said she was in denial at the time and did not know she was pregnant at first. Towards the end of her pregnancy, she knew for sure.

Luttinen said that she was in the bathroom when she had Baby Theresa and did not even know it was a girl. She said her water broke while she was on the toilet and she gave birth in a bathtub with water in it. According to the complaint, the baby came out head first and face down with the umbilical cord wrapped around the babys neck. She did not hear the baby cry or see the baby move before she blacked out for 15 minutes. She said the water was out of the tub when she woke up. Luttinen allegedly said that she knows the baby didnt breathe because the baby was born underwater. She said she did not intentionally turn on the water to prevent the baby from breathing and was only trying to get comfortable at the time.

Luttinen did not attempt to give the baby CPR after realizing that it was not breathing, the complaint said.

The complaint said she told law enforcement that she panicked and grabbed a towel and put Baby Theresa in the towel before putting the baby in a garbage bag and then into her purse. She said she then got into her blue Sunfire and drove aimlessly. She said she was alone when she placed the baby in the woods.

Luttinen said she did not hear on the news about the baby and did not seek medical help after the delivery. According to the complaint, no one else knew she was pregnant at the time. Luttinen did not recall the date of Baby Theresas birth but knew it was before her own birthday on April 13.

According to the complaint, Luttinen was asked by law enforcement why she didnt throw the baby in a dumpster closer to her home rather than driving the baby to Theresa. She told law enforcement that the baby was not trash. She allegedly said she put the baby in the woods as a final resting place.

Luttinen waived her preliminary hearing and will have an arraignment scheduled at a later date.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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A Brown County man, who investigators said bragged during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that he had pepper sprayed 3 cops so bad they got undressed and went home, was charged this week with six criminal charges and was arrested Wednesday in Ashland.

Riley D. Kasper, 23, of Pulaski, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon to inflict bodily injury, civil disorder, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and other related offenses.

Pulaski is about 15 miles northwest of Green Bay. Kasper also currently lives in Ashland, and until a recent eviction, had lived in Saxon, about 30 minutes east of Ashland.

Court documents filed Tuesday allege that Kasper sprayed what is believed to be pepper spray toward police officers, then later in the day bragged to another person on social media, to whom he had sent video, As you can see in the video, it was my group that busted the first gate and kept chasing the cops down and pushing them back at the capitol.

The next day, court documents state, to another person on social media, Kasper said, You charge that line and start spraying they start running for cover like youre coming at them with an ak, a reference to an AK-47 automatic weapon.

There is definitely something satisfying about pepper spraying cops in riot gear, he added, according to court documents.

During the battle with police, Kasper said in a Facebook message quoted in a court document, one (officer) got pulled into the crowd and slammed on the ground on his back and his club, pepper spray, cuffs, radio everything got ripped from his belt, somehow I took out my baton and got right down in his face and screamed just go home then stood up offered him a hand to get up and give him his radio back cause I had that lol ...

Im pretty sure dude thought he was gonna die that day lol, Kasper added.

At a court hearing Thursday in Madison, Kasper was ordered released from custody on conditions set mostly by prosecutors in Washington. But local federal prosecutors also asked that he be placed on a GPS monitor, so he will remain in custody for another day until a GPS unit is brought to Madison from federal pretrial services in Eau Claire.

According to a statement of facts prepared by FBI Special Agent Justin Mosiman in Milwaukee and filed in court on Tuesday, the FBI received a tip from a confidential source that included screenshots of a Jan. 7, 2021, Facebook post by Kasper. It included images of a man dressed in camouflage spraying pepper spray during the riot outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Through other videos posted on YouTube, the man was ultimately identified as Kasper.

The confidential source told investigators he knew Kasper from high school and was in the same grade. The source said he was friends on Facebook with Kasper and that on Jan. 7, 2021, Kasper posted images of himself at the Jan. 6 rally staged by then-President Donald Trump.

The rally shifted toward the Capitol, where Congress was meeting to certify the results of the presidential election, which Trump had lost to Joe Biden. Trump supporters claimed the election was stolen.

Last week, a member of Kaspers family also identified Kasper as the man seen in images taken at the Capitol, wearing the same clothing as the person seen in the YouTube videos, the document states.

Facebook account

According to the document:

A search of Kaspers Facebook account, authorized with a search warrant, detailed Kaspers drive from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., along with posts about the Trump rally, including one that carried the words, Be there. Will be wild.

Kasper sent videos to another person in private Facebook messages showing rioters pushing and breaking down a fence at the Capitol. When the recipient replied, Thats nuts you were right there when they pushed that fence back lol, Kasper responded (Expletive) yeah bro! and added, he didnt drive 14 hours for nothing.

Kasper also bragged that he pepper sprayed 3 cops so bad they got undressed and went home, gently brazed many others several times. I basically organized my own little militia and we (expletive) took over Congress.

He also described being shot with rubber bullets inside the Capitol.

The next day, he sent another Facebook friend messages in which Kasper described driving to Washington, D.C., then fought with cops all day got pepper sprayed more times than I can count, maced, hit with batons and (expletive) shot and then kept going until now ...

Kasper wrote that many were planning to go back for Bidens inauguration, telling the message recipient, You better not (expletive) out this time, Im giving you a bunch of time to plan and prepare lol.

He urged the recipient, You just gotta come next time. Its pretty exciting. Its like the most real version of paintball ever. But with pepper spray, flash bangs, and tear gas grenades to throw back at those (expletives). And a huge team of people who all got your back. And will beat the cops off of you if they ever get ahold of you.

Other cases

Earlier this week, Kevin Loftus, of Eau Claire, was sentenced to three years of probation for entering the Capitol during the riot. Brandon Nelson, 29, of Madison, and Abram Markofski, 24, of La Crosse, were each sentenced to two years of probation last year for their actions during the riot.

Cases are still pending against two other men who were arraigned in Wisconsins Western District.

Kasper currently has two open criminal cases in Brown County, one a felony case in which he was charged in 2020 with forgery and a misdemeanor disorderly conduct case from 2019.

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UW-Madison will receive $1 million to begin advanced planning and design work for a new engineering building under a measure Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed into law Friday.

The new law  one of 15 Evers signed into law Friday  comes after UW-Madison supported AB 775 as a way to increase its capacity for engineering students as some peer schools teach up to twice as many undergraduates.

Better facilities and more Badger engineers will benefit every part of our state, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said in a tweet thanking Evers for signing the bill into law.

UW-Madison last year requested $150 million to begin construction on a $300 million engineering building that would replace an 82-year-old facility. A third of the initial cost would come from gifts and grants with the rest supported through state borrowing.

The Republican-controlled legislative budget committee removed the project from the budget passed last summer, a move that flummoxed UW-Madison officials who said it would be a boon for the states economy. The bill passed Friday doesnt guarantee the buildings construction but lays the groundwork for potential funding to be secured in the 2023-25 state budget.

College of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson last spring said some 7,000 students apply each year with the intent to study undergraduate engineering but the college only has space and teaching resources to accept about 1,000 applicants annually. Thats despite peer schools having student body sizes ranging from 6,000 to nearly 9,500 students.

The new building would allow the college to add 1,000 more students to its overall undergraduate student body.

Other measures

Last week, Evers signed into law SB 557, providing flexibility in the way the University of Wisconsin Systems Board of Regents can manage its working capital.

Blank previously thanked the Legislature for passing the bill, saying it will provide vital flexibility. Fiscal estimates indicate the expanded authority could generate an extra $11.2 million annually for campuses  money that will help advance our teaching and research missions, Blank said.

Another of the 15 bills Evers signed Friday prohibits local units of government from regulating battery-powered, alarmed electric security fences as bill proponents say businesses need more security.

With the crime increasing across the state and law enforcement already overburdened, many people are seeking additional security for their businesses, SB 812 bill author Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said in a statement late last year.

But while some violent crimes are increasing statewide, thefts are not, data show.

Homicides in 2020 were at a five-year high with 302, compared to 185 in 2019, according to Wisconsin Department of Justice data. Data from 2021 hasnt yet been made available. Aggravated assault was also at a five-year high in 2020. But crimes such as larceny, theft, burglary and robbery in 2020 were at or near the lowest level they have been in five years.

State Journal reporter Kelly Meyerhofer contributed to this report.
The expression The more things change, the more they stay the same is attributed to Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, a French critic, journalist and novelist of the 1800s. A look back at history shows the truth of it.

I was reminded of the saying while watching a show on PBS the other night. It featured the rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe and showed footage of huge crowds in Italy wildly cheering the dictator Benito Mussolini. It also showed the same kind of crowds in Germany cheering Adolf Hitler. Their fervor and adulation for those cruel dictators reminded me of the fervor of the crowds at former President Donald Trumps rallies as they cheer his lies, empty promises, false accusations and juvenile name-calling.

Remember the crowds going wild whenever he said, Im going to build a wall and Mexico will pay for it! or any number of his lies and empty promises? The Washington Post and other fact-checkers have all verified he lied to his audiences at rallies and during interviews more than 30,500 times in five years. The scariest thing about it is that so many people believed the lies, and still do.

But fortunately, most Americans didnt fall for them. President Joe Biden received almost 7 million more votes than Trump, and also won the majority of Electoral College votes. But like all dictators would, the former president disputed the results and continues to do so. The label poor loser is one of the nicer things we could say about that.

Another topic that reminds me of the saying is the subject of book banning, which is rearing its ugly head in Republican-led legislatures all over the country. Authoritarian, undemocratic regimes all over the world have banned books that contained truths they didnt want the people to know, and now its happening here.

Then theres slavery. Though it was outlawed after the Civil War, it continues today, in a different version, all over the country. Before Emancipation, wealthy whites owned black slaves who did the hard, dirty work in exchange for just enough shelter and sustenance to keep them alive and strong enough to work. Today, many white business owners hire immigrants, including undocumented workers, to do the hardest, dirtiest jobs in the country  jobs most Americans refuse to do.

Today, though many businesses are desperate for workers, Republican lawmakers please their base by saying they want to make it harder for immigrants to come here, and easier to deport them. If they didnt want immigrants to come here and work for low wages, theyd have passed legislation decades ago that would penalize businesses that hire undocumented workers and other immigrants.

At the same time, they fight any attempts that would help hardworking immigrants gain American citizenship. That includes the Dreamers, who are now adults from Mexico and other countries whove been here since they were little kids, have been educated here, are working full-time jobs, paying taxes and growing the economy.

You have to wonder what happened to Republican politicians common sense, and especially their proclaimed but rarely practiced Christianity. Which reminds me of another saying, Jesus would weep.

Yes, Jesus would weep. Anyone who doubts that should ask which political party refuses to allow Medicare to negotiate the prices of prescription drugs. They should ask which party supports big pharma profits and doesnt care that Americans pay many times more for drugs than people in other countries do. Hint: Its the same party that wants to end the Affordable Care Act, which helps low-income people pay for essential medical care.

Voters should ask which party is against raising the ridiculously low federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour yet, under Trump, happily gave enormous tax breaks to the top 1% of earners. A recent study by Treasury economists found that the top 1% of American earners received nearly 60% of the billions in tax savings created by the Trump-era provision, with most of it going to the top 0.1%, most of whom pay little to begin with. How Christian.

I cant imagine anyone with common sense or a conscience voting for most Republican candidates these days. Until the voters kick out the liars and heartless grifters in that party, it isnt going to get any better.

Nash lives in Baraboo: patnash5149@gmail.com.
The Biden administration sent detailed explanations to key lawmakers Wednesday evening providing an accounting of remaining funding from the Covid-19 relief package that has already been allocated.
The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with Russia. The legislation will next head to the Senate.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Wabash River from Lafayette to Montezuma. White River at Elliston and Edwardsport. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days is bringing minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions of the Wabash River. Additional rainfall Thursday evening through Friday evening should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through the weekend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Lafayette. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 14.0 feet, Lowland flooding is in progress. High water affects river cabins near North 9th Street. Low county roads are nearly impassable. Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette begins to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:30 PM EDT Wednesday the stage was 11.3 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 9:30 PM EDT Wednesday was 11.3 feet. - Forecast...The river will rise to 13.2 feet early Friday morning. It will then fall to 12.4 feet and begin rising again early Saturday morning. It will rise to 13.7 feet Sunday morning. It will then fall again but remain above flood stage. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
Singing traditional folk songs while working in the fields, the people of the Hani ethnic group have turned terraced rice fields into a massive stage to showcase their praises for the spirit of labor and daily life.

Chen Xiniang (first from right) performs Hani polyphonic folk songs with fellow villagers. [People's Daily Online/Lei Yang]

Hani polyphonic folk music, a national intangible cultural heritage, has been passed down for generations through word of mouth by the Hani people in several villages of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Chen Xiniang, a national-level inheritor of the Hani polyphonic folk music, has been committing himself to popularizing the art form.

Chen, now 57 years old, started to learn Hani polyphonic folk songs when he was young, and has mastered techniques at a high level, including singing and playing various musical instruments.

Over the past years, Chen has performed Hani polyphonic folk songs at home and abroad. So far, two of Chen's students have become provincial-level inheritors of Hani polyphonic folk songs and four have become prefecture-level inheritors.

Under the influence of their father, Chen's son and daughter have also engaged in the protection of the intangible cultural heritage.

"I am always ready to teach Hani polyphonic folk songs to more people as long as they are interested in the music," Chen said, hoping that the Hani songs can be kept alive among future generations.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
Goitseone Ishmael, a Chinese language assistant teacher, gives a lesson at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, on Feb. 23, 2022. [Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua]

GABORONE, March 17 (Xinhua)  Excitement and joy could be felt as students at Legae English Medium School in Gaborone, Botswana, greeted their teacher Goitseone Ishmael with the Chinese phrase "ni hao," which literally translates to "hello" in English, before she began her Chinese language lesson.

"Today we are going to begin our class by watching a Chinese movie," she says, and the students jump up and down with joy. Some of the students ask if it's about the well-known actor Jackie Chan. Finally, she manages to get them to settle down.

Ishmael, also known as Liu Weiwei in Chinese, started her job as a Chinese assistant teacher at Legae English Medium School in 2022. Now she teaches around 350 students consisting of 14 classes per week from Standard 3 to Standard 6.

After graduating from university with an associate's degree in business information systems, Ishmael was encouraged by her sister to enroll in the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana (CIUB) in 2017.

"During my study at CIUB, I developed a strong interest in the Chinese language, culture and lifestyle, especially in August 2018 I set my foot for the first time in China through the Summer Camp by CIUB," she told Xinhua during an interview.

Ishmael went to study at Shanghai Normal University in China in 2019. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, she couldn't go back to China to finish the last semester and ended up finishing it online and graduating while in Botswana.

As a Chinese assistant teacher, Ishmael has her main teaching work done like teaching students Chinese songs, teaching them how to make paper cutting or lanterns. She also helps Zhang Lu, the only Chinese teacher who comes from the CIUB, to teach the Chinese language.

"Teaching a language is really interesting and kids are always interested in learning more, especially about the Chinese culture, the food and they even ask a lot of questions during my lesson like what the thing they like is called in Chinese," she said, adding that most of the students want to visit China now since she started teaching them.

According to Ishmael, Batswana can benefit a lot from learning the Chinese language. She said, in China, everything is convenient like transportation and payment methods, so Batswana can learn and see how they can improve services here. Batswana can also go teach English in China because of the demand for English teachers.

The 33-year-old woman teacher encouraged people to consider a career in the Chinese language. "It is not only for communication, it will open another opportunity for them. There are different types of jobs that one can do after learning Chinese like working as a Chinese language teacher, a translator or interpreter," she said.

Basel Ncaagae, the head of Legae English Medium School, said Chinese was introduced full-time in 2018 after management expressed a desire to move away from the Chinese club, given that the club was not reaching out to many students. And as a result of the large number of students who expressed an interest in learning Chinese, the school implemented Chinese as a full-time language study program called Confucius Classes.

Some of the content the class teaches are Chinese greetings, teaching kids how to count numbers in the Chinese language, how to introduce themselves in Chinese, their age, the weather and time. Kids also participate in the Primary School Chinese Bridge where the winner gets an opportunity to travel to China and represent the school. There are also competitions like Talent Show where students can also take part in.

Goitseone Ishmael, a Chinese language assistant teacher, is pictured at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, Feb. 23, 2022. [Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua]

Goitseone Ishmael, a Chinese language assistant teacher, gives a lesson at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, on Feb. 23, 2022. [Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua]

Goitseone Ishmael (R), a Chinese language assistant teacher, talks with Zhang Lu, a Chinese instructor, at Legae English Medium school in Gaborone, Botswana, on Feb. 23, 2022. [Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua]

(Source: Xinhua)
In order to better leverage e-commerce to sell high-quality agricultural products to more consumers and make logistics services more efficient and cost-effective, various cities in China have carried out helpful explorations to enhance brand building and improve logistics system.

Volunteers help pick and sell strawberries via livestreaming platform at a planting base in Banjing Township, Rugao City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Feb. 24, 2022. [People's Daily Online/Xu Hui]

In recent years, flourishing e-commerce in vast rural areas across China has served as a new platform for the circulation of agricultural products, broadened the channels for farmers to increase their income, and stimulated the potential for rural vitalization.

As a matter of fact, many farmers have had trouble selling their high-quality agricultural products online.

Wuchang rice, a specialty of Wuchang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is one of China's protected geographical indication (GI) products that enjoy great popularity with consumers. However, Yu Dianhong, a resident in Lujia Village, Minle Korean ethnic Township, Wuchang City, found it not as easy as he thought it would be when he started to sell home-grown rice online a few years ago.

Workers sort and wrap pitaya at a factory in Dongfang City, south China's Hainan Province. The city has strived to build a pollution-free production base for tropical fruits and create a brand for green agricultural products. [People's Daily Online/Yuan Chen]

Many consumers would question whether his rice was actually from Wuchang City. To assure online shoppers of the authenticity of his products, Yu often needed to show them a photo of his ID card.

For Yu, things started to change in 2015, when Wuchang City created a website to publicize information about products under the city's rice brands and established a rice traceability and anti-counterfeiting system based on agricultural Internet of Things (IoT).

Only locally grown rice up to standard can be included into the system and obtain a traceability and anti-counterfeiting mark and QR code, according to Yu.

"The website can help consumers easily confirm the authenticity of my products. And after scanning the QR code on the packaging, they can find out which village the rice was grown, who grew it, what variety it belongs to and what the quality report says," Yu said, adding that the sales of his products have more than doubled after the establishment of the system.

Brand building brings rural e-commerce onto the fast lane of development. By making efforts to continuously promote the construction of regional public brands of agricultural products, cities can increase the appeal of local characteristic agricultural products and facilitate large-scale production, standardized management and industrialized operation, eventually improving the quality, efficiency and market competitiveness of rural e-commerce.

Besides brand building, smoothening the "last kilometer" in logistics services is also crucial for fresh vegetables, fruits and other products with strong seasonality and short shelf life,

In Zigui County, central China's Hubei Province, electric vehicles running on rails provide a solution to the transportation of fresh navel oranges grown in high mountains and steep slopes.

At the touch of a button, the electric vehicles can move to an orchard below the slopes from the roadside. After farmers load boxes of navel oranges onto the vehicles, they carry the fruits up hills along the rails within several minutes.

"Our base produces 250,000 kg of navel oranges a year. The transportation cost per kilogram of the fruit used to be 0.24 yuan, but it has now been cut to 0.1 yuan, which means a reduction of 35,000 yuan in total a year," said Liu Guohua, manager of the base of a navel orange cooperative located in Yandengbao Village, Guojiaba Township, Zigui County.

Though nestled in high mountains and unsuitable for farming, Yandengbao Village is an ideal place for the growth of navel oranges. However, due to poor transportation infrastructure, local farmers had to rely on manual labor for the transportation of navel oranges, Liu recalled, who finds the electric vehicles much more convenient.

Photo shows winding country roads in Heishan Township, Wansheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. [People's Daily Online/Cao Yonglong]

In 2019, the village carried out electrification transformation of local power equipment. It set up a power grid and later built two electric tracks with a total length of 250 meters between orchards and roads.

"It took us 20 minutes to carry navel oranges up and down the mountains in the past, and now the electric vehicles can transport navel oranges from orchard to the roadside in four minutes," Liu noted, adding that they no longer need to worry about safety hazards during manual transportation.

In Zigui, there are 588 routes for on-rail vehicles stretching 119,300 meters in length, which help transport navel oranges from more than 2,667 hectares of orchards in mountains to the roadside.

After the navel oranges are transported out of the mountains, the next step is to take them from villages to the market, for which Zigui County mobilized local express delivery companies, e-commerce enterprises, and rural comprehensive transportation service stations and built a village-level logistics service system.

Zigui's navel orange industry has formed a virtuous circle with high-quality products, sufficient logistics services and a good market, pointed out Liu Haotian, an official with the e-commerce office under the bureau of science and technology, economy and information technology of Zigui County.

By improving weak links in rural logistics infrastructure and promoting the construction of the circulation system in rural areas, agricultural products in China will be brought to processing factories and people's dining tables faster while rural e-commerce enjoys faster growth.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
Woodward, OK (73801)

Today

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
The Great Walks of New Zealand are ten formally recognized and managed, multi-day adventures through different aspects of the country's mesmerizing landscape. There are three options on the North Island (one of which is actually a paddle) and seven on the South Island. These safe, fun and reasonably accessible walks feature well-maintained campsites and huts to help support the journey (advanced bookings required).

The North Island

Lake Waikaremoana

Viewpoint on Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, New Zealand.

This 28.6-mile, point-to-point trek takes a recommended 3 to 4 days to complete. During that time, the trail predominantly follows the shoreline of the titular lake, all while exploring the largest native forest on the North Island and the traditional home of the Ngai Tuhoe people (Maori). Misty valleys, lush rainforests, spiritual waterfalls, and pleasing bird calls elevate this walk further.

Whanganui Journey

Whanganui River view, North Island, New Zealand.

Though grouped in the Great Walks, this journey actually requires a canoe or kayak to complete. There is a full 90-mile, 5-day paddle option or a truncated alternative of 54-miles/3-days. The Whanganui River offers a peaceful atmosphere, punctuated by the excitement of some manageable rapids and the sight of shoreline waterfalls and caves. Alongside the river, there is also a 22-mile mountain biking adventure (or short walking break option for paddlers), appropriately and mysteriously named the "Bridge to Nowhere."

Tongariro Northern Circuit

Woman hiker in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand.

One of the many "Lord of the Rings" movie sites on this list, Tongariro circles the most specific and iconic feature of all, Mount Doom (i.e., Mount Ngauruhoe). This active volcano not only capped off Frodo's arduous journey but it also makes for a great side-trip summit for keen hikers who want to peer into a smoking crater. Tongariro National Park looks desolate and otherworldly and at the same time, exceedingly pretty due to the contrast of the emerald lakes peppered throughout the area. The whole circuit is a 3 to 4 day, 26.8-mile adventure.

The South Island

Abel Tasman Coast Track

Explorers walking on the Abel Tasman Coast Track in the Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand.

This sandy, tropical, inspiring trek is a 37.3-mile, point-to-point undertaking of about 3 to 5 days. During that time, the gorgeous Northwest coastline of the South Island will dazzle all who enjoy walking along golden beaches and through lush forests alongside glittering bays. Just note, the rewarding landscape is not without its demands. Hikers must pre-plan based on the tides and the return shuttle and be well-equipped for the voracious sand-flies that can swarm the campsites at day's end.

Paparoa Track

Winding road of the Paparoa Track.

The newest addition to the Great Walks list is a 34.2-mile, 2 to 3 day, point-to-point hike along the central West Coast of the South Island. Alpine-hungry trekkers will be greatly rewarded as they traverse the Paparoa Range, taking in giant and sheer limestone cliffs and ample sub-tropical rainforest along the way. This route is also open to mountain bikers - an advanced undertaking (Grade Four) of typically 1 to 2 days. Severe storms are known to rock this region, so warm, waterproof clothing is a must.

Heaphy Track

Man walking across a swing bridge on the Heaphy Track Great Walk, Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand.

The Heaphy Track is another marvelous adventure through the West Coast region. At just shy of 49-miles and a 4 to 6 day duration, this route ranks as the longest hike on the list. Southbound hikers will begin inland and take the point-to-point, ancient Maori trail through various diverse ecosystems on their way to the Tasman Sea. The Heaphy Track is also periodically open to mountain bikers who are comfortable on advanced terrain.

Routeburn Track

Hiking in South Alps on the Routeburn track, South island of New Zealand.

The Routeburn is the first of two mountainous treks in the Southwest/Queensland region. This 20-mile, 3-day, point-to-point adventure shows off the quintessence of New Zealand's Mountains - linking Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park. New Zealand's mountain treks are unique in that their lack of native mammals mean no need for safety concerns regarding bears or other predators. Also, due to low population densities of both humans and other animals, the alpine water sources are generally clean to drink.

Kepler Track

Woman hiker on a mountain cliff on the Kepler Track, New Zealand.

The Kepler Track is an excellent complement to the Routeburn. It is another mountainous trek through Fiordland National Park, within shouting distance of the base town of Queensland. This 37.3-mile circuit is typically completed in 3 to 4 days. It showcases long, wind-swept, grassy ridges, snowy peaks on the horizon, glacier-carved valleys, and a range of other snapshots of the South Island's scenery, which was the goal when the Kepler was established in 1988. The mountain huts in this region give hikers a cozy place to cook their meals, enjoy the panoramic views, and rest their heads (thus eliminating the need to carry a tent).

Milford Track

Hiker along the Milford Track in Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

This 4-day, 33.2-mile, point-to-point, 150-year-old trail is the most popular of all of New Zealand's Great Walks. The breathtaking journey traverses Fiordland National Park, typically beginning at the head of Lake Te Anau and ending at the majestic Milford Sound. Throughout the bucket-list adventure, hikers pass over suspension bridges, mountain passes, and alongside Sutherland Falls (the tallest waterfall in New Zealand) - all the while contending with capricious rains that are considered part of the charm. The trek can be capped off with a boat cruise into Milford Sound - a great way to gain another perspective of the Norwegian-esque scenery.

Rakiura Track

A hiker walking on a forest, Rakiura track, Stewart Island, New Zealand.

Located on Stewart Island, just off the Southern Coast of the South Island, the Rakiura Track is a peaceful, 3-day trek. This 20-mile meader comprises many boardwalks, open-air and sheltered coastlines, suspension bridges, and forested ridges. Stewart Island has a population of only 400 people, which explains the untouched feel of the Rakiura Track. Though low on humans, the island acts as a sanctuary for an impressive population of birds. Their mix of tunes adds to the levity of the experience.

Exploring a country on foot (or bike or boat) is a perfect way to absorb the experience thoroughly. This is especially true for a place as isolated and whimsical as New Zealand. The 10 Great Walks merge the beauty of minimally impacted natural settings with the practical enhancements of well-maintained trails and overnight infrastructure. Each one offers a different glimpse into the densely packed and amazingly varied landscapes throughout the North and South Islands.
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken has confirmed an American citizen was killed in Ukraine.
Tennessee National Guard troops board a plane in Smyrna, Tenn., on June 4, 2020. Three current and former members were falsely identified in a Russian media report as mercenaries killed in Ukraine, the Tennessee Guard said.
Biden uses call with Xi to lay out consequences for China if it supports Russia attack on Ukraine
2m funding boost announced for regeneration of Wrexhams indoor markets

Refurbishment plans for Wrexhams historic indoor markets have been boosted following Welsh Government approval of 2m funding for the Butchers Market under the Transforming Towns initiative.

The market, along with the neighbouring General Market, are both set to go undergo extensive renovation as part of the Wrexham Townscape Heritage Scheme.

Plans and work on this historic part of Wrexham will begin once all the plans and permissions are in place.

The Butchers Market was opened in 1848 and the General Market in 1879. Neither have had any extensive renovation works, with Wrexham Council saying its time that we look to the future of both the existing tenants and future tenants to ensure these two markets flourish in the town centre.

The regeneration of the two indoor markets has been on the cards for several years, with many hours of council meetings taking place in that time.

In March 2020 members of the executive board backed the investment with hopes that the historic markets could reinvent themselves by following in the footsteps of popular venues over the English border.

However the coronavirus pandemic, which forced a national lockdown just weeks after that report was published, has caused a further delay to the start of the refurbishment works.

Work is now underway to bring a delivery plan to the new council this summer.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said, This is excellent news and ensures that work on this important townscape heritage scheme takes place.

Our markets are our heritage and the Butchers Market is in need of significant improvement to ensure it remains fit for purpose for many, many more years.

Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economy, said, Whilst the pandemic disrupted our plans for a while we are now working at pace to ensure design proposals will be presented to councillors for approval in June.

We have liaised with the existing tenants and will ensure they stay up to date with all our proposals and plans.

The Welsh Governments Transforming Towns initiative aims to address the decline in Welsh city and town centre. Its focussed on improved biodiversity and green infrastructure; reuse of derelict buildings; increasing the variety of services on offer in towns with an emphasis on flexible working and living space; and access to services and leisure.

The priority is securing the long-term sustainability of our town and city centres by driving footfall and making them attractive places to spend time

Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters said: We are investing significant amounts of funding through our Transforming Towns Programme to provide town centres like Wrexham with a much-needed boost.

As well as providing long sustainability for the town centre, this funding will help to harness important heritage and encourage more people back to the high street.

.
3m awarded to bereavement charities and organisations across Wales

Charities across Wales helping those experiencing bereavement will benefit from 3m in funding over the next three years, it has been announced.

Sadly bereavement is something that will touch all our lives and charities and third sector organisation across Wales are always available to provide vital support.

In October last year the Deputy Minister outlined the National Framework for the Delivery of Bereavement Care in Wales, which was underpinned by a 1m per annum support grant for charities and support groups to apply for.

21 charities will receive funding via the grant over the next three years. The organisations awarded cover a wide range of areas and will provide funding for a variety of support, including providing help to children and young people who have lost a loved one and funding training for volunteers to help them support the bereaved.

Those awarded funding from the Bereavement Support Grant are

Sandy Bear Childrens Bereavement Charity

Nightingale House Hospice

Paul Sartori Foundation

Ty Hafan Childrens Hospice

Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)

Aberystwyth and District Hospice at Home Volunteers (HAHAV)

Mid & North Powys Mind

Ty Gobaith and Hope House Childrens Hospices

Platfform

BAME Mental Health Support

Cruse Bereavement Support

Marie Curie

Diverse Cymru

Age Cymru

City Hospice, Cardiff

Ponthafren Association

2Wish

ACE  Action in Caerau and Ely

Llamau

The DPJ Foundation

Options Pregnancy Crisis and Post Abortion Service (IPAC Options)

The Deputy Minister visited the charity 2Wish to find out more about how they will use the grant funding for an all Wales support project that will ensure immediate support is offered to individuals affected by the sudden death of a child or young person.

Rhian Mannings MBE, founder and CEO of 2Wish, said: Following the success of our petition and the commitment of Welsh Government to offer immediate support to families, this funding will help us make our service available to everyone as it is vital that at such a difficult time that support is immediately available.

Here at 2Wish we have been working for over a decade to support Welsh families who have lost a child. Weve seen first-hand the trauma these families go through and the help that they so desperately need at this time of crisis.

So, it is great to see the Minister is announcing this grant funding, so that we, and charities like us, can carry on this vital work and offer immediate help and counselling.

Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle, said: The funding Im announcing today I hope with enable charities and organisations to provide further comfort to those grieving.

The work of all 21 organisations awarded is so vital and I want to pay tribute to the work they do. Bereavement affects us all in different ways, its important that the 3m funding covers a cross section of organisations who will utilise the money in their own way to provide emotional help, advice and support.
NSPCC Cymru advice on talking to children concerned about what they are seeing from Ukraine war

As the war in Ukraine continues, NSPCC Cymru is offering advice to adults on how to deal with concerns raised by children.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is distressing and concerning for us all so it is important to understand and acknowledge that children and young people may have questions and will need reassurance.

In recent weeks children and young people have been exposed to constant coverage of the invasion online, on social media, on television and radio and in newspapers.

This has brought the subject of war to the forefront of many childrens minds for the first time in their lives and some are sharing their concerns with us at Childline.

Their contacts cover a range of issues including concern for family and friends living in or near Ukraine, worries that family and friends in the armed services might be called on to fight, and fears that the crisis will escalate into World War Three. Some also express concern that parents, teachers or carers are not taking their anxieties seriously.

NSPCC Cymru Childline is always available to support young people, but there are also useful tips for adults to help a child worried about the conflict.

Reassure them that its normal to feel scared or confused about international events beyond our control

Encourage them to get the facts from trusted sources  Newsround and First News are great outlets for children, and far more objective and trustworthy than dooms-crolling through social media.

Remind children to take a break from the news and to do something relaxing or positive to get away from breaking news and notifications.

Let them know they can speak to you or another trusted adult about their concerns. If theyre not ready or comfortable doing that, they can share their feelings safely and anonymously with their peers on the moderated Childline message boards.

Counsellors are also available to offer help and support around the clock on 0800 1111, and online at www.childline.org.uk
Wrexham MPs call to revisit fracking in light of Ukraine war slammed as wasting time

A Conservative politicians call for fracking projects to be revisited in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine has been slammed as wasting more time.

Writing on the Conservative Home website , Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton urged the UK Government to pause its net zero targets to reduce reliance on the likes of Russia for energy supplies.

The government issued a moratorium on fracking in November 2019, effectively banning the process, following concerns about earth tremors.

And an environmental charity has rejected Ms Athertons suggestion for the resumption of the hydraulic extraction of shale gas to be considered.

Rosie Rogers, head of energy at Greenpeace UK, said ministers should focus on using renewable energy sources instead.

She said: After a decade of hype and bluster, all the fracking industry has given us are two holes in a muddy field and some minor earthquakes.

Trying to restart fracking now would only mean wasting more time when we have little.

It will take many years to develop and if it ever gets produced, it will be sold to the highest bidder on the international market, with no impact on our energy bills.

If the UK and Europe want to end their dependence on Russian gas, the quickest way to do that is by insulating homes, installing heat pumps and boosting renewables.

These are tried and tested technologies, quick to deploy and getting cheaper all the time.

She added: With the Spring Statement just around the corner, the UK government should work on an emergency plan to free our country from gas dependence.

This would protect households from soaring bills, tackle the climate crisis and weaken Putins hand.

Ms Atherton said in her article that the Wests response to previous acts of aggression by Russia, including the annexation of Crimea and the Salisbury poisonings, had been inadequate.

The MP, who is a member of the Defence Select Committee, said: To ensure that we are no longer reliant upon Russia, directly or indirectly, this government has been right to rethink how we supply energy to our nation.



Recent announcements are welcome but the government must come up with more  and fast.

We must roll out a new generation of nuclear reactors, and quickly, and we should be re-assessing fracking and tidal enhancement.

Radical new energy policies will take time to take effect, but the longer-term implications for energy security will be welcomed.

She added As part of this, we should also park, for the time being, the net zero endeavour.

Of course, it can and should remain a long-term aim but ensuring that we can, as a nation, generate the energy we need without a reliance

on overseas sources should come first.

Ms Atherton has been asked to comment further on the issue.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Mounting Russian casualties in Ukraine lead to more questions about its military readiness
Three weeks into the Ukraine war, all of the sides involved are taking ever greater risks. The hitherto unthinkable, a nuclear exchange in Europe, is being openly considered and built up as a threat. Voices of caution, restraint and appeals to reason have largely fallen silent. Despite the looming catastrophe, NATO is not prepared to compromise.

In a televised speech the day before the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian president Vladimir Putin had already issued this threat: Whoever tries to get in our way and create further threats to our country and our people must know that Russias response will come immediately and will lead to consequences without precedent in history. All the necessary decisions have been taken. I hope you hear my words.

This was a clear reference to Russias nuclear arsenal which, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, consists of more than 6,000 warheads, 900 of which are immediately operational, according to NATO.

Instead of de-escalating the situation, however, NATO has poured oil onto the fire. It has categorically rejected Putins request for security guarantees, which the latterfollowing decades of NATO eastward expansion, extensive NATO manoeuvres along the Russian border and direct NATO interference in Ukraine and Georgiamust have taken as an existential threat.

Since the beginning of the war, NATO has done everything in its power to cut off any chance of retreat for Putinranging from draconian economic sanctions to the threat of dragging him before an international tribunal. NATO is not waging war itself in name only. It is flooding Ukraine with high-tech weapons, concentrating its own troops on the border and intervening ever more directly in the war.

So far, the alliance has shied away from open military action against Russia. On March 11, US President Joe Biden insisted on Twitter that we will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full might of a united and galvanized NATO. He rejected direct military intervention in Ukraine, however, writing: A direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War III. And something we must strive to prevent.

But even this hurdle is disappearing rapidly. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, several Eastern European heads of government, as well as other political figures in Europe and the US, are emphatically calling for the establishment of a no-fly zone, which would be tantamount to NATO officially entering the war.

Thomas Enders 2018 at the ILA Schonefeld (Image: Matti Blume / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia

Thomas Enders, CEO of Airbus until 2019 and since then president of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), is particularly aggressive in this respect. Establishing such a no-fly zone over western Ukraine is not just feasible; it is necessary, he wrote in an article for Politico. It is time for the West to expose Putins nuclear threats for what they really area bluff to deter Western governments from military intervention.

What, however, if Putins nuclear threats are not a bluff? What if he makes good on them because his back is against the wall? Kaliningrad is only 530 kilometres from Berlin. The nuclear-capable medium-range missiles stationed there would take just four-and-a-half minutes to reach the German capital with its almost four million inhabitants. In between lie Warsaw and many other cities.

Enders is playing Russian roulette with nuclear weapons. He risks the nuclear destruction of Europe and large parts of the globe. And to what end? It would be absurd to think the aim is to simply allow bitterly poor Ukraine to become a member of the European Union and NATO!

Enders speaks for a ruling class that has lost its moorings and, faced with the insoluble contradictions of the capitalist system, is once again striving for conquest and dictatorship; that regards the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to realise the biggest rearmament programme in Germany since Hitler.

He speaks for a ruling class which, in Germany alone, sacrifices 250 lives every day to a pandemic whichas China has showncan be controlled; which, despite record infections, is lifting all Corona protections, driving social inequality to unprecedented extremes and can only maintain its over-indebted financial system by declaring war on the working class.

Three years ago, Enders, onetime head of Europes largest arms company, Airbus, spoke out in favour of an open, non-ideological, strategic debate on a military and great power policy for Germany, which he likened to a vegetarian in a world full of carnivores.

Two years ago, in Die Zeit, he declared: We need to talk about nuclear weapons. The time was ripe for a bold step towards a new European security architecture, he wrote. This would include our own nuclear umbrella. If Europe were to learn the language of power again, so as not to be crushed between the old and new great powers, it would have to become a military power again. The construction of a powerful European Defence Union is absolutely inconceivable without nuclear backing. 

The war in Ukraine serves to realise these militaristic goals. The Ukrainian population, which is bearing the brunt of the war, is merely a pawn on the chessboard of the imperialist powers. They will suffer the same fate as the Iraqis, Afghans and Libyans, all of whose countries sank into chaos and misery after being liberated by the US and its NATO allies.

The disastrous consequences of the dissolution of the Soviet Union thirty years ago are now becoming fully apparent. Former Stalinist secret service agent Putin was among those who fully supported the plundering of the economy by oligarchs, dreamed of their wealth to come and derided the term imperialism as an invention of Leninor even worse, Leon Trotsky.

The Bolshevik leaders had insisted that wars were inevitable as long as capitalism was not overthrown by the working class. Imperialist war, Trotsky wrote in 1940, derives its origin inexorably from the contradictions of international capitalist interests. Contrary to the official fables designed to drug the people, the chief cause of war as of all other social evilsunemployment, the high cost of living, fascism, colonial oppressionis the private ownership of the means of production together with the bourgeois state which rests on this foundation.

Now, the imperialist powers are using Putins reactionary war against Ukraine to strangle Russia economically, even at the risk of wiping out humanity. They are even confiscating the yachts of Russian oligarchs, whose unrestrained enrichment they had once hailed as a victory of freedom. The oligarchs will of course get their yachts back if they turn against Putin. The Ukrainian oligarchs are allowed to keep their boats; after all, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Elon Musk also cruise the worlds oceans on $500 million yachts.

The threat of war can only be stopped by the means of class struggle. The working class, which has to bear the costs of war, sanctions, pandemic and financial crisis and is inevitably thrown into conflict with the bankrupt capitalist system, must unite internationally and fight for a socialist programme.
With certain honorable exceptions, passion and urgency in a good cause have been in short supply in the global film world in recent decades. That will change. It may already be changing, under the impact of glaring and malignant economic inequality, the lethal pandemic, the danger of war and dictatorship, and, decisively, the growth of popular opposition.

Aheds Knee

Israeli director Nadav Lapid explains that he wrote his remarkable, outraged film Aheds Knee with a sense of urgencya feeling that urged me to write, to write it all down, to write fast, right through to the end. It was a feeling that had more control over me than I over it.

The winner of the 2021 Cannes film festival jury prize, Lapids film opens in New York March 18 and other US cities April 1, including Los Angeles.

Aheds Knee refers to Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi and the incident in December 2017 in the occupied West Bank for which she was later arrested and sentenced to eight months in prison. During a demonstration in the village of Nabi Saleh against the expansion of Israeli settlements, Aheds 15-year-old cousin was shot in the head at close range with a rubber-coated steel bullet and severely wounded. Ahed, along with her mother and cousin, approached two Israeli soldiersequipped with M16s, helmets and body armoroutside the familys house and slapped, kicked and shoved them. For this and other incidents, Ahed was threatened with years in prison.

In April 2018, in response to the episode and Tamimis arrest, fascistic Israeli politician Bezalel Smotrich tweeted, In my opinion, she should have gotten a bullet, at least in the kneecap. That would have put her under house arrest for the rest of her life.

Lapids fiction film opens with a shot of a girls knee. The director explains, It may not be the most beautiful body part, but its a true combination of strength and fragility. I also liked the reference to Eric Rohmers Claires Knee [1970]. As I changed the name of Claire, I gave the film a specific time periodAhed Tamimis. Aheds Knee takes place in a different world from Clairesin todays world. These days, they want to break Aheds knees all over the world, so you need to go wherever needed and film them and enhance them.

An Israeli film director, Y (Avshalom Pollak), first seen holding auditions to find the right actress with the right knee for his new film, Aheds Knee, has been invited to show one of his previous works in a town in southern Israel. He is met there by the young woman, Yahalom David (Nur Fibak), from the Ministry of Culture, who organized the visit. She is full of enthusiasm, describes herself as an admirer of his films and makes critical remarks about the Minister of Culture. Oh, and one thing more, she has a form he needs to fill out and sign in order to get paid. On it he must describe the specific topics he will discuss and promise not to raise any other.

Avshalom Pollak and Nur Fibak

What does this mean, he asks. Shall I discuss the dumbing down, the abject stupidity of this country? Later, she spells it out: no discussion of the Occupation, conflict, etc. Possible subjects include family, Judaism, love. He will later describe the ministrys form as embodying submissionservilityhumiliation.

During the film showing, Y and Yahalom go for a walk in the desert. In a critical, extended sequence, Y enters into what the director calls a verbal trance  a bit like some rap songs  where words, almost naked without being accompanied by musical instruments, are both all-powerful and nearly unintelligible.

It is one of the most scathing, eloquent and poetical sequences in recent cinema. Again, it begins with the hated form from the hated Minister of Culture (Likuds Miri Regev) and its references to appropriate and inappropriate topics. Y goes off, something like this: Suppose I want to discuss a nationalist, racist, sadistic, abject Jewish state whose sole aim is to reduce the soul, particularly the Arab soul, to incompetence and impotence, so it collapses against the states oppression, and will be completely at its mercy? A state that is a deadly, congenital or contagious disease for its citizens?

Yahalom answers frankly, Youd be rejected and blacklisted. Y goes on, What if my subject is a state that vomits out whatever doesnt conform and never takes it back, that brutalizes its victims with deepest baseness?  A Jewish, nationalist, racist state.  Vulgar, ignorant, cowardly, each generation worse than the other. A land killing itself.

Yahalom: Well reject you and report you. Youll be finished. The minister has said, she explains, Smear the country, and youll starve to death. Y then denounces the minister of art who hates art, a government that hates human freedom, all human beauty, the ugliest of governments. This is only a small sampling of the dialogue. There are other important elements to the film, including the directors relationship with his dying mother and memories of military service, but this is what stands out above all.

Aheds Knee was inspired by an incident in June 2018, similar in certain regards to the one dramatized in the film. Lapid was invited to show one of his works and asked to sign such a form by a young woman from the Ministry of Culture. He explains, That seemed fishy to me. Especially these days when free speech in Israel has turned into a gloomy winter sun, growing dark and dying. And the leader of that anti-free speech campaign happens to be the Minister of Culture herself. Lapid signed the form and the event went off without incident, unlike the fictional screening in his film, which explodes into controversy. (As he remarks, In the script I wrote, the film director goes down a road I couldnt possibly take. Hes willing to sacrifice the Libraries deputy director [Yahalom] to slow down the fast-moving fascist tank.)

In his directors notes, Lapid continues, A few months later, the Minister of Culture initiated the law of loyalty to culture, forbidding the funding of any artwork deemed unfaithful to the government. This law could be passed at any time. The relative democracy that still prevailed is gradually shrinking. Were experiencing the end of a certain Israeli mindsettrue or falsethat I grew up in. This definitely marks the end of Israel as Ive known it.

Lapid, born in Tel Aviv in 1973, has previously directed Policeman (2011), The Kindergarten Teacher (2014) and Synonyms (2019). Aheds Knee is an especially important film.
On Thursday morning, the White House published a statement by President Biden announcing that Dr. Ashish Jha will replace Jeff Zients as the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator.

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown Universitys School of Public Health, stands for a portrait, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Newton, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The selection of Jha, who has served as a de facto pandemic spokesman for the Democratic Party, underscores that the White House will do nothing to stop the pandemic as the Omicron BA.2 subvariant spreads uncontrolled and all federal pandemic resources dry up.

In the statement, Biden summarized why Dr. Jha was chosen, noting that he is a well-known figure to many Americans from his wise and calming public presence.

Indeed, Jha was chosen because he is a household name who over the past two years has been brought onto the broadcast news shows on a near-daily basis to issue soporifics and disarm the population to the immense dangers posed by the pandemic. Anyone who watches the news has endured the complacent nostrums of Dr. Jha in some of his hundreds of appearances that span nearly every corporate media news outlet, including ABC, NBC, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and more.

The corporate media immediately showered praise on Jha Thursday, while whitewashing the roles played by him and Zients. The New York Times characterized Jha as an outspoken public health expert and claimed that he has urged an aggressive approach to the pandemic. This lie was echoed by The Hill, which said that Jha  has called for aggressive responses throughout the pandemic.

In reality, Dr. Jha embodies the worst forms of petty-bourgeois careerism, smugness and duplicity. He is the leading representative of a milieu of right-wing, corrupt scientists who have parroted the line of the Democratic Party since Biden took office. These include Drs. Monica Gandhi, Leana Wen, and Vinay Prasad, as well as economist and school reopening advocate Emily Oster, a colleague of Jhas at Brown University who receives funding from the Koch-affiliated Mercatus Center.

These figures are to public health what Martha Raddatz, Richard Engel and their ilk are to US foreign policy. Given their script and talking points, they will say anything as long as their wealth and careers are maintained.

Regarding Dr. Jhas supposed wisdom, a brief review of his positions and predictions throughout the pandemic reveal this as a lie cut from whole cloth. From the beginning, he has consistently misled the public and upheld the interests of the corporations and financial elite.

On August 13, 2020, the Boston Globe published an article titled Harvard pandemic expert Ashish Jha takes a more optimistic view of the fall and winter. They quoted Dr. Jha as saying, maybe by November, December into January we start getting a vaccine. Some people start getting vaccinated, and life starts turning around for a bit betternot normalbut then we can get through the winter without too much suffering. Over the next six months, 334,573 Americans died from COVID-19.

On November 2, 2020, as the first winter surge was well underway and before anyone had been vaccinated, Dr. Jha told Education Week, Theres no doubt in my mind that schools need to be bolder than theyre being. Ignoring the mass COVID-19 outbreaks that had already taken place in schools, he added callously, Obviously, if going back to in-person education was going to lead to a lot of infections and deaths, youd say OK, thats a cost we cant bear. But districts that are being too cautious are doing enormous harm to children and families in their communities.

Ever since then, Dr. Jha has consistently advocated for the unsafe reopening of schools, ignoring the fact that nearly 13 million children have officially been infected with COVID-19, and over 1,600 have died from the disease. In doing so, Jha cynically invokes his own childrens return to school, omitting the fact that he lives in wealthy Newton, Massachusetts, where the median income is nearly double the US average. The school district boasts a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, far below the average in most US public schools, and has funded a gamut of mitigation measures denied to children in most schools.

On March 12, 2021, Jha appeared on the Times The Ezra Klein Show and opposed the relinquishing of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, falsely claiming that mRNA vaccines would be too complicated to produce in less developed countries. He neglected to mention that he is a senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge, a firm that represents pharmaceutical monopolies Pfizer and Merck on issues surrounding intellectual property rights.

On March 19, 2021, as COVID-19 cases were rising across Europe, Dr. Jha stated on NBC News, Were not going to have another Europe on our hands. Were not going to have a fourth surge. Shortly thereafter, on April 7, 2021, Jha co-wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post with Monica Gandhi, in which they claimed, There is no doubt that vaccines will help bring an end to the acute, emergency phase of this pandemic and usher us into endemicity, which is when covid-19 would be like any other respiratory infection that we could live with.

Within weeks, the CDC told vaccinated people they could stop wearing masks, setting the stage for the surge of the Delta variant last summer. Dr. Jha explained his mistake by saying that he did not expect so many people to refuse to get vaccinated, despite numerous polls indicating that this would happen.

On July 22, 2021, when the surge of the Delta variant was well underway, Dr. Jha stated on CNBC, We dont need a federal mask mandate, and we certainly dont need a federal lockdown. He added, Were seeing little bumps of cases in places like Vermont and Massachusetts that have high vaccination rates. Theyre fine, their hospitals are fine, theyre not likely to get overwhelmed. Within months, the Delta surge pushed hospitals throughout the Northeast to their capacity.

During the disastrous Omicron surge, in which nearly 30 million Americans have officially been infected with COVID-19 and over 167,000 have died, rumors began circulating that Zients would step down from his position, prompting the milieu of right-wing scientists to begin auditioning for the role.

In its article on Jhas appointment, the Post noted that he had increasingly become an adviser to the White House in recent months, with officials praising him for his pragmatism and ability to speak to a variety of audiences.

On January 17, 2022, a day when over 800,000 Americans were infected with COVID-19 and 1,397 died from the disease, Jha appeared on CNBC and spouted off a potpourri of talking points then emanating from the White House, stating, Im hoping Omicron gives us the lessons we need to manage the rest of this pandemic, however long it lasts, and move to a new normal, where we treat this virus much more as an endemic thing. And so Im hoping that this really is the transition variant that gets us into a different footing for future variants and lets us manage them much more effectively (emphasis added).

Most recently, when the CDC unscientifically changed its masking guidelines last month, Dr. Jha was at the ready to pen an effusive op-ed in the Times, headlined, Weve Entered a New Phase of the Pandemic. Its Time for New Metrics. He praised the move as a welcome change which was reasonable, well-timed and consistent with the science. The op-ed was published before the guidelines were even released, underscoring the clear coordination between Jha and the White House.

While Drs. Jha, Gandhi, Wen, Prasad and others maintain a pretense of separation from the far-right herd immunity advocates like Drs. Jay Bhattacharya, Martin Kulldorff and Scott Atlas, their differences are entirely superficial and terminological, with the former substituting endemic for the latters herd immunity. As took place more broadly with the political establishment, during the surge of the Omicron variant these two unscientific camps de facto joined forces to promote the lifting of all mitigation measures.

Jha is taking the helm of the COVID Response Team at a highly precarious moment of the pandemic, and he will now bear primary responsibility for the deepening catastrophe as the official death toll surpasses 1 million in the coming days. Zients, the multimillionaire financier who has allowed nearly 550,000 Americans to die from COVID-19 during the first year of the Biden administrations disastrous pandemic response, will retreat to his palatial estate.

Federal funding for the pandemic has completely dried up. Supplies for testing, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, antivirals, variant surveillance, and vaccine research and development will all evaporate in the coming weeks and months. The White House and Democrats try to blame Senate Republicans, covering up the fact that Biden and Zients have refused to invoke the Defense Production Act, a pattern that Jha will certainly follow.

All of this takes place amid the growing spread of the Omicron BA.2 subvariant, which is more contagious, immune-evasive and virulent than the BA.1 subvariant. BA.2 has been shown to reinfect people within weeks of a BA.1 infection and is causing surges across Europe in countries that just experienced major BA.1 surges.

As infections, hospitalizations and deaths begin to mount from BA.2 and whatever variant comes next, the surest prediction is that Dr. Jha will do nothing but issue empty platitudes to try to calm an increasingly radicalized American working class.
The Western media has suddenly shown interest in the experience of China in the coronavirus pandemic, with the first significant surge in infections, due to the Omicron variant, since the February days of 2020. But this press campaign hypes the casualties (far lower than the grim daily death toll in country after country around the world, and not a single death ) and ignores the effectiveness of Chinas application of dynamic zero-COVID policy, which has had immediate success in stemming infection.

A health worker in protective suit takes a throat swab sample from a worker at a COVID-19 testing site inside a hotel used for people who worked at the 2022 Winter Paralympics to stay during a period of health quarantine, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In the first two weeks of March, over 15,000 domestically transmitted cases had been identified across 28 provincial-level regions, with the epicenter of the wave centered on Jilin province in the northeast. The exponential rise in cases propelled authorities to implement the current strict measures that have repeatedly proven successfula simple matter of denying the virus the necessary human fuel.

By Monday, March 14, Chinas National Health Commission reported 5,154 new COVID-19 cases (143 percent rise from the day before), the highest single-day figure. On March 15, cases across China had dropped 41 percent to 3,054, and the cases in Jilin appeared to stabilize. On March 16, national numbers continued their decline to 2,432.

Yesterday, the Commission reported there had been only 1,317 new COVID-19 cases, of which 91 were imported, and 1,226 were indigenous cases. This corresponds to a decline of 75 percent over four days. Additionally, new cases in Jilin province have also turned downwards.

In their summary of cases to date, the National Health Commission wrote, [Over the last 27 months we] had received reports of 123,773 confirmed cases and 4,636 deaths [ no additional deaths ] in 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland, and in all 104,287 patients had been cured and discharged from hospitals. There still remained 14,850 confirmed cases (including 16 cases in serious condition) and 14 suspected cases. [Additionally,] 1,919,136 people had been identified as having had close contact with infected patients, and 244,428 were still under medical observation.

Instead of congratulating Chinas massive effort and calling on their own countries to emulate these comprehensive public health measures and bring the pandemic to an end once and for all, the main concern of the international press is the potential ripple effect Chinas efforts will have on the complex international supply chain that capitalist production depends on. It is the state of the global financial system and capitalist profit that they lament. The countless lives saved and livelihoods spared in the worlds most populous country do not enter their calculations.

The Financial Times wrote, Chinas latest attempt to suppress an outbreak of COVID-19 with lockdowns in several cities has disrupted global supply chains, which is likely to lead to lower growth and profitability across the technology industry. Apple supplier Foxconn said on Wednesday its revenue could contract by up to three percent this year, and it might struggle to raise its operating profit margin as component costs rise and the pandemic persists. Notably, Apple was the first US company to reach a market value of three trillion dollars on the first trading day of 2022.

Shenzhen is the third most populous city in China. It is in the southern province of Guangdong and one of Chinas special economic zones. The local government ordered all but essential factories in the technology manufacturing district to halt production for one week. The city will conduct three rounds of mass testing of the entire population during the one-week shutdown with the hope of lifting restrictions by March 20.

In an announcement by the local government to the citys populace, they request, All government agencies and institutions at all levels in the city, except for the staff who undertake epidemic prevention tasks, work from home, or become community volunteers, report to the community where they live, and fully participate in community epidemic prevention work and community services. They added, Market supervision, commerce, and other relevant departments and supply guarantee companies ensure sufficient supply of daily necessities and stable prices.

The measures being taken in Shenzhen exemplify the efforts being taken across the entire country. Fundamental to the success of Chinas zero-COVID policy is the dynamic interaction that takes place between the local governments and the population in enlisting their cooperation to ensure infections are stopped in their tracks and chains of transmissions broken permanently. It is precisely this symbiotic relationship that the bourgeois press has failed to grasp in their constant carping at the countrys monumental efforts.

They prefer to cite comments by the likes of Olaf Schatteman, a 20-year consulting veteran and supply chain expert at Bain & Company, to substantiate their criticism of Chinas policy. Schatteman told the Times, China is digging itself into a deep hole with its zero-COVID policy. As the restrictions are hurting suppliers and logistic operations, companies are moving beyond containing the current crisis and towards diversifying production locations, undermining China as the supply chain hub of the world.

Heeding the disastrous lessons offered most recently in Hong Kong, the most recent territory laid waste by the global pandemic, where the per capita daily death toll is reaching 40 per million and morgues are filled to the brim with corpses, the Chinese health authorities reissued city-wide lockdowns affecting more than 52 million people.

The whole province of Jilin, with 24 million people and the hardest-hit region by COVID-19, has been isolated. The industrial city of Dongguan, with 10.4 million people, has locked down. Langfang, which borders the capital Beijing, has closed all non-essential businesses. Schools in Shanghai have returned to online classes, and residents have been asked to shelter in place unless absolutely necessary.

The current threat to Chinas zero-COVID policy commenced in February when daily cases began to grow in line with the spread of the Omicron subvariant in Southeast Asia and Oceania. South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand were also experiencing a rapid rise in community transmission as they moved away from policies that would contain infections.

The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated that on January 10, 2022, the global daily COVID-19 infection rate had reached almost 50 million per day. And country after country where Omicron arrived saw a massive surge in cases that disrupted every aspect of social life for several weeks while taking another 600,000 lives since the New Year. And, once more, due to efforts to completely abandon any meager mitigation measures, the BA.2 version of Omicron has reignited a new surge in cases across Europe.

Indeed, one must ask, which policy, let it rip or dynamic zero, has served the planets population better? The coordinated, streamlined measures employed in China are a far different approach than the initial chaotic days when the novel virus first emerged in the population in December 2019. These efforts have paid dividends as the Chinese populationdespite the police-state rule of the Stalinist regimehave had much more freedom in their everyday life over the past 2+ years, compared to the working people of Europe, the US, Latin America, and the rest of the world.

What is proven in China is that a dynamic zero-COVID strategy is not only feasible, even with Omicron, but necessary. What has threatened the world economyin the sense of the development of the productive forces, not the short-term financial interests of the billionaire parasiteshas not been the adherence to a zero-COVID policy, but rather, the short-sighted and criminal policy of living in permanence with the virus that has created so much misery and death.
Despite their small numbers and unpopular message, leaders of the far-right anti-vaccine Peoples Convoy have been regularly meeting with Republican lawmakers since arriving in Washington D.C. earlier this month.

Seeking to emulate the occupation of downtown Ottawa last month by right-wing Freedom Convoy truckers, the Peoples Convoy that descended on Washington D.C. in early March has to date failed to make a similar impact.

People gather at Hagerstown Speedway as the People Convoy of Truckers stages Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Hagerstown, Md on their to the Washington area.(AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

This is in part because President Joe Biden and Democratic governors across the country have adopted wholesale the anti-scientific demands of the caravan, including eliminating mask mandates even as thousands continue to die every week and a new surge of infections looms, propelled by the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron.

While there is little support in the general population for the convoy, it has substantial support in the corporate ruling elite. Since arriving outside the capital in the first week of March, the caravan of owner-operator truckers, Republican operatives, far-right militia elements and anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists has been given demonstrative support by prominent Republicans. Its leaders have met with nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers.

The convoy, despite causing multiple accidents on interstate highways outside the capital, has been afforded police escorts every day this week. This has enabled it to block or delay traffic while honking horns and displaying American flags and pro-Trump, anti-Biden placards. Beginning last Monday, in an attempt to prevent elements of the convoy from making it into Washington D.C. proper, police have blocked certain interstate exits, leading to more traffic congestion.

For local residents, the convoy is exacerbating already abysmal driving conditions. In a viral tweet posted on Wednesday, one Washington D.C. resident lamented that the convoy caused her to be late to an important doctors appointment. She claimed that a truck driver blocked her path and interrogated her, letting her pass only  if I swore to him that my appointment wasnt for an abortion.

As the ruling class, in interests of profit, has abandoned nearly all pandemic mitigation measures, leading to over 150,000 more deaths since the start of 2022, the convoy has shrunk from roughly 2,000 participants to about 500. But the group continues to camp out at the Hagerstown Speedway on the outskirts of the capital.

Its leaders, including co-organizer Brian Brase, continue to be greeted by Republican lawmakers who were, to one degree or another, complicit in former President Donald Trumps failed fascist coup of January 6, 2021.

On March 8, Brase and other convoy leaders met with US Sens. Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) and Ted Cruz (Texas), as well as Reps. Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Matt Gaetz (Florida) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia). During her meeting with Brase, Greene called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a dictator and boasted that she was not vaccinated and was against all vaccine mandates.

On March 10, Cruz, one of seven Republican senators to vote against certifying the election of Biden following the January 6, 2021, fascist attack on the Capitol, spoke at the Hagerstown Speedway and participated in a ride-along. In his speech, he thanked the sparse crowd for standing up for freedom, while he denounced idiot politicians who shut down small businesses.

The following day, Cruz promoted the convoy on social media, sharing an interview he did with Sean Hannity on Fox News. I rode in the lead rig. We headed straight to the Capitol in D.C. It was inspirational, Cruz told Hannity.

The Peoples Convoy is a reactionary petty-bourgeois operation with close ties to the Republican Party and herd immunity proponents such as former Trump administration official Dr. Paul Alexander.

In addition to participating in the fascist anti-vaccine rally in Washington in January, Alexander infamously wrote in a July 4, 2020, email to then-Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Public Affairs Michael Caputo that schools and businesses should be kept open during the pandemic because we want them infected.

As he did during the Canadian Freedom Convoy, Alexander has played a leading role in the American Peoples Convoy. Both Alexander and Brase are frequent call-in guests on Stephen Bannons podcast. The two have jointly coordinated convoy actions with Republican lawmakers and local police. On his Substack web page, Alexander has documented the many meetings he has held with Republican politicians since the arrival of the convoy in the Washington D.C. area.

In addition to the aforementioned Cruz, Johnson, Gaetz, Greene and Massie, co-organizer Brase and Alexander have met with the following Republican lawmakers: Sen. Josh Hawley (Missouri), Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa), Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), Rep. Sam Graves (Missouri), Rep. Garret Graves (Louisiana), Rep. Rodney Davis (Illinois), Rep. Eric Crawford (Arkansas), Rep. Bob Gibbs (Ohio) and Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano.

During their meeting on Monday, Brase told Jordan that the convoy was a very massive movement and that it would not leave metro D.C., to which Jordan replied, God bless you.

Peoples Convoy co-organizer Mike Landis, speaking for the militia elements within the caravan, told participants during Mondays meeting that the convoy was not going to go in and throat-punch them just yet, even though I know we would all love to do that.

Cruz, Hawley, Jordan, Sam Graves, Garret Graves, Crawford, Gibbs and Gaetz all voted against certifying the election of Biden following the attack on the Capitol. Mastriano has already been subpoenaed by the House Select Committee charged with investigating the failed coup after it was reported last year that his campaign spent thousands of dollars chartering buses to Washington D.C. for Trump supporters to participate in the attack.

On Wednesday, Politico reported that Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, not content with simply meeting with and agreeing to the fascistic demands of the caravan, gave select members of the Peoples Convoy a tour of the Capitol last weekeven as the building remains mostly closed to the public. Politco noted that a congressional aide alerted the Department of Justice to the presence of convoy organizers out of concern that the guided tour could help the protesters plan an entry into the building. The aide told the publication he had heard a Capitol Hill police officer complain that convoy participants were being allowed into the Capitol.

The officers worries are not without merit. On Thursday, the Daily Beast reported that Philadelphia prosecutors were seeking to revoke the bail of Joshua Macias for participating in the convoy. Macias is co-founder of Vets for Trump. He was arrested on November 5, 2020, outside of the Philadelphia Convention Center while carrying a loaded handgun on his person. In Macias vehicle, adorned with QAnon slogans and parked near the Convention Center, police found an AR-15 rifle and ammunition.

Macias was released on bail on December 5, 2020. On January 6, 2021, Macias spoke at a Freedom Rally in Washington D.C. in furtherance of Trumps coup.

In seeking to revoke his bail, prosecutors wrote last week that Macias was involved in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Amidst the war in Ukraine, the Putin regime is continuing its crackdown on all efforts to research the history of the crimes of Stalinism.

On March 15, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Karelia in Russia rejected an appeal by Yuri Dmitriev, a historian of the Stalinist Great Terror, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a massive state frame-up. The Russian Supreme Court has also excluded all attempts to overturn the sentence. Having exhausted all legal paths in Russia, Dmitrievs lawyer will now bring the case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Yuri Dmitriev

Yuri Dmitriev was centrally involved in the excavations of mass graves in the Sandarmokh forest in Karelia, a region bordering Finland, and the establishment of the names of those who were murdered there by the Stalinist secret police, the NKVD, during the Great Terror in 1937-38. Over a million people were killed during the Great Terror, among them tens of thousands of revolutionaries from Russia, Germany, Poland and many other countries. It was a political genocide, targeting above all the supporters of Leon Trotsky, who opposed the Stalinist, nationalist reaction against the October revolution of 1917. It also targeted all those who remembered and played an active part in the revolution.

As of this writing, the whereabouts of Yuri Dmitriev in Russias prison system are unclear, but it appears that he has now been sent to a penal colony. Dmitriev is 66 years old, and the rejection of his appeal is tantamount to a death sentence.

The case against Dmitriev, which is based on allegations of sexual assault of a minor, was a politically motivated state frame-up from its start in 2016. The charges have never been substantiated. The trial proceeded behind closed doors for years until he was sentenced to 13 years in prison in September 2020; the sentence was extended to 15 years last December.

The character of the charges not only served to create a basis for his persecution but also to discredit and defame him personally and, by extension, his work.

Thanks in no small part to Dmitrievs efforts, the Sandarmokh shooting site, along with the Kommunarka and Butovo shooting sites in Moscow, is today one of only a few mass burial locations from the Great Terror that have been uncovered and whose victims are known by name; many more such shooting sites remain undiscovered to this day.

For decades, the Soviet bureaucracy kept the location of mass graves at Sandarmokh and elsewhere a state secret. The site was not uncovered until the crisis of Stalinism in the late 1980s created conditions for the partial revelations of the historical truth about the scale of the Great Purges. Expeditions headed by Dmitriev discovered 236 burial pits in the 1990s; he helped compile the list of names of those who were shot in the forest, as well as the names of their executioners; authored several works on the Great Terror in Karelia and became the head of the regional branch of Memorial.

The so called Solovki operation, in which 1,111 political prisoners were murdered, gives a sense of the political scale of the crimes committed by Stalinism in Sandarmokh alone.

In a sinister mockery of the ideals and leaders of the October Revolution, the bureaucracy organized its single biggest mass shooting here for the week of the 20th anniversary of the October 1917 seizure of power by the working class. As one historian of the Sandarmokh shootings noted, about half of those who were shot were simple workers from Petersburg [Leningrad], the city of the 1917 revolution.

Among those shot on October 27 and November 1-4, 1937 were also several Old Bolsheviks and members of the Left Opposition, including Nadezhda Smilga-Poluyan, an Old Bolshevik and the wife of Ivar Smilga, who had been a close collaborator of Lenin in 1917 and leader of the Left Opposition in the 1920s; the Old Bolsheviks Grigory Shklovsky and Georgy Yakovenko, who had signed declarations of the Left Opposition in the 1920s; Revekka Shumskaya and Noi Volfson, party members since the first years of the Soviet Union who had been arrested for support of the Opposition; and Martin Yakobson and Aleksandr Blaufeld, two Old Bolsheviks who had fought for socialism in Estonia since the revolution of 1905.

In total, over 9,500 people from 60 different nationalities are believed to have been killed at Sandarmokh. A large number of them fell victim to the national operations by the Soviet secret police, the NKVD, which targeted national minorities such as the Ukrainians, the Finns and the Poles.

Although Dmitriev, a deeply religious man, has always approached the crimes of Stalinism from the standpoint of anti-Communism, his work constituted an important contribution to reestablishing the historical truth about the Great Terror. As such, he was an intolerable thorn in the eye of the Russian state. The merciless crackdown on him is aimed at intimidating all those who are seeking to learn the truth about the crimes of Stalinismbe it professional historians or ordinary people.

The persecution of Dmitriev was also accompanied by a campaign, spearheaded by Russias Ministry of Culture and backed by neo-Stalinist forces in Russias pseudo-left, to propagandize the lie that the mass graves in Sandarmokh were the result not of the Great Terror, but rather of Finnish executions of Soviet soldiers during World War II.

The state vendetta against Dmitriev has been a central component of the years-long, systematic efforts of the Putin regime to rehabilitate Joseph Stalin, the gravedigger of the October revolution, and justify his crimes. This campaign has involved the production of a viciously anti-Semitic series smearing Leon Trotsky in 2017 (the series was then distributed by Netflix); the systematic destruction of archival material about the Great Terror; and, mostly recently, the liquidation of the Memorial research center, the single most important research institution on the history of the Great Terror.

Motivating this extraordinary campaign of state repression and historical falsification is a profound fear by the Russian oligarchy of the political consequences of the establishment of the historical truth about the October revolution, and the internationalist-socialist opposition to Stalinism, which was led by Leon Trotsky and his Left Opposition.

The Putin regime is the direct heir of the Stalinist reaction against the socialist October revolution of 1917, which culminated in the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union by the bureaucracy. Thirty years later, the Putin regime and the oligarchy as a whole are in a profound crisis. While its reactionary invasion in Ukraine is above all a bankrupt and criminal response to the systematic encirclement of Russia by imperialism since 1991, the Putin regime also seeks thereby to divert from immense class tensions and escalate the promotion of Great Russian nationalism. Tellingly, Putin began his speech justifying the war by attacking the October revolution and Vladimir Lenin in particular.

As the war drags on, developing ever more directly into an open confrontation with NATO, the economic sanctions are creating conditions for a socioeconomic disaster unseen in the country since the Second World War. After over a million people died because of the oligarchys criminal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, now, entire branches of industry are being devastated and millions of workers face the prospect of losing their employment.

The attacks of the Putin regime on historical truth and its rehabilitation of Stalinism are aimed, above all, at suppressing the historical truth about the October revolution and the socialist opposition to Stalinism in anticipation of major social and political unrest in the working class. Workers must oppose this campaign as part of their struggle to build a socialist anti-war movement whose revolutionary program is based on the entire historical legacy of the struggle of Trotskyism against Stalinism.
We recently spoke to filmmaker Nadav Lapid, director of Aheds Knee, on a video call. He was in Paris.

Nadav Lapid (Photo creditMartin Kraft)

David Walsh: Could you explain the events that inspired the title of the film, and as well the events that inspired the central story of the film?

Nadav Lapid: As for the story, when I was editing my previous film Synonyms [2019] in April 2018 or so, I got a phone call from a bureaucrat of the [Israeli] Ministry of Culture. She was a very, very nice and gentle and enthusiastic and vivid young woman, who showed real interest in my previous movies, and invited me to screen and talk about one of my films, The Kindergarten Teacher [2014], in a small village in the desert.

So, everything was fine and then  when our conversation had nearly ended, she mentioned this strange form that I should really sign, on which I had to detail the topics of my comments etc., etc. And I had to promise not to talk about anything else.

This was maybe the peak of a period of anxiety and even repression [in Israel]. It was a time when if people were talking about their future projects, they were starting to whisper and using three periods at the end of a sentence. So, you didnt have to be Einstein to understand the context.

So, I told her, OK, I understand that youre not a fan of political opinions, or something like that. Surprisingly, she immediately said something like Its terrible whats going on in the last two years and They want to control everything, and I feel very ashamed. Would you sign the form, and you can also send it to me by fax?

I hesitated a bit afterward. I called a friend whos a journalist and told her about the case. She asked me to find an excuse to call this young woman again and record her. I hesitated and decided not to do that. Instead, I signed the form and went to the screening in the desert. So, this was perhaps the genesis of the main story. Also, from the desert location I was sending short videos to my mother [Era Lapid], who was the editor of most of my movies and who was actually in agony from cancer at the time.

Several months later my mother died, and after another few months, I started writing the script, which was written in great urgency and very rapidly, as though in a single gesture, you know? In perhaps two and a half weeks, or something like that, the script was fully written.

The title  well, in the West Bank over many years there have been all sorts of incidents between the Tamimi family and Israeli soldiers. Ahed Tamimi, who was very young, became a kind of local legend some years ago. But the most famous incident happened in 2017 when, in front of the cameras, she slapped an Israeli soldier who had come to her village. She was thrown in prison for eight months.

Avshalom Pollak and Nur Fibak in Aheds Knee

The Tamimi story and all of this was a kind of meeting point between the concrete, the political, and, at the same time, the totally imagistic, legendary, artistic. I imagine that if Ahed Tamimi had lived in the 15th century, her confrontation with the armed soldier would have become the theme of many Renaissance paintings. I could imagine that painters like Leonardo and Raphael would have dedicated dozens and dozens of paintings to this moment. Because its such a majestic moment.

It was, on the one hand, absolutely political and concrete and, on the other, it crossed the boundaries of the here and now and it became almost an aesthetical moment. This has to do with something about the movie in general. Its extremely concrete, its the here and now. There is YouTube stuff, using real names, real people. On the other hand, the ending of the movie is a little bit like observing Earth from beneath the clouds, from the sky. Theres something totally disconnected from the concrete and tries to go to human fate, the human conditions, to death, to life, etc.

DW: Speaking of the concrete for a second more, how did you and how do you view this woman from the ministry of culture? Obviously, there are many people like her. To what extent is she to blame for the situation?

NL: In a way, one might say that one of the characteristics of sick societies or societies in crisis is that they dont give you any good choices. All the choices are bad in a way. In the heart of the movie there is this meeting, which becomes a confrontation between one person who is aggressive and arrogant and lacks even a slight empathy for the other. In a way, someone who has maybe lost the human instinct inside him. Im talking about the director. He proves in a way the well-known Hebrew proverb that says its easier to love the whole of humanity than to love one single human. But, basically, he is right. Hes fighting for a good cause. Or at least hes in opposition.

And on the opposite side there is this young woman whos  I think you can only say good things about her. Shes devoted to her vision, and so enthusiastic and thrilled to spread culture, not just any culture, but culture in which she believes. She has come from such a simple background, and she has made her way using her intelligence, using her curiosity. I can imagine that when other kids went to play in the sand, she was staying at home reading books. She has so much respect for art. Everything is extremely impressive, except for the fact that of course in order to do her job she needs to make this one simple contract with the devil.

She has to turn her eyes and to collaborate, or to be in the service of  Oppressive regimes are also about people like her. You can say its not OK, you should have acted differently, but, of course, its always easy when youre not in her place. But its clear that oppressive regimes are also based on figures like this.

Avshalom Pollak

DW: You used the word urgency, and everyone says its an angry film and so forth, which is true, but there are many angry films and there are many bad angry films. To bring together anger and social or psychological insight, anger and history, anger and poetry, that seems to me more difficult. In fact, neither the character nor the film is ever out of control, at least from the spectators point of view. There is a careful artistic balance here. Am I correct in saying that?

NL: I think so. Its not interesting for me to do what Michael Moore does, or something like that. It wouldnt be interesting for me just to go in furiously with my camera. I think that theres something in the film thats in a way totally inside and totally outside at the same time. They say that there should always be the right distance, but I think that in a way this film is all the time at the wrong distance. Its extremely close, as if it digs inside the soul, as if there are no more barriers between the thoughts and what you do, what you think, what you meditate, what you feel. So, on the one hand, its too deep inside the soul, the mind, and, on the other hand, as I said, its observing from a distance.

I put all of this in a kind of historical or even philosophical and existential perspective. Its a little bit about the destiny of human beings who find themselves trapped in these endless desperate battles.

DW: I watched your short film Why, based on an image from Pier Paolo Pasolinis Teorema [1968]. After I watched Aheds Knee, I thought of Pasolini. Not the style so much, butand this is a compliment obviouslythe combination of honesty, anger and poetry. Is there a tradition or are there traditions in art of filmmaking that are important to you?

NL: Pasolini is an extremely important director for me. I remember when I discovered cinema in Paris when I was here after my military service. Actually, one of the first movies that I saw without having a lot of cinematic knowledge was Teorema. I went there almost accidentally, and the movie was such a shock for me that what I remember is that about 50 minutes or an hour after the end of the movie, I found myself in a metro station somewhere in Paris, a place where I wasnt supposed to be, scratching the map of Paris from the wall. I was totally unconscious. I dont know what happened to me in those 50 minutes. How did I get there?

I think in Pasolini there is this combination of someone who is a [Communist] Party member and a poet. Someone whos inside the politically concrete and is also an eternal outsider. Someone whos, on the one hand, fascinated by the here and now and, on the other hand, has this point of view of a poet or thinker who looks at Earth from Mars or something like that.

DW: There are obviously specifically Israeli and Middle Eastern issues in this film, but the denunciation and the outrage and the problems and the betrayal could take place anywhere. I think the film is also unusual because it articulates and reaches a deep disgust that is everywhere, that is in masses of people, whether theyre in the United States, Israel, Russia, Ukraine or Egypt.

NL: I think politics for me is a window through which to observe human beings in their present state. When you talk about the human condition, there are eternal things and there is the here and now. Politics gives you a window into the here and now. For me its interesting to talk about the here and now only if you remember all the time the permanent existence of the bigger things, life, death, love, despair, of the sense of life, the lack of the sense of life. I hope this gives something universal to the movie.

The second thing is that not all of us, but a lot of us live on this earth more or less with the same frustration, with the same feeling that things could have been different, could have been better, should have been different, should have been better, and with this feeling of the gap between what is said and what really exists. There is in this movie this thing about words. They want him to sign [and promise] that he will not use the words that he wants to use. They tell him, okay, you can only use the words from our bank of words. We can give you a collection of words, only use them. But in his monologue, hes using every possible word. In a way, hes challenging the situation by talking, by speaking, and this is something that we all know.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being a war criminal.

This historically weighted charge was made as an off-hand remark. A reporter asked Biden if he thought Putin was a war criminal as the president was leaving a crowded event. No, Biden responded and shuffled off camera. The clip was cut and then Biden returned, asking the reporter to repeat the question. Oh, Biden said with a wave of his hand, I think he is a war criminal. His voice carried all of the seriousness of a man who changed his mind and decided he wanted a side of fries with his hamburger.

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush

Bidens statement was in keeping with the incendiary and provocative language that Washington has repeatedly used to escalate the conflict with Russia over Ukraine. That Biden returned to the camera to make this statement demonstrates a calculated choice to personalize and heighten tensions for the purposes of propaganda. There is an irreversible character to such statements.

The accusation tossed off by Biden is among the gravest possible. Raised against the president of a country, the charge encompasses not simply culpability for acts of criminality during the conduct of the conflict, but rather the far greater crime of launching a war of aggression, a crime against peace. The launching of such a war is the ultimate cause of all ensuing bloodshed and war crimes.

Judged by this rigorous standard every American president of the past 30 years has been a war criminal.

The legal bases for this principle rest on the charges of war crimes brought against former leaders of Nazi Germany in the Nuremberg trials and former leaders of the Japanese Empire in the Tokyo trials at the end of World War II. The trials established the international legal principle that plotting and launching a war of aggression was a crime against peace. This was enshrined as Principle 6(a) in the Nuremberg Principles by the United Nations Human Rights Convention in 1950.

The lead prosecutor at the Nuremberg trial in 1946, Robert H. Jackson, wrote, If certain acts of violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us.

But while the United States was instrumental in drawing up these universally binding international legal precedents, Washington has since done everything possible to ensure that these principles never applied to its own actions.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague was established in 1998 with the signing of the Rome Statute to prosecute crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes of aggression. The United States for years delayed and obstructed the creation of this court, and was one of seven countries that refused to sign its charter. While accusing Putin and its other geopolitical enemies of war crimes and even genocide, the United States rejects the authority of the ICC and refuses to acknowledge its jurisdiction over its political and military leaders, or any of its combatants.

Washington speaks of a rules-based international order with the voice of a pompous and crooked judge, arbitrarily imposing on the rest of the world laws that it flagrantly violates.

The wars launched by the United States in the last 30 yearsIraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq again, Syria, Yemen, Libyahave all, by the Nuremberg definition, been wars of aggression plotted by war criminals. The violation of the Nuremberg Principles was codified as US policy in the National Security Strategy of the Bush administration in 2002, which asserted the right of the United States to take unilateral military action against another country without presenting credible evidence of self-defense.

Washington declared that it no longer needed to meet the historically established standard, born of the bloody experiences of two world wars, that the threat of imminent attack was necessary to justify military action. To assert that they perceived the possibility of a threat was sufficient grounds to justify invasion. War was the naked instrument of policy.

David North, chair of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, speaking at Trinity College in Dublin in 2004, argued that the promulgation of the doctrine of preventive war in September 2002, and its implementation in March 2003 with the launching of an aggressive war against Iraq, represents nothing less than the unequivocal repudiation by the United States of the legal principles that were enforced against the Nazi ringleaders at Nuremberg and, therefore, the criminalization, in the full and most profound legal sense of the word, of American foreign policy.

With manufactured claims of non-existent weapons of mass destruction and the universal mandate of a war on terror, Washington reduced entire civilizations of the Middle East and Central Asia to rubble. Millions died and millions more were driven from their homes.

Each of these wars was a crime against peace. Not one of these countries posed any threat to the United States. You could not ask for a more textbook definition of a war of aggression than those launched by Washington over the past 30 years.

The International Tribunal at Nuremberg in 1945 declared War is essentially an evil thing. Its consequences are not confined to the belligerent states alone, but affect the whole world. To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.

The wars of aggression of Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump contained the accumulated evil of the torture in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, the drone bombing of children at play, villages leveled by precision missiles and refugees drowned in the Mediterranean. Baghdad crumbled beneath the shock and awe of unstinting US bombing; Fallujah burned with white phosphorus.

The American mass media is complicit in these crimes. They never challenged the governments assertions, but trumpeted its pretexts. They whipped up a war-frenzy in the public. Pundits who now denounce Putin were ferocious in demanding that the United States bomb civilians.

George Will wrote in the Washington Post on April 7, 2004, Regime change, occupation, nation-buildingare a bloody business. Now Americans must steel themselves for administering the violence necessary to disarm or defeat Iraqs urban militias

Thomas Friedman wrote in the New York Times in 1999 of the bombing of Serbia under Clinton, It should be lights out in Belgrade: every power grid, water pipe, bridge, road and war-related factory has to be targeted [W]e will set your country back by pulverizing you. You want 1950? We can do 1950. You want 1389? We can do 1389 too.

Biden labels Putin a war criminal in the midst of a new media hysteria. Never referring to the actions of the United States, never pausing for breath, the media pumps out the fuel for an ever-expanding war.

If charges are to be made against Putin, whatever criterion is applied to him must be brought to bear against other leaders, and, above all, against the American presidents.

Hubris and hypocrisy stamp every statement from Washington with an audacity perhaps unique in world history. Its hands bathed in blood up to the elbows, US empire gestures at its enemies and cries war crimes.
In a major escalation of the class struggle, P&O Ferries sacked its entire 800 crew workforce Thursday with immediate effect. The firm said it intended to reemploy a new agency-based workforce.

P&O Ferries bringing agency scab crew onboard a ship to replace terminated staff (video screenshot/Nautilus International/Twitter)

There was no warning by P&O, owned by container and logistics conglomerate DP World. P&O halted all crossings and ordered its ships back to port before firing its workforce ahead of releasing an announcement later in the afternoon.

The company said its actions were necessary as it was not a viable business having lost around 250 million over two years. It warned of significant disruption as passengers were left stranded desperately trying to make alternative arrangements. The firm operates four routes: Dover to Calais; Hull to Rotterdam; Liverpool to Dublin; and Cairnryan, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland.

In a cost-cutting operation its Hull/Zeebrugge, Belgium, sailings were axed in January 2021. Prior to the pandemic it carried more than 10 million passengers a year and about 15 percent of all freight cargo in and out of Britain.

As part of its brutal pre-planned operation, P&O had a scab workforce of agency workers waiting at docksides in uniform ready to board the ferries.

P&O mobilised private security guards to remove sacked crews off its ships. Workers shot social media footage of men in balaclavas entering ships. The Daily Mail reported that the hired goons were told they were on a job that would last a week and be paid at 14.50 an hour.

The Daily Telegraph revealed an email sent to the goons from a private security firm last week reading, You have been selected to deploy on a task in Dover that will be fairly high profile. This task will run for 1 week... the client we are assisting requires 16 officers (handcuff-trained) to support their security teams in the unlikely event some of their staff become challenging.

Essentially, our client will be informing staff of redundancies and there is a possible risk of backlash... You will all need your uniform including cuffs and utility belt. The instructions ended, You will not need body armour for this task.

One woman whose husband and son have lost their jobs in Dover told the press, When P&O suspended sailings this morning, crews were waiting on the ships with no idea what was happeningeven the captains didnt know They were told they had five minutes to get their stuff and get off the ships.

These guys are week on week off workers who have called these ships home for half of the year every year. They have personal effects in lockers which they cant get toclothes, bedding, photographs and in some cases financial documents which will be taken out and thrown.

Workers onboard ships were dismissed on a pre-recorded Zoom call. A company boss read out a three-minute message declaring that all serving crew members would be fired and replaced by a third-party company. It concluded, You are terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy.

In its later statement, P&O said, We have made a 100 million loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes, there is no future for P&O Ferries.

This from a firm owned by DP World that has awarded hundreds of millions of pounds in bonuses to its directors during the course of the pandemic, while helping themselves to taxpayer-funded bailouts. DP World is owned by Dubais sovereign wealth fund and chaired by billionaire Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. It reported a profit of $896 million (683 million) last year.

The sackings are the second massive tranche since DP World took over P&O and puts the remaining 2,200 staff on notice. DP World bought P&O Ferries for 322 million in 2019, just months before the pandemic struck. Its first move as it paid a 270 million dividend to shareholders at the end of April 2020 was to fire, with no opposition from the trade unions, 1,100 of P&Os workforce insisting this was necessary to keep it viable and sustainable.

P&Os owners applied for a 150 million bailout from the government. This was refused but DP World received an undisclosed figure from the taxpayer to keep freight routes from the UK running and almost 15 million to pay 80 percent of the wages of 1,400 furloughed staff.

Workers on P&O ships did whatever they could to oppose their removal from vessels. At Dover, numbers refused to leave ships as others gathered at the port and confronted security staff and police backing the company operation. Workers blocked the road and told lorry drivers and others trying to enter the port that were not moving. The Daily Mail reported one sacked worker saying, I refuse to move from this road, all this service for nothing. The police will have to take me away.

In Hull, the captain of the Pride of Hull ferry, after hearing of the redundancies, drew up the gangplanks refusing to allow police or scabs on the ship. According to reports, the ship had enough supplies to feed the crew for as long as it takes.

At Larne in Northern Ireland, staff staged a sit-in before eventually departing the vessel.

The trade union bureaucracy and Labour Party moved immediately to assert a nationalist response to P&Os actions. Neither the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), nor the small Nautilus International professional body called industrial action in response to a brutal dismissal of their members, even though reports suggested that the company may have acted illegally on several grounds.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said, We are deeply disturbed by growing speculation that the company are today planning to sack hundreds of UK seafarers and replace them with foreign labour.

The general secretary of the Nautilus International maritime union, Mark Dickinson, said, The news that P&O Ferries is sacking crew across its entire UK fleet is a betrayal of British workers. It is nothing short of scandalous given that this Dubai-owned company received millions of pounds of British taxpayer's money during the pandemic.

In Parliament, Labour Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh described the sackings as a national scandal which is beneath contempt, before calling on the Conservative government to intervene to save the jobs. The government put on a show of concern but offered nothing more than a pledge to speak to employers and the unions.

Ferry workers cannot look to the nationalist and pro-capitalist trade unions, or any section of the ruling elite to defend jobs. They are up against a global company, with massive resources employing 50,000 workers in 40 countries worldwide. In addition, as has already been made clear, ferry workers will be confronted with police attacks as the state is mobilised against them.

Ferry workers must form their own rank-and-file committees independent of the unions to occupy ships and ports. They must turn to the working class, calling for solidarity strikes to be mounted in every workplace including by ferry and port workers in Europe and internationally to put a halt to corporations exploiting national divisions. They should pose the question to their fellow workers: if P&O gets away with this, then who will be next? This is a fight for the future of the entire working class. To discuss the way forward, we appeal to P&O workers to contact the Socialist Equality Party.
Last Friday, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) publicly released footage of police shooting and killing 47-year-old Yan Li in the doorway of her apartment. The shooting occurred on March 3 after San Diego deputies served Li with an eviction notice from her fifth-floor condominium in Little Italy, a neighborhood in downtown San Diego, California.

A still image from the body-worn camera footage of San Diego police Officer Rogelio Medina shows the moment he and three sheriffs deputies fatally shot Yan Li on March 3. (Photo: Courtesy of San Diego County Sheriffs Department)

The official video shows 10 minutes of heavily edited footage, including the initial gun draw within seconds of Li initially answering her door; then later, it shows more units arriving to remove Li from her apartment; it then cuts to officers opening fire after she lunged toward them with a kitchen knife.

The incident shows a clear indifference by law enforcement with addressing those suffering apparent mental illness or a psychological crisis. It was an overall unnecessary escalation, beginning with the use of armed officers to serve eviction paperwork, and ending with a tragic death just hours later.

Within seconds of the officer handing Li the eviction papers, Deputy Jason Bunch had his gun aimed at Li, who had opened the door with a large knife at her side. The officer said, Put the knife down right now or Im gonna (expletive) shoot. He then repeatedly yelled, Put the knife down. Put the (expletive) knife down. Meanwhile, Li was clearly distressed and in a confused state, yelling back at the officer to put his gun down and asking, How do I know youre not an intruder? Becoming increasingly distressed as Bunch continues to yell warnings that he will shoot her if she does not put the knife down, Li demanded to see an official badge, and later yelled for someone to call the police.

Eventually, Li threw the eviction paperwork into the hallway and shut her doorleading to an even greater escalation by law enforcement. At this point, it comes into question what the justified legal response of the SDPD should have been. Li was holding a knife but did not issue threats of bodily harm against the officer, she maintained distance, and ultimately, the purpose of the visit was servedpresenting eviction papers is simply ensuring that the tenant receives the paperwork.

The SDPD, however, has worked to justify the ensuing stand-off and entrance into Lis unit by claiming that some days before, Li had apparently threatened the complex manager and a maintenance worker with a knife. It is not clear if this supposed threat gave officers cause to enter her apartment, or if it was reported by the managers at all before the March 3 incident; nor has the SDPD commented on whether a warrant was needed to enter Lis apartment, as they were not granted one at the time. No police report of the alleged prior threat by Li has been shown to the public.

About 40 minutes after Li had closed the door on Deputy Bunch and his gun, an entire team of sheriffs deputies arrived with additional units from the SDPD, accompanied by police dogs. According to the body camera footage, officers armed with less-lethal weapons like Tasers and bean-bag guns first entered the apartment after using a key, and announced themselves as members of the San Diego Sheriffs Department. In the video, Li is then heard yelling from behind her ajar bedroom door, still holding the knife. The deputy, whose body camera footage is being shown, has a bean-bag gun trained on Li.

At this point, there were more than seven officers with weapons in hand and a barking police dog crowded into the doorway of Lis apartment as officers first approached her in her bedroom. From the moment the officers entered the hallway to her bedroom, in less than 10 seconds, officers fired multiple bean-bag rounds, though none of the shots hit Li. Immediately, Li then rushed out of her bedroom wielding the knife above her head. The officer whose body camera footage is being shown ran out of the apartment and fell into the hallway along with a handful of other officers in a domino effect, leaving several officers still in the apartment and other units in the hall.

As the officers spilled over each other into the hallway, Li charged after them, continuing to raise the kitchen knife. One of the officers who had fallen to the ground kicked Li in the stomach, while four officers opened fire from all directions, at which point she collapsed to the floor and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The time between the moment officers entered Lis apartment, to her being shot and killed was approximately 30 seconds, according to the video footage. The incredible chaotic and disorganized scene that led to her tragic death should have never occurred.

As shown clearly in the heavily edited video provided by the SDPD, the more than a dozen involved officers, including the four that fired at Li resulting in her death, made no efforts toward de-escalation. They were completely ill-prepared for a situation involving a person experiencing an emotional crisis, displaying as well an obvious lack of skill or preference for non-lethal means. Lis death was avoidable at every turn.

Questions have been raised as to what legal right officers had to enter and apprehend Li at the presentation of her eviction noticeit is not a crime in California to hold a kitchen knife in your own home, or to ask an officer to prove their identity.

The killing of Li is yet another portrayal of heavily funded police departments that disregard de-escalation strategy, non-lethal tactical training, and crisis training, in favor of greater militarization. This is particularly true for the mentally ill, who have met a tragic fate at the hands of police in large numbers. Those experiencing a mental health crisis are some of the most vulnerable in society, and advocacy groups note that mental illness is a factor in roughly a quarter of all police killings.

American police are responsible for the deaths of more than three people per day according to the Washington Post s Fatal Force database, which reports that in the last year over 1,012 people have been killed by police. Out of the 162 people reported killed so far in 2022 by the Post, 19 were showing clear signs of mental illness.

While the population is told there is no money for social services or public education, police forces find an endless spigot for cash and military-grade weaponry. In 2021, San Diegos Democratic Mayor Todd Gloria pushed forth a $27 million increase for the citys police department, raising their funds to an even $600 million, after 11 years straight of increases. The citys police budget has increased by more than 50 percent since 2008, while the number of violent crimes in the county has remained steady at around 6,000 per year, according to the city government.

San Diego has a severe high cost of living that is driving evictions and pushing greater numbers into homelessness. This is true for a number of US cities and many of the urban areas throughout the state of California, where the Department of Housing and Community Development reports that almost 470,000 households have applied for rent relief. Meanwhile, only 40 percent have actually received roughly $2.2 billion worth of funding, meaning that a backlog of hundreds of thousands of households are still awaiting assistance and confront the immediate possibility of eviction.

The National Equity Atlas estimates that 721,000 California residents still owe roughly $3.3 billion worth of rent payment, and with no substantive federal relief in sight and no solutions from the state government, thousands of families will soon face homelessness.

Since the federal eviction moratorium was lifted at the end of 2021 and the final remnants of federal emergency rental assistance and other pandemic-related financial relief have started to run dry, the millions of Americans that were able to stay in their homes during the first year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic have been thrown yet again into uncertainty, facing an ever-present threat of eviction and homelessness.

The CARES Act stimulus payments and temporary measures like unemployment insurance already did little to keep low-income families and workers from severe strain during the pandemic, and now that even those bare minimum relief measures have expired or been exhausted, the US is on the brink of a historic wave of evictions. According to data collected by the Eviction Lab, associated with Princeton University, as soon as the CDCs eviction moratorium guidelines ended in the fall of 2021, eviction filings significantly increased in every city that they evaluated.

Low-income housing advocates across the US are warning that the situation will only worsen as families are already losing their homes at pre-pandemic rates in many major US cities, with no sign of slowing down. Meanwhile, more than 50 rental relief programs across 23 states, including Texas, Michigan, and California, have shut down their programs, either in an attempt to combine with state-run services in order to cope with the influx of applicants, or because they have simply run out of funding.

Between the rising cost of living, including significant price hikes in the cost of groceries and gas prices, and assistance programs and relief nearing total depletion, it can be reasonably expected that millions of American families will soon be on the brink of total financial collapse.

The same forces that have created this looming eviction crisis are the very same that are responsible for the police killing of Yan Li. Under capitalism in the richest state, home to 131 billionaires, there are zero rights to safe and affordable housing or other basic necessities such as food and utilities. Law enforcement officials are heavily armed with military-grade equipment and operate for the protection of property and the ruling elite. Between serving eviction notices and shooting down citizens in crisis, the police operate to serve and protect the interests of private property and profit against the working class and poor.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka are pleased to announce that American Trotskyist leader David North will address our online public meeting entitled Oppose USNATO war drive and the Russian invasion of Ukraine! The event will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, (Sri Lankan/Indian time) via Zoom and live-streamed on the partys Facebook page.

North, the chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and the SEP in the US, will review the economic, political and historical background to the war, outside of which the conflict cannot be understood. He will outline the socialist perspective the working class must fight for, to prevent a global nuclear catastrophe.

The US and its NATO allies have intensified their war drive against Russia, exploiting the Putin regimes invasion of Ukraine as the pretext and deploying thousands more troops to Eastern European countries near the Russian border. They have also armed the extreme right-wing government in Ukraine to the teeth.

These moves are the preparation for a full-scale military conflict against Russia, which could lead to World War III and the use of nuclear weapons, putting the lives of millions in danger.

After provoking the invasion, the US and European powers have created increasingly explosive conditions for its expansion with the imposition of severe sanctions that have thrown Russias financial system into turmoil.

The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) opposes the Russian military intervention in Ukraine because it divides the working class and advances the interests of a reactionary capitalist class. But it insists that the central responsibility for the war rests with Washington and its allies. US imperialism is seeking to reassert its global dominance against potential rivals by military means.

This is the driving force behind the numerous and unending series of wars launched by the US over the past 25 years including military interventions in Iraq, Somalia, Serbia, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. The current war drive against Russia has been accelerated by the immense and deepening economic, political and social crisis in the US intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration is attempting to channel internal tensions at home outward, through the medium of war.

The escalating conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated geopolitical tensions globally, including in South Asia. The Narendra Modi government in India is trying to walk a tightrope between New Delhis strategic partnership with Washington and its historic defence ties with Moscow. This balancing act is becoming increasingly impossible amid Washingtons demands that India line up with the USNATO war drive.

Although the Sri Lankan government has declared it takes no sides in the Ukraine war, it is also under heavy pressure to back the US provocations and, in particular, to break its relations with Beijing. None of these manoeuvres will prevent India, Sri Lanka and other countries from being dragged into the maelstrom of a nuclear war.

The only way to prevent the eruption of such a war is to build a global anti-war movement of the working class based on socialist internationalism. Only the ICFI and its sections have placed the fight for this global perspective at the centre of their political work.

The SEP/IYSSE online meeting on March 20 is in order to advance this struggle in Sri Lanka and in the South Asian region. We urge workers, students, youth, intellectuals and WSWS readers to participate in this crucial political event.

Register here for the meeting.
Last Friday, the Northern Territory (NT) Supreme Court in Darwin, after a five-week trial, found police officer Zachary Rolfe not guilty of all charges arising from the shooting death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker on November 9, 2019 in Yuendumu in central Australia.

Rolfe, 30, a former Australian Defence Force (ADF) soldier who had served in Afghanistan, was charged with murder, manslaughter and committing a violent act causing death while attempting to arrest Walker inside his grandmothers home in Yuendumu. The poverty-stricken remote community of about 800 people is located some 300 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs.

Kumanjayi Walker [Image credit: The Walker family]

Rolfe fired three bullets into Walkers body a few minutes after entering the house just after 7 p.m. The first shot was fired after Walker came at Rolfe with a small pair of surgical scissors, causing a minor flesh wound on his shoulder. He was charged over the second and third shots, which were fired at close range and ultimately killed Walker, with the prosecution arguing that they were unnecessary, unlawful and amounted to murder.

Rolfe was part of an Immediate Response Team (IRT) dispatched from Alice Springs to arrest Walker. The teenager, who was on a suspended sentence, absconded from an alcohol rehabilitation facility in Alice Springs on October 29, removed an electronic monitoring bracelet, and travelled to Yuendumu to attend a family members funeral.

On November 6, three days earlier, two Yuendumu police officers unsuccessfully attempted to arrest Walker inside the home of his girlfriends grandmother. He allegedly threatened the police with a tomahawk, before dropping it and escaping into the desert scrub.

Following the failed attempt to arrest Walker, Alice Springs Police Superintendent Jody Nobbs and Sergeant Julie Frost, the officer in charge of Yuendumu police, developed a plan to capture the teenager.

Two others in the four-member teamJames Kirstenfeldt and Adam Eberlwere also former ADF personnel. Rolfe revealed during the trial that he joined the army in 2010 and left five years later, after returning from Afghanistan. He then travelled to the US where he paid for five weeks of specialised weapons training with Arkansas-based Trojan Securities International.

These courses, Rolfe told the Supreme Court, were to upskill himself before applying to join the NT Police. On becoming a police officer, he attempted to become a member of the elite Territory Response Group, and in 2018 applied to join the ADFs Special Air Service.

Zachary Rolfe outside Supreme Court [Image credit: ABC-TV screenshot]

IRT members were directed on November 9 to conduct high-visibility policing in Yuendumu that evening and arrest Walker in an early morning raid the following day at 5 a.m.

In the days prior to the IMTs arrival, Derek Williams, a local Senior Aboriginal Community Police Officer, had convinced Walker to voluntarily hand himself into police. Williams was Walkers uncle and had arrested the troubled teenager on several previous occasions.

The IMT arrived at Yuendumu police station in the late afternoon and began patrolling the community after 6.45 p.m. They visited the house where the previous encounter with Walker had occurred and were told that the teenager was probably at another property.

Rolfe and Eberl immediately went to that house and confronted Walker. A scuffle ensued after they tried to handcuff him. Rolfe fired the first shot from his Glock pistol into Walkers lower back.

The next shot happened 2.6 seconds later, and the thirda split second after thatwhen Walker was already on the ground and effectively immobilised by Eberl, a martial arts expert.

One of the bullets passed through Walkers liver, spleen and kidney, blowing a hole in his right lung. The two shots, or double tap as it is brutally referred to by military and police officers, is designed to kill or fully incapacitate.

Police took Walker to Yuendumu police station where he bled to death at 8.30p.m. without receiving any emergency care by health professionals. The seriously under-resourced local health clinic was not open at the time, NT health authorities having ordered medical staff to leave the area a day before because of recent burglaries.

About 200 residents gathered outside the police station demanding two family members be allowed in to find out what was happening to the teenager.

The police refused and did not issue a press release confirming Walkers death until 6:53 the next morning. Meanwhile, 40 members of the Territory Response Group, armed with high-power rifles and other semi-automatic weapons, were flown into Yuendumu the next day to intimidate the distraught community.

Rolfe was charged three days later, granted bail on full pay, and allowed to return to his parents home in Canberra, a right rarely granted to Aborigines accused of even minor crimes (see video: Rolfe and other police officers discussing his injured shoulder in Yuendumu police station).

Prosecution witnesses testifying during the Supreme Court trial included Yuendumu residents, medical experts and senior police officers.

Rolfe declared during the trial that Walker had put his hand on his Glock pistol during the struggle. Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC rejected this claim, pointing out that this had not been mentioned to any other police officer in Yuendumu that evening, or vindicated by body camera footage of the incident.

Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Barram, a senior weapons and tactics instructor who examined the body-worn camera footage of the shooting and wrote four reports, identified six operational mistakes made by Rolfe and Eberl. He told the court that the fatal 2nd and 3rd shots fired by Rolfe were neither reasonable nor necessary.

Forensic pathologist Dr Maryanne Tiemensma, in a report for the director of public prosecutions, stated that the scissors Walker used against Rolfe were unlikely to cause a penetrating injury and that the teenager had been restrained almost immediately by Eberl who restricted his movements. I dont think in these circumstances, with these scissors, it couldve caused significantly penetrating injuries, she told the court.

Rolfe's shoulder wound [Image credit: Northern Territory Supreme Court]

Defence barrister David Edwardson QC denounced Barram as an armchair expert whose evidence was neither credible nor reliable.

Edwardson then focused on Walkers lengthy criminal record and the tomahawk incident, declaring that the teenager was the author of his own misfortune.

Victim-blaming denounced

Following the jurys not guilty verdict, shocked Yuendumu residents appealed once again for the removal of armed police from indigenous communities. Questions were raised about why there were only white people on the jury, given that almost 30 percent of NTs population is indigenous.

Samara Fernandez-Brown speaking outside Supreme Court in Darwin [Image credit: ABC-TV screenshot]

Addressing a crowd outside the court, Samara Fernandez-Brown, Walkers cousin, said the teenager had been depicted as a violent and dangerous individual throughout the trial. He has been criticised and picked apart by people who did not know him, they saw only his flaws and wished to put him on trial for his own death, she said.

Walpiri elder, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, called for police not to be armed Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said police had to put down their guns and preferably not have a military background. I dont want to see another young man or young girl be shot, he said. If youre gonna come to my communityput your guns down. We dont want guns in our community.

In November 2019, Kumanjayi Walker was the 420th Aboriginal person to have died in police custody since the Hawke Labor governments Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991. While the commissions recommendations were supposed to end the killings, the fatalities have continued unabated.

The total number of indigenous people who have died since the commission has since risen to 500. Not a single police officer has been successfully prosecuted over any of these deaths.

Responding to last Fridays verdict, the NT Police Association president Paul McCue publicly denounced NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker for the arrest and trial of Rolfe. McCue released a 14-page statement to the media early this week accusing Gunner of political interference and calling for an investigation into Rolfes arrest. Rolfes father called for the immediate removal of Chalker as police commissioner.

For its part, the Australian newspaper and all the Murdoch-owned state-based tabloids, along with right-wing radio shock-jocks, praised Rolfe, while demonising Walker and accusing him of being responsible for his own death.

This foul victim-blaming is a desperate attempt to divert attention from the government policies and social attacks that have produced this tragedy. Walkers cruel and painful death is an end-product of generational poverty, decades of escalating state repression of Aboriginal communities and deepening government social spending cuts.

Born in October 2000 into extreme poverty and suffering constant social dislocation, Walker was raised at different times by his mothers friend Leanne Oldfield and her partner, and his biological mothers and fathers relatives. He lived variously at an Alice Springs town camp, Yuendumu and in Adelaide during his short life.

Housing in Alice Springs town camp [Image credit: John Hulme]

Walkers biological mother was a heavy drinker and the child had fetal alcohol syndrome, which can be associated with lifelong neurological impairments including impulsiveness, hyperactivity and poor judgment.

By September 2002, the infant was suffering from ear and chest infections, nits and scabies. Aged 11, he began petrol sniffing and other substance abuse, and was involved in several petty crimes. Health authorities said his cognitive functions were limited, with poor impulse control and inability to control his emotions as a result of prolonged exposure to domestic violence.

At the age of 13, Walker was essentially homeless, drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis regularly, while still involved in petrol sniffing. Over the next six years he had numerous brushes with the law and prosecutions over burglaries, vandalism, stealing cars and assaults.

Walker and other indigenous youth of his generation in the Northern Territory are the victims of a sustained anti-democratic social assaultfirst by the Howard federal Liberal-National Coalition governments Intervention in 2007 and then the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments Stronger Futures measures. These programs, purportedly to address domestic violence and protect children in Aboriginal communities, destroyed thousands of jobs, worsened the soul-destroying poverty and imposed wide-ranging and repressive social control laws.

In Yuendumu, where, according to recent figures, 52 percent of the working-age population is unemployed, residents suffer substandard and overcrowded housing, poorly-resourced schools, and inadequate social facilities.

Children playing at a remote homeland settlement near Alice Springs [Image credit: John Hulme]

Indigenous children, as the most defenceless members of the oppressed section of the working class, have suffered the most in these horrendous conditions and under the impact of some of the most repressive laws in the world.

In Australia, the age of criminal responsibility is just 10 years, one of the lowest in the world. As Amnesty International states, Australian police have the power to arrest, strip-search and imprison children in years 3 or 4 at primary school.

According to recent data, indigenous children are locked up at 17 times the rate of non-indigenous children, despite making up just 6 percent of the Australian population aged 1017. Of all children under 14 imprisoned between 20172021, 65 percent were indigenous and 68 percent had not even been convicted of any crime.

These horrendous figures will worsen under new bail laws passed last year by the NT Labor government. Children accused of reoffending or committing serious breaches while on bail in the NT will be automatically placed on remand. Police can also immediately place electronic monitoring on alleged offenders, and breath test children, without an adult guardian present.

In addition, there is no longer any presumption in favour of bail if a young person is arrested for unlawful entry, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, or assaulting police. As NT Chief Minister Gunner declared last year when announcing these reactionary laws, bail is a privilege, not a right.

These measures, and the desperate and worsening poverty afflicting indigenous communities and other oppressed sections of the working class, guarantee that Kumanjayi Walkers tragic death will be followed by those of other youth of his generation.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Wabash River from Lafayette to Montezuma. White River at Elliston and Edwardsport. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days is bringing minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions of the Wabash River. Additional rainfall Thursday evening through Friday evening should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through the weekend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...Until Tuesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:45 PM EDT Wednesday the stage was 13.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tomorrow evening to a crest of 18.0 feet Saturday evening. It will then fall below flood stage early Tuesday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
President Joe Biden will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday morning to try and enlist Chinas support in mitigating the worsening humanitarian crisis sparked by Russian President Vladimir Putins Ukraine invasion.

The call  likely brokered in national security adviser Jake Sullivans one-on-one in Rome on Monday with Chinas top diplomat, Yang Jiechi  occurs amid intensifying verbal sparring over Beijings failure to condemn Russian aggression and parroting of Moscows invasion narrative.

Biden and Xi seeded a modicum of goodwill with a virtual meeting in November. But Washington has been angry with Beijing's neutral position over Ukraine and has threatened punitive economic sanctions if China provides assistance requested by Putin.

The call is a potential watershed moment in the U.S.-China relationship.



It will test Bidens ability to leverage his relationship with Xi to overcome Beijings position of passive complicity with Moscow and extract commitments that China instead pressure the Kremlin to seek an end to Russias slaughter in Ukraine.





I think Jake Sullivan [in his meeting with Yang] laid out the negative consequences for China of any aid to Russia, so now it's time for Biden to build on his personal relationship with Xi to emphasize the upside potential of cooperating at this critical moment in world history, to appeal to his statesman side, and suggest that this might be a really good way to get [bilateral] relations back on constructive footing, said Susan Shirk, a China expert and former deputy assistant Secretary of State. A realistic expectation is that Xi commits not to tangibly assist Russia in terms of evading financial sanctions and military aid."

The U.S. and China have deadlocked over Beijings refusal to use its influence on Putin to curb the war in Ukraine. China is Russias largest trading partner: Bilateral trade soared 36 percent in 2021 to a record $147 billion and it has recently committed to massive purchases of Russian wheat and coal.

Story continues

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken channeled the Biden administration's frustration in a Thursday press briefing.

"We believe China in particular has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support," Blinken said. "Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter  and were concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine."

Diplomatic sources said that Blinken's bluntness reflects impatience, not posturing.

"The Biden team is completely fed-up with Beijing [but] they don't want to close the door to diplomacy in order to deliver a strong warning signal and to show allies, partners and 'neutral' countries that the U.S. is trying its best to persuade China till the last minute," a D.C.-based diplomat told POLITICO. "If Beijing changes its course after the Biden-Xi call, it's a good thing for the world. If not, it will be easier for the U.S. to ask other countries to join the U.S.-led pressure campaign against China."

The Chinese government continues to mouth empty platitudes, rather than take action that might make Putin rethink his decision.

On the Ukraine issue, China has been making positive efforts to deescalate the situation as we are committed to promoting peace talks and proposing our initiative to resolve the current crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Thursday. Zhao spiked that line by adding that criticism of China's position on the invasion was hypocritical and possibly racist.

The Biden administration has been incensed by indications that Russia has requested Beijings material assistance in the Ukraine war effort through provision of unspecified economic and military aid.

A senior U.S. official said the Chinese government had responded to that request, but there are no details as to the nature of that response. Russia denies that allegation and China has dismissed it as disinformation, while refusing to categorically state that it wont provide such assistance.

The White House has responded by threatening Beijing with sanctions if it accedes to Russias request.



China has replied with defiance. China is not a party directly involved in the crisis, and it doesnt want to be affected by sanctions even more. China has the right to safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno on Monday.

Bidens challenge will be to convey to Xi that improvement in bilateral relations hinges on him ending Chinas spectator status to the conflict by cutting supply lines to Russia and pressuring Putin to take steps to stop the fighting.

China is trying to straddle three competing policy priorities  its longstanding foreign policy commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity; its interdependent if complicated relationships, including on trade, with Europe and the U.S.; and its newly vaunted partnership with Russia, said Daniel Baer, U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from 2013 to 2017 and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Biden can be direct and clear with the Chinese leader  first, and most importantly, that any substantial action by China to undermine the sanctions that the United States and its allies have put on Russia will have a negative impact on the U.S.-China relationship, Baer added. And second, that the U.S. will work with our partners and allies in the region and in Europe to internationalize any response to Chinese efforts to undermine the international community's response to Russian aggression.

Biden will be under intense GOP scrutiny to demonstrate that his meeting with Xi leads to perceptible change in Chinese messaging and policy, rather than vague assertions of bilateral consensus on cooperation, peace and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

The President should seek a firm commitment that Xi will pressure Putin to bring a swift end to the invasion and that China will stop spouting Russian propaganda about biolabs and NATO responsibility, said Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) in a statement. If Biden can get Xi to even call Russias illegal campaign an invasion, which is what it is, that would be a start.

But Chinas desire to stay neutral makes that a hard ask.

Beijing dropped diplomatic ambiguity about its position by promoting Russias narrative, saying that the U.S. was responsible for the crisis. It also announced trade support to help Russia withstand sanctions.

I don't know how much the U.S. can get out of China because China is not going to oppose or abandon Russia, said Yun Sun, China program director at the Stimson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. China has already made the determination that no matter how this war turns out, the U.S. will see China as a long-term enemy, so the logic for China is that helping the U.S. on Russia does China a disservice.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are determined that administration efforts to win Chinas support in stymieing Putins war plans not come at the cost of any transactional diplomacy that undercuts U.S. support for Taiwan.

There are indications that China sees an opportunity to do precisely that. The Chinese Foreign Ministrys 669-word readout of the Sullivan-Yang meeting devoted only three words to the Ukraine issue but larded in 332 words outlining Chinese concerns about the U.S. position on Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.

As Russia invades Ukraine, we know China is eyeing Taiwan, including reports of leaked Russian intelligence claiming Xi intended to invade Taiwan this fall. President Biden must be clear in promising a strong response if China helps Russia evade sanctions or moves aggressively on Taiwan. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) said in a statement. The message should be that the U.S. will help our friends in need and not hesitate in imposing harsh consequences for aggression.

Observers warn that any assurances Xi provides Biden regarding adjustments to Chinas diplomatic, trade and military relationship with Russia are fraught with the potential for misinterpretation or outright mendacity.

China will say: Were not providing economic assistance to Russia, were conducting trade with Russia in the normal way based on the agreements we signed before the invasion, said Sun. The Chinese will also say [to the U.S.] that if you want to sanction Chinese energy companies for importing Russian energy, you will need to sanction your European allies as well.

Despite those challenges, Fridays meeting gives Biden an opportunity to directly convey to Xi the importance of China assisting the U.S. in opposing Putins aggression  and the risks that Xi runs if he fails to do so.

As the worlds leading powers, the United States and China each have a responsibility to defend the foundations of the international order from Vladimir Putins attacks. Xi Jinping has a choice to make about whether he will stand up for the principles of sovereignty and peace or join Putin in tearing down those principles, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said in a statement.

President Biden should make clear that Xis vision of a great national rejuvenation will be in peril if China were to divert from the global consensus and support Russia.
China has accused Taiwan of using Ukraine for its own political advantage as the self-governed island delivers a new round of aid for refugees this week.



After an initial donation of $3.5 million, Taiwan is sending another $11.5 million to help displaced Ukrainians, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. Earlier this month, President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai and Premier Su Tseng-chang each pledged a months salary to donate to Ukrainian refugees.



Alongside government aid, the Taiwanese people have already donated critical supplies and more than $21.2 million to Ukraine, Tsai tweeted on Tuesday. They have also held protests in a show of solidarity.





Taiwan Stands with Ukraine March in Taipei now. pic.twitter.com/GUGK9VZYsL

 Taiwan News (@TaiwanNews886) March 13, 2022







China, on the other hand, pledged to donate $784,000 to Ukraine last week  the East Asian countrys first publicly announced form of aid since Russias invasion on Feb. 24. However, Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow for its actions and has yet to label the crisis as an invasion.



At a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), criticized Taiwan for sending aid to Ukraine and imposing economic sanctions against Russia.



The Democratic Progressive Party authorities are using the Ukraine issue to validate their existence and piggyback on a hot issue, taking advantage of others difficulties, Zhu told reporters. Their attempts to incite confrontation and create hostility through political manipulation will not succeed.









Taiwan first announced its intention to join democratic countries in imposing sanctions against Russia on Feb. 25. Aside from strictly reviewing exports to Moscow  which amounted to $1.3 billion in 2021, or 0.76% of outbound sales  it is not clear exactly how Taipei plans to impact the Russian economy.



On Monday, China said Taiwan has only itself to blame if Russia imposes its own sanctions against the island. Taipei receives coal, petroleum, aluminum, iron and non-alloy steel semi-finished products from Moscow, but those imports reportedly account for less than 1% of the islands total foreign trade.



As to why Taiwan is on the list, the answer is clear to all. If Taiwan is sanctioned, it has only itself to blame, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said of the island, which made the Kremlins list of unfriendly countries and territories last week.



Taiwan has yet to respond to Chinas latest allegation. Meanwhile, Russia has yet to impose sanctions on the island, and Russian forces have continued attacks on Ukrainian cities. On Wednesday, one resident was killed and three were injured by rocket debris in Kyiv, while hundreds reportedly fled a theater in Mariupol after it was bombed.







Featured Image via CCTV Video News Agency (left), Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (right)





Story continues

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Rhonda Pattelena with her and Jeffrey Buchannan's 2-year-old son, Jaxson.

YORK, Maine  Almost a year after Rhonda Pattelena died on the sandy shores of what has been described as her favorite place in the world, York Beach, her former boyfriend, Jeffrey Buchannan, will be asked to enter a plea on a charge for her murder.

Buchannan was 33 when he was arrested and accused of fatally beating Pattelena, the mother of his 2-year-old son, behind a large rock at Short Sands Beach. She was 35 years old.

Buchannan will appear for his arraignment held via video conference Monday, March 21 at 8:30 a.m. at York County Superior Court in Alfred.

Jeffrey Buchannan sits at the York County Jail for a court appearance Tuesday, March 30, 2021, via videoconference. He faces a murder charge for allegedly killing Rhonda Pattelena, 35, the mother of his son.

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A horrific public outburst of violence

An autopsy completed by the Maine medical examiner determined Pattelena's death was a homicide caused by blunt force injury to the head, according to the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit.

Since his arrest March 26 last year, Buchannan has been held without bail at the York County Jail, and has not been arraigned or entered into a formal plea deal, Marc Malon, former spokesperson for the Maine Attorney General's Office, said late last year.

In York: Mount Agamenticus parking, facility upgrades approved. Fees to be added, too.

Buchannan and Pattelena are both from Bedford, Massachusetts and were in York that day so Pattalena could show Buchannan her favorite beach, according to her family. Buchannan was indicted April 8, about a week after multiple witnesses called 911 to report a horrific public outburst of violence.

A memorial with flowers, pictured here on Friday, April 2, 2021, has grown in recent days as mourners remember Rhonda Pattelena, 35, of Bedford, Massachusetts, who police said was killed March 26 at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine.

Pattelena's family have said they've coped the best they can since the 35-year-old mother of three died at Short Sands Beach, and have anxiously awaited progress in the prosecution of the man charged with her murder.

Cause of delay

Rhonda Pattalena's younger sister, Jessica Pattelena, has said the ongoing delay for an arraignment has been a source of frustration.

The delay for a court-ordered mental health evaluation and court date was caused by a backlog in criminal cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone involved in the case needed the evaluation to be completed prior to arraignment, Malon said at the time.

Story continues

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Buchannan's defense attorney, Jon C. Gale, said late last year that all criminal cases in Maine are running "horribly behind schedule" these days. Even under normal circumstances, cases involving murder allegations may not move as quickly as one might expect, he added.

Gale was notified of the arraignment court date on Feb. 24, according to York County Court records.

Nicole Sacre, current spokesperson for the state attorney general's office, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Gale said late last year his client's evaluation by state forensics had made progress, and that an evaluation of Buchannan's competency had not yet been completed, which is necessary in order for a defendant to be arraigned.

Gale did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

A memorial picnic table was placed Nov. 16, 2021, on Long Sands Beach in York, Maine, in remembrance of Rhonda Pattelena of Bedford, Massachusetts. Pattelena, 35, was slain March 26, 2021, at Short Sands Beach in what authorities are calling a case of domestic violence. Her boyfriend, Jeffrey Buchannan, 33, is charged with her murder.

If you need help

Seacoast Media Group provides the following information as a public service with no judgment of guilt or innocence in the case described above: Caring Unlimited, based in Sanford, Maine, offers individualized safety planning services to anyone impacted by domestic abuse, supporting thousands throughout York County each year with free programs. The Caring Unlimited hotline is available 24 hours per day: 1-800-239-7298. See information at caring-unlimited.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Jeffrey Buchannan to plea in murder of Rhonda Pattelena at York Beach




The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Saudi Arabia invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Riyadh in an effort to strengthen ties with Beijing.

The invitation to Riyadh comes as Saudi Arabia's relations with the U.S. have been strained, according to the Journal.

The trip, which would mark Xi's first foreign visit since the COVID-19 pandemic started, is set to take place after Ramadan, which begins in April, the newspaper reported.

"The crown prince and Xi are close friends and both understand that there is huge potential for stronger ties," a Saudi official said, according to the Journal. "It is not just 'They buy oil from us and we buy weapons from them'."

Xi's potential visit would offer a stark contrast to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his relationship with President Biden, who pledged during the 2020 election to treat the kingdom like a "pariah" state.

Most recently, Prince Mohammed has refused to speak with Biden in recent weeks over efforts to subdue spiking oil prices during Russia's invasion, the Journal reported.

Throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Saudi Arabia has rejected requests from the U.S. to pump more oil to tamper surging crude prices.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also stayed out to a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Moscow's attack on Ukraine.
An American man killed in a Russian attack in northern Ukraine was trying to find food for his sick partner, his family members told media outlets as they mourned the loss of one of the first U.S. citizens to die in the invasion.

Jimmy Hill was killed in Chernihiv, Ukraine, while searching for food for his partner, said his sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, in a Facebook post.

Months before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Jimmy Hill traveled there to be with his Ukrainian partner, Ira, who has multiple sclerosis, Hill's sister, Katya Hill, told CNN.

His family members pleaded with him to flee the country, but he was determined to stay.

"He was not going to leave Ira's side in her condition," Katya Hill said.

LATEST UPDATES: Jimmy Hill, American killed in Ukraine, was 'true to his love' and stayed with sick partner

Gordon told the Washington Post that her brother and his partner traveled four hours to Chernihiv Regional Hospital for treatment after she came down with pneumonia.

Throughout the month, Jimmy Hill's Facebook posts chronicled the harrowing conditions he faced in Chernihiv amid fires, explosions and air raid sirens. The posts also documented Ira's condition and his own feeling of helplessness as the two faced hunger and cold temperatures.

In his final post Tuesday, Hill wrote "Intense bombing! still alive. Limited food. Room very cold. Ira in intensive care."

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Katya Hill told CNN her brother was trying to find food for himself, Ira and other patients at the hospital when died.

"My brother was the helper that people find in a crisis," she said.

Hill grew up in Minnesota and lived in several other states as an adult. He identified himself as a lecturer at universities in Kyiv and Warsaw, Poland.

He was also an Airbnb host who loved to travel, splitting his time between his family in the U.S. and his life in Ukraine, Gordon told the Washington Post.

Story continues

Katya Hill told CNN that the family has been unable to reach Ira's mother and that they do not know where her brother's body is.

"The hardest thing that we're going to have to go through is not having that kind of closure," she said.

USA TODAY has reached out to Katya Hill for comment.

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Hill was at least the second U.S. citizen to be killed in the conflict in Ukraine. The first reported American death was the killing of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week.

Local governor Viacheslav Chau told Ukrainian TV on Thursday that at least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours who were killed during heavy air attacks and ground fire in Chernihiv.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine casualties: American Jimmy Hill killed in Chernihiv
Rafael Nadal survived an early break and saved two third-set break points Thursday to advance to his 11th semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open.

Nadals 7-6(0), 5-7, 6-4 win over Nick Kyrgios on Stadium Court puts the Spanish tennis star into a matchup on Saturday with the winner of Thursdays late match between Spains Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Cam Norrie of Great Britain.

Nadal is now 19-0 in 2022, which is the best start to a season of his legendary career. Only Novak Djokovic has had a longer unbeaten streak to start a season since 1990.

"It was a good tennis match, I think," Nadal said. "I'm happy to win, of course. Being in the semifinals is great news for me again."

The match had an ugly ending, though, as Kyrgios, who had been jawing with the umpire throughout the match, asking him to control the crowd better, whipped his racket into the ground and it hit the back wall a few feet from a ducking ball kid.

The ending marred what was a highly entertaining match.

Rafael Nadal of Spain smiles to fans after defeating Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., Thursday, March 17, 2022.

"That's what you dream about as a little kid, to play these events against Nadal and the hype around it," Kyrgios said. "I don't see any other matches getting this kind of hype. As soon as we matched up against each other, social media's going nuts, this is going nuts, this is going nuts. I think it lived up to it.

"It was an amazing atmosphere."

More: BNP Paribas Open: Nick Kyrgios smashes racket, throws another in loss to Rafael Nadal

It appeared early that Kyrgios would be the one to break the streak. As he had throughout this tournament, Kyrgios played some of his best tennis at the start of the match. He went up a break on Nadal early and seemed to thrive off the high-energy atmosphere inside the mostly full 16,100-seat stadium.

The Australian tennis star who entered the draw as a wild card, was the lowest-ranked player (132) to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals since Croatias Ivo Karlovic in 2011. Kyrgios has a history with Nadal, beating then-No. 1 Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014 as a 19-year-old wild card ranked 144th. Kyrgios also defeated Nadal at 2017 Cincinnati and 2019 Acapulco.

Story continues

After beating 32nd-seed Federico Delbonis, eighth-seed Casper Ruud and getting a walkover against 10th-seed Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells, Kyrgios held serve early against Nadal. His forehand was clocked at 109 mph, which is among the highest this year on the World Tour.

Through the first nine games, it was Kyrgios, not Nadal, who was patient and aggressive. He teed off on his serves, forcing Nadal far back behind the baseline, and caught the 21-time Grand Slam champion on a few underhand aces.

Then he faced a break point. Kyrgios had won all nine of the break points he had faced at this tournament, but Nadal was determined to chase down every ball and it paid off. He broke Kyrgios to get back into the match at 5-5 and served to go up 6-5.

Nick Kyrigios of Australia reacts during his loss to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Kyrgios slammed his racket down on the court in frustration. He continued playing with the racket, but before forcing a tiebreak in the next game he smashed it onto the court. Chair umpire Carlos Ramos issued Kyrgios a warning for a code violation. The next one would cost him a point.

In the tiebreak, Nadal won the first four points before firing off a 120 mph ace to make it 5-0. He then scored again to make it 6-0 and won the set when Ramos hit Kyrgios with a code violation for an audible obscenity, costing him a point, which would up being the final point of the set. It was Nadals fourth win in four tiebreaks at this event.

After winning the second set, Kyrgios held serve to start the third set and nearly went up a break in the second game. But Nadal, as he has so many times before, saved two break points to win the game and hold serve. He punched the air in celebration.

"I was ready to keep fighting," Nadal said. "So happy with the victory and of course happy with the level of the set."

Nick Kyrgios of Australia picks up a broken racket after throwing it down on the court in frustration while playing his first set against Rafael Nadal of Spain during the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Nadal then went up a break on Kyrgios, who was jawing back and forth with actor Ben Stiller, who was sitting courtside. At the urging of Kyrgios, Ramos made an announcement to the crowd to be respectful of the players and remain quiet.

The damage was already done, though. After Kyrgios held serve, Nadal closed it out at love with a perfect service game.

"That one hit pretty hard," Kyrgios said. "I felt like, honestly, I was the one to end the streak. I felt like I was playing well. I felt like I did everything right in the first set that I planned to do. I sat down with my coach, myself, and I had a game plan, and everything was working. Two points away from the first set, I don't know how he got out of that game. 5-4, 30-15, just kept replaying that point over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

"And competing, competing, somehow snagged the second and a couple points in the third that just, a couple break points. One of them I couldn't do anything on and two, I just missed a backhand by who knows, three inches. That's all it is against Rafa all the time."

"So he's too good, I guess. He played a few points well and he got out of it and that's what he does. That's what makes him great."

Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA Today Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com and find him on Twitter at @Andrew_L_John.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: Rafael Nadal edges Nick Kyrgios to earn semifinal spot in Indian Wells
Brittney Griner

Gregory Shamus/Getty

Brittney Griner "is okay" amid her detention in Russia, a person close to the situation tells PEOPLE.

The 31-year-old WNBA star, who was arrested in February on drug charges, has been meeting with her Russian legal team "multiple times a week over the entire course of her detention," according to the source. Other outlets have similarly reported that Griner has been seen by her lawyers.

During a hearing on Thursday, Griner's legal team challenged the athlete's detention and requested she be transferred to house arrest, the source tells PEOPLE.

The appeal was denied, something the insider said "was not unexpected." Now, Griner and her legal team reportedly await the end of the investigation.

On Thursday, a Russian court ordered Griner be detained for an additional two months as the investigation into her case continues.

Brittney Griner

Christian Petersen/Getty

The source confirmed to PEOPLE that Griner will remain in custody during the investigation. Should it not conclude by the May 19 extension, the next hearing will determine "how much longer the court needs to extend" Griner's detainment.

RELATED: Members of Congress Working with State Department to Secure Release of Brittney Griner in Russia

"Once it has concluded, a trial date will be set," the source tells PEOPLE. "Until then, the court extends detention by periods of time."

The Russia Federal Customs Service announced Griner's detention on March 5, weeks after Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) said she was actually arrested on Feb. 17, according to ESPN. Griner was allegedly taken into custody at the Sheremetyevo International Airport.

CNN previously reported that Russian officials have said Griner could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for her charges.

Brittney Griner #15 of Team United States during team warm up before the France V USA Preliminary Round Group B Basketball Women match at the Saitama Super Arena during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 2, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty

Ekaterina Kalugina, described by Russian state news agency TASS as a member of the Moscow human rights group Public Monitoring Commission, said she has also visited Griner at her pre-trial detention center and claimed the athlete did not complain about her detention conditions.

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Kalugina also suggested that the U.S. consul has yet to visit the athlete, CNN reported. Allred, 38, told ESPN last week that Griner had not been granted consular access, which he said was "really unusual."

Allred noted that negotiations for Griner's freedom are "happening in the context of really strained relations" amid the Russian attack on Ukraine, per ESPN.

RELATED: Brittney Griner's Wife Says 'I'm Hurting, We're Hurting' After Athlete's Arrest in Russia

"The Russian criminal justice system is very different than ours, very opaque," he later added. "We don't have a lot of insight into where she is in that process right now. But she's been held for three weeks now, and that's extremely concerning."

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury poses for a portrait during the WNBA Media Day on May 6, 2021, at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Brittney Griner

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is also working to help bring Griner back to the United States. During a March 6 press conference, the 72-year-old Texas Democrat shared her concern for Griner, citing "how dangerous it is right now in Moscow" amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and conditions "in Moscow prisons" in general.

"It is no place for her," Lee said. She later added that her main concern is "to be helpful to ensure that while she is there, she can be appropriately cared for."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

The WNBA is offering its support as well. On Tuesday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told PEOPLE that the league has been coordinating with the Phoenix Mercury, "her agent, authorities, administration, strategist experts ... to find the best way to get her home the quickest."

"Our number-one priority is to get Brittney home safely as quickly as we can," said Engelbert, 58, at the time.

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.
Mar. 18JAFFREY  A community effort is underway in Jaffrey to collect goods for people in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

In partnership with NuDay, the grassroots effort will be collecting a variety of items, according to a news release from Marc Tieger, who is helping organize it. Based in New Hampshire, NuDay is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to empower women and children affected by humanitarian crises. Additional information is available at www.nudaysyria.org, the N.H. Secretary of State's website and at www.guidestar.org.

Through Thursday, March 24, donations will be accepted at the former Family Dollar location in the Monadnock Plaza at 80 Peterborough St., from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The release asks people not to leave donations outside and says there's no need to box them.

On Friday, March 25, the donated items will be taken to Derry before being shipped to Poland, according to the release, which says volunteers will be needed to help with tasks such as loading.

Items needed include baby car seats; backpacks; batteries; cribs; diapers; menstrual pads, tampons and cups; generators (3 to 5 kW); hygiene items; playpens; solar chargers and lamps; strollers; tents; and toys.

Donations can also include medical items, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol); antiseptics; antibiotic creams; adult diapers; bandages; beds for children with special needs; bed rails; cotton swabs; crutches; canes; gloves; hospital beds; ibuprofen; masks; medical scissors; multi-trauma dressing; and trauma kits.

A flyer accompanying the release also suggests blankets; sleeping bags; new pillows; clothing, including hats, coats and mittens; and hand sanitizer.

Any clothing should be clean and free of rips and stains, personal items should be new and unopened, and medical supplies not expired. Food or glass will not be accepted.

Also accepted will be checks to NuDay to help with shipping costs; people can donate to NuDay by credit card on the organization's website, according to the news release.

Anyone with questions can contact Marc Tieger at 603-532-8765.
Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa A. Schiffel

The Delaware County prosecutor says she intends to oppose any bond for a Columbus man charged with attempted aggravated murder for shooting at occupied vehicles March 11 on Interstate 71, hitting three plus a police cruiser

Jonathon Myers, 21, of the city's Northland neighborhood, had his first court appearance Tuesday via video from the Delaware County jail. He was transported there after his release from OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he was taken for treatment of gunshot injuries after exchanging gunfire with police.

I-71 shooting VIDEO : Columbus police release dashcam video of man firing at officers, 911 calls

Columbus police and the Ohio Highway Patrol said Myers crashed a 2014 Ford Fusion into a cable median off the left or west side of northbound I-71 around mile marker 123, north of the Edward Powell Road overpass and the Gemini Place / IKEA Way interchange in the portion of the city of Columbus in Delaware County. Myers is accused of then getting out of the vehicle, running back and forth across I-71, arguing with a female passenger who also got out of the car, and firing shots at passing motorists on the interstate.

Columbus officers in I-71 shooting identified, more details released

Delaware County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Alexis Hartman presided over Myers' initial appearance, scheduling another hearing for Monday at 2:30 p.m. with Judge David M. Gormley to determine what his bond should be.

Warrants on Jonathon Myers, the suspect in the I-75 shooting case

Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa A. Schiffel has filed a motion to deny Myers' bond.

"There are five pending warrants on him in Franklin County," Schiffel said. "He posted bond in those matters ... and then he failed to appear in court."

Records show those five Franklin County Common Pleas Court warrants include:

Felony charges of possession of cocaine, possession of fentanyl and receiving stolen property from an offense on Nov. 12, 2019.

A felony charge of failure to comply, fleeing and eluding, on Dec. 12, 2019.

A felony charge of harassment with a bodily substance on April 30, 2020.

Felony charges of illegal manufacture of drugs (fentanyl), trafficking in fentanyl (two counts), possession and trafficking of cocaine, and receiving stolen property involving a stolen gun on Sept. 24, 2020.

A 28-count indictment with multiple charges of trafficking in fentanyl and possession of a weapon while a convicted felon (weapons under disability) on Nov. 11, 2020. The trafficking charges come with a major drug offender specification that, if convicted, would carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 11 years each.

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In addition, there is a warrant in Franklin County Municipal Court for Myers' arrest for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. He was also arrested for domestic violence in 2020, but that case was dismissed, records indicate.

"I don't know that he's likely to come back to court (if released on bond)," Schiffel said. "And I need to make sure my community is kept safe by requesting that he be held without bond."

Magistrate Hartman also set a preliminary hearing for Myers at 3 p.m. on March 25.

Ohio is seeing more homicides and suicides, and guns are more often involved, report says

Altogether, Myers is accused of hitting three vehicles on the interstate with gunfire plus a Columbus police cruiser before officers shot him.

One of the three vehicles struck carried two student members of the Madison High School wrestling team and two coaches who were traveling to Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center for the state wrestling competition. A UPS truck was also struck along with another vehicle.

Myers's case will also "very soon" be presented to a grand jury which may consider evidence to warrant additional charges, said Schiffel, who did not speculate what those charges might be.

Schiffel and attorney Christopher Junga, Myers' public defender, both told Hartman that Myers was expected to change attorneys.

Myers answered only "Yes maam," to Hartman's questions and appeared by duck below his camera so that only the top half of his face was visible in the courtroom.

This is the latest incident of gun violence Schiffel has had to prosecute, including two shootings inside Polaris Fashion Place and one nearby. Schiffel said that all of it is being handled aggressively whether the offenders live in Delaware County or elsewhere.

Our Polaris shootings coverage:

One of two Columbus men accused in one of two Polaris shootings is convicted, faces up to 14 years

Polaris gunman sentenced to 13 years for shooting inside Delaware County mall

Final Polaris Fashion Place shooter is sentenced to 11 years for 2019 incident

Columbus man gets 11-to-13-year sentence for Polaris Fashion Place shootout in March

'I'm very, very anxious.' Shooting at Polaris reported for second time in two weeks

Some in Polaris mall during shooting couldn't reach 911

"Regardless of where you're from, if you come into Delaware County and you shoot at law enforcement or you shoot in a public area like the mall, we're going to hold you fully accountable for your reckless behavior," she said.

Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this report.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Delaware County prosecutor opposes bond for accused I-71 shooter
Here come the crowds! You knew it would happen sooner or later: Everyone will try to go on vacation this spring and summer, if the predictions are accurate. At the same time.

Can you stay away from the mass of humanity that's on the move?

"Avoiding the crowds might feel impossible," says Henley Vazquez, co-founder of Fora, a travel agency. "But even in the most popular areas, there are ways to be close to everything without being in the middle of the crowds."

One of her favorite tips is narrowly avoiding a popular destination during peak travel times. "For example, if you're heading to Italy's Amalfi Coast, try Praiano instead of Positano," she says. They're just a 15-minute drive apart. Praiano is quiet and charming, like Positano would be if it were not overrun by Americans.

So what else do the pros say? If you make small changes to when and where you go, you can avoid a crush of camera-toting tourists. But you have to act soon, experts say.

TRY OUR TRAVEL NEWSLETTER: Get the latest headlines in your inbox daily

Travel outside the season if you can

"Avoiding the crowds might feel impossible," says Henley Vazquez, co-founder of Fora, a travel agency. "But even in the most popular areas, there are ways to be close to everything without being in the middle of the crowds."

To find an uncrowded place, skip the peak season and shoulder season. It'll be full, experts predict.

"Increased work flexibility and the desire to avoid peak season, even at higher prices, has led to the end of shoulder season," says Scott Shatford, CEO of AirDNA. "The extended summer is here to stay."

Instead, plan your vacation during the off-season. For example, late November and early December are terrific times to visit Portugal. The hotels in the country's Alentejo region are practically empty. If you can make it to the Azores, the island chain in the middle of the Atlantic, you'll find only a few other guests during the off-season. But the locals will tell you to avoid summer.

SEATED NEXT TO AN UNRULY PASSENGER? How to (safely) handle the situation

Avoid crowded accommodations

Traditional hotels overfill quickly during high season. There's no worse way to start your vacation than to stand in a long line at an overbooked hotel with your kids asking you when they can eat. There's a better way.

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"To avoid crowds and achieve more privacy and peace of mind  especially amid new COVID-19 variants  consider booking a vacation rental rather than a traditional hotel," says Lauren Gumport, a spokeswoman for Guesty, a vacation rental platform. "Not only do they enable you to avoid crowded common areas, like lobbies and elevators, they also provide more comfortable amenities for traveler groups like families  from full kitchens to outdoor space to bigger closets."

Unlike past years, there should be no shortage of rentals in 2022. Guesty says the number of U.S. vacation rental hosts has grown by 27% since the onset of the pandemic in 2019.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL HACKS: When to book flights and hotels, more

Get off the beach

"Increased work flexibility and the desire to avoid peak season, even at higher prices, has led to the end of shoulder season," says Scott Shatford, CEO of AirDNA. "The extended summer is here to stay."

They're notoriously crowded for spring break and summer. Even if you get your own boat  which can be expensive  people are staying away from the overcrowded ports. GetMyBoat, a company that handles private boat rentals and charters, says more of its customers are heading to lesser-known destinations in their watercraft.

"We're also seeing a lot of boat bookings in smaller towns and locations outside of the main tourist spots, indicating that travelers might be opting to travel off the beaten path a bit," says GetMyBoat spokeswoman Val Streif.

For example, instead of heading to Miami, people are renting in nearby Key Largo, she says. As a former Conch myself, I can say that's an excellent choice. Key Largo has some of the best boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, and seafood restaurants on this side of the Atlantic. Insider tip: Avoid lobster "mini-season" at the end of July. My favorite time of the year in the Keys is late September.

MEXICO TRAVEL: The best cities to visit once you tire of the beach

Timing is everything

If you've ever lived at a popular tourism destination, then you've had a chance to watch the ebb and flow of visitors. And you know there are times when it unexpectedly gets quiet. I remember the week before Thanksgiving in Sedona, Arizona, last year, which was quieter than I expected. Or Oahu in Hawaii two weeks before Christmas, also pretty chill.

So when Mark Miller, a retired logistics manager from White Bear Township, Minnesota, told me he was taking his oldest granddaughter to Yellowstone National Park in mid-June, I thought he'd have to contend with the rest of America. But no. It turns out he'd made the same trip last year and found it surprisingly sane.

"We experienced crowds at only two sites: Mammoth and Old Faithful," he says. The only potential issue will be the climate, he says. "Hopefully, the weather won't be too cold."

But maybe the most important strategy for avoiding lots of people this spring and summer is to do something now.

"Don't wait until it's too late," advises Fora's Vazquez. "For many, the appeal of the classics  the California coast, the French Riviera, the European capitals  is too strong to stay away. So book soon to be sure you're not left without space. And fly midweek instead of on the weekend to navigate around airport hassles."

This is how the experts avoid summer crowds

Work with a specialist. Some tour operators are known for familiarity with uncrowded travel spots. For example, Insight Vacations' Country Roads tours go off the well-trodden tourist path, visiting remote places and interacting with locals. The demand for these trips has been incredible, and bookings are far outpacing pre-pandemic levels, says Guy Young, the company's president.

No copycat vacations. Tracy Schatz, president of Elite Travel Journeys, says people shouldn't mimic other vacations. "The one mistake I see the most is that people listen to where their friends and family have gone and basically copy those itineraries," she says. When they do, it creates a higher demand at that location, higher prices and a worse experience. "I find that giving families other options helps them to see destinations in a light they hadnt thought of," she adds.

Go the distance. That's the advice of Mark Hoenig, the co-founder of VIP Traveler, a company that pairs artificial intelligence-driven recommendations with travel planners. He says travelers willing to travel the extra mile to remote, off-the-beaten-path islands will find unspoiled beaches, minus the crowds. "That extra flight leg or post-airport drive to somewhere slightly harder to get to will ensure you encounter fewer travelers," he adds.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't The views and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vacation time: How to avoid the crowds on your spring or summer trip
Mar. 18Police arrested five people on felony drug charges in Oxford on Wednesday after they executed a search warrant at a home connected to the man charged with leading police on a chase through Paris and Oxford in which one person was seriously injured.

Maine State Police said the search warrant was related to the investigation of Ethan Rioux-Poulios, 26, who allegedly fled police in a pickup truck March 4 before he slammed head-on into another vehicle, critically injuring a 28-year-old woman. Rioux-Poulios should have had his license suspended but state courts never sent the necessary paperwork to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles as required, meaning his license was active.

Troopers and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force went to 11 Long View Drive in Oxford on Wednesday to look for clothing associated with Rioux-Poulios, state police said. Police knew Rioux-Poulios previously had been associated with the address and he was arrested close by following the chase this month. It's not clear why they needed the clothing, but it may be connected to efforts to prove that Rioux-Poulios was in fact behind the wheel before police arrested him.

When he was taken into custody, Rioux-Poulios denied being the driver and said someone else had been driving, but he wouldn't say who, the arrest affidavit states.

When officers arrived at the home for the search, two people tried to leave through a back door.

Once inside, police found evidence of an ongoing drug trafficking operation and obtained a second warrant to search the home for drugs, state police said. As officers waited for a judge to review and sign off on the second warrant, the homeowners arrived on the scene.

After police received the second warrant, they searched the residence and vehicles nearby and located 195 grams of suspected fentanyl, 40 grams of suspected cocaine and $4,995 in cash, which they believe to be drug proceeds.

Police say they found evidence that someone in the home was producing crack-cocaine.

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Five people were charged with drug trafficking: Oxford residents Matthew Robare, 45, Julie Coolidge, 48, and Kendra Talbot, 42; and Darlene Thomas, 50, of Otisfield and Joshua Appleby, 37, of Woodstock.

Police said Robare and Coolidge own the home. Town property records show Coolidge owns a home at 11 Long View Drive, a residential cul-de-sac.

When police were looking for Rioux-Poulios during the March 4 chase, a state trooper assisting in the search suggested that other officers look for Rioux-Poulios on Long View Drive.

Trooper Jason Wing wrote that Rioux-Poulios had "criminal contacts in the neighborhood," Wing said in an arrest affidavit.

Rioux-Poulios should have had his license suspended before the March 4 chase, but it never went into effect because of a systemic bureaucratic error in how the courts and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles share information about convictions that should result in suspensions.

Since his arrest, the BMV, the state court system and prosecutors have agreed on a new system to ensure no other driver's serious criminal conviction related to driving slips by unnoticed. The officials also promised a 10-year review of old cases to correct any other failures.

Rioux-Poulios pleaded guilty last year to killing a man with his car during a 2019 police chase that also resulted in a crash. In that case, a 70-year-old Norway man died after Rioux-Poulios rear ended his vehicle, sending it tumbling sideways into a tree.

Rioux-Poulios is being held at Oxford County Jail on six felony counts related to the March 4 chase.

Police say when they arrested Rioux-Poulios this month, they found a folded piece of aluminum foil in his pants pocket that had a burnt residue on it. Wing noted in the arrest affidavit that the foil is often used to smoke drugs, including opiates.

As part of the guilty plea in the 2019 case, Rioux-Poulios was released on time served and was placed on two years of probation that prohibited him from possessing or using drugs.

During the July 2021 sentencing for the 2019 case, Rioux-Poulios' attorney said his client has a "serious, serious drug addiction," the Sun Journal reported.

His attorney, James Howaniec, said last year that when he is high, Rioux-Poulios is "miserable to deal with." He's sarcastic and unpleasant. "You just want to wring his neck," Howaniec said.
grandfather clock

Getty Images

It is often said that trends are like clockwork, circling back time and time again. That sentiment couldn't be more true, especially when it comes to the resurgence of analog, as predicted by Pinterest. Even in today's world of screens and swipes, there is nothing like a classic timekeeper. Whether you're designing an outfit or a room, a clock is a quintessential, sophisticated detail.

When asked why analog is resurfacing, Atlanta interior designer Steve McKenzie says, "There's a familiarity [with a clock] to childhood and days gone by." As such, clocks are sentimental heirlooms and are often passed down from one home to the next. "A recent client had a special clock, so we placed it prominently, so it could be enjoyed daily. I even have a clock that's very meaningful to me that I keep in my walk-in closet."

Beyond being nostalgic, clocks are also sculptural in design, which brings interest to a room. McKenzie suggests a mantel clock to get the look. It's a traditional nod that speaks to today's interior aesthetic. These smaller pieces can be placed between books on a bookshelf or even take center stage on a sideboard.

Analog in Home Design

Of course, if your wall space allows, there's nothing like a longcase, grandfather-style clock. Emily Mabe, the vintage retailer behind Willow and Pearls, has been studying, collecting, and selling antiques for years, and much of her fascination began with clocks.

"When I was a little girl, my dad's mom, my Nana, Lula Mae Hastings, had a lot of clocks. When I say a lot of clocks, I mean, every surface that was flat had a clock, so clocks were just always a part of my life."

Fast forward to a memorable magazine spread in which Mabe saw a stately Mora, and she was immediately smitten. "I knew I had to have one!" she says.

Made in Sweden and popular among European antique collectors, Mora clocks are beautifully detailed hallway timepieces. During a stint in Europe, while her husband was stationed in Germany, Mabe got her chance to own a coveted Mora. Today, her Mora, often seen on her Instagram, is a timeless addition to her formal living room in her Spanish Fort, Alabama home.

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Timepieces in Fashion

This popular home element isn't just for interiors. Its revival is popular in fashion too. Third-generation watch-maker Loren Fernandez is one of the co-founders of Nacre, a Lakeland, Florida-based watch company. Despite the fact that many people carry a clock with them at all times, either on their phones or on their smartwatches, Fernandez knew she wanted to create something that would force people to slow down in more ways than one.

"I figured if people would just glance at their watch instead of pulling out their phone to check the time, it may be a subtle reminder to remain in the present," she says. "Hopefully, the younger generation will bring society back to what really mattersbeing in the moment instead of allowing technology to distract us."

It's one thing for a watch to help us tell time, but it's another for us to be glued to work emails and other notifications at all times. An analog watch is a break from society's fascination with immediacy.

McKenzie points out that using or decorating with analog clocks is a subtle way to ditch the masses. "I think wearing a watch or incorporating a clock into home decor is a rebellion against our digital surroundings."

To that, we say, "Vive la resistance!"
Even some Florida State University students are feeling the burn of U.S. sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian students at FSU say finances have become a major concern in recent weeks.

Visa and Mastercard have blocked services to Russian financial institutions. Students with money in Russian banks find they cant tap into those accounts to cover their expenses on U.S. territory.

Overwhelmed and disappointed are words that FSU graduate student Oksana Kozlova used to describe how she feels.

Oksana Kozlova is a graduate student at Florida State University pursuing a Master of Science degree in higher education.

Other news from Florida State University:

Kozlova identifies as both Ukrainian and Russian as she was born in Ukraine and lived there for some time before her family changed their citizenship from Ukrainian to Russian when she was around 10 years old. Kozlova moved to Tallahassee in August 2021 and is in her second semester of pursuing a Master of Science in higher education with an emphasis in student affairs.

Last week and the week before, I had to miss some of my classes just to be able to go to different ATMs in order to get as much as I can, Kozlova said.

She explained how her husband, who is currently in Kazakhstan, sent her money that they were left with; only half of what she spent years saving up remained.

I was saving money for my summer class, which is required to graduate from the program, Kozlova said. This money was in my Russian bank account. I worked to get them for three years in Russia because payments are very low over there. We lost half of what I saved for three years.

More: Russia invades Ukraine: Reactions from Ukrainians in Florida

As a student who identifies as both Ukrainian and Russian, Kozlova said she's conflicted.

Im feeling the pressure of having to take some particular side of this conflict, but I cant, Kozlova said. Im feeling like Im in the middle.

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There are 36 current students at FSU from Ukraine and Russia  nine from Ukraine and 27 from Russia. While most of them are U.S. citizens, six are not and are studying at the university on temporary student visas; five of the international students are Russians and one is Ukrainian.

The Westcott Building at Florida State University

To help alleviate the financial difficulties of students like Kozlova, the Florida State University offered to pay the student visa holders individual application fee of $410 to apply for a Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization. If approved it allows them to work while studying in the U.S., according to University Communications. FSU will use private funds from the Seminole Emergency Relief Fund to pay the application fees.

The Seminole Emergency Relief Fund was initially put in place in response to Hurricane Michael in October 2018 due to the tremendous number of students who were directly affected by the storm, according to Senior Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Support and Transitions Shelley Ducatt.

The fund is a way for FSU to offer support to students who are experiencing temporary hardship due to significant life events including sudden illness, family crisis or disaster.

The Division of Student Affairs re-initiated the Seminole Emergency Relief Fund to support students who were experiencing a significant financial crisis or strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It went beyond COVID after targeted fundraising was done in Spring 2021, enabling the university to continue to award students who are experiencing a financial crisis or personal hardship.

During the Spring 2020 semester 657 students were supported via the fund with a total of $399,267. With continuing support via donations for the summer term, 206 students were awarded $134,497. Overall, the fund was able to support 863 students for a total of $533,764.

From April 28, 2021, to March 14, 2022, the fund has distributed $18,204 to assist 19 students for reasons including housing insecurity, utility assistance, food, and medical costs.

The maximum award amount that can be provided to a student is $1,000. FSU students experiencing unforeseen, temporary financial hardship may apply for a grant through the program at any time.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the fund also applied to employees. The fund was initially available to eligible staff and students after Hurricane Michael. After the COVID pandemic, the fund was re-initiated, this time for just students.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Invasion of Ukraine financially impacts FSU's Russian students
Despite making some changes to U.S. border policy, the Biden administration for over a year maintained the most sweeping border restriction enacted by former President Donald Trump: a pandemic-era order known as Title 42 that has led to the quick deportation of hundreds of thousands of migrants in two years.

After two defeats in federal court in March and intensifying pressure from top Democrats in Congress, the Biden administration announced on April 1 it would wind down Title 42 by late May.

Despite supporting the end of other pandemic-related restrictions, Republicans have forcefully denounced the decision to end Title 42. Some centrist Democrats have also criticized the move, saying the administration is not prepared for a potential unprecedented spike in migrant apprehensions along the southern border after Title 42 is lifted.

What exactly is Title 42, and how has it been used by both administrations to expel migrants? Here are the facts.

What is Title 42, and how did it start?

On March, 20, 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Trump previewed a measure to curb "mass uncontrolled cross-border movement," a move that would ultimately go further in restricting migration than any of his administration's previous hardline border policies.

That day, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield invoked a World War II-era public health law to authorize U.S. border officials to promptly deport migrants. The law, found in Title 42 of the U.S. code, grants the government the "power to prohibit, in whole or in part, the introduction of persons and property" to stop a contagious disease from spreading in the U.S.

The order Redfield signed said the deportations were necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 in border facilities, protect U.S. agents from the virus and preserve medical resources. While Redfield's initial order was enacted for 30 days, he extended it for another month in April 2020 and then indefinitely in May 2020.

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Despite its stated public health justification, the CDC order authorizing the deportations was signed over the objection of top experts at the agency who did not believe the unprecedented policy was justified, according to congressional testimony and CBS News reporting.

Officials refer to a deportation under Title 42 as an "expulsion" since it is not carried out under immigration law, which imposes further penalties on those who are removed, such as multi-year banishments from the U.S.

Migrants being expelled to Mexico under Title 42 at the Paso Del Norte International Bridge in El Paso, Texas, on September 1, 2021. / Credit: PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images

How do the expulsions work in practice?

On paper, a Title 42 expulsion is supposed to occur soon after migrants are taken into custody, since the stated objective is to minimize the chances of them spreading the coronavirus inside U.S. detention facilities.

Most migrants processed under Title 42 have been expelled by land to Mexico, and that process can take just a few hours. However, the Mexican government has only formally agreed to accept the return of expelled migrants if they are Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran or Salvadoran.

A smaller number of migrants are expelled through deportation flights, usually to their home countries. The U.S. is currently expelling some migrants to Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and southern Mexico. Expulsion flights to El Salvador and Nicaragua were discontinued.

Last September, the Biden administration launched the largest Title 42 air expulsion blitz to date, expelling 10,000 deportees to Haiti in three months after the sudden arrival of thousands of migrants from the Caribbean country in Del Rio, Texas.

The Biden and Trump administrations have argued that Title 42 supersedes U.S. asylum law, which allows migrants on U.S. soil to seek protection, regardless of their legal status. Hence, those processed under Title 42 are not allowed to file an application for asylum as a means to stop their expulsion.

Only an extremely limited number of migrants processed under Title 42 are screened for a lesser form of protection if they make "an affirmative, spontaneous and reasonably believable claim that they fear being tortured in the country they are being sent back to," as outlined in internal DHS guidance.

How many migrants have been expelled?

Since March 2020, U.S. authorities along the border with Mexico have carried out more than 1.7 million migrant expulsions under Title 42, according to government statistics, as of the end February 2022.

While Title 42 applies to both land borders, U.S. officials along the Canadian border, who process a substantially lower number of migrants compared to their southern border colleagues, have used the policy on a limited basis, carrying out 15,000 expulsions in two years.

Title 42 expulsions do not represent the number of people expelled because some migrants, primarily single adults, are expelled multiple times. The expulsions have fueled an unusually high rate of repeat border crossings by migrants expelled to northern Mexico, because they do not carry legal consequences.

In nine months, the Trump administration carried out over 400,000 Title 42 expulsions along the southern border. During Mr. Biden's first full 13 months in office, U.S. border authorities have carried out over 1.2 million expulsions, an analysis of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows.

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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addresses U.N. Security Council on evidence of atrocities

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Artyom Datsishin, a Ukrainian ballet dancer, has reportedly died after being injured during the Russian invasion.

Datsishin, a principal dancer with the National Opera of Ukraine, was wounded in Kyiv two days after Russia launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24, according to the Evening Standard, which reported he was 43.

"On February 26, he was fired upon by the Russian military," friend Tatyana Borovik wrote on Facebook, according to the newspaper.

He "was seriously wounded," Borovik continued, adding that he "died in the hospital."

"I can't express my heartache that is overwhelming me," she wrote. "May your memory be bright."

Anatoly Solovyanenko, who is the general stage director at the opera house, remembered Datsishin as a "beautiful artist" and a "wonderful man."

RELATED: American Killed in Ukraine Was Getting Medical Care for Partner with MS: 'He Was Not Going to Leave'

His death was also mourned by Alexei Ratmansky, a Russian choreographer and former artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet. After Russia launched their attack, Ratmansky  who grew up in Kyiv  immediately left Moscow for the United States, The New York Times previously reported.

Datsyshyn died from "wounds received on February 26 when he got under Russian artillery fire," Ratmansky wrote in a social media post.

"He was a beautiful dancer loved by his colleagues," continued Ratmansky, who shared that the news caused "unbearable pain."

"I am furious," he wrote in a separate comment, noting that he had thought in the past of inviting the dancer to join the Bolshoi Ballet. "He was really good."

RELATED: Ukrainians Search from Afar for Missing Family in Devastated Mariupol: 'I Feel More and More Useless'

Throughout his career, Datsishin toured in Europe and the United States, according to the Evening Standard. He performed lead roles in several well-known ballets, including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker.

Story continues

A funeral was held in Kyiv on Friday, per the newspaper.

Russia's attack on Ukraine marks 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. Millions of Ukrainians have also fled, per the United Nations.

The invasion, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin  who insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security  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.

"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.
In the Yakima Valley, tacos bring us closer together. No matter the occasion, everyone has their favorite taco and vendor, but true connoisseurs are willing to pull over and try a new stand or taqueria.
Prosecutors will not seek to have a 15-year-old accused of fatally shooting his cousin outside Eisenhower High School charged as an adult.
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FILE  An aerial image shows agricultural land near Parker. The Yakima County Groundwater Management Area extends from Parker south to include areas around Grandview and Mabton.
U.S. Census officials have been predicting that white Americans will no longer make up a majority of the nations population in the next quart
Tribes are studying how to bring the fish back to Spokane River
In the combustible days and weeks following the November 2020 election, Adrian Fontes was threatened so many times he lost count.

As Maricopa County recorder, Fontes oversaw the balloting in Phoenix and its sprawling suburbs, the swing portion of a swing state and one of the focal points of President Donald Trumps unhinged efforts to overturn Joe Bidens victory.

With tensions mounting, as armed demonstrators gathered outside his office and a SWAT team parked itself inside, Fontes packed go bags so his wife and children could quickly flee their home. After one death threat, the family evacuated for several days.

Crazy stuff. But the menace facing Fontes and his staff was not unusual.

A new survey by the Brennan Center for Justice found 1 in 6 election officials nationwide said they have been threatened, part of a dramatic rise in tensions as voting and elections have become an increasing political flashpoint.

These attacks have forced election officials across the country to take steps like hiring personal security, fleeing their homes and putting their children into counseling, according to the center, a research and policy organization affiliated with New York University.

All because election workers were doing their job and a bunch of sore-losing chuckleheads didnt like the result.

Its insanity, said Fontes, who narrowly lost his 2020 re-election bid. Its anti-American.

More than 1 in 4 of those surveyed by the Brennan Center said they were concerned about being assaulted. Over half said they worried about the safety of their colleagues.

More troubling, 30% said they knew of at least one election worker who had left the position in part because of intimidation or increased threats.

Looking to Novembers balloting and beyond, 60% of election officials expressed concern that harassment and safety concerns will make it more difficult to recruit and retain the workers vital to running the countrys election machinery and ensuring its integrity.

Thats a void Trump acolytes are happy to fill, with an eye on gaming the presidential election if he runs again in 2024.

It bears repeating that, despite Trumps continued and incessant lies, U.S officials judged the Nov. 3, 2020, election  which saw record-high turnout amid the worst pandemic in a century  the most secure in the countrys history.

There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes or was in any way compromised, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement co-signed by some of Trumps own appointees.

That fact hasnt stopped the continued assault on the countrys election systems and its front-line workers, who deserve more than the protective efforts undertaken so far by lawmakers.

The Justice Department last year created a task force to prosecute people who threaten election workers and in January charged a Texas man who posted a message urging patriots on Craigslist to shoot three Georgia officials.

Heres hoping more cases follow.

The spending bill the Senate passed last week and sent to President Biden included $75 million for election security. But thats a fraction of what the Brennan Center estimates is needed over the next several years to update equipment and protect election integrity.

In Oregon, the Legislature passed a bill upping the penalty for harassing election workers and helping prevent their home addresses from being made public.

In California, Democratic state Sen. Josh Newman of Fullerton introduced similar legislation that would give election workers the option of enrolling in the privacy protection program available to judges, politicians and victims of domestic abuse, so they could keep their personal information private.

All of which are a good start.

Still, the overwhelming majority of election workers surveyed by the Brennan Center felt the federal government hasnt done enough to protect them. More than 3 in 4 also believe social media companies could do a better job stopping the spread of false information that has left so many of them under siege.

Fontes, a former Marine, said many election officials take the job for the same reason people enlist in the military. Its a calling, he said. Its a duty.

Not one, however, that should carry the risk of physical danger or emotional abuse.

After losing his run for a second term, Fontes is seeking the Democratic nomination for secretary of state, the official in charge of Arizonas elections.

He sees the threats against election workers as part of a deliberate strategy; Trump and his allies have made no secret of their attempt to hijack the voting system by taking over positions from secretary of state and attorney general down to the county and precinct levels.

This is horrific for our democracy, Fontes said. Theyre intimidating good people out of these jobs so they can replace them with sycophants. Its not complicated, and people should care. Because its happening right under our noses.
While most Americans pull for Ukraine and its resistance to Russias invasion, Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., recently called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a thug and labeled his government incredibly evil. Its part of a broader phenomenon among hard-right politicians who have found a soft spot for Russia and its monstrous leader. Its time to ask some hard questions about the American rights fetishization of Vladimir Putins violent autocracy.

Historically, hawkish conservatives were the toughest talkers regarding Americas chief global adversary. Even after the fall of Soviet communism, U.S. politicians understood (until recently) that a non-communist Russia didnt necessarily mean a non-threatening Russia. Russias post-communist government has never fully embraced democracy and lost ground on that front under Putin. Russias nuclear arsenal remains an existential threat to humanity.

Yet theres Tucker Carlson on Fox News, blithely declaring that America has no legitimate interest in opposing Russias unprovoked invasion of a nascent democracy.

As Mother Jones reported Sunday, a Kremlin propaganda office has distributed a memo telling state-controlled media to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

How proud Carlson must be to see his name written  in Russian  on an official Kremlin document.

Then theres the recent white nationalist event that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attended in Florida.

As if her implied acceptance of the groups flagrant racism werent bad enough, Greene took the stage even after the crowd applauded Russia and chanted Putins name. Add to that Cawthorns savage assessment of a U.S. ally that Russia is currently pounding mercilessly  and his and other conservative votes against sanctioning Russia or providing military aid to Ukraine  and its clear that, in this battle between a democracy and an autocracy, todays hard-right feels kinship with the latter.

Is this trend toward Kremlin-coddling by the American right as simple as following Donald Trumps lead?

For whatever mysterious reasons, the ex-presidents deference to Putin while he was in office was nothing less than bizarre. From his grotesque endorsement of Putins lies on the podium in Helsinki, to his abandonment of Kurdish military allies in Syria, to his undermining of the NATO alliance, to his attempt to strong-arm Zelenskyy for political help by endangering its defense against Russia, Trump couldnt have been more helpful to the Kremlin if hed been on its payroll.

Trump, still in Putins thrall, initially called his invasion of Ukraine genius. After some blowback, he resorted to tougher language against Russia  though he still refuses to say an unkind word regarding Putin.

Even in a remarkable Fox News interview last week, in which Trump-friendly host Sean Hannity all but implored him to acknowledge that Putin is evil, Trump wouldnt do it.

Hannity, for once, is right: Putin is evil. And the American rights embrace of this particular brand of evil indicates it isnt just Ukraines problem.
Mothers are special. They give us life. They nurture us. And, they shape the way we think an
Dramatic was the scene at the Alamo on March 3, 1836 as William B. Travis drew the line in the sand with his sword. Then Travis raised the final challenge  Forces of Santa Anna have us surrounded. Cross this line and your fate is sealed, to die the death of the valiant. The first to cross, with a cry of giving my life for Texas, was Tapley Holland of what would soon become original Montgomery County Territory just outside of present Anderson. Little did Tapley know that within two years six members of his immediate family, including Tapley, would face an untimely death. Hear their story 

Coming to Texas from Canada by way of Tennessee, Tapleys father, Francis, with his brother William and friend, William Burney, took possession of an abandoned cabin off what would become known as Holland Creek in 1822. Soon others of the family and friends, including Hollands sister, Mary Peterson, a medical doctor, became their neighbors.

The Francis Holland family home, typical of the times and region, was simple  two rooms, each featuring dirt floors with one window braced by shutters and a chimney. Literature was sparse, in Franciss home there was only a Websters Spelling book, a copy of Aesops Fables, Goldsmiths History of Greece and a poem of fifty pages. Additionally, there was a little collection of the Laws of Coahuila and Texas which Francis read voraciously, seeking to keep up with events, by the 1830s rapidly spirally out of control.

By his due diligence, Francis set an example for bravery further exemplified by his attendance at the Constitutional Convention of 1833 at San Felipe de Austin. There a model constitution took root, under the chairmanship of Sam Houston, which set the guidelines for the later Texas Declaration of Independence and Constitution at Washington on the Brazos in March 1836.

Stephen F. Austin traveled to the Mexican capital to present that Constitution of 1833 to the Central Mexican Government. Perceived by the Mexican hierarchy as an act of rebellion, Austin suffered captivity for two years, to return to Texas ready for revolution.

It was during this revolutionary phase that every Holland by name of the Francis Holland branch died within a span of two years. Baby William, his father, Francis Sr., and his mother, died within a period of two months in the spring of 1836. Tapley met death at the Alamo on March 6 of the same year. Tapleys brother, James, died the following fall at the nearby home of his sister and brother-in-law while the younger Francis suffered death at the hands of Indians in Robertson, later Navarro County, in 1838.

It is in memory of the struggles and courage of such as the Francis Holland family in the battle for Texas that two related events under the title Celebrating Togetherness: The Texas Republic and the Cradle of Texas Road, (original Montgomery County) will be held at Montgomery on Saturday, April 9. The first will be an assembly at the downtown convention center from noon to 3 p.m., including a catered lunch, followed immediately by an outside time of excitement and interchange at Fernland next to the city library.

The Assembly downtown will address our common heritage from the Republic of Texas era as a means of forging unity through common history as a model for the country. The Fernland event will address the same subject in terms of music by such as the Jacob Austin Band, along with the Rolling Thunder Canon, Aztec and Coushatta Dancers and impersonations of Sam Houston and Charles Stewart by the incredible Jack Shepherd and Pat and Ted Spackey, respectively. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Dr. Robin Montgomery is a native of Montgomery County, a retired professor, author and columnist for The Courier.
The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office this month has been busy cracking down on converter thefts, making multiple arrests on the felony crime that has increasingly impacted the Houston area since the start of the pandemic.

Most recently, the sheriffs office announced the Wednesday arrest of three Houston men who were allegedly stealing 11 of the precious car parts on the 3000 block of College Park Drive in Conroe.

David Davis, 17, Damarkus Herman Scott, 19, and Michael Tyler Trayham, 21, are charged with the state jail felony offenses of criminal mischief and theft, both between $2,500 and $30,000, according to the sheriffs office and jail records. As of Thursday afternoon, the trio was being held on bond in the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe, jail records show.

The bust came as someone around 4:40 p.m. called 911 about seeing a male board a fleeing vehicle after emerging from under a Toyota Tacoma with what appeared to be a catalytic converter. Nearby Shenandoah Police department units located and stopped the vehicle as sheriffs patrol units joined the officers, the countywide agency detailed.

The sheriffs office is working to identify other victims in unincorporated areas of the county and is partnering with the Conroe Police Department to identify possible victims in Conroe, the sheriffs office mentioned.

The investigation into the three men is ongoing, and additional charges are pending, the sheriffs office added.

On Chron.com: Catalytic converter thefts are up in Houston. Some say the thieves are unstoppable.

The thefts of the emissions control device more than tripled in 2020 as metal prices swelled during the pandemic, according to a Houston Chronicle report. These devices precious metals exceed the value of gold, according to the New York Times.

Just last week on March 6, sheriffs deputies arrested another Houston man suspected of stealing a catalytic converter at The Woodlands Malls Macys parking lot. Sheriffs deputies detained a man under a vehicle armed with an electric saw he was using to disassemble a piece of the automobile, according to the sheriffs office.

The arrest came about following a 4:30 p.m. call to the sheriffs office about a male under a vehicle trying to cut and seize the valuable auto part, according to the agency.

Though the vehicles owner could not be located, leading to no charges for the suspected catalytic converter theft, the man was found to be a convicted felon carrying a firearm, the sheriffs office explained.

Demarcus Wayne Collins, 34, was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, according to the sheriffs office and court documents. Collins was released on a $30,000 bond, according to court records.

A traffic stop in Spring only two days before Collins arrest led the sheriffs office to the apprehension of a suspected serial catalytic converter thief. The Houston man was riding in a vehicle carrying catalytic converters and apparent car burglary tools.

Around 12:30 a.m. March 4, a sheriffs deputy pulled over a vehicle with an invalid registration in the 26000 block of Interstate 45 in Spring, according to the agency.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Video: Everything you need to know about catalytic converter theft in Houston

Like the three men from Wednesdays Conroe incident, court documents show James Harrell Jr., 29, is charged with theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000. Court records show Harrell is out on a $2,500 bond.

Harrell was a passenger in the vehicle where the deputy observed two catalytic converters on the rear floorboard, along with an electric saw with a metal-cutting blade, multiple other blades and a spare saw battery, according to the sheriffs office.

Upon questioning by the deputy, the driver said she dropped Harrell off at a nearby location with the saw and picked him up a short time later with the tool and the two catalytic converters. Harrell said he acquired the items from an internet friend, the agency detailed.

The two catalytic converters were found to be recently stolen from two local Toyota Tacomas and were returned to their owners, the sheriffs office added.

Further investigation revealed Harrell was suspected in several other catalytic converter thefts in the area, the agency mentioned.

These series of arrests by the sheriffs office comes after the agency in early January found $25,000 in catalytic converters were allegedly stolen by two juveniles in Spring. Later that month in east Montgomery County, the Precinct 4 Constables Office took into custody two men suspected to be serial catalytic converter thieves in the area and in Harris County.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

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A liberal education expert accuses the government of trying to silence teachers who are demanding higher wages and better work conditions. A pro-government pundit dismisses the strike announced just before the election as a campaign stunt.

On Wednesday, teachers unions began an indefinite strike. According to the Ministry of Human Resources, the walkout has been joined by 13 per cent of school staff.



In Portfolio, Peter Rado, an education expert at the Central European University Democracy Institute think tank deems it unlikely that the government will bow to the demands of teachers.



The liberal pundit suggests that the government has already used up its resources to buy votes for the April election, with price caps and other policies, many of which Rado finds wasteful.



The reduction of teachers workload is not possible either, he adds, since it would require the complete overhaul of the education system. Rado accuses the government of trying to threaten teachers and frighten them away from participating in the strike.



In a Facebook post, pro-government pundit Zsuzsa Mathe acknowledges that teachers are underpaid. Nonetheless, she accuses teachers joining the strike eighteen days before the election of staging a political stunt, and taking part in the election campaign.



Mathe suspects that teachers are well aware that the government cannot solve their problems before the election. She concludes by expressing her gratitude to those reasonable teachers who do not join the strike.



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





MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak
Hungary can expect to receive up to 900,000 refugees from Ukraine, the prime ministers chief security advisor said on Wednesday evening, citing projections.

Gyorgy Bakondi told public news channel M1 that more than 432,000 refugees had arrived in Hungary by noon on Wednesday.



Whereas in the first phase of the military operations people were fleeing Ukraine before the war reached them, they are now fleeing directly from the war to safe neighbouring countries, he said.



This new situation requires different kinds of efforts from the Hungarian authorities, civil groups and local councils, Bakondi said. This means there will be an even greater need for the various organisations to coordinate their efforts, he added.



Hungary must continue supporting Transcarpathia Hungarians because their region has seen a big influx of people from eastern Ukraine who have lost everything, he said.



Bakondi said Prime Minister Viktor Orban paid regular visits to the Hungary-Ukraine border to coordinate and manage the refugee aid efforts.



On another subject, Bakondi said Hungary was facing increased migration pressure on its southern border, noting that the authorities have apprehended 31,200 illegal migrants so far this year and have launched criminal proceedings against 280 people smugglers.



Hungary Well Prepared To Receive Ukraine Refugees At Border

Aid centres set up at the Hungary-Ukraine border are well prepared to receive the growing number of refugees expected from Ukraine in the next few days, the state secretary for church and minority relations said on Thursday.



Miklos Soltesz told MTI after visiting Barabas and Beregsurany at the border that aid workers and police expected further masses of refugees to set off from Transcarpathia in the near future, following a few days of calmer conditions in recent days.



Donations received from all over Hungary have filled storage capacities at aid centres and now everyone who wants to send contributions are asked to forward non-perishable food directly to a central warehouse in Aranyosapati, he said.



First Lady Anita Herczegh, a goodwill ambassador of the Hungarian Maltese Charity, also visited the aid centre in Beregsurany on Thursday.



She praised Hungarians readiness to help refugees and said that communities in neighbouring villages had joined forces in the first few days of the war already and this has been further elevated after the arrival of aid organisations.



Imre Szabjan, the head of the Hungarian Maltese Charitys crisis management working group, said that psychological first aid was also being offered in Beregsurany, which appears to be increasingly in demand among refugees traumatised by recent events.





MTI Photo: Zoltan Balogh
With an increase expected in the influx of refugees from Ukraine next week, Hungary must strengthen its border crossing point with Romania at Csengersima, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Facebook on Wednesday night.

Orban inspected the Csengersima border crossing between Hungary and Romania on Wednesday evening.



Orban, who was accompanied by government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkiralyi and others, was briefed by senior police officers on the situation along the border section and the growing wave of Ukrainian refugees in the area.



The prime minister then visited the volunteers at the local aid point of the Hungarian Red Cross.



Hungary will deploy more personnel to the Csengersima border crossing, Orban said. Cross-border traffic at Csengersima is running smoothly, with police making strenuous efforts and the Hungarian Red Cross providing help to those with children, Orban said.



On Thursday morning, the prime minister handed over documents granting temporary residency to a refugee family arriving from Ukraine. Orban and Sandor Pinter, the interior minister, later on Thursday visited a centre in Nyiregyhaza, in north-eastern Hungary.



At the centre, disaster management staff and other state agencies register the number of refugees, arrange for their transportation, as well as their accommodation.



Hungarian, Greek, Slovenian Ombudsmen Visit Hungary-Ukraine Border

The Hungarian, Greek and Slovenian ombudsmen on Thursday visited the Ukrainian-Hungarian border and were briefed of the current circumstances and the measures taken to help Ukrainian refugees, the Hungarian ombudsmans office said.



Akos Kozma of Hungary, Andreas Pottakis of Greece and Peter Svetina of Slovenia visited the border crossing at Zahony-Chop (Csap) and an aid point in Beregsurany where Kozma also inaugurated a temporary office of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights in Hungary, the statement said.



Kozma said office employees had been working on the border since the Ukraine-Russia war broke out three weeks ago. They provide legal aid and help in procuring documents to refugees arriving through Zahony, he said.



Many requested information on travel documents or employment in Hungary, he said. Since the war started, over 438,000 refugees arrived in Hungary from Ukraine, he said.



Pottakis, who also heads the European office of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), praised the Hungarian offices efforts for refugees.



The IOI will support Hungary further, and Greece is also offering legal, financial and humanitarian support, he said.





MTI Photo: PM's Press Office Zoltan Fischer
The ideal of a modern Hungary was born on March 15, 1848, embracing equality, unquestioned individual freedoms and the primacy of the rule of law, the co-leaders of the opposition LMP party said in a statement on Tuesday.

Referring to an invasion of Russian soldiers in June 1849, Erzsebet Schmuck and Mate Kanasz-Nagy said that Hungary may have lost its war of independence, but the Hungarian national identity was born definitively and irrevocably.



The message of our heroes is timeless  They dreamed of a sovereign Hungary with its own destiny, the statement said.



Referring to the upcoming general election the statement added: On April 3, we will decide whether we want to belong to the free world, as our 1848 heroes wanted, or continue to rub against the bloodthirsty aggressive dictator of Russia.





MTI Photo
Prime Minister Viktor Orban is sending weapons to Ukraine with deliveries currently under way, Peter Marki-Zay, the prime ministerial candidate of the united opposition, told public media.

In an interview on news channel M1, Marki-Zay said warmongers had accused the opposition of wanting to send weapons and soldiers to Ukraine. Meanwhile, it is Viktor Orban sending weapons to Ukraine  he has also promised British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to provide military aid to Ukraine.



Orban, who has been talking about war for 12 years, cannot be trusted with peace, he said.



Hungarys military as well as economic protection can come only from the EU and NATO, Marki-Zay told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio, adding that is why we have to be loyal members.



Hungary needs a regime change on April 3, we need honest people, accountability and we need to join the European Public Prosecutors Office so that Hungary can receive the EU funds currently withheld from us, the candidate of the united Democratic Coalition, Jobbik, Momentum, Socialist, LMP and Parbeszed parties said.



Over the next three weeks, news channel M1 is broadcasting 5-minute live interviews with the leaders of national parties and party alliances running in the election on April 3.





MTI Photo
Hungarian Gripen fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a civilian plane on Monday afternoon after air traffic control was told that the plane was carrying a bomb, the defence ministry told MTI.

The Serbian Airbus A-319 airliner travelling from Belgrade to Moscow was turned back at the Hungary-Slovakia border after Belgrades control tower told Hungarian air traffic control that the plane had a bomb on board.



NATOs Combined Air Operations Centre alerted the Gripen fighters of the Hungarian armed forces which quickly identified the Serbian aircraft and escorted it outside Hungarys airspace towards Serbia.



The Gripens remained in flight near the border until the Airbus A-319 landed, the ministry said.
YORK  A couple of weeks ago, the York County Sheriffs Department put out an invitation to dozens of young people in the county, asking that local kids submit pictures and names for the newest canine deputy.

The result became a big stack of papers.

On each sheet was a brightly colored picture of a law enforcement service dog, with big bold names on the top as local kids submitted their ideas on what to name the countys newest canine deputy.

On the back of the hand-drawn pictures were names of the first, second and third graders from Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School, Heartland Community School, McCool Junction School, St. Josephs Catholic School and home-school kids who created them.

There were a lot of them  because every single kid in the eligible age group participated.

Then came the daunting  yet entertaining  task of choosing which name would ultimately become that of the new drug dog.

York County Sheriff Paul Vrbka said a committee of four was chosen which included Sheriff Sgt. Brad Melby; Lela Luft, director of the emergency communications center; Sheriff Captain Josh Gillespie; and York News-Times Managing Editor Melanie Wilkinson. They sorted through the submissions.

The artwork varied in colors, themes and artistic abilities.

The names were as varied as the pictures, with dozens upon dozens offered for consideration, including Bones, Browny, Keke, Roger, Dasher, Rander, Loki, Anny, Bella, Caylie, Shine, Luna, Dimeonde, Aysel, Rock, Max, Husker, Ruby, Ranger, Rosa, Special, Cutie, Girl Dog, Rosie, Flame, Rose, Violet, Lady, Heart, Isabella, Stella, Darla, Cookie, Rubee, Masha, Nora, Flash, Phoenix, Midnight, Bolt, Laylah, Polly, Rufus, Avery, Miley, Rose, Iris, Tracker, Alpha, Roxi, Midas, Faith, Roxy, Zoey, Archor, Alenna, Nitro, Nitro III, Snoopy, Sheriff, Silo, Choclet Chip, Donuts, Luna, Daisy, Loo Loo, Sun Shign, Kendall, The Queen, Gina, Rogue, Salish, Athena, Gizmo, Sherri, Mojo, Star, Blue Bern, Domino, Sky and Foxy . . . just to name a few.

In the end, the name was finally chosen  Keva.

Sgt. Melby explained he wanted to use the name Keva because it is Irish Gaelic for gentle, beautiful, precious, handsome and beloved. I just think it fits.

The name of Keva was submitted by Zoe Mills, a first grader at Heartland Community Schools.

On Friday morning, she was paid a very special visit by members of the sheriffs department and the Henderson Police Department, as well as Keva and her handler, Deputy Chris Fifield.

The Heartland first graders were assembled in the gym at 8:30 a.m., with no expectations as to their impromptu assembly.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Vrbka, Captain Gillespie, Sgt. Melby, Deputy Chris Fifield, Keva and Henderson Police Chief John Prusia stood ready in the front lobby in preparation for the big surprise.

She has no idea she won the name contest, said Mills mother, Portion Lyons, as she too waited for the big announcement. She is going to be so surprised.

When the large contingency of law enforcement officers walked into the gym, some of the first graders exclaimed, Its about naming the dog!

Sheriff Vrbka and Chief Prusia briefly spoke to the enthusiastic kids  and when Keva entered the room with Deputy Fifield, it became clear one of them was the winner.

Sgt. Melby held up the winning paper and announced young Miss Mills was the winner. He also invited her to call the dog by her new name, for the first time  which the youngster proudly did.

Why the name Keva? Zoe replied, My dogs name is Keva so I thought it would be a good idea. This is so exciting! I didnt think Id win!

Her fellow classmates were equally excited, as they were able to one-by-one pet Keva and offer their congratulations to Zoe.

Keva is currently being trained by Sgt. Melby and Deputy Fifield. When she is ready, she will join the two other county dogs, Justice and Loki, in the service field.

Sheriff Vrbka and Sgt. Melby said Kevas journey to this point in her life is truly remarkable in itself. She was born in Ukraine and a dog enthusiast from Omaha (who had handled service dogs during his military career) found her and arranged for her to be brought to the United States. But a series of COVID shut-downs had Keva going to the United States and then returned to the Ukraine. Eventually the man traveled to Ukraine to get her and shes been in the United States for about six months. The man later realized this dog needed to work because of her talent and drive. He also heard about the need for a new drug dog in York County and graciously donated her to the department.

Melby and Vrbka say she shows a lot of promise and they are excited to have her on the force.

Now that she has officially been given a title and with certification likely to happen in June, her name will be added to the graphics on the outside of her cruiser, like the names of Justice and Loki already are.

And every time Zoe sees Kevas name or hears about the amazing thing shes doing with the sheriffs department, shell know she had the privilege of naming her and meeting her face to face.

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The following questions were asked recently on the Wonderline:

Q: I know the city work crews are already so busy, but there is an issue with people leaving their waste all over at the dog park. I was there last night and its a problem. Whose job is it to clean that up? Or should people just be told to take care of their own stuff?

A: When the dog park was established, it was made clear that dog owners are supposed to clean up after their animals just as they would be expected to do so while walking them in any park or on a sidewalk.

Q: I just wanted to say please give your donation dollars to the local Adopt A Pet instead of the ASPCA that has been advertising so much lately on television. Very little of that donated money actually goes to the animals, through ASPCA. Is that true?

A: The American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says the organization uses money from donations for a variety of tasks related to animal welfare, from direct care in animal shelters to lobbying to pass animal welfare laws.

We found three sources that said about 25% of donations are used for things like advertising and administration.

While there have been good things said about the organization, there have also been allegations of wasteful spending and high salaries paid to higher ranking executives.

If someone is wanting to donate money to any cause, they should thoroughly investigate the organization before making a donation.

It should be noted that by donating to York Adopt A Pet, instead, the money stays completely local and it is proven that the money goes directly to animal care. By keeping that donation local, proof of how it is used is easily seen.

Q: When is the last date you can change your party affiliate to vote in the May primary? Or if an independent wants to change to a party affiliation to participate?

A: York County Clerk Kelly Turner provided the following deadlines pertaining to the election in this regard:

 April 22: Postmark deadline for mailed in registrations.

 April 22: Prior to midnight, last day voter registrations can be completed online for the person to be registered to vote for the upcoming election.

 April 22: At close of business, last day voter registrations can be completed at DMV for the person to be registered to vote in an upcoming election.

 April 22: Last day for voter registration form to be delivered to the election office by someone other than the person registering to vote, for the person to be registered to vote in an upcoming election.

 May 2: At 6 p.m., last day for in-person voter registration.

Q: When was Mincks Park created and why is it called Mincks Park? I saw the Star of the State story and thought about how Mincks Park is such a great place for the swimming pool and the future Peyton Parker Lane Playground.

A: On May 15, 2003, then-mayor, Greg Adams, and the York City Council agreed to name the new park after Lucile Mincks, whose estate provided millions of dollars to projects throughout the county to benefit youth  including $750,000 as the seed money for the construction of the family aquatic center.

Development of Mincks Park began later that year, with dirt work and construction over the pool. It was noted that the park would be developed over time, likely decades. Organizers and city officials envisioned the aquatic center, covered picnic areas, green space, tree plantings, a driveway through the park and plenty of parking.

Ms. Mincks, through the York Community Foundation, left millions of dollars for a number of projects in the county, including for playground equipment installed in nearly every community, improvements to community centers, a new gym floor in the York City Auditorium and face lifts to a number of ball parks in every town. And of course, for the new pool in York as well as seed money for a new swimming pool in Henderson.

Q: My question is why speed limits vary in different parts of this area. The speed limit through Bradshaw is 50 mph, the speed limit through Utica is 65 mph and the speed limit around McCool Junction is 70 mph. How are these speed limits determined?

A: These are all areas on state highways, so the state determines these speed limits.

Speed limits are determined through traffic studies, conducted by the state, which includes information regarding vehicle counts, accident rates, etc.

It should be noted, however, that speed limits can be modified if a need is brought forward to do so  again, after extensive traffic studies.

As far as what determined these specific speed limits, we have not been able to find someone who could specifically speak to each one.

Q: Has the man who stabbed his wife in York, back in 2020, been sentenced yet? Maybe it was already published and I missed it. I was just wondering whatever happened in that situation.

A: Mario Reyes, 62, of York, remains in custody and the case is ongoing. A competency review, regarding Reyes mental ability to stand trial, has been scheduled for later this month, in York County District Court.

Q: Why is there such an awful dip on the east side of South Lincoln Avenue, in the southbound lanes? It seems to be getting worse. Its on the bypass, as you approach the area where Perennial Power is located.

A: It appears the asphalt has been breaking up as there is a sinking area there. This is a state roadway so the state is responsible for fixing any issues. We were unable to reach anyone on the state level to address that particular trouble spot.

Q: This morning before I went to work, on some television station, they were running re-runs of Gilligans Island. I loved that show! It was hard for me to even walk out the door at that point because I just wanted to sit there and watch it! Anyway, I was looking at the setting and thinking about how they shot that show back in the 1960s, and came up with this Wonderline question: Where did they shoot Gilligans Island? Was it on a real island?

A: The pilot for Gilligans Island was filmed on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Some said Natalie Schafer, who played Mrs. Howell, only accepted the role because the show was essentially paying for a vacation to Hawaii.

However, after the pilot was filmed and the show was picked up, the lagoon set was located on a CBS Studio City lot. They had made attempts to shoot on a beach in Malibu, but weather and fog got in the way. So they created the manmade lagoon.
Tamil superstar Vijay was found guilty of not paying entry tax on his Rolls-Royce Ghost and ordered to pay Rs 1 lakh, but during the most recent hearing, Vijay's lawyer insisted that the penalty should have been 2% a month instead of 400%.

Tamil Nadu's commercial tax department has required actor Vijay to pay entrance tax on his Rolls-Royce, which he imported from the United States in 2005. An appeal was filed in the Madras High Court on behalf of Vijay in order to have the tax dismissed.

Having learned that states have the authority to collect entry taxes, Vijay paid Rs 7,98,075 in entry tax in September 2021, and the Commercial Tax Department later demanded a fine of Rs 30,23,609 for non-payment of tax between December 2005 and September 2021.

Read also: Tata Nexon EV receives a price hike of Rs 25,000; check new prices here

In the hearing on March 14, 2022, Vijay's lawyer claimed they would be penalized by only 2% per month from the time the car was imported, but the fine ended up being 400%. The department of commercial taxes, on the other hand, wants the case dismissed in favour of a fine for the delay in payment of tax.

Import taxes in India are among the highest in the world, and people often try to avoid paying them by any means. For example, even though the Rolls-Royce Ghost is the most affordable Rolls-Royce in their line-up, it still costs around Rs 5 crore in India, so the import tax can be in the lakh for a vehicle such as that.

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The facelifted Toyota Glanza is now available in India. It's based on the recently-launched 2022 Maruti Baleno facelift, with minor cosmetic tweaks but no technical differences.

The Toyota Glanza is roughly Rs 4,500 more expensive than the Maruti Suzuki Baleno base trim. Mid-level trims are Rs 10,500 to Rs 15,000 more expensive and Rs 20,000 more expensive for top trims, indicating a large price difference between the two automobiles.

The base models of both hatchbacks include a number of standard features, including LED taillights, automatic climate control, power windows, keyless entry, rear defoggers, semi-digital instrument clusters, dual airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, and 15-inch steel wheels.

Read also: Tamil superstar Vijay lands in another controversy due to his imported Rolls-Royce

Both cars top trim come with LED fog-lamps, electrically-adjustable ORVMs (auto-folding), 16-inch alloy wheels, head-up display (HUD), 360-degree parking camera, push-button start/stop, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 4.2-inch multi-colour Multi Information Display. For safety both comes equipped with six airbags compared to dual airbags of the base trim.

The powertrain of the Glanza consists of a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder DualJet K12N petrol engine (same unit as the Balenos) giving out 90bhp and 113Nm of max torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-Speed AMT.

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New Delhi: India is celebrating the Festival of Colours - Holi on Friday (March 18). With ease in COVID-19 restrictions and protocols around the world, after a drastic fall in cases, it is however still better to try to take precautions as neighbouring China and Hong Kong have recorded an immense surge in novel Coronavirus cases. This has also let experts worry about the possibility of a fourth COVID-19 wave in India. Israel, which has vaccinated almost all of its population vaccinated against the virus, has also now recorded a new sub-variant of COVID-19. So, to make sure you have a blast this Holi, but at the same time stay responsible,we have compiled some fun tips for home celebration.

Pack of colours

If you are celebrating the festival at home, it is important for you to stock up different colours. Get your hands on Gulaal (red colour) and various other organic ones too, as they smell nice and are also soft on your skin. Go for herbal colours and avoid synthetic ones, harming your skin and hair.

Sweets

So what if you are avoiding public places or large groups, enjoy your favourite sweet with family at home and celebrate the festival in high spirits, Satiate your taste buds with loved ones and relish the Holi-special recipes.

Pichkari

The pichkaris are not just for kids. It adds a little old-world charm to the festival. Who would not want to sing 'Balam Pichkari' without a real one in hand? You can either buy a new one or rent it out. Let the festival spirit grip you hard!

Music

Any party is incomplete without chartbuster Hindi songs. So, dancing on your favourite 'Rang Barse' or 'Holi Khele' will keep you in a full Holi mood. Make a list of special Holi numbers and you are good to go!

Party accessories

Get hold of some cool and catchy accessories like oversize eyeshades, moustaches and cool message boards to pose with. Your Holi clicks will rock your social networking timeline, for sure.

Be careful while playing with colours as animals are not really as fond of the festival as you might be. So, keep colours away from them and also from all those who don't wish to play with colours.

Also, the dark cloud of COVID-19 is far from over, therefore, it is primarily important for us to stay away from large groups, social gatherings etc. Celebrate the festival with your near and dear ones but those who tested positive for the virus should not step out and rather follow medical quarantine norms, as prescribed by the respective doctors.

Wash your hands, face regularly and do not forget your colourful masks too. Let this festival give a pleasant memory to all.

Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Holi!
New Delhi: India's legitimate energy transactions shouldn't be politicised, government has said on the country's crude oil imports, energy ties with Russia.

"India has to keep focusing on competitive energy sources. We welcome such offers from all producers. Indian traders too operate in global energy markets to explore best options," ANI reported quoting sources.

"Countries with oil self-sufficiency or those importing themselves from Russia cannot credibly advocate restrictive trading. India's legitimate energy transactions should not be politicised," it said.

"India is highly dependent on imports for meeting its energy requirements. Nearly 85% of our crude oil requirement (5 million barrels a day) has to be imported. Most of the imports are from West Asia (Iraq 23%, Saudi Arabia 18%, UAE 11%)," it added.

United States has said India taking up Russia's offer of discounted crude oil would not be a violation of American sanctions but added that such move would put New Delhi on the wrong side of history.

"Our message to any country continues to be that abide by the sanctions that we have put in place and recommended," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. Asked about a report on India's willingness to take up the Russian offer of discounted crude oil, Psaki said, "I don't believe this would be violating that (sanctions)." "But also think about where you want to stand when history books are written at this moment in time. Support for the Russian leadership is support for an invasion that obviously is having a devastating impact," Psaki added.

India has not supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine. New Delhi has consistently asked all stakeholders to resolve differences through dialogue. It has, however, abstained in all United Nations resolutions against Russia.

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Tata Motors has raised the prices of its Nexon EV by Rs 25,000 across the board, bringing the cost to between Rs 14.54 lakh to Rs 17.15 lakh (ex-showroom). Currently, the Nexon is the best-selling EV in India.

The Nexon EV's success is due in part to its price range, though it has a shorter range than competitors like MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric. With 127 horsepower and 245 Nm, it is claimed to have a range of 312 km on a 30.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

The Tata Nexon EV is available in three variants: XM, XZ+, and XZ+ Lux, with the latter two also available in a Dark Edition with an all-black theme and Midnight Black exterior paint. A tyre pressure monitor and a tyre puncture repair kit are also provided, along with the blacked-out alloy wheels.

Also read: Ola Electric announces price hike on S1 Pro scooter, currently priced at Rs 1.29 lakh

Tata Motors is working on an extended range version of the Nexon EV, which will have a larger 40 kWh battery pack and will be Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh more expensive. It is scheduled to be available in a few months.

With a 30 percent larger battery pack, the updated Nexon EV should have a range of over 400 kilometres in the local test cycle, with a real-world range of 300-320 kilometres helping it to close the range deficit to its competition.

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New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a security review meeting with senior officials at Raj Bhawan in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (March 18).

Shah is on a 2-day visit to the erstwhile state and is slated to attend the 83rd CRPF Raising Day parade at Maulana Azad Stadium on Saturday. This is the first time that the CRPF is celebrating its Raising Day outside Delhi. Later on Saturday, Shah will take stock of the developmental activities at a high-level meeting in the afternoon.

As per ANI sources, the review meeting was held in view of Amarnath Yatra and the proposed assembly elections in the Union Territories.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a security review meeting with senior officials at Raj Bhawan in Jammu. pic.twitter.com/Yivr9qDFzJ  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

Before chairing the review meeting which was also attended by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Amit Shah reiterated Centre`s commitment to the welfare of security personnel of Jammu and Kashmir while handing over appointment orders on compassionate grounds in Jammu to the next of kin of four police personnel martyred in terrorist incidents. Manoj Sinha, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh and the DGP of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbagh Singh were also present on the occasion.

Shah also lauded the role of the J&K Police in restoring peace in the union territory on numerous occasions.

Notably, this is the second visit of the Union Home Minister to Jammu in the last five months. Earlier, he had visited the union territory for five days.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wrote to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to express thanks for the evacuation of Bangladeshi nationals from Ukraine's Sumy.

In a letter dated March 15, 2022, Hasina said that the "wholehearted support" extended by the Indian government during the evacuation from war-torn Ukraine is a testament to the unique and enduring relationship between the two countries.

I write to express my sincere thanks to you and your Government for extending support and assistance in rescuing and evacuating some Bangladeshi nationals along with the Indians who were stranded in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, the Bangladesh PM said in her letter.

She added, The wholehearted cooperation that your Government has been extending in this regard is a testament to the unique and enduring relationship that our two countries have been enjoying over the years.

Hasina said that the ties between India and Bangladesh have been consolidated through meaningful engagements at all levels over the past years.  I gratefully recall your visit to Bangladesh during the celebration of the Birth Centenary of our Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, last year. Our bilateral ties have been further consolidated through meaningful engagements at all levels over the past years, the Bangladesh PM added.

Wishing Modi a happy Holi, Hasina said that she is confident that both Bangladesh and India would continue to stand by each other at all times and "work together to realize the collective aspirations of the peoples of the two countries".

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Panaji: Congress on Friday said it was ready to consider all possible alternatives to keep the BJP away from power in Goa.

The BJP, which won 20 out of 40 seats in the last month's Goa Assembly elections and has secured support of the two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLAs and three Independents, has yet to stake a claim to form new government.

Senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat told reporters here that the failure to stake claim indicated that "everything is not well within BJP". Congress won 11 seats in the elections. The results were announced on March 10.

"Congress party is open to all options to ensure that a non-BJP government is formed in Goa which will actually uphold the verdict of assembly polls," Kamat said. The BJP could win 20 seats, one short of the majority figure, only because votes got split, he claimed.

"The mandate was clearly against the ruling dispensation which is visible from the 33.31 per cent vote share of BJP, which makes it clear that 66.69 per cent voters did not want BJP," Kamat added. "Even after a week (after results), the BJP has failed to form government. BJP leadership is just buying time, giving one excuse or other," he said.

Governance has come to a halt after Code of Conduct was announced in January, he said. "No major works have been taken up in the last two months. The monsoon is fast approaching and a lot of preparation is pending," the former chief minister said.

"Several MLAs have approached Congress, urging us to take lead in the formation of government. We appeal to all non-BJP MLAs to use their wisdom and take steps to ensure that people of Goa get a full-fledged non-BJP government," he said.

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New Delhi: Days after a meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) in which the party`s abysmal performance in the recently held Assembly polls in five states was termed as a "cause of serious concern", senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and some other members of the G-23 group will meet interim party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi soon.

The time of the meeting is yet to be finalized. "After talking to Sonia Gandhi, we will fix the timing of the meeting (with Azad and other G-23 leaders) and inform about the same," Rahul Gandhi said, according to sources.

Earlier, only Azad was scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi. G-23 leaders, who have been calling for sweeping reforms in the grand old party, met on Wednesday to discuss the party`s debacle in the recently concluded Assembly elections in five states - Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa. Party leaders Kapil Sibal, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, Mani Shankar Aiyar, PJ Kurien, Preneet Kaur, Sandeep Dikshit and Raj Babbar were among those present.

Former Haryana Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda met Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Hooda, a G 23 leader, was the first to reach out to the Congress High Command after the faction`s meeting at Azad`s residence in New Delhi over the poll drubbing.

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi asked Hooda about the meeting of the G-23 leaders and their resolution. Hooda suggested elections of the Congress Working Committee and taking future decisions through discussions only in CWC as this was also mentioned by the G-23 group.

The former Haryana chief minister, in the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, also sought the appointment of an experienced person, who understands the politics of North India and is well verse with Hindi, after removing party General Secretary KC Venugopal from his post, sources informed.

Hooda also sought clarity over who is making the decisions in the party and said that leaders get to know about big decisions of the party from the newspapers, highlighting the need to make decisions collectively.

Hooda said that the G-23 leaders have not done any "anti-party activities" adding that the meeting of faction was held after informing Sonia Gandhi. "We do not agree with everything (Shankersinh) Vaghela and (Kapil) Sibal have said," Hooda said after both of them had questioned the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

After the Congress` rout in five assembly polls, Sibal had given an interview to a newspaper calling for a leadership change in the party.

In a statement released after the CWC meeting on Wes, the CWC had unanimously reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and requested her "to lead from the front, address the organisational weaknesses, effect necessary and comprehensive organisational changes in order to take on the political challenges".

Sonia Gandhi had on Tuesday sought the resignations of state party chiefs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.

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 party is slated to elect a new party chief later this year at the culmination of organisational elections.

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New Delhi: Amid tussle in the party, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday (March 18) reached 10 Janpath to hold a key meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi.

Azad, a member of the G-23 group, which has been calling for major reforms in the grand old party, is meeting Gandhi in the backdrop of Congress poll drubbing in five states.

Earlier on Thursday, former Haryana Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda had met Rahul Gandhi. Hooda, a G-23 leader, was the first to reach out to the Congress High Command after the group's meeting at Azad`s residence in New Delhi on Wednesday. As per PTI sources, Rahul Gandhi had inquired about the meeting of the G-23 leaders and their resolution. Hooda and Gandhi also discussed a revamp of the party organisation, sources said.

After their meeting at Azad's residence, the Group of 23 had called for an "inclusive and collective leadership" in the Congress. Releasing a joint statement, the dissident group leaders said, "In order to oppose BJP, it is necessary to strengthen the Congress party. We demand the Congress party to initiate dialogue with other like-minded forces to create a platform to pave way for a credible alternative for 2024."

These meetings are viewed as an attempt by the Gandhi family to reach out to the G-23 leaders to resolve the internal conflict in the party.

Earlier today, Azad also met veteran Congress leader Karan Singh, saying he met the latter to greet on Holi.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday (March 18) that he shared some suggestions with party chief Sonia Gandhi during his meeting at her residence.

Amid G-23 leaders call for revamp in Congress following the poll debacle in five states, Azad met Gandhi at 10 Janpath to resolve the inner conflict in the party.

The meeting with Sonia Gandhi was good. All members of the Congress party decided unanimously that she should continue as the president, we just had some suggestions that were shared, Azad was quoted as saying by ANI.

Azad said he also discussed fighting the forthcoming elections unitedly. "Mrs Gandhi keeps having discussions with leaders to strengthen the organisation. A few days ago the working committee had met and suggestions were asked as to how to strengthen the Congress party and what were the reasons for the defeat (in five assembly polls). I had also given my suggestions," Azad added.

The meeting with Sonia Gandhi was good. All members of the Congress party decided unanimously that she should continue as the president, we just had some suggestions that were shared: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad after meeting party president Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/OSSsZqekqw  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

Earlier on Thursday, former Haryana Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda had met Rahul Gandhi. Hooda, a G-23 leader, was the first to reach out to the top Congress brass after the group's meeting at Azad`s residence in New Delhi on Wednesday. As per PTI sources, Rahul Gandhi had inquired about the meeting of the G-23 leaders and their resolution. Hooda and Gandhi also discussed a revamp of the party organisation, sources said.

After the meeting at Azad's residence on Wednesday, the G-23 leaders had called for an "inclusive and collective leadership" in the Congress. Releasing a joint statement, the dissident group leaders had said, "In order to oppose BJP, it is necessary to strengthen the Congress party. We demand the Congress party to initiate dialogue with other like-minded forces to create a platform to pave way for a credible alternative for 2024."

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, had held a nearly five-hour-long meeting on March 13 to discuss the poll defeat. The party had put its weight behind Sonia Gandhi to continue to lead the party till organisational polls are held.

(With agency inputs)

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The High Commission of India is in touch with the Bangladeshi authorities over the vandalisation of ISKCON Radhakanta temple, as per sources. The temple in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka was vandalized by a mob of over 150 people last night. The shocking incident took place on Thursday night, according to media reports.

Reportedly, a recent court judgment in dispute went in favour of a litigant, who then tried to unilaterally enforce his title by force. Local authorities intervened and brought the situation under control.

The Voice Of Bangladeshi Hindus shared disturbing pictures of the attack targeting the ISKCON Radhakanta temple in Dhaka on Twitter.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said that the temple was attacked by a mob of 150 people. The attack on the ISKCON temple in Bangladesh injured three people, the organization said in a tweet.

"They vandalized the temple, murti, and looted money and other valuable things. At least 3 Hindu devotees were injured during this attack," the HAF said in a release on its website.

"These attacks are a matter of grave concern. We request the Bangladesh government to take stringent action and provide security to Hindu minorities in the country," Radharamn Das, Vice-President, ISKCON Kolkata said on the attack on the Radhakanta temple in Dhaka.
Srinagar: Indian Armed Security forces across Kashmir on Friday celebrated Holi with fervour. The officers say that such activities help boost the morale of the soldiers posted in the conflicted region of Kashmir.

Despite the fact that we belong to different religions and regions we soldier in battalion live like a family and celebrate all religions festival with full enthusiasm that boost the morale of soldiers, said Manoj Kumar CO 117 battalion.

The CRPF too celebrated the festival of colours and were seen playing and greeting each other while dancing and singing Bollywood Holi songs.

Special food and sweets were also prepared for the soldiers in every battalion to promote a more home-like culture.

We celebrate almost all the festivals in our battalion irrespective of the religion as they ( soldiers) do their duty in a tough place and that kind of celebration not only boost their morale but also make feel at home, it even brings down their stress level down, said Manoj Kumar.

Holi the festival of colours is seen as a victory of good over bad. it is celebrated to mark the arrival of the spring season.

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New Delhi: From Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP CM elect Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Amit Shah to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, all political leaders on Friday extended greetings to Indians on the occasion of Holi.

As the country celebrates the much-awaited festival of colours, heres how the Indian political leaders celebrated Holi 2022.

BJP President JP Nadda celebrated Holi in New Delhi with his party colleagues and supporters. In the video, released by news agency ANI, Nadda can be seen accepting greetings from people and applying colours on peoples faces.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan celebrated Holi at his residence in Bhopal. In the video, people hoist the CM on their shoulders as they splash colours to celebrate the festival.

#WATCH | #Holi celebrations at the residence of Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal, people hoist him on their shoulders as they splash colours to celebrate the festival. pic.twitter.com/woJqcSDyks  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 18, 2022

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrates #Holi at his residence in Bhopal. pic.twitter.com/gzb6UTWpN7  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 18, 2022

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also seen celebrating the festival of colours with the party colleagues and family.

Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia celebrates #Holi at his residence pic.twitter.com/caBzymWgvY  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat was seen in a rocking avatar beating 'dholak' at a 'Holi Milan' event in Raipur of Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

#WATCH | Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat beats a 'dholak' at a 'Holi Milan' event in Raipur of Dehradun in Uttarakhand. #Holi2022 pic.twitter.com/vYXEMNIbHD  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2022

Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also unveiled the rockstar in him and celebrated Holi at his residence. The minister also tried his hand on 'Dhol.'

#WATCH | Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi celebrates Holi at his residence. The minister also tries his hand on 'Dhol' pic.twitter.com/VGwLhnX2rm  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

Meanwhile, as India celebrates the festival of colours with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm, police in the national capital are on their toes to prevent any untoward incident and have raised a high alert in the city.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison will discuss a range of regional and multilateral issues, including the situation in Ukraine during the second virtual summit on March 21.

Releasing a statement on Friday (March 18), the Australian prime minister said, "We will also discuss a range of regional and multilateral issues, including the situation in Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific, and Myanmar.

Morrison said that the two countries' strong bilateral relationship is based on mutual understanding and trust. "Australia and India's strong bilateral relationship is based on mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to democracy, and a shared vision of an open, inclusive, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific," he said.

Morrison said the duo will also discuss deepening Australia and Indias trade and investment relationship. "Prime Minister Modi and I will discuss deepening our trade and investment relationship and harnessing new economic opportunities to support our mutual economic recovery and growth, PTI quoted the Australian PM as saying.

"Central to these endeavours are strengthened cooperation in defence and security, science and technology, and critical minerals and clean energy," he added.

The Australian PM will host Modi at the virtual annual leaders' meeting. "I look forward to reaffirming our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advancing our shared bilateral and regional agenda," Morrison said.

The first virtual summit of June 4, 2020 was historic as the India-Australia relationship was elevated to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'.

Informing about the second virtual meet, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday had said Modi and Morrison are expected to commit to closer bilateral ties in trade, critical minerals, migration and mobility, and education.

"The virtual summit will lay the way forward on new initiatives and enhanced cooperation in a diverse range of sectors between India and Australia," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said.

(With agency inputs)

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Jammu: Union Home Minister, Amit Shah is arriving here on Friday to begin his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Shah will reach here on Friday. He is scheduled to address the CRPF Raising Day parade at the Maulana Azad stadium and also chairs a high-level review of the security situation with senior officials of the MHA, J&K police, CAPFs, Intelligence agencies and the civil administration.

Union Home Minister will stay at the Raj Bhawan during his visit. He will address the CRPF Raising Day parade at the Maulana Azad Stadium on Saturday.

Jitendra Singh, MoS (PMO) is expected to accompany Shah during his visit along with the Union Home Secretary, AK Bhalla, DGs of CAPFs and heads of central intelligence agencies.

The Home Minister will be reviewing the security situation in J&K in the aftermath of the recent killings of three Panchayat members and two security men.

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Uttar Pradesh CM-designate Yogi Adityanath will be sworn in for his second term as the states Chief Minister on March 25 (next Friday), as per sources.

The BJP got a historic victory in the state elections last week. It was after 37 years that a party had returned to power in the countrys most populous state.

Following that, Adityanath held talks with the BJP's central leadership in Delhi, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President JP Nadda. Adityanath discussed his new Cabinet and post-election strategy.

It is being speculated if the BJP will induct a new face as the deputy CM after Keshav Prasad Maurya lost the assembly poll from Sirathu seat to Samajwadi Party's Pallavi Patel by 7,337 votes.

The BJP won 255 seats in the 403-member Assembly. Its two allies secured another 18 seats. Political watchers believe that Adityanath's stature has received a boost with the win as his leadership was at the centre of the BJP's re-election bid.
New Delhi: Holi festivities began on Thursday with Holika Dahan and now the country will celebrate Dhulendi by exchanging coloured greetings, sweets and other cultural ways to mark the festival of joy.

As Holi celebrations are already in the full swing and Indians across the states celebrate in a different way, here's a glimpse of the Holi festivities across India:

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: #Holi celebrations underway at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan of Mathura district. pic.twitter.com/DxFOZncA9F  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2022

Mathura and Vrindavan's Holi celebration is popular in the world and thus, people across the world reach Vrindavan to witness the festival of colours. Here Holi is played in various ways like colours, gobar, lath and flowers.

West Bengal

West Bengal | Durbar Mahila Coordination Committee, the largest organization of sex workers celebrated #Holi in the red-light area in Sonagachi, Kolkata. (17.03) pic.twitter.com/BZgiyh71KH  ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2022

West Bengal, where Holi is called Dol Jatar, rang in the festivals with beautiful visuals of Durbar Mahila Coordination Committee, the largest organization of sex workers playing with colours of Holi in the red-light area in Sonagachi, Kolkata.

#WATCH West Bengal | People along with young children celebrate the festival of 'Dol Utsav' by singing & dancing to the rhythm of traditional songs in a cultural programme in Kolkata#Holi pic.twitter.com/QxnLfQiCdV  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

People were also seen celebrating the festival of 'Dol Utsav' by singing and dancing to the rhythm of traditional songs in a cultural programme in Kolkata.

Ujjain

Holi celebrations in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain began with an arti at the famous Mahakaleshwar temple.

Gujarat

#WATCH | Children splashed flowers, hopped and danced as part of #Holi celebrations at Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad School in Vadodara, Gujarat (17.03) pic.twitter.com/6VGWzig1JI  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

Children splashed flowers, hopped and danced as part of Holi celebrations at Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad School in Vadodara, Gujarat

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New Delhi: Karnataka Education minister BC Nagesh said on Friday (March 18) that Bhagavad Gita is not only for Hindus and if experts suggest it will also be introduced in schools in the southern state from next year.

His remark comes in the wake of Gujarat deciding to introduce Bhagavad Gita as a part of the school syllabus for class 6 to 12 students from the academic year 2022-23.

The state education minister said that the government wants to introduce moral science in the future and its subject will be decided later on.

We've studied Moral Science in schools. Somehow it has been left out for years. Many parents feel it should be introduced. At present we've not thought of it. But we want to introduce in future. Subject in Moral Science will be decided by educational experts, ANI quoted Nagesh as saying.

He added, We're going to speak to our CM about whether we're going to introduce Moral Science, consulting with him we want to introduce it in next academic year. What gives an impact on the children will be introduced-whether it is Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan and Mahabharat.

The BJP minister said that Bhagavad Gita will be introduced from the next academic year if experts suugest. Bhagavad Gita is not only for Hindus, but it is also for all. If experts say it will definitely be introduced - not from this year but next year. We have to decide whether Moral Science has to be introduced, he said.

Bhagavad Gita is not only for Hindus, it is for all. If experts say it will definitely be introduced - not from this year but next year. We have to decide whether Moral Science has to be introduced: Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh pic.twitter.com/2Zf9iuMLoJ  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2022

Meanwhile, a section of Muslim traders in Bengaluru and parts of Karnataka observed a day-long bandh on Thursday to express disappointment over the High Court upholding the hijab ban in educational institutions. The Karnataka High Court had ruled that hijab was not an essential religious practice of Islam and the uniform norm has to be followed.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Actors Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are celebrating their first Holi as a married couple. The two were joined in their celebration by Vickys parents and brother. Sharing heartwarming photos of their intimate celebration, Katrina wrote on Instagram, Happy Holi, with multiple heart emojis.

In the photos, dry red gulaal can be seen smeared on everybody's face. All of them are dressed in white and are all smiles for the camera. Vickys brother, actor Sunny Kaushal is standing to the extreme left and next to him is his father,action director Sham Kaushal. Katrina is standing in the middle, holding her mother-in-law from behind. Vicky is standing next to his wife taking the selfie.

As soon as Katina shared her Holi photos, her friends and fans showered their love on her in the comment section. Amitabh Bachchan's daughter Shweta Bachchan wrote, Happy Holi. Katrinas BFF and fitness trainer penned a sweet note for her that read, Happy Holi Katy, may your life be filled with the colours of love and happiness always. Director Zoya Akhtar also wished the couple a happy Holi.

On Thursday evening, VicKat also made their first red carpet appearance as a couple at Dharma CEO Apoorva Mehtas 50th birthday bash. Katrina looked gorgeous in an azure blue short bodycon dress that she paired with metallic high heels. Vicky looked dapper in a black tuxedo with a floral design on it.

Check out their photos:

Katrina and Vicky got married in a lavish ceremony on 9 December 2021, at the Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. The couple had stayed tied-lipped throughout their dating period.

On the work front, Katrina will next be seen in Tiger 3 opposite Salman Khan. She also has Phone Bhoot, Jee Ley Zaraa and Merry Christmas in her kitty. Vicky Kaushal has Meghna Gulzars Sam Manekshaw biopic and The Immortal Ashwatthama and Takht in the pipeline.
NEW DELHI: Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh's son Ibrahim Khan, and Sridevi and Boney Kapoor's daughter Khushi Kapoor are among the most popular star kids on the block. They often get papped at their outings with friends and family in Mumbai.

While Ibrahim is often spotted in the company of his elder sister Sara Ali Khan, Khushi hogs attention every time she joins her sister Janhvi Kapoor, visiting some or other cafe in the city.

On Friday, Ibrahim and Khushi were captured on cameras as they attended the Holi party in Juhu together. They were seen enjoying the event. Ibrahim was seen in casual attire with colours all over them. The star kid was seen interacting with few people at the party as they celebrate the ocasion of colors together. Khushi Kapoor was seen in a white striped shirt and shorts and donned a cap.

While Khushi and Ibrahim were not clicked together in any photo, they both looked drenched in colours. Notably, none of the star kids posed for the cameras and looked busy in themselves.

Take a look at the photos below:

Speaking about Ibrahims big Bollywood debut, there is no announcement for it as of now. The young lad is currently assisting filmmaker Karan Johar on Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh starrer 'Rani Aur Rocky Ki Prem Kahani'.

On the other hand, Khushi Kapoor will follow her late mother Sridevi and sister Janhvi Kapoors footsteps and will soon enter the acting world. Reports are there she is all set to make her big Bollywood debut in a Zoya Akhtar directorial, adapted from the International comic book series, 'Archie'. She will feature alongside Suhana Khan and Agastya Nanda. However, an official announcement on the same is awaited from the makers.
New Delhi: The Central government has accorded `Y` category security cover to `The Kashmir Files` director Vivek Agnihotri with CRPF cover pan India, government sources said on Friday. The film, which focuses on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 1990s, has been mired in controversy since its release on March 11 with the BJP and Opposition parties having conflicting views on it.

At a BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the recently released film `The Kashmir Files` against attempts, he claimed were being made to discredit it.Bringing out the truth in the right manner, said the PM is always in favour of the nation.

`Kashmir Files`, directed by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri revolves around the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the year 1990.

On the other hand, Opposition parties are criticizing the film for showing "half-truth".

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party for backing the film `The Kashmir Files` and said that that if the movie `The Kashmir Files` can be made on Kashmir, then `Lakhimpur Files` can also be made.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the film `The Kashmir Files` shows half-truths and added that not only Hindus, but Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs were also murdered in Kashmir.

The movie, which had released in theatres on March 11, stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and others.It revolves around the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and has been directed by Vivek Agnihotri, known for films like `Tashkent Files`, `Hate Story` and `Buddha in a Traffic Jam`.

The film has been declared tax-free in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand.
New Delhi: The deadline for linking your Permanent Address Number (PAN) with your Aadhaar is quickly approaching, with the deadline set for March 31. One of the most critical things the government wants you to complete by the end of this month is linking your PAN with your Aadhaar number. Though the Central Board of Direct Taxes, or CBDT, has repeatedly postponed the deadline for linking Aadhaar and PAN, the department has made it plain that completion of the assignment is required. If you do not complete the process within the time frame specified, your PAN will become inactive.

Following the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has already relaxed numerous income tax reporting dates. If a PAN becomes inoperative, the income tax agency will consider the individual to have failed to file a PAN and will consequently hold the individual accountable for the consequences.

Furthermore, if your PAN is not linked to a bank account, you will be required to pay double TDS (Tax Deduction at Source). If your bank account is seeded with your PAN, you must pay a 10% TDS.

According to Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, any individual who had a PAN on July 1, 2017 and was eligible for Aadhaar must link their PAN to their Aadhaar. When completing an income tax return, the taxpayer must include their Aadhaar number. If the PAN is not linked to Aadhaar by the due date, it will become inactive. Section 139AA requires you to include your Aadhaar number while applying for a new PAN card.

Check if your PAN and Aadhaar Card is linked or not?

1) Browse the income tax department's official website, www.incometax.gov.in.

2) Select the Quick Links tab. There is an option to check the 'Link Aadhaar Status' there. You must click on that.

3) You will then see a new screen on your computer or mobile device. You must enter your PAN and Aadhaar numbers here.

4) Once you've completed the form, click 'View Link Aadhaar Status.'

5) The page will reveal the status of your Aadhaar-PAN. If they are linked, your PAN (PAN Aadhaar) is linked to your Aadhaar number (Aadhar Number).

Here's how to link PAN and Aadhaar

You can connect your PAN to Aadhaar in a variety of ways. For starters, you can do it online in two ways: without logging into the income tax portal or after logging into your account. To link your PAN and Aadhaar, you must give your PAN and Aadhaar details, as well as other information.

Apart from these options, thanks to new updates from Aadhaar issuing institution Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), you can also link your Aadhaar card to your PAN card by SMS. Send an SMS from your registered phone number to either 567678 or 56161 to begin the connection procedure.

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New Delhi: Malicious actors find WhatsApp users to be easy prey. Cybercriminals are attempting to dupe WhatsApp users by mimicking the title of a renowned film. A new fraud has been discovered in which viewers are being directed to bogus websites purporting to give the popular Kashmir Files movie for free. By clicking on this link, you are exposing your phone to malware and other threats.

Ranvijay Singh, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida), has come up to explain why this latest WhatsApp fraud is so deadly. Singh added that by clicking on the bogus link, customers will not receive the Kashmir Files video, but rather cybercriminals will be able to hijack smartphones and empty bank accounts associated with the phone number.

"There has been no specific case here yet in which the movie's name has been exploited," Singh told PTI, "but there are inputs regarding such an approach being used by conmen for hacking into people's phones or duping them of money."

He claimed that some people had lost their savings as a result of clicking on a few links delivered to them via WhatsApp. These links were disguising themselves as free Kashmir Files movie streaming.

"Most recently, three people addressed the police within a 24-hour period from just one police station with similar charges of cyber fraud, in which they ended up losing a total of 30 lakh," he added.

Heres how to stay safe

According to police officers, WhatsApp users should avoid clicking on links published on the app or social media. If the connection is shared by an unknown person, it may pose an even greater risk.

Even if such a link is shared by a recognised person, the user should first contact that person to confirm the legitimacy of the connection.

The film Kashmir Files is based on the early 1990s flight of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley. The film has received acclaim from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other significant leaders.

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US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on a video call on Friday about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Chinese media said Xi underlined that such conflicts are in no-one's interests.

Biden was expected to tell the Chinese leader that Beijing would pay a steep price if it supports the invasion, a warning that comes at a time of deepening acrimony between the two nations.

The call began at 9:03 a.m. Eastern time (1303 GMT), the White House said.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told MSNBC that Xi should tell Russian President Vladimir Putin "to end this war of choice, this war of carnage" in Ukraine.

"China needs to stand on the right side of history. It needs to ensure that it does not backfill, financially or in any other way, sanctions that have been imposed on Russia," she told CNN.

Xi told Biden that conflicts and confrontations such as the events in Ukraine are in the interests of no one, according to Chinese state media. State-to-state relations cannot advance to the stage of confrontation, and conflicts and confrontations are not in the interests of anyone, Xi said.

"The Ukraine crisis is something that we don`t want to see," Xi was quoted as saying.

Before the call, a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday. The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier at least partly on its route.

China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own, and has over the past two years stepped up its military activity near the island to assert its sovereignty claims, alarming Taipei and Washington.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Biden would make clear to Xi that China will bear responsibility if it supported Russia's "aggression" and that Washington "will not hesitate to impose costs." Russia says it is carrying out a special military operation in Ukraine.

Speaking on Thursday, Blinken said the Biden administration was concerned China was considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment for use in Ukraine, something Beijing has denied.

Washington is also concerned that China could help Russia circumvent Western economic sanctions.

Russia`s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has killed hundreds of civilians, reduced city areas to rubble and sparked a humanitarian crisis as millions flee the country.

Russia fired missiles at an airport near Lviv on Friday, a city where hundreds of thousands had sought refuge far from Ukraine`s battlefields, as Moscow tries to regain the initiative in its stalled campaign against Ukraine.

Ukraine has added a new front in a US-Chinese relationship already at its worst level in decades, further deflating Biden`s initial hopes of easing a wide range of disputes by using a personal connection with Xi that predates his term in office.

The United States and China are the world`s two largest economies and Washington has been anxious to avoid a new "Cold War" between them, seeking instead to define the relationship as one of competitive coexistence.

However, China`s "no-limits" strategic partnership with Russia announced last month and its stance on Ukraine has called that into question.

China has refused to condemn Russia's action in Ukraine or call it an invasion, and it has censored online content in China that is pro-West or unfavourable to Russia.

Beijing, while saying it recognizes Ukraine`s sovereignty, has also said Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed. It has urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

While Biden`s administration has threatened counter-measures if China helps Russia`s Ukraine effort, it and its allies have not yet decided precisely what steps they might take, according to a person involved in the conversations.

Targeting Beijing with the sort of extensive economic sanctions imposed on Russia would have potentially dire consequences for the United States and the world, given that China is the world`s second-largest economy and the largest exporter.

Analysts say China is unlikely to turn its back on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, but its diplomatic efforts to appear even-handed are becoming harder to maintain and closeness with Moscow could cost Beijing goodwill in many world capitals.

However, Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China`s foreign ministry, scorned the idea of Beijing being discomfited and instead lashed out against Western counties, accusing them of stoking fears in countries like Russia.

"Those who really feel uncomfortable are those countries that think they can lord it over the world after winning the Cold War, those that keep driving NATO`s eastward expansion five times in disregard of other countries` security concerns, those that wage wars across the globe while accusing other countries of being belligerent," Zhao said on Thursday.

Chinas ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, has said China would have worked to prevent the war if it had known about the "imminent crisis." However, according to a New York Times report in February, Washington shared intelligence with senior Chinese officials on Russias troop build up in an effort to convince Beijing to intervene with Putin, but were rebuffed.

A seven-hour meeting in Rome on Monday between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi was described as "tough" and "intense" by U.S. officials.

Biden`s administration has not offered evidence of its claim that China has signalled a willingness to help Russia. Moscow has denied asking China for military assistance, and China`s foreign ministry called the idea "disinformation."

However, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said this week the country was counting on China to help it withstand the blow to its economy from punishing Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia`s economy from the rest of the world.
Brussels: Cases of Omicron BA2, a Covid-19 subvariant, are rising across the European Union (EU) as member nations were lifting restrictions, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said.

"While many EU countries are lifting restrictions, we notice that the infection rates are increasing again in some member states, partly because of the circulation of Omicron BA2, which seems to be more transmissible than other variants," Xinhua news agency quoted Marco Cavalieri, head of the EMA`s strategy on biological health threats and vaccines, as saying to journalists here on Thursday.

What matters the most, he said, is how this increase in cases will stress the healthcare systems. The EMA called non-vaccinated citizens to get jabbed as soon as possible, emphasizing that there are now five Covid-19 jabs authorised in the EU using different technologies.

"There is currently no evidence that immune response after vaccination is significantly different with Omicron BA2. Vaccines continue to offer high protection against hospitalization and death," he said.

The vaccines that have received conditional marketing authorisation from the EMA are those produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novavax.

It may be noted that the WHO recently warned nations to remain vigilant against the Covid-19 virus. Figures showing a global rise in Covid-19 cases could herald a much bigger problem as some countries also report a drop in testing rates, the WHO said on Tuesday.

After more than a month of decline, Covid-19 cases started to increase around the world last week, the WHO said, with lockdowns in Asia and China`s Jilin province battling to contain an outbreak.

A combination of factors was causing the increases, including the highly transmissible Omicron variant and its BA.2 sublineage, and the lifting of public health and social measures, the WHO said.

"This increase is occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we`re seeing are just the tip of the iceberg," WHO`s head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

Low vaccination rates in some countries, driven partly by a "huge amount of misinformation" also explained the rise, WHO officials said. New infections jumped by 8% globally compared to the previous week, with 11 million new cases and just over 43,000 new deaths reported from March 7-13. It is the first rise since the end of January.

The biggest jump was in the WHO`s Western Pacific region, which includes South Korea and China, where cases rose by 25% and deaths by 27%.

Africa also saw a 12% rise in new cases and a 14% rise in deaths, and Europe a 2% rise in cases but no jump in deaths. Other regions reported declining cases, including the eastern Mediterranean region, although this area saw a 38% rise in deaths linked to a previous spike in infections.

A number of experts have raised concerns that Europe faces another coronavirus wave, with cases rising since the beginning of March in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

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New Delhi: Pharmaceutical giant Moderna is now seeking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its fourth shot of Covid-19 vaccine to be administered as a booster dose in eligible adults, reported PTI.

In a press release, the company said its request for approval for all adults was made to provide flexibility to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and medical providers to determine the appropriate use of a second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, including for those at higher risk of Covid-19 due to age or comorbidities."

The request comes after Modernas biggest rival pharmaceutical firm Pfizer requested earlier this week for the regulatory approval for its booster shot for all seniors.

US Officials have been laying the groundwork to deliver additional booster doses to shore up the vaccines' protection against serious disease and death from coronavirus infection.

The White House has been sounding the alarm that it needs Congress to urgently approve more funding for the federal government to secure more doses of the Covid-19 vaccines, either for additional booster shots or variant-specific immunizations.

(With PTI inputs)

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United Nations: India has said it is ready to "engage" in diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine where the UN has raised "grave fears" for millions of people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "emphasized that there is no option but the path of dialogue and diplomacy", India`s Permanent Representative, TS Tirumurti, said on Thursday.

"We stand ready to continue to engage on these objectives in the Security Council, as well as with the parties (to the conflict), in the coming days," he said. PM Modi has spoken to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and urged them to hold direct talks.

We reiterate our call for immediate cessation of hostilities across #Ukraine. Our Prime Minister has reiterated this on several occasions and called for immediate ceasefire and path of dialogue and diplomacy: India's Amb TS Tirumurti at UN emergency meeting pic.twitter.com/xSQlOMOEGf  ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2022

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said that while there were "grave fears about the fate of millions of residents" who were "facing intensifying attacks", there were some positive developments in talks between Russia and Ukraine, but they have not led to a ceasefire.

She said, "This week, there were positive signals reported regarding the ongoing direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives. We welcome all such engagements." "However, we note that these signals of support are not translated into the cessation of hostilities that is so desperately needed," she added.

After the negotiators, Vladimir Medinsky of Russia and Mykhailo Podolyak of Ukraine held a round of video talks, Zelensky said on Wednesday, "I am informed, the positions during the negotiations already sound more realistic."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov introduced a note of optimism in the 22-day war, saying they were "close to an agreement". Tirumurti said, "We reiterate our call for the immediate cessation of hostilities across Ukraine."

Without naming Russia, which launched the war, he said, "We continue to underline the need to respect the UN Charter, international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states." "The humanitarian situation has worsened, particularly in the conflict zones," he said.

He said that humanitarian assistance should not be politicised and be guided by the principles of "humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence". To contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis, Tirumurti said that India has already sent over 90 tonnes of relief supplies to Ukraine and its neighbours since March 1, he said.

"We are in the process of identifying other such requirements and sending further supplies in the coming days," he said. DiCarlo warned that "dangerous ripple effects are felt around the world" from the war because of threats to the supply of food from Ukraine, the world`s breadbasket.

Between February 24 and March 15, she said, 726 people have been killed, 52 of them children, and most of the casualties resulted from the use of explosive weapons with wide impact in residential areas.

"The actual number is likely much higher," she said. There should be a thorough investigation into the attacks on civilians and those responsible should be held to account, she said. "Life-saving medicine we need now is peace," World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said outlining the health catastrophe in Ukraine.

He said that WHO has verified 43 attacks on health care facilities, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, including health workers. "Attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law, anytime, anywhere," he said. He said that UN convoys with humanitarian supplies have not been able to reach several areas.

US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that she had just met with Ukrainian civil society leaders who "reported terror, the terror that Russia is inflicting across Ukraine", including the shooting of people standing in a bread line.

China`s Permanent Representative Zhang Jun said that "a chance for a ceasefire" was emerging. He said, "Sanctions will not solve problems, instead will create new problems" given the sluggish recovery and trigger a humanitarian crisis.

Russia`s Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine but denied the accusations of Russia attacking places like medical facilities or a theatre sheltering people or a mosque.

"We note with regret that Ukraine has always was a pawn in the struggle against Russia and remains such a pawn still," he said. He said that Russia will not press for a vote on a resolution it had introduced to counter a resolution proposed by France and Mexico on facilitating humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

Moscow was calling for an emergency session of the Security Council on Friday on what he said were bio-weapon labs in Ukraine, he said.

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New Delhi: The Russian Embassy in Washington called on the US government to immediately disclose all the information about its military biological activities in Ukrainian laboratories as war with Ukraine escalates.

"We demand that the US Side disclose information about military biological activity in laboratories on the territory of Ukraine as soon as possible. What kind of peaceful research we are talking about if the Pentagon stands behind these projects," the embassy wrote on its Telegram channel

Moscows Defence Ministry has also presented documents confirming cooperation between the US and Ukraine in the creation and production of biological weapons.

The Russian department also said that during the work, Ukrainian scientists identified six families of viruses, including coronaviruses, and three types of pathogenic bacteria as a part of its biological weapon.

In addition to that, the ministry is also convinced that the Kharkiv Institute of Veterinary Medicine studied wild birds as carriers of highly pathogenic avian influenza, RT reported.

Igor Kirillov, chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the RF Armed Forces, held a briefing on the results of the analysis of documents related to the US military biological activities in Ukraine.

"We believe that components of biological weapons were created on the territory of Ukraine," he said.

According to him, this is evidenced by a document dated March 6, 2015, confirming the direct participation of the Pentagon in the financing of military biological projects in Ukraine, RT reported.

"According to established practice, American projects in the field of sanitary and epidemiological well-being in the territory of third countries, including Africa and Asia, are funded through national health authorities.

"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Agreement on Joint Biological Activities was concluded between the US military department and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. However, the real recipient of funds is the laboratories of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense located in Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv and Kharkiv. The total amount of financing amounted to $32 million," Kirillov added.

He noted that these biological laboratories were chosen by the project to study the pathogens of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, leptospirosis and hantaviruses since these pathogens have natural foci in Ukraine and Russia.

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WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "pure thug" and "murderous dictator," his latest pointed attack against the latter amid ongoing military operation by the Russian troops in Ukraine.

Speaking at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on St. Patrick's Day at Capitol Hill, Biden said Putin is "a murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine."

"Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin is a murderous dictator, a pure thug," #Ukraine's The Kyiv Independent quotes US President Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/SgtYYQac7n  ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2022

Earlier, in a meeting with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, the President also zeroed in on the Russian leader, saying, "Putin's brutality and what he's doing and his troops are doing in Ukraine is just inhumane."

Biden made these comments came a day he called Putin a war criminal  a significant escalation in his rhetoric condemning the Russian leader's actions against Ukraine.

Also on Wednesday, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's emotional address to Congress, Biden laid out new American military assistance to Ukraine, which includes weapons and drones, as well as anti-aircraft and anti-armour systems, stopping short of some of Zelenskyy's requests, such as the implementation of a no-fly zone.

Biden also credited lawmakers at the luncheon for coming together across party lines to pass the assistance package, which was part of a larger spending bill the president signed into law this week. He said the group "should have more times like this where Democrats, Republicans get together."

Reacting to his comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Biden's remarks were "absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable." Moscow considers "inadmissible and unforgivable" the words of US President Joe Biden, who called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal", said Peskov.

Peskov also said that hundreds of thousands of people around the world have been killed by US bombs. The words of Biden, who called Putin a "war criminal", are "absolutely inadmissible, unacceptable, unforgivable", said Peskov, RT reported.

"Our President is a very wise, far-sighted and cultured international figure and the head of the Russian Federation," said Peskov while answering a question as to why Putin does not answer the American leader.

Moscow cannot take into account the decision of the International Court of Justice, which demanded an immediate halt to the special military operation in Ukraine, said Peskov. He added that negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations will continue.

"Our delegation, headed by (Vladimir) Medinsky, with the participation of experts and relevant departments, is ready to work around the clock, and it demonstrates this readiness. Unfortunately, we do not see a similar zeal on the Ukrainian side," Peskov added.

Live TV
New Delhi: Russian missiles on Friday hit the airport of Ukraine`s western city of Lviv, its mayor Andriy Sadovy said, though he added that the airport itself had not been attacked.

Authorities are assessing the situation and will issue updates, he said as per a Reuters report.

Earlier, television station Ukraine 24 said at least three explosions had been heard in the city of Lviv.

Reuters has reported that at least three blasts were heard near Lviv`s airport on Friday morning, with videos on social media showing large explosions and mushroom-shaped plumes of smoke rising.

Lviv`s mayor, Andriy Sadovy, said several missiles has struck an aircraft maintenance facility, destroying buildings but causing no casualties.

The city has escaped significant fighting so far.

Meanwhile, Japan and Australia imposed new sanctions on Russian entities as punishment for its invasion.

Despite battleground setbacks and punitive sanctions by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little sign of relenting.

The Russian government says it is counting on China to help Russia withstand blows to its economy.

The United States, which this week announced $800 million in new military aid to Kyiv, is concerned China is "considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Russia on February 24 launched a military operation against Ukraine that it said was retaliation in response to a so-called genocide in the separatist states of the country.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Live TV
MOSCOW: Graffiti warnings daubed on the doors of activists in Moscow. A food blogger was threatened with up to 15 years in jail for "discrediting" Russia`s army. A call to sack a senior former official for "treachery" for opposing the war in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin issued a venomous warning to "traitors" on Wednesday, saying the West would try to use them as a fifth column to destroy Russia, but that Russians would be quickly able to tell the "patriots from the scum".

Within hours of Putin`s speech, Dmitry Ivanov, a Moscow-based activist, said his mother found a graffiti message on the door to their apartment landing: "Don`t betray the motherland Dima".

The graffiti bore several of the "Z" signs used to drum up support for what Moscow calls its "special military operation" to disarm and "denazify" Ukraine. The motif is from markings on Russia`s armoured vehicles and tanks.

Ivanov, who has protested against the war, said he had no idea who was behind the graffiti, but that he knew of at least three other people, including activists and a journalist, whose doors had been defaced in the same way on Wednesday evening.

"I don`t know their aims: to frighten, not to frighten, or just to spoil your mood. It`s hard to scare us with such actions: we`re used to this kind of attention," the 22-year-old said, reported Reuters.

"It`s possible this action was to complement Putin`s speech, I think that`s possible. Especially considering how shoddily, and cheaply these markings were done. It was done in a hurry," he said. Thousands of people have been detained across Russia since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

"SELF-CLEANSING"

Putin, in his comments to government ministers on Wednesday, said Russians would spit out traitors "like gnats", and society would be the better for it. "I am convinced that this natural and necessary self-cleansing of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to meet any challenge," he said.

Asked about the remarks on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said many people were showing themselves to be traitors. "They are vanishing from our lives themselves. Some people are leaving their posts, some are leaving their active work life, some leave the country and move to other countries. That is how this cleansing happens," he said.

After Putin spoke, the Investigative Committee, a law enforcement body, announced the name of the first person, a food blogger, under investigation for spreading "false information" about Russia`s army on her blog.

That crime is now punishable by up to 15 years in jail after Russia adopted a law on March 4 following a ripple of protest activity against the invasion.

In an interview with Reuters, Veronika Belotserkovskaya who lives in southern France said that despite being apolitical she was not surprised she had been singled out as she likely fitted the image of a person whom the average Russian might loathe.

"You know, there`s this fat spoilt woman living on the Cote D`Azur, in Provence, or in Italy, who makes foie gras and eats lobsters, who also dares to blather on from over there... I have all of these qualities that the average person would see as disgusting," she said.

After Putin spoke on Wednesday, a senior member of the ruling United Russia party called for the immediate sacking of former deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich from his position as head of a foundation that promotes economic innovation.

Dvorkovich, who now heads the International Chess Federation, condemned the war in comments to Western media. "He has made his choice," said the parliamentarian, Andrei Turchak. "This is nothing but the very national betrayal, the behaviour of the fifth column, which the president spoke about today."

Live TV
Hong Kong: CE visits children's jab centre

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today visited the Hong Kong University children community vaccination centre at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong to know more about the arrangements being made by parents and schools for children to receive COVID-19 vaccination there.

Accompanied by Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip, Mrs Lam was briefed by the university's Dean of Medicine Prof Gabriel Leung and the hospital's Chief Executive Officer Dr Kenneth Tsang on the centre's operation, including the special dilution procedure for the BioNTech vaccine for children.

She also spoke to medical personnel and other working staff, offering words of encouragement.

The Chief Executive expressed her gratitude to the experienced medical team of the university and the hospital for their care for the children, providing a comfortable and safe environment for vaccination.

She also thanked parents and school staff for responding to the Government's appeal by arranging vaccination for children at the centre.

Mrs Lam said that as of yesterday, more than 290,000 children aged three to 11 have received their first dose, representing a vaccination rate of 56.1%. About 230,000 children are yet to be vaccinated.

She appealed to parents to make arrangements for their young children to get vaccinated immediately in order to reduce their risk of serious illness or death in case of infection, while at the same time creating favourable conditions for students to return to school to have different learning activities.

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
MEET THE CANDIDATES - Select Board contenders (left photo, l to r) Mark Dockser, Jackie McCarthy, and Nancy Tawadros enjoy each others conversation in the moments before the start of a pre-election forum moderated by Democratic Town Committee Chair Cathy Zeek. Photo at right, (l to r), School Committee incumbents Charles Robinson and Tom Wise, both of whom are running unopposed in Aprils elections, field questions from Zeek in the Reading Public Library Community Room.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Press Release

March 18, 2022 De Lima welcomes lifting of the permit requirement by COMELEC Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima welcomed the lifting of the permit requirement for in-person campaigns by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). De Lima, a former election lawyer, said that removing such permit system, which burdens present candidates, can help lead to a more informed electorate. "The lifting of the election campaign permit requirement by the COMELEC is most welcome," said De Lima, who is seeking reelection under the Robredo-Pangilinan ticket. "Fair elections necessitate that candidates be given every opportunity to present their platforms and qualifications. By removing this superfluous permit requirements for candidates, COMELEC is on the right direction towards a better informed electorate," she added. Reportedly, COMELEC already pushes to remove the permit requirement for campaign rallies in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2, which includes the National Capital Region (NCR). According to COMELEC Commissioner George Garcia, the written recalibrated rules are being routed for the poll officials' signatures. The COMELEC permit became a requirement for the 2022 elections as part of COVID-19 safety protocols. Here, permit holders need to submit written reports to the poll body about details of the gathering immediately after the event, such as headcount and activities done. Supporters of several candidates were quick to criticize the permit system for curtailing their rights of freedom of expression and assembly. The lady Senator from Bicol maintained that it was never realistic to expect COMELEC to scrutinize each and every event of each and every candidate for the duration of the campaign period. "As I have said before, it is an unnecessary bureaucratic requirement for all candidates. Certainly, it is not something COMELEC is staffed or equipped to do," she said. "At its best, it is just an accumulation of wastepaper in the COMELEC offices where random COMELEC officials skim through the paperwork only to end up mechanically approving the request. At worst, it is a means to put candidates with limited resources at even more disadvantage by giving them more hoops through which to jump," she added.
Your browser does not support the video tag.








The aforementioned pact is an initiative by regional governors. It is supported by mayors for governability in the country.





The top official pointed out that the document is in tune with his feelings and the democratic principles recently expressed in an address delivered at Congress of the Republic.





"I am a democratic man and, as a democratic man, I am respectful of the country's popular will (...) it is time to tell the country that the three levels of government must feel the same, because discrimination and differences do not let us move forward ," he emphasized.





Likewise, the President promised to endorse and promote the political and social pact, which will also be handed over to State-run institutions such as the Constitutional Court, the Public Ministry, as well as the Legislative and Judicial Branches.





Furthermore, Mr. Castillo reiterated his announcement to immediately convene a National Agreement session, where Peru's representative forces must be present.





"No one is left behind; all of us must have a voice and a vote," he concluded.





The event was held at the Government Palace's Courtyard of Honor. It was also attended by National Assembly of Regional Governments (ANGR) Chairman Jean Paul Benavente and Association of Municipalities of Peru (AMPE) Head Marcos Gasco.




Canciller Landa se reunio con el representante en el Peru de @AgendaCAF Manuel Malaret, a quien transmitio el interes de realizar un trabajo conjunto para un nuevo esquema de integracion regional sobre la priorizacion y coordinacion de proyectos de desarrollo social y sostenible. pic.twitter.com/mm5TlkepS3
??? A partir del 20 de marzo, se amplia el Estado de Emergencia en Lima Metropolitana y el Callao por 45 dias. La @PoliciaPeru mantiene el control del orden interno, con el apoyo de las Fuerzas Armadas.

?? Ver Decreto Supremo N 025-2022-PCM: https://t.co/jdCYd5DdJw pic.twitter.com/Ww36zduyMw
" " The Archaeopteryx was a birdlike dinosaur that likely had to get a running start to take flight. It lived during the Jurassic Period. Stocktrek Images/Getty Images/Stocktrek Images

It all began with a single feather. On Sept. 30, 1861, the German paleontologist Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer published his description of a jaw-dropping new find. Fossil feathers were unheard of at the time, yet somebody had pulled one out of a limestone quarry near Solnhofen, Bavaria.

Von Meyer named the animal it belonged to Archaeopteryx lithographica. His choice was apt; the first part of that name (i.e., Archaeopteryx) means "ancient wing."

By sheer coincidence, von Meyer's description came out less than two years after Charles Darwin published his landmark book, "On the Origin of Species." Archaeopteryx immediately entered the discourse about evolution and natural selection.

More material was on the way. By late 1861, the fossilized skeleton of a birdlike creature with a long, bony tail  something modern birds lack  had emerged from the Bavarian countryside. Parts of the body were surrounded by feather impressions.

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A Feather in Darwin's Cap

That fossilized skeleton we mentioned was soon bought on behalf of what's now the Natural History Museum in London, England. Aficionados call that Archaeopteryx fossil the "London specimen."

Much better-known is the "Berlin specimen." Currently displayed at the Natural History Museum of Berlin, Germany, it was found near the Bavarian town of Eichstatt in 1876. Unlike its British-held counterpart, this Archaeopteryx features a complete skull.

And what a skull! Whereas modern birds are toothless, the Berlin specimen has a mouth full of small, conical teeth. Another trait that set Archaeopteryx apart from today's birds are the three clawed fingers showcased on each hand.

In total, bony remains from around 12 individual Archaeopteryx have turned up. All this material hails from Bavaria, in Jurassic rock deposits that are around 150 million years old.

There's a debate about whether the skeletal fossils represent the same animal as von Meyer's original feather. Separate studies published in the journal Nature in 2019 and 2020 reached different conclusions on the matter.

" " This fossil casting is from the "Berlin specimen," an Archaeopteryx found at the Blumenberg quarry near Eichstatt, Germany, in 1877. It's now displayed in the Natural History Museum of Berlin. James L. Amos/Getty Images

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Leaving the Nest

Regardless, we know Archaeopteryx was a dinosaur that belonged to a group called the theropods. Other theropods include Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor and every bird that's ever existed.

The second toe on each foot was hyperextensible; Archaeopteryx could hold the digits at an upright angle even while standing. Chances are, this kept the claws on both toes from wearing down too fast.

Opinions differ, but a different set of toes may have been somewhat opposable. If so, perhaps Archaeopteryx could grasp things with its feet.

Judging by the available fossils, Archaeopteryx grew to be around 21 inches (53 centimeters) long with a 2-foot (60-centimeter) wingspan. That wasn't necessarily the creature's maximum size, though. Some Archaeopteryx specimens might represent juvenile animals.

According to a 2009 bone structure study, Archaeopteryx grew up at a slower rate than most living birds do. By the same paper's estimates, mature adults would've weighed about 1.8 to 2.2 pounds (822 to 1,009 grams)  making them about the size of common ravens.

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Prehistoric Plumage

Archaeopteryx might've shared something else with ravens, by the way. That feather von Meyer wrote about in 1861 is thought to be a covert feather, meaning it probably covered the bases of larger feathers. Traces left behind by microscopic pigment structures reveal some feathers from Archaeopteryx-bearing deposits  including von Meyer'swere either completely or partially black.

Black feathers offer some advantages. White pelicans, wood storks and lots of other birds have black-tipped wings. That's because the pigment responsible for this color has the pleasant side effect of strengthening flight feathers.

Ravens also use their dark plumage to regulate body temperature; black feathers absorb heat from the sun, which can then be dissipated by passing winds. Counterintuitively, having black feathers is a good way to keep cool.

By nature, feathers are multipurpose tools. Whether it's flightless or not, a bird's coat can help it attract mates and regulate body temperature.

Just like modern birds, Archaeopteryx had feathers that varied in size and shape across different regions of the body. One specimen has the imprints of both asymmetrical, 3.9 to 4.5-inch (9.9 to 11.4-centimeter) tail feathers  and smaller, symmetrical leg feathers measuring 1.5-1.7 inches (4-4.5-centimeters) long.

Back in the Jurassic, this dinosaur may have looked like it was wearing shaggy trousers.

" " Traces of microscopic pigment structures left behind show the Archaeopteryx had either completely black or partially black feathers. Nobumichi Tamura/Stocktrek Image / Getty Images/Stocktrek Images

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Dinosaur Island(s)

For more than a century-and-a-half now, the world's been wondering if Archaeopteryx could fly.

The dinosaur lived at a time when Bavaria was a subtropical archipelago full of lagoons and barrier islands. The south German limestones where Archaeopteryx is found comprise a "lagerstatten," an area with exceptionally well-preserved fossils.

Unrelated flying reptiles called pterosaurs appear in the same lagerstatten. So do the bones of Compsognathus, a small theropod featured in "The Lost World: Jurassic Park." Fossilized beetles, dragonflies, jellyfish, real fish, crustaceans and swimming reptiles round out the ensemble. Scientists think Archaeopteryx ate smaller animals like insects.

Artists often depict Archaeopteryx perched on elevated tree branches. However, 150 million years ago, low-lying shrubs were probably more common than trees in this part of the world.

Trees factor into the large discussion about how theropod flight evolved. According to one proposed scenario (the "trees-down" hypothesis), the direct ancestors of the first flighted birds were tree-climbers who'd glide from branch to branch.

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Was the Sky the Limit?

Archaeopteryx's climbing skills  or lack thereof  are a bone of contention. But many scientists now think it was a half-decent flyer.

In 2018, a team led by paleontologist Dennis Voeten examined the wing bones of three different Archaeopteryx. Next, their proportions were compared with the arms from 69 different animals  from extant birds to nonavian dinosaurs like Allosaurus to the good old American alligator.

Judging by its bones, the team concluded Archaeopteryx could probably fly for short bursts, rather like modern pheasants and turkeys. However, the dinosaur's shoulder anatomy would've made it incapable of flapping its wings the same way extant birds do.

Other research suggests Archaeopteryx used to take off from ground level  though it may have needed a running start.

All birds are theropods, but not all theropods were birds. Experts disagree about how Archaeopteryx should be classified. Some see it as a basal bird, others think it had more in common with Velociraptor and its cousins.

We've come a long way since 1861. At dig sites around the world, dinosaurs with feathers and similar body coverings are constantly emerging. Many predate Archaeopteryx by tens of millions of years.

And let's not ignore the recent discovery of tiny theropods with "bat-like" wings. This unexpected new development just goes to show that the emergence of flight in dinosaurs was a complex affair. Archaeopteryx got the conversation rolling. Who knows where it'll go next?

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING So now you know what the word Archaeopteryx means. But remember, its full scientific name is Archaeopteryx lithographica. That second bit is a reference to one of Bavaria's geologic industries. At the quarries where Archaeopteryx first appeared, miners gathered up limestone slabs that could be used for building material  or to make rocky prints called "lithographs."
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian pavilion at the annual MITT Moscow tourism expo is of big interest to travel agencies, governmental organizations and potential tourists.

Gayane Ayvazyan, the PR and Digital Marketing expert at the Armenian Tourism Committee told ARMENPRESS from Moscow that theyve had meetings with tourism representatives from the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, Sochi, as well as representatives of Rostourism and the Association of Tour Operators of Russia and media outlets.

There is rather big activeness, both individuals and tourism representatives display big interest towards the Armenian pavilion. Weve had a number of meetings with representatives of the sector. We mostly talked about the importance of cooperation especially in the current conditions [Russian-Ukrainian conflict]. There is big interest from Russia to expand cooperation, they are eager to work more effectively with Armenia. We even talked about proposals on Yerevan becoming a hub from where it will be possible to connect with the world, especially when Russia is under sanctions, Avyazyan said.

According to Ayvazyan, most of the questions raised during the discussions related to flights. The work of Armenian airlines was highlighted.

13 travel agencies from Armenia are participating in the event.

One of the participants, the Armenia-based Just Travel agency, is presenting tour packages offering adventure, cultural and gastro tourism.

In this difficult situation, when many countries have shut down the opportunity of visits for Russian citizens, Armenia is one of the few countries where Russian tourists can come, Just Travel representative Naira Tovmasyan said.

She added that Armenia is a very convenient place also for corporate tourism.

Russia is Armenias biggest and primary tourism market. In 2021, more than 350,000 Russian tourists arrived in Armenia, making Russia the top inbound country of origin of tourists.

Anna Gziryan
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The presentation of the book titled Nation and National Minorities: Study of Armenian Genocide by Greek historian Alexandros Pigadas was held in Athens.

The presentation was attended by Armenias Ambassador to Greece Tigran Mkrtchyan, the Embassy said.

In his remarks the Ambassador welcomed the work of the historian and highlighted its importance. He particularly outlined the fact in the book on to what extent the Armenian Genocide affected the formation of the Greek-Armenian community.

The book touches upon the painful pages of the history of the Armenian people, the events and circumstances before the Genocide, the formation process of the Armenian Diaspora, as well as the efforts aimed at the international recognition and condemnation of the crime of genocide.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. On March 17, Armenian-Russian consultations in the inter-departmental format were held in Moscow regarding the implementation of the bilateral inter-governmental memorandum on partnership on ensuring biological safety which was signed in 2021, the Russian foreign ministry said.

An exchange of views took place regarding the threats to biological safety in the CIS territory.

The course of implementation of the bilateral memorandum on biosafety was discussed, including concrete directions of future cooperation.

Issues of optimization and raising of effectiveness of implementation of the memorandum clauses through the development of a relevant advisory mechanism were discussed.

The common approaches of Armenia and Russia on biological safety issues were confirmed during the consultation.

The need for close coordination and constructive partnership was noted in both bilateral and specialized multilateral platforms.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Japan Areg Hovhannisyan met on March 18 with Deputy Director-General at the European Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Shuichi Tokuda, the Embassy said on social media.

During the meeting the Armenian Ambassador presented the latest developments around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, touched upon different issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as the geopolitical developments around Ukraine.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Japan, Ambassador Hovhannisyan gifted a batik souvenir specially made in Armenia symbolizing the Armenian-Japanese ties and friendship, to Shuichi Tokuda.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the PMs Office said.

The message runs as follows,

Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Cyprus.

March 18 marks the consolidation of interstate relations based on centuries-old Armenian-Cypriot ties and strong friendship, common values, mutual respect and sympathy.

Armenia values the warmest interstate relations and effective cooperation established between our two countries over the past three decades, which are the evidence of the unwavering brotherhood and mutual support of the Armenian and Cypriot peoples.

It is no secret that Cyprus is one of the EU member states with which Armenia enjoys high mutual trust and strategic cooperation.

I am convinced that the rich experience and the multifaceted bilateral agenda gained during these years provide wide opportunities for revealing and comprehensively utilizing the full potential of the Armenian-Cypriot cooperation, giving a new impetus to the bilateral relations, raising them to a qualitatively new level.

The vibrant Armenian community gives a special content and warmth to the Armenian-Cypriot relations with its contribution to the political, economic and cultural life of the country, which has always been highly appreciated by the Government of Cyprus.

I once again congratulate all of us on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, wishing our countries and brotherly peoples prosperity, peace, fruitful cooperation full of jubilees.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan visited the Province of Syunik on March 17, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

Papikyan visited a military base and during a meeting with officers addressed the recent incidents that happened in military units. The Minister of Defense underscored that the incidents are a result of improper level of discipline in certain units as well as improper level of morale of individual servicemembers.

After being briefing on the incidents by the officers in charge, the Minister of Defense issued instructions and directives to the army corps commander to take necessary measures to rule out such cases.

Papikyan also visited the border zone adjacent to the Nerkin Hand community where Major-General Artak Budaghyan, the Commander of the Army Corps, presented the current situation.

Papikyan was also briefed on the ongoing construction of a military base.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Hambardzum Matevosyan chaired today the session of the Council on fight against human trafficking and exploitation, the deputy PMs Office said.

The deputy PM welcomed the session participants and said that Armenia has registered significant achievements in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation, which, according to him, turned into reality thanks to the efforts of the Council and the working group attached to the Council.

The deputy PM also emphasized the high level of the inter-agency cooperation as one of the guarantees for the progress in the fight against this phenomenon, as well as the efforts of Armenias partners  the Council of Europe, the US government and international organizations, NGOs.

Despite the progress in the field, the challenges facing Armenia lead us to make more efforts and work more actively for improving the positions, the deputy PM said, wishing a productive work to all the participants.

According to the agenda, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Tatevik Stepanyan presented the activities carried out in 2021 in the fight against human trafficking and stated that all 19 actions envisaged by the 2020-2022 national program have been implemented.

Then, Head of the Migration Service of the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructure Armen Ghazaryan, who is also the secretary of the Council, presented the current challenges of the field, the actions on resisting them.

Representative of World Vision Armenia Tigran Hovhannisyan presented the goals of the program Together Against Human Trafficking and the activities done so far.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Cultural Days will be held in Monte Carlo on March 25-27 within the framework of an international art festival.

There will be a premiere of ballet. The authors of the music are composers Michelle Petrosyan and Aram Hovhannisyan.

New works will be performed, the Sergey Parajanov Museum, the Gurdjieff Ensemble, pianist Vardan Mamikonyan, soprano Karine Babajanyan and others will perform during the event.

During a press conference in Armenpress today, composer Michelle Petrosyan said this festival is one of the most important cultural events in Monaco. The director of the festival included something new in the festival this year, focusing also on the Armenian culture.

It can be said there is going to be an Armenian weekend. The Armenian painting art and music will be presented. This festival has never paid such a focus on the Armenian culture. This years approach speaks about an important step and a special attitude, the composer said.

The creative process was quite hard as we were dealing with a branch close to the art. Music itself can talk about many things, but when it deals with ballet, other approaches are needed. Therefore, that work was quite a serious experience for us, composer Aram Hovhannisyan said.

The ballet will also be presented in Armenia this year in November.

Gurdjieff Ensemble artistic director Levon Eskenyan in turn said that they will focus on Komitas during the upcoming festival.

The Sergey Parajanov Museum will be presented at the festival through the Color of Pomegranates movie. There will also be a photo exhibition of Parajanovs works.

The international art festival in Monte Carlo kicked off on March 11 and will last until April 3.
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh said it strongly condemns the Azerbaijani celebration of its 30th anniversary of accession to the UN in the occupied town of Shushi.

Official Baku, in line with its style, continues to wage a destructive policy aimed at legitimizing the results of its aggression against Artsakh, trying to involve and exploit the international community and various structures in that process. The organization in Artsakhs occupied town of Shoushi of a solemn ceremony dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's membership to the United Nations and the participation of representatives of the UN and its structures in this event is another manifestation of this policy.

The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns the holding of such an event in Shoushi.

The participation of the UN representatives in the event organized in the town, which has been one of the main targets of Azerbaijan's aggression and Armenophobia, contradicts the principles of activities, ideology and mission of this influential international organization, and will be undoubtedly used by Azerbaijan to legitimize its inhumane and aggressive policy. This is also a serious blow to the reputation of the UN, which will have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the organizations activities, the Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Varuzhan Nersesyan gave an interview to the British Times Radio. ARMENPRESS presents the interview below.

Host: Now we're all getting used to seeing the map of the Ukraine, it lies north of the Black Sea, pull the zoom out a bit and look south east and you'll see Armenia and Azerbaijan. These two countries have long been in conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian troops have kept the peace and thousands are stationed in Armenia but some say that Armenia suffers from Stockholm syndrome about Russia, it has to love the Russian forces that in fact keep it captive. Let's speak to Varuzhan Nersesyan who is the Armenian Ambassador to the UK. Good morning to you.

Ambassador: Good morning and Id like to welcome all of the listeners to your radio station.

Host: Welcome. I think it's fair to say there will be some people who are aware of what's gone on in Armenia and Azerbaijan, specifically we are talking about Armenia, but some people will not. Can you just explain how the war has effected tensions that may already have existed in Armenia?

Ambassador: Absolutely, thank you very much for your question and of course Armenia is located in a very vulnerable geo-political location in the South Caucasus. Already, before the crisis in Ukraine Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh suffered immensely, from the aggression, from the war that was perpetrated by a neighbouring country in September 2020.

The current crisis in Ukraine has been used to escalate the situation as we have seen, because the attention of the international community is focused currently on Ukraine. We have seen certain attempts by Azerbaijan to escalate the situation, particularly in Nagorno-Karabakh. The population has been harassed and threatened by the Azerbaijani government. There have been many attempts to create constant provocation at the line of contact and violations of the ceasefire. Not only that but a psychological warfare is being conducted against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly the Azerbaijani side brings loudspeakers and harasses the local population, threatening them to leave their own villages, their own homeland, and their ancestral land. Threatening to use force unless they abide by these threats and leave their homes. Aside from this, unfortunately, the Azerbaijani has exploded a gas pipe line leading to Nagorno-Karabakh and not allowing specialists to actually enter that area and restore the gas pipeline, and because of this the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh is deprived of gas and energy supply and are on the brink of a serious humanitarian crisis.

Host: And were the Russian troops invited to help, to keep the peace?

Ambassador: Well, the Russian troops, these are not troops. These are Russian peacekeeping forces that are deployed there in accordance to November 9 and 10 ceasefire statement agreed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and the Russian peacekeeping force at the time was able to stop the bloodshed in November 2020 after they entered the area, after the ceasefire. They are currently, yes, in that area and thanks to them the peace is being maintained in that area.

Host: Of course, and I understand you have your own concerns within your country. You've talked about this intimidation, you've spoken about the gas pipeline but you've also spoken about the bloodshed. Now, Russia is currently responsible for a huge amount of bloodshed of children and civilians in Ukraine. Does that make your links with Russia, your reliance on Russian peace keeping troops, as you call them, less palatable, more difficult?

Ambassador: Well of course we are very much concerned about the current crisis in Ukraine as we have centuries old relationship with both countries. With the Russian people and the Ukrainian people, we have old bonds of friendship and close relations. Aside from that, of course, we have large Armenian communities in Ukraine, around half a million in Ukraine and 2 million in the Russian Federation. So, already we are receiving hundreds, if not thousands of groups of people who seek refuge in Armenia. Not only Armenians but people of the Russian origin, of the Ukrainian origin, they come to Armenia and are seeking refuge.

We are already in one or another way affected and of course we want this crisis to be ended as soon as possible and we hope that the negotiations that have been carried out by both sides will succeed and will lead

Host: Well I was going to say to you that Russia says it was a military operation, the international community says its an invasion. What do you think it is?

Ambassador: Well as I said we maintain very close relations between both countries. We are not in a position to bring an evaluation. Our government is completely neutral in this endeavour and situation. As I said our position as soon as possible is to help them, both sides to achieve peace. At this stage the most important thing is not to create evaluations but is to stop the bloodshed. That's the most important task for all sides involved. Be it Armenia, be it the international community be it the Russian Federation or Ukraine. The most important task is to stop the bloodshed and then to address the situation and then to find solutions because this suffering is for everybody. The international community is so much interlinked and intertwined, this suffering cannot only be localised.

Host: Okay.

Ambassador: When Armenia was subjected to aggression and Nagorno-Karabakh was subjected to aggression by Azerbaijan, and, by the way, also Turkey, we were expecting the world to react in a vigorous way. So, we know what is like when a population, when a civilian population is under bombardment.

Host: Of course, Varuzhan, let me just ask you one final question because I understand you say you have to remain neutral. A lot of people won't understand that but some people will because of your geo-political situation. You say the bloodshed needs to end, there needs to be a solution. What do you think that solution might be?

Ambassador: Well first of all its up to the two countries to have a common vision about the future, it's about Russia and Ukraine to find out a common solution. These nations share a common history. It's really painful to watch what's going on. It's really painful to watch what's going on, they share a common history, common traditions and its very-very painful. Its first of all up to the two countries to find a mutually equitable solution, so they are satisfied and create a common future for them.

Host: Okay.
YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Political consultations were held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on March 18 in The Hague, co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for Political Affairs Thijs van der Plas.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the sides expressed satisfaction over the high level of political dialogue between Armenia and the Netherlands at different levels, the interlocutors discussed a broad scope of issues on the Armenian-Dutch bilateral agenda. Regarding trade and economic cooperation, the interlocutors noted the positive dynamics observed in recent years and outlined the steps that need to be taken to fully realize the existing potential.

The parties touched upon the events to be organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands.

The parties discussed the agenda of the Armenia-EU partnership, exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest on the international and regional agenda, as well as discussed cooperation and mutual support within the framework of international organizations.

The interlocutors also touched upon the current situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context, the parties stressed the importance of the full resumption of the Karabakh peace process under the auspices of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Armenian side expressed gratitude for the support and firm position of the Dutch Parliament during and after the Azerbaijani aggression unleashed against Artsakh, as well as for raising the issue by the government on bilateral and multilateral platforms, emphasizing the need to continue this approach, taking into account the current geopolitical developments.

During his visit to The Hague, Deputy Minister Hovhannisyan met with representatives of the political parties of the Netherlands and civil society activists, and also took part in a diplomatic reception dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands. During the reception, a number of persons were awarded for their significant contribution to the deepening of bilateral cooperation between Armenia and the Netherlands.
YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Moscow and Kyiv are halfway to demilitarizing Ukraine as part of the ongoing negotiation process, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS agency, the head of the Russian delegation, assistant to the Russian President Vladimir Medinsky said.

According to Medinsky, the negotiating position of the parties on such issues as the demilitarization of Ukraine can be assessed differently. "As for demilitarization, I would say 50/50. The fact is that I am not authorized to publish the details of the negotiations, I will not do it, neither concrete numbers, nor arguments of the negotiating parties, but in this regard we are somewhere in the middle of the road," he told reporters.
YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on March 18.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Jean-Yves Le Drian exchanged views on the issues on the agenda of the Armenian-French cooperation, in particular, touched upon the implementation of the roadmap for the Armenian-French economic cooperation.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to regional and international security. Ararat Mirzoyan presented to his French counterpart the situation in the border zone with Armenia and in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by the ceasefire violations, attacks on the civilian population and psychological pressure.

During the conversation, the parties discussed issues related to the start of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a peace treaty based on the UN Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Helsinki Final Act. In this context, the parties stressed the important role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.
Russia is revoking a request to the UN Security Council to vote on its proposed resolution about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine that was scheduled for March 18, Russias UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya said in a speech at the council on Thursday, Tass informs.

March 18, 2022, 10:10 Russia revokes request to vote on UN resolution about Ukraine on March 18

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Colleagues from many delegations are reaching out to us and complaining about merciless pressure and arm-twisting by Western partners, including economic blackmail and threats," he said. "The US and Albania circulated a letter where they urge UN member countries not to sponsor our resolution."

"We understand how difficult it is for these countries to resist this onslaught,"

Nebenzya continued. "Thats the reason why we have decided not to request a vote on our proposal at this point, but we arent withdrawing the draft resolution."

"Instead, we will request an urgent meeting to discuss the issue of US biolabs in Ukraine, given the new documents that were obtained during the special military operation," the diplomat said.

Russia will send a letter with the request to the UAE presidency of the UN Security Council, Nebenzya said.

Head of the Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces Igor Kirillov earlier said that a special military operation in Ukraine uncovered a network of more than 30 biolabs that worked under a contract with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, an agency within the US Department of Defense.
On March 17, Armenian-Russian consultations in the inter-departmental format were held in Moscow regarding the implementation of the bilateral inter-governmental memorandum on partnership on ensuring biological safety which was signed in 2021, the Russian foreign ministry said.

March 18, 2022, 11:20 Armenia and Russia discuss biological safety threats on CIS territory

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 18, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: An exchange of views took place regarding the threats to biological safety in the CIS territory.

The course of implementation of the bilateral memorandum on biosafety was discussed, including concrete directions of future cooperation.

Issues of optimization and raising of effectiveness of implementation of the memorandum clauses through the development of a relevant advisory mechanism were discussed.

The common approaches of Armenia and Russia on biological safety issues were confirmed during the consultation.

The need for close coordination and constructive partnership was noted in both bilateral and specialized multilateral platforms.
54 students attend the secondary school of the community of Norshen of Artsakhs Martuni region.

March 18, 2022, 12:31 Frequently organized events enliven the village. The principal of Norshen school attaches importance to military-patriotic education

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: They go to school every day under the direct fire of the enemy.

The school principal Samvel Avanesyan told "Artsakhpress".

"The school is named after our fellow villager, poet, writer, publicist and critic Leonid Hurunts. The school has 23 teachers,said S. Avanesyan

Samvel Avanesyan noted that various events are organized at the school, which helps to revive the village during the difficult period.

Avanesyan also attached great importance to military-patriotic education

"We organize festive events, meetings with Russian peacekeepers, he said, assuring that there is no panic among students.

They do not give in to enemys provocations, but the recordings heard from the enemy's position, the Armenian-language calls to leave the village cause for concern. At this moment, due to the interruption of gas supply, the classes are not held due to the lack of heating.

The school principal names the lack of bathroom and water supply as the main problems of the school.
The possibility of a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to sign a settlement agreement will depend on the modality of the document, which has yet to be agreed upon, Russian president's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted.

March 18, 2022, 14:40 Kremlin speaks on possibility of Russian-Ukraine leaders meeting

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: "It will depend on the modality of the document, which has yet to be agreed upon," a Kremlin spokesman said in response to a question whether such personal contact is really envisaged, or whether the document could be signed without the direct presence of the presidents.

I can only say that the Russian delegation is showing a willingness to work much faster than it is doing now. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian delegation is not ready to accelerate the pace of negotiations, he said.

Earlier, an adviser to the head of the office of the Ukrainian president, Mikhail Podolyak, said that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy could take place after the completion of work on the agreement. According to the politician, this is possible within the next few weeks.
The U.S. State Department said it approved on Thursday the potential sale of a $700 million missile defense system to the United Kingdom, Reuters reports.

March 18, 2022, 15:38 UK gets approval to buy missile defenses from U.S.

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: The approval came amid a surge in requests from European countries to purchase more US-made weapons amid the Ukrainian crisis.

The British government, which likely began negotiating a deal long before the crisis escalated, wants to buy a missile defense radar and two command and control systems from Lockheed Martin Corp.

The State Department noted that the sale would support US foreign policy goals by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
Russia has made the offer to India and many other countries after the US last week banned all Russian oil and gas imports

India has to keep focussing on competitive energy sources and it welcomes offers from all oil producers as geopolitical developments have posed significant challenges to the country's energy security, sources said. (Representational Image/PTI)

New Delhi: India's legitimate energy transactions should not be politicised and the countries self-sufficient in crude oil or those importing it from Russia cannot credibly advocate restrictive trading, government sources said on Friday.

India has to keep focussing on competitive energy sources and it welcomes offers from all oil producers as geopolitical developments have posed significant challenges to the country's energy security, they said.

The strong defence of India's oil imports from Russia came amid increasing disquiet among some western powers over New Delhi's indication of taking the Russian offer of selling crude oil at much cheaper rates.

Russia has made the offer to India and many other countries after the United States last week banned all Russian oil and gas imports over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"India has to keep focussing on competitive energy sources. We welcome such offers from all producers. Indian traders too operate in global energy markets to explore the best options," said a source.

The sources said the jump in the oil prices following the Ukraine conflict has added to India's challenges and the pressure for competitive sourcing has naturally increased.

"Countries with oil self-sufficiency or those importing themselves from Russia cannot credibly advocate restrictive trading. India's legitimate energy transactions should not be politicised," the source said.

The Indian Oil Corporation reportedly bought three million (30 lakh) barrels of Russian crude oil last week at a discounted price.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that India taking the Russian offer of discounted crude oil would not be a violation of the US sanctions on Moscow, but underlined that countries should also think about "where you want to stand" amidst Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said the United Kingdom wants every country to move away from using Russian oil and gas as it funds President Vladimir Putin's war machine.

The government sources cited above said Russia has been a marginal supplier of crude oil to India and it is less than one per cent of the country's requirement, adding that there is no government-to-government arrangement for the import.

The geopolitical developments have posed significant challenges to India's energy security. For obvious reasons, the country has had to stop sourcing from Iran and Venezuela, and alternative sources have often come at a higher cost, they said.

The sources said Russian oil and gas is being procured by various countries across the world, particularly in Europe.

They said 75 per cent of Russia's total natural gas exports is to the member countries of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in Europe such as Germany, Italy and France.

Countries like the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Romania are also large importers of Russian crude oil, they pointed out.

The recent western sanctions on Russia have carve-outs to avoid impact on energy imports from the country and its banks that are the main channels for European Union payments for Russian energy imports have not been excluded from the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) system, the sources pointed out.

India is highly dependent on imports for meeting its energy requirements as nearly 85 per cent of its crude oil requirement (five million barrels a day) has to be imported.

Most of India's imports are from West Asia (Iraq 23 per cent, Saudi Arabia 18 per cent, the UAE 11 per cent), the sources said, adding that the US has also now become an important crude oil source for India (7.3 per cent).

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said India looks at all options at all points of time as a major importer of oil.

"India does import most of its oil requirements, it's met by imports. So we are always exploring all possibilities in global energy markets because of this situation that we face of importing our oil requirements," he said at a media briefing.

"Let me just highlight that a number of countries are doing so, especially in Europe, and for the moment, I will leave it at that. We are a major oil importer and we are looking at all options at all points. We need the energy," he said.
Up to 150,000 casual workers will now be entitled to sick leave in Victoria (Source: Getty)

The Victorian Government this week introduced a new scheme allowing casual workers in the state to claim sick pay in addition to their standard hourly pay rate.

The sick pay guarantee scheme, which is being introduced on an initial two-year trial basis, will provide five days, or 38 hours, of paid sick or carers leave for workers, at the national minimum wage.

Yet a key industry body has labelled the scheme a tax on business at a time when the Victorian economy is still recovering from COVID lockdowns.

Double funded

Due to the nature of the employment market, the biggest employers of casual workers in Australia are labour hire firms, who then sub-contract these skills to their clients.

The industry body representing many of these companies  RCSA  has expressed concern about the impact the scheme will have on its members, and the broader Victorian labour market.

Yahoo Finance spoke to RCSA chief executive Charles Cameron to clarify his reservations.

We have serious concerns about a policy that requires employers to double-fund sick and carers leave for casual employees said Cameron, before going on to explain that current casual rates were calculated to include sick pay provisions already.

The first phase of the scheme is targeted at industries with large cohorts of casual workers, including:

Hospitality workers

Food trades workers and food preparation assistants

Supermarket workers

Retail and sales assistants

Aged and disability care workers

Cleaners and laundry workers

Security guards

Although not an exhaustive list of industries that employ casual labour in Victoria  many white-collar industries, for example, are not included in the legislation  the state government estimates this initial phase will apply to more than 150,000 Victorians.

Victorian business still recovering

Story continues

An additional concern for the industry is how this legislation is likely to affect the broader employment market in Victoria.

The RCSA believes Labour hire firms will be forced to pass on these additional costs to their clients, due to their current cost structures being unable to accommodate the increased employment provisions.

Cameron said this could not come at a worse time for many businesses in Victoria, who were still reeling from the impacts of the extended lockdown.

Now, more than ever, they need access to a workforce that can help them flex up, down and across to pivot in line with new business opportunities he said.

The worry is that increasing the cost of employing casual workers for Victorian businesses may mean many are unable to afford this option, thus reducing the number of opportunities available.

Many casual workers felt unable to take sick leave during the pandemic (Source: Getty)

Is there an alternative?

One of the main reasons for the introduction of the scheme was to prevent casual workers feeling they couldnt afford to miss work when sick  an issue during Victorias COVID lockdowns.

As Yahoo Finance reported during the peak of COVID lockdown back in August last year, this policy seemed like a no-brainer at the time.

However, subsequent consultation with industry (of which RCSA was included) didnt seem to have considered the potential costs to business, just as many were seeking to recover.

Part of the issue is that many casual workers may not realise their sick pay component is already included in their hourly rate, therefore failing to put aside this money for when they fall ill.

Cameron concedes this may be a problem, welcoming additional discussions to set a clearer structure going forward.

If the Victorian government wish to make changes to the way casual employees access their existing paid sick and carers leave entitlements, there are many solutions that could be developed collaboratively with employers,  he said.

Although the legislation is only applicable in Victoria at present  and only within certain industries  its clear other states will be watching with interest on how the scheme impacts the local labour market.

Judging by the response from industry, the potential risk to businesses is real.

As a result, it seems further discussions and alternatives need to be explored before Australia commits to such a policy on a nationwide basis.

Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter.
Protesters have gathered over P&O Ferries decision to sack their workers in favour of cheaper labour, as Downing Street warned of "ramifications" over the announced.

Over 200 people packed the entrance to Port of Hull on Friday, the day after P&O sacked 800 seafarers with no notice on Thursday, opting to replace them with cheaper agency workers.

In Liverpool, a demonstration of 400 people was held as the Mayor of Liverpool said they way the sackings had been handled was an "absolute disgrace".

A similar demonstration was held at the Port of Dover, and in Larne in Northern Ireland, sacked P&O workers were joined by trade union representatives, politicians and members of the public to protest at the company move.

Protests were not only limited to the ports, as 100 protesters gathered outside the central London offices of DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries.

P&O ferries, 'Pride of Canterbury' (R), 'Pride of Kent' (C) and 'Spirit of Britain', (L) are pictured moored to the quayside at the Port of Dover (Getty)

Demonstrators from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) held up signs which read: Save Our Seafarers and Stop the P&O jobs carve up.

They also chanted: Nationalise P&O, seize the ships, and dont go P&O as well as singing: Solidarity forever.

Shocked employees were told of the news via a video call, and told their work was terminated with immediate effect.

At the protest today, protesters held flags and signs, including one which said: Shame on you!! P&O stop the carve up.

Lorry drivers on their way to and from the port beeped their horns in support.

Metro mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson joined the demonstration.

Protesters have gathered over P&O Ferries decision to sack their workers in favour of cheaper labour.(Getty)

Protesters have gathered over P&O Ferries decision to sack their workers in favour of cheaper labour (Getty)

Labour MP Mr Esterson said: I think weve got amazing solidarity from trade unions across the north of England and local people.

Like everyone, Im outraged at the appalling abuse of ordinary people by DP World.

The move has been met with condemnation across the industry and political spectrum.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the sacking was "insensitive and cruel" and is "no way to treat employees in the 21st Century"

Story continues

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the Government was looking to see if the companys actions broke the relevant rules.

People hold placards and banners during a demonstration against the sacking of 800 P&O workers, outside the Port of Hull(Getty)

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said it was seeking legal advice to challenge the sackings. (Getty)

We are looking very closely at the actions that this company has taken to see whether they acted within the rules, the spokesman said.

Once we have concluded that, we will decide what the ramifications are. Obviously there are a lot of valid questions in relation to existing contracts, etc.

P&O Ferries told passengers sailings will be suspended for the next few days.

Demonstrations are planned at ports in Dover, Liverpool and Hull as unions and politicians condemned the mass dismissal, blamed by the company on losses of 100 million following the slump in travel because of the pandemic.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said it was seeking legal advice to challenge the sackings.

Conservative MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke, outside Maritime House in Dover (Getty)

Before suspending sailings, P&O Ferries operated four routes: Dover to Calais, Hull to Rotterdam, Liverpool to Dublin, and Cairnryan, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland.

It advised those already at Dover and Calais to make their way to the check-in booths for Danish firm DFDS, but there were no such instructions for those at Hull, Rotterdam, Liverpool, Dublin, Cairnryan or Larne.

Announcing the decision on Thursday, the ferry operator, bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, insisted the decision to cut jobs was very difficult but necessary as it was not a viable business in its current state.

It said in a statement: We have made a 100 million loss year-on-year, which has been covered by our parent, DP World. This is not sustainable.

Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.

Conservative MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, speaks during a demonstration against the sacking of 800 P&O workers, near the Port of Dover (Getty)

Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson said it was an intensely worrying situation as sailing ships across the Channel is like walking across a six-lane motorway at rush hour.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: There are serious safety concerns, which is why the company cannot reintroduce services with the lower-paid agency crew that theyve recruited via this company called International Ferry Management of Malta.

Mr Dickinson said the MCA must be absolutely clear and confident that those new crew, unfamiliar with the vessels, unfamiliar with the routes, with the berths can operate the ships safely.

He added: Weve written to the Maritime Coastguard Agency and we hope and we pray that they will do their job.

Peter Aylott, director of policy at the UK Chamber of Shipping, which represents the industry, told Today he was very confident that P&O will have put procedures in place to ensure that the individuals that are going to be in control of those vessels will be familiar with the ships, familiar with the systems and will be competent and qualified to operate those vessels in a safe manner.
City

 John D. Abbott, 61, 713 Lodi St., Syracuse, was charged March 14 with third-degree grand larceny and third-degree burglary.

 David G. Heffernan, 57, 5541 Silver Street Road, Fleming, was charged March 14 with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

 Andrew M. Wilson, 29, transient, Auburn, was charged March 15 with aggravated family offense, second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree criminal contempt, fourth-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

 Hayden R. Powers, 24, 65 Franklin St., Apt. 2, Auburn, was charged March 15 with fourth-degree criminal contempt and petit larceny.

 Michele D. Powers, 59, 58 Fitch Ave., Auburn, was charged March 15 with petit larceny.

 Scott Noon, 49, 125 North St., Apt. 4, Auburn, was charged March 16 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Joey Beth Lynea Janke, 28, 29 Wood St., Auburn, was charged March 16 with driving while intoxicated-first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of at least 0.08%.

 Kira Lynn Ogonowski, 36, transient, Auburn, was charged March 17 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Michael W. Dwyer, 45, 110 Janet St., Upper Apt., Auburn, was charged March 17 with criminal mischief.

 David P. Williams, 52, 14 Seminary St., Auburn, was charged March 17 with third-degree burglary and petit larceny.

County

 Robin N. Delgadochongo, 26, transient, Auburn, was charged March 16 with third-degree criminal trespass.

 Kristi Lynn Spaulding, 27, 13 Moriane Manor, Fleming, was charged March 17 with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction in the last 10 years, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level greater than .08 percent with a previous conviction.

 Chad A. Marsh, 40, 25 Gaylord Street, Auburn, was charged March 17 with driving while intoxicated-first offense, aggravated driving while intoxicated and refusal to take breath test.

 Robert N. Devey, 32, 15653 Route 104, Sterling, was charged March 18 with first-degree criminal contempt.

State

 Larissa L. Carter, 25, Auburn, was charged March 11 with second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

 Tyler W. Hulslander, 26, Locke, was charged March 16 with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

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The state Attorney General's office said the 2021 fatal shooting of a woman by an Auburn police officer was justified, but that the case highlights the importance of the Auburn Police Department equipping its officers with body worn cameras.

New York Attorney General Letitia James Office of Special Investigation on Friday released its report on Brandi Baida's death. Baida, 30, was shot by police after she fired several shots from the window of her second-story apartment at 12 Wheeler St. on the morning of Sept. 21.

On the day of the incident, calls regarding an active shooter brought members of APD to Wheeler Street where a neighbor told an arriving officer that gunshots were coming from 12 Wheeler St. Officers then saw and heard multiple shots fired in various directions from a second-floor window at that address, the AG's office said, endangering the lives of the responding officers, nearby residents, and pedestrians.

"After the shooter ignored numerous commands to stop shooting and drop the weapon, an officer fired, striking the shooter and causing her death," the AG's office said. "The shooter was later identified as Ms. Baida. Officers later recovered the rifle that Ms. Baida had used along with multiple rounds of additional ammunition."

The report on the shooting identifies APD Sgt. Tim Spingler as the officer who fired the fatal shot. Evidence investigators reviewed included cell phone footage of part of the incident taken by a neighbor, footage from a nearby Ring doorbell and emergency radio communications. There was also ballistics testing and analysis of all weapons involved, along with an autopsy. In addition to the 16-page report, investigators released a compilation video with time-stamped audio and video collected.

"Sgt. Spingler was well aware that the incident was unfolding on a residential street, where at least some residents were known to be inside their homes, with commercial businesses nearby," the report states. "Further, Sgt. Spingler said that most officers on scene were outfitted with soft-armored vests, incapable of repelling a large caliber bullet, and he was armed with one of the most effective duty weapons under the circumstances and had extensive training and experience with its use. Sgt. Spingler said that during the encounter, he recognized the imminent threat that the subjects actions were posing not only to himself, but to the other officers on scene and to the public, which is why he fired his rifle when presented with the opportunity to stop that threat."

The AG's office said that following a "thorough and comprehensive investigation, including interviews, surveillance and cell phone videos, radio transmissions, and ballistics testing, OSI concluded the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting of Ms. Baida by a member of the Auburn Police Department (APD) was a crime."

The AG's office said that under New York law, to convict a person of a crime when the defense of justification is raised, the burden is on the prosecution to disprove justification beyond a reasonable doubt. Justification includes using deadly physical force to defend oneself or others against another persons use of deadly physical force.

"In this case," the office said, "Ms. Baida was actively shooting a deadly weapon from a second-floor window onto a residential street, endangering the lives of police officers and civilians, while ignoring commands to stop. In these circumstances, a prosecutor would not be able to disprove that APD officers were justified in using deadly physical force to end the threat."

In addition to its ruling regarding the circumstances of the incident and the response by police, the AG's office recommends that the APD accelerate its efforts to equip its officers with body-worn cameras.

At the time of this incident, the report says, APD did not equip its officers with BWCs, which are critical to transparency, accountability, and safety. While APD has taken steps to obtain BWCs for its officers, OSI recommends the department accelerate its efforts.

APD and city officials have been working to implement a body camera program since 2020, when it was identified as a priority. The city council in February voted to accept grant funding that will help with purchasing equipment.

Auburn Police Chief James Slayton said he just received the AG's report on Friday afternoon, so he needed to review it before commenting. He expects to issue a statement soon.

Our office reviews every case thoroughly and transparently in the pursuit of justice, Attorney General Letitia James said in a news release. Based on an extensive review of the evidence and facts in this case, my office determined that the officer was justified in his use of force because he had a reasonable belief that it was necessary in order to protect himself, his colleagues, and the public from harm. Nonetheless, Ms. Baidas death was a tragedy, and I offer my condolences to the Baida family.

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SYRACUSE  A former doctor charged with killing his wife in their Syracuse-area home was found guilty Thursday after his second trial.

Robert Neulander had been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in 2015 after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Leslie. That conviction was overturned due to the misconduct of juror, which led to the second trial this year.

The jury in the second trial deliberated for about six hours Thursday before delivering the guilty verdict. Neulander, 70, was immediately put in handcuffs and taken away, according to Syracuse.com.

Leslie Neulander's death in September 2012 was initially ruled an accident after Robert Neulander told police his 61-year-old wife had slipped and fallen in the shower.

Onondaga County prosecutors later contended the obstetrician-gynecologist killed her in a fit of rage inside their home.

The Neulanders, who were prominent in the community, were in the process of separating when she was found dead.

A divided state appeals court in 2018 ruled that the judge in the initial trial incorrectly affirmed the guilty verdict despite juror misconduct. A juror had admitted receiving biased texts during the trial. One text from the juror's father read, "Make sure he's guilty."

Neulander faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

He surrendered his medical license after his first conviction.

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It has been a long two years.

March 18, 2020, was when COVID-19 arrived in Cayuga County. A man traveling through the county tested positive for the virus, the first of thousands of positive cases that would be recorded over the next two years. Hundreds have been hospitalized and 139 residents died.

Deanna Ryan, the supervising public health administrator and public information officer at the Cayuga County Health Department, describes that first year as a slow progress. In the early days of the pandemic, other parts of New York and the country saw cases surge. Locally, while there were some cases, the numbers weren't as high.

Entering 2021, there was, as Cayuga County Public Health Director Kathleen Cuddy calls it, a "ray of hope." Federal regulators approved two COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer. (Johnson & Johnson would follow months later.) The vaccines were, and still are, viewed as the key to ending the pandemic.

Early in the year, the health department began holding vaccination clinics for eligible residents. By spring, the vaccine was widely available. As more residents got vaccinated, cases, hospitalizations and deaths decreased. (Nearly 60% of Cayuga County residents are fully vaccinated, according to the latest figures.)

But what happened last summer surprised the health department. Despite the vaccination efforts, cases began to surge again. There were 747 cases in August, followed by 1,079 in September.

"We were really moving our way through trying to meet most of the community that was eligible for the vaccine," Ryan said. "And then boom, out of nowhere, August came. It was a constant pressure from August through January. That was unique for us to experience almost two years into the pandemic."

In that six-month period, the county reported at least 8,873 confirmed COVID-19 cases  more than half of the county's case in the now 2-year-old pandemic. January's numbers are incomplete because the health department stopped reporting daily totals  a decision Ryan explained further on Thursday.

The large numbers of cases, sometimes 200 or 300 a day, overwhelmed the health department's staff. Contact tracing investigations became ineffective, Ryan said, because of the emergence of different variants and the shorter incubation times. Individuals were unknowingly exposed to the virus. By the time the initial case learned they were positive, their contacts were symptomatic and tested positive, too.

That was a change for the health department, which had conducted contact tracing investigations for the first 22 months of the pandemic.

There have been other developments as the pandemic continues into its third year. After the introduction of vaccines, booster doses were authorized to give fully vaccinated individuals more protection against COVID-19.

Dr. Michael Wilson, chief medical officer at Auburn Community Hospital, highlighted the use of therapeutics during his appearance at the monthly Wednesday Morning Roundtable. He explained the criteria used to determine whether a patient is eligible for therapeutics, including whether they are a high risk of serious illness or if they are immunocompromised.

While Wilson touted the therapeutics, he stressed the importance of getting vaccinated. Boosters, he said, have shown to increase the effectiveness of vaccine in preventing serious illness.

"It's still a very important tool and everyone should avail themselves if they are medically able to do so," he added.

With the pandemic entering year three, there is a sense that things are returning to normal. Mask mandates have been lifted in New York. Events that were canceled early in the pandemic have resumed. Businesses and schools are open.

But COVID has not left the community. In its most recent update, the health department said there were 133 active cases. Since the department is no longer conducting contact tracing investigations, it's possible the number is higher.

Ryan relayed a familiar reminder  one that the health department has repeatedly shared throughout the pandemic  that anyone who is sick should stay home from school or work. She noted that even if the symptoms are mild for one person, they could be worse for someone else who is exposed to the virus.

"We all want to go back to normal," she said. "We want more of that normalcy and we want to feel like we are coming out of this. But we also need to do that cautiously. The numbers are showing that we were having a downslide of cases, but just from Monday to (Wednesday), we had a doubling of cases. It's something we are monitoring and those are only the cases we know about."

Cuddy, like other medical and public health experts, is urging more residents to get vaccinated. It's not only important to prevent people from getting hospitalized or dying, she said, but it will ensure that the health care system functions properly. The hospital, she continued, needs to be available for everyone who needs it.

"If being vaccinated is going to help you not become as ill, get your vaccine," she said. "That has been proven. Vaccine is helping prevent serious illness. It is helping prevent hospitalization. It is helping prevent death... Get your shots. Getting vaccinated is our best shot at getting through this."

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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Nataliia Shynkarenko went to bed Wednesday night wondering how she would break the news to her daughters.
ALBANY  As the deadline for passing a state budget nears, county health officials are beseeching lawmakers to provide more funding so local agencies can better protect children from lead poisoning.

In a spending plan expected to top $220 billion, the $30 million being sought by the New York State Association of County Health Officials is a relatively small sum.

But it is very much needed by the county health agencies that are dealing with the fact New York has the highest number of children impacted by lead poisoning in the nation, said Sarah Ravenhall, the group's director.

"There is no safe level of exposure to lead," Ravenhall told CNHI.

A financial commitment by the state would be a prudent investment in preventative public health, as the consequences of lead poisoning include learning disorders, anemia and nausea, with parents losing time from their jobs to deal with the issues that lead exposure in youngsters causes, Ravenhall said.

In 2019, state legislation was enacted that reduced by half the blood lead level needed to trigger public health interventions that range from follow-up testing to clinical care coordination. At that time, the county health officials estimated $40 million would be needed to administer lead programs, but the state provided $9.7 million.

With both chambers of the Legislature having now passed their one-house responses to the budget plan released in January by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Ravenhall said she is pleased lawmakers have signaled they want to help county health departments cover the fringe benefits paid to their staffers.

Those costs are now being funded by county government treasuries, which have been strained by many obligations in addition to the statewide property tax cap, she noted.

"We are grateful that both the executive and the Legislature understand there is a need there," she said, stressing that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of having nimble, trained and sufficiently staffed public health agencies.

"There is a 100% certainty there will be another public health emergency at some point, whether it's environmental, related to substance-use disorder or a contagious virus," Ravenhall said. "When that happens, we want to be very prepared with a sustainable public health workforce and infrastructure."

At a meeting of county leaders, meanwhile, officials signaled they have objections to ongoing state efforts to divert sales tax revenues away from local governments to pay for a state assistance program known as Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM).

While overall this a good budget for our counties, we strongly oppose the diversion of $250 million a year in local sales taxes for a state-run distressed health facilities fund that the budget proposal continues," said Marc Molinaro, the president of the New York State County Executives Association and the current Dutchess County executive.

A significant chunk of locally generated sales tax revenue  about $50 million  has been going to support hospitals that are primarily located in the New York City region, said Molinaro, noting the "raid" of that revenue began under the administration of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 17th, Chinas EV startup, Leapmotor, filed for an IPO in Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), marking the fourth mainland EV maker to start share trading in HKEX.

Photo credit: Leapmotor



CICC, Citi, J.P. Morgan Chase, and CCB International are the co-sponsors of the IPO.

According to the IPO document, Leapmotor plans to use the raised funds on the R&D of intelligent electric vehicles, improving its production capability, and enhancing its brand awareness.

In fact, Leapmotors IPO is anticipated by the industry. There were talks about the IPO since 2021, in line with its prominent business performance.

The IPO document showed that the company delivered a total of 43,748 vehicles in 2021, with an annual revenue of RMB3.132 billion ($493.07 million), RMB3.058 billion ($481.42 million) of which are generated by selling cars and auto parts.

Currently, there is over 1,000 research staff in Leapmotor, accounting for 33.9% of the companys entire roster. Its yearly R&D cost in 2019, 2020, and 2021, amounted to RMB358 million ($56.36 million), RMB289 million ($45.5 million), and RMB740 million ($116.5 million), respectively.

Up to now, the EV maker has secured almost ten billion yuan of investment from various enterprises and organizations, including Dahua Technology, CCI Fund, Sequoia Capital, and Shanghai Electric.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas automotive chip supplier, SemiDrive, has partnered with Arm China to develop next-generation automotive electronic and electrical architecture products, the chip maker announced on March 18th.

Photo credit: SemiDrive

According to the partners, the cooperation will focus on the development of ADAS and autonomous driving technologies, exploring the possibilities of Arm Chinas exclusive XPU architecture, and SemiDrives definition, design and R&D capabilities on automotive chips.

With a profound understanding of the needs and challenges in the intelligent auto market, Arm China and SemiDrives vision aligns. Arm Chinas high computing power XPU IP meets the demands of SemiDrives chip products perfectly. The two companies aim to create more solutions in every application scenario, satisfying automakers' differentiated requirements of chips in the future.

SemiDrives X9 series chips dedicated to intelligent cockpits can help automakers build a smart onboard space. A single unit of the X9 allows up to ten high-resolution displays, including dashboard, center control, rearview mirror, and backrow infotainment.

The company disclosed that it is preparing to launch a ASIL D high performance, high reliability automotive MCU chip, covering a broad selection of application scenarios including body, chassis and power.

Additionally, SemiDrive has partnered with over 200 companies in different fields, to form a resultful ecosystem, serving automakers better.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co., Ltd. (Sunwoda EVB) will sign an agreement with the government of Shifang, a county-level city of China's Sichuan province, for a power battery manufacturing project, according to an announcement issued on March 17 by Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd. (Sunwoda), the parent of Sunwoda EVB.

Photo credit: Sunwoda



Under the project, Sunwoda EVB will invest 8 billion yuan ($1.26 billion) in building a power battery and energy storage battery plant in Shifang city with an annual production capacity of 20GWh. Upon completion of the construction, the facility will focus on manufacturing cells, modules, packs, and battery systems for power batteries and energy storage batteries.

Sunwoda EVB will build a project company to manage the building works. According to Sunwoda's announcement, the project company will rent industrial plants and auxiliary facilities covering 250,000 square meters from a platform company backed by Shifang's government. The construction is set to begin in 2022 and be completed within around 12 months.

This was the second significant project Sunwoda announced this year for battery capacity expansion. On March 11, Sunwoda EVB entered into an agreement with Zhuhai municipal government for the plan to plow 12 billion yuan ($1.89 billion) in the construction of a 30GWh battery manufacturing base in the city of Guangdong province.

For the first two months of 2022, Sunwoda EVB recorded a power battery installed capacity of 0.46GWh, accounting for 1.55% of China's total volume, according to the data from the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance.
MONTREALDisruptive Films is set to release "Playdate: The Good Boy," the follow-up to hit Taboo Men featurette "Playdate." The new continuing chapter debuts April 8.

Written and directed by Bree Mills, who brings back fan favorite Ryan Jordan to reprise his role as James, "The Good Boy" picks up a few months after the original, with the young man now engaged to his longtime love, Sarah, played by April Olsen in a special guest appearance.

Elaborates a company announcement, "After months of leading a conflicted double life with Sarahs brother, James finally feels the relationship in his rear view mirror, until he is introduced to Sarahs cousin Leo (Chris Damned), whos got an even bigger surprise in store for James. His submission is not ending, it's just changing hands."

"'Playdate' is one of our most popular Taboo Men stories, said Mills, who also serves as production manager for Disruptive Films. So, like any good story, we felt it deserved an even more nefarious sequel!

To learn more about "Playdate: The Good Boy" and other Disruptive Films titles, visit DisruptiveFilms.com, or follow the studio on Twitter and YouTube.
LOS ANGELESA Los Angeles Superior Court judge today asked for veteran adult performer Ron Jeremy to be mentally evaluated ahead of an April 1 mental health hearing related to his upcoming trial on multiple rape charges, according to Deadline.

Judge George Lomeli ordered the mental evaluation so the results could be examined at the April 1 hearing after lawyers and court officials called Jeremy incoherent during todays early morning session. The judge said he hoped the evaluations would help determine whether the accused is competent to stand trial.

Jeremy has been held in downtown Los Angeles Twin Towers Correctional Facility since his June 2020 arrest.

To read the full story, click here.
Think of things you might buy at a garage sale.

Did you think of wild salmon? If not, you havent met Baxter Cox.

When hes not working at Arizona Snowbowl, Cox has an unusual side hustle selling wild-caught Alaskan sockeye out of a freezer in his garage. At a going rate of $15 a pound, the flash-frozen, vacuum-packed fillets come straight from Bristol Bay, where Coxs family has run a small commercial fishing operation for decades.

Cox grew up spending summers on the 32-foot family fishing boat as they pulled in a modest haul of 200,000 pounds of salmon each year.

To this day Coxs family sells most of their catch to the Trident cannery at a rate of about $1.50 a pound. But in recent years, the Cox family has decided to hang onto a percentage of their catch and sell it directly. The Cox children  Baxter and sister Casey  have started transporting salmon to their towns of residence, where they become sockeye salespeople.

Last year, Cox transported and sold about 100 pounds of salmon to Flagstaff customers contacted through social media and word of mouth. This year, hes taken on a bit more. He started with a freezer stocked with 500 pounds of salmon, and hes sold about half so far.

It's really starting to pay off, Cox said. And I enjoy it a lot.

Getting the salmon from Alaska to Arizona is the hardest part of his business, Cox said, but through family connections, theyve made a suitable trade route possible.

Off the boat, the salmon is filleted, vacuum-packed and frozen by a family friend. From there, it hitches a ride, still frozen, on a barge to Seattle. Then its loaded into generator-run box freezers on the back of pickup trucks and driven to a walk-in freezer on a family property in Oregon, which serves as the final staging area. From Oregon, the salmon makes a straight shot  still frozen  to its final marketplaces. In Coxs case, that means a 21-hour drive to Arizona.

This might seem like a lengthy overland journey for fish of any type, but Cox is confident in the process. When handled this way, he says the salmon will keep for years if necessary.

My family and I have eaten fillets from two or three years back, he said. If you keep it frozen, it's going to be just fine.

Coxs business may not have the most sustainable transportation system at present, but he is proud of the sustainable practices that go into fishing his familial corner of Alaska. Bristol Bay has been home to 31 Indigenous tribes for thousands of years, including representatives of the Yupik culture, of which Coxs sister is a part.

The tradition of stewardship set the stage for Bristol Bay to become on the most tightly regulated fisheries on the planet. The Marine Stewardship Council has deemed the commercial Bristol Bay fishery, and the $2.2 billion dollar industry it supports, as certified sustainable. Permits to commercially fish the bay are limited, hard to get, and pretty expensive, Cox said.

The State of Alaska also posts biologists at each of the six major rivers that feed into Bristol Bay to closely monitor the salmon runs during the fishing season.

If they ever aren't on track to get optimum fish upstream to sustain the run, they shut down fishing, Cox said.

Even though such a shutdown would have a direct impact on Coxs family livelihood, he welcomes the regulations put in place on Bristol Bay.

Orders to stop fishing are totally fine with us, because that means there's going to be a healthier run soon to come in the later years, he said.

That greedless patience is represented in Coxs personal ambitions as well. He has no aim to see his business grow to wholesale proportions. He doesnt even seem that interested in moving it out of the garage. Hed be happy to start selling at farmers markets, or have a few restaurant customers, but other than that, hes happy to maintain a cottage industry that allows him to hand-deliver and interact with buyers directly, even if that means continuing to promote himself on Facebook garage sale groups.

It was a weird platform for buying fish, said customer Megan Schott. But it feels better to buy from locals rather than big stores. I liked the idea that it was sustainably sourced. Also that I was getting the fish from the person who caught it.

Simple, personal ads always attract me, Heather Bostian said. [Cox] was very sweet to deliver it for free to Doney Park.

Cox's personal touch has been a boon. People like to hear his story, he said, and he likes to tell it. All the way out here in Arizona, hes even made so connections back to his home state.

Ive met a lot of people from Alaska, he said. So I just talk to them about Alaska. And then it just keeps them coming back.

Cox's business can be contacted at eskimogirlsalmon.com.

Sean Golightly can be reached at sgolightly@azdailysun.com

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The activity was implemented by the province and KOICA on March 17.

Signing ceremony at Thua Thien Hue point

The signing ceremony was held online, with the host of Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, at Thua Thien Hue point. In Hanoi, Mr. Cho Han-Deog, Country Director of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Vietnam presided over the ceremony.

The signed project aims to improve human security for the communities in the target areas; enhance sustainable rural development through enhancing sustainable livelihoods and infrastructure for target communities.

The project will be implemented in A Luoi district from 2022 to 2026 with non-refundable aid from the Korean Government to the Provincial People's Committee not exceeding USD 3,229,246.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong appreciated the successes and contributions of KOICA over the past time in many fields in Vietnam, including Thua Thien Hue province. Especially, he also acknowledged the valuable support and assistance for the socio-economic development of the province. In 2022, Thua Thien Hue province continues to cooperate with KOICA in the Vietnam - Korea Peace Village Project in A Luoi district, which proves KOICA's special interest in Thua Thien Hue province.

Mr. Cho Han-Deog hopes that, through the project, it will contribute to improving human security for the community, enhancing sustainable rural development, sustainable livelihoods and infrastructure for communities in A Luoi district. At the same time, it will continue to contribute to the goal of long-term and sustainable cooperation between Thua Thien Hue province and Korea in general and KOICA in particular.

By Le Tho
When you watch the Homestead Harmonizers practice or perform, one thing immediately becomes clear: They love what theyre doing.

You can see it in the grins stretched across their faces, in the rise and fall of their brows and the way their bodies sway to the music.

A conversation of gestures and voices begins between the 30-man chorus and the director, Scott Spilker. When Spilker pulls, they give. When he crouches, their voices stoop as if to hide. Every movement reflects from Spilker to the chorus to the audience. Perhaps conscious of the March 19 and 20 concert theme, Workin for a Livin, the men put their backs into it.

The Homestead Harmonizers spring program will take place at the Hevelone Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Gene Lauritsen joined the barbershop style chorus five months ago after many years of consideration.

Ive been invited several times. But I just didnt get over the hump until I committed and said, Im gonna watch these guys sing, Lauritsen said. I saw how much fun they were having. And their music quality. When you hear their pitch, its just something to wrap yourself around. When you hear the tone from these guys voices, you just want to be a part of it I didnt know I would feel this way, but the joy you find in singing is contagious.

For Chris Washburn, the newest member of the group, joy and singing are practically inseparable.

Singing is one of those things you can either have joy and sing or you can sing and have joy, Washburn, who joined three months ago, said. They kind of go together.

That joy, according to Lauritsen, can break through the gray walls of a monotonous day.

You can come in here feeling average, and youll leave feeling better than average, he said. And thats what makes you want to come back.

Art Moore moved to the area after retiring from his position as a minister in a Missouri town. He said the Homestead Harmonizers have been a valuable part of finding his home here.

The group of guys are so great, and theres a lot of interaction, Moore said. Ive gotten to meet a lot of people in the community I wouldnt have. And thats a big part of being in a community.

The Workin for a Livin concert will showcase a number of classic work songs. Washburn and Lauritsen said the theme especially resonated with them.

Thats what Ive been all my life, Washburn said. You know, I work with tools. Come home with dirty hands, dirt under my fingernails. And a lot of these guys are the same way. So to be able to sing about it and have a bunch of theme songs around that idea, it really fits the group.

Adult tickets for the Saturday and Sunday concerts cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Admission is free for those 18 and under.

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After two years of pandemic and months of social distancing recommendations, Montanans are enjoying a reprieve from COVID infections. So much so that sexually transmitted diseases are rising.

To date, syphilis statewide has increased 250%, meaning so far this year 28 cases have been reported compared to the usual eight over the previous two years.

Unexpectedly, Yellowstone County, the most populous county in the state, is not the culprit of the syphilis outbreak. Leading the state in infections are Roosevelt and Cascade counties.

Alongside syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea are creeping up, though not yet exceeding numbers from 2021 or 2020. Yellowstone County does carry the bulk of those STDs with 129 cases of chlamydia and 67 gonorrhea cases. Gallatin County follows with 98 cases of chlamydia.

From details derived from contact-tracing interviews, Kelly Gardner, communicable disease manager and public health nurse at RiverStone Health, expects the increases are due to two things: care that was put off during COVID surges, a pattern that has played out since the pandemic began, and a mix of pandemic fatigue and excitement that COVID cases are declining.

With decreased COVID numbers, people arent as sick. Theres a lot more intermingling. Theres a lot more nightlife and socialization, Gardner said. Weve done a lot more treatments than what we had done in previous months.

In Cascade County, the recent uptick in syphilis has been tied to drug and alcohol use, said Sarah Cozino, communicable disease program manager for the county.

In these cases, it can be hard to trace potential infections because one may not remember or know their partners. Others may not have a phone number or address. And when contact tracers were bedeviled with COVID cases investigations, there wasnt time nor staff to track people down for STDs.

We lost connectivity with some people, Cozino said. We lost that rapport briefly.

Among the most vulnerable are transient populations where substance use results in frequent anonymous partners and a deeply-rooted skepticism in government health care. Its a situation where public health nurses are called upon to meet people where theyre at, even if it means going to the shadiest of shady bars, said Gardner, referring to one case in which a homeless woman refused to be treated at the clinic.

Gardner and her co-worker agreed to meet her at a bar in Billings. Gardner waited in the car while her coworker went inside.

Together they talked and prayed and 45 minutes later, the nurse was able to pass on the medications.

She said I would have prayed to whoever, it doesnt matter to me'  But thats what she needed then, Gardner said. Thats a lot of what we do is just try to be present.

Safety

Public health nurses have heard every story, Gardner said, ranging from minors making up desperate excuses to stories of sex trafficking and abuse.

Red flags crop up when contact tracers speak with someone who has had many partners but refrains from answering certain questions. About once a quarter, Gardner utilizes her FBI contact to report a case of suspected sex trafficking.

Were doing a lot of work around that right now to make sure were in alignment with the local task forces and moving in the same direction to really come at it from a united front and make a difference because its a big problem here, Gardner said.

Pandemic fatigue

Since the pandemic hit, public health has been the target for political backlash as mitigation measures were implemented and then rescinded.

Cascade County has lost multiple employees, including the countys health officer, in-part due to pandemic fatigue, Cozino said.

During Montanas initial COVID surge in 2020, whole COVID teams were brought on for contact tracing, leaving only one staff member to address the 72 other reportable communicable diseases.

And in Yellowstone County, when it became clear that the community wasnt going to fully participate in mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus and new laws limited the power of public health, nurses had to take a step back from frantic contact tracing efforts.

Were not going to work 16-hour days if nobodys gonna use that information, Gardner said. Things got a little hairy there especially during delta and omicron, but we just powered through.

Contact tracers are given specialized training to handle sensitive conversations around STDs and other communicable diseases, making it difficult to keep temporary staff on standby if COVID cases surge again.

While Cascade County found work for their temporary staff during lulls in COVID infections, Yellowstone County cut its additional contact tracers after the initial 2020 surge.

When hundreds of omicron cases were flooding in every day, one RiverStone Health employee was assigned to long-term care facility case investigations, four people were working on data entry, one person worked on influenza cases and one person handled all other reportable diseases including STDs.

Now, public health nurses are getting back to STD mitigation and community education, but efforts could dwindle again with another surge of COVID cases.

(Before) everybodys hair was on fire every single day just trying to get it all done and a lot of times, we didnt, but we came back the next day and did it all again, Gardner said. Fingers and toes crossed that we dont see another surge, but well get through it if we do.

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The world has watched in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine and continues to bomb cities and kill innocent civilians including children. Like many in Montana and throughout the world, my heart continues to break for the Ukrainian people as they bravely defend their country and their democracy.

Representative Rosendale believes that the United States does not have a moral obligation to come to the aid of a small Eastern European country halfway across the world.

I do not agree.

Thankfully, neither does the majority of a bipartisan Congress, nor President Biden, nor our NATO allies, nor the rest of the democratic world.

Aid comes in different forms. Currently, the United States is joining our allies in placing heavy sanctions on Russia and its leadership. In alignment with our allies, the United States is also sending aid in the form of weapons to Ukraine.

I stand in solidarity with our NATO allies and Ukraine. American values side with democracy and freedom. American patriotism has a long history of coming to the aid of democracy throughout the world and aligns with countries that do the same. We absolutely have a moral obligation to our American values.

Sadly, Rosendale is also misleading the American public on the economic impact Ukraine has to the United States and our European allies.

The United States Trade Representative reported that the latest figures available, from 2019, show a $3.7 billion dollar total in trade between Ukraine and the United States.

Over the past 24 years, U.S. exports to Ukraine have increased nearly 11% every year.

Ukraine is important to Europe too. In 2020, trade between the European Union and Ukraine totaled nearly $49 billion.

It may be far away to some, but Ukraine means dollars and cents to our economy and to the economy of our allies. And its democracy means freedom and survival to its people.

I stand in solidarity with our NATO allies and Ukraine.

I believe Montanans do also.

We must put people over politics and work to bring unity back to our country and peace back to democracies throughout the world, and I believe Montanans feel the same.

Penny Ronning is the co-founder of the Yellowstone County Area Human Trafficking Task Force and recently completed her 4-year term on Billings City Council and is a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Montanas Second Congressional District.

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BNSF Railway calls a local historic preservation group's claim that the Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge is state property "legally absurd" and wants the U.S. Coast Guard to move ahead with permitting the construction of a new bridge.

The railroad cites both an act of Congress and North Dakota case law in maintaining that it has owned the bridge for more than a century and has every right to tear it down.

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 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 new claim of state ownership is based on legal principles including that the government owns and protects certain natural resources for public use, according to a memo it sent to the Coast Guard. The preservation group maintains North Dakota has held ownership of the bridge since statehood.

The nonprofit believes state ownership of the bridge means the structure could not be destroyed without approval from the State Historical Board. The board oversees the State Historical Society, which believes removal of the bridge would have "an adverse effect on a property that has considerable historic value," according to State Historic Preservation Officer Bill Peterson. The bridge was built in 1883, with the spans replaced in 1905.

BNSF has questioned the timing of FORB's claim, with the Corps set to release a final environmental impact statement in April. Brian Dunn, chief of the Coast Guard Office of Bridge Programs, said on March 7 that the dispute will delay the release of the EIS and the final permitting decision.

State officials last week decided against wading into the ownership debate due to the fact that no state agency or entity is involved in the dispute.

BNSF responded to the preservation group's arguments Monday in a memo sent to the Coast Guard, calling FORB's claims "facially and legally absurd."

The railway claims it owns the bridge due to an act of Congress that granted Northern Pacific Railroad Co. a right of way through public lands to build and maintain a railroad, including all necessary bridges. Northern Pacific Railway merged with other railroads over the years and is now BNSF. The memo maintains that according to federal law, all railroad property in the right of way, including bridges, becomes part of a railroad company's real estate.

FORB claims that Congress owned the riverbed and any structures in it, including the rail bridge, and then transferred that ownership to North Dakota when it joined the union. BNSF argues that ownership of the bridge did not pass to the state because of existing case law that says railroad bridges built over rivers are owned by the railroad the same way that bridges over land are.

The railway also added that based on North Dakota case law, it can't have the bridge taken from it because it has continuously operated and maintained it since its completion.

"It simply does not follow that upon North Dakota's admission to statehood, the railroad's ownership rights to the Bismarck Bridge, as conferred by the 1864 act, were extinguished and title to the Bismarck Bridge automatically passed to the state of North Dakota," BNSF Director of Bridge Programs Mike Herzog said in the memo.

The Friends group in a statement to the Tribune on Monday said BNSF's response cited statutes and case law but did not provide documentation showing that the railway owns the bridge. FORB also maintained the railway attempted to get a permit to destroy the bridge without showing any evidence of ownership.

The nonprofit added that it does not contest that the railway has the right of way in the area but said the right of way does not give BNSF the right to the riverbed or the bridge. The group also listed several issues that it says need to be addressed, including what property was transferred to the state and how.

FORB President Mark Zimmerman said the group is prepared to take the ownership matter to court.

It is unclear what the next steps are to officially determine the ownership of the bridge. Dunn did not respond to a Tribune email Monday.

Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com.

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Officials looking to preserve scenic views in North Dakota's oldest state park are hopeful local property owners will agree to easements on their land.

Two landowners say they understand the issue of protecting Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park's scenery, but they're not completely on board with the proposal.

The 2021 Legislature budgeted $50,000 to pay landowners for viewshed easements west of the park south of Mandan. Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer commanded the Seventh Cavalry there from 1873-76 prior to his death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The easements would stop development within the 81.21-acre area.

Morton County has had a building moratorium in the park area for two decades. County officials a few years ago began discussing the idea of a permanent regulation, and in 2020 they wrote to the state about protecting the viewshed.

Three landowners would be affected by easements, which the state parks chief said would be voluntary. The parcels are directly west of the Custer House and Cavalry Square.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity," Parks and Recreation Department Director Cody Schulz said. "It allows us to strike a balance between protecting the natural beauty and historical significance and doing it in a way that's voluntary with these landowners and through collaboration."

Viewshed easements have been done at national parks and national monuments but "are fairly unique in North Dakota, as far as I'm aware," he said.

Building moratorium

Since 2000, Morton County has had a building moratorium in a nearly 400-acre area around the park, affecting 17 landowners.

In 2019, the county discussed a potential, permanent policy to restrict development in the area after a resident's inquiry about a building permit properly issued to a landowner. The idea of a permanent regulation brought objections from landowners and didn't advance, Planning and Zoning Director Natalie Pierce said.

In 2020, the county told the state the method to protect the viewshed is not regulation but purchases of scenic easements or land, which "Morton County is not in a financial position to execute."

"If there is no movement from the state to protect the viewshed by the conclusion of the 2021 legislative session, the county is planning to lift the building moratorium completely," the county wrote to state lawmakers and agency heads.

County Commissioner Andy Zachmeier said the county will see what the state is able to accomplish with easements.

"Eventually it's got to be addressed," he said of the moratorium.

Landowners

Landowner Linda Morrow Schauer said she has no plans to sign an easement but would have to consider the cost and what all would be involved.

She said she is not in favor of protecting the viewshed, saying, "They didn't protect me and my land, so why should I protect them?" She didn't elaborate.

Brandon Koch, who lives on property his father owns bordering the park, said his family has had private meetings with park officials, but the $50,000 budget for all landowners "seems a little low."

His family "probably won't" sign an easement, he said. His family had to obtain a variance to build their house, and would like to develop their land for livestock.

He said he understands the viewshed issue, but sees alternatives such as using certain colors for buildings or planting tree rows.

"If they had a program where they'd help with tree row planting, we'd jump on that more than the lease agreement," Koch said.

Parks and Recreation has made some initial calls to the landowners and is working toward in-person meetings, department spokeswoman Kristin Byram said.

Schulz said Parks and Recreation is working with the Attorney General Office "regarding our parameters," and will discuss with landowners the lengths of what any easement would be. The department is interested in it being a multiyear easement.

He said the hope would be to have everything finalized by the end of June 2023.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Load restrictions go into effect on all county paved roadways in Morton County at 7 a.m. Friday.

Gravel roads will be restricted as needed, the county announced Tuesday. A load restriction map is at www.mortonnd.org/maps.

Load limits are aimed at protecting roads left vulnerable by the spring thaw. They're typically implemented until roadbeds have stabilized enough to carry normal loads.

Burleigh County announced earlier that load restrictions there also take effect at 7 a.m. Friday. Limits likely will be implemented in Bismarck a few days later, according to city officials. A Burleigh County map is at www.burleighco.com. A city map will be available at: https://www.bismarcknd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19457/Truck-Route-Map.

Load limits are now in effect on state highways in southwest North Dakota. The area includes south of Interstate 94 to the South Dakota border, and from the Montana border to Highway 49 at the junction of Highway 21.

Motorists can find detailed information on load restrictions statewide at http://www.dot.nd.gov/loadlimitinfo.asp.

For more information on road conditions across North Dakota, call 511 or go to travel.dot.nd.gov. Email and text alerts are available through GovDelivery on that site.

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A Mandan flooring installer who authorities say took more than $36,000 from customers but did not deliver materials or complete work has been banned from doing business in North Dakota, according to Attorney General Drew Wrigley.

Matthew Holden, doing business as Affordable Flooring, did not respond to court documents in which prosecutors asked South Central District Judge David Reich to rule on complaints from 10 Burleigh County and Morton County homeowners.

Holden was found to have operated without a contractors license and engaged in consumer fraud. The judge ordered him to reimburse the homeowners, and pay a $5,000 fine and nearly $2,500 in attorney fees and costs.

Holden took at least $36,000 from consumers and then disappeared as soon as he realized he was being investigated, said Parrell Grossman, director of the attorney general's Consumer Protection Division. Holden did not respond to the homeowners complaints or consumer fraud investigators, Grossman said.

Wrigley said his office will aggressively prosecute fraudulent contractors and hold them responsible for their illegal activity.

I urge homeowners to make sure a contractor is licensed before making any advance payment, Wrigley said.

No attorney is listed for Holden in court documents. An Affordable Flooring website listed on Yelp was not functioning, and calls to the listed phone number could not be completed.

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A Missoula, Montana, man has died from injuries suffered in a March 4 crash on Interstate 94 west of Mandan.

Scott Walden, 46, died March 11, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Walden was driving a westbound GMC Sierra that was pulling a trailer loaded with a pickup. It collided with an eastbound 2020 Freightliner pulling double box trailers that slid out of control on the icy highway and crossed the median into oncoming traffic. A passenger in the GMC, 49-year-old Antonina Walden, of Missoula, suffered serious injuries, the Patrol said.

The driver of the Freightliner, Hashi Shire, 37, of Richfield, Minnesota, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the Patrol. A passenger, 27-year-old Ahmed Ahmed, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, was not injured.

The crash is still under investigation.

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Gov. Doug Burgum is looking for music groups to apply to be his official state Band/Orchestra Program and Choral Program for the next year.

North Dakota school, community and church bands, orchestras and choirs can apply at bit.ly/3tVnslZ. The deadline is 5 p.m. April 7.

Burgum and first lady Kathryn Burgum will select the designees from the applicants based on musical talent, achievement and community involvement.

The governor may invite the groups to perform at state functions, such as the State of the State address.

The designees will be announced in mid-April and may be invited to perform in mid-May 2022 at the state Capitol and at events throughout the 2022-23 school year.

The 2021-22 designees were the Bismarck Legacy High School Wind Ensemble and the Larimore High School Senior Choir.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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The history and dramatic arts programs at the University of Mary have created an original play to honor the experiences of European immigrants as well as the cowboys and ranchers who came to the North Dakota frontier.

"Voices of the Badlands" is the product of a years worth of research from interviews preserved through the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The theater production features 24 student cast and crew members and debuts Friday with a dinner theater production beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Additional shows with no dinner will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. at Founders Hall in the Lumen Vitae University Center on campus. Tickets are $10 for adults and are available only outside Founders Hall prior to each show.

For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3CONmvQ.

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Jurors deciding the fate of two men accused in the shooting death of a Bismarck man last March could not reach a unanimous decision on Friday, delaying resolution of the case.

Jurors about 2:30 p.m. notified South Central District Judge Daniel Borgen that their deliberations had reached a stalemate in the case of Kevin Hartson, 30, of Bismarck, and Devante Evans, 27, of Detroit, Michigan. The two are accused of killing Reonardo Alexis, 26, and injuring another man at a Mapleton Avenue apartment the night of March 28, 2021. Police at the time said the incident might have been linked to a drug transaction.

Both men are charged with murder in the course of another crime. Evans additionally faces charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful possession of a firearm, and wearing a mask while committing a crime.

Jurors got the case about 4:30 p.m. Thursday and then met for three hours. Deliberations continued at 8:30 a.m. Friday. After the jury stalemate was declared, Borgen told attorneys in the case that the earliest date a new trial could start would be July 26, but added he understood there could be conflicts with that date.

The two suspects were arrested during a traffic stop in Douglas, Arizona, a few days after the incident. They face possible life sentences if convicted. Both remain in custody.

Testimony in their trial ended Thursday morning. In afternoon closing arguments, prosecutors brought together evidence and a timeline they said pointed to the two men, but one defense attorney said the states case would require jurors to take quantum leaps of faith to find the men guilty.

Burleigh County States Attorney Julie Lawyer told jurors -- nine women and three men -- that a timeline established through text messages and video footage put Evans and Hartson at the apartment when Alexis was shot. Video from a Mandan apartment showed a tag on Evans shoe and Hartson wearing a Playboy hat; both the tag and hat were found at the Bismarck apartment after the shooting, Lawyer said.

Hartson went to the Bismarck apartment "under the guise of collecting a debt from Alexis, with whom hed done business in the past and trusted enough to front him drugs and collect money later, Lawyer said. Hartson brought along Evans, who the prosecutor said wore a mask and carried a gun.

Thats not the way to come to a trusted associates apartment to do a business deal, she said. Thats the way to come to an apartment to do a robbery.

The robbery went bad when Alexis and others fought back, Lawyer said. Four shots were fired into the apartment, and one of them fatally injured Alexis.

We know that the people involved are Devante Evans and Kevin Hartson, and that they were acting together, Lawyer said.

Defense attorney Dean Gregory said the prosecutors spent a lot of time pointing out what he supposedly would argue in closing arguments to the jury, which he said highlighted the problems with the prosecutions case.

The quantum leaps in faith that theyre asking you to make defies logic, Gregory said.

The case boiled down to unexplained evidence, evidence that had been tampered with and tunnel vision among investigators, Gregory maintained. There was no animosity among the men, nothing was stolen, and investigators ignored evidence and reports that could have pointed to other suspects, he said.

He also questioned the reliability of the states witnesses, saying two of them appeared to be more concerned with their drugs and money than with Alexis being shot.

Birds of a feather flock together, Gregory said.

Lloyd Suhr, who represented Hartson, told jurors the prosecution had to have not only enough evidence, but evidence that was good enough for a guilty verdict. His client was charged with murder committed during the commission of another crime. The states evidence of a robbery relied on a photo of Alexis with a stack of money, but the state didnt show that Hartson ever saw it, thought Alexis had it, or went to the apartment to steal it. Text messages between the men did not relate to the incident in which Alexis was shot, Suhr said.

If they dont prove all the evidence to you, you cant convict, he said. And if the evidence isnt sufficient to meet the highest legal standard in our system, it isnt sufficient.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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Western Governors University and the five community colleges within the North Dakota University System have finalized a partnership, Gov. Doug Burgum announced Thursday.

Students graduating from Bismarck State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton and Williston State College will be able to seamlessly transfer their credits to WGU and earn a degree from the online nonprofit. They'll also be eligible to apply for scholarships.

The partnership provides students with additional opportunities beyond the more than 300 online graduate and undergraduate degree programs currently offered by the institutions of the North Dakota University System, Chancellor Mark Hagerott said.

Burgum first announced the pact during his State of the State address in February, touting it as a way to help meet workforce challenges.

To be successful, we must be better at aligning our degree offerings with the needs of North Dakota businesses," Burgum said in a statement Thursday. "This new partnership with Western Governors University will provide North Dakotans with seamless access to one of the nation's most innovative higher education institutions."

WGU was established in 1997 by 19 governors and now serves more than 131,000 students nationwide.

For more information on the partnership between WGU and North Dakota community colleges, go to www.wgu.edu/ndcc.

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RTHK: Erdogan opens huge bridge linking Europe and Asia

President Tayyip Erdogan opened a massive suspension bridge across Turkey's Dardanelles Strait on Friday, the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects which he has prioritised during his two decades in power.

Connecting Turkey's European and Asian shores, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge was built by Turkish and South Korean firms with an investment of 2.5 billion euros. It has the longest main span  the distance between the two towers  of any suspension bridge in the world.

Such mega projects have been central to Erdogan's achievements since his AK Party first came to power in 2002. These have also included a new airport in Istanbul, rail and road tunnels beneath the Bosphorus strait, and a bridge over it.

"These works will continue to provide profit for the state for many years," Erdogan said at an opening ceremony on the anniversary of a 1915 Ottoman naval victory against French and British forces in the Dardanelles during the first world war.

"These projects have a large share in putting our country ahead in investment, workforce and exports."

Last year, he launched what he has called his "crazy project": a US$15 billion canal in Istanbul intended to relieve pressure on the busy Bosphorus Strait. However, critics have questioned the project's viability given Turkey's economic woes, the environmental risks involved and public opposition.

Work on the Dardanelles bridge project was launched in March 2017, with more than 5,000 workers involved in its construction.

The 2,023 metre length of its midspan is an allusion to the Turkish Republic's 100th anniversary in 2023. It is the fourth bridge linking European and Asian shores in Turkey, alongside three in Istanbul.

Until now, vehicles travelling between Anatolia and the Gallipoli peninsula had to cross the Dardanelles in a one-hour ferry journey, which including waiting time amounted to as much as five hours. The journey will now take around six minutes. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India

March 18, 2022

The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India, expresses its grave concern over the events surrounding the mislaunch of an Indian unarmed supersonic cruise missile that landed in Pakistani territory at around 07.20 pm IST on 09 March 2022.

The accident was first brought to light by the Pakistani military establishment through a press conference on the following day (10 March). However, it was only about 48 hours after the incident that the Indian Defence Ministry, through a press statement, chose to confirm the incident describing it as accidental and terming it deeply regrettable.

News reports suggest that, since India did not alert Pakistan promptly about the mislaunch as per agreed norms, Pakistani forces initially prepared for a retaliatory strike. However, fortunately, saner heads appear to have prevailed, who recognised that the intrusion into their territory by a flying object was likely not deliberate. That the accident fortunately did not cause any loss of life or strike any military installation also must have helped.

This incident, regardless, exemplifies the perpetually present dangers of a devastating war, between the two nuclear-armed countries.

The CNDP, therefore, demands that the Government of India, as the first step, provide a credible explanation regarding the mislaunch and about its failure to alert the Pakistani Government immediately thereafter in violation of agreed norms.

We also urge the governments of India and Pakistan to immediately work out credible and effective confidence building measures (CBMs), revive the multiple channels of communication to avoid any misunderstandings and set up a functioning joint monitoring mechanism to avert the possibility of a disaster arising out of any accident in future.

March 18 2022
Federal appeals judges have revived part of a lawsuit filed by an Arizona man of Navajo heritage who alleges North Dakota law officers seriously injured him and violated his civil rights during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline five years ago.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also is considering two other excessive force lawsuits filed against law enforcement in the wake of the DAPL protests in 2016-17. A fourth lawsuit is still making its way through federal court.

The three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor improperly dismissed Marcus Mitchell's claim of excessive force. The judges also said that if Mitchell's claims are true, "then Morton County law enforcement engaged in a persistent pattern of excessive force against peaceful protesters that was tacitly authorized by (Morton County) Sheriff (Kyle) Kirchmeier and that led to Mitchell's injury."

Attorneys for the county and Kirchmeier didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Law enforcement has long denied using excessive force against the thousands of pipeline opponents who camped near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to protest construction of the $3.8 billion project built by Texas-based Energy Transfer to move North Dakota oil to Illinois. Authorities maintain some protesters used violent and illegal tactics and assaulted officers. The protests resulted in 761 arrests over a six-month span.

The Mitchell case

Mitchell, who is in his mid-to-late 20s and has most recently lived in New Mexico, sued in July 2019, alleging he was subjected to excessive violence by law officers who in January 2017 fired shotgun beanbag rounds at peaceful, unarmed protesters including himself. One round hit him in the left eye, resulting in long-term vision, hearing and smell problems along with chronic pain, he alleges.

Mitchell was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and obstruction of a government function. The charges eventually were dismissed through a pretrial diversion agreement, the terms of which were not publicly disclosed.

Mitchell's lawsuit seeking unspecified money damages is backed by the Chicago-based MacArthur Justice Center, which uses the courts to advocate for human rights and social justice.

Traynor in December 2020 threw out the lawsuit, saying Mitchell had placed himself where he knew less-than-lethal weapons were being used and had failed to show that law enforcement officers treated him any differently than anyone else at the protests. Traynor said Mitchell failed to provide even a scintilla of evidence that there was a conspiracy to violate his civil rights. Mitchell appealed.

The 8th Circuit judges ruled that Traynor properly dismissed Mitchell's claims of retaliatory use of force and retaliatory arrest, noting that officers had been firing bean bag rounds before Mitchell arrived on scene and that "shooting bean bags at Mitchell too after he stood in their way is exactly what one would expect the officers to do."

"Officers merely carrying out their duty as they understand it are not liable for retaliatory arrest or retaliatory use of force even if their understanding of their duty is mistaken -- indeed, even if it is so mistaken as to be 'unreasonable,'" the panel wrote.

The judges also upheld Traynor's conclusion that Mitchell had not been targeted by law officers because he was Native American.

However, the judges said that firing lead-filled bean bags at someone amounts to more than minimal force.

"Mitchell's allegations that he was 'peacefully protesting' -- neither committing a serious crime nor threatening anyone's safety nor fleeing or resisting arrest -- when the officers shot him with lead-filled bean bags capable of shattering his eye socket are sufficient to state a claim for excessive force," the panel said.

The judges sent back to federal court Mitchell's excessive force claims, along with his allegations that Morton County is liable for the officers' conduct, and that Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Kennelly, a scene commander, failed to intervene. Further proceedings weren't immediately scheduled.

The lawsuit names as defendants Kirchmeier, Deputy Morton County Sheriff George Piehl, Morton County, the city of Bismarck, Bismarck Police Officer Tyler Welk, Kennelly and two others listed as John Does 1 and 2. Attorneys for Bismarck didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Kennelly is being represented by the state Attorney General's Office; spokeswoman Liz Brocker said, "We are reviewing the decision."

Other appeals

Two other similar excessive force lawsuits are before the 8th Circuit. It's not known when decisions might come.

Oklahoma resident Eric Poemoceah sued in April 2020, claiming he suffered a broken pelvis when he was tackled while running from law officers in February 2017. Traynor in December 2020 dismissed the complaint, saying officers acted reasonably.

Poemoceah appealed last June. He argued in part that his behavior during the incident "posed no threat to safety of the officers or others, and the officers failed to warn of the imminent use of force." He also maintained that "federal courts have often held that an officer's own provocative behavior can undermine the justification for the use of force."

Shawn Grinolds, attorney for the defendants, maintained in a January filing in the appeals case that "Poemoceah was actively resisting arrest and attempting to flee when he was tackled."

Nine protesters sued in November 2016 alleging violations of their civil rights due to officers tactics including the use of tear gas and water sprays amid temperatures below freezing during a clash that month over a blockaded bridge. The lead plaintiff in that case is Vanessa Dundon, a Navajo from Arizona who suffered an eye injury.

Traynor last December sided with law enforcement, again saying officers acted reasonably during an unprecedented incident. The violent clash between protesters and police became the emblematic skirmish of the monthslong protest.

Dundon and the other plaintiffs appealed in January. Arguments have not yet been filed in the appeal.

Wilansky case

The November 2016 confrontation sparked another lawsuit that is still proceeding in federal court.

New York City resident Sophia Wilansky, who was 21 at the time, alleges police intentionally targeted her with a concussion grenade and severely injured her left arm. She seeks millions of dollars from law officers and Morton County, who maintain her injury was caused by a propane canister that protesters had rigged to explode.

Traynor in October 2020 dismissed several of Wilansky's claims including defamation but allowed numerous others to proceed, including some excessive force, assault and emotional distress claims. Trial had been set to begin April 26, but it has now been delayed. Court documents indicate Wilansky is seeking to add some law officers as defendants.

Documents also indicate that Wilansky will finally get evidence from the FBI that she thinks will help prove her case -- but how that evidence will be handled is undecided.

Wilansky sued the federal government in 2018 seeking access to shrapnel and clothing taken from her while she was hospitalized. She lost the case when a judge ruled she didn't have a good argument for why she couldnt file a civil lawsuit without the seized property.

The FBI has now closed its investigation of Wilansky and is willing to turn over the evidence, according to one of her attorneys, Ben Stoll. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal earlier this month advised the two sides in the excessive force lawsuit to try to agree on how the evidence should be handled.

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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We love listening to the pheasants crow and the coyotes howl and the morning doves coo, sipping coffee out on the porch in the mornings and, especially in the summer evenings, sitting out there watching the endless stars. As you can imagine, wed like to preserve the value that we get out of the enjoyment of our land.

-- Oliver County landowner Kurt Swenson, who wants a better lease agreement for those who own land in the path of a carbon dioxide pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions.

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"This is the first time an incident like this has happened. We're going to have to learn from it."

-- Bismarck City Commissioner Greg Zenker, after a man was accused of tampering with the power supply at the Bismarck Airport.

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"In order for me to be there tomorrow, I have to set my boundaries today."

-- Sanford Health Bismarck Hospitalist Andrew Stahl, detailing how the two-year coronavirus pandemic has helped him learn how to say no to help his well-being.

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Under this ruling there may be no remedy for our clients. Not for the two families who had loved ones die in the washout nor for the severely injured who survived. We are heartbroken for these families who, as the court notes, may see no justice here.

-- Tim Purdon, attorney representing the injured and the families of the deceased in a fatal road washout on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, after a judge threw out their wrongful death lawsuit but criticized a rule exempting the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the tribe from liability.

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Theyll still take their vacations, but theyll look for ways to cut corners where needed.

-- Gene LaDoucer, spokesperson for AAA in North Dakota, on the reaction of state residents to soaring gas prices.

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"Obviously, we need to have an improved process so people feel more comfortable coming forward."

-- House Majority Leader Chet Pollert, R-Carrington, on legislative leaders planning to discuss the Legislature's workplace harassment policy this summer.

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People are really unwilling to take the risk of massive investment at this point in an industry that is targeted to be out of business by 2050. The regulations and the policies of the federal administration are completely countercurrent to ramping up U.S. production.

-- State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms, detailing how politics and a worker shortage are tempering the potential for further increased activity in the Bakken oil patch.

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"I just see us as North Dakotans first and not political parties, and that's how North Dakotans see each other, I think."

-- Shelley Lenz, the Democratic-NPL gubernatorial nominee in 2020, who is now running for the state Senate as an independent.

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"The ramps on Lake Sakakawea -- it's not pretty. And we probably have three usable ramps between Bismarck and the South Dakota border."

-- Bob Frohlich, fisheries development supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, on potential boat access issues this summer due to low water levels on the drought-plagued Missouri River System.

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"Eventually it's got to be addressed."

-- Morton County Commissioner Andy Zachmeier, on a decades-old building moratorium in a nearly 400-acre area to protect the scenic view at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Officials hope local property owners will agree to easements on their land so the moratorium can be lifted.

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The turbines are being taken down because they are at the end of their useful life, and parts and service are no longer available. While it is possible to repower wind turbines in many instances, these two cannot be repowered because their foundations are not large enough to support the larger equipment that would be necessary.

-- Joe Fiedler, manager of distributed generation for Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which has taken down two of North Dakotas oldest wind turbines, south of Minot.

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Another Black History Month has come and gone, and the country has heard, once again, a great deal about the likes of Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Martin Luther King Jr. These American heroes are rightfully celebrated, but there are many stories that have gone un- or under-told, stories of courageous Americans of color who overcame tremendous barriers to accomplish extraordinary things. Three in particular stand outa surgeon, a pilot, and a generalremarkable individuals who exemplify the best of American character and whose stories deserve to be told anew, and for many, for the very first time.

Mildred Fay Jefferson was born in 1926 to a Methodist minister and a schoolteacher in Texas. The young Mildred grew up following the local doctor on his house calls, marveling at his skills and beginning to take an interest in medicine that would follow her the rest of her life. After completing her bachelors degree at Texas College, Jefferson began to reach for the stars. She went on to earn a masters in biology before graduating from Harvard Medical School. Jefferson was the first black woman to graduate from that school, as well as the first woman to complete a surgical internship at Boston City Hospital. She served as a general surgeon at Boston Universitys medical center, even as a professor at the universitys school of medicine.

Throughout Jeffersons prolific medical career, she maintained a firm, principled opposition to abortion. Citing her loyalty to the Hippocratic oath, Jefferson made massive strides in the pro-life movement, helping found Massachusetts Citizens for Life in 1970 and serving as president of the National Right to Life Committee from 1975 to 1978. Her strident opposition to abortion would change many minds, most notable among them Ronald Reagans. In fact, the president expressed to her in a 1972 letter that you made it irrefutably clear that an abortion is the taking of human life, and that he was grateful for Jeffersons dedicated activism. The two would go on to correspond regularly. Jeffersons background as both a black woman and a surgeon gave her tremendous credibility when describing the abortion industry as a class war against the poor and genocide against blacks. After a successful career as a surgeon, and decades of tireless pro-life advocacy, Jefferson died in 2010, leaving a truly admirable legacy of professionalism and lived-out principles.

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was born in 1912 in Washington D.C. At 13 he went on a flight that launched the young Davis into a lifelong love of aviation. His journey to stardom, however, was not without its obstacles. While in the U.S. Military Academy, Davis was isolated by white classmates for four long years, often eating by himself. He never had a roommate, and his white peers hoped that the isolation would pressure him to leave the Academy. Davis never gave up, though, graduating in 1936 and earning the respect of many classmates, who described him as possessing courage, tenacity, and intelligence.

Davis applied to the Army Air Corps but was denied entrance because of his race, eventually being assigned to teach military tactics at a small town in Alabama called Tuskegee. Once again, Davis love of flying guided his career, and the young professor earned his wings in 1942 as America was entering the Second World War. He would soon ship off to war, leading the Tuskegee Airmen in North Africa and Sicily and eventually becoming a general in the Air Force. Davis earned a Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor during the war. In his 1991 memoir, he wrote that the privileges of being an American belong to those brave enough to fight for them. Davis went on to a well-deserved retirement before passing away from Alzheimers in 2002.

Perhaps the most extraordinary story of the three is that of Robert Smalls, born in 1839 to Lydia Polite, a slave in South Carolina. Although a slave himself, the young Robert was favored by his master, Henry McKee, who took him around town and allowed him to play with white children. Despite these atypical favors, Robert grew to abhor slavery, moving to Charleston in 1912 and working for his master on the waterfront on various ships. Smalls eventually learned how to perform captains duties on the ship he was assigned to, the Planter. The clever Smalls was preparing for escape and in 1862 put his plan into action. Smalls, along with other enslaved men and their families on the Planter, waited on the ship until the white supervisors turned in for the night. Then the crew steered the Planter out of Charleston Harbor, past the Confederate batteries, and surrendered the ship to the Union forces blockading Fort Sumter. Smalls would go on to gain fame, holding audience with Abraham Lincoln and recruiting 5,000 African Americans to fight valiantly for the Union for the remainder of the war.

As the Civil War came to an end, Smalls emerged a hero and embarked on a political career. As Reconstruction gained traction, he fought for an improved public school system in South Carolina and greater civil rights in the South generally. Despite efforts by South Carolina Democrats to force him from government, Smalls prevailed, serving five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. After politics, Smalls went on to a happy retirement, dying of natural causes in 1915. A monument to his memory in nearby Tabernacle Baptist Church preserves one of his most famous quotes: My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people, anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.

From a young girl dreaming of being a doctor, to a young boy looking up at the skies, to a young slave chasing a desire for freedom, the history of black Americans is awash with unsung heroes. These hidden stories of grit, determination, and perseverance are well worth telling and remembering, and not just during Black History Month (although that would be nice).
According to a piece on Vice, a store in Chicago is selling custom-made LEGO President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Molotov cocktails and donating the money to help Ukrainian refugees as they flee from Vlad the Impaler.

Citizen Brick is a store in Chicago that designs custom LEGO pieces. It's a great place to get minifigs and pieces that LEGO doesn't or won't make. For $25, a customer can pick up a Carrie minifig, a knife wielding Green Beret, or a Squid Game player. There's also individual pieces like cigarettes, condoms, and bandaged heads that allow LEGO fans to live out blocky fantasies that don't go well with LEGO's corporate image.

Now, Citizen Brick is offering Molotov Cocktails and Ukraine's President as custom pieces. "In light of the recent invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military, Citizen Brick has decided to raise donations to help Ukrainian refugees. During tomorrow's sale, shoppers will have a chance to purchase these two custom itemsthe Molotov Cocktail ($10), and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy minifig ($100). Supplies will be very limited," Citizen Brick said in a Facebook post announcing the sale. "100% of the sale of these items will go to @directrelief to assist with their efforts to bring medical supplies to the people of Ukraine."
The editorial board of The New York Times today went all-in on "cancel culture" anxiety [archive], declaring that free speech is more than a right to say what you will: it's the right to say what you want without being "shamed" or "shunned" by others. Heaven forfend that "harsh criticism" be the outcome of something one says

The progressive movement in America has been a force for good in many ways: for social and racial justice, for pay equity, for a fairer system and society, and for calling out hate and hate speech. In the course of their fight for tolerance, many progressives have become intolerant of those who disagree with them or express other opinions, and take on a kind of self-righteousness and censoriousness that the right long displayed and the left long abhorred. It has made people uncertain about the contours of speech: Many know they shouldn't utter racist things, but they don't understand what they can say about race or can say to a person of a different race than they are. Attacking people in the workplace, on campus, on social media and elsewhere who express unpopular views from a place of good faith is the practice of a closed society. The Times does not allow hate speech in our pages

A lot might be said about all this (and the funny disclaimer about its own pet exceptions) not least that it's all wildly incoherent: "shaming" and "shunning" are themselves acts of free speech, ones so mild they may even be expressed by saying nothing at all. Presumably "harsh criticism" is where the action is at.

"Many Americans are understandably confused, then, about what they can say and where they can say it," says the Editorial Board, plainly confused about what Americans can say and where they can say it. (Buried deep within the piece is an offhand admission that the First Amendment provides "freedom from government restrictions on expression." Thanks!)

The Times's editorial is, in effect, a cri de cur seeking a new culturally-bound exception to free speech: all the bad mean speech must be somehow vanquished so that the good respectful speech may be saved.

Thing is, though, there were many people already being "silenced" by shame and shun in that glittering beforetime. What changed?

"This social silencing, this depluralizing of America, has been evident for years," they write, as if America was until 2016 a place of harmony and civility where everyone spoke freely and was treated with respect and forebearance.

This editorial represents the perspective of well-off media people who still have no idea what life is like outside their floating world. They find it incomprehensible that Americans hold their tongues at Thanksgiving. And yet a 93-year-old resident of Connecticut who claims to be left of Lenin but doesn't believe in cancel culture is right there in the rolodex.

We don't know who wrote this collective editorial. But I know plenty of folks like them, and they've become insecure in the last few years because their careers have been "captured" by social media platforms (i.e. Twitter). They are all financially dependent on it, relentlessly abused in it, and completely addicted to it. This is why they dream of free speech as a very specific thing that needs protecting from itself: because they're speechcroppers.

The real culture war aspect to this is this: the belief that the desperation of young people presents a strategic threat to freedom far more dangerous than the direct attacks on it exacted by the government, corporations, instutitions and private individuals who can afford lawyers. Censoring people, in the sense of coercing, threatening or retaliating against them? Not their problem until it is.

Legally, constitutionally, there is no "fundamental right" to voice your opinions in public "without fear of being shamed or shunned." You have no right to freedom from "harsh criticism" or "anxiety" about what you say. The government can't stop you saying what you like but for very slim exceptions, but you can be sued by people for what you say about them, and platforms can ban you (confetti rains! fireworks burst! the crowd cheers!) for any reason or none at all.

This is the shit sandwich everyone else has been eating since time immemorial and now you get to eat it too, you stupid fucking soaks.
Ford is building a manufacturing plant for its new electric cars just outside Mason, Tennessee, and with it comes good news for the 1300+ local property owners, nearly 60% of whom are black. A few years ago, Mason's city leadership took flight after a financial embezzlement fraud scandal, and the community has worked hard to rebuild under new leadership, also mostly black. This plant signals a new era of prosperity dawning, and so Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower is demanding the city disband its charter and turn itself over to mostly white county management.

The Lookout:

"This is our home. We were born and raised here. The majority of the town is homegrown people that live here," Vice Mayor Virginia Rivers said. "He is trying to conquer and divide us. It's akin to a hostile take-over and it's not hard to figure out why here, why now."

Town leaders are accusing Mumpower and other state officials of big-footing a long-ignored, largely Black community now that major investment is heading its way.

Mason is 60% Black and includes descendants of men, women and children enslaved in the area before Emancipation. For more than a century the town was led by White elected officials.

That changed in 2016, when fraud and mismanagement allegations led to the resignations of nearly all City Hall officials, all of whom were White. Mason's current mayor, vice mayor and five of its six alderman are Black.

"It's because of the Black people that are in office," said Rivers, who first became Vice Mayor in 2021.

"And it's because of all the places in the world, Blue Oval could have selected, they selected here. There's no way Mason won't prosper and grow. And now they want to take it away from us."
It was just three years ago that a Cleveland-based "financial crime fighting firm" opened an office in Buffalo.

Now, AML Rightsource has more than 200 local workers, and the company has committed to nearly tripling its workforce with plans to make Western New York the center of its technology workforce.

AML RightSource  which helps banks and financial service companies detect fraudulent transactions  said Friday it will add 363 new jobs in Buffalo by 2026.

The $4.3 million expansion will receive $7.4 million in tax breaks from the state if the company meets its job quota, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday.

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Hochul visited the Seneca One tower, home to AML RightSource's Buffalo offices, where she also announced Elma aerospace and defense company Moog will add 500 Western New York jobs. Her visit to Buffalo comes three months ahead of the gubernatorial primary election in June.

The expansion also is a boost for the region's undersized technology sector and an example of the type of rapid growth that those firms can generate, which is why they are coveted across the country.

Moog Inc. to add 500 jobs to boost manufacturing operations The Elma-based motion control equipment maker said it will invest $25 million in high-tech equipment purchases and building renovations.

AML RightSource CEO Frank Ewing said the jobs his company creates will all be high-paying, white collar jobs, from tech to human resources, legal and management.

Those kinds of jobs will help keep college graduates in the area while also attracting high-quality talent to the Buffalo Niagara region, Hochul said.

Two big expansions at Buffalo Niagara businesses will add more than 860 jobs locally Major expansion projects by a pair of Buffalo Niagara businesses  Moog Inc. and AML Rightsource  are expected to create more than 860 new jobs in the region, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday afternoon.

If the company fulfills its hiring commitment, it will have more than 540 employees in Western New York and join the ranks of recently-formed businesses, like ACV Auctions, Odoo and HiOperator, that now in provide hundreds of jobs locally.

It's also following companies like M&T Bank that are drawn by the potential Buffalo has to support tech companies and to attract and train the workers necessary to support these companies.

"You have access to fantastic colleges and universities and you also have a growing technology environment, which is going to be the future of our company and the future of jobs in this region," said Frank Ewing, the company's CEO.

To grow its tech hub in Buffalo, AML RightSource is looking to hire developers, software engineers and data scientists, Ewing said.

Ewing has ties to Buffalo. He grew up in Central New York, worked at HSBC Bank and graduated from University at Buffalo Law School. He relocated to Buffalo at the beginning of this year.

"We want to do our part to grow this great community of these great people wherever our our two young daughters get to live in college," said Ewing, whose children are 3 and 5.

AML RightSource came to Buffalo in 2019 with the promise of creating 100 jobs by 2023.

The company did that in nine months. By the end of 2020, the company had 175 Buffalo-based employees and now has 205, Ewing said. More than half of those employees attended a college or university in the region, Hochul said.

"We're confident because everything we thought about Buffalo turned out to be true," Ewing said.

"There's an ethos to this community and a real desire to want to be great and we wanted to be part of that greatness," he said.

With the 363 new jobs will also come an expansion of office space. Since it moved its offices from Larkinville last year, AML RightSource has occupied 20,000 square feet on the 27th floor of the Seneca One tower. The downtown high rise is considered the city's tech hub.

AML RightSource was founded in 2004 and has 3,300 employees across the globe. Through a series of acquisitions last year, the company has broadened the tech-enabled services it can offer its clients.

Startups on the rise: Investment, mentorship and 43North help attract the young and ambitious It's an undersized sector that the region has sought to cultivate, through a mix of investment, mentorship and opportunities like the 43North business plan competition.

The company will not disclose its clients, but Ewing said they range from community banks with $1 billion is assets to global financial institutions with trillions of dollars in assets.

AML RightSource's technology and talent track illicit financial activity, which has helped to uncover human trafficking, terrorist financing and illegal drug shipments.

Hochul noted that the work AML RightSource is doing is more important than ever, as Russia could launch cyber attacks at the United States in retaliation for the sanctions federal and state leaders imposed on the country after the invasion of Ukraine.

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Robyn Morey's original idea was to open her own hair salon.

Morey styles hair out of her Buffalo home. Her 16-year-old daughter is also learning cosmetology. Morey wanted to open a hair salon where she and her daughter could one day work side by side.

But, as her daughter, Nevaeh Dowell, went through cosmetology school, she complained to her mother that the school wasn't providing products for natural hair textures and wasn't teaching students Black hairstyles. As Morey spoke to more cosmetology students, she realized there was a local need to train people to style Black hair.

So Morey changed her plan. She now has her sights set on opening a school where stylists can learn Black hairstyles that aren't taught in cosmetology schools, such as cornrows, dreadlocks, braids and ponytails.

What helped give Morey the confidence to make the shift was what she learned through the EforAll Business Accelerator program, which aims to help people in underrepresented communities open and grow their own businesses.

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EforAll is a national entrepreneurship organization that has offices across the country, including one in Buffalo that opened in May 2021. The idea is to help residents in cities like Buffalo create opportunities to build a business and generational wealth for their families.

The program is counting on a ripple effect to take place  one person starting and growing a successful business in their neighborhood can not only employ people in their communities, but can also inspire others who come from a similar background to take the risk of becoming entrepreneurs as well.

And Buffalo is a good fit. The city is among the poorest in the country, with around 30% of the population living in poverty and a median household income of $37,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

There's also a need for training. Though graduation rates at Buffalo Public Schools rose last year to 79%, they had preciously hovered around 65%. Only 28% of city residents have a four-year college degree.

Juweria Dahir, EforAll's executive director, said the group's objective is to transform Buffalo's underserved communities by making entrepreneurship accessible to anyone with the drive to start their own business.

"If we help them realize their dream of owning a business, that means we're transforming a specific pocket of the city because they're going to go back and tell their peers, their family members, 'I'm turning my dream into a business and you can, too,'" Dahir said.

EforAll in Buffalo is led by a team of women who are representative of the business owners they serve. Dahir is a Black, Muslim immigrant, and Sonya Tareke, the program manager, is also a woman of color and an entrepreneur. As a student at the University at Buffalo, Tareke co-founded Real Talk, a platform that brings people from all backgrounds together for open discussions.

"You dont really see women that look like us in these positions," Dahir said. "So when we come out into the community and say, 'You should start a business and this program is really for you' and they see us as the leaders reflecting that, I feel like peoples guards go down."

Of the business owners in the accelerator program, 74% are women, 58% are Black, Indigenous or people of color, and 46% are immigrants, according to Tareke.

"People talk about Buffalo being prosperous  and there is a lot of prosperity  but theres still people in the community who say, 'Prosperity is bypassing us,'" Dahir said. "So those are the people were trying to touch right now. Accelerating our economy does not have to be accelerating the same type of economy."

Transforming Buffalo, one small business at a time

Morey is one of 15 local entrepreneurs participating in EforAll's first Business Accelerator program in Buffalo. She and her classmates are taking part in a 12-week business course that includes three-hour classes twice a week and weekly meetings with mentors.

Each entrepreneur works with a team of three volunteer mentors, who come from a variety of backgrounds and may not be in the same industry as the entrepreneur, Tareke said.

The entrepreneurs spend the remaining nine months of the year-long accelerator program implementing what they learned in their businesses and checking in monthly with their mentors. The entrepreneurs also have the opportunity to win up to $20,000 for their businesses, Tareke said.

The program is free to the business owners.

From there, business owners can join Eforever, EforAll's sister program for established business owners that offers peer-to-peer mentoring and networking, Dahir said.

Mentors can offer advice

Mentors are an important part of the program because those in the communities EforAll works with often don't have the type of connections that can be helpful for starting a business.

They may not have a family member who can lend them thousands of dollars to get an idea off the ground, Tareke said. They may not have a friend who is a lawyer or know someone who works in marketing to help build a website, Dahir said.

That's where the EforAll mentors come in. They can act as those connections that people dreaming of starting their own businesses might not have through family or peers.

Yaman Sharma is an EforAll mentor who works as a private client and portfolio advisor with JP Morgan. He came to Buffalo from India in 2014. Sharma said his background in banking makes him a "generalist" who not only understands the financial needs of a business, but can connect business owners to the resources they need, too.

He became a mentor at EforAll because he wanted to find a way to give back to the Buffalo community, which he said has been incredibly supportive of him and his family.

"This is a selfless, I believe, way off of helping the local community," Sharma said.

"I strongly believe in this platform," Sharma said. "It is truly helping out building more entrepreneurs who are going to further build more jobs and the economy."

For Morey, the most beneficial part of being part of the EforAll Business Accelerator program has been the relationships she's built with her mentors. They help keep her accountable, are generous with their time and make sure she has all the tools she needs to succeed, she said.

A passion to be an entrepreneur

Morey said she's always had a passion for entrepreneurship.

Before she started working on her hair school business, Beauti N Fatuationz, she operated her own child care center, Robyn's Nest, and still bakes and sells desserts through her business, Nana Berries.

But she realized her business ventures were not growing to their full potential, so she decided to try to take them to the next level.

"I wanted to surround myself with business-minded people, create new connections for myself," Morey said.

Apply to EforAll

Applications are currently open for EforAll's summer Business Accelerator program.

The deadline to submit an application is May 12. Semifinalists will be announced a week later and 30-minute interviews will be held with the semifinalists the week of May 23. Finalists will be announced June 3 and the 12-week course begins July 12.

If youre interested in becoming a mentor, reach out to the EforAll team by email at buffalo@eforall.org.

For more information, visit eforall.org/ny/buffalo.

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Major expansion projects by a pair of Buffalo Niagara businesses  Moog Inc. and AML Rightsource  are expected to create more than 860 new jobs in the region, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday afternoon.

The expansion by Elma motion-control equipment maker Moog is expected to create 500 new jobs through a $25 million expansion that will help it upgrade and expand its local facilities and add new equipment.

New York has agreed to provide the company with up to $15 million in Excelsior tax credits if Moog meets its hiring targets.

Moog is one of the region's biggest private-sector employers, with 3,500 workers at its Elma complex and other satellite locations in Niagara County and elsewhere.

The company plans to invest in high-tech equipment and machinery as part of the expansion for Moog's work on components it makes for the military's F-35 fighter jet and the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, along with equipment used on flight simulators and satellites.

AM Rightsource, which Hochul described as a "financial crime fighting firm," plans to add 363 jobs over the next four-plus years in a $4.3 million expansion that will more than double the company's local workforce.

The Cleveland-based company helps banks and other companies spot illicit transactions.

"The work we do is really significant and serious," said Frank Ewing, the company's CEO.

AML Rightsource has established a strong foothold in Buffalo and now it plans to get much bigger here.

The company currently has 205 workers at its operations on the 27th floor of Seneca One tower and has steadily expanded its workforce here. Ewing has said the firm has found a good talent pool to hire from and Hochul noted that about 110 of AML's employees went to college in Western New York.

"We're confident because everything we thought about Buffalo has turned out to be true," Ewing said.

The company could receive up to $7.4 million in Excelsior tax credits if it meets its hiring goals, Hochul said.

Through a series of acquisitions, AML RightSource has broadened the tech-enabled services it offers to clients. It has 3,300 employees throughout the company, Ewing said.

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[March 18, 2022] India - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





The effect of this extension is that the 5G spectrum auctions are likely to be delayed until the second half of 2022, pushing the start of commercial launches out until 2023.



Despite these repeated delays, none of the major players seem particularly concerned. LTE networks still have a long way to go before nearing capacity, with one of the MNOs (state-owned company BSNL) only planning to launch 4G services in August 2022.



The countrys telecom sector is also recovering from a fierce price war that started in 2018 following the market entry of Reliance Jio. The aggressive competition saw ARPUs plummet across the board. This problem of a significant fall in revenue as compounded by the DoTs winning of a major Supreme Court battle over the definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) usage and licensing fees for telcos. A number of operators have been pushed to the edge of financial collapse, only for the government to come to the rescue, of sorts, in September 2021 with a very welcome relief package. Nevertheless, few of the potential bidders in the 5G spectrum auction are in a particularly healthy financial state, and the entire industry may end up benefitting from the opportunity to pause awhile.







Key Developments



The government releases a major telecom sector reform package, which includes a four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum instalments.

5G spectrum auctions are postponed from 2021 to 2022.

The target completion date for Indias national broadband program BharatNet (originally scheduled for 2013) is pushed further out to 2025.

Jio develops a 100%-homegrown 5G solution for India, including radios integrated with its own 5G core network as well as Jio 5G smartphones.

BSNL announces plans to make 4G commercial services available in August 2022, following a cash injection from the government.

Bharti Airtels shareholders approve a deal for Google to acquire 1.28% of the company in return for a $700 million equity investment.

Vodafone Group sells a 4.7% stake in tower provider Indus Towers to Bharti Airtel.

Key companies mentioned in this report:



Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), Reliance Jio, Quadrant.





Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

Nicolas Bombourg: nbombourg@budde.com.au Europe office: +44 207 097 1241 Oceania Office: +61 280 767 665

[ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ]
Consider this a public-service warning for parents whose ears constantly ring with the young ones singing along (or TikTokking) to We Dont Talk About Bruno from Disneys smash hit Encanto. This and the rest of the score, including the Oscar-nominated Dos Oruguitas, will be even easier to self-accompany during the next screening now that Disney+ has dropped a new sing-along version of the film with words on the screen. (Later this year, the streamer will provide similar on-screen lyrics for Frozen, Frozen 2 and the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast.)

Documentary Premiere 10:30/9:30c

He has riveted the world stage and inspired untold millions with his pleas for peace since the Russian attack on Ukraine began, but who is Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy? A new documentary from ITN Productions charts the unlikely rise of an actor/comedian to the forefront of geopolitics, becoming a wartime leader with a masterful grasp social media and TV, which reached an apex this week with his address to Congress.

Series Premiere

The latest big-business docudrama expose (in the wake of Showtimes Uber-focused Super Pumped and Hulus The Dropout) stars Oscar winners Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway as WeWork cofounder Adam Neumann and wife Rebekah. The eight-episode series mirrors their love story in the rise and fall of the once-hot startup that crashed spectacularly in 2019.

Series Premiere

You may not always know whether to laugh or cry with Amy Schumer in this 10-episode dramedy as she goes on a personal journey as Beth, a Manhattan wine distributor given to whines when it comes to her family relationships and her sudden engagement to a narcissistic co-worker. An unexpected loss sends Beth back to her Long Island roots where flashbacks reveal more of her character even as she finds herself drawn to an eccentric vineyard keeper (Michael Cera). Look for fun cameos throughout, including Hank Azaria as a funeral director and David Byrne as a concerned doctor.

Movie Premiere

Movie Premiere

Yet more star-driven intrigue when Ben Affleck and Knives Outs Ana de Armas star in director Adrian Lynes (Fatal Attraction) steamy adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith psychodrama. Theyre Melinda and Vic Van Allen, whose unhappy marriage is also a seemingly open one, in which she is allowed to have affairs (including with hunks like Finn Wittrock) as long as she doesnt leave him. But why do her lovers seem to always die or disappear?

9/8c

Inside Friday TV:

NCAA College Basketball Tournament: Mens basketball first round continues with games (starting at 12:15 pm/ET) on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV, while the womens college basketball tournament gets underway (starting at 11:30 am/ET) with games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNN. For a complete schedule, go to ncaa.com.

True Crime Watch: Two months after his death, the notorious multimillionaire/murderer Robert Durst (immortalized in HBOs The Jinx) is the subject of a two-hour report on ABCs 20/20 (9/8c), which includes an exclusive interview with L.A. Deputy DA John Lewin, the lead prosecutor in the trial that led to Dursts conviction. On Dateline NBC (9/8c), correspondent Dennis Murphy looks into the connections between the disappearances of two women, one in Washington D.C. and the other in neighboring Virginia, two decades apart.

More streaming:
Ever since a couple of departed friends  Assemblyman Richard J. Keane and his pal Tommy Blake  sponsored a St. Patrick's Week lunch in 1973 to benefit the Buffalo Irish Center, the event has never failed to draw anybody who's anybody in local politics.

Prospective candidates for Senate, Assembly or judge glad hand their way through the Abbott Road landmark. So do a host of current and past officeholders. Maybe a future mayor or county executive was working the crowd on Friday. And the latest political gossip sweeps over the steaming piles of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.

But even though the region's political luminaries have always circled the date on their calendars for almost half a century, the event never before featured a governor of New York.

Until Friday.

That's when Gov. Kathy Hochul of Buffalo  the first woman to hold the office and the first upstater in more than a century  took to the microphone. She acknowledged that a flood of memories, history and circumstances were joining together in a moment.

"Home, sweet home," the governor told the crowd. "This is more emotional than I thought it would be.

"It's a very big deal to me, and it's an honor to be your governor."

The former Kathleen Courtney spoke of her Irish immigrant grandparents, their stories typical of many families, and of her plans to display the grit of "hearty Irish immigrants" while campaigning this year for a full term. The steel her grandfather and father produced in Lackawanna, she said, is now part of her own resolve.

"I've been tested before, but I have resiliency in me," she said. "We all have that story  a story that unifies us as New Yorkers."

Hochul then paved the way for Bishop Michael W. Fisher and a necessary order of business. In his first St. Patrick's Luncheon, the new leader of the Diocese of Buffalo noted his grandfather hailed from Cork, and followed his predecessors' custom of granting a "commutation" for the Lenten abstinence from meat on Fridays  asking that Catholics "pick another day." That removed any impediment for the traditional Irish-American meal to grace the center's dozens of tables, while also praying for those "in harm's way in Urkraine."

Hochul may have also offered a glimpse into her behind-the-scenes discussions with the Buffalo Bills for a new stadium in Orchard Park when she "requested" Fisher's dispensation.

"It's kind of how I negotiate," she said, "I just put it out there."

But the governor was by no means the only pol to work the Irish Center on Friday. State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli never misses the event, reciting his annual quip that his middle initial stands for "Patrick" (it's really Peter). Mayor Byron W. Brown and County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz took a bow, while a host of South Buffalo Democrats such as State Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy and Assemblyman Patrick B. Burke flanked the governor on the podium.

No Republicans found their way to such a vaunted position, but maybe that's because Republicans rarely hold office in South Buffalo. Still, a couple of tables of GOP types  including Senate candidate Joe Pinion and attorney general hopeful Michael Henry  took over a table possibly a tad closer to the stage this year than in the past.

State Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder, the former assemblyman and Buffalo comptroller who now co-chairs the event with Rep. Brian M. Higgins (in Washington for House votes), said Keane and Blake's original concept was to convene friends of all stripes.

"There were always so many elected officials from both parties," he said, "and that's the tradition it has always been."

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High school sweethearts Ron and Sue Garra serenaded to Somewhere my Love during their wedding in 1970, a fitting choice for a couple who spent their first date at the movies watching Dr. Zhivago.

We've been married over 51 years, Ron Garra, a retired postal worker, said this week. It hasn't all been perfect, but it's been a pleasure.

The couple, who have three children and five grandkids, spent decades filled with church, school and social activities that enriched their lives. Their first half-dozen years of retirement included family visits near and far, more social gatherings closer to home and a string of Caribbean cruises.

They hoped the fun would last forever but things changed in late 2015, when Sue was diagnosed with dementia and Ron became one of 34 million Americans who care for someone older than 50.

You think about getting older and that someone might have to help care for you at some point, but I didn't think I'd be doing it for my wife, he said.

He learned early, and has since understood often, that support, solid resources and sound strategies can help make a challenging dementia diagnosis more manageable  and meaningful. Its why he agreed to serve as a panelist next week for a free, solutions-based forum about caregiving for those with dementia.

The Alzheimers Association Western New York Chapter and The Buffalo News host the forum, which starts at 7 p.m. March 24. It features those versed in dementia from the medical, social, spiritual and personal sides. Register at tinyurl.com/CaregivingForum.

The biggest thing for me first of all was learning more patience, Garra said. Understanding that the things she was doing or couldn't do were not her fault, in any sense, and that I couldn't control much except trying to help her.

The numbers

Ignorance may be bliss when it comes to a looming health crisis, but it can also be fleeting. A traumatic event, medical emergency or chronic illness can end our lives before we reach our golden years. If not, chances are strong that we, or someone we love, will be among those afflicted with Alzheimers disease or another form of dementia.

Related deaths account for one in three among those 65 and older and have more than doubled since 2000, the Alzheimers Association announced this week in its annual Facts and Figures Report. Among other findings:

 An estimated 6.5 million American seniors, including 410,000 in New York State, live with Alzheimers dementia, a number expected to climb 12% higher within three years. Two-thirds of those afflicted are women.

 Nearly half of all caregivers nationwide provide help to older adults with dementia.

 Roughly two-thirds of caregivers are women, and one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters.

Alzheimers Association leaders are particularly concerned this year that too many people, including health care professionals, mistake mild cognitive impairment with normal aging.

There is more work to be done when it comes to expanding primary care physicians readiness to diagnose cognitive impairment, particularly as diagnostic advancements are being made, Morgan Daven, association vice president for health systems, said when announcing report findings. This includes primary care physicians awareness of new potential treatments and patient participation in Alzheimers disease-related clinical trials and research.

Among the most important things to understand is that there are ways to address and slow progression of dementia, particularly for those who act early, said Laura Ashburn, director of education and training with the Alzheimer's Association and a Thursday evening panelist.

The most important thing to know, she said, is that you and your family need not feel helpless and alone.

Quick thinking

Sue Garra was diagnosed at age 66 with frontotemporal dementia, an overarching term for a group of brain disorders that impact the lobes of the brain generally associated with personality, behavior and language. The diagnosis came after the couple got a new stove with simple directions and she couldnt figure out how to use it, even after her husband helped her try.

Ron Garra also began to notice his wife struggling with other tasks that took more than one or two steps to complete. Medical screenings, including brain imaging, confirmed the diagnosis.

The couple quickly turned to the Alzheimers Association of WNY to help establish a care plan.

Ron Garra joined a new monthly support group for loved ones dealing with same type of dementia as his wife. He has continued to attend for more than six years, most of the last two online because of the pandemic.

The biggest advantage is that you get ideas from other people about resources that are out there, he said, and you can share your experience with other people. It makes the whole process much, much more relaxing, and much easier to cope with.

The help has been a blessing on a journey filled with plenty of heartbreak.

Loved ones who still live in the region help shoulder the caregiving load, but like many families, one of the Garra children and several other relatives live far away.

During the last five years, the couple has moved from a house in West Seneca to an apartment complex in Orchard Park, first on the second floor and later, as Sues mobility waned and at the recommendation of the Alzheimers Association, moved into a ground-floor apartment.

Ron Garra had to buy locks for appliances and doors even to take a shower, to guard his beloved wifes safety.

Two years ago, he discovered the Catholic Health Living Independently for Elders (LIFE) program, which provides all-inclusive care designed to keep people in need of more supervised care at home as long as possible.

Sue Garra sees a nurse practitioner for primary care at the OLV Senior Neighborhood, also home to the LIFE program. Since late 2020, adult day programs on site  when they were available during the pandemic  helped provide Ron Garra more time to regroup as caregiving demands intensified.

When to take the keys away? Driver evaluation takes burden off caregivers to decide The ECMC Driver Rehabilitation Program provides research-based assessments to determine whether someone should modify their driving habits, or retire from driving and find alternative transportation that maintains independence.

Despite the challenges, the couple also found time for weekly dinners with their daughters and regular visits to the West Falls Center of the Arts Musical Memories Cafe.

She doesn't even say my name anymore, Ron Garra said, but we can sit there and listen to the oldies and she can mouth almost every word.

Both are grateful they have been able to continue those outings since last November, when it became clear that Sue needed the extra care that the Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV could provide  in the same building as the other OLV services the couple has received.

She didn't have to go to a strange place, said her husband, who encouraged her to look at the transition like returning to their dating days. That made the transition quite a bit easier.

Ron Garra, 73, is grateful he remains healthy physically and mentally, and can visit his wife regularly.

Some couples, both of them have trouble, he said. I don't know what they do. And some people dont have anyone in town to help.

Despite the ravages the pandemic wrought on nursing home staff, many in this helping profession continue to do what they can to fill in the gaps, said Cheryl Kropczynski, a nurse who has worked in Catholic Health long-term care for more than three decades, the last 13 years since Mercy Nursing OLV opened.

The continuum of care in the OLV Senior Neighborhood gives caregivers a better sense about when it's best to place a loved one in the nursing home, which features single rooms, kitchens and dining rooms on all four residential floors, and a mix throughout of patients with varying abilities and challenges.

Social activities, more plentiful before the pandemic, also have resumed in greater numbers at the 84-bed facility, where Covid vaccination rates for residents top 98%.

Residents are not sitting in the hall here, said Kropczynski, whose brother-in-law is among them.

Sue Garra is among those in her care.

I think she's adjusting very well, Kropczynski said. Shes very caring, always laughing.

A baby doll and animatronic golden retriever puppy bring Sue Garra joy and comfort during parts of her day. She and her husband also like quiet time in the nursing home chapel, which provides a small taste of OLV Basilica across Ridge Road.

Its beautiful, she said softly during a Tuesday morning visit.

The Garras also enjoy time by the fireplace in the foyer, as well as slowly making their way through the hallways, nooks and crannies on ground level and Sues floor.

There definitely is meaning here, Kropczynski said. Eventually, people are going to pass, so you take each day to its fullest.

Two weeks ago, Ron Garra worried about leaving his wife for three days to celebrate their son Christophers 50th birthday at his home in Washington, D.C. Kropczynski assured him that time meant something different to his wife than many others.

Sue Garra beamed on his first day back.

Our biggest joys, I would have to say, is our ability to still share some memories through either discussing them or showing her pictures, Ron Garra said. But I'd say by far, the biggest joy is that we can still enjoy music together. Outside of a few songs that she doesn't like but used to like, it keeps us in a very loving mood when we're together listening to music.

Their favorite song, after all these years, remains Somewhere my Love, including the last stanza.

You'll come to me out of the long ago

Warm as the wind soft as the kiss of snow

Till then my sweet think of me now and then

God speed my love 'til you are mine again

Western New York Public Forum on Solutions for Dementia Caregiving

The Buffalo News and the Alzheimers Association of Western New York Chapter will host a free online forum at 7 p.m. Thursday for caregivers of loved ones with dementia, including Alzheimers disease, who face unique and shared challenges in their roles. They need not face them alone.

Register online at tinyurl.com/CaregivingForum.

The event will connect caregivers with the following panelists who can provide solutions-based perspectives and support.

Ronald Garra: Caregiver to his wife, Suzanne, for more than five years.

Sarah Harlock: Program director with the Integrative Center for Memory at DENT Neurologic Institute.

Dr. Kinga Szigeti: Director of the UBMD Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center.

The Rev. George Nicholas: Senior pastor at Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church, African American Health Equity Task Force convener, Buffalo Center for Health Equity

Lauren Ashburn: Director of education and training with the Alzheimer's Association of WNY

Dave Gonlag: Living with mild cognitive impairment, is an Alzheimer's Association of WNY board member

Moderator: Scott Scanlon, WNY Refresh editor with The Buffalo News

Have a question for panelists?

Email refresh@buffnews.com by March 23. Panelists will answer as many questions at time allows. More will be answered in a related Refresh story in April.

The program is brought to you by the New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative, an organization representing more than 30 news, academic and community organizations, initially to focus on the lives and challenges of caregivers. It is part of the Caregivers on The Front Lines series, made possible through a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

Early signs of dementia

Memory loss that sometimes disrupts daily life is typical with aging but, if it becomes more common, it can signal the start of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. If you notice any of these 10 warning signs in yourself or a loved one, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with a primary care provider.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

Forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events. Asking the same questions over and over. Increasingly needing to rely on reminder notes, electronic devices or family members for things someone used to handle on their own.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

Trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. Difficulty concentrating. Taking much longer to do things than before.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Like trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

4. Confusion with time or place

Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. Sometimes forgetting where you are or how you got there.

5. Trouble with visual images and spatial relationships

For some, vision problems are a sign of cataracts. With dementia, symptoms can include difficulty with balance and trouble reading, as well as judging distance and determining color or contrast, which can cause issues with driving.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

Trouble following or joining a conversation. Stopping in the middle of a conversation and having no idea how to continue or repeating themselves. Struggling with vocabulary, naming a familiar object or using the wrong name.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Putting things in unusual places. Accusing others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.

8. Decreased or poor judgment

Including when dealing with money or in paying less attention to grooming or personal cleanliness.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

Changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation resulting in withdrawal from hobbies or social activities, including following a favorite sports team.

10. Changes in mood and personality

Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. Getting easily upset at home, with friends or when out of a comfort zone.

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Buffalo lawmakers have started the process of creating a new Police Advisory Board, but the former board is still making moves.

The group  which was created in 2018 and dissolved recently primarily because of in-fighting  will continue to use the name, which it can legally, members say.

Video shows police officer screaming 'Why?' after shooting man who ran at them with a knife Buffalo police on Wednesday released a 3 minute 44 second video from a body-worn cameras of one of the police officers who shot a man armed with a knife who was having a mental health crisis early Monday morning.

And they want to ask questions at Common Councils meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday about the police shooting of a 30-year-old Buffalo man on Hertel Avenue earlier this week.

If they are denied the opportunity, they plan to hold a press conference outside City Hall with the brother of the man who was shot.

We are asking the community to join us & the Thomas family at the next Common Council Meeting to ask where are the tasers? Why are the  BolaWraps only available to the Behavioral Health Team Officers? Why wasnt these measures already in place to help Dominique Thomas? Requesting an emergency Resolution to have the Behavioral Health Team Police Officers available on call for 24/7, one of the organizers, Dominique Calhoun, said in an email.

Council dismantles Police Advisory Board, will create a new one Buffalo Common Council members have dissolved the Police Advisory Board because of internal fighting, including the resignation of five board members last month, and the boards unwillingness to comply with the Council confirming new members.

As a standard practice, the public is not allowed to speak during the Councils business meetings.

Unless it is a public hearing, the Council does not routinely have public comment during the full Council meetings, said Common Council President Darius G. Pridgen.

On March 8, the Council dissolved the Police Advisory Board because of internal fighting, including the resignation of five board members last month and the boards unwillingness to comply with the Council confirming new members.

The Council had created the Board in March 2018 to get community input regarding police reforms. The 11-member independent body of city residents was to convene public meetings and hear from residents and make recommendations to the Buffalo Police Department and the Councils Police Oversight Committee.

Niagara Council Member David A. Rivera filed a resolution this week to form a new board. The measure could be approved at Tuesdays Council meeting, he said.

Attorney: Officers retreated 3 times before shooting knife-wielding man "The cops retreated three times," said the attorney for the Buffalo PBA who is representing the two officers who shot at the man early Monday on Hertel Avenue. They are now on administrative leave as the incident is investigated.

Meanwhile, the previous board says it can still use the name, Calhoun said.

On March 15 after we were dissolved, we purchased the name legally. We are the Police Advisory Board. Were a non-profit. We went through New York state and purchased the name, Calhoun said.

The group wants answers at the Council meeting regarding Monday's shooting by two police officers of Dominique Thomas, who ran at them with a knife while having a mental health crisis around 4:30 a.m. on Hertel Avenue.

Thomas remains hospitalized in Erie County Medical Center. The officers are on paid administrative leave as investigations are conducted.

Calhoun said the shooting of Thomas could have been prevented if the officers had other tools.

Most Buffalo cops still not equipped with Tasers because of budget constraints While Mayor Byron W. Brown's team, after years of delay, has decided to equip officers with Tasers, the program is now on hold, said Capt. Jeffrey D. Rinaldo.

Or at least they would have had options to try to prevent this before they had to use lethal force, she said. Those officers should not have been the ones to reply to that call, and if they were, they should have been equipped with the tools to at least try  to deter him.

Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia has said it is possible that less lethal weapons such as a Taser or a BolaWrap that can shoot a lasso-like device around a person could have helped.

The BolaWrap is used by the Buffalo Police Departments Behavioral Health Team, which was created in September 2020 and pairs specially trained officers with mental health clinicians. The team operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The department says it would like to expand the hours the team operates, but it would take additional funding.

The officers at the scene on Hertel did not have Tasers, the commissioner said.

Buffalo Police are years behind many police forces in obtaining Tasers and training their officers how to use them. More than 15,000 law enforcement and military agencies have them in widespread use.

The department began issuing officers Tasers earlier this month. In the last two weeks, about 170 officers have received the required 10-hour training.

Officers in the Northeast District  also known as E District  received the department's first allotment of Tasers on March 3. On March 8, additional allotments were distributed to all five police districts in the city, the commissioner said.

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WASHINGTON  It's no joke: As of April 1, the Canadian border will be more open than it's been in more than two years.

But don't be fooled. Crossing the border still won't be as easy as it was before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those were the main conclusions of the Canadian government's announcement Thursday that in two weeks it will no longer require vaccinated foreign travelers to show proof of a negative lab-administered test for the coronavirus taken within 72 hours of their arrival.

The ending of that requirement will allow Buffalo-area residents and others to make spontaneous trips to Canada once again  so long as they download and use the ArriveCAN app, a pandemic-era invention by which the Canadian government collects the vaccination information of incoming visitors. There is no testing requirement for vaccinated travelers returning to the U.S. via land borders.

The Canadian announcement prompted joy among those who want to cross the border more frequently and among Niagara Peninsula tourist interests, along with words of warning from Ron Rienas, general manager of the Peace Bridge Authority.

"It will have an impact, no doubt," Rienas said of the end of the border testing requirement, which he called "a huge disincentive to cross-border travel."

But Rienas said he was concerned that travelers would arrive at the border without filling out the information on the ArriveCAN app  which could slow up traffic at the border and force travelers into quarantine.

"For the most part, other than for people that travel frequently across the border, ArriveCAN is a foreign term to Americans," he said. "They don't know what it is."

Those who have crossed the border recently do, though, and they were elated that Canada was about to eliminate what many saw as the main impediment to crossing ever since Canada reopened its border to nonessential travel last August after a 17-month shutdown.

"It's great news, and it will certainly help all kinds of people, families and businesses," said Deborah Williams of Colden, a leading member of a group called Families Are Essential that's been pushing for the removal of Covid-19 protocols at the border.

"This will be a normal summer after two long, long, not-very-normal summers," said Anthony H. Gioia, one of the significant number of Buffalo-area residents with a summer home in Canada that's been largely off-limits since the start of the pandemic. "And it's certainly better for Canada, because they will be the beneficiaries of this financially."

Canada, which has kept most of its Covid-19 restrictions in place for weeks after most U.S. states loosened theirs, clearly hopes to see a tourism boost from the lifting of the testing requirement. Proof of it came at the press conference where Canadian officials announced the change, which featured a speaker who hadn't been at earlier such events: Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault.

"We have it all: beautiful, breathtaking landscapes, internationally acclaimed festivals, premier national parks and outdoor recreation, diverse options from northern peaks to our downtown cores  and first and foremost, safety," said Boissonnault. "The time has come to experience it for yourself."

Anthony Annunziata and Wendy Men think that plenty of people will do just that.

Annunziata, president of the Tourism Partnership of Niagara, said the announcement opens the door for Americans to make spontaneous trips over the border to see friends, have dinner or visit tourist attractions.

"All of that is now possible because of this announcement," he said.

Men, the co-owner of Ming Teh, the legendary Chinese restaurant on the Fort Erie waterfront, said she expects to soon see regulars from Buffalo that she hasn't seen since before the pandemic.

"I'm very excited," she said.

Jean-Yves Duclos, the Canadian health minister, said several factors went into the decision to lift the testing requirement. Among them are Canada's high vaccination rate, decreasing hospitalization rates and the widespread availability of both rapid tests and treatments for Covid-19.

But the Canadian officials made clear that the lifting of the testing requirement was not absolute.

Partially vaccinated people  those with only one dose of an mRNA vaccine produced by Pfizer or Moderna  will still have to show proof of an approved negative test administered by a lab.

Canadian border agents will continue to randomly hand out PCR tests to some travelers and require they take them.

And all border-crossers will have to register their vaccination information on the ArriveCAN app before arrival  and they will suffer severe consequences if they don't. Canadian officials said such travelers may have to get a Covid-19 test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.

To Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, that's all just too much. He sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with a similar letter to President Biden, calling on them to lift all pandemic-related border restrictions.

Higgins said that Covid-19 has finally reached manageable levels in both the U.S. and Canada, and that continuing the vaccination requirement that both countries have at the border could hurt the relationship between the two countries.

Border closures cost international bridges $50 million in lost toll revenue The closure of the U.S.-Canada border to nonessential traffic because of the Covid-19 pandemic did more than disrupt the lives of those with loved ones or property on the other side of the Niagara River.

"My concern from the very beginning of this thing was that people will adjust their economic behavior and avoid the border altogether," Higgins said. "That's not good for Western New York. It's not good for Southern Ontario."

Rep. Chris Jacobs, an Orchard Park Republican, has introduced a bill that would do away with all the remaining pandemic-related measures on the U.S. side of the border. He agreed with Higgins that it's time for those restrictions to be lifted in Canada, too.

While Jacobs said he welcomed Canada's move, he added: "This is another step in the right direction, but it is simply not enough."

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OLAF FUB SEZ: According to novelist John Updike, born on this date in 1932, The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.

. . .

*** UPDATE: CANCELED: Due to a recent injury, Sister Margaret Carney, president emeritus of St. Bonaventure University, is unable to appear in the fourth Church on Fire: Stay With Us! program at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Blessed Sacrament Church, 1029 Delaware Ave. Her talk will be rescheduled. For more info, visit BSCBuffalo.org/events.

. . .

WEEKEND MENU  A dozen local restaurateurs will offer samples and vie for votes from visitors as the Buffalo Soup Fest is rebranded as Soup at the Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Broadway Market, 999 Broadway. There also will be Irish dancers and music from the Blarney Bunch. For more info, visit buffalosoupfest.com.

Niagara Hose Fire Company No. 3, 74 Wheeler St., City of Tonawanda, holds a chowder sale beginning at noon Saturday. $6 per quart.

The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post Auxiliary hosts its annual corned beef and cabbage dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday in the post at 2121 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island. Dinners are $12. Proceeds benefit local food pantries. Donations of non-perishable food item welcome.

. . .

WIN ONE  More than 70 theme baskets are available as the Ten Lives Club Cat Adoption Group holds its 20th annual Furball from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company banquet hall, 3281 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell. Drawing at 4:15, plus raffles and cats for adoption. For more info, call 716-646-5577, ext. 2, or visit tenlivesclub.com.

. . .

CHURCH NOTE  A cappella selections and an organ transcription of Samuel Barbers Adagio for Strings are offered in a Choral Evensong program at 4 p.m. Sunday in Calvary Episcopal Church, 20 Milton St. at South Cayuga Road, Williamsville. All are welcome.

. . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  Julianna Stella, Breanna Fuss, Katie Creahan, Evelyn Regan, Tony Kosis, Susie Semple, Patricia Pierce, Erin Cavanaugh, Orv Cott, Jodi Torres, Diane Keller and Warren Rauch.

AND SATURDAY  Bishop Richard J. Malone, Kelly Beuth, Jameson Lickfeld, Bruce DeAeth, Carol Kapinos, Jack Weisenburg, Marilyn Livingston, Joe Roetzer, Dawn Bonafede Cummings, Pam Yondt-Witte, Grace Canfield, Kerrie Aquino, Katherine E. Gugino, Helen Zenger, Jody Sokolowksi, Frank Christiano, Diane Raven, Warren Bob Skinner, Erin Mueller, Kathy Delamater, Steve Cotter and Fred Becker.

AND SUNDAY  Sean Keane, Mary Ann Kennedy, Alison Zehler, Sister Mary Therese Ann Parobek, Mike Gambini, Tom Marinaro, Pam Snyder, Gary Kaczor, Michael Meegan, Tammy Lewis, Sue Holguin, Mary Ann Nagro, Dayna Stoddard, Joe Allman, Sue Loos, Dianne L. M. Busch, Anna Lawrence, Leon Hacker Jr. and Kathleen Kazmierczak.

To submit birthdays and other items of interest to Reporters Notebook, please email olaffub@buffnews.com or send a letter to Reporters Notebook, Buffalo News, Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240.

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A University of Kentucky horticulture professor developed the first plastic greenhouse in the 1950s.

Plastic greenhouses are an effective and inexpensive way to increase farm yields by extending the growing season and exerting control over temperature and lighting conditions.

The use of plastic on farms has become so common in recent decades that there is a term for it--plasticulture. While there's still no easy, globally consistent way of tracking how far plasticulture has spread, there are plenty of signs that its footprint is significant. By some estimates, plastic greenhouses now cover as much as 3 percent of China's farmland. South Korea, Spain, and Turkey also use significant amounts of agricultural plastic for greenhouses.

The transformation of some rural landscapes is on display in these natural-color satellite images of farmland around the Turkish towns of Demre and Kumluca. The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 observed this part of southwestern Turkey on May 19, 2021. Many of the greenhouses have opaque or translucent plastics that appear white from a distance. Open farmland is generally brown. Forests are dark green.

Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are commonly grown in greenhouses in this area. With 772 square kilometers (298 square miles) of land covered by greenhouses, Turkey ranks fourth in the world in greenhouse cultivation, according to one team of researchers from Cukurova University. That is an area roughly the size of New York City.

Greenhouses aren't the only way that farmers use plastic. When draped over rows of crops, thin sheets of plastic mulch are often used to protect plants from pests and weeds, as well as reduce the water needed for irrigation. By one estimate, plastic mulches cover as much as 13 percent of China's farmland, making the country the largest user of agricultural plastic in the world.

While plastics aid crop production, their widespread use by farmers has raised concerns about the environmental impacts and sustainability. Plastics produce toxic air pollution when burned, and they break down into microplastics that often end up in soils and water, according to a 2021 report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The global demand for agricultural plastic is expected to swell in the coming years, increasing from 6.1 million metric tons in 2018 to 9.5 million metric tons by 2030, according to the report authors.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland.

Additional information

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CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia's Great Barrier Reef is suffering widespread and severe coral bleaching due to high ocean temperatures two years after a mass bleaching event, a government agency said on Friday.

The report by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, which manages the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, comes three days before a United Nations delegation is due to assess whether the reef's World Heritage listing should be downgraded due to the ravages of climate change.

"Weather patterns over the next few weeks will be critical in determining the overall extent and severity of coral bleaching across the Marine Park," the authority said.

"Bleaching has been detected across the Marine Park  it is widespread but variable, across multiple regions, ranging in impact from minor to severe," the authority added.

The reef has suffered significantly from coral bleaching caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures in 2016, 2017 and 2020. The previous bleaching damaged two-thirds of the coral.

The environmental group Greenpeace said the severe and widespread coral bleaching suffered during a La Nina weather pattern that is associated with cooler Pacific Ocean temperatures was evidence of the Australian government's failure to protect the coral from the impacts of climate change.

"This is a sure sign that climate change caused by burning coal, oil and gas is threatening the very existence of our reef," Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate Impacts Campaigner Martin Zavan said in a statement.

In July last year, Australia garnered enough international support to defer an attempt by UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organization, to downgrade the reef's World Heritage status to "in danger" because of damage caused by climate change.

But the question will be back on the World Heritage Committee's agenda at its next annual meeting in June.

A U.N. delegation will inspect the reef's health next week.
Like you, those of us in the refugee resettlement community of Buffalo have been watching with great concern the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

The scenes of Ukrainian families massing at train stations hark back to similar images in recent years of Afghan families crammed into cargo planes fleeing Afghanistan or Syrian families huddled on inflatable boats seeking safety across the Mediterranean. These images are powerful symbols of the scale of the refugee crisis across the globe.

Even though we in Buffalo, a city built by immigrants and refugees, know that refugee resettlement is both a moral and an economic imperative, our national immigration policies have often fallen short in addressing the scope and scale of this crisis. In 2021 there were more than 26.6 million refugees worldwide but only just over 11,000 were resettled in the United States. At a time when refugee numbers are at an all-time high, 2021 marked the lowest number of U.S. refugee admissions since the passage of the 1980 Refugee Act.

Because of our ongoing underinvestment in refugee resettlement at the national level  particularly during the past federal administration  communities like ours have suffered. Families remain separated. Employers continue to struggle to fill vacancies. Our agencies  Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Jewish Family Services of WNY, Journeys End Refugee Services and the International Institute of Buffalo  were forced to reduce staffing and scale down operations, leaving us depleted and scrambling to support the rapid influx of Afghan arrivals.

The crisis with Afghan evacuees, however, was an important opportunity to better prepare for the future. We learned a tremendous amount about crisis preparedness, what is needed in terms of cultural and linguistic supports and the capacity needs to ensure that services are available immediately when they are needed. Our collaborative work prepared us to welcome future refugee populations, which may include Ukrainian refugees.

We are preparing for a national influx of 125,000 refugees from a variety of countries by this September. And 2022 will mark a 100% increase compared to 2021 and a 594% increase compared to 2020. This speaks to the need for preparedness; not after the refugees arrive but leading up to their arrival.

NYSESRP, the New York State Enhanced Services to Refugees Program, is a critical investment in our future. NYSESRP funding has supplemented the ebbs and flows of federal investment in refugee resettlement services and allows agencies to focus on long-term integration, provide legal services, extended case management, employment services, language education and more.

As we watch a potential refugee crisis unravel in Ukraine, now is the time to show our commitment to making Buffalo a welcoming haven for refugees.

Molly S. Carr, Ph.D, is CEO of Jewish Family Services of Western New York.
The $1 billion that the Department of Veterans Affairs proposes to spend on a new Buffalo hospital near the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus promises to deliver major improvement for veterans in a modern facility that replaces the aging structure on Bailey Avenue. It would be a win for veterans and for Buffalo.

Many veterans feel pride in the existing V.A. Medical Center, which opened in 1949. But the facility, at slightly more than 1 million square feet, is in dire need of repairs, on the scale of multiple millions of dollars, as News Washington bureau chief Jerry Zremski reported. It lacks central air conditioning, has undersized operating rooms that limit the equipment that can be installed, and the corridors are narrow.

In addition, the Bailey Avenue site is penned in, offering no room for expansion. The VA called it sub-optimal, because of its distance from the downtown medical campus, which was designed to foster collaboration among institutions, their employees and the community. The VA report states that veterans would get better care in a new facility.

Much of this reasoning may fall on deaf ears in the Fruit Belt neighborhood, where residents have felt disenfranchised as more buildings have gone up on the campus and medical staff search for free parking spaces in front of houses. Moreover, there is the legitimate concern over what growth on the Medical Campus will mean to already rising rental costs.

Thats a legitimate issue, as is the parallel concern of veterans that a downtown hospital provide sufficient parking. Its a necessary component, even if a new facility rises next to the Summer-Best Metro Rail station.

The VA also proposes closing two clinics in Buffalo and relocating their services to the new hospital and replacing the current Batavia VA Medical Center. Across the nation, the agency proposes the closure of three veterans hospitals and the restructuring of several other facilities. Such large-scale change has been long overdue.

Remember several years ago in Buffalo, when medical personnel failed to try to resuscitate a patient suffering cardiac arrest in late 2016? It was a dereliction of duty. Elsewhere, veterans waited months for medical appointments, while others were enrolled for treatment without ever being seen by a doctor.

The care delivered to veterans had to improve. The recent effort by VA Secretary Denis McDonough and his administration offers evidence than an effort is underway. The deserve praise for recognizing the faults that lie here, and in other facilities nationwide.

Still, VA officials need to demonstrate that the reforms in rightsizing and reshaping an old system will deliver new, state-of-the-art technologies and medical advancements to veterans. Any plan must address problems that have little to do with facilities or location, but with processes and even culture. Those can be more difficult tasks than putting up a building.

The future was uncertain in 2018, when this page called for abolishing the veterans health care system, and offering veterans no-fee care in traditional hospitals. There seemed little prospect then of a significant overhaul, let alone a brand-new veterans hospital in the heart of the burgeoning Medical Campus. A true reform of the system, along with a new hospital could make a difference.

Congress should consider the Veterans Secretarys proposals and the affected communities should be invited to participate in the discussion. Services provided to our veterans have been long overdue for improvement. A modern, billion-dollar hospital that ties into the medical synergy of the medical campus is too alluring not to pursue with enthusiasm.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
New fishing regs begin April 1

The states Department of Environmental Conservation announced the adoption of numerous freshwater fishing regulations that will make thing more streamlined, less complicated, and easier to understand. The agency also will be reducing the number of special regulations.

Some of the more significant changes include opening dates for several species. Walleye, Northern pike, pickerel, and tiger musky will now open May 1 (instead of the first Saturday in May); the inland muskellunge season will now open June 1 (instead of the last Saturday in May after this year), and June 15 for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth).

New panfish regulations will reduce the daily limit on sunfish from 50 to 25 fish and increasing the minimum size on crappie from 9 to 10 inches. DEC also will be experimenting with 11 bodies of water to determine if larger sunfish can be produced under a 15-fish-per-day harvest limit and an 8-inch minimum size limit.

Check out the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov for details and the numerous other changes. The new regulations guide will be out shortly.

NWTF Banquet set for April 2

The Niagara County Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its annual fund-raising banquet April 2 at the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Company, 625 3rd Street, Youngstown. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the dinner begins at 4:30 p.m. A single ticket member and meal is $50. Membership renewal is $35.

Sponsor packages are available, as well as early bird sportsman tickets. For more information, contact Pam Lederhouse at 791-3151. Tickets are available online at www.events.nwtf.org/321210-2022/tickets.

8-week spring bird class available

Spring is in the air, quite literally, as thousands of birds are migrating through the skies of Western New York. If you would like to learn more about birds, an informative, eight-week course called Spring Ornithology with Dr. Steve Kress will begin March 31. The course is hosted by the Cayuga Bird Club, and is being offered via Zoom. Classes will be held on Thursdays through May 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. Lectures also will be recorded for later viewing. The course fee is $125 per household. For more information, registration and gift certificates, visit: www.cayugabirdclub.org/spring-ornithology

Kress will use audio recordings, videos and outstanding photos in his presentations, perfectly timed to coincide with bird migrations in WNY. You will also gain a better understanding of bird behavior, including discussions on bird song, migration, courtship, family life, conservation, and how to recreate bird-friendly habitat on your own land. If you have questions, email cbc.ornithology@gmail.com.

State Canal System offers grants

The New York State Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants program ends in less than two weeks. The program offers counties, local governments, not-for-profit groups and federally recognized Native American tribes the opportunity to earn up to $15,000 for events and up to $24,000 for tourism infrastructure and amenity support. Applications are due April 1.

Two funding categories are available: event support from $500 to $15,000 and tourism infrastructure/amenity support from $5,000 to $24,000. Applicants can submit for one or both categories. For more information or an application, check out https://eriecanalway.org/resources/grants.

New York State Canal Corporation, through the Reimagine the Canals initiative, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor have teamed up to launch the competitive grant program to support tourism and recreation along the New York State Canal System, including canal waterways and Canalway Trail.

Sportsmens Dinner and Seminar in Medina

The Bow Bending Believers will be hosting its 16th Annual Sportsmens Dinner and Seminar on March 26 at the Oak Orchard Assembly of God Church, 12111 Ridge Road, Medina. Guest speaker is Merle Fredericks, executive director of the Christian Bowhunters of America. Tickets are $5. Call 585-765-2839 for more information or tickets.

Doors open at 4 p.m. Official antler scorers will be on hand from 4 to 6 p.m., if anyone wants to bring a set in for scoring. A chili dinner will be dished out from 5 to 6 p.m. and Fredericks will give his seminar at 7 p.m. on How to Get Your Name in the Book. It should be a great evening of fun and fellowship.
LIMA, March 17 (Reuters) - A road blockade affecting MMG Ltd's Las Bambas copper mine since March 1 was lifted on Thursday, the government said, allowing one of the world's largest producers of the red metal to ship the mineral onto clients worldwide.

Las Bambas produces 2% of global copper supply, while Peru is the No. 2 producer of the metal.

The government said the Urinsaya community, located some 250 km (155 miles) away from the mine, had agreed to lift the blockade after three days of meetings.

Las Bambas uses a dirt road of over 400 kilometers (248.55 miles) to transport its metal onto a seaport using trucks, which traverse dozens of impoverished communities in the Peruvian Andes.

Communities have often protested the mine, blocking the roadway, to accuse the company of failing to lift their quality of life while the trucks pollute their crops. (Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun Editing by Marguerita Choy)
A Las Vegas man was arrested in Minnesota after a pursuit that began with a gas theft in Richland County on Wednesday, authorities reported.

At about 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Vernon County Sheriff's Office deputies were investigating a theft of gas from Richland County when a white U-Haul van matching the description of the vehicle in the gas theft was located at Walmart in Viroqua, Sheriff John Spears said in a statement.

Deputies attempted to contact the driver, but he fled north on Highway 14, with authorities pursuing on Highway 14 and secondary roads in the town of Viroqua. For public safety, the pursuit was stopped south of Westby in hopes the suspect would slow down through Westby, but the van, which was stolen in Michigan the day before, continued at high speed and started driving into oncoming traffic, Spears said.

Due to the threat to the public, the pursuit was re-activated west of Westby on Highway 14 and the pursuit continued to La Crosse County, where it was ended, Spears said.

La Crosse police located the vehicle as it fled through La Crosse into Minnesota, where it finally was disabled on Interstate 90 in Winona County by the Minnesota State Patrol, Spears said.

The driver, Demandre Andrew-Tyshann Fraizer, 26, was arrested with a large of amount of marijuana and taken to the Winona County Jail, where he is awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin on tentative charges of felony fleeing, reckless endangering safety, and multiple traffic offenses, Spears said.

Numerous vehicles were forced off the road by Fraizer and the Vernon County Sheriff's office is asking anyone who was forced off the road on Highway 14, between Viroqua and La Crosse County, between 9:25 am and 9:50 am on March 16 to call the Vernon County Sheriff's Office at 608-637-2123.

There were no injuries, Spears said.

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While observing from the International Space Station (ISS), an astronaut took this photograph of part of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan.

The dark-toned crops--mainly wheat and cotton--stand out against the light-toned sand dunes. This area of intensively farmed soil occupies fan-shaped landscape features known as the Murgab and Tedzhen fans.

Agricultural fields occupy more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) of the large Murgab fan. The cityscape of Mary stands amidst the fields.

The crops, and the people of Mary, need water in this desert, and it is channeled from two sources. The first is the Kopet Dagh Mountains (just outside the image, lower right). The prominent Murgab River carries water down from the mountains to the fan, and a network of smaller canals lead it far into the desert (top left). The neighboring irrigated Tedzhen fan is also fed by water from the Kopet Dagh.

The second source is the long Karakum Canal, which draws water from the largest river in the region, the Amu Darya (outside the image, top right). Nearly 250 kilometers (155 miles) of the canal appears in this image. At 1375 kilometers (854 miles), the Karakum Canal is one of the largest in the world and is navigable over much of its length.

A solar panel on the Cygnus NG-15 resupply vehicle appears in the foreground along the bottom of the image. Near the top, scattered puffy clouds cast dark shadows on the desert.

Astronaut photograph ISS065-E-111045 was acquired on June 13, 2021, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a focal length of 1150 millimeters. It is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 65 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by Justin Wilkinson, Texas State University, JETS Contract at NASA-JSC.

Additional information



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A judge on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old Windsor man to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing, dismembering and attempting to incinerate his parents in the family fireplace.

I cannot conceive of a way to fulfill my duty to protect the public that I serve were I to perceive that at some point in time, an individual who committed these crimes should be released back into that public, Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland said in sentencing Chandler Halderson to the stiffest punishment the state of Wisconsin allows.

It took a jury only two hours on Jan. 20 to find Halderson guilty of two counts each of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and falsifying information about a missing person in the deaths of his parents, 50-year-old Bart and 53-year-old Krista Halderson, last July.

It followed a week and a half of often-gruesome testimony and other evidence asserting that Halderson shot his parents in the home they shared, then cut up their bodies before first trying to burn them in the family fireplace and then dumping them along the Wisconsin River and at the rural property of the partner of his then-girlfriends mother.

Before asking Hyland to hand down the sentence he ultimately did, prosecutors described Haldersons upbringing as nearly ideal, with two married parents who cared about him and access to good schools, housing and opportunity.

Almost every homicide Ive prosecuted theres been a fairly tragic backstory of the defendant  violence, drugs, just tragedy. You often are left with an explanation  not an excuse  but an explanation as to why a crime occurred, Deputy District Attorney Andrea Raymond said. Theres not an explanation here. Chandler grew up with a life of privilege.

Deputy District Attorney William Brown noted that among the factors the court is supposed to use in deciding whether a convicted murderer should ever be eligible for parole is whether that person has rehabilitative needs. But he had no idea of what they are.

He seemed to be a pretty normal kid, with a pretty normal life who did a pretty abnormal thing. ... We dont know what his rehabilitative needs are, he said. And if you dont have that, Im not sure how much you can consider that factor.

One of Haldersons attorneys, Crystal Vera, made clear that the defense wasnt asking for future parole, just a chance that a court could consider it at some point. Its not a process that is a guarantee, she said.

She acknowledged that Halderson didnt have the kind of background thats common among other convicted murderers, but noted his relatively young age and how that could factor into future rehabilitation.

Chandler is young. He just turned 24, Vera said. There is a lot of growing up, there is a lot of adulting that hes going to miss out on that hes going to have to do in an institution, that ultimately is going to affect who he becomes in the future.

Appeal vowed

Halderson had been silent through the trial, refusing to testify in his own defense or speak to his attorneys about the events of that month, according to a court filing earlier this week, and appearing unmoved by testimony.

Vera and Haldersons other attorney, Catherine Dorl, called no witnesses, and in a motion entered last Friday, Halderson attempted to skip his own sentencing  a bid Brown called an affront to the publics interest and that Hyland rejected.

That changed for a few brief moments Thursday, when Halderson spoke to the court for the first time by saying he would appeal his conviction and asking for any attorneys listening and willing to take on my appeal (to) take a moment to please reach out to me.

Its not that I do not have feelings, its that I was warned to not show them in the scrutiny of this case, he said.

Asked after the hearing if their client had ever expressed to his attorneys his desire to appeal or that he had any problem with their representation, Dorl cited attorney-client privilege in declining comment.

Family speaks

In victim impact statements filed with the court before Thursdays hearing, two people who identified themselves as Haldersons brother Mitchells fiancee and a best friend to Bart and Krista called on Hyland to impose life behind bars.

The friend, identified in court documents only as JAH, called Krista a bubbly person who was kind, considerate and encouraging, and Bart was remembered for helping his sons attain Eagle Scout status.

If Chandler could do this to his own family, just imagine what he could do to someone he did not love, the friend wrote.

Mitchells fiancee, identified in court documents only as CAN, said Krista always made me feel at home and called Bart a great handyman who helped us set up many things when we moved into our new home.

As for Halderson, given the fact that he was capable of such calculated and horrific acts of murder, I do not believe my family would be safe if he were to ever be released from prison, she writes.

Motive unclear

Haldersons choice to remain silent through most of the case has left court officials and the public with little clue as to his motive. Prosecutors believe Halderson killed his father after Bart Halderson discovered his son had been lying to the world for months or years about attending college, having a job at American Family Insurance, being part of a rescue dive team and, most recently, being hired to work in Florida for SpaceX.

He was arrested on July 8, a day after he told the Dane County Sheriffs Office his parents had left for a Fourth of July trip to the family cabin with an unidentified couple on July 2 and never returned  a story investigators soon started poking holes in.

In reality, prosecutors argued, Halderson shot his father in the back on July 1 and his mother a few hours later when she arrived home from work. As he sought over the holiday weekend to cover up the crime, Halderson kept his parents body parts in a freezer in the basement, the prosecution theorized, even as his then-girlfriend spent the night. Some remains were never found.

Grandmothers note

The only member of the Halderson family or its circle of friends to call publicly for a chance at parole for Halderson was his paternal grandmother.

In a handwritten note Raymond read Thursday, Haldersons grandmother said she loved her grandson even though what he did was horrific. I cant believe his parents would want him to be incarcerated for life.

Hyland said that wasnt something he could do.

I cannot grant to Mr. Halderson the generosity of spirit that his grandmother has for him, and which his own parents would surely have had if he had just owned up to what he had deceived them about, he said. I cannot say to the community here in this room or at large in this county that Mr. Halderson should have the ability to be reviewed and be considered for release back into our community at any point, despite his young age.

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SIOUX FALLS  A 60-year-old South Dakota woman was granted parole Thursday after serving two months in prison for the 1981 death of her infant son  a loss she kept secret for decades.

The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles was closely divided as it weighed the parole request from Theresa Bentaas, who entered an Alford plea to a first-degree manslaughter charge in October. The plea means she maintained her innocence but admitted that evidence could persuade a judge or jury of her guilt.

Circuit Judge Bradley Zell sentenced Bentaas in December to 10 years in prison, but suspended nine years of the sentence and said she should serve only two months. She had been held in jail for 73 days before trial and was supposed to be released to community supervision in July.

The eight-member board was initially deadlocked Thursday on motions to grant and deny her parole. But on a second vote, it granted Bentaas request for release.

The board said Bentaas' will be able to leave prison once the conditions of her parole are finalized, which could take several weeks.

Several board members pushed to keep her behind bars until July.

We have a citizen of our state who never had a chance to have a life, said board member Peter Lieberman of Bentaas' son, adding that her punishment amounted to a slap on the hand.

Zell said during sentencing that it was unclear whether the infant died from complications during birth or abandonment during a South Dakota winter. The baby's body was found in a ditch in 1981, and an autopsy found that the boy likely died from exposure and failure to assist in maintaining an airway during his birth.

The case remained unsolved until 2019, when DNA testing led investigators to Bentaas.

He was not moving. He was not breathing. He was not alive, Bentaas said Thursday when asked by the parole board whether her son was alive when she left his body outside.

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For Aziz, the best day in America was when strangers walked into his room.

The volunteers from the New Neighbors Project were there to help the former Afghan army officer transition to a new life in the United States.

Their visit set in motion a series of steps that took the colonel and his family from a hotel in South Middleton Township to a town house for rent in nearby Carlisle.

They are good-hearted people, kind people, they wanted to do something for me, said Aziz, who The Sentinel is referring to for safety reasons given the Talibans ongoing search for those who helped the Allies in Afghanistan. They did a very good job to find a beautiful house.

Hope gathered momentum this past Wednesday when two convoys of vehicles moved through the area carrying the dream of a better tomorrow.

One line of trucks and cars hauled furniture from Mechanicsburg while the other delivered kitchen, bedroom and bathroom supplies. By the time Aziz arrived at his new address, the town house was alive with people prepping a home for four adults and four children.

This is the beginning of my life here, the very beginning, Aziz said. The thing that happened for me was a really good experience.

Flight to safety

The future was not always so promising. In August, when Afghanistan fell, Aziz was on the run from place to place, desperate to stay ahead of the death threats of the new regime.

For almost 20 years, he had fought the Taliban in cooperation with the U.S. military. Those close contacts with American colleagues helped Aziz gain access to the airport in Kabul and a plane bound for Germany where Afghan refugees were welcomed as guests.

Aziz was not alone in his flight to safety. He had along with his wife and four children, a brother and a sister. But in the rush to escape, the colonel left behind his parents and other siblings.

Im trying to get them here, Aziz said. It takes time. Its really hard and painful to leave everything back home.

After 45 days, the family traveled from Germany to New Jersey. From there, they were transported to South Middleton Township, arriving at the hotel on Dec. 29. Weeks went by before help arrived in the form of the volunteers from the New Neighbors Project.

A great life here

A coalition of sponsoring churches and organizations, the project is tasked with helping the International Service Center in Harrisburg resettle 18 Afghan families (about 100 people) in the Carlisle area, said Jeff Gibelius, lead pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. Our responsibility was to provide the Aziz family with the supports they needed to get started.

Working as a congregation, the Second Church helped the family find employment, set up bank accounts, obtain medical insurance cards, enroll the children in school and pursue a car and drivers license.

Those are all steps that we take for granted, but for a refugee, these are huge obstacles to overcome, Gibelius said. But the greatest challenge for the family of eight was to find permanent lodging at a time when the housing market is tight and landlords require a credit history, which Aziz lacked.

We were blessed to find a landlord willing to work with them, Gibelius said. It also helped that Aziz had a counterpart in the U.S. Army who lives in Mechanicsburg, he said. That officer helped the family by co-signing the lease documents.

When they had a choice of where to end up, they knew that Pennsylvania had a four-season climate much like Kabul, Gibelius said. The family likes the four seasons. Carlisle is known for its good job opportunities  especially entry-level jobs  and its proximity to major metropolitan areas. This combination of climate, opportunity and friends brought the family to Carlisle.

Today, Aziz, his brother and sister work at a local warehouse. The three older children will soon be transferred from the South Middleton School District to Carlisle Area School District. The colonels wife is a stay-at-home mom caring for the youngest child.

Im very happy to have my family here, Aziz said. My hope, in the future, is to take care of my family. The U.S. is a land of opportunity because everything that you want, you can get it. This is really good and hopeful for us. We can have a great life here.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Big Spring Middle School has a sign out front in its parking lot that lists noteworthy dates of the month, but at recent school board meetings, thats not the only sign attendees have passed on their way in.

On Feb. 7, the board voted to enforce its policies for public participation in meetings, including one that states that no placards or banners will be permitted within the meeting room.

School Board President Bill Swanson made a motion that passed to adjourn the meeting during the allotted time for public comment after attendee Lawrence Flynn continued to raise a sign after multiple instructions from the board not to do so.

Following that decision, around 10 people stood outside the middle school with signs prior to the Feb. 22 board meeting, and a similar sized group of people stood outside Mount Rock Elementary School before the boards March 7 meeting.

Some of those people raised questions regarding the boards no banner policy and the First Amendment.

Policy enforcement

The school boards policy prohibiting signs and banners in the meeting room is nothing new; that policy, along with the others that govern public participation in meetings was adopted in April 2013.

The policy also states that the board shall establish guidelines to govern public participation in board meetings necessary to conduct its meeting and to maintain order.

Swanson said the board chose to give meeting attendees leeway on public participation policies since August because emotions have been running high.

We did choose not to follow right to the letter policy, which is my prerogative and the boards prerogative, Swanson said.

Flynn said Feb. 7 was not the first time he attended a school board meeting with a sign. In fact, he said he started attending board meetings with signs in September because of mask mandates.

The one thing that seemed to get their attention was our signs, Flynn said. They could tune out our spoken words, but they could not un-see our signs.

Superintendent Kevin Roberts said the board decided to fully enforce its policies after a vandalism incident in January involving a meeting attendee. Swanson said the policies include the prohibition of signs and enforcement of the 3-minute limit on each persons time for public comment. He said the only policy the board does not enforce is one that limits the entirety of the public comment period to 15 minutes.

The board does reserve the right to extend that time and thats what weve done, and were going to continue to do, Swanson said. So the last two meetings people have followed, except with one exception ... the three-minute limit without any other incidents, and as long as that continues if we have 15, 20 people [who] want to speak, its certainly going to go over 15 minutes, were going to allow it.

Another policy states that the presiding officer at each public board meeting shall follow board policy for the conduct of public meetings. If his or her ruling is disputed, it can be overruled by a majority of those board members present in voting.

On Feb. 7, when Swanson reviewed the boards public participation in meetings policies, board member Kenneth Fisher made a motion against the policy that prohibited signs and banners at meetings.

Signs and placards are a part of free speech, and I stand firmly for that, Fisher said.  ... The rest of the policy I was OK with, but the signs, I didnt like that idea.

However, Fishers motion did not receive a second, and the board did not vote on it before entering into public comment.

After hearing the two ladies before me lay out the laws that the school board was violating, I spoke asking them what authority they had to restrict the First Amendment rights of their constituents, Flynn said. Then I sat down and held up the sign.

Flynn said he chose to continue holding up the sign in spite of instructions to lower it because the board was violating the First Amendment and he refused to surrender his rights to an illegal policy.

First Amendment

Whether the prohibition of signs violates the First Amendment is up for debate.

Melissa Melewsky, in-house counsel for the Pennsylvania News Media Association, said the policy is problematic.

I think anytime you have a government agency like a school board restricting speech, its going to raise First Amendment issues, she said. So I think the public is right to raise that issue because we clearly have a government actor limiting speech.

The Sunshine Act of Pennsylvania states that the agency is responsible for adopting by official action the rules and regulations necessary for the conduct of its meetings and the maintenance of order.

Melewsky said the reasons behind the regulations are incredibly relevant.

Swanson said the banners are not necessary as people have the opportunity to speak.

I dont think were infringing on freedom of speech when people are allowed to get up and speak, I mean thats the ultimate freedom of speech, Swanson said. And you certainly have not seen us deny anyone speaking.

He said signs can also become a distraction and have led to the spread of misinformation, including falsehoods about misspending federal money in the past.

It comes down to just the fact that its a policy that [signs are] not permitted and as presiding officer my job is to enforce the policy unless the majority of the board says otherwise, Swanson said.

Melewsky wondered where the line could be drawn or if statements on shirts or hats also apply to the no signs policy.

As far as public comment, not everyone is comfortable speaking out loud, Melewsky said. Not everyone has the ability to speak out loud during a public meeting. Maybe they feel more comfortable holding a placard up to their elected officials.

Melewsky said only a court can determine whether the policy violates the First Amendment, but encouraged the board to consider the purpose of the regulation.

Stuart Knade, chief legal officer for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said the policy is not uncommon and that hed guess that a vast majority of school boards have similar policies.

You cant evaluate it without considering the First Amendment, but a prohibition such as that, which is very common for municipal entities, is recognized widely as a reasonable time, place and manner restriction of expression, Knade said.

Knade said that to his knowledge, there hasnt been a successful First Amendment challenge to that policy.

You have to enforce it evenly, you cant discriminate on the basis of viewpoint, he said. But if theres a flat rule that says no signs, banners or placards, thats perfectly enforceable.

Swanson pointed out that the PIAA also bans signs at sporting events, and a rule in its handbook outlining policies and procedures lists signs as prohibited at indoor events.

He said the board has the right at any time to take a vote to change its policies, although he believes a change in the policy banning placards and banners would be highly unlikely.

I think youre going to see that in the future our solicitor is going to be in attendance to take care of legal questions instantly, Swanson said.

Trespassing letters

After the Feb. 7 meeting, Flynn received a letter from the school district informing him that he is not permitted on the premises or any building on Big Springs property until Sept. 1, and should he fail to comply he will be considered a trespasser.

Flynn said that while the letter was expected, he believes it is unlawful.

They are saying that a resident and taxpayer who has broken no laws and has not had due process is not permitted to go to a public forum, Flynn said.

Flynn was not the only person to receive a trespassing letter following a school board meeting.

Roberts said the district issued another letter following a vandalism incident in the bathroom after a board meeting in January and that the letter Flynn received was for his failure to comply with school board policy. He said that for the board to conduct district business, its meetings need to be run efficiently and effectively.

A no trespass letter is a last option, Roberts said.

Since receiving the letter, Flynn has stood outside along the street, a public space, for the Feb. 22 and March 7 board meetings. He said he did this along with a few friends to encourage others to attend the meetings.

We wanted the school board to know that we are not just going to give up and go home, Flynn said. You might have noticed that there were around 90 people in attendance that night (Feb. 22). Usually, the attendance is in the 30s. The school board needs to know that we are not going to be ignored. They also need to know that the next time Im there I will be bringing a sign. I will not surrender the First Amendment.

The next board meeting will be held at 8 p.m. in the Big Spring Middle School Auditorium and will be preceded by a Committee of the Whole meeting in the same location at 7 p.m.

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

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An Upper Allen Township businessman on Friday announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for the 87th Legislative District.

Eric Clancy has been a resident of Upper Allen for 35 years and said he would bring four decades of experience in business to the office of state representative.

The pandemic showed the need for true conservative leaders willing to protect the rights of Pennsylvanians and with the experience to make real change, Clancy said in a news release. Ive seen firsthand how government stifles job creators and drives them out of our state, and I know how to stop it. Ive seen how our education system fails to prepare our children for success in the real world, and I have a plan to change it. The best thing we can do for every citizen of Pennsylvania is give them the opportunity for good jobs and economic freedom. I will fight for the changes that make that get burdensome government out of the way.

In his announcement, Clancy said he is pro-Constitution, as well as pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. He said his platform focuses on job growth and economic revitalization, improving the education system through accountability and choice, providing strong support for law enforcement, providing fiscal discipline to protect taxpayer dollars and to ensure trust in the election process.

Clancy is seeking the 87th House seat, which covers Upper Allen Township, Silver Spring Township, Monroe Township, Mount Holly Springs Borough and precinct 2 of Lower Allen Township, as well as precincts 1, 2 and 6 to 9 of South Middleton Township. The seat has no current incumbent, since Silver Spring resident and state Rep. Greg Rothman is seeking the 34th Senatorial District seat.

Lower Allen Township Commissioner Thomas Kutz has already declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 87th House seat race.

For more information about Clancy, check out his website at www.VoteClancy.com.

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They wore spiffy new uniforms to go with the honorary title.

Dubbed the Governors Band by chief executive William C. Sproul, the men of the local ensemble sported a new look furnished by the Kronenberg store in downtown Carlisle.

The concert by the 104th Cavalry Regiment Band drew 3,000 spectators to the Capitol in Harrisburg on March 12, 1922. The musicians had gathered before the performance for a photo opportunity outside the halls of Pennsylvania government.

Each man wore blue flannel with a gold musical emblem sewn into the collar, The Sentinel reported. The coat and trousers were trimmed in black braid and topped by an Army regulation cap with the word Carlisle in gold bullion embroidery.

With their stage on the first landing of the rotundas main stairway, they played to the crowd that had gathered on the lower floor and within the seven galleries around the gathering place.

The Harrisburg show was their second performance that weekend. On March 10, they played a concert at the Carlisle Opera House in support of a fundraising campaign by the local Kiwanis Club to purchase an automobile for the Visiting Nurse program. Elizabeth Cox, a soprano from Harrisburg, was the featured soloist for both weekend concerts.

On March 8, the Kiwanis hosted a dinner at the YMCA in Carlisle during which general chairman Fred S. Reese announced that 140 tickets had been sold for the March 10 concert, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported. Practically every [club] member had a speaking part in the program. An opportunity was offered to each member and guest to tell his best and latest story. Attorney John D. Faller won the prize offered for the oldest story because the judges forgot the point of his joke.

On March 19, the regiment band held a second concert at the Opera House in front of a crowd, the Telegraph reported. Mrs. Thamine Cox, Harrisburg soprano, sang several sacred solos.

Tour Through Time runs Saturday in The Sentinel print edition. Reporter Joseph Cress will work with the Cumberland County Historical Society each week to look at the county through the years. Send any questions, feature ideas or tips to jcress@cumberlink.com.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Cumberland County commissioners, with almost $50 million in federal pandemic relief funds to spend, are looking for projects that will have a long-term impact on the community.

The American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden last March included $350 billion in aid to states and local governments.

States, counties and larger cities were required to file reports last year detailing their initial plans for the money. Those governments also were asked to estimate losses for 2020 by comparing their actual revenue to their expected revenue under a Treasury formula.

State and local governments reported more than $117 billion of revenue losses, according to an Associated Press analysis of Treasury data.

More than two-thirds of those reporting their revenues showed at least some losses. Though revenue figures were left blank by nearly one-quarter of the roughly 3,700 governments that filed reports, the data nonetheless provides the most comprehensive picture yet of the financial strain that faced governments during the pandemic's first year.

For Cumberland County, that estimated loss filed between 2019 actual revenue and 2020 revenue was $24,797,109 under the Treasury Departments formula. And county officials said it's too soon to determine any actual revenue losses, if they exist, from last year.

But in return, the county received $49 million in ARPA funds to aid governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now the county is working to figure out how to spend the majority of that funding.

Cumberland County Planning Director Kirk Stoner said the county is taking its time to ensure that decisions about how to spend the rest of the funds line up with county goals and provide a lasting impact.

"[It's] so were not just seeing one-time money that we put into the community here today, gone tomorrow, but really transformative projects for our community so that in a period of years we see improvement that really lasts for a long time, Stoner said.

The county approved $2.5 million of its ARPA funding in September to three local higher education institutions, awarding $1.4 million to Central Penn College, $600,000 to Messiah University, and $500,000 to Shippensburg University  totaling $2.5 million or roughly 5% of the countys total anticipated ARPA funding.

In September we did give out some money to the universities," Krepps said. "We sent out five applications to universities in Cumberland County and we extended $2.5 million, and so that's how we started with some of the ARP funding."

Toby Fauver, the countys grant program consultant, said last fall that all of the higher education institutions in Cumberland County were contacted, with Central Penn, Shippensburg and Messiah coming back with requests.

Shippensburg requested $600,000 to help with the cost of COVID testing; Messiah requested $950,000 for COVID testing, vaccinations and other direct costs of the pandemic. Central Penn requested $1.5 million for workforce development and career education programs.

The proposals were scored based on several factors, including the portion of students who are county residents, the number of underserved students and previous funds received by the schools, Fauver said.

Input process

Stoner said the county has gathered input from a variety of sources on the expenditure of the rest of the ARPA funds, including a recently finished public survey process.

"Whenever we were made aware of the federal award, we undertook kind of a look internally at what were doing, so we interviewed a lot of our department heads, we interviewed some nonprofits and really did a series of focus groups to figure out what we believed some of the needs on the street were at the time, Stoner said.

He said members of the county departments also do a lot of networking in the community, which aided in gathering perspective, but the input didn't stop there. The county put out a survey that remained open for public response until Feb. 22.

"We wanted to broaden it even further externally and talk to organizations that maybe didnt have a direct relationship or network with Cumberland County, so that was kind of the genesis for our survey, Stoner said.

He said the county received more than 2,000 survey responses with input about how to spend the ARPA funds.

"The recommendations that are coming from focus groups and also the survey are tools that help the commissioners determine how they want to spend the money, Stoner said.

The next step

The county has developed three goals to consider in using the remaining $46.5 million.

"[The] first is to restore the mental health of residents in the county, the second is to revitalize the communities that have been adversely impacted by the pandemic, and then the third is to restore government services that have been delayed or suspended due to the COVID pandemic, Stoner said.

Stoner said now that the survey is complete, subject matter experts will lead discussions about each goal, incorporating information from survey results and focus groups. This will help the county to decide what projects to send to the commissioners for review.

He said some of the investments might be specific projects, but others may be more conceptual.

"So I know that one of the things that weve discussed already ... is grant programs to municipalities, grant programs to nonprofits," Stoner said. "There may be conceptual programs like that that we can take them back to the commissioners for their review and then they would identify what a reasonable investment in some of those contexts would be.

Stoner said he doesn't anticipate ARPA funding to go toward infrastructure projects in the county like bridge maintenance.

"Weve had other funds that have been applied to our bridges and then were taking care of those," Stoner said, although commissioners could consider some sort of grant program that municipalities could use for roads and other services.

Final rule and lost revenue

Another reason the county held off on spending its ARPA money was to see what guidelines the federal government would place on how funds could be spent, Stoner said.

In January, Bidens administration updated its rules for spending ARPA funds. The revised final rules mean that most cities and counties will be free to spend their entire allotment on any government services without having to prove they lost revenue during the pandemic. The rules also allow spending on more types of construction and a wider range of high-speed internet projects, among other things.

The Associated Press reported that some local officials had complained that the Treasurys initial guidelines, issued last May, were too vague in some regards and too rigid in others. In addition to pressing the Treasury for changes, local government groups also had been lobbying Congress to intervene with relaxed criteria.

The Treasury said it was responding to the feedback by allowing broader flexibility and greater simplicity in the program.

"The final rules goes to all the eligible uses for the federal program, all the regulations we have to follow, all the reporting, it really lays it out nicely for you, Stoner said.

One of the most significant changes in the rules will let state and local governments claim up to $10 million of revenue losses during the pandemic without having to prove it. Federal money used to replace lost revenue comes with maximum flexibility. That $10 million threshold covers the entire allotment for many smaller cities and for about 70% of counties.

The rules also clarify that the money can go toward construction of affordable housing, child care facilities, schools, hospitals and other projects. But some things generally remain off limits, including prisons, stadiums and convention centers.

"Every local government, if youre getting a certain amount of money, can claim up to $10 million worth of lost revenue and you dont have to put in any additional paperwork showing or justifying you actually lost that amount of money, Stoner said.

He said the bigger issue isn't determining how much money Cumberland County lost in the pandemic, but rather how the American Rescue Plan funds should be spent.

"I think thats the focus that were taking here in Cumberland County, is that we have this money coming in, were not looking to just look in and keep Cumberland County government as whole and pay for everything we have here. Rather were looking to invest in the community, so we have our three goal areas," Stoner said.

Stoner said the county hasn't really measured economic rebound, if that's occurred, since the pandemic, and it would be premature to determine if the county has rebounded.

"To look at it now and say indicators in the community show that were recovering from the pandemic, I dont think we can say that just yet," Stoner said. "But I think we can say that the investments weve made in our community have been very thoughtful and guided with the intention of making it transformative and long-lasting.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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

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It has been so exciting (and encouraging) to see powerful diplomacy and strong, worldwide collaboration in the fight against tyranny and violence. Our lives have been so filled with anger, division and lies that too many of us have become distrustful and despairing. Finding a reason to celebrate unity is a welcome breath of fresh air  especially with the beginning of a strong local effort to defend our democracy and confront lies through letter writing.

Worldwide, United Nations collaboration approved a nonbinding resolution condemning Russia for invading Ukraine and demanding that it withdraw its military forces. The resolution passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 141 to 5 (one of the five was Russia). Even Switzerland, traditionally neutral, has joined the coalition of nations who are opposing this brutal, immoral attack on the Ukrainian people and condemning Putins lies about the justification for his violent attack. The world is united for democracy and for calling out ego-driven autocrats and their lies.

On Jan. 6, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt described the foundations of a healthy and strong democracy and the basic things expected by people of their political and economic systems:

They are: equality of opportunity, jobs for those who can work; security for those who need it; the ending of special privilege for the few; the preservation of civil liberties for all; the enjoyment of the fruits of scientific progress in a wider and constantly rising standard of living. (Four Freedoms Speech)

Sadly, our democracy in the United States is no longer rated as one of the top democracies of the world because of our decreased investment in these freedoms of opportunity and equality. The gap between the uber rich and the poor is appalling  and widening. Voting rights, womens rights, civil rights and civil liberties are under attack, and too few people enjoy a rising standard of living. Yet people still look to the United States for hope. Can we fulfill these freedoms and build a stronger democracy? How can we come together nationally and locally to do this work?

Nationally, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, creating jobs and opportunity in clean energy, clean water, internet connection, building roads and bridges and providing security for our struggling families began to move us ahead. And the hard work that has been done over the past year to create more equality of opportunity and economic security, while also attending to civil rights and liberties, has been a step toward a stronger democracy.

The Biden administrations work to ensure the four freedoms faces a tough climate of Just Say No politics. They continue to be bombarded with lies negating a free and fair election, lies about trickle-down economics and tax cuts, and propaganda about fraud, CRT and health mandates in an effort to sow distrust and division and to prevent positive change.

In Pennsylvania, legislators are starving too many of our children of a full and rich public education, closing opportunities for their futures and locking low-income children into a prison of despair and desperation. Our representatives do not represent the majority of their constituents, who mainly want them to put fair and just policy above their party politics. Instead, although 84% of PA voters support legal abortion, PA legislators have pushed forward five anti-abortion measures while ignoring children and families in poverty and their under-resourced schools. Our state ranks a pitiful 47th for equity in school funding.

The challenge ahead is to speak truth to lies and elect legislators who actually represent us. And when this fresh new global spirit of unity against tyranny and lies begins to take hold in the US and PA, and our anger and division are replaced by powerful, informed diplomacy and active citizens, we will have a much-needed celebration of the many possibilities for moving our country, our state and our community forward to a stronger democracy.

President Roosevelt reminded us that: These [freedoms] are the simple and basic things that must never be lost sight of in the turmoil and unbelievable complexity of our modern world. The inner and abiding strength of our economic and political systems is dependent upon the degree to which they fulfill these expectations (Jan. 6, 1941).

In an effort to never lose sight of the freedoms and basics of democracy, a group of 32 people in the Carlisle area has come together to form a letter writing club. We are a new initiative of Cumberland Valley Rising (cumberlandvalleyrising.org), a grassroots social justice nonprofit.

Our goals are to confront lies, prevent further truth decay and defend our fragile democracy. Our motto, borrowed from Joan Baez is, Action is the antidote to despair. We invite new members from all political parties.

Democrats will find meeting dates in the Carlisle Area Democratic Committees newsletter; Independents and Republicans fighting for truth and democracy are most welcome. If you are interested in joining the CVR Letter Writing Club, please email us at CumberlandValleyRising@gmail.com.

Jill Sunday Bartoli taught courses for social workers and teachers for 20 years at Elizabethtown College, and is on the strategic planning team for Cumberland Valley Rising, and co-chair of the Letter Writers Club.

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Staff rolled up their sleeves and local volunteers probably donned T-shirts and shorts when the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission trout truck stopped along Big and Middle Spring creeks Friday.

Ah, a 70-degree Friday one week before Mentored Youth Trout Day and two weeks before the statewide opener! There could hardly be more ideal conditions to deliver some of the 3 million trout the commission and 1 million trout that local co-ops will be releasing into Commonwealth waters.

Then, there was what felt like a Polar Vortex, or Arctic Express, that set the stage last Saturday when we met three Fish and Boat trucks that moved out eastward from Boiling Springs to put about 9,000 trout into Yellow Breeches Creek.

Because of the foul weather, the stocking was postponed from the morning to afternoon after sub-freezing temps, wind-driven, early-morning snow drifts were slick speed bumps across the farm roads leading to Boiling Springs.

More fish continue to come to Cumberland County. Hopefully on better days.

Childrens Lake, Doubling Gap Lake, Fuller and Laurel Lakes, Mountain Creek, and the Breeches will get preseason trout before the big days.

Volunteers are welcome to help release fish. Show up at the meeting place at the date and time and think safety first.

Childrens Lake: March 24, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office.

Doubling Gap Lake: March 22, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

Fuller Lake and Laurel Lake: March 23, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

Mountain Creek: March 21, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

Yellow Breeches Creek: March 25, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

The time change and conditions last Saturday cut the number of volunteers to help haul buckets and nets of fish in the mud, puddles and slick white carpet. Still, the hardy handful that I worked with stayed to get the job done, smiling most of the way.

Midway through the stocking, we marveled at a mature bald eagle winging its way upstream and over the many spots flush with live fish fillets along McCormick Road. About 15 minutes later, the eagle circled back, checking our progress.

In the stream, golden rainbows stand out clearly to us at ground level. To an eagle 80 feet above, they must be a finned, pale takeout invitation.

The Breeches trout stocking last Saturday left me wondering if the eagle recognized the white trout truck as easy takeout.

And, will my hands ever thaw out?

Saturday first-day okay

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) feels it made the right decision in moving the opening day of the firearms season for deer from Monday to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the numbers seem to bear that out.

The PGC says a Virginia-based survey research firm found that 60 percent of hunters support a Saturday-after-Thanksgiving start to the firearms deer season, 12 percent have no preference between a Saturday or Monday opener, and 27 percent oppose a Saturday opener.

Support for a Saturday opener is higher among those under the age of 55 and among those who have a child who hunts. According to the survey, 62 percent of hunters said the change had no impact on their hunting, while 25 percent of hunters said it actually had a positive impact. Only 11 percent said it had a negative one.

The PGC says the results are consistent with an earlier study we conducted of lapsed hunters, meaning those who stopped purchasing licenses for a one year or more but who bought a hunting license again in 2020. This study found that those who returned to hunting in 2020 said the Saturday opener had a positive impact on their decision to buy a license. Specifically, 53 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they started to hunt again in 2020 because the firearms deer season now opened on Saturday.

The PGC says, Taken together, these studies can only lead to the conclusion that the change to a Saturday opener had the intended effect of making the firearms deer season more accessible for the majority of Pennsylvanias deer hunters.

Get ticked-off

For hunters and especially anglers now that the trout season is so near, its a good time to be ticked off.

Take steps to avoid and treat the perennially pervasive Lyme disease and now the rare and dangerous Deer Tick Virus (DTV) that so far has been found at high levels in multiple counties for the first time.

Unusually high infection rates for DTV (exceeding 80 percent of ticks sampled) have been found in Centre, Wyoming and Clearfield counties. DTV has been detected in 15 Pennsylvania counties. The statewide average infection rate for DTV was 0.6 percent in 2021 when adult tick samples were collected.

The DTV, a type of Powassan virus, is rare in the U.S. and is spread to people primarily by bites from infected ticks. Initial symptoms of a DTV infection may include fever, headache, vomiting and weakness. Some people infected experience no symptoms. But 91 percent of patients treated for DTV infections develop severe neuroinvasive disease.

Severe cases of DTV may include encephalitis or meningitis and require hospitalization with symptoms of confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, or seizures. About 12 percent of people with severe DTV have died, and half of survivors of severe DTV suffer long-term health impacts.

Recommended precautions for anyone venturing outdoors include:

Apply tick repellents containing permethrin to clothing and EPA-registered insect repellents like DEET to exposed skin before entering the outdoors. Reapply as needed.

Wear light-colored outer clothing and tuck shirts into pants, and pants into socks.

Walk in the centers of trails and avoid wooded and brushy areas with low-growing vegetation and tall grasses that may harbor ticks.

After returning home, remove all clothing, take a shower, and place clothing into the dryer on the high heat to kill any lingering ticks. Examine gear such as backpacks.

Do a full-body tick check including hidden areas such as scalp, ears, armpits, belly button and between the legs.

Check any pets exposed to likely tick habitats.

If a tick is found, attached to your skin, use tweezers to remove it carefully, including the head. Monitor for symptoms and contact your doctor with any questions.

Send your wild thoughts, fish tales, and photos to bjsmall@comcast.net.

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A leading Russian paratroop commander has been killed in battle in Ukraine in the latest setback for Vladimir Putins war, with several senior military officers having died since the invasion started last month.

Colonel Sergei Sukharev, of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment from Kostroma, and his deputy Major Sergei Krylov were killed on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian government and Russian state TV.

The colonel was liquidated after he got lost in the [military] exercises, but returned home the right way, Ukraines Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security (Stratcom) said in a statement.

Sergei Sukharev in 2020, before he headed the paratroop regiment from 2021 (Reporter 73/YouTube)

It is known that Sukharevs regiment had fought against Ukraine outside the city Ilovaisk in Donbas back in 2014 and also took part in both Chechen wars and the Russian-Georgian war of 2008, the centre added.

Senior sergeant Sergei Lebedev, sergeant Alexander Limonov, corporal Yuri Degtyarev, and captain Alexei Nikitin  of the same paratroop regiment  were also killed, according to the BBC. The deaths were also reported by Russian news outlet GTRK Kostroma.

At least four of Vladimir Putins generals, and more than 10 senior officers in total, have been killed since he launched the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.

Russian troops are experiencing low morale that had led to an increase in the number of desertions and significant exhaustion of human resources, Stratcom said.

About 7,000 Russian troops have reportedly died during the conflict, but the true number is not certain as Moscow has only once released its estimated death toll since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Russian invasion of Ukraine as of 17 March (PA Graphics)

Putins forces are also facing food and fuel shortages, according to a military intelligence assessment by the UKs Ministry of Defence  adding that the troops are faltering in their ongoing assault on Ukraine.

In 2014, Mr Sukharev had fought in the Battle of Ilovaisk, which started in August 2014, when Ukraines army and pro-Ukrainian paramilitaries began a series of attempts to capture the city of eastern city of Ilovaisk from pro-Russian insurgents

Story continues

A memorial for soldiers who died in the Battle of Ilovaisk (Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA)

At least 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers died amid the fighting, according to Andriy Senchenko  who had led the Ukrainian parliaments investigative committees probe into the incident. Kyiv has described it as a massacre.

A Ukrainian soldier who survived the battle described it as a real meat grinder  the Kyiv Post reported.

The conflict also reportedly saw more than 500 Ukrainian soldiers be taken prisoner by pro-Russian forces.

More recently, in January, Mr Sukharev was seen on Russian TV leading peacekeeping troops back from Kazakhstan where they had been sent following a wave of protests sparked by a sharp rise in liquified gas prices.
A new trio awaits its launch to join the Expedition 66 crew on Friday while two astronauts are preparing for next week's spacewalk.

Human research rounded out the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Thursday.

Three cosmonauts are counting down to their lift off aboard the Soyuz MS-21 crew ship at 11:55 a.m. EDT on Friday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev will lead first-time space-flyers Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov on a three-hour and 10-minute ride to the Prichal module where they will dock beginning a six-and-a-half-month mission aboard the station. NASA TV, on the app and the website, will begin its live mission coverage of the crew launch and docking activities at 11:15 a.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile, a second spacewalk is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, for more upgrades at the orbiting lab. Flight Engineers Raja Chari of NASA and Matthias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency) will set their spacesuits to battery power at 8:50 a.m. signifying the start of their spacewalk. The duo will spend about six-and-a-half-hours installing new thermal system and electronics components. NASA TV will begin its live spacewalk coverage at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The spacewalking pair was joined Thursday afternoon by NASA Flight Engineers Kayla Barron and Tom Marshburn reviewing robotics procedures necessary to support the astronauts during next week's external maintenance job. Chari and Maurer also spent Thursday organizing their spacewalking tools and resizing their U.S. spacesuits.

NASA Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei worked inside the Kibo laboratory module setting up a small satellite deployer. In the afternoon, Vande Hei studied the effectiveness of detergents in microgravity then strapped sensors to himself to measure his performance during an exercise study.

Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov continued evaluating a specialized suit, the lower body negative pressure suit, for its ability to counteract the effects of weightlessness on the human body. Doctors are studying the suit's ability to offset space-caused head and eye pressure by drawing fluids toward the legs and feet while expanding veins and tissues.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Fiber-optic Active Dosimeter (Lumina): Nominally, data is periodically transferred between the Lumina device and the EveryWear App to input the experiment parameter settings; however, today the crew reported none of the expected files were available for transfer. The ground team is assessing the forward plan. Lumina is an active fiber dosimeter that monitors, in real-time, the received radiation dose by exploiting the capacity of optical fibers to darken when exposed to radiation. The dosimeter provides reliable dose measurements in complex environments such as the ones associated with electrons, protons, gamma-ray or X-ray photons or neutrons.

ISS Ham Pass: The crew participated in an ISS Ham pass with Kids Star Club Sayama, Sayama, Japan. Some of the questions asked by the students included: whether humans can really live in space, whether analog clocks can work in space, and whether there's any space food that can only be eaten in space. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground Ham radio units.

JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer-21 (J-SSOD-21) Install: The crew completed the installation of the J-SSOD-21 hardware to the JEM airlock (JEMAL) slide table and a checkout was completed. J-SSOD-21 will later be passed through the JEMAL and its satellites will be deployed. The J-SSOD provides a novel, safe, and small satellite launching capability to the ISS. The J-SSOD is a unique satellite launcher, handled by the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS), which provides containment and deployment mechanisms for several individual small satellites.

PG Telescience Investigation of Detergent Experiments (PG Tide): The PG Tide detergent samples were set up on the Maintenance Work Area (MWA) and photographed. PG Tide studies the effectiveness of stain removal ingredients in Tide To-Go Pens and Tide To-Go Wipes in microgravity. The investigation also examines any changes in physical appearance of detergent, and in stability and performance of enzymes in detergent formulations caused by exposure to microgravity. Results could support development of detergent systems for Artemis, Mars, and other future space missions where crews need the ability to launder clothing.

Touching Surfaces: The crew performed a periodic touching of the Touch Arrays, which are deployed in five different locations in the US segment of ISS. Previous space research conducted during short-term flight experiments and long-term environmental monitoring on board orbiting space stations (such as MIR or the ISS) suggests that the relationship between humans and microbes is altered in the crewed habitat in space. This interdisciplinary project Touching Surfaces aims to investigate novel, laser-structured antimicrobial surfaces onboard the ISS. The realistic testing of the tailor-made nanostructured antimicrobial surface in space allows for the determination of the most suitable design for antimicrobial surfaces for terrestrial applications such as public transportation and clinical settings, as well as future human space mission and habitation design.

Vascular Aging: The multi-day Vascular Aging experiment session continued with the crew wearing the Bio-Monitor hardware. Emerging data point towards linkages among cardiovascular health risk, carotid artery aging, bone metabolism and blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation. Data indicate that aging-like changes are accelerated in many ISS crew members, particularly with respect to their arteries.

Wireless Compose-2 (WiCo-2): The WiCo-2 energy harvesting mote was replaced with a spare unit. "Mote" is a term used for nodes in a sensor network, and the energy harvesting mote is used for the analysis of the light sources and the harvesting potential for battery-free operation. The main scientific goal of the Wireless Communication Network (Wireless Compose-2) investigation is to provide a flexible and adaptable wireless network infrastructure to conduct and execute low-power, low-weight, and wireless experiments on the ISS. For this demonstration, WiCo-2 operates several experiments, including an experiment to examine the impact of the space environment on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, WiCo-2 demonstrates newly developed impulse radio ultra-wide-band (IR-UWB) hardware to enable precise localization applications and to analyze the energy harvesting potential on the ISS.

Systems:

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparation Activities: Activities continued in preparation for next week's Radiator Beam Valve Module (RBVM) Jumper Install EVA. The crew completed the EVA Mobility Unit (EMU) Enhanced Caution and Warning System (ECWS) On-Board Training (OBT) and practiced the EVA Cuff Checklist procedures. The ECWS presents data to the suited crew member to monitor current EMU conditions. The crew also received an overview of the robotics operations for the RBVM Jumper Install during review of the robotics procedures, which included steps to setup Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) to monitor SSRMS motion during real-time operations. This was followed by On-Board Training (OBT) for the EVA Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) self-study. The Helmet Light was installed onto EMU 3015; however, further adjustments will need to be made prior to the EVA. EMUs 3015 and 3004 were swapped on the EMU Don/Doff Assemblies (EDDAs) and resized. EVA Tools were configured, and crew inspected the Load Alleviating Strap on the Safety Tethers, Waist Tethers, and soft strap on D-Ring Extenders. Lastly, the Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration was terminated.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) In Flight Maintenance (IFM): As part of regularly scheduled preventative maintenance, the crew performed a manual WHC E- fill. By using a Urine Collection Device (UCD) to capture any pressure relief, also known as the burp, they depressurized the E- and water valve block to protect the dose pump. This pump is critical as it injects the pre-treat required to properly recycle waste urine. The UCD was analyzed after the pressure relief burp.

Urine Transfer System (UTS) Secure Digital (SD) Card Remove and Replace (R&R): The crew completed Intermediate-Level maintenance to R&R the UTS Control Block Controller SD Card. The UTS provides automated control of urine flow from the Toilet System and WHC or from external storage into the Urine Processing Assembly (UPA), and the Controller provides command and control of the UTS system and telemetry status.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

JEMRMS Console Activation/Deactivation

UTS Deactivation and Unpower

SpaceX EIS Command Interface Test

UTS Power and SW Reconfiguration

Reconfigure Airlock post METOX Regeneration heating cycle

Look Ahead Plan

Friday, March 18 (GMT 77)

Payloads:

CAL MTL leak check

EasyMotion/T2

FROST2 checkout

JEM Microbe

LSG hardware audit

Repository

SQuARE

Vascular Aging

Systems:

PAM iPad Deploy

US EVA Ammonia OBT

Brine Processor Bladder Changeout

EVA Battery Operations Terminal Terminate

REBA Powered Hardware Checkout

EVA Procedure Review

EVA Procedure Conference

EMU LLB METOX Installation

ISS Safety Briefing

Saturday, March 19 (GMT 78)

Payloads:

Repository

SQuARE

Vascular Aging hardware stow

Systems:

Crew Off-Duty Day

Sunday, March 20 (GMT 79)

Payloads:

EasyMotion

Standard Measures

SQuARE

Systems:

EVA Procedure Review

EVA Procedure Conference

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Standard Measures Post-sleep Questionnaire

[aborted] Oxygen Generation Assembly Pump ORU Flush

External Wireless Instrumentation System (EWIS) Network Control Unit (NCU) Power Cycle

JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side

JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) Wide (1 Deployer) and Single (1 Deployer) onto Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) Installation

Extravehicular Activity Mobility Unit (EMU) Enhanced Caution and Warning System (ECWS) On-Board Training

ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood

HRF Rack 1 PC 1 USB Software Load Config

SQuARE Flexible Daily Imagery

Oxygen Generation Assembly ECLSS Purge Hose E Drain

JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) Checkout Cleanup

Bio-Monitor Wearables Change Out

Robotics Procedure Print

Bio-Monitor Breathing Volume Calibration

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review

US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Helmet Light Installation

JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side

Stow Russian Laptops for Disposal and Return

[aborted] In Flight Maintenance Oxygen Generation Assembly Pump Flush Monitor

Bio-Monitor Wearables Stow

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill Initiate/Terminate

On-board Training (OBT) EVA Robotics Onboard Trainer (ROBoT) Session

Intelligent Glass Optics Probe Exchange

PGTIDE Maintenance Work Area Preparation

PGTIDE Detergent Stability Study Sample Photo Operations

Wireless Compose-2 Mote Replacement

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Tool Configuring

LUMINA monthly data transfer with EveryWear

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Swap

Swap SSC (Station Support Computer) 10 and 22 Swap

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Resize

HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Hardware Setup

Urine Transfer System (UTS) SD Card R&R

[aborted] In Flight Maintenance Oxygen Generation Assembly Pump ORU Stow

Vascular Aging 13-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Crew Time Payback

USOS Window Shutter Close

Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT)

Touching Event for the Touching Surfaces experiment

NutrISS - ESA Nutritional Assessment

Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Termination

Vascular Aging 13-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Mobil-O-Graph Unit Power Off

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Madison County Sheriff Katy McCutcheon was appointed to the Coroner Standards and Training Commission by Gov. Mike Parson on Feb. 25.

Sheriff McCutcheon has served as the sheriff of Madison County since 2017 and the director of Madison County 911 Communications since 2013.

According to a press release from the governor's office, McCutcheon previously served as a Madison County deputy for eight years and in 2011, she began working part time for Follis & Sons Funeral Home.

McCutcheon earned her Missouri Funeral Directors License in 2013 and her Missouri Embalmers License in 2015, after graduating from the Des Moines Area Community College Advanced Mortuary Program.

According to the Coroner Standards and Training Commission, the mission of the commission is to establish training standards, by rule, relating to the office of county coroner.

"I hope to help establish training standards for not only the the coroners but also for the sheriffs and/or their chief deputy that at times have to perform the duties of the coroner according to Missouri Revised Statute 58.205," McCutcheon said. "As of right now the sheriffs or their chief deputies do not have to attend the mandatory yearly training that the coroners are required to."

McCutcheon said she also hopes to share with the coroners the standards and training that sheriffs have to receive yearly, which is required by the Missouri Police Officer Standards and Training.

"It's an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to serve on this board," McCutcheon said. "What can I say, it's an amazing feeling to know that Governor Parson has confidence in my abilities to appoint me to this commission."

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com

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A Madison County business has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the states Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID).

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced last week that Shawn and Ali Woodfolks Hidden Pines Meat Processing would be the first recipient of the grant under his administration. The Woodfolks have operated a seasonal game processing business since 2003 and the grant will enable the business to add USDA inspection and process livestock year-round.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partnered with the Madison County Economic Development Authority and Madison County officials to implement the project. The AFID Fund was created in 2012 to provide local government a performance-based, economic development incentive to support agriculture based businesses in their communities. Local governments provide matching funds. Since 2012, the AFID facility grant program has awarded 115 businesses $10 million and created 3150 jobs and $1 billion in new investment. Revalation Vineyards was awarded an AFID grant in 2020.

The pandemic exposed gaps in the supply chain and led to a greater demand for locally produced meat. Local producers have been experiencing backlogs at the areas few processing plants. Fauquiers Finest in Bealton and Valley Meat Processors in Harrisonburg have been operating at maximum capacity for the past two years since COVID-19 has shuttered large processing plants throughout the country. Empty grocery store shelves drove consumers to look to local producers but often discovered that though producers had an ample supply of live animals there was often a delay in processing and packaging as there are few slaughter plants in the area.

The American Farmland Trust identified a lack of processing facilities as one of the regions urgent needs and along with the Piedmont Environmental Council and a professional animal processing consultant, surveyed the regional processing operations, documenting operational capacities, staffing challenges and opportunities. Expansion of seasonal processing facilities was one suggested solution to the processing logjam.

Jacob Gilley, a Madison County beef producer and director of AFTs Sustainable Grazing Project noted that the bottlenecks at processing facilities were an impediment to business growth and a real challenge for farmers as wait time resulted in more animals to house and feed and lower profitability. Gilley and the Sustainable Grazing Project have advocated for more local processing options as a way to increase profitability for small farmers.

Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry is enthusiastic about increased opportunity for local livestock producers.

The pandemic has presented many challenges to Virginias agricultural community, this is especially true of those livestock producers whose livelihoods rely on being able to process and sell their animals locally. By making strategic investments like this to help grow the Commonwealths meat processing capacity, we are creating important new market opportunities for our farmers, as well as local options for our consumers, said Lohr.

Virginias livestock producers have been clear, in order to serve their customers and grow their businesses, they need more local processing options for their animals, said Governor Glenn Youngkin in a press release announcing the AFID grant. By partnering with forward-thinking counties like Madison, which understands the value of investing in their agricultural economy, to support the growth of a family-owned farm-based business like Hidden Pines, we are bringing real benefit to Virginias hardworking farming community.

The choice to expand the operation came naturally to the Woodfolks as they also raise beef cattle. Hidden Pines expects the expansion to be operational by summer 2022.

It seemed to be a natural fit to expand as we are cattle farmers too, said Ali Woodfolk. We are thankful for the help and support. Even with the scope of our game processing there is a lot to be done to be ready to process livestock. There is a need for this and we hope to fill it.

Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clay Jackson said innovative investments like those from the Woodfolks help to preserve the quality of life Madisonians enjoy while also providing services to not only the community, but the state as well.

Since opening their business, the Woodfolks have grown Hidden Pines Meat Processing to become one of the largest game processors in the state offering customers value-added products and serving as a major donor to Hunters for the Hungry. When expanded, the business expects to be able to process more than 1,100 locally raised cattle, hogs, lambs and goats annually and add a minimum of seven jobs and nearly $500,000 of new investment.
Its sound will be as blue as its name.

As Blues Traveler hits the road for its 35th-anniversary tour, fans are flocking to hear rocking hits from their 14 hit albums, including But Anyway, Hook and the Grammy Award-winning Run-Around. But while the musicians are riding high, theyre also thrilled to sing the blues.

The band has picked up a Grammy nomination for its latest album, Travelers Blues, and fans who head to the Jefferson Theater for Sundays show can expect to hear covers of 11 songs originally performed and recorded by Aretha Franklin, Little Willie John, Big Mama Thornton, Freddie King and other stars.

The bands original name, after all  the one the high school buddies chose for their earliest efforts in 1986  was Blues Band.

Wed been thinking about doing a blues album for a long time, said guitarist Chan Kinchla, who loved playing John Lee Hooker and early Eric Clapton tunes as a teen. We were really inspired by the blues. Its all the same if its good and its done from the heart. When the pandemic hit, we finally said, lets do this.

Heading into the studio in the fall of 2020, vocalist and harmonica star John Popper, bassist Tad Kinchla, keyboardist Ben Wilson, drummer Brendan Hill and Chan Kinchla drew on decades of performing together to lift the tunes beyond mere covers and create the collection that, as Kinchla said, theyve always wanted to record.

We were ecstatic. We were thrilled to be in the studio, Kinchla said. We hadnt been off the road that long in 33 years at the time. Blues is the strength in adversity that fit the times.

Winnowing a dream down to an albums worth of blues took time and reflection. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley made the cut. So did Mississippi Sheiks Sitting on Top of the World. Jimmy Reeds You Got Me Runnin, Roadhouse Blues and Ball & Chain also made the grade.

We wanted to try to pick songs that were less [frequently] covered, Kinchla said.

Round Hill Records had a deep trove of licensed songs to choose from, and that whittled it down to about 3,000 titles, Kinchla said with a chuckle. Then it was a lot of epic group emails where we were paring and paring it down.

Kinchla said Grammy-winning producer Matt Rollings took the bands wish list of guest stars and handled the whirl of pandemic-snarled details.

Flying was a hassle, and the logistics of getting people fell on Matt, Kinchla said. Some guests came to Nashville to record their parts; others who were sheltering in place sent in recordings that thrilled the band.

It was like Christmas to hear these takes, he said.

Friends turned out to help. Warren Haynes brings his guitar mastery to Sittin on Top of the World, while Christone Kingfish Ingram is featured on Ball & Chain. Rita Wilson and John Scofield bring smoldering vocal stylings to Crazy, and Keb Mo is on hand for Trouble in Mind.

Kinchla said band members enjoyed reaching back into early blues to pan for gems.

We went as far back as we could, he said. The blues wasnt so much codified as a form then, and there was more wiggle room.

The older, more free-form blues tunes reminded the musicians of their own early days because we really did start out in the blues, Kinchla said. Its a very improvisational, in-the-moment kind of music.

Blues Travelers musicians embraced the challenge of a less-is-more process as an opportunity to dial back a bit and enjoy the spaces between the notes.

Theres a lot going on when were full bore, and were constantly trying to pare it down, Kinchla said. With blues, you have to. In blues, you need some of that space. Weve been wrestling with being too busy our whole career.

Rollings guidance balanced grit and polish in the right proportions, and the results ended up being worth the effort.

We were doing the blues record we wanted to do back then, Kinchla said. It was a really fun process, and it happened pretty naturally. A great author needs an editor. You cant always see it when youre in it. Matt Rollings is great, and hes an amazing piano player as well. We really respect him as a musician.

Blues Traveler and its fans will find out April 3 whether Travelers Blues will capture the bands second Grammy.

Kinchla is ready.

Ive got a cool jacket, so Ill look good either way, he said with a laugh.

Also on Sundays bill is Danielle Howle, whose latest single is Something Better Now. She is known for her own stylings of everything from blues to jazz to Americana, all informed by folk, Southern rock and country influences.

For tickets, go to jeffersontheater.com.

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Fans of 90 Day Fiance can follow the romance between a Charlottesville woman and a Venezuelan man when the ninth season of the popular reality series premieres at 8 p.m. April 17 on TLC.

Charlottesville resident Kara met Guillermo, a Venezuelan man, during a work trip she made to the Dominican Republic, and their romance blossomed after she relocated there for her job. The series will follow their reunion after his visa to join her in Charlottesville is approved after theyve spent nine months apart.

The show follows couples in which one member applies for a K-1 visa, which allows the engaged partner of a U.S. citizen to enter the country. If the couple does not marry within 90 days of the betrotheds arrival, the newcomer will be sent home. Relationships depicted in the show often are tested by cultural differences, family opposition or other pressures while the couples decide whether or not to tie the knot.

The other couples include Kobe of Cameroon and Emily of Kansas; Bini of Ethiopia and Ari of New Jersey; Shaeeda of Trinidad and Tobago and Bilal of Kansas; Miona of Serbia and Jibri of South Dakota; Mohamed of Egypt and Yvette of New Mexico; and Patrick of Texas and Thais of Brazil.

Learn more about the series at tlc.com.
The good news is you can take it off, if youve had your shots.

Most of Central Virginia has low COVID-19 levels in the community, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that means guidelines recommending people wear face masks in most public places are being lifted.

The CDC guidance, which uses a matrix of measurements including hospitalizations, strain on the health care system and number of cases in a community, means that people may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

Many businesses, governmental agencies and public facilities implement the CDC recommendations as requirements for patrons.

All of Central Virginia, including Charlottesville and Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson and Orange counties are rated as low in community COVID-19 prevalence.

Madison County was rated as medium for which the CDC suggests masking in public places, especially for those unvaccinated, with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Dr. Reid Adams, University of Virginia Medical Centers chief medical officer, said Friday that the hospital had 26 COVID-19 patients as of Friday morning with 18 acute cases and seven people in intensive care. One patient with COVID-19 is a child.

This is a new measure that includes not only case rates but the impact on hospitals and hospital admissions, said Dr. Costi Sifri, director of hospital epidemiology at UVA Health. The first two weeks of the measure we were at a high level. Last week we were at a medium level and now were at a low level.

Sifri made his comments at a weekly virtual press conference held by UVa Health.

Sifri said people should feel free to doff their masks in public places provided that they are vaccinated and boosted.

Although the CDC is giving the green light to show faces and cases continue to drop, some health officials are beginning to worry about a variant of the omicron variant known as BA.2 that is currently ravaging Hong Kong and some areas internationally.

Officials say they do not expect the variant to create an issue locally or nationwide, at least not at this time.

BA.2 is something that needs to be watched closely, Sifri said. At least in the near term, its unlikely that it will be create [a surge]. Whether it can occur later, its always possible.

Sifri said the high number of Americans and Central Virginians vaccinated and boosted, and the large number of omicron-caused COVID cases this winter, has given the population a high level of immunity.

Omicron really moved through some areas and there are indications that if you had [the original omicron variant] BA.1, you have what amounts to cross-protection against BA.2, Sifri said. We will likely see some cases but there are significant levels of immunity for it to overcome.

Sifri said its too early to say exactly where the community will be at the next CDC checkup or if masks will be back in the dress code soon.

We may be seeing some changing community rates. Were in a down-trending trajectory now but whether it is going level off or creep back up or down or stay at the current level is hard to say.

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Jane Kulow, director of the Virginia Festival of the Book, has been thinking about this week for two years.

Two years after canceling the festival at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers this week kicked off five days of author talks and discussions  about half of which will be in-person as part of the first-ever hybrid Festival of the Book, now in its 27th year.

The festival is a program of Virginia Humanities.

Just thinking about the opportunity for us all to gather again in the same room with an author or with a group of authors, its always been something thats been very emotional to think about, Kulow said.

Kulow added that shell be interested in how many people choose to attend in-person versus those who stick with the online offerings from afar.

I am just grateful that we have the opportunity to present a festival that people can choose their own adventure for, she said, adding that she couldnt wait to get out and see festival attendees.

The festivals first in-person event in three years was held at the University of Virginia Bookstore. Dozens of people  all in masks  were on hand to hear from three authors who have researched the Civil War era.

The three speakers and moderator were seated behind a Plexiglas barrier. Before starting, the moderator said the panelists were fully vaccinated and tested negative before the event. Travel-size bottles of hand sanitizer were available to attendees for free.

While the festival is back in-person, it hasnt left its virtual presence behind. Nearly four-fifths of the events will be live-streamed, making the festival more accessible to more audiences.

That is far beyond what I thought wed be able to do, Kulow said. So I just encourage people to find something and tune in however theyd like to and join the festivities.

The festivals programming picks up on Friday and Saturday is typically the busiest day, Kulow said. The festival wraps up Sunday afternoon with poetry readings from Rita Dove and Victoria Chang.

On Friday, local author Jocelyn Nicole Johnson will discuss her debut book, My Monticello, at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. That event will begin at 4 p.m.

Sarah Lawson, associate director for the Virginia Center for the Book, said they had initially planned for the festival to be all-virtual but changed course as COVID conditions improved. Plus, authors said they wanted to be in-person.

Overall, 75 events are planned. The roughly 39 in-person talks will take place in 14 venues throughout the area from on the Downtown Mall to James Monroes Highland. In previous years, the festival usually had 80 different venues, Lawson said.

The smaller footprint was aimed at ensuring that organizers could take as many precautions as possible related to COVID safety. That includes requiring masks or checking vaccination statuses, though specific requirements vary by venues.

Lawson said that in planning a hybrid event, festival organizers wanted to build on lessons learned during the last two years of virtual programs and improve overall accessibility including having more adaptable spaces for people with different abilities or providing American Sign Language interpretation as needed.

Were trying to figure out how we can use the rupture of COVID as kind of a turning point to really be able to offer improved accessibility for people anywhere, she said. Were really looking to try to use the momentum that we have in rebooting the festival to make it even better.

Most of the panel discussions are free and open to the public, but capacity at the venues is limited. Event organizers recommend arriving early to ensure you have a seat.

For more information and updates on the different events, go to vabook.org.

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A federal commission has reduced 34,000 submissions to 87 potential new names for nine military posts named for Confederates, including three in Virginia - Fort Lee, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Pickett.

The 87 potential names include those of nationally known military leaders such as Gens. Dwight D. Eisenhower, later the 34th president; George C. Marshall, Omar Bradley and Colin Powell, as well as Harriet Tubman, famed for spiriting enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

The list also includes lesser-known military luminaries with Virginia ties, including two African Americans honored for their service to the Union in the Civil War.

William Carney, born enslaved in Norfolk, was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor. Carney was a Civil War soldier in the famed 54th Massachusetts infantry regiment. He received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in saving the regiments American flag during the unsuccessful 1863 assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina.

Carney is among 10 honorees listed on the base of the Emancipation and Freedom monument on Brown's Island in Richmond for his contributions to the fight against slavery.

The list also includes Norfolk-born Alexander T. Augusta, who, during the Civil War, became the Army's first African American surgeon. In 1863 he was named to lead the Freedman's Hospital in Washington, becoming the first African American hospital administrator in U.S. history. At Howard University he later became the nation's first Black medical professor.

Amid the racial reckoning that following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, the federal government - like Virginia and other states in the South - started processes to remove commemorations of Confederates.

The federal naming commission says it is "focused on ensuring the names considered for military installations appropriately reflected the courage, values, sacrifices and diversity of our military men and women, with consideration given to the local or regional significance of names and their potential to inspire and motivate service members."

The federal commission is to make its final recommendations by Oct. 1, with the secretary of defense implementing new names in 2024.

The list includes other distinguished military veterans with local ties:

Van Barfoot, who died in Richmond in 2012, received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in World War II. Barfoot earned the Bronze Star during the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Silver Star during the invasion of mainland Italy.

He received the Medal of Honor for advancing alone through a minefield, taking out several German machine gun crews, advancing on tanks with a bazooka and carrying two of his men to safety, while killing eight and capturing 17 German soldiers.

(Barfoot drew national attention in 2009 for raising a 21-foot flagpole to fly the American flag without the permission of his neighborhood association in Henrico County. The association let Barfoot keep the flagpole.)

Marshall, U.S. Army chief of staff during World War II and a former secretary of state and secretary of defense, was born in Pennsylvania, but had strong ties to Virginia.

He graduated from Virginia Military Institute and lived in Loudoun County in Northern Virginia during his period of greatest renown, including the era of the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II.

Fort Lee, built in 1917 in Prince George County, is named for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who was born in Virginia at Stratford Hall.

Fort A.P. Hill, near Bowling Green, was built in 1941 and is named for a Confederate general from Culpeper. Hill, who was shot and killed in Petersburg in 1865, is buried in Richmond beneath one of the city's last remaining Confederate statues.

Fort Pickett, near the town of Blackstone in Nottoway County, opened in 1942. It is named for Richmond-born Confederate Gen. George Pickett, best known for Pickett's Charge, the failed assault on Union lines at Gettysburg.

Fort Lee and Fort Pickett played key roles as initial intake centers for Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
The State Board for Community Colleges named a new leader on Thursday, defying Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who one day earlier called for the board to restart the hiring process and appoint an interim chancellor.

The board named Russell A. Kavalhuna as the next chancellor of Virginias 23 community colleges, succeeding Glenn Dubois, who will retire at the end of June. Kavalhuna is president of Henry Ford College in Michigan, a community college founded in 1938.

His appointment ends a tumultuous hiring process that the governor criticized for excluding Youngkins administration, lacking transparency and neglecting the Virginia Community College Systems most significant needs.

But no delay was necessary, the board insisted Thursday, because it had met all of the governors concerns.

Youngkin first raised alarm last week, writing a letter to board Chair Nathaniel Bishop, accusing the board of refusing to collaborate with his administration.

The governor called for a meeting with Bishop and members of the hiring committee, a briefing on the boards strategy and a list of nominees.

At least one of those requests was met, as Youngkin and Bishop conferred twice. But Youngkin still felt excluded from the decision-making process, he wrote in a second letter Wednesday obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Our exclusion from your search process for the next chancellor was disappointing, and I strongly recommend that the selection committee appoint an interim chancellor and restart the process, Youngkin wrote Wednesday.

He asked the board to appoint one or more business leaders to the hiring committee and to accept a member of Youngkins administration as a nonvoting member. He pledged not to pick the chancellor himself, saying he was unaware of which finalists the board had chosen.

Undeterred, the board moved forward late Thursday, naming Kavalhuna its new permanent chancellor. The announcement came after the board spent at least three hours in closed session discussing the hire.

Kavalhuna, a former federal prosecutor and commercial airline captain, was executive director of flight operations at Western Michigan University College of Aviation before becoming president at Henry Ford College.

In Youngkins opinion, the community college system hasnt done enough to support workforce development or grow enrollment, said Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for the governor. There are 300,000 unfilled jobs in the state, his office has said, and since the pandemic, the number of jobs in Virginia has dropped by 200,000, ranking Virginia 43rd for job recovery.

Plus, enrollment in Virginias community colleges has dropped 27% in the past decade. The next chancellor needs to reverse these trends, the governor has said.

While there are outstanding individual schools, Virginia needs an entire system that supports all Virginians in the pursuit of gaining skills, furthering their academic goals and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-competitive world, Porter said.

But derailing the hiring process wasnt necessary, the board wrote Thursday in a response to Youngkin. It said it had already satisfied the governors concerns.

To include the administration, the board said, it contacted the secretaries of Education and Commerce and Trade soon after their appointments. The input of the administration was critical to our work and the evaluation of our candidates, the board said.

To incorporate members of the business committee in the hiring process, the selection committee added Jason El Koubi, interim president of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

We, too, prioritized the importance of talent development, the board added.

The board publicized the job posting last summer, attracting nearly 50 candidates, and posted updates on the committees progress to the VCCS website.

But the VCCS failed to update that site. On Thursday, the web page indicated the board was ready to conduct round one interviews. In reality, it had made far more progress.

The transparency, administration input and business involvement Youngkin sought has been accomplished, the board said. Therefore, there is no need to delay nor repeat the process.

The board also touted Kavalhunas focus on workforce development throughout his career.

Russ Kavalhuna is a transformational higher education leader who is uniquely prepared to move forward our community college system and elevate it to be the best in the nation, Bishop said in a statement.

The new chancellors priority will be to connect unemployed and underemployed residents with businesses suffering talent shortages, he said in a statement.

There is broad and bipartisan agreement that families, communities and economies are stronger when more people have access to community colleges, Kavalhuna added.
Spring break is here, and while some mid-Willamette Valley families have grand vacations planned, others will stay closer to home thanks to the pandemic, sky high gas prices or other factors.

There are plenty of opportunities for fun in Linn and Benton counties, though, and weve created a sort of guide to follow.

If youre super ambitious, you can tackle this as a sort of scavenger hunt, competing against your siblings or friendly neighbors. Give yourself a point for each feat you accomplish, and see who tallies the highest score. Crush them with your superior relaxation techniques this coming week!

Without further ado, heres our Mid-Valley Spring Break Adventure Checklist.

Hike local trails

A huge advantage of living in the mid-valley is our proximity to the great outdoors. And it really is great here, unlike other places, where it can be the sorta-OK to pretty-good outdoors.

Pick a scenic spot and hit the trails  maybe every day next week. If you need help choosing, check out our Mid-Valley Dirty Boots page.

Might we suggest McDowell Creek Falls and Alsea Falls? With heavy rainfall and snowmelt, these waterfalls will be absolutely roaring.

(Obviously, families should stay away from paths at high elevations, as these still will be snow-covered.)

Since hiking generates an appetite 

Eat at a new restaurant

Linn and Benton counties are blessed with an abundance of great restaurants, and quality establishments pop up regularly.

This week is a good time to check some of them out  or to revisit a favorite.

Thats especially true in Corvallis where Oregon State University students have fled campus, leaving prime parking spots along Monroe Avenue.

And, of course, high achievers could do a version of the Pepsi Challenge with local eateries. For example, visit a taco joint every day and crown a winner.

Visiting microbreweries, wineries and distilleries also counts for those 21 and over.

Cook with local ingredients

Create a household version of Iron Chef by cooking with local ingredients such as berries, hazelnuts, salmon, beef and more.

Create that special dish (or mixed drink) that screams not just Oregon but the mid-Willamette Valley.

Of course, you can pick up some of your ingredients locally at spots such as the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Benton County Fairgrounds, or the 4 Seasons Farmers Market in Lebanon. Which brings us to 

Support a local store

The last two years have been rough for local businesses due to the pandemic. Explore a local record shop, bookstore, clothing boutique or other retailer, experience the wonderful customer service and give them some of your hard-earned cash.

It can be a small trinket, but let at least one mom and pop shop know that you appreciate them and how they keep our communities vibrant.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our towns as they employ residents, give to local causes and encourage workers to volunteer.

Experience culture

Visit a local museum, listen to live music, read an Oregon book or watch an Oregon movies, take a tour of Corvallis murals or walk around the Oregon State University campus and soak in the architecture and culture.

As far as museums go, if you havent visited the new home of Bruce the Moose, the Corvallis Museum, nows your chance.

Top opportunities to listen to live music include the Oregon State Fiddle Contest in Lebanon on Saturday, March 19, and aggressive Pink Floyd cover band Pigs on the Wing at the Whiteside Theatre on Saturday, March 26.

As you can see, there are plenty of options to create a classic mid-valley spring break. But if you need more help, check out our online calendar, which is filled with activities.

Editor's note: This editorial was edited to correct event dates.

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Editor's note: This story replaces an earlier version that incorrectly reported taxpayers' annual obligation under Lebanon Community School District's proposed bond measure because of miscalculations in a district news release. We are choosing to rerun the entire story as a correction.

Property owners in Lebanon would pay about 10% less than anticipated for repairs to schools under a proposed $20 million bond measure after school district staff reran the estimates with updated tax figures.

An earlier news release miscalculated the savings at 20%. When asked about the discrepancy, a Lebanon Community School District spokesperson would only attribute it to "an error."

The district in February sent the bond to the May 17 primary ballot and estimated the measure would cost $50.75 each year for a property owner with a home assessed at $175,000, based on 2021s tax valuations.

That cost shrank to $45.50 when the bonds underwriter reran the estimates to reflect 2022 assessments, district spokesperson Susanne Stefani said. Thats 26 cents for every $1,000 of property each month in the district, down from 29 cents.

The bond would replace leaking roofs and seizure-prone air-conditioning equipment at schools and renovate Lebanon Community Pool  owned by the school district, but operated by Lebanon Aquatics District.

If approved, Oregon would provide an additional $4.3 million.

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Researchers from the UAB, IFAE and University College London propose using the variations in distance between the Earth and the Moon, which can be measured with a precision of less than a centimeter, as a new gravitational wave detector within a frequency range that current devices cannot detect.

The research, which could pave the way for the detection of signals from the early universe, was published recently in Physical Review Letters.

Gravitational waves, predicted by Albert Einstein at the start of the 20th century and detected for the first time in 2015, are the new messengers of the most violent processes taking place in the universe. The gravitational wave detectors scan different frequency ranges, similar to moving a dial when tuning into a radio station. Nevertheless, there are frequencies that are impossible to cover with current devices and which may harbour signals that are fundamental to understanding the cosmos. One particular example can be seen in microhertz waves, which could have been produced at the dawn of our universe, and are practically invisible to even the most advanced technology available today.

In an article recently published in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters, researchers Diego Blas from the Department of Physics at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Institut de Fisica d'Altes Energies (IFAE), and Alexander Jenkins from the University College London (UCL), point out that a natural gravitational wave detector exists in our immediate environment: the Earth-Moon System. The gravitational waves constantly hitting this system generate tiny deviations in the Moon's orbit. Although these deviations are minute, Blas and Jenkins plan on taking advantage of the fact that the Moon's exact position is known with an error of at most one centimeter, thanks to the use of lasers sent from different observatories which are continuously reflected upon mirrors left on the surface of the Moon by the Apollo space mission and others. This incredible precision, with an error of one billionth of a part at most, is what may allow a small disturbance caused by ancient gravitational waves to be detected. The Moon's orbit lasts approximately 28 days, which translates into a particularly relevant sensitivity when it comes to microhertz, the frequency range researchers are interested in.

Similarly, they also propose using the information other binary systems in the universe may provide as gravitational wave detectors. This is the case of pulsar binary systems distributed throughout the galaxy, systems in which the pulsar's radiation beam allows obtaining the orbit of these stars with incredible precision (with a precision of one millionth). Given that these orbits last approximately 20 days, the passing of gravitational waves in the microhertz frequency range affect them particularly. Blas and Jenkins concluded that these systems could also be potential detectors of these types of gravitational waves.

With these "natural detectors" in the microhertz frequency range, Blas and Jenkins were able to propose a new form of studying gravitational waves emitted by the distant universe. Specifically, those produced by the possible presence of transitions in highly energetic phases of the early universe, commonly seen in many models.

"What is most interesting perhaps is that this method complements future ESA/NASA missions, such as LISA, and observatories participating in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, to reach an almost total coverage of the gravitational waves from the nanohertz (SKA) to the centihertz (LIGO/VIRGO) frequency ranges. This coverage is vital to obtaining a precise image of the evolution of the universe, as well as its composition", Diego Blas explains. "Covering the microhertz frequency range is a challenge, which now may be feasible without the need of building new detectors, and only observing the orbits of systems we already know. This connection between fundamental aspects of the universe and more mundane objects is particularly fascinating and can eventually lead to the detection of the earliest signals we have ever seen, and thus change what we know about the cosmos", he concludes.

Bridging the Hz Gap in the Gravitational-Wave Landscape with Binary Resonances, Physical Review Letters



Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Home and business owners who lost property to the 2020 Oregon wildfires can apply for grant money to help rebuild.

The grant program is being made possible through a partnership between Linn County and the Oregon Building Codes Division.

Qualifying applicants must have owned a home, including manufactured homes, or a business damaged or destroyed by wildfires in 2020, according to a news release.

People who have already rebuilt their homes and businesses also qualify.

Grant recipients will be paid for rebuilding using fire-resistant methods and materials like fire-resistant windows or attic ventilation devices to cut down on ember intrusion, according to the news release.

Eligible applicants will receive the grants through the Linn County Building Department once qualifying improvements are completed.

Alana Cox, administrator of the Oregon Building Codes Division, said in a statement that the grant program may help prepare more people for future wildfires.

"These improvements are particularly effective at preventing ignition from embers, which can travel great distances from wildfires," Cox said. "We hope this program will help people affected by the wildfires build back more fire-resistant communities."

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express.

Homeowners and business owners wishing to apply for wildfire relief can visit the state Building Codes Division's website.

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.

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Gov. Jared Polis hands out signing pens to Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling (left), University of Northern Colorado President Andy Feinstein (center) and Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, after signing into law Senate Bill 56, which allows University of Northern Colorado to launch an osteopathic medical school.
Your morning rundown of the latest news from overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day.

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Telenor Group has gained final regulatory approval to sell its unit in Myanmar to Lebanese investment company M1 Group, pointing its exit to increasing human rights concerns after a military coup in the country last year.

In a statement, Telenor detailed that Myanmar authorities made it a condition that M1 Group must have a local partner in the ownership of Telenor Myanmar after closing the transaction.

M1s local partner Shwe Byain Phyu has acquired 49% of Investcom, a Singapore-based company set up by M1 for the purchase of Telenor Myanmar. After the acquisition between M1 and Telenor, the former will sell an additional 31% of Investcom shares to Shwe Byain Phyu.

Telenor has carried out due diligence to ensure both M1 and its local partner are not subject to international sanctions. The Telenor Myanmar brand will be used by the new owners for four months and have a transition service agreement with Telenor for six months.

Telenor group president and CEO Sigve Brekke said: Telenor has to leave Myanmar to be able to adhere to our own values on human rights and responsible business, and because local laws in Myanmar conflict with European laws.

The security situation is extreme and deteriorating, and we must ensure that our exit does not increase the safety risk for employees. With limited options available, the sale of Telenor Myanmar is deemed to be the most realistic alternative to keep our employees safe.

Because of the current situation, we are significantly constrained in our choices and with this approval the transaction can be finalised. Telenor has not been party to any dialogue between M1 and its local partner.
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.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

A total of 16.2 billion cubic meters of gas is planned to be transported via Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) by late 2022, Azertag has reported.

The figure means an increase of 18 percent compared to last year.

It should be noted that 13.7 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas were transported through TANAP to Turkey and Europe in 2021.

TANAP is the central part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which connects the giant Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan to Europe through the South Caucasus Pipeline and TAP. The pipeline has strategic importance as it allows the Azerbaijani gas exports to Europe.

The capacity of the pipeline is planned to be increased up to 23 billion cubic meters by 2023, 31 billion cubic meters by 2026, and at the final stage 60 billion cubic meters. The current TANAPs capacity is 16 billion cubic meters.

To recall, Azerbaijan started commercial gas supplies to Europe via this route, with the completion of the TAP construction on December 31, 2020.
The office of Florida Senator George Gainer issued a press release Wednesday outlining some legislative appropriations included in the proposed balanced state budget for the counties in his District 2 this legislative session, which ended March 14.

The budget must yet be approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who could still line-item veto any of the projects.

If it holds, nearly $9.5 million will be spread across 10 projects in Jackson County.

The Graceville Fire Department gets the biggest piece of the pie, at $2,163,500.

Jackson County gets $1,500,000 for road drainage mitigation.

$1 million goes toward Hope School renovations.

Marianna gets $950,000 for an emergency shelter/multi-purpose facility.

$900,000 will go to Market Street water and wastewater upgrades.

The town of Sneads will get $825,000 for a health and recreation renewal project.

Graceville will get $700,000 for Phase II of an infrastructure rehabilitation project.

Jackson County will get $700,000 for agriculture center improvements and another $328,000 in ag lab money.

Endeavors NextStep autism transition facility will get $400,000.

The grand total for this county comes to $9,466,500.

Allocations to other counties in his district include: Holmes County: $6,075,00 across five projects; Okaloosa County: $26,810,500 across 19 projects; Washington County: $2,384,166 across three projects; Walton County: $11,500,000 across nine projects; and Bay County: $70,843,870 across 26 projects.

In the release, Gainer was quoted. The entire allocation is a great testament to all who have worked so hard and love Northwest Florida so much, his statement reads. Along with myself, the cities, the counties, fellow Senators, the State Representatives Maney, Williamson, Drake and especially Jay Trumbull all worked tirelessly around the clock to make this historic appropriation a reality. A special thank you to Senate President Wilton Simpson, Senator Doug Broxson and Floridas favorite Governor Ron DeSantis. It shows you what we can do if we stick together, work hard and dont care who gets the credit.
Dothan police officers are getting a major pay hike starting in April  the second significant increase in the last two years.

Currently, certified officers starting pay is $45,231 in annual salary. After the pay increase, the minimum pay will increase by about 11% to $50,188 annually. In September of 2020, annual salary for Dothan Police Department officers increased to $42,200 from $37,600.

The commission and the city are prioritizing public safety by approving this increase, Dothan Police Chief Will Benny said. It is definitely needed to make our department competitive pay-wise with other departments throughout the state.

Benny cited issues recruiting and retaining police officers at the current rate of pay and said the increase is a natural evolutionary step for Dothan to have the most well-trained, well-equipped police force in the state. With the salary increase, Dothans pay schedule will be close to matching the salaries in departments in larger Alabama cities like Hoover and Huntsville and put the range in the top 1% of all police departments in the state.

The public safety of the citizens of Dothan and visitors is the top priority of the city, City Manager Kevin Cowper said. If people dont feel safe in our community, they wont want to come here.

With the city administrations blessing, the personnel board signed off on the pay raise on Tuesday. All City of Dothan police officers will see a boost in their paychecks when it goes into effect in April.

Salary adjustments and fringe benefits will add about $1 million to DPDs expenses in the fiscal year, but Benny said the funding is already available in the current budget due to the number of unfilled positions.

The board also approved another 2% pay hike for officers in October at the beginning of the citys next fiscal year. Also starting in October, another 20 positions for certified officers will become available and the board approved an additional five positions every year for the following four years to meet the demands of the growing population.

Cowper said the city has already streamlined the process of becoming an officer and pay raises are the natural next step in accomplishing its goals. The Dothan Police Department has also added the junior police academy, which provides some training to high school students. Benny said it is already seeing the benefits of that workforce development program.

Benny is also working with state officials on opening a training facility in Dothan at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center so it can offer accredited training at home. In the future, the facility could be used to train officers in the southeast Alabama region.

The personnel board also approved a 10% pay hike for dispatch personnel at the emergency call center.

Starting pay is currently at $37,170, but will move to $40,892 starting in April.

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 .
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $11.1 million to help low-income households with water service costs statewide, including nearly $1.4 million for residents in Southeast Alabama.

The grants for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program will enable community service agencies to aid with residential water and wastewater services costs for low-income households in all 67 counties, according to a news release from the governors office. A priority is given to the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with young children. To qualify for assistance, household income must not exceed 150% of the federally established poverty level.

Low-income families often need assistance in paying for necessities during difficult times, and access to clean, fresh water is vital to any household, Ivey said. These grants will provide emergency assistance with water bills so that families will have less worry about access to water service.

Ivey awarded the grants to 18 community agencies that will manage the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals seeking assistance.

The Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership Inc. was awarded $668,757. Based in Enterprise, the agency serves Barbour, Coffee, Geneva, Henry, and Houston counties. The agency can be reached by calling 334-347-0881.

Another $683,448 was award to the Organized Community Action Program Inc. in Troy for residents in Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Lowndes, and Pike counties. Residents in those counties can call 334-566-1712 for more information.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from a one-time allocation made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ADECA stands with Gov. Ivey in supporting those who need help most with covering vital utility bills, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. These partnerships with local community agencies ensure that those who truly need assistance have access to it.
How Covid-19 derailed Vietnams tourism industry

Covid-19 forced Vietnam to close its borders from March 2020, which wreaked havoc on tourism revenues. But there have been high hopes as the country reopened from March 15.
Customers look at a car at a Toyota dealership in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Trung

Major auto brands in Vietnam are facing supply challenges in distributing autos and parts due to the global semiconductor shortage and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Toyota sold zero Hilux pickup trucks last month as its inventory has run out and there's been no new arrival. Hilux is produced overseas and imported into Vietnam as a completely-built unit.

The SUV Toyota Raize, another trending car of the Japanese brand, is expected to be delivered within six or seven months, dealers say.

"Some models might face shortages until the end of the year," said a sales official at a Toyota dealership in HCMC.

This is a new situation for popular car models. In the past, slow deliveries happened because of administrative and customs issues, not because foreign factories were unable to deliver the cars.

American brand Ford said that the shortage of parts was delaying delivery of its popular SUV Explorer to Vietnam.

Mitsubishi has also seen reduced supply of its SUVs Pajero Sport and Triton imported from Thailand.

"Major brands make plans three or four months in advance to mitigate any supply issue that might occur. But if this shortage of parts persists, we wont get the expected sales," said Vo Thanh Tai, Mitsubishi Vietnam's head of marketing.

The production of new cars has been impacted globally over the last two years because of the pandemic, resulting in a shortage of the chips used to control everything from powertrains to digital safety systems.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis has brought greater challenges to the industry. It is set to lower global light-duty vehicle production by 2.6 million units for this year and the next, according to S&P Global Mobility.

Globally, buyers of cars that have a lot of electronics have to wait longer than those who buy vehicles with relatively less technology. In the U.S., some brands are delivering cars with missing electronics parts such as screens with a promise they will deliver them when they are available again.

In Japan, buyers of Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX600 will have to wait for up to four years. This is because the conflict has caused logistical and supply chain problems as well as shortages of vehicle components.

Many automakers source wire harnesses used in vehicles for electrical power and communication between parts from Ukraine.

Luxury brands have also been impacted. Lexus and Porsche customers say that they have to wait for six to nine months, and in some cases, for 12 months or more, in order to get their cars.

Customers of Mercedes and BMW are also having to wait for months to get the vehicles theyve ordered.

The delay is longer for cars that have many electronics parts as factories do not have enough chips to make them.

For cars that are assembled in Vietnam, the shortage of parts is causing sales to plunge.

The popular pickup truck Ford Ranger saw sales in February dropping to a record low of 230 units.

South Koreas Hyundai, whose cars are assembled in Vietnam by TC Motors, are unable to meet customers demand for the Tucson and Santa Fe models as they require many electronic parts.

For Kia cars, customers are having to wait for one to four months.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast is also having difficulties in delivering its electric cars though it has orders for 65,000 units globally. The company expects to resolve the issue this summer.

Vietnams auto sales rose 34 percent year-on-year in the first two months to 53,544 units with four out of the countrys top five brands posting double-digit increases.
An aircraft lands at Lien Khuong airport in Lam Dong Province, January 2022. Photo by Lam Dong's news portal

Lam Dong Province has suggested spending VND4.3 trillion ($187 million) to double Lien Khuong airports capacity.

In a recent letter sent to the government, the administration of Lam Dong Province stated Lien Khuong Airport in Duc Trong District, about 28 kilometers south of Da Lat resort town, should be upgraded from the 4D to 4E category as regulated by International Civil Aviation Organization.

The increased rating would allow it to handle Airbus A380, Boeing 787 or equivalent sized aircraft, with a bigger runway, taxiway and parking areas.

The project will also add an international terminal of 340 hectares (840 acres) to raise the airport's capacity from serving 2.1 million passengers per year to five million by 2030.

The province stated once approved, it would carry out the project between 2023 and 2026 under the public-private partnership format, with investment costs estimated at VND4.32 trillion.

Lien Khuong is the biggest of three airports in the Central Highlands region, with the other two being Pleiku airport in Gia Lai Province and Buon Ma Thuot airport in Dak Lak Province.

It has a runway stretching 3,250 meters long and 45 meters wide along with a passenger terminal of 1,000 square meters.
Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Thursday said the country is sending 156,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Vietnam without revealing the arrival date.

Szijjarto announced the new delivery on social media, as reported by Hungarian site 24.hu.

"Friends do not forget each other in trouble, so we are grateful for the help of the Vietnamese when they helped the Hungarian defense with masks, face shields and quick tests during the first wave of the pandemic."

As part of the partnership, he said, Hungary first released and sold 400,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to the Vietnamese government, and then donated 100,000 doses of the vaccine to the country in October 2021, along with 100,000 Covid-19 test kits.

Around 76.6 million people in Vietnam have been fully vaccinated with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 44.9 million people have received their third shots.
Vietnam would shift its Covid-19 strategy from minimizing infections to minimizing hospitalization and death risks, the government said Thursday.

According to a Covid-19 prevention program issued by the government, Vietnam would fight the coronavirus based on a risk management approach. Units however still need to be ready for any future scenarios, including a wide enough pandemic that overwhelms the nation's medical capabilities and the emergence of more dangerous variants.

People would have easier access to health services and prevention protocols would minimize their impacts on people's lives, according to the program.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health proposed to stop counting daily Covid-19 cases to prevent panic and confusion. Infection numbers are not reflecting the true state of the disease in Vietnam anyway, it argued.

The ministry also proposed for Covid-19 cases to be allowed to work despite still being in their quarantine periods.

Despite rising numbers of infections recently, death rates have been dropping thanks to widespread vaccination. Over the past week, the average number of daily new cases was 170,000, a 39 percent increase from the previous week. However, the average number of daily deaths was 75, a 14 percent drop from the previous week, official data showed.
ELKO  More newcomers filed for seats on the Elko County School Board this week, with only one day remaining in the filing period.

Parents of Elko County co-founder Misty Atkins, rancher Brent Kelly, Elko businesswoman Adriana Lara and Carlin City Councilman Lincoln Litchfield were among the candidates to file by the end of the day Thursday.

Two candidates could be elected in the June primary if a challenger does not come forward.

For District 1, Atkins filed to run against appointee and former educator Susan Neal.

Atkins has been a vocal critic of the school board regarding mask mandates. At a meeting on Feb. 22 she announced a notice of intent to file claims against the district.

She is also currently a member of the Elko TV District board.

In District 2, appointee Dr. Josh Byers filed to be elected to the seat.

Also filing this week was former Trustee Robert Leonhardt. He resigned in August, later announcing he rescinded his resignation. Citing state law, the Elko County School District determined his resignation could not be reversed.

Carlin City Councilman Lincoln Litchfield entered the race for District 3, which already included appointee Matt McCarty and Spring Creek mother Eve Daz.

On March 17, Adriana Lara, owner of Adrianas Jewelry, filed for the open District 5 seat, which has been vacant since the resignation of former trustee and chair Jim Cooney.

West Wendover businessman Jeff Durham, who was appointed to District 6, filed for his seat.

In District 7, rancher Brent Kelly filed to run for the seat currently held by incumbent Ira Wines. Kelly was one of the parents who presented the board with an intent to sue on Feb. 22.

Wines has not confirmed if he plans to run for a second term. A request for comment from Wines was not returned by press time.

Lincoln Litchfield  District 2

Litchfield said his term ends on the Carlin City Council this year and he saw the need to get involved in the school board by filing for District 3.

His mother and father were both teachers, and I know how the teacher side of it feels, along with having the student and parent perspectives, he added.

During his time on the Carlin City Council, he said he could not recall the last time a school board trustee who represents District 3, which includes Carlin, attended a council meeting.

In 12 years, never, Litchfield said. Thats not representation, thats Im in this for the glory of myself, which is how I viewed it compared with Elko County Commissioners who visit the Council when there is an agenda item concerning Carlin.

Theres no representation here from school board to the citizens unless you go to their meeting, he continued. I thought that was wrong.

Regarding the board, Litchfield said believed there needed to be more visibility, more transparency. The accountability and transparency behind it, I dont see its there.

He said he also learned from parents that classes such as Civics were no longer taught to their children.

How do we expect to grow our future generations through the history and the curriculum of our school system if were not teaching that history or curriculum, Litchfield said. I wanted to get involved that way.

Litchfield stays connected in the schools through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Im trying to look out for their future, bring them up right, and show them the correct way.

Adriana Lara  District 5

Lara said she wants to bring a focus to special-needs children based out of her experience with her two children, one of whom recently graduated but is still attending a program at Elko High School that is open to her until she is 21 years old.

I want her and other kids to have more opportunities when they get out of school, she said. I dont know if theres a way we can improve special education.

Getting more involved in the community is another reason Lara said she filed for office.

Lara said she moved to Elko from Mexico at 19. She and her husband each own businesses.

If elected, she said she hoped to be a voice for Hispanic families.

Candidate filings conclude at 5 p.m. Friday.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan has long been regarded as a reliable oil and gas supplier around the world. Azerbaijan is currently implementing very ambitious projects in the field of alternative energy in accordance with global initiatives on the transition to green energy.

In this regard, Azerbaijan has made significant strides in this field this year. In the country, the groundwork for two major facilities for generating electricity from renewable energy sources has been laid.

Renewable energy projects

On March 15, Baku's Gulustan Palace hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for the 230 MW Garadagh solar power plant.

Masdar, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, will construct the plant. The project's investment cost will be around $225 million.

The plant is designed to produce 500 million kWh of electricity per year and supply it to approximately 110,000 households. Furthermore, the plant will reduce gas consumption by 110 million cubic meters and environmental emissions by 200,000 tons. Over 500,000 solar panels are expected to be installed.

The solar power plant is scheduled to be put into operation by the end of the first half of 2023.

On January 13, a groundbreaking ceremony for the 240 MW Khizi-Absheron wind farm, which will be built by Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, was held. During the year, it is expected to supply 300,000 households, save 220 million cubic meters of gas, and reduce 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Another significant project in this area is BP's project to build a 240 MW solar power plant in Jabrayil, which is currently in the research stage.

Strengthening energy security

In an interview with the local media, economic analyst Ilgar Valizade said that the Garadagh station project aims to strengthen Azerbaijan's energy security by generating electricity from various sources.

"As a result of the construction of solar power plants, Azerbaijan will be able to ensure a sustainable energy balance, replace traditional energy sources with non-traditional ones, improve national green energy indicators, and stimulate the development of technological processes for introducing new technologies into our country's energy systems," he said.

He also stated that by using renewable energy sources to generate electricity, it will be possible to export the obtained gas volumes, allowing for an additional inflow of foreign currency into the country's economy.

Furthermore, the analyst stated that this project will allow Azerbaijan to diversify its foreign economic activity with countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as strengthen ties with Arab countries and Middle Eastern leading economies.

Climate change goals

Igbal Guliyev, the analyst at the MGIMO Center for Sustainable Development and expert with a Ph.D. in Economics, told local media that the development of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan contributes to the achievement of the country's climate change goals.

He went on to say that the use of renewable energy sources, as well as the mandatory continuous improvement of energy efficiency, will help reduce domestic consumption of oil and gas.

"In terms of green energy policy, Azerbaijan has a clear vision, goals, and objectives. Azerbaijan supports the challenges and goals of the clean energy transition, clean energy technologies, hydrogen production, and efforts to strengthen the positions of renewable energy sources in the energy mix," he said.

Guliyev also emphasized that these areas are critical components of Azerbaijan's national priorities for social and economic development.

"The March 15 memorandum will make a significant contribution to the implementation of these priorities," he said.

Countrys renewable energy potential

One of the president's strategic goals for the country's energy development is the use of alternative energy sources.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan has ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and committed to achieving a quantitative target of a 35-percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 1990.

Renewable energy currently accounts for 17 percent of total energy production in the country. The goal is to raise those percentages to 30 percent by 2030.

The potential of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan is 27,000 MW, including 3,000 MW in wind energy, 23,000 MW in solar energy, 380 MW in biomass energy, and 520 MW in the energy of mountain rivers.

Azerbaijan is known as a reliable partner, fulfilling all its obligations to foreign partners, and has all the conditions and opportunities, both natural and technological, to turn the country into an exporter of not only oil and gas but also electricity.
What caused the price of gasoline to jump almost 25% in only a week?

Was there less oil at the beginning of the week than at the end? Maybe, but not much. Certainly not 25% less.

We talk about supply and demand, but we sometimes simplify this relationship as if nothing else matters.

Keep in mind that only a year ago, the U.S. produced more crude oil than any other country in the world. We still imported some oil, but last winter the U.S. imported more oil from both Ghana and Nigeria than it did from Russia.

The increase in the price of oil is almost all speculative. When investors drive up the price of oil, for whatever reason, the price of gas increases even before the oil is purchased. Part of this is a rip-off and part is warranted. The rip-off comes in the demand to buy more expensive gas that is already in the system. A partial justification is that it allows the purchase of more expensive oil that is now coming, without suffering a potential shortage in supplies.

But why would the speculators drive up the price? It could be for almost anything, but one of the reasons has to do with politics. Who the president is makes a difference. The largest increases in oil prices (based on what they were at the beginning of their terms) were Biden, Obama, and Carter. Decline in oil prices occurred during the administrations of Reagan and Clinton, and stayed much the same under Ford and Trump.

Elections have consequences, even at the gas pump.

Oil traders also dont like uncertainty. Russia is the second largest oil producer in the world and when they invaded Ukraine, all sorts of unknowns were created. Is the Russian currency still worth anything, are the Russian banks able to handle the international transactions that are needed, and can ships get in and out of Russian ports? So, betting on the future, investors looked at a world temporarily without Russian oil and saw a very large shortage, thus driving up the price.

In this round of price increases, ideology also played a part. In typical fashion, the Biden administration botched both ends of this. On his first day in office, Biden removed almost all of Trumps energy policies. The effect was mostly symbolic, but much of what happens in oil pricing is, at least temporarily, symbolic. It was political theater to appease the environmentalists and, in a childish display of pique, to show how much Trump was detested.

On the other end, when the price of oil was approaching $100 a barrel and gas prices were skyrocketing, the White House could have easily done another piece of political theater and announced that the U.S. would do whatever was needed to be energy independent. The price of both oil and gas at the pumps would have dropped overnight.

All of this is further confused by a hyper-environmental ideology that would welcome very high gas prices. The aristocratic elites of a certain stripe no longer suggest we eat cake when there is no bread. Instead, they tell us to stop eating bread so they can continue to eat cake.

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President Biden and his foreign policy team  Blinken, Austin, Sullivan and Milley  are coming under increasing criticism from Congressional Republicans and Democrats alike for his slow, timid response to Vladimir Putins unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

This same Biden Team was responsible for the American humiliation in Afghanistan, when Biden incompetently managed the chaotic withdrawal of all U.S. troops. That debacle resulted in Afghanistan being ceded to the Taliban.

Biden now lags behind on Ukraine. His initial economic sanctions lacked punch. They failed to attack the real engine of the Russian economy  energy. Excluded was a ban on imported Russian oil.

It took prodding for nearly a week from an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Senators, supporting the Ban Russian Imports Act, for a wavering Biden to belatedly sign an executive order barring imported oil and other energy sources from Russia.

The U.S. and its allies were buying $700 million worth of oil daily from Russia. Bidens reluctance to act was pure political calculation. Gas prices were certain to increase and he feared Democrats taking a drubbing in November.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has passionately requested help from Congress, most particularly in creating and enforcing a no-fly zone above Ukrainian airspace, or alternatively, by transferring 28 Polish MiG-29 jets to Ukrainian pilots.

A no-fly zone over Ukraine enforced by NATO is publicly opposed by the Biden administration because it would, in their opinion, be viewed as an offensive action and provocative by Putin.

Former Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2000, supports a no-fly zone arguing it has a clear defensive purpose  to protect civilians in Ukraine from aerial bombardment.

The Biden administration first welcomed, then denied, an offer by the Polish government to deliver its entire fleet of MiG-29s to Ukraine. Biden feared such a move could be viewed by the Russians as an escalation of the United States role in the war.

Theres risk of escalation in any war, and needless provocations should be avoided. Will Putin use chemical weapons? Will NATO fail to respond because it fears World War III?

Biden killed the aircraft transfer, viewing it as high risk because it might inflame Putin.

The logic appears to be that sending lethal anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons wont provoke the Russians, but 28 fixed-wing aircraft would.

Thats inconsistent with the Biden administrations other claim that Ukrainians dont need the jets because their other weapons are more effective.

Despite Bidens baffling flip-flop on the fighter jet transfer, theres growing bipartisan pressure in Congress for him to act more decisively.

Utah Republican Mitt Romney said its time for the U.S. to stop fearing Moscows reactions.

I dont understand the logic for not getting the Ukrainians the MiGs immediately. It makes no sense. I believe theres a sentiment that were fearful of what Putin might do. Its time for him to be fearful of what we might do, Romney said.

New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen said the administrations handling of the fighter jet deal came across as indecision and bickering.

Ohio Republican Rob Portman and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, returning from a bipartisan trip to Poland on March 13, called on Biden to send more assistance to Ukraine.

Portman told CNN of the horrors of the unprovoked attacks by the Russians. Klobuchar said she would like to see the United States send fighter planes to Ukraine.

Americans must recognize Putin is escalating his Ukrainian assault.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said sending fighter jets to Ukraine should be a no-brainer for a confident, assertive and decisive American administration. Instead, it repeatedly seems like Bidens first instinct is to flinch.

The awe-inspiring leadership of President Zelensky and courage of the freedom-loving Ukrainian people have impressed the world.

By contrast, President Bidens weak, chaotic foreign policy disappoints. Its past time for resolute action.

Email Jim Hartman at lawdocman1@aol.com.

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In response to sanctions imposed by the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the Russian Foreign Ministry to create a "stop list" of US officials who are now banned from entering Russia. A Ministry press release stated that starting 15 March, Russia would bar entry to "President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, as well as several agency heads and other prominent US figures."

More:

The agency said that the action was taken on the "basis of reciprocity," after the US took a similar step. The statement did, however, make it clear that Russia did not mean to suggest that they "oppose maintaining official ties when it is in our national interests, and, if necessary, we will address the issues arising from the status of the black-listed individuals in order to organise high-level contacts."

Which US officials have been barred from entering Russia?

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.; Antony John Blinken; Lloyd James Austin III; Mark Alexander Milley; Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan, National Security Advisor; William Joseph Burns, Director of the CIA; Jennifer Rene Psaki, White House Press Secretary; Daleep Singh, Deputy National Security Advisor; Samantha Jane Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development; Robert Hunter Biden, son of the US President; Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, former US presidential candidate; Adewale Adeyemo, US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; Reta Jo Lewis, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

This list is quite a collection of current and former political leaders. Hillary Clinton responded with a joke by tweeting out her thanks to the "Russian Academy for this Lifetime Achievement Award."

Russia has sanctioned Joe Biden and a range of other top US officials.



The main impact of this is they can now make corny jokes on cable news about how they won't be able to access their Russian bank accounts or go on vacation in Siberia, I guess pic.twitter.com/ZQWA0Mhg4R  max seddon (@maxseddon) March 15, 2022

The Foreign Ministry also announced that this step would be "taken in harmony with the major decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation in finance, banking and other areas to protect the Russian economy and ensure its stable development."

How has the White House responded?

During a press conference from the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who herself has been banned from entering Russia, was asked to for a response. When the Russian Foreign Ministry had first made the announcement, they had left out the "Jr" from President Biden's name which prompted Psaki to start by making a poking fun, saying "I would first note that President Biden is a junior, so they may  may have sanctioned his dad. May he rest in peace."

This could have been a diversion or a way to show the Kremlin that they do not take seriously this largely symbolic gesture. Psaki then followed up commenting that none of those targeted were "planning tourist trips to Russia and none of us have bank accounts that we wont be able to access, so we will forge ahead."

Who else could be sanctioned?

The Kremlin has alluded that more US officials, celebrities, and business leaders could be barred from entering Russia, should the US escalate their diplomatic and economic sanctions.
On March 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping re-emphasized the necessity for the country to put into practice the new development philosophy, calling it the path that must be taken to develop China into a strong nation in the new era.

"As long as we apply the new development philosophy in full, in the right way and in all fields of endeavor, accelerate efforts to create a new development pattern, promote high-quality development and speed up strengthening our country's science and technology capacity, we will definitely be able to consistently improve the competitiveness and sustainability of our country's development, seize the initiative and embrace a good future in the increasingly fierce global competition," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi made the remarks while participating in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region delegation's deliberation at the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

The new development philosophy, featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, was put forward by Xi in 2015. It underscores the quality of economic and social development, and comprehensively answers the key questions surrounding China's future development, including its purpose, driving force, and methods. Moreover, it manifests the CPC's understanding of development path and pattern, as well as its values and political stance.

With the philosophy charting a development path that fits China's actual situations, the country has made historic achievements and witnessed historic changes in its economic and social development under its guidance. Particularly, amid fundamental changes worldwide and the unprecedented challenges they bring, China's economy has shown remarkable resilience.

In recent years, the world has seen a rise in anti-globalization sentiment. Due to it, and the restrictions on traveling and transportation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, parts of the global industrial chain and supply chain were brought to a halt. China's domestic economic circulation was largely affected.

To address the problem, apart from adopting strong measures to coordinate pandemic control and economic growth, and expanding high-level opening-up, China has also actively built a "dual circulation" development paradigm, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other with the domestic market as the mainstay.

The timely adoption of these strategies has reinforced the resilience of China's economy and helped shield it from global impact. As a result, China became the first major economy to register positive economic growth amid the pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, having witnessed an average GDP growth of over 5 percent, China continued to be a stabilizing force in the global economy.

Moreover, determined to pursue economic development featuring openness and shared benefits, China has actively taken up its due responsibilities in stabilizing the global industrial chain and supply chain. For example, despite the impact of the pandemic, the China-Europe freight train remained in operation, playing a pivotal role in international transportation. In 2021, a total of 15,183 China-Europe freight train trips were made, bringing the total number of trips amounting to over 50,000.

China's development path and the results it produces are recognized by the international society. "China achieved a truly remarkable recovery," said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. "As China is a vital engine for global growth, taking strong actions to support high-quality growth will help not only China, but the world."

It is of vital importance for one to stay true to the right path in downpours and against the headwind. Prepared to face more complicated situations and more daunting tasks in the new development stage, China is bound to continue applying the new development philosophy, deliver more tangible benefits to its people, and contribute to global economic and social development.




Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) shakes hands with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud (Photo: VNA)

At the reception, the PM thanked the government and humanitarian organisations of Saudi Arabia for their timely financial and medical supplies support for Vietnam in the COVID-19 fight, and helping raise the living quality of residents in disadvantaged areas.

He proposed that the two countries bolster exchanges of delegations and visits by high-ranking officials; and increase cooperation between the foreign ministries and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

On the occasion, the Government leader reiterated the invitation to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit Vietnam.

PM Pham Minh Chinh requested the Saudi Arabian side to soon completely remove a ban on the import of Vietnams fishery products, and strengthen the import of Vietnamese farm produce. He called on Saudi Arabia to share experience with Vietnam to access markets and services meeting Halal standards; and help Vietnamese firms join in oil and gas projects in the Middle East nation, exchange information and experience with Saudi Arabian partners in desalination, energy and industrial development.

He also asked the Saudi Arabia Development Fund to increase the number of projects and scale of preferential capital for each project so as to improve living quality for inhabitants in mountainous and remote areas.

The PM thanked the Saudi Arabian side for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to live and study in the country, particularly when COVID-19 broke out.

He proposed that the Middle East country continue to receive skilled labourers of Vietnam in the services and health care sectors, while taking measures to ensure safety and legitimate rights of Vietnamese workers.

He informed his guest that Vietnam officially reopened international tourism from March 15, hoping to welcome more holidaymakers from Saudi Arabia in the coming time.

PM Pham Minh Chinh wished that the countries will continue to collaborate and support each other at regional and international forums, especially in the United Nations framework.

For his part, Prince Faisal affirmed that Saudi Arabia always treasures relations with Vietnam. He spoke highly of the Southeast Asian nations achievements in socio-economic development and COVID-19 control.

He believed that Saudi Arabia and Vietnam hold huge potential to further promote cooperation across various fields, notably trade and investment. The Saudi Arabian minister agreed with PM Pham Minh Chinhs proposals, viewing them as a roadmap to foster bilateral relations.

Saudi Arabian agencies and businesses will work closely with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry to boost the efficiency of the bilateral cooperation, particularly in economy, he affirmed./.
Pangasius exports to the EU enjoy sharp growth. (Photo: VNA)



This is the most growth after many months of stagnation or deep decline.

Currently, the proportion of Vietnams catfish supply to the EU is 97%. The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain are the 4 largest single pangasius export markets of Vietnamese seafood enterprises. In which, the Netherlands is the largest market, accounting for 36.6% of the total export value to the EU.

Consumption demand in the EU is tending to recover, plus the special tax incentives from the EVFTA will continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese seafood products to increase their competitiveness in the EU market.

However, Vietnamese pangasius products are facing strong competition from other supply sources to the EU.

Meanwhile, the development of the COVID-19 epidemic in domestic and foreign markets along with the effects of meeting recommendations from the European Union (EC) on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), will continue to have the biggest impact on Vietnams seafood exports to the market.

Hanoi reopens pedestrian spaces in Hoan Kiem from March 18

The pedestrian spaces in downtown Hoan Kiem district are always favourite destinations for international tourists. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

The capital city of Hanoi has agreed to reopen pedestrian spaces in downtown Hoan Kiem district from March 18 after nearly a year of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the municipal Peoples Committee.

The Hoan Kiem district Peoples Committee has issued a notice reopening pedestrian streets in the district to realize the policy of flexibly adapting to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The move comes after Vietnam resumed tourism activities on March 15. It is expected to help the capital attract more visitors.

The spaces include streets around Hoan Kiem Lake and neighbouring streets; Hang Ngang-Hang Dao pedestrian-trade-service route; expanded pedestrian spaces in the Old Quarter; as well as the routes connecting the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake.

The streets around Hoan Kiem Lake will be exclusively opened for pedestrians from 19:00 on Friday until the end of Sunday every week. Meanwhile, the remaining spaces will operate from 19:00 to 24:00 in three last days of every week.

The district requires visitors to strictly comply with regulations on COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control such as scanning QR codes, wearing masks, and disinfecting hands as they participate in walking spaces.

People with symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty breathing do not join this space. Hoan Kiem district will organize checkpoints at the pedestrian space.

At the same time, local people or sellers are required to strictly comply with regulations on epidemic prevention and control in accordance with flexibly adapting to the epidemic.

Sixteen tons of fish sauce and agricultural products exported to the US

Shipment of Pacific Foods packages to the US. (Photo provided by Pacific Foods)

Shipments of Vietnamese traditional fish sauce, chili sauce and agricultural products that meet strict requirements have penetrated the US market, opening up opportunities for green and clean Vietnamese products.

On March 17, Pacific Foods Joint Stock Company (Pacific Foods) completed the procedure to export a batch of fish sauce, agricultural products and high-class beverages to the US market.

This shipment includes 1,500 boxes of Bless Mami traditional fish sauce products (40 degrees of protein) and Hao Hang (60 degrees of protein), Youmi chili sauce, Squid energy drink, New Hope fortified ginseng drink, and Factory instant coffee.

The shipment, departing from Vung Tau port on March 17, is expected to arrive at Long Beach Port in the US on April 10.

Pacific Foods sold this batch to a partner with a wide distribution system throughout the US market, including many supermarkets and markets owned by Vietnamese people in California and some other states.

Currently, the companys Bless Mami fish sauce product is known by many American customers and holds the top position in the fish sauce industry on the global e-commerce platform Amazon, with more than 18,000 products sold per month.

Earlier, in June 2021, Pacific Foods exported the first two batches of Vietnamese lychee to the European Union (EU). The company also exported the first batch of Thanh Ha (Hai Duong) lychee to this market.

Recently, on December 31, 2021, Pacific Foods also exported more than 20 tons of ST25 fragrant rice to the Canadian market.

As planned, in April 2022, the next shipment of 28 tons of main agricultural products and spices of Pacific Foods will be exported to the US, including Phuc Loc rice and Youmi fragrant dipping sauce./.

Ninh Binh begins to open to international tourists

The northern province of Ninh Binh has announced a plan to open to international tourists to visit, travel, relax, and attend conferences and seminars.

Ninh Binh begins to open to international tourists. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

Accordingly, international tourists can choose to follow a package tour organized by a travel agency, or self-choose a service associated with safe epidemic prevention and control procedures; ensuring flexibility and convenience for tourists.

The plan aims to promptly support and remove difficulties for tourism business activities due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic; further promote the image of Ninh Binh tourism with the message of safe, friendly, quality and attractive destination and the campaign Live fully in Vietnam on the media and at domestic and international fairs.

In addition, the province plans to organize tourism development activities; develop a plan to train and foster tourism human resources, apply information technology, transform tourism; striving to welcome 100,000 international visitors in 2022.

The province requires functional sectors, tourist zones and attractions to strictly comply with epidemic prevention and control measures under the direction of the Government and the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 prevention and control, and the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

First Hot Air Balloon Festival to be held in Hoi An

The Hoi An Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held for the first time on March 25-26 at Hoai River Square, said Ms Truong Thi Ngoc Cam, Director of the Center for Culture, Sports, Radio and Television of Hoi An City.

The Hoi An Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held at Hoai River Square. (Photo: tienphong.vn)

The event is among the outstanding activities in response to the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2022.

The festival will show 17 hot air balloons of all colors and sizes, including 12 mini hot air balloons, 3 level-7 hot air balloons and 2 air balloons, arranged to fly permanently on the Hoai River so that visitors can come to visit and take souvenir photos.

As planned, the hot air balloons will fly from 06:00 to 09:00, from 17:30 to 18:30 on March 25 and from 06:00 to 09:00 on March 26.

In addition, the Lantern Night program will take place at 19:00-20:00 on March 25, with the burners of the hot air balloons making them shine like giant lanterns shimmering to the music./.
The IPEF is designed to serve the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was announced by the US on February 2 this year towards five main goals  freedom and openness, connectivity, prosperity, security and resilience.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (centre) at the event. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

At the talks, Dien said the initiative covers many new and non-traditional issues that Vietnam is interested in, such as supply chain development, and investment in infrastructure and the environment. However, because its content is quite diverse with many new issues, the framework needs to be flexible in terms of how to participate and the level of participation; and to be adjusted in accordance with the institutions and interests of each participating country, the minister said.

According to the US plan, the framework is expected to be announced at the end of March at an event hosted by President Joe Biden, with the presence of high-ranking officials from other nations.

Dien said that from Vietnams point of view, countries should have enough time to study the IPEF's content, thereby making a decision to join or not. It is also necessary for the IPEF to have as diverse as possible participation of countries in the region, especially ASEAN member states, he added.

The official proposed that New Zealand and other nations offer technical assistance to Vietnam particularly concerning the frameworks new fields.

He hoped Vietnam and New Zealand would work closely together to build stances and express them to the US and other countries, especially in areas of common interest such as agriculture.

Minister OConnor agreed with Dien on such cooperation. Both sides believed that the development of this cooperation framework requires consultations at a higher level.

In February this year, the US sent to Vietnam a draft document of the IPEF, which mentions four pillars that the US wants to work towards in the framework with other countries. The pillars are fair and resilient trade; supply chain resilience; infrastructure, clean energy and decarbonisation; and taxation and anti-corruption./.
Photo for illustration. (Source: congthuong.vn)

This is the most growth after many months of stagnation or deep decline.

Currently, the proportion of Vietnams catfish supply to the EU is 97%. The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain are the 4 largest single pangasius export markets of Vietnamese seafood enterprises. In which, the Netherlands is the largest market, accounting for 36.6% of the total export value to the EU.

Consumption demand in the EU is tending to recover, plus the special tax incentives from the EVFTA will continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese seafood products to increase their competitiveness in the EU market.

However, Vietnamese pangasius products are facing strong competition from other supply sources to the EU.

Meanwhile, the development of the COVID-19 epidemic in domestic and foreign markets along with the effects of meeting recommendations from the European Union (EC) on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), will continue to have the biggest impact on Vietnams seafood exports to the market./.




Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam and Malaysia have a long-standing friendship with excellent cooperation in many areas since they established diplomatic relations on March 30, 1973.

Since then, the bilateral ties have flourished, especially after being advanced to a strategic partnership in 2015. Despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade reached 12.5 billion USD in 2021, up 25.5 percent from the previous year./.
By Trend





An increase in oil and gas exports from Azerbaijan is expected in 2022, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) told Trend.

According to the CBA, on some days of March oil prices rose to the highest level since 2008.

The bank noted that a dramatic rise in oil and natural gas prices, making up a significant share of Azerbaijani exports, had been recorded in the oil and gas industry since the end of January 2022.

"Thus for example, the average price of Brent Dated oil amounted to $96 in January through February 2022, up by 35 percent than the average price in 2021 ($71)," the CBA said.




Vietnamese Ambassador Le Thanh Tung (L) presents gifts to Head of 'Bac Ho' elementary school Milagros Negret Calderin(Photo: VNA)

The gifts are from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment.



In addition, the embassy also handed over medical supplies to help the schools fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as gifts to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, and Nguyen Van Troi secondary school in Havana.

At the handover ceremonies, Ambassador Le Thanh Tung underlined that the schools also nurture the Vietnam-Cuba friendship, expressing his hope that the Cuban people will overcome current difficulties in their development, with the countrys education sector upholding a vanguard role.

Heads of the schools thanked Vietnam for the practical gifts./.
The three central provinces are among the most affected areas by unexploded ordnance. UNDP will cooperate with the Viet Nam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) and these provinces to deliver the projects expected results, including survey and clearance of 15,000 hectares; provision of more specialised medical services for the UXO victims based on the data from the victims registration system developed in the first phase; education of risks from UXO and climate disasters/ issues for people in targeted areas.

Photo: UNDP

The project is also expected to support 10,500 farmers in targeted areas to apply smart-climate and resilient agriculture. Meanwhile, 400 flood and storm resilient houses, and 50 commune health stations will be built or upgraded for local people.

The Peace Village project is built on the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action project (KVMAP)  a fruitful partnership of VNMAC, KOICA and UNDP over the past 4 years  which has surveyed and cleared nearly 17,000 hectares of land, paving the way for building sustainable livelihoods for people in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces, and helped improve the resilience of 450,000 people through risk education and provide support for 1,000 UXO victims.

KOICA is pleased to implement this meaningful project in Viet Nam where there are still many areas heavily contaminated with UXO after the war, said Mr. Cho Han-Deog, KOICA Country Director. Korea-Viet Nam Mine Action Project (KVMAP) was the first phase of the project, during which we have achieved outstanding performance through the close cooperation among KOICA, the Vietnamese Government and UNDP. In the second phase, the Korea-Vietnam Peace Village Project (KVPVP) will be implemented in the three provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh. I hope the project can contribute not only to the social economic development in Viet Nam, but also to peace and safe life for residents.

Photo: UNDP

Addressing the signing ceremony, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam Patrick Haverman considered the signing of the joint agreement between KOICA and the three central provinces as the first important milestone of the Korea- Viet Nam Peace Village Project.

UNDP will provide overall management, technical support and quality assurance of the Project, said Mr. Haverman. We look forward to working with the three provinces to deliver the project for further mine action while enabling safer, greener & more resilient local development./.
(Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

Five days after the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a membership application formally requesting that Ukraine be allowed to join the European Union (EU). In the video conference of the European Parliament the following day, on March 1, Zelensky reaffirmed his countys willingness, The EU will be stronger with us. Without you, Ukraine will be alone, he said, asking EU leaders to prove that they are with Ukraine.

Zelensky was inspired by the words of Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who told the media that they (Ukrainians) belong to us, they are one of us, and we want them in. She also said at the European Parliament that she wanted to move on to the next step for Ukraines accession to the EU. European Council President Charles Michel, who spoke after Zelenskiy, said the European Council will not shirk from its responsibilities, we will analyze the request from Ukraine. Do such high-profile statements by two EU leaders mean that Ukraine will soon become the 28th member of the EU? Or, are they giving Ukraine another empty check?

Just a few days later, Von der Leyen said that the issue might be discussed at a summit of European leaders, and right now we are concentrating on ending the war. Although Von der Leyen also expressed a positive outlook on Ukraines EU membership, she herself cannot single-handedly decide whether a country can join. According to the rules, the European Council only has the mandate to prepare expert assessments for candidate membership of the EU, which alone may take 12 to18 months.

The fact is, even German officials with a positive stance on EU enlargement are annoyed by such an unrealistic proposal from some EU leaders. We should not create any false hopes, because they will end up in disappointment, warned Norbert Rottgen, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the German Parliament, who used to serve as the Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety during Angela Merkels administration. Rottgen frequently sat at the negotiating table for other members joining the EU and he understands fully what its required of a candidate member. There are no shortcuts here, no smooth paths, he said. Instead, painful political and economic reforms are required, together with the rule of law and the fight against corruption, he added.

Joining the EU is not something that can be done in a few months, said Annalena Baerbock, the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs. During an interview with ZDF on March 3, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made it clear that now is not the time to look into the EU membership for Ukraine. The EU is a community with rules and there are conditions for accession. He said the priority at present is to prevent the Russian-Ukrainian conflict from further escalation.

It may appear to the Ukrainians that they can quickly become a EU member due to its strong political will and the ongoing conflict with Russia. In Brussels eyes, however, special arrangement for Ukraines accession is an unlikely option. The EU prides itself on treating each candidate member on an equal footing based on strict and precise rules. At present, the countries that have been listed by the EU as candidates for accession include Turkey and four Western Balkan countries - Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro, who have long been on the waiting list and are yet to become full members. Ukraine is not even a candidate country now.

So how long does a country usually have to wait before its accepted by the EU? Croatia, the last country to join the EU, submitted its application back in 2003, and it wasnt until 2013 that the country was officially accepted. Now, even the strongest supporters of Ukraine, Poland and Slovenia, believe Ukraines accession could be possible in 2030.

According to the 1993 EU Copenhagen criteria, EU candidate countries must meet the following essential conditions: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; a functioning market economy; administrative and institutional capacity to effectively implement EU laws. Ukraine was far below these criteria even before the crisis, not to mention the fact that it was long accused by the EU of corruption. According to Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranked 122nd out of 180 countries in 2021, and was the second most corrupt in Europe.

EU countries today are far from reaching a consensus on expansion. France and the Netherlands, in particular, have been demanding for years that the EU be reformed before it admits new members - and thats only for small countries in the Western Balkans, not for Ukraine, a country with over 40 million people. Currently, politicians from rich European countries dont even speak publicly in favor of admitting new members to the EU, because voters worry it may spend up EUs subsidies in the years to come.

Moreover, each of the 27 EU member states has a veto power not only over the eventual admission of a candidate country, but also over when the negotiations will start. Bulgaria, for instance, has used its veto power to prevent the accession negotiations with North Macedonia. Ukraine today is supported only by the less wealthy Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, out of geopolitical considerations. Countries like France, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany clearly hold a different view.

Then why are Von der Leyen, Michel and Eastern European countries hyping up the prospect? A senior research fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) pointed out that Ukrainian and European leaders have no better option than to show some political gestures in the face of the current crisis. Analysts believe that perhaps Zelensky, with no hope of joining NATO, chose to propose EU membership to remind the EU to offer greater support to Ukraine. The Treaty of Lisbon, however, stipulates that If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power.

Editor: WPY
Wildlife conservation workers rescue Asian elephant "Longlong" in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province in July of 2021.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008.

Xu Yunfeng, a wildlife conservation worker, carries out a trial of wild exercising on Asian elephant "Longlong" in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Xu Yunfeng, a wildlife conservation worker, prepares food for Asian elephant "Longlong" at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Wildlife conservation workers measure the tail of Asian elephant "Longlong" at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Xu Yunfeng, a wildlife conservation worker, checks the leg of Asian elephant "Longlong" in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Xu Yunfeng, a wildlife conservation worker, leads Asian elephant "Longlong" back after a trial of wild exercising in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Xu Yunfeng, a wildlife conservation worker, feeds Asian elephant "Longlong" at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Cao Mengyao)

Wildlife conservation workers measure the ear of Asian elephant "Longlong" at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 15, 2022.

A baby elephant in Xishuangbanna was abandoned by its herd only about two months after its birth due to severe injuries of its leg in July of 2021.

The elephant was rescued and sent to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna for treatment and was named "Longlong". Under the care of wildlife conservation workers, "Longlong" has recovered health.

The Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center has successfully rescued more than 20 wild Asian elephants since its establishment in 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Editor: WRX
Resumption of auctions for the sale of access to interstate connections for the import-export of electrical energy will become possible after some time of unification of the Ukrainian and Moldovan energy systems with the European one, Ukrenergo Board Chairman Volodymyr Kudrytsky said.

"When we restore the normal functioning of the energy system, we will work, at least for some time, with the Europeans in a synchronous mode. We will test together with them the reliability of the energy interconnection that was formed yesterday, we will begin commercial exchanges with the European energy system. And they will provide for the usual auctions for all of us for access to interstate crossings," Kudrytsky said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

He explained that the physical interconnection of the energy systems of Ukraine, Moldova and Europe is in a test mode.

"We went through yesterday evening, this morning. We are collecting information, technical parameters, and after a while we will talk with the Europeans about import-export operations," he said.

At the same time, Minister of Energy Herman Haluschenko, also participating in the briefing, expressed hope that the issue of commercial export-import, which is the next stage of synchronization with ENTSO-E, will be considered in the near future.

"Both Ukraine and European companies are interested in this. We see requests from them to buy electricity in Ukraine," he said.

As reported, on March 16, ENTSO-E made a decision to synchronize the continental European energy system with the energy systems of Ukraine and Moldova.
Ukraine is provided with gas in full and all problems with gas supply to consumers in the regions affected by Russian aggression arise as a result of enemy shelling of the gas supply infrastructure, Serhiy Makogon, the general director of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU), said on ICTV on Friday.

"I don't see any threats regarding the availability of gas, because we have about 9.5 billion cubic meters in underground storage facilities, in fact, we are already in spring, our consumption is 100 million cubic meters per day, while we have our own production of about 50 million cubic meters," the head of GTSOU said.

In addition, according to him, currently Ukraine also imports gas from Europe in the daily volume of 10 million cubic meters.

In turn, head of the board of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy Yuriy Vitrenko said on Friday that since the beginning of the military invasion of the Russian Federation, domestic gas production in Ukraine has slightly decreased compared to the pre-war level, but the volume of production is 1.5% higher than the same figure last year.

"That is, Ukrainian gas workers have increased gas production. Now, despite the war, they continue drilling in safe areas, new fields will be developed," Vitrenko said.
Ukraine is actively negotiating and consulting with European and U.S. partners on limiting Russian gas supplies to Europe via Nord Stream 1, Director General of Gas Transmission System Operation of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU) Serhiy Makogon said on ICTV on Friday.

"We welcome the sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and propose to limit Nord Stream 1, because there are currently free capacities in Poland and Ukraine to provide additional transit through our gas pipeline," the head of the GTSOU said.

According to him, the preservation of the transit of Russian gas through the Ukrainian GTS in the conditions of war is an extremely important factor, which is an additional guarantee for the preservation of Ukraine's gas transport infrastructure from destruction by Russian aggressors.

"We do not have a separate gas supply infrastructure for local consumers. Our whole system works as a single one, and transit and transportation is carried out through the same gas pipelines. Therefore, for us, transit during the war is a kind of air defense system," Makogon said.

As he said, since the beginning of the war, the transit of Russian gas through the GTS of Ukraine has amounted to 109 million cubic meters per day, which corresponds to the contracted volumes.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal calls on all countries of the European Union, the G7 and the civilized world to stop buying goods in Russia and work on the Russian market.

"The President of Ukraine, the government and our diplomats continue to work actively to limit the ability of the Russian Federation to finance the war as much as possible," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel.

The Prime Minister welcomed the decisions of the U.S. Congress to support the bill to stop normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus; U.S. embargo on the supply of oil and petroleum products; Japan, Australia and New Zealand sanctions against Russian banks, as well as other individuals and legal entities from Russia.

"We call on all countries of the European Union, the G7 and the civilized world to refuse to buy goods in Russia and work on the Russian market. We will continue to explain to foreign companies that are still on the Russian market that their taxes are sponsoring bombs against peaceful Ukrainian cities, women and children," he wrote.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculation methodology, which takes into account such military conflicts, estimates the fall in GDP due to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine at 35% in 2022, Alternate Executive Director for Ukraine at the IMF Vladislav Rashkovan has said.

"Based on similar military conflicts, the IMF has a methodology for calculating preliminary losses, according to which Ukraine will lose up to 35% of GDP. But this is based on the current situation and the dynamics of the last few days, when we do not have the highest intensity of shelling and there is a negotiation process that purely theoretically, it can lead to some result," he said in an interview with the NV publication.

At the same time, the financier said that forecasts should be made with an understanding of the end point of the war, and this now does not exist neither for Ukraine in terms of destruction, nor for the aggressor country in terms of the fall of its economy due to sanctions pressure.

"In addition, now, thanks to the efforts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our negotiating position is obviously better than it was ten days ago. It is also clear that if Putin does not agree to any conditions that are digestible for us, then the fall of the Russian economy will continue large, and this should also be taken into account," Rashkovan said.
A number of well-known U.S. oil and gas companies have announced that they will provide a total of $60 million in financial support to organizations providing assistance to Ukraine in connection with Russia's invasion of its territory, in particular to refugees.

Devon Energy and Pioneer Natural Resources announced today a pledge of up to $20 million each to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and neighboring countries supporting Ukrainian refugees.

According to a report of Devon Energy, these donations will be split among several organizations providing emergency medical care, food supplies, financial support, and housing for displaced civilians and refugees in the region.

"We heard Ukrainian President Zelensky's call for help in his address to the American people and are stepping up Russia's unprovoked invasion has led to a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that calls upon the global community  governments, businesses, and individuals  to act in solidarity," President and CEO Rick Muncrief said.

Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Natural Resources Scott D. Sheffield said that Pioneer and its employees are proud to support their friends in Ukraine.

Diamondback Energy, Inc. and Civitas Resources, Inc. announced a $10 million commitment each to support various non-profit entities that have risen to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Ukraine displaced by the Russian invasion of their country.

"These donations are being made to help the millions of men, women, and children who have had to leave their homes as a result of this unjust war and will go to organizations that are giving direct care and comfort to the people of Ukraine in this time of great need," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Diamondback Travis Stice said.

"As Civitas is committed to responsible global citizenship, we feel compelled to provide resources to those most impacted by the senseless invasion of Ukraine," Civitas Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer Ben Dell said.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

World-famous photographer Reza Deghati has expressed his hope to create a photography school in Shusha.

"I have worked in more than 100 countries but I have never seen such a beautiful place as Shusha. The city is very unique and it's necessary to introduce Shusha to the whole world through photography," he said at the presentation of the "Shusha talks" project.

"I would also like to create a photo school and hold festivals of photography in Shusha. Thirty years ago the city was under siege. I could hardly walk there. They shot my hat with a sniper. I keep that hat as a reminder of that time," the photographer added.

Famous photographer Reza Deghati has been traveling across the world for over 40 years.

Reza Deghati for the first time visited Azerbaijan in 1987. In 1997, he lived in Azerbaijan for several months and traveled across the country capturing the ordinary people in their everyday life, customs and traditions of various people.

World-famous photographer has always drawn attention to the Black January and Khojaly genocide that befell the Azerbaijani people in the 90s.

He provided insight into the results of Armenian vandalism, destruction, and other atrocities, which he witnessed in Azerbaijan as a result of Armenian aggression.

As a researcher at the National Geographic Society, Reza Deghati received a number of international awards.

The photographer was awarded the glory medal of the University of Missouri and the title of honorary doctor of the American University of Paris (AUP). For his services, the French government awarded him the National Order of Merit.

In 2013, his exhibition "Azerbaijan - Land of Tolerance" organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation opened at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The same exhibition was shown at UN headquarters in New York and the European Parliament in Brussels.

In 2021, Reza Deghati's open-air exhibition "History of Photos" took place near Heydar Aliyev Center. The exhibition featured over 100 works by the famous photographer.
Ukraine has received EUR 300 million in macro-financial assistance to its accounts, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said.

"Today we received another EUR 300 million to our accounts. The funds were received as part of the EU macro-financial assistance program," Marchenko said on Facebook on Friday.

In general, over several days, Ukraine received $2 billion and over EUR 1 billion in support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union and foreign governments, the minister said.
Two enemy aircraft, one helicopter shot down in Kharkiv region, enemy armored personnel carrier eliminated  authorities

Over the past day, the Russian occupation troops carried out 49 attacks in the districts of Kharkiv, increasing the number of attacks from the MLRS, Head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Synehubov has said.

"The number of attacks from multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21) has increased  about 10 times. Enemy aircraft in the city of Kharkiv have not been recorded," Synehubov wrote on his Telegram channel.

He also said that rescuers are eliminating the consequences of enemy shelling in the town of Merefa.

Synehubov said that the Ukrainian servicemen are rebuffing the attempts of the occupiers to move forward through the Izium.

"The enemy does not stop trying to move forward through Izium, but there is no success. The Ukrainian army is giving a worthy rebuff: in the past 24 hours alone, air defense units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down 2 enemy planes and 1 helicopter near Izium," Synehubov wrote.

In addition, according to him, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liquidated the enemy battalion-tactical group.

"Near Kharkov, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liquidated an enemy battalion tactical group yesterday. They destroyed equipment, fuel and ammunition. This significantly weakened the offensive positions of the Russians, who are already demoralized," Synehubov wrote.

"The Ukrainian army will defend the victory! Kharkiv region holds the defense. The Armed Forces of Ukraine do not let the enemy through and give a worthy rebuff! Our Ukrainian army, our people are invincible!" he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and informed him of Paris' readiness to allocate EUR300 million of financial assistance to Kyiv.

"The minister confirmed the allocation in the coming days of a financial assistance package of EUR300 million in accordance with the obligation of the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron) given to President (Volodymyr) Zelensky," the French Foreign Ministry said.

The document notes that Le Drian and Kuleba had a detailed discussion of the support provided to Ukraine by France together with its partners in the context of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.

The French foreign minister assured his interlocutor that the French side would make its efforts at the EU level to tighten the sanctions burden on Russia.
Every new hour on European radio stations will begin with a Ukrainian song, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko has said.

"Our music is an important part of Ukrainian culture. It has always been spiritual support for every person. Its color and ethnic motives are gaining more and more connoisseurs in the world. Recall only last year's sensation at Eurovision. And now I have great news about this: together with First Lady Olena Zelenska, the ministry organizes an hourly broadcast of Ukrainian songs on European radio. I am sure that this will contribute to even greater solidarity with Ukraine," Tkachenko said on Telegram.

According to him, according to preliminary agreements with the European Broadcasting Union, every new hour on European radio stations will begin with a Ukrainian song.
Stefanchuk to Scholz: Don't be fooled, Ukraine being destroyed not only by Putin, but by all Russians who support his policy

Ukraine is being destroyed not only by Russian President Vladimir Putin, but by all Russians who support his policy, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk wrote in an address to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"Mr. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, do you really think that Putin alone is killing our children, destroying our cities, destroying our country? And the Russians have nothing to do with it? They just support his policies? And the Russian military has nothing to do with it? Are they just following his orders?" Stefanchuk wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday evening.

He recalled that during the trial of the Nazis in Nuremberg, not a single war criminal received an acquittal with similar arguments.

"Don't be deceived. I just want to remind you that during the Nuremberg trials no one managed to get an acquittal with the argument 'I was just following an order,'" the Rada speaker wrote.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked French and U.S. Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden for their support.

In a video message on the night of Thursday, he said that during a telephone conversation with the French president on Thursday "our joint steps towards peace were coordinated. Grateful."

"I am also grateful to U.S. President Joe Biden for new effective support for our nation. Understand, I cannot reveal all the details of this support, because this is our tactic, our defense. The enemy does not know what to expect from us. They didn't know what to expect from us on February 24, they didn't know what we had for defense and how we were preparing to meet the blow," Zelensky said.
Losses among civilians from February 24, 2022, when Russia started the war against Ukraine, to 24:00 on March 16, 2022, included 2,032 civilians (in a report a day earlier - 1,900), including 780 dead (726), the Office of the High Commissioner UN Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Wednesday evening.

"OHCHR believes that the real numbers are much higher, especially in government-controlled territory, and especially in recent days, as information from some places where there has been intense fighting has been delayed, and many reports are still awaiting confirmation," the report said.

According to it, this applies, for example, to Volnovakha and Mariupol (Donetsk region), Izium (Kharkiv region), Severodonetsk and Rubizhne (Luhansk region), Trostianets (Sumy region), where there are reports of numerous civilian casualties. They are subject to further verification and are not included in the above statistics.

"The majority of civilian deaths or injuries were caused by the use of explosive devices, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, as well as missile and air strikes," the report says.

According to confirmed UN data, 146 men, 111 women, 15 boys and seven girls died, while the sex of 36 children and 465 adults has not yet been determined.

Among the 1,252 injured were 17 girls and seven boys, as well as 44 children, whose gender has not yet been determined.

Compared with the previous day, according to the UN, six children were killed and three were injured.

OHCHR indicates that in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as of midnight March 17, there were 162 (143) dead and 472 (463) injured in Russia-occupied areas, and 46 (43) dead and 174 (131) injured in territory controlled by Russia-occupation forces.

In other regions of Ukraine under government control (Kyiv, as well as in Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Sumy, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions), the UN recorded 572 (540) dead and 606 (580) wounded.

The summary also states that, according to the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, as of 09:00 on March 17, some 108 children were killed and more than 120 were injured.

OHCHR also notes the report of the National Police of Kharkiv region, according to which, as of 18:00 on March 16, some 244 civilians, including 13 children, had died in the region.

The increase in figures in this report compared to the figures in the previous report should not be attributed only to new cases that occurred on March 16, since OHCHR also verified a number of cases that occurred in previous days during the day, the document specifies.
Over the past 24 hours, Thursday, March 17, the Ukrainian army partially destroyed and stopped the advance into the country's territory of units from the 437th training regiment and 26th tank regiment of the Russian armed forces. Ukrainian aviation and air defense shot down 14 enemy air targets in a day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"During the day, Ukrainian defenders partially destroyed and stopped the advancement deep into the territory of Ukraine of units from the 437th training regiment and the 26th tank regiment of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the enemys losses are being specified," the morning summary on the General Staff Facebook page said on Friday.

It is also noted that over the previous day, bomber and attack aircraft of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dealt powerful blows to columns of enemy military equipment. Anti-aircraft missile forces and fighter aircraft hit 14 enemy air targets (seven aircraft, a helicopter, three UAVs and three cruise missiles).

At the same time, the Ukrainian military state that the occupiers have significantly exhausted their human resources (irretrievable and sanitary losses caused by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, cases of self-mutilation in order to evade participation in hostilities and psychogenic losses) and the command of the armed forces of the Russian Federation is forced to take extreme measures in matters of staffing. "They are conducting covert mobilization, attract the so-called volunteers, conscripts and cadets, as well as mercenaries from the Syrian Arab Republic," the statement said.

In addition, in some temporarily occupied territories, the Russian invaders are trying to create a demonstrative positive image for themselves by distributing food products to the civilian population. At the same time, active searches and detentions of pro-Ukrainian activists, civil servants, ATO/JFO members and their families, as well as other citizens who can organize resistance to the occupation, are being carried out.

"The enemy continues to suffer damage. There are problems with the provision of units. The low morale and psychological state of the personnel leads to an increase in the number of cases of desertion and refusals of the military personnel of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and mercenaries to participate in the war against Ukraine," the General Staff said.
Moscow not against UN Security Council permanent members, Turkey and Germany becoming guarantors of Ukraine's security - Turkish FM

Moscow has no objections to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, Turkey and Germany becoming guarantors of Ukraine's security, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

"As Mr. Kuleba noted regarding the collective security treaty, Ukraine has already put forward its own initiative, these are the five countries of permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Turkey and Germany. Yesterday, during the contacts that we had in Moscow, I saw that the Russian side has no objection to this, and they could accept such a proposal," Cavusoglu said at a press conference following talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday in Ukraine.

Kuleba noted that Ukraine's security guarantees are a key issue around which Ukraine is currently negotiating.

He stressed that negotiating security guarantees only with Russia is stupid, because a multilateral format is needed.

In addition, Kuleba confirmed that the information published in the Financial Times is Russia's position.

"Therefore, it is very important now not to interpret it in such a way that this is what Ukraine agreed to," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister stressed.
Mercenaries of the army of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah may take part in Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the side of Moscow, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which said some of the fighters are experienced.

"The command of the armed forces of the Russian Federation continues to take measures to make up for the loss of personnel at the expense of foreigners. According to available information, about 1,000 volunteers from representatives of the so-called army of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah have already been selected," the General Staff said on Facebook on Friday night.

The main requirement for foreign fighters is the experience of fighting in the city. At the same time, according to available information, the mercenaries also seek to illegally migrate to EU member states.

The General Staff said the enemy did not carry out offensive actions in the Volyn direction on March 17. Russian forces continued to fortify the Ukraine-Belarus border, the report said, noting the high possibility of provocations by the special services of the Russian Federation.

The enemy did not carry out active offensive operations in the Polissia direction. Instead, the invaders maintained the previously occupied lines and carrying out preparations for a possible attack on Kyiv. Losses inflicted on the occupiers by the Ukrainian defenders, the low moral and psychological state of the rank and file and the lack of experienced commanders of tactical units make it impossible to resume offensive operations in the near future, the General Staff said.

In the Siversk direction, the enemy is trying to hold on to certain lines, restore the combat capability of units and replenish supplies. The invaders continue to partially block the city of Chernihiv and carry out artillery shelling of the city.

In the direction of Brovary, the enemy did not carry out active hostilities. Near the city of Brovary, Russian troops periodically carry out artillery shelling of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In the Slobozhanske direction, in order to restore offensive operations against the cities of Sumy and Kharkiv, the occupiers are trying to replenish stocks of ammunition and fuel and lubricants and are forced to prematurely use the accumulated human reserves. In the direction of Izium, the enemy is trying to resume offensive operations.

In the Luhansk and Donetsk directions, the main efforts of the enemy concentrated on preparing for an offensive on Severodonetsk and the encirclement of Mariupol.

In the Pivdennobuzhsky direction, the enemy did not take active actions, but instead attempted to regroup and resupply.

"Russian invasion forces are not abandoning their attempts to identify and destroy the air defense system along the Black Sea coast. The enemy is trying to carry out demonstration actions in the Black Sea," the General Staff said.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Over 100 vibrant art pieces have been displayed at the Baku Museum Center.

Some 27 young artists delighted art lovers with 150 colorful paintings as part of the exhibition "Color Breathing".

The exhibition attracts public attention to the growth and development of children's and youth's interest in fine arts, to identify and support talented young artists.

A number of well-known public and cultural figures including the Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences, academician Isa Habibbeyli, Secretary of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union, People's Artist Aghali Ibrahimov, People's Artist Arif Huseynov, Honored Art Worker Ziyadkhan Aliyev, director of the Baku Museum Center, Honored Culture Worker Liana Vazirova, Honored Artist Bahram Baghirzade and many others attended the event co-organized by the Baku Museum Center, KamART Art Gallery and the Mir-Teymur Mammadov Ceramics Center.

Color Breathing

Young artists devoted their stunning works to Azerbaijan's rich culture, traditions, and breathtaking landscapes.

The exhibition also aroused great interest among those who enjoy mysteries and contradictory images. Each young artist gives his individual interpretation of artistic images.

The exhibition features paintings in different genres of fine art from still life, landscape and portraits to surrealism, fauvism, impressionism, etc.

In some works, the images are extremely contradictory and ambiguous, which the viewer can interpret in different ways. But all the images are united by the same energy.

Not a single work seems insipid, each has its own spark, and all together they make up a large palette of amazing versatility and diversity of vision of young artists, tinted with bright colors and interesting compositions.

All of them have one task: to arouse the viewer's interest in a particular topic.

Small works reflecting the voice of children's inner world were highly appreciated by art enthusiasts.

The exposition leaves a pleasant impression. Despite the constantly changing bright colors and differences in art techniques, there are common qualities that unite all artists. All of them could arouse the viewer's interest in a particular topic.

Notably, KamART Art Gallery aims at strengthening the creative potential of young talents through positive experience gained in the world system of fine arts and various projects and exhibitions for their social development, development of national and spiritual values.

Many gallery members are participants and winners of national and international art competitions in Japan, USA, France, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Greece, Russia and other countries. The founder and director of KamART is Kamala Jafarzadeh.

Photo credits: Kamran Baghirov and Rustam Huseynov.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned would-be Russian mercenaries that their invasion of Ukraine would be the worst decision of their lives.

"We have information that the Russian military is recruiting mercenaries from other countries. They are trying to trick as many young people as possible into military service. You and me know that this will not help them. And therefore, now I am warning everyone who tries to join the occupiers on our Ukrainian land: this will be the worst decision in your life. A long life is better than the money that you are offered for a short one," Zelensky said in a video message on Friday night.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Turkey  Dmytro Kuleba and Mevlut Cavusoglu  agreed to focus on organizing a meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.

"We agreed that we will concentrate our efforts on organizing a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, since we understand that it is with President Putin that we must resolve all key issues related to ending this war," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at a press conference following the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to Ukraine.

The minister confirmed Ukraine's readiness to continue working on all diplomatic tracks to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine and withdraw its troops.

In turn, Cavusoglu announced readiness to organize a meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Turkey.

"As part of this process, we will organize a meeting between Mr. Kuleba and Minister Lavrov in Antalya, but now we are focusing our efforts on organizing a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. We also express our desire to organize such a meeting here," he said.

Cavusoglu also pointed out that it is very difficult to talk about a date for the meeting of the presidents, because first it is necessary to prepare the basis for this meeting so that both leaders are ready for it.

The Turkish Foreign Minister added that, based on the results of his visits to Russia and Ukraine, it is rather difficult to talk about the end of the war in general, but noted that hopes for a ceasefire have increased.
Italy ready to allocate funds for restoration of theater in Mariupol  Italian Minister of Culture

The Italian Cabinet of Ministers approved the allocation of funds for the restoration of the Drama Theater in Mariupol, Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini said.

"Italy is ready to rebuild the Theatre of Mariupol. The cabinet of Ministers has approved my proposal to offer Ukraine the resources and means to rebuild it as soon as possible. Theaters of all countries belong to the whole humanity," Franceschini said on Twitter.

As reported, on March 16, Russian invaders dropped a super-powerful air bomb on the building of the Drama Theater in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region, where residents of the city were hiding from shelling.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of France Emmanuel Macron discussed the support of the Ukrainian people in the fight against the Russian invasion, including in the defense sphere.

"Continued dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron. Discussed the support for Ukrainians in the fight against Russian aggression, especially in the defense sphere. Emphasis was put on the continuation of peaceful dialogue. We must strengthen the anti-war coalition," Zelensky said on Twitter.
Opinion that Putin's aggression should not be identified with ordinary Russians may become untruthful trend in Europe - Podoliak

The proposal by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to separate Russian President Vladimir Putin as the initiator of the war against Ukraine and ordinary citizens of Russia is an attempt to justify his indecision, but it is worth remembering that the majority of Russians support the war, adviser to the head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podolyak said.

"Chancellor Olaf Scholz, seeking to justify his indecision, proposes to separate ordinary Russians and Putin as the author of the war. In Europe, this may become an untrue trend. Because officially 71% of Russians categorically support the war against Ukraine and the massacres of our citizens. Keep this in mind," Podoliak wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Ministry of Social Policy calls on global manufacturers of technical means of rehabilitation to stop cooperation with Russia, Belarus

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine calls on world manufacturers of technical means of rehabilitation to stop cooperation with Russia and Belarus.

"The Ministry of Social Policy appealed to the world's leading manufacturers of technical rehabilitation equipment and components with a call to stop cooperation with the Russian Federation and Belarus in order to force the criminal regimes of these countries to stop military aggression against Ukraine," the ministry's press service said.

In particular, the department sent letters to the following companies: Ottobock - Germany; Parashar Industries - India; Regal Prosthesis Limited - China; Freedom Innovations - USA; Ossur - Iceland; Fillauer LLC - USA; Invacare - USA; Sunrise Medical - UK; AFT International GmbH  Germany; MEYRA GmbH - Germany; MDH Sp.z o.o.  Poland.
Ukraine has appealed to the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to offer Russia to start negotiations on the transfer of dead bodies to it, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk has said.

"Today, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer. During this meeting, we raised the issue of the need to organize the collection and identification of the bodies of dead Russian servicemen. We drew the attention of the Red Cross that Russia has not yet applied for the extradition of the bodies and remains of its dead servicemen, the number of which has long exceeded 14,000 people," Vereschuk said at a briefing on Thursday evening.

She added that the Ukrainian side turned to Maurer to suggest that Russia "show respect for its dead soldiers and start negotiations to take them from the territory of Ukraine."
The Russians are responsible for the war against Ukraine, even poisoned by propaganda, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"Some want to live in a simple world where Putin is fully responsible for the war. The reality is that someone is actually dropping bombs on Ukrainian cities, shooting evacuees, forming a 'Z', supporting Putin in the polls. As in the 1930s, they are responsible, even if poisoned by propaganda," Kuleba tweeted on Friday.

Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that insulting immigrants from Russia is unacceptable, since only Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the war against Ukraine.
Number of people who left Ukraine on March 17 for EU, Moldova fell by 20% - State Border Guard Service

Almost 55,000 people crossed the state border of Ukraine to the EU and Moldova on March 17, which is 20% less than the day before, the State Border Guard Service said on Friday.

"Passenger traffic has significantly decreased compared to the previous day... Now there are no queues of pedestrians and vehicles in almost all directions," the message says.

According to him, Poland accounted for more than 60% of those who left, but this is also less than on all previous days, when the share of Poland was 65-69%.

At the same time, according to the State Border Guard Service, the flow of people entering Ukraine has slightly increased in recent days. In particular, on March 17, their number exceeded 18,000, including more than 15,000 citizens of Ukraine, while on March 14 these figures were 15,0000 and 13,000, respectively.

"The vast majority are men who are ready to defend the country. In total, more than 302,000 of our compatriots have returned to Ukraine since the beginning of open armed aggression," the ministry said.

The State Border Guard Service recalled that all checkpoints on the western border (except Dzvinkove) operate around the clock.

She also said that over the past 24 hours, almost 800 vehicles with humanitarian cargo were registered at the western borders, this number has been stable for the past few days.

According to UNHCR data, as of 13:00 on March 16, a total of 3.17 million people left Ukraine since the beginning of the war, of which Poland received 1.92 million, Romania and Moldova - 571,000, Hungary - 282,610, Slovakia - 228,840.
Since humanitarian corridors from Mariupol were opened, about 35,000 civilians have been able to leave the city on their own transport and on foot, Donetsk Regional Military Administration Head Pavlo Kyrylenko has said.

"In total, this is about 35,000 people who left for the indicated two-plus days," Kyrylenko said on a TV telethon on Friday.

He stressed that the leadership of the region is improving the logistics processes of evacuation. All residents of Mariupol who evacuated from the city receive necessary assistance.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani and Belgian artists have showcased their art works the at YARAT Contemporary Art Space.

The solo exhibition "Panopticon" by Belgian artist Michel Francois is constructed as a dialogue between a restrictive, human-made device and the natural elements surrounding it, symbolising our desire for freedom.

The immersive installation is the result of the artists research residency in Baku and consists of a central piece of a surveillance tower that overlooks its surroundings with its cyclopic eye.

The Panopti?on observes everything and also reflects our presence as curious intruders or witnesses. Francois' construction takes its inspiration from the architectural model of an institutional prison control system invented by social theorist and philosopher Jeremy Bentham in the 18th Century.

By replacing the round control room's windows with mirrors, the artist reverses the strategic purpose of the tower. In this way, Francois' work can be understood as a cynical critique of todays society, contaminated by the abuse of controlling devices that steal and rob images of our private lives.

The tower also reflects the objects that fill the setting around it. The rest of the sculptural interventions are presented as frozen moments on an abandoned filmset.

Like in many of his other exhibitions, the artist always looks for a plan to escape. He seems to find this freedom in the uncontrollable beauty of natural elements, such as in the exuberant form of an impossible fountain spitting out aluminum peanuts, or in the elegance of a silver fence, floating in the sky like an unnatural cloud.

The same liberating pleasure can be felt observing the repeated images of the film commissioned by YARAT and made by the artist on location, capturing the science fiction-like magic of Azerbaijans landscape of mud volcanoes. It shows images of lava in eruption, with fading gas-filled bubbles in non-stop transformation. They possess a secret convulsive beauty that the surrealists once tried to define as explosive-fixed. Most of the other sculptural compositions presented are composed of carefully selected poor, almost banal materials that refer in a certain way to the natural resources that are the country's real hidden treasures.

The exhibition invites us to surf on the riffs of reality and the everyday, and transforms us for a moment into accidental tourists or actors participating in the artists melancholic theatre of the absurd. Central to his work is the analysis of how small,simple images and objects are the basic elements that decide how we behave as humans in this complex world.

Michel Francois.(b.1956, Belgium) lives and works in Brussels. His conceptual practice includes sculpture, video, photography, printed matter, painting and installation work.

In a manner similar to that of the Arte Povera artists, Francois uses great economy of means to transform seemingly uncomplicated objects and materials, or traces of past events, into deeply resonant carriers of meaning. His work can be seen as exploration of cause and effect, and the ways in which simple gestures can change the status of an object or have important consequences.

He has presented projects at the Havana Biennial (2015), the Belgian Pavilion at the 48th Venice Biennale (1999), the 22nd Sao Paulo Biennial (1994) and documenta IX in Kassel (1992). He has had solo exhibitions at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham; Dia Center for the Arts, New York; S.M.A.K., Ghent; Fundacio Joan Miro, Barcelona; Kunsthalle Bern, Bern; Haus der Kunst, Munich. He has participated in group exhibitions at venues such as Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro; Tapei Fine Art Museum, Taipei; Centre Pompidou-Metz, Metz; Jeu de Paume, Paris; Haus der Kunst, Munich; Centre Pompidou, Paris; and Fondation Hermes, Brussels.

The exhibition is curated by Erich Weiss, a Belgian born artist/curator, based in Barcelona. At the moment he works as venue coordinator for documenta fifteen in Kassel.

Dates: March 17  October 4, 2022

Exhibition opens: Tuesday through Sunday, 12.00  20.00. COVID passport is required

YARAT Contemporary Art Space also opened new personal exhibition "?NS?N" (HUMAN) by multidisciplinary artist CHINGIZ.

?NS?N is an immersive project by CHINGIZ that shows different aspects of society through the prism of personal experience. A prototype artist's studio and a live and continuously developing organism, the project represents an interactive exhibition interrogating the process of work. The main protagonist of the exhibition is the Individual that both lives and changes in tune with the times and their actions.

The artist uses sculptures and installations that serve as indicators of various situations to uncover this idea and show transformations, influences and side effects of the time. The exhibition focuses on the Individual and their surroundings, feelings, emotions, contrasts, and alternatives, highlighting the Individual's core nature as a principal party to, and the driving force behind, all processes.

Autobiographical in nature, the artist develops the principle of personal space in a studio-like way and narrates the reality that surrounds him. The exhibition highlights the versatility of people but at the same time demonstrates that an individual does act the same way in recurring situations, hinting at their distinctive and inconsistent nature...

The show is dedicated to CHINGIZs father Tofig Babayev, who has inspired the artist in the most important way. The exhibition is curated by Farah Alakbarli.

CHINGIZ (Chingiz Babayev, 1964, Azerbaijan)  Sculptor, painter, designer, theorist, poet, and philosopher. He combines fine art, graphics, sculpture, collage, street art, installation, performance, video art and other media to study the application of different ideas. CHINGIZ's oeuvre is showcased in the Baku Museum of Modern Art, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and the Vahid Kooros collection, as well as kept in private and public collections across Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, USA, UK, Austria, Italy, Estonia, France, Poland, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and Iran.

Dates: March 17  October 4, 2022

Exhibition opens: Tuesday through Sunday, 12.00  20.00. COVID passport is required.

Notably, YARAT is an artist-founded, non-profit art organisation based in Baku, Azerbaijan, established by Aida Mahmudova in 2011. YARAT (which means 'create' in Azerbaijani) is dedicated to contemporary art with a long-term commitment to creating a hub for artistic practice, research, thinking and education in the Caucasus, Central Asia and surrounding region.

YARAT is an artist-founded, not-for-profit art organisation based in Baku, Azerbaijan, established by Aida Mahmudova in 2011. YARAT (which means 'create' in Azerbaijani) is dedicated to contemporary art with a long-term commitment to creating a hub for artistic practice, research, thinking and education in the Caucasus, Central Asia and surrounding region.

YARAT comprises YARAT Contemporary Art Centre, Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX-XXI Centuries, ARTIM Project Space and an extended educational and public programme. YARAT Art Centre, a 2000 m converted Soviet-era naval building, opened in March 2015 and is the organisation's main exhibition space. The exhibition programme features new commissions by artists responding to the region. It supports and provides access to artists from the region, while engaging and introducing established, international artists.

Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX-XXI Centuries presents a series of exhibitions with the works from the collection of National Museums and Galleries and organize a public and education programme of events running. The Museum collaborates closely with educational institutions and the museum's staff familiarises pupils and students with expositions through interactive tours by teaching them to comprehend and interpret art.

In October 2015, YARAT opened ARTIM, a central, accessible and dynamic space in Baku's Old City. ARTIM (meaning 'progress' in Azerbaijani) shows experimental practices and new work by emerging Azeri art professionals (selected through open call) and the international artists from the residency programme. It features multiple small-scale projects each year and hosts ARTIM Lab, a programme enabling young artists to engage in workshops and daily studio practice to generate new ideas and works.

Education has been at the heart of YARATs activities since its creation.

With a dedicated public programme that includes courses, workshops, lectures, screenings, festivals, literature and theatre clubs and family weekends, YARAT aims to give access to broad audiences of all ages. The public programme invests proactively in building communities and nurturing a wider understanding of, and participation in, contemporary art.
Kuleba: Nestle refuses to stop its activities in Russia, but it's not too late to change your mind

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba proposes to Nestle to reconsider its position regarding the continuation of business activities in the Russian Federation.

"By refusing to stop business activities in Russia, Nestle allows Russia's war of aggression in Europe to continue. Long-term damage to the company's reputation is proportionate to the scale of Russian war crimes in Ukraine (enormous). Not too late to change your mind, Nestle," Kuleba said on Twitter.
UHRA, Tourism Agency ask seven intl hotel operators to withdraw from project management, withdraw their franchise in Russia

The Ukrainian Hotel and Resort Association (UHRA), together with the State Tourism Development Agency of Ukraine, has issued an open letter to seven international hotel operators asking them to withdraw from project management or withdraw their franchise in Russia.

As noted in the release, the open letter was sent to each of the seven international hotel operators that have branded hotels in Russia under management or under a franchise: Hilton, IHG hotels & resorts, Marriott International, Accor, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group.

As of March 17, only a formal comment has been received from Marriott, which duplicates the March 10 statement.

The UHRA stressed that they certainly appreciate the humanitarian support and assistance that hotel companies sincerely provide to Ukrainians fleeing Putin's war. At the same time, UHRA and the tourism agency are disappointed with the "procrastination" chosen by hotel operators in the matter of terminating/continuing their business in the Russian Federation.

"Contracts are developed by the hotel operators themselves and their professional lawyers; they contain many provisions that allow the unilateral painless exit of the operator from the operating hotel, for example, force majeure, failure to fulfill financial obligations, the onset of harmful conditions for doing business or violating one's own ethical business codes," the UHRA said in the release.
Over the past day, the Russian military shelled eleven settlements in Donetsk region from rocket and heavy artillery, at least 16 residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were destroyed, there are dead and wounded, according to the National Police of Ukraine.

"During the day, eleven settlements were shelled by the Russians. At least 16 residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were damaged. As a result of the strikes of the Russian troops, there are dead and wounded, there are children among them, as well as police officers and the State Emergency Service officers," the operational statement of the police of Donetsk region, posted in the telegram channel of the National Police, says.

So, according to the police, Mariupol, Avdiyivka, Krasnohorivka, Maryiynka, Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Novomykhailivka, Stepne, Olhynka, Vasylivka, Verkhniotoretske were under fire from the invaders.

"The enemy hit towns and villages with rocket and heavy artillery. Among the civilian facilities destroyed by the Russian Federation are multi-storey and private houses, a recreation center, eleven shops, etc.," the report says.

The police informs about the opening of criminal proceedings under Article 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war) and Article 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Number of Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Poland exceeds 2 mln people  border guards

On Friday, March 18, the number of Ukrainian citizens who arrived in Poland exceeded 2 million people, the Polish Border Guard Service reports.

"Today, that is, March 18, by 9:00 am, the number of refugees from Ukraine exceeded 2 million people. Mostly they are women with children," the Twitter message says.
The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine says that the payment of subsidies, benefits and cash benefits in March is fully funded.

"In early March, the Ministry of Social Policy transferred funds to all regions in full for the payment of social benefits, benefits and subsidies. The payment of social benefits in most regions was made not only on time, but even before certain dates. If in the usual mode payments were made on the 7th-10th day of each month, then for March of this year the payment started on March 3rd. However, in some cities and districts, due to active hostilities, social protection agencies were not able to work, calculate and pay the appropriate types of benefits. For people from these regions, we have launched a special mechanism for payments at the central level," the press service of the ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that through a special mechanism, people will receive payments in certain cities and districts of the following regions of Donetsk region: Volnovakha, Mariupol districts and the city of Mariupol; Zaporizhia region: Vasylivsky, Polohivsky and Berdyansk districts; Luhansk region: all cities and districts; Kherson region: Henichesk and Kherson within the former Oleshkivsky district, the cities of Nova Kakhovka and Hola Prystan; Sumy region: Akhtyrsky district within the former Trostianetsky district; Kharkiv region: Iziumsky, Kharkiv district of the city of Izium, Kupiansk, Merefa and most districts of the city of Kharkiv; Chernihiv region: part of Novhorod-Siversky and Desnyansky district in the city of Chernihiv; Kyiv region: Vyshgorodsky district within the former Ivankivsky district.

"We remind you that, within the framework of a special mechanism, the payment of cash benefits, and housing subsidies to people from these cities and regions will be carried out by JSC Oschadbank," the statement says.
Ukraine on Friday will receive the second part of the first tranche of EU macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 300 million, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis said.

"Today Ukraine receives another EUR300 million in EU emergency MFA aid. The EU will continue to provide political, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. For first time ever, EU will finance purchase and delivery of weapons to a country under attack," he said on Twitter.

As reported, on March 3, the European Union signed a memorandum with Ukraine on the provision of EUR1.2 billion in macro-financial assistance. The first tranche will amount to EUR600 million, its first part arrived in Ukraine on March 11.

Assistance in the amount of EUR1.2 billion is divided into two equal tranches: the first is provided without any conditions, and the second after Kyiv fulfills a number of agreements with the EU.
Putin discusses Ukraine and negotiations with its representatives with Scholz - Kremlin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin press service said.

"A discussion regarding the situation surrounding Ukraine has been continued," it said.

Putin shared his judgments about the negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, which are ongoing in a video format, the Kremlin said.

"It was pointed out that the Kyiv regime is seeking to drag out the negotiating process in any possible way by regularly making new unrealistic proposals. Nevertheless, the Russian side stands ready to continue looking for solutions consistent with its well-known principled approaches," it said.
Head of Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration Serhiy Borzov says that three enemy missiles were shot down by air defense over the region.

"The 23rd day of the war. No hostilities in Vinnytsia region. Three missiles were shot down by air defense over the region today  we close the sky on our own. No one was hurt," Borzov wrote on his Telegram channel.
Denisova: We agree not to disseminate data on number of prisoners

Ukraine will not disclose data on the number of prisoners of war, Liudmyla Denisova, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, has said.

"We agreed not to disseminate data on the number of prisoners. We must do everything possible to exchange them," Denisova said at a briefing on Friday.

However, she noted that in some detention centers there are "prisoners of war of the Russian Federation, the Russian aggressor."

"We will monitor the observance of their rights, because we need to comply with the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War," Denisova said.

She also hopes that the Russian side will comply with this convention.
Some 273,000 households are without gas and heat due to military aggression from the Russian Federation, head of the board of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy Yuriy Vitrenko has said.

"Now over 273,000 households of Ukrainian families are in a situation where they cannot get gas and heat, which takes their lives beyond the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe," he told a press conference in Lviv on Friday.

According to him, this is due to constant damage to infrastructure, while the country has the necessary resource in the form of current production and reserves in underground storage facilities to meet the needs of the population in gas and heat.

"We have no problems with the gas resource to meet the needs of the population. The problem is with the infrastructure that Russian aggression is deliberately destroying," he said.

Vitrenko noted that the repair teams are doing everything possible to quickly carry out repairs of damaged infrastructure, including in Russia-occupied areas of the country.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian have discussed regional issues, the ministry reported on March 17.

In a telephone conversation, the ministers reviewed the current situation in the region, as well as the execution of trilateral statements signed between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia following the 44-day war in 2020.

The sides also discussed the five key principles offered by Azerbaijan to normalize relations with Armenia. The French Minister emphasized France's support for Azerbaijan-Armenia rapprochement efforts.

The sides also exchanged views on the current situation around Ukraine.

Furthermore, the sides touched upon the topical issues of the bilateral agenda and other issues of mutual interest.

On March 14, Azerbaijan made public the five basic principles for normalizing relations with Armenia.

For the normalization of relations, Azerbaijan proposes the following principles:

- Mutual recognition of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of internationally recognized borders and political independence of each other;

- Mutual confirmation of the absence of territorial claims against each other and acceptance of legally binding obligations not to raise such a claim in future;

- Obligation to refrain in their inter-State relations from undermining the security of each other, from the threat or use of force both against political independence and territorial integrity and in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the UN Charter;

- Delimitation and demarcation of the state border, and establishment of the diplomatic relations;

- Unblocking of the transportation and other communications, building other communications as appropriate, and establishment of cooperation in other fields of mutual interest.

To recap, after submitting fundamental principles to Armenia on the normalization of relations between the two countries, Armenia turned to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs (US, France, Russia) for peace talks.

France also expressed its interest in the demining of Azerbaijans liberated territories.

Earlier, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross stated that France is keen to donate  400,000 (AZN 803,272 or $472,752) to support mine clearance operations in liberated lands.

"Another area where international cooperation is needed is demining so internally displaced people can return to their land. The areas in Karabakh that require demining are huge. So I was happy to officially inform Azerbaijan's ANAMA [Mine Action Agency] that France is keen to donate  400,000 to demining this year," he wrote on his Twitter account.
Since start of Russian invasion, 222 people died in Kyiv, of which 60 civilians, incl four children  Kyiv City State Administration

Since the beginning of armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, 222 people have been killed and 889 injured in Kyiv, Kyiv City State Administration reports.

"In Kyiv, since the beginning of a large-scale invasion, 222 people have died, including 60 civilians. Four children have died," Kyiv City State Administration said in a message posted on its Telegram channel.

The report notes that during all this time in the Ukrainian capital, 889 people were injured from the actions of the occupier, of which 241 people were civilians, including: 18 children, three ambulance drivers, and one ambulance doctor.
The European Business Association (EBA) surveyed 120 member companies out of more than 1,000, some 43% of respondents assess their own financial stability in a few months, another 28% - in six months, 17% - a year or more, 6% of companies named their financial resources exhausted, the EBA said in a release on Friday.

"Similarly, 46% of CEOs we surveyed, plan to seek support from the state. At the same time, 29% do not have a final decision on that yet, and 23% do not plan to receive state aid," the EBA said.

"We also asked the companies if they plan to apply for the state evacuation program from the combat zone. Out of 120 responses, only 13 companies answer that they plan on evacuation and 4 of them have already applied for it. Meanwhile, 50% do not plan to participate because they believe that their company cannot be transported, another 11% have already evacuated the company on their own. And 21% of respondents do not have facilities in the combat zone," the report says.

"Thus, most company executives, namely 65%, will offer employees to apply for UAH 6,500 within e-Aid Program. Half of the companies, namely 50%, plan to take advantage of the deferral of tax payments and the exemption from paying single social contributions for employees who are defending the country in the ranks of the Armed Forces or territorial defense," it says.

"We would like to draw attention to the fact that the survey did not include the new business support initiatives proposed by draft law No. 7137-d, which was recently adopted by the Verkhovna Rada," the EBA said.

"We at the EBA see an urgent need to revive business activities. Therefore, our companies ask for abolishing the list of critical imports as a significant barrier to the fulfillment of obligations to suppliers and buyers, facilitating imports and exports, ensuring logistical support, and simplification of customs procedures. It is extremely important to restore VAT refunds for exporters. Also, companies need to resume settlements with foreign counterparties to replenish their working capital and raw materials for production," according to the document.

"Besides, it is vital to support the salary fund for employees of both working and non-working companies. Tax benefits for businesses on the deferral of reporting and payment of taxes with the banking control over the payment of personal income tax and SSC need to be agreed upon. The issue of "reservation" of critically important specialists from military mobilization is difficult but it should still be resolved," the association said.
The first tranche of New Zealand's sanctions on Russia has been enacted, with personal restrictions imposed on President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and other senior officials, the New Zealand government announced on its website.

The sanction list also includes Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov, Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, chief of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin, and Security Council permanent member Sergei Ivanov.

The sanctions include a travel ban and asset freeze.

New Zealand has also designated for sanctions 19 Russian entities, including Promsvyazbank, UralVagonZavod, the 558th Aircraft Repair Plant, Integral, Almaz-Antey Corporation, and others.

A travel ban on a total of 364 politicians, military officials, and journalists has been enacted.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta was quoted by local media as saying that the sanctions prevent "entities from moving assets here, or using our financial system to circumvent sanctions that may be imposed by other countries in the future."

New Zealand will announce "more sanctions coming over the next few weeks," Mahuta said.
The Danube Commission at an extraordinary session in connection with military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the violation of the basic principles of the Belgrade Convention decided to stop Russia's powers in the commission.

As the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported on its Telegram channel on Friday, the commission condemned the violation of the principles of free and safe navigation on the Danube, as well as the interests and sovereign rights of Ukraine. Russia is held liable for economic damage due to the reduction in cargo turnover in the Danube Delta and in the Black Sea due to military dangers.

The corresponding decision of the Danube Commission is the result of the joint work of specialists from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the State Maritime and River Transport Service of Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the adopted resolution provides that the powers of any representative of the Russian Federation in the Danube Commission or its deputies stop until the establishment of peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

In addition, representatives of the Russian Federation have been suspended from all meetings of the Danube Commission and its working bodies. Citizens of the Russian Federation will be dismissed from the diplomatic and administrative-technical positions of the Secretariat of the Danube Commission.

In addition, the adopted resolution provides for an appeal to the Committee for the Revision of the Belgrade Convention to seek decisions on whether the Russian Federation, as a non-Danubian state, can be a party to the Convention in the future.

"Ever since the beginning of the 90s, the Ukrainian delegation to the Danube Commission actively opposed the membership of Russia as the legal successor of the Soviet Union, which is not a Danubian state. However, this did not find understanding and support of partners. In 2021, for the first time, a representative of Ukraine, namely the Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary, Liubov Nepop, became the head of the Danube Commission. At the initiative of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the decision of the head of the Danube Commission, the 12th extraordinary session was convened, within which unprecedented decisions were made that could not be achieved since the 90s," the ministry said.
Zelensky in talks with Johnson: We determined to jointly strengthen anti-war coalition, ensure peace in Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, reiterating the intention to jointly strengthen the anti-war coalition and ensure peace in Ukraine.

"Held talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Informed about the heroic struggle of the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression. We are grateful for the significant support, in particular, in security matters. We are determined to jointly strengthen the anti-war coalition and ensure peace in Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on Twitter.
Russia's occupation army is trying to establish a tough administrative and police regime in the temporarily captured settlements of Kherson region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report as of 12:00 Friday.

The invaders were able to temporarily occupy some settlements and establish control over communication routes in the Donetsk and Yuzhnobuzsky operational areas, have partial success in the area of the city of Rubizhne, Luhansk region, constantly shelling unprotected civilian infrastructure to intimidate the local population and limit the actions of the defense forces.

At the same time, Russian troops did not conduct active hostilities in Donetsk region, the report says.

The occupiers have not given up attempting seize the city of Izium, Kharkiv region, strengthen the grouping by introducing additional units, and take measures to organize engineering and logistics support.

In the Volyn, Polissia and Siverske directions, no significant changes were recorded in the activities of the occupying troops, they focused on the fortification equipment of the occupied lines. In the Slobozhanske and Sumy directions, the invaders are regrouping and trying to establish logistical support, and are actively conducting reconnaissance.

According to the General Staff, in connection with the consumption of almost the entire ammunition of missiles and types of ammunition, the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation decided to transfer the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex involved in the production of Kalibr cruise missiles and ammunition for the Smerch multiple launch rocket system to round-the-clock operating mode.
Scholz in conversation with Putin calls on Russia to cease fire in Ukraine

German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the war in Ukraine and efforts to end it during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

"The chancellor called on the Russian president for an early ceasefire, improvement of the humanitarian situation and progress in finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict," the press service of the German government said.

It is noted that the conversation between Scholz and Putin lasted almost an hour.
Lithuania has declared four Russian diplomats personae non gratae, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Lithuania has made this decision to show solidarity with Ukraine, which is experiencing Russia's unprecedented military aggression, it said.

A note declaring four staff members of the Russian embassy personae non gratae for activities inconsistent with their diplomatic status has been presented to Russian Ambassador Alexei Isakov.

The diplomats in question have been told to leave Lithuania within five days.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has made a decision to expel three employees of the Russian embassy from the country.

The expulsion of the Russian diplomats "has been coordinated with Lithuania and Estonia," Rinkevics wrote on Twitter.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry said that "the minister's decision was made in solidarity with Ukraine."
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called for blocking all European ports for Russian ships.

According to the head of state, he is currently negotiating with European leaders on the introduction of the next package of sanctions against Russia.

"Until there is peace for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia should steadily increase. I am grateful to all public initiatives from around the world that propose restrictions on Russia not only at the state level, but also at the level of societies. In particular, I am grateful to the Swedish trade union of port workers, which promises not to service all ships connected with Russia. That's right. This is a good example that all public structures, all trade unions and business associations should emulate," Zelensky said in a video message on Friday.

According to him, "if Russia is not stopped and punished now, other aggressors in the world will start other wars."

"We need to act now so that all other potential aggressors see that war is only damage and not profitable. Therefore, it is necessary that all Europeans block the ports for all Russian ships. All Russian commercial ships follow the Russian warship. Western companies left the Russian market and did not cover up their thirst for profits despite blood, despite war crimes with cheap PR. As Nestle or Auchan, for example, do," he said.
By Trend

The beginning of peace negotiations was one of Azerbaijans main priorities after the victory in the second Armenia-Azerbaijan Karabakh war, Head of Trend News Agency's Foreign Projects Directorate Rufiz Hafizoglu said during the "Esas mesele" (Main issue) show on AzTV channel, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan proposed Armenia to start the peace negotiations," Hafizoglu said. However, Armenia is not ready for peace which can be observed today.

A rally has been recently held in Yerevan in front of the Foreign Ministry," the head of Trend News Agency's Foreign Projects Directorate stressed. "Rally participants demanded not to hold the peace talks with Azerbaijan and there are several reasons.

Hafizoglu added that Azerbaijan gained a fair victory and Turkey also plays an important role here.

Azerbaijan has the traditions of statehood as opposed to Armenia, Hafizoglu added. Armenia does not have other alternatives but to accept Azerbaijans proposals."
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine should receive advanced weapons from partners.

"As much as we can, we shoot down Russian missiles. We destroy their planes and helicopters. And this despite the fact that we do not yet have adequate anti-missile weapons, advanced weapons. We don't have enough combat aircraft. But we have a goal, pure and fair, to protect our people, our state," he said in a video message on Friday afternoon.

Zelensky recalled that "Russian troops continued mean shelling of our peaceful cities and communities. Lviv, Kyiv city and the region, Zhytomyr region, Sumy region, Kharkiv city and the region, Chernihiv, cities of Donbas  Severodonetsk, Kramatorsk, our Mariupol... Rocket strikes, air bombs, Grad multiple rocket launchers.

"Of course, we will continue to do everything we can. Let us remind some Western leaders even louder that it will be a moral defeat for them, it will be the destruction of their prestige, if Ukraine does not receive advanced weapons and actually save the lives of thousands of our people. Russian missiles will not fall from shotguns, with which some are trying to replace really useful supplies," the President of Ukraine said.
Parties to the war in Ukraine must understand that journalists are civilians and targeting them is a violation of international law, Coordinator of the Europe and Central Asia Program of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Gulnoza Said has said.

The coordinator said at an online briefing on Friday that it is important to emphasize that all sides of this war must understand that all journalists and media workers are civilians and must be protected under international humanitarian law, and targeting them (especially documented cases when they were wearing press signs, their cars were marked as press) is a violation of international law and the perpetrators must be held accountable.

She recalled that four journalists had already died in the three weeks of the war.

"Four journalists were killed: 2 local and 2 foreign in the first 3 weeks of the full-scale war," she said.

According to her, Yevhen Sakun was the first victim, he was killed on March 1 when Russian troops shelled a TV tower in Kyiv, American reporter Brent Renault was killed on March 13, and Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and Fox News producer, a local journalist, were killed on March 14 Oleksandra Kuvshynova.

In addition, Said drew attention to the fact that the Russian state media reports that there are no journalists in Ukraine and that they are all propagandists, because the Russian military does not show any respect for journalists.

In the case of the journalists who were killed, we were able to confirm that two journalists were directly targeted, and in two other cases the source of the fire was not confirmed, although the Ukrainian side said that the Russians did it, the representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

In addition, Said noted that the Committee to Protect Journalists documented cases when the Russian military detained dozens of journalists in Ukraine and tried to force them to produce Russian propaganda.

UKRAINE-JOURNALISTS-WAR-KILLING
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented 2,149 civilian casualties (2,032 a day before) in the country, including 816 (780) killed (from February 24 when the Russia invaded Ukraine to 24:00 midnight on March 17, 2022 (local time).

"OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, especially in Government-controlled territory and especially in recent days, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration," the UN said in the document.

According to him, this applies, for example, to Izium (Kharkiv region), and Mariupol and Volnovakha (Donetsk region), Severodonetsk and Rubizhne (Luhansk region), Trostianets (Sumy region), where there are allegations of hundreds of civilian casualties. These figures are being further corroborated and are not included in the above statistics.

"Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes," the UN said in the report.

According to confirmed UN data, some 142 men, some 116 women, 16 boys and seven girls killed, while the sex of 36 children and 489 adults has not yet been known.

Among the 1,333 injured, some 17 girls and seven boys, as well as 50 children, whose sex is yet unknown.

Compared to the previous day, one child was killed, and six more children were wounded, according to the UN.

OHCHR said that in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as of midnight March 18, there were 172 (162) dead and 503 (472) injured in government-controlled territory, and 50 (46) dead and 178 (174) injured in territory controlled by self-proclaimed "republics."

In other regions of Ukraine under government control (Kyiv, as well as in Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Sumy, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions), the UN recorded 594 (572) killed and 652 (606) wounded.

OHCHR notes the report of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, according to which as of 10 a.m. (local time) 18 March, 109 children had been killed and more than 130injured.

The increase in the figures in this report compared to the figures in the previous report should not be attributed only to new cases that occurred on March 17, since OHCHR also verified a number of cases that occurred in previous days during the day, according to the document.
Greece to restore maternity hospital in Mariupol destroyed by Russian army  Matsotakis

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Matsotakis has promised to restore the maternity hospital in Mariupol, which was bombed by the army of the Russian Federation.

"Greece is ready to restore the maternity hospital in Mariupol," Matsotakis said in Twitter on Friday.
Russian and Belarusian diplomats and other government officials have been forbidden to enter the European Parliament's premises, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said.

"As of today, diplomatic and government staff of Russia and Belarus are banned from entering the premises of the European Parliament. There is no place in the House of Democracy for those who seek to destroy the democratic order," Metsola wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Russian occupiers have released Viktor Tereschenko, the head of Velykoburlutska community of Kharkiv region, who was kidnapped by them the day before, Head of the regional military administration Oleh Synehubov said.

"I just spoke to him [with Tereschenko], now he is in the hospital. Viktor Mykolayovych is a fine fellow, a mountain standing up for the community and protecting national interests," Synehubov said in his Telegram channel.

He also said the occupiers did not allow the delivery of humanitarian aid along the agreed "green corridors."

"The occupiers did not allow us to carry out humanitarian aid along certain 'green corridors,' in particular to the city of Izium. We decided to establish logistics centers in the settlements nearby, then deliver them to residents with the help of volunteers. Once again, thanks to everyone who, despite the shelling, provides the bulk of the most necessary. You are Heroes!" Synehubov said.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal calls on France to impose tougher sanctions against Russia for its barbaric war in the center of Europe.

"I called on France to lower the 'iron curtain' over Russia. In a phone conversation with French Prime Minister Jean Castex, today we discussed the imposition of tougher sanctions against Russia for its barbaric war in the center of Europe," Shmyhal said on the Telegram channel.

The prime minister said Ukraine calls to stop access to European ports for Russian ships, as well as for all ships flying the Russian flag, stop the functioning of the Russian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Moscow and call on French companies and trade unions to cease commercial collaborationist activities in Russia.

In addition, Ukraine asks to cancel the current Schengen visas issued by France to Russian citizens who are in France, and to stop issuing visas by the French Embassy in Russia, as well as to consider the possibility of imposing sanctions at the national level against oligarchs and persons close to the Russian regime, providing freezing their assets.

"He also asked for a full inventory of financial assets, real estate, yachts and luxury vehicles that may belong to Russian entities on European sanctions lists," he said.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid strenuously condemned the ongoing violence by the Russian armed forces against civilian areas throughout Ukraine, including the recent bombing of a theater harboring hundreds of civilians in Mariupol, according to the OSCE press service on Friday.

"We utterly condemn this despicable act, which appears to have deliberately targeted a building clearly marked as sheltering civilians, including children," Minister Rau said.

He said that despite reports most of those who seeking refuge in the theatre have survived provide a glimmer of hope in a dark time, this attack is only "the latest in a horrendous siege that has seen civilians deprived of food, water, medicine or electricity while facing a constant risk of death."

"These deliberate and inhuman attacks on civilian areas must stop  in Mariupol, Irpin, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kyiv and beyond," Secretary General Schmid said.

She said this "unconscionable violence and the grave costs it brings to civilian life and infrastructure continue to grow." "It has to stop  I cannot stress that enough," Schmid said.

The OSCE Chairperson and Secretary General also welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice of 16 March 2022, in which the court decided on interim measures, including that Russia immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine.

"This order by the International Court of Justice reinforces that the aggression needs to stop now, added Rau. The Secretary General and I have repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities since the launch of Russias attack on Ukraine, and we once again firmly state: this must end," Rau said.
Crimeans conscripted into Russian army not to be subject to prosecution in Ukraine, except cases when they comply with military orders  prosecutor's office

Residents of Crimea who were forcibly conscripted into the ranks of the Russian army will not be subject to criminal prosecution in Ukraine, except in cases where they comply with criminal military orders, according to the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Thus, according to information received by the department, Russia is currently actively mobilizing residents of the temporarily occupied peninsula to participate in the war against Ukraine, and also intimidates citizens who since 2014 were forced to serve in the Russian armed forces under duress that allegedly Ukrainian the government will punish them for it.

"Crimeans, who were forcedly conscripted into the ranks of the Russian army or other illegal formations, are victims of the armed conflict, not criminals. Therefore, they cannot and will not be subject to criminal prosecution by the authorities of Ukraine. Unreliable information about the persecution of conscripts by Ukraine is another fake that is spreading throughout Russia and aimed at intimidating the civilian population of the peninsula," the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea said on Facebook.

At the same time, if it is proved that the conscripted person carried out illegal criminal orders that caused civilian casualties or the destruction of civilian infrastructure, he will be held criminally liable under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Consideration at Russia's initiative in the UN Security Council of the so-called military biological activities of the United States in Ukraine may mean Russia is preparing to conduct biological and chemical operations on the territory of Ukraine, Adviser to the head of the President's Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak said.

According to him, "Russia is currently looking for any opportunities to find and record on international platforms an explanation for its large-scale and bloody invasion of Ukraine."

"So, today, at Russia's initiative, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council was held with an extremely cynical and fake agenda: 'On new facts of the U.S. military biological activity in Ukraine' ... Is it a nonsense? Yes, it is. But Russia has not used logic for a long time. Therefore, the United States and the vast majority of member states of the UN Security Council rejected the fake accusations of the Russians. Unfortunately, even the UN today does not rule out that the Russian briefing on biological laboratories may be one of the likely stages in the preparation of a group of Kremlin 'hawks' for possible biological and chemical operations on the territory of Ukraine," Podoliak said in the Telegram channel.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijan is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its admission to the UN in liberated Shusha, presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev wrote on his Twitter account.

We are flying to Fuzuli airport with the plane entitled Khankandi to visit Shusha with the UN family accredited in Azerbaijan. Flag of UN will be waved in liberated Shusha! Hajiyev said.

On March 18, Azerbaijan's Shusha city is hosting an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the country's collaboration with the United Nations.

The 30th Anniversary of Azerbaijan-UN Partnership Conference starts soon in Shusha. Special postal stamp dedicated on the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan-UN Partnership issued in Shusha, 18 March 2022, Hajiyev noted.

Azerbaijan's cooperation with the United Nations has a bright future, he stressed on the sidelines of the event.

"The UN is sometimes criticized but participating countries must fulfill their obligations to the UN. All countries must fulfill their obligations under the Charter of UN," Hajiyev said.

He added that Azerbaijan supports international law principles based on the UN Charter. Hajiyev recalled that Azerbaijan has also contributed to UN peacekeeping missions.

"Azerbaijani peacekeepers are serving in Sudan and other places," he said.

The meeting's participants have already arrived at Fuzuli International Airport by aircraft. They will go to Shusha via Victory Road after touring the airport.

The meeting's major goal is to provide a forum for exploring methods for Azerbaijan and the UN to collaborate on the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as new objectives and possibilities for Azerbaijan in the post-COVID-19 pandemic and post-conflict world.

Azerbaijani high-ranking officials, the UN resident coordinator, and the leadership of UN organizations in Azerbaijan make up the delegation.

Addressing the event, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva said that the UN and Azerbaijan will hold discussions on the tuition and opportunities for deepening further cooperation.

We have agreed with the government of Azerbaijan to organize a year-long commemoration within a number of events in order to celebrate a 30-year jubilee since the date of Azerbaijans joining the UN family, Vladanka said.

She underlined that the official commemoration started in Baku on March 2, the day when Azerbaijan joined the organization.

We have launched a photo exhibition in the city center, with 100 photos telling the story of a relationship between the UN and Azerbaijan, Vladanka noted.

She added that on March 18, there are two-panel discussions on how to achieve progress on the sustainable development objectives in the post-conflict and post-pandemic era.

Azerbaijan has been a member of the United Nations since March 2, 1992, when the UN General Assembly admitted the country during its 46th session.

In May 1992, the Republic of Azerbaijan established its Permanent Mission in New York City. Azerbaijan applied to the UN General Assembly for membership on October 29, 1991, shortly after gaining independence from the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2012-2013 term. It has reached out to the international community, particularly Europe, through the United Nations. Azerbaijan improved its relations with the United Nations by collaborating with UN agencies and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and the financial institutions of the United Nations.
The 21st day of Ukraine's heroic confrontation with the Russian military full-scale invasion is underway, the Russian military leadership plans to transfer some units from the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia to Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.

"Continuing attempts to restore the combat capability of individual units participating in hostilities, the Russian military leadership plans to transfer to the territory of Ukraine some units from the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia. The facts of the refusal of individual military personnel of Russia to participate in hostilities are confirmed, which is due to the low level of moral and psychological state of the Russian occupiers after clashes with the defense forces," the AFU said in Facebook post.

At the point of permanent deployment of the 20th motorized rifle division of the eighth combined arms army of the Southern Military District, about 130 servicemen refused to participate in hostilities.

"Due to the lack of positive results and the inability to fulfill the assigned tasks, it is planned to remove the commander of the 45th separate special forces brigade of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel Vadim Pankov, from his duties. He is accused of failing to fulfill a combat mission at Hostomel airfield," the General Staff said.

In addition, Russia does not stop creating and distributing by all available information channels, including in the EU and the United States, staged propaganda videos in order to discredit the activities of the military-political leadership and the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

It is also noted that in the city of Dzhankoy, on the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, training in local general educational institutions was suspended with their subsequent use to accommodate military personnel of the Russian armed forces arriving in the city.
Ihor Zhdanov, Information Defence

Informational Defence of Ukraine provides a daily review of the military-political situation in Ukraine, morning of March 18th, based on an analysis of open sources.

1. The russian occupiers have not achieved success in any of the operational areas and have sustained heavy losses as a result of counterattacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of March 18th, the enemy has not achieved any of the strategic goals of the offensive operation. The operational pause, which was significantly prolonged, indicates that the russian-Ukrainian war has got to a positional stage.

Also yesterday, it became clear that the russian aggressors, continuing to restrain the Kyiv group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, transferred their main efforts to the East of Ukraine in the area of the environmental protection operation and to Mariupol.

Fierce fighting is taking place in these areas, especially in the Rubizhne, Lysychansk, and Severodonetsk districts. The enemy, not counting its losses and losses among peaceful Ukrainian citizens, is trying to reach administrative borders and capture Mariupol.

Information Defence experts believe that such inadequate actions are related to the russian-Ukrainian talks, in which the enemy is trying to secure good treaty positions, i.e. to seize the entire territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions to put pressure on Ukraine to recognise the so-called "DPR" () and "LPR" ().

The continuous attacks of Mariupol are connected with the intentions of the russian aggressor to create a land corridor to the occupied Crimea, to carry out a maritime economic blockade of our country and to provide water supply through the northern canal. In addition, the occupation of Mariupol by russian occupation forces has become for putin a kind of symbol of victory in the disordered and sick mind of the russian dictator.

Also, in the near future, it is unlikely there will be a massive offensive attack on Kyiv.

First, the enemy lost the factor of suddenness. The Ukrainian command drew up reserves to the capital, equipped positions and methodically "knocked out" the occupiers.

Second, according to various estimates, the group of russians near and in Kyiv does not exceed in number, and may be inferior to the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that are located in the area of Kyiv. Moreover, to conduct offensive hostilities, as it is known, it is necessary to triple, and preferably, to enlarge in five times the advantage of the attackers combatants.

Third, the number of occupying troops concentrated near the capital does not allow such a large city as Kyiv to be attacked. The russian aggressor cannot even physically block or surround it. During World War II, over a million soldiers were involved in the attacks on both Stalingrad and Berlin.

The enemy continues to lose manpower and its equipment. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 18.03 were approximately: personnel (combatants) - about 14,200 people, tanks - 450 units, armored combat vehicles - 1448 units, artillery systems - 205 units, MLRS - 72 units, air defense - 43 units, aircraft - 93 units, helicopters - 112 units, motor vehicles - 879 units, ships / boats - 3 units, fuel tanks - 60, UAVs operational and tactical level, special equipment - 11.

On Thursday, Ukraine's Air Defence Forces hit 14 air targets of the russian occupiers: 7 planes, and 1 helicopter.

In in the war confrontations with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the commander of the Airborne Regiment from Kostroma, Colonel Sergei Suharyov was killed.

The General Staff informed that during the clash, the occupiers shamefully fled from the soldiers of the 128th Separate Mountain Infantry Brigade of Transcarpathia (the Zakarpattia region), dropping weapons and equipment. Ukraine received trophies: BMP-1 and towed anti-tank gun MT-12 "Rapira". Everything is intact and suitable for combat missions.

In the Chernihiv region, Ukrainian defenders defeated a group of russian invaders, seized the Hurricane multiple rocket launcher, and shot down another.

Given that the occupiers have almost exhausted all reserves, the command of the armed forces of the russian federation continues to take measures to replenish combatants losses at the expense of foreigners. According to available information, the russian occupiers have already recruited about 1,000 volunteers from the so-called army of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah.

Because the enemy used almost the entire set of cruise missiles "Kaliber" and operational and tactical missile systems "Iskander" during the first twenty days of the operation, the invader continues to launch missile and bomb strikes on infrastructure and housing neighbourhoods of large cities using indiscriminate weapons.

2. The russian occupiers continue to violate international humanitarian law.

Unfortunately, the horrific statistics of killed and wounded Ukrainian civilians as a result of the russian aggressor's attacks are worsening every day. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 108 children died in the hands of the russian occupiers during the war in Ukraine. In addition to the dead, as of the morning of March 17th, more than 120 children were injured as a result of enemy shelling and rocket attacks.

As of night of March 18th, the russian occupiers carried out air strikes on the Lviv, Sumy, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Mykolaiiv regions, and in several regions the 23rd night of the war passed relatively calmly.

Here are just a few examples of russian occupiers shelling peaceful Ukrainian cities.

Mariupol Deputy Mayor Serhii Orlov believes that the city is currently 80-90% destroyed, the death toll has exceeded 2,300 people, but many people are still trapped, so the death toll could be much higher. On average, russians drop from 50 to 100 air bombs per day on Mariupol.

Fortunately, the building of the Mariupol Theater withstood the impact of a high-powered air bomb and protected the lives of people hiding in the bomb shelter, said Ombudsman Liudmyla Denysova.

During the past 24 hours, the russian occupiers fired 49 times on Kharkiv. Because of the shelling of the city of Merefa in the Kharkiv region, 21 people were killed and 25 others were injured.

As a result of the shelling of Chernihiv by russian occupation forces on March 16th, 53 people died. A two-year-old child was killed and four others were injured in heavy artillery fire in the village of Novi Petrivtsi in the Kyiv region. Because of shelling by russian troops in Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district, a warehouse caught fire, two cars also burned, and at least two people were killed.

According to Information Defence experts, such massive shelling of peaceful Ukrainian cities is due to several factors. Recently, the russian occupiers have switched to the use of obsolete munitions of indiscriminate action, which can not be accurately aimed at military infrastructure, and the coordinates of these objects are not always accurate, so civilians may suffer.

But such circumstances cannot explain the massive shelling of Kharkiv at the beginning of the war, the continuous shelling of Mariupol, the use of rocket-propelled grenade launchers, artillery, banned by international conventions phosphate and cluster munitions, heavy unmanned bombs on objects marked with the label.

The only explanation in these cases can be a deliberate terrorism against peaceful cities in order to break the spirit and will of Ukrainians, to force the top military and political leaders to capitulate.

But as we know from the experience of World War II, no nation capitulated as a result of massive air strikes: neither the British nor the Germans. Ukrainians will not give up either, on the contrary, our will to win will only grow.

3. Under attacks of the russian occupiers, the evacuation through humanitarian corridors goes ahead.

On March 17th, 9 humanitarian corridors were confirmed for the evacuation of people, as well as for the delivery of food and medicine to the captured cities: from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia; from Borodianka to Zhytomyr; from Shevchenkove to Brovary. Humanitarian aid for the delivery of food and medicine to Hostomel, Bucha, Semypolky, Markivtsi, Opanasov; from Kharkiv to Vovchansk.

On Thursday, out of the nine planned humanitarian corridors, only the corridor for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kharkiv did not work.

Today, 3,810 people managed to escape through humanitarian corridors. This was announced by Deputy Chief of The Office of The President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko. He noted that two thousand people were able to leave Mariupol in almost 800 private cars, and people are leaving the city on foot. Another 1,810 people were evacuated from Vorzel, Bucha, Hostomel, Shevchenkove, and Borodianka.

Also, 36 tons of humanitarian aid in the form of food and medicine were delivered to the cities of Hostomel, Bucha, the villages of Semypolky, Markivka, and Opanasov.

During the evacuation, russian forces fired on an evacuation bus from Popasna, but fortunately no one was killed. Two policemen were killed by enemy shelling during the evacuation of people in the Kyiv region.

4. Ukrainian-russian negotiations.

The positions of the parties in the Ukrainian-russian discussions were clearly outlined. However, their analysis demonstrates that Ukraine and russia take diametrically opposed positions and, according to available information, are still far from signing any documents.

The Ukrainian side wants to prescribe in the peace agreement a specific mechanism that will guarantee its security in the future. According to Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the Head of the President's Office, Ukraine wants to end this war with a new strong coalition so that it will stop Russia if it wants to attack again.

president putin had a telephone conversation with the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and told him what the russian side is currently demanding from Ukraine in the talks.

According to him, the main demand of the Kremlin is "neutrality" of Ukraine and rejection of the Euro-Atlantic course. russia continues to talk about "disarming Ukraine so that it cannot pose a threat to russia," "protecting the russian language," and "denazification."

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the russian president, said that russia and Ukraine had not yet come close to signing any agreement. He has also said that Russia "will not be able to take into account" and will not comply with the decision of the UN International Court of Justice of March 16th, according to which Russia must immediately cease hostilities in Ukraine.

This position of Moscow testifies to the complete destruction of the security system, which was built after the World War II, to the complete disregard of the role of the UN by russia - a permanent member of the Security Council, which has the right to veto its decision.

Thus, according to Information Defence experts, the issue of building a new architecture of world and European security, securing Ukraine's place in it is not only of a special importance now, but also of extra importance for the future.

5. The Ukrainian government, business, and citizens are demonstrating solidarity and consolidating their efforts to confront the enemy.

Ukrainian society and government demonstrate unity and cohesion in the fight against the enemy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the wounded in the hospital who came under fire from the occupiers during the evacuation from Vorzel, in particular the Vlasenko family. The family moved to the suburbs of Kyiv from the Crimea in 2014 after the russian occupation of the peninsula because they did not want to acquire russian citizenship.

The Minister of Agrarian Policy Roman Leschenko stated that the situation with food supply remained under control, and the stocks we had would be enough for a year. According to Leschenko, Ukraine now has a sufficient food supply: wheat stocks for two years, oil stocks for five years, and corn stocks for 1.5 years.

The conditions for doing business in Ukraine are significantly improving. During martial law, businesses will be able to get a loan at 0% per annum in the amount of up to UAH 60 million, and the number of permits for entrepreneurs will be reduced from 600 to 20 documents.

Ukraine has set up a National Information Bureau to collect and systematise information on Ukrainians who died, went missing or were taken prisoner, as well as on prisoners and dead invaders.

6. International support and assistance to Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his speeches in the parliaments of the world's leading countries. At the same time, in his speech to the German Bundestag on March 17th, there were many critical remarks about the actions of the German authorities. Thus, he believes that Germany is contributing to the new wall in Europe, when it slows down Ukraine's accession to European institutions.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Berlin would continue to support Ukraine, but excluded any form of NATO military intervention.

Two parliaments of NATO member states have already confirmed the need to establish a no-fly zone.

The Lithuanian Seimas has called on the United Nations to take immediate steps to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine to reduce civilian casualties.

The Latvian Seimas has adopted a decision calling on UN countries to immediately agree on measures to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save human lives.

The United States is putting pressure on China to ensure its neutrality in the russian-Ukrainian war. On Friday, the US President Joe Biden is having a telephone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and plans to warn him of the consequences of China's support for the war against Ukraine.

The Biden Administration has publicly and privately warned that Beijing would face dire consequences if it provides material support to putin's war against Ukraine.

Information Defence experts noted that China's public position has changed over the past two days.

For example, Chinese high-ranking officials stressed that China is committed to the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries, including Ukraine.

7. Provocations and fakes of russian aggressors.

The Defence Ministry's intelligence agency informs that some Syrian mercenaries consider russia's involvement in the war to be a chance for further desertion and illegal migration to EU countries.

Proposals for adoption of orphans rescued from hostilities have begun to spread through the network.

Such information is based on a call for "quick adoption", but the Centre for Counteracting Disinformation said that such proposals were fakes. "We warn you: this is a fake! It is designed to make those who are willing to take a child, at best - a victim of fraud, at worst - violators of Ukrainian law,"  it is said in the statement.

Such attempts at "adoption" could result in a criminal case for kidnapping and a term of imprisonment from 5 to 12 years.

russia's Defence Ministry has again fantasised about "American biolabs in Ukraine" and decided that four years ago there was a leak that killed 70 people in the russian-occupied part of the Donbas area.

The russian military said that Kherson Biolaboratory had urgently destroyed documents, allegedly due to concealment of information about an outbreak of heartworm disease that broke out in 2018 in Kherson, a disease caused by mosquitos.

A number of Ukrainian online media outlets were hacked from the russian federation on Thursday. In particular, the symbols banned in Ukraine and used by the occupiers were placed on them.

8. Sanctions against russia are intensifying, and more and more companies are leaving the russian trade market.

The rating agency S&P downgraded russia to CC from CCC-. russia's problems with payments are related to international sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine, the agency notes. Sanctions have reduced the country's available foreign exchange reserves and limited its access to the global financial system.

However, russia's default did not happen. The Ministry of Finance of russia informs that the payment order for the payment of coupon income on bonds of foreign bonds of russia with maturities in 2023 and 2043 in the total amount of 117.2 million dollars, sent to a foreign correspondent bank, was provided.

The Swiss Bankers' Association (SBA) estimates that banks hold between 150 and 200 billion Swiss francs ($ 213 billion) in offshore accounts of russian customers.

This indicates that the scale of the business of rich russians with banks in Switzerland, the world's largest centre of offshore enrichment, is much broader than the balance sheet risks that some of its financial firms have begun to detail.

Western democracies continue to announce new sanctions against russia.

Australia has announced sanctions against russian oligarchs Viktor Vekselberg and Oleg Deripaska, and New Zealand has imposed sanctions on russian president putin and a number of russian officials. Japan is imposing sanctions on 15 russians, as well as 9 companies and organisations.

All russian representatives lost their powers in the Danube Commission after it passed a resolution on Thursday on russia's military aggression against Ukraine, which violates the basic principles of the Convention on the Regime of Navigation on the Danube.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has refused to cooperate with Roscosmos in developing the ExoMars mission due to the russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Central Bank of India is conducting initial consultations on an agreement with russia on settlements in rubles and rupees. This will allow trade with russia after the sanctions have limited the mechanisms of international payments.

After the expiration of the current contract for the purchase of gas through the Yamal gas pipeline in December, Poland will stop buying gas from russia.

The economic situation in russia is deteriorating, and the vast majority of Western companies are leaving the russian trade market.

According to Russia's Forbes , citing a survey by the NAFI think tank, 70% of russians are worried about the current socio-economic situation. Only 30% of russians surveyed said they managed to maintain emotional balance and quell anxiety due to the current socio-economic situation.

Prices for iPhone in russia over the past three weeks rose by 24-34%, for tablets - by 13-34%, for Apple laptops - by 46-142%.

The title sponsor of Chelsea FC is the telecommunications company Three, which has suspended cooperation with the club's owner Roman Abramovich due to sanctions, and wants its logo removed from the playing kit as soon as possible.

Planes of the largest cargo carrier in russia "Volga-Dnipro " completely stopped flights. European regulators have banned flights of British and German airlines owned by the group's founder Alexei Isaykin.

One of the world leaders in the field of printing technology and document management Xerox has suspended supplies to russia.

German manufacturer of components for freight transport SAF-Holland stopped investing in a new production unit in russia.

The American biopharmaceutical company AbbVie has joined the sanctions against russia and stopped the supply of Botox and fillers used in aesthetic medicine.

Rosaviatsia has issued a certificate to Aeroflot's aircraft maintenance and repair provider for the maintenance of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

By refusing to stop doing business in russia, Nestle is allowing russia to continue its aggressive war in Europe. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stressed that Nestle's refusal to leave russia causes long-term damage to the company's reputation, which is proportional to the huge scale of Moscow's war crimes in Ukraine.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijans First Deputy Defence Minister Col-Gen Karim Valiyev has inspected the Land Forces' Combined-Arms Training Center, the ministry reported on March 18.

The center has been designed to strengthen military personnels special tactical skills and fighting tactics by adapting training points to real-world combat scenarios.

The chief of General Staff, who was interested in the social and living conditions of the cadets participating in the Commando Training Courses and the training process, was reported that the classes are conducted applying new methods, the ministry said.

Valiyev observed the training process at the training locations, which aimed to improve the theoretical and practical knowledge of the cadets, and expressed his appreciation for the training process.

Furthermore, on behalf of the military leadership, he inquired about military personnel's concerns and congratulated them on the upcoming Novruz holiday.

Following that, an official meeting with the Land Forces command staff was held.

After an examination of the activities, Valiyev informed the participants of the tasks delegated to the army by the high command.

Furthermore, the relevant officers were assigned specific duties to ensure that military troops maintain a constant high level of combat readiness and professionalism, as well as practical training of units and command posts.
EgyptAir carried 680 Egyptian Coptic pilgrims on Thursday evening to visit the holy sites in Jerusalem, after pilgrimage trips had been suspended for two years due to the pandemic, sources at EgyptAir said.
US President Joe Biden will speak Friday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about issues including Russia's war in Ukraine, the White House said.

Beijing has refused to condemn its close ally Russia over its invasion of Ukraine while blaming the United States and NATO's eastward expansion for worsening tensions.

"The two leaders will discuss managing the competition between our two countries as well as Russia's war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern," the White House said in a statement.

China is under intense diplomatic pressure from the United States and its European allies to pull its lifeline from an isolated Russia. But three weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has shown few signs of abandoning its friends in the Kremlin.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Yang Jiechi, the Chinese Communist Party's chief diplomat, met in a Rome hotel this week for what a White House readout described as a "substantial" session.

The United States later expressed concern about what it called "alignment" between Russia and China.

Moscow and Beijing have drawn closer in what Washington sees as an increasingly hostile alliance of the authoritarian nuclear powers.

The US-China discussions in Rome aimed to test the depth of China's commitment to Russia as it struggles to vanquish Ukraine, with images of bomb-scarred buildings and refugees fleeing in their millions horrifying the world.

Since the war erupted, China has refused to condemn Putin's actions -- or even describe the invasion as a war.

Instead, as recently as last week Beijing called the partnership between the two countries "rock-solid."

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Kosovo's president on Thursday asked U.S. President Joe Biden to help Kosovo become a NATO member at a time that Russia is making efforts to destabilize the Balkans.

President Vjosa Osmani sent a letter to Biden saying that ``Kosovo's membership in NATO has become an imperative.``

Kosovo, ``the most pro-American and pro-NATO country in the world,'' is excluded from NATO enlargement processes, she said in a letter made available to The Associated Press.

Osmani urged Biden to use the U.S. ``leadership and influence to actively support and advance the complex process of NATO membership for Kosovo.''

While the world's eyes are focused on the devastating war in Ukraine, Osmani said that ``we must not lose sight of the fragile situation we face in the Balkans.''

``We are exposed to persistent efforts by Russia to undermine Kosovo and destabilize the entire Western Balkans,'' she wrote.

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Red Cross chief Peter Maurer on Thursday implored Russia and Ukraine to build on rare glimmers of hope and alleviate the suffering for "terrified" civilians caught up in the conflict.

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who is in Kyiv on a five-day visit to Ukraine, said the war triggered by Russia's February 24 invasion had inflicted "vast" devastation and people were frightened for their future.

But the ICRC head said the safe passage corridor established on Tuesday to get non-combatants out of the northeastern city of Sumy gave grounds for some optimism.

Speaking to reporters via video-link, Maurer said he was in Kyiv to make an urgent plea to both sides to bring civilians some respite.

"I appeal to the parties to take every chance to build on small steps to alleviate suffering, like the glimmer of hope we saw this week in Sumy," he said, of humanitarians helping thousands escape from harm's way.

"This glimpse of humanity is something we sorely need more of," he said.

He called for concrete agreements to give civilians safe passage out of cities like the besieged Mariupol, for aid to be allowed in, for non-combatants to be protected, for civilian infrastructure to be spared, and for prisoners of war to be treated with dignity.

"Civilians affected by the conflict in Ukraine are terrified of what the future holds," Maurer said.

"Families huddle in unheated basements knowing their neighbourhoods are now frontlines. Women and children walk through cold in search of shelter. The crisis... deepens by the hour."

Maurer said he too has had to take shelter underground when the air raid warnings are sounded.

"I respect the rules that when sirens go off and there is a clear signal of risk, we temporarily move to bunkers," he said.

Mariupol suffering

For days Russian forces have bombarded Mariupol, cutting power, food and water supplies.

Ukraine says more than 2,000 people have died so far in the city -- a key strategic target for Moscow -- and on Thursday accused Russia of bombing a theatre sheltering more than 1,000 civilians.

"The suffering in Mariupol must not become the future of Ukraine," Maurer insisted.

The Swiss former diplomat said the 30 to 40 ICRC staff who had remained in Mariupol left on Wednesday, having stayed until they could no longer operate at all.

But he said they had made plans to return with humanitarian assistance as soon as possible.

Maurer was confident that more agreements on safe exit routes could be struck between the Ukrainian and Russian forces, given the "positive developments" on safe corridors in recent days.

He said the hold-ups were down to a lack of trust between the opposing parties, the military situation on the ground, and "weapons-contaminated" roads which needed clearing.

"A lot will depend on whether talks lead to either temporary and partial ceasefires, which would of course facilitate humanitarian work -- or whether we will see an intensification of warfare again," he said.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has stated that the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijans UN membership in Shusha bears symbolic significance, Trend reported on March 18.

Bayramov made the remarks at the event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Azerbaijan-UN partnership organized in liberated Shusha.

This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's membership in the UN. In this regard, a number of activities have already been carried out for some time. Several events were organized in Baku as well. It is symbolic that today such a conference is being held in Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, he underlined.

The minister noted that Azerbaijan places a high value on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sets priorities for the SDGs on challenges, that the global community confronting in numerous fields.

Bayramov added that Azerbaijan is carrying out systematic work to achieve progress in this direction.

"Azerbaijan is holding a special conference today in Shusha to discuss the challenges facing the world both in the post-conflict and post-pandemic period, in the context of the UN," he said.

Both leaders and representatives of the Azerbaijani government bodies, as well as leaders of UN agencies, are attending the conference, Bayramov underlined.

We believe that this conference will become an important platform for discussing extremely important topics and will be useful for relations between Azerbaijan and the UN, the minister said.

Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan provided $30 million in humanitarian aid in 2021.

He added that Azerbaijan as a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement during the COVID-19 pandemic had rendered humanitarian support to over 80 countries and also provided five countries with vaccines worth $2 million.

In his remarks at the event, Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev recalled that Azerbaijan needed UN assistance in the early years of its independence. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, has evolved into a country that contributes to UN initiatives and goals.

He stressed that the 30th anniversary of the partnership with the UN is celebrated in Azerbaijans cultural capital - Shusha.

"Azerbaijan became a member of the UN in March 1992 and two months later the city of Shusha was occupied by Armenia, destroyed and turned into ruins and after the victory of Azerbaijan in the second Karabakh war, the city of Shusha was liberated. Today Shusha is the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, also the diplomatic center where the prospects for relations between the UN and Azerbaijan are discussed, which is of great political, diplomatic and symbolic significance," Hajiyev highlighted.

Azerbaijan has been a member of the United Nations since March 2, 1992, when the UN General Assembly admitted the country during its 46th session.

In May 1992, the Republic of Azerbaijan established its Permanent Mission in New York City. Azerbaijan applied to the UN General Assembly for membership on October 29, 1991, shortly after gaining independence from the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2012-2013 term. It has reached out to the international community, particularly Europe, through the United Nations. Azerbaijan improved its relations with the United Nations by collaborating with UN agencies and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and the financial institutions of the United Nations.
The UK lifted on Thursday a travel advice for the southern part of South Sinai governorate and Fayoum governorate, the UK Embassy in Cairo announced.

"Today, the UK announces a change in our Travel Advice for Egypt. We no longer advise against all but essential travel to the southern part of South Sinai governorate and Faiyum governorate," the embassy said.

This means its now easier than ever for the hundreds of thousands of Brits who visit Egypt every year to discover more of this amazing country, the embassy said on its official Facebook page.

Egypts Ambassador to the UK Sherif Kamel expressed his appreciation for the British governments decision to adjust the travel classifications.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassador Kamel said that this decision reflects the continuous progress in bilateral relations between Egypt and the UK in various fields.

Kamel added that this decision should contribute to strengthening the efforts of tourism companies in the British market to expand in tourist destinations in Egypt and restoring the UK as one of the main exporters of tourists in Egypt.

An estimated 476,000 British nationals visited Egypt in 2019, according to UK government figures.

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Under the title Heritage Everywhere, a photo exhibition of five different projects that received funding from the Egypt Exploration Societys (EES) Heritage at Risk Grants showcases different aspects of tangible and intangible Egyptian heritage at Beit Al-Sennary in Cairo.

The exhibition is the result of joint efforts between EES and Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The event was organized by Egyptologist Fatma Keshk who is the grant administrator of EESs Heritage At Risk Grant with the support of the EES team.

Among attendees was engineer Haitham Mohieb, director of Beit Al-Sennary, Dr. Campbell Price, the chair of trustees of EES, Ms. Elizabeth White, director of British Council Egypt on behalf of The British Ambassador to Egypt, and Dr. Osama Talaat, Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

"Egypt Exploration Society has always been dedicated to support and promote cultural heritage of ancient Egypt. However, the society has always been keen to connect the ancient Egyptian heritage with modern Egypt. I personally believe that there is no difference between them and their history is part of the same unit; that was one of the reasons we launched such a fund," noted Fatma Keshk in her speech introducing the five winning projects.

Al-Ashraf Khalil Dome









The mausoleum of Al-Ashraf Khalil was built in 687 AH / 1288 AD by Al-Sultan Al-Ashraf Salah El-Din Khalil Ibn Qalawun in the Mamluk era (1250-1517 AD)

We picked this dome specifically because it is the only Mamluk Baharia Dome that has been kept in its original status, explained Moaz Lafif, the architect whose project was awarded the grant to document the dome.

Lafif put his passion for heritage into practice about a year ago when he launched a local campaign to clean up the forgotten heritage monuments of Cairo.

After a while, the idea started to formulate and become much deeper than just cleaning up monuments, and after attaining my college degree, I applied for this grant, explained Lafif.

Egyptian Handicrafts Under Threat





The second project, which documents threatened handicrafts in Upper Egypt, is the brain child of Usama Ghazali, a heritage researcher who was born and raised in Qena governorate.

I think we have a tendency to summarize Egyptian heritage in ancient Egypt and Egypt in Cairo, so I joined a group of friends and we decided to focus on the handicrafts as an intro to preserving heritage. We documented 256 handicrafts in 550 villages in addition to various cultural societies like Al Basharia, Al Abbabda tribes, Siwa and Sinai, which reflected cultural diversity, explained Usama Ghazali.

Ghazali has been following his passion for heritage since 2007 when he created Yadawya, an online store for fair-trade Egyptian handmade gifts and craft. He has also promoted the revival of handicrafts in Egypt through various workshops.

Salam Tram Project





The third awarded project is quite novel. The Salam Tram Project is an archive of the local history of tram lines in Cairo by SARD group (Shubra Archives).

The idea of creating an archive for the local districts came to Mina Ibrahim when he was visiting Italy and saw lots of local districts in Rome have allocated a space to document and exhibit the intangible heritage of their neighbourhoods.

Adopting the same line of thought, Mina Ibrahim reused his old family apartment in the ancient district of Shubra, Cairo and transformed it into The Shubra Archive. However, the idea grew to include all heritage districts of Cairo and hence came the starting point, which is the Salam Tram Project, that documents the history of the tramways in Cairo.

Industrial Heritage

The fourth awarded project puts industrial heritage gem into the limelight by documenting the Khatatba canal irrigation complex in the Menoufiya governorate, which was built during the Mohamed Ali era (1805-1848 AD)

This effort is being led by Sandra Zaki, Amr Mohamed and professor Gamal Fathy.

Without the work of this team, much of Egypts early industrial heritage, like this complex, is at risk of being lost as it is swept aside in favour of more modern replacements.

Alexandrias Fish Market





The documentation of Alexandrias Fish Markets was the fifth awarded project, given to the Raquda Heritage Foundation.

The event ended on a nostalgic note, as the guest exhibitor Ziad Morsy shared his individual documentation of the ruins of El-Qabbary railway station in Alexandria, which was demolished last summer.

His documentation reflected on the world history of railways and how the idea of railways became known to Egypt through Robert Stevenson, who is the son of George Stevenson, the inventor of the first steam locomotive in the world. Robert Stevenson launched the first railway track in Egypt, between Cairo and Alexandria in 1852.













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Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge flag-waving rally at a Moscow stadium and praised his country's troops in biblical terms Friday as they pressed their lethal attacks on Ukrainian cities with shelling and missiles.

"Shoulder to shoulder, they help and support each other,'' Putin said of Moscow's forces in a rare public appearance since the invasion three weeks ago that made Russia an outcast among nations and triggered antiwar protests at home. "We have not had unity like this for a long time,'' he added to cheers from the crowd.

Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around the Luzhniki Stadium for the celebration marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula, seized from Ukraine.

The event included patriotic songs, including a performance of "Made in the U.S.S.R.,'' with the opening lines "Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, it's all my country.''

Seeking to portray the war as just, Putin paraphrased the Bible to say of Russia's troops: "There is no greater love than giving up one's soul for one's friends.'' And he continued to insist his actions were necessary to prevent "genocide,'' a claim flatly denied by leaders around the globe.

Standing on stage in a white turtleneck and a blue down jacket, Putin spoke for about five minutes. Some people, including presenters at the event, wore T-shirts or jackets with a "Z'', a symbol seen on Russian tanks and other military vehicles in Ukraine and embraced by supporters of the war.

His quoting of the Bible and a Russian admiral of the 18th century reflected his increasing focus in recent years on history and religion as binding forces in Russia's post-Soviet society.

Video feeds of the event showed a loudly cheering, flag-waving crowd that broke into chants of "Russia!''

Several Telegram channels critical of the Kremlin reported that students and employees of state institutions in a number of regions were ordered by their superiors to attend rallies and concerts marking the Crimea anniversary. Those reports could not be independently verified.

In the wake of the invasion, the Kremlin has cracked down harder on dissent and the flow of information, arresting thousands of antiwar protesters, banning sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and instituting tough prison sentences for what is deemed to be false reporting on the war, which Moscow refers to as a "special military operation.''

The OVD-Info rights group that monitors political arrests reported that at least seven independent journalists had been detained ahead of or while covering the anniversary events in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The rally came as Russian troops continued to pound the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and launched a barrage of missiles on the outskirts of the western city of Lviv.

The early morning attack on Lviv's edge was the closest strike yet to the centre of the city, which has become a crossroads for people fleeing from other parts of Ukraine and for others entering to deliver aid or fight. The war has swelled Lviv's population by some 200,000.

In city after city around Ukraine, hospitals, schools and buildings where people sought safety have been attacked. Rescue workers continued to search for survivors in the ruins of a theatre that was being used as a shelter when it was blasted by a Russian airstrike Wednesday in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

Ludmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliament's human rights commissioner, said at least 130 people had survived the theatre bombing.

"But according to our data, there are still more than 1,300 people in these basements, in this bomb shelter,'' Denisova told Ukrainian television. "We pray that they will all be alive, but so far there is no information about them.''

At Lviv, black smoke billowed for hours after the explosions, which hit a facility for repairing military aircraft near the city's international airport, 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the centre. One person was wounded, the regional governor, Maksym Kozytskyy, said.

Blasts hit in quick succession around 6 a.m., shaking nearby buildings, witnesses said. The missiles were launched from the Black Sea. Ukraine said it had shot down two of six missiles in the volley.

Lviv is close to the Polish border and well behind the main lines of battle, but the area has not been spared Russia's attacks. In the worst, nearly three dozen people were killed last weekend in a strike on a military training base near the city.

Early morning barrages also hit a residential building in the Podil neighbourhood of Kyiv, killing at least one person, according to emergency services, who said 98 people were evacuated from the building. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 19 were wounded in the shelling.

Two others were killed when strikes hit residential and administrative buildings in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

The fighting has led nearly 3.3 million people to flee Ukraine, the U.N. estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine's defences have proved much stronger than expected, and Russia "didn't know what we had for defence or how we prepared to meet the blow.''

The World Health Organization said it has confirmed 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that American officials are examining possible war crimes and that if the intentional targeting of civilians by Russia is confirmed, there will be "massive consequences.''

The U.N. political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties. She said many of the daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities "are reportedly indiscriminate" and involve the use of "explosive weapons with a wide impact area.''

About 35,000 civilians left Mariupol over the previous two days, authorities said Friday.

Both Ukraine and Russia this week reported some progress in negotiations. Earlier this week, an official in Zelenskyy's office, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, told The Associated Press that Ukraine was prepared to discuss a neutral status for the country in return, in part, for binding security guarantees.

Russia has demanded that NATO pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

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Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry signed with Indonesian ministers an MoU on the establishment of a joint commission between the two countries and another on environment protection and sustainable development during his visit to Jakarta on Friday.

Shoukry visit to Indonesia, his first official visit to Indonesia as Egyptian foreign minister since assuming office, comes as the third leg of his current Asian tour that started last week and has so far included Malaysia and Singapore.

The Egyptian FM's visit comes as Egypt and Indonesia mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, as Egypt was the first Arab country to recognise Indonesias independence in March 1947.

Shoukry signed the MoU on the establishment of a joint commission during a press conference with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, saying they agreed to start preparations for the commissions first meeting at the earliest opportunity.

The commission will act as an institutional framework for all of our bilateral cooperation mechanisms between our two countries, Shoukry said during the press conference.

Marsudi hailed the signing of the MoU with Egypt to establish a joint commission, saying it will serve as a solid foundation for our future cooperation in various fields.

Trade partnership

Egypt is Indonesias third largest trade partner in the Middle East and one of Indonesias most important partners in Africa, Marsudi said.

Despite the pandemic, the trade value between Egypt and Indonesia in 2021 has increased by 57.6 percent to $1.86 billion, she added.

The Indonesian minister said her country and Egypt will soon sign an MoU on the establishment of a joint trade committee between the trade ministers of both countries.

She added that she agreed with Shoukry on the need to explore further investment opportunities between the two countries.

Shoukry hailed Indonesia as a major trading partner, saying the two countries are keen to work together to foster their economic and trade relations and expedite the convening of the joint trade committee between their trade ministers.

Inviting Widodo to COP27

Shoukry, also president-designate of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) - set to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November - said Egypt extended an invitation to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to attend the conference during their meeting earlier in the day.

We believe that his excellencys participation will enhance the prospects of a successful outcome of COP27, especially in his capacity as the current chairman of G20, Shoukry said.

Shoukry also handed a letter to Widodo from Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi regarding the enhancement of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During his meeting with Widodo, Shoukry also affirmed Egypts keenness to develop relations with Indonesia and highlighted the need for continuing bilateral consultations.

Areas of mutual concern

Shoukry said he discussed with Marsudi regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the situations in Palestine, Libya, Yemen, Syria as well as Ukraine.

He added that discussions with Marsudi included the interference in Arab national security by extra regional powers and the common efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

Marsudi said she also discussed the situation in Afghanistan with the Egyptian FM.

Concerning Ukraine, Shoukry said he agreed with Marsudi on the need for reaching a political settlement to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

I think [the crisiss] effect on international security and its impact on our economic development is well recognised, Shoukry stated.

Meanwhile, Marsudi affirmed that both Egypt and Indonesia call for supporting the Palestinian efforts for independence.

She said she has agreed with Shoukry on continuing to encourage the resumption of multilateral negotiations within the Palestinian-Israeli peace process based on internationally agreed parameters with the aim of achieving a two-state solution.

Various fields of cooperation

Egypt and Indonesia enjoy strong historical and cultural relations that have extended for decades, Shoukry said, hailing their excellent level of coordination on regional and international affairs

Egypt and Indonesia cooperate in various areas bilaterally in the political, economic, cultural and educational fields as well as on security, he added.

Both countries have been bound by their mutual historic experiences. They both struggled for independence, initiated Afro-Asian solidarity, and founded the Non-Aligned Movement, the top Egyptian diplomat said.

Meanwhile, Marsudi said she agreed with Shoukry to bolster the two countries commitment to promoting equal access to coronavirus vaccines as an important tool to overcome the pandemic.

In this regard, I sressed the importance of exchanging experience as well as best practices in our vaccine industry, she added.

Both Egypt and Indonesia are included in the list of recipients of the technology needed to produce mRNA vaccines.

Marsudi extended appreciation to Egypt for the attention it is paying to thousands of Indonesians enrolled in educational facilities in Egypt, particularly at Al-Azhar University.

She added that she discussed with Shoukry promoting the Indonesian language (Bahasa) in Egypt, noting that the Indonesian language is currently offered as the second language course in the Faculty of Language and Translation of Al-Azhar University

As two countries with large Muslim populations, we also share the same views on the importance of promoting tolerance, she added.

During his visit to Indonesia, Shoukry also held meetings with Indonesias Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani and Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dato Lim Jock Hoi.

The Egyptian FM also met with Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, during which they signed an MoU on environment protection and sustainable development.

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Egypts cabinet decided on Wednesday to grant wheat farmers an incentive of EGP 65 for each ardeb (1 ardeb is equivalent to 150kg) to encourage them to increase the quantities they sell to the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.

The cabinet also authorised the supply ministry to take the necessary measures to establish a pricing mechanism for unsubsidised bread to curb price hikes.

The wheat incentives will be added to the pre-determined wheat prices, bringing the total price of wheat to EGP 865 for an ardeb of 22.5 carats; EGP 875 for an ardeb of 23 carats; and EGP 885 for an ardeb of 23.5 carats.

The disbursement of the incentive comes in implementation of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis directives to support farmers and encourage them to increase the quantities of wheat they sell to the supply ministry, a statement by the cabinet read.

The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade expects to receive nearly six million tonnes of homegrown wheat this year, up from nearly four million tonnes in 2021. The wheat season will start early April to shore up the country's strategic reserves to cover nearly eight months  up from the current four months  with local wheat supplies.

Egypt, which imports 80 percent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine, is attempting to diversify its wheat imports due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The country has been recently seeking 14 alternative markets, including non-European countries, such as the US, Argentina, Canada, and Paraguay to meet its wheat needs.

The fixed pricing mechanism for unsubsidised bread is set to curb the unjustified price hikes, the cabinet said, adding that the move is in line with El-Sisis directives to assess the cost of producing the unsubsidised bread as well as its pricing.

The pricing mechanism, the cabinet said, will be implemented for a period of three months.

The price of unsubsidised bread in Egypt, which is highly dependent on imported wheat, has soared by nearly 50 percent over the past week against the background of an increase in prices of wheat globally due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

In preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, which will start on 2 April and typically witnesses an increase in the rate of consumption of food products, the Ministry of Trade and Industry imposed on Saturday an export ban on cooking oil, corn, and all types of cracked green wheat (fereek) for three months.

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The Egyptian cabinet raised on Thursday the prices of household and commercial butane gas cylinders by seven percent starting Friday - the second such increase since December amid a sharp rise in oil prices globally.

As per the cabinets decree, which was published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, the price of 12.5 kilogram butane gas cylinders for domestic use will increase by EGP 5 to EGP 75 ($4.77).

Meanwhile, the price of 25 kilogram butane cylinders for commercial use will increase by EGP 10 to EGP 150 ($9.54).

In July 2019, Egypt started implementing a quarterly automatic pricing mechanism on all petroleum products to adjust for changes in global oil prices, while exempting the butane and petroleum products used by the electricity sector and bakeries.

Egypt has raised gasoline and fuel prices several times over the last three years - most recently in February.

However, during the same period, the government kept prices of butane gas cylinders fixed till last December.

While millions of citizens in Egypt rely on butane gas cylinders for domestic or commercial use, the government has worked since 1981 to connect natural gas to households.

As of January, the government has connected 13 million housing units, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla said in February.

Last summer, Egypt was producing up to a million gas cylinders on a daily basis, Hassan Nasr, the head for the general division of the petroleum products at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, told Al-Watan in August.

Nasr added that Egypt production of butane cylinders increases during winter to around 1.1 million.

In December, the government raised the price of the cylinders, also by seven percent, for the first time in two years.

The new hike in butane price comes as global oil and natural gas prices have reached record levels in light of the war in Ukraine.

On Friday, the price of Brent crude oil per barrel reached around $103, up from around $92 on 23 February, the day before Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources had last raised their price by 66 percent in 2018 and again by 30 percent in 2019.

Butane gas cylinders usually reach consumers at remote distances from factories at higher prices.

In December, El-Molla said Egypt imports about 50 percent of its total butane gas consumption, adding that the state subsidises the butane cylinder, which cost EGP 140 to produce.

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A spokesman for Olaf Scholz says the German chancellor spoke Friday by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged him to agree to an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine.

During the hour-long call, Scholz also called for an improvement to the humanitarian situation and progress in efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that her country should consider imposing an oil embargo on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

In a security policy speech Friday, she said it was important to take a stance and not remain silent due to economic or energy dependency.

"Even if it's difficult, including on questions now with regard to oil or other embargoes,'' said Baerbock.

Germany receives about a third of its oil from Russia and half of its coal and natural gas.

Baerbock also warned against China's growing influence over energy infrastructure in Africa and Asia, saying Germany will soon propose a new strategy on dealing with Beijing.

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Some medical experts have raised the alarm, but small business owners demand a complete end of the lockdown that has crippled their livelihoods for nearly two years.

The government decided to raise the cap on gatherings from the current six people. It also considered letting bars and restaurants to open until midnight but changed its mind to maintain the current 11 p.m. curfew.

The government is lifting the limit on gatherings to eight people next week although coronavirus cases keep soaring. As of Friday morning, the daily tally of new infections stood at 407,017 with 301 deaths and 1,049 severe cases.

Since May 2020, the government has changed lockdown rules 48 times, but they seem to have had little impact on infection numbers and its predictions have veered wildly off course.

The country's workforce is thinning out. As of Thursday, 1.93 million people were self-isolating at home after testing positive, while 285,070 are under close watch because of severe symptoms.

The number of critically ill patients and fatalities typically lags behind new infections by two to three weeks, so the situation is expected to get worse.

Choi Jae-wook at Korea University, said, "The government is trying to calm the public by telling them that the Omicron variant is manageable because it is milder than other variants, but this is an illusion. The proportion of critically ill patients is smaller, but the real numbers are huge because overall infections have soared."

Eom Joong-sik of Gachon University's Gil Medical Center warned that the worst is yet to come.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 18, 2022 - 16:30 | All, Japan

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit India and Cambodia from March 19 to 21, the Japanese government said Friday.

Kishida will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to confirm cooperation toward a free and open Indo-Pacific, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference.

The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India.

The two countries are members of the Quad group of four major Indo-Pacific democracies with the United States and Australia.

Their leaders earlier this month met online and agreed they oppose any unilateral use of force to change the status quo in their region, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine brings renewed concerns over China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

In Cambodia, Kishida will meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday as part of Tokyo's efforts to strengthen cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including forging a unified response toward the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Cambodia holds this year's presidency of the 10-member ASEAN, which has been struggling to defuse the political crisis in Myanmar where the military toppled the democratically elected government in a February 2021 coup.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he will make a four-day trip from Friday to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates for talks with his counterparts.

Turkey is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member and has close ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Hayashi is expected to seek cooperation with Turkey in improving the situation in Ukraine.

The UAE is the second-largest crude oil supplier to energy-scarce Japan after Saudi Arabia. Hayashi's trip comes as Japan is exploring ways of cooperating to stabilize the oil market in light of soaring crude prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"To defend the foundation of the international order, I will confirm close collaborations with the two nations," Hayashi told a news conference.

Related coverage:

Japan, Saudi Arabia to work toward stabilizing crude oil markets

Japan to revoke Russia's "most favored nation" status over Ukraine

Quad leaders oppose unilateral use of force in Indo-Pacific region
By Trend





Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov visited Germany on March 17, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

During the visit, Khalafov held the meetings with the Director for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia at the German Federal Foreign Office Matthias Luttenberg and Deputy Head of Department for Foreign and Security Policy at the German Federal Chancellery Christian Aulbach.

The views on bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Germany, as well as on cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, the ongoing processes in the international arena and in the region were exchanged at the meetings.

Touching upon the fact that the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be marked this year, the sides expressed gratification with the high level of bilateral relations. The hope was expressed that the intensive political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Germany will continue at the new German government.

The development of economic ties, Germanys active participation in the restoration of the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenias occupation, and the intensification of cooperation in the energy sector were also discussed. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of the EU and plays an important role in the energy security of Europe.

The deputy minister informed about the new realities which appeared after the 44-day Armenia-Azerbaijan Karabakh war and the signing of tripartite statements, the possibilities for achieving sustainable peace in the region and Azerbaijan's position on the issue of normalizing the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.

The sides exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest, including the issues of regional and international security, as well as the situation in Ukraine.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 18, 2022 - 20:18 | All, Japan

Japan will aim to speed up the start of operations of some new offshore wind power plants, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed the resource-poor nation to review its high energy dependence on imports, the government said Friday.

The government's permission criteria for businesses bidding to use marine areas to generate offshore wind power will be reviewed so companies that can start sooner rather than later will be more highly evaluated, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

"Following the situation in Ukraine, we are facing an urgent need to accelerate the introduction of renewable energy as a home-grown energy source toward decarbonization. This is also vital in terms of ensuring energy security," industry minister Koichi Hagiuda told a press conference.

In December, a group led by trading house Mitsubishi Corp. won the right to use three marine areas, near Tokyo and in northeastern Japan, with its plan of supplying power at low prices highly rated. The group aims to start business in 2028.

However, some of the companies that lost out in the bidding process complained that the criteria were too cost-oriented.

A ministry council will start specific discussions on how to revise the screening criteria next week, Hagiuda added.

Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which started on Feb. 24, has led Western nations to ban or cut imports of Russian crude oil and other fossil fuels as part of economic sanctions on Russia. Those moves have spurred a surge in energy prices.

Japan, however, has remained cautious about joining the West as it has promoted energy imports from Russia in light of its geographical vicinity and the necessity to decentralize supply sources. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that ensuring stable energy supplies is a "national interest."

Russia accounted for 3.6 percent of Japanese crude oil imports, and 8.8 percent of its liquefied natural gas imports in 2021, according to data from the Japan External Trade Organization.

Japan's law on the use of oceans for renewable energy in 2019 allows wind power operators to use designated marine areas for up to 30 years.

Last October, the government approved its energy plan, a road map toward a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, positioning offshore wind power as a driving force of renewable energy.

Under the energy plan, Japan has set a target of making renewables account for 36 to 38 percent of total domestic power generation capacity in fiscal 2030, more than twice as much as the 18 percent recorded in fiscal 2019 that ended in March 2020.
A team of 10 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts arrived in the capital of Cambodia Wednesday evening to help the southeast Asian nation fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team was warmly welcomed by the Cambodian health ministry's secretary of state Oeun Boraroth and Wu Guoquan, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia, at the Phnom Penh International Airport upon their arrival.

Boraroth said the experts will carry out medical tasks at the Cambodia China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh.

"The TCM experts will play an important role in sharing China's experience in treating COVID-19 patients with Cambodian doctors," he told reporters, adding that they will also carry out the clinical diagnosis and treatment of other diseases.

He said more TCM experts will be dispatched to Cambodia in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Boraroth expressed his profound gratitude to China for having provided a large number of TCMs to Cambodia, saying that they are very efficacious to treat COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.

"Traditional Chinese medicines are very useful. A lot of patients have recovered after using them," he said.

The medical team was organized by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and selected by the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Two TCM experts have arrived in Cambodia ahead of the team to carry out medical assistance work.

Some of them used to be the frontline doctors during the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Wu said the state-level TCM medical team would train Cambodian medical professionals on how to treat COVID-19 patients using TCMs.

"You are all not only doctors who save lives and heal the wounded, but also the builders of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future," he said.

He said TCMs, namely Lianhua Qingwen capsules and Huashi Baidu granules, have been licensed to use for treating symptoms of COVID-19 patients in Cambodia, and they are very popular here and in other countries.

"Facts have proved that traditional Chinese medicines are safe and highly efficacious," Wu said.

Xu Fengqin, one of the TCM experts, said she was very pleased to be selected for such a vital mission in Cambodia.

"We hope that China's experience and TCM technology will help Cambodia to treat COVID-19 patients more effectively," she said.

Cambodia has fully resumed its socio-economic activities in all sectors and reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine since mid-November last year after most of its population have been inoculated against the COVID-19.

The country reported 140 new cases and one fatality on Wednesday, bringing the national total caseload to 134,492, with 3,049 deaths and 130,028 recoveries, the health ministry said.





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File photo: Thai Assistant Professor Kuapan Nakbubpa gives a lesson at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing in 2013. (Xinhua)

by Xinhua writer Chen Qianci

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The distance from Chiang Mai to Beijing is nearly 3,000 km, and Kuapan Nakbubpa never imagined that she would one day throw herself into educational work in a place so faraway from home.

The 77-year-old Thai assistant professor has been working in China for 18 years since she retired in 2005. She now considers Beijing her second home and spares no effort to spread knowledge here.

Kuapan started teaching in Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in 1992, during the late winter and early spring in the Chinese capital, yet "it was much colder than the coldest time in Chiang Mai."

"I love teaching so much," said the Thai teacher, adding that she was so excited that she woke up at 3:00 a.m. on the first day of the new semester this year, and kept teaching for four hours straight that morning without taking any break, "I don't feel tired at all."

The thin and silver-haired professor seems no different from any ordinary old Chinese lady except that she knows little Chinese, nor does she know anything about a mobile phone or computer. Her teaching "weapons" are only chalk and blackboard.

Though being a "low-tech" teacher according to Kuapan's self-mockery, she tried everything to get her class on track, such as learning Chinese pinyin and using English expressions and gestures to communicate with her Chinese students.

Kuapan recalled that when she first arrived in Beijing, she inevitably encountered some difficulties in life, including language barriers, but there was always someone to lend a helping hand.

"It is the kind help from teachers and students at BFSU that has supported me in Beijing for so many years," Kuapan said with emotion.

In the eyes of students enrolled in the Thai major at BFSU, Kuapan is like a "perpetual motion machine." She always arrives in class earlier than students and can even lecture through a two-hour class without rest.

Kuapan is more than willing to spend her spare time tutoring students, to the extent that her students jokingly call her residence their "second classroom," as it is where she teaches them everything from pronunciation, word combination, sentence-making, dialogue, speech, and composition, to thesis writing.

Whether it is day or night, weekdays or weekends, Kuapan welcomes students whenever she has time. "My spare time is not that important. If students make progress, I will be happy."

Most students realize how lucky they are to have such a dedicated teacher and prefer to affectionately address Kuapan as "granny," which is to the foreign professor's delight, as she considers every Chinese student her own child.

Kuapan is also trusted by teachers of BFSU. Whenever they encounter any problems related to Thailand or the Thai language, they can always turn to the knowledgeable "granny" for help.

Kuapan also answers questions even for graduates on the phone, which she calls "after-sales service". With her tireless cultivation, the graduates are now active in various fields such as diplomacy, journalism, education, economy, and trade.

Kuapan also contributed to the compilation of Thai literature textbooks and dictionaries, all of which have won her many awards from the Chinese government, such as the Friendship Award for 2005, the title of "the most favorite foreign teacher of Chinese students" in 2014, and the 2016 International Educator in China Award.

No matter how many awards she has received, she still considers herself "an ordinary Thai teacher," and her only reason to stay in China is "for the students."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuapan has not been able to return to Thailand for more than two years. Given her advanced age, she plans to return to her hometown next year.

"I won't just walk away. If teachers in BFSU need to name freshmen in Thai, they can contact me one day in advance," Kuapan said. 




BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his offer to bring the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to Turkey, during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on Thursday.

"Pointing out that reaching consensus on some issues may require talks at the leadership level, Erdogan reiterated his offer to host Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul or Ankara," said a statement of the Turkish presidency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has listed six priorities during peace talks with Russia, said his press service.

"My priorities in the negotiations are absolutely clear: the end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country, real protection for our country," Zelensky said while addressing the nation on Thursday.

Earlier Wednesday, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said Russia and Ukraine have achieved some progress on a number of issues during the new round of talks, "but not all."

"The preservation and development of Ukraine's neutral status, Ukraine's demilitarization along with a whole range of issues related to the size of the Ukrainian army are being discussed," Medinsky said.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
A Chinese envoy said Thursday that helping Afghanistan ease the humanitarian and economic crises is the top priority for the international community. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Local residents are seen outside a damaged building in Volnovakha of Donetsk, March 15, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

Behind the double-standard coverage is the condescending mindset and the penetration of Western-centrism in their journalism industry, which views the Western countries "more civilized" than the rest of the world.

CAIRO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- If people take a close look at the Western coverage on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, they can easily see racial prejudice and double standards -- practices that Western media have often scoffed at.

"These are not refugees from Syria, these are refugees from Ukraine ... They're Christian, they're white, they're very similar (to us)," Kelly Cobiella, an NBC News correspondent based in London, recently said on video.

Since the onset of the conflict, such remarks of a racist nature have been circulating on Western media.

When numerous journalists have focused on the look, skin color, race and religion of Ukrainian evacuees, and made a comparison between them and refugees from the Middle East and North Africa, their unspoken implication is that the former are superior to the latter and have less reason to suffer from any plight.

Behind the double-standard coverage is the condescending mindset and the penetration of Western-centrism in their journalism industry, which views the Western countries "more civilized" than the rest of the world.

Obsessed with preaching others on human rights and civil rights, and chanting such slogans as "all men are created equal," the United States and its allies, however, have long been holding double standards and racist bias.

Photo taken on Feb. 28, 2022 shows the U.S. Capitol building, seen through a barrier fence, in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

A basic rule of journalism is to be sensitive to victims' feeling when reporting on any tragedy, but in fact, some in the West just associate the need of comfort to people's race.

As Andrew Mitrovica, an Al Jazeera columnist who had previously worked at several Western news organizations, has criticized, "editorial staff shaped institution-wide editorial policies that, in effect, established who and what kind of 'victims' warrant sympathy and attention and who and what kind of 'victims' do not."

"While the invasion of Iraq by the United States was considered a liberation, the operation taken by Russia is seen as a cut-throat invasion in the eyes of the Western media," Egyptian professor and writer Azza Radwan Sedky wrote in an article published on Ahram Online, the English news website of Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper.

Moreover, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict is under the spotlight, the sufferings of people in such countries as Iraq and Afghanistan, both invaded by the United States, are receiving less coverage by Western media.

Migrating Afghans are seen at Islam Qala, a town along the border with Iran in the western Herat province of Afghanistan, March 3, 2022. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua)

Joy Reid, an MSNBC political analyst and host, criticized the Western coverage of Ukraine, saying Americans only care about the war because Ukrainians are "white and largely Christian."

"We should also care this much for refugees and those facing occupation and war in the Middle East and Asia and Africa, too," Reid said. "But we haven't witnessed the same type of solidarity for the Yemenis as we do for the Ukranians."

Obviously, Western media have been posting contradictory narratives on similar situations, with the difference hinging on their own interest and calculation, rather than professional ethics or responsibilities. That's why they have called the U.S.-launched wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as "a liberation" and an "anti-terror" fight.

Facing a conflict, media outlets are expected to play a role in bridging understanding gaps and promoting peace, in addition to providing information and documenting what is going on.

Unfortunately, some Western media's deeds have run counter to these aims, which only tarnished their reputation and credibility, and exposed their hypocrisy and racist bias. 
Palestinians learn the Hebrew language at the Nafha Center for Training Languages and Translation, in Gaza City, March 14, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

by Sanaa Kamal

GAZA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Ahmed Abu Ajina, a 34-year-old Palestinian man from Beit Lahia town in northern Gaza Strip, returned to continue his learning of Hebrew after one-year absence from school, in a hope to working inside Israel.

In October 2021, Israel announced that it would allow Gazans to work inside their lands to ease the economic crisis in the Strip.

Abu Ajina, an accountant in an agricultural company in the Strip, which has direct contact with Israeli companies, has to deal with exchange of commercial letters in Hebrew between the two sides on a daily basis.

"We are closely related to Israel, either through companies or individuals, so learning Hebrew benefits us," he said.

Thousands of Gazans, including unemployed workers, graduates, and elderly people, gathered in front of the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce in Gaza to apply for Israeli work permits.

Abu Ajina was among them.

"I aspire to work in Israel in order to improve the economic situation of my family, and I hope to work in the field of accounting that I am good at," he said.

Muhammad al-Qattaa, a resident of Gaza City, also returned to studying the language after many years of interruption. He also wants to work inside Israel.

The 38-year-old father of five told Xinhua that he was currently waiting for a response to the application and he wanted to communicate with the Israeli authorities in their own tongue.

"In the past, when Palestinian workers were working inside Israel, they were fluent in the Hebrew language, but the popularity of the language has declined due to the imposed siege," he said, who works in a marble factory.

"The Hebrew language is not difficult since it is close to the Arabic language," he added, expressing his hope that his Hebrew will be improved after obtaining approval from the Israeli authorities to enter their territory.

Abu Ajina and al-Qattaa are among hundreds of students who flock to the Nafha Center for Training Languages and Translation in order to learn the Hebrew language.

The number of students learning at the center this year increased by about 400 percent compared to previous years, according to Ahmed Al-Falit, director of the center.

"As many as around 1,000 students graduate this year," he stressed, adding that "this noticeable increase is due to the desire of a large number of Palestinians to work inside Israel."

Most students need about five weeks of learning to start speaking Hebrew, he said, adding he also gives an appendix with common vocabulary to those who will work in Israel.

Both Abu Ajina and al-Qattaa hope that there will be trade and economic exchange between the Gaza Strip and Israel, and there will be "hope to live in peace between Palestinians and Israelis." 

Palestinians learn the Hebrew language at the Nafha Center for Training Languages and Translation, in Gaza City, March 14, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians learn the Hebrew language at the Nafha Center for Training Languages and Translation, in Gaza City, March 14, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden at the latter's request in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

-- The two Presidents agreed that the video call is constructive.

-- The two Presidents directed their teams to promptly follow up and take concrete actions to put China-U.S. relations back on the track of steady development.

-- The two sides are ready to make respective efforts for the proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping had a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden at the request of the latter on Friday. The two Presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations, the situation in Ukraine, and other issues of mutual interest.

President Biden said that 50 years ago, the United States and China made the important choice of issuing the Shanghai Communique. Fifty years on, the U.S.-China relationship has once again come to a critical time. How this relationship develops will shape the world in the 21st century.

He reiterated that the U.S. does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China's system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the U.S. does not support "Taiwan independence"; and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China.

The U.S. is ready to have candid dialogue and closer cooperation with China, stay committed to the one-China policy, and effectively manage competition and disagreements to ensure the steady growth of the relationship, said President Biden.

He also expressed readiness to stay in close touch with President Xi to set the direction for the U.S.-China relationship.

Noting the international landscape has experienced new major developments since their first virtual meeting last November, Xi said the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges, and the world is neither tranquil nor stable.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world's two leading economies, China and the U.S. must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, Xi said.

Xi stressed that he and President Biden share the view that China and the U.S. need to respect each other, coexist in peace and avoid confrontation, and that the two sides should increase communication and dialogue at all levels and in all fields.

President Biden has just reiterated that the U.S. does not seek to have a new Cold War with China, to change China's system, or to revitalize alliances against China, and that the U.S. does not support "Taiwan independence" or intend to seek a conflict with China, Xi said. "I take these remarks very seriously."

Xi pointed out the China-U.S. relationship, instead of getting out of the predicament created by the previous U.S. administration, has encountered a growing number of challenges. What's worth noting in particular is that some people in the U.S. have sent a wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" forces, Xi said, adding "this is very dangerous."

Mishandling of the Taiwan question will have a disruptive impact on the bilateral ties, said Xi. "China hopes that the U.S. will give due attention to this issue."

The direct cause for the current situation in the China-U.S. relationship is that some people on the U.S. side have not followed through on the important common understanding reached by the two Presidents and have not acted on President Biden's positive statements. The U.S. has misperceived and miscalculated China's strategic intention, Xi said.

Xi underscored that there have been and will continue to be differences between China and the U.S. "What matters is to keep such differences under control. A steadily growing relationship is in the interest of both sides," he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden at the latter's request in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.

President Biden expounded on the U.S. position, and expressed readiness for communication with China to prevent the situation from exacerbating.

"China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this. China stands for peace and opposes war. This is embedded in China's history and culture," Xi said.

China makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter, advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations, and adheres to the UN Charter and promotes the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. These are the major principles that underpin China's approach to the Ukraine crisis, Xi said.

Noting that China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Xi said China is ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and other affected countries.

"All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace," Xi said, adding that the U.S. and NATO should also have dialogue with Russia to address the crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine.

Xi stressed that with the need to fight COVID-19 on the one hand and protect the economy and people's livelihood on the other, things are already very difficult for countries around the world.

"As leaders of major countries, we need to think about how to properly address global hotspot issues and, more importantly, keep in mind global stability and the work and life of billions of people," Xi said.

Sweeping and indiscriminate sanctions would only make the people suffer. If further escalated, they could trigger serious crises in global economy and trade, finance, energy, food, and industrial and supply chains, crippling the already languishing world economy and causing irrevocable losses, Xi added.

"The more complex the situation, the greater the need to remain cool-headed and rational," Xi said, adding that whatever the circumstances, there is always a need for political courage to create space for peace and leave room for political settlement.

"As two Chinese sayings go, 'It takes two hands to clap.' 'He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off.' It is imperative that the parties involved demonstrate political will and find a proper settlement in view of both immediate and long-term needs," Xi said.

Xi said other parties can and should create conditions to that end. The pressing priority is to keep the dialogue and negotiation going, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and cease hostilities as soon as possible.

He said an enduring solution would be for major countries to respect each other, reject the Cold War mentality, refrain from bloc confrontation, and build step by step a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture for the region and for the world.

"China has been doing its best for peace and will continue to play a constructive role," Xi said.

Agreeing that the video call is constructive, the two Presidents directed their teams to promptly follow up and take concrete actions to put China-U.S. relations back on the track of steady development, and make respective efforts for the proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Ding Xuexiang, Liu He and Wang Yi were present at the call.
Pedestrians walk in front of a COVID-19 vaccination site in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, Nov. 19, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

The applications by the two companies would intensify debate about the durability of the protection afforded by the coronavirus vaccines.

WASHINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- American biotechnology company Moderna submitted a request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday for emergency use authorization (EUA) on a fourth dose of its COVID-19 vaccine for adults 18 years of age and older, who already received a booster dose of any approved or authorized shot.

The request to include adults over 18 years of age was made to provide flexibility for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and healthcare providers to "determine the appropriate use of an additional booster dose," including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities, said the company in a statement.

Currently a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the 50 microgram dose level is authorized by the FDA for emergency use in the United States for adults 18 years and older.

Moderna said it continues to collect and monitor real-world data on its COVID-19 vaccine. Clinical trials are ongoing for Moderna's Omicron-specific booster and a bivalent Omicron-specific booster.

Moderna's application followed the one filed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech earlier in the week, which requests FDA authorization for a second booster shot for adults 65 and older.

Pfizer said data showed rates of confirmed infections were 2 times lower and rates of severe illness were 4 times lower among individuals who received an additional booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine compared to individuals who received only an initial booster.

Both Pfizer and Moderna said their submission is based on real-world data sets from Israel analyzed at a time when the Omicron variant was widely circulating.

Photo taken on Aug. 23, 2021 shows Pfizer signage at Pfizer's World Headquarters in New York, United States. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

"These data showed evidence that an additional mRNA booster increases immunogenicity and lowers rates of confirmed infections and severe illness," said Pfizer on Tuesday.

The applications by the two companies would intensify debate about the durability of the protection afforded by the coronavirus vaccines.

Emerging evidence, including data from Kaiser Permanente Southern California, suggests that effectiveness against both symptomatic COVID-19 and severe disease caused by Omicron wanes 3 to 6 months after receipt of an initial booster, the third dose, according to Pfizer.

Thus, additional booster doses may be needed to ensure individuals remain adequately protected, said the company.

The FDA is set to convene its advisory committee of vaccine experts in April to deliberate how to arrange COVID-19 booster shots, including whether and when those boosters may be needed and for which populations, based on the available data and latest science on circulating or emerging virus variants. 
CAIRO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between Egypt and China in Al applications is "promising" to help the Arab country achieve digital transformation, as China is a leading innovator in the field, said Osama Abdel-Raouf, an Egyptian professor in AI.

Egypt has realized that AI is a key tech sector for economic development and modernization, and building an AI-based environment in the country requires a large number of young professionals in AI technology, the dean of Menoufia University's AI faculty said.

That is why Egypt has started to support the establishment of AI colleges at his university and Kafr El-Sheikh University in recent years, according to Abdel-Raouf.

Speaking of Egypt's digital transformation and relevant infrastructure, Abdel-Raouf stressed it is crucial to cooperate with China, a country that emerges from being the world's factory to a top innovator in AI and robotics.

"China is the only country that can provide any project with a fully intelligent environment in an integrated manner with all its elements connected and run by systematic AI programs," the professor stressed.

"During a visit to China four years ago, I noticed that one of the companies I visited has about 150,000 employees, half of whom work exclusively in the development," Abdel-Raouf noted.

So it is "natural" that China has filed a considerable share of global patent applications, he added.

He pointed out that China has also taken the lead in 5G and LED technology, and Chinese internet companies have applied AI technology in search engines and social media websites.

Cooperation between Egypt and China in Al applications is "promising" in light of China's advancement in digital transformation, smart agriculture, smart transportation, and other AI-based fields, he said.

The professor said foreign AI companies could learn from China by cooperating in building AI laboratories, programs and applications, as well as developing the Internet of Things.

He said China has achieved "impressive success" in developing and manufacturing robot arms, carving out a niche in the global market with quality products at competitive prices.

"The great advantage in China now is that it has become a place where you can get cutting-edge technology with highly competitive prices and abundant production," he pointed out. 
By Trend

UK, US, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway have called for a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Trend reports citing the Twitter page of Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN.

"UK, US, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway have called for a Security Council meeting on Ukraine."

The date and time of the meeting has not been specified.
HARARE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday called for more investment in the energy sector to meet the country's growing power demand which is expected to peak at 2,000 MW by the end of 2023.

He said the country's power demand was surging due to increased economic activity in various sectors that include housing development and construction.

"The projections are that by end of 2023, the national demand for power will have increased by about 400 MW, taking average peak demand to 2,000 MW," Mnangagwa said during a tour of the upgrading project of the 42-km Deka pipeline that supplies water to Hwange Thermal Power Station and surrounding communities.

He said energy was a key enabler to the acceleration of the country's modernization and industrialization agenda as well as sustainable socioeconomic growth.

"It is thus imperative for all stakeholders in the energy sector to be proactive and to put all in place and complete all fundamental projects toward ensuring the continuous development and improvement in national power generation and distribution," he said.

Zimbabwe has a peak electricity demand of 1,600 MW against an average of 1,200 MW that it is currently generating. It covers the shortfall through imports.

To address perennial power shortages in the country, the Zimbabwean government is undertaking several electricity generation projects, most of which are funded by extra-budgetary funds, loans and the private sector.

China has also been funding most of the major power generation projects in Zimbabwe in recent years, including the expansion of the Kariba South Hydro Power Station by 300 MW at a cost of 535 million U.S. dollars in 2018, and the current 1.5-billion-dollar expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station by 600 MW.

Mnangagwa said the Hwange Power Station Extension project, which is now 82 percent complete, is an integral part of Zimbabwe's energy strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2025. 
BANGKOK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Despite record-high daily COVID-19 cases, Thailand on Friday announced further easing of social distancing rules nationwide, allowing more businesses to resume operations.

The government is also considering to cancel the requirement of pre-departure COVID-19 tests for inbound travelers from April 1, as part of relaxed border control measures to boost tourism, Natapanu Nopakun, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a daily news briefing of the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Aiming to help the economy recover from the pandemic, Thailand plans to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease by July 1, regardless of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

On Friday, new infections in Thailand hit a record high of 27,071, surpassing the previous record of 25,615 in late February, according to the CCSA. The country also reported 80 more deaths, the highest number of coronavirus-linked fatalities registered since November 2021.

To tackle the highly contagious Omicron wave, the authorities already approved a plan to gradually contain the surge of new infections and prepare the country to treat the virus as an endemic, with the help of accelerated vaccination.

As of Thursday, around 72 percent of its nearly 70-million population had been fully vaccinated, while 31.7 percent had received booster shots. 
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues on Friday as relevant parties are working to broker a peaceful solution. Following are the latest developments of the situation:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his offer to bring the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to Turkey, during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday.

"Pointing out that reaching consensus on some issues may require talks at the leadership level, Erdogan reiterated his offer to host Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul or Ankara," said a statement of the Turkish presidency.

Declaration of a lasting ceasefire would pave the way for a long-term solution, said Erdogan, expressing his hope that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would yield positive results, according to the statement.

- - - -

According to the Kremlin, in their conversation, Putin and Erdogan exchanged views on Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, especially the humanitarian situation.

Putin briefed Erdogan about the Moscow-Kiev peace talks, while Erdogan thanked Putin for the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Ukraine, it added.

- - - -

During their talks on Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his visiting Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to focus on organizing a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

"Now, we are focusing our efforts on organizing a meeting of leaders of Ukraine and Russia," Cavusoglu said, adding that the date of the meeting has yet to be confirmed.

- - - -

Zelensky said Thursday that he held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss France's support for Ukraine.

They discussed the support for Ukrainians in the conflict and the continuation of peaceful dialogue, he tweeted.

- - - -

During his visit to Pakistan, Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Thursday that no one in Austria is allowed to go and fight in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.

"I can tell you one thing anybody going to conflict will lose, by law, its nationality. This is Austrian law," he told a media briefing.

- - - -

On Thursday, the Lithuanian parliament unanimously approved a proposal to increase this year's national defense funding to 2.52 percent of GDP, according to Lithuanian ministry of finance.

The new amendment allows the state to borrow funds for its NATO membership commitments, ensuring defense allocations at 2.52 percent of GDP. The current budget allocates just over 1.2 billion euros, or 2.05 percent of GDP, to the Defense Ministry. 
DUBLIN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A grand parade was held in the Irish capital Dublin on Thursday to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, Ireland's national day which falls on March 17 every year.

For years, the parade has been an indispensable and perhaps the most exciting part of the celebrations in Dublin on Saint Patrick's Day. However, it has been suspended along with other public celebrations since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

As Ireland has now scrapped nearly all the COVID-19 restrictions, the parade has returned back to the city for the first time in three years. An estimated 400,000 people participated in Thursday's celebrations in Dublin, organizers told local media.

The theme of this year's festival is "Connections," they said, adding that they intend to strengthen connections between people which have been seriously disrupted by the pandemic through arts, culture and heritage.

Thursday's parade in Dublin featured dozens of marching bands and dancing groups from all walks of life in addition to various other shows. Marching bands from Britain, Germany and the United States also participated in the parade which lasted more than two hours.

Meanwhile, celebrations were also held in the other parts of Ireland on Thursday. 
New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) senior leader and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is coming around to accept the ground reality of his hollow announcements. According to Cheema, on Saturday CM Channi himself exposed the reality of his cabinets announcement to regularize 36,000 temporary employees in the state. Through a statement issued from the party headquarters, Harpal Singh Cheema said, Today, CM Channi had to publicly tell the truth that 36,000 employees werent regularized.

Whereas, we (Aam Aadmi Party) are saying this since the day one that no employees are being regularized. Our Punjab President Bhagwant Mann had challenged Channi government too; to give names of any 36 employees that have been made permanent after the announcement. Terming Charanjit Singh Channi as the weakest Chief Minister of Punjab, Harpal Singh Cheema said that judging Channis non-serious attitude, all the government officers are out of their (Punjab Government and CM) control today and due to their civil war, leaders and ministers of Congress seems to be uncontrollable too.

Cheema said that if the Chief Minister had completed the process of filing for regularization with seriousness and clean intentions, then there wouldnt have been any solid reason, on the part of the Governor, to not clear that file. Cheema said that today Channi is giving a statement that Governor is not signing the file, and if he didnt then Channi with his entire cabinet would stage a dharna in front of Punjab Raj Bhawan (Governors Resident). Cheema questioned that a government that is facing protests in every corner of the state, would they be able to solve the situation through a dharna?

And another question is that a government who isnt taking dharnas seriously or handling them in the boundaries of democracy and law and order, lathicharged teachers and nurses; would the Governor take dharna of such government seriously? Advising CM Channi, Cheema said that your hollow announcements are exposed now, so ethically, instead of staging a dharna in front of Raj Bhawan, CM Channi should resign. He should himself bore the expense of all the advertisements, that he has done about the 36,000 regular jobs, because he has wasted a large amount of money from Punjab exchequer on it, and should apologise to the public for it all. He added that China's claim to get 100 jobs done in 100 days is deceptive just like his promise to regularize 36,000 employees and every other announcement.

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Chandigarh:

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab's state president and chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann, fulfilling his responsibility as an MP in Parliament, raised various issues pertaining Punjabs farmers in Lok Sabha. Mann, on Wednesday, left behind his campaigning for Punjab assembly election to raise the issue of sugarcane farmers in the Parliament.

Mann said that about Rs. 1.25 crore of sugarcane farmers for 2020-21 and about Rs. 20 crore for 2021-22 have not been paid, due to which farmers are very upset. Since, it takes one year for the sugarcane crop to grow fully, so the family of sugarcane farmers is supported by this money throughout the year. They have to face a lot of problems because of delayed payments and bonuses.

Mann appealed to the Parliament to pay the dues of sugarcane farmers along with interest and said that according to the Sugarcane Act 1996, the payment has to be paid within 14 days of the arrival of sugarcane at the mill. If it is not, then it is to be paid with interest. Therefore the government should follow the law and pay the prices of crops to sugarcane farmers with interest. Apart from sugarcane farmers, Mann also raised the issue of cotton (Narma) farmers whose crops were destroyed by pink bollworm but, they have not been compensated till date.

Bhagwant Mann again appealed to the Parliament to acknowledge martyred farmers during anti-farm laws agitation and said that 743 farmers lost their lives during the one-year-long farmers' agitation on the Delhi border. Prime Minister Modi announced to withdraw the three farm laws but did not have a word to offer on the death of farmers. My appeal to the Parliament is that the families of all the farmers who were martyred in the agitation should be given proper compensation and the cases registered against the protesting farmers during the agitation should be withdrawn immediately so that their families can lead a peaceful life.

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New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party leaders will gherao the BJP headquarter in protest of postponement of MCD elections tomorrow. Announcing the protest, Senior AAP Leader and MCD In-charge Shri Durgesh Pathak said, "Fearing its defeat, BJP has resorted to cheap tricks to get MCD elections deferred. The BJP has manipulated an institution like the Election Commission for its benefit. We challenge the BJP to not run away from the fight and take on the revolution of AAP in the coming polls." Shri Durgesh Pathak said, The Aam Aadmi Party has persevered through some challenging times  its volunteers have born the brunt of the police batons, spent countless days in detention, and after this long and arduous struggle has the Aam Aadmi Party come to stand on its own two feet, and transform the face of Delhi, and take care of its people. The BJP leaders and members believe that they will carry out any number of misdeeds under their MCD rule, and no one will bat an eyelid. But, I would like to remind everyone that back in 2013, AAP formed its government in Delhi, which got disbanded within forty nine days following which the BJP did not let assembly elections take place in the National Capital for the longest time. And so, workers of the Aam Aadmi Party went from street to street, protesting this disdain for democracy being practised by the BJP. They went door-to-door, faced violence from police forces, and brought the people of Delhi together, ready to vote for a new government in their state. Thus, after consistent efforts and rallying the Delhi public behind us, the Aam Aadmi Party wore the BJP and its ego down, and hence assembly elections were held as a result. He continued, Similarly, the BJP knows how terribly it has ransacked each and every corner of Delhi by staying in power in the MCD for the past 15 years. Today, the MCD has become absolutely powerless and bankrupt, and its poor situation has reached such lows that its own employees are not being paid their salaries due for months. Moreover, the MCDs job is to keep the National Capital clean and spotless, but we can see for ourselves how dreadfully polluted and filthy most areas of Delhi are. The MCD elections were supposed to take place this month. However, the BJP, with its cheap tricks and blackmail, threatened the Election Commission of India to defer these elections. In order to take forward the demand for these free and fair elections in the Municipal Body to be conducted and to put an end to BJPs authoritarian rule, each and every party worker and concerned Delhi resident will collect at the Aam Aadmi Party office. From there, we will take on the BJP Delhi office, tomorrow at 10 AM sharp. Our workers will show their unparalleled support at ITO tomorrow, and plan out a blueprint for a meaningful fight against BJPs misgovernance. Our single demand to the BJP is that  Do not run away. Let the elections take place. Leave the decision of these elections in the hands of the people of Delhi, and respect the outcome.

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New Delhi:

People are constantly joining AAP as a result of the historic work being done by the Kejriwal government in all areas, including schools, hospitals, electricity, water, roads, transport, and Wi-Fi connectivity. On Sunday, Kuldeep Bhandari, the President of the Delhi Pradesh Parvatiya Congress Committee, and countless Congress workers, including his wife Madhu Bhandari, joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Shri Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and Senior AAP Leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, welcomed everyone into the party with a cap and patka. He stated that the country's politics are evolving. Those who wish to do something for the public and the country are joining the Aam Aadmi Party. BJP leader Prem Chandra Pal and his entire team joined the Aam Aadmi Party today as well. Shri Durgesh Pathak, the AAP MCD in-charge, welcomed him into the party. Shri Adil Khan, the chairman of Azadpur Mandi from AAP was also present at the event.

Shri Manish Sisodia said, "I am personally familiar with Kuldeep Bhandari ji's efforts as a social worker over the previous 8-10 years, and how he was instrumental in developing Uttarakhand's culture, including mountain festivals, in Delhi. Under Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal's leadership, the Aam Aadmi Party has done things for the public good that were never thought possible in politics. Kuldeep Bhandari ji is joining the party today after being impressed by the Aam Aadmi Party's performance in Delhi in the areas of education, health, water and electricity, and other public services. The Aam Aadmi Party is a movement dedicated to improving people's lives, and I am delighted to welcome Kuldeep Bhandari ji to this cause. I am confident that his membership in the Aam Aadmi Party will contribute greatly to society."

Shri Kuldeep Bhandari said, "The development model created by Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal is currently being discussed not only in Delhi but across India. No other party has been able to accomplish more for the advancement of Delhi at the same speed as the Aam Aadmi Party, whether it is a school, a hospital, or a Mohalla Clinic. The Kejriwal government's governance approach is great, and the public benefits from it, which is why I joined the Aam Aadmi Party to better serve the public as a social worker."

It is worth noting that Kuldeep Bhandari is a Senior Congress leader and the President of the Delhi Pradesh Parvatiya Congress Committee. His wife Madhu Bhandari, Congress Seva Dal member Pramod Gupta, social activist Hemant Pasmanda, and JS Negi were among the people who have joined the Aam Aadmi Party.

MCD In-charge Shri Durgesh Pathak stated, "People are joining the Aam Aadmi Party in droves, not only from Delhi but from all over the nation, after being influenced by the Kejriwal model and Aam Aadmi Party's work politics. Premchand Pal, a BJP leader, is joining the Aam Aadmi Party today in the same vein. I warmly welcome him into the Aam Aadmi Party. Premchand ji, has been involved in social and cultural groups for a long time. He has held numerous prominent roles in the Bharatiya Janata Party's Purvanchal and OBC Morchas, including District Vice President. Prem ji's name and face are recognizable to everyone in the Trilokpuri, Patparganj, and Kondli assemblies. I am overjoyed that, besides Prem ji, his entire team has decided to join the Aam Aadmi Party today. Vikram, Sanjay Singh, Pankaj, Bankelal, Sunil Shukla, and others are among them."

Shri Premchand Pal, a former BJP politician, said after joining the Aam Aadmi Party, "I've spent the previous 25 years giving back to society. The BJP is a large party, but I didn't believe it was proper for me to continue there any longer for a variety of reasons. Shri Arvind Kejriwal's work, on the other hand, has left a lasting impression on me. And today, under the leadership of Durgesh Pathak ji, I have joined the Aam Aadmi Party."

AAPs Azadpur Mandi Chairman Shri Adil Khan said, "For the past 15 years, the BJP has been draining the MCD. They have turned Delhi into a landfill. People are eager to walk with Kejriwal in MCD, having been impressed by his performance. Today, we welcome Premchand ji from East MCD to the Aam Aadmi Party in the same episode. I hope he works for the development of society in line with Arvind Kejriwal's vision."

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New Delhi :

Purchasing anything online usually requires a leap of faith. It pays off to buy from a reputable online retailer because you wont get ripped off and you dont have to worry about the product not arriving. However, there are certain things that have been perpetuated by assumptions regarding online purchasing or e-commerce, such as price differences, ease of convenience, and suitability. Designer Optics is here to lay all those concerns to rest and show why buying prescription glasses online is the future.

Which is more convenient? Getting dressed up and ready to leave the house, commuting to the shop, and trying on numerous glasses that are available at the shop while a sales rep presses you on and offers their advice or suggestions, or shopping from the comfort of your own home with the ability to use a search function in order to find the designers, frame style, or even colour of your choice, all without anyone pressuring you into buying? Aron Ekstein succinctly explains about how Designer Optics is far superior to making an in-store purchase, and hes right. There arent any digital databases available in stores and there isnt a way for customers to look at the complete range even if they spend hours at the store. Online shopping is better in this regard because there isnt a need for a physical product, but a virtual representation which can come in the form of a video or photo. While some may argue that you can only tell whether a pair of glasses suit you when you put them on, technology begs to differ.

You can use a virtual mirror to see how the glasses will look on you. Following the pandemic, its a lot safer to try on glasses virtually, anyway. Plus, what about the reviews? When you buy glasses in a physical store, you hardly have the time to go through online reviews to see what other buyers have to say about the product. But when you purchase from Designer Optics, you have the option to scroll through buyer reviews right there on the page. Aside from that, you have all the information you could possibly need, and you wont have to feel like you are a bother to the sales rep or depend on them to give you accurate information.

Another commonplace misconception is that buying glasses online is far more expensive than from a brick and mortar store. However, if you think about it, websites require close to nothing to set up and maintain when compared with a physical store which has to undergo renovations and monthly rent. Prices directly reflect the expenses that go into the whole process, from online marketing to staff training. E-commerce is largely automated and the risk of human error is much smaller, and youre very unlikely to get a wrong order unless you made the mistake yourself. Designer Optics is bringing fashionable lenses to the forefront of the online marketplace by continuing to provide affordable and desirable ranges of eyewear.

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New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President, Member of Parliament and Chief Ministerial Candidate Bhagwant Mann while expressing deep concern over the turbulent climate of state said that saving water, forest and land of Punjab was a matter of urgency. According to Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party government would take necessary steps to tackle this challenge which posed a threat to the survival of Punjab and future generations and would seek the invaluable support of the people, experts and social organizations, including NRI community, of the state for this mission.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters on Saturday, Bhagwant Mann said, "Punjab has been known for its pristine rivers, quality ground water and fertile land. But after independence, the people of Punjab risked their forests, land and water to meet the food needs of the starving country. As a result, the condition of Punjab's land, water and air are constantly deteriorating." He said that ruling parties in centre and Punjab are responsible for it not Punjabs people and farmers. He added that the situation would not have been so dire if the leaders of the ruling parties Congress, Akali Dal Badal and Bhartiya Janata Party had far-sighted policies and sympathetic intentions for Punjab, and the condition of the natural water resources, forests and fertile lands of Punjab would not have been so bad. There were warnings that Punjab would become a desert if rainwater, river and groundwater were not preserved. But these rulers never cared the polluting climate or how to stop declining groundwater level. He said that Congress and Akali governments only focused on promoting mafia in the state instead of taking steps to save land and water of Punjab. The sand mafia and the land mafia are obvious examples of this, which caused great damage to water, forests and land. It is the result of corruption that wastewater is being diverted into the rivers and canals of Punjab which has led to increasing pollution of land, water and air.

Bhagwant Mann said that today the situation is that Punjab is which is known for its water is drying. Malwa, Doaba and Puadh constituencies of Punjab have been depleted of groundwater. Every year the ground water level goes down and the rainfall level has been decreasing since 1998. As a result, about 120 out of 147 blocks have been declared as the dark zone. He said that a large number of residential colonies had been set up in Punjab without any master plan, due to which the natural flow of water, rivers, canals and forests of the state had been wiped out. Only 6.12 per cent forest is left in Punjab, due to which the climate of Punjab is getting polluted day by day.

Bhagwant Mann alleged that the ruling Congress, Akali Dal Badal and BJP leaders in Punjab have looted and destroyed the natural resources like water, forest and land and filled their homes with wealth. Mann said that depletion of forests, land and water from Punjab was a wakeup call for Punjabis. Therefore, the Aam Aadmi Party government will work on a priority basis for the conservation of these natural resources so that Punjab becomes a prosperous state again.

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By Trend

Israel and Egypt have agreed to expand their aviation ties with a new direct route between Tel Aviv and the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh expected to launch in April, Israel's prime minister said on Wednesday, Trend reports with reference to Reuters.

"Cooperation between the two countries is expanding in many areas, and this contributes to both peoples and to the stability of the region," the Israeli leader, Naftali Bennett, said in a statement.

Israeli carrier Israir said once it receives necessary approvals, it plans to operate 15 weekly flights on the Tel Aviv-Sharm El-Sheikh route.

Egyptair currently flies nonstop between Tel Aviv and Cairo.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979.




New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha accused the Congress party of being anti-Dalit and said that their anti-dalit face has come to the fore in their ticket distribution for Punjab Legislative Assembly Elections. He said that Congress party has always used SC community for votes. Congress made an SC leader, Charanjit Singh Channi, their chief minister for few weeks, to do vote bank based politics in Punjab. He said that behind this step of Congresss their only intention was to divide the people of Punjab on religion-caste basis and woo SC voters in their favour.

During a press conference at the party headquarters on Wednesday, Raghav Chadha said that the Congress does not have a place for dalit leaders and their high command has always been a supporter of nepotism in politics.To substantiate his claims of Congress being anti-dalit political front and high on nepotism, Raghav Chadha said that the Congress high command gave tickets to all the big Congress leaders of Punjab, their brothers and nephews, sons and even sons-in-law as per their demands, but brother of CM Channi was denied the ticket even after he clearly expressed his desire to contest assembly elections.

To solidify his claims, Chadha gave examples that Congress gave ticket to Sunil Jakhar's son from Abohar, Amar Singh's son to contest from Raikot, MP Santosh Chaudhary's nephew from Kartarpur and his son will field from Phillaur. Similarly Avtar Henry's son from Jalandhar (Rural), former Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar's daughter-in-law Karna Kaur from Muktsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu's nephew Sumit Singh from Amargarh, Vikram Bajwa, son-in-law of former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhathal, from Sahnewal, Former MLA Surjit Dhiman's nephew was given ticket from Sunam and Brahm Mohindra's son has been fielded from Patiala (Rural). Raghav Chadha said that the Congress party did not accept the appeal of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who belongs to SC community, to give ticket to his brother even after hed practically begged for it.

He said that Congress as per its tradition has applied 'use and throw' at Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Channi has been used as a 'night watchman'. Congress has shown its anti-dalit mentality by denying the ticket to Channi's real brother, and added that Congress only does the politics of nepotism. Congress does not function on the policy of 'one family-one ticket' like Aam Aadmi Party. Aam Aadmi Party opposes Congress's napotism and anti-Dalit policy. Unlike other parties, Aam Aadmi Party give platform and opportunity to the people who come from common background. AAP's MP and Chief Minister Candidate Bhagwant Mann belongs to a simple family and he has successfully completed a long journey from the small village of Satoj to the Parliament.

Chadha said that it was not Channi who was insulted by refusing ticket to his brother but, the entire SC community. He said that it is an old habit of Congress, 18 years ago in Maharashtra, Congress made an SC Chief Minister, Shushil Kumar Shinde, for two months and after elections they replaced him. He said that in Punjab, Channis face is being used in similar manner. Today, Channi is disappointed and upset because of Congresss anti-dalit policies and the people of Punjab are now aware of their (Congresss) mentality too.

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New Delhi :

Raghav Chadha, national spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and co-in-charge of Punjab affairs, said that a political game is being played with the people instead of putting an end to the heinous business of drugs in Punjab state. He said that as the Punjab Legislative Assembly elections are approaching, the Charanjit Singh Channi government of the state has only pulled a political stunt by registering a weak FIR against Bikram Singh Majithia. In a press conference held at the party headquarters here on Sunday, Raghav Chadha said that the Congress government of Punjab, which had promised to end the drugs trade in Punjab within three weeks, did nothing in the last five years.

Now that the assembly elections are approaching, an unsuccessful attempt is being made to mislead the people of the state by registering an FIR against Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party had already expressed apprehensions that under a 'secret deal' between the Channi government of Punjab and Sukhbir Singh Badal of Akali Dal Badal, it was decided that an FIR would be registered against Punjab's Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia but, he will not be arrested. Raghav Chadha said that this is being done because when the brother of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who was involved in the Ludhiana City Center scam, was accused, Channi 'begged' before the Badal family to get his brother out of the case.

Raghav Chadha expressed surprise that despite an FIR and rejection of anticipatory bail against Bikram Majithia, he was not arrested. He said that it has been almost two weeks since the FIR was registered on December 20 last month. Majithia is roaming freely despite the denied anticipatory bail. Pictures of the accused offering prayers at Sri Harmandir Sahib on New Year, are going viral on social media. Despite the rejection of anticipatory bail, the Punjab government is not arresting Bikram Singh Majithia. Raghav Chadha said that a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) is applicable in the whole country that the accused is arrested immediately after the cancellation of anticipatory bail, but this is not being done in the case of Bikram Singh Majithia in Punjab.

He said that this substantiates a direct nexus between Channi and Badal. He said that Channi's government has tried to mislead the people of Punjab by registering a weak FIR against Majithia. Raghav Chadha told that he has been told by a senior police officer in Punjab that the Channi government has asked only to register an FIR against Majithia and not to arrest him. Raghav Chadha said that Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhbir Singh Badal have complete complicity in drug trade. A game of 75 -25 is going on in the drugs business, Channi himself is involved with the sand mining mafia of Punjab. He questioned the Channi government as to what the Punjab government, which claimed to end the drugs trade in Punjab, had done in the last 100 days of its tenure. Raghav Chadha said that Channi should name even one place where drug circulation has reduced or ended.

He said that even today intoxication is being injected into the veins of the youth of Punjab. The Punjab government has not arrested a single drug dealer till date and now with the elections approaching, they have tried to mislead the people of the state by registering a 'weak' FIR against Bikram Singh Majithia. Raghav Chadha said that the drugs trade will be ceased in Punjab on the priority basis with the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government here. He further added that in order to shape the future of the youth of Punjab who are addicted to drugs, they will be brought out of the quagmire of drugs by providing all the help theyll need.

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Chandigarh:

Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha accused the Congress of using Chief Minister Channi to woo SC community votes. Addressing the media on Monday, Chadha said that in the first list of candidates Congress has given tickets to family members and relatives of all its big leaders in Punjab but cut the ticket of Chief Minister Channi's brother. This proves that the Congress applied 'use and throw' at Channi for the votes of the SC community.

Referring to the families of Congress leaders who got tickets, Chadha said that the Congress has fielded Amar Singhs (MP Fatehgarh Sahib) son from Raikot, Avtar Henry's son from Jalandhar, Brahm Mohindra's son from Patiala Rural and Sunil Jakhar's nephew has been given a ticket. But despite publicly expressing his desire to contest, Chief Minister Channi's brother did not get the Congress ticket for Punjab Assembly elections. This shows that Channi has no say at all in the Congress party. The Congress used Channi as the Chief Minister for a few days only to get the votes of the SC community.

Chadha said that Congress has a history of changing the chief minister after taking votes in the name of OBC-SC leaders. Congress has pulled something similar in Maharashtra as well. There, Congress had used Sushilkumar Shinde like Channi. A few days before the election, to woo the SC voters, Shinde was made the chief minister of the state but after the election, they replaced him. Like Maharashtra, Congress is now using Channi as a 'night watchman' in Punjab.

Chadha said that PPCC President Navjot Singh Sidhu and many other congressmen do not respect Chief Minister Channi. Even Channi's photo is missing in the posters of Sidhu's conferences. Sidhu continues to accuse the Channi government of corruption and complicity with the mafia. This clearly means, in Congress Channi is ineffective and has no say. The motive of Congress was not to give a community representation in the form of Channi but only to use Channi's name for the votes of SC community.

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New Delhi:

The entire country is heavily influenced by the Kejriwal Model of Development and the kind of progress that it has made in the state of Delhi. People are constantly joining the Aam Aadmi Party as a result of this phenomenal work being done by the Kejriwal Government in all sectors  including schools, hospitals, electricity, water, roads, and so on. In this order, AAP Senior Leader and MLA Shri Somnath Bharti today welcomed former BJP leader Arvind Kumar, independent candidates Sarita Garwa and Hari Narayan Garwa to the Aam Aadmi Party. Prakash Jarwal, AAP MLA from Deoli felicitated the newcomers with caps and patka. Adil Khan, the chairman of Azadpur Mandi from the Aam Aadmi Party, was also present.

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and MLA Shri Somnath Bharti said, In our country, there are two types of politics going on: religion and caste politics and politics which focuses on progress and actual work. People are tired of religion and politics, something the BJP and Congress have PhDs in. At the same time, the Aam Aadmi Party practises politics focused on progress and development, having done historical work in all areas such as schools, hospitals, electricity, water, roads, internet, and women's safety. People are joining the Aam Aadmi Party in large numbers, influenced by the Kejriwal Model of Development and the Aam Aadmi Party's work oriented politics, not only from Delhi but from all over the country. Today, BJP leader Arvind Kumar, independent candidates Sarita Garwa and Hari Narayan Garwa are joining the Aam Aadmi Party along with many other colleagues.

 He added, Arvind Kumar is a former BJP Vidhan Sabha candidate from Deoli. He has dedicated 13 years of his life to the BJP. He was the Vice President of the BJP Yuva Morcha in District Dakshin. He previously served as the General Secretary of the BJP Mazdoor Federation. He has also been the Vice President of the Delhi Pradesh BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha. He ran for Deoli Vidhan Sabha as a BJP candidate in 2015 and 2020. Arvind ji has been organising camps for free cataract surgery for the past 11 years. Arvind ji has joined the party, as has his wife Anju Arvind Kumar, a BJP Mahila Morcha minister from Tigri ward 75. In addition, former BJP Yuva Morcha Minister Gulshan Kumar from District Southern, former Vice President of SC Morcha Yogesh, Mandal Vice President Vinod Gupta, former District General Secretary of SC Morcha Jagdish Lodhiwal, former Division President Omi Nayak, former Vice President of SC Morcha Birju Ved, former treasurer of Deoli Vidhan Sabha Pawan Bansal, and former municipal candidate Ashok Tyagi are among those joining the Aam Aadmi Party today He added, Sarita Garwa is our second newcomer to the Aam Aadmi Party. Sarita ji served as a Tigri ward councillor from 2012 to 2017. She has also served as Vice-Chairman of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation. Hari Narayan Garwa, along with her husband, has joined the Aam Aadmi Party. I cordially invite all of my colleagues to the party.

AAP MLA from Deoli Assembly Shri Prakash Jarwal said, When the Delhi elections were held in 2013, Arvind Kumar contested from the BJP. With around 35000 votes, he came in second place. He was also a BJP candidate in the 2020 elections, where he received approximately 58000 votes. Today, he has joined the Aam Aadmi Party after being influenced by the AAP familys honest politics under the leadership of Shri Arvind Kejriwal. In addition, independent candidate Sarita Garwa and her husband Hari Narayan Garwa have joined the party.

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New Delhi:

Bhagwant Mann has strongly condemned the killing of cows in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. He directed the police to find out the culprits as soon as possible and take strict action against them. Mann said, "We will not allow peace and brotherhood in Punjab to deteriorate at any cost." Attempts of anti-social elements to disturb the peace of Punjab are not going to succeed. Disrespect of any religion in Punjab will not be tolerated in the AAP government.

Strict action will be taken against all the culprits. Mann said that we will not allow disturbing the peace of Punjab at any cost. Maintaining peace and brotherhood of the state is our priority. He said that the religious sentiments of any person of Punjab will not be hurt. All the culprits involved in the incident will be arrested soon and given strict punishment.

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New Delhi:

Raghav Chadha, Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) co-in-charge of Punjab affairs, while addressing the people of Punjab said that Punjab is land of Gurus and the ill-intentioned people who are trying to disturb the peace here, should know that Punjabis are connected through hearts. Chadha said that every time before the elections, there are some people who try to disturb the atmosphere of Punjab so that they can take political advantage by creating fear and panic among people.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters on Friday, Raghav Chadha said that right before the elections in 2017 too, there were incidents of sacrilege and bomb blasts. But the Congress government failed to punish the culprits behind the incidents of sacrilege, bomb blasts and shooting. So, this time to create atmosphere of fear and panic again, anti-Punjab forces are carrying out the incidents of sacrilege of religious scriptures and bomb blasts. There was a sacrilege attempt at Sri Harmandir Sahib, a bomb blast at Ludhiana in broad daylight and now there were lapses in the security of the Prime Minister.

Chadha said that Punjab is the land of Gurus. The people of Punjab are peace loving. Communal peace and brotherhood is the beauty of this state. But, now that the elections are approaching some anti-Punjab forces are trying to disturb the peace and brotherhood of Punjab. He said that at such times Punjab needs a strong government thatll provide the security to the people of Punjab. But the current Congress government is failing at it because they (Congressmen) are busy fighting among themselves and people of Punjab are bearing the burnt. Now Punjab wants to get rid of corruption, loot and bloodshed.

Raghav Chadha claimed that only Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party can give a stable, honest and strong government to Punjab. Appealing to the people of Punjab Chadha said, Every vote given to Arvind Kejriwal will lay a foundation for peaceful, secure and prosperous Punjab. Let us together bring a change and form a government with clear intentions to make Punjab peaceful and prosperous again.

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Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party Punjab President and MP Bhagwant Mann said, While the farmers of this country are protesting against the black farm laws, central government and corporate houses, Captain Amarinder Singh government is busy cracking electricity purchase deals with Adani group. By doing this Captain Amarinder Singh has backstabbed the farmers of Punjab."Addressing the press today Bhagwant Mann said that there was a huge difference between Captains words and actions. On the one hand, Captain Amarinder does theatrics to show his opposition to the central farm laws and the corporates and on the other, he is too busy promoting the farm laws and corporate control in the state.

Breaking a deal with the Adani group for the supply of electricity in the state shows that Amarinder is acting as BJPs CM and is playing as per Narendra Modis instructions. Bhagwant Mann said that when farmers were planning to enter Delhi en masse on 26th November, Captain struck a power purchase deal with the Adanis behind the farmers back. This deal is nothing more than a conspiracy to break the motivation of the protesting farmers because on the one hand farmers are trying to pressurise the corporate houses by boycotting their products and services but their own CM is strengthening their hand by offering them deals in the state.

Asking for Captain's resignation, Bhagwant Mann said that Amarinder has no moral right to be the CM of the state anymore. Instead of oppressing the electricity mafia, Captain has strengthened them further. If Captain would have cared for his people and farmers he wouldnt have come under Modis pressure and offered Adanis the electricity deal and he would have revoked the flawed PPAs signed by the Badals. Questioning the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Bhagwant Mann said that on the one hand they conducted huge tractor rallies in support of the farmer but on the other hand Captain is offering deals to Adanis, does Rahul Gandhi know about these deals and are they happening under the purview of the top leadership?

Maybe this is what was discussed between Amit Shah and Captain Amarinder Singh when they met that Captain would do a deal with the Adanis in return for the central government not opening ED investigations against him and his son.

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New Delhi :

Influenced by the historic work being done by the Kejriwal government in the whole of Delhi including schools, hospitals, electricity, water, roads, and Wi-Fi, people are constantly joining the Aam Aadmi Party. Shri Pankaj Gupta, National Secretary of the Aam Aadmi Party, today welcomed former Congress Councillor Anju Sehwag and Social Worker Arvind Chandela to the Aam Aadmi Party. Aam Aadmi Party National Secretary Pankaj Gupta said, "people have started showering praise for Shri Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party even outside Delhi.

Influenced by the policies of the Kejriwal government and the Delhi development model, a large number of people from different regions of the country are joining the AAP family. In a recent series of events, people from various industries, political parties, and social organisations are joining the Aam Aadmi Party. Today, two prominent personalities from Delhi are joining us." He continued, "First and foremost, allow me to introduce you to Anju Sehwag ji. Anju Sehwag ji joining the Aam Aadmi Party family today is a reason for immense joy for us.

From 2012 through 2017, Anju ji served as a councillor from the Congress party in the SDMC. She has also worked as a teacher, teaching Hindi and Social Sciences. She accomplished a lot in her area and ward during her five-year stint as a councillor. And today, she is joining the party with all of her friends, followers, and supporters. On behalf of Kejriwal ji, the party, and everyone, I extend a warm welcome to you.

" He added, "Arvind Chandela ji is also joining the party today. Chandela ji works as a social worker and is also a businessman by profession. He owns a construction company. His organisation assists and facilitates cross-country travel. He is also the President of the Khyala Market Association, which is located in Chandela ji's neighbourhood itself. On behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party, I extend a warm welcome to both of you.

The entry of these two has strengthened the Aam Aadmi Party today. This strength will aid the party's progress. We will be able to work more closely with the public and in their best interests." AAP MLA Somnath Bharti said, "I was a part of the 'Delhi Revolution' that took place in Chandigarh, and this is my first time meeting everyone since then. For seven days, I campaigned door-to-door. The most intriguing development is that the country now has a viable alternative to Modi. This is based on my personal experience in Chandigarh. In my door-to-door campaign, I noticed that Arvind Kejriwal ji's popularity and acceptance among the people has spread across the country.

He formed the government here in 2013 with 28 seats, as everyone knows. We won 28 out of 70 seats here, and 14 out of 35 seats there. Today, I'd want to congratulate the entire Aam Aadmi Party family on the fact that there is a "Delhi" in Chandigarh as well." He continued, "Arvind Chandela Ji and Anju Sehwag are heartily welcomed to the party. It is admirable how Anju Ji served the public throughout her political career as a Congress Councillor from 2012 to 2017. Despite the several choices available to her, she opted to join the Aam Aadmi Party, which we consider to be a huge honor.

When I met her, she lavished admiration on Arvind Ji and the Aam Aadmi Party, declaring it to be the best alternative for her. We welcome all the good people out there, regardless of their political affiliation or geography. In the same vein, we have warmly welcomed Anju Sehwag ji to this party today. I thank her again for joining this party and I am confident that she will give this party her full support." On joining Aam Aadmi Party, Anju Sehwag said, "The Aam Aadmi Party is a party that has defied political conventions. My gratitude to the party's top leadership for giving me the opportunity to join this party. I can assure everyone that whatever responsibility is entrusted to me, I will fulfill it completely. Responsibility comes first with joining any family.

Being the youngest member of this family, I too expect love and affection. If there is any inconsistency, I will have the right to express it freely, and I will do my best to fulfill all of my responsibilities." AAP MLA Dhanwanti Chandela said, "Whatever the party has accomplished in Delhi has reverberated throughout the country. The party is putting up a strong fight in the elections. Every new member that joins the party adds to the party's strength. Arvind Chandela Ji is a social worker and the market's president. Arvind Ji and Anju Sehwag Ji are joining the Aam Aadmi Party after seeing its work, which is a source of profound joy for the party."

Arvind Chandela said, "I am a common man who has spent many years serving others in this capacity. For many years, I've observed how the Aam Aadmi Party has served society, kept its politics free of corruption, and kept it spotless, and how it has influenced young people like me. Seeing all of this, I decided that it was the time for me to join the Aam Aadmi Party and contribute something to society while doing so."

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New Delhi:

New Delhi: In Delhi, the Kejriwal Government is continuously working and making sure that the roads in Delhi are widened. However, the BJP-ruled MCD is not delivering on its responsibility to widen the roads even after collecting MLA funds in its area. Due to MCDs failure, the incessant traffic problem is not being resolved.

To eliminate the problem of traffic jams in Delhi, the Kejriwal Government has built many roads. The MLAs of the Kejriwal Government, along with various departments from the fund, have widened many roads in Delhi to reduce the traffic congestion. Two roads have been built near IIT and one road has been laid down near the Police Training School. Thus the roads were widened in areas where they were under PWD. But the MCD is not widening its roads, despite the fact that the MLA fund has also been taken for this. The BJP-ruled MCD does not do any work in the interests of the people, even after getting the required money.

Due to the greed of BJP-ruled MCD in Delhi, MLA funds are being misused continuously. The BJP-ruled MCD takes money from MLA's fund but does not put it towards delivering on any of its responsibilities. The same work that MCD charges Rs 100 for, takes just Rs. 30 for the Kejriwal Government departments. The MCD has estimated its expenditure at Rs 24 lakh to build a wall in front of St. Paul's School, SDA. Whereas the Delhi Government has estimated the expenditure for the same work at Rs 7 lakh.

In Delhi, 95 percent of such responsibilities and matters come under MCD. The MLA gives the fund to the MCD to get the public's work done. Despite giving funds to the MCD, BJP leaders do not allow the work to get done. East MCD has decided that first one should bring an NOC, only then the MLA can spend the fund. South and North MCD have not decided on it officially. There is an internal pressure of BJP councillors on the MCD officials to not do the work as instructed by the MLA. The MLA gives money from his fund, but despite this, the BJP councillors disrupt any work that is done.

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New Delhi:

Over the course of time AAP has made a mark for itself in Punjab under the leadership of National Convenor and Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal. The party volunteers have diligently worked in every gully-mohalla to make AAP a household name. To pay back the people of Punjab for their support, Shri Arvind Kejriwal today announced AAPs Punjab Model. He stated  When the Aam Aadmi Party forms the government it will implement a 10-point Punjab Model; we will create a new-age, prosperous, and forward-thinking Punjab. We have prepared a Punjab Model based on a 10-point agenda as per inputs from the people of Punjab for the advancement of the state. We will create so many job opportunities that children who have gone to Canada will begin to return to Punjab within five years. The AAP Government will put an end to the drug mafia and make Punjab drug-free. AAP will get the harshest punishment for all those accused of sacrilege and will restore peace and brotherhood in Punjab. Will make Punjab free of corruption, and like Delhi people's work will be done without the use of money. We will transform Punjab's education system in the same way that we have transformed Delhi's education system. AAP will build luxurious government hospitals in Punjab as well as 16,000 mohalla clinics where every Punjabi will receive free treatment. The AAP government will provide 24x7 free electricity supply in Punjab and will deposit one thousand rupees in the accounts of all women over the age of 18. Will fix the farming system in Punjab and end corruption by eliminating Raid Raj to help traders. Congress and Badals ruled in partnership in Punjab; looted every paisa of public funds from the hands of the poor. Now people have made up their minds to put an end to the partnership of Congress and the Badal family to give a chance to the Aam Aadmi Party. All the parties have come together to defeat AAP and Punjabis once again; but this time the whole of Punjab is ready to fail their plans.

Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, The people of Punjab are very happy since announcement of the elections have been made. They know that they now have an opportunity to inflict change in the politics of the state. In 1966, Punjab was made into a separate state. Since then the Congress has ruled Punjab for 25 years and the Badal family for 19 years. Despite who was in power, both the Congress and the Badals exploited the state of Punjab and looted its people to amass ill-gotten wealth. They worked under such an arrangement that irrespective of who looted the state, the other would not care to speak up or take action. It was like a mutually benefitting syndicate. This time the people have decided to bring an end to this partnership arrangement and bring in people who actually want to perform. They want to vote for the Aam Aadmi, they want to bring the Aam Aadmi Party to power so that every Aam Punjabi gets what they deserve. In line with the faith and trust of the people of Punjab, we have prepared a 10 point Punjab Model based on the inputs of the public. When AAP comes to power we will develop a prosperous, new-age Punjab based on the Punjab Model agenda.

*AAP will make Punjab so prosperous that those who have left for Canada will come back here: Arvind Kejriwal* Our first agenda is *Employment*. Today theres unemployed youth in every household, they have to run from pillar to post and struggle for opportunities. They are forced to look towards Canada for employment. Parents spend their whole life educating their children. They have to then struggle to send their children to Canada just so they can stand on their own feet. AAP will develop a Punjab so prosperous that those who left for Canada will start coming back here. Despite the pandemic, we created ten lac job opportunities in Delhi. We know how to provide employment and will prove it in Punjab too, Shri Kejriwal said.

*AAP will put an end to the drug mafia: Arvind Kejriwal*

Our second agenda is *End of the Drug Mafia*. The youth that did not leave for Canada, headed towards drugs. Drugs are sold openly in villages. The Congress Government had promised that theyd put an end to drugs but today the drug mafia thrives despite their rule. All these political parties and the drug mafia syndicate are in connivance. AAP will put an end to this drug mafia raj and exterminate the whole syndicate. AAP will bring each and every child out of this trap and provide them better avenues to lead dignified lives, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal said.

*AAP will restore law & order in Punjab; punish the guilty involved in sacrilege conspiracies: Arvind Kejriwal*

Our third agenda is to establish *Law, Order and Peace in Punjab*. So many incidents of sacrilege have taken place in Punjab. The issue has affected all religions alike, theyve all had to suffer such incidents. But, not one culprit or accused has been punished in even one incident. It is a matter of concern. It is not like the Punjab Police is incompetent and can not do anything. But they need political will in those sitting above them to have liberty to take action. These werent just incidents but conspiracies involving the higher ups. All these parties are functioning in a quid pro quo system and thus saved each other turn by turn. As a result you hear of sacrilege every other day. We will ensure the strictest of the punishments to all those involved no matter how strong they are. We have no arrangements, we are not afraid. We will punish the guilty and restore law & order in Punjab to ensure peace and brotherhood, he stated.

*Government schools in Punjab are in very bad condition, teachers are sitting on dharna instead of teaching in class: Arvind Kejriwal*

Our fourth agenda is *Corruption Free Punjab*. There is no shortage of money in Punjab. God has showered his blessings on the state. There is also a large amount of tax revenue. Yet, Punjab is currently in the red. Punjab is in debt to the tune of Rs 3.50 lakh crore. What happened to all of this money? It has found its way into the pockets of the leaders. We will create a corruption-free Punjab in the same way that we created a corruption-free Delhi. Today, a common man's work cannot be completed without under the table payment in Punjab. He goes through the office ten times, runs pillar to post and then has to pay up. AAP will shut this down. People will get work done even if they don't have any money. People will no longer have to go running around the office.

*Excellent Education* is the fifth agenda item. Punjab's government schools are currently in dilapidation. Instead of teaching in classes, teachers are sitting on dharnas. Water cannons are fired at them, and sticks are hurled at them. This will be changed right away. The teachers will now be teaching in the classroom. We must improve the education system in the same way that we have improved the schools in Delhi. Similarly, Punjab's education system will be made excellent.

The sixth agenda item is *Superior Healthcare*. For example, in Delhi, we have built wonderful hospitals and Mohalla clinics. In Punjab, we will build 16 thousand Mohalla clinics. Luxurious government hospitals will be built, and three crore Punjabis, that is, every Punjabi, will be guaranteed that no matter who is sick, whatever the disease is, in his house, from minor to major illnesses, the complete treatment will be provided free of charge. As it is done in Delhi.

*AAP is prepared, so is Punjab; will together defeat the political parties that have ransacked the state: Arvind Kejriwal*

Punjab generates great amounts of electricity. Despite this, Punjab suffers from lengthy power outages. Electricity is now the most expensive commodity in Punjab. Just as we have 24 hour electricity supply and free electricity provision within Delhi, we will provide free electricity for 24 hours. The eighth agenda item is that *every woman over the age of 18 will receive a monthly deposit of one thousand rupees into her bank account*. The ninth is, the *farming system will be fixed*. All of the farmers' issues will be resolved, whatever we are capable of doing we will do. Some issues are in the hands of the central government, and we will fight for them to be resolved at our level too. However, whatever the state government can do, we will do. The trade and industry agenda is on the tenth point. AAP will put an *End to the Raid Raj and Corruption in Punjab.* AAP will put in place an honest system so that every entrepreneur and businessman can do his or her business happily. Only when business and industry grow will children be able to find work. All of these parties are now afraid that the Aam Aadmi Party will form a government. All of these parties have joined forces to defeat Punjab and the Aam Aadmi Party. This time, however, the entire state of Punjab knows it wants AAP. We, too, are prepared, as is Punjab. All of these parties' plans will be thwarted, Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal concluded.

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By Trend

Tajikistan has called on donor countries and international organizations to provide financial and technical assistance to secure its common border with Afghanistan, Trend reports with reference to ASIA-Plus.

According to the press center of the Drug Control Agency under the President of Tajikistan, DCA Director, Major-General Habibullo Vohidov made this request while presenting the 2021 Tajikistan Drug Situation Review to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on March 15.

The event was reportedly held using video-conferencing.

The help is needed due to growing threats and dangers emanating from Afghanistan, including trafficking in narcotic drugs, weapons, terrorist and extremist activities, human trafficking and other transnational crimes, Tajik drug control kingpin was cited as saying.

It is noted that heads and high-level delegations of UN member nations, international organizations and civil society participated in the event.

The participants were reportedly presented with the main trends of the drug situation in the country and in the region, measures taken by the Government of Tajikistan, international organizations and public associations to combat drug trafficking in Tajikistan.

Tajik drug control chief told reporters in Dushanbe on February 17 that 4,083,274 kilograms of narcotic drugs were reportedly seized in Tajikistan last year, which is 68.4 percent or 1,658,036 kilograms more than in 2020.

Meanwhile, the 65th five-day session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which brought together some 1,400 participants from 128 countries, 19 inter-governmental organizations and 72 non-governmental organizations both online and in-person, is concluding today.

The session has discussed emerging drug control issues and the implementation of international drug policy commitments.

The session participants have reportedly considered a number of resolutions this week, and more than 130 online side events have been held during the session, addressing topics including access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, strengthening international cooperation on drug control.

During the 65th session, the CND has also considered the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) on the scheduling of six substances and precursors under the schedules of the international drug control conventions.

The CND convenes every year and is the foremost drug-policymaking body in the United Nations system. It is responsible for monitoring the world drug situation, developing evidence-based drug control strategies, and recommending measures to address the world drug problem.
In the last fiscal year 2020/21, Nepal Police recorded 7,141 suicide cases. Of them, 3,938 of the suicide victims were men, 2,449 women, and the remaining children.

The data of Nepal Police alone show the number of suicides has increased by 14.2 per cent from the previous fiscal year 2019/20 despite efforts for suicide prevention from both governmental and non-governmental sectors.

As one of the significant parts of the suicide prevention strategies, several helplines are in operation in Nepal with an aim of providing empathetic support and anonymous advice to individuals having suicidal thoughts.

While these helplines have benefitted many callers by deterring suicidal thoughts in them and asking them to seek medical support, their ideal effectiveness is still in doubt due to a lack of a proper integrated system and strategies for suicide prevention, which requires multi-sectoral roles, view helpline operators, mental health experts, and other stakeholders.

Focus on empathetic support, but not enough follow-ups

Photo: Andreas Nadler/Flickr

According to Dr Rabi Shakya, the chief of the Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, around three calls come to the hospitals helpline in a day on an average asking for support.

The Patan Hospital has been operating the 24-hour suicide prevention helpline since 2016 as a part of its suicide prevention strategy.

While reviewing the data of phone calls received from the suicidal individuals of the last six months, the number of male callers is higher than that of women, Shakya informs. Most of them are young people.

There is a team of eight doctors at the hospital to handle such calls. Yet, there is no such system as follow-ups.

We assume that the caller has halted their decision of killing themselves once they hang up the phone, though we dont know their decision, Shakya says, Our main goal is to provide therapy-based counselling and convince them to seek medical help and visit the hospital.

Unfortunately, we dont conduct the follow-ups for any caller. Neither do we have any rescue team. If some caller comes to visit us for medical support, we suppose that the helpline has been effective, informs Shakya.

An official at the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital shares the primary objective of the suicide prevention helpline there, officially started a year ago, is to provide emotional ventilation along with maintaining the confidentiality and stressing on their problem-solving techniques.

Likewise, Parbati Shrestha, a project coordinator at the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Nepal (TPO Nepal), a suicide prevention NGO, says, on average, her organisation receives about eight calls per day. There are three psychologists working full-time who are responsible to counsel the callers. They listen to their problems, ask their expectations, and build trust that everything the caller is sharing will be kept confidential so that they can open up more comfortably.

The psychologist tries to know if their problems are related to any mental health issues or if they have taken any medical support to cope with that problem. Based on the conversation, psychologists analyse if the caller requires regular support or not and conduct follow-ups of such callers and provide regular support. If necessary, we link them to psychiatrists as well.

Assessing efficacy

According to Shrestha, many individuals having suicidal thoughts hesitate to seek support from health facilities and share their issues with their family and friends due to the social stigma relating to mental health problems and suicide. Therefore, suicide prevention helplines that maintain the confidentiality of the callers can be effective.

Psychologist Kripa Sigdel says brief interventions have been effective in reducing suicidal thoughts in callers globally. In the countries like Nepal where there is a social stigma surrounding suicide, this works quite better, she argues.

However, the question lies about the supervision of the helplines. Sigdel doubts if there has been any monitoring about the effectiveness of the helplines if they are conducting follow-ups and if they have supported the callers with coping techniques and a lot more.

It is very significant to think and work on the next steps after the calls. For example, after ending the calls, the concerned stakeholders should think about how and where to send them for counselling or how to provide regular support to them, she views.

Accordingly, in some cases that require physical intervention, Shrestha of the TPO says her organisation immediately alerts the police while keeping the callers engaged and rescuing them on time. Of 616 calls the suicide prevention helpline number 1166 operated jointly by the Mental Hospital and the TPO, about 137 people have come to seek support from psychologists, she informs.

Likewise, in about 120 calls received by the suicide prevention helpline operated by the TUTH and handled by a team of three psychologists and nine psychiatric doctors all around the clock, around 38 of cent of calls are from inside the Kathmandu valley.

Of them, five callers have visited the TUTH for medical support, informs the TUTH official.

Meanwhile, stating that the awareness of mental health issues including suicide prevention and helplines is much city-centric, psychologist Sigdel suggests the country needs to improve the effectiveness of existing helplines instead of adding numbers.

Then, it will be easier to keep the data and conduct checks and balances. Also, this topic should always be brought into discourses, Sigdel advises.

Meanwhile, Shrestha and Shakya stress the need for a multi-sectoral role to combat this major health concern. Shrestha explains, Many people do not still realise or acknowledge suicide as a mental health issue for which a person can seek medical support, in the presence of social stigma and absence of awareness. In order to fight such stigma and prevent suicides, all the sectors are media, NGOs, the government, academic institutions, pesticides distributor, and other stakeholders should work actively and in integration.

Government efforts

To improve the effectiveness of such helplines, the government has endorsed the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan that has included suicide prevention as one of its prime components.

We have been working according to this plan only. At the same time, we acknowledge and support the efforts carried out by non-governmental sectors in suicide prevention and mental health issues, shares Dr Phanindra Prasad Baral, the chief of the mental health section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Ministry of Health.

According to Basanta Kunwar, a former spokesperson of the Nepal Police, police personnel have also been rescuing people who have attempted to kill themselves after getting informed by various people and groups including the service helpline operators as well.

In case you need help:

Patan Hospital Helpline for Suicide Prevention: 9813476123

TUTH Suicide Hotline: 9840021600

Government Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1166

From the archive
Jason Walker and his wife Jennifer came to Nepal in October 2021. Having heard a lot of the Shey Phoksundo, they wanted to experience the lake and Dolpa first hand. But, the couple found it very hard to find a trekking guide that would take them there. As the trails around the Dolpo circuit is not marked well, most guides are hesitant to do the route and the couple were left frustrated when they could not meet anyone.

We went to Langtang instead. It wasnt our preferred destination but it sucked not being able to go to Dolpo, says Walker.

The Covid pandemic has broken Nepals tourism industry. The most affected by it are trekking guides whose only sources of income are guiding foreigners around Nepal. Due to a loss of income for several months, a lot of Nepals experienced trekking guides are quitting the profession and are doing something else.

This has left a gap in the industry as many guides do not want to go to remote places in the country. This in the long run will cause a lot of problems when the country starts to see a rise in the number of tourists, say stakeholders.

The broken balance

Even though it is easy to trek to regions like Everest, foreigners prefer to take a guide to know more about the place. Photo: Shashwat Pant

Three years ago, Sandesh Regmi, 33, from Dharka Phedi in Dhadhing was guiding a group of four Americans to the top of Throng La. As a trekking guide, his life was going well. He would guide 10 groups a year and be making enough money to survive in Kathmandu.

But, in March 2020, everything changed for him. The Covid pandemic and the lockdown meant he had no work. He had hoped things would get better in 2021, but they did not. After a lot of contemplating, Regmi, who had been in the field for over a decade, decided to leave Nepal.

Covid hit me hard, says Regmi from his room in Dubai where he works at a packaging factory. I had to give up a career that was close to my heart because I had loans to pay off. I dont know for certain if Ill get back to it when I come back, but I really miss it.

A lot of my friends have left too because theres no money in it right now. We all have bills to pay and children to educate. I think many wont return, says Regmi.

According to the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), there are over 15,000 trekking guides in the country. These guides are of different skill levels.

Those that are new to the industry have a basic guiding level and only try and do commercial routes like the Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp. TAAN officials say that they choose these routes because many have been there before as porters and find it convenient to do so. But, when it comes to areas like Dolpa or Kanchenjunga, people find it hard to find guides.

Shiva Bastakoti, a trekking guide based in Kathmandu, says the number of guides to go to these places are low because most tourists usually do not go to places like Dolpa or Kanchenjunga. He says that due to rising costs and the need to set up camps, most tourists also refrain to go these places.

You need to take around six people to cater to the need of two tourists. When that happens, the cost will rise. Yes, there arent experienced trekking guides who go there, but with a lack of demand and high cost, even an experienced one will want to go guide along the comfortable commercial routes around, says Bastakoti.

He says the around 20 per cent of trekking guides he knows have quit guiding and are doing other things. Some have started their own business, many have gone back into farming while a majority have left Nepal to work in the Gulf countries.

Blame on the government

Trekkers going towards Everest Base Camp from Lobuche. Photo: Shashwat Pant

Chura Mani Aryal of Navigate Outdoors, a tour operator based in Kathmandu, says the equation has turned dysfunctional due to the government not paying much attention to the sector that is a major contributor to the countrys GDP.

These trekking guides that have left due to frustration. They spend years training and honing their skill and when a crisis like the pandemic hits them, the government offers no help. Its a sad reality, says Aryal.

He says while the government is helping big trekking agencies, smaller companies are not being looked at, which will cause issues in the long run.

Its guides and the tea houses that should be helped, not major corporations. The government policies are ridiculously bad, he adds.

Even TAANs president Khum Bahadur Subedi agrees that more needs to be done to retain trekking guides. He says the government needs to invest in the people who are currently in the industry and make sure they have the skills to read maps, the ability to conduct a rescue and detailed knowledge about first aid.

We have to produce skilled guides because you never know what goes on in the mountains and we have been doing these training regularly in coordination with other agencies. But, now an effort needs to be put by the government too, says Subedi.

Meanwhile, Sandesh Regmi feels his time is as a trekking guide is up. He feels that neither the company he worked for nor the government took care of him during bad times. He says that while he does miss going out, he will only be guiding the foreign friends he made during his career as a guide.

Nepal doesnt care about us and that is a fact. I will come back to Nepal after my contract here is over,r but when I do, I will not guide because Ive realised that it is not a secure enough job, says Regmi.
(This 18 Mar story corrects paragraph 12 to show that Bayer does not maintain production facilities in Russia)

By Richa Naidu and Jessica DiNapoli

(Reuters) - Western companies that maintain a presence in Russia to provide essential goods such as food and medicines are trying to strike a balance between President Vladimir Putin's government and advocates of Ukraine pulling them in opposite directions.

More than 400 companies have withdrawn from Russia since the launch of its attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to a list compiled by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management. They have left behind assets that were worth hundreds of billions of dollars in aggregate before the invasion, which Russia calls a "special military operation."

Yet about 80 companies have retained a presence, even as they suspended new investments and business ventures. Many are consumer and pharmaceutical companies that argue that pulling out would significantly harm the Russian population. Some are also concerned about legal repercussions for their employees in the country should the Russian government retaliate.

"Companies believe they can't easily abandon small Russian businesses and consumers that rely on them," said Bruce Haynes, global co-chair of crisis communications at public relations firm SVC+FGH who has been advising companies on their withdrawal from Russia.

Consumer goods giants such PepsiCo Inc, Procter & Gamble Co and Nestle SA have said they will retain a presence in Russia to provide basic items for nutrition and hygiene, such as milk and diapers.

With casualties and refugees from the conflict in Ukraine mounting, pressure is building to pull out of Russia completely.

"Barring a turnaround we don't see right now, the pressure (to pull out) is going to grow," said BSR Chief Executive Aron Cramer, who advises companies on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues.

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Katie Denis, communications and research lead at the Consumer Brands Association, a trade group that counts Pepsico, Coca-Cola and P&G among its members, said its members by-and-large did not support Russia's actions in Ukraine, but that uninvolved Russian people should not be made to suffer for it.

Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer Inc, Germany's Bayer AG and Eli Lilly have said they will halt non-essential operations in Russia but plan to continue supplying medications for diseases such as diabetes and cancer. They have noted that prescription medicines have been excluded from international sanctions because they serve an essential humanitarian need. However, in recent days, even those goods have come under scrutiny.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week urged pharmaceutical companies to join conglomerates withdrawing from Russia completely. Sonnenfeld, whose list has been seized on by human rights activists to pressure global companies to leave Russia, has also called for such a move.

Some drug companies have backing from their shareholders. Josh Brockwell, for example, an executive at investment firm Azzad Asset Management, said he supported Pfizer's decision to keep supplying Russia. "I don't think the people should suffer for the actions of the (Russian) government," he said.

Many U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies say they do not make drugs in Russia, but some European peers, including Switzerland's Novartis SA, maintain manufacturing plants in the country.

CARVING OUT RUSSIA PROFITS

Putin said last week Russia could seize assets of companies that abandon their operations in the country. Russian prosecutors have also warned some Western companies that their employees could face arrests if they shut down production of essential goods, a person familiar with the matter said.

British American Tobacco Chief Marketing Officer Kingsley Wheaton told Reuters last week that exiting its business or stopping the sale or manufacturing of its products would be regarded as a criminal bankruptcy by Russia that could expose its staff in the country to prosecution.

Other challenges consumer companies still operating in Russia face are processing transactions under banking sanctions and securing raw materials, said Jack Martin, a fund manager at Oberon Investments, which has stakes in Unilever, Diageo, Burberry, GSK, Eli Lilly and Nike.

"The risk premium around investing in companies that do business in Russia has increased," Martin said.

Companies are trying to come up with ways to appease all sides. Pfizer and Eli Lilly, for example, said they would set aside for humanitarian relief any profits from sales in Russia. Novartis and Bayer have each pledged millions of dollars for Ukraine relief.

Some companies are staying in Russia while seeking parties to buy or take over their local operations. British America Tobacco's Wheaton said his company was trying to do this "rapidly." Interested parties could include its Russian distributor of 30 years, Wheaton said.

Many companies are also concerned about what would happen to their facilities in their absence. An abandoned food plant, for example, could be repurposed by Russia to supply troops fighting in Ukraine.

Some investors want companies to consider how they may be indirectly funding the war by paying taxes. Hannah Shoesmith, director of engagement at asset manager Federated Hermes, told Reuters last week companies need to "think carefully" about any taxes they are paying to the Russian government and if the products and services they are providing are worth that risk.

Companies that left Russia may find it difficult to reclaim their property and assets once they are expropriated. Tiffany Compres, a partner with law firm FisherBroyles, said companies may sue Russia in international venues such as the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, but such cases can drag on for years and Russia cannot be forced to pay out.

"Even if the company wins the claim, Russia has a reputation for not paying," Compres said.

(Reporting by Richa Naidu in London and Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Additional reporting by Ross Kerber and Caroline Humer in New York and Uday Sampath Kumar in Bangalore; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Richard Chang)
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio paid a visit to the rice factory of An Giang Import - Export Joint Stock Company (Angimex)

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding with Sierra Leone is the premise for An Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Angimex) to firmly maintain its leading position in ensuring transcontinental food security.

LONG XUYEN, Vietnam, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --An Giang Import - Export Joint Stock Company (Angimex - HOSE: AGM), a member of Louis Holdings Group - the leading enterprise in the field of agricultural food production & trading business in Vietnam was honored to welcome the President and the high-level delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone to visit the rice factory in Long Xuyen City, An Giang province. Here, the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a 3-year rice export contract to the West African country was also solemnly held under the witness of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio. This visit with the largest purchase so far in 2022 will be the premise for Angimex to firmly maintain its leading position in ensuring transcontinental food security.

Angimex welcomed the President and the high-level delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone to visit the rice factory in Long Xuyen City

Angimex signs billion-dollar rice export contract with the Republic of Sierra Leone

The MOU signing ceremony has the honorary attendance of Mr. Do Thanh Nhan  Chairman & other senior representatives of Angimex and President Julius Maada Bio & the high-level delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone. According to the content of the MOU between the two parties, Angimex will export 3 million tons of rice to Sierra Leone under a three-year rice export contract. This kind of international rice export contract exerts a substantial influence, helping Angimex access new markets and customer groups in the future.

The continuous application of new agricultural technology in farming enables Vietnam's leading rice enterprise to ensure rice grain quality and meet strict standards of big countries. With the "endorsement" of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Angimex has high expectations for this 3-year contract as the foundation for upcoming larger purchases from West Africa since Angimex has already proved its scale and potential with neighboring countries of the Republic of Sierra Leone. This boasts a comprehensive cooperation not only between Angimex and the presidential delegation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, but also between Vietnam and Sierra Leone.

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Mr. Do Thanh Nhan, Chairman of An Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company shared: "Thanks to the strict quality control system, Angimex has been and will be able to provide the highest quality rice products to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of the market. The enterprise's professional services will surely satisfy the diverse needs of customers. With the goodwill for the sake of mutual development, Angimex strongly believes in the good and long-term success in the cooperation between Angimex and our partners in the upcoming time. We look forward to accompanying our partners to create the best and sustainable values".

Within the scope of cooperation, Angimex will transfer the sample rice field to the enterprises of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The sample rice field is Angimex's first successful factor to ensure high-quality rice input. The expansion of the large sample rice field is one of the solutions to increase the value of rice for export, according to the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

When farming on the large sample rice field, farmers will simultaneously sow each high-yield and high-quality rice variety in the same field. Therefore, this combination of high-quality rice production and rice field expansion brings practical benefits to farmers, including changing production mindset and improving economic efficiency. Aiming at improving the quality of rice seeds in the future, the agricultural services of Angimex give an emphasis on providing farmers with in-depth knowledge and cost-saving methods during varietal selection, cultivation, and harvest. Also, Angimex's experts with rich experience in the field of agriculture will train farmers to master cultivation techniques and answer the farmers' questions during the farming process.

Regarding the business plan in 2022, Angimex sets a targeted revenue of over VND 8,004 billion; pre-tax profit of VND 70 billion - a more than double and 22 percent increase respectively against the previous year. In the long-term development strategy, Angimex aims to become the biggest rice exporter and also the market leader in the domestic rice market. With the orientation of "restoring the status of An Giang rice king", Louis Holdings has been putting all its efforts into Angimex in the present and expecting to reap the results in the future.

About Angimex

An Giang Import  Export JSC company (Angimex)  a member of Louis Holdings is one of the leading enterprises in Vietnam in the field of food, agricultural materials, trade and service with the main product in rice. Angimex focuses on developing core sectors including agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and value-added agricultural products in order to develop An Giang homeland. Angimex was the first enterprise to be licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade under Decree 109 of the Government on consideration of eligibility for rice export business in 2011. During more than 45 years of operation and development, Angimex's rice products have been exported to over 50 countries around the world. In 2020, Angimex was certified as a reputable Exporter by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. In 2021, Angimex entered the top 3 largest rice exporters in Vietnam. In 2022, Angimex aims to achieve the maximum capacity of processing plants with total output up to 1,000,000 tons/year.

To meet the accelerating demand, Angimex has been constantly expanding its distribution network both domestically and internationally, managing and operating large-scale rice processing plants in the Mekong Delta. At the same time, the enterprise has always improved product quality, established a quality management system in line with international food standards. Angimex rice products have been well qualified with international certifications such as: HALAL, ISO 22000:2005, HACCP, Food Safety and meet export standards of European countries, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Africa, etc.

For press inquiry, please contact:

(Ms) Pham Thuy Thanh Thanh

Marketing Director

Email: thanh.ptt@louisholdings.vn

Phone/Zalo: 090 671 6496

(Mr) Truong Van Tan

Head of Communication Department

Email: tan.truong@louisholdings.vn

Phone/Zalo: 0903101587

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SOURCE Angimex
AUGA group

The organic food producer AUGA group and its subsidiaries (hereinafter, the Group) have signed financing agreements according to which the KUB Business Aid Fund (hereinafter, Fund), which is managed by UAB State Investment Management Agency (hereinafter, VIVA), and UAB Medicinos bankas, provided almost EUR 10 million in financing to the Group.



The funding received will ensure the financial stability of the Group in the short term, and in the long term will allow us to continue to develop of the technological projects envisaged in our strategy and start their commercialisation. We expect 2022 to become a major year of technological breakthrough for the Group  we plan to launch biomethane production, employ our zero emission hybrid tractors on farms, and complete testing of specialised feed technology, says Kestutis Juscius, CEO of AUGA group, AB.

The Fund helps large and medium-sized businesses affected by COVID-19. The agreement states that the Fund has allocated EUR 7.28 million to the Group. Funding is provided for a period of 4 years.

In 2021, AUGA group faced challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with unavoidable outbreaks in some of its production units leading to short-term production capacity shortages. The Groups plans also had to be adjusted to factor in disruptions in global logistics, resulting in increased logistics costs, an unbalanced supply chain, and delays in the implementation of export projects due to transportation shortages. The extreme heat recorded in June and July of 2021 also had a significant impact on the results of the Group.

UAB Medicinos bankas, focused on agricultural and other green investments, has also signed an agreement with the Group. UAB Medicinos bankas provided the Group with a loan of EUR 2.5 million for a period of 3 years.

Contacts:

Mindaugas Ambrasas, AUGA group, AB CFO

Phone: +370 620 67296

Email: m.ambrasas@auga.lt




BuddeComm

Bhutan telecom market liberalisation and modernisation to drive new growth from 2022

Sydney, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Bhutan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





In this document, BICMA outlined a launch timetable along with a set of measures covering the rollout of 5G networks in the country. Notably, the regulator anticipated holding off a launch of commercial services until 2022. It cited a need for operators to learn from the experiences of 5G deployments taking place in other parts of the world.



The two MNOs in Bhutan, B-Mobile and Tashi Cell, apparently learnt quickly! In December 2021, both operators launched 5G services in areas of Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing. Still, there is a downside to getting ahead of the regulators schedule: Theres only limited spectrum available for 5G at present, and what is in use is only supported by a small number of handsets. B-Mobiles 5G service is only accessible to customers with selected Vivo models, while Tashi Cell is offering its 5G service on a total of five models from Samsung and Huawei. Both operators are testing Apple iPhone products and hope to certify them for use in 2022. Otherwise, the wait is on for additional spectrum to be re-farmed from existing communications services.





Key developments:





B-Mobile and Tashi Cell launch 5G services for a selected range of handsets.

Tashi Cell reaches parity in mobile market share with the incumbent provider B-Mobile.

Bank of Bhutan launches two mobile-based digital banking platforms: eLoan and goBoB.



Companies mentioned in this report





Bhutan Telecom, Tashi InfoComm, B-Mobile, Tashi Cell, DrukNet.



Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Bhutan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

Story continues

CONTACT: Nicolas Bombourg: nbombourg@budde.com.au Europe office: +44 207 097 1241 Oceania Office: +61 280 767 665




Black Diamond Group Limited

CALGARY, Alberta, March 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Diamond Group Limited (Black Diamond or the Company) announces that Trevor Haynes, CEO, will present and host one-on-one meetings with investors at the Sidoti Spring Small Cap Virtual Investor Conference, taking place on March 23-24, 2022. Joining him will be Jason Zhang, GM Corporate Development & Capital Markets.



The presentation will begin at 12:15 PM ET on Thursday, March 24 and can be accessed live here: https://sidoti.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r7LlTBW4T8GYv7V-6bCwHQ

Black Diamond will also host virtual one-on-ones with investors on Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24, 2022. To register for the presentation or one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events. Registration is free and participants do not need to be a Sidoti client.

About Black Diamond Group

Black Diamond is a specialty rentals and industrial services Company with two operating business units - Modular Space Solutions (MSS) and Workforce Solutions (WFS). We operate in Canada, the United States, and Australia. MSS through its principal brands, BOXX Modular, Britco, MPA, and Schiavi, owns a large rental fleet of modular buildings of various types and sizes. Its network of local branches rent, sell, service, and provide ancillary products and services to a diverse customer base in the construction, industrial, education, financial, and government sectors. WFS owns a large rental fleet of modular accommodation assets of all types and sizes and a fleet of liquid and solid containment assets. Its regional operating terminals rent, sell, service, and provide ancillary products and services including turn-key operated camps to a wide array of customers in the resource, infrastructure, construction, disaster recovery, and education sectors. The WFS business unit also includes the Companys wholly owned subsidiary, LodgeLink, which operates a digital marketplace for business-to-business crew accommodation, travel, and logistics in North America.

Story continues

Learn more at www.blackdiamondgroup.com.

Investor Inquiries

Jason Zhang at 403-206-4739 or investor@blackdiamondgroup.com. To sign up for news alerts please go to https://www.blackdiamondgroup.com/investor-centre/news-alerts-subscription/.

Media Inquiries

Jonathan Stringer at 780-733-1788 or media@blackdiamondgroup.com.

About Sidoti & Company

For over two decades, Sidoti & Company (http://www.sidoti.com) has been a premier provider of independent securities research focused specifically on small and microcap companies and the institutions that invest in their securities, with most of its coverage in the $100 million-$5 billion market cap range. The firms approach affords companies and institutional clients a combination of high-quality research, a small- and microcap-focused nationwide sales effort, broad access to corporate management teams, and extensive trading support. Sidoti serves 500+ institutional clients in North America.




New Horizon Scan report offers insights on health technology trends that have the potential to harness large volumes of data, improve clinical workflows, and bring accessible health care closer to home

OTTAWA, ON, March 18, 2022 /CNW/ - Point-of-care testing. Artificial intelligence. Voice technology. Companion diagnostics. According to a newly published report from CADTH, these are some of the must-watch health technologies that are likely to shape the future of health care in Canada over the next 2 years.

CADTH logo (CNW Group/Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH))

CADTH's 2022 Health Technology Trends to Watch report is an evidence-informed watch list that identifies and assesses emerging health technology trends and their implications.

"Health technologies are a cornerstone of our health systems, and in the wake of COVID-19, decision-makers are rethinking how they prepare for innovation and the uncertainty that comes with rapid advances in health technologies," said Lesley Dunfield, Vice-President, Medical Devices and Clinical Interventions at CADTH. "CADTH's annual watch list identifies the emerging trends health system leaders need to know about today, so they can readily adapt tomorrow."

CADTH produced the report as part of its horizon scanning program, which alerts decision-makers to potentially high-impact health technologies and helps them prepare for future needs or implementation considerations.

Trends and Technologies Featured in the 2022 Watch List

Point-of-Care Testing

The emergence and integration of point-of-care testing has the potential to ease demand on central laboratories and support public health efforts in disease control and surveillance. Many point-of-care tests can be performed in a variety of care settings without specialized training or even at home by patients themselves.

As an example, HIV rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests and self-tests are emerging to help make HIV testing more accessible.

Artificial Intelligence for Diagnostics and Public Health

Story continues

In the field of public health, artificial intelligence (AI) may help improve disease surveillance, detection, and mitigation by facilitating analyses of large volumes of complex, multi-sourced data from around the world. By using AI to support health data collection, researchers can investigate new methods for assessing the effectiveness of public health interventions and informing targeted health promotion activities and disease incidence forecasts.

Voice Technology

Voice technology has many applications, including conversational AI technology (e.g., chatbots) that act as voice assistants for health assessment, diagnostics, and even companionship for patients. This technology can also play a key role in the administrative tasks often handled by health care providers through real-time charting and communicating with other health professionals.

For example, Ada is a mobile health companion app that integrates with home-based virtual assistant devices to assess the user's health based on their indicated symptoms. The app combines the utility of a voice interface with an AI-based database to monitor personal health data and assist in proactive care.

Companion Diagnostics

Companion diagnostic tests assess predictive biomarkers in individuals, such as genetic variation or protein expression, to determine the safe and effective use of an associated therapy. These tests are typically developed for a particular condition to assess specific genetic mutations or biomarkers rather than sequencing the whole genome, which is substantially more costly.

For instance, emerging companion diagnostics that examine circulating tumour DNA (DNA fragments shed by tumours) within the bloodstream provide a less invasive, quicker, and potentially safer alternative to assessing biomarkers compared with traditional tissue biopsies.

Methodology Behind the 2022 Health Technology Trends to Watch List

The development of CADTH's 2022 Watch List was broadly guided by the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) process. CADTH developed a PSP working group; synthesized evidence from different sources, including a literature search and national survey results; and used consensus building to identify and rank the final top 10 list. Please consult Appendix 1: Methodology in the published report for complete details about the process.

CADTH would like to thank the health care decision-makers, patients, clinicians, industry representatives, and academics who participated on our working group and in our workshops for generously sharing their time, experience, and insight.

For more information, visit our 2022 Health Technology Trends to Watch website and continue the discussion on social media using #CADTHTrends.

About CADTH

CADTH is an independent, not-for-profit agency funded by Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial governments (except Quebec) to provide credible, impartial advice and evidence-based information about the effectiveness of drugs and other health technologies to Canadian health care decision-makers. Learn more at cadth.ca.





SOURCE Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)

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PARIS, March 18 (Reuters) - France is pushing for an EU-wide cap on gas prices to strengthen negotiating positions with producers but some other member states are not on board, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday.

Energy bills have soared across the European Union since last year and climbed further since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leaving governments scrambling to come up with measures to soften the blow for households and companies.

Le Maire told French lawmakers he had made a proposal to his EU counterparts for a price ceiling as it would put the bloc's 27 member countries in a better position to negotiate with producers like Russia's Gazprom or Algeria's Sonatrach.

"It's a market intervention that unsettles some of our European partners, but it's a proposition we are making with the president to put a ceiling on gas prices at the European level," Le Maire said.

Le Maire did not say which countries were not in favour, but Greece has also proposed an EU gas price cap as has the head of French utility Engie.

France, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, froze domestic gas prices last year by compensating French gas companies for selling below higher spot prices.

Based on gas prices this week, the measure is currently expected to cost the state 6.4 billion euros ($7.06 billion) this year, Le Maire said. ($1 = 0.9071 euros) (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
By Trend

Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili hosted his Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Batumi on Thursday, Trend reports citing 1TV.

Irakli Garibashvili reaffirmed Georgias political support and solidarity with Ukraine in bilateral and international formats.

The Prime Ministers emphasized the role of the international communitys joint effort in de-escalating the situation and its steps toward ending the war as soon as possible.

The meeting focused on Georgias European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Georgian Prime Minister underlined the importance of a positive decision of the European Commission on Georgias EU membership application and the significance of support from international partners, including Poland, in this process.

It is the Georgian peoples historic decision, Irakli Garibashvili emphasized after the meeting, Georgia understands that it is a long process, though it is motivated to press on and implement successful complex reforms.

The Prime Minister of Poland reiterated strong support for Georgias territorial integrity and sovereignty, and for the countrys European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The meeting underscored the friendly relations and strong partnership between Georgia and Poland.

Poland is an outstanding friend and partner of Georgia, with which we have strategic cooperation and close relations in many areas. We are successfully cooperating in both bilateral and multilateral formats. We are motivated to expand our multidimensional relations, said Georgian PM.

During the visit, two Prime Ministers unveiled the statue of President Lech Kaczy?ski in Batumi.
TORONTO, March 18, 2022 /CNW/ - As Canada works towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in our airport infrastructure continue to be crucial to maintain safety, security, and connectivity for travellers, workers and communities. Government of Canada investments also help ensure Canada's aviation industry is well-positioned to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced new funding to help Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support continued air services and important transportation infrastructure projects at the airport.

PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, will receive more than $14 million to help it recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support continued air services and important transportation infrastructure projects at the airport.

The airport will receive more than $10.9 million from Transport Canada's Airport Critical Infrastructure Program to:

rehabilitate electrical infrastructure;

purchase airfield support equipment;

upgrade the airport security systems;

rehabilitate the waterfront retaining walls;

maintain airfield pavement; and

replace airport security fencing and gates.

In addition to the funding for the infrastructure projects, the Government of Canada also provided Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with over $3.1 million from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund to help it maintain continued airport operations and essential air services for residents and workers in the Greater Toronto Area and its surrounding communities.

Quotes

"As we move forward with the safe and gradual return of activity in the aviation sector in a way that continues to support the health, safety, and security of all Canadians, it will be imperative that we maintain a vibrant and competitive Canadian air sector. These critical investments will allow Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to invest in the infrastructure and tools needed to help re-invigorate the aviation industry and to allow Canadians to feel safe and secure when they travel."

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The Honourable Omar Alghabra

Minister of Transport

"This investment in Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will support our shared goals of recovery, rebuilding and reaching environmental targets. Investing in key infrastructure and climate action projects will ensure the airport is well positioned to support pandemic recovery in our region and continue to serve as an essential transportation gateway to Canada's largest city  supporting jobs, tourism and trade in the Greater Toronto Area."

Gene Cabral

Executive Vice President, PortsToronto and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Quick Facts

Associated Links

The Airport Critical Infrastructure Program, launched in May 2021, will provide $571.2 million in funding over five years to airports for eligible infrastructure projects related to safety, security, connectivity to mass transit systems, or testing and screening related to COVID-19 and its variants.

The Airport Relief Fund, launched in May 2021, provided $64.8 million in funding in 2021-2022 for targeted airports whose 2019 revenues were less than $250 million.

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

SOURCE Transport Canada

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HALIFAX, NS, March 18, 2022 /CNW/ - Now more than ever, skilled tradespeople are in high demand to fill well-paying jobs and build rewarding careers. The most recent projections estimate about 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire between 2019 and 2028, creating an ever-growing need to recruit and train thousands more. That is why the Government of Canada is making targeted investments to remove barriers and get more Canadians the apprenticeship training they need to build good, well-paying careers in the skilled trades.

Today, Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced $43,453 in funding to International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 39 for its Building Blocks: Training for the Future project. The project will seek to address the training gap within the labour force of Glazier and Drywall Tapers in Lakeside, NS. MP Lena Metlege Diab also announced $39,395 in funding to Local Unionworkers 625 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for its Renewable Energy Photovoltaic Training project. The project will seek to address new technologies in the field of renewable solar energy with Photovoltaic Training within the electrical trade industry.

These projects are funded through the Union Training and Innovation Program's (UTIP) Stream 1 to help unions across Canada improve the quality of training through investments in equipment and materials.

The UTIP supports union-based apprenticeship training and works to: improve the quality of training in the trades; address barriers limiting participation and success in trades training careers; and enhance partnerships between stakeholders. Through the UTIP the Government is helping equity-deserving groups to succeed in the trades, such as women, Indigenous people, newcomers, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities, get the support they need to enter, progress and become certified in well-paying jobs in the Red Seal trades.

To highlight the value of skilled trades workers and the wide range of supports available to build a successful and fulfilling career in the trades, the Government recently launched an advertising campaign to promote the skilled trades as first choice careers for young people and diverse populations. The campaign website Canada.ca/skilled-trades provides Canadians with information about what the skilled trades are, how to become a tradesperson, and what financial supports are available to them while in training.

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Quotes



"Skilled tradespeople have been critical to essential sectors during this pandemic and they will continue to be critical in the years to come. That's why the Government of Canada is investing in the Union Training and Innovation Program to provide skilled trades workers with access to modern training equipment that will set them up for success in the workplace."

 Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

"To power Canada's recovery, we need to ensure our skilled trade workers have access to the training and equipment they need to succeed. Our government's support for these projects with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 39 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 625 will help better prepare workers in our Halifax West communities to tackle the challenges they will encounter in their workplaces."

 Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West

"We need to ensure our workers are ready for the future now, but we can't do it alone. The support we are receiving through the Union Training and Innovation Program is critical to provide skill upgrading for existing tradespeople, and to ensure new entrants to the trades get to benefit from using the latest technology."

 Blair Mikkelsen, Red Seal Training Director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 625

"With the funding assistance we are receiving from the Union Training and Innovation Program, our union will be able to work more effectively with our partners and the diverse communities they serve and represent. This includes the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), the East Preston Empowerment Academy (EPEA), the Aboriginal Peoples Training and Employment Commission, and Women Unlimited, to name just a few."

 Chris Bullman, Red Seal Glazing and Safety Instructor, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 39

Quick Facts



The Government of Canada is investing nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through grants and contributions, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal program. Announced in Budget 2019, the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy will strengthen existing apprenticeship supports and programs by helping apprentices and key apprenticeship stakeholders, including employers, to participate and succeed in the skilled trades.

According to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, an average of around 75,000 new apprentices will need to be hired per year in the next five years in order to meet the demand for skilled journeypersons in Red Seal trades. Top trades most at risk of not meeting the demand include welder, industrial mechanic (millwright), bricklayer, boilermaker, cook and hairstylist.

Demand for construction trades is likely to remain high. According to BuildForce Canada, the industry needs to recruit 309,000 new construction workers over the next decade (2021 to 2030), driven predominantly by the expected retirement of 259,100 workers (22% of the current labour force).

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Canada's apprenticeship systems. Apprenticeship data from 2020 shows the largest year-over-year declines in new apprenticeship registrations and certifications since the data series began in 1991.

In Canada, young women continue to be less likely to express interest in a career in the skilled trades. According to a survey done by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, only two percent of 15-year-old female students indicated that they were definitely planning to pursue a career in the skilled trades.

Associated Links

Union Training and Innovation Program

Canada.ca/skilled-trades

Apprenticeship Service

Support for apprentices

Budget 2021

Follow us on Twitter

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

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Rating Action: Moody's affirms ratings of Kansas City Southern, senior unsecured at Baa2; outlook stableGlobal Credit Research - 17 Mar 2022New York, March 17, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") affirmed the ratings of freight rail operator Kansas City Southern and its subsidiary The Kansas City Railway Company, including the Baa2 senior unsecured rating and the Prime-2 short-term rating. The outlook remains stable.The affirmation of the ratings reflects Moody's expectation that during the review by the Surface Transportation Board of the proposed combination with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited ("Canadian Pacific"), Kansas City Southern will continue to demonstrate robust financial performance and pursue a balanced financial policy, notwithstanding planned dividend distributions to Canadian Pacific during the review.In the event the Surface Transportation Board approves the proposed combination with Canadian Pacific, and in the absence of formal support from Canadian Pacific, the ratings on Kansas City Southern debt would be based on the credit quality of its rail operations, along with Moody's expectations for internal capital deployment. If, following the completion of the combination Canadian Pacific provides no formal support to the Kansas City Southern debt obligations and there is insufficient financial information to assess the credit quality of Kansas City Southern, the ratings could be withdrawn.Affirmations:..Issuer: Kansas City Southern....Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facility, Affirmed Baa2....Backed Commercial Paper, Affirmed P-2....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa2....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa2..Issuer: Kansas City Southern Railway Company (The)....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa2Outlook Actions:..Issuer: Kansas City Southern....Outlook, Remains Stable..Issuer: Kansas City Southern Railway Company (The)....Outlook, Remains StableRATINGS RATIONALEThe Baa2 senior unsecured rating is supported by Kansas City Southern's attractive north to south rail network through the central US and the industrialized northeastern and central regions of Mexico. The network enables the company to benefit from growth opportunities offered by trade relations between the US and Mexico, while its diversified freight mix mitigates the impact of potential declines in a particular freight segment.Moody's expects Kansas City Southern's operating margin to exceed 40% in 2022, after a steady upward trajectory for several years driven by substantial operational improvements based on the principles of precision scheduled railroading. Financial leverage is moderate, with adjusted debt to LTM EBITDA trending down to 2.3 times in 2022, following a peak of 2.8 times in 2020.Moody's expects that liquidity will remain very good, notwithstanding planned dividend distributions to Canadian Pacific during the review by the Surface Transportation Board of the proposed combination. While the cash balance could be modest at times, liquidity is supported by considerable cash flow, a $600 million credit facility and the ability to repatriate cash from Mexico without U.S. tax costs.The stable outlook is predicated on Moody's expectation that Kansas City Southern successfully realizes the growth opportunities that its network offers and that the operating margin continues its upward trajectory, after the company resolved the network congestion issues that hampered the efficiency of its operations in the first half of 2021.FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSThe ratings could be upgraded if the operating margin is sustained well above 35%, debt/EBITDA is maintained at around 2 times, and Kansas City Southern maintains very good liquidity with very limited use of commercial paper or other short-term borrowings. Consistently good network fluidity and service levels are also considerations for a ratings upgrade, as is clarity with respect to the combination with Canadian Pacific and the related decisions about the debt structure.The ratings could be downgraded if Moody's expects that the operating margin will decrease towards 30%. The ratings could also be downgraded if Moody's anticipates that debt/EBITDA will increase to more than 2.75 times or if (retained cash flow minus capital expenditures)/debt is less than 10%. Extensive use of commercial paper concurrent with a modest cash balance or without ample credit facility back-up could also pressure the ratings.The principal methodology used in these ratings was Surface Transportation and Logistics published in December 2021 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1296092. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.Kansas City Southern operates a Class I freight railroad in the central U.S., The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., owns a concession to operate Mexico's northeastern railroad. Revenue in 2021 was $2.9 billion.REGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1288235.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. Further information on the UK endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. Rene Lipsch VP - Senior Credit Officer Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Dean Diaz Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653  2022 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. 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KBC Groep

Press Release

Outside trading hours - Regulated information* - Public disclosure of inside information

Brussels, 18 March 2022 (08.00 a.m. CET)

Board change at KBC Group.

On the advice of the nomination committee, the Board of Directors has decided to propose Ms. Alicia Reyes Revuelta to the General Meeting of Shareholders as new non-executive, independent director on the Board of Directors of KBC Group and member of the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee of KBC Group. Ms. Reyes Revuelta will replace Ms. Julia Kiraly who announced on 2 November 2021 that for personal reasons she wished to resign as director.

The appointment of Ms. Alicia Reyes Revuelta is subject to regulatory approval by the European Central Bank.

Ms. Alicia Reyes Revuelta has over 26 years of experience in Investment Banking and Private Equity with a strong track record managing global businesses.

She is currently an independent Board Member of Ferrovial (IBEX-9) and Banco Sabadell (IBEX-25). Alicia was until recently the Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo Securities for EMEA, a position she held since 2016. Alicia managed the markets businesses (Equities, Credit and ABS, FX and Rates Sales and Trading), Investment Banking Division activities (DCM, ECM and M&A) and Structured Lending (including ABS and CDO warehouse lines and Fund Financing) and was responsible for all the Securities regulated legal entities in EMEA for Wells Fargo.

Previously, Alicia was a partner at Olympo Capital, a Private Equity firm, and before that she served for eight years at Barclays Capital in various senior positions including Head of Distribution for Iberia and concluding as Global Head of Structuring FIG IBD, Global Head of Insurance Solutions and Strategic Equity Derivatives. Alicia has also previously worked for Bear Stearns as Country Manager for Spain and Portugal, Chief Investment and Financial Officer at Telvent, a venture capital fund focused on TMT and started her career an associate in Derivatives at Deutsche Bank.

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Alicia graduated from ICADE, Madrid with a PhD in Quantitative Methods and Financial Markets (Thesis on Credit Risk Modelling - Summa cum laude) and a double degree in Law, Economics and Business Administration (1996). She is currently a Fellow Professor in the Institute of Finance and Technology MSc program on Digital Banking at the Faculty of Civil Engineering (University College London). In 2016, Alicia was included in The Female FTSE Board Report (Cranfield): 100 Women to Watch. She is a Trustee at Fareshare, the largest charity in the UK fighting hunger and co-founder of 10 Million Women, a social enterprise to help disadvantaged women access the labour market.

Koenraad Debackere, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KBC Group commented on todays announcement as follows: "I am delighted to welcome Ms. Alicia Reyes Revuelta to the Board. I am convinced that her broad experience in the international financial sector and markets, and her thorough knowledge of economic affairs, and her community involvement will enable her to make an important contribution to the further development of KBC.

For more information, please contact:

Viviane Huybrecht, General Manager, Corporate Communication/Spokesperson, KBC Group

Tel +32 2 429 85 45 - E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be

* This news item contains information that is subject to the transparency regulations for listed companies.



KBC Group NV



Havenlaan 2  1080 Brussels



Viviane Huybrecht



General Manager



Corporate Communication /Spokesperson



Tel. +32 2 429 85 45







Press Office



Tel. +32 2 429 65 01 Stef Leunens



Tel. +32 2 429 29 15 Ilse De Muyer



Tel. +32 2 429 32 88 Pieter Kusse



Tel. +32 2 429 85 44 Sofie Spiessens



E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be







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VANCOUVER, BC, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Montage Gold Corp. ("Montage" or the "Company") (TSXV: MAU) (OTCPK: MAUTF) is pleased to announce that the Definitive Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Kone Gold Project in Cote d'Ivoire (the "Technical Report") has been filed on SEDAR. The Technical Report, which is dated March 14, 2022, has an effective date of February 14, 2022 and is entitled "Kone Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire Definitive Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report". The results of the Definitive Feasibility Study were previously disclosed in summary form in the Company's news release dated February 14, 2022, "Montage Announces Kone Gold Project DFS with After-Tax NPV of $746M and 35% IRR."

Montage Gold Corp Logo (CNW Group/Montage Gold Corp)

The Technical Report was prepared in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.montagegoldcorp.com. There are no material differences between the mineral reserve and the mineral resource estimates announced in the February 14, 2022 news release from those contained in the Report.

ABOUT MONTAGE GOLD CORP.

Montage is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration and development company focused on opportunities in Cote d'Ivoire. The Company's flagship property is the Kone Gold Project, located in northwest Cote d'Ivoire, which currently hosts a Probable Mineral Reserve of 161.1Mt grading 0.66g/t for 3.42M ounces of gold. The Company released the results of a definitive feasibility study (the "DFS") on the Kone Gold Project on February 14, 2022, outlining a 15-year gold project estimated to produce 3.06M ounces of gold at AISC (non-GAAP) of $933 per ounce over life of the mine, with average annual production of 207koz, and peak production of 320koz. Montage has a management team and Board with significant experience in discovering and developing gold deposits in Africa.

TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE

The mineral reserve estimate for the Project was carried out by Ms. Joeline McGrath of Carci Mining Consultants Ltd. who is considered to be independent of Montage. Ms. McGrath is a member in good standing of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the work which she is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43101. The DFS was prepared by Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd. and incorporates the work of Lycopodium and Specialist Consultants, under the supervision of Sandy Hunter, MAusIMM(CP), of Lycopodium, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101 who is independent of Montage.

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For further details of the data verification undertaken, exploration undertaken and associated QA/QC programs, and the interpretation thereof, and the assumptions, parameters and methods used to develop the mineral reserve estimate for the Project, please see the NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "Kone Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire Definitive Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report" and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are encouraged to read the Technical Report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the details summarized in this news release. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

The technical disclosure contained in this press release have been approved by Hugh Stuart, BSc, MSc, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101. Mr. Stuart is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, a Chartered Geologist and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. Mr. Stuart is not independent of Montage as he is an officer, director and shareholder of Montage.

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 press release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "Forward-looking Statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute Forward-looking Statements. Words such as "will", "intends", "proposed" and "expects" or similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-looking Statements. Forward looking Statements in this press release include statements that imply the Company will obtain sufficient or any project financing to permit the Project to be developed as expected, and also includes those related to the Company's mineral reserve and resource estimates; the timing and amount of future production from the Kone Gold Project; expectations with respect to the IRR, NPV, payback and costs of the Kone Gold Project; anticipated mining and processing methods of the Kone Gold Project; anticipated mine life of the Kone Gold Project; expected recoveries and grades of the Kone Gold Project; timing for the DFS; and timing for permits and concessions. Forward-looking Statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral reserve and resource estimates and definitive feasibility studies such as the mineral reserve and resource estimates and the DFS, including but not limited to, assumptions underlying the production estimates not being realized, incorrect cost assumptions, unexpected variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, unexpected changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, unexpected failures of plant, equipment or processes, unexpected changes to availability of power or the power rates, failure to maintain permits and licenses, higher than expected interest or tax rates, adverse changes in project parameters, unanticipated delays and costs of consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks inherent in the Cote d'Ivoire, title risks, including failure to renew concessions, unanticipated commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other risk factors set forth in the Company's annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors". The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Montage to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any Forward-looking Statement. Any Forward-looking Statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), including "all-in sustaining costs" or AISC. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The Company discloses "all-in sustaining costs" because it understands that certain investors use this information to determine the Company's ability to generate earnings and cash flows for use in investing and other activities. The Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS do not fully illustrate the ability of mines to generate cash flows. The measures, as determined under IFRS, are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operating activities. AISC is considered to be key indicators of a project's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not necessarily indicative of operating costs, operating profit or cash flows presented under IFRS. Readers should also refer to our management's discussion and analysis, available under our corporate profile at www.sedar.com for a more detailed discussion of how we calculate such measures.

Cision

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SOURCE Montage Gold Corp
The call to help Ukrainians in their resistance against the Russian invaders has drawn support from all corners of the U.S., with traditional charities providing aid, crypto platforms chipping in millions in donations and Elon Musk sending Starlink satellite internet hardware.

Count NASCAR Hall of Fame owner Richard Childress among them: Childress worked with an Arizona-based ammunitions company to send 1 million rounds of ammo to Ukraine. The experience has offered a crash course on international logistics in a war zone, but Childress said aiding the resistance is crucial to keep the "humanity" of the Ukrainian people from being destroyed.

"I said, 'We got the ammo we can get to these people,'" said Childress, who is also a member of AMMO Inc's Board of Directors. "We went back and forth on how we could do it, how we could make it happen."

That conversation in early March set off a chain of events that culminated on Sunday, when Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed it received the rounds of ammunition, an AMMO Inc. spokesperson said.

Live updates: Zelenskyy mum on US aid as Russian forces mount campaigns outside major Ukrainian cities

NASCAR team owner Richard Childress worked with an Arizona ammunitions company to donate bullets to Ukraine after Russia's invasion.

AMMO Inc. CEO Fred Wagenhals said it took three days to transport the munitions to Europe, but it took over 10 days to complete the paperwork in order to hand them over.

The ammunition sent to Ukraine is worth about $700,000.

"When we saw the news articles that President Zelenskyy wanted ammo, we reached out to sources in Europe to find out what type of ammunition he wanted," Wagenhals said. "And it was a 7.62 bullet."

The company made some of the 7.62mm rounds at its Wisconsin factory and purchased the rest in Europe to make sure the one million bullets arrived in Ukraine on time, he said. Then, the rounds were sent to an undisclosed location in Europe before being transported to Ukraine.

"We had to go through two European countries to get it done," Wagenhals said.

Story continues

The U.S. government has provided about $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine in the past week, including more than 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds.

Childress said he has received support since announcing the donation, adding that Richard Childress Racing, alongside Bass Pro Shops and Convoy of Hope, set up a fund to continue to aid Ukrainians.

"We're already getting a tremendous amount of support, but the more we can get will be better," Childress said.

Wagenhals said the response to AMMO's donation has been overwhelmingly positive. The company began to receive offers of donations to support the cause, prompting AMMO to refer people to CARE, an international humanitarian group.

"The outpouring was unbelievable," he said.

But elements of the American right, including politicians, fringe candidates and popular TV hosts, have voiced support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's campaign, and Wagenhals said some of the feedback he's received reflected that.

A death threat directed at Wagenhals was turned over to the FBI, he said.

Department of Commerce rules on ammo donations

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security oversees exports of weapons. The agency declined in a statement to comment on AMMOs donation but said it has been processing requests rapidly to export firearms and ammunition to Ukraine.

The Department of Commerce strongly condemns the brutal, illegal assault on Ukraine and has taken numerous actions to impose stringent export controls on Russia to degrade its ability to sustain military aggression, the department statement said. Parties seeking to donate firearms or other items to be sent to Ukraine should consult the Department of Commerce and State websites to determine whether a license to export those specific items is required.

Americans seeking a license to export firearms to Ukraine, the department said, should consider how they intend to transport the weapons, whether there is an identified end-user to receive the shipment, and if Ukraine will receive the goods or if they will be transferred from another country.

The State Department said cash donations are the most efficient form of assistance to Ukraine.

"Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees," the department said in a statement. "It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less time managing goods."

More coverage from Ukraine

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How NASCAR owner Richard Childress Ukrainian ammo donation came to be
The Ukrainian and American flags were raised together Thursday at Oxnard College in a gathering of support for the war-torn country.

About 100 people assembled at the main flagpole near the campus library. Speakers focused on the history that led to the Russian invasion last month. Information tables were set up for donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.

The violence in Ukraine threatens human rights and freedom everywhere, imperiling the future our students will inherit, Oxnard College President Luis Sanchez said in a news release announcing the event.

'Chomping at the bit': Volunteer local soldier joins war in Ukraine

Ventura County District Attorney Eric Nasarenko spoke at the rally of his ties to Ukraine. His parents are Ukrainian immigrants who fled the country when it was under Soviet influence in World War II.

The show of support was held the same day U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said war crimes have been committed in Ukraine. A day earlier, President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal.

"When there is war, there are war crimes," Oxnard City Manager Alex Nguyen said at the rally. He told of how his family fled to the United States as refugees from Vietnam.

The Ukrainian flag will be flown at the community college throughout March.

Ventura County District Attorney Eric Nasarenko joins Oxnard College President Luis Sanchez as the school raises the U.S. and Ukrainian flags Thursday to show support for the embattled country.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: To see more stories like this, subscribe here.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard College event shows support for war-torn Ukraine
Major Chinese Android smartphone brands are seeing robust demand this month in Russia, boosted by increased local consumer spending on essential electronics devices, as international sanctions against the invasion of Ukraine sent the rouble in free fall.

"Russian retailers are setting the price higher every few days to make up for the exchange loss," said Ivan Lam, Hong Kong-based analyst at Counterpoint Research. "People are buying everything from smartphones to home appliances before the currency further depreciates."

Sales of smartphones from Huawei Technologies Co, Oppo and Vivo significantly increased in the first two weeks of March, according to a report by Russian daily newspaper Kommersant on Wednesday, citing data from the country's largest mobile network operator MTS.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The number of Huawei smartphones sold during that period was three times more than the previous two weeks, the report said. Sales of Oppo and Vivo devices surged 200 per cent in the same period, while those of ZTE Corp and Realme grew 100 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively.

A woman walks past a board showing currency exchange rates of the Euro and the US dollar against the Russian rouble in Moscow, Russia, on March 11, 2022. Photo: Reuters alt=A woman walks past a board showing currency exchange rates of the Euro and the US dollar against the Russian rouble in Moscow, Russia, on March 11, 2022. Photo: Reuters>

The brisk sales, however, signify panic buying because of the weakening rouble, rather than increased local preference for Chinese smartphone brands, according to Counterpoint's Lam. The rouble was trading at 104.47 to the US dollar on Thursday.

Lam said the recent hefty sales numbers recorded by Chinese smartphone vendors are likely to decline soon, as many distributors in Russia have stopped making large imports from China because of exchange rate risks.

Story continues

Before that two-week period in March, total smartphone sales in Russia increased fourfold from February 24 to 28, compared with the previous four days, according to the Kommersant report. At the time, Apple's iPhone and Android smartphone models from Samsung Electronics and Xiaomi Corp were the most in demand in the local market.

Apple, however, halted sales of the iPhone and its other highly prized products in Russia from March 1, following the country's invasion of Ukraine, saying the company stands "with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence". Samsung also paused its sales in Russia a few days later.

To their advantage, the major Chinese smartphone brands had sufficient inventory in their local warehouses in Russia to meet the increased demand, following Apple and Samsung's moves to halt sales, according to Arkady Markaryan, head of smartphone business at AliExpress Russia.

AliExpress, a global marketplace for overseas consumers to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors in China, is a major business under Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the South China Morning Post.

But international sanctions on exporting hi-tech products to Russia, including payment and logistics restriction, have created a big challenge for Chinese technology companies that want to keep doing business in the country amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Transsion Holdings, a Shenzhen-based budget smartphone maker, recently said that it is relying on yuan payments to maintain its operations in Russia.

Counterpoint's Lam, however, indicated difficulties with the yuan payment strategy. "The industry is still using US dollars to calculate manufacturing costs and set prices of handsets, so it's hard to shift to yuan payment any time soon," he said.

Semiconductors and other crucial components of smartphones are mainly supplied by companies in the US, South Korea and Japan, which all use US dollars to settle international transactions.

Lam said major Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo must also consider if the risks of doing business in Russia far outweigh their ambition to expand sales in western Europe, where many people are protesting against the war in Ukraine.

Washington may also impose new sanctions. Last week, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned that the US could "essentially shut" down any Chinese companies defying sanctions by continuing to supply chips to Russia.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
As a parent, it is our instinct to try to protect our children from anything that would harm them or cause pain, worry or anxiety. I would love to keep my four little girls (who are not so little anymore) in a fairy-tale bubble where the good guy always wins and the prince and princess live happily ever after. Sadly, we have created a culture, with its 24/7 news cycle and always available social media feeds, that causes that bubble to pop and the fairy tale to crumble. Like HumptyDumpty falling off the wall, we are left to try to put the pieces back together again.

As the tanks started to roll from Russia into Ukraine and the bombs began to fall, the questions at the dinner table became more difficult to answer, Why would Putin attack Ukraine? Do the Russians hate the Ukrainians? When will the war end? My husband and I did our best to answer their questions with reason and facts.

But then the tougher questions poured out. The ones based on fear and that didnt have easy answers, Will this be the beginning of World War III? Are regular people dying? Will he drop a nuclear bomb on Ukraine? Mom, does he have the capability to drop a nuclear bomb on us? Will he? To these questions we did the only thing we knew to dowe reminded them to keep their eyes and hearts focused on God.

I am not an expert on this topic, but I would like to share some things that you might find helpful as you navigate these difficult conversations with your own children.

First, teach your children world history from a very young age. People were always surprised to learn that my children were studying the history of the world before they studied the history of this country. My goal in choosing that scope and sequence for their education was to give them a broad perspective of world events and to avoid an ethnocentric worldview. The result is that my children have a framework with which to process current events happening throughout the globe. This framework has been extremely helpful as we have processed what is currently taking place between Russia and Ukraine.

Second, teach your children about good and evil. If we never teach our children about evil, they will never truly understand goodness. God instructed the Israelites to teach their children about His covenants and about the struggles they were subjected to at the hands of their enemies. Moses shared this command, In days to come, when your son asks you, What does this mean? say to him, With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery (Exodus 13:14).

Homeschool blogger Gina Munsey had these thoughts to share: How would this deliverance be remarkable at all unless understood in light of the oppression Gods people had been under? Would early Christian martyrs stand out as phenomenal examples of dedication to the cross of Christ if we minimized the evil leading to their execution?

Finally, teach your children to find their security in the loving arms of Jesus and not in this world. Jesus said, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

To what things was Jesus referring? Jesus had just got done telling them that He would leave them and that they would experience great sorrow. They did not understand, but He was preparing them for His crucifixion. But, like a woman who experiences great pain in childbirth and then great joy when her baby is born, they would also experience great joy when Jesus returned to them after His resurrection.

When the world is falling apart around us and images of death and despair scroll across our screens, when the evil is just too great to comprehend and the loss seems like too much to bear, when peace between peoples seems just as elusive as the fairy-tale world I tried to build for my children, we need not collapse under the weight of our despair when our hope is placed in Jesusthe One who conquered death once and for all.

Heather Ablondi is a womens ministry speaker and author who lives in Fredericksburg. You can contact her through her website, heatherablondi.com.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Military Hospitals central laboratory head Elvin Bayramov has said that the current cure rate for COVID-19 in Azerbaijan is 70 percent.

He made the remarks at the international scientific conference Modern approaches to comprehensive diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2, Day.az reported.

Bayramov underlined some problems during the pandemic the samples went bad due to the fact that reception and transportation were not carried out according to the norms.

Emphasizing that the problem was later corrected, he added that samples are now being collected and transported in accordance with international norms.

On February 28, 2020, the country confirmed its first COVID-19 case. On March 25, the country implemented a special quarantine regime and implemented a number of measures to combat COVID-19 in the country.

Azerbaijan is taking effective measures in the fight against coronavirus, and four types of COVID-19 vaccines out of nine existing have been imported to Azerbaijan.

Vaccination has been carried out in Azerbaijan since January 18, 2022, and it is still being carried out successfully. The epidemiological situation in Azerbaijan remains stable due to the active participation of the population in vaccination.

The nationwide vaccination is free and voluntary, and it is in accordance with the "Vaccination Strategy Against COVID-19 in Azerbaijan for 2021-2022".

The country began vaccinating citizens with China's Sinovac on January 18, AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria vaccine on May 3, Russia's Sputnik V on May 18, and Pfizer from the United States on June 7. From May 10, the country began offering COVID-19 vaccination to citizens over the age of 18.

Simultaneously, on August 9, Azerbaijan began issuing vaccination exemption certificates to citizens who have contraindications to coronavirus vaccines approved for use in the country.
An effort to overturn a 33-year prison term failed Thursday for a King George man.

Paul Allen Marshall, 30, is serving the sentence after being convicted last year of charges that include aggravated malicious wounding, attempted murder and abduction. The charges stem from a February 2018 incident during which a woman Marshall had been dating was shot, strangled and denied medical treatment for about 20 hours.

Police began looking for the woman after her brother reported that she texted him that Marshall was trying to kill her. The woman, a Maryland resident, knew she was in the Dahlgren area but was not sure exactly where she was.

A deputy finally found the woman bleeding in a car behind an abandoned house on Gambo Creek Road. According to the evidence, Marshall had been dating the woman for about six weeks and became angry after learning shed been seeing someone else.

Marshall was in King George Circuit Court on Thursday with his new court-appointed attorney, Tim Barbrow. Barbrow asked Judge Herbert Hewitt to set aside the jury verdict, saying among other things that the evidence didnt support the convictions and that the sentence was extreme.

Prosecutor Charlie Clark disagreed, saying the sentence was well within the legal limits and that the verdict was just, especially since he tortured her.

Hewitt agreed and denied the defense request.

Hewitt also formally imposed the jury verdict, meaning Marshall has about a month to appeal the conviction to the state Court of Appeals. His motion to set aside the verdict has been delayed for multiple reasons, including his change of attorneys.

Marshall has been in the Rappahannock Regional Jail since February 2018.

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While Virginia ranked in the top tier of states for being prepared for a range of health emergencies from natural disasters to manmade incidents, the nation got a less than glowing review for its COVID-19 response in a report from the Trust for Americas Health.

If the United States had had a more adequate public health infrastructure when the pandemic began, lives would have been saved and economic upheaval lessened, according to Ready or Not 2022: Protecting the Publics Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism.

The report states that misinformation, mistrust in government and political division have resulted in policies and actions that are both anti-health and anti-vaccine. Americas lack of investment in health quality for all contributed to high rates of chronic disease among some more vulnerable populations. And, confusing and disjointed leadership and messages led to disparate responses in every state, the report said.

It also cited the health care system, which operates near capacity on many days, saying it was not prepared for the multiple case surges during the pandemic.

The annual report looks at how states respond in the face of emergency. Virginia health and hospital officials singled out the commonwealths placement, for the third year in a row, in the top tier.

Dr. Colin Greene, acting state health commissioner, credited the hard work of thousands of Virginia Department of Health employees.

Our ongoing attention to preparedness means that when we are faced with situations such as this pandemic or severe weather events or calculated attacks, we have systems, guidance, relationships and community partnerships in place to launch a comprehensive response, Greene said.

Hospitals also are critical partners in the states emergency preparedness infrastructure, said Sean T. Connaughton, CEO of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

The pandemic has been a real-world stress test of our health care delivery system and its level of emergency readiness, he said. While there are always opportunities to improve, it is gratifying to see that Virginias commitment to preparedness continues to place us among the top states in the nation.

But in a special section of the report on lessons from the pandemic, including what could be done to save more lives during the next public health emergency, the tone was markedly more somber.

It states that public health officials had warned about their dangerously inadequate infrastructure for decades and had asked Congress to fund public health on a sustained basis and not just in response to an emergency. Lack of funding contributed to understaffed and overworked health departments using out-of-date technologies.

Those departments are even more understaffed, two years into the pandemic, as a result of a lack of support and outright threats against them, the report said.

The nations public health data systems are woefully dated and not up to the task of tracking an infectious disease outbreak on the scale of a pandemic, according to the report.

It cited the need for increased, flexible and continued spending for public health; a strong, coordinated federal response; modernized systems to collect data and track diseases; and modern public health labs capable of increasing their capacity during surges.

The report also called for a diverse and highly skilled public health workforce. According to the de Beaumont Foundation and Public Health National Center for Innovations, state and local public health departments need approximately 80 percent more full-time staff to meet the nations basic public health needs.

During the pandemic, more than 1.65 million Virginians have been infected with COVID-19 and 19,466 have died, according to state data. In the Rappahannock Area Health District, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, there have been 73,472 infections and 605 deaths.

The local health district continues to report deaths that occurred during the omicron surge. Another 11 deaths have been added to the toll in the last week.

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Through the generosity of the Harper Family Foundation, College of Saint Mary (CSM) will provide a debt-free pathway to 100 new nursing students over the next four years.

The foundation furnished a $2 million challenge grant to CSM to launch the Josie Harper Nursing Scholarship to help financially disadvantaged students, including those who are first-generation, single parents, ethnic minority and/or Pell-eligible, who desire a nursing career. For the next four years, beginning this fall, 25 new nursing students will receive up to $29,000 annually.

Charles Mike Harper and his late wife, Joan Josie Harper, established the Harper Family Foundation to create a legacy of giving. Josie, a nurse, passed away from cancer. Their goal was to create lasting and impactful contributions.

From 2017 to 2020, 44% of CSMs nursing graduates were financially challenged.

The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of nurses from underserved families and communities serving in the Nebraska workforce. It also would help address the nursing shortfall in the state and reduce racial/ethnic healthcare disparity. In 2020, Nebraska had more than 4,000 unfilled nursing positions, with the shortfall forecasted to increase to more than 5,400 by 2025. According to the Nebraska Center for Nursing, in the Omaha metro area, 93% of registered nurses are Caucasian; 7% are nurses of color.

To be eligible, recipients must be accepted as a new student to the Practical Nursing Certificate program beginning in May 2022, the Pre-Nursing program or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program beginning in August 2022. They must also demonstrate high financial need through Federal Pell Grant Eligibility or be eligible for a CSM Misericordia Scholarship and have at least the following criteria: first-generation, a person of color or a student parent.

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Fremont Public Schools is launching Safe2Help, an anonymous reporting program for students and parents.

The program, in the form of a smartphone app, allows students to anonymously report problems within schools that can range from violence and drugs to the less severe, but nonetheless important, reports.

It will launch March 21 across the district.

They (students) know a lot of things we dont, said Kevin Kavan, FPS district security coordinator. I think weve done a good job at saying If you see something, say something but I think we need to give them something else.

Kavan cited other benefits of the app.

Over time, we realized that this can be used to not only report violent situations, but kids would report less severe things. Things that we know could turn into more severe actions, Kavan said.

The system already has had trial runs in different districts across different states, with Colorado being the heaviest user of the system.

Statistics from Colorado districts show some of the most common reports the app receives.

The most common reports include suicidal thoughts or tendencies, bullying and cyberbullying along with drugs.

For Colorado districts, they used the P3 Campus system, a similar system to Safe2Help

P3 Campus showed that its most popular time for reports was 9 p.m., much later than when school counselors and teachers would be available to talk with students, which is another reason the district feels an anonymous reporting app is viable.

The system will also incorporate a vetting system.

Reports will first be routed to consultants at Boys Town, then feedback any relevant information to the school district, police department or both, depending on the severity and context of the reports.

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Elementary school principals report that 65%  or higher  of their students live at or below the poverty line.

The principals made their reports on Monday night during the Fremont Public Schools Board of Education meeting.

Representatives from multiple Fremont elementary schools revealed percentages relating to poverty, mental health and social wellbeing at the meeting. This included a report of FPS social workers issuing 200 reports to mental health therapy.

Chris Raasch, principal at Bell Field, said 65% of students attending are at or below the poverty line.

This number used to be higher, but since making our meals free, that number has gone down, Raasch said. These numbers follow a similar trend throughout Linden and JCAC.

Diane Beninato, principal at Linden, said the poverty rate is hovering at approximately 75%.

JCAC principal Brent Harrill did not necessarily touch on the poverty rate, but did touch on the numbers of students, who qualified for free/reduced lunches (a similar indicator in relation to poverty rates) which stands at 61%.

The district and the faculty at the various elementaries explained ways they are addressing these issues and the hopes of what is to come.

All schools listed have a free/reduced lunch program and a backpack program. The backpack program allows schools (and organizations associated with the schools) to buy foods and coupons to give to students to take home.

At JCAC, Harrill showed the number of students, who qualified for free/reduced lunches, was 69% back in 2020, leading to a drop of 8% of students during the school year.

Social issues also have been a major concern for the district throughout the years and were discussed at the meeting in conjunction with meeting the needs of the students.

We all know about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. If basic needs are not being met, more than likely they are not learning what they need to in the classroom, said Shayla Linn, a social worker at Fremont Public Schools.

In 2021, social workers at Fremont High School kick-started The Hub, which provides basic needs to students, like food, clothing, hygiene products, school supplies and more.

Fremont Middle School has a similar support service with The Urban Tiger, but social workers don't want the effort to stop there.

Eventually, we hope to replicate this across the district, in each building, so all students have access to this stuff, Linn said.

Linn reported that, so far, during the 2021-2022 school year, 200 reports to mental health therapy have been issued by FPS social workers.

On average, the social workers see 90 students a week at FHS, 29 students a week at FMS and 20 students a week from the various elementary sites.

In recognition of the work that these Fremont school organizations have done for students, the board authorized two donations made to assist children in need.

The first was given by the Nebraska Delta Kappa Gamma Society for $500, which will be used to fill 50 backpacks for The Urban Tiger. The second was from Beyond School Bells in the amount of $11,000 which will be directed to Fremonts After School Program.

This is all very generous, said Scott Jensen, executive director of secondary operations at FPS. Were not only grateful for the donations, but proud of the work these organizations have been doing.

The board was also present for discussions surrounding digital literacy for students at the district.

Todd Niehaus, assistant principal at FMS, discussed with the board the important role of instruction on electronic and digital behavior.

The topics we are covering are sexting, cyberbullying, harassment and media literacy. We can incorporate this instruction into our Tiger Time lessons. These topics are relevant for grades seven and up. Our lessons provide proactive and applicable education to students, Niehaus said.

Mark Shepard, superintendent of FPS, agreed with the implementation given the consequences that befall many young people across the country.

Oftentimes, students get caught in a situation that is very uncomfortable and it can lead to some pretty hefty legal consequences. It definitely can become a distraction in school, Shepard said.

Lessons will be given to students at the middle school and high school. Parents of FHS/FMS students will have the option to remove their child out of these lessons, if they feel it is necessary.

Due to the sensitive nature of the topics, we do intend to notify the parents of what we will be teaching. There will be a reminder sent out prior to the lessons and parents will be given the option to opt their child out if they so choose, Niehaus said.

In other news, the board approved Tuesday, April 5, as an early-out day at FHS. The decision comes from ACT and Pre-ACT tests being taken that day for juniors and sophomores, respectively, at the district. The decision comes from giving seniors and freshman activities as well to justify an early-out for the school.

Freshman will receive the ASVAB and career workshops, along with discussions on bullying and harassment prevention. Seniors will have no school that day, giving students the time to fill out scholarship applications or to visit prospective colleges.

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Tears rolled down my face as I watched TV coverage of the invasion of Ukraine.

I saw a young couple rushing an injured toddler into a hospital after a shelling.

They held each other and sobbed when the little child died.

Scenes of people fleeing  including small children  and bombed out buildings continue to fill TV screens.

I was thinking about these terrible scenes while researching one of the Psalms.

Thats when I re-read a story about David and a terrible man named, Doeg.

By this time in Bible history, the shepherd David has killed the giant Goliath.

Its a great victory for Israel, but its ruler  King Saul  becomes insanely jealous when David reaps even more acclaim than he does.

Saul already knows that because of his disobedience, hes been rejected by God as king. His fear that David will replace him only grows when the young man successfully completes every military mission he gets.

Despite this, David finds a great friend in Sauls son, Jonathan, who warns the former shepherd that the king plans to kill him.

David runs for his life.

He and other men with him reach a place called, Nob, where he finds a priest named, Ahimelek.

Wouldnt you think David would be honest with a priest?

Nope.

He tells the priest that hes on a secret mission from King Saul. David asks for bread and a sword.

The priest gives him bread and the sword that belonged to Goliath  not knowing such actions will jeopardize his own life.

Thats because Doeg, chief herdsman to King Saul, is around when the transaction between David and the priest takes place.

And Doeg is an evil dude.

David leaves Nob and later heads to a cave where about 400 other Israelite men  distressed or in debt  join him.

After being warned by a prophet, David and his crew then hide in a forest.

Meanwhile, King Saul asks his officials why they havent let him know whats been going on with David.

Doeg happens to be with the officials.

And Doeg is a big tattletale.

Doeg tells Saul that David went to the priest, who gave him provisions and Goliaths sword.

Saul sends for Ahimelek and the priest innocently says that  as far as he knows  David is one of the kings most trusted servants.

Ahimelek had no idea there was a problem.

Saul doesnt care.

He mercilessly orders his guards to kill Ahimelek and other priests with him.

The guards wont do it.

But evil Doeg is ready to step up to wicked plate.

Doeg kills 85 priests (he must have had some help in his deadly deeds) along with other men, women, children, infants, cattle, donkeys and sheep.

Only one of Ahimeleks sons escapes and joins David.

David says he just knew Doeg would tell Saul.

So did David have any idea Saul would take such murderous measures?

I dont know.

But David does say hes responsible for the deaths of Ahimeleks family and offers to protect the sole survivor.

Stay with me, David says. Dont be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me, too. You will be safe with me.

It must have been terrible for Ahimeleks son and David.

Why would God let Doeg  at King Sauls command  murder all those innocent people?

And why is Russian President Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine, which is resulting in the deaths of thousands?

I pray for God to stop him.

On Tuesday, I was reading Psalm 52, which David wrote after learning Doeg had gone to Saul.

Scholars say its a Psalm which reminds us that people will harm us, but that our Lord is a God of justice.

I can almost imagine Davids anger and sarcasm when he writes as if hes talking straight to Doeg:

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

David speaks of the Lords judgement when he writes:

Surely, God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living.

That sounds a lot like what we read in Deuteronomy 32:35, in which the Lord says:

It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.

In other words, theyre going to get what they deserve.

I believe thats true. People who do wrong will meet justice  if not in this life, than in the next.

Thats why most Christians I know take repentance seriously. We want to obey God. We want forgiveness.

And we can trust that when we repent, our God will be faithful to forgive.

Jesus also tells us to forgive and to pray for those who persecute us. He even asked our Heavenly Father to forgive those who put him on the cross.

How tough is it to seek Gods forgiveness for our enemies when were in the midst of being hurt or worse?

Tall order.

Yet the same God who sent his only son to die for us can help us to endure and forgive.

And he can protect us in amazing ways. Recently, Ive heard of Christian Ukrainians seeing the hand of God in their protection.

So even as I continue to ask God to stop Putin and the invasion, I pray for the Ukrainians protection.

I pray that God will reveal himself in wonderful and mighty ways to Ukrainians and Russians who dont know him and will bring peace to that region.

In the meantime, I continue to believe in our God whose goodness inspired David to conclude Psalm 52 with such words of great faith.

I trust in Gods unfailing love for ever and ever, David wrote. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.

And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

A postscript: King Saul later took his own life rather than fall into the hands of his enemy. A Jewish legend reportedly says Doeg died a leper.

Tammy Real-McKeighan is news editor of the Fremont Tribune. She writes a weekly spiritual column.

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Welcome to Gandhara's weekly newsletter. This briefing brings you the best of our reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

If youre new to the newsletter or havent subscribed yet, you can do so here.

U.S. veterans try to get Afghan allies out

Mike Scollon looks at the plight of around 80,000 at-risk Afghans who remain stranded in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Many risked their lives to work for the U.S. government or military but were left behind after foreign forces withdrew and the Taliban toppled the Western-backed Afghan government. Many of those Afghans are now on the run, hiding, and hunted by the Taliban.

"I feel that no one has helped me," said Hanif, who served as a security guard for U.S. and NATO special forces in Afghanistan for nearly a decade. Hanif has been living in hiding for months as he awaits word that he will be cleared for evacuation to the United States.

Outraged by the situation, U.S. military veterans and others who trained and worked with Afghans are helping their former allies get their paperwork and documents in order, provide food, money, and safe haven, and even pay for and organize evacuation flights.

"We're trying to keep them motivated, keep them hanging on for a little bit longer in hopes that the U.S. government will eventually, or some other government will eventually come along with a process to help us out," said Mike Edwards, whose volunteer organization Exodus Relief is trying to help relocate former Afghan special forces.

Talibans rights violations continue

Radio Azadi reports on newly emerged videos showing the Taliban summarily executing an Afghan accused of fighting against the militant group and the torture and killing of a shopkeeper. Examples of extrajudicial killings and torture continue to emerge despite the Taliban pledging to uphold human rights.

Video and images obtained by Radio Azadi showed that 48-year-old shopkeeper Ghulam Sakhi had been severely tortured. Locals in the Panjshir Valley said his battered body was thrown in front of the deceased's home the next morning.

The other victim was 25-year-old Bilal Jawani, whose family said he was a teacher. "The Taliban martyred him because of his military uniform, without any evidence of [his ties to the] resistance or the previous government," said a relative of Jawani, who was also a resident of Panjshir.

The return of gender segregation

Radio Azadi obtained a copy of a Taliban document outlining the militants intention to resurrect gender segregation in government offices after already enforcing the separation of men and women at universities and on public transport.

The offices for men and women should be separate, said the letter by the Talibans Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

But some women have accused Taliban foot soldiers of violating their own rules. "It is strange that they want to keep unrelated men and women separate but yet allow a stranger to go through a woman's purse," said Sanga Lamar, a Kabul University lecturer who described her recent encounter with the Taliban.

Growing self-censorship among Afghan reporters

Radio Azadi highlights a new survey that revealed that some 70 percent of journalists in Afghanistan were involved in self-censorship .

"Economic problems, job insecurity, life insecurity, and lack of access to information are all the challenges we face," Qudratullah Hamidi, a journalist in Herat, told us.

Nearly half of all Afghan media outlets have shut down their operations since the Taliban takeover in August.

(Watch a video about how Afghan women are reluctant to protest after the Taliban detained and even disappeared some female activists.)

Afghan widows ordeal

In this video , Radio Mashaal interviews an Afghan widow whose husband was killed in a recent Islamic State (IS) attack on a Shiite mosque in Pakistans northwestern city of Peshawar.

Marzias family fled to Pakistan after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. The 42-year-old said she wanted her children to continue their education. The Taliban has severely curtailed girls education in Afghanistan.

But tragedy hit on March 4. Marzias husband was killed along with 63 others when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a packed mosque during Friday Prayers. Her only son was wounded in the blast.

We dont have a breadwinner now, she told Radio Mashaal. "We came here with the hope that our children will get an education. We never thought this could happen.

I hope you found this weeks newsletter useful, and I encourage you to forward it to your colleagues.

If you havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. I encourage you to visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Yours,

Abubakar Siddique

Twitter: @sid_abu

P.S.: You can always reach us at gandhara@rferl.org.
The Taliban has welcomed a UN Security Council resolution formally extending the UNs presence in Afghanistan, although the Taliban-led government remains unrecognized by the international community.

The vote to extend the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) was 14 in favor, with Russia abstaining.

The resolution allows the UN to continue work in Afghanistan, where a humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in August.

The new mandate authorizes the mission to promote gender equality, empowerment of women and girls, human rights of all Afghans, and an inclusive and representative government. But it does not give the Taliban-led government international recognition.

No country has recognized the Taliban-led government largely because of its lack of attention to respect for human rights, particularly the rights of girls, women, and ethnic minorities.

"We consider the extension of the mandate of UNAMA as a good step and want them to work effectively for solving humanitarian and other problems in Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP on March 18.

"We will coordinate and cooperate with them," he added.

But in practice the militant group has gradually resurrected its discriminatory policies, enforcing strict segregation in universities, government offices, and on public transportation.

The Taliban has dramatically rolled back womens rights in recent months, including closing most girls secondary schools and banning women from most forms of employment. Women who have demonstrated for greater rights have been arrested and, in some cases, disappeared.

Russia's abstention comes amid Moscow's international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine last month.

UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia criticized the council for not consulting the host country on the UN presence, saying it is important for more substantive cooperation between UNAMA and the Taliban, which would help the UN achieve its objectives and guarantee security for UN personnel.

UNAMA was first established in Afghanistan in 2002. Its mandate has in the past included humanitarian support, human rights advocacy, and political and regional cooperation. Before last year it also sought to protect civilians throughout the conflict and support the peace process.

Norwegian UN Ambassador Mona Juul, whose country drafted the resolution, said the council had sent a clear message with the new mandate.

UNAMA has a crucial role to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and in supporting Afghan people as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty, Juul said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, AFP, and AP
Nish And Joel Vs The World Series 2 Six episodes aired in 2018 and there hasn't been any more series since.

Joel and Nish join the porters of Peru in the first episode, they trek through the wilderness then join the scissor dancers for a performance. In episode 2 the travel to Japan to learn Kobo drumming. Episode 3 finds the guys in Argentina learning the ways of the gaucho. Episode 4 has them power lifting in Tahiti. Episode 5 has them learning sumo wrestling in Japan. In the last episode they learn sheep shearing in New Zealand.

About as entertaining as the first series.
Shareholders of Ithmaar Holding, a Bahrain-based holding company, yesterday approved plans to sell some of the companys key assets in Bahrain to Al Salam Bank.

The assets include Ithmaar Holdings ownership stake in both BBK and Solidarity Group Holding, one of the largest takaful groups globally and the parent of Solidarity Bahrain, as well as the consumer banking business of Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based Islamic bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Holding.

The plans were presented to Ithmaar Holding shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) that was held electronically through videoconferencing and chaired by the Chairman of the Ithmaar Holding Board of Directors, Prince Amr Al Faisal. Other key participants in the EGM included representatives from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MOICT), the Bahrain Bourse, and the Companys statutory auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

When the plans are implemented, Ithmaar Holding will retain a well-diversified portfolio of international and local financial and other assets, which include banking businesses in Bahrain and Pakistan. Ithmaar Bank, which will remain a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Holding, will continue as an innovative Islamic bank that is licensed and regulated by the CBB and exclusively focused on corporate banking and related services, particularly the fast- growing SME sector.

The plans mark a key milestone in the transformation of the groups operations, in line with the strategic decisions taken by the shareholders in 2016, said Prince Amr. When implemented, the plans will have realised a key component in Ithmaar Holdings business model of investing, developing, nurturing, growing and then realising value for its shareholders, he said.

The EGM followed the companys Annual General Meeting (AGM) that was also held through videoconferencing the previous day (March 16) and chaired by Prince Amr. During the AGM, Ithmaar Holding shareholders approved the companys consolidated financial statements for 2021.

We are pleased to report that, despite challenging market conditions and the lingering negative effects of the pandemic on the global economy, Ithmaar Holding concluded 2021 on a positive note, recording significant profits and setting the stage for a new era of growth, said Prince Amr.

The total net profit attributable to equity holders for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $38.60 million, a 193 percent increase compared to the net loss of $41.72 million reported for 2020. The increase is mainly due to the growth in core income. As a result, Earnings Per Share (EPS) for the year ended 31 December 2021 was US Cents 1.33, compared to negative US Cents 1.43 for 2020, he said.

Ithmaar Holdings total owners equity increased to $37.76 million as at 31 December 2021, a 156 percent increase compared to $14.76 million as at 31 December 2020, said Prince Amr. The increase is mainly attributable to profits for the year, he said.

The companys success in 2021 would not have been possible without the unwavering support of multiple stakeholders, and I take this opportunity to thank our shareholders, the members of the Board of Directors and the Sharia Supervisory Board, the CBB, the MOITC, the Bahrain Bourse and the Dubai Financial Market, for their unwavering support, said Prince Amr. I take this opportunity, also, to thank the Boards of the Directors, the management teams and the employees of our subsidiaries, he said.  TradeArabia News Service
A man walks with a bicycle in a street damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, last week. In talks between Russia and Ukraine toward a possible cease-fire after three weeks of intense fighting, negotiators are exploring prospects of possible neutrality for Ukraine.
Building on the success of the ATMAH project, the region's first Social Impact Bonds, the Authority of Social Contribution - Maan has announced a AED4 million ($1.08 million) investment by leading developer Aldar that will be allocated to two social contracting projects.

The new social investment contributions include AED2.7 million for family counselling services project by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA); and AED1.3 million to support the beneficiaries of Abu Dhabi Social Support Authoritys Programme for Upskilling and Employment of Emiratis that aims to enhance career opportunities for Emirati workforce.

Additionally, another AED1 million will be contributed by the prominent businessman, Dr Abdulkader Sankari, Founder of Sankari Fashion & Investment Group towards Abu Dhabi Social Support Authoritys Programme for Upskilling and Employment of Emiratis.

Greg Fewer, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer at Aldar, and Faisal Al Hmoudi, Executive Director, Social Incubator and Contracting at Maan signed a MoU in the presence of Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of Ma'an, to formalise Aldars contributions towards the new projects.

The signing took place at the 2022 edition of the Exchange, a space especially designed to educate and empower the Abu Dhabi community and inspire individuals to join the efforts to address social priorities.

The theme of this years Exchange is Collaborate for Good. Located at The Galleria, Abu Dhabi the social innovation space is open to the public until March 29.

Al Hmoudi said: "At Maan, we continue our diligent efforts to develop strategic partnership programmes that bring together government, the private sector and civil society to deliver lasting, sustainable impact for the Abu Dhabi community."

"To this end, we ensure strong foundations are in place along with sustainable financial support to enable the community to address the complex social challenges," he added.

Highlighting the importance of such partnerships with Maan, Dr Sankari said: "Initiatives like the Social Impact Bonds provide opportunities for the private sector to play an integral role to support the Abu Dhabi Governments efforts to address social priorities."

"It allows those such as myself and companies like Aldar to support Maans vision and mission to drive social innovation and inculcate a culture of philanthropy to drive positive social impact," he added.

Fewer said: "We continue to be proud of the work and collaboration with Maan, having been one of the first contributors to the Social Impact Bonds programme in 2020. Our latest partnership alongside the ECA and Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority is another great example of how the public and private sectors can work together to solve social challenges."

"These contributions articulate Aldars responsibility towards our wider community, by helping to shape the communities towards a brighter future," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Railway Company has announced that its key railway industrial forum being held in capital Riyadh, is offering first pack of economic and industrial opportunities worth more than SR1 billion ($266.3 million) to both local and international firms.

The forum witnessed offering industrial opportunities in the railway sector, the top of which are manufacturing train cars, train wheels, engine spare parts and towing engines, and railways, reported SPA.

The event was inaugurated by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and SAR Chairman Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser today (March 17) under strategic patronage of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

The minister said that the forums launch of the first pack of the economic and industrial opportunities will provide a qualitative advantage and added value not only for the transport sector, but also for supportive sectors that complement the railway industry.

"The forum seeks to expand partnership opportunities between the public and private sectors and develop the railway infrastructure according to the railway plans over the next period, which aims at opening the market for new operators and increasing the participation of the private sector in shipping operations and trips for transporting passengers and assets," he noted.

Al Jasser pointed out that the forum is being held after one year of completing operations of restructuring the railway sector in Saudi Arabia under SARs umbrella in a phase that the transport and logistic services system realizes several and diversified achievements in various sectors of the system.

The minister also stressed that the expansion plan of the railway over the next years seeks to increase the lengths of railways with over additional 8,000 km to realize local and regional connection in a way that doubles the capabilities of transport through passenger and cargo trains and adopt modern technologies and advanced technological solutions that contribute to reducing the environmental impact of transport through trains, increasing the competitiveness of Saudi products and boosting the efficiency of supply chains.

SAR with its cumulative expertise and big capabilities through its three grids spanning over lengths exceeding 5,500 km (North Train, East Train and Haramain High Speed Rail)  managed to carry more than 33 million passengers and over 70 million tonnes of minerals and goods over the past 10 years, which means shifting more than six million trips on trucks, which reflected on reducing the number of accidents on roads and reducing the number of deaths by over 50% during the past five years, said the SPA report.

CEO Dr Bashar Al Malik said these industrial opportunities are a result of meeting local needs based on studies conducted by SAR in a way that matches its strategic goals and several important programmes of the Saudi Vision 2030, such as NIDLP, Doyof Al Rahman Program (DARP), and Quality of Life Program, among others.

Highlighting the companys willingness to overcome all challenges in partnership with all government sectors and take necessary decision towards localizing the railway industry, Al Malik called upon the private sector to use these investment opportunities and become main partners in a vital and promising sector.

Localizing the railway industry is no longer an option rather than a strategic goal that we seek to realize with determination, he added.
Greg Fulton, a 40-year Denver resident, is the president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, which represents over 600 companies directly involved in, and affiliated with trucking in Colorado.
Republicans in the Colorado Legislature introduced a joint resolution on March 16 asking Gov. Jared Polis and their Democratic colleagues to r
The Mason City Chamber of Commerce is asking for the public to help identify a man seen on security footage damaging the "Maestro" metal sculpture, which sits outside its offices on North Federal Avenue in Mason City.

A man was seen on video shortly after midnight on March 16, stepping around the statue and seemingly intentionally bending part of it.

Part of the River City Sculptures on Parade collection, "Maestro" depicts a man conducting an orchestra, alongside an interactive pipe xylophone. The conductors baton was bent sideways by the apparent vandal, turning it downward.

The piece was made by Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby of South Dakota, and became a permanent part of the collection in 2018 after being named "People's Choice" in a tie vote. The city used grant funds to acquire the piece at its list price of $30,000.

Chamber Vice President Colleen Frein said in a statement the repairs to the statue were expected to cost $1,000 or more. Frein said the Mason City Police Department was investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call MCPD at 641-421-3636.

This story has been updated to correct a typo in MCPD's phone number.

Lisa Grouette is the Local News Editor and Photographer at the Globe Gazette. Reach her at 641-421-0525 or lisa.grouette@globegazette.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaGrouette

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Saudi Arabia is expected to begin building a green hydrogen plant costing $5 billion this month, according to a Bloomberg report.

The project in NEOM, a new city being built in in northwestern Saudi Arabia, is on track to sell carbon-free hydrogen from 2026, said the report quoting Peter Terium, the head of energy and water for the new region.

Engineers have finished flattening the site and US-based Air Products & Chemicals will soon begin building the facility, he said.

There will probably be demand from companies from Asia to the US for the exports, Terium, who used to be chief executive officer of Germanys RWE AG, said in an interview. Hydrogen is seen as pivotal for the transition to cleaner forms of energy.
Four people died and one person suffered serious injuries Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash in Clinton County, the Iowa State Patrol reported.

The crash occurred at 4:54 p.m. in the 4100 block of Iowa 136.

According to the initial crash report filed by Iowa State Patrol Sgt. James Lancaster, a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze sedan was westbound in the 4100 block of Iowa 136. A 2014 Honda Odyssey minivan was eastbound in the same area.

The two vehicles collided head-on.

The driver of the Cruze was killed, while the driver and two passengers of the Odyssey were killed.

A passenger in the Odyssey suffered serious injuries and was transported to MercyOne Clinton Medical Center in Clinton. The condition of the crash victim was not available late Thursday.

The names of the victims were not released Thursday pending notification of family.

The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Clinton County Sheriffs Department, Andover Fire and Ambulance, the fire departments from Goose Lake and Charlotte, and the Clinton County Medical Examiner.

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GREENSBORO  Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet will present the third artist residency at the Stephen D. Hyers Theatre in the Greensboro Cultural Center.

Creative Greensboro will host the artist residency Revivalution from April 11 to 24. It is the third residency that it has hosted in the Hyers Theatre.

The Residency at the Hyers gives us an opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to Greensboro and begin to rebuild our professional dance company, said Princess Johnson, Royal Expressions founding director, said in Thursday's announcement.

We hope this will propel us forward as we continue to strive to become a full-funded professional dance company for artists, students and the community at large." Johnson said.

The Residency at the Hyers program provides rent-free, one-to-six-week residencies for dance, theatre, music, film, and poetry projects led by Guilford County-based creative individuals and organizations.

Creative Greensboro plans to announce the remainder of residencies for 2022 in the next few weeks.

This residency will include community workshops, master dance classes, live performances and collaborations with Black-led arts organizations and artists. Tickets for Revivalution are available at http://tinyurl.com/reboxoffice.

In addition to access to the 88-seat black box theater for rehearsals and performances, resident artists will be offered support with materials, equipment, technical theater staff and marketing of residency activities.

The residency will serve as a return to the stage for Royal Expressions professional dance artists following a four-year hiatus.

It demonstrates the organizations evolution to better serve artists of color and the community at large. Through the residency and its community events, Royal Expressions seeks to advocate for equitable funding and opportunities for Black artists.

Event Schedule

Master Classes

Cost: $12. Buy ticket by clicking here.

 Lyrical Contempo and Repertoire - Self-Love: 7:30 p.m. April 11. Open to intermediate and advanced dancers. Taught by a dance company member.

 Contempo Jazz and Repertoire  Manifestation: 6 p.m. April 12. Contemporary and jazz fusion dance class with some ballet basics taught by Johnson.

 Afro Fusion and Repertoire: 7:30 p.m. April 13. A fast-paced class rooted in African dance-inspired movement and featuring music and words of Nina Simone.

Community Workshops

 Every Woman: 6 p.m. April 11. A dance workshop to uplift, inspire and empower women.

 (Mis)Conception: 7:30 p.m. April 12. A healing experience open to couples experiencing infertility and miscarriages. Includes journal writing, movement and connecting with others.

 Dare To Dream: 6 p.m. April 13. A workshop helping children ages 9-14 realize their dreams through writing, movement and open dialog.

Screening

Cost: $12. Buy ticket by clicking here.

 Revivalution Dance Film: 7 p.m. April 14. A collection of short films produced by Legacy Company members during the pandemic to keep the organization connected, happy and safe.

For more information about Revivalution and Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet, visit www.royalexpressions.org or contact Johnson at 336-944-6146 or princess@royalexpressions.org.

For more information about the residency, contact Creative Greensboros Performing Arts Coordinator Todd Fisher at todd.fisher@greensboro-nc.gov or 336-373-2974.

For more information about Creative Greensboro, visit www.creativegreensboro.com.
An asteroid hurtling through space is expected to hit Earth.

Its likely target?

Winston-Salem, where the space rock is expected to unleash explosive energy hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, at the end of World War II and leave destruction over a 20-square-mile area.

We pause here in our account of impending Armageddon for an important note: THIS IS ONLY A DRILL!

About 160 representatives from local government, private organizations and companies joined state and national agencies including NASA and the U.S. Space Command last month in working through a detailed hypothetical scenario in which astronomers discover an asteroid that is likely to impact Earth six months later.

As the two-day exercise progressed, it became clear that the fictional asteroid would strike the Winston-Salem area. At that point, coordinating a simulated local response became the priority, explained August Vernon, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County emergency management director, who gathered with the rest of the local contingent at the Benton Convention Center.

About 80 federal team members met at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., and 40 to 50 state-level participants huddled in Raleigh, he added.

We knew there would be questions that wed never had before, Vernon said of the exercise. Like if you have to evacuate the entire Triad, how would you do that? Do you evacuate the hospitals? Do you evacuate the jail?

Predicting and protectingAs the simulation played out, those kinds of questions became increasingly relevant.

Early on in the exercise, specific details of the asteroid such as its size  and therefore the damage it could cause  remained uncertain until just days before its simulated impact, just as it would in a similar real-world situation. Existing technology, including ground-based radar, capable of capturing characteristics of an approaching asteroid requires the object to be within relatively close proximity to Earth, NASA explained in its account of the exercise.

Still, participants ultimately were able to estimate the size of the asteroid, where it would likely hit and with what force about a week before its simulated entry into Earths atmosphere. That provided a window of time to prepare.

An asteroid impact to our planet is potentially the only natural disaster humanity is capable of accurately predicting and preventing, said Lindley Johnson, planetary defense officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Conducting exercises of this nature enable government stakeholders to identify and resolve potential issues before real-world actions to respond to an actual asteroid impact threat would ever be needed.

In the exercise, 20% of residents had either refused or were unable to evacuate 24 hours before impact, and participants were faced with difficult questions about how to deal with the situation.

The simulated asteroid enters Earths atmosphere at 2:02 p.m. on Aug. 16 at nearly 35,000 miles per hour from the north-northeast.

The resulting fictional destruction is caused not by actual impact but rather when an explosive air burst 8 miles above the Earth triggers powerful shock waves that reflect off the ground and send a powerful overpressure wave outward.

The exercise had similarities to an incident in February 2013, when an asteroid with a diameter of 65 feet created an explosion as it entered the atmosphere about 20 miles above the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia. Its shock wave broke windows and knocked down parts of buildings in six Russian cities and led to 1,500 injuries, mostly to people hit by flying glass.

Would I still

be here?Vernon, the emergency management director, admitted that a little bit of the science fiction geek came out in me during the exercise.

When asked how Winston-Salem became ground zero for a simulated asteroid strike, he replied: Thats a good question.

We just happened to have a relationship with some of these folks at the federal level and they asked if wed like to be involved, Vernon added.

The experience was especially valuable at a local level, where joint exercises agencies and organizations typically engage in regularly were put on hold during the pandemic, Vernon said, adding that many of the procedures followed in the simulation carry over into other emergency situations.

Vernon noted that hes seen claims on social media ranging from cynics who suggest the exercise never really happened to those who fear it was no simulation at all.

Theres no conspiracy theory, he insisted. Theres nothing on the way. If I knew (an asteroid strike) was going to happen, would I still be here?

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina. His work is funded by a grant from the 1Earth Fund and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

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A suspect in the shooting death of Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver Ethan Rivera is back in Charlotte after being extradited from Kansas on Thursday.

Darian Dru Thavychith, 21, was escorted into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters on East Trade Street, as documented by WBTV-Channel 3 footage. Thavychith, wearing a mask, did not speak in response to questions by reporters, including whether he had anything to say to the Rivera family.

He was arrested at a gas station in Shawnee, Kansas, on Feb. 28 and charged with murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle, the Observer previously reported.

Rivera, 41, was shot just after 9:30 p.m. in what police called a road rage incident on Feb. 11 in the 500 block of West Trade Street. Video of the shooting released to the media showed what led up to the incident, including Rivera and the driver of a black Honda Pilot, believed to be Thavychith, exchanging words.

Riveras mother, Sylvia, made an emotional plea for the publics help in identifying her sons killer last month.

When he told me that they caught him, I just couldnt stop trembling, Rivera told the Observer after Thavychiths arrest. I feel relieved that hes off the streets and he cant hurt nobody else.
RALEIGH  North Carolina legislators are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on a legal theory that could have massive implications for elections around the country  and that several justices have already said theyre open to.

Its related to the gerrymandering case the legislature recently lost when the court denied an appeal from GOP leaders. But even though the legislature lost that fight, The News & Observer reported last week, there is a good chance the court will take up the new appeal that has now been filed.

In February the N.C. Supreme Court, which has a Democratic majority, ruled along party lines that Republican lawmakers had unconstitutionally gerrymandered the states 14 U.S. House of Representatives districts. Republican leaders appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has a majority of Republican-appointed justices, asking them to throw out the state court ruling in time for the 2022 midterms this year.

The court refused that request for a fast-tracked case, but Republican lawmakers still had the option to ask to make a broader argument for the future: that neither state courts, nor the executive branch, should have any authority over anything related to federal elections, including on topics like redistricting or voter ID. All power should belong to the state legislature, they plan to argue, in North Carolina and in every other state.

On Thursday they issued that argument formally. Now its up to the Supreme Court to decide if their argument should be heard.

It is time to settle the Elections Clause question once and for all, N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore said Thursday in a news release, referring to the part of the U.S. Constitution he believes backs up his argument.

The Supreme Court has already answered this question multiple times in the past, UNC law professor Michael Gerhardt told The N&O last week, consistently ruling against the argument Moore and his fellow lawmakers are trying to make now.

The Court has rejected that narrow reading in favor of interpreting that clause to mean that ... there may be, and often are, issues to be decided by other state authorities, and state courts may have a role, Gerhardt said.

What happens next

Now that the legislature has asked the Supreme Court to hear their argument, they need four justices to vote to take it up. As The N&O previously reported, thats likely to happen.

The court voted 6-3 to deny the legislatures initial attempt to hear the case in time for this years elections, with conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch saying they wanted to consider it. A fourth, Brett Kavanaugh, said he agreed that the argument is important but thought the timing was wrong.

So it appears the legislature wont have trouble getting the four votes needed for the court to hear the case. The bigger question is whether those four, if they do end up supporting the legislatures argument, can get a fifth justice on board for a majority.

This case presents an exceptionally important and recurring question of constitutional law, namely, the extent of a state courts authority to reject rules adopted by a state legislature for use in conducting federal elections, Alito wrote in the dissent. There can be no doubt that this question is of great national importance.

The argument is controversial  Salon, a left-leaning political news site, recently wrote it could mean literally the end of democracy  because it would eliminate any checks and balances on the legislative branch for running elections.

But it has picked up steam in conservative legal circles in recent years. Despite the previous court rulings that have found otherwise, Moore said Thursday that the U.S. Constitution is crystal clear in favor of their argument. And his counterpart, N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger of Eden, said that: We must continue this fight to restore the primacy of the legislature and put an end to these efforts to undermine its constitutional duty.

The 2020 campaign of Republican President Donald Trump used similar logic to argue that states with Republican-controlled legislatures should have been able to give their electoral votes to Trump, even if the people of the state voted for Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Gerhardt said the theorys resurgence stems from an unsuccessful argument the late Justice Antonin Scalia attempted to make as part of the Bush v. Gore case, when the Supreme Court made George W. Bush president in 2000. Three of the courts nine current justices worked for Bushs legal team on that case  Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts.

Officials at the N.C. State Board of Elections oppose the argument that only the legislature can be involved in federal elections, saying it would lead to mass confusion, especially since there wouldnt be a similar rule for other elections.

Laws could be struck down as unconstitutional, but only for non-federal elections like for governor or city council, the NCSBE wrote, while nevertheless remaining in place for elections for president or Congress. People could also be forced to register to vote twice, the board wrote in a previous brief to the court, in addition to other confusing or contradictory consequences.

(The legislatures) understanding of the Elections Clause would threaten to invalidate the elections regimes in every state in the nation, the NCSBE wrote.
Judging by the drivers who continue to treat city streets like drag strips, soaring gas prices are doing little to deter reckless guzzling.

Some of us still prefer to gun our engines and lurch forward, loud and fast, like pouncing predators. Others are content to sit quietly and inch ahead, while pondering the eternal question: Would you like fries with that? Local Chick-fil-A drive-thrus are so popular these days that they resemble rush-hour traffic jams.

It takes neither a physicist nor a mathematician to figure out that our problem is supply and demand. For all the talk about making gas cheaper and more abundant, has anyone considered, you know, using less of it?

For instance, we can slow down. AAA notes that fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Decreasing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph, AAA adds, can increase fuel economy by 7-14%.

Not that some of us seem to care. An investigative series last year by The Charlotte Observer and The (Raleigh) News & Observer reported that extreme speeding had spiked on the states highways, with motorists driving as much as 50 mph over the speed limit. Over five years, the series reported, 1,800 North Carolinians had lost their lives to speed-related crashes.

Saving lives and money makes better sense.

So does actually walking into a restaurant rather than idling in a drive-thru lane. One 2021 study, by QSR Magazine, found that not only had drive-thru wait times increased in the U.S. to 11 minutes from nine the previous year, but so had Americans willingness to wait. Survey respondents were content to spend up to 13 minutes in line. (Gen Z and millennial customers were willing to wait 17 minutes.) Part of this newfound patience appears linked to smartphones, which can provide a useful distraction while waiting. The spread of COVID-19 only encouraged the drive-thru habit, experts say, as many restaurants closed their dining rooms at the height of the pandemic as a safety precaution.

We also can reduce idling in general. AAA warns on its website that a car engine consumes one quarter to one half gallon of fuel per hour when idling, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Where safe to do so, shut off your engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute.

And we can lighten up. If you own a large SUV or a minivan, AAA advises, remove the third-row seats, which can weigh more than 100 pounds and increase gas consumption.

One positive side effect of the virus was that it did force the issue on working from home. Companies and their employees discovered that it could be done productively and sustainably. And it can reduce the costs of commuting by car, even if its done only on a partial basis.

Then theres carpooling, which may seem quaint to some but certainly saves on gas money and vehicle wear and tear. For a monthly leasing fee, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation offers a vanpool program for eligible groups of five or more commuters. Similarly, ShareTheRideNC.org matches North Carolinians who have similar commuting routes and work hours.

Among other practical steps worth considering:

Avoid using your brakes excessively. That means avoiding tailgating and driving at as constant a speed as possible.

Keep your windows closed when youre driving on highways to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Keep your tires properly inflated.

Bundle errands to avoid making unnecessary trips.

If your work schedule allows, avoid rush-hour commutes to work.

Give up warming up. AAA says its not necessary with todays cars, even on cold mornings.

Avoid filling up at gas stations along highways, which tend to charge more.

Run your air conditioning at less than the maximum setting and turn it off five minutes before your trip has ended.

And if you suspect price-gouging, report it to the N.C. Attorney Generals Office (https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/).

Yes, high gas prices are painful. Yes, longer term solutions such as electric cars and alternative energy sources will be critical going forward. Also, some cities are expanding public transportation and promoting it as an option not only for those of us who cant afford cars. Others are considering reducing minimum parking requirements for developers to discourage the use of cars.

But you can make a difference in what you spend on gas immediately, for the greater good as well as your own. During World War II, Americans were asked to ration gas, coal, fuel oil, coal, firewood, nylon, silk, shoes, meats, dairy products, coffee, jellies, jams, dried fruits, shortening and oils. In 2022, certainly we can be inspired by their example to save gas.

We may not have a choice in how much we pay for it, but we do have a choice in how we use it.
The Sustainable Tourism Global Centre (STGC), a multi-country and multi-stakeholder coalition, has appointed eight international experts in sustainable tourism from across the globe as Envoys.

Announced by HRH Mohammed Bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia at the Saudi Green Initiative and COP26 in Glasgow last year, the STGC, which was established to lead, accelerate, and track the tourism industrys transition to net-zero emissions, was formed by a coalition of governments, international organisations, academia, multilateral and financing institutions and industry associations.

The STGC aims to reduce the tourism sectors estimated 8% contribution of total global greenhouse gases and move towards net-zero emissions.

The eight newly-appointed Envoys were welcomed to Riyadh to pledge their commitment to the Centre, and were recognised for their world-renowned expertise across government and industry. Each Envoy has been carefully selected to utilise their knowledge and experience, to strengthen the work of the Centre.

Based in Europe, Asia and the Americas, the Envoys will be ambassadors for the STGC, by contributing expertise  from their time in government, the private sector and NGOs  that will amplify its work and reach diverse global audiences, including youth.

The Centres Envoys include:

Ambassador Dho, Young-shim  Co-Chair United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Alumni;

Harry Theoharis  Former Minister of Tourism for Greece;

Isabel Hill  Former Director of National Travel and Tourism Office, United States of America;

Professor Geoffrey Lipman  Former President, WTTC; Executive Director, IATA; Assistant Secretary-General, UNWTO;

Dr Christoph Wolff  Former Head of Mobility, World Economic Forum;

Dr Mario Hardy  Former CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA);

Professor Donald Hawkins  Professor Emeritus of Management, Tourism Studies and International Affairs, George Washington University; and

Dr Adolfo Favieres  Former Owner, Occidental Hotels.

This announcement builds on the STGCs strong global engagement, with the coalition receiving positive support in phase one from various countries.

The UK, US, France, Japan, Germany, Kenya, Jamaica, Morocco, Spain, and Saudi Arabia were all invited as founding countries as they have prioritised tourisms impact on the climate, allowing for synergies with the STGC.

The top organisations already helping to shape the Centre and provide the services in phase one are UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council), World Bank, SYSTEMIQ and WRI (World Resource Institute).

In addition to Harvard University, which will provide support to the STGC through research and capacity-building, the UNFCCC will guide the Centre to accelerate industry action on climate neutrality.

Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said: Saudi Arabia is taking clear and decisive action to ensure that the tourism sector, including the 330 million livelihoods depending on it, are protected into the future. Core to this is solving the problem of climate change  which requires strong collaboration with businesses, governments, and international organisations to accelerate action. I am pleased to welcome the STGC Envoys into the kingdom, and look forward to their contribution to driving the tourism sectors transition to net-zero.

Gloria Guevara, Chief Special Advisor, Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia, said: I am pleased to see the leadership from Saudi Arabia to build a world-first multi-country, multi-stakeholder initiative to combat climate change and support the sectors transition to net-zero. The STGC Envoys, who are global experts, will help the Centre to deliver on this important mandate, and we are extremely grateful for their commitment.

President Felipe Calderon, Former President of Mexico, Honorary Chair of The New Climate Economy and Member of STGC Advisory Board, said: I am delighted to be back in Riyadh to gather with world-renowned experts in tourism. Here we have some of the brightest minds from government to industry, and I am confident that together we will be able to ensure the travel and tourism sector plays a significant role in the fight against climate change.

Young-shim said: At the turn of the 21st century, the United Nations Secretary-General then, Kofi Anan initiated the Millennium Development Goals from 2000 to 2015. This was followed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who then expanded it to be the Sustainable Development Goals from 2015 till 2030. As a passionate advocate of both goals, I am incredibly excited to be part of the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre leading the tourism sector to become a key driver of sustainable changes. In doing so, youth will be a significant player in helping to reach these major goals.

Theoharis said: The STGC is a much-needed initiative in a world that faces constant challenges. Tourism is a great social and economic enabler, and it is high time that it is also part of the global sustainability movement.

Hill said: I am delighted to join the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre as an Envoy to help accelerate the ability of the travel and tourism sector to de-carbonise and to support sustainability of destinations and businesses. Saudi Arabia is to be commended for their leadership in this important agenda.

Professor Lipman said: There could not be a better time for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to show its commitment to our common future, through the STGC. The recent report from the IPCC says, despite the Covid induced global economic slowdown, greenhouse gases are still increasing at a potentially disastrous rate. This is why the STGC is launching its new Tourism Panel on Climate Change to marshal the best climate science for our sector, and to create new analyses and metrics to support bold climate action, to meet our Paris 1.5 obligations.

Dr Wolff said: Travel and tourism are responsible for 10% of global GDP and anchors the livelihood for many countries. The Sustainable Tourism Global Centre will be essential to use data-driven analysis to balance equity and sustainability.

Dr Hardy, Former CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association, said: The world needs a global transformation and a clear commitment towards sustainable development, the reduction of social inequalities and the improvement of living conditions at a local and global level. The role of tourism in this process cannot be a passive one; and only through the effective collaboration between governments, NGOs and the private sector will the implementation of the SDGs be a reality.

Professor Hawkins said: The Sustainable Tourism Global Centre will challenge the tourism industry to incorporate sustainability goals in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of tourism-related facilities, services and infrastructure. The STGC can aspire to be the leader in guiding and monitoring the environment, social and governance (ESG) performance of global tourism. The E should encompass net-zero carbon emissions and climate adaptation. The S should include diversity and inclusion policies. The G should include the system of practices, controls, and procedures that organisations adopt to govern their activities, make effective decisions, comply with the law, and meet the needs of key stakeholders.

Dr Favieres said: In tourism, like no other activity, is the customer who goes to the product, and not vice versa. This fact is precisely what makes tourism so transversal, affecting and being affected by nearly every sector. As much as tourism will reach higher levels of sustainability, the world will become more sustainable.-- TradeArabia News Service
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
Two soldiers belonging to the Damascus government forces were injured in the bombing of the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries on the villages of Mara'anaz and Al-Alqmiya in Shara district in the occupied canton of Afrin.

Two soldiers belonging to the Damascus government forces were wounded in the continuous shelling of the two villages. It was not clear afterwards the village in which the two soldiers were injured, and neither their military rank nor the extent of the injury was known.

ANHA
" " Can green tea cause hallucinations? That was a popular belief in times past. Aaron Joel Santos/Getty Images

Unless you've been living off the grid, you're probably well-aware of the health benefits of green tea. The pale brew is full of antioxidants that may help lower the risk of stroke or stave off certain types of cancer, so sip away! Be warned, though, drinking too much green tea has a definite downside  it can make you see ghostly figures that aren't really there.

This may sound far-fetched, but the rumor that green tea causes hallucinations is an enduring one. As Robert Lamb and Christian Sager, hosts of this Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast explain, green tea has a racy reputation that isn't nearly as mild as its taste.

Advertisement

The idea that green tea can cause hallucinations seems to originate in the Victorian era. At the time, the Lancet medical journal published a study noting the negative effects of green tea, including stomach problems and fluttering of the heart, citing a woman profiled in a Scottish medical journal who became hysterical after drinking green tea on an empty stomach. (Incidentally, physicians calmed her by administering opium.)

To further cement green tea's reputation, author Sheridan Le Fanu  an Irish mystery writer whose 1872 collection of tales featured the aptly named "Green Tea"  latched onto this idea and used it in the short story that captured the public's imagination.

Le Fanu's "Green Tea" takes place in the early 1800s and recounts the plight of one Mr. Jennings, a clergyman who sees the evil spirit of a monkey and turns to his doctor for help. His doctor rejects the idea that something supernatural is happening, and after discovering that Jennings drinks green tea before bed, the doctor claims the green tea is to blame. The doctor contends the green tea has built up in Jennings' body and is affecting his central nervous system, causing him to hallucinate.

While the story's scientific explanation that green tea builds up in the body is false, it didn't seem completely implausible. After all, drinking too much of some substances  like beer or alcohol  can cause both temporary and permanent issues with reality perception.

" " Tea pickers harvest leaves on a mountainside tea plantation in Indonesia. Antony Ratcliffe/Getty Images

And there's another crucial kernel of truth. In the 1870s, green tea was an imported, expensive delicacy. So to increase its quantity and its shelf-life, purveyors added a variety of other things to the tea leaves, ranging from iron filings to plants like hazelwood or hawthorn. They also supplemented green tea's color by adding dye, in the form of natural additives like sheep dung and chemical colorants like Prussian blue.

In fact, green tea's identity and flavor had become so muddled and diluted that when tea merchants attempted to sell pure green tea free from fillers, people didn't believe it was actually green tea and refused to buy it.

Strange additives aside, regular amounts of green tea do not cause hallucinations  unless you drink an inordinate amount of it. One 2009 study from La Trobe University tested people drinking various doses of caffeine and measured how much it would take to actually hallucinate. Participants who drank nine cups of green tea or three cups of coffee were three times more likely to hear voices and see objects that were not there. So, while it's technically possible to hallucinate by ingesting massive amounts of caffeine via green tea, it would require a great deal of the beverage  and it wouldn't build up in one's system to have a cumulative effect, either.

So evil monkeys aside, green tea is good for you  in moderation.

Now That's Interesting Green tea comes from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant that have not undergone the same fermentation and oxidation process used to make black tea. Green tea has a higher concentration of antioxidants, known as polyphenols, than other types of tea.
Montanas lawmakers will be polled over the next month on whether they want a special session to appoint and fund a committee to investigate the states election security. That comes after a group of Republican legislators submitted the request to Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen this week.

Jacobsen spokesperson Richie Melby confirmed Thursday afternoon that the office had received a revised request earlier in the day from a group of lawmakers that satisfies the legal requirements for sending out a poll.

A previous version failed to specify a date for a special session to begin, one of the requirements for such a request. One of the 10 signatories to the request, Rep. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, said Thursday the revised version only changed that part of the request, asking for a special session to start May 2.

The proposed special committee has been pushed by many GOP lawmakers since last September. It would be partisan, consisting of six Republicans and three Democrats, according to the original letter. It would be appointed by Republican leaders and confirmed by votes in the House and Senate, and would have the power of subpoena and taking testimony under oath.

The conditions warranting the call are the continuing and widespread belief, among a significant majority of Montana voters, that sufficient irregularities in election security create serious doubt as to the integrity of elections in our state, the letter reads.

Such a request for a Legislature-wide poll for a special session requires at least 10 lawmakers to sign on. Among those who signed the letter are several who have traveled the state to spread unsubstantiated theories that the 2020 elections were marred by fraud. Many of those allegations have been debunked by experts and court proceedings in the nearly year-and-a-half since former President Donald Trump began claiming the presidential election was stolen from him.

To date no evidence has emerged of any coordinated attempts to commit election fraud in the 2020 election.

Jacobsens office has five business days to send letters to the states 150 legislators asking if they want a special session, and lawmakers will have 30 days to respond. Non-responses are counted as no votes. A simple majority  at least 76 yes votes  is needed to call lawmakers back to Helena.

While Republicans dominate the Montana Legislature by a nearly 2-to-1 majority, a similar effort failed to garner sufficient support just a month ago.

Republican leaders said they had sufficient numbers to call a special session last month to correct the states unconstitutional Public Service Commission Districts during what they hoped would be a single-issue special session. But those negotiations fell apart as a group of lawmakers insisted that the special election committee also be tacked onto the effort.

Only 52 Republicans signed onto the prior attempt to hitch election security to the PSC district issue, according to Rep. Derek Skees, a Kalispell Republican who spearheaded that effort and also signed onto this weeks special-session request.

Many who didnt sign onto the election investigation committee last time around also cited the cost of doing so. Skees previously asked GOP leadership for $250,000 to fund the committee  a sum that drew critical questions from the two top Republican lawmakers, who noted that is five times the typical cost of such committees.

Fuller said he thinks an investigatory committee would conclude that Montanas elections are in pretty good shape, but said $250,000 would be justified if it puts the issue to rest.

With all the national rhetoric out there, to have a definitive legalistic document saying our elections are secure, safe and accountable, would that not be valuable? he said in an interview Tuesday.

In addition, the Legislative Services Division has pegged the cost of a special session at $108,000 for the first day, plus $56,000 for any additional days needed.

Republicans likely wont get any help reaching the 76-vote threshold from Democrats, who have opposed the GOPs previous efforts to investigate election fraud allegations. House Minority Leader Kim Abbott on Thursday reiterated her caucuss stance that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Republicans hold 98 legislative seats combined in the House and Senate.

This is absolutely a waste of time and money, but whats worse is its an attempt to undercut a system that works, that we need to choose our leadership in the state, she said.

And a number of Republican lawmakers also said they were concerned that any special session could deteriorate into a lengthier ordeal if factions of lawmakers pushed to expand the subjects to address in the session. Special sessions must be called based on specific subjects to address, but once lawmakers are back, anyone can make a motion to expand into other topics.

Some Republicans said previously that could amount to no more than fodder for attack ads in primary challenges if lawmakers dont vote right.

The other Republican lawmakers who signed the letter are: Sen. Theresa Manzella of Hamilton; Rep. Bob Phalen of Lindsay; Rep. Jerry Schillinger of Circle; Rep. Steven Galloway of Great Falls; Rep. Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls; Rep. Fiona Nave of Columbus; Rep. Brad Tschida of Missoula; and Rep. Jane Gillette of Bozeman.

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'Wildflowers: Food and Medicine' topic of program

Rocky's PopKnowledge! is back on Wednesday, March 23, at noon with a presentation from Mark Majerus of the Kelsey Chapter of the Montana Native Plants Society. "Montana Wildflowers: Food and Medicine" will begin at noon on Zoom. Participants now have the option of gathering at the Helena Senior Center, 200 S. Cruse Ave., to view the livestream with a group, in addition to the option of viewing the livestream from the comfort of home. There is no pre-registration required.

PopKnowledge! was created at the beginning of the pandemic to allow those self-isolating the chance to learn and reminisce on topics near and dear to them. Topics vary. You might see and learn about owls while watching one sit on the presenter's arm at Montana Wild, or find about Montana survivors of the Titanic, or learn how to keep bees or get into backyard birding. These topics, and many more are accessible on Rocky's YouTube channel. Visit Rocky's website to view the entire collection of PopKnowledge! recordings and Rocky's Events Calendar to see upcoming PopKnowledge! topics.

For more information, visit www.rmdc.net, email mmurphy@rmdc.net, or call 406-459-3471.

Help with utility bills available

Rockys Energy Services reminds applicants that help with utility bills is available until April 30.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is here to help with utility bill assistance applications submitted on or before April 30. With increased funding from the American Rescue Plan Act this season, income qualified households are eligible for assistance with current and past due utility accounts, emergency heating system repairs, and water and sewer bills from public water system vendors.

If you need an application or have questions about qualifying, please contact Rockys Energy Services Program at 406-447-1625, visit our offices at 648 Jackson St., or visit the Energy Services page online at rmdc.net.

LWV to hold candidate forum

The League of Women Voters of the Helena Area is holding a School Board Candidate Forum, via a Zoom webinar on Monday, April 11, from 6:30-8 p.m.

All school board candidates on the May ballot have been invited. So far, six candidates have filed for three open seats and four candidates have signed on to participate in the webinar. The filing deadline is March 24.

The Lewis & Clark Library is hosting the event with Jen Gursky, executive director of the Helena YWCA, as moderator.

Election Day is May 3. This election is by mail-in ballot, which will be mailed April 18. If you are not registered to vote, the last day to register for a mail-in ballot is April 4.

Late registration is in-person-only from April 5 to noon May 2 at the election office, Room 168 of the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave, 406-447-8339.

To sign up for the candidate forum webinar, use this link https://bit.ly/3Kx82Lm and a zoom link will be emailed to you. The webinar is being recorded and will be posted on the Library's YouTube channel and the local LWV website.

The YWCA and Montana Women Vote are co-sponsors of this event.

For more information, visit https://my.lwv.org/montana/local-leagues/helena.

Emergency food, shelter funds available

The FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program has notified United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area that Lewis & Clark County area has been awarded $50,867 in Phase ARPA-R federal funds under the Congress to the Emergency Food & Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the Helena area.

The focus of these grants is to provide organizations funding for supplemental food, shelter, and supportive services such as utility assistance or supplies. A local board made up of community representatives will determine how the funds are to be distributed between Lewis and Clark County organizations that apply for funding.

Local governments, local non-profit and faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for the funds. Additional information can be found at www.efsp.unitedway.org.

To apply for EFSP, qualifying organizations must submit the application found on the UWLCA website at www.unitedwaylca.org. Letters of support are encouraged, but not required. All materials must be mailed to 75 E. Lyndale or emailed attn: Emily McVey at info@unitedwaylca.org by 5 p.m. on March 25, 2022 to be considered for funding.

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.

MCF distributes $4.3M to charities

The Montana Community Foundation, Inc. (MCF) announced it has completed its annual endowment distribution process, distributing $4.3 million to more than 700 nonprofit organizations and funds. These distributions were awarded from 613 charitable endowments, held at MCF, to support a variety of nonprofit organizations and meaningful causes across Montana.

Strong investment returns and generous contributions resulted in MCF distributing nearly $520,000 more in 2022 than in 2021 to benefit Montana communities. The average distribution amount was $2,700. The largest distribution, more than $130,000, was made to West Yellowstone Foundation, MCFs first local community foundation affiliate.

During MCFs annual endowment distribution process, nonprofit organizations receive an annual distribution to be used for general operating purposes, unless specified otherwise. This provides a stable source of income year after year.

Local community foundations received $254,329 which will be used for local grantmaking in their communities.

For more information, contact Kacie Tollefson, MCF Controller, at kacie@mtcf.org or 406-443-8313.

Fiddle jam set in Whitehall

The Montana Old Time Fiddlers will present an old time fiddle jam at the Mint Bar at 1 E. Legion in uptown Whitehall, on Sunday, March 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. The program is free and open to the public, and dancing is encouraged. Guitar, mandolin and banjo players are welcome to participate in the jam  and anyone can just come to hear some great old time fiddle music.

The Montana Old Time Fiddlers are dedicated to preserving old time fiddle music in Montana, providing educational and performance opportunities for all. For more info call Dave at 406-685-3481.

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.

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A fire at an East Helena apartment building destroyed the four-unit complex Thursday and damaged the fourplex next door, fire officials said.

Firefighters received a call about 8:40 p.m., said Joe Maness, assistant chief of the East Helena Volunteer Fire Department, and had the fire knocked down by about 9 p.m.

The building was at East Riggs Street and Kalispell Avenue.

Maness said all the occupants had gotten out of the building safely and no injuries were reported. Maness said the cause of the blaze was under investigation.

He estimated that eight people were displaced by the fire. He said the four units of one building were completely destroyed and a nearby fourplex was damaged. Heat from the blaze had melted the front of the damaged building.

Sadie Miller said she lives next door.

I noticed my apartment was getting really hot, she said via social media, adding she became aware of the blaze when she saw police, looked out her window and saw the fire.

I was outside before any fire trucks showed up, Miller said.

She said everyone safely got outside of the burning complex.

Windows from the building next to it were busting and the building was melting, Miller said. Propane tanks outside connected to barbecue grills were exploding and it was very loud.

She said the smell was horrendous and continued to smell bad Friday morning.

It was absolutely tragic to see it happen so close to us, Miller said. It is absolutely heartbreaking.

She said her family began moving their vehicles and getting the children ready to evacuate because the heat and wind was so bad we were sure our building was next.

"The firefighters and police responded very quickly and did an absolute amazing job getting the fire out," Miller said.

Passersby reported seeing flames shooting from the roof of the building in the 800 block of East Riggs Street. One person said the fire was by East Valley Middle School.

Maness said there were several other area fire departments that assisted. They included East Valley, Eastgate, Montana City, Montana VA and Tri-Lakes.

A GoFundMe page for one family has been set up at https://bit.ly/365tGIi. Deb Sutliff said her daughter, April Gonzalez, and April's two children were living in one of the units. She said April's unit is not where the fire started and the family was lucky to get out safely.

Also, the store director of the Albertsons on North Montana Avenue in Helena said they will be collecting any donations to assist the families impacted by the fire.

People were at the scene Friday morning, assessing the damage.

Pat Songer was taking his dog Chloe for a walk about noon. He said he had been at the scene the night before.

"I don't know what the heck happened," he said, adding that his niece, a professional photographer, lives in one of the units and lost her photo equipment.

Songer said embers were blowing about and he and others alerted neighbors that their homes may be in danger if those embers found a place to land. He said some people got hoses out.

"I was glad I have a metal roof," he said.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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Editors note: The Helena Independent Record received this email Friday afternoon from Valerie Hellermann, who is executive director with Hands On Global. Members of Hands on Global left earlier this month for Siret, Romania, on the Ukraine-Romania border to establish a medical relief team for those fleeing the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is the fourth email Hellermann has sent to the newspaper and others. Portions of this email have been edited for clarity.

This morning arriving at another refugee shelter at the university dorm. People were really stressed and exhausted.

Liviv was bombed last night and the air raid sirens went off starting at 3 a.m. until 5 a.m., they go off whenever a missile is detected.

The people have to leave their beds and go into a makeshift air raid shelter. It is dismal, claustrophobic and terrifying. Remember these are mostly women and children, babies and elders huddling on mattresses on the floor for hours, waiting for a possible strike on them.

When it is deemed safe they rush to their phones to find out where the bomb hit and if their loved ones are OK.

Most of the refugees here have been here for a few weeks and are so stressed out by lack of sleep and this nightly routine.

Vicky has been doing some stress-reduction acupuncture. It seems to help but I think it is the human touch and comfort of a hug that is the most healing. We notice the children are all rather subdued. Not boisterous, not really playing, but standing around quietly. Even the toddlers are quiet.

A woman translator, Aliana, told us today that every morning she wakes and makes calls to her family and friends in Kyiv and when one doesnt answer she spends hours trying to connect and is consumed with worry.

She was unable to contact her cousin for 3 days and finally did. He had been shot and was in a hospital. He will recover.

Our colleagues at Refuge4refugees have just received a shipment of bandages and splints. We have looked through the supplies and our translator, Oleg, is arranging transportation to Kyiv where they are desperate for supplies. Essential medications have run out and there is a need for IV antibiotics and pain medication

The call out now is for sophisticated orthopedic supplies, nails and rods and plates. There is a huge need for trauma surgeons but too dangerous for anyone to go.

When this is over there will be a huge need for trauma and reconstruction surgeons.

Valerie Hellermann

Executive Director

Hands On Global

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.

Do justly, now.

Love mercy, now.

Walk humbly, now.

You are not obliged to complete the work,

but neither are you free to abandon it.

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Health care facilities that get federal funding are for now shielded from Montanas law prohibiting private businesses and other workplaces from mandating vaccines, under a federal injunction issued Friday.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy on Friday blocked the state from enforcing the law for all Montana health care facilities and individual practitioners and clinics affected by a COVID-19 vaccine requirement from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).

The Montana Medical Association, along with several other individuals and medical practices, filed the complaint against Attorney General Austin Knudsen and state Labor and Industry Commissioner Laurie Esau in Missoula federal court in September. In addition to the preliminary injunction they are also asking the judge to overturn the law as unconstitutional.

Montanas House Bill 702, passed by GOP lawmakers in 2021 and signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte that spring, broadly prohibits differential treatment based on vaccination status. At the time, Montana was the only state in the country to apply that prohibition to the private sector. Nearly all Democrats voted against it.

While COVID-19 vaccinations were in the spotlight as the bill was being debated last year, the language applies to mandates for all types of vaccinations. Schools are exempt, as are assisted-living facilities, if vaccination became a requirement of receiving federal funding.

Molloys ruling provides some legal clarity for Montana medical providers caught between competing state and federal requirements. In November, CMS issued a rule requiring facilities that get Medicare or Medicaid funding to ensure their staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Failure to do so could result in the loss of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, which for some providers amounts to the vast majority of their revenue.

Molloys ruling found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their attempt to permanently block the law where it is preempted by the federal government, under the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause.

After noting that two health care facilities in the state had already been found noncompliant with the federal vaccine requirements, Molloy wrote that the state law would make it nearly impossible for facilities to demonstrate compliance during the unannounced surveys that investigate the facilities records and interview staff."

His order did not specify which facilities were found noncompliant.

Molloy ruled against the plaintiffs request to block the state law on the basis that it violates their federal equal-protection rights. But he also wrote that the plaintiffs offered a better argument to protect public health, versus the states argument to protect individual choice and keep workers from being fired.

Certain restraints on an individual are occasionally reasonable to promote the common good and actualize the public interest in a civil society, Molloy wrote.

After the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the CMS rule in January, many of Montanas larger medical facilities indicated they would move forward with workplace vaccine mandates, despite the state law. The federal rule still faces ongoing legal challenges from coalitions of Republican-led states, including Montana.

"Todays court decision ensures Montana health care providers and facilities can comply with the federal rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings and not face the potential loss of significant Medicare funding without conflicting with state law," Montana Medical Association spokesperson Lauren Lewis wrote in a statement Friday. "As physicians, we will protect what is in the best interests of our patients and look forward to the next steps of this lawsuit.

Knudsens office, which is defending the state against the lawsuit, declined to say whether it would appeal the temporary injunction.

The order does little to change status quo and is drastically narrowed from what the plaintiffs were seeking, Knudsen spokesperson Emilee Cantrell wrote in an email Friday. It is only in place so long as the Biden administrations Interim Final Rule stands, which Attorney General Knudsen is continuing to challenge in federal court.

Another ongoing challenge to Montanas vaccine law is headed to the state Supreme Court. Earlier this month a Sidney law firm submitted its notice of appeal after a Richland County district judge ruled against its attempt to block all enforcement of the law. As of Friday afternoon, the law office had not yet filed its appeal.

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Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Indigenous North Americans have long known of the wonders of Yellowstone. Archaeological evidence shows humans have been in the region for at least 11,000 years. Tools made from material quarried from Yellowstones Obsidian Cliff have been found as far east as Ohio and Ontario, and many tribes, like the Kiowa and Shoshone, have origin myths centered on Yellowstone. But it was only in the 1800s that the first Euro-Americans visited the area.

William Clark passed by the area in 1806 during the Corps of Discoverys return to St. Louis from the Pacific Northwest. He and Meriwether Lewis split the group to explore more of the region, and Clarks route took him through present-day Livingston and to the Yellowstone River, but he did not explore south to the rivers source. In his journal, published several years later, Clark stated that indigenous people were afraid of the area at the head of the river because of loud noise, like Thunder, which makes the earth Tremble. This is an odd statement, given that in 1805 the Governor of Louisiana Territory described a map drawn on a bison hide by an indigenous American showing a volcano on the Yellowstone River. Obviously, indigenous people were never afraid of Yellowstone, but that myth has proven persistent.

Even though Lewis and Clark didnt see the area that is now Yellowstone National Park, one of their companions did. John Colter left the Corps of Discovery before its return to St. Louis to join other trappers working in the Rocky Mountains. In the winter of 18071808, Colter traversed the Yellowstone and Teton areas, probably becoming the first Euro-American to see thermal features like Mud Volcano, although it seems that he missed features like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. A carving in a tree discovered in 1881 near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, J.O.R. AUG. 29, 1819, suggests that there were also Euro-American visitors in the 1810s.

By the 1820s, Euro-American trappers and hunters were frequenting the region in their quests for beaver pelts. Jim Bridger might be the most famous of these mountain men, but few people believed the exaggerated tales of these eccentric individuals. Bridger himself spun yarns of mountains of glass, petrified forests (with petrified birds singing petrified songs), and hot water that cooked fish as you reeled them in  stories that, it turns out, were less exaggerated than some assumed.

No organized explorations of the area that is now Yellowstone National Park were successful until the 1860s. In 1863, prospectors led by Walter deLacy entered the region from the south, making their way from the Snake River to Shoshone Lake, over the Continental Divide, down the Firehole River, past the major geyser basins, and to the Madison River, which they followed out of the area to the west. deLacy mapped the journey, publicizing the existence of the geyser basins. More prospectors followed, and the legend of the region continued to grow.

Three men from the Territory of Montana  David E. Folsom, Charles W. Cook, and William Peterson  explored the region in September 1869, bringing back yet more stories of Yellowstones magnificence, not all of which were believed. Cook sent an account of the journey to Lippincott's Magazine and received the response, Thank you but we do not print fiction.

But the word was out among residents of Montana Territory, and in 1870 a more thorough expedition was led by Nathaniel Langford, Lt. Gustavus Doane and a detachment of soldiers and Henry Washburn. One of the more noteworthy anecdotes of this trip was the stranding of one of the expedition members, Truman Everts, who became lost and was left for dead by his companions. After 37 days, Everts, barely alive, was located by rescuers who may have been motivated by promise of a reward  one that was ever paid, since Everts claimed he would have eventually made it out of the wilderness by himself.

Finally, in 1871, a federally funded exploration was mounted, this one led by geologist Ferdinand Hayden. The Hayden expedition, which included photographer William Jackson and artist Thomas Moran, undertook numerous scientific explorations  including the mapping of Yellowstone Lake and detailed investigations of the geysers and hot springs of the Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. It was on the basis of Haydens account and his encouragement (and that of others) that Yellowstone National Park was created the following year.

The legacy of these explorations is complex, given the attitude and sometimes violence displayed by some of these travelers toward the indigenous people of the region  people that had long known of Yellowstone and its wonders. The lesson of these explorations, rather, is the spectacular nature of Yellowstone itself  a place so fantastic that for decades, descriptions from visitors were not believed. And it was not until 1871  the same year that Henry Morton Stanley located the missing David Livingstone in the heart of Africa (Dr. Livingstone, I presume?)  that the rumors of a volcano near the head of the Yellowstone River were confirmed to be true.

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DECATUR  Good Samaritan Inn in Decatur is known for serving food to the community.

On Thursday, the agency made a special menu honoring St. Patricks Day, and delivered approximately 850 lunches to businesses, organizations and other agencies.

The meals included a brisket or vegetarian option of Irish Stew, a cheddar and herb biscuit, and a cookie. LaGondola provided the to-go containers for easy delivery.

The event was the third Good Samaritan Inn food delivery, which began as the Empty Bowl fundraiser. The $10 meals were ordered a week before the event. Volunteers helped deliver the food to the recipients.

Young Leaders In Action students took time from their studies or spring break to deliver the meals. Temethia Joyner, YLIA program facilitator, was able to encourage nine high school students to volunteer. Theyre always willing to help in the community, she said.

The YLIA parent agency, Community Foundation of Macon County, purchased 100 meals to be delivered to Decaturs first responders. We have so many people who are contributing to our community and keeping us safe, Joyner said. Its important for (the students) to understand that.

According to Nicky Besser, executive director of Good Samaritan Inn, several businesses and organizations ordered lunches for their co-workers. Dove Inc., Empowerment Opportunity Center, Millikin University, Northeast Community Fund are just a few of the agencies receiving the meals.

Linda Castleman supported the event by purchasing lunches for the staff at Dove Inc. March is Thank a Social Worker month, she said. I am able to show my appreciation to Dove workers while supporting another great community service by participating in this event.

The food was prepared by head chef Rachel Wear using fresh vegetables and ingredients and locally purchased brisket.

She is making all the food from scratch, Besser said. She even makes her own stock.

Wear was assisted by sous chef Edith Bland. Of course all of our staff pitches in, Besser said. They are also making the biscuits and well be making the cookies as well.

Good Samaritan sold out of the menu before the event took place on Thursday. Because of the events popularity, the agency plans to schedule similar events in the future. We try to use what we have, but use the freshest, best ingredients we can find, Besser said. Then really leverage the donations and make some really great food.

Valerie Jordan, director of Oncology Services at St. Mary's Cancer Care Center, spent the morning preparing and delivering several meals. And the hospital purchased 500 meals, she said.

The stew was served to their colleagues during the lunch hour. Second and third shift employees had their food delivered to them, according to Jordan.

Jordan is a newly appointed board member for Good Samaritan. She joined because St. Marys Hospital has always had a good, strong partnership with the agency, she said.

We sign up to volunteer and prepare and serve meals there once a month, Jordan said. Weve had whole departments do it, colleagues with their family members do it, and Ive taken my kids there to volunteer.

The volunteer opportunities fit into the mission of the hospital, according to Jordan. To take care of the underserved, she said.

The event as well as others have motivated community members to volunteer.

Good Samaritan Inn volunteer Cathy Briggs recently began giving her time to the agency.

This reaches more of the community, she said about St. Patricks Day Irish Stew fundraiser. People hear about the organization.

The mission of helping people encouraged Briggs to volunteer. And theyre open everyday, she said. So that takes a lot of work to make it go.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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DECATUR  Brianne Wren has wanted to be a nurse since she was a child.

Now a senior at Millikin University, Wren will graduate with a bachelor of science in nursing and wants to be an emergency room nurse.

What actually got me into wanting to be a nurse was when my grandfather got sick, Wren said. He had cancer. I thought I wanted to do oncology, but I realized that the emergency room gives me all aspects of life, from birth to end of life and for me, the emergency room gives me the opportunity to pursue that path.

A bachelor's degree in nursing also is a necessary first step should she choose to pursue higher degrees and greater responsibility during her career.

For nurses who are already working and want to pursue a bachelor's degree, Millikin has created an online RN to BSN program that will allow them to complete their bachelor's degree part-time in five semesters or full time in three semesters, with eight-week courses and two in-person clinical projects that can be arranged to take place at their own workplace for maximum convenience.

We've had an RN to BSN program for years, said Pam Lindsey, dean of the college of professional studies and interim director of the School of Nursing at Millikin. It started as an in-person evening program, offered in the evenings through what used to be known as our PACE Program. Several years ago, we transitioned it to an online format but we still were offering it more in a traditional 16-week format. There's a lot of RN to BSN programs out there that are online. There's a lot of competition especially with a lot of large, for-profit schools.

In the last year, the faculty looked at Millikin's own program and other institutions' programs and course offerings.

We really focused on trying to make it very achievable and manageable for the working RN, said Teresa Gulley, undergraduate chair of the School of Nursing. These are working nurses who are going back to school and it's a little bit different population.

The biggest need for those working nurses, she said, was eight-week courses that they could do one at a time. The core nursing courses add up to 33 credit hours at a cost of $11,979, which she said is a competitive price. Because it's online, nurses can do their school work at any hour of the day or night depending on their work schedule.

Some general education courses might be needed as well, to satisfy the other requirements for a bachelor's degree, depending on what the nurses have already taken.

We really are working with each student to meet those (requirements) and make it as manageable as possible, Gulley said. We're very excited to be able offer this modified format and jump off to a fresh start.

A bachelor's degree will allow the nurses to advance in their careers, and hold leadership positions that aren't possible with an associate's degree, as well as pursue other certification such as nurse anesthetist, master's in nursing practice or doctorate.

The program will begin in the fall and students can choose start dates in fall, spring or summer. Students with a state, nationally-approved associate degree or diploma from nursing schools and a registered professional nurse license in the State of Illinois can contact Marianne Taylor, mgtaylor@millikin.edu or call (217) 420-6771 to get the application process started, or visit millikin.edu/rn-bsn for more information.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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PEORIA  Col. Rusty Ballard, an Oreana native, and graduate of Argenta-Oreana High School, will be the new commander of the Illinois Air National Guards 182nd Airlift Wing based in Peoria.

Ballard, who works as a FedEx pilot in his civilian life, will assume the top job June 4. He will be in charge of more than 1,200 airmen and multiple C-130H aircraft which are used to move huge loads ranging from helicopters to medical supplies and personnel.

Maj. Gen. Pete Nezamis, commander of the Illinois Air National Guard, praised Ballard as someone who has shown leadership at the national level.

Ballard had joined the National Guard in 1993, a year before he graduated high school in 1994. He started out as a utility equipment repairer for the 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation detachment in Decatur. He later earned a bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University with his education paid for by the Illinois National Guard Grant; he went on to earn a masters degree from Webster University in St. Louis.

He also entered the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1998. He earned his wings as an Army Aviation officer in 2000 and became qualified as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He also gained his commercial pilots license and joined the 182nd Airlift Wing as a C-130H Hercules Mobility pilot, deploying multiple times in support of global operations.

Ballard moved steadily up the military hierarchy and was named Commander of the 182nd Operations Group in 2018.

It is an absolute honor to be selected to lead the 182nd Airlift Wing, which has proven itself multiple times as a premier organization in the C-130 Air Force Community, said Ballard.

The officer lives in Morton with his wife Andrea and daughter Audrie and son, Andy.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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The Chicago Fraternal Order of Polices top campaign priority this spring is defeating Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) in the Democratic primary. The police group is backing Chicago police detective Erin Jones, who not long ago was described as a loyal member of the Northwest Side GOP Club.

The previous practice in that area of fielding Republican candidates against Democrats in the general election has simply not worked. In 2018, then-Rep. Martwick defeated Republican Ammie Kessem, a Chicago police sergeant and the current 41st Ward Republican Committeeperson, by 21 points. Lindsey LaPointe was appointed to Martwicks seat when Martwick was appointed to the Senate in 2019, and she buried Republican police detective Jeff Muehlfelder by 20 points in the 2020 general election. The failed Republican push in both years and even long before that was a project of GOP operative Dan Proft and folks affiliated with the Illinois Policy Institute.

Republicans have also run in Democratic primaries in that part of the world with disastrous results, but theyre going to try again with Detective Jones, only this time with real money.

In addition to the Marwick vs. Jones race, Rep. LaPointe faces famed Chicago 911 dispatch operator Keith Thornton, who managed the radio response to police officer Ella Frenchs fatal shooting, and realtor Tina Wallace in the June 28 primary. Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) is up against Carolynn Crump, a Chicago cop with a PhD in business administration, as well as Steven Williams.

As noted above, Martwick is at the very tippity top of the FOPs hit list. FOP President John Catanzara made it clear to his members last week that any politician who endorses or helps Martwick will feel the fiery wrath of his union.

Sen. Martwick and Reps. LaPointe and Harper all voted for the SAFE-T Act, the police and criminal justice reform bill which Catanzara said on a Facebook video last week was backed by the Black Caucus and a ridiculously left-leaning agenda, radical Democrats in Springfield. The Chicago FOP, Catanzara said, has been very clear none of those members who voted for that [bill] will get any support from the FOP. Period. Rep. Harper chairs the Legislative Black Caucus.

Catanzara also said in the video message that he told three Northwest Side Chicago alderpersons, who are loyal to the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, that if they backed Martwick in the primary there would be consequences when they ran for reelection next year. They and any others could introduce or even pass all the police-friendly ordinances they wanted, but it wouldnt matter if they stood with Martwick over the cops, he warned.

Martwick himself has taken tremendous media heat for sponsoring a pension sweetener bill for the Chicago police, but the police union doesnt care. They want that man gone, end of story.

Sen. Martwick is also absolutely despised by the charter school lobby, and those folks may wind up spending significantly more against him than the FOP, which recently boosted dues for its political push against its enemies.

I think Rep. LaPointe could be viewed as collateral damage. The cops definitely dont like her, yet they dont hate her with the intensity that they hate Martwick. But she represents half of Martwicks district, so they might as well take both shots while theyre mucking around in Martwicks neighborhood. Same goes for the charter schools.

One issue for the FOP is that LaPointes other opponent Tina Wallace will likely not bow out in favor of 911 dispatcher Thornton, who reportedly has district residency issues and has an opposition research file thats like five miles deep. The general rule of thumb for incumbents when it comes to primary opponents is The more the merrier, because multiple opponents can split the opposing vote into smaller fragments. But Ms. Wallace will undoubtedly want a clear shot at a majority-wins, two-way primary and will likely try to kick Thornton off the ballot.

The Illinois Association of Realtors is almost always supportive of any member, like Wallace, who runs for office. Coincidentally, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools hired the Realtors top political person away from them not long ago, so the two groups now have a lot in common.

Meanwhile, Crump will be fully supported by the FOP against Rep. Harper, who had real trouble gathering candidate petitions.

A gigantic question remains whether the FOP, INCS and the Realtors can convince enough conservative Chicagoans to take Democratic ballots to vote against liberal Democratic incumbents in liberal districts instead of voting Republican. Its not an easy ask and it almost never works, despite all the money thats about to be dumped into these races.

Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.

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As quoted by ABC News, Biden said ..., It's one thing if it's a minor incursion and then we end up having a fight about what to do and not do, et cetera'."

This kind of comment was most likely the green light for Russia to invade Ukraine. What led up to this moment? Consider:

- He was beholden to the far left for their efforts in getting him elected

- Biden willingly accepted the far lefts green new deal, which was based on climate change

- To show his support for the progressives, he canceled the energy independence of the U.S. to help control climate change. Hypocritically, he began buying oil from Russia, and other off-shore producers. In doing so, he begged them to drastically increase production, all the while being unconcerned about the contributions these producers were adding to climate change.

- Note: Oil purchases from Russia are almost 600,000 barrels a day. At $100/barrel, that is $60,000,000/day going to Russia. The Keystone pipeline would have supplied over 800,000 barrels a day at considerably less cost to the consumer.

- He allowed the Nordstream 2 pipeline construction, and certification to continue through the Baltic Sea, from Russia to Europe.

- Then there was the Afghanistan exit debacle in which Americans were either killed or left behind.

- Pre-invasion of Ukraine, he, and many in his Administration, claimed that the sanctions they were planning would keep Russia from invading Ukraine. How did that work out?

- Biden then changed his statements to say the sanctions would not affect Russia for a month.

- Then, he changed again by saying that the sanctions were never meant to deter the Russians.

- Instead of laying truly severe sanctions on Russia prior to the invasion, they have been added piecemeal, to no measurable effect.

- As for military aid to Ukraine, some munitions were sent, but not enough.

- Some military experts outside the Administration proposed in December that we enter in to a lend-lease program with Ukraine. Particularly, multiple numbers of still functional F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter and ground attack aircraft that were scheduled to be sent to the aircraft graveyard in southern Arizona. There were enough qualified retired pilots to volunteer as was done prior to our entry into WW I and WW II. Biden refused the idea.

What is one to make of this situation? My conclusion is that Russia wants to control Europe. If one goes back in time, control of Europe has been a long-standing goal of the Russians.

The control levers are oil and natural gas, and will soon include, if their invasion is successful, the wheat, corn, and barley grown in Ukraine. Most of these grains are grown in the Eastern portion of the country which Russia currently controls.

What is to be done? Short term, not much. Putin is getting some resistance at home. Can that be advanced? Who knows? Putin is supported only by China. He requested troops from Kazakhstan but was refused.

Long term, a joint effort should be made by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to become the major sources of oil, natural gas, and grains for Europe. Will Biden accept such an idea? Unlikely. Perhaps he would, if the proposal was defined in potential climate change control terms. Defining resistance to the serfdom of Western Europe to the Russian oligarchs in human terms, does not seem to be a priority for this Administration.

One should also look at Bidens actions and non-actions through the lens of the coming mid-term elections. He doesnt want to upset the electorate any more than what it is already.

As quoted in the August 16, 2021, Cal Thomas article in the Washington Times, As Robert Gates, former defense secretary in the Obama administration, once put it, Biden has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades'."

Biden remains remarkably consistent.

Robert Mooth is a Decatur resident.

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The director of Virginias Department of Environmental Quality on Thursday declined a request for public involvement in an upcoming two-day review of the Bristol, Virginia landfill but offered other paths of communication.

Director Michael Rolband responded to a Tuesday request from the group HOPE for Bristol that sought access to the work of a panel of landfill experts and the chance to express the groups concerns over odors and emissions from the landfill  which is sparking the review.

The panel is expected to be in Bristol on March 21 and 22.

The original request sought public access to observe the panels work, livestreaming of its meetings and an opportunity for public comment regarding the landfill, its impacts and potential decision-making.

Rolband wrote the sessions are not required to be open to the public, and the 11-member panel coming from across the U.S. and Canada has a very limited time in Bristol.

As you know, the Department of Environmental Quality is going beyond its regulatory role in this situation and taking the unprecedented step to contract with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to provide technical resources to the facility, in order to help the facility identify technical and practical solutions for addressing the issues. To be clear, this contractual work is to provide technical support and information to the facility and is outside the scope of DEQs normal permitting and enforcement authorities and activities, Rolband wrote.

Pursuant to the contract, Virginia Tech University is convening a nationally recognized panel of engineering experts with specific expertise in the challenges that face the facility. The meeting of this contracted group is not required to be open to the public, he wrote.

Rolband went on to explain the panel has only two days to study, review and discuss very technical issues related to the landfill design, mitigation measures to date, extensive data sets and volumes of documents related to this facility and then collaborate on engineering options that may be feasible and practicable for addressing the issues at this facility.

The panel is expected to complete its work and issue a report by April 25.

That final report will be provided to the facility and to DEQ and will then be available to the public and posted on the DEQ website, as soon as possible, Rolband wrote.

The agencys priority is to help the city and the community by finding technical and practical solutions to address the facilitys issues, as well as potential funding to implement these solutions. Whatever next steps DEQ takes within its regulatory purview, whether they are part of an enforcement or permitting action, we plan to include opportunities for meaningful public engagement, the director continued.

He further directed regional DEQ representatives to communicate with members of HOPE for Bristol.

Both by our actions to facilitate the development of technical and practical solutions and in our engagement to date, we take seriously your concerns regarding the facility and we hope to continue to have an open and engaging working relationship going forward, Rolband wrote.

To that end, I am asking Jeff Hurst, regional director for DEQs Southwest regional office, to establish a schedule to periodically meet with you. I have also directed that he and Renee Hoyos, director of DEQs Office of Environmental Justice, work together to ensure that our technical and environmental justice staff jointly participate in those meetings to work collaboratively with you to address your concerns, Rolband wrote.

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BLOUNTVILLE  The Sullivan County Board of Commissioners appointed a new member Thursday night.

After receiving a standing ovation from the board, Bristol dentist Dr. Barry L. Hopper took the oath of office to fill the vacant District 2 seat. Hopper took the seat of former commissioner Mark Hutton, who left the board this month to accept an appointment to the Bristol Tennessee City Council.

Its very humbling to be selected rather than being actually voted in, Hopper told the commissioners. With that, I feel like there is even more obligation to administer the programs that we have in this community and to be a working, viable member of this organization.

Asked to fill the seat by District 2 Commissioner David Akard, who made the nomination unopposed, Hopper said he was a bit reluctant at first, but after thinking it over decided he could help the board make rational decisions and find the best approaches to solving problems.

Given the chance for a citizen to participate in the governance of their community is really a high honor, Hopper said.

Hopper, who joined Akard and Commissioner Mark Vance as the representatives for District 2, added that as a member of the board he would like to be active in helping improve education in the community. Hoppers seat will be up for election in August; however, he will not be on the ballot.

In other action at Thursdays meeting, the county commissioners approved a resolution requesting a traffic safety study be conducted by the Tennessee Department of Transportation at the intersection of U.S. 421 and Highway 44 (Hickory Tree Road) for the purpose of installing a traffic signal or caution signal.

Resolution sponsor Commissioner Randy Morrell said that he has requested multiple studies from the state in the past on the issue, but the county never saw the findings. Morrell said the latest request has been worded differently by requesting the results be shared.

The board also approved a resolution to appropriate an additional $123,150 for the costs of housing juvenile inmates in the Sullivan County Court System who were charged as adults. The county already has two juvenile inmates awaiting trial as adults, and there is the potential for three more juveniles to possibly be held for trial as adults before the end of this fiscal year, the resolution said.

The two juveniles already in the court system have been kept at a detention center outside the county at a cost of $150 per day, according to the resolution. The funds are to reimburse jail accounts for up to $19,650 and to cover the potential costs of an additional $103,500.

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Pushes for improvements to Virginias mental health system, like reforms to social services, dont generate opportunities for media grandstanding or for courting deep-pocketed campaign donors.

Its a fair bet that anyone who has had to rely on the states mental health treatment facilities or help a loved one navigate the system is well aware of the many shortcomings long inadequately addressed  aging facilities, short staffing, deficient resources, bare-bones budgets  and grown weary of beseeching politicians for attention thats rarely, if ever, given and improvements that rarely, if ever, materialize.

A stark consequence of these years of neglect reared an ugly head in July 2021, when five of the states mental hospitals closed to new admissions because of lack of staffing. One of the five was Catawba Hospital in Roanoke County. The institutions have since begun admitting new patients, though the staffing problem remains dire.

Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, deserves kudos for picking up the mental health banner. The bill he championed this session sought a study as to how Catawba Hospital could be expanded into a state-of-the-art campus that continued its mission of providing care and treatment for those with mental health diagnoses while adding programs and infrastructure for treatment of substance abuse.

Were these improvements to become reality, they could go a long way in helping those affected by the ongoing opioid crisis, the pitch went.

Rasouls legislation, House Bill 105, received a ringing endorsement in these pages from New York Times-bestselling author and former Roanoke Times reporter Beth Macy, who has moved mountains to bring national attention to the devastating effects on Appalachian communities of pharmaceutical companies unethical pushing of prescription painkillers.

It is possible for someone who has even passing familiarity with the difficulties faced by those in need of mental health-related care to wonder that the invocation of an international, headline-generating topic would be necessary to procure needed funding to the century-old Catawba campus, when the urgent need for that funding is already self-evident.

Sad to say, its generally taken tragedy-driven news cycles to move the needle on mental health reform. The 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech that left 33 dead, including the shooter, and 17 wounded led to changes in state law and $42 million in new mental health-designated state funding in the years that immediately followed. Alas, the intensity of focus subsided.

On the other hand, if tying more funding for Catawba to the opioid crisis brings results, all the better for everyone, right?

However, though the Republican-controlled House of Delegates passed Rasouls bill on a unanimous, bipartisan 99-0 vote, its a curious matter that HB105 didnt make it through the Democrat-controlled Senate Rules Committee.

Curioser and curioser, as a character named Alice famously said, the senator who seemed to lead the charge was Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, a man whose bona fides when it comes to concern for the mental health system are without question genuine.

In November 2013, Deeds and his family endured a horrendous tragedy. Deeds 24-year-old son Gus was released from emergency custody because the Rockbridge Area Community Services Board failed to find a bed for him in a psychiatric hospital. Gus Deeds returned home, stabbed his father multiple times in the face and chest with a knife, then used a firearm to take his own life.

Deeds has since then been a constant advocate for mental health reform  rendered a Sysyphian task by decades of kicking the can down the road. The frustrating part is that no matter how much you do, theres still so much to do, Deeds told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2018.

In granting his support for the rules committee to effectively scuttle Rasouls bill, Deeds argued, in essence, that the entire mental health system needs to be examined and overhauled statewide and that Rasouls Catawba Hospital proposal, which he called a good idea, should be considered as a piece of the whole, rather than in a way thats disconnected from the system.

A sensible sentiment, all well and good, but in light of years upon years of inaction, a disappointing development with potential for future regrets.

The larger reform Deeds seeks  which absolutely should take place, and which should incorporate Rasouls proposal  remains mired in the impasse that saw the General Assembly disperse this week without agreeing to pass a budget.

Meanwhile, the consequences of the ongoing staffing shortage have been underscored in a lawsuit brought last month by the Giles County Department of Social Services against the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton.

The suit states that a female youth in foster care undergoing a mental health emergency was kept in police custody for more than four days without ever receiving treatment, as the Commonwealth Center, the states only psychiatric hospital for youth, never provided her with a bed.

According to the lawsuit, the youth had no one but a police officer for company for the full extent of the temporary detention order issued to get her admitted to a psychiatric institute. The suit alleges that the Commonwealth Center violated the bed of last resort law that Deeds successfully advocated for in 2014.

That law requires that a bed be found somewhere in the state, whatever it takes, for a patient who is the subject of a temporary detention order  ruled by a magistrate to be a danger to themselves or others and in need of hospitalization and treatment.

According to reports in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, an unintended consequence of this well-meaning law has been that beds are always quickly filled, leading to an overcrowding problem. That problem was compounded by the reductions in staff that resulted from the pandemic. For months, the Commonwealth Center has only been filling 18 of its 48 beds because of a personnel shortage.

In an interview with Roanoke Times reporter Luke Weir, Deeds voiced his chagrin that he hasnt found universal support for the creation of a comprehensive state mental health system. Lives are slipping through the cracks because were not providing for them, he said, while expressing hopes that progress will advance faster in the future.

Whatever the solutions should be, patience is absolutely not the answer. The General Assembly needs to end this habit of waiting until tragedy strikes to act.
NEWTON  Nu Chapter, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, installed officers during its recent March business meeting and luncheon at First Presbyterian Church in Newton.

After a brief time for fellowship, Dee Snyder, Nu Chapter president, welcomed attendees and called the business session to order. Snyder recognized Nu member, Martha Brown, who addressed the group for her Minute at the Mic. Browns remarks about what DKG has meant to her included that her membership has been an honor, a challenge, an inspiration, and a blessing.

Snyder presented the presidents report which shared highlights of the recent Region X event, updated members on the upcoming NC DKG convention, and announced the submission of the chapter achievement report. Snyder also recognized three members as nominees for the following awards: 2022 Golden Key Award, Phyllis Parsons; Shining Star (Nu recipient) and Rising Star (NC DKG nominee), Regina Propst; and Beginning Teacher Award, Delane Mitchell.

Committee reports followed the presidents report. The beginning teacher support committee is preparing gifts for first-year teachers in Catawba County Schools for delivery in March or April. The educational excellence committee announced that two social events are being planned for May and September. The membership committee will hold an orientation for four new members in March. Also, JoAnn Waters won the participation ticket drawing at the meeting. The archives committee is searching for information to include in a new founders history that will be available on the Nu Chapter website.

The nominations committee installed the following officers for the 2022-2024 biennium: president, Leslie Black; first vice president, Regina Propst; second vice president, Allison Patton; recording secretary, Michelle Shelly; and corresponding secretary, Yvonne Barnhardt. The business meeting concluded with the world fellowship brag bucket. After a brief break, Nu and Gamma Phi members joined for a ceremony of remembrance, program, and luncheon.

Dee Snyder welcomed all attendees and introduced Nellie Pruitt, Gamma Phi member, who brought greetings from the Gamma Phi Chapter. The ceremony of remembrance honored two Gamma Phi members, Mary Ann Troutman and Martha Yount. Nellie Pruitt read the tribute to Mary Ann Troutman, and Regina Propst read the tribute to Martha Yount. Special music was provided by pianist, Brenda Eckard.

Nu Chapter member, Anne-Marie Hale, presented the program, Teaching in Todays Classroom. Hale shared the reality and challenges of teaching during the pandemic. She covered four techniques she incorporates in her college and career-ready English classes: new approaches, such as personalized learning and learning-focused bulletin boards and desk notes; learning management systems like Canvas and Google Classroom; pandemic challenges, such as utilizing educational websites and learning to teach through a camera; and morale boosters to combat in the trenches battle fatigue. Hale illustrated these points with videos of her classroom.

After the program, Leslie Black offered a meditation and blessing prior to the catered luncheon. Members also participated virtually for the business session, ceremony of remembrance, and program. Delta Kappa Gamma is an international honor society that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.
A paper and packaging manufacturer in Claremont held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a $47 million expansion.

WestRock Company plans to expand its manufacturing plant by 285,000 square feet. The project is expected to create 50 new jobs by the end of 2023, according to a news release from WestRock.

The expansion will grow the companys production of packaging for food, food service and beverage products.

Construction of the building is expected to start in July and is expected to be done by July 2023. The first production line is expected to be running by August 2023, Project Manager Jason Smitherman said.

The project was assisted by Catawba County and Claremont tax incentives. Starting after the building expansion is complete, both entities agreed to return 70% of property taxes one year, 60% the second year and 50% the third year. The incentives are expected to total about $1 million.

The project also garnered a $125,000 grant from the state One North Carolina Fund, according to a press release from Gov. Roy Coopers office. The company was also approved for a $375,000 N.C. building reuse grant.

WestRock has been in Claremont since 1996, Smitherman said during the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday.

WestRock has operated on these grounds for 25 years, and this investment ensures we will be here for many more to come, he said. This project would not have been possible without the commitment to and belief in WestRock by the city of Claremont, Catawba County, and the state of North Carolina.

The average salary of the new jobs will be $48,422, according to the state news release.

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For decades North Carolina has ranked near the bottom of all states in the country when it comes to the publics right to know what went wrong when a government employee is transferred, demoted or terminated for disciplinary reasons.

There have been efforts to change that, including a bill introduced 25 years ago by a young state senator named Roy Cooper, who now of course is North Carolinas governor.

So Sunshine Week, March 13-19, is an appropriate time to examine where North Carolina stands on the peoples right to know.

Founded in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, Sunshine Week is designed to heighten awareness about the importance of open government and freedom of information and advocate for change where change is needed. Change is needed badly here. The best hope for that openness and accountability is ready to be taken up now by the Legislature.

For the third time since Gov. Coopers 1997 bill, the Legislature has a chance to make history by enacting legislation that opens public employee personnel files to inspection when bosses or elected leaders take disciplinary action. Passed last year by a bipartisan majority in the N.C. Senate, the Government Transparency Act of 2021 would open personnel files in cases of misconduct by public school teachers and professors, city and county managers, and state and local law enforcement officers.

All North Carolinians should ask how the wall of secrecy around these disciplinary records was erected in the first place. One clue lies in a letter presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee last spring voicing full throated opposition to the Government Transparency Act by none other than the states public school teachers lobby (NCAE), the North Carolina state employees association (SEANC), and the Teamsters Union. The opposition caused the bill to stall in the state House, though it remains alive in that chamber and can be taken up at the leaderships signal. The bill has the full support of the N.C. Association of Broadcasters, the N.C. Press Association, and the N.C. Sheriffs Association, not to mention consistent and broad support in polling of taxpayers and voters.

This election year  when every seat in the General Assembly is on the ballot  is a good time for those voters to remind candidates of their interest in knowing about the conduct of government employees theyre paying.

A fix for North Carolinas legacy of personnel files locked in file cabinets sits on the goal line. Legislative leaders and the rank and file should be eager to punch it in.

Sandy Hurley, Regional Publisher, Mount Airy News Media Group, is president of the North Carolina Press Association. Bill Moss, publisher of the Hendersonville Lightning, is the press associations legislative committee chair.
SHELBYVILLE  A Shelby County jury deliberated for only seven minutes before returning a guilty verdict against a county jail inmate who struck a correctional officer in July.

Shelby County States Attorney Nichole Kroncke said Joshua D. White was found guilty Wednesday of aggravated battery to a correctional officer, resulting in bodily harm.

He faces a potential sentence of probation to three to 14 years in prison.

White was an inmate in the Shelby County Jail on July 27, and became angry when corrections officers directed him back to his cell following dinner, Kroncke said in a statement.

After initially complying, when officers began to shut the cell door, White charged at one of them, grabbed and struck him forcefully on the left side of his head with a closed fist, threatening to kill the officer, the prosecutor said.

The officer received medical treatment for his injuries, suffered a concussion and missed several days of work following the attack, she said.

White's $100,000 bond was revoked after the verdicts were read.

He will remain in custody at the Shelby County Jail until his sentencing hearing May 16.

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CHICAGO - A retired Cook County judge was among more than 100 people who were arrested by investigators in central Florida as part of a six-day undercover human trafficking campaign called Operation March Sadness 2, the sheriffs office said Wednesday.

Daniel Peters, 66, of Palos Hills, told detectives he is a retired judge in the Cook County 4th Subcircuit and a special assistant for legal affairs at the Cook County sheriffs office in Illinois. He was charged with soliciting a prostitute, according to a statement from the Polk County sheriffs office. Polk County is about 55 miles east of Tampa and about 65 miles southwest of Orlando.

Mary Wisniewski, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Chief Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County said in an email, Court records indicate that a Daniel L. Peters served as a judge. However, Wisniewski said the office was unable to confirm that this is the same person who was arrested in Florida.

During the operation, detectives identified both prostitutes who posted online ads and those who were seeking out prostitution online in an effort to identify and free any victims who were being forced into prostitution or anyone who was participating in human trafficking, the sheriffs office said. Detectives also identified adults who engaged in inappropriate communication with people they believed were children.

Undercover detectives communicated with alleged solicitors online and arranged to meet at a location where they were arrested. Members of anti-trafficking organizations also were on-site to speak with prostitutes to determine if they were victims of human trafficking and were offered resources and counseling.

Of the 108 people arrested as part of the campaign, there was one woman from Florida charged with human trafficking, four men from Florida arrested for preying on children online, 26 arrested for offering to commit prostitution and more than 70 arrested for seeking out prostitution. The oldest person arrested was a 67-year-old man and the youngest was a 17-year-old boy, both arrested for soliciting a prostitute.

The arrests of a human trafficker and four child predators alone makes this whole operation worthwhile, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. The online prostitution industry enables traffickers and victimizes those who are being trafficked. Our goal is to identify victims, offer them help and find and arrest those who are profiting from the exploitation of human beings. Johns fuel the trafficking and victimization. Where there is prostitution, there is exploitation, disease, dysfunction and broken families.

The campaign, which began March 8, was coordinated by the sheriffs office with the help of police from nearby towns, including Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales and Auburndale. Also participating was the office of the state attorney 10th Judicial Circuit, members from the Florida Department of Children and Families and anti-human trafficking organizations One More Child, Heartland for Children and Selah Freedom of Sarasota.

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SPRINGFIELD  Members of the Workers Center for Racial Justice held a rally in front of the Capitol Wednesday morning demanding the Illinois General Assembly pass the Safer Communities Act.

The measure, House Bill 3215, offers job providers wage subsidies for hiring formerly incarcerated individuals at a living wage over a five-year period.

Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said that when people come home after being institutionalized, their second sentence begins due to lack of opportunities and programs in place to help them integrate back into the community.

The bills current status as of Thursday was re-referred to Rules Committee, a legislative designation that generally means such a measure is unlikely to move, at least in the current General Assembly. But the advocates urged that the program be included in the final budget package.

The bill would provide a living wage job creation program for up to 20,000 formerly incarcerated workers for the duration a five-year pilot incentive period, which would begin March 1, 2023, and end Feb. 28, 2028. It would allow businesses that hire formerly incarcerated individuals on a union contract or at a wage of $20 hourly plus benefits to receive wage subsidies for those employees.

A maximum of 10,000 participants would consist of individuals released from prison on or after Jan. 1, 2022. The other 10,000 participants would consist of individuals released from prison between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2021.

The businesses would receive a $1,250 monthly wage subsidy for an employee hired in a disproportionately impacted area, meaning a census tract with high rates of arrest, conviction and incarceration among residents, and $850 monthly in other areas.

Those seeking to participate in the pilot program would be required to register with the Department of Employment Security on or after Jan. 1, 2023.

Jimmy Miller, longtime member of the Chicago-Based grassroots organization WCRJ, said when reintegrating into society after incarceration, he found it difficult to find a job. The passage of the HB 3215 would help provide job opportunities and employment resources to other formerly incarcerated individuals like himself, he said.

Community is important, not only to myself but for those who will be newly released, Miller said.

The bill caps the expenditures during the five-year incentive period at $1.5 billion. If requests exceed that amount, subsidies would be given on a first-come-first-served basis.

Applicants who hire participants as a full-time employee during the incentive period could apply for a certificate of eligibility for the wage subsidy on or after the date of hire. The applicant must provide the department the names, social security numbers, job descriptions, salary or wage rates, dates of hire and state whether each participant is registered in the pilot program.

Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, said investing back in Black and brown communities and building the local economy through the living wage job creation program could help end mass incarceration.

According to the data from the Illinois Department of Corrections, as of Dec. 31, 2021, there were 27,970 people in prison. More than half, 15,204 or 54.4% of those individuals, were Black, according to the data.

Avalon Betts-Gaston, project manager for the Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice, said that individuals should never be judged by a conviction in a system that was designed to mass incarcerate Black, brown and poor people.

Members of WCRJ called on legislators to secure funding in the fiscal year 2023 budget for the Safer Communities Act.

In the proposed budget for FY23, Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed $250 million in federal funding for the Reimagine Public Safety Act that would help fund early intervention programs. He also proposed $50 million to the competitive violence prevention grant program to provide resources to Illinois community partners to help stop the pattern of violence in areas disproportionately impacted.

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The workforce of Reynolds American Inc. and its subsidiaries was cut by more than 10% last year to 4,405, according to the 2021 annual report from parent company British American Tobacco Plc.

BAT is the worlds largest publicly traded tobacco manufacturer, having completed in July 2017 its $54.5 billion purchase of the 57.8% of Reynolds it did not already own. Legacy Reynolds shareholders own 19% of BAT.

Reynolds was reported with 4,921 employees in the 2020 annual report.

The workforce is down 20% from about 5,500 on Dec. 31, 2016  the last Reynolds corporate annual report.

BAT and Reynolds officials could not be immediately reached for comment on where the workforce reductions have taken place.

Reynolds has not provided a local workforce count in several years, but has been estimated by local economic officials at about 2,500 employees in Forsyth County, primarily at its Tobaccoville manufacturing plant.

Executive compensation

BAT disclosed the total compensation for chief executive Jack Bowles and another top executive in the 2021 report.

Bowles total compensation was just under $9.8 million, up 50.7% from $6.5 million in fiscal 2020.

The compensation figures are based on current dollar to British pound sterling rates.

Bowles received a 4.8% increase in salary to $1.73 million for fiscal 2021. He received $419,720 in what BAT termed as taxable benefits. Pension contributions were worth $258,390.

Like most U.S. corporate executives in recent years. Bowles received the bulk of his 2021 compensation in stock awards, although BAT referred to the compensation as short- and long-term incentives that were worth a combined $7.39 million, up from $4.21 million a year ago.

The other named executive for compensation purposes is financial and transformation officer Tadeu Marroco. He was paid $1.05 million in salary, $2.48 million in incentive pay and total compensation of $3.83 million, up from $3.64 million in 2020.

BAT reported that fiscal 2021 revenue finished up 0.4% to $33.92 billion.

Reynolds profit from operations was up 11.9% to $7.3 billion. Sales increased 1.9% to just under $15.33 billion.

Sales were broken down as: up 0.9% to $13.13 billion for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co.; down 4.3% to $1.41 billion for American Snuff Co.; and up 43% to $739.7 million for new categories that includes electronic cigarette Vuse with R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and its modern oral and snus products.

Litigation expenses

BAT said it had $70.8 million in litigation costs during fiscal 2021, primarily related to Engle progeny smoker lawsuits facing Reynolds in the U.S. The litigation expenses were down from $114.1 million in 2020 and $309.5 million in 2019.

BAT said that as of Dec. 31, there were 1,071 Engle progeny lawsuit pending involving Reynolds and in its role as successor owner of Lorillard Inc. and Brown & Williamson Corp.

Engle progeny lawsuits sprang from a decision in 2006 by the Florida Supreme Court that decertified a $145 billion class-action lawsuit initially filed by Howard Engle.

The decertification means that former class members are now limited to filing individual lawsuits stating that cigarettes caused their respective illnesses.

From Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2021, Reynolds was involved in 41 Engle progeny lawsuit trials, of which 21 were won by plaintiffs. The combined compensatory damages were $65.4 million, while the punitive damages were $159.5 million.

Reynolds has appealed 13 of the jury awards, which halted the payment of damages in those cases, while Reynolds still has time to file an appeal in four cases.

An additional three plaintiff victories can no longer appealed.

During 2021, Reynolds or Lorillard paid $15.4 million in compensatory or punitive damages in Engle cases.

With the exception of the Engle progeny cases, the group continues to win the majority of tobacco-related litigation claims that reach trial, the manufacturer said in the report.

A very high percentage of the tobacco-related litigation claims brought against them, including Engle progeny cases, continue to be dismissed at or before trial.

Based on their experience in tobacco-related litigation and the strength of the defenses available to them in such litigation, the groups companies believe that their successful defense of tobacco-related litigation in the past will continue in the future.

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Robin Paul, the mother of NBA star Chris Paul, said the five men (four of whom are trying to prove their innocence; the fifth was killed in 2019) are guilty in her father's murder. Nathaniel Jones, 61, was murdered on Nov. 15, 2019 in the carport of his home on Moravia Street. The five men, who were teenagers when they were convicted, are Nathaniel Cauthen, Rayshawn Banner, Christopher Bryant, Jermal Tolliver and Dorrell Brayboy, who was stabbed to death on Aug. 28, 2019. The men said Winston-Salem police coerced them into making false confessions.
As the COVID-19 pandemic reaches the two-year mark, Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday that the worst is behind the state.

But Cooper and state Health Secretary Kody Kinsley said North Carolinians should continue to take steps to minimize the spread of the virus, which has killed 23,030 in the state. Twenty-five more deaths were reported Thursday. Statewide, 1,223 new cases were reported Thursday.

Cooper and Kinsley emphasized the importance of being vaccinated and taking steps to stop the spread of the virus.

Over the last two years, weve written a history of hardship and resilience, setbacks and successes, Cooper said. We are coming out alright, through the strength of our people.

But now, we enter the next phase of how we approach the future. One of individual responsibility, preparedness and prosperity.

This virus will still be with us, but it wont disrupt us, Cooper said.

When asked if the state is moving too quickly, Kinsley expressed confidence that North Carolinians will be able to move forward while keeping our guard high.

Meanwhile, Forsyth County was listed with an additional COVID-19 death and 27 new cases in Thursdays dashboard update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Statewide, there continues to be a reduction in key COVID-19 measures, particularly positive test rate and hospitalizations.

Cooper said he doesnt plan to end his statewide pandemic emergency order as state Republican legislative pushing for such an action.

Cooper and Kinsley have said the order remains necessary to keep federal assistance, including staffing and access to testing and vaccines, available to areas still in need, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and facilities that treat behavioral health and addictions.

The order also allows the state health director to continue to issue standing orders for testing and treatment that aid K-12 schools and rural health departments during surges in community spread.

Cooper said the Republican-controlled legislature can pass laws to address the statewide pandemic emergency order as long as they provide the flexibility needed to act quickly if necessary.

New DHHS strategy

The next phase of DHHS COVID-19 response is based on the four principles of prioritizing equity, empowering individuals, maintaining health system capacity and collaborating with local partners.

Kinsley shared a similar message Tuesday to a joint legislative oversight Health and Human Service committee.

In both instances, Kinsley said that with the current overall decline in key COVID-19 metrics, DHHS is placing more importance on a different set of metrics.

Those include: focusing on early-warning indicators, such as wastewater surveillance; addressing community exposure risks to limit spread in case of the arrival of another variant; monitoring COVID-19 hospital admissions; continuing to promote vaccinations and boosters; measuring where current and future community spread is occurring demographically and geographically; and reacting quickly to the presence of new variants.

Kinsley said Thursday that DHHS COVID-19 dashboard will be amended, beginning Wednesday, to reflect those priorities.

Some key metrics reported throughout the pandemic no longer meet the current situation and will no longer be used, Kinsley said.

On Wednesday, DHHS will shift its updates from each weekday to once a week.

Kinsley cautioned that the arrival of a new variant and level of community spread may cause a shift in the states response or in individuals choices about layered protection.

Demographic data will remain available on interior dashboard pages for hospitalizations, COVID-19 cases and vaccines, as well as more detailed data currently provided on individual pages for hospitalizations, COVID-19 cases, vaccines and wastewater monitoring.

Meanwhile, information on COVID-19 community levels will be redirected to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 Community Levels data and tracked weekly.

We have worked hard to get here, Kinsley said.

With a robust toolset, we are prepared now as individuals and as a state in ways we could have not been two years ago or even two months ago.

As we move forward together, we will continue to ensure every North Carolinian has access to the tools and information they need to protect themselves and others.

Kinsley said DHHS is monitoring the spread of the BA.2 omicron variant that represents about 2.5% of new cases in North Carolina, about 10% nationally, but is widespread in China and several European countries.

The level of its severity remains to be seen, Kinsley said.

We will continue to watch these variants and will message that appropriately to the public so they understand how they manage their risk.

Kinsley said he remains confident that a third booster vaccine dose is providing adequate protection from COVID-19, although he continued to stress that unvaccinated individuals remain the most vulnerable to infection, hospitalization and death.

Forsyth, statewide updates

Forsyth was listed with 27 new cases in Thursday's update, compared with 29 Wednesday, 17 Tuesday and 15 Monday.

The Forsyth case count is at 91,803 since the pandemic began.

With the additional death listed in Thursdays update, there have been 23 deaths in the county so far in March. Altogether, there have been 784 COVID-related deaths in Forsyth.

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.

Statewide, there were 25 additional COVID-related deaths since Wednesdays update, bringing North Carolinas total to 23,030.

Statewide, 1,223 new cases were reported, compared with 1,519 Wednesday, 649 Tuesday and 373 Monday.

Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 3% on Thursday. The statewide rate was 2.4%.

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 799 in Wednesdays report to 769 Thursday.

Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region had a combined 140 COVID-19 patients Wednesday, down two from Tuesday.

Statewide, 85 patients are on ventilators, including 15 in the Triad region.

There were 14 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including two in the Triad region.

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Years ago, when I was just beginning to practice immigration law, I remember hearing about two horrific genocides. They were almost back-to-back, happening within little more than a year of each other, and each became the focus of a war crimes tribunal at The Hague. The first one occurred in the spring of 1994 when Rwandan Hutus massacred hundreds of thousands of their Tutsi neighbors in a matter of months. A year later, in Bosnia, thousands of Muslim men and boys were murdered by their Serbian captors in a town called Srebrenica.

At the time, it was difficult to find any overt racism as we have come to view it in the United States, because both the victims and the victimizers in Rwanda were Black, and the victims and victimizers in Bosnia were white (although in the latter case there was the additional element of religion, which was the motivating factor for the Bosnian Serbs). All that mattered was that one group of people had terrorized and dehumanized another group of people based on hatred and ignorance, and the world looked on in horror. It was a replay of the Holocaust, only televised.

But when I listen to people like Joy Ann Why Is She Still On Television Reid, I realize that we Americans have lost any sense of reality. On her show on MSNBC, Reid made this statement about the deepening humanitarian crisis:

As the world watches the devastation unfold in Ukraine, nearly 4,000 miles away, another crisis is deepening that we dont hear much about in the U.S., and that is the war in Yemen. The coverage of Ukraine has revealed a pretty radical disparity in how human Ukrainians look and feel to Western media compared to their browner and Blacker counterparts, with some reporters using very telling comparisons in their analyses of the war. She added that the world cared more for white Christians than it did for people who looked like her.

Interestingly enough, Reid has only recently become interested in Yemen, judging from her searchable public statements. I googled her name next to crisis in Yemen and came up with page after page of her most recent tirade against white Christians, but virtually nothing earlier than last week. Nothing.

Then there were those I cant believe that happened! news flashes about people of color who were taken off refugee trains to give space to Ukrainians attempting to flee their beleaguered country. When there was the suggestion that Black and brown foreign exchange students were taken off trains, the first reaction should have been: Thats terrible, but people become desperate during war time and lose sense of their humanity.

Instead, it became those disgusting white people are racist, and they got even more racist when the bombs were falling on their heads and their children were being massacred. God, they are just white supremacists, like those parents at school board meetings.

Im exaggerating, of course. But instead of realizing that people act poorly in times of crisis, the mainstream media went right to the George Floyd narrative of white people hating on people of color. It never occurred to the observers that maybe, just maybe, the color of the students didnt matter. It was the fact, equally repellent but not racialized, that Ukrainians had more sympathy for other Ukrainians than they did for foreigners.

It was the same when we were evacuating Afghanistan and my friends were saying we need to get the Americans out, and I was saying we also need to rescue the Afghan allies who risked their lives for Americans.

People can be inhuman in many different ways. The Bosnian Serbs hated the Bosnian Muslims because they saw these men, who looked and spoke and lived like them, side by side for generations, as the other. It was their religion that put the target on their backs.

In Rwanda, the Hutus went after men, women and children who looked exactly like them, sounded like them, worshiped like them (mostly Catholic Christians), and saluted the same flag. They did this because of tribal loyalties and ethnic hatreds. And skin color was irrelevant, as it was with the Serbs.

Its sad that we have to fit every instance of horror and genocide into these nice little Black Lives Matter categories in the U.S., and twist the narrative so that it allows despicable people like Joy Ann Reid to exploit tragedy. There is a genocide going on in Ukraine, and the vast majority of the victims are white Christians.

The fact that this is a problem for people like Joy Ann Reid shouldnt make a damn difference.

Christine Flowers (cflowers1961@gmail.com) is an attorney and a columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times.